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power。 There is no longer a central authority。 There is no longer
a France； but merely so many disintegrated and independent communes；
like Orleans and Limoges； which； through their representatives；
carry on negotiations with each other； one to secure itself from a
deficiency of troops； and the other to secure itself from a want of
bread。
Let us consider this general dissolution on the spot； and take up a
case in detail。 On the 18th of January 1790； the new municipal
authorities of Marseilles enter upon their duties。 As is generally
the case； the majority of the electors have had nothing to do with
the balloting。 The mayor； Martin； having been elected by only an
eighth of the active citizens。＇27＇ If； however； the dominant
minority is a small one； it is resolute and not inclined to stop at
trifles。 〃Scarcely is it organized；〃＇28＇ when it sends deputies to
the King to have him withdraw his troops from Marseilles。 The King；
always weak and accommodating； finally consents； and； the orders to
march being prepared； the municipality is duly advised of them。 But
the municipality will tolerate no delay； and immediately 〃draws up；
prints； and issues a denunciation to the National Assembly〃 against
the commandant and the two ministers who； according to it； are
guilty of having forged or suppressed the King's orders。 In the
meantime it equips and fortifies itself as for a combat。 At its
first establishment the municipality broke up the bourgeois guard；
which was too great a lover of order； and organized a National
Guard； in which those who have no property are soon to be admitted。
〃Daily additions are made to its military apparatus；＇29＇
entrenchments and barricades at the H？tel…de…Ville； are increasing；
the artillery is increased； the town is filled with the excitement
of a military camp in the immediate presence of an enemy。〃 Thus； in
possession of force； it makes use of it； and in the first place
against justice。 A popular insurrection had been suppressed in
the month of August 1789； and the three principal leaders； Rebecqui；
Pascal； and Granet； had been imprisoned in the Chateau d'If。 They
are the friends of the municipal authorities； and they must be set
free。 At the demand of this body the affair is taken out of the
hands of the grand…prév？t and put into those of the sénéchaussée；
the former； meanwhile； together with his councilors； undergoing
punishment for having performed their duty。 The municipality； on
its own authority； forbids them from further exercise of their
functions。 They are publicly denounced； 〃threatened with poniards；
the scaffold； and every species of assassination。〃 ＇30＇ No printer
dares publish their defense； for fear of 〃municipal annoyances。〃 It
is not long before the royal procureur and a councillor are reduced
to seeking refuge in Fort Saint…Jean； while the grand…prév？t after
having resisted a little longer； leaves Marseilles in order to save
his life。 As to the three imprisoned men； the municipal authorities
visit them in a body and demand their provisional release。 One of
them having made his escape； they refuse to give the commandant the
order for his re…arrest。 The other two triumphantly leave the
chateau on the 11th of April； escorted by eight hundred National
Guards。 They go； for form's sake； to the prisons of the
sénéchaussée but the next day are set at liberty； and further
prosecution ceases。 As an offset to this； M。 d'Ambert； colonel in
the Royal Marine； guilty of expressing himself too warmly against
the National Guard； although acquitted by the tribunal before which
he was brought； can be set at liberty only in secret and under the
protection of two thousand soldiers。 The populace want to burn the
house of the criminal lieutenant that dared absolve him。 The
magistrate himself is in danger； and is forced to take refuge in the
house of the military commander。＇31＇ Meanwhile； printed and written
papers； insulting libels by the municipal body and the club； the
seditious or violent discussions of the district assemblies； and a
lot of pamphlets； are freely distributed among the people and the
soldiers： the latter are purposely stirred up in advance against
their chiefs。 … … In vain are the officers mild； conciliatory； and
cautious。 In vain does the commander…in…chief depart with a portion
of the troops。 The object now is to dislodge the regiment occupying
the three forts。 The club sets the ball in motion； and； forcibly or
otherwise； the will of the people must be carried out。 On the 29th
of April； two actors； supported by fifty volunteers； surprise a
sentinel and get possession of Notre…Dame de la Garde。 On the same
day； six thousand National Guards invest the forts of Saint…Jean and
Saint…Nicolas。 The municipal authorities； summoned to respect the
fortresses； reply by demanding the opening of the gates to the
National Guard； that it may do duty jointly with the soldiers。 The
commandants hesitate； refer to the law； and demand time to consult
their superiors。 A second requisition； more urgent； is made； the
commandants are held responsible for the disturbances they provoke
by their refusal。 If they resist they are declared promoters of
civil war。＇32＇ They accordingly yield and sign a capitulation。
One among them； the Chevalier de Beausset； major in Fort Saint…Jean；
is opposed to this； and refuses his signature。 On the following day
he is seized as he is about to enter the H？tel…de…Ville； and
massacred； his head being borne about on the end of a pike； while
the band of assassins； the soldiers； and the rabble dance about and
shout over his remains。 … 〃 It is a sad accident；〃 writes the
municipality。＇33＇ How does it happen that； 〃after having thus far
merited and obtained all praise； a Beausset； whom we were unable to
protect against the decrees of Providence； should sully our laurels？
Having had nothing to do with this tragic affair； it is not for us
to prosecute the authors of it。〃 Moreover； he was 〃culpable 。 。 。。
rebellious； condemned by public opinion； and Providence itself seems
to have abandoned him to the irrevocable decrees of its vengeance。〃
… As to the taking of the forts； nothing is more legitimate。 〃These
places were in the hands of the enemies of the State； while now they
are in the hands of the defenders of the Constitution of the empire。
Woe to whoever would take them from us again； to convert them into a
focus of counter…revolution 〃 … M。 de Miran； commandant of the
province； has； it is true； made a demand for them。 But； 〃is it not
somewhat pitiable to see the requisition of a Sieur de Miran； made
in the name of the King he betrays； to surrender to his Majesty's
troops places which； henceforth in our hands； guarantee public
security to the nation； to the law； and to the King？〃 In vain does
the King； at the request of the National Assembly；＇34＇ order the
municipality to restore the forts to the commandants； and to make
the National