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clubs； a club had been organized； had complied with all the
formalities； and； like the 〃 Club des Monarchiens〃 at Paris； claimed
the same right of meeting as the others。 But here； as at Paris； the
Jacobins recognize no rights but for themselves alone； and refuse to
admit their adversaries to the privileges of the law。 Moreover；
alarming rumors are circulated。 A person who has arrived from Nice
states that he had 〃heard that there were twenty thousand men
between Turin and Nice； under the pay of the emigrants； and that at
Nice a neuvaine＇47＇ was held in Saint Fran？ois…de…Paule to pray God
to enlighten the French。〃 A counter…revolution is certainly under
way。 Some of the aristocrats have stated 〃with an air of triumph；
that the National Guard and municipalities are a mere toy； and that
this sort of thing will not last long。〃 One of the leading members
of the new club； M。 de Guiraitiand； an old officer of seventy…eight
years； makes speeches in public against the National Assembly； tries
to enlist artisans in his party； 〃affects to wear a white button on
his hat fastened by pins with their points jutting out；〃 and； as it
is stated； he has given to several mercers a large order for white
cockades。 In reality； on examination； not one is found in any shop；
and all the dealers in ribbons； on being interrogated； reply that
they know of no transaction of that description。 But this simply
proves that the culprit is a clever dissimulator； and the more
dangerous because he is eager to save the country。 … On the 12th of
December； at four o'clock in the afternoon； the two Jacobin clubs
fraternise； and pass in long procession before the place of meeting；
〃where some of the members； a few officers of the Lyons regiment and
other individuals； are quietly engaged at play or seeing others
play。〃 The crowd hoot； but they remain quiet。 The procession passes
by again； and they hoot and shout； 〃Down with the aristocrats to the
lamp post with them！ 〃 Two or three of the officers standing on the
threshold of the door become irritated； and one of them； drawing his
sword； threatens to strike a young man if he keeps on。 Upon this
the crowd cries out； 〃Guard！ Help！ An assassin！〃 and rushes at the
officer； who withdraws into the house； exclaiming； 〃To arms！〃 His
comrades； sword in hand； descend in order to defend the door； M。 de
Guiramand fires two pistol shots and receives a stab in the thigh。
A shower of stones smashes in the windows； and the door is on the
point of being burst open when several of the members of the club
save themselves by taking to the roof。 About a dozen others； most
of them officers； form in line； penetrate the crowd with uplifted
swords； strike and get struck； and escape； five of them being
wounded。 The municipality orders the doors and windows of the club…
house to be walled up； sends the Lyons regiment away； decrees the
arrest of seven officers and of M。 de Guiramand； and all this in a
few hours； with no other testimony than that of the conquerors。
But these prompt； vigorous and partial measures are not sufficient
for the Jacobin club； other conspirators must be seized； and it is
the club which designates them and goes to take them。 … Three months
before this； M。 Pascalis； an advocate； on addressing along with
some of his professional brethren the dissolved parliament； deplored
the blindness of the people； 〃exalted by prerogatives of which they
knew not the danger。〃 A man who dared talk in this way is evidently
a traitor。 … There is another； M。 Morellet de la Roquette； who
refused to join the proscribed club。 His former vassals； however；
had been obliged to bring an action against him to make him accept
the redemption of his feudal dues； also； six years before this； his
carriage； passing along the public promenade； had run over a child；
he likewise is an enemy of the people。 While the municipal officers
are deliberating； 〃a few members of the club〃 get together and
decide that M。 Pascalis and M。 de la Roquette must be arrested。
At eleven o'clock at night eighty trustworthy National Guards； led
by the president of the club； travel a league off to seize them in
their beds and lodge them in the town prison。 … Zeal of this kind
excites some uneasiness； and if the municipality tolerates the
arrests； it is because it is desirous of preventing murder。
Consequently； on the following day； December 13th； it sends to
Marseilles for four hundred men of the Swiss Guard commanded by
Ernest； and four hundred National Guards； adding to these the
National Guard of Aix； and orders this company to protect the prison
against any violence。 But； along with the Marseilles National
Guards； there came a lot of armed people who are volunteers of
disorder。 On the afternoon of the 13th the first mob strives to
force the prison； and the next day； fresh squads congregate around
it demanding the head of M。 Pascalis。 The members of the club head
the riot with 〃a crowd of unknown men from outside the town； who
give orders and carry them out。〃 During the night the populace of
Aix are tampered with； and the dikes all give way at the same
moment。 At the first clamors the National Guard on duty on the
public promenade disband and disperse； while； as there is no signal
for the assemblage of the others； notwithstanding the regulations；
the general alarm is not sounded。 〃The largest portion of the
National Guard draws off so as not to appear to authorize by its
presence outrages which it has not been ordered to prevent。
Peaceable Citizens are in great consternation；〃 each one takes to
flight or shuts himself up in his house； the streets being deserted
and silent。 Meanwhile the prison gates are shattered with axes。
The procureur…syndic of the department； who requests the commandant
of the Swiss regiment to protect the prisoners； is seized； borne
off； and runs the risk of losing his life。 Three municipal officers
in their scarves； who arrive on the ground； dare not give the order
required by the commandant。 At this decisive moment； when it is
necessary to shed blood and kill a number of men； they obviously
fear to take the responsibility； their reply is； 〃We have no orders
to give。〃 … An extraordinary spectacle now presents itself in this
barrack courtyard surrounding the prison。 On the side of the law
stand eight hundred armed men； four hundred of the 〃Swiss〃 and four
hundred of the National Guard of Marseilles。 They are drawn up in
battle array； with guns to their shoulders； with special orders
repeated the evening before at three different times by the
municipal district and departmental authorities and they have the
sympathies of all honest people and of most of the National Guard。
But the legal indispensable phrase does not pass the lips of those
who by virtue of the Constitution should utter it； and a small group
of convicts are found to be sovereign。 The three municipal
officers are seized in their turn under the eyes of thei