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federation for the 10th of August following; and goes off to
fraternize with the battalions in the PalaisRoyal; in battle array
against each other through the calumnies of the Commune; and which;
set right at the last moment; now embrace instead of cutting each
other's throats。
This time; again; the advantage is on the side of the Commune。 Not
only have many of its requirements been converted into decrees; but
again; its revolutionary baptism remains in full force; its executive
committee is tacitly recognized; the new government performs its
functions; its usurpations are endorsed; its general; Henriot; keeps
command of the entire armed force; and all its dictatorial measures
are carried out without let or hindrance。 There is another reason
why they should be maintained and aggravated。 〃Your victory is only
half…won;〃 writes Hébert in his Père Duchesne; 〃all those bastards of
intriguers still live! 〃 On the evening of the 31st of May the
Commune issues warrants of arrest against the ministers Clavière and
Lebrun; and against Roland and his wife。 That same evening and
throughout the following day and night; and again the day after; the
Committees of Supervision of the forty…eight sections; according to
instructions from the H?tel…de…ville'148' study the lists of their
quarters;'149' add new names to these; and send commissaries to disarm
and arrest the suspected。 Whoever has spoken against revolutionary
committees; or disapproved of the assaults of the 31st of May; or not
openly shown himself on the 10th of August; or voted on the wrong side
in the old Legislative Assembly; might be arrested。 It is a general;
simultaneous raid; in all the streets we see nothing but people seized
and under escort sent to prison; or put before the section committee。
〃Anti…patriotic〃 journalists are arrested first of all; the entire
impression of their journals being additionally confiscated; and the
journal suppressed; the printing…rooms of Gorsas are sacked; seals
placed on his presses;'150' and Prudhomme himself is locked up。 All
resistance is overcome in the Contrat…Social; Fraternity; Marais and
Marseilles sections; leaving the Commune free; as far as the street is
concerned; to recommence its attack on the Convention。 〃Lists of sans…
culottes workmen〃 have been drawn up in each section; and six francs a
head is allowed them; payable by the Convention; as indemnity for
their temporary suspension from work;'151' this is a premium offered
to voters; and as nothing is more potent than cash in hand; Pache
provides the funds by diverting 150;000 francs intended for the
colonists in San Domingo; the whole day on the 2nd of June; trusted
men go about among the ranks distributing five…franc assignats。'152'
Vehicles loaded with supplies accompany each battalion; the better to
keep the men under arms;'153' the stomach needs filling up; and a pint
of wine is excellent for strengthening patriotic sentiment。 Henriot
has ordered back from Courbevoie the battalions of volunteers which a
few days before had been enlisted for La Vendée;'154' crooked
adventurers and looters; later known as 〃the heroes of the 500
francs。〃 Besides these he has under his thumb Rosenthal's hussars; a
body of German veterans who do not understand French; and will remain
deaf to any legal summons。 Finally; he surrounds the Convention with
a circle of picked sans…culottes; especially the artillerists; the
best of Jacobins;'155' who drag along with them the most formidable
park of artillery; 163 cannons; with grates and charcoal to heat the
balls。 The Tuileries is thus encircled by bands of roughs and
fanatics; the National Guard; five or six times as many;'156' brought
out 〃to give an appearance of a popular movement to the proceedings of
five or six thousand bandits;〃 cannot come to the aid of the
Convention; it being stationed out of reach; beyond the Pont Tournant;
which is raised; and behind the wooden fence separating the Carrousel
from the palace。 Kept in its position by its orders; merely serving
as a stationary piece of scenery; employed against itself unbeknown to
itself;'157' it can do no more than let the factionists act who serve
as its advanced guard。 Early in the morning the vestibules; stairs
and passages in the hall of the convention have been invaded by the
frequenters of the galleries and the women under pay。 The commandant
of the post; with his officers; have been confined by 〃men with
moustaches;〃 armed with sabers and pistols; the legal guard has been
replaced with an extraordinary guard;'158' and the deputies are
prisoners。 If one of them is obliged to go out for a moment; it is
under the supervision of four fusiliers; 〃who conduct him; wait for
him; and bring him back。〃'159' Others; in trying to look out the
windows; are aimed at; the venerable Dussaulx is struck; and Boissy
d'Anglas; seized by the throat; returns with his cravat and shirt all
in shreds。 For six hours by the clock the Convention is under arrest;
and when the decree is passed; ordering the removal of the armed force
bearing upon it; Henriot replies to the officer who notifies him of
it: 〃Tell your damned president that he and his Assembly may go to
hell。 If he don't surrender the Twenty…two in an hour; I'll send him
there!〃'160'
In the hall the majority; abandoned by its recognized guides and its
favorite spokesmen; grows more and more feeble from hour to hour。
Brissot; Pétion; Guadet; Gensonné; Buzot; Salle; Grangeneuve; and
others; two…thirds of the Twenty…two; kept away by their friends;
remain at home。'161' Vergniaud; who had come; remains silent; and
then leaves; the 〃Mountain;〃 probably; gaining by his absence; allows
him to pass out。 Four other Girondists who remain in the Assembly to
the end; Isnard; Dussaulx; Lauthenas; and Fauchet; consent to resign;
when the generals give up their swords; the soldiers soon lay down
their arms。 Lanjuinais; alone; who is not a Girondist; but a Catholic
and Breton; speaks like a man against this outrageous attack on the
nation's representatives They rush at him and assail him in the
tribune; the butcher; Legendre; simulating 〃the cleaver's blow;〃 cries
out to him; 〃Come down or I'll knock you down! A group of Montagnards
spring forward to help Legendre; and one of them claps a pistol to his
throat;'162' he clings fast to the tribune and strives in vain; for
his party around him are losing courage。 At this moment Barrère;
remarkable for expedients; proposes to the Convention to adjourn; and
hold the session 〃amidst the armed force that will afford it
protection。〃'163' All other things failing; the majority avails itself
of this last straw。 It rises in a body; in spite of the vociferations
in the galleries; descends the great staircase; and proceeds to the
entrance of the Carrousel。 There the Montagnard president; Hérault…
Séchelles; reads the decree of Henriot; which enjoins him to withdraw;
and he officially and correctly summons him in the usual way。 But a
large number of the Montagnards have followed the majority; and are
there to encourage the insurrection; Danton takes Henriot's hand and
tells him; in a low voice; 〃Go ahead; don't be afraid; we want to show
that the Assembly is free; be firm。〃'164' At this the tall bedizened
gawky recovers his assurance; and in his husky voice; he addresses the
president: 〃Hérault; the people have not come here to listen to big
words。 You are a good patriot 。 。 。 Do you promise on your head that
the Twenty…two shall be given up in twenty…four hours?〃 〃No。〃
〃Then; in that case; I am not responsible。 To arms; cannoneers; make
your guns ready!〃 The cannoneers take their lighted matches; 〃the
cavalry draw their sabers; and the infantry aim at the deputies。〃'165'
Forced back on this side; the unhappy Convention turns to the left;
passes through the archway; follows the broad avenue through the
garden; and advances to the Pont…Tournant to find an outlet。 There is
no outlet; the bridge is raised; and everywhere the barrier of pikes
and bayonets remains impenetrable; shouts of 〃Vive la Montagne! vive
Marat! To the guillotine with Brissot; Vergniaud; Guadet and Gensonné!
Away with bad blood!〃 greet the deputies on all sides; and the
Convention; similar to a flock of sheep; in vain turns round and round
in its pen。 At this moment; to get them back into the fold; Marat;
like a barking dog; runs up as fast as his short legs will allow;
followed by his troop of tatterdemalions; and exclaims: 〃Let all loyal
deputies return to their posts!〃 With bowed heads; they mechanically
return to the hall; it is immediately closed; and they are once more
in confinement。 To assist them in their deliberations a crowd of the
well…disposed entered pell…mell along with them。 To watch them and
hurry on the matter; the sans…culottes; with fixed bayonets;
gesticulate and threaten them from the galleries。 Outside and inside;
necess