History of the French Revolution ... Translated by J. Dixon

Chapter I

Political and moral stale of France at the end of the eighteenth century.— Accession of Louis XVI. — Maurepas, Turgot, and Necker, ministers. — Calonne, Assembly of the Notables. — De Brienne minister. — Opposition of the Parliament, its exile and its recal. — The Duke of Orleans exiled.— Arrest of the Councillor d'Esprem&nil. — Necker is recalled, and displaces De Brienne. — New Assembly of the Notables. — Discussions relative to the States-general. — Formation of Clubs Causes of the Revolution First elections of deputies to the States-general. — Burning of Reveillon's house. — -The Duke of Orleans, his character - - - - *.

Chapter II

Convocation and opening of the States-general. — Discussions upon the powers and upon individual voting, or voting by orders. — The order of the third estate declares itself a national assembly. — The States-hall is closed ; the deputies repair to another locality. — Oath of the Tennis-court. — Royal sitting of the 23rd June. — The Assembly continues its deliberations in opposition to the King's commands. — Definitive re-union of the three orders First operations of the Assembly — Popular agitations in Paris. — The people restore to liberty the guards imprisoned in the Abbaye. — Plot of the court ; troops approach Paris. — Dismissal of Necker. — The 12th, 13th and 14th of July.— The taking of the Bastille.— The King goes to the Assembly, and thence to Paris.— Recall of Necker 10

Chapter III

Operations of the municipality of Paris. — Lafayette commandant of the National Guard ; his character and the part he played in the Revolution. — Assassination of Foulon and of Berthier, — Return of Necker. — Situation and division of parties and their leaders. — Mirabeau; his character, his projects, and his genius. — The brigands. — Disturbances iu the provinces. — Night of the 4th of August. — Abolition of feudal rights and all privileges. — Declaration of the rights of man. — Discussion upon the constitution and upon the veto. - - 26

Chapter IV

Intrigues of the Court. — Banquet of the Body-guards and of the officers of the Regiment of Flanders at Versailles.- Days of 4th, 5th, and 6th of October ; tumultuous and bloody scenes. — Attack upon the Palace of Versailles by the multitude. — The King comes to remain in Paris. — State of parties. — The Duke of Orleans quits France. — Negotiations of Mirabeau with the Court. — The Assembly removes to Paris. — Law upon the property of the clergy. — Civic oath. — Treaty of Mirabeau with the Court. — The affair of Favras. — Counter-revolutionary plans, <Scc. 38

Chapter V

Political state and tendencies of the Foreign Powers in 1-790. — Discussions upon the right of peace and war. — First institution of the paper-money or assignats. — Judicial organization. — Civil constitution of the clergy — Abolition of the titles of nobility. — Anniversary of the 14th of July ; fete of the first federation. — Revolt of the troops at Nancy Retirement of Necker. — Plan of the Court and Mirabeau.— Formation of the camp ofJales - El

Chapter VI

Progress of the emigration. — The Castle of Vincennes attacked by the people. — Conspiracy of the " Chevaliers du Poignard." — Debate upon the law against emigrants. — Death of Mirabeau. — Counter-revolutionary intrigues. — Flight of the King and his family ; he is arrested at Varennes and brought back to Paris. — Dispositions of Foreign Powers ; preparations of the emigrants. — Declaration of Pilnitz. — Martial law proclaimed at the Champ de Mars. The King accepts the constitution. — Closing of the Constituent Assembly - - - 62

Chapter VII

Criticism upon the Constitutive Assembly.— Opening of the second National Assembly, called the Legislative Assembly ; its composition.— State of the clubs ; their influential members.— Petion, mayor of Paris.— Policy of Foreign Powers.— Emigration ; decrees against emigrants and unsworn priests.— Modifications in the ministry.—. Preparations for war j state of the army - - - - - - - -78

Chapter VIII

Division of parties upon the question of war.— The part of the Duke of Orleans and his party— The emigrant Princes accused —Formation of a Girondist ministry.— Dumouriez, his character, genius, and projects ; details with respect to the new ministers.— Dumouriez's interview with the Queen — Declaration of war against the King of Hungary and Bohemia.— First military operations.— Affairs of Quitorain and Tournay.— Assassination of General Dillon 64

Chapter IX

Divisions in tho Girondist ministry.— The pretended Austrian committee.— Decree for the formation of a camp of 20 000 men near Paris.— Roland's letter to the King.— Retirement of the Girondist ministers ; resignation of Dumouriez'— Formation of a Feuillant ministry.— Projects of the constitutional party ; Lafayette's letter to the Assembly —Position of the popular party and of its leaders ; plans of the Southern deputies ; Petion s part in the events of *une— Occurrence of the 20th of June, 1702 ; insurrection of the Faubourgs - - - »1

Chapter X

Results of the events of the 20th of June.-Arrival of Lafayette in Paris ; his complaints to the Assembly-Rumours of war; approaching invasion of the Prussians; Vergmaud's speech— Reconciliation of all parties in the Assembly on the 7th of July .-The country declared in danger.-The department suspends the mayor, Petion CmY™ functions-Threatening addresses against royalty-Lafayette proposes to the King a plan of escape -Third anniversary of the 14th of July ; description of the fSte— Preludes to a new revolution— Insurrectional committee-Particular, of the most celebrated revolutionists at this period* Cam.lle-Desmoulins, Marat Robespierre, and Danton— Projects of the King's friends to save him.-Proceed.ngs of the Girondist, &-. 105

Chapter XI

Arrival of £« =^~AÆÆ^^ withdraws to the assembly; suspension of the royal power; convocation of a National Convention US CONTENTS. Fid

Chapter XII

Result and termination of the 10th of August.— Recall of the Girondist ministry ; Danton appointed minister of justice.— Condition of the Royal Family.— Position of parties within and without the Assembly after the 10th of August.— Organization and influence of the Commune.— Erection of an extraordinary criminal tribunal. — State of the armies after the 10th of August; Lafayette's resistance to the new government.— Dumouriez's position.— The taking of Longwy by the Prussians ; agitation in Paris at the news.- Revolutionary measures taken by the commune ; arrest of the suspected.— Massacres in the prisons on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th of September.— Seen ed and circumstances of these bloody days. -

Chapter XIII

Campaign of the Argonne. — Dumouriez's military plans.— Taking of the Camp of Grand-Prfe by the Prussians. — Victory of Valmy.— Retreat of the Allies ; reports as to the causes of this retreat - 152

Chapter XIV

Fre6h massacre of prisoners at Versailles. — Abuse of power and embezzlements of the commune. — Election of deputies to the Convention. — The Paris deputies.— Position and projects of the Girondists ; character of the leaders of this party ; of Federalism. — State of the Parisian party and of the commune - 160

Chapter XV

Opening of the National Convention, the 30th of September, 1792; abolition of royalty ; establishment of the Republic— First struggle of the Girondists with the Mountainists ; denunciation of Robespierre and Marat. — Changes in the executive power. — Danton leaves the ministry *._--.. 160

Chapter XVI

Military situation at the end of October, 1792.— Bombardment of Lille by the Austrians.— Conquest of Savoy and of Nice. — Influence and organization of the Jacobin Clubs. — State of French society ; the salons of Paris. — Interview between Marat and Dumouriez. — Second struggle between the Girondists and the Mountainists ; Louvet denounces Robespierre ; Robespierre's reply.— First propositions with respect to the trial of Louis XVI. 173

Chapter XVII

Continuation of Dumouriez's military operations. — Modifications in the ministry ; Pache, minister of war. — Victory of Jemappes. — Taking of Ghent, Mons, Brussels, Namur and Antwerp ; conquest of Belgium as far as the Meuse. — Changes in the military administration ; Dumouriez's misunderstanding with the Convention and the ministers. — Our position at the Alps and the Pyrenees *-..-.-.-.- 186

Chapter XVIII

State of parties at the commencement of Louis XVI.'s trial. — Characters and opinions of the members of the ministry at this period, Roland, Pache, Lebrun, Garat, Monge, and Clavtere. — Details of the life of the royal family in the tower of the Temple.— Commencement of the discussion upon the committal to trial of Louis XVI.; Saint-Just's opinion. — Robespierre's speech upon the King's trial. — The Convention decrees that the King shall be tried by itself. — Papers found in the iron closet. — First interrogatory of the King to the Convention. — Position of the Duke of Orleans ; his banishment proposed *.----- 105

Chapter XIX

Continuation of the trial of Louis XVI. — His defence. — Tumultuous debates in the Convention. — Statement of the questions. — Louis XVI. is declared guilty and condemned to death, without appeal to the people. — Details upon the debates and votes. — Assassination of the deputy LepelMier Saint-Fargeau ; agitation in Paris. — Louis XVI. takes farewell of his family ; his last moments in prison and on the scaffold - - 211

Chapter XX

Position of parties after the death of Louis XVI. — Changes in the executive power. — Siruation of France with respect to Foreign Powers. — State of our armies in the north ; anarchy in Belgium, in consequence of the revotionary governmeut. — Dumouriez again comes to Paris. — Second coalition against France. — Levy of three hundred thousand men. — Invasion of Holland by Dumouriez. — Agitation of parties in the capital. — Continuation of the struggle between the- Girondists and the Mountainists. — Reverses of our armies in the north. — Revolutionary decrees for the defence of the country. — Establishment of the " Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal *' - 223

Chapter XXI

Continuation of our military reverses ; defeat of Neerwinden. — First negotiations of Dumouriez with the enemy.— Evacuation of Belgium. — First troubles in the west ; insurrectionary movements in La Vendee. — Revolutionary decrees ; disarming of the suspected. — Decree against the Bourbons. — The Duke of Orleans and his family put under arrest. — Changes in the command of the armies of the north and of the Rhine. — Bouchotte appointed minister of war in the room of Beurnonville dismissed - - - - - 241

Chapter XXII

Establishment of the " Committee of Public Safety." — Revival of the struggle between the two sides of the Assembly. — Robespierre's speech and accusation against the accomplices of Dumouriez and the Girondists. — Vergniaud's reply. — Marat sent before the revolutionary tribunal. — Opposition of the commune to the authority of the Assembly. — Marat acquitted and carried In triumph. — State of opinions and progress of the revolution in the provinces 251

Chapter XXIII

Levy of a Parisian army of twelve thousand men. — Accusations and menaces of the Jacobins; violent party struggle in the Convention.— Arrest of Hubert, deputy procureur of the commune. — Tumult and «enes of disorder in all the sections. — Principal events of tht 28th, 29th, and 30th of May, 1793. — Final struggle between the Mountainists and the Girondists. — Details and circumstances of the insurrection of the 31st of May ; twenty-nine Girondist deputies put under arrest. — Glance at the progress of the revolution. — Opinion upon the Girondists 263

Chapter XXIV

Projects of the Jacobins after the 31st of May.— Renewal of the committees and of the ministry.— Decrees of the Convention against the revolted departments.— Insurrectionary assemblages and armies in Bretagn*1 and Normandy. — Invasion of the frontiers on the east by the Allies.— Checks of the army of the Alps. — Situation of the army of the Pyrenees.— The Vendeans take Fontenay and Saumur.— Imminent danger to the Republic— Defeat of the Vendeans before Nantes.— Victory over the Spaniards in the Rousillon.— Marat assassinated by Charlotte Corday ; funeral honours paid to his memory ; trial and execution of Charlotte Corday - 286

Chapter XXV

Distribution of parties, since the 31st of May, in the Convention. — Robespierre's policy. — Events In La Vendee; defeat of Westermann at Chatillon, and of General Lebaroltere at Vihiera.— Siege and taking of Mentz by the Austrians and Prussians ; taking of Valenciennes - - - - - - 80ft CONTENTS. HI

Chapter XXVI. Pagb

Arrival and reception at Paris of the commissioners of the primary assemblies Retreat of the army of the north from Cæsar's camp — Extraordinary measures of public safety.— Decree for an universal levy - - 322

Chapter XXVII

Military movements in August and September, 1793— Investment of Lvons by the army of the Convention Treachery of Toulon, which gives Itself up to the English.— Defeat of forty thousand Vendeans at Luron— Siege of Dunkirk by the Duke of York.— Victory of Hondtschoote— Retreat of Canclaux upon Nantes.— Attacks upon the committee of public safety.— Decree organizing a revolutionary army of six thousand men Trial of Custine; his condemnation and execution.— Decree of accusation against the Girondists; arrest of sixty -three members of the Convention - ~ - _ _ . _ ._ ggc

Chapter XXVIII

Continuation of the siege of Lyons.— Victory of "Watignies— The blockade of Maubeuge raised.— Operations in La Vendee resumed ; victory of Chollct ; flight and dispersion of the Vendeans beyond the Loire ; death of the greater part of their chiefs. — Check upon the Rhine ; loss of the lines of Wissenbourg - 353

Chapter XXIX

Effects of the revolutionary laws. — Persecutions directed against the suspected. — Interior of the prisons in Paris. Marie-Antoinette is separated from her family, and removed to the Conciergerie ; she is condemned to death and executed. — Details of the trial and execution of the Girondists. — Execution of the Duke of Orleans of Bailly, and of Madame Roland. — General terror - ' . 354

Chapter XXX

Danton "s return. — Divisions in the Mountain party ; Dantonists and Hebertists. — Abolition of the worship of Reason. — Arrest of Ronsin, of Vincent, of the four deputies implicated in the falsified decree - - 383

Chapter XXXI

End of the campaign of 1793 ; retreat of the Austrians and Prussians. — Operations in the army of Italy. — Siege and taking of Toulon by the republican army. — Combats and checks in the Pyrenees. — Excursion of the Vendeans beyond the Loire. — Defeat of the Vendeans at Mans, and their complete destruction at Savenay - 391

Chapter XXXII

Continuation of the struggle between the Hebertists and the Dantonists. — Important reports of Robespierre and Saint-Just. — Arrest and death of Ronsin, Vincent, Hebert, Chaumette, Momoro, (See. — The committee of public safetv subject the Dantonists to the same fate. — Arrest, trial, and execution of Danton, Camille-Desmoulins, Philippeaux, Lacroix, Herault-Sechelles, Fabre-d'Eglantine, Chabot, &-c. - 404

Chapter XXXIII

— (VOLUME II.) Results of the late executions against the parties opposed to the government. — Decrees against the ex-nobles. — The ministries abolished, and replaced by commissions. — Robespierre's report, &c. - - 3

Chapter XXXIV

State of Europe at the commencement of the year 1794 (year II.) — Universal preparations for war. — Pitt's policy. — Plans of the allies and of the French. — State of our armies and onr navy. — Naval battle, &c. - - 11

Consequences of the 9th Thermidor. — Two parties formed, the Mountainists and Thermidorians. — Report on the state of France. — Remains of Marat removed to the Pantheon, and put in the place of those of Mirabeau, See. 57

Chapter Xxxviii

Resumption of military operations. — Battles of the Ourte and of the Roer. — Occupation of the whole line of the Rhine. — Situation of the armies of the Alps and Pyrenees. — State of La Vendee, of Bretagne. — War of the Chouans. — Communications between the Royalist party, the French princes, and the foreigners, Sec. - 73

Chapter XXXIX

Administrative reforms in all the provinces. — The Thermidorian party. — The salons of Paris. — Struggles between the two parties in the sections. — Violence of tlie revolutionary party at the Jacobins and the electoral club. — Trial of Carrier. — Agitation in Paris and increasing exasperation of the two parties.— Condemnation and execution of Carrier. — Prosecutions commenced against Billaud-Varennes, Collot-d'Herbois, and Ban-ere - 80

Chapter XL

Continuation of the war on the Rhine.— Conquest of Holland by Pichegru— Prussia and the Allied Powers ask for peace.— State of La Vendee and of Bretagne.— Measures taken by Hoche for the pacification of La Vend6e. — Negotiations with the Vendean chiefs - - - - - - -95

Chapter XLI

Reopening of the salons, &c— Scarcity of provisions in the winter of the year III.— Restoration of the Girondist deputies.— Deportation of Barrere,BiHaud-Varenm*s,and Collot-d'Herbois.— Arrest of several Mountainist deputies 106

Chapter XLII

Continuation of the Bale negotiations.— Treaty of peace with Holland.— Treaty of peace with Prussia.— Policy of Austria.— Peace with Tuscany.— Negotiations with La Vendee and Bretagne— Slofflet continues the war- Simulated piece of the insurgent chiefs in Bretagne.— First pacification of La Vendee.— State of Austria and of England ; Pitt's plans ; debates in the English Parliament— Preparations of the coalition for another campaign Iv CONTENTS. Paos

Chapter XLIII

Increase of party feeling.— Another conspiracy of the patriots.— Massacre in the prisons at Lyons.— Assassination of the representative F^raud.— Condemnation and execution of the representatives Romme, Gonjon, Duquesnoy, Duroi, &c. compromised in the insurrection.— Disarming of the patriots and destruction of that party - 136

Chapter XLIV

Situation of the armies in the north, &c.— The first treasonable projects of Pichegru.— State of La Vendee and Bretagne.— Destruction of the royalist armies by Hoche, &c— Passage of the Rhine by the French armies, &c. 154

Chapter XLV

Proceedings of the royalist party in the sections.— Return of the emigrants.— Persecution of the patriots.— Revolt of the Paris sections against the Convention, Sec— Closing of the National Convention, &c. - - 151

Chapter XLVI

Nomination of the five directors.— Hostilities resumed in Bretagne and La Vendee.— Arrival of an English squadron on the western coast.— Louis XVI.'s daughter given up to the Austrians in exchange for the representatives given up by Dumouriez.— Battle of the Loano— The Ile-Dieu expedition.— Departure of the English squadron 187

Internal state of France.- -Attack on the Grenelle camp by the Jacobins. — Negotiations in Ireland.— March of Bonaparte upon the Brenta ; battles of Roveredo, See. — Jourdan's return to the Maine. — Moreau's retreat - 243

Chapter L

Internal ard external situation of France after the retreat of the armies from Germany at the commencement of the year V. — Pitt's combinations. — Peace with Naples and Genoa. — Clarke's mission t® Vienna. — Battle of Arcole 264

Chapter LI

Clarke at the head-quarters of the army of Italy. — Breaking off of the negotiations with the English cabinet. — The expedition to Ireland. — Final attempt of Austria upon Italy. — Victories of Rivoli and of La Favorita, &c. 276

Chapter LII

Situation of the government in the winter of the year V. (1797). — Plot by Brottier, Laville-Heurnois, andDuverne de Presle discovered. — Glance at the position of the foreign powers at the opening of the campaign of 1797, &c. 288

Chapter LIII

State of our armies at the opening of the campaign of 1797. — Bonaparte's march against the Roman States. — Passage of the Julian Alps. — March upon Verona.— Massacre at Verona. — Fall of the republic of Venice, &c. - 298

Stabof the administration of the Republic— Military preparations.— Declaration of war against Austria.— Opening of the campaign of 1799.— Battle of Stockach— Assassination of the French plenipotentiaries at Rastadt, -Sec. - 414

Chapter LXI

Continuation of the campaign of 1 79*9.— Arrival of Suwarow in I taly— Battle of Cassano— Battle of the Trebbia.— Coalition of all parties against the Directory.— Revolution of the 30th Prairial, S_c. 430

CHAPTER LXI

I. Formation of the new Directory— Moulins and Roger-Ducos replace Lartvellierc and Merlin— Changes in the ministry.— New military plans.— Resumption ol hostilities In Italy; Joubert general-in-chief ; battle of Novi, and death ol Joubert— Landing of the English and Russians in Holland, Sec. - - - 442