The French Revolution: a political history, 1789-1804

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CHAPTER I. Preparations for the Dethronement op Louis XVI. 31

I. Measures taken by the Legislative Assembly against the ToyBl power. — II. Public opinion in France in July and August, 1792. — III. The Federals.— IV. The Parisian journals and Republicanism. — ^V. Sectional agitation. — VI. The attitude of the Legislative Assembly.

CHAPTER II. The Throne Falls : Democracy Established . . 68

I. Louis XVI. is suspended. — II. Organisation of the Executive Power. The Revolutionary Commune. — III. Universal Suffrage.

6 CONTENTS

Chapter III. Pagb

The Evolution of Political Ideas from August ioth

TO September 22nd . . . . • 79

I. Provincial France subscribes to the Revolution of August loth. — II. The movement against Louis XVI. and against royalty. — III. The attitude of the Legislative Assembly. — IV. The attitude of the people of Paris. — V. Journals and pamphlets. — ^VI. Elections to the Convention in Paris.— VII. Th^ J acobin Cl ub.— VIII. The republican movement in the provinces. — IX. Elections of deputies to the Convention. — ^X. The republican movement in these elections. — ^XI. Proposals for taking another King. — XII. Schemes for the organisation of the Republic.

Chapter IV

I. Abolition of Royalty (September 21, 1792). — II. The establishment of the Republic (September 22, i792).-^ III. How the public welcomed the new Government.

Chapter V

I. Condorcefs proposal. — II, Public opinion. — III. The debates in the Convention on the proposal of Condorcet. —IV. The proposal of Herault de Sechelles.— V. Discussion and adoption of de Sechelles' proposal.— ^VI. General character of the Constitution of 1793.— ^VII. Adjournment * of the Constitution.

PAOB

Contents

CHAPTEgja,

The Revolutionary Government before the grn op

ThBRMIDOR . . . . • .211

Chapter VII. Royalism Before The 9th Of Th£rmid0r • • 296

I. Royalism in France at the outset of the Republic. —

II. Royalism in the insurgent districts: La Vendee, Lyons, Toulon. Attitude of the Comte de Provence. —

III. Royalism in the non-insurgent provinces^

N

J

II The Democratic Republic

1792—1795

/ ' Of 'It

; v.V.VEPSiT.

A CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS, JULY, 1792, TO SEPTEMBER, 1793.

BY THE TRANSLATOR lULY 7. The scene of the " Kiss of Lamourette " (see Vol. I.).

The King confirms the suspension of Petion and Manuel.

Although the King has vetoed the decree which would establish an armed camp in front of Paris, the communes of France are enrolling volunteers and despatching them to Paris. The War Department orders the municipalities to withhold these men, and to turn them back; but in spite of this a certain number are despatched ; ostensibly to celebrate the Federation Festival on the 14th, but really to be sent to Soissons or the frontiers. These Federals are in many cases armed and equipped by the local Jacobin Societies.

The King promises to be present at the Champ de Mars on the 14th.

Meanwhile Brunswick is at Coblentz with a large army of Prussians and imigris, preparing to march. II. The Assembly decrees that France shall be declared to be in danger, as an appeal to the whole nation, invasion being threatened on every side.

13. Petion is re-installed as Mayor.

14. The Champ de Mars is prepared for the Federation Festival. There are tents for Louis and the Assembly (it rained at the previous Festival), and eighty-three Trees of Liberty, one for each department. There are thousands of spectators, but few Federals ; the ceremony is a tame affair. The cry of the day, although Louis takes the new oath, is everywhere Vive Petion I

Many of the Federals bear petitions demanding the establishment of a National Executive and the suspension of the King.

Since the 5th a battalion of five hundred Marseillais has

been marching towards Paris, singing the famous Hymn

La Marseillaise.

u

Invasion is more than ever imminent ; the Assembly is already divided, and the executive weak.

July 21. Paul Jones, the brilliant naval adventurer, is buried to-day.

The Legislative Committee has reported that there is no ground for impeaching Lafayette ; much to the indignation of the people.

Shops are closed, and the sections march through the streets while the tocsin is rung. 22. The Country is declared in Danger. The municipal officers turn out in their insignia; cannon are fired, bells rung, flags flown ; guards are posted, processions formed ; after the processions tents are erected in the public places of all the sections; and the municipal officers commence to enrol volunteers. This enrolment continues day after day. The proclamation is made throughout the country. Ten thousand volunteers are on their way to Paris within a few days.

Besides defenders, the country needs a strong executive. As a provisional measure the sections and primary assemblies declare themselves in permanent session, and are made so by decree on the 25th.

25. Brunswick marches from Coblentz, and publishes his famous Manifesto. This invites the French people to rally round Brunswick and the imigris in support of the King, and charges the Assembly to hold all fortified places and cities till Brunswick's army can take them over. All National Guards found in arms will be shot as traitors.

The country still lacking a powerful executive, such Federal Guards as remain in Paris form a permanent committee at the Jacobins ; and the forty-eight sections have formed a Central Conmiittee sitting in the Hotel de Ville.

26. The Brest Federals arrive.

29. The five hundred Marseillais reach Paris, and in the evening collide with the Grenadiers of Filles-Saint-Thomas. Aug. 3. As a result of Brunswick's impolitic manifesto, the people and the Jacobins are urgent as to the paramount necessity of dethroning the King. This feeling rapidly grows until it amounts to a national movement The Girondists see the necessity of suspension at least; though some would displace Louis in favour of his child. The Girondists fear mob rule; the Jacobins fear national destruction. The gulf between the bourgeoisie and the democrats grows wider ; the former having lost their chance, if ever they had it, of leading the people instead of attempting to check them. 3. The Municipality petitions the Assembly for a decree of

SUMMARY OF EVENTS 13

forfeiture. Forty-seven of the sections have agreed to it. Danton requests all passive citizens to take their places in the sectional assemblies.

Aug. 5. Louis holds his last levee. It is proposed to carry him to Rouen, there to rally the royalists atx>ut him ; but he hangs back at the last moment, not believing the insurrection to be imminent.

8. The Assembly absolves La Fayette. There are riots around the Salle de Manege. The mob is more than ever distrustful of the Assembly, which represents France, not Paris.

9. The dethronement not being yet decreed, the patriots of the sections take counsel together. They declare that unless Louis be dethroned to-day they will at midnight attack the Tnileries. It is decided to dismiss Petion and to replace the General Council of the Commune by an insurrectionary municipality.

Paris does not go to bed. All the troops the Court feels confidence in are posted about the city. All the bells of the city are rung. By the dawn of the loth all the

I 0/< patriots" of Paris are armed and in the streets. The troops are unreliable. Mandat, the commander of the National Guard, who was to defend the Tuileries, has been murdered in the streets. Louis attempts to review the defending troops; they shout Vive la Nation f He takes refuge, with the Royal Family, with the Assembly; the reporter's tx>z and three small rooms being assigned to them.

The Swiss Guards at the Tuileries, being pressed, fire ; after considerable bloodshed Louis sends them an order to cease firing. They cease; but the besiegers still fire. The Swiss try to escape in various directions, but are cut up. The patriot besiegers have lost thousands. The new Municipality enters the hall of the Assembly and finally demands the decree of dethronement. It is passed unanimously. Louis is removed to the Temple prison.

18. La Fayette leaves his army, which was about to send him to Paris, as he had tried to incite them to oppose the Jacobin mob-rule, the advantages of which, in the dangerous state of the country, he could not see. He escapes to Holland, but is impHsoned for four years.

26. The primary assemblies meet for the Convention elections. -^

J9. News reaches Paris that La Vendee has risen. An uncivilised country of superstitious peasants and petty nobles, the ancien rigime still obtains there. The insurrection is

U A CHRONOLOGICAL

chiefly clerical, the people ref using to give op their priests, who have refused to take the dvil oath ; but the royalists soon join it, as they do almost every insurrection. The Prussians hold the country around Metz ; Longwy has fallen ; Spain threatens the south, Sardinia the south-east Enlistment is still hurried on; but there is a dearth of arms, clothing, and supplies. Danton demands a domiciliary search for arms ; in the course of which many real and suppositious royalists are arrested, and the prisons fill. Sept. Brunswick arrives before Verdun with 6o/x)o troops. Beaurepaire, the General in command of the French, commits suicide, finding that the municipality have determined to ofiEer no resistance. Brunswick occupies Verdun and advances forty miles into France. Dumouriez is at Sedan, defending the Forest of Argonne, a wooded mountain range forty miles in length with but few practicable passes.

Paris is already in deadly fear of treachery and royalist plots. The news of Verdun reaches Paris before the fact The city is alarmed by tocsin 'and gunfire. Placards inciting to enlistment are posted. There is a state of panic. The Assembly suggests retiring to Saumur. Danton refuses to listen. They must remain in Paris to intimidate their enemies. " What we need is boldness, and again boldness, and still, alwajrs boldness t " Marat suggests as a serious measure the assassination of 200,000 aristocrats. Regarded by some as a criminal lunatic, he is yet to be seriously reckoned with ; he has a way of keeping the dregs of the people up to fever-pitch. The Commune enrols thousands of volunteers to march at once to the frontiers.

In the afternoon of this same day certain non-juring priests are being driven from another prison to the Abbaye. They are mobbed ; one strikes a man who is trying to prevent him from closing the blinds of the carriage. Next moment the mob tears them from their carriages and massacres them.

From this moment the September Massacres begin ; they last four days. They are tiie work of three hundred men, savage fanatics or habitual criminals, employed and paid by the Commune. It is hard to fix the responsibility upon any one person or persons; but there Qiust have been premeditation, and Marat and Robespierre were probably more guilty than any. A so-called impromptu Court is formed in the Abbaye prison ; the prisoners are brought

SUMMARY OP EVENTS 15

forward ; the great majority accused of ro3raIism are *' convicted/' thrust from the prison gates, and cut down in the street. The same process is repeated in all the seven prisons of Paris; even the common criminals of Bicetre and the Salpetriere do not escape. The Princess de Lamballe is among those killed and mutilated. It is said that the dead number 1,089.

Roland attempts to stop the killing in vain. The National Guards seem loth to interfere; some, indeed, assist Petion is powerless; the mob is savagely frightened and out of hand. The Commune pays the butchers "for preserving the healthfulness of the air in the prisons/' and also pays those "presiding over these dangerous operations." The dead are carted away in heaps and are buried in lime.

On the 3rd Panis, Sergent, Marat, and others publish from the Hotel de Ville a manifesto addressed to the municipalities of France, inciting them to imitate the prison massacres of Paris. The suggestion is ignored. But a number of prisoners being brought from Orleans to Paris, there to be tried, are butchered in the streets by the people of Versailles.

Meanwhile Dumouriez has blocked the passes of the Argonne and holds Brunswick in check.

Sept. 20. Finally the Prussians take the hills above Sainte-Menehould, near the mill of Valmy ; the French take up a position across the valley, with eighteen pieces of artillery. The French are successful after a long day's fight. This is the famous cannonade of Valmy,

21. On the 2ist the Convention is constituted. It is decreed that the corner-stone of the Constitution is the sovereignty of the people ; and that the Constitution must be subjected to the sanction of the people ; that the taxes shall be continued until the new order of things is established ; that property shall be considered sacred ; that royalty shall be abolished, and France constituted a republic.

Brunswick is in retreat Thionville, besi^ed, holds out

22. An Executive Council of Ministers is created, and the whole administration of the country is rapidly " purged ** of royalists. A Committee of Constitution is created; universal suffrage is to be the basis of the Constitution.

The Convention originally supposed its duty to be simply to create a Constitution, and then to dissolve. But from the first there are two great parties : the philosophical theoretical, cultured party, the Girondins ; well-meaning and honest men, but 3rielding stiffly to the expediency and opportunism demanded by the times, and inclined, indeed anxious, to exclude the unthinking masses from their calculations ; and the Mountain, the Jacobins and demagogues, with some honest but sternly practical men among them; who see the paramount importance of national defence, and must therefore gain the confidence and interest of the people, at the cost of being overpowered by them ; a party consisting largely of men of the people, and therefore to be swayed by demagogues; a party finally to be mastered by fear, vengeance, and the ambition of Robespierre.

The September Massacres are mentioned in the Convention. Law-abiding deputies would like to see the instigators brought to justice. In vain ; the whole Mountain would suffer ; the Convention is overawed by the Commune.

This arouses the just indignation of the Girondists, The representatives of the French people must not be the slaves of the self-appointed rulers of the Parisian mob. The Convention must have might as well as right ; it must have a National Guard from all eighty-three departments Sept. 25. A decree to this e£Fect is passed. The Guards once enlisted, the massacres shall be looked into. Here is an apple of discord ! The decree is repealed, passed again, partly executed, repealed again ; the scheme fails after dragging along for seven months.

The Convention fears a dictator, fears anarchy ; suspects and fears Robespierre; denounces Marat's journal; a decree of accusation against Marat is nearly passed.

Now there is danger of war with England. In the north, Dumouriez more than holds his own. But the War Department, under Pache, is corrupt ; the army is ill-supplied.

Oct. Grain becomes scarce, and the populace consequently insubordinate ; if they are hungry, the Convention should stop the famine. The most important question of all — ^the basic cause, with the feudal system, of the Revolution — the better cultivation of the soil of France — has never been faced, never properly perceived by the Assemblies, who think to bring about the millennium by decree. There are grain riots. Petion, re-elected Mayor, declines to act A pound of bread costs nearly half a day's wages. No one thinks of Government supervision of crops to prevent future

SUMMARY OP EVENTS 17

dearth. Santerre suggests the use of potatoes — which, however, have to be grown — ^and the hanging of dogs, as though dogs lived on bread 1 — ^as a serious measure of relief. Free-trade is the panacea of some — in time of v^ar and general distress ; — a maximum price of grain has to be fixed ; but there is not enough irrespective of price. Finally bread in Paris is so scarce that it is sold only twice a day to holders of municipal tickets. This question of bread — indeed the whole economic question, which originally was the question — ^is never practically tackled ; and the war continually drains the soil of its cultivators, ensuring further trouble in the future.

The Trial of Charles the First is everjrwhere being sold ; a S3rmptom of the state of the public mind.

Robespierre is ably accused by Louvet of plotting to become dictator. The anger of the Convention is aroused ; but he demands a week to reply in. His defence is more wordy than precise ; but the matter drops. Nov. Dumouriez defeats the Austrians at Jemappes, and is master of the Low Countries. Yoimg Orleans distinguishes himself. Jacobins and commissaries follow Dumouriez, melting church plate and settling the country.

On the 6th a report is read to the Convention on the crimes of Louis XVL It is decided that Louis is not inviolable, and may be tried. The Girondists shrink from regicide; the Jacobins know their own mind. The Girondists have made the mistake that Louis himself made, and will suffer his fate ; instead of leading the Revolution they seek to check it ; but it cannot be checked.

Dec. II. Louis comes to trial before the Convention. Questions are asked, 57 in number; 162 documents read. Louis meets most of the questions with total denial. 26. Deseze, Louis' counsel, reads his defence.

The Girondists are anxious to be just ; also to give judgment on a king with due ceremony and solemnity. They debate interminably, and exasperate the Jacobins by their delay.

Jan. Dumouriez comes to Paris. He is suspected in some quarters of royalism. He complains of Pache ; has come to prepare for the spring campaign.

The Convention wastes weeks in theorising over the matter of the King's trial.

VOL. n. 2

Jan. 15. The fate of Louis is at last put to the vote. He is nnnni-ntin*]' found guilty. Those that might have voted otherwise dare not. Shall the question be referred to the people? This would favour revolutionary outbreaks; perhaps civil war. It is settled by vote that there shall be no appeal to the people. During the trial the galleries are full oi spectators, many of them fashionably dressed women ; refreshments are handed round ; outside the Assembly betting is universal. 16-17. ^^^ question of Louis' punishment is put to the vote. The voting lasts two days, each vote, as a general thing, being accompanied by a speech, short or long. The result is a majority of fifty-three votes for Death,

Louis' counsel asks for delay, and an appeal to the people. The appeal is refused ; but delay may be put to the vote. 2p. The question of delay is put to the vote. The majority against it is seventy. Louis is to die within twenty-four hours. Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, who voted for death, is stabbed by an ex-Guardsman. This terrifies the Convention, which foresees a royalist plot and perhaps a massacre ; there is a rumour that the Comte d'Artois is in town.

21. After a long and afEecting farewell to his family, Louis receives the Sacrament and is led to the sca£Fold. He commences a speech ; but his voice is drowned by the drums of the National Guard. Six executioners seize him and bind him to the plank. There are cries of Vive la Ripuhlique as the head is shown. Kerchiefs and pikepoints are dipped in his blood ; the crowd disperses and the usual Parisian day begins.

22. Roland resigns.

24. Saint-Fargeau is buried in the Pantheon. It is feared at this time that Dumouriez is unsound ; that he would willingly see young Orleans king.

War is declared by England and by Spain.

February. The mob, thanks largely to the Jacobins, is now unchains and beginning to feel its power . li; is hung ry : it_dfimaiids not a government that shall s&engthen the economic basis of the country and be given a fair trial, byt immediate brea d. Crowds — sometimes of women — rush to the Convention and petition for bread ; sometimes riotous and threatening.

25. On the 25th there is a notable riot of women. There is a sale of sugar this day, which, being unexpected, is for some reason regarded as sinister, and probably the work of Pitt.

SUMMARY OP EVENTS 19

About this time the word Federalisi, bandied atx>ut on illiterate lips, becomes a mysterious term of reproach; equivalent finally to traitor. The Girondists, remembering that they represent France, and not the Parisian mob, wish to see good departmentsd governments. The. Jacobyi s consider this policy detrimental to the jiational uni^y, inconsistent with the strong national executive essential to successful national defence. The two parties begin to diverge more and more seriously. Danton trie&,t a keep Jtbe ]2fiape ; t he s afet y QiJr ance must com^ficst wiJth jj^ ; itisj^o time for party stajfe ; hijyt the Mountain will not be reconciled. - —

Lyons, a town of moderate sympathies, is all but in revolt. AU the s outhern, c i t^ a^d istu^;b ed. a^^ ^ogcy at hftin|r Xt^gooned b]^ Paris and tj^e ]a££j2ins. National representation has become a dead letter.

Dumoyo^z attQjQpts Holland and is bad ly ^iea tf>p. MqtZr j^ besifiged ; Spain, whifit^ suggorts th^ Bourbpns. i^ a^s yancin g. l!h.e insurrection ip La^Vendee iq p^^ ^ fjvji

Each section of Paris sends two commissaries into the departments for recruiting purposes. Eighty other commissaries follow them. The suggestion of a camp of 80,000 volunteers before Paris is again raised. The black^g q( BIarch. t!]£ Native Laitfl i^ Dajigipr is flfiSEP once morg. Paris is h3rsterical ; sees plots in every meeting, hears secret signals in every sound.

The section of Mauconseil demands that Brissot, Vergniaud, and twenty other Girondist deputies shall be arrested. It is sharply rebuked.

(It is significant of the public intelligence that although the list is always altering — ^and although some of the deputies accused will finally escape — ^yet the expulsion of twenty^two will always be demanded ; twenty-one will ultimately be tried.) 18. Dumouriez * ig^lfifeited atJJeTwgltfen, aad rapidly retcfiats. ^ Sp^ks ^ th^^nyicder of the JSia^** D ^ton aud Ij^SSsSi hasten i^ th^. frontier i^ c ommissioners ; Danton returns suspicious of Dumouriez.

The Terror now begins in earnest

Re volutiona ry Cpouxutlees f o^ the aQ;^t oi^ susgect&^e fpQQg^ ii^very on«^-of ^e 44,000 CQipmunes-of Fx^Dfifi*

' See Biographical Note, p. 25.

Every man must have his name painted on his door, and a ^ card of citizenship in his possession.

All imigris are declared legally dead, their property^ falling to the State; but even if actually dead they are declared legally alive in so far as the State is to inherit all legacies falling due to them for the space of fifty years.

A new Extraordinary— afterwards the Revolutionary — / Tribunal is formed to deal with suspects. The notorious ^ Fouquler-Tinville is Procurator-General. Committees of Defence and of General Security are experimented with x^ the former becomes the Committee of Public Safety, and reduces the Ministers to the status of clerks. Taxes are«/ imposed on a sliding scale — z. measure that should have been taken in 1789. Requisitions are made, and compulsory V loans are raised to continue the war.

Meanwhile Dumouriez' army is full of suspicion and confusion. Dumouriez is strangely independent in manner for a good republican. He is thought to meditate a couf ditai for his own benefit April 2. The Minister of War and three deputies arrive at Dumouriez* headquarters; they invite him to come to Paris, to explain a few matters at the bar of the Convention. No ; he cannot, will not come just then. He is ordered under arrest ; he has the deputation ejected, and sends them into the Austrian lines ; they are confined in an Austrian prison. 3. Dumouriez issues a Proclamation, and, chased by Jacobin troops, escapes to the Austrian lines. Young Orleans escapes to Switzerland ; to Madame Genlis and his sister ; one day to re*appear as King Louis-Philippe. The Army is left in chaos ; but other generals arrive and the campaign is continued. 6. Orleans the elder is arrested and examined, and imprisoned

in the Chateau d'lf, near Marseilles. 12. Petion laments the anarchy invading the Convention.v Marat is accused and sent before the Revolutionary / Tribunal. 34. Marat is acquitted ; largely from fear of his ultra-Jacobin / followers.

Volunteers, before leaving Paris, demand the arrest of the twenty-two Girondists. This demand is now a parrot-cry. Constantly the sections defile through the hall, demanding their expulsion ; coming finally every day ; deputations of women enter.

May 10. The Convention moves into its new hall in the Tuileries. ^

SUMMARY OP EVENTS 21

Calvados, Bordeaux, Marseilles, and the Gironde seem ready to rise if the Girondists be arrested.

The Central Committee of the Sections now sits in the archiepiscopal palace.

The Girondists fear assassination ; with some reason. Without reason, they fear that Pitt is at work.

Desmoulins sufiFers from the delusion that the rising he provoked in July, 1789, was engineered by Pitt.

The Commune comes to the Convention demanding the expulsion of the twenty-two, and asks, Can you save France or must we f

Paris fears to attack the Girondists lest the south and west should rise against her. Meanwhile the Girondists meet secretly at night.

May 31. As the city is seen to be in a state of effervescence, Pache and the municipality are sent for by the Convention, and an explanation is required. Pache states that early that morning, the municipality being still in session, ninety-six persons calling themselves Plenipotentiary Commissioners from the sections entered the Hotel de Ville, and, as members of the Sovereign People in Insurrection, dismissed and then re-created the municipality, adding themselves thereto, and thus constituting an Insurrectionary Municipality.

The Convention protests against this usurpation of power, and talks of breaking the new body. But guns are heard ; the tocsin sounds ; the Convention is surrounded by Paris in arms; section after section passes through the hall, demanding the expulsion of the twenty-two and the dismissal of the Commission of Twelve, who were drawn from the Girondists. The Commission resigns.

June i. At night the alarum sounds again. Armed bodies take their places about the Tuileries with provisions for the night. The Girondists remain at home. 2. The Convention assembles ; the gates of Paris are shut ; all Paris is in insurrection. What with National Guards and Volunteers who have not yet been sent to the frontiers, there are 100,000 armed men in the streets. They represent, not Paris alone, but the Jacobin element of all France; the unlettered, suspicious democracy. Provision carts and camp fires are everywhere ; cannons are levelled against the Tuileries. The Insurrectionary Municipality is supreme.

Deputation after deputation tramps into the hall, demanding the expulsion of the twenty-two and the twelve. It is suggested that the twenty-two will perhaps resign. The majority refuse. The galleries threaten. All day the war of words is waged. In the evening the Convention, resenting compulsion, resolves to go forth in a body to discover whether it is free. But the troops level arms against them ; they can nowhere find egress. Marat, with loo patriots, orders them back to the^ hall. They retire ; they vote on the fate of the twenty-two. The twenty-two (and also the twelve) are voted to be kept under arrest in their own houses.

These twenty-two comprise the flower of the Girondists ; the flower of Revolutionary France ; all that is best, most selfless, most human in French politics.

This insurrection, marking the fall of the party fromi power, leaves the Jacobins, a headless, tormented mob,] at the head of affairs ; wrestled with by Danton, who seeks * to lead them for the good of France ; finally captured by / Robespierre and made the instrument of his ambitions. Of the proscribed deputies a few wait in their houses ; others escape, assembling afterwards at Caen. There they seek to awaken the departments, and to urge them to destroy the power of the democracy, whose rule they regard as anarchy. Seventy-two departments, or rather the heads of seventy-two departments, declare in their favour. They gather volunteers ; they finally have an army and intend civil war. The Mountain sends commissaries all over France ; those sent to Caen are imprisoned. June 13. Charlotte Corday, having travelled from Caen to Paris, kills Marat, in the hope of serving the Girondists ; exaggerating his power and putting too much faith in the comparative humanity of his colleagues; also forgetting that the Convention did not surrender the Girondists until terrorised by the people. 14. The Girondists at Lyons, where there is a strong Girondist party in the city, guillotine Chalier, the Jacobin leader. Marseilles is imprisoning "patriots.'' Most of the southern cities are involved in the Girondist movement

In Paris deputations are daily demanding a Constitution.

Wimpfen, the Girondists' General at Caen, sees no hope save in joining issue with the ro3^1ists. The Girondists recoil from the suggestion with horror. The forces of the Mountain and the Gironde meet near Vernon, and mutually retreat. The Girondist army melts away; the national troops enter Caen without excesses. The Girondist

SUMMARY OF EVENTS 23

deputies, disguised as national volunteers, escape to the south, and meet with various fates. The Calvados insurrection has failed, not having sought help of clericals or royalists.