some who were in situations to observe them. Various reports of mysterious import were also in circulation, and dark menacing expressions were whispered as having fallen from persons supposed to be in the secrets of the cabinet. A strong suspicion existed among the deputies, that some new plan was adopted: what it precisely was they could not know, but they were pretty certain, that whatever danger there might be must depend on the troops; and for that reason the greatest pains had been taken by the leaders of the popular party in the assembly and their friends at Paris to gain them. They knew that they had already succeeded in a considerable degree with regard to the French foot guards; and they strove, with their assistance and every other means in their power, to make the same impression on the other regiments as they arrived. Parties of citizens of both sexes were chosen to mix with the soldiers, and occasionally to treat them with wine. On the 10th of July, a scene took place on the plain called the Elysian Fields, adjacent to the gardens of the Tuilleries, which, it is probable, struck the court so much as to accelerate the execution of their plan. A considerable number of cannoniers, of French guards, of dragoons of different regiments, were invited to an entertainment prepared in these fields at the expense of some citizens of Paris, and in the sight of an immense crowd of spectators. The soldiers were plentifully feasted, and a sufficient quantity of wine was served to increase their gaiety, without rendering them disorderly. At eight in the evening the serjeants and corporals came in search of the soldiers; they were invited to partake in the feast, and to drink success to the tiers-etat; which they did, and returned in high good-humour to their barracks, singing the praises of the citizens of Paris.

The account of this scene which was carried to Versailles seems not only to have filled the king's new counsel lors with alarm, but also to have deprived them of common prudence. With no certainty of the obedience of the troops, with even considerable reason to doubt it, and

an absolute certainty of the seditious disposition of the people, and of their enthusiastic attachment to M, Necker, it was hardly to be conceived that the first step the council would take should be the dismission of this favourite minister. On the 11th of July, however, he received an order to leave the kingdom in twenty-four hours. Without acquainting any individual even of his own family with the order he had received, he set out the same evening; and it was not publicly known at Versailles till the following day, when a new administration was announced, at the head of which were the marshal Broglio and M. de Breteuil.

Although nothing could have been less expected than the dismission of M. Necker at this particular time, yet nothing was more probable than the general alarm and indignation which it produced. Paris was filled with consternation; the shops and theatres were immediately shut; the people crowded the streets and squares; to increase the emotion and confusion, the busts of M. Necker and of the duke of Orleans, who was reported to have also been ordered into exile, were paraded through the streets covered with crape in mournful procession. A party of dragoons were foolishly ordered to attack the attending multitude, and break the busts. The prince de Lambesc was at the head of a body of cavalry on the Place of Lewis XV. Some stones were thrown; the cavalry made a charge on the crowd, and the prince was said to have wounded with his sabre an old man in the Tuilleries. The affrighted populace rushed from the garden into the streets, crying, To arms! the alarm bells were sounded; the armourers' shops were broken open; every one armed himself as he could; many of the French guards left their barracks to join the people; the cavalry that had been assembled to overawe them durst not appear; bodies of armed men patrolled the streets during the whole of this night of alarm, for the protection of the citizens. Some ruffians, however, under the same pretence, committed acts of robbery and pillage; but not a

twentieth part of the excesses took place that might have been expected at a time of such universal consternation.

On the following day it was proposed, that a regular body of militia should be immediately formed, as the best means of preventing a general pillage. This measure being approved, the execution was rendered easy by Paris having been divided into districts, on account of the late election of deputies for the states-general. Those electors assembled at their respective sections, classed the citizens, appointed commanders to each division, most of them officers retired from the service, and a body of 48,000 men was formed that very day, which entirely relieved the inhabitants from the fear of pillage in the ensuing night, and greatly diminished their apprehensions from the regular troops which surrounded them.*

A deputation from the committee assembled in the Hotel de Ville was sent to the national assembly at Versailles, acquainting them with the measures they had taken for restoring the public tranquillity. The assembly petitioned the king with more earnestness than ever to order the troops to be withdrawn, stating their presence as the cause of all the insurrections.

• This circumstance of the capital having been divided into districts, and the electors in each ascertained, had more influence on the revolution than is generally imagined; for, when any danger was dreaded, the electors were ordered to assemble at their respective districts, who had all an intercourse with each other; an army was instantly formed, and in some measure, according to their phrase, organized. Whatever benefit may have arisen from this on the present occasion, it certainly had one baneful effect, namely, that of giving the department of Paris a controul over all the other departments,

CHAPTER XII.

Reflections on the Influence of public Opinion-on GovernmentKing's Answer to the Assembly's Address occasions ill-humour -Formation of an armed Force by the Inhabitants of Paris30,000 Muskets found at the Invalides-Bastile attacked and taken-Murder of M. de Launay and others-Deputations from the Assembly to the King-Scene at the OrangerieSpeech of Mirabeau-The King changes his Measures-comes to the National Assembly-A Deputation sent to Paris-Rejoicings-The King visits Paris-Reflections.

It is highly probable from the character of Lewis XVI, that he was inclined to the suppression of many abuses of the ancient government, and sincerely wished the happiness of his subjects, even at the expense of a diminution of his own authority; but it was difficult to persuade the nation, that such were his wishes and intentions from the moment that it was believed he had been prevailed on to employ military force. Those who persuaded him to have recourse to such an expedient acted not only con trary to justice and prudence, but also contrary to the nature and disposition of the prince they pretended to serve; for the most ignorant of them must have known, that in the actual state of France it was impossible to controul the national assembly, to dissolve them, and to reestablish the ancient government by force, without so much bloodshed as he would have thought infinitely too dear a purchase for the objects to be obtained. In prevailing on the too easy-tempered monarch to adopt this measure, therefore, it is plain, that, like the generality of those who affect to be in a peculiar manner the friends of kings, their own places and pensions, and offices which they saw in danger, were all they were anxious to preserve, and for which they were willing to risk all the horrors of war, and to sacrifice the glory, happiness, and even the life of the prince to whom they professed such wonderful attachment,

Indeed, it was evident, that the public opinion on the subject of government was so universally changed, and the minds of the people so heated with the idea of freedom, that double the military force that was sufficient to maintain the ancient government could not re-establish the same system, nor sustain it for any length of time in France, even if it could have been re-established. It is not possible for a government to subsist long in any country where knowledge is pretty generally diffused, against the decided opinion and wishes of a great majority of the inhabitants; and a great majority of such inhabitants are seldom or never brought to be decidedly against their government unless it is oppressive. For, although it oc casionally happens that ignorant men, and those who are needy from idleness, may be induced by the ambitious and designing to make a clamour against oppressions which they never felt, and for rights which they do not value, it is fortunate for the peace of society, that unfounded clamours of this kind oftener end in the disgrace or destruction of those who make them, than of the government against which they are made: but when griev ances are felt by the most industrious, and acknowledged by a great majority of the most intelligent to proceed from the vices of the government, that government cannot exist long in the present state of men's minds all over Eu rope.

In Turkey, indeed, a very small military establishment in proportion to the population of the country is adequate to the purposes of government, and to keep the people in slavery; because they have no idea of any other kind of government but a despotic one. They are taught to believe, and in general they do believe, that it is the will of heaven that the descendants or successors of Mahomet should reign with uncontrolled sway over them; that it is their duty to submit to his orders as to the decrees of providence, however unaccountable or severe they may be; that resistance would be impious and fruitless in both cases, as in the one they would have the host of hea