and put every man, woman, and child, to the sword, if they did not instantly submit to the King and the old government. This inflamed to madness thousands who were eager to be marched to the frontiers. The King's signature had not yet been obtained, and the Jacobins determined to call the Federes, from the provinces. Five hundred enthusiasts marched up from Marseilles to Paris, headed by Barbaroux, to join the Parisians, and dethrone the King, singing a hymn to liberty, now well know as the Marsielloise Hymn, by Gretry. These united voices and military bands filled the air with such thrilling sounds that raised all France. Perhaps music was never known to have inspired a nation in so marvellous a way.

*

Vergniaud and the Brissotines, seeing that the King's life was in danger, pressed him to quit the Palace for the Assembly, the only place of safety. "No, never," said the Queen, "will I enter their place." However, they were conducted away by force, and crammed into the reporters' box, behind the President's chair. They were confined sixteen hours, the mob supposing them to be in the Palace.

At seven o'clock in the morning, the report of cannon was heard. This distressed the King, as he had ordered the Swiss Guards not to fire on the people. The King was hungry at his usual time, and had wine and viands presented him. He ate heartily, as if re

Vide first vol. Page 48.

236

DANTON MADE DICTATOR.

Chap. 54.

turned from hunting. In him the physical overpowered the mental. The Queen refused to taste anything, and suffered unspeakable degradation. The roar of the cannon was still heard in the attack on the Palace, made by the Marseilloise, crying "Down with the Swiss Guards"! seven hundred of whom courageously defended it. They were not aware that the King had left for the Assembly, or they would not have stood to be mowed down by thirty pieces of cannon. Besides these unfortunate fellows, there were a hundred nobles and gentlemen, who had rushed into the apartments (as they thought) to defend the King, all of whom were butchered and torn to pieces by the mob.

Not less than seven hundred Swiss, three hundred gentry and nobles, and five thousand of the populace were slaughtered on this fatal day. When I was in Paris, some ten years afterwards, I saw written in large letters, "The 10th of August," where the cannon-shot had shattered the building. The Assembly had no means of putting a stop to these scenes of guilt and horror.

The commune of Paris now became the sovereign power, under Danton, Tallien, and Robespierre. On the 17th of August, the revolutionary tribunal was established. The king was suspended and removed, in close custody, to the Temple. Danton, the leader of the Cordeliers, was made Dictator. The former ministry, who had honestly done their duty, were thrown into prison, with not less (it is supposed) than