1789. CHAP. have seen that the strength of public opinion had become IV. such, that its force without violence was irresistible, that the acquisition of freedom was secured without shedding a drop of blood, and that the only danger it ran was from the crimes of its supporters. The simple path of duty would have saved France and Europe from all the crimes and misfortunes which ensued: what led to them all, was the selfishness of ambition and the delusions of expedience. CHAPTER V. FROM THE TAKING OF THE BASTILLE TO THE REVOLT AT CHAP. V. 1789. 1. almost triumph of tionists. NEVER had the government of a great country been overturned with so much facility as that of France was by the insurrection of the 14th July; never had the liberties of a great people been purchased at the expense Extraordiof so little bloodshed. Hardly any resistance had been nary and made, either by the military or civil authorities; not so bloodless many lives had been lost as usually perish in a trifling the Revoluskirmish in the field: fifty men only had fallen in overturning the monarchy of Clovis. The rapid concessions and beneficent intentions of the King had long postponed a collision; his well-known aversion to the shedding of blood paralysed one of the parties engaged in it when it commenced his humanity stopped it before the conflict had advanced any length. In truth he had then no alternative. The defection of the troops, the universal delusion and transports of the people, had destroyed all the means of resistance; and the monarch, not less impelled by necessity than urged by inclination, had capitulated on the very first attack. The prediction of the philosophers seemed about to be realised; the Revolution was finished, and it had scarcely cost a drop of blood. All France was in transports at the auspicious events, which, breaking in one day the chains of a thousand years, had set a whole nation free, without causing the V. 1789. CHAP. widow or the orphan to weep. Europe sympathised with these sentiments: philosophy every where anticipated a bloodless triumph over oppression. Genius was eager to celebrate the advent of the emancipation of the human race.* Yet from this very triumph is to be dated the commencement of the reign of violence with the fall of the Bastille was closed the last hope of a pacific regeneration of society; with the transference of the sword from the crown to the people, began the series of causes and effects which, in their final results, induced the whole subsequent calamities which befell the kingdom. 2. for an exe sioned the disasters which followed. It was the dissolution of the governing power which Necessity brought about these disastrous consequences. Mankind cutive occa- can never exist, even for a day, without a ruling authority. Moral influence is guided entirely by the intellectual strength of a few-physical force by the daring and combinations of one. The most imperious of all necessities to mankind is a government. Individuals can subsist days, and sometimes weeks, without food, but no body of men ever could exist an hour without a ruler. Within a short period after the existing government has been overturned, another authority never fails to be installed The effect of this event on the ardent spirits in England may be judged of by the following magnificent lines of Darwin's : 66 Long had the giant form on Gallia's plains Inglorious slept, unconscious of his chains : Round his large limbs were wound a thousand rings, By the weak hands of Confessors and Kings: O'er his closed eyes a triple veil was bound, Lifts his colossal form and towers along : High o'er his foes his hundred arms he rears, Ploughshares his swords, and pruning-hooks his spears; Like heaven's own thunder round the echoing poles; And gathers in the shade the living world." DARWIN'S Botanic Garden. V. 1789. in its stead so much the more powerful that it has been CHAP. cradled in violence-so much the more despotic that it has learned to rule excitement. If the people ever really enjoy the illusion of self-government, it is but for an hour: with the choice of the demagogue who is to rule, or the cabal which is to direct them, their brief authority is at an end; and the new sovereign, under the name of a tribune, a consul, or a committee, enters upon the exercise of irresistible power, at once established on too broad a basis to be shaken down for years. 3. racter of The mildness of the former government, the beneficent intentions and liberal principles of the King, are thus Gentle chadescribed by M. Bailly, the originator of the "Tennis- the King. court Oath," and the first democratic mayor of Paris :— Despotism was what never entered into the character of the King; he never had any wish but the happiness of his people this was the only consideration which could be employed to influence him; and he never could be induced to sanction any act of authority until he was convinced that some good was to be thus obtained, or some evil avoided—some relief to the nation afforded, or some additions to the happiness of all secured. His power was never considered by him, nor did he wish to maintain it, except for the tranquillity and peace of the community. The first cause which produced the regeneration of the country was the character of Louis XVI.: had the King been less good, the ministers more able, we should never have had a Revolution."1 Such was the Bailly, sovereign, on the testimony of his opponents, whose reforms were rejected, whose concessions despised by the Tiers Etat-whose power was overthrown by the revolt of July. Contrast this with the universal excitement which prevailed after the fall of the Bastille, as drawn by a master hand, who had himself a principal share in bringing about that event. "So many extraordinary changes," said Mirabeau, "have occurred within these few days, that one can Mém. i. 97. V. 1789. 4. Mirabeau's picture of these events. CHAP. hardly believe them real. The capital passing from despotism to liberty-from the extreme of terror to perfect security—a militia of citizens established—the Bastille taken by assault-a conspiracy averted-perverse counsellors dispersed—a powerful faction put to flight— ministers, clandestinely exiled, recalled in triumph-their successors recoiling before the storm-the King, whom they had deceived, restored to confidence, and voluntarily showing himself to his people-all these events, astonishing in themselves, and from their rapidity almost incredible, will produce incalculable effects, which are beyond the reach of human foresight to divine." The consequences of these events did indeed outstrip all human calculation, and proved diametrically opposite to what their authors anticipated. "Scelera impetu, bona consilia morâ valescere."* But four were of such importance that they eclipsed all the others, and are to be regarded as the great corner-stones on which the revolutionary fabric was erected. These were the formation of the municipality of Paris-of the National Guards over all France the insurrection of the peasants-and the emigration of the noblesse.1 1 Mirabeau à ses Commetans, 19th July 1789; and Smyth's French Rev. i. 246. 5. agitation their misery 19th July. The overthrow of the royal authority had left Paris Unceasing without a government, and that too in the most critical of the peo- period of its history, when the public passions most stood ple in Paris; in need of control, and public misery had nearly reached and famine. the most alarming height. Such had been the excitement of the three days which had preceded the capture of the Bastille, that it was found impossible to induce the people either to return to their work, or engage in any regular or continuous employment. Though all danger was over, from the defection of the army and submission of the crown, yet, such was the enthusiasm which prevailed, that they did nothing but wander about the streets, wondering at the magnitude and ease of their triumph, and devouring the multitude of journals, pamphlets, and addresses, which, * "Crimes succeed by haste: good designs by delay."-TACITUS, Hist. i. 32. |