The battalion from the Faubourg St. Antoine and Marias entered the Champ at the same time as Lafayette, and ranged themselves behind the altar, in front of the Military College. Lafayette, fearing that these might sympathise with the people, sent a detachment of the National Guard to join them. At this moment the promenaders, and those who were signing the petition on the altar, preoccupied, but not alarmed, at the sort of collision which had taken place between the National Guard and the defenders of the barricade, saw, advancing by the Bridge of Bois (to-day the Bridge of Jéna) another body of the army, headed by the Mayor, and over the heads of which floated the red flag. This red flag informed us that martial law was proclaimed. Against whom? It could not be against those who were guilty of no wrong, and who were simply walking by right of the petition accorded to every citizen. In the midst of the troop following the Mayor were to be distinguished a company of dragoons. The dragoons were well known to be an aristocratic regiment, being used to firing on the people. Also a band of hair-dressers, armed to the teeth, with their hair dressed _à l’aile de pigeon_ and clad in the height of fashion. Their clothes were of silks and satin, and of every color in the rainbow. They came, no doubt, to avenge the death of that unfortunate poor fellow, Léger. The group which had opposed the entrance of Lafayette had gone and reformed themselves a little further off. They were joined by all the blackguards of the quarter. At the moment when, after a roll of drums, M. Bailly commenced his declaration, a shower of stones fell around him. A gun was fired behind him at the same time, and wounded a dragoon. Bailly gave the order to fire a round of blank cartridge in the air. The order was executed. This inoffensive discharge injured no one, but had the effect of making Lafayette think that it was real. The promenaders nearly all rushed towards the altar of the country, fancying that they, as simple spectators, could not be fired upon without there having first been a summons to disperse. At this moment, the Champ de Mars was invaded by cavalry. The promenaders vainly search for an issue to re-enter Paris. At all sides, nothing but troubles present themselves to our view; at the Military College, at Gros Caillon, at the entrance to the wood. Almost immediately the paid guards made an offensive movement towards the altar. Abandoning the hostile group, which continued to shower stones on their heads, they dashed themselves distractedly and furiously against the altar; and, without an attack, without provocation or resistance, fired on this mass of brothers—this living pyramid, this human beehive, of which two-thirds were composed of defenceless women and children.