Ascendency of the party of the Commune.--A second party, that of the Dantonists, arises.--Danton's attitude.--His great services to the Revolution.--His weariness of faction and intrigue.--The third party, represented by the Government of the day.--Revolt against the Hébertists at the Jacobin Club.-Headed by Robespierre and Desmoulins.--The _Vieux Cordelier_.--Collot d'Herbois' return to Paris in December, 1793, strengthens the Hébertists.--End of the struggle.--Triumph of the Government and fall of the two other parties in March, 1794.--Execution of Danton.--Conspicuous position of Robespierre.--Grounds of his popularity.--His intense belief in himself.--His genuine sentiment.--His lack of initiative and disingenuous reserve.--His incompetence as a practical politician.--His morbid suspiciousness.--His strength.--His belief in the Terror and attempts to regulate but not to check it.--The Worship of the Supreme Being.--The Law of the 22nd Prairial.--Robespierre's struggle with his colleagues.--Triumph of the Convention on the 9th Thermidor over Robespierre and the Commune. CHAPTER XI. THE REACTION 261-283 Results of the fall of Robespierre.--Progress of the reaction against the Terror.--The Mountain, the Right, and the Thermidorians.--Fréron and the Jeunes Gens.--Closing of the Jacobin Club.--Arrest of Carrier.--Recall of the proscribed deputies of the Right.--Measures with regard to religion.--Arrest of Billaud, Collot and others.--Distress in Paris.--Breakdown of the economic system of the Terror.--Survey of Terrorist finance.--Embarrassments and expenses of the Terrorist Government.--Cambon's remedial measures.--Republicanisation of the National Debt.--Decline of the Assignats.--Impending bankruptcy at the end of 1794.--Amount of Assignats in circulation.--Fresh issues.--Their rapid decline.--Ruin and distress resulting.--High prices of food.--General dearth.--The insurrection of the 12th Germinal.--Measures of the reaction.--The insurrection of the 1st Prairial.--Suppression of the Jacobin party and disarming of Paris.--Progress of the War.--Spirit of the French army.--Representatives on Mission with it.--Great soldiers in its ranks.--Its reorganisation by Dubois-Crancé.--Campaign of 1793.--Victories on the Belgian frontier, on the Rhine and in La Vendée.--The ten armies of the Republic.--European politics.--Selfish views of Thugut, the Austrian minister.--Jealousy between Austria and Prussia.--Outbreak of the Polish revolt.--Victories of the French in Belgium and Holland.-- Peace of Bâle.--Prospects of a general peace and of a Royalist restoration.--The reaction checked.--Death of the Dauphin.--The Quiberon Expedition.--The White Terror.--The Constitution of the Year III.--The decrees of Fructidor.--The insurrection of the 13th Vendémiaire.--Establishment