France -- History -- Louis XVI, 1774-1793; France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799
Not so: on the morrow it is far worse. Saint-Antoine has arisen
anew, grimmer than ever;—reinforced by the unknown Tatterdemalion
Figures, with their enthusiast complexion and large sticks. The
City, through all streets, is flowing thitherward to see: “two
cartloads of paving-stones, that happened to pass that way” have
been seized as a visible godsend. Another detachment of Gardes
Françaises must be sent; Besenval and the Colonel taking earnest
counsel. Then still another; they hardly, with bayonets and
menace of bullets, penetrate to the spot. What a sight! A street
choked up, with lumber, tumult and the endless press of men. A
Paper-Warehouse eviscerated by axe and fire: mad din of Revolt;
musket-volleys responded to by yells, by miscellaneous missiles;
by tiles raining from roof and window,—tiles, execrations and
slain men!
The Gardes Françaises like it not, but have to persevere. All day
it continues, slackening and rallying; the sun is sinking, and
Saint-Antoine has not yielded. The City flies hither and thither:
alas, the sound of that musket-volleying booms into the far
dining-rooms of the Chaussée d’Antin; alters the tone of the
dinner-gossip there. Captain Dampmartin leaves his wine; goes out
with a friend or two, to see the fighting. Unwashed men growl on
him, with murmurs of ‘_À bas les Aristocrates_ (Down with the
Aristocrats);’ and insult the cross of St. Louis? They elbow him,
and hustle him; but do not pick his pocket;—as indeed at
Réveillon’s too there was not the slightest stealing.[128]
At fall of night, as the thing will not end, Besenval takes his
resolution: orders out the _Gardes Suisses_ with two pieces of
artillery. The Swiss Guards shall proceed thither; summon that
rabble to depart, in the King’s name. If disobeyed, they shall
load their artillery with grape-shot, visibly to the general eye;
shall again summon; if again disobeyed, fire,—and keep firing
“till the last man” be in this manner blasted off, and the street
clear. With which spirited resolution, as might have been hoped,
the business is got ended. At sight of the lit matches, of the
foreign red-coated Switzers, Saint-Antoine dissipates; hastily,
in the shades of dusk. There is an encumbered street; there are
“from four to five hundred” dead men. Unfortunate Réveillon has
found shelter in the Bastille; does therefrom, safe behind stone
bulwarks, issue, plaint, protestation, explanation, for the next
month. Bold Besenval has thanks from all the respectable Parisian
classes; but finds no special notice taken of him at
Versailles,—a thing the man of true worth is used to.[129]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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