The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
Count d'Artois, represented to him the absolute necessity that the King
should give up everything to the States. This according well enough with
the dispositions of the King, he went about eleven o'clock, accompanied
only by his brothers, to the States General, and there read to them a
speech, in which he asked their interposition to re-establish order.
Though this be couched in terms of some caution, yet the manner in which
it was delivered, made it evident that it was meant as a surrender at
discretion. He returned to the chateau a foot, accompanied by the States.
They sent off a deputation, the Marquis de La Fayette at their head, to
quiet Paris. He had, the same morning, been named Commandant-in-Chief
of the Milice Bourgeoise, and Monsieur Bailly, former President of the
States General, was called for as Prevost des Marchands. The demolition
of the Bastile was now ordered, and begun. A body of the Swiss guards of
the regiment of Ventimille, and the city horse guards, joined the people.
The alarm at Versailles increased instead of abating. They believed that
the aristocrats of Paris were under pillage and carnage, that one hundred
and fifty thousand men were in arms, coming to Versailles to massacre the
royal family, the court, the ministers, and all connected with them, their
practices and principles. The aristocrats of the Nobles and Clergy in
the States General, vied with each other in declaring how sincerely they
were converted to the justice of voting by persons, and how determined to
go with the nation all its lengths. The foreign troops were ordered off
instantly. Every minister resigned. The King confirmed Bailly as Prevost
des Marchands, wrote to Mr. Neckar to recall him, sent his letter open
to the States General, to be forwarded by them, and invited them to go
with him to Paris the next day, to satisfy the city of his dispositions;
and that night and the next morning, the Count d'Artois and Monsieur
de Montisson (a deputy connected with him) Madame de Polignac, Madame
de Guiche, and the Count de Vaudreuil, favorites of the Queen, the Abbé
de Vermont, her confessor, the Prince of Condé and Duke de Bourbon, all
fled; we know not whither. The King came to Paris, leaving the Queen
in consternation for his return. Omitting the less important figures
of the procession, I will only observe, that the King's carriage was in
the centre, on each side of it the States General, in two ranks, a foot,
and at their head the Marquis de La Fayette, as Commander-in-Chief, on
horseback, and Bourgeoise guards before and behind. About sixty thousand
citizens of all forms and colors, armed with the muskets of the Bastile
and Invalides, as far as they would go, the rest with pistols, swords,
pikes, pruning hooks, scythes, &c., lined all the streets through which
the procession passed, and, with the crowds of people in the streets,
doors and windows, saluted them everywhere with cries of "_vive la
nation_;" but not a single "_vive le roy_" was heard.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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