Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 5.djvu/459

A.D.1789.] and corresponded with the deputies at Versailles. These electors were, for the most part, rich citizens, not without some admixture of aristocracy. Two amongst there were revolutionists of the most ardent description, with a certain tendency to mysticism, Fauchet and Bonneville. In an earlier age they would have been burnt as heretics; in the nineteenth century they were enthusiasts in resistance of the court, and Bonneville was the first to raise the cry. "To Arms!" Fauchet, Bonneville, Bertolio, Carra, a fiery journalist, made the most daring motions, such as ought to have emanated only from the national assembly:—For a city guard; for the immediate organisation of regular communes, elective and annual; for an address to the king, praying for the removal of the troops; for the freedom of the assembly; and for the revocation of the coup d'état of June 23rd.



Whilst the assembly of electors were thus usurping the functions of a real parliament of Paris, the Palais Royal was exercising an influence on the population not less active. As no journals yet gave an account of the proceedings of the national assembly, the people ran daily to the Palais Royal to learn the events of the day, and to discuss them. The gardens of the Palais Royal were continually thronged. Not less than ten thousand persons of one kind or another were frequently collected there. This magnificent garden, surrounded by the most splendid shops, and adjoining the palace of the duke of Orleans, was the rendezvous of foreigners, of debauchees, of gamblers and loungers, but, above all, the most fiery agitators. In the coffee-houses, and in the open air, the most stimulating harangues were continually being delivered. There might be seen an orator mounted on a table, and surrounded by a wild crowd, whom he was addressing in the most seditious language, and with the most perfect impunity, for there the mob was the sovereign power. The duke of Orleans was supposed to favour all this. His wealth was said to flow freely amongst the incendiary orators and other agents. He had the ambition to place himself at the head of affairs through the favour of the people. If he did not find all the money used for the purposes of agitation, much was found, and, no doubt, he contributed a liberal share. The duke had been accused of being the head of a party, and the