Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 04.djvu/353

 detailed. General 'Federation,' or mutual Oath of all Frenchmen, otherwise called 'Feast of Pikes' (July 4th, Anniversary of Bastille-day), which also is a memorable Day. Its effects on the Military, in Lieutenant Napoleon Buonaparte's experience.

General disorganisation of the Army, and attempts to mend it. Affair of Nanci (catastrophe is August 31st); called 'Massacre of Nanci': irritation thereupon. Mutineer Swiss sent to the Galleys; solemn Funeral-service for the slain at Nanci (September 20th), and riotous menaces and mobs in consequence. Steady progress of disorganisation, of anarchy spiritual and practical. Mirabeau, desperate of Constitution-building under such accompaniments, has interviews with the Queen, and contemplates great things.

1791. April–July.

Death of Mirabeau (April 2d): last chance of guiding or controlling this Revolution gone thereby. Royal Family, still hopeful to control it, means to get away from Paris as the first step. Suspected of such intention; visit to St. Cloud violently prevented by the Populace (April 19th). Actual Flight to Varennes (June 20th); and misventures there: return captive to Paris, in a frightfully worsened position, the fifth evening after (June 25th). 'Republic' mentioned in Placards, during King's Flight; generally reprobated. Queen and Barnave. A Throne held up; as if 'set on its vertex,' to be held there by hand. Should not this runaway King be deposed? Immense assemblage, petitioning at Altar of Fatherland to that effect (Sunday, July 17th), is dispersed by musketry, from Lafayette and Mayor Bailly, with extensive shrieks following, and leaving remembrances of a very bitter kind.

1791. August.

Foreign Governments, who had long looked with disapproval on the French Revolution, now set about preparing for actual interference. Convention of Pilnitz (August 25th–27th): Emperor Leopold, Friedrich Wilhelm. King of Prussia, with certain less important Potentates, and Emigrant Princes of the Blood, assembling at this Pilnitz (Electoral Country-house near Dresden), express their sorrow and concern at the impossible posture of his now French Majesty, which they think calls upon regular Governments to interfere and mend it: they themselves, prepared at present to 'resist French aggression' on their own territories, will coöperate with said Governments in 'interfering by effectual methods.' This Document, of date August 27th, 1791, rouses violent indignations in France; which blaze up higher and higher, and are not quenched for twenty-five years after. Constitution finished; accepted by