Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 04.djvu/355

 banners, with demonstrations; marching through the streets of Paris, 'To quicken the Executive,' and give it a fillip as to the time of day. Called 'Procession of the Black Breeches' in this Book. Immense Procession, peaceable but dangerous; finds the Tuileries gates closed, and no access to his Majesty; squeezes, crushes, and is squeezed, crushed against the Tuileries gates and doors till they give way; and the admission to his Majesty, and the dialogue with him, and behaviour in his House, are of an utterly chaotic kind, dangerous and scandalous, though not otherwise than peaceable. Giving rise to much angry commentary in France and over Europe. June Twenty henceforth a memorable Day. General Lafayette suddenly appears in the Assembly; without leave, as is splenetically observed: makes fruitless attempt to reinstate authority in Paris (June 28th); withdraws as an extinct popularity.

1792. July.

July 6th, Reconciliatory Scene in the Assembly, derisively called Baiser L'amourette. 'Third Federation,' July 14th, being at hand, could not the assembling 'Federates' be united into some Nucleus of Force near Paris? Court answers, No; not without reason of its own. Barbaroux writes to Marseilles for '500 men that know how to die'; who accordingly get under way, though like to be too late for the Federation. Sunday July 22d, Solemn Proclamation that the 'Country is in Danger.'

July 24th, Prussian Declaration of War; and Duke of Brunswick's celebrated Manifesto, threatening France 'with military execution' if Royalty were meddled with: the latter bears date, Coblentz, July 27th, 1792, in the name of both Emperor and King of Prussia. Duke of Brunswick commands in chief: Nephew (sister's son) of Frederick the Great; and Father of our unlucky 'Queen Caroline': had served, very young, in the Seven-Years War, under his Father's Brother, Prince Ferdinand; often in command of detachments bigger or smaller; and had gained distinction by his swift marches, audacity and battle-spirit: never hitherto commanded any wide system of operations; nor ever again till 1806, when he suddenly encountered ruin and death at the very starting (Battle of Jena, October 14th of that year). This Proclamation, which awoke endless indignation in France and much criticism in the world elsewhere, is understood to have been prepared by other hands (French-Emigrant chiefly, who were along with him in force), and to have been signed by the Duke much against his will. 'Insigne vengeance,' 'military execution,' and other terms of overbearing menace: Prussian Army, and Austrians from Netherlands, are advancing in that humour. Marseillese, 'who know how to die,' arrive in Paris (July 29th); dinner-scene in the Champs Élysées.