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the people elected successively： Lamartine； Dupont de l'Eure； Arago； and Ledru…Rollin unanimously； Crémieux； Gamier…Pages； and Marie by a majority。
The new ministers at once set out for the Hotel de Ville。
At the Chamber of Deputies not once was the word 〃Republic〃 uttered in any of the speeches of the orators； not even in that of Ledru…Rollin。 But now； outside； in the street； the elect of the people heard this words this shout； everywhere。 It flew from mouth to mouth and filled the air of Paris。
The seven men who； in these supreme and extreme days； held the destiny of France in their hands were themselves at once tools and playthings in the hands of the mob； which is not the people； and of chance； which is not providence。 Under the pressure of the multitude； in the bewilderment and terror of their triumph； which overwhelmed them； they decreed the Republic without having time to think that they were doing such a great thing。
When； having been separated and dispersed by the violent pushing of the crowd； they were able to find each other again and reassemble； or rather hide； in one of the rooms of the Hotel de Ville； they took half a sheet of paper； at the head of which were printed the words： 〃Prefecture of the Seine。 Office of the Prefect。〃 M。 de Rambuteau may that very morning have used the other half of the sheet to write a love…letter to one of his 〃little bourgeoises；〃 as he called them。
Under the dictation of terrible shouts outside Lamartine traced this phrase：
〃The Provisional Government declares that the Provisional Government of France is the Republican Government； and that the nation shall be immediately called upon to ratify the resolution of the Provisional Government and of the people of Paris。〃
I had this paper； this sheet smeared and blotted with ink； in my hands。 It was still stamped； still palpitating； so to speak； with the fever of the moment。 The words hurriedly scribbled were scarcely formed。 ~Appelée~ was written ~appellée~。
When these half dozen lines had been written Lamartine handed the sheet to Ledru…Rollin。
Ledru…Rollin read aloud the phrase： 〃The Provisional Government declares that the Provisional Government of France is the Republican Government〃
〃The word 'provisional' occurs twice；〃 he commented。
〃That is so；〃 said the others。
〃One of them at least must be effaced；〃 added Ledru…Rollin。
Lamartine understood the significance of this grammatical observation； which was simply a political revolution。
〃But we must await the sanction of France；〃 he said。 〃I can do without the sanction of France' cried Ledru…Rollin； 〃when I have the sanction of the people。〃
〃Of the people of Paris。 But who knows at present what is the will of the people of France？〃 observed Lamartine。
There was an interval of silence。 The noise of the multitude without sounded like the murmuring of the ocean。 Ledru…Rollin went on：
〃What the people want is the Republic at once； the Republic without waiting。〃
〃The Republic without any delay？〃 said Lamartine； covering an objection in this interpretation of Ledru…Rollin's words。
〃We are provisional；〃 returned Ledru…Rollin； 〃but the Republic is not！〃
M。 Crémieux took the pen from Lamartine's hands； scratched out the word 〃provisional〃 at the end of the third line and wrote beside it： 〃actual。〃
〃The actual government？ Very well！〃 said Ledru…Rollin； with a slight shrug of the shoulder。
The seal of the City of Paris was on the table。 Since 1830 the vessel sailing beneath a sky starred with fleurs…de…lys and with the device； ~Proelucent clarius astris~； had disappeared from the seal of the City。 The seal was merely a circle with the words 〃Ville de Paris〃 in the centre。 Crémieux took the seal and stamped the paper so hastily with it that the words appeared upside down。
But they did not sign this rough draught。 Their whereabouts had been discovered； an impetuous stream was surging against the door of the office in which they had taken refuge。 The people were calling； ordering； them to go to the meeting…hall of the Municipal Council。
There they were greeted by this clamour： 〃The Republic！ Long live the Republic！ Proclaim the Republic！〃 Lamartine； who was at first interrupted by the cries； succeeded at length with his grand voice in calming this feverish impatience。
The members of the Provisional Government were thus enabled to return and resume their session and lively discussion。 The more ardent ones wanted the document to read： 〃The Provisional Government proclaims the Republic。〃 The moderates proposed： 〃The Provisional Government desires the Republic。〃 A compromise was reached on the proposition of M。 Crémieux； and the sentence was made to read： 〃The Provisional Government 〃is for〃 the Republic。〃 To this was added： 〃subject to the ratification of the people； who will be immediately consulted。〃
The news was at once announced to the crowds in the meeting…hall and in the square outside； who would listen to nothing but the word 〃republic；〃 and saluted it with tremendous cheering。
The Republic was established。 ~Alea jacta~； as Lamartine observed later。
THE TWENTY…FIFTH。
During the morning everything at and in the neighbourhood of the Mairie of the Eighth Arrondissement was relatively calm； and the steps to maintain order taken the previous day with the approval of M。 Ernest Moreau appeared to have assured the security of the quarter。* I thought I might leave the Place Royale and repair towards the centre of the city with my son Victor。 The restlessness and agitation of a people （of the people of Paris！） on the morrow of a revolution was a spectacle that had an irresistible attraction for me。
* On the evening of the 24th； there had been reason to apprehend disturbances in the Eighth Arrondissement； disturbances particularly serious in that they would not have been of a political character。 The prowlers and evil…doers with hang…dog mien who seem to issue from the earth in times of trouble were very much in evidence in the streets。 At the Prison of La Force； in the Rue Saint Antoine； the common law criminals had begun a revolt by locking up their keepers。 To what public force could appeal be made？ The Municipal Guard had been disbanded； the army was confined to barracks； as to the police； no one would have known where to find them。 Victor Hugo； in a speech which this time was cheered； confided life and property to the protection and devotedness of the people。 A civic guard in blouses was improvised。 Empty shops that were to let were transformed into guard houses； patrols were organized and sentries posted。 The rebellious prisoners at La Force； terrified by the assertion that cannon （which did not exist） had been brought to bear upon the prison and that unless they surrendered promptly and unconditionally they would be blown sky…high； submitted quietly and returned to work。
The weather was cloudy； but mild； and the rain held off。 The streets were thrilling with a noisy； joyous crowd。 The people continued with incredible ardour to fortify the barricades that had already been constructed； and even to build new ones。 Bands of them with flags flying and drums beating ma