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one for the nobles； and one for the Third…Estate。 Every day； for
almost a month； files of electors are seen passing along the
streets。 Those of the first degree continue to meet after having
nominated those of the second： the nation must needs watch its
mandatories and maintain its imprescriptible rights。 If this
exercise of their rights has been delegated to them； they still
belong to the nation； and it reserves to itself the privilege of
interposing when it pleases。 A pretension of this kind travels
fast； immediately after the Third…Estate of the Assemblies it
reaches the Third…Estate of the streets。 Nothing is more natural
than the desire to lead one's leaders： the first time any
dissatisfaction occurs； they lay hands on those who halt and make
them march on as directed。 On a Saturday； April 25th；＇11＇ a rumor
is current that Réveillon； an elector and manufacturer of wall…
paper； Rue Saint…Antoine； and Lerat； a commissioner； have 〃spoken
badly〃 at the Electoral Assembly of Sainte…Marguerite。 To speak
badly means to speak badly of the people。 What has Réveillon said？
Nobody knows； but popular imagination with its terrible powers of
invention and precision； readily fabricates or welcomes a murderous
phrase。 He said that 〃a working…man with a wife and children could
live on fifteen sous a day。〃 Such a man is a traitor； and must be
disposed of at once； 〃all his belongings must be put to fire and
sword。〃 The rumor； it must be noted； is false。＇12＇ Réveillon pays
his poorest workman twenty…five sous a day； he provides work for
three hundred and fifty； and； in spite of a dull season the previous
winter； he kept all on at the same rate of wages。 He himself was
once a workman； and obtained a medal for his inventions； and is
benevolent and respected by all respectable persons。 All this
avails nothing； bands of vagabonds and foreigners； who have just
passed through the barriers； do not look so closely into matters；
while the Journeymen； the carters； the cobblers； the masons； the
braziers； and the stone…cutters whom they go to solicit in their
lodgings are just as ignorant as they are。 When irritation has
accumulated； it breaks out haphazardly。
Just at this time the clergy of Paris renounce their privileges in
way of imposts；＇13＇ and the people； taking friends for adversaries；
add in their invectives the name of the clergy to that of Réveillon。
During the whole of the day； and also during the leisure of Sunday；
the fermentation increases； on Monday the 27th； another day of
idleness and drunkenness； the bands begin to move。 Certain
witnesses encounter one of these in the Rue Saint…Sévérin； 〃armed
with clubs；〃 and so numerous as to bar the passage。 〃Shops and
doors are closed on all sides； and the people cry out； 'There's the
revolt！'〃 The seditious crowd belch out curses and invectives
against the clergy； 〃and； catching sight of an abbé； shout
'Priest！'〃 Another band parades an effigy of Réveillon decorated
with the ribbon of the order of St。 Michael； which undergoes the
parody of a sentence and is burnt on the Place de Grève； after which
they threaten his house。 Driven back by the guard； they invade that
of a manufacturer of saltpeter； who is his friend； and burn and
smash his effects and furniture。＇14＇ It is only towards midnight
that the crowd is dispersed and the insurrection is supposed to have
ended。 On the following day it begins again with greater violence；
for； besides the ordinary stimulants of misery＇15＇ and the craving
for license； they have a new stimulant in the idea of a cause to
defend； the conviction that they are fighting 〃for the Third…
Estate。〃 In a cause like this each one should help himself； and all
should help each other。 〃We should be lost；〃 one of them exclaimed；
〃if we did not sustain each other。〃 Strong in this belief； they sent
deputations three times into the Faubourg Saint…Marceau to obtain
recruits； and on their way； with uplifted clubs they enrol；
willingly or unwillingly； all they encounter。 Others； at the gate
of Saint…Antoine； arrest people who are returning from the races；
demanding of them if they are for the nobles or for the Third…
Estate； and force women to descend from their vehicles and to cry
〃Vive le Tiers…Etat 〃＇16＇。 Meanwhile the crowd has increased
before Réveillon's dwelling； the thirty men on guard are unable to
resist； the house is invaded and sacked from top to bottom； the
furniture； provisions； clothing； registers； wagons； even the poultry
in the back…yard； all is cast into blazing bonfires lighted in three
different places； five hundred louis d'or； the ready money； and the
silver plate are stolen。 Several roam through the cellars； drink
liquor or varnish at haphazard until they fall down dead drunk or
expire in convulsions。 Against this howling horde； a corps of the
watch； mounted and on foot； is seen approaching；＇17＇ also a hundred
cavalry of the 〃Royal Croats；〃 the French Guards； and later on the
Swiss Guards。 〃Tiles and chimneys are rained down on the soldiers；〃
who fire back four files at a time。 The rioters； drunk with brandy
and rage； defend themselves desperately for several hours； more than
two hundred are killed； and nearly three hundred are wounded； they
are only put down by cannon； while the mob keeps active until far
into the night。 … Towards eight in the evening； in the rue
Vieille…du…Temple； the Paris Guard continue to make charges in order
to protect the doors which the miscreants try to force。 Two doors
are forced at half…past eleven o'clock in the Rue Saintonge and in
the Rue de Bretagne； that of a pork…dealer and that of a baker。
Even to this last wave of the outbreak which is subsiding we can
distinguish the elements which have produced the insurrection； and
which are about to produce the Revolution。 Starvation is one of
these： in the Rue de Bretagne the band robbing the baker's shop
carries bread off to the women staying at the corner of the Rue
Saintonge。 Brigandage is another： in the middle of the night M。
du Chatelet's spies； gliding alongside of a ditch； 〃see a group of
ruffians〃 assembled beyond the Barrière du Tr？ne； their leader；
mounted on a little knoll； urging them to begin again； and the
following days； on the highways； vagabonds are saying to each other；
〃We can do no more at Paris； because they are too sharp on the look…
out； let us go to Lyons！〃 There are； finally； the patriots： on the
evening of the insurrection； between the Pont…au…Change and the
Pont…Marie； the half…naked ragamuffins； besmeared with dirt； bearing
along their hand…barrows； are fully alive to their cause； they beg
alms in a loud tone of voice； and stretch out their hats to the
passers； saying； 〃Take pity on this poor Third…Estate！〃 The
starving； the ruffians； and the patriots； all form one body； and
henceforth misery； crime； and public spirit unite to provide an
ever…ready insurrection for the agitators who desire to raise one