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are at the mercy of the throng who clamor at their doors。 In the
district of St。 Roch；＇7＇ after many useless refusals； the General
Assembly； notwithstanding all the reproaches of its conscience and
the resistance of its reason； is obliged to open letters addressed
to Monsieur； to the Duke of Orleans； and to the Ministers of War； of
Foreign Affairs； and of the Marine。 In the committee on
subsistence； M。 Serreau； who is indispensable and who is confirmed
by a public proclamation； is denounced； threatened； and constrained
to leave Paris。 M。 de la Salle； one of the strongest patriots among
the nobles； is on the point of being murdered for having signed an
order for the transport of gunpowder；＇8＇ the multitude； in pursuit
of him； attach a rope to the nearest street…lamp； ransack the H？tel…
de…Ville； force every door； mount into the belfry； and seek for the
traitor even under the carpet of the bureau and between the legs of
the electors； and are only stayed in their course by the arrival of
the National Guard。
The people not only sentence but they execute； and； as is always the
case； blindly。 At Saint…Denis； Chatel； the mayor's lieutenant；
whose duty it is to distribute flour； had reduced the price of bread
at his own expense： on the 3rd of August his house is forced open at
two o'clock in the morning； and he takes refuge in a steeple； the
mob follow him； cut his throat and drag his head along the streets。
Not only do the people execute； but they pardon and with equal
discernment。 On the 11th of August； at Versailles； as a parricide
is about to be broken on the wheel； the crowd demand his release；
fly at the executioner； and set the man free。＇9＇ Veritably this is
sovereign power like that of the oriental sovereign who arbitrarily
awards life or death！ A woman who protests against this scandalous
pardon is seized and comes near being hung； for the new monarch
considers as a crime whatever is offensive to his new majesty。
Again； he receives public and humble homage。 The Prime Minister； on
imploring the pardon of M。 de Bezenval at the H？tel…de…Ville； in the
presence of the electors and of the public； has put it in
appropriate words：
〃It is before the most unknown； the obscurest citizen of Paris that
I prostrate myself； at whose feet I kneel。〃
A few days before this； at Saint…Germain…en…Laye； and at Poissy； the
deputies of the National Assembly not only kneel down in words； but
actually； and for a long time； on the pavement in the street； and
stretch forth their hands； weeping； to save two lives of which only
one is granted to them。 … Behold the monarch by these brilliant
signs！ Already do the young； who are eager imitators of all actions
that are in fashion； ape them in miniature； during the month which
follows the murder of Berthier and Foulon； Bailly is informed that
the gamins in the streets are parading about with the heads of two
cats stuck on the ends of two poles。＇10＇
II。 。
The distress of the people。 … The dearth and the lack of work。 …
How men of executive ability are recruited。
A pitiable monarch； whose recognized sovereignty leaves him more
miserable than he was before！ Bread is always scarce； and before the
baker's doors the row of waiting people does not diminish。 In vain
Bailly passes his nights with the committee on supplies； they are
always in a state of terrible anxiety。 Every morning for two months
there is only one or two days' supply of flour； and often； in the
evening； there is not enough for the following morning。＇11＇ The
life of the capital depends on a convoy which is ten； fifteen；
twenty leagues off； and which may never arrive： one convoy of twenty
carts is pillaged on the 18th of July； on the Rouen road； another；
on the 4th of August； in the vicinity of Louviers。 Were it not for
Salis' Swiss regiment； which； from the 14th of July to the end of
September； marches day and night as an escort； not a boat…load of
grain would reach Paris from Rouen。＇12＇ The commissaries charged
with making purchases or with supervising the expeditions are in
danger of their lives。 Those who are sent to provinces are seized；
and a column of four hundred men with cannon has to be dispatched to
deliver them。 The one who is sent to Rouen learns that he will be
hung if he dares to enter the place。 At Mantes a mob surrounds his
cabriolet； the people regarding whoever comes there for the purpose
of carrying away grain as a public pest； he escapes with difficulty
out of a back door and returns on foot to Paris。 From the very
beginning； according to a universal rule； the fear of a short supply
helps to augment the famine。 Every one lays in a stock for several
days； on one occasion sixteen loaves of four pounds each are found
in an old woman's garret。 The bakings； consequently； which are
estimated according to the quantity needed for a single day； become
inadequate； and the last of those who wait at the bakers' shops for
bread return home empty…handed。 On the other hand the
appropriations made by the city and the State to diminish the price
of bread simply serve to lengthen the rows of those who wait for it；
the countrymen flock in thither； and return home loaded to their
villages。 At Saint…Denis； bread having been reduced to two sous the
pound； none is left for the inhabitants。 To this constant anxiety
add that of unemployment。 Not only is there no certainty of there
being bread at the bakers' during the coming week； but many know
that they will not have money in the coming week with which to buy
bread。 Now that security has disappeared and the rights of property
are shaken； work is wanting。 The rich； deprived of their feudal
dues； and； in addition thereto of their rents； have reduced their
expenditure； many of them； threatened by the committee of
investigation； exposed to domiciliary visits； and liable to be
informed against by their servants； have emigrated。 In the month of
September M。 Necker laments the delivery of six thousand passports
in fifteen days to the wealthiest inhabitants。 In the month of
October ladies of high rank； refugees in Rome； send word that their
domestics should be discharged and their daughters placed in
convents。 Before the end of 1789 there are so many fugitives in
Switzerland that a house； it is said； brings in more rent than it is
worth as capital。 With this first emigration； which is that of the
chief spendthrifts； the Count d'Artois； Prince de Conti； Duc de
Bourbon； and so many others； the opulent foreigners have left； and；
at the head of them； the Duchesse de l'Infantado； who spent 800；000
livres a year。 There are only three Englishmen in Paris。
It used to be a city of luxury； it was the European hot…house of
costly and refined pleasures； but once the glass was broken then the
delicate plants perish； their lovers leave； and there is no
employment now for the innumerable hands which cultivated them。
Fortunate are they who at the