第10章

Atthefirstsessionthemembersofthenobilityandtheclergywerecovered，accordingtotheprerogativesoftheirclass，beforetheking。ThoseoftheThirdEstatewishedtoimitatethem，buttheprivilegedmembersprotested。Onthefollowingdaymoreprotestsofwoundedself—lovewereheard。ThedeputiesoftheThirdEstateinvitedthoseofthenobilityandtheclergywhoweresittinginseparatehallstojointhemfortheverificationoftheirpowers。Thenoblesrefused。Thenegotiationslastedmorethanamonth。Finally，thedeputiesoftheThirdEstate，onthepropositionoftheAbbeSieyes，consideringthattheyrepresented95percent。ofthenation，declaredthemselvesconstitutedasaNationalAssembly。FromthatmomenttheRevolutionpursueditscourse。

3。TheConstituentAssembly。

Thepowerofapoliticalassemblyresides，aboveall，intheweaknessofitsadversaries。Astonishedbytheslightresistanceencountered，andcarriedawaybytheascendancyofahandfuloforators，theConstituentAssembly，fromitsearliestsessions，spokeandactedasasovereignbody。Notablyitarrogatedtoitselfthepowerofdecreeingimposts，aseriousencroachmentupontheprerogativesoftheroyalpower。

TheresistanceofLouisXVI。wasfeebleenough。HesimplyhadthehallinwhichtheStatesassembledclosed。Thedeputiesthenmetinthehallofthetennis—court，andtooktheoaththattheywouldnotseparateuntiltheConstitutionofthekingdomwasanestablishedfact。

Themajorityofthedeputiesoftheclergywentwiththem。ThekingrevokedthedecisionoftheAssembly，andorderedthedeputiestoretire。TheMarquisdeDreux—Breze，theGrandMasterofCeremonies，havinginvitedthemtoobeytheorderofthesovereign，thePresidentoftheAssemblydeclared``thatthenationassembledcannotreceiveorders，’’andMirabeaurepliedtotheenvoyofthesovereignthat，beingunitedbythewillofthepeople，theAssemblywouldonlywithdrawatthepointofthebayonet。Againthekinggaveway。

Onthe9thofJunethemeetingofdeputiestookthetitleoftheConstituentAssembly。Forthefirsttimeincenturiesthekingwasforcedtorecognisetheexistenceofanewpower，formerlyignored——thatofthepeople，representedbyitselectedrepresentatives。Theabsolutemonarchywasnomore。

Feelinghimselfmoreandmoreseriouslythreatened，LouisXVI。

summonedtoVersaillesanumberofregimentscomposedofforeignmercenaries。TheAssemblydemandedthewithdrawalofthetroops。

Thekingrefused，anddismissedNecker，replacinghimbytheMarshaldeBroglie，reputedtobeanextremelyauthoritativeperson。

ButtheAssemblyhadablesupporters。CamilleDesmoulinsandothersharanguedthecrowdinalldirections，callingittothedefenceofliberty。Theysoundedthetocsin，organisedamilitiaof12，000men，tookmusketsandcannonfromtheInvalides，andonthe14thofJulythearmedbandsmarchedupontheBastille。Thefortress，barelydefended，capitulatedinafewhours。Sevenprisonerswerefoundwithinit，ofwhomonewasanidiotandfourwereaccusedofforgery。

TheBastille，theprisonofmanyvictimsofarbitrarypower，symbolisedtheroyalpowertomanyminds；butthepeoplewhodemolishedithadnotsufferedbyit。Scarcelyanybutmembersofthenobilitywereimprisonedthere。

Theinfluenceexercisedbythetakingofthisfortresshascontinuedtoourdays。SerioushistorianslikeM。Rambaudassureusthat``thetakingoftheBastilleisaculminatingfactinthehistory，notofFranceonlybutofallEurope，andinauguratesanewepochinthehistoryoftheworld。’’

Suchcredulityisalittleexcessive。Theimportanceoftheeventlaysimplyinthepsychologicalfactthatforthefirsttimethepeoplereceivedanobviousproofoftheweaknessofanauthoritywhichhadlatelybeenformidable。

Whentheprincipleofauthorityisinjuredinthepublicminditdissolvesveryrapidly。Whatmightnotonedemandofakingwhocouldnotdefendhisprincipalfortressagainstpopularattacks？

Themasterregardedasall—powerfulhadceasedtobeso。

ThetakingoftheBastillewasthebeginningofoneofthosephenomenaofmentalcontagionwhichaboundinthehistoryoftheRevolution。Theforeignmercenarytroops，althoughtheycouldscarcelybeinterestedinthemovement，begantoshowsymptomsofmutiny。LouisXVI。wasreducedtoacceptingtheirdisbandment。

HerecalledNecker，wenttotheHoteldeVille，sanctionedbyhispresencetheaccomplishedfacts，andacceptedfromLaFayette，commandantoftheNationalGuard，thenewcockadeofred，white，andbluewhichalliedthecoloursofParistothoseoftheking。

AlthoughtheriotwhichendedinthetakingoftheBastillecanbynomeansberegardedas``aculminatingfactinhistory，’’itdoesmarktheprecisemomentofthecommencementofpopulargovernment。ThearmedpeoplethenceforthinterveneddailyinthedeliberationsoftherevolutionaryAssemblies，andseriouslyinfluencedtheirconduct。

ThisinterventionofthepeopleinconformitywiththedogmaofitssovereigntyhasprovokedtherespectfuladmirationofmanyhistoriansoftheRevolution。Evenasuperficialstudyofthepsychologyofcrowdswouldspeedilyhaveshownthemthatthemysticentitywhichtheycallthepeoplewasmerelytranslatingthewillofafewleaders。ItisnotcorrecttosaythatthepeopletooktheBastille，attackedtheTuileries，invadedtheConvention，&c。，butthatcertainleaders——generallybymeansoftheclubs——unitedarmedbandsofthepopulace，whichtheyledagainsttheBastille，theTuileries，&c。DuringtheRevolutionthesamecrowdsattackedordefendedthemostcontraryparties，accordingtotheleaderswhohappenedtobeattheirheads。Acrowdneverhasanyopinionbutthatofitsleaders。

Exampleconstitutingoneofthemostpotentformsofsuggestion，thetakingoftheBastillewasinevitablyfollowedbythedestructionofotherfortresses。ManychateauxwereregardedassomanylittleBastilles，andinordertoimitatetheParisianswhohaddestroyedtheirsthepeasantsbegantoburnthem。Theydidsowiththegreaterfurybecausetheseigneurialhomescontainedthetitlesoffeudaldues。ItwasaspeciesofJacquerie。

TheConstituentAssembly，soproudandhaughtytowardstheking，was，likealltherevolutionaryassemblieswhichfollowedit，extremelypusillanimousbeforethepeople。

HopingtoputanendtothedisordersofthenightofAugust4th，itvoted，onthepropositionofamemberofthenobility，theComtedeNoailles，theabolitionofseigneurialrights。Althoughthismeasuresuppressedatonestroketheprivilegesofthenobles，itwasvotedwithtearsandembracings。Suchaccessesofsentimentalenthusiasmarereadilyexplainedwhenwerecallhowcontagiousemotionisinacrowd，aboveallinanassemblyoppressedbyfear。

Iftherenunciationoftheirrightshadbeeneffectedbythenobilityafewyearsearlier，theRevolutionwoulddoubtlesshavebeenavoided，butitwasnowtoolate。Togivewayonlywhenoneisforcedtodosomerelyincreasesthedemandsofthosetowhomoneyields。Inpoliticsoneshouldalwayslookaheadandgivewaylongbeforeoneisforcedtodoso。

LouisXVI。hesitatedfortwomonthstoratifythedecisionsvotedbytheAssemblyonthenightofthe4thofAugust。HehadretiredtoVersailles。Theleaderssentthitherabandof7，000

or8，000menandwomenofthepeople，assuringthemthattheroyalresidencecontainedgreatstoresofbread。Therailingsofthepalacewereforced，someofthebodyguardwerekilled，andthekingandallhisfamilywereledbacktoParisinthemidstofashriekingcrowd，manyofwhomboreontheendsoftheirpikestheheadsofthesoldiersmassacred。Thedreadfuljourneylastedsixhours。Theseeventsconstitutedwhatareknownasthe``days’’ofOctober。

Thepopularpowerincreased，andinrealitytheking，likethewholeassembly，washenceforthinthehandsofthepeople——thatis，atthemercyoftheclubsandtheirleaders。Thispopularpowerwastoprevailfornearlytenyears，andtheRevolutionwastobealmostentirelyitswork。

Whileproclaimingthatthepeopleconstitutedtheonlysovereign，theAssemblywasgreatlyembarrassedbyriotswhichwentfarbeyonditstheoreticalexpectations。IthadsupposedthatorderwouldberestoredwhileitfabricatedaConstitutiondestinedtoassuretheeternalhappinessofmankind。

WeknowthatduringthewholedurationoftheRevolutiononeofthechiefoccupationsoftheassemblieswastomake，unmake，andremakeConstitutions。Thetheoristsattributedtothemthen，astheydoto—day，thepoweroftransformingsociety；theAssembly，therefore，couldnotneglectitstask。InthemeantimeitpublishedasolemnDeclarationoftheRightsofManwhichsummariseditsprinciples。

TheConstitution，proclamations，declarations，andspeecheshadnottheslightesteffectonthepopularmovements，noronthedissentientswhodailyincreasedinnumberintheheartoftheAssembly。Thelatterbecamemoreandmoresubjectedtotheascendancyoftheadvancedparty，whichwassupportedbytheclubs。Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，andlaterMaratandHebert，violentlyexcitedthepopulacebytheirharanguesandtheirjournals。TheAssemblywasrapidlygoingdowntheslopethatleadstoextremes。

Duringallthesedisordersthefinancesofthecountrywerenotimproving。Finallyconvincedthatphilanthropicspeecheswouldnotaltertheirlamentablecondition，andseeingthatbankruptcythreatened，theAssemblydecreed，onthe2ndofNovember，1789，theconfiscationofthegoodsoftheChurch。Theirrevenues，consistingofthetithescollectedfromthefaithful，amountedtosomeL8，000，000，andtheirvaluewasestimatedataboutL120，000，000。Theyweredividedamongsomehundredsofprelates，Courtabbes，&c。，whoownedaquarterofallFrance。

Thesegoods，henceforthentitledis``nationaldomains，’’formedtheguaranteeoftheassignats，thefirstissueofwhichwasfor400，000，000francs（L16，000，000sterling）。Thepublicacceptedthemattheoutset，buttheymultipliedsoundertheDirectoryandtheConvention，whichissued45，000，000，000francsinthisform（L1，800，000，000sterling），thatanassignatof100livreswasfinallyworthonlyafewhalfpence。

Stimulatedbyhisadvisers，thefeebleLouisattemptedinvaintostruggleagainstthedecreesoftheAssemblybyrefusingtosanctionthem。

UndertheinfluenceofthedailysuggestionsoftheleadersandthepowerofmentalcontagiontherevolutionarymovementwasspreadingeverywhereindependentlyoftheAssemblyandoftenevenagainstit。

Inthetownsandvillagesrevolutionarymunicipalitieswereinstituted，protectedbythelocalNationalGuards。Thoseofneighbouringtownscommencedtomakemutualarrangementstodefendthemselvesshouldneedarise。Thusfederationswereformed，whichweresoonrolledintoone；thissent14，000

NationalGuardstoParis，whoassembledontheChamp—de—Marsonthe14thofJuly，1790。TherethekingsworetomaintaintheConstitutiondecreedbytheNationalAssembly。

DespitethisvainoathitbecamemoreevidenteverydaythatnoagreementwaspossiblebetweenthehereditaryprinciplesofthemonarchyandthoseproclaimedbytheAssembly。

Feelinghimselfcompletelypowerless，thekingthoughtonlyofflight。ArrestedatVarennesandbroughtbackaprisonertoParis，hewasshutupintheTuileries。TheAssembly，althoughstillextremelyroyalist，suspendedhimfrompower，anddecidedtoassumethesolechargeofthegovernment。

NeverdidsovereignfindhimselfinapositionsodifficultasthatofLouisatthetimeofhisflight。ThegeniusofaRichelieuwouldhardlyhaveextricatedhim。Theonlyelementofdefenceonwhichhecouldhavereliedhadfromthebeginningabsolutelyfailedhim。

DuringthewholedurationoftheConstituentAssemblytheimmensemajorityofFrenchmenandoftheAssemblyremainedroyalist，sothathadthesovereignacceptedaliberalmonarchyhecouldperhapshaveremainedinpower。ItwouldseemthatLouishadlittletopromiseinordertocometoanagreementwiththeAssembly。

Little，perhaps，butwithhisstructureofmindthatlittlewasstrictlyimpossible。Alltheshadesofhisforbearswouldhaverisenupinfrontofhimhadheconsentedtomodifythemechanismofthemonarchyinheritedfromsomanyancestors。Andevenhadheattemptedtodoso，theoppositionofhisfamily，theclergy，thenobles，andtheCourtcouldneverhavebeensurmounted。Theancientcastesonwhichthemonarchyrested，thenobilityandtheclergy，werethenalmostaspowerfulasthemonarchhimself。

EverytimeitseemedasthoughhemightyieldtotheinjunctionsoftheAssemblyitwasbecausehewasconstrainedtodosobyforce，andtoattempttogaintime。HisappealstoalienPowersrepresentedtheresolutionofadesperatemanwhohadseenallhisnaturaldefencesfailhim。

He，andespeciallythequeen，entertainedthestrangestillusionsastothepossibleassistanceofAustria，forcenturiestherivalofFrance。IfAustriaindolentlyconsentedtocometohisaid，itwasonlyinthehopeofreceivingagreatreward。MercygavehimtounderstandthatthepaymentexpectedconsistedofAlsace，theAlps，andNavarre。

Theleadersoftheclubs，findingtheAssemblytooroyalist，sentthepeopleagainstit。Apetitionwassigned，invitingtheAssemblytoconvokeanewconstituentpowertoproceedtothetrialofLouisXVI。

Monarchicalinspiteofall，andfindingthattheRevolutionwasassumingacharacterfartoodemagogic，theAssemblyresolvedtodefenditselfagainsttheactionsofthepeople。AbattalionoftheNationalGuard，commandedbyLaFayette，wassenttotheChamp—de—Mars，wherethecrowdwasassembled，todisperseit。

Fiftyofthosepresentwerekilled。

TheAssemblydidnotlongpersistinitsfeebleresistance。

Extremelyfearfulofthepeople，itincreaseditsarrogancetowardstheking，deprivinghimeverydayofsomepartofhisprerogativesandauthority。Hewasnowscarcelymorethanamereofficialobligedtoexecutethewishesofothers。

TheAssemblyhadimaginedthatitwouldbeabletoexercisetheauthorityofwhichithaddeprivedtheking，butsuchataskwasinfinitelyaboveitsresources。Apowersodividedisalwaysweak。``Iknownothingmoreterrible，’’saidMirabeau，``thanthesovereignauthorityofsixhundredpersons。’’

HavingflattereditselfthatitcouldcombineinitselfallthepowersoftheState，andexercisethemasLouisXVI。haddone，theAssemblyverysoonexercisednonewhatever。

Asitsauthorityfailedanarchyincreased。Thepopularleaderscontinuallystirredupthepeople。Riotandinsurrectionbecamethesolepower。EverydaytheAssemblywasinvadedbyrowdyandimperiousdelegationswhichoperatedbymeansofthreatsanddemands。

Allthesepopularmovements，whichtheAssembly，underthestressoffear，invariablyobeyed，hadnothingspontaneousaboutthem。

Theysimplyrepresentedthemanifestationsofnewpowers——theclubsandtheCommune——whichhadbeensetupbesidetheAssembly。

ThemostpowerfuloftheseclubswastheJacobin，whichhadquicklycreatedmorethanfivehundredbranchesinthecountry，allofwhichwereundertheordersofthecentralbody。ItsinfluenceremainedpreponderantduringthewholedurationoftheRevolution。ItwasthemasteroftheAssembly，andthenofFrance，itsonlyrivaltheinsurrectionaryCommune，whosepowerwasexercisedonlyinParis。

TheweaknessofthenationalAssemblyandallitsfailureshadmadeitextremelyunpopular。Itbecameconsciousofthis，and，feelingthatitwaseverydaymorepowerless，decidedtohastenthecreationofthenewConstitutioninorderthatitmightdissolve。Itslastaction，whichwastactlessenough，wastodecreethatnomemberoftheConstituentAssemblyshouldbeelectedtotheLegislativeAssembly。Themembersofthelatterwerethusdeprivedoftheexperienceacquiredbytheirpredecessors。

TheConstitutionwascompletedonthe3rdofSeptember，1791，andacceptedonthe13thbytheking，towhomtheAssemblyhadrestoredhispowers。

ThisConstitutionorganisedarepresentativeGovernment，delegatingthelegislativepowertodeputieselectedbythepeople，andtheexecutivepowertotheking，whoserightofvetooverthedecreesoftheAssemblywasrecognised。Newdepartmentaldivisionsweresubstitutedfortheoldprovinces。

Theimpostswereabolished，andreplacedbydirectandindirecttaxes，whicharestillinforce。

TheAssembly，whichhadjustalteredtheterritorialdivisionsandoverthrownalltheoldsocialorganisation，thoughtitselfpowerfulenoughtotransformthereligiousorganisationofthecountryalso。Itclaimednotablythatthemembersoftheclergyshouldbeelectedbythepeople，andshouldbethuswithdrawnfromtheinfluenceoftheirsupremehead，thePope。

ThiscivilconstitutionoftheclergywastheoriginofreligiousstrugglesandpersecutionswhichlasteduntilthedaysoftheConsulate。Two—thirdsofthepriestsrefusedtheoathdemandedofthem。

DuringthethreeyearswhichrepresentedthelifeoftheConstituentAssemblytheRevolutionhadproducedconsiderableresults。TheprincipalresultwasperhapsthebeginningofthetransferencetotheThirdEstateoftherichesoftheprivilegedclasses。Inthiswaywhileinterestswerecreatedtobedefendedferventadherentswereraiseduptothenewregime。A

Revolutionsupportedbythegratificationofacquiredappetitesisboundtobepowerful。TheThirdEstate，whichhadsupplantedthenobles，andthepeasants，whohadboughtthenationaldomains，wouldreadilyunderstandthattherestorationoftheancienregimewoulddespoilthemofalltheiradvantages。

TheenergeticdefenceoftheRevolutionwasmerelythedefenceoftheirownfortunes。

Thisiswhywesee，duringpartoftheRevolution，nearlyhalfthedepartmentsvainlyrisingagainstthedespotismthatcrushedthem。TheRepublicanstriumphedoverallopposition。Theywereextremelypowerfulinthattheyhadtodefend，notonlyanewideal，butnewmaterialinterests。WeshallseethattheinfluenceofthesetwofactorslastedduringthewholeoftheRevolution，andcontributedpowerfullytotheestablishmentoftheEmpire。

CHAPTERII

THEPSYCHOLOGYOFTHELEGISLATIVEASSEMBLY

1。PoliticalEventsduringtheLifeoftheLegislativeAssembly。

BeforeexaminingthementalcharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssemblyletusbrieflysumuptheconsiderablepoliticaleventswhichmarkeditsshortyear’slife。Theynaturallyplayedanimportantpartinrespectofitspsychologicalmanifestations。

Extremelymonarchical，theLegislativeAssemblyhadnomoreideathanitspredecessorofdestroyingthemonarchy。Thekingappearedtoittobeslightlysuspect，butitstillhopedtobeabletoretainhimonthethrone。

Unhappilyforhim，Louiswasincessantlybeggingforinterventionfromabroad。ShutupintheTuileries，defendedonlybyhisSwissGuards，thetimidsovereignwasdriftingamongcontraryinfluences。Hesubsidisedjournalsintendedtomodifypublicopinion，buttheobscure``penny—a—liners’’whoeditedthemknewnothingofactingonthemindofthecrowd。TheironlymeansofpersuasionwastomenacewiththegallowsallthepartisansoftheRevolution，andtopredicttheinvasionofFrancebyanarmywhichwouldrescuetheking。

RoyaltynolongercountedonanythingbuttheforeignCourts。Thenobleswereemigrating。Prussia，Austria，andRussiawerethreateningFrancewithawarofinvasion。TheCourtfavouredtheirlead。TothecoalitionofthethreekingsagainstFrancetheJacobinClubproposedtoopposealeagueofpeoples。

TheGirondistswerethen，withtheJacobins，attheheadoftherevolutionarymovement。Theyincitedthemassestoarmthemselves——600，000volunteerswereequipped。TheCourtacceptedaGirondistminister。Dominatedbyhim，LouisXVI。wasobligedtoproposetotheAssemblyawaragainstAustria。Itwasimmediatelyagreedto。

Indeclaringwarthekingwasnotsincere。ThequeenrevealedtheFrenchplansofcampaignandthesecretdeliberationsoftheCounciltotheAustrians。

Thebeginningsofthestruggleweredisastrous。Severalcolumnsoftroops，attackedbypanic，disbanded。Stimulatedbytheclubs，andpersuaded——justly，forthatmatter——thatthekingwasconspiringwiththeenemiesofFrance，thepopulationofthefaubourgsroseininsurrection。Itsleaders，theJacobins，andaboveallDanton，senttotheTuileriesonthe20thofJuneapetitionthreateningthekingwithrevocation。IttheninvadedtheTuileries，heapinginvectivesonthesovereign。

FatalityimpelledLouistowardhistragicdestiny。WhilethethreatsoftheJacobinsagainstroyaltyhadrousedmanyofthedepartmentstoindignation，itwaslearnedthataPrussianarmyhadarrivedonthefrontiersofLorraine。

Thehopeofthekingandqueenrespectingthehelptobeobtainedfromabroadwashighlychimerical。Marie—AntoinettesufferedfromanabsoluteillusionastothepsychologyoftheAustrianandtheFrenchpeoples。SeeingFranceterrorisedbyafewenergumens，shesupposedthatitwouldbeequallyeasytoterrifytheParisians，andbymeansofthreatstoleadthembackundertheking’sauthority。Inspiredbyher，FersenundertooktopublishthemanifestooftheDukeofBrunswick，threateningPariswith``totalsubversioniftheroyalfamilyweremolested。’’

Theeffectproducedwasdiametricallyoppositetothatintended。

Themanifestoarousedindignationagainstthemonarch，whowasregardedasanaccomplice，andincreasedhisunpopularity。Fromthatdayhewasmarkedforthescaffold。

CarriedawaybyDanton，thedelegatesofthesectionsinstalledthemselvesattheHoteldeVilleasaninsurrectionaryCommune，whicharrestedthecommandantoftheNationalGuard，whowasdevotedtotheking，soundedthetocsin，equippedtheNationalGuard，andonthe10thofAugusthurledthem，withthepopulace，againsttheTuileries。TheregimentscalledinbyLouisdisbandedthemselves。SoonnonewerelefttodefendhimbuthisSwissandafewgentlemen。Nearlyallwerekilled。Leftalone，thekingtookrefugewiththeAssembly。Thecrowdsdemandedhisdenouncement。TheLegislativeAssemblydecreedhissuspensionandleftafutureAssembly，theConvention，todecideuponhisfate。

2。MentalCharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssembly。

TheLegislativeAssembly，formedofnewmen，presentedquiteaspecialinterestfromthepsychologicalpointofview。

Fewassemblieshaveofferedinsuchadegreethecharacteristicsofthepoliticalcollectivity。

Itcomprisedsevenhundredandfiftydeputies，dividedintopureroyalists，constitutionalroyalists，republicans，Girondists，andMontagnards。Advocatesandmenoflettersformedthemajority。

Italsocontained，butinsmallernumbers，superiorofficers，priests，andaveryfewscientists。

ThephilosophicalconceptionsofthemembersofthisAssemblyseemrudimentaryenough。ManywereimbuedwithRousseau’sideaofareturntoastateofnature。Butall，liketheirpredecessors，weredominatedmoreespeciallybyrecollectionsofGreekandLatinantiquity。Cato，Brutus，Gracchus，Plutarch，MarcusAurelius，andPlato，continuallyevoked，furnishedtheimagesoftheirspeech。WhentheoratorwishedtoinsultLouisXVI。hecalledhimCaligula。

Inhopingtodestroytraditiontheywererevolutionaries，butinclaimingtoreturntoaremotepasttheyshowedthemselvesextremelyreactionary。

Fortherest，allthesetheorieshadverylittleinfluenceontheirconduct。Reasonwascontinuallyfiguringintheirspeeches，butneverintheiractions。Thesewerealwaysdominatedbythoseaffectiveandmysticelementswhosepotencywehavesooftendemonstrated。

ThepsychologicalcharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssemblywerethoseoftheConstituentAssembly，butweregreatlyaccentuated。Theymaybesummedupinfourwords：

impressionability，mobility，timidity，andweakness。

Thismobilityandimpressionabilityarerevealedintheconstantvariabilityoftheirconduct。Onedaytheyexchangenoisyinvectiveandblows。Onthefollowingdayweseethem``throwingthemselvesintooneanother’sarmswithtorrentsoftears。’’

Theyeagerlyapplaudanaddressdemandingthepunishmentofthosewhohavepetitionedfortheking’sdethronement，andthesamedayaccordthehonoursofthesessiontoadelegationwhichhascometodemandhisdownfall。

ThepusillanimityandweaknessoftheAssemblyinthefaceofthreatswasextreme。Althoughroyalistitvotedthesuspensionoftheking，andonthedemandoftheCommunedeliveredhim，withhisfamily，tobeimprisonedintheTemple，Thankstoitsweakness，itwasasincapableastheConstituentAssemblyofexercisinganypower，andalloweditselftobedominatedbytheCommuneandtheclubs，whichweredirectedbysuchinfluentialleadersasHebert，Tallien，Rossignol，Marat，Robespierre，&c。

UntilThermidor，1794，theinsurrectionaryCommuneconstitutedthechiefpowerintheState，andbehavedpreciselyasifithadbeenchargedwiththegovernmentofParis。