第11章

ItwastheCommunethatdemandedtheimprisonmentofLouisXVI。

inthetoweroftheTemple，whentheAssemblywishedtoimprisonhiminthepalaceoftheLuxembourg。ItwastheCommuneagainthatfilledtheprisonswithsuspects，andthenorderedthemtobekilled。

Weknowwithwhatrefinementsofcrueltyahandfulofsome150

bandits，paidattherateof24livresaday，anddirectedbyafewmembersoftheCommune，exterminatedsome1，200personsinfourdays。ThiscrimewasknownasthemassacreofSeptember。

ThemayorofParis，Petion，receivedthebandofassassinswithrespect，andgavethemdrink。AfewGirondistsprotestedsomewhat，buttheJacobinsweresilent。

TheterrorisedAssemblyaffectedatfirsttoignorethemassacres，whichwereencouragedbyseveralofitsmoreinfluentialdeputies，notablyCouthonandBillaud—Varenne。Whenatlastitdecidedtocondemnthemitwaswithoutattemptingtopreventtheircontinuation。

Consciousofitsimpotence，theLegislativeAssemblydissolveditselfafortnightlaterinordertogivewaytotheConvention。

Itsworkwasobviouslydisastrous，notinintentionbutinfact。

Royalist，itabandonedthemonarchy；humanitarian，itallowedthemassacresofSeptember；pacific，itpushedFranceintoaformidablewar，thusshowingthataweakGovernmentalwaysendsbybringingruinuponitscountry。

ThehistoryofthetwopreviousrevolutionaryAssembliesprovesoncemoretowhatpointeventscarrywithinthemtheirinevitableconsequences。Theyconstituteatrainofnecessitiesofwhichwecansometimeschoosethefirst，butwhichthenevolvewithoutconsultingus。Wearefreetomakeadecision，butpowerlesstoavertitsconsequences。

ThefirstmeasuresoftheConstituentAssemblywererationalandvoluntary，buttheresultswhichfollowedwerebeyondallwillorreasonorforesight。

Whichofthemenof1789wouldhaveventuredtodesireorpredictthedeathofLouisXVI。，thewarsofLaVendee，theTerror，thepermanentguillotineandthefinalanarchy，ortheensuingreturntotraditionandorder，guidedbytheironhandofasoldier？

InthedevelopmentofeventswhichensuedfromtheearlyactionsoftherevolutionaryAssembliesthemoststriking，perhaps，wastheriseanddevelopmentofthegovernmentofthecrowd——ofmobrule。

Behindthefactswhichwehavebeenconsidering——thetakingoftheBastille，theinvasionofVersailles，themassacresofSeptember，theattackontheTuileries，themurderoftheSwissGuards，andthedownfallandimprisonmentoftheking——wecanreadilyperceivethelawsaffectingthepsychologyofcrowdsandtheirleaders。

Weshallnowseethatthepowerofthemultitudewillprogressivelyincrease，overcomeallotherpowers，andfinallyreplacethem。

CHAPTERIII

THEPSYCHOLOGYOFTHECONVENTION

1。TheLegendoftheConvention。

ThehistoryoftheConventionisnotmerelyfertileinpsychologicaldocuments。Italsoshowshowpowerlessthewitnessesofanyperiodandeventheirimmediatesuccessorsaretoformanexactideaoftheeventswhichtheyhavewitnessed，andthemenwhohavesurroundedthem。

MorethanacenturyhaselapsedsincetheRevolution，andmenareonlyjustbeginningtoformjudgmentsconcerningthisperiodwhich，ifstilloftendoubtfulenough，areslightlymoreaccuratethanofold。

Thishappens，notonlybecausenewdocumentsarebeingdrawnfromthearchives，butbecausethelegendswhichenvelopedthatsanguinaryperiodinamagicalcloudaregraduallyvanishingwiththepassageoftime。

Perhapsthemosttenaciouslegendofallwasthatwhichuntilformerlyusedtosurroundthepersonagestowhomourfathersappliedthegloriousepithet，``theGiantsoftheConvention。’’

ThestrugglesoftheConventionagainstFranceininsurrectionandEuropeinarmsproducedsuchanimpressionthattheheroesofthisformidablestruggleseemedtobelongtoaraceofsupermenorTitans。

Theepithet``giant’’seemedjustifiedsolongastheeventsoftheperiodwereconfusedandmassedtogether。Regardedasconnectedwhenitwassimplysimultaneous，theworkofthearmieswasconfoundedwiththatoftheConvention。Thegloryofthefirstrecoileduponthesecond，andservedasanexcuseforthehecatombsoftheTerror，theferocityofthecivilwar，andthedevastationofFrance。

Underthepenetratingscrutinyofmoderncriticism，theheterogeneousmassofeventshasbeenslowlydisentangled。ThearmiesoftheRepublichaveretainedtheiroldprestige，butwehavebeenforcedtorecognisethatthemenoftheConvention，absorbedentirelybytheirintestineconflicts，hadverylittletodowiththeirvictories。AtthemosttwoorthreemembersofthecommitteesoftheAssemblywereconcernedwiththearmies，andthefactthattheywerevictoriouswasdue，apartfromtheirnumbersandthetalentsoftheiryounggenerals，totheenthusiasmwithwhichanewfaithhadinspiredthem。

Inalaterchapter，devotedtotherevolutionaryarmies，weshallseehowtheyconqueredEuropeinarms。Theysetoutinspiredbytheideasoflibertyandequalitywhichconstitutedthenewgospel，andonceonthefrontiers，whichweretokeepthemsolong，theyretainedaspecialmentality，verydifferentfromthatoftheGovernment，whichtheyfirstknewnothingofandafterwardsdespised。

Havingnopartwhateverintheirvictories，themenoftheConventioncontentedthemselveswithlegislatingathazardaccordingtotheinjunctionsoftheleaderswhodirectedthem，andwhoclaimedtoberegeneratingFrancebymeansoftheguillotine。

ButitwasthankstothesevaliantarmiesthatthehistoryoftheConventionwastransformedintoanapotheosiswhichaffectedseveralgenerationswithareligiousrespectwhichevento—dayishardlyextinct。

Studyingindetailthepsychologyofthe``Giants’’oftheConvention，wefindtheirmagnitudeshrinkveryrapidly。Theywereingeneralextremelymediocre。Theirmostferventdefenders，suchasM。Aulard，areobligedtoadmitasmuch。

ThisishowM。AulardputsitinhisHistoryoftheFrenchRevolution：——

``Ithasbeensaidthatthegenerationwhichfrom1789to1799

didsuchgreatandterriblethingswasagenerationofgiants，or，toputitmoreplainly，thatitwasagenerationmoredistinguishedthanthatwhichprecededitorthatwhichfollowed。

Thisisaretrospectiveillusion。ThecitizenswhoformedthemunicipalandJacobinornationalistgroupsbywhichtheRevolutionwaseffecteddonotseemtohavebeensuperior，eitherinenlightenmentorintalents，totheFrenchmenofthetimeofLouisXV。orofLouisPhilippe。WerethoseexceptionallygiftedwhosenameshistoryhasretainedbecausetheyappearedonthestageofParis，orbecausetheywerethemostbrilliantoratorsofthevariousrevolutionaryAssemblies？Mirabeau，uptoacertainpoint，deservedthetitleofgenius；butastotherest——

Robespierre，Danton，Vergniaud——hadtheytrulymoretalent，forexample，thanourmodernorators？In1793，inthetimeofthesupposed`giants，’Mme。Rolandwroteinhermemoirs：`Francewasasthoughdrainedofmen；theirdearthduringthisrevolutionistrulysurprising；therehavescarcelybeenanybutpigmies。’’’

IfafterconsideringthemenoftheConventionindividuallyweconsidertheminabody，wemaysaythattheydidnotshineeitherbyintelligenceorbyvirtueorbycourage。Neverdidabodyofmenmanifestsuchpusillanimity。Theyhadnocouragesaveintheirspeechesorinrespectofremotedangers。ThisAssembly，soproudandthreateninginitsspeechwhenaddressingroyalty，wasperhapsthemosttimidanddocilepoliticalcollectivitythattheworldhaseverknown。WeseeitslavishlyobedienttotheordersoftheclubsandtheCommune，tremblingbeforethepopulardelegationswhichinvadeditdaily，andobeyingtheinjunctionsoftherioterstothepointofhandingovertothemitsmostbrilliantmembers。TheConventionaffordstheworldamelancholyspectacle，voting，atthepopularbehest，lawssoabsurdthatitisobligedtoannulthemassoonastheriotershavequittedthehall。

FewAssemblieshavegivenproofofsuchweakness。WhenwewishtoshowhowlowapopularGovernmentcanfallwehaveonlytopointtotheConvention。

2。ResultsoftheTriumphoftheJacobinReligionAmongthecausesthatgavetheConventionitsspecialphysiognomy，oneofthemostimportantwasthedefiniteestablishmentofarevolutionaryreligion。Adogmawhichwasatfirstinprocessofformationwasatlastfinallyerected。

Thisdogmawascomposedofanaggregateofsomewhatinconsistentelements。Nature，therightsofman，liberty，equality，thesocialcontract，hatredoftyrants，andpopularsovereigntyformedthearticlesofagospelwhich，toitsdisciples，wasabovediscussion。Thenewtruthshadfoundapostleswhowerecertainoftheirpower，andwhofinally，likebelieversalltheworldover，soughttoimposethembyforce。Noheedshouldbetakenoftheopinionofunbelievers；theyalldeservedtobeexterminated。

Thehatredofhereticshavingbeenalways，aswehaveseen，inrespectoftheReformation，anirreduciblecharacteristicofgreatbeliefs，wecanreadilycomprehendtheintoleranceoftheJacobinreligion。

ThehistoryoftheReformationprovesalsothattheconflictbetweentwoalliedbeliefsisverybitter。Wemustnot，therefore，beastonishedthatintheConventiontheJacobinsfoughtfuriouslyagainsttheotherrepublicans，whosefaithhardlydifferedfromtheirown。

Thepropagandaofthenewapostleswasveryenergetic。Toconverttheprovincestheysentthitherzealousdisciplesescortedbyguillotines。Theinquisitorsofthenewfaithwouldhavenopalteringwitherror。AsRobespierresaid，``Therepublicisthedestructionofeverythingthatisopposedtoit。’’Whatmatterthatthecountryrefusedtoberegenerated？

Itshouldberegenerateddespiteitself。``WewillmakeacemeteryofFrance，’’saidCarrier，``ratherthanfailtoregenerateitinourownway。’’

TheJacobinpolicyderivedfromthenewfaithwasverysimple。

ItconsistedinasortofequalitarianSocialism，directedbyadictatorshipwhichwouldbrooknoopposition。

Ofpracticalideasconsistentwiththeeconomicnecessitiesandthetruenatureofman，thetheoristswhoruledFrancewouldhavenothingtosay。Speechandtheguillotinesufficedthem。Theirspeecheswerechildish。``Neverafact，’’saysTaine，``nothingbutabstractions，stringsofsentencesaboutNature，reason，thepeople，tyrants，liberty：likesomanypuffed—outballoonsuselesslyjostlinginspace。Ifwedidnotknowthatitallendedinpracticalanddreadfulresults，weshouldthinktheyweregamesoflogic，schoolexercises，academicaldemonstrations，ideologicalcombinations。’’

ThetheoriesoftheJacobinsamountedpracticallytoanabsolutetyranny。TothemitseemedevidentthatasovereignStatemustbeobeyedwithoutdiscussionbycitizensrenderedequalastoconditionsandfortune。

Thepowerwithwhichtheyinvestedthemselveswasfargreaterthanthatofthemonarchswhohadprecededthem。Theyfixedthepricesofmerchandiseandarrogatedtherighttodisposeofthelifeandpropertyofcitizens。

Theirconfidenceintheregenerativevirtuesoftherevolutionaryfaithwassuchthatafterhavingdeclaredwaruponkingstheydeclaredwaruponthegods。Acalendarwasestablishedfromwhichthesaintswerebanished。Theycreatedanewdivinity，Reason，whoseworshipwascelebratedinNotre—Dame，withceremonieswhichwereinmanywaysidenticalwiththoseoftheCatholicfaith，uponthealtarofthe``lateHolyVirgin。’’ThiscultlasteduntilRobespierresubstitutedapersonalreligionofwhichheconstitutedhimselfthehighpriest。

ThesolemastersofFrance，theJacobinsandtheirdiscipleswereabletoplunderthecountrywithimpunity，althoughtheywereneverinthemajorityanywhere。

Theirnumbersarenoteasytodetermineexactly。Weknowonlythattheywereverysmall。Tainevaluedthemat5，000inParis，among700，000inhabitants；inBesancon300among300，000；andinallFranceabout300，000。

``Asmallfeudalityofbrigands，setoveraconqueredFrance，’’

accordingtothewordsofthesameauthor，theywereable，inspiteoftheirsmallnumbers，todominatethecountry，andthisforseveralreasons。Inthefirstplace，theirfaithgavethemaconsiderablestrength。Then，becausetheyrepresentedtheGovernment，andforcenturiestheFrenchhadobeyedthosewhowereincommand。Finally，becauseitwasbelievedthattooverthrowthemwouldbetobringbacktheancienregime，whichwasgreatlydreadedbythenumerouspurchasersofthenationaldomains。Theirtyrannymusthavegrownfrightfulindeedtoforcesomanydepartmentstoriseagainstthem。

Thefirstfactoroftheirpowerwasveryimportant。Intheconflictbetweenpowerfulfaithsandweakfaithsvictoryneverfallstothelatter。Apowerfulfaithcreatesstrongwills，whichwillalwaysoverpowerweakwills。ThattheJacobinsthemselvesdidfinallyperishwasbecausetheiraccumulatedviolencehadboundtogetherthousandsofweakwillswhoseunitedweightoverbalancedtheirownstrongwills。

ItistruethattheGirondists，whomtheJacobinspersecutedwithsomuchhatred，hadalsowell—establishedbeliefs，butinthestrugglewhichensuedtheireducationtoldagainstthem，togetherwiththeirrespectforcertaintraditionsandtherightsofothers，scrupleswhichdidnotintheleasttroubletheiradversaries。

``ThemajorityofthesentimentsoftheGirondists，’’writesEmileOllivier，``weredelicateandgenerous；thoseoftheJacobinmobwerelow，gross，andbrutal。ThenameofVergniaud，comparedwiththatofthe`divine’Marat，measuresagulfwhichnothingcouldspan。’’

DominatingtheConventionattheoutsetbythesuperiorityoftheirtalentsandtheireloquence，theGirondistssoonfellunderthedominationoftheMontagnards——worthlessenergumens，whocarriedlittleweight，butwerealwaysactive，andwhoknewhowtoexcitethepassionsofthepopulace。ItwasviolenceandnottalentthatimpressedtheAssemblies。

3。MentalCharacteristicsoftheConvention。

Besidethecharacteristicscommontoallassembliestherearesomecreatedbyinfluencesofenvironmentandcircumstances，whichgiveanyparticularassemblyofmenaspecialphysiognomy。

MostofthecharacteristicsobservableintheConstituentandLegislativeAssembliesreappeared，inanexaggeratedform，intheConvention。

ThisAssemblycomprisedaboutsevenhundredandfiftydeputies，ofwhomrathermorethanathirdhadsatintheConstituentortheLegislativeAssembly。ByterrorisingthepopulationtheJacobinscontrivedtotriumphattheelections。Themajorityoftheelectors，sixmillionsoutofseven，preferredtoabstainfromvoting。

Astotheprofessions，theAssemblycontainedalargenumberoflawyers，advocates，notaries，bailiffs，ex—magistrates，andafewliterarymen。

ThementalityoftheConventionwasnothomogeneous。Now，anassemblycomposedofindividualsofwidelydifferentcharacterssoonsplitsupintoanumberofgroups。TheConventionveryearlycontainedthree——theGironde，theMountain，andthePlain。

Theconstitutionalmonarchistshadalmostdisappeared。

TheGirondeandtheMountain，extremeparties，consistedofaboutahundredmembersapiece，whosuccessivelybecameleaders。IntheMountainwerethemostadvancedmembers：Couthon，HeraultdeSechelles，Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，Marat，Collotd’Herbois，Billaud—Varennes，Barras，Saint—Just，Fouche，Tallien，Carrier，Robespierre，&c。IntheGirondewereBrissot，Petion，Condorcet，Vergniaud，&c。

ThefivehundredothermembersoftheAssembly——thatis，thegreatmajority——constitutedwhatwasknownasthePlain。

Thislatterformedafloatingmass，silent，undecided，andtimid；

readytofolloweveryimpulseandtobecarriedawaybytheexcitementofthemoment。Itgaveearindifferentlytothestrongerofthetwoprecedinggroups。AfterobeyingtheGirondeforsometimeitalloweditselftobeledawaybytheMountain，whenthelattertriumphedoveritsenemy。Thiswasanaturalconsequenceofthelawalreadystated，bywhichtheweakinvariablyfallunderthedominionofthestrongerwills。

TheinfluenceofgreatmanipulatorsofmenwasdisplayedinahighdegreeduringtheConvention。Itwasconstantlyledbyaviolentminorityofnarrowminds，whoseintenseconvictionslentthemgreatstrength。

Abrutalandaudaciousminoritywillalwaysleadafearfulandirresolutemajority。Thisexplainstheconstanttendencytowardextremestobeobservedinallrevolutionaryassemblies。ThehistoryoftheConventionverifiesoncemorethelawofaccelerationstudiedinanotherchapter。

ThemenoftheConventionwerethusboundtopassfrommoderationtogreaterandgreaterviolence。Finallytheydecimatedthemselves。Ofthe180GirondistswhoattheoutsetledtheConvention140werekilledorfled，andfinallythemostfanaticaloftheTerrorists，Robespierre，reignedaloneoveraterrifiedcrowdofservilerepresentatives。

Yetitwasamongthefivehundredmembersofthemajority，uncertainandfloatingasitwas，thattheintelligenceandexperienceweretobefound。ThetechnicalcommitteestowhomtheusefulworkoftheConventionwasduewererecruitedfromthePlain。

Moreorlessindifferenttopolitics，themembersofthePlainwerechieflyanxiousthatnooneshouldpayparticularattentiontothem。Shutupintheircommittees，theyshowedthemselvesaslittleaspossibleintheAssembly，whichexplainswhythesessionsoftheConventioncontainedbarelyathirdofthedeputies。

Unhappily，asoftenhappens，theseintelligentandhonestmenwerecompletelydevoidofcharacter，andthefearwhichalwaysdominatedthemmadethemvotefortheworstofthemeasuresintroducedbytheirdreadedmasters。

ThemenofthePlainvotedforeverythingtheywereorderedtovotefor——thecreationoftheRevolutionaryTribunal，theTerror，&c。ItwaswiththeirassistancethattheMountaincrushedtheGironde，andRobespierredestroyedtheHebertistsandDantonists。Likeallweakpeople，theyfollowedthestrong。ThegentlephilanthropistswhocomposedthePlain，andconstitutedthemajorityoftheAssembly，contributed，bytheirpusillanimity，tobringaboutthefrightfulexcessesoftheConvention。

ThepsychologicalnotealwaysprevailingintheConventionwasahorriblefear。Itwasmoreespeciallythroughfearthatmencutoffoneanother’sheads，inthedoubtfulhopeofkeepingtheirownontheirshoulders。

Suchafearwas，ofcourse，verycomprehensible。Theunhappydeputiesdeliberatedamidthehootingsandvociferationsofthetribunes。Ateverymomentveritablesavages，armedwithpikes，invadedtheAssembly，andthemajorityofthemembersnolongerdaredtoattendthesessions。WhenbychancetheydidgoitwasonlytovoteinsilenceaccordingtotheordersoftheMountain，whichwasonlyathirdasnumerous。

Thefearwhichdominatedthelatter，althoughlessvisible，wasjustasprofound。Mendestroyedtheirenemies，notonlybecausetheywereshallowfanatics，butbecausetheywereconvincedthattheirownexistencewasthreatened。ThejudgesoftherevolutionaryTribunalstremblednoless。TheywouldhavewillinglyacquittedDanton，andthewidowofCamilleDesmoulins，andmanyothers。Theydarednot。

ButitwasaboveallwhenRobespierrebecamethesolemasterthatthephantomoffearoppressedtheAssembly。Ithastrulybeensaidthataglancefromthemastermadehiscolleaguesshrinkwithfear。Ontheirfacesoneread``thepalloroffearandtheabandonofdespair。’’

AllfearedRobespierreandRobespierrefearedall。Itwasbecausehefearedconspiraciesagainsthimthathecutoffmen’sheads，anditwasalsothroughfearthatothersallowedhimtodoso。

ThememoirsofmembersoftheConventionshowplainlywhatahorriblememorytheyretainedofthisgloomyperiod。Questionedtwentyyearslater，saysTaine，onthetrueaimandtheintimatethoughtsoftheCommitteeofPublicSafety，Barrerereplied：——

``Wehadonlyonefeeling，thatofself—preservation；onlyonedesire，thatofpreservingourlives，whicheachofusbelievedtobethreatened。Youhadyourneighbour’sheadcutoffsothatyourneighbourshouldnothaveyouyourselfguillotined。’’

ThehistoryoftheConventionconstitutesoneofthemoststrikingexamplesthatcouldbegivenoftheinfluenceofleadersandoffearuponanassembly。

CHAPTERIV

THEGOVERNMENTOFTHECONVENTION

1。TheactivityoftheClubsandtheCommuneduringtheConvention。

DuringthewholeofitsexistencetheConventionwasgovernedbytheleadersoftheclubsandoftheCommune。

WehavealreadyseenwhatwastheirinfluenceontheprecedingAssemblies。ItbecameoverwhelmingduringtheConvention。ThehistoryofthislatterisinrealitythatoftheclubsandtheCommunewhichdominatedit。Theyenslaved，notonlytheConvention，butalsoallFrance。Numerouslittleprovincialclubs，directedbythatofthecapital，supervisedmagistrates，denouncedsuspects，andundertooktheexecutionofalltherevolutionaryorders。

WhentheclubsortheCommunehaddecideduponcertainmeasurestheyhadthemvotedbytheAssemblythenandthere。IftheAssemblyresisted，theysenttheirarmeddelegationsthither——

thatis，armedbandsrecruitedfromthescumofthepopulace。

Theyconveyedinjunctionswhichwerealwaysslavishlyobeyed。

TheCommunewassosureofitsstrengththatitevendemandedoftheConventiontheimmediateexpulsionofdeputieswhodispleasedit。

WhiletheConventionwascomposedgenerallyofeducatedmen，themembersoftheCommuneandtheclubscomprisedamajorityofsmallshopkeepers，labourers，andartisans，incapableofpersonalopinions，andalwaysguidedbytheirleaders——Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，Robespierre，&c。

Ofthetwopowers，clubsandinsurrectionaryCommune，thelatterexercisedthegreaterinfluenceinParis，becauseithadmadeforitselfarevolutionaryarmy。Itheldunderitsordersforty—

eightcommitteesofNationalGuards，whoaskednothingmorethantokill，sack，and，aboveall，plunder。

ThetyrannywithwhichtheCommunecrushedPariswasfrightful。

Forexample，itdelegatedtoacertaincobbler，Chalandonbyname，therightofsurveillanceoveraportionofthecapital——arightimplyingthepowertosendtotheRevolutionaryTribunal，andthereforetotheguillotine，allthosewhomhesuspected。

Certainstreetswerethusalmostdepopulatedbyhim。

TheConventionstruggledfeeblyagainsttheCommuneattheoutset，butdidnotprolongitsresistance。TheculminatingpointoftheconflictoccurredwhentheConventionwishedtoarrestHebert，thefriendoftheCommune，andthelattersentarmedbandswhothreatenedtheAssemblyanddemandedtheexpulsionoftheGirondistswhohadprovokedthemeasure。UpontheConventionrefusingtheCommunebesiegeditonJune2，1798，bymeansofitsrevolutionaryarmy，whichwasundertheordersofHanriot。Terrified，theAssemblygaveuptwenty—sevenofitsmembers。TheCommuneimmediatelysentadelegationironicallytofelicitateituponitsobedience。

AfterthefalloftheGirondiststheConventionsubmitteditselfcompletelytotheinjunctionsoftheomnipotentCommune。Thelatterdecreedthelevyofarevolutionaryarmy，tobeaccompaniedbyatribunalandaguillotine，whichwastotraversethewholeofFranceinordertoexecutesuspects。

Onlytowardstheendofitsexistence，afterthefallofRobespierre，didtheConventioncontrivetoescapefromtheyokeoftheJacobinsandtheCommune。ItclosedtheJacobinclubandguillotineditsleadingmembers。

DespitesuchsanctionstheleadersstillcontinuedtoexcitethepopulaceandhurlitagainsttheConvention。InGerminalandPrairialitunderwentregularsieges。ArmeddelegationsevensucceededinforcingtheConventiontovotethere—establishmentoftheCommuneandtheconvocationofanewAssembly，ameasurewhichtheConventionhastenedtoannulthemomenttheinsurgentshadwithdrawn。Ashamedofitsfear，itsentforregimentswhichdisarmedthefaubourgsandmadenearlytenthousandarrests。

Twenty—sixleadersofthemovementwereputtodeath，andsixdeputieswhowereconcernedintheriotwereguillotined。

ButtheConventiondidnotresisttoanypurpose。WhenitwasnolongerledbytheclubsandtheCommuneitobeyedtheCommitteeofPublicSafetyandvoteditsdecreeswithoutdiscussion。

``TheConvention，’’writesH。Williams，``whichspokeofnothinglessthanhavingalltheprincesandkingsofEuropebroughttoitsfeetloadedwithchains，wasmadeprisonerinitsownsanctuarybyahandfulofmercenaries。’’

2。TheGovernmentofFranceduringtheConvention——TheTerror。

Assoonasitassembledin1792theConventionbeganbydecreeingtheabolitionofroyalty，andinspiteofthehesitationofagreatnumberofitsmembers，whoknewthattheprovinceswereroyalist，itproclaimedtheRepublic。

Intimatelypersuadedthatsuchaproclamationwouldtransformthecivilisedworld，itinstitutedaneweraandanewcalendar。TheyearI。ofthiseramarkedthedawnofaworldinwhichreasonalonewastoreign。ItwasinauguratedbythetrialofLouisXVI。，ameasurewhichwasorderedbytheCommune，butwhichthemajorityoftheConventiondidnotdesire。

Atitsoutset，infact，theConventionwasgovernedbyitsrelativelymoderateelements，theGirondists。Thepresidentandthesecretarieshadbeenchosenamongthebestknownofthisparty。Robespierre，whowaslatertobecometheabsolutemasteroftheConvention，possessedsolittleinfluenceatthistimethatheobtainedonlysixvotesforthepresidency，whilePetionreceivedtwohundredandthirty—five。