The Works of Thomas Carlyle/Volume 4/The French Revolution, Volume 3/Chronological Summary
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
[Drawn-up by 'Philo,' for Edition 1857.]
(May 10th,1774–October 5th, 1789.)
1774.
December 16th, 1773, Tea, a celebrated cargo of it, had been flung out in the harbour of Boston, Massachusetts: June 7th, 1776, Battle of Bunker's Hill, first of the American War, is fought in the same neighbourhood,—far over seas.
1774–1783.
Change of Administration. Maurepas, a man now 73 years old and of great levity, is appointed Prime-Minister; Vergennes favourably known for his correct habits, for his embassies in Turkey, in Sweden, gets the Department of Foreign Affairs. Old Parlement is reinstated; 'Parlement Maupeou,' which had been invented for getting edicts, particularly tax-edicts, 'registered,' and made available in law, is dismissed. Turgot, made Controller-General of Finances ('Chancellor of the Exchequer' and something more), August 24th, 1774, gives rise to high hopes, being already known as a man of much intelligence speculative and practical, of noble patriotic intentions, and of a probity beyond question.
There are many changes; but one steady fact, of supreme significance, continued Deficit of Revenue,—that is the only History of the Period. Noblesse and Clergy are exempt from direct imposts; no tax that can be devised, on such principle, will yield due ways and means. Meanings of that fact; little surmised by the then populations of France. Turgot aiming at juster principles, cannot: 'Corn-trade' (domestic) 'made free,' and many improvements and high intentions;—much discontent at Court in consequence; famine-riots withal, and 'gallows forty feet high.' Turgot will tax Noblesse and Clergy like the other ranks; tempest of astonishment and indignation in consequence: Turgot dismissed, May 1776. Flat snuff-boxes come out, this summer, under the name of Turgotines, as being 'platitudes' (in the notion of a fashionable snuffing public), like the Plans of this Controller. Necker, a Genevese become rich by Banking in Paris, and well seen by the Philosophe party, is appointed Controller in his stead (1776):—and there is continued Deficit of Revenue.
For the rest. Benevolence, Tolerance, Doctrine of universal Love and Charity to good and bad. Scepticism, Philosophism, Sensualism: portentous 'Electuary,' of sweet taste, into which 'Good and Evil,' the distinctions of them lost, have been mashed up. Jean-Jacques, Contrat-Social: universal Millennium, of Liberty, Brotherhood, and whatever is desirable, expected to be rapidly approaching on those terms. Balloons, Horse-races, Anglomania. Continued Deficit of Revenue. Necker's plans for 'filling up the Deficit' are not approved of, and are only partially gone into: Frugality is of slow operation; curtailment of expenses occasions numerous dismissals, numerous discontents at Court: from Noblesse and Clergy, if their privilege of exemption be touched, what is to be hoped?
American-English War (since April 1775); Franklin, and Agents of the Revolted Colonies, at Paris (1776 and afterwards), where their Cause is in high favour. French Treaty with Revolted Colonies, February 6th, 1778; extensive Official smugglings of supplies to them (in which Beaumarchais is much concerned) for some time before. Departure of French 'volunteer' Auxiliaries, under Lafayette, 1778. 'Volunteers' these, not sanctioned, only countenanced and furthered, the public clamour being strong that way. War from England, in consequence; Rochambeau to America, with public Auxiliaries, in 1780:—War not notable, except by the Siege of Gibraltar, and by the general result arrived at shortly after.
Continued Deficit of Revenue: Necker's ulterior plans still less approved of; by Noblesse and Clergy, least of all. January 1781, he publishes a Compte Rendu ('Account Rendered,' of himself and them), 'Two hundred thousand copies of it sold';—and is dismissed in the May following. Returns to Switzerland; and there writes New Books, on the same interesting subject or pair of subjects. Maurepas dies, November 21st, 1781: the essential 'Prime Minister' is henceforth the Controller-General, if any such could be found; there being an ever-increasing Deficit of Revenue,—a Millennium thought to be just coming on, and evidently no money in its pocket.
Siege of Gibraltar (September 13th, to middle of November, 1782): Siege futile on the part of France and Spain; hopeless since that day (September 13th) of the red-hot balls. General result arrived at is important: American Independence recognised (Peace of Versailles, January 20th, 1783.) Lafayette returns in illustrious condition; named Scipio Americanus by some able-editors of the time.
1783–1787.
Ever-increasing Deficit of Revenue. Worse, not better, since Necker's dismissal. After one or two transient Controllers, who can do nothing, Calonne, a memorable one, is nominated, November 1783. Who continues, with lavish expenditure raised by loans, contenting all the world by his liberality, 'quenching fire by oil thrown on it'; for three years and more. 'All the world was holding out its hand, I held out my hat.' Ominous scandalous Affair called of the Diamond Necklace (Cardinal de Rohan, Dame de Lamotte, Arch-Quack Cagliostro the principal actors), tragically compromising the Queen's name who had no vestige of concern with it, becomes public as Criminal-Trial, 1786; penal sentence on the above active parties and others, May 31st, 1786: with immense rumour and conjecture from all mankind. Calonne, his borrowing resources being out, convokes the Notables (First Convocation of the Notables) February 22d, 1787, to sanction his new Plans of Taxing; who will not hear of them or of him: so that he is dismissed, and 'exiled,' April 8th, 1787. First Convocation of Notables,—who treat not of this thing only, but of all manner of public things, and mention States-General among others,—sat from February 22d to May 25th, 1787.
1787.
Cardinal Loménie de Brienne, who had long been ambitious of the post, succeeds Calonne. A man now of sixty; dissolute, worthless;—devises Tax-Edicts, Stamptax (Édit du Timbre, July 6th, 1787) and others, with 'successive loans,' and the like; which the Parlement, greatly to the joy of the Public, will not register. Ominous condition of the Public, all virtually in opposition; Parlements, at Paris and elsewhere, have a cheap method of becoming glorious. Contests of Loménie and Parlement. Beds-of-Justice (first of them, August 6th, 1787); Lettres-de-Cachet, and the like methods; general 'Exile' of Parlement (August 15th, 1787), who return upon conditions, September 20th. Increasing ferment of the Public. Loménie helps himself by temporary shifts till he can, privately, get ready for wrestling down the rebellious Parlement.
1788. January–September.
Spring of 1788, grand scheme of dismissing the Parlement altogether, and nominating instead a 'Plenary Court (Cour Plénière),' which shall be obedient in 'registering' and in other points. Scheme detected before quite ripe: Parlement in permanent session thereupon; haranguing all night (May 3d); applausive idle crowds inundating the Outer Courts: D'Espréménil and Goeslard de Monsabert seized by military in the grey of the morning (May 4th), and whirled off to distant places of imprisonment: Parlement itself dismissed to exile. Attempt to govern (that is, to raise supplies) by Royal Edict simply,—'Plenary Court' having expired in the birth. Rebellion of all the Provincial Parlements; idle Public more and more noisily approving and applauding. Destructive Hailstorm, July 13th, which was remembered next year. Royal Edict (August 8th), That States-General, often vaguely promised before, shall actually assemble in May next. Proclamation (August 16th), That 'Treasury Payments be henceforth three-fifths in cash, two-fifths in paper,'—in other words, that the Treasury is fallen insolvent. Loménie thereupon immediately dismissed: with immense explosion of popular rejoicing, more riotous than usual. Necker, favourite of all the world, is immediately (August 24th) recalled from Switzerland to succeed him, and be 'Saviour of France.'
1788. November–December.
Second Convocation of the Notables (November 6th–December 12th), by Necker, for the purpose of settling how, in various essential particulars, the States-General shall be held. For instance, Are the Three Estates to meet as one Deliberative Body? Or as Three, or Two? Above all, what is to be the relative force, in deciding, of the Third Estate or Commonalty? Notables, as other less formal Assemblages had done and do, depart without settling any of the points in question; most points remain unsettled,—especially that of the Third Estate and its relative force. Elections begin everywhere, January 1789. Troubles of France seem now to be about becoming Revolution in France. Commencement of the 'French Revolution,'—henceforth a phenomenon absorbing all others for mankind,—is commonly dated here.
1789. May–June.
Assembling of States-General at Versailles; Procession to the Church of St. Louis there. May 4th. Third Estate has the Nation behind it; wishes to be a main element in the business. Hopes, and (led by Mirabeau and other able heads) decides, that it must be the main element of all,—and will continue 'inert,' and do nothing, till that come about: namely, till the other Two Estates, Noblesse and Clergy, be joined with it; in which conjunct state it can outvote them, and may become what it wishes. 'Inertia,' or the scheme of doing only harangues and adroit formalities, is adopted by it; adroitly persevered in, for seven weeks: much to the hope of France; to the alarm of Necker and the Court.
Court decides to intervene. Hall of Assembly is found shut (Saturday, June 20th); Third-Estate Deputies take Oath, celebrated 'Oath of the Tennis-Court,' in that emergency. Emotion of French mankind. Monday June 22d, Court does intervene, but with reverse effect: Séance Royale, Royal Speech, giving open intimation of much significance, 'If you Three Estates cannot agree, I the King will myself achieve the happiness of my People.' Noblesse and Clergy leave the Hall along with King; Third Estate remains pondering this intimation. Enter Supreme-Usher de Brézé, to command departure; Mirabeau's fulminant words to him: exit De Brézé, fruitless and worse, 'amid seas of angry people.' All France on the edge of blazing out: Court recoils; Third Estate, other Two now joining it on order, triumphs, successful in every particular. The States-General are henceforth 'National Assembly'; called in Books distinctively 'Constituent Assembly'; that is. Assembly met 'to make the Constitution,'—perfect Constitution, under which the French People might realise their Millennium.
1789. June–July.
Great hope, great excitement, great suspicion. Court terrors and plans: old Marechal Broglie,—this is the Broglie who was young in the Seven-Years War; son of a Marshal Broglie, and grandson of another, who much filled the Newspapers in their time. Gardes Françaises at Paris need to be confined to their quarters; and cannot (June 26th). Sunday July 12th, News that Necker is dismissed, and gone homewards overnight: panic terror of Paris, kindling into hot frenzy;—ends in besieging the Bastille; and in taking it, chiefly by infinite noise, the Gardes Françaises at length mutely assisting in the rear. Bastille falls, 'like the City of Jericho, by sound,' Tuesday July 14th, 1789. Kind of 'fire-baptism' to the Revolution; which continues insuppressible thenceforth, and beyond hope of suppression. All France, 'as National Guards, to suppress Brigands and enemies to the making of the Constitution,' takes arms.
1789. August–October.
Scipio Americanus, Mayor Bailly and 'Patrollotism versus Patriotism' (August, September). Hope, terror, suspicion, excitement, rising ever more, towards the transcendental pitch;—continued scarcity of grain. Progress towards Fifth of October, called here 'Insurrection of Women.' Regiment de Flandre has come to Versailles (September 23d); Officers have had a dinner (October 3d), with much demonstration and gesticulative foolery, of an anti-constitutional and monarchic character. Paris, semi-delirious, hears of it (Sunday October 4th), with endless emotion;—next day, some '10,000 women' (men being under awe of 'Patrollotism') march upon Versailles; followed by endless miscellaneous multitudes, and finally by Lafayette and National Guards. Phenomena and procedure there. Result is, they bring the Royal Family and National Assembly home with them to Paris; Paris thereafter Centre of the Revolution, and October Five a memorable day.
1789. October–December.
'First Emigration,' of certain higher Noblesse and Princes of the Blood; which more or less continues through the ensuing years, and at length on an altogether profuse scale. Much legal inquiring and procedure as to Philippe d'Orléans and his (imaginary) concern in this Fifth of October; who retires to England for a while, and is ill seen by the polite classes there.
(January 1790–August 12th, 1792.)
1790.
Constitution-building, and its difficulties and accompaniments. Clubs, Journalisms; advent of anarchic souls from every quarter of the world. February 4th, King's visit to Constituent Assembly; emotion thereupon and National Oath, which flies over France. Progress of swearing it, detailed. General 'Federation,' or mutual Oath of all Frenchmen, otherwise called 'Feast of Pikes' (July 4th, Anniversary of Bastille-day), which also is a memorable Day. Its effects on the Military, in Lieutenant Napoleon Buonaparte's experience.
General disorganisation of the Army, and attempts to mend it. Affair of Nanci (catastrophe is August 31st); called 'Massacre of Nanci': irritation thereupon. Mutineer Swiss sent to the Galleys; solemn Funeral-service for the slain at Nanci (September 20th), and riotous menaces and mobs in consequence. Steady progress of disorganisation, of anarchy spiritual and practical. Mirabeau, desperate of Constitution-building under such accompaniments, has interviews with the Queen, and contemplates great things.
1791. April–July.
Death of Mirabeau (April 2d): last chance of guiding or controlling this Revolution gone thereby. Royal Family, still hopeful to control it, means to get away from Paris as the first step. Suspected of such intention; visit to St. Cloud violently prevented by the Populace (April 19th). Actual Flight to Varennes (June 20th); and misventures there: return captive to Paris, in a frightfully worsened position, the fifth evening after (June 25th). 'Republic' mentioned in Placards, during King's Flight; generally reprobated. Queen and Barnave. A Throne held up; as if 'set on its vertex,' to be held there by hand. Should not this runaway King be deposed? Immense assemblage, petitioning at Altar of Fatherland to that effect (Sunday, July 17th), is dispersed by musketry, from Lafayette and Mayor Bailly, with extensive shrieks following, and leaving remembrances of a very bitter kind.
1791. August.
Foreign Governments, who had long looked with disapproval on the French Revolution, now set about preparing for actual interference. Convention of Pilnitz (August 25th–27th): Emperor Leopold ii, Friedrich Wilhelm ii. King of Prussia, with certain less important Potentates, and Emigrant Princes of the Blood, assembling at this Pilnitz (Electoral Country-house near Dresden), express their sorrow and concern at the impossible posture of his now French Majesty, which they think calls upon regular Governments to interfere and mend it: they themselves, prepared at present to 'resist French aggression' on their own territories, will coöperate with said Governments in 'interfering by effectual methods.' This Document, of date August 27th, 1791, rouses violent indignations in France; which blaze up higher and higher, and are not quenched for twenty-five years after. Constitution finished; accepted by the King (September 4th). Constituent Assembly proclaims 'in a sonorous voice' (September 30th), that its Sessions are all ended;—and goes its ways amid 'illuminations.'
1791. October–December.
Legislative Assembly, elected according to the Constitution, the first and also the last Assembly of that character, meets October 1st, 1791: sat till September 21st, 1792; a Twelvemonth all but nine days. More republican than its predecessor; inferior in talent; destitute, like it, of parliamentary experience. Its debates, futilities, staggering parliamentary procedure (Book V. cc. 1–3). Court 'pretending to be dead,'—not 'aiding the Constitution to march.' Sunday October 16th, L'Escuyer, at Avignon, murdered in a church; Massacres in the Ice-Tower follow. Suspicions of their King, and of each other; anxieties about foreign attack, and whether they are in a right condition to meet it; painful questioning of Ministers, continual changes of Ministry,—occupy France and its Legislative with sad debates, growing ever more desperate and stormy in the coming months. Narbonne (Madame de Staël's friend) made War-Minister, December 7th; continues for nearly half a year; then Servan, who lasts three months; then Dumouriez, who, in that capacity, lasts only five days (had, with Roland as Home-Minister, been otherwise in place for a year or more); mere 'Ghosts of Ministries.'
1792. February–April.
Terror of rural France (February–March); Camp of Jalès; copious Emigration. February 7th, Emperor Leopold and the King of Prussia, mending their Pilnitz offer, make public Treaty, That they specially will endeavour to keep down disturbance, and if attacked will assist one another. Sardinia, Naples, Spain, and even Russia and the Pope, understood to be in the rear of these two. April 20th, French Assembly, after violent debates, decrees War against Emperor Leopold. This is the first Declaration of War; which the others followed, pro and contra, all round, like pieces of a great Firework blazing out now here now there. The Prussian Declaration, which followed first, some months after; is the immediately important one.
1792. June.
In presence of these alarming phenomena, Government cannot act; will not, say the People. Clubs, Journalists, Sections (organised population of Paris) growing ever more violent and desperate. Issue forth (June 20th) in vast Procession, the combined Sections and leaders, with banners, with demonstrations; marching through the streets of Paris, 'To quicken the Executive,' and give it a fillip as to the time of day. Called 'Procession of the Black Breeches' in this Book. Immense Procession, peaceable but dangerous; finds the Tuileries gates closed, and no access to his Majesty; squeezes, crushes, and is squeezed, crushed against the Tuileries gates and doors till they give way; and the admission to his Majesty, and the dialogue with him, and behaviour in his House, are of an utterly chaotic kind, dangerous and scandalous, though not otherwise than peaceable. Giving rise to much angry commentary in France and over Europe. June Twenty henceforth a memorable Day. General Lafayette suddenly appears in the Assembly; without leave, as is splenetically observed: makes fruitless attempt to reinstate authority in Paris (June 28th); withdraws as an extinct popularity.
1792. July.
July 6th, Reconciliatory Scene in the Assembly, derisively called Baiser L'amourette. 'Third Federation,' July 14th, being at hand, could not the assembling 'Federates' be united into some Nucleus of Force near Paris? Court answers, No; not without reason of its own. Barbaroux writes to Marseilles for '500 men that know how to die'; who accordingly get under way, though like to be too late for the Federation. Sunday July 22d, Solemn Proclamation that the 'Country is in Danger.'
July 24th, Prussian Declaration of War; and Duke of Brunswick's celebrated Manifesto, threatening France 'with military execution' if Royalty were meddled with: the latter bears date, Coblentz, July 27th, 1792, in the name of both Emperor and King of Prussia. Duke of Brunswick commands in chief: Nephew (sister's son) of Frederick the Great; and Father of our unlucky 'Queen Caroline': had served, very young, in the Seven-Years War, under his Father's Brother, Prince Ferdinand; often in command of detachments bigger or smaller; and had gained distinction by his swift marches, audacity and battle-spirit: never hitherto commanded any wide system of operations; nor ever again till 1806, when he suddenly encountered ruin and death at the very starting (Battle of Jena, October 14th of that year). This Proclamation, which awoke endless indignation in France and much criticism in the world elsewhere, is understood to have been prepared by other hands (French-Emigrant chiefly, who were along with him in force), and to have been signed by the Duke much against his will. 'Insigne vengeance,' 'military execution,' and other terms of overbearing menace: Prussian Army, and Austrians from Netherlands, are advancing in that humour. Marseillese, 'who know how to die,' arrive in Paris (July 29th); dinner-scene in the Champs Élysées.
1792. August.
Indignation waxing desperate at Paris: France, boiling with ability and will, tied up from defending itself by 'an inactive Government' (fatally unable to act). Secret conclaves, consultations of Municipality and Clubs; Danton understood to be the presiding genius there. Legislative Assembly is itself plotting and participant; no other course for it. August 10th, Universal Insurrection of the Armed Population of Paris; Tuileries forced, Swiss Guards cut to pieces. King, when once violence was imminent, and before any act of violence, had with Queen and Dauphin sought shelter in the Legislative-Assembly Hall. They continue there till August 13th (Friday–Monday), listening to the debates, in a reporter's box. Are conducted thence to the Temple 'as Hostages,'—do not get out again except to die. Legislative Assembly has its Decree ready, That in terms of the Constitution in such alarming crisis a National Convention (Parliament with absolute powers) shall be elected; Decree issued that same day, August 10th, 1792. After which the Legislative only waits in existence till it be fulfilled.
(August 10th, l792–October 4th, 1795.)
(1792. August–September.)
Legislative continues its sittings till its Election be completed. Enemy advancing, with armed Emigrants, enter France, Luxembourg region; take Longwy, almost without resistance (August 23d); prepare to take Verdun. Austrians besieging Thionville; cannot take it. Dumouriez seizes the Passes of Argonne, August 29th. Great agitation in Paris. Sunday September 2d and onwards till Thursday 6th, September Massacres: described Book I. cc. 4–6. Prussians have taken Verdun, September 2d (Sunday, while the Massacres are beginning): except on the score of provisions and of weather, little or no hindrance. Dumouriez waiting in the Passes of Argonne. Prussians detained three weeks forcing these. Famine, and torrents of rain. Battle or Cannonade of Valmy (September 20th): French do not fly, as expected. Convention meets, September 22d, 1792; Legislative had sat till the day before, and now gives place to it: Republic decreed, same day. Austrians, renouncing Thionville, besiege Lille (September 28th–October 8th); cannot: 'fashionable shaving-dish,' the splinter of a Lille bombshell. Prussians, drenched deep in mud, in dysentery and famine, are obliged to retreat: Goethe's account of it. Total failure of that Brunswick Enterprise.
1792. December–1793. January.
Revolutionary activities in Paris and over France; King shall be brought to 'trial.' Trial of the King (Tuesday December 11th–Sunday 16th). Three Votes (January 15th–17th, 1793): Sentence, Death without respite. Executed, Monday January 21st, 1793, morning about 10 o'clock. English Ambassador quits Paris; French Ambassador ordered to quit England (January 24th). War between the two countries imminent.
1793. February.
Dumouriez, in rear of the retreating Austrians, has seized the whole Austrian Netherlands, in a month or less (November 4th–2d December last); and now holds that territory. February 1st, France declares War against England and Holland; England declares in return, February 11th: Dumouriez immediately invades Holland; English, under Duke of York, go to the rescue: rather successful at first. Committee of Salut Public (instituted January 21st, day of the King's Execution) the supreme Administrative Body at Paris.
1793. March–July.
Mutual quarrel of Parties once the King was struck down: Girondins or Limited 'legal' Republicans versus Mountain or Unlimited: their strifes detailed, Book III. cc. 3, 7–9. War to Spain, March 7th. Three Epochs in the wrestle of Girondins and Mountain; first, March 10th, when the Girondins fancy they are to be 'Septembered' by the anarchic population: anarchic population does demand 'Arrestment of Twenty-two' by name, in return. Revolutionary Tribunal instituted, Danton's contrivance, that same day (March 10th). Battle of Neerwinden in Holland (March 18th); Dumouriez, quite beaten, obliged to withdraw homewards faster and faster. Second Girondin Epoch, April 1st, when they broke with Danton. General Dumouriez, a kind of Girondin in his way, goes over to the Enemy (April 3d). Famine, or scarcity in all kinds: Law of Maximum (fixing a price on commodities), May 20th. Third Girondin Epoch, 'illa suprema dies,' Convention begirt by Armed Sections under Henriot (Sunday June 2d); Girondins, the Twenty-two and some more, put 'under arrest in their own houses';—never got out again, but the reverse, as it proved.
1793. July.
Revolt of the Departments in consequence, who are of Girondin temper; their attempt at civil war. Comes to nothing; ends in 'a mutual shriek' (at Vernon in Normandy, July 15th): Charlotte Corday has assassinated Marat at Paris two days before (Saturday July 13th). Great Republican vengeances in consequence: Girondin Deputies, Barbaroux, Pétion, Louvet, Gaudet, etc. wander ruined, disguised over France; the Twenty-two, Brissot, Vergniaud etc. now imprisoned, await trial; Lyons and other Girondin Cities to be signally punished. Valenciennes, besieged by Duke of York since May, surrenders July 26th.
1793. August–October.
Mountain, victorious, resting on the 'Forty-four thousand Jacobin Clubs and Municipalities'; its severe summary procedure rapidly developing itself into a 'Reign of Terror.' Law of the Forty Sous (Sectioners to be paid for attending meetings), Danton's Contrivance, August 5th. Austrians force the Lines of Weissembourg, penetrate into France on the East side: Dunkirk besieged by Duke of York (August 22d): Lyons bombarded by Dubois-Crancé of the Mountain, Powder-Magazine explodes; Barrère's Proclamation of Levy in Mass, 'France risen against Tyrants' (August 23d). 'Revolutionary Army' (anarchic Police-force of the Mountain), September 5th–11th. Law of the Suspect, September 17th. Lyons, after frightful sufferings, surrenders to Dubois-Crancé (October 9th): 'To be razed from the Earth.' Same day Gorsas at Paris, a Girondin Deputy, captured in a state of outlawry, is 'immediately guillotined' (October 9th): first Deputy who died in that manner. Execution of the Queen Marie-Antoinette, Wednesday October 16th. Execution of the Twenty-two, after trial of some length, 'Marseillaise sung in chorus' at the scaffold (October 31st).—General Jourdan has driven Cobourg and the Austrians over the Sambre again, October 16th (day of the Queen's death); Duke of York repulsed from Dunkirk, 'like to be swallowed by the tide,' a month before.
1793. November–December.
Reign of Terror, and Terror the Order of the Day. Execution of d'Orléans Égalité, November 6th; of Madame Roland, November 8th; of Mayor Bailly, November 10th. Goddess of Reason (first of them, at Paris) sails into the Convention, same day (November 10th): Plunder of Churches; 'Carmagnole complete.' Convention 'Representatives on Mission': St Just and Lebon, at Strasburg, 'Strip off your shoes; 10,000 pairs wanted; likewise 1000 beds,—under way in 24 hours' (November 27th). Spanish War, neglected hitherto, and not successful; may become important? Toulon, dangerously Girondin in dangerous vicinity, Hood and the English and even 'Louis xviii.' there; is besieged, Napoleon serving in the Artillery; is captured, December 19th: 'To be razed from the Earth.' Carrier at Nantes: Noyadings by night, second of them December 14th; become 'Marriages of the Loire,' and other horrors. Lebon at Arras. Maignet at Orange. 'Death poured out in great floods (vomie à grands flots).' Lines of Weissembourg, 'retaken by St. Just charging with Peasants' (ends the Year).
1794.
'Revolution eating its own children:' the Hébertists guillotined, Anacharsis Cloots among them, March 24th; Danton himself and the Dantonists (April 3d), which is the acme of the process. Armies successful: Pichegru in the Netherlands; defeat of Austrians at Moneron, April 29th; of Austrian Emperor at Turcoing, May 18th: successes of Dugommier against Spain (May 23d), which continue in brilliant series, till the business ends, and he ends 'killed by a cannon-shot,' six months hence. June 1st, Howe's Sear-victory; and Fable of the Vengeur. General Jourdan: Battle of Fleurus, sore stroke against the Austrian Netherlands (June 26th).
Conspiracy of Mountain against Robespierre: Tallien and others desirous not to be 'eaten.' Last scenes of Robespierre: July 28th (10 Thermidor, Year 2), guillotined with his Consorts;—which, unexpectedly, ends the Reign of Terror. Victorious French Armies: enter Cologne, October 6th; masters of Spanish bulwarks (Dugommier shot), October 17th; Duke of York and Dutch Stadtholder in a ruinous condition. Reaction against Robespierre: 'whole Nation a Committee of Mercy.' Jacobins Club assaulted by mob; shut up, November 10th–12th. Law of Maximum abolished, December 24th. Duke of York gone home; Pichegru and 70,000 overrun Holland; frost so hard, 'hussars can take ships.'
1795.
Stadtholder quits Holland, January 19th; glad to get across to England: Spanish Cities 'opening to the petard' (Rosas first, January 5th, and rapidly thereafter, till almost Madrid come in view). Continued downfall of Sansculottism. Effervescence of luxury; La Cabarus; Greek Costumes; Jeunesse Dorée; balls in flesh-coloured drawers. Sansculottism rises twice in Insurrection; both times in vain. Insurrection of Germinal ('12 Germinal,' Year 3, April 1st, 1795); ends by 'two blank cannon-shot' from Pichegru.
1795. April–October.
Prussia makes Peace of Bâle (Basel) April 5th; Spain, Peace of Bâle a three months later. Armies everywhere successful: Catalogue of Victories and Conquests hung up in the Convention Hall. Famine of the lower classes. Fouquier Tinville guillotined (May 8th). Insurrection of Prairial, the Second attempt of Sansculottism to recover power ('1 Prairial, May 20th); Deputy Féraud massacred:—issues in the Disarming and Finishing of Sansculottism. Emigrant Invasion, in English ships, lands at Quiberon, and is blown to pieces (July 15th–20th): La Vendée, which had before been three years in Revolt, is hereby kindled into a 'Second' less important 'Revolt of La Vendée,' which lasts some eight months. Reactionary 'Companies of Jesus,' 'Companies of the Sun,' assassinating Jacobins in the Rhone Countries (July–August). New Constitution: Directory and Consuls,—Two-thirds of the Convention to be reëlected. Objections to that clause. Section Lepelletier, and miscellaneous Discontented, revolt against it: Insurrection of Vendémiaire, Last of the Insurrections ('13 Vendémiaire, Year 4,' October 5th, 1795); quelled by Napoleon. On which 'The Revolution,' as defined here, ends,—Anarchic Government, if still anarchic, proceeding by softer methods than that of continued insurrection.