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sabers and even the 〃blunder busses〃 of a veritable combat。
〃Vile intriguers； calumniators； scoundrels； monsters； assassins；
blackguards； fools and hogs；〃 such are the usual terms in which they
address each other； and these form the least of their outrages。＇19＇
The president； at certain sessions； is obliged three times to put on
his hat and； at last； breaks his bell。 They insult him； force him to
leave his seat and demand that 〃he be removed。' Bazire tries to snatch
a declaration presented by him 〃out of his hands。〃 Bourdon； from the
department of Oise； cries out to him that if he 〃dares to read it he
will assassinate him。〃＇20＇ The chamber 〃has become an arena of
gladiators。〃＇21＇ Sometimes the entire 〃Mountain〃 darts from its
benches on the left； while a similar human wave rolls down from those
on the right； both clash in the center of the room amidst furious
screams and shouts； in one of these hubbubs one of the 〃Mountain〃
having drawn a pistol the Girondist Duperret draws his sword。＇22＇
After the middle of December prominent members of the 〃Right；〃
constantly persecuted； threatened and outraged；〃 reduced to 〃being out
every night； are compelled to carry arms in self…defense；〃＇23＇ and；
after the King's execution； 〃almost all〃 bring them to the sessions of
the Convention。 Any day； indeed； they may look for the final attack；
and they are not disposed to die unavenged： during the night of March
9； finding that they are only forty…three； they agree to launch
themselves in a body 〃at the first hostile movement； against their
adversaries and kill as many as possible〃 before perishing。＇24＇
It is a desperate resource； but the only one。 For； besides the madmen
belonging to the Convention； they have against them the madmen in the
galleries； and these likewise are September murderers。 The vilest
Jacobin rabble purposely takes its stand near them； at first in the
old Riding…school； and then in the new hall in the Tuileries。 They see
above and in a circle around them drilled adversaries； eight or nine
hundred heads packed 〃in the great gallery at the bottom； under a deep
and silent vault；〃 and； besides these； on the sides； a thousand or
fifteen hundred more； two immense tribunes completely filled。＇25＇ The
galleries of the Constituent and Legislative Assemblies； compared with
these； were calm。 Nothing is more disgraceful to the Convention；
writes a foreign spectator；＇26＇ than the insolence of the audience。
One of the regulations prohibits； indeed； any mark of approval or
disapproval； 〃but it is violated every day； and nobody is ever
punished for this delinquency。〃 The majority in vain expresses its
indignation at this 〃gang of hired ruffians；〃 who beset and oppress
it； while at the very time that it utters its complaints； it endures
and tolerates it。 〃The struggle is frightful；〃 says a deputy；＇27＇
〃screams； murmurs； stampings； shouts。 。 。 The foulest insults were
launched from the galleries。〃 〃For a long time；〃 says another； 〃no one
can speak here without obtaining their permission。〃＇28＇ The day that
Buzot obtains the floor to speak against Marat； 〃they break out
furiously； yelling； stamping； and threatening〃；＇29＇ every time that
Buzot tries to begin his voice is drowned in the clamor； while he
remains half an hour in the tribune without completing a sentence。 On
the calls of the House； especially； their cries resemble those of the
excited crowd at a Spanish bull…fight； with their eager eyes and
heaving breasts； watching the contest between the bull and the
picadores； every time that a deputy votes against the death of the
King or for an appeal to the people； there are the 〃vociferations of
cannibals；〃 and 〃interminable yells〃 every time that one votes for the
indictment of Marat。 〃I declare；〃 say deputies in the tribune； 〃that I
am not free here； I declare that I am forced to debate under the
knife。〃＇30＇ Charles Villette is told at the entrance that 〃if he does
not vote for the King's death he will be massacred。〃 And these are
not empty threats。 On the 10th of March； awaiting the promised riot；
〃the tribunes； duly advised； 。 。 。 had already loaded their
pistols。〃＇31＇ In the month of May； the tattered women hired for the
purpose； under the title of 〃Ladies of the Fraternity；〃 formed a club；
came daily early in the morning to mount guard； with arms in their
hands； in the corridors of the Convention； they tear up all tickets
given to men or women not of their band； they take possession of all
the seats； show pistols and daggers； and declare that 〃eighteen
hundred heads must be knocked off to make things go on right。〃＇32＇
Behind these two first rows of assailants is a third； much more
compact； the more fearful because it is undefined and obscure； namely；
the vague multitude forming the anarchical set； scattered throughout
Paris； and always ready to renew the 10th of August and 2nd of
September against the obstinate majority。 Incendiary motions and
demands for riots come incessantly from the Commune； and Jacobin；
Cordeliers； and l'Evêché clubs； from the assemblies of the sections
and groups stationed at the Tuileries and in the streets。
〃Yesterday；〃 writes the president of the Tuileries section；＇33＇ 〃at
the same moment； at various points about Paris； the Rue du Bac； at the
Marais； in the Church of St。 Eustache； at the Palace of the
Revolution； on the Feuillants terrace； scoundrels were preaching
pillage and assassination。〃 On the following day； again on the
Feuillants terrace； that is to say； right under the windows of the
Convention； 〃they urge the assassination of Louvel for having
denounced Robespierre。 〃 Minister Roland writes： 〃I hear of nothing
but conspiracy and plans to murder。〃 Three weeks later； for several
days； 〃an up…rising is announced in Paris〃；＇34＇ the Minister is warned
that 〃alarm guns would be fired；〃 while the heads are designated
beforehand on which this ever muttering insurrection will burst。 In
the following month； in spite of the recent precise law； 〃the
electoral assembly prints and circulates gratis the list of members of
the Feuillants and Sainte…Chapelle clubs； it likewise orders the
printing and circulation of the list of the eight thousand； and of the
twenty thousand； as well as of the clubs of 1789 and of Montaigu。〃＇35＇
In January； 〃hawkers cry through the streets a list of the aristocrats
and royalists who voted for an appeal to the people。〃＇36＇ Some of the
appelants are singled out by name through placards； Thibaut； bishop of
Cantal； while reading the poster on the wall relating to him； hears
some one along side of him say： 〃I should like to know that bishop of
Cantal； I would make bread tasteless to him。〃 Roughs point out certain
deputies leaving the Assembly； and exclaim： 〃Those are the beggars to
cut up！〃 From week to week signs of insurrection increase and
multiply； like flashes of lightning in a coming tempest。 On the 1st of
January； 〃it is rumored that the barriers are to be closed at night；
and that domiciliary visits are going to begin again。〃＇37＇ On the 7th
of January； on the motion of the Gravilliers section； the Commune
demands of the Minister of War 132 cannon stored at Saint Denis； to
divide among the sections。 On the 15th of January the same section
proposes to the other forty…seven to appoint； as on the 10th of
August； special commissaries to meet at the Evêché and watch over
public safety。 That same day； to prevent the Convention from
misunderstanding the object of these proceedings； it is openly stated
in the tribunes that the cannon brought to Paris 〃are for another 10th
of August against that body。〃 The same day； military force has to be
employed to prevent bandits from going to the prisons 〃to renew the
massacres。〃 On the 28th of January the Palais…Royal； the resort of the
pleasure…seeking； is surrounded by Santerre； at eight o'clock in the
evening； and 〃about six thousand men； found without a certificate of
civism；〃 ar