“Go and tell your master,” cried Mirabeau, “that we, are here at the command of the people, and nothing but the bayonet shall drive us hence.”

“You are to-day,” added Sieyes calmly, “what you were yesterday.  Let us deliberate.”

The Assembly, full of resolution and dignity, began the debate accordingly.

On that day the royal authority was lost.  The initiative in law and moral power passed from the monarch to the Assembly.  Those who, by their counsels, had provoked this resistance did not dare to punish it Necker, whose dismissal had been decided on that morning, was, in the evening, entreated by the queen and Louis XVI. to remain in office.

II.—–­“A la Bastille!"

The court might still have repaired its errors, and caused its attacks to be forgotten.  But the advisers of Louis XVI., when they recovered from the first surprise of defeat, resolved to have recourse to the use of the bayonet after they had failed in that of authority.

The troops arrived in great numbers; Versailles assumed the aspect of a camp; the Hall of the States was surrounded by guards, and the citizens refused admission.  Paris was also encompassed by various bodies of the army ready to besiege or blockade it, as the occasion might require; when the court, having established troops at Versailles, Sevres, the Champ de Mars, and St. Denis, thought it able to execute its project.  It began on July 11, by the banishment of Necker, who received while at dinner a note from the king enjoining him to leave the country immediately.

On the following day, Sunday, July 12, about four in the afternoon, Necker’s disgrace and departure became known in Paris.  More than ten thousand persons flocked to the Palais Royal.  They took busts of Necker and the Duke of Orleans, a report also having gone abroad that the latter would be exiled, and covering them with crape, carried them in triumph.  A detachment of the Royal Allemand came up and attempted to disperse the mob; but the multitude, continuing its course, reached the Place Louis XV.  Here they were assailed by the dragoons of the Prince de Lambese.  After resisting a few moments they were thrown into confusion; the bearer of one of the busts and a soldier of one of the French guards were killed.

During the evening the people had repaired to the Hotel de Ville, and requested that the tocsin might be sounded.  Some electors assembled at the Hotel de Ville, and took the authority into their own hands.  The nights of July 12 and 13 were spent in tumult and alarm.

On July 13 the insurrection took in Paris a more regular character.  The provost of the merchants announced the immediate arrival of twelve thousand guns from the manufactory of Charleville, which would soon be followed by thirty thousand more.