Less joyful are the Laws against Refractory Priests; and yet no less needful!  Decrees on Priests and Decrees on Emigrants:  these are the two brief Series of Decrees, worked out with endless debate, and then cancelled by Veto, which mainly concern us here.  For an august National Assembly must needs conquer these Refractories, Clerical or Laic, and thumbscrew them into obedience; yet, behold, always as you turn your legislative thumbscrew, and will press and even crush till Refractories give way,—­King’s Veto steps in, with magical paralysis; and your thumbscrew, hardly squeezing, much less crushing, does not act!

Truly a melancholy Set of Decrees, a pair of Sets; paralysed by Veto!  First, under date the 28th of October 1791, we have Legislative Proclamation, issued by herald and bill-sticker; inviting Monsieur, the King’s Brother to return within two months, under penalties.  To which invitation Monsieur replies nothing; or indeed replies by Newspaper Parody, inviting the august Legislative ’to return to common sense within two months,’ under penalties.  Whereupon the Legislative must take stronger measures.  So, on the 9th of November, we declare all Emigrants to be ‘suspect of conspiracy;’ and, in brief, to be ‘outlawed,’ if they have not returned at Newyear’s-day:—­Will the King say Veto?  That ‘triple impost’ shall be levied on these men’s Properties, or even their Properties be ‘put in sequestration,’ one can understand.  But further, on Newyear’s-day itself, not an individual having ‘returned,’ we declare, and with fresh emphasis some fortnight later again declare, That Monsieur is dechu, forfeited of his eventual Heirship to the Crown; nay more that Conde, Calonne, and a considerable List of others are accused of high treason; and shall be judged by our High Court of Orleans:  Veto!—­Then again as to Nonjurant Priests:  it was decreed, in November last, that they should forfeit what Pensions they had; be ’put under inspection, under surveillance,’ and, if need were, be banished:  Veto!  A still sharper turn is coming; but to this also the answer will be, Veto.

Veto after Veto; your thumbscrew paralysed!  Gods and men may see that the Legislative is in a false position.  As, alas, who is in a true one?  Voices already murmur for a ‘National Convention.’ (December 1791 (Hist.  Parl. xii. 257).) This poor Legislative, spurred and stung into action by a whole France and a whole Europe, cannot act; can only objurgate and perorate; with stormy ‘motions,’ and motion in which is no way:  with effervescence, with noise and fuliginous fury!

What scenes in that National Hall!  President jingling his inaudible bell; or, as utmost signal of distress, clapping on his hat; ’the tumult subsiding in twenty minutes,’ and this or the other indiscreet Member sent to the Abbaye Prison for three days!  Suspected Persons must be summoned and questioned; old M. de Sombreuil of the Invalides has to give account of himself, and why he leaves his Gates open.  Unusual smoke rose from the Sevres Pottery, indicating conspiracy; the Potters explained that it was Necklace-Lamotte’s Memoirs, bought up by her Majesty, which they were endeavouring to suppress by fire, (Moniteur, Seance du 28 Mai 1792; Campan, ii. 196.)—­which nevertheless he that runs may still read.