But above all things, for this is a continual business, the Legislative has to reprimand the King’s Ministers.  Of His Majesty’s Ministers we have said hitherto, and say, next to nothing.  Still more spectral these!  Sorrowful; of no permanency any of them, none at least since Montmorin vanished:  the ‘eldest of the King’s Council’ is occasionally not ten days old! (Dumouriez, ii. 137.) Feuillant-Constitutional, as your respectable Cahier de Gerville, as your respectable unfortunate Delessarts; or Royalist-Constitutional, as Montmorin last Friend of Necker; or Aristocrat as Bertrand-Moleville:  they flit there phantom-like, in the huge simmering confusion; poor shadows, dashed in the racking winds; powerless, without meaning;—­whom the human memory need not charge itself with.

But how often, we say, are these poor Majesty’s Ministers summoned over; to be questioned, tutored; nay, threatened, almost bullied!  They answer what, with adroitest simulation and casuistry, they can:  of which a poor Legislative knows not what to make.  One thing only is clear, That Cimmerian Europe is girdling us in; that France (not actually dead, surely?) cannot march.  Have a care, ye Ministers!  Sharp Guadet transfixes you with cross-questions, with sudden Advocate-conclusions; the sleeping tempest that is in Vergniaud can be awakened.  Restless Brissot brings up Reports, Accusations, endless thin Logic; it is the man’s highday even now.  Condorcet redacts, with his firm pen, our ‘Address of the Legislative Assembly to the French Nation.’ (16th February 1792 (Choix des Rapports, viii. 375-92).) Fiery Max Isnard, who, for the rest, will “carry not Fire and Sword” on those Cimmerian Enemies “but Liberty,”—­is for declaring “that we hold Ministers responsible; and that by responsibility we mean death, nous entendons la mort.”

For verily it grows serious:  the time presses, and traitors there are.  Bertrand-Moleville has a smooth tongue, the known Aristocrat; gall in his heart.  How his answers and explanations flow ready; jesuitic, plausible to the ear!  But perhaps the notablest is this, which befel once when Bertrand had done answering and was withdrawn.  Scarcely had the august Assembly begun considering what was to be done with him, when the Hall fills with smoke.  Thick sour smoke:  no oratory, only wheezing and barking;—­irremediable; so that the august Assembly has to adjourn!  (Courrier de Paris, 14 Janvier, 1792 (Gorsas’s Newspaper), in Hist.  Parl. xiii. 83.) A miracle?  Typical miracle?  One knows not:  only this one seems to know, that ’the Keeper of the Stoves was appointed by Bertrand’ or by some underling of his!—­O fuliginous confused Kingdom of Dis, with thy Tantalus-Ixion toils, with thy angry Fire-floods, and Streams named of Lamentation, why hast thou not thy Lethe too, that so one might finish?

Chapter 2.5.VIII.

The Jacobins.