Three Jacobin Missionaries, Proly, Dubuisson, Pereyra, have flown forth; sped by a wakeful Mother Society:  they are struck dumb to hear the General speak.  The Convention, according to this General, consists of three hundred scoundrels and four hundred imbeciles:  France cannot do without a King.  “But we have executed our King.”  “And what is it to me,” hastily cries Dumouriez, a General of no reticence, “whether the King’s name be Ludovicus or Jacobus?” “Or Philippus!” rejoins Proly;—­and hastens to report progress.  Over the Frontiers such hope is there.

Chapter 3.3.V.

Sansculottism Accoutred.

Let us look, however, at the grand internal Sansculottism and Revolution Prodigy, whether it stirs and waxes:  there and not elsewhere hope may still be for France.  The Revolution Prodigy, as Decree after Decree issues from the Mountain, like creative fiats, accordant with the nature of the Thing,—­is shaping itself rapidly, in these days, into terrific stature and articulation, limb after limb.  Last March, 1792, we saw all France flowing in blind terror; shutting town-barriers, boiling pitch for Brigands:  happier, this March, that it is a seeing terror; that a creative Mountain exists, which can say fiat!  Recruitment proceeds with fierce celerity:  nevertheless our Volunteers hesitate to set out, till Treason be punished at home; they do not fly to the frontiers; but only fly hither and thither, demanding and denouncing.  The Mountain must speak new fiat, and new fiats.

And does it not speak such?  Take, as first example, those Comites Revolutionnaires for the arrestment of Persons Suspect.  Revolutionary Committee, of Twelve chosen Patriots, sits in every Township of France; examining the Suspect, seeking arms, making domiciliary visits and arrestments;—­caring, generally, that the Republic suffer no detriment.  Chosen by universal suffrage, each in its Section, they are a kind of elixir of Jacobinism; some Forty-four Thousand of them awake and alive over France!  In Paris and all Towns, every house-door must have the names of the inmates legibly printed on it, ’at a height not exceeding five feet from the ground;’ every Citizen must produce his certificatory Carte de Civisme, signed by Section-President; every man be ready to give account of the faith that is in him.  Persons Suspect had as well depart this soil of Liberty!  And yet departure too is bad:  all Emigrants are declared Traitors, their property become National; they are ’dead in Law,’—­save indeed that for our behoof they shall ’live yet fifty years in Law,’ and what heritages may fall to them in that time become National too!  A mad vitality of Jacobinism, with Forty-four Thousand centres of activity, circulates through all fibres of France.