Montelimart Town is not buried under its ruins; yet Marseilles is actually marching, under order of a ‘Lyons Congress;’ is incarcerating Patriots; the very Royalists now shewing face.  Against which a General Cartaux fights, though in small force; and with him an Artillery Major, of the name of—­Napoleon Buonaparte.  This Napoleon, to prove that the Marseillese have no chance ultimately, not only fights but writes; publishes his Supper of Beaucaire, a Dialogue which has become curious.  (See Hazlitt, ii. 529-41.) Unfortunate Cities, with their actions and their reactions!  Violence to be paid with violence in geometrical ratio; Royalism and Anarchism both striking in;—­the final net-amount of which geometrical series, what man shall sum?

The Bar of Iron has never yet floated in Marseilles Harbour; but the Body of Rebecqui was found floating, self-drowned there.  Hot Rebecqui seeing how confusion deepened, and Respectability grew poisoned with Royalism, felt that there was no refuge for a Republican but death.  Rebecqui disappeared:  no one knew whither; till, one morning, they found the empty case or body of him risen to the top, tumbling on the salt waves; (Barbaroux, p. 29.) and perceived that Rebecqui had withdrawn forever.—­Toulon likewise is incarcerating Patriots; sending delegates to Congress; intriguing, in case of necessity, with the Royalists and English.  Montpellier, Bourdeaux, Nantes:  all France, that is not under the swoop of Austria and Cimmeria, seems rushing into madness, and suicidal ruin.  The Mountain labours; like a volcano in a burning volcanic Land.  Convention Committees, of Surety, of Salvation, are busy night and day:  Convention Commissioners whirl on all highways; bearing olive-branch and sword, or now perhaps sword only.  Chaumette and Municipals come daily to the Tuileries demanding a Constitution:  it is some weeks now since he resolved, in Townhall, that a Deputation ’should go every day’ and demand a Constitution, till one were got; (Deux Amis, x. 345.) whereby suicidal France might rally and pacify itself; a thing inexpressibly desirable.

This then is the fruit your Anti-anarchic Girondins have got from that Levying of War in Calvados?  This fruit, we may say; and no other whatsoever.  For indeed, before either Charlotte’s or Chalier’s head had fallen, the Calvados War itself had, as it were, vanished, dreamlike, in a shriek!  With ‘seventy-two Departments’ on one’s side, one might have hoped better things.  But it turns out that Respectabilities, though they will vote, will not fight.  Possession is always nine points in Law; but in Lawsuits of this kind, one may say, it is ninety-and-nine points.  Men do what they were wont to do; and have immense irresolution and inertia:  they obey him who has the symbols that claim obedience.  Consider what, in modern society, this one fact means:  the Metropolis is with our enemies!  Metropolis, Mother-city; rightly so named:  all the rest are but as her children,