The next morning trouble was begun by the journeymen printers, who, as the newspapers on which they worked had been prohibited, were sent home from their printing-offices.  Before long they were joined by others, notably by the cadets from the Polytechnic School.  Casimir Perrier and Laffitte were considered chiefs of the revolution.  The cry was everywhere “Vive la Charte,”—­a compendium that had been drawn up of the franchises and privileges of Frenchmen.  M. Thiers, then young, counselled moderation in the emergency.

On July 28 the tricolored flag was again unfurled in Paris,—­those colors dear to Frenchmen, who had long hated the white flag, which represented in their eyes despotism and the rule of the Bourbons!  The National Guard (or militia) was called out, and the populace began erecting barricades.

It is surprising how rapidly in an emergency a barricade can be formed.  A carriage or two is overturned, furniture is brought out from neighboring houses, a large tree, if available, is cut down, and the whole is strengthened with paving-stones.  By night all Paris had become a field of battle.

In vain Marshal Marmont had sent courier after courier to Saint-Cloud, imploring the king and his ministers to do something that might allay the fury of the people.  No answer was returned.  The marshal went himself at last, and the king, after listening to his representation of the state of Paris, said calmly:  “Then it is really a revolt?” “No, sire,” replied Marmont; “it is not a revolt, but a revolution.”

As soon as the idea of ruin broke upon the royal household, everything at Saint-Cloud became confusion and despair.  The Duchesse de Berri wanted to take her son, the Duc de Bordeaux, into Paris, hoping that the people would rally round a woman and the young heir to the throne.  Some implored the king to treat with the insurgents; some to put himself at the head of his troops; some to sacrifice the ordonnances and the most obnoxious of his ministers.

The Parisian mob by this time had its blood up.  It fought with any weapons that came to hand.  Muskets were loaded with type seized in the printing-offices.  At the Hotel-de-Ville, Laffitte, Lafayette, and other leading men opposed to the policy of Charles X. were assembled in council.

The troops at first fought in their king’s cause bravely, but without enthusiasm.  Subsequently the Duke of Wellington was asked if he could not have suppressed the revolution with the garrison of Paris, which was twenty thousand men.  He answered, “Easily; but then they must have been fighting for a cause they had at heart.”

The fight continued all the night of the 28th, bloody and furious.  By morning the soldiers were short of ammunition.  As usual, the Swiss Guard was stanch, but the French soldiers faltered.  About midday of the 29th two regiments went over to the insurgents.