to hear a full and animated detail of the disasters
of the day in Paris. He went to bed deeply impressed.
The decapitation of De Launai worked powerfully through
the night on the whole aristocratical party, insomuch
that, in the morning, those of the greatest influence
on the Count d’Artois, represented to him the
absolute necessity that the King should give up every
thing to the States. This according well enough
with the dispositions of the King, he went about eleven
o’clock, accompanied only by his brothers, to
the States General, and there read to them a speech,
in which he asked their interposition to re-establish
order. Though this be couched in terms of some
caution, yet the manner in which it was delivered,
made it evident that it was meant as a surrender at
discretion. He returned to the Chateau
afoot, accompanied by the States. They sent off
a deputation, the Marquis de la Fayette at their head,
to quiet Paris. He had, the same morning, been
named Commandant in Chief of the Milice Bourgeoise,
and Monsieur Bailly, former President of the States
General, was called for as Prevot des Marchands.
The demolition of the Bastile was now ordered, and
begun. A body of the Swiss guards of the regiment
of Ventimille, and the city horse-guards joined the
people. The alarm at Versailles increased instead
of abating. They believed that the aristocrats
of Paris were under pillage and carnage, that one hundred
and fifty thousand men were in arms, coming to Versailles
to massacre the royal family, the court, the ministers,
and all connected with them, their practices, and
principles. The aristocrats of the Nobles and
Clergy in the States General, vied with each other
in declaring how sincerely they were converted to
the justice of voting by persons, and how determined
to go with the nation all its lengths. The foreign
troops were ordered off instantly. Every minister
resigned. The King confirmed Bailly as Prevot
des Marchands, wrote to Mr. Necker to recall him,
sent his letter open to the States General, to be forwarded
by them, and invited them to go with him to Paris
the next day, to satisfy the city of his dispositions:
and that night and the next morning, the Count d’Artois,
and Monsieur de Montisson (a deputy connected with
him), Madame de Polignac, Madame de Guiche, and the
Count de Vaudreuil, favorites of the Queen, the Abbe
de Vermont, her confessor, the Prince of Conde, and
Duke de Bourbon, all fled; we know not whither.
The King came to Paris, leaving the Queen in consternation
for his return. Omitting the less important figures
of the procession, I will only observe, that the King’s
carriage was in the centre, on each side of it the
States General, in two rank, afoot, and at their head
the Marquis de la Fayette, as Commander in Chief,
on horseback, and Bourgeois guards before and
behind. About sixty thousand citizens of all forms
and colors, armed with the muskets of the Bastile
and Invalids, as far as they would go, the rest with