The King himself from his windows heard the people of Versailles crying aloud in the street.  The discourses they held were daring and continual in the streets and public places; they uttered complaints, sharp, and but little measured, against the government, and even against the King’s person; and even exhorted each other no longer to be so enduring, saying that nothing worse could happen to them than what they suffered, dying as they were of starvation.

To amuse the people, the idle and the poor were employed to level a rather large hillock which remained upon the Boulevard, between the Portes Saint Denis and Saint Martin; and for all salary, bad bread in small quantities was distributed to these workers.  If happened that on Tuesday morning, the 20th of August, there was no bread for a large number of these people.  A woman amongst others cried out at this, which excited the rest to do likewise.  The archers appointed to watch over these labourers, threatened the woman; she only cried the louder; thereupon the archers seized her and indiscreetly put her in an adjoining pillory.  In a moment all her companions ran to her aid, pulled down the pillory, and scoured the streets, pillaging the bakers and pastrycooks.  One by one the shops closed.  The disorder increased and spread through the neighbouring streets; no harm was done anybody, but the cry was “Bread!  Bread!” and bread was seized everywhere.

It so fell out that Marechal Boufflers, who little thought what was happening, was in the neighbourhood, calling upon his notary.  Surprised at the fright he saw everywhere, and learning, the cause, he wished of himself to appease it.  Accompanied by the Duc de Gramont, he directed himself towards the scene of the disturbance, although advised not to do so.  When he arrived at the top of the Rue Saint Denis, the crowd and the tumult made him judge that it would be best to alight from his coach.  He advanced, therefore, on foot with the Duc de Grammont among the furious and infinite crowd of people, of whom he asked the cause of this uproar, promised them bread, spoke his best with gentleness but firmness, and remonstrated with them.  He was listened to.  Cries, several times repeated, of “Vive M. le Marechal de Boufflers!” burst from the crowd.  M. de Boufflers walked thus with M. de Grammont all along the Rue aux Ours and the neighbouring streets, into the very centre of the sedition, in fact.  The people begged him to represent their misery to the King, and to obtain for them some food.  He promised this, and upon his word being given all were appeased and all dispersed with thanks and fresh acclamations of “Vive M. le Marechal de Boufflers!” He did a real service that day.  D’Argenson had marched to the spot with troops; and had it not been for the Marechal, blood would have been spilt, and things might have gone very far.