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第79章

the origins of contemporary france-2-第79章

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always weak and accommodating; finally consents; and; the orders to

march being prepared; the municipality is duly advised of them。  But

the municipality will tolerate no delay; and immediately 〃draws up;

prints; and issues a denunciation to the National Assembly〃 against

the commandant and the two ministers who; according to it; are

guilty of having forged or suppressed the King's orders。  In the

meantime it equips and fortifies itself as for a combat。  At its

first establishment the municipality broke up the bourgeois guard;

which was too great a lover of order; and organized a National

Guard; in which those who have no property are soon to be admitted。

〃Daily additions are made to its military apparatus;'29'

entrenchments and barricades at the H?tel…de…Ville; are increasing;

the artillery is increased; the town is filled with the excitement

of a military camp in the immediate presence of an enemy。〃 Thus; in

possession of force; it makes use of it; and in the first place

against justice。   A popular insurrection had been suppressed in

the month of August 1789; and the three principal leaders; Rebecqui;

Pascal; and Granet; had been imprisoned in the Chateau d'If。  They

are the friends of the municipal authorities; and they must be set

free。  At the demand of this body the affair is taken out of the

hands of the grand…prév?t and put into those of the sénéchaussée;

the former; meanwhile; together with his councilors; undergoing

punishment for having performed their duty。  The municipality; on

its own authority; forbids them from further exercise of their

functions。  They are publicly denounced; 〃threatened with poniards;

the scaffold; and every species of assassination。〃 '30' No printer

dares publish their defense; for fear of 〃municipal annoyances。〃 It

is not long before the royal procureur and a councillor are reduced

to seeking refuge in Fort Saint…Jean; while the grand…prév?t after

having resisted a little longer; leaves Marseilles in order to save

his life。  As to the three imprisoned men; the municipal authorities

visit them in a body and demand their provisional release。  One of

them having made his escape; they refuse to give the commandant the

order for his re…arrest。  The other two triumphantly leave the

chateau on the 11th of April; escorted by eight hundred National

Guards。  They go; for form's sake; to the prisons of the

sénéchaussée but the next day are set at liberty; and further

prosecution ceases。  As an offset to this; M。  d'Ambert; colonel in

the Royal Marine; guilty of expressing himself too warmly against

the National Guard; although acquitted by the tribunal before which

he was brought; can be set at liberty only in secret and under the

protection of two thousand soldiers。  The populace want to burn the

house of the criminal lieutenant that dared absolve him。  The

magistrate himself is in danger; and is forced to take refuge in the

house of the military commander。'31'  Meanwhile; printed and written

papers; insulting libels by the municipal body and the club; the

seditious or violent discussions of the district assemblies; and a

lot of pamphlets; are freely distributed among the people and the

soldiers: the latter are purposely stirred up in advance against

their chiefs。 …  … In vain are the officers mild; conciliatory; and

cautious。  In vain does the commander…in…chief depart with a portion

of the troops。  The object now is to dislodge the regiment occupying

the three forts。  The club sets the ball in motion; and; forcibly or

otherwise; the will of the people must be carried out。  On the 29th

of April; two actors; supported by fifty volunteers; surprise a

sentinel and get possession of Notre…Dame de la Garde。  On the same

day; six thousand National Guards invest the forts of Saint…Jean and

Saint…Nicolas。  The municipal authorities; summoned to respect the

fortresses; reply by demanding the opening of the gates to the

National Guard; that it may do duty jointly with the soldiers。  The

commandants hesitate; refer to the law; and demand time to consult

their superiors。  A second requisition; more urgent; is made; the

commandants are held responsible for the disturbances they provoke

by their refusal。  If they resist they are declared promoters of

civil war。'32'  They accordingly yield and sign  a capitulation。

One among them; the Chevalier de Beausset; major in Fort Saint…Jean;

is opposed to this; and refuses his signature。  On the following day

he is seized as he is about to enter the H?tel…de…Ville; and

massacred; his head being borne about on the end of a pike; while

the band of assassins; the soldiers; and the rabble dance about and

shout over his remains。 … 〃 It is a sad accident;〃 writes the

municipality。'33'  How does it happen that; 〃after having thus far

merited and obtained all praise; a Beausset; whom we were unable to

protect against the decrees of Providence; should sully our laurels?

Having had nothing to do with this tragic affair; it is not for us

to prosecute the authors of it。〃 Moreover; he was 〃culpable 。  。  。。

rebellious; condemned by public opinion; and Providence itself seems

to have abandoned him to the irrevocable decrees of its vengeance。〃

… As to the taking of the forts; nothing is more legitimate。  〃These

places were in the hands of the enemies of the State; while now they

are in the hands of the defenders of the Constitution of the empire。

Woe to whoever would take them from us again; to convert them into a

focus of counter…revolution 〃  … M。  de Miran; commandant of the

province; has; it is true; made a demand for them。  But; 〃is it not

somewhat pitiable to see the requisition of a Sieur de Miran; made

in the name of the King he betrays; to surrender to his Majesty's

troops places which; henceforth in our hands; guarantee public

security to the nation; to the law; and to the King?〃 In vain does

the King; at the request of the National Assembly;'34' order the

municipality to restore the forts to the commandants; and to make

the National Guards leave them。  The municipal authorities become

indignant; and resist。  According to them the wrong is all on the

side of the commandant and the ministers。  It is the commandants

who; 〃with the threatening equipment of their citadels; their stores

of provisions and of artillery; are disturbers of the public peace。

What does the minister mean by driving the national troops out of

the forts; in order to entrust their guardianship to foreign troops?

His object is apparent in this plan 。  。  。  。  he wants to kindle

civil war。〃  … 〃All the misfortunes of Marseilles originate in the

secret under…standing existing between the ministers and the enemies

of the State。〃 The municipal corps is at last obliged to evacuate

the forts; but it is determined not to give them up。  The day

following that on which it receives the decree of the National

Assembly; it conceives the design of demolishing them。  On the 17th

of May; two hundred laborers; paid in advance; begin the work of

destruction。  To save appearances the municipal body betakes itself

at eleven o'clock in the morning to the different localities; and

orders them to stop。  But; on its departure; the laborers keep on;

and; at six o'clock in the evening; a resolution is passed that; 〃to

prevent the entire demolition of the citadel; it is deemed advisable

to authorize only that of the part overlooking the town。〃 On the

18th of May the Jacobin club; at once agent; accomplice; and

councilor of the municipal body; compels private individuals to

contribute something towards defraying the expenses of the

demolition。  It 〃sends round to every house; and to the syndics of

all corporations; exacting their quotas; and making all citizens

subscribe a document by which they appear to sanction the action of

the municipal body; and to express their thanks to it。  People had

to sign it; pay; and keep silent。  Woe to any one that refused !〃 On

the 20th of May the m

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