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accumulates and ferments。2 No wonder that； in such a time the reign of
the mob should be established there sooner than elsewhere。＇3＇ After
many an explosion； this reign is inaugurated August 17； 1790； by the
removal of M。 Lieutaud； a sort of bourgeois； moderate Lafayette； who
commands the National Guard。 Around him rally a majority of the
population； all men 〃honest or not； who have anything to lose。〃＇4＇
After he is driven out； then proscribed； then imprisoned； they resign
themselves； and Marseilles belongs to the low class； to 40；000
destitute and rogues led by the club。
The better to ensure their empire； the municipality； one month after
the expulsion of M。 Lieutaud； declared every citizen 〃active〃 who had
any trade or profession＇5＇； the consequence is that vagabonds attend
the meetings of the sections in contempt of constitutional law。 The
consequence； was that property…owners and commercial men withdrew；
which was wise on their part； for the usual demagogic machinery is set
in motion without delay。 〃Each section…assembly is composed of a
dozen factious spirits； members of the club； who drive out honest
people by displaying cudgels and bayonets。 The deliberations are
prepared beforehand at the club； in concert with the municipality； and
woe to him who refuses to adopt them at the meeting！ They go so far as
to threaten citizens who wish to make any remarks with instant burial
in the cellars under the churches。〃＇6＇ The argument proved
irresistible： 〃the majority of honest people are so frightened and so
timid〃 that not one of them dare attend these meetings； unless
protected by public force。 〃More than 80；000 inhabitants do not sleep
peacefully；〃 while all the political rights are vested in 〃five or six
hundred individuals；〃 legally disqualified。 Behind them marches the
armed rabble； 〃the horde of brigands without a country；〃＇7＇ always
ready for plundering； murder； and hanging。 In front of them march the
local authorities； who； elected through their influence； carry on the
administration under their guidance。 Patrons and clients； members of
the club and its satellites； they form a league which plays the part
of a sovereign State； scarcely recognizing； even in words； the
authority of the central government。＇8＇ The decree by which the
National Assembly gives full power to the Commissioners to re…
establish order is denounced as plébécide； these conscientious and
cautious moderators are qualified as 〃dictators〃； they are denounced
in circular letters to all the municipalities of the department； and
to all Jacobin clubs throughout the kingdom；＇9＇ the club is somewhat
disposed to go to Aix to cut off their heads and send them in a trunk
to the president of the National Assembly； with a threat that the same
penalty awaits himself and all the deputies if they do not revoke
their recent decrees。 A few days after this； four sections draw up an
act before a notary； stating the measures they had taken towards
sending an army of 6；000 men from Marseilles to Aix； to get rid of the
three intruders。 The commissioners dare not enter Marseilles； where
〃gibbets are ready for them； and a price set on their heads。〃 It is as
much as they can do to rescue from the faction M。 Lieutaud and his
friends； who； accused of lése…nation； confined without a shadow of
proof； treated like mad dogs； put in chains；＇10＇ shut up in privies
and holes； and obliged to drink their own urine for lack of water；
impelled by despair to the brink of suicide； barely escape murder a
dozen times in the courtroom and in prison。＇11＇ Against the decree of
the National Assembly ordering their release； the municipality makes
reclamations； contrives delays； resists； and finally stirs up its
usual instruments。 Just as the prisoners are about to be released a
crowd of 〃armed persons without uniform or officer；〃 constantly
increased 〃by vagabonds and foreigners；〃 gathers on the heights
overlooking the Palais de Justice； and makes ready to fire on M。
Lieutaud。 Summoned to proclaim martial law； the municipality refuses；
declaring that 〃the general detestation of the accused is too
manifest〃； it demands the return of the Swiss regiment to its
barracks； and that the prisoners remain where they are； the only thing
which it grants them is a secret permission to escape； as if they were
guilty； they； accordingly； steal away clandestinely and in
disguise。＇12＇ The Swiss regiment； however； which prevents the
magistrates from violating the law； must pay for its insolence； and；
as it is incorruptible； they decide to drive it out of the town。 For
four months the municipality multiplies against it every kind of
annoyance；＇13＇ and； on the 16th of October； 1791； the Jacobins provoke
a row in the theater against its officers。 The same night； outside
the theater； four of these are attacked by armed bands； the post to
which they retreat is nearly taken by assault； they are led to a
prison for safety； and there they still remain five days afterwards；
〃although their innocence is admitted。〃 Meanwhile； to ensure 〃public
tranquility；〃 the municipality has required the commander of the post
to immediately replace the Swiss Guard with National Guards on all the
military posts； the latter yields to force； while the useless
regiment； insulted and threatened； has nothing to do but to pack
off。＇14＇ This being done； the new municipality； still more Jacobin
than the old one；＇15＇ separates Marseilles from France； erects the
city into a marauding republican government； gets up expeditions；
levies contributions； forms alliances； and undertakes an armed
conquest of the department。
II。 The expedition to Aix。
The town of Marseilles send an expedition to Aix。 The regiment is
disarmed。 The Directory driven out。 Pressure on the new
Directory。
The first thing is to lay its hand on the district capital； Aix； where
the Swiss regiment is stationed in garrison and where the superior
authorities are installed。 This operation is the more necessary
inasmuch as the Directory of the department loudly commends the
loyalty of the Swiss Guard and takes occasion to remind the Marseilles
municipality of the respect due to the law。 Such remonstrance is an
insult； and the municipality； in a haughty tone； calls upon the
Directory to avow or disavow its letter； 〃if you did not write it； it
is a foul report which it is our duty to examine into； and if you did；
it is a declaration of war made by you against Marseilles。〃＇16＇ The
Directory； in polite terms and with great circumspection； affirms both
its right and its utterance； and remarks that 〃the prorata list of
taxes of Marseilles for 1791 is not yet reported；〃 that the
municipality is much more concerned with saving the State than with
paying its contribution and； in short； it maintains its censure。 If
it will not bend it must break； and on the 4th of February； 1792； the
municipality sends Barbaroux； its secretary； to Paris； that he may
mitigate the outrages they are preparing。 During the night of the 25…
26； the drums beat the general alarm； and three or four thousand men
gather and march to Aix with six pieces of cannon。 As a precaution
they pretend to have no leaders； no captains or lieutenants or even
corporals； to quote them； all are equal； all volunteers； each being
summoned by the other； in this fashion； as all are responsible； no one
is。＇17＇ They reach Aix at eleven o'clock in the forenoon； find a gate
open through the connivance of those in league with them among the
populace of the town and its suburbs； and summon the municipality to
surrender the sentinels。 In the mean time their emissaries have
announced in the neighboring villages that the town was menaced by the
Swiss regiment； consequently four hundred men from Aubagne arrive in
haste； while from hour to hour the National Guards from the
surrounding villages likewise rush in。 The streets are full of armed
men； shouts arise and the tumult increases； the municipal body； in the
universal panic； loses its wits。 This body is afraid of a nocturnal
fight 〃between troops of the line； citizens； National Guards and armed
strangers； no one being able to recognize one another or know who is
an enemy。〃 It sends back a detachment of three hundred and fifty
Swiss Guards； which the Directory had ordered to its support； and
consigns the regiment to its quarters。 At this the Directory takes
to flight。 Military sentinels of all kinds are disarmed while the
Marseilles throng； turning its advantages to account； announces to the
municipality at two o'clock in the morning that； 〃allow it or not 〃 it
is going to attack the barracks immediately； in fact； cannon are
planted； a few shots are fired； a sentinel killed； and the hemmed…in
regiment is compelled to evacuate the town； the men without their guns
and the officers without their swords。 Their arms are stolen； the
people seize the suspected； the stre