THE COLTON PAPERS. 107 



instances of private heroism and self-devotion which have reached 

 me from every side, and from every quarter. Justice will be done 

 to the actors in a subsequent part of the narrative. 



The astounding audacity of the blow seemed, on this first day, to 

 have thrown the upper and middle ranks of society in Paris into utter 

 confusion, and even the [feelings of indignation the measures were 

 calculated to excite seemed to be almost absorbed in those of 

 astonishment. A large body of the Deputies, who had already 

 arrived in Paris, however, assembled on this evening, to consult on 

 the means they should adopt under so extraordinary a violation of 

 their rights. 



Tuesday the 27th may well be termed the day of preparation on 

 the part of the people. The laws had received their death-blow 

 from a parricidal hand, even the hand of him who ought to have 

 protected them. This was the universal sentiment, and Aux Armesl 

 Aux Armes ! was the universal cry. IXuring the early part of the 

 day, the spirit of resistance and insubordination was confined pretty 

 generally to the formation of groups, assembling themselves, in 

 greater or less numbers, throughout the whole of Paris. These 

 groups or collections of citizens (whose masses had received an im- 

 mense 'accession from the working classes thrown upon the town by 

 the shutting up of the manufactories, printing-offices, &c.), naturally 

 betook themselves to those public places, squares, walks, or gardens, 

 most favourable to the purpose for which they were assembled. 

 This purpose was an exchange of sentiment on their mutual 

 grievances and common wrongs ; a breathing of defiance, and an 

 expression of their determination to submit to any sacrifice, even 

 that of life, rather than allow those fetters to be rivetted, which the 

 preceding day had informed them were already forged. The mur- 

 mur of discontent, and the menace of resistance, proceeding from 

 these assemblies formed a peculiar and portentous din, which, like 

 the rumbling that precedes an earthquake, was an ominous prelude 

 to the catastrophe that was at hand. On the other side, it is obvious 

 that the Government could not continue passive or quiescent spec- 

 tators of these first indications of discontent and insubordination. 

 The gendarmes, a species of armed police, forming the constabulary 

 force of Paris, all of whom were in the most perfect state of equip- 

 ment, and many of whom were excellently mounted, was the first 

 species of disciplined force that was brought into immediate contact 

 with the people ; their efforts were principally directed to the dis- 

 persing of whatever groups, or assemblies of citizens, their respective 

 positions brought them into approximation with. Their attempts at 

 the dispersion of these assemblies were accompanied with more or 

 less of success or discomfiture. The gardens of the Palais Royal, 

 and of the Luxembourg, from the space that they allow to any 

 general meeting, and from their being the favourite resort of pro- 

 menaders, were completely thronged with anxious enquirers, and 

 zealous expounders of the events of Monday. Some, exalted on 

 the chairs which the gardens supplied, read aloud to an attentive 

 and highly exasperated audience that memorable protest, bearing 

 the signatures of all the editors of the liberal journals in Paris. 



