THE COLTON PAPERS 231 



who led them to the attack of the Abbaye, a military prison, where 

 they released all the soldiers under confinement for insubordination, 

 who instantly joined their compatriots. This body, supported by 

 many others from the southern side of the Seine, attempted to cross 

 the river by the different bridges, to the support of their brethren in 

 arms, but every bridge bristled with the flower of the troops, and 

 was commanded by a numerous and well-served artillery at every 

 point. The Pont Neuf was literally covered with soldiers, and the 

 utmost that the brave citizens of the Fauburg St. Germain could 

 effect, was to content themselves with keeping in check the troops in 

 their division of the capital, and maintaining a constant fire across 

 the river, on the quays de 1'Ecole and the Louvre, which were filled 

 with soldiers, ensconced behind the parapets, and the low wall which 

 supports the iron railing of the palace ; through which railing they 

 kept up an incessant fire upon the columns of citizens on the left 

 bank of the river. The gate of the Louvre, opposite to the Institute 

 and the Pont des Arts, was closed, a party of Swiss guarded it, and a 

 piece of artillery was placed before it, which, directed upon the 

 multitudes assembled near and upon the steps of the Institute, was 

 discharged with murderous effect. The troops, forced to retreat 

 from the Place de la Greve, had retired slowly upon the Louvre, with 

 part of their cannon; and from this point the guns were so disposed, 

 that, from the quay of the Tuileries, they seemed to sweep the en- 

 tire line of quays, as far as the Pont au Change, and completely 

 commanded, by their range, that important pass. The different 

 streets leading to the river had pickets at about fifty yards before they 

 joined the quays, and from their elevation they kept up an occa- 

 sional fire, when any of the column on the opposite side was visible. 



In the Rue St. Honore the combat began about three o'clock. 

 The Place du Palais Royal had been occupied by strong detach- 

 ments of infantry and gendarmerie, mounted and on foot. The 

 Place du Carrousel was occupied by the grenadiers a cheval, and 

 the lancers of the Garde Royale, waiting for orders. Their ap- 

 pearance was most imposing, and their numbers seemed to laugh 

 to scorn any effort of an undisciplined mob, however numerous. 

 About forty pieces of field artillery were all in readiness for action. 

 The contest began by the people seizing the corners of the nume- 

 rous small streets leading into the Rue St. Honore, from the church 

 of St. Roch to the Rue de 1'Arbre Sec, on both sides of the way, firing- 

 as tirailleurs, and retreating to shelter while they loaded. Many 

 were posted at the different windows, and the piles of stones heaped 

 up in every story to the very garrets showed plainly the reception 

 the troops would meet, should they move from the open space, and 

 attempt to dislodge their antagonists, who annoyed them at every 

 point, but retreated with such rapidity that they could scarcely get a 

 shot at their unseen and harassing enemy ; while, on the contrary, 

 almost every discharge took effect upon a body of men, who were 

 compelled to show two fronts, the one up, and the other down the 

 street. This desultory mode of warfare was dreadfully harassing to 

 the soldiers, who maintained their post with firmness indeed, but 

 without producing any effect. It was easy to see that many of 



