BAS PORY “GF - BOR GP E. 
_ body of eleGors had either fome 
previous notice that the tide was 
beginning to turn, or that they had 
fo perfect a knowledge of the tem- 
per and difpofition of their new 
matters, that they forefaw to a de- 
gree of certainty the event which 
was to take place; for, fome days 
before this final iffue, while they 
were yet loaded with praife, and 
that all feemed to acknowledge the 
importance of their. fervices, they 
called a meeting of the fevera! dif- 
tricts, and propofed to, and fuc- 
ceeded in perfuading them, to elec& 
120 deputies, who fhould contftitute 
a temporary adminiftration, and 
who might in the mean time form 
a fcheme for a future permanent 
municipal government. Nothing 
could have been more judicious or 
more fortunate than this meafure. 
When the day of evil and of danger 
arrived, the new adminiftration 
filled up the chafm which their 
fudden. dereli€tion of office would 
have made, and by obviating the 
confufion which muft otherwife have 
taken place, afforded the electors 
an opportunity to retire with the 
lefs notice or obfervation, and to 
feek for fhelter and oblivion in the 
mafs of the people. But neither 
their prudence, caution, nor the 
timely and fignal proof which they 
had given of their difintereftednefs, 
were fufficient to preferve them 
from the most virulent invective 
and abufe, nor from the dangerous 
charge of ambitious defigns, which 
they direéted to the prolongation 
and increafe of their power. 
Among the novelties for which 
the late elections of deputies to the 
fates had given occafion, one of 
the moft effential, and which’ was 
indeed produttive of confequences 
that were at the time listle. thought 
* 
[5 
of, was the new divifion of Paris 
into fixty diftriéts, which then took 
place. This meafure, which was 
intended merely to facilitate the 
eleCtions, held out an outline of 
form and order which-could not be 
overlooked, and which was turned 
to great account in the fucceeding 
convulfions: The eafy means 
which it afforded of fummoning 
the people of each diftrict to con- 
ference or aétion upon the fhorteft 
notice was inftantly perceived; and 
the committee of electors which, 
in the beginning, prefided in each, 
befides introducing habits of regu- 
larity and order, were the means 
of pafling refolutions, or decrees, 
for the prefervation of internal 
quiet, and the fecurity of: perfon 
and property. By this means 
much of the violence and confufion 
which muft otherwife have taken 
place was prevented; and to this 
caufe, and not to any fuperior vir- 
tue in the people, (to which it has 
been caufelefsly affigned) we are to 
look for that appearance of order 
and government which was ‘ob- 
fervable at the commencement of 
the revolution, and for fome time 
after. 
In each of thefe diftri&ts general 
aflemblies were held, at which every 
inhabitant was permitted to fpeak 
and vote; and each formed per- 
manent committees of police and 
adminiitration. ‘Thefe ailemblies 
framed refolutions, which carried 
the force and effest of laws in their 
individual diftriéts, and in as many 
others as. they ‘could induce to 
coincide with them; they likewife 
iffued proclamations, granted pafi- 
ports, ttopped and examined car- 
riages and paflengers, opened pack- 
ages, and were beyond meatfure 
anxious and vigilant in the exercife 
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