4 
HISTORY OF ‘EUROPE: 
membrance of all their pat tri 
‘umphs. 
. The fturdy Switzer faced his trial 
witha degree of compofure, firm- 
nefs, and refolution which aitonifhed 
the beholders; and repelled the ac- 
cufations brought againtt him with 
fuch judgment and {pirit, that the 
court could not, either with regard 
to juftice, or to their own dhara@er, 
poilibly avoid acquitting him ; at the 
fame time, that the iuperior con- 
_ tempt which he fhewed for any dan- 
‘? 
of the inherent right of fummary 
ger that might accrue from a due 
“difcharge of his military duties, 
feemed to overawe even his enc- 
mies. It is however to be obferved, 
that the Swifs cantons took fo {pi- 
rited a part in behalf of their fuf- 
fering commander, that it is thought 
_ the national affembly did not with 
“matters to be carried to extremity 
-againft him; fo that the violence of 
the mob was. poffibly the greateft 
danger, which he apprehended he 
had to encounter. © . 
Although the court had not yet 
declared the fentence, yet every 
body being now convinced of his 
acquittal, nothing could exceed th- 
rage and indignation of the popu- 
lace; who confidered the boafted 
benefits of the revolution as nothing 
but deceptions, if the majeity of the 
people was to be thus flagrantly in- 
fulted, and their-authority grofsly 
invaded, by attempting to {trip them 
_ and_executive juftice. They. ac- 
cordingly determined to force the 
_ prifon in which Bezenval was con- 
_ fined by the chatelet, and to exhibit 
inhis perfon a memorable and bloody 
_inftance to mankind of that inexor= 
able» juftice by which they were 
guided; the execution of which 
an not be prevented or diverted, 
by at laws or by any authority, 
am 4. 
[125 
The 12th of January was fixed 
upon for the execution of this de- 
fign; and the expectation and cruel 
hopes of the rabble were rifen to the 
higheft point at’ which they were 
capable of arriving. But things 
weré much ‘changed in this refpect, 
cand they were not able in their pre- 
fent ftate to: conduct {chemes of this 
‘nature with that fecrecy and con- 
cealment, which are fo neceflary to 
their fuccefs, and which’ afforded 
them fuch infinite advantages in 
their paft conflicts with the court. 
Bailly, La Fayette, the chatelet, the 
national’ affémbly, and in a word, 
every part of government, became 
matlers of the whole defign, before 
it could be carried into execution, 
and all: adopted’ fuch meafures as 
feemed beft calculated for its: pre- 
ventio or defeat. La Fayette acted 
with great vigour, diligence, and 
effect; but one circumftance in ‘his 
condu& occafioned much furprifé, 
and afforded no {mall room for fpe- 
culation. This was his 'placing the 
fecurity of Paris, and the preferva- 
tion of ber tranquillity, in the hands 
of the bourgeoife militia, inftead of 
entrufting them to the regular fland- 
ing forces, who received conftant 
pay, and of whom the late French 
guards formed fo confpicuous a part. 
Nothing-could be-more ftattering to 
the militia than this diftinction, and 
mark of unlimited confidence, in a 
cafe of fo much fuppofed danger; 
they accordingly aéted their part 
inimitably well; but nothing could 
be a more galling affront to. the re- 
gular troops than this preference gi- 
ven to men whom they defpifed. 
Though the immediate defigns of 
the plotters were thus overthrown, 
yet the capital continued in a ftate 
of great diforder for two or three 
days, Cabals and meetings were 
continually 
x 
