ANDREAS KURTZ 109 



companions in France, and it was around 

 Lavoisier that at this time the first minds in 

 the scientific world circled. At his residence 

 a society of savants of all nationalities used 

 to meet on two or three evenings each week 

 to discuss problems and inventions in 

 chemistry and physics. 



The overthrow of the Monarchy on the 

 1 2th of July, 1789, and the subsequent treat- 

 ment of the King and his family by the 

 revolutionists, alarmed the other monarchial 

 powers ; they must stem the tide of anarchy, 

 and a coalition was formed to restore the 

 royal supremacy in France. The " Legislative 

 Assembly " fiercely resented this foreign 

 interference; three armies were organised to 

 repel the forces of Austria, Prussia, and 

 Piedmont, which were being marshalled 

 against the revolutionists. 



In 1792 war was declared between France 

 and Austria. Dumouriez was dispatched to 

 oppose the Austrian forces in Belgium ; in 

 their first encounters the French suffered 

 defeat ; the disasters were attributed to the 

 treachery of the "emigrants," the Paris mob 

 was maddened, Danton raised the flag of 

 insurrection, the country was declared in 

 danger, on the 3ist September the Republic 



