ELECTED MAYOR OF PARIS. 179 



BAILLY BECOMES MAYOR OF PARIS. SCARCITY. 



MARAT DECLARES HIMSELF INIMICAL TO THE 

 MAYOR. EVENTS OF THE 6TH OF OCTOBER. 



The Bastille had been taken on the 14th of July. 

 That event, on which, during upwards of half a century, 

 there have been endless discussions, on opposite sides, 

 was characterized in the following way, in the address to 

 the National Assembly, drawn up by M. Moreau de 

 Saint Mery, in the name of the City Committee : 



&quot; Yesterday will be for ever memorable by the taking 

 of a citadel, consequent on the Governor s perfidy. The 

 bravery of the people was irritated by the breaking of 

 the word of honour. This act (the strongest proof that 

 the nation who knows best how to obey, is jealous of its 

 just liberties,) has been followed by incidents that from 

 the public misfortunes might have been foreseen.&quot; 



Lally Tollendal said to the Parisians, on the 15th of 

 July : &quot; In the disastrous circumstances that have just 

 occurred, we did not cease to participate in your griefs ; 

 and we have also participated in your anger ; it was just.&quot; 



The National Assembly solicited and obtained permis 

 sion from the king on the 15th of July, to send a depu 

 tation to Paris, which they flattered themselves would 

 restore order and peace in that great city, then in a con 

 vulsed state. Madame Bailly, always influenced by 

 fear, endeavoured, though vainly, to dissuade her hus 

 band from joining the appointed deputies. The learned 

 academician naively replied, &quot; After a presidency that 

 has been applauded, I am not sorry to show myself to my 

 fellow-citizens.&quot; You see, Gentlemen, that Bailly always 

 admits the future reader of his Posthumous Memoirs 

 confidentiallv into his most secret feelings. 



