128 Jeanette Needham. 
invite the national assembly to transfer its sessions to Paris, 
should it feel the necessity of moving from Versailles.*° This 
was a natural suggestion to make, in view of the fact that, 
since June 20, members of the national assembly had con- 
templated removal to Paris, or elsewhere, to secure greater 
freedom of action.*t Such a move would have been highly 
approved by the radical populace of the capital. 
In the face of such possibilities, the execution of its plans by 
force was the only hope for the government, but by June 26, 
it was very evident that the king could not rely upon the troops 
then at Versailles or Paris. Insubordination among the soldiery 
of the capital was much more marked than at Versailles, par- 
ticularly among the French Guards, but it was a serious enough 
matter even at Versailles. The Marquis de Maleissye, an 
officer of the French Guards and Baron de Besenval, lieutenant 
colonel of the Swiss guards, agree in ascribing the responsibility 
for this situation to the arrogance and incapacity of the un- 
popular Duc de Chatelet, colonel of the French Guards, and to 
the machinations of the Duc d’Orléans and his agents.* 
The Duc de Chatelet succeeded the much esteemed Duc de 
Biron in 1788, but by no means filled the latter’s place. Im- 
mediately he began making changes in the traditional régime 
of the regiment, introducing many innovations which resulted 
in the alienation of the love and respect of both officers and 
men. He was positive in his notions, petty in the means em- 
ployed, as well as arrogant in his manner and exacting in his 
et d’établir une milice bourgeoise pour la garde de la ville. Ces deux propo- 
sitions ont été admises et l’on travaille 4 réunir les titres de la ville que étab- 
lissent son droit sur ces deux points.”” Thus news. of the activities of the 
electoral assembly was abroad, although for several days it did not officially 
recognize that such proposals had been made. 
30 Procés-verbal . . . des électeurs de Paris, I, 132. 
31 Young, 171; Assemblée nationale, 162; Bailly, I, 189; Mounier, I, 296; 
Duquesnoy, I, 125. 
32 Besenval, II, 351; Maleissye, 10-11, 15, 21-22; Ferriéres, I, 479-495. 
The appendix of Ferriéres contains the Exposé de la conduite de M. le duc 
d’Orléans, dans la révolution de France, rédigé par lui-méme, a Londres. The 
duke frankly admits that he had mingled with all classes of the French people 
and also that he was accused of bribing the French guards to join the popular 
cause, but, of course, denies the charge that he corrupted the guards. 
242 
“nw tes Fe ee tee 
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