Tlie Uprising of June 20, lygs 21 



ministry decided to force the hand of the king or to expose his 

 treachery to the eyes of France. Roland took the initiative, 

 making the delay in signing the decrees the occasion of a letter 

 to the king — a letter famous in the history of the revolution. It 

 has been aptly termed " the ultimatum of the Girondins to roy- 

 alty. "^° In this step he had the support of two of his colleagues, 

 Servan and Claviere.^^ The letter was dated June 10 and un- 

 doubtedly reflected the state of feeling of the majority of the 

 French people. 



Roland stated that the enthusiasm for the constitution was so 

 strong that the people were ready to die in its support ;^- he 

 assured the king that the effect of his attitude would be to en- 

 courage his enemies and arouse defiance ;^^ he showed that fer- 

 mentation was extreme throughout France and that the inflamed 

 minds might be aroused to commit terrible deeds ;" he added, 

 furthermore, that the revolution was sure to be accomplished and 

 that the king's action only caused suspicion and would result in 

 the overthrow of the throne ;^^ and concluded with the assurance 



^° Tertiaux, I, 119, 



" Madame Roland states (Memoires, I, 387) that all the ministers ap- 

 proved the idea of this letter to the king, but showed weakness when 

 it came time to act. There is no other evidence to show that Dumouriez, 

 Duranthon or Lacoste approved it. 



^^ " Les Franqais se sont donne une constitution ; elle a fait des mecon- 

 tens et des rebelles; la majorite de la nation la veut maintenir; elle a 

 jure de la defendre au prix de son sang. ... La declaration des droits est 

 devenue un evangile politique ; et la constitution f rangaise, une religion 

 pour laquelle le peuple est pret a perir. ... La revolution est faite dans les 

 esprits : elle s'achevera au prix du sang et sera cimentee par lui." Mon- 

 iteur, XII, 658. 



^* " Ces sentiments, qui tiennent a la nature du coeur humain, ont du entrer 

 dans le calcul des ennemis de la revolution. lis ont done compte sur une 

 faveur secrete, jusqu'a ce que les circonstances permissent une protection 

 declaree. Ces dispositions ne pouvaient echapper a la nation elle-meme, 

 et elles ont du la tenir en defiance." Moniteur, XII, 658. 



" " La fermentation est extreme dans toutes les parties de I'empire ; elle 

 eclatera d'une maniere terrible." Moniteur, XII, 658. 



" " Le salut de I'etat et le bonheur de Votre Majeste sont intimement lies ; 

 aucune puissance n'est capable de les separer; de cruelles angoisses et des 



217 



