126 Laura B. Pfeiffer 



deputation that had been sent out by the assembly now returned 

 and reported that all was quiet at the Tuileries and that the king 

 had retired to his apartments and had there said that he felt no 

 fear in the midst of '* his people." At these words the tumult 

 broke out afresh and Becquey shouted that this was no time to 

 quarrel over words. When the tumult ceased a deputy reported 

 that the only violence committed at the chateau was the breaking 

 of some doors and locks. ^^^ 



Presently Petion and some municipal officers appeared at the 

 bar of the assembly and the tumult recommenced. Petion was 

 greeted with applause and menaces. His report was an attempt 

 to justify his conduct on this day. He spoke as follows : " Gentle- 

 men, I ask your indulgence because I have not had time to put my 

 ideas in order. There has been some anxiety because of the great 

 number of citizens who have gone into the apartments of the 

 king. The king, gentlemen, has had no anxiety, for he knows the 

 French people better. He well knows how his person has been 

 respected for the last three years. He knows that the magistrates 

 have labored without ceasing to assure the king the respect due 

 him under the constitution. The magistrates, gentlemen, have 

 done their duty, I dare say, with great zeal and I have been much 

 disturbed that some persons have seemed to doubt it for one 

 instant." Here he was interrupted by cries of, " And who still 

 doubt it !" There were murmurs and shouts of, " Call him to 

 order! call him to order !""^'' 



Then a member demanded that any one who was wanting in 

 respect to a petitioner or to a magistrate of the people who came 

 to give an account of his conduct, should be denounced. Boul- 

 lenger cried, in answer to this, that no one had yet denounced 

 those who were wanting in respect to the king and those who 

 were the authors of a plot and Ducos retorted that if Boullenger 



frangaisc, XXVII, 174) as having occurred in the apartments after the 

 king had retired from the crowd. 



^^^ Journal de I'assemblce natioiialc, XXI, 341; Journal dcs dcbats ct 

 decrefs, No. 268, p. 285. 



^^ This speech of Petion's is the same in the Moniteur, XII, 720, Journal 

 de I'assemblce nationale, XXI, 341, and Journal dcs debats et dccrets, No. 

 268, p. 285. 



