Tlic Insurrection of October, 1789 43 



The regiment arrived on the 23d of September. 1 On the same 

 day, the king asked for a list of the officers of the riational guard 

 who had gone to meet it. And the next day he sent an auto- 

 graph letter expressing in flattering terms his gratification that 

 they had been so prompt to receive the new troops, and promising 

 not to forget the attachment and confidence thus shown to him. 2 

 An attempt was also made by the queen to conciliate the national 

 guards. On the 29th of September she sent for the lieutenant- 

 colonels to announce to them that she was having flags made to 

 present to each of their companies. 3 



Meanwhile Paris was in the greatest state of fermentation. 

 The districts met and sent deputations .to the commune to express 

 their uneasiness over the movement of troops about Paris, and to 

 ask if the national assembly was cognizant of these things. The 

 commune asked Bailly to write and demand information from the 

 ministers concerning the "regiment of Flanders and all other 

 troops that may have been called." The reply not being satis- 

 factory, the demand was repeated the following day. 4 



The most intense alarm was felt by the patriots who looked 

 upon the arrival of the regiment as a defiance and a menace. 5 

 "It was reported that already formidable armies were marching 

 on Paris and Versailles, that a cordon of troops was formed 

 around the two cities, and the nation was in danger." 6 "It was 

 not doubted that the regiment of Flanders was but the advance 

 guard of the enemy, that the body-guard, doubled and increas- 

 ing every day . . . was but the nucleus of the army which 

 was silently preparing to fall upon the patriots." 7 



The people of Paris, distracted by famine, suspicious of con- 

 spiracies, and seeing the ranks of their enemy increase day by 



l'avis donne par une lettre de M. de La Fayette. J'ajoutai que je lui repon- 

 dais ainsi de moi-meme le roi ne m'ayant pas autorise a. repondre a. une 

 question que Sa Majeste n'avait pu imaginer qu'on osat faire a. son ministre." 



1 Revue histonque, LXVIII, 286. h 



2 Pieces justificative s du rapport de la procedure du chdtelet, 36. 

 ZRevw Ivstorique, LXVIII, 286. 



i Ades de la commune de Paris, II, 37-39, 51-56. 



5 Revolutions de Paris, No. XII, 31. 



(i Deux amis de la liberty, Histoiie de la revolution de Fiance, III, 115. 



Ubid., Ill, 144. 



3°9 



