The Counter Revolution of June-July 127 



might not be politically fit for the establishment of a bourgeois 

 mihtia."^" 



Gregoire said that those who delighted in abuses were respon- 

 sible for the movement of troops. " If the nation wishes to be 

 fettered, it has only to contemplate, without indignation, the 

 troops, the eternal enemies of France, insult the nation in order 

 to serve the king of the French against the French. The as- 

 sembly should take action at once and denounce the authors of 

 these detestable manoeuvres, abandon them to infamy and conse- 

 crate them to the curse of the present and future generations."^"^ 

 Mr. Gouy d'Arsy thought that enough time had been spent in de- 

 bate. As the subject was so important he proposed that the presi- 

 dent should order a roll-call so that a decision could be had that 

 day.^®^ Mirabeau then reread his motion. It was accepted by the 

 assembly with the exception of the part referring to the citizen 

 guard of Paris. This part was replaced by the amendment of 

 Biauzat.^^* 



What was the significance of this action? By establishing a 

 militia in Paris two things would result: (i) The order of the 

 city would be put in the hands of the middle class of citizens, a 

 thing which practically no one would oppose; (2) a military force 

 would be raised which would aid the assembly in the struggle 



s^^ Biauzat, Sa vie et sa correspondance, II, 165. 



292 Duquesnoy, Journal, II, 175; Assemhlee nationale, I, 424; Bulletins 

 de I'assemblee nationale, July 8 ; Point du jour, I, 144. 



593 Courrier de Provence, I, i8th letter, 17 ; Point du jour, I, 144. 



^^* Point du jour, I, 144; Duquesnoy, Journal, I, 176; Assemhlee na- 

 tionale, I, 425 ; Courrier de Provence, I, 18th letter, 17 ; Proces-verbal, I, 

 No. 18,- 3-. The Assemhlee nationale says there were four votes against 

 the measure, the Courrier de Provence says it passed almost unanimously 

 except the part referring to the citizen guard. Duquesnoy says : " II est 

 extremement remarquable que la noblesse frangaise s'est avilie hier d'une 

 maniere bien odieuse ; il n'est reste que tres peu de gentilhommes, la plu- 

 part d'entre eux n'ayant pas meme la portion de courage necessaire pour 

 improuver la motion ; le marquis de Saint-Simon est celui qui a dit le 

 premier non. II n'est reste guere plus de 100 personnes nobles pour 

 donner leur voix. On se doute bien que la minorite en etait et que tous 

 ceux qui la composaient ont dit oui"; Bulletins de I'assemblee nationale, 

 July 8, says it was passed by a vote of 668 against 20. 



409 



