HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
564 
The different members of that Assembly, although informed of the dangers that 
threatened them, hastily collected in one of the halls of Justice which looked on 
the parade, in order the better to take their resolutions, according to the events 
which might take place before them. 
General Malartic, during the tumult, came into the hall where the Colonial 
Assembly was collected. The conspirators entered in arms, threatening the 
General and the Assembly with great fury, if it did not immediately dissolve itself. 
Citizen Journel was then president, who, by the bravery and steadiness he had 
shewn, in all the critical occasions in which the Assembly had found itself, had acquired 
the esteem of the whole colony. This moment of terror and threats brought with 
it new honour to him. His answer to the conspirators, who only waited for the 
signal to tear him to pieces, was as firm and courageous, as if he had presided at 
a moment of the greatest tranquillity. “ Citizens,” said he to them, u neither your 
threats, nor the sight of your bayonets, pointed against our breasts, will induce 
the Assembly to dissolve itself, if it does not believe it necessary for the tranquillity 
of the colony. It is your duty to withdraw, and leave it to examine at leisure, 
and with wisdom, the decision it may make in regard to your demands.” 
The cries of fury were redoubled at this answer. The conspirators then ad¬ 
dressed themselves to General Malartic, as the representative of the metropolis; 
and this respectable old man, thinking, by his condescension, to prevent greater 
mischiefs, pronounced the dissolution of the Colonial Assembly, which was suc¬ 
ceeded by his intercession to save the most distinguished members from being 
murdered, several of the wretches having rushed forwards, and obliged them to 
escape by the back doors. 
The consternation was general among all the respectable inhabitants of the 
town, who sought an instant refuge in the country, and availed themselves of the 
darkness of the night, to withdraw from the designs which the chief of the con¬ 
spirators had planned against them. Nay, to such an height did they carry their 
insolence, that they made General Malartic sign an order to imprison twelve 
different members of the Assembly. 
The town presented nothing but the aspect of a civil war. The Sans-culottes , 
supported by the creditors, who had likewise armed themselves, in order to dis¬ 
solve the Colonial Assembly, were masters of all the posts in town: cannon 
were pointed, and fires lighted on all sides, least the inhabitants in the country 
