The French Revolution: A History

575 Pages·2001·2.6 MB·English

THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION
A HISTORY
by
THOMAS CARLYLE
A P S E C S P
ENN TATE LECTRONIC LASSICS ERIES UBLICATION
The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle is a publication of the Pennsylvania State
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The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle, the Pennsylvania State University, Elec-
tronic Classics Series, Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, Hazleton, PA 18201-1291 is a Portable Docu-
ment File produced as part of an ongoing student publication project to bring classical works
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Copyright © 2001 The Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University is an equal opportunity university.
Contents
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION: A HISTORY..........................................................................................................12
VOLUME I.—THE BASTILLE.................................................................................................................................12
BOOK 1.I. DEATH OF LOUIS XV. ...........................................................................................................................12
Chapter 1.1.I. Louis the Well-Beloved. ......................................................................................................................12
Chapter 1.1.II.Realised Ideals....................................................................................................................................14
Chapter 1.1.III. Viaticum.............................................................................................................................................20
Chapter 1.1.IV. Louis the Unforgotten. ......................................................................................................................22
BOOK 1.II. THE PAPER AGE...................................................................................................................................27
Chapter 1.2.I. Astraea Redux.....................................................................................................................................27
Chapter 1.2.II. Petition in Hieroglyphs.......................................................................................................................30
Chapter 1.2.III. Questionable.....................................................................................................................................32
Chapter 1.2.IV. Maurepas...........................................................................................................................................34
Chapter 1.2.V. Astraea Redux without Cash..............................................................................................................37
Chapter 1.2.VI. Windbags...........................................................................................................................................39
Chapter 1.2.VII. Contrat Social. .................................................................................................................................42
Chapter 1.2.VIII. Printed Paper..................................................................................................................................44
BOOK 1.III. THE PARLEMENT OF PARIS............................................................................................................47
Chapter 1.3.I. Dishonoured Bills. ...............................................................................................................................47
Chapter 1.3.II. Controller Calonne.............................................................................................................................50
Chapter 1.3.III. The Notables.....................................................................................................................................52
Chapter 1.3.IV. Lomenie’s Edicts. ..............................................................................................................................58
Chapter 1.3.V. Lomenie’s Thunderbolts.....................................................................................................................60
Chapter 1.3.VI. Lomenie’s Plots.................................................................................................................................63
Chapter 1.3.VII. Internecine.......................................................................................................................................66
Chapter 1.3.VIII. Lomenie’s Death-throes................................................................................................................69
Chapter 1.3.IX. Burial with Bonfire............................................................................................................................76
BOOK 1.IV. STATES-GENERAL..............................................................................................................................78
Chapter 1.4.I.The Notables Again..............................................................................................................................78
Chapter 1.4.II. The Election........................................................................................................................................82
Chapter 1.4.III. Grown Electric. .................................................................................................................................86
Chapter 1.4.IV. The Procession. .................................................................................................................................88
BOOK 1.V. THE THIRD ESTATE.............................................................................................................................99
Chapter 1.5.I. Inertia...................................................................................................................................................99
Chapter 1.5.II. Mercury de Breze. ...........................................................................................................................104
Chapter 1.5.III. Broglie the War-God. .....................................................................................................................109
Chapter 1.5.IV. To Arms!........................................................................................................................................... 113
Chapter 1.5.V. Give us Arms..................................................................................................................................... 116
Chapter 1.5.VI. Storm and Victory............................................................................................................................120
Chapter 1.5.VII. Not a Revolt. .................................................................................................................................125
Chapter 1.5.VIII. Conquering your King..................................................................................................................128
Chapter 1.5.IX. The Lanterne...................................................................................................................................130
BOOK VI. CONSOLIDATION................................................................................................................................134
Chapter 1.6.I. Make the Constitution. .....................................................................................................................134
Chapter 1.6.II. The Constituent Assembly...............................................................................................................138
Chapter 1.6.III. The General Overturn....................................................................................................................141
Chapter 1.6.IV. In Queue. .........................................................................................................................................146
Chapter 1.6.V. The Fourth Estate. ............................................................................................................................148
BOOK VII. THE INSURRECTION OF WOMEN ................................................................................................150
Chapter 1.7.I. Patrollotism. .......................................................................................................................................150
Chapter 1.7.II. O Richard, O my King. ....................................................................................................................153
Chapter 1.7.III. Black Cockades..............................................................................................................................156
Chapter 1.7.IV. The Menads.....................................................................................................................................157
Chapter 1.7.V. Usher Maillard..................................................................................................................................159
Chapter 1.7.VI. To Versailles....................................................................................................................................162
Chapter 1.7.VII. At Versailles...................................................................................................................................165
Chapter 1.7.VIII. The Equal Diet.............................................................................................................................167
Chapter 1.7.IX. Lafayette.........................................................................................................................................170
Chapter 1.7.X. The Grand Entries............................................................................................................................173
Chapter 1.7.XI. From Versailles. ..............................................................................................................................176
VOLUME II. THE CONSTITUTION .....................................................................................................................180
BOOK 2.I. THE FEAST OF PIKES.........................................................................................................................180
Chapter 2.1.I. In the Tuileries...................................................................................................................................180
Chapter 2.1.II. In the Salle de Manege....................................................................................................................183
Chapter 2.1.III. The Muster......................................................................................................................................190
Chapter 2.1.IV. Journalism........................................................................................................................................194
Chapter 2.1.V. Clubbism............................................................................................................................................197
Chapter 2.1.VI. Je le jure..........................................................................................................................................200
Chapter 2.1.VII. Prodigies. .......................................................................................................................................202
Chapter 2.1.VIII. Solemn League and Covenant.....................................................................................................204
Chapter 2.1.IX. Symbolic. .........................................................................................................................................207
Chapter 2.1.X. Mankind............................................................................................................................................208
Chapter 2.1.XI. As in the Age of Gold......................................................................................................................212
Chapter 2.1.XII. Sound and Smoke..........................................................................................................................216
BOOK 2.II. NANCI ..................................................................................................................................................220
Chapter 2.2.I. Bouille. ...............................................................................................................................................220
Chapter 2.2.II. Arrears and Aristocrats. ..................................................................................................................222
Chapter 2.2.III. Bouille at Metz. ..............................................................................................................................226
Chapter 2.2.IV. Arrears at Nanci..............................................................................................................................228
Chapter 2.2.V. Inspector Malseigne.......................................................................................................................231
Chapter 2.2.VI. Bouille at Nanci...............................................................................................................................233
BOOK 2.III. THE TUILERIES................................................................................................................................239
Chapter 2.3.I.Epimenides..........................................................................................................................................239
Chapter 2.3.II. The Wakeful.....................................................................................................................................242
Chapter 2.3.III. Sword in Hand.................................................................................................................................246
Chapter 2.3.IV. To fly or not to fly.............................................................................................................................249
Chapter 2.3.V. The Day of Poniards.........................................................................................................................254
Chapter 2.3.VI. Mirabeau.........................................................................................................................................259
Chapter 2.3.VII. Death of Mirabeau........................................................................................................................261
BOOK 2.IV. VARENNES .........................................................................................................................................266
Chapter 2.4.I. Easter at Saint-Cloud. .......................................................................................................................266
Chapter 2.4.II. Easter at Paris..................................................................................................................................269
Chapter 2.4.III. Count Fersen...................................................................................................................................271
Chapter 2.4.IV. Attitude. ...........................................................................................................................................275
Chapter 2.4.V. The New Berline. ..............................................................................................................................278
Chapter 2.4.VI. Old-Dragoon Drouet.......................................................................................................................280
Chapter 2.4.VII. The Night of Spurs. .......................................................................................................................282
Chapter 2.4.VIII. The Return...................................................................................................................................288
Chapter 2.4.IX. Sharp Shot. ......................................................................................................................................290
BOOK 2.V. PARLIAMENT FIRST .........................................................................................................................293
Chapter 2.5.I. Grande Acceptation...........................................................................................................................293
Chapter 2.5.II. The Book of the Law........................................................................................................................298
Chapter 2.5.III. Avignon............................................................................................................................................303
Chapter 2.5.IV. No Sugar...........................................................................................................................................307
Chapter 2.5.V. Kings and Emigrants.........................................................................................................................309
Chapter 2.5.VI. Brigands and Jales..........................................................................................................................316
Chapter 2.5.VII. Constitution will not march............................................................................................................318
Chapter 2.5.VIII. The Jacobins. ...............................................................................................................................321
Chapter 2.5.IX. Minister Roland..............................................................................................................................323
Chapter 2.5.X. Petion-National-Pique. .....................................................................................................................326
Chapter 2.5.XI. The Hereditary Representative.....................................................................................................327
Chapter 2.5.XII. Procession of the Black Breeches................................................................................................330
BOOK 2.VI. THE MARSEILLESE.........................................................................................................................333
Chapter 2.6.I. Executive that does not act...............................................................................................................333
Chapter 2.6.II. Let us march.....................................................................................................................................338
Chapter 2.6.III. Some Consolation to Mankind.......................................................................................................339
Chapter 2.6.IV. Subterranean. ..................................................................................................................................342
Chapter 2.6.V. At Dinner. ..........................................................................................................................................344
Chapter 2.6.VI. The Steeples at Midnight...............................................................................................................346
Chapter 2.6.VII. The Swiss.......................................................................................................................................352
Chapter 2.6.VIII. Constitution burst in Pieces.........................................................................................................356
VOLUME III. THE GUILLOTINE .........................................................................................................................359
BOOK 3.I. SEPTEMBER.........................................................................................................................................359
Chapter 3.1.I. The Improvised Commune. ...............................................................................................................359
Chapter 3.1.II. Danton. .............................................................................................................................................367
Chapter 3.1.III. Dumouriez. ......................................................................................................................................369
Chapter 3.1.IV. September in Paris. .........................................................................................................................372
Chapter 3.1.V. A Trilogy. ...........................................................................................................................................377
Chapter 3.1.VI. The Circular.....................................................................................................................................381
Chapter 3.1.VII. September in Argonne...................................................................................................................387
Chapter 3.1.VIII. Exeunt...........................................................................................................................................393
BOOK 3.II. REGICIDE............................................................................................................................................398
Chapter 3.2.I. The Deliberative................................................................................................................................398
Chapter 3.2.II. The Executive...................................................................................................................................404
Chapter 3.2.III. Discrowned......................................................................................................................................406
Chapter 3.2.IV. The Loser pays................................................................................................................................408
Chapter 3.2.V. Stretching of Formulas......................................................................................................................410
Chapter 3.2.VI.At the Bar. ........................................................................................................................................413
Chapter 3.2.VII. The Three Votings.........................................................................................................................418
Chapter 3.2.VIII. Place de la Revolution.................................................................................................................422
BOOK 3.III. THE GIRONDINS..............................................................................................................................426
Chapter 3.3.I. Cause and Effect................................................................................................................................426
Chapter 3.3.II. Culottic and Sansculottic..................................................................................................................430
Chapter 3.3.III. Growing shrill..................................................................................................................................433
Chapter 3.3.IV. Fatherland in Danger.......................................................................................................................436
Chapter 3.3.V. Sansculottism Accoutred. .................................................................................................................441
Chapter 3.3.VI. The Traitor.......................................................................................................................................443
Chapter 3.3.VII. In Fight...........................................................................................................................................446
Chapter 3.3.VIII. In Death-Grips.............................................................................................................................447
Chapter 3.3.IX. Extinct..............................................................................................................................................451
BOOK 3.IV. TERROR..............................................................................................................................................455
Chapter 3.4.I. Charlotte Corday. ..............................................................................................................................455
Chapter 3.4.II. In Civil War.......................................................................................................................................460
Chapter 3.4.III. Retreat of the Eleven. ....................................................................................................................462
Chapter 3.4.IV. O Nature. .........................................................................................................................................465
Chapter 3.4.V. Sword of Sharpness...........................................................................................................................469
Chapter 3.4.VI. Risen against Tyrants.....................................................................................................................471
Chapter 3.4.VII. Marie-Antoinette...........................................................................................................................473
Chapter 3.4.VIII. The Twenty-two............................................................................................................................475
BOOK 3.V. TERROR THE ORDER OF THE DAY...............................................................................................478
Chapter 3.5.I. Rushing down.....................................................................................................................................478
Chapter 3.5.II. Death. ...............................................................................................................................................481
Chapter 3.5.III. Destruction......................................................................................................................................485
Chapter 3.5.IV. Carmagnole complete......................................................................................................................490
Chapter 3.5.V. Like a Thunder-Cloud.......................................................................................................................494
Chapter 3.5.VI. Do thy Duty.....................................................................................................................................497