t, to about eight thousand persons. It was the object of
this infernal scheme to destroy the greater part of these under one
general system of murder, not to be executed by the sudden and furious
impulse of an armed multitude, but with a certain degree of cold blood
and deliberate investigation. A force of armed banditti, Marsellois
partly, and partly chosen ruffians of the Fauxbourgs, proceeded to the
several prisons, into which they either forced their passage, or were
admitted by the jailers, most of whom had been apprised of what was to
take place, though some even of these steeled officials exerted
themselves to save those under their charge. A revolutionary tribunal
was formed from among the armed ruffians themselves, who examined the
registers of the prison, and summoned the captives individually to
undergo the form of a trial. If the judges, as was almost always the
case, declared for death, their doom, to prevent the efforts of men in
despair, was expressed in the words "Give the prisoner freedom." The
victim was then thrust out into the street, or yard; he was despatched
by men and women, who, with sleeves tucked up, arms dyed elbow-deep in
blood, hands holding axes, pikes, and sabres, were executioners of the
sentence; and, by the manner in which they did their office on the
living, and mangled the bodies of the dead, showed that they occupied
the post as much from pleasure as from love of hire. They often
exchanged places; the judges going out to take the executioners' duty,
the executioners, with reeking hands, sitting as judges in their turn.
Mailard, a ruffian alleged to have distinguished himself at the siege of
the Bastile, but better known by his exploits on the march to
Versailles, presided during these brief and sanguinary investigations.
His companions on the bench were persons of the same stamp. Yet there
were occasions when they showed some transient gleams of humanity, and
it is not unimportant to remark, that boldness had more influence on
them than any appeal to mercy or compassion. An avowed royalist was
occasionally dismissed uninjured, while the constitutionalists were sure
to be massacred. Another trait of a singular nature is, that two of the
ruffians who were appointed to guard one of these intended victims home
in safety, as if they were acquitted, insisted on seeing his meeting
with his family, seemed to share in the transports of the moment, and on
taking leave, shook the hand of their l