n a state of revolt and frenzy, this is the task
that has fallen to it. Enrolling, provisioning, judging; devising,
deciding, doing, endeavouring to do: one wonders the human brain did not
give way under all this, and reel. But happily human brains have such
a talent of taking up simply what they can carry, and ignoring all the
rest; leaving all the rest, as if it were not there! Whereby somewhat is
verily shifted for; and much shifts for itself. This Improvised Commune
walks along, nothing doubting; promptly making front, without fear or
flurry, at what moment soever, to the wants of the moment. Were the
world on fire, one improvised tricolor Municipal has but one life to
lose. They are the elixir and chosen-men of Sansculottic Patriotism;
promoted to the forlorn-hope; unspeakable victory or a high gallows,
this is their meed. They sit there, in the Townhall, these astonishing
tricolor Municipals; in Council General; in Committee of Watchfulness
(de Surveillance, which will even become de Salut Public, of
Public Salvation), or what other Committees and Sub-committees are
needful;--managing infinite Correspondence; passing infinite Decrees:
one hears of a Decree being 'the ninety-eighth of the day.' Ready!
is the word. They carry loaded pistols in their pocket; also some
improvised luncheon by way of meal. Or indeed, by and by, traiteurs
contract for the supply of repasts, to be eaten on the spot,--too
lavishly, as it was afterwards grumbled. Thus they: girt in their
tricolor sashes; Municipal note-paper in the one hand, fire-arms
in other. They have their Agents out all over France; speaking in
townhouses, market-places, highways and byways; agitating, urging to
arm; all hearts tingling to hear. Great is the fire of Anti-Aristocrat
eloquence: nay some, as Bibliopolic Momoro, seem to hint afar off at
something which smells of Agrarian Law, and a surgery of the overswoln
dropsical strong-box itself;--whereat indeed the bold Bookseller runs
risk of being hanged, and Ex-Constituent Buzot has to smuggle him off.
(Memoires de Buzot (Paris, 1823), p. 88.)

Governing Persons, were they never so insignificant intrinsically, have
for most part plenty of Memoir-writers; and the curious, in after-times,
can learn minutely their goings out and comings in: which, as men always
love to know their fellow-men in singular situations, is a comfort, of
its kind. Not so, with these Governing Persons, now in the Townhall!
And yet what most