tee of Salvation,
may be there; dull disapproval, dull approval, and acquiescence in
Necessity and Destiny, is the general temper. The Sons of Darkness, 'two
hundred or so,' risen from their lurking-places, have scope to do
their work. Urged on by fever-frenzy of Patriotism, and the madness of
Terror;--urged on by lucre, and the gold louis of wages? Nay, not lucre:
for the gold watches, rings, money of the Massacred, are punctually
brought to the Townhall, by Killers sans-indispensables, who higgle
afterwards for their twenty shillings of wages; and Sergent sticking an
uncommonly fine agate on his finger ('fully meaning to account for it'),
becomes Agate-Sergent. But the temper, as we say, is dull acquiescence.
Not till the Patriotic or Frenetic part of the work is finished for want
of material; and Sons of Darkness, bent clearly on lucre alone, begin
wrenching watches and purses, brooches from ladies' necks 'to equip
volunteers,' in daylight, on the streets,--does the temper from dull
grow vehement; does the Constable raise his truncheon, and striking
heartily (like a cattle-driver in earnest) beat the 'course of things'
back into its old regulated drove-roads. The Garde-Meuble itself was
surreptitiously plundered, on the 17th of the Month, to Roland's new
horror; who anew bestirs himself, and is, as Sieyes says, 'the veto of
scoundrels,' Roland veto des coquins. (Helen Maria Williams, iii. 27.)--

This is the September Massacre, otherwise called 'Severe Justice of the
People.' These are the Septemberers (Septembriseurs); a name of some
note and lucency,--but lucency of the Nether-fire sort; very different
from that of our Bastille Heroes, who shone, disputable by no Friend of
Freedom, as in heavenly light-radiance: to such phasis of the business
have we advanced since then! The numbers massacred are, in Historical
fantasy, 'between two and three thousand;' or indeed they are 'upwards
of six thousand,' for Peltier (in vision) saw them massacring the very
patients of the Bicetre Madhouse 'with grape-shot;' nay finally they
are 'twelve thousand' and odd hundreds,--not more than that. (See Hist.
Parl. xvii. 421, 422.) In Arithmetical ciphers, and Lists drawn up
by accurate Advocate Maton, the number, including two hundred and
two priests, three 'persons unknown,' and 'one thief killed at the
Bernardins,' is, as above hinted, a Thousand and Eighty-nine,--no less
than that.

A thousand and eighty-nine lie dead, 'two hundre