? Curate Gregoire, who indeed is now Constitutional Bishop
Gregoire, asserts, in the heat of eloquence, that Kingship by the very
nature of it is a crime capital; that Kings' Houses are as wild-beasts'
dens. (Moniteur, Seance du 21 Septembre, Annee 1er, 1792.) Lastly
consider this: that there is on record a Trial of Charles First! This
printed Trial of Charles First is sold and read every where at present:
(Moore's Journal, ii. 165.)--Quelle spectacle! Thus did the English
People judge their Tyrant, and become the first of Free Peoples: which
feat, by the grace of Destiny, may not France now rival? Scepticism
of terror, rage of miraculous victory, sublime spectacle to the
universe,--all things point one fatal way.

Such leading questions, and their endless incidental ones: of September
Anarchists and Departmental Guard; of Grain Riots, plaintiff Interior
Ministers; of Armies, Hassenfratz dilapidations; and what is to be
done with Louis,--beleaguer and embroil this Convention; which would
so gladly make the Constitution rather. All which questions too, as
we often urge of such things, are in growth; they grow in every French
head; and can be seen growing also, very curiously, in this mighty
welter of Parliamentary Debate, of Public Business which the Convention
has to do. A question emerges, so small at first; is put off, submerged;
but always re-emerges bigger than before. It is a curious, indeed an
indescribable sort of growth which such things have.

We perceive, however, both by its frequent re-emergence and by its rapid
enlargement of bulk, that this Question of King Louis will take the lead
of all the rest. And truly, in that case, it will take the lead in a
much deeper sense. For as Aaron's Rod swallowed all the other Serpents;
so will the Foremost Question, whichever may get foremost, absorb all
other questions and interests; and from it and the decision of it will
they all, so to speak, be born, or new-born, and have shape, physiognomy
and destiny corresponding. It was appointed of Fate that, in this
wide-weltering, strangely growing, monstrous stupendous imbroglio
of Convention Business, the grand First-Parent of all the questions,
controversies, measures and enterprises which were to be evolved there
to the world's astonishment, should be this Question of King Louis.

Chapter 3.2.IV.

The Loser pays.

The Sixth of November, 1792, was a great day for the Republic:
outwardly, over the Frontiers; inwardl