has cast out the Embassy: England declares war,--being shocked
principally, it would seem, at the condition of the River Scheldt.
Spain declares war; being shocked principally at some other thing;
which doubtless the Manifesto indicates. (23d March, Annual Register, p.
161.) Nay we find it was not England that declared war first, or Spain
first; but that France herself declared war first on both of them; (1st
February; 7th March, Moniteur of these dates.)--a point of immense
Parliamentary and Journalistic interest in those days, but which has
become of no interest whatever in these. They all declare war. The sword
is drawn, the scabbard thrown away. It is even as Danton said, in one of
his all-too gigantic figures: "The coalised Kings threaten us; we hurl
at their feet, as gage of battle, the Head of a King."

BOOK 3.III.

THE GIRONDINS

Chapter 3.3.I.

Cause and Effect.

This huge Insurrectionary Movement, which we liken to a breaking out of
Tophet and the Abyss, has swept away Royalty, Aristocracy, and a King's
life. The question is, What will it next do; how will it henceforth
shape itself? Settle down into a reign of Law and Liberty; according
as the habits, persuasions and endeavours of the educated, monied,
respectable class prescribe? That is to say: the volcanic lava-flood,
bursting up in the manner described, will explode and flow according to
Girondin Formula and pre-established rule of Philosophy? If so, for our
Girondin friends it will be well.

Meanwhile were not the prophecy rather that as no external force, Royal
or other, now remains which could control this Movement, the Movement
will follow a course of its own; probably a very original one? Further,
that whatsoever man or men can best interpret the inward tendencies it
has, and give them voice and activity, will obtain the lead of it? For
the rest, that as a thing without order, a thing proceeding from beyond
and beneath the region of order, it must work and welter, not as a
Regularity but as a Chaos; destructive and self-destructive; always till
something that has order arise, strong enough to bind it into subjection
again? Which something, we may further conjecture, will not be a
Formula, with philosophical propositions and forensic eloquence; but a
Reality, probably with a sword in its hand!

As for the Girondin Formula, of a respectable Republic for the Middle
Classes, all manner of Aristocracies being now sufficiently demolished,