a
hauteur. Let the Forty-four thousand Sections and their Revolutionary
Committees stir every fibre of the Republic; and every Frenchman feel
that he is to do or die. They are the life-circulation of Jacobinism,
these Sections and Committees: Danton, through the organ of Barrere and
Salut Public, gets decreed, That there be in Paris, by law, two meetings
of Section weekly; also, that the Poorer Citizen be paid for attending,
and have his day's-wages of Forty Sous. (Moniteur, Seance du 5
Septembre, 1793.) This is the celebrated 'Law of the Forty Sous;'
fiercely stimulant to Sansculottism, to the life-circulation of
Jacobinism.

On the twenty-third of August, Committee of Public Salvation, as usual
through Barrere, had promulgated, in words not unworthy of remembering,
their Report, which is soon made into a Law, of Levy in Mass. 'All
France, and whatsoever it contains of men or resources, is put under
requisition,' says Barrere; really in Tyrtaean words, the best we know
of his. 'The Republic is one vast besieged city.' Two hundred and fifty
Forges shall, in these days, be set up in the Luxembourg Garden, and
round the outer wall of the Tuileries; to make gun-barrels; in sight
of Earth and Heaven! From all hamlets, towards their Departmental Town;
from all their Departmental Towns, towards the appointed Camp and seat
of war, the Sons of Freedom shall march; their banner is to bear: 'Le
Peuple Francais debout contres les Tyrans, The French People risen
against Tyrants.' 'The young men shall go to the battle; it is their
task to conquer: the married men shall forge arms, transport baggage
and artillery; provide subsistence: the women shall work at soldiers'
clothes, make tents; serve in the hospitals. The children shall scrape
old-linen into surgeon's-lint: the aged men shall have themselves
carried into public places; and there, by their words, excite the
courage of the young; preach hatred to Kings and unity to the Republic.'
(Debats, Seance du 23 Aout 1793.) Tyrtaean words, which tingle through
all French hearts.

In this humour, then, since no other serves, will France rush against
its enemies. Headlong, reckoning no cost or consequence; heeding no law
or rule but that supreme law, Salvation of the People! The weapons are
all the iron that is in France; the strength is that of all the men,
women and children that are in France. There, in their two hundred and
fifty shed-smithies, in Garden of Luxembourg or Tuileries,