thin time, for Lepelletier was also
on march that way: the Cannon are ours. And now beset this post, and
beset that; rapid and firm: at Wicket of the Louvre, in Cul de Sac
Dauphin, in Rue Saint-Honore, from Pont Neuf all along the north Quays,
southward to Pont ci-devant Royal,--rank round the Sanctuary of the
Tuileries, a ring of steel discipline; let every gunner have his match
burning, and all men stand to their arms!

Thus there is Permanent-session through night; and thus at sunrise of
the morrow, there is seen sacred Insurrection once again: vessel of
State labouring on the bar; and tumultuous sea all round her, beating
generale, arming and sounding,--not ringing tocsin, for we have left
no tocsin but our own in the Pavilion of Unity. It is an imminence of
shipwreck, for the whole world to gaze at. Frightfully she labours, that
poor ship, within cable-length of port; huge peril for her. However, she
has a man at the helm. Insurgent messages, received, and not received;
messenger admitted blindfolded; counsel and counter-counsel: the poor
ship labours!--Vendemiaire 13th, year 4: curious enough, of all days, it
is the Fifth day of October, anniversary of that Menad-march, six years
ago; by sacred right of Insurrection we are got thus far.

Lepelletier has seized the Church of Saint-Roch; has seized the Pont
Neuf, our piquet there retreating without fire. Stray shots fall from
Lepelletier; rattle down on the very Tuileries staircase. On the other
hand, women advance dishevelled, shrieking, Peace; Lepelletier behind
them waving its hat in sign that we shall fraternise. Steady! The
Artillery Officer is steady as bronze; can be quick as lightning. He
sends eight hundred muskets with ball-cartridges to the Convention
itself; honourable Members shall act with these in case of extremity:
whereat they look grave enough. Four of the afternoon is struck.
(Moniteur, Seance du 5 Octobre 1795.) Lepelletier, making nothing by
messengers, by fraternity or hat-waving, bursts out, along the Southern
Quai Voltaire, along streets, and passages, treble-quick, in huge
veritable onslaught! Whereupon, thou bronze Artillery Officer--? "Fire!"
say the bronze lips. Roar and again roar, continual, volcano-like,
goes his great gun, in the Cul de Sac Dauphin against the Church of
Saint-Roch; go his great guns on the Pont Royal; go all his great
guns;--blow to air some two hundred men, mainly about the Church of
Saint-Roch! Lepelletier cannot s