ugh France, as
through vast forests the rushing of a mighty wind. At Parish Churches,
in Townhalls, and every House of Convocation; by Bailliages, by
Seneschalsies, in whatsoever form men convene; there, with confusion
enough, are Primary Assemblies forming. To elect your Electors; such
is the form prescribed: then to draw up your 'Writ of Plaints and
Grievances (Cahier de plaintes et doleances),' of which latter there is
no lack.

With such virtue works this Royal January Edict; as it rolls rapidly,
in its leathern mails, along these frostbound highways, towards all the
four winds. Like some fiat, or magic spell-word;--which such things
do resemble! For always, as it sounds out 'at the market-cross,'
accompanied with trumpet-blast; presided by Bailli, Seneschal, or other
minor Functionary, with beef-eaters; or, in country churches is
droned forth after sermon, 'au prone des messes paroissales;' and is
registered, posted and let fly over all the world,--you behold how this
multitudinous French People, so long simmering and buzzing in eager
expectancy, begins heaping and shaping itself into organic groups. Which
organic groups, again, hold smaller organic grouplets: the inarticulate
buzzing becomes articulate speaking and acting. By Primary Assembly, and
then by Secondary; by 'successive elections,' and infinite elaboration
and scrutiny, according to prescribed process--shall the genuine
'Plaints and Grievances' be at length got to paper; shall the fit
National Representative be at length laid hold of.

How the whole People shakes itself, as if it had one life; and, in
thousand-voiced rumour, announces that it is awake, suddenly out of long
death-sleep, and will thenceforth sleep no more! The long looked-for has
come at last; wondrous news, of Victory, Deliverance, Enfranchisement,
sounds magical through every heart. To the proud strong man it has come;
whose strong hands shall no more be gyved; to whom boundless unconquered
continents lie disclosed. The weary day-drudge has heard of it; the
beggar with his crusts moistened in tears. What! To us also has hope
reached; down even to us? Hunger and hardship are not to be eternal?
The bread we extorted from the rugged glebe, and, with the toil of our
sinews, reaped and ground, and kneaded into loaves, was not wholly for
another, then; but we also shall eat of it, and be filled? Glorious news
(answer the prudent elders), but all-too unlikely!--Thus, at any rate,
may the low