h of grains.' Descend, O
mothers; descend, ye Judiths, to food and revenge!--All women gather
and go; crowds storm all stairs, force out all women: the female
Insurrectionary Force, according to Camille, resembles the English Naval
one; there is a universal 'Press of women.' Robust Dames of the Halle,
slim Mantua-makers, assiduous, risen with the dawn; ancient Virginity
tripping to matins; the Housemaid, with early broom; all must go. Rouse
ye, O women; the laggard men will not act; they say, we ourselves may
act!

And so, like snowbreak from the mountains, for every staircase is
a melted brook, it storms; tumultuous, wild-shrilling, towards the
Hotel-de-Ville. Tumultuous, with or without drum-music: for the Faubourg
Saint-Antoine also has tucked up its gown; and, with besom-staves,
fire-irons, and even rusty pistols (void of ammunition), is flowing on.
Sound of it flies, with a velocity of sound, to the outmost Barriers.
By seven o'clock, on this raw October morning, fifth of the month, the
Townhall will see wonders. Nay, as chance would have it, a male party
are already there; clustering tumultuously round some National Patrol,
and a Baker who has been seized with short weights. They are there; and
have even lowered the rope of the Lanterne. So that the official persons
have to smuggle forth the short-weighing Baker by back doors, and even
send 'to all the Districts' for more force.

Grand it was, says Camille, to see so many Judiths, from eight to ten
thousand of them in all, rushing out to search into the root of the
matter! Not unfrightful it must have been; ludicro-terrific, and most
unmanageable. At such hour the overwatched Three Hundred are not yet
stirring: none but some Clerks, a company of National Guards; and M. de
Gouvion, the Major-general. Gouvion has fought in America for the cause
of civil Liberty; a man of no inconsiderable heart, but deficient in
head. He is, for the moment, in his back apartment; assuaging Usher
Maillard, the Bastille-serjeant, who has come, as too many do, with
'representations.' The assuagement is still incomplete when our Judiths
arrive.

The National Guards form on the outer stairs, with levelled bayonets;
the ten thousand Judiths press up, resistless; with obtestations, with
outspread hands,--merely to speak to the Mayor. The rear forces them;
nay, from male hands in the rear, stones already fly: the National
Guards must do one of two things; sweep the Place de Greve with ca