rice of bread at eight sous the half-quartern;
butchers'-meat at six sous the pound;" which seem fair rates? Such
motion do 'a multitude of men and women,' irrepressible by Usher
Maillard, now make; does an august Assembly hear made. Usher Maillard
himself is not always perfectly measured in speech; but if rebuked,
he can justly excuse himself by the peculiarity of the circumstances.
(Moniteur (in Hist. Parl. ii. 105).)

But finally, this Decree well passed, and the disorder continuing; and
Members melting away, and no President Mounier returning,--what can the
Vice-President do but also melt away? The Assembly melts, under such
pressure, into deliquium; or, as it is officially called, adjourns.
Maillard is despatched to Paris, with the 'Decree concerning Grains'
in his pocket; he and some women, in carriages belonging to the King.
Thitherward slim Louison Chabray has already set forth, with that
'written answer,' which the Twelve She-deputies returned in to seek.
Slim sylph, she has set forth, through the black muddy country: she has
much to tell, her poor nerves so flurried; and travels, as indeed to-day
on this road all persons do, with extreme slowness. President Mounier
has not come, nor the Acceptance pure and simple; though six hours with
their events have come; though courier on courier reports that Lafayette
is coming. Coming, with war or with peace? It is time that the Chateau
also should determine on one thing or another; that the Chateau also
should show itself alive, if it would continue living!

Victorious, joyful after such delay, Mounier does arrive at last, and
the hard-earned Acceptance with him; which now, alas, is of small value.
Fancy Mounier's surprise to find his Senate, whom he hoped to charm by
the Acceptance pure and simple,--all gone; and in its stead a Senate of
Menads! For as Erasmus's Ape mimicked, say with wooden splint, Erasmus
shaving, so do these Amazons hold, in mock majesty, some confused
parody of National Assembly. They make motions; deliver speeches; pass
enactments; productive at least of loud laughter. All galleries and
benches are filled; a strong Dame of the Market is in Mounier's Chair.
Not without difficulty, Mounier, by aid of macers, and persuasive
speaking, makes his way to the Female-President: the Strong Dame before
abdicating signifies that, for one thing, she and indeed her whole
senate male and female (for what was one roasted warhorse among so
many?) are suffering v