clangour; but does not
fire. Rascality from time to time urges some grenadier to level his
musket at the General; who looks on it as a bronze General would; and
always some corporal or other strikes it up.

In such remarkable attitude, standing on that staircase for two hours,
does brave Bouille, long a shadow, dawn on us visibly out of the
dimness, and become a person. For the rest, since Salm has not shot him
at the first instant, and since in himself there is no variableness, the
danger will diminish. The Mayor, 'a man infinitely respectable,'
with his Municipals and tricolor sashes, finally gains entrance;
remonstrates, perorates, promises; gets Salm persuaded home to its
barracks. Next day, our respectable Mayor lending the money, the
officers pay down the half of the demand in ready cash. With which
liquidation Salm pacifies itself, and for the present all is hushed up,
as much as may be. (Bouille, i. 140-5.)

Such scenes as this of Metz, or preparations and demonstrations
towards such, are universal over France: Dampmartin, with his knotted
forage-cords and piled chamois jackets, is at Strasburg in the
South-East; in these same days or rather nights, Royal Champagne is
'shouting Vive la Nation, au diable les Aristocrates, with some thirty
lit candles,' at Hesdin, on the far North-West. "The garrison of
Bitche," Deputy Rewbell is sorry to state, "went out of the town, with
drums beating; deposed its officers; and then returned into the town,
sabre in hand." (Moniteur (in Hist. Parl. vii. 29).) Ought not a
National Assembly to occupy itself with these objects? Military France
is everywhere full of sour inflammatory humour, which exhales itself
fuliginously, this way or that: a whole continent of smoking flax;
which, blown on here or there by any angry wind, might so easily start
into a blaze, into a continent of fire!

Constitutional Patriotism is in deep natural alarm at these things. The
august Assembly sits diligently deliberating; dare nowise resolve, with
Mirabeau, on an instantaneous disbandment and extinction; finds that a
course of palliatives is easier. But at least and lowest, this grievance
of the Arrears shall be rectified. A plan, much noised of in those days,
under the name 'Decree of the Sixth of August,' has been devised for
that. Inspectors shall visit all armies; and, with certain elected
corporals and 'soldiers able to write,' verify what arrears and
peculations do lie due, and make them good.