d Jacobinism, fast growing
fanatical, still work; their-day, were they once fanatical, will come.
Hitherto, in all tempests, Lafayette, like some divine Sea-ruler, raises
his serene head: the upper Aeolus's blasts fly back to their caves, like
foolish unbidden winds: the under sea-billows they had vexed into froth
allay themselves. But if, as we often write, the submarine Titanic
Fire-powers came into play, the Ocean bed from beneath being burst? If
they hurled Poseidon Lafayette and his Constitution out of Space; and,
in the Titanic melee, sea were mixed with sky?

Chapter 2.3.VI.

Mirabeau.

The spirit of France waxes ever more acrid, fever-sick: towards the
final outburst of dissolution and delirium. Suspicion rules all minds:
contending parties cannot now commingle; stand separated sheer asunder,
eying one another, in most aguish mood, of cold terror or hot rage.
Counter-Revolution, Days of Poniards, Castries Duels; Flight of
Mesdames, of Monsieur and Royalty! Journalism shrills ever louder its
cry of alarm. The sleepless Dionysius's Ear of the Forty-eight Sections,
how feverishly quick has it grown; convulsing with strange pangs the
whole sick Body, as in such sleeplessness and sickness, the ear will do!

Since Royalists get Poniards made to order, and a Sieur Motier is no
better than he should be, shall not Patriotism too, even of the indigent
sort, have Pikes, secondhand Firelocks, in readiness for the worst?
The anvils ring, during this March month, with hammering of Pikes. A
Constitutional Municipality promulgated its Placard, that no citizen
except the 'active or cash-citizen' was entitled to have arms; but there
rose, instantly responsive, such a tempest of astonishment from Club and
Section, that the Constitutional Placard, almost next morning, had
to cover itself up, and die away into inanity, in a second improved
edition. (Ordonnance du 17 Mars 1791 (Hist. Parl. ix. 257).) So the
hammering continues; as all that it betokens does.

Mark, again, how the extreme tip of the Left is mounting in favour,
if not in its own National Hall, yet with the Nation, especially with
Paris. For in such universal panic of doubt, the opinion that is sure of
itself, as the meagrest opinion may the soonest be, is the one to which
all men will rally. Great is Belief, were it never so meagre; and leads
captive the doubting heart! Incorruptible Robespierre has been elected
Public Accuser in our new Courts of Judicature; v