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rid of it the Toulon Jacobins contrived an ambush worthy of the
Borgias and Oliverettos of the sixteenth century。＇104＇ On the 28th of
July； in the forenoon； Sylvestre； president of the club； distributed
among his trusty men in the suburbs and purlieus of the town an
enormous sack of red caps； while he posted his squads in convenient
places。 In the mean time the municipal body； his accomplices；
formally present themselves at the department bureau； and invite the
administrators to join them in fraternizing with the people。 The
administrators； suspecting nothing； accompany them； each arm in arm
with a municipal officer or delegate of the club。 They scarcely reach
the square when there rushes upon it from every avenue a troop of red…
caps lying in wait。 The syndic…attorney； the vice…president of the
department； and two other administrators； are seized； cut down and
hung； another； M。 Debaux； succeeding in making his escape； hides away；
scales the ramparts during the night； breaks his thigh and lies there
on the ground； he is discovered the next morning； a band； led by
Jassaud； a harbor…laborer； and by Lemaille； calling him self 〃the
town hangman；〃 come and raise him up； carry him away in a barrow； and
hang him at the first lamppost。 Other bands dispatch the public
prosecutor in the same fashion； a district administrator； and a
merchant； and then； spreading over the country； pillage and slay among
the country houses。 In vain has the commandant of the place； M。
Dumerbion； entreated the municipality to proclaim martial law。 Not
only does it refuse； but it enjoins him to order one…half of his
troops back to their barracks。 By way of an offset； it sets free a
number of soldiers condemned to the galleys； and all that are confined
for insubordination。 Henceforth every shadow of discipline
vanishes； and； in the following month； murders multiply。 M。 de
Possel； a navy administrator； is taken from his dwelling； and a rope
is passed around his neck； he is saved just in time by a bombardier；
the secretary of the club。 M。 Senis； caught in his country…house； is
hung on the Place du Vieux Palais。 Desidery； a captain in the navy；
the curé of La Valette； and M。 de Sacqui des Thourets； are beheaded in
the suburbs； and their beads are brought into town on the ends of
three poles。 M。 de Flotte d'Argenson； vice…admiral； a man of
Herculean stature； of such a grave aspect； and so austere that he is
nicknamed the 〃Père Eternel〃 is treacherously enticed to the entrance
of the Arsenal； where he sees the lantern already dropping； he seizes
a gun； defends himself； yields to numbers； and after having been
slashed with sabers； is hung。 M。 de Rochemaure； a major…general of
marines； is likewise sabred and hung in the same manner； a main artery
in the neck； severed by the blow of the saber； spouts blood from the
corpse and forms a pool on the pavement； Barry； one of the
executioners； washes his hands in it and sprinkles the by…standers as
if bestowing a blessing on them。 Barry； Lemaille； Jassaud；
Sylvestre； and other leading assassins； the new kings of Toulon；
sufficiently resemble those of Paris。 Add to these a certain Figon；
who gives audience in his garret； straightens out social inequalities；
forces the daughters of large farmers to marry poor republicans； and
rich young men to marry prostitutes；＇105＇ and； taking the lists
furnished by the club or neighboring municipalities； ransoming all the
well…to…do and opulent persons inscribed on them。 In order that the
portraiture of the band may be complete； it must be noted that； on the
23rd of August； it attempted to set free the 1800 convicts； the
latter； not comprehending that they were wanted for political allies；
did not dare sally forth； or； at least； the reliable portion of the
National Guard arrived in time to put their chains on again。 But here
its efforts cease； and for more than a year public authority remains
in the hands of a Jacobin faction which； as far as public order is
concerned； does not even have the morals of a convict。
More than once during the course of this long review the Minister must
have flushed with shame； for to the reprimands dispatched by him to
these apathetic administrations； they reply by citing himself as an
example：
〃You desire us to denounce the arbitrary arrests to the public
prosecutor； have you denounced those guilty of similar and yet greater
crimes committed at the capital？ 〃＇106＇ …
From all quarters come the cries of the oppressed appealing to 〃the
patriot Minister； the sworn enemy of anarchy；〃 to 〃the good and
incorruptible Minister of the Interior； his only reproach； the common
sense of his wife；〃 and he could only reply with empty phrases and
condolences：
〃To lament the events which so grievously distress the province； all
administrations being truly useful when they forestall evils； it being
very sad to be obliged to resort to such remedies； and recommend to
them a more active supervision。〃＇107＇
〃To lament and find consolation in the observations made in the
letter；〃 which announces four murders； but calls attention to the fact
that 〃the victims immolated are counter…revolutionaries。〃＇108＇
Roland has carried on written dialogues with the village
municipalities； and given lessons in constitutional law to communities
of pot…breakers。＇109＇ But； on this territory； he is defeated by
his own principles； while the pure Jacobins read him a lesson in turn；
they； likewise； are able to deduce the consequences of their own
creed。
〃Brother and Friend； Sir；〃 write those of Rouen； 〃not to be always at
the feet of the municipality； we have declared ourselves permanent；
deliberative sections of the Commune。〃＇110＇
Let the so…called constituted authorities； the formalists and pedants
of the Executive Council and the Minister of the Interior； look twice
before censuring the exercise of popular sovereignty。 This sovereign
raises his voice and drives his clerks back into their holes；
spoliation and murder； all this is just。
〃Can you have forgotten that； after the tempest； as you yourself
declared in the height of the storm； it is the nation which saves
itself？ Well； sir； this is what we have done。＇111＇ 。 。 What！ when
all France was resounding with that long expected proclamation of the
abolition of tyranny； you were willing that the traitors； who strove
to reestablish it； should escape public prosecution！ My God； what
century is this in which we find such Ministers！〃
Arbitrary taxes； penalties； confiscations； revolutionary expeditions；
nomadic garrisons； pillage； what fault can be found with all that？
〃We do not pretend that these are legal methods； but； drawing nearer
to nature； we demand what object the oppressed have in view in
invoking justice。 Is it to lag behind and vainly pursue an equitable
adjustment which is rendered fleeting by judicial forms？ Correct these
abuses or do not complain of the sover