rty was at an end in England, and I cannot persuade myself that
the emulator of Washington desires to imitate the conduct of the
Protector. We no longer have a constitution if a general can give us
laws." The allusion to Cromwell produced its effect. The letter,
instead of being published and copies sent to the eighty-three
departments, was merely referred to a committee.

Nevertheless, public opinion was aroused. A reactionary sentiment
against the Jacobins began to show itself. The King might have
profited by it, and found his account in relying upon Lafayette, the
army, and the National Guard. But Louis XVI. was in too much haste.
His resistance, like his concessions, was maladroit and inopportune.
Without having combined his means of defence, consulted with Lafayette,
or having any troops at his disposal, he vetoed the two famous decrees,
June 19, and thus threw himself headlong into the snare. The
Revolution, which had lain in wait for him, would not let its prey
escape. It gave Lafayette no time to arrive, but, without losing a
minute, organized an insurrection for the next day. The royal tree had
been so violently shaken, that it needed, or so they thought, but one
more shock to lay it low and root it out.

On June 16, a request had been presented to the Council-General of the
Commune, asking them to authorize the citizens of the Faubourg
Saint-Antoine {182} to assemble in arms on June 20, the anniversary of
the oath of the Jeu de Paume, and present a petition to the Assembly
and the King. The Council had passed to the order of the day, but the
petitioners declared that they would assemble notwithstanding. On the
19th, the Directory of the department, which on all occasions had shown
itself inimical to agitators, and which was presided over by the Duke
de La Rochefoucauld, issued an order forbidding all armed gatherings,
and enjoining the commandant-general and the mayor to take all
necessary measures for dispersing them. This order was communicated to
the National Assembly by the Minister of the Interior at the evening
session.

"It is important," said a deputy, "that the Assembly should know the
decrees of the administrative bodies when they tend to assure public
tranquillity. Nobody is ignorant that at this moment the people are
greatly agitated. Nobody is ignorant that to-morrow threatens to be a
day of violence." Vergniaud replied: "I do not know whether or not
to-morrow is to be a day of t