heir bridges
and mounted guard with their guns loaded.[2427] But it is only a
postponement. Now that the commissioners have gone, and the king's
authority a phantom, now that the last loyal regiment is disarmed,
the terrified Directory recast and obeying like a servant, with
the Legislative Assembly allowing everywhere the oppression of the
Constitutionalists by the Jacobins, a fresh Jacobin expedition may be
started against the Constitutionalists with impunity. Accordingly, on
the 23rd of March, 1792, the Marseilles army of 4,500 men sets out on
its march with nineteen pieces of cannon.

In vain the commissioners of the neighboring departments, sent by the
Minister, represent to them that Arles submits, that she has laid
down her arms, and that the town is now garrisoned with troops of the
line;--the Marseilles army requires the withdrawal of this garrison.--In
vain the garrison departs. Rebecqui and his acolytes reply that "nothing
will divert them from their enterprise; they cannot defer to anybody's
decision but their own in relation to any precaution tending to ensure
the safety of the southern departments."--In vain the Minister renews
his injunctions and counter-orders. The Directory replies with a
flagrant falsehood, stating that it is ignorant of the affair
and refuses to give the government any assistance.--In vain M. de
Wittgenstein, commander-in-chief in the south, offers his services to
the Directory to repel the invaders. The Directory forbids him to take
his troops into the territory of the department.[2428]--Meanwhile, on
the 29th of March, the Marseilles army effects a breach with its cannon
in the walls of defenseless Arles; its fortifications are demolished
and a tax of 1,400,000 francs is levied on the owners of property.
In contempt of the National Assembly's decree the Mint bandits, the
longshoremen, the whole of the lowest class again take up their arms and
lord it over the disarmed population. Although "the King's commissioner
and most of the judges have fled, jury examinations are instituted
against absentees," the juries consisting of the members of the Mint
band.[2429] The conquerors imprison, smite and slaughter as they please.
Countless peaceable individuals are struck down and mauled, dragged to
prison and many of them are mortally wounded. An old soldier, eighty
years of age, retired to his country home three months earlier, dies
after twenty days' confinement in a dungeon, from a blow rec