all sixty-six commissaries, who, on the
evening of the 29th, meet at the Eveche, and select nine from
their midst to form, under the presidency of Dobsen, a central and
revolutionary executive committee. These nine persons are entirely
unknown;[34135] all are obscure subordinates,[34136] mere puppets and
manikins; eight days later, on finishing their performance, when they
are no longer needed, they will be withdrawn behind the scenes. In the
mean time they pass for the mandatories of the popular sovereign, with
full power in all directions, because he has delegated his omnipotence
to them, and the sole power, because their investiture is the
most recent; under this sanction, they stalk around somewhat like
supernumeraries at the Opera, dressed in purple and gold, representing
a conclave of cardinals or the Diet of the Holy Empire. Never has the
political drama degenerated into such an impudent farce!--On the
31st, at half-past six in the morning, Dobsen and his bullies present
themselves at the council-general of the Commune, tender their
credentials, and make known to it its deposition. The Council, with
edifying complacency, accepts the fiat and leaves the department. With
no less grateful readiness Dobsen summons it back, and reinstates it
in all its functions, in the name of the people, and declares that
it merits the esteem of the country.[34137] At the same time another
demagogue, Varlet, performs the same ceremony with the Council of the
department, and both bodies, consecrated by a new baptism, join the
sixty-six commissaries to share the dictatorship.--What could be more
legitimate? The Convention would err in making any opposition:

"It was elected merely to condemn the tyrant and to frame a
constitution; the sovereign people has invested it with no other
power;[34138] accordingly, the other acts, its warrants of arrest, are
simply usurpations and despotism. Paris, moreover, represents France
better than it does, for Paris is "the extract of all the departments,
the mirror of opinion,"[34139] the advance-guard of patriotism.
"Remember the 10th of August;[34140] previous to that time, the opinions
in the Republic were divided; but, scarcely had you struck the decisive
blow when all subsided into silence. Have no fear of the departments;
with a little terror and a few instructions, we shall turn all minds in
our favor." Grumblers persist in demanding the convocation of primary
assemblies. "Was not the 10th of A