Historical Epochs of the French Revolution | Page 3

so intractable that from this epoch may be dated the first attacks upon the royal authority. 24. Forty-eight of the nobles, with the Duke of Orleans at their head, unite with the tiers-etat (third estate, or commons). A considerable number of the clergy follow their example. 28. The King, from a desire of peace, requests the whole body of nobility and clergy to unite in one assembly with the commons; which is acceded to. 29. Great rejoicings in Paris on account of this union. July 11. The King in disgust dismisses Monsieur Necker. 12. The Prince de Lambesc appears at the Tuilleries with an armed party of soldiers. 13. The city of Paris flies to arms. The Bastille is attacked, and taken by the populace;
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14. Mons. de L'Aulnay, the governor, falls a victim to the fury of the assailants. Bertier, intendant of Paris; Foulon, secretary of state; and de Flesselle, prêvot des Marchands, (somewhat like mayor of Paris) are massacred. From, this period the maxim was adopted, "that insurrection was the most sacred of duties." 15. The King goes to the assembly to confer with it upon the disturbances of Paris. Many considerable persons fly the country. 16. The Marquis de la Fayette, and Monsieur Bailly, are nominated, one to command the national guards of Paris, the other to be mayor of Paris. 17. In hopes of quieting the alarming tumults, the King comes to Paris. Bailly harangues him freely at the Hotel de la Ville, (sic) and the King receives the three-coloured cockade. August 1. Massacre of the mayor of St. Dennis. 4. Abolition of tithes, and of all feudal rights and privileges. Louis is proclaimed the restorer of French liberty. 7. The King is obliged to recall Necker. 27. The liberty of the press is established. Sept. 15. The person of the King is decreed to be inviolable; and the crown of France hereditary and indivisible. 29. Decreed, that it be recommended that all church plate be brought to the mint. Oct. 1. The King is forced to accept and give the sanction of his approbation to the famous "Rights of Man." 5. The Marquis de la Fayette at the head of 30,000 Parisians marches to Versailles. 6. After murdering the King's guards under the windows of the Palace, they forcibly conduct both him and the Queen to Paris amidst the insults of the populace, and with great danger of their lives. 10. Tayllerang-Perigord, bishop of Autun, proposes that the nation should seize the property of the clergy. 12. Decreed, that the National Assembly be removed from Versailles to Paris. 15. The Duke of Orleans obtains leave to go to England. 19. The first sitting of the National Constituent Assembly at Paris. 21. The people of Paris hang a baker. The Jacobin Club commenced at this time; first known by the name of the "Club de la Propagande." The name of Jacobins was derived from the house where the club met, and which had belonged to the religious order of Jacobins. Nov. 22. The commune of Paris makes a patriotic gift of its silver buckles. A general patriotic contribution is first requested, and afterwards forced. Dec. 7. Decree upon the disturbances at Toulon. Another for dividing France into 83 departments, 83 tribunals, 544 civil tribunals, 548 districts, and 43,815 municipalities. 10. Vandernoot, and the disaffected in Brabant, write to the King and to the National Constituent Assembly; but their letter is returned. 25. Mons. de Favras, knight of St. Louis, arrested. 1790. January 1. The King is stripped of most of his royal prerogatives. 4. The assembly desires him to fix the amount of his civil list. 6. The castle of Kéralier burnt by plunderers. The three orders of the clergy, nobility, and commons, suppressed as distinct orders of the monarchy. 7. Decree for the form of a civic oath to be taken by the national guards. 13. Decreed that Paris shall form one department. Decree in favour of Jews; another to remove the prejudices which are attached to the families of criminals. Feb. 1. The King, after a long speech to the assembly, takes the civic oath, together with all the members. 19. De Favras executed. 20. Death of Joseph IId. emperor of Germany. March. Massacres and fires in Lower-Languedoc. 7. Grand review of the national guards in the Elysian fields. The scarcity of specie induces the necessity of issuing paper money called assignats. 8. Decreed, that the colonies form a part of the French empire. 11. Insurrection at Meaux. 12. The red-book (book of court-accounts) made publick.(sic) 14. Insurrection at the national theatre. 18. Sale of the property of the church decreed, by which the government is enabled to abolish the duty on salt. April. The Prince of Conti takes the civic oath in the