A Residence in France During the Years 1792, 1793, 1794 and 1795, Part IV., 1795 - Described in a Series of Letters from an English Lady: with General - and Incidental Remarks on the French Character and Manners by An English Lady
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page 47 of 102 (46%)
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the cannoneers of their party.--It is singular, and does no honour
to the revolutionary school, or the people of Paris, that Madame Elizabeth, Malsherbes, Cecile Renaud, and thousands of others, should perish innocently, and that the only effort of this kind should be exerted in favour of a murderer who deserved even a worse death. The contest began, as usual, by an assemblage of females, who forced themselves into the national palace, and loudly clamoured for immediate supplies of bread. They then proceeded to reproach the Convention with having robbed them of their liberty, plundered the public treasure, and finally reduced the country to a state of famine.* * People.--_"Nous vous demandons ce que vous avez fait de nos tresors et de notre liberte?"_--"We want to know what you have done with our treasure and our liberty?" President.--_"Citoyens, vous etes dans le sein de la Convention Nationale."_--"Citizens, I must remind you that you are in the presence of the National Convention." People.--_"Du pain, du pain, Coquin--Qu'as tu fait de notre argent? Pas tant de belles phrases, mais du pain, du pain, il n'y a point ici de conspirateurs--nous demandons du pain parceque nous avons saim."_--"Bread, bread, rogue!--what have you done with our money?-- Fine speeches won't do--'tis bread we want.--There are no conspirators among us--we only ask for bread, because we are hungry." See Debates of the Convention. |
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