书城公版The Origins of Contemporary France
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第514章

[130] R?derer, "?uvres Complètes." VIII 477. "The club orators displayed France to the proletariat as a sure prey if they would seize hold of it."[131] This manifesto, was drafted for the Duke of Brunswick-Lunebourg, the general commanding the combined Prussian and Austrian forces, by the French émigré Marquis de Limon. It threatened the French and especially the Paris population with unspecified "rigors of war" should it have the temerity to resist or to harm the King and his family. It was signed in Koblenz, Germany on 25 August 1792 and published in royalist newspapers 3 days later in Paris.(SR).

[132] Moore's Journal," I. 303-309.

[133] "Archives Nationales," 474, 426. Section of Gravilliers, letter of Charles Chemin, commissary, to Santerre, and deposition of Ilingray, cavalryman of the national gendarmerie, Aug. 11.

[134] Beaumarchais, "?uvres complètes," letter of Aug. 12, 1792. --This very interesting letter shows how mobs are composed at this epoch. A small gang of regular brigands and thieves plot together some enterprise, to which is added a frightened, infatuated crowd, which may become ferocious, but which remains honest.

[135] The words of Hobbes applied by R?derer to the democracy of 1792:

"In democratia tot possent esse Nerones quot sunt oratores qui populo adulantur; simul et plures sunt in democratia, et quotidie novi suboriuntur."[136] Lucas de Montigny, "Mémoires de Mirabeau," II. 231 and following pages. -- The preface affixed by Manuel to his edition (of Mirabeau's letters) is a masterpiece of nonsense and impertinence. --Peltier, "Histoire du 10 Aout," II. 205. -- Manuel "came out of a little shop at Montargis and hawked about obscene tracts in the upper stories of Paris. He got hold of Mirabeau's letters in the drawers of the public department and sold them for 2,000 crowns." (testimony of Boquillon, juge-de~paix).

[137] Lafayette, "Mémoires," I. 467, 471. "The queen had 50,000crowns put into Danton's hands a short time before these terrible days." -- " The court had Danton under pay for two years, employing him as a spy on the Jacobins." -- " Correspondance de Mirabeau et du Comte de la Marck," III. 82. Letter from Mirabeau, March 10, 1791:

"Danton received yesterday 30,000 livres". -- Other testimony, Bertrand de Molleville, I. 354, II. 288. -- Brissot, IV. 193 -- .

Miot de Melito, "Mémoires," I. 40, 42. Miot was present at the conversations which took place between Danton, Legendre, etc., at the table of Desforges, Minister of Foreign Affairs. "Danton made no concealment of his love of pleasure and money, and laughed at all conscientious and delicate scruples." -- " Legendre could not say enough in praise of Danton in speaking of his talents as a public man;but he loudly censured his habits and cxpensive tastes, and never joined him in any of his odious speculations." -- The opposite thesis has been maintained by Robinet and Bougeart in their articles on Danton. The discussion would require too much space. The important points are as follows: