and Lebas order the rich classes of Strasburg to ‘strip off their shoes,’ and send them to the Armies where as many as ‘ten thousand pairs’ are needed.  Also, that within four and twenty hours, ‘a thousand beds’ are to be got ready; (Moniteur, du 27 Novembre 1793.) wrapt in matting, and sent under way.  For the time presses!—­Like swift bolts, issuing from the fuliginous Olympus of Salut Public rush these men, oftenest in pairs; scatter your thunder-orders over France; make France one enormous Revolutionary thunder-cloud.

Chapter 3.5.VI.

Do thy Duty.

Accordingly alongside of these bonfires of Church balustrades, and sounds of fusillading and noyading, there rise quite another sort of fires and sounds:  Smithy-fires and Proof-volleys for the manufacture of arms.

Cut off from Sweden and the world, the Republic must learn to make steel for itself; and, by aid of Chemists, she has learnt it.  Towns that knew only iron, now know steel:  from their new dungeons at Chantilly, Aristocrats may hear the rustle of our new steel furnace there.  Do not bells transmute themselves into cannon; iron stancheons into the white-weapon (arme blanche), by sword-cutlery?  The wheels of Langres scream, amid their sputtering fire halo; grinding mere swords.  The stithies of Charleville ring with gun-making.  What say we, Charleville?  Two hundred and fifty-eight Forges stand in the open spaces of Paris itself; a hundred and forty of them in the Esplanade of the Invalides, fifty-four in the Luxembourg Garden:  so many Forges stand; grim Smiths beating and forging at lock and barrel there.  The Clockmakers have come, requisitioned, to do the touch-holes, the hard-solder and filework.  Five great Barges swing at anchor on the Seine Stream, loud with boring; the great press-drills grating harsh thunder to the general ear and heart.  And deft Stock-makers do gouge and rasp; and all men bestir themselves, according to their cunning:—­in the language of hope, it is reckoned that a ‘thousand finished muskets can be delivered daily.’ (Choix des Rapports, xiii. 189.) Chemists of the Republic have taught us miracles of swift tanning; (Ibid. xv. 360.) the cordwainer bores and stitches;—­not of ‘wood and pasteboard,’ or he shall answer it to Tinville!  The women sew tents and coats, the children scrape surgeon’s-lint, the old men sit in the market-places; able men are on march; all men in requisition:  from Town to Town flutters, on the Heaven’s winds, this Banner, the French people risen against tyrants.