The excitement was great in the palace, but still greater in the streets, being skilfully kept up by several insurrectionist leaders, and spontaneously arising among the reckless portion of the populace, who are easily influenced by revolutionary clamors.  Increased by those assembling from curiosity or idleness, the crowds in the squares and boulevards assumed alarming proportions.  All at once, opposite the Foreign Office, there was heard, about nine o’clock in the evening, one of those fatal explosions, whether accidental or premeditated, which history often records as the origin of great popular risings.

The soldiers, who till then had remained motionless and patient, thought they were attacked, and fired in their turn.  Several persons fell, some dead, others wounded, and some were knocked down and trodden under foot.  The greatest disorder, caused both by alarm and indignation, broke out in the whole neighborhood.  Then was the moment of action for the keen and determined insurgents.  A cart which happened to be there was immediately loaded with the corpses and drawn through the streets, from one newspaper office to another, in the most populous quarters, with shouts of “Vengeance!  To arms!  Down with Guizot!  The head of Guizot!” By daybreak Paris was covered with barricades.

Mole having failed in his efforts to form a Cabinet, the King sent for Thiers.  For the last time he claimed the devotion of his old ministers.  “I must have immediately a military chief—­an experienced chief,” he said.  “I have sent for Bugeaud, but I wish M. Thiers to find him appointed.  Will you grant me this further service?” Duchatel, and General Trezel, on the previous evening still Minister of War, signed without hesitation Marshal Bugeaud’s appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard and the Army.  It was three o’clock in the morning.  “It is somewhat late to set to work,” said the Marshal; “but I have never been beaten, and shall not make a beginning to-morrow.  Let me act, and fire the cannon; there will be some bloodshed, but to-morrow evening the strength will be on the side of law, and the factious will have had their account settled.”

The day had not yet dawned when the Marshal was reviewing his forces.  He found them demoralized, having for sixty hours remained motionless before the mob, with their feet in the mud, and their knapsacks on their backs, allowing the rioters to attack the Municipal Guard, burn the sentry-boxes, cut down the trees, break the street-lamps, and harangue the soldiers.  They were moreover badly supplied with provisions and ammunition.  The energetic language of their new commander, and the precise orders which he gave for the march of the columns, inspired the soldiers with fresh life and courage.  The movements indicated had already begun to be executed, and the troops were taking position; but the crowds again filled the streets, and at several points the soldiers were prevented from marching.  One of the generals at the head of a column sent to tell Bugeaud that he was face to face with an enormous body of men, badly armed, who made no attack upon him, but only shouted, “Long live reform!  Long live the army!  Down with Guizot!” “Order them to disperse,” replied the Marshal; “if they do not obey, use force, and act with resolution.”