* This was a mysterious way of expressing that the royalists were still gaining ground.  It alluded to a custom which then prevailed, of people asking each other in the street, and sometimes even assailing the Deputies, with the question of “How much is eight and a half and eight and a half?”—­By which was understood Louis the Seventeenth.

“I have done every thing that depends on me to obtain your passports without success, and I still advise you to come to Paris and solicit them in person.  Your departure, in happier times, would be a subject of regret, at present I shall both envy and congratulate you when you are enabled to quit a country which promises so little security or satisfaction.

“We receive, at this moment, the two loaves.  My sister joins me in acknowledgments, and expresses her fears that you must suffer by your kindness, though it is truly acceptable—­for I have been several days under arms, and have had no time to make my usual excursions in search of bread.

“Yours, &c.”

The proposed dissolution of the Assembly alluded to in the beginning of
Mons. --------’s letter, occasioned here a more general rejoicing than
even the fall of the Jacobin club, and, not being influenced by the
motives suggested to the Parisians, we were sincerely disappointed when
we found the measure postponed.   The morning this news arrived, we walked
about the town till dinner, and in every street people were collected in
groupes, and engaged in eager discussion.   An acquaintance whom we
happened to meet, instead of the usual salutations, exclaimed “Nous
viola quittes, ils s’en vont les brigands” ["At length we are quit of
them—­the rogues are going about their business."]; and I observed several
recontres of this sort, where people skipped and caracoled, as though
unable to contain their satisfaction.   Nothing was talked of but Le
Petit [An endearing appellation given to the young King by those who
would not venture to mention his name.], and the new elections; and I
remarked with pleasure, that every one agreed in the total exclusion of
all the present Deputies.

Two mornings after we had been indulging in these agreeable visions, we learned that the Convention, purely from a patriotic desire of serving their country, had determined not to quit their post.  We were at this time in extreme want of bread, the distribution not exceeding a quarter of a pound per day; and numbers who are at their ease in other respects, could not obtain any.  This, operating perhaps with the latent ill humour occasioned by so unwelcome a declaration of perseverance on the part of their Representatives, occasioned a violent ferment among the people, and on the second of this month they were in open revolt; the magazine of corn for the use of the army was besieged, the national colours were insulted, and Blaux, a Deputy who is here on mission, was dragged from the Hotel de Ville, and obliged by the enraged populace to cry “Vive le Roi!” These disorders continued till the next day, but were at length appeased by a small distribution of flour from the magazine.