Historical Epochs of the French Revolution | Page 3

Versailles. June 17. The chamber of the Tiers-Etat
(commons) declares itself a national assembly. 19. The Tiers-Etat takes
the famous oath, known by the "serment au Jeu de Paume," not to
separate until the constitution should be established. 23. The King goes
in person to the assembly--but his presence, far from intimidating the
members, renders them so intractable that from this epoch may be
dated the first attacks upon the royal authority. 24. Forty-eight of the
nobles, with the Duke of Orleans at their head, unite with the tiers-etat
(third estate, or commons). A considerable number of the clergy follow
their example. 28. The King, from a desire of peace, requests the whole
body of nobility and clergy to unite in one assembly with the commons;
which is acceded to. 29. Great rejoicings in Paris on account of this
union. July 11. The King in disgust dismisses Monsieur Necker. 12.
The Prince de Lambesc appears at the Tuilleries with an armed party of
soldiers. 13. The city of Paris flies to arms. The Bastille is attacked, and
taken by the populace;
[Illustration: BASTILLE.jpg]

14. Mons. de L'Aulnay, the governor, falls a victim to the fury of the
assailants. Bertier, intendant of Paris; Foulon, secretary of state; and de
Flesselle, prêvot des Marchands, (somewhat like mayor of Paris) are
massacred. From, this period the maxim was adopted, "that insurrection
was the most sacred of duties." 15. The King goes to the assembly to
confer with it upon the disturbances of Paris. Many considerable
persons fly the country. 16. The Marquis de la Fayette, and Monsieur
Bailly, are nominated, one to command the national guards of Paris, the
other to be mayor of Paris. 17. In hopes of quieting the alarming
tumults, the King comes to Paris. Bailly harangues him freely at the
Hotel de la Ville, (sic) and the King receives the three-coloured
cockade. August 1. Massacre of the mayor of St. Dennis. 4. Abolition
of tithes, and of all feudal rights and privileges. Louis is proclaimed the
restorer of French liberty. 7. The King is obliged to recall Necker. 27.
The liberty of the press is established. Sept. 15. The person of the King
is decreed to be inviolable; and the crown of France hereditary and
indivisible. 29. Decreed, that it be recommended that all church plate
be brought to the mint. Oct. 1. The King is forced to accept and give
the sanction of his approbation to the famous "Rights of Man." 5. The
Marquis de la Fayette at the head of 30,000 Parisians marches to
Versailles. 6. After murdering the King's guards under the windows of
the Palace, they forcibly conduct both him and the Queen to Paris
amidst the insults of the populace, and with great danger of their lives.
10. Tayllerang-Perigord, bishop of Autun, proposes that the nation
should seize the property of the clergy. 12. Decreed, that the National
Assembly be removed from Versailles to Paris. 15. The Duke of
Orleans obtains leave to go to England. 19. The first sitting of the
National Constituent Assembly at Paris. 21. The people of Paris hang a
baker. The Jacobin Club commenced at this time; first known by the
name of the "Club de la Propagande." The name of Jacobins was
derived from the house where the club met, and which had belonged to
the religious order of Jacobins. Nov. 22. The commune of Paris makes
a patriotic gift of its silver buckles. A general patriotic contribution is
first requested, and afterwards forced. Dec. 7. Decree upon the
disturbances at Toulon. Another for dividing France into 83
departments, 83 tribunals, 544 civil tribunals, 548 districts, and 43,815
municipalities. 10. Vandernoot, and the disaffected in Brabant, write to

the King and to the National Constituent Assembly; but their letter is
returned. 25. Mons. de Favras, knight of St. Louis, arrested. 1790.
January 1. The King is stripped of most of his royal prerogatives. 4.
The assembly desires him to fix the amount of his civil list. 6. The
castle of Kéralier burnt by plunderers. The three orders of the clergy,
nobility, and commons, suppressed as distinct orders of the monarchy.
7. Decree for the form of a civic oath to be taken by the national guards.
13. Decreed that Paris shall form one department. Decree in favour of
Jews; another to remove the prejudices which are attached to the
families of criminals. Feb. 1. The King, after a long speech to the
assembly, takes the civic oath, together with all the members. 19. De
Favras executed. 20. Death of Joseph IId. emperor of Germany. March.
Massacres and fires in Lower-Languedoc. 7. Grand review of the
national guards in the Elysian fields. The scarcity of specie induces the
necessity of issuing paper money called assignats. 8. Decreed, that the
colonies form