Causes of the French Revolution. Meeting of the States-General, May 1789. Predominant influence of the Third Estate. Formation of the National Assembly. Destruction of the Bastile. Sacrifices made by the privileged classes. Horrors of the civil war waged betwixt the rich and poor. Plan of the Democrats to bring the King and Assembly to Paris. Mob of women march to Versailles, and compel the King and Royal Family to return with them to Paris. La Fayette resolves to enforce order. A baker murdered by the rabble. Decree imposing martial law, in case of insurrection. General view of the operations of the Assembly. Enthusiasm of the people for their new privileges.
BEFORE we proceed to narrate the brilliant achievements of Napoleon, it is necessary, in the first place, briefly to review that great and hitherto unheard of course of events which prepared, carried on, and matured the FRENCH REVOLUTION: period of history the most important, perhaps, which the annals of mankind afford.
After the peace concluded at Versailles in 1783, the state of Europe in general was either pacific, or disturbed by troubles of no long duration. But it was in France that a thouand circumstances, some arising out of the general history of the world, some peculiar to that country herself, mingled like the ingredients of the witches' cauldron, to produce in succession many a formidable but passing apparition