After this was
passed, the number of the people thickened, till about half a mile
further on, I met a troop of vagabonds, the wildest vagabonds in
the world - Paris vagabonds, well armed, having probably broken
into gunsmiths' shops and taken the guns and swords. They were
about a hundred. These were followed by about a thousand (I am
rather diminishing than exaggerating numbers all through),
indifferently armed with rusty sabres, sticks, etc. An uncountable
troop of gentlemen, workmen, shopkeepers' wives (Paris women dare
anything), ladies' maids, common women - in fact, a crowd of all
classes, though by far the greater number were of the better
dressed class - followed. Indeed, it was a splendid sight: the
mob in front chanting the "MARSEILLAISE," the national war hymn,
grave and powerful, sweetened by the night air - though night in
these splendid streets was turned into day, every window was filled
with lamps, dim torches were tossing in the crowd . . . for Guizot
has late this night given in his resignation, and this was an
improvised illumination.
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