Atthefirstsessionthemembersofthenobilityandtheclergywerecovered，accordingtotheprerogativesoftheirclass，beforetheking。ThoseoftheThirdEstatewishedtoimitatethem，buttheprivilegedmembersprotested。Onthefollowingdaymoreprotestsofwoundedself—lovewereheard。ThedeputiesoftheThirdEstateinvitedthoseofthenobilityandtheclergywhoweresittinginseparatehallstojointhemfortheverificationoftheirpowers。Thenoblesrefused。Thenegotiationslastedmorethanamonth。Finally，thedeputiesoftheThirdEstate，onthepropositionoftheAbbeSieyes，consideringthattheyrepresented95percent。ofthenation，declaredthemselvesconstitutedasaNationalAssembly。FromthatmomenttheRevolutionpursueditscourse。
　　3。TheConstituentAssembly。
　　Thepowerofapoliticalassemblyresides，aboveall，intheweaknessofitsadversaries。Astonishedbytheslightresistanceencountered，andcarriedawaybytheascendancyofahandfuloforators，theConstituentAssembly，fromitsearliestsessions，spokeandactedasasovereignbody。Notablyitarrogatedtoitselfthepowerofdecreeingimposts，aseriousencroachmentupontheprerogativesoftheroyalpower。
　　TheresistanceofLouisXVI。wasfeebleenough。HesimplyhadthehallinwhichtheStatesassembledclosed。Thedeputiesthenmetinthehallofthetennis—court，andtooktheoaththattheywouldnotseparateuntiltheConstitutionofthekingdomwasanestablishedfact。
　　Themajorityofthedeputiesoftheclergywentwiththem。ThekingrevokedthedecisionoftheAssembly，andorderedthedeputiestoretire。TheMarquisdeDreux—Breze，theGrandMasterofCeremonies，havinginvitedthemtoobeytheorderofthesovereign，thePresidentoftheAssemblydeclared``thatthenationassembledcannotreceiveorders，’’andMirabeaurepliedtotheenvoyofthesovereignthat，beingunitedbythewillofthepeople，theAssemblywouldonlywithdrawatthepointofthebayonet。Againthekinggaveway。
　　Onthe9thofJunethemeetingofdeputiestookthetitleoftheConstituentAssembly。Forthefirsttimeincenturiesthekingwasforcedtorecognisetheexistenceofanewpower，formerlyignored——thatofthepeople，representedbyitselectedrepresentatives。Theabsolutemonarchywasnomore。
　　Feelinghimselfmoreandmoreseriouslythreatened，LouisXVI。
　　summonedtoVersaillesanumberofregimentscomposedofforeignmercenaries。TheAssemblydemandedthewithdrawalofthetroops。
　　Thekingrefused，anddismissedNecker，replacinghimbytheMarshaldeBroglie，reputedtobeanextremelyauthoritativeperson。
　　ButtheAssemblyhadablesupporters。CamilleDesmoulinsandothersharanguedthecrowdinalldirections，callingittothedefenceofliberty。Theysoundedthetocsin，organisedamilitiaof12，000men，tookmusketsandcannonfromtheInvalides，andonthe14thofJulythearmedbandsmarchedupontheBastille。Thefortress，barelydefended，capitulatedinafewhours。Sevenprisonerswerefoundwithinit，ofwhomonewasanidiotandfourwereaccusedofforgery。
　　TheBastille，theprisonofmanyvictimsofarbitrarypower，symbolisedtheroyalpowertomanyminds；butthepeoplewhodemolishedithadnotsufferedbyit。Scarcelyanybutmembersofthenobilitywereimprisonedthere。
　　Theinfluenceexercisedbythetakingofthisfortresshascontinuedtoourdays。SerioushistorianslikeM。Rambaudassureusthat``thetakingoftheBastilleisaculminatingfactinthehistory，notofFranceonlybutofallEurope，andinauguratesanewepochinthehistoryoftheworld。’’
　　Suchcredulityisalittleexcessive。Theimportanceoftheeventlaysimplyinthepsychologicalfactthatforthefirsttimethepeoplereceivedanobviousproofoftheweaknessofanauthoritywhichhadlatelybeenformidable。
　　Whentheprincipleofauthorityisinjuredinthepublicminditdissolvesveryrapidly。Whatmightnotonedemandofakingwhocouldnotdefendhisprincipalfortressagainstpopularattacks？
　　Themasterregardedasall—powerfulhadceasedtobeso。
　　ThetakingoftheBastillewasthebeginningofoneofthosephenomenaofmentalcontagionwhichaboundinthehistoryoftheRevolution。Theforeignmercenarytroops，althoughtheycouldscarcelybeinterestedinthemovement，begantoshowsymptomsofmutiny。LouisXVI。wasreducedtoacceptingtheirdisbandment。
　　HerecalledNecker，wenttotheHoteldeVille，sanctionedbyhispresencetheaccomplishedfacts，andacceptedfromLaFayette，commandantoftheNationalGuard，thenewcockadeofred，white，andbluewhichalliedthecoloursofParistothoseoftheking。
　　AlthoughtheriotwhichendedinthetakingoftheBastillecanbynomeansberegardedas``aculminatingfactinhistory，’’itdoesmarktheprecisemomentofthecommencementofpopulargovernment。ThearmedpeoplethenceforthinterveneddailyinthedeliberationsoftherevolutionaryAssemblies，andseriouslyinfluencedtheirconduct。
　　ThisinterventionofthepeopleinconformitywiththedogmaofitssovereigntyhasprovokedtherespectfuladmirationofmanyhistoriansoftheRevolution。Evenasuperficialstudyofthepsychologyofcrowdswouldspeedilyhaveshownthemthatthemysticentitywhichtheycallthepeoplewasmerelytranslatingthewillofafewleaders。ItisnotcorrecttosaythatthepeopletooktheBastille，attackedtheTuileries，invadedtheConvention，&c。，butthatcertainleaders——generallybymeansoftheclubs——unitedarmedbandsofthepopulace，whichtheyledagainsttheBastille，theTuileries，&c。DuringtheRevolutionthesamecrowdsattackedordefendedthemostcontraryparties，accordingtotheleaderswhohappenedtobeattheirheads。Acrowdneverhasanyopinionbutthatofitsleaders。
　　Exampleconstitutingoneofthemostpotentformsofsuggestion，thetakingoftheBastillewasinevitablyfollowedbythedestructionofotherfortresses。ManychateauxwereregardedassomanylittleBastilles，andinordertoimitatetheParisianswhohaddestroyedtheirsthepeasantsbegantoburnthem。Theydidsowiththegreaterfurybecausetheseigneurialhomescontainedthetitlesoffeudaldues。ItwasaspeciesofJacquerie。
　　TheConstituentAssembly，soproudandhaughtytowardstheking，was，likealltherevolutionaryassemblieswhichfollowedit，extremelypusillanimousbeforethepeople。
　　HopingtoputanendtothedisordersofthenightofAugust4th，itvoted，onthepropositionofamemberofthenobility，theComtedeNoailles，theabolitionofseigneurialrights。Althoughthismeasuresuppressedatonestroketheprivilegesofthenobles，itwasvotedwithtearsandembracings。Suchaccessesofsentimentalenthusiasmarereadilyexplainedwhenwerecallhowcontagiousemotionisinacrowd，aboveallinanassemblyoppressedbyfear。
　　Iftherenunciationoftheirrightshadbeeneffectedbythenobilityafewyearsearlier，theRevolutionwoulddoubtlesshavebeenavoided，butitwasnowtoolate。Togivewayonlywhenoneisforcedtodosomerelyincreasesthedemandsofthosetowhomoneyields。Inpoliticsoneshouldalwayslookaheadandgivewaylongbeforeoneisforcedtodoso。
　　LouisXVI。hesitatedfortwomonthstoratifythedecisionsvotedbytheAssemblyonthenightofthe4thofAugust。HehadretiredtoVersailles。Theleaderssentthitherabandof7，000
　　or8，000menandwomenofthepeople，assuringthemthattheroyalresidencecontainedgreatstoresofbread。Therailingsofthepalacewereforced，someofthebodyguardwerekilled，andthekingandallhisfamilywereledbacktoParisinthemidstofashriekingcrowd，manyofwhomboreontheendsoftheirpikestheheadsofthesoldiersmassacred。Thedreadfuljourneylastedsixhours。Theseeventsconstitutedwhatareknownasthe``days’’ofOctober。
　　Thepopularpowerincreased，andinrealitytheking，likethewholeassembly，washenceforthinthehandsofthepeople——thatis，atthemercyoftheclubsandtheirleaders。Thispopularpowerwastoprevailfornearlytenyears，andtheRevolutionwastobealmostentirelyitswork。
　　Whileproclaimingthatthepeopleconstitutedtheonlysovereign，theAssemblywasgreatlyembarrassedbyriotswhichwentfarbeyonditstheoreticalexpectations。IthadsupposedthatorderwouldberestoredwhileitfabricatedaConstitutiondestinedtoassuretheeternalhappinessofmankind。
　　WeknowthatduringthewholedurationoftheRevolutiononeofthechiefoccupationsoftheassemblieswastomake，unmake，andremakeConstitutions。Thetheoristsattributedtothemthen，astheydoto—day，thepoweroftransformingsociety；theAssembly，therefore，couldnotneglectitstask。InthemeantimeitpublishedasolemnDeclarationoftheRightsofManwhichsummariseditsprinciples。
　　TheConstitution，proclamations，declarations，andspeecheshadnottheslightesteffectonthepopularmovements，noronthedissentientswhodailyincreasedinnumberintheheartoftheAssembly。Thelatterbecamemoreandmoresubjectedtotheascendancyoftheadvancedparty，whichwassupportedbytheclubs。Danton，CamilleDesmoulins，andlaterMaratandHebert，violentlyexcitedthepopulacebytheirharanguesandtheirjournals。TheAssemblywasrapidlygoingdowntheslopethatleadstoextremes。
　　Duringallthesedisordersthefinancesofthecountrywerenotimproving。Finallyconvincedthatphilanthropicspeecheswouldnotaltertheirlamentablecondition，andseeingthatbankruptcythreatened，theAssemblydecreed，onthe2ndofNovember，1789，theconfiscationofthegoodsoftheChurch。Theirrevenues，consistingofthetithescollectedfromthefaithful，amountedtosomeL8，000，000，andtheirvaluewasestimatedataboutL120，000，000。Theyweredividedamongsomehundredsofprelates，Courtabbes，&c。，whoownedaquarterofallFrance。
　　Thesegoods，henceforthentitledis``nationaldomains，’’formedtheguaranteeoftheassignats，thefirstissueofwhichwasfor400，000，000francs（L16，000，000sterling）。Thepublicacceptedthemattheoutset，buttheymultipliedsoundertheDirectoryandtheConvention，whichissued45，000，000，000francsinthisform（L1，800，000，000sterling），thatanassignatof100livreswasfinallyworthonlyafewhalfpence。
　　Stimulatedbyhisadvisers，thefeebleLouisattemptedinvaintostruggleagainstthedecreesoftheAssemblybyrefusingtosanctionthem。
　　UndertheinfluenceofthedailysuggestionsoftheleadersandthepowerofmentalcontagiontherevolutionarymovementwasspreadingeverywhereindependentlyoftheAssemblyandoftenevenagainstit。
　　Inthetownsandvillagesrevolutionarymunicipalitieswereinstituted，protectedbythelocalNationalGuards。Thoseofneighbouringtownscommencedtomakemutualarrangementstodefendthemselvesshouldneedarise。Thusfederationswereformed，whichweresoonrolledintoone；thissent14，000
　　NationalGuardstoParis，whoassembledontheChamp—de—Marsonthe14thofJuly，1790。TherethekingsworetomaintaintheConstitutiondecreedbytheNationalAssembly。
　　DespitethisvainoathitbecamemoreevidenteverydaythatnoagreementwaspossiblebetweenthehereditaryprinciplesofthemonarchyandthoseproclaimedbytheAssembly。
　　Feelinghimselfcompletelypowerless，thekingthoughtonlyofflight。ArrestedatVarennesandbroughtbackaprisonertoParis，hewasshutupintheTuileries。TheAssembly，althoughstillextremelyroyalist，suspendedhimfrompower，anddecidedtoassumethesolechargeofthegovernment。
　　NeverdidsovereignfindhimselfinapositionsodifficultasthatofLouisatthetimeofhisflight。ThegeniusofaRichelieuwouldhardlyhaveextricatedhim。Theonlyelementofdefenceonwhichhecouldhavereliedhadfromthebeginningabsolutelyfailedhim。
　　DuringthewholedurationoftheConstituentAssemblytheimmensemajorityofFrenchmenandoftheAssemblyremainedroyalist，sothathadthesovereignacceptedaliberalmonarchyhecouldperhapshaveremainedinpower。ItwouldseemthatLouishadlittletopromiseinordertocometoanagreementwiththeAssembly。
　　Little，perhaps，butwithhisstructureofmindthatlittlewasstrictlyimpossible。Alltheshadesofhisforbearswouldhaverisenupinfrontofhimhadheconsentedtomodifythemechanismofthemonarchyinheritedfromsomanyancestors。Andevenhadheattemptedtodoso，theoppositionofhisfamily，theclergy，thenobles，andtheCourtcouldneverhavebeensurmounted。Theancientcastesonwhichthemonarchyrested，thenobilityandtheclergy，werethenalmostaspowerfulasthemonarchhimself。
　　EverytimeitseemedasthoughhemightyieldtotheinjunctionsoftheAssemblyitwasbecausehewasconstrainedtodosobyforce，andtoattempttogaintime。HisappealstoalienPowersrepresentedtheresolutionofadesperatemanwhohadseenallhisnaturaldefencesfailhim。
　　He，andespeciallythequeen，entertainedthestrangestillusionsastothepossibleassistanceofAustria，forcenturiestherivalofFrance。IfAustriaindolentlyconsentedtocometohisaid，itwasonlyinthehopeofreceivingagreatreward。MercygavehimtounderstandthatthepaymentexpectedconsistedofAlsace，theAlps，andNavarre。
　　Theleadersoftheclubs，findingtheAssemblytooroyalist，sentthepeopleagainstit。Apetitionwassigned，invitingtheAssemblytoconvokeanewconstituentpowertoproceedtothetrialofLouisXVI。
　　Monarchicalinspiteofall，andfindingthattheRevolutionwasassumingacharacterfartoodemagogic，theAssemblyresolvedtodefenditselfagainsttheactionsofthepeople。AbattalionoftheNationalGuard，commandedbyLaFayette，wassenttotheChamp—de—Mars，wherethecrowdwasassembled，todisperseit。
　　Fiftyofthosepresentwerekilled。
　　TheAssemblydidnotlongpersistinitsfeebleresistance。
　　Extremelyfearfulofthepeople，itincreaseditsarrogancetowardstheking，deprivinghimeverydayofsomepartofhisprerogativesandauthority。Hewasnowscarcelymorethanamereofficialobligedtoexecutethewishesofothers。
　　TheAssemblyhadimaginedthatitwouldbeabletoexercisetheauthorityofwhichithaddeprivedtheking，butsuchataskwasinfinitelyaboveitsresources。Apowersodividedisalwaysweak。``Iknownothingmoreterrible，’’saidMirabeau，``thanthesovereignauthorityofsixhundredpersons。’’
　　HavingflattereditselfthatitcouldcombineinitselfallthepowersoftheState，andexercisethemasLouisXVI。haddone，theAssemblyverysoonexercisednonewhatever。
　　Asitsauthorityfailedanarchyincreased。Thepopularleaderscontinuallystirredupthepeople。Riotandinsurrectionbecamethesolepower。EverydaytheAssemblywasinvadedbyrowdyandimperiousdelegationswhichoperatedbymeansofthreatsanddemands。
　　Allthesepopularmovements，whichtheAssembly，underthestressoffear，invariablyobeyed，hadnothingspontaneousaboutthem。
　　Theysimplyrepresentedthemanifestationsofnewpowers——theclubsandtheCommune——whichhadbeensetupbesidetheAssembly。
　　ThemostpowerfuloftheseclubswastheJacobin，whichhadquicklycreatedmorethanfivehundredbranchesinthecountry，allofwhichwereundertheordersofthecentralbody。ItsinfluenceremainedpreponderantduringthewholedurationoftheRevolution。ItwasthemasteroftheAssembly，andthenofFrance，itsonlyrivaltheinsurrectionaryCommune，whosepowerwasexercisedonlyinParis。
　　TheweaknessofthenationalAssemblyandallitsfailureshadmadeitextremelyunpopular。Itbecameconsciousofthis，and，feelingthatitwaseverydaymorepowerless，decidedtohastenthecreationofthenewConstitutioninorderthatitmightdissolve。Itslastaction，whichwastactlessenough，wastodecreethatnomemberoftheConstituentAssemblyshouldbeelectedtotheLegislativeAssembly。Themembersofthelatterwerethusdeprivedoftheexperienceacquiredbytheirpredecessors。
　　TheConstitutionwascompletedonthe3rdofSeptember，1791，andacceptedonthe13thbytheking，towhomtheAssemblyhadrestoredhispowers。
　　ThisConstitutionorganisedarepresentativeGovernment，delegatingthelegislativepowertodeputieselectedbythepeople，andtheexecutivepowertotheking，whoserightofvetooverthedecreesoftheAssemblywasrecognised。Newdepartmentaldivisionsweresubstitutedfortheoldprovinces。
　　Theimpostswereabolished，andreplacedbydirectandindirecttaxes，whicharestillinforce。
　　TheAssembly，whichhadjustalteredtheterritorialdivisionsandoverthrownalltheoldsocialorganisation，thoughtitselfpowerfulenoughtotransformthereligiousorganisationofthecountryalso。Itclaimednotablythatthemembersoftheclergyshouldbeelectedbythepeople，andshouldbethuswithdrawnfromtheinfluenceoftheirsupremehead，thePope。
　　ThiscivilconstitutionoftheclergywastheoriginofreligiousstrugglesandpersecutionswhichlasteduntilthedaysoftheConsulate。Two—thirdsofthepriestsrefusedtheoathdemandedofthem。
　　DuringthethreeyearswhichrepresentedthelifeoftheConstituentAssemblytheRevolutionhadproducedconsiderableresults。TheprincipalresultwasperhapsthebeginningofthetransferencetotheThirdEstateoftherichesoftheprivilegedclasses。Inthiswaywhileinterestswerecreatedtobedefendedferventadherentswereraiseduptothenewregime。A
　　Revolutionsupportedbythegratificationofacquiredappetitesisboundtobepowerful。TheThirdEstate，whichhadsupplantedthenobles，andthepeasants，whohadboughtthenationaldomains，wouldreadilyunderstandthattherestorationoftheancienregimewoulddespoilthemofalltheiradvantages。
　　TheenergeticdefenceoftheRevolutionwasmerelythedefenceoftheirownfortunes。
　　Thisiswhywesee，duringpartoftheRevolution，nearlyhalfthedepartmentsvainlyrisingagainstthedespotismthatcrushedthem。TheRepublicanstriumphedoverallopposition。Theywereextremelypowerfulinthattheyhadtodefend，notonlyanewideal，butnewmaterialinterests。WeshallseethattheinfluenceofthesetwofactorslastedduringthewholeoftheRevolution，andcontributedpowerfullytotheestablishmentoftheEmpire。
　　CHAPTERII
　　THEPSYCHOLOGYOFTHELEGISLATIVEASSEMBLY
　　1。PoliticalEventsduringtheLifeoftheLegislativeAssembly。
　　BeforeexaminingthementalcharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssemblyletusbrieflysumuptheconsiderablepoliticaleventswhichmarkeditsshortyear’slife。Theynaturallyplayedanimportantpartinrespectofitspsychologicalmanifestations。
　　Extremelymonarchical，theLegislativeAssemblyhadnomoreideathanitspredecessorofdestroyingthemonarchy。Thekingappearedtoittobeslightlysuspect，butitstillhopedtobeabletoretainhimonthethrone。
　　Unhappilyforhim，Louiswasincessantlybeggingforinterventionfromabroad。ShutupintheTuileries，defendedonlybyhisSwissGuards，thetimidsovereignwasdriftingamongcontraryinfluences。Hesubsidisedjournalsintendedtomodifypublicopinion，buttheobscure``penny—a—liners’’whoeditedthemknewnothingofactingonthemindofthecrowd。TheironlymeansofpersuasionwastomenacewiththegallowsallthepartisansoftheRevolution，andtopredicttheinvasionofFrancebyanarmywhichwouldrescuetheking。
　　RoyaltynolongercountedonanythingbuttheforeignCourts。Thenobleswereemigrating。Prussia，Austria，andRussiawerethreateningFrancewithawarofinvasion。TheCourtfavouredtheirlead。TothecoalitionofthethreekingsagainstFrancetheJacobinClubproposedtoopposealeagueofpeoples。
　　TheGirondistswerethen，withtheJacobins，attheheadoftherevolutionarymovement。Theyincitedthemassestoarmthemselves——600，000volunteerswereequipped。TheCourtacceptedaGirondistminister。Dominatedbyhim，LouisXVI。wasobligedtoproposetotheAssemblyawaragainstAustria。Itwasimmediatelyagreedto。
　　Indeclaringwarthekingwasnotsincere。ThequeenrevealedtheFrenchplansofcampaignandthesecretdeliberationsoftheCounciltotheAustrians。
　　Thebeginningsofthestruggleweredisastrous。Severalcolumnsoftroops，attackedbypanic，disbanded。Stimulatedbytheclubs，andpersuaded——justly，forthatmatter——thatthekingwasconspiringwiththeenemiesofFrance，thepopulationofthefaubourgsroseininsurrection。Itsleaders，theJacobins，andaboveallDanton，senttotheTuileriesonthe20thofJuneapetitionthreateningthekingwithrevocation。IttheninvadedtheTuileries，heapinginvectivesonthesovereign。
　　FatalityimpelledLouistowardhistragicdestiny。WhilethethreatsoftheJacobinsagainstroyaltyhadrousedmanyofthedepartmentstoindignation，itwaslearnedthataPrussianarmyhadarrivedonthefrontiersofLorraine。
　　Thehopeofthekingandqueenrespectingthehelptobeobtainedfromabroadwashighlychimerical。Marie—AntoinettesufferedfromanabsoluteillusionastothepsychologyoftheAustrianandtheFrenchpeoples。SeeingFranceterrorisedbyafewenergumens，shesupposedthatitwouldbeequallyeasytoterrifytheParisians，andbymeansofthreatstoleadthembackundertheking’sauthority。Inspiredbyher，FersenundertooktopublishthemanifestooftheDukeofBrunswick，threateningPariswith``totalsubversioniftheroyalfamilyweremolested。’’
　　Theeffectproducedwasdiametricallyoppositetothatintended。
　　Themanifestoarousedindignationagainstthemonarch，whowasregardedasanaccomplice，andincreasedhisunpopularity。Fromthatdayhewasmarkedforthescaffold。
　　CarriedawaybyDanton，thedelegatesofthesectionsinstalledthemselvesattheHoteldeVilleasaninsurrectionaryCommune，whicharrestedthecommandantoftheNationalGuard，whowasdevotedtotheking，soundedthetocsin，equippedtheNationalGuard，andonthe10thofAugusthurledthem，withthepopulace，againsttheTuileries。TheregimentscalledinbyLouisdisbandedthemselves。SoonnonewerelefttodefendhimbuthisSwissandafewgentlemen。Nearlyallwerekilled。Leftalone，thekingtookrefugewiththeAssembly。Thecrowdsdemandedhisdenouncement。TheLegislativeAssemblydecreedhissuspensionandleftafutureAssembly，theConvention，todecideuponhisfate。
　　2。MentalCharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssembly。
　　TheLegislativeAssembly，formedofnewmen，presentedquiteaspecialinterestfromthepsychologicalpointofview。
　　Fewassemblieshaveofferedinsuchadegreethecharacteristicsofthepoliticalcollectivity。
　　Itcomprisedsevenhundredandfiftydeputies，dividedintopureroyalists，constitutionalroyalists，republicans，Girondists，andMontagnards。Advocatesandmenoflettersformedthemajority。
　　Italsocontained，butinsmallernumbers，superiorofficers，priests，andaveryfewscientists。
　　ThephilosophicalconceptionsofthemembersofthisAssemblyseemrudimentaryenough。ManywereimbuedwithRousseau’sideaofareturntoastateofnature。Butall，liketheirpredecessors，weredominatedmoreespeciallybyrecollectionsofGreekandLatinantiquity。Cato，Brutus，Gracchus，Plutarch，MarcusAurelius，andPlato，continuallyevoked，furnishedtheimagesoftheirspeech。WhentheoratorwishedtoinsultLouisXVI。hecalledhimCaligula。
　　Inhopingtodestroytraditiontheywererevolutionaries，butinclaimingtoreturntoaremotepasttheyshowedthemselvesextremelyreactionary。
　　Fortherest，allthesetheorieshadverylittleinfluenceontheirconduct。Reasonwascontinuallyfiguringintheirspeeches，butneverintheiractions。Thesewerealwaysdominatedbythoseaffectiveandmysticelementswhosepotencywehavesooftendemonstrated。
　　ThepsychologicalcharacteristicsoftheLegislativeAssemblywerethoseoftheConstituentAssembly，butweregreatlyaccentuated。Theymaybesummedupinfourwords：
　　impressionability，mobility，timidity，andweakness。
　　Thismobilityandimpressionabilityarerevealedintheconstantvariabilityoftheirconduct。Onedaytheyexchangenoisyinvectiveandblows。Onthefollowingdayweseethem``throwingthemselvesintooneanother’sarmswithtorrentsoftears。’’
　　Theyeagerlyapplaudanaddressdemandingthepunishmentofthosewhohavepetitionedfortheking’sdethronement，andthesamedayaccordthehonoursofthesessiontoadelegationwhichhascometodemandhisdownfall。
　　ThepusillanimityandweaknessoftheAssemblyinthefaceofthreatswasextreme。Althoughroyalistitvotedthesuspensionoftheking，andonthedemandoftheCommunedeliveredhim，withhisfamily，tobeimprisonedintheTemple，Thankstoitsweakness，itwasasincapableastheConstituentAssemblyofexercisinganypower，andalloweditselftobedominatedbytheCommuneandtheclubs，whichweredirectedbysuchinfluentialleadersasHebert，Tallien，Rossignol，Marat，Robespierre，&c。
　　UntilThermidor，1794，theinsurrectionaryCommuneconstitutedthechiefpowerintheState，andbehavedpreciselyasifithadbeenchargedwiththegovernmentofParis。