The ordinary night-guard of the Palace of the Assembly was composed of a

battalion of Infantry and of thirty artillerymen, with a captain. The

Minister of War, in addition, sent several troopers for orderly service.

Two mortars and six pieces of cannon, with their ammunition wagons, were

ranged in a little square courtyard situated on the right of the Cour

d'Honneur, and which was called the Cour des Canons. The Major, the

military commandant of the Palace, was placed under the immediate control

of the Questors.[2] At nightfall the gratings and the doors were secured,

sentinels were posted, instructions were issued to the sentries, and the

Palace was closed like a fortress. The password was the same as in the

Place de Paris.

The special instructions drawn up by the Questors prohibited the entrance

of any armed force other than the regiment on duty.

On the night of the 1st and 2d of December the Legislative Palace was

guarded by a battalion of the 42d.

The sitting of the 1st of December, which was exceedingly peaceable,

and had been devoted to a discussion on the municipal law, had finished

late, and was terminated by a Tribunal vote. At the moment when M.

Baze, one of the Questors, ascended the Tribune to deposit his vote, a

Representative, belonging to what was called "Les Bancs Elyséens"

approached him, and said in a low tone, "To-night you will be carried

off." Such warnings as these were received every day, and, as we have

already explained, people had ended by paying no heed to them.

Nevertheless, immediately after the sitting the Questors sent for the

The History of a Crime