II. THE FETE OF THE FEDERATION

^MiGNET (1796-1884). Known in literature by his Histoire de la Révolution Française depuis ij8ç Jusqu'en 181 4 (frorn which this extract is taken), his Vie de Frankliji, and l'Histoire de Marie Stuart,]

A year after the destruction of the Bastille the Parisians invited the whole of France to come to the Champ de Mars, and on the Autel de la Patrie svvear fidelity to the new Constitution passed by the Assemblée Nationale. This was the Fête de la Fédération. It is one of the most interesting épisodes of the Révolution. It shows that the nation thought that everything was now on a solid foundation, and that nobody expected the frightful occurrences which were so soon to follow.

84. 10— le 14 juillet. The i4th of July, 1790. The Révolution may be

said to hâve begun on the 5th May, 1789, the day on which the States General met-, and to hâve ended on the 28th of October, 1795, when the Directory was established.

12 — Champ de Mars. A large cpen space on the south side of the Seine, in Paris, directly opposite the Trocadéro.

17— la commune. Probably the municipality of Paris.

,,— districts. Divisions of the Départements,

19— fédérés des départements. Those who had ' federated' theinselves throughout the country to resist the enemies of the Révolution. They were présent on this occasion as delegates.

18 -la garde parisienne. The 'militia' or 'volunteers of Paris.'

20 -The Bastille was a prison in Paris destroyéd by the mob on the i4th July, 1789. This is considered as the event of the Révolution, and for that reason the i4th of July is thegrèat/e/^ day of the Republic.