In a few words, Danton dictated the purpose, Santerre the means, Marat the atrocious energy, Camilla Desmoulins the cynical gaiety of the projected movement, and all decided on the resolution of urging the people to this act.

A revolutionary map of Paris was laid on the table, and on it Danton traced the sources, the tributary streams, the course, and the meeting-place of these gatherings of the people.
The Place de la Bastille, an immense square into which opened, like the mouths of so many rivers, the numerous streets of the faubourg St.
Antoine, which joins, by the quartier de l'Arsenale and a bridge, the faubourg St.Marceau, and which, by the boulevard, opened before the ancient fortress, has a large opening to the centre of the city and the Tuileries, was the rendezvous assigned, and the place whence the columns were to depart.

They were to be divided into three bodies, and a petition to present to the king and the Assembly against the _veto_ to the decree against the priests and the camp of 20,000 men, was the ostensible purpose of the movement; the recall of the patriot ministers, Roland, Servan, and Claviere, the countersign; and the terror of the people, disseminated in Paris and the chateau of the Tuileries the effect of this day.

Paris expected this visit of the faubourgs, for five hundred persons had dined together the previous day on the Champs Elysees.
The chief of the _federes_ of Marseilles and the agitators of the central quarters had fraternised there with the Girondists.

The actor Dugazon had sung verses, denunciatory of the inhabitants of the Chateau; and at his window in the Tuileries the king had heard the applause and these menacing strains, that reached even to his palace.