One of the detachments which had arrived that morning in the Champ-de-Mars, with a train of artillery, withdrew by the quays, in order that the appearance of an armed force might not irritate the people.

At twelve o'clock the crowd assembled round the "altar of the country" (_autel de la patrie_), not seeing the commissioners of the Jacobin club, who had promised to bring the petition to be signed, of their own accord chose four commissioners of their number to draw up one.

One of the commissioners took the pen, the citizens crowded round him, and he wrote as follows:-- "On the altar of the country, July 13th, in the year III.
Representatives of the people, your labours are drawing to a close.

A great crime has been committed; Louis flies, and has unworthily abandoned his post--the empire is on the verge of ruin--he has been arrested, and has been brought back to Paris, where the people demand that he be tried.

You declare he shall be king.