These subsidies, which had commenced with Mirabeau, now descended to the lowest dregs of the factions; they bribed the royalist press, and found their way into the hands of the orators and writers apparently most inveterate against the court; and many false manoeuvres, to which the people were urged, arose from no other source.

There was a ministry of corruption, over which perfidy presided.

Many obtained from this source, under pretence of aiding the court, the power of moderating or betraying the people; then fearing lest their treachery should be discovered, they hid it by a second betrayal, and turned against the king his own motions.

Danton was of this number.

Sometimes, through motives of charity or peace, the king gave a monthly sum to be distributed amongst the national guard, and the _quartiers_ in which insurrection was most to be apprehended.