Accordingly, they back away from it up to the last hour, and strive to prevent it from biting them.

Petion himself visits Robespierre on the 7th of August, in order to represent to him the perils of an insurrection, and to allow the Assembly time enough to discuss the question of dethronement.

The same day Verginaud and Guadet propose to the King, through the medium of Thierry, his valet-de-chambre, that, until peace is assured, the government be carried on under a regency.

Petion, on the night of August 9-10, issues a pressing circular to the sections, urging them to remain tranquil.[2645] But it is too late.

Fifty days of excitement and alarm have worked up the aberrations of morbid imaginations into a delirium .-- On the second of August, a crowd of men and women rush to the bar of the Assembly, exclaiming, "Vengeance! Vengeance! our brethren are being poisoned!"[2646] The fact as ascertained is this: at Soissons, where the bread of the soldiery was prepared in a church, some fragments of broken glass were found in the oven, on the strength of which a rumor was started that 170 volunteers had died, and that 700 were lying in the hospital.