Chapter 1.4.III: Grown Electric
Background
In April 1789, delegates are rushing to Versailles for the opening of the Estates-General, which must be delayed to May 4 in part because the King’s brother Artois is trying to get him to scrap the whole idea.
Partly out of irritation at the delay, a mob begins to form in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, a suburb of Paris near the Bastille. The object of their wrath is one Réveillon, the owner of a nearby wallpaper factory who had recently philosophized that a reduction of taxes might allow for a reduction in wages which would in turn reduce costs all around.
Not up to date on avant-garde economics, all the mob heard was “reduced wages”, to which they respond on April 28 by reducing Réveillon’s factory to ashes. After other measures have failed, the Swiss Guards step in and hammer the riot, leading to deaths numbering in the hundreds.
Well, that’s awkward, thinks quick-witted Louis. Anyway. Let’s do the Estates-General, hopefully that will...fix things.
Notes
Salle des Menus The Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs (“hall of minor diversions”) is the hall at Versailles where the Estates-General is held
a grand controversy which there was, as to “slouch-hats or slouched-hats,” for the Commons Deputies, has got as good as adjusted There was a lot of controversy over how the delegates from the Third Estate would dress, which had political implications
worthy Captain Dampmartin He will become a major military figure
as indeed at Réveillon’s too there was not the slightest stealing Not exactly true if you count the thousand-odd bottles of wine that they drank
twin Dioscuri Castor and Pollux
Défenseurs de la Patrie “Defenders of the fatherland”