Lambesc, who commanded a body of German cavalry, approached by the
Place of Louis Xv., which connects itself with some of the streets.
In his march, he insulted and struck an old man with a sword. The
French are remarkable for their respect to old age; and the insolence
with which it appeared to be done, uniting with the general
fermentation they were in, produced a powerful effect, and a cry of
"To arms! to arms!" spread itself in a moment over the city.

Arms they had none, nor scarcely anyone who knew the use of them; but
desperate resolution, when every hope is at stake, supplies, for a
while, the want of arms. Near where the Prince de Lambesc was drawn
up, were large piles of stones collected for building the new bridge,
and with these the people attacked the cavalry. A party of French
guards upon hearing the firing, rushed from their quarters and joined
the people; and night coming on, the cavalry retreated.

The streets of Paris, being narrow, are favourable for defence, and
the loftiness of the houses, consisting of many stories, from which
great annoyance might be given, secured them against nocturnal
enterprises; and the night was spent in providing themselves with
every sort of weapon they could make or procure: guns, swords,
blacksmiths' hammers, carpenters' axes, iron crows, pikes, halberts,
pitchforks, spits, clubs, etc., etc. The incredible numbers in which
they assembled the next morning, and the still more incredible
resolution they exhibited, embarrassed and astonished their enemies.
Little did the new ministry expect such a salute. Accustomed to
slavery themselves, they had no idea that liberty was capable of such
inspiration, or that a body of unarmed citizens would dare to face
the military force of thirty thousand men. Every moment of this day
was employed in collecting arms, concerting plans, and arranging