Grand French Confederac
THURSDAY, 14th JULY, 1790.
SUCH a magnificent aflociation of Freemen,
emancipated from the lhackles of del'potifm
■within so short a space of time is hithe.-to -inpar
ralleled in the annals of hiitory. It is a pheno
menon 011 which surrounding empires look with
admiration. It is afnbje(ft that deserves the most
minute attention—and with no Iniall degree of
latisfaftion, we feel ourselves happy in being the
firft that announced with authenticity, tlieconclu
lion of the day, without any of those horrid con
sequences which were apprehended by many, and
•wiihed for by feme
Excepting theburllingof a cannon, and the fall
of a tree, by which one man loft his life, we have
not heard of any c:lier accident. The idea of
freedom w„s general, and as the ultimate end
was happinels, common lenfe and proper pru
dence directed e\ery man to keep the peace, and
rejoice in the event.
On the 11th inft. thi following PROCLAMATION
was iffiied.
" THE KING having been informed of the
ineafures taken, as well by the Mayor of Paris,
as by the Committee of the Municipality and t'e
derative Afl'embJy of the foid city, to regulate the
preparation for the ceremony which is to take
place on the 14th, and willing to prevent all dif-r
iiculties which might give rile to any troubles or
interruptions, has thought proper to myiifeft by
the present Proclamation, the order which i'eeui
eth best tofceobl'erveJ, as well forthe placingthe
Members of the Confederation, as for their inarch
to the place of the ceremony. So that no obfta
clc njay a rise to trouble the order of the day, or
to derogQte from its majesty.
'' The general rendcavous of the different
tQirpS, which might compose the confederation,
is appointed to be at the Boulevards da Temple,
at fix in the morning.
" They are to march and enter the Champs de
Mars in the order pointed out in the table an
nexed to this Proclamation, which has been ap
proved of by hi* Majesty.
" No troops but those on guard are to be arm
ed with guns. No carriages can be Suffered to
follow those of his Majelfy, the Royal Family,
and their train. If any Deputy of the Confeder
ation, or any perfou invited there, fliould be in a
slate to be unaole to go on foot to the Champs de
Mars, they ihall receive from the Mayor of Paris
a ticket, permitting them the use of a carriage,
and a Chevalier d'Ordonnance to escort them to
the military school.
'• M. de la Fayette, Commander General of
the Parisian National Guard, already charged by
a decree of the National Aflembly, and faiKftioK
ed by his Majesty, with the care of the public
tranquility, fliall fulfill under the King's orders
the functions of Major General of the Confeder
ation—~nd in that quality the orders he (hall gi*e
fhnll be observed as the orders of liig Majesty him
felf.
" The King has, in like manner, nominated
M. Gouvion, Major General of the Parisian Guard,
Lieutenant General of the Confederation for ihe
day of ceremony.
" When all perfpns are placed, the blefling
the flags and colors fliall be proceeded to, and the
celebration of niafs.
" The King empowers the said M. de la Fay
ette to pronounce the Confederation Oatli, in the
name of all the Deputies of the National Guards,
and those of the troops ari'l Marines, according
to the forms decreed by the National Aflembly,
and accepted by his Majesty; and all the Depu
ties if the Confederation shall hold up their hands.
" Then the President of the National Aflembly
ill" 11 pronounce the Civic Oath for tlie Members
of the National Assembly ; and the King shall in
like manner pronounce the Oath, the form of
which was dcrreed by the National Aflembly, and
accepted by his Majesty.
" The fc Dcuvi lhall be then sung, and con
clude the ceremony ; after which the procellion
lhall return from de Mars, in the fame
order it came.
Data at Pari , the iitb of July, 1790.
(Signed) LOUIS.
(And lower "own)
Par Le Roi, Guignard.
According to the notice which had been iilued
by the Marquis de la Fayette, the whole body ol
National Confederation met on the Boulevards
between the gates of St. Martin and Sr. Antoine'
at fix o'clock in the morning, in order to form a
procefiion from thence to the Champs de Mars.
At nine o'clock the procession being formed it
inarched along the Boulevards, down the Kue'st.
Denis, and through the streets Feroirnerie, St.
Honore, Royale, the Place ofXouis Quinze,' the
Courue la Heine, and the Qaai, as far as the bridge
ofboats, and being there met by other bodies
the whole procellion then entered the field in the
following order.
PARIS.
PROCESSION.
A troop of Horse, with a standard, and fix truni-
One division of the music, coml fling of fevera'
hundred initruments.
A company of grenadiers.
The Electors of the city of Paris.
A company of volunteers.
The Assembly of the Representatives of the'
Commons.
The Military Committee.
A company of Chi.lleurs.
A band of drums.
The Prefideuts of the dilVicfts.
The Deputies of the Commons appointed to take
for them the Federal Oath.
The Sixty Adminiltrators of the Municipality,
with the City Guards.
Second division of Music.
A battalion of children carrying a standard,
with the words.—
" The Hopes of the Nation."
A detachment of the Colours of the National
Gunrd of Paris.
A battalion ofVeterans.
The Deputies of the fiaiiy-two chkf Departments
of the Nation in alphabetical order.
The Gr'tf.amvie ; or Grand Standard of France,
borne by the
Marifchals of Prance.
General Officers.
Officers of the Staff.
Subaltern Officers.
Commiflioncrs of War.
Invalids.
Lieutenants of the Marifchals of r ranee.
Deputies of Infantry.
Deputies of Cavalry.
Deputies of Huflars, Dragoons, r-tid Chadeurs.
General Officers and Deputies of the Marine, ac
cording to rank.
The Deputies of the forty-one last Departments
in alphabetical order.
A company of volunteer ChafTeurs.
A company of Cavalry, with a standard and
two trumpets.
Each different department was preceded hy a
banner carried by the oldest officer of each de
partment, on which were written these words ;
on one fide « The National Confede ration of Pa
ris on the 1 4 th July, 1790/' and on the other
lide " The Constitution."
Being arrived on the Place de Louis XV. the
Standard bearers moved to the right and left, in
order to receive the National Aflembly between
two lines. It was then eleven o'clock.
The whole was not closed until mid
day, when there was a grand salute of 100 can
non.
The Field of Mars represented an immense cir
cle, round which were placed very large amphi
theatres, containing about 400,000 fpeCtators.
1 he proccllion entered the field under a tri
umph;'! arch, oppofire to the bridge of boats, on
which were painted the different infiguia of war.
The following inferiptions were conspicuously
eng-aved near the entrance.
[All th:fe inferiptiont were in French toetry, -which
vie omit for the fake of brevity, only infer tin? the
tranjlations inprofeA
" The power of the King confilh in the free
dom of his people. Che/ifli the liberty you have
now obtained, and by preserving its purity, make
yourselves worthy its continuance.
" The rights of man have been inveloped by
daiknefs for ages part—but humanity at lalt
found out the recedes of misery, opened the
door, and let in the light of jurtice. We are
now no longer in dread of that subaltern tyran
ny, which has so long opprefled us under its ma
ny hundred forms—ive are free.'*
On the fide of the bridge of boats, these other in
lcuptions were very conspicuously written:
" Under our prelent defender, the poor shall
t n a °„^ ng Xh r T f ° r the ' hfc 'y of ' his inheri
tance. The strength of the Great—the power of
the wealthy shall not tear it from him."
" Sacret ! to £ ' le S reac work of the Constitution
stance" 571? * hni<hin S f one - Each circuni
ltance u propitious to our happhiefs , every
thing flatters our wishes. May the gentle breath
of peace diifipate the storm of adversity, arid may
the mind glow with the ineffable delight of ac
knowledged Freedom. a
" Our country now, and its laws are the sole
authority that can call us to arms ; and wc will
die in its defence,for we only live t ' Q prefeTveit "
In the middle of the Field of Mars was eretfi
whe « thc
°Ti ep ft
caldefigns on the fubjettoftheday™Fourgfand
608
pets
paintings were Lung-one on er.di f, otl( . f .
The firlt, represented the Genius bf *
pointing to the word Ccnjlitution, Avith u
of Plenty, holding two com Utopias. ' tlUl
The second painting described s ome 0 f • '
glorious defceiuiants of Fi-ance,hlovTingrh et
pet of Fame, and bearing this infcripiio n • " ll " ,
" Hold in your remembrance these tiiree f
crecl words, which are the guarantee of v onr /'
crees ;-Tbe Nation the Law, and the KW
I lie Nation is yourselves—the L;iw is y our
for it is your will-anu the King is th, Guardian
or the law." 11
Tlie third painting reprefonced the National
Deputies taking the civic oath, and the fW f J
deicribed the aits and sciences. with the f,>n 1
ingverfes underneath. llow
" Men are equal : It is their virtue, and not
their birth which diitinguilhes them. The h
ought toforin the basis of every state—in j ls
fence all men are equal." "
Myrrh and frankincenfe were burnt in J ari r e
urns about the altar : The form ©fit was round
the cieling painted of sky bl.ie, and was orna'
mented with large chandeliers. At the end o t>
was placed the fwerd of jultice.
< At the bottom of the Field of Mars, opposite to
the triunphal arrh, was an amphitheatre allotted
for his Majelty, the Royal Family, the Foreign
Mm liters, the National Aflembly, the Municipal
ity of Paris, and other persons of diSinction.
_ While the ProceHion was advancing, theN*.
tional Parisian Guard antecedent to its arrival
pe: formed diiFerent evolutions, in order to di
vert the attention of the fpertators, and to bear
up their fpiriis against the heavy and inccfcnr
rains. Dances were likewifc performed.
At half part twelve the hte Marquis de la Fay
cttc, who had been nominated Major General "of
the Confederation, entered i,U;' field under sge
neral discharge of all the artillery, artoaipunitd
by t lie beating ol drums and other martial .mafic.
The company had no (boner taken their feat V"-'
than the King ontercd under a very large effort
of the National Guard. On his entrance lie was
met by the Major General, and conduced to his
I hrone. Jhe I'refident of the National Aflein
bly fat on his right hand. His Majesty was ve
ry magnificently drefiedin a fuitofgold and lil
ver J ilfue. the Queen, M. Provcnce, and the
Dauphin were fented near him.
The Proceilion did not finally close till half
palt three o'clock.
i he King being seated, there was another gc-__
neral clifcharge of artillery, and BtStlffg STuie
drums. The grand mass did not begin till to
wards four o'clock. Theßilhop of Metz officia
ted as High Aim oner, and was aliifted by 60 other
Priests, nominated by the 60 diftridls of Paris.
Previous to the commencement of this sacred
ceremony, the Grand Standard of France—
o riflatnme) and the banners belonging to each
district were carried to the .Jtar, and their re
ceived a benedidtion. This was followed by an
other general discharge of artillery, and the
found of martial music.
i he mass being over, the 60 banners belong
ing to the districts of Paris, vrere placed so as to
form a line between the altar and the amphithea
tre where the King was seated.
A long delay took place in the cxpe&ation tfcl3
the King would advance to the altar and there
take the Civic oath. But his Majelly remained
on the throne. M. de la Fayette then gave the
signal for the National Representatives to come
forward and take tH<? Ontli. He was the firft per
fou who ascended the Altar, and on the found of
tfoe trumpet, he took the Civic Oath, inthename
ofhimfelf and all tlie National Guards. The
Oath is longer than that formerly taken, and is
as follows :
" WE SWEAR to be faithful to the Nation -
the Law, and the King—to maintain with all our
power, the Conftituiion decreed by the.Aflembiy,
;nd accepted by the King—to p/otetf the indivi
dual, and preserve his property according to law
—to fee that there be a free circulation of grain,
throughout the kingdom—to enforce with all oui
power the collection of the public revennes —
toremain united toeveryFrenchman by the bands
of brotherly love."
The Prelident of the) National Afiembly, in the
■ name of the Municipal Bodies, afterwards pro
nounced the fame form of Oath as abeve.
The King then took the Oath, preferred tor
his acceptance, from the throne. . .
At the fame moment, all the fpe<ftators, with
uplifted hands repeated, I SWEAR IT—and 1111 •
mediately there was one general shout of < ,vc
la An'iou—la Lei—et le Rot ! . ,
This acclamation being fabftded —the lignal
that the ceremony was over, made by t ie
waving of one >f the banners, and at half pa
five o'clock, the company began to retire.
The principal company were invited to a sea -
at the Castle of la Murttre, whose tables were
spread under the trees in those gardens. At nig >-
there was a general illumination.
[The preceding Account was received by the New-¥ork, C -
Waifon } irom London.J