command 1500 men at different posts in the city; but they refused to take any decided steps to suppress the riot, and even submitted to the greatest indignities in their own persons. It would seem that the events of Paris were continually before their eyes, and had completely paralysed all their energies. Towards morning, however, matters assumed a more serious aspect. The armed rioters began to patrol the streets, firing their pieces at random. Two battalions of troops now marched against the rioters, sometimes firing in the air, and sometimes at the people, so that a few lives were lost and many persons were wounded, especially in the Place du Sablon. Brussels wore the appearance, at this time, of a city taken by assault. Troops were marching up and down the streets, firing by sections; the houses were shut and their windows crowded with anxious faces; groups of half-clad wretches, armed with muskets, sabres, pikes, and clubs, were seen rushing out from the byelanes and corners; and all the sights and sounds, that met the eye or ear, indicated a scene of war and confusion. In this hour of licentiousness and consternation, some of the most respectable inhabitants repaired to the Hôtel de Ville, where the city authorities had been assembled the chief part of the night, and requested that they might be armed for their common protection, engaging, if the troops would leave the city, that they themselves would become responsible for the public tranquillity. The city magistrates lent a favorable ear to this proposal, and authorized them to supply themselves with arms from a public dépôt, which they did immediately. Unfortunately, the mob also went in pursuit of arms, and after resistance from the troops, procured them in common with the THE BURGHER GUARD. 21 better class of citizens. But as the military were withdrawn from the streets on the appearance of the armed citizens, the mob were induced to deliver up their arms, or to make sale of them in the course of the day, so that by noon the Burgher Guard had acquired the ascendancy throughout Brussels. Further to allay the public alarm, the Burgomaster and Echevins issued a proclamation, abolishing the mouture, exhorting the citizens to abstain from all additional disorders, inviting the military by no means to interfere, and recommending measures of defence and security in the different quarters of the city. Straggling parties continued to commit disorders, but were quickly dispersed, partly by force, and partly by persuasion of the respectable citizens. In the afternoon, the soldiers were concentrated in the Place du Palais between the Park and the King's Palace, which was equivalent to evacuating the city; and at the same time the old Brabançon tricolored flag, of black, yellow, and red, was displayed from the Hôtel de Ville. In fact, the whole population, as if by concert, assumed the Brabant cockade and scarf in lieu of the Orange colors, while the enrolment of the citizens in the various sections proceeded with so much enthusiam, that before night the Burgher Guard numbered 5000 men. Let us pause here a moment, and consider the complexion of events. The rioters of Wednesday night were to all appearance mere vulgar incendiaries, acting without any specific political aim, wreaking their resentment, it is true, upon public agents whom they detested, but not uttering a word of revolution or change of government. The garrison of the city being unable to reduce this unruly mob to order, the substantial burghers voluntarily armed themselves as a matter of necessity, and effected that which the troops were una ble to accomplish. The burghers took up arms to keep the peace, not to break it, — to maintain the public authorities, not to substitute new ones in their place. Such was the pretence, such is the received construction, of the transactions of Wednesday night and of Thursday; but it is difficult to credit these representations. It has been affirmed, even, that the rioters of Wednesday, ostensibly an extemporaneous rabble, were hired agents of the leading Belgian patriots, of the clergy, nobles, advocates, and journalists, who sought the separation of Belgium and Holland. Certain it is, that they looked on very patiently when the outrages of the night were committed; and particular incidents of the morning were exceedingly suspicious in their nature. Thus, in the popular narratives of the Revolution, the mode, in which the mob procured arms in spite of the opposition of the burghers, has altogether the aspect of concert.* And it seems rather singular that the burghers should rely so confidently on * Dés six heures du matin plusieurs bourgeois respectables étaient réunis auprés des magistrats à l'Hôtel-de-Ville, pour demander des armes et supplier de faire retirer la troupe, se faisant forts d'appaiser le peuple. Nommer ces citoyens zélés serait bien inutile; ils n'ont précédé la masse des habitans que de quelques heures, le devoir impérieux commandait, nul ne cherchait la gloire, mais nul ne craignait le danger. Leur demande fut accueillie comme elle devait l'être par nos magistrats, qui les dirigèrent vers le dépôt d'armes de la garde communale, ou ils trouvèrent la ligne en bataille dans la cour. Ils furent aussitôt armés, et les patrouilles de gardes bourgeouises spontanées parcoururent la ville; mais elles durent remonter vers la caserne pour s'opposer à un rassemblement de peuple qui demandait des armes ; ils le dispersèrent dans la cour; en peu d'instans, la foule grossit considérablement. Les troupes de ligne déclarèrent devoir defendre le dépôt qui leur était confidé. Alors ce faible rassemblement de bourgeois quitte les armes, et veut se présenter au peuple en tournant l'hôtel par THE BURGHER GUARD. 23 the willingness of the mob to sell their muskets, and thus suffer themselves to be disarmed. Then again the ready submission of the mob indicates, that they were under the influence of those, to whom they deferred so promptly. Withdraw the soldiers,' say the burghers, and give us arms, and we will answer for the populace;' and truly they appear to have had reason to suppose they might safely undertake for so much. If all this were not simply adroit management, it is a wonderful instance of a lucky succession of circumstances. However this may be, the magistrates and the burghers acted in the most harmonious temper of professed legality, while the Orange insignia were every where effaced or withdrawn, and the Brabant flag floated over the City Hall. The populace employed themselves very diligently in tearing down the royal arms wherever they appeared, as also in destroying the arcades, and other constructions prepared for the fêtes of the birth day; in all which they received no opposition from the magistrates or the Burgher Guard. And excepting some attempts to destroy machinery in the manufactories, the night of the 26th passed off tranquilly. The troops bivouacked on the Place Royale, where, by agreement with the citizens, they were to remain until special instructions could be had from the King. On the 27th the organization of the Burgher une autre issue, espérant mieux réussir en se mêlant a lui sans armes ; mais pendant le court espace du trajet, une fenêtre est brisée, la porte s'ouvre, plusieurs décharges sont faites et le sang coule; la foule envahit l'hôtel et se rend maîtresse des armes et des munitions. Heureusement les bourgeois entrèrent pêlemêle avec les hommes de la basse classe, et chacun s'arma à volonté; ce fut là qu'on put déplorer le mode d'organisation de la garde communale, et regretter que la population saine et raisonnable ne fût point armée d'av· Evénemens arrivés à Bruxelles, p. 10. vance. Guard was completed, by the general enrolment of the great body of the respectable inhabitants of the city. Some disturbances occurred in the course of the day, among the poorer class of workmen, who were actually suffering from want of necessary food, and continually cried out for Bread, or work!' Arrangements were accordingly made for supplying them with both bread and labor, large numbers of them being set to work upon some unfinished public improvements about the city, and cartes de pain, tickets for bread, being distributed among the necessitous. merous public measures were made known during the day, by proclamations issued under the hand of the Burgomaster, L. de Wellens, such as the appointment of Baron Emmanuel d'Hooghvorst to be Commandant of the Burgher Guard, and various provisions made for the succor of the poor and for the preservation of public order. Nu Commissioners were chosen on the 28th, consisting of MM. Joseph d'Hooghvorst, Gendebien, Comte Félix de Mérode, Frederic de Sécus and Palmaert, charged to proceed to the Hague, and lay the grievances of the Belgians before the King. For meanwhile the other principal cities of Belgium, especially in the Walloon provinces, had armed themselves in imitation of Brussels, although no pretence of existing or apprehended outrage could be alleged by them in justification of the step. On Thursday it was a riotous popular assemblage in Brussels: on Saturday it was a national insurrection throughout Belgium. But, in their address to the King, the Bruxellois used the language of respect and loyally, claiming the high merit of restoring and maintaining tranquillity, but reminding him that the public discontent was deep-rooted, that every where men denounced the administrative system of his Ministers for - |