5321. MOBS, Revolutionary.—
For sometime
mobs of ten, twenty and thirty thousand
people collected daily, surrounded the Parliament
House [in Paris], huzzaed the members,
even entered the doors and examined into their
conduct, took the horses out of the carriages of
those who did well, and drew them home. The
government thought it prudent to prevent these,
drew some regiments into the neighborhood,
multiplied the guards, had the streets constantly
patrolled by strong parties, suspended privileged
places, forbade all clubs, &c. The mobs have
ceased; perhaps this may be partly owing to the
absence of parliament.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. ii, 258.
(P.
Aug. 1787)
See Bastile.
