| Halting the royal family at
Varennes, 1789. From a contemporary print. The royal
family traveled in a great coach built for the purpose.
The roads were bad, and the traveling carriage was
heavy, but all went well until, at a point near
Varennes, the king put his head out of the window and
was recognized by the likeness of his features to the
profile stamped on the French coins. The man who thus
discovered the royal flight jumped on a horse, dashed
into Varennes and roused the citizens to stop the coach.
A messenger was dispatched to Paris, and shortly after,
under the escort of members of the National Assembly,
the royal family was compelled to return. |
