The Parisian troops demanding an entrance into the palace, were fired upon by a regiment of the king's body guard. The Parisians returned the fire; and the action becoming more general, the Count de Lusignan, commandant of a regiment of Flanders, ordered his troops to fire, but they refused, and laid down their arms. The king's body guard finding themselves overpowered, took to flight. The troops then forced the entrances of the castle, but were prevented from entering the palace by the prudent management and command of M. de la Fayette. It is thought that the king, queen, and royal family, would have fallen victims to the troops, had they entered the palace.
The Marquis was soon introduced to the king, with some of the magistrates of Paris, and communicated the desire of the city, that he might conduct his majesty and the royal family thither. On being assured of protection, the king complied with the request; and their majesties, with the dauphin, &c. the king's aunts, with their attendants, proceeded toward town in eighteen carriages, attended by M. de la Fayette, and about 5,000 guards.
The road from Versailles was so thronged by the mob, notwithstanding 50,000 Parisian troops had been sent to keep the way clear, that the royal family were eight hours in reaching the _Hotel de Ville_, though only twelve miles distance.
This tedious journey must have been rendered the more painful, by the thoughts of being led captives in triumph to the city of Paris, and the fear of what might follow.
The king, with the royal family, stayed near two hours at the _Hotel de Ville_, and were afterwards conducted to the old ruinous place of the _Thuilleries_, which had not been inhabited since the days of Lewis XIV. and where nothing was prepared for their reception.
The regiment of the king's body guards, both officers and privates, were composed of persons of the second order of nobility in France. About thirty of them were killed, and their heads carried in triumph to Paris, and shewn about the streets on tent poles. Eighty were carried prisoners to this city; but the rest saved themselves by flight. About fifty of the Parisian troops and mob were killed in the affray.
On the 7th, the avenues of the _Thuilleries_ were guarded by 1000 men, and the gates of the palace were secured by a train of cannon, to prevent any surprize or escape.