Very  shortly,  a  special  commission  was  appointed  to
report  on  the  national  workshops,  and  the  director  was
the  only  man  able  to  give  the  commission  the  essential
information.  He  was,  however,  hardly  consulted,  and  the
report  was  drawn  up  without  his  knowledge.
At  length,  under  pressure  from  the  National  Assembly,
which,  he  declared,  worried  him  incessantly  about  the
national  workshops,  the  minister  announced  that  an  end
would  have  to  be  made  of  them,  and  that  violent  measures
would  be  taken  to  ensure  their  dissolution.  In  conse-
quence, a  letter  was  sent  to  the  director  desiring  him  to
carry  out  the  order,  couched  in  these  terms  :

"  MONSIEUR,

"  /  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  the  Commission  of  the
Executive  Authority  has  decided  to  adopt  the  following  measures,  as
regards  the  National  Workshops  :

"  1.  All  unmarried  workmen  between  the  ages  of  18  and  25  will  be
invited  to  enlist  under  the  banners  of  the  Republic,  so  as  to  complete
the  strength  of  the  different  regiments  of  the  army.  Those  who  refuse
will  be  immediately  struck  off  the  lists  of  the  national  workshops.
"  2.  A  census  of  the  workmen  of  Paris  will  be  taken  without
delay.  This  will  be  taken  concurrently  by  the  mayoralties  and  by


th


APPENDIX    II  351


;he  employees  of  the  central  bureau  of  the  national  workshops,  who
have  been  nominated  for  this  duty.
"  Workmen  unable  to  prove  continuous  residence  in  one  place
during  six  months,  previous  to  May  24th,  will  be  dismissed,  and
will  cease  to  receive  salaries  or  be  entitled  to  help.
