XXIV. 1830. about and returned to Raincy as fast as his horses could CHAP. carry him. Irresolute and timid, he had neither courage enough to seize the crown which was offered to him, nor virtue sufficient to refuse it. His life, for many years, had been passed in meditating on the crisis which had now arrived, and when it came he proved unequal to it. Temporisation was his entire policy-to escape danger, by flying from it, his great object. His system was, never to appear to court popularity, but to preserve such a demeanour as might compel others to seek him, not bring him forward as seeking them. He would gladly have declined the crown, if he had been sure of retaining his estates. The most powerful argument for accepting it was, that only by doing so could he save his property. Louis, The decisive moment did not appear to him to have 310, 311. yet arrived, and his old irresolution continued.1 1 Blanc, i. the Depu Peers. Meanwhile everything had been prepared at Paris by 19. his partisans for the expected arrival of the Duke, and Meetings of M. Lafitte had already spread the report that everything ties and was ready for his installation; that he was the man of the age, and could alone prevent the return of despotism, and put a bridle on the passions of democracy. A meeting of the deputies took place at the Hôtel Bourbon, at which he was chosen president by acclamation. M. Hyde de Neuville was alone seen on the benches reserved for the Royalists, so completely had terror mastered all minds, and banished the most resolute courage. The Peers, on their side, met in the Luxembourg, and their benches exhibited a fuller attendance. While the deputies were still assembled, news arrived that fifteen hundred troops from Rouen were marching on Paris, and had already reached the heights of Montmartre, which they had occupied with several pieces of cannon. Terror immediately seized every breast; and at this very moment M. de Sussy entered, bearing in his hand the last ordinances of Charles X., which recalled the former one that had excited so much animosity, and dismissed the Polignac 1830. CHAP. Ministry. The alarm of M. Lafitte was evident. If XXIV. read, they would have been hailed with acclamation, and at once destroyed the hopes of the Orléanists. Anxiety and irresolution were general, when the deputies sent to Neuilly returned with the account of their gracious reception by the princess. They then adopted the following resolution, which, with some difficulty, was adopted, and sent off to the Duke: "The deputies at present at Paris conceive that it is essential to pray his royal highness the Duke of Orléans to come immediately to Paris, to exercise the functions of lieutenant-general of the kingdom, and to express the universal wish that the tricolor flag should be resumed. They feel also the necessity of assuring France, without delay, in the approaching session of the 313, 314; Chambers, of the adoption of such measures as may afford Cap. ii. 118, 120. the guarantees essential for the full and entire execution of the charter."1 1 Louis Blanc, i. 20. the Cham Meanwhile, at the Luxembourg, more elevated sentiMeeting at ments were uttered by the few peers who in that crisis ber of Peers. Were worthy of their dignity. Chateaubriand arrived there surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd, and carried aloft by ardent youths, who expected to see in the intrepid defender of the freedom of the press the vehement assailant of the monarchy. They little knew the intrepidity and fidelity of his character. Seated apart from his colleagues, silent and contemplative, he seemed a prey to the melancholy thoughts which oppressed him. Suddenly he rose up, and said, in an animated voice, "Let us protest in favour of the ancient monarchy. If needs be, let us leave Paris; but wherever we may be driven, let us save the King, and surrender ourselves to the trust of a courageous fidelity. Let us reflect on the liberty of the press. If the question comes to be the salvation of legitimacy, give me a pen and two months; I will restore the throne."2 Vain illusion! In a few minutes the deputies of the bourgeois entered and demanded the crown for Louis Philippe, and few voices were raised among the Louis Blanc, i. 313, 314; Cap. ii. 122, 124. XXIV. peers of France in behalf of their ancient monarchs! In CHAP. a corrupted age, decay first appears in the most elevated stations if fidelity is to be looked for, it is among those who have not been exposed to their temptations. 1830. 21. the Repub Lointier's. But while the peers and deputies were in this manner disposing of the crown of France, a formidable opposition Reunion of was arising among the Republicans, and the chances of licans at success were almost equally balanced on both sides. A meeting of ardent Jacobins sat in permanence at the Restaurateur Lointier's in the Rue St Honoré, and they were prepared to adopt the most audacious resolutions. Knowledge, fortune, reputation, resources, all were awanting to them, but that was the very thing which constituted their strength. They had arms in their hands and courage in their hearts prepared for death, they were not less so for command. In vain Béranger and the Orléans agents strove to win them over to their side. They steadily resisted the seduction, and a ferocious debate ensued, in the course of which a pistol was discharged at an Orléanist orator, which wounded him in the cheek. At length the following address was agreed to, and sent by a deputation to the provisional government at the Hôtel de Ville: "The people yesterday have reconquered their rights at the price of their blood. The most precious of these rights is that of choosing their form of government. It is necessary to take care that no proclamation should be issued which designs the form even of the government Moniteur, which may be chosen. A provisional representation of 1830; Louis the nation exists; let it continue till the wishes of the 317, 318. majority of Frenchmen are known."1 1 Aug. 31, Blanc, i. 22. Hôtel de The deputies, after making their way through the crowd which filled the Place de Grève, were admitted to Scene at the General Lafayette. The veteran general, who was him- Ville. self undecided what course to pursue, received them with a long and studied harangue, in which he spoke, with the garrulous vanity of an old man, of America, the National Guard of 1789, and the part he had borne in the first XXIV. 1830. CHAP. Revolution. He was still descanting on his former services to the cause of freedom, when M. de Sussy was introduced with the new ordinances of Charles X., which had been refused admittance at the Chamber of Deputies. No sooner was their import disclosed by the veteran general, than a cry arose, "We are betrayed! What! new ministers named by Charles X.! No, no; we are done with the Bourbons." Such was their fury, that one of the Republicans, M. Bastide, flew at M. de Sussy, and tried to throw him out of the window. "What are you doing?" cried M. Trélat, holding him back-"a negotiator!" Trembling for the consequences, M. de Lafayette invited M. de Sussy to withdraw and go to the Municipal Council in the same edifice, which he accordingly did. A frightful tumult arose as he withdrew, and the last words which reached his ears were, Carry back your ordinances : we are done with Charles X." A proclamation was soon after read, amidst general applause, which had been proposed at the Municipal Council, and expressed in clear terms the wishes of the extreme Republican party.1 * 1 Louis Blanc, i. 319, 321; Cap. ii. 139, 144; Ann. Hist. 1830, 74, 79. 23. indecision But while these measures were adopted by the most Continued violent of their partisans, M. de Lafayette was still a at the Hôtel prey to anxiety and indecision, and he addressed a letter to M. de Mortemart, the courtesy and diplomatic ambiguity of which strangely contrasted with the precision and de Ville. "France is free: it will have a constitution. It awards to the provisional government only the right of consulting it. In the mean time, until its will is expressed, the following principles must be recognised : "No more royalty. "Government exercised solely by the representatives of the nation. "The concourse, mediate or immediate, of all the citizens in the election of deputies. "The liberty of worship: no national religion. "The forces by sea and land secured against arbitrary dismissal. "The establishment of national guards over all France, and the preservation of the constitution intrusted to their arms. "The principles for which we have shed our blood we are willing, if necessary, to support by legal insurrection."-LOUIS BLANC, vol. i. p. 322. XXIV. 1830. courage of the Republican Address. * Meanwhile, the CHAP. alarm having spread among the Republicans, deputations rapidly succeeded each other at the Hôtel de Ville, whose vehemence and audacity differed widely from the irresolution of the chief. Among the rest there arrived one from the scholars of the Ecole Polytechnique, who had distinguished themselves so much during the insurrection; and at their instigation a proclamation was prepared, to be addressed to a regiment stationed at La Fère. M. Mauguin began to write it, when he was interrupted by M. Odillon Barrot, who said, "Let them do it; they understand it better than you." When the proclamation was written, it was presented to General Lobau to sign, but he refused. "He will sign nothing," said M. Mauguin; "he has just refused to sign an order for the seizure of a depot of powder." "He recoils, then!" exclaimed one of the deputation. Nothing is so dangerous in revolution as those who recoil; I will have him shot." "Shot!" said M. Mauguin "shoot a member of the provisional government!" Sir," said the young man, leading him to the window, and pointing to a hundred men who had fought the preceding day at the Caserne de Babylone, Louis "there are men who, if ordered by me to shoot God 324; SarAlmighty, would do it!" M. Mauguin signed the pro- 127. clamation in silence.1 66 While the scales of fortune thus hung equally poised at the Hôtel de Ville, the able men who directed the "I have received the letter which you did me the honour to send me, with all the sentiments which your personal character has long inspired. M. de Sussy will give you an account of the visit which he has paid to me. I have fulfilled your intention in reading what you addressed to me to the persons by whom I was surrounded. I asked M. de Sussy to withdraw to the Municipal Council, then thinly attended, which was sitting in the Hôtel de Ville. He has seen M. Lafitte, who was there with several of his colleagues, and I will give to General Gérard the papers which you have intrusted to me, but the duties which retain me here render it impossible for me to wait on you. If you come to the Hôtel de Ville, I will have the honour of receiving you, but without advantage as to the object of this conversation, since your communications have been made to my colleagues."-LAFAYETTE to M. DE MORTEMART; LOUIS BLANC, vol. i. p. 323. 1 Blanc, i. rans, i, 124, |