XXIV. 1830. 24. poleonists. CHAP. affairs of the Orléanists, at Lafitte's, were improving the time to the uttermost in furthering the interests of their chief. Two young men, MM. Ladvocat and Dumoulin, Easy defeat thought at first of proclaiming the Empire; but Thiers of the Na and Mignet persuaded the first to desist from the attempt, and the latter, having gone in uniform to the great hall in the Hôtel de Ville, was invited to walk for consultation into an adjoining apartment, where he was disarmed and made prisoner. The great name of Napoléon-that name which had so lately resounded through the world, and was still worshipped in secret by so many hearts— was scarcely heard in those eventful days, when the crown he had worn seemed offered as the prize of the first audacious enterprise. Singular revolution in the wheel of fortune, to have occurred in so short a time, and 325, 326; rendered still more remarkable by what took place in after 129, 132, days, on a similar scramble for the crown in the same city! 1 1 Louis Blanc, i. Sarrans, i. 25. Orléanists But while so many circumstances conspired to faciliPanic of the tate the ascent of the throne by the Duke of Orléans, it at Lafitte's. Was all but lost by his own timidity and irresolution. Anxiously expected at the Hôtel Lafitte, where the crown. was to be tendered to him, he did not make his appearance. Hour after hour elapsed after that at which the deputies had promised his arrival, and still he was not visible. Anxiety first, then alarm, was painted on every visage. Had he declined the crown? Did he want courage to seize it? These questions were present to every mind, and as evening approached, and he still did not arrive, began to be cautiously whispered in Lafitte's crowded ante-chamber. Messengers were sent to the Palais Royal, to inquire if any tidings had been received of his royal highness. They returned with intelligence that nothing was known, that he had not been heard of, and that a few domestics, in evident alarm, alone occupied the sumptuous residence. It was soon whispered that they were removing the most valuable effects from the XXIV. 1830. Palais Royal, and that Béranger had been very ill received CHAP. by the assembly at Lointier's. The word REPUBLIC was heard in the saloons of the great banker. Instantly a universal panic took place. Every one found some pretext for leaving the hotel. In a few minutes the rooms were empty; it was the counterpart of the desertion of Napoleon at Fontainebleau. By eleven o'clock no one remained with Lafitte but M. Adolphe Thibaudeau and M. Benjamin Constant. When they were about to separate, the Duke de Broglie entered, followed by M. Maurice Duval, but still they could give no intelligence of the Duke. "What will become of us to-morrow?" said Louis Lafitte. "We shall be hanged," replied Benjamin Con- 332, 333. stant, with the look and accent of despair.1 Blanc, i. 26. the Duke of view with M. de Mortemart. This alternative, which at that juncture was more than probable, however, was prevented by what soon after Arrival of occurred. At one in the morning, Col. Heymès came and Orléans at announced the arrival of the Duke of Orléans at Paris. his interParis, and In effect, he had set out at eleven at night, on foot, from Neuilly, disguised in a bourgeois dress, accompanied only by three persons similarly equipped. Worn out with anxiety and fatigue, he passed the barrier a little after midnight, and traversed the streets, amidst the cries of the Republicans, to which he was obliged to respond in order to make his way through the throng. M. de Mortemart was introduced soon after his arrival. He found the Prince stretched on a mattress in one of the apartments, bathed in sweat, undressed, and covered only with an old coverlid. He began immediately to protest, with the utmost volubility, his strong attachment and unalienable fidelity to the elder branch of his family. While he was still doing so, cries of "Vive le Duc d'Orléans ! were heard in the streets. "You hear that?" said M. de Mortemart; "it is you that they design." No, no," replied the Duke with energy; "I would die rather than accept the crown! Yesterday evening a crowd invaded Neuilly, and asked to see me in the name of the deputies. On 66 دو XXIV. 1830. CHAP. being informed by the Duchess that I was abroad, they declared that they would take her to Paris with all her children, and keep them there prisoners till the Duke of Orléans made his appearance. The Duchess, terrified at her position, and trembling for her children, wrote me an urgent note to return as soon as possible. That letter was brought me by a faithful servant. Upon receiving it, I no longer hesitated to return to save my family, and they brought me here far on in the evening." And seizing a pen, he wrote a letter, full of protestations of fidelity, to Charles X., which M. de Mortemart enclosed in his neckcloth, and set off. It was that letter which inspired such cruel confidence in the falling monarch, and caused him to repose with fatal security on the fidelity of his insidious and vacillating kinsman. While this was pass Blanc, i. 334, 335; 1 Cap. ii. ing at Paris, in the palace of the Duke of Orléans, Charles 164; Louis X., the Duchess de Berri, and the royal infants were on their way, at midnight, from St Cloud to Trianon, bathed in tears, and under the escort of a slender detachment of the body-guard.1 Sarrans, i. 134, 137. 27. accepts the general of dom. July 31. At eight on the following morning, M. Sébastiani, with The Duke a deputation, arrived at the Palais Royal. They entered lieutenancy- the Duke's apartment, contrary to all custom, without the king being announced, and stated the object of their visit, which was to pray the Duke to accept the lieutenancy-general of the kingdom. The moment was solemn; a crown or a scaffold were the alternatives which were presented. A stronger mind than that of the Duke of Orléans might have quailed under the responsibility of decision under such circumstances; and his indecision was increased by the knowledge that Charles X., at the head of twelve thousand men, was only a few leagues from Paris, and by the efforts which the loyal spirit of the Duchess had made to retain him in the path of honour and duty. His embarrassment was visible on his countenance, scarcely disguised by a forced smile on his lips. For some time his indecision continued; he still strove to XXIV. 1830. await the course of events, and to gain time for them to CHAP. declare themselves: the usual resource of feeble minds in presence of danger. Seeing him thus irresolute, and divining, perhaps, through all his studied evasions, the secret wishes of the Duke, the deputies assumed higher language, and pointed out the dangers which threatened the country and himself if a decision was any longer delayed. The Duke prayed for a few minutes longer, and retired to his cabinet, followed by General Sébastiani, who was immediately despatched to M. de Talleyrand's, in the Rue Saint Florentin. Sébastiani found the "putter down and setter up of kings" dressing, and soon returned with a sealed letter, in which were written the words Qu'il accepte. The Duke hesitated no longer, but Louis re-entered the large saloon, and announced his acceptance 337, 338; of the Lieutenance-Générale, which was immediately an- 181, 184; nounced in a skilful proclamation to the inhabitants of 90, 92, the capital.1* 1 Blanc, i. Cap. ii. Sarrans, i. proclama The address was received with loud acclamations by 28. the Chamber; but it was felt to be indispensable to pub- M. Guizot's lish an exposition of the principles on which the govern- tion of the ment was to be conducted, and the form which it was to principlesassume. The duty of framing it was intrusted to the vernment. skilful hands of M. Guizot, and it was signed by ninetyone deputies. In it are to be found the leading principles of constitutional government, indeed, but enveloped in generalities very different from the clearness and precision of the Republicans at the Hôtel de Ville, and on that account more likely to occasion heats and animosity * "Inhabitants of Paris!-The Deputies of France, at this moment assembled at Paris, have expressed a wish that I should repair to that capital to exercise the functions of Lieutenant-General of the kingdom. I have not hesitated to share your danger, to place myself in the midst of that heroic population, and to make every effort to preserve you from civil war and anarchy. On entering the city of Paris, I bore with pride those glorious colours which you have resumed, and which I myself have long borne. The Chambers are about to assemble; they will consider the means of assuring the reign of the laws, and the maintenance of the rights of the nation. A charter shall henceforth be a reality. LOUIS-PHILIPPE D'ORLÉANS." -Moniteur, Aug. 1, 1830. VOL. IV. 2 F CHAP. in the capital.* XXIV. 1830. Nothing was to be found in it of a lowering of the qualification of electors, of a republic, or of universal suffrage, but much of the development of institutions and progressive improvement, which they well knew in reality meant nothing. Accordingly, the address was extremely ill received at the Hôtel de Ville, and in all the crowded parts of the city; and one of the agents who was distributing it in the Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, owed his life only to the intervention of an armed body of the Ecole Polytechnique. "Where was the Duke of Orléans when we were fighting in the streets? When did he enter Paris? On the 30th, when the victory was gained, and it remained only to bury the dead! A friend * "Français, la France est libre. Le pouvoir absolu levait son drapeau. L'héroïque population de Paris l'a abattu. Paris attaqué a fait triompher, par les armes, la cause sacrée qui venait de triompher en vain dans les élections. Un pouvoir usurpateur de nos droits, perturbateur de notre repos, menaçait, à la fois, la liberté et l'ordre. Nous rentrons en possession de l'ordre et de la liberté. Plus de crainte pour les droits acquis, plus de barrière entre nous et les droits qui nous manquent encore ! "Un gouvernement qui, sans délai, nous garantisse ces biens, est aujourd'hui le premier besoin de la Patrie. Français ! Ceux de vos députés qui se trouvent déjà à Paris, se sont réunis, et, en attendant l'intervention régulière des Chambres, ils ont invité un Français qui n'a jamais combattu que pour la France, M. le Duc d'Orléans, à exercer les fonctions de Lieutenant-Général du royaume. C'est à leurs yeux le moyen d'accomplir promptement, par la paix, le succès de la plus légitime des forces. "Le Duc d'Orléans est dévoué à la cause nationale et constitutionelle. Il en a toujours défendu les intérêts et professé les principes. Il respectera nos droits; car il tiendra de nous les siens. Nous nous assurerons, par des lois, toutes les garanties nécessaires pour rendre la liberté forte et durable. "Le rétablissement de la Garde Nationale, avec l'intervention des Gardes Nationaux dans le choix des officiers. "L'intervention des citoyens dans la formation des administrations munici pale et départementale. "Le Jury pour les délits de la presse. "La responsabilité légalement organisée des ministres, et des agents secondaires de l'administration. "L'état des militaires légalement assuré. "La réélection des députés promus à des fonctions publiques. "Nous donnerons à nos institutions, de concert avec le chef de l'état, les développements dont elles ont besoin. "Français ! Le Duc d'Orléans lui-même a parlé, et son langage est celui qui convient à un pays libre. Les Chambres vont se réunir pour les détails. Elles aviseront aux moyens d'assurer le règne des lois et le maintien des droits de la nation. La charte sera désormais une vérité.”—Moniteur, Aug. 1, 1830. Ann. Hist., 1830, p. 174. |