At this time it will be remembered that the Swiss and Royal Guards, still fighting, fought retreatingly; and, driven successively from each post they had occupied, were concentrating themselves for a last stand upon the Tuileries and the Place Louis XV. But it was not merely the retreat of the troops which inspired that extraordinary confidence which begets extraordinary success, into the popular cause. To M. Bérard, I believe, was owing the bold and ingenious conception of a fictitious government, consisting of Generals Gérard and Lafayette and the Duc de Choiseul. No such government existed but it was cleverly and plausibly announced to exist, and a sentinel placed at the Hôtel de Ville repulsed every one who requested an audience with this imaginary authority, by saying " On ne passe pas ; le Gouvernement est en conférence." The mere mention of a Government operated as a charm, and decided the last remaining doubts as to the

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in passing events; nor are such vicissitudes of feeling in moments like these to be held up to ridicule and blame. That which is caution at one time becomes timidity at another, and though in such crises men of an energetic resolution are required, it is not amiss that some should show a more peaceful and careful disposition. We sympathise with the more daring; it is not necessary to censure the more prudent.

success of the people. Such was the state of things on the morning of the 29th, when, as I have said, the Deputies met at M. Lafitte's— and it was then that a commission, consisting of five Deputies, (Lafitte, Schonen, Puyraveau, Lobau, and C. Périer,)* replaced the fictitious creation of M. Bérard.

I have now conducted the civil transactions of the three days to the point at which I left the military operations. It only remains for me to relate what had been taking place during these events in the cabinet and at the court. On the morning of the 27th M. de Polignac first made known to the King the troubles which had taken place the preceding evening, and Charles X. sent for the Duc de Raguse, and entrusted him with the command so fatal to his reputation and his fortunes. On arriving at Paris, the Marshal found the most utter want of preparation for that kind of resistance which the Government ought to have expected. The troops were not even consigned to their quarters, and it was necessary to wait the musterhour in order to assemble them together. Things, as we have seen, not proceeding so. quietly as was expected, the council, assembled at night, decided on proclaiming Paris * Mauguin was afterwards added.

"en état de siége," which was done the following morning. In the mean time Charles X., who had ordered the Duc de Raguse to return in the evening to St. Cloud if the city were quiet, remained in the most perfect state of tranquillity, notwithstanding his absence. " Il n'y a rien," he said to an officer about his person; "je l'avais autorisé à revenir, mais il a bien fait de rester.”

The 28th was the critical day. The court on this day might have made its peace with dignity, for there was a moment, as I have shown, when the troops were deemed to have been successful, and this was the moment when the Duc de Raguse, demanding concession from the Deputies, urged it most strongly to the King. The same fatality, however, which induced Charles I. to reject the moderate advice of Clarendon, presided at St. Cloud.* Monsieur de Komierowski, sent by the Duke with his despatch, was honoured by no written reply, and merely told to charge the Marshal de tenir bon, de réunir ses forces sur le Carrousel et à la

*If Monsieur Lafitte and General Gérard proposed peace, it was from insolence and they were strong, or from fear and they were weak, and the presumption and the timidity of rebels were equally to be despised.

Place Louis XV. et d'agir avec des masses. Everybody about the palace was in the most serene quietude. In the morning — mass, the usual ceremonies and receptions; - in the evening—the rubber at whist : less anxiety was expressed for the destinies of the nation than for the turn of a card.

In vain a deputation waited on Monsieur de Polignac: he thought he showed firmness when he displayed imbecility; and when told that the troops were going over to the people, merely observed, that "it would then be necessary to fire upon the troops!" Horses and soldiers were unprovided with food, but that was a matter of little importance; by such trifles as these the peace of the King and the security of his minister were not to be disturbed. During the night, however, it was decided to give a month and a half's pay to the regiments at Paris, and an order was sent to the Camps of Lunéville and St. Omer to advance upon St. Cloud. Even on the 29th, the ministers, blockaded in the Tuileries, were still in a state of the most complete ignorance as to the real nature of the insurrection.

They mistook that for a plot which was the result of inspiration. "Ce sont les fédérés qui

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ont conservé leur ancienne organisation," said Monsieur de Peyronnet. He was soon undeceived. The Duc de Raguse himself assembled the council, and advised, as the last resource, a treaty with the people on the basis of a repeal of the Ordonnances. The ministers had no power for this. "Come and obtain it from the King," said Monsieur de Peyronnet. Nothing can be better for the royal cause than the present aspect of affairs," said the infatuated Prince de Polignac. At this moment arrived Monsieur d'Argout and Monsieur de Sémonville, who were also come to urge the ministers to adopt a speedy and conciliatory decision. Quarrelling* with Monsieur de Polignac, they set out for St. Cloud, where the Marshal himself, after the complete discomfiture of his troops, shortly afterwards arrived.

In what disposition did they find the King? Already, before the appearance of Monsieur de Sémonville, the Duc de Mortemart had made two fruitless attempts to persuade him to recall the Ordonnances. "Bah! bah! ce n'est rien,"

* Monsieur de Sémonville and M. de Polignac felt for each other the contempt which a man of the world feels for an enthusiast, and which an enthusiast returns for a man of the world.