law, and declared that the Chamber should remain as a mediator in the conflict, and pronounce itself merely the advocate of public order. A proclamation, much in this sense, containing a compromise between the two parties, although opposed by M. Lafitte as beneath the exigencies of the occasion, was at last agreed to: it was moreover resolved to send a deputation to the Duc de Raguse with an order, delivered in the name of the law, to stay, on his own personal responsibility, the fury of the troops. This first meeting on the 28th separated at two o'clock to meet at four.* Its result had been the proclamation, which, however, was not to be published till the following day, the deputation to the Duc de Raguse, and a declaration from General Lafayette, expressing, as I have stated, the resolution he had adopted on his arrival at Paris, to place himself, at all hazards, at the head of the insurrection. In the short interval which took place between the first and the second meeting of the deputies, the prospects of the people had appeared rather on the decline. Neither was the answer of Marmont, "that he would only accept unqualified submission as a basis of treaty," well calculated to restore the courage of any whose spirit had begun to fail. Messrs. Villemain, Bertin de Vaux, and Sébastiani, although the two former had been hitherto sufficiently energetic, now refused to sign the proclamation of the morning, and retired in spite of the remonstrances of their colleagues. More favourable advices, however, arrived before the meeting had broken up, and M. Guizot, who, though willing to make an easy compromise with the crown at a more fortunate moment, showed both courage and presence of mind at this important crisis, proposed at once to affix to the proclamation the names of all the deputies of the liberal party known to be at To meet at M. Bérard's. + This proclamation, given to M. Coste, the editor of the "Temps," for insertion, was rendered by him more popular and more energetic than it was originally conceived. names. Paris. This measure, after some dispute, was adopted at the suggestion of M. Lafitte, who rather happily observed, "That if the people were defeated, there was no fear but that the deputies whose signatures had been used without their consent would deny their connection with the paper it was affixed to; while if things turned out otherwise, few would notice their absence or express any disapprobation at the liberty taken with their Another meeting took place at eight o'clock, at M. Puyraveau's, when Lafayette, Mauguin, Laborde, were still for adopting a decided part,-for even publicly appearing in their uniform of deputies, and with the tricolour in their hats; while General Sébastiani, on the other hand, was still anxious that some power should remain capable of mediation, and not committed by any decided act of hostility against Charles X. Those who were of the former opinion agreed to meet at five o'clock the following morning at M. Lafitte's. On the 29th, at eleven o'clock, and not at five, the meeting took place; and instead of ten deputies who had met the night before at M. de Puyraveau's, between thirty and forty were collected. The disposition that prevailed, even among the more moderate, was different from that of the preceding day.† 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 extraordi * Monsieur Dupin's name was omitted, on knowing which he expressed great regret. This was natural: a great change had taken place 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 sympathize with the more daring; it is not necessary to censure the more prudent. nary 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 conference." The mere mention of a government operated as a charm; and decided the last remaining doubts as to the 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 say 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 intrusted 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 muster hour in order to assemble them together. Things, as v have seen, not proceeding so quietly as was expected, the council, assembled at night, decided on proclaiming Paris "en état de siège," 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 Mauguin was afterward added. 66 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 duc with his despatch, was honoured by no written reply, and merely told to charge the marshal de tenir bien, de réunir ses forces sur le Carrousel et à la 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 Tuile *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. ries 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 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 afterward 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," said Charles X., " ne vous inquiétez pas." "Je ne veux pas monter en charette comme mon frère," was his reply to any argument urging concession.‡ At the advice of his ministers themselves, however, he was at length induced to relent; the ordonnances were to be recalled, M. de Mortemart named President du Conseil, and M. C. Périer and General Gérard included in the new administration. But the only order to which Charles X. could be prevailed upon to 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. t Nobody so obstinate as a weak man when he once has an opinion. The idea which governed the life of Charles X. was that his brother had fallen from a want of firmness. The situation of the Duchess d'Angoulême, at that time travelling in the provinces, and very possibly exposed to popular violence, was the sole circumstance that seemed to affect him |