XLVII. 1848. 73. She is refused a hearing, and obliged to retire. CHAP. Would have leapt from its scabbard, and, like the Hungarians of old, every voice would have exclaimed, “Moriamur pro rege nostro Maria-Theresa." But Burke had said on a similar occasion, not less truly than eloquently, "The age of chivalry is past; that of sophists, econoby the mob mists, and calculators has succeeded." M. Dupin's motion to declare the Count of Paris king, and his mother regent, was indeed carried by acclamation; but when he proposed to register the names of the members present, in order to prevent any from drawing back, the acclamations were not so loud. At this critical moment, one of the doors of the Chamber was opened, and immediately a crowd rushed in, armed with pikes and muskets, and filled all the passages of the hall. Encouraged by the presence of these noisy supporters, the Republicans assumed bolder language; and though still only a small fraction of the assembly, they succeeded in drowning the voice of the majority. The princess said with a tremulous voice, "I have come with all I have dear in the world," but here the noise became such that her words were inaudible. M. Lamartine said, with hypocritical expressions, "M. President, I demand that the sitting should be suspended, from the double motive, on the one hand, of respect for the national representation; on the other, for the august princess whom we see before us." The duchess, however, who was aware that her sole chance of success consisted in remaining where she was, hesitated to withdraw. But the danger from the ferocious figures around her was so instant that she was soon in a manner forced from the place where she sat, by the Duke de Nemours, Marshal Oudinot, and the officers around her, to a higher part of the benches, near the door by which she had entered. No sooner had she done so than M. Marie exclaimed-" You cannot create a new regency to-day; the law forbids it. I demand a PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT, which may take the subject into consideration along with the Chambers." M. Crémi CHAP. XLVII. 1848. eux concurred in this demand. M. Ledru-Rollin exclaimed: "You cannot create a regency in the house of the people; I protest against such an usurpation of the rights of all. Nothing can be done without it. I demand a Provisional Government, and the immediate convocation of a convention." M. de Lamartine began his speech by professing a chivalrous devotion for the princess; but he concluded with these words: "I demand in the name of the public peace, of the blood which has been shed, of the people famished amidst their glorious labours, that you should appoint a Provisional Government." Loud applause, especially from the mob in the passages, followed these words, and the most audacious among them, ascending the benches, levelled their muskets at the head of the princess. A scene of indescribable confusion Feb. 25, now ensued; clamour and cries were heard on all sides; 1848; Ann. the whole Chamber in the utmost agitation rose up, the 90, 91; Caspresident disappeared from the chair; and the attendants 241; Laof the princess, in an agony of terror for her life, in a 182, 201. manner forced her out of the hall.1 1 Moniteur, Hist. xxxi. sagnac, i. martine, i. 74. of the Pro Govern ment. No sooner was the princess gone than, amidst loud cries and vociferations, the nomination of the members of Nomination the Provisional Government commenced. In this im- visional portant task the Chambers were reduced to absolute nullity. Everything was determined by the cries and the gesticulations of the ferocious band of Republicans who had entered the hall, under command of Captain Dunoyer, and Lagrange, who had made himself so conspicuous the evening before at the head of the insurgents. Amidst 2 Moniteur, 1848; Ann. 90, 91; Cas Regnault, indescribable tumult and confusion certain names were Feb. 25, proposed to the crowd, and received with acclamations Hist. xxxi. or hisses, according to the fancy of the moment or the sagnac, i. popularity of the party proposed. M. de Lamartine, who 253, 254; was still in the tribune, sent down names to the persons intrusted with this taking of the votes, and named him- c. 3; De la self, MM. Marie, Ledru-Rollin, Crémieux, Dupont de 483, 484. l'Eure, Arago, and Garnier Pagès. As these names were Gouv. Prov., Hodde, XLVII. 1848. CHAP. read out they were variously received with loud acclamations, or groans and hisses; but upon the whole they seemed to have the voices of the majority in the hall, and they accordingly were accepted as the Provisional Government at the Chamber of Deputies.* 75. of another Govern ment, and proclamation of a Republic. But while one band of insurgents was thus disposing of Nomination the government in the Chamber of Deputies, another and Provisional still more determined body was already in possession of the Hôtel de Ville, where they had proclaimed, amidst if possible still greater tumult, another Provisional Government, of still more Radical elements, consisting of M. Marrast, M. Flocon, M. Louis Blanc, and M. Albert, the last being a common workman aud the representative of that class in Paris. It was necessary, therefore, to dispossess, and that without a moment's delay, this rival authority, for in an hour it might get the ascendancy and obtain the government of France. To the Hôtel de Ville, therefore, the first Provisional Government immediately went, surrounded by an immense crowd, and with as much parade as the circumstances would admit. When they arrived, however, they did not find their rivals disposed to yield up their newly acquired power, and a violent altercation ensued between the opposite leaders, which was on the point of coming to blows, and actually did so among their followers in the passages and stairs. Meanwhile the dense multitude which thronged the Place de Grève, outside the building, was loudly howling out for a government, and threatened instantly to break in and sack the building if the Republic was not instantly proclaimed and the Provisional Government announced. The following was the manner in which the vote was taken for the Provisional Government : Dupont de l'Eure.-'Oui, oui !' Arago.-'Oui, oui !' Lamartine.'Oui, oui !' Ledru-Rollin.- Oui, oui!' Garnier Pagès.-' Oui, oui !—Non.' Marie. Oui!-Non!' Crémieux.-' Oui, oui !' Une voix dans la foule'Crémieux, mais pas Garnier Pagès.' 'Si, si!-Non!' M. Ledru-Rollin'Que ceux qui ne veulent pas lèvent la main?' 'Non, non !-Si, si !'”—DE LA HODDE, Histoire des Sociétés Sécrètes, p. 484. XLVII. 1848. Under the influence of this violent pressure from without, CHAP. and in mutual terror, a compromise took place between the rival candidates for power, a mixed Provisional Government was nominated, composed of the leaders of both; and M. de Lamartine, from the top of the stair, called out the names and formally announced the Republic. This declaration had the effect of, in some degree, calming the populace, who, as darkness now came on, gradually dispersed, leaving the Provisional Government, as now remodelled, in possession of the Hôtel de Ville and supreme authority. They had, however, a rude assault to sustain from a band of still more violent Republicans, who commenced an attack at midnight on the Hôtel de Ville. They were very near being forced and dispossessed of power. It was only by a strenuous exertion of personal 1 Moniteur, strength that they were able to keep their ground against 1848; Ann. the assailants; and the first duty to which the rulers of 94, 95; De France were called was the humble one of barricading the 490, 500; doors of the Hôtel, and putting their shoulders to the doors Regnault, to keep out the mob. They did do so, however, and after Prov., c. 3; a violent struggle, with success; and early next morning i. 271, 273; the Provisional Government was announced by the tele- i. 235, 240. graph and the Moniteur to the whole country.1 1 Feb. 24, Hist. xxxi. la Hodde, Gouv. Cassagnac, Lamartine, tine's por Such was the termination of the reign of the Citizen 76. King, and the rule of the bourgeoisie in France. Begun M. Lamarby the defection of the army, and the revolt of the middle trait of the class, it ended in the treachery of the National Guard, Revolutionand the ascendant of the very lowest and most abandoned of the people. Their portrait has been drawn by the graphic hand of one who knew them well, who has left *The Provisional Government, as arranged by this compromise at the Hôtel de Ville, was as follows: "President of the Council, M. Dupont de l'Eure; Foreign Affairs, M. de Lamartine; Interior, M. Ledru-Rollin; Justice, M. Crémieux; Finance, M. Goudchaux; War, M. Bedeau ; Commerce, M. Marie; Public Works, M. Bethmont; Marine, M. Arago (Etienne); Public Instruction, M. Carnot; Telegraph, M. Flocon; Police, M. Caussidière; Mayor of Paris, M. Garnier Pagès."-Ann. Hist., xxxi. 94, 95. XLVII. 1848. 66 CHAP. the following picture of the associates for whom he overturned the throne, and by whom he was for a brief period elevated to power. They were in part composed," says Lamartine, "of galley-slaves, who had no political ideas in their heads, nor social chimeras in their hearts, but who accepted a revolution as the condition of the disorder it was to perpetuate, the blood it was to shed, the terror it was to inspire. They contained also a part of that ragged scum of the population of great cities which public commotions cause to rise to the surface, before it falls back into the common sewers from whence it had arisen ; men who floated between the fumes of intoxication and the thirst for blood; who sniffed carnage while issuing Hist. de la from the fumes of debauchery; who never ceased to besiege the ears of the people till they got a victim thrown vol. i. 284. to them to devour. They were the scourings of the galleys and the dungeons."1 1Lamartine, Revolution de 1848, 1. 6, c. 13, The Duchess of Orléans, whom M. de Lamartine had abandoned for these supporters, was rudely jostled by the crowd, and ran no small personal danger in leaving the Chamber of Deputies. Surrounded by a few faithful and courageous friends, among whom M. de Morny was the most resolute, she was with difficulty rescued from the insults and pressure of the mob, and being closely veiled, when she got to a little distance from the Chamber, she ceased to be known, and passed for one of the numerous fugitives who were flying across the streets in every direction. She was separated, however, both from the Duke de Nemours and her two sons in the throng; and the elder of the two last, being recognised, was seized by the throat by a gigantic assassin, who appeared about to strangle him, when he was torn from his grasp by a brave National Guard, and carried to the princess, who burst into tears as she embraced him. The Duke de Chartres, however, was still missing; in vain his unhappy mother called aloud for her child, and climbed up to the windows of the room into which she had been carried, to endeavour |