1834.

CHAP. tage was not gained but with the loss of 150 killed and XXX. 400 wounded. Great exasperation prevailed in the later stages of the conflict on both sides, and many innocent 1 Moniteur, persons of all ages and sexes were massacred without April 20, 1834; Cap. mercy in the houses forced by the military from which firing had issued. But some traits of generosity also occurred which redeemed the honour of human nature in those fearful scenes.1 1*

vii. 394,

398; L. Blanc, iv. 277, 279.

The insurrection which broke out with such violence at Lyons, on occasion of the trial of the chiefs of the combination, was but a part of the general movement over all France, at the head of which was Lafayette and the chiefs of the Haute Vente at Paris, and which was incomparably more formidable in its character, and widespread in its ramifications, than that which had overturned Charles X. Lafayette intended to have put himself at the head of the revolt at Lyons, and was only prevented by ill health from doing so; but he sent his delegates to direct the movement. It was by the orders of the central authority at Paris that the strike at Lyons was terminated on 22d February, and the insurrection postponed till the trial of the leaders began. They wished to throw the Government off its guard, and to gain time to complete their preparations. When it did break out, however, orders were sent generally to follow it up as quickly as possible; and then appeared how widespread was the spirit of revolt in France, how complete in its organisations, how unlimited the authority of its chiefs. Between

"Il y eut des points où, retenues prisonnières par les troupes qui bivouaquaient dans les rues, des femmes d'insurgés furent traitées non-seulement avec égard, mais avec générosité, et partagèrent le pain du soldat. Un insurgé venait de tirer à bout portant sur un officier; il le manque, se découvre la poitrine, et dit, 'A ton tour.' Alors par une admirable inspiration de générosité, 'Je n'ai pas coutume de tirer de si près sur un homme sans défense,' répond l'officier; 'va-t'en.'"-L. BLANC, iv. 278, 279.

"J'éprouve un vif regret de ne pouvoir m'associer en personne aux dangers d'une aussi courageuse et honorable entreprise; mais je donnerai à ces Messieurs (MM. Armand Carrel et Cavaignac) des lettres qui leur seront utiles, et je les autorise à se présenter comme mes lieutenants."-M. DE LAFAYETTE aux Chefs des Mutuellistes à Lyon, March 28, 1834. L. BLANC, iv. 260.

XXX.

1834.

April 9-12.

the 9th and the 12th of April insurrectionary movements CHAP. broke out at Marseilles, Perpignan, Vienne, Auxerre, Poictiers, Chalons, Louisville, Grenoble, Arbois, and St Etienne. Government, however, had information of what was approaching: the authorities were everywhere on their guard, and the immense military forces at their disposal enabled them to crush the revolt without much difficulty. The only places where it was at all serious were at Louisville and St Etienne. In the first of these a plot had been formed by the subaltern officers in three regiments to engage them in the revolt, which was only prevented from succeeding by the vigilance of the superior officers and the steadiness of the majority of the men. In the last, appearances were at first very serious, for the whole national guard joined the insurgents, and in the outset they gained entire possession of the town. But the arrival of regular troops from the neighbouring towns, who were rapidly drawn together, enabled the prefect to 292, 296; regain his lost ground; the insurgent national guards were 398, 401. driven into the chief square, surrounded, and disarmed.1

Ann. Hist.

xvii. 171,

172; L

Blanc, iv.

Cap. vii.

48.

in Paris.

The Republicans in Paris were not slow in responding to the signal of insurrection thrown out by their brethren Insurrection at Lyons. Though deprived of part of their physical April 13. strength, and much of their moral influence, by the suppression of the revolt on the 5th and 6th June 1832, they were yet in sufficient force in the capital to occasion serious uneasiness to the Government. As usual in such cases, the most exaggerated accounts were spread by both parties, as soon as the insurrection began at Lyons, of the state of affairs; the Government journals representing the revolt as entirely put down on the very first day, the Republican as everywhere triumphant, spreading over every part of France, and having established the insurgents in a durable manner in the second city of the empire. The evident anxiety, however, of the autho

* "La victoire du peuple se confirme. Les Lyonnais sont maîtres de la ville; ils y ont proclamé un gouvernement provisoire, et la République. Sur toutes

1834.

CHAP. rities, and the sinister rumours which, in spite of every precaution, began to spread on the second day, as to what the telegraph had really communicated, diffused general consternation, and occasioned such excitement in the central parts of the city as rendered it evident that a revolt was at hand. On the evening of the 13th it broke out. With such vigour were the operations of the insurgents conducted, that in less than an hour after the signal had been given by Capt. Kersovie, on the part of the chiefs of the Haute Vente, for a general rising, the Republicans were in arms at the Porte St Denis, in the Place de la Bastille, in the Quartier des Halles, in the Faubourg St Jacques; while formidable barricades were 1 Ann. Hist. constructed in the Rues Beaubourg, Geoffrey-l'Angevin, Aubry le Boucher, Auxours, Maubuée, Transnonain, and Grenier-St Lazare, and placards inviting the people to in297, 298. stant insurrection were put up in all the densely-peopled parts of the city.1 *

xvii. 172,

173; Cap.

vii. 402, 403; L. Blanc, iv.

49.

measures of

Apprised by the intelligence communicated from Lyons Defensive by the telegraph of the real state of things there, and of the Govern- what they might expect in the capital, the Government were fully on their guard, and their measures were taken with prudence and vigour. There was none of the want

ment.

les routes de Lyon, les communications sont interrompues. Le peuple a pris les armes à Chalons, à Roanne ; il s'est rendu maître des autorités, les populations des environs de Lyon ont manifesté la plus vive sympathie; mais le plus grand secours est arrivé de St Etienne, d'où sont partis dix mille ouvriers armés. A Dijon le peuple s'est emparé de toutes les dépêches ministérielles, il est maître de la ville. Sur toute la ligne de Paris à Lyon l'insurrection est flagrante. Le 52eme régiment qui est en garrison à Béfort s'est insurgé, et a proclamé la République."-Tribune, April 13, 1834.

"A quatre heures, mercredi (le 9) l'action était finie. Quelques coups de fusil retentirent çà et là dans les petites rues du centre de la ville. Les troupes étaient au repos."-Moniteur, April 12, 1834.

*

'Elle est enfin rompue, cette longue chaîne des tyrannies humiliantes, de perfidies infâmes, de trahisons criminelles ! Nos frères de Lyon nous ont appris combien est éphémère la force brutale des tyrans contre le patriotisme Républicain. Ce que les Mutuellistes ont commencé avec tant de succès les vainqueurs de Juillet, hesiterent-ils à l'achever? Laisseraient-ils échapper une si belle occasion de reconquérir la liberté chérie, pour laquelle le sang Francais a tant de fois coulé? Citoyens! tant de généreux sacrifices ne seront pas infructueux par une lâcheté indigne.' 'Aux armes!' 'Aux armes!"-CAPEFIGUE, Histoire de Louis Philippe, vii. 403, 404.

XXX.

1834.

of preparation, squeamishness, and indecision, which had CHAP. ruined Charles X. The forces at its disposal were immense. The regular troops in the city amounted to forty thousand men, with fifty-six guns; and to these might be added thirty thousand national guards from the capital and the banlieue. The first thing done was to seize the printer's presses of the Tribune, and issue a warrant for the arrest of M. Marrast, its editor, who was obliged to fly. Soon the générale beat in all the streets of Paris; the national guards were seen repairing to their rallying-points, and a little after eleven at night, the dense columns of the regular soldiers approached the barricaded district which surrounded the old Cloister of St Méri, destined a second time to become the theatre of a mortal civil conflict. M. Thiers was on horseback in the rear of the column which approached from the Rue Geoffroy-l'Angevin; its captain was soon killed, and M. de Varselles, Auditor of the Council of State, fell mortally wounded by his side: the Minister then retired, sensible that his proper place was not that of a captain of grenadiers. At the same time a column attacked the Rue Beaubourg, which was the centre of the insurrection; but it was received with so vigorous a fire that it recoiled; and it being now past, Blanc, midnight, the military contented themselves with encir- Cap. vii. cling the barricaded district with strong bodies of troops Ann. Hist. in all directions, and postponed the final attack till the 173. following morning.1

iv. 297, 300;

404, 406;

xvii. 172,

the Govern

the Rue

nain.

It took place, accordingly, early next day, and experi- 50. enced less resistance than might have been anticipated, Victory of from the known determination and strong position of ment, and the insurgents. The plan of attack was arranged at the massacre in headquarters of Generals Bugeaud and Rumigny during Transnothe night, and it was executed at daybreak. Four strong columns began their march simultaneously from the four points of the Bastile, the Porte St Martin, the Hôtel de Ville, and the Marché des Innocens. These columns were to converge towards the centre of the city, force all

XXX.

1834.

CHAP. the barricades. which might obstruct their passage, occupy all the cross streets they passed with troops, and then drive back the insurrection into the narrow space between the Rue Transnonain and the Rue Montmorency, where, by a converging assault, it might be finally crushed. These orders were vigorously executed. General Bugeaud's column effected a junction with that under General Lascours, which had come up from the Porte St Martin, in the street of the same name, and both united made an attack on the barricade in the Rue Transnonain, which was the centre of the insurrection. The orders of the officers were," to force open and search every house from whence shots issued." These orders were executed with a rigour and cruelty which makes humanity shudder. Some shots had been seen to issue from the house, No. 12, at the corner of the Rue Montmorency, in the Rue Transnonain, and orders were given to force it open, and despatch the insurgents within. The soldiers broke the door open by blows of hatchets, and, rushing in as into the breach of a town taken by assault, in a state of frenzy, put every living soul within the walls to death. Sixteen unhappy beings, for the most part unarmed-old men, women, and children-were massacred! It recalled the worst days of the first Revolution. The resistance else1 Ann. Hist. where was soon overcome, and this frightful massacre had not even the excuse of danger or necessity, for the forces of the insurgents were small, and wholly overmatched. By noon the firing had everywhere ceased, the barricades were all levelled, and the insurrection was entirely subdued.1

xvii. 172,

173; L. Blauc, iv.

300, 304;

Cap. vii. 407, 409.

51.

the Govern

ment upon

It was generally supposed, that after this decisive Measures of victory over the Republicans at Paris, Lyons, and St Etienne, the Government would have brought forward its victory. some rigorous measure of repression, which, in the first tumult of alarm, the Chamber might pass. They contented themselves with a law merely against the possessors, without authority, of arms and munitions of war, the necessity of which was so obvious that it passed with