Star. — London, England, 1830-12-06 00:00:00

DEPOSITIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL WITNESSES. COARLES LOUIS HUGUES. Marquis de Semonville, Grand Referendary of the Chamber of Peers, aged 71 years, residing at the Palace of the Luxembourg. I became acquainted, through the Monifeur, with the Ordinances of the 25th July. Reduced to my own resources, I resolved on the return of day to try to apply some remedy to the misfortunes of the capital et France. i hesitated between the desire of going to St. Cloud and that of joining the President of the Council, when, upon being in ronuedathat heltrul passed,the night with his s colleagues, at the Head. Quarters of the staff, 1 no longer delayed to go there. I immediately a f ter wards left the Luxembourg with M. d Argout, my neighbour. teho accompanied me through the impulse of the same feelings. The courageous friendship of M. d'Argout undertook to protect my steps, and Rom that moment we were inseparable. The Parisian forces had already approached the Pont Neuf ; they were then attacking the Depot of St. Thomas d'Aqttin. The street of St. Honors was partly occu pied. We arrived, after much difficulty, at the staff, towards half.past lever. I saw ?slat:dial de Ragusa, and I desired him to request the Prince de Polignac to come from the council. The Marshal offered to oerform this service, and went to seek the Prince. The latter appeared :ainveliately, and received me with the expressions of a calm and cold politeness, which I abruptly interrupted. The loudness of our voices ca lled into the marshal's saloon not only the general officers and the aides. decamp, who sere in the first apartment, but also the ministers who had remained in the Council Chamber. A fresh discussion arose, during winch the Generals were requested to retire. On one side, M. d'Argout, the Marshal, whose despair was evident, and who .upncrted me with all his power, and M. de Oirardin (Alexander), who remained after the departure f the Generals • and on the other the ministers, whose attitude and feature, still more t han the reserve of their languages, manifested their affliction and the existence of a power above theirs. M. de Polignac supported almost alone this unequal struggle. During this intetysi, 1 claimed, on the authority of M. Glandevo, go. vernor et the chateau, an immediate means of conveyance to St. Cloud. A poste liaise was ordered ; another had been ordered shortly before for ; hi. de Polignac. The remainder of the time which the deliberation of the ministers left us was employed in, beseeching the marshal to put an! end himself to this bloody tragedy. 'We dared to go so far as to ask him to retain the ministers under the guard of the governor, who by an impulse:of generosity consented to consecrate his sword to this pur pose. M. d'Argoitt was to expose himself to the danger of stop- I ping the temeltuous movementa in Paris, by announcing this event in the midst of the people. And in the execution of this plan, the marshal and I were to go to St. Cloud, and offer our heads as pledges of our intentions. The marshal was moved to so great a degree, that he sited tears of rage and indignation, and hesitated between his milieury duty and his feelings. His agitation was nearly convulsive, and we saw him twice refuse with vehemence the orders which officers came to demand of him for discharging the cannon to repulse at tacks in the direction of the street of St. Nicaise. At last, he tt.emed to yield to our entreaties, and I have reason to think that hi s 12 n 1 t ion was no longer doubtful, when M. de Peyronnet, coming Gut the first from the council, rushed towards me to the open window, where. I was leaning with the mars,hal and M. d'Argout. . 1 What, yet, are not yet gone ?" said he. These few words had a deep synitication, after the desire expressed by M. de Polignac, that we should not go to St. Cloud. At the same instant the marshal hurried to a table where he wrote in haste a f ew press ing lines to the king, and gave them to M. de Oftardin, who undertook to deliver them. The peers ran to their carriage; tL first they met with was that destined for M. de Polignac. T:'cy took possession of it, after having thrown out the articles be. longing to the minister, and crossed the Tuileries. It has been im possible for me or for Al. d'Argout to account for the following eircutmqance. Amidst the rapidity of our course in the middle of the Great Walk, we a man on foot at the risk of h u r t i ng 111111. This man was fir d e e d Peyronnet. He cried out to us twice - Go qu:ckly ! go quickly !"—pointing at the same time with one nand to St. Cloud, and with the other to the carriage which was follow. Mg CA. The advice was unnecessary; the horses were at full gallop, and they kept in advance until they reached the court of St. Cloud, where both carriages s entered about the same time We got down first, and were soon surrounded by a crowd of guards and cu rious people, who obstructed the passage. It would have been easy to prevent the passage of the ministers, and particularly that of M. de Po. lignac, who preceded them. I told him aloud that I was not come to claim an honour which I would still allow them to possess • that they had as yet one duty to perform, which wa s, t o enlighten the Kings to affix their signatures to the repeal of the ordinances, and to se. tire. I added that I should proceed to M. de Luxembourg to await the result of the Council ; that time was precious, and that should they betray our hopes, nothing should prevent me front penetrating as far as the King. After this the passage was free to M. de Polignacand colleagues. 31. de Peyronnet was the last. As he passed by me he squeezed my hand with extraordinary energy, without saying a word. I know not what became of the Ministers, but we had scarcely reached M. de Luxem bourg's, when several personages of the Court quitted the breakfast to go there. Almost at the same moment an usher of the Chamber called for me M. de Polignac was waiting for me at the door of the King's cabinet. Astonished at such precipitation, I observed to hint that the council had neither time to deliberate nor to assemble. M. de Polignac replied with coldness, " You know, Sir, what is the duty which you consider yourself as fulfilling by coming here in the existing circumstances. I informed the King that you were her. ; you accuse me; it is for you to enter first." It is not consistent with propriety, nor does it belong to my duty as a witness, to give an ac count of a long and painful interview, - during which, I here declare, in exposing the state of the unfortunate events and of their immediate result, the name of a minister was not once pronounced, nor was his inter terence indicated. My entreaties, my supplications, my deplorable pre dictions, gave to this scene as aspect of energy which alarmed considerable personages who were guardians of the King's apartments. The door was opened twice, I think, by the Dukede Duras. He might have judged thati,l devoted myself entirely to obtain s & determination of which the delay was attended by such terrible consequences. This is the only communica tion I had with the ministers respecting the ordinances. I except, never theless, a last communication with M. de Polignac, upon th e terrace under the bridge of Trocadero, during the long hesitations of the council, which took place during that memorable day. M. de Pulignac, whom I met, accosted me with visible signs of agitation. The retirement of the ministers and the repeal of the ordinances had been decided on ; but the Dauphin was absent, and his return was waited for before the nomi nation or the new ministers—the Duke de Mortemarte, M. Gerard, and M. Cassiatir Perrier—was signed. " These misfortunes are your fault," said M. de Polignac to me, and he added, in answer to my hasty reply to these imprudent words, " Have I not sounded you fur six months respecting what could be done with the Chandler of Peen?" "What did I constantly replyto you? 'that it would always remain within the constitutional line, without any regard to persons. Once—l shall always remember it--you asked me if in a particular circumstance the Chamber of Peers would resolve upon amending a budget. I answered , ;cm. You ask me t w o quest i ons , one o f w hi ch i s evident, and the other concealed. I will answer both. Yes, in an important case the Chamber would decide upon granting or refusing a budget ; for instance, if a law was evidently introduced by means of a financial discussion. But if you mean, as I am convinced you do, that the chamber would give yens a centime, a man, or a law of any description, without the participation of the Chamber of Deputies, you may name a hundred and fifty peers,l and your nominations will be rain. The chamber will not destroy its own existence. Its act would be null in fact as well as in principle since with the law in one's hand, obedience would be refused. You may as well attempt to obtain that from the Chamber as you might try to make a notary of Paris go to pass an act in London." I met the mi.' sister, nu more until I saw theta at Vincennes, in the presence of the' rocumissio» of inquiry. AUGUSTE GASPARD DAUDEUON DE RICIIEDOCAO, Aged 47, Commissary of the Exchange of Paris, residing Rue Monsigny, No. 1. days previous to the promulgation of the ordinances, a report Was spread upon the Exchange of an approaching coup efetot ; but this opinion was tar from being general, and the distribution of the letters of convocation to the peers and deputies brought back several persons to a contrary bdief. In one of the interviews, which, on account of my al. Nation, 1 had rather frequently with M. de Monthel, I indicated to Aim as a means of .sustaining the price for account, to bring the syndi. Cate of receivers-general and 31. de Rothschild to operate simultaneously. He re p lied that that would be to substitute error for truth, and that an !moist government could not act so. Sahsequently, I related this an. we t to M. de Polignac, who said to me, " We well know that M. de Motibel is a conscientious man, and that is the reason that we wish to 'xi-) him." I will add, that in all communications I have had with Polinac, he has appeared to me a total stranger to the specula. of Cie Exchange. JACQUES LAFI TTE, Aged fa, President of the Council of Ministers, residing at the Hotel of the Minister of Finances. On the 20th of July, the day on which the ordinances were published, 1 was at thirty-tive leagues from Paris. i did not arrive at Paris until Tuesday, towards eleven o'clock at night. Having learned that there to he a meeting at the house a M. Audry de Puyraveau, I went Mete, and I met a great number of my colleagues, who were deliberating 'pars the course it was necessary to pursue. It was resolved that the 'teputation of five members should proceed to the Duke of Ragusa, and, .f necessary, to the pr e f ect , i o or d er to ren d er t h em respons ib le for the Md'urtunets which must ensue. The deputation was composed, of my. reit, of 1131. Casimir Perrier and Mauguin, of Gen. Gerard, and Count le Ismatt. Having been the first chosen, I was fixed upon to speak in .fie name of the deputation. We arrived at the head-quarters of the staff towards half-past two ; we were received without difficulty, and with all irossible respect. The expression of the countenances there made us think t:At some satisfaction was experienced at the steps we were taking. On being introduced to the marshal, we informed him that we were come is the name of the deputies present in Paris, to examine with him if there w ere no means o f putting an end to a struggle which, if con. netted, must be productive not only of the most Cruel calamities, but Of a real revolution. The office allotted to him was one of the fa. mities of his life. but unfortunately he had orders, and those orders were positive ; his duty, as a military man was imperious, and his I honour was engaged to fulfil it. 1 strove to make some observations to him on this head, but although his sentiments appeared the same as ours, he considered himself as chained down by his situation. We desired him to inform the king of our proceeding. He in his turn demanded of us our influence with the people to induce them to submit. We replied, that first of all the ordinances must be repealed and the ministers changed, and that on these two conditions, which should be taken as the basis of ulterior negociations, we would engage to employ an influence, without, never theless, being certain of an entire success. We added that if our de. mends were not acceded to, we should consider it our duty to throw ourselves sad all that we possessed into the resisting party. The mar. shall declared that he would inform the King of our proposal. He asked if he might name us, to which we acceded without hesitation, and he promised to let us know the king's answer by sending it to me, but he gave us to understand that he had but little hope. The conversa tion having continued for some minutes, he asked if we should have any objection to see M. de Polignac ;we replied we had none. He left ua,snd in about 10 minutes he informed us M. de Polignac having been informed by him of our arrival, and knowing in what light we viewed the question, thought it useleu that we should see him. I must add, that the im pression conveyed to my mind by the tone of the marshal, and the ex pressions which he used In delivering this answer to us was, that M. de Polignac did not absolutely refuse to see us ; that he was not obstinately resolved not to listen to us, but that through a feeling of politeness, and with the conviction that he was acquainted with our intentions, he was desirous not tooccaaion us a useless loss of time,and a conference which the two conditions we instated on would have rendered very delicate. When we were about to depart, M. de la Rochejaquelin called us back, telling us that M. de Polignac wished to see us. Upon our observing that he must be deceived, he went to ascertain the truth, and replied to us in a few moments that, in reality, the Prince de Polignac having been informed of our visit to the Marshal, desired no longer to see us. We left, and we waited all the day for the promised answer. At ten o'clock at night I was still waiting for it at the nouse of M. Audry de Puyraveau, but nothing came, and it was principally this circumstance which made me resolve upon taking part in the move. went. I will add, that in all our relations with the Marshal, he ap peared to us to be merely an instrument, and acting in obedience to an imperious duty. When he entered M. de Polignac's apartment, nothing led us to think that minister engaged in council with his colleagues. DOMINIQUE FR A NCOIS JEAN A RAGO. 44 years of age, Member of the Institute, residing at the Observatoire. s Before 1 proceed to any further explanation relative to the facts I am called upon to certify, I deem it necessary to make known the origin of my relations with the Duke de Ragusa. When he presented himself in 1816 as a candidate for the station of honourary member of the Academy of Sciences, I entertained that opinion of him which was unfortunately that of the public, relative to the share he had in the events of 1814, and that opinion induced me to oppose his election ; but having since that pe riod had occasion to become particularly acquainted with that part of the political lite of the Duke of Ragusa, through Gen. Foy, Col. Fabvier, and the Prussian General 31uffling,11 acknowledged that if it was nut entirely free from censure, it was not at least sullied by those sordid views of private interest to which the people, merely informed by vague rat. WOWS, without any degree of consistency, attributed the conduce of the marshal. It is not, however, now an opportunity to enter into fur ther details on that subject ; but I was particularly desirous of explain ing how the political opinions which I have always openly professed, could not prevent me from becoming the friend of M. de Ragusa. The coups d'etat, with which some papers threatened France in the begin. ning of July, always appeared to him as the embryo of a revolution without end. He highly disapproved of the illegal, and consequently perilous, system which appeared to be adopted by the government ; and his terms of diupprobatton were not only explicit, but even exceeded the bounds of moderation. Oa Monday, the 26th of July, the day on which the fatal ordinances were published, the marshal came to the Institute, and seeing how greatly I was affected by the perusal of the "Itloniteur," he said, " ell ! you ace that the fools have pushed things on to extremities, just as I told you. At least, you will only have to lament such measures as a good citizen and a good Frenchman, but how much more am Ito be pitied-1 who, as a soldier, shall be obliged to get my head broken in the support of acts that I abhor, and of per sons who have long seemed detettnined to give me as much annoyance as possible." On the Wednesday, July 28, I was informed that in con. sequence of the popular movements of the preceding day, Paris was de clared to be in a state of siege, and Marshal 3larmont named Governor of the town. I immediately left my lodgings, and proceeded through several quarters of the city ; the insurrection appeared to me much more serious than it wax generally thought to be. In several groups I heard some persons entertain hopes that the Duke de Ragusa would take ad vantage of the opportunity to retrieve his reputation. This single word though it did not present to me the same sense as to the orators who had used it, showed me the necessity of repairing to the marshal's residence. I instantly went out, in company with my son, and arrived at the Tull leries at about two in the afternoon. The Marshal received me in the saloon which opens on the Carousel ; I innuediatily entered into con. versatlon on the important subject ; I spoke to him in the name of his best friends, as well as in my own; I endeavoured to convince him that the principle of passive obedience could not concern a mat sisal of France, especially at a moment of revolution ; I insisted on the incontestable right of the Parisians to have recourse to force, when the authority made use of the most unjustifiable measures to oppress their rights. Finally, I proposed to the Duke de Ragusa to go to St. Cloud without further delay, and to declare to the King that he could no longer remain invested with the command of the troops, unless the odious ordinances were withdrawn, and the ministers dismissed. The Marshal allowed me to develop my opinion, but I saw evidently that his whole person was labouring under excruciating feelings. His sentiments concerning the Ordinances were the sante ;he seemed to agree with me that the step I proposed was grounded on justice, but yet he did not think that then was the moment to put it in execution. A Marshal of France, an old soldier, ought not, in his opinion, to pto pae any concession, as long as the chances of the battle were uncertain. I was endeavouring to show him that if he was victorious the next day the ministerial authority would become all powerful; that his credit would be lost ; that his mediation would be useless ; when the arrival of MM. Lafitte, Gerard, de Labatt, ellSgUlir Perrier, and Mauguin was announced. I learned that the Ministers occupied a saloon next us on the same floor, and opening on the rue de Riveli. Four of them (M M. tie Polignac, d I susses, Guernon de Renville and Montbelq came into the room. In a short time afterwards the Deputies went away; they were already at the bottom of the staircase, when they were recalled, being informed at the same time that M. de Polignac consented to receive them ; but a minute had hardly elapsed, when another messenger told them drily that they might retire. After the departure of the deputies, I hoped to be able to rehew my conversation with M. de Ragusa, but his whole time was engrossed with listening to the reports of the officers of the staff, who brought, at every moment, news trom all quarters of Paris. Before 1 retired, 1 begged of 31. de la Rue, to tell the marshal that I should return the next day to renew my solicitations, if it was not too late,—that is, if all the troops of the line had not espoused the cause of the people. The impression which this made on the assembly, showed me that nothing of the kind was yet apprehended. I entered into some explanations, and spoke of several quarters where at twelve o'clock I had seen several groups; of soldiers mixing with the people. This unexpected intelli- Fence appeared to M. de la Rue to be of a nature to make also some Impression on the mind of M. de Polignac. 31. de la Rue, with my consent, transmitted my piece of news to the marshal, who hastened to inform M de Polignac of it, but it was far from producing the effect we expected, for M. de la Rue returned, saying, with inexpressible grief, " We are lost ! Our Prime Minister dues not even understand French." When the marshal told him, in quoting you as an eye-witness, that the troops were passing on the side of the people, he answered, " Well, then, tire on the troops. From that moment I became :convinced that the marshal merely commanded in name, notwithstanding the siege. I re tired: it was then more than four o'clock. GEORGES FELIX RAYFUX, Aged 48, Advocate. General for the Royal Court of Paris, residing in the Rue Traversiere, St. Honore, No. 25. I had held for more than a month the place of the Attorney-General, who was gone to assist at the elections, when, on Monday, the 26th of July, I heard that the ordinances had been promulgated. I perecivvd the hostile dispositions of the people, now so much interested in the contest, and at eight o'clock in the morning I called upon the keeper of the seals. I expressed to him my surprise that the law.officers of the King should not have been officially informed of the existence of the ordinances. His answer was, that the executive power being vested in the Administration, they had considered it as useless to give any previous notice to the judicial bodc I then related to him all that I had learnt in the morning. communicated to hint my observations, and I did not conceal from h in that I was eonvirad that the day would not pass without the effusion of blood. He assured me that I was alarmed without reason,—that ministers had the certainty that the least demonstration of force would immediately re-establish order—that the people would content themselves with crying "a has les niinistres," cries which the ministers were determined to suffer without avenging themselves. I persisted in observing that if it were possible for any one to think in the present moment that the mere display of force would have the effect of allaying the irritation of the people, it would be impossible to repress it at the moment of the elections, when all France would be in movement. The keeper of the seals then said that government had foreseen every thing—that they were perfectly aware of the real state of things—and that I need only tranquillise myself. I left him with the certainty that I should not convince him of this error in thinking that the people would return to order as soon as ever they saw bayonets pointed at them. I went to the palace of the courts, and some of the members of the judicial body having come to see me at the office of the law officers, asked me what wu the cause of my grief, which seemed to overwhelm me ; I repeated to them my conversation with the minister, and I added that his apparent tran quillity was for me a greater cause of consternation. In the evening, at about half past six, I returned home. I heard a noise in the direction of the rue Richelieu ; and as the house which I inhabit is not in this street, I went out in order to discover the cause of the tumult. All the inhabit- ants of the rue Traversiere were at their windows, lookitowards the rue Richelieu. AU of a sudden, we heard behind us a di scharge of pistols. Several lancers had just entered the rue Tnversitre, by the little street opposite the passage Bt. Guillaume. And although I had seen no mob in the street, nor heard any tumult, nor even a cry behind me, already three persons had been killed at their windows. Two of them, a foreigner and his wife, were on the balcony of the Hotel du Grand Baboon. One received a ball in the back of the head, the other in the side. An old ' man was killed at the window of a house at a little distance from the one in which I reside, and a lady had her thigh broken at the corner of the rue Clos-Georgeot, at a few yards from me. This attack, so vio lent, and so uncalled for, exasperated the inhabitants of the street, who until then had remained quiet, and they all flew to arms in cyder to de fend themselves. At half past two o'clock a gendarme disguised, came from the palace with a letter for me. The letter was addressed to the at. torney-general by the keeper of the seals, and contained the ordinance cnuntetsigned by the Princede Polignac,declaring Paris in a stateof siege. It was also enjoined to make it known to the first president and to the tri bunal of the First Instance. As I was reading this despatch, another disguised gendarme brought me another packet: it was a copy of the same ordinance, directed to me by the keeper of the seals. I found, in fact, in a salon, Messrs. de Peyronnet and de Chantelauze : I was con ducted to them by M. de Haussez. These gentlemen seemed very anx ious to have news of what was passing in town. I informed them that with the exception of what was around them, every thing was calm, every thing was in admirable order ; that property was respec.ed ; that every person taken was treated as a friend ; and that even the hotels of the ministers had not been pillaged. 31. de Pey ronnet then said to me —" Without doubt this business is managed by the jisteres, who have maintained their old organiza tion "—" No," said I ; "it is the whole population which is in insurrection ; the women take up paving-stones to their rooms to throw upon the soldiers, whilst their husbands expose themselves to be killed in the streets. The inhabitants of the country are coming in armed with pitchforks and scythes, the rising is ge. neral, and every effort made to put it down will be useless. "It is not a mere tumult," then said M. de Peyronnet, " it is a real revolution." " A revolution," I replied, " which leaves no resource, for I do not see that you have done any thing to rely upon." In order to demonstrate this, I related what had occurred to me at the palace, when I went to carry the ordinance of M. tie Polignac. At the moment of my entrance into the assize court, the quarter-master who commanded the detachment of gens d'armes then on duty came to me, and said to me, " Is it not very unfortunate, Mr. Advocate General, to kill one's fellow-citizens, and to be killed oneself for such a detestable cause, for, un doubtedly, the ministers are depriving us of our rights ? " It was then very evident that upon the preceding Tuesday I had well conceived the real position of things, and that the foresight of the minis ters had been very limited. 31. d'Hausscz led me towards the window, and said to me, " You are very right, M. Advocate-General; see, there arc our defenders ;" and pointing to the guard," twenty-four hours have elapsed since they have had anything to eat, or that their horses have been provided with forage." I wished to retire, and to go to the palace, where my duty called me. The keeper of the seals detained me, saying he had an ordinance to deliver into my hands, and that he also wished I should see the other ministers. We went into a dining-room, where they took sonic coffee ; after which we proceeded to the staff through a subterranean passage, leading from a gate of the Tuileries opposite the rue de l'Echelle, to the apartments occupied by the station the Carrousel, I was conducted by M M. de Peyronnet, de Chan:clause, and d'llaussez. I found 3i M. de Guernon, tic blontbel, de Ragusa, and one or two other persons, who were passing from one room into another, and whom I did not see sufficiently to ascertain whether they were 111 31. de Polignac and Capelle, but I do not think they were there. I repeated the greatest part o. what I had already said to M. de Peyronnet, and to the Keeper of the Seals. I was then asked, who commanded the people: I said that no one commanded them, as no mars presented itself in line, but every one fighting for himself endeavoured to insure his retreat as much as pm. rible : that in every thing which required a common effort, the pupils of the polytechnic school directed the combatants. In my interview with M. defilandeves, I liad said that the people would be soon in possession of the Tuileries. On hearing one of the ministers ask at what o'clock the king ex. petted them at St. Cloud, and the reply that it was at eleven, I said that I did not advise them to wait till that moment to order the retreat. I anxiously solicited permission to retire. The keeper of the seals-who had been lung writing, made 31. tie Ragusa sign an ordinance, which he delivered into my hands, ordering the tour royale to meet immediately at the Tuileries, and not elsewhere. I observed that it could not pos sibly be put in execution, and I engaged the minister himself to send the order to the court. He told me that as I filled the place of the at torney-general, I was charged with its execotion. I took the order, and asked that I should be supplied with the means of leaving the palace, and a few minutes after I received a laissez-passer. On going out, read the paper, and saw that it only contained a permission to leave the Tuileries, where I did not think that I was a prisoner. I returned to the head-quarters ; I saw a general officer, to whom I submitted my ob. servation, and begged of him to send au officer with me to make a sign to the soldiers not to fire on me, the sheet of paper being quite insuffi cient to prevent men, on the first story, from killing one who is in the street. I was answered that it was impossible, and that I must content myself with what I had obtained. 1 died in vain to get out by the gate which leads to the Pont Royal; the balls tired from the other side of the water covered the passage. 11y the gate of the Louvre thedanger was still greater. At last I resolved to return by the way I went. When I was in the street of I'Echclle, and going to cross the rue St. Homier, I saw one or two persona fall in the street des Frondeurs which I had been preparing to take. I changed my direction, and I entered the street Traversiere ; the firing was very brisk. I was alone in this Street, but an unfortunate fruitinan, who wished to see who at such a time could venture out without arms, put out his head and received a mono! blow ; I heard him fall behind mc. The court of my house was full of people, who had taken refuge theme. I was asked what I had been doing at the Tuileries ? I said that I Iliad gone to inform ; the ministers of the real state of things, and that I felt confident that lin a short time the combat would cease. In fact, I soon It ant that a parliamentary messenger had been sent, but had been killed by the people, to whom he was unknown, at the corner of thcstreet de la Paix. After tranquillizing my family, I ran to the palace; the people had been there, and had already taken possession of it, after committing some damage. When I arrived several persons came to meet me, and desired me to deliver up the guns which were deposited in the registry of the court. 1 replied that I could not do so ; that these guns were sited by sportsmen,who were found without authorisation ; that they were unfit for use, and might be productive of accidents, and that they must not incur the odium of having violated a public deposit, without de. riving any advantage frent it. They then told me that they knew there was more than 100,000 francs' worth of gold ar.d silver articles which had Lien seized fur not having the authorises] mark, and deposited in the registry, that evil disposed persons might take advantage of the moment to take possession of them, that it was necessary to guard these articles, and that sentinels ought to be placed, with the arms which were there, as their bad condition would no: be known, and they would serve to awe the ill.intentiontd. They centered the registry, took the guns, and guarded the place faithfully. None of the objects of value were taken. went afterwards to the residence of the first president ; 1 left die (trill , mince with him, :nal we agreed not to execute it. BRUSSELS PAPERS. BRUSSELS, DEC. 3. NATIONAL CONGRESS. SITTING OF DEC. 2. Among the various projects,Peiiaenri,lC.nddressed to the Chamber, a M. Auguste proposes the Duke of Lucca for the Sovereign of 1121- glum ; Viscount proposes the Archduke Ferdinand. of Austria, grandson of Maria Theresa ; smother proposes the Duke of Reichstadi. Thirteen inhabitants of Antwerp complain of the continuance of the blockatle:of the Scheldt, notwithstanding the suspension of arms that has been agreed to. On this — subject, M. Os makes a motion embracing four points, to ask of the Provisiona l Government-1. Communication of the 1 protocol of London, and of the note of Messrs. Bresson and Cart. wright, relative to the suspension of arms : 2. What measures have I been been taken to obtein the execution of the contents of this note : ' 3. What stipulation has been made for the free navigation of the Scheldt : and. 4. A view of the situation of the finances of Belgium. The motion being seconded. Al. Verbrock Pieter' calls the attention of the Congress to the points proposed : he represents Holland as the most cruel enemy of our commerce; it has always been seen to interpret treaties to our prejudice, and to follow oblique and crooked wave. After having succeeded in shut t in g t h e S c h e ld t , i t cause d th e . dissolution of the East India Company, which had been formed at Ostend. The same hand which struck us then. strikes us to day. We have the more I reason to fear its blows, as we see at the head of the Dutch Mini. s try the famous Van Maanen, whose very name fills the souls of all lielgtans with indigestion. M. Osy, in favour of his motion, observes, that the restoration of the communications has been announced, and yet they are still interrupted; that the ships detained at Flushing have not been released, and have not been able to enter Antwerp. Ile draws a most melancholy picture of that city. Foreigners have no longer any confidence in that port ; in a few months its commerce will be wholly annihilated; the workmen are without employment ; the enormous loss, amounting to ten or twelve millions of francs, caused by the binning of the entrepot, places many houses to a dangerous situation ; the closing of the Scheldt and of the port of Antwerp will cause the loss of the principal vent for the manu factures of Flanders, Verviers, and all Belgium. He shews the neces sity of having full information respecting the political, financial, and commercial situation of the country. M. Van de Weyer, if he did not feel the necessity of giving some in. formation on the points proposed by 11. Verbrock, would wait foe the official communications of the Provisional Government. Here, however, he will speak only as a member of the Congress. The Diplomatic Committee has not delayed taking proper measures for insuring the execution of the suspension of arms. It has signified to Messrs. Bra. son and Cartwright, the envoys of the five great Powers, that the suspension of arms proposed by them, and accepted by the Provisional Government, has not yet been executed by Holland. (M. Van de Weyer read a l e tt e r from M. de Rouchefoucault, Am. bassador, written from the Hague on the 26th of November to M. Breuon, at Brussels. Al. de Rochefouesult states, that in concert its his Excellency the English Ambassador, he bad caused remon. stances to be made to the Dutch Government, and that ceders ware des. patched from the Hague on the 24th to curry the suspension dams into execution. He then read it letter from Mr. Canwrignt, senouncieg the same thing. Notwithstanding these assurances, the Llochl.le hns not been raised„ and M. Beason has considered this delay as a persornln:at. ter; he has shewn the greatest zeal to terminate it, and Mr. Certter. , „• : , set out for the Hague this morning with this slew. However, s a ne ships have al rea dy sa il e d from - Ostend, as announced in a le::er written to M. Coghen, Administrator of the Finances.— Yesterday the Provisional Government, on the certainty that the block ade was not raised, judged that its dignity required the suspension of the conferences which had taken place for the provisional demarcatier. of the boundaries. It will not resume them till it shall have rece'.ved satisfactory explanations respecting the non-execution of the suspension of arms. It is s a id th at Holland is arming, that it has sent fur Swiss troops, &c. for money Swiss may be had, but money will no: procure the courage and heroism of our soldiers. We have no reason to fear taking the field, we have already 30,000 infantry and 1,100 cavalry organised and filled with martial ardour. As for manufacture*. the Provisional Government had not tha same means as the preceding administration, it could not dispose of the money of the State ; but it has done in this respect every thing in its power, is has formed Commissioners of manufactures, from which much good is expected. Two Commissions have been created for the finances; ore to prepare the budget of the state, the other to regulate the disburse ments made. The recognition of the Belgic flag has been the object of our first steps, but nothing hes yet lwen decided on the subject. The communication of the protocol of 17th Nov. Is asked for; it appears to me that it would be improper to lay it before the As. sembly and the public, previous to its di-cussion Lt.; Diplomatic Committee. It will be communicated v.is.:n it has I.AI to sonic result. Confidence must be placcd iti the Diplomatic Coa.mittee, which takes on itself the whole responsibility of its ac:s. The confer ences on this protocol began only a week since. The observance of the armistice/ does not bring with it the renewal of the criintrunkatte• with Holland, but between the sevensl places occuph ol by the We do not, by the suspension of anus, retort to a state o lane 4:i • limits to be treced will be only a provisional line, whie4 ail! le •- litical questions untouched. 31. Osy sees that the great question of the freedom of the O`c!,.: ' is not compromised in the armistice, and has DO connection silt ; raising of the blockade. A discussion, or rather conversation, ensued on this subject ; era 3i . Van de Weyer observed, that the act of the: five Powers compW,entli the raising of the blockade of the ports and rivers ; besides, by speak. ing especially of the free navigation of the Scheldt, the Provisional Government would have maladroitly raised a question which, in fact, is not one. If so me s hi ps were captured off' Ostend on the 27th , this is net surprising, as the order to raise the blockade was not forwarded from the Hague till the 27th, and could not be known at Ostend on the 27th. It is to be observed that we do not negotiate directly with the King of Holland, but through the medium of the five great powers ; consequently, if Holland should act with bad faith, it is these pow.r. that it will offend. It is probable that the state of King Williant's affairs will not permit him to do so. M. Os) , withdrew the first three parts of his motion, and with respe c to the fourth, the Assembly decided that it was not neaessary to ta/:.: into immediate consideration. Next Saturday morning, at half-past ten, the Congress will oar: t. le to proceed in a body to attend the laying of the first stone of a monu ment to the brave men who perished in defence of their country. It will then attend the funeral service in their honour. On its return it vi 1 eumine, in a general Committee, the question of the Senate or of two Chambers, as points to be inserted in the Constitution. BRUSSELS, Dec. i. Several gun-boats have lately left the Royal Dock-yards. to 1,r0c..,(1 to the coasts of South Holland and Zealand. DEC. A British Cabinet messenger, with despatches:recyived yest.rdsy tt, .. London, set ont in the night for the Hague. The statenlent of the Gazelle de Franc, that M. Ch. Rogier, nitni ber of the Provisional Government, has arrived at Paris, and that he hi commissioned to offer the Crown of Belgium to the Duke of Nemours, is without foundation. M. Fermin (not Charles) Rogier is gone to Paris, but has no official mission. The National Congress has not authorised any one to offer the Crown of Belgium to any person whatever. Tie Prince of Saxe Weimar has left 3faestricht, and gone to Bteda. DEC. C. W. Goblus, Vice. Admiral, commanding at Flueh. big, replied on the 28th to a letter dated the 26th, witten by Baron Van. dersmissen, at Antwerp, that he had just received the orders of his Go vernment, respecting the acceptance of the armistice proposed the Bel. gian Government, and that in regard to the merchantmen bound to An, twerp, he should act according to those ordets. But what are they ? The latter does not state. What conditions will Holland impose ? Will it demand a duty to assist its pretended rights, to the navigation of the Scheldt? Probably only the vessels that arrived at Flushing before the blockade will be permitted to come to Antwerp. Vie a: e assured that among the instructions given to Admiral Gobius, are the following :—" You must not suppose that the raising of the blockade of the coasts of Belgium, makes any change in the royal decrees re specting the conveyance of goods from Holland to the revolted places ; on the contrary, the decree of the 20th is to be strictly enforced." ANTWEItP, Dec. 1. There are at present 16 small vessels which are taking on hoard etr. non, &c. from the citadel, whence we may infer that ti:e citadel will he evacuated. We may add, that the Dutch are also running front the citadel the stores, &c. which they have at their disposal.—Brueses Pa. per., Dec. 4. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. MAILS Antares° Tam Dar — Dublin, l ; Waterford, 2 ; Guernsey raid Jersey, 1 ; Holland, 1 ; Flanders, 1 ; France, 1 ; Brazil, I. The Mary Ann Louisa, Rol, of Dublin, was on shore in the Sker rle, slci inst. with damage. and loss of rudder. The Unity, Power, coal laden, was totally wrecked near WaterforJ 2d inst. The Kitty, Cbisman, from Whitehaven to Cardiff, was on shore in Morton harbour 3d inst. and greatly damaged. lbe Alert, Davidson, from Memel to Dublin, bas put into Thurso, waterlogged. The Beinhardina, from to Hull, was totally lost at the mouth of the Tees 2d inst. The Charlotte, from Crichton, was carried Into Yarmouth Roads on Saturday, abandoned by the crew. Dem., Dec. s.—Wind S.S.w. high. Powramourn, Dec. 4 and s.—Wind S.E.—Arrived r•ff the rort, the Atalanta, Hawkins, from It•ga. Sailed his Majesty's ship Race for Bermuda. Fatmourn g Dec. 3 and 4. —VI ind E. to S.S.E. moderate.--Ar rived the Frolic packet, from Perwimbuco—sailed the £B!h August, Bahia 4th Sept. and Rio Janeiro iOth October. Put back, the [Jas.:, Russian steamer, for Odessa. Sailed the Sandwich packet, fur Lis. bun; and Hermes steamer, for Plymi.uth. Dom*, Dec. 3.—Arrived the Ay Aphea, fro :I Hamburgh ; at d Alliance, from Gottenburgh. Coae, DEC. 3.—Arrived the Syren, Clifton, from Yarmnu:b, with loss of bowsprit, &c. bow d to America : Alpha, Hill, from Newcastle, leaky, and must discharge; and Born Tem, front St. Übe's. Irmearce, Dec. 3. Arrived the Amity, Chilcott, Seaflower r Ci!F of Limerick, and Mary Ann, from London. [Woolen', Dec. s.—Arrived off the port, the Agnes, Linda).., from Riga; and Hope, from Dantzic. Penzance, Den. 4.—Arrived the Eleneza, Ratcliff, from Bahia. leaser, Dec. 2.—Arrived the Eleneza, Luce, from Bilboa, and Isabella, Silks, from Copenhagen. Bat rot., Dec. S.— A r riv ed the Harbinger, from 3lessina ; and tie James. Walton, from Memel. HOLT !MAN Dec. 4.—Arrived the Camcene, Ilarman, from Oporto. Livtarooz, Dec. 4.—Arrived the 13ispbam, Evans, riam Mtssiwi ; and Brothers, Jarvis, from Gijon. The Lord Chancellor, Earl Grey,Lord Holland, Lead Hi:), and Sir H. Hotham, had audiences of the King yesterday. 'Yesterday their Majesties and the Duchess of G!oecr.ir•r attended Divine Service at the Chapel 'loyal, and hilt , d most excellent sermon by the Bishop of London, f:e►.i is n 4th Chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, and ti..) 4th and sth verses—" But when the fulness of the time was come Gun scut forth his Son, made of a woman, made ►:nd..r the law, to redeem them that were under the law, tliat tvo might receive the adoption of sons." The Noble l'ielat)3 very ably defended the belief in the divinity of o:,:• ti.t% and supported the doctrine of the atonement as the only ground for salvation. The Bishop also read the Communion Service. The Church Service was read by the Rev. Mr. Knapp 3:L,1 the Rev. Mr. Beckwith, jun. The Musical Service was read and chaunted by Nles:6. Evans, Nield, Hawes, Roberts, &tonneaux, and Wek...h. Thu anthem was, " Awake, awake, put on thy strength, 0 pion !.' composed by Wise, and sung by Messrs. Evans, Nie!d, and Welsh. The Rev. Dr. Hughes was Clerk of the Closet. Divine service was performed yesterday b 4 ttie 0:n14: 4:n to the Duchess of Kent, at the King's Palace at Ketisin t .- on, before the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Viet( :i their Royal Highnesses Houselua. i l I , 9