The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-26 00:00:00

effect that at 3 o'clock, a.m., MM. Thiers and Barret
had been appointed ministers.
Count Mold had declined the task of forming a new
nitrite's, ! The King had sent late on Wednesday
night for M. Thiers, and that gentleman at once
undertook to submit to his Majesty the bet of a new
cabinet, making a proviso, however, that he might be
permitted to join with him, as one of his colleagues,
M. Odillon Barret. To this his Majesty acceded. On
Thursday morning, a little before 8, as a number of
people wereemployed in erecting a barricade at the
end of the Rue Taitbout, close to the Boulevard,
they saw a group of gentlemen approaching
from the end nearest to the Rue des Trois
Freres. Some of the crowd immediately recog-
nised them, and loud cries of " Vive M. Thiers,
"Vive M. o.Barrot," burst forth. With these gentle-
men were M. Duvergier de liauranne, M. de Reinu-
sat, Prince de la Moseowa, and other members
belonging to the Opposition. The whole party walked
on towards the chateau, followed by cries of " Viva le
lteforme." " Yes, yes," said M. Thiers "you shall have
it." The whole way from the Boulevards to the Rue St.
Honore was intercepted by immense barricades, some
of them considerably higher than a man's stature. At
each of these impediments, M. Thiers and the other
gentlemen were obliged to pass saigly, and as the
rumour spread, that the hon: gentleman was going to
the King, loud cheers continued to greet him. At
about ten o'clock M. Odillon Minot passed up the
Rue Sainte Anne on foot towards the Boule-
vards, proclaiming General Lamoriciere commandant
of the National Guard of Paris, and accompanied by
a numerous escort of National Guards and citizens
intermingled. On arriving at the corner of the Rue
Richelieu, M. 0. Barret gave orders to a troop of
dragoons and the 21st regiment of the line to proceed
to their barracks. The order was immediately
()Impel amidst shouts of " Vive Lamoriciere,
Vice Odillon Barrot, Vice le Vingtunieme do ligne,"
the soldiers fraternising with the people. The
caissons of the regiment were in an instant broken
open, and t heir contents distributed amongst the crowds
During the morning, until eleven o'clock, the same
bodies of troops, infantry, cavalry, and artillery,
which during the night had occupied the chief posi-
tions throughout the city, still held them. An
order then came from the authorities, in consequence
lof which they reversed their arms, the trumpet
sounded a retreat, and they marched to their re-
spective quarters, amidst the enthusiastic acclamations
lot the populace.
The different universities were left in the charge of
a handful of the National Guard, and the city was
otherwise surrendered completely to the will and
power of the populace.
For several hours the National Guard seemed to
have no definite erganisation or purpose. Detached
companies and scattered individuals appeared here
and there in the streets' and Boulevards, but not
directed with any apparent purpose. Meanwhile
the populace were actively employed in all
quarters of the town constructing barricades for
the professed purpose of preventing the movement of
cavalry and artillery, in case of any attack iu the
evening.
The solid pillars of masonry constructed along the
Boulevards, and which served as the means of pla-
cards for advertisements, were all palled down to
supply materials for barricades. The benches (stone
and iron) provided on the side of the Boulevards
were also torn up and applied to a like purpose.
The trees which were of sufficient size were also
generally cut down, and similar* applied, the
younger and more tender ones being respected. The
pavement, wherever it was practicable, was torn up.
Iron palisades of many of the public buildings were
torn down to be converted into offensive
weapons. It was observable, however, that the
handsomer palisading which decorated a finer class of
public edifices, such as the Church of the Madeleine,
was spared. The populace expressed its triumph in I
some instances by curious devices, thus, on the Hotel of
Foreign Affairs was stuck up a conspicuous placard— I
"Grand Apartement a Louer." On another of the
public offices was chalked—" Maison an l'euple."
A little before noon, a formal proclamation, the
authenticity of which could not be doubted, was
posted to the following effect :
CITIZENS OP PARIS.
You are ordered to discontinue firing. M. Thiers and 0.
Barrot are charged with the formation of a new cabinet. A
dissolution of parliament will take place, and an appeal be
made to the country.
General Lamoriciere is appointed commandant of the
National Guards.
(Signed) THILES, 0. BARROT, DUELRGIER, D. 11•1-
RANNE, LASIORICIERE.
It was after the publicatioc of this notification that
the most disastrous event dating the whole
of the movement took place. The proclamation
did not seem to satisfy the people, who pro-
ceeded forthwith to greater acts of violence than
had 'hitherto been attempted. An attempt was
made on the Finance Minister's residence at eleven
o'clock, which failed. The Palais Royal was attacked
at twelve o'clock by the people, and taken by them a'
half-past one after a sanguinary contest, no less than
500 being stated to have fallen. General de Lamori-
ciere is said to have been seriously wounded in his
efforts to restore order, The Palish. Royal was sacked,
and the throne burned. An attack was made at one
o'clock on the Palace of the Tuileries. The King ab-
dicated in favour of the Count de Paris, and
at one o'clock, left the Palace of the Tuileries , escorted
by a party of the cavalry of the national guards, and
several regiments of regular cavalry. The carriages
went by the Quays to the barrier of Pansy.
At two o'clock the following proclamation was
posted on the walls of Paris :
Citizens of Paris,—The king has abdicated. The crown
bestowed by the Revolution of July is now placed on the
head of a child, protected by his mother. They arc both
under the safeguard of the honour and courage of the
Parisian population. All cause of division amongst us hss
'eased to exist. Orders have been given to the troops of the
line to return to their respective quarters. Our brave army
can be better employed than in shedding its blood in so
deplorable a collision.
lily beloved Fellow.citizens!—From this moment the
maintenance of order is entrusted to the courage and pea-
dence of the people of Paris and its heroic National Guard.
They have been faithful to our noble country. They will
not desert it in this grave emergency.—OnaLLON BARROT.
Passing through the Place de la Concorde, to-
wards Neailly, the Duchess of Orleans went with her
sots to the chambers, dressed in deep mourning, to
place herself and them under the protection of the
deputies. The chambers declared themselves
sitting in permanence. It was proposed by Odillon
Barrot that a regency should be formed under the
Duchess of Orleans until the Count de Paris should
come of age. This was rejected, and a republic in-
sisted on. Between four and five o'clock the provi-
sional government, composed as we have stated, was
accepted by the chamber. Gamier Pages was made
mayor of Paris.
Meanwhile the Tuileries, which were in possession
of the people, were given up to the national guards.
Part of the furniture had been thrown out of the win-
dows and burnt. A procession of persons in blouses
and armed were to be seen carrying the throne from
the throne-room of the Tuileries on their shoulders in
triumph, and singing the hlarseillaise. The people
had penetrated into the cellars of the Tuileries, and
distributed the wine.
Not a soldier was to be seen. The troops of the
line had fraternised with the national guard and the
national guard with the people. Ail intercourse be-
tween the two aides of the river was cut off, bat
firing was going on up to the last moment.
The Hotel des Affaires Etrangeres had been turned
into an ambulance for the wounded, and the people,
dipping their fingers in the blood, had written along
the walls A mutt Guizot.
The total disorganisation of all business in Paris
cuts off the regular transmission of mails and ex-
presses. The ordinary French mail did not arrive
yesterday, The railway stations and barriers are
possession of the people. The rails are taken
up to a certain distance from Paris to prevent the
troops arriving from the country. Communication
between Amiens and Paris is therefore cut off by
railway, and the greater portion of the above
, intelligence was transmitted by special express. Our
courier learnt in passing, that Amiens had seconded
the movement in Paris, and that the mail and pas-
sengers from Boulogne that had left Amiens on their
way to the French capital had beeu forced to return
to Amiens. •
Many rumours were afloat in London last evening
reopening the whereabouts of Louis-Philippe and his
court. St. Cloud, Versailles, Boulogne, Southampton,
and Mivart'a Hotel, Brook-street, in this metropolis,
were each confidently, stated by different persons,
as the place to which he and his family had flown.
Nothing certain was known, however, up to a late
hour last night.
Despite the interruption on the road, every arrange-
ment has been made for securing for our readers the