The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-17 00:00:00

VIOLENT SCENE

IN TUB
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Since the foregoing was in type, we have received
the letter of Paris correspondence, with important
news, up to last evening at poet hour.
PARIS, THURSDAY, 3 P.M.
A demonstration was made, unsuccessfully, today,
by the national guard of Paris, to protest against the
decision of the minister of the interior, who had
ordered the fusion of the picked companies
with the general companies of chasseurs; the object
of this measure on the part of the ministry having
been to influence the election of officers of
the national guard. It is stated that but
a few of the National Guards of the 10th Legion
were admitted to the Hotel de Ville, and the result
is that the fusion of the picked companies will not
take place, on condition that they will not wear the
' distinctive insignia of Grenadiers and Voltigeurs.
The rest of the representatives of the national guard,
forming the compact mass of eight or nine thousand
unarmed men, were stopped at the Pont du Change
by a handful of men of the people. The
national guard then endeavoured to pass by another
route, but were again stopped by the populace, who
shouted " Vive Ledi Rollin.,,
This minister then ap-
peared at the window of the Hotel de Ville, with the
other members of the provisional government. The lat-
ter, especially Messrs. Lamartine and Arago, appeared
dejected. Ledru Rollin saluted the populace, which
thronged the Place de I'llotei de Ville, crying " Vive
Lcdm Rollin ; " the National Guard then retired, an-
nouncing their intention to return in arms. 'Serious
results nay now be feared. The general masses ap-
pear to regard the act which has excited the national
guard as another step towards the establishment of
perfect equality, and the reluctance of the guard to
comply with the decree is treated as a manifestation
of superiority. It is thought to be the first symptom of a
reaction. Shouts of Egalit ! A bas lea aristacrates
and other exclamations followed the entrance of the
deputations into the square.
The National Guards are preparing to petition the
Provisional Government for the dismissal of M. Ledru-
Rollin from the office of Minister of the Interior.

A very exciting scene took place at a meeting of
the provisional government last evening. The majority
having demanded the resignation 01 M. Ledru Rollin,
this gentleman replied that he would never resign,
and that if they wished to dismiss him he would ap-
peal to the people, at the same time advancing to-
wards a window, no doubt with the intention of
addressing the popnlace. Upon this, M. Gar-
nier Pages drew his pistols, and threatened to
fire if M. Ledru Rollin persisted, A most violent
scene ensued, M. Rollin proceeding so far as to raise
his hand against M. de Lamartine, who said, " Sir,
I would rather die in an emertte than upon the
scaffold." Ledru Rollin then became calmer on the
threat of Gamier Pages that he would show the people
a treasury bond for 300,000 fr., drawn on the treasury
by Ledru Rollin.
To-day a great crowd assembled round the Bank
of France, and it was found necessary to have a com-
pany of the National Guards to keep order. The
decree suspending the cash payments not having
been generally known, a disposition to create dis-
turbance at first showed itself, and the excitement
throughout the day was very great.
M. d'Assaily, grandson of General Lafayette, has
addressed a letter to the Presse, reprobating, in strong
and dignified language, the circular of M. Ledrn-
' Rollin.
It is confidently stated," says the Constitutionnel,
" that the Council of Defence intends to demand
the establishment of a camp of 30,000 men near
Dijon. The choice of the general officer to command