The National Register.
London, England, 1815-08-20 00:00:00

532

" cull, no a—lt on this important day my life alone wile cam'
prised, I •lioii .1 41),ImIon :11V,t It t the eneoinaging idea, that lie
who has s, nn-tine. hit 1):;ivt. 11101 to death, would know how to
march to death himself like a brave man, and 1 should slot detain
you, Rut my honour is attacked as well as my lite, and it is my
ditty to defend it, because it does not belong to me alone : a wire,
the model of every virtue, i!as a right to demand an account of it
from me. my son, %%lir it reason ensues to enlighten him, blush
at his iilicrit.ivice? l 11.11:.t;.taigth enough to resist the most terrible
attacks, if I am able to say, llonotir is tiotourlied!
" o.iist have been deceived--misled by illusions, by recollec-
tions, by fake ideas of hoomir—it is possible that country spoke a
Chimerical kiiguare to
The declared that lie had no intention, nor the possibility
of ileilyilig f•iets. public and notorious ; he was ready to sign the act
of accusation &ay.n up against him, but he would justify himself
from the charge of having 1, en concerned in any plot that preced-
ed the ret•irii of Ilium:parte; and lie protested that lie is con-
vinced no relation ever existed between the isle of Elba and
Pat is. _ _ _

" Appointed Colonel of a regiment, I wished only to occupy my•
Pelf in my military duties. I wished above all to inspire my sol-
diers w jib an esprit de r6to s Never should I have attempted to
snake them torget the who had so often led them to victo-
ry ; but I know also the names and exploits of the great men that
have rendered the of the llonibotis illustrious, and I should
have made it a duty and pleasure to teach them to my troops.
" I do n•.l conceal that I set off with sad prestntimens ; but Na.
pole°, was fen from my thoughts. I had not foicscen that France,
niit..nelied and united, would resume for three months, under a
new rezrine. a political attitude. I had not foreseen this coalition
of all•Europe,•,igaiii•t which the army, protector of the territory,
would again fight under Blionaparte. But I was a victim to a
vague uneasiness, of which, nevertheless, I mold explain and per.
haps justify the cause. AO if my voice could have that solemn
character which, they say, the feeblest accents assume in thc mo-
nies)! (IV:I I 11, Mil rrill'e lion, might still be useful to futorit3 !
"In 18:4 neither the nation or army could longer sutler the yoke
of 111111.11:111:11fr wit%tired of war without motive—exhausted by
sari iti is ithout felt the necessity of a repairing Governs
nicol—where could we Ititterourselves that we should find it but in
the veval of the Boni bons, whose name et-minded France nt a long
series of good Kings, and ages or prosperity. Hence they were
welcomed with an enthusiasm which wits too soon (-hilted by 1111-
Imo on% faults, grave error:, and fatal imprudence,. The King's in-
tentions were pure, but the foutragyotts zeal of faithlrss servants did
nitwit harm. These men formed au erroneous idea of Frauce—

The President, interrupting the Accused, required him to con.
fine Innisel • to his defencc—" It is not a political crime of which
yon are arensed ham e us, or that we are called upon to judge—it
is a military crime--a violation of your duties as soldier and co-
lonel—try to destroy the proofs that are furnished against you--we
desire it as much as yon can."
Libedoyere---" What:
. would you have me combat facts that arc
notorious, and disavow atctions that are public? I never had such
an idea. And since you prohibit me fiom entering into the exami•
nation of the poli ilea! causes that led to the step for which I am
called upon to answer before yon, I must confine myself to the
avowal of a great error. and I confess it with et let upon throwing
my eyes urn my country.--My tault is the haying misunderstood
the intentions of the King." _

M. de Labedoyete made a tardy but touching reparation to the
Kitu—" I see all promise• fulfilled, all guarantees consecrated, the
constitution perfected, and fOrvigners will again see, I hope, a
great nation in the Fiend' united round their King. Perhaps I
shall not be called upon to enjoy the sight ; but I have shed my
blood for my country, and I love to persuade myself that my death,
preceded by my error, may be of some use; that my memoty will
slot be held in horror, and that when my son shall have reached the
age at %Well he shall be able to serve his country, the country will
not reproach him with his fiame."
The firm and noble accent, the modest yet fissured countenance,
and tbe!penetrating tone of the Colonel, invired all the audience
with a feeliug which the judges would no doubt have shared—the
feeling of regret that so many fine qualities, which might have made
their possessor the pride of his country and his family, should only
ender' him the accomplice of the euetny

AUG. O.

Glared besides, unanimously, that Labedoyere had not profited of
the delay of eight (lays granted by the Ordounatice of the King to
all the abettors of Buonaparte to return to t' cir duty. In conse-
(pence, they condemned him to the pain of death, to degradation
trout the rank at Colonel, and from the title of Commandant of
the Legion of Honour, and to the payment of the expellees of the
trial.
This sentence, pronounced in the absence of tl.e accused, will
be r -ad to ltim by the Reporter, Vk ho will announce to him that he
is allowed a delay of '2l hours, to demand the revision at his sen-
tence before another tribunal.
He Wlti dressed in a large green riding coat without any decora-
tion. His figure is tall—his countenance genteel and agreeable.
He appeared at first rather pale and contused, hut he aoou assumed
a firm and assured look and manntr.

. .
have contributed to the rendering him the accomplice of the euetny
of the human race.\
It win; it a ,tisitile expression of grief that the Pre‘ident, after
a long (I . •_ti .1 oflite likitimeil. der ari d that C. A. F. H. de La.
befit), . iii. h Z7i4if 3 th-tegiment of the line, hail been ottani-
, e),
artoini.'""i! ..•• A' "*.) etroOti and Rebellion. The Court de-
j• 0
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