The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-08 00:00:00

THE MIRROR.

The Mirror for March commences with a well-
written review of the recently published " History of
1848," by Mr. Walter K. Kelly. The writer in the
Mirror is disposed to regard M. Ledru Rollin in
much more favourable light than he has been gene-
rally regarded in this country, and protests against
the severity with which he is treated by Mr. Kelly.
Although we do not appreciate so highly as does the
writer in the Mirror the character of Ledru Rollin,
although we disapprove entirely of many of his pro-
ceedings, yet we cannot but wish that some
of his colleagues in the Provisional Govern-
ment and in the Executive Committee had possessed
his energy cf character and determination of purpose.
Had such been the case, there would have been no re-
action, The Liberals have, however, learned wisdom
by experience.
"If it was na weel bobbit,

We'll bob it again."
And the next time they will recollect the fate of
Robert Blum, and act accordingly. This notice is
followed by an interesting Indian tale from the pen
of Mr. Percy B. St. John, entitled, the " White
Rose." From the " Adventures of a French Repub-
lican," by the same author, we extract the following
account of the first overt act of the French Revolu-

tion of 1830. For the accuracy of the description we
can vouch from our personal knowledge. The
scene took place at the office of the Temps newspa-
per, in the Rue Richelieu, on the morning of the 26th
July. The paper had been published in contraven-
tion of the ordinances, and the Commissary of Police,
accompanied by a detachment of horse gendarmerie,
knocked at the gatea of the court-yard in which the
establishment was situated :

" The double doors flew open, and showed the pro-
prietor of the paper, M. Baude, bare headed, and sur-
rounded by his editors, readers, printers, &c.
" The commissary of police advanced, and announced
that his mission was to sieze the printing-presses of the
paper, which had illegally appeared that morning. He
spoke with hesitation, and with pallid cheek, the mein
of all was so solemn, and the very gendarmes looked
sulky.
" B is in 'virtue of the edict,' said M. Baude, that
you come to touch my presses. In the name of the law,
I bid you respect my property.'
" Monsieur,' replied the commissary, I must obey
my orders. In the name of the King, I bid you open
your doors.'
" Monsieur the commissary,' continued M. Muk,
my doors are locked and padlocked; the key is in my
possession. Break open the doors at your peril.'
" I must pick your locks,' said the commissary,
firmly—though pale as death—' go fetch a locksmith.'
" A man went. The crowd increased, and began to
growl. The gendarmes sat sullen on their horses.
" A locksmith came with his tools.

" ' Pick that lock,' said the commissary, who wore the
marks of his office.

" The locksmith advanced to obey. Ile was an honest
workman, about to do a job for his daily bread.
" Stop,' said M. Baude—drawing a book from his
pocket, and reading aloud the clause in the code civil
which punishes severely robbery with violence in a
dwelling-house—(vol avec ejfractivn).
" Open these locks at your peril,' said M. Baude—a
tall venerable man, of rude aspect—' this man'—point-
ing to the commissary of police—' comes to steal my
presses : beware being his accomplice.'
" I will guarantee you,' said the commissary, se-
verely—' do as I tell you : pick the lock.'
" The blacksmith—who had taken off his cap while
the article of the code civil was being read—hesitated.
" Obey,' continued the commissary, the law will
bear you harmless ; and here are ten francs for our
labour.'

" • Obey,' said M. Baude, coolly, ' it is only hard la-
bour for life. Gentlemen,' turning to the crowd, ' you
will bs my witnesses before the Court of Assists.'
" A pocket-book was handed round: every man pre-
sent wrote his name and address.

Despise this mummery,' said the commissary of
police, angrily.
" The locksmith shook his head, threw his basket of
tools over his shoulder, and turned away.
" The law seems against you, M. the commissary,'
he said, with the slyness of a true Parisian.
" The crowd applauded, and bore him away in
triumph.
" Fetch me another serrurier,' said the magistrate,
moodily; for he saw that his obedience to his orders
was kindling the flame of insurrection.
" Another came. He declined equally.
" The commissary turned to a gendarme.
" Hide to the prefecture, and bring me Michel, the
locksmith of the prison.'
" The mob hooted, for this man was the one who fas-
tened the chains on the convicts.

" A suddea motion took place in the ranks of the
gendarmerie.
•° What is it?' said the commissary.
" • A barricade is rising at the bottom of the street.'
" Gallop off and disperse the mob,' said the commis•

sary.
" The gendarmes galloped away."
The other papers of the Mirror are of a very inter-
esting character. " The Murdered Post-boy," by
W. H. Maxwell, is especially worthy of perusal.