The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-21 00:00:00

"4‘..
:

ATTEMPTED AS
THE KING OF THE FRENCH.
The Journal des Debats publishes the following details re-
lative to the atrocious attempt upon the King's life :
" Yesterday afternoon the Royal Fathily had taken 'a drive_
after a boar hunt which lasted until near five o'clock. The
King, Queen, Madame Adelaide, the Prince and Princ
of Salerno, and the Duchess of Nemours were in ach -a-
bane. The Duke de Nemours and the Prince de Joinville
were on horseback. M. de Montalivet, who accompanied the
King, was seated beside his Majesty on the first bench of
the carriage. which was not attended by any escort. Some
officers of the Ist Regiment of Hussars, who had been at the
hunt, g'alloped near the carriage doors, with Captain Bra-
hault, the King's orderly officer. From the moment of the
King's departure for his drive an individual whosehead was
covered with a handkerchief was concealed behind a wall in
the private'park, holding in his hand a gun levelled at the
royal equipage, but the attempt was adjourned until the re-
turn of the royal party, because, according to the supposi-
tion of that man, the King would be better placed to re-
ceive the shot at about six yards from the mouth of the gun.
The individual thus posted like a poacher who is waiting his
prey was, as may have been anticipated, the person named
Lecomte.
"Leconite is forty-eight years of age, he was born at Beau-
mont (Cote d'Or), he is a vindictive and violent man, ill
conducted, of limited intellect, and of a detestable reputation.
He is unmarried, and resided in the Rue de Colysees in Paris.
" Lecomte is said to have served, before the year 1830 in
the Royal Guard, with the rank of non-commissioned officer,
during the expedition to Spain, and he subsequently made
the campaign of the Morea. He received in the first of the
two campaigns the cross of the Legion of Honour. Having
left the service, he entered as wood-ranger in the household
of the Duke of Orleans. It was after 1830 that ho was ap-
pointed chief guard of the royal domain at Fontaiubleau,
after having passed -in succession through all the inferior
ranks. During those several periods he every year accom-
panied the King in his drives at Fontainbleau. Lecomte
was treated with the greatest indulgence, inasmuch as he
had always ill -discharged his duties. About eighteen months
since he resigned his situation, is a letter filled with
the most insolent expressions. A thousand efforts were
made to induce him to retract and to use becoming language.
But he was obstinate and persisted in his resolution. He was
offered half-pay, although he had no right to any. Ile then
formed the strange idea of demanding the value of his half-
pay in money. This was refused. From this cause Lecomte
conceived a violent hatred against his former masters, and in
particular against M. de Sahume, Conservator of the Crown
Forests, whom he is said to have threatened with his ven-
geance. M. de Sahume complained to the Prefect of Police,
who placed a watch over Lecomte. The latter having re-
mained tranquil during two or three months, it was believed
that all danger from his!hand had ceased, the watch was with-
drawn, and the police lost sight of him. How he occupied
himself since no person can tell, until the officers of justice
shall have ascertained the nature of his relations, and have
developed the mystery of his conduct, and a court of law
shall have pronounced its judgment. All that we can say is,
that Lecomte, after having carefully concealed his mode of
jife dpring alwee. in on ths, reappeared Ql4, til9 1 C4l,4o4,AnziLi.u...
the park of 'Pon a.'iubleau,- armed with-oregiciaegan.---Le..:
comte enjoys the reputation of being one of the best shots in
the department of the Seine and Marne, and it is said that
he could strike a fawn at the distance of 150
yards.
" We left him ensconced behind a wall to wait the return
of the Royal Family. The approach of the royal carriages
was heard. The King's char-a-bane was perceived coming
out of the small park of Avon and entering the private park
called the Pheasants' Preserve. The King was seated on the
first bench, having the Count de Montalivet at his left. The
' Queen was seated beside the Princess of Salerno, on the
second bench; Madame Adelaide and the Duchess of Ne-
mours on the third; and the_Prieee of Salerno, the Queen's
brother, on the fourth. The carriage, drawn by six horses,
preceded by an outrider, passed close to the wall of the small
park at a brisk trot. The assassin was at his post, mounted
on a heap of faggots, his double-barrelled gun levelled skil-
fully at a height calculated to kill, and resting on the wall.
The royal equipage approached, but in place of finding him-
self on a level with the King's head, as Lecomte had ex-
pected, he met that of Count Montalivet, whom he perfectly
well knew. He was then obliged to make a rapid but incom-
plete movement, and to change the direction of the gun. The
trigger was drawn—the shot was fired, at about 12 yards'
distance, and the charge, composed of balls of musket size,
cut the fringe of the char-a-bane above the head of his
Majesty. The wadding of the gun fell on the Queen's
knees. . . . A second shot was fired in the same direc-
tion. The King exclaimed, 'lt is nothing—it is the con-
clusion of the shooting-party!' and added, to the postilions,
' Well, go en to the château.' The carriages then con-
tinued their course. At the noise of the two shots, one of
the grooms, named Millet, who followed the King's carriage,
approached the wall, jumped on his saddle, crossed the wall,
and pursued the assassin. 4 I will capture you living, or lose
my life,' exclaimed he. Lecomte turned round, and endea-
voured to defend himself. He was of prodigious strength,
and Millet, notwithstanding his courage, incurred much
danger, but he was quickly assisted by the officers of Hussars
who had followed the King, and who had galloped round
the wall, as well as by M. de Labadie and de Brahault, or-
derly officers of his Majesty. The assassin surrendered and
confessed his crime, expressing regret that he had not ac-
complished his object. Leconite is a man of lofty stature,
dark complexion, with a habit of staring, and a coun-
tenance expressive of strong passions. lie wears musta-
chios and an imperial. ' I was too hasty,' said he, with
an expression of bitter sarcasm. He wore a blouse as a dis-
guise, and covered his face with a handkerchief, but he was
otherwise neatly attired. His gun was an excellent weapon,
and of considerable value. Lecomte was conducted to the
town prison in the midst of an immense multitude, and it
was with difficulty his guards could protect his life from the
furious crowd, who, from imprecations, were proceeding to
violence. The officers of the Hussars finally succeeded in
pressing through the multitude, an I delivered him up to the
keeper of the prison. The King's Attorney. General and the
examining. magistrate soon after arrived, and Lecomte, dur-
ing an interrogatory which lasted two hours, confessed that
he had come to Fontainbleau well determined to kill the
King. During the evening the entire town was brilliantly
illuminated. Joy succeeded to indignation. Providence
preserved the King, and it was a complete festival at Fon-
tainbleau in consequence. His Majesty would not change
his plan of remaining in the chateau, thus demonstrat-
ing that the crime of -a single wretch bad riot diminished his
confidence in the loyalty of the 'people. We are assured
however, that be will return to Paris to-morrow some hours
sooner than he had originally fixed, in order to receive the
congratulations of the two Chambers. The news of the at-
tempt against the King was known in Paris at 11 o'clock at
night. The Minister of the Interior was at a party at the
British Ambassador's. He immediately apprised the Keeper
of the Seals and the Attorney-General, who proceeded at
midnight for the roval residence. The King, during the af-
ternoon, wrote several letters—one to Marshal Soult, the
President of the Council ; one to the Minister of the Interior;
and one to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Queen dis-
patched au express to her daughters. Their Royal High-
nesses proceeded to Fontainbleau the following morning.
The Duchess gf Orleans, the Princess de Joinville, the
Duchess d'Aumale, and the Duchess of Saxe Coburg travelled
in the same carriage. A re Deum was sung in the chapel
of the castle. The entire Royal Family assisted at it. When.
Count d'Appony, the Austrian Ambassador, who was about
to proceed to Vienna, heard of the attempt, he immediately
gave counter orders, and adjourned his departure. Lord
Palmerston immediately addressed the Minister for Foreign
Affairs a letter for his Majesty.
" The Peers and Deputies crowded to their respective
Chambers, where the news of Lecomte's crime became the
object of general indignation.
"A new convocation of the Chamber of Peers is announced
for to-morrow (Saturday). It is believed that the ordinance
constituting the Court to try the author of the attack at
Fontainbleau will be presented :on that day by the Minister
of Justice,
"We are assured that amongst Lecomte's papers several
letters were found filled with threats, of which two were ad-
dressed to the King, one to the Count de Montalivet, and
one to the Conservator of the Forests.
"The King is expected at Paris to-morrow (Saturday),
about two o'clock. It is believed that the Chamber of De-
puties will proceed directly, and in a body, from the Palais
Bourbon to the Palace of the Tuileries, to offer to the King
the homage of their sympathy under circumstances so well
calculated, as the President Sauzet observed, to ' draw closer
the bonds which unite the great powers of the State.' To
press round the throne when the King has escaped the balls
of an assassin, is no longer a question of party nor a poll
tical calculation, but it is an honourable inspiration and a
loyal duty."
The Gazette des Tribunaux adds the following particu-
lars :

" On quitting the royal guard, Lecomte left for Greece,
where he fought in the war of independence, and even be-
came aide-de-camp of General Mavrocordato. On his re-
turn to France, in 1829, he obtained an inferior position
iins3tol7
he
eorewsatss oaf thefoat Crown.gaai a
fAtth
ethfearersetv
taine
sd
In those different capaci-
ties finally, a general guard. .
Lis .
who had
to Fontainbleau, and his Majesty, on several occasions,
of his kindness. Since his appoint-
gave him marked proofs
he
eas often successively
accompanied
is Philippe mounted
revolution
tion
Fontainbleau, of j ul:
always reluctantly obeyed his superiors. became extremely
irascible. He was surly and tyrannical with his inferiors,
andasry
lannicdte
it:ertmorev;matters:tt roh l iri iet' eachtl eai
wase
propriety,l
t e re' aldl a snrt
toektpi reachedet
depriveuerepeatedly
nyageneral
idr cautionedssahunl chiefs
fP iaha:eni attention
shdt Lotdpe:eotccsafsoattrEttdta theirnheheuaedtt ta to give
ve iAdminis-
trationhacehimself-I
him some other situation, if he did not modify his manners,
This occurred towards the end of 1843. Lecomte replied b
sending in his resignation. As he was known to be without
any means of existence, it was supposed that be would re-
pent his resolution, and his resignation was not accordingly
accepted. He persisted, nevertheless; but the administra-
tion of the civil list, in its solicitude for even the less
deserving of its officers, would not consider him as dismissed
the service, which would have debarred him of all rights to
a pension in his old age ; he was classed among the servants
discharged for infirmities or other causes, and he was even
allowed a larger pension than he would otherwise have been
entitled to. Lecomte, far from being grateful for that
favour, refused during two years to receive his pension ' • it
was only some months ago, that, being pressed by want, he
presented himself at the Tuileries to receive the ar-
rears due. Since his retirement from the administration
of the Crown Forests, Lecomte bad manifested the
strongest resentment against Count Montalivet, the Intend-
ant of the Civil List ; against M. De Rumigny, Aide-de-
Camp of the King, but more particularly against M. De
Sahume, the Conservator-General of the Forests. To the
two first he contented himself with writing letters of recri-
mination, but in addressing M. De Sahume he had recourse
to threats, and his exasperation was such that persons who
were witnesses to it had officially apprised the Prefect of
Police of the danger that might result from the violence of
Lecomte for his former chief. That magistrate, unknown to
M. De Sahume, had deemed it advisable to adopt measures
for that gentleman's protection, and to place Lecomte under
a special surveillance. Latterly, however, LecomtP appeared
to have become more calm. He presented himself regularly
every three months to rec: ive his quarter's pension ; ho
ceased to write letters, and seemed determined to turn his
aolfav a y.
any Among
description. th
ir The
e
time to advantage, when, the day before yesterday, he. left
nearly at thoerlesaanmseantdintlheeacsollii-dil'inpga. his domicile, RueiisAleCftoomnmFisrsidarya or
Police effected on Friday a visit in
Colysee, and found his fowling-piece and several papers,
several letters addressed to the King, to whom he never
by the Corbeil Railroad for Fontainbleau, where he
dde
Duchess of y for
Fontainbleau, by the 1 o'clock train. Duchess having
arrived at the station 20 minutei beforTehteh
e hour
of depar-
ture, the young Prince expressed a wish to visit
the materiel
and buildings of the railroad. his mother confided him to
the care of his tutor, who, with oneof
the administrators,
conducted him over the establishment."
seaalesdipguipe ancodmcapriariiendt
forwarded which
he

ALMACH'S.—These delightful balls commence on
Wednesday week, the 29th instant, and the subscription for the Brat
set promises to be exceedingly brilliant. We subjoin the names of
the ladies patronesses from whom the entree is alone obtained. The
DecheSS ef Norfolk, tke Marchioness of Londonderry, the Marchioness
of Westminster, the Countess of Jersey, the Countess of Kinnoull, and
Viscountess Palmerston. It will appear from the above that the
Countess of Lishfleld has roa,tned her " ba*k."