The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, PiRIDAY EV

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FALmonTiEr, OcTonErt s.—Wind S.W.—Arrd. Supe
rior, Crowdar, Rio Janeiro, for Rotterdam.
Opp PILL, OCTOBER 4.—Jane barque, Quebec;
Bonne Mere, barque, ditto.
BRISTOL. OCTOBER s.—Wind S.S.W.—Arrd. Anna,
Eames, St. Vincent's.
Orr BARDSEY, OCTOBER 4.—Julia, Prince Edward's
Island, for Liverpool.
OFT KINSALE, OCT. 3.—Althorpe, America, for Cork.
FALMOUTH, OCT. 4.—Arrd. Earl of Durham, Bahia.

DEFENCE OF LAMARTINE.
(Conc'uded from The Sun of Tuesday.)
" June I.—The Commission decided, upon the de-
mend of M. de Lamartine, that three hundred bat-
talions of the Garde Mobile should be created in the
departments (making, in all, three hundred thousand
men), a force invincible both for internal and external
purposes ; a military institution which would consti-
tute the federalization of property and country." Was
this also, let me inquire, an arm which I raised for
the purpose of recruiting the powers of anarchy ?
It is little, however, in comparison with what fol-
lowed. On the Bth of June, on the opening of the
sitting of the Government, I addressed the Council in
this language :—" The aspect of the Republic fill,
me with affliction and disquietude. We are rapidly
approaching a crisis. It will not be an eimeute,
neither will it be a battle ; it will be a campaign of
several days' continuance, and a campaign more-
over waged against many united factions. The
National Assembly, in which reposes the national
sovereignty, may, possibly, be compromised; it may,
perchance, even be forced to withdraw temporarily i
from Paris. It is necessary, therefore, to provide
against these eventualities by _ employing all the
energy of republican authority. Fifty-five thousand
men, although sufficient for the preservation of Paris,
will be scarcely enough to protect the national repre-
sentation within its fortifications. I consequently
demand, in addition to a decree providing for the
public security, that the Minister of War shall cause
twenty thousand more men to concentrate themselves
forthwith upon the capital." This was the camp
under the walls of Paris which was thus indicated
fourteen days before the battle. The entire Commis-
sion acquiesced in my proposition. The Minister of
War was present. We could, therefore, on the 23d
of June, count not only upon the fifty-five thousand
men before enumerated, but upon the twenty thou-
sand additional troops who were already marching,
or were about to march, direct upon the metropolis.
Altogether there were assembled within a few days a
force of seventy-five thousand bayonets which would
support the movements of a National Guard, giving
the enormous aggregate of one hundred and eighty
thousand men I
What becomes now of the reproach that we closed
our eyes to the advancing evil, and neglected the
necessary armaments ?
Irreproachable as the Commission was in making
preparations, was it nevertheless feeble or hesitating
in action ? Behold the facts ! for it is time that the
members of that Commission should appear under their
veritable aspect.
At midnight, on the 22d, the Commission assembled
at the Palace of the Luxembourg in company with
the Ministers and general officers. All the requisite
orders were given ; all the essential measures were
arranged in preparation for the casualties which
might transpire on the day anticipated for the morrow.
On the 23d, at six o'clock in the morning, there
was a new reunion at the Luxembourg with the com-
mandants of the civil and military forces. The
Minister of War was thereupon officially invested
with the supreme command, in order to impart unity
and authority to the orders which might become in
evitable.

At seven o'clock the assemblages began to take
place in the Pantheon. A column of troops of the
line, of the cavalry, and of a detachment of the
Eleventh Legion was formed for the better occupation
of that locality. M. Arago, the President of the
Commission, was anxious to proceed thither himself.
M. Quinet, the Colonel of the Eleventh Legion, was
already present from the early morning, and dis.
played great activity and resolution throughout the
day. The crowd then dispersed itself, and directed
its steps towards the Bastile. About this time the
Executive Commission proceeded from the Luxem-
bourg to the Palace of the National Assembly, where
it established itself in permanence, together with the
head-quarters of the Commander. in-Chief.
The day advanced in watching the struggle, and
in giving the necessary directions. The troops,
themselves, admirable in heroism, appeared to be
feeble in number. At four o'clock in the
evening some barricades were erected in
the faubourg of the Temple. They began
to be raised around the site of the Bastile ;
and they threatened to multiply themselves during
the night. Several of the representatives were ad-
mitted into our council-chamber. They summoned
us to ,give in our resignation voluntarily. Wre
I re-
jected this advice with indignation. Then it was that
I rose and spoke as follows :—" We will reply to all,
at once boldly and explicitly. Men of courage hare
never retreated in the midst of a combat. After the
victory of order shall have been achieved we will be
at the direction of the National Assembly." The
representatives retired. Immediately upon their de-
parture I observed, " Four hours of the day are still
remaining; do not let us abandon those four hours to
the seditious. The darkness of night will recruit the
ranks of the rioters with the undecided and intimi-
dated population of the faubeurg 8 ithe. y will increase
the number of the barricades in all directions ; there
will be more blood to shed and to lose to-morrow; let us
form a last column with the few troops still scat-
tered about the neighbourhood of the National As-
sembly, and let us go at once to the deliverance of
the faubourg of the Temple." My colleagues coin-
cided in my suggestion. General Cavaignac formed
on
the column; I mounted horseback, accompanied
by M. Duclerc, the Minister of Finances,
by the corn
mandant, Pierre Bonaparte, to whom I had lent one
of my horses, and by M. de Treveneue, one of the re-
presentatives of the people. The National Guard
and the crowd encouraged
us, both by voice and ges
ture, as we passed along the boulevard.
Commander-in-Chief to dispose of his
W.e left the
his forces at the
Chateau d'Eu. I then advanced alone in the midst
of the waves of the people into the street of the Temple,
and hastened towards the boulevard of the I3astile. The
multitude surrounded my
horse, pressed my hands,
and lamented over themselves and over the fate of the
country. They evidenced the fluctuation and inde-
cision of a mass without guidance, who were ready,
at the least impulse, to pass Over
to the side of order
or of sedition. I was at once disquieted and affected
with the appearance presented by this crowd ; Icon-
soled them, I calmed them, I restored them, as much
as I could, by my words to patience, to peace, and to
a sense of confidence in the Assembly. I could not
hide from myself the deplorable truth that within
a few hours afterwards the whole of this multitude,
who were then innocent, would go over to swell the
ranks of the insurrection. A few battalions would
render them steadfast. These battalions were occupied
elsewhere. I then retraced my footsteps. I returned with
four pieces of cannon, and, with the column ofthe
Garde Mobile and the troops of the line, marched
the attack of the barricades of the faubourg. These
barricades remained uncle! fire three-quarters of an
hour, in a state of stubborn resistance. Ultimately
they were demolished by tie artillery ; not, however,
nsusrogldeinetrs;
until the discharges of muskethruyn,
drby
the
i
had wounded or killed far eabrave
horse which I lent to the
te
and two generals. The
was killed under that
Commandant Pierre Bonapsr
courageous officer, while he was standing by my aids.
M. de Treveneue and M. Lassant received balls in
their clothes. I returned for the purpose of myself
carrying to the Minister of War the order
with which General Cavaignac had charged
me —an order commanding the troops of
the surrounding garrisons to hasten inwards during
the night. The roar of the day was succeeded
by a profound silence. There was an intermission in
the civil war. With the next morning the struggle
recommenced. We each of us sustained the brunt of
that struggle with the sane energy. Among the
auxiliary forces which arrived were the National
Guards from the departments, the cannon from Vin-
cennes, and a regiment from Orlerss. The triumph
was cruelly purchased, but it WAIno longer
doubtful. We were then, and not till then, de-
prived of our part in the co-operation of labour
for the public safety. At eleven o'clock the
National Assembly named General Cavaignac—the
man whom we ourselves had selected already—to
accomplish and consolidate the victory. 'We rejoiced
on being able to resign authority into those hands
which would not abuse it, either by the law or by
the sword. I penned in great haste the following
letter, which was conveyed to the National As-
sembly :

" Citizens !
" The Commission of the Executive Power would
have been wanting at once in its duties and in its
honour if it had retreated in the presence of a sedition