The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-31 00:00:00

LAVAttTTE.

d
The return of this individual to that country,
on the soil of which he was condemned but six years since to
shed his blood under the axe of the law, is one of the many ex-
amples which history offers in the interests of humanity, to
check the indulgence of vindictive passions in moments of poli-
tical anarchy, and allow time for the restorationof the empire of
justice under the auspices of truth and mercy.
Monsieur Lavalette was charged with the crime of high trea-
son for resuming his functions as Post-Master General imme-
diately after the departure of the King limn Paris, and before
Buonaparte had entered Paris and re-invested him with that
appointment
This was the charge on which he was tried ; but the true mo-
tive of his proSecution was a belief that he had conducted a cor-
respondence with the island of Elba, and encouraged the return
of his former Sovereign—his benefactor, and relation by marriage.
Monsieur Lavelette, when placed on the proscription list, was
offered by Fouche a passport to quit the French territory. Ile
refused to accept it ; and confiding in his innocence,- and fur-
thar protected by the Convention of Paris, lie voluntarily pre_
seated himself as a prisoner to the constituted authorities : but
it was not till the renewal of his application that the gates of
the Conciergerie closed on him.
Ile was tried, condemned, and ertlered for execution. • .
The subsequent transactionsekhich effected his release a few
hours before the consummation of the sentence, and, secured
ultimately his escape from France, are well known.
Madame Lavalette, however, becanie the victim of her 'gene-
rous devotion : she had, to save her husband, risen from a bed
in which she had endbred the affliction of losing by miscarriage
an only son. This effort, and the anxieties of her mind, fol-
lowed by a long confinement, impaircd-her health, and pro-
duced alienation of her mental faculties.
Touched by these misfortunes,.-and convinced, no doubt, of
the innocence of Mons. Lavalette, the King, about a year since,
signed the act of grace which cancelled the former proceedings,
and re-established Mons. Lavalette in all his rights as a French
citizen.
It was not, however, till a few days since that a passport for
his return to France was granted. Previous to his departure.
from Augsburg, Mons. Lavalette considered it to be his duty
to publi I the following declaration, to the asseverations of
which all those who know the private virtues of Mons. Lava-
lette will not hesitate to give implicit credence, and to which
only the most ungenerous political enemies (Mons. Lavalette
never bad a personal one) can refuse his confidence:—
cc DECLA RATION.
" In presence of Almighty God, the avenger of perjur; I
declare that during the eleven months of the year 1814 I never
had any-correspondence, direct' or indirect, -with any of the per- -
sons who inhabited the island of Elba at that epoch,' and
that I never caused any letter to be written, or received any
letter from them.
" I declare that I never Sent, or caused any one to be sent, II
to the island of Elba; and, finally, that I was an entire stranger
to the events which prepared and consummated the enterprise
of 20th March, 1815. I make this public declaration volun-
tarily, without being moved to it by any ARITIERE PENSEE
without being instigated by any feeling of resentment, but only
in the interest of truth. I had resolved to read it aloud on the
scaffold, and to place it in the hands of the attending-ecclesias-
tic ; and I require that it may be presented to me again for
signature at the last moment of my life.
" 14th May, 1821. M. M. LAVA LEI"PE."
* " Except the letter of compliment on raw YEAR'S DAY,
that I myself communicated to my judges."-7(Tun TIMES.)