Star.
London, England, 1830-10-01 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

PARIS, SIFT. 28.... PRIVATE Coantsrownzaca.---
In my last I promised to give you some account of the clubs
which have arisen since July last. I am pleased with my-
self for having delayed treating that subject, by the im-
portance of the intelligence which I have to communicate
about them. Towards the middle of August, as soon as it
was perceived that the Ministry had entangled itself in a
narrow and crooked road, meetings began to be formed in
coffee-houses, and a new journal was about being estab.
limbed ; but the influence or the fear of monied men, Wi-
ley* or the pretensions of editors, the small sire of the sheet
compared with the length of the articles, was found to be as
insufficient means. It was then resolved to forma soa or
dab, in imitation of the one celled Aide toile Cid (Was,

which has rendered such great services to the constitutional
cause. But this club, organised under the reign of the Bour-
bons, had adopted principles so strict for the reception and a-
doption of its members, that the absurdity of surrounding it
with mystery was felts; particularly so,after the revolution of
the three days. Men, known for their patriotism, had their
first sittings in the open air, and soon after in a large building
which was occasionally a receptacle for carts. This Young
Constitutional Society, or Club, was the first known; but
had the misfortune to establish itself in the Faubourg St.
Germain, and no great length of time elapsed before it was
entirely eclipsed by the Club of Antis du Peuple, which
holds its sittings in Peltier's Riding-school, Rue Mont-
martre; every facility was given to the public; the large and
commodious situation answered perfectly the wishes of the
patriots; it is only just to say, that the talent, the
ease, and richness of elocution even of the youngest mem-
bers, were powerful auxiliaries. Without plan of con-
duct, yet well concerted, this club took consistence by
measures the most generous, the most popular •, its
first public act was an expiatory homage in the Place
de Greve (in Paris) to the memory of the four sub-
officers condemned and executed on the 21st of Sept. 1822,
for the conspiracy of La Rochelle, which had for its, object
the maintenance of liberty. Some men in power took alara
at a procession in the streets of some thousand souls ; the
fiery Dupin, who appears to have divorced himself from the
new generation, and the ascendant spirit of the age, was one
of the orators, who, in the council of the Prince, was in fa-
vour of repressive measures ; his advice prevailed, and upon
the most trifling pretext, the President and Secretary were
arrested, as having, in a proclamation, been guilty of an at-
tempt to organise a civil war. Every one was astonished to
see M. Barthe, the King's new Attorney-General, sign the
mandates of arrestation his'repentance came too late, though
he acknowledged it by a retirement into the country. The
information proved that the police only provided itself with
a single proof sheet of the proclamation, a proof which
even had been altered ; and,_as the law only punishes
the outrage, and not the attempt at outrage, the
judicial authorities were obliged to acquit the arraigned,
and thus shamefully miscarry in their attempt against li-
berty. While this was proceeding, the Prefect of Police,
M. Girod de l'Ain, had given permission to the meeting on
the Place de Greve; the authorisation had been asked, not
with the view of acknowledging to the authorities the right
to refuse to citizens the power of assembling, but because
they were going, by a public ceremony, to use or occupy
a square which the pike had in its jurisdiction. That Ma-
gistrate better understood the spirit of the Societe des antis
du peuple than the Attorney-General Dupin; in fact, the
ceremony passed off with the greatest order, and was a liv-
ing contradiction given to the majority of the King's Coun-
cil. Notwithstanding,the magistracy did not forsake the affair,
and taking advantage of Art. 291 of the Penal Code, which
does not allow more than nineteen people to meet without
being authorised by the proper authorities, directed new
proceedings t 9 be taken against the President and members.
But by an inconceivable forgetfulness, it has not yet been
acted upon, and already a Council has been consecrated to
this cause, In order to bring into the proceedings the pro-
prietor of the building, as the law points out. Justice should
be rendered to the great constitutional principles of the Attor-
ney-General Bernard, for be has pleaded for the abrogation
of that Article; and, in fact, the Code formed under the
Empire feels the iron band of Napoleon, who, at the dawn
of his power, would not allow Royalists, Jacobins, or Phi-
losophers, to meet and propagate ideas of liberty, by the
forcible influence of lectures or reading. It is for this ob-
ect, and under that sway, that Article 291 was enacted.
But the Charter, and particularly the new one, in giving to
all Frenchmen the right of publishing their opinions, seems,
however, to have been formally respected. Whether M.M.
Dupla andi Guizot are displeased, this idea is at present the
most predominant, and no doubt is entertained that the
Magistracy will again fail. The Ministry is convinced of
it, and has had recourse to a circuitous method in order to
arrive at its object. When opposition manifested itself in
the Council, M. Guizot said to the King, that the
population wanted to go too fast. His Majesty answered.
" But the population will go on, if Ministers do not."
That answer wai a thunderbolt for Ministerial majority.
Out of doors, rumours of a change of Ministry circu-
lated with rapidity, and was very favourably received. It
was even thought that the Moniteur of last Saturday would
contain the new nomination ; but it appears that the majority,
who adhere more to their own interests than those of the
nation, have promised to the King to march in a more Con-
stitutional way, and made the King believe that in case a
change took place in the Ministry, there were fears to be
entertained respecting the uncertainty and perturbation
amongst the people, because the dissolution of the Chambers
was a natural consequence of a retirement ; things will there-
fore remain in static quo some few days longer. But the
Sitting of the Chamber of Deputies on Saturday, show
to what miserable stratagems M. Guizot has had re-
course to, in order to remain in power. It would ap-
pear that it was agreed with M. Benjamin Morel,
Deputy of the town of Dunkirque, to seize the first
opportunity to proclaim at the Tribune, that the rem-
issions, and the constraint of commerce was owing to the
existence of Popular Societies. Till that opportunity pre-
sented itself, M. Guizot had prepared an eloquent speech,
from which he expected that great impression would be
made, because it had the appearance of being extemporised,
and done from conviction. This little stratagem partly suc-
ceeded, on Saturday, on the occasion of a petition to which
no solution was ever given, through the confusion which
casual discussion had thrown into all minds. But M.
Manguin, the celebrated lawyer, cut them to the quick.; and
M. &averts took the cause of our liberty, as it was under-
stood, and till now exercised by the societies or clubs. The
civilian has probed the wound, in accusing openly and di-
rectly the Ministers, with being the sole cause of
discontent and the want of confidence existing in
the nation. Some were of that opinion; but the
greatest number of Deputies, who have not to complain
of Ministers, have protested against such sentiments, and
called them factions. Opinions for and against were brisky
combatted by the two parties, but talent was on the
side of the dubs. In the evening of that day, there was a
new sitting of the Antis du Peuple : the Ministry sent some
of their agents to it—we do not say the Police, because M.
Girod de l'Ain is convinced that there is nothing alarming
in the Societe. The President had scarcely taken his seat
before hissing, whistling, and hooting, commenced. The
auditory was very numerous, and the distarbers of the
meeting were hurried oust but, as resistance was offered,
the National Guards interfered. The Society protested
against the presence of an armed force, and agents of dis-
order, who were strangers to its members; but, at the same
time, to give a proof of its moderation, declared the
sitting dissolved for that day. This new example of
respect for the law, and love of good order, will, no doubt,
"en the eyes of the King to the perfidy and falsehood of
the reports of the Minister of the Interior, who strove in
vain to calumniate the intentions and views of patriotic
youths, who have sworn to bring to light and
_pursue the acts
of his system, until he has abandoned a place which he
clings to with it laughable tenaciousness. M. Glum' is
wrong to suppose he could alone struggle with the will and
As Miami it a nation--ViCtOriOni, and so solicitous of its
I can Ix be advantage. It appears that the cause of the mei&

drr peuple will not be judged by the Correctional Tribunal, and
that a law is going to be proposed to the Chambers which will
afterwards settle such cause by a Jury. But why such un-
seasonable proceedings ? The Minister adopts a dangerous
measure. He believes himself useful—he has the wish to
make himself indispensable ; and has recourse to means
worn out and dangerous to keep in place. Formerly, fac-
tious conspiracies were organised. M. Guisot wants to or-
ganise clamour, where order and peace reign ; but he must
P.
P.S. M. Berths, attorney to the King of Paris, who Led
sacrificed his popularity by signing the order of arrest went
the President and Secretary of the Antis sit Peuple, and
who afterwards retired to his residence in the country,oot to
participate any longer in attempts against liberty, bus been
;his day nominated in the Moniteur, President of thr Cham-
ber of the Court Royal of Paris, in place of M. de SPIES, who
has refused to take his oath. The Ministry has teenequally
ingenious in getting rid of M.Bernard, the Attorfey General ;
who not only refuses to give in his resignation, bat also refuses
to prosecute the popular societies. He has ken nominated
counsellor at the Court of Cessation. TN Moniteur does
not say a word about it ; however, the armination is certain.
They do not yet know his successors, but they will be sure
of his opinion about the clubs befall appointing him, and
such is the cause of the silence of the official paper upon
that modification of the Parquet; they suppose it will be
M. Persil. The Ministry then have raised colours against
the wishes of the population o! Paris ; they throw or rather
bury in oblivion those whose eloquence is contrary to their
views ; if they be not ungrateful they are at least consistent.
We have by express the Gazette de France of yester-
day's date, and papers and letters of Wednesday.