Star.
London, England, 1813-01-04 00:00:00

r

cause it may he, it is, however, certain, that he
and in my opinion very mal utrefor, al ways retained the
reputation of being what is called a Jacnbin.
Both these circumstances, which were given to me
at certain facts ; the first, that his Exci bency the
Minister of Police, had come to the Hotel de Ville.
the second, that he had given orders there for atrest.
ing such individuals as were reputed Jacobins, in.
creased my credulity of the new principal ; —and I
entertained no farther doubt of the dreadful mist
tune, which appeared to be the cause of evvry thing
which I heard and saw, having actually taken pl. ce,
Overwhelmed, as I could not avoid beitg, ur.44
such a persuasion, I arrived at home.

The Commandant of the Tmop arrived the* a
short time after me,along tOth another officer, woo*
I thought I recollected as being a Secretary, or per.
son employed in the office of M. Count Hellia.—
After haying heard the fatal news repeated and eon.
firmed, and which had now become spread all
around me, these Officers invited me to pass on to
my Cabinet. I .conducted them thither,
through what is called the Saloon et Parade,
the lengilt of the Grand Saloon.
When we arrived in My Cabinet, the Commandant
seated himself in the manner of a man depressed by
sorrow. The other officers and myself remained with.
out. The Commandant drew from his pocket, and
gave to me to read, the letter containing the orders
by virtue of which he found himself nominated to
guard the Hotel de Ville.
I immediately looked for the signature, and finding
it to be Malet, demanded to know why it was net
signed by General Hullin, and who was this General
Malet ? The Commandant replied-4' my G.neral
is wounded, and General Malet is Chief, or one of
the Chiefs of the General Staff." I began to read.
I had got through near the third part t th, fire
page of tins letter, when the Serjeant of the Prefec-
ture came to inform me, that his Excellency the Mi.
nister of Police requested to speak with me. . " Lee
him come in," replied I with quickness, and discos.
tioned reaci.ng the letter. The Serjeant re-orned t' e
door a moment after, announcing 117.5 Excellent; :I e
Minister of General Police. Immediately reflec:ii.z
that the Minister might wish to speak to me in pt..
vate, insteal of it before the two officers wl:c
were present, I Er* t,) the dour, to receive his tied-
-Ic4ncy, not in mi Cabinet, but in the great Saloon.—
It was not the Minister, but a person bearing the de.
coratiens cif the Legion of Honour, and who spoke
to me, so far as 1 can recollect them,' these very words
I ant not the Minister ; oft the contrary, I cane
to obtain int.,rmation from you, if the Minister is not
at the Hotel de Vile ?" 44 No, Sir, (replied 1) be
has been there, but unfortunately, I was not there.'
44 Pardon me, (replied the same person) lam sent
by Madame de IRovigo, who is in much sorrow, is.
great consternation !" 6g Alas ! (replied I, in my
turn, and striking trey head) Alas Sir, what may
have happened, -that should not have been ?" The
person retired, and I re-entered my Cabinet, more
fully persuaued than ever of the truth of all that had
been told me, and especially of the fact of his Excel.
tency having came to the Hotel de Vile, as Madame
de Rovigo had sent there to enquire for him.
Here is tl.e. place to repori the fact, which explain%
the error of Mr. V illemsens in consequence of mine,
and probably likewise that of the messenger of Ms.
dame the Uuchgts of Rovigo, concerning the arrival
of the Minister at the Hotel de Ville. One or the *raw
,spirators haid been there in the carriage, and with
I the livery of the Minister.
I reentered my Cabinet, and again took the hues
of which I have spoken above' and read in it, that
the Imperial Gimerntimilt was abolished, and that a
Provisional Commisilen was to assemble at eine
o'clock at the Hotel de Ville. The abolition of the
' Government; the establishment of a Provisional
Commission, which was to sit at the Hotel de Vilk ;
the summoning the people by means of the tocsin;
all these revolutionary measures overthrew the idea
I had at first entertained, that for security and main.
tenance of the public order under existing serious
circumstances, the arrest of such individuals as were
reputed Jacobins had been ordered.

It Is not M, Lapierre (said I to myself) who is
gnisig to be arrested, it is I myself; then putting on
a forced semblance of security, I said to the Cow.
mandant, ,t Well ! what do you want ?" Wt want
one place for the Commissioners, and another for trig
Gennal Staff." " There is room in the Grand Sae
loon for the Commissioners ; and as for your General
_ .

Staff, they can seat themselves below in the Hotel de
Vide :" and, under the pretext of going out of my
cabinet, I opened the doors and passed into the Cracci
Saloon. I then called (as I believe), to the Eou,--
keeper, or to M. Bouhin, Chief of the Secretary's
Office ; I gave orders to bring tables and chairs into
this Saloon, and fled to my own house, leaving tte
two officers behind, telling them that I was going
to change my boots, but deliberating in my own minl
on what was to be dime, and on the means '

having an interview with the Prince Arch-Chancellor,
Immediately on re-entering my own house, I
orders to bring out my horses ; but at the same
meat M. Bothin, Chief of the Secretary's Oo
came running to inform me that Adjutant Laborde
was come with orders from the Minister at Ware

cause the Cohort to retire, and to replace it by
troops.
I immediately returned to the Grand Saloon, where
I in effect found the Adjutant Laborde in disput'
with the Commandant of the Cohort; but all
passed between them turned merely on the poin
ascertaining which of the two was tekguard the H.
de Ville, without dropping a single tvord by which
could guess at the true cause or what was passi4
when, casting a look about me, I discovered, stand•
ill; near a casement, M. Saunier, Secretary-General
to the Minister of Police.

Dur►ng the space of 20, or 25 minces, that all
had lasted, he was the first person among those '
met, who could give me any information. I t
myself on M. Saulnier, in pressing these quest'
44 What does all thin mean ? Tell me what is
forward ? is the news that is current, believed

I,Vhat news r' tranquilly replied M. SailWl
66 That relative to the Emperor."—" Oh, no I
is nothing."
I caused him to repeat it; and in the exuberant
of my joy, although I knew but little of M. Saulnier,
I embraced him, I know not how many times •
returning to Adjutant Laborde, I desired the
man* of the Cohort to obey and team He

going cult m my
ied into the (;raril
e), to the hou;,--
If the Secretary's
Les and chairs late
ouse, leaving tte
that I was going
g in my own mind
on the means of
Arch-Chanceller•
svn house, I gave
t at the same mo.
Secretary's Office,
adjutant Laborde
nister at War, to
eplace it by cher
and Saloon, where
aborde in dispute
port; but all that
ly on the point of
:o guard the Hotd
e word by which I
vhat was passing ;
discovered, stand-
Secretary-General
iinues, that all this ,
among those I had
rmation. I threw
these questions :
me what is going
rent, believed ?"--
xl M. Saulnier..".
Oh, no I there
in the exuberance
.tle of M. Saulniet,
many times; thee
desired the Coo-
retire. lie did