Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-23
D OR

clares, that " His Majesty wishes by the
punishment of an une.rampLed offence, but
graduating the penalties and limiting the
number of the culpabte, to conciliate the
interest of his people, the dignity ofhis
Crown, and the tranquility of Europe, with
what he owes to justice aud the perfect Sc
curity of other citizens without distinc-
ton"
This Ordinance contains two lists. The
first comprehends persons who are ordered
to be carried before the Councils Of War :
the second consists of other persons who
are required to leave Paris within three
days, and retire to such places as the Min
lister of General Police shall assign for
their residence, where they are directed to
remain under his superintendent until
the Chambers determine which of them
ought to be banished, and which ought to
be brought to trial. am included in the
latter class.
l commanded the Sd and 4th corps Of
the army of the Loire, and was at Chateau
rOux when | was informed of the measure
which thus affected me. | confess the
blow was equally cruel and unexpected
lendeavored to discover what could make
me the object of so much rigor.-Nu act of
my life made me justly liable to be COM
pretended in that list, as / shall indispu-
tably prove by an exact and faithful expo
sition OF my conduct.
On the 30th of August, 1915, at the UNI
fortunate affair of Kuhn, where | was a
bandOned by those who ought to have sup
ported me, L was made prisoner Il was
carried to Moscow, and afterwards to Vi
atka, on the frontier of Siberia. The cam
paign of Paris, and the great event to
which it led, occurred during my captivi-
ty. l did not set my foot on French
ground until the 1st of September, 1914.
j fastened to Paris, where my wife and
my son expected me l looked forward
to days of happiness, since we were at
length to enjoy that state of peace which |
had so often and so ardently desired.
frankly waited on the King and his
august family. My most anxious wish
was, that his majesty would employ me in
useful services, and afford me an Oppurtu-
nifty OF proving my devotedness to his per-
son, aud the firm attachment which | al
ways preserved to my country. | address
ed myself to the Duke d'Aumont, frsr
Gentieman OF the Chamber. | received
no answer. repeated my request.-iIis
excellency informed me that he had not
taken the kings orders OH the subject, and
as appeared to press for an audience, he
had the goodness to offer to lay before his
majesty any representation which it was
my wish to make. | thanked the Duke.
and informed him that | had nothing parti-
culariy to ask Of his majesty /; that nv on
Iy wish was, that he should grant me. like
the other Generals of my rank returning
from prison, the favor Of being presented
to him.
thought it right to repair to the Court a
second time, aud | proceeded to mix a.
mong those who were waiting until the
King should pass into the Hall cf OF the
Throne. | had been a few minutes there.
when one of the attendants informed me,
on the part of the Duc'Aumont, that /
could not he allowed to remain during The
audience, and must withdraw. This order
surprised me (; but bore the humiliation it
caused, and executed it in silence, and all
most without allowing my departure to be
perceived.
Some of the succeeding days were m
ployed on my part in soliciting explaua.
tlons OF the motives which could have oc-
Casjoned a scene so affecting to me but |
obtained M kind Of satisfaction "a more
cruel event awaited me,
On the 10Th of October, about half n
hour past midnight, a loud Knocking was
heard at the door of a small hotel which /
occupied in the Rue Jonbert. We wer.
all quickly awakened, and an officer en-.
tered, who delivered me am order from tbe
minister of war To leave Paris within
twenty-four hours, aud proceed to nv es.
tate at Cassel, in the Department Of fhe
North. This measure appeared to me se-
we're and above all unmerited but I obev.
ed.-Ibat very day | tore myself from the
arms OF my family left my wife and nv
son overwhelmed with grief, and I left Pa
ris even before the expiration Of tbe short
delay which was allowed ne.-The fnl-
lowing night the knocking was repeated 1:
an officer came at two o'clock in the
morning to satisfy himself of my depar.
ture.
l do not know to whom to attribute the
blows which are levelled against me. |
wrote to the minister Of war and several.
peers ; | requested with eagerness To he
made acquainted with the faults imputed
to me / begged as a particular favor, to he
put on my trial /; I did not even obtain the
satisfaction of being called before the tri-
bunals. That sacred principle, that grand
social tie, " No Que can be judged without
being beard was, with respect TO me,
trampled under foot,
Harmed myself with courage and r%esip.