The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-05-26


terrible paroxysms of that nation during the
French revolution. But the French feohh
had neither the intelligence nor the virtue OF
the American teohle. And the same de- /
gree of liberty, which was blessing to the !
latter, would have been the greatest curse
to the former. Liberty can never precede
knowledge and virtue in the people, but it
must and zuW follow them. The jnhuence
of LAFAYETTE, therefore, though he was then,
as he is now, considered the very Apostle of
Liberty, was frequently felt on the side OF
the crown, bracing and strengthening 1t a
gainst the too violent entertainments of the
people. The following extract from Mr..
'ricknor's memoir will show the plrt which
he was frequently called to sustain during
the French revolution, and the manner in
which he Sustained it. 1t describes the at
tack of the populace upon the royal family,
at Versailles, on the night of the fifth of Oc-
tober, 1879.
He [L4fayctte1 arrived at Versailles at
ten o'clock at night. after having been on
horseback from before daylight in the morn
ing, and having made, durin the whole in
terval, both at Paris and on the road, incred-
ible exertions to control the multitude and
calm the soldiers. The Marquis de Lafay
cite at last entered the chateau, says Ma
dame de Stael, 'and passing through the a
, partn where we were, went to the KING
We all pressed round him, as if he were the
{ master of events, and yctthe popular party
was already more powerful than Its Chief,
and principles were yielding to factions. or
rather were beginning to serve only as their
pretexts. M de Lafayette's manner was
perfectly calm; nobody ever saw it otherwise:
but his dclcacy suffered from the Importance
of the part he was called to act. He asked
for the interior post Of the chateau, in or
der that he might ensure their safety. On
ily the outer posts were granted to him.
This refusal was not disrespeCtful to him
who made the request 1t was gwen, SIM
ply because the etiquette of the court rescr-
we'd the guard of the royal person and FAM
ily to another body of men. Lafayette, there
fore, answcre for the National Guards, and
for the posts CONN., ed to them; but he
could answer for no more; and his pledge
was faithfully and desperately redeemed.
Between two and three o'clock, the queen
and the royal family went to bed. LAFAYETTE
too, slent alter the great fatigues of this
fearful day. At half past four, portion OF
the populacc made their way into the palace
bv an olscute, interior passage, which had
been overlooked, and which was not i'll that
part of the chateau entrusted to Lafayette
They were evidently led by persons who
well knew the secret avenues. Mlrabeau''
name was afterwards strangely comprn
missed in it, and the form OF the infamous
Duke Of Orleans was repeatedly recognlzet
on the great staircase, pointing the assas
sins the wav to the queens chamber. The.
easily found it. Two of her guards wer
cut down in an instant; and she made he
escape almost naked. Lafayette immed
lately rushed in with the national troops
protected the guards from the brutal popu
Atx- &c he f1 1Yr,i1y ii
which had so nearly been sacrihced TO Tn
etiquette of the monarchy.
The dav dawned as this fearful scene G
- guilt and bloodshed was passing in the mag
nihccnt palace, whose construction had cX
hausted the revenues of Louis Fourteenth
{, and which, for century, had been the mos
u splendid residence in Europe. AS soon as
was light, the same furious multitude file
rs the vast space, which, from the rich matei
ials of which it is formed, passes under tn
VIC name of the court of marble They calle
~ r upon the king, in tones not to be mistakeI
oi to go to Paris; and they called for the queer
W who had but just escaped from their daf
gers, to come out upon the balcony. IN
~, !" king, after short consultation with his mir
~ sters, announced his intention to set out fo
the capital; but Lafayette, was afraid
IT'S trust the queen in the midst of the BLOOD
;, thirsty multi udc. He went to her, there
ly fore, with respectful hesitation, and aske
III her if it were her purpose to accompan
the king to Paris. yes she replied, "a
~, though ! am aware of the danger Al
~. you positively determined" Yes Conde
miss m cend, then, to go out upon the balcony, an
IL" suffer me to attend vou.' without tt
:, king?' she replied, hesitating-'Have yt
nc observed the threatsH yes, Madam, hav
NJ but dare to trust me- He led her out upe
the balcony. 1t was a moment of great re
ler possibility and great delicacy; but nothin'
ui- he felt assured, could be SO dangerous as
'e' permit her to set out for Paris, surrounde
by that multitude, unless its feelings cou
be changed. The agitation, the tumul
I'VE the cries of the crowd rendered it imposs
ma BILE that his voice should be heard. 1t W
&c" necessary, therefore, to address himself
-!c ic the eve, and, turning towards the quee
ile with that admirable presence OF mind whit
see Sc. never yet forsook him, and with that min
-. = Is led grace and dignity, which were the p
''e' culiar inheritance of the ancient court
&C. e@e France, he simply kissed her hand beto
ia, the vast multitude. An instant of silent q
seu constituent followed, but the whole was II
or ON mctliately interpreted, and the air was re
oi@ u d with cries of Long live the quecnH 'Lo
ass live the general' from the same hckle a
gu. cruel populace, that only two hours beto
i'"' had embrued their hands in the blood OF t
.,I on guards who defended the life of the saT