Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1827-04-13


to the palace, tell them what l say, aud
give me for authority. But there is not
minute to lose-Paris marches upon
u.s. so much the hetter,' answered
Mounier, 'we will be republic the
sooner" Mounier must he supposed to
speak ironically, and in aliuSon, not To
his o"n opinions, but TO Mrabeau'S rev.
oIutionary tenets. Another account Of
this Singular conversation states his an
Swers to have been, 'All the better. lfthe
mob Kill all or us--remarl, / say oUofus,
it will be the better for the country
1t was now night, and the armed rab-
bic OF both sexes Showed no intention Of
departing or breaking up. On the con-
trary, they bivouacked, after their own
manner, upon the parade, where the SOL
diers usually mustered. There they
kindled large fires, ate, drank, sang, ca
reused, and occasionally discharged their
firearms. ScuiileS arose from time TO
time, one or twosofthe GardeS dc Corps
had been killed and wounded in the
quarrel, which the rioters had endeavor-
ed 10 faSten on them; besides which this
devoted corps had sustained volley
from their late guests, the National
Guard of Versailles. The horse of
Garde de Corps, which fell into the
hands OF these female demons, was kill
ed, torn in pieces, and eaten half raw
and half roasted. Every thing seemed
tending to general engagement when
late at night the drums announced the
approach of La Faye:te at the head of
his civic army, which moved slowly,
but in good order.
Aband of the rioters found means to
penetrate into the palace about three in
the morning, through gate which was
left unlocked and unguarded. They
rushed to the Queens apartment, and
bore down the few Gardes de Corps who
FASTENED to her defence. The sentinel
knocked at the door other bed chamber,
called to her to escape, and then gall
lantly exposed himself to the fury of the
murderers. His single opposition was
almost instantly overcome. and he him
SETTLE for dead. Over his bleeding DO
dy they forced their way into the Queens
apartment but their victim, reserved
for farther and worse woes, had escaped
by secret passage into the chamber of
the King, while the assassins, bursting
in, stabbed the bed she had just left with
pixies and swords.
The outside of the palace was still
besieged by the infuriated mob, who de-
manded, with hideous cries, and excla-
nations the most barbarous and OBJ
scene, to see the Austrian, as they called
the Queen. The unfortunate Princess
appeared on the balcony with one of her
Children in each hand. a voice frona
the crowd called out, NO children = as
lion purpose to deprive the mother ofthat
appea! TO humanity, which might move
The hardest heart. Maria Antoinette with
a force ofmind worthy of Maria There
sa, her mother, pushed her children
back into the rooms, and turning her face
TO the tumultuSuS multitude which tossed
and roared beneath, brandishing their
pixies and guns with the widest attitude
of rage, the reviled, prosecuted and de-
nounced Queen, stood before them, her
arms folded on her bosom with n noble
air OF courageous resignation. The Sc
cret reason of this summons-the real
cause of repelling the children-could
only be to afford chance Of some des-
perate hand among the crowd, 10 execute
the threats which resounded on all sides.
Accordingly, gun was actually levell-
ed, but one of the by-standers struck it
down for the passions of the mob had
taken an opposite turn, and astonished
at Marie Anloinette's noble presence,
aud graceful frnness of demeanour,
there arose, almost in spite of them
selves, general shout Of YiCa lc Reinel
But if the insurgents, or rather those
who prompted them, missed their first
point, they did not also lose the second.
A cry arose, 'To Parish at first uttered
by solitary voice, but gathering strength
until the whole multitude shouted, ITO
Paris--to PARISH The cry of these
blood-ihirsty bacchanas, such as they
had that night shewn themselves, was,
1t seems, considered as the voice of the
people, and as such La Fayete, neither
demonstrated himself, nor permitted the
King TO interpose a moments DELAY in
yielding obedience tn it: nor was any
measure taken, TO put even the appear
ance of decency on the journey, or to
disguise its real character, if a trium-
plant procession ofthe sovereign people,
after acomplete victory over their nomi-
nal monarch.
The carriages ofthe royal family were
placed in the middle of an immeasura-