The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-05-22
MISCELLANY.
From Hazlitt's Life of Napoleon.


LOUIS XVI. the behavior Of Louis
XVI. on his trial, was simple, manly, and
affecting. Hc rested his defence chiefly
Oh "A positive denial Of any knowledge of
tho letters and documents that were brought
as proofs against him. His advocates on
this occasion, Maleshgrbes (who nobly VOL
unteered this service on the refusal oiTar-
get,) Tronchet and D,seze, did themselves
great and lasting honor by their sloquence,
intrepidity, and dsinterested zeal The
Convention pronounced his condemnation
by a majority OF only twenty six voices out
of above seven hundred. The smalness
OF this majority was rnado plea to set a
side the sentence. " DEGREES are passed
by "A simple majority" said member Of the
Mountain. "Truc," it was replied, "but
DEGREES may be recalled, wbsroas the life
of man cannot be recalled" Some were
for relieving themselves from the respon
sibity by an appeal TO the nation, but this
1t was thought would betray distrust Of
the cause, aud might also breed civil war.
The sitting Of the Convention which con
cluded the trial lasted seventy-two hours.
1t might naturally be supposed that silence,
restraint, a sort of religious awe would
have pervaded the scene--on the contrary,
every thing bore the marks Of gaiety, dis
sipation, aud the most grotesque confusion.
The farther end Of the hall was convert.
ed into boxes, where ladies', in studied
dshabTle, swallowed ice, oranges, liquors,
and received the salutations of the men,
bers who went and came as on ordinary
occasions. Here the door keepers OF the
mountain side opened and shut the boxes
reserved for the mstresses of the Duke Of
Orleans Egalite; and here, though every
sign of appreciation or disapprobation was
strictly forbidden, you heard the long and
indignant ala has ~ Of the mother duch
ess, the patroness Of the bands of female
Jacobins, whenever her ears were not loud
ly greeted with the welcome sounds of
death. The upper gallery, reserved for
the people, was, during the whole trial,
constantly full Of strangers and spectators
Of every description, drinking wine and
brandy as in 4 tavern Bets were made as
to the issue Of the trial, in all the neghbor.
ing coffee houses. Ennui, impatence, dis.
gust, sat on almost every countenance.
Each member seemed to ask whether hrs
turn came next? A sick deputy, who was
called, came forward, wrapped up in his
night cap and night gown, and the assem-
bly, when they beheld this sort of phantom,
laughed. The figures passing and repass.
ing. and rendered more ghastly by the pal
lid lights, and that in slow and sepuchral
voice only, pronounced the word Death
the Duke of Orleans hooted, almost spit
upon, when he voted fer the condemnation
Of his relative others calculating if they
should have time to GO to dinner before
they gave their verdict, while the women
were pricking cards with pins in order to
count the votes; some Of tho deputies fall
cn asleep, and only waked up to give their
sentences; Manuel, the Secretary, trying to
falsify few votes in favor Of the unfortu.
nate king, and in danger Of being murder
ed for his pains in the passages; all this had
the appearance rather Of n hidcous dream
than Of tho reality. When Malesherbes
went TO carry the tidings to the king, he
found him with his head reclined upon the
table, in musing posture; and he observed
to him at his entering, - have been foi
these two hours trying to recollect what
have ever done to incur the III will Of my
subjects" The very endeavor showed
goodness OF heart and a certain simplicity
Of character; but il would be long before
one taught from his childhood to believe
that he could do wrong, would find Just
ground OF offence IN his behavior to his
people. The execution Of the sentence
was fixed for the 2lst of January. 1893.
Louis meunted the fatal scaffold with firm.
ness; after administering the last sacra
ment, his confessor addressed him, Son
Of st. LOUIS ascend into heaven, He
however manifested ssme repugpanee to