Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-07-11
FROM OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT:
PARIS, JUNE l6. 1916

PARIS, JUNE l6, 1916.
II is nearly month since rain has fallen on this
capital and the neghborhood. The thermometer
has risen occasionally before two o'clock p. NJ to
81 Of Fahrenheit The atmosphere could mol be
drer nor the dust more abundant. My family be-
ing at Versailles, where there is constantly favor
able difference of several degrees, and the nights
are never hot, refresh myself in the early morn
and after shutdown, the fine sward of the long and
shadedavenues of LOUIS XIV, whose love of the pic
turesque and the expansive has left durable and ben
e6cal enoyments. The annual races of Versailles,
which usually draw an immense concourse, failed
comparatively on Sunday last, and the preceding
Sabbath. No Royal Prince appeared; and the heat
of the weather and attractive festivals in other
quarters prevented large portion Of the habitual
vsiters from contributing to the eXchequers Of the
railroads and coffee-houses.
The Criminal Court was in session last week.
In my walks near the Military Peni,entiary, saw,
twice, six young men of good exterior brought FORTH
claimed two and two by the hands, under the guard
az gems darmes. Ii was sitting work in the court
which is uniformly thronged to excess. Exraordi-
nary dispatch practised in the trial of Lec0nte
the regicde, by the Chamber of Peers. All the
proceedings, including the sentence of death, occu-
pied only two days, the 4th and 9Th instant. 1t de-
tracts not little from the authority of the journals,
that they furnished accounts of the numbers about
inc place. OF trial, auu person anu ueineanOr OF
the culpr that varied to the degree of utter contra
rirty. According to the Ministerial press large
crowds indicated lively public interest in the af-
far. The Opposition prints informed that
the galleries even were scarcely occupied peine
garnies that "public curiosity was far from cor
responding to the occasion; the color of Lecomte's
eyes and hair made various as that of the
chameleon in the fable his features, aspect, COM
pxon, all struck the reporters differently and yet
fhiy were quite marked, fixed, indviduated. About
"; Palace of the Luxembourg there was little evl-
donce of public concern the galleries, however,
oyerfowed both days; the Diplomatic box had its
complement More than two hundred Peers an
swered to their names. Here is the man
Lecome was dressed respectfully in black foc coat with
black stock, la mihtae. He thick black mousache
and appeared about 45 years OF age, and powerfully made
Far from having the cadaverous aspect attributed
him by the public journals, his cheeks flushed paricu-
y the salient parts his kbones and his ey bore
e expression rather Of annoyance at being exposed the
gsae Of many spectators than determination. After few
moments This appearance off, and ne stood with his right
had on the bar before him. calm and sefpossossed."
In confessing the attempt, he explained his pro-
vocation, impulses, preparation, measures and mis-
carriage in the irmest and clearest language. Such
an enterprise could not have been conceived and
pursued in more formidable spirit and method.
ii's counsel tried the plea Of monoma1id, without
eleast eiiecL The Peers were nearly unanimous in
cting the severes forms Of execution by the gullo-
hne. Some newspaper appeals to public sympathy
~ his behalf--ihose of tie National in particular
seemed to me atrocious. Nothing transpired, on
the trial, OF any criminal or political combination.
Inc crown prosecution, nevertheless, would not
discard the idea. Long-treasured intense resent.
ment for supposed personal grefs was alone ac.
knowledged and to be traced. twas circulated in the
journals and Chambers that LOUIS PHmIppE was
disposed to clemency in the case while the Cabinet
remained inaexible. There was some policy in the
obtaining the King credit for the habtual DISPOSE
non but cemency here would have amounted Il
premium for the utmost deliberation and reckless