Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-04
A GLANCE AT THE FRENCH NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY.

My reader has, from time to time, kindly accompanied me
while have skecbed for him the appearance some Of those
outward tokens by which he might form judgment of the
health and action of the republic. have attempted
unhandy and awkwardy may have beeu-a of dag
noSis, by study Of outward symptoms have given gimpses
Of the strange and sudden fluctuations Of the multitude song
the great lhoroughfares and made my reader listen with
the fearful and hasuspeAded respiration. have sketch
ed the boding quietude and the less bodng
have passed cm the Boulevard the Point Neufom the
noisy the shop each and all Of which
the republic and its life the topic Of both and hope.
Let step moment within the Assembly not as
before to observe the issue of single angry discussion, but
note the ae,on Of The ho and to feel by the pull
saions of the great heart of republican France.
They talk loudly and boldly the Journals and louder still
the clubs they gestcuatc angy the Streets and they
shout and ho banqueis in the povnces but the
republican heat, and strength and life rests after ALL in the
Assembly.
|, may be stormy shiny without, harvests may promise
well or ill., people grow rich, may threaten or
flourish, opinion may unite split, machines stop 60
STILL the great heart OF this order throbbing and hrob-
bng, day after Gay, within its wallis and within its
-seulineed gates upon the banks Of the Seine.
-. II is IL o'clock in hour and half the PREsi.
take his place under yonder painted
ny. The gIeenned seats rising tier above tier empty
The tribune front Of the Presidents cded chair and with
is aerng date Of February in fresco, is silent hussor
two with oug slim swords marching up and down tho
middle avenue sometimes rearaneing the scattered papers
upon the desks Of the MEMBERS and sometimes looking up
the galleries. which arc, thus early filing with ladies'
and uniforms and sprnkng Of bouses To the right and
left long galleries divided by compartments, and in
front tiers Of bunes cut Ike STAGE boxes into the wall
They all full and charts out and tongues busy
talking Of what to and what benches TO be
seen the great men Of the Assembly.
BY twelve few members have sauntered in perhaps
among them stout we-eatured ychecked man, with
head half bald rolling walk and eye sparkling with cxpeca
tion-whom your neghbor will have pointed you
the hero Of the bugbear LegiIimacy-M. RocHE-
JAcavFLtS.
You will lock al him with interest," with your republican
eyes, relic the old regime and wonder that he bears
himself stouy and gacousy amid the teors OF the revo-
ludonay times.
The members ;hcken the hour advances there is Ma
ToLEoS BosArAuTE with face like the pictures Of his
uncle sitting half way up upon the right and there, again.
matching up 'front.' with heavy, careless step and honest
rudy strongly marked face is the lazy Mrabcau Of the time
NJ BERRYER.
snug thckIyet man. with round shoulders short neck
black mouache and gray busy hair has taken his
under the canopy and ruug his bell He laughing and
chatting gay with bali dozen who grouped around hm
IL the aspiring chief Of the Naonathe adviser Of the
Mnisry-the President Of the Assemby-the voluPtuous
MARRAsr.
Al the end ola sea, near by military looking man. blue
ok and with heavy colossal forehead, has just taken
have him except for the crowd that groups around
him. You the heavy head Of Rochejacqueln in the
company, and by the movement Of his lips that he
Is addressing the military man in the The replies
be earnest though quiet and you catch gimpses Of
occasional gesture Of the hard which like sober
English than a lively French gesture
And who is The in the corneri LIE GENERAL Ca
vAIGSLc.
A tall man, with silver gray hair, in close buoned frock
coat and with dgnied carnage walks in aud places him
self quietly in low the left Immediately the whisper
circulsts 10 the galey-VioLa LAaARTISE! While they
watching, he leans 10 have word with his neghbjr.
countrymans look. And who is that greeis LAHaRTISE
cordially, and (om the gallery such look of an
honest coun,ryman Il sAaleo, the philosopher
The house is nearly full Twice the President has
rung his bell and twice tie husers have ordered the lcer
ing representatives to their places The report yesterday
session adopted but such noise Of conversation and
laughter that you hear word Of the proceedings.
| "TmEps!" "THIEHs" goes round the gallery. And
LITTLE sleek, grayhead,d man, in brown breeches whose
legs short for his body wsdde up The hail. noddpe
10 This one and shaking hands with that one and smiling oil
about him. t length he is IN his place, bis head leaning
| his hand, aud the debate IL aboui commence.
Two three waiting The foot OF the tribune, and
look sppeslngly for their toward The President Al
length mounts, and leaning the tribune, attempts q
make bis voice heard shove the Whispers and chatngs
movements in The hall. But h he is dull speaker,
unknown speaker, unpopular speaker, his topic ~
unimporant the attempt will be utterly vain. In vain IN,
easy, happy looking MAHRAsT will put scowl Of
ihority in the husess will rap upon the railing ia
vain the orators friends will cry out order His words
the distant quarters # the hall only feeble gusts sounds
and the murmut Of the TAX below and the earnest, cage
voices above browns ALL Sometimes sentiment Is ceueh
up by some dPuisious listener in the gallery and rebutted
and another comes 10 the rescue aud you relieved by
little lively debate al your elbow Tho poor orator abos
unconscious Of the little side play, and the President relieve
bis conscience ny occasional tug at the hell.
Presently person makes his appearance at the foot
the tribune more welcome than The rest The whisper crcu
laes in the gallery, cit is BARHor, cit is RoLLIS"
little silence gains place. The attendant PLACES flesh eas
Of water The Representatives who have been chatting put o.
cir Of attention The President rings his bell with NOR
confidence and the will begin with quiet listeners
For time every word will reach you. Bot quiet is not 70
habit Of the French WORD, thought slip OF the tongue
snee Is seized upon relieve the ksomsDess OF con'nu
listening and the Assembly unburdcns itself by nous
adhesion a noisy hiiarify.
Again the linking Of the bellagain the laundering voice
Of the huisserand temporary silence gives new ioce
| the speaker, and TO the Assembly.
the speaker be earnest and violent lapse Of quiet wi
he followed by storm ~ sensation" which II