Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-13
Ar. COOdrich's account Of the
French Revolution.

uayS Ol IarlS ana tnelr incidents, from pcrsoh-
al observation. Notwithstanding the copious
details we have already given, there Us much
freshness in the narrative here presented.
Louis Philippe commenced his career under
fair auspices, and for time every thing promls-
ed happy fuflment of what seemed his duty
and his destiny, chanccd TO be in Paris IN
1892, and saw celebration of the "three
glorious days" The King then reviewed
80 900 troops, chiefly National Guards. He
was all day on horseback, and OF course before
the people. ] saw hundreds Of the common
people step up TO him and shake hiIn by the
hand lie was enthusiastically checred every
where, and seemed indeed the idol Of the peo-
pie. On visiting Paris in 1917 after lapse
fifteen years, was amazed at the change.
Shut up in his palace, like the veiled prophet
of Khorassan, and entrenched in military power
with naughty ministry pursuing an unberd-
ing course of policy, he seemed rather despot
of the old school-a Bourbon of the last cen
tury-than a citizen King crowned at the
barricades. A great change had indeed come
over the monarch, the possession of power
had scduced his heart and turned his head and
forgetting his pledges, and blind 10 his true
interest, he was busy in building up dynasty
that should hand down his name and fame TO
postcrlty.
1t seemed, at superficial glance, that he
might realize his dream. lie had acquired the
reputation of being the most sagacious monarch
of his time lie had improved and embellish-
ed the capital on all sides his "image and
superscription" were seen in connection with
statues, fountains, edi6ces, and works of beauty
and utility. France was happier than the adj
accnt countries the famine and the pestllence
that had recently desolated neighboring states
had trod more lightly here. The King was
blessed with large family these had all reach
ed maturity and were allied to kings and queens,
princes and princesses The upholders of the
Crown, in the Parliament, were men whose
names, alone, were tower of strength.
Peace regned at home, andthe army abroad
had just succeeded in achieving a triumph over
an enemy that had baillcd them for seventeen
years
Such was the outward seeming Of affairs !;
but there were threatening fires within, which
might at any moment produce an earthquake.
| The thinking people were profoundly Disguised
with the rctrograde tendency OF the government
with the corruption oiits officers the gradual
subsidizing of the legislature by the Crown,
and the concentration OF all the powers of the
state in the hands of one man, who was now
using them for family aggrandzement. Al
though the march Of dcspotism had been eau
tious and stcalthy, the plancst mind could see,
and, indeed the people generally began 10 feel,
many CALLING evidences Of the tyrannyto which
they had become actually subjected.
Among these grievances were the constant
increase of the national debt, and consequent
increase of taxation, and the restraints put upon
the liberty of speech. BY law of some years
standing, the people were prohibited from hold
ing stated meetings of more than twenty per-
sons, and reform banquet, Of which about
seventy had been held, IN different parts of the
/ kingdom, within the last year, were, now pro-
nounced illegal bw the ministry, and a deter
mination to suppress one about TO be held IN
the twelfth reimbursement of Paris was sol
emnly announced by them in the Chamber of
/ Deputies.
! 1t is material to bear in mind tha, there are
always in this metropolis al least 100, 600 work
men, who live iromday TO day upon their labor,
and who, upon the slightest check TO trade, are
plunged into poverty, if not starvation. Al the
moment of which we are speaking, this I'M
mensc body of men, with their families, suffer
ed sorcy from the stagnatlon of business IN
the capital. There were not less than 200, 900
persons, who, for the space of three months,
had not been able to obtain sufficient food to
appease the cravings ofhuRgcr. How easy TO
stir up these people to rebellion how natu
raj for them TO turn their indignation against
the King aud his government The opposi-
ton members seized the occasion now afforded
them, to excite these dscontenled masses
against the ministry, and it may be added that
the latter did more than their enemies to pre-
pare the mine, and set the match TO the train.
The crisis was now at hand. The opposi-
ton deputies declared their intention to attend
the proposed celebration, and in spite of the
threats Of the ministry, the preparations for the
banquet went vigorously on. A place was Sc
lected in the Champs Elysccs, and a building
was in progress OF erection for the feast The
programme was announccd-the toasts for the
occasion were publshed-thc orator %. Bar
rot) selected. The day was fXcd-an omi-
nous day for tyrants-an auspiCous one for
liberty. 1t was the 22d of February, the birth
day of Washington Whether 1t has rccciv-
ed a new title to lis place in the calender Of
liberty must be left for the decision Of time.
/ The evening Of the 2lst came, and the proc
lamations were issued by the Joint action of the
ministry and the police, prohibiting the ban
quet. This act, though 1t had been threaten
cd, still fell like thundcrbolt upon the people.
Ii was known that an immense military force
had been quietly assembled in Paris and the
vicinity, go, 900 troops, with artillery and ann
pie muniions,) and that the garrison around
the Tucrics had been yictuallcd rs if for a
scigc. But it had not been believed that an at
tempt to stlhc the voice ofthc people, so bold
as this, would really be made. Yet such was
the fact The leaders of the opposition rcccd-
ed from their ground and it was announced in
the morning papers Of the 22d that the ban
quct forbidden by the government would not
take place.
j The morning Of the god was dark and driz-
zy. HAD anticipated some manifestation of
uncasiucss, and at half past o'clock went
forth. Groups of people were reading the
proclamllions posted up at the corners Of the
streets bu, all was tranquil | walked along
the boulcyards for mile, yet saw no symptoms
Of the coming storm.
The place of meeting Tor the banquet had
been fixed IN tho square Of the Madeleine .--
This Is at the Western extremity Of the boulc-
wards, and near The great central square called
the I" Place dc Va Concordc "a point commu-
nicating directly with the Chamber of Depu-
ties, the Champs Eysccs, the garden of the
Tuilerics, &c
|. Atli O'Clock, \. VI. dark mass was seen