Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-13
iWho.c No. 920.

s'Nefal persons were klllcd. oucn was tnc
first days work,-the prelude 10 the mighty
drama about 10 follow. t
"Wednesday, the 23d was fair, with dashcs
of rain at intervals, as in our April. ] was
early abroad and soon noticed that companies
of National Guards were on duty. Only ro-
guiir troops had been called out the day before
"A fact which showed the distrust entertain
ed by the King of the National Guards. This
was noticed by the latter, aud was doubt
less ole of the causes which fastened the dc
s,ruciion Of the government.
! AT nine o'clock passed up the boulevards.
Most of the shops were shut, an air of uneasi-
ness prevailed among the people. Atthe Porlc
-. Denis there was a great throng, aud a
considerable mass or troops. s...
Barricades were soon after erected in the
streets of 81. Denis, Clery, Rue Saint Eustache,
Cadran, &c.-Seycfal fusillades took place
between the people and soldiers, and a number
Of persons were killed.
\ Some contests took place in other quarters
during the morning. At two O'Clock the boule-
wards, Rue 81. Denis, Rue ST. Martin, Mont
martre, st. lIonore-n short all the great
thOrOu9h 9hilrcs-were literally crammed with
people. Bodies of horse and foot, either sta
llonary or patrollng, were every where TO be
soon.
1t was about this time that some officers Of
the National Guard ordered their men TO FIRE,
but they refused. I'm one instance 400 Ma
tonal Guards were seen marching, in uniform,
but without arms. IL became evident that the
soldiers generally were taking part with the
people. This news was carried 20 the Palace,
aud Count Mole was called in 10 form a new
ministry lie undertook the task, and orders
were Immediately given to spread the inleIi-
gencc through the city.
/ Meanwhile the riot and revel went on in va
rous quarters. The police were active, and
hundreds of persons were arrested and lodged
in prison. Skirmsh-s took place between the
soldiers and the people-long professions were
sceh, attended by persons who sang chorusscs,
and shouted, 4" Down with Guizot' Long
live reform :" &c.
About four o clock the news Of the downfall
of the Guiz0t ministry was spread along the
boulcvards. The joyful intelligence ran over
the city with the speed Of light it was every
where received with acclamaiion. The people
/ and the troops, short time before looking at
! cacii bther in deadly hostility, were seen shah-
! ing hands, and expressing congrah,lation. An
immense population-mcn, women and children
Il-pourcd i into the bouIcyards, to share in the
i iubilation. Large parties ofthe National Guard
! paradcd The streets the officers and men shout
! ING, " Wire IN ffj0tRe," and The crowd cheer
Hing loudly. Bands Of 500 10 1900 men and
BOYS went about making noisy demonstrations
of Joy. On being met by The troops, they di-
vided 70 let them pass, and Immediately rcsLm-
ed their cries and their songs.
\ Toward halfpast six o'clock, in the evening,
AN illumination was spoken of, and many per
sons lighted up spontaneously The illunliua-
ton soon. became more general, and the pbpui
lace in large numbers went through the streets
calling " Light up" Numerous bands, alone,
or following detachmenrs Cf the National
Il GuaIds. went about sion'nlg" Erc Ic'"
I" Iirc Ia RcJo,meI! and singing The " Mor-
@iHgisc." AT many points, where barncadts
had been erected, and the people were nsisi-
ing the troops, tley ceased when they heard
the news of the designations, and the trooTs re-
tired. 4" ii is all over" was the general cry
and feeling OF relief seemed TO pcryadc every
/ bosom.
There can he no doubt that, but for fatal
occurrence which scof after took place, the
progress of the revolt would lhayc been stayed.
Many wise people now say that the reNolu'lon
was all planned beforehand they had seen
and predicted it and from the beginning ri
the outbreak everything tended 10 this point.
, The fact is unqucsiio nahy otherwIse. The
opposition. with their varloLs cluls and scclc-
ties distributed through all ltclasscs IN Pans, aud
holding constant com tnunicaiion with The
OUcricrs or MOtsCHen, no doubt stood ready
To make advantage Of any violence ON the pufc
of the government which might testify resist
ance, but they had not anticipated such con-
tngcncy on the present occasion. II is not
probable that the Mole ministry would have
satisfied the people but the krG had yielded ;
Guzot, the special object Of hatred, had taller,
and it was supposed that farther concessions
would be made, as concessions had beet begun.
But accident, which often rules the fate oi dy-
nas,ics and empires, now stepped in to govern
the course of events, and give them character
which should aslonish the world.
. I'm the course of the evening large mass OF
people had collected in the boulevard, in Itlc
region of Guzot S ofEcc-,hc I" Hotd DDS Ar
mrs EiyoHg,r,s. =" The troops here had un-
fortunately threatened the people, by rushing
Al them with fixed bavonCts, after the announce
mcnt of the resignation of the ministry, and
when good feeling prevailed among oil classes.
This irrliatcd the mob and was partly, doubtless
the occasion of the large gathering IN tlls quar-
ter. For some reason, not well explained, a
great many troops had alto assembled here, and
in the vicinity. At ten O'Clock the streets
| from the Madeleine to the Rue dc Ia Paix was
! throngcd with soldiers and people. There was,
however, no riot, aud 10 symptoms Of dlsor-
der.
Atihis moment number Of young men,
about sixty in number, came along The boule-
ward ,on The side opposite to the soldiers andiLe
Foreign Office. 1t Is said that the colonel a-
ticipated some attack, though nothing OF the
/ kind threatened. Ii appears that the soldiers
stood ready 10 fire, when one OF their guns
went of aud wounded the commandani horse
IN the leg. lie misook this for shot from
the crowd. and gave Instant orders To lire. a
Glsilladc Immediately followed. Twenty rcr-
sons fell dead, and forty were wounded. Tho
scene which ensued baiiled clIpilon.--lLo
immense masses dispersed in terror, ndcanl'd
panic in all directions. The groans of the dy-
Ing aud the screams of the wounded filed u @
air. Shops aud houses around We're
turned into hospital. "Ne are betrayed
we are betrayed 80 Rc,onge-reycnge
was the cry Of the masses.
From this momcnt the doom ofihc monarchy
was sealed. The leaders of the club NO doubt,
took their measures for revolution. An inn
mcns,. wagon was soon brought To the scene of
massacre the dead bodies were lad on II, al.H
nanng torches were lighted over =. Tie
II. a. ~.