Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-13

as u passed through the more populous street.
OF the city, and especially in those quarters in
habited by the lower classes. The effect wa.
such a. might have been anticipated. At mid
night the barbados were begun, and at sunrs,
the streets OF Paris formed a network Of forti
hcatlons, which set the troops at defiance
More than two thousand barricades, some o.
them ten feet IN height, were thrown up dur
ing that memorable night vet such were the
suddenness and silence Of the operations tha
most OF the inhabitants of the city slept secure
ly, fondly dreaming that the tempest had pass.
ed, and that the morning would greet them in
peace.
On Thursday, the decisive day the weather
was still mild and without rain, though the sky
was dimmed with clouds. At eleven in the
morning sailed forth. cannot express my
astonishment at the scene The whole bOul-
eyard was scene Of desolation. From the
Rue de la Paix to Rue Montmartre-the finest
part OF Paris, the glory OF the city-evcry tree
was cut down, all the public monuments re-
dnccd 10 heaps of ruins, The pavemcnts torn up,
and the entire wreck tumbled into succession
OF barrlcades. Every street leading into this
portion Of the boulevard was strongly barrcad-
ed. Such giant operations seemed like the
work Of enchantment
Bat my wonder had only begun At the
point where the Rue Montmartre crosses the
boulevard the whole pavement was torn up,
and something like square breastwork was
formed, ia which cannon was planted. The
whole space around was crowded with the
popuace. As | stood for a moment, survey
lug the scene, young MAJ about twenty press
ed through the crowd, and stepping upon the
carriage Of the cannon, cried out" Down
with Louis Philippe." The energy with
which this was spoken seemed to arrest gener-
al attention, and the remarkable appearance of
the youth gave effect to his words lie seem
ed the very personifcaiion of revolution. lie
was short, broad-shouldered and full-chested.
Ills face was pale, his cheek spotted with blood
and his head, without hat or cap, was bound
with a handkerchief His features were keen,
and his deep-set grey eye was lit with spark
that seemed borrowed from the tiger. AS he
left the ihrong he came near me, and said
inluiringly-" Down with Louis Philippe ~
" Yes ~ was his reply. And what then -
said |. a Republic ~ was his answer and
he passed on, giving the watch-worl OF
''Down with Louis Philippe to the masses he
encountered. This was the first instance in
which | heard the overthrow of the King and
the adoption of republic proposed.
In pursuing my walk noticed that the pop
ulaton were more abundantly supplied with
weapons. On the first two days they were
uDarned; but after the slaughterat the Foreign
Office they went to all the houses and demand
ed weapons. These were given, for refusal
would have been vain. An evidence Of the
consideration of the mob, even in their hour of
wrath, is furnished by the fact that in all cases
where the arms had been surrendered they
wrote on the door in chalk " Armes dOances,"
(arms given up,) 50 as 80 prevent the annoy
ance of second call
Ii might seem a fearful thing 70 behold
mob, such as that of Paris, brandshing guns,
fowling pieces, swords, cutlasses, hatcheis and
axes but must say that felt not the slight
est fear in passing among their thickest mass
es. Some of them, who had doubtless never
handled arms before, seemed a little jaunty
AID jubilant The Gamins, peculiar race Of
enterprising, daring, desperate boys-the lead
ers in riots, lows and rebellions-were swarm
ing on all sides, and seemed to feel head tall
er, in the possession of their weapons. saw
several of these unwashed imps strutting about
with red sashes around the waist, supporting
pistols, dirks, cutlasses, &c. Yet | must say
that over the whole scene there was an air of
good breeding which seemed a guarantee
against insult or violence. | may as well say
here that during the whole three days did not
see SCuliIe Ut WTdigle dInOiiB tne people
did not hear an insulting word, nor did see a
menace offered, but in conflicts between the
soldiers and the populace. | may add that
did not see drunken person during the whole
period with the single exception which shall
hereafter mention.
took wide circuit in the region of the Rue
Montmartre, the Bourse, the Rue Niviene. 1t.
Honore, and Palas Royal. Every where
there were enormous barricades and crowds of
armed people. Soon after | passed-that is
about ~ clo,k-the southern quadrangle of
the Palais Royal, which had lately been the
residence of the brothers the King of Naples.
was attacked and taken by the populace. The
b,autiful suite of rooms were richly furnished,
AID decorated with costly pictures, statues,
bfOnzes and other specimens of art. These
were unsparingly tunbled into the square and
th, street, and consigned to the flames.
\ the distance Of $50 feet from the front OF
the Palas Royal is the Chateau Fau-amass
i've stone building, occupied at the time as
barrack, and at this moment garrisoned by $50
municipal guards. In most parts of the city,
seeing that the troops fraterniZed with the peo-
PIE, the Government had given them orders not
10 fire. These guards, however attacked the
insurgents in and about the Palais ROYAL
Their fire was returned, and desperate con-
fict ensued. The battle lasted more than an
hour-the people rushing in the very face of
the muskets of the guard, as they blazed from
the grated windows. At last the barrack was
set on fire, and the guard yielded, though not
till many of their number had fallen, and thc
rest were nearly dead with suiiocation. The
Chateau d Eau is now mere ruin, its mottled
walls giving evidence of the shower of bullets
that had been poured upon it,
No sooner had the Chateau d'Eau surrend
cred than the flushed victors took their course
toward the Tuileries, which was near at hand
shouting, singing, roaring, they came like q
surge, bearing all before them. The Place do
Carousel was filed with troops, but not
sword was unsheaihed-not bayonet pointed
--Bot a musket or a cannon fired There stood
idle aud motionless, the mighty armament
which the King had appointed for his defence.
How vain had ilis calculations proved-for
alas, they were fouaded in radical error
Z he soldiers would not massacre their brothers
TO sustain a worthless thing though it wore
the title OF a rrora. How pregnant is this
fact as to the future fate of monarches
But We must now enter the Tullerics. For