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

posed place Of meeting. lhese consisted OF
thousands of worlmen from the iaubourghs.-I
In few moments The entire square OF The Mad
elene was filed with these persons, dressed
almost exclusively in their characteristic cos
tune, which consists Of blue tunic, called
blouse" garment made very much IN The
fashion of our farmers ffocks.
The opening scene of the drama had now
begun. The mass rushed and eddied around
the Madeleine, which, by the way, is the finest
church and the finest cdifce in Paris such
was the threatening aspect of the scene, that
the shops were all suddenly shut and the peo-
pie around began TO supply themselves with
bread and other food, for Hrce days. In a few
moments the avalanche took It's course down
the Rue R0y1ic, swept across the Place dc la
Il C0ncordc, travcrsing the bridge over the Seine,
and collected in swelling and helving masses
in the Place, or square, before the Chamber of
Deputies. The building is defended in front
by high iron railing The gate of this was
soon forced, aud some hundreds ofpeope rush
cd up the long flight Of steps, and pausing be-
! meath the portco, struck up the song OF the
| lMH&WaiSa. The crowd continually increas-
ed-shouts, songs, cries filed the air. East
| and West, along the quays and through the
streets behind the Chambers came long lines
of students from the various schools Stand
| ing upon one of the pillars of the bridge |
! commanded view of lhc''whole scene. 1t
| was one to fll the heart with the liveesi emo
| tions. a hundred thousand people were now
collected, seeming like an agitated sea, and
sending forth murmur like the voice Of many
waters. From the Southern gate of the Iuil-
cries issiied two bodies of troops-onc, on
horseback, came along the 'Nothern gatc.-I
| They were the Municipal Guard, magnlf-
cent corps richly caparisOned and nobly mount
ed Being picked and well paid, they were
! the chef reliance of the government, and for
that very reason they are hated by the people.
The other body of troops were infantry OF the
line, and crossing the POm RoYdi, they came
along the Southern side of the river. Both
detachmcnts approached the multitude, and
crowding upon them succeeded at last III clear
ing the space before the Chambers
II The greater part of the throng crossed the
bridge, and SPREAD themselves over the Phdcc
! deM Concord. This square ,lperhaps the most
/ beautiful in the world, is about eight acres in
| extent. In the centre is the famed obclisk of
| Luxor on either side of this is n splendid
ihun,.in, which was in fall action during the
scenes we describe. To the east is the garden
of the Tuileries-to the west are the Champs
+. Elysees. This vast area, so associated with
art and luxury and beauty, was now crowded
with an irrilated pOpulace, mainly Of the work
ing classes Iheirnumbcr constantly increas-
ed. and bodies of troops, foot and horse, arrived
from various quarters till the square was literal
/ " covered The number of persons here col
! lccted in one mass was over 100 600.
4 At the commencement the mob amused them
selves with songs and pasquinad,s but IN
clearing the space before the Deputies, and
driving the people across the bridge, the guards
had displayed great rudeuess They pressed
upon the masses and one woman was crushed
to death beneath the hoofs of the horses.
Pebbles now began to be hurled at the troops
from the square. Dashng in among the people
sword in hand the cavalry drove them away,
but as they cleared one space, another was
Immediately filed. The effects of this was
10 chaie and irrtae the mob, who began TO
sezc sticks and stones, and hurl them in good
earnest at their assailants.
While this petty war was going on, some
thousands of the rioters dispersed ihensc'"cs
through the Champs Elysees, and began to
build barricadcs across The main avenue. The
chairs, amounting to many hundreds, were
Immediately disposed in three lines across the
street Benches, trescs, boxes, fcnces,-I
every movable thing within reach, were soon
added to the barricades. An omnibus passing
. Nv WAS Cdplultu, htliCiltu li'Nil lll' Hbio'Sf
and tumjcd in;o one of the lines. The flag
was taken from the panorama, near by, and
n vast procession paraded through the grounds,
singing the Marsclllaise, the Parslcnne, and
other patriotic airs.
\ Meanwhile a small detachment offoot guards
advanced to the scene Of action, but were
pclted with stones and took shelter in their
guard house. This was assailcd with a show
cr of missiles. which ratified like hail upon its
roof The windows were dashed IN and heap
of brush near bv was laid 10 the wall and set
on fire. \ body of horse guards soon arrived
and dispersed the rioters but the latter crossed
to the north side of the Champs Elysecs, at
tackled another guard house, and set 1t on FIRE.
A company of the line came TO the spot, but
the mob chCcrcd them, and they remained mac
tive The rcvcl proceeded, aud IN face of the
soldiers the people fed the fire with fuel from
the surrounding trees and fences, sang their
songs, cracked their Jokes, and cried" Dorm
irM Gm:Oir' " Urc Ia rcfOIRe!' DC. &c.
I'm these scenes the bows took the lead, per
forming the most desperate icats, and inspr-
ing the rest by their intrcpdty. \ remark
able air Cf fun and lrollc characterized the mob
wit few as freely on all sides as stones and
sticks; every missile seemed winged with a
joke
Such was the course of events the first day,
so far as they fell under my own observation.
IL appears from the papers that similar proceed
ings-,hough IN some cases of a more serious
character-took place elsewhere. Great masses
of people gathered at various points. They
made hostile demonstrations before the Office
of ForGgn AgdirS, crying out--"Down with
Guizot - Some person called for the Min
stcr. . lie is not here" said ono; she is
| with the Countess Lieycn''--a remark which
the hatiiUcs of Paris will understand as convey
ing keen satire At other points spirit of
! insubordInaiiun was manifested. Bakers
! shops were broken open, armorics forced, and
| barrcadcs begun Every where the hymn of
| the Marsciasc and Dumas's touching death
song of the Girondins were sung, often by hun
! drcds of voices and'wih thrilling effect. The
! Irapp,l. for calling out the National Guard, was
beaten in several ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AS night
/ CLOSED in, heavy masses Of soldicry, horse and
| foot with train. of artillery, were seen al var
lIious points. The Pldo du Cdrr0Hsi was foil
! Ilof troops and a, evening they were reviewed
! lby the King, and the Dukes of Nemours and
! Mnntpcnsicr six thousand soldiers were dis
! posed along the boulcvards, from the Madeleine
! 10 the Porte 81. Martin. Patrols were seen
A