The daily union., 1852-11-12
From Lamassine. History Of the Restoration.
A Terrible and Dramatic History.


A Terrible and Dramatic History.
The gallant Lsbedoyere. the FIRST deiecior to Napoleon
on his return IRON Elba was condemned 10 sunef lh'
pain OF death. He had twenty-four hours 10 apply TO
court Of appeal This lime granted TO the entreate'
OF bis family 10 enable them to solicit the kings pardon
rather than from any supposed benent 70 DC derived IRON
this proceeding, for he had confessed everything.
young orator OF the Paris BAR then already celebrated as
political advocate. and still celebrated since in the
Tribune Mr. Mangun defended THIS desperate cause De,
touched the judges, but he could not move them sec
ond sentence OF death confirmed the first LabedoyeIe
still uncertain if The influence of his noble family might
not obtain from the court perpetual imprisonment IN
place OF tomb, fortified his soul in his cell with the
resolution of the soldier the resignation OF the Christian
and the prayers OF the dyngTeady Tor life or Tor deah
according as the heart orgiviDg implacabe. of the
King should decide al this moment on his fate. His
mother and his wife besieged the portals OF the palace
but, trembling lest OF Stale should prevail IN the
councils of the King against the natural disposition and
magnanimy oi the princes OF the royal house. they coll
ecied 100000 francs IN gold, to bribe the aler Of The
prison, Tor the escape OF the condemned. This ofer
which suspected by the government. was received
by the keeper OF the Abbaye Nothing more than des-
peraie suppicaton remained for the mother and wife
OF the prisoner The most rigid orders interdiced the
guards Of ths palace from granting an entrance TO
these suppians to spare The court from the embarrass
ment OF mplicabe severity. These guards however,
we're less pitiless than the courersi they relaxed
their stern vigilance before these two weeping ladies'
At the nomeni when Louis XVIII, leaning upon the
arms of his attendants, was descending the grqRi stair
case and crossing the vesbuIe where he get into
his carriage for his daily drive, the young wife Of the
condemned only nineteen years OF age. her infant in her
arms n deep mourning with hair dsheveled and eyes
streaming with tears OF anguish threw herself between
the Prince and the steps OF the carriage and exclaimed in
voice stled with sobs, !" Pardon, pardon9 The King
drew back moved and disconnected; but The fear
OF refusing satisfaction to his party, and OF incurring
those TepIoaches OF weakness with which he was be-
seged in his own palace prevailed over the spec
tacle OF ths sappsn' who asked him for 50 ma9y lives
countenance and bowng with an apparent good naure,
which copiTasied with his rigor TO the young wife,
Madame" said be, - fnoy yoqr sentiments and 1
refuse pardon 10 such faithful servants. II your has
band had only offended me- his pardon would be granted
beforehand but owe satisfaction 70 France, upon which
he has dawn all the evils Of sedition and Of My
duty King ties ny my hands. can 90 noihins more
than pray for the soul OF him whom justice has con
demned and to offer my protection 10 you and 10 his child
After these words the King borne into his carriage
and the windows closed The hapless wife tainted
upon the track OF the wheels.
1t was sig oicock IN The evening; at the same moment
carriage. escorted by gendarmes, bearing abedoyere
to ths place OF execution. under garden wall on that
same plain of Grenelle which iewd days before he had
contested with The enemy. He was accompanied by a
priest who rec,ed him. in low voice, the prayers 10
the pangs of death. On alghng from The coach he per-
ceived amid little group of curious persons attracted 10
s I by the o. ne ss hsd oan anu h%
in the solitude OF his prison the presence OF this wit
ness friend, at an hour when all else upon earth are
enemies and the consolation OF dying in the presence oil
one at least who would shed an honest to his mem
ory threw CLEAN of saddening JOY the countenance
OF Labedoyere. He advanced towards M. de Nervaax.
and the two companions in embraced each other a
feclionaely They exchanged rapid and interrupt
ed words In low yore. Historians assert that NJ de
Nervaux promised his dying friend 10 ayenge him but
vengeance sentiment altogether human, existed no longer
in the soul OF Labedoyere, which full OF religious
hope and divine forgiveness Nj. de Nervaux only prom
ised his friend 10 avenge him oblivion, by the fidelity
and tenderness OF his recollection Labedoyere approach
ing tie soldiers ordered Tor his execution and walking
from the wall towards them appeared slowly 10
the number Of steps which ought TO separate him from his
Ila h,Nh ha
seemed to have chosen for his death. Them IL sud
den thought had struck him, which called him back TO
life to repair lapse OF memory, he returned hastily to-
wards The priest whispered something in his ear, and
embraced bim alter which be resumed bis chosen place
in front OF the firing party, awaiting the inal blow.
The officer who commanded the veterans approached
him in order TO bandage his eyes, TO spare him. with the
customary consideration al executions the sensation OF
looking on the arms dir eced against him. But With
gesture he declined this ast sci OF kindness, needless
those who like him have been familiar with death
many helds OF battle He threw his hat upon the ground
and unying his crasa, begged one OF the soldiers 10 a
cept 1t as a present from dying man, and keep in
memory OF him The soldier. though moved, declined
the glt variance with the laws OF military discipline
Labedoyere however, insisted. and the soldier al length
replied, swell, then, will take the handkerchief but
shall be respectfully TO cover your face after death
Satisfied with this pous yeso qloD OF the sodier Labe-
doyere handed him the handkerchief and advanced few
PAGES closer to the hng party until the muzzes OF their
muskes almost touched his hbreast The emotion, OF
fear but OF bidding farewell had deprived his features OF
their natural color but not OF their firm expression in
repd look. He lpstinc,ivey turned his head towards
the side where NJ de NervauH vas praying for him, il
to besow his last look friendly eyes Then barring his
breast he sad with firm voice TO The veterans, Fire,
my friends !" The volley replied TO his voicehe stag.
gered aud fell pierced with number Of balls. The
smoke OF the discharge covered for moment the Go-
diers and the body. When this was dspelled by the
breeze the priest who had attended the execution ap
preached the body extended The border OF a ditch,
knelt down. and, sleeping handkerchief in the warm
blood flowing from the breast Of the deceased, which he
had pro nised to take relic 10 Madame Labedoyere
he retired.