Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-17
SELECT VARIETY

SELECT VARIETY r.. ~
s'!"H From Lamartinc's History of the;Restoration.
A Terrible and Dramatic History. "a
The gallant Labedoyere,i the frs. defector to
Napoleon on his leturn from Elba, was condemned
to suffer the pain of death. He had twenty-four
hours to apply to a Court of Appeal This time
was granted to the entreaties Of his family, to
enable them to solicit the King pardon, rather
than from any supposed benefit to- be derived from q
this proceeding, for he had confessed everything.
young orator of the Paris bar, then already cele
brated since in the tribune, Mr. Mauguin, Defend .
ed this desesperate cause before the Court ofAp-p
peal. He moved public opinion, be touched the
Judges, but he could not move them. second
sentence of death confirmed the first. Labcdoyere,
still uncertain fthe influence of his noble family
might not obtain from the Court perpetual impri-
sonment in place of tomb, fortified his soul, in
the cell, with the resolution of the soldier, the re-
sigilation of the Christian and the prayers Of the
dying; ready for life for death, according the
heart forgying or implacable, of the King should,
decide at this moment on his fate. His mother and
his wife besieged the portals OF the palace; but
trembling lest reasons of State should prevail in the
councils of the King against the natural DISPOSE
tion and magnanimity of the princes of the royal
house, they collect 100 600 francs in gold, to bribe
the gaoler of the prison, for the escape of the con-
demned. This offer, which was suspected by the
Government, was received by the keeper of the
Abbaye. Nothing more than desespernte sup;
plicaton remained for the mother and wife of the
prisoner. The most rigid orders interdicted the
guards of the palace from granting an entrance to
these suppliants, 10 spare the Court from the en-
barrassment of an implacab!e severity. These
guards, however, were less ptiless than the
courters; they relaxed their stern vigilance before
these two weeping ladies. AT the moment when
Louis XVIII, leaning upon the arms of his atten-
dants, was descending the great staircase and
crossing the yesGbule, where he was to get into
his carriage for his daily drive, the young wife of
the condemned, only nineteen yenrs OF age, her in
FAINT in her arms, in deep mourning, with hairs
guish, threw herself between the prince and the
steps of the carriage and exclaimed, in voice
stifed with sobs, "Pardon! Pardon1' The King
drew back, at once moved and disconnected; but
the fear of refusing satisfaction to his party and
Of incurring those reproaches of weakeness with
which he was besieged, even in his own palace,
prevailed over the spectacle of this supplant who
asked him for SO many lives in one. He fortified
himself with his impasSibility of countenance, and
bowling with an apparent good nature which con-
dame," said he, "I know your sentiments and
those of your family for my house; it is painful to
me to refuse pardon 10 such faithful servants.
If your husban nd had only offended me, his pardon
would be granted beforehand; but1 owe saiistac-
ton to France, upon which he has drawn all the
evils of sedition and of war. My duty as n King
ties up my hands. can do nothing more than pray
for the soul of him whom justice has condemned
After these words, the King was borne into. his
carriage and the windows were closed. The hap
less wife tainted upon the track of the wheels. -
Itwas six O'Clock in the evening; at the same
moment carriage, escorted by gendarmes, was
bearing Lebedoyere to the place of execution un-
der a garden wall, on that same plain of Grenelle,
which few days before he had contested with the
enemy. He was accompaniedby priest, who re-
cited to him, in low voice, the prayers IN the
pangs of death. On alighting frori the coach bhe
l,ttt1 toTnu Mt
attracted tc the spot by the rumcr of tue execu-
tion, a faithful friend, Cesar de Nervaux, whose
visits had often consoed him in the solitude of his
prison. The presence of this witness, a friendS at
an hour when all else upon earth IRE enemies, ana
the consolation Of dying in the presence OF one al
least, who would shed an honest tear to his memo
W. threw the CLEAN of saddening joy over the coun-
tenance Of LebedoyeJe. He advanced towards Nj.
de Nervaux; and the two companions in arms en-
braced each ether afIectionately. They exchanged
some rapid and interrupted words ina low voice.
Historians assert that III. de Nervaux promised his
dying friend to ayenge him, but vengeance, q SEM
timent altogether human, existed no longer IN the
soul of Lebadoyere, which was full OF religious
hone and divine forgiveness. NJ. de NervauX only
promised 10 ayenge him on oblivion, by the fidelity
and tenderness of his recollection. Labedoyere
approa ching the soldiers ordered for his execution,
and walking from the wall towards them, appeared
slowly to measure the number of steps which ought
to separate him from his executioners, he stopped
moment on the SPOT which he seemed to have cho=
sen for his death. Then as if sudden thought had
struck him, which called him back to life to repair
lapse ef memory. he returned hastily towards the
priest, Whispered something in his ear, and en-
brace him. after which he .sumed5 his chosen
place in front of the firing party, awaiting the final
blow. y,,.;..,. sla, . ,,L u,.ii
preached him in order to bandage his eyes, to spare
him, with the customary consideration at execu-
TONS the sensation of looking the arms directed
br,, I'm W
last act Of kindness, needless to those who, like
him have been familiar with death on SO many fields
of battle. He threw his hat upon the ground, and
untying his cravat, begged one OF the soldiers %
accent it rs present from dying man, and keep
II in memory Of him. The soldier, though moved,
declined the gift as at variance with the laws Of
military discipline; LabedoyeTe, however, insisted,
and the soldier at length replied, ttWell, then,
fully TO cover your face after death,' Satisfied
with this pious resolution of the soldier, Labedoy
ere handed him the handkerchief and advanced q
few PAGES closer to the firing party, unni me muz-
zles Of their lnuskets almost touched his breass-
The emotion, not Of fear, but of bidding farewell,
had derived his features of their natural color but
not Of their firm expression or intrepid look. He
turned his head tow ards the side where
NJ de Neryaux was praying for him. as II to bestow
| his last look on friendly eyes. Then barlng ms
breast, he said with firm voice to the veterans
MRire nv friends.v Theyolley replied to his voice,
he staggered and fell, pierced with q number Of
balls. The smoke Of the discharge covered for
moment the soldiers and the body. When tins was
dspeIIed by the breeze the priest who had attended
the execution, approached the body, extended on
the borders of ditch, knelt down, and sleeping the
handkerchief in the warm blood flowing from tne
breast Of the deceased, which he had proInSeu 10
take as a relic to Madame Labedoyere,s he retred-
1p,,, ,,oIs Do.-We take the following from old
Virginia published some twenty ago. anu
for he bsneh, M 81 most tho