Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-12-13
Tn, Execusiou ofIouI. XVI.

Louis Blnnc's history of the French Revolution
contains many thrilling scenes of that terrible
event. One of the most graphic is the descrip
ton If the execution of Louis the XVI
The condemned man travrrsed the inner court
on foot At the entrance Of the external court Il
green carriage waiting, with two gend armes
holding open the door. Louis entered, his con-
fessor taking a seat by his side and the soldiers
mounted in front. The signal is given, and the
cortege moved on. 1t was n monrnful scene
From the prison to the place of death, was rang
ed a double line of spike guns, borne by men who
in their inmovabe silence seemed like armed
statues. The weather wa. cold and misty a
leaden stiffness. only once broken at the gate OF
tho temple by the cry Of ENERGY, mercy" ut
tered by the trembling yoiceof some woman reign
ed along the entire march. Here and there
few shops were half open; everywhere the shut
iers were closed. For the foot passengers,there
were no means of issue; nor was there single
carriage in those streets. except that one which
rolled on amid the universal silence, bearing the
unhappy one; then called Louis the Last!
AT ten minutes past ten O'Clock they reached
the foot of the scafold 1t had been erected in
front of the Palace of tho Tulleries in the square
whore stood tho statue Of the most corrupt OF
kings-a king who died TRANQUILITY in bed The
condcmned was three minutes descending from
the carriage. Upon quitting the temple he had
refused the red ngote which Cleary had offered
him, and now appeared in n brown cont, white
waistcoat, gray breeches and white stockings
IHs hair was not disordercd, nor was any change
percrpubie in his oountenance. The Able Fir
mont was dressed in black. A large open space
was kept around the scatiod-wth cannon ran
ged on every sde-whlc beyond. as far as the
eye could reach. stood nn unarmed multitude ga
ENG.
Descending from his carriage, Louis fixed his
eyes on the soldiers who surrounded him, and
iii, oil scala ha
drum ceased to beat, but, at signal from their
officer, the drummcrs went on. "What treason
is this ;" he shouted. - am lost" 1t was cvi-
dent mp to this moment that he had been clinging
to hopc. The executioners now approached to
take If part of his clothes he repulsed them
ferccly, and himself removed the collar from his
neck. But all the blood in his frame seemed tc
be turned into fire when they sought to tie his
hands. "Tie my hands !" he shrieked strug
gle was inevitable it came. 1t is indispuiable
says MERCER. that Louis fought with his execu
| TONERS The Abbe Edgeworh stood by per
picked, Mortified speechess.
At last, as his master seemed to look inquiring
y at him. no said: Sir, in this additional out
rage, | only see last trait of the resemblance
between your reward" At these words, the in
dgnation of the man gave away to the humility
of the Christian. and Louis said to tho execution
ers i" | will drain the cup to the dregs." They
tied his hands, they cut off his hair, and then
leaning on the arm of his confessor, he began
with slow tread. and sunken demcanor. t.
mount the steps-then very steep-of the gulllo
tine. Upon the last step. however. he seemed
suddenly to rouse, and walked rapidly across tt
the other side of the scafnd, when. 10y sign
commanding silence, he exclaimed, Il die limo
cent of the crime imputed to me- His face wa
now very red. and, according TO the narrative o
his conessor, his voice so loud, that 1t coul(
| be heard as far as the Pent Tournant. Some
other expressions were distinctly heard IL par
don the authors of my death. and pray HEAVIER
| that tho blood you are about to shed may neve
be visited upon France
! He was about to continue, when his voice wa
drowned by the renewed rolling of the drums. n
IA signal which, it is affirmed, given by thu
comedian. Dugayon, in anticipation of the order
of Santerre. .Silence be silent !" cried Loui
XVI. losing all self control and stamping vic
lently with his foot. Richard one of the execu
TONERS. then seized pistol and took aim at tn
King. 1t was necessary to drag him along b,
force. With difficulty fastened to the fatal plank
he continued to utter terrible cries, only inter
rupted by the fall Of the knife.