Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-10-17

Louis Blanc's history of the French Revolution
contains many thrilling scenes OF that terrible event
One of the most graphic is the description OF the ex-
ecution of Louis the Sixteenth
The condemned man traversed the inner court on
foot AT the enhance of the external court green
carriage was waiting, with two gendarmes holding
open the door. Louis entered his confessor taking
seat by his side and soldier mounting IN front.
The signal is given and the cortage moves on. it
was mournful scene. From the prison to the place
of dea h was ranged double line of spiked guns,
horne by who in their mmovable silence, seemed
like armed statues. The weather was cold and mis-
ty leaden Stiffness only once broken at the gates
of the Temple by a CRY of Mercy mercy! uttered
by the trembling voice of some women, regned
along the entire march. Here and there few shops
were half open everywhere the shutters were closed
For the foot passengers there means of issue
nor was there single carriage in those streets ex
cep that one which rolled on amid universal silence
bearing the unhappy then called Louis the Last
| At ten minutes past ten they reached the foot Of
the scafod It had been erected in front OF the Pal
ace OF the Tuilleres in the square called after Louis
the Fifteenth, ad near the spot where stood the stat
| ne of the most corrupt of kings-a king who died
| TRANQUILITY in his bed. The condemned was three
minutes descending from the carriage Upon quit
ting the temple he had refused the relingote which
Cleary had offered him. and appeared in q brown
| coat white waistcoat, grey breeches, and white
stockings His hair was not disordered, was any
change percephole in his countenance The Able
| Firmont was dressed in black A large open space
had been kept round the scaffod-with ranged
on every side-while beyond, far the eye could
| reach, stood an unarmed multitude gazing.
x Descending from his carriage, Louis fixed
his eyes upon the soldiers who surrounded him, and
with menacing voice cried, g Sllence!" The drum
ceased to beat, but at signal from their officers the
drummers went &C What treason is this q he
shouted. a. am lost - 1t evident that up to
this moment he had been clingng TO hope The eX-
ecutioners approached 10 take off part of his
clothes; he repuised them fercely, ami himself re-
moved the collar from his neck. But all the blood il
his frame seemed to be turned into fire when they
sought to tie his hands. Tie my hands,, he shrek
ed A struggle was inevitable-it came 1t is in
dsputabIe says MERCER, that Louis fought with his
executioners. The Able Edgeworth stood by, per
picked, Mortified, speeches.
At last as his master seemed to look nquiringly
at him, he said, Sir, in this additional outrage on
y last trait of the resemblance between YOU
reward At these words the Indignation of the mar
gave away to the humility of the Christian and Louis
said TO the executoners, 4 will drain the cup to thu
drugs They tied his hand, they cut off his hair
snd then leaning on the of his confessor, he be
gan, with slow and sunken demeanor to mount h
steps-then very steep-of the guillotine. pom th
last step, however, he seemed suddenly to rouse,
walked rapidly across to the other side of the scatod
, when, by sign commanding silence, he exclaimed
8 Il die innocent OF The crime imputed to me- Hi
face was now very red, and according to the nara
tive OF his cOntessOr his voice so lo d that
could be heard as far as the Point Tournant. Som
other expressions were distinctly heard q pardo
the au hors of my death, and pray heaven that tn
blood you are about to shed may never be visited up
on France He about to continue, when hi
voice was drowned by renewed rolling of the drum a
e signal which it is affirmed was given by the com
edian, Dugayon, in anticipation of the orders c
Sauterre Silence be silent cried Louis the Six
teenth, losing all sefcontrol, and stamping violent
ly with his foot. Richard one of the executioners
D then siezed pistol and took aim at the king.
r was necessary to drag him along BY force. Wit
difficulty fastened to the fatal plank, he continue
to utter terrible cries only interrupted by the fall
4 the knife