Polynesian., 1857-02-07
The Execution Of Loui. XVI.

Louis Blanc's history of the French Revolution
contains many thrilling scenes of that terrible
event. Ono Of the most graphfcisthe description
Of the execution of Louis the XVIs
The condemned man traVersed the inner court on
foot At the entrance of the external court green
carriage was waiting, with two gen d'armes hold
ing open the door. Louis entered, his eonfessor
taking q seat by bis side and the soldiers mouated
in front. The signal is given, and the eortege
moved on. 1t was a mournful scene. From the
prison to the place OF death was ranged double
line of spike guns, borne by men who in their i'm
movable silence, seemed like armed statues. Tho
weather was cold and misty. A lesden Stiffness,
only once broken at the gate of the temple by
cry of 50 mercy mercy :" uttered by the trembling
voice OF some woman, reigned along the entire
march. Here and there a few shops were half
open everywhere the shutters were closed For
the feot passengers there were means of issue;
nor was there single carriage in those Streets ex
cept that which rolled on amid universal ST.
lence, bearing the unhappy one, then called Louis
the Last
At ten minutes past ten they reached the foot of
the scaffJld. 1t had been erected IN front of the
Palace Of the Tuieries, in the square called after
Louis the Fifteenth, and the spot where stood
the statue of the most corrupt of kings king
who died TRANQUILITY in his bed. The condemned
was three minutes descending from the carriage
Upon quitting the tempIe he mad refused the red
Ingote winch Cieary had offered him, and now ap-
peared In a brown coat, white waistcOat, grey
breeches, and white stockings. His hair was not
ldisordered, nor any change pereeptible in his
eountenance. The Able Firlnont was dressed in
black. large open space was kept round the
seafF1ld--with clan1n ranged on every side-whils
beyond as far as the eye could roach, stood an un-
armed multitude gazing.
- Descending from his
carriage, LOUIS fixed his eyes on the soldiers who
surrounded him, and with menacin- vnice, cried,
" silence 20 The drum ceased to h,at lut, ut o
signal from their officer, the drummerS went an.
{. What treason is this !'' he shouted. g am
lost ~ It was evident up to this moment that he
had been elinging to hope, The exeeutionsrs now
approached to take OF part of his clothes, he
pulsed them fereely, and himself removed the col
lar from his neck But all the blood in his frame
seemed to be turned into FIRE when they sought to-
tie his hands, 80 Tie my haRds {" he shrieked.
4 struggle was ineTitabhe-it cames It rs iRdiss
putable says Mercier, That Louis fought with his
executiouers. The Able Edgewurth stood by, per-
picked, hcrrfhed, speeehless.
st last as his master seemed 10 look iuquiringly
at hin, he said 50 Sir, in this additional outraged
only see a last trait Of the resemblance between
YOUR reward" At these words the indignation Of
the gave way 50 the bnrRility of the Christian,
and Louis said to tho exeeutioners, 60 will drain
the cup to the dregs." They tied his hands, they
cut off his hair and then leaning the arm of
sunken demeanor, to DFOuHt the stops-theH very
steep-of the guill0tins. Upon the last step, how
ever, he seemed suddenly TO rouse, and walked
rapidly across to the other side Of the scaf1ld,
when, by sign, commanding silence, he exclainI-
ed. 81 die innocent of the crime imputed to me-"
His face was now very red, and according to the
narrative Of his c0nfessor, his voice was so loud
that it could be heard as far as the Point Tournant
Some other expressions we're distinctly heard. %
pardon the authors of my death, and pray heav-
en- that the blood youare about to shed may never
be visited upon France"
He was about to continue, when bisyoice was
crowned by the renewed rolling of the drums, at q
signal which It it affirmed was given by the com
edian Dugayon, in anticipation OF the orders OF
Sapterre. Silence be silent ~ cried Louis
XVI, losing all selfccntr0, and stamping violently
with his foot Richard, one Of the executiouers,
then seized pistol and took aim at the king. 1t
was necessary to drag him along by force. With
difficulty fastened to the fatal plank he continued
to utter terrible cries only interrupted by the fall
of the knife. .s.t-- 81 ss.l f--l-s1-1 as~