The Sun. — 1841-01-04 (London, England)

PARIS MOB MAD.  (From the Memoirs of M. Guisquet, Prefect of Police  in 1832.)  The cholera was beginning to rage, and already carried off more than one hundred persons daily, in the capital. The populace, terrified at the peculiar symptoms of this fearful malady, was inclined to seek a cause for the disease independent of the disease itself ; and there arose a rumour, which spread like lightning through Paris, attributing these terrible effects to poison. The masses, ready for all impressions in moments of excitement, were readily persuaded that the fountains and provisions were so tainted, by men employed for the purpose. Suddenly, whilst, in the further quarters of Paris, the mob were yet breaking and burning the scavengers' carts, immense assemblages formed on the quays, on the Place de Greve, in the Faubourg SaintAntoine, in the city, and at various other points. Thence, they invaded the streets St. Denis aad St. Martin, and the Halles ; and never, perhaps, was there seen in Paris so frightful and numerous a mob,—maddened by the dread of poison, and rushing in search of the authors of these imaginary crimes. Every person seen with bottles, phials, or small packets, became an object of insane suspicion ; and a simple "flacon was received as convicting evidence by the delirious mullitude. "My agents could not be at all points at once, to stem the fury of these innumerable hosts of men,— bare-armed and gaunt-visaged—such as are rarely seen save in moments like these ; and which appeared, on that day, to issue forth, as it were, from beneath the pavement. Willing to judge for myself of the truth of the alarming reports which reached me, I traversed alone, on foot, and with great difficulty, these mighty masses of half-clad beings ; and no words can describe their hideous appearance, or do justice to the impression of terror conveyed by their fierce and hollow murmurs. Though not easily shaken, yet, for a moment, I trembled for the city—for the lives and properties of its respectable citizens. If the popular frenzy, instead of venting itself in acts of individual atrocity, had been di. rected to objects of plunder and revolution, it is impossible to say what might have been the extent of the devastation. No doubt the public authority would have triumphed in the end, but only by resorting to means the most energetic, and at the price of melancholy sacrifices. A young man, employed in the ministry of the Interior, a relation of M. Delorme, was massacred in the Rue St. Denis, on suspicion of having thrown poison into the vessels of a wine merchant. Another was torn to pieces, on the same pretext, in the Quartier des Hallos. A third victim, assassinated on the Place de Greve, was flung, dying, into the river. The mob tore, from the post at the Hotel de Ville, whither he had fled for shelter, a wretched man, whom t4q,s4,pght,erol in an instant ; and a person, described tO,iti:ii'.uts being a coal-heaver, actually set his dog to tear to pieces the body of this murdered victim. In the village •of Vaugiraed, the populace pursued two men, on whom this suspicion had fallen, and who succeeded in gaining the shelter of the Mayor's house. But the Magistrate's abode was violated and invaded, and one of these unfortunates, a commercial traveller, mercilessly slaughtered.. A similar scene, to which the same denouement appeared certain, occurred in the Fabourg St. Antoine. Two imprudent persons fled, pursued by thousands of men, who accused them of having given a poisoned tart to some children. The victims of this charge concealed themselves within the guard-house ; but it was instantly surrounded, and the massacre of the fugitives was inevitable, but for a happy inspiration, which induced the Commissary of Police, and a retired officer, who happened to be present, to break between them the tart in question, and eat it, before the eyes of the crowd. Their presence of mind converted the rage of the multitude into mirth, so small a matter suffices, the popular rage at times, to exi:ite, or allay,  We have reason —to believe that the christening of the Princess Royal is fixed for the 10th of next month the anniversary of her Majesty's marriage, , A