Year: 1863

There is scarcely any event in history which
has attracted more attention than the exeeu-
ton of the Duke d'Enghein. The facts. as ad-
mitted By all parties. are as follows:


The Bourbons and their partisaus were get
ting up innumerable plots for the assassination
of Napoleon The leading conspirators were
hovering upon the frontiers Of France, where
they held interviews with the assassius in
France, and occasionally, secretly and BY
night. crossed the line 70 confer with them.
The Duke d'Enghein, one Of the princes Of
Conde. had lei; Fraaee. and had joined the
Prussian army to march upon Paris. Il was
one of the laws Of France that any Frenchman
who should join foreign army, drawing the
sword against his own country, was to be ad-
judged traitor. to suffer the penalty Of death.
The duke committed this crime, and if arrested
was legally exposed to the penalty.


He was residing at Ettenheim near Stras-
burg There was the strongest evidence that
he was actively engaged in these conspiracies
for the assassination of the First Consul, and
was busy on the frontier fomenting them 1t
was known that he frequently, in disguise, Wis
tied Strasburg, By night, and returned to Et-
tenhem before the morning light. He was in
the pay of the British Government, in its war
of the coalition against republican France, and
was on the Rhine, avowedy to seize upon the
first opportunity to invade his native land
This was, according to universal admission,
high treason.


The circumstantial evidence was almost de
monstrative, that in addition to the crime Of
high treason, he was also an accompce with
murderers. Napoleon had SO much sympathy
with the ruin of the Bourbon princes that he
had no wish to trouble them, if they would
leave France in peace. Though it was a capi-
tai offense for Frenchman to serve against
France, Napoleon would not have enforced
this law had be not believed that the duke was
implicated in conspiracies against his life, and
that it vas necessary, in order to secure him
self from assassination, to strike terror into the
hearts Of the Bourboas There was no diff
Guilty in proving that the duke was guilty Of
high treason. That no one could deny. The
evidence that he was in completely with assas-
sins though very strong, was only circumstan-
tial. A very atrocious conspiracy had just
been discovered, in which Napoeon's life had
been exposed to the utmost hazard. \ council
was called to decide what should be done. The
ministers were divided in opinion. Some urged
sending secret force to arrest the duke, with
his accomplices, and bring them to Paris. But
as the duke was in Germany, this could not be
done without violating neutral territory. Cam
baceres, apprehensve of the effect which such
a violation would produce IN Europe, opposed
the measure. Napoleon replied, kindly:


al know your motive for speaking thus
your devotion to me. I thank you for it. But
I will not allow myself to be put to death with
out resistance. I must make these people trem-
bic, and teach them that my blood is not ditch
water"


Three hundred dragons were sent to dash
across the Rhine upon Ettenheim, and seize
the prince, with his retinue, and convey them
to Strasburg. At the same time Caulincourt
was sent 10 the Grand Duke Of Baden, with
an apology for this violation of his territory.
The Grand Duke expressed himself satisfied.
The Duke d'Eaghein was arrested in his bed,
placed in q carriage. and conveyed with the
utmost speed to Strasburg. and thence to the
castle of Vincennes. near Paris. A military
commission was formed, in accordance with
established law, composed of the colonies of
the garrison, with Gen. Hullin as President.
The duke was brought before the commission
and accused of high treason. in endeavoring to
excite civil war, and in bearing arms against
France Defantly he declared that he had
borne arms against France, and that be was
on the Rhine for that purpose only.


Il esteem" said he, Gen. Bonaparte as a
great man; but being myself prince of the
house Of Bourbon, I have vowed against him
eternal hatred A Conde can never reenter
France but with arms in his bands. Ny birth,
my opinions render me forever the enemy Of
your government"


The prince wished for personal interview
with Napoleon. but the court refused bis re-
quest. If the request had been granted, it
would doubtless have saved bis life. Napoleon
had sent from Paris a friend, VI. Real, in
whose prudence he reposed great confidence,
to examine the prisoner. Had he arrived in
season to see the duke, his life would probably
have been saved. for he wonld have been par
doned for his treason had it not been supposed
that be was also guilty of attempts at assassi-
nation. In consequence of sickness, N. Real
did not reach Vincennes until it was too late.


As the duke vas clearly proved guilty Of
treason. the court sadly pronounced sentence
of death. and, IN accordance with the custom
Of the times, he was almost Immediately led