6

for him and for some time was ful. The auditory burst forth into unable to proceed. At length, one long cry of Vive le Roi !' however, he read the following which seemed to give him courage. speech :

He at last found utterance; but “ Gentlemen, Peers, and Depu- broken with agitation. At the

his voice was thick, husky, and ties,

word consolation,' the King could “ Under the grief which op- no longer withstand the torrent presses me, deprived of that dearly- of his grief. He laid down the beloved son, whom I considered document, and burst into tears. destined to replace me on the The whole auditory was deeply Throne, and who was the glory afflicted ; and we do not exaggeand support of my

old

age, I have rate in saying, none present could deemed it imperative to hasten the resist the contagion. Loud, longmoment of your assembling around continued, and reiterated shouts me. We have together a great again grected him. Again he duty to fulfil. When it shall please resumed - and his voice became God to call me to himself, it is stronger, until he spoke the words necessary that France, and the 'mon fils,' where it again faltered. Constitutional Monarchy be se- At' ma tendresse,' tears again precured against being for a moment vented his proceeding; and the exposed to any interruption of the shouts of the auditory were again Royal authority. You will, there necessary to give him confidence fore, have to deliberate upon the to conclude. At the end, his Majesty measures requisite for prevent rose, crossed his arms on his breast, ing, during the minority of my and, in an effusion of gratitude for beloved grandson, this immense his reception, after bowing to the danger.

Chamber, sunk back on his seat “The calamity that has befallen and sobbed convulsively, hiding me,

does not render me ungrateful his features in his handkerchief. to Divine Providence, which still It was altogether one of the most preserves to me my children, worthy affecting scenes we have ever witof all my tenderness, and of the nessed ; and it was long before the confidence of France.

persons present could recover from

their emotion. After the Speech, and « Gentlemen,

after having bowed to the Chamber, “ Let us now secure the repose the King advanced to the front of and safety of our country. At a the estrade, and repeatedly acknowlater period I shall call upon you ledged his affectionate reception. to resume your accustomed labours The cries of · Vive le Roi !' were relative to state affairs.”

again loud and long-continued at The whole scene was a most his departure. The whole sitting affecting one, and is thus de- lasted exactly twenty-five minutes.” scribed in one of the journals of A trial of strength between the the day :

Ministry and the Opposition took “ The King's emotion was so place on the question of the elecgreat, that he found it impossible tion of a President of the Chamber to give utterance to the words. of Deputies. The ministerial canHe made the attempt a second didate was M. Sauzet, and he ultime, and again he was unsuccess timately succeeded. At the first

ballot there appeared for M. Sauzet, est, and happiness, and of the glory 210; M. Odillon Barot, 131; M. of the French people. Should the Dufaune, 39; M. Gros Preville, Chambers not be sitting, then the 22; M. Dupin, 16; M. Berryer, Regent is bound to convene them 3: lost votes, 5.

within three months. As none of the candidates had “ Article 6. The guardianship obtained an absolute majority of and tutorship of the young King votes, another ballot was bad- belong to the Queen, or to the when M. Sauzet obtained 227 Princess his mother whilst unvotes, M. Dufaune, 184 ; thus married ; and in the event of the giving M. Sauzet a majority of 43 demise of the Queen, or Princess, This took place on the 12th of or both, to the nearest female August. The four Vice-Presi- branch on the father's side not dents of the Chamber were also married.” all supporters of the Soult-Gui. This bill passed the Chamber of zot Ministry, which thus dis- Deputies on the 20th of August. played considerable strength at M. Chapuys de Montlaville moved the commencement of the Session. as an amendment, “ That the ReThe Regency Bill proposed by Mi- gency be confided to the mother of nisters contained the following ar- the minor Sovereign." It was reticles :

jected by a considerable majority. “ Article 1. The King's mi- Another amendment was moved nority ceases at eighteen years ac-. by M. de Sade, as follows: "At complished.

the close of the present reign, “ Article 2. At the moment of should the Prince, called to the the King's death, if his successor throne by the declaration of the be a minor, the Prince nearest the 7th August, 1830, not have accomThrone, in the established order plished the eighteenth year of his of succession, according to the age, and until he shall have reachCharter of 1830, if he be twenty- ed that age, the eldest of his paone years of age, becomes invested ternal uncles shall be invested with with the Regency throughout the the Regency.” This amendment minority

was condemned by M. Thiers, who « Article 3. The full and entire declared that it would comproexercise of the royal authority, in mise the monarchy of July: The the name of the King, belongs to amendment was rejected. M. Odilthe Regent.

lon Barrot's amendment, fixing the “ Article 4. The 12th Article majority of the Regent at twentyof the Charter, and all the legisla- five years, was also rejected. Antive dispositions protecting the other amendment of M. de Tracy, person and constitutional rights of limiting the rights of the Regent, the King, are applicable to the was then dismissed, amidst impaRegent.

tient cries from the Conservatives * Article 5. The Regent makes at the delays of the Opposition oath, in presence of the Chambers, members. An amendment of M. to be faithful to the King of the Beaumont (de la Sauvre), proFrench, to obey the Charter and posing that the Regent should conthe established laws of the king- voke the Chambers in twenty days, dom, and to act in every other re- after the King's death, was likewise spect in the sole view of the inter- put to the vote, and rejected. Fi

a

nally, the whole bill was put to the behind us; and now for what is vote, and it was carried by a ma- before us. The Ultra-Liberals are jority of 216.

incapable of either governing themDuring the discussion on the selves, or governing the country. amendment moved by M. de There is nothing but anarchy in Sade, M. Thiers made a speech them; and men incapable to come so strongly ministerial as to give to any understanding as to the the greatest offence to the Oppo formation of a government. They sition generally ; and he seems to are incapable of keeping order in a have taken his own supporters country, or of doing anything excompletely by surprise, so as to cept repeating the revolutions of give rise to the supposition that forty years ago, without the glory he meditated a coalition with M. that then attended them. Such Guizot, now that the death of was that party in 1830, and such the Duke of Orleans had put an is it now. Honest men are obliged end to all hopes he might have to separate themselves from those entertained of being invested with who attack the first principles of the office of Prime Minister, when- society. Beyond even the anarchever that Prince should ascend ists, there are, further still, men the Throne. In the course of his professing the most abominable address he spoke as follows:- principles. If the counter-revolu

" I see behind us a counter-re- tion is behind us, here is an abyss volution. I am not the dupe of its before. Let us stand where we language. It tells us that it has are, ther, on the ground, where been corrected. It pretends that the Charter has placed us.

Our it required the experience that the labour should be to build, not to result of the Ordonnances of July destroy." taught. It declares itself liberal A dreadful railway accident hapnow, and that it leans on no fo- pened in the month of May this reign party for support. But coun- year on the line between Paris and ter revolution deceived the country Versailles, which is quite unparalonce, and would do so again. It leled in the history of railroad gave the Charter of 1815, pro- disasters. What is called the mising to observe it; and when King's fête was celebrated at Verthat Charter became serious and sailles on Sunday, the 8th of May, efficient, it violated it. It pre- by a display of waterworks and tended to be patriotic, and called fireworks. After this was over a Massena the pet of victory ; but it crowded train left Versailles for shot Marshal Ney. I would never, Paris, to which were attached two as I never was, be deceived by engines. Between Bellevue and their promises: that party must Meudon the axle of the foremost lean on the foreigner, because it engine broke, and it and the second has no support in the country, and engine were both overthrown, because there are no hopes for its scattering their burning coals and returning but by the same way it ashes on the ground. A scene of came in first. I am as much afraid horrible confusion now followed. of that party as I was in 1830; The carriages were hurled over, and therefore I now give my ut- and many of them took fire. The most support to the reigning dy- passengers had been locked in, so nasty. So much for the party that many were prevented from escaping ; others, more fortunate, bruised and wounded was also congot out by means of their carriages siderable. * being burst open by the concussion. In the Chamber of Peers the

The ill-fated travellers in the three Regency Bill, after an unimportant first carriages were literally burnt discussion and futile opposition was to death, and most of the bodies adopted by a inajority of 163 to were so reduced to a calcined state, 14, and the Chambers were then that it was impossible to recognise prorogued until the 9th of Jathem. Upwards of fifty persons nuary, 1843. are ascertained to have perished on this occasion-amongst whom was

* For a more detailed account of Admiral d'Urville, a celebrated this dreadful accident, see CHRONICLE circumnavigator. The number of for May.

CHAPTER XIII.

SPAIN.-Opening of the Spanish Cortes-Speech of the Regent--Elec

tion of Presidents and Vice-Presidents--Discussion on the Address in the Senate-Discussion in the Chamber of Deputies--Insurrection at Barcelona-Combat between the Troops of the Garrison and the National Guard-Suspension of the sittings of Cortes- Arrival of Espartero at Barcelona-Negotiations on the part of the JuntaBombardment of the Town-Surrender by the Insurgents Proclamation by General Van Halen-Erecution of Carcana, Leader of the Insurgents—Fine levied upon the City. PORTUGAL. ---Municipal Elections at Lisbon-Triumphant result for Ministers-Revolt at Oporto, and Declaration in favour of the Charler, by Senhor Costa Cabral and others Revolt spreads to Lisbon-Ministers resignThe Court resolves to adopt the Charter -- Public rejoicings - New Ministry formed, including Costa Cabral-Opening of the Portuguese Cortes-Royal Speech. PRUSSIA.--Ordinance by the King of Prussia, convening a General Assembly of Committees from the Provinces—Meeting of the Assembly-Deliberations of the Body. BAVARIA.- Inauguration of the Valhalla, by the King of Bavaria Its object and origin of the Name.

SPARTERO opened the gather strength by the bonds of

Spanish Cortes on the 26th strict harmony and good intelliof December, 1841. The Queen gence, which are tightened by sinwas seated on the Throne in cere friendship. The other nathe Chamber of the Senate ; her tions that have recognised an exsister on her left, and Espartero alted Queen, preserve those sention her right, but a step lower ments of justice which dictated than the Queen. The Minister that recognition.

The governof Foreign Affairs delivered the ments which have not taken that Speech to the Regent, after hav- step contemplate us without hosing kissed the hand of her Majesty. tility; make continued inquiries It was couched in the name of the respecting our political situation ; Regent. After a complimentary and as it becomes more stable, the address to the Cortes, he entered day is not distant, in my opinion, npon foreign affairs :

when reason shall triumph, and “ I can acquaint you, with the the national cause complete its utmost pleasure, that our relations victory.”. with friendly powers continue to The Regent reported the cone