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LETTER XXXÍ.

Tuesday, July 4.

NEITHER the Moniteur, nor any other pa pers this morning, asserted the conclusion of a convention. The chamber of representatives sat until two in the morning, and adjourned its secret committee until seven, and its public sitting opened at eleven. At two o'clock the inclosed convention and its articles were hawked about the streets. * The allies occupied St. Ouen, St. Denis, Clichy, and Neuilly, this day at twelve; to-morrow they are to be put in possession of Montmartre, and the next day of the barriers. The French army is to quit its present position in three days, and to retire in eight to the south bank of the Loire. There are reports at this moment current, that the troops have refused to retreat, but I have met several regiments myself. It is true that, at the barriers this evening, and, indeed, in the streets, are several small bodies of troops of the

* See Appendix-No. 33.

line, and of cuirassiers, straggling about, apparently without order or destination. An officer at the barriere de l'Etoile rushed by me, exclaiming with a furious tone, and slapping his breast, "On vend des bêtes à cornes, mais au"jourd'hui on vend des hommes." A persuasion of treachery has become very prevalent this afternoon, and some movement was then expected on the part of the troops and the federates.

I just hear that the whole national guard are put under arms. Single musquets have been heard in various parts of the city, on the bridges, the boulevards, and the squares, and parties of men are running through the back streets, shouting "Vive l'Empereur!" A cannon or two have been fired from Montmartre. I saw a carriage stopped in my presence in the rue St. Honoré by two men, who insisted on knowing whether any of the government were in it. The movement began at three o'clock, when many groups were formed in the gardens and streets, listening to harangues and denunciations. At six o'clock the doors and windows were shut, and the whole of the national guards received orders to hold themselves in readiness to act at a moment's warning. The women disappeared from the streets, and preparations were made in the interior of many houses for a defence against

massacre and pillage. It is fancied at this moment that the generale is beating-it is beating in all quarters of the town-no actual insurrection has yet broken out, or any violence been attempted. The tumult in the town now seems to subside the guards have every where been doubled.

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You must not suppose the discontent at the convention confined to the soldiers nor the lower classes. A member of the lower chamber told me this evening, that proofs of treason might be brought against Fouché; that he had contrived to bring over the president Lanjuinais, and about fifty active orators of the assembly to his interests and views, and that the consequence was, no one who had any objection to make to the measures of government was heard for a moment. He added, "There are "three hundred amongst us for Napoleon the

Second, and a hundred and fifty that are in"different, but are good patriots; the rest are "for temporizing and yielding." I quote this as this gentleman's notion, not mine. He threw the whole blame of the convention upon Fouché, who he said had deceived the Prince of Eckmülh and all the general officers.

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In the sitting of last night the representatives were occupied with discussing the official doen

ments, relative to the capitulation, and to the efforts made at negotiation; also two proclama tions of Louis XVIII. were read: at half past one the chamber demanded fresh communications, which were made at seven in the morning. The capitulation, or, as several members insisted it should be called, the convention, was read at the public sitting; and immediately after listening to the terms by which the capital was surrendered, M. Garat, in a long speech, proposed a bill of rights, similar to that of the English; in whom, of all the allies, he added, that he had a confidence in their promise that the French would be left an independent nation in spite of their disasters. After a long debate, it was agreed to refer the subject to the committee of constitution, to which, for that purpose, were added the names of Messieurs Garat, Barrere, and Poullain-Granprè.

General Solignac proposed to thank the army for its services; to the army were added the pupils of the polytechnic school, and o ffive other schools, as well as the riflemen of the national guard. M. Penières moved that the tri-coloured flag, and the national colours, should be put under the protection of the army, of the national guards, and of all good citizens. M. Jay moved that all the communications made last night to

the house should be published, and the General Sorbier particularized the two proclamations of Louis, that those citizens, who were persuaded that the return of that monarch would be sig nalised only by acts of paternal goodness, might see that these documents prove quite the contrary. The question was referred to a committee, and the chamber adjourned until five this evening.

The peers opened their sitting earlier than was notified, and continued in a secret committee until half-past three, when they adopted publicly the resolution of the representatives, thanking the armies for their devotion and patriotism.

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