would sacrilegiously lay his hands on the public liberty. Immense applause followed, the whole Assembly rising and shouting, Vive la République!

General Cavaignac resumed:-Honor to the man who is faithful to his duties, and devotes his talents and fortune to the service of his country; but shame on him who would attempt to turn to his own account a glorious name, when beholding his country under present embarrassment and difficulty. Again vehement applause, with repeated cries of Vive la République !

Members on the left exclaimed, No reaction of any kind no pretenders, no imperial despotism, no military despotism.

A member on the right exclaimed, A vile imposture to injure Louis Bonaparte!

The scene closed by an adjournment of the Assembly.

The cause of all this was in the fact that Prince Louis Napoleon had just been elected a member of Assembly at the special elections in Paris and the Provinces. He was chosen for three Provinces as well as for Paris.

June 12. Mr. George Lafayette was elected a VicePresident of the National Assembly on Saturday, in the place of M. Bethmont, appointed Minister of Justice. It is so much in the heart of an American to love the name of Lafayette, that I

rejoice at this compliment to the meritorious son of the companion in arms of Washington.

I here note down also the appointment of Major Poussin as Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States. He was a Republican in principle before the days of February; but, from all my knowledge of him, never violent or impracticable in his opinions. I received official information of his appointment on the 6th instant, from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

June 13. Another scene in the National Assembly.

As soon as the President took the chair yesterday, M. Napoleon Bonaparte ascended the tribune, and said, that although not present at the sitting on Saturday, when General Cavaignac so nobly treated as calumnious the infamous rumors against his relative, he would, nevertheless, as his friend and cousin, claim to address the Assembly; not to make any apology for him, for he needed none, and had he attempted any thing wrong he would be the first to blame him. He then reviewed his conduct since the Republic commenced, to show that it had been in every sense proper; and he protested against imputations being thrown upon him without proof. This is what he had a right to demand for his relative. To deal with him otherwise would be to withhold common justice.

He introduced collateral matter, in which I need not follow him.

A little while afterwards, M. Lamartine rose, and, after some discussion of other matters, which he suspended, and left the tribune from fatigue, returned to it, and resumed his speech in a tone of increased animation. This was caused by confusion in the Chamber from rumors that shots had been fired at the National Guards outside, where crowds were assembled and troops known to be stationed. The startling part of the rumor was, that blood had been shed under a cry of Vive l'Empereur. Returning to the tribune, M. Lamartine stated, with great earnestness of manner, that the Executive Committee had that very morning prepared a declaration, which events now compelled him to read immediately, and which, as conspiracy had been taken flagrante delicto, and blood been shed, ought to pass by acclamation.

A member called out-No vote by acclamation. Noise and excitement followed. The President demanded silence from the whole Assembly, that the communication from the Executive Committee under such grave circumstances might be heard.

Mr. Lamartine then read the following decree:"The Executive Committee, looking at Article IV. of the law of June, 1816, and

"Considering that Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is

comprised in the law of 1832, which banishes the family of Napoleon:

"That if that law has been departed from by the vote of the National Assembly, in favor of three members of that family who were admitted to take their seats as Representatives of the people, such departure from the law is quite personal, and by no means applies to the said Louis Napoleon Bonaparte :

"That Louis Napoleon Bonaparte has twice come forward as a pretender, and that his pretensions might compromise the Republic:

"That the Government cannot accept the responsibility of such acts, and would fail in the first of its duties if it did not take measures to prevent the recurrence of them:

"Declares, that it will cause the law of 1832 to be executed against Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, until such time as the National Assembly shall decide otherwise."

The reading of this decree produced cries of Bravo! bravo! the whole Assembly, rising with shouts of Vive la République!

M. Larabit shouted in his loudest voice-Vive la République, but no proscriptions!

After further remarks from M. Lamartine and M. Larabit,

M. Pierre Napoleon rose, and said, Shame on those who have cried Vive l'Empereur while

shedding blood! The Emperor, to avoid civil war, sacrificed himself and all his family in 1815. For my part, I shall be found in the first rank of the defenders of the Republic. Loud applause. M. Napoleon Bonaparte rose. He applauded with all his heart these words of his relative, and desired to appeal to the reason of the Assembly at such a moment. M. Lamartine had eloquently told them that the horrible crime he denounced was committed at the cry of a name never accused of fomenting discord; yet it was under the feeling of execration against such an attempt that he had proposed a bill of proscription. He wished to say nothing to cause excitement, but felt it his duty to protest against a decree inspired by a crime to which the person intended to be proscribed was a stranger.

The Minister of Commerce stated, that the decree was prepared beforehand.

M. Napoleon Bonaparte. "What a moment, then, have you chosen to present it! It will be enough to make any wretches use a name to cover criminal designs." He protested against the connection which M. Lamartine appeared to establish between this crime and the name of his relative, exclaiming, with animation-"The Empire! who wishes for it? It is a chimerical notion; it will remain as a great epoch in history, but can never be revived."

This ended the scene. No vote was taken on