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deputies from the youth of France a guard to pro

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M. Perier." Gentlemen, gentlemen, pray reflect. Why put yourselves in the wrong? No imprudence-you will not gain your battle in the

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A young Man. “Well, then, it is all one; we shall die."

M. Perier." And die uselessly. Do you suppose that they have not taken all necessary precautions? All this rashness is fatal. Keep the windward of the law."

Second young Man (with great indignation).— "You speak of law, Sir, when they have deprived us of our rights of law, Sir, when we are charged and sabred at your gate

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M. Perier.-"I cannot listen to this rant. In one word, will you follow my advice or will you not? I must join my colleagues. Good morning."

Young France (going down stairs).—“ Coward! Jesuit! What poltroonery! What language! Come, let us go; we cannot reckon upon them. At any rate, we must prevent their influence, they want to stop all movement: let us go and bruit about that they are betraying us." us."—"No, no, that will discourage too much. Let us go

and do the business without them, and they must quickly follow us."

In the mean time, the deputies resumed their deliberations. Sebastiani, Bertin de Vaux, and Villemain, in turn, insisted upon this position, that they must scrupulously separate the King from the Ministers. "The Ordonnances," urged these gentlemen, "are the last consequence of the system of the 8th August. His Majesty will now be gracious enough to perceive that he is in error, and will condescend to change his system. This must be the object of all our resolutions." This view seemed very constitutional to the great majority, for it promised place. It was resolved to write a respectful letter to the King. Mauguin could not conceal his disgust.

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M. Labbey de Pompières." Well, Gentlemen, you have nothing more

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"We can only watch the progress of events," observed M. Perier, like a first-rate stock-jobber watching the turn of the market.

Several Deputies.-"Well! we must meet again this evening."

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Others.

"No, no; to-morrow will do."

Great uncertainty.

“At any rate, Gentlemen," observed M. Perier,

"I think we had better conceal the place of our

meetings. This publicity is very inconvenient. My house is always at your service; but really it is too near the Ministers. I must, therefore,

request you to fix upon some other; because you

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"Certainly, certainly," said M. Sebastiani; "especially if affairs unfortunately become more serious."

“Well, then, Gentlemen," said M. Audry de Puyraveau, "my house is ever at your service; and rest assured that you shall be safe there, for I promise you a guard.”

The deputies quitted the house of M. Casimir Perier with great precaution, stealing out, in general one by one, occasionally arm in arm.

152

PRIVATE MEETING OF THE

DEPUTIES

AT M. AUDRY DE PUYRAVEAU'S, JULY 28.

On the morrow, before noon, the court and offices of the house of M. Audry de Puyraveau were filled with citizens, many of them armed. The deputies arrived slowly. Many of them, before they entered, conversed with the surrounding groups, who urged them to second the people. There had been some sharp fighting on the previous evening.

There was at length a tolerably numerous assemblage of deputies. M. Dupin was no longer present. Casimir Perier and Sebastiani insisted upon the exclusion of the Press. "I wish I could let you in," said Audry to a complaining journalist; "we want a little gunpowder; but they insist upon being private.”

"Gentlemen,

M. Mauguin opened business. you wished yesterday to await the progress of events. Well, events have progressed; and I think they speak a sufficiently plain language. They fought all yesterday evening. They have

PRIVATE MEETING OF THE DEPUTIES. 153

been fighting this morning ever since dawn. Even now you can hear the thunder of the artillery, and the volleys of the platoons. You must have observed in your way masses of indignant citizens ready to take up arms, and march to battle. The people are awake, Gentlemen, if you are not. There is no question now as to our course. Here is a revolution, and we must conduct it-"

Agitation, interruption,- MM. Sebastiani and Villemain speaking at the same time.

"Yes, Gentlemen!" exclaimed M. Mauguin, raising his voice above the storm; - "Yes, Gentlemen, I repeat, a revolution; and we must side either with the guards or the people."

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M. Charles Dupin (jumping up). 66 If you cide upon any conduct which the least impugns our legality, I, for one, retire."

M. Sebastiani. "And I also. We are not here to fight, but to maintain order."

M. Lafayette (with a smile).-"I confess that I have some difficulty in comprehending the legality of yesterday's Moniteur, and the fusillades of the last two days."

M. Guizot."What I have to observe I shall divide under two heads. With regard to the first, it is of the highest importance that we should not

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