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"Casimir Perier."

Vive

"Ah! he is a good fellow: he is for us. Casimir Perier!" And Casimir Perier, pale, bilious, woe-begone, suddenly found himself a hero, and was nearly hoisted on the shoulders of the mob; but he cut short this cordial ovation with his usual irritability.

Between ten and eleven, there was a meeting of nearly forty deputies at M. Lafitte's. M. Bertin de Vaux had returned, M. Gérard had returned, M. Villemain had returned, and all the deserters of the previous night. M. Sebastiani was there, quite gay and unconcerned. Even M. Dupin reappeared, and condescended to partake of an almost revolutionary déjeûner.

M. Lafitte was in the chair; and, after briefly expressing his opinion that they must now put themselves at the head of the movement, called upon M. Mauguin.

M. Mauguin.-"Gentlemen, I have only to propose to you what I have proposed to you before; but I suspect that this time my proposition may be better received. The bravery of the Parisians has chalked out our conduct. It appears to me that, with all possible despatch, we should really organise that provisional government which, by a happy fiction, was announced yesterday."

A Provincial Deputy.-"A provisional governSo soon! - It appears to me—

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really,

M. Sebastiani (with a smile). — “It is merely a measure of safety."

General Gérard called out by some citizens. General Gérard.-"Well, what do you want?" Citizens.-"We want you, or General Lafayette: they say he is not yet here."

General Gérard. "He will soon be here: you had better wait."

Citizens. "We cannot wait.

You will do as

The

well. General, General, pray listen to us. Hôtel de Ville is quite cleared, and is surrounded by the people, who wish to speak to the government. Every one asks, where is the provisional government? Hitherto we have prevented any one from going in, by placing sentinels at the door, who will allow no one to pass, saying, that the government is in deliberation. But this cannot last. Pray give us some directions, or the populace will burst in, find the room empty, and the provisional government a humbug.”

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General Gérard. "I know nothing about your provisional government; nor do I even know for what object they have circulated this lie. As for putting myself at the head of a mob, I have

made up my mind to do nothing without my colleagues. You must see General Lafayette." General Gérard turned upon his heel, and re-entered the room.

In a short time, General Lafayette returned: a municipal commission was immediately appointed, consisting of Mauguin, Lafitte, Schonen, Audry de Puyraveau, Lobau, Casimir Perier; and the military command given to Lafayette.

News arrived that the Tuilleries and Louvre were taken by the people, and a dead body thrown upon the throne of Charles X. MM. Lafayette and Gérard appeared on the Boulevard, in their regimentals, amid the acclamations of the people. The municipal commission installed themselves at the Hôtel de Ville.

The mock deputation of MM. d'Argout, de Semonville, and de Vitrolles now appeared, to announce the withdrawal of the ordonnances, and the formation of a new ministry; M. Casimir Perier to the Finance, and M. Gérard Minister of War.

"It is too late," exclaimed M. Mauguin.

M. Audry. -"The people have settled the bu

siness.

'Down with the Bourbons!' is heard in

every street.

We have nothing more to say."

7

M. Casimir Perier was present, and maintained a strict silence; but his mortification at the resolution of his colleagues was very visible.

The truth is, that, all this time, Casimir Perier was secretly endeavouring to negotiate with Charles X. I do not deal in on dits: I will mention the name of the individual through whom he communicated with the King: it was M. Girardin, the master of the stag-hounds. Several communications took place on Thursday evening, the whole of Friday, and a part of Saturday.

I can say no more; but this I will record, that, on one of these days, two men came to the Hôtel de Ville, and announced that they had seen M. Casimir Perier, muffled up in a cabriolet, on the road to St. Cloud. A member of the municipal commission exclaimed, "that it was impossible; that it was treason!" But the men persisted in their story, and repeated it in the saloon of the Staff. Unfortunately they found there some individuals, who chose to view this little adventure in a serious light; and orders were instantly given to arrest M. Casimir Perier, and conduct him to the Hôtel de Ville. I cannot doubt this fact, because my authority is the person who signed the

warrant.

The government was now fairly established in

the interior of the Hôtel de Ville. At first the populace were permitted to enter the Grand Hall of the Throne or Presence Chamber, without restriction. The hangings covered with the lily had been torn down, a bust of Louis XVIII. overturned, and one of Charles X. broken to pieces. On the left of the Grand Hall were two rooms, occupied by the municipal commission; on the right, a large saloon for Colonel Zimmer, Chief of the Staff. Further on was General Lafayette and his Aides-de-camp. M. de Laborde, as Prefect of Paris, occupied an apartment near the General's.

I might write a volume on the intrigues of the Hôtel de Ville. It is impossible to conceive the crowds of claimants, and the cart-loads of petitions. But, at present, time presses; and my only object in these sketches is to exhibit, for the first time, the conduct of the deputies in these memorable events. I have no hesitation in styling it, with very few exceptions, an unexampled instance of treachery, mediocrity, intrigue, and cowardice. The revolt having broken out before it was expected, the Orleanists were taken by surprise. Had it not been for Lafitte, they would have lost the prize for which they had intrigued so long and risked so much.

At this moment, this being the 30th, M. La

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