was given at St. Leu by the Duke of Bourbon, at which the Duke and the whole Orleans family attended. This was one of the most singular assemblies ever known in France. Hitherto, party feeling had greatly influenced society. The entertainments at the Palais Royal were frequented only by the Centre Gauche; but this day, at St. Leu, all parties attended, and there was an assembly of individuals never before witnessed. The truth is, it was a device of Madame de Feuchères to give the Duke of Orleans a foretaste of Royalty, and an opportunity of meeting the pure Royalists, who never paid their respects at the Palais Royal. The son of Egalité was all condescension; smiles sparkled on his countenance, and grace was in all his gestures. There was a flattering speech for every guest; every body was quite enchanted. "He is not so bad, after all," said the Royalists. "He was evidently born for a King," exclaimed the Doctrinaires.

During the glorious events, the Duke of Chartres, at the instance of his father, repaired to Joigny, where his regiment was quartered. The Dauphiness, who was returning in haste, and incognita, from the waters of Vichy, learnt that he was on the road, and sent one of her household, disguised as a courier, to request the Duke to

meet her. The two carriages met; the young Prince entered that of the Dauphiness, and seated himself by her side. He assured her, with tears in his eyes, of his attachment and devotion, and of his readiness to die for her family. The Dauphiness enquired whether he had seen his father. The young Prince replied, that although he had gone to Paris on purpose to see him, he had unfortunately not succeeded; and added, that he should return immediately from Joigny, to proceed to Paris at the head of his regiment, for the protection of the Royal Family against the revolters. His Highness then, kissing the hand of his cousin, re-entered his own carriage, which, it is now curious to remark, was all this time full of tricolor cockades, which, at the instance of his father, he was conveying to his regiment. The moment that he quitted the Dauphiness, her devoted champion and faithful relative immediately mounted one himself, and the rest, in due time, were distributed among his regiment.

As soon as the Duke of Orleans heard of this interview, he was very much alarmed, sharply rated his incautious son, and requested the assistance of La Fayette to keep any notice of it out of the journals.

We should remember that Neuilly is only two

miles from St. Cloud; and that the communication, even during the events, was entirely free. "In danger we discover our friends," says the proverb. It was probably the excess of his anxiety that prevented the Duke of Orleans from giving any sign of life to the Royal Family during the convulsion,- no visit of condolence or of counsel, not a single line of consolation, not even a message. It appears, however, from the different discourses and answers of Louis-Philippe, since the Revolution, that the Duke of Orleans, all this time, and for many previous years, was a Republican, and laboured with the patriots to overturn the throne. I congratulate M. la Fayette on his pupil; although, I believe, they now no longer speak.

But while his Royal Highness could spare no time to his desolate relatives, little M. Thiers had the eternal entrée, and was for ever coming post with the last bulletin from M. Lafitte, his patron, with whom, in imitation of the conduct of his Royal master towards La Fayette, he now holds no intercourse. At length, affairs were ripe enough to offer the Crown itself; and little M. Thiers departed with it, according to the on dit, in his hat. This time, however, the Duke, having received previous notice of the mission was not to be found. M. Thiers, and his two brother

commissioners

one a broker, and the other an artist-exhausted their eloquence on the Princesses, in entreating them to exert their influence with their Royal parent, to induce him to save France, and to secure places for his friends. The language was worthy of the mission. It was ludicrous to hear this comic deputation assuring the blood of Valois, "que c'etoit au Duc d'Orléans de ramasser une couronne, qui se trouvoit dans la boue."

When the deputation had retired, the Duke was, at length, discovered in the garden, and now the Princesses communicated in a moving appeal the visit of the Crown brokers. The Duke, however, would give no sign; not merely because the Royal Guard, and the Royal Family, were only two miles from Neuilly, and affairs were yet uncertain, for justice should be done to the courage of Louis-Philippe; he is not merely swayed by a sentiment of self-preservation; he has a yet greater regard for his pecuniary interest. Now, all this time, he was well aware that, by the law of France, the private property of the King of France merges in that of the country. This was a subject which, doubtless, his present Majesty had often talked over with his family counsellor, M. Dupin; but the revolt having broken out

several days before the Orleanists expected it, their chief, the wealthiest subject in Europe, was unprepared how to solve this difficulty. The Duke sent for M. Dupin to come to him instantly, and, in the mean time, hid himself in the garden from all deputations, to which it was impossible at this moment to give a categorical reply.

"Ha, ha!" said M. Dupin, "I must be prudent. If I go to the Duke of Orleans on my own responsibility, and as I have the honour to be the chief of his private council, the people afterwards will accuse me of making these private arrangements, and depriving the country of this large fortune. I must, therefore, as I am always accused of being a Jesuit, leave Paris in an official character, that I may pass through the mob in safety."

Away, therefore, posted M. Dupin to the Rue d'Artois, where the committee of Crown brokers were assembled, not a little disappointed at not having been successful in obtaining their anticipated and final interview with their chief. Away posted M. Dupin to these gentry; and offered, if they invested him with full powers, to decide the Duke.

"Excellent!" all exclaimed; "Dupin is the only man to manage him - Dupin, with his long