life, was soon afterwards followed by an inftance of conduct the most detetable, where better things might have been expected.

Just as the carriage was going out of Chateau-Thierry, appeared a Deputy, from the province of Britauny to the Affembly, called Kervelegan. This man had come hither from Paris, for no other purpose but to add his mite to the already intolerable burthen of outrage with which his unhappy Sovereign was weigh. ed down. He paffed clofe to the carriage, and, with a brutal air, and with his hat on his head, ftared in at the door.

One of the grenadiers having, of himfelf, taken off this man's hat, Kervelegan fnatched it from him, and, coming up closer to the carriage, with horrid imprecations thrust it again down on his head, with both hands, exclaiming, "No! rafcal, I will never falute a King that runs away-(Non ! .. Je ne jaluerai jamais un Roi juyard.)

All this happened under the eyes of the Deputies in the coach; but nei her they, nor any one of the immenfe multitude, thewed the leaft difapprobation of fuch abominable behaviour.*

When the Royal Family arrived at Meaux, they alighted at the Bishop's palace, now ftyled the National palace, where the Deputies had agreed to pafs the night. Whilft M. de Moutier was plac. ing, in the apartment allotted to the Queen and Princess Elizabeth, fuch things as were wanted from the coach, they laid their hands on his arm, and, addreffing him by his travelling-name, faid, "You muft never forfake us, Melchior; give us your promife:" and obferving that he had till his hanger by his fide, added, "You. must put your hanger in the coach; we

The arrival of this Deputy, joined to many other circumstances, gave an ENERGY to the meaning of La Fayette, when he faid in public, in Paris, after the King's escape, that he would anfwer with his life for his Majesty's being overtaken and brought back.

In the work entitled " Memoirs of Du

mourier, written by himfelf," in p. 58 of the volume for the year 1793, of the English Tranflation, is the following paffage :

Pethion, in the fame carriage with the King and Queen, on their return from Varennes, took every occafion to declare, that he no longer defigned to fupport the MONAR

CHY.

The unfortunate Queen related this fact to General Dumourier; and Pethion afterwards acknowledged it, on Dumourier's mentioning it to him,'

will take care of it, and return it to you in good order."

M. de Mouftier could only answer by

his tears.

As thefe illuftrious victims of popular violence, longed for nothing so much as to be delivered from the oppreffive prefence of the multitude, and to be alone; they begged that they might be allowed to eat a mortel as foon as poffible, in or'er to retire to reft; and were anfwered, that fupper was ready.

This was about half an hour past ten o'clock, which was the ordinary time of halting for the night on the journey back to Paris.

They accordingly repaired to the fupper-room, where they found only the cloth laid. Here, however, the Royal Family fat down, and here they remained upwards of an hour, in the midst of a crowd of fpectators.

--

In the crowd were, the Deputy Dumas, at the head of his gienadiers, the new Conftitutional Bishop — (L'Evéque_intrus,) who had been intruded in the place of the former Bishop, (who had refused to take the new-invented oaths,) with his Grand-vicars, and many other perfons, drawn together by mere curiofity.

After waiting all this time, and being repeatedly told that fupper was juft coming up, the Royal Family at last begged to have only a few eggs, that no farther delay might be occafioned. On ths, fome eggs were brought in, of which each perfon of the family ate ONE, and immediately they all withdrew.

Such was the fupper of thefe illuftrious fufferers. Indeed, at all times they were fo moderate, that very little was fufficient for their wishes.

M. de Mouftier, who had frequent opportunities of feeing the Royal Family at table, was always furprized at their ex-. treme temperance in eating and drinking. In particular, refpecting the King, he remarked, that when there was roaßted mutton on the table, his Majefty never ate of any other difh.

His drink was mild Champaign-(Vin de Champagne non mousseux,) mingled with three times the quantity of water: and even of this weak beverage he used fo little, that a common quart bottle of wine was more than he wanted for three meals.

That M. de Mouftier might have it to fay, that he had drank of the fame beverage, and out of the fame cup, with his mafter, he once, just after the King had left the table, took up his glafs, which

was

was nearly half full, and found the liquor in it to be fo weak, containing fo little wine, that he would have preferred pure water. Had it not been left by his Majeffy, he certainly would not have drunk off the glais.

The three gardes-du-corps having difcovered that the Deputies wifhed to engage them to adopt the uniform of the national-guards, confu ted together how they might, without giving offence, avoid taking that step, now no longer a matter of indifference, but regarded as a public declaration of the political fentiments of thofe who took it; nay, even of open hoftility to the caule of royalty.

They accordingly, while affifting his Majesty to undress, a Meaux, faid, Sire, we have a favour to request from your Majefty."

46

Speak, (anfwered the King,) what can I do for you?"

"It is, (replied they,) that, if these Deputies bat propofe any thing to your Majefty immediately concerning us, you will be pleafed merely to leave us to act as we may think beft, and to give us no commands whatever on the business, be it what it may."

"Yes, (faid the King,) I leave you entirely maflers of your own conduct.”

When his Majefty retired to rest, the gardes-du-corps returned to the faloon, which communicated between his apart ment and that of the Queen and Princess Elizabeth for this admirable princefs never quitted her Majefty during her afflictions, but constantly flept in the fame chamber.

:

It was in this faloon that the Royal Family had fupped. The table was still laid; but it was now covered with abundance of delicate viands. Seeing the table fet around with plates, M. de Moutier asked for whom all this feaft was provided. "For the Gentlemen-(les Messieurs)" faid one of the attendants.

"What Gentlemen? (replied M. de Moutier,) no Gentleman has a right to eat here, but this Gentleman, and that Gentleman, (pointing to his two comrades,) and myself.

"But (rejoined the attendant,) we have nothing else to fet before les Mef feurs."

"You fall fet before those perfons there-(ces gens lâ,) (anfwered M de Mutt er,) whatever we do not want our felves.

The whole of this dialogue paffed in the hearing of Dumas, the Deputy, who had pofted himself, at the head of the na

tional-guards, close to the door of the faloon, near which flood the table.

From the time when the Royal Family entered the Houfe, M. de Moufier had repeatedly and earnestly begged to have fome ftrawberries for the poor Dauphin, who used to eat them for supper; but could never obtain them, He even applied to the new Bishop himself, as well as to his Grand Vicars, representing, at the fame time, the extreme indecency of fuffering the Royal Family to wait fo long for their fupper.

The Bishop, at a lofs for fome excufe, turned to his Grand Vicars, who, after fome hesitation, owned that it was true that they had been obliged to wait a very long time.

On this the Bishop, with a ftately air, said, that it was not his place to wait on the Royal Family, nor to bring up their

victuals.

..

Having accepted fuch a fituation (inftantly replied M. de Moutier,) as your's, you have fhewed how ignorant you are of the nature and duties of the facred office you pretend to hold. It is no wonder, therefore, if you know not how to fet ajust value on the happiness of ferving fuch a master."

Just as the whole company were preparing to fit down at the table, a plate of itrawberries was placed on it. M. de Moutier inftantly feized the plate, and ran off with it to the Dauphin, who had just been put to bed.

Dumas, who was not ignorant of the fovereign contempt in which he was held by M. de Moutier, called out to him to ftop; and, as he still continued to go on, ordered the national-guards not to let M. de Moultier pafs. These guards, being unprepared, had not time to interrupt him; or, perhaps, fome respect for the King, made thein unwilling to obey the order. They, however, followed M. de Mouftier, and feemed difpofed to enter the King's apartment, who, turning round, faid to them," Stop, you have no right to enter the retreat of your Sovereign: you do not belong to his fervice: you must wait here for me, and then you may follow me wherever I go."

On this, the national-guards defifted: but when M. de Moultier had come out, and was going, a fecond time, into the King's chamber, thefe guards infifted on accompanying him.

He now went up to Dumas, and said, "Order these men to pay fome respect to the apartment of their Mafter. You cannot be ignorant that no one has any right

to

to enter it, excepting those attached to his perfon."

On this, Dumas muttered fomething which could not be understood, but gave no orders to the guards.

"Why don't you speak, (faid M. de Moutier ;) if you are ignorant of your duty, why do you undertake it ?"

Dumas, now, with evident figns of indignation at fuch a fcene, in the prefence of fo many perfons, and of his own troops, at laft faid to the guards, "Oh, it is very true, you must flop at the chamberdoor: but when he (meaning M. de Moutier,) comes out, you are never to quit him, but to attend him wherever he goes, excepting only into the King's apart

ment."

When this bufinefs was over, M. de Moustier went to the table, with his two comrades, and drawing to him a hare, afked them whether they chofe any of it; when they declined it, he said to the attendants, carry this to thofe perfons (à ces gens-là,) and did the fame with all the other dishes.

In the morning, before fetting out, Dumas and Latour Maubourg,* coming up to the gardes-du-corps, as they came out of the King's apartment, faid, "Gentlemen, (Meffieurs,) we have been confidering your fituation, and we fee but one way to preserve you from the fury of the people; which is, that you adopt the drefs of the national-guards.”

Their answer was, "We are ready to die; but we will never difgrace ourfelves by our own act.”

"At least (faid the two Deputies,) put on the great-coat."

"No, (anfwered the three gardes-ducorps,) no compofition; no accommoda

tions.'

"Then (added Dumas,) you must travel in our carriage; there perhaps the people will have more respect for you."

"Our place (concluded thefe gardes,) is on the coach box, behind, or at the doors of the carriage of our unfortunate Mafter and bis auguft Family; and there we will await our fate, be it what it may." They immediately repaired, according to their orders, to the King, whom they had left engaged in writing; for he had

*This gentleman and a brother were colonels in the King's fervice. Their family had been, in a particular manner, diftinguished by the favours of their unhappy Sovereign.

written a great deal along the road; and found him with the Queen and his fifter.

Here they continued until his Majefty gave them directions respecting the journey.

As the Royal Family were in continual apprehenfions of lofing their fervants, they here again embraced the three gardes-ducorps, speaking to them with the tendernefs of parents to their children, whom they were never more to behold.

These perfonages united to the most heroic courage, fo much condescending goodness, that if they had even been of the lowest ranks in fociety, the greatest fovereign might have been proud of their friendship. If the gardes-du-corps, then, fhewed any zealand firmness in their fervice, fuch conduct was entirely the effect of the noble examples of virtue exhibited by every member of this unfortunate Family.

When they had gone down to the court, and were ready to step into the carriage, the new Bishop came to make an apology for their having been so poorly accommodated in his palace.

"He had been but too short a time, (he faid,) in his fee, to have been able to arrange matters for the due reception of the Royal Family."

To this the King anfwered, with his ufual calmness," When a man is not in bis own boufe, he is not expected to make any apology for not doing the honours of it."

This new Bishop had been, before the Revolution, parish-prieft (curé,) of Antilly, in the diocese of Sens. His name was Thuin, and he had a brother broken on the wheel for robbery, fifteen years before, at a town in that neighbourhood.

The Baron du..... a knight of St. Louis, had then the command of the national-guards at Meaux. This office was imposed on him, it has been faid, much against his inclination; and that he had come to this town in the hope of rendering fome fervice to the Royal Family.But it happened with him, as with the greater number of ancient military gentlemen who accepted, or even intrigued for fimilar fituations, that they found themselves to be, not the commanders, but the flaves, of the people under them.They were liable, alfo, to be continually fufpected, and were never able to retain the good opinion and confidence of their troops. The diforder and licentioulness prevailing, in confequence of these circumftances, in the old troops of the line,

as

as well as among the volunteers, or national-guards, can neither be described nor imagined.

should be poisoned. Would you not be delighted, now, to poison me ?”

The Queen, feeming to take no notice of what this wretch faid, divided what fhe had offered to him, and gave a part of it to the Dauphin, and ate the rest herself.

will make them come down."

Latour, with a tone familiar and friendly, faid, "Be fo good, Gentlemen, as to make a little room; fit a little clofer."

"What, Sir! (faid M. de Mouftier,) is this your way to make yourself be obeyed? Soldiers! make hafte, quick; the place is mine, and I will have it."

At last they did make a place for M. de Mouftier, which he foon contrived to enlarge.

The carriage now proceeded towards Paris, in the midst of an immenfe multitude, continually increafing.

The heat and duft were intolerable.The carriage was loaded with national guards, behind, on the roof, on the steps, between the body and the box, on the box, between the box and the pole, on the pole itself, and on the horses. Some were even ftanding on the box, fupporting them felves on the shoulders of the three gardesdu-corps, under the pretence of fcreening them from the attacks of the mob. In fact, it was with the utmost difficulty that the horses were able to move along at all with fo enormous a load.

To this must be added, the horrible fhoutings and howlings on all fides, which filled the three gardes with continual dread of feeing their beloved Mafter and his unhappy family butchered before

their eyes.

In the midst of thefe horrors, the Queen gave an instance of her natural goodness, with regard to a grenadier of the nationalguard, who walked near the carriage, and who had already given abundant proofs of the ferocity of his difpofition.

This man complained loudly of the heat and fatigue, declaring, with horrid imprecations, that he could no longer refift without fome relief.

The Queen offered him fomething to refresh him; but inftead of accepting it, he exclaimed, with a violent oath," No, no, none of that for me; for I am fure I MONTHLY MAG. No. 115.

Although the distance from Meaux to Paris be only nine leagues, or about twenty three English miles; yet the Royal Family were no lefs than between fourteen and fifteen hours on the road without halting, excepting on fuch occafions as feemed really to have been chofen, from time to time, that the multitude might have opportunities of loading them with every infult and outrage.

Orders had been difpatched from Paris, it was publicly reported, that no one fhould falute them as they paffed; and the order was so strictly obeyed, that not a hat was observed to move, nor a fingle attempt made to utter Vive le Roi!

When the carriage had arrived within a dozen miles of Paris, the three gardesdu-corps had the fatisfaction, if fatisfaction it could be called, to obferve, that they now attracted the whole attention of the crowd; by which the Royal Family were fuffered to have a fhort interval of peace.

This ferocious mob called out repeatedly to have the three Yellow-jackets, (fee p. 322,) delivered up to them, and propofed the various kinds of death which each wifhed to inflict on them.. Some to flay them alive; others, to tie them to the carriage, and so drag them to Paris; others, again, had different projects, ftill more horrible.

eto

Once, during thefe outcries, Dumas, who commanded the troops, ordered the carriage to be stopped, and faid, " Thefe worthy and respectable citizens-(Ges Meffieurs de la Nation-a phrafe which cannot be tranflated,)-defire that the Yellow-jackets should come down from the coach-box, and they must come down."

"Do you not fee (faid one of the multitude,) that it is only to murder them ?"

"What is that to me, (answered Dumas,) that is no concern of mine-(Qu' eft ce que cela me fait. Fem en embaraffe bien.)"

3 K

He

He had scarcely pronounced thefe words, which feemed to have been excited by his refentment for the mortifications which he had received from the gardesdu-corps, at Meaux, when Barnave, the Deputy, cried out, "Goon; I order you to go on it is I who command here."

To this energetic addrefs Dumas returned only a profound bow, and immediately ordered the cavalcade to proceed. It d'd indeed move on, but with fo flow a pace, that, from the extremity of the fuburbs of Paris, five hours were spent in arriving at the Thuilleries. The proceffion paffed through the fquare called La Place de Louis Quinze, along the Pont Tournant, or bridge, which leads from that fquare into the bottom of the garden of the Thuilleries.

The ftatue of Louis XV. in the middle of the fquare, ferved as a stage for a number of Jacobins, who chofe this ftation, not only to witnefs, but to guide and encourage, the outrageous multitude, in perpetrating every atrocity on their defencelets victims in the carriage.

In the midst of this fcene, the Dauphin and his fifter were obferved repeatedly to clafp in their arms, and, with their little hands, to ftop the ears of their parents, that they might not hear the horrible language which affailed them on every fide.

The carriage moved up the garden, beyond the trees. The gardes-du corps obferved, from their feat, that a very narrow lane was formed by the nationalguards, for the Royal Family to pass along, to the gate of the palace.

They faw that, although the Family might be fuffered to enter in fafety, they themselves muft undoubtedly perifh, from the fury of their enemies. They refolved, therefore, if poffible, to fave their mafter the horror of feeing them torn in pieces before his face. This they thought to bring about by leaping down from the box, on different fides, amidst the crowd, who, being employed in maffacreing them, might, they hoped, fuffer the Royal Family to pass along with lefs interruption.

When the carriage got beyond the first bafon in the garden, near the palace, it

was ftopped. The national guards affembled, now made ready, fome to fhoot, fome to ftab, the three gardes-du-corps ; and in doing this they only wounded their own comrades, who were alfo on the coach-box, the one in the hand, the other in the arm.

As the national-guards on the ground were ftruggling with thofe around them, for room to make use of their arms, the three gardes-du-corps role from their seat, and called out, "Here we are; now fire, if you choose it but we beg you nɔt to put us to death in the eyes of the Royal Family: let them go into the palace, ana then we are at your difpofal."

:

In faying this, M. de Mouftier leaped down firit, and prefented himself to two pioneers, who were making for him with their hatchets raifed, and expreffing their joy at their being the first to strike him.M. de Mouftier, looking feadily at them, faid, "Here, frike !-(Tiens, frappe!)" On this they feemed confounded; but one of the hatche's, which was already within fix inches of his forehead, fell on him: but as, juft at that inftant, a musket or bayonet happened to be run in between his face and the hatchet, the blow was warded off, and he received no injury from it.

What became of the other hatchet M. de Mouftier knows not, for he was inftantly feized behind by the neck and hair. As he ftruggled hard to make his way more amongit the crowd, and farther from the coach, fome officers came to conduct him to the palace by the fame way with the Royal Family. But he had resolved to push as far as poffible another way, when M. de La Fayette, on horfeback, himfelf came up, and laying hold of him by the upper part of the coat, drew him towards him. M. de Mouftier, turning his head, and confidering La Fayette to be a perfon whofe only duty, notwithstanding his late conduct, it was, at that moment, to watch over the fafety of the Royal Family, juft faid, "Your attentions, Sir, ought, at this time, to be wholly engaged about the Royal Family: it is your duty to ferve them alone: leave me to the mob."

La Fayette, touched probably by this peech, immediately quitted M. de Mous tier, who was as quickly overwhelmed by the crowd around him. They held and dragged him in all directions at the fame time, to throw him on the ground; but their very violence defeated their purpose. All this went on in defiance of the officers and grenadiers who had been dispatched to conduct him to the palace.

At