Wegivealiteralreproductionofthishistoricdocument:
"Wetheundersigned,Frenchnobles,beingconvincedthatourOrderwasinstitutedthatitmightbecometheprizeofvalourandtheencouragementofvirtue,dodeclarethattheChevalierdeGuerhavinggivenusproofofthedevotiontotheirkingandtheloveoftheircountrywhichhavebeendisplayedbyM。PierreFroment,receiveroftheclergy,andhisthreesons,MathieuFromentcitizen,JacquesFromentcanon,FrancoisFromentadvocate,inhabitantsofNimes,weshallhenceforwardregardthemandtheirdescendantsasnoblesandworthytoenjoyallthedistinctionswhichbelongtothetruenobility。Bravecitizens,whoperformsuchdistinguishedactionsasfightingfortherestorationofthemonarchy,oughttobeconsideredastheequalsofthoseFrenchchevalierswhoseancestorshelpedtofoundit。Furthermore,wedodeclarethatassoonascircumstancespermitweshalljointogethertopetitionHisMajestytogranttothisfamily,soillustriousthroughitsvirtue,allthehonoursandprerogativeswhichbelongtothosebornnoble。
"WedeputetheMarquisdeMeran,Comted'Espinchal,theMarquisd'Escars,VicomtedePons,ChevalierdeGuer,andtheMarquisdelaFeronnieretogotoMgr。leComted'Artois,Mgr。leDucd'Angouleme,Mgr。leDucdeBerry,Mgr。lePrincedeConde,Mgr。leDuedeBourbon,andMgr。leDucd'Enghien,tobegthemtoputthemselvesatourheadwhenwerequestHisMajestytogranttoMM。Fromentallthedistinctionsandadvantagesreservedforthetruenobility。
"AtTURIN,12thSeptember1790。"
ThenobilityofLanguedoclearnedofthehonoursconferredontheircountryman,M。Froment,andaddressedthefollowinglettertohim:
"LORCH,July7,1792
"MONSIEUR,ThenoblesofLanguedochastentoconfirmtheresolutionadoptedinyourfavourbythenoblesassembledatTurin。Theyappreciatethezealandthecouragewhichhavedistinguishedyourconductandthatofyourfamily;theyhavethereforeinstructedustoassureyouofthepleasurewithwhichtheywillwelcomeyouamongthosenobleswhoareundertheordersofMarshaldeCastries,andthatyouareatlibertytorepairtoLorchtoassumeyourproperrankinoneofthecompanies。
"Wehavethehonourtobe,monsieur,yourhumbleandobedientservants,COMTEDETOULOUSE—LAUTREC
MARQUISDELAJONQUIERE
ETC。
CHAPTERVII
TheProtestants,aswehavesaid,hailedthegoldendawnoftherevolutionwithdelight;thencametheTerror,whichstruckatallwithoutdistinctionofcreed。Ahundredandthirty—eightheadsfellonthescaffold,condemnedbytherevolutionarytribunaloftheGard。
Ninety—oneofthoseexecutedwereCatholic,andforty—sevenProtestants,sothatitlookedasiftheexecutionersintheirdesireforimpartialityhadtakenacensusofthepopulation。
ThencametheConsulate:theProtestantsbeingmostlytradesmenandmanufacturers,werethereforericherthantheCatholics,andhadmoretolose;theyseemedtoseemorechanceofstabilityinthisformofgovernmentthaninthoseprecedingit,anditwasevidentthatithadamorepowerfulgeniusatitshead,sotheyralliedrounditwithconfidenceandsincerity。TheEmpirefollowed,withitsinclinationtoabsolutism,itsContinentalsystem,anditsincreasedtaxation;
andtheProtestantsdrewbacksomewhat,foritwastowardsthemwhohadhopedsomuchfromhimthatNapoleoninnotkeepingthepromisesofBonapartewasmostperjured。
ThefirstRestoration,therefore,wasgreetedatNimeswithauniversalshoutofjoy;andasuperficial—observermighthavethoughtthatalltraceoftheoldreligiousleavenhaddisappeared。Infact,forseventeenyearsthetwofaithshadlivedsidebysideinperfectpeaceandmutualgood—will;forseventeenyearsmenmeteitherforbusinessorforsocialpurposeswithoutinquiringabouteachother'sreligion,sothatNimesonthesurfacemighthavebeenheldupasanexampleofunionandfraternity。
WhenMonsieurarrivedatNimes,hisguardofhonourwasdrawnfromthecityguard,whichstillretaineditsorganisationof1812,beingcomposedofcitizenswithoutdistinctionofcreed。Sixdecorationswereconferredonit——threeonCatholics,andthreeonProtestants。
Atthesametime,M。Daunant,M。OlivierDesmonts,andM。deSeine,thefirstthemayor,thesecondthepresidentoftheConsistory,andthethirdamemberofthePrefecture,allthreebelongingtotheReformedreligion,receivedthesamefavour。
SuchimpartialityonthepartofMonsieuralmostbetrayedapreference,andthisoffendedtheCatholics。Theymutteredtooneanotherthatinthepasttherehadbeenatimewhenthefathersofthosewhohadjustbeendecoratedbythehandoftheprincehadfoughtagainsthisfaithfuladherents。HardlyhadMonsieurleftthetown,therefore,thanitbecameapparentthatperfectharmonynolongerexisted。
TheCatholicshadafavoritecaf？,whichduringthewholetimetheEmpirelastedwasalsofrequentedbyProtestantswithoutasingledisputecausedbythedifferenceofreligioneverarising。ButfromthistimeforththeCatholicsbegantoholdthemselvesalooffromtheProtestants;thelatterperceivingthis,gaveupthecaf？bydegreestotheCatholics,beingdeterminedtokeepthepeacewhateveritmightcost,andwenttoacaf？whichhadbeenjustopenedunderthesignofthe"IsleofElba。"ThenamewasenoughtocausethemtoberegardedasBonapartists,andastoBonapartiststhecry"Longlivetheking！"wassupposedtobeoffensive,theyweresalutedateveryturnwiththesewords,pronouncedinatonewhichbecameeverydaymoremenacing。Atfirsttheygavebackthesamecry,"Longlivetheking！"butthentheywerecalledcowardswhoexpressedwiththeirlipsasentimentwhichdidnotcomefromtheirhearts。Feelingthatthisaccusationhadsometruthinit,theyweresilent,butthentheywereaccusedofhatingtheroyalfamily,tillatlengththecrywhichatfirsthadissuedfromfullheartsinauniversalchorusgrewtobenothingbutanexpressionofpartyhatred,sothatonthe21stFebruary,1815,M。Daunantthemayor,byadecree,prohibitedthepublicfromusingit,asithadbecomeameansofexcitingsedition。
PartyfeelinghadreachedthisheightatNimeswhen,onthe4thMarch,thenewsofthelandingofNapoleonarrived。
Deepaswastheimpressionproduced,thecityremainedcalm,butsomewhatsullen;inanycase,thereportwantedconfirmation。
Napoleon,whoknewofthesympathythatthemountaineersfeltforhim,wentatonceintotheAlps,andhiseagledidnotasyettakesohighaflightthatitcouldbeseenhoveringaboveMountGeneve。
Onthe12th,theDucd'Angoulemearrived:twoproclamationscallingthecitizenstoarmssignalisedhispresence。ThecitizensansweredthecallwithtrueSouthernardour:anarmywasformed;butalthoughProtestantsandCatholicspresentedthemselvesforenrolmentwithequalalacrity,theProtestantswereexcluded,theCatholicsdenyingtherightofdefendingtheirlegitimatesovereigntoanybutthemselves。
ThisspeciesofselectionapparentlywentonwithouttheknowledgeoftheDucd'Angouleme。DuringhisstayinNimeshereceivedProtestantsandCatholicswithequalcordiality,andtheysetathistablesidebyside。Ithappenedonce,onaFriday,atdinner,thataProtestantgeneraltookfishandaCatholicgeneralhelpedhimselftofowl。Thedukebeingamused,drewattentiontothisanomaly,whereupontheCatholicgeneralreplied,"Bettermorechickenandlesstreason。"Thisattackwassodirect,thatalthoughtheProtestantgeneralfeltthatasfarashewasconcernedithadnopoint,herosefromtableandlefttheroom。ItwasthebraveGeneralGillywhowastreatedinthiscruelmanner。
Meanwhilethenewsbecamemoredisastrouseveryday:Napoleonwasmovingaboutwiththerapidityofhiseagles。Onthe24thMarchitwasreportedinNimesthatLouisXVIIIhadleftParisonthe19thandthatNapoleonhadenteredonthe20th。Thisreportwastracedtoitssource,anditwasfoundthatithadbeenspreadabroadbyM。VincentdeSaint—Laurent,acouncillorofthePrefectureandoneofthemostrespectedmeninNimes。Hewassummonedatoncebeforetheauthoritiesandaskedwhencehehadthisinformation;hereplied,"FromaletterreceivedfromM。Bragueres,"producingtheletter。
Butconvincingaswasthisproof,itavailedhimnothing:hewasescortedfrombrigadetobrigadetillhereachedtheChateaud'If。
TheProtestantssidedwithM。VincentdeSaint—Laurent,theCatholicstookthepartoftheauthoritieswhowerepersecutinghim,andthusthetwofactionswhichhadbeensolongquiescentfoundthemselvesoncemorefacetoface,andtheirdormanthatredawoketonewlife。
Forthemoment,however,therewasnoexplosion,althoughthecitywasatfeverheat,andeveryonefeltthatacrisiswasathand。
Onthe22ndMarchtwobattalionsofCatholicvolunteershadalreadybeenenlistedatNimes,andhadformedpartoftheeighteenhundredmenwhoweresenttoSaint—Esprit。Justbeforetheirdeparturefleurs—de—lyshadbeendistributedamongstthem,madeofredcloth;
thischangeinthecolourofthemonarchicalemblemwasathreatwhichtheProtestantswellunderstood。
TheprinceleftNimesinduecourse,takingwithhimtherestoftheroyalvolunteers,andleavingtheProtestantspracticallymastersofNimesduringtheabsenceofsomanyCatholics。Thecity,however,continuedcalm,andwhenprovocationsbegan,strangetosaytheycamefromtheweakerparty。
Onthe27thMarchsixmenmetinabarn;dinedtogether,andthenagreedtomakethecircuitofthetown。ThesemenwereJacquesDupont,wholateracquiredsuchterriblecelebrityunderthenameofTrestaillons,Truphemythebutcher,Morenetthedogshearer,Hours,Servant,andGilles。Theygotoppositethecaf？"IsleofElba,"thenameofwhichindicatedtheopinionofthosewhofrequentedit。Thiscaf？wasfacedbyaguard—housewhichwasoccupiedbysoldiersofthe67thRegiment。Thesixmadeahalt,andinthemostinsultingtonesraisedthecryof"Longlivetheking！"ThedisturbancethatensuedwassoslightthatweonlymentionitinordertogiveanideaofthetoleranceoftheProtestants,andtobringuponthestagethemenmentionedabove,whowerethreemonthslatertoplaysuchaterriblepart。
OnApril1stthemayorsummonedtoameetingathisofficialresidencethemunicipalcouncil,themembersofallthevariouslyconstitutedadministrativebodiesinNimes,theofficersofthecityguards,thepriests,theProtestantpastors,andthechiefcitizens。
Atthismeeting,M。Trinquelague,advocateoftheRoyalCourts,readapowerfuladdress,expressingthelove,ofthecitizensfortheirkingandcountry,andexhortingthemtounionandpeace。Thisaddresswasunanimouslyadoptedandsignedbyallpresent,andamongstthesignatureswerethoseoftheprincipalProtestantsofNimes。Butthiswasnotall:thenextdayitwasprintedandpublished,andcopiessenttoallthecommunesinthedepartmentoverwhichthewhiteflagstillfloated。Andallthishappened,aswehavesaid,onApriland,elevendaysafterNapoleon'sreturntoParis。
ThesamedaywordarrivedthattheImperialGovernmenthadbeenproclaimedatMontpellier。
Thenextday,April3rd,alltheofficersonhalf—payassembledatthefountaintobereviewedbyageneralandasub—inspector,andastheseofficerswerelate,theorderofthe,dayissuedbyGeneralAmbert,recognisingtheImperialGovernment,wasproducedandpassedalongtheranks,causingsuchexcitementthatoneoftheofficersdrewhisswordandcried,"Longlivetheemperor！"Thesemagicwordswerere—echoedfromeveryside,andtheyallhastenedtothebarracksofthe63rdRegiment,whichatoncejoinedtheofficers。AtthisjunctureMarshalPelissierarrived,anddidnotappeartowelcometheturnthingshadtaken;hemadeanefforttorestraintheenthusiasmofthecrowd,butwasimmediatelyarrestedbyhisownsoldiers。TheofficersrepairedinabodytotheheadquartersofGeneralBriche,commandantofthegarrison,andaskedfortheofficialcopyoftheorderoftheday。Herepliedthathehadreceivednone,andwhenquestionedastowhichsidehewasonherefusedtoanswer。Theofficersuponthistookhimprisoner。Justastheyhadconsignedhimtothebarracksforconfinement,apost—officeofficialarrivedbringingadespatchfromGeneralAmbert。LearningthatGeneralBrichewasaprisoner,themessengercarriedhispackettothecolonelofthe63rdRegiment,whowasthenextinseniorityafterthegeneral。Inopeningit,itwasfoundtocontaintheorderoftheday。
Instantlythecolonelorderedthe'gineyale'tosound:thetownguardsassumedarms,thetroopsleftthebarracksandformedinline,theNationalGuardsintherearoftheregulartroops,andwhentheywereallthusdrawnup;theorderofthedaywasread;itwasthensnatchedoutofthecolonel'shands,printedonlargeplacards,andinlesstimethanseemedpossibleitwaspostedupineverystreetandateverystreetcorner;thetricolourreplacedthewhitecockade,everyonebeingobligedtowearthenationalemblemornoneatall,thecitywasproclaimedinastateofseige,andthemilitaryofficersformedavigilancecommitteeandapoliceforce。
WhiletheDucd'AngoulemehadbeenstayingatNimes,GeneralGillyhadappliedforacommandinthatprince'sarmy,butinspiteofallhiseffortsobtainednothing;soimmediatelyafterthedinneratwhichhewasinsultedhehadwithdrawntoAvernede,hisplaceinthecountry。Hewasawokeinthenightofthe5th—6thAprilbyacourierfromGeneralAmbert,whosenttoofferhimthecommandofthe2ndSubdivision。Onthe6th,GeneralGillywenttoNimes,andsentinhisacceptance,wherebythedepartmentsoftheGard,theLozere,andArdechepassedunderhisauthority。
NextdayGeneralGillyreceivedfurtherdespatchesfromGeneralAmbert,fromwhichhelearnedthatitwasthegeneral'sintention,inordertoavoidthedangerofacivilwar,toseparatetheDucd'Angouleme'sarmyfromthedepartmentswhichsympathisedwiththeroyalcause;hehadthereforedecidedtomakePont—Saint—Espritamilitarypost,andhadorderedthel0thRegimentofmountedchasseurs,the13thartillery,andabattalionofinfantrytomovetowardsthispointbyforcedmarches。ThesetroopswerecommandedbyColonelSaint—Laurent,butGeneralAmbertwasanxiousthatifitcouldbedonewithoutdanger,GeneralGillyshouldleaveNimes,takingwithhimpartofthe63rdRegiment,andjoiningtheotherforcesunderthecommandofColonelSaint—Laurent,shouldassumethechiefcommand。Asthecitywasquitetranquil,GeneralGillydidnothesitatetoobeythisorder:hesetoutfromNimesonthe7th,passedthenightatUzes,andfindingthattownabandonedbythemagistrates,declareditinastateofsiege,lestdisturbancesshouldariseintheabsenceofauthority。HavingplacedM。deBressonincommand,aretiredchiefofbattalionwhowasborninUzes,andwhousuallylivedthere,hecontinuedhismarchonthemorningofthe8th。
BeyondthevillageofConans,GeneralGillymetanorderlysenttohimbyColonelSaint—Laurenttoinformhimthathe,thecolonel,hadoccupiedPontSaint—Esprit,andthattheDucd'Angouleme,findinghimselfthuscaughtbetweentwofires,hadjustsentGenerald'Aultanne,chiefofstaffintheroyalarmy,tohim,toenterintonegotiationsforasurrender。Uponthis,GeneralGillyquickenedhisadvance,andonreachingPont—Saint—EspritfoundGenerald'AultanneandColonelSaint—LaurentconferringtogetherattheHoteldelaPoste。
AsColonelSaint—Laurenthadreceivedhisinstructionsdirectlyfromthecommander—in—chief,severalpointsrelatingtothecapitulationhadalreadybeenagreedupon;oftheseGeneralGillyslightlyalteredsome,andapprovedoftheothers,andthesamedaythefollowingconventionwassigned:
"ConventionconcludedbetweenGeneralGillyandBarondeDamas"S。A。R。Mgr。leDucd'Angouleme,Commanderin—ChiefoftheroyalarmyintheSouth,andBarondeGilly,GeneralofDivisionandCommander—in—ChiefofthefirstcorpsoftheImperialArmy,beingmostanxiouslydesiroustopreventanyfurthereffusionofFrenchblood,havegivenplenarypowerstoarrangethetermsofaconventiontoS。A。R。M。leBarondeDamas,Field—MarshalandUnder—ChiefofStaff,andGeneraldeGillyandAdjutantLefevre,ChevalieroftheLegionofHonour,andChiefoftheStaffofthefirstArmyCorps;
who,havingshowneachothertheirrespectivecredentials,haveagreedonthefollowingterms:——
"Art。1。Theroyalarmyistobedisbanded;andtheNationalGuardswhichareenrolledinit,underwhatevernametheymayhavebeenlevied,willreturntotheirhomes,afterlayingdowntheirarms。
Safeconductswillbeprovided,andthegeneralofdivisioncommanding—in—chiefguaranteesthattheyshallneverbemolestedforanythingtheymayhavesaidordoneinconnectionwiththeeventsprecedingthepresentconvention。
"Theofficerswillretaintheirswords;thetroopsofthelinewhoformpartofthisarmywillrepairtosuchgarrisonsasmaybeassignedtothem。
"Art。2。Thegeneralofficers,superiorstaffofficersandothersofallbranchesoftheservice,andthechiefsandsubordinatesoftheadministrativedepartments,ofwhosenamesalistwillbefurnishedtothegeneral—in—chief,willretiretotheirhomesandthereawaittheordersofHisMajestytheEmperor。
"Art。3。Officersofeveryrankwhowishtoresigntheircommissionsarecompetenttodoso。Theywillreceivepassportsfortheirhomes。
"Art。4。Thefundsofthearmyandthelistsofthepaymaster—
generalwillbehandedoveratoncetocommissionersappointedforthatpurposebythecommander—in—chief。
"Art。5。TheabovearticlesapplytothecorpscommandedbyMgr。leDucd'Angoulemeinperson,andalsotothosewhoactseparatelybutunderhisorders,andasformingpartoftheroyalarmyoftheSouth。
"Art。6。H。R。H。willposttoCette,wherethevesselsnecessaryforhimandhissuitewillbewaitingtotakehimwhereverhemaydesire。
DetachmentsoftheImperialArmywillbeplacedatalltherelaysontheroadtoprotectHisRoyalHighnessduringthejourney,andthehonoursduetohisrankwillbeeverywherepaidhim,ifhesodesire。
"Art。7。AlltheofficersandotherpersonsofHisRoyalHighness'
suitewhodesiretofollowhimwillbepermittedtodoso,andtheymayeitherembarkwithhimatonceorlater,shouldtheirprivateaffairsneedtimeforarrangement。
"Art。8。ThepresenttreatywillbekeptsecretuntilHisRoyalHighnesshavequittedthelimitsoftheempire。
"Executedinduplicateandagreeduponbetweentheabove—mentionedplenipotentiariesthe8thdayofAprilintheyear1815,withtheapprovalofthegeneralcommanding—in—chief,andsigned,"AttheheadquartersatPont—Saint—Espritonthedayandyearabovewritten（Signed）LEFEVRE
AdjutantandChiefofStaffoftheFirstCorpsoftheImperialArmyoftheSouth（Signed）BARONDEDAMAS
Field—MarshalandUnder—ChiefofStaff"ThepresentconventionisapprovedofbytheGeneralofDivisionCommanding—in—ChieftheImperialArmyoftheSouth。
（Signed）GILLY"
AftersomediscussionbetweenGeneralGillyandGeneralGrouchy,thecapitulationwascarriedintoeffect。Onthe16thApril,ateighto'clockinthemorning,theDucd'AngoulemearrivedatCette,andwentonboardtheSwedishvesselScandinavia,which,takingadvantageofafavourablewind,setsailthesameday。
Earlyinthemorningofthe9thanofficerofhighrankhadbeensenttoLaPaludtoissuesafe—conductstothetroops,whoaccordingtoArticleIofthecapitulationweretoreturnhome"afterlayingdowntheirarms。"Butduringtheprecedingdayandnightsomeoftheroyalvolunteershadevadedthisarticlebywithdrawingwiththeirarmsandbaggage。Asthisinfractionofthetermsledtoseriousconsequences,wepropose,inordertoestablishthefact,tocitethedepositionsofthreeroyalvolunteerswhoafterwardsgaveevidence。
"OnleavingthearmyoftheDucd'Angoulemeafterthecapitulation,"
saysJeanSaunier,"IwentwithmyofficersandmycorpstoSaint—Jean—des—Anels。FromtherewemarchedtowardsUzes。Inthemiddleofaforest,nearavillage,thenameofwhichIhaveforgotten,ourGeneralM。deVoguetoldusthatwewerealltoreturntoourownhomes。Weaskedhimwhereweshoulddeposittheflag。
JustthenCommandantMagnedetacheditfromthestaffandputitinhispocket。Wethenaskedthegeneralwhereweshoulddepositourarms;hereplied,thatwehadbetterkeepthem,asweshouldprobablyfinduseforthembeforelong,andalsototakeourammunitionwithus,toensureoursafetyontheroad。
"Fromthattimeonwealldidwhatwethoughtbest:sixty—fourofusremainedtogether,andtookaguidetoenableustoavoidUzes。"
NicholasMarie,labourer,deposedasfollows:
"OnleavingthearmyoftheDucd'Angoulemeafterthecapitulation,I
wentwithmyofficersandmycorpstoSaint—Jean—des—Anels。WemarchedtowardsUzes,butwhenwewereinthemiddleofaforest,nearavillagethenameofwhichIhaveforgotten,ourgeneral,M。deVogue,toldusthatweweretogotoourownhomesassoonasweliked。WesawCommandantMagneloosetheflagfromitsstaff,rollitupandputitinhispocket。Weaskedthegeneralwhatweweretodowithourarms;herepliedthatweweretokeepboththemandourammunition,asweshouldfindthemofuse。Uponthis,ourchiefsleftus,andweallgotawayasbestwecould。"
"AfterthecapitulationoftheDucd'AngoulemeIfoundmyself,"
deposesPaulLambert,lace—makerofNimes,"inoneofseveraldetachmentsundertheordersofCommandantMagneandGeneralVogue。
Inthemiddleofaforestnearavillage,thenameofwhichIdonotknow,M。deVogueandtheotherofficer,tolduswemightgohome。
Theflagwasfoldedup,andM。Magneputitinhispocket。Weaskedourchiefswhatweweretodowithourarms。M。deVoguetoldusthatwehadbetterkeepthem,asweshouldneedthembeforeverylong;andinanycaseitwouldbewelltohavethemwithusontheroad,lestanythingshouldhappentous。"
Thethreedepositionsaretoomuchaliketoleaveroomforanydoubt。
TheroyalvolunteerscontravenedArticleIoftheconvention。
Beingthusabandonedbytheirchiefs,withoutgeneralandwithoutflag,M。deVogue'ssoldiersaskednofurthercounselofanyonebutthemselves,and,asoneofthemhasalreadytoldus,sixty—fourofthemjoinedtogethertohireaguidewhowastoshowthemhowtogetbyUzeswithoutgoingthroughit,fortheywereafraidofmeetingwithinsultthere。TheguidebroughtthemasfarasMontaremwithoutanyoneopposingtheirpassageortakingnoticeoftheirarms。
SuddenlyacoachmannamedBertrand,aconfidentialservantofAbbeRafin,formerGrand—VicarofAlais,andofBaronessArnaud—Wurmeser（fortheabbeadministeredtheestateofAureillacinhisownnameandthatofthebaroness）,gallopedintothevillageofArpaillargues,whichwasalmostentirelyProtestantandconsequentlyNapoleonist,announcingthatthemiquelets（forafteronehundredandtenyearstheoldnamegiventotheroyaltroopswasrevived）wereonthewayfromMontarem,pillaginghouses,murderingmagistrates,outragingwomen,andthenthrowingthemoutofthewindows。Itiseasytounderstandtheeffectofsuchastory。Thepeoplegatheredtogetheringroups;themayorandhisassistantbeingabsent,BertrandwastakenbeforeacertainBoucarut,whoonreceivinghisreportorderedthegeneraletobebeatenandthetocsintoberung。
Thentheconsternationbecamegeneral:themenseizedtheirmuskets,thewomenandchildrenstonesandpitchforks,andeveryonemadereadytofaceadangerwhichonlyexistedintheimaginationofBertrand,fortherewasnotashadowoffoundationforthestoryhehadtold。
Whilethevillagewasinthisstateoffeverishexcitementtheroyalvolunteerscameinsight。Hardlyweretheyseenthanthecry,"Theretheyare！Theretheyare！"aroseonallsides,thestreetswerebarricadedwithcarts,thetocsinrangoutwithredoubledfrenzy,andeveryonecapableofcarryingarmsrushedtotheentranceofthevillage。
Thevolunteers,hearingtheuproarandseeingthehostilepreparations,halted,andtoshowthattheirintentionswerepeaceful,puttheirshakosontheirmusketstocksandwavedthemabovetheirheads,shoutingthatnooneneedfear,fortheywoulddonoharmtoanyone。ButalarmedastheywerebytheterriblestoriestoldbyBertrand,thevillagersshoutedbackthattheycouldnottrusttosuchassurances,andthatiftheywantedtopassthroughthevillagetheymustfirstgiveuptheirweapons。Itmayeasilybeimaginedthatmenwhohadbrokentheconventioninordertokeeptheirweaponswerenotlikelytogivethemuptothesevillagers——infact,theyobstinatelyrefusedtoletthemoutoftheirhands,andbydoingsoincreasedthesuspicionsofthepeople。AparleyofaveryexcitedcharactertookplacebetweenM。FournierfortheroyalguardsandM。Boucarut,whowaschosenspokesmanbythevillagers。Fromwordstheycametodeeds:themiqueletstriedtoforcetheirwaythrough,someshotswerefired,andtwomiquelets,CalvetandFournier,fell。Theothersscattered,followedbyalivelydischarge,andtwomoremiqueletswereslightlywounded。Thereupontheyalltooktoflightthroughthefieldsoneithersideoftheroad,pursuedforashortdistancebythevillagers,butsoonreturnedtoexaminethetwowoundedmen,andareportwasdrawnupbyAntoineRobin,advocateandmagistrateofthecantonofUzes,oftheeventsjustrelated。
ThisaccidentwasalmosttheonlyoneofitskindwhichhappenedduringtheHundredDays:thetwopartiesremainedfacetoface,threateningbutself—controlled。Butlettherebenomistake:therewasnopeace;theyweresimplyawaitingadeclarationofwar。Whenthecalmwasbroken,itwasfromMarseillesthattheprovocationcame。Weshalleffaceourselvesforatimeandletaneye—witnessspeak,whobeingaCatholiccannotbesuspectedofpartialityfortheProtestants。
"IwaslivinginMarseillesatthetimeofNapoleon'slanding,andI
wasawitnessoftheimpressionwhichthenewsproduceduponeveryone。Therewasonegreatcry;theenthusiasmwasuniversal;theNationalGuardwantedtojoinhimtothelastman,butMarshalMassenadidnotgivehisconsentuntilitwastoolate,forNapoleonhadalreadyreachedthemountains,andwasmovingwithsuchswiftnessthatitwouldhavebeenimpossibletoovertakehim。NextweheardofhistriumphalentryintoLyons,andofhisarrivalinParisduringthenight。MarseillessubmittedliketherestofFrance;Princed'Esslingwasrecalledtothecapital,andMarshalBrune,whocommandedthe6thcorpsofobservation,fixedhisheadquartersatMarseilles。
"Withquiteincomprehensiblefickleness,Marseilles,whosenameduringtheTerrorhadbeen,asonemaysay,thesymbolofthemostadvancedopinions,hadbecomealmostentirelyRoyalistin1815。
Nevertheless,itsinhabitantssawwithoutamurmurthetricolourflagafterayear'sabsencefloatingoncemoreabovethewalls。Noarbitraryinterferenceonthepartoftheauthorities,nothreats,andnobrawlingbetweenthecitizensandthesoldiers,troubledthepeaceofoldPhocea;norevolutionevertookplacewithsuchquietnessandfacility。
"Itmust,however,besaid,thatMarshalBrunewasjustthemantoaccomplishsuchatransformationwithoutfriction;inhimthefranknessandloyaltyofanoldsoldierwerecombinedwithotherqualitiesmoresolidthanbrilliant。Tacitusinhand,helookedonatmodernrevolutionsastheypassed,andonlyinterferedwhenthe,voiceofhiscountrycalledhimtoherdefence。TheconquerorofHarlemandBakkunhadbeenforfouryearsforgotteninretirement,orratherinexile,whenthesamevoicewhichsenthimawayrecalledhim,andatthesummonsCincinnatuslefthisploughandgraspedhisweapons。Physicallyhewasatthisperiodamanofaboutfifty—five,withafrankandopenfaceframedbylargewhiskers;hisheadwasbaldexceptforalittlegrizzledhairatthetemples;hewastallandactive,andhadaremarkablysoldierlybearing。