nature of their attachment, the loving pair have carried with them into their retirement some few of their Parisian tastes and habits. The father is a most wearisome person, and an act is taken up by his affecting expostulations with Marguerite, who will be the ruin of his son, he says, and to whose affection for that misguided youth he makes a touching appeal. Finally, Marguerite promises to leave Armand, and in such a manner that there shall be no chance of his returning to her. The next act shows her in the midst of an orgie. This scene, a thoroughly natural representation of certain aspects of Parisian life, is one of the cleverest in the piece. Armand, horrified at his mistress's relapse into lax habits, and believing her false to him, flies from her in despair. The sacrifice is consummated. Armand gone, Marguerite again abjures dissipation, sinks into a sort of secondary stage of her malady, and takes to her bed. The father hears of her suffering state, visits her, and at last, touched by her pale face and amiable qualities, consents to restore to her his son, and promises never again to seek to separate them. Before agreeing to this, however, the old fox is evidently quite aware that her recovery is impossible. Armand rushes in, Marguerite dies in his arms, and the majority of the audience, who for some time have been clandestinely whimpering, indulge in a chorus of sobs under cover of the applause that attends the fall of the curtain. Such

is the piece that has made furore in Paris during the year 1852, exciting in an especial degree the sympathy and enthusiasm of the fair sex.

The glance taken at the National Assembly in the fifth chapter of "Parisian Sights," &c., places before the reader, in a very clear manner, the character and composition of that body, and the causes of its weakness and downfall.

"The talent and education of the National Assembly, composed of nearly eight hundred members, were chiefly to be found among the Legitimists or partisans of the house of Orleans. However friendly Berryer, Montalembert, Larochejaquelin, Molé, or Thiers might be to civil liberty, they were pledged to it in no other form than that of royalty. It was for that

they laboured, and by that tenure they held their seats. They carried with them a large proportion of the intellect and wealth of France. Republicanism in name existed rather by reason of the

disagreement of the rival branches of royalty than by its own strength. Still it was respectably represented in the Assembly by about eighty-three members of the conservative order, of whom the most eminent names were Lamartine, the Generals Cavaignac, Lamoricière, and the eloquent divine, M. Coquerel. The Reds, or the Mountain, the ultra-democrats, among whom every shade of opinion was to be found, from moderate republicanism to the worst errors of Socialism, embraced nearly one-third of the National Victor Hugo, Eugène Sue, the Abbé Assembly, and numbered in their ranks Lammenais, Emile Girardin, and others, whose literary talents have gained them reputation. A more heterogeneous body of legislators could not have been assembled. Members of the Buonaparte family were to be seen supporting all opinions except that of legitimacy, while there was a party of Imperialists who looked forward to the re-establishment of the Empire as the national panacea. The National Assembly, in lieu of being a body of republican legislators, was an assemblage of Imperialists, Bourbonists, Orleanists, and Socialists, with a moderate number of members who were sincere in their attachment to a republic. It was a legislature of partisans, and not of patriots.

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Admitting it was a republican assembly, has their conduct shown their sincerity or their fitness for republicanism? They embraced the best minds of the nation, so that ignorance has no apology to offer; and if they failed in their duties as republican legislators, it has been from incapacity or design. That they have failed, and incurred the opprobrium and contempt of the nation, is evident from the fact that, while the usurpation of Louis Buonaparte was universally deplored or condemned, not one solitary

voice of commiseration was raised for the Assembly. It had become the laughingstock, or object of the indignation of the community; and they saw it fall to the ground, so far as the individual members were concerned, with as little concern as they would have shown for the dropping of rotten fruit in an orchard. Instead of labouring for the republic, in accordance with their oaths and duties, they had presented to the world the unseemly spectacle of fierce contentions, unprin cipled intrigues, and a total disregard not only of forensic rules, but the ordinary forms of individual courtesy. In general,

family. Those who had most at stake in this violent change, knew nothing of it until it had been old news by some hours in London.

"I passed along the Boulevards and the usual resorts of business. All the shops were closed. Groups read in silence the notices, and quietly dispersed. This part of the city, usually so rife with life, appeared as if stunned by a violent blow. Men held their breaths. It was not the settled composure with which the seaman looks upon the coming storm, but the anxiety and terror with which is awaited an expected earthquake.

"The public gardens and Palais Royal were closed. There was no thought of amusement. The Champs Elysées, Place Madeleine, and every avenue leading to the Palais Bourbon and residence of Louis Napoleon, were filled with dense masses of troops in fighting order. More than fifty thousand were under arms. They, too, were awaiting, they knew not what-but ready at the order of their chiefs to rise and slay. Certain streets were closed; those who had homes therein found no little difficulty in reaching them.

"That evening the celebrated Jesuit, Le Père Ventura, was to preach at Nôtre Dame. I started early to obtain admission, as he always draws a multitude. By this time, six o'clock, the troops had returned to their barracks, and Paris looked as gay and busy as on the preceding evening. The church was closed; nothing was permitted at this juncture that would attract the crowd to one spot. News-boys were crying at every corner the dissolution of the National Assembly, and the other stringent measures of the President. The people had begun to discuss them; the first sentiments were admiration at the cleverness with which it had been done. The President had conversed even till midnight in the most friendly manner, at the Elysée with his opponents. No agitation announced the desperate throw he had then resolved to make of his political dice. Yet his head was upon the cast, and if successful he foresaw that blood was to be shed. In four hours the deed was done; every printing press, not his own, seized; the Assembly dissolved; the legislative halls closed; those in whose hands the grasp of his own was scarcely cold, arrested and in prison. Thiers wept, and was alternately fool and coward; Cavaignac, dignified; Changarnier haughty, and Lamoricière pugnacious. None whom Napoleon feared were spared. His selection was admirable. Not a leader of any party except his own was exempted from

the call to exchange a warm bed at four o'clock of a winter's morning for a stone cell at Vincennes, or the prison Mazas. Each had the honour of a special attendance-no questions were answered as to the object of their imprisonment or their probable fate. In twelve hours the bourgeoisie exclaimed 'C'est bien fait !' and were ready to go on with their amuse

ments.

"On the third there was more excitement. The secret societies were at work. The Reds were recovering from their astonishment; ex-members of the National Assembly harangued the multitude, and circulated addresses to arouse the people to resistance. The result was several barricades, which were speedily carried by the troops, with some loss on both sides. On the part of the government the proclamations became more stringent. Carriages were forbidden to circulate, or the inhabitants to appear in the streets. Those taken near any barricade with arms about them were to be put to death.

"In the evening there was shoutinginflammatory speeches-the rallying cries of parties. Immense human masses on the Boulevards and the quays heaved to and fro in sullen anger, like the swell of the ocean before an approaching storm. Individuals ran from group to group muttering curses upon the usurper. Some said the excitement would spend itself in words; others, that Louis Napoleon would be killed within forty-eight hours. The police charged repeatedly on the crowds, which, in return, mocked at them. I looked quietly on, and became convinced that the back of the Parisian tiger was up, and was preparing for a leap.

"The next morning was the fourth. There was not much stirring; the shops were generally closed. I went to the Rue de Jeuneurs, where I had business. This was before mid-day. As I approached this street, I saw crowds running through it, panic-struck, while the residents were barring their windows and closing their doors. I asked the cause. All were too much frightened to speak intelligently. Some thought the faubourgs were rising, and others that the troops were approaching; each added to the alarm of his neighbour. At last I learned that barricades were being erected at the Porte St Denis on the boulevard of that name.

"Being curious to see a barricade, I pushed directly for the spot. On arrival, I found the work going bravely on. Four were already commenced at different intervals in the boulevard. Stagings had been torn from unfinished houses;

iron railings from the mganificent gateway; trees were cut down; all those nameless buildings, at once so convenient and so disgraceful, to this fashionable avenue, were demolished, and their materials added to the fortifications. Carts, carriages, and omnibuses were triumphantly dragged from hiding-places, amid shouts of exultation, to add to the monster piles. The stout iron railing and massive stone wall which protects the side walk from the street, long resisted the efforts of destruction. Crow-bars, and the united strength of several hundred men, at last brought it down. Pavements were torn up, and shaped into breastworks. The barricades soon began to assume a formidable appearance, and to any force but artillery were well-nigh impregnable. They were further strengthened by ropes, which bound firmly together the disjointed parts. There were not very many at work, but those who were laboured like beavers, and evidently knew their trade. Blouses and broadcloth were about equally mixed. Neither were there many spectators. All sorts of rumours were in circulation. The army, it was said, had left Paris, to defend the city against the troops coming in from the neighbouring cities-such a regiment had revolted; the National Guards were arming; in short, every species of tale to encourage and exasperate the enemies of the President, was circulated by agents of the political parties of the late Assembly.

"Having completed the barricades, the mob burst into the nearest guard-house, with wild shouts, sacked it, placed its flag on their most formidable fortification, and used the materials to further strengthen their quarters. The small force usually there had been withdrawn, or it would have been massacred.

"Sinister individuals in blouses armed with cutlasses, muskets, and pistols, began to appear. These acted as leaders. They broke into all the neighbouring shops and searched the houses for arms. When any were found, they marked in chalk on the building, 'arms given death to robbers.' From one of the theatres they procured a few muskets and a drum. These were hailed with shouts of joy, and a party began beating the rappel through the adjacent streets.

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"I was surprised to see how many boys there were in their ranks. They went to work in all these violences as if on a frolic-light-hearted, and even jovial. From their manner, I should rather have supposed that they were gathering materials for a rustic fair, than for a struggle in which no quarter would be given. I

saddened to think how many that I saw so busy around me, would be shot or bayoneted before night. The comments of the spectators varied some said, let the rascals go ahead-they wish to plunder and kill-they will soon be taught a good lesson; others encouraged. One man asked me if I were German or English; on my replying that I was an American, Ah!' said he, with a sigh, 'you live in a true republic.'

"I asked a fine-looking boy of about fourteen, in a school uniform, with a stick in his hand, at the end of which was a bayonet, what he intended doing; 'you are too young to fight.' He laughed, brandished his weapon, and ran off to join a crowd, listening to the reading of a proclamation announcing the deposition of Louis Napoleon, and calling upon the Parisians to give their allegiance to the provisional government formed by such of the members of the late Assembly as had escaped arrest.

"A rough-looking fellow, armed with a musket, who seemed to have authority, came up to me and said, 'If you are one of the curious, you had better be off.' I thought so too, as appearances began to wear a serious aspect. The houses overlooking the barricades were taken possession of, and garrisoned; sentinels were placed at the principal points; the non-combatants were mostly gone, and few but fighters left. I had been there less than two hours; yet, so rapidly had the mob worked, that all the streets opening upon this vicinity were already fortified. I was forced to climb three barricades, politely assisted over one by an armed lad in a blouse, before getting clear of their line of operations. It was most injudiciously chosen, for it could be attacked to equal advantage in front and rear; and their flanks were also exposed.

"I found the boulevards below almost deserted. A brigade of infantry and artillery were just turning the corner of the street, marching without music, slowly, toward the first barricade. Before reaching it they halted. One-half the artillery passed in front, and was pointed toward the breastworks; the other was loaded with grape, and pointed in the other direction. The few persons about saluted the troops with Vive la République.' The commanding officer ordered the boulevard to be cleared. The troops charged upon us, and we slipped out of the way by the side streets.

scenes.

"I then walked down the Rue Montmartre, where I saw similar Coming out again upon the Boulevard des Italiens, I found the entire length of the boulevard, from the spot I first left,

filled with troops, in order of battle. The line extended into the Rue de la Paix. It was a stirring spectacle to witness regiment after regiment of artillery, cavalry, and infantry, pass up this noble avenue to take their stations. In the novelty and beauty of their array, I quite lost sight of the fact that they were ordered out to slaughter these misguided people I had so recently left. At one time they cleared the side-walks, and allowed no one to approach their lines. The sentinels, however, for some inexplicable cause, were shortly removed; and those of the populace who had more curiosity than fear, allowed to pass along as far as the Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle. This led to the melancholy slaughter of thirty-five individuals, and the wounding of a large number, soon after on the Boulevard Montmartre, just above where I was.

Opposite me was the 7th Lancers -a fine corps, recently arrived in Paris.

"I stood talking with a friend, when, from the upper end of the line, the discharge of cannon was heard, followed by a blaze of musketry and a general charge. The stragglers on the boulevards took to flight in all directions. They pitched headlong into open doors, or loudly demanded entrance at the closed. I was fortunate enough to get into a neighbouring carriage-way, through the grated porte cochère of which I could see what was going on. The firing was tremendous. Volley followed volley so fast, that it seemed like one continued peal of thunder. Suddenly there was a louder and nearer crash; the cavalry in front of me wavered, and then, as if struck with panic, turned, and rushed in disorder down the street, making the ground tremble under their tread. What could have occurred? The first supposition was that the different regiments had turned their arms upon each other. Another, that the Reds had proved too strong for the troops. In a few minutes the horsemen came charging back, firing their pistols on all sides. Then came in quick succession the orders 'To shut all windows; to keep out of sight; to open the blinds,' &c. It seemed an unexpected fire had been opened upon the soldiers from some of the houses above, by which they at first suffered so severely as to cause a recoil. The roar of firearms was now tremendous. Mortars and cannon were directed point blank at the suspicious houses, within a few rod's distance, and fired. They were then carried by assault.

vards. Costly houses were completely riddled; their fronts were knocked in; balls passed through the various floors, and lodged finally wherever their spent force destined them. The windows were destroyed by the concussion of the cannon; and as for the outer walls, they looked as if a thunder-storm of bullets had passed over them. They were literally peppered with lead from cellar to roof. Some balls had passed through panes of glass, leaving holes as true and clear of their exact size as if they had been cut out by a diamond. Of the hair-breadth escapes of the inmates, and the general destruction of property, I need not speak. The government afterward footed all the bills for the last. The firing continued for nearly an hour, and then receded to more distant parts of the city; for the field of combat embraced an area of several miles, and there were some 40,000 troops engaged.

"As soon as I could with safety, I left my covert; and, by back streets, endeavoured to get near enough to the barricades, to see what work had been done there. It was now quite dark. The troops guarded every possible avenue, and fired upon all who approached the interdicted spots. The streets in this vicinity were almost wholly deserted. The few that were to be seen, cautiously peered round the corners, but did not venture to show themselves. Not knowing the danger, I attempted to go upon the boulevards by the Rue Montmartre. As I walked up the street, I noticed the marks of the balls that had glanced along the houses. There was a large pool of blood, but the corpses had been removed. I had nearly reached the corner, when an officer rushed out, and ordered me back in a tone which I thought most prudent to obey. As I was alone, and he had probably seen enough bloodshed that afternoon, he did nothing worse. I turned into the first cross street, and there saw a well-dressed man gasping on a rude bier. Those who had picked him up said he had six balls in him. In the Rue Richelieu there was the corpse of a young girl. Some one had placed lighted candles at her head and feet.

"Emerging from the line of soldiers as I reached the parts of the city removed from their surveillance, I noticed a bitter feeling among the better classes for the day's work. The slaughter was, as it always is, in the heat of a battle, greatly exaggerated. Still it was with no gratifying emotions that one could reduce it, even to a few hundred. It was civil war-fratricide. I reached home indignant and mournful.

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