352 THE COLTON PAPERS. 



with whom they were contending- notwithstanding the treachery 

 they had experienced, the victors spared the lives of ALL who sur- 

 rendered ! 



After a dreadful slaughter, the whole of this quarter of Paris was 

 in the possession of the people, who availed themselves of the oppor- 

 tunities afforded by their dear-bought victory to render it still more 

 illustrious by acts of mercy and forgiveness. 



About half past three, the defending party finding itself reduced 

 (officers and men) to forty, surrendered as prisoners, and were 

 escorted through the enraged population to the Bourse. This was 

 the termination of the memorable battle of Thursday. A desultory 

 contest was kept up with the retreating soldiery, as they passed 

 through the Champs Elysees on the way to the Bois de Boulogne ; 

 but, at four o'clock, not a soldier in arms remained in the streets of 

 the city. 



During the sanguinary struggle, which, I fear, I have but 

 indifferently described as ending in the capture of the royal 

 palaces on the northern bank of the Seine, deeds of daring 

 by no means inferior, were effected by the patriots on the other 

 side, who had valiantly endeavoured to cross the bridges on the 

 preceding evening, to the assistance of their brethren in arms ; 

 but such was the strength of the common enemy in cavalry, 

 and the artillery upon the bridges and quays (which latter afforded 

 an ample space for the charges and manoeuvres of cavalry), 

 that the passage of the river in the western part of the city, in 

 presence of a force thus superior and imposing, would have been a 

 useless waste of life, and even seemed to be impossible. In the 

 eastern division of the city, both opposite and below the Hotel de 

 Ville, this passage was effected frequently during the day by the 

 citizens of the Faubourg St. Germain, aided by the numerous class 

 of industrious artisans of the Faubourg St. Marceau, who, armed 

 with pikes or the first tool they could grasp, gallantly fought hand 

 to hand with their oppressors. The desperate nature of this service 

 may be well understood by the name which the Suspension-bridge 

 has gained, and will preserve to posterity, of " Pont d'Arcole." 

 Courage without conduct is too often wasted in vain ; but in this case 

 the people 'were admirably led on by M. Joffres, before mentioned, 

 assisted by^M. Lenoir of the Polytechnic School, who commanded 

 one division, while M. Joffres led the other to the attack on the 

 barracks of the Swiss Guard in the rue de Babylone. This position 

 was formidable, being surrounded with a high wall, and having 

 gates of prodigious strength ; and the unhappy men who garrisoned 

 it, in common with their countrymen at other points, entertained the 

 idea that no quarter would be given. Under this supposition they 

 determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible, and fought with 

 the appalling courage of despair. The assailants had but one piece 

 of cannon, with which they left the Place de 1'Odeon for the attack. 

 After nn incessant fire of nearly an hour, exposed to the deadly aim 

 of the soldiers, for whom every window formed a loop-hole, their 

 cartridges began to grow scarce. Their brave leaders, fertile in 

 expedients, called for straw to set fire to the building. Immediately 



