368 THE KINft AND THE KING OF THE FRENCH. 



Thus Lafayette, Carrel, and the republicans of their party deny any 

 participation in the insurrection of the 5th and 6th of June. Both, in- 

 deed, especially the latter, have been circumstantially charged with 

 abetting it. But both deny, and both are worthy of belief. Reveal- 

 ments made in late trials, have come to corroborate their assertion. For 

 instance, in the trial of the " Corsaire" newspaper, it was proved, that 

 the famous Vidocq, together with his entire gang of the secret police, 

 were engaged, disguised in these troubles, and exerted themselves to 

 promote the insurrection. It is well known, that the great cause of 

 disaster was, the lifting up a pole with a bonnet rouge upon it, which, 

 could have been the act only of the republican admirers of 1791. And 

 the apparition of this sanguinary emblem it was, that disgusted the 

 national guard, and made them abandon the procession. Had they 

 remained, the regular military or the police dared not do as they did, 

 viz. provoke the crowd by a wanton charge, and thus precipitate the 

 metropolis into the horrors of civil war. 



When the chambers meet, we shall know more of these events, and 

 of their secret or fortuitous causes. Suffice it for the present to know, 

 that the French public have already changed their opinion on the sub- 

 ject, and have already recoiled from their sudden adhesion to the 

 government and disgust of the opposition, to the very inverse of these 

 sentiments. In fact, the Parisians have learned to distinguish betwixt 

 the two classes of republicans, and have restored their respect to the one, 

 whilst the other still remains the object of alienation and abhorrence. 



There exists a striking proof of what I assert in the verdicts given at 

 the late assizes. The Tribune and the National were both indicted and 

 brought to trial; the latter, though the organ of the more moderate 

 republicans, had articles inculpated, which were much stronger in 

 indignant terms than even the Tribune; so much so, that the penalty 

 demanded against the editor of the National, was death. The same jury 

 tried both. Yet the Tribune was condemned without mercy, whilst the 

 National was acquitted upon every count. This is exclaimed against by 

 the ministerial journals, as the reverse of justice. And, perhaps, legally 

 speaking, it is. But considered rationally, the juries showed signs of 

 fully comprehending the duties and position. They condemned the 

 organ of anarchy and of 1791, though it preached its doctrines with 

 some kind of moderation, whilst the National, which preached its 

 doctrine of a theoretic and practical republic, with a violence propor- 

 tioned to its convictions, was greeted by a verdict of acquittal, liberty to 

 pursue the course of its free, indeed, but not anarchic speculations. 



This declared schism betwixt the two republican parties is to be 

 hailed and welcomed by all friends of liberty and order, since it reduces 

 the mere anarchists to insignificance, and deprives them of the support 

 of honourable and high characters. It renders most unlikely any at- 

 tempts at popular insurrection, and, by thus securing tranquillity, it 

 leaves the public mind free and unagitated, to entertain and discuss the 

 opinions that are presented. It may be long ere France shall adopt a 

 republican constitution, it may be, that she will never do so, but it is of 

 the greatest importance, that a party of theoretic republicans should be 

 formed, in the first place, to offer council to the monarchic government, 

 and to abet the development and progress of truly popular institutions; 

 and secondly, that there may be a party ready, in case of a new political 



