AN EPISODE OF JULY 1830.* 



THE last rays of the setting sun fell upon the gilded dome of the 

 Hotel des Invalides; a thick smoke rose from the barriers of Paris ; 

 the provocations of the populace were answered by the thundering 

 cannon, and the tocsin rent the air : it was July 1830. 



A young man, named Pierre, arrived at the gates of the metropolis 

 at this awful moment. His parents were respectable inhabitants of 

 Paris, who had been reduced to indigence by unfortunate specu- 

 lations ; and Pierre was now on his return from the south of France, 

 whither he had gone in search of employment. His family had heard 

 nothing of him since his departure ; he had not, however, forgotten 

 either his widowed and high-spirited mother, his brother, the com- 

 panion of his early years, his little sisters, or his aged grandmother : 

 often did he think of their destitute condition, yet he had never 

 afforded them any assistance ; nevertheless, Pierre was not exactly 

 a mauvais sujet, but his best intentions were, but too often, frustrated 

 by the variability of his character. He was an odd compound .of 

 folly and intelligence, being a frequenter of petty coffee-houses, a 

 great billiard-player, and news-devourer. 



When the young traveller arrived at the barrier, he beheld a crowd 

 of frantic beings who were singing or rather howling the Marseil- 

 laise ; and there were some persons close at hand, distributing arms, 

 ammunition, and brandy. 



" Ho there ! citizen," cried one of the group, " what business have 

 you here unarmed ? take this sabre, and musket, and en avant." 



Another man gave him a brace of pistols and a poniard, and thus, 

 in an instant, he was armed to the teeth. 



" Vive Napoleon II." vociferated the insurgents. 



" Ah !" exclaimed Pierre, " they are fighting for the young King 

 of Rome, then ! Well, here goes for Napoleon II." 



" *Five la Republique !" roared another band of patriots. 



* The above sketch is written by the Viscount d'Arlincourt, a zealous par- 

 tisan of the fallen dynasty, and the facts detailed are stated by him to be actually 

 true, although the names of the parties are concealed. It is written in the true 

 Tory spirit, though we have seen nothing which the Viscount has yet produced 

 to make us regret the change in France which he so unceasingly deplores. To 

 prove the benevolence of the individual members of the exiled family by such 

 means is unnecessary. No one is inclined to dispute it ; but the French have 

 lost nothing by the change even in this particular ; whereas what they have 

 gained is well appreciated. The French are satisfied : for nothing has proved 

 the feebleness of faction more strongly than the late anarchical attempts at 

 Paris and Lyons. We rejoice in the conviction that the throne of Louis Philippe 

 is secure ; and that amiable and talented gentlemen, such as the Viscount d'Ar- 

 lincourt, may indulge their literary taste in penning sketches on whatever sub- 

 ject they please, assuring them, when the facts to which they pledge themselves 

 are of apolitical nature, that a friendly allowance will be made for the imagina- 

 tion of the romantic and the prejudice of the partisan. 



