1830.] France, Wellington, and Europe. 375 



accompanied us to the spot containing this horrible cage. In order to 

 reach it, we were -. obliged to traverse caverns so dark, that we had to 

 use lighted flambeaux ; and after having descended many steps, we 

 reached the cavern where stood this abominable cage, which was 

 extremely small, and placed on ground so damp, that rve could see the 

 water running under it ! 



" I entered with a sentiment of horror and indignation, mingled with 

 the pleasant feeling, that, at least, thanks to my pupils, no unfortunate 

 person would in future have to reflect with bitterness within its walls 

 on his own calamities, and the cruelty of men. The young duke, 

 with the most touching expression, and with a force beyond his years, 

 gave the first blow with his axe to the cage (which was of wood, 

 strongly bound with iron). After which the carpenters cut down the 

 door, and removed some of the wood. I never witnessed any thing so 

 interesting as the transports, the acclamations, and the applauses of the 

 prisoners during the demolition. The old Swiss porter alone shewed 

 signs of grief, which the prior explained, by saying he regretted the 

 cage, because he made money by shewing it to strangers. The duke 

 immediately gave him ten louis ; saying, that ' for the future, instead 

 of shewing the cage to travellers, he should have to point out the 

 place where it stood, and that surely would be more agreeable to 

 them/ " So says Madame de Genlis, and the anecdote does credit to the 

 feelings and the understanding of her clever pupil. 



There are also some traits of good feeling told of him at subse- 

 quent periods. When the decree of the National Assembly put an 

 end to the privileges of eldership, the little Due de Chartres turned 

 round to his brother Montpensier, and declared " his delight that there 

 would be no longer any distinction between them." This was French, 

 and, besides, argued rather too keen a sense of his previous superiority. 

 But the next anecdote is of the country of every honest and high- 

 minded man. At the age of seventeen he was sent for to Paris by his 

 father, and an establishment was given to him. His time of life was 

 a tempting one, and Paris was a tempting place, for such a time. But 

 the boy felt that he had still something to learn, and he still made 

 regular visits, as a pupil, to the family school in the country. He, yet 

 more to his honour, made the resolution of laying by his pocket- 

 money till he was of age, and appropriating it to charitable and public 

 purposes. 



The Due de Chartres was now to mingle in the stirring life of the 

 world. The Jacobins were the chief partizans of his father, and by that 

 father's command he became a member of the Jacobin Club. But he 

 was happily called from the contact of those blasphemers and murderers 

 to scenes where his virtues would not be so hazardous to himself. In 

 1790 he was sent to join his regiment quartered in Vendome. He found 

 the populace slaying the priests, and his first exploit was to save one 

 of those unfortunate men ; his next was to jump into the river to rescue 

 a custom-house officer from drowning. His activity could not have 

 exercised itself on two more obnoxious classes. For the priest he got 

 nothing, but the city of Vendome gave him a civic crown for the 

 exciseman ! 



In 1792, France offered the finest lesson ever given to the world of a 

 nation trained from its cradle by Popery and its perpetual associate 

 Despotism ! It was all in a blaze. Its only creed an abolition of all 



