178 THE DEATH OF MA11SHAL NEY. 



lowed his advocates to defend him, he appealed, as he hoped, to a 

 more impartial and independent power, previous to the trial. 



The Duke of Richelieu, as minister, demanded Ney's condemnation 

 in the name of Europe ; he told the chamber they owed the world a 

 signal reparation, and must not allow the prisoner a longer impunity. 



Against these expressions M. M. Berryer and Dupin vehemently 

 protested, and produced the convention of Paris as a complete de- 

 fence ; this the president refused to allow to be heard, and ordered 

 them to continue the defence without reference to that document ! 



Marshal Ney on hearing this rose, and said, " I forbid my counsel 

 to defend me more ; my jirdges, I well knew, were long since deter- 

 mined ; I am accused against the faith of treaties, and the law of na- 

 tions, and you will not let me justify myself. I appeal to Europe 

 and to posterity !" 



His advocates, nevertheless, made one more attempt to save him, 

 by showing that Sarre Louis was included in the territory ceded to 

 Prussia; and that, consequently, Ney was not a subject of France; 

 but he refused to allow the plea, and indignantly exclaimed (< Never, 

 I am a Frenchman in my heart, and a Frenchman I will die !" 



While the chamber was still affecting to deliberate, Ney returned 

 to his room ; he appeared to be supported by a feeling of deep reso- 

 lution ; he embraced his defenders, who had nobly exerted them- 

 selves, exclaiming " It is all over, my dear friends, we shall meet 

 each other in another world !" 



He ate his dinner calmly, and with appetite; and observing that a 

 small knife was an object of uneasiness and attention to the persons 

 charged to guard him, he exclaimed " Do you think that I fear 

 death?" and with a smile threw the knife away. 



We now come to the Duke of Wellington's share in this transac- 

 tion, to which we entreat our readers to pay great attention, and in 

 particular to the following letter, upon which the unfortunate Ney 

 had placed so much reliance : 



" To his Grace the Duke of Wellington, Generalissimo of the Allied 



Armies, &c. 



" YOUR EXCELLENCY, Cannot be ignorant of the gross violation 

 which has taken place in my person of the convention of Paris, on 

 the faith of which the French army laid down its arms, and I re- 

 mained in France. 



" It was on the following articles I relied, and now appeal to you, 

 not for justice, but simply as the only party to that convention re- 

 maining in Paris, who possesses the power to see that solemn engage- 

 ment enforced. 



ft ' ARTICLE 12. Private persons and property shall be equally 

 respected. The inhabitants and all individuals who shall be in the 

 capital, shall continue to enjoy their rights and liberties without 

 being disturbed or called to account, either as to the situations they 

 hold, or may have held, or as to their conduct or political opinions. 



" ' ARTICLE 15. If difficulties arise in the execution of any one 

 of the articles of the present convention, the interpretation of it shall 

 be made in favour of the French army and of the city of Paris.' 



