640 
her from the rest. Next followed two 
companies of mep, who had. already 
taken their turn to. carry the cross, two 
hundred in each division; ‘a third com- 
pany were relieved bya fourth, at the 
foot of the esplanade; the remaining six 
relieved: each other at the various stations 
appointed) for that purpose. At each of 
these places, was ‘erected: a species of 
canopy, formed of high posts, festooned 
with evergreens,>and connected with 
wreaths. of. the same, intermixed with 
artificial white flowers: from. many were 
suspended crosses formed of _ lilacs, 
stocks, &c, 
Then came the cross itself, the first 
sight of which was accompanied by loud 
cheers. from. the assembled multitude, 
erying “ Vive. la Croix, hurra, hurra!” 
It was forty-five feet long; and the 
wooden figure of our Saviour was 
painted with the blood flowing from the 
wounds, It was to me an unpleasant 
spectacle, and I involuntarily closed my 
eyes. The artificers of the image thought 
it really was alive; and in consequence, 
declared to the Abbé Guyon that they 
would not nail it to the cross; which of- 
fice the missionary was obliged to exe- 
cute himself. M, Guyon was in this 
part of the procession, marshalling the 
men, giving the word of command, now 
jumping on the cross, then on the frame- 
work, in the prosecution of his arduous 
office, and reminded me of David danc- 
ing before the ark. 
The bishop and clergy followed the 
cross; ‘after them, the authorities, and 
last of all a regiment of soldiers and 
band. I have omitted to mention that 
two thin lines of infantry extended 
throughout the whole length of the 
procession, to keep off the crowd. 
This ceremony was undoubtedly con- 
ducted with wonderful order, and did 
great credit to the talents and exertions 
of M.-Guyon, who, unaided, unautho- 
rised by the church or the state, had been 
abte to procure for the mission which 
he conducted, so deep an interest, and so 
universal an attention.. This procession 
took two hours in passing by the spot on 
which" we were «stationed ; it consisted 
of ‘fifteen thousand individuals » about 
sixty thousand were present, including 
the ‘spectators assembled in different | 
parts of the town to view it. 
It is unnecessary to repeat the order in 
which the various parts of the procession 
moved, to occupy their places in the 
open square, opposite la Place Peyrou. 
But when the immense number of young 
females in white began to arrive, the 
Colston’s Tour through France, Switzerland, and Italy. 
space being too small to receive such a 
multitude, some cavalry were stationed 
to arrange them properly, and to prevent 
confusion, The poor young ladies, and 
other females, who were thus pressed, 
like sheep into a fold, while the horse- 
meu gallopped about among them, riding 
up close to keep the ranks, became fright- 
ened; many fled in all directions, but 
were pursued by the horsemen and by 
the missionaries; the latter running after 
them, and driving them back by gestures 
and even by blows. This chace had a 
singular effect in a religious ceremony, 
and I contemplated the scene with terror. 
Many succeeded in effecting their escape, 
but the greater part were driven back : 
happily no serious accident occurred, 
but several females fainted from fatigue 
and alarm. aed 
A great body of military were now in- 
troduced into the square, whose gay- 
coloured regimentals, contrasted with the 
floating mass of females in white, with 
their blue waving pennons, had a singu- 
lar and pretty effect. The whole pro- 
cession was now concentrated into one 
grand mass, the central object of which 
was the cross, supported on the wooden 
frame-work. Every elevated spot from 
whence the scene of interest could be 
viewed, was crowded with spectators. 
The windows and roofs of all the houses, 
near the top of the Peyrou Gate, the 
Place Peyrou, and steps leading to it, 
were all covered with people. 
Tothis immense multitude, M. Guyon 
addressed a few words of exhortation, 
first from the cross, and afterwards from 
a stone pedestal, which, prior to the revo- 
lution, supported a statue. During this 
short harangue, which lasted only a few 
minutes, this extraordinary man ad- 
dressed an appropriate word of exhorta- 
tion to every class of people present. 
He spoke to the Bishop and authorities, 
paying them the highest reverence; to 
the clergy, the officers, the soldiers, the 
nobility, the merchants, the trades peo- 
ple, and artizans; the ladies, the females 
of the lower orders; the young, the old, 
the rich, the poor. Above all, he ex- 
horted them to concord, oblivion of par- 
ties and past injuries, loyalty, religion, 
and universal charity, © ~° 7~~~“"~ 
When the cross began:to be raised, a 
general shout of acclamation burst from 
the assembled multitude. A young lady 
near me (who had escaped from the 
procession, alarmed by the vicinity of 
the horses) exclaimed, “ Que c’est édi- 
fient cela.” Y¥ smiled internally, but re- 
flected that it was well for her if she was 
edified 
