18 THE COLTON PAPERS, 



to raise his drooping spirits, and the stolidity of consternation pervaded 

 every rank. On his return, he met the Duke of Ragusa, and the follow- 

 ing singular scene took place. The Marshal recounted his discomfiture, 

 but was rudely interrupted by the Dauphin exclaiming, " You promised 

 to hold out fifteen days, and here you are ; you have betrayed us, as you 

 did the city of Paris before. Do you know to whom you speak ?" The dis- 

 concerted Marshal answered, " To the Dauphin." " The King has made 

 me Generalissimo of the Army," was the rejoinder, " and in that quahty 

 I declare you to be a traitor." Then turning to a garde du corps, lie 

 ordered him to take the Marshal's sword. However, snatching it him- 

 self, he endeavoured to break it on the pommel of his saddle : the steel 

 resisted, and the Dauphin wounded his hand. He, thereupon, ordered 

 the Marshal into arrest. — -When the King was informed of this rude 

 and absurd conduct, he was much annoyed. Marmont was the only 

 man of mihtary talent who remained attached to the Court. However, 

 not to disgrace his son in the eyes of the army, he ordered the Marslial's 

 arrest to expire at the end of four hours, and invited him to dine at the 

 royal table. His cover was placed, but the indignant and ill-treated 

 officer did not attend. All was now confusion ; a council was hastily 

 called, and the blinded monarch proposed to abdicate in favour of the 

 Dauphin, who was in vain sought after for some period. He was at 

 last discovered, in the Hall of the Baths, whither he had repaired, in 

 consequence of a letter received from the Duchess, announcing that she 

 should arrive at eight that evening, and ordering a bath to be prepared. 

 It was then resolved by the council to place themselves in communica- 

 tion with M. Chateaubriand, whom they supposed to have some influence 

 with the people. Some letters passed, but nothing arose from this 

 attempt at negotiation. It was then finally resolved to dispatch the 

 Duke of Mortemart with ofl^ers to the Provisional Government, announ- 

 cing, that the obnoxious ordinances would be withdrawn, the ministry 

 changed, and every-thing placed upon its ancient footing ; also giving 

 him full powers to ofier, not only the King's abdication, but that of the 

 Dauphin, in favour of the Duke of Bordeaux, if found to be requisite. 

 " Let us," said the fallen sovereign, " preserve a remnant of the mon- 

 archy in the family." Embarrassed by the serious responsibility of this 

 mission, the duke requested a written authorisation, but the King quieted 

 his scruples Ijy assuring him upon the faith of a gentleman and a chris- 

 tian, that he would not, in any manner whatever, break through the en- 

 easements that might be made in his name. It is difficult to describe 

 the profound stupor and melancholy into which the late events had 

 thrown the King; whfn told by M. Coetlosquet that he had seen the 

 capture of the Tuileries with his own eyes, he replied, " It is not true." 

 The Dauphin still asserted that the royal cause had been betrayed by 

 the Duke of Ragusa. As the reports became more and more unsatisfac- 

 tory, the anger of the King increased to a degree of fury. He seized a 

 pen, issued an order declaring the Duke of Orleans a traitor to his coun- - 

 try, and ordered a party to proceed to his country residence at Neuilly, 

 and to make him a prisoner ; enjoining, at the same time, all his faithful 

 subjects to rally around him. This order, however, it was found impos- 

 sible to obey, the inhabitants of the adjoining villages having already 

 taken up arms in the national cau.*e. — Still further enraged at the safety 



