THE COLTON PAPERS. 21 



highest respectabiUty in their different classes of society, the Duke of 

 Coigny, M. Odillon-Barrot, M. de Schonnen, M. Jacqueminot, and 

 Marshal Maison, sending- four millions of francs instead of the one de- 

 manded, but requiring at the same time the surrender of the crown dia- 

 monds, which although an heir-loom of the kingdom, the royal fugitive 

 had thought proper to carry oS". As if, however, this vacillating mo- 

 narch was determined to give one more proof to Europe of his want of 

 faith, or pitiable weakness in yielding to the pernicious counsels of those 

 around him, what was the surprise of the commissioners, on arriving at 

 Rambouillet, at being refused admittance to the royal presence, although 

 one million of the gold they had brought, and perhaps with too much, 

 confidence sent into the coffers of the king, was retained ! Evil coun- 

 sellors, it is to be supposed, had been at work during the few hours that 

 intervened between the abdication of the already deposed monarch and 

 the arrival of the commissioners. It is reported, that the only man in 

 the family, as the late emperor w-as used to call the Duchess of Angou- 

 leme, had insisted upon the king's putting a good face on the matter, 

 and probably, by this means, gaining better terms, and the assurance of 

 a magnificent pension during his exile. This vv'as eagerly seconded by 

 the numerous courtiers and placemen who formed the court, who spoke 

 of each retaining, by such a stipulation, his rank and salary. Another 

 plan was proposed, which I only mention for its absurdity, and as in- 

 dicative of the criminal ignorance of the rulers of the nation. The 

 Duchess asserted that twenty thousand troops remained faithful to the 

 royal cause on the frontiers of the liingdom ; that thofe, united to the 

 little army that followed their fate, might take possession of Montmartre, 

 and establish there a battery of fifty mortars. She assured them that 

 the present insurrection was by no means general, but was only caused by 

 the manufacturers of the Chaussee d'Antin, who had discharged their 

 workmen. Her project was to proclaim the dauphin king, to make all 

 other concessions but the liberty of the press, and then to offer to the 

 provisional government the alternative of submission, or of seeing fifty 

 thousand bombs thrown into the quarters of the Palais Royal, and the 

 Chausce d'Antin, the liot-bed of the revolt. As to the inhabitants of 

 the Faubourgs, they would be friendly to the royal cause, on promising 

 them the pillage of these two rich quarters of the city. M. Despinois, 

 de Guiche, and de Vassy, warmly supported this absurd ]ilan, but a chief 

 was wanting for this enterprise, — where was he to be found ? The 

 intended king was in such a state of abasement and confusion, that he 

 could not utter two consecutive ideas. He observed on this proposal, 

 however, with some degree of sagacity, " That the population of J'aris 

 would roll barrels of powder into tlie plaster quarries of Montmartre, 

 and blow himself and his camp into the air, which v.'ould not be very 

 agreeable to cither party." This resolution therefore w'as dismissed; 

 and the only liope that remained to the court was, that, by abdicating in 

 favour of the Duke of Dordeaux, a party might be formed, round which 

 the royalists might rally. It was also known that a few among the peo- 

 ple were for a rej)ublic : therefore, if time could be gained, a collision 

 upon tlie form of government might ensue among the Parisians, and 

 somctliing at last turn up in their favour. 

 That the wild and mischievous designs above described were enter- 



