46] 
solved to share his misfortune : she 
accordingly applied to the gaoler 
for permission to enter the cell that 
confined her father! The gaoler re- 
plied that he dared notallow any per- 
son whatever to enter the prison 
without orders from a superior pow- 
er. Resolute and persevering in Ler 
virtuous purpose, she waved all 
difficulties, and applied to M. San- 
terre, who granted her request. 
On the wings of filial love she now 
flew to the prison, and bore to the 
heart of her aged parent the balm 
of pious affection and duteous con- 
solation: and thus beguiled the 
tedious hours of confinement. On 
September 3d, when the people 
had taken the reins of justice into 
their own hands, the prison where 
M. Sombreuil was confined, was 
visited. The twelve judges were 
sat and the prisoners were tried. 
His turn was now come, and the 
gaoler appeared at the door. ‘I 
am ready,’”’ exclaimed Mademoi- 
selle Sombreuil, with a tone of for- 
titude, “I am ready to die; but 
oh! spare my father !’? The gaoler 
was moved with compassion ; thrice 
he approached the door, and thrice 
withdrew. At length the moment 
came, and M. Sombreuil was de- 
manded. He appeared, supported 
by his daughter ; her hair dishe- 
velled, and her countenance ex- 
pressive of anguish, perturbation, 
and dismay. Disengaging herself 
from her father, she threw herself 
on her knees, and with uplifted 
hands, pleaded for him in an un- 
' connected but affecting address to 
the judges; in which she offered 
her own life to ransom his. It was 
the note of pious sorrow, affecting 
and persuasive. The judges sur- 
veyed the old man and his daughter 
alternately ;—their souls were filled 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
with admiration and pity. ‘ What- 
ever M, Sombreuil may have been | 
guilty of,” said the judges, “ he is 
an old man, and let him know that 
we are merciful! let him cry vive 
la nation ! and retire.’ The virtu- 
ous Mademoiselle Sombreuil, with 
a piercing accent, repeated vive la 
nation ! fell at her father’s feet, and 
embraced his knees. The people 
were so much pleased with this 
moving scene, that they brought 
an old door, on which they placed 
M. Sombreuil and his daughter, 
and bore them through the crowd, 
amidst the acclamations of the mul 
titude. 
When the King first entered the 
Assembly, he placed himself at the 
side of the president, and said, ‘ I 
am come hither to prevent a great 
crime:—lI believe myself in safety 
in the midst of you, gentlemen.” 
The president answered, “ That 
he might relyon the Assembly, who 
had sworn to die at their posts in 
supporting the rights of the nation, 
and of the constituted authorities.”” 
On which the Queen, while the 
cannon was firing upon the palace, 
and in the midst of ferocious pe- 
titions for dethroning the King, 
turning to Count D’Hervilly, who 
was standing behind her, said, 
“Weil M. D’Hervilly, were we 
not in the right to go away?” «I 
wish with all my heart, Madam,’ 
answered he, ‘that your Majesty 
may be of the same opinion six 
months hence.?—The same fond 
propensity to grasp at any subject - 
of hope, however slight, was still 
more conspicuous in the conduct 
of the King. The day and the 
hour, the plan of the insurrection — 
was fixed. The King was perfectly 
informed of this, yet still hoped 
that he should be able to prevent — 
it. 
