W792 * on general Redig. 
be hewn in pieces here immediately.” Thus ex- 
claimed the enraged multitude from all quarters; 
_ and the boisterous and bloody request was repeated 
from the mouths of 4000 men. Reding was im- 
moveable. A troop of frantic boors mounted the 
‘stage on which he stood with the magistrates. It 
rained. A boy, who was Reding’s godson, held 
an umbrella over his head. One of the madmen 
from the crowd broke it in pieces with a stick. 
‘** He fhall stand under the bare heaven! the vil- 
dain!” The boy also catched the frenzy — “ I 
did not know that my godfather was such a 
traitor; now I must believe it; give me acord 
that I may strangle him.” —The members of the 
council formed a circle round the general, and begg~ 
ed him with outstretched hands, for God’s sake, to 
step forward in order to save his life; and at least 
to grant, that perhaps he had not opposed the in- 
novations with so much warmth and zeal as he 
ought to have done ; that in this he was blameable ; 
and that as a /punifhment, he made them an offer of 
all his property, provided they wouid only save his 
_ dife.”—Reding now came forward from the circle, 
with a slow and pensive step,—invited silence by a 
motion of his hand, and the whole afsembly were in- 
sstantly still,—All listened with eagernefs in expecta- 
_ tion of a penitent and supplicatory confefsion of his 
«rime; aud in many breasts the hope arose that he 
might yet be pardoned. The general thea addrefsed 
_ them; ‘‘ Ye know, my beloved brethren and fel- 
dow citizens, that I have served the French king now 
two and forty years ;--ye know, and many of you who 
WOL. Xil. Hi + 
