•^2 1 HE LIFE OF 



Santcrre then called to fome of the gens 

 d' armc&t and ordered fix of them to draw up, 

 three on each fide of the way, from the coach 

 door to the ladder, which was not more than 

 two yards diftant. In this place, the King who 

 had been made to alight as foon as thefe gens 

 d" armes were polled, undrefled himfelf; firfl 

 throwing off his hat, which was inftantly cut to 

 pieces afid diflributed among thofe prefent ; he 

 then threw off his coat, which was treated i<n 

 the fame manner, nor did he receive any affift- 

 ance, except that fome perfon folded his ftiirt 

 under the collar of his waiftcoat, which feemed 

 to me to be of white cotton flannel. 



He then prepared to afcend the fcaffold, but 

 was told that his hands mufi: be tied; to this he 

 quietly fubmitted, only faying it was not necej- 

 fary. Mr. Frimont was going along with him to 

 adminifter the iafi: offices of religion, but he was 

 torn away, and another priefl, a meer raggamuf- 

 fian in appearance, was put in his place, as a 

 parting infult to the dying monarch. 



Whether he had thus far attempted to fpeak, 

 I cannot fay; for the drums and trumpets, 

 which by the exprefs order of Santerre, were 

 placed in immenfe number in the front of the 

 guillotine, to ufe his language, '* to prevent Louis 

 " Capet from beingheardjjjouldhe attempt io Jpcak^'^ 



made 



