reme and subordinate interests of our community.
I see, stretching beyond the reach of living eye, a scene of calm and
fruitful prosperity in which our children's children may enjoy their
lives, without a thought of fear or apprehension of change. Regarding
Governor Blanchelande as one of the chief securities of this our long
tenure of social prosperity, I beg to propose, not only that we shall
now drink his health, but that we shall meet annually in his honour on
this day. Yonder is Government-House. If we open our jalousies wide
enough, and give the honours loudly enough, perhaps our voices may reach
his ears, as the loyal greeting that he deserves."
"Do not you smell smoke?" asked Bayou of his neighbour, as the blinds
were thrown open.
"What a smell of burning!" observed the chairman to Odeluc at the same
moment.
"They are burning field-trash outside the town, no doubt," Odeluc
answered. "We choose the nights when there is little wind, you know,
for that work."
There was a small muster of soldiers round the gates of
Government-House, and several people in the streets, when the honours
were given to the Governor's name. But the first seemed not to hear,
and the others did not turn their heads. The air that came in was so
hot, that the blinds were immediately ordered to be closed again. The
waiters, however, seemed to have lost their obsequiousness, and many
orders and oaths were spent upon them before they did their duty.
While the other gentlemen sat down, a young man remained standing, his
eyes flashing, and his countenance heated, either by wine, or by the
thoughts with which he seemed big.
"My fellow-citizens," said Monsieur Brelle, beginning in a very loud
voice, "agreeing as I do in my hopes for this colony with Monsieur
Odeluc, and, like him, trusting in the protection and blessing of a just
Providence, which will preserve our rights, and chastise those who would
infringe them--feeling thus, and thus trusting, there is a duty for me
to perform. My friends, we must not permit the righteous chastisements
of Providence to pass by unheeded, and be forgotten. The finger of
Providence has been among us, to mark out and punish the guilty
disturber of our peace. But, though dead, that guilty traitor has not
ceased to disturb our peace. Do we not know that his groans have moved
our enemies in the National Assembly; that his ashes have been stirred
up there, to shed their poison over our names? I
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