thority, that it was solely the result of an
evening spent at General ***'s. A few bowls of
punch had heated their brains; they complained of
their situation; they were indignant, that a
handful of cowardly emigrants should prescribe laws
to them; they were persuaded it would be easy to
displace them; and, proceeding from one step to
another, they concluded by agreeing to march to
Paris, and compel the King to change his ministry,
and banish from France all those whom the public
voice denounced as enemies to the charter, and
disturbers of the public tranquillity and
happiness. Such was their true and only object.]

The malecontents were in doubt: the royalists were intoxicated.

On the 12th, the victory of the Duke of Orleans was contradicted. The
official paper announced, that Bonaparte must have slept at Bourgoing;
that he was expected to enter Lyons on the evening of the 10th of
March; and that it appeared certain, that Grenoble had not yet opened
its gates to him.

The Count d'Artois soon arrived, and confirmed by his return the
taking of Lyons, and the inutility of his efforts.

The alarm was renewed.

The King, whose countenance was at the same time dignified and
affecting, invoked by eloquent proclamations the attachment of the
French, and the courage and fidelity of the army.

The army maintained silence. The judicial bodies, the civil
authorities, the order of advocates, and a number of individual
citizens, answered the King's appeal by addresses testifying their
love and fidelity.

The two chambers equally laid at the foot of the throne the expression
of their sentiments: but their language differed.

"Sire," said the Chamber of Peers, "hitherto paternal goodness has
marked all the acts of your government[49]. If it be necessary that
the laws should be rendered more severe, you would no doubt lament it;
but the two chambers, animated with the same spirit, would be eager
to concur in every measure that the importance of circumstances, and
the safety of the people, may require."

[Footnote 49: The chancellor, no doubt, had
forgotten the proscription, that delivered over to
death all those Frenchmen who joined or assisted