pidly subsided, and then we heard a voice distinctly reading the order of the day which styled the assembly the National Convention. There was something of fearful interest in feeling, as we all did, with the force of actual truth, that only that coarse dark curtain divided us from a mighty, though invisible assembly, whose every word and movement were so plainly heard; but how composed or summoned, God knows, for we could never learn. This feeling rose to an overpowering degree, when another voice, which I knew not then, in clear and very audible tones, delivered a decree of the Convention, by which all rank, names, and titles of nobility and priesthood, were abolished for ever in France. Messieurs, I lived, and so did others of our company, to hear that decree, long after read under the broad noonday sun in an assembly of living men; and it was our unanimous belief that both its words, and the voice which read them, were the same; but even at the moment the effect on our

party was electric. De Marigny started from his seat with a gesture of wild joy, as if all his visions of the victorious march of liberty had been at last realised; but he was recalled to himself by the thunder of deafening acclamation that burst from the invisible multitude; and as it ceased, the Italian who still kept his former place, with another bow and smile, informed us that this was the second act.

"Even as he spake there came from the shrouded stage a mingled murmur of many voices, like the sound of some far-off tumult that swelled as it came nearer; at times it sunk away, and then we heard strong and earnest voices that seemed to reason deeply; but, again, it grew into a very Babel of confusion. Some of the voices were familiar in their tones, but others were strange, stranger far were the things they uttered. There were words of bitter and boundless scorn of all that mankind regarded, in throne, in hearth, and in altar, of powers held sacred in the reverence of ages, and of rights which generations had found and left unquestioned. And there were brief but half-told tales of the deep strong heart's devotion; and bursts of unbounded hope, whose promise

time could never fulfil; there were pæans of triumph that had in them the waving of all the Delphian laurels, blended with sounds of frantic strife and imprecations of relentless fury; and still, through the varying tumult, growing more frequent. Through all its changes there fell on our ears a dull heavy clank, like no sound of earth that I had ever heard, except the descending axe of the guillotine.

By degrees the noise decreased, and the sounds grew more definite, but they were changed, and now seemed to be those of some great and important trial held in a city's crowded court, and before a supreme tribunal, which that dingy curtain covered from our view. At first we could catch but faint and broken outlines of the proceedings, through the noise of the crowd within and the wilder clamour without, but think how felt that party of masqueraders from the palace of Versailles to hear a voice proclaiming, The capital indictment of Louis Capet, formerly called King of France. The clamour still continued, and nothing reached us but confused sentences from the court, lost at times amid the loud applause, or no less violent disapproval of the listening throng, but my eye involuntarily turned on the sultana, who sat bending forward as if to catch the tones of a low and sad, but firm voice that still went on reading what seemed a long defence; it ceased at last, and we heard another say, 'Let the sentence be decided by vote.'

6

6

"There was a dead silence, like the pause of a thoughtful moment, falling on a maddened multitude; but, messieurs, the horrors of that moment I shall never forget, for, from amidst that viewless court, clear and audible came the very voice of the Duke of Orleans, saying, Citizens, I vote for death.' Instinctively I cast a look on the living man by my side, -masque and all, he seemed actually paralysed. Then came a sound like the rising of a crowded house and a din of approving voices; but through it sounded a shriek so loud, and long, and piercing, that it seemed the very outbreak of pent-up fear and horror, and the masqued sultana dropped as if struck by light. ning from her seat. Another instant,

and De Marigny and I had borne her to the door, which the Italian opened with the rapidity of thought. 'Give her air,' said he, and I unfastened her masque; the lady was already reviving, but the broad light, flashing from that open door, fell full upon the ghastly and horrorstricken features, and well I knew them, for it was the Queen Maria Antoinette.

"The first act of her returning powers was to take the masque from my hand, as she said, Fasten it again, monsieur, and many thanks for the service you have rendered me; but call the coach immediately, for I wish to return to the palace.' By this time Madame de Genlis, with the duke and his son, were beside us; and the people, who were now pouring from the theatre, crowded round, anxious to learn the explanation of so strange an occurrence. I, of course, hastened to call our vehicles, into which the whole party stepped; but when about to take my place, I discovered that De Marigny had left us, and requesting them to drive on without me, I followed him into the half-empty theatre, for there he was, in earnest conversation with the Italian, who wore the same smile, and bowed low as my friend said hastily, Ten thousand francs, signior, for one peep behind that curtain ?'

"It is a large price, monsieur,' remarked the imperturbable manager. "It is, but I will pay it,' said De Marigny; Signior, I am serious.'

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"I hope so,' said the Italian, approaching him and speaking low. Monsieur, there are few that have seen that sight; but I agree, for your offer is handsome, though it cannot be done before this rabble; but, an hour hence, the street will be cleared; come then, and bring your friend, if you please.'

"At this moment one of the postilions arrived out of breath, to tell us that our company had requested us to come, and would wait no longer. We knew they could not be detained, and were evidently unwilling to go without us, as I believe, from a vague apprehension of danger. Therefore, go we must, and the last words I heard from the Italian was a warning to be punctual. With the ten thousand francs,' murmured De Ma

rigny, as we took our places in the coach. We reached the palace in safety and unobserved, for our ab sence had not been more than an hour; but the sultana and the Templar were seen no more in the masquerade that night; as for De Marigny and me, we perambulated the rooms for some time, and took the opportunity of the company going to supper to hasten to the house of the marquis, where we changed our dresses, and half wild with curiosity and expectation, were once more in the Rue de Savonier, provided with 'the one thing needful, at least fifteen minutes before the appointed time. It was now a quarter to twelve; the lamp was still burning before the crucifix; but there was neither step nor stir in the street, so thronged but an hour before; and when we reached the spot where it had stood, there was neither sign nor trace of the Italian or his theatre. All were gone, and the solitary corner lay dark and cold between the old brick houses; and had it not been for the traces of many feet in the thawing ground where such numbers had trodden, we could scarcely have believed that the place was indeed the same. Terrible was our disappointment; but scarce had we turned from the spot, when a party of gendarmes approached it and examined it with the greatest care. Like ourselves they were too late, and for weeks and months after a secret and silent search was carried on through all France, but at length given up as hopeless, for nothing ever transpired to throw light on that mysterious transaction. But from that period the whole court remarked that a growing enmity subsisted between the royal family and the Duke of Orleans.

"The Italian never returned to Versailles, nor was he ever seen in any other city of Europe, at least as far as we could learn; and who the actors were in that dark and fearful drama our search could never discover, for time, that so terribly fulfilled its omens, brought no expla nation of its mystery.

"De Marigny never lost hopes of finding the Italian, and sought him over all the continent, through the storms and changes of his after years. In the early glories of the revolution he took an active part, for his

heart was true to the world's old love of liberty; but when the Jacobins came into power, and blood began to flow, he went down to his family château in Normandy, with a supply of gunpowder, which he caused to be stored in the vaults, then paid off all his servants, and sent them away with the exception of one young page, who would not leave him. For many an hour the peasantry saw the lights flashing from window to window, and the figures of the marquis and his page passing from vault to turretchamber, like those who sought for hidden treasure, or to look their last on haunts they might see no more; but at midnight De Marigny and the youth rode out together. The marquis carried the keys of his castle in one hand, and a flaming brand in the other, and, saying that there would never again be peace or justice in France, he threw the torch on the ground, before his father's gate, where his own hands had laid the train, and then rode fast away, followed by his faithful page. The country round was shaken that night as if by an earthquake, for the stately

château of De Marigny was blown from its foundations, and the morning sun rose upon its shapeless, blackened ruins, but neither De Marigny nor his page were ever seen on French ground after.

"And I have lived to be a spectator, though not an unconcerned one, of scenes more strange and terrible than all the nameless voices of that wild night prophesied, and to find the evening of my days falling on still ominous and troubled times. Years have darkened around, friends have passed from me, and the haunts of youth lie, like far and sunny isles, which my bark can reach no more; but there is one spot still green, with its early attraction to my steps, and that," said the worthy narrator, with a rather comic expression gathering over the momentary gravity of his countenance, "is the box, pit, or gallery-for, observe, I am not particular-of a Parisian theatre; but, believe me, messieurs, I never see the curtain fall, or enter while it remains unlifted, without remembering, in all its mysterious power, le Jeu de Noël."

Naples, May 30, 1845.

J. M. M.

ANOTHER series of victories had been gained, hostile armies had again been dispersed; but the faulty principles on which the victors had based their operations prevented their situation from being improved by the success which they had achieved. Nor were the advantages followed up in a manner that could atone for previous error. Marshal Wurmser, instead of being closely confined within the walls of Mantua, and forced to subsist on the stores of the fortress, which would probably have obliged him to surrender by the end of October, was allowed to retain possession of the Seraglio, a considerable district of country, to extend his foraging parties far and wide, even beyond the Po, and to receive supplies from the surrounding country. When we consider how closely the sanguinary chance-games of Arcole and Rivoli were afterwards balanced, we are brought to the conviction, which every page of Napoleon's history forces upon us, that battle and an appeal to the exertions of brave soldiers was his only, as it was his constant resource, in all situations of difficulty. There were many circumstances which at this time tended to render the situation of the French army of Italy very precarious, notwithstanding the victories they had gained. The republican government mistrusted the court of Turin; they could not prevail upon the King of Sardinia to join them in the war against Austria, without relinquishing a greater share of the spoil than they were disposed to part with. The mountainous frontiers between France and Piedmont were also infested at this time by a number of plundering bands, composed of smugglers and disbanded soldiers, and known by the name of Barbets, who

were supposed to be encouraged or tolerated, at least, by the Sardinian government, which was also believed to be in close and friendly communication with the court of Vienna. The relations with Genoa were on no better footing.

Lombardy was still tranquil; but though the French were popular with the middle classes, a fierce spirit of hostility was entertained against them by the peasantry, nobility, and clergy-ample cause for apprehension in case of future disaster. The provisional government of Milan had, however, raised a corps of 3000 men, which, though not admitted into the French line, helped to render some of the detached corps of the French army disposable.

The Directory were at this moment keenly alive to the necessity of concluding a peace; and as they were determined to retain Belgium and the left bank of the Rhine, their intention was to restore Lombardy to the emperor, as an equivalent; they did not, therefore, encourage any revolutionary proceedings in Italy. Bologna, Ferrara, and Rovigo had, as related, placed themselves under provisional governments; and Napoleon, disregarding the treaty he had concluded with the Grand Duke of Modena, superseded the ducal regency by a provisional government of his own choosing, and combined the four provinces in a federal union, under a representative government. This government also raised a corps of 2000 or 3000 men for the service of the republic.

The Directory disapproved greatly of these proceedings; but as every thing appeared to have originated with the States themselves, things were allowed to remain as they were.

The benefits which the French de

rived from these arrangements were counterbalanced by the augmented hatred excited against them in the hearts of the other party, and which the first turn of fortune would be sure to call into activity. The Pope and the King of Naples could turn the scales against the Republicans. The Neapolitans were still in arms,

and their forces were assembled on the frontiers; the Roman government, more clear-sighted than the other Italian governments, had resisted all the insolent demands lately made by the French, and continued its military preparations. It was probable that both powers would declare themselves; and allowing that they could only bring 30,000 men into the field, it was evident that such an army striking-in along with the next advance of the Austrians, would liberate Mantua, clear Lombardy, and replace things exactly where they had been at the opening of the campaign. The good fortune of Napoleon averted the danger. The defeat of Wurmser and the flight of Jourdan, which events happened about the same time, accelerated the peace with Naples. The news of the first-mentioned action naturally reached Naples before the other, and the terrified court instantly sent orders directing the Neapolitan minister at Paris to conclude a peace at all costs; and as the Directory had on their part been rendered very pliant by the defeats sustained in Germany, matters were soon arranged. The treaty was signed on the 10th of October, and the King of Naples retired from the scene at the very time when Fortune was inviting him to act a great and brilliant part.

The pope, judging rightly enough that his fate was decided upon, as we know from Napoleon's letters that it was, continued his preparations, expecting, no doubt, to be assisted by Austria, as he was evidently too feeble to act an independent part.

It may well be supposed that Napoleon, thus encompassed by foes, pressed hard for reinforcements, and we consequently find that 26,000 men were gradually sent into Italy. When they arrived is not mentioned, as many were, no doubt, drafts from the regimental dépôts. On this subject his mendacity exceeds its usual

extravagance; and as he addresses the government, who could hardly fail to know the truth, it shews, also, with what extreme contempt he regarded them. Writing on the 14th November, on the eve of the battle of Arcole, he says, "Not a day passes without bringing 5000 men to the Austrian army; and though our want of reinforcements has been known for two months and more, we have only received a single battalion of the 40th,-bad troops, not accustomed to fire." In his Memoirs he says, on the other hand, "The Directory promised much, and performed little; they sent twelve battalions, however, which arrived at Milan during the months of September and October." That there could be no great error in the last statement is certain, for at the end of October his army had again 42,000 men effective in the field, notwithstanding the losses it must have sustained during the previous operations. The army was, probably, in good order at this time, as all the resources of the country were at the disposal of the victor, who, it seems, sent 20,000,000 livres to Paris for the use of the government.

It was during the period of which we are speaking that Corsica was reunited to France. Some supplies, together with a body of Corsican patriots, having been embarked at Leghorn, obtained for Napoleon the honour of this conquest also: but from his letters to the Directory it is evident that he took little interest in the affairs of his native island, and made no particular exertion for its recovery.

Though the letters written at this particular moment by order of government, bear testimony of far greater honesty of purpose than those of Napoleon, the Directory were determined, nevertheless, to shew that on some points they could descend to the level of their general. Marshal Wurmser happening to be a native of one of the lately conquered provinces on the left bank of the Rhine, they passed a decree declaring him liable to be arraigned as an emigrant. This act of republican legislation was sent to Napoleon, and it was intimated to him that he might threaten the Austrian field-marshal with its execution if the latter con