armed before the call to arm was beaten, but which is formed of itself at the first rumour of danger for the country and for public order."

He admitted that attempts had been made to sow division in the Provisional Government; but he said,— ·

"If some differences of opinion, as is natural to expect in the great councils of a country, are to be seen in the Administration, unity exists in the patriotism, in the same love for the Republic, in the same devotedness which animates them towards Paris and France. This union is the symbol of that of all the citizens. Permit me to offer you, not in my own name, but in that of the unanimity of my colleagues, the deep-felt thanks, not of the Provisional Government, but of the whole of France, for whom this would have been a day of calamity and of civil war if the Government had been divided; and which, thanks to your energy, will be for her the day of the definitive and pacific triumph of our new institutions, which we wish to hand over entire and inviolate to the National Assembly, which will be the supreme unity of the country."

The 23rd and 24th of April were occupied by the elections of Representatives to sit in the National Assembly. The result was looked forward to with much interest; as in the composition of that body would depend the future character of the Republic. Future events showed that the effect of universal suffrage in France on this occasion was to return a much more Conservative and moderate body than could have been hoped for. But the truth is, that the nation was terrified at the doctrines

of the Communists and Red Republicans, as they were called from their adopting as their symbol a red flag, the use of which M. Lamartine, as we have seen, so eloquently denounced, when the attempt was made to substitute it for the tricolor. The candidates, therefore, who were known not to be men of extreme views had most favour, and the issue of the electoral struggle was satisfactory. The great contest was in the department of the Seine, which determined who were to be the representatives of Paris; and it was hailed as a most cheering proof of the state of feeling throughout France, that M. de Lamartine's name appeared at the head of the poll in the capital, and in eight other places he was also amongst those who were returned. The following is the list of successful candidates for that department, together with the number of votes given to each. As the first return of representatives of the capital, and an index of popular opinion, it is we think a most interesting document.

1. M. de Lamartine, member of the Provisional Government.

259,800

245,083

243,640

.

240,820

222,166

225,776

210,699

204,271

Carnot, Minister of Public

Amongst the unsuccessful candidates were the following:-MM. Goudchaux, Courtais, Barbès, Victor Hugo, Raspail, Arago, Le Roux, D'Alton Shée, Ney de la Moskowa, Eugène Sue, Dupetit Thouars, and Emile de Girardin.

M. Thiers was a candidate for the department des Bouches du Rhone, but was defeated. Amongst the returns for the provinces were the names of M. Dupin, M. de Tocqueville, M. Berryer, M. Leon Faucher, M. Mauguin, M. Billault, M. Duvergier de Hauranne, the Bishop of Quimper, and the Bishop of Orleans.

The disappointment felt by the

lower orders of the populace when they found that their favourite candidates in some places had not been successful occasioned serious riots; and at Amiens, Rochefort, Limoges, Rouen, and other towns disturbances took place, which were only quelled by armed force. At Rouen barricades were erected, and some severe fighting took place. The National Guards, and especially the guards mobiles, vigorously exerted themselves to restore order and put down the mob. It was clear, however, that there were already two parties in direct opposition and collision with each other, the Moderates and the Red Republicans; and we shall soon see that the strength between them was destined to terminate in an appeal to physical force in Paris, and deluge the capital in blood.

As a specimen of the opinions of the extreme democrats we give the following placard, which was signed by some of their leaders, and amongst others by Barbès, of whom we have already given some account, and posted everywhere on the walls of the streets of Paris on the 1st of May, but torn down by the order of the Provisional Government. It was headed

66 6 Société des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen.'

"This Society has for its object -first, to defend the rights of the people, the exercise of which has been restored to them by the Revolution of February; secondly, to draw from this Revolution all its social consequences. As its point of departure, the Society takes the declaration of the rights of man as laid down in 1793 by Robespierre. It ensues that, in a political point of view, the Republic, one and indivisible, comprehends

the inalienable laws of the people. In a social point of view, the old constitution is abolished; and that which is called to replace it must rest on equality and fraternity, the fundamental principles of the new social compact. Consequently, the social revolution, now at its commencement, places itself between the Parias and the Privileged of the ancient state of society. To the first it says--Be united, but calm; for in this lies your strength. Your number is such that it must suffice to manifest your will, and make you obtain all you desire. It is also such that you cannot desire anything but what is just. Your voice and your will are the voice and the will of God. To the others it says-The old social form has disappeared. The reign of privi

lege and exploitation is past. In the point of view of the ancient social form, if the privileges with which you were invested were acquired in a legal manner, do not avail yourselves of them: these laws were your own work; the immense majority of your brethren were strangers to them, and, therefore, are not bound to respect them. Rally, then, together, for you have need of the pardon of those whom you have so long sacrificed. If, in spite of this promise of pardon, you persist in remaining isolated in order to defend the old social form, you will find in the vanguard, on the day of conflict, our sections organized; and your brethren will no longer hold towards you the language of pardon, but that of justice.'

"Citizen Representatives of the People:-The Provisional Government comes to bow before the nation, and render a signal homage to the supreme power with which you are invested.

"Elect of the people, we welcome you to this great capital, where your presence excites a sentiment of happiness and hope that will not be deceived.

"Depositories of the national sovereignty, you are about to found new institutions upon the broad basis of Democracy, and to give to France the only constitution that can suit her-a Republican constitution. [Here the whole assembly rose, and with right hands raised, cried "Vive la République!" But after having proclaimed the great political law which is about definitely to organize the country, you, like us, Citizen Representatives, will proceed to regulate the possible and efficacious action of the Go

This address was received with the greatest enthusiasm. The first business transacted was a verification of the returns, the whole Assembly being divided into eighteen bureaux or committees for the purpose.

By and by M. Ollivier rose and proposed, that after the admission of every Member, he should mount the tribune, and there, in the presence of the Assembly, take the oath of allegiance to the Republic; but he was interrupted by numbers crying, "The oath is abolished!" By whom?" asked M. Ollivier. "By the Provisional Government." "What!" continued M. Ollivier, "do you place

66