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CHAPTER XI.

FRANCE.-Death of Louis XVIII.-Accession of Charles X.-Ministers-Chambers of 1825-Indemnity to Emigrants-FinancesSacrilege Laws-South America-Hayti-Coronation-La Fayette— Prosecution of Journals-Death of Foy-Chambers of 1826-Law of Succession-Finance-Religious Disputes-Views of the Govern

ment.

Our register of events, properly begins a little subsequent to the decease of Louis XVIII., and the commencement of the ensuing reign; a period, that may justly be deemed an important era in the history of the restored Bourbons. Their government was now thoroughly consolidated, their dynasty fixed anew on the throne, and the crown had descended in peaceable succession to another of the posterity of St. Louis. The people were gratified with the pageantry of a coronation, a spectacle so agreeable to their taste and feelings. The success of their arms in Spain, once again victorious, after so many years of defeat,-restored then to the sense of self-confidence, as necessary to the prosperity of nations as to individuals; and caused them to forget, in some measure, the series of degradations, which the Bourbons had en

tailed on the French name. It was an epoch, also, when the clergy gained more power than they had for a long time before enjoyed; and this circumstance led, of itself, to important consequences. For the purpose, therefore, of presenting a more complete and intelligible account of the recent history of the country, we shall carry our narrative back to the accession of the now reigning monarch.

Louis XVIII., died the 16th day of September, in the year 1824. His constitution had been gradually sinking, for some months previous thereto, under a complication of diseases; and he lingered but a few days after the first public announcement of his approaching dissolution. His body was immediately embalmed, and prepared to be exhibited in state, conformably with the national usages. It was placed in a half

recumbent posture, on a plain bed, holding a crucifix, and wearing a cap trimmed with lace, until the coffin was in readiness; after which, it was transferred to the throneroom of the Thuilleries. There, surrounded by heralds in splendid apparel, with the great officers of state, and ecclesiastics attached to the court, lay the royal remains, in a coffin covered with cloth of gold, and surmounted with the crown, sword, and sceptre, the ensigns of the rank of the deceased. At the expiration of a week, his funeral solemnities were celebrated with all the pomp suited to the occasion; and his remains were deposited in the chapel of St. Louis, there to remain for 30 days, when they were finally interred in the vault of the Bourbons. Louis XVIII., at the time of his decease, was sixty-nine years of age. His wife, a princess of the house of Saxony, died in the year 1810. His own life was marked by a long course of the greatest vicissitudes of fortune, having been born and educated amid the luxuries of an absolute court, and dying in the exercise of royal power, but having spent many of the intervening years in foreign countries, a wandering outcast, and a pensioner at the board of the ancient enemies of his line and his nation. He possessed a taste for letters, and many qualities, which were better adapted to adorn a private station,

than to bear him happily through the troubles of exile, or the cares of empire. Having such a character, and immediately following on the throne, a prince, whose brilliant career was guided by the most splendid abilities,-nothing but necessity, and the state of the country, which demanded repose, could have reconciled the kingdom to his forced and inglorious rule. But the courtly flatterers of his hours of prosperity, embraced the occasion of his illness and death, to indulge in a strain of the most extravagant lamentation and eulogium, as insincere, as it was illtimed. Among the pieces which the event produced, none was more remarkable than a pamphlet by M. de Chateaubriand, entitled Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi, whose title aptly illustrates the affectation, antithesis and absurdity of the work.

The count d'Artois, who now ascended the throne as Charles X., prior to his brother's funeral, received at St. Cloud, the congratulations and addresses of the various orders of the state, the peers, the chamber of deputies, the diplomatic body, the military, the academy, to all which he expressed his confidence in the good will of his subjects, and his determination to make their welfare the sole object of his ambition.. of his ambition. Four days after the funeral, he left St. Cloud, to enter the city of Paris in state.

He was received by the municipality at the barrier l'Etoile, and presented with the keys of the city, which he immediately returned to the prefect, with a suitable address. The principal ceremonies attend ing his reception, were performed in the church of Notre Dame, where all classes emulously came forward to make their congratulations, and signify their loyalty.

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The new king uniformly professed his resolution to pursue, unchanged, the policy of Louis XVIII. The ministry continued the same. But in the outset of his reign, whether it was that he really felt inclined to liberal measures; whether, as it is more likely, he thought it wise to sacrifice a little to the desire of popularity, certain it is that he gave reason to expect from him a more high-minded government than his predecessor's. Charles devoted himself to business with spirit and industry; and this appeared to the people an auspicious circumstance, when contrasted with the lethargy, which characterised Louis. But, what was more important than this, in the first month of his reign, Charles removed the censorship of the press, that galling badge of servitude, which provoked the constant complaints of the people.

All

these things looked propitious; but the rising hopes of the kingdom were soon repressed; and some

later measures of the government have proved that, with increased firmness, it has also acquired greater boldness and want of liberality.

The chambers commenced their session in December. But previous to entering into their proceedings, it may be desirable to understand the composition of the ministry, who directed its deliberations. During the period of our history, M. de Villele has been the effective head of the French administration. He became minister of finance in 1821, and has retained his authority and station to the present time. His power is unbounded by means of the ascendency in the government he has reached, through the influence of the illiberal party in politics and religion, whose interests he has in general faithfully upholden. Of course, he is unpopular with the tolerant party, in proportion to his subserviency to their opponents. On the second restoration of the Bourbons, he was appointed mayor of Toulouse, his native city, and soon afterwards a member of the chamber of deputies; in which body he became distinguished by his talents and activity. He soon effected the downfall of M. Decazes and his friends, courting the public favor by his zealous opposition to their measures; and at that time subjected himself to the imputation of liberalism. But, under the suc

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