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Leader (1850-1860), 24th August 1850, Edition Country of 1, Page 2

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      506 &T> $ Vleaitet. [Saturday,

      506 & t > $ VLeaitet . [ Saturday ,

      The President's Imperial Progress. Louis...

      THE PRESIDENT'S IMPERIAL PROGRESS . Louis Napoleon ' s experimental journey through France continues to be the great topic of report and speculation in the French and English daily newspapers . The accounts of his reception are somewhat contradictory , taking their complexion from the politics of the various journals in which they appear . Those favourable to an Imperial Restoration can see nothing in the popular demonstrations but the most unbounded admiration of the Emperor ' * nephew , while the Republican organs report very Kttle sympathy with him among the great bulk of the people . One of the most striking incidents in the journey of the President occurred on . the occasion of his visit lo Fixin , whither he went to visit a bronze statue of

      the Emperor ' s apotheosis , executed by Rudde , and erected upon the estate of M . Noisot , a grenadier of the Imperial Guard , who accompanied Napoleon to the Isle of Elba . It appears that one of M . Noisot ' s dearest friends is Colonel Guinard , now languishing in the prison of Douilens , in consequence of a sentence of the High Court of " Versailles . Testimony was borne to the honourable character and services of Guinard by several Moderate members of the Assembly , who took part in the debate on the transportation law . M . Noisot , influenced doubtless by a generous feeling , did not fail , after the ceremonious compliments of reception , to allude to the painful position of his old comrade , and to solicit the exertions of the President in his behalf . Neither Louis

      Napoleon nor his suite were prepared for such a serious close to the commonplaces of a formal reception . The President made answer with the offended air of one who finds himself trapped into an affront . *» I have come spontaneously , " said the Prince , " to thank you for the pious homage which you have rendered to the Emperor in erecting this statue to his memory . You address a reproach to me which I was far from expecting . The men of whom you speak were condemned by the High Court of Justice ; it is the law which has attacked them , and we must all respect it . When the period for amnesty shall have arrived , it will be for the National Assembly to decide on their fate , and not for me : " and the Prince turned on his heel . This ungracious retort is said to have lost Louis Napoleon many an adherent .

      The President quitted Dijon on the morning of the 14 th by the railway , and traversed , at the speed of fifteen leagues an hour , the famous vineyards of Burgundy . The names of the stations are enough to make an epicure's mouth water . Nuits , Vougeot , Beaune , Meursault , presented in turn their pouredout populations along the viny slopes , the happy municipalities which quaff the generous liquor , and . the bloused dressers of the Bacchic plant . The national guards of this region were all vignerons in blouses . At Chagny , on the verge of the department , the civil prefect of the Cdte-d'Or , M . Pages ,

      whose lady did the honours at Dijon , was succeeded by M . Pierre Leroy , the prefect of the Saone-et-Loire , a red-hot Bonapartist , as it should seem by his proclamations and toasts , and whose wife had got together fifty of the handsomest young ladies of the department , each armed with a bouquet , to greet the President on his arrival , with a copy of verses . At Chalon , the second section of the Lyons Railway terminates . The President here mounted on horseback , and , accompanied by General de Castellane and the rest , repaired , amid the accustomed conflicting cries of " Vive la Republique ! " «• Vive Napoleon ;"

      & c , to the Hotel de Ville , where he reviewed the 14 th Leger and the 2 nd Lancers . Having bestowed numerous decorations , he turned towards the quay to embark , but was waylaid by a group of weeping females , who implored mercy for their sons and brothers imprisoned for political motives . These Louis Napoleon treated more graciously than he did M . Noisot , and promised he would propose the matter to the Conseil d'Etat . At eleven , off he went in the flag-dressed steamer , bowing to the acclaiming quay * . On drove the boat between the banks which bear the vine and fields that promise

      corn and wine . At Irevoux , he landed to receive the usual compliments of the authorities . Some little girls came to offer n <» segi » ys , one of whom lisped a little speech of welcome , after which , the President took her up in his nrm « and kissed her . The steamer continued her voyage to Lyons , passin g various to wns to the right and left , from which the usual hubbub of conflicting cries arose , until she entered at nine the second capital of France . The cannon of fort Loyasse began forthwith thundering the oJIicial salvoes . The prefect of the Rhone , the mayor of Lyons , and the commander of the fifth and sixth military divisions , General de

      Ca « tells \ ne , received the President upon the quay . When ho landed he was erected by a stunning shout of ' Vive la Uepublique ! " from assembled thousands . Vivo la President ! " was also henrd , but" ViveNapolcon 1 " and " Vive I'Empereur ! " were completely drowned in the larger and louder cries . The President went to the cathedral , where ho heard mass ( it was the great fete of the Assumption , and the day chohcn by Napoleon to honour his own patron saint ) . Then he n paired to the Prefecture , whore- ho received the civil and military authorities , and reviewed in the court the old soldiers of the imperial

      army , who had been gathered from all sides together for that purpose . The President having bestowed numerous decorations , was on the point of retiring to repose himself , when a deputation of inhabitants from La Guillotiere , said to amount to three thousand , presented themselves to protest against the disrespectful resolution of the majority of their municipal council , who refused to visit the President . The next morning Louis Napoleon visited the charities . Be showed himself to the crowd from the

      balcony of the archbishop ' s palace , and passed through the city amid conflicting demonstrations . At four o ' clock the crowd became so dense that the carriage could scarcely advance even at a walk . The President was obliged ( by what reason is not stated ) to give up the design of entering the Hotel de Ville , where a banquet was awaiting his presence , by the principal door , but succeeded in effecting his entrance by the barred gate on the side of the theatre . The President delivered the following speech in reply to

      the mayor : — " Let the city of Lyons , of which you are the worthy interpreter , receive the sincere expression of my gratitude for the sympathetic reception it has given me . But , believe me , I am not come to this part of the country , where the Emperor , my uncle , has left such deep traces , solely in order to gather ovations and pass reviews . The object of my voyage is , by my presence , to encourage the good , to reassure the alarmed , to judge by myself of the sentiments and wants of the country . This task needs your concurrence , and in order that I may obtain that concurrence , it is my duty to tell you what I am and

      what I wish . I am not the representative of a party , but the representative of two great national manifestations which , in 1804 as well as in 1848 , aimed at saving by order the great principles of the French revolution . { Cheers . ) Proud , therefore , of my origin and of my flag , I will remain true to both , I will be entirely at the service of the country , whether it demand from me abnegation or perseverance . { Cheers . ) Rumours of coup d'etat have , perhaps , reached you , gentlemen , but you did not believe them , and I thank you . Surprises and usurpations may be the dream of parties without support in the nation , but the elect of six millions of suffrages executes ,

      not betrays , the wishes of the people . { Three rounds of cheering . ) Patriotism , I repeat , may consist in abnegation , as well as in perseverance . In the face of a general danger all personal ambition ought to disappear . In this case , patriotism is recognized by the same ordeal which revealed the true mother on a celebrated occasion . You remember the two women who laid claim to the same child . By what sign was the real mother made known ? By the renunciation of her rights that was torn from her by the danger of the beloved life . Let the parties whiph love France not forget this sublime lesson . ( Unanimous assent . ') I myself am ready to practise it if

      necessary . But , on the other hand , if culpable pretensions revived and threatened to compromise the peace of France , I should know how to paralyze them by invoking once more the sovereignty of the people , for I do not recognize in any one the right to call himself their representative better than I . These sentiments , I am sure , you will understand , for all that is noble , generous , sincere , finds an echo among the Lyonese . Your history offers immortal instances of this . Consider , therefore , my words as a proof of my confidence and esteem . Permit me to propose a toast— 'To the city of Lyons . ' { Prolonged applause . )*

      The President quitted Lyons on the morning of the 17 th . The mayor , at the head of the municipal council , the prefect , and General de Castellane , with strong detachments of cavalry , accompanied him on the road to Bourg , to some distance from , the walls of Lyons . The party arrived at Bourg at two o'clock . The peasants on the line of road made their appearance in bands , with flags and ribbons , and oak leaves in their hats . At Bourg the President reviewed the troops and distributed some crosses . The reception was as usual of a mixed character , but not unfriendly . He took his departure at four , having addressed the assembled authorities in a short speech . The party arrived at Lons-le-Saulnier shortly after ten . The circumstance of its being Saturday evening gave the

      working classes leisure to assemble in large masses , and to swell the chorus of " Vive la Republique . " Having retired early , and recruited himself by a good night's repose at the prefecture , the President attended mass next morning at eight . At nine he reviewed the troops of the garrison , and set out immediately after breakfast for Dole , where he arrived at three . This small town is an important centre of the manufacturing districts , and contains a busy industrious population . The cries of ' Vive la Republique " greatly predominated . Having reviewed the garrison the President set out at four for Bt sancon , where he arrived at half-pa ^ t nine . The bishop , at the head of his clergy , with crosses and banners , came to meet the President , who was also received by the prefect and the general in command of the

      own . On Wednesday the Bourse was very much agitati d with reports about the reception of the President of the Republic at Besancon , and it was even said that a pistol had boon fired at him . This turns out to have been a false report . It appears that in the environs of the Place de la Halle at Besancon , a vast marquee had been put up to receive the persons who had been invitt d to the ball . The population who had accompanied the President was ho great that the authorities iound it difficult to obtain a passage . The

      democratical leaders took advantage of this circumstance to attempt a manifestation . The ball-room was invaded by a crowd who attempted to disturb the fete . About a thousand Swiss journeymen watchmakers form part of the population of Besancon . Several of them had , on the passage of the President , raised the cry of «• Vive la Republique Universelle , " and the others forced their way into the ball-room . General Castellane , who showed great energy , drew his sword and advanced through , the group of emeutiers with his staff and a squadron of cavalry . At the sight of the drawn sword of the general the Swiss democrats became calm , the cries ceased , and the most violent of the rioters were arrested . Order was then perfectly restored .

      The Wiesbaden Congress. Notwithstanding ...

      THE WIESBADEN CONGRESS . Notwithstanding all the efforts of the Legitimists to get up an imposing show in favour of the Bourbon Pretender , the Wiesbaden gathering appears to have been rather a failure . The organs of the party have been daily recounting the names of all who have gone to pay their respects to the Count de Chambord ' * Politicians , landed proprietors , artists , merchants , " we are told , ** indeed all ranks and professions have given an example of noble fraternity . " The melodrame of royalty has also been well performed by the young Count . Each day he invited a certain number of guests to his table , every noon he received the persons who had last arrived , and in the evening there was a general reception for all -who chose to present themselves . The Cologne Gazette states that the visitors of the Pretender were received in . the

      antechambers by eight lackeys , wearing white and blue liveries , which must have been highly gratifying to the visitors . But amidst all the accounts of the pomp and ceremony of the mock court at Wiesbaden , we look in vain for the announcement of any clear line of policy to be pursued , or even for any bold , sentimental Conservative Royalist speech from , the Count or his cautious adherents . The only manifesto of any kind which has emanated from the party is a letter by M . de Larochejaquelein , which appears in the Gazette de France . This document professes to give an account of the Congress , but it will be seen that it contrives to leave everything involved in the most diplomatic obscurity . " Mentz , August 15 , 1850 .

      " My dear Friend , —I have just quitted Wiesbaden for other waters , which have been recommended to me . The bad weather affects me , and I must profit by the last days of the present month . The happiness of seeing the Count de Chambord has made me delay a little , but I do not regret it . There have been a thousand ridiculous stories about the pretended Legitimist Congress . The truth is , that no person had received a special rendezvous , and that the Prince restricted himself to writing to those persons who intended to go to see him , that he would be on the evening of the 9 th at Cologne , and on the 10 th at Wiesbaden . On the 9 th , at ten in the evening , the Prince arrived at the hotel at Cologne , where at least

      fifty Frenchmen were waiting to receive him . He was very gracious to all , and , in particular , to General de St . Priest . On the following day we left for Wiesbaden . Some Frenchmen came out on horseback to meet the Prince . From his . arrival at Wiesbaden , the Count de Chambord had not a moment to himself , for he gave an audience to all the Frenchmen who asked this favour . The representatives were admitted by turns to individual conversation with the Prince , and they were invited to dinner successively . All without exception appeared to me to be enchanted with their reception , and all were happy to hear from the mouth of the Count de Chambord , * that in presence of events , and after the conwith view to conciliation

      cessions that had been made a , he thought it indispensable to adopt a line of conduct more in harmony with the general sentiment of the men of our opinion . ' MM . de Saint Priest and Berryer explained themselves clearly in this sense on every occasion , which gave us great pleasure . You are aware that they have not thought alike on all questions . In the nuances the line of opinions of M . de Saint Priest is more approved than the other . The good intentions of all are appreciated , but the distinctions are very marked . We arc then at the end of the prorogation to enter at length on a new path ; for I know not what end we can serve in the Assembly by continuing to efface ourselves to further the end of usurpations by

      thwarting those of the Republic . Yesterday evening Count de Chambord , knowing that a great number of us were compelled to quit , received all the representatives at an audience to take leave . He said a few words by way of recommendation to bo united amongst ourselves , which will be very easy , when we shall be ourselves , and defend the principles of authority and of liberty , which are the basis of our creed . The conversations which he had with each of us , in private audiences , did not render it necessary for him to develope his irteas . and he referred us to what he had before said . According

      to what I heard said to several representatives , the conversations which had taken place were nearly identical . It was therefore agreed to assume a new attitude , and follow a more certain path . Nothing more was specified . The position of the Prince is a very difficult one ; he is compelled , in general , to be very circumspect ; he therefore avoided blaming or approving of any well-defined line of conduct in the past ; it was the surest means of nor offending any one , while at the same time he desired a ne v and more avowed policy . We left in the morning , promising oursclvi s very cordially to use all our effwrts to march as one man in all questions : but no one was

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 24, 1850, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24081850/page/2/