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（now nearly a hundred years old）； a prince amongst sovereigns；
was called upon to defend his crown。
The city of Paris was guarded； as we all know； by a hundred and
twenty…four forts； of a thousand guns eachprovisioned for a
considerable time； and all so constructed as to fire； if need were；
upon the palace of the Tuileries。 Thus； should the mob attack it；
as in August 1792； and July 1830； the building could be razed to
the ground in an hour； thus； too； the capital was quite secure from
foreign invasion。 Another defence against the foreigners was the
state of the roads。 Since the English companies had retired； half
a mile only of railroad had been completed in France； and thus any
army accustomed； as those of Europe now are； to move at sixty miles
an hour； would have been ennuye'd to death before they could have
marched from the Rhenish； the Maritime； the Alpine； or the Pyrenean
frontier upon the capital of France。 The French people； however；
were indignant at this defect of communication in their territory；
and said； without the least show of reason； that they would have
preferred that the five hundred and seventy…five thousand billions
of francs which had been expended upon the fortifications should
have been laid out in a more peaceful manner。 However； behind his
forts； the King lay secure。
As it is our aim to depict in as vivid a manner as possible the
strange events of the period； the actions； the passions of
individuals and parties engaged； we cannot better describe them
than by referring to contemporary documents； of which there is no
lack。 It is amusing at the present day to read in the pages of the
Moniteur and the Journal des Debats the accounts of the strange
scenes which took place。
The year 1884 had opened very tranquilly。 The Court of the
Tuileries had been extremely gay。 The three…and…twenty youngest
Princes of England； sons of her Majesty Victoria； had enlivened the
balls by their presence； the Emperor of Russia and family had paid
their accustomed visit； and the King of the Belgians had； as usual；
made his visit to his royal father…in…law； under pretence of duty
and pleasure； but really to demand payment of the Queen of the
Belgians' dowry； which Louis Philippe of Orleans still resolutely
declined to pay。 Who would have thought that in the midst of such
festivity danger was lurking rife； in the midst of such quiet；
rebellion？
Charenton was the great lunatic asylum of Paris； and it was to this
repository that the scornful journalist consigned the pretender to
the throne of Louis XVI。
But on the next day； viz。 Saturday； the 29th February； the same
journal contained a paragraph of a much more startling and serious
import； in which； although under a mask of carelessness； it was
easy to see the Government alarm。
On Friday； the 28th February； the Journal des Debats contained a
paragraph； which did not occasion much sensation at the Bourse； so
absurd did its contents seem。 It ran as follows：
〃ENCORE UN LOUIS XVII。！ A letter from Calais tells us that a
strange personage lately landed from England （from Bedlam we
believe） has been giving himself out to be the son of the
unfortunate Louis XVI。 This is the twenty…fourth pretender of the
species who has asserted that his father was the august victim of
the Temple。 Beyond his pretensions； the poor creature is said to
be pretty harmless； he is accompanied by one or two old women； who
declare they recognize in him the Dauphin； he does not make any
attempt to seize upon his throne by force of arms； but waits until
heaven shall conduct him to it。
〃If his Majesty comes to Paris； we presume he will TAKE UP his
quarters in the palace of Charenton。
〃We have not before alluded to certain rumors which have been
afloat （among the lowest canaille and the vilest estaminets of the
metropolis）； that a notorious personagewhy should we hesitate to
mention the name of the Prince John Thomas Napoleon？has entered
France with culpable intentions； and revolutionary views。 The
Moniteur of this morning； however； confirms the disgraceful fact。
A pretender is on our shores； an armed assassin is threatening our
peaceful liberties； a wandering； homeless cut…throat is robbing on
our highways； and the punishment of his crime awaits him。 Let no
considerations of the past defer that just punishment； it is the
duty of the legislator to provide for THE FUTURE。 Let the full
powers of the law be brought against him； aided by the stern
justice of the public force。 Let him be tracked； like a wild
beast； to his lair； and meet the fate of one。 But the sentence
has； ere this； been certainly executed。 The brigand； we hear； has
been distributing （without any effect） pamphlets among the low ale…
houses and peasantry of the department of the Upper Rhine （in which
he lurks）； and the Police have an easy means of tracking his
footsteps。
〃Corporal Crane； of the Gendarmerie； is on the track of the
unfortunate young man。 His attempt will only serve to show the
folly of the pretenders； and the love； respect； regard； fidelity；
admiration； reverence； and passionate personal attachment in which
we hold our beloved sovereign。〃
〃SECOND EDITION！
〃CAPTURE OF THE PRINCE。
〃A courier has just arrived at the Tuileries with a report that
after a scuffle between Corporal Crane and the 'Imperial Army；' in
a water…barrel； whither the latter had retreated； victory has
remained with the former。 A desperate combat ensued in the first
place； in a hay…loft； whence the pretender was ejected with immense
loss。 He is now a prisonerand we dread to think what his fate
may be！ It will warn future aspirants； and give Europe a lesson
which it is not likely to forget。 Above all； it will set beyond a
doubt the regard； respect； admiration； reverence； and adoration
which we all feel for our sovereign。〃
〃THIRD EDITION。
〃A second courier has arrived。 The infatuated Crane has made
common cause with the Prince； and forever forfeited the respect of
Frenchmen。 A detachment of the 520th Leger has marched in pursuit
of the pretender and his dupes。 Go； Frenchmen； go and conquer！
Remember that it is our rights you guard； our homes which you march
to defend； our laws which are confided to the points of your
unsullied bayonets；above all； our dear； dear sovereign； around
whose throne you rally！
〃Our feelings overpower us。 Men of the 520th； remember your
watchword is Gemappes；your countersign； Valmy。〃
〃The Emperor of Russia and his distinguished family quitted the
Tuileries this day。 His Imperial Majesty embraced his Majesty the
King of the French with tears in his eyes； and conferred upon their
RR。 HH。 the Princes of Nemours and Joinville； the Grand Cross of
the Order of the Blue Eagle。〃
〃His Majesty passed a review of the Police force。 The venerable
monarch was received with deafening cheers by this admirable and