*

added, I have never known any thing of conspiracies, but through the expressions of public indignation. On every occasion that I have had an opportunity of assisting any one, I have done it, without waiting to enquire what his principles were-there are Journals, even patriotic ones, which prove what I assert to you;-I have ever been loved by the country people on the estates of which I was Seigneur. For at the very time when they were burning the houses of my neighbours, I was residing in mine at St. Méard, and the peasantry came in crowds to testify to me the pleasure which they had in seeing me, and planted a May-pole in my court yard. I am aware that these details must appear to you very minute; but, Gentlemen, put yourselves in my place, and judge, if this is not a moment to make use of every truth which may be advantageous to me. I can assure you that not a soldier of the Regiment † of the King's Infantry, in which I have served twenty-five years, has had occasion to complain of me.-I may even take credit to myself for having been one of the Officers whom they have most loved. The last proof which they gave me of this was not to be mistaken; namely, that two days before the affair of Nancy, at the very moment when their distrust of their Of

Here I shewed them some Journals in which I was spoken of favorably. The Sieur Gorsas who had more cause than any one to complain of the "Journal de la Cour et de la Ville," would not, if he had believed me the Editor of it, have said the day after my deliverance, what appears in the sixth number of his Journal, entitled "Le Courier des quatres-vingt-trois Departements.

"The Chevalier Saint Meard furnished some articles for the "Journal de la Cour et de la Ville," but these articles have no odious character of malignity. The Chevalier Saint Méard confesses frankly that he was a Royalist, because he believed in the good faith of Louis XVI. He does not deny the articles he has written. The Chevalier Saint Méard was raised in the arms of his guards, and carried in triumph to his lodgings."-" The Chevalier Saint Meard in reality was not the author of those revolting articles which were often found in that Journal; and he has proved, in some instances which we have cited, that he was capable of good conduct, and had an excellent heart..

Here one of the Judges trod on my foot, apparently to admonish me that I was going to compromise myself. I was sure of the contrary.

(At this time they opened one of the doors which led to the staircase, and a guard of three men brought in M. Marguerie ci-devant Major, and formerly my comrade in the Regiment du Roi, and my companion in the chamber of the Abbaye. They caused him to wait till sentence was passed upon me, placing him on the very spot where they had pnt me when they brought me into the dungeon.) I resumed my defence.

After the unhappy affair of Nancy I came to Paris; where I have remained ever since. I was arrested in my lodg ings twelve days ago. I had so little expected it, that I had never omitted to appear in public as usual. Those who seized me have not even put a seal upon my effects, having found nothing to excite suspicion. I have never been inscribed on the Civil List: I have signed no petition: I have had no improper correspondence: I have not gone ont of France since the time of the Revolution. During my stay in the Capital I have abandoned myself to the gaiety of my character, which, in unison with my principles, has never allowed me to mix seriously in public affairs, and still less to do harm to any one, This, Gentlemen, is all I can say as to my conduct and my principles. The sincerity of the confessions which I have just made, should convince you that I am not a dasgerous man. This makes me hope, that you will grant me the freedom which I beg of you, and to which I am attached as well by principle as by inclination.

The President, after having taken off his hat, said, "I see nothing to raise suspicion against this Gentleman: I therefore grant him his liberty. Is this opinion?"

your

All the Judges.

Yes, it is just.

Scarcely had these words been uttered, when all who were in the dungeon embraced me. I heard cheers and cries of "Bravo" above me, and on raising my eyes, saw many heads crowded against the bars of the small opening made to admit air into the dungeon. I then perceived that the low muttering and interruption which I had heard during my examination came from thence.

The President deputed three men to announce to the people the sentence which was passed. During the proclamation, I demanded of my Judges a report of what they had pronounced in my favour; which they promised me. The President asked me why I did not wear the cross of Saint Louis, as he knew that I had one. I answered, that my fellow-prisoners had advised me to take it off. He told me, that as the National Assembly had not yet forbidden its being worn, any one would be suspected who left it off. The three deputies returned, måde me put on my hat, and conducted me out of the dungeon. Immediately on my appearing in the street, one of them cried out "Hats off-Citizens, this is the man for whom your Judges demand aid and assistance." After saying these words the "Executive Power" raised me in their arms, in which situation, and surrounded by four torches, I was em braced by all near me.

All the spectators

cried "Vive la Nation!" These honours, to which I was very sensible, placed me under the protection of the people; who still cheering, suffered me to pass, followed by the three deputies whom the President had charged with escorting me home. One of them, told me he was a mason of the Faubourg Saint-Germain; the other that he was born at Bourges, and apprenticed to a hair-dresser; the third, who was in the uniform of the National Guard, said, that he was a "Fédéré." As we walked along, the mason asked me if I was in fear, "Not in more than yourself,” I answered. "You must have perceived that I was not intimidated in the dungeon, and I will not tremble now in the street." "You would do wrong to be afraid," said he, "for really you are consecrated to the people, and if any one were to strike you he should die on the instant. I saw plainly that you were not one of those caterpillars of the Civil List: but I trembled for you when you said that you were an Officer of the King. Do you remember that I trod upon your foot?" "Yes, but I thought that it was one of my Judges." "No, it was I who did so, on my word, I thought you REMEMBRANCER, No. 72.

were going to thrust yourself into danger, and I should have been sorry to see you put yourself to death: but you got out of it well and I am glad of it, for I love people that do not look sulky." When we reached the street of St. Benoit, we got into a coach, which carried us to my lodgings. The first movement of my landlord, and my friend, on seeing me was to offer his papers to my conductors, who refused to take them, saying, "We do not carry on this trade for money. Here is your friend; he has promised us a glass of brandy, we will drink it and return to our post. They demanded of me a certificate that they had conducted me home without accident. I gave it to them, begging them to send me the paper which my Judges had promised me, as well as my effects which I had left at the Abbaye. I attended them down to the street, where I shook hands with them very heartily. On the morrow one of the Commissaries brought me the certificate, of which I insert a copy. WE, Commissioners named by the people to prison of the Abbaye, have on the 4th of execute justice on traitors detained in the September caused to appear before us the Citizen Jourgniac Saint Méard, formerly an Officer of the order of St. Louis, who has proved that the accusations brought against him were false, and that he has never entered into any conspiracy against the patriots. We have therefore caused him to be proclaimed innocent in presence of the People, who applauded the liberty which we have given him. In confirmation of which, we have, on his demand, granted him this present certificate. We invite all the citizens to give him aid and succour.

At the Abbaye, in the 4th year of Liberty, and the 1st of Equality.

After some hours of sleep, I hastened to perform the duties which friendship and gratitude imposed on me. I caused a letter to be printed, in which I communicated my happy escape to all who as far as I knew took an interest in my misfortune. The same day I walked in the garden of Citizen Egalité; I saw many persons rub their eyes as if they doubted their seeing clearly; others drew back from fear as if they had seen a spectre. On the other hand I was embraced even by persons whom I did not know, and in a word it was a day of festival for me. But what has been said and written since, and what I *The Duc d'Orleans.

5 C

have read in print, has made me consider, how far my imprisonment may prove unfavourable to me in the minds of those who do not know me; especially at a moment when men believe, condemn, and execute so precipitately. As I think it important to me to produce an opposite effeet, I have published the truth.

CHAP. V.

TO MY ENEMIES.

I promised exactness and truth in the ** picture of terrible events which I have just traced. I have fulfilled my promise scrupulously. The details into which I have entered, prove without doubt that it has been my desire not to omit any thing, since nothing could be uninteresting respecting that frightful period, the circumstances of which will be written in characters of blood in the pages of our history. Without doubt they will farnish others with reflections on the causes which produced these events; for my part I have only set down the circumstances which filled me with grief and horror.

A stranger to every kind of intriguean enemy to those dark conspiracies which degrade the dignity of man and which dishonour the French character, of which good-faith was always a happy trait, I had entered into that terrible prison guiltless, and it was my frankness which saved me. Still I know that the justice rendered me at a moment when it might possibly have been the effect of chance, has given some offence to my enemies; in whom my grievous agony has not been able to extinguish a hatred which I have not merited. I am aware that at the moment when I was pronouncing in the Tribune of my Section, the oath prescribed to all citizens, they publicly asserted in one of the Cafés of the "Palais de la Revolution,"

that I had sworn never to take that oath.

I will not affirm that what was said by me at the committee and in the dungeon, as well as my answers, are reported word for word; but I do affirm that the sense is given with the greatest exactness. Persons will no doubt be astonished that at a moment so critical I spoke in my examination with so much connection.

But

Ah Gentlemen, Gentlemen, recollect that never man has been deeper in the regions of death than myself; recollect that during thirty-eight hours, knives and axes have been suspended over me. The moment that separates us from life has nothing so grievous. You have done me much ill; I pardon you with all my heart. But I beseech you, in the name of your patriotism, to suffer me to terminate in peace the remainder of my resurrection.

I will allow, if you wish, that a decree of the legislative assembly, in depriving me of more than half of that patrimony, which I and mine had enjoyed during a very long period, may have caused me some vexation. Put yourselves in my place for a moment, and tell me in good faith, if you could have borne this loss with pleasure. In other respects, at the moment when I write these lines, I really feel a pleasure on reflecting that the suppression of Seigniorial rights is favorable to the less fortunate of my former tenants, whom I have always loved, and who have never repaid me with ingratitude. Amuse yourselves with my narration! I abandon to you the writing and the writer, so far as he is a writer; but resort no more to calumny, I beseech you! it produces effects too dreadful.

Do not believe however that I ask grace from you; I have been a faithful observer of the laws during the whole course of my life, and I shall take care not to disobey those which the National Sovereignty dictates.

As I have always loved my country, I will not now begin to tear her in pieces; I will rather join myself to those who wish to put an end to her misfortunes. If you see me abandoning these principles, denounce me-only adhere to the truth; and

above all recollect that if I had been culpable, I should not have allowed them to arrest me in my apartments twelve days after the 10th of August, 1792. That if I had planned any thing against the government, I should not have remained in Paris; and that if I had done evil I should not have brought forward this evidence in my favour, but rather should have been silent.

Jourgniac Saint Méard.

To the Editor of the Christian Remembrancer.

Sir,

I was lately called upon to admit to the privileges of the Protestant

We are here met together for the reconciling of a penitent, (lately of the Church of Rome,) to the Established Church of England, as to a true and sound part of Christ's Holy Catholic Church :Now, that this weighty affair may have its due effect, let us, in the first place, humbly and devoutly pray to Almighty God for his blessing upon us, in that pions and charitable office we are going about.

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help, that in this, and all other our works, begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, who shewest to them that be in error, the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness, grant unto all them that are, or shall be, admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Then the Bishop, sitting in a chair, or the Priest standing, shall speak to the Penitent, who is to be kneeling, as follows:

Dear Brother, or Sister,

I have good hope that you have well weighed and considered with yourself, the great work you are come about, before this time; but, inasmuch as with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, that you may give the more honour to God, and that this present congregation of Christ here assembled, may also things; and, that this your declaration may understand your mind and will in these

the more confirm you in your good resolutions; you shall answer plainly to these questions, which we, in the name of God and of his Church, shall propose to you, touching the same.

Art thou thoroughly persuaded, that those books of the Old and New Testament, which are received as Canonical Scriptures by this Church, contain sufficiently all doctrine requisite and necessary to eternal salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ?

Answer. I am so persuaded.

Dost thou believe in the several articles of what is called the Apostles' Creed?

Answer. All these I stedfastly believe. Art thou truly sorrowful, that thou hast not followed the way prescribed in these Scriptures, for the directing of the faith and practice of a true disciple of Christ Jesus?

Answer. I am heartily sorry, and I hope for mercy through Jesus Christ,

Dost thou embrace the truth of the Gospel in the love of it, and stedfastly resolve to live godly, righteously and soberly in this present world, all the days of thy life?

Answer. I do embrace it, and do so resolve, God being my helper.

Dost thou earnestly desire to be received into the communion of this Church, as into a true and sound part of Christ's Holy Catholic Church?

Answer. This I earnestly desire.

Dost thou renounce all the errors and superstitions of the present Romish Church, so far as they are come to thy knowledge?

Answer. I do from my heart renounce them all.

Dost thou in particular renounce the twelve last articles added in the Confession, commonly called "The Creed of Pope Pius IV." after having read them, and duly considered them?

Answer. I do, upon mature deliberation, reject them, as grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God.

Almighty God, who hath given you a sense of your errors, and a will to do all