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to La Palud to issue safe…conducts to the troops； who according to
Article I of the capitulation were to return home 〃after laying down
their arms。〃 But during the preceding day and night some of the
royal volunteers had evaded this article by withdrawing with their
arms and baggage。 As this infraction of the terms led to serious
consequences； we propose； in order to establish the fact； to cite the
depositions of three royal volunteers who afterwards gave evidence。
〃On leaving the army of the Duc d'Angouleme after the capitulation；〃
says Jean Saunier； 〃I went with my officers and my corps to
Saint…Jean…des…Anels。 From there we marched towards Uzes。 In the
middle of a forest； near a village； the name of which I have
forgotten； our General M。 de Vogue told us that we were all to return
to our own homes。 We asked him where we should deposit the flag。
Just then Commandant Magne detached it from the staff and put it in
his pocket。 We then asked the general where we should deposit our
arms； he replied； that we had better keep them； as we should probably
find use for them before long； and also to take our ammunition with
us； to ensure our safety on the road。
〃From that time on we all did what we thought best： sixty…four of us
remained together； and took a guide to enable us to avoid Uzes。〃
Nicholas Marie； labourer； deposed as follows：
〃On leaving the army of the Duc d'Angouleme after the capitulation； I
went with my officers and my corps to Saint…Jean…des…Anels。 We
marched towards Uzes； but when we were in the middle of a forest；
near a village the name of which I have forgotten； our general； M。 de
Vogue； told us that we were to go to our own homes as soon as we
liked。 We saw Commandant Magne loose the flag from its staff； roll
it up and put it in his pocket。 We asked the general what we were to
do with our arms； he replied that we were to keep both them and our
ammunition； as we should find them of use。 Upon this； our chiefs
left us； and we all got away as best we could。〃
〃After the capitulation of the Duc d'Angouleme I found myself；〃
deposes Paul Lambert； lace…maker of Nimes； 〃in one of several
detachments under the orders of Commandant Magne and General Vogue。
In the middle of a forest near a village； the name of which I do not
know； M。 de Vogue and the other officer； told us we might go home。
The flag was folded up； and M。 Magne put it in his pocket。 We asked
our chiefs what we were to do with our arms。 M。 de Vogue told us
that we had better keep them； as we should need them before very
long； and in any case it would be well to have them with us on the
road； lest anything should happen to us。〃
The three depositions are too much alike to leave room for any doubt。
The royal volunteers contravened Article I of the convention。
Being thus abandoned by their chiefs； without general and without
flag； M。 de Vogue's soldiers asked no further counsel of anyone but
themselves； and； as one of them has already told us； sixty…four of
them joined together to hire a guide who was to show them how to get
by Uzes without going through it； for they were afraid of meeting
with insult there。 The guide brought them as far as Montarem without
anyone opposing their passage or taking notice of their arms。
Suddenly a coachman named Bertrand； a confidential servant of Abbe
Rafin； former Grand…Vicar of Alais； and of Baroness Arnaud…Wurmeser
（for the abbe administered the estate of Aureillac in his own name
and that of the baroness）； galloped into the village of
Arpaillargues； which was almost entirely Protestant and consequently
Napoleonist； announcing that the miquelets （for after one hundred and
ten years the old name given to the royal troops was revived） were on
the way from Montarem； pillaging houses； murdering magistrates；
outraging women； and then throwing them out of the windows。 It is
easy to understand the effect of such a story。 The people gathered
together in groups； the mayor and his assistant being absent；
Bertrand was taken before a certain Boucarut； who on receiving his
report ordered the generale to be beaten and the tocsin to be rung。
Then the consternation became general： the men seized their muskets；
the women and children stones and pitchforks； and everyone made ready
to face a danger which only existed in the imagination of Bertrand；
for there was not a shadow of foundation for the story he had told。
While the village was in this state of feverish excitement the royal
volunteers came in sight。 Hardly were they seen than the cry； 〃There
they are！ There they are！〃 arose on all sides； the streets were
barricaded with carts； the tocsin rang out with redoubled frenzy； and
everyone capable of carrying arms rushed to the entrance of the
village。
The volunteers； hearing the uproar and seeing the hostile
preparations； halted； and to show that their intentions were
peaceful； put their shakos on their musket stocks and waved them
above their heads； shouting that no one need fear； for they would do
no harm to anyone。 But alarmed as they were by the terrible stories
told by Bertrand； the villagers shouted back that they could not
trust to such assurances； and that if they wanted to pass through the
village they must first give up their weapons。 It may easily be
imagined that men who had broken the convention in order to keep
their weapons were not likely to give them up to these villagersin
fact； they obstinately refused to let them out of their hands； and by
doing so increased the suspicions of the people。 A parley of a very
excited character took place between M。 Fournier for the royal guards
and M。 Boucarut； who was chosen spokesman by the villagers。 From
words they came to deeds： the miquelets tried to force their way
through； some shots were fired； and two miquelets； Calvet and
Fournier； fell。 The others scattered； followed by a lively
discharge； and two more miquelets were slightly wounded。 Thereupon
they all took to flight through the fields on either side of the
road； pursued for a short distance by the villagers； but soon
returned to examine the two wounded men； and a report was drawn up by
Antoine Robin； advocate and magistrate of the canton of Uzes； of the
events just related。
This accident was almost the only one of its kind which happened
during the Hundred Days： the two parties remained face to face；
threatening but self…controlled。 But let there be no mistake： there
was no peace； they were simply awaiting a declaration of war。 When
the calm was broken； it was from Marseilles that the provocation
came。 We shall efface ourselves for a time and let an eye…witness
speak； who being a Catholic cannot be suspected of partiality for the
Protestants。
〃I was living in Marseilles at the time of Napoleon's landing； and I
was a witness of the impression which the news produced upon
everyone。 There was one great cry； the enthusiasm was universal； the
National Guard wanted to join him to the last man； but Marshal
Massena did not give his consent until it was too late； for Napoleon
had already reached the mountains； and was moving with such swiftness
that it would have been impossible to overtake him。 Next we heard of
his triumphal entry into Lyons； and of his arrival in Paris during
the night。 Marseilles submitted like the rest of France； Prince
d'Essling was recalled to the capital； and Marshal Brune； who
commanded the 6th corps of observation； fixed his headquarters at
Marseilles。
〃With quite incomprehensible fickleness； Marseilles； whose name
during the Terror had been； as one may say； the symbol of the most
advanced opinions； had become almost entirely Royalist in 1815。
Nevertheless； its inhabitants saw without a murmur the tricolour flag
after a year's absence floating once more above the walls。 No
arbitrary interference on the part of the authorities； no threats；
and no brawling between the citizens and the soldiers； troubled the
peace of old Phocea； no revolution ever took place with such
quietness and facility。
〃It must； however； be said； that Marshal Brune was just the man to
accomplish such a transformation without friction； in him the
frankness and loyalty of an old soldier were combined with other
qualities more solid than brilliant。 Tacitus in hand； he looked on
at modern revolutions as they passed； and only interfered when the；
voice of his country called him to her defence。 The conqueror of
Harlem and Bakkun had been for four years forgotten in retirement； or
rather in exile； when the same voice which sent him away recalled
him； and at the summons Cincinnatus left his plough and grasped his
weapons。 Physically he was at this period a man of about fifty…five；
with a frank and open face framed by large whiskers； his head was
bald except for a little grizzled hair at the temples； he was tall
and active； and had a remarkably soldierly bearing。
〃I had been brought into contact with him by a report which one of my
friends and I had drawn up on the opinions of the people of the
South； and of which he had asked to have a copy。 In a long
conversation with us； he discussed the subject with the impartiality
of a man who brings an open mind to a debate；