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who made the capture to deprive him of his sword and carbine； but it
was only after a long struggle that they could carry out this order；
for Trestaillons protested that he would only give up his carbine
with his life。 However； he was at last obliged to yield to numbers；
and when disarmed was removed to the barracks； but as there could be
no peace in the town as long as he was in it； the general sent him to
the citadel of Montpellier next morning before it was light。
The disorders did not； however； cease at once。 At eight o'clock A。M。
they were still going on； the mob seeming to be animated by the
spirit of Trestaillons； for while the soldiers were occupied in a
distant quarter of the town a score of men broke into the house of a
certain Scipion Chabrier； who had remained hidden from his enemies
for a long time； but who had lately returned home on the strength of
the proclamations published by General Lagarde when he assumed the
position of commandant of the town。 He had indeed been sure that the
disturbances in Nimes were over； when they burst out with redoubled
fury on the 16th of October； on the morning of the 17th he was
working quietly at home at his trade of a silk weaver； when； alarmed
by the shouts of a parcel of cut…throats outside his house； he tried
to escape。 He succeeded in reaching the 〃Coupe d'Or；〃 but the
ruffians followed him； and the first who came up thrust him through
the thigh with his bayonet。 In consequence of this wound he fell
from top to bottom of the staircase； was seized and dragged to the
stables； where the assassins left him for dead； with seven wounds in
his body。
This was； however； the only murder committed that day in the town；
thanks to the vigilance and courage of General Lagarde。
The next day a considerable crowd gathered； and a noisy deputation
went to General Lagarde's quarters and insolently demanded that
Trestaillons should be set at liberty。 The general ordered them to
disperse； but no attention was paid to this command； whereupon he
ordered his soldiers to charge； and in a moment force accomplished
what long…continued persuasion had failed to effect。 Several of the
ringleaders were arrested and taken to prison。
Thus； as we shall see； the struggle assumed a new phase： resistance
to the royal power was made in the name of the royal power； and both
those who broke or those who tried to maintain the public peace used
the same cry； 〃Long live the king！〃
The firm attitude assumed by General Lagarde restored Nimes to a
state of superficial peace； beneath which； however； the old enmities
were fermenting。 An occult power； which betrayed itself by a kind of
passive resistance； neutralised the effect of the measures taken by
the military commandant。 He soon became cognisant of the fact that
the essence of this sanguinary political strife was an hereditary
religious animosity； and in order to strike a last blow at this； he
resolved； after having received permission from the king； to grant
the general request of the Protestants by reopening their places of
worship； which had been closed for more than four months； and
allowing the public exercise of the Protestant religion； which had
been entirely suspended in the city for the same length of time。
Formerly there had been six Protestant pastors resident in Nimes； but
four of them； had fled； the two who remained were MM。 Juillerat and
Olivier Desmonts； the first a young man； twenty…eight years of age；
the second an old man of seventy。
The entire weight of the ministry had fallen during this period of
proscription on M。 Juillerat； who had accepted the task and
religiously fulfilled it。 It seemed as if a special providence had
miraculously protected him in the midst of the many perils which
beset his path。 Although the other pastor； M。 Desmonts； was
president of the Consistory； his life was in much less danger； for；
first； he had reached an age which almost everywhere commands
respect； and then he had a son who was a lieutenant in； one of the
royal corps levied at Beaucaire； who protected him by his name when
he could not do so by his presence。 M。 Desmonts had therefore little
cause for anxiety as to his safety either in the streets of Nimes or
on the road between that and his country house。
But； as we have said； it was not so with M。 Juillerat。 Being young
and active； and having an unfaltering trust in God； on him alone
devolved all the sacred duties of his office； from the visitation of
the sick and dying to the baptism of the newly born。 These latter
were often brought to him at night to be baptized； and he consented；
though unwillingly； to make this concession； feeling that if he
insisted on the performance of the rite by day he would compromise
not only his own safety but that of others。 In all that concerned
him personally； such as consoling the dying or caring for the
wounded； he acted quite openly； and no danger that he encountered on
his way ever caused him to flinch from the path of duty。
One day； as M。 Juillerat was passing through the rue des Barquettes
on his way to the prefecture to transact some business connected with
his ministry； he saw several men lying in wait in a blind alley by
which he had to pass。 They had their guns pointed at him。 He
continued his way with tranquil step and such an air of resignation
that the assassins were overawed； and lowered their weapons as he
approached； without firing a single shot。 When M。 Juillerat reached
the prefecture； thinking that the prefect ought to be aware of
everything connected with the public order； he related this incident
to M。 d'Arbaud…Jouques； but the latter did not think the affair of
enough importance to require any investigation。
It was； as will be seen； a difficult enterprise to open once again
the Protestant places of worship； which had been so long closed； in
present circumstances； and in face of the fact that the civil
authorities regarded such a step with disfavour； but General Lagarde
was one of those determined characters who always act up to their
convictions。 Moreover； to prepare people's minds for this stroke of
religious policy； he relied on the help of the Duc d'Angouleme； who
in the course of a tour through the South was almost immediately
expected at Nimes。
On the 5th of November the prince made his entry into the city； and
having read the reports of the general to the King Louis XVIII； and
having received positive injunctions from his uncle to pacify the
unhappy provinces which he was about to visit； he arrived full of the
desire to displays whether he felt it or not； a perfect impartiality；
so when the delegates from the Consistory were presented to him； not
only did he receive them most graciously； but he was the first to
speak of the interests of their faith； assuring them that it was only
a few days since he had learned with much regret that their religious
services had been； suspended since the 16th of July。 The delegates
replied that in such a time of agitation the closing of their places
of worship was； a measure of prudence which they had felt ought to be
borne； and which had been borne； with resignation。 The prince
expressed his approval of this attitude with regard to the past； but
said that his presence was a guarantee for the future； and that on
Thursday the 9th inst。 the two meeting…houses should be reopened and
restored to their proper use。 The Protestants were alarmed at；
having a favour accorded to them which was much more than they would
have dared to ask and for which they were hardly prepared。 But the
prince reassured them by saying that all needful measures would be
taken to provide against any breach of the public peace； and at the
same time invited M。 Desmonts； president； and M。 Roland…Lacoste；
member of the Consistory； to dine with him。
The next deputation to arrive was a Catholic one； and its object was
to ask that Trestaillons might be set at liberty。 The prince was so
indignant at this request that his only answer was to turn his back
on those who proffered it。
The next day the duke； accompanied by General Lagarde； left for
Montpellier； and as it was on the latter that the Protestants placed
their sole reliance for the maintenance of those rights guaranteed
for the future by the word of the prince； they hesitated to take any
new step in his absence； and let the 9th of November go by without
attempting to resume public worship； preferring to wait for the
return of their protector； which took place on Saturday evening the
11th of November。
When the general got back； his first thought was to ask if the
commands of the prince had been carried out； and when he heard that
they had not； without waiting to hear a word in justification of the
delay； he sent a positive order to the president of the Consistory to
open both places of worship the next morning。
Upon this； the president carrying self…abnegation and prudence to
their extreme limits； went to the general's quarters； and having
warmly thanked him； laid before him the dangers to which he would
expose himself by running counter to the opinions of those who had
had their own way in the city for the last four months。 B