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ever since； as a boy at school； I commenced the noble study of
novelsever since the day when； lying on sunny slopes of half…
holidays； the fair chivalrous figures and beautiful shapes of
knights and ladies were visible to meever since I grew to love
Rebecca； that sweetest creature of the poet's fancy； and longed to
see her righted。
That she and Ivanhoe were married； follows of course； for Rowena's
promise extorted from him was； that he would never wed a Jewess；
and a better Christian than Rebecca now was never said her
catechism。 Married I am sure they were； and adopted little Cedric；
but I don't think they had any other children； or were subsequently
very boisterously happy。 Of some sort of happiness melancholy is a
characteristic； and I think these were a solemn pair； and died
rather early。
THE HISTORY OF THE NEXT FRENCH REVOLUTION。
＇FROM A FORTHCOMING HISTORY OF EUROPE。＇
CHAPTER I。
It is seldom that the historian has to record events more singular
than those which occurred during this year； when the Crown of
France was battled for by no less than four pretenders； with equal
claims； merits； bravery； and popularity。 First in the list we
placeHis Royal Highness Louis Anthony Frederick Samuel Anna
Maria； Duke of Brittany； and son of Louis XVI。 The unhappy Prince；
when a prisoner with his unfortunate parents in the Temple； was
enabled to escape from that place of confinement； hidden （for the
treatment of the ruffians who guarded him had caused the young
Prince to dwindle down astonishingly） in the cocked…hat of the
Representative； Roederer。 It is well known that； in the troublous
revolutionary times； cocked…hats were worn of a considerable size。
He passed a considerable part of his life in Germany； was confined
there for thirty years in the dungeons of Spielberg； and； escaping
thence to England； was； under pretence of debt； but in reality from
political hatred； imprisoned there also in the Tower of London。 He
must not be confounded with any other of the persons who laid claim
to be children of the unfortunate victim of the first Revolution。
The next claimant； Henri of Bordeaux； is better known。 In the year
1843 he held his little fugitive court in furnished lodgings； in a
forgotten district of London； called Belgrave Square。 Many of the
nobles of France flocked thither to him； despising the persecutions
of the occupant of the throne； and some of the chiefs of the
British nobilityamong whom may be reckoned the celebrated and
chivalrous Duke of Jenkinsaided the adventurous young Prince with
their counsels； their wealth； and their valor。
The third candidate was his Imperial Highness Prince John Thomas
Napoleona fourteenth cousin of the late Emperor； and said by some
to be a Prince of the House of Gomersal。 He argued justly that； as
the immediate relatives of the celebrated Corsican had declined to
compete for the crown which was their right； he； Prince John
Thomas； being next in succession； was； undoubtedly； heir to the
vacant imperial throne。 And in support of his claim； he appealed
to the fidelity of Frenchmen and the strength of his good sword。
His Majesty Louis Philippe was； it need not be said； the illustrious
wielder of the sceptre which the three above…named princes desired
to wrest from him。 It does not appear that the sagacious monarch
was esteemed by his subjects； as such a prince should have been
esteemed。 The light…minded people； on the contrary； were rather
weary than otherwise of his sway。 They were not in the least
attached to his amiable family； for whom his Majesty with
characteristic thrift had endeavored to procure satisfactory
allowances。 And the leading statesmen of the country； whom his
Majesty had disgusted； were suspected of entertaining any but
feelings of loyalty towards his house and person。
It was against the above…named pretenders that Louis Philippe
（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
unfortu