I did not perceive anything on the 22nd of February calculated to give rise to serious apprehensions2. There was a crowd in the streets, but it seemed to be composed rather of sight-seers and fault-finders than of the seditiously inclined: the soldier and the townsman chaffed each other when they met, and I heard more jokes than cries uttered by the crowd. I know that it is not safe to trust one's self to these appearances. It is the street-boys of Paris who generally commence the insurrections, and as a rule they do so light-heartedly, like schoolboys breaking up for the holidays.
When I returned to the Chamber3, I found a seeming listlessness reigning4 there, beneath which one could perceive the inner seething5 of a thousand restrained passions. It was the only place in Paris in which, since the early morning, I had not heard discussed aloud what was then absorbing all France. They were languidly discussing a bill for the creation of a bank at Bordeaux; but in reality no one, except the man talking in the tribune and the man who was to reply to him, showed any interest in the[34] matter. M. Duchatel told me that all was going well. He said this with an air of combined confidence and nervousness which struck me as suspicious. I noticed that he twisted his neck and shoulders (a common trick with him) much more frequently and violently than usual; and I remember that this little observation gave me more food for reflection than all the rest.
I learnt that, as a matter of fact, there had been serious troubles in many parts of the town which I had not visited; a certain number of men had been killed or wounded. People were no longer accustomed to this sort of incident, as they had been some years before and as they became still more a few months later; and the excitement was great. I happened to be invited to dine that evening at the house of one of my fellow-members of Parliament and of the Opposition6, M. Paulmier, the deputy for Calvados. I had some difficulty in getting there through the troops which guarded the surrounding streets. I found my host's house in great disorder7. Madame Paulmier, who was expecting her accouchement and who had been frightened by a skirmish that had taken place beneath her windows, had gone to bed. The dinner was magnificent, but the table was deserted8; out of twenty guests invited, only five presented themselves; the others were kept back either by material impediments or by the preoccupations of the day. We sat down with a very thoughtful air amid all this abundance. Among the[35] guests was M. Sallandrouze, the inheritor of the great business house of that name, which had made a large fortune by its manufacture of textile fabrics9. He was one of those young Conservatives, richer in money than in honours, who, from time to time, made a show of opposition, or rather, of captious10 criticism, mainly, I think, to give themselves a certain importance. In the course of the last debate on the Address, M. Sallandrouze had moved an amendment11[7] which would have compromised the Cabinet, had it been adopted. At the time when this incident was most occupying attention, M. Sallandrouze one evening went to the reception at the Tuileries, hoping that this time, at least, he would not remain unrecognized in the crowd. And, in fact, no sooner had King Louis-Philippe seen him than he came up to him with a very assiduous mien12, and solemnly took him aside and began to talk to him eagerly, and with a great display of interest, about the branch of manufacture to which the young deputy owed his fortune. The latter, at first, felt no astonishment13, thinking that the King, who was known to be clever at managing men's minds, had selected this little[36] private road in order to lead round to affairs of State. But he was mistaken; for, after a quarter of an hour, the King changed not the conversation but the person addressed, and left our friend standing14 very confused amid his carpets and woollen stuffs. M. Sallandrouze had not yet got over this trick played upon him, but he was beginning to feel very much afraid that he would be revenged too well. He told us that M. émile Girardin had said to him the day before, "In two days, the Monarchy15 of July will have ceased to exist." This seemed to all of us a piece of journalistic hyperbole, and perhaps it was; but the events that followed turned it into an oracle16.
On the next day, the 23rd of February, I learnt, on waking, that the excitement in Paris, so far from becoming calmer, was increasing. I went early to the Chamber; silence reigned17 around the Assembly; battalions19 of infantry20 occupied and closed the approaches, while troops of Cuirassiers were drawn21 up along the walls of the Palace. Inside, men's feelings were excited without their quite knowing the reason.
The sitting had been opened at the ordinary time; but the Assembly had not had the courage to go through the same parliamentary comedy as on the day before, and had suspended its labours; it sat receiving reports from the different quarters of the town, awaiting events and counting the hours, in a state of feverish22 idleness. At a certain moment, a loud sound of trumpets23 was heard outside. It appeared that the Cuirassiers guarding the Palace were amusing[37] themselves, in order to pass the time, by sounding flourishes on their instruments. The gay, triumphant24 tones of the trumpets contrasted in so melancholy25 a fashion with the thoughts by which all our minds were secretly disturbed, that a message was hurriedly sent out to stop this offensive and indiscreet performance, which caused such painful reflections to all of us.
At last, it was determined27 to speak aloud of what all had been discussing in whispers for several hours. A Paris deputy, M. Vavin, commenced to question the Cabinet upon the state of the city. At three o'clock M. Guizot appeared at the door of the House. He entered with his firmest step and his loftiest mien, silently crossed the gangway, ascended28 the tribune, throwing his head almost back from his shoulders for fear of seeming to lower it, and stated in two words that the King had called upon M. Molé to form a new ministry. Never did I see such a piece of clap-trap.
The Opposition kept their seats, most of them uttering cries of victory and satisfied revenge; the leaders alone sat silent, busy in communing with themselves upon the use they would make of their triumph, and careful not to insult a majority of which they might soon be called upon to make use. As to the majority, they seemed thunderstruck by this so unexpected blow, moved to and fro like a mass that sways from side to side, uncertain as to which side it shall fall on, and then descended29 noisily into the[38] semi-circle. A few surrounded the ministers to ask them for explanations or to pay them their last respects, but the greater number clamoured against them with noisy and insulting shouts. "To throw up office, to abandon your political friends under such circumstances," they said, "is a piece of gross cowardice30;" while others exclaimed that the members ought to repair to the Tuileries in a body, and force the King to re-consider his fatal resolve.
This despair will arouse no astonishment when it is remembered that the greater number of these men felt themselves attacked, not only in their political opinions, but in the most sensitive part of their private interest. The fall of the Government compromised the entire fortune of one, the daughter's dowry of another, the son's career of a third. It was by this that they were almost all held. Most of them had not only bettered themselves by means of their votes, but one may say that they had lived on them. They still lived on them, and hoped to continue to live on them; for, the Ministry having lasted eight years, they had accustomed themselves to think that it would last for ever; they had grown attached to it with the honest, peaceful feeling of affection which one entertains for one's fields. From my seat, I watched this swaying crowd; I saw surprise, anger, fear and avarice31 mingle32 their various expressions upon those bewildered countenances33; and I drew an involuntary comparison between all these legislators and a pack of hounds which, with[39] their jaws34 half filled, see the quarry35 withdrawn36 from them.
I grant, however, that, so far as many of the Opposition were concerned, it only wanted that they should be put to a similar test in order to make the same display. If many of the Conservatives only defended the Ministry with a view to keeping their places and emoluments37, I am bound to say that many of the Opposition seemed to me only to attack it in order to reap the plunder38 in their turn. The truth—the deplorable truth—is that a taste for holding office and a desire to live on the public money are not with us a disease restricted to either party, but the great, chronic39 ailment40 of the whole nation; the result of the democratic constitution of our society and of the excessive centralization of our Government; the secret malady41 which has undermined all former powers, and which will undermine all powers to come.
At last the uproar42 ceased, as the nature of what had happened became better known: we learnt that it had been brought about by the insurrectionary inclinations43 of a battalion18 of the Fifth Legion and the applications made direct to the King by several officers of that section of the Guard.
So soon as he was informed of what was going on, King Louis-Philippe, who was less prone44 to change his opinions, but more ready to change his line of conduct, than any man I ever saw, had immediately made up his mind; and after eight years of com[40]placency, the Ministry was dismissed by him in two minutes, and without ceremony.
The Chamber rose without delay, each member thinking only of the change of government, and forgetting about the revolution.
I went out with M. Dufaure, and soon perceived that he was not only preoccupied45 but constrained46. I at once saw that he felt himself in the critical and complicated position of a leader of the Opposition, who was about to become a minister, and who, after experiencing the use his friends could be to him, was beginning to think of the difficulties which their pretensions47 might well cause him.
M. Dufaure had a somewhat cunning mind, which readily admitted such thoughts as these, and he also possessed48 a sort of natural rusticity49 which, combined with great integrity, but rarely permitted him to conceal50 them. He was, moreover, the sincerest and by far the most respectable of all those who at that moment had a chance of becoming ministers. He believed that power was at last within his grasp, and his ambition betrayed a passion that was the more eager inasmuch as it was discreet26 and suppressed. M. Molé in his place would have felt much greater egoism and still more ingratitude51, but he would have been only all the more open-hearted and amiable52.
I soon left him, and went to M. de Beaumont's. There I found every heart rejoicing. I was far from sharing this joy, and finding myself among people with whom I could talk freely, I gave my reasons.[41]
"The National Guard of Paris," I said, "has upset a Cabinet; therefore it is during its good pleasure only that the new Ministers will remain at the head of affairs. You are glad because the Government is upset; but do you not see that it is authority itself which is overthrown53?"
This sombre view of the political situation was not much to Beaumont's taste; he was carried away by rancour and ambition.
"You always take a gloomy view of everything," he said. "Let us first rejoice at the victory: we can lament54 over the results later."
Madame de Beaumont, who was present at the interview, seemed herself to share her husband's elation55, and nothing ever so thoroughly56 proved to me the irresistible57 power of party feeling. For, by nature, neither hatred58 nor self-interest had a place in the heart of this distinguished59 and attractive woman, one of the most truly and consistently virtuous60 that I have met in my life, and one who best knew how to make virtue61 both touching62 and lovable. To the nobility of heart of the La Fayettes she added a mind that was witty63, refined, kindly64 and just.
I, nevertheless, sustained my theory against both him and her, arguing that upon the whole the incident was a regrettable one, or rather that we should see more in it than a mere65 incident, a great event which was destined66 to change the whole aspect of affairs. It was very easy for me to philosophize thus, since I did not share the illusions of my friend Dufaure.[42] The impulse given to the political machine seemed to me to be too violent to permit of the reins67 of government falling into the hands of the moderate party to which I belonged, and I foresaw that they would soon fall to those who were almost as obnoxious68 to me as the men from whose hands they had slipped.
I was dining with another of my friends, M. Lanjuinais, of whom I shall have to speak often in future. The company was fairly numerous, and embraced many shades of political opinion. Many of the guests rejoiced at the result of the day's work, while others expressed alarm; but all thought that the insurrectionary movement would stop of its own accord, to break out again later on another occasion and in another form. All the rumours69 that reached us from the town seemed to confirm this belief; cries of war were replaced by cries of joy. Portalis, who became Attorney-General of Paris a few days later, was of our number: not the son, but the nephew of the Chief President of the Court of Appeal. This Portalis had neither his uncle's rare intelligence, nor his exemplary character, nor his solemn dulness. His coarse, violent, perverse70 mind had quite naturally entered into all the false ideas and extreme opinions of our times. Although he was in relation with most of those who are regarded as the authors and leaders of the Revolution of 1848, I can conscientiously71 declare that he did not that night expect the revolution any more than we did. I am convinced that,[43] even at that supreme72 moment, the same might have been said of the greater number of his friends. It would be a waste of time to try to discover what secret conspiracies73 brought about events of this kind. Revolutions accomplished74 by means of popular risings are generally longed for beforehand rather than premeditated. Those who boast of having contrived75 them have done no more than turn them to account. They spring spontaneously into being from a general malady of men's minds, brought suddenly to the critical stage by some fortuitous and unforeseen circumstance. As to the so-called originators or leaders of these revolutions, they originate and lead nothing; their only merit is identical with that of the adventurers who have discovered most of the unknown countries. They simply have the courage to go straight before them as long as the wind impels76 them.
I took my leave early, and went straight home to bed. Although I lived close to the Foreign Office, I did not hear the firing which so greatly influenced our destinies, and I fell asleep without realizing that I had seen the last day of the Monarchy of July.
FOOTNOTES:
[7] M. Sallandrouze de Lamornaix' amendment proposed to modify the expression "blind or hostile passions," by adding the words: "Amid these various demonstrations77, your Government will know how to recognise the real and lawful78 desires of the country; it will, we trust, take the initiative by introducing certain wise and moderate reforms called for by public opinion, among which we must place first parliamentary reform. In a Constitutional Monarchy, the union of the great powers of the State removes all danger from a progressive policy, and allows every moral and material interest of the country to be satisfied."—Cte. de T.
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1
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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captious
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| adj.难讨好的，吹毛求疵的 | |
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amendment
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| n.改正，修正，改善，修正案 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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emoluments
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| n.报酬，薪水( emolument的名词复数 ) | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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ailment
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| n.疾病，小病 | |
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malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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rusticity
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| n.乡村的特点、风格或气息 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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58
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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64
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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conspiracies
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| n.阴谋，密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 ) | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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75
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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76
impels
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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77
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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