"you see your King ready to die for you.

May my blood cement your happiness! I die innocent of what I am charged with!"

'He was about to continue when Santerre, who was at the head of his staff, ordered the drummers to beat, and nothing more could be heard.

'In a moment he was bound to the weigh-plank, and a few seconds afterwards, while under my touch the knife was sliding down, he could still hear the voice of the priest pronouncing these words:

"Son of Saint-Louis, ascend to Heaven!"

‘Thus died the unfortunate prince, who might have been saved by a thousand well armed men; and really I am at loss to understand the notice which I received the day before the execution, that some attempt at rescue was to be made. The slightest signal would have been sufficient to cause a diversion in his favour; for if when Gros, my assistant, showed the King's head to the multitude some cries of triumph were uttered, the greater part of the crowd turned away with profound horror.'

Such is the account which my grandfather left us of the death of Louis XVI. It is in conformity with the letter which he had the courage to write to the 'Thermomètre du Jour,' to correct some erroneous allegations contained in that paper.

The narrative I have just given essentially differs from that of M. de Lamartine in his 'Histoire des Girondins ;' but, however great may be the authority of the eminent historian, his account cannot, for accuracy,

be compared with my grandfather's. He has seen fit to represent Charles Henri as speaking contemptuously to the King, and even raising his hand to strike him. This is a gross fabrication, and I need not take the trouble to show its absurdity.