himself to be persuaded, and gave the required security without further investigation, thinking the securities in his hands a sufficient pledge. Montaubert no sooner obtained his freedom, than he fled with all he had left, and entirely escaped the vigilance of his pursuers. Montaussier now be gan to suspect the baseness of his friend: he had the securities examined, and found that they were entirely false, and was obliged to pay himself the large sum of 80,000 livres, for which he had gone bail. It may be easily conceived that this great loss threw their business into some confusion; but they still kept their credit, and would have soon entirely recovered, had they not met several other misfortunes. Two great houses in Hamburg and London were then embarking in immense speculations, and desired from Montaussier a loan of from 50 to 60,000 livres, which, from his own experience, and every inquiry he made, he considered perfectly safe, and gave without further consideration. These speculations were, however, the last means which the houses had taken to extricate themselves from a most embarrassed state of affairs: they were unfortunate in them, and both failed within a month afterward. About the same time, a ship, of which he was the insurer, was taken by an Algerine corsair. These accumulated troubles were too much for him; he could no longer pay the bills of exchange due on him, and he failed therefore in a short time, in the year 1782. Two months afterward his father died, full of grief at leaving his son in such an unfortunate state. Montaussier had too much real greatness of mind to allow himself to be discouraged by these untoward circumstances; he bore his fate with firmness. Too noble to enrich himself at the expense of others, he acted in the arrangement of his affairs with a rare honesty and an almost unexampled generosity. His creditors were willing to take sixty per cent, and leave him whatever might remain, to assist him in recommencing business. This he steadily refused. As he had no family, and no one but himself to provide for, he considered it unjust that others should have to sacrifice any thing in order to assist him. He sold his house, his goods, his furniture, and implements of trade, and gave up all to his creditors, who now had ninety per cent. This conduct raised him so high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens and his foreign friends, that they were all anxious to assist him, and offered him greater credit than before. He made, however, no use of their offer, as he found himself almost entirely destitute, (his whole fortune consisting in about one hundred louis d'ors,) and did not wish to trust any more to the uncertainty of trade. Soon after he received, through the recommendation of one of his former creditors, the situation of overseer to a respectable and wealthy merchant in Lyons, named John Vertois. M. Vertois did a very considerable business, and possessed a large silk manufactory in which he employed a number of workmen; and as he was growing old, and had no son to whom he could intrust his affairs, he was in want of a person in whom he could place implicit confidence. This person he found in Montaussier, who entered with such zeal into his affairs, and improved and enlarged his business so much, that he won the confidence of his master entirely, who, in the year 1786, bestowed on him his only daughter in marriage, and took him in as partner in the business. A year afterward he died, leaving him a very considerable property. Montaussier continued the business now alone with great success; all his undertakings prospered, and it seemed as if fortune inter ded to repay him for all she had previously made him suffer. He was now n every respect in a most favorable posi

tion; he possessed the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and was much admired in society on account of his polished manners, his extensive information, and his great experience.

In June, 1789, he was obliged to go to Paris on some important business. The state of things there roused his whole attention, and the warm interest he took in every thing relating to his native land, soon led him to discover the errors in the old government. The revolution broke out at last, in July. Montaussier took part in the occurrences of the first day, united himself with the armed citizens, and was among the foremost of those who stormed the Bastile, when he received a wound, which was not, however, of much consequence. As soon as Paris became quiet, he returned to Lyons, where he assisted the introduction of the new system, without, however, taking any public position. For some time he led a peaceful and happy life, devoted to his business, his family, and his friends. His commercial affairs continued to prosper, without being affected by the state of the country, until the year 1793, when he became involved in the sad fate of his native town; and after the conquest and destruction of Lyons, shared in the general slaughter of his fellow-citizens.

In order to understand these occurrences as far as they have reference to him, we must go back a little to the events which produced them.

The death of Louis XVI. did not meet in Lyons with the approbation which the ruling party expected; indeed, many gave open signs of displeasure, and expressed themselves against the Jacobins; who, enraged on that account, endeavored in every way to ruin the more moderate patriots. One in particular, named Challier, used all his exertions to push the people on to violent measures, and to introduce the reign of terror in Lyons. The excellent mayor, Nivière Chol with several other worthy men who held public offices, endeavored in every way to counteract his influence; and when they were on the point of breaking out, he ordered the troops out upon them, and thus frustrated for the time their plans. The Jacobins now turned to the convention, and represented the Lyonese as royalists, who persecuted all the true patriots. The convention, in order to sustain the Jacobins, sent off immediately two battalions to restore peace and order; and when they arrived they had recourse to the most violent measures. It was determined to establish a revolutionary army, for the support of freedom, which should be raised and maintained entirely at the expense of the rich. They therefore threw the most respectable citizens, whom they supposed to be rich, into prison, without giving any reason, and detained them there often a long time, without their being able to imagine the crime of which they were guilty. The municipality, which was now entirely composed of Jacobins, sported at its pleasure with the pro, perty and security of the citizens, and endeavored in every way to make the best patriots obnoxious. About this time the convention decreed that the sections should assemble, and resolve upon whatever measures were, necessary to their security. The Lyonese made use of this to draw themselves out of their painful position. As soon as the Jacobins and the municipality remarked this, they endeavored in every way to prevent it; they armed the clubists, with their followers, and all assembled in the principal church. The sections also took up arms, and deposed the municipality, who, in their turn, declared that the sections should lay down their arms on pain of death. War was now declared, and the battle commenced in every part of the town, (May 30th, 1793.) The clubists

gave themselves up during the day to the greatest cruelties, killing and mutilating all the prisoners who fell into their hands; while the citizens, on the contrary, treated their wounded opponents with the greatest kindness and compassion. The issue of the conflict was for a long time doubtful; but the citizens at length conquered, drove their enemies back, and took possession of the most important posts of the town. One thou

sand five hundred of the citizens fell in this encounter, and still more of the clubists.

The sections now opened a subscription for the relief of those who had lost their fathers or husbands in the battle, and gave the same assistance to the widows and orphans of their enemies that they did to their own. The conquerors then sought out the enemies of peace and order, put them in prison, and then commenced their trial according to the strict rules of the law. Challier and Rierd alone were condemned to death; while the other less reprehensible leaders received a slight punishment.

Montaussier showed himself all along very active in the good cause. He was the first in his section to insist on a general arming; and he inspired by his firmness and the influence he possessed, many who would otherwise have given the whole thing up in despair. When he came to the battle he led on a small column, and took possession with it of a very important post; upon the first attack he received a musket-ball in his arm, but he fought on unmindful of it, and did not give up until the post was taken.

It was then, when peace had been just restored at Lyons, that Paris was thrown into commotion by the well-known scenes of the 31st of May, in which the Jacobin deputies obtained a decisive victory over the opposite party. The convention resorted to violent measures to bring the refractory departments to submission; and published a decree, by which the greater part of the inhabitants of Lyons were declared to be outlaws. Upon hearing this, the Lyonese sent several deputies to Paris to enforce the adoption of a constitution, and to endeavor to effect the repeal of the decree. They were received in such a manner as to give them no hopes of success, and only escaped imprisonment by a speedy flight. Among other requirements, they were desired to lay down their arms, and to give up the members of the new administration; and upon their steady refusal, a considerable army was ordered out upon them.

Every preparation was now made in Lyons for a courageous defence; the most important posts were fortified, and the citizens, amounting to about forty thousand, trained for arms. Montaussier gave his assistance in every way in his power; he made several considerable loans of money to purchase ammunition, and provided several poor citizens in his battalion with the needful arms. He did every thing to inspirit his men, and took his stand with them at a most important post in the outworks, which, on account of his well-known patriotism, was intrusted to him. The besieg ing army in the mean while approached, and endeavored to storm the town on all sides, but were everywhere driven back.

The post which Montaussier occupied was one of the first attacked, and became the scene of a very violent conflict. Twice the convention's troops rushed upon the Lyonese, and twice were they repulsed: they waited for a fresh supply, and began the third attack; their opponents, seeing their superiority in numbers, grew dispirited, and wavered. No sooner did Montaussier perceive this, than, calling to his friends to follow him, he

left the intrenchment, and rushed to meet the enemy. The courage of his men revived on seeing this; they followed him, attacked the conven tion troops, who, astonished at their boldness, yielded almost immediately; and Montaussier remained master of this most advantageous post.

Finding it impossible to take the town by storm, the besiegers determined to lay a regular siege to it; and in order the sooner to effect their plans, they endeavored to sow dissensions among the besieged. They used great efforts to separate the sections from the government; promised them full pardon if they would lay down arms, open the gates of the town, and give up the members of the municipality, of the administration, and of the executive corps. These propositions were received with contempt by the sections, whom it only served to render more hostile.

The Lyonese soon saw that great supplies of money would be needed to meet the daily demands; they therefore established a fund, to be raised by contributions from each citizen proportionate to his income. The management of the treasury was intrusted to Montaussier and two other citizens, who acquitted themselves to the general satisfaction. The bombardment now commenced, and was carried on with the greatest vigor, particularly during the night. The arsenal, the most splendid buildings, and whole streets, were burnt down.

Montaussier was still commanding in the outworks, when, on the thir tieth day of the siege, 22d September, 1793, a fire broke out in several places in the street in which his family lived. His wife lay with her children in the deepest sleep, when, aroused by the noise, she awakened to find herself surrounded by flames. She escaped with great difficulty, by the help of a faithful servant, who also saved her youngest son; the eldest was already a prey to the raging element. As they were endeavor. ing to escape from the burning street, a bomb fell, and killed her remaining child and the man who carried him.

Montaussier soon perceived from his post that the street on fire was the one in which he lived. Distracted about his family, whom he tenderly loved, he would willingly have laid down his life to be allowed to hurry to their assistance; but duty and honor commanded him not to abandon the spot intrusted to him by his citizens in time of danger, and he remained. He suppressed his own griefs, gave with great presence of mind the necessary directions in case of an attack by the enemy, and only turned an occasional look towards the place where he was perhaps just losing all that was dear to him in life. Not until break of day, when every danger of an eruption was over, did he give up the command to the next officer, and hurried to the town to relieve himself of his torturing suspense. When he arrived at his house, he found it a heap of ruins, and no traces of his beloved family. He then hurried to the dwelling of a friend, where he found his wife, and heard the sad tale of their misfortunes. His grief was deep; it was that of a tender father, but he did not suffer it to unman him; he still rejoiced that his beloved wife, the dearest object to him on earth, was left to him. She showed uncommon firmness and fortitude, gave way to no useless complaints at her hard fate, but informed her husband that it was her firm determination to share his fate, to fight side by side with him for their native town, and with him to conquer or to die. She had long nourished this plan, but the strong ties of maternal love had kept her bound to her children. These ties were now severed; she had nothing left but her husband, and she was determined to share his fate,

whatever that might be. Montaussier did all he could to dissuade her from this determination, but she was resolute, and set out with him the next morning for his post in full armor, where she conducted herself with all the bravery and skill of an experienced soldier.

Several days after this, Montaussier determined on making an attack upon the enemy, and driving them from a position very troublesome to him. Notwithstanding his remonstrances, his wife accompanied him, and did not stir from his side. The enemy was strong, and the conflict became very violent. Just as the Lyonese were gaining the advantage, Montaussier's horse was shot dead under him, and before he could rise, an officer held a pistol to his head and commanded him to surrender. His wife saw this, and took aim at the officer, but her pistol missed, and he shot her down before any one could come to her assistance. Montaussier had in the mean while risen, and rushed upon the officer, whom he killed; he then, thinking his wife dead, rallied his men round him, and made another desperate attack upon the enemy, which at last compelled them to fly. Upon returning to his wife, he found that, though mortally wounded, she was yet alive. Every thing was done for her that could be done, but her condition was desperate. She died a few hours after, full of joy that she had saved the life of her beloved husband, and that the sad fate was not reserved to her of surviving him. Montaussier had now lost every thing that could make life dear to him: the future had no charms for him; the only thing in which he felt an interest was the fate of his fellow-citizens. In their welfare he endeavored to lose sight of his own sorrows. A few days after this event, his post was attacked, through the treachery of a deserter, at the spot where it was most easy to break through. The Lyonese fought like men who are determined to maintain their post or perish, but the enemy was too numerous for them, and they were obliged to give way. Montaussier, after receiving two wounds, fought until a musket-ball, which he received in his thigh, threw him to the earth. Some of his men surrounded him and carried him off to the town; the others who remained to cover his retreat were almost all shot down. His wounds were, however, not dangerous, and he was able to walk again in two weeks.

The fate of Lyons was now drawing rapidly to its sad conclusion. The most important outworks and posts were lost, and the number of defenders had melted down from forty thousand to ten thousand. The people, pushed to the last extremity for want of provisions, began to murmur. Lyons had now, without fortifications or regular troops, held out seventy days against an army of more than a hundred thousand men, during which time, thirty thousand bombs, and a hundred thousand red-hot balls, besides the usual cannon balls, had been fired into the town, and reduced almost all the public buildings to ashes.

The government of the town and the commanding general now resolved upon a retreat, in order to save the members of the administration and the citizens who yet remained. Every preparation was made for their departure, and Montaussier was placed at the head of a department, when the plan was betrayed to the enemy, who filled the whole country round Lyons with troops. In the narrow passes of St. Cyr and St. Germain, the Lyonese were attacked on all sides by an army of fifty thousand men, and exposed to the incessant fire of a considerable artillery, with which the hills were covered. All their previous plans and precautions