THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 220, 12 September 1873, Page 4

THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY.

The month of May has ever been an eventful month in the history of France. On the 30th May, 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at Rouen. On the 14th of May, 1610, Henry IV. was murdered by RavaiU lae. On the 14th May, 1643, Louia XIV. ascended the throne. On the 23rd May, 1706, the French were defeated at RatoilKes. In May, 1756, began the " seven years' war." On May 10, 1774, died the estimable monarch Louis XV. On the sth of May, 1719, the States-General commenced their sittings at Versailes. On the 24th May, 1797, Labceuf paid tbe penalty of bis head for being an unsuccessful conspirator; and in tbe same month of the same year, Pichegru failed in his little plans. On the 26th of May, 1805, Napoleon JL was crowned King of Italy. On the 27th of May, 1808, Charles IV. and his son abdicated tbe throne of Spain in favor of Napoleon. On the Srd of May, 1814, Louis XVIII. arrived in Paris — Napoleon L arriving afc Elba on the following day. On tbe sth of May, 1821, Napoleon L died at St. Helena. On the 16th May, 1830, under the Polignac administration, the Chamber qf Deputies was dissolved, the dissolution leading to that crisis which cost Charles X. his Crown. The 20th of May, 1834, is the date of the death of Lafayette. On the Bth May, 1837, an amnesty for political offences was declared. On the 20th May, lß3B. Talleyrand died. On the 12th May, 1839, Paris was enlivened by the insurrection of TBarbes and Blanqui. On the 12th May, 1840, the Chambers decreed the removal of the remains of Napoleon I. from St. Helena to France. On the 25th May, 1846, Louis Napoleon escaped from Ham. On the 7th of May, 1848, the Provisional Government, formed after the abdication of Louis Philippe, resigned to an. Executive Commission elected by the National Assembly —-the attack on the Assembly leing suppressed on the 15th, and the perpetual banishment of -the Orleans family being decreed on the 26th of the same month. On the 15th May, 1855, tbe Industrial Exhibition was opened at Paris, and uni. yersal peace would no doubt have reigned in the world fostered by arts and commerce, but that unfortunately France declared war with Austria, aod Bis Majesty Napoleon HI. arrived at Genoa on the 12th May, 1860. On the Bth May, 1863, the Chambers were dissolved, and in tbe same month M, de Persigny issued some rather arbitrary advice to electors. On the 6th May, 1866, the late Emperor expressed his " detestation " of the Treaties of 1815, and on the 16th May, 1871, the good people of Paris showed their detestation of the column of. the Place Vendome by knocking it pown. Snch are a few events k» v^ made the month of May remarkable in France. 'f— " • " • i >