THE FETE OF FRATERNITY. [From the Illustrated London News, April 26.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 326, 13 September 1848, Page 4

THE FETE OF FRATERNITY. [From the Illustrated London News, April 26.]

In our Postscript of last week we briefly noticed the grand F4te of Fraternity celebrated in Paris on Thursday, tbe 20th instant, when a cordial reunion was effected between the troops of the line and the National Guards of the capital and suburbs. As the proceedings on that memorable day will live in history, as the most extraordinary feature of the modern Revolutionary movement, as developed not merely in France but throughout Europe, we give this week some interesting details, which, accompanied by the Illustrations, will present to the mind a vivid idea of that magnificent display. As early as five in the morning the drums were beat for the assembling of the different legions of the National Guards ; by eight, ail Paris seemed to have poured down into the streets. The day was dull, drizzly, and drear, with gray dripping skies above, and an ocean of mud below ; but the ardour neither of the actors in the mighty show, nor of the crowd of spectators, was to be damped. The countless throngs that poured along the Champ a

Elysees to the chief point of interest bewildered the imagination. The immense estrade erected beneath and before the Arch of Triumph, with its ascending galleries and tri--bunes, and decorations of Roman and Grecian attributes, was not without a certain grandeur of effect. Upon this ' estrade were assembled all the corps, de V&at, the'genefals, the courts, and the tribunals, the wounded of the days of February, a'vari6ty oiditenus politiques, delegates from the schools, the commissions and associations of the working clas- • ses, and, finally, from the clubs. On either side, and in the climbing galleries behind, was a crowd' of privileged spectators and ladies, admitted by tickets. The ceremonies were announced to commence at nine o'clock ; at eight already the. tribunes had been filled, but it was neaily half-past ten before the main body of the members of the Provisional Government madetheir appearance ; until that hour, excepting M. Cremieux, M. Lerlru Rollin had alone appeared upon the estrade. Spite of the falling rain and the bared heads, the crowd, although it pushed and waved hither and thither, was a good tempered one. When the other members of the Government were at last assembled, the ceremonies of the day began forthwith. Lam mine looked, as he stood at one of the further extremities of the line, pale, wearied, and careworn, but erect and nt-ble as ever ; poor old Dupont del'Eure, seemed sadly bowed down by the weight of his obligations as well as his years. An address to the armed force was read by Arago, as Minister at War. Then came the distribution of, the banners to the Colonels of the different legions and regiments, as they mounted one "after the other the steps of the estiade. A& each Colonel advanced to receive the colours he was addressed in a short speech by a member of the Government, who then saluted him with an embrace and presented him with the banner intended for his regiment. About eleven o'clock began the rdvuemonstre. Nothing could be more really imposing than the immense flood of bayonets, as it poured up the long avenue ot the Champs E!ysee«, and mounted, like an inundating torrent, towards the Arch of Triumph. The different troops were mixed in the order of their approach — now it was a legion of the Garde Mobile, now a regiment of the line, now a legion of the National Guards, now the schools, now the associations of artisans, now cavalry, now infantry. The flood poured on, and on, and on, .until the brain was distracted with, the sight. Once or twice a regiment of the line and a legion of the Garde Mobile had joined, and came up together, side by side, like two distinct streams flowing on together, amidst cries of " Vive In Ligne!" " Vive la Garde Mobile /" an.l " Vive la Garde Rationale /" Of the streams flowing side by side, the poor Gardes Mobiles, with their ragged attire, formed the muddy one by the side of the more brightly-coloured uniforms ; but there was a martial spirit and a discipline of bearing among these volunteers, who are chiefly from the dregs of the people, that showed-how easily the French can arlapt themselves to acting new parts. The effect of the ever-advancing battalions was frequen ly curious enough ; some had placed green branches in their muskets, and came on like B mam wood ; others had nosegays and branches of lilac in theirs, and looked like moving flower-beds ; others, again, had attached to their bayonets small tricoloured banners, that fluttered along like a flight of summer flies. The less agreeable part of the effect arose from the discordant howlings and chorusings of large masses of men. One company had got into the middle of the •Marseillaise,' whilst the next was at the first notes ; another followed screaming, out of tune, " Mourir pour la patrie ;" the " Chant dv Depart" or the " Carmagnole" rang screechingly on the ear at the same moment. Now came a band playing one air, while close behind was another playing a different one. It was a fearful charivari of infernal sounds. One could scarce suppose that the French laid claim to being a musical nation. How many throats must have been hoarse that night in Paris ! Thousands broke up at a very early hour of the day. It was generally remarked that when an isolated name was shouted, it was only and alone, " Vive Lamarline I" There was a time when he seemed to have sunk in popularity. The events of the last few days have taught ?the masses to appreciate the noble man of peace and order. Far below the mark must be every attempt to convey the faintest notion of the aspect of the capital, the countless thronging crowds" on the passage of the troops ; the 1 effect 1 of the seemingly endless masses of moving bayonets in the midst. Along the Champs Elysees, across the Place de la Concorde, down the ex-Rue Royal (now called the Rue Nationale), along the long line of the Boulevards, the scene was the same to a seeming eternity 'of space and time. It was a ceaseless movement — on, on,' on. Thereview commenced at eleven* o'clock; it was Half-past seren in

"the evening, when the dusk h«d gathered, that the tail of the monster column at last passed very high-up* the' Boulevards!} < /The night had long fallen when it reached : the estrade of the Arch v. of Triumph, at- about half-past eight. From- five in the morning had the poor fellows been on foot. ' > ■ It must be said, in praise of the Parisian population, that nothing but the extremett good-humour; and order were exhibited among the troops up; to the latest Vur ;, there was never a symptom of impatience or of' the illtemper of weariness; and the last legion — the, first of the National Guards — came,shouting down, the Boulevards with a zeal and a bonhommie that, after such prolonged fatigue, was , perfectly astounding. It must, not- be forgotten that these were the shopkeepers, the artisans, the 4l4gants t the established, house proprietors — rich and poor mingled pell-mell — and not the military, trained to discipline and fatigue, who showed this spirit. . When, about ten o'clock at night, they were"returning to their homes, they might, be heard laugriingly saying, "Well, now we'll go. to breakfast?" The whole effect of this seemingly interminable review was such as to make it seem almost incredible that, like processions on the stage, the legions. .were not coming round and round again, having passed kack behind the scenes through by-streets. The ferment of the returning troops and the swarmirg crowds continued until long after midnight. The whole city was' very brilliantly illuminated, as w.ere the Champs Ely&ees with their usual holiday show. But this time there was no cry of "Des' lampions/" no ill-will displayed towards the very few houses that remained dark. It was now the spontaneous triumph cf the cause of order. It was expected that during the night, at a moment when all the National Guards were harassed with fatigue, a fresh attempt would, be made by the Ultras ; but nothing o£ the kind took place. The number of men. under arms during the day amounted to 400,000. At night the illuminations in the Champs Elj sees presented a fairy-Jike scene. Lights, festooned from tree to tree were , hung from the Place de la Concorde all the way to the magnificent triumphal arch, and then the vista was terminated by a splendid display of various coloured lamps. The pale moon looked on from above in full sail, but her ineffectual fires were paled by the brilliant b'aze on every side. All the puhlic buildings, of course t shone resplendent, and the Chamber of Deputies and the nobje edifices on the Place de la Concorde glared with lights, and added to the glories of the scene. In the midst of all this, countless h4sts of peaceful Republicans, male nnd female, 'sang their songs with the gaiete dv cpeur for which the Parisian stands unrivalled amongst the children of the capitals of Europe. The following is a description of the new standard : — The handle is surmounted by a pike, below which is a medallion, on which is engraved, in relief, the Gallic cock, and under the medallion an oblong plate, with the letters "R. F.," engraved in -relief; Iv the midst of what is technically called the white part of the flame, in the centre of a crown of oak leaves, are written, " Liberte, Egalit£ % Fraternite," and in the midst " Unit&"> ?R4publique Frangaise" is inscribed on the flag. The address read by M. Aragotp the Colonels of Regiments, mentioned above,'- is as follows :—: — ■ " ' " Colonels, — The Provisional Government is about to confide' these standards to your honour, and to the honour: of the citizens and the soldiers whom you command. ' '* Let those Republican colours, the history of which is consecrated by glorious - reminiscences, everywhere recall to your eyes "the living image of free and regenerated France. " Let your hearts be' penetrated with- the holy motto of the Republic, henceforth. to become the immortal faith of the country. <. " If that country should require your arms, let this standard serve as the guide ito your courage. " Let it be in peace the symbol of discipline and of order — a rallying point for the defence of those great principles which the Revolution has proclaimed, and which the Republic will verify. , >> - " Citizen soldiers — soldiers, citizens', till children of the people, equally dear to them, carry with pride this emblem of the -strength and of the grandeur of the armed people. "It is for the Republic a pledge ofunion and power, for all free nations a guarantee of alliance and of friendship, for oppressed people a hope of enfranchisement. " Colonels, in the -name of the Republic, we tdke Gbiand men to witness that you swear fidelity to- this flag." '- - ' - • The soldiers of the regiments of the line that had entered Paris ;for the gratfd "FraternitfF&e" had been, billeted on the inhabitants, most of wh6m } had"displ*yed eager hospitality on the occasion.