Hillsdale Whig Standard

A Scene.—Napoleon was called the child of the Old Revolution. Lamartine is emphatically the man of the New. His labors are overwhelming, and yet he is ready for any emergency. The power he exerts over the masses is almost miraculous. Nor is it less felt in the proceedings of the Provisional Government. He is earnest, real, of undoubted courage, and sincerely honest.

It is well known here, that shortly after the flight of Louis Philippe, a Council was held of the Revolutionary leaders, to dictate to the Provisional Government. The Government felt compelled, though aware of the absurd principles of Lagrange, to make him Governor of the Rue de Vile. He held the post two days, and was replaced by another. His instrument was so wild and terrible, that fear came upon several of them.

Lamartine, alone, blanched not. He kept his self possession, and when Lagrange in the wild fury of his rage, drew a pistol from his pocket and pointed it at him, exclaiming, 'Thou art no true patriot! What hinders me from taking thy life on the instant?'—'Your own conscience,' coolly replied Lamartine, 'and the utter uselessness of such an outrage; for should I fall, there will still remain my colleagues, who all, to a man, have resolved to die rather than submit to violence or to return to the senseless anarchy of '93.' Lagrange shook with fear, turned pale as death; he dropped the pistol and sank into a seat; his eye quailed before the steady glance of Lamartine, while he muttered between his teeth—'Thou art not a true Republican, nor yet a true patriot, but I very believe thou art a honest man.'