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Tocqueville, Alexis de, 1805-1859

"Conversations of Alexis de Tocqueville with Nassau William Senior from 1834 to 1859, Volume 2"

If he had not exposed himself as no
man ever did, and escaped as no man ever did, they would have been
broken.'
'I was there,' said Scheffer, 'when his fourth horse was killed under
him. As the horse was sinking he drew his feet out of the stirrups and
came to the ground without falling; but his cigar dropped from his mouth.
He picked it up, and went on with the order which he was giving to an
_aide-de-camp._
'I saw that,' said Tocqueville. 'He had placed himself immediately behind
a cannon in front of the Chateau d'Eau which fired down the Boulevard du
Temple. A murderous fire from the windows in a corner of the Rue du
Temple killed all the artillerymen. The instant that Lamoriciere placed
himself behind it, I thought that I saw what would happen. I implored him
to get behind some shelter, or at least not to pose as a mark.
"Recollect," I said, "that if you go on in this way you must be killed
before the day is over-and where shall we all be?"'
'"I see the danger of what I am doing," he answered, "and I dislike it as
much as you can do; but it is necessary. The National Guards are shaking;
if they break, the Line follows.


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