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Tocqueville, Alexis de, 1805-1859

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

I must set an example that everyone can
see and can understand. This is not a time for taking precautions. If _I_
were to shelter myself, _they_ would run."'
'How does Lamoriciere,' I asked, 'bear exile and inactivity in Brussels?'
'Very ill,' said Scheffer. 'He feels that he has compromised the
happiness of his wife, whom he married not long before the _coup
d'etat._'
'Changarnier at Malins, who lives alone and has only himself to care for,
supports it much better.'
Tocqueville and I walked home together.
'Scheffer,' he said, 'did not tell all that happened at the Chateau
d'Eau. Men seldom do when they fight over their battles.'
'The insurgents by burrowing through walls had got into a house in the
rear of our position. They manned the windows, and suddenly fired down on
us from a point whence no danger had been feared. This caused a panic
among the National Guards, a force of course peculiarly subject to
panics. They turned and ran back 250 yards along the Boulevard St.
Martin, carrying with them the Line and Lamoriciere himself. He
endeavoured to stop them by outcries, and by gesticulations, and indeed
by force. He gave to one man who was trying to run by him a blow with his
fist, so well meant and well directed that it broke his collar bone.


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