The 1848 French Revolution Chronicled In This Important Manuscript: <i> "The King Fled Precipitately, Leaving Everything Behind Him, and Not Having More Than Franc Pieces In His Pocket and Only the Clothes He Had On"</i>

Book Description

Due to repressive constraints on the middle and working classes, such as the requirement of being a landowner in order to vote. and poor economic conditions throughout the country, the peasantry staged a protest against the powers that be in France, which ultimately turned bloody and led to yet another revolution in France. These events spawned the disorganized Second Republic, which caused the infamous "June Days" that ultimately led to Napoleon III coming to power. Universal male suffrage, however, came from the proceedings. <P> AMS. 3pg. 7 ‰ˆ x 9 ‰ˆ". No date (circa 1848). No place. An autograph manuscript signed <I>"<B>Sergeant Price</B>"</I> regarding the 1848 French uprising. In part: <I>"The Revolution in France which ended in the final overthrow of that tyrant of the Bourbon family, Louis Philippe, and the establishment of a Republic, began on the 22nd of February 1848, the anniversary of the birth of that great and illustrious personage, George Washington, and continued 3 days. The storm had been brewing for some time in France, but it was rather of a surprise to many for it to breakout before the death of Louis Philippe. Ever since the attempt had been made on the life of the king at the anniversary of the last revolution, he has been in constant fear and trembling for his life and kingdom, and has been making his laws stricter and stricter every day for their preservation. The immediate cause of the outbreak was because the King sent armed men to prevent the Republican Party holding a grand banquet which had been talked about for a great while, but the king never did anything to prevent it, until the day of assembling arrived. He then sent his troops, and ordered the doors to be closed. The king was about to take breakfast on the morning of the glorious 22nd, when his servant said to him that there was a great many people outside of the palace, demanding concessions from the King. The King said it was nothing but a coffeehouse row and soon would be put down by his disciplined troops. But ere the words had escaped his lips, one of the members of his ministry rushed in, and told him that the people demanded more than was anticipated. The King was very much terrified and immediately abdicated in favor of his grandson, a youth of 10 year of age, but the people were not satisfied with anything but a free Republic. The King fled precipitately, leaving everything behind him, and not having more than 5 franc pieces in his pocket and only the clothes he had on. He went forth unto the Tuilerres leaning upon the arm of his devoted wife who did not seem so much terrified as the King and had much more presence of mind. When they had arrived in the midst of the people, the King was ushered into a one horse carriage which was standing near, the Queen following him, and set off at full gallop along the shore towards Dreux. A few days after, the King and his family departed in a fishing boat for the purpose of crossing the channel to England, but were overtaken by a steamer which conveyed them to New Haven in England, where they were kindly received by the people. Thus Louis Philippe who was a few hours before the King and ruler of a mighty nation of the world was reduced to an exile and wanderer in a foreign country, without money or clothes."</I> The letter is in excellent condition and is written in a beautiful script

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