The Doyen's Mule.

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mingled with fear, for he was a severe judge, inflexible to vice, and merciless to the infringers of the law. On arriving at the inner gate of the Palais, M. de Cambola was met by the usher, who placed a stool for him to step on and helped him to alight. The mule then, at the signal of a gentle tap of the usher's wand, turned round, and set off at a trot to the stable adjoining his master's hotel, where his provender was in readiness for him. At precisely ten minutes before twelve, the mule again started from his resting place, and trotted back alone to the Palais, in the courtyard of which he never failed to arrive, just as the clock struck twelve. The venerable Doyen then bestrided his fathful limoisin and returned home: to the mule the business of the day was then over; though only half ended to his worthy master.

"This routine had been kept up for the space of thirty years uninterrupted by any accident. The mule passed and repassed every day twice with the Doyen and twice without him, and with such undeviating punctuality with regard to time, that clocks and watches were regulated by his appearance and many a rendezvous was fixed with the following formula:-Rely on me: I will be as punctual as the mule of M. de Cambolas.' The mule was known to all the inhabitants of Toulouse young and old. He shared no small portion of the veneration which was rendered to his master; and none of the boys of Toulouse, though certainly not less mischievous than those of Paris, would have ventured to tease or annoy the privileged mule. It happened that there was a Dutchman whose evil star led him to Toulouse. He was a cutler by trade, and he came in quest of employment, which, being a good workman, he easily obtained. He was a quarrelsome, disorderly fellow, always getting into broils, and he committed some offence for which he incurred punishment. The genius of mischief prompted him to seek revenge for this punishment, not, indeed, on the venerable Doyen, but on his scarcely less revered mule.

"One day, within a few minutes of noon, the faithful animal was trotting along the Rue de Canteliers on his way to the Palais de Justice to fetch his master home, when his legs got entangled in a cord, which had been purposely

VOL. I.-14

158

The Mischievous Dutchman.

placed in the way. The mule became frightened, but he succeeded in extricating himself from the trap that had been set for him, and, turning out of his direct course, ran through several narrow lanes. The people in the street who witnessed this occurrence, and trembled for its consequences, ran after the mule, and, having succeeded in overtaking him, conducted him in triumph to the residence of M. de Cambolas.

"The clock struck twelve, and the worthy Doyen rose from his seat, and prepared to leave the Palais de Justice; but who can picture his surprise, when, on reaching the gate, he discovered that the inule was not in attendance, and that there was no servant or messenger from his house to explain the mysterious circumstance! Could any one have stolen the animal?.... Impossible!... To steal the mule of the Doyen of Toulouse, was about as likely as that any thief in Rome should attempt to lay sacrilegious hands on the Pope's tiara. The whole Palais was a scene of consternation. The young counsellors, (prompted by veneration for their respected colleague,) the clerks, ushers, serjeants, registrars, tip-staves, all were hurrying to and fro and making inquiries. No tidings of the mule! M. de Bertier, one of the presidents, offered M. Cambolas a seat in his carriage and drove him home, where the Doyen's anxiety was relieved by the discovery that the mule had arrived before him.

"The court took cognizance of this affair. It was judged in a solemn audience, and the Dutchman was declared to have committed a crime of very serious magnitude. By attacking the Doyen's mule, he was guilty of insulting the whole sovereign court of the parliament. He must, it was alleged, have committed this offence, for the purpose of bringing ridicule upon the august magisterial body. He was, consequently, sentenced to be imprisoned, whipped, branded, and sent to the galleys for five years. He, however, escaped; arrangements having been made to enable him to do so, for our ancestors were equally humane and severe. But, the prisoner was nevertheless condemned in contumacy, and executed in effigy, for the sake of example. The example was certainly effectual for years afterwards:

The Calas Family.

159

mothers were heard to say to their refractory children by way of reprimand:

"You rogue, you deserve to be punished like the Dutch

man." "

This anecdote, which was told with infinitely more point and humour than I can throw into it, amused us exceedingly. Some one of the company observed, that the sentence of the parliament was ridiculously severe: but others admired the union of rigour and mercy displayed in the sentence. The person on whom the example was made, was a foreigner, and his punishment was, in reality, only banishment from Toulouse. His offence was, it is true, unimportant, and ludicrous, rather than serious, but its punishment was calculated to add to the respect due to the sovereign magistracy. Any act, detrimental to that respect, partook of the nature of sacrilege. But then, on the other hand, by what fatigue, toil, and unremitting service did the judges purchase this respect! They were like slaves, bound to perpetual labour on the soil; it was but just that the chains which they wove, for the interest of all, should be doubly gilded.

Allusion was made to other judgments pronounced by the parliament of Toulouse, and some of the company disapproved the sentence on the family of Calas.

"Softly, gentlemen," said the Marquis de Maniban, "softly, if you please....Do you admit the proposition that fanaticism exists, that it pervades all mankind?.... then, coming to the application, do you mean to advance that catholics alone are capable of murdering their children? This, I am sorry to say, would be lamentably unjust, and yet, such is the inference you would deduce. All religious creeds, all political opinions have their enthusiasts, who shrink not from the commission of murder. Take, for example the Jews who massacred those who worshipped other gods than theirs.... the pagans, who, after the preaching of the gospel, wished to drown the christians in blood. Look at the assassination of the Duke de Guise, by a protestant....the numberless cruelties inflicted by the Mussulmans on the Greeks....and the attempt to poison Mahomet! Would you attribute all these crimes to catholics? Admit, then, the possibility of a father, not a catholic,

160

Tristan d'Escalonne.

sacrificing his son to his faith, and do not heap all these black crimes on the followers of the religion in which you were born, which some of you profess, and to which you will all, one day or other, return."

This vigorous philippic roused the philosophers of the company.

"What!" they exclaimed, "do you mean to affirm that the family of Calas murdered their son, their brother, and brother-in-law?"

"Yes, gentlemen," replied the Marquis, "that is my opinion, and it is supported by the sentence of two tribunals, one of which is the Chambre de Tournelle, of the parliament of Toulouse: this is saying not a little. However, we do not pretend to infallibility; we may be wrong; but, to convince us of our mistake, you must prove, by evidence as clear as daylight, that every parricide, every fillicide has been committed by catholics, and that no other religion whatsoever, presents any example of such a crime. Do you hope to obliterate the remembrance of Brutus, of Manlius Tarquatus, of Timolean, of Cresus, of Atræus, of Sapor, and hundreds of other fathers, who have murdered their sons, and sons who have murdered their fathers, without the pale of christianity? Calvin had Servet roasted at a slow fire for debating questions of speculative theology: do you imagine that he would have spared his own blood? Do not, then, allege that the protestants are free from religious hatred, and, above all, fanaticism! I am well aware that the descendants of the Calas would be indignant if they heard me argue thus: that would be very natural. Let them try to refute me; it is their duty to do so. My grandfather maintained the innocence of the family, as may be seen in the writings of Voltaire; but his wife, whose judgment was not less sound than his, was of the opposite opinion. People may differ on an historical point; especially, when good evidence may be adduced in support of both sides of a great question.

"However, the partizans of Calas have fully avenged him. The grandson of the Capitoul, David d'Escalonne, (who was chief judge on the trial of Calas,) was executed at Toulouse, in 1794: there was no shadow of ground for the condemnation of the young and unfortunate Tristan

Napoleon's Opinion of the Old Parliaments.

161

d'Escalonne, except revenge for the condemnation of Calas. Madame de Cambon was sacrificed for the same motive, as were likewise two or three other members of the family. The Calvinists of Toulouse shewed themselves implacable. Who has forgotten the revolutionary fanaticism of the minister, Jullien, who was chosen a member of the National Convention, where he voted for the death of the King without appeal or postponement? Let us not be told of the tolerance of the Calvinists: there is as much

fanaticism among them as among the catholics."

The discussion threatened to become warm; and Prince Cambacérès brought it to a conclusion by observing:

"I have been accused of being a parliamentarian; I do not deny the charge: I am so, for I exercise my reason. But Napoleon was even more favourable to the old parliaments than I. In 1812, when the Emperor was about to depart for the campaign of Russia, I was engaged with him in arranging some judicial appointments. He was consulting private notes, and he grew impatient, for he did not meet with any description which precisely corresponded with the persons he wished; for he was desirous of being very select in his choice. Suddenly he exclaimed:

"Do you know that you have made me take a very wrong step?"

"I, Sire! When?"

"Bah! these imperial courts.... they are mere half measures. ... mere trickery, tending to no good end. I want something better. Here! cast your eye over these notes; even those which have been furnished by men of the revolution. You will see that, in all cases, the members of the old parliaments, or the descendants, are ranked among the most respectable men in the provinces. Do you know, Monsieur Archi.... (he frequently used this abbreviation when addressing me familiarly,) do you know that to have resisted a revolution such as ours, there must have existed, in these families, virtues and talents of the highest order? I do not allude to fortune-by no means

I know there are many rogues worth a hundred thousand francs per annum, who have neither honesty nor consistency. These families must have possessed something better than wealth-hereditary honour! Yes, that