ns of people, may possibly depend upon five votes."

******

FOURTH APPEL NOMINAL.

THE object of this fourth appeal was to know whether the
execution of Louis might be deferred; 310 were for respite, and 380
against it. Thus, by a majority of 70 votes, it was decreed, that
the sentence against Louis XVI. should be executed without delay.

******

THE EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI.

21st JANUARY, 1793.

THE minister of justice and the heads of the administrative
corps, having proceeded to the Temple on Sunday the 20th of January,
about four in the evening, notified to Louis the warrant for his
execution. "I demand," said the King, "a respite of three days to
"prepare myself for appearing before God. To assist me in this work,
"I desire to have Mr. Edgeworth, (an Irish clergyman) with whom I may
"freely communicate. I desire that he may be secured from all
"uneasiness, or apprehension, on account of this charitable office
"which he shall perform for me. I desire to be relieved from that
"perpetual watch which the council-general has set over me for some
"days. I demand in this interval the privilege of seeing my family
"when I shall desire it, and without witnesses. I could also wish,
"that the Convention would, as speedily as may be, set about
"determining the fate of my family, and permit them to see each other
"freely and commodiously, when they shall think proper.

"I recommend to the liberality of the nation all those persons who
"have been attached to me. Among my pensioners there are many aged
"men, women, and children, who have no other means of subsistence."

Of all there requisitions Louis obtained only that of seeing his
family without witnesses. It was the first time since his
imprisonment. The interview lasted two hours. It is impossible to
express the horror of the moment, when he was obliged to tear himself
away from them. On his return to his apartment, the King passed a
almost the whole of the night in prayer. He then laid down and slept
a few hours, and early in the morning betook himself again to prayer.

The 21st of January, at half past eight o'clock, Santerre, the
commandant-general, came to signify to Louis the order for his going
to execution. Having requested three minutes to speak with his
confessor, he then turned to Santerre, and told him that he was ready
to follow him.

The King crossed the first court of the Temple on foot; he then
enter