18 JULY 1896, Page 1

The French National Fete was celebrated on Tuesday. While the

President of the Republic was driving to the review he was fired at by a man in the crowd. The police at once seized the culprit, but on examination it was found that the revolver which he had used was only loaded with blank cartridges. It appears that he was dismissed some time ago by the municipality in whose employ he was, and that he fired at the President in order to draw attention to his case. The crowd were very much enraged at the attempt, and tried to lynch the assassin, as they believed him, falling on him with cries of "A mort ! A mort ! " All is well that ends well, and we sincerely congratulate M. Faure on his escape. It is clear, however, that police precautions are of little use. The man fired twice before he was arrested, and had his revolver been loaded M. Faure might have shared the fate of his predecessor.