Another candidate for infamous renown in history his aimed at
the life of King Louis Philippe. One Lecomte, an old forest- keeper—a man on whom kindnesses had been heaped—has at- tempted to shoot the King, on his way, with the Queen and others of his household, from a boar-hunt. The assassin fired twice, the aim being close enough to injure the carriage ; but no one was hurt. Au affecting incident occurred : the wadding of the first shot fell on the bosom of the aged Queen, who held it up with a trembling hand, and gave it to the King. While her husband was reassuring her, the assassin again fired, but again without effect. The Royal ettrriage went its way : the assassin was pursued ; after a brief struggle, captured ; and is to be tried by a court of Peers. The motives of the attack seem to be en- tirely personal—spleen at not obtaining all the rank and lucre which the man desired. Some politicians have hazarded a con- jecture that tlie assassin has accomplices, and is the instrument of others conspiring with him; but there is not a shadow of evidence to support such a surmise. The ruffian is nothing but a ruffian, in- toxicated by pride and a mad sense of his own neglected merits. Meanwhile' the adventure has evoked the strongest expressions
of sympathy for the King both in France and in this country : the French Chambers have scarcely been before the English Premier in the declaration of their sentiments; the Paris Mu- nicipality is followed by the London Corporation ; and addresses approach the venerable Monarch in both languages. It is al- most worth the risk to elicit such widespread and valuable marks of esteem.
