"al i g eppertatar " September 1st, 1849 A VERY extraordinary scene
for Paris occurred on Sunday evening, in the Place de la Bourse. Soon after six o'clock, a young and well-dressed Englishman got upon a post with a small pocket Testament in his hand ; and, a few persons having assembled, he began to harangue them, in very good French, on the blessings of peace. Two sergents de ville, who were) on duty at the Vaudeville Theatre, perceiving that a crowd was assembling, went to the spot, and informed the zealous but imprudent orator that open-air lectures in Paris were contrary to law. The Englishman per- sisted, and said that his object was pacific. The officers replied that they did not question the excellence of his motives, but that no person could deliver harangues in the public thoroughfare without a permission from the Prefect of Police ; and they requested him, politely but earnestly, to withdraw. He replied, in French, " Je ne me retire pas " ; on which the sergents de ville took him by the arm and led him away.
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