The North American Review Volume 68 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849 Excerpt: ...citizens, full of joy at what they deemed the happy termination of the disturbances, crowded before the palace to express their gratitude to the king. Twice the king appeared on the balcony, and was hailed by the enthusiastic shouts of the multitude. After he had retired, one of the ministers came forward, and requested the mob to return quietly to their homes. This demand was received with murmurs by the crowd, and in their turn they demanded that the soldiers, who were stationed under the palace windows, should be dismissed. As this desire was not complied with, they pressed forward, menacing the soldiers and brandishing their sticks. At this moment a couple of shots were fired, and a scene of the utmost confusion and tumult ensued. The people, amidst cries of Treason Treason ran in every direction, to raise barricades against the troops, who were advancing on all sides. The conflict was long and bloody. For thirteen hours, the people fought against an armed force of not less than twenty thousand men. At last, towards morning, the combat ceased, and the king, finding all resistance useless, issued a proclamation to his beloved Berliners, which, after endeavouring to explain the sad events of the preceding day by attributing them to a set of lawless individuals in the crowd, who had taken advantage of the accidental shots fired by the troops to raise the standard of revolt, ends with the following words: --"Return to peace and tranquillity, break down the barricades which still remain, and then send me men animated with the old Berlin spirit, with words such as are becoming in presence of your king, and I promise you that the troops shall immediately evacuate the streets and the public places. Hear the paternal voice of your king, inhabitants of my b...