From the Guardian archiveFranceInsurrection in Paris: attempt at a new revolution - archive, 1832
On 5 June 1832, anti-monarchist republicans rose up against the King, seizing a central section of Paris and building dozens of barricades. See how the Guardian and the Observer reported events
The June Rebellion, also known as the Paris Uprising of 1832, took place between 5-6 June, 1832, when republicans in Paris attempted to reverse the establishment in 1830 of the July Monarchy. It began during the funeral of General Lamarque, a member of the French parliament and a critic of the monarchy who had died as part of a deadly cholera epidemic. There were 100,00 participants and it inspired French novelist Victor Hugo to write his 1862 novel Les Misérables. This was later turned into a successful musical.
Editorial: serious disturbances in Paris
9 June 1832
We point attention, with much pain, to our extracts of letters and papers from the French capital, notifying the occurrence of some very sudden and extensive insurrectionary movements on Tuesday afternoon last. These movements which may or may not have been preconcerted, broke out on the return of an immense cortège from attending the funeral of Gereral Lamarque.
For some time at first it would seem that the insurgents had the best of the conflict. From the telegraphic dispatches, however, it appears that their success was not of long duration. These accounts state that “order reigns in all Paris,” and that the Carlist and republican faction (by whom, acting in unison, it is said that the insurrection was created) “have been crushed.”
We greatly fear there is a strong, active, and determined, if not also rapidly increasing party in that country, who will never rest until they have plunged Europe into war, and, in their intended devotion to liberty, raised up obstacles to its progress, and inflicted injuries on the cause of good government, that for many years can be scarcely susceptible to reparation.
(This is an edited extract).
Carlist insurrections in France
9 June 1832
The Paris papers of Friday end Saturday, contain details of the attempted Carlist rebellion in the west, and of the vigour with which it has been resisted by the supporters of order and of the existing dynasty.
Serious disturbances in Paris
(extract of a letter)
General Lamarque’s funeral procession took place on Tuesday morning. Notwithstanding an unfavourable state of the weather, several thousand persons attended the obsequies of this republican politician, though Napoleonist soldier, and the whole of the windows, terraces, and balconies along the boulevard, commencing from the church of La Madeleine, were filled chiefly with elegantly dressed females, who seemed anxious to view that ceremony. The cortège, of course was chiefly composed of persons professing what are still called liberal opinions.
The immense number of national guards, in full dress, formed part of it. I am sorry to say that though many persons of unquestionable respectability attended, some disturbances took plate. The crowds on the boulevards, in the early part of the morning, mistook the military honours which were paid to the body on its being placed in the hearse, as an attack upon the people. Everyone armed himself with a chair, or whatever he could lay hands upon, for defence. When the cause of the firing become known, tranquillity was restored. The crowds who attended the procession attacked and handled in rather a rough manner several sergens de police, whom they met on the boulevard. The Duke of FitzJames was compelled to come to his window and take off his hat, under pain or having his house pulled about his ears. I am told there were frequent cries of ‘Vive la republique,’ ‘A bas Louis Philippe,’ but I am not sure that they wore really uttered, or very generally heard.”
Later accounts
Paris, Tuesday, 9 o’clock pm
Paris is at the moment the scene of dreadful carnage. The people have risen everywhere, and are fighting with the troops in almost every street. From all sides I hear firing going on, and, so far as I have seen, the people are getting the better of the troops. There is every appearance that we are on the evening of a new revolution. The signal was given at five o’clock this afternoon, at the Place de la Bastille, as the return from General Lamarque’s funeral, which. was attended by nearly 100.000 persons, a great portion of whom were national guards.
This is what has been related to me by two respectable persons, who witnessed the commencement of the business. An immense crowd were following a coach in which General Lafayette had been placed, and which was drawn by the populace. This crowd was suddenly charged by a party of cavalry, who had been concealed behind some houses in the neighbourhood of the Place de la Bastille. The cavalry commenced operations by firing their pistols at the crowd, and afterwards used their sabres. A universal cry of ‘Aux Armes’ was raised by the people, and, arming themselves with everything they could lay hands upon, they fell upon the mounted soldiers, whom they very soon routed, wounding a great number.
The whole of this populace who took part in this affray proceeded in a state of the highest exasperation to several of the postes militaires about the town, where they disarmed the soldiers, and rallied out into the streets with their arms. All the garrison was immediately placed under arms and divided into detachments, who are up to this moment fighting with the people. The latter have by this time risen in vast numbers. It is expected they will be masters of the field of battle by the morning, and the first use they will make of victory will be to change the government. I have seen some streets already barricaded by omnibuses. The firing has been going on for the last hour under the windows of the room in which I am writing.
From the Constitutionnel
The funeral of General Lamarque has not passed over without an effusion of blood. What we can say at present with certainty is, that the attempt, whether revolution of counter-revolution, has failed. Some agitators, among whom, in the midst of a multitude difficult to characterise, we remarked some uniforms of the national and of the artillery of the national guard and some students of public schools, amidst cries of ‘Vive la Republique’ fired upon the national guard and the troops of the line, and at first took possession of several posts, particularly the bank, the Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, the royal printing office, and some others. They began to construct barricades upon several points by stopping and overthrowing carriages, and forcing the inhabitants of the houses to give them materials. It was in fact an open and armed revolt, and we may estimate the number of persons who took part in it at 1,500 to 2,000.
In a short time the troops of the line and the national guard united upon the principal points, and marched against the perturbators. All the posts were taken, the barricades were removed, and victory declared itself everywhere for the national guard and the army – that it is to say, for citizens fighting for the preservatIon of their property, for order and law. But this victory was not a bloodless one. Several of the national guard, and officers and soldiers of the line, became victims to the performances of their duty. At the moment at which we write (ten o’clock at night), the firing of musquetry is still heard in the streets; but this mad and criminal attempt will soon be put down as it finds no sympathy in the mass of the population. We hare seen a great number of citizens who do not belong to the national guard, assisting in the apprehension of armed persons, and in the destruction of the barricades.
Insurrection in Paris: attempt to effect a new revolution
The Observer, 10 June 1832
All men who have looked with attention at the divisions of parties – the state of Government, and the progress of events, during the last few months in Paris, must have prepared their minds for an attempt of some kind or other to speed the march of the Revolution of July, but we apprehend there are very few who will not feel surprise to learning the frantic & ill-digested manner in which the first movement has been effected.
Editorial
16 June 1832
France – It affords us extreme pleasure to state that the alarming insurrection in Paris, which was announced in our last, has been completely put down, and that the rebels do not seem to have obtained the countenance of any even of the respectable mouvement politicians. In another part of our paper we have given as full as our limits permit, details of the progress and termination of the tumults, with some statements as to their origins.
Notices of new books: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
The Observer, 19 October 1862
It is said that no book has been published for many years which has had such immense success as Les Miserables. The principal politics are those of the Republic, and the characters of men connected with the times are discussed with unusual boldness. It is true that there is immense honour heaped upon the head of the Emperor Napoleon, and probably this has saved it from condemnation in the highest quarters. Religion is handled in such a manner as only a Frenchman could dare to do, and strange doctrines are put forward that would meet with but few admirers on this side of the Channel.
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