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 2i6 HISTORY OF FR.iNCE. [chap. X. Robert le Fort, and the whole family returned to France as private persons. As the Count of Chambord, Hetiry V. as the legitimists call him, was childless, and the Count of Paris was his next heir, the legitimists and Orleanists hoped to join and bring back a king of the old line. But the Count of Chambord put forth a reply that he would reign on his forefathers' throne if he were recalled, not by the choice of the nation, but as king by the grace of Go I, most Christian king, and el 'lest son of the Church. This was an answer which he and every one else knew must shut him out from the throne, and the French decided on a republican government with a president. Their wrath for the general weakness and ill- management of the war was vented in a trial of Marshal Bazaine for treason in the surrender of Metz. The deci- sion was again=t him, and he was imprisoned in the isle of St. Margaret, in the Gulf of Lyons, but with his wife's assistance he managed to make his escape, not without grave imputation on the honour and truth of both. On the reigaation of M. Thiers, in 1K73, a vote of the assembly gave the presidency to Marshal Mac Mahon for a term of seven years. Mac Mahon, however, retired in 1879, and was succeeded by M. Grdvy. The present constitution takes the form of a republic, with a Presiient and his ministers and two Legislative Chambers, and late events have shewn that this is the form of government which the French nation at large is determined to support