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 become a Catholic. It has been said by French legislators that, however severe these laws might be in their enactments, they were comparatively mild in their administration. And what was the proof adduced of the leniency with which they were administered? — that in the period which elapsed from 1745 to 1770 only eight Protestant ministers had been hanged; that only forty marriages had been annulled, the husbands sent to the galleys, and the wives to hospitals as common prostitutes!

“Such was the state, such the administration, of the laws respecting Protestants until 1787, when Louis XVI. softened them, and undoubtedly would have repealed them but for the subsequent events which occurred to interrupt the accomplishment of his humane intentions. One of the first acts, however, of the Revolution was to restore the Protestants to a perfect equality of privileges. With the feelings natural to men, they could not but applaud and admire a work which had raised them from the depths of degradation and misery to the state of free citizens, possessing equal laws and equal rights. This, however, has been urged against them as a matter of reproach.

“In the subsequent scenes of the Revolution, when liberty had degenerated into licentiousness, and when tyranny and persecution had usurped the places of justice and mercy, not one Protestant was found to be an actor. There was not a single Protestant a member of the Revolutionary Tribunal of the Department of the Gard; whilst of the 130 persons who were guillotined by its orders at Nismes, more than 100 were Protestants, though the Protestants only formed about one-third of the population.

“The Protestants being restored to the rank of citizens, all religious animosities seemed to subside in the south of France. In 1802 Buonaparte, the First Consul of France, procured the enactment of a law placing the Protestant on the same footing with the Catholic faith, in point of establishment and privilege. Can it be a subject of reproach to them that they were grateful for this favour? It is not possible but that they must have felt attachment to him for it; and hence it is deemed proper to characterise them as Buonapartists.

“Such was the state of things when, in April 1814, Louis XVIII. was restored. At that period Buonaparte had become as unpopular at Nismes as in every other part of France. The people were worn down by the taxes and the conscription. In the Department of the Gard these had been more severely felt. The Protestants expressed their satisfaction with as much ardour and sincerity as the Catholics. But unfortunately there returned to Nismes persons who had long been absent from the place, and who entertained a great jealousy of the Protestants. By the interference of these individuals, a tendency was exhibited to return to the old system. The Protestants were insulted in the streets by the populace. Songs were sung in ridicule of them; gibbets were drawn at their doors. The Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s day was adverted to, and the agitators expressed the satisfaction which they should soon feel in washing their hands in Protestant blood. The Protestants were threatened with extermination, and were told that there should be but one religion.

“This was the situation of things when in March 1815 Buonaparte suddenly re-appeared in the south of France. On this occasion the principal Protestants expressed the same zeal and determination as the Catholic subjects of Louis. A declaration was issued at Nismes on the 13th of March, signed by the municipal body and the most distinguished inhabitants (amongst whom were the ministers and several of the members of the Protestant Church) expressive of warm attachment to the king. Soon after this the Duke d’Angouleme appeared among them. But the Protestants (it was alleged) did not join the royal army in the numbers it was expected they would do. It was true, they did not; nor will it appear surprising, when the treatment, which they had experienced during the short reign of Louis, is recollected. On the 3d of April the authority of Buonaparte was proclaimed at Nismes; on the 15th of July, that of Louis XVIII. was re-established.

“It has been represented that, during the reign of Buonaparte from the 3d of April to the 15th of July, acts of the greatest violence had been committed by the Protestants towards the Catholics, and that everything which subsequently took place was to be considered as mere acts of retaliation and revenge. The fact was, however, that no such acts of violence were committed by the Protestants. Of this I have been assured on the best authority. During that period the town was under the command of a Catholic, General Gilly.

“After the 15th of July, many of the royalists from the Duke d’Angouleme’s army, and from various adjoining places, flocked to Nismes. The garrison, consisting of 200 men, laid down their arms, but (shocking to relate) were, with a few exceptions, killed in cold blood.

“Now commenced the persecution of the Protestants. Their houses were pulled down, their furniture was burnt, the rich were laid under severe contributions, and the poor exposed to the utmost cruelties. The greater part of these unfortunate people were manufacturers. Their persecutors destroyed their looms and implements of industry, knowing that by such a proceeding they would totally deprive them of all means of subsistence. Houses and manfactories were totally destroyed, vineyards laid waste, and the vines torn up by the roots. Many females were exposed in the street to every description of insult. One woman in particular, who was scourged in a most brutal manner, was known to be far advanced in pregnancy. The instruments which were used in this torture were not of the ordinary kind; small pieces of iron and small nails were fastened to the scourges by which these people were torn.

“Sir, I will not detain the House by going into all the particulars of these dreadful scenes. Thirty women were scourged, eight or nine of whom died in consequence. The