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the poor…box； and pulled the books to pieces。 A detachment of troops
arrived just in time to prevent their setting the building on fire。
The next day passed more quietly。 This time the disorders were of
too important a nature for the prefect to ignore； as he had ignored
so many bloody acts in the past； so in due time a full report was
laid before the king。 It became know the same evening that General
Lagarde was still living； and that those around him hoped that the
wound would not prove mortal。 Dr。 Delpech； who had been summoned
from Montpellier； had succeeded in extracting the bullet； and though
he spoke no word of hope； he did not expressly declare that the case
was hopeless。
Two days later everything in the town had assumed its ordinary
aspect； and on the 21st of November the king issued the following
edict：
〃Louis； by the grace of God； King of France and of Navarre；
〃To all those to whom these presents shall come； greeting：
〃An abominable crime has cast a stain on Our city of Nimes。
A seditious mob has dared to oppose the opening of the Protestant
place of worship； in contempt of the constitutional charter； which
while it recognises the Catholic religion as the religion of the
State； guarantees to the other religious bodies protection and
freedom of worship。 Our military commandant； whilst trying to
disperse these crowds by gentle means before having resort to force；
was shot down； and his assassin has till now successfully evaded the
arm of the law。 If such an outrage were to remain unpunished； the
maintenance of good government and public order would be impossible；
and Our ministers would be guilty of neglecting the law。
〃Wherefore We have ordered and do order as follows：
〃Art。 1。 Proceedings shall be commenced without delay by Our
attorney； and the attorney…general； against the perpetrator of the
murderous attack on the person of Sieur Lagarde； and against the
authors； instigators； and accomplices of the insurrection which took
place in the city of Nimes on the 12th of the present month。
〃Art。 2。 A sufficient number of troops shall be quartered in the
said city； and shall remain there at the cost of the inhabitants；
until the assassin and his accomplices have been produced before a
court of law。
〃Art。 3。 All those citizens whose names are not entitled to be on
the roll of the National Guard shall be disarmed。
〃Our Keeper of the Seals； Our Minister of War； Our Minister of the
Interior； and Our Minister of Police； are entrusted with the
execution of this edict。
〃Given at Paris at Our Castle of the Tuileries on the 2lst of
November in the year of grace 1815； and of Our reign the 21st。
（Signed） Louis〃
Boissin was acquitted。
This was the last crime committed in the South； and it led
fortunately to no reprisals。
Three months after the murderous attempt to which he had so nearly
fallen a victim； General Lagarde left Nimes with the rank of
ambassador； and was succeeded as prefect by M。 d'Argont。
During the firm； just； and independent administration of the latter；
the disarming of the citizens decreed by the royal edict was carried
out without bloodshed。
Through his influence； MM。 Chabot…Latour； Saint…Aulaire； and Lascour
were elected to the Chamber of Deputies in place of MM。 De Calviere；
De Vogue； and De Trinquelade。
And down to the present time the name of M。 d'Argont is held in
veneration at Nimes； as if he had only quitted the city yesterday。
End