"The members of our Committee approach you with confidence to ask you kindly to honour them with a gift in favour of the Knights of July. Any benevolence shown to these unhappy fathers of families, at this time of plague and misery, inspires the sincerest gratitude. We venture to hope that you will consent to allow your illustrious name to figure beside those of General Bertrand, General Exelmans, General Lamarque, General La Fayette, and several ambassadors, peers of France and deputies. "We beg you to honour us with a word in reply, and if, contrary to our expectation, our request should meet with a refusal, be good enough to return us the present letter. "With the gentlest sentiments, we beg you, monsieur le vicomte, to accept the homage of our respectful salutations. "The active members of the Constitutive Committee of the Knights of July: "FAURE, Visiting Member. "CYPRIEN DESMARAIS, Special Commissary. "GIBERT-ARNAUD, Manager and Secretary. "TOUREL, Assistant Member." I was too wise not to take the advantage which the Revolution of July here gave me over itself. By distinguishing between persons, one would create helots among the unfortunate, who, because of certain political opinions, might never obtain relief. I lost no time in sending a hundred francs to these gentlemen, with this note: "PARIS, 22 _April_ 1832. "GENTLEMEN, "I am infinitely grateful to you for applying to me to come to the assistance of some unhappy fathers of families. I hasten to send you the sum of one hundred francs: I regret that I am not able to offer you a more considerable gift. "I have the honour, etc. "CHATEAUBRIAND." The following receipt was sent to me by return: [Sidenote: The knights of July.] "MONSIEUR LE VICOMTE, "I have the honour to thank you and to acknowledge the receipt of the sum of one hundred francs devoted by your kindness to the succour of the unfortunates of July. "Greetings and respects. "GIBERT-ARNAUD, "Manager and Secretary to the Committee. "23 _April._" And so Madame la Duchesse de Berry gave charity to those who had driven her from the country. The transactions show things in their true light. How can one believe in any reality in a country where no one looks after the invalids of his party, where the heroes of yesterday are the destitute persons of to-day, where a little gold makes the multitude hurry to one like pigeons in a farm-yard flocking to the hand that flings grain to them. Four thousand francs of my twelve remained. I addressed myself to religion; Monseigneur the Archbishop of Paris[391] wrote me this noble letter: "PARIS, 26 _April_ 1832. "MONSIEUR LE VICOMTE,