I was present at the sessions wherein the elected Representatives of the people decided the fate of the Frankish monarchy, imposed on Gaul for fourteen centuries. It was not alone the man, the King, that the Convention decapitated--it was the most ancient monarchy in Europe. It was not only the head of Capet that the Republic wished defiantly to cast at the feet of allied Europe; it was the crown of the last of the Kings. It was eight in the evening. In response to their names as the roll was called the members of the Convention mounted the tribunal one by one, and in the midst of a solemn silence cast their vote. This evening, Thursday, at eight o'clock, while throughout the spacious hall one might have heard a pin drop, Vergniaud announced the result: "The Assembly consists of seven hundred and forty-nine members; 15 are absent on committees, 7 because of illness, 1 without cause, censured; and 5 excused; number remaining, seven hundred and twenty-one. "Required for an absolute majority, three hundred and sixty-one. "Members voting for death unconditionally, three hundred and eighty-seven. "Members voting for imprisonment, irons, or conditional death, three hundred and thirty-four. "In the name of the people and the National Convention, I declare the penalty of death pronounced against Louis Capet." JANUARY 19, 1793.--The question put by Mailhe, "Shall there be any postponement of Louis XVI's execution?" was discussed during the sessions of the 17th and 18th. At the end of to-day's session, the president put the question to a vote: "Shall the execution of Louis Capet be postponed, yes or no?" The vote resulted: for postponement, three hundred and ten; against, three hundred and eighty. The postponement was lost. Pale, and with grief impressed upon his features, Vergniaud again ascended the tribunal and in a trembling voice announced: "The National Convention declares: "Article first.--Louis Capet, last King of France, is guilty of conspiracy against the liberty of the nation and of assault upon the general safety of the State. "Article second.--The National Convention declares that Louis Capet shall suffer the penalty of death. "Article third.--Notice of the decree which condemns Louis Capet to death shall he sent to the Executive Council. "The Executive Council is charged to notify Louis XVI of the decree during the day, and to have him executed within twenty-four hours. "The mayors and municipal officers of Paris shall be enjoined to allow Louis Capet liberty to communicate with his family, and to call upon a minister of the denomination he may elect, to attend his last moments." At three in the morning of Sunday, January 20, the meeting adjourned; and to cries of "Long live the Nation!" "Long live the Republic!" the multitude poured out of the galleries. CHAPTER XIX. EXECUTION. Such were the memorable sessions of the National Assembly of the 15th, 17th, 19th and 20th of January, 1793.