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but that as he ran the risk of losing everything if the fugitives were discovered, he must ask for a large sum of money. The kind friend arranged all, and the captain agreed that, for £200 English money, he would land the little family at Exeter. In the evening of the 27th April, Mdlle. de Robillard took her two brothers, two of her sisters, and their governess for a walk on the Place du Château, to which the fashionable world resorted every evening. When the company dispersed, between 11 and 12 o'clock, the little party made their way to the embankment near the sea. Here they were taken up in

the dark into a garret. At one o'clock in the morning their friend and the captain arrived. Mdlle. de Robillard told them, with many tears, how grieved she was to be obliged to leave behind her youngest sister, to whom she was greatly attached, and that she could not bear to think of her falling into the hands of the Romanists, and being brought up in their religion. Her entreaties and tears touched the captain's heart so much, that he at last consented to take the little child, if her sister would promise that she would not cry when the King's officers came to search the vessel. The governess and their kind friend immediately returned to the other end of the city and took the infant from her bed, wrapped her in a blanket, and brought her to her sister, whom she was greatly delighted to

see.

At two o'clock, the tide being out, some sailors came to the beach and carried them to the vessel. They were immediately taken below and put into a small hiding-place made for them amongst the cargo. They had to sit down upon the salt with their heads touching the beams. The scuttle was then closed and tarred to resemble the rest of the deck, that it might not attract the notice of the searchers.

As soon as they had embarked, the captain prepared to set sail; the King's officers came on board, but happily did not discover the fugitives at either of their three visits.

The wind was favourable, and about noon on the following day they were beyond the reach of their enemies. The sailors then ventured to give some air to the poor fugitives, who were nearly suffocated. For a little while they were allowed to come on deck.

Notwithstanding all their sufferings, not one of the children cried or uttered a complaint, but all rejoiced in their escape from the tyranny which they had experienced.

The captain and the crew, consisting of three or four men, treated them tolerably well, and gave them plenty of biscuits,

peas, and salted meat, though the sea-sickness, from which they suffered, prevented them from eating much.

In seven days they arrived at Falmouth, where the captain had determined to leave them. He demanded the remainder of the passage money, but as he had not fulfilled his contract to land them at Exeter, Mdlle. de Robillard very properly complained to the mayor of the town, who took the little party into his own house and showed them great kindness. He obliged the captain to take them again on board, and ordered him to conduct them to Exeter, on pain of being punished. The next day, 5th May, at 10 o'clock in the morning, they again embarked, the captain having promised to take them to Topsham, a small port near Exeter. This he failed to do, and on the 7th, at 9 o'clock in the morning, he forced the unfortunate refugees to land at Falcombe, about 60 miles from Exeter, and obliged Mdlle. Robillard to pay him the remainder of the money she had promised.

Happily they soon found that this bad man was not a fair specimen of the English race. Kind people soon came to their aid. They speedily journeyed to Exeter, where, after having publicly rendered thanks in the French Church to God for their happy deliverance, they remained for about two months, when they were joined by their beloved mother.

Madame de Robillard would willingly have taken up her abode in this city, but as James II was King, and was beginning to persecute Protestants, she left for Holland with her family. Here they were joined by their father in 1688.

Mademoiselle de Robillard married Charles de La MotteFouqué, Sieur de Saint-Surin et de La Grève, and Baron de Tonnay-Boutonne, on the 12th December, 1692, at the Hague.*

The following verses taken from the "Plaintes des Fidèles Persécutéz, mais qui marque leur résignation à la Providence Divine," describe the mingled feelings of joy and sorrow which filled the hearts of the refugees :

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Que le vent souffle, que l'orage

Contre nous exerce sa rage,

Que la mer en couroux fasse écumer ses flots

Contre la fragile nacelle;

Qu'on l'agite toûjours par d'injustes Complots;
Puisque Jesus est avec elle.

Il tancera les Vents, et nos pauvres Troupeaux
Abordant seurement en des Climats nouveaux
Paîtront en quelque lieu sous ce Berger fidelle.

*This narrative is a greatly condensed translation of the "Recit" published in the "Bulletin de la Soc. de l'hist. du Protestantisme Français ; année 17.

Que ta Justice et ta Clémence
L'emportent donc sur ta puissance ;
Dans tes Arrêts et tes Edits

Des Temples abattus, des Pasteurs interdits
Sont une triste récompense

De tant de sang versé pour la gloire des Lys,
Mais si j'en crois mon espérance
Un jour nos vœux seront ouïs,

Et l'Astre qui luit à la France

Versant sur nos troupeaux une douce Influence,
Les Cachots les plus sourds de nos Chants réjouis
Annonceront la délivrance

Que j'attens de la Providence

Et des grandes vertus qui couronnent Louis."*

Other interesting features of the Commemoration, were the reading by the Rev. A. A. Dupont, Incumbent of the French Church of La Savoy, of contemporary French poems on the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, and on the Edict of Nantes, and the singing by some members of the Abbey Choir, before referred to, and by the children of the French Protestant School, of several Huguenot hymns and songs.

It is believed that about 400 visitors accepted the invitation of the Directors of the French Hospital and the Council of the Huguenot Society of London to be present at this Commemoration, and while some were listening to the reading of the Papers, others were examining the really remarkable collection of Huguenot relics, books, pictures, documents, specimens of work, and other objects, which had been kindly lent for exhibition by the representatives of the Huguenot families, in whose possession they now are.

The walls of the corridor were hung with the choicest specimens of silk, woven during the last century (principally by descendants of Huguenot Refugees), in the looms of Spitalfields and Bethnal Green. Against these, glass cases were placed in which the exhibits were shown, while in an upper line, hung the magnificent family portraits of the Boileaus, the Layards, and others, as well as a number of historical engravings bearing upon the event commemorated.

At the entrance, occupying a bay by itself, was a fac-simile of the Act of Revocation, surmounted by fine engravings of Louis XIV., Colbert, and Le Tellier. One case was devoted to

See pp. 90-96 of "La Séduction éludée, ou Lettres de Mr. l'Evêque de ...... avec les Réponses," etc., Berne, [1686] 12mo. A copy is in the

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the work of the inmates of the Hospital, and here were seen the early designs and drawings, beautifully executed, of one inmate, and the latest work-a piece of black dress silk of the finest quality of another. This last was woven by an inmate aged 81 years, in a loom, which has lately been set up in the Men's Day Room, for the amusement of the inmates. Another case contained a collection of French Bibles, Prayer Books, Psalters, &c., dating from 1551, among which was the famous De Dibon Bible, referred to in Smiles's Huguenots, which was kindly lent by Mr. Reginald S. Faber, who has to-day been elected a Fellow of our Society.

In a third case were shown nearly thirty books, many of them important historical works, the result of much patient labour, guided by special knowledge, which have been published during the present year in France, Germany, America, and England, upon the subject of French Protestant History; two cases were filled by Mr. Charles J. Shoppee, the Treasurer of the French Hospital, with exquisite examples of French fans, embroidery, needlework, jewellery, goldsmith's work, &c.,; and in others were displayed specimens of figured silk and satin, the remarkable wax medallions, made by an ancestor of the Gosset family, whose curious art is said to have died with him; many examples of old French plate, ornaments, miniatures, &c., brought over by the Refugees; a magnificent collection of engraved historical portraits of the 17th and 18th centuries; the Rev. David C. A. Agnew's interleaved folio volumes of his "French Protestant Exiles;" the splendid heraldic works of Mrs. J. R. D'Olier, of Dublin, and of the Boileau family, and many other things of almost equal value and interest.

The Council cannot let this opportunity pass, without gratefully acknowledging the extreme cordiality with which, as representing the Huguenot Society of London, they have been received by the Deputy-Governor, Treasurer, and Directors of the French Protestant Hospital. From the day of the invitation, mentioned in the first paragraph of this Report, the Directors have shown no flagging of interest in their selfimposed task. The beautiful building, with all its resourses, was generously lent by them for the Commemoration; but even this would have availed little without the influence of the Court of Directors, in securing many of the most valuable exhibits, and the unceasing care and thought exercised by the Executive Committee, in discussing and arranging the day's proceedings.

Your Council also desire to join the Directors of the French

Hospital in thanking those, who, in many cases at considerable personal inconvenience, contributed in a variety of ways to the successful observance of this great anniversary.

It is not to be supposed that such a commemoration could be organized, and such a collection of treasures brought together and returned, without incurring expense. On this point, the Council have much pleasure in announcing that the Treasurers of the French Hospital and of this Society, have been desired to prepare accounts of all the expenses incurred, and to determine the proportion in which they shall be borne by the two bodies. Though these expenses have been very considerable, the Council have reason to believe that your Treasurer will be met in so liberal a spirit, that it is sufficient for them, to ask the sanction of the Society to an expenditure not exceeding £25 on this object, which they accordingly do.

The lessons to be drawn from the policy, which by increasing degrees, evaded the provisions of the Edict of Nantes, and finally revoked that Edict, which, when granted was called irrevocable, have during the past few weeks, been freely proclaimed from the pulpit and in the press. Whatever may be the thoughts of its individual members upon this subject, the Huguenot Society of London was founded, and exists, as a purely historical and literary society; and the one lesson the Council would, in any case, ask the Fellows to learn from the Commemoration of the 22nd October, is the obligation which rests upon every Huguenot descendant, to collect, to cherish, and to hand down to succeeding generations, all that tends to preserve the memory of his heroic ancestors, and to honourable lineage.

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Mr. F. P. Labilliere, Member of Council, proposed the adoption of the Report, and moved the following resolution: "That the cordial thanks of the Huguenot Society of London “be offered to the Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Directors "of the French Protestant Hospital, for the great kindness and "hospitality shown to the Fellows and their friends, at the "Commemoration of the Bi-Centenary of the Revocation of the "Edict of Nantes. The Society desires also to record its sense "of the very great interest which attached to all the proceed"ings on that memorable day." The proposal was seconded by Lieut.-General Frederic P. Layard, and carried unanimously.

The following paper was then read by Lieut.-General F. P. Layard, descriptive of an ivory box, bearing lid the arms of Charles de Nocé and Marguerite de

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