Marshal Ney’s trial: "Wisdom-Tolerance-Moderation" indeed
Some physical arrangements were made at the Palais du Luxembourg, then as now the home of the French Senat, for the trial which was ro take place there. New security measures were taken also, as, oh my, the scandal and the consternation if Ney escaped! And in fact Lavalette, who was imprisoned in the cell directly below Ney’s, at the Conciergerie I believe, did manage to escape with the help of his wife, the very Madame Lavalette portrayed holding Josephine’s train in David’s famous painting of Napoleon’s coronation.
In my opinion, however, Ney had no intention to escape. He was twice offered help escaping while traveling back to Paris under guard, one such offer coming from fiery General Exelmans himself (and Exelmans would have succeeded, I’m sure), but these offers were turned down.
Some time back, I posted that Ney’s family was held responsible for all trial expenses. I assume that the new architectural elements and extra security measures were part of that.
I have abridged this section somewhat. The original unabridged French text can be found here:
https://www.senat.fr/evenement/archives/D26/le_proces/les_amenagements_du_palais_du_luxembourg.html
Arrangements at the Luxembourg Palace
The trial necessitated prior arrangements for the Luxembourg Palace, which was transformed into a courthouse: security measures were taken outside and inside the palace. For example, no carriages were allowed to remain in the courtyard during the trial. In addition, eighty officers and one hundred and eighty veterans were added to the staff of the Chamber of Peers. Finally, the grounds were closed during the last days of the trial, starting on December 3. Police officers watched over the entire area. There was much fear that Marshal Ney would escape, or that riots would break out.
Opposite the president’s desk, galleries were added to accommodate the public (although women were excluded). Above the president’s desk, the motto “Wisdom-Tolerance-Moderation” appeared, an invitation to justice that seems to have been totally forgotten in the political trial of Marshal Ney.
According to the Senat file, “une cloison provisoire est ajoutée pour construire un couloir, « drapé de toile verte » pour les entrées et sorties de l’accusé.” (a temporary partition is added to build a corridor, “draped with green cloth” for the entry and exit of the accused.) This cloison provisoire can be seen plainly on the plan below, between B. Bibliotheque” and “Salle de reunion”. Ney was transferred to the Palais du Luxembourg proper for the final days of his life, to a fourth floor (third floor in European numbering system) room now dedicated to the Senat’s archives. I presume that the staircase directly to the right of the B. Bibliotheque led to that room.
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