fraternity (for which indeed they are well prepared) she must infallibly alienate the Atlantic States and force them into a straiter connection with Great Britain.

“I have scarcely met with a person under whatever party he may rank himself, who does not dread this event, and who would not prefer almost any neighbours to the French:  and it seems perfect infatuation in the Administration of this country that they chuse the present moment for leaving that frontier almost defenceless by the reduction of its military establishment.

     “I have, etc.,

     “[Signed] EDW’D THORNTON.”

* * * * *

No.  II. is a report in “F.O.,” France, No. 71, by one of our spies in Paris on the doings of the Irish exiles there, especially O’Connor, whom Napoleon had appointed General of Division in Marshal Augereau’s army, then assembling at Brest for the expedition to Ireland.  After stating O’Connor’s appointment, the report continues: 

“About eighty Irishmen were sent to Morlaix to be formed into a company of officers and taught how they were to discipline and instruct their countrymen when they landed in Ireland.  McShee, General de Brigade, commands them.  He and Blackwell are, I believe, the only persons among them of any consequence, who have seen actual service.  Emmett’s brother and McDonald, who were jealous of the attention paid to O’Connor, would not go to Morlaix.  They were prevailed on to go to Brest towards the end of May, and there to join General Humbert.  Commandant Dalton, a young man of Irish extraction, and lately appointed to a situation in the Army at Boulogne, translated everything between O’Connor and the War Department at Paris.  There is no Irish Committee at Paris as is reported.  O’Connor and General Hartry, an old Irishman who has been long in the French service, are the only persons applied to by the French Government, O’Connor for the expedition, and Hartry for the Police, etc., of the Irish in France.

“O’Connor, though he had long tried to have an audience of Bonaparte, never saw him till the 20th of May [1805], when he was presented to him at the levee by Marshal Augereau.  The Emperor and the Empress complimented him on his dress and military appearance, and Bonaparte said to him Venez me voir en particulier demain matin. O’Connor went and was alone with him near two hours.  On that day Bonaparte did not say a word to him respecting his intention on England; all their conversation regarded Ireland.  O’Connor was with him again on the Thursday and Friday following.  Those three audiences are all that O’Connor ever had in private with Bonaparte.

“He told me on the Saturday evening that he should go to Court the next morning to take public leave of the Emperor and leave Paris as soon as he had received 10,000 livres which Maret was to give him for his travelling expenses, etc.,