of the prefecture of police, which, I believe, is now
called the central bureau. There he passed two
nights and a day, among men of the lowest description,
some of whom were even malefactors. I and his
friends ran about everywhere, trying to find somebody
to rescue him, and, among the rest, Bonaparte was
applied to. It was with great difficulty he could
be seen. Accompanied by one of my husband’s
friends, I waited for the commandant of Paris until
midnight, but he did not come home. Next morning
I returned at an early hour, and found him. I
stated what had happened to my husband, whose life
was then at stake. He appeared to feel very little
for the situation of his friend, but, however; determined
to write to Merlin, the Minister of Justice. I
carried the letter according to its address, and met
the Minister as he was coming downstairs, on his way
to the Directory. Being in grand costume, he
wore a Henri iv. hat, surmounted with a multitude
of plumes, a dress which formed a singular contrast
with his person. He opened the letter; and whether
it was that he cared as little for the General as for
the cause of M. do Bourrienne’s arrest, he replied
that the matter was no longer in his hands, and that
it was now under the cognisance of the public administrators
of the laws. The Minister then stepped into his
carriage, and the writer was conducted to several offices
in his hotel. She passed through them with a
broken heart, for she met with none but harsh men,
who told her that the prisoner deserved death.
From them she learned that on the following day he
would be brought before the judge of the peace for
his Section, who would decide whether there was ground
for putting him on his trial. In fact, this proceeding
took place next day. He was conveyed to the house
of the judge of the peace for the Section of Bondy,
Rue Grange-sue-Belles, whose name was Lemaire.
His countenance was mild; and though his manner was
cold, he had none of the harshness and ferocity common
to the Government agents of that time. His examination
of the charge was long, and he several times shook
his head. The moment of decision had arrived,
and everything seemed to indicate that the termination
would be to place the prisoner under accusation.
At seven o’clock be desired me to be called.
I hastened to him, and beheld a most heart rending
scene. Bourrienne was suffering under a hemorrhage,
which had continued since two o’clock, and had
interrupted the examination. The judge of the
peace, who looked sad, sat with his head resting on
his hand. I threw myself at his feet and implored
his clemency. The wife and the two daughters
of the judge visited this scene of sorrow, and assisted
me in softening him. He was a worthy and feeling
man, a good husband and parent, and it was evident
that he struggled between compassion and duty.
He kept referring to the laws on the subject, and,
after long researches said to me, “To-morrow
is Decadi, and no proceedings can take place on that