I will state some particulars respecting the way in which the generals who commanded the French troops at Hamburg were maintained.  The Senate of Hamburg granted to the Marshals thirty friederichs a day for the expenses of their table exclusive of the hotel in which they were lodged by the city.  The generals of division had only twenty friederichs.  General Dupas wished to be provided for on the same footing as the Marshals.  The Senate having, with reason, rejected this demand, Dupas required that he should be daily served with a breakfast and a dinner of thirty covers.  This was an inconceivable burden, and Dupas cost the city more than any of his predecessors.

I saw an account of his expenses, which during the twenty-one weeks he remained at Hamburg amounted to 122,000 marks, or about 183,000 francs.  None but the most exquisite wines were drunk at the table of Dupas.  Even his servants were treated with champagne, and the choicest fruits were brought from the fine hothouses of Berlin.  The inhabitants were irritated at this extravagance, and Dupas accordingly experienced the resistance of the Senate.

Among other vexations there was one to which the people could not readily submit.  In Hamburg, which had formerly been a fortified town, the custom was preserved of closing the gates at nightfall.  On Sundays they were closed three-quarters of an hour later, to avoid interrupting the amusements of the people.

While General Dupas was Governor of Hamburg an event occurred which occasioned considerable irritation in the public mind, and might have been attended by fatal consequences.  From some whim or other the General ordered the gates to be closed at seven in the evening, and consequently while it was broad daylight, for it was in the middle of spring; no exception was made in favour of Sunday, and on that day a great number of the inhabitants who had been walking in the outskirts of the city presented themselves at the gate of Altona for admittance.  To their surprise they found the gate closed, though it was a greater thoroughfare than any other gate in Hamburg.  The number of persons, requiring admittance increased, and a considerable crowd soon collected.  After useless entreaties had been addressed to the chief officer of the post the people were determined to send to the Commandant for the keys.  The Commandant arrived, accompanied by the General.  When they appeared it was supposed they had come for the purpose of opening the gates, and they were accordingly saluted with a general hurrah! which throughout almost all the north is the usual cry for expressing popular satisfaction.  General Dupas not understanding the meaning of this hurrah! supposed it to be a signal for sedition, and instead of ordering the gates to be opened he commanded the military to fire upon the peaceful citizens, who only wanted to return to their homes.  Several persons were killed, and others more or less seriously wounded.