A little incident occurred at Montreuil, which I take pleasure in narrating, since it proves how carefully Napoleon examined both the fortifications and improvements being made in the towns, either by his personal orders, or from the impulse given by him to these important departments of public service.  After investigating the work done in the past year on the fortifications of Montreuil, and having made a tour of all the ramparts, the Emperor returned to the citadel, whence he again emerged to visit the exterior works.  An arm of the river Canche, which lies at the foot of the wall on one side of the city, intercepted his route.  The whole suite set to work to construct a temporary bridge of planks and logs; but the Emperor, impatient at the delay, walked through the stream in water up to his knees.  The owner of a mill on the opposite shore took his Majesty by the arm to assist him in mounting the bank, and profited by this opportunity to explain to the Emperor that his mill, being in the line of the projected fortifications, would necessarily be torn down; whereupon the Emperor turned to the engineers and said, “This brave man must be indemnified for any loss he may sustain.”  He then continued his rounds, and did not re-enter his carriage until he had examined everything at leisure, and held a long interview with the civil and military authorities of Montreuil.  On the route a soldier who had been wounded at Ratisbon was presented to him; and his Majesty ordered that a present should be made him on the spot, and that his petition should be presented to him on his arrival at Boulogne on the 20th.

This was the second time Boulogne had received the Emperor within its walls.  Immediately on his arrival he went on board the flotilla and held a review.  As an English frigate was evidently preparing to approach in order to observe more closely what was taking place in the roadstead, his Majesty immediately sent out a French frigate under full sail against the hostile ship, whereupon the latter, taking the alarm, at once disappeared.  On the 29th of September his Majesty reached Flushing, and from Flushing went to visit the fortifications at Tervueren.  As he was overlooking the various works at that place, a young woman threw herself at his feet, her cheeks wet with tears, .and extended a petition to the Emperor with a trembling hand.  Napoleon most graciously assisted her to rise, and inquired the object of her petition.  “Sire,” said the poor woman between her sobs, “I am the mother of three children, whose father is conscripted by your Majesty; the children and the mother are in the deepest distress.”—­“Monsieur,” said his Majesty to some one of his suite, “make a note of this man’s name; I will make him an officer.”  The young woman tried to express her gratitude, but her emotion and tears prevented the utterance of a word, and the Emperor went on his way.