all the answer M. de Talleyrand obtained.  When we were alone the First Consul said to me, “Do you not see, Bourrienne, this Ouvrard must have made a good thing of his business with the Prince of the Peace?  But the fool!  Why did he get Talleyrand to ask me for a passport?  That is the very thing that raised my suspicion.  Why did he not apply for a passport as every one else does?  Have I the giving of them?  He is an ass; so much the worse for him.”

I was sorry for Ouvrard’s disappointment, and I own none the less so because he had intimated his willingness to give me a share in the business he was to transact its Spain; and which was likely to be very profitable.  His brother went to Mexico in his stead.

In 1802 a dreadful scarcity afflicted France.  M. Ouvrard took upon himself, in concert with Wanlerberghe, the task of importing foreign grain to prevent the troubles which might otherwise have been expected.  In payment of the grain the foreign houses who sent it drew upon Ouvrard and Wanlerberghe for 26,000,000 francs in Treasury bills, which, according to the agreement with the Government, were to be paid.  But when the bills of the foreign houses became due there was no money in the Treasury, and payment was refused.  After six months had elapsed payment was offered, but on condition that the Government should retain half the profit of the commission!  This Ouvrard and Wanlerberghe refused, upon which the Treasury thought it most economical to pay nothing, and the debt remained unsettled.  Notwithstanding this transaction Ouvrard and Wanlerberghe engaged to victual the navy, which they supplied for six years and three months.  After the completion of these different services the debt due to them amounted to 68,000,000.

In consequence of the long delay of, payment by the Treasury the disbursements for supplies of grain amounted at least to more than 40,000,000; and the difficulties which arose had a serious effect on the credit of the principal dealers with those persons who supplied them.  The discredit spread and gradually reached the Treasury, the embarrassments of which augmented with the general alarm.  Ouvrard, Wanlerberghe, and Seguin were the persons whose capital and credit rendered them most capable of relieving the Treasury, and they agreed to advance for that purpose 102,000,000, in return for which they were allowed bonds of the Receivers-General to the amount of 150,000,000.  M. Desprez undertook to be the medium through which the 102,000,000 were to be paid into the Treasury, and the three partners transferred the bands to him.

Spain had concluded a treaty with France, by which she was bound to pay a subsidy of 72,000,000 francs, and 32,000,000 had become due without any payment being made:  It was thought advisable that Ouvrard should be sent to Madrid to obtain a settlement, but he was afraid that his business in Paris would suffer during his absence, and especially the transaction in which he was engaged with Desprez.  The Treasury satisfied him on this point by agreeing to sanction the bargain with Desprez, and Ouvrard proceeded to Madrid.  It was on this occasion he entered into the immense speculation for trading with Spanish America.