At a ball of the Bonaparte family to which he was invited, the Emperor took the fancy to dance with his stepdaughter, Madame Louis.  He, therefore, unhooked his sword, which he handed to a young colonel, D’ Avry, standing by his side.  This colonel, who had been a page at the Court of Louis XVI., knew that it would have been against etiquette, and even unbecoming of him, to act as a valet to Napoleon while there were valets in the room; he therefore retreated, looking round for a servant.  “Oh!” said the Emperor, “I see that I am mistaken; here, generals,” continued he (addressing himself to half a dozen, with whose independent principles and good breeding he was acquainted), “take this sword during my dance.”  They all pushed forward, but Turreaux and La Grange, another general and intriguer, were foremost; the latter, however, received the preference.  On the next day, D’ Avry was ordered upon service to Cayenne.

Turreaux has acquired, by his patriotic deeds in La Vendee, a fortune of seven millions of livres.  He has the highest opinion of his own capacity, while a moment’s conversation will inform a man of sense that he is only a conceited fool.  As to his political transactions, he has by his side, as a secretary, a man of the name of Petry, who has received a diplomatic education, and does not want either subtlety or parts; and on him, no doubt, is thrown the drudgery of business.  During a European war, Turreaux’s post is of little relative consequence; but should Napoleon live to dictate another general pacification, the United States will be exposed, on their frontiers, or in their interior, to the same outrages their commercial navy now experiences on the main.

LETTER XII.

Paris, September, 1805.

My Lord:—­A general officer, who has just arrived from Italy, has assured me that, so far from Bonaparte’s subjects on the other side of the Alps being contented and attached to his person and Government, were a victorious Austrian army to enter the plains of Lombardy a general insurrection would be the consequence.  During these last nine years the inhabitants have not enjoyed a moment’s tranquillity or safety.  Every relation or favourite whom Napoleon wished to provide for, or to enrich, he has saddled upon them as in free quarters; and since 1796, when they first had the honour of our Emperor’s acquaintance, they have paid more in taxes, in forced loans, requisitions, and extortions of every description, than their ancestors or themselves had paid during the one hundred and ninety-six preceding years.