for regular licenses, are obliged also to give information, from time to time, to the nearest police commissary of what they observe or what they know respecting their visitors, neighbours, etc.  The number of unfortunate women of this description who had taken out licenses during the year 12, or from September, 1803, to September, 1804, is officially known to have amounted to two hundred and twenty thousand, of whom forty thousand were employed by the armies.

It is no secret that Napoleon Bonaparte has his secret spies upon his wife, his brothers, his sisters, his Ministers, Senators, and other public functionaries, and also upon his public spies.  These are all under his own immediate control and that of Duroc, who does the duty of his private Police Minister, and in whom he confides more than even in the members of his own family.  In imitation of their master, each of the other Bonapartes, and each of the Ministers, have their individual spies, and are watched in their turn by the spies of their secretaries, clerks, etc.  This infamous custom of espionage goes ad infinitum, and appertains almost to the establishment and to the suite of each man in place, who does not think himself secure a moment if he remains in ignorance of the transactions of his rivals, as well as of those of his equals and superiors.

Fouche and Talleyrand are reported to have disagreed before Bonaparte on some subject or other, which is frequently the case.  The former, offended at some doubts thrown out about his intelligence, said to the latter: 

“I am so well served that I can tell you the name of every man or woman you have conversed with, both yesterday and today; where you saw them, and how long you remained with them or they with you.”

“If such commonplace espionage evinces any merit,” retorted Talleyrand, “I am even here your superior; because I know not only what has already passed with you and in your house, but what is to pass hereafter.  I can inform you of every dish you had for your dinners this week, who provided these dinners, and who is expected to provide your meats to-morrow and the day after.  I can whisper you, in confidence, who slept with Madame Fouche last night, and who has an appointment with her to-night.”

Here Bonaparte interrupted them, in his usual dignified language:  “Hold both your tongues; you are both great rogues, but I am at a loss to decide which is the greatest.”

Without uttering a single syllable, Talleyrand made a profound reverence to Fouche.  Bonaparte smiled, and advised them to live upon good terms if they were desirous of keeping their places.