Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

for so many years governed France, have constantly sought to distort facts.

Publick opinion accuses the Duke of Bassano, with the most decided inclination for those proceedings, which infringe the security of other States. He is reproached with having declared against peace at Dresden, at a period when it would have left France in a highly flourishing state, even after the reverses of the Russian campaign. He is also reproached with obstinately persisting in his warlike disposition after the battle of Leipsic, and during the negotiations at Chatillon. To crown these serious charges, he is believed to have acted a considerable part in the return of Napoleon, and he has shewn a marked zeal for maintaining at the head of Affairs in France, a man who could not but be as fatal to the country, as useful to this Minister. During the short existence of the Peerage, he was remarked for his warmth in favour of Napoleon I. and Napoleon II. as if one of them had not been enough.

[ocr errors]

ANECDOTE OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF MECHLIN.

[ocr errors]

The Abbe de Pradt, whom Bonaparte had made Archbishop of Mechlin, and who was Ambassadour at Warsaw in November 1813, has lately published a very curious history of his Embassy, which, while it presents a lively picture of the tyrant's ambition, displays in as strong a light the author's vanity. The following laughable anecdote on the subject of this book is in circulation at Paris - Be'fore publishing his work, M. De Pradt read it to several 'persons in private. In a select circle where he had promised to read the first part of it, there happened to be present a great Captain, whom the battle of Waterloo had raised to the highest pinnacle of military glory. M. De Pradt ' commenced it in these terms:-The Emperour was sur'prised uttering in a profound reverie these memorable 'words-had it not been for one man, I should have been 'master of the world. At these words all eyes were turn'ed to the illustrious stranger-a fluttering murmur made "the application of them to him, and all were pleased with 'themselves for seizing so rapidly their spirit.' M. De Pradt continued his reading, that man was myself. The surprise of the company may be conceived; it would be 'easier to imagine than express it.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Marlborough and Wellington. The 5th number of the Tatler, contains the following paragraph- But, I believe 'the reader outruns me, and fixes his imagination upon the 'Duke of Marlborough. It is methinks a pleasing reflection to consider the dispensations of Providence in the fortune of this illustrious man, who in the space of forty years, has passed through all the gradations of human life, until he has ascended to the character of a Prince, ' and become the scourge of a tyrant, who sat on one of the 'greatest thrones of Europe.'

What may be said of Wellington?

The Camp at Vertus. A private letter in one of the French papers gives the following description of this camp: I have seen the Camp at Vertus, you would be delighted with the good order that prevails there. In that immense plain, each corps has endeavoured to place itself where there is wood and water, articles scarce enough in this part of the country: thus they form separate camps; but the plain being bare of wood, they may all be seen at once with the naked eye, and on approaching them we perceive that nearly the same system of order prevails in all piles of arms in the first line; behind, thatched covers for the troops to the right the cannon behind the caissons, and more in the rear, the camp oven and the baggage. Every thing even to the kitchens is disposed with regularity. I passed through them at the hour when they were getting dinner; the kettles were placed in a line at a convenient distance from the barracks, and distributed by various divisions of six each. What struck me forcibly, was the silence that reigned among this collected multitude of soldiers. Here and there were seen peasants carrying provisions, and their appearance bespoke rather the hope of gain than the fear of pillage. In the little town of Vertus, the head quarters, there is an astonishing bustle but there is the same tranquillity on the part of the inhabitants: no disputes about lodgings, distributions, &c. Erections of every kind have sprung up with rapidity-coffee houses, eating houses, show booths, &c. At one of these booths, I saw written up, Mocha Coffee, Ices, Sherbet. In fine, Alexander must have found here an image of one of those creations of towns, which presented themselves to Catharine in her journey in the Ukraine.

[blocks in formation]

Its

[The subject of mendicity has lately excited great attention in England, and received a parliamentary investigation previous to adopting a system for correcting it. abuses in London are almost incredible, and the street beggars are very rarely indeed real objects of charity. In the course of examination, many most curious facts were related by different witnesses, and some accounts of the most remarkable beggars given. Their gains were various, and in some instances averaged two guineas a day. The more opulent of the fraternity one day in the week, or at some stated period retired from the scene of their labours, and assumed a decent dress and sometimes considerable expense in their mode of living. The following anecdote, extracted from an English paper, though anonymous, is not so extraordinary as some that were related by respectable witnesses on their own knowledge.]

Mendicity. An anonymous correspondent has favoured us with the following curious account, which he assures us is genuine :-He was walking in the neighbourhood of Edmonton with a friend, who requested his particular attention to a female, then happening to be in the same pathway with them, she having attracted much notice in that quarter, in consequence of her recent marriage under very peculiar circumstances.-She had been a servant at a tavern there, and waited on the guests of the Sunday ordinary, which is held throughout the year. At this ordinary one gentleman was a constant attendant, and was generally supposed to be one of the numerous clerks of the city, who have no other opportunity of enjoying the fresh air. He usually occupied the same seat, and appeared much reserved, except when addressing the maid servant, towards whom his demeanour was very kind and condescending-and at length he made a formal proposal of marriage to her. The girl, who had more sense than often falls to the lot of persons in that sphere of life, did not object to the proposal, but earnestly entreated that a small sum might be settled as a provision against any casualties, which, in consequence of her intended elevation, she might be less able to bear. This suggestion met with all the attention that could be hoped for. The gentleman agreed to settle one thousand pounds, and lost no time in selling out stock sufficient for raising that sum. The happy day was now appointed, but not

before the lover had explained to the fair object of his choice, that they could only meet once a week, and had exacted from her a promise never to urge him to a further explanation of the circumstances, which reduced him to the necessity of submitting to so painful a separation!They were accordingly married, and went on very pleasantly, until the lady prompted by a curiosity which (whether true or not we will not venture to affirm) is said to be peculiar to her sex, requested that he would confide the secret to her. At this request, the manner of the enamoured spouse became much altered, and after betraying a considerable degree of irritation, he commanded her never to obtrude the subject upon him again. The storm was thus suffered to blow over for a time; but curiosity is one of the most powerful motives agitating the human breast, and this new Psyche had not philosophy enough to withstand it. She again entreated a solution of the mystery, but the entreaty was met only by a frown, and she pleaded her affection-and finding all of no avail, she threatened to have him watched to the place of his retreat. This had the effect of extorting a declaration from him, and he assur ed her that she might probably discover his secret, but, that if she did, she would never see him afterwards. Notwithstanding this declaration, made with great coolness and firmness, the imprudent woman persisted, and by the help of some busy friends, was introduced to her husband in his disguise, as one of the common beggars of the metropolis. She spoke to him in that situation, but as he then told her, for the last time, and she has never seen him since!

[The celebrated sculptor, Canova, was sent by the Pope to Paris to reclaim the works of art which the French carried off from Rome. When Buonaparte was first Consul, he invited Canova to fix himself in Paris. He answered, that he did not meddle with politicks, but that he never could wish to live under the dominion of him, who had destroyed the organization of his native country, (Venice.) The following are extracts of letters from him, taken from an English paper. It should not be forgotten on this question of the restoration of the objects of art taken from Rome, that when it was first contemplated, all the principal French artists signed a remonstrance against it, addressed to the Directory.]

Paris, Sept. 31. The cause of Fine Arts is at length safe into port; and it is to the generous and unremitted exertions of the British Minister, Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Secretary Hamilton, that Rome will be indebted for the triumphing in the demands that I came hither to make in her name. What gratitude ought we not to feel to the magnanimous British nation! Fully does she deserve that the Arts, in return for this generous act, should join hand in hand to raise a perpetual monument to her name; but the best and more lasting monument will be engraved in the heart of every Italian, who, on beholding the sacred objects torn from their country, again restored to her, will recollect the nation that stood forth as their advocate for this restitution, and wilk call down upon her the blessings of Providence.

I

Our work is about to begin. Tuscany, Milan and Venice have retaken all that belongs to them. I shall be the last and shall require more time; for the objects claimed by Rome, as you well know, are much more numerous. am burning with impatience to see every thing packed up and gone, then will I fly across the sea to spatiate in your magnificent metropolis, with my heart at ease, and to embrace you.

Paris, Oct. 5th.

We e are at last beginning to drag forward from this great cavern of stolen goods, the precious objects of art taken from Rome. On the 2d instant, among the many fine paintings that were removed, we noticed that stupendous production, the Transfiguration, the Communion of St. Jerome, the Virgin of Fuligno; the next day several other exquisite pictures came away, together with the group of Cupid and Psyche, the two Brutus's, the very ancient bust of Ajax, and other no less precious objects of sculpture. Yesterday the Dying Gladiator left his French abode, and the Torso. We remove this day the two first statues in the world, the Apollo and the Laocoon. Tomorrow Mercury will quit the house between Flora of the capitol and the Venus. The Muses will follow next, and so on to the close of this portentous procession.

October 9th.

In my letter of the 5th instant, I informed you what we were doing here in regard to the objects of art, which we are

« AnteriorContinuar »