The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-04 00:00:00

WATERLOO BRIDGE COMPANY.

Yesterday the half-yearly General Meeting of the DP,
rectors and Proprietors of this Company was held at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern.

J. RUSE!, Esq., at one o'clock, was called to the Chair.
The minutes of the previous meeting having been' re-
ferred to, the accounts of the receipts and disburse'
ments for the half-year ending the 23d - February'
were then read, from which it appeared that there
was a deficiency of 5151. in the amount received
in the last half-year, compared with the amount re
ceived in the previous half-year, which had also shown
a deficiency of 5001. in tie receipts, making .a total defi-
ciency in the past year of 1,0151. The amount of toll
received in the half-year was 5,8761., and with other r,r,„
ceipta made the total income 6,3561. After paying the
current expences, there remained 2s. 2d. in the pound, to
be divided among certain annuitant., on a sum of 57,0001.
33,0001, had been added to the arrears of the annuitants,
making a total of 877,4371. of arrears due to annuitants.
The Report stated that hopes were entertained that a new
street would be made from the bridge to join the great
North road, and as such a favourable opportunity occurred,
by appropriating the site of the English Opera Hong
for its opening, that it would not be lost sight of. Sir
Joseph Yorke had seen Lord Lowther on the subject, and
a petition had been presented to Parliament, and from the
very general feeling of the public in favour of the project,
they had sanguine hopes it would be conceded to their
wishes. The report concluded by stating the Committee
had, in order to facilitate the co-operation of the new
police on both sides of the bridge, determined to let these
of the division on duty pass tell-free.
A Proprietor inquired what steps the Board of Di:
rectors had taken with reference to the proposed new street
The CHAIRMAN replied, nothing had been yet debut'
tively settled, anti, before any important step was taken,
that the whole body of Proprietors must be consulted. Tbe
enormous expense would, he feared, operate as a check
upon any effectual assistance the Company could ensurer
un!ess aided by Government, who, however, had neither
promised nor refused to lend its aid. The expense 01
making the entrance to Charles-street alone would amount
to 85,0001. He did not feel himself at liberty to enter
into more particular detail, as it had been agreed to defer
the discussion of the subject to a future meeting, when Sir
Joseph Yorke was expected to be in town. ,
Thanks being voted to the Chairman; the' meeting rw"
journed.

LITERATURE.

BOURRIENNE'S MEMOIRS. Foust. VoLs. LONDON►

1830.

Of all the numerous works that have bees'
published respecting Napoleon, the present aP'
pears by far the most authentic and important.
This at least is the character it enjetys at Paris
among those most competent to appreciate its
real worth. So far as entertainment is con'
cerned, it is one of the most remarkable boolc9
we ever read. In its rambling desultory nature,
as also in the spirited and familiar way in which
it hits off the characters of some of the most ce'

lebrated upholders of the Bonapartean dynasty'
it resembles not a little that most enchaining
and unique piece of gossip and egotism, Bos-
well's Life of Johnson. M. Bourrienne,
ever, is as far superior to Boswell in sagacity,
worldly wisdom, and general literary endow
ments, as Napoleon is to the great Lexicogra-
pher in quickness of apprehension, fertility of
genius, and natural energy of mind. M. Boor'
rienne was educated at the same school with
Napoleon at Brienne, and on the Tatter's first
elevation to the Consulate was- appointed his
private secretary, an arduous and toilsome occtv
pation, but which necessarily gained' him the
almost unlimited confidence of the embryo Env
peror. This continued with little or no reserve
for some time, until the pride of Napoleoill
taking offence at some indiscreet phrase uttered
by M. Bourrienne in a moment of exasperation?
a separation took place, the particulars of which
are so interesting that we cannot forbear to ex'
tract them :

" On the 27th of February, 1802, at ten at night'
Bonaparte dictated to me a despatch, of considerable int"
portance and urgency, for M. de Talleyrand, requestiog
the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the Tuileries,
next morning, at an appointed hour. According to cos'
tom, I put the letter into the hands of the office Wl'
senger, that it might be forwarded to its destination.
" This was Saturday. The following day, Sunday, I''
de Talleyrand came about mid -day. The First Consul it""
mediately began to confer with him on the subject of tl'e
letter sent the previous evening, and was astonished t°
learn that the Minister had not received it until the
morning. He rang immediately for the messenger, a°
ordered me to be sent for. Being in very bad humour,l
pulled the bell with so much fury, that he struck his ha",
violently against the angle of the chimney-piece. I hurriel
to his presence. ' Why,' he said, addressing me hastily'
why was not my letter delivered yesterday evening ?'""
I do not know : I put it into the hands of the
.persl
whose duty it was to see that it was sent.'—' Go, "o`,
learn the cause of the delay, and come back •quicklP
Having rapidly made my inquiries, I returned to tbe
cabinet. ' Well?' said the First Consul, whose irritati°°
seemed to have increased. ' Well, General, it is not 111 e
fault of any body. M. de Talleyrand was not to be fou"'
either at the office, or at his own residence, or at ,°
houses of any of his friends, where he was thought like'',
to be.' Not knowing with whom to be singly, restraitiev
by the coolness of M. de Talleyrand, yet ut the same tin"
ready to burst with rage, Bonaparte ruse from his sea''
and proceeding to the hall, called the messenger, ar
questioned him sharply. The man, disconcerted by 111
anger of the First Consul, hesitated in his replies, an,
gave confused answers. Bonaparte returned to his cab', •
net, still more irritated than he had left it. I had as
lowed him to the hall, and on my way back to the cabin'
I attempted to soothe him, and I begged him not to lid
thus discomposed try a circumstance which, after all, T.ll
of no great moment. Ido nut know whether his angel
was increased by the sight of the blood which flowed fro"'
his hand, and which he was every moment looking at;
but however that might be, a transport of furious passio"'
such as I had never before witnessed, seized him ; and I°,
I was about to enter the cabinet, after him, he Ore'
hack the door with so much violence, that had I been twt°
or three inches nearer him, it must infallibly have strocAr
roe in the face. Ile accompanied this action, which onve
almost convulsive, with as appellation not to be borne ;
exclaimed, before M. de Talleyrand, Leave me :dove'
you are a fool.' At an insult so atrocious, I
fess, that the anger which had already mastered the Fir'
l
Consul, suddenly seized on me. I thrust the door Or
ward, with as much impetuosity as he bad used in "t'
tempting to close it; and, scarcely knowing what I sit' li,
exclaimed, ' You are a hundred fold greater foe! than I
am.' I then went up stairs to my apartment, which tvi
situated over the cabinet.
" I was as far tram expecting as from wishing suet' Dt
occasion of separating from the First Consul. But
was done could not be undone; and, therefore, Witlicof
taking time for reflection, and still under the influence ~1
the anger that had got the better of me, I penned the Id
lowing positive resignation : it
" General,—The state of my health does not peteiv,
.ne longer to continue in your service. I therefore 1;
you to accept my resignation. "' BOURRIENNe,OOI
" Some moments after this was written, I saw (roe
my window the sad le-horses of Napoleon arrive at