The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-21 00:00:00

CLERKENTVELL.

John Lewis, aged 13, was charged with robbing his master,
Mr. Ellis, a surgeon, in Holborn.
The prisoner was introduced by his father to the prosecutor
about two months ago, and Mr. Ellis being in want of such a
youth, took him into his employ, the father as.uring him that
his son was one of the most innocent children In London, but
shrewd and intelligent. With these recommendations the pro-
secutor was of emirs* highly pleased, and believing them
strictly true, he at once reposed the highest 'confidence in the
accused, who immediately commenced a system of plunder,
which he carried out up to the day of his appr.hension, when
sundry hills were delivered against Mr. Ellis for which the pri-
soner had had the money to pay. This necessarily led to a
further investigation.
Mr. Ellis said, that since he had given the prisoner into cus-
tody lie had ascertained that the prisoner had been six or seven
times in prison.
Mr. GREENWOOD—Is that so, boy? Prisoner—Not quite
so often as you have been told.
Mr. GKEHNvvoon—How often do you say? Prisoner—
Perhaps two or three. That boy (pointing to a dirty looking
urchin) told me how to prig.
" Me !" exclaimed the boy, " what a lie."
Mr. GREENWOOD (to the last mentioned promising youth)
—What do you know about the prisoner ? Bey—Why we've
been
we ve
been to the mill together only twice.
Mr. GREENWOOD—What for? Boy—Once for picking np
seventeen shillings. I forgot what for was the other ; but I
know he has been in quod six times.
Mr. GREZNwOOD committed the prisoner for trial.

Charles Andre Pozzo di Borgo was born Bth March, 1768.
The Corsican family of Pozzo, from which he sprang, honour-
ably ranks among the first nobles of that island, and its hau.thty
nobles inhabited for centuries a small castle called Montichi,
among the mountain fastnesses. In modern times the race of
Pozzo di Borgo established themselves in the village of Pozzo
di Borgo, within a short distance of Ajaccio, and in 1775, when
Corsica was united to France, were by that treaty entitled to
all the privileges enjoyed by the aristocratic orders.
The education of young Pozzo di Borgo was entrusted to an
Abbe, but earthly wisdom appears to have occupied his inir.d
more than spiritual, and the scholar's political powers blos-
somed at an early age. When the French Revolution burst with
volcanic violence over Europe, Corsica was included in the shock,
and shaken by the mighty dissension. The families of the island
split themselves into two factions. The patriotic party had at
their head Paoli and the youthful Pozzo di -Borgo : the repub-
lican faction mustered Bonaparte, Arena, and Salicetti.
From the very commencement of the Revolution, young De
Borgo was active in the agitation, and he began his diplomacy
early. Louis XIV. having convoked the nobility of Corsica, to
draw up at Ajaccio a statement of the islanders' complaints and
demands, Pozzo di forgo, being then only in the first year of
his majority, received the appointment of principal Secretary
to the Assembly. Subsequently deputed by his countrymen,
he bore their address of congratulation and fraternity to the
National Convention at PariviativiOras &sally chpsep to nr.preserit
the province of Ajaccio in the legislative body of France,
formed after the dissolution of the Constitutional Senate. His
next turn in the political labyrinth was an impo'tant step; he
became a member of the Diplomatic Committee under the Pre-
sidency of Brissot. It was in this school that Pozzo di forgo
studied his early views of diplomacy, a school which contained
all the elements of Republicanism in itself, and which, with a
policy entirely novel to Europe. pursued in its foreign depart-
ment the revived spirit of ancient Rome, that treated all kings
and potentates with the haughtiness and arro4ance of superla-
tive national greatness. At this period Pozzo di Borgo, when
he ascended the rostrum, which was, perhaps, but seldom, de-
livered his speeches in the declamatory and bombasticatyle com-
mon to the younger orators of the Revolution. One of them,
which we have b4ore us, being a harangue delivered (16th
July, 1792) on the question of involving France in a general
war, is a fierce attack upon absolute government.
The Legislative Assembly dissolved, Pozzo di Borgo hastened
to Corsica, and soon after his return, began, with Paoli, to
agitate the establishment of the national independence ; he
began to spread the fire and raise the mountain-cries. For
these measures he was impeached by Salicetti, by whom he and
Paoli were summoned to appear at the bar of the Convention,
and answer to the formal accusation of forming systems and
projects for separating Corsica from France.
The seeds of deep-planted enmity from this moment
sprang up between Poszo di Borgo and Bonaparte—that
irreconcileable hatred, which, as will be afterwards seen,
exercised more influence than is generally suspected upon
the events of 1814. The decree of the Convention
reached Paoli and Pozzo di Borgo among the mountains
at Carte, the capital. They knew the danger of diso-
bedience, but the popular voice was too mighty. The as-
sembled masses from the mountains unanimously passed reso-
lutions charging Paoli and Pozzo di Borgo to continue the ad-
ministration of their departments, without paying any respect
to the Convention. The resolutions were signed by 1,200 per-
sons. This Corsican manifesto of the bold mountaineers, which
of course shut out all thoughts of amicable adjustment with
the French Government, was determined to be upheld sword
in hand ; though the port itself of the town was hotly invested
by the French, under the command of the very Bonaparte
whose name the insurgents so hated; and though they, rural
denizens, had not a tithe to oppose to the invader's battle array.
At this critical moment an English fleet appeared before
Ajaccio, bearing offers of protection and aid, provided Corsica
would place itself under the supremacy of Great Britain.
Paoli, commissioned by his countrymen, went on board, the
Admiral was met, and a sketch proposed for a new Constitu-
tion, based on the principles of the Magna Charta of England,
which was laid before the National Convention. Paoli proposed
Pozzo di Borgo as President of the State Council, and pre-
sented him, saying—" I will answer for him. He is a man as
well qualified to guard the interests of a nation, as capable of
protecting a mountain-herd, and knows how to repel aggres-
sion by the argument of arms."
Insubordination, animated by the fresh prosperities of the
French arms, gained new strength every day, and the scanty
forces of Paoli were threatened to be crushed. At length,
when it became evident that the tai-coloured standard would
soon be raised ever on the towers of Ajaccio, Pozzo di Borgo
did not wait to witness the catastrophe. He embarked in an
English man-of-war, which bore him to Elba, thence to
Naples, and thence again to Elba. The frigate Minerva
subsequently conveyed him to England, and he re-
mained upwards of eighteen months in London,
where he enjoyed the honours due to his high abilities,
and where, while sojourning, he made acquaintance with many
noble French emigrants, which ultimately led to his employ-
ment in so:ne secret diplomatic -missions, which progressively
increased both in number and importance. The year 1798 saw
him in Vienna; France had then experie.iced various reverses,
except where Buonaparte•was moving. Suwarrow was marching
from victory to victory, and during this particular crisis Pozzo
di forgo took a most active part in all the diplomatic movements
linked with the course of military action. At that time, in the flower
°this age, for he numbered only 30 years, he was continually tra-
versing Germany and Italy, toforward and sustain by his Cabinet
intrigues, the warlike preparations of the old Russian Field-
Marshal, though his labours were ultimately rendered useless
after the defeat of General Massena at Zurich, and he afterwards
fixed his abode at the Austrian Cabinet at Vienna.

Pozzo di Porgo next entered into the service of Russia, as an
avowed and public diplomatic agent. He was now matured
by study and experience, and the expertness he displayed in his
first essays for the interests of Russia, raised his name high in
the political world, and opened to him the path of his
future brilliant career. The Emperor of Russia con-
ferred on him the title of State Counsellor, and when
a new coalition was forming against Bonaparte, who
had crowned himself Emperor without obtaining the suffrages
of the Foreign Cabinets, Pozzo di Borgo was despatched to
Vienna specially to consolidate a closer alliance between his
adopted Sovereign, and the other potentates who entertained
similar views. The Ambassador, however, did not long re-
main in Germany, but only a few months elapsed. before he
re-paired to Italy to represent, as Commissioner of the Crown,
his [loyal master in the military operations which the com-
bined troops of Russia, England, and Naples, were to com-
mence in Southern Italy. Upon their separation, he returned
to Vienna, and thence to St. Petersburgh, where fresh mili-
tary operations were in progress.
Created at this period a Count, and attached to the person
of the Emperor as Colonel de la Suite, the Diplomatic Colonel,
after the battle of Jena, visited Vienna for the fourth time, ex-
pressly commissioned to arouse Austria from the lethargy into
which she had fallen, since the peace of Presburg. Unsuc-
cessful here, Alexander ordered his subtle agent to Turkey,
who, on the rupture of hostilities, with his oven sword took part
in the naval engagement which ensued between the Russians
and Turks, and gained for his conduct the first military deco-
ration.

The sanguinary battles between Russia and France being
closed by the peace of Tilsit, the Colonel-Count saw clearly
that the close intimacy growing up between Alexander and
Napoleon would render his services unpleasant and perhaps
dangerous at St. Petersburgh ; and although Alexander endea-
voured to retain him, he obtained a gracious discharge in 1808,
and once more went to Vienna, where, during the year 1809,
he employed his diplomatic skill energetically during the cam-
paign. lie subsequently travelled through Syria, and after
Smyrna and Malta, sailed from the latter place to
England, and reached its metropolis in October, 1810.
The British Government welcomed the Count as a valuable
acquisition. The Cabinet of St. James's well knew that from him
it could learn more important facts in a few hours than through
uncertain correspondence and information for as many months
elsewhere. The Marquis of Wellesley had frequent interviews
with Pozzo di Borgo, and the Count pointed out the vulnerable
point in Napoleon's overgrown rower. In 1812 the peace of
Tilsit, had, as the Count hail foretold, proved nearly a truce of
arms, and the war between France and Russia broke out vit h
thatfury, which gave imperial Moscow to ruin. The Musco-
vite Monarch again sought his confederacy, and before quit.
ting London he successfully negotiated a renewed alliance with
Britain, and after an interim of five eventful and stormy years,
the Count again found himself before the Russian Emperor.
The ice of the Beresina had by this time covered the legiens
of Bonaparte, but Alexander still saw in the crowned soldier,
half-deified in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Mars of the
age. "My arms have not yet vanquished him ;" said he to
Di Borgo, "by the will of the Almighty, by the power of
Russia, or the spirit of our ancestors, has he been conquered.
Let us remain satisfied with the victory vouchsafed. It is
enough." But the wily statesman was moved by no such mer-
ciful sentiments. " The fallen Colossus," said he in answer,
" must be wholly destroyed, or you, in your turn, incur the
danger of annihilation from him, if he be allowed time to re-
cover confidence, and renovate his now paralyzed powers.
Crush him in time."

At this period the gaining over Bernadotte and his 20,000
soldiers was a high game entrusted to Di Borgo. To Stralsund
he hastened, and at length succeeded in inducing the Crown
Prince to commence open and active operations by accom-
panying him to the military Congress at Trachenberg. There
met the three most inveterate enemies of Napoleon to " talk
of precious mischief," and exult in their anticipated triumph
over the unmeshed and disabled lion. Moreau hated in Na-
poleon the First Consul; Bernadotte the Emperor; and Pozzo
di forgo the Corsican, the Consul, and the Emperor, in the
man At this rendezvous it was resolved to carry the war to
the gates of the French capital, and to attack Napoleon in the
very heart of both his power and his weakness.
The favourable prospects of these diplomatists brightened.
Napoleon filling had still one hope—that of winning the support
of Austria. In a confidential interview with Metternich, that
Minister promised to obtain for him the co-operation of Aus-
tria,• under certain conditions, stipulating for his private in-
terests. Napoleon, unaccustomed to hear the language of
demand from any lips except his own, exclaimed—
" How much does England give you to play this
part ?" The offended Minister bowed in silence ; but
not low enough to raise the small hat Napoleon had
dropped in the heat of conversation. The Allied Monarchs
were waiting with the utmost anxiety at Prague, the decision
of the Austrian Court. It was eleven o'clock in the evening,
and one mansion contained, in a lower apartment, Nesselrode,
Pozzo di forgo, and Hardenberg, whilst in a chamber above
were the Sovereigns of Russia and Prussia, where the as-
sembled parties were surprised by the arrival of a special cou-
rier with the following laconic epistle to Nesselrode :—" Aus-
tria is resolved, and puts her tzoops at the disposal of the Allied
Powers." The satisfaction may be easily imagined.
Pozzo di Borgu's prospects brightened as those of Napoleon
decreased. He received a General's appointment, crank he parti-
cularly coveted, as it enabled him to contribute to the downfal of his
countrymen, as well in the field as in the. Cabinet, and in his
military capacity he joined Bernadotte, who with 90,000 men,
Swedes, Rtissians, and Prussians, was then covering Berlin.

Waterloo was won, and Napoleon had quitted his last martial
field. Was Pozzo di liorgo content ? no means. Russia
had not taken any rrt in the glorious and i:lec.;.Alye action. The
shrewd Corsican slept not. He selected a young
_Russian offi-
cer, serving in the Prussian army, and told 'him in co.?ficlence
" Alexander must be informed of this victory within eight-a,..4-
forty hours ; no matter how many horses are killed in the
time ; your future fortune may depend on it." Though
wounded himself, he immediately followed Wellington to Paris,
and resumed his portfolio, as Russian Ambassador at the Court.
of the Tuilleries. Talleyrand offered him not only the Mi-
nistry of the Interior, but obtained for him from Louis XVIII.
the dignity of a peer of the realm.
On the death of Alexander and the succession of Nicholas,
Ncsselrode remained at the head of the Cabinet, and Pozzo di
I3orgo continued Ambassador in Paris : he during this peried
mana..zed the difficult matters between Russia and Constantino-
plc, and the excited minds of France on the affair of the Polish
tyrannies. After the conclusion of the Oriental war, he was
commissioned to visit London, and ascertain the precise state of
affairs at the Cabinet of St. James's, and in his first interviews
with the Duke of Wellington recalled to memory, after an in-
terval of eighteen years, many interesting events and per-
sonalanecdotes.

This last appointment to the embassy of Fngland was never-
theless accepted by Pozzo di Borgo with great reluctance.
Debilitated by age and illness, he cherished the hope of closing
his earthly career in Paris, a consummation which has just oc-
curred, and in whose salons, during his last days, he passed
the pleasant life of a talented and ennobled man.
Pozzo di Borgo was in conversation cold and reserved: his
Corsican accent in conversation added to the effects of his wit and
satire, which, though not so easy or caustic as Talleyrand's,
was more genuine and dignified. His mind, rather than a
magazine of anecdotes, was a reservoir of annals, or rather
the breathing history of his age.