Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-15
FRENCH SPIES.


years ago French general OF the name of
SarraziR made his escape from Boulogne to
England in small boat. This flight excited
considerable curiosity, and some suspicion.
His motives were entirely unknown, and could
not well De conceived, as he at the time filled
an important station Under the French GO
vernnent. The only reason assigned by Sar-
razin himself was, that he had not been duly
promoted by his imperial master. Immedi-
ately after his arrival IN England, he came for
ward as jealous enemy of Bonaparte, whose
atrocities he has ever since continued to ex-
pose with unwesried assiduity All this was
well received By the English people, and he
was hailed by most OF them as prosecuted
patriot, and sincere friend Of freedom. 1t ap-
pears by the last accounts from London, that
Sarrazin, encouraged by the success OF his la
sorS, has at length offered his services to the
British government as Secretary or ABIDE
Camp to Lord Wellington. This has awaken
ed the dormant suspicious OF the English peo-
pie, who think they can discover in this propo-
sition the cloveg foot of the Great Seducer.
A London Editor Indignantly remarks:
"Surely, If the man be not mad himself, he
must think cur government and orr nation
mad, To conceive that by any possibility such
proposition as this could be attended to. The
success Of Mehee de la Touche and baron
KoIii, and the observations made in the Moni-
teur upon those occasions, us to the facility
with which we icnt ourselves to any body
protesting to hate Bonaparte, may possibly en-
courage a sanguine Frcnchman to the belief,
that by exhibiting some marks OF sincerity and
.udor IN that hatred he could easily obtain
places of the highest trust and confidence
among US; but the deceptions that have been
practised upon US by creatures who should
never have been listened to, must at least
have taught Us lessen of caution that will
scarcely permit even the marks of Zapyrus
from being received as assurances sufficient
to warrant our reliance on any body coming
from France ard Offering to aid us against
Napoleon"
The British nation certainly has abundant
reason TO be cautious and vigilant lndepen-
/ deat of the various receptions which have been
practised upon themselves, it is notorious that
the present French system of espionage is
the most extensive and complicated that ever
4 existed. Their Spies are introduced into all
%coun;rics, under every possible character,
4 from cook 10 an Ambassador,-from the In
y digent beggar subsisting ON charity, to the
4 profuse and thoughtiess spendthrltt at gam
bling table. With such profound secrecy is
this hase business transacted, that these spies
do not often know the purpose for which they
are employed, and uniformly have others sta
toned to watch their motions.
The Mehee de Ia Touche mentioned by the
London Editor is perhaps one of the most
&consummate hypocritcs in Europe. So des-
l{picable is his character, that when he one
8evening offered his arm to Madame de Sou
Hbrav in Paris, she exclaimed, /" How dare you,
4 infamous wretch, 10 approach me, when /
have forbid you ever TO speak to me. Had
'syou been reduced TO have become highway
man or a house breaker, might have pitied
your lntaTny; but Spy is n Fiilan VINO aggra-
Yates guilt by cowardice and bascnes, and can
/ inspire 10 noble soul with any other sentiment
but a5honence and the most sovereign co.,
tempt" La Touche, however, was lit instru--
ment for Boaaparte. Accordingly, lie was with
great soien.rity barighed to Cayenne, whence,
II due season, he made his escape. On his ar
rival in London, be was hailed as a proscIib-
ed patriot. H. soon ingratiated himself with
the other refugees in that city, and far ex-
ceeded them in declaiming against the Corsi-
can usurper. Thc result is well known.
Georges and Pichegru were enticed to Paris
by this arch deceiver, where their lives tell
sacrifice TO their own rashness and credul.ty ;
Even Moreau was implicated in the villains
plot. 1t is gratifying to know that La iouche
never received the wages of intarny tor on