Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-06-08


minister oil war, general Drou8t's appo;nt
ment reached the 10th April 1914: he had
been stricken from the the roll of artillerv
officers at the epoch ofhis being appointed
bonaparte's abide camp; in fine the pro.
yisIonal government of 1915 ordered the
payment Of his salary during his entire
stay at the Island Of Eliza; but letter from
the paymaster-general dated January 10.
1910, proved that he had refused to receive
the amount of that order. 1t resulted
from the deposition of three witnesses pre-
viously heard, that general Drouot ba,..
from the beginning, judged the return Of
bohaparte to France, as step whose con.
sequences would be fatal, and one which
he opposed by all methods possible. The
last witness isImarshal the duke ofTarente
Macdonald. The deposition he made
before the recorder, and which his Excel
lency repeated before the embellishments
IN substance that at the very critical mo-
ment OF the capitulation of the Sd of Inv.
the guard, full of confidence in general
Drouot, their commandant, was abandoned
to the wisdom of his advice. that this saIm-
tary example had gained over the army,
ahu 'hat faris was preserved from the
dangers which threatened it. Behind the
Lore, the asslduous cares and the Fl ,mness
OF this general maintained the seyerest
discipline in the army and by his pattern
ana good counsels, he had rallied it, and il
frankly yielded obedience to the king. he
had Gained the refractory, and prevented
excuses whose consequences were meal.
culable. Truth, said the marshal, makes II
my duty to declare that an influence so
suspicious had decided the army TO sub
mission, and rendered their general dis
charge much easier. The President HAVING
demanded of general Drouot, whether he
had any observation to make, he asked
PERMISSION to answer in writing. 1T an.
pears that the emotion he experienced did
not allow him TO say more.) His defender
read, know not how to testify to tbe
marshal how much am affected by h;s do.
position all my desires are fulfilled. since
have obtained the esteem of, and insured
with interest the most loyal of the warriors
of France"
Here was resumed the system of gene.
raj DrOuOt's defence in his nte,ropa tor;es
and before the council; performed the
duties of aid-de-camp and of aid. major
general of the guard near NapoIeon.
went with him to The Isle of Elba he an
poiiten me governor OF the island ate
with hun, and lived in his greatest intlma-
cy. l accompanied him by virtue Of the
treaty OF llth, April 1914, which left the
men who followed him the choice of re-
naming in France. or ceasing to be French
at the expiration IF three years in defini-
lively attaching themselves to Napoleon.
ihere is no sort of restriction in the trea-
ty which put the guard of Napoleon, as So
verelgn OF the island of Elba, at his dispo.
sure anu under his orders, whether for at-
tack or defence, nor did it prohibit us from
quitting the island at his orders. had
not had knowledge of the project of Bo.
laparte's return till eight or ten DAYS he
Tore its execution: Without speakinp
more, he abruptly told me that the peonle
at France were Disconnected, thai thew
regretted their ancient sovereign. that q
commotlon was ready to break out. that he
was inclined to yield himself to the desires
OF the French nation. used with him the
strongest arguments to d;ssuade him from
TINS design. affirm that there was mo-
anterior piet; we Judged of what was pas-
sing In France by the journals. Napoleon
received travellers and strangers: but he
alone conversed with them. and I meyer
learned what they might have told him.
but u there had been any conspiracy.
would have known it at our return tbose
concerned would not have faiIed to MAKE
a merit OF 1t. The resolution of Nan,Ieon
being FIRMLY taken to proceed. being bis
SUBJECT, having renewed nv oaths r. him
at the island of EIba, it was nv dutv IN
obey his orders, and accompany him with
so much the greater devotion and fidoI;tv
as a the hazard seemed great. (rhe general
'oisets tne TWO proclams.tiOns which are
prouuceu TO him' and says that the one
winch ne signed only invited the soldiers
10 JOIN them, but contained neither provo
cations nor personalities Napoleon hay-
ing abdlcated anew in 1915, found nv
sell dIsengaged from my oaths to him
again become free, the country being in
hanger, endeavored tn be useful TO if i'm
holding the chief command of the guard.
WIN winch the provisional government en-
'usted me. AS soon as had information
d the klng's ordinance of the oath of july.
quilted my functions, and of my own ac-
;ord constituted myself prisoner. IfT
'ad evaded 1T, they might have thought me
my conscience reproached mo
With nothing. My adhesion TO the nrov;-
lonary government of 1914 was mot an
obligation to the king, who was not then in
france. had taken no oath whatever to
us majesty received from him no com.
nand, subsistence or pay my appoint-
nentS extended only to the 10th of Apr,l.
ne Gay when was to consider myself as
'assing into the service of Napoleon, now
'ecome foreign sovereign as to France.
by the 18th article of the Civil Code, 1
'ught otlonger to be con sidered as French,