The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-04-13

officers--gave a sharp reprmand TO Lavalette-
and ordered him TO keep his room, under arrest
When my aid-de-camp had retired, told V
that he could not, after such public insult, re.
main longer among us, as his behaviour might
expose him-without my being able to protect
him-to new insults: and gave him the friendly
advice, therefore, TO return Immediately to Paris
and to ask for another army He readily en-
braced my hint, and thanking me, requested
anxiously, that would make no report to the
minister of war, as he was perfectly able to ex-
cuse himself for leaving the army-as ''unwell
and unfit to do his duty during winter cam.
paign!'
The following fact may serve to show the
manner in which the civil secret police acted upon
strangers Of distinction, and French high iunc,
tionares:
In 1907 I had made. journey from Paris
where | resided, into the beautiful Touraine-the
garden of France. had been appointed Adju.
tant-genera to the emperor's staff. On my re-
turn to Paris, found a letter from the Count OIL
Wackerbart, Hanoverian gentleman, a fellow.
student of mine at the University of Gotingen
He stated that he had recently arrived from Ha-
nover-had called to see me-and not finding me
within, he requested me to call at his hotel i'm
mediately upon my arrival, as he wished to con-
suit me upon business of great importance.
drove to his hotel, and was surprised to find only
his groom and his other servants, who acquainted
me, in very detected tone, that their master
had disappeared three days before; and they fear
ed some accident had happened to him. | sent
for the landlord. He expressed his suspicious
that the count had been arrested; for he had him
self been summoned, the same day, to appear be-
fore the project of police, who asked him many
questions concerning the count. | drove instant
~ to the Hotel of the Prefecture of Police, but
could learn nothing except that my friend had
been arrested upon very grave denunciation,
and that his case depended on the minister of the
general police to whom was directed to apply.
did so; and found NJ. Fouche, Duke of Of
ranto, who received me with that grave, ridicu-
ous politeness, which most of the public officers
assumed at that period. spoke with frankness
and warmth in favor of my friend; and finally
succeeded in convincing the duke, that he was an
honest and good man, and that it was impossible
for him to have spoken disrespectfully Of SOW
ereign, of whose powerful protection he was so
much in need; and l offered to be answerabe
with my head for the correctness of his course
during his stay at Paris. When had concluded,
the duke rang the bell, and calling one of his
clerks to accompany me, he handed me sealed
order-directed to the commandant at the Tenn
pel where my friend, the count, was shut up al
secret-saying, as he placed it in my hand $50,
and announce to your friend that he is at liberty.
But remember you are held responsible for his
future conduct with your o1Or head!''
Full of joy, l drove with speed to the Tempel.
l was received by the commandant with great
state and authoritative Formally. Aftera painful
detention of nearly an hour, by reason of tedious
forms, had the pleasure of embracing my friend
vet in what Wretched state! He was already
pale and haggard-but his eyes cleaned with, de-
light. / took him in my carriage, and conveyed
him to my hotel.
The following was the cause of his arrest
Two days after his arrival at Paris, gentleman
in an elegant carriage sent his servant in rich.
livery, to the hotel, with request to be permitted
to have the honor of seeing, for few moments,
the Segneur Allemand Count de Wackerbart.
He was instantly admitted, and very politely re-
ceived by the count, who was highly pleased
when the stranger announced, that, having heard
that he was an amateur of pictures, he had come
to offer his services in introducing him to one of
his friends, who would be happy to show him a
fine collection. The count, who was, in truth,
great amateur, eagerly accepted the invitation.
This kind gentleman was Mr.. de g., Sc
cret spy of high rank.
| He became daily more and more intimate, and
i
Bagatelle, one of the most fashionable restaura-
teurs in the Bots de Boulogne, near Paris The
count drank like German-and the spy dropped
some hints against the emperor, and asked him
what he thought Of him. Wackerbart being
alone with person in whom he confded, replied
frankly, "that Buonaparte had deceived the
French nation and ruined Germany-that he was
tyrant, and cordially detested by all Germans
These words were not noticed; but the next day
after dinner he not only repeated them, but COM
mitted much greater imprudences. M. de c.,
who feared that these expressions might have
| been overheard, began to feel Oarm friendship
, for the count, and assured him, most sincerely,
4 in my presence, when we met him subsequently
| at Tivol, that he could not help denouncing him
| and causing him to be arrested-for fear of being
himself arrested!
This arrest was accomplished as follows:-
When the count had dned with c., the latter
took him into his carriage, and drove out oil hear
ing in the Champs Elysees. Here they alighted,
and when alone, C took the liberty Of rep
resenting to him in warm terms the consequence
of his speaking too freely. But Wackerbart dis
regarded these hints; and being little intoxica-
1 ted, exclaimed with vehemence, that he was a
Ic.,o ~ q,