The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-09-19
SELECTED TALES.
III E r OIS NJ.
An Incident Of Napoleon's War With
e,r.. .s-.a- Spain. .r.-. ......,,.-. =.

lr was in the spring Of 1908. Napo.
leon was Prosecuting his vigorous VI tories
IN Spain, and adding fresh leaves to hi,
already overgrown laurel crown.
Murat WAS in Madrid at the head his
troops. 1t was well known that Russi,
, was ut that period friend of France
Baron Strogou"tf, the Ru sian Anba .sa.
DOR o. Span, was, therefore, on excellent
terms with Murat, and was in the h,b;,
oi listening 10 his scbones Of war, with a
coolness of attention the natural result Of
AIs neutral position. which made him. O,
more than one occasion, an excellent ami
valuable eouncc!l'r. The following e,.
ample Of n plaa of his proposing affords
also case Of ~ rare youthful heroisrn ne
ever fell TO the lot Of historians TO describe.
Observing, rs they sat together one
evening, that Murat appeared perpIexed,
he inquired the reason.
A shadow passed over the fine counte.
nance OF Murat rs he replied, Il am in.
deed pcrpIcI"d, and this time the eyi! i,
beyond our reach
fm arc not sure Of that replied the
lively Russian; taking his segar ou, Of his
mouth, tell me what is the matter
The 'Featbered King as Murat was
called in Italy, from his eytre,ue love OF
dress, moved uneasily in his round backed
arm chair. ~
4 am indeed perplexed,' rep!ie he
"The fact is, that have important de.
spatches to send TO Gen. Junot, at Lisbon
and the difficulties which, lie in the way.
are, lear, insurmountable. All the roads
great and small. and even the wonls are
filled with Spanish troops,or what is worse
with marauding guerilas. see no pos.
sible means Of transmitting papers, and
yet, my not doing NO may ensure conse.
qnences f.tal in France.'
The Russian ambassador put his seqar
in his mouth again, anl fell into fit OF
musing, Murat gazed in silence upon the
ugly profile pictured on tile wall 10y the
light Ola pair OF tallow candles. Sudden.
ly he saw the wide month open.
L have III have IL: tie easiest thing
IN the world. Admiral S,navin, our Ai.
ipiral, !. in the port u Lisbon. Send inc
one OF the brayest and siiarpesi, do you
hear, Of your Polish Lsncers. iis shall
rut Russian uniform, will give him
dispatches foi SiImvin; you can give him
Your instructions for the French General,
verbally, and will answer for it, all will
TIC right, even though he should be taken
prisoner twenty times between this and
Lisbon. The Spanish army is too anxious
TO preserve the Russian neutrality. to
make messenger OF mine source OF dis.
agreement with my country.
- Mnra', though somewhat dauhfal.
liked the. scheme. Ssizing pen anl INK
he wrote as follows to Brasinski, the com.
msnder 10 chief of the Polish troops who
had joined the French army:
Dispatches Of moment are to be i'm
me lately forwarded to general Junot at
Lisbon. Select for that purpose mn intel
iiec,ual and courageous young man from
your troops, the best you have, and send
him to me. MuRAr.'
Two days after yonth presented him.
eeif before Mura;, for whom the Polish
commander said he would answer with
his lie. lie MAS but eighteen years old,
aud named Leckinski. Murat was not
little astenished to find the youth mani
fest the utmost eagerness to undertake
his expedition, one of No common peril,
Tor, II discovered by the Spanards, his fate
would be certain death. lie listened with
+, a smile 10 all snt;cipstioos Of danger and
difficulty, and said with bow
III your imperial highness will give me
Hny orders, | pled,e myself to execute the
t''ission. | am deeply grateful 10 my
commander for having chosen me from
snong my comrades. There was not
one who was not emulous OF tie distinc-
don
Murst argued t,yorabIy Of the young
Poles courage anal intellis seaes, lie gave
him his verbal instructions. baron
S.rongoneG supplied him with buadie
Of unimPostaat taessages 10 Admiral
Sinavin. The yoang man was equipped
"a Has4ian uniform, and Get ont for
Portugal on horseback.
DsFing he frst two days hc pursued
his course without molesiatiou;- on
.she norning Of the third day he was sur
sounded BY party Of Spanish troops,
who disarned him aad conducted him
before the General In commend OF the
military force Of ihe district. His name
was Castsaoa.
Leckinski knew pessectiy weIl tbst he
was Iost Il suspocted 20 be An a.lherent Of
che French. Consequently, be i,nmcdia.
isly resolved 70 cpHHns himself entirely 70
Russiau aud German, which languages
no apoke With facility. The angry ins.
n Eal.