Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-05-20
Otuuille DaiIq Datte &ernrN.
MOrcau and Napoleon.

DR.. Baird, in lecture dlivered in
st. Louis, il the narrator of an mel
dent which is new to us 1t may be
remembered that Sis Robert Wilson
who was present as British Commits
sioner at the battle Of Dresden, where
Moreau received fatal cannon shot
by the immediate command Of Napole-
on, volunteered his services On that
occasion as aid-de-camp to Moreau 1t
appears that the relations, thus held
led to conversation between the two
on the night preceding the battle, the
substance Of which was thus furnished
by Sir Robert to DR.. Baird, at Gibral-
tar, IN 1876:
wilson, said Moreau, you and |
arc foreigners, and can talk with you
freely | feel badly abont the battle
of to m ,rrow, fear it will be disaS-
trous. | have been here but little
whilo, and | have not gotten well ac-
quaintcd with this large army, from
different nations, | hsve net got hold Of
it. Then | am entrapped by the pres
ence Of these monarchs. | think that
/ know how TO command, bnt do not
feel free to act without consulting
them, and they are not military men.
in the next place | have the appear
anee of fighting against France, which
no Frcnchman likes, God knows. |
am not fighting against France, but
agasnst the tyrant who rules that eOun-
try. But most of all am troubled
because | know that tomorrow | shall
have to command against a man who
will anticipate every movcmrnt l shall
make. | cannot make n movement
with this army, which bonaparte will
not know as we'll as | do that | am go
ING to make it, and he will anticipate
me. cannot make "a movement which
he will anticipate, unless it be such
one as | ought not to make, and that,
as a military man, | will not make.
Did you ever hear, said DR.. B. to
his audience, n criticism on Bona>
parties grnius as military man equal
to that which is contained in these re-
marks? and this made by man who
was capable of cOmprehending that
genius. The battle weat on, and the
allies were defeatep.
NAPOLEON AND THE LADIES Tho
of different nature, the following an
ecdote, also fold by DIR. Baird, will
equally bear repeating:
Shortly after Bonaparte was made
FIRST Consul, and had installed himself
in the pal of the Tuilleries, he held
grand reception and ball. But he
experienced, at that early day of his
career. no little difficulty in organizing
hia court, and making matters go
smoothly.
When the supper was ready the la
dies were sTmmoned first, the gentle
men being under the necessity Of wait
ING until their 'betters' were served.
Two thousand ladies, showily, if rot
tlstcfully dressed, rushed forward to
the doors Of the great dining hall, one
of the largest and mos, splendid dining
room- in Europe. The great folding
doors were closed, and the officers of
the palace found it Impossible to get
them open, for the ladies pressed
against them and were engaged in hi Oh
dispute AMONG themselve as to who of
them h d he entire, or right to 90 first.
One lady said the RICH was hers, for
her husba d was a great general, but
she soon found that others maintained
on one ground or another, that their
claims were greater.
Meanwhile the officrs could not get
the door open, and in consternation
one Of them FASTENED to the First Con
sui and asked him how they sh puld
settle the question of precedenc. 'O,'
says Bonaparte, nothing is easier, tell
them that the eldest is to 60 first
The officer repov led to til" ! dies the
First Consul's decision, ard instantly
they al fell back, This gave the Of
ficers an opportunity to get the doors
open, when to their establishment, none
of the latios were wiling to 60 first.
Alter standing in tat ridiculous posi-
Al l. Ii