Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-11-10

was the friend and rival of Baron de Genet
tes, who immortalized himself by his heroic
conduct among the plague-stricken at Jaffa.
In this rough and laborious campaign he
rendered such service to the French army,
that this page alone in his life would have
served to hand his name down to posterity.
Later, in all the capitals of Europe, his
voice was heard among scientific men, and
philosophers of all nations came to listen to
his instructions. Even Kings honored him
with their friendship.
After the coronation of the Emperor,
when that great captain wished personally
to distribute the stars of the Legion Of Hon
!or, he told Larrey that he intended to name
him commander of the order. But, although
"a surgeon-in-chief, he would not receive a.
lone his distinction and he told the Empe-
ror that he would not accept the honor,
without Baron Percy, another eminent sur
geon, were accorded the same favor. Ma
poleon yielded, and the two representatives
of French medical science were thus named,
at the same time, commanders of the Le-
gion of Honor. This fact pictures the char
acter of the man. Above all else man Of
heart, he always remained pure. and indie
pendent among the courtiers who only echo
| ed the opinions of their master It was not
obstinacy, but free spirit and truthful
disposition. Let US see what he did at
Esling, when the French army was sur
rounded, and want began to be felt, even in
the ambulances. He told them to kill his
own horses, and upon his responsibility, to
sacrifice greater number of those Of the
superior officer, to make JouHlon for his sick
and wounded. The indignant generals, of
Icourse, demanded reparation against Larrey,
and the Emperor summoned the surgeon to
his presence. "What have you to say to
this accusation? - said he. ''Sire," rep piled
Larrey, ''the sick were my children I owe
ito you an account Of their lives under these
circumstances, but did my duty. Besides,
Iof what do these gentlemen complain .
They have a horse each left, while have
killed all mine" What could Napoleon
do? He could not be angry; he pardoned
the man for his intrepidity and honesty
When the harrassed and MANNED relics of
the Grand Army were crossing the bridge
of the Rere-:ua, "a
general, his friend, his father, not even to
preserve his flag. Suddenly, on the mid
die of the bridge a buzzing whisper ran
through the crowd-a name is pronounced,
hands are stretched out, man is passed
from arm to arm. with all the care affection
can suggest; that was Larrey.
After the battles of Lutzen and Bautzen,
a number of soldiers were wounded in the
hand by ill-constructed weapons. At the
same time, treason was suspected in the
camp, and the gloomy mind Of Napoleon
saw in this fresh proof of it. He sum
moned his generals to a council of war );
they confirmed his suspicious, and, furious
with jealous rage, he ordered Larrey to
draw up report upon the matter. Larrey
presented it, and the Emperor paced the
tent in great agitation, digging up the turf
with the end of his cane. - s...
''These men are guilty." he said.
''They are not, sir, replied the intrepid
surgeon; ''the accusation of treachery is
calumny for which you will have to account
to history"
.'Begone!'' said the Emperor, II will
make you know my pleasure" .
Larrey, calm in the security of good
conscience, retired, satisfied that he had
done his best to save the lives of the inno-
cent. A few hours passed, and at last Ma
poleon summoned him.
''Thank you, Larrey," said he; ''alas !.
why am | not always surrounded with men
like you?'
Bonaparte spoke truly; if he had only
been advised by men of such energy and
greatness of heart, in the days of his mis-
fortunes, he might never have fallen.
We must return to Larrey at Waterloo,
where he had gone to assist at the obsequies
of the Empire. His horse was killed un-
der him; he was wounded in two places; he
was crushed on the ground among the fly
ing crowd; they had made him prisoner,
and the Prussians were on the point of
shooting him, when one of the enemy 'ssur-
geons, an old pupil at Vienna, recognised
his old teacher, and fastened to apprise
Blucher.
His life was saved, and a guard of honor
escorted him to the French frontier. They
could scarcely do less for such man.
After the Restoration, he retired into the
shade, shut out from the Court. Surgeon
in-chief of the Hospital of Guard, he had
neither distinctions nor honors; he was
neither Peer of France nor Grand Cross of
the Legion of Honor; he had almost forgot
ten the road to the Tuileries of the Bour-
bons.
One day, guard presented himself to
him with a letter of recommendation.
s'What do you wish % said Larrey.
II would like to be corporal, Monsieur
le Baron"
''Alas !" replied the surgeon of the En-
peror, Il have made generals in my time,
but to-day [ don't know if I have interest
enough to make corporal"