The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-07-30
Marshal Marmont.

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In the Memoirs Of the Duke Of Raeuss;
better known as Marshal Marmout- wril.
ten by himself is recited. the following IL.
teresting anecdote. II occurred in sl7osi
and illustrates Marmont's firnpess and self
respect. An invasion. OF Englaud was then
meditaied. Bonapatte. wEo then ron Biz
first Italian lsureIs, Was named sComman,
der-in-Chief Of the army of England" Mar
mont was attached 10 him as Aid-de Camp
Bonapate wishing to have accurate infor.
maiioh concerning tho defensive prepsra.
tions of the English, was. turning over i'd
his mind the means Of procuring il. The
story says: - --..E..
"a. NJ. Gallois, man Of respeetabiliiy
and distinction, had mission 10 England;
for the purpose Of exchanging prisoners.
Before setting of, be came with M. Tailsy-
rand TO General Bonaparte's house, Rue de
la victoire. Suddenly The doors Of Che
cabinet opened; the General called me, and
no sooner did / find myself the fourth id
this cabinet than he said to me, .Marmopt;
M. GaIlois is about to 60 to England with
commission TO treat for the exchange 81
prisoners; you will accompany him; yoi
will leave behind your uiforin; you win pass
as bis secretary, and you will procure infor-
nation OF such and such nature; you will
make such and such observations, &c. And
he detailed to me my instructions. I listened
to him without interrupting him; but whet
he had finished. / answered, General, I re-;
fuse 10 60 Howl you refuse TO gor said
he. Yes, General, / continued: You give
me the commission of a spy, and it neithef
belongs to my duties. nor accords with my
tastes. NJ. Gallois fulfils mission which
is openly recognised; mine would lie be:
yond the sphere OF honorable recognition;
My departure with him would be knowd
TO all Paris, and it would be known I'M
England that his pretended secretary Is one
of the principal officers of your staff tf--yout
confidential aid,de camp. Unprotected by
the law Of nations. Bshould be arrested;
and either hanged or sent back with sinfa-
my. My life as a soldier belongs to you;
but j: is only as a soldier that am bound
TO lose it. :. Send me with twenty Eve hus.
sars to attack a fortress, would 90 without
murmuriug. thongh certain Of falling. be-
cause that IS my profession. The present
case is different! He was confoundsd by
my answer, and dismissed me, saying, 4
shall fud other officers more jealous and
more docile.' This bold contest with mad
SO powerful, this decided answer in opposi.
tion to his wishes, made u great impression
on M. Talleyrand, who Vas not acquainted
with me then, and who has often spokeI
of il to me since. When NJ. Talleyrand
and Gallois were gone, the General called
me and said, sWhat were you thinking Of,
to answer me in that way before strangersi'
General answered, Il am aware Of the
pain my answer must have caused you, and
of its apparent impropriety; but permit mo
to tell you, you had rendered it necessary;
you had not hesitated TO make an offensive
proposition to me in their prssence, and
could only wipe out the stain by also repei-
ling it in their presence with indignation:
If you had spoken to me of it en- tefe-a,tate;
1 should have discussed il with you ia s
manner accordant with the respect / bear
you aud the sentiments owe to you. He
understood me, but Cor long while after
treated me with great coldness. Duroc, TO
whom I had narrated this scene said, Il ant
thankful that it didn't happen to me, for
should never have dared 10 refuse him.
Sulkowsky, who Witnessed the explanation,
dresdiug lest the mission should 6evolse
on him, hastened TO prevent il by saying,
General, not one of us wonli.have accept
ed it, Nothing more was said on the sub
jeet, and every one was saved from the OBJ
Ioquy."