The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-05-28
(Paris Correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette.
GEORGE ALFRED TOWNSEND AND THE
FRENCH SPIES.

I have had two experiences with the
Government here. In 1866 [ was sent
to describe the German war, and when
it suddenly came to an end stopped
some months in Paris to write of lesser
matters One ofny letters related some
facts about the Emperor's social life,
which the rebel editor ofthe Anglo and
Fr0NcO-Anaericd1o was at pains to clip
out and send to the Minister ofthe Inte-
rior with his compliments. The third
day afterward a confdent-looking, pale
eyed man came to my hotel and asked
for the register. Stopping at my name
he made all possible inquiries about my
habits, acquaintances, and opinions, and
concluded by mounting to my cham
ber
Monsieur" he said, in tone to dis.
compose ne, exhibit your passport"
Monsieur" said 1, as placidly as 1
knew how, " exhibit your authority"
Government" he said, brusquely.
Your word is Insufficient
He showed me his commission and
handed over the passport. He noted
down every word of it, looking, mean
while, like dramatic villain in sol,ls,
and then handed me the slip l had writ
ten.
"It is yours?'
eyes"
He wrote down my admission.
"Do you know that for this three pen
alties are optional with the Minister 90
{" know that you can compel me to
leave France within twenty-f four hours :;
nothing more"
"A libel of this nature amounts to a
criminal offence as much so as breach
of the peace. You have accepted the
hospitality of the Emperor; you wrote
the article here; it is here that yon are
amenable."
"The offence" I answered, "was not
in the writing, but the publishing, and
that happened in New York. The EN-
peror is my creditor in nothing, save
the weekly stoppage of my papers. 1t
is idle to speak of a prosecution. am
not Frenchman. l published in New
York what l shall publish as many times
again there as choose, and if 1 am Or
dered away, which is the extent Of your
power over me, l shall print the whole
story again, with the proof Of it.''
That night my landlady told me in
pallid confdentiality. that must leave
her house. When [ pressed for the
reason she said l was a Rouge Reoub-
Hcao, q reUolutionmeire, and that the
naouchdrd had threatened her. refused
to leave without the customary fifteen
days notice, and this troubled the good
lady greatly. Next day the maouchard
tspy) came again.
"Have you given the congo to Mon
sieur?"
." Alas he demands the qui,aze
jours"
let him have notice instantly"
Al the end of fifteen days [ was rout-
Ell out and took new quarters. The
second day | inhabited them the same
m'0"chGrd presented himself and de-
manded that | be given notice. So I
was packed off again in another fifteen
Gays. This happened third time, and
then, wearied ont, left the country.
When got back, two weeks ago, to
Ihe Empire, misgiving crossed me that
might be annoyed anew. A week
passed ny, during which the charge of
,ns ne PioJec'ed american daily was pro-
POoa1 POsed 10 e, me. Three days afterward
nnooA ieil upon my door, and when I
penea Staa1 IL the pale eyed confident official
s'oon % ~, again in my threshold.
sn;to WY halloo!' l cried, laughing de-
spN Sp,'e IN myself. cold Quinze Joavs, are
also 20 my my surprise the mouchard laughed
,onoat, no'sieur is to have the American
rfper, he said, "and SO young! There
mo money In it, parbleas! 1t gladdcns
me me greatly. Monsieur, the Minister Of
t;on. tue interior, by the Emperor's diree-
haard3 Wll demand no guarantee, have |
sharI ara Tor the issue oft, And WHY
Amarhe ra hes The Emperor would be an |
I Isoaa we1soas II he were not an Emperor.
Ana pI IS you back to France again"
s;naa' a IN nave never seen the mouchard |
thas s1laee; He left word with INV laudIadv
'Aat was . young man If areo. ~ d;s.;n9