The New Orleans crescent., 1868-03-31


In 1850. when Monsieur de Louvois was French
minister OF war, he summoned before him, one
day. gentleman named Chamilly, and gave him
the following instructions;
Start this evening for Basle, in Switzerland;
you will reach it in three days; on the fourth,
puDctuslly 1T two o'clock, station yourself on the
bridge over the Rhine, with portfolio ink and q
pen. Watch all that takes place, and make
memorandum Of every particular. Continue do
ing so for two bou-s have carriage and post
horse awaiting you; and at four. precisely, mount
and travel night and day till you reach Paris. On
the instant of your arrival hasten to me with your
notes."
on the day and at the hour appointed stationed
himself, pen in hand, on the bridge. Presently
market cart drves by; then an old woman with q
basket Of fruit passes; anon little urchn trun-
dies his hoop by; next an old gentleman 10 blue
top coat joes past on bis gray mare. Three
O'Clock chimes from. the cathedral tower. just at
the last stroke tall man In yellow waistcoat and
breeches saunters up. goes to the middle of the
bridge, lounges over and looks at the water. then
he takes step back and strikes three hearty
blows on the footway with his staff. Down goes
every detail in De ChsniIly's book. At last the
hour Of release sounds and he jumps into his car
riage. Shortly before midnight, after two days of
ceaseless travelling, De Chamiy presented himself
before the minister, feeling rather ashamed at
having such trihes TO record.
Monsieur de Louvois took the portfolio with
esgerness, and glanced over the notes. As his
eye caught the mention Of the yellow breeched
man, CLEAN of joy flashed across his counte-
nance. He rushed to the king. reused him from
sleep, spoke in private with him for few mo-
ments, and then four couEiers, who had been held
in readiness since five on the preceding evening.
were dispatched with haste. Eight days after the
town of Strasburg was entirely surrounded by
French troops and summoned to surrender. II
capitulsted, and threw open its gates on the 30th
of September. 1851. Evidently the three strokes
of the stick given by the fellow in the yellow cos
tune. at an appointed hour, we're the signal OF the
success OF an intrigue concerted between Monsieur
de Louvois and the magistrate Of Sfrasburg and
the man who executed this mission was as igno-
rant of the motive as was Monsieur de Chamilly
of the motive of his.
Now this is a specimen of the safest of all secret
communications, but it can only be resorted to on
certain rare occasions. When lengthy dispatch
as those given above are out Of the question: some
other method must be employed. Herodotus
gives us story TO the point; it is found, also,
with variations, In Aulus Gellius:
Histi@us, when he was anxious to give Arista-
goras orders TO revolt could find bat one safe
way. as the roads we're guarded, of making his
wishes known which was by taking the trustiest
of his slaves. shaving all the hair of his head and
then prickng letters upon bis skin, and waiting
till the hair grew again. This accordingly he did
and as soon as the hair was grown he dispatched
the man to Miletus, giving him no other message
than this: when thou art come to Miletus, bid
Aristagoras shave thy head and look thereon
Now the marks on the head were command to
revolt"