The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-18
Napoleon !. a Forger.

We believe we have told our readers O
the curious papers, letters, and otherwise
which the late inhabitants Of the Tuille
ries left behind them-Bonaparte In hil
confidence Of returning thlther in triumph
from Berlin, and his wife In her haste L
escape from tue clutches of the mob
Many and curious are the revelations thai
they make; and not the least exlraordina
ry Is tho confirmation OF the story, which
was hushed up some five and forty years
ago, that Napoleon the Great added 10 his
other titles 10 distinction that oil being a
forger OF bank notes on scale of magni
ticence commensurate with his victories
In the year 1926, q publication called la
Chronicle IndiScrete dm &LXth Steele con.
tanned statement Of q retired Hamburg
merchant, Castel by name, that French
general sent him, 1879, notes Of the Bank
of England amounting to $1,000, with a
request that he would discount them,
which he did. Not long alter he discov.
cred that they were forged. The Chroni.
Gle also stated that tue British government
denounced Napoleon TO that Of Louis
XVIII, in 1914, as forger. These ru.
mors revived from time to time, but there
was no evidence Of their truth, all of
which 1t was said Louis Napoleon had
bought up. 1tnow appears that It was
true that he had bought the damaging
papers, but through some strange inadVert.
ence, had neglected 10 destroy them. So
they fell into the hands Of his enemies,
who forthwith published them to the
world.
1t Ssappears that in 1870 NJ. Lale, en-.
graver-in-chiet 10 the ministry OF war,
was approached by NJ. Desmaret, chief OF
the scret police, and carefully sounded as
to his willingness to do certain very
confidential piece Of work. Learning that
1t was something that would be damaP.
ing TO the enemies Of France, he consented;
and arrangements were made for forging
an indefinite quantity ofBank Of England
notes, by means OF which Bonaparte be-
lieved he could ruin his mightiest enemy
by running her credit. A suitable house
was taken in retired street, q press pro-
vided, and trustworty Savoyard copper:
plate printer employed, and the work
went brayely on, the Minister Of Police
at first Fauche, and afterward the Dnc
ne ROrigo, examining the proof, which
were finally submitted 10 Napoleon him
self. M. Lale took the precaution 10 fur.
nish himself with paper from the Min.
lister forbidding any interference with him
by police. On one occasion too Jealous OF.
fetal made descent on the establishment,
refusing at first TO read the protection.
The persons employed made fight, and
serious wounds were given and received,
When, at last, the intruder cast his eyes
on the paper, he turned pale, trcmbled
from head TO foot, begged q thousand
pardons, and drew off his forces, and came
near being dismissed the service. When
the notes were printed they were signed
by two sworn clerks, who had become so
skillful as to sign thousand a day. Then
the notes were thrown on the floor of o
room full of dust, and brushed about with
a horse.hair broom, until they had the
look OF much use. After this they are
done up in bundles, and sent to the differ
ent seaports, whence they were conveyed
into England by agents employed Tor the
purpose. Five at least OF these agents
were taken, tried and hanged, and they
were the parties who suffered the most BY
this imperialstrategy.
n! Lale was also asked TO Jorge. Prus.
sian notes; but, as Prussia was then at
peace with France, and had resident
Minister in Paris, he prudently declined so
dangerous an operation. But at later
period he obeyed his imperial master, and
forged Russian notes 10 u great extent;
but the revcrses of the Russian campaign
made his labor all in vain. When the
Russians entered Paris, with the other
allies, poor Lale was in a terrible fright;
but was "quit for the fear" as the French
say. The perfect good faith with which
he performed his part in this rascality is
one Of the most curious circumstances
about the matter. To obey His Majesty
and injure his enemies seemed the SIM
plest duty Of . good Frenchman; though
he himself says Of the operation that "it
was one that should be buried in ever.
lasting oblivion, since its object was 10
impoyerlsl kings by running their sub.
jects." He kept the secret to his death;
but his heirs made his papers not very
blame. worthy means OF matchmaking
Napoleon the Little. Napoleon commit
ted; many and many blacker crime than
this, but never one so despicable, or that
would be so damaging to his prestige with
prosperity. Byron, when he wrote his
Ode on Napoleon Bonaparte, buildel his
rhyme better than he knew when he in.
exclaimed:
"To think that Gods fair earth hath been
Tho fOotstool OF a thing 80 mean"