The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-03-21
NAPOLEON l. A FORGER.

We believe we have told our readers
Of the curious papers, letters and
otherwise, which the late inhabitants
of the Tuileries left behind them-Bo-
naparte in his confidence of returning
thither in triumph from Berlin, and
his wife In her escape from the clutches
of the mob. Many and curious are
the revelations they make; and not
the least extraordinary is the con-
fmation of the story, which was
hushed up some five and forty years
ago, that Napoleon the Great added
to his other titles to distinction that
being a forger Of bank-notes on
scale of magniiicence commensurate
with hs victories. In the year lS25 a
publication called La Chronicle In
discrete du XIX Steele contained a
statement of q retired Hamburger mer-
chant, Castel by name, that n French
general sent him, in 1872, notes OF the
bank Of England amounting to 50 900,
with request that he would discount
them which he did. Not long after he
discovered that they were forged. The
Chronicle also stated that the British
Government denounced Nopoleon to
that of. Louis XVIII., in 1874, as
forger. These rumors revived from
time to time but their was no evil
dence of their truth, all OF which 1t was
said Louis Napoleon bought up. 1t
now appears that 1t was true that ne
had bought the damaging papers; but,
through some strange inadvertance,
had neglected to destroy them. SO
they fell into the hands OF his enc
mics, who forthwith published them
to the world
1t appears that In 1910 M. Lale,
engraver-in chief to the Ministry OF
War, was approached by M. Desmaret,
chief Of the secret police, and carefully
sounded as to his Willingness to do a
certain very confidential piece OF
work. Learning that 1t was some
thing that would he damaging to the
enemies of France, he consented and
arrangements were made for forging
an indefinite quantity Of Bank OF
England notes, by means of which
Bonaparte believed he could ruin his
mghliest enemy by running her
credit. A suitable house was taken
in retired street, press provided,
and a trustworthy Savoyard copper
plate printer employed, and the work
went bravely on, the minister of po-
lice, at first Fouchee, and afterwards
the Due de RorigO, examining the
proofs, which were finally submitted
to Napoleon himself. M. Lale took
the precauton to furnish himself with
a paper from the minister forbiddiug
All interference with him by the police.
On one occasion a too Jealous official
made descent on the establishment,
refusing at first to read the pro.
lection. The persons employed made
fight, and serious wounds were givel
and received. When, at last, the intru
der cast his eyes on the paper he turneC
pale, rrembled from head to foot
begged thousand pardons and drew
Off his forces and came nesr being dis
missed the service. When the noteS
were printed, they were signed by two
sworn clerks, who had become 81
skilful as to sign thousand day
Then tho notes were thrown on The
floor In q room full ofdust, and brush ed
about with a horse hair broom, until
they had the look of much use. After
this they were done u p in bundles, and
sent to the different seapOrts, whence
they we're conveyed into England by
agents employed for the purpose.
Five at least of these agents were
taken, tried, and hanged; aud they
were the parties that suffered the most
by this imperial strategy.
M. Iale was also asked to forge
I Prussian notes; but as Prussia was
then at peace with France, and had
n resident minister In Paris, he pru-
dently declined so dangerous an
operation. But at a later period he
obeyed his imperial master, and iorged
Russian notes to geat extent, after
the war of 1872 had been declared ;
but the reverses of the Russian cam
raign made his labor all in vain.
When tire Russians entered Paris, with
the other allies, poor Lae was in a
terrible fright; but was "qut for the
fear,r as the French say. The perfect
good falthIwith which eperformed his
part In this rascality is one of the most
curious circumstances about the mat
ter. To obey His Majesty and to in
jure his enemies seemed the simplest
duty of good Frenchman; though
he himself says of the operation that
"it was one that should be buried
in everlasting oblivion, since its
object was to impoverish kings by
running their subjects. He kept the
secret to his death but his heirs made
his papers II not very blameworthy
means by blackmailing Napoleon the
Little. Napoleon committed many but
and many blacker crime than this ;
never so despicable, or one that would
be so damaging to his prestigewlth pos
terity. Byron, when he wrote his ode
on Napoleon Bonaparte, builded his
rhyme better than ne knew when he
indignatly exclaimed:
"To think that Gods fair eorth had been
The foOtstoo of II thing SO mean!'
MIfDCu2eDf,