Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-06

We believe we have told our readers of the
curious papers, letters and otherwise, which the
late inhabitants of the Tuileries left behind
them-Bonaparte in his confidence of returning
thither in triumph from Berlin, and his wife in
her haste to escape from the clutches of the
mob. Many and curious arc the revelations
they make; and not the least extraordinary is
the confirmation of the story, which was hush
ed up some five and forty years ago, that Napo-
leon the great added TO bis other titles to dis
tinction that of being forger of bank notes on
a scale of magnitcence commensurate with his
victories. In the year 1926, publication call
ed La Chronicle lndiscrete du XiXth Steele con-
tanned statement of a retired Hamburg meT-
chant, Castel by name, that French general
sent him, in 1912, notes of the bank Of England
amounting to e5,0CO, with a request that he
would discount them WHICH he did Not long
after he discovered that they were forged. The
Chronicle also states that the British govern
ment denounced Napoleon to that of Louis
Xviii, in 1914, as a forger. These rumors re-
vived from time 10 time; but there was no evil
dence of their truth, all of which it was said
Louis Napoleon had bought up. 1t now ap-
pears that it was true that he had bought the
damaging papers; but, through some strange
inadvertence, had neglected to destroy them.
So they fell into the hands of his enemies, who
forthwith published them to the world.
1t appears that in 1910 a NJ. Lale, engraver-
in-chief to the ministry of war, was approached
by NJ. Dcsmaret, chief of the secret police, and
carefully sounded as to his willingness to do a
certain very confidential piece ofwork. Learning
that it would be something damaging to the en-
emieS of France, be consented; and arrange
ments were made for forging an indefinite guam
THY of Bank of England notes, by meaHs of which
Bonaparte believed he could ruin his mightiest
enemy by running her credit. A suitable house
was taken in retired street, a press provided,
and trustworthy Savoyard copper plate printer
employed and the work went bravely on, the
a. -
wards the Due de Rorigo, examining the proofs,
which were finally submitted to Napoleon him
self. NJ. Lae took the precaution to furnish
himself with paper from the minister forbid.
ding any interference with him by the police.
On one occasion a 100 Jealous official made de-
scent on the establishment, refusing at first to
read the protection. The persons employed
made fight, aud serious wounds were given and
received. When, at last, the intruder cast his
eyes on the paper, he turned pale, trembled
from head to foot, begged 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 thou
sand day. Then the notes were thrown on the
floor of a room full of dust, and brushed about
with horse-hair broom, mil they had the look
OF much use. After this they were done up in
bundles aud sent to the different seaDOrts whence
they were conveyed into England by agents en-
ployed Tor the purpose. Five at least of these
agents were taken, tried and hanged; and they
were the parties that suffered the most by this
imperial strategy.
NJ. Lale was also asked to forge Prussan
notes; but, as Prussia was then at peace with
France, and had a resident minister at Paris, he
prudently declined so dangerous an operation.
But at Il later period he obeyed his imperial
master, and forged Russian notes TO a great eX
tent, and after the war of 1912 had been de-
clared but the revcrses of the Russian cam.
paign made his labor all in vain. When the
Russians entered Paris, with the other allies,
poor Lale was in 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 circum-
stances about the matter. 10 obey his majesty
and to iniure his enemies seemed the simplest
duty of a 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" lie kept the secret TO his
death; but his heirs made his papers a notvery
blamewortby means of matchmaking Napoleon
the Little. Napoleon committed many and
many blackGr crime than this; but never one
so despica0le, or that would be so damaging to
his prestige with posterity. Byron, when he
wrote his ode on Napoleon Bonaparte, builded
his rhyme better than he knew when he indig-
Family exclaimed:
"To think that Gods fair earth hath been
The footstool Ofa thing so mean"
N. Y. Independent.