The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-12-05
4. Incident OF Napoleon Threatened
Invasion OF Ef.F'nnd.

About the beginning @ i1lS century
vuile the Revolutionary us were rag
ing. communication in clEi7r was natur-
ally very prevalent; and 'hgenuity was
tsxed to the utmost on cJ3 hand to in
vent, and on the other to ,i"tect, the me-
dunn used in secret CORES Eondence. As
rule, the decipherer had beaten the
! cipher: and no known metaod was secure
| OF detection. If conventio.sl signs mere
| ly were used, the recurrenca Of the differ
Ell I symbols gave key easy followed out
Some ingenious spirits co"rcsponded by
reference 10 the pages and Lines OF partlc-
Il ar books-others by an reed on voca-
bulsry. But these last met..ods although
Il ey might preserve the s'cict disclosed
lat was often quite as dangerous, that
4 ere was secret I am shout to tell
you o. plan which for . icng time was
not only undetcctcd, but u@@uspeCted.
1t was at that time when 30 first Napo-
leon had assembled bis Il, IS and trans
ports 1t Brest, with the oS, 1sible, and as
IS generally believed the zeal, view of
malsinga descent Oh Engiaa3- The great
e. igsR sfRcIgens g15erRnGH Gfrs IN r. d II 70 TIE
ptndeDce from France, al an amount
Office. which left Sir Jane laham's sub
elucnt performances in t t line far be-
! h nd. The national excii"ment was in
t. lse, and the political {. aItment was
q, nlinistcred with an iron aray.
/ My uncle Sir George t.ovor, was, as
a. the world then knew, H. Il in the Ad-
/ II irslty; and as it was from him that l
! h, ard this anecdote, It's vc city may be
! d, pended on.
! The dispatches TO and fr,l the Admir-
! d. : were Ihe subject Of tn ,reatest vigl
! il .ce, and the most string regulations.
! ne clerks were not permitted 20 send OF
receive lctters which We're 't first sub
! m tea to the chiot clerk, ...a It was be
] i we'd ,lut elters address even to their
I pl .yatc residences were ire. emily opened
~ shc post Office.
st the time speak Of, tae chief clerk
IS sn elderly man OF the me OF Parker
a wizened, wiry, dapper Individual, so
/ in,bued with the official tin lre OF White
. hall. that it had become st ,Jnd nature to
hm. lie was geniai an kindly soul,
keen and energetic Ill the affairs OF his
Office. and in all others mere child.
He had engaged as his private secretary
q Young fellow of the name Of Beaumont,
no was one of the most rr0mising sub
or r;inates in the establishment. be was a
pdest unassuming man, very cookbook
i'm, with countenance and an air sugges-
tive of depression and melancholy. He
WIS evidently of good education, and
probably well-born Also fl, his manners
wyre easy, and indicated good breeding.
I -, ,t
Introduced to the notice OF the Admiralty
authorities by some influenza member OF
P. rliament. He was much liked IN the
Office, and discharged his da;;es to periec-
I ton.
One morning Parker prc -nted himse'
. be fore my uncle with 4 vis-ge pale Will
, woe, and trembling 9TH excitement.
why, what is tile matte Parhert Ha
Bonaparte come
"He may have, for aught l know" salt
Parker. Things are a! wrong, 81
J. Georgel"
: What are wronQF
"The letters are wrong. There is a sp,
among US. have know il for long
now | am quite SIRE; but / cannot tint
him out"
Parker went on TO explain that he ha'
e fo' some time suspected that some one i
the office communicated Il eir private In
70 nation and dispatches outside. ii
hsd redoubled his precautions: but, mor
than ever confirmed in his .uspicions, wa
eI tirely batfled in his endeaFors to detet
the culprit.
But, Parker, said my '8cle, show d
you come to be so sure that your secret
hive transpired"
"By the funds. Sir GeoTrs. They ST
ver to the news rs sure as the be
,t down stairs does to the be.i-rope. | fin
til IN going up and down as # they wer
sitting in the Office" said Parker, person
if ing the Stock ENchange for the me
,e mant
Have all the letters to tie clerks bee
examined strictiyl"
= Yes, read them all myself"
Find nothing in them3'
J, Mighty little Some ar from home
some from friends, and mos # them fror
sWoethearts." said Parker twisting b
face into grim smile, 'ana rum thing
th@y say il them"
" And the young mems letters. Are the
III n, toe?'
= They are more careful Ike. as the
know / am 10 see them: IT, Lord say
you, sir, they are all stuff; not ha'por,
, of harm in them"
!. This matter must be seen 10, said N
uncle; Il have had my own misgivin!
of on the same subject Bring me all Il
nd letters which come to. anG are sent b
s' the Clerks for the next week, There Is !