The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-28
THE PRIVATE SECRETARY.
An Incident of NapOleOn's Thre
Invasion Of England.

An Incident Of NapoIeon's Thre
Invasion Of England.
About the beginning of this century,
while the Revolutionary Wars were rag
ing, communication in cipher was natur-
ally very prevalent; and ingenuity was
taxed to the utmost on one hand to in
vent, and on the other to detect, the
medium used in secret correspondence
AS rule, the decipherer had beaten the
cipher; and no known method was secure
OF detection. If conventional signs mere
ly were used, the recurrence of the differ
ent symbols gave key easily followed
out. Some ingenious spirits correspond
ed by reference to the pages and lines of
particular editions of particular books,
others by an agreed-on vocabulary. But
these last methods, although they might
preserve the secret, disclosed what was,
often quite as dangerous, that there was q
secret. l am about to tell you of plan
which for a long time was not only unde-
tected, but unsupported. i j..
1t was at that time when the first Ma =
poleon hid assembled his fleets and tran
sports at Brest, with the ostensib..e, and
as is generally believed the real, view of
making descent on England. The
greatest precautions We're observed b7
the English Government in regard to
correspondence with France, and an
amount OF espionage was practiced at the
post-otfice which left Sir James Graham's
subsequent performances in that line far
behind. The national excitement was
intense, and the political department was
administered with an iron SWAY. ri.
My uncle, Sir George Trevor, was, as
all the world then knew, high in the Ad-
mlralty; and as it was from him that I
heard this anecdote, its veracity may be
depended on. I'D
The dispatches to and from the Ad-
miralty were the subject of the greatest
vigilance and the most stringent 1eoula-
tons. The clerks were not permitted to
send or receive letters which were not
first submitted to the chief clerk, and it
was believed that letters addressed even
to their private residences were frequent
ly opened at the post office. " ..a ,...-...
At the time l speak of, the chief clerk
was an elderly man of the name of Park
era wizened, wiry, dapper individual,
so imbued with the official tlncture of
Whitehall that it had become second ma
ture to him. He was genial and kindly
soul, keen and energetic IN the affairs of
ms office. and in all others a mere child.
He had engaged as private secretary
young fellow by the name of Beaumont,
who was one of the most promising sub:
ordlnates In the establishment He was
a modest, unassuming man, very good
looking, with countenance and an air
suggestive of depression and melancholy.
He was evidently of good education, and
probably well-born also, for his manners
were easy, and indicated good breeding
he was native of Jersey, and had been
introduced to the notice of the Admiral
ty authorities by some influential mem
Der of Parliament. He was much liked
In the office, and dicharged his duties to
perfection. 7e~, 49, III t,.T
One morning Parker presented himself
before my uncle with visage pale with
woe, and trembling with excitement
"Why, what is the matter, Parker? Has
Bonaparte Gomez" a..
HE may have, for aught KNOW" said
Parker. Things are all wrong, Sir
}Georgcp - -.-. o
"What are wrong2" ia .--..
A"Ihe letters are wrong. There is a spy
.ahong us. I have known it for long:
nov Lam quite sure: but L can not find
him OUT +'tass ......s =. -
Parker went on to explain that he had
1or Some time suspected that some one in
= me oflce communicated their private in
formation and dispatches outside. He
nac, recoubled his precautions; but more
tnaI ever confirmed in his suspicious
was entirely baff1ed in his endeayors to
oetecSthe culprit s.. 5'.~., =,
bun Parker" said my uncle, chow do
you cvAe to be so sure that your secrets
"By tn funds, Sir George. Thew an.
swer TO III news as surely as the bell
down STAIN does to the beli-rope. ! find
them golnaup and down as if thew were
sitting IN m Office" said Parker, person.
flying the Stick Exchange for the moment
"Have all ne letters to the clerks been
examined stritly?'' 80
Eyes, | readthem all myself"
Sind nothiR in themg'
Mighty littN. Some are from home
some from friehds, and most of them
b from sweetheartsI' said Parker, twistins
ms lace INTO a grim smile, land run
things they say inthem.'' "a
And the young mems letters. Ar,
they rum, too2"
they are more qreful like, as the,
y know am to see then; but, Lord saw
4 you, sir, they are all stuff; not a ha'portl
Of harm in them"
This matter must be seen to, . said m,
uncle; q have had my own miseivings Of
V the same subject. Bring me all the letter
Z which come to, and are sent by, the clerk
I. Tor the esl next week. There is no reaso1
why you should have ali the rum thing
to yourself" - 1 - - 9 9
-a. So nv uncle had the ln4toro e.. !