Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-05-14
THE CIPHER.
4 STORY OF THE DAYS OF NAPOLEON.

A STORY OF THE DAYS OF NAPOLEON
About the beginning Of this century.
while the Revolutionary wars were rag
ing. communication by cipher was nat
urally very prevalent, and ingenuity
was taxed to the utmost on one hand to
invent and on the other to detect the
medium used IN secret correspondence.
As a rule, the decipherer had beaten the
cipher. and no known method was sure
against detec ion. If conventional signs
merely were used, the recurrence OF the
different symbols gave a key easily iol'
lowed out. Some ingenious spirits cor
responded by reference TO the pages ana
lines of particular editions of particular
books. others by an agreed vocabulary.
But these last methods, although they
might preserve the secret disclosed
what was often quite as dangerous
that there WAS a secret. | am about 10
tell you of plan which, for a long time
was not only uudetected, but unsus
pected.
It was at that time when the first Ma
poleun had assembled his fleets and
transports at Brest. with the ostenSlble
and, it is generally believed, the real
view of making descent on England.
The greatest precautions were observed
by the English government in regard to
correspondence with France, and an
amount of espionage was practiced at
the post Office which left Sir James
Graham's subsequent performances in
that line far behind. The national ex-
element was intense, and the political
department was administered with an
ron sway.
NV uncle, Sir George Trever, was.
all the world knew. high in the Adml-
rally: and as 1t was from hlm that |
heard this anecdote its veracity may be
depended on.
The dispatches to and from the Ad'
miralty were the subject of the greatest
viqllance. and the most stringent regu-
lations. The clerks were not permitted
70 send or receive letters which were not
first submitted to the chief, and it was
believed that letters addressed even to
their private residences were frequently
opened at the post office.
At the time l speak Of, the Chief
clerk was an elderly man of tie name
of Parkor-a wizened. wiry. dapper in
divldual. so imhucd with official tinc'ure
of Whitehall. that it had become sec-
ond nature to him. He was a genial
and kindly soul. keen and energetic IN
the affairs Of his office, and IN all other
things a mere child.
Tie had engaged as his private secre'
tarv. n Young fellow by the name NJ
beaumont. who was one Of the mos'
nromlnent subordinates in the estab
lishmcnt. He was a modest man. very
oood looking. with a countenance anf
an mir suggestive Of depression anC
melancholy. He was evidently ofgoot
education. and probably well-horn also
for his manners were easy, and indicat
Gated good breeding. He was a. native
Of Jersey. and had been introduced t.
the notice Of the Admiralty auihoriiie'
hv some influential members Of Parlia
ment. He was much liked in the office
and discharged his duties TO perfection
One morning rarkcr presented him
self before my uncle with yisage pail
as woe. and trembling with excitement
why. what is the matter, Parker
| has DOndpdllO NOh''
He may have. for ought know
said Parker. Things are all wrong
Sir George!
what are wrOng|
The letters are wrong. There is
spy among us; have known 1t for
long time. now ] am quite sure but
cannot find him out
Parker went on to explain that he ha
for sometime suspected that some on
in the office communicated their privat
information and dispatches outside. II
had redoubled his precautions; bu
more than eyer confirmed IN his susp
cions, was entirely bafied in his Ell
deavors to detect the culprit.
But, Parker said my uncle, ho
It do you come to he sure that your 81
r crets have transpired? p
BY the funds. Sir George. They al
swer TO the news as surely as the be
down stairs 1oes to the bellrope. | fin
them going up and down as II they wei
sitting in the Office said Parker, pc
J, sonifying the Stock Exchange for m
ment.
Have all the letters to the clerk bet
examined strictly?'
}. Yes; read them all myself
Find nothing in them7'
Mighty little. Some are from hom
some from friends, and most OF the
e. from sweethearts, said Parker, twistiI
his face into a grim smile, 'and ru
things they say III them
And the young men's letters-a
. they rum, tool p
They are more careful like. as thu
know am TO see them; but Lord sa
you, sir, they are all stuff; not h
=, north of harm in them.'
- This matter must be seen to- sa
nav uncle; have had my own mi
il p,yings on the same subject. Bring q