Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-03-11
ANECDOTES OF THE
FRENCH REVO-
LUTON.

At the commencement Of The French
Revolution, nearly one hundred years
ago, the acknowledgement of the police
of Paris had upon his register the
names Of no fewer than two thousand
suspected and depraYcd characters,
whose pursuits were known to be of a
criminal nature; yet by making the de-
partment of police the immediate Oh
ject Of the close and uniform attention
Of one branch of the executive govern.
ment, crimes were much less frequent
than in England, and the security ex-
tended TO the public with regard to the
protection of life and property against
lawless depreciation Was infinitely great
er. The following narratives were au-
thenticated by an English magistrate
at that time, and record Of them,
written at the commencement Of this
century, is now in the possession Of the
present writer.
A merchan of high respectability in
Bordeaux had occasion to visit Paris
upon commercial business, carrying
with him bills and money to a very
large amount. On his arrival at the
gates Of the French metropolis, gen.
teel-loOking man opened the door of the
carriage and addressed him TO this ef-
| feet: Sir, l have been waiting for
you some time. According to my
notes, you were to arrive at this hour ;
and your person, your carriage and
your portmanteau exactly answering
the description L hold in my hand, you
will permit me to have the honor Of
conducting you to Monsieur de Sar-
| .ine.'
The gentleman, astonished and
alarmed at this interruption, and still
more at hearing the name of the lIeuten-
ant of the police mentioned, demanded
TO know what NJ. de Sartine wanted
with him, adding that he had never
committed any offense against the
laws and that the police could have no
! right to detain him. The messenger
| declared himself ignO ant of the cause
of the detention, and said that when he
! had conducted him to NJ. de Sariine, he
should have executed his orders. At
ter some further explanations, the gen.
tleman permitted the officer TO conduct
/ him to the police official.
NJ. de Sartine received him wit h
great politeness, and after requesting
him TO be seated, to his astonishment
| described his portmanteau, and told
him the exact amount in bills and cash
which he had brought with him to Par
is, where he was to lodge, his usua
time of going to bed, and a number of
other circumstances, which he had con-
ceived were known only te himself.
| Having thus excited his attention, NJ =.
de Sartine asked him: Sir, are you a
man of courage p
The gentleman, still more astonished
at the slngulaIity of this interrogatory
demanded the reason why such a ques-
tion was put, adding that no man had
ever doubted his courage.
NJ. de Sartine replied: Sir, you are to
be robbed and murdered this night. If
| you are man Of courage, you must go
to your hotel and retire to rest at the
usual hour. But be careful not to fall
asleep neither will it be proper for you
to look under your bed or into the clos
ct which is in your chamber. You
must place your portmanteau in Its u.s.
ual situation near your bed and betray
no suspicion. Leave what remaines to
me. If you dc not feel your courage
sufficient TO bear you out, will pro-
cure some one who shall personate you
and go to bed in your stead.
The merchant being convinced that
Nj. de Sartine's intelligence was accu-
rate in every particular, refused to be
| perSonated, and resolved to follow liter
| ally the directions he had received. He
accordingly drove to the hotel, and
went TO bed at his usual hour, eleven
o'clock. At half past twelve-the time
mentioned by NJ. de Sartine-the door
of his bedchamber.. burst open, and
three men entered with a dark lantern i,
daggers and pistols. The merchant
perceived one of them to be his own
servant. They riaed his portmanteau
undiSturbed and settled the plan of
putting him to death. Hearing all this
and not knowing by what means he
was to be rescued, it may be supposed
he was under great perturbation of
mind during such an interval of sus-
pense When at the moment the WILL
ians were preparing to take the mer-
chants life, four police officers, who
were concealed under the bed and in
the closet, rushed out and seized the Of