The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-24

/ nadotte. with whom he was not very In
innate. had bought the estate OF Lagrange
He had reckoned on paying for 1t ou
OF his wife's dowry. but there was some deial
In obtaining this. and meanwhile the vendors
pressed for payment He therefore asked
AuRereau to lend him 100000 francs Tor i've
years. which Augereau agreed to do. Nine
Bernadotto bethought herself OF asking wha'
interest he would require. Madame. an
swered Augereau. bankers and money lend
ers. no doubt quite rightly. draw profit from the
| money which they lend; but when Marshal
Is fortunate enough to be able to oblige com
| rade the pleasure OF doing him service is In
terest enough for him." Such was the man
who. by those who knew him less intimately
than did Marriott, has been represented rs hard
and graspng.
1t Is well known that at the battle OF Essling
ono OF Napoleon's greatest Generals. Marshal
Lannes. received mortal wound. Marriott
was present ut tho time and supported tho
Nlarshars shoulders when his legs were am
putated. He was SO deeply affected by the
death OF Lannes that his own health became
impaired. After recounting the painful scenes
at the deathbed Of the Marshal. lie gives q
short sketch OF his life. Lannes was OF the
same age as Napoleon. having been born In
l7O9 at Lectour. little town In Gascony. His
father was working dyer with three sons and
daughter. certain Vicar-General. observ-
Ing the Intelligence and good conduct OF the
dyer's eldest son. placed him in seminary.
where he took honors. and in course Of
time became Vicar General himself. The
young semnarist set himself to teach his
younger brothers. the second OF whom. the
future Marshal. prolted by the lessons as far
as he could in the intervals Of assisting his
father in the work OF his trade. When the
revolution broke out. however. his education
was limited to reading writing. and arithmetic.
Lannes. we are told was OF middle height,
but very well built: his countennnce was
pleasant and expressive: his eyes were small.
but indicated keen wit: his disposition was
very kind. but passionate. until he succeeded
in overcoming his Feasibility. His ambition
was boundloss. his activity extraordinary. and
his courage undaunted. After passing his
youth as dyer's apprentice. he saw military
career opened before him and seized the oc-
casion with avidity. Enrolling himself in 1901
among the volunteers OF the Gers he served
as grenader until his comrades were led by
his good behavior. his zeal. and his quick wit
to nominate him sub-Lieutenant. From that
moment he gave himself up to unremitting
study. and even when he was Marshal he
passed part OF his nights in intellectual work.
so that he ultimately became a fairly edu-
Gated man. He saw his first service in the
field under the elder Marriott. at the camp Of
lie Miral. and afterward in the Army OF the
Eastern Pyrenees. where his intrepidity and
uncommon intelligence quickly raised him to
the rank of Major. which he held at the time
when Marbot's division passed under the
command OF Gen. Augereau. After bloody
engagement. in which Lannes covered himself
with glory. Augereau got him made Colonel.
Having been wounded. Lannes was obliged to
pass some months at Perpignan whore he was
Quartered with a rich banker. Winning the
esteem OF all the family by his pleasant man
ners, the young officer married the bankers
much better match than at that
time he had any reason to hope for.
On tho conclusion OF the peace between
France and Spain in 1795. Lannes. having
been included among the officers pronounced
would have been removed
from the service and have buried his
great military talents in tho banking house
Of his father-in-law but for the perspicacity Of
Bonaparte. who got him restored to the active |
lists as Major General and took him to Egypt
In the assault on Acre Lannes was 30 seri- |
ously wounded that his troops thought him |
dead He was saved by Captain Of grena- |
liers. who. at the risk OF his own life. dragged
him to the end Of the trenches. In this affair |
Lannes got bullet through his neck. and |
aver afterward carried his head bent toward |
his left shoulder and had a certain discomfort
IN his bearing. He had scarcely recovered
rom this wound when he was overtaken
~ a great sorrow He learned that his
wife. whom he had not seen for two
rears. had Just been delivered OF o boy. A
awsuit ensued and he obtained divorce
,,;AI,
lin to Paris. He distinguished himself in the
campaign o! Marengo. and saved the army at
he action Of Montebello. where great part Of
he French army. caught in the Gorges OF the
Alps. would have been unable to emerge IL
.annes by his courage and mastery manpu-
res had not got the enemy out Of the way. 1t
vas his conduct on this occasion that earned
or him later on tho title Of Duke of Montebello.
IN his return from the Marengo campaign he
conceived hope of marrying Caroline Bona
'arte. but the intrgues of his enemy. Bes-
ieres. swayed the balance in favor Of Murat.
.anncs was then appointed Ambassador at
lisbon and married Mile. Gueh6meuc. who
'rought him u handsome dowry. which.
dded to some lucky wndfalls. put his pc
nniary affairs on satisfactory foot
ng. BY regulation Of old standing, French
ambassador on his first arrival at Lisbon was
Untitled to pass in free OF duty all goods on
oard OF the vessel which brought him. Gen.
.annes in pursuance OF the usual practice.
eded this right to commercial firm for
10000 francs. Some time afterward. on the
firth OF a boy who was to become Minister Of
farine under Louis Philippe. the Prince Re-
ent Of Portugal asked to be godfather. On
no christening day he took Lannes to n room
here were boxes full Of precious stones. and,
pcning one. he took out three double hand