The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22

Judge Gayarre's Interpretation OF n Relic
Preserved az New Orleans.

frescrved AZ New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS, March 20.-An interesting
Napoleonic letter came TO light here the other
day and Is now In the possession Of Armand
Hawkins, the antiquarian. Mr.. Hawkins is one
Of the famous characters Of this city, and has in
his possession some OF the most valuable relics
In the state Of Louisiana. His face lights up
with all the Joy Of the successful relic hunter
who has run his prize to earth as he tells how
he captured tho document in question.
II have known for IL long time he said to
THE sun correspondent, that there was such
a letter in existence. but | never got a glimpse
OF 1t until the other day. Old Judge Guyarre,
the historian Of Louisiana. used TO sit and talk
with me over my collection, and he would say
when we were discussing French history:
"Oh. a fig for YOUR Napoleonl History is
all wrong about him! History credits Ma
poleon with disappearing Of the death OF Louis
V History lie too lenientr The old Judge
was q royalist at heart.
Finally ! said TO him: Nov, Judge YOU
tory Is wrongr'
"'Oh, | know. / know" he would say, and
that was all I could get ont 0f him, " w."
But one day he told me that when Iakanal
was alive you remember. i, was Lak.nal who
signed the death warrant of Louis XVI. at the
restoration of the monarchy he fed to this
country. France not being a comfortable place
Judge Gayarre. had seen in Lakanal's library
a letter from Bonaparte commencing the ser.
vice he had rendered the state The old Judge
had tried, to get a sight of the letter since La.
kanals death, but his granddaughter. into
whose possession it had come, would not let
him see 1t.
Well. l went to see the granddaughter my
self; knew her well, and I tried to get her to
II was In existence. but she wouldn't show It to
me. have kept on trying from time to time
The other day ] was there. and while we were
sitting chatting together. she said to me:
Ar Mould you really like to see that letter.
80 really would. Madame!' I exclaimed.
she rose. went to AN drnotrC In the very
room where we were sitting. unlocked 1t. and
TOOK out a small frame containing a letter. |
read II. Yes; there it was. as big as life!
Headed La Republique Franchise and signed
.Bonap1rteI But she wouldn't part with 1t
ing day, was triumphant that time, how
eyer. and here" pointing toa framed letter,
The letter is on the official paper of the Gov.
eminent. a printed letter head Of the time when
Napoleon was First Consul. Mr.. Hawkins can
scarcely let ii out of his hands long enough for
any one to read 1t, but he furnished THE SUN
correspondent with the following translation:
LIBERTY. EQUALITY.
PARIS, goth February. sth Of the Republicl
.Frenchi. ONE AND INpIyIsiBLE.
Bona psrte, co ,.nn, Of the Repablic. to G LohnnaL Com
rartmsnt on ne right bGnh " he Rhine: -,
ruary. The service that you nave rendered with
such distinguished honor will give you for ali time
the esteem OF men. You can count on the confidence
! have In you in giving you these powers. I salute
you, BoSAPARTE.
Mr.. Hawkins interprets the reference to the
service rendered by Lakanal as meaning the
signing of the death warrant of Louis V
There does not seem to be anv particular rea-
son for so Interpreting 1t, but, at any rate. it is
an interesting relic, especially 1T this time of
Napoleonic fevers and fads.