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forgotten a name which I heard repeated so often。
My Saxon friend was named M。 Gentz； but was no relation of the diplomat
of the same name attached to the Austrian chancellery。 He was of the
Reformed religion； very faithful in the performance of his religious
duties； and I can assert that I never knew a man with more simple tastes；
or who was more observant of his duties as a man and a magistrate。 I
would not like to risk saying what were his inmost thoughts concerning
the Emperor； for he rarely spoke of him； and if he had anything
unpleasant to say it may be readily understood that he would not have
chosen me as his confidant。 One day when we were together examining the
fortifications which his Majesty had erected at many points on the left
bank of the Elbe； the conversation for some reason happened to fall on
the secret societies of Germany； a subject with which I was perfectly
unacquainted。 As I was questioning him in order to obtain information；
M。 Gentz said to me； 〃It must not be believed that the secret societies
which are multiplying in Germany in such an extraordinary manner have
been protected by the sovereigns； for the Prussian government sees them
grow with terror； although it now seeks to use them in order to give a
national appearance to the war it has waged against you。 Societies which
are to…day tolerated have been； even in Prussia； the object of bitter
persecutions。 It has not been long； for instance； since the Prussian
government used severe measures to suppress the society called
'Tugendverein'； taking the precaution； nevertheless； to disguise it under
a different title。 Doctor Jahn put himself at the head of the Black
Chevaliers； who were the precursors of a body of partisans known under
the name of the Black Chasseurs； and commanded by Colonel Lutzow。 In
Prussia the still vivid memory of the late queen exercised a great
influence over the new direction given to its institutions； in which she
occupied the place of an occult divinity。 During her lifetime she gave
to Baron Nostitz a silver chain； which as her gift became the decoration；
or we might rather say the rallying signal； of a new society； to which
was given the name of the Conederation of Louise。 And lastly； M。 Lang
declared himself the chief of an order of Concordists； which he
instituted in imitation of the associations of that name which had for
some time existed in the universities。
〃My duties as magistrate；〃 added M。 Gentz； 〃have frequently enabled me to
obtain exact information concerning these new institutions； and you may
consider the information which I give you on this subject as perfectly
authentic。 The three chiefs whom I have just mentioned apparently direct
three separate societies； but it is very certain that the three are in
reality only one； since these gentlemen engage themselves to follow in
every particular the vagaries of the Tugendverein； and are scattered
throughout Germany in order that by their personal presence they may have
a more direct influence。 M。 Jahn is more especially in control of
Prussia； M。 Lang of the north； and Baron de Nostitz of the south； of
Germany。 The latter； knowing perhaps the influence of a woman over young
converts； associated with himself a beautiful actress named Madame Brede；
and she has already been the means of making a very important acquisition
to the Confederation of Louise； and one which might become still more so
in the future if the French should meet with reverses。 The former
Elector of Hesse； admitted through the influence of Madame Brede；
accepted almost immediately after his reception the grand chieftancy of
the Confederation of Louise； and the very day of his installation placed
in the hands of M。 de Nostitz the sum necessary to create and equip a
free corps of seven hundred men destined to enter the service of Prussia。
It is true that having once obtained possession of this sum the baron did
nothing towards the formation of the corps； which greatly incensed the
ex…elector； but by dint of skill and diplomacy Madame Brede succeeded in
reconciling them。 It has been proved； in fact； that M； de Nostitz did
not appropriate the funds deposited with him； but used them for other
purposes than the arming of a free corps。 M。 de Nostitz is beyond doubt
the most zealous； ardent； and capable of the three chiefs。 I do not know
him personally； but I know he is one of those men best calculated to
obtain unbounded influence over all with whom he comes in contact。 He
succeeded in gaining such dominion over M。 Stein； the Prussian minister；
that the latter placed two of his secretaries at the disposal of Baron de
Nostitz to prepare under his direction the pamphlets with which Germany
is flooded； but I cannot too often repeat；〃 continued M。 Gentz； 〃that the
hatred against the French avowed by these various societies is simply an
accidental thing； a singular creation of circumstances； since their prime
object was the overthrow of the government as it existed in Germany； and
their fundamental principle the establishment of a system of absolute
equality。 This is so true that the question has been earnestly debated
amongst the members of the Tugendverein of proclaiming the sovereignty of
the people throughout Germany； and they have openly declared that the war
should not be waged in the name of the governments； which according to
their belief are only the instruments。 I do not know what will be the
final result of all these machinations； but it is very certain that by
giving themselves an assumed importance these secret societies have given
themselves a very real one。 According to their version it is they alone
who have decided the King of Prussia to openly declare himself against
France； and they boast loudly that they will not stop there。 After all；
the result will probably be the same as in nearly all such cases；if
they are found useful they will be promised wonderful things in order to
gain their allegiance； and will be abandoned when they no longer serve
the intended purposes； for it is an entire impossibility that reasonable
governments should lose sight of the real end for which they are
instituted。〃
This is； I think； an exact summary； not of all M。 Gentz said to me
concerning the secret societies of Germany； but of what I recall； and I
also remember that when I gave the Emperor an account of this
conversation； his Majesty deigned to give most earnest attention； and
even made me repeat certain parts； which； however； I do not now remember
positively。 As to the Carbonari； there is every reason to think that
they belonged by secret ramifications to the German societies； but as I
have already said； I have not been able to obtain exact information as to
them。 Nevertheless； I will endeavor to repeat here what I heard
concerning the initiation of a Carbonari。
This story； which may perhaps be only imaginary； struck my attention
deeply。 Moreover； I give it here with much hesitation； not knowing
whether some one has not already profited by it； as I was by no means the
only auditor of this narration。 I obtained it from a Frenchman who lived
in the north of Italy at the time my conversation with M。 Gentz occurred。
〃A French officer； formerly attached to General Moreau； a man of
enthusiastic but at the same time gloomy and melancholy character； left
the service after the trial instituted against his general at Paris。 He
took no part in the conspiracy； but unalterably attached to republican
principles； this officer； whose tastes were very simple； and who
possessed an ample competence； left France when the Empire was
established； and took no pains to disguise his aversion to the head of an
absolute government。 Finally； although of most inoffensive conduct； he
was one of those designated under the name of malcontents。 After
traveling several years in Greece； Germany； and Italy； he settled himself
in a little village in the Venetian Tyrol。 There he lived a very retired
life； holding little communication with his neighbors； occupied in the
study of natural science； given up to meditation； and no longer occupying
himself； so to speak； with public affairs。 This was his position； which
appeared mysterious to some persons； at the time the institution of the
ventes of the Carbonari were making such incredible progress in most of
the Italian provinces； especially in those on the borders of the
Adriatic。 Several notable inhabitants of the country； who were ardent
Carbonari； conceived the plan of enrolling in their society this French
officer； whom they knew； and being aware of his implacable resentment
against the chief of the Imperial government； whom he regarded as a great
man； in fact； but at the same time as the destroyer of his beloved
republic。 In order not to rouse the supposed susceptibilities of this
officer； they organized a hunting…party to meet in the locality where he
usually took his solitary rambles。 This plan was adopted； and so well
carried out that the intended meeting took place apparently by chance。
The officer did not hesitate to engage in conversation with the hunters；
some of whom he already knew； and after some desultory remarks the
conversation