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the true story。 D。W。＇
When he reviewed the troops he asked the officers； and often the
soldiers； in what battles they had been engaged； and to those who had
received serious wounds he gave the cross。 Here； I think； I may
appropriately mention a singular piece of charlatanism to which the
Emperor had recourse； and which powerfully contributed to augment the
enthusiasm of his troops。 He would say to one of his aides decamp；
〃Ascertain from the colonel of such a regiment whether he has in his
corps a man who has served in the campaigns of Italy or the campaigns of
Egypt。 Ascertain his name； where he was born； the particulars of his
family； and what he has done。 Learn his number in the ranks； and to what
company he belongs； and furnish me with the information。〃
On the day of the review Bonaparte； at a single glance； could perceive
the man who had been described to him。 He would go up to him as if he
recognised him； address him by his name； and say； 〃Oh！ so you are here！
You area brave fellowI saw you at Aboukirhow is your old father？
What！ have you not got the Cross？ Stay； I will give it you。〃 Then the
delighted soldiers would say to each other； 〃You see the Emperor knows us
all； he knows our families； he knows where we have served。〃 What a
stimulus was this to soldiers； whom he succeeded in persuading that they
would all some time or other become Marshals of the Empire！
Lauriston told me； amongst other anecdotes relating to Napoleon's sojourn
at the camp at Boulogne； a remarkable instance of intrepidity on the part
of two English sailors。 These men had been prisoners at Verdun； which
was the most considerable depot of English prisoners in France at the
rupture of the peace of Amiens。 They effected their escape from Verdun；
and arrived at Boulogne without having been discovered on the road；
notwithstanding the vigilance with which all the English were watched
They remained at Boulogne for some time； destitute of money； and without
being able to effect their escape。 They had no hope of getting aboard a
boat； on account of the strict watch that was kept upon vessels of every
kind。 These two sailors made a boat of little pieces of wood； which they
put together as well as they could； having no other tools than their
knives。 They covered it with a piece of sail…cloth。 It was only three
or four feet wide； and not much longer； and was so light that a man could
easily carry it on his shoulders；so powerful a passion is the love of
home and liberty！ Sure of being shot if they were discovered； almost
equally sure of being drowned if they effected their escape； they；
nevertheless； resolved to attempt crossing the Channel in their fragile
skiff。 Perceiving an English frigate within sight of the coast； they
pushed off and endeavoured to reach her。 They had not gone a hundred
toises from the shore when they were perceived by the custom…house
officers； who set out in pursuit of them； and brought them back again。
The news of this adventure spread through the camp； where the
extraordinary courage of the two sailors was the subject of general
remark。 The circumstance reached the Emperor's ears。 He wished to see
the men； and they were conducted to his presence； along with their little
boat。 Napoleon； whose imagination was struck by everything
extraordinary； could not conceal his surprise at so bold a project；
undertaken with such feeble means of execution。 〃Is it really true；〃
said the Emperor to them； 〃that you thought of crossing the sea in
this？〃〃Sire；〃 said they； 〃if you doubt it； give us leave to go； and you
shall see us depart。〃〃I will。 You are bold and enterprising menI
admire courage wherever I meet it。 But you shall not hazard your lives。
You are at liberty； and more than that； I will cause you to be put on
board an English ship。 When you return to London tell how I esteem brave
men； even when they are my enemies。〃 Rapp； who with Lauriaton； Duroc；
and many others were present at this scene； were not a little astonished
at the Emperor's generosity。 If the men had not been brought before him；
they would have been shot as spies； instead of which they obtained their
liberty； and Napoleon gave several pieces of gold to each。 This
circumstance was one of those which made the strongest impression on
Napoleon； and he recollected it when at St。 Helena； in one of his
conversations with M。 de Las Casas。
No man was ever so fond of contrasts as Bonaparte。 He liked； above
everything； to direct the affairs of war whilst seated in his easy chair；
in the cabinet of St。 Cloud； and to dictate in the camp his decrees
relative to civil administration。 Thus； at the camp of Boulogne； he
founded the decennial premiums； the first distribution of which he
intended should take place five years afterwards； on the anniversary of
the 18th Brumaire； which was an innocent compliment to the date of the
foundation of the Consular Republic。 This measure also seemed to promise
to the Republican calendar a longevity which it did not attain。 All
these little circumstances passed unobserved； but Bonaparte had so often
developed to me his theory of the art of deceiving mankind that I knew
their true value。 It was likewise at the camp of Boulogne that； by a
decree emanating from his individual will； he destroyed the noblest
institution of the Republic； the Polytechnic School； by converting it
into a purely military academy。 He knew that in that sanctuary of high
study a Republican spirit was fostered； and whilst I was with him he had
often told me it was necessary that all schools； colleges； and
establishments for public instruction should be subject to military
discipline。 I frequently endeavoured to controvert this idea； but
without success。
It was arranged that Josephine and the Emperor should meet in Belgium。
He proceeded thither from the camp of Boulogne； to the astonishment of
those who believed that the moment for the invasion of England had at
length arrived。 He joined the Empress at the Palace of Lacken； which the
Emperor had ordered to be repaired and newly furnished with great
magnificence。
The Emperor continued his journey by the towns bordering on the Rhine。
He stopped first in the town of Charlemagne； passed through the three
bishoprics；
＇There are two or three little circumstances in connection with
this journey that seem worth inserting here：
Mademoiselle Avrillion was the 'femme de chambre' of Josephine； and
was constantly about her person from the time of the first
Consulship to the death of the Empress in 1814。 In all such matters
as we shall quote from them； her memoirs seem worthy of credit。
According to Mademoiselle； the Empress during her stay at Aix…la…
Chapelle； drank the waters with much eagerness and some hope。 As
the theatre there was only supplied with some German singers who
were not to Josephine's taste； she had part of a French operatic
company sent to her from Paris。 The amiable creole had always a
most royal disregard of expense。 When Bonaparte joined her； he
renewed his old custom of visiting his wife now and then at her
toilet； and according to Mademoiselle Avrillion； he took great
interest in the subject of her dressing。 She says； 〃It was a most
extraordinary thing for us to see the man whose head was filled with
such vast affairs enter into the most minute details of the female
toilet and of what dresses； what robes； and what jewels the Empress
should wear on such and such an occasion。 One day he daubed her
dress with ink because be did not like it； and wanted her to put on
another。 Whenever he looked into her wardrobe he was sure to throw
everything topsy…turvy。〃
This characteristic anecdote perfectly agrees with what we have
heard from other persons。 When the Neapolitan Princess di… was
at the Tuileries as 'dame d'honneur' to Bonaparte's sister Caroline
Murat； then Queen of Naples； on the grand occasion of the marriage
with Maria Louisa； the； Princess； to her astonishment； saw the
Emperor go up to a lady of the Court and address her thus： 〃This is
the same gown you wore the day before yesterday！ What's the meaning
of this； madame？ This is not right； madame！〃
Josephine never gave him a similar cause of complaint； but even when
he was Emperor she often made him murmur at the profusion of her
expenditure under this head。 The next anecdote will give some idea
of the quantity of dresses which she wore for a day or so； and then
gave away to her attendants； who appear to have carried on a very
active trade in them。
〃While we were at Mayence the Palace was literally besieged by Jews；
who continually brought manufactured and other goods to show to the
followers of the Court； and we had the greatest difficulty to avoid
buying them。 At last they proposed that we should barter with them；
and when Her Majesty had given us dresses that were far too rich for
us to wear ourselves； we exchanged them with the Jews for
piecegoods。 The robes we thus bartered d