20 AX EC DOTES OF A DETENU. 



entrusted him with any command in the field, and he remained., 

 during the whole of the emperor's reign, in one of the military divi- 

 sions his duty being to raise as many conscripts as possible for the 

 service. The heart-rending scenes which I have often witnessed, 

 when the unfortunate youths were dragged from their families, and 

 brought before this republican general, baffles all description. The 

 son of a farmer residing in the neighbourhood of Lisle was drawn for 

 the conscription. The youth possessed considerable talent as an 

 engraver, and by his exertions was of great assistance to his parents 

 in the support of a numerous family. A substitute was obtained at 

 the price of 300. At the period I am alluding to, it was extremely 

 difficult to procure a person to replace him who had been drawn. I 

 have frequently known so much as 2,000 given for one. The sub- 

 stitute for the farmer's son was presented to the board, at which 

 Chambarlhac presided. " How dare you," said the general, with his 

 usual acerbity, " bring such a man to me as this ? He is con- 

 sumptive, and can't live three months !" " Well, general," replied 

 the indignant farmer, " that can be of no consequence, he is going to 

 join the army." The same general once addressed the 52d regiment 

 of the line, which was about to proceed to Spain, and the following 

 was the termination of his eloquent harangue :- te Fight like devils ! 

 If you are commanded to mount a breach, fear not wounds ! Should 

 you lose an arm or a leg, consider the loss as a gain you will be 

 raised to the rank of an officer on the field of battle !" This speech 

 produced a caricature. A conscript was represented with a joyful 

 countenance addressing a female in the following manner : " My 

 dear mother, I am going to make a rapid fortune. I will have my 

 arm cut off, and I shall be made an officer. I will have my leg off 

 too, then I shall be a colonel ; then I will have my head off, and I 

 shall be qualified for a general." 



Junot and his Steward. Junot, the Duke d'Abrantes, was extremely 

 kind to his servants, and it was well known in Paris that they robbed 

 him to a considerable amount. " They may take a few bottles of 

 wine, or a few pounds of meat, I believe," said Junot, when his 

 friends referred to the circumstance, " but the real robber is my 

 steward, and I do believe he plunders me by wholesale." " Then 

 why not get rid of him ?" " It is of no use," replied the marshal ; 

 " he is in other respects a good man ; he is attached to me, and has 

 rendered me some services : besides, if I were to dismiss him, I should 

 be cheated in the same way by another." On the first day of the year, 

 a grand day in France, the numerous servants belonging to the marshal 

 came to offer their customary congratulations. On each of them he 

 conferred a gift " As to you, sir," said he, addressing his steward, " I 

 will make you a present of every thing you have robbed me of during 

 the past year." The steward made a low bow and retired. 



Fanny Beaukarnois, Dinners. The viscountess was in the custom 

 of giving a weekly dinner to a numerous party. The fare at her 

 table was invariably so bad that her guests were compelled to lunch 

 before they came to her house. The dinners given by Napoleon to 

 those whom he honoured with an invitation were, on the contrary, 

 served up in the most magnificent style : his chief cook, with the 



