ANECDOTES OF A DETENU. 19 



and byjaciebat, I mean to intimate that the composition might be 

 improved. Fecit expresses perfection complete termination ' Deus 

 fecit mundum/" 



The Cannons of Austerlitz. The column of the Place Vendome is 

 formed of the cannons taken at the battle of Austerlitz, The Duke 

 de Gaete, minister of finances, after a long conversation with Napo- 

 leon on the resources of the country, requested his majesty to let him 

 have twenty of these cannons. " What ! " said the emperor smiling, 

 " does our minister of finances intend to declare war against us ? " 

 " No, sire, not against you, but against some old worn-out machines 

 that threaten danger to the men employed at the mint. If your 

 majesty will give me these twenty cannons, I will have them con- 

 verted into engines for the purpose of coining, and there will be 

 enough metal to supply machines for all the mints in the empire. I 

 will, moreover, if it meets with your approbation, cause the name of 

 Austerlitz to be engraved upon them/' This idea pleased the empe- 

 ror, and he wrote to the minister of war the following order : tf I 

 hereby place at the disposal of our general in chief of the finances, a 

 battery of twenty cannons." These machines are still in use at the 

 different mints. The Emperor of Austria, when at Paris in 1814, 

 visited the principal of these establishments, where it has long been 

 a custom, when a sovereign honours the place with his presence, to 

 strike a medal bearing his effigy. The name of Austerlitz having 

 caught the eye of Francis, " Nothing can be more beautiful," said 

 he, looking at the medal ; te the machines work admirably well. 

 They are no longer the ultima ratio regum, but the ultima representa- 

 tio regum." 



A distinction WITH a difference. Talleyrand said that the difference 

 between Louis XVIII. and his minister was, the former wishes for 

 the happiness of his people, and the minister wishes for their property. 

 (Le roi veut le bonheur de son peuple et le ministre veut son bien.) 

 This is a witty play upon words. Bien not only signifies property 

 but prosperity, welfare, happiness. 



A distinction WITHOUT a difference. At the meeting which 

 took place at Erfurt between Napoleon and Alexander, the latter 

 did all in his power to persuade the former that he entirely 

 coincided with his views, and that thenceforward, they were to be 

 inseparable friends. One day they entered, arm in arm, the room 

 where dinner was prepared. Alexander placed his hand to his side, 

 intending to take off his sword, before he sat down to table, but per- 

 ceived that he had forgotten to put it on. Napoleon, who had now 

 taken off his sword, immediately presented it to the czar, and begged 

 him to accept it. " I receive it," said Alexander, ee as a testimonial 

 of your friendship; and your majesty may rest assured that I will 

 never draw it against you." When this circumstance was related to 

 Talleyrand, he said, " Alexander will not draw his sword against the 

 emperor, for a very good reason he will very soon throw away the 

 scabbard." 



The Conscription. Chambarlhac, who had been a private, raised 

 himself by severe and cruel conduct towards the Vendeans to the 

 rank of a general. He was so great a dolt, that Napoleon never 



