1822.] 
Dieu—they have stolen my portman- 
teau, my bag, my bread, my horse, 
&c.” from the general down to the 
common soldier. Congratulating our- 
selves on being able to cross the 
bridge, we again commenced our 
progress ; but our horses were far from 
good. We could not get on, being 
impeded every moment with ‘‘ Let 
Marshal Such-a-one’s carriage pass ;” 
then came another marshal, and then 
a general. I began to be in despair, 
when I perceived near me, the general 
who commanded this division. ‘ For 
God’s sake, sir,” said I, ‘“‘let our car- 
riage pass. I have been waiting here 
ever since yesterday-morning; my 
horses are knocked up; and, if I do 
not overtake the head-quarters to-day, 
Tam ruined.” ‘ Waita moment, ma- 
dam,” said he, ‘I will do every thing 
in my power for you.” He thenspoke 
to a gendarme, and told him to con- 
sider my carriage as among those be- 
longing to the Prince of Eckmuhl. 
This soldier, I know not why, happily 
mistook me for the wife of one of the 
generals, and became respectful. I 
Was unwilling to correct his error till 
I had passed the bridge. I found it 
lined on each side with generals, co- 
lIonels, and officers, and it was so com- 
pletely encumbered, that no time was 
to be lost; for, I have since heard, 
that the Cossacks were at no great 
distance. However I had not got a 
quarter over the bridge, when my 
horses would go no further. This pre- 
vented others from advancing ; and, as 
there was a positive order to burn any 
carriage that impeded the way, I now 
found myself in a critical situation. To 
the right and left, every one was cry- 
ing out for my caleche to be set on 
fire; andas it was customary to plunder 
the carriages that weve burnt, nothing 
could better please the soldiers. But, 
though all around me were exclaiming 
“ Burn that carriage !” some at length 
took pity on me. ‘“'T'o the wheels!” 
they exclaimed, and, then by aiding 
the horses, some strong men soon 
wafted me out of danger. Among 
The Neapolitan Patriots. 
421 
those who congratulated me upon this 
escape was my gendarme, whose ofli- 
cious politeness I had before expeti- 
enced. I could not make him any 
pecuniary remuneration; and, besides, 
this was a thing to which but little 
value at that time was attached. ‘Sir,’ 
said I, ‘‘1 don’t know how to reward 
you.” ‘* Ah, madame,” said he, “‘ the 
wife of a general ! the wife of a general 
has so many good things in her power. 
Suffer me to make an application.” 
“By all means, Monsieur le Gendarme,” 
said I, and the poor man seemed per- 
fectly rewarded. 
We travelled quietly during the 
rest of the day; but, on Sunday the 
8th, the horses were again knocked up, 
and I took the liberty to send to head- 
quarters for others. We waited atthe 
entrance of the high road to Smolensko 
for the return of a servant we had sent 
there: and, though we were but four 
leagues distant, we were obliged to 
remain here all night. Happily, the 
moon shone very bright; but we had 
only the rear-guard with us, and the 
Cossacks were said to be near at 
hand. Several officers who passed by, 
tried to persuade me not to stay 
there all night, on account of the 
danger. However, I saw no one till 
morning, excepting the soldiers, who 
pressed me very much to come out of 
the carriage, because they wished to 
plunderit. About ten in the morning, 
finding the servant did not return, I 
made proposals to a Westphalian 
suttler to take me up, for which he de- 
manded two louis. Having agreed 
with him, I took every thing I could 
remove, and left the carriage in the 
care of the driver, well persuaded that 
it would be plundered by him if it 
escaped the soldiers. I had scarcely 
travelled a league when I met the ser- 
vant Lhad sent, who was walking with 
fresh horses with as much composure 
as though he had been close to Paris. 
I persuaded him to hasten on, and 
prevent, if possible, the plunder of the 
carriage. 
(To be concluded in our next.) 
BIOGRAPHY OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
—_— 
THE NEAPOLITAN PATRIOTS, 
Including Original Details of the late 
Revolutions at Naples. 
BY AN EXILED NEAPOLITAN. 
HE name of Pascat Borrewwi per- 
haps ought not to be enumerated 
amongst those of the Neapolitan pa- 
triots, for his conduct at the critical 
period of the revolution stamps his 
character as one of a doubtful nature, 
if not of extreme weakness, But, 
should his public actions reflect no 
honour on his country, they at least 
vindicate her from rash and unjust 
imputations ; 
