LL Le . = eo - ~~ ——_* 
ESCAPE FROM GENEVA. 73 
truth ; and this is the reason why, notwithstanding some 
friendly advice, I have persisted in divulging what you 
have just heard, relative to the nomination of General 
Bonaparte to the Institute. “ But,” said a Napoleonist 
to me, “coming from you, the story has no weight; for 
does not all the world know that you astronomers seek 
to find spots in the sun!” Thus, Gentlemen, my posi- 
tion has given me the privilege of telling truth without 
offending any one, which, by the by, is extremely rare! 
I regret not being able to discover the name of the 
generous citizen who snatched Carnot from his retreat, 
and carried him safely in his postchaise to Geneva. 
On arriving in that city, Carnot engaged lodgings at a 
laundryman’s, under the name of Jacob. Prudence re- 
quired his being entirely unknown; but the wish of 
getting certain news from his beloved country carried 
the day ; he went out, he was recognized in the street 
by some spies of the Directory, who followed him, dis- 
covered his retreat, and immediately set a watch on it. 
Some French agents who had influence in the Genevese 
Republic, exclaimed loudly that he ought to be given up 
to the laws of his country, and even made an official 
representation to the Genevese Government, The mag- 
istrate into whose hands this diplomatic affair fell, was 
fortunately a man of feeling, and conscientious withal, 
and who felt what a great blemish would be inflicted on 
his country thereby. ‘This magistrate was named M. 
Didier. On such an occasion, Gentlemen, it would be a 
crime not to cite aname known also in literature, thus 
connected with a humane action. M. Didier wrote to 
Carnot ; he warned him of his danger, entreated him to 
quit the house immediately, and directed him to a spot 
on the lake where a boatman would await him, to take 
SEC, SER. 4 
