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 (reneral 

 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 j^rivilege 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, Cai'not 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 mao-- 

 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 a name 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 



