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 HOYT COLLECTION 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2019 with funding from 
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 CHARACTERS, 
 
 MORAL AND POLITICAL , 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PRINCIPAL PERSONAGES 
 
 THROUGHOUT THE 
 
 FRENCH REVOLUTION, 
 
 ♦ 
 
 THE CONSULATE, AND THE VIRTUOUS IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT 
 
 WHICH FOLLOWED IT: 
 
 WITH 
 
 THEIR PORTRAITS, 
 
 Reduced from the Original Paintings in the Museum at Paris. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDtD 
 
 THE CAITIFF OF CORSICA , 
 
 $n historical Drama. 
 
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SKETCH OF THE LIVES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MOST RENOWNED 
 
 REGICIDES AND FRENETICS 
 
 - / . 
 
 • / • t % . • j 
 
 . . ' *. > ■ r - . ' .« I 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FRENCH REVOLUTION. 
 
 BARRAS. 
 
 Barra s, sprung from one of the most ancient 
 and noble families in France, was born 1755 , at 
 Foxemphoux, now in the department of Var. He 
 entered the dragoons very early in life, and was 
 sent to the Isle of France, From thence he went to 
 Pondicherry, where he was made prisoner by the 
 English. Fie afterwards served at the Cape of t Good 
 Hope. On his return, lie became a noted rake, 
 and plunged in every sort of libertinism, by which 
 means he was soon obliged to live in a garret. At 
 the breaking out of the Revolution, Barras became 
 one of the most conspicuous personages, and sup¬ 
 ported his character throughout the whole. He 
 voted for the death of the King, and was commis¬ 
 sioner at Toulon when that town and port 
 
 B 
 
 were m 
 the 
 
2 
 
 the hands of the English and Spaniards. It was 
 here that Salicetti recommended Buonaparte to him, 
 and he gave the latter the command of a brigade at 
 the siege. When the place surrendered, Barras 
 appointed him to put in execution the horrid decree 
 against the poor inhabitants (to put a tenth of them 
 to death). Barras, on his return to Paris, became 
 Director, and at the tumult of St. Antoine, he 
 again employed Buonaparte to command the artil¬ 
 lery, and he was so well satisfied with his service, 
 that he gave him his mistress , the Countess Beau- 
 harnois, who is now the chaste Josephine and para¬ 
 gon of the age. Barras continued in the Directory 
 till Buonaparte returned from Egypt, when he 
 sent his benefactor into private exile, where he re¬ 
 mains deservedly unnoticed and disregarded. 
 
 LA FAYETTE, 
 
 Born of a noble family, was early entered in the 
 army. He was appointed second in command of 
 the French troops sent to assist the Americans 
 against their mother country. After the peace he 
 
 _ t 
 
 returned to France, and soon after accused Mr. de 
 Calonne of having appropriated some royal do¬ 
 mains to his own use, and also of having purloined 
 several millions out of the royal treasury. 
 
 La Fayette was the first who proposed to draw up 
 the Declaration of Rights, which he himself com¬ 
 posed 
 
 0#C 
 
 **t<* 
 
 i 
 
3 
 
 posed July 1789, and sent to the assembly with 
 these words: u The citizens acquire a new force 
 “ when they are unanimous. It is sufficient for a 
 “ nation to know liberty in order to love it; and 
 u to be free, she has only to will it! 55 
 
 After the recal of Necker, Bailly was elected 
 mayor of Paris, and La Fayette appointed com¬ 
 mander in chief of the National Guards. 
 
 On that ever memorable day, 5th October 1789, 
 a deputation waited on La Fayette, and sai l, “ We 
 <c . will go to Versailles, and fetch the King to Paris, 
 u &c.” La Fayette immediately marched to Ver¬ 
 sailles with his battalions.. 
 
 At the grand confederation on the 14th July 1790, 
 the King being appointed for that day absolute and 
 supreme dommander of all the National Guards), de¬ 
 legated his command and authority to La Fayette, 
 *who was that day generalissimo of six millions of 
 armed men. 
 
 W 7 hen the constitution was completed, La Fay¬ 
 ette resigned his command, with a view, as is pre¬ 
 sumed, of being solicited by the people. Accord¬ 
 ingly he was named to the command of the Army of 
 the North, when soon seeing his influence at Paris 
 was on the decline, he thought it prudent to desert 
 his army and the nation, which would no longer 
 confide in him. He was arrested by the Austrians, 
 and sent to Olmutz, and was confined in the castle 
 near five years, when he was set at liberty, and con*- 
 
 B 2 ducted 
 
I 
 
 4 
 
 ducted to Hamburgh in September 1797, with his 
 wife and two daughters, with an intention to em¬ 
 bark for America* He afterwards obtained leave to 
 return to France, where he cringes to the usurper 
 of the day, in order to end his life in servile dis- 
 
 SANTERRE 
 
 Was a brewer in t ie Fauxbourg St. Antoine, 
 which gave him an opportunity of employing a 
 great number of per sons of the lowest class, who 
 considered him as a man of consequence. In 
 1789, he distinguished himself in all the tumults of 
 the people with Legendre and others. When the 
 National Guards were organized, he was made 
 commander of a brigade, and marched, at its head, 
 against the Louvre : and it was remarked, that of^ 
 all the corps which acted on that day, San ter re’s 
 was the most regular and orderly. Kis insolent 
 conduct attracted the esteem of Egalite, who asso¬ 
 ciated with him, and had him in his circles and 
 parties of pleasure. He was shortly after appoint¬ 
 ed commander in chief of the National Guards ; 
 and on January 21st, 1793, he conducted his King 
 to the scaffold, where he behaved with the grossest 
 barbarity towards that unfortunate monarch ; for 
 when he began to address the populace with, <( O 
 “ m.} 7 people,” Santcrre stopped him by crying, 
 
 “ You 
 
t 
 
 5 
 
 tc You arc come here to die , and not to speak” 
 Then he ordered th£ drums to beat. 
 
 Santerre was appointed general, and sent against 
 the Vendeans. He was once imprisoned in the. 
 reign of Robespierre, but obtained his liberty and 
 retired into obscurity; but appeared again, and 
 was chosen member of the five hundred. His his¬ 
 tory is nearly of the same cast as that of Masanello, 
 a fisherman at Naples : he became commander of 
 150,000 men, who revolted against the viceroy of 
 Spain. He is now a bankrupt, and in the greatest 
 distress. 
 
 DUKE OF ORLEANS, EGALITE, 
 
 Was the first nrince of the blood. While Duke of 
 
 JL 
 
 Chartres, he married the daughter of the Duke of 
 Penthievre. His father, at his death, left about 
 20,000,000 of fivres in his chest, which he ex¬ 
 pended : this gave him an opportunity of complet¬ 
 ing: the overthrow of the kingdom. The Prince of 
 Lamballe, his brother-in-law, an amiable young 
 man, newly married, being an obstacle to his am¬ 
 bition, he led him into every debauch he could, 
 and then bribed his own surgeons to poison instead 
 of curing him,: by this means he got him out of the 
 world. 
 
 When it was proposed to abolish titles, Philip 
 <TOrleans was the first to support the measure, by 
 
 adopting 
 
6 
 
 adopting- for himself the name of Egalrte. He'dis¬ 
 covered to the mob where the hack stairs were that 
 led to the King’s and Queen’s apartments. He in¬ 
 dulged in every human vice, and became so odious, 
 that he was exiled to Marseilles; from thence he was 
 brought before the revolutionary tribunal at Paris, 
 and-guillotined, 17th November 3793, aged 46 years* 
 He was of middle stature, but robust* 
 
 BARRERE, 
 
 Advocate in the parliament of Toulouse, ap¬ 
 plied himself closely to the study of history and 
 politics. He was deputed to the States. General 
 in 1789, and published a paper entitled The Point 
 of Dai/. He was afterwards a member of the Na¬ 
 tional Convention, and began to distinguish himself 
 in debating against "Brissot’s proposition to defer the 
 judgment of the King. Barrere said, u The tree 
 <£ of liberty cannot flourish till it be sprinkled with 
 <c the blood of a tyrant.’’ 
 
 At the fall of the Brissotine party, Barrere suc¬ 
 ceeded Brissot as orator and reporter of the com¬ 
 mittee of public safety, in which post he attained the 
 highest reputation. He was looked upon as the first 
 minister of Robespierre ; but having incurred the dis¬ 
 pleasure of the committee, he was denounced, and, 
 in March, 1795, arrested, on the motion of Legen¬ 
 dre, and was condemned to be transported to Gui- 
 
 ' ane, 
 
7 
 
 ane, with Billaud de Varennes, Collot dTIerbois, and 
 Yadier. Being protected by the Directory, he found 
 means to escape, and remained in obscurity for 
 some time. He wrote two popular works, Montes¬ 
 quieu peint d'apres ses Ouvrages , and La PaisL' du 
 GOlivernernent. Barrere said, the guillotine was the 
 stamp of assignats ; and once gaily remarked to 
 Robespierre, “ We have just struck off money in 
 6C the Square of the Revolution,” 
 
 Barrere is now .about 50 years old, and being 
 dragged from his obscurity, and patronised by Buo¬ 
 naparte, has proved one of his warmest sycophants, 
 for which he was appointed censor royal of the 
 press. 
 
 i _ 
 
 RABAUT DE ST. ETIENNE 
 
 Was born at Nimes, where he was a protestant 
 minister. He was a zealous republican, and de¬ 
 clared in the Convention, that “ We must renew 
 “ the minds of the people, change the ideas, the 
 laws, the customs, men, things, and words; 
 16 lastly, every thing, that we may re-create all 
 ii afresh.” In 1793, conceiving that Robespierre 
 was jealous of him, he absconded, and soon after 
 he w r as denounced, arrested, and condemned to 
 death. 
 
 CARRIER. 
 

 s 
 
 CARRIER. 
 
 \ 
 
 Jean Baptiste Carrier, born at Zolai, near Auril¬ 
 iac, in 1756, was bred to the law, and deputed to 
 the National Convention. He was sent into the 
 Vendee with Tallien. The cruelties of these men 
 in that country will never be forgotten. The num¬ 
 ber of their victims is not known ; thousands and 
 tens of thousands were shot without trial ; as many 
 children were taken from the cradles, with the bay¬ 
 onet stuck through their bodies ; and many more 
 tied in barges, and large boats of his own invention, 
 and sunk in the Loire. In 1793, Carrier was 
 tried for these dreadful enormities, and guillotined. 
 
 DANTON, 
 
 Born at Arien-sur-Aube, 1759, was bi"ed to the 
 law, and was called the Ajax of the Revolution, on 
 account of his being the most courageous, and pos¬ 
 sessing the greatest • talents of any who were his 
 coadjutors; which circumstance brought upon him 
 the envy of Robespierre, who, by intrigue, con¬ 
 trived to bring him and eight others to the guillo¬ 
 tine. When France was closely beset by the com¬ 
 bined forces, Danton urged it as the duty of the 
 Convention, to make a requisition of every thing 
 necessary, adding, that “ it seemed the wheel of 
 iC the revolution moved slowly ; add,” says he, 
 “ a new handle to it, and I will answer for its 
 (( going on rapidly.” When he was arrested, and 
 Fouquier Tinville, the public accuser, interro¬ 
 gated 
 
 / 
 
9 
 
 gated him according to custom, concerning his 
 name, place of abode, and profession, he an¬ 
 swered, u I am Danton, well known as deputy to 
 “ the Convention ; my residence will shortly be in 
 “ the grave, bur my name wilt live in history.” 
 
 CHAUMETTE, 
 
 Born at Nevis, whose atrocities, during his short 
 reign in the revolution, so far eclipsed Robespierre 
 and Marat, that the latter was obliged to get rid of 
 him as his rival. He was a notary at Paris, and at 
 the breaking out of the revolution, was the first 
 disciple of Camille Desmoulins: he w r as the most 
 urgent for the condemnation of the Queen, which 
 he enforced strongly on Robespierre; and accused 
 the unfortunate Queen of the most Horrid crimes, 
 even in prison. 
 
 BOISSY D’ANGLAS 
 
 Was born about 1760, of a noble family. At 
 the commencement of the revolution, he distin¬ 
 guished himself by his reply to Mr. Calonne’s State 
 of the Finances, and to the Abbe Raynal. At the 
 fall of Robespierre, he began to appear in splendour 
 on the state theatre, and is said to be the institutor 
 of the constitution of 1795 ; anddhat of 1793 was 
 
 c called 
 
 i 
 
10 
 
 called the Patrician Constitution of Boissy d’Anglas. 
 He was in general respected as a man of sense. 
 
 LETOURNEUR, 
 
 Born at Grandville, in 1751, was a good mathe¬ 
 matician : he entered into the corps of engineers, 
 and was a member of the Convention, and voted for 
 the death of the King; became a Director, and is 
 still living to repent of his sins. 
 
 BRISSOT DE WARVILLE,- 
 
 Born near Chartres, in 1754, was the son of a 
 pastry cook, and bred to the bar, but applied him¬ 
 self solely to writing, and published several works, 
 viz. Tlieorie sur les Loix Criminelles. 2. Sur la Re¬ 
 forme du Code Criminel . 3. Sur la Reparation 
 d’’ Honncur aux Personnes innocentes accusees. 4. Bi - 
 bliothegue des Loix Criminelles, 10 vols. 5. Re¬ 
 cherche de la Verite . He came over to London to 
 establish an academy, and took a house in Newman 
 Street, Oxford Street, for that purpose. In June, 
 1784, Mr. Cox, Printer of the Courier de VEurope*, 
 having learnt his intention of taking French leave 
 of this country, arrested him for the expenses of 
 printing his Journal of the State of the Arts and Sci¬ 
 ences, which he meant to introduce into his aca- 
 
 * Since called the Courier de Londres / and now published 
 lander the title of Gazette de.la Grande Bretagne, 
 
 demy# 
 
11 
 
 \ 
 
 demy. He was liberated in a few hours, upon 
 paying half the sum, and faithfully promising to 
 discharge the whole ; but instead of fulfilling his en~ 
 gagement, he immediately escaped to France; where, 
 inconsequence of his friend LafitComte Pel port being 
 arrested a short time before, and a letter from Brissot 
 being found upon him, he was also arrested, and 
 sent to the Bastille ; but soon liberated, through the 
 interest of the Duke de Chartres. Brissot was in 
 friendship with Roland, Condorcet, le Brim, Ser- 
 vent, Monge and Danton. He vote ' against the 
 death of Louis, and was himself guillotined, Oct. 
 17, 1794. 
 
 SIEYES 
 
 Was born at Tregus, in Provence, 1748 ; was 
 bred to the church, and rose through the different 
 gradations to chancellor and canon of Chartres. He 
 was the intimate friend of d’Alembert, Diderot, 
 Condorcet, Mirabeau, &c. Fie was the author of 
 the Rights of Man, and voted for the death of the 
 King in these words: “ I am for death, without 
 “ talking.” He went to Holland as plenipotentiary, 
 was a member of the National Institute, and was sent 
 ambassador to Berlin, to favour the intercourse 
 with Buonaparte in Egypt. He returned, after 
 some time, to Paris, and was made a Director. On 
 the return of Buonaparte, he was one of the con¬ 
 suls, then became a dumb senator and tool of an 
 emperor. 
 
 e 2 BARTHELEMI* 
 
13 
 
 BARTHELEMI 
 
 Was bred to the diplomatic art, his family being 
 always protected by the King. He resided, during 
 the greatest part of the revolution, in Switzerland, 
 as a minister ; but he was called to Paris to succeed 
 Letourneur in the Directory. He and Carnot hav¬ 
 ing opposed the other three, were presently ex¬ 
 pelled, and condemned to banishment. After Buo¬ 
 naparte’s re-assumption of supremacy, they re¬ 
 turned, and became his humble tools. 
 
 % 
 
 TALLIEN 
 
 Was the son of a valet-de-chambre, in the family 
 of the Duke of Choiscul, and was placed at a col¬ 
 lege at Paris as a serviteur. He assisted in publish¬ 
 ing the Moniteur , at 50 livres per week : then he 
 became secretary of the commune of Paris. From 
 that time he was always foremost in all shocks and 
 turbulent commotions. In September, 1792, he 
 appeared at the head of the massacres. When 
 Robespierre was denounced, Tallien cried out, u I 
 * 6 have a dagger to pierce him to the hearty if the 
 <c Convention hesitate to decree kis condemnation .” He 
 voted for the death of the King, and in all cases af¬ 
 terwards seemed to glut himself in the blood of the 
 French as much as Robespierre. He went to Egypt, 
 
 and 
 
 ) 
 
13 
 
 and returned after Buonaparte; but was taken pri¬ 
 soner in the voyage, and carried to England. He 
 
 •J *1? * o 
 
 died in Spain, 1305. 
 
 MIRABEAU 
 
 Was born, in 1749, of a noble family : one of his 
 ancestors was in the carriage with Henry IV, when 
 that monarch was assassinated. In figure he was 
 disgusting, and his looks severe. His lather put 
 him in prison for several years : afterwards he en¬ 
 tered the army, and made a campaign in Corsica. 
 At his return from Corsica, his father, who was 
 vefy severe, had him shut up in the citadel of the 
 island of Rhe, so that twenty years of his life were 
 Spent either in prison or wandering about doing no¬ 
 thing. Ele married a rich heiress, but treating her 
 badly, a separation took place. He published a 
 work on the left res de cachet. His stile as a 
 writer is strong and nervous; his eloquence pow¬ 
 erful and bold. He was the most celebrated mem¬ 
 ber of the Convention. His great talents, how¬ 
 ever, were eclipsed by his depravity of manners, 
 by which his fortune was diminished. He solicited 
 the minister to appoint him consul at Dantzick or 
 Hamburgh, but met with a refusal. 
 
 Mirabeau was prosecuted for a libel, in a work 
 entitled Correspondence Secret , and a lettre de cachet 
 was granted, with an order to send him to the East 
 
 Indies; 
 
 ? 
 
 r 
 
14 
 
 Indies ; but be evaded it, and got Perigord and the 
 Duke de Lauzun to intercede for him : they ob¬ 
 tained his pardon. After this triumph, he.returned 
 to his province, and obtained such interest, that be 
 was at last elected member of the Tiers-Etat, 
 where he began his celebrity by saying to the King’s 
 minister : tC Go tell your master that we are assem- 
 “ bled here by the suffrages of the people, and will 
 li be dissolved only by the bayonet.” Mirabeau 
 soon obtained a decided ascendancy over the As¬ 
 sembly, but tried in vain to ingratiate himself with 
 the minister Necker. He then tried to get access 
 to the King and Queen, but his character was too 
 notorious to be thus honoured. He was now in an 
 embarrassed situation, when the tumults which were 
 raised by the duke of Orleans (Egalite) furnished him 
 with means to extricate himself. Althc ^gh at the 
 moment he had not the confidence of Orleans, yet he 
 had discovered his projects, which were to put the 
 
 f 
 
 royal family in confusion, and render himself master 
 of Paris. Orleans, however, was sensible of the 
 influence Mirabeau had over the mob ; for when the 
 mob arrived at Versailles, they cried, “ Where is 
 ii our dear Count Mirabeau ?” 
 
 After the return of the royal family to Paris, 
 Mirabeau endeavoured again to obtain the confi¬ 
 dence of the King. By the intermediate agents, 
 Counts Mercy and Mark, he was honoured with a 
 private audience, when Mirabeau frankly laid open 
 
 to 
 

 15 
 
 to the King the different interests of the several 
 parties of the assembly, and proposed a plan of a 
 counter-revolution, by the King paying his debts, 
 and making his own escape. On this project the 
 Queen consulted with Fayette, who, not so loyal as 
 Mirabeau, betrayed his sovereign. Unfortunately 
 it seems suspicion arose among the fraternity, for 
 Mirabeau was poisoned by drinking a cup of coffee, 
 before any plan of his could be brought to bear for 
 his sovereign’s benefit. 
 
 COUTHON 
 
 Was bom in the department of the Puy dc Dome. 
 He was deputed to thei Convention for his invec¬ 
 tives against the Girondists. He attracted the no¬ 
 tice of Robespierre, who took him into favour, 
 and placed him in the Committee of Public Safety. 
 He became his vilest tool. 
 
 Couthon in body and soul seemed to be formed 
 for the revolution: he was a poor deformed crea¬ 
 ture, and was permitted to speak sitting. Fie was 
 v guillotined in 1794 : his body and limbs were so 
 contracted, that it was with difficulty he could be 
 placed under the guillotine. 
 
 LEGENDRE, 
 
 i 
 
A butcher at Paris, was one of the most strenuous 
 revolutionists. The day Necker departed, he put 
 himself at the head of the mob, entered the Hotel 
 
 a * 
 
 des Invalides, and procured arms to attack the Bas¬ 
 tille. He, with'Maillard, induced the mob to re¬ 
 pair to Versailles, to bring the King to Paris. It 
 was Legendre who first proposed the national feast 
 in the Thuilleries, after the return of the King from 
 Varennes. His superior talents as a revolutionist 
 gained him the suffrages of the people, who de¬ 
 puted him to the Convention. One da}^, when he 
 was president, he said, he could eat the heart of an 
 aristocrat. He, however, incurred the displeasure 
 of Robespierre for a time, with Tallien, and others, 
 but was reconciled to him again. 
 
 Legendre died in December, 1797, aged 41: he 
 was of middling stature, of a good figure, possess¬ 
 ing natural talents, and a bold, energetic eloquence. 
 It seems as if he retained a taste for butchery to the 
 last, for he was not satisfied in having voted for the 
 death of his king, but he even desired that his own 
 body should be dissected after his death ! 
 
 MMMNMi 
 
 CAMILLE DESMOULINS 
 
 Was horn at Guise, 1769 ; he was an advocate in 
 parliament, and was deputed to the Convention. 
 On the ever memorable day, July 14, 1789, Ca¬ 
 rnal e leaped on a table in the Palais Royal, with two 
 
 pistols 
 
17 
 
 
 pistols in his hands; then taking a tri-coloured 
 
 * * 
 
 cockade, which he had chosen in imitation of the 
 Orlean’s livery, gave the people the signal of li¬ 
 berty. When the States-General were convoked, 
 Camille had a prospect of being attorney-general to 
 the parliament of Paris, a post that his ancestors 
 had filled with honour; but the revolution opened 
 for him another career. He first excited the Pari¬ 
 sians to form popular club's. Camille wore a green 
 coat with a red collar, and a cockade, and required 
 his friends to do the same. Pie published a news¬ 
 paper, called the Revolution of Brabant, the jour¬ 
 nal of the old Cordeliers. He was the intimate 
 friend of Robespierre and Danton,whom he assisted, 
 in the destruction of the Brissotines, whose secrets 
 he exposed in a pamphlet entitled, the Secret His¬ 
 tory of the Brissotines. Robespierre not being able 
 to bring Camille to be entirely dependent Upon him, 
 resolved on his destruction with Danton. Accord¬ 
 ingly St. Just, member of the Committee of Piiblic 
 Safety, was ordered to make a report, that Camille 
 hnd covered the rights of man with crape, &c.; 
 'whereupon he was imprisoned in the Luxembourg, 
 and, after two months confinement, was tried, con¬ 
 demned, and guillotined, with Danton and his 
 colleagues. Mrs. Camille, who was very pretty, 
 ■was also executed in a few days after. When on 
 his trial, they asked Camille what age he had at¬ 
 tained : he answered, <c the same as our Lord 
 66 Christ, our father and master, that zealous re- 
 
 D “ publican 
 
1$ 
 
 N 
 
 * € publican and free satis calotte, when he died; 
 « i e. 33. n 
 
 TALLEYRAND PERIGORD, 
 
 Bishop of Autun, sprung from a distant branch 
 of the House of Bourbon, He presided as chief 
 " pontiff at the national confederation in the Champ 
 de Mars , 14th July, 1790, at the head of 200 
 priests, all clothed in white, decorated with tri¬ 
 coloured ribbons. He celebrated mass, and conse¬ 
 crated the royal standard of France, and those of 
 the eighty-three departments, which were flying 
 about the altar. 
 
 » 
 
 Perigord having abandoned the church, his reli¬ 
 gion, and his God, did not wait for a gradation of 
 crimes, but plunged headlong into the midst of vice 
 and treachery. After the closing of the Constituent 
 Assembly, Perigord was sent to London, as private 
 negotiator, to endeavour to conclude a treaty of 
 alliance between France and England. The alien 
 bill obliged him to retire. Perigord, not thinking 
 it proper to return to France at that epoch, set sail 
 for America, returned, and resided at Hamburgh 
 and Altona, little respected or regarded. In 1792, 
 Perigord sent his petition to the Committee of 
 Public Safety, for permission to come to France. It 
 was granted, and he re-entered in 1796, and was short¬ 
 ly after appointed secretary to the National Institute; 
 
 and, 
 
 
and, in 1797, on the death of Charles le Croix, he 
 was made Minister for Foreign Affairs, and, by bis 
 sej vile attachment to riches, he is now. after heiner 
 a regicide, arid voting against titles and distinctions 
 of rank, become the Duke of Benevento, 
 
 PETION 
 
 Was mayor of Paris when the king escaped. 
 The French revolution may be justly compared to 
 an agitated ocean, and the different factions which. 
 , succeeded one another, may be assimilated to the 
 waves. 
 
 REWBELL 
 
 Was born J746, at Colmar, in Alsace, and bred 
 to the bar : he there became celebrated as a pleader. 
 He was elected to the States-General, sent com-r 
 missary to the army of the Rhine, and from thence 
 to la Vendee : then elected member of the Conven¬ 
 tion, and a member of the Saint Public / He was 
 at first a violent Jacobin, then turned.a violent op- 
 poser of Robespierre, and was the first to vote the 
 destruction of the Jacobins. He was the intimate 
 friend of Sieyes, became a director, and is now a 
 phenomenon, i% e. a dumb Frenchman . 
 
 p % 
 
 GENERAL 
 
V 
 
 20 
 
 t • * • f ». * * * . , * • 
 
 GENERAL MOREAU 
 
 Was born at Morlaix, in Britanny. His father 
 was an advocate, and so much respected for good¬ 
 nature and benevolence, that he was generally called 
 the Father of the Poor. Moreau was bred to the 
 / bar, but at eighteen years of age he entered as a 
 common soldier into the army : his father bought 
 him off, and placed him again at his studies. He, 
 however, engaged again, and again, at the end of 
 some months, was bought off, and was to follow 
 his father’s profession. At the breaking out of the 
 revolution, Moreau was prevot at Rennes, and was 
 
 tk • • r* v ** 
 
 deputed, with three others, to confer with the as¬ 
 sembly of the states, which proved favourable to 
 the people, so that, at the formation of the national 
 guards, in 1789, he was appointed commander of a 
 battalion. This post gave Moreau an opportunity 
 of pursuing his favourite study, and he abandoned 
 his profession of the law. He served under Piche- 
 gru, and, in 1794, he was made general in chief. 
 His constant success is well known, and his retreat, 
 
 in 1796, is allowed to be a master-piece of military 
 
 _ - 
 
 skill. The last battle he conducted was the 
 
 * • 
 
 most famous of his victories, and by it peace was 
 brought about. He retired to his seat of Gros Bois, 
 near Paris, and Buonaparte being jealous of his ta¬ 
 lents, and chagrined that he did not pay him respect 
 enough, contrived to involve him in a malicious, 
 
 false 
 
21 
 
 false conspiracy, invented for a pretext to put him, 
 Fichegru, Georges, and others, out of his way. 
 Moreau was tried, and condemned to banishment. 
 He was, however, permitted to retire with his 
 family to Spain ; from thence he went to America, 
 where he now is. 
 
 y 
 
 \ ' FICHEGRU 
 
 Was born 1751, at Arbois, in Franche Comte, of 
 a low family,' but was educated by the monks of 
 the place. After several years study, he was sent 
 to the college of Brienne, to tegch mathematics 
 and philosophy. At the beginning of the revolu¬ 
 tion, he entered the corps of artillery, and. was 
 made sergeant, and promoted, till he became 
 commander of an arm}". He distinguished himself 
 in the conquest of Holland, &c. and was considered 
 one of the best generals of the revolution. In 
 1796 he retired to his native place, but so poor, that 
 he was obliged to sell his horses to support himself. 
 He was then chosen member of the Council of Five 
 Hundred, and shortly elected President; but he 
 was implicated with Barthelemi, Carnot, &c. in 
 a charge of conspiracy. He was sent to Cayenne, 
 from whence he escaped, and came to England ; 
 was inveigled into France in 1804, and arrested; 
 and when in prison, was strangled in his bed. 
 
 MARAT. 
 
 / 
 
MARAT 
 
 Was-born at Geneva, 3143. He was surgeon to 
 the regiment of the Count cFArtois, was elected 
 
 member of the Convention, and voted the death 
 
 *¥ •• 
 
 of the King. Although Marat and Robespierre 
 were equally cruel, yet they could never agree. 
 Marat said 300.000 heads must fall, before liberty 
 would be established. These execrable words were 
 regarded with horror, yet encouraged Robespierre 
 m hip exterminating system. Brissot said, he 
 looked upon Marat as possessing a soul petrified 
 with filthy that he was the disgrace of the revolu¬ 
 tion. Marat, however, was a man of talents and 
 ef letters, a great metaphysician and anatomist, and 
 perhaps his heart became hardened by the frequent 
 dissections and cruel operations, which he made on 
 Hvingbodies to acquire knowledge. 
 
 MERLIN DE BOUAY 
 
 The son of a day labourer ; was born at Am- 
 chin, near Douay, 1750. He was while a boy 
 taken into the abbey of Anchin, to wait on the 
 monks. After some years, he w r as placed in tbe 
 choir. One of the monks gave him lessons in Latin, 
 and observing that he had abilities, procured his 
 admission into the college of Douay. The monks 
 wished him to be a priest, but he begged permission 
 to study the law, which they agreed to, and Merlin 
 
 became 
 
V 
 
 I 
 
 became an advocate. On the breaking* out of the 
 
 t o 
 
 revolution, he married a sister of one of the monks, 
 and was deputed to the Etats Generaux, then to the 
 Convention ; he then became a member of the Com¬ 
 mittee of Public Safety, and lastly a directorj 
 
 which he held till Buonaparte usurped the govern- 
 
 < - * • .« * : 
 
 menu 
 
 CARNOT - 
 
 The son of an advocate, was born at Nolaslo, 
 heretofore called Burgundy. He entered very 
 3 ^outig into the corps of engineers, and distinguished 
 himself in the study of the mathematics. At the 
 breaking out of the revolution, he was employed iri 
 organizing the armies. He- afterwards became a 
 member of the Directory. He and Barthelemi 
 being implicated with Pichegru, &c.~ he escaped 
 into Germany, and published a reply to the accu¬ 
 sations made against him. After Buonapaste’s 
 usurpation, he obtained lelve to return, and was 
 appointed minister of war. Carnot has the credit 
 of being author of the plan for conducting the army- 
 over the Alps, and for the success of the battle of 
 Marengo. He was accustomed to say, where des¬ 
 potism reigns, where pride and insolence guide, 
 there the springs of government, by a pompous 
 ignorance, obstruct the activity, and weaken the 
 energy of revolutions. 
 
 Carnot is now a dumb senator under Buonaparte. 
 
 FRANCOIS 
 
FRANCOIS DE NEUFCHATEAU 
 
 Born at Neufchateau, a small town near Nancy ? 
 was bred to the bar, went to St. Domingo, where be 
 resided seven years as attorney-general, under the 
 protection of thd Duke of Orleans. He was Mini¬ 
 ster of the Interior, and lastly succeeded Carnot as 
 Director, on his proscription. 
 
 LA REVEILLERE LE FAUX 
 
 Born 1753, at Montaign, in La Vendee; wTis 
 bred to the bar, but applied himself chiefly to 
 the stud}" of botany ; was deputed to the Conven¬ 
 tion, and voted for the death of the King. He is 
 of very small stature. At a public feast, a chair 
 was placed for him to mount upon, when Le Paux 
 said, u No, I will be no greater than I am? 
 
 COLLOT DTIERBOIS 
 
 W as a comedian, a man of comely presence, had 
 a strong voice, and much energy of expression. 
 Bein O' member of the Convention, he proposed the 
 abolition of royalty. He was supported by Robe¬ 
 spierre, till, being President, in 1794, be united with 
 Barrere to denounce Robespierre. Collot was the 
 most active of the Committee of Public Safety, arid 
 the most sanguinary of the terrorists : hence be was 
 Surnamed the Tiger. 
 
25 
 
 He presided over the massacre <of Lyons* by 
 which he obtained the name of MitraiEmr» This 
 j Founder of the Republic was, however, in his turn 
 accused of being a conspirator, and transported to 
 Cayenne. 
 
 BAILLY 
 
 Was a native of Paris, and a celebrated astrono¬ 
 mer ; he was deputed by the Tiers-Etat to the 
 States General, and was President of the Constitu¬ 
 ent Assembly. He was elected Mayor of Paris* 
 which office he filled with honor. He was, how¬ 
 ever, disgraced, arraigned at the revolutionary 
 tribunal, and guillotined in November, 1793, in the 
 57th year of his age. It happened to be the most 
 horrid weather ever remembered on the day of his 
 execution, and somebody said, iC You tremble* 
 45 Bailly!”—to which he replied, “ Yes, but not^ 
 with fear,” 
 
 MANUEL 
 
 Was son of a poor man of Montarges: he had a 
 good common education, which, by his natural 
 abilities and industry, he cultivated to advantage. 
 
 He came to Paris with recommendations to Mr. 
 Buffon, and obtained a small employ in the police, 
 yffiich gave him an opportunity of favouring the 
 
 £ Aide 
 
56 
 
 sale of forbidden works, for which the booksellers- 
 were very thankful. He then became private tutor 
 to a Mr. Tourton’s son, and assisted Mirabeau in 
 the Correspondence Secret , and wrote a pamphlet 
 entitled Letters to an Officer, &c. Persons of rank 
 were treated somewhat too freely in these works, 
 and Mr. Manuel had soon the honor of being lodged 
 in the Bastille for some time. At the commencement 
 of the revolution, Manuel was mistaken for another 
 person, and was just on the point of being put to 
 death, when La Fayette came to deliver him. His 
 repute as a writer gained him the appointment of 
 administrator of the Police. After a considerable in¬ 
 terval, he was elected member of the Convention; 
 and was a steady defender of royalty. Legendre, 
 one clay being struck with astonishment at ManuePs 
 eloquence, cried out, “ We must decree that Ma- 
 f ( nuel has wit. ,? * To which Manuel replied, “ De- 
 “ cree me a beast, for then, Legendre, as a buK 
 ee cher, will have a right to knock me down.” 
 
 ST. JUST (MARQUIS) 
 
 Born at Iser, in 1763, was one of the most vio¬ 
 lent Montagnards : his name will ever be odious. 
 He voted the death of the King. His conduct to¬ 
 wards the Gironds was infamous. His cruelty and 
 extortions while Commissary of the Youth, obtained 
 him the title of the Damned Soul of Robespierre. 
 
 • 4 Vi 
 
27 
 
 Being an object of general horror, he was murdered 
 on the Place of the Revolution, June, 1794. 
 
 AXJGEREAU, 
 
 Son of a green-grocer at Paris, served several 
 years as a common soldier, several times distin¬ 
 guished himself from 1789 to 1792. He was ad¬ 
 vanced, and at last commanded the left wing of the 
 army of Italy, under Buonaparte. He is now a, 
 Marshal, and aged about 50 years. 
 
 MASSENA 
 
 Was born at Nice. He entered the service of the 
 
 King of Sardinia, but quitted it to enter into a 
 
 French legion, and distinguished himself at the 
 
 taking of Sarpello. The whole success of the 
 
 French arms in Italy was owing to him, for which 
 
 the Directory made him General of Division. When. 
 ■ . 
 
 Buonaparte became commander in Italy, he had 
 recourse to Massena for all the local information 
 necessary to the plans adopted, so that we find 
 Massena was present at the battles of Milesia, 
 Dego, Mondovi, Coossaria, in which he bore away 
 the honor of victory. He is at present a Marshal* 
 
 The word liberty, in a country where the sound 
 
 * 2 and 
 
 ) 
 
n 
 
 enjoyment of it were equally strange, drew 
 &h« people into the most horrid and cruel excesses, 
 and they find, when the madness of a revolution is 
 at ait end, that they are plunged deeper into the 
 isire of despotism than at the commencement of 
 their struggle; it is only shaking off the chain of 
 cue to put on that of the other. The liberty of the 
 people, in all civilized nations, is a phantom. 
 
 NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, 
 
 The second son of Charles Buonapart6 and Leti- 
 tia RanioiinL Charles Buonaparte was bred a no¬ 
 tary, and practised as an attorney till General Count 
 Marbeuf became Governor of Corsica, when he 
 was, by his interest, made Procureur du Roi , and in 
 gratitude he allowed his Letitia to be the General’s 
 mistress. From this connection our present hero 
 takes his origin. On the death of the father, Mar-, 
 beuf placed his hopeful son, Napoleon, in a pro¬ 
 vincial school in France; then moved him to the 
 military school at Paris. He entered the service in 
 the artillery, as lieutenant, and soon after went to 
 Corsica, where General Paoli appointed him a cap¬ 
 tain, and then to a colonelcy of the National 
 Guards, On the English taking possession of Corsi¬ 
 ca, Buonaparte offered his services to* Mr. Elliot, 
 then Viceroy of Corsica, which was refused ; on 
 which he, with his mother and- family, went to 
 
 France, 
 
 / 
 
/ 
 
 . \ 
 
 ' - 29 • 
 
 France, and settled near Toulon, which place w«rs 
 then in the hands of the English, Here Saiicetd 
 recommended him to Barras, who was there as 
 commissary of the nation, Barras promoted him. 
 to a brigade, and he assisted in driving out the Eng¬ 
 lish, and was afterwards entrusted with the execu¬ 
 tion of decimating the inhabitants, in which were 
 spared neither man, woman, nor child. He was 
 afterwards arrested as a terrorist, and imprisoned at 
 Nizsa. 
 
 In 1733 he was sent with an armament against 
 Corsica, but was repulsed. He came to Paris, and 
 Barras named him as commander of the artillery m 
 the insurrection of the Fauxbourg St. Antoine, in 
 which he was equally insatiable of human blood as 
 at Toulcn. Barras havirur Mrs. Tallien in his se- 
 
 <x> 
 
 raglio, wished to get rid of Josephine, and there¬ 
 fore recommended him to his mistress, the widow 
 of General Conte Beauharnois, who was guillotined 
 under Robespierre in 1794. In 17 96 Buonaparte 
 married this chaste widow, the ckere amif of Barras. 
 The world is already instructed in the history of 
 this personage in Italy, in Egypt and in France, 
 since his return to Europe. 
 
 Fauyeletfce 
 
30 
 
 
 FAUVELETTE BOURIENNE, 
 
 Who was intended for the army, got acquainted 
 with Buonaparte -at school, being nearly of the 
 same age, disposition, and character, they agreed 
 pretty well together. Buonaparte chose him for his 
 private secretary when he became of consequence 
 enough to stand in need of one ; for it is well 
 known that Buonaparte has not the gift of writing 
 or speaking very eloquently. Fauvelctte, there¬ 
 fore, accompanied him to Egypt, and was also one 
 of the military commissioners, as well as secretary. 
 On his return from that famous expedition, Fauve¬ 
 lette was sent into Saxony, as a private agent, to 
 pry into several public characters in Germany, 
 While he feigned that his chief business was to learn 
 the German language. At Leipzig he got an as¬ 
 cendancy over the heart of a young lady, who, 
 though not very pretty, was accounted a sensible 
 woman. They returned to Paris, and he re-as¬ 
 sumed his post as secretary to Buonaparte. 
 
 Fauvelette being of a very active mind, engaged 
 in the banking business ; but some little fracas hav¬ 
 ing happened, which brought Bourienne’s name in 
 
 / 
 
 question for a large sum of money, of which Bou- 
 rienne said he had lost 200,000 francs, Buonaparte 
 asked him how he could think of imposing upon 
 the public in so glaring a manner ? Bourienne is 
 said to have answered, “ Have we not all been in 
 
 (t the 
 
s 
 
 a the same school?” u Well,” says Buonaparte, 
 u now I am Emperor, I cannot have a man of bad 
 iC character about my person : I will pretend to be 
 “ angry, and send you to Lower Saxony as mini- 
 6C ster, with 80,000 francs per annum.” 
 
 He accordingly is now minister at Hamburg*, 
 where, as there is such extensive connection with 
 England, he immediately began to study the Eng- 
 
 N 
 
 \ 
 
 

 t 
 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 .&*- 
 
 1 
 
 <) 
 
 
 

 0 
 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 The chance of intercourse introduced the Author 
 of the following sheets to an acquaintance with several 
 of the most celebrated actors' on the stage of the 
 French Revolution. By mixing frequently with them 
 in society, in public, &c. he had opportunities of more 
 narrowly observing and investigating their characters, 
 moral and political, than the generality of their bio¬ 
 graphers could. Hence he hatters himself it is not 
 presumptuous in him to assure the public, that in 
 subjoining their portraits, taken from original drawings 
 at Paris, he exhibits them, in body and soul, as in the 
 mirror of nature. 
 
 As to the grand hero of the drama, he seems to have 
 adopted the maxims of Jonathan Wild the Great ,* m 
 regard to glory and honour, except in the article cf 
 religion. Our present hero and his adherents are 
 Christians, Atheists, Mahometans, or Nothings, as 
 best suits their purposes to dupe, or betray, the world 
 and one-another. 
 
 These culprits, therefore, forming a band of the 
 most profligate , monsters that ever disgraced human 
 nature, I arraign them before the tribunal of a discern¬ 
 ing generous public, who, in scrutinising tueir deeds, 
 (which will be found in their proper scenes) if one 
 good action in a hundred be found to exist, the Author 
 solicits lenity in his or their behalf. 
 
 The work, as is the custom in dramatic composi¬ 
 tions, is divided into five acts ; but, the Reader will 
 
 observe, 
 
 * It is curious that directly after the overthrow of the Directory, 
 the life and death of this very noble patron oi true greatness (ac¬ 
 cording to Fielding) was translated into French. His mothers 
 name was alsoLetitia. 
 
 F 
 
I 
 
 observe, the rules of the drama could not be adhered 
 to in every particular, owing to the great variety and 
 abundance of matter, and the great distance of place 
 in which the scenes lie. 
 
 Act FiPvST lies in Paris ; commences at the convo¬ 
 cation of the States General, and ends after the death 
 of the King, Queen, &c. 
 
 Act Second commences with the siege of Toulon, 
 where our hero begins his career, under the auspices 
 of Barras : it is continued till after the insurrection of 
 Vendemiaire, or the massacre of St. Antoine, at Paris. 
 
 Act Third lies in Italy, where our hero becomes 
 General in Chief, and continues till after the peace-of 
 Campo Forrnio. 
 
 Act Fourth commences with the surrendering of 
 Malta; then shifts to Egypt, and continues till alter 
 the Battle of the Pyramids. 
 
 Act Fifth commences at Paris, and continues till 
 after the coronation. 
 
 Although throughout the whole there is but one 
 subject, one interest; yet it will be found that each 
 act forms a whole and separate action. As to the 
 horrid scenes in Egypt and Syria, our hero made a 
 formal avowal of them before Ulm, in October, 1805, 
 and they have been further confirmed by one of the 
 members of the council of war in those countries, and 
 one who is at present an agent of the French govern¬ 
 ment in the north of Europe. 
 
 The events on the continent of Europe, since the 
 coronation, are nearly foretold in the conclusion of the 
 fifth act, although it was written at least six months 
 before the French invaded Germanv. 
 
f 
 
 \ 
 
 •- ... j 
 
 THE CAITIFF OF CORSICA. 
 
* 
 
 DRAMATIS PERSONAE. 
 
 v 
 
 FIRST ACT. • 
 
 \ 
 
 ■ . ■■■■«■ 
 
 Monsieur ; Comte d’Artois; 
 
 Princes Conti, Conde, Soubise, Luxembourg 
 Dukes Penthievre, Liiincourt ; 
 
 Comtes Maurepas, Maupou; 
 
 Mr. M 113 ’; 
 
 Mr. Lamoignon, Keeper of the Seals; 
 
 Mr. Lambert, Comptroller of the Finance ; 
 
 Mr. Villdeuil, I ... • . 
 
 Bishop of Toulouse, $ Ministers. 
 
 La Fayette, Commander of the National" 
 
 Guards; Maillard, Egaiite, Talley¬ 
 rand Perrigord, Sieyes, Barras, Bar- 
 rere, Mirabeau, Le Brun, Camba- 
 ceres, Tallien, Fouchet, Marat, j 
 Robespierre, Collot d’Herbois, Hen- ! 
 riot, Santerre, Bish. Gobet, Danton, f Conspirators . 
 Camille des Moulins, Carrier, Cou- 
 thon, Carnot, Condorcet, Merlin, 
 
 Freron, Boissy d’Anglas, Brissot, 
 
 Paine, Bish. Cice, Clootz, Ana- | 
 charsis, Rabaut St. Etienne, J 
 
 Josephine, 1 Mistresses to Barras. 
 Mrs. I allien, ) 
 
 Mrs. Recamier, the Beauty of Paris ; 
 Mrs. Rcedcrer, Anybody's Mistress . 
 Miss Perigord, Niece to Talleyrand, 
 
 ACT 
 
 9 
 
ACT FIRST. 
 
 Scene I. Versailles . 
 
 •> 
 
 Council Chamber in the Palace . 
 
 * » . % v i • 
 
 Monsieur, Comte d’Artois, Princes Conde, Conti, Lux¬ 
 embourg, Duke of Penthievre, [in committee to 
 receive the reports of Ministers.) Monsieur Presi¬ 
 dent. 
 
 Enter Keeper of the Seals. 
 
 President. Sir, in examining the report you have 
 sent in, we find need of explanation on several arti¬ 
 cles. Be so good as to assist us in the investigation, 
 that we may ascertain the source of our national mis¬ 
 fortunes. 1 
 
 Minister . In obedience to your Highness’s com¬ 
 mands, I beg leave to observe, that the wounds under 
 which the kingdom groans, were first inflicted by the 
 instability, the inconsistency, and licentiousness of the 
 Court under Louis XV.—The depravity of that reign 
 brought on a progressive relaxation of all restraint, 
 order, and subordination in the state ; these evils, add¬ 
 ed to a sordid, ill-judged avarice, an excessive de¬ 
 grading prodigality, brought on a fatal lethargy, 
 which infected every department: hence all social 
 and national virtues became vitiated and corrupted. 
 —Party animosity, the greatest curse that can befal a 
 government, excited by a weak inconsiderate admini¬ 
 stration, diffused throughout the different orders of the 
 state, burst asunder every bond of social obligation, 
 
« 
 
 f 
 
 33 
 
 and hurled the whole nation into the vortex of confusion. 
 The public mind being agitated, feuds were engen¬ 
 dered, crimes were committed, and now at last a fatal 
 conspiracy every where threatens a total destruction of 
 all that is dear to us. 
 
 Condi . Alas ! it is a true, too true a picture of our 
 present position. Ever to be regretted will be Tur¬ 
 got, who so virtuously advised our gracious King to 
 avert these evils. The ancient order of things is now 
 destroyed, the dire consequence of the wicked party 
 spirit of the Choiseuls , the Aiguillons , whose inordi¬ 
 nate ambition well nigh caused the Bourbon race to be 
 exterminated by treachery and poison! Proceed, 
 Sir. 
 
 Minister . The Parliament, ever intent on obtain¬ 
 ing a legislative authority, availed itself of every oc¬ 
 casion to render the royal prerogative odious to the 
 people ; andean occurrence more favourable to its views 
 could not have happened, than that of being dissolved 
 and sent home. Each member had thereby an oppor¬ 
 tunity of disseminating the contagious doctrine of re- 
 sistance to the laws, and disrespect to their royal sove¬ 
 reign. 
 
 Artois. His Majesty could do no otherwise than 
 dissolve the Parliament, after the repeated insults and 
 acts of disrespect he had experienced. 
 
 Minister. Had my gracious Sovereign ordered that 
 body under arrest in the first instance, the happiness 
 of the people, the glory and peace of the crown and 
 lhe kingdom, would have been secured. So long as 
 the monarchs of France were sternly just, the people 
 were loyal and true; for instance, no king was ever 
 more adored than Louis XIV. No sooner did the 
 executive authority fall into the nerveless hands of 
 pimps, panders, parasites, and prostitutes, than the 
 people, perceiving that their welfare was only a se¬ 
 condary object, were roused with indignation; and 
 beholding their sovereign embarrassed between an ill- 
 judged parsimony and the venality of his courtiers, 
 they then demanded a general reform. 
 
 Condi . 
 
39 
 
 j 
 
 \ 
 
 Conde. What an sera are we arrived at! It grieves 
 me to think, we are ourselves the authors of those pub¬ 
 lic evils which we now deplore. They spring from our 
 own imprudence. Proceed. 
 
 Minister. My prince, it is notorious, that since the 
 demise ofLouisXIV.no institution could be established, 
 no access to the Sovereign be obtained, but through 
 the patronage of a servile pander, or a profligate mis¬ 
 tress of the court; as a Maintenant , a Pompadour , a 
 Cavanac , a Dubarry , &c. For the mischievous con¬ 
 sequences of such influence, I beg to refer yourlligh- 
 nesses to No. 10 of the Report on the table. 
 
 President (to the Secretary) . Read No. 10. 
 
 (Secretary reads.) 44 Memorandum. — Madame 
 cc Pompadour having one morning received notice 
 (i from his Majesty, that he intended to spend the 
 44 evening with her, she prepared a sumptuous ban- 
 u quet for his reception. In the afternoon an officer 
 iC from the army in Flanders arrived with dispatches, 
 6( announcing a severe defeat, and urging a speedy 
 “ reinforcement. Madame Pompadour received the 
 (C dispatch in order to deliver it to the King; but 
 u dreading the effect such disastrous news might have 
 <£ on him, and that his Majesty’s spirits would be so 
 “ dejected, as to deprive her of the embraces of her 
 ic royal admirer, she instantly got it copied anil 
 £( changed into a splendid victory. 
 
 All. Plear ! hear ! 
 
 (Secretary continues). <c Madame Pompadour then 
 
 dismissed the officer with a suitable present, saying 
 e< the dispatch would be attended to. She succeeded 
 u in her plan : his Majesty came in high spirits; she 
 u was caressed ; but the campaign was lost!” 
 
 Pentkicvre (rising from his seat in astonishment). 
 What ! is it possible ? 
 
 Conde. Alas! what misfortunes must await a nation 
 thus plunged into prostitution ! Go on, Sir. 
 
 Minister. By No. 14 your Highnesses will perceive 
 that the licentious profusion of Madame Dubarry and 
 
 - ’ her 
 
 \ 
 
40 
 
 / 
 
 her minions, whom she supported for the wanton en¬ 
 joyment of the younger courtiers, in a very few years 
 surpassed the expense of the whole long reign of 
 seventy-two years of Louis XIV., notwithstanding 
 his bloody wars abroad, and what was looked upon as 
 extravagant magnificence at home. 
 
 Conde . Louis XIV. Avas his own financier. He 
 had the accounts of each department audited every 
 month, in his presence. And Mazarine was faithful to 
 his trust. Goon, Sir. 
 
 Minister. For the minor disbursements, this lady 
 had an unlimited disposal of grants and privileges, as 
 may be seen in Nos. 36, 37. In one year she disposed 
 of upwards of six hundred patents to carry on some 
 frivolous professions ; such as periwig-makers , per¬ 
 fumers , milliners , dog-dealers , &c. 
 
 Conti. What degeneracy ! Hoav could these abuses 
 be so long unobserved ? 
 
 Minister. I am sorry to say, even in our days a 
 Polignac has too much influence. My Prince, the very 
 men who at present raise the greatest clamour against 
 these abuses, encouraged them the most, that they 
 might intrigue the better, and ha\’e a real subject of 
 complaint to lay before the people ; into whose minds 
 they have tried to infuse a restless spirit of philosophy. 
 
 Luxembourg . Philosophy ! Alas, although it he 
 the main pillar of society, I am sorry to see it intro¬ 
 duced into the science of government. I doubt the 
 propriety of such principles being adopted as substi¬ 
 tutes fur rigid justice. But pray, as some of the abuses 
 you mention have of late years been corrected by our 
 gracious Sovereign, what can induce the people, at 
 this time, to declare their discontent ? 
 
 Minister . Alas! the. cause of irritation is recent, 
 and proceeds from the ill-judged, improvident ambi¬ 
 tion of a Necker, in challenging the public opinion 
 on his compte rendu, which, as he knew the majority 
 did not understand, it must he in his favour. This 
 circumstance excited an idea in the people, that they 
 had a right to investigate, to censure, and determine 
 
 on 
 
 / 
 
! 
 
 41 
 
 on the propriety of all public acts and accounts of the 
 state. Hence we find the word opposition conse¬ 
 crated in France, where, prior to this epoch, it was 
 never known but in the reports of the British senate. 
 
 President. God forbid that the customs and princi¬ 
 ples of our neighbours should be adopted by us 1 
 
 Conde. The question is now whether there be yet 
 a remedy for these grievances. 
 
 _ V 
 
 Enter Soubise. 
 
 j . i » • • / • ; ' V /•' 
 
 Luxembourg. Alas! I fear it is too.late. At the 
 time, I advised his Majesty to transport Necker, and 
 to have his compte rendu publicly burnt in every pro¬ 
 vince in the kingdom. Fie hesitated— 
 
 Minister. It would have been a wise measure, my 
 Prince ! By that means the people would have been 
 convinced they had been imposed upon,, and that 
 their Sovereign had been abused. ' . * 
 
 Soubise. I was ever persuaded that lenity in a go¬ 
 vernment is a fallacious virtue. f 
 
 CondS. And the system of philosophising the peo¬ 
 ple, will never render them happy. (To the Minister,) 
 Whence proceed the murmurs for grain among the 
 public? Scarcity, I think, cannot be the cause. The 
 tumult at every baker’s door is alarming. 
 
 Minister. My Prince, it was industriously reported 
 that there was not corn sufficient for four day’s con¬ 
 sumption; when, at the same time, we were informed 
 ' that the corn in different parts of the kingdom was 
 forestalled and hoarded, for the express purpose of 
 giving alarm to the public, and to rouse indignation 
 against the government. # 
 
 Conde. Such manoeuvres are abominable! Have 
 you discovered the forestalled ? 
 
 . Minister. A general combination seems to have 
 been formed among the late farmers-general, the rich 
 members of the late Parliament-, and a certain person¬ 
 age of high rank, with a determined resolution to 
 overthrow the crown. As these men see occasion, 
 
 g ' they 
 
they distribute corn in small quantities in certain dis¬ 
 tricts, as a particular favour, in order to attach the 
 people to them. 
 
 Artois. These misdemeanors deserve to be im¬ 
 peached. 1 have heard of such practices in England 
 to gain private advantage; such as purchasing corn 
 abroad for the sake of the import bounty; and when 
 the magazines were overstocked, and the price became 
 lower, they ship abroad again to have a drawback; 
 and then hoard it abroad till another import bounty is 
 offered ; so that the same grain is oftentimes shipped 
 and unshipped four or five times* But this cannot here 
 be the case. 
 
 Luxembourg. Thus it is that the rich sport with the 
 poor 1 But I should be glad to know what certain 
 personage of high rank has debased himself so far as to 
 join in this treachery. 
 
 Minister • I need make no secret of the name. It 
 is no other than his Highness of Chartres. 
 
 President . OGod ! You may retire. 
 
 [Exit Minister. 
 
 - (To the Princes.) It cuts me to the soul to hear- 
 
 this denunciation. But I always dreaded the wicked 
 machinations of our cousin. 
 
 Enter Minister of Finance. 
 
 President. In looking over your report, We are at a 
 loss to conceive that, with stlch an abundance of the 
 first principles of industry, and such national resources, 
 as produce upwards of eight hundred millions annually, 
 how it is possible that the paltry deficit of a few mil¬ 
 lions should cause the present stagnation. 
 
 Minister. Your Highness will please to observe, 
 that the embarrassment does not proceed from the 
 failure of the revenue, but from the abuses which ori¬ 
 ginated in the preceding reign, and which have pro¬ 
 gressively descended to us unobserved, till they ap¬ 
 peared to obstruct and clog the whole machinery of 
 government. The immoderate pensiQiis lavished upon 
 
 persons 
 
43 
 
 \ 
 
 pe rsons without merit, have tended not a little to the 
 evil. But on this subject, it is but justice to our So¬ 
 vereign to say, that such evils were generally unknown 
 to him. 
 
 Artois . Is it not possible yet, by a system of rigid 
 economy in the finances, with the suppression of those 
 corrupt agents, to retrieve the credit of the state ? 
 
 Minister. I fear, my Prince, it is too late even to 
 moderate the murmurs of the people. There is, at 
 present, a total cessation of the revenue; besides, the 
 machinations of a set of wicked, intriguing men, have 
 caused the specie to disappear, by which the regular 
 circulation of the necessaries of life is obstructed. 
 The consequence of this is, the army and navy must 
 lack subsistence, and our agriculture, manufactures, 
 and commerce inevitably perish. 
 
 Pent/iievre. Alas ! and I fear France must fall into 
 lawless confusion. Had a steady system of administra¬ 
 tion been introduced twelve years ago, we might at 
 this moment boast of near an hundred millions in the 
 royal treasury. 
 
 Minister . Most certainly; for it is easy to prove, 
 that more than that sum has, within these twelve last 
 years, been swallowed up by the rapacious set of 
 farmers-general, intendants, and their agents. 
 
 Luxembourg. I am happy that the King has had 
 the firmness to suppress this odious race of men, who 
 have so long preyed upon the vitals of the nation. 
 
 Minister. My Prince, the system of farming the 
 taxes of a state is most destructive; and that of anti¬ 
 cipating the revenue is inevitable ruin. The former 
 opens afield of immense peculation, robbery, and ex¬ 
 tortion, and the latter draws the state into the gulpii 
 of perdition. The farmers-general, on the signing 
 their licence, have always paid the pot-de-v7?i , or 
 drink-money, amounting to one hundred thousand 
 crowns. 
 
 President. This money, however, came to the 
 State, as an addition to the revenue. 
 
 e 2 Minister* 
 
44 
 
 Minister. By no means, my Prince. This sum, as 
 well as that raised by the anticipations, never entered 
 the treasury, but was solely appropriated to the pro¬ 
 fligate extravagance of favourites and courtiers. 
 
 Soubise. Alas ! the people, however, felt the ef¬ 
 fects. I must confess, with grief, that I think their 
 cries are, in some measure, justifiable. Respecting 
 the produce of the salt, how is it distributed ? 
 
 Minister. That is a subject, my Prince, that ought 
 to have long ago been particularly attended to. What 
 with the tyrannical dues, exactions at the barriers, &c. 
 the extortions committed by the three hundred thou¬ 
 sand rascally collectors, with other local assessments, 
 there remains but one-sixth part for the labourer to pay 
 his rent and support his family. 
 
 Conde. Alas! only think, what encouragement is 
 there, then, for agriculture and national improve¬ 
 ment ? 
 
 Luxembourg . The evils are grievous. Thank 
 God, some are removed. I implore Heaven to keep 
 wicked, ignorant men, from the administration of the 
 state. 
 
 Conde. The whole system of taxation has been 
 vexatious, partial, and oppressive beyond measure. I 
 cannot blame the poor people for evading such taxa¬ 
 tions as the gabelle , for instance. How it could enter 
 the mind of man to Compel another to consume a cer¬ 
 tain quantity of salt, I cannot conceive. 
 
 Minister. It originated in the ancient feudal system, 
 and has been engrossed, till now, without one single 
 shilling ever coming into the public treasury.' 
 
 President. You may retire .—[Exit Minister.] — 
 God knows how we shall recover the nation ! 
 
 Enter Minister for Foreign Affairs. 
 
 Can you inform us, Sir, by what means France is so 
 fallen from the respectable rank she has, till now, ever 
 held in the scale of nations? 
 
 N 
 
V 
 
 45 
 
 Minister. I must beg leave to observe to your 
 Highnesses, that through the improvident, ignorant, 
 wicked agents in the diplomacy, the honour and re¬ 
 spect due to the nation is sullied, its good faith for¬ 
 feited ; intrigue, treachery, and cunning, which are 
 now become proverbial i,n allusion to the French go¬ 
 vernment, have compleated the disgrace of the na¬ 
 tion. 
 
 Artois . Do not other states adopt the same princi¬ 
 ples in the diplomacy and intercourse with their neigh¬ 
 bours ? I always understood that duplicity in time of 
 peace, and treachery in time of war, were the gospel 
 virtues of politics. 
 
 Minister. I am sorry, my Prince, to -say, that the 
 politics of the age favour this principle, as they seem 
 in general founded on intrigue and corruption. 
 
 President. Hence you insinuate, that an open 
 frankness, and good faith, would more certainly secure 
 the tranquillity and union of states ? 
 
 Minister. Certainly, my Prince. I am decidedly 
 of opinion,, that honour and uprightness have nothing 
 to fear from sly intrigue. The former beget courage 
 and strength ; the latter is ever attended with- distrustj 
 cowardice, and impotence. 
 
 Conde. Alas ! France holds up an awful instance of 
 depravity, of wanton ostentation, and court dupli- 
 city! 
 
 President. (To ^Minister.) You may withdraw. 
 Sir. , \Exit Minister. 
 
 Enter Minister of War and Minister of Marine. 
 
 (To the Minister of War.) Sir, in examining the 
 war establishment, we find it equal, if not superior, 
 to any in Europe. We are astonished how such a 
 spirit of insubordination should now be so prevalent 
 and alarming. Explain to us the reason. 
 
 Minister. My Prince, it is a melancholy retrospect. 
 When honour and discipline conducted our army to 
 victory and to glory, it was then uncontaminated with 
 
 vice 
 
 / 
 
46 
 
 vice anti effeminacy, which have of late years infused 
 themselves into the ranks. 
 
 Luxembourg . What leading cause can be assigned 
 that this turbulent spirit should just now declare itself? 
 
 Minister. Your Highnesses know, that evil com¬ 
 munications corrupt good morals. Our recent inter¬ 
 ference in the quarrel between Great Britain and her 
 colonies laid the foundation for the present want of 
 Subordination. The army contracted in the new 
 world a new mode of thinking, very opposite to that 
 it had been accustomed to. The troops saw that free 
 men were superior to slaves, and they imported a 
 spirit of self-consequence into their native country. 
 To crown this misfortune, the treacherous advice of a 
 Breteuil, and others, induced my Sovereign to order 
 a great part of the army to the environs of the capital, 
 at the inauspicious moment of cabal, when the public 
 mind was agitated by the clamorous discussion of go¬ 
 vernment measures. Being now stationed in the cen- 
 tre of contention and turbulent harangues, their new 
 acquired principles were roused to action, and they 
 appeared the foremost to unite with the people in vin¬ 
 dicating their rights. Thus our gracious Sovereign 
 w r as led into two great errors: first, by the sanguine 
 Vergennes, to become the champion for the emancipa¬ 
 tion of a foreign people ; secondly, by the treacherous 
 Breteuil, to become the innocent instrument of his 
 own destruction. By the former he gained nothing ; 
 by the latter he is likely to lose all. 
 
 Soubise . Alas ! the troops were sent to America, to 
 learn to revolutionize, to dethrone kings, and create 
 republics at home! What could have induced the 
 King to disregard Broglio’s advice ? The fire would 
 have been extinguished ’ere it broke out into a flame 
 to dazzle and confuse the senses of the people. 
 
 Condc . Alas ! at present every one has laid aside 
 bis respect for his neighbour, and disdains all restraint 
 from his Superior, resists the laws, and aims at nothing 
 less than trampling down public authority. 
 
 Conti , Aye, and I should not be surprised, if in 
 
 the 
 
47 
 
 the midst of the confusion and disorganization which 
 must ensue, some audacious military subaltern, aided 
 by Jesuitical priestcraft, should one day assume the 
 general authority, and crumble to dust every vestige 
 of legitimate authority. 
 
 President . (To the Minister of Marine.) Sir, we 
 are much alarmed at finding, that our marine is sunk 
 to such insignificance and ruin. Twenty years ago it 
 Was respectable. 
 
 Minister . It grieves me to observe, that this impor¬ 
 tant department of government has been unpardonably 
 neglected. For these seventeen years it has been di¬ 
 rected by persons of inexperience and ignorance, whose 
 practical knowledge of the world extended no further 
 than the circle of vicious.court intrigues. Here your 
 Highnesses see a profligate first prince of the blood 
 lord high admiral; a superannuated narrow-minded 
 Castries at the head of the admiralty ; an unenlightened 
 Luzerne, whose only merit was to pry into trifles ; 
 such as depriving the workmen of a few rusty nails and 
 useless chips, and at the same time conniving at pur- 
 loiners in higher stations of a thousand times the value. 
 This nigardiy economy is justly called, in an English 
 proverb, u being penny wise and pound foolish.” 
 
 Artois . This post certainly requires persons of 
 ability, integrity, experience, and industry. 
 
 Minister, Such persons, my Prince, have very 
 seldom been appointed. Any man of rank, without 
 those qualifications, is thought sufficiently entitled to 
 hold it, no matter whether lie be a philosopher or a 
 fool, an honest man or a rogue, a politician or an ig¬ 
 noramus, so he do but preach economy in retail, though 
 he purloin thousands wholesale. 
 
 Penthievre . In respect to manning the navy, what 
 is the impediment thereto ? 
 
 Minister . The barbarous manner of obtaining men 
 for the fleet is attended with weighty evils. A fortress 
 defended by galley slaves will never hold out long ; 
 and ifc’is degrading to a crown to be at the mercy of 
 such men at sea. I proposed to his Majesty to allow a 
 
 certain 
 
 \ 
 
43 
 
 Certain pension to every man after a fixed time of ser¬ 
 vice, in proportion to the number of actions he had 
 fought, or when rendered unserviceable by accident. 
 By this means we.should speedily render the service 
 respectable) and an object of ambition instead of 
 dread. 
 
 Conde. It is true, the barbarity of dragging men to 
 serve their country, without fee or reward, is a treat¬ 
 ment more suitable to malefactors and murderers than 
 honest brave subjects, who, if properly encouraged, 
 would even volunteer their services. You may retire. 
 
 [Exit Minister of Marine. 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Enter Minister of Police and Chief Judge. 
 
 President . Gentlemen, petitions and complaints are 
 daily pouring in upon us from ail parts of the kingdom: 
 cries of oppression ring in our ears from every prison ; 
 whence do they proceed ? Are the laws not adminis¬ 
 tered with impartial integrity and justice? Are inno¬ 
 cent poor subjects persecuted by the pride and tyranny 
 of the rich ? and do they not find protection from the 
 dispensers of the laws ? ' 
 
 Minister . Gracious Prince, our prisons are unfor¬ 
 tunately full, and many innocent people have been 
 victims to the whims of an imperious tyranny. The 
 laws are partial and oppressive, in as much as the con¬ 
 sciences of the practitioners are under the controul of 
 the rich. 
 
 Cc’ide. In what instance are the law's so oppressive 
 to the people ? 
 
 Minister. Innumerable arc the grievances arising 
 from acts relative to the revenue laws.—1st. Such as 
 to prevent a poor family melting a little fat to burn 
 with a bit of cotton, instead of candles. This incurs a 
 penalty, which, if not paid, the person is doomed to 
 imprisonment.—2d. Roasting an ounce of coflee on 
 the fire incurs a severe penalty or imprisonment.—• 
 
 3d. Taking 
 
49 
 
 3d. Taking or killing a hare, or a partridge, In the 
 garden, even while in the act of devouring the vege¬ 
 tables destined for the subsistence of the poor family, 
 is death, at the mercy of every little Nimrod of a 
 * . manor.—4th, Shooting at pidgeons devouring the 
 corn in the field, incurs a penalty.-—5th. Carrying a 
 gun to kill sparrows is a crime, and the gun is liable to 
 be wrested from the person.—6th. A farmer who 
 should dare to catch a fish, in the brook that runs 
 through the fields he rents, is subject to a forfeit.—7th. 
 Transporting a bottle of wine or spirits from one house 
 to another, (though both belong to the same person) 
 without licence, incurs a penalty or imprisonment.— 
 8th. A poor man is obliged to bear with every species 
 of insolence and cruelty from the rich ; for should he 
 attempt to assert his right, the remedy is worse than 
 the disease : the inevitable ruin of his family is the 
 consequence of the costs, even before it be brought 
 into court. It frequently happens, that crimes and 
 contentions, by the influence of wealth, are to be 
 decided at two or three hundred miles distance from 
 the residence of the aggrieved. This distance magni¬ 
 fies and exaggerates the subject of complaint, multi¬ 
 plies anxiety, and tends to exasperate and prejudice 
 the public opinion. 
 
 Artois . These are certainly evils which call aloud 
 for reform. It is a most degrading law, that puts the 
 life of a bird, or an useless animal, upon a level with 
 that of a worthy member of society. 
 
 Penthievre ; Alas 1 it were to be wished , that legis¬ 
 lators wouid study to make the laws respected more by 
 their impartial execution than by their rigour. * Malig¬ 
 nant sophistry would soon be extirpated ; poverty and 
 innocence would be secure from the malice of the rich 
 and powerful. A code of criminal laws, dictated by 
 reason, justice, and humanity, would be a monument 
 to the glory of the age. 
 
 Luxembourg . By what means is the police, which 
 in all countries is intended to protect the community, 
 become so odious and intolerable to the people ? 
 
 h Minister . 
 

 Minister. Among the many grievances complained 
 of, the vexatious tyranny of the marechaussee and ex¬ 
 cisemen, has long been such as to excite in the people 
 a spirit of resistance. They enter houses, put things 
 in requisition, and frequently introduce what is deem¬ 
 ed contraband into the houses, in order to terrify and 
 extort money from the people, and then pretend to 
 smother the complaint, and say no more about it. 
 
 Luxembourg . I am sorry to observe, that hitherto 
 the police have been implicated in this nefarious prac¬ 
 tice to a shameful degree. 
 
 Conti. I am afraid the people employed are not 
 scrupulously chosen for their honour and probity. 
 
 Minister . The great evil is, that they are not under 
 so much apprehension of exceeding the bounds of the 
 law, as of falling short of their instructions. Hence 
 the arbitrary arrests of citizens, without any cause 
 being assigned, has so poisoned the public mind, that 
 these men are j justly become the pest and execration of 
 society. ' 
 
 Soubise . Alas ! these abuses cry aloud for redress. 
 
 President . You may retire, gentlemen. 
 
 [Exeunt Ministers* 
 
 Luxembourg (to Monsieur). I wish your Highness 
 would demand an audience of his Majesty, and assure 
 him of our loyal support to resist the storm gathering 
 round his throne. 
 
 Monsieur . I will; but remain you here till I re¬ 
 turn. » [Exit. 
 
 Luxembourg . Yes, I expect our good .friend 
 Maurepas. [To Conti.) Alas ! my dear cousin, some 
 of these facts are weighty, and demand immediate at¬ 
 tention. 
 
 Enter Maurepas and Duke of Liancourt. 
 
 Conti. Well, my worthy Maurepas, you were in 
 the right, when you so boldly told the King that there 
 was not a moment to be lost. Oh, had we looked into 
 the business sooner! (Muck affected* and lays hold of 
 
 Maurepas" 
 
/ 
 
 51 
 
 Maurepas’ hand.) Yes, I love my Sovereign, and am 
 persuaded you are his friend also. Nature never formed 
 a heart of more suitable materials for consolidating the 
 happiness and glory of a people. But, alas! it grieves 
 me to the soul, when I reflect, that, for these last thirty 
 years, no subject has enjoyed so little power as the 
 monarch of this renowned nation. 
 
 Liancourt . Why are we so sunk in consequence ? 
 Thrones, when erected on the love and ioyaity of a 
 people, are immoveable. 
 
 Maurepas. It is true# It is sorely to be regretted, 
 that the imbecility of our public functionaries has suf¬ 
 fered our present misfortunes gradually to approach 
 the throne, concealed like the circumvallation lines of 
 a siege. A prudent commander has his outposts and 
 piquets properly stationed, to prevent a fatal sur¬ 
 prise. 
 
 Soubise. Alas ! I perceive our generals have been 
 unpardonably unwary. Mr. Muy foretold what would 
 happen, and offered to remedy the evil ; but his ser¬ 
 vice was rejected, because he would not condescend to 
 court Mrs. Dubarry’s favour. 
 
 Conti . It is treason for us to sleep at our posts, and 
 suffer the walls of the citadel to be scaled. Let us— 
 
 Enter Monsieur, [wild and distracted). 
 
 AIL My Prince, what is the matter ? for God’s 
 sake, what is the matter ? 
 
 Monsieur. Alas 1 my dear cousins, have you not 
 heard the dreadful tidings ? Oh, my God ! our ever 
 dear and worthy friend, Lamballe, is basely mur¬ 
 dered. 
 
 All. Murdered! Oh gracious heaven ! how? 
 
 Monsieur. It is too true ! but I know not the parti¬ 
 culars/ (To Luxembourg.) Some vile advisers have 
 prepossessed his Majesty : he will not hear a word. I 
 left our minutes with him, and begged his consideration 
 of them. Do you, my dear friend Luxembourg, use 
 your influence : he has confidence in yoti. Go ; the 
 King is still in his closet. 
 
 kij 
 
 ^ h 2 Luxembourg . 
 
 / 
 
52 
 
 Luxembourg. Most willingly : every minute is of 
 the greatest importance.— (Exit Luxembourg.) 
 
 Artois , (in great agitation). True. Ah, my poor 
 brother ! He is distracted, poor soul 1 But could he 
 yet be prevailed upon !— 
 
 Liancourt. Who can those false counsellors be? 
 
 Monsieur , (walking to and fro). I suspect that 
 Jesuitical Sieyes, the Bishop of Autun, and Mirabeau. 
 They are the bosom friends of Breteuil and Barrentin, 
 whom I some time ago denounced : but they still re¬ 
 tain their posts near the King’s sacred person. 
 
 Maurepas . Some means must be used to counteract 
 such counsel, or the monarchy is lost ; and 1 fear that 
 fatal moment is nigh at hand. I have given my opinion 
 as an honest loyal subject ought to do: 1 urged the 
 necessity of immediately*purifying the monarchy from 
 the vile dregs of venality that still surround the throne; 
 I pointed out the means how the sovereignty might be 
 established on the solid basis of honour aryl virtue ; I 
 insisted that, in the pathless maze into which his Ma¬ 
 jesty was entered, he should proceed with great cau¬ 
 tion, and choose faithful guides, lest he abruptly arrive 
 at, and fall headlong over, the fatal precipice. But, 
 alas! I fear he is lead on by a delusive phantom, held 
 up to his view by faithless wicked persons. 
 
 Re-enter Luxembourg. 
 
 Monsieur. Well, my dear Luxembourg, what suc¬ 
 cess ? 
 
 Luxembourg. No better than your Highness expe¬ 
 rienced. His Majesty persists that, in sacrificing 
 every thing to the will of the assembly, he shall satisfy 
 the desires of the people. He will not be persuaded 
 that, by every benign act of his good heart they are 
 instigated to rise in their demands. Alas ! said I, has 
 not my Sovereign already burst asunder the chains of 
 bondage, of servile vassalage, and freed them from the 
 grievous feudal laws ? Nay, he has annihilated arbi¬ 
 trary arrests, abolished th egabelle..., and are the people 
 satisfied ? No ; they cry the more violently. Has he 
 
 not 
 
53 
 
 not curbed the insolence of the intendants, of the 
 farmers-general, of the custom-house and excise offi¬ 
 cers ? In fine, the King has done all he ought to do, 
 to insure their happiness and secure the stability of the 
 throne. He has restored to them thgjnght of decree¬ 
 ing their own laws : he has even condescended to repair 
 to the town-hall in person, where he received from 
 Provost Bailly’s hands the blue and red cockade, which 
 he graciously put in his royal hat himself. Still this 
 condescension does not satisfy them, (much afflicted). 
 Here, here should my beloved Sovereign have stopped. 
 One step further, and we are all inevitably buried 
 under the ruins of the throne. 
 
 Conde. Alas ! when Heaven in its wrath shakes a 
 kingdom with convulsions, and thus stirs up the spirit 
 of the people to reclaim the rights of nature, the 
 healing hand of man, I fear, is loo feeble to afford 
 assistance. 
 
 Artois. To-morrow bis Majesty sanctions the union 
 of the orders. ( To Monsieur.) You, I understand, 
 support the measure. 
 
 Maure-pas , (in great consternation). What, sanction 
 the union of the orders ? (Clasping his hands.) Gra¬ 
 cious God 1 then adieu to ail that is dear to the throne, 
 to the monarchy, and the government! Alas! alas! 
 it must not be. No, the moment the three orders are- 
 united, arfd vote by numbers, the kingdom is inevita¬ 
 bly, irretrievably lost 1 ; for ever lost. Alas! alas I 
 my dear country. 
 
 Artois. My dear friends, I depart to-morrow with 
 my cousin Conde. Adieu ! adieu ! 
 
 [Ei remit Artois and Conde. 
 
 Luxembourg , (to Maurepas). Your, ideas exactly 
 coincide with mine. I told the King to-day, that with 
 that deed he would barter bis crown for a shadow. I 
 observed to him, that as long as the States-General 
 continue separate, his royal authority is secure under 
 the protection of the nobles, who are the rock upon 
 which his Majesty may stand* They are the bulwark 
 
 round 
 
54 
 
 round the throne. u Alas !” exclaimed the King ; u I 
 <c have long desired this reunion : it is my last wish. 
 “ The Sovereign and the nation will be the point 
 cc round which all Frenchmen will rally.” Oh ! fatal, 
 fatal delusion ! (Turning to Monsieur.) The King 
 
 hinted to me, that la Fayette had advised him to retire 
 to the frontiers. 
 
 Monsieur. The Queen said something to me of 
 such a project, but I do not altogether approve of it. 
 (Looks at his watch.) It is time to take the chair. Do 
 you attend ? 
 
 AIL We will accompany your Highness. 
 
 (Exeunt.) 
 
 SCE.NE II. 
 
 . i 
 
 Versailles, in front of the Palace.--Enter a crowd 
 of men , women , and children , all armed with pikes , 
 axes, clubs , muskets , Skc. headed by Maillard. 
 
 Maillard , (with a sabre in his hand). Citizens, I 
 ®xhort you to be orderly. I promise to obtain for you 
 every satisfaction from the Assembly. Remain quiet 
 till I return. \_Exit Maillard. 
 
 (Three or four of the mob run backwards and for~ 
 wards , brandishing their sabres and clubs against the 
 palissades , in defiance of the King's guards within , 
 crying :) Down with the guards ! down with the 
 guards ! Down with the despot 1 Let us enter the 
 palace ! Down with the guards ! Bread we must 
 have, and Louis shall be our baker! Huzza! 
 Away with him to Paris! Huzza! Away with 
 Louis! Away with Louis, the baker, to Paris 1 
 Huzza ! 
 
 Enter la Fayette, heading a body of National Guards. 
 
 (The mob make way for them.) 
 
 Fayette. Citizens, don't be afraid : the guards \ 
 command are patriots and citizens. 
 
 Enter 
 
55 
 
 Enter Orleans. 
 
 Orleans . Oh ! my dear general, your arrival is 
 somewhat unseasonable. We had settled it that, when 
 all were in their peaceful slumbers, the people should 
 make an attack on the palace; and that, in the con¬ 
 fusion, we and others should secure the King, Queen, 
 and family, as it were under our protection, and as an 
 act of humanity. 
 
 Fayette. Be easy, citizen, it is perhaps for the 
 best; as 1 shall instantly conduct the King to Paris. 
 Go you before, and prepare our friends for the event. 
 
 Orleans. When think, you to be at Paris ? 
 
 Fayette. By two o’clock. {Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE III, 
 
 Paris. — Committee Room in Barras' hotel. —Barras, 
 
 le Brun, Sieyes, Cambaceres, anrf Mirabeau enter 
 
 Breteuil, Talleyrand, with a paper in his hand. 
 
 Talleyrand. Citizens ! Louis is on his way to Paris. 
 I expect Orleans every minute. 
 
 Miraheau. That circumstance is the object of our 
 meeting. We must immediately determine on such, 
 decrees as we wish to have the royal signet to. 
 
 Breteuil. Every moment, citizens, becomes more 
 and more important. Let us not sleep at our post. 
 
 Le Brun. To-morrow let us decree the abolition of 
 all rank and distinctions of orders, and which must be 
 sanctioned. 
 
 Sieyes. That is the first on the list. 
 
 Cambaceres. Ay, ay, strike the iron while it is 
 hot! Rivet the nail close, I say ! 
 
 Talleyrand. So say I. We have taken the precau¬ 
 tion to press the necessity of a speedy unconditional 
 abolition. (To Breteuil.) Don’t you think, citizen, 
 the King is sufficiently influenced by the consultation 
 vou and Barretin have held with him. 
 
 Breteuil. 
 
Breteuil . Rest assured, that Louis has unbounded 
 confidence in our friendship. Our will is his. 
 
 Cambaceres . Let us take care not to discover the 
 secret, by letting the mask fall. 
 
 Mirabeau . No, no, that must not be ! We assem¬ 
 ble under the specious supreme authority of the people. 
 It is true ; but it is our interest to appear to be strenu¬ 
 ous supporters of the royal prerogatives, and thereby 
 make them subservient to our plans. ( Looking at his 
 watch.) I must take my leave for a few minutes, hav¬ 
 ing an appointment with Barretin. Adieu. 
 
 [Exit Mirabeau. 
 
 Talleyrand. I say we must not let the veil drop. A 
 few days more, and tiie throne will fail under our feet. 
 
 Rabaut St. Etienne . What a glorious footstool! 
 
 Cambaceres . See, here comes Orleans. Well, citi¬ 
 zen, what news ? 
 
 Orleans. News ! we have caught the wolf. Louis 
 is arrived at the Thuilleries : la Fayette has been vi¬ 
 gilant, and merits our thanks. As Louis, I find, sus¬ 
 pects me of being in the affair, 1 think it advisable to 
 be out of the way for some time. 1 have, therefore, 
 desired to have a passport to repair to the land of li¬ 
 berty, by way of Boulogne, and I shall set out imme¬ 
 diately : mean while I have contrived to have orders 
 for my arrest to be forwarded to that port. You must 
 exclaim against such a breach of good faith, and in¬ 
 sist on my release ; and thus turn the whole circum¬ 
 stance to the disgrace of the court. I shall be in Eng¬ 
 land but a few weeks: in the interim, I have set 
 apart a million of livres in my treasury, at the disposal 
 of the committee. Adieu. 
 
 [Exit Orleans. 
 
 Rabaut St. Etienne. Citizens, we must not lose our 
 time, but come to the point at once. I move that the 
 earth be ours : that we renovate the inhabitants ; change 
 their ideas; rule the laws, the customs ; in fine, that 
 we destroy every thing, in order to create something. 
 
 Enter 
 
51 
 
 Enter Barrere and Bishop Cice. 
 
 Barr ere (frantic and wild). Murder! citizens* 
 murder ! Our most valuable colleague, citizen Mira* 
 beau, has just sighed his last. It seems, as he went 
 from hence, he drank a cup of coffee : its effects have 
 proved mortal. Poor soul! I found him in the ago¬ 
 nies of death. While hugging him to my breast, he 
 expired in my arms, 
 
 Cice. Oh! may we never fall victims to aristocra- 
 tical coffee! 
 
 t 
 
 Le Brun, Alas I poor Mirabeau ! 
 
 Clooiz. Alas 1 poor Mirabeau! the oracle and 
 fountain of wisdom, the champion of liberty, and 
 pillar of reason. 
 
 Barrere . I propose for him the honours of the 
 Pantheon, and move that a national mourning be de¬ 
 creed, and that the street Chausse Dantin, in which he 
 drank his last cup of coffee, be henceforth named Mi¬ 
 rabeau Street. 
 
 Cambaceres. I second the motion. May the honours 
 bestowed on this valuable citizen be an incitement to 
 emulate his virtues ! Now, as we have the reins of 
 power pretty secure in our hands, woe to those who 
 attempt to wrest them from us! Let us hold them 
 fast, and firmly, my fellow citizens. 
 
 Bay'ras (looks at his watch). Citizens, it is time to 
 take our rounds, and see how the world goes, lest we 
 be taken by surprise., We meet here again. [ Exeunt . 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Barras’ Hotel. —Barras, Barrere, Tallien, Talley¬ 
 rand, Cambaceres, Merlin, Roederer, and Beau- 
 harnois, at breakfast. 
 
 Cambaceres. There are my three hundred and fifty 
 oysters gone. 
 
 Barrere. Ay, and about fifty glasses of Bur¬ 
 gundy 1 
 
 i Enter 
 
$$ 
 
 Enter la Fayette and Sieyes* 
 
 La Fayette. Holla! citizens* The King, Queen, 
 Monsieur, and all the family, are fled. 
 
 Barrere . Fled ! where, which way ? 
 
 Merlin. This is a pretty affair ! Devilishly un¬ 
 lucky ! 
 
 Cambaceres . Perhaps not quite so unlucky as it may 
 seem ; but I am not quite up to the secret yet. 
 
 Roederer . As far as I know of the circumstance, we 
 may be easy. It was necessary to give the alarm to 
 the people. 
 
 La Fayette , The people are in the utmost consterna¬ 
 tion : one says, they are gone this way ; others, that 
 way. I perceive nobody knows where. However, 
 citizens, I beg you to assure the Assembly, they need 
 not be under the least apprehension of the consequence. 
 I pledge myself for their safe return to-night; They 
 will be stopped at Varennes, at one o’clock. The 
 moment the news of their arrest reaches us, I shall de¬ 
 part with a strong force, to escort the royal fugitives 
 into the city. Adieu. [Exit la Fayette* 
 
 Enter Carnot, Manuel, and Fouch6. 
 
 Carnot. A pretty piece of business, truly! Here 
 is duplicity and treason with a vengeance ! Who and 
 where are the traitors ? What ! the King gone, and 
 our most important decrees not sighed ! We are 
 finely outwitted! 
 
 Fonche. Aye, w r e are duped ; cleverly taken in! 
 The constitution not signed ! It is a sad affair ! 
 
 Enter Robespierre? Clootz, Marat, and Panton.. 
 
 Marat. A sad affair, truly. ' Ah, ah, ah ! My 
 worthy friends, have patience. Be not dejected: a 
 fine day often succeeds a cloudy morning. This is but 
 a momentary eclipse of our bright hopes : the sun will 
 burst out with redoubled splendor, never fear. Aye, 
 aye ! Louis little suspected—— 
 
 Clootz . Little suspected l Louis little suspected ! 
 
 Cambaoerh. 
 
59 
 
 Cambacercs . What did he little suspect ? 
 
 Sieyes (close to their ears , but loud). Little sus« 
 pected ! I say Louis little suspected we should out¬ 
 wit him in his glorious flight. He thought to escape, 
 not thinking we held the reins. Is not this a master¬ 
 piece of republican intrigue ? 
 
 j Fouche, Give it what name you will; but as yet 1 
 do not understand it. 
 
 Roederer. There must be some mystery in the 
 business. Come, Sieyes, explain. 
 
 Sieyes. Eh, eh, eh; Neither did Louis understand 
 it. No, the stroke was too deep for his penetration. 
 Every rule in the art of hypocrisy and imposture has 
 been put in practice, by which unsuspicion has been 
 betrayed, and credulity caught in her own net, 
 
 Cambacercs. Pshaw, with your credulity ! say I. 
 Out with the mystery ; out with it! 
 
 Sieyes, Well, then, in plain terms: this alarming 
 flight is of our own planning; the arrest of the fugw 
 tives is of our own contriving, and their return to 
 Paris will be (makes a circular motion with his hand) 
 ©ur triumphal entry to unconditional sovereign power. 
 
 Enter Cice. 
 
 What say you, my worthy alarmists, eh ? 
 
 Beauharnois, Their eyes are now open, surely. 
 
 Carnot. I am glad I had no hand in it. 
 
 Cambacercs . And I am very sorry I had not. I 
 should have gloried in it. 
 
 Fouche. It is a masterpiece, by Jove. Surely, ci¬ 
 tizen Sieyes, the honour of the plan is yours. 
 
 Cice. Surely; he is the pillar of wisdom and fore¬ 
 sight ! I vote him the honours of the Pantheon. 
 
 Enter Collot d’Herbois and Condorcet. 
 
 Collot d'Herbois. Huzza, huzza! Citizens, the 
 fugitives are returned. 
 
 All. Huzza, huzza ! 
 
 i 3 
 
 Collot 
 
60 
 
 Collot d'Herbois. They seem devilish chop-fallen 
 and surprised at the circumstance of their arrest. 
 Monsieur, perhaps, having some suspicion, is escaped 
 by Mons. Citizens, our decisions must be speedy; 
 for, depend upon it, a deep plan is forming to over¬ 
 throw all our hopes. I say we must be speedy. I 
 move the suspension, immediately, of the sovereignty* 
 and that Beauharnois do take the chair. 
 
 Robespierre. Suspend the sovereignty! Aye, I 
 move an amendment: to suspend all sovereign power, 
 celestial and terrestrial. 
 
 Marat. So say I. 
 
 Robespierre. I move that the French nation acknow¬ 
 ledge no supreme power or authority, or being, in 
 heaven above or in the earth beneath, but republican 
 morality; and that the Sovereign of Heaven be now 
 hurled from his throne ! 
 
 Talleyrand. Amen ! so be it. 
 
 Cambuceres. Amen ! it is well said. But Louis 
 must first sign the constitution. We shall then arraign 
 him with a better pretext as a traitor to the state. 
 (To Condorcet.) When will the constitution be ready* 
 citizen ? 
 
 Condorcet . It has passed two readings, and the 
 King will come this evening to affix his royal signature. 
 The committee approve it. 
 
 Talleyrand. I hope, citizen, you have kept clear of 
 encyclopedian diction. Is it a neat, concise consti¬ 
 tution, worthy a free, enlightened, regenerated na¬ 
 tion? Be sure to admit no titles. Let us expunge 
 religious orders and distinctions: crush them all under 
 the system of liberty and equality. The levelling 
 principle for ever 1 
 
 Barrere. Citizen bishop, you surely don’t mean to 
 level us to the class from whence we sprang. (Turn¬ 
 ing to Condorcet.) Rather, worthy citizen, raise 
 others to our level. Temper the monarchy in as hum> 
 ble a mould as you please, with all my heart; I only 
 
 beg 
 
 * *' w t 
 
61 
 
 beg you not to let us lose an inch of our present eleva* 
 fcion. ' 
 
 Barras. Oh, there is no great fear of that, nor of 
 the Bishop’s principles of learning neither. The Bi¬ 
 shop of Autun is notorious for his aspiring ideas ; they 
 soar above the level of this world. His ambition is 
 spiritual. See ! his eyes have a natural cast upwards, 
 as if seeking after better days. < 
 
 Enter Henriot. 
 
 Henrioi. Citizens, a most hellish plot is forming 
 against us. All the Assembly is to be assassinated this 
 evening. 
 
 All (in great consternation). What, what plot? 
 What conjuration is this ? 
 
 Henriot . Of the blackest dye. However, fear no¬ 
 thing ; I have got the whole in my net. Three hun¬ 
 dred assassins, composed of the ex-nobles and other 
 aristocrats, are at this moment assembled in the me¬ 
 nagerie. They intend to repair to the Assembly 
 early, each with a brace of double-barreled pistols in 
 his pocket. When the King is on the way, and al¬ 
 most arrived, from the Thuilleries, to consecrate his 
 acceptance of our glorious constitution, these murder¬ 
 ers are to fire on the members in their seats. 
 
 All. Oh, the wretches ! 
 
 Henriot . As I suspected something was going for*? 
 ward, I consulted with my friend Fouche. We gave 
 instruction to some trusty friends to join them in the 
 plot, and, as soon as things were brought to a point, 
 to give me notice of it. It seems the murder of Pel¬ 
 letier, this morning, was somewhat premature, and 
 therefore deranged them; and some confusion has en¬ 
 sued. The assassins were too eager : they will be 
 secured. 
 
 Sieyes (in wrath)* Adopt measures; dispatch notice 
 of their haunt to Santerre. Surround them imme¬ 
 diately ! Mow them down like oats ! 
 
 Fouche . Let not one escape. Off with their heads l 
 
 Boeder er* 
 
62 
 
 Roederer . To hell with them all! Bring the whole* 
 crew to the guillotine ! The hydra’s head must be cut 
 off. 
 
 Barr as . So say I. Off, off with it 1 Amen. 
 
 Enter le Brun. [Exeunt. 
 
 he Brun. Citizens, be not alarmed; all is safe. 
 The murderous royalists are secured. Santerre merits 
 well of the nation, 
 
 Cice. Then vote him thanks: they are cheap 
 enough. 
 
 Henriot. I can assure you, my friends, that to-mor¬ 
 row, at the dawn of day, they shall be no more. Come, 
 now it is about time to repair to the Assembly, We 
 will lake our places very unconcerned. How cruelly 
 Louis will find himself disappointed ! He, he, he ! 
 his scheme is frustrated. He thought to dupe us* 
 Louis will be there before us, if we don’t make haste. 
 
 i 
 
 AIL Ha, ha, ha ! [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Committee Room. —Barras, Barrere, Cambaeeres, 
 
 Yadier, Sieyes, Talleyrand, Gaudet, and Marat. 
 
 Gaudet. Well, citizens, the rabble seem highly 
 pleased at Louis’ having sanctioned our constitution. 
 
 Cambaeeres . Aye, they have reason to be pleased, 
 and so have we, with a vengeance 1 Louis begins to 
 shew himself already. No sooner does he cordially 
 subscribe to our new government, than he endeavours 
 to vex us by the exercise of his veto, in the most un¬ 
 warrantable manner, in favour of the priests, against 
 our decrees. We must not suffer such insolence. 
 
 Barras. We must absolutely rid ourselves of these 
 priests and the nobles. 
 
 Talleyrand . Nay, don’t separate them from their 
 master. 
 
 Marat. Aye, all together, away with them l I say 
 
 three 
 
 \ 
 
 i 
 
63 
 
 jthree hundred thousand heads must be off before we 
 Can he independent! 
 
 Enter Tallien, Collot d’Herbois, Freron, Fouche, 
 
 Legendre, and Carrier. 
 
 Tallien. Victory l victory! citizens. The whole 
 gang of murderers are dispatched to the next world. 
 
 Collot d'Herbois (in the gesticulations of a comedian). 
 Citizens, it is time to come to some determination, and 
 adopt measures. Louis laughs at us; and, depend 
 upon it, he will be continually vexing us by this eternal 
 veto. I do, therefore, propose the immediate, the 
 total abolition of royalty in France; and that the 
 sacred word republic be substituted for the word na¬ 
 tion. 
 
 Enter Condorcet, Brissot, and Paine. 
 
 AIL Bravo! bravo 1 long live the republic ! 
 
 Cambaceres [to those just entered) . Come, citizens, 
 vour votes. 
 
 V N 
 
 Brissot. Citizens, when your summons arrived, I 
 was not at home; lam, however, glad to be here in 
 time to hear our worthy colleague conclude his ex¬ 
 traordinary motion. I am aware that I am marked out 
 us a Moderate, even as a Royalist. Such insinuations 
 I contemn; they are beneath my attention. I shall 
 ever persist in the pure principles of the revolution, 
 which were to eradicate vice, uproot villainy, and in¬ 
 fuse a genuine virtue through all ranks of the commu¬ 
 nity. Adhering to these principles, I must beg you 
 not to press the present question. Let us proceed with 
 moderation. It is a subject of great magnitude. 
 
 Paine . I propose to adjourn the question. 
 
 Sieyes. Adjourn the question 1 Let it be treason to 
 propose an adjournment. 
 
 Enter Orleans, and Boissy d’Anglois. 
 
 Touche. So say 11 Preach no longer of modera¬ 
 tion, of adjourning, and such nonsense. They who 
 are not for us are against us. 
 
 Cambaceres* 
 
64 
 
 Cambacercs, Surely ; down with the veto! jPown 
 with royalty, and long live the republic! 
 
 Talleyrand. Away with cant moderation ! Royalty 
 is, to all intents and purposes, forfeited ; and, in my 
 opinion, there are grounds sufficient to arraign Louis 
 as a traitor. What insolence, to dare thus to exer¬ 
 cise his veto against our decrees! Put the question, 
 
 Marat . Certainly, the question ! It is neminc 
 
 contradicente ! 
 
 Barras. It is time to come to decisive measures : 
 we must render ourselves unconditional masters, or 
 creep in servile slavery. Let us decree the republic, 
 and then arraign Louis for treason, 
 
 Freron . Bravo ! bravo ! I say, yes. 
 
 LeBrun. I support the motion. How stand votes 
 on this double question, and what is the judgment to 
 be pronounced ? 
 
 Orleans. How, citizens ? There can be but one 
 voice. I support the first motion with all my heart % 
 and the second do I seal, by disowning any relationship 
 henceforth with the family or race of the Bourbons, 
 and from this time forward I am citizen Philip Egalitd. 
 In respect to the judgment, it is founded on reason and 
 justice, and as such I most cordially give my vote, 
 death ! death ! 
 
 Talleyrand . That is coming to the point at once* 
 Bravo ! citizen. I second the motion with all my 
 heart. Death ! death ! without reprieve, without re¬ 
 morse I I rejoice, rejoice ! 
 
 Robespierre (holding his hand to Marat's mouth). 
 Hold, citizen, my turn first in this glorious- 
 
 Marat (forces himself from him). I sa} T , citizen, 
 I rejoice- 
 
 Robespierre (stops him agam, and calls out). Death! 
 death! tenfold death ! (Lets Marat go.) There, now 
 you may speak. 
 
 Marat. Citizens, I have been shamefully inter¬ 
 rupted from giving my vote. It is an injustice to my 
 
 feelings* 
 
s 
 
 65 
 
 feelings; I say, death 1 death! twenty times in-* 
 flieted. 
 
 All. Bravo ! bravo ! 
 
 Beauharnois. Ha, ha, ha ! he outdoes him at last. 
 Your votes, citizens, 
 
 Cambaceres. Death without appeal ! and that it be 
 put in execution the moment the French territory be 
 invaded. 
 
 Sieyes. Death without appeal! death 1 
 
 Condorcet . Perpetual banishment. 
 
 Paine. I remember, citizens, how joyfully you 
 expunged the pain of death from the penal laws. How 
 can you then act thus inconsistently, by enforcing an 
 act which we have lately declared unworthy and dis¬ 
 graceful to an enlightened people ? Banishment! 
 
 Gaudet . Isecondit. Banishment! 
 
 Talleyrand . We are at liberty to annul and decre© 
 the laws as we find good, I could have wished we 
 had remained a little longer behind the curtain ; for 
 great men should keep at a distance, and not appear in 
 front too soon. But as the crisis is alarming, I resist 
 the amendment, and say again, death 1 death ! 
 
 Brissot. Our worthy colleague, the Bishop, wishes 
 we had remained in disguise behind the scene. It is a 
 system worthy of priestcraft. Of all assassins, those 
 in secret are the most atrocious. The present decree, 
 however, is not of that class. Here is no dissimula¬ 
 tion : it is without disguise. I cannot give my vote 
 on this most extraordinary, untimely motion, without 
 a few observations. The question and the decision 
 involve, not only the dearest interests of Frenchmen, 
 but drag into the vortex of confusion all the nations of 
 Europe. The revolution, which was commenced on 
 the principle of the purest humanity, has already been 
 disgraced, and polluted by the shedding blood of 
 thousands of innocent citizens. Let us not, then, 
 stigmatise it more, by an hasty, unwarrantable judg¬ 
 ment on the Sovereign. We should consider our cha¬ 
 racter, as the legislators of a regenerating nation, and 
 
 K not 
 
 
66 
 
 not suffer it to be confounded with the frenzy of the 
 people, whose minds, being unprepared, could not 
 resist the sudden blaze of liberty. It confounded their 
 ideas ; hence enormities were perpetrated. It is our 
 duty to hold a good example to th& common people ; 
 therefore, let us check these hasty impulses, and seek 
 to tranquillize the mind by acts of moderation and 
 humanity. You arraign the King for having exercised 
 a veto which you yourselves freely granted him. Was 
 it not then his right ? Can this be alleged in evidence 
 against him as a crime? Besides, the total subversion 
 ot royalty must prove an evil to the cause of liberty. 
 I propose then—1st. That the Monarch be considered 
 the child of the nation, and that we be his guardians. 
 •—2d. That till the present convulsions of the state 
 subside, he and his family be kept in a place of se¬ 
 curity, at a distance from the capital.—To act other¬ 
 wise will be unjust, cruel, and absurd. I maintain, 
 that a government, of whatever denomination it be^ 
 can be established only on the basis of virtue, and not 
 on bloodshed and slaughter. 
 
 Beauharnois . To order ! to order ! I say. 
 
 Merlin . Aye, let us no longer suffer our cars to be 
 rung with sermons of moderation and humanity. The 
 republic is already decreed. 
 
 Cambaceres. Who ever heard of a royal or impe¬ 
 rial republic ? Ha, ha ! what absurdity 1 Where 
 equality is the basis, there can be no hereditary chief. 
 No, nor shall any ever again appear in France. 
 
 Fonche. Amen ! My heart beats in unison with 
 that motion. I say, death ! death ! 
 
 Enter Couthon and Leonard Bourdon. 
 
 Eadier. Be it so. Death! death! 
 
 Le Brun. This simple question has already taken 
 up more time in debate, than the whole race of crowned 
 heads in Europe is worth. The motion is founded on 
 the purest reason, and therefore let the votes be told. 
 I join, with all my heart and soul, for death to Louis, 
 and to the whole race of Bourbons ! 
 
 Legendre . 
 
67 
 
 Legendre . Amen ! Death to 
 Death ! 
 
 / 
 
 the whole race! 
 
 Barr ere. The tree of liberty will never flourish, if 
 it be not sprinkled with the blood of a tyrant. I say, 
 death ! death ! 
 
 Talleyrand . The dead never return. 
 All. Amen. 
 
 Sieyes . Death is an everlasting sleep. 
 
 Leonard Bourdon . I am only sorry I was not in 
 time to give my vote first. I say, death! death 1 
 death ! 
 
 Couthon. It is never too late to do a good act. I 
 say, death eternal! 
 
 All. Amen, amen ! 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Cambaceres, Tallien, Talleyrand, Le Brun, Sieyes, 
 
 Couthon, and Barras, sitting round a table , drinking . 
 
 Cambaceres . Did any of you, citizens, take a 
 peep at Louis Capet this morning, going to his home ? 
 
 Tallien. I accompanied him to the place, but did 
 not stop to see the execution. 
 
 Talleyrand. Well, come, here’s to his resurrection 
 in another planet. 
 
 Couthon. With all my heart. 
 
 Enter Santerrc, Barrere, and Robespierre. 
 
 Santerre, (quite exhausted). Good morning, citi¬ 
 zens. I could not wait upon you before. I have had 
 a devilish hard day’s duty, upon my soul; but never 
 mind, the glorious work is done, and Capet is gone to 
 excite a revolution in another world. But come, a 
 glass of wine, for I am indeed very dry and fatigued. 
 Come: thatjesuitical priest kept praying and blessing 
 himself so long, that I was at last obliged to order the 
 drums to beat, to drown the lamentations of the raul- 
 
 K 2 titude. 
 
65 
 
 % 
 
 titude. Emotions of sympathy and gloomy sorrow, 
 also, seemed to pervade the ranks, as I ordered the 
 jesuit to silence and the executioner to his duty ! 
 ( Drinks )—It was a clean stroke ! it would have done 
 your hearts good to see it!—Here, fill another glass ! 
 the wine is good. He is a clever feliow ! You 
 need not fear when you fall under his hand (drinks). 
 
 •—Your heads would be off in a crack ; ay, before you 
 feel it. 
 
 All (take their glasses). Long live the republic! 
 Long live equality and liberty 1 Huzza ! 
 
 Marat. Citizen Santerre is a little facetious upon 
 the skill of the executioner; who knows how soon it 
 may be his lot to experience it ? 
 
 Santerre. Such is the chance of this life, so let it 
 be. Come, Long live the republic ! (Drinks). 
 
 Cambaceres. Leave your stupid jokes 1 Let us seal 
 our victory with a toast, that every true republican 
 will drink with three times thiee — u Destruction to 
 royalty and hereditary chiefs, wherever they reign ! 
 Four hundred thousand livres per head, produced 
 dead or alive at the bar of the Assembly, is offered !” 
 
 All. Huzza! huzza ! huzza! (they drink)* 
 Huzza ! 
 
 Barr ere. As it is necessary to feign, at least, a de¬ 
 sire of living in peace and harmony with our neigh¬ 
 bours, the English, as long as possible, I propose that 
 Le Brun be ordered forthwith to address that govern¬ 
 ment in the most friendly manner. 
 
 All. Assent! assent ! 
 
 Enter Gobet, Bishop of Paris , and Boissy d’Anglas. 
 
 Gobet. Citizens, X come to present you with my 
 owiyabjuration, and also that of the rectors and vicars 
 of my diocese, renouncing all the tenets of the Chris¬ 
 tian religion. 
 
 All. Bravo ! bravo ! huzza ! 
 
 Boissy d y Anglas. Citizens, I am charged with an 
 address from our worthy republicans the sans culottes, 
 praying a decree against altars, priests, &c. and to 
 
 abj ure 
 
* 
 
 63 
 
 abjure all divinities but the God of Nature, as co 
 with our senses, and that every one may worshi 
 after his own way. 
 
 Boberspierre. Citizens, as our accounts are now 
 
 pretty nearly balanced with the Hydra Morality, I 
 propose, in the name of our regenerated nation, that 
 the God of Heaven be reinstated on his throne from 
 whence we hurled him ; and since he is incapacitated 
 longer to controul us, I move that we proclaim him to 
 the world, and appoint him to his functions as a deity, 
 self-existent and omnipotent, called God ; to preside 
 over the souls of men, which we now will allow to 
 thought immortal ! * 
 
 Boissy (TAnglas . I propose that the heretofore 
 church, Notre Dame, be changed into a temple, and 
 that our worthy bishon be charged with the consecrat¬ 
 ing it to Reason and Truth, and that we assist at the 
 ceremony. 
 
 Talleyrand . With all my heart. 
 
 All . Bravo 1 bravo ! 
 
 Gobet. Citizens, let us seal this resolution with a 
 toast. Come, here goes, “ Religion is a mere im¬ 
 posture, a farce !” 
 
 AIL Amen ! bravo ! huzza ! 
 
 Enter Bishop Cic£. 
 
 Talleyrand. Excellent! [rising from his seat). I 
 beg leave to add to the foregoing, that <£ Virtue is a 
 bubble 1” Now, my w or thy'’colleagues, I must take 
 my leave. I am appointed to London, and depart 
 immediately. Adieu, adieu. [Exit Talleyrand. 
 
 Bishop Cice. I cordially agree to it, for v r e risk 
 nothing by it. 
 
 Legendre. Nothing. None but they, whose con¬ 
 sciences tell them their souls deserve to be lost, 
 will oppose our decrees. 
 
 Cdmbaceres. Fig for your souls ! What have souls 
 to do with our republic ? Come along ! * 
 
 * N. B. The reader must excuse our retaining the blasphemou9 
 language of these wretches j because, without it, their portrait* 
 would not be correct. 
 
 ngenial 
 p a god 
 
Rabaut St. Etienne. One moment, citizens, I here 
 wish to announce to you, that the new calendar is 
 completed and divided into decades. I propose it to 
 be sanctioned. 
 
 AIL By all means. It will transmit to posterity our 
 glorious epoch a ! 
 
 Cambaceres. I then propose, that those members 
 who voted against the death of Louis, be denounced 
 as royalists, and as deserving objects of immolation in 
 the new calendar. 
 
 Roberspierre . Bravo ! I move that Brissot, and his 
 crew of moderates, are the head of this class. 
 
 Coutkon. Ergo, death 1 But I first suggest the pro¬ 
 priety of giving the precedency to Antoinette and 
 family; and that she be immediately brought to trial, 
 and the first in the calendar. I move that the votes be 
 now taken! 
 
 Sieges. How stand your votes, citizens ? 
 
 All. Death I death ! without appeal 1 
 
 Cambaceres. Bravo ! bravo! that is doing busi¬ 
 ness ! 
 
 Coutkon. Aye! What does it signify losing our 
 time in discussion. 
 
 Cambaceres. Now let’s away. [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 Garden of the LuxemburgPalace. —Jose¬ 
 phine, Mrs. llecamier, and Mrs. 'Tallien. 
 
 Josephine. Well, my dear friends, we are now on 
 a perfect equality with the men. You married women 
 have an undoubted right over your husbands : you 
 are, by their own decrees, rendered free and inde¬ 
 pendent I For my part, I will avail myself of every 
 advantage that such liberty offers, and exclafm, u The 
 republic for ever !” 
 
 All. Amen ! Amen ! 
 
 Josephine (looking slily at Mrs. Tallien, and playing 
 with her fan). How stand your sentiments, my dear ? 
 
 Eh ! vou know I have no husband ! Mrs. 
 
 «■ 
 
1 \ 
 
 Mrs . Tallien « Oh ! for my part, I am on Fortune’s 
 ■wing. My husband and lover are on the best terms of 
 co-partnership in my favours, which I dispense according 
 to the inclination of my heart, and the tangibility of 
 my purse. \ 
 
 Josephine. But pray, have you no trifling personal 
 preference between your husband and your lover ? 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Ha ! ha ! ha! What a question ! Is 
 it not natural to prefer one good man to another, and 
 is not a plurality in lovers preferable to a single hus¬ 
 band ? 
 
 Mrs. Recamier. The distinction is right. My 
 grammar master taught me, that a husband is always 
 singular, but lovers are plural ; and I confess, that I 
 have a penchant for the plural number ! (to Josephinej 
 What say you, my dear : are you not of my opinion 
 from experience ? 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Surely she is. 
 
 4 / 
 
 Josephine (tossing her fan). I hope none will pre¬ 
 sume to dispute my experience in these matters. I 
 have not surely rioted during so many years in the 
 delicious luxuries of a court, not to be at the top of 
 the list. Besides, I am obliged to Barras for his kind 
 assistance in dispatching Beauharnoisto heaven. 
 
 Mrs , Tallien. That is an obligation I owe to none, 
 as yet! Heigbo ! 
 
 Mrs. Recamier . Well, my lovers accompany their 
 vows with weighty considerations. I yesterday re¬ 
 ceived two billets doux with ten thousand francs. 
 
 What say you to that ? 
 
 Josephine. Pooh! That is nothing now-a-days. 
 We may be said to be the goddesses of the golden 
 age ! The glorious revolution has opened new' sources 
 of riches and pleasures. Heretofore we poor women, 
 were constrained to certain etiquettes, which bridled 
 our natural propensities, and rendered us slaves to 
 decorum ; but now nature has her full scope of ac¬ 
 tion ! I was yesterday present at a republican marriage 
 of thirty-five couples ! 1 v r as quite envious, 
 
 Mrs, Tallien. You! Ha!, ha! ha! vrell said, in 
 
 truth! 
 
 f 
 
12 
 
 truth ! It on surely do not pretend to enter the lists 
 with us ! You ! you, an old wrinkle-eyed, weather* 
 beaten, broken-down, hag ! You ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! I 
 should not have thought of hearing you talk of en¬ 
 joyments, gratifications, and republican marriages ! 
 
 Mrs. Recamier. Hold ! Hush, my dear Tallien, be 
 more civil and moderate. 
 
 Mrs. Tallini (enraged). What ! I cannot bear to 
 hear it! What she thinks- 
 
 Mrs. Recamier. Hush ! hush ! We shall one day 
 be as old as she is. Besides, she deserves respect for 
 her experience : and who knows, but we may, some 
 time or other, stand in need of her advice in certain 
 cases 1 
 
 Josephine (very angrily). Indeed, such insinuations 
 are unwarrantable. What, tell me to my face that 
 my days of captivating are over ! Very pretty, truly ! 
 I Ratter myself, my charms are yet powerful enough 
 to stand a candidate for admiration, as well as the best 
 of you. And, to tell you, I look forward to more 
 distinguished honours than ever. (She walks to and 
 fro , with an air of importance). Besides, I have some 
 faith in my bonne aventure last week. 
 
 Enter Miss Perigord and Mrs. Roederer. 
 
 Mrs. Tallien (to Mrs. Recamier). See her import¬ 
 ance ! Her pride is a little touched L 
 
 Miss Perigord. For heaven’s sake, what is the 
 matter ? ( to Recamier) The women at war ? The world 
 will come to ft pretty pitch truly ! 
 
 Mrs. Recamier. Oh, my dear, these are only little 
 flirts and retorts, excited by envy and jealousy ! Come, 
 Josephine, let us hear the bonne dventure you mentioned 
 just now. 
 
 Josephine. It is so flattering, I cannot indeed be¬ 
 lieve it. I will, however, give you a card to visit me 
 when the happy time arrives. Oh, what ccstacy J 
 
 Airs. Roederer . Something very extraordinary, no 
 doubt, to give such delight by anticipation ! 
 
 Josephine . 
 
 / 
 
Josephine. Ay, it is so extraordinary, that I can 
 scarce believe it can come to pass. 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Give ns a card too, won’t yoa ? 
 You don’t bear malice, do you ? 
 
 Josephine . Yes, I will give you all cards of general 
 admission to my levees. 
 
 -Mrs. Recamier . Levees, do you say ? 
 
 Josephine . Yes, levees, my dear ; I am assured 
 that I shall be a princess, or something greater than a 
 princess of France, 
 
 Mrs. Recamier (astonished ). Greater than a prin¬ 
 cess, do you say ? Hear you that, Tallien ? 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Oh, yes ! I bear it. Ha, ha, ha ! 
 greater than a princess indeed, at her age ! 
 
 Mrs • Recamier [low to Mrs . Tallien). So, I hear 
 you are likely to rival her entirely in Barras’s heart. 
 You are a lucky woman. That’s no doubt the reason - 
 of those illnatured jars between you. 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. I only wish to be grateful. Jose¬ 
 phine says she is under obligations to Barras, for as¬ 
 sisting to send her husband to heaven. 1 have obliga¬ 
 tions to him too, for having been the chief personage 
 in the revolution of Thermidor , by which my husband 
 is stiled the saviour of France . 
 
 Mi's. Recamier. Yes, yes, I understand. 
 
 Mi's. Rosderer . It is plain enough ; 1 wish I could 
 boast of the like. 
 
 Mrs. Tallien . Tallien and Barras are good friends, 
 and I act as a magnet between them. Barras says, if 
 my first child be a girl, her name shall be Thermidore. 
 Don’t you envy me, you wicked creature you ? 
 
 Mrs. Recamier. Who, I ? No, indeed, not I, 
 believe me. What say you to Tallien being a magnet 
 to Barras’s heart? 
 
 Josephine. Pooh, pooh ! a man’s heart is the least 
 
 h x part 
 
I 
 
 74 
 
 * 
 
 part of him worth prizing : it fluctuates at the sight of 
 every new object. I am an advocate for universality. 
 The proverb says, “ It is good to have many strings to 
 44 one’s bow.” 
 
 \ Ik ' . Am 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Believe me, my dear friend, I shall 
 be disposed, at any time, to snrrender my post by an 
 honourable capitulation. 
 
 Mrs . Perigordm Well, come, I think that is very 
 fair. Shake hands now, and be friends, and let us go 
 to tea. 
 
 / _ 
 
 Both. With all my heart. (They embrace.) 
 
 [Exeunt: 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 A Boom in Tallierts House. Mrs. Tallien, Josephine, 
 Mrs. Recamier, and Miss Perigord. 
 
 Miss Perigord. Alas! they say there are great 
 troubles in the west. 
 
 Josephine. So they say ; but the ringleaders will 
 be made an example of. 
 
 Enter Barras and Tallien, at the lower end of the 
 
 stage . 
 
 Barras (to Tallien). Look yonder, Tallien. The 
 Creator gave but one Venus to the whole world, but 
 the Revolution has given us four. (Advancing to the 
 ladies.) Well, my charming angels of virtue! we are 
 come to bid you farewell. 
 
 All. Farewell! Where are 3mu going ? 
 
 Miss Perigord. Lord, how can you be so cruel to 
 leave us ? 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Cruel indeed! to leave us poor 
 dejected souls ! For how long ? 
 
 Tallien. My dear, at least a month or six weeks. 
 
 Josephine. Heigho ! it is very long, Barras. 
 
 Barras. My angel, it cannot be helped. I must 
 
 away 
 
75 
 
 l 
 
 away to the south, to Totilon; Tallien to the West- 
 Come, dearest creatures, the fraternal embrace. (They 
 nil embrace.) Farewell! 
 
 (Exeunt Barras and Tallien* 
 
 Mrs. Tallien (seems very dejected). Well, Jose¬ 
 phine. 
 
 Josephine . Why this dejection? Fla, ha, ha! I 
 see, rny dears, you are not accustomed to these little 
 trials of parting. There are beaux enough left to flirt 
 with. 
 
 i 
 
 Mrs. Eecamier . I approve vastly of the idea. For 
 my part, I have my net full enough. What say you, 
 Tallien ? 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Indeed, they will be very mistaken, 
 if they think I will mope myself to death for six 
 weeks ! No, I will have my accustomed parties. To¬ 
 morrow I will send cards round to every hero of the 
 council, to a ball and supper on Wednesday. You, 
 shall be all there. 
 
 All. On Wednesday, say you ? 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Yes, on Wednesday. 
 
 - . Mrs • Recdmier. We shall be with you. 
 
 Miss Perigord. I wish my Marmont could be 
 there, though my uncle will not hear of him. 
 
 Josephine. Never fear, my dear ; } r our eye is good, 
 and that’s a great matter with the men : if you are 
 disappointed of one, you will gain another. Come, 
 " Perigord. 
 
 [Exeunt alL 
 
 4 J 
 
 L 2 DRAMATIS 
 
 f 
 
 / 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 SECOND ACT. 
 
 > ■ ' v 
 
 Buonaparte, the Caitiff of Corsica . 
 
 Dugomier, General Commander . 
 
 Barras and Freron, Deputies of the Nation. 
 
 Peter, a poor hair-dresser. 
 
 Jacob, a Tailor. 
 
 Rosetta, a young Girl, Daughter to Petals friend and 
 benefactor. 
 
 Beffroy, a Deputy of the Nation , who succeeds Barras 
 and Freron. 
 
 Carnot, Cambaceres, Sieyes, Barras, 
 
 Merl i n, Roederer ( a journalist) , Car¬ 
 rier, Fouche, Tailien, Reubel, Bar- 
 rere, Le Brun, Couthon, Sebastiani, 
 
 Billaud de Yarennes, 
 
 Conspirators from the States of Italy . 
 
 Josephine, Mrs. Recamier, Mrs. Tailien, Juliet Peri* 
 
 gord, Mrs. Roederer. 
 
 A Crowd of Men and Women. 
 
 ) Members 
 f of the 
 f I rench 
 \ Government 
 
 l 
 
ACT II. 
 
 Scene 1 . Camp before Toulon *—-Gfcneral Dugomicr’s 
 
 tent a little in front . 
 
 Enter Buonaparte (Caitiff'of Corsica ) 9 with his sabre 
 
 lender his arm. 
 
 Buonaparte. Nobody here. (Looks about , when, 
 after a pause :J Oh! had I but remained at Paris,, I 
 might have had as good a chance as the best of them;* 
 or had that nominal king, Elliot, accepted my service* 
 I should at least have had a breakfast. My case is now 
 desperate. (Throws his sabre on the table.) There? 
 henceforth thou shalt be brandished in the cause of 
 liberty and equality, in the ranks of the outlawed 
 banditti. Those heroes, who have trampled monarchy 
 and all the sacred oaths of allegiance under foot, are 
 worthy of thee 1 Indeed, I look upon the obligation 
 of oaths as a mere bugbear, invented as a formality to 
 keep fools in subjection. Down with royalty f say I. 
 (After a pause.) Salicetti said I should be advanced. 
 Well, then, I am in the way of honour. Ah ! when I 
 think of ten years ago. (In deep reflection.) No; 
 avaunt, avaunt, ye delusive recollections of my youth! 
 your very shades will drive me to distraction. (Walks 
 to and fro, looking at his sword.) Yes, it must, it 
 shall be so ! Yes, I will wade through all the mire of 
 -human vice. I will glut my soul with the musical 
 groans of suffering innocence. (A pause.) Yes, I 
 will be the tool, the slave of baseness, and will cringe 
 obsequiously to my superiors, till I can render them 
 dependent on me. Yes, Buonaparte, thou must be 
 
the parasite, till thou eanst draw them into thy net* 
 Bravo ! Who will then be the dupes ? Now is the 
 time. Game is plenty. 
 
 Enter Bugomier and txoo Aids-de-Camp. 
 
 Buonaparte (advances to salute the General). Are 
 you, citizen General Dugomier, commander in chief 
 of the banditti ? 
 
 Dugomier . What is your business, citizen ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Citizen General, I am come, by ap¬ 
 pointment, to offer my service in your corps. I have 
 here a letter for Deputy Barras, from General SalU 
 cetti. 
 
 Dugomier. Ah, here he comes ! 
 
 Enter Barras. 
 
 Barr as. Good evening, General (eying Buona¬ 
 parte). Well, are the dispositions made? for by 
 Jove I expect we shall have a hard set to. 
 
 Dugomier. Never fear ! the posts are arranged. 
 
 Barras (low to Dugomier). Who have you here ? 
 (Loud.) A volunteer, no doubt, eh? 
 
 Dugomier. Yes: he tells me he has a letter for 
 you, from Salicetti. (Turning to Buonaparte.) Is it 
 not so ? 
 
 Buonaparte (boxes lowly , and hands the letter to Bar¬ 
 ras). Your most humble subject. 
 
 Barras (reads it). Oh, oh ! I recollect Salicetti 
 did, some time ago, speak to me of a young Corsican, 
 patronized by Marboeuf. (To Buonaparte.) You are 
 a lieutenant, eh? (To Dugomier.) It seems, that, 
 after his friend’s death, this young fellow left the 
 troops of the line, to join the National Guards under 
 Paoli, in Corsica, with the rank of captain. (Buona¬ 
 parte bows.) 
 
 Dugomier. Bravo ! citizen. 
 
 Barras (close to Dugomier’s ear). You must know, 
 Marboeuf protected the youth out of pure love for 
 
 . the 
 
I 
 
 T9 
 
 / 
 
 the mother, and Salicetti is grateful for the same cause* 
 He tells me Lsetitia is a fine woman. 
 
 Dugomier . Well, citizen, gratitude is a noble vir¬ 
 tue. It is the harbinger of honour. (To Buonaparte.) 
 Citizen, your recommendation is good. 1 will assign 
 
 7 * O O 
 
 you a post, and advance you to a brigade. 
 
 Buonaparte [bowing). My grateful heart returns 
 you thanks, my General. 
 
 Dugomier, What is your name and age ? 
 
 Buonaparte. My name is Buonaparte ; my age is 
 twenty and upwards. 
 
 Barr as. Buonaparte ! that is ominous. Well, ci¬ 
 tizen, I wish to know your .principles concerning our 
 revolution, 
 
 / 
 
 Buonaparte . My opinion, citizen, is, that it is the - 
 summum bonum of human glory, 
 
 Barras. By what means do you think it must be 
 consolidated ? 
 
 Buonaparte. By one plain, simple recipe. Rigour 
 and blood will consolidate it on a firm basis. Be bold 
 and bloody ! bid defiance to the feelings of humanity, 
 the greatest enemies to true republican virtue, to 
 equality and liberty ! 
 
 Barras . Bravo, bravo ! egad, you deserve a 
 
 brigade. 
 
 Dugomier (softly to Barras ). He seems a shrewd, 
 clever fellow. ( Loud to the Caitiff). Citizen, I should 
 like to hear a little of thy history over a glass of wine. 
 (Rings.) I think it must he interesting. 
 
 Enter Servants. 
 
 Bring half a dozen bottles of oeil-de-perdrix, and 
 glasses, in the next tent. [ Exeunt Servants.] 1 know 
 izot what can be the reason the report is so late. 
 
 [Exeunt all. 
 
 { 
 
 SCENE 
 
so 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 The foregoing at table.—Enter Freron and several 
 
 Officers. 
 
 Barrels* Citizens, I introduce to your friendship a 
 volunteer worthy of your acquaintance. lie spurned 
 at royal favour and patronage, and declared himself a 
 member of the banditti, 
 
 AIL We greet him welcome. 
 
 Dvgomier . Come, sit down, citizens; we will 
 drink his. health in a bumper. It is his footing, and 
 he will cheer it with his history. (To Buonaparte.) 
 Come, citizen, begin. Silence l 
 
 Buonaparte . Most worthy general! in obedience to 
 your order, and to shew you that I am no common 
 scoundrel, I will give you a just and true account of 
 myself, even, if you please, before I came into this 
 evil world. 
 
 • AIL Let os have it • let us have it! 
 
 Buonaparte . My honoured chiefs ! you must know, 
 then, that I am of curious composition, being the 
 hopeful son of three fathers ; for I^rtiiia, my lovely 
 mother, a most chaste, devout virgin, of the order of 
 Santa Maria, had three husbands. Her lawfully mar- 
 ried husband was a petty fogging lawyer; her husband 
 of convenience, or cieisbeo, was a son of Mars; the 
 third was her confessional husband, being the reverend 
 curate of Ajaccio. Hence, you see, I am of noble 
 blood. From the first, I inherit mean cunning and 
 prevarication ; from the second, a knowledge of tactics 
 and treachery ; from the third, refined, Jesuitical prin¬ 
 ciples ; all which united, compose, I presume, the ne 
 plus ultra qualifications for your fraternity. 
 
 AIL Bravo, bravo! [All drink.) Success; may 
 thy virtues shine forth as the unclouded sun. 
 
 Burras . Go on, citizen ; goon. 
 
 Buonaparte. My father; Laetitia’s married husband, 
 
 mind 
 
mind ye, being highly delighted with my appearance, 
 watched over me with great expectation. He used 
 often to say, that I should one day become the head 
 of ail the great luminaries of the holy catholic church, 
 and that the holy chair would bow down before 
 me. My education was, in consequence, marked 
 out for the church. Being, however, arrived at 
 about my fifteenth year, my father, observing some 
 sparks of military fire in my eyes, insisted on my 
 being turned over from the church to the royal 
 army. This, however, I abandoned at his death, and 
 joined your honourable corps, of which I hope to prove 
 myself worthy. Besides, General, 1 am a Corsican ! I 
 
 am a Corsican ! 
 
 « 
 
 - All. Thou art a fine fellow. Come, here’s to thee ! 
 
 ( They all drink , and shake hands.) 
 
 Freron . But, citizen, thou hast not said in how 
 many Bridewells thou hast studied, nor on board how 
 many hulks thou hast been, to complete thy educa¬ 
 tion. 
 
 . Buonaparte. Ha, ha, ha ! (putting his 1 anis against 
 his sides). Never mind that. Heaven as never 
 yet frowned openly upon me. {They laugh.) Ah ! 
 you may laugh and welcome, citizens; you will find 
 lam an apt scholar. 
 
 Dugomier. It is true : to judge by thy phiz, we 
 must believe nature has reflected a true image of 
 thy soul on the exterior of thy body ; for, if one 
 were to meet thee in a crowd, it would be natural 
 to watch one’s pockets. With thy talents, rest as¬ 
 sured of advancement. 
 
 Freron. But, citizen, it is the custom for all volun¬ 
 teers, on entering the service, to be sworn before us^ 
 the deputies of the republic. 
 
 Buonaparte. Swear; that I will, with all my heart 
 and soul: I delight in such sacred engagements dearly. 
 Oh, yes, I love swearing. 
 
 M 
 
 Freron 
 
Fi 'eron (holding the book)* 
 
 Burras ( administers the oath). Say after me — <c I 
 cc swear eternal fidelity to the constitution of the year 
 three. I swear subordination and allegiance to all 
 <e the laws of that constitution, and fidelity to the re- 
 “ public and to the corps of banditti. I swear hatred 
 “ and perdition to all and every class of royalty and 
 <c royalists, be they where they may. Amen.” 
 
 Freron . Kiss the book; come, kiss the book. 
 
 Buonaparte ( kisses the book). Aye, and I will, if 
 yon please, kiss your feet, I love you so much. 
 
 Barras. Here, kiss the bock again. Heyday! 
 thou tremblest. What’s the matter r 
 
 Buonaparte. Oaths are such curious things, and I 
 am not mucn accustomed to swear ; at least, not se¬ 
 riously. 
 
 */ 
 
 Barras . Oh 1 swearing is nothing, when thou art 
 used to it. 
 
 Ditgomier (talcing Buonaparte by the right hand)\ 
 Thou art now ouC of us. 
 
 Barras. Ay, we will chastise the human race l 
 Mankind is a degenerate rabble ; royalty a monster. 
 (Gives the toast.) u Universal destruction to it P* 
 (They all drink). Huzza, huzza ! Amen, amen ! 
 
 Dugcmitr. Hark! I hear the signal for the attack. 
 Every one to his post. Buonaparte, you have a bri¬ 
 gade to go against Fort Mnlgrave. Success. Farewell. 
 
 \ExeunU 
 
 * 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 A Street. — Thundering of cannon is heard on all sides, 
 and horrid shrieks of the people , who are running 
 distracted to avoid the confusion , wringing their hands 
 m anguish: amongst them Jacob a tailor , and Peter 
 a hair-dresser . 
 
 Peter . 
 
83 
 
 Peter. Plague take the revolution ! say L I have 
 scarcely got bread to eat these three years ^ and now 
 am frightened out of my wits. Oh Lord ! what blood 
 and slaughter ! Many of my best friends are this day 
 falling a sacrifice to their loyalty. God knows where 
 I must fly. 
 
 Jacob . Oh! Peter, you are as well off as we poo 
 tailors. Where we, hitherto, made three coats at the 
 turn of a fashion, every two or three months, we 
 don’t now make one in a twelvemonth, without any 
 fashion at all. Ah ! we are all starving for want of 
 cabbage and employ. 
 
 Peter. Ah, Jacob, every thing goes by extremes. 
 The people used to wear long queues, reaching down 
 to their hams, which to pierce through them took one 
 almost two hours. It was certainly a hard-earned 
 three-pence, but then we were respected and paid. 
 Now, in order to make their heads light, these queues 
 are all cropt close to the nape of the neck ; and God 
 knows, we poor devils can’t get one friz. (If ith a 
 motion with his hand*) And then-— 
 
 * 
 
 Enter Rosetta, running. 
 
 Rosetta. Oh, Peter, Peter 1 do save my poor fa* 
 ther ; save him! He is running distracted about, and 
 does not know where to hide hitfiself. 
 
 Peter . Who ? say you ; your father? My dear 
 Miss Rosetta, your father is safe on board the Eng¬ 
 lish fleet. 
 
 Rosetta. No, no 1 he is in the street now. O 
 dear; O dear! 1 ' . 
 
 Peter. No, no ; I tell you he is on board one of the 
 English ships. I saw him in danger, and dragged him 
 to the quay, put him in a boat with several others, 
 and I saw them all taken on board: so be calm and 
 easy, Miss. Where is your mother ? 
 
 Rosetta . She fell into hysterics, and was carried off, 
 God knows where, or by whom. 
 
 
 Peter. 
 
24 
 
 . .* ' , 
 
 Peter. Well, don’t be alarmed; I’ll take care of 
 you, Miss Rosetta, and of your mother too, never 
 fear. 
 
 Rosetta (quick). Will you, Peter? Will Peter 
 find my poor mother, and protect us both ? 
 
 Peter . Ay, sure will I; at the risk of twenty lives 
 I would protect Miss Rosetta and her mother. Gratis 
 tude binds me to do so. (Weeps.) 
 
 Rosetta. O dear, poor Peter ! Don’t cry ! don’t 
 cry !* (Takes his hand.) 
 
 Peter. Oh, Miss, if your good father had not sup¬ 
 ported me these three years past, I must have died for 
 want. Ah, how happy shall I be to serve you ! Hark’ 
 the horrid shrieks ! Royalty must at last triumph. 
 
 Rosetta. Well, don’t be dejected, Peter. (Sings.) 
 
 Let’s flee from this land of oppression and fright. 
 
 And hie to where Liberty gladdens the sight; 
 
 .Where the rose and the eglantine perfume the gale ; 
 
 Where the oak and the elm give a grace to the vale. 
 
 Come, let’s away, 
 
 , W’hile yet it is day. 
 
 There Nature’s soft smiles will forbid these sad cries j 
 In England no clouds of distress dim the skies ; 
 
 There lovers arc warm’d with a mutual flame ; 
 
 O, help my poor mother, on me fall the blame. 
 
 My Peter’s my love ; 
 
 Your comfort I’ll prove. 
 
 Eh, Peter, shall I? Speak, Peter. 
 
 Peter. Can Miss Rosetta doubt it ? Yes, I will ewi 
 3vood, chop straw, dig ; I will be a packhorse in any 
 v£ountry ; ay, I will beg ; nay, I will do any thing to*- 
 support your mother, and merit Rosetta’s love. Adieu, 
 Jacob,; adieu 1 
 
 [Exit Jacob on one side , and Peter and Rosetta, arm trt 
 
 arm , on the other. 
 
 SCENE' 
 
85 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 Hotel de Ville —Barras and Freron sitting at a table , 
 
 writing.—Enter General Dugomier and two Aides- 
 
 cl e-Camp. 
 
 Dugomier. How are yon, citizens? 
 
 Barras and Freron. How are you, citizen Gene¬ 
 ral ? The day is ours, then ; the enemy is off. 
 
 Dugomier. Off, indeed. It has been hard fought; 
 much blood. I am almost knocked up with running 
 continually from one post to another. 
 
 Freron . Never mind ; the more fatigue the more 
 glory. Let us welcome it with a glass of your ceil de 
 perdrix, General: it will cheer up our spirits. 
 
 Barras. Ay, with all my heart. [Fills the glasses.} 
 
 All [drink)* Long live the republic ! Huzza! 
 
 Dugomier. Bhrr ! Do you know, citizens, I began 
 to think those daring English would rally, when I saw 
 one of their ships bearing down with' such assur¬ 
 ance as defied all our batteries ; she did not care 
 a fig for our guns pouring upon her. As soon, how¬ 
 ever, as we got possession of Fort Mulgrave, she set 
 fire to four of our ships, and carried off three others 
 with her, one of which was le Commerce de Marseilles „• 
 The captain, whoever he be, is an intrepid fellow. 
 
 Barras. We must make an example of the treach¬ 
 erous Toulonese, for having surrendered the place to 
 the English. A decimation of them shall be made to 
 be shot. 
 
 Freron. Decimation ! They deserve to be exter- 
 min ate d : they are all guilty. 
 
 Dugomier. Indiscriminate punishment is too severe ; 
 nay, unjust. Many are certainly innocent; and the 
 most guilty have no doubt escaped on board the ene* 
 jny’s jfieeL 
 
 Barras. 
 
Barras. No palliation can be admitted. The crimes 
 ef the community must fall equally on every indivi¬ 
 dual. I think we may as well appoint Buonaparte to 
 put it in execution. 
 
 Freron. He has behaved devilish well in his post to¬ 
 day. (To one of the Aides-de-Camp.) Go, order 
 Buonaparte into our presence. 
 
 Dugomier. But, citizens, surely you will make a 
 distinction. Age and innocence should be exempt. 
 
 Barras . No ! none, none 1 
 
 Enter Buonaparte. 
 
 Buonaparte . Most worthy citizens, General, in 
 obedience to order, I come to felicitate you on the 
 glorious success of the day. 
 
 Ft 'eron . Citizen, you are happy- in having contri¬ 
 buted thereto. 
 
 Barras . Yes, it is an acknowledgment for your 
 services, and a proof of our confidence, that we now 
 appoint you to indict punishment on the dastardly 
 * Toulonese, for having admitted the English to the 
 city. 
 
 Buonaparte • Yours, most cordially, worthy chiefs. 
 
 Barras. Mind, no reprieve, no respite is to be 
 granted on any account. A tenth are doomed to die 
 in what manner you think best. 
 
 Buonaparte . Your orders shall be scrupulously exe¬ 
 cuted, without loss of time. 
 
 Freron. You may depend on the gratitude of the 
 nation. (Taking Buonaparte's hand.) Adieu. I and 
 my colleague depart immediately for the great city. 
 Adieu. [ Exit Buonaparte* 
 
 Barras (to Dugomier) . Well, citizen General, we 
 must leave you. Beffroy is coming here to assist you. 
 We must away ; that cursed spirit of royalty is again 
 rearing its deformed head in the capital. Off it must 
 be struck. Adieu, adieu; let us hear from you as 
 often as possible. [Exeimt. 
 
 SCENE 
 
87 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Buonaparte (alone in his room , with his arms folded, 
 in deep thought and meditation , walks about with wile 
 strides: at Last he stops suddenly ). Now, Napoleon ! 
 No ; never, never will the death of a few human 
 beings raise a scruple in my mind. To recoil at such 
 a tritie would he a disgrace. No, Napoleon, courage; 
 this will be'the’specimen of thy talents ; shew thyself a 
 worthy member of the corps. A decimation ! that is 
 nothing. Royalist rascals are too abundant: I’ll quickly 
 away with them. [Exit. 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 Apartment in the Town Hall. 
 
 Dugomier (sitting at a table , in deep meditation , 
 reading a report brought in). No, I cannot approve of 
 this indiscriminate punishment. I will stop it. ( Rings .) 
 
 Enter a Servant. 
 
 s 
 
 Go, desire Ensign Durel to come here. 
 
 [Exit Servant. 
 
 It is a shocking affair : cruel, unjust I 
 
 Enter Durel. 
 
 Durel, do you haste to Buonaparte, with my orders to 
 postpone the execution till he hears from me again. 
 
 Durel. Postpone, General ! alas, it is too late. 
 The Brigadier put the judgment in immediate execu. 
 tion. Half the town is already weltering in blood. 
 
 Dugomier. Oh, why did I demur ? 
 
 Enter several Officers and a Crowd of People, wring - 
 ing their hands , and imploring mercy. 
 
 AIL 
 
88 
 
 All . Oh, citizen General, for God’s sake arrest the 
 assassin arm ! Stop the rage of the horrid massacre ? 
 (Kneeling.) Behold in the streets the heaps of mangled 
 Ik dies, weltering in their blood : from t' : e aged of 
 three-core to the infant in arms ; all, ail are indiscri¬ 
 minately the victims of the Caitiff of Corsica. The 
 horror, the* carnage, is beyond the reach of human 
 conception. The monster glor es in the torture of the 
 unfortunate creatures as they implore for mercy. 
 
 T)ugamier (aside). My heart bleeds. (To the peo¬ 
 ple*) What can I dof citizens ? The law must be 
 fulfilled. 
 
 A 
 
 All. Pray, General, supercede the orders ; let not 
 that monster any longer remain at his post. 
 
 An Officer (advances). Citizen General, I could no 
 longer witness, much less be an accomplice in, such 
 barbarity. The people have told you the truth ; the 
 sight is most horrid Many among the fallen were 
 only grievously wounded, and Buonaparte wishing to 
 ascertain those not yet dead, caused it to he proclaimed, 
 by sound of trumpet, three times, Pardon, pardon, 
 pardon ! rise ! At this heavenly sound, such as were 
 not lifeless, and were able, did raise their fallen heads ; 
 when, lo! to the eternal disgrace of a bloody savage, 
 the murderer, instead of the reprieve he promised, 
 commanded the troops to fire. Volley after volley 
 rolled, till all were finally plunged in everlasting sleep. 
 Oh, my General, if such cruelty, such barbarity, be 
 the characteristic of Republicans, here I resign my 
 sword and commission. My hands are }*et pure, 
 
 (throwing his swoi d on the table ). 
 
 Dugomier. Your recital too much, too much af- 
 fects me : y soul shudders at the enormity. As a 
 soldier, I cannot suffer such unheard of cruelty where 
 I command: mv honour shall not be tainted. I be¬ 
 seech you, citizen ; resume your commission ; you do 
 it honour. J advance you to his post. Go ; console 
 and soothe the sufferings of these distracted, poor 
 people. Suspend the measures. 
 
 Enter 
 
89 
 
 Enter Beffrov. 
 
 y 
 
 Beffroy (quite out of breath ). Suspend the mea¬ 
 sures, General ? suspend the wretch as high as Stras- 
 burg steeple, say I. When you set a beggar on horse¬ 
 back, he will always ride to the devil. I'll this minute 
 order his arrest, and shut him up at Nizza. 
 
 Dugomier (to the people). Citizens, your complaints 
 shali be redressed ; the monster shall no longer remain 
 among you. My heart is sensibly touched at your 
 sufferings ; I am happy, however, he did not receive 
 his commission from me. I shall, no doubt, be cen¬ 
 sured tor his suspension : never mind, for that liberty 
 which I adore, and defend, shall not be defiled thus 
 criminally. (Pointing to the Officer.) There, citi - 
 zens, confer with this Officer ; he deserves your con¬ 
 fidence. 
 
 AIL God bless you, General ! \ Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 Committee Room tn 3 3 aris. —Enter Sieyes, Bar- 
 rere, Merlin, Reubel, Cambaceres, Fouche, and 
 Collot d’Herbois. 
 
 Sieyes. I say the arrestation must be general , the. 
 monster has many heads, ruminating in every part of 
 the republic. Brissot and his set were executed for 
 adopting the name of Moderates, in order to introduce 
 royalty, or federacy. The more noble system of terror 
 sent them todeath, as traitors to the nation. Robespierre 
 then put himself at the head of the Mountain, and 
 most laudably exerted himself for the good of the pub¬ 
 lic; but it is now plain, he wished the overthrow of 
 the Brissotines only to be more at liberty to adept 
 measures which might oust us, and render himself role 
 dictator. 
 
 Collot (VHerbois. Citizens, we have suffered too 
 long under the controul of a dictatorship : I move, 
 then, that Robespierre is a horrid tyrant; and that lie, 
 
 n hi* 
 
his brother, and accomplices, Couthon, Honriot, &c. 
 &c. &c. be immediately arrested, and executed. 
 
 Barrere. It shall be done. Barras and Freron are 
 won by some of them. Those bloodhounds must 
 now be rewarded by a passport to the other world, after 
 the hundred and thirty-two Moderates. 
 
 Fouche . By all means. There will still be rascals 
 enow left to thwart our virtuous designs. 
 
 Enter Billaud deVarennes. 
 
 Billaud. Citizens, if we catinot devise some means 
 of filling our coffers, we must give over business. 
 What is to be done ? Quite out of cash, by Jove. 
 
 Cambaceres. What is to be done! Bourdeaux has 
 not yet been honoured with a claim from the nation : 
 let every merchant of property be arrested there in- 
 stantty. Hunger, they say, will break through stone 
 walls; want and poverty will stifle all scruples of con¬ 
 science. 
 
 Enter Manuel and Carnot. 
 
 Sieyes. Ah ! citizen, how came you to be so 
 late ? 
 
 Carnot. I have been at the arrestation of our old 
 friends : they are very obstinate : they will not an¬ 
 swer interrogatories; not a word. 
 
 Sieyes . Interrogatories! Were I in the tribunal, 
 no interrogatories should be made them. 
 
 Manuel . Dispatch ! dispatch ! is the way to do 
 business. 
 
 Carnot. For my part, I can hardly think them 
 guilty ; but to be sure the tribunal must be respected. 
 
 Barrere. Ay, and they shall die for contempt of 
 court. But should we not make an exception in fa¬ 
 vour of our friend Bishop Gobet ? 
 
 Merlin. Wh v for him ? It is true, be first pro¬ 
 nounced that religion was an imposture; but we all 
 knew that long before. Eh, Sieyes ! 
 
 Sieves. 
 
4 
 
 91 
 
 S/eyes. Yes, yes, if that is all lie has done for the 
 good of the republic, away with him, along with the 
 rest! 
 
 Cambaccres. 1 should like to know how many royal 
 rascals have been sent out of the world since the tri¬ 
 bunal has been established. 
 
 Collot cTHerbois. I can answer for Lyons only : men, 
 women, and children, in three days, there were thirty- 
 four thousand arid twenty-four . 
 
 Barr ere. Since 1 have been a member of the tribu¬ 
 nal (pulls a paper from his pocket ) the lists are in¬ 
 creased to: at Toulon and Marseilles, 12,000; Lyons, 
 40 , 000 ; Nantes, 27,000 ; Bourdeaux, 15,000 ; Arras, 
 7 , 000 ; in the capital, 150 , 540 ; in other parts of the 
 republic, 209 , 070 . Of these victims to justice two 
 hundred and fifty thousand were women, fifty thou¬ 
 sand children, and twenty-four thousand priests. As 
 to those in La Vendee and the west, besides those of 
 Nantes, our friends Fouehe, Taliien, and Carrier, can 
 best inform you ; but I think'the number is about 
 three hundred thousand. 
 
 Fouehe. O lord, I keep no account of the num¬ 
 ber. {To Taliien.) Did you, citizen? All that I 
 know is, that for about two months we had daily a 
 most joyful sight of from fifty , to sixty barges, with 
 about a hundred men, women, and children in each, 
 sinking in the middle of the Loire, under our eyes. It 
 was most glorious ! Carrier can tell more particulars ; 
 for he received ten thousand franks for excluding ten 
 pregnant women. 
 
 Rcubel. Were they tried by the tribunal ? 
 
 Cambaccres. Try them, citizen 1 you surprise me : 
 would you have us to lose time in such a farce? No, 
 no ; send them to death as fast as possible, there to 
 be tried, and plead for mercy ; none are they here enti¬ 
 tled to. Upon the whole, I find the number very 
 small. There must have been want of vigilance 
 somewhere. 
 
 Taliien . It must have been at home then, citizen, 
 not with us, 
 
 N 2 
 
 Enter 
 
Enter Le Brun. 
 
 Le Brim. Citizens, great news ! Be not dejected ; 
 they have fought well ( holding a paper in his hand). 
 Our fleet has suffered a terrible defeat; but never 
 mind, we will make the people believe it is a victory. 
 
 Enter Rcedcrer. 
 
 Barr ere. Burn the fleet! so as we can but rid 
 ourselves of our enemies on land, say I. 
 
 Roederer. That is now done ; I come this moment 
 from the execution of our domestic tyrants. 
 
 Reubel. I rejoice at it, on the grounds of their in¬ 
 tending to usurp all the authority from us: but for the 
 other crimes of which Robespierre is accused, I de¬ 
 clare that I think he has always been too humane. 
 
 [.Exeunt all . 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 ( r . 
 
 Bare as’ s Hotel.-- Enter Buonaparte, covered 
 
 with dust , being just arrived from his journey from 
 
 the south. 
 
 Buonaparte (to a servant). Is citizen Barras within ? 
 
 Servant. Your name, citizen ? 
 
 i 
 
 Buonaparte. Mv name—Buonaparte of Corsica. 
 
 Servant (looking all astonished) . Buonaparte, the 
 Caitiff of Corsica ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Don’t stand chattering here, but make 
 haste and announce me. 
 
 Servant. Ah, ah ! Buonaparte, Buonaparte is come ! 
 
 [ Exit Servant. 
 
 Buonaparte (alone , looking about the room) • Well, 
 here am I at length arrived, after a dreadful long march, 
 without a shilling to bless me ! A poor forlorn devil ! 
 abandoned to fortune's whim 5 to the caprice of cir¬ 
 cumstances. 
 
/ 
 
 93 
 
 eumstances. Ah ! but for the generosity of Guerin at 
 Marseilles, I must have starved long ag-o. It is dreadfully 
 hard ! after having rendered such services to the re- 
 public at Toulon, that—( throwing himself into a chair). 
 
 • . i 
 
 Enter Barr as, Reubel, and Carnot, unobserved, 
 
 Barras. Hist! hist 1 he seems to be moralizing on 
 
 fortune’s favours. 
 
 Buonaparte (still thinking himself alone) . Ay, the 
 man w*so first exclaimed, life is a drama and men the 
 actors, knew the world well.' Oh, what have I not 
 experienced in my short life ! [Turning his head, he 
 discovers Barr as: he rises,) Citizen, I am yours most 
 cordially. 
 
 Barr as. I greet thee welcome, citizen. [To Car¬ 
 not and Reubel.) This is citizen Buonaparte, the 
 Caitiff of Corsica. 
 
 Carnot. I have heard of him. [To Buonaparte.) 
 But why this moralizing, citizen, on the vicissitudes of 
 fortune ; mutation is the spring of life. Behold the 
 butterfly, in all its variegated beauty, was it not a 
 simple grub ? How many dangers does it not pass by! 
 exposed to be trodden under foot; to be pecked by 
 birds, &c. before it arrives at its splendor; and when 
 at its highest perfection, how every child pursues and 
 worries it! 
 
 Beubel. Ay, citizen, we at the head of govern¬ 
 ment are a iust emolem in the simile. To arrive at our 
 station we run great dangers ; and when on the pin¬ 
 nacle of power, we are tormented, envied, distrusted, 
 hated, and liable to be insulted by every hair-brained 
 puppy, and shot with air-guns, every moment; and, 
 finally, to become the victims of ill-designing, ambi¬ 
 tious rebels. 
 
 Barras (to Carnot). The Caitiff has been arrested 
 as a Terrorist at Nice. [To Buonaparte.) How did 
 you effect your escape ? 
 
 Buonaparte. I boldly accused my accusers ; and by 
 liberally bribing my keepers with promises, which I 
 
 never 
 
never meant, to fulfil, I got clear. Since the farce at 
 Toulon, that cursed jade Fortune has buffeted tne 
 about a little roughly, as if Heaven was displeased with 
 my performances. However, citizen, your supreme 
 patronage is a sufficient compensation for Heaven’s 
 anger. 
 
 JReubd. Ah ! never mind, either the smiles or 
 frowns of heaven, citizen! We will protect you. 
 
 Enter an O fficer of the National Guards. 
 
 Officer. Citizen Directors, and Commanders! The 
 Fauxbourg St. Antoine is in open insurrection ! all in 
 arms ! swearing vengeance and destruction to the go¬ 
 vernment ! Down with the jacobins, &c. &c. is the 
 cry! . ■ k' . - ,v - 
 
 Barras. Order the sections instantly to their posts. 
 (To Buonaparte.) By Jove, citizen, you are come very 
 apropos ! you will he a useful man ! I charge you with 
 the artillery, and expect the same attention and order 
 as you evinced at Toulon ! 
 
 Buonaparte . All subservient to your command, my 
 chief. [Exeunt alL 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 Barras’ Hotel. — Enter Josephine and Mrs. Tallies, 
 quite alarmed at • the roaring of cannon , the shrieks 
 if the wounded , and at the general cry of Down with 
 the tyrants, frc.-Kc. 
 
 V 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Where ! where shall we run ? Hor¬ 
 ror !—Hark ! oh dreadful 1 See ! see the blood in the 
 streets ! oh Heaven preserve us ! 
 
 Josephine. Alas ! it is horrible ; however, don’t let 
 us be dejected ; wait the consequences. Who knows, 
 my friend ! How we should he surprised if out of all 
 this blood we see diadems and crowns spring up ! 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Ah ! it is fine talking ; oh, I but too 
 well remember Bourdeaux. Alas! there I lost a sin¬ 
 cere 
 
95 
 
 cere lover. Oh! I rave when his image comes across 
 my mind : I am distracted ! 
 
 Josephine. Take comfort, my dear ; you know I 
 lost poor Beauharnois, but I soon got the better of it 1 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. Indeed, I think we "have both been 
 gainers by our losses. Hark ! the shrieks are dread¬ 
 ful. 
 
 Josephine. The firing slackens, and I hope our 
 friends will escape ; I don’t like to mourn. Indeed, it 
 was not the loss of a husband that I lamented before. 
 I carried it no further than fashion and common cus¬ 
 tom required, to set a value on a chaste widowhood ! 
 But, do you know, sometimes methinks his spirit 
 haunts mv imagination, when I take his murderer, my 
 dear Barras, to my arms— 
 
 Mrs. Tallien (looking through the window, sees Bar¬ 
 ras galloping into the courts as if pursued , shrieks out). 
 Oh Barras ! Barras ! (She faints , and Josephine catches 
 her in her arms.) 
 
 Josephine . What! what is the matter, poor soul ; 
 Barras! Why 1 where is Barras ? ( sets heron a sop ha 
 and rings the bell,—enter servants) Bring some harts¬ 
 horn and water ; quick, quick. 
 
 Enter Barras, covered with sweat, flies to Josephine 
 
 with open arms. 
 
 Barras . The clay is ours, my angel of life. It 
 secures thy charms longer to me, and thy Barras to 
 thee (embraces her , but 9 observing Tallien, starts). 
 All ! what is the matter {Mrs. Tallien recovering a lit¬ 
 tle), why this sorrow, my angel Thermidore ? Come, 
 be both of you joyful ! It is as glorious a day as the 
 most brilliant of the revolution. Buonaparte is dis¬ 
 patching the mob, as they stand arranged against the 
 w.Jis of St. Ruck by thousands! Come, ray angels, 
 come let us have a cup of tea, I expect Sieyes here 
 presently, I am fatigued. Hark ! What noise is 
 that ? 
 
 Enter 
 
96 
 
 Enter a Croud of People, bearing ci Female mortally 
 wounded with a dagger , which still sticks in her side. 
 
 Female. Where is Barras ? Oh ! where ks he ? 
 
 Bar ras. Where is who ? What do all these people 
 want here ? 
 
 Female. Oh Barras ! Barras! Don’t you know 
 me ? What, have you forgot Theresa ? My murderers 
 say it was by your order this dagger was plunged in my 
 heart! . 
 
 Josephine. You strumpet, how dare you ? (to the 
 people) Away with her hence. 
 
 Barras. I know her not. Away with her to Sieves 
 for his benediction ; she was his mistress, not mine. 
 I only visited her occasionally. 
 
 Female. Wretch! monster! Not know Theresa? 
 You kneiv me before you got that old green-eyed hag 
 Josephine there. 
 
 Barras • Away with her, she is mad. Away ! 
 away ! 1 [Exeunt the People. 
 
 Enter Mrs. Recamier and Miss Perigord. 
 
 Barras . You are come in the nick of time. My 
 charming Recamier, you will give us the Marseillois 
 mn on the piano for the glory of the day ! It will 
 rate our souls, eh ! 
 
 Mrs. Recamier. With all my heart, if you will 
 dance the Carmagnol with Perigord. Poor soul, she 
 is almost dead with fear, lest her lover should be hurt 
 in this bustle. 
 
 Josephine. Oh, Perigord will soon become accus¬ 
 tomed to these risks. Come, you play Recamier, and 
 she will sing ca ira, 9a ira 1 Here comes Roederer, as I 
 am alive. ( While they play and sing , Josephine makes 
 tea.) 
 
 Barras. Bravo, Perigord, you have a sweet voice. 
 (To Mrs. Roederer) Do you know poor Tallien was 
 
 terrified 
 
 / 
 
% 
 
 $7 
 
 ! T V. 
 
 ? £fi*ified at the roaring of the cannon; How silly ! 
 how did }’ou stand it ? 
 
 Airs. Rcederer . 1 ! I stood it we}], it was music to me, 
 
 i 
 
 Enter Barrere, Carrier, Couthon, 8ieyes, and Cam¬ 
 baceres* 
 
 Barrere . Good evening, ladies. Well, it has been 
 a hot day. 
 
 Sicycs . But, I think, it will be the last opposition 
 we shall experience. 
 
 Carrier. So I think.. This Caitiff is a devilish clever 
 fellow. 
 
 , . * . , • *• ,.. 
 
 Cambaceres. Ay, by Jove is he. He levelled the 
 rabble down like grass under the scythe ; the walls of 
 St. Roch are incrusted with bullets: How should he 
 be rewarded ? 
 
 Barras. Let us o-ive the command of the interior 
 
 ^ O ^ 
 
 to him, it costs us nothing, and it will appear an obli¬ 
 gation to him. 
 
 Cambaceres , A good thought, so let it be. 
 
 Barras . Come, will you make a party at yingt-unr 
 All. With all my heart. [All sit down.) 
 
 Enter Carnot and Rcederer, and a Servant with a letter , 
 which he g iee-s to Barras. After playing his hand only 
 he reads. 
 
 Barras. This is a note from the Caitiff! he^ is an 
 enterprising fellow ! here, read this, Carnot. 
 
 All the Ladies. Well, gentlemen, we leave you. 
 Adieu. [Exeunt Ladies. 
 
 Carnot (reads). Yes, we mustrkeep him close, or, 
 by Jove, he may prove too many for us. 
 
 Cambaceres. Oh, never fear him ! there is no dan¬ 
 ger, he has neither science nor art beyond the length 
 of a firelock, which, you know, he must level at our 
 command. I expect him here presently. 
 
 Merlin, Rot the cards, my hands are degraded 
 
 o with 
 
93 
 
 •with a king every deal. Apropos, citizen, it has been 
 hinted to me that the young Capet is to escape. 
 
 Le Brun. What! escape ! citizens, do you hear ? 
 
 Couthon. Measures are already taken to prevent it. 
 
 Cambaceres. Ay, ay, indeed we shall be before¬ 
 hand with those who have formed such a scheme ; he 
 shall have a comforting draught, which will in two or 
 three days carry him out of the world. 
 
 Le Brun. That is the very thing, a lucky idea, by 
 Jove, citizen, so let it be ; (to Roederer) put it in the 
 Moniteur to-morrow, citizen, that youn si Capet is in a 
 decline. 
 
 Bcederer. In a galloping consumption it shall be. 
 
 Couthon. Ay, in a gallop to the devil. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte. 
 
 All. We are glad to see you ; how goes it after 
 your fatigue ? we are sensible of your vigilance. 
 
 Cambaceres. How stands the list of the royalist ras¬ 
 cals whom you have dispatched to-day, citizen ? 
 
 Buonaparte. In the whole Fauxbourg the number may 
 amount to about eight thousand, more or less; had 
 day-light continued a little longer, we should have 
 doubled the number. 
 
 Carrier. By Jove, citizen, you have done wonders, 
 you deserve well of the republic 
 
 Barr as. As a recom pence, citizen, here is } T our 
 appointment as commander of the interior. 
 
 Buonaparte. My gratitude, citizens, shall only be 
 surpassed by my zeal in the service. 
 
 Merlin. But, citizens Barrere and Cambaceres, 
 have you forgotten ! The tribunal is sitting to examine 
 the scoundrels who were arrested to-day. Come along, 
 we must assist. 
 
 [.Exeunt Merlin, Barrere, and Cambaceres. 
 
 Barras (to Buonaparte). Well now, citizen, what 
 is the purport of the note you sent me ? 
 
 Buonaparte 
 
 \ 
 
Buonaparte. Most honoured citizen director, gratitude 
 for the many marks of your favours urges me forward 
 to advance the great work ; I therefore conceiving it 
 would be a most honourable, and with all a profitable 
 enterprize to send a few bishops to the next world and 
 seize their property, took the liberty to suggest the 
 idea to you. Jf we do not determine on some such 
 plan, depend upon it, they will very soon excommu¬ 
 nicate us all. Besides, I conceive no difference be¬ 
 tween this race of mitred beings and crowned kings, 
 unless we allow they are more dangerous to civil li¬ 
 berty. As I am fond of an active life, I should be 
 proud of the honour, if the execution of such apian be 
 entrusted to me. 
 
 Sieyes. Well, but would not such an act be a 
 samdege? 
 
 Buonaparte [with amazement). A sacrilege ! Ha, ha, 
 ha ! A veteran in sacrilege, that voted religion a farce, 
 an imposture, talk of sacrilege! Hi, hi! I tell you, 
 citizen director, you are lost, all our brave com¬ 
 panions in arms are eternally lost, if we suffer scruples 
 of sanctity to intrude upon our plans. 1 do insist, and 
 none can deny, that the Grand Lama, the Holy Father 
 of Rome, with his whole train of cardinals, in the four 
 quarters of the world, are an execrable race ! the 
 .sooner they are sent out of the way, to hell, the better ; 
 their property is ours. Conscience must be fire-proof 
 against all sentiments of remorse. 
 
 Barr as. The plan is good, I approve of it. What 
 say you, citizen ? (to S eyes). 
 
 Sieyes. I must needs approve also of it. To death 
 with them all. 
 
 Karras. Ay, and let us lay every city in bigotted 
 Christendom in ashes. 
 
 Six-yes. And hold up religion to ridicule. 
 
 Enter Merlin, Cambaceres, and Reubel. 
 
 Merlin (as he advances). Religion to ridicule ! 
 + 4 men, Amen ! so be it. 
 
 o 2 
 
 Couthon. 
 
100 
 
 
 Couthon. Ay, and I would give a whole year of my 
 precious life to have the pleasure of hunting downja 
 hundred of those infernal monks. 
 
 Reubel. I should delight in seeing them roasting like 
 the holy Lazarus. 
 
 Buonaparte. Delicious 1 My heart beats with joy at 
 the idea. Methinks I see them already wringing and 
 writhing with torture ! 
 
 Cambaceres . It is certain, if these wretches have 
 no friends on earth, they can have none in Heaven. 
 Had they either love or friendship there, God would 
 never suffer plague, pestilence, war, or famine, to 
 chastise the world they live in. 
 
 Merlin . That is also my creed ; I am convinced we 
 are the Almighty’s anointed favourite sons, his chosen 
 instruments of destruction, let us then fulfil our mis¬ 
 sion as becomes us, and brave ali dangers^ the 
 fruits of the earth are ours, and so are the beasts of the 
 held. 
 
 Buonaparte . Bravo, citizen, you consecrate the 
 profession in a masterly manner. I should like to hear 
 you great commanders, you veterans, relate the little 
 anecdotes of your hair-breadth escapes in camp and 
 held'; of the murderous exploits which have crowned 
 your glory ; they would.really warm my under-waist¬ 
 coat. When I think of them, I feel such strange hot 
 and cold shiverings, that I never before experienced. 
 
 Cambaceres. That’ is a favourable sign, Corsican. 
 But, tell us, have you not some brothers and sisters ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Yes, worthy chief, I have four brothers 
 and three sisters. They were all mortally terrified 
 when 1 was under arrest at Nizza, and hid themselves. 
 I know not at present where they are. 
 
 Sieves. What is their profession, or situation ? 
 
 Buonaparte. One brother is a scribbler to a notary 
 public ; the eldest, who not being bright, is fit for every 
 thing, and nothing ; the other two arc yet young. As 
 for my sisters, they live by their industry, as well as 
 they can, to make both ends meet, as the saying is ; 
 
101 
 
 and to make it out, I believe they have as many ups 
 and downs in the world as most young girls. 
 
 Barras. Are they handsome, well made, and spiri¬ 
 ted ? Bring them to Paris, [Exeunt. 
 
 ■*' «! 
 
 SCENE X, 
 
 Barras and Carnot at a tab 7 e , with a map of Piedmont , 
 and a plan of fortification. 
 
 Barras. The best pass seems to be this way. 
 
 Carnot. No, by no means i there is between these 
 two hills a dangerous marsh. 
 
 Barras . Well, the Caitiff has been on the spot, we 
 must ask him. 
 
 Carnot. I expect him every moment; Le Brun is 
 gone to bring him--Here he comes. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte and Le Brun. 
 
 Barras. Citizen, we have agreed to the plan you 
 proposed, and you shall be charged with the execu¬ 
 tion. 
 
 Buonaparte [bowing very humbly). 
 
 Carnot . Are you well acquainted with all the passes 
 bordering on our frontiers? with the neighbouring 
 countries and cities, all the lurking holes, &c.? 
 
 Buonaparte. Acquainted ? surely am I. I know the 
 outside and inside of Milan, Genoa, Venice, Florence 
 and Borne, as well as 1 know my own empty coat 
 pocket ! 
 
 Le Brun- That’s brave. [To Barras) Let’s equip 
 him for the enterprise. 
 
 . Carnot [taking hold of Buonaparte very familiarly). 
 By Jove, citizen, the more I look at you the more I 
 expect from your performance. 
 
 Barras [to Le Brun). Do ring the bell. [To Cai¬ 
 tiff) Give us your hand;, my hearty fellow, depend on 
 
 my 
 
102 
 
 my friendship and favours. (Aside) His ugly phiz 
 bespeaks something mysterious. Who knows but he 
 may one day play us a trick and become our master r 
 
 Enter Servant. 
 
 Go, desire the officer of the guard to send one of the 
 national arsenal chests hither. [ Exit Servant. 
 
 Carnot. Your first exploit, my friend, will be in 
 your original country, Genoa, Lombardy, &c. &c. 
 The levelling system must be strictly adhered to ; the 
 troops under your command shall be well supplied. 
 
 Enter Cambaceres and Officers with an arsenal chest , 
 which they set on the table. 
 
 Le Bran (unlocks it, and takes out several daggers). 
 Now, citizen Buonaparte, observe this dagger, it is 
 of the finest tempered steel; every thrust with it must 
 be paid princely ; a thrust of one inch deep is worth 
 iOO franks; of two inches, 300; and so on, up to a 
 thousand. 
 
 Barras. But if to the depth of life, man, you may 
 fix your own terms. 
 
 LeBrun. Here is a new invented glass dagger, a 
 never-failing cure for all royalty and priestcraft fe¬ 
 vers. When it is plunged into the patient, it must 
 be suddenly broken close to the orifice, and the flesh 
 drawn over it; the buried part then remains till dooms¬ 
 day. This metal one conceals within it a most subtle 
 poison, plunge it in whatever part of the body you 
 will, you have only to press this little spring, and the 
 messenger of death instantly gallops through every ar¬ 
 tery, till it reaches the heart. 
 
 Cambaceres. These, citizen Buonaparte, are the 
 pledges of our confidence ; receive them as a capital 
 that ought to bear a good interest, a golden sacred 
 interest. 
 
 Buonaparte. They are refinements in the art; I 
 find them dog cheap. Why, by Jupiter, the faculty 
 are not half so moderate! ( weighing the daggers in his 
 
 hand) 
 
hand) You must surely have collected pretty round 
 sums together by these means 1 
 
 Carnot (in haste). What! what does he say? (to 
 Buonaparte) What, citizen, do you compare us to 
 dastardly highwaymen, to housebreakers, and such 
 thievish rabble ? 
 
 Buonaparte. He, h.e, he ! Ob, no. But you know 
 1 am a novice in these refinements in the arts, there¬ 
 fore it doth excite my admiration. 
 
 Camhaceres. Your admiration ! I own, citizen, 
 you do speak like one ignorant of the consequence of 
 your rank, as a banditto. You should know, that the 
 misfortunes and miscarriages of modern states and go¬ 
 vernments, are to be attributed to the haififfinislied, 
 inefficient measures adopted for the public security. 
 Those villains who confine themselves to petty thefts, 
 to burglaries, to taking watches and money from tra¬ 
 vellers; who break into houses only to empty the 
 drawers, and deflower the virgins of the family, 
 may appear in the eyes of the world less criminal than 
 we ; but, I assure you, they des rve to be hanged ten 
 times more for being such tools, to leave speaking 
 witnesses to their atrocities, which, by our system, we 
 destroy in the act; tor, when once the lamp of a man’s 
 life is blown out, it never burns again. 
 
 Buonaparte. You are perfectly in the right. But 
 
 Barr as . But—what do you mean ? Why this he¬ 
 sitation ? 
 
 Carnot. By Mahomet, I do not understand him. • 
 
 Buonaparte (in a loud voice). I say, lam quite of 
 your opinion, my woi thy chiefs. I was only think¬ 
 ing how I should reconcile my conscience to the sixth 
 commandment! 
 
 All (laugh immoderately). Ha, ha, ha ! 
 
 Buonaparte. You may laugh and welcome. But, 
 hark ye, my friends: don’t suppose that Buonaparte 
 wants courage (holding up his arm) ; this very arm 
 woui<f undertake to murder all the royal families of 
 
 Europe, 
 
Europe, uhdef your command, my honourable direc¬ 
 tors. But — — » 
 
 Lc Brun. Come, citizen, this is not the time or 
 place for hesitation ; and your want of courage now, 
 can only expose you to the contempt of the whole 
 corps ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Oil ! it was a transitory weakness ; 
 excuse it, 1 pra}*, I have long ago expelled those idle 
 ideas of vice and virtue, they are fit themes only for 
 monkish impostors, who, with holiness in their months, 
 will deceive you with your eyes wide open. Such 
 bugbears are ungracious in the great government of 
 the world. Whoever among us are born to be saved, 
 will be saved, commit what crimes we may; and 
 if the holy father Peter himself be to perish, all his 
 sanctity, supported by all the priestcraft in Christen¬ 
 dom, cannot prevent it. 
 
 Le Brun. It is well said : your philosophy, citizen, 
 is agreeable to our tenets ; honour and shame, virtue 
 and vice, love and hatred, hope and despair, will 
 all vanish like a mist in a summer’s morning, before 
 our exploits. 
 
 Cambaceres, Yes, he has defined them well ! they 
 are only empty sounds, or spectres of hideous mon¬ 
 sters, invented to torment the brains of fools ; nay, 
 honour itself is a bubble. The prodigal and voluptuary 
 rest their honour on being admired bv fine girls, on 
 the number of handsome women they can betray, on 
 breeding riots, getting drunk, &c. &c. The general 
 builds his honour on his expertness in stratagems, in 
 reducing cities by treachery, in contriving false intel¬ 
 ligence to fall into the enemy’s hands, in plundering 
 and devastating the countries and villages through which 
 he passes, as a friend and protector. 1 he divine 
 founds his honour on the effect his holy sermons have 
 on his congregation, prior to his collecting his Easter 
 dues. Lawyers rest their honour on duping their 
 clients, by procrastinating their suits, till they -have 
 drained them of all their property, goods, and chat¬ 
 tels, and reduced them to beggary. The miser esti¬ 
 mates 
 
105 
 
 mates his honor by the bushels of gold he possesses. 
 Authors establish their honor on the report of the li¬ 
 terary reviewers; a class of men, whose pens are 
 guided generally by a golden magnet, and whose in¬ 
 tellectual penetration often goes no deeper than ‘ the 
 title-page, or preface of a book. In fine, every handi¬ 
 craftsman’s honor consists in his dexterity and skill in 
 his calling. 
 
 Barrere . The definition is accurate; and, I will add, 
 that the profession of a banditto surpasses all others in 
 glory, in liberality, in science, and refinement. We 
 should therefore allow to it the first rank and honor. 
 
 AIL Amen 1 so be it. The curtain drops. 
 
 SCENE XI. 
 
 Barras, and some Conspirata s of Genoa and Venice , 
 
 Conspirators . Worthy director, by the advice we 
 have received from Italy, our presence is required as 
 soon as possible at home ; we are therefore come to 
 take leave of you. Be assured, we shall remember the 
 interest you take in our welfare. 
 
 Barras . Be persuaded, citizens, it is my earnest 
 wish to serve you, and I hope the time is not far dis¬ 
 tant, when our great work of universal equality will 
 finally be established. Assure your friends, we shall 
 not be unmindful of their interest; my friend Buona¬ 
 parte will shortly arrive in Italy, and although as yet 
 but second in command, you may consult with him as 
 with me. 
 
 Conspirators . We may then safely rely on him ? 
 
 Barras . Rely on him ! he is as clever, cunning a 
 scoundrel, as any under the canopy of heaven ; he is 
 the very antitype of perfection : for so young a be¬ 
 ginner he is, by Jove, a miracle. 
 
 Conspirators. It is sufficient, citizen director. Adieu, 
 adieu ! [they shake hands) Farewell. 
 
 [Exam t C on so i ra t o rs. 
 p Barras 
 
JOS 
 
 Barras (alone). I must rid myself of Josephine; 
 Tailien and she cannot agree. I see they must sepa¬ 
 rate. I have a notion, were I to propose her to Buo¬ 
 naparte-ay, he is an ambitious fellow. Yes, she will 
 
 suit him to a T. Such a proposal will tickle his pride. 
 I expect him presently. I’ll see whether he will blush 
 at it. Oh, here he comes. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte. 
 
 Well, citizen Brigadier, these fellows are returned to 
 Italy. You must think about following them. ( Lays 
 hold of his kand , and looks very earnestly at him.) Ci¬ 
 tizen Buonaparte, I have given you already tokens of 
 my confidence and protection. I meatrshartly to shew 
 you my friendship, by your appointment as commander 
 in chief of the corps of banditti, in Italy, which, at 
 present, some of my colleagues object to, on account 
 of your age. However, as the present commander is 
 a very troublesome fellow, he will not long continue in 
 that post. ( Buonaparte bowing very humbly .) Mean 
 while, I have it perhaps in my power to serve you more 
 effectually still. Tell me, frankly, have you a wife ? 
 I mean, are you married ? 
 
 Buonaparte. No, citizen Director ; I have no lawful 
 wife. 
 
 Barras. Well, then, have you any objections to a 
 chaste, devout virgin of a widow ? 
 
 Buonaparte (biting his lips). How is she endowed ? 
 
 What gravity has her purse ? I must first know the 
 
 verv centre of it. Mere woman is not the consideration 
 •* 
 
 for a banditto Avho devotes his life to the public good. 
 Is she a perfect mistress of intrigue, so as to be able to 
 be useful in important services ? 
 
 Barras. I commend your prudence, citizen. I 
 can only tell you, that were her jewels andhuis put in 
 one scale, and her holy person, with all her virtues, 
 divine and moral , In the other, I cannot say which 
 would be the heavier. As to her exterior charms, she 
 is wrinkle-eyed, but of a bright clear sight, and 
 which, like those of most women, sparkle with joy 
 
107 
 
 and good humour when she is pleased. No female pos¬ 
 sesses in a higher degree fascinating cunning and in- 
 tngue, by which, my friend, you may make the heavy 
 Germans dance a rigadoon as light as the French 
 themselves. 
 
 Buonaparte. It is enough, my worthy and approved 
 good master ! Submission to your will! who is she ? 
 
 Barras. You must surely have seen her ; she is the 
 noble, chaste Josephine, widow of Beauharnois. 
 
 Buonaparte . I recollect her ; but I thought she was 
 your confident and friend. 
 
 Barras Right ! but she being now arr’ved at a 
 certain ag;e, wishes once more to lead an honest virtu¬ 
 ous life, under the sanction of a lawful husband. I 
 w r ould willingly bestow her on a worthy man. I have 
 portioned ber with three hundred thousand franks ; 
 (aside) of ....thenational money is understood ; which, 
 with what she has scraped and gathered together by 
 secret services , since her mournful widowhood, amounts 
 to five hundred thousand at least, exclusive of rings, 
 jewels, &c. of great value. Zounds I man, with her 
 for a wife, you may become another prophet of Me¬ 
 dina. 
 
 Buonaparte. Then you resign her to me ? 
 
 Barras. Ay, sure do I, with all her appurtenances. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, then, she is mine ; and my 
 heart will ever beat Te Deum for your gracious bounty. 
 
 Barras (shaking hands). Well, my friend, the 
 sooner you depart the better: with your appointment 
 to the chief command, Josephine snail accompany the 
 courier. Ah, citizen? 
 
 / 
 
 Enter Sebastiani. 
 
 You arvive very luckily; here is your letter 
 of introduction at Venice, which insures you a 
 favourable reception by the Doge, &c. Prepare for 
 your departure immediately with Buonaparte. 
 
 Sebastiani. All submission to your will, worthy Di- 
 
 p 2 rector. 
 
10S 
 
 rector. ( To Buonaparte.) Citizen, when do you 
 set off? 
 
 Buonaparte . In two hours and twenty-five minutes 
 from this time, (looks at his watch). 
 
 [jE xit Sebastiani. 
 
 Barras. Here is your letter, Buonaparte ; observe 
 it is addressed to a senior Cafra, a man of great for¬ 
 tune and influence with the Doge of Genoa. This 
 man dotes on the English, and was a sincere friend of 
 a deceased English naval officer, named Norman, of 
 the city of York. You must pass for his son, which 
 the letter will corroborate ; besides, you should relate 
 some notable anecdote of heroism, that will warm his 
 old heart: he is an ancient soldier. Salicetti’s cousin has 
 already got your sister Eliza introduced as attendant on 
 the Doge’s niece, under the name of Duenna. By 
 these meaite, I doubt not but you will acquire every 
 information of what is going forward, and be able to 
 uproot the whole republic. Maintain a close corre¬ 
 spondence with the rest of our missionaries in V enice, 
 Florence, &c. &c. Adieu, adieu ! 
 
 End of the Second Act. 
 
 DRAMATIS 
 
) 
 
 \ 
 
 DRAMATIS PERSONAL. 
 
 THIRD ACT. 
 
 The Doge of Genoa. 
 
 Dufour, Grand Judge. 
 
 Cafra, Friend and Confident of the Doge, 
 Grimaldi, Minister. 
 
 Almira, Niece to the Doge. 
 
 Duenna, Companion to Almira. 
 
 Norman, a Stranger, recommended to Caff a* 
 Senators, See. 
 
 Conspirators. 
 
 Salicetti Caprara, ) n, .. , , 7 r. 
 
 Cardinal Caprara’ j Matwns io the Do ^‘ 
 
 Lazotti, Durazzo, Lanzola, Girolamo, Bishop Spina, 
 
 Bacciochi, a French Pedlar Merchant. 
 
 Generals of the Banditti. 
 
 Buonaparte, Berthier, Augereau, Mura., Massena, 
 Bernadotte, Joubert, Dessaix, &c. 
 
 Josephine. 
 
ACT III. 
 
 Scene I.—In Italy.- — Camp of the Banditti , near# 
 Wood . The Generals Tent . 
 
 Enter Buonaparte. 
 
 Buonaparte . Citizen General, I am bearer of a 
 letter from the honourable Directory. ( Gives him the 
 letter .) 
 
 General {reads.) You are welcome* worthy second* 
 {Rings,) Sit down, citizen, sit down. 
 
 Enter Servants. 
 
 % < • ^ 
 
 Bring a couple of bottles of Cypress wine, and glasses. 
 Well, citizen, what news from the great city ? Of 
 late I have but little correspondence with it. The 
 Directory use me very ill; they will not pay a bill 
 for our troops. By Jove, I know not what to do. I 
 am devilish loth to have recourse to more forced loans 
 and contributions in this impoverished country : the 
 corps has already disgraced itself enough. 
 
 ' Buonaparte . What ! General; do you call it a dis¬ 
 grace ? It is for the good of the human race. Inte¬ 
 rest, interest, my dear General, is paramount to all 
 other considerations. Besides, you may rely on it, 
 that there is no cash. It is a fact, by Jove. 
 
 General • What, is the treasury really empty ? that 
 alters the case materially. 
 
 Buonaparte. Exactly so. 
 
 General. 
 
 i 
 
114 
 
 General, Well, if it be so, and the treasury is really 
 empty, the case is different. ' 
 
 Buonaparte. Exactly so, General. 
 
 General. Then I will no longer demur upon the 
 plan which those profligate conspirators have pioposed, 
 to overthrow the different states of Italy. 
 
 Buonaparte. I have heard they are brave fellows, 
 and the plans are good. 
 
 General. My worthy second, they are of the great¬ 
 est importance : their ramifications extend from Genoa 
 to Milan ; from Milan to Venice ; from Venice to Hel¬ 
 vetia. These lads insure us the treasures of all these 
 states. Eh ! what say you to that ? The Ligurian 
 bank will be ours dlun coup demain, 
 
 Buonaparte. It admits of no hesitation: but, by 
 what means is it to be accomplished ? 
 
 General. You are as yet a stranger, therefore you 
 know not the niece of the Doge, the beautiful Almira. 
 Observe, then, that this angel is the magnet that 
 attracts round the Doere the most illustrious houses in 
 
 a 
 
 the state ; she is sole heiress of his immense wealth. 
 These prodigal dogs have lost the good opinion of the 
 Doge, and having no chance of obtaining favour, have 
 formed a project to put her out of the way. They 
 are persuaded that then all these courtiers will abandon 
 the old fellow, who will be an easy prey to their ma¬ 
 chinations. The price they agree to pay for the per¬ 
 petration is six thousand scudi, payable on this note at 
 the bank {taking the note out of his pocket-book ), on 
 being indorsed by Signor Salicetti, who is a relation of 
 the Doge. 
 
 Buonaparte. Excellent! by all means close with 
 them, General: commit the deed, and get the money 
 without loss of time. Six thousand scudi! Blood! 
 that sum is not to be had everyday. 
 
 General . That is true ; but Heaven restrains my 
 heart. She is so beautiful, I can’t determine upon the 
 act. By Jove,, she is worth fifty times more alive than 
 dead. O, the angel ! I cannot hurt her. 
 
 Buonaparte. 
 
112 
 
 Buonaparte. What, General ? you a veteran, and 
 have such delicate scruples ? Fie upon it! Hurt her ! 
 ha, ha, ha! 1 should be ashamed ! I suppose you 
 
 have not seen these new invented daggers (shews 
 some) : I have fifty thousand coming : every man of 
 trust must have one. A stroke of one inch deep will 
 lay any man to sleep. According to the depth the 
 Directory will pay. Pray, what are the regulations 
 for the division of shares in all those taxes, contribu¬ 
 tions, &c. &c. 
 
 General. You speak like an experienced banditto, 
 my worthy second. My share, as chief, is half; 
 yours, as second, is a quarter ; and the remainder be¬ 
 longs to them who do the deed. I wish } 7 ou would 
 undertake the execution of it; } 7 ou would then be en¬ 
 titled to the other whole half, as second and as perpe¬ 
 trator. 
 
 Buonaparte. But where, General, can I meet with 
 this angel ? 
 
 General. The Doge and his niece walk every even¬ 
 ing in the garden of the Doria palace. She often 
 amuses herself in some retired walks, alone. 
 
 Buonaparte. You go along with me, don’t you ? I 
 am a sorry gallant. 
 
 General. No; but I will be a secret witness to your 
 dexterity in the art; and will be near enough to assist 
 you in case of need. If you want help, you ma}^ 
 whistle, and 1 will immediately fly to your assistance. 
 We must be properly disguised. I shall wear a do¬ 
 mino, as a monk ; and you—a— 
 
 Buonaparte. I—I will be an infirm old man, worn 
 down with sin and sorrow. 
 
 General. Excellent, by Jupiter ! 
 
 Buonaparte. We!!, but General, how deep the 
 stroke ? 
 
 General. Odzo hang the depth. Let it only be a 
 good home stroke, or else we lose our seudi. Be you 
 
 ' ■ r at 
 
113 
 
 at the entrance of the garden exactly at six o’clock 
 to-morrow evening. 
 
 Buonaparte. Exactly at six. [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Buonaparte's Tent. —Buonaparte and Murat in 
 
 their uniforms. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, we begin our operations to¬ 
 morrow evening. By one single stroke we shall get 
 six thousand seudi. 
 
 Murat. Are you agreed with the general in chief ? 
 or do you think it best to send him to the devil at 
 once ? 
 
 Buonaparte. The latter, I am convinced, is the 
 shortest means to accomplish our ends. You must 
 meet me to-morrow evening at six o’clock, at the Doria 
 garden gate ; be disguised in a green cloak, and have 
 a black patch under your left eye. I shall be there in 
 the character of an old man ; near me you will see a 
 monk in a domino, keep a close watch upon him ; 
 when you hear a whistle in the garden, you will see 
 this monk run towards the place, then you rush upon 
 him, plunge your best dagger in his breast, and escape 
 out of the gardens as fast as prudence guides. 
 
 Murat. Punctual to your orders, my chief; ex¬ 
 actly at six. [Exit Murat. 
 
 Buonaparte (aloneJ. Ay, ay, a home stroke ! Yes, 
 yes, a home stroke, it shall he my worthy general; 
 such an one, as will completely tix me in the chief 
 command of the banditti in Italy : I’ll not wait for that 
 lingering decision which generally attends gifts of fa¬ 
 vor ; no, I’ll confer the obligation r I will,no 
 
 longer grovel as a tool to superio , e a Jason 
 
 with three heads, and will perforn haracter of a 
 
 friend, a gallant, and murderer. ‘ old (Jaffa little 
 suspects that he received a wolf 1 -amh’s clothing. 
 The old fellow is very kind, and caresses me as his 
 
 Q. fl son, 
 
ft 
 
 114 
 
 son, and the Doge also shews me favor beyond my 
 expectation, more particularly supposing me English. 
 (sifter a pause) Well, they, as well as my worthies in 
 France, shall rue their confidence in me (walking about 
 much agitated). Yes, Buonaparte, thou alone shalt 
 decide bn the destinies of states! Before thee shall the 
 nations of the earth bow down and tremble ! Ay, all 
 the beggarly assassins of Europe and Asia must apply 
 to me, and bear the keys of all the public treasures 
 in their hands. Now, Buonaparte, is the time, succeed 
 you must, or die. f Exit, 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Dr xing Room in the Doge’s Palace. —The Doge, 
 
 Dufour, and Cafra, at table drinking . Almira and 
 
 Duenna rise aniLrctire. 
 
 %■ 
 
 Almira. Shall we see you in the garden by and 
 by, dear uncle ? 
 
 Doge, Yes, my dear. [Exeunt Almira and Duenna* 
 
 * • 
 
 Dufour. My heart glows warm when I recollect 
 that foggy night! we carried the battery most bravely, 
 and levelled the half moon on the ditches before day; 
 by heavens, we fought like lions. Gracious Sir, I owe 
 all my fame in camp and field to the honour of lighting 
 under the Great Doreas, in the service of the Emperor. 
 The Turks, by their fierce resistance, gave a brilliancy 
 ■ to our arms. 
 
 Doge (laughing). Ha, ha, ha ! I really believe the 
 Candian wine is got into thy head. Ah, Cafra ! 
 
 Dufour. Excuse me, gracious Sir., it is the recollec¬ 
 tion of that steady tirmness which always marks your 
 character ; and there is not a crowned head in Europe 
 but will allow you that merit. Ah ! 1 dread the mo¬ 
 ment when it shall please God to deprive the world of 
 the wise counsels of the great Andreas Dorcas. Alas ! 
 then farewell to all stead} 7 systems of government ! all 
 must then infallibly fall a prey to anarchy, pillage, and 
 destruction. 
 
 Doge. 
 
 
115 
 
 f 
 
 Doge. What dost think, then, we have no hopeful 
 young heroes to succeed us? 
 
 Dafour. Alas ! gracious Sir, heroes we have ; but 
 their exploits are with the punch bowl, or in the camp 
 ot Venus: in other rencontres they are nerveless 
 fops. 
 
 Cafra. Hold, friend; T deny the assertion. I in¬ 
 sist that we have young men, who inherit from their 
 ancestors bravery, honour, and talents. Besides, are 
 not our wives now nursing heroes to succfeed us ? My 
 little nephew Gritto, who you know is only six years 
 old, called out the other day, Papa, can’t I become 
 an Alexander the Great ! So don’t let us think the 
 final glory of Italy will be interred in our tombs. 
 
 Doge. Bravo, little Gritto ! No, no ; never fear, 
 our virtues will survive us. 
 
 Du/our. I have no hopes that they will shine forth 
 in our present race of debauched youth: their-ash- 
 coloured faces, hollow black-circled eyes, and carbun- 
 cled noses, sutficiently characterise their heroism. 
 
 Cafra. And again, there is our friend Norman ; 
 you surely don’t include him ? 
 
 Dufour. I know him not. 
 
 Cafra. Then forbear your censures. IIis father 
 was my friend, and as brave a man as ever brandished 
 a sabre. We served together many years on board the 
 same ship. This young man is the father himself, in 
 body and soul. (To the Doge.) Yes, gracious Sir, 
 while we possess this Englishman, all Italy is secure. 
 
 Df our. What ! is he an Englishman, do you say ? 
 
 Cafra. Yes, art Englishman, and the pride of 
 England ; and one day he will make Liguria proud 
 too. 
 
 Doge (taking both by the hand)* Well, come, 
 we’ll take a turn in the garden. 
 
 [ Exeunt. 
 
 o 2 
 
 SCENE 
 
118 
 
 I 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 The £)oria Garden. — On the right is a groitd , 
 
 with a scat ; the left several alleys, over-shaded big 
 
 trees and shrubs. 
 
 Enter Doge, Cafra, and Dufour. 
 
 Doge. I must confess that this stranger has won my 
 heart, by the anxiety he shews in discovering the re* 
 treat of the infamous banditti which beset us on all 
 sides. I had never the happiness to taste the endear¬ 
 ments of a father, but methinks I could almost imagine 
 him to be my own son. The very name of an Eng¬ 
 lishman is enough to gain my esteem and good-will. 
 But where is the rogue raking ? I have not seen him 
 these three weeks. 
 
 Cafra. Ah, gracious Sir, he will prove himself 
 worthy. He is now in pursuit of the prey he has 
 sworn to get in his net. All his misfortunes and suffer¬ 
 ings are now forgotten in his ardour to convince your 
 Grace of his worthiness, and he will be highly com¬ 
 pensated by your confidence. 
 
 Doge [surprised). His misfortunes, say you ! 
 What misfortunes? 
 
 Cafra Pardon me ; I mean the sufferings he en¬ 
 dured before he came here : they were indeed great. 
 
 Doge. How ? In what ? 
 
 Cafra. Gracious Sir, his modesty enjoined me se¬ 
 crecy ; but at the great Dorea's desire, I must relate 
 them, as he related them to me. Norman was, early 
 in his youth, inured to the fatigues and dangers of the 
 boisterous ocean, over which the British trident rides 
 triumphant. After having distinguished himself in se¬ 
 veral partial engagements with the enemy, he was 
 appointed to command the Glorious man of war, on a 
 cruise in the Bay of Biscay. In a short time, he fell in 
 with three French ships., each of equal force with his 
 
 OWUr—r— 
 
 Dvfmr 
 
in 
 
 Dufour (i)i hasteJ. Ha, ha! He ran away, I sup* 
 
 pose ? 
 
 Cafra . I suppose he did not, though- No, no ; 
 Norman scorned to run from any force coming out of a 
 Gallic port. However, that he might not be blamed 
 for rashness, he called all hands on deck : then pointing 
 to the enemy, he said : Behold yonder, my lads, is 
 your enemy, at least three times our strength ; but 
 their ships are not manned with British tars. Now, my 
 brave fellows, although I should regret the loss of a 
 linger nail of any one of you, to fly from them would 
 be a disgrace 1 could not survive. Your united votes, 
 therefore, shall guide my determination. {A pause of 
 a few minutes succeeded ; Norman then called out,) 
 Silence, my lads, is no vote. Immediately the air, 
 and even the raging billows, resounded, Long live our 
 captain, king, and country ! Have at them ! have 
 at them! have at them! was shouted from every 
 mouth. 
 
 Doge . Well; what followed ? 
 
 Cafra. Please your Grace, they fell to it, as the 
 phrase is. The contest was most bloody. In about 
 half an hour, one of the enemy blew up, and near 
 four hundred souls were scattered in the air. Just at 
 this moment, the Glorious was discovered to be lashed 
 yard-arm and yard-arm, to one of the other ships, and 
 but for the cool intrepidity of the sturdy crew, Norman 
 must have surrendered. 
 
 Doge . Well, and-- 
 
 Cafra . However, after a great slaughter, the 
 Glorious was extricated, and the fight continued with 
 redoubled fury, until another of the enemy sheered 
 off, but sunk at about two cables’ length distance. Here 
 was exemplified an instance of true British magnani¬ 
 mity. Although still in close combat with the third 
 ship, Norman, with a heroism that is the character¬ 
 istic of a British sailor, ordered out his ship boats to 
 the assistance of the unfortunate French sailors, plung¬ 
 ing in the deep, and crying for help. Seventy-five 
 
 were 
 
113 
 
 were picked up by his brave crew, and brought on 
 board the Glorious. 
 
 » 
 
 Du/our. Their own countrymen assisted also to 
 save them ; did they not ? 
 
 Cafra. No ; on the contrary, they took the advan¬ 
 tage of this moment, and redoubled their attack. The 
 fight continued some time longer, till the sides of the 
 Glorious were like a cabbage net, and the enemy, be¬ 
 ing unable longer to contend, each ship found it ne¬ 
 cessary to seek for the nearest coast, which was 
 France. Norman, finding it impossible to keep his 
 ship afloat, dread necessity obliged him to order his 
 brave crew, with the seventy-five French, ashore; he 
 staying on board himself till the last man. 
 
 Doge. The sequel! 
 
 Cafra. Oh, to the disgrace of humanity, did the 
 French load our hero with chains; throw him in pri¬ 
 son, and keep him on bread and water for six weeks, 
 when he luckily made bis escape. Good fortune 
 brought him hither. Out of respect for his noble fa¬ 
 ther, I received him as my own son, and introduced 
 him to your Grace. 
 
 Doge. Why didst thou not tell me before ? I am 
 always the friend of the brave. 
 
 Dufour, As a soldier I esteem him, and court his 
 acquaintance ; as a man I pity his misfortunes. 
 
 Doge • But how can lie hope to succeed against 
 this execrable rabble, when all the vigilance of our 
 police cannot ? blast thou any news of him ? Hush ! 
 somebody comes this way. Let us retire. 
 
 [Exeunt* 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 Enter Almira arid Duenna, on the opposite side . 
 
 Almira (looking after the Doge). Sec, there goes 
 my uncle, with Cafra and Dufour; they are quite 
 merry this evening. 
 
 Duenna. 
 
119 
 
 Duenna . Perhaps they are speaking of their youth¬ 
 ful adventures. A propos, my dear Almira, when 
 did you see Salicetti ? 
 
 Almira. Why do you-call him to my mind, when I 
 have quite forgot him ! 
 
 Duenna. Quite forgot him, I dare say ! Take 
 care, take care, Almira ! But I must confess myself, 
 that I cannot blame your attachment ; for had he cast 
 a look of tenderness on me, I think I should not have 
 boon angry with him for it. But you know, my dear* 
 the Doge will never give his niece in marriage to such 
 a rake. 
 
 Almira [quick). In marriage ! Who talks of 
 marriage ? 
 
 Duenna . Oh, perhaps he is already engaged ; who 
 knows ? 
 
 Almira. How can you delight to torment me so ? 
 
 Duenna. Ah! Almira, every love-sick maiden is 
 too apt to be led by a delusive hope. 
 
 la 
 
 Almira. Alas ! Duenna, I don’t mean love (looking 
 embarrassed at her fan) —I—I—only wish to be his 
 friend ; and surely he deserves my friendship. Heigho ! 
 Yes, I think he deserves a great deal more. 
 
 Duenna. Love and friendship ! Ah, Almira, little 
 do vou think of the intimacy between these two guests ! 
 Know you, they are companions; they frequently 
 change dress, and assume each others character. Love 
 often gains admittance to the human heart under the 
 cloak of friendship ; and draws after it all the train of 
 sighs, tears, tremblings, flutterings, sobbings, throb- 
 bings, with all their attendant woes: therefore, my 
 dear friend, beware ; I warn you. 
 
 Almira. Weil, I think, now I could be almost an¬ 
 gry with him. 
 
 Duenna. Ah ! Almira, I doubt your resolution. 
 
 Almira. Well, then, I do not love him. There, 
 now. 
 
 Duenna. He, he, he! Very well, very well; I 
 * understand. 
 
120 
 
 understand. We will speak further upon that subject 
 hereafter. I must now go to see if the Doge be re¬ 
 turned to the palace. I will be with you again pre¬ 
 sently. 
 
 [Exit Duenna. 
 
 Almira (walking slowly about, sighing). I cannot, 
 however, be angry with him; although, I believe, he 
 does not love me half so much as he ought. Heigho 1 
 it is very long since he was at the palace. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte, dressed like an old Man , leaning on 
 
 a crutch , and advancing with difficulty towards where. 
 
 Almira is. The General, in his domino, now and 
 
 then is seen peeping at a distance . 
 
 Buonaparte {seeing Almira) . O gods ! what a feast 
 for an epicure of virginity ! What lovely features, 
 compared with those masculine figures which I am ac¬ 
 customed to. {As he approaches , in afaultering voice.) 
 Ah ! yonder, yonder I see a seat, where 1 can rest a 
 little, Heavens be praised ! 
 
 Almira. Poor old man ! 
 
 Buonaparte {staggering from weakness)» Oh, oh ! 
 dear me ! 
 
 Almira. I will assist thee, poor man ! ( She lays 
 
 hold of him.) Come, take hold of my arm, 
 
 Buofiaparte. Ah, good Signora! Heaven bless 
 your bounty ! Alas ! 1 am now an old man ; seventy- 
 six last fall. 
 
 Almira. Seventv-six. Bless me ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Yes, seventy-six complete. But these 
 years would not be so heavy upon me, bad they not 
 been accompanied with many times seventy-six mis¬ 
 fortunes. Alas 1 Signora, I am a second Job on 
 earth. 
 
 Almira {being arrived at the seat). Here, sit down, 
 poor old man ! and relate to me your misfortunes. 
 
 Buonaparte {sitting down, trembling.) Ah, my good 
 
 and 
 
121 
 
 and bountiful Sfgnora ! I had once a dear object after 
 my own heart (wiping his eyes ), and—she— 
 
 Almira: Did she die ? 
 
 Buonaparte . Alas, dead she is indeed. A finer, 
 2 -nd, I thought, a more innocent angel, never lived. 
 She was betrothed to me, for I loved her (he weeps), 
 Alas, she was torn from me ! 
 
 Almira . How ! torn from you ! 'That was in« 
 deed cruel, very cruel! By whom, pray ? 
 
 Buonaparte . A good for nothing fellow ; a scoundrel 
 of a noble corrupted her morals, robbed her of her 
 chastity, and then, instead of mountains of gold, and 
 mines of diamonds, as he had repeatedly promised, 
 he basely turned her adrift, to wretchedness and 
 woe ! 
 
 Almira . Poor creature ! 
 
 Buonaparte . Ay : the poor deluded victim returned 
 to me ; Repented of her error ; I forgave ; but her con¬ 
 science was too much afflicted to be appeased. Being 
 no longer able to conceal her shame, grief hung heavy 
 , on her heart, and, in a fit of melancholy and despair, 
 she threw herself headlong into the river. I lodged a 
 complaint against the villain, her betrayer; but the 
 only satisfaction I could obtain, was to have a long 
 list of his pedigree shewn me. To stop all further 
 pursuit, I was arrested and imprisoned. Ah, good 
 Signora! what can we poor people do ? Good hea¬ 
 vens I the rich laugh us to scorn; mock our poverty; 
 seduce our waves and daughters, and we dare not re¬ 
 monstrate. This is now the fashion of the world. 
 
 Almira. Endeavour, poor man ! to forget thy suf¬ 
 ferings. How do you find yourself now ? 
 
 Buonaparte (sighing). Gracious lady ! I think a 
 little better, thanks to your bounty. May I know to 
 whose kindness I am indebted. Are you not the niece 
 of the,noble Doge, Doreas ? 
 
 Almira . The same. 
 
 Buonaparte . Oh, how wonderful are the -works of 
 
 « r God 1 
 
122 
 
 Cod! Heaven has brought me hithar to save your 
 precious life. 
 
 Almira . What do you say ? Save my life ! Ex¬ 
 plain. 
 
 Buonaparte. Yes, Signora. Gracious God ! what 
 ■wickedness there is in the world ! I will tell you. 
 
 sweet lady : villains want to murder you. 
 
 Almira (falls back on the seat). What! murder, 
 murder me. Who ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Be composed ! you are safe with me. 
 You shall presently see the villain laid prostrate before 
 you. Mind, I forbid you to make the least alarm. 
 
 (lie whistles ; the General runs towards the grotto, and 
 is met by Murat, who stabs him, and runs off, 
 through the bushes). 
 
 Almira. Oh, gracious Heaven ! 
 
 Buonaparte. If you make the least noise, you are 
 a dead Woman ! {He goes to the corpse , which is not 
 quite dead.) What, my worthy chief, are you fallen 
 a victim to some vile wretch ? 
 
 General (in the agonies of death). Ah, Buona¬ 
 parte ! why didst thou not come to my’ assistance ? 
 Oh, oh ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Be comforted, worthy’ chief! never 
 fear but we shall discover the murderous hand. Be 
 comforted ; for beatus qui morduus est in Domino. 
 
 General. God forgive me! (Expires.) 
 
 Buonaparte (searches the General’s pockets; aynong 
 the paper's he finds the check for the six thousand scudi 
 then turning to Almira). By heavens, fair lady, you 
 had a narrow escape. 
 
 Almira. I’ll fly to my uncle. Oh, thou monster ! 
 (She rises to go.) 
 
 Buonaparte. No ; I forbid it (in exerting himself to 
 stop her, he discovers his disguise ; she shrieks, and 
 calls Duenna). Not a word, my lady; not a word. 
 
 Behold 
 
123 
 
 Behold in me the commander in chief of the banditti, 
 which your uncle has set so high a price on. Look at 
 me. O, thou beautiful angel! thou must be the price 
 of my protection. Come, one smile from those lovely 
 lips. ( Clasps her in his arms.) Thus will I riot all 
 night. 
 
 Almira (waving her hand). Avaunt, wretch! 
 avaunt, murderer. 
 
 Buonaparte (kisses her again). There, now, go 
 and tell thy uncle, that thou art betrothed to Buona¬ 
 parte, the great banditto ; and moreover, tell him, 
 that I will shortly pay him a visit. 
 
 {Exit Almira. 
 
 Now, Buonaparte, thou art master. (Looks at the 
 corpse in silence.) Yes ; now thy genius, like a comet, 
 will blaze to terrify mankind, and draw into its vortex 
 ail the satellites of the w r orld. (Turns his cloak.) 1 
 think I see Duenna. I must away, and procure the 
 signature for the cash. (To the corpse.) Adieu, 
 General, ( Exit Buonaparte. 
 
 SCENE YI. 
 
 A Room in Sa licet ti’s Hotel.— Salicetti reading 
 
 the Moniteur . 
 
 i 
 
 Enter Buonaparte. 
 
 Buonaparte . Good evening, citizen. (Looking about 
 him.) 
 
 Salicetti. Your business, citizen ? 
 
 Buonaparte. I hold an obligation, from the General 
 of the banditti, for your indorsement. (Holds it to 
 him.) Six thousand scudi; the price you put on the 
 beautiful head of Almira. The deed is done ; it is 
 just done. I know not how the devil the General and 
 his friends will escape, there is such an uproar about 
 this affair, 
 
 Salicetti. Is she then dispatched ? 
 
 R 2 
 
 Biionaparte. 
 
124 
 
 Buonaparte. Dispatched ! surely is she; and the. 
 General said her beauty was worth ten times the sum. 
 
 Salicetti (distracted ). Alas, poor Almira ! she is 
 then gone. God knows I never intended it. (To Buo¬ 
 naparte.) Is she then dead ? 
 
 Buonaparte . Dead, dead! Come, man, I cannot 
 stand here talking. Here, sign your name quickly ; 
 the police are every where on the hunt. 
 
 Salicetti (signs the paper). Heigho ! 
 
 Buonaparte (takes the paper). Adieu, adieu! 
 
 [Exit Buonaparte. 
 
 Salicetti (walking about, quite distracted). Yes, she 
 is gone. Now there is no retreat. 
 
 Enter Lazotti, Lanzola, and Girolamo. 
 
 Well, Lazotti, what news ? 
 
 Lazotti. Have you not heard the report ? Tel| 
 me, have you sent out against Almira ? 
 
 Salicetti. I ? not I, indeed. Why, who says so ? 
 
 Lazotti. The report is, that she is murdered in the 
 Doria gardens, and that the Doge is aware of a con¬ 
 spiracy against the state. 
 
 Gerolamo, The old fellow is mad ; stark mad. 
 
 Lazotti. Be on your guard, Salicetti; }^ou know 
 the Doge is terrible as a lion, and cunning as a fox. 
 
 Salicetti. The Doge! he is an old fool, a good 
 soldier he may be ; he is my relation ; but that is all. 
 
 Lanzola. And then, since that Englishman is about 
 him, he is as proud as a clown dressed in scarlet. 
 
 Lazotti. The upstart nobility hang on his humour 
 like puppets, which nod and shake at the will of a 
 shewman. 
 
 Enter Durazza. 
 
 Durazza . Holo, here! what in the devil’s name 
 are you about ? The whole city is in an uproar : the 
 - \ General 
 
125 
 
 General of the banditti has been .murdered in the 
 Bo: ia gardens, and the Doge’s niece has been fright¬ 
 ened into fits. 
 
 Salicetti. Almira frightened ! She, poor sod i is 
 'dead, you blockhead. 
 
 Durazza, That she is not ! I swear I saw her an 
 hour ago in the palace : she looks very pale after her 
 fright. If the six thousand scudi are paid, we are 
 finely duped. 
 
 Salicetti . Odze blood! she is dead, and the six 
 
 thousand scudi are paid ; that is certain. 
 
 Girolamo . Ay, I never approved of payment be¬ 
 fore hand, especially at a time when we have not a 
 shilling to cross our mistresses with. 
 
 Salicetti. Confusion! if we are duped, where 
 shall we recruit our stock ? We have but a few scudi 
 left. 
 
 Lazotti . My private concerns are expressly in the 
 same dilemma. In the morning mv uncivil creditors 
 hammer my doors to pieces, and break mv peaceful 
 slumbers: they watch me all day like a cat. after a 
 mouse, and at night I am lulled to sleep by their la¬ 
 mentable hymns of distress, which are enough, by 
 Jupiter, to move the very marble pillars in my halL 
 I think Ave had better at once return to our filial duty. 
 
 Dm 'azzo . By heavens ! Lazotti will shortly become 
 a saint. 
 
 Salicetti . That is generally the way with old sin- l 
 
 ners. I am not one of your lads Avho are dejected at a 
 rebuff. Although disappointed in my plan of inhe¬ 
 riting the fortune of my old relation the Doge ; yet 
 you shall see I will face about, till I lay all sprawling 
 at my feet. 
 
 Lazotti. That is well said ; but what are we to do 
 for resources ? I tell you 1 am completely done up ; 
 and what is worse, I find, that my education will 
 not assist me: my arithmetic goes no further than 
 the numeration of my ten fingers; and my grammar 
 ends in hic 9 hcec } hoc . 
 
 Durazzo , 
 
Durazzo. Never be down-hearted ! Low in purse 
 and low in spirit is hell itself. My brave fellow, let us 
 shew the world that we do not tremble at a bugbear, or 
 start at the popping of a cracker, or the rattling of hail 
 stones. I say, do you know we have a new recruit ? 
 
 Salicetti. Has he cash ? 
 
 Girolamo. No doubt; few of his class but have. 
 It is the Cardinal: he has been a good while dissatisfied 
 with the present system. 
 
 Lanzola . Are you mad, Durazzo ? It is impos- 
 sible. 
 
 % 
 
 Durazzo. I’faith, it is true. In him we have an 
 argus, a fox ; and what is more—a monk. The Doge 
 is aware of his schism, and so distracted, that he 
 seems for all the world as if he had lost his wits in the 
 morning, and is looking for them all day. 
 
 Lazotti . Well, but the question is, how or where 
 are we to recruit ? 
 
 Girolamo . Hark ye, Lazotti. Thy old uncle, thou 
 knowest, has chests upon chests of gold: kick him 
 out of the world. 
 
 Lazotti. That might be done, it is true ; but such 
 an expedient goes against me. 
 
 Enter Bacciochi. 
 
 Salicetti. It is a pity so much money should lie to 
 become mouldy. I tell thee what; not to imbrue thy 
 hands in the old fellow’s blood, we can apply to Buo¬ 
 naparte, who is now at the head of the banditti: he is 
 the fellow ; such acts sit as easy on his conscience as a 
 cordial in a morning. Bacciochi, will you speak to 
 him ? 
 
 Bacciochi . Ay; then the business will soon be done. 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE 
 
127 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 ’The Camp of the Banditti, near a Forest.— 
 The General's head quarters, near the river Genoa . 
 Buonaparte in his tent, on which is the cap of li - 
 berty. He is sitting at a table, folding up a letter . 
 
 Buonaparte {rises from his seat). It is rather 
 strange I have not heard from Paris: they will be 
 devilishly surprised to hear the General is murdered. 
 (Something brushes past him). What ! what is that? 
 (It passes him again, and he receives a slap on the back 
 of the hand as cold as ice). Ah, ah ! what can it be ? 
 The General’s ghost, mayhap. ( Looks round fright - 
 ejied, then rings the bell.) 
 
 Enter Ensign. 
 
 Here, speed with these instructions to General Auge- 
 reau’s quarters. Give the letter into his own hand. 
 
 Ensign . Here is just arrived a messenger from the 
 great city. 
 
 Buonaparte . Tell some one to conduct him here. 
 
 [Exit Ensign. 
 
 Enter an Ensign and Messenger. 
 
 Ensign, how long has this young man been in the 
 camp? (Looks at the Messenger.) Well, citizen, are 
 you a volunteer ? whence come you ? 
 
 Messenger (eying him very significantly). Citizen 
 General in chief, I am a volunteer in the service, and 
 am bearer of dispatches for Buonaparte, second in 
 command. 
 
 Buonaparte. You may give them to me; I will 
 convey them to him. 
 
 Messenger. My orders were to deliver them to none 
 but himself: to Buonaparte, second in command. The 
 address is so. 
 
 Buonaparte . You must be mistaken, citizen; Buo¬ 
 naparte 
 
✓ 
 
 128 
 
 • % 
 
 naparte is not second in command. Let me see the 
 address on the dispatch. (The. Messenger pulls it from 
 his pocket; Buonaparte takes hold of it.) Well, citi¬ 
 zen, I will deliver it to him. 
 
 Messenger. But pray, General—my orders — 
 
 Buonaparte. But pray, citizen, I have no orders to 
 receive. . (Rings J Here, Grenadier, take charge of 
 this young fellow. 
 
 Messenger. But pray, General— 
 
 Buonaparte. Quick, .cjuiek ! A vav with him 1 
 
 [Exeunt Grenadier and- Messenger. 
 
 ( Breaks open the dispatch , c dreads.) “ My worthy 
 <c friend Buonaparte; I have not been unmindful of 
 thy interest: inclosed is your brevet, which appoints 
 you commander in chief of the whole corps of ban- 
 ditti in Italy. I recommend the bearer of this to thy 
 <c regard, as an useful subject. Saiut, Barr as.” —• 
 Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ! Buonaparte appointed com¬ 
 mander in chief. Ha, ha, ha ! Bravo, friend Barras l 
 I thank you. However, as he speaks favourably of the 
 3 r oung man, 1 will see him to-morrow. 1 must now 
 away to the den of those rascals of conspirators. 
 Bacciochi says they expect me, and the game is good. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 A Room in Salicetti’s Hotel. 
 
 Salicetti (sitting alone at a table , covered with bottles , 
 glasses , papers , books, inkstands, Skc. in the greatest 
 confusion). Heigho ! nobody yet come. Curse such 
 creeping souls I it is enough to drive one distracted. 
 Some of our friends murdered; others arrested. We 
 have still a hardy champion in Buonaparte ; he boldly 
 offers his service by public advertisement, so that we 
 may yet survive our misfortunes. Oh, here they 
 come. 
 
 Enter 
 
129 
 
 Enter Lazotti, Lanzola, and Durazzo. 
 
 Salicetti {angrily). Where the devil have you been 
 so late ? Where is the Bishop ? 
 
 Lazotti . The Bishop, eh! We left him distribut¬ 
 ing extreme unction, while we went in quest of in¬ 
 formation. Where are the instruments you spoke of? 
 
 Salicetti. Oh, what of the instruments, without a 
 heart and arm to use them ! The fellow has not 
 brought them. 
 
 Enter Salicetti’s Servant, a German • 
 
 Servant . Sir, dere is a Merchant says you did say 
 him do come here. 
 
 Salicetti. Shew him up. [ Exit Servant. 
 
 Enter Merchant, in a short-skirted coat, long embroid¬ 
 ered silk waistcoat , long rujjles , a small cocked hat , 
 
 and cropt hair. 
 
 Merchant. Gentlemen, your most obedient hum¬ 
 ble servant. I have brought your honour the new-in¬ 
 vented daggers and cephalic powder I mentioned to 
 your honour yesterday. {He opens the box). These 
 are the enchanting prickers. 
 
 All [examine them). Enchanting prickers ! a noble 
 invention truly. Where is the manufactory ? 
 
 Merchant. Paris, crentlemen : new from Paris* 
 
 Salicetti. What countryman are you ? 
 
 Merchant. I am by birth a Frenchman, your ho¬ 
 nour ; but for these five years I have been of any 
 country. 
 
 Durazza. Why so ? Did you emigrate at the 
 breaking out. of the revolution ? 
 
 Merchant. Ah, bless your honour! mv sufferings 
 are not to be imagined ; indeed they are almost incre- 
 dible. Alas ! France is become a den of thieves; a 
 nest of assassins, (Weeps.) Pray, forgive me: my 
 
 s poor 
 
ISO 
 
 poor wife, and three innocent infant babes, fell vic¬ 
 tims to terror and destruction. You must know, gen¬ 
 tlemen, I was a zealous royalist: I loved my king with 
 all my soul; I was as happy as riches and honours 
 could make me; my residence was the seat of every 
 human comfort, till my adored monarch was basely 
 murdered. The bloodhounds then sought after me : I 
 had luckily escaped, and lay concealed for a few 
 weeks; till I, supposing their rage was a little subsided, 
 returned to the neighbourhood of my mansion ; when, 
 lo! dreadful to behold, (weeps bitterly) forgive me, 
 your honours;—when, io ! of all my property not a 
 vestige was left but ruins, and the limbs of my beloved 
 wife and children, lying scattered about, rendered 
 bare by the ravenous beasts and birds of prey. Ah l 
 gentlemen, that country, once the pride of monarchs, 
 the envy of the world, is now sunk, beyond redemp¬ 
 tion, into fathomless perdition. It is become a hell on 
 earth. Oh, gracious Heaven ! I would I were not a 
 Frenchman ! 
 
 Lcinzola. Well, friend, let us see what you have 
 got to shew us. 
 
 Merchant . Indeed, gentlemen, I had almost for¬ 
 gotten. I have here some new cephalic and sympa¬ 
 thetic nose powders. Observe this double-lidded box; 
 at this end is the new-invented amorous snuff, which 
 no gentleman of gallantry should be without. Present 
 it to any lady whose compliance you wish, and you 
 succeed. One single pinch is sufficient to gain a 
 young unmarried woman, or a virgin under twenty. 
 For a married lady under thirty, three pinches. For a 
 widow under forty, tw*o pinches will do, if repeated 
 the same evening. Your honours may then conceive 
 what an invaluable composition it is. 
 
 AIL Well, proceed. 
 
 Merchant. This end of the box contains the Gallic 
 sympathetic powder, a most wonderful antidote to 
 royalty and priestcraft. A single pinch, offered in a 
 friendly way to any one you want to rid the world of, 
 does the business instantaneously. It spreads rapidly 
 
 round 
 
13 i 
 
 round the pericraneum, condenses the brain, and 
 your man falls and expires at your feet as if by the 
 visitation of God. These powders keep their qualities 
 for any length of time, and half a pound is enough to 
 dispatch ten thousand anti-republicans. Thus you 
 see, gentlemen, what a degree of improvement rege¬ 
 nerated Frenchmen have brought the arts to. Pray, 
 have none of you been in France since the revolution ? 
 
 All. Not lately. 
 
 Merchant . No; bless me ! you astonish me; then 
 you can have no idea of the refinements of the age. 
 (With vivacity.') By the revolution, France is become 
 a paradise, and Paris the centre of bon gout , of ele¬ 
 gance, of all the luxuries and sensual pleasures of the 
 world. Oh, what delights in 'that queen of cities 1 
 (Skipping about.) France for ever ! gentlemen. France 
 is now heaven on earth ; the French are angels. Your 
 most obedient humble servant. 
 
 [Exit Merchant. 
 
 Salicetti . What a strange fellow ! There is vola¬ 
 tility to a vengeance ! 
 
 Durazzo. Ay, by Jove, the Frenchman to per¬ 
 fection ! The most horrid and gloomy despondency 
 is in an instant smothered in a blaze of ecstasy. A 
 Frenchman can assume any character, except that of 
 constancy. 
 
 Lazotti. Add that of honour and sincerity too. 
 
 Girolamo. Grief and joy, love and despair, are all 
 equally natural to him; and I have no doubt but such 
 a fellow as this would be easily prevailed upon to mur¬ 
 der his mother for the enjoyment of his sister. 
 
 (Enter Bacciochi, all heated and bloody . 
 
 Bacciochi. Holo ! citizens, holo ! How are you, 
 my lads ? how are you ? 
 
 All. Ah, Bacciochi! where in the devil’s name? 
 have you been r 
 
 V 
 
 5 2 Lazotti , 
 
132 
 
 Lazotti. What have you been about ? Have you 
 had a row at your billiard or pharo tabie, all ? 
 
 Bacciochi. Oh, no; that is nothing. I am daily 
 accustomed to such squabbles. {Throwsoff his cloak.) 
 Come, give us a glass of wine. Burr! I aui horrid 
 dry. Come, fill the glasses. 
 
 Salicetti (fills the glasses). Thou art as hot as if 
 thou earnest from a fencing school. 
 
 Bacciochi {drinks). Truce with your wit; pshaw! 
 Come, till the glass again. W T e have had fine fun, my 
 lads. (Drmks ) Bhrrl (Tears open his waistcoat .) 
 Look here, my boys : it is only a cut of a sabre, about 
 two inches deep ; that’s all. 
 
 Din 'azzo. How earnest thou by it ? 
 
 Bacciochi. I have had a narrow escape; never 
 mind ! Come, sit down, and I will relate to you the 
 whole of this infernal affair: I have been at a rencon¬ 
 tre between a party of the banditti and the police, 
 with Grimaldi at their head. Bhrr ! (shaking himself.) 
 Come, I shall have a fever if I don’t drink. Another 
 glass, quickly ; dispatch! (Drinks.) Now, attend. 
 Bhrr ! Towards nightfall I went, as yon know, in quest 
 of Buonaparte. I was disguised, mind ye. 1 met 
 with a fellow, who answering the'-catch word, I found 
 was one of the gang. I bought his confidence, and 
 he conducted me through different windings and turn¬ 
 ings till we came to a dark passage, where he blind¬ 
 folded me, and then brought me to the door of the 
 committee room. He now took off my bandage. I 
 looked for Buonaparte, but he was not there. I was 
 a little alarmed among such a group of devils, not one 
 of whom 1 knew. I immediately tnrew a handful of 
 money on the table, and confined them, in the name 
 of equality, to use dispatch in their deliberations. I 
 gave them to understand that the price would be 
 princely, the quicker Dufour, Cafra, and Lazotti’s 
 uncle were sent out of the world. All on a sudden 
 the doors were broken open, and a party of the police 
 burst into the room, with Grimaldi at their head. He 
 is a terrible fellow ! With a voice like thunder, he 
 . called 
 
 / 
 
 I* 
 
133 
 
 called out, Surrender, ruffians ! surrender to the Doge ! 
 The banditti tied on all sides. But an officer, I think 
 it was Murat, cried out, Satan, prince of hell, shall 
 fall first ! On this a scuffle ensued, and the sabres were 
 brandished most unmercifully. I knocked out the 
 lights, to have a better chance to escape ; but at that 
 moment I received this slice on my breast. I then 
 sprang through a window, and made the best of my 
 way over different garden walls till I found myself 
 safe here. 
 
 Salicetti. S’death and fury ! why could I not have 
 been there ? 
 
 Durazzo . But how the devil did the police find out 
 that retreat ? 
 
 Lazotti. There is the thing. It is surely that 
 devil of an Englishman they' call Norman. Come, 
 here is deach and confusion to him ! 
 
 All (drink)* Huzza, huzza ! 
 
 Enter Servant, a German. 
 
 Servant. Please your honour, there is a person who 
 desires to speak to your honour. 
 
 Salicetti. What is his name ? Tell him I shall be in 
 in a few minutes. 
 
 Servant. He won’t tell me his name ; but he speaks 
 like de same jentleman as beat me wit de haunch of 
 venison he sent your honour. 
 
 [Exit Bacciochi. 
 
 Salicetti. Shew him up presently. I think it is a spy. 
 Let us be prepared. [Exit Servant. 
 
 Scene changes to the Hall. 
 
 Servant (to the stranger). Sir, my lord is not in; 
 he is out gefarht, but will return in a moment. Please 
 sit down ; 1 will hcscheit you when he comes. What 
 is your name ? 
 
 Buonaparte. You are an impudent scoundrel ! PH 
 
 teach 
 
f 
 
 134 
 
 teach you to use such language to gentlefolks, I war¬ 
 rant you. ( Canes him .) 
 
 Servant. O geminy, geminy ! I peg your bardon. 
 (Falls on his knees.) Oh, Mr. Puonaparte f pray, 
 vorgive me. Biease come up stairs. [Exeunt. 
 
 Scene changes to the Apartment. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte. 
 
 Buonaparie. Good evening, gentlemen ; good 
 evening. 
 
 O 
 
 Durazzo. Very familiar, indeed ! 
 
 Girolama . What is your business. Sir ? Who are 
 you ? 
 
 Buonaparte. What, citizens, not know me ! not 
 know inoffensive Buonaparte. 
 
 All. Thou art an impostor! ( Draw their swords .) 
 
 Buonaparte. Hold, citizens, I am your friend, do 
 ye see. I am come for custom. I am told you wanted 
 to speak to.Buonaparte : I am that holy one anointed ; 
 therefore mistrust not, but consult with me on your 
 weighty affairs. (Throws off his cloak, and his patch 
 from his eye.) Now do ye know me ? 
 
 Lazolti. Well, but what custom do you expect 
 here, amongst us honest men ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Oh, for that matter, we are all honest. 
 I want to speak with one Lazotti, who they teil me has 
 an uncle he wishes to get rid of. Have y 7 on not seen 
 my advertisement and proclamation to the states of 
 
 Italy ? , 
 
 Durazzo. Yes ; and if you be the author, you must 
 be a very clever fellow. 
 
 Buonaparte . Do you really think so ? Why, do ye 
 see, I consider it my duty to stand forward as the 
 champion of humanity, to oblige my friends. At my 
 cutsetting in trade, I was constrained to become sharper 
 in my own defence ; and since that time my business 
 increases ad infinitum. You all know the severe loss I 
 ' * " have 
 
135 
 
 have lately suffered, in the death of my worthy chief, 
 your good friend ; by which the weighty charge of' 
 commander in chief is devolved on me. It was a 
 propitious omen! for, do ye know, at the very hour 
 the General expired in the gardens, my army had a 
 glorious rencontre at Arcole ; and I have just now re¬ 
 ceived advice, that the gates of Milan and Venice will 
 be opened to the noble corps on the appearance of the 
 van. I must post away to settle the dispositions. We 
 will pursue these dastardly slaves of royalty to exter¬ 
 mination. Those wretches have sent me five hundred 
 thousand florins to stop my march ; but that sum 
 will have a contrary effect; my legions will be the 
 quicker for it, and their own will be retarded. Not a 
 chief of brigade in their army but shall be influenced, 
 and made to miss his rout, and give me the plan of 
 their dispositions at every movement. But time is 
 precious ; I must go ; so adieu. 
 
 Salicetti (laying hold of him). We must be better 
 acquainted. Was it you who sent rae the venison ? it 
 was exceeding good. 
 
 O C? 
 
 Buonaparte . Was the venison good ? 
 
 , Salicetti. It was excellent, and I thank you. [To 
 Durazzo.) , Fill the glasses. Here is success to equa¬ 
 lity and liberty ! 
 
 All. Huzza, huzza ! 
 
 Buonaparte. So, then, you think the Genera! is 
 better dead than alive ? 
 
 Salicetti. I don’t understand you; I speak of the 
 venison you sent me after you beat it upon my ser¬ 
 vant’s back. 
 
 Buonaparte. I also speak of that haunch ; the devil 
 bless you with it! It was the right thigh of your friend 
 the General; I expected it would lie a dainty. I was 
 induced to lay it over your servant’s back,.to make it 
 tender as well as to teach him better manners. When I 
 asked him where his master was, he returned me an 
 impertinent answer ; for which I caned him most un¬ 
 mercifully. 
 
 Salicetti. 
 
136 
 
 Salicetti. You are a perfect production of nature, 
 ( To Durazzo.) Come, fill the glasses. 
 
 Buonaparte, Weil, here is the Cardinal’s good 
 health. ( Dnnks,) Brr! he sends his compliments. 
 1 he wine is good, and I enjoy good things much. 
 
 La.zotti • What the devil, do you know the Cardi¬ 
 nal ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Know him ! Hi, hi! Sure don’t all 
 the church court me, knowing that I am descended 
 from holy blood ? 
 
 Durazzo. Truly, to judge by that sanctified fore¬ 
 head, one can’t much doubt of it. 
 
 Enter Baccioclii. 
 
 * 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, come, to business, or I must 
 go ; the question is Lazotti’s uncle. 
 
 Bacciochi. Ay, to the point. Lazotti’s uncle is an 
 old man. But we have two or three others. 
 
 All. You understand ; a dispatch— 
 
 Buonaparte. To the next world, is it not ? 
 
 Salicetti. Yes; but what are vour terms? The 
 General was moderate in his charges. 
 
 Buonaparte. I must first know what character my 
 man is. If a respectable, honest man, of a moral, 
 inoffensive conduct, and such as is generally reputed a 
 good man, my terms are a little high. 
 
 Bacciochi. Two of them are such as the world calls 
 good men ; they seldom frequent the pharo table : but 
 the others are notoriously bad. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, then, for the former I ask six 
 hundred louis per head ; for the latter four hundred. 
 
 All . That is very dear. 
 
 Buonaparte. Look ye, gentlemen ; since I am be¬ 
 come master, I have established regulations, in order 
 to render the profession respectable ; I therefore esti¬ 
 mate by the character. The more brave and urn de- 
 
 mi shed 
 
137 
 
 jhished my man is, the dearer is his head ; and you all 
 know, that honour and integrity are as rare now a 
 days, as white crows or black swans; therefore, not 
 to be met with every day. On the contrary, the 
 hiore scoundrel and villainous be be, the cheaper I 
 hold him ; for the world is over-run with them, as 
 with sparrows. But observe, that, for a very complete 
 scoundrel, I am dog cheap. For instance, I would, 
 send ail of you to the devil for a mere trifle. 
 
 Sahcetti . Thou art a merry scoundrel, that is true. 
 Come, here’s half thou askest ( holding his purse). 
 
 Buonaparte (shaking his head). I never bate ; I tell. 
 you pure blood is scarce. 
 
 Lazotti (low to Bacciochi). Lend Us a hundred. 
 
 Durazto. Here; take my last scudi (throws his 
 purse). One hundred. 
 
 Saliceiti. Ditto for Cafra and Dufour. 
 
 Lazotti (receiving a purse from Bacciochi). Ditto 
 for my old uncle. 
 
 Bacciochi. Ditto, ditto. Do thy business well, my 
 worthy friend. 
 
 Buonaparte (catches the purses, and tosses them in his 
 hand). Hi, hi, hi! Ay, ay, before to-morrow’s light, 
 their eyes shall close for ever ! Good night, good 
 bight. [Exit Buonaparte. 
 
 Salicetti (fils the glasses). Come, here goes. Suc¬ 
 cess 1 
 
 All. Bravo ! Success. (Brink.) 
 
 Burazzo. I hear, Bacciochi, you are appointed se¬ 
 cretary to the grand council, and inspector to the 
 arsenal. 
 
 Bacciochi. Yes; so it is. I have already paid two 
 thousand scudi for it. I shall take possession on 
 Monday. 
 
 All. You must have some good friend somewhere, 
 by Jove. 
 
 Y Bacciochi. 
 
13 $ 
 
 Sacciochi. Sloney hiakes friends: come, let nf 
 Retire. 
 
 \ 
 
 » Salicetti. We’ll meet again to-morrow. 
 
 [Exeunt all, 
 
 h 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 V 
 
 The Doge’s Palace .—Enter Cafra/me? Duenna. 
 
 Cafra. Well, my Duenna, how does your good 
 lady Almira do after her fright ? 
 
 Duenna. She is much better than I expected ; she 
 is trying to settle her mind on the harp this morning. 
 
 Cafra. What is the rascal’s name ; I cannot recol¬ 
 lect it f 
 
 Duenna . Buon, Buon, some such name. He must 
 surely be a supernatural being ! for no intelligence can 
 be obtained of him, notwithstanding the vigilance of 
 the police, and the high reward offered for his head. 
 
 . Cafra. But some of the gang’ have been taken 
 however, I find, and it gives me pleasure to hear Nor¬ 
 man is the means. 
 
 Duenna . Is he arrived 7 
 
 Cafra, No, but I expect him every moment. 
 
 Duenna. I will then inform Almira of this news. 
 Adieu, Signor ! [Exit Duenna. 
 
 Cafra. Yonder comes Norman, he looks fatigued. 
 
 Enter Norman. 
 
 Welcome to my arms, thou adopted child of my heart, 
 henceforth call me father. 
 
 Norman. I am happy to merit your esteem as 
 such, my most honored father. 
 
 Cafra. The Doge expects thee, he is now at 
 breakfast; I can tell thee in confidence, entre no7(s f 
 thou art a great favorite. Now as soon as thou suc- 
 eeedest to take the Caitiff of Corsica, I will imme¬ 
 diately 
 * 
 
139 
 
 diately declare thee sole heir to my wealth and estates; 
 which, let me tell thee, will render thee superior to 
 most of our nobles, and none will dare to contend 
 with thee for precedency in the government. But, 
 zounds, thou dost not listen to me ! 
 
 Norman (as if waking from a dream). I am all 
 attention. How long do you say it will be first ? Life, 
 you know, is short and uncertain. 
 
 Cafra. How long first ! What a question ? That 
 depends upon thyself, hunt him out as soon as thou 
 canst. Oh i here comes the Do^e. 
 
 O 
 
 J 
 
 Enter Doge. 
 
 Doge (seeing Norman J. I welcome thee to the 
 palace ; in the name of the republic I greet thee with 
 thanks for the service thou hast done the state. For 
 my part, I cannot conceive how thou hast succeeded 
 so well. 
 
 Norman. Oh, gracious Sir! to serve your state 
 nothing is impossible to your humble servant. 
 
 Doge (aside to Cafra). By Jove, with fifty young 
 men like him I should be tempted to plan the conquest 
 of the world. (Turning to Norman) But, tell us, 
 how came it to pass that thou couldst not lay hold of 
 the greatest villain, Buonaparte himself; that scoun¬ 
 drel, who dared profane the lovely lips of my Almira 
 with a furious kiss yesterday is escaped ! No monster 
 ever carried his insolence so far ! I am told, his gang 
 is sixty thousand strong ! 
 
 Norman. Never fear, gracious Sir, he will not 
 finally' escape the vengeance due to his insolence. 
 
 Cafra. T should not wonder if, when he hears the 
 gloomy knell of the death bell of his companions, but 
 lie will repent. 
 
 Norman. That is my idea, also. 
 
 Enter Du four. 
 
 Cafra. Well, my good friend, you little thought 
 of seeing our hdro Norman here. 
 
 t 3 Dufour. 
 
V 
 
 140 - 
 
 D.(four. I rejoice at it; here is my hand, Norro&ri^ 
 to the honor of our acquaintance : the enterprise cloes^ 
 thee credit, but, I fear, the state will not benefit much 
 from it. » 
 
 : v L • J i t k ■« » \ . i 
 
 Doge fin haste). What, not benefit ! What dost 
 mean by that, Du four ? 
 
 Cafra (smiling).- Oh, gracious Sir, you know a little 
 contradiction is Dufour 5 s hobby-horse. 1 
 
 Dufoiir. Curse your hobby-horses, say I. I insist 
 the state has not gained a single scudi by the noble 
 action of your friend ; Belzebub, the prince of the. 
 devils, is stiil at large, and laughs at all your precau¬ 
 tions fNorman hides his face behind his hat). I tell 
 you, every state in Europe is in the greatest con¬ 
 sternation. 
 
 Doge. Explain, Du four. 
 
 Du four. Gracious Sir, that bloodhound has pla¬ 
 cards stuck up at the corners of every street and public 
 road, addressed to tive people (pulls a paper, from his 
 pocket). See, here is one of them. Pray read it, 
 gracious Sir. 
 
 Doge (quite distracted) . Do you read it, Du four. 
 
 Dufour (reads). u Venetians, Lombards, Ligu- 
 f c rians, he. he. Ye brave and esteemed citizens \ 
 c i Ye have heard how basely your good friends, the 
 noble banditti, who hastened hither to chastise 
 <( your imperious oppressor, have been murdered in 
 your cities, by order or the tyrants your lords. 
 6i Citizens, be not dejected ; for though those brave 
 *{ heroes of liberty are fallen, yet there is one re- 
 <£ mainjng who, till death, will be your protector and 
 “ friend ; lie swears destruction to the present hellish 
 system of aristocratic tyranny under which you 
 t* groan; the blood of our brethren shall be avenged. 
 f e Take courage, then, and be ready at a moment tQ 
 4< join him in the noble cause. Whoever wants him, 
 knows where to find him ; but whoever seeks him 
 <c with a treacherous intent, will find him no where. 
 Y Woe to them who dare, trace his steps, their lives 
 
141 
 
 H shall pay for their temerity. Health and respect ! 
 6< Buonaparte.” 
 
 -Page (with great emotion). O the murderer! O 
 the villain ! Five hundred pistoles for whoever can 
 trace him out, and a thousand for his head, dead or 
 alive, when produced at the Guildhall. Well, friends, 
 we must attend the council. Norman, to -morrow you 
 dine with me. [Exeunt Doge, Dufour, and Cafra. 
 
 Norman [alone). Ha, ha, ha! Five hundred pis¬ 
 toles ! Ha, ha ! It will cost thee ten times that sum, 
 
 my worthy Doge, Now, I’ll away to-. Adieu, 
 
 Mr. Doge, adieu ! Ha, ha, ha ! [Exit Norman. 
 
 SCENE X. ., ,, ; 
 
 Camp of the Banditti.—B uonaparte in his tent, 
 sitting at a table , with a large map of the Tyrolese, 
 and compasses. 
 
 Enter Ensign with a letter. 
 
 Buonaparte (takes the letter). Who brought this? 
 
 Ensign. The messenger that came yesterday, and 
 please your honor. [Exit Ensign. 
 
 Buonaparte [breaks it open and reads). “ Citizen 
 
 General, the bearer of this is the chaste Josephine, 
 “ the devout widow Beauharnois. Her gravity con- 
 £i sists of live hundred thousand franks, besides 
 c( jewels ; she has as many bidders as virtues ; my 
 £( word is my bond, I promised her to you, and she 
 cc t henceforth yours. Health. Barras.” [A vision 
 passes briskljj bij him, and slaps him on the shoulderJ. 
 
 Buonaparte (starts , turns round terrified) What is 
 that ? What can it mean ? The manes of the general 
 not vet aoneased ? 
 
 i { 
 
 Vision [in a holloiv voice cries out). Ay, she is 
 thine, keep her as the apple of thine eye. She is the 
 ftiorning and evening Yeuus sent by Jupiter to be a 
 
 light 
 
 cJ 
 
I 
 
 142 
 
 light unto thy path, to guide thee in the labyrinth of 
 iniquity, thou art doomed to pass. 
 
 Buonaparte (staring wild and frantic). Sure, it is 
 enchantment, I see nothing ! 
 
 Vision. No, thou seest naught ; but thou remem- 
 berest Theresa, in whose arms thou hast oft incestuous- 
 Iy, at the expense of thy brother’s affection, rioted ; 
 and rememberest thou not, that by an abortive powder 
 which thou didst force me to swallow, I left the world 
 and thee ? Josephine is now thine, preserve her. 
 
 Buonaparte (in great astonishment). What, what! 
 —indeed it is Theresa’s voice. O God, the deed 1 
 well remember, I was then poor, and could not main¬ 
 tain her after my brother left her. From that time I 
 disclaimed the sex, as neither agreeing with my pock¬ 
 et, nor with my inclination. * 
 
 Vision. Beware, beware! Thy doom is fixed! 
 (Something passes , and smacks him on the cheek). 
 
 Buonaparte (starting back). Again! (after a pause)' 
 What !—Courage, Buonaparte, avaunt ye shades, and 
 scruples of conscience ! Ye shall not work on reason ! 
 Having advanced thus far, curse it, I will not retreat 
 (rings). , s " , ' ^ 
 
 Enter Ensign. 
 
 "VVbo, say yon, brought this letter ? 
 
 Ensign. The messenger, and please your honor, 
 who arrived yesterday. She proves to be a woman of 
 good shape and make. 
 
 Buonaparte. What! how know you her sex ? (very 
 angry) How know you her shape and make ? 
 
 Ensign. Please your excellence, I know it only 
 from the grenadier to whose charge you committed 
 her. She slept in the tent with him all night. 
 
 Buonaparte (enraged). Plague on’t! Slept all night 
 with him ! The fellow shall be shot. Shew her in. 
 
 (Exit Ensign. 
 
 ♦ ■ * > . (After 
 
143 
 
 (After a pause j Well, never mind, Barras has well 
 portioned her, that will constantly renew her charms, 
 and cover a mulitude of similar accidents. 
 
 Enter Josephine, dressed as an Amazon. 
 
 Buonaparte. What, my faithful messenger ! (ad~ 
 nances to meet her) Is it you who wanted to deliver the 
 dispatch according to its address, eh ? 
 
 Josephine (looking at him slily). And is it Buona¬ 
 parte who committed me to prison for doing my duty? 
 Indeed, general, you seem very abrupt. 
 
 Buonaparte. Be assured, my dear, it grieves me 
 (taking her hand) to think I should have been the oc¬ 
 casion of my Josephine suffering, the whole night in 
 such a situation ? Why didst thou not declare thy¬ 
 self ? 
 
 Josephine . Oh, as for suffering, I can assure you 
 that I never passed a more pleasant and agreeable night 
 in all my life. I am always happy in the arms of a 
 brave soldier ! 
 
 Buonaparte . Oh, my dear, thou sweet partner of 
 my life, thy long and painful anxiety is now at an 
 end 1 Come to my arms, thou source of my enjoy¬ 
 ments ! Praised be Barras, I now possess thee, (aside) 
 and thy lovely treasure (embraces). 
 
 Josephine. Hast thou none other to praise ? 
 
 \ , 
 
 Buonaparte. Yes, I have to thank my ever dear Jo¬ 
 sephine, and I will crown thee sweet partner* of my 
 fame, my fortune, and my glory. Ay, I henceforth 
 take thee, most lovely angel, for better for worse, in 
 sickness and in health. I prefer thee to all thy sex ; 
 thou art not one of those prudes who spend their time 
 in wantonly adjusting a lascivious dress, who by pride 
 and vanity render themselves ridiculous in the eves 
 of men of sense. No, my Josephine is nature herself; 
 the virgin goddess of perfection. Thou hast been 
 tong accustomed to men, in private and public; thou 
 knowest all the secret windings and turnings of the 
 human heart ;• thou art my treasure. 
 
 Josephine , 
 
144 
 
 Josephine. My beloved Buonaparte ! I adore thee 
 because thou art brave, and 1 agree to be thine. My 
 talents with men shall always be exerted to crown thy 
 exploits. Thou knowest that for these four years past 
 I have practised in the high seminary of modern po¬ 
 lities. Thou knowest mv tutor, to whom thou hast, 
 many obligations : he can attest my experience ot 
 men and things. 
 
 Buonaparte . Of thy talents I am fully sensible ; 
 tell me what thy opinion of public allairs is, my 
 dear. 
 
 Josephine . My opinion is, that all those cankered, 
 rusty principles, those Jesuitical mouldy systems of 
 monarchical government, should be consigned to de¬ 
 struction, and that a new general dynasty be erected 
 in Europe. To effect this, my dear Buonaparte, we 
 must dissipate those creeping dilatory ideas of passive 
 obedience, and drive a regenerated spirit into the 
 brains of the stupified multitude. When a general 
 fermentation is raised, we must prove oursclyes useful 
 to the world, and, like a seasonable breeze, expel the 
 pestiferous vapours, which at present cloud the bright 
 horizon of human reason. Posterity will then pro¬ 
 claim with shouts the age in which flourished Buona¬ 
 parte and Josephine. 
 
 Buonaparte. Most glorious, glorious! My charmer.! 
 My beloved Josephine ! ah, posterity will glorify thy 
 name, as an appendant to Buonaparte. An age it is, 
 reserved for us to penetrate the trackless wilderness, 
 where no mortal ever before dared to tread ; we will 
 pass through it, and then bask ourselves in the sunshine 
 of refulgent glory. 
 
 Enter Ensign. 
 
 Ensign . General Murat is arrived. 
 
 Buonaparte. Come, my Josephine, let’s go. 
 
 [Exeunt* 
 
 SCENE 
 
145 
 
 SCENE XI. 
 
 The Garden at the Palace. 
 
 Doge ( alone , sitting ori a grass-plat , with his arms, 
 folded). Heigho ! I find I grow old ; my life hangs 
 heavy on me. Oh, that I should have lived to witness 
 such vice and atrocity ! Murders are daily committed 
 on honest people at their own doors. (Sighing.) Poor 
 Dufour is no more ! Alas ! why had he not fallen by 
 the hand of the open enemy under the wails of Tunis, 
 twenty years ago? (Rises and walks.) Oh, this 
 monster threatens to exterminate the world ! 
 
 Enter Cafra. 
 
 Cafra (in deep affliction). It is but too true, gra« 
 eious Sir. 
 
 Doge. Alas ! Cafra, thou art now my only friend. 
 (Takes him by the hand.) The loss of my friend—cost 
 me dear ; but he died valiantly, fighting for his eoun- 
 try. I saw his ship sinking, and he* poor soul! waved 
 his hand, as if he bid me adieu. But the loss of Du¬ 
 four, under the dagger of an assassin, cuts me to the 
 soul. Ah, Cafra! we are now waxing old. 
 
 Cafra (wiping his eyes). A manly tear, I hope, 
 gracious Sir, to the shades of a veteran, a friend, is 
 not a disgrace : a soldier’s heart is sensible. The cap 
 that covered his venerable head has been found ; but 
 all attempts to find his corpse are fruitless, notwith¬ 
 standing the traces of blood. 
 
 Doge. Oh, horrid, horrid! Shall we never succeed 
 in detecting this villain ? 
 
 Cafra (drawing a paper from his pocket ). This 
 paper was this morning found stuck up against the 
 town-hall. It is addressed to the multitude. 
 
 Doge. Read it. 
 
 Cafra (reads). (C Citizens of all Italy, greeting i 
 44 dear friends and brethren i don’t trouble yourselves 
 
 u ** on 
 
U6 
 
 * At • 
 
 S( on accoiuit of the reward your foolish government 
 <c offers for my head : it is in vain. I here avow my- 
 c< self the murderer of the Grand Judge and Procura- 
 i£ tor Dufour. I defy your police, and will recom- 
 
 pense him who finds me.—Health, Buonaparte.” 
 
 Doge, Oh, the villain ! More and more insolent: 
 he bids us defiance, and tramples our laws under foot. 
 He must surely have conspired with hell itself. The 
 commonwealth is in imminent danger; recourse must 
 be had to the citizens. Some time ago they did offer 
 their services as volunteers, and to equip themselves at 
 their own expence. Do you, Cafra, go to the mini¬ 
 ster ; desire him to attend me at ten o’clock, that we 
 may concert on the plan for a general organization. I 
 think there are in all about fifty thousand able bodied 
 men. 
 
 i 
 
 Cafra . Gracious Sir, in obedience to your orders, 
 
 I will go. But will your Highness permit me to say 
 one word, which will, however, be with due submis¬ 
 sion to your superior judgment. 
 
 Doge {in haste). Well, speak; we have no time 
 to lose. Speak ; thou art, alas ! my only friend. 
 
 Cafra. With your Highness’s permission, then, I 
 do enter my most solemn protest against the measure 
 of embodying the people. 
 
 Doge. What, Cafra ! art thou against me ? 
 
 Cafra. God forbid, gracious Sir! I am proud of 
 being honoured with your Highness’s confidence : but 
 I cannot, on any principle of honour, assent to a 
 measure, which is most dangerous to the state. Those 
 shop-keeper volunteers must not be depended upon to 
 defend the state, nor protect the government against 
 a daring enemy. I am an old soldier, and I never • 
 knew a trading city but soon capitulated. The inha¬ 
 bitants have an interest in preserving their property 
 with their shops and warehouses. In short, with terx 
 thousand regular veterans I myself would engage to 
 overthrow a hundred thousand of such toilet coutre he¬ 
 roes as your Highness proposes. 
 
 ' ■ * * 1 Doge . 
 
147 
 
 Djge. Thou talkest like a soldier, it is true: but 
 the proverb says, It is good to have two strings to one’s 
 bow. Do thou return with the minister; thou canst 
 assist us with thy counsel. 
 
 [Exit Cafra. 
 
 (Alone.) Mean while, I expect an interview with the 
 Cardinal ; he sends me word he has received letters of 
 importance, and wishes to communicate the contents 
 to me. 
 
 Enter Cardinal. 
 
 Doge* My good friend, I am glad to see you. 
 What news ? 
 
 Cardinal (shrugging up his shoulders). I bear 
 weighty news, gracious Sir. But I can be discreet, if 
 it be not proper to relate it. 
 
 Doge . Your intelligence is always welcome. I wish 
 to hear it. 
 
 Cardinal. Then, with your permission, as I thought. 
 it my duty to come to your Highness, I will commu¬ 
 nicate to you some intelligence concerning this dubious 
 character Norman, who has, God knows how, been 
 introduced to your Highness’s favour. 
 
 Doge . Dubious character, say you ? I regret 
 much that virtue, in the present age, is to be looked 
 upon as.dubious. 
 
 Cardinal (with his eyes cast up to Heaven). Alas, 
 alas ! so it is. (A deep sigh.) 
 
 Doge . Well, what is this news? 
 
 Cardinal. My respect for your Highness will not 
 hinder me from making the communication, being 
 well assured you have been imposed upon in regard to 
 this stranger. 
 
 Doge. Who will dare say that Cafra would deceive 
 me ? I am sure he would not. 
 
 Cardinal. That I do verily believe also; yet we 
 daily see such a train of vice and ungodliness, covered 
 * with 
 
14S 
 
 with a veil of virtue ; and, such is the frowardness of 
 the age, that we are acquainted with many persons 
 years before we know them, 
 
 . Such principles ill agree with the holy Gos** 
 
 Cardinal [shrugging up his shoulders ), The Gospel, 
 gracious Sir, has nothing to do with it. The question 
 is, to know the person in whom we place confidence. 
 This Norman came to your Highness as a stranger, 
 and the natural goodness of your heart received him 
 with regard, under the supposition that he was of a 
 noble English family, from the city of York, and 
 whose fatiier was the intimate friend of Signor Cafra, 
 To strengthen this imposition, he invented a pompous 
 relation of his valour and sufferings, by which the un¬ 
 suspecting Cafra believed he really was the son of his 
 friend. Nov/, as I had always my doubts about him, 
 I sent to England to make enquiries, and desired they 
 might be corroborated by a circumstantial declaration 
 on the part of the family. [Drawing papers from his 
 pocket. ) Elere is my authority. 
 
 Doge (takes the papers , and turns them over in haste) 
 JLet us see ! let us see ! 
 
 Cardinal . Gracious Sir ; and admitting this Norman to 
 be the most honourable man living, yet no honest sub¬ 
 ject can see with indifference a foreigner engross so 
 much regard from the Doge. 
 
 Doge . Iam sensible of what you say: it is an im* 
 prudence, I admit. 
 
 Cardinal. Yes ; in a private individual it would be 
 almost unpardonable, to place his confidence before he 
 knows his man ; but in a prince, or chief of a state, 
 such conduct is ten-fold more blameable. It is by such 
 improvident sycophants that royalty has, of late, met 
 with its overthrow. 
 
 Doge . But is it not more noble to suffer ourselves to- 
 be deceived, than to forsake the good opinion one has 
 of a person ? 
 
 Cardinal . In morality it is so: but [looking at the 
 
 Doge) 
 
149 
 
 Doge) it is a doubt with me, gracious Sir, whether 
 the dut) 7 of a sovereign will permit him to adopt such 
 moral maxims. However, I do request of your High¬ 
 ness, that my name may not be mentioned in what I 
 have had the honour to tell you. ( Going away.) 
 
 Doge . Then may I keep the papers ? 
 
 Cardinal, They are the justification of what I as¬ 
 sert. [Exit Cardinal. 
 
 Doge [alone). He is one of Job’s comforters ; I al¬ 
 ways dread his visits, I must, however, allow, that he 
 is generally in the right. 
 
 Enter Cafra. 
 
 Doge . I am glad you are come; I was just going 
 to send for you, 
 
 Cafra [quite out of breath). The council is now 
 sitting, gracious Sir, upon the unfortunate circum¬ 
 stance of poor Dufour. 
 
 Doge [walking to and fro , in great trouble). Alasj 
 I cannot attend ; much less can I receive condolence 
 You must officiate for me, Cafra . But before you go, 
 I must have a little serious conversation with you. 
 
 Cafra. You seem in trouble, gracious Sir ; may I 
 ask the cause ? 
 
 Doge. Yes, yes; you shall know it. [Looking at 
 Cafra.) Yes; you and I have been long friends. 
 
 Cafra [in hasty astonishment). Long friends, gra¬ 
 cious Sir ! and I hope that friendship will co-exist with 
 the. world. But this expression surprises me : it can¬ 
 not surely be any thing concerning me ? 
 
 Doge. Something concerning you and your English 
 friend, whom you inconsiderately introduced to me. 
 Tell me w r ho this Norman is. 
 
 Cafra: Your Highness knows as much of him as I 
 do : he is the son of my friend Norman, of the city of 
 York, in England. 
 
 Doge [shaking his head). I must be satisfied in re¬ 
 spect 
 
150 
 
 spect to bis family, his genealogy. If he prove an 
 adventurer— 
 
 Cafra. Jt cannot be ; bis father was my friend, and 
 of a noble family. A braver man never lived. 
 
 J 
 
 Doge. And }'ou really believe him to be the son of 
 your friend ? 
 
 Cafra. I have no reason to doubt it. 
 
 Doge. Alas, Cafra 1 you have been imposed upon. 
 {Pulls a paper from his pocket.) Here, read this pa¬ 
 per ; this family document. 
 
 Cafra. Family document ! what can this mean, 
 gracious Sir. 
 
 Doge . Read it, I say,, and be composed ; we must 
 discover the truth of it. 
 
 Cafra (reads). It is very true; it does seem he is 
 not related to my friend’s family ; but- 
 
 Doge (in haste). But! Art thou my friend, or 
 art thou faithless to me, Cafra ? 
 
 Cafra (affected). Oh, gracious Sir ! that word cuts 
 me to the heart. It is enough ; Norman must answer 
 for himself. Then you will find that the grey-headed 
 Cafra is no traitor. ( Going away.) 
 
 Doge ( stops him). Cafra, I don’t mean to offend 
 thee. Don’t be angry. 
 
 Cafra (grieved) . But old Cafra is no traitor ; by 
 
 Heaven, he is not! Did not I receive tins cut on mv 
 ' %/ 
 
 cheek in warding off a deadly blow aimed at your 
 Highness’s head ? 
 
 Doge. Nay, be not angry ! let us be friends till 
 death. Thou art now my only friend. 
 
 Cafra. I will haste to find Norman. 
 
 [Exit Cafra. 
 
 Doge (alone). Ah, poor Cafra! he is still the same 
 as ever : as hot as pepper! takes fire like tinder! but 
 he is good hearted and compassionate. I’ll take a 
 turn in the garden for a little air. \Ex x it Doge. 
 
 SCENE 
 
151 
 
 \ 
 
 ^ / f ' . 
 
 SCENE XIII. 
 
 Garden. — Enter Doge, walking with his hands he* 
 
 • hind him. 
 
 Doge. But this hot temper is a proof of his sensi¬ 
 bility. (Sighs.) Ah, poor Cafra is my only surviv¬ 
 ing friend ! [Sits down on a grass bank.) Poor Dufour 
 is gone 1 Alas ! who can now heal the wound his 
 death has inflicted in my breast? 
 
 % 
 
 Buonaparte jumps from behind some trees , disguised by 
 a great black patch on his face. 
 
 Buonaparte . I will cure thy wounds, and ease thee 
 of thy life too, if thou wilt. 
 
 Doge (terrified). What! Who art thou? What 
 dost want here, fellow ? How earnest thou here ? 
 
 Buonaparte. What do I want here ! Hi, hi, hi! I 
 come to visit thee. Didst thou not say the other day, 
 at table, that'thou wishedst to see Buonaparte? He 
 now stands before thee ! Behold him ! the same who 
 has sent thy friend, the Adjutant and Grand Judge 
 Dufour, out of the world. By the same recipe 1 can 
 do the same for Cafra, and for thyself too, and am thy 
 most humble servant into the bargain. 
 
 wJ 
 
 Doge (in fright). Vile monster, begone ! Wha 
 brought thee here ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Old fool, my legs, and an escort of 
 thv own guards ! they area’ll in my pay. 
 
 Doge. Avaunt, wretch ! begone ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Good Mr. Doge, be not angry; or 
 thou must measure swords with me. (Lays hold of his 
 arm.) Let us take advantage of the present moment, 
 for it is not likely we shall meet again very soon. 
 
 Doge. Dost hear; whoever thou art, quit our 
 territory, and I will pardon thee. 
 
 Buonaparte. Pardon me ! Hi, hi, hi ! The spar¬ 
 row pardon the hawk ! Indeed, my dear fellow, I 
 
 have 
 
\ 
 
 152 
 
 have long ago set myself above pardon"; therefore;, be 
 not so silly, my good fellow, as to think that I shall quit 
 the Ligurian territory through terror of thy threats. 
 (Draws a paper from his pocket , and an inkstand ) 
 Come, to business, Mr. Doge ! Here* sign this 
 paper! - 
 
 Doge, What paper ? 
 
 Buonaparte. This paper. It is in good order. 
 
 j Doge (begins to read). 
 
 Buonaparte . Pooh, pooh ! man ; I say, sign it, not 
 read it. Here, write thy name here (pointing to the 
 place). Come, quick ; lay it on thy knee. 
 
 Doge (signs). Abominable wretch ! 
 
 Buonaparte . However abominable I may be, re-* 
 member, that when the great events of the age are 
 recorded, it will be said, that Buonaparte flourished in 
 the reign of the most noble family of the Dorias* 
 
 Doge (in wrath). Once for all, leave the territory, 
 and I will give thee an assignment for twenty thousand 
 scudi. 
 
 Buonaparte . Hi, hi, hi! twenty thousand scudi! 
 lii, hi ! i’ll give thee ten times that sum. By this 
 deed, thou hast this minute transferred to me all thy 
 goods and chattels, together with the whole Ligurian 
 banlf. I say, take thy farewell of Cafra and Norman 
 as soon as thou canst, for they are doomed to heaven 
 or hell this-night. 
 
 Doge (enraged). Hollo, hollo! Guards 1 Here, 
 here ! 
 
 Buonaparte (draws a pistol from his pocket , goes up 
 to the Doge, and fires it off close to his face.) Adieu * 
 adieu, old boy ! (Jumps through the bushes.) 
 
 Doge ( dreadfully terrified). O, murder, murder ! 
 What, is there no means to punish this audacious 
 wretch. (He walks , tottering , towards the palace, and 
 meets Cafra. 
 
 Cafra , 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
15 3 
 
 Cafra. Ah ! what is the matter, gracious Sir; what 
 has happened to you ? 
 
 Doge. Alas, Cafra, thy life is in clanger. Thou 
 art on the proscription list. I beg thee not to leave the 
 palace without a guard. That murderer Buonaparte 
 has just now been here: he told me he intended to kill 
 thee and Norman. Then the monster fired a pistol at 
 me, which was well nidi killing: me. 
 
 Cafra. God preserve my sacred Doge ! The grand 
 council is now sitting to investigate this alarming con¬ 
 spiracy. Which way did the monster run ? It seems 
 arms have been discovered sufficient for a hundred 
 thousand men. Alas, gracious Serenita, this is the 
 consequence of encouraging armed associations ! 
 Twenty-three citizens are arrested, and more of this 
 dreadful business is hourly expected to be brought to 
 light. \ Exeunt. 
 
 4 
 
 SCENE XIV. 
 
 A Room it* the Palace. — The Doge steeping on a 
 
 couch. 
 
 Enter Almira, with a book in her handy and a letter. 
 
 Almira {perceiving her uncle). Ah, poor soul! his 
 troubles are great. These conspiracies cause a dread¬ 
 ful consternation in the state. I cannot imagine why 
 men are always dissatisfied and quarreling, and seek¬ 
 ing each others lives. Why not rest in harmony in 
 the bosom of their families ? Yet, alas ! thev pride 
 themselves as God’s elect in the creation, and highly 
 superior to us females. Our innocence is vice in their 
 sight, although all our crimes consist only in a little en¬ 
 vious slander and raillery at each other. {Looking at 
 the Doge). Poor soul ! 
 
 Doge {awaking). Who is there ? 
 
 Almira. It is I, dear unde. {Kisses his hand). 
 
 Doge. Prithee, leave me ; I wish to be alone. 
 
 Almira. 
 
 x 
 
154 
 
 Almira (withdraws) 'weeping). 
 
 Doge (calls lowly)'. Almira, come hi then (She re¬ 
 turns to him, and he lays hold of her hand.) Don’t be 
 hurt, child ; I am not angry. Come, kiss me. What, 
 hast thou been crying ? 
 
 Almira ( sobbing , but forces a smile)* Oh, no, dear 
 uncle. Here is a letter for you. (Aside.) I know it 
 is about poor Cafra. 
 
 Doge (breaks open the letter ; starts up) quite dis¬ 
 tracted , slapping his forehead). Alas ! my dear girl, 
 our days of gladness and joy are all over now. Poor 
 Cafra is gone ! Alas ! go, go to thy room, my angel, 
 and leave me. 
 
 [Exit Almira. 
 
 (Ingreat agitation.) Yes, he must be a supernatural 
 being. What, steal my poor Cafra out of his bed at 
 midnight ! O God, it is past all comprehension l 
 Alas, my only faithful friend is gone ! I am left 
 alone. (Looking stedfastly on the floor.) Heigho ! 
 A Veil, we shall soon meet again in abetter world. Mv 
 sorrows weigh heavy on my weary soul. 
 
 Enter Salicetti. 
 
 Salicetti (advancing with great respect). Most gra¬ 
 cious Serenita ! 
 
 Doge. Ah, Signor Salicetti, by what accident do I 
 receive this visit ? I have not seen you so long. 
 
 Salicetti . I hope, gracious Sir, my respect to your 
 person is not accidental. 
 
 Doge. Alas ! Salicetti, I am now bereft of friends ! 
 The games of chance cannot be more inconstant than 
 my happiness, which is in continual agitation, as a 
 buffeted shuttlecock. Vice attacks, and virtue repels ; 
 so that my mind fluctuates like the tide. Salicetti, 
 thou art my relation; but thou seemest irot to know 
 the world. Steer clear of the envy and jealousy which 
 torment it. 
 
 Salicetti. Indeed, gracious Sir, it grieves me to see 
 
 your 
 
155 
 
 your trouble. The murderous hand of the banditti is 
 uplift, and threatens every citizen. The council is 
 now investigating this terrible conspiracy, which fore¬ 
 bodes the overthrow of the state ; and, I am told, that 
 Norman hrst discovered it. This appeared so extraor¬ 
 dinary to me, that I could not refrain from communi¬ 
 cating to your Serenita what I have heard. 
 
 Doge. What have you heard ? People hear many 
 unfounded things. 
 
 * Salicetti. Believe me, gracious Sir, I have no in¬ 
 terested views ; no sinister designs. What I say 
 comes from my soul, as I must answer for my words ; 
 yet I wish I could doubt of the reality of them. 
 
 Doge . Well, the conclusion. 
 
 Salicetti. Ah, gracious Sir ! then I will tell you that 
 this same Norman is said to be at the head of this con¬ 
 spiracy, and that the arms found in the houses, and 
 carried to the arsenal this morning, were nothing but 
 a mask to draw off the attention of the police and 
 magistrates from the real object. 
 
 ‘ Doge (shaking his head). And do you think to make 
 me believe this ? You know such a denunciation de¬ 
 mands some proof. 
 
 Salicetti. That I allow, gracious Sir {takes a letter 
 from his pocket ), and here is what, in some measure, 
 will justify what I say (shewing the letter). This was 
 found in the palace-yard, this morning early ; and by 
 what I can observe, it is certainly Norman’s hand¬ 
 writing. {Pulls another letter from his pocket.) Con¬ 
 front it with this. It is identically the same. This is 
 addressed to the master of the ordnance, who is desired, 
 to remain quiet till he receives notice of every thing 
 being in readiness. 
 
 Doge. And such letters, say you, are found in the 
 open streets. {Shakes his head.) 
 
 Salicetti. Well, gracious Sir, I have doji 2 my 
 
 duty. - 
 
 Doge. I wish, Salicetti, that had always been th3 
 case. 
 
 x 2 Salicetti. 
 
156 
 
 Salicettu I am responsible for my conduct. (With¬ 
 drawing, very respectfully.) I should be happy to re¬ 
 commend myself to your Serenita’s confidence. 
 
 [Exit Salicetti. 
 
 Doge (alone, almost distracted ). Alas, alas, how I 
 am perplexed with all these stories ! (Sits down, very 
 pensive.) 
 
 Enter a Senator. 
 
 Ah, Signor, how do you do ? 
 
 Senator. I thank your Serenita. I am come, in the 
 name of the council, to beg your Serenita would order 
 the arrest of Norman. 
 
 • A 
 
 Doge ( astonished■). What, more alarm ! What say 
 you, arrest Norman ? For what ? 
 
 Senator. Please your Serenita, Norman is denounced 
 as the projector and leader of this alarming conspiracy* 
 The arrested citizens orive evidence thereto. 
 
 o 
 
 Doge. Surely it requires other proofs than the de¬ 
 nunciations of accomplices, to condemn. 
 
 Senator. In state affairs, gracious Sir, suspicion is 
 now a days considered enough to justify arrest. If 
 they are rich and innocent, then they may seek redress ; 
 but if poor, let them think it well it is no worse with 
 them. 
 
 Doge. Alas ! if the principles of government are 
 thus subverted, I thank God I have never adopted 
 them. Well, Signor, I will consider of your request. 
 Adieu. [Exit Senator. 
 
 Should this Norman at last be a conspirator, I could 
 almost stand by to see him executed. 
 
 [Exit in agitation . 
 
 Enter Duenna and Norman. 
 
 Duenna . My dear brother, you must not remain 
 here a minute. Suspicion is brisk on the wing. The 
 Doge himself is affected. Here, take these diamonds, 
 and those keys; with them you may enter the olcj 
 man’s closet when you will, and seize the papers. 
 
 Norman « 
 
157 
 
 Norman. But tell me, have you been able to sup¬ 
 port Baeciochi’s recommendation ? 
 
 Duenna. Yes, yes, I have settled that point; and 
 Bacciochi and myself have exchanged rings. Look 
 here (shewing her finger) : and do you know his friend 
 Salicetli is to come this afternoon. 
 
 Norman. Be sure be prudent not to discover me. 
 Did Josephine come to see you yesterday ? 
 
 Duenna. O, yes ; in the character of a mournful 
 widow. She looked so modest, so lovely, that Almira 
 pressed her to stop a week; but she said she must de¬ 
 part for Milan. 
 
 Norman. Adieu, adieu, dear. [ Exeunt . 
 
 . V * V 
 
 Vi.- • 
 
 SCENE XV. 
 
 An Apartment in Salicetti’s Hotel. —Salicetti 
 
 sitting pensively at a table , with papers lying confused 
 
 together. 
 
 Enter Cardinal, Cafrara, and Bishop Spina. 
 
 Cardinal. What, my noble cousin, nobody here 
 yet ! What fancies can detain these young fellows. 
 
 Salicetti. Ay, whims and fancies, m\^ dear Cardi¬ 
 nal, float in my brain also. I was just now musing, 
 whether it were possible for a noble to be hanged ; or 
 whether a holy dignitary of the church can be, with 
 decency, exposed in the pillory. W r hat think you. 
 Bishop Spina ? 
 
 Spina. No reflections, my good Count, I beseech 
 you. 
 
 Salicetti. Oh, not in the least; I only suppose, 
 that if Miss Fortune, who has in so many cases proved 
 ja sad jade, were to turn traitress, and whisper our se¬ 
 crets in the Doge’s ear ! Ah, would that not be a 
 sad affair ? 
 
 Cardinal. Pooh, pooh! In that case you need not 
 be uneasy ; for my worthy friend Spina and I would 
 
take our stations as becomes us. Now, suppose our 
 game lost, and plans discovered ; our troops beaten ; 
 no resource at ail left; we then rush forward in the 
 midst of the multitude, with the thunderbolt of ex- 
 communication in one hand ; in the other, the olive 
 branch of salvation. All would be as mute and silent 
 as saints. 
 
 Salicetti. Apropos ; I hear you have been at the 
 palace, and given the Doge a letter which you have 
 received from England concerning Norman. 
 
 Cardinal . It is true. The Do^e is hard of belief. 
 Norman seems to possess the secret corner of the old 
 man’s heart. 
 
 Salicetti. I find so too. I went to the palace also, 
 to shew the DogeTthe letter my secretary, Champagne, 
 wrote, in imitation of .Norman’s hand. I told him it 
 had been picked up in the court-yard. 
 
 Cardinal. Well, what said he? 
 
 Salicetti. Oh, be took it and read it: but his mind’s 
 eye was too blind to see through the trick. Indeed, it 
 must be difficult; for Champagny, my secretary, is 
 very clever in imitating any band writing; and 
 then we sealed the letter, and broke it open again. 
 But I find it hard to quiet a guilty conscience ; for 
 since that time, 1 have such odd fancies wafting about 
 me, that last night I dreamt I saw your Grace on the 
 lamp post , and a dozen of our nobility on new spring 
 drops. 
 
 Cardinal. Ha, ha, ha ! Dreams, my friend, are 
 idle visions. But bark ye, what is your plan at present 
 with regard to Almira ? 
 
 Salicetti. I am devilishly perplexed what to do. I 
 believe I must again renew my addresses in good earn¬ 
 est. I have yet a chance. It would be a terrible affair 
 for the Doge’s fortune to go out of the family. I have 
 already bribed Duenna through Bacciochi, who makes 
 love to her. 
 
 Cardinal. That’s right, my boy ; by all means at¬ 
 tack boldly. Success attend you. Adieu. 
 
 Salicetti , 
 
159 
 
 SalicettL I’ll away this instant to the palace, to try 
 my luck. [ Exeunt . 
 
 SCENE XVI. 
 
 "V 
 
 A Room in the Palace. 
 
 Enter Almira and Duenna. 
 
 i > 
 
 Almira. Weil, Duenna, if it be true, as you say, 
 that love is a dream, I must confess I am dreadfully in 
 love ; for my dream last night was dreadful. 
 
 Duenna. Indeed, no love was ever more like a 
 dream than yours ; since you-know your uncle cannot 
 consent to your marrying Salicetti. 
 
 Almira. You know the objection is somewhat 
 abated at present; besides, I was then a child, and 
 was led like a child. The case is now different ; at 
 eighteen we know what is what. Reason springs up to 
 guard our honour. > 
 
 Duenna. Lord ! where did my Almira imbibe such 
 droll notions ? Ah! who comes ? 
 
 Enter Salicetti, with a graceful bow . 
 
 Almira (observing him , starts back)* 
 
 Salicetti (advancing). Your ladyship’s most devoted 
 humble slave. 
 
 Duenna (aside). Of course. 
 
 Almira (fingering her ribbands). You surprise me, 
 my lord. I did not expect to see you at the palace. 
 My uncle, I believe, is in his closet. I suppose you 
 are come to speak to him. 
 
 Salicetti. Excuse me, pray, sweet Almira; I would 
 not willingly exchange your company for that of any 
 other on earth. 
 
 Almira (turning to Duenna). Come, we’ll go and 
 acquaint my uncle the Count is here. 
 
 Salicetti. Oh, no ; pray let me enjoy this happy 
 
 moment 
 
160 
 
 moment of meeting so unexpectedly with the lovely 
 Almira. 
 
 ✓ 
 
 Duenna. Indeed I thought the Count had forgotten 
 
 O 
 
 US. 
 
 / 
 
 Salicetti. I thank you, D uenna. (Turning to Al¬ 
 mira). Believe me, I have never ceased thinking 
 of- 
 
 Almira ( embarrassed , aside). He is the same. 
 (Looking at him). Signor, my uncle is- 
 
 Salicetti . At peace with me, lovely Almira, and I 
 ardently desire to make peace with you. (Lays hold 
 of her handy and kisses it.) I hope you are not angry. 
 Can you forgive ? 
 
 Almira. When mortals are on the brink of the 
 grave, they should forgive, and forget. Alas !—— 
 
 Duenna. And don’t you see, Signor, that poor Al¬ 
 mira is near the grave ? I hope you will also forgive 
 and forget all. I shall be back presently. 
 
 {Exit Duenna. 
 
 Salicetti. Forget! alas, that I cannot! No, lean 
 never forget those fascinating charms, that have so often 
 ravished my eyes, and expanded my heart with de¬ 
 light ! Forgive ! ( pressing her hand to his lips) ah, 
 would to heaven Almira had offended ! then there 
 would be some merit in a pardon. But, alas ! what 
 h‘ave I now to forgive ? 
 
 Almira. My Lord, my uncle’s distress is so great, 
 at the loss of his friends Dufour and Cafra, that I wish 
 to retire. (He still holds her hand). My poor uncle 
 is sore afflicted ; is very much changed. Alas, I fear 
 the consequence will be fatal! 
 
 Salicetti. In all these troubles, Almira has no¬ 
 thing to fear ! I am her protector ! Alas, could she 
 but read, and see what is engraved in this heart! 
 
 Almira (quick). Ab, heaven knows what I might 
 discover there. 
 
 Salicetti. You would there behold Almira’s lovely 
 image indelibly imprinted, clad in simple nature. 
 
 Almira. 
 
161 
 
 
 Almira . Then assuredly should I pity that heart. T 
 cannot conceive how you men can have so mean an 
 opinion of our sex, as to think such flattery is agreea¬ 
 ble to us. 
 
 Salicetti (looking earnestly at her). Did not Almira 
 once tell me, and enjoin me, under pain of her dis¬ 
 pleasure ; nay, she made me swear, never to speak to 
 her but truth. I must then be silent, 'alas ! 
 
 Almira. My Lord, you have already lost yourself, 
 therefore you had better retire. (She withdraws to¬ 
 wards the door.) 
 
 Salicetti (lags hold of her hand; falls on his knees). 
 Must then blind chance still brandish its cruel sceptre 
 over an afflicted heart, in triumph ? (Kisses her hand in 
 rapture ). 
 
 Almira (in a faultering voice). Pray, let me go. 
 (Looking at him.) It is very cruel, Signor. {She 
 falls in his arms.) 
 
 Salicetti. May Isay Almira is mine? Wilt thou, 
 dearest angel, ever more refuse me ? ( Embraces 
 
 her.) 
 
 Almira ( recovering , aside.) Oh, the conflict of my 
 soul! Agitated between love, honour, and filial duty. 
 
 o ' ' i. 
 
 It is too much. 
 
 Salicetti. Mv dearest angel, let these emotions 
 
 J O 7 
 
 cease ! Permit, me to accompany you to Duenna. 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE XVII. 
 
 At Bobio. 
 
 _ * r- 
 
 Enter Buonaparte and Bacciochi, m a tent. 
 
 Buonaparte. I tell you it must be on the very day 
 that the Senate assembles : it will correspond well with 
 our other movements. I can be there myself then. 1 
 
162 
 
 through the gates, the two evenings before. Andre- 
 ossi and Murat, who will command, will confer with 
 you about the time they must be at the arsenal to re¬ 
 ceive the uniforms and arms from you, as inspector. I 
 myself will arrive about eight in the morning. 
 
 Baccioclii. The Grand Council will assemble at 
 twelve o’clock, and the arsenal must be open at nine 
 in the morning, as the men must be mustered in pre¬ 
 sence of some of the Senators. 
 
 Buonaparte. You will contrive, so that twelve men, 
 with a lieutenant, remain in the arsenal, and let the 
 keys be given to Murat. 
 
 Bacctochi. Lazotti shall be at the door of the council 
 chamber, to give the signal for your entrance. Adieu. 
 
 \Exit Bacciochi* 
 
 \ ' C 
 
 Enter Berthier, Massena, Augereau, Jubert,- and 
 
 Bernadotte. 
 
 Buonaparte . Citizen Generals, I ordered you here 
 that we mav make our final arrangements. I have 
 agreed with the poor devil Pius to let him say his pray¬ 
 ers in peace, provided he go to France to pray for the 
 republic, and the destruction of royalty. T beg you 
 all to accept my hearty thanks for the bravery and 
 alacrity you have shewn during our marauding mission 
 into this country. Mellisimo, Acqui, Voltri, Bochet- 
 to, Ceva, Mondovi, Tassano Abla, Rochetto, Tortua 
 Cono, Mondobi, Ladi, Borghetta, Arcolc, and Bres¬ 
 cia, crown our glory. The final destruction of Ligu¬ 
 ria follows next Monday, and, as I expect , of Venice 
 and Mantua. Berthier, your exactitude, in the fusil¬ 
 lade of the magistrates, and the five hundred inhabi¬ 
 tants at Pavio, will remain an immortal honour to 
 your memory. To you, Augereau, the world is 1 
 
 doubly indebted, for the good order in which you 
 commanded the Morions massacre at Lugo. The 
 plunder was judiciously distributed. There remains 
 now but the last resource of monarchy to be destroyed. 
 Remember Mantua is still in the hands of those vile 
 aristocrats the Imperialists. 
 
 Berthier . 
 
 ! 
 
163 
 
 Berthin '. It is true, citizen General; but this 
 place, impregnable by nature, has now received an 
 additional strength by the presence of that renowned 
 veteran Wurmser. 
 
 Massena. Ay, and he is already making demon¬ 
 strations, that indicate his intention of over-running 
 Lombardy, to drive our corps back. IIis fore-posts 
 are far advanced towards Milan. 
 
 Buonaparte. Oh,*oh! is it so? (Ajter a pause.) 
 Well, well; we will soon shew him that he is not wag¬ 
 ing war with a monarchical army. No, no ; I’ll stop 
 his proceeding. (Sits down to write , during which 
 tune the others are discoursing about the addresses of Mi¬ 
 lan , Cremona, and Genoa y Kc.) 
 
 Buonaparte (rising). Here, Jubert, do you speed 
 with an aid-du-camp, to Wurmser, with this. My 
 request is to have an interview with him at Gazolo 
 next Saturday, at twelve o’clock precisely. 
 
 [Exit Jubert. 
 
 I shall be to-morrow at Parma, where you will bring 
 me the answer, 
 
 Berthier. Then it seems, citizen General, as if our 
 labours in the service of humanity will draw to a crisis 
 soon in this country. Should we not, however, 
 strengthen our posts atGuastalia mean while, to secure 
 a retreat ? 
 
 Buonaparte. A retreat ! who talks of a retreat ? A 
 race, mv friend, is never won by running backwards. 
 Ou r good friends of Milan, Capiara, Feuaroli, Luosi, 
 rendered us immortal service in the surrender of the 
 capital of Lombardy, and they will be as successful 
 now' at Venice, and Marsecabchi, Contain, Guicciar- 
 di, Contari, Paradisi, and Strompa, after overthrow¬ 
 ing their proud Duke, I know will also succeed in 
 their missions to the different divisions bf the enemy’s 
 army. The family of Belltionino of Lucia is of great 
 service, and also Luchesmi. I am in expectation of 
 seeing JSebastiani arrive every moment, with the pri¬ 
 vate instructions the Venetian army is to observe. (T/j 
 
 y 2 Augereau.) 
 
164 
 
 Augereau.) Your corps must advance to-morrow to¬ 
 wards that treacherous city, and uproot the dastardly 
 aristocracy. My address is still fresh in the minds of 
 the people; distribute it again. Keep to the letter; 
 revenge the blood that the proud Doge has so basely 
 caused to be shed of our brave brothers at Verona. 
 Insist on the inquisitors and the commandant being 
 given up to your judgment. Take possession of the 
 keys of the city, and institute a provisional govern¬ 
 ment. {To Massena.) Hasten your division from 
 Cremona towards Bozolo ; and order ten thousand men 
 to file off between the Austrian corps of Proveras, and 
 the place on Saturday morning. The outposts are 
 already gained over, not to give the signal. At fifty- 
 five minutes past twelve o’clock, when I shall be in 
 conference with Wurmser, this division must begin 
 the attack upon the main body, which consists of six 
 thousand choice troops. {To Berthier.) With your 
 division at Novelora you will strengthen the posts of 
 Governoto, and order Jubert to advance with six 
 thousand men towards II Fortezza; and at fifty-five 
 minutes past twelve, attack, sword in hand, Porti 
 de Molina. At this instant I shail gallop off, and leave 
 old Wurmser in wild astonishment at being, perhaps, 
 cut off from the place, which must soon then surren¬ 
 der. I immediately shall repair to Genoa, finally to 
 settle with that proud city. 
 
 Enter Bernadotte. 
 
 Bernadette. Apropos, citizen General; we must not 
 forget tiiis is the 14th of July, of sacred memory. 
 
 Augereau. True, faith ; I had almost forgotten it. 
 Come, we must separate with a gladdening toast, 
 
 Buonaparte . With all my heart! Order some wine. 
 
 Enter Servants, with wine and glasses . 
 
 Buonaparte {all sitting down). Here goes. Royal¬ 
 ists, the moment they shall shew themselves, shall 
 cease to live ! 
 
 4H , 
 
 ( 
 
All. Huzza, huzza, huzza ! 
 
 Buonaparte. We swear by the manes of our fallen 
 heroes ; we swear upon our standards; implacable war 
 to the enemies of the republic, and of republican go¬ 
 vernment, and of the constitution of the 3rd year. 
 
 All. Huzza, huzza, huzza ! 
 
 Buonaparte. A leaden death to whoever shall pro¬ 
 pose the restoration of royalty in France ! 
 
 All. Huzza, huzza, buzz's ! 
 
 Berthier. To the constitution of the 3rd year, and 
 to the Executive Directory of the French republic. 
 
 Augereau. May all, who act contrary to that reso¬ 
 lution, tremble ! 
 
 Bernadotte , To the Council of Ancients. 
 
 Villemanzy , a commissary. Revenge for the blood 
 of the French citizen massacred at Verona ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Now, citizen Generals, we must se¬ 
 parate each to his post. Success attend you \ Adieu. 
 Health. [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE XVIII. 
 
 Genoa. —The Grand Council assembled to deliberate 
 
 on the urgent situation of the republic. The Doge 
 
 president. 
 
 Secretary Baccieehi reads the order of the day. 
 
 A Senator Before we can deliberate, it is necessary 
 to have before us the exact state of our forces, &c. at 
 this important crisis; and therefore submit to the august 
 Senate, the propriety of ordering the commanders in 
 chief to the bar. 
 
 ,2d Senator. I approve of the idea, and therefore 
 move, that the commander of the military forces of 
 the republic be summoned to attend. 
 
 All. Agreed. 
 
 Doge. Here is no time to be lost: the crisis is ur¬ 
 gent. 
 
166 
 
 gent. I have just now received advice, that ©ur good 
 friend Norman, God prosper him ! has had an affair 
 this morning with a strong party of the banditti, within 
 two leagues of the city; and the main body of those 
 wretches are approaching with all speed. Ay, here 
 comes Norman. 
 
 Enter Norman in his cloak, as if just arrived, 
 
 Norman (advancing near the table , where the secre¬ 
 tary sits). Most noble and reverend Signors, I hasten, 
 at your supreme order, to your presence. 
 
 A Senator. We sent no order to you, Sir. Our 
 commands were to the commander in chief of the Li¬ 
 gurian forces. 
 
 Norman. Signors, your late commander in chief is 
 now in the Lazaretta, by my orders. (Waves his hat, 
 at which signal a crowd of banditti enter , dressed in the 
 citizens ’ uniforms . As they enter , Norman throws off 
 his cloak, puts on his hat , and declares himself Buona¬ 
 parte.) 
 
 All. Astonishing! God defend us! 
 
 Buonaparte. And now, my most worthy, ever no¬ 
 ble Signors ! know ye that I am the commander in 
 chief of the Ligurian forces ? As to you, my old ac¬ 
 quaintance, Mr. Doge, I will cure you of all your 
 aches and pains, as I told you the other day. {Pulls out 
 a paper from his pocket). Mr. Senators, off with your 
 robes. (A murmur). Guards, take off those gar¬ 
 ments; these men are unworthy to wear them. ( They 
 tear off the robes.) In this paper (gives it to Bacciochi, 
 the secretary.) Read it aloud. 
 
 Secretary (reads). “ Ligurians! Senators! Ma- 
 ee gistrates ! all and every officer, civil and military, 
 <£ know ye, that I, the most noble Doge of the Ligu- 
 <£ rian Republic, do hereby give and transfer, to the 
 66 most high and mighty Buonaparte, the chief of the 
 <c invincible banditti, all right, title, claim, and pre- 
 “ tension whatsoever, which I, my heirs and -succes- 
 c( soys, now have, or may hereafter have, or pretend 
 
 “ to 
 
 i 
 
I 
 
 167 
 
 / - 
 
 <( to have; ov any private estates or wealth, of what- 
 “ ever denomination, in these states ; as also all public 
 “ controul and sovereignty in these states, do I con- 
 “ firm to him, so help me God ! Given under my 
 “ hand, in the Dorea garden. Signed, Cam para, 
 
 “ Doreas, Doge.’’ 
 
 Doge (deeply afflicted, faints in the arms (/Grimaldi, 
 the minister J v Aias, alas! 
 
 Grimaldi . Most gracious Doge, is this deed valid ? 
 
 Doge. Valid ! extortion, the wretch ! I am ven r 
 
 ill. ; v , I 
 
 Murat (to Buonaparte/ We must not allow a 
 parly. (Turning to the banditti.) Dispose of this 
 group of aristocrats. 
 
 Buonaparte. Here, serjeant, take Grimaldi, Luc- 
 ciardi, Bacha, Bordoli, Neposurato, and ten more on 
 that bench, to the Lazaretta, under a detachment of 
 your company. {To the Doge.) Off with your pre¬ 
 sided robes ! Now order your niece here. 
 
 Doge. Fetch Almira. Alas, 1 am very ill. 
 
 Buonaparte. Don’t you remember, old cock ! how 
 you desired one day to be acquainted with Buona- . 
 parte; eh ? 
 
 % 
 
 Enter Almira, advancing towards her uncle. 
 
 Fair lady, come this way ; your .uncle, the Doge, has 
 transferred your lovely person to me ; henceforth Al¬ 
 mira is my property. He has no controul over you 
 more, nor of any thing more in Liguria. However, I 
 will be clement towards him for your sake, and allow 
 him three apartments in the Doria palace, there to be 
 provided with a suitable maintenance, by the person 
 I shall appoint. ( Turning towards the guards.) 
 
 Guards, conduct the great Doreas to his new lodg¬ 
 ings. 
 
 Doge (fo Buonaparte). How often have you eat of 
 my bread, and drunk of my wine ; and now will you 
 
 drink 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
] 68 
 
 drink of my blood, scum of the earth ! I submit to 
 Providence, but not to thee ! 
 
 :eunt Doge and Guards. 
 
 Buonaparte. Guards, away! away! (To Almira.) 
 Sweet lady, your uncle is angry ; he does not recollect 
 that I hold my mission from on high. Now, tell me, 
 do you recollect being in the garden ? Say, is there 
 any one here present whom you can prefer to me? 
 (She remains silent.) Pooh ! never hesitate. I dare 
 say we shall agree. Speak frankly ; I say, is there 
 here any one whom you prefer to me for a husband ? 
 
 Almira . You ! you terrified me in the garden. 
 
 Buonaparte. Never repeat old grievances-! I say, 
 look round, and answer my question : is there any one 
 here whom you can prefer to me ? 
 
 Almira (faintly)• All ! all ! 
 
 Buonaparte. The choice is too general : speak to 
 the point, or else follow your uncle to his confinement. 
 
 Almira (looking slily aside at Salicetti). Yes, there 
 is one; hut— 
 
 Salicetti. Yes ; she says, yes. My worthy friend, 
 Buonaparte, I claim this angel at your hands. (To 
 Almira.) Come, then, to my arms, thou sweetest of 
 God’s creation. (She falls into his arms.) 
 
 Buonaparte. She is thine, Salicetti ! she is thine ! 
 
 Bacciochi . May I be permitted to propose a portion 
 for the fair ? 
 
 Several cf the Senators who remain. We wish to 
 second the motion. She is worthy. 
 
 Bacciochi (to Buonaparte.) I then move that Sali¬ 
 cetti be nominated the guardian of the wealth, goods, 
 chattels, &c. belonging to Dorcas the late Doge, for 
 the use and service of himself and bride, the beautiful 
 Almira; and that he, Salicetti, be appointed, with the 
 approbation of the invincible Buonaparte, to be head 
 of the Ligurian republic, under the new organization 
 of government as shall he agreed upon this da}’. 
 
 Buonaparte . 
 
169 
 
 Buonaparte. With all my heart! and I name La- 
 
 sotti and Durazzo chief administrators. What sav 
 # B %/ 
 
 you, fair Almira ? (Takes her hand.) (To Saiicetti.) 
 Come, take her ; she is thine. (Shefalls in his arms.) 
 Order Duenna here ; she must accompany the 
 Dogess. 
 
 Saiicetti. Now my doubts and my fears are over. 
 (Embraces her.) Aside. How horrible the thought to 
 injure her! 
 
 Never, no never more we’ll part. 
 
 But live and love so true ; 
 
 The sigh that breaks Almira’s heart. 
 
 Shall rend her lover’s too. 
 
 < Enter Duenna. 
 
 Buonaparte. Here is Duenna! My Eliza, thy 
 prudence and good conduct deserve well of thv bro¬ 
 ther. Come (takes her hand.) Here, Bacciochi, I 
 betroth a jewel to thee for thy eminent services. In 
 her thou possessest a treasure. (Joins their hands.) 
 We should not have succeeded but for her; it is 
 chiefly to her we owe our success. Friends, let’s away 
 to welcome our new Doge, and the two brides, at the 
 palace of Doria. I must away this night for Milan. 
 
 [Exeunt all. 
 
 SCENE XIX. 
 
 At Milan. —Buonaparte, Josephine, Joseph Buona¬ 
 parte, Murat, Massena, at cards. 
 
 Buonaparte (to Massena, in a passion). Hang it. 
 General, (risingfrom his seat) you make me lose. 
 
 Massena {smiling). Patience, General; you know 
 I often make you win. 
 
 Enter 
 
170 
 
 Enter Ensign, from Berthier and Jubert, with an cs - 
 tafet, announcing the surrender of Mantua, and that 
 the States of Italy had finally accepted the conditions 
 offered immediately after. 
 
 Buonaparte (after reading). Rejoice ! my worthy- 
 friends; rejoice. What will not unremitting persever¬ 
 ance accomplish ? The conditions offered three months 
 ago, however hard they were thought, have been 
 finally sanctioned by the Emperor of the Romans ; I 
 repair immediately to Leobon and Formis, to ratify the 
 same with the Prince Charles. The Helvetian Cantons, 
 through fear; or out of pure respect for us, have de¬ 
 livered up their treasures of fifty millions, to be treated 
 as friends. Venice, thanks to Augereau, is to fur¬ 
 nish four millions ; Valteliine, Chiavenne, Barmis, and 
 Alessandrio, four millions, to hasten their happy 
 union with the Cisalpine Republic. Of the total of 
 these sums, the Austrian army has received a fourth 
 from me as a compliment. For, let me tell you, the 
 success of war is more secure, when effected without 
 loss of blood. The veteran court warriors are thunder¬ 
 struck at the timidity and respect their troops and 
 subaltern officers manifest at our approach : they little 
 suspect the cause. Our glorious work in this country 
 is now come near to a conclusion, and I could almost 
 weep over our success, were there no other country 
 that needed our liberal hand of protection against un¬ 
 merciful tyrants. 
 
 Enter Augereau, followed by Jubert. / 
 
 You are welcome, citizen Augereau. Well, what 
 news do vou bring ? 
 
 Augereau. Citizen General, agreeable to instruc¬ 
 tions,! repaired to Venice. I ordered the proud 
 Doge, with his vile crew, to prison ; and the inquisi¬ 
 tors and commanders straight to the gallows, to the 
 great joy of the people J; among whom I made a dis¬ 
 tribution 
 
V • 
 
 171 
 
 tribution of ten thousand duppias. Of the four mil¬ 
 lions to be raised on the city, five hundred thousand 
 are received' in the military chest. My Chief, you 
 will be pleased to determine on the division of this 
 sum. The rest will be paid in three months. 
 
 Buonaparte . My trusty good friend, you merit 
 well of humanity ; but why did you not hang the 
 Doge ? 
 
 Auger eau. He begged hard, and promised to dis¬ 
 cover secret delinquents. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, I charge you to carry these 
 good tidings to the Directory immediately. 
 
 [Exit Angereau. 
 
 (Turning to the others.) Greater glory is yet reserved 
 for us, my friends. The cries of the poor people of 
 Egypt, who are groaning under the oppression of their 
 Bashaws, who do not as yet know the true prophet, call 
 for our help. (Turning to Joseph.) You, my bro¬ 
 ther, shall have a mission to Rome, in order to seize 
 the precious models of the fine arts, to be conveyed to 
 Paris. (To Le Brun, Massena, and Jubert.) You, 
 my friends, I leave here. I entrust, under the sanc¬ 
 tion of the Directory, to you, the presidency of the 
 various states of Italy, till my return. You will ob¬ 
 serve and pursue the same regulations as heretofore, 
 according to your instructions. My ever adored Jo¬ 
 sephine here, holds the keys of all the treasures, and 
 also to most of the hearts of persons of rank and for¬ 
 tune. Entrust her with the distribution ; she can ma¬ 
 nage them to the best advantage. (Turning to his 
 sister.) Continue, my dear sister, to inflame the 
 hearts of our friends and generals with a spirit of 
 ambition to possess thy charms. On my return, thy 
 cares shall be crowned. Brothers in arms, farewell! 
 I am expected at Malta, which, you will hear, sur¬ 
 renders on my arrival. The Grand Master, the 
 Admiral, and Marshal, have- been treated with ; the 
 former receives sixty thousand louis, and a com- 
 
 z 2 fortable 
 
172 
 
 l 
 
 fovtable retreat in the republic ; the latter will have 
 
 forty thousand, and keep his rank in the republican 
 
 army. Adieu ! Success attend you ! We shall 
 
 again unite in jubilee for our triumphs, and sing in 
 
 chorus. Five la liberte ! 
 
 * 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 y • 
 
 End of the Third Act , 
 
 t 
 
 V 
 
 / 
 
 .ACT 
 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS. 
 
 \ 
 
 ACT FOURTH, 
 
 * * 
 
 \ * • — ■ - 
 
 ) . .. 
 
 / . 
 
 Generals of the Banditti. 
 
 Buonaparte, Berthier, Murat, Marmont, Menou or 
 Abdallah Facba, Regnier, Kleber, Dessaix, La li¬ 
 nes, Bon, Caffarella, Andreossi, Sebastiani. 
 
 Fauvelet Bourienne, Member of the Military Gommis- 
 
 mission , and Secretary to Buonaparte. 
 
 Members of the National Institute. 
 
 Tallien, Monge, Vivant, Denon, Bartholet, Rous- 
 
 siejgue. 
 
 Rez, Head Apothecary of the Hospitals. 
 
 Baron Hompesch, Grand Master of Malta. 
 
 Knights of Malta . 
 
 Commander, Marshal, Grand Hospitaler, Admiral, 
 
 Grand Conservatore. 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 Turks in Egypt . 
 
 Grand Pacha of Egypt, Amed, Pacha of Acre, sur- 
 named Djezzar, or Butcher, Ibrahim, Murad Bey~ 
 
ACT IV. 
 
 Scene I.—The Island of Malta. —The Banditti's 
 Fleet lying before the harbour Marsa. 
 
 Enter an Aid-de-Camp from Buonaparte, with a letter 
 
 for the Grand Master. 
 
 Sentry, Werda ? Chi e la ? 
 
 Aid-de-Camp. A friend. 
 
 Sentry. What’s your business ? 
 
 Aid-de-Camp. I am bearer of a letter to the Grand 
 Master. Who will conduct me to his Eminentissime? 
 
 An Officer (advances). Follow me, friend. But you 
 must first be blindfolded. 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Council Chamber. — The Grand Master and Knights 
 
 sitting in council . 
 
 \ * . i 
 
 Enter Officer and Aid-de-Camp. 
 
 Grand Master (to the Aid-de-Camp). Whence 
 come you, friend ? 
 
 Aid-de-Camp. I am bearer of a letter from my 
 noble chief, Buonaparte. (Giles the letter ). 
 
 Grand Master (to the Aid-de-Camp.) Retire ; we 
 will give you an answer. [Exit Aid-de-Camp. 
 
 (To ^Secretary.) Read it. 
 
 Secretary (reads). “ Altcsse Eminentissime, Buo- 
 
 “ naparte. 
 
17 o • 
 
 ii naparte, the commander of the most noble corps of 
 
 French banditti, &c. &c. being on the holy work of 
 <c his mission, to chastise vice and reward virtue, stops 
 u at the sanctified island of Malta, to pay his dutiful 
 <c respects to Baron Hompeseh, and to the Knights of 
 (c the most noble order of St. John of Jerusalem. He 
 “ requests permission for his fleet to water in the har- 
 “ hour of Marsa: he relies upon your compliance, 
 “ knowing the humanity of the Baron, and his religi- 
 “ ous observance of the rites of the holy Catholic 
 “ Church. An immediate answer will oblige, your 
 “ ever dear friend, &c. Buonaparte.” 
 
 Commander. The request cannot be complied with. 
 What say you, Admiral. 
 
 Admiral. As a pilgrim, it would be cruel to refuse 
 him a drop of water. I think he may be allowed to 
 send two ships at a time into port. 
 
 Grand Master i So I think too ; we can risk nothing 
 by it. Besides, Buonaparte being the Envoy e d'al 
 Cielo , we cannot, without incurring God’s wrath, mis¬ 
 trust his holy intentions. 
 
 Enter a Maltese Officer. 
 
 > 
 
 Officer [in haste). Most noble Cavalieri di Justizia, 
 di Gracia, three thousand men are landed from the 
 banditti’s fleet, and have got possession of Citta Nuo- 
 va, Cottonera, St. Margherita, the Lazaretta, and the 
 Marsa Muscietta. They have already summoned St. 
 Emo, and threaten instantly to bombard La Valetta. 
 We know not what to do ; the Marshal is not to be 
 found. 
 
 Admiral. The Marshal being rather indisposed, 
 went yesterday to the country. 
 
 Commander. O, treachery, treachery ! What is 
 to be done ? 
 
 Enter an Aid-de-Camp from Buonaparte, with a letter 
 
 to the Grand Master. 
 
 Grand 
 
176 
 
 Grand Master (gives it to the Secretary). Read it. 
 
 Secretary freadsJ. “ On board 1’Orient.-■ 
 
 cc The Grand Master having delayed to answer my 
 <£ request, I found myself obliged to take possession 
 <c of Citta Nuova, Cottonera, &c. By this present, 
 i further require the Grand Master and the whole 
 order' to Repair forthwith oil board i’Orient flag- 
 <c ship of the noble banditti, there to sign and execute 
 the following convention, viz. The noble Knights 
 “ of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, do hereby 
 surrender, resign, transfer, and solemnly, by these 
 cc presents j renounce for ever, all right, title, and 
 “ pretension of sovereignty, to the city of La Yelatta, 
 “ together with the. whole island of Malta, and others 
 <£ thereon depending, viz. Comino and Gozo, in 
 “ favour of the noble French republic, to have and to 
 * c hold from this day forward, for ever more, amen. 
 
 Ci Given under our band and seal, this, &c.-N. B. 
 
 ce This deed shall be executed within twenty minutes 
 “ from the delivery of this, in default of which,/La 
 “ Yaletta shall be reduced to ashes.” 
 
 Grand Master fin seeming alarm). O, gracious 
 God, have 1 lived to see Malta, after having so many 
 times bravely withstood the combined hosts of Christen¬ 
 dom, now tamely surrender. 
 
 * t 
 
 Admiral fin haste). 1 see no alternative; either 
 must we submit as slaves, or receive Buonaparte as our 
 friend. Of the two evils i vote for,the less. Hark ye ! 
 I hear the thundering of cannon and mortars. 
 
 O s 
 
 Grand Master. Alas ! order the gates to be immef 
 diately opened ; dispatch a messenger to Buonaparte ; 
 beseech him to forbear, and to repair here, and we 
 will meet him on his landing, and comply with ali his 
 
 wishes. 
 
 Grand Hospitaler . Most noble Eminentissimc, I 
 must suspend my vote, although dire necessity may 
 render opposition nugatory. My suspicions arc too 
 weighty. Treachery must have been lurking in some 
 hidden corner. . [Exit Grand Hospitaler. 
 
 lie-enter 
 
177 
 
 I 
 
 Re-enter Messenger. 
 
 Messenger. Altesse Eminentissime, Buonaparte is 
 repairing on shore. 
 
 Grand Master. Well, -away to receive him on the 
 pier* ' » [Exeunt all. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Council Chamber. — Enter Grand Master, &c. 
 
 Knights and Buonaparte. 
 
 Grand Master. Most noble Buonaparte, we are 
 too much flattered at the friendship you do us by your 
 visit, and are ready to comply with your demand. 
 
 Buonaparte . The lingering decision of your order 
 in council, renders it incumbent on me to dispossess 
 you of your authority. Here, Altesse Eminentissime., 
 Le Baron Hompesch, sign you first this deed, for the 
 glory of humanity. 
 
 Grand Master (signs). 
 
 Buonaparte. Pass it round for signature. (They 
 all sign.) Now depart in peace. (To the 
 Grand Master. ) Baron Hompesch, a retreat is 
 assigned you in France. (To the Admiral.) You and 
 the Marshal have appointments on the Island equal 
 to yobr present rank. { Turning to an Officer.) Ar¬ 
 rest the Grand Hospitaler; he is a refractory subject. 
 '(To the Quarter-Master General.) Make arrange¬ 
 ments for a thousand men to remain ber£, beside the 
 sick, and carry an equal number of the Maltese on 
 board in their place. Malta will be my point of com¬ 
 munication with Europe. 1 am under no fear of being 
 dispossessed of it. (To an Aid-de-Camp.) Go, tell 
 Brueys to prepare for sailing. ( To General Vaubois.) 
 General, I leave you commander of this important 
 post; establish a provisional government, on the basis 
 and principles of the French, and keep a good look out 
 for advice boats from me. [Exeunt. 
 
 2 a . Adieu, 
 
r/s 
 
 Adieu, my friends, till we meet again ! Intercede for 
 our success against the infidels. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 
 In Egypt. —The banditti landing , headed by Buona¬ 
 parte. 
 
 Buonaparte mustering the troops , says to Kleber, 
 Bon, and Menou ). March three battalions to the 
 heights which command the city. 
 
 Enter an Officer from the fleet. 
 
 Officer . Citizen General, some vessels were this 
 morning descried in the offing, beating up against the 
 wind, making for the coast. 
 
 Buonaparte (in terror and fright). O, Fortune, 
 wilt thou forsake me ? Only five days longer. (To 
 the Officer.) Go; desire the Admiral to enter the 
 port of Alexandria as quick as possible : tell him the 
 citadel will be in our possession to-morrow. 
 
 Enter a Deputation from the Pacha of Alexandria. 
 
 Deputation. Our master, the most noble Pacha of 
 Alexandria, has commanded us to wait upon his Ex¬ 
 cellency Buonaparte, to know by what good fortune 
 he is indebted for the honour of this visit ?• 
 
 Buonaparte. Brother Musselmen! I am commis¬ 
 sioned from the true and only Jehovah, the protector 
 of our holy prophet! I come in pilgrimage to punish 
 vice and reward virtue. One of you return, under a 
 guard of my troops, to the city ; present my respects 
 to the Pacha, with this paper. I wish him to see that 
 1 am his friend, and adore his prophet. The rest will 
 remain here. 
 
 Enter an Aid-de-Camp. 
 
 ‘4 
 
 Aid-de-Camp {in haste). Citizen General, during 
 * the. 
 

 m 
 
 the time the Deputation has been out of the city, the 
 treacherous Mahometans have fallen on our left, and 
 had well nigh turned it, had not Kleber’s division ar¬ 
 rived in time to succour it. The troops were so in¬ 
 censed, that they could not be restrained from scaling 
 the walls, and now they are in possession of the prin¬ 
 cipal forts. 
 
 Enter a Musselman from the Pacha, with a letter . 
 
 Buonaparte (reads). u The Pacha of Alexandria 
 Ci has received the note Buonaparte did him the ho- 
 nour to address to him. If Buonaparte was in 
 reality the holy personage he pretends to be, a fol- 
 €c lower of our holy prophet, and a friend of the Mus- 
 ei selinen, he could not be ignorant that it is repugnant. 
 
 to their duty, to their virtue, to betray the trust 
 &c confided in them by their Sultan. If such princi- 
 fC pies are respected among Christians as virtues, may 
 our holy prophet defend us from any communication 
 fC with them. I remit you back your fifty thousand 
 franks, and remain, &e. Adieu.” 
 
 Buonaparte. Sacra Dieu ! Oh, the insolent rascal! 
 he shall pay for it! What, refuse my generous offer 
 of friendship ! (To the Deputies.) Soho, friends! 
 your master, then, thinks to outwit the holy banditti, 
 who have outwitted half the world. (To an Aid-de- 
 Camp.) Hasten, with one of these Musselmen, to 
 the Pacha ; carry this capitulation for him to sign im¬ 
 mediately : make him understand it is an act of huma¬ 
 nity, and out of respect for his holy prophet, that I 
 refrain from taking vengeance of the city. (To another 
 Aid-de-Camp.) Go to Kleber; desire him to order 
 the charge to beat ; and Menou’s battalion must rush 
 in at the gates as this flag of truce passes. No quarter 
 to man, woman, or child, till the Castle, Phare, and 
 forts are in our hands. I’ll shew this execrable Pacha 
 Christian virtue, I warrant him ! I’ll teach him to 
 refuse xny franks! 
 
 [.Exeunt Aids-dc-C'amp and Deputies. 
 
 (Alone.) Yes, in half an hour I may surprise the 
 
 2 a 2 wretch. 
 
ISO 
 
 wretch with my presence. Yes, it is better sacrifice 
 half the inhabitants, than lose an hour of our precious 
 time ; lest the cursed English should arrive. 
 
 Enter an Officer from the eastward. 
 
 Officer. Citizen General, the infidels have two or 
 three strong posts to oppose our progress, and which 
 they say will shortly be reinforced considerably, 
 
 f 
 
 Enter an Aid-de-Camp from Menou, with a letter. 
 
 Buonaparte (reads). “ Citizen General, the danger 
 ce is over ! you may now come forward. Marmont, with 
 “ his brigade, is in the castle, mid we are in possession 
 <e of all the forts and towers. Hasten, I beseech you, 
 C( to feast your eyes on the mangled bodies of between 
 ce three and four thousand inhabitants, now strewed in 
 Ci the streets,, to the glory of our invincible banditti* 
 “ Health.” 
 
 (To an Aid-de-Camp.) Hasten to Dessaix order 
 him and Regnier to proceed immediately forwards, 
 with twelve thousand men, for Rahmanieh and Cairo. 
 I shall follow to-morrow- [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE V. 
 
 An Apartment in the Castle of Alexandria. 
 
 Kleber, Menou, and Marmont, sitting drinking , 
 
 Enter Buonaparte, Berthicr, and Murat. 
 
 Buonaparte. What have you done with the Pacha ? 
 
 Marmont . He fled the moment we made good our 
 position. 
 
 Buonaparte . Well, citizen.Generals, we must now- 
 devise means to make Alexandria an important place. 
 Marmont, I appoint you commander, with a provi¬ 
 sional government. To-morrow we shall march for¬ 
 wards for the capital of Delta. I learn that a strong 
 force of Mamelukes is on the way to oppose us. Des¬ 
 saix 
 
isi 
 
 saiK and Regnier are proceeding against them ; but I 
 am under no apprehension from these Infidels, as I 
 have taken care to treat with the Pacha of Sharkie and 
 two other Beys. They are not all such fools as this 
 Pacha, to talk of virtue ; so* that I expect to arrive at 
 Cairo without much opposition. Our communication 
 with this post must be kept open. Adieu, Marmont* 
 (To Berthier.) Ten thousand men must proceed to¬ 
 wards Embale, there to unite with the van. 
 
 '[Exeunt* 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 At Grand Cairo.- —The Palace of the Grand Pacha 
 of Egypt . The Grand Pacha, Vizier or Minister, 
 and Beys, in council. 
 
 Pacha . It is a positive fact, that they have posses¬ 
 sion of Alexandria, Rashid, and Damiet; and the 
 chief of the banditti has declared his intention to march 
 for Cairo. 
 
 Ibrahim Bey. Tamely to wait for his arrival would 
 betray our weakness, and degrade us in the eyes of ( our 
 loyal Musselmen. I beg, therefore, to propose, that 
 a strong reinforcement he sent to Oindinar, Menuf, 
 Kudlamie, Chebriessc, and Emhabe; and that strong 
 advanced posts be established at Treane and Mut- 
 Kamar. 
 
 Pacha. It will be best; Ibrahim, I appoint you to 
 the command at Emhabe : Murat-Bey, you command 
 at Chebreisse. You two nominate Bey-Menuhe and 
 Bey-Sharkie to the outposts, with proper instructions, 
 to unite as occasion may require. Ail subsequent ar¬ 
 rangements I leave to you both. Depart, and may 
 our prophet attend yoti. Farewell. 
 
 [Exeunt Ibrahim and Murat Bey. 
 
 This chief of the banditti says, he is descended from 
 our most honoured prophef, and is commissioned to re¬ 
 generate the world, and particularly to purify this 
 
 once 
 
once happy country. If so, he can surely have no 
 evil intention. 
 
 Vizier. Sublime Highness, Mahomet was the true 
 prophet. Impostors are always liars ; and, depend 
 upon it, this Buonaparte is an impostor : ergo, he is 
 a liar. He is a scarecrow, whom God suffers, for a 
 time, to terrify the world, to try their faith. 
 
 Enter a Bey. 
 
 Pacha • Well, what news, Bey ? 
 
 Bey. Sublime Pacha, I hasten to lay before your 
 High ness a printed paper, which Buonaparte, chief of 
 the banditti, has caused to be distributed all over Up¬ 
 per and Lower Egypt. It is addressed to the people, 
 exhorting them to rise and shake off their yoke of 
 bondage, and no longer to acknowledge the authority 
 of the Beys, &q. asserting that rebellion is a virtue. 
 
 Pacha {to the Vizier). Read it. 
 
 Vizier {reads). u Ye people of Egypt! ye de- 
 ie scendants of the holy tr ue prophet, Mahomet, greet- 
 “ ing !—In the name of God, gracious and merciful! 
 “ There is no God but one God ; and Mahomet, our 
 “ prophet, was his true missionary. When the Beys, 
 your tyrants, tell you the French banditti are come 
 “ to destroy your religion, don’t believe them ; it is 
 (C a falsehood. No, we are come to free you from 
 their oppressive bondage. Tell them we worship 
 <c the Supreme Being, and honour the prophet and his 
 “ alcoran. The banditti, to a man, are all Musselmen! 
 tc Have they not overthrown the See of Rome; de- 
 <c stroved the insignia of the Catholic Church, and 
 <c driven, like thieves, the Pope’s minions and satel- 
 lites from Malta? And all this purely out of re- 
 tc spect, and for the glory of our holy prophet. I 
 “ exhort you, therefore, for your own independence, 
 “ to resist the commands of your superiors, and to 
 46 believe that rebellion against them is a sacred vir- 
 tue l Your friend, Buonaparte.” 
 
 Grand Pacha, What an abomination! What inso* 
 
 lence ! 
 
183 
 
 ience ! Come here to insult, to ridicule our holy pro¬ 
 phet. {To the Bey.) Speed to Miit-Demois ; desire 
 the Pacha of Sharkie to muster ail the forces he can 
 in Dakeiie, and establish posts at Sememand and Man- 
 sora. {Exit Bey. 
 
 Enter an Ensign from Buonaparte, with a letter for 
 the Grand Pacha, which he gives to the Vizier. 
 
 Grand, Pacha {to the Vizier). Read it. 
 
 Vizier {reads). (e Dear brother, the Grand Pacha 
 
 of Egypt ! the Sublime Porte having declared that 
 66 the Beys of Egypt were rapacious greedy villains, 
 ic void of reason, justice and gratitude ; be it known 
 
 that I am a missionary from the God of the holy 
 iC prophet Mahomet, sent to chastise them. Thou, 
 <c O my brother ! who art appointed their master, art 
 f disregarded by them, and confined, at their will and 
 * c pleasure, in Cairo. Thy authority is despised. 
 “ Rej oice, then, at my arrival. Come, and unite 
 i( with thy only friend. We will make the Alcoran to 
 6: be respected, by the punishment of these imperi- 
 <c ous Beys. The French nation is the. only sincere 
 * £ ally of the Sultan : they are all Musselmen. Health, 
 
 Buonaparte.” 
 
 Grand Pacha. Oh, the wretch ! the parasite ! Go, 
 order a strong guard at the city gates. 
 
 Enter another Bey. 
 
 Bey. Most sublime Pacha! the people have pos¬ 
 sessed themselves of the city gates, in defiance of the 
 troops. A deputation of twenty-four, and some of the 
 magistrates, are gone to compliment Buonaparte at 
 Gizeh. 
 
 Grand Pacha . Lack 3 lack-a-day ! what is this I 
 hear ! 
 
 Enter an Aid-de-Camp from Murad-Bey, with a 
 
 dispatch . 
 
 Grand Pacha {to the Vizier). Read it. 
 
 Vizier 
 
«c 
 
 4 ! 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 Vizier {reads). 
 
 Most sublime Pacha, at four o'clock this morning 
 the banditti attacked my position at Chebreisse, and, 
 at the same time, Ibrahim, at Embabe, with very 
 superior forces. After several hours strong resist¬ 
 ance, we were obliged to retreat and disperse. I 
 am in full march to Upper Egypt. Jbrahim, not 
 having suffered so much, proposes to take post near 
 Belbeis, to be ready to act according to circumstan¬ 
 ces. Your’s, with all due reverence, Mourad 
 Bey.” 
 
 Grand Pacha . O prophet, where is thy protection? 
 
 Aid-de-Camp. Sublime Pacha, every where on the 
 way I found the people reading this paper: it is ad¬ 
 dressed to the people of Cairo. 
 
 Grand Pacha. Give it to the Vizier to read. 
 
 Vizier [reads). “ Buonaparte, commander of the 
 (i renowned French banditti, to the people of Cairo, 
 greeting! You have done well not to take part 
 against me. I am your friend. I am come to de¬ 
 stroy the race of Mamelukes, and to revenge your 
 wrongs. Let those among you who have fled, re¬ 
 turn to their homes ! Let prayers be offered up and 
 continued everyday! Be under no apprehension 
 for your families, for your property, or for your 
 religion. I love and adore your holy prophet! 1 
 
 iC will establish a Divan of seven men, chosen from 
 among yourselves, and it shall meet at the Mosque 
 of Ver, Drive away your Pacha and your Mufties 
 send them to hell! 'Use holy prophet has deserted 
 ‘ c them. You shall be blessed with a commonwealth 
 i! on the true principles of liberty and equality. Open 
 your gates, then, to receive the embraces of your 
 friends. Health, Buonaparte.” 
 
 Grand Pacha. O God ! what is to be done with 
 such a daring villain ? 
 
 (( 
 6 l 
 it 
 
 it 
 < l 
 it 
 it 
 tt 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 it 
 
 Erder the Pacha of Sharkie. 
 
 Well, brother Pacha, I greet thee. What news bring- 
 est thou ? 
 
 Pacha 
 
185 
 
 Pacha of Sharkie . Alas! the news I bring, sublime 
 Sir, is comfortless and cold. Gur brave Musselmen 
 are dispersed on ail sides. I made aii speed to arrive 
 here before the banditti should surprise the city. Every 
 where I came I saw the people reading this paper. 
 
 (Giies it to the Vizier). How the devil they could find 
 means to distribute it so far in the country, astonishes 
 me. I cannot think that any true Mussehnan. would 
 be so treacherous. 
 
 A Bey . Treachery there certainly is somewhere. 
 
 Pacha of Sharkie. God and our glorious prophet 
 forbid it! Most sublime Sir, our present circumstan¬ 
 ces have led me to reflect, if our people were governed 
 with more lenity, on a more rational principle of jus¬ 
 tice, they would feel an interest in the preservation of 
 their country. But our Mamelukes and Fellahs can 
 have no interest in the community or government. 
 Their offspring are born slaves, bred up in slavery, and 
 eternally doomed as victims to vassalage and tyranny. 
 The name of freedom never cntefed their thoughts 
 till the present paper was put into their hands. I affirm 
 that freemen are as much superior to slaves as a coach¬ 
 man is to liis horses. Every nation is brave and generous 
 in proportion as the inhabitants enjoy independence. 
 One man, in nature, is not braver than another, but, 
 by as much as he feels his power of intellects and 
 bodily strength surpass and excel his neighbour’s. Give 
 to our Fellahs the same advantages as nature allots to 
 man, and we need be under no fear of all the banditti 
 in the world. 
 
 Vizier. We have had this paper before. 
 
 Grand Pacha (to the Pacha ). What force do you 
 suppose Buonaparte has ? 
 
 Pacha. There are already fifteen thousand arrived 
 before the city. 
 
 Grand Pacha (in astonishment). Fifteen thousand ! 
 and the people assembling to welcome them ! Alas, 
 
 2 b alas ! 
 
 \ 
 
IS 6 
 
 alas ! there is no time to lose ; we must away- But 
 whither ? If we go to the south, they are there ; if 
 we go to the west, they are there also. We must then 
 fly for Syria by Belbeis. (To an Officer.) Go, pre¬ 
 pare carriages for my wives. Alas ! away, away ! 
 
 [Exeunt ally in haste and confusion . 
 
 i •*( • 
 
 SCENE VII. 
 
 Mourad Bey’s House, in Cairo. 
 
 Enter several Banditti, among whom are Fauvelet, 
 
 Menou, and Tallien. 
 
 Fauvelet. The Bey has left his house almost empty. 
 Come, let us see if there’s nothing better in some 
 other apartment. [Exeunt* 
 
 The scene changes to a large room, where eleven of the 
 Bey’s Women are sitting.—Enter the foregoing. 
 
 Menou (in astonishment) . Parbleau, there’s a feast l 
 (Advances.) Ah, charming angels! (Looks very im¬ 
 pudently in their faces.) The Bey has left you ! 
 
 Fauvelet. By Mahomet! we will be your protect 
 tors. 1 
 
 Tallien . Then these are mine. 
 
 Menou (pushing Tallien on one side). Make room, 
 that is mine, by Mahomet! (Runs off with her 
 Take which you please for me ! 
 
 i ' • 
 
 Other Banditti enter , as Tallien and Fauvelet run out 
 
 with their Women. 
 
 1st Banditto. Tibs is mine with the blue eyes. 
 
 2d Banditto . Eyes or no eyes, this is mine. 
 
 3 d Banditto. This is not equality, by Jove! 
 What right had they to run off with the best before we 
 came, and be hanged to them. 
 
 SCENE 
 
131 
 
 , SCENE VIII. 
 
 jDi van Chamber, in the Mosque of Ver« 
 
 Enter Buonaparte, Berthier, Murat, Kleber, and 
 
 Lannes, all covered with dust. Mufty Abaci meeting 
 
 than at the entrance of the hall . 
 
 Mufty . Most gracious general Buonaparte! I greet 
 you welcome. 
 
 Berthier , The devil a chair, sopha, cushion, or 
 carpet, is here, to sit clown on. 
 
 Murat . Mr. Mufty, are here no women. 
 
 Enter Fauvelet and Andreossi. 
 
 Fauvelet. Citizen General, Mourad is advancing to 
 Upper Egypt. 
 
 Berthier. Ah, the fellow thinks to draw us after 
 him, to give time to the Grand Pacha to get off. 
 
 Fauvelet. Ibrahim is in full march towards Syria, 
 and meets the Grand Pacha this day at Belbeis. 
 
 Buonaparte. In that case we have no time to lose ; 
 we may yet overtake the fellow: but l fear Lannes, 
 Dessaix, and Sebastiani, are too late to intercept the 
 forces from Dekalia, which, Pacha Sarkie informs me 
 are marching to join them. (To Berthier.) When 
 think you that Lannes and Boa’s divisions will reach 
 Mut Damsis and Basta t 
 
 Berthier. I expect these divisions will be at Basta 
 to-morrow. Dessaix has orders to push on by Tineh, 
 as soon as these corps join him. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well then, make the dispositions for 
 breaking up the camp, and to march, by two routs, for 
 Belbeis with all speed. Four thousand men remain 
 here. See the printing materials and paper are in good 
 order, for I find our promises in print nave more effect 
 than the terror of the bayonet. The Grand Vizier 
 
 2 B 2 Izzed, 
 
18S 
 
 Izzed, I hear, is on bis march to secure the pass of 
 Scandaroon, where he is expected in two months time ; 
 but I hatter myself, by the weighty considerations I 
 have laid before him and Mahomet Pacha, they will 
 advance by very slow marches, so as to admit of our 
 arrival first to possess Mount Lebanon. 
 
 Murat - But, citizen Chief, with our small force, 
 will it not he proper to secure our retreat, by destroy¬ 
 ing and razing every place of defence on our way, ex¬ 
 cept such as may be deemed proper points of commu¬ 
 nication with the frontiers and sea coasts of Egypt. I 
 think we need only keep Jaffa and St. Jean d’Aere, 
 which will-sufficiently cover our retreat. 
 
 Kleher . Ay, these in our rear, and in possession of 
 Tripoli, Babecb, Antioch, Scandaroon, and Aleppo, 
 we may bid defiance to all the Sultan’s forces. With 
 these, and masters of the passes and defiles Tarsus 
 Cilicia and Amanus, we shall be secure. 
 
 Buonaparte . We may follow the example of Alex¬ 
 ander of old, and erect the cap of liberty at lllion, at 
 Issus, and wash away our sins in the river Granicus. 
 Suez must not be forgotten ; six hundred men must 
 be dispatched thither from Belbeis. (7b Bourrienne.) 
 Note these points down in the minutes. 
 
 Andreossu If we can but recruit our forces to fifty 
 thousand, we need be under no apprehension: we 
 might then proceed by the Euphrates, Tigris, and 
 Arbela, to Basorah, where, after paying respects to 
 the memory of Alexander, we can proceed, by Baso¬ 
 rah, or by Ispahan, to Indostan ; or take Constantino¬ 
 ple in our Return home. 
 
 ' Buonaparte . I approve of the plan ; it is a good one. 
 At Ispahan we can disseminate our principles of liberty 
 and equality, revolutionise Persia, appoint a provi¬ 
 sional government, and drive before us a host of Per¬ 
 sians to Delhi and Agra. 
 
 Lailnes. Hi, hi, hi! The furious English will 
 stare like stuck pigs, when surprised on their beds of 
 down, in the arms of their Hindoo mistresses. 
 
 Buonaparte , 
 
 i 
 
1S9 
 
 Buonaparte. Meanwhile Berthier, Kleber, Lannes* 
 and Dessaix, advance eastward, by one of these routs, 
 from Aleppo ; I, Murat, Menou, Andreossi, and Se- 
 bastiani, will proceed (very quick) by Adana, Tar- 
 shish, Isauria, Iconium, Eski, Hissar, Kutaith, 
 Prusa, Nicomedie, to the Seraglis at Constantinople, 
 revolutionise that odious government, and from thence 
 march straight for Presburg and Cracou; then, with 
 the twenty thousand discontented Sclavonians and 
 Poles, we go straight for Vienna ; from thence to Pa¬ 
 ris, as prodigies of the world. 
 
 AIL Success, success ! Huzza, huzza! Long 
 live the republic, liberty, and equality ! Huzza, 
 huzza ! [ Exeunt Generals, 
 
 Enter Mufty, Roba, the President of the Institute; 
 
 Tallien, Director of the Finances', Monge and Bar¬ 
 th olet, Vivant, Denou, &c. Members of the Institute . 
 
 . ' \ 
 
 Mufty. Most gracious Buonaparte ! the loyal people 
 of the capital of Delta, convened, have chosen seven 
 persons to compose the Divan. I am deputed to pre¬ 
 sent the list to your Highness. ( Gives the list.) If 
 the names are approved, the Divan expects the honour 
 of your presence. 
 
 Buonaparte (after reading the list) . I approve: but 
 the Divan must be presided over by our learned Na¬ 
 tional Institute. (Turning to Tallien.) You I ap¬ 
 point President; Monge, Chief Justice. Mr. Mufty, 
 go inform the Divan of my pleasure, that I will honour 
 them with rny presence. 
 
 Enter Poussieulquc. 
 
 You are welcome, my dear friend. What news since 
 we left you ? 
 
 Poassieulque. Ah, citizen chief, I have been wit¬ 
 ness to a dreadful fight between our brave fleet and the 
 English ; but cannot tell the final issue, as I left Alex¬ 
 andria in the evening. But Citizen Marmont has by 
 
 andria 
 
/ 
 
 190 
 
 this sent off an aide-camp to meet you at Belbeis ! ex¬ 
 pecting you would be there. 
 
 Buonaparte (in confusion ). Members of the National 
 Institute ! you are all sensible of the high importance 
 of your trust; we must depart! I have only to request 
 you to keep a strict eye upon the police of this great 
 city. Shoot, hang, or drown, as exigencies require, to 
 maintain peace ! Dispatch emissaries in all directions, 
 to discover and investigate. You, Poussielque , I ex¬ 
 pect from your activity, that you will neglect no op¬ 
 portunity of replenishing our chests. I am informed, 
 immense treasures are concealed in divers places ! 
 Search, and you’ll find them 1 Where yon suspect^ 
 spare neither bayonet, nor musket; suffer no preva¬ 
 rication ; down with them. I don’t know what we 
 may be in need of. 
 
 Enter Berthier. 
 
 Berthier, Citizen General in Chief, all is arranged 
 for our departure. Eight thousand men are advanced 
 already some miles, the rest march in four hours ; quar¬ 
 ters for the seven thousand men are prepared in the 
 city, and the hospital is provided with every necessary ! 
 
 Buonaparte (to the Members of the Institute) . Citi¬ 
 zens, I must bid you adieu ; we march immediately for 
 Syria, in pursuit of the Grand Pacha and Ibrahim ! I 
 am resolved lo plant the tree of liberty at Jerusalem, 
 on the very spot where the cross of Christ stood ; and 
 the first brave banditti that falls, shall do honour to 
 the tomb in which the Saviour of the world was laid. 
 Adieu ! adieu 1 [. Exeunt all . 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 At Belbeis. — -An Inn. — The Grand Pacha and 
 Ibrahim, with their Women . 
 
 Enter an Aid-de-Camp. 
 
 Aid-de-Camp . Most Sublime Highness ! the banditti 
 are within one hour’s march of us ! 
 
 Ibrahim . 
 
\ 
 
 19! 
 
 Ibrahim (astonished ). Within one hour’s march ! 
 (To the Grand Pacha,) Gracious Sir! we have not ail 
 instant to lose ! 
 
 Grand Pacha. No ! (to an Aide-Camp.) Go tell 
 Bey Dado, Bey Mustaf, and Bey Aceba to prepare 
 waggons for twenty-four of my women ! ! I take the 
 rest with me. Hell and the devil ! I had rather the 
 whole of the Mamelukes should fall into the hands of 
 those execrable banditti, than one of my angels ! ! (To 
 Ibrahim .) Speed on to unite with Jussuf Pacha ! 
 
 Ibrahim. Serene Highness ! two divisions arrived 
 at Asselci yesterday ! The others are advancing in 
 regular order. 
 
 Enter Bey Aceba. 
 
 Aceba. Serene Highness ! waggons are ready! 
 
 [.Exeunt all. 
 
 SCENE X. 
 the same Boom. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte, Berthier, Andriossi, Murat, and 
 
 several others . 
 
 Buonaparte. Holo here! By Mahomet, we are 
 a little too late, Citizen ! Bhrr ! I am very dry ! 
 Bring something to drink here, and cushions to rest 
 upon. Have you any lachnma christi ? They say there 
 is more of that wine here than in.Europe. 
 
 Enter Landlord with some wine . 
 
 Berthier (Jills the glasses). Come— 
 
 Buonaparte. Make the landlord drink first! Who 
 knows but he may have been bribed to poison us, poor 
 pilgrims. 
 
 Berthier. Here, Landlord; drink this and be 
 hanged. (The Landlord hesitates.) I say drink {draws 
 his sword), or I’ll drive day-light through your hellish 
 
 carcase. 
 
192 
 
 carcase. (To Duroc.) Order centinels at all the ave¬ 
 nues of the town. 
 
 Landlord [drinks). The wine is good, Gentlemen. 
 
 Buonaparte. How long is the Pacha gone from 
 lienee ? V 
 
 Landlord, About one hour ! 
 
 Murat, What rout has he taken ? 
 
 Landlord, By the way of Ilebasca ! 
 
 Enter Menou and Fauvelet, with four Mamelucks pri¬ 
 soners, arid sir of the Pacha's women, 
 
 Andriossi. Ha ! ha ! ha ! Here comes our strag¬ 
 glers. What, you have been fishing, eh ? 
 
 Fauvelet. Aye, our net is full, as you see ! 
 
 Murat. I bespeak two of them ! by Jove 1 
 
 Andriossi. Ha ! ha ! ha ! I mother two. 
 
 Fauvelet. Stop till we have had our choice. 
 
 Caffarelli, I must have one at least! 
 
 Menou. They are delicate morsels, I assure you ; 
 I married three at Cairo : one, because she was very 
 pretty ; another, because she was niece to the Pacha, 
 and of course claimed his property ; and the third, 
 because she was the Josephine of the East, and gave 
 me the title of Abdallah! 
 
 Buonaparte (to the prisoners). Approach here (the 
 Women approach .) Weiil What! has the Pacha left 
 you behind ? 
 
 Women (fall on their knees). Most Gracious Vice¬ 
 gerent of our Holy Prophet! Created for the use and 
 pleasure of man ! we acknowledge our will to be your 
 slaves, and we implore your mercy upon our bodies! 
 
 Fauvelet, (to Murat, Caffarelli, and Andriossi). Are 
 they not beauties eh ? What nymphs ! 
 
 Buonaparte, (to the Women). Away with you ; 
 fawn not on me ! I have more important concerns,worth 
 
 tep 
 
1 
 
 193 
 
 (To the Officer.) Away with them ! 
 
 [Exeunt Andreossi and Caffarelli, with the Wo¬ 
 men. 
 
 Buonaparte {to the Mamelukes). Approach ; fall on 
 your knees, if you wish for your life, and tell us what 
 you know of the Pacha’s army. But remember the 
 injunction of your Prophet: speak the truth, and no¬ 
 thing but the truth, at your peril ! What force has 
 the Pacha and Ibrahim ? Which way are they gone ? 
 
 Prisoners. About twelve thousand ! They are on 
 the way to Calieh, by Habasch. They are to unite at 
 Acre with the Jusuf Pacha, $nd the main army under 
 the Grand Vizier. 
 
 f 
 
 Buonaparte . What ? Jusuf Pacha ! Izzed Mahomed, 
 you mean ? 
 
 Pi nsoners. It was Izzed Mahomed ; but he is dis¬ 
 graced for having received bribes from your chief, 
 Buonaparte, as they call him ! 
 
 Buonaparte [aside). Ah 11 perceive these fellows don’t 
 know me! This is a very unlucky affair. (Aloud.) 
 How far a-head do you think the Grand Pacha is now ? 
 
 Prisoners. The van of the army is at least at Ca¬ 
 lieh, and is expected to reach El-Erish to-morrow. 
 
 Buonaparte (to Berliner). Advance the divisions as 
 they arrive. (To Fauvelet.) Distribute the order ot 
 march to the majors as they enter the town. 
 
 Enter an Officer, with Dispatches from Marmont, at 
 
 Alexandria. 
 
 Officer. Oh, Citizen General in Chief! I have had 
 a hard race to overtake you ! I am bearer of sad intel¬ 
 ligence from Citizen General Marmont. 
 
 Buonaparte (in haste). Well, what is it? 
 
 Officer (gives the dispatch). Oh ! I can hardly tell 
 you, Citizen Chief!—The Prophet Mahomet has at 
 last betrayed us ! basely deceived us! On your sepa- 
 
 2 c rating 
 
 / 
 
m 
 
 rating from us, he changed sides! Alas, we are 
 ruined ! undone 1 
 
 Buonaparte [reads). Ruined! undone ! What means 
 this? v ‘ ' *' •c---'-' '■ J 
 
 Berthier. You bring us a comfortless cordial, Citizen, 
 
 Buonaparte . Come ; the sequel! 
 
 Officer. I say, alas! it grieves me to say, that the 
 rascally English have dodged and followed our fleet, 
 till they have found it. They then bribed Mahomet to 
 permit their ships to come between the shore and ours, 
 that they might attack them fore and aft, between two 
 fires ! 
 
 Buonaparte (quick). But Brueys beat them off surely l 
 
 Fauvelet. -Aye, surely ! and sent them about their 
 business! 
 
 Officer. Aye, surely ! As long as Brueys was able, 
 he fought like a lion! Poor soul ! ( wipes his face.) 
 Forgive my tears ! As long, I say, as he was able, the 
 contest was bloody ! But that fox of the sea, Nelson, 
 after having been so long outwitted, was enraged, and 
 would not give our tars time to make their soups’. 
 They grew languid and spiritless ; the English, on the 
 contrary, continued to fight like devils, and dealt out 
 their fire and bail so unmercifully, that our ships were 
 soon in flames ! Finally ! Oh ! indeed I cannot for¬ 
 give Mahomet! Finally, I say, brave Brueys was 
 blown up to heaven in a blaze!! 
 
 All. Hang and burn,the English. Flow, in the de¬ 
 vil’s name, are we to return home now ? 
 
 v Buonaparte [dejected). . Is it possible ? It is a cursed 
 affair? Can it be so? 
 
 Officer. It is marvellous, indeed ; but it is a fact, 
 and the circumstance is corroborated by a Mufty who 
 was on the top of the castle of Alexandria, with a teles¬ 
 cope ! lie saw Brueys and five other officers lodge at 
 the gates or the first heaven, w here one remained, and 
 the rest continued their ascent to their respective sta¬ 
 tions. I must, however, sa} , that the English Admiral 
 has acted like a humane hero j he sent the prisoners 
 ashore! • 
 
 • L * Buonaparte . 
 
195 
 
 Buonaparte . Say rather he acted like a fool ! What 
 has humanity to do with victory ? War is not waged 
 by humanity. However, I am obliged to him, for we 
 may want the men ! ( After a pause , sits down to 
 
 write , then rises , aud says to the Officer.) Return by 
 Damiette ; tell the commander there to dispatch orders 
 along the coast as far as Rosetta , to prepare for defence 
 against these sea-monsters; Give this letter to Mar- 
 mont. [Exit Officer. 
 
 [To Berthier) Are the last divisions ready to proceed 
 forwards ? % 
 
 Berthier . They are by this time some miles a-head I 
 
 Buonaparte . Come along then, we must follow ! 
 
 [.Exeunt alL 
 
 SCENE XI. 
 
 Jaffa.— Thunder of cannon and the. cries of the people , 
 are heard! —Dessaix’s corps being united, enter Des*- 
 saix, Augereau, and Grenadiers scaling the walls — the 
 Mamelucks are flying in all directions to the Mosques — 
 the Grenadiers open the gates , while the rest , con¬ 
 ducted by Augereau, pursue the fugitives . 
 
 X ^ H.', < 
 
 Enter Buonaparte and others. 
 
 Buonaparte ( seeing Augereau pursuing the people , calls 
 out). No lenity! down with them! These infidels 
 shall pay for their temerity ! 
 
 Mural (approaching). Citizen General, the pri* 
 soners we sent away on parole from Ei-Erish are among 
 the garrison ! Have them shot! 
 
 Buonaparte. They shall he all exterminated ! We will 
 have no more prisoners. (To an Aide-de-Camp ) Go, 
 tell Lannes, as soon as he has ascertained the number 
 of the prisoners to bring me the list. 
 
 [Exit Aide-de-Camp. 
 (To Desaix.) How many have fallen, Citizen General, 
 in the attack ? 
 
 Dessaiv. We killed in the pursuit about two hun¬ 
 dred ; some few of our men are wounded, and they 
 refused to put an}’ more to the sword ! 
 
 2 c 2 ' i' 
 
196 
 
 Enter Lannes. 
 
 / 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, Citizen General! How many pri¬ 
 soners are there ? 
 
 Lannes . Four thousand and eighty, besides the sick 
 and wounded, of which there are two hundred and 
 thirty, besides five hundred and eighty of our troops ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, we must consult how to dispose of 
 them! (To Fauvelet.) Summon Augereau, Kleber, 
 Caffarelli, Murat,"Andrcossi and Regnier to the council, 
 at the Pacha’s Mosque. 
 
 SCENE XII. 
 
 Council Chamber in the Mosque.— Present , 
 
 Buonaparte, Berthier,KIeber, Lannes, Dessaix, Reg¬ 
 nier, Andreossi, Menou, Murat and Fauvelet. 
 
 Buonaparte . Cisizen Generals ! you see the treachery 
 of those infidels whom we permitted to go home from El- 
 Erish, through that foolish principle of humanity that 
 existed in some of you ! We must now dispose of 
 them, not to risk being again waylaid I 
 
 Kltber. Divide them ; send some home by sea, the 
 rest to work at the redoubts, which will greatly ease 
 xmr own men. 
 
 Dessaix. I think that plan would answer well. 
 
 Berthier. I object to the plan proposed, because 
 the words of prisoners are not worth a farthing ; and 
 it is also very imprudent in so perilous an expedition, 
 to be troubled with prisoners! 
 
 Murat, I voted for them to be put to death at El- 
 Erish. 
 
 Fauvelet. My opinion coincides with Berthier’s, and 
 I doubt not but o'Ur worthy chief will see the necessity 
 of dispatching them ; it is the shortest method of get¬ 
 ting rid of them ! No excuse for breach of word ! 
 
 Buonaparte. It is on this principle it must be decided ; 
 the shortest are the best means. 
 
197 
 
 Berthier. Death is the shortest, ergo, the best. 
 
 Murat. So say I, death, by law and gospel. 
 
 Kleber. Citizen, we should consider that the pri¬ 
 soners at El-Erish were obliged to make this place in 
 their rout, and, on the approach of our forces the 
 garrison w r ould not suffer them to depart. I therefore 
 consider the vote cruel and unjust 1 
 
 Fauvelet. It is loss of time to discusss more at lanre. 
 Citizen General! You had better put the question: 
 
 I heartily vote for death——a leaden death 1 
 
 Berthier. Ditto. 
 
 Murat. Ditto. 
 
 Lannes. Ditto. 
 
 Caffarellu Ditto. 
 
 Auger eau. Ditto. 
 
 Andreossi . Ditto. 
 
 Buonaparte. Bravo, to death they are doomed, 1 
 sanction it with all my heart and soul; Death. [To 
 Berthier) Conduct thein into the square, let us inspect 
 them. 
 
 [Exit Berthier. 
 
 SCENE XIII. 
 
 The Square. — Enter Berthier and Prisoners . 
 
 Berthier. March! Quicklime; halt; to the right 
 about face ! 
 
 Enter Buonaparte and Officers, passing the front. 
 
 Buonaparte ( Obseixnng a good looking old Janissary , 
 says to himJ. Old fellow, what brought you here ? 
 
 Janissary. I can’t answer your question better 
 than by asking you the same ! You will tell me you 
 came here to serve your Sultan, so did I! 
 
 Buonaparte. (With a smile of contempt). Y 7 ou are 
 an impudent rascal! Ill send you all home together. 
 
 Iilebei\ 
 
3 98 
 
 Kleber. (aside,) That smile is a deadly doom, • 
 poor old fellow ! 
 
 Pi '■isoners all. May our holy Prophet bless and 
 protect your honour’s sacred person ! Generous Buo¬ 
 naparte, we thank you, and will not cease imploring 
 our prophet to favour your undertakings ! 
 
 Buonaparte . (To Andreossi) . March the prisoners 
 with your batallion to Abel’s field ! When half way 
 up the rise, form them in a line, and halt. 
 
 Prisoners . Heaven bless Buonaparte ! Long live 
 Buonaparte ! 
 
 [,Exeunt Andreossi and Prisoners. 
 
 Buonaparte (To Klcbcr). March your division 
 round the other side of the field to the top, and form pa¬ 
 rallel to the prisoners. Order to load with grape, and 
 to fire in regular platoons till everyone be laid dead. 
 
 Kleber. Whatdolhear, Citizen? Is this the right 
 of war ? 
 
 Buonaparte. The right of war.! Hi! hi! hi! Right 
 of War ! and custom of war ! Were we to adhere to 
 the general routine of warfare, we could not hope to 
 Succeed! No, no, we must proceed upon quite new 
 principles, I’ll be troubled with no prisoners, nor will 
 I do as Nelson did, 
 
 Send the men away. 
 
 To fight another day. 
 
 Kleber, But, Citizen General! Justice, honour, 
 humanity, forbid such an act! It is an enormity de¬ 
 grading to a veteran, and to us the champions of liberty 
 and equality it is most disgraceful: for my part, I will 
 never become the murderer of innocence ! Neither will 
 such troops as I command obey the order. 
 
 Buonapatre. What! do you demur at my command 
 and authority ? (After a pause). Prepare your division 
 for departure immediately; advance upon Zete and 
 Caiffa! \Exit Kleber. 
 
 That is a surly fellow ! But I cannot quarrel with 
 him neither; I am aware the troops are partial to 
 )iim i However, as 1 must not forget this °°^osition, 
 
 fto 
 
199 
 
 / 
 
 (to Fauvelet) note this circumstance down. (To Murat 
 and Berthier.) Do you hasten to Abel’s field with Bon’s 
 division and the Etat Major; Enforce the duty I 
 command. [ Exit Berthier and Murat. 
 
 Buonaparte. (Ascends to the top of a Mosque with 
 
 a telescope , and, after taking a view round the town , 
 says.) No vessels yet approaching ! (then turning to¬ 
 wards Abel's field.) Bravo, Berthier! That is a good 
 fire! One, two, three, four, five volleys. Three 
 thousand are already laid sprawling, in two more 
 minutes they will all share the same fate ! The troops 
 fire well—The divisions I perceive are returning, it is 
 all over I Now I have only to rid myself of the sick 
 and wounded. (Comes down from the Mosque.) 
 
 SCENE XIV. 
 
 Buonaparte. (To Fauvelet.) Go to the Physician- 
 general, desire him to come here ; (Buonaparte walks 
 about , deep in thought.) We have no time to lose.— 
 (Exit Fauvelet— after a pause) Yes, they must be 
 dispatched ; (A vision passes—slaps him on the shoulder , 
 
 -—he starts in amazement ) v Ah ! What is that! some¬ 
 thing as cold as death.' I recollect the same circum¬ 
 stance happened to me in Italy ; sure it is not to in- • 
 form me of any inconstancy of Josephine ! What else 
 I cannot guess. 
 
 * - s 
 
 [. A hollow voice calls out Buonaparte! Buonaparte! 
 Buonaparte! (he starts) Be not afraid; I am thy. 
 guardian angel. I have constantly accompanied thee 
 to witness thy glorious acts, and estimate thy greatness 
 of soul! Go on, thou favoured of God’s creation ;— 
 laugh at the hacknied system of humanity. Blood ! 
 Blood !—- Seal thy deeds with blood. Hesitate not at 
 the sacrifice of a few human beings in one day ; the 
 world contains many millions! My right hand, though 
 invisible, upholds thee ! !] 
 
 (Buonaparte shews evident marks of terror and sits 
 down in tremor). What is the matter with me ?—What, 
 what can this mean ?—— 
 
 i 
 
 Enter 
 
200 
 
 Enter Fauvelet and a Physician. 
 
 Buonaparte (recovering himielf a little ). Citizen 
 Doctor. 
 
 Physician . What, Citizen General, are you ill? 
 
 Buonaparte. I wish to have a list of the sick and 
 grounded ; How many are there in the hospital ? 
 
 Physician. When the muster was made there were 
 two hundred and eighty Mamelukes and three hundred 
 and fifty banditti. 
 
 Fauvelet. Two hundred and eighty and three hun¬ 
 dred and fifty make six hundred and thirty. 
 
 Buonaparte. (Walking to and fro with his arms 
 folded. ) Do you apprehend the contagion will increase ? 
 
 Physician. No! Upon the whole I find it diminishes 
 considerably ; many of the men are convalescent. 
 
 Buonaparte . We must depart hence to-morrow- 
 roorning. What can be done with these wretches ? I 
 cannot risk this malady being transported with the 
 troops. 
 
 Fauvelet. Citizen General, I vote for the same re¬ 
 cipe as for the prisoners. 
 
 Buonaparte. That is also my vote, but another 
 process must be adopted through the Arcanum Medi¬ 
 cine. I wish the poor devils to be dispatched with the 
 least trouble possible. (To the Physician.) Which is 
 the best and quickest mode to effect this ? 
 
 Physician. What, Citizen Chief! Am I in a re¬ 
 verie, or do my ears report false sounds ? Do you 
 seriously desire me to put to death near four hundred 
 of your own troops ? men who, in defence of your own 
 sacred person, have been maimed and fallen victims to 
 maladies, through w ant and fatigue, and to whom you 
 owe all your glory and renowm ? Have 1 followed 
 the apostles of liberty and equality to witness such an 
 unheard of atrocity ? To see the chief of the banditti 
 metamorphosed into a blood-thirsty ferocious tyger ! 
 (With indignation.) No, Citizen General ; my pro¬ 
 fession will not allow me to become a savage murderer ! 
 
201 
 
 if such are the qualities requisite for a hero, I thank 
 God I do not possess them. \Exit Doctor. 
 
 Buonaparte. That fellow has very great assurance 
 (7b Fauvelet.) Call an Ensign. (Enter Ensign.) Go and 
 desire the attending apothecary to come here. [Sternly*) 
 It shall be done. 
 
 Fauvelct. Citizen Chief, admit of no hesitation, 
 time is precious; the Vizier’s army is approaching, and 
 may reach Acre before us !- 
 
 Fnter Apothecary. 
 
 Buonaparte . [To the Apothecary.) What is your 
 name ? 
 
 Apothecary . Rez, and please your honour. 
 
 _____ 
 
 Buonaparte . Well, in what state do you find the 
 patients ?. 
 
 Apothecary . Rather better than yesterday; many 
 are convalescent. 
 
 Buonaparte. Will they be fit to march to-morrow ? 
 
 Apothecary, [surprized.) To-morrow? Oh no! 
 It is impossible ! 
 
 Buonaparte . How long have you followed the 
 army ? ' 
 
 i 
 
 Apothecary . I was two years with the army of the 
 Rhine. 
 
 Buonaparte. I perceive you have experience; I 
 shall take care of your advancement. 
 
 Apothecary. I thank ycur excellence. 
 
 Buonaparte. As I intend to march from hence to¬ 
 morrow, I wish some means might be devised to shorten 
 the sufferings of those poor devils, as I am afraid the 
 contagion may spread. If you can contrive some me¬ 
 thod in secret, be assured of my good will—It will be 
 better than leaving them behind to the mercy of the 
 infidels, to die by inches with hunger and want. 
 
 Apothecary . They are in a fair way of recovery. 
 
 2 D 
 
 Buonaparte . 
 
i 
 
 202 
 
 Buonaparte. (Looking disdainfully.) Don’t yon 
 
 understand me ? 
 
 Apothecary. Oh yes, your honour; and as to tha> 
 indeed, it is very easy. 
 
 Buonaparte. I should suppose so from your expe¬ 
 rience. 
 
 Apothecary . To be sure I can mix a potion of 
 strong somnific powder in their evening mess, which 
 will not only give it a relish, but lay them in an ever¬ 
 lasting sleep in the arms of death. 
 
 Buonaparte. Bravo, bravo; that’s just the thing. 
 (Turning to Fauvelet.) 
 
 Fauvelet. Citizen Apothecary, you will find a friend 
 and protector in our worthy chief. 
 
 Murat. Aye, we shall all be your friends. 
 
 Apothecary. Gracious General, you may rely on 
 my discretion ! [Exit Apothecary. 
 
 Buonaparte. (To Fauvelet.) Well, then, we may. 
 depart immediately. Call an Ensign 
 
 Enter an Ensign. 
 
 (To the Ensign.) Speed to Cairo, inform the Divan 
 that I have appointed Jaffa for a depot and point of 
 correspondence with all our posts on the Mediterranean. 
 That I shall write there in three days from the castle of 
 Acre, and that Djezza* Pacha, the Butcher, surely 
 dies. That I am advancing upon Zete and Caiffa ; 
 Abdalla Pacha is in force among the heights of Korosum 
 and Naplonae. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE 
 
203 
 
 SCENE XV. 
 
 • i > ■ •• 
 
 St. Jean D’Acre .—Thundering of cannon is heard. 
 
 The Turks are flying to their Mosques. Enter Com¬ 
 modore Sir Sydney Smith, with a company of English 
 
 Sailors . . 
 
 y . V ' c 
 
 Sailors. Huzza! huzza! huzza! 
 
 I •* ' • ► i ( * * • ' 
 
 1st. Sailor. Hollo, friends, Turks ! What the devil 
 &re you afraid of; you sure know we are your friends, 
 courage, my boys, we are come to have a knock at 
 your enemies, the Banditti. i 
 
 2d. Sailor. Come along, Jack !—Look yonder, cock 
 your eye at that Molly, there. 
 
 3d. Sailor. Aye, we’ll have a smack at her chops too. 
 
 Enter the Pacha, advancing to the Commodore. 
 
 Pacha. Thrice welcome to Acre, my dearest Com¬ 
 modore, your arrival is most seasonable. Buonaparte, 
 the chief of the execrable banditti, has had the audacity ^ 
 to summon me to surrender, and lias been bombarding 
 us for these two hours ; behold, on that hill, (pointing 
 with his glass) there stands that ^worthless scoundrel, 
 observing with his telescope what effect his temerity' 
 has on my city. 
 
 Commodore. The Pacha may rest assured that Acre 
 is safe ^vhile my brave fellows are within the walls. 
 
 A Sailor. {To some others.') Aye, and all the pretty 
 girls too ; Eh, Jack, not a soul of them shall the 
 Banditti have. 
 
 Commodore. But Pacha, why do your Janissaries 
 all run from their quarters to the mosques ? 
 
 Pacha. It is prayer time. 
 
 Commodore. (To some of his men.) Go drive them 
 to their posts. Tell them they shall pray afterwards. 
 
 Pacha. Oh ! my honoured best friend, Mr. Com¬ 
 modore, the laws of our prophet forbid Christians to 
 enter the mosques. 
 
 2 d 2 Commodore . 
 
Commodore . Mr. Pacha, we are not come here to 
 protect dastardly cowards—out they shall come. I 
 would rather batter down every mosque in your city 
 than suffer Acre to fall into the hands of Buonaparte ; 
 and if you demur, you shall go on board my ship. I 
 come here to defend Acre, and it shall be defended. 
 (To some of his men.) Go bring a dozen barrels of pow¬ 
 der to this cave, we’ll blow the whole place up. 
 
 Pacha. Pray excuse me, m}^ obligations to your 
 Excellence are great, and I am ail submission, I beg 
 you not to be angry. , 
 
 Commodore. (To his men.) Go, haul up the great 
 guns that we took from the enemy yesterday on board 
 the brig. (To the Pacha) Come, you remain by my 
 side to see how my fellows play with the balls, as you 
 do at shuttlecock with your mistresses. 
 
 Pacha. How fortunate it is you have those guns, 
 our artillery is much out of order. 
 
 (The Banditti attempt to scale the walls in two different 
 
 points , but are hurled down into the ditches by the 
 
 English Sailors as fast as they mount.) 
 
 Pacha. (In ecstasy.) Ah ! There, there they fall 
 by dozens! Glorious! (To some Janissaries.) Twenty 
 sequins per dozen for ears or noses. 
 
 Commodore. Hold! That I forbid, Mr. Pacha. 
 In the presence of British tars such acts of barbarity 
 are not allowed ; true glory is too sacred to be sullied 
 by wanton bloodshed. 
 
 \ 
 
 Enter An Officer, blindfolded^ from the Banditti, with 
 
 a flag of truce . 
 
 Officer. Most sublime Pacha! Buonaparte, the 
 chief of the banditti, sues for a suspension of arms for 
 twenty-four hours, to bury the dead; and he sincerely 
 wishes, during the interval, to come to an amicable 
 arrangement with your Excellence. 
 
 Pacha . 
 

 205 
 
 Pacha . To an arrangement with me ! You must 
 aduress yourself to mv most illustrious Ally, here. 
 
 Commodore. Mr. Pacha, do as you will, it is your 
 business, but remember with whom you treat. The 
 word of a true soldier is honour itself, but it is not so 
 with that of a banditti! 
 
 Pacha. ( After a pause.) "VSTell, the truce is granted 
 on condition that you clear the trenches of the dead. 
 
 SCENE XVI. 
 
 The Pacha’s Palace. 
 
 Enter Pacha, Commodore, and several Officers. They 
 all sit dozen to drink Coffee . 
 
 An Officer. I forgot, Commodore, you know we 
 have a rifle barrel gun on board, which will carry a mile 
 and half; I will be bound to reach Buonaparte on the 
 top of the hill with it; I should devilishly like to give 
 him a pounce on the nOse. 
 
 Commodore. I cannot allow it; It is base treachery 
 to single out an individual: let us always act upon the 
 broad basis of honour and true valour ! Hark ! What 
 firing is that ? 
 
 Enter a Janissary. 
 
 Janissary. Treachery; treachery. The banditti 
 observing that our posts were retired and all quiet, have 
 advanced in great force to scale the walls, undercover 
 of a tremendous fire directed against the Sultan’s 
 bastion. Had not our brave English friends sprung 
 like bucks upon the walls, where they layabout them 
 most devilishly with their cudgels and sabres, the 
 wretches would have succeeded. 
 
 Pacha. Then did they get up ? 
 
 Janissary. Yes, they did get up, and the tars, as 
 the honourable Commodore calls them, did get them 
 
 down 
 
 f 
 
 \ 
 
206 
 
 down again in a hurry. Oh ! it would have done your 
 heart good to have seen them flourish their bludgeons 
 and sabres. The ditches are almost full of their filthy 
 carcases, and Buonaparte is standing at a distance 
 wringing his hands in despair. 
 
 SCENE XVII 
 
 On the Sultan’s Battery. 
 
 The Pacha, Commodore, Officers, Kc, 
 
 Janissary. Sublime Pacha ! Buonaparte, struck with 
 shame at the failure of his treachery, and fearing a 
 sally on our part, is preparing for his retreat. 
 
 Commodore. (To an Officer.) Order the three gun¬ 
 boats to go along shore and harrass their march where - 
 ever they can reach them. [ Exit Officer. 
 
 (To the Pacha.) This is an instance, friend Pacha, of 
 what faith is to be put in a banditti! Eh ! eh ! 
 
 Curtain drops , and changes to the Banditti's Camp , 
 
 • • * •. > ' \ l ' r * ' *’• JCdi f : I ^ . ; • . * . • ' - l jo *w v 
 
 SCENE XVIII. 
 
 Thb Banditti’s Camp. 
 
 / 
 
 Buonaparte, Berthier, Iylcber, Murat, Menou, 
 Dessaix, and Fauvelet. 
 
 T.7f. >*1 g- •' ' • ‘ ‘ y -Ufii.7L c. 
 
 Buonaparte . It is very vexatious that this bloody 
 butcher, Ahmed, should stop our career, aud frustrate 
 our glorious plan, and in such a despicable place as 
 Acre-It is past bearing. 
 
 Bessaix. Don’t suppose the place has been defended 
 by Infidels, for, when I approached near with my bat¬ 
 talion, I heard distinctly the voice of Englishmen 
 crying out, with an oath, “ Here they come! have 
 “ at them, boys !’* 
 
 Klehen 
 
Kleber. I am also well persuaded that the place 
 was defended by Europeans, though we attacked it 
 a la Turquc ! 
 
 Buonaparte, i understand } 7 ou, Citizen General, * 
 —Berthier, arrange immediately for the retreat to 
 Egypt. [.Exeunt Berthier and Kleber. 
 
 —Murat and Fauvelet, have ye prepared the address 
 to the army ?—We must do something to keep up the 
 spirits of the men. 
 
 Fauvelet . Yes, here it is. 
 
 Buonaparte. Let me hear it. 
 
 Fauvelet. (reads.) (£ Soldiers! Citizens! Brothers! 
 
 * £ You have overrun the deserts swifter than the Ara*- 
 i( bians themselves ! You have dispersed in the plains 
 i£ of Mount Thabor, Demen, Hour, and Raomanich, 
 te that swarm of Infidels, collected from ail parts of 
 te Asia to enter Egypt and to plunder and despoil it 
 e< of all the fruit of our influence in its regeneration! 
 
 <JC You have taken from them their equipage, baggage, 
 
 <c and camels, and have secured thereby the springs 
 e ‘ and wells of the desest! You have demolished the 
 <4 fortifications of Gaza , Jaffa, Caiffa, and of Acre! 
 
 After these glorious achievements we will return, 
 <C| by easy journeys, to our friends and brothers in 
 
 Egypt. The possession of Acre is not worth the 
 i( loss of a day of our precious time, nor of the little 
 
 finger of, any one of yon my comrades. Brothers 
 “ in arms ! We have still before us a career of far 
 (C more illustrious glory j Toils and dangers must* 
 <c still be endured, but they shall be overcome in order 
 “ to accomplish our work ! What are past are but 
 <c trifling experiments to put our works and republican 
 <£ virtues to the test, in order to entitle each of you, 
 
 “ on your return home, to your five acres of the finest 
 u soil in the universe ! 
 
 “ Health.” 
 
 Buonaparte. It will do. (signs it.) Put it to press, 
 that it may be distributed in two hours after the camp 
 breaks up. Murat, Destaing, and Lannes, you ad¬ 
 vance straight for Raminie, and Dessaix and Menou 
 for Birke and Rosetta. • [ Exeunt. 
 
208 
 
 SCENE XIX. 
 
 - \ ^ 
 
 Banditti’s Camp near the Pyramids. 
 
 Buonaparte in his tent , with Berthier and Fauyelet, 
 Enter an Officer from Murat with a dispatch • 
 
 Buonaparte. (Beads.) Those cursed inhdels are 
 landing at Aboukir, in consideraole force. Dessaix, 
 and Fiougcrs are advancing, and Lannes and myself 
 are breaking up ; and I intend to cut oil their retreat 
 to their ships, so that not one of them shall escape. 
 
 Enter an Officer/nwi Marmont, at Alexandria. 
 
 Officer. Hasten, citizen chief, to share the glory.— 
 Ku sses Mustapha is landed at Aboukir, with fifteen 
 thousand men ; Citizen General, I lost no time to 
 communicate this to your Excellence. 
 
 Buonaparte. I have had notice thereof before. — — 
 Do you speed back, desire Marmont to put Alexandria 
 in a state of defence, although, by this time, the 
 whole horde maybe destroyed; I depart immedi¬ 
 ately for the seat of glory. Berthier, prepare for our 
 inarch. 
 
 Officer. Citizen Chief, I am charged to deliver this 
 letter into your hands; it comes from Europe. 
 
 [Exit Officer. 
 
 Buonaparte (To Fauvelet). Leave me. (alone, reads 
 the letter.) What, the devil! Europe is ruined ; the 
 Republic disgraced. I must hasten back. But how 
 escape from the corps, and how evade those cursed 
 English ! These are difficulties and dangers ! I per¬ 
 ceive my dearest Josephine and brothers have been 
 very active. (Reading it over again). The plan seems 
 well arranged in concert with my good friends, Sieves 
 and Talleyrand, and the dough-headed Ducos—Well, 
 I will come then. 
 
 Enter 
 
209 
 
 Enter an Aid-de-Camp from Murat, 
 
 Aid-de-Camp . Citizen General in Chief, I am 
 bearer of great news ! Our most noble army, under 
 Murat and Dessaix, has acquired everlasting honour 
 and glory. (Gives the dispatches ./ 
 
 Buonaparte. (Reads.) Citizen General in Chief, 
 Glory ! Glory ! Our toils are now finally crowned 
 with the most brilliant victory ! Hasten, Citizen Ge¬ 
 neral, to the scene of action and witness that which 
 is your heart’s delight! The whole of that abject race 
 of Musseimen have been hurled headlong into the 
 sea by the valour of our brave banditti. [Exeunt, 
 
 SCENE XX. 
 
 Alexandria .—An Apartment in the Castle. 
 
 * * 
 
 Marmont writing . 
 
 Enter Buonaparte, Murat, and Berthier. 
 
 Marmont (rises to receive them with open arms). 
 Welcome, most worthy chief and brothers in arms, I 
 greet you welcome, 
 
 ' Buonaparte. Once more we are returned from our 
 fatiguing expedition. Marmont, I want an audience 
 with you and Berthier immediately. ( The rest exeunt .) 
 You two, with Lannes, Cafiarelli, and Andreossi, must 
 prepare to go to Europe. |Jrgent affairs there require 
 my presence, (To Marmont.) Order a frigate to pre¬ 
 pare for,a cruise, without disclosing the objeet, and to 
 be ready in six hours. (To Berthier.) Go; send 
 Menou here; we have no time to lose. 
 
 [Exit Berthier and Marmont. 
 
 2 E 
 
 Enter 
 
( 
 
 5210 
 
 f 
 
 JEnler Abdallah Menou. 
 
 Citizen Abdallah, I appoint you to supercede Marmont 
 as Governor of Alexandria. Kleber, being your se¬ 
 nior, must be your commander in chief during my 
 absence to Europe. I need not tell you the importance 
 of your trust, nor how necessary it is that my departure 
 be kept a profound secret from the army. Dispatch 
 this (gives him a sealed paper) appointment to Kleber 
 two days after my departure. (After a pause.) Me¬ 
 nou, I shall omit no opportunity to serve you! To 
 tell you the truth, I have had frequent occasion to be 
 dissatisfied with Kleber’s sneering: behaviour towards 
 me ; if you can find out some decent way to supersede 
 him in the command, you may depend on my support. 
 Adieu ! (Embrace.) Go receive your instructions from 
 Marmont. (To Fauvelci.) Write a letter to the Grand 
 Vizier ; it will serve to keep him in doubt and suspense 
 concerning my departure. (Fauvelet writes after his 
 diction k ) ** The Sublime Porte has always been a 
 <c friend to France while Frenchmen were Christians, 
 (i but, strange to say, as soon as they professed 
 £( Mahometanism, she wages war against them. My 
 army is strong ; I any invincible; I speak out of 
 (( humanity ; I will destroy all the armies which may 
 if attempt the invasion of Egypt. 
 
 cc Buonapart ^? 1 
 
 (To Menou,) Forward this letter to the Vizier, to¬ 
 morrow. (To the others,) Prepare for departure. 
 
 [ Exeunt . 
 
 Buonaparte (alone, holding the letter in his hand). 
 Aye, to France ! To France to embrace my constant 
 Josephine. She tells me, in this letter, that I ought 
 to be crowned Prince of Greatness. Every thing is 
 arranged to take possession of the public authority the 
 moment I arrive. Now, were I to prognosticate on 
 futurity, on the fate of princes and principalities, 
 kings and kingdoms, parblieu ! I think myself superior 
 to any hereditary crowned head on earth. Experience 
 lias given me skill which none of them can boast of! 
 My knowledge is far beyond the depth of their narrow 
 
 judgments, 
 
211 
 
 judgments, which are confined within the circle of a 
 few paces round their capital! Their intercourse is 
 only among a few men who have seldom any other 
 pretensions than title and birth. I will condescend, 
 however, to call them brother or cousin, and offer them 
 
 my protection and friendship. 
 
 \ , ... . 
 
 j 
 
 Enter Berthier. 
 
 Berthier. Citizen General, the frigate is read}"**—' 
 The rest are all on board. 
 
 Buonaparte . Away ! away! then let’s away 1 
 
 [Exeunt, 
 
 * 
 
 End of the Fourth Act, 
 
 o 
 
 K 
 
 2 
 
 j 
 
 % 
 
dramatis persona-. 
 
 t 
 
 ACT FIFTH. 
 
 Buonaparte, Commander in Chief of the universal Ban¬ 
 ditti Corps . 
 
 Brothers to Buonaparte. 
 
 Joseph, Lucien, alias Brutus. 
 
 Confidents of Buonaparte. 
 
 Sie}’es, Talleyrand, Roederer, St. Jean d’Angelv, 
 Cambaceres, Le Brun, Regnaud, Fouch6. 
 
 Faiivelet Bourienne, Secretary to Buonaparte. 
 
 Portalis, Cic6, dignified Prelates . 
 
 Generals under Buonaparte in the Corps of Banditti. 
 
 Berthier, Murat (Joachim), Bernadotte, Le Febvre, 
 Andreossi, Caffarelli, Ducet, Lannes, Moreau, 
 Massena. 
 
 Directory . 
 
 Barras, Moulins, Roger Ducos, Gohier, Sieves. 
 Fouch6, Minister of Police . 
 
 Regnicr, Minister of Justice • 
 
 Josephine (Tascher La Pagerie), Wife to Buonaparte. 
 Hortense Eugene Beauharnois, Daughter to Josephine, 
 
 Sisters to Buonaparte. 
 
 Elisa (Princess Bacciochi), Marie (Paulette, Princess 
 Borgcse) Annuncia de Caroline (Duchess Joachim 
 Murat.) ~ • 
 
 Lcetitia, Buonaparte’s Mother. 
 
 Miss Perrigord (Mrs. Marmont), Niece to Talleyrand, 
 
 Celebrated Beauties of Paris. 
 
 Mrs. Recamier, Mrs. Tailien, Mrs. Roederer. 
 
r 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 ACT V. 
 
 Scene I.—At Paris. 
 
 Josephine’s House. She is sitting at her toilet , W/& 
 
 for Maid behind her. 
 
 Josephine. Heigho ! It is very distressing : I canno* 
 bear a state of suspense. It is now three weeks that 
 my things have been packed up ready to depart.; dur¬ 
 ing which time I have had the mortifying affliction of 
 being obliged to absent myself and Hortense from all 
 the balls and routs. By this constraint the poor girl is 
 deprived of the means of getting a husband in France. 
 
 Maid. O, dear Madam, Miss Hortense will surely 
 have a better chance amonsr the new Bashaws and Bevs 
 
 O 
 
 of Egypt; for you will certainly be a Cleopatra there. 
 Josephine . Ay, but when will that be, girl ? 
 
 Enter Miss Paulette and Miss El'za. 
 
 Well, sister, how are you this morning } Can you 
 bear this suspence ? 
 
 Paulette. O dear, oh! it is very cruel! I am so 
 unhappy, not knowing whether I must apply for fresh 
 custom here, or not. I have turned mv cap, and 
 ogled several of the Generals lately ; but I don’t like 
 to come to a permanent agreement, till 1 hear from 
 Dessaix. 
 
 Josephine. I was told that Le Clerc casts a longing 
 eye on thee. 
 
 Paulette. Yes, it is true, and we have put our cor- 
 , responding 
 
214 
 
 responding qualifications to the test; but—here comes 
 my sister Caroline. She and I can never agree. 
 
 Enter Miss Caroline and Miss Hortense. 
 
 Josephine (rising from the toilet). Good morning* 
 my dears. (Rings the bell for breakfast ). 
 
 Hortense. Tallien just now sent to know if you 
 were stirring: she will he here presently. Ah, she is 
 already arrived. (A knocking at the door is heard.) 
 
 Enter Mrs. Tallien and Miss Perrigord. 
 
 Mrs. Tallien (advancing to Josephine). Good morn¬ 
 ing, my dear Josephine. Bless me, what dejection ! 
 Dear, dear, we are all alike. I have borne it as long 
 as I can, and am now determined to put an end to it. 
 Doctor Cupid tells me a little phlebotomy is an antidote 
 to melancholy, and I am bent on being a sultana m 
 Egypt. There is no time to lose. What say you, 
 eh ? 
 
 Miss Perrigord. Ah, ah ! Tallien is always merry. 
 
 Josephine. It is true, sadness seldom preys long 
 enough on her spirits to overcloud her cheeks. She is 
 in the right; I will endeavour to do the same. 
 
 Miss Perrigord. Yes ; but consider, you and Tal¬ 
 lien are married, and have not only exterior charms, 
 but internal experience. By which you have a tenfold 
 advantage over us poor inexperienced girls. 
 
 Hortense. Ay, that is true, my dear Perrigord ; 
 married women have the advantage of us. 
 
 Caroline. Oh, I beseech you, let us'put an end to 
 this subject. Here comes Recamier. ( Enter Reca- 
 mier.) Let us adjourn to breakfast. [ Exeunt . 
 
 N. B. The tea-table conversation of these ladies 
 was, as may be expected, so offensive to delicacy, 
 that we consider it sufficient to make this remark, and 
 expunge it. 
 
 SCENE 
 
SCENE II. 
 
 Breakfast Room. 
 
 The ladies as before, to whom enter Sieyes and Talley¬ 
 rand. 
 
 Talleyrand fadvancing). I wish you joy, sweet 
 
 ladies ; I wish you joy ! 
 
 Josephine. Joy of what ? Indeed you are very 
 civil, after refusing last night to abide with me during 
 iny fright, and now wish me joy. 
 
 Talleyrand. I refuse ! By Jupiter, my dear crea¬ 
 ture, it must be a mistake ; I refuse nothing. 
 
 Josephine. Well, friend, I expect thou wilt make 
 it good another time (chucks him under the chin). (To 
 Sieyes.) But whatjoy, my dear Abbd, do you bring 
 and wish us ? Have you any news from Buonaparte ? 
 
 Sieyes,. We have private dispatches at last, which 
 are the triplicate of former ones, that the sharkish 
 English intercepted. 
 
 All. I wish that the crawfish Nelson was at the 
 bottom of the sea. 
 
 Sieyes. I also ; for do you know, after the glorious 
 conquest of Malta, and a masterly marinership to 
 Eg}^pt, that Neptune crept in between the shore and 
 our fleet, and blew it up in the air. 
 
 All. O heavens ! 
 
 Sieye.s. Heaven ordained it so. 
 
 All. O heavens! O iack-a-day 1 
 
 Sieyes. Of the banditti all goes well, except that 
 Murat is slightly wounded, but gained honour. 
 
 Caroline. O, poor Murat! bless him, I was sure 
 he would shew himself worthy. This is a sad accident, 
 Abbe ; I am only sorry he did not make me an honest 
 woman before he went. Of mutual love, my little one 
 is our only pledge. 
 
 Talleyrand. 
 
£16 
 
 Talleyrand . Oh, as to that, my dear, the honour of 
 abanditto is enough for your security. 
 
 . Ay, sure is it; and the whole republic is his 
 
 Recamier .' Alas ! citizen Bishop, is it not very hard ? 
 She, poor soul, has a conscience, that forbids the in¬ 
 dulgence even of innocent pleasures, during the sepa¬ 
 ration from her lover ; cannot you give her a soothing 
 absolution, that may stifle her scruples in a fraternal 
 benediction ? 
 
 Sieyes . Yes, that may be done, to her satisfaction. 
 
 All . Bravo, bravo ! Mr. Abbd is a man of spirit. 
 
 Sieyes . Well, adieu ! 
 
 [Exeunt Talleyrand and Sieyes. 
 
 Josephine . Come, let us adjourn to the drawing¬ 
 room : I am quite low spirited. 
 
 SCENE III. 
 
 Ds.awing-Boom .—The foregoing. 
 
 Hortense. Mamma, I have heard you say, that 
 dreams are fancies, and that love is a dream. 
 
 Josephine . Ay, my dear, I do not put faith in 
 dreams; but, notwithstanding, I know they are va¬ 
 pours and fancies that float in the brain, yet I cannot 
 dissemble but that I am a little troubled at one I have 
 had. 
 
 Tallien. Pooh ! never believe that tormenting 
 
 dreams come from heaven. 
 
 Josephine . I wish I could forget it. 
 
 [. Exeunt all . 
 
 Sieyes 
 
 bail. 
 
 SCENE. 
 
217 
 
 ■> 
 
 * 
 
 SCENE IV 
 
 ? k * ’ " X 
 
 « » » I t ' ^ . 
 
 At Trejas, 
 
 Buonaparte z>z # Boom. 
 
 Buonaparte (alone). Once more on Gallic shore ! 
 Oh, Fortune protect my destiny, enlarge my views, 
 and grant that success which feeds my ambition, and 
 be still propitious 1 With a persevering constancy will 
 I pursue my object, till I attain it. Thou, Goddess, 
 hast designed me to be superior to the rest of thy favo¬ 
 rites, and hast given me power over other men, who 
 are born for my use. (After a pause.) My future 
 greatness will now depend on the tools I can collect 
 around me : they shall hold the mirror, by which the 
 bright rays of my benignity, like the glorious luminary 
 of the day, will spread to every corner of the earth.. 
 They shall be the vassals of my pleasure: they shall 
 rob for me* plunder for me, they shall murder for me; 
 and I will kick of caress them, frown of smile on them, 
 as I find it good for my purpose: they shall be the 
 messengers of my desires. From among s’*ch I will 
 select, and prefer to my favour, the most daring and 
 iniquitous, the most cunning and treacherous. As for 
 such as profess an upright, godly life, who take virtue 
 for their rule of action, I will cause them to be im¬ 
 peached as traitors to the welfare of the people: they 
 shall be transported or guillotined. I will niake them 
 know that mankind are subservient to me, as the su¬ 
 preme protector of civil society. 
 
 SCENE V, 
 
 Paris* 
 
 Talleyrand’s Garden and House. 
 
 (Talleyrand is seen walking in the shrubbery , with A 
 book in his hand , and deep in thought.) 
 
 * 
 
 2 f Enter 
 
 l 
 
218 
 
 Enter Miss Perrigord, with a guitar ; she sits down on 
 a seat , near some rose bushes and honey suckles. 
 
 Miss Perrigorcl. Ay, dreams are strange things; 
 one night of thieves, next of lovers. Alas! 1 wish 
 my uncle would allow me to accompany Josephine to 
 Egypt. Hush! I think I see him yonder walking. 
 (She rises and looks.) Yes, it is he; he seems to be 
 coming this way. He turns down the cypress alley : 
 I’ll attract his ears with his favourite air. ( She sits 
 down again, plays and sings.) 
 
 Hail, Love, sweet Love! first supreme of heaven! 
 
 Thou king of worlds, great prince of hearts 1 
 Almighty power to thee is given. 
 
 To rule with roses, thorns, or darts. 
 
 / 
 
 Maty thy laws, that ev*ry vicious thought controul. 
 
 Conduct me through life’s gloomy maze. 
 
 To meet the object of my soul. 
 
 To adore thy name, and sing thy praise. 
 
 * . ( » 
 
 -(She looks: he stands to listen. She continues:) 
 
 Inspiring Love, the universe surrounding. 
 
 All do own thy godly power j 
 Thy works, thy wonders, stars surrounding. 
 
 Thy holy altars, wait the hour. 
 
 To draw from thee thy genial smiles; 
 
 Devoid of which, the world expiring. 
 
 Of Love’s delight the heart beguiles. 
 
 Talleyrand ( advancing ). Ho, bo? is it thou who 
 art so early tuning to the bullinches and thrushes in the 
 grove ? 
 
 Miss Perrigord. Indeed, dear uncle, I thought more 
 of surprising you than of tuning to the birds. How do 
 you find yourself this morning ? You were very low- 
 spirited last night. 
 
 Talleyrand . Ay, child, I cannot be chearful, for I 
 
 see, 
 
219 
 
 see, after all my labours and anxiety for tlie welfare of 
 the republic, it is going headlong to perdition. I lose 
 all hopes. 
 
 Miss Perrigord. All hopes ! my dear uncle, surely 
 you know that hope is the last of the Christian virtues 
 that forsakes us. I have still hopes. 
 
 Talleyrand, Hopes in what ? 
 
 Miss Perrigoyd, That my uncle will consent to 
 Marmont, whom he praises as a brave bartditto. 
 
 Talleyrand (aside). I may safely say yes; for, as 
 things are, 1 never expect any of them again in Eu¬ 
 rope. (To her.) Well, then, if thou wishest to re¬ 
 pair to Egypt, with the rest, with all my heart. Come, 
 let us go in to breakfast. 
 
 Miss .Perrigord* I thank you, dear uncle. (Em» 
 braces him.) [Exeunt* 
 
 SCENE VI. 
 
 A Parlour opening on the Garden. 
 
 j } • • i • ' 4 :: t • t . * 
 
 ' The foregoing at breakfast , playing on the guitar . 
 
 - - - / 
 
 Enter Josephine. 
 
 r Josephine. Good morning, citizen Bishop. (To 
 Miss.) And how dost thou do, my dear Juliette, this 
 morning? hast thou dreamed again of thieves, this 
 terrible stormy night ? 
 
 Miss Perrigord. I am a little better, thank you ; 
 I have been trying to dispel my vapours, with the 
 guitar, in the garden. 
 
 Talleyrand. Ay, I found her joining in melody 
 with the birds this morning, in the garden. 
 
 Enter Sieyes. 
 
 Sieyes. Bravo, citizen! you are a happy man to 
 
 2 f 2 have 
 
320 
 
 have such angelic creatures about you in the morning, 
 as soon as you are up. Now let me wish you joy for 
 the good tidings. * ' * / 
 
 All. Tidings! what-news is there? 
 
 Sieyes . News ! great news ! 
 
 All. Great news ! what is it ? Speak. Is Suwar* 
 row driven back ? • 
 
 Sieyes. Greater news than that. 
 
 All. Are the Austrians beaten ? 
 
 Sieyes . Still greater. 
 
 All. Are the English driven from the Mediterra¬ 
 nean ? 
 
 Sieyes. Far greater. 
 
 (Josephine and Miss> clasp him in their arms, and em¬ 
 brace him.) Do tell us what it is. 
 
 AIL Is Buonaparte arrived at Constantinople? 
 
 Sieyes. Pooh ! greater still. Rejoice, I tell you \ 
 our plan is now on the poiqt of being accomplished. 
 After having destroyed tlje army, and granting an 
 armistice to the Grand Vizier, which secures Egypt to 
 France, Buonaparte has once more outwitted the 
 English on the seas, and is arrived safe at Trejas. , 
 
 Josephine (swooning away). At Trejas! (Falls 
 bach in her chair.) '. 
 
 Talleyrand . Poor soul! Help, help! Quick [ 
 some hartshorn! Quick, quick! The joy is too 
 great for her. ’ * . : 
 
 Caroline ( holding Sieyes). Is Murat coming? Is 
 Marmont come with him ? (Sieves, attending Jose¬ 
 phine, seems not to hear; they pull him between them.) 
 Tell us ! tell us ! 
 
 Sieyes. Yes, yes! they are come. ( They kiss him : 
 they carry Josephine out.) 
 
 Hortense. Poor mamma ! She said this morn¬ 
 ing that the elements must surely be pregnant with 
 some phoenomenon, she had rested so badly last night. 
 
 Enter 
 
 \ 
 
221 , 
 
 Enter Mrs. Tallien, Recamier, and Rcederer. 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. He, he! what is all this bustle about? 
 What is the matter ? 
 
 Elisa (to Recamier). Did not my brother Lucien 
 tell you the news ? 
 
 Recamier. I did not have his company last night. I 
 am ver}^ angry with him, as he knew I must be terrified 
 at the thunder, 
 
 Eliter Josephine and Talleyrand. 
 
 Josephine (a little recovered). Thanks, my clear 
 Bishop, for your extreme unction. The surprise was 
 too great. Alas ! I am a little better. 
 
 Sieyes. Poor soul! I would-have rather the whole 
 of the republic was lost than my poor Josephine should 
 suffer. 
 
 Talleyrand, And so would I. Adieu, for a mo¬ 
 ment ; we must go. » 
 
 [Exeunt Talleyrand and Sieyes. 
 
 Paulette . Well, what a delightful calm after such 
 a stormy night! 
 
 Mrs, Tallien. Stormy indeed ! I was almost petri¬ 
 fied with fear, 
 
 Paulette. Indeed ’twas dreadful! 
 
 Re-enter Sieyes, with Lucien and Joseph. 
 
 Sieyes. Hollo, ladies ! Here, I have brought you 
 two rakes to condole with you for your fright, and re¬ 
 joice with you at the news. 
 
 Recamier (quickly). And those who will not con¬ 
 dole with us in the storm, are unworthy of that honour 
 in the calm that has succeeded. 
 
 Mrs. Tallien. That is right* 
 
 Re-enter Talleyrand. 
 
 Josephine. Now Talleyrand is come, let us take a 
 walk in the garden. • [Exeunt. 
 
 .Josephine. 
 
SCENE VIE 
 
 An Apartment in Josephine’s House. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte, in boots and spurs. 
 
 Buonaparte (to the servant). Where is your mis¬ 
 tress ? 
 
 Servant, She is gone to take her riiorning exercise. 
 
 Buonaparte* Go, seek her. But haste. 
 
 [Exit Servant. 
 
 (After a pause, with his arms folded.) The enterprise 
 is hazardous ! There is but one opening, by which I 
 can enter this "briery, obscure, pathless maze. Heyday! 
 what is the matter with me ? I feci my hair bristle on 
 my head, as if electrified. I feel [a vision passes, and 
 slaps him on the shoulder) —Ah ! what, what is that my 
 old visitor ? ( Looking round in astonishment.) Some 
 
 spirit must hover about me. 
 
 (A hollow voice calls out) Buonaparte i Buonaparte ! 
 thy days are numbered ! The measure of thy iniquity 
 is not yet complete. If thou dost hesitate, thou art 
 no more worthy to be called my son. 
 
 (lie stares wild and frantic.) What, what do I 
 hear ? Does the spirit of ill-fortune torment me ? O 
 God! where will this passion of ambition lead me ? I 
 must go on till it exhaust itself. 
 
 ( The same voice cries). Ay, and then will nature set 
 the bounds of reason in thy bosom. (After a pause.) 
 Knowest thou that thou hast thy neighbour Francis ? 
 Thou must encircle Frederick, erect new kingdoms, 
 and crown a *-of the-and bid defi¬ 
 
 ance o the world. 
 
 {lie is greatly terrified.) I must proceed in this'in¬ 
 tricate work. I want no divine assistance. (After a 
 pause.) Yes, after so many hardships i ndured, I must 
 not go back. No, I am ? and I wiU be omnipotent on 
 
 earth. 
 
/ 
 
 223 
 
 earth. Every knee shall bend to me ; every head shall 
 bow at niy approach. Honour, reward, and punish¬ 
 ment await my nod; and— 
 
 [Enter Josephine. 
 
 O, my angel! my Josephine! (They embrace) how 
 dost thou do ? 
 
 Josephine . Do, my dearest Buonaparte ! how could 
 I do without thee ? To be sure my friends have been 
 very attentive to my wants, and to my pleasures too ; 
 and, ill order to forward our plan, I was obliged to 
 make such returns, by free indulgence, as I knew would 
 operate upon their feelings. 
 
 Buonaparte. That was right, my charmer ! Thou 
 hast favours enough in store for me. But how goes on 
 the project ? Where are Sieyes and my brothers ? Do 
 tend for them. 
 
 Josephine . Every thing goes on well; we have dis¬ 
 tributed two millions in the best manner possible, and 
 promises for ten more. But we were in despair at not 
 receiving news from thee; our baggage was packed 
 ready these two months to set out for Egypt, where I 
 thought of nothing less than becoming queen to my 
 sultan Buonaparte. 
 
 Buonaparte . Thou deservest to be higher exalted, 
 my sweet dear creature ! (Embraces her.) 
 
 Enter Joseph, Sieyes, and Talleyrand. 
 
 All . Ah, most worthy friend and brother! we 
 greet thee welcome to the land of liberty. Thy arri¬ 
 val is most apropos. 
 
 Talleyrand. Alas, the republic ! you are come just 
 in time to save it. 
 
 Buonaparte. Citizens, I return you thanks for the 
 cares and attentions you have paid to niy dear Jose¬ 
 phine. 
 
 Sieyes. Ah, citizen general, she is the perfection cf 
 her sex. The whole merit of our success has sprung 
 from her discretion. 
 
 Talleyrand. 
 
 i 
 
224 
 
 Talleyrand. Let us forbear compliments, and pro-*' 
 ceed to business ! Strike the iron while it is hot. 
 
 Buonaparte. Ay, let us go, confound the stupid 
 senses of the rabble, ere the surprize ot my arrival sub¬ 
 side. Where are my brothers and Rcedtrer ? 
 
 Talleyrand. I shall immediately repair to the council. 
 
 Sicyes. I expect them here every moment; Cantl - 
 baceres, Roger Ducos, and Lefebvre with them. Ah, 
 here they come ! 
 
 Enter Rocdcrcr, Lucien Brutus, Cambaceres, Ducos, 
 
 Lefebvre, -&c. 
 
 AU (advancing to Buonaparte). Welcome, welcome, 
 our worthy brother, friend and champion of liberty ! 
 
 Roederer. Thus let me kiss the hem of thy garment. 
 (lie kisses the skirts of his coat.) Now is the welfare 
 of the people secure 1 
 
 Buonaparte . To your united labours do I owe the 
 grand project before me, which sweetens and effaces 
 from my mind the toils and hardships I have endured 
 to secure }^our happiness. But let us go to business. 
 (7o Sieyes.) Good friend, what is the order of our 
 proceedings? we are at the bottom of the wheel of for¬ 
 tune ; we shall raise with it. 
 
 ✓ 
 
 Sieyes. The Council of Antients will this day vote 
 Buonaparte to the command of the interior 1 Talley¬ 
 rand and Mercier , the presidents, have engaged votes 
 sufficient to secure the motion. (To Lucien Brutus.) 
 You are president of the Five Hundred ; you hpve no 
 doubt secured a majority ! 
 
 Brutus . The Council of Five Hundred were refrac¬ 
 tory ; I have worked hard, and at great expense, yet 
 I cannot flatter myself that L have above 150 members 
 secure! 
 
 Buonaparte. Fig for the council, secure the ancients ; 
 we will not stand on ceremonies with such as wish ano¬ 
 ther convention 1 Force must be used ; dispatch en¬ 
 sures success. , 
 
 Le Fcbvre . 
 
Le Febvre. Aye, the public welfare requires it! 
 
 Fouche . I’ll take care to have some thousand eyes 
 upon them ! I’ll prevent the rabble from coming in 
 contact with the five hundred ! 
 
 {Exit Fouche and Buonaparte. 
 
 Re-enter Josephine. 
 
 *' V • . \ 
 
 Josephine. Every thing is arranged ; Buonaparte is 
 appointed commander of the interior, and the councils 
 are ordered to assemble to-morrow r morning at nine 
 o'clock at St. Cloud ! Talleyrand will be here pre¬ 
 sently ! 
 
 All. Bravo ! Bravo ! Detach some troops! 
 
 Le Febvre. Five thousand men must be stationed in 
 that neighbourhood this evening. 
 
 Boeder er* But, citizens, remember, there is existing 
 a decree which Francois de Nantes brought forward 
 last year under the sanction of Talleyrand, viz. e< That 
 ** any public authority or individual, who should at- 
 €t tempt directly or indirectly, the liberty of the 
 (e legislative body, or any of the members, is outlawed, 
 “ as an implacable enemy to the constitution of the 
 (C 3d year, and to the republic therefore I doubt the 
 propriety of this proceeding, and whether the Ancients 
 can legally execute the project ! 
 
 Re-enter Buonaparte. 
 
 Sieyes . O yes ! the articles 102 and 3 of the consti¬ 
 tution warrant it ; and though not quite to that extent, 
 necessity, which is above all law, and the welfare of 
 our dear republic, requires it 5 therefore legality is 
 quite out of the question. 
 
 Buonaparte. Ay, indeed ! What, in the name of 
 Belzeebub, has legality to do with our projects ? 
 
 Cambaceres. It is indeed silly nonsense ! Talk of 
 proceeding legally ! What legality was there in the 
 breaking out of the revolution ? yet it was effected ! 
 Was the abolition of the nobility legal? Were the 
 Capets decapitated by law ? Have the various succes- 
 
 2 G 
 
226 
 
 sions to republican sovereignty been legal ? Did not 
 the Council of Five Hundred overthrow the Directory 
 on the 30th Prairial ? Did not the Elders destroy the 
 constitution, 18th Fructidor, 22d Fioreal ? Were not all 
 these events sanctioned by declaring they were for the 
 welfare of the Republic? I say, then, legality is a 
 bugbear to keep the rabble in awe and respect; laws 
 are made for those who are to obey, but not for us who 
 frame and enact them ; we are above their effect 1 
 
 Buonaparte. Thou art after mv own soul: come 
 to my arms. (Embrace). 
 
 Enter Talleyrand. 
 
 o 
 
 , — -i ^ k * t 
 
 Citizen Buonaparte , you must forthwith repair to the 
 Ancients, to renew your oath for the welfare of the 
 
 people !, * 
 
 Enter Berthier, Moreau, Lefebvre, and Macdonald. 
 
 The two last felicitate Buonaparte on his arrival. 
 
 Sieves . Here is the address to the people that the 
 council will publish this evening ! f 
 
 All . Read it! Let us hear ! 
 
 Sieyes (reads). c< To the French People ! Liberty, 
 u Equality, and Virtue ! 
 
 <c Citizens and Soldiers of Freedom, &c. 
 
 cc The Council of Elders, the depository of the na- 
 Ci tional wisdom, has, conformably to articles 102 and 
 <£ 103 of our blessed constitution, ordained, and do 
 Ci ordain, the sittings of the national representation to 
 ie remove from Paris to St. Cloud, under the safeguard 
 (C of our invincible hero, Buonaparte, the commander 
 ec in chief of the interior I 
 
 <£ This is a measure of safety in this important crisis, 
 ci which imperiously demands the union and confidence 
 £c of all true / patriots. Frenchmen ! it is the only means 
 u to establish the Republic on the basis of solid civil 
 <c liberty, internal happiness, victory, and lasting 
 cc peace! 
 
 t 
 
227 
 
 €< Inhabitants of Paris, be easy; the legislature 
 £C will speedily return to your bosoms. Long Jive the 
 <c Republic 1 Long live the People, by whom and for 
 “ whom the common wealth only exists !” 
 
 Talleyrand. Bravo ! It will do ! The rabble must 
 be a little cajoled! But come, \ we must away; the 
 Elders will be waiting. Shew Buonaparte the form of 
 the oath ! His conscience must not be surprized, you 
 know ! 
 
 Buonaparte . Ay that’s a material thing! for I 
 
 am very cautious of swearing ! 
 
 Sieyes. There it is {gives it to Buonaparte). 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VIII. 
 
 The Hall of the Council of Elders.— Enter 
 
 Buonaparte, with the Generals Berthier, Moreau, 
 
 Macdonald, Lefebvre, and the foregoing . 
 
 President (to Buonaparte). Most noble, esteemed 
 Buonaparte ! thou invincible hero of liberty and equa¬ 
 lity ! In the name of the Republic of light and reason, 
 we, the depository of the wisdom of the nation, do ap¬ 
 point thee commander in chief of the interior, to watch 
 over and protect the happiness of the people. Swearest 
 thou to be true and faithful ? ( holds the book to him.) 
 
 Buonaparte [kisses the book). “ Yes, I swear to be 
 <c true, I swear everlasting fidelity to the rights of the 
 “ people ! to maintain the purity of the constitution 
 (C of the 3d year, and the rights of election upon true 
 “ republican principles ! 
 
 6 ‘ May he or they who ever violate these sacred 
 “ principles, by usurping the sovereign authority, 
 “ suffer the most ignominious death ! Amen.” 
 
 Yes, Citizens Elders, under your auspices will I 
 restore the Republic to order! it shall be saved 1 
 Say, then, the revolution is ended; I swear it; 
 yea, I swear it in my own name, and that of my brave 
 
 2 G 2 brothers 
 
228 
 
 brothers in arms here. (7 0 Berthier.) Deliver the 
 brevets to Lefebvre, Andreossi, Caffarelli, Murat, 
 Lannes, Ducet, Marmbnt, and Durcot ! They must 
 instantly repair to St. Cloud with three brigades. 
 
 [Exeunt all. 
 
 SCENE IX. 
 
 Council Room of Five Hundred. — Enter Buona¬ 
 parte, accompanied with several Officers and Grena¬ 
 diers, 
 
 Buonaparte . Citizens Representatives of the Re¬ 
 public ! As it is well known, I need not repeat to you 
 how much I adore the altar of liberty ! Yes, you 
 know how much I have suffered, and they who deny it 
 are rascals ! Think of the unexampled toils, the hard¬ 
 ships I have undergone for your regeneration ! Yea, I 
 have watched, that you might sleep ! I have endured ' 
 hunger, thirst, plague, pestilence, and famine, that ye 
 might live in abundance and feasting! Yes, by the 
 living gods, have I deprived myself of my natural 
 rest, and prayed till I was hoarse, and contrary to my 
 custom, in order to serve the Republic ! But what 
 avails it all ? I now find I have laboured in vain ! I left 
 you in peace, I find war! I left the treasury full, it 
 is now empty, and misery is depicted in every coun¬ 
 tenance ! What have you done with that Republic I 
 left you ? It is asleep. Tell me, where are those hun¬ 
 dred thousand Frenchmen, companions of my glory ? 
 They are dead. I find all the public authorities dis¬ 
 united, all the constitution going to ruin. Citizens, it 
 is time to save the Republic. The Council of Ancients 
 is endued with great power, but the wisdom by which 
 it is animated is greater still. Citizens, consult it ; 
 lose not sight of the two things for which we have 
 made so many sacrifices—Liberty vnd Equality. Dis¬ 
 card from among you those 'who are more patriotic 
 than brave ; away with them; we’ll have none who 
 
 have 
 
1 
 
 229 s 
 
 have not bled, and are not ready to bleed, for the 
 public good ! 
 
 Arena (and several members advance towards Buo¬ 
 naparte, crying), Down with the traitor! down 
 with the traitor! (Arena makes a push at Buonaparte 
 with a dagger.) I’ll rid the world of the monster. (The 
 blow is warded off by a Grenadier), 
 
 Buonaparte. Murder! Murder! Grenadiers! Gre¬ 
 nadiers! defend me ! defend me ! My life is in dan¬ 
 ger ! O Lord! O Lord ! they will murder me! 
 Help ! help ! ^ 
 
 (He faints , and falls into the arms of the Grena¬ 
 diers , who carry him away, and the drums imme¬ 
 diately beat, when a body of troops rush into the 
 hall, and disperse the Council, crying, Buonaparte 
 for ever ! Buonaparte forever 1) 
 
 Litcien Brutus (at the door). Long live the Re¬ 
 public ! Down with the assassins, and the welfare of 
 the people is secured ! Huzza ! huzza ! 
 
 , SCENE X. 
 
 Buonaparte’s Hotel. 
 
 *' ,4 { - •' . • v . ‘ f ‘ 
 
 Buonaparte, Talleyrand,Sieyes, Lucien Brutus, Fouche, 
 Berthier, Ducos, in Committee, Roedcrer, Sic. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, Citizens, we have had a bois¬ 
 terous day. 
 
 Talleyrand. A desperate case requires a desperate 
 
 remedy ! 
 
 Sieyes. Thank God, it is over! Let us now shew 
 the people immediately that we wish to consolidate 
 their happiness! (To Talleyrand). Have you pre¬ 
 pared the project, Citizen ? 
 
 Talleyrand. Yes, I and Cambaceres have consulted 
 upon the plan, and we submit this list tor the tinal 
 consideration of the committee, viz. 
 
 Sieyes, 
 
230 
 
 “Tnd B?on g apartc UCOS ’ } Consuh & t,lc R ‘P uhlk - 
 Berthier . • t . . Minister of War. 
 
 Gaudiii.. Finances. 
 
 Fouche ......... Police. 
 
 Cambaceres. Justice . 
 
 Talleyrand (via Reinhard ) . . Foreign Affairs. 
 
 Lucien Brutus . Interior. 
 
 Buonaparte (to Talleyrand). Why by proxy, Ci¬ 
 tizen ? 
 
 Talleyrand. Excuse me,worthy Citizens, for the pre¬ 
 sent ; too close application to business at this moment will 
 be my death ; I will, however, superintend as much as I 
 can. I have received applications from my old friends,- 
 Barthelemy and Carnot, to be permitted to re-enter 
 the Republic. They are both useful subjects* 
 
 Buonaparte. Let us have them ! 
 
 Sieyes. Well, Citizens, I approve of the arrange-^ 
 rnent. 
 
 All. So be it! So be it! Let it be promulgated* 
 Let us sign it. ( They all sign.) 
 
 Sieyes. Each minister must publish a proclamation. 
 Let us promise much, but be cautious n6t to perform 1 
 
 Fouche. Aye, I’ll swear to them, that innocence has 
 nothing to fear, and guilt nothing to hope, from the 
 wisdom and justice of their present rulers. 
 
 Buonaparte. Tell them, they will shortly awake as 
 from a dream after intoxication ! 
 
 Cambaceres. Citizens Consuls ! The multitude is a 
 many-headed monster, which must be lulled asleep, or 
 duped by flattering marks of respect, by tickling its 
 heart wijdi solemn, fascinating promises ! * Like a pike 
 on your hook, you must play with it till it be spent! 
 
 Buonaparte. Well said ! Then we may occasionally 
 make a sacrifice to the gods ! 
 
 Raederer . When the public mind has been duly 
 prepared, by high sounding words of national prospe¬ 
 rity, by magnifying defeats into victories, vice into 
 
 virtue. 
 
221 
 
 virtue, &c. the greatest absurdities will be received as 
 solid reason ! 
 
 1 alley rand. Yes ; and by glossing over pride, ava- 
 varice, and cruelty for a while, the mind will become 
 callous to the most heinous, inhuman crimes, to com¬ 
 mit which will be regarded as amiable virtues. 
 
 [Exeunt all. 
 
 SCENE XL 
 
 Buonaparte, Josephine, Siey.es, Roger Ducos, Talley¬ 
 rand, and Berthier, at table. They all rise up. 
 
 Josephine (laying hold of Buonaparte’s hand). Well, 
 my dear Buonaparte ! did I not tell you that we would 
 and coukl settle these new arrangements ? I was con¬ 
 vinced our good friends would not be so earnest in es¬ 
 tablishing the happiness of the people, without seeing 
 it completely effected! Mind, my dear, this is a 
 change of my own fancy. Sieyes will retire with a 
 plum, and with the honour of being a dum senator* 
 Ducos , God bless him ! he says he lias no further am¬ 
 bition (chucks him under the chin). (To Buonaparte.) 
 Don’t be jealous, my love. I have given my Louisa 
 to Louis tby brother. 
 
 Buonaparte . I thank thee, my charmer. (To Tal¬ 
 leyrand,) What is your opinion of the change which 
 my angel has so happily traced out ? 
 
 Talleyrand . Oh, it is admirably well devised ! 
 
 Buonaparte. You will enter the Consulate ! 
 
 Talleyrand. Citizen Consul, you will excuse me, 
 and pardon my declining the honour you so kindly 
 offer. I flatter myself, my services as Secretary are 
 more important (at least to myself). C'ambaceres is a 
 man versed in the law, and Le Brim is a statesman; 
 they are the fittest associates for the hero of liberty, in 
 order to form an efficient government. We have also 
 strengthened the connection, by proposing Maret, a 
 
 veteran 
 
 
232 
 
 veteran in diplomacy, as Secretary to the Consu¬ 
 late. 
 
 Enter Lucien, Rcederer, and Brutus. 
 
 r ' 
 
 Buonaparte . So let it be ! Let us hear the list. 
 
 Josephine (reads)* It stands thus : 
 
 Buonaparte, Eirst Consul. 
 
 Cambaceres, Second. 
 
 Le Brun, Third. 
 
 Lucien-Brutus, Minister of the Interior. 
 
 ' • Talleyrand, Foreign Affairs. 
 
 Carnot, JVar. 
 
 Sieyes, Keeper of his own conscience , and of his 
 chateau de camp ague ! 
 
 AIL Ha ! ha ! ha ! Bravo ! Approved ! 
 
 Josephine . And I! Am I forgotten ? What, shall 
 I be nothing more than Madame la Consuless ? 
 
 Talleyrand. Dear Madam, do not forget yourself, 
 and you will be exalted. 
 
 Buonaparte (to Talleyrand). Will you and Rcederer 
 wait upon Cambaceres and Le Brun , and acquaint them 
 with the arrangements ? 
 
 , [Exeunt all . 
 
 SCENE XII. 
 
 ’ [ \ 
 
 A Room in Cambaceres’s Hotel. 
 
 Caipbaceres and Le Brun sitting at a table , with wine 
 
 and glasses . 
 
 • t 
 
 Le Brun . So, I hear it was intended to put down 
 our names ; indeed, I am astonished they should have 
 overlooked us so long ; they must conceive our impor¬ 
 tance. You know they are all novices ; all as ignorant 
 of state affairs as my empty hat. Ah 1 
 
 Cambaceres. It is true, Buonaparte does not want 
 for talents in the field ; but for the cabinet, Lord bless 
 him, that is another affair 1 To tell you the truth, 
 citizen j he must set the price pretty high, or, by Jove, 
 
1 will not listen to him ! It is well worth four hundred 
 thousand francs as one pin is worth another, to be 
 perched up like a weather-cock on a steeple, to be 
 hawked at and insulted by every little puppy ! I have 
 been pretty well jostled about in the crowd ; I will for 
 once venture in the upper regions by way of experi¬ 
 ment. 
 
 Enter Talleyrand and Roederer. 
 
 Le Brun* I agree to abide by the same condition. 
 
 Roederer* Citizens ! we are come to announce to 
 you the gracious will ot our glorious hero, Buonaparte , 
 that you be appointed to the Consulate, for the welfare 
 of the nation ! 
 
 Talleyrand . Ay, citizens, }^ou are high in the he¬ 
 ro’s favour and affection ; he loves you as brothers ; 
 such merit and talents as yours could not escape him. 
 
 CambacerZs . I understand you, citizen ; I hope he 
 does not mean that we should serve as cyphers to his 
 figure. ( Close to Talleyrand’s ear.) Is the cash depo¬ 
 sited ? That is the main thinsr ! 
 
 Talleyrand. Here are two checks from Josephine , 
 upon her banker, in her own hand, for two hundred 
 thousand francs each! 
 
 Le Brun. She is a most lovely woman ! It is time 
 to bring about a settled government; but I know very 
 little of Buonaparte personally ! 
 
 Cambaceres. Personally : oh, as for that, we have 
 long been known to each other personally. 
 
 Talleyrand (to Le Brun). Citizens, when you see 
 him, you will behold a mortal more than human. Na¬ 
 ture ofen makes a striking contrast between the in¬ 
 ward arrangements of her workmanship and the out¬ 
 ward. 
 
 Roederer. Ay, citizens, just so it is with Buona¬ 
 parte ; for, although he should be said to possess a 
 stern, rapacious heart, yet if you examine his promi¬ 
 nent features, i. e. his nose and chin, they will he 
 found to denote tenderness and humanity ! His chris- 
 
 2 h . tianity 
 
234 . 
 
 tianity appears somewhat dubious to persons of shallow 
 penetration, nevertheless, his sentiments of religious 
 worship are obvious ; he grants a liberty of conscience 
 to the greatest extern ; he embraces every sect with 
 equal ardour, whether Mahometan, Jew, or Christian ; 
 he raises and he debases their influence at pleasure. 
 Although, of intellects, the Creator has been somewhat 
 sparing to him in his dispensation, yet, by experience 
 in the world, and being guided by men of talents, he 
 has obtained the reputation and honour due to a man of 
 genius, courage, and sagacity. 
 
 Talleyrand. Ay, and again observe, his stature, 
 although somewhat below the middle size, with an 
 aspect rather mean and forbidding, yet lie possesses 
 all the exalted virtues and morals of our republican 
 age, viz. pride, cruelty, insolence, ambition, and 
 avarice ; and these are the elements which heretofore 
 were held as crimes, but which, in our enlightened 
 age are consecrated as cardinal virtues. Although his 
 temper be excessively irritable it is nevertheless easily 
 calmed by a seasonable portion of flattery and con¬ 
 cession. 
 
 Roederer. Such is the man providence has sent to 
 rule over us. But, citizens, be not cast down at his 
 merit; for all these virtues, which the world so much 
 admires will be over-clouded, eclipsed, nay they will 
 vanish in the presence of a Cambaceres and a Le Brun, 
 and Buonaparte himself will become a child—depend 
 upon it Buonaparte will be but the trunk and you two 
 the blooming head of our republic. 
 
 Le Brun. As it is for the welfare of the people we 
 are willing to assist in the arduous duty of governing ! 
 Come, let us go to be installed ! 
 
 [Exeunt . 
 
 / 
 
 SCENE 
 
235 
 
 v SCENE XIII. 
 
 Council Chamber. 
 
 Berthicr, Joseph, Murat, Le Febvre, Ducos, Fouch£, 
 Regnaud and Lucien Brutus discovered at play. 
 
 Berthier . I take duplicity against"Prussia. 
 
 Joseph. I, usurpation against Italy# 
 
 Murat. I, presumption against a dukedom. 
 
 Le Febvre. I, indiscretion against Austria. 
 
 Uncos. I, innocence against Switzerland. 
 
 All. Bravo ! Bravo ! 
 
 Fouche. Hang the dice-1 throw nothing but 
 
 deuces. 
 
 Brutus. I have very bad luck too. 
 
 Murat- There, nothing but quinto. These fellows 
 are a long time a coming ; I want to see the Installation. 
 
 Joseph. Here comes .Talleyrand. 
 
 ' / 
 
 Enter Talleyrand, Rcederer, Cambaeercs, and 
 
 Le Brun. 
 
 (All rise.) 
 
 Joseph (advances) . Citizens, I congratulate you 
 on the honour ouv glorious brother, Buonaparte, has 
 vouchsafed to confer upon you. 
 
 Brutus. The very identical men for the station. 
 
 Rcederer. Ay, the welfare of the people must now 
 be secured ! I am glad to see you, citizens. 
 
 Enter Sieyes leading in Buonaparte dressed in his robes . 
 
 Cambacdres and Le Brun stand on each side the stage . 
 
 Talleyrand (advancing to Buonaparte). Citizen 
 Chief Consul ! Behold here the pillars of your con¬ 
 sular dignity, (Pointing to Cambaceres and Le Brun). 
 With them for supporters you will speedily lay a solid 
 foundation for our glory—a free and virtuous republic. 
 
 2 h 2 Buonaparte. 
 
236 
 
 \ 
 
 Buonaparte (to Cambaceres and Le Brun). Dear 
 friends and brothers, you have been strongly recom¬ 
 mended to me. 
 
 Cambaceres and LeBrun bow obsequiously. 
 
 Sicyes (to the Attendants). Bring the consular robes, 
 and order some velvet: cushions. I suppose, citizens, 
 vour knees have not been much accustomed to bend, 
 
 V ' 
 
 therefore place them on omething soft! [Servants 
 go out and return with cushions and robes.'] 
 
 Talleyrand (takes the cushions of the servants arid 
 lays them down , while Sieves and Fouche help Camba¬ 
 ceres and Le Brun on with their robesJ. Come citizen 
 Consuls, kneel. Hold (to the attendants) , bring another 
 cushion, this in the middle must be higher for the 
 chief consul. 
 
 Buonaparte. No no, lean better stand between them. 
 
 Begnaud. That is the best wav (turning to the 
 others). He is a little stiff jointed. [Buonapartes??^' 
 in the middle , Cambaceres on his right , and Le Brun 
 on his left hand kneeling]. 
 
 Talleyrand. That will do. {He sprinkles them with 
 holy water.) Citizens, Consuls of the Republic—first, 
 second, third ! I anoint you to watch over the rights, 
 and protect the liberty and happiness of the people.— 
 May the holy saints and martyrs of our regenerated 
 nation be with you and remain with you for ev er more. 
 
 [.Exit Brutus. 
 
 Talleyrand {to the Consuls , crossing his hand over 
 them.) Consuls of the republic, may the French peo¬ 
 ple revere you as much as the nations of the world will 
 fear and court you ! (Second and third Consuls lowly 
 bend to Buonaparte.) 
 
 Talleyrand. Now, Citizen Consuls, the oath you 
 must subscribe to is the most solemn, viz. “ Each of 
 “ you, individually, swear fidelity to the republic one 
 
 and indivisible, to liberty, to equality, and to the 
 ? £ system of representation.” 
 
 All. We swear it and suberibe to it. {Each signs). 
 
 Buonaparte . Brother consuls, we are now inspired 
 with a spirit of liberty and equality, and called to the 
 
 arduous 
 
237 
 
 arduous task of fixing the duration and destiny of 
 the glorious revolution. We accept it as a duty. 
 (Takes each by the. hand). Remember, patience and 
 diligence overcome difficulties. Let us be circum- 
 spect! Let us not expose our measures to be scru¬ 
 tinized by the rabble, who move and have their being 
 in us. No appeal to public opinion, say ].—-Happi¬ 
 ness is best enjoyed in ignorance. 
 
 Cambaceres . So say I, and the sentiment is well 
 worthy a Buonaparte. Ay, we must not tread in the 
 old beaten path of politics. We must break through 
 the rusty routine. 
 
 Le Brun. I move, that there be forthwith a com¬ 
 mittee chosen in the councils, to consist of twenty-five 
 members, who shall prepare a project of a new consti¬ 
 tution. 
 
 Sieyes . The rabble must be told it is founded on the 
 sovereignty of the people and the representative sys¬ 
 tem ; that it is to secure their happiness and welfare. 
 
 Talleyrand. Oh ! we shall never lose sight of that; 
 and I think a senates consukum should be this very day 
 published to prepare the public mind. 
 
 Cambaceres. We must take measures to prevent 
 such long harangues in the sittings. 
 
 Talleyrand. I will move in the councils, that no 
 member be allowed to speak longer than one quarter 
 .of an hour, and that two persons cannot speak succes¬ 
 sively on the same side of the question. 
 
 Eegnaud. That measure will save a deal of our 
 precious time ! I have often heard that in the British 
 senate, eight or ten hours are spent in a speech in 
 which all the sound good sense of national policy could 
 have been uttered in five minutes. 
 
 Talleyrand. It is true ; for it is not the importance 
 of the matter of debate, but the ambition to be thought 
 orators, and to prevent others from exposing their 
 follies, that they stand on their legs so long. 
 
 Buonaparte. For this end our dumb senators will be 
 an admirable invention. 
 
 Re-enter 
 
23S 
 
 Re-enter Brutus. 
 
 Brutus. Here is a sad affair I Bills come upon the 
 treasury and can’t be paid. What is so be done ?— 
 Money is wanted and must be had somewhere ! 
 
 Buonaparte. We will establish monthly lotteries, 
 encourage gaming, and levy a duty upon the party. 
 Rich fools will become beggars, and beggars in be- 
 coming rich will be our friends. Our treasuries will 
 be full, and we, like the porcupine, shall be armed at 
 every point. 
 
 Joseph. I have here a list of citizens I beg to propose 
 for senators of the dumb order, viz. Monge, Bertbolet, 
 Regnier, Cret, Boulav Du Meurthe, La Gard, and 
 our worthy friend Sieves here! For their obsequi¬ 
 ousness! am sure of. 
 
 Brutus. Eh, citizen Abbe, can you be dumb ? 
 
 AIL Ha! ha! ha! 
 
 Sieyes. I can be any thing. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE XIV. 
 
 Council Chamber. 
 
 « 
 
 The three Consuls sitting at a Table.- —Maret, Secretary • 
 
 Buonaparte. All hopes of peace are over, the proud 
 Emperor of the Romans has never been able to digest 
 the treaty of Campo Formio ! We must force it down. 
 I shall away to terminate the business in Italy. The 
 army is assembled at Dijon and waits my arrival. Six' 
 thousand emigrants, to obtain their radiation, have 
 joined the standard of liberty ; perhaps they expect 
 the repossession of their estates and property, but we 
 avoid this claim : I have ordered these wretches to be 
 placed in the van ! The few who may survive, we 
 will appoint as pimps to some inferior officers, or 
 footmen to our mistresses. The haughty English 
 
 * 
 
23 9 
 
 still disdain my kind offers of peace and friendship, i 
 wrote with my own hand to George, I even condes¬ 
 cended to call him cousin, and, would you believe it ? 
 I was answered by his proud minister. 
 
 Cambaceres. What insolence ! It is too bad ! If 
 we could but contrive to get Pitt, Grenville, and Wind¬ 
 ham, expelled the councils, we might have some hopes. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, I leave the further intrigues on 
 this matter to you in my absence, Otto has my full 
 instruction. I shall leave his letter on the policy of 
 making peace with Talleyrand, who can explain every 
 thing to you. As to my present crusade, be under no 
 apprehension, we have taken every precaution to 
 secure success. Arrangements with seven of Melas’s 
 Etat-Major, procures me every intelligence. A fewr 
 millions, more or less, in so.important an affair, is no 
 object. Health attend you citizens, brothers, consuls. 
 -Take care of my Josephine. 
 
 [E lit Buonaparte. 
 
 Le Brim . Come, Carnot is waiting for us*——Lei 
 
 us go. [ Exeunt < 
 
 SCENE XV. 
 
 In the Thuilieries. 
 
 Josephine, Loetitia, and Hortense, at breakfast . 
 
 Hor tense [Turning her tea cup to see the settling of 
 the tea grounds). Mamma, is it not a sign of riches 
 when the grounds of the tea don’t settle regularly round 
 the cup ? 
 
 Latitia [looking at it.). Bless me, child, there is a 
 group of sage heads surrounded with riches and honours. 
 [Turning it round). My clear, thou wilt be the stem 
 of a wonderful race of heroes, princes, kings, and 
 emperors. 
 
 Hortense. O dear, indeed ! Mamma told me the. 
 other day I should be married to Ludwig. 
 
 Josephine . 
 
240 
 
 Josephine . Ay, that is if Buonaparte agrees to it. 
 He is already sensible that purer blood cannot be pro¬ 
 duced to govern the republic, and it is the opinion of 
 the physicians that thou wilt have a blessed progeny. 
 
 Enter Caroline, Paulette, and Mrs. Baeiocchi. 
 
 Josephine . Good morning, my dears. 
 
 Paulette. Good morning, mamma ; good morning, 
 sister. Have you news from Buonaparte ? 
 
 Josephine . No, not yet. 
 
 Caroline. Alas ! I dread the issue. Should it prove 
 adverse, we shall be again obliged to makeshift to live 
 how we can. 
 
 Eliza. Indeed, should it come to that, I would 
 enter a convent, as a repentant sinner, with my mo¬ 
 ther. 
 
 Josephine , Be not dejected, my dear Lsetitia ; there 
 is no danger; the victor}^ is secured long ago. {To 
 Paulette.) So I find General le Clerc is intended to 
 succeed Toussaint in St. Domingo. 
 
 Eliza. Yes, so I hear. I wonder at it. 
 
 Caroline. What, le Clerc ! sure my brother cannot 
 give the preference to him ! 
 
 Paulette. Preference, indeed! What, could you. 
 expect that my brother would be so blind to prefer 
 Murat, who was a common palfrenier to a gentleman. 
 
 Caroline . A gentleman ! Ha, ha, ha ! to a gentle¬ 
 man tailor, you meaij. Ha ha, ha! Why, there is 
 not a steed in the army but Murat can govern with bis 
 little finger. 
 
 heetitia . My dears, don’t quarrel. 
 
 Enter Joseph and Brutus. 
 
 Brutus. What in the name of fortune is here ? 
 (Lays hold of Caroline’s arm.) Come along with me, 
 sister. 
 
 [.Exeunt Caroline and Brutus. 
 
 Enter 
 
241 
 
 Enter Mrs. Marmont. 
 
 s' ’ ** 1 
 
 f : • . • ; • 
 
 Mrs. Marmont . Bless me! I just now met with 
 Caroline. What is the matter ? (To Pauline.) What 
 is the dispute between yon. Fie upon it! I hope it is 
 not about your husbands, 
 
 Paulette. Fie upon yourself! Mrs. Marmont; your 
 character is no purer than ours. You remember, no 
 doubt, that’■ 
 
 Mrs. Marmont (very angrily ). Don’t tell me what 
 I was, but what I am now. I am citizen General 
 Marmont’s lawful wife, since eight o’clock in the 
 morning ; therefore am an honest woman by all the 
 laws of Christendom. (To Josephine.) Is it not so 
 decreed ? *. . 
 
 Josephine . Come, leC us retire ; I expect some 
 visitors. 
 
 SCENE XVI. 
 
 At the Foot of Mount St. Bernard. 
 
 Buonaparte and his Etat Major, with the Troops, lying 
 
 asleep on the ground . 
 
 - Buonaparte (rises; walks about , in great agitation). 
 What, will this night last till doomsday ? Ensign, 
 Ensign ! where is Duroc ? Didst thou not hear the 
 cry of victory ? Where is Berthier ? 
 
 Ensign. I don’t know, commander. 
 
 Buonaparte. Commander! What dost thou con* 
 spire against me, or do I dream ? Hollo 1 who sleeps 
 there ? Nobody should sleep at this hour. Do you 
 hear; do rise; don’t you see them standing in battle 
 array ? 
 
 Ensign . Who, my General ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Who, thou addlepated blockhead! 
 I see them still! How far is it in the night? The 
 
 3 i moon 
 
2*2 
 
 i 
 
 moon is stemming St. Bernado’s top ! Who, thou 
 ass ! Yonder ! Look ! are they ghdsts or devils? 
 
 Ensign . I see nought. 
 
 Enter a Devil, and brushes past. 
 
 Buonaparte . Is it a dream ? The dead never rise 
 to accuse the riiurderers, why should I fear ? Ensign, 
 
 seest thou not ?-O, that I could but turn night to 
 
 day, and stone to bread ! (Seeing something glance by 
 him.) What is that confounds my senses ? 
 
 Devil. Come away, before it’s day j 
 Before the rising sun. 
 
 The race will be past and done; 
 
 Marengo Jost and won. 
 
 By a million of franks ; 
 
 It’s a good round sum! 
 
 Buonaparte [drums beat). Berthier! Joy to my ear 
 is the sound of a drum ! Tp Marengo, away ! away ! 
 
 [ Exeunt . 
 
 SCENE XVII. t ' 
 
 • * \ - » 
 
 Thuilleries. 
 
 Josephine. 
 
 Enter the Second and Third Consuls, Sic. with Talley¬ 
 rand. 
 
 • i . • # * 
 
 * M , 
 
 Consuls. We come, citizen Consuless, to congra¬ 
 tulate you on the ascent of our glorious Buonaparte on 
 Mount St. Bernard. Every obstacle is vanquished ; 
 we expect every hour a telegraphic dispatch of the 
 particulars. 
 
 Josephine . Most worthy citizens, \ am sensible of 
 the interest you take in my happiness, and in the he¬ 
 roism of the Chief Consul. It shall not be forgotten. 
 
 Enter 
 
i 
 
 * 
 
 s J 
 
 243 
 
 i 
 
 Enter Carnot and Regnaud. 
 
 \ 
 
 Carnot. Telegraphic news, citizens ! Huzza I It 
 is all over. Not only St. Bernard is overcome, but 
 Melas is vanquished. All Italy is won. 
 
 / 
 
 AIL Huzza, huzza! Well, proceed. 
 
 Carnot. Our friends in Melas’s staff gave notice of- 
 their march and position ; by a fee of a thousand 
 guineas, the banditti got before them to Marengo, 
 near Alessandria. The conflict was dreadful.—Stop, let 
 me take breath— but chiefly among .the emigrants, 
 who fell by thousands. Night put a stop to the car¬ 
 nage.—Give me a glass of wine.—During this time, 
 Buonaparte, with more weighty reasons, gained the 
 outposts, and our friends of the staff gave notice when 
 to advance. Buonaparte ordered Dessaix to attack 
 their risrht, which was carried without resistance. The 
 whole Austrian army stood panic struck, and Melas 
 
 found himself obliged to capitulate. 
 
 > 
 
 All. Huzza! Bravo! Long live the republic! 
 Long live Buonaparte ! 
 
 Carnot. By this capitulation, all Italy is surren¬ 
 dered to our glorious republic ! 
 
 All. Long live Buonaparte ! Liberty ! Equality ! 
 
 Le Brun. Dispatch messengers all over the world, 
 to announce the glory of the banditti. 
 
 Josephine. Worthy citizen Consuls, be assured of 
 my acknowledgments. Your ardent interest in the 
 honour and glory of the republic overcomes me. 
 
 Regnaud. I propose, citizen Consuls, that the glo¬ 
 rious achievements of Buonaparte, in Europe, Asia, and 
 Africa, be printed, at the expense of the republic, as 
 a classical school-book for children ; Marengo to be 
 the frontispiece. Pyrrhus* Alexander, Hannibal, Sci- 
 pio, Caesar, and Charlemagne, were but children to 
 our hero. 
 
 All. Bravo, bravo ! By all means; order Barrerc 
 to compile it. 
 
 2 i 2 Josephine. 
 
 i 
 
344 
 
 Josephine . Thou apostle of virtue ! adieu, adieu 1 
 Bring me news the moment it arrives. 
 
 Carnot . That is my duty. 
 
 [Exeunt all• 
 
 \ / . / 
 
 SCENE XVIII. 
 
 Thuilleries. 
 
 Josephine, with Hortense and Lsetitia. 
 
 Enter Carnot and Brutus. 
 
 Josephine. What, more telegraphic dispatches ? 
 
 Carnot. One every five minutes, to anounce the 
 arrival of Buonaparte. 
 
 Josephine. His arrival, say you ? 
 
 Brutus . ’Tistrue. (To Carnot.) We must order 
 illuminations, and a detachment of troops to meet him. 
 
 Latitia. When is my son expected, say you ? 
 
 Carnot. He will make his triumphal entry at night¬ 
 fall, when the illuminations are brilliant. 
 
 Brutus. Come along, citizen Minister; we must 
 haste away. Adieu, mother! adieu, sister Josephine! 
 
 [Exeunt Carnot and Brutus. 
 Josephine (rings the bell). 
 
 Enter Servant. 
 
 Call Hortense here, and tell my maids to come. 
 
 [Exit Servant. 
 
 Enter Hortense. 
 
 Come, my dear, we must dress immediately; Buona¬ 
 parte is expected every hour. 
 
 Enter two Maids ; one sta?ids on one side 9 the other on 
 the other side of their mistress. 
 
 Quick, 
 
 . / 
 
 i 
 
24 5 
 
 \ 
 
 Quick, Sophia; dress me as quick as possible. Louisa* 
 go, make haste. ( Sits down.) 
 
 [Exit Hortense. 
 
 (To Sophia.) Here, stick a pin here: another here. 
 Here, now another here. Quick, quick ! O dear, O 
 dear ! I hear the cannon already. Do, do make haste; 
 he is surely arrived at the gates. For goodness sake, 
 do be quick 1 Here, here, a patch on the middle of 
 the right cheek; one where the dimple should be on 
 the chin ; a diamond formed one on the centre of the 
 forehead; another on the left side of the mouth. 
 (Looks in the glass*) That will do. O dear, only hear 
 the cannon ! Where is my ointment, Antoinette’s dia¬ 
 mond, and the Cardinal’s necklace? Bring them 
 quickly ! haste, haste ! (Puts the diamond bracelet on, 
 and looks in the glass.) There, that will do ! Now, 
 go tell Louisa to make haste. Hark again at the can¬ 
 non ! 
 
 Enter Louisa. 
 
 Well, let us look at you, Louisa. 
 
 Leetitia . My dear, you will rival your mother in 
 the eyes of Buonaparte; hut there wants a little co¬ 
 quettish patch at the left side of the mouth. 
 
 Josephine . Rival me, indeed ! Well, never mind., 
 
 SCENE XIX. 
 
 Thuilleries. 
 
 Josephine and Hortense, in the drawing room . 
 
 Enter Paulette. 
 
 Paulette . Dear sister, I was told my brother was 
 arrived. * 
 
 ' a 
 
 Josephine. Not yet, but he is expected every mo¬ 
 ment. Is the illumination general ? 
 
 Hortense. 
 
J 
 
 246 
 
 Hortensc. Hark! I think I hear the cannon. 
 There! there! 
 
 Baulettc. Very brilliant indeed ! Here, here they 
 are ! 
 
 Enter Buonaparte, Brutus, Talleyrand, and Fauve- 
 
 let. 
 
 Josephine [runs to Buonaparte.) Oh-, my ever dear 
 hero ol JVJarengo ! thou champion of libert}'! thou 
 defender of virtue, and inheritor of my chastity ! 
 
 Enter Second and Third Consuls, Sieyes, and Carnot. 
 
 Buonaparte (embraces them). My worthy friends! 
 
 Le Brim. Most worthy chief! your fame has, by 
 this time, reached to the four quarters of the world. 
 
 [Exeunt Josephine arid Hortense. 
 
 Buonaparte . Wei), brother Consuls, what has hap¬ 
 pened at home in my absence ? 
 
 Cambaceres. My noble hero, not so much as when 
 you were present. Two suns seldom shine at once. 
 
 Talleyrand. The panic is great, both at home and 
 abroad, among our enemies. We must take advantage 
 of the moment. 
 
 Cambaceres. Ay, so say I. Hold the olive branch 
 of peace, to the despots, as an offer from heaven, and 
 they will lowly bend, and accept it. 
 
 Sieyes. But be cautious to disguise your political 
 sincerity. 
 
 Buonaparte. We must have in view our national 
 interest. In our treaties, aggrandisement and extent 
 of boundaries must be insisted upon. 
 
 Talleyrand . Yes ; and the better to secure these, 
 we must frame such secret articles, as may,operate 
 against any third power, when we think proper to set 
 them by the ears. We may be bountiful in conces¬ 
 sions for indemnity of property, and assign over the 
 
 states 
 
V 
 
 347 ‘ 
 
 ) 
 
 states of the neighbouring countries, which do not be¬ 
 long to us. 
 
 Cambaceres. It was by exciting hatred and jea¬ 
 lousy among the states of Greece, that Philip succeed¬ 
 ed in despoiling them of their independence. It w r as 
 not the bravery of the Romans that permitted them, 
 by degrees, to subvert every other state, and render , 
 themselves the undisputed rulers of the world ; but it 
 was owing to the dastardly supineness of their neigh¬ 
 bours, who, not perceiving themselves in danger, slept 
 in security. 
 
 Talleyrand . That is just the situation of Europe at 
 this moment. The world was never in a more abject, 
 humiliating state than at present; and it is chiefly 
 owing to that supine stupor, jealousy, and a mean 
 system of parsimony, which pervades the administra¬ 
 tions of the different states. 
 
 Enter a Messenger, with dispatches for Talleyrand, 
 
 who reads them. 
 
 , ■ : f K > • . 4 , 
 
 Talleyrand. Citizen Consuls, peace, huzza ! Lune- 
 villc is proposed for the'congress. Cobentzel is there, 
 and has instructions to agree to our propositions. 
 There is no doubt but the pills will speedily operate, 
 and purge the corrupt councils of those despots, who 
 will court us as the arbiters of Europe. 
 
 Cambaceres. In the articles of indemnification, we 
 have made every arrangement in favour of our good 
 friends of ^Bavaria, Baden, and Wirtemberg : they are 
 sensible they have more to expect from our generosity, 
 than from the justice of their old friends. 
 
 Carnot. That is true ; besides, with these we have 
 an avant post to our own frontiers. 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE 
 
 » 
 
SCENE XX. 
 
 Council Chamber. 
 
 . 1 . : : m ' ■■ ■ ' ' • 
 
 The foregoing . 
 
 r * ’ . . » 
 
 Buonaparte . Well, citizen Consuls, I then propose 
 our brother Joseph as plenipotentiary at Luneville. I 
 flatter myself his intrigues at Rome will justify the 
 choice. To his abilities we are indebted for the an¬ 
 tiques and models of arts of the Vatican, which at 
 present grace our Pantheon. 
 
 Talleyrand. He will depart immediately, with defi¬ 
 nite instruction, so that before twenty-four hours we 
 may chaunt Te Deum. 
 
 [Exit Carnot. 
 
 Buonaparte. Apropos, I have received a letter from 
 Otto, at London He sets forth the necessity of 
 peace: his observations are just and sensible. ( Lays it 
 on the table.) He proposes that a plenipotentiary 
 should be sent immediately over: I therefore shall ap¬ 
 point Andreossi to depart with suitable presents to the 
 ministers of the day ; for he is apprehensive the sharp 
 nosed Pitt may again come in ; then all hopes will 
 vanish. 
 
 Cambaceres. Ay, this is the moment to tickle their 
 vanity. Flatter them with the friendship of our rege¬ 
 nerated nation. Propose Amiens for the congress, 
 that, as soon as that at Luneville is concluded, this may 
 begin. ': ' 
 
 Talleyrand. The sentiments of the English are 
 unanimous for peace ; which, however, Otto is con¬ 
 vinced, will be the most baneful poison for that nation; 
 for while it will seem to exhilerate their spirits, it will 
 secretly destroy their vital parts. Peace, says he, is 
 the only means by which France can unnerve those 
 proud islanders. They will then directly lay up their 
 
 navv, 
 
 * Note. See letter on the peace, from Berlin, to a person n* 
 distinction in Lopdon. 
 
frlavy, Which is now the terror of the world, and disband 
 their military. Both sailors and soldiers will then be 
 turned adrift on the country, without provision, and 
 become the objects of dread and contempt to their 
 own countrymen. 
 
 Buonapdrte. But why, brother Consul, fix upon 
 Amiens, and not Paris ? 
 
 Le Brun. In my opinion Amiens is preferable: it 
 would be unwise to suffer the prodigal English to shew 
 their riches and splendor at Paris. It would not only 
 expose our own poverty, but it would so dazzle the 
 eyes of the rabble, ^at they might become biind to 
 our interests. 
 
 Buonaparte. Your reason Ir valid ; we must insist, 
 as a preliminary, on the cession of Candia, Cyprus, 
 and Malta, to the republic; also our v *?Vvsfc India 
 islands ; and that we will not treat, directly nor indi¬ 
 rectly, with Pitt, neither as minister nor plenipoten¬ 
 tiary. r 
 
 Cambdccres. He is a dangerous fellow; his 
 visage is too penetrating : he is like a conductor, to 
 draw the political fluid of Europe to concentrate in 
 London. 
 
 Sieyes. But, citizen Consul, you forgot in your 
 preliminaries, to mention our proteges Batavia and 
 Spain ; they have lost possessions. 
 
 Buonaparte . Pooh ! let them court us to speak for 
 them. The more they are threatened to be squeezed, 
 the greater will they feel need of our protection* 
 Then we can insist on the restoring the Cape, Ceylon, 
 Trinidad, &c. Spain, Batavia, Switzerland, and Italy 
 must be dependent on us. 
 
 vo .j >ii :/ ./> . 1 ■ 
 
 *• \ 
 
 \ _ 
 
 Re-enter Carnot, with Joseph, announcing the final 
 arrangements at Luneville . 
 
 Carnot. Hollo! Huzza! Citizen Consuls, Ger? 
 many is now ours. Now our glory is without bounds. 
 
 2 k Charlemagne 
 
250 
 
 Charlemagne may look down from heaven with envy? 
 and we may laugh at the machinations of the tyrants 
 of the world. 
 
 Joseph . Citizen Consuls, I have lost no time, as 
 you see. Every iota of the Campo Formio treaty is 
 fully confirmed ; besides, the Duchy of Tuscany and 
 the Milanese arc at the disposal of the republic. I 
 have, in every instance, shewn all the liberality I could 
 in granting indemnity for what we have taken on this 
 side of the Rhine. 
 
 Enter Fouche, Rcederer, and Regnaud. 
 
 Rcederer. We are come to felicitate you, First 
 Consul, on the brilliant talents of yourbrother. The 
 empire of Germany is now incontestibly a province 
 of France. Now the proud English- 
 
 Buonaparte. We return you thanks? loyal citizens : 
 my family will shew itself worthy of your good 
 opinion. 
 
 Rcederer . Come, citizens, we must drink his health, 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE XXI. 
 
 The presence Chamber. 
 
 Enter Generals Massena, Moreau, Macdonald, Jour* 
 dan, Bernadotte, and Le Brun. 
 
 Massena • I did not think ingratitude could have 
 gone so far ; it must be jealousy of our talents. > 
 
 Bernadotte. Pooh ! 1 tell you he is a poor mean 
 wretch ; a fawning hypocrite. 
 
 Jourdan. It is really scandalous, he should have 
 selected such men as have done nothing for the public 
 cause. 
 
 Moreau . Ay, but weak minds are proud \ and he 
 
 knows 
 
/ 
 
 knows with these men he can maintain a superiority, 
 which with us he could not. 
 
 Massena . I know of old he never could acknow¬ 
 ledge a superior. He must be sensible of the obliga¬ 
 tion he is under to me in particular. 
 
 Jourdaqi. Would it not, Generals, be prudent to 
 accept of any posts he should offer, rather than risk 
 his displeasure ? 
 
 Macdonald. It is by such pusillanimous complian¬ 
 ces that he holds France in bondage ; to our supine 
 forbearance that he owes his treacherous assumption. ' 
 Shall it in shame be said, that we ,are fooled by him. 
 Time yet serves; we may still redeem our honour, and 
 re-inherit the applause of the public, in revenging the 
 jeering contempt of this proud upstart, who is studying 
 to pay the obligations he owes us with our own 
 blood. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte. 
 
 (The Generals stand unconcerned , except Jourdan and 
 
 Bernadotte, who bow very obsequiously as he enters.) 
 
 Buonaparte (looking at them with an imperious air). 
 What, citizen Generals, is this the respect you shew 
 to your superior : this the example of subordination 
 you shew to the army ? What, not a salute to your 
 chief ! who has loaded you with friendship and favours! 
 Off with your hats! this is not a camp. 
 
 Macdonald. Citizen General, the salutation of a 
 soldier is not by taking .off his hat. We .came as vete¬ 
 rans to compliment you on the peace with the conti¬ 
 nent, for which we have so long been fighting. But 
 we are not cringing courtiers, who basely move in the 
 Vortex of usurpers ; such are fit for slaves. 
 
 Buonaparte (Jo Moreau). Your General’s coat be¬ 
 comes you well. 
 
 Moreau. Yes, citizen First Consul, it suits me very 
 well ; but it would become you much better. 
 
 Buonaparte. Your behaviour is well known tome. 
 If you could not convey your congratulations in a 
 
 2 k 2 more 
 
 i 
 
252 
 
 more respectful manner, you would have done well to 
 have kept away from my presence. 
 
 Massena {in a respectful manner). Citizen First 
 Consul, you never spoke of respect at the victories we 
 gained for you. 
 
 Buonaparte . Which you gained ! Your victories! 
 
 I suppose you will claim the honour of Marengo next. 
 You mean your robberies, of which you certainly have 
 every honour. 
 
 Massena. Then you claim the victory of Zuriek 
 and Hohenlinden ? As for robberies, we have all shared 
 in them. While we robbed the enemy, against whom 
 we risked our lives and fortune, they were allowable : 
 but, citizen General Consul, you were not content 
 with robbing the common enemy; you even plunder 
 the poor French citizens w ith impunity ; deprive them 
 of their liberty and’ civil rights, in order to enrich your 
 beggarly family. Your profligate brother Brutus, 
 who, during the whole war, evaded the conscription, 
 is now rioting in riches, of which he defrauded the 
 Queen of Portugal, and drained out of the French 
 citizens’ blood. This he does with impunity, because 
 the first magistrate is his brother. However, citizen * 
 General, we do not come here to ask favours ; so 
 adieu. [Exeunt Generals. 
 
 Buonaparte . What insolence ! {Beckoning to Jour-* 
 dain and Bernadotfec) Citizen Generals, I am satis-* 
 lied with your respectful behaviour. In my future 
 arrangements, you shall not be forgotten. You may 
 attend my levees when you please. As to Massena, 
 he is not worth my attention ; he would fall down and 
 worship me for a few livres. Moreau is a lamb-hearted 
 fellow ; I have nothing to feap from him. Adieu. 
 
 [Exeunt Generals. 
 
 (Rings.) Tell Fauvelet to come here. 
 
 Enter Fauvelet. 
 
 Note 
 
Note in the journal, Generals Macdonald, Moreau, Le 
 Brim, and Massena, with the word insolent; they shall 
 not be forgotten ! 
 
 Fauvelet . Yes, Citizen Chief Consul, in great letters 
 I will add, disqualifying insolence 1 ! or, unqualified. 
 
 [Exit fauvelet. 
 
 Buonaparte [alone). It is very provoking that I must 
 suffer insults from such men. Massena is insufferably 
 insolent; but he is mean, and may be bought. Mo¬ 
 reau, although much less stern, is no less ill disposed 
 towards my person. The devil of it is, they know my 
 origin, and my former indigence ; they know how to 
 estimate my merit. I must get rid of them, cost what it 
 will. As to my other more ancient acquaintances, I shall 
 find means to keep them at a distance, some by bounty, 
 others by terror. I must consult Fouche , who will 
 quickly send these blood-suckers to the devil. There’s 
 Peter Nicolas Chretin , the coffee-man, he has lately 
 become troublesome. It is true, he lent me several 
 times a six livre-piece, but I have paid him again ; he 
 gave me many a breakfast, for which he would have 
 nothing, and when I had not a sous to bless myself 
 with ; but that is no reason why he should think of 
 treating me wdh so much familiarity! Of those offi¬ 
 cers who have been the companions of my glory, many 
 of them possess talents beyond me : I must keep them 
 at a distance. Heretofore their wisdom was my ora¬ 
 cle, but the case is now altered ; I must not expose my 
 ignorance. Berthier I know is sincere, him will I 
 keep ; Carnot’s abilities are great, but I do not like his 
 sneering; he seems to turn my proposals into ridicule. 
 
 [Exit. 
 
 SCENE XXII. 
 
 N \ 
 
 Boom in the Thuilleries. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte and Talleyrand, with a paper in Jus 
 
 hand . 
 
 Talleyrand. Most honoured Chief Consul, I find 
 
 the 
 
£64 
 
 the reasons urged by Otto , for a peace with England, 
 unexceptionable ; Fauvclet has also subjoined some 
 very judicious notes ! I hasten to lay them before you. 
 Every iota of your treaty of Campo Formio must be 
 confirmed. Besides this, the dutehy of Tuscany, and 
 the Milanese, and Venetian Islands, will be given up 
 to the disposal of the Republic ! These are the grounds 
 of the treaty vee must confirm. Let us be cautious in 
 the articles of indemnities to shew our liberality for 
 what we gained on this side the Rhine, which now 
 forms the limits of the Republic. 
 
 Enter Cambaceres, Le Brun, and Carnot. 
 
 Cambaceres . I congratulate you, Citizen First Con¬ 
 sul, on the abilities of your brother Joseph, as a diplo¬ 
 matic agent; we must give him as such a public entry ! 
 and nominate him to the congress of Amiens, where 
 he will not fail to receive some honourable present from 
 the prodigal English ! 
 
 T illey rand* The business is settled at London ; the 
 terms we transmitted are accepted ; and I expect An- 
 d mssi to-day, and the plenipotentiary will arrive at 
 Cat a to morrow ! 
 
 Buonaparte* Who is nominated ? 
 
 7 a 1 ley rand . The veteran Earl Cornwallis! 
 
 Buonaparte . Oh, the hero of Yorktown ! Well, 
 we have not much to fear from him ! 
 
 Le Brun. But suppose these islanders should prove 
 obstinate at last, and not agree to cede the Cape, Malta, 
 and Ceylon! 
 
 Buonap irte. I’ll invade them l The business will 
 then soon be over, I warrant you ! Fifty or sixty 
 thousaiiu men will be but a small sacrifice for so- —— 
 
 Carnot. Ay, and we can always excite alarm by 
 maiching and counter-marching a few batallions on 
 the coast,-with the roaring of cannon, and by gallop¬ 
 ing a few squadrons of cavalry between Boulogne and 
 Ostend. These demonstrations will sorely terrify the 
 
 oppressed 
 
QoS 
 
 oppressed islanders, and finally rouse the people against 
 their perverse administration into civil war and rebel¬ 
 lion. 
 
 Canibaccres. Even should peace be signed, I would 
 recommend keeping strong encampments on these 
 coasts, and frequent consular reviews, which will draw 
 thousands to see them. In this situation, Buonaparte 
 can take any morning a trip over with a few thou¬ 
 sands to London, plant his standards in Cornhill, and 
 strip the Bank, while the cockneys are asleep ! 
 
 All . Most excellent idea 1 Bravo ! 
 
 v 
 
 Enter a Servant, 
 
 Servant. Please your Highness, the equipage h 
 
 ready. 
 
 Cambaceres . Come then, let us go ! 
 
 [Exeunt alL 
 
 Buonaparte meets a Servant with a Letter , and returns 
 
 to read it. 
 
 Buonaparte (opens and reads). 
 
 “ Citizen Consul,—Of thy steps beware ; beware of 
 the hellish plot laid against thy life! Dastardly 
 iC emigrants waylay thee f I say, beware ; this night 
 <« thou art doomed to die 1” [After a pause.) This 
 is from some well-intentioned republican, who has dis¬ 
 covered something of the machine, and little suspects 
 that it is of our own contriving i Well, he lias done 
 his duty. . [Exit. 
 
 SCENE XXIIL 
 
 Berthier, Talleyrand, Sieyes, Monge, and Josepu, 
 
 at Pharo. 
 
 Brutus and Fauvelet at Piquet. 
 
 Talleyrand. I stand Prussia against duplicity. 
 
 Sieves. 1 lay Austria against improvident security. 
 
 Berthier , 
 
Her Inter. Spain against Portugal, and Portugal to 
 Prance. 
 
 Joseph. Italy loses one King, and takes three. 
 
 Sieyes. The crown wins every turn ! The progTios-* 
 tic is good ! 
 
 Brutus. Confound the cards; I cannot get a sew 
 quence an roi ! The devil take the crown ; 1 can never 
 have an union. 
 
 Fauvdet. I have horrid bad luck whenever I hold 
 a crown in hand ! 
 
 Talleyrand (to Berthier)* Citizen General, now our 
 Egyptian expedition is destroyed, don’t you think we 
 might seek indemnification in Brazil, in the Manillas, 
 or Goa ? We expect Abdallah Merlon every day. 
 
 Brutus . But, citizen, we are at peace with Spain 
 and Portugal. 
 
 Sieyes. Ha! ha! ha! Friend, don’t you perceive 
 the conquest is so much the easier ! 
 
 Fauvelet. Besides, we must make them believe we 
 only keep them in trust for them ! 
 
 Talleyrand. Hark! hark ! What report is that ? 
 (They all rise.) What can it be? (A great tumuli 
 ensues in the street.) 
 
 (Fouche winks at Talleyrand, and advances to the 
 
 •window.) 
 
 Enter Itoederer and a Police Officer, with a Letter to 
 
 Fouche. 
 
 Boederer. FIolio ! hollo ! I have brought all the world 
 and his wife. See h re. 
 
 Louche ( reads it , then calls to the mob). Friends and 
 feliow-citizens, behold the treachery of the ungrateful 
 emigrants, who after experiencing the bounty of our 
 gracious chief, still seek his dear life. But this pro¬ 
 ceeds from English gold. Never mind, be not low 
 spirited. 
 
 Monge. 
 
257 
 
 Monge. Providence still preserves him to us. 
 
 Boeder er . The infernal machine waylaid him ; th& 
 ^xplosion took p ace just after his carriage was past* 
 File hero advanced; he disdained to retreat. The 
 audience at the Opera shouted, Long live Buonaparte s 
 the hero of Marengo ! 
 
 louche. The murderous villains shall soon be in 
 custody, never fear. Adieu. Make room for the re¬ 
 tinue. 
 
 Retinue arrives from the Opera , 
 
 Joseph. Brave citizens, go, retire home; quiet your 
 wives and families. 
 
 Mob. Buonaparte for ever ! Down with the trai¬ 
 tors. Huzza! huzza! [ExeuntMob. 
 
 Brutus. Hang me if I understand any thing about 
 it. 
 
 Fauvelet. Ay, ay I Keep up the wonder in the 
 eyes of the rabble ! 
 
 Fouche (to Talleyrand). I say, citizen, this will 
 give us a noble pretext to seize a score of English 
 agents. Let ail those vile, rascally emigrants perish, 
 say I. 
 
 Enter Buonaparte, Josephine, Cambaceres and Le 
 
 Brun. 
 
 All (fly to meet them). Welcome, right welcome, 
 most worthy chiefs. Ye have nobly played your parts ; 
 We have witnessed the effects it has made on the mul¬ 
 titude ; the rabble doat on you as their god ! 
 
 Cambaceres. Aye, but was it not a very narrow 
 escape, eh ? But it is the fate of the best and wisest 
 to be slandered and murdered ; as the best fruit is al« 
 ways pecked at by the birds. 
 
 Josephine. I was terribly frightened ! and indeed I 
 think the experiment was not worth the risk! for had 
 the explosion by chance taken place one instant sooner, 
 what would have become of the cVown and my loving 
 husband ? 
 
 2 L 
 
 Buonaparte . 
 
25S 
 
 Buonaparte. Dost then think we are such bunglers 
 in scheming destruction, eh ? 
 
 Fouche. I will order Tc Deum to-morrow for the 
 interference of Providence in this miraculous escape l 
 It shall be proclaimed to the world, to shew the object 
 of emigrant treachery ! 
 
 Buonaparte . Well, do order Te Deum ; and im¬ 
 mediately after the Senatus Consultum shall appear, by 
 which the holy Catholic religion and form of worship 
 shall be re-established. 
 
 [Exeunt omnes. 
 
 \ 
 
 SCENE XXIV. 
 
 Council Chamber. 
 
 Buonaparte, Cambac6res, and Le Brun, sitting at a 
 table covered with papers , bottles and glasses. 
 
 Enter Talleyrand and Rcederer. 
 
 Talleyrand. Kola, Citizen Consuls, the work is 
 done ; it is all over ! Here is the Treaty of Amiens ; 
 all is concluded. Joseph will arrive presently ; he is an 
 able negociator. Malta, the Cape, Martinique, Elba, 
 all are restored; Luneville Treaty is confirmed and 
 guaranteed in toto ; and the noble British negociator 
 will in a few days pay the accustomed ceremony to our 
 chief. 
 
 Buonaparte . Tlis complaisance will cost me a star 
 to his garter. I well knew the boasting islanders were 
 afraid of me ; I was sure they would cede all con¬ 
 quests ; it is their custom to conclude in statu quo ; 
 this, they say, is to have points of attack another time. 
 Thus, then, is ended the first Punic war. Let them 
 beware of the second 1 Delenda est Carthago ! 
 
 Le Brun. But it seems our allies have been for¬ 
 gotten in the treaty ! Not a word of Holland or Spain. 
 
 Buonaparte. Oh, let them speak for themselves; 
 the more they are squeezed, the better for us ; they 
 
259 
 
 will then feel the importance of our friendship. Let 
 us now endeavour to persuade the English to form a 
 treaty of commerce with us; we will appoint consuls 
 in all their seaports, who will give us every inform 
 mation. 
 
 Camhacerh. Yes, it will be good ; but a great d^al 
 depends on a proper choice of agents ! The Direc¬ 
 tory, our unworthy predecessors in civil liberty, 
 brought upon themselves an indelible disgrace oy em¬ 
 ploying men of low, mean principles 1 Such men, I 
 mean, as trembled at vice, and were afraid to speak 
 any thing but the truth. By this means their govern¬ 
 ment became vilified, ridiculed; and at last it fell a 
 victim to its own folly ! 
 
 Talleyrand. No, we will keep clear of those errors. 
 Let us select such men for agents in foreign countries, 
 as have already distinguished themselves in treachery ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Ay, such as those whose republican 
 virtues have passed the fiery ordeal. Choose them 
 among the most notorious cut-throats, the most rapa¬ 
 cious plunderers, the most brutish ravishers of virgin 
 chastity l 
 
 Cambaceres. Bravo! These are the characters, 
 the true supporters of regenerated liberty. 
 
 Buonaparte . Well! Is there no means of getting 
 such men as possess these extraordinary virtues and ta¬ 
 lents recommended as secretaries, valets, or cooks to 
 the ministers and great men at court in all the govern¬ 
 ments ? 
 
 Talleyrand. A good thought; the last may prove 
 most important in getting a despot out of the way; 
 and they will all unite with the Consuls. But would it 
 not be better to style those sent to the seaports Com¬ 
 mercial Agents, to give a pre-eminence to the consuls 
 at home ? 
 
 Le Brun. It is a good idea; and with this new title 
 we can usher duplicity into the world, as a new system 
 of ethics, in which we will decree that vice is virtue, 
 
 2n and 
 
260 
 
 and virtue vice. I infeist upon it, that every thing 
 which procures us happiness is virtue. By this means 
 our glory, generosity, wisdom, and clemency may be 
 made to shine to the remotest corners of the world. 
 
 [Exeunt mimes. 
 
 SCENE XXV. 
 
 Dressing Room. 
 
 Josephine at her toilette, with her Maid. 
 
 Enter Comte Luchesini. 
 
 Comte. Most honoured, adored Consuless ! If I in¬ 
 trude, command me away. 
 
 Josephine (turning her head). Oh, my dear Comte, 
 a man of your gallantry is always welcome to the ladies, 
 especially since your royal Queen has vouchsafed to 
 confer on you such distinguished favours. Who can 
 refuse the like ? 
 
 Comte (bowing obsequiously). Oh, Madame la Con- 
 suless, although I am overpowered with the honours I 
 receive from my royal mistress, I am not insensible to 
 the condescension of so adorable a personage as you. 
 
 Josephine . Indeed, Mr. Comte, none but a Soubisc 
 can equal your gallantry. I am happy to think that 
 we are likely to keep you in the circle of our court, to 
 contribute to our innocent amusements : we should he 
 unrivalled, if you could procure us those conveniences, 
 the invention of which at Berlin does you so much 
 honour. (Being dressed.) Come, Sir, you have 
 not breakfasted. Let us retire to the breakfast-room. 
 
 Comte (bows)* 
 
 [Exeunt. 
 
 scene; 
 
361 
 
 \ 
 
 SCENE XXVI. 
 
 Dining Room. 
 
 Buonaparte, Josephine, Joseph, Murat, Hortense, 
 
 and Caroline at a Table. 
 
 Murat. By Jove, after all the success of negotia¬ 
 tions, I say it should be so.—Parblieu, your consular 
 levees are already equal to those of any court in 
 Europe, then why should not the etiquette be as 
 respectable. 
 
 Josephine (bridling up her chin). Why not, indeed. 
 
 We need only assume a dignity in title and rank- 
 
 When [ stand in the drawing room, as the Queen of 
 Sheba in the midst of u circle of ambassadresses, prin¬ 
 cesses, dutchesses, countesses, &c. &c. who are pre¬ 
 sented to me, it .stings me to the soul to be addressed 
 ‘Madame la Consuless , 1 or plain ‘Madame Buonaparte’. 
 Eie upon it, I can hardly find in my heart to be civil 
 to them, ‘ How do you do, Mrs. Buonaparte ?’—It is 
 indeed insufferable, I almost despise myself. 
 
 Caroline. I think you are right, and I dare say my 
 brother will consider it right. 
 
 Buonaparte. Who, I ? I do surely feel the just¬ 
 ness of your observation ! Thou deservest to be ex¬ 
 alted above thy sex. For thou art my oracle and my 
 angel. I will order my obsequious senate to proclaim 
 thee a goddess, with all the attributes of a Juno, a 
 Ceres, and of a Venus ! Who will then resist paying 
 thee the honours of an earthly empress? 
 
 Joseph. It is indeed disgusting to hear with what 
 disrespect the consulate is spoken of, how unworthy, 
 say they, of the grand republic. 
 
 Murat. When a dynasty is established of such 
 noble heroic blood, what then will the crowned heads 
 say ? 
 
 Josephine. Ay, what indeed,—but we must fix 
 ypon the rank. I should like monstrously to be ac- 
 1 costed 
 
 « 
 
262 
 
 costed queen, sultaness, or empress! Eh, my dear, 
 wilt thou be my sultan ? 
 
 Buonaparte. 1 will adopt the eagle with triple 
 talons, which will keep in awe the other European 
 eagles. I then am determined on being the emperor 
 of the French, and thou shalt be empress of my heart. 
 
 Joseph. Bravo ! I hope we shall be something. 
 
 Murat . Ay, sure. 
 
 Buonaparte . As we shall have the hammer and 
 anvil both in our hands, we can fashion you all as we 
 please according to the spirit of the grand nation which 
 most be first worked upon. 
 
 Josephine. Oh dear, how I shall like to be called 
 your majesty the empress ; Will your majesty vouch¬ 
 safe ! O delicious. For God’s sake, my dear Buona¬ 
 parte, do contrive matters with Cambaceres and Tal¬ 
 leyrand. (Kisses him). Do, make haste.—-Thou 
 hast long been consecrated a divinity descended from 
 heaven for the good of man, why hesitate to accept of a 
 mortal crown ! But, a propos, we have no issue to en¬ 
 joy the succession ! 
 
 Hortense. Oh l for that, mamma, never fear.—- 
 Leave that to me. 
 
 Buonaparte . Well, I am resolved on it, my dear; 
 but I must first be declared consul for life, which I 
 must accept with reluctance. Then we may easily 
 blind the rabble and make them believe there is no 
 difference. Lewis and Hortense shall be first married ; 
 eh, Horte, what sayst thou my dear ? (Kisses her.) 
 Come along. 
 
 Hortense. I shall like it above all things—You know 
 what I like. 
 
 Josephme (as they go out). ‘How do you do, madam 
 consuless! How does Mrs. Buonaparte do !’ Fie upon 
 it; it puts me out of all patience.—By jeminy, I can¬ 
 not bear it. (As she approaches the door she views 
 herself in the glass and makes a courtesey.) ‘Most gra¬ 
 cious majesty, deign to permit me to approach your 
 sacred person!’ Ay, that will do ! [Exeunt . 
 
 SCENE 
 
2 63 
 
 \ 
 
 SCENE XXVII. 
 
 Council Chamber* 
 
 Buonaparte, Talleyrand, Cambaceres, Le Bran, and 
 
 Joseph, in council . 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, this will be the last chapter of 
 our glorious revolution. The happiness of the French 
 will now be permanently established, 
 
 Le Bran. But the dynasty will be ever liable to be 
 troubled by the Bourbons and their agents. 
 
 Talleyrand. We must prevent that by striking them 
 up root and branch. The duke of Enghien is now near 
 our frontiers as it is said to excite insurrection. 
 
 Buonaparte. I dread him more than all the rest 
 together, therefore we will have him arrested directly. 
 They call us usurpers, but is not all the world com¬ 
 posed of usurpers, and ever has been ? Is it not evi¬ 
 dent, from the meanest handicraftsman to the most 
 eminent merchant and prof ssor of the law, they are 
 constantly endeavouring to usurp the business and pro- 
 perty of each other ? 
 
 Enter Sieves and Roederer. 
 
 «/ 
 
 Cambaceres. Ay, then consider Macbeth and 
 Cromwell were likewise usurpers, but they were 
 children in experience. They kept playing with 
 royalty as a kitten does with a mouse, which at last 
 saves itself in a hole. 
 
 Sieyes. Revolutions are always subject to dangers, 
 to avoid which, experience should teach us; nobody 
 can tell the danger to be apprehended from improvi¬ 
 dent watchfulness better than my friend Cambaceres 
 and I. We are the only active citizens who have ho¬ 
 nourably kept on deck during all the dreadful storms 
 of tlie revolution and brought the ship safe into port. 
 
 Buonaparte. We will shew the world that, notwith¬ 
 standing the facility of exciting revolutions, we can 
 
 put 
 
264 
 
 put a final stop to it. The great Sieyes, himself, has? 
 shewn us that revolutions may be' Continued to infinity* 
 and that the human mind is also subject to change.— 
 For instance, our friend Sie} T es proclaimed aloud that 
 the rights of man rendered the citizen independent of 
 all rulers, and the following year he declared monarchy 
 was the best of all governments.-~This last decision I 
 approve the best, and now appeal to him to support it. 
 
 Sieyes. Most worthy first consul, thou knowest my 
 soul more lowly bends to thee than the forms of outward 
 worship can express. Heaven has marked thee out as 
 the great avenger of the groaning world, the scourge 
 of lawless pride and despotism. Thy sword is the 
 sword of justice which the approving deity will crown 
 with success. 
 
 Cambaceres. (Be Brun with a paper in his hand). 
 Citizen first consul, we agree to the arrangement. 
 
 Roederer . Yes, most heartily, for the good of the 
 republic. 
 
 Cambaceres . That is a matter of course always un¬ 
 derstood, it being considered in our own good fortune. 
 
 Buonaparte . Ay, surely, when we prosper the pub¬ 
 lic good prospers. (To Talleyrand.) What, citizen,- 
 you remain silent on this important arrangement ? 
 
 Talleyrand. Citizen first consul, I am not insensible 
 that amicorum omnia sunt communia t but— - 
 
 Buonaparte (laying hold of his hands). O my dear 
 friend, thou knowest we cannot do without thee, fix 
 thy price and rank. 
 
 * 
 
 Talleyrand. Oh, my ever esteemed noble chief, 
 be assured of my most cordial exertions to establish 
 the empire in your hands. (Turning to all). Now 
 citizens! Now for it. I say conspiracies! conspiracies 
 against the precious life of our chief must be forthwith 
 resorted to. Every cunning we are masters of must be 
 put in motion to alarm the rabble. 
 
 Cambaceres . Well, Jet us then separate and each 
 try his best. [ Exeunt all. 
 
 SCENE 
 
265 
 
 SCENE XXVIII. 
 
 Buonaparte, Sieyes, Talleyrand, Le Brun, Camba- 
 
 ceres, and Fouche. ' . 
 
 Buonaparte. I think the plan of Talleyrand very 
 good, as he says it is much easier to inflame than to 
 assuage the minds of the rabble, therefore let us rouse 
 the public mind by admiration. 
 
 Sieyes . It is true the bulk of mankind delight in 
 hearing their superiors accused as traitors and their 
 neighbours traduced and treated as rascals ; therefore 
 ^ve need only varnish over falsehood, disguise or 
 conceal truth so as to tickle their fancies, they will 
 then grin, laugh, and be pleased. When the mind is 
 properly electrified, we shall be able to establish a 
 grand system of conspiracies that will not fail to ope¬ 
 rate favourably in the cause. 
 
 Talleyrand. The idea is good but we must endea¬ 
 vour to engage some of those trusty rascals whom the 
 Directory employed in the different countries on the 
 continent. Citizen consul Le Brun knows some of 
 them, eh, don’t you ? 
 
 Le Brun. I know them ? to be sure I do ;—They 
 are as fine fellows as ever crow fled over, and, as for 
 honour and confidence, by Jove you need not be under 
 any apprehension ; for I’ll be bang’d if for a few iivres 
 they would not stab their own mothers. 
 
 Buonaparte. It is enough, thier qualifications are 
 sufficient for us. What are their names ? 
 
 Le Brun (reads). Chaptal, Chauvelin, Emery, 
 Champagny, David, Lajolais, Daniel, Charles, Thum, 
 Fresnieres, Picot, Emil 4 Gandin, Rouffe, Fronde, 
 and Regnaud —these are connected with an hundred 
 others, all of whom have been in high practice of fraud 
 and treachery these seven years. 
 
 Sieyes. Yes, I recollect some of the names ; they are 
 able men.—From this stock ramifications may be made 
 to reach the remotest corner of the world. 
 
 2 M 
 
 I 
 
 Fouche 
 
26 * 
 
 Fouchc. It is lucky that most of these men are just 
 tiow in Paris. 
 
 Talleyrand. I propose, as a court of justice must be 
 formed amongst them, that Regnier be appointed' 
 chief justice, and that Regnaud do act with him. 
 
 Cambaceres. Regnier! sblood, the best man in the 
 
 world-He and I studied and practised in the same 
 
 office! He is a treasure. Notwithstanding his talents 
 do not extend beyond the common routine of an 
 ordinary attorney, yet, by persevering industry and 
 application, with a good share of assurance, he is 
 arrived at such perfection that he can condemn a man 
 to be shot, to be guillotined, or hanged, with as much 
 „ grace, composure, and indifference, as the most learned 
 and experienced professor of the law. 
 
 Enter Roederer and Regnaud. 
 
 Oh, now we shall hear how our plan is likely to be 
 received. (To Roederer ). Well, citizen, how docs 
 the pulse of the public beat ? 
 
 Roederer . Rather quick, citizen consul, I perceive 
 symptoms of a fever, but a dose of laudanum will effec¬ 
 tually remove them. 
 
 Buonaparte . So I think too, we must lull the rabble 
 to steep or we must force the draft upon them. 
 
 Cambaceres . Certainly, it would be degrading in 
 us to ask approbation, much more to appeal to the 
 rabble for sanction to our decrees. They are the party 
 governed and we are the rulers ; we enact the laws— 
 they are to obey them. 
 
 Touche . I have most narrowly watched every nod 
 and wink of the eye, every gesticulation and posture 
 of the body, and, by Jove, it is a fact, that at present 
 the republican libertines are become a new race. In 
 the same minute you behold them merry, sad, cou¬ 
 rageous and fearful, caressing and cruel. 
 
 Fouchc. Ay, by the holy crown of St. Peter, they 
 are now totally insensible, they will laugh, sing, and 
 cry with an empty belly, swear and ehaunt bawdy 
 
 songs 
 
273 
 
 « 
 
 Buonaparte. Why that delay ? Who were officers 
 on duty there ? I shall remember them. What, has 
 he confessed ? 
 
 Regnier. Confessed ! He died with a proud sto¬ 
 mach, refused to be blindfolded, stood undauntedly 
 before the musket, and cried to tne grenadier to level, 
 or he would miss his head ! 
 
 Buonaparte . Did I not say that I had more to fear 
 from him than from all the rest ? Apropos, have you. 
 contrived to obtain another letter from Moreau ? 
 
 Regnier . O yes, two more : one is bitter against 
 the f irst Magistrate ; the other is in direct answer to 
 the one sent him. He is expected in the city every 
 minute, and Fouch6 has obtained a company of dra¬ 
 goons to arrest him!-Here comes Rouche. 
 
 Enter Fouche. 
 
 Fouche. Holo, citizens! Moreau is now in the 
 Temple ; he surrendered himself like a child ! 
 
 Enter four Police Officers. 
 
 Officer (to Fouche). Where are we to lodge 
 the sixteen rascals that we have caught just landed 
 from England ? [: Exeunt three Officers. 
 
 Fouche. In the Temple! Some of you go with 
 Picot, he will conduct you to Pichegru ; seize his pa¬ 
 pers, and keep him close: then go seek Couchery. 
 Beset all the city gates, and be vigilant. 
 
 [Exeunt Regnier, Fouche, and Officer. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, now we shall soon come to the 
 end of the business. 
 
 Talleyrand. We must immediately publish a pro¬ 
 clamation to calm the minds of the people ; emissaries 
 must be ordered to public places of resort, to excite 
 their resentment against the Bourbons ! 
 
 o 
 
 N 
 
 Re-enter 
 

 574 
 
 | V , 
 
 Re-enter Fouche, with Pichegru’s and Moreau’s papa's. 
 
 Fouche. Here, citizens! here are papers of crimi¬ 
 nation ; but hang me in secret if I find one, except 
 of our own inditing, that can make against them. 
 
 Buonaparte. No matter, that is enough ; they can¬ 
 not prove they did not write them. I insist on their 
 admittance in evidence ; they would hang Christ him¬ 
 self ! 
 
 Cambaceres. It is right; in court his papers are 
 evidence sufficient. 
 
 Enter Roederer. 
 
 Buonaparte. It is true, we were not provident 
 enough with regard to Pichegru ; however, to prevent 
 him making a defence (to Fouche) order his guards to 
 strangle him in the most ingenious way. 
 
 Sieyes. The idea is good, it is worthy of a crown. 
 
 jRoederer. Ay, and this business will afford a good 
 opportunity to shew forth his royal clemency in miti¬ 
 gating the judgment of those condemned. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, friends, continue the examina¬ 
 tions as vigilantly as possible. Right or wrong, I say, 
 guilty, guilty. Forthwith promulgate our plan of ho¬ 
 nouring the race of Frenchmen with an Emperor, un¬ 
 der the style of Napoleon the First. My senate voted 
 me Consul for life ; they cannot refuse erecting a new 
 dynasty in my family: remind them of the eminent 
 services we have rendered them, in reforming the 
 laws, equalizing the taxes, re-establishing the holy 
 Catholic religion, and finally in investing St. Peter 
 with the robes of the great Jehovah, whose vicegerent 
 I am. Let them compare me with the bigot Louis the 
 Seventh, with the monster Louis the Eleventh; they 
 will then see I am God’s elect. 
 
 Talleyrand . Ay, they do perceive that w r e have 
 purged heaven and earth of all their impurities. Our 
 blessed chief has trampled down the enormities of 
 Clovis, who, to wash away his heinousness, built seven 
 
 hundred 
 
215 
 
 \ 
 
 hundred and thirty churches and monasteries, which 
 we now convert to the more noble use of exchanges* 
 brokers’-shops, &c. 
 
 Enter Carnot, 
 
 Sieyes. But, citizens, for my friend Carnot , who 
 comes very apropos, and also for my own honour, 
 which I hold so dear! I wish Buonaparte to understand 
 that I am fully devoted to him and his crown ; yet we 
 must, in order to save our apostacy, slightly oppose 
 the vote in the senate of hereditary sovereignty ! 
 
 Cambaceres. That may be done without bad effect. 
 
 \Exeunt all. 
 
 SCENE XXXIII. 
 
 Buonaparte in his Closet. 
 
 Mrs. Moreau introduced by an Attendant. 
 
 Mrs. Moreau. Citizen First Consul! Pardon the 
 intrusion ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, Madam, what is your prayer? 
 Be brief; I have no time to dally. 
 
 Mrs. Moreau (falls on her knees). My prayer. 
 Citizen Consul, is for your clemency in behalf of my 
 husband ! His innocence demands it at your hands ! 
 Permit him to return home to his unhappy family. 
 
 Buonaparte. Good woman, your interference is 
 useless I Your husband is guilty of a crime against 
 the state. As for his conspiring against my life, I 
 leave that to his own conscience to judge what lenity 
 he ought to expect at my hands. Adieu, good woman; 
 I can do nothing for you, so retire. 
 
 Mrs . Moreau. Let me intreat your mercy as chief 
 magistrate of the republic ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Chief magistrate !—- 
 
 2 n 2 Mrs. 
 
 ( 
 
276 
 
 Mrs. Moreau . Royal Sire! As I am an unhappy 
 
 subject-—- ' ' 
 
 ■ * • • * • 
 
 Buonaparte . Madame, those brilliants and diamonds 
 
 ill become the wife of a traitor ! 
 
 Mrs. Moreau . Most gracious Emperor, for the 
 grace I demand, I here humbly lay them all at your 
 Highness’s feet; they will perhaps better decorate 
 your Josephine. (She tears the necklace off her neck , 
 and the rings and bracelets from her hands.) 
 
 Buonaparte (biting his lips with joy, says aside) / 
 shall have them. ( Turning quick, says aloud) Well, 
 Madam, all I can do for you i^ to give you a note to 
 the chief judge. (Sits down to write.) Here ! but 
 trouble me no more ! Adieu 1 
 
 Mrs. Moreau. But your ro}'al clemency ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Clemency ! Another word, and your 
 husband is dead-shot! 
 
 Mrs. Moreau. Away ! (Retiring towards the door.) 
 Monster, thi^ injustice will hang about thy neck like a 
 millstone, and sink thee to the lowest gulf of perdi¬ 
 tion ! [Exit. 
 
 Enter Regnier and Fouche. 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, citizens ! how are you ? I am 
 pestered to death with petitions in behalf of Moreau 
 and his adherents. My mother Letitia even bends her 
 knee m their favour. I desire you would use dispatch, 
 that f may not be tormented with clemency ! clemency ! 
 to which I am a stranger ! 
 
 Begnier . Citizen Consul, dispatch is used! Pi- 
 chegru at four o’clock this morning was dispatched ; 
 his guard maue his death known at seven o’clock. The 
 city is ad in conjecture how he could strangle himself 
 with a cord and a stick, in his bed ! 
 
 Buonaparte . Ha ! ha ! ha ! That’s right! Hang, 
 drown, or shoot, the rest as fast as you can. The 
 senate to-day decrees me the imperial crown i 
 
 Fouche , 
 
 
277 
 
 Fouche. But I understand Sieyes and Carnot in¬ 
 tend to oppose it! do they ? 
 
 Buonaparte. That is agreed upon between ns.— 
 You mistake the object; I wish every one to appear 
 consistent at least with his avowed principles. To¬ 
 morrow the decree will be duly promulgated, and the 
 time appointed for the coronation. - 
 
 Enter an Attendant. 
 
 Attendant. Citizen Brutus wishes an audience with 
 your highness. 
 
 Buonaparte Fouche). Retire, citizens. (To the 
 Attendant.) Shew him in. 
 
 {Exeunt Regnier, Fouche, and Attendant* 
 
 Buonaparte (alone, with his hands folded, and walk¬ 
 ing with large strides and starts suddenly) . Methinks 
 the world gives way under my feet and shakes to the 
 very center. (After a pause.) No, not so neither, 
 the idea is silly; yet I dreamt last night that a brazen 
 image bowed down to me—- f 
 
 Enter Brutus. 
 
 Brutus . Honoured brother, Buonaparte. 
 
 Buonaparte. You are very familiar it seems ; know 
 you not that I am emperor and ruler of the French I 
 
 Brutus . I know it! and am come to felicitate you 
 on that dignity. But I wish also to know why, after 
 having raised you to this glory, we are not ail to become 
 princes. 
 
 Buonaparte . Oh! is. that the object of your visit ? 
 Well then, i’ll tell you—You are cut off from the 
 honours of the family ; in the first place, by your ex¬ 
 tortions on the public, secondly, your prodigality. 
 You must be sensible that blood royal should be pure, 
 or at least it is necessary : where virtue is not, an 
 appearance of being virtuous should 'be kept up to 
 support the escutcheon. 
 
 Brutus. 
 
275 
 
 Brutus. Virtue for supporters ! Are not my ex¬ 
 ertions during your absence in Egypt, and after your 
 return here, to serve you, virtues sufficient ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Those exertions are your only virtues 
 and have their own reward in 3 T ~our breast, that you did 
 your duty. But, in the public mind you are, I say, 
 cut off. 
 
 Brutus. I don’t understand your inference. 
 
 Buonaparte . Your alliance renders you disgraceful 
 to your family. You married a whore. 
 
 Brutus. What do I hear ? married a whore ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Yes! and that debars you from the 
 rank and dignity of my family, you must divorce her, 
 if you expect my friendship. 
 
 Brutus. Divorce her ! If she was a whore she was 
 one of my own making 1 never was she the prostitute 
 of another 1 Besides, she is pretty. Pray what was 
 Josephine ? was not she a whore of many others before 
 you took her ? yet she is your virtuous supporter and 
 yon owe her great obligation. She even condescends 
 to allow you to kiss her daughter, your own brother’s 
 wife ! Pier first born is your own child. 
 
 Buonaparte. Insolence ! begone from my sight. 
 
 Brutus. Not so hasty, I am a republican, and thou 
 shalt not be emperor. Were thy body as gigantic as 
 thy ambition the world could not contain thee. Con¬ 
 sider, that great oaks are long in coming to their glory, 
 yet they are liable to be cut down in an hour ! Re¬ 
 member also, that the robber, the thief, the murderer 
 escape sometimes years, but at last they are tucked 
 up as rascals in a moment. Learn then to moderate 
 thy desires. Adieu. [ Exit Brutus • 
 
 Buonaparte (alone). I must, I will exile him. — 
 What insolence. (After a pause.) I cannot nor will 
 I bear it. Pie Avill certainly betray me to the world, 
 (Rings the bell). 
 
 Enter an Attendant. 
 
 (Stares distracted). What noise is that? What gal¬ 
 loping 
 
279 
 
 loping of cavalry is that ? Where is Lucien—Bratus I 
 mean ? Answer me quickly. 
 
 Attendant . I don’t know, and please your highness. 
 Buonaparte . What! not knew Brutus, my brother! 
 No, not my brother, he is not. Do beggars dare also 
 conspire against me ? I say, answer me quickly, or £ 
 will tear thy heart out! 
 
 Attendant. (Trembling ). I do not understand your 
 highness. Yes, I do know Brutus, your brother. 
 
 Buonaparte . No brother of mine, rascal! durest 
 
 thou-- 
 
 Attendant. No, your highness, I tremble ! > 
 
 Buonaparte. I tremble. Thou liest, scoundrel! 
 the dead never rise to confront their murderers. Thou 
 liest! this arm never killed mortal man. Am I pale, 
 ch ? Get thee gone ! 
 
 [Exit Attendant. 
 
 (After a pause.) What, do I dream ? Nothing is 
 real. (A rustling is heard near the wainscot.) What 
 is that ? Am I beset with fancies. (Something passes 
 dose to him; he starts.) Jt is surely my old visitor. 
 (Staring in wild amazement.) Heaven, Hell, and 
 Brutus all conspire against me. (He receives a slap on 
 the shoulder.) Father Barbceuf, is it thou ? Art thou 
 come to congratulate me ? I am now beyond the frown 
 of fortune, of heaven and earth ! Hollo! who or what 
 art thou ? Am I asleep ? My grandfather I know was 
 a butcher, but not a bloodsucker ! I have been a 
 bloodsucker, but not a butcher. Who accuses me 
 of murder and treachery, unworthy of being an em¬ 
 peror ? Where am I ? 
 
 [Vision (in a hollow voice calls). Prepare for thy 
 crown of glory! What, thou knowest not now, thou 
 shalt hereafter know.] 
 
 Buonaparte (joyfid). What delightful sound is 
 that ? how sweet to my ears ! Prepare for thy crown ! 
 Eh! eh! eh! I’ll this minute to my Josephine. 
 
 [Exit Buonaparte. 
 
 SCENE 
 
 i 
 
/ 
 
 ► 
 
 280 
 
 i . v « • 
 
 SCENE XXXIir. 
 
 Buonaparte, Josephine, and Hortense. 
 
 Josephine • Are you better, my Buonaparte ? 
 
 Buonaparte. Yes, I shall soon recover my spirits 
 again ; but why does your tailor not come? 
 
 Josephine. He is ordered at this hour to try on the- 
 robes. 
 
 Enter an Attendant. 
 
 Attendant . Please your excellence the Robe Maker 
 is here. 
 
 Buonaparte . That’s well; shew him in. 
 
 Enter Robe Maker, unfolds his bundle . 
 
 Josephine • Well, let us see. Superb! Eh, Hor¬ 
 tense ? 
 
 Hortense. Elegant! What think you, my dear father! 
 I like it vastly. 
 
 Josephine (tries hers on). 
 
 Buonaparte. It is too long, my dear Josephine, it 
 will throw thee down. 
 
 Josephine. Oh, thou novice ! Dost thou not know 
 that we must have train bearers, who will hold up our 
 skirts as high as their noses, 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, come try on niine. It fits well. 
 
 Josephine (putting him beforethe glass) . Ha! ha! 
 ha! It’s too short by a skirt. Thou lookest for all 
 the world like Jemmy Jumps, without skirts. 
 
 Buonaparte. I like things a little out of the way ! 
 What sayest thou, my Hortense ? 
 
 Hortense . I have often heard mamma say, that 
 little things were sweetest, and therefore she loves thee 
 to distraction. 
 
 Buonaparte. Thou art right, my dear, and I think 
 I shall mount the throne better with a short skirt. 
 
 Josephine . 
 
Josephine (to the Tailor). Put more flounces to 
 the skirts of my robe, and embroider a double crown 
 between the shoulders and bring it back immedi¬ 
 ately. * [Exit Taylor. 
 
 Josephine (fa Buonaparte). When dost expect the 
 Pope ? I am so impatient for the coronation. 
 
 Buonaparte . Ay, my dear, we will celebrate it.—* 
 (Taking Hortense by the hand.) We must arrange 
 for the etiquette to be observed by our visitors, de¬ 
 pendants, bet Talleyrand has written to invite the 
 sovereigns of Europe to the coronation feast. 
 
 Josephine. Excellent! I think we shall be some¬ 
 what more brilliant than our predecessors.' 
 
 Bouonaparte. Aha 1 The Pope is already arrived. 
 
 Enter Talleyrand, Cambac6res, and Le Brun. 
 
 Well, my worthy colleagues, here is the arrangement 
 I have made for you. Cambaceres, you are Grand 
 Chamberlain of the Empire and President of the 
 Senate. Le Brun, Arch Treasurer. Talleyrand, you 
 like your present post. My brothers and sisters, of 
 course, must be Princes of the first rank, you of the 
 second. Are you satisfied ? 
 
 All. Yes! Long live Napoleon the first ! 
 
 Buonaparte. Well, as soon as the ceremon)’ is over, 
 meet me in the council chamber, we must come to 
 some arrangements with, a’espect to our exterior 
 relations. 
 
 [ Exeunt . 
 
SCENE XXXIV. 
 
 The Coronation. 
 
 Buonaparte, Josephine, Pope, Cardinal Fesche, and 
 
 Spina. 
 
 Buonaparte is seated on an elevated seat , in the middle; 
 
 Josephine on his right hand, a step lower ; and on 
 
 his left the 
 
 Pope (with his little bell, for all knees to bend ). Fa¬ 
 ther, Son, and Holy Trinity, unity, eternity, &c. 
 I anoint thee, Buonaparte, in the name of the most 
 high glorious Deity, Emperor of the French, rege¬ 
 nerated race of God’s creation. Amen, amen ! 
 Napoleon, Napoleon First, rise! Rise, thou 
 descendant of the gods, rise! and receive from my 
 hand thy benediction, to make thee as holy as the son 
 of the Jews. 
 
 Buonaparte. What, father, wilt thou insult the 
 deity thou worshippest ? Darest thou, who hast re¬ 
 ceived thy existence from me, been created by me, 
 thus presume to sanctify me with thy hand, after I am 
 inspired with the spirit of Emperorship. If thou 
 wishest my protection and friendship, thou must leave 
 the Vatican, ahd retire to Venice, as a common pa¬ 
 triarch or almoner. Presume not henceforth that thou 
 hast any merit in sanctifying me. I am my own 
 creator, self-existe,nt, and hold the destiny of the 
 world. Adieu, papa! adieu! 
 
 \ Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE 
 
SCENE XXXV. 
 
 Council Chamber. 
 
 Napoleon, Talleyrand. 
 
 Talleyrand. Your Majesty will be pleased to ob¬ 
 serve, that if, on the signing a peace with a power, 
 we take pains to introduce a few persons of respecta¬ 
 bility from among the emigrants, &c. who are the 
 most renowned for intrigue, and that have some con¬ 
 nections, it may have a wonderful effect. Some may 
 be employed as secretaries to ministers ; some as tutors 
 to young princes; all of whom will have it in their 
 power to obtain secrets. Some again, and not the 
 least important part, may be cooks to the royal family, 
 and when at any time we wish such a person out of 
 the way, he will be always ready to season his ragout 
 in a proper manner. 
 
 All. Bravo ! bravo ! Admirable ! 
 
 Buonaparte. With these precautions, and some 
 high flavoured promises, we shall not be under the 
 least apprehension of any hostile disposition. There 
 is only that cursed England that we cannot come at, 
 and Russia, that will appear of consequence. I have 
 long thought it as impossible for me and Alexander to 
 subsist in Europe, as for two suns to shine in the same 
 sphere. One of us must quit the field. I will be sole 
 arbiter of Europe, of the world. We will arrange 
 matters so with Bavaria, Wirtemburg, Baden, Genoa, 
 Milan, Rome, Holland, Spain, &c. that we may 
 place our thumb on them in an instant. Who then 
 shall dare to contest the preponderance with us ? We 
 shall see whether the peace and tranquillity of Europe 
 cannot be established on a firm and lasting foundation. 
 How ridiculous is the word balance of power, where 
 there never was an equilibrium ! Europe cries aloud 
 for redress. The beneficent hand of the Creator is 
 now uplifted to guide my steps. States, who cannot 
 
 2 o 2 form 
 
form and preserve their own happiness, shall have my 
 assistance and protection ; and the grace of Napoleon 
 shall descend upon them as the manna, the honey dew 
 in Egypt. I must away to Boulogne to my flotilla, 
 which is to make the English tremble. Adieu. 
 
 [ Exeunt . 
 
 ! . 
 
 FINIS, 
 
 Printed by Cox, Son, & Baylis, 
 Great Queen-st. Lincoln’s-Inn Fields. 
 

 
RARE BOOK 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF 
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