teries, where every vice was practised with impunity. A set of miscreants, (scelerati), who in general are a dishonour to the human race. Of priests I would have always allowed a sufficient number, but no frati.

After this, I observed to the emperor, that it had been asserted, that after having at first refused to agree to the peace proposed by the allies at Chatillon, he had sent a messenger to inform Lord Castlereagh that he had changed his mind, and was willing to agree to the terms which had been offered; but Lord Castlereagh had replied, "that it was too late, and that they had determined upon their measures."* Napoleon answered, "it is false. I never would consent to the peace at Chatillon, because I had sworn to preserve the integrity of the empire, rather than deviate from which, I wrote to Caulaincourt that I would abdicate. I would have agreed to the terms proposed at Francfort, where the Rhine was to form the boundaries of France, as being the natural ones."+

This information was given to me by Sir Hudson Lowe.

The following extract of a letter from the Duke of Vicenza may not be uninteresting:

SIR-In a work of M. Koch, entitled, "Campagne de 1814," several fragments of letters written by me to the emperor and to the Prince de Neufchatel, during the congress at Chatillon, are

inserted.

As to the congress of Chatillon, if events have justified the d

I took the liberty to observe, that it might naturally be supposed that he would not have ad

sire which I had to see peace restored to my country, it would be unjust to leave France and history ignorant of the motives of national interest and honour which induced the emperor to refuse signing the conditions which the allies desired to impose upon us.

I fulfil, therefore, the first of duties, that of equity and truth, in making known those motives, by the following extract from the orders of the emperor.

Paris, January 19th, 1814. "That which the emperor insists on the most, is the necessity of France preserving her limits. This is a sine qua non condition. All the powers, even England, have recognized these limits at Francfort. France reduced to her ancient limits, would not have to-day two thirds of the relative power which she possessed twenty years ago. What she has acquired on the side of the Alps and of the Rhine, does not compensate what Russia, Austria, and Prussia, have acquired by the sole dismemberment of Poland. All these states are aggrandized. To wish to bring back France to its ancient state, would be to bring it to decay and degradation. France, without the departments of the Rhine, without Belgium, without Ostend, without Antwerp, would be nothing. The system of bringing back France to her ancient frontiers is inseparable from the re-establishment of the Bourbons, because they alone could offer a guarantee for the maintenance of this system; England feels this well. In all other respects peace upon such a basis would be impossible, and could not last. Neither the emperor nor the republic, if some political commotion should revive it, would ever subscribe to such a condition. For the emperor's part, his resolution is taken; he is unchangeable; he will not leave France less great than he has received her. If then the allies wish to change the basis proposed and accepted, the natural limits, he can see but three courses: either to fight and conquer, or to fight and die gloriously; or finally, if the nation would not support him, to abdicate.

hered to the treaty of Paris, the terms of which were worse. "Yes," replied Napoleon, "I would have strictly complied with that treaty. I would not have made it myself; but finding it made, and that it was not my work, I would have adhered to it and remained at peace."

A part of the conversation which followed led me to make some remarks not favourable to Maréchal Davoust, and also to ask Napoleon whether he was not considered as one of the best of his generals. "No," replied the emperor; "I do not think him a bad character. He never plundered for himself. He certainly levied contributions; but they were for the army. It is necessary for an army, especially when besieged, to provide for itself. As to being one of the first of the French generals, he is by no means so, although a good officer." I then asked who in his opinion was now the first? "It is difficult to say," replied Napoleon. "I think, however, that Suchet is probably the first. Massena was; but you may say

He does not cling to high place; he never will preserve it by his own degradation."

I expect, Sir, from your impartiality, that you would give a place to this letter in your journal, and I scize this opportunity of offering you the assurance of my distinguished consideration.

(Signed) CAULAINCOURT, DUC DE VICENCE.

To the Editor of the Constitutionnel.

that he is dead. He has a complaint in his breast which has rendered him quite another kind of man. Suchet, Clausel, and Gerard, are in my opinion the first of the French generals. It is difficult to pronounce which is superior,* as they have not had many opportunities of commanding in chief, which is the only mode by which you can ascertain the extent of a man's talents." He also mentioned Soult in terms of commendation.

Went along with Captain Poppleton, Captain Fuller, Impett, and other officers of the 53rd, to a rat hunt in the camp, which was conducted in the following manner. Some soldiers had been furnished with spades and began to dig close by a ditch and a wall, which were infested with rats. Two dogs were in waiting, and we were provided with sticks. As soon as the rats found their premises moving about them, they sallied out and endeavoured to make their escape. They were then attacked by the dogs and men, and a most animated scene of confusion took place; the rats trying to get into other holes, and the others pursuing and striking at them in every direction, and hitting each other's legs, in their eagerness to reach their prey. Some of the rats turned upon the

As the emperor was rolling the balls of the billiard-table about at this moment, I am not positive whether it was only the two last that he mentioned as not having often commanded in chief.

assailants, and made a desperate resistance. Fourteen of them were killed in less than half an hour.

The rats are in numbers almost incredible at Longwood. I have frequently seen them assemble like broods of chickens round the offal thrown out of the kitchen. The floors and wooden partitions that separated the rooms were perforated with holes in every direction. The partitions being for the most part double, and of one inch deal, afforded a space between them sufficiently large to admit a rat to move with facility. It is difficult for any person who has not actually heard it to form an idea of the noise caused by those animals running up and down between the partitions, and galloping in flocks in the garrets, whether in search of food or in amorous gambols, I know not. At night, when disturbed by their entrance into my chamber, and by their running over me in bed, I have frequently thrown my boots, the boot-jack, and every thing I could readily reach, at them, without intimidating them in the slightest degree, to effect which I have been at last obliged to get out of bed, to drive them away. We amused ourselves sometimes in the evening by removing the pieces of tin which were nailed over their holes, and allowing them sufficient time to enter, when the servants, armed. with sticks, and followed by dogs, rushed in, co