CONSPIRACY AGAINST NAPOLEON.

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state of blockade or siege; nobody was allowed to go out of it, unless by day, and only through fifteen outlets. The whole guard and garrison were bivouacked round the city, and sentinels on foot and on horseback, posted at every fifty paces round the walls. No one could go out without being examined by men personally acquainted with Georges and his accomplices, whose description was fixed up in every direction (1).

The promenades in the bois de Boulogne and round Paris were prohibited, and the blockade, which lasted six weeks, entirely put a stop to (2) the habits and diversions of the inhabitants, who notwithstanding made no complaints. At last, on the 9th of March, it was discovered that Georges was to (3) cross the Pont Royal in a cabriolet, at four o'clock in the afternoon, in order to (4) seek a lodging near the Pantheon. Precautions were taken in consequence of this information, and two police officers were placed upon the Pont Royal, when, at the time expected, Georges crossed, driving rapidly the cabriolet himself. He was followed by the persons stationed for that purpose. Arrived at the place of the Pantheon, he discovered that the house where he was to lodge, was beset (5); he immediately turned back, and encountered the two officers who had pursued him, one of whom seized the bridle, but was in

(1) In every direction, partout.

(2) To put a stop to, arrêter, prévenir. (3) Was to, devait.

(4) In order to, pour, afin de...

(5) Beset, cerné, entouré, obsédé.

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stantly stretched lifeless by a pistol, fired by Georges, who then opened the cabriolet, jumped out and wounded the second; the populace however flocked round, and seized him, crying, "It is Georges, it is Georges. He was then conducted to the prefecture of the police, and thence, after undergoing his first examination, he was committed to prison. All his accomplices were afterwards arrested in succession, and the blockade of Paris was not raised, until the last of them was taken; during which period, men frequently appeared on the walls evidently with a design of leaping from them, but were deterred by the sight of the guards.

HONOUR IS NOT HEREDITARY.

Though an honourable title may be conveyed (1) to posterity, yet the ennobling qualities which are the soul of greatness, are a sort of incommunicable perfection, and cannot be transferred. Indeed, if a man could bequeath (2) his virtues by will, and settle his sense and learning upon his heirs, as certainly as he can his lands, a brave ancestor would be a mighty privilege.

COLLIER.

(1) To be conveyed to, passer à, descendre à, être transféré.

(2) To bequeath, léguer, laisser par testament.

SPEAK OF THINGS AS YOU FIND THEM.

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SPEAK OF THINGS AS YOU FIND THEM. T. Extract from a letter of Sherlock, concerning France and the French. 1781.

Let every man who knows that nation speak of it as he found it; if he lived in their intimacy for years (as I did), and if he found them ill-natured, ill-mannered (1), treacherous, and cowardly (2), let him speak (3) his mind. I quarrel with no man who judges for himself, and who speaks the truth. But let the indulgence I grant, be granted to me again, and let me be permitted to tell the world, that however other men may have found them, I found them good-humoured, good-natured (4), brave, polished, frank, and friendly. I found them all animated with a desire to please, and always ready to do me every service in their power. I owe them a thousand obligations: I had faults; they corrected them I wanted knowledge, they informed me : I was rough (5), they softened me I was sick; they visited me I was vain; they flattered me I had need of counsel; they gave me the best advice: every man has need of agreeable company, and every man may be

sure to find it in France.

(1) Ill-mannered, malhonnête.

(2) Cowardly, lâche.

(3) Let him speak, qu'il parle. Les Anglais se servent du mot let pour marque de l'impératif aux premières et aux troisièmes personnes. Voyez Grammaire pratique, 68.

(4) Good-natured, d'un bon naturel.

(5) Rough, dur, impoli.

I would be lavish (1) in praise of this nation; but I am sorry to say, that too many people here (2) have prejudices against them, as ridiculous as they are illfounded. They despice the French as if they were beings without either sense or sentiment; although their writings and actions show they are full of both. Because two states have different interests, is that a reason that every individual belonging to those states should promote, to the utmost of his abilities, the interest and glory of the country to which he belongs? It certainly is. And therefore every Frenchman has the same merit in labouring (5) with all his might (4) for the destruction of the British fleet, that every Englishman has, in exerting all his powers to annihilate the navy (5) of France. If a blast (6) of my breath could send all the ships she has, to the bottom of the sea, Puff (7). They were sunk (8) before you could finish this period. But is it a reason I should hate, or despise the French, because I am naturally and necessarily the enemy of France?

The best way I think to judge of this matter is to

(1) Lavish, prodigue.

(2) Here, ici, en Angleterre.

(3) To labour, travailler. La terminaison ing marque le parti.

cipe présent.

(4) Might, force, pouvoir.

(5) Navy, marine.

(6) A blast, un souffle, une bouffée.

(7) Puff, pouf, onomatopée qui marque bien le bruit qu'on fait en soufflant.

(8) Sunk, passé de to sink, couler bas.

ENJOYMENT IN LITERATURE.

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take two other rival nations; Austria and Prussia; Athens and Sparta. Here you are dispassionate (1); your judgment will be just. Do you think it the duty of a liberal-minded (2) Prussian to despise an Austrian? Or, should a well-born (3) Athenian detest a Lacedemonian, because he is equally animated by the same noble flame that warms himself, the love of his country? The nation which is able to rival another, proves herself worthy the admiration of that nation even by her rivality; and had I (4) no other reason to consider the French as a great people beside their being able to contend with England, that proof for me would be sufficient.

Learning enables those who enjoy the benefits of it, to derive the purest, the sweetest, the most elegant, and the least injurious pleasures from themselves and from reflection. The man of taste and learning creates, as it were (5), a little world of his own, in which he exercises his faculties; and he feels his most exalted satisfaction arising from things the existence of which is scarcely known to the vulgar mind. Literature affords (6) nourishment to our youth, delights our old

(1) Dispassionate, de sang-froid, impartial, désintéressé. (2) Liberal-minded, qui a l'âme généreuse, noble.

(3) Well-born, bien né, de haute naissance.

(4) Had I, eussé-je.

(5) As it were, pour ainsi dire.

(6) To afford, offrir.