nsieur le Conte, (dit il), ces laches conspirateurs sont ils
executes? Leurs complices sont ils aux fers? Les bourreaux on ils donne
un nouvel example a qui voudrait imiter ceux qui veuleut a ma personne?"

A distinguishing feature in Napoleon's character was unnecessary
cruelty; of this the campaign in Moscow, (of which Labaume's narrative
is a true though highly-coloured picture), the slaughter of the Turks in
Egypt, the poisoning of his invalids, and the death of every one who
stood in his way, are sufficient and notorious proofs. St Cloud was in
general the scene of his debaucheries. The following anecdote was
related by Count Rumford to a gentleman of my acquaintance, and may be
depended on as correct; for at the time that it happened, Count Rumford
was in lodgings on the spot. Napoleon had brought from Paris a beautiful
girl belonging to the opera; he had carried her into one of the arbours
of the garden. Many of the little boys about St Cloud were in habits of
climbing up among the trees, whether merely as a play, or from curiosity
to see the Emperor. On leaving the arbour with his favourite, Napoleon
saw one of these boys perched upon a high tree above him. He flew
straight to one of the gates, and bringing the sentinel who was
stationed there, he pointed out the boy, exclaiming, "Tirez sur ce b----
la." The order was executed, and the boy never more seen.

But for no one act did he incur the hatred of the French in such a
degree as for the murder of the Duke d'Enghien; in committing this
crime, not only the laws of humanity, but the laws of nations were
violated.

This branch of the Royal Family was under a foreign power; he could by
no means be esteemed a subject of Bonaparte. Even the family of
Bonaparte, who, (as we shall presently see), did not possess many good
qualities, were shocked with this crime; they reproached him with it;
and Lucien said to him, [35]"Vous voulez dont nous faire trainer sur la
claye."

The treatment of the Pope, of Pichegru, of Georges, of Moreau, furnish
us with further instances of his cruelty. Bonaparte did his utmost to
make the Parisians believe that Moreau was connected with Pichegru in
the conspiracy to establish the Bourbons on the throne. This was totally
false. But Napoleon, jealous of a rival like Moreau, could not bear that
he should live. Moreau's bold and unbending character hastened his
downfall. He always called the flat-bottomed boats, [36]"Ces coquilles
de noix