ary, that at times he should
favour the commercial interest of the towns in the interior, from which
he drew large supplies of money, and his constant enmity against the
sea-port towns of Marseilles and Bourdeaux, induced him to encourage the
interior commerce of France, to the prejudice of the maritime trade of
these ports. Under Napoleon, Paris, Lyons, Rouen, and most of the large
towns which carried on this interior commerce, were lately in a
flourishing state. In these towns, if not beloved, he was at least
tolerated, and they wished for no change of government. But at
Marseilles, and at Bourdeaux, he was detested, and a very strong
royalist party existed, which caused him constant annoyance. At
Bourdeaux, it may be recollected, that the Bourbons were received with
open arms, and that that town was the first to open its gates to the
allies. It was also among the last that held out. I was in that town
while the royalist party were still powerful, while every thing shewed a
flourishing commerce, while the people were happy; the wine trade was
daily enriching the inhabitants, and they blessed the return of peace,
and of their lawful princes. In two days the face of things was changed.
A party of soldiers, 300 strong, were dispatched by Napoleon, under the
command of General Clausel. The troops of the line here, as everywhere
else, betrayed their trust, and joined the rebels, and Bourdeaux was
delivered up to the spoiler.

Never was there a more melancholy spectacle than that now afforded by
the inhabitants of this city. You could not enter a shop where you did
not find the owners in tears. We were then all hastening to leave
France. They embraced us, and prayed that our army might soon be among
them to restore peace and the Bourbons. Here I am convinced that
Bonaparte is hated by all but the military. Yet what could a town like
Bourdeaux effect, when its own garrison betrayed it?

Besides the bad effects of Bonaparte's policy on the commerce of France,
I must notice the wide influence of another cause, which was the natural
result of the revolution. Although at first an attack was only made
against the noblesse, yet latterly, every rich and powerful family was
included among the proscribed, and all the commercial houses of the
first respectability were annihilated. These have never been replaced,
and the upstart race of petty traders have not yet obtained the
confidence of foreigners. The trade of France is therefore