But to return to the Philosophical Tribune of France. The most curious part of the ceremony consisted in the tears of Carnot! He actually!! Carnot shed tears!!! I cannot help thinking this as a most ludicrous instance of the ceremonial. Instead of sounding the praises of the present despotism of France, Carnot might have recited the following lines intended to have been inscribed on the pedestal of the tomb of Turenne in St. Denis: Turenne a son tombeau parmi ceux de nos rois, C’est le fruit glorieux de ces fameux exploits. On a voulu par-là couronner sa vaillance Afin qu’aux siècles à venir On ne fit point de difference Entre porter la couronne ou de la soutenir. When we reflect upon the melancholy catastrophe which has befallen the monuments of the most distinguished Frenchmen, it is to be considered a fortunate circumstance that the mausoleum of Turenne was rescued from the general devastation. As the Abbey of St. Denis is totally destroyed and there is no longer a place for the illustrious dead, except the Pantheon, in which their bodies would be commingled with those of the ruffians of the Republic, the Temple of Mars is undoubtedly the most honourable asylum for the body of one who, notwithstanding his faults, was perhaps the greatest General of France. The Hospital of the Invalides maintains its pre-eminence over every other charitable institution of France. The funds for the disbursement of its expenses are paid with great exactitude, and its internal organisation is conducted with exactitude and decorum. Had other institutions of France, not less useful, been maintained with equal scrupulousness, my pen would not have found an opportunity of portraying the wickedness and folly of a people whose history during the last ten years is nothing but a disgusting record of rapine, murder and impiety. XXXIII HUMANE INSTITUTIONS--_continued_ SOUP ESTABLISHMENTS During the last winter (1801–1802) the distress of the lower orders rose to such a height that it became necessary to open subscriptions for the distribution of soup to the poor. A committee was formed for the purpose, and this committee distributed 164,000 rations of soups, besides what was sold from different furnaces, established by voluntary contributions. The committee commenced their useful labours with the names of only _one hundred subscribers_. The price of each subscription is eighteen francs or fifteen shillings and ninepence sterling, and any person is at liberty to take as many subscriptions as he thinks proper. In consideration of every subscription the subscriber receives 240 bonuses of soup from any establishment he may prefer, or he may leave the disposal of them to the committee. [Sidenote: HUMANITY OF BONAPARTE]