A curious incident took place a few years ago here. It was common talk the Senate (Législatif Conseil) were to pass a decree continuing Bonaparte in the Consulate for life. A paper was circulated containing remarks upon the meanness of such a project, declaring national gratitude should proclaim Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of the Gauls, and make the throne hereditary to his race. The very next day there appeared in the _Journal des Défenseurs_ a well-written article in the true spirit of a Republican against not only the Imperial project, but also against that of making the Consulate a life-long appointment. Soon after I had read it la Vallée called on me. “You see,” said he, “Frenchmen can write as they please. Nothing shall deter me,” continued the indignant Republican. “I never disliked the late King, nor shared in the events of the Revolution; but rather than see any one of my fellow citizens upon the throne of France, I would burn this hand if I did not write against him!” _Two days_ after this animated declaration, I took up the same journal and read a long laboured dissertation on the innumerable advantages the Republic would obtain by conferring the Consulate for life “on the genius of victory and peace.” I became extremely desirous of another interview with the intrepid Republican. But he never came near us for several days. At length we met him at a dinner party, consisting of twenty persons. He betrayed on seeing me some confusion and sheepishness. I shook him heartily by the right hand, whispering in his ear, “I am happy to find you have not burnt it.” I was sorry I gave way to this not ill-natured jest, for a visible dejection overspread his features, and he remained depressed and dispirited during the whole time he was in my company that evening. _Le Chef du Cabinet_, the best printed of the Parisian journals, is compiled with care, and gives in general a fairly faithful account of continental news. One of the principal writers in this paper and in _Le Publiciste_ is Garot, member of the Senate, and also of the National Institute. Before the Revolution he was what the French call _homme des lettres_, _i.e._, a poor lawyer without practice. In England, our men of letters, successful or otherwise, are almost invariably men of a classical education and cultivated talents. But in France, a mere smattering of Greek and Latin, learnt principally through the medium of translations, constitute their principal studies. He began his career with writing paragraphs for the _Mercure_. He was next a member of the Constitutional Assembly, in which his talents were considered in so contemptible a light that he was never noticed. But in later years he attributed his silence in that Assembly to his philosophy. He then became editor of the _Journal de Paris_. Here he seems to have been most liberally paid, as out of six months’ savings, he managed to find 32,000 livres (£1280 sterling), with which he purchased a house and garden.