something to deduct from the second part of the eulogium of Fontanes.  If, in 1797, our countryman experienced at Cairo, or at Alexandria, outrages and extortions which the Grand Seignior either would not or could not repress, one may in all rigour admit that France ought to have exacted justice to herself; that she had the right to send a powerful army to bring the Turkish Custom-house officers to reason.  But this is far from maintaining that the divan of Constantinople ought to have favoured the French expedition; that our conquest was about to restore to him, in some sort, Egypt and Syria; that the capture of Alexandria and the battle of the Pyramids would enhance the lustre of the Ottoman name!  However, the public hastened to acquit Fourier of what appears hazarded in this small part of his beautiful work.  The origin of it has been sought for in political exigencies.  Let us be brief; behind certain sophisms the hand of the original Commander-in-Chief of the army of the East was suspected to be seen!

Napoleon, then, would appear to have participated by his instructions, by his counsels, or, if we choose, by his imperative orders, in the composition of the essay of Fourier.  What was not long ago nothing more than a plausible conjecture, has now become an incontestable fact.  Thanks to the courtesy of M. Champollion-Figeac, I held in my hands, within the last few days, some parts of the first proof sheets of the historical preface.  These proofs were sent to the Emperor, who wished to make himself acquainted with them at leisure before reading them with Fourier.  They are covered with marginal notes, and the additions which they have occasioned amount to almost a third of the original discourse.  Upon these pages, as in the definitive work given to the public, one remarks a complete absence of proper names; the only exception is in the case of the three Generals-in-Chief.  Thus Fourier had imposed upon himself the reserve which certain vanities have blamed so severely.  I shall add that nowhere throughout the precious proof sheets of M. Champollion do we perceive traces of the miserable feelings of jealousy which have been attributed to Napoleon.  It is true that upon pointing out with his finger the word illustrious applied to Kleber, the Emperor said to our colleague:  “SOME ONE has directed my attention to THIS EPITHET;” but, after a short pause, he added, “it is desirable that you should leave it, for it is just and well deserved.”  These words, Gentlemen, honoured the monarch still less than they branded with disgrace the some one whom I regret not being able to designate in more definite terms,—­one of those vile courtiers whose whole life is occupied in spying out the frailties, the evil passions of their masters, in order to make them subservient in conducting themselves to honours and fortune!

FOURIER PREFECT OF L’ISERE.