meaning the little Duke of Richmond. The Russian Ambass", still at Court, behaved himselfe like a clowne, compared to this civil heathen."

The Austrian ambassador, Baron Von Pentenrieder, was reputed to be a man whom nothing could disconcert. Louis XIV. found this character confirmed at the first audience that he gave him; and he was not a little piqued because he made so little impression upon the minister. With a view to throw him into some embarrassment, the King interrupted him in the first period of his address, which he opened with these words, "Sire, l'Empereur, mon maitre, m'envoye vers votre Majesté"-saying, in a loud tone, "Plus haut, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur!"—" Plus haut?" rejoined the Baron, without betraying the least emotion. Then with an elevated voice he again began, "L'Empereur mon maitre, Sire, m'envoye vers votre Majesté," thus naming the Emperor first; and continuing his harangue in a firm and dignified tone.

Of modern French ambassadors, a Monsieur Fernagus, who has published a curious "Narrative of his Transportation and Exile to Cayenne, during the Consulship of Buonaparte," gives in a note the following anecdotes.

General Lasne was to have commanded the expèdition sent to St. Domingo; and I have the more reason to believe so, because he was one of the few of whom Bonaparte was afraid. When, therefore, he was killed in Austria, Napoleon, who affected to weep for his loss, and to order the erection of a monument to his memory, was seen laughing heartily behind a door. I have heard why Lasne did not go to St. Domingo. Leclerc, Buonaparte's brother-in-law, the son of a

D

miller, a man of no talents, was very lightly thought of by Buonaparte and the army. Madame Leclerc was fond of high play. One night she lost 36,000 francs, for which she gave a bill, payable the next day at her hotel. This circumstance determined Napoleon to send Leclerc and his wife to St. Domingo. This was truly an adieu à la Corse. Leclerc died there. His wife formed a company of very handsome men selected from the army, whom she appointed her guard of honour. She even chose their uniform, and sometimes rode out at their head.

On the 18th of Brumaire, year 10, the anniversary of the famous day of St. Cloud, when the representatives of the nation were driven from their place of assembly by Buonaparte, fire-works were displayed from an immense temple on the Seine, and the Consul, and several of his relatives and friends, were at the windows of the Pavilion of Flora. Madame Lætitia Buonaparte and Madame Bacciochi turned their backs on the people, who were in high glee, and hissed. Napoleon, enraged at this mark of disrespect, sent for Lasne, who then commanded the Consular Guard. The cavalry of the guard was at its post, under the windows of the great gallery of Henry IV. The general was at his hotel, which formerly belonged to the house of Noailles. He went at the desire of the First Consul. "Why are not you at your post?" said he, boiling with passion. "What's the meaning of these hisses? Who hissed? The foreign ministers are at the windows of the gallery; they have seen every thing." -"Thou art joking, surely," replied Lasne. "D-n the hisses! The people are merry-Tis a holiday— that's all."-" Lasne," retorted Buonaparte, "recollect that I am First Consul, and no longer your equal. Do your duty."-" Thou never saidst so to me while with

the army, when thou hadst occasion for me. Thy comrades always thoud thee then."" General, you are under arrest," cried Buonaparte, exasperated beyond measure, and clapping his hand upon his sword. Lasne retired swearing, and shut himself up in his hotel. Half an hour afterwards he received a message, with credentials for the Court of Portugal. "Tell the First Consul," replied he to the messenger, "that I shall not stir from Paris till I please." This was at ten o'clock at night. Early next morning he ordered his carriage. At seven o'clock he was at the door of the treasury, asked for the minister, and gave in his name. The minister was already in his cabinet. Lasne entered, laid a pair of pistols on the table, and handed him a written paper, to this effect: "At the time of the passage of the artillery across the Alps, before the battle of Marengo, I, General Lasne, lent to the Consul Buonaparte 420,000 francs, in bills of exchange upon the Bank of Venice. I request Citizen to pay me the same sum within five minutes." The minister trembled, and paid the money; and Lasne returned satisfied to his hotel. The Minister of the Finances and the First Consul were soon apprized of the circumstance. The latter invited Lasne to the palace, whither the general repaired in full uniform. Buonaparte gently reproved him, and said that he was able to pay him that debt, without his going to insult a minister. Soon afterwards, in that honeyed tone which he knew how to assume, he said: "I want such a man as you at the Court of Portugal. I hope you will not refuse me."-"I am now ready to go wherever you please."-"When will you set off?"-" It will take two days to get ready."-On the third morning, by day-break, the general started for Bourdeaux; but he was scarcely two leagues from Paris, when a party of

sixty dragoons stopped him by the orders of government, and conducted him to a citadel.

Such were the circumstances that prevented Lasne from having the command of the expedition to St. Domingo. He was kept in confinement but a few days, and at length went as ambassador to Portugal, where he several times abused the old queen before the whole

court.

John Basilowitz, the Czar of Russia, perceiving Sir Jeremy Bowes, the ambassador of Queen Elizabeth, with his hat on in his presence, thus rebuked him: "Have you not heard, Sir, of the person I have punished for such an insult?" He had in fact punished him very savagely, by causing his hat to be nailed to his head. Sir Jeremy answered, "Yes, Sir; but I am the Queen of England's ambassador, who never yet stood bareheaded to any prince whatever: her I represent, and on her justice I depend to do me right if I am insulted."-" A brave fellow this," replied the Czar, turning to his nobles-" a brave fellow this, who dares thus to act and talk for his sovereign's hohour. Which of you would do so for me?"

Louis XIV. was told that Lord Stair was one of the best bred men in Europe. "I shall soon put him to the test," said the King; and asking Lord Stair to take an airing with him, as soon as the door of the coach was opened, he bade him pass and go in: the other bowed and obeyed. The King said, "the world is in the right in the character it gives: another person would have troubled me with ceremony."

The Spanish ambassador at the court of Charles II. talking one day with an English nobleman upon the

best means of gaining the King of England over to the protection of Flanders by an immediate assistance; his lordship observed, that the surest method was to obtain the influence of the king's mistress; upon which the Don haughtily observed: "My Lord, I had rather my King should lose half his dominions, than preserve any part of them by the favour of a courtezan." Barillon, the French ambassador, however, was less scrupulous, and thereby he succeeded in every thing.

AMBITION.

POPE SIXTUS V. upon his promotion to the sacred college as cardinal, quite altered his manner of life, and, to conceal his aspiring views, affected a total disregard of all worldly pursuits, and became humble, meek, patient, and affable; which mask of hypocrisy he wore with great perseverance fifteen years. He led a retired life, exercised himself in works of piety, spent much of his time in the confessional chairs, seldom appeared at the consistories, and, during the last three years of the pontificate of Gregory, affected to be very infirm; so that he was often saluted in a manner that would not have been very agreeable to any body else—" God help you, poor old man, you have almost run your race!"

To this artifice he owed his promotion, for the conclave being divided between opposite parties, it was agreed upon by both, to elect one who was too weak to govern, and could not live long. The cardinals, out of contempt, used to call him The Ass of La Marca; so that their astonishment was inexpressible when he threw off his disguise. While they were crowding towards him to congratulate him, he sat coughing and