doubtedly, gentlemen, you have your pass- wife to be crowned with success ; she would
ports ? Wilson put his head out of the have died of grief if we had not succeeded :
window, and said, “ I am an English gene- but yet I am unhappy,” he added, " to see
ral;" his dress and his accent were sufficient, so many worthy men compromised on my
and the carriage entered the city. When account. I know that the keepers have been
they had arrived at the post-house, a little arrested ; but I declare, before God, and to
boy demanded their passports anew. Wil- you, my generous friend! that these men
son (who, as we may readily conceive, was were not bribed, and were not in our secret:
spokesman on all occasions) replied as usual, the project would have failed if they had
"I am an English general;" but the little had the slightest suspicion of it. I owe the
fellow insisted that he must have the pass whole to my wife, and to her alone,”
ports, that they might be examined by the No continued conversation was kept up
colonel of gendarmerie: they were given to during the journey; they were both too
him with an injunction to make haste, which powerfully affected by the dangers they had
he did not fail to do. This was not all; he run, and their miraculous triumph over
begged the general to write his name and them; and, if occasionally sir Robert re-
that of his companion on a piece of paper, sumed it, it was to draw Lavalette from the
saying it was for the inn. Sir Robert then reverie in which he was plunged, and by in-
wrote the two names of Wallis and Laussac different subjects divert his attention, They
on a dirty piece of paper, which was after- conversed on the campaign in Egypt, in
wards produced against him on his interro which Lavalette first began to serve under
gatories.

Buonaparte, and Wilson to distinguish him.
At ten they set off again : their passports self against him. But, when they had passed
were again examined, and kept a long time. the frontier, they did not fear to talk even
Wilson was impatient to depart, and did not on the affair of Lavalette.
fail to use the English term by which the The latter recounted how his wife had
French know the English to express their succeeded in saving him ; that his disguise
displeasure. At length they were permitted was made in the twinkling of an eye, while
to pass. Sir Robert asked at what distance the gaoler went out of the room on an er.
was the frontier; the postilion replied, at the rand; his fear of breaking the feathers of the
distance of a league and a half! This dis- hat against the top of the wickets as he passed
tance would soon be run ;-but a few mo through; the risk he run of being retaken
ments more, and all their fears would be dis- by the fault of the chairmen, who were ab-
sipated! But 'on the line of frontier they sent; that, having found on the quay the
found a last guard of gendarmerie, who also cabriolet of one of his friends, the friend
demanded their passports ; happily, for this quitted it, and observed to him, “ Madam,
once; the usual answer, An English gene. pray accept my cabriolet-you will go quick-
ral,” was satisfactory. On the point of ar er;" that, after having got into it, he said,
riving, sir Robert's terror had become ex “ Take off your douilette, and hat and fea-
treme; he trembled for Lavalette; and each ther, and put on this great-coat, wig, &c.;"
minute of delay inspired the utmost horror. and that, after having driven about Paris for
He had hoped to pass the frontiers before two hours, to prevent all traces by the police,
day-break, for fear of the telegraphs; but at they stopped at the house which served him
length the formidable line was passed ! for an asylum till the evening of their de-

Sir Robert's first words to Lavalette were, parture. He then asked sir Robert if they “ Thank God, you are saved!” Lavalette, really intended to put him to death. He who had uniformly preserved the utmost was unbounded in his expressions of gratitaciturnity, affectionately embraced him, and, tude to his generous friends,what other shedding tears of gratitude and tenderness, name could he give them! said, with a great effusion of heart, “ I ren These conversations brought them to der my sincerest thanks to the Deity for Mons. Passports were no longer demanded; having permitted the generous efforts of my and they remained together four or five hours,

Before they parted, sir Robert, whose soli- weaken the attachment of the majority to citude was inexhaustible, foreseeing the pos- the cause of the Bourbons, and insisting on sibility of Lavalette's being stopped on his the employment of means, Edward Wilson journey gave him a letter to the king of recommends, above all, the insinuation of a Prussia, to whom he had the honour to be persecution, real or imaginary, against the personally known, in which he interested protestants-- An idea, he says, which that monarch in favour of Lavalette. This spreads like wildfire, diffuses itself like a letter bore the envelope and countersign of contagion among the people in general

, general Wilson : so that, if Lavalette had and engenders a spirit of mortal hatred and been arrested, he would have demanded to contempt for the new dynasty. May this be taken to the king, to deliver his dis new arm be that of the liberty of all nations! patches. Sir Robert also gave him a similar If, however, our friends shew too much weak letter to the English ambassador at Munich. ness, it would be better to attempt nothing; Lavalette once more embraced Wilson, and for, unless the great mass of the people put vowed eternal gratitude.

themselves in motion, no result will be obSir Robert returned by Maubeuge and tained.' Laon, and arrived at Paris by the barrier of “ The fourth document proceeds from R. St. Martin, on Wednesday evening, the 10th T. Wilson, We there find the prognostics of of January, after an absence of sixty hours; this gentleman as to the revolution which is and immediately wrote an account of his preparing in France. • There will be bloody journey to his friend earl Grey.

scenes before the revolution can be consum“ In all his letters," says the French re- mated, but the point is fixed, and the impulse port, "sir Robert Wilson professes principles given. Revolutionary movements are also the most opposite to all social order, and to preparing in Prussia.' the tranquillity of Europe. According to Finally, the fifth document is the letter him, affairs have taken a wholly revolution- . from which is extracted the relation of Lava. ary course, under the sanction of the courts lette's escape. Wilson does not there disof Austria and Russia. The dethronement semble the motives which led him to protect of the king is irrevocable. Sir Robert gives that individual. the epithet of legitimate maniac to a coura “ Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, after having geous friend who had refused to listen to his in his interrogatories protested against his dangerous inspirations; and he thus closes a

arrest, against the form of French criminal letter, dated the 28th of December : You inquiry, against the seizure of his cortewill soon hear of extraordinary events in spondence, and against what be calls the inGermany."

quisitorial system of interrogations, had, " The third article of this correspondence however, acknowledged that, according to is a letter from Edward Wilson to R. T. the principles of the law of nations, he was Wilson, which shews the conformity of subject to the empire of the French laws for principles and unity of sentiments which the prosecution and repression of an offence exist between the two brothers. Edward committed in France; but he closed the ikis writes to Robert Wilson, that if it is pro. terrogatory with these words :

-It would posed to overturn the existing order of things, appear to be forgotten that I am an Engliskthe fire must be constantly kept up, and al- man, or that the right of Englishmen is not ways visible, like a beacon of alarm, in France known. I have given my last answer; let and in foreign parts: that matters become me be brought to trial; when before the tridaily more favourable for the recovery of bunals, I shall know how to defend myself sovereignty and independence for the French as I ought, and to defend my rights." people; but that it is to be feared that they

In consequence of all these facts, Jacques should cool, and that efforts be neglected, Eberle, turnkey of the Conciergerie ; Jean which, well employed, would necessarily lead Baptiste Roquette de Kerguidec, keeper of to a general emancipation.'

the Conciergerie; Benoit Bonneville, valet Passing to the means which might de chambre of Laxalette; Joseph Guerid

alias Marengo, Robert Thomas Wilson, John with being the accomplices of Wilson, by
Hely Hutelinson, and Michael Bruce, were knowingly aiding and assisting the latter
accused-videlicet, Jacques Eberle, of have in the acts which prepared, facilitated, and
jpg, on the 20th of December last, in con consummated the same plot, and with hav.
suivance with Marie Chamons de Lavalette, ing co-operated in its execution--videlicet,
condemned to capital punishment, whose Bruce, by concerting with Wilson the flight
keeper he was appointed, favoured the escape of Lavalette, and furnishing him with the
of that prisoner: J. B. Roquette de Kergui- means; and Hutchinson by concealing La-
dec, of having facilitated it by negligence; valeite, and accompanying him as far as
Benoit Bonneville, and Joseph Guerin, of Compeigne.
having facilitated the said escape, by procur With regard to the individuals charged
ing to the convict the means of escaping; with having facilitated the escape of Lava-
and Wilson, Hutchinson, and Brace, of hav- lette from the prison of the Conciergerie, the
ing, in January 1816, been accomplices in same ordonnance charged Eberle with having,
coneealing the said Lávalette, knowing that by connivance with Lavalette, of whom he
he was condemned to capital punishment, was the keeper, facilitated the escape of that
and of having thus facilitated and consum convier ; Roquette de Kerguidec the keeper,
mated his escape-crimes and complicated the widow Dutoit, Bonneville, and Guerin,
offences provided against by articles 59, 61, with having facilitated the escape of Lava-
240, and 248, of the penal code.

lette, the first by his negligence, and the The chamber of accusation dismissed from others by their voluntary co-operation. prosecution the widow Dutoit and Lavalette With regard to Lavalette the wife, consithe wife.

dering that there did not exist against her Early in January, the information that sir suflicient proofs of a criminal co-operation in Robert Wilson had been imprisoned by order the escape of her husband, it was declared of the French government reached this coun that there was no ground for prosecution try as a report; which, about the 17th of that against her at present. month, was confirmed by an official note The court, after having deliberated as to which passed between sir Charles Stuart, what respects Wilson, Hutchinson, and our ambassador at Paris, and the duke de Bruce, considering that there do not result Richlieu.

from the documents and preliminary investiThe inquiry being terminated, and the gation sufficient charges against them of proceedings being annexed to it in due order, having, towards the close of 1815, and in Jathe tribunal of first instance in Paris, by an nuary 1816, formed or executed a plot, lavordonnance that issued from it on the second ing for its object to destroy or alter the of the month, decided on the whole of the French government, or to excite the citizens procedure.

to take up arms against the royal authority, It charged Wilson, Ist, with a plot di nor of having been accomplices in the said rected generally against the political system crimes, declares that there is no ground for of Europe, and having for its particular ob- accusation against the said Wilson, Hutject to destroy or change the French govern- chinson, and Bruce, in respect of the said ment, to excite the inhabitants to take up facts of attempt and plot. arms against the king's authority. 2d, With As far as respects Jacques Eberle, consihaving endeavoured to attain the execution dering that, from the preliminary investigaof this plot by seeking to snatch from the tion, the charge results against him of hav, pursuit of justice, by address or by violence, ing, on the 20th of December 1815, in conindividuals comprehended in the 1st article nivance with Lavalette, condemned to capi of the ordonnance of the 24th of July 1815, tal punishment, and to the keeping of whom and principally by concerting, settling, and he was specially appointed, facilitated the consummating the escape and concealment of escape froin prison of the said Lavalette. Lavalette, condemned for the crime of high As far as respects Jean Baptiste Roquette treason. Hutchinson and Bruce were charged de Kerguidec the elder, considering that

cause.

there results from the enquiry a sufficient cuting the wife of Lavalette and the widow charge against him of having, on the 20th of Dutoit, it makes absolute the liberty granted December 1815, through negligence, facili- conditionally to the said wife of Lavalette tated the escape of Lavalette, condemned to in the course of the proceedings, and orders a capital punishment, and who was com that Marguerite shall be immediately set at mitted to his care in quality of chief gaoler liberty, if she be not confined for any other of the prison,

As far as respects Benoit Bonneville, and The characters of those British individuals Joseph Guerin, alias Marengo, considering who had conspired to facilitate the prisoner's that there results from the documents a suf- escape from Paris, were well calculated to ficient charge against thein of having, on the excite the respect of the French and the 20th of December 1815, facilitated the escape gratitude of the Bourbons. Mr. Bruce was of Lavalette, condemned to a capital punish- descended from the Scottish hero; Mr. Hutment, by procuring for the condemned the chinson was the nephew of the saviour of means of effecting his escape; and also as far Egypt; and sir Robert, by his prowess in as respects Wilson, Hutchinson, and Bruce, the peninsular and Russian campaigns, had considering that there results from the docu- materially conduced to the restoration of the ments a sufficient charge against them of be- government. ing, in the month of January 1816, accessory

The verdict was at length pronounced.to the concealment of Lavalette, knowing All the Frenchmen were acquitted except that he was condemned to a capital punish- the turnkey Eberle, who, as well as sir Roment, and of having facilitated the comple- bert Wilson, Mr. Bruce, and Mr. Hutchintion of his escape.

son, was found guilty. The president, M. These crimes and offences being provided de Sele, then proceeded to read the heads of against by the articles 59, 61, 240, and 241, the penal code, as it applied to the convicted of the penal code, the court orders the indict- persons. Eberle was sentenced to two years' ment of Jacques Merle, and commits him to imprisonment. The article applicable to our the court of assize of the department of the countrymen was number 373, which preSeine, to be tried conformably to law; and scribes imprisonment for a term not exceed. considering their connection, and the third ing two years, nor less than three months, at article of the civil code, which obliges all the discretion of the judge. The president

, those who reside in France to conform, in without hesitation, pronounced for the shortmatters of police and public safety, to the est admissible period. He announced at the laws of the kingdon, commits to the same same time, that they had three days to apcourt of assize the aforesaid Roquette the peal to a tribunal of cassation, and the court elder, Bonneville, Guerin, Wilson, Hutchin broke up. The delinquents were immedison, and Bruce, in a state of arrest, to be ately removed to the prison of La Force, in tried for the offences imputed to them by pursuance of their sentence. one and the same process. As far as respects The following was the determination of Emilie Louise Beauharnois, the wife of La the Prince Regent respecting sir Robert valette, and Anne Marguerite Boyeldieu, Wilson and captain Hutchinson. Though the widow of Dutoit, considering that there his royal highness indulges in some severity does not result from the documents and the of expression, it must be admitted that the inquiry a sufficient charge against them of retention of these gallant and generous having lent criminal assistance to the escape cers in the army was an act of lenity equally of Lavalette, or of having facilitated the said creditable to the sovereign power, and unex escape, and that the passive obedience to pected by the offending parties. In the folwhich they were reduced by their quality lowing paragraph of his letter to lord Grey, and their situation, with respect to Lavalette, sir Robert Wilson contemplated a more sericannot be considered as a voluntary and active ous mark of his sovereign's displeasure. participation in the escape of the condemned.

He does not (says he) dissemble the unDecreeing that there is no ground for prose. pleasant consequences of his enterprise - he

offi

any con

was not ambitious to be imprisoned, or to J. H. Hutchinson, for having been himself lose his commission, but he was resigned on an active instrument in a transaction of so both points.”

culpable a nature, more especially in a counGENERAL ORDERS.

try in amity with his majesty, where the Horse Guards, May 10, 1816. regiment with which he was serving, in the So long as major-general sir Robert Wil course of his military duty, formed part of son, and captain J. H. Hutchinson of the 1st an army which had been placed by the allied or grenadier regiment of foot guards, were sovereigns under the command of the duke under trial, the commander in chief abstained of Wellington, under circumstances which from making any observation on their con made it peculiarly incumbent upon every duct.

officer of that army to abstain from The proceedings having now terminated, duct which might obstruct the execution of the commander in chief has received the the laws. Prince Regent's commands to declare his His royal highness the Prince Regent beroyal highness's sentiments on the transac ing unwilling to visit these officers with the tions which have led to the trial and convic full weight of his displeasure, which the comtion of those officers.

plexion of their offence might have warrantIn the instance of major-general sir Robert ed, and also taking into consideration the Wilson, the Prince Regent thinks it neces- degree of punishment to which they have sary to express his high displeasure, that an subjected themselves, by violating the laws officer of his standing in his majesty's service, of the country in which this transaction took holding the commission and receiving the place, has signified to the commander in pay of a major-general, should have been so chief these his sentiments, that they should unmindful of what was due to his profession, be published to the army at large, in order as well as to the government under whose to record in the most public manner the protection he had voluntarily placed himself, strong sense which his royal highness enteras to have engaged in a measure, the declared tains of the flagrant misconduct of these offobject of which was to counteract the laws ,cers, and of the danger which would accrue and defeat the public justice of that country. to the reputation and discipline of the BriNor does his royal highness consider the tish army, if such an offence were to pass means by which this measure was accom without a decided expression of his royal plished as less reprehensible than the act highness's most severe reprehension. itself

. For his royal highness cannot admit By order of his royal highness, that any circumstance could justify a British

THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF officer in having obtained, under false pretences, passports in feigned names from the The foreign troops having, for the most representative of his own sovereign, and in part, been withdrawn from the interior of having made use of such passports for him. France, she was left to her own management self and a subject of his most Christian ma of domestic affairs; but the terms on which jesty, under sentence for high treason, dis she was to be re-admitted into the European guised in a British uniform, not only to elude community were still under determination the vigilance of the French government, but by the congress of Vienna; and it was not to carry him in such disguise through the Bri till after a long and anxious state of suspense, tish lines. While the Prince Regent cannot that she was apprised of its final award. but consider it as a material aggravation of The London Gazette, of November the 23d, sir R. Wilson's offence, that holding so high informed the public of the signature at Paris, a rank in the army, he should have counte on the 20th, of the several treaties and connanced and encouraged an inferior officer to ventions for the restoration and maintenance commit a serious and decided breach of mili- of peace between the allied powers on the tary duty, his royal highness nevertheless one part, and his most Christian majesty on thinks it equally necessary to express his the other, but without any mention of the high displeasure at the conduct of captain articles. These, however, were soon after