Burning of the Custom House -- De Berenger's fraud on the Stock
Exchange -- Lord Cochrane inculpated -- Price of provisions --
Arrival of the Duchess of Oldenburgh -- The Capitulation of
Paris, and fall of Napoleon -- Papa Violette -- Elba.
On the morning of Saturday, February 12th, the Custom House in London
was burnt down. The first Custom House stood on the same site as the
present one, and was _rebuilt_ in 1385. In Queen Elizabeth's time
a larger House was built on the same spot, which was burnt in the
Great Fire. Wren was the architect to a new one, which was destroyed
by fire in 1715. Its successor was doomed to the same fate; its ruin
was complete, and for a time it paralyzed the Commerce of the Port of
London.
"The actual loss to Government by the sudden destruction of the
Custom House cannot be calculated; books, bonds, debentures, pearls,
coral, valuable property of every description, and securities of
all kinds have been consumed. Business is, and must be, quite at a
standstill for some time; numerous vessels ready to sail cannot clear
out, and, consequently, the injury to the mercantile world will be
most severe and distressing. The private property lost within the
building is very considerable. We have heard of several Gentlemen who
had left large sums of money in their desks, ready to make payments
on the following day. One has lost upwards of £6,000 in bank notes,
which will be irrecoverable, as the memorandum of the numbers was in
the desk with the notes, and met the same fate.
"A very fine collection of pictures which the Commissioners had
permitted a gentleman to leave in deposit, till it would be
convenient for him to pay the duties, amounting to £1,500, were
destroyed. A very genteel young man, in appearance, was stopped by
some police officers in Thames Street, and, on searching him, his
pockets and breeches were found to be stuffed with coral beads, silk
handkerchiefs, and other valuables of small bulk. It appeared that
his boldness in venturing nearer the gunpowder than even the firemen
dared to do, had enabled him to obtain this booty."
This month is remarkable for one of the most daring attempted
frauds on the Stock Exchange ever perpetrated. It was executed by
one Charles Random de Berenger, a French refugee, and an officer in
one of the foreign regiments. It was alleged that with him were
associated Lord Cochrane, the Hon. Andrew Cochrane Johnstone, and
several others. It appears from the evidence on the trial, that early
on the morning of the 21st of February, a gentleman, dressed in a
grey great-coat over a scarlet uniform, on which was a star, knocked
at the door of the Ship Inn at Dover, and said that he was the bearer
of very important despatches from France. This gentleman, all the
Witnesses swore, was Berenger.
He sent a letter signed R. Du Bourg, Lieut.-Colonel, and Aide-de-Camp
to Lord Cathcart, to Admiral Foley, the Port Admiral at Dover,
advising him that he had just arrived from Calais with the news of a
great victory obtained by the Allies over Bonaparte, who was slain
in his flight by the Cossacks, and that the Allied Sovereigns were
in Paris. Berenger posted up to London, which he entered, having his
horses decked with laurels, in order to make a stir. It was felt
on the Stock Exchange. _Omnium_, which opened at 27-1/2, rose to
33; but as the day wore on, and no confirmation came of the news,
they receded to 28-1/2. Business in that Stock was done that day to
the tune of half a million of money. Lord Cochrane and others had
previously given instructions to several Stockbrokers to sell Omniums
for them on the 21st of February to an enormous amount. One deposed
that on that date he sold--
For Lord Cochrane, £139,000 Omnium.
" Cochrane Johnstone, £120,000 do.
For Cochrane Johnstone, £100,000 Consols.
" Mr. Butt, £124,000 Omnium.
Do. £168,000 Consols.
And he further deposed that he always considered that any business he
did for Mr. Butt was to be placed to Lord Cochrane's account.
Another Stockbroker sold for the same three gentlemen, about £565,000
Omnium. Another had sold £80,000 on their account; and yet another
had had instructions to sell a very large sum for the same parties,
but had refused.
In the end Lord Cochrane and Mr. Butt were condemned to pay to the
King a fine of a thousand pounds each, and J. P. Holloway five
hundred: and these three, together with De Berenger, Sandon, and
Lyte, were sentenced to imprisonment in the Marshalsea for twelve
Calendar Months. Further, Lord Cochrane, De Berenger, and Butt, were
to stand on the pillory for one hour before the Royal Exchange once
during their imprisonment. This latter part of their punishment was
afterwards remitted. Lord Cochrane's name was struck off the Navy
list, he was expelled from the House of Commons, his arms were taken
down from his stall as Knight of the Bath, his banner torn down, and
kicked ignominiously out of Henry VII.'s Chapel in Westminster Abbey.
By very many he was believed innocent, and, on his seat for
Westminster being declared vacant, he was enthusiastically
re-elected. He escaped from Custody, was captured, and had to serve
his time. On June 20, 1815, he was told that his imprisonment was at
an end if he would pay the fine imposed upon him; and on July 3rd he
reluctantly did so with a £1,000 bank note, on the back of which he
wrote:--"My health having suffered by long and close confinement, and
my oppressors being resolved to deprive me of property or life, I
submit to robbery, to protect myself from murder, in the hope that I
shall live to bring the delinquents to justice."
On the very day he was released, he took his seat again in the House
of Commons. It is not my province to follow his life, but in 1832 he
received a "free pardon"; he was restored to the Navy List, gazetted
a rear-admiral, and presented at a _levée_!
There is a little bit of domestic news chronicled on March 9th,
which is interesting when we contrast the prices at which we are
now supplied with the same commodities. "Covent Garden Market.--The
extreme severity of the weather has rendered all the fruits and
vegetables of the season dear beyond all precedent. The following are
the prices of some of the articles:--Asparagus, £1 4s. per hundred;
Cucumbers, £1 1s. per brace; best Pines, £2 12s. each; Grapes, £3 3s.
per pound; Endive, 8s. per dozen; best Brocoli, 16s. per bundle;
second ditto, 7s. per ditto; French Beans, 8s. per 100; Mushrooms,
5s. 6d. per pottle; best Kale, 12s. per basket; Nonpareil Apples,
8s. per dozen; Colmar Pears, £1 10s. per dozen; Cos Lettuce, 4s.
per dozen; Mint, 1s. 6d. per bunch; Greens, 16s. per dozen; Spanish
Onions, 12s. per dozen."
This scale of prices would never have done for the Clergyman
mentioned in the next day's paper. "A Clergyman, of the name of
Matheson, was minister of Patterdale, in Westmoreland, for sixty
years, and died lately, at the age of ninety. During the early
part of his life his benefice brought him only twelve pounds a
year; it was afterwards increased (perhaps by Queen Anne's bounty)
to eighteen, which it never exceeded. On this income he married,
brought up four children, and lived comfortably with his neighbours,
educated a son at the University, and left upwards of one thousand
pounds behind him. With that singular simplicity, and inattention to
forms which characterize a country life, he himself read the burial
service over his mother, he married his father to a second wife, and
afterwards buried him also. He published his own banns of marriage
in the church, with a woman whom he had formerly christened, and he
himself married all his four children."
On March 31st an illustrious lady, the Duchess of Oldenburgh, sister
to the Emperor of Russia, entered London in great state, having been
met at Sheerness by the Duke of Clarence on behalf of the Regent, who
sent one of his Carriages for her accommodation and use. Ostensibly
she only came to pay a complimentary visit to the Regent, but every
one surmised that such was merely a blind to cover a political
mission, for which she was well adapted.
To show what importance was attached to her visit, I give an official
account of her reception.
"The procession entered London, by Parliament Street, at a quarter
before four o'clock, in the following order:--
Two Light Horsemen.
The Duke of Clarence's travelling Chariot and four, in which were his
Royal Highness and Colonel Bloomfield.
Two Light Horsemen.
Two footmen and an outrider in the Royal liveries.
"The Prince Regent's Carriage, drawn by four bays, in which was
her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess, Duchess of Oldenburg,
accompanied by the Princess Volochowsky, Madame Aladensky, and the
Countess Lieven.
"At each door of the Carriage one of the Prince Regent's footmen
rode. The Carriage was followed by a party of Light Horse.
"The third Carriage was another of the Prince Regent's, in which
were the Prince Gargarine, General Turner, &c.
"The Russian Ambassador's Carriage, with his Excellency in it,
finished the procession.
"They proceeded through the Horse Guards, out at the Stable Yard,
St. James's, up St. James' Street to the Pulteney Grand Hotel, where
her Imperial Highness was received by sentinels placed at the door
for that purpose. She was handed out of the carriage by the Duke of
Clarence and Colonel Bloomfield, who conducted her to the apartments
prepared for her.
"The Duke of Clarence took his leave, and proceeded to Carlton House,
and had an interview with his Royal brother, the Prince Regent. He
afterwards returned to her Imperial Highness, to express the Prince
Regent's congratulations on her safe arrival in England.
"A grand dinner was given in the evening in her honour at Carlton
House. The table was laid for twenty-five covers, and the Queen, the
Princesses, the Duke and Duchess of York, &c., were all assembled to
receive her Highness."
And now we come to the great event of the year, beside which all
other news, however important, pales, and is a thing of nought. The
fall of Napoleon, and manner of it, hardly belongs, in a strict
sense, to Social England of the time, and yet it is so indissolubly
bound up with it, that a succinct account of it is necessary for the
perfection of this book, and, as the shortest and best contemporary
narrative of these events, that I know of, is contained in the
_Annual Register_, I use it. The French occupied the heights before
Paris--the Allies were about to storm them; in fact, the heights of
Romainville had been carried.
"A redoubt and battery in the enemy's centre kept d'Yorck in check
for some part of the day; but their flank being exposed by the loss
of the heights of Romainville, and their losses in every part of
the field, reduced them to the necessity of sending a flag of truce
to propose a cessation of hostilities, on the condition of their
yielding all the ground without the barrier of Paris, till further
arrangements could be made. The heights of Montmartre were at this
time about to be stormed, and the village of La Villette had been
carried by Woronzow's division, which was pushing on to the barrier;
the Sovereigns of Russia and Prussia, and Prince Schwartzenberg,
however, being desirous of saving the Capital from being sacked,
most humanely agreed to the proposal: two aides-de-camp were sent to
put the terms in execution; the battle ceased; and, at four in the
afternoon, Count Nesselrode, the Russian Minister, went into Paris.
Thus terminated this important day (March 30th), which was not
without considerable loss to the Allies; but it was final.
"The Metropolis of France being thus laid prostrate at the feet of
hostile armies, no determination ever occurred of greater moment, in
a moral and political view, than the treatment it was to receive.
Besides the lust of rapine and pillage which prevails in the mass
of all military bodies, feelings of resentment for the long and
atrocious injuries inflicted upon the countries of Europe, by the
relentless ambition of the French ruler, must have inspired a strong
feeling of retaliation: and the flames of Moscow, in particular, must
have kindled in the Russian troops an impatient ardour for spreading
the same destruction through the streets of Paris. So fiercely did
this passion rage, that the Emperor Alexander is said almost to
have descended to supplications, with the more indisciplined of
his bands, to induce them to forego their vindictive purposes. But
this benevolent sovereign, with his illustrious confederates, must
have shuddered at the idea of involving the innocent, as well as
the guilty, inhabitants of a vast city in the direst calamities.
Moreover, the declarations of the Allied Powers had been filled with
sentiments of goodwill towards the French Nation, the happiness, and,
even, prosperity of which, they professed to have in view, as far as
was compatible with the welfare of its neighbours. Mere retaliatory
mischief is always ignoble, and generally unjust, since its effects
cannot be limited to suitable objects. From these considerations,
though we may justly praise, we cannot wonder at the pacific and
conciliatory measures that were immediately adopted by the victors on
this great event.
"The first important act was the capitulation which resulted from the
armistice granted by the Allied Powers. Its most material articles
were the evacuation of Paris, by the troops of Marmont and Mortier,
at seven in the morning of the 31st, taking with them all their
military appurtenances; the entire separation of the National Guard
and Municipal Gendarmerie from the troops of the Line, leaving their
future condition to the determination of the Allied Powers; and the
relinquishment of the Arsenals, Magazines, &c., in the same state as
when the Capitulation was proposed. On the same day, the entrance of
the Sovereigns into Paris took place, the ceremonial of which is thus
described by Sir C. Stewart: 'The Cavalry, under the Grand Arch-Duke
Constantine, and the guards of all the different allied forces, were
formed in columns early in the morning on the road from Bondi to
Paris. The Emperor of Russia with all his Staff, his Generals, and
their suites present, proceeded to Pantin, where the King of Prussia
joined him with a similar Cortége. These Sovereigns, surrounded by
all the Princes in the Army, together with the Prince Field Marshal,
and the Austrian Etat-Major, passed through the Faubourg St. Martin,
and entered the barrier of Paris about eleven o'clock, the Cossacks
of the Guard forming the advance of the March. Already was the crowd
so enormous, as well as the acclamations so great, that it was
difficult to move forward; but, before the monarchs reached the Porte
St. Martin to turn on the Boulevards, there was a moral impossibility
of proceeding. All Paris seemed to be assembled and concentrated in
one spot; one spring evidently directed all their movements: they
thronged in such masses round the Emperor and King, that, with all
their condescending and gracious familiarity, extending their hands
on all sides, it was in vain to attempt to satisfy the populace.'
In the French account it is added that, before the Chiefs of the
three armies entered any house, they made their troops file off
before them, to preserve discipline, and prevent disorders. They then
alighted at the house of the Prince of Benevento (Talleyrand), and
the Emperor of Russia issued a declaration expressing the intentions
of himself and Colleagues. It affirmed that the Allied Sovereigns
would no more treat with Napoleon Bonaparte, nor with any of his
family; that they respected the integrity of Ancient France, as it
existed under its legitimate kings, and would, perhaps, do more for
it; and that they would recognize and guarantee the Constitution
which France should adopt.
"On April 1st, the members of the Senate assembled in consequence
of an Extraordinary Convocation, the Prince of Benevento being
President. They passed a Decree, 'that there shall be established
a Provisional Government, charged to provide for the wants of
the Administration, and to present to the Senate the plan of a
Constitution which may suit the French People.' This Government was
to consist of five members, who were then nominated, Talleyrand's
name standing first. On the proposal of a Senator, the following
Articles were voted. That the Senate and Legislative Body are
integral parts of the intended Constitution: that the Army, as
well as the retired officers and soldiers, shall retain the ranks,
honours, and pensions they at present enjoy: that the Public Debts
shall be inviolable: that the sale of the National Domains shall
be irrevocable: that no Frenchman shall be responsible for the
public opinions he may have expressed: that liberty of worship and
conscience shall be maintained, as well as liberty of the Press,
subject to legal penalties for its abuse.
"At a sitting of the Senate on the following day, a Decree passed,
which, after a preamble asserting 'that in a Constitutional Monarchy
the Monarch exists only in virtue of the Constitution or Social
Compact,' proceeded to show, in a number of Articles, in what manner
Napoleon Bonaparte had violated his compact with the French people;
and, as the consequence declared:
"1. That Napoleon Bonaparte had forfeited the throne, and the
hereditary right established in his family is abolished.
"2. That the French people and the Army are released from their oath
of fidelity towards Napoleon Bonaparte.
"3. That the present Decree shall be transmitted by a message to
the Provisional Government of France, conveyed forthwith to all the
Departments and the Armies, and immediately proclaimed in all the
Quarters of the Capital. A similar resolution was, on the same day,
adopted by the Legislative body.
"During these transactions in the Capital, Napoleon moved his army
from Troyes by Sens towards Fontainbleau. He arrived at Fromont
on the 30th, and would have been in Paris had it not been in the
possession of the Allies. On learning what had passed, he retired to
Corbeil, and thence to Fontainbleau, whence, on April 4th, he sent
Marshals Ney and Macdonald, and General Caulaincourt, to carry to the
Senate his proposal of submitting to the decision of that body, and
of the French people, and to abdicate in favour of his son.
"This proposition being rejected, he announced an unconditional
abdication in the following terms: 'The Allied Powers having
proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon was the only obstacle to the
re-establishment of the peace of Europe, the Emperor Napoleon,
faithful to his oath, declares that he renounces, for himself, and
heirs, the thrones of France and Italy; and that there is no personal
sacrifice, even that of life, which he is not ready to make for the
interests of France.'"
So fell Napoleon, deserted by all; his valet, Constant, ran away and
robbed him of 100,000 francs; his Mameluke, Rustan, left him, and
reaching Paris, would not accompany his master to Elba. Madame Junot
says:
"Few persons are aware that Napoleon was doomed to death during the
few days which preceded his abdication, by a band of Conspirators
composed of the most distinguished chiefs of the Army.
"'But,' said one of them in the council in which these demons
discussed their atrocious project, 'What are we to do with him? There
are two or three among us, who, like Antony,[16] would exhibit their
blood-stained robes to the people, and make us play the part of
Cassius and Brutus. I have no wish to see my house burned, and to be
sent into Exile.' 'Well,' said another, 'we must leave no trace of
him. He must be sent to heaven like Romulus.' The others applauded,
and then a most horrible discussion commenced. It is not in my
power to relate the details. Suffice it to say, that the Emperor's
death was proposed and discussed for the space of an hour, with a
degree of coolness which might be expected among Indian savages,
armed with tomahawks. 'But,' said he, who had spoken first, 'we must
come to some determination. The Emperor of Russia is impatient. The
month of April is advancing, and nothing has been done. Now, for the
last time, we will speak to him of his abdication. He must sign it
definitely, or----' A horrible gesture followed the last word."
[Footnote 16: They alluded to the Duc de Bassano,
Caulaincourt, Bertrand, and some others.]
Baron Fain, in "The Manuscript of 1814," says that on the night of
the 12th of April, Napoleon attempted to kill himself by poison: all
weapons of destruction having been removed out of his reach, but he
had kept the poison by him too long, and it had lost its virtue. It
simply gave him great pain.
[Illustration: Violettes.]
A treaty between the Allied Powers and Napoleon was signed on the
11th of April. By its articles, after his solemn renunciation for
himself, and his descendants, of the Sovereignty of France and Italy,
it was stipulated that Napoleon, and Maria Louisa, should retain
their rank and titles for life, and that all the branches of his
family should also possess the title of Princes: that the Island of
Elba should form a separate principality, to be held by him in full
sovereignty and property for life; that there should be granted to
him an annual revenue of six millions of francs,[17] with reversion
of one million to the Empress, and that, to the members of his
family, a revenue of two and a half millions of francs should be
assigned. That the Duchies of Parma, Guastalla, and Placentia should
be granted in full sovereignty to the Empress, with succession to
her son and descendants. That the property possessed by Napoleon in
France, as Domain, should form a capital not exceeding two millions
of francs, to be expended in gratifications to persons according to
a list given in by him; that free passage should be given to all of
the family, and their suites, who chose to establish themselves out
of France, and an escort of 1,200 or 1,500 of the Imperial Guard to
Napoleon himself, to the place of embarkation; and that he should be
allowed to take with him, and retain, 400 men, as his guard.
[Footnote 17: There was an Epigram made on this allowance--
"Celui qui dévora de Nombreux bataillons
Qui nagea dans le sang, qui vécut dans la crime,
Na de rente que six millions,
Ce n'est pas un sou par victime."]
There were a few other Articles to the treaty which was signed by
the Ministers of the Allied Powers--England dissenting and refusing
signature to the assignment of Elba to Napoleon, and that of the
Italian Duchies to Maria Louisa.
And so for a time he fades away, but many, very many Frenchmen
thought, and spoke, lovingly of Papa Violette, and Caporal Violette,
and hugged themselves with the idea, "En printemps il reviendra:" a
prophecy which we know was fulfilled. Bunches of violets similar to
the illustration on the preceding page were freely sold in France,
and my reader will find that it contains portraits of the Emperor,
Maria Louisa, and the King of Rome.
But he was supposed to be safely caged at Elba, and the Caricaturists
held high revel over his downfall. I should have liked to have
reproduced some of them, but I have already done so in another
book.[18] Monsieur, the French King's brother, afterwards Charles
X., made his public entry into Paris, and was received with every
demonstration of joy by the inhabitants.
[Footnote 18: "English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon
I.," by John Ashton.]