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were forty-six; and that near three hundred persons besides, who could not, or would not, pay their extortions, were exiled to "Siberia, during the same period of time.

You may, perhaps, think that a low woman, who could produce such great and terrible events, must be mistress of natural charms, as well as of acquired accomplishments. As I have already stated, she can have no pretensions to either; but she is extremely insinuating, sings tolerably well, has a fresh and heal thy look, and possesses an unusually great share of cunning, presumption, and duplicity. Her husband, also, every where took care to make her fashionable; and the vanity of the first of their dupes, increased the number of her admirers, and engaged the vanity of others, in their turn, to sacrifice themselves at her shrine.

The immorality of our age, also, often procured her popularity for what deserved, and, in better times, would have encountered, the severest reprobation. In 1797, an emigrant lodged at an inn at Hamburgh, where another traveller was robbed of a large sum in ready money and jewels. The unfortunate is always suspected; and in the visit made in his room by the magistrates, was found a key that opened the door of the apartment where the theft was committed. In vain did he represent, that had he been the thief, he should not have kept an instrument, which was, or might be construed into an argument of guilt; he was carried to prison, and though none of the property was discovered in his possession, would have been condemned, had he not produced Madame Chevalier, who avowed that the key opened the door of her bed-room, which the smith who had made it con firmed, and swore that he had fabricated eight other keys for the same actress, and for the same purpose.

At that time, this woman lived in the same house with her husband, but cohabited there with the husband of another wife. She had also places of assignation with other gallants, at private apartments, both in Hamburgh and at Altona. All these, her scandalous intrigues, were known even to the common porters of these cities. The first time after the affair of the key had become public, she acted in a play where a key was mentioned, and the audience immediately repeated, the key! the key! Far from being ashamed, she appeared every night in pieces selected

by her, where there was mention of keys, and thus tired the jokes of the public. This impudence might have been expected from her, but it was little to be supposed, that her barefaced vices should, as really was the case, augment the crowd of suitors, and occasion even some duels, which latter she both encouraged and rewarded.

Two brothers of the name of de S, were both in love with her, and the oldest, as the richest, became her choice. Offended at his refusal of a too large sum of money, she wrote to the younger de S――――, and offered to accede to his proposals, if, like a gentleman, he would revenge the affront she had experienced from his brother. He consulted a friend, who, to expose her infamy, advised him to send some confidential person to inform her, that he had killed his elder brother, and expected the recompense on the same night. He went, and was received with open arms; and had just retired with her, when the elder brother, accompanied by his friend, entered the room. Madame Chevalier, instead of upbraiding, laughed; and the next day, the public laughed with her, and applauded her more than ever. knew very well what she was doing. The stories of the key and the duel produced for her more than four thousand louis d'ors, by the number of new gallants they enticed. It was a kind of emulation among all the young men in the North, who should be foremost to dishonour and ruin himself with this infamous

woman.

She

Madame Chevalier and her husband now live here in grand style, and have their grand parties, grand teas, grand assemblies, and grand balls. Their hotel, I am assured, is even visited by the Buonapartes, and by the members of the foreign diplomatic corps. In the house where I saw her, I observed that Louis Buonaparte and two foreign ambassadors spoke to her as old acquaintances. Though rich to the amount of ten millions of livres, (416,0001.) she, or rather her husband, keeps a gambling house, and her superannuated charms are still to be bought for money, at the disposal of those amateurs who are fond of antiques. Both her husband and herself are still members of our secret diplomacy, though she complains loudly, that of the two millions of livres (64,000l.) promised her in 1799, by Buonaparte

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and Talleyrand, if she could succeed to persuade Paul I. to withdraw from his alliance with England and Austria, only six hundred thousand livres (25,000/.) have been paid her. .

I cannot finish this letter without telling you, that before our military forces had reached the Rhine, our political incendiaries had already taken the field, and were in full march towards the Austrian, Russian, and Prussian capitals. The advanced guard of this dangerous corps, consists entirely of females, all gifted with beauty and parts as much superior to those of Madame Chevalier, as their instructions are better digested. Buonaparte and Talleyrand have more than once regretted, that Madame Chevalier was not ordered to enter into the conspiracy against Paul, (whose inconsistency and violence, they foresaw, would make his reign short) that she might have influenced the conspirators to have fixed upon a successor, more pliable and less scrupulous; and who would have suffered the cabinet of St. Cloud to dictate to the cabinet of St. Petersburgh.

I dined in company several times this last spring with two la dies, who, rumour said, have been destined for your P of W— and D— of Y—, ever since the peace of Amiens. Talleyrand is well informed what figures and what talents are requisite to make an impression on these princes, and has made his choice accordingly. These ladies have lately disappeared, and when inquired after, are stated to be in the country, though I do not consider it improbable, that they are already arrived at head-quarters. They are both rather fair and lusty, above the middle size, and about twenty-five years of age. They speak, besides French, the English and Italian languages. They are good drawers, good mu sicians, good singers, and, if necessary, even good drinkers.

LETTER LI.

MY LORD,

Paris, September, 1805.

HAD the citizens of the United States been as submissive to the taxation of your government, as to the vexations of our ruler, America would, perhaps, have been less free, and Europe more tranquil.

After the treaty of Amiens had produced a general pacification, our government was seriously determined to reconquer from America, a part of those treasures, its citizens had gained during the revolutionary war, by a neutrality which our policy and interest required, and which the liberality of your government endured. Hence, the acquisition we made of New-Orleans from Spain, and hence, the intrigues of our emissaries in that colony, and the peremptory requisitions of provision for St. Domingo, by our minister and our generals. Had we been victorious in St. Domingo, most of our troops there were destined for the American continent, to invade, according to circumstances, either the Spanish colonies on the Terra Firma, or the States of the American commonwealth. The unforeseen rupture with your country, postponed a plan that is far from being laid aside.

You may, perhaps, think, that since we sold Louisiana, we have no footing in America, that can threaten the peace or independence of the United States; but may not the same dictates that procured us at Madrid the acquisition of New-Orleans, also make us masters of Spanish Florida? and do you believe it improbable that the present disagreement between America and Spain are kept up by our intrigues and by our future views? Would not a word from us settle in an instant, at Madrid, the differences, as well as the frontiers, of the contending parties in America? And does it not seem to be the regular and systematic plan of our government to provoke the retaliation of the Americans, and to show our disregard of their privilege of neutrality, and rights of independence; and, that we insult them, only because we do not apprehend their resentment?

I have heard the late American minister here assert, that the American vessels captured by our cruisers, and condemned by our tribunals, only during the last war, amounted to above five hundred; and their cargoes (all American property) to one hundred and fifty millions of livres (6,000,000/.) Some few days ago, I saw a printed list, presented by the American consul to cur minister of the marine department, claiming one hundred and twelve American ships, captured in the West-Indies, and on the coast of America, within these last two years; the cargoes of which, have all been confiscated, and most of the crews still con

tinue prisoners at Martinico, at Guadaloupe, or Cayenne.Besides these, sixty-six American ships, after being plundered in part, of their cargoes at sea, by our privateers, had been released ; and their claims for property thus løst, or damage thus done, amounted to one million three hundred thousand livres (54,000)

You must have read the proclamations of our governors in the West-Indies, and therefore remember that one dated at Guadaloupe, and another dated at the city of San Domingo, both declare, without farther ceremony, all American and other neutral ships and cargoes good and lawful prizes, when coming from or destined to any port in the Island of St. Domingo ; because Buonaparte's subjects there were in a state of rebellion. What would these philanthropists, who twelve years ago wrote so many libels against your ministers, for their pretended system of famine, have said, had they, instead of prohibiting the carrying of ammunition and provisions to the ports of France, thus extended their orders without discrimination or distinction ? How would the neutral Americans, and the neutral Danes, and their then allies, philosophers and jacobins of all colours and classes, have complained and declaimed against the tyrants of the seas; against the enemies of humanity, liberty and equality. Have not the negroes now as much as our jacobins had in 1793, a right to call upon all those tender-hearted schemers, dupes or impostors to interest humanity in their favour? But, as far as I know, no friends of liberty have yet written a line in favour of these oppressed and injured men, whose former slavery was never doubtful, and who, therefore, had more reason to rise against their tyrants, and to attempt to shake off their yoke, than our French insurgents; who, free before, have never since they revolted against lawful authority, enjoyed an hour's freedom. But the Emperor Jacques the First has no propagators, no emissaries, no learned men, and no secret agents to preach insurrection in other states, while defending his own usurpation; besides, his treasury is not in the most brilliant and flourishing situation, and the crew of our white revolutionists are less attached to liberty than to cash.

Our ambassador to the U***** S*****, Gen. T******* is far from being contented with our friend president Jefferson, whose patriotic notions have not yet soared to the level of our