Page:A French volunteer of the war of independence (the chevalier de Pontgibaud).djvu/16

VIII Ferrand there are also some MS. notes — supposed to be written by Comte Thomas d'Espinchal — relating to the Chevalier de Pontgibaud. It is there stated that the Che- valier furnished Talleyrand with the means of returning to France by lending him 600 louis. It is not improbable, and as the Ex-Bishop would be absolutely certain to forget the obligation, this may account for certain severe remarks about Talleyrand to be found towards the close of the present volume.

In editing the Chevalier's Memoirs I have done little more than identify the personages named only by initials, and supply notes concerning them, correct one or two dates, and strike out a passage or two that was not according to modern taste. As a translator I have endeav- oured, as I always do, to render the original as faith- fully as could be, and preserve the style and spirit of the author. The only liberty I have taken with the text is to cut up some of the sentences, for a few of them were of an inordinate length. If it should be found that the style is not always of the purest, it should be remembered that the Chevalier was a man of action, and was fighting for the freedom of America at an age when less adventurous youths are quietly pursuing their studies.

ROBT. B. DOUGLAS.

Paris, 10th January 1897.