Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/68

 did the government refuse permission to the prisoners, to erect a monument to the memory of the Baron de Beauchêne. For this purpose they had entered into a subscription, little suspecting that jealousy and hatred would have been carried to such lengths, as to have frustrated a design which would have been a proud memorial of the pre-eminent virtues of the individual, and equally demonstrative of the magnanimity of both nations. It may not be improper here to add, that this baron was said to be the very grenadier who warded off the the dagger aimed at Buonaparte, by one of the council of five hundred, when he entered the hall of St. Cloud's, to dissolve that assembly. It was to this circumstance, that he was indebted for his barony, and well did he deserve it. Some of these events, however, occurred after my time, therefore cannot be said to belong to this "Narrative;" but as they may not appear altogether undeserving of notice, the reader I trust, will pardon the digression, and return with me to the period of Wirion's administration.