THE SECRET POLICE UNDER THE SECOND EMPIRE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 414, 5 December 1874, Page 3

THE SECRET POLICE UNDER THE SECOND EMPIRE.

(" Pall Mall Gazette.")

Among Frenchmen, at least, it was the secret police, with its myaterious arrests and its domiciliary visits, probably more than anything else, that made the Becond empire odious. No I one could feel sure that it might not be his turn next to be awakened in the dead of night and requested to step into a cab with two gendarmes while his papers were being carried off by a third. The establishment, in the Eve Jerusalem was believed to be in a state of perfect organisation and never sleeping watchfulness. Could the truth have been known, it would have turned out that tbe time was spent by M. Pieirie'sfunetionariesmorein watching each other than in looking after the public at large. But the truth could not be Irnown, and in its stead the wildest fables were circulated, and eagerly believed. After giving several of the popular legends which were current in the reign of Charles 11., respecting Claud JDuval and other famous highwaymen, Lord Macauly justly observes that the mere fact that such things, were believed throws a singular light on the customs and opinions of that age.

To a more enlightened generation itwill , appear marvelloua that a book like the "Memoirs of G-riscelli " should have found readers to take its contents for serious in the most sceptical of cities. The volume purports to be written by a gentleman calling himself an emyloyd of Napoleon 111. but whom we in England should designate by a variety of brief and forcible appellations. He began life — such is his own story — as a shepherd in his native Corsica, where he married early, and soon tired of his wife. The simplest course under the circumscances appeared to be to leave her, and accordingly Q-riseelli enlisted. His regiment shortly after embarked for France, though not before he had time to fight a duel in connection with a vendetta. He soon acquired the reputation of a fire-eater* and at Lyons was challenged by seven soldiers in succession belonging to another regimeut. He killed three of them, and drank a glass of wine preparatory to dealing with the fourth, when his officers declared that he had done all that the, honour of the regiment required. They then patted him on tbe back, and the colonel presented him with lOOf. The daughter of «a neighboring innkeeper also gave him many tokens of her regard. Indeed, on the return of the young lady's brother from foreign parts, M. G-riscelli found it expedient to take an abrupt leave of Lyons and his regiment together. The latter step necessitated concealment, and for the next few years M. Griscelli's movements are shrouded in obscurity. He tried to earn a living by writing for the press, but a literary career was hardly suited to his tastes.

In 1848 "a great piece of good fortune befell him. A Corsican became the chief of the State, and from all parts of the island Corsicans hastened to congratulate their illustrious compatriot, and to tender their services.

Napoleon was, of course, much flattered, if somewhat embarrased, as each of these gentlemen carried a stiletto, the point of which he was ready to proffer as the alternative of friendship. A good many received comfortable appointments, and a good many more received promises. Among the former was Griscelli, who soon rose to be personal attendant of the President. For nine years (such is his history) he served his master with doglike fidelity, being seldom far away by night or by day. In fact, the only occasion on which he appears to have left his post was when lie was called to London on important business.

About that time, the English papers were full of a mysterious murder committed in the neighborhood of Leices-ter-square. No trace could be found of the assassin. The Emperor (as he had become) had just read a letter in the " Times " on the subject, when he looked out of a window of the Tuileries and beheld his faithful servant pacing up and down the gravel pate below. He beckoned with his hand, and the next minute Griscelli stood, in the Imperial presence.

. " Were you in London last Friday?" asked His Majesty." " Yes sire.""

,'• I- thought so," said the Emperor, with a' frown, and turned his back on his retainer. ,"~Thw-ttature_of the services rendered by M. Griseelli fo the Empire may best be described by an example. He had retired to rest one night and was enjoying the sweet sleep which an unclouded conscience alone can bestow, when he was gently roused by an elderly personage decorated with the Legion of Honour, who begged him to hasten at once to the abode of M. Pietri. As soon aa he arrived there the prefect of police put a telegram into his hands. It stated that one Sanguinetti would land next morning at Calais, charged with a mission to assassinate tbe Emperor. With the telegram M. G-riseelli received a thousand francs, and an assurance that a special train was ready !for him. At Calais he was met by the prefect of the department, who cordially shook hands with him and invited him into the refreshment room, where they took . coffee together. ■' , In another hour the luckless Sanguinetti made, his appearance, looking very sea-sick. "Was he. at once arrested on suspicion? They manage these things better in France. He was simply dogged.

A few da\s later the Emperor and Empress started for tbe Bordeaux; Sanguinetti followed by the next train in which Mr. GrißcelH also took a place. He had just perused his final iusteuctions, which concluded with an

intimation that it was time to act (" II faut agir.") A few days later a corpse was found on the banks of the Garonne. The authorities ware of opinion that the deceased must have committed Buicide, as a dagger still remained fixed in his heart. This was far from being the only occasion on which M. Griscelli was called upon to execute the " higher tasks" of justice, as the French call them. He is proud to relate how in one instance he nearly caused a war with Eussia- There was a grand hunt at Fontainebleau, and Griscelli was one of the party. The Emperor, who was a keen sportsman, had distanced the rest of the Court with the exception of a young man, who pressed closely upon him. He was a stranger to Griscelli, who became anxious, and spurred his horse forward till he was abreast of the unknown one. Seizing his bridle, he presented a loaded pistol to his face, and bade him halt. M. Fould and several others of the household now galloped up. " Sir," said the Minister of Finance in answer to the expostulations of the stranger, "this gentleman is responsible lor the Emperor's safety, and as you have not, I believe, been presented to his Majesty, your conduct certainly requires explanation." " My name," replied the cause of tbe disturbance, "is Prince Menschikoff. I only arrived in Paris yesterday, and as my ambassador was not in town I could not be presented." Apologies and greetings followe , and Prince Menschikoff slept at the Tuileriea that night. In tbe morning Griscelli waited on his highness, who assured him he was not angry, and' asked him to breakfast. While the Emperor and Empress were on a visit to Osborne, Griscelli pretends that Lord Palmerston, greatly struck by his sagacity and devotion, called him into his room, and had a long chat with him, and gave him £60. One observation only has he preserved of the " diplomatist of Allion." " Excellency," inquired Grscelli, "how long will Victor Emmanuel remain on the throne ? " "As long as he has money," replied Lord Jalmerston. In 1859 the Emperpr was compelled to dispense with tba services of M. Griscelli, nor did he again offer him employment or reward. Hence the publication of these memoirs, in which all that could be imagined by the author of a novel in a " penny dreadful " is related of Napoleon, of his consort, and of his Ministers. As a specimen of the style and inventive genius of tic writer, one might quote with advantage his history of the relations of Mrs Howard to the Secoud Empire, including the rise and decline of her influence. On the marriage of the Emperor, Mrs Howard was created Countess of Beauregard, and recommended to try the genial climate of Italy for the sake of her health. For several years she kept away from Paris, but in an evil hour returned. Next morning according to G-riscelli, the Countess was fouud dead in her bed. What is certain, from the documents published after the 4th of September, is that Mrs Howard received altogether £200,000 from her Imperial benefactor. A poung Spaniard, having at a state ball danced twice with a certain great lady, received a visit from M. Griscelli before retiring to rest. His visitor bore a pistol and a brief message. The hidalgo bowed with Castillian gravity, and blew out his brains, as requested. From the service of Napoleon 111., M. Griscelli passed into the service of Victor Emmanuel. He was much impressed with the ability of Count Cavour, whose manner, in one important respect, contrasted favourably with that of the French monarch. The latter, in giving his employe a commission, was in the habit of asking, "Are you armed?" while Cavour always prefaced his speech by the question, "Do you want money? " There are but two gleams of moral sense in the book. This is one of them. After the dea^h of Cavour, M. Griscelli passed over to the Legitimist side in politics. In 1866 he was employed as a spy at Florence by the Austrian Grovernment, and he claims to have furnished intelligence of so, important a character as to have led in a great measure to the victory of the Archduke Albert at Custozza. We also find him employed in rais ing a loan of £80,000 for Francis 11, Naples, on a mortgage of the Farnese Palace, the mortgagee being that Mr. Holloway to whom the world owes so deep a debt of gratitude. The ex-King conferred on M. Griscelli the title of Baron de Eimiui, of which he is justly proud. At others times we find him dining with the Emperor Francis Joseph, and entertaining His Majesty with bis adventures, or playing cards with three serene German highnesses, or transmitting funds from England for the Polish insurrection, or writing pamphlets under the direction of Cardinal Wiseman in defence of the temporal power. Perhaps tbe mischief of a system of secret police and of gagging the press was never more strikingly shown than when such a budget of horrors, many of which we are unable even to hint at, was not deemed an insult to the common sense of tbe public. For there are Frenchman who read these books — stranger, there are people who believe in them.