EVERY NUMBER EMBELLISHED WITH A STEEL ENGRAVING.

THREE DOLLARS A YEAR.

VOLUME III.]

EDITED BY G. P. MORRIS AND N. P. WILLIS.

NEW YORK, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1844.

COUNT AND COUNTESS READING DON QUIXOTTE.

THE way ordinary readers will enjoy our plate of this week is easy enough seen-but we wish to give a drop of comfort to our author-friends, by showing them the picture of appreciation. So sit and read, the lovers of the stories of Fanny Forester and Mrs. Butler.

PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.

[NUMBER 23.

near the gate of the rue de l'Echelle. From the testimony

of his colleagues, M. M. Officers of the hide, Castagnet, provost of puns, and dancing-master, was, besides, a satan of a buffoon, and very amiable in company. Castagnet learned that General Gros was to give the regiment the preparatory glance of inspection, before the emperour came to make that of the master. Castagnet burned with the desire to see once more this officer-general; with whom he had formerly lived in the greatest familiarity.

As soon as the superb drum-major of the forty-fifth perceived General Gros, advancing on horseback, he found himself anticipated, for the general stopped before him, and

THE TIMES OF THE EMPEROUR. DURING one of the great reviews which the emperour held in the court of the Tuileries, a very comic recognition took place between the drummer of a regiment of the line, and a general of the guard, who fifteen years before had been bed-in a majestic attitude in front of the subordinates, to whom, fellows: I speak of the drummer Castagnet, and General Gros, both well known by the whole army. Napoleon had a very particular friendship and esteem for the latter. "Gros," said he, "lives in gunpowder; like the pike in the water, it is his element."

The original manner in which this officer was promoted to so elevated a rank, ought not to be passed over in silence. At the same time I should say it would have been difficult to find a man more worthy of being placed at the head of a brigade of grenadiers of the old guard. The soldiers loved him, and said: “He is a perfect trooper." I do not know that the soldiers could have made a greater eulogy on their chiefs. Gros merited it in many respects. He was not quite thirty-six; tall, well-made, and his face was masculine and handsome. To all these advantages he joined that of a strong sonorous voice, excessive generosity, and a valour which delighted itself in the midst of danger. Unfortunately, he was not very lettered, and had a way of expression peculiar to himself.

turning to the right and left, without moving his body, he spoke as a farmer would to the little chickens he was feeding. He flattered, cajoled, and above all recommended them to act together when the moment of making themselves heard should come. As to Castagnet, his heart beat violently; he rested himself on his left leg; he twisted his drumsticks in his hands, as if they had been a chocolatemill; moreover, he tried to compose a compliment for his ancient comrade. Now, as soon as the general looked towards him, he quickly raised his hand to his schako, and, in a voice of counter-tenor, harangued him thus:

"Eh! nom d'un nom !-is it you, my general!-Look at me, then; it is the buffoon of Relintintin, with whom you have drunk more schnick than there is broth in the porridgepot of the Invalides. How is your health? Do you not remember me?"

At the first words, and still more from Castagnet's voice, Gros recognized his old bed-fellow, a volunteer like himself in a battalion of patriots from l'Aude. He jumped precipitately from his horse, flung himself in the drummer's arms, embraced him with emotion, and replied to him by pressing his hand in a way to crush his bones.

"Very well! very well! my old Castagnet, and you?" "Like the ancients of the camp de la Lune, but not so

Gros, who was only a colonel, commanding the chasseurs of the old guard, happened to be alone, one morning, at St. Cloud, in one of the little saloons contiguous to the emperour's cabinet. There, not knowing what to do, while waiting impatiently for the aid-de-camp to come and introduce him to Napoleon, he stopped before a Psyché, and re-well as you, my general; for it seems you are fine at pregarded himself with complacency, pulling up his collar, adjusting his epaulettes, and exulting in the regularity of his person and costume. The satisfaction caused him by this examination, led him by degrees to compliment himself upon it.

sent!

little.

That is the reason you had forgotten Castagnet a For myself, always rrrolling, as you see, while formerly you partook with me de quoi to fill my pipe." While saying you are fine, Castagnet took off the general's hat, and unceremoniously put it on his own head.

Gros laughed, as well as all who witnessed this scene, and without seeming the least angry at the boldness of the soldier, took his hat again, remounted his horse and said:

"Ah! my cadet," said he, measuring himself from head to foot, "there are few built and rigged like thyself. What a pity thou didst not make thy ric-a-ric (rhetoric) as the major's little white beaks say, or that thou hadst not learned metamatiques as thy emperour, who esteems thee, "Come and see me to-morrow after the morning roll, wished! Thou wouldst have been general now—" you shall see that I always have at my lodging the "You are!" said Napoleon, slapping him suddenly on bouffarde of friendship, and the laisse toi faire of conthe shoulder.

solation."

During the short soliloquy of Gros, the emperour had en- "I shall not fail, my general, although what I have to tered the little saloon noiselessly and unperceived; he had tell you will be only something laughable; because at preoverheard him, and seized the occasion to name him gene-sent, thanks to the little toys of the little corporal, (pointing ral of the guard, and so much the better as it was to tell him of his nomination that he had sent for him to St.

Cloud.

A short time after the day of the review in question, Castagnet, the old comrade of Gros, found himself in the court of the Tuileries, placed in the first rank of the drummers of the forty-fifth regiment of the line, whose right lay

with pride to the star sparkling on his breast,) the blague is complete, and one can gargle instantaneously after the beating, when one's throat is too dry."

During this burlesque conversation, Napoleon, after having traversed along the first files of the guard, and prepared himself to enter the Carousel by one of the lateral grilles, cast his eyes in that direction; he thought he distin