these soldiers. A council of war, moreover, was appointed to try the guilty, and cause them to be executed on the spot. Larrey had been named President of the surgical board. The day before it met, a certain personage, who believing the accu- sation, desired its success, ordered him to find four culprits in each division, who should be taken before a council of war, and shot instantly. Larrey, filled with terror and indignation at such an order, was | about to send in his resignation, and quit the army ; when a friend made him give up the project by observing, that he might be useful to these un- fortunate men.
Larrey did not hesitate one moment. The ex- amination was extremely rigorous, and lasted four whole days. Larrey showed, by reasoning on the character of the wounds, that all the accused were innocent. He then addressed a report to Napoleon; and, believing that he had displeased the Emperor in this affair, composedly awaited the disfavour which was to follow. But Napoleon was not in- sensible to the claims of truth and of justice when clearly demonstrated and resolutely maintained. The conduct of Larrey was not lost upon him. In the middle of the ensuing night, Baron Fain brought Larrey a most flattering letter from the Emperor, in which he was congratulated on his firm, honourable, and humane conduct. This letter was accompanied by a present of 6000 francs, and the warrant of a pension of 3000 to be paid from Napo- leon’s privy purse.
In his long exile, Napoleon did not forget his
