17 NOVEMBER 1900, Page 29

says :—" Lord Dudley is not less lofty [than Madame

d'Houdetot] in his praise. He has thrown a doubt,' said he, on all past glory; he has made all future renown im- possible.' " I am the possessor cf a sheet of paper upon which " ce grand homme " has written in his impetuous hand —somewhat less impetuous perhaps now that the stress of strenuous action has become a thing of the past—" Soldat, consul, empereur, je tiens tout de la France--dans In pros- perite, dans l'adversite, an conseil, sur le champ de bataille, Bur le throne, dans l'exil, la France a ete robjet instant et unique de mes pensees, de mes actions." Underneath this is written:—"Autographe de l'Empereur Napoleon que je donne mon ami Gudin, sachant qu'il comprend, comme moi, que ce grand homme a rendu la Claire passes douteuse et la renommee future impossible. ce 15 Aout 1851, C.. d'Orsay." Is D'Orsay here quoting Dudley, or was Dudley elsewhere quoting D'Orsay, or were both quoting from some previous pro- nouncement ? Maybe some one of your erudite readers may be able to furnish the answer.—I am, Sir, &c.,