Page:A French Volunteer of the War of Independence.djvu/283

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OF THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE.
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diamond stars and orders which had been presented to the general. The Duchesse d'Abrantes wrote a letter of thanks to my brother, and added that her first care should be to repay the debt. In fact, as soon as her husband's affairs were settled, a draft for 2000 crowns was sent to Trieste, in repayment of the sum which had been so obligingly advanced.

General Bertrand succeeded General Junot as Governor-General of Illyria and the adjacent provinces.[1] He was honest, just, liberal, and unselfish. He wished to make his new subjects love the rule of his master,—to whom he was himself sincerely attached. He rendered the imperial yoke as light as possible; no small task, as the people could remember still the paternal government of the House of Austria, but at least General Bertrand was both just and generous. In order that his charity might not be imposed on, he charged my brother, who had the reputa-


  1. This is an error on the part of the author; Bertrand preceded Junot. ED.