Note 20 — Chapter XIII

In one instance, the French officers went to the little Theâtre de la Gaieté, then on the Allées Tourny, when a furious fray took place between them and several British officers: although the latter had no swords, the French drew theirs; but the British breaking up chairs and tables, in a few minutes shivered their weapons, and knocked them down in every direction. It is somewhat strange, but I was, in a great measure, the means of terminating these differences. Coming out of the theatre, I was assailed by a group of French officers; I calmly replied, that if I had given offence to any of them, I was ready to afford them any satisfaction, and dilated on the absurdity of making a national war the subject of personal hostility, while I enlarged on the friendly feeling that had prevailed between our armies during the Peninsular war, and recalled to their recollection the many kind acts that we had shown each other when prisoners and wounded. The officers not only listened to me with the greatest attention, but one of them actually hugged me in his rude embrace, and I was obliged to accompany them to an hotel, and sup with the party. The next morning there was not a French officer remaining in the town.