Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

Curious Particulars relative to the passage of St. Bernard.

From a Swiss Paper.]

LAUSANNE, June 1.

On the 18th of May, Mr. Le Breux, a native of Brussels, aged 21, and first Lieutenant of Kinky's regiment of infantry, who was stationed with that corps near Ajaccio, on the mountains of Sesia, set out on a reconnoitring expedition, at the head of a detachment of forty men. He directed his course towards the valley of Aosta, in order to discover whether there was any truth in the rumours relative to the intended invasion of the French. It had been circulated in the Austrian army that Buonaparte was to penetrate directly into Piedmont by the Great St. Bernard ; but the report was not credited, as the season was so unfavourable to the attempt, and the snow so deep, that this route was thought altogether impracticable.

After a very difficult march of five days, thro' rugged paths, and over frightful precipices, lieut. Le Breux found himself on the 23d of May between five and six in the evening, on the rapid declivity of a mountain, which he descended by a serpentine foot path, intending to proceed to Chatillon by the village of St. Vincent. Here he was suddenly struck with the appearance of five French Generals and two guides, not more than six paces from him, all crawling down the mountain and leading their horses, with the exception of one, in a grey coat, and a gold laced hat, without a feather, who remained on horseback, and advanced at their head.

The Austrian soldiers presented their pieces the moment they observed the French officers ; but their Lieutenant ordered them not to fire, preferring, as he said, the opportunity of carrying such a great and glorious prize to the head quarters of his corps. The general in the grey coat no sooner observed them than he exclaimed— " See the Austrians—there are Austrians here !" The two guides at the same time pointed their carabines, and called out " Whoe there ?" But the French General ordered them not to fire, and addressing himself to the young Austrian officer; asked, " Who are you ? what are you about here? where do you come from ? what is the strength of your detachment ? what is the name of your regiment ? what is your general's name ? where is your corps posted, &c. ?" and several other questions, to which the lieutenant replied as he thought proper.

This conversation, which lasted about half an hour, was more than once interrupted by the Austrian soldiers, who asked these soldiers, whether they should not carry off their prize. But the General in the grey coat, in whom the reader will, perhaps, ere now, have recognized Buonaparte, said to the Austrian Officer, -" Hitherto, Sir, you have considered me your prisoner ; you, however are mine ; but do not be very uneasy ; I shall take care of you and your followers " At that moment lieut. Le Breux perceived that he was surrounded by French grenadiers.

The First Consul desired him to retain his arms, and said to him" To night you shall sup with me at Chatillon, and to-morrow you shall dine with me in the city of Aosta." This actually took place. The Officer, in relating the story, observed, that Buonaparte was extremely abstemious, and that he remained a very short time at table.

After dinner the First Consul took him into a private apartment, where he conversed with him during a quarter of an hour on the force and positions of the Austrians. At parting the lieut. asked permission to return home on his parole I had already determined to set you at liberty, without requiring that you should be exchanged,"said Buonaparte. He immediately made his aid du camp, Duroc, give him a passport for Paris, and another for one of his soldiers to attend him as a servant. He also gave him a letter to the Minister of Police. He arrived here on the 29th of May.