OUVRAHD, GAIMIET. JULIEN, 1770-1846. On leaving college he was placed in a provision house, of which he soon became head, when the revolution of 1789 began. Perceiving that the freedom of the press would pause a rise in paper he made contracts with the principal manufacturers for all their products for two years, which enabled him quickly to realize 300,000 francs on the enforced advance. Entering into huger specula tions which were enormously profitable, in 1793 he was denounced by Carrier to the committee of public safety as a monopolizer, and would probably have felt the guillotine had he not entered the army in a manner that suspended arrest, and enabled him to return to Paris the bearer of flags taken from the enemy. While there he successfully interceded for 132 imprisoned citizens of Nantes, and after the fall of Robespierre made friends with the new government, 'secured immense contracts, and in 1797 made 15.0 )0,000 francs out of one contract with the Spanish government. In 1793 he loaned 10,099,000 francs to the French directory, and submitted a plan for the io organization of the treasury department. The directory accepted 'the money but not the plan. In 1790 Bonaparte desired to borrow 12,000,000 more, but °award objected, and the former found excuse to arrest and imprison him in 1800. Ouvrard did not cede the loan, and Bonaparte, after failing to find evidence of dishonest practices, was obliged to give hint freedom, when his commercial speenlations then asmmed still large• proportions. In 1802 he loaned the state 20,000.000 francs, and when the camp at Boulogne for the End lish invasion was preparing, his advances rose to 63,000,000 francs. Bonaparte, to ihink he had drawn so mach out of him, instructed his finance minister to pay back nothing. But Ouvrard's resources were greater than imagined, and in 1804 he advanced 209.090.000 more, and agreed to provide the state with all the money needed for Bona
parte's gigantic operations. In 1806 Bonaparte again endeavored to embarrass him. on the supposition that lie was exhausted, and by a decree made him responsible for a debt of Spain. In 1809 another decree ordered his arrest and the sequestration of his estates. Tais stretch of unbridled power was suspended over him rather than executed. About 1810 ha was in communication with Fouch6, when the fall of that police minister brought his re-arrest and incarceration in the Ibbaye, the donjon of Vincennes,, and Sainte-Paagie where he remained until the fall of Napoleon in 1813. On the return of the Bourbons, Oavrant ag tin presented his plan of national finance to the chambers. It was not tilted. On the return of Napoleon from Elba, overlooking his brutal treatment, O ivrard lent his aid in the sum of 2,090,000 a day to the cost of the hundred days' cam paign. Louis XVIII. refused to permit the acknowledgement of the debt; but it was a Irea ly so distributed among third parties that a part only was finally repudiated. In 1817 Ouvrard's plan for the reorganization of the French treasury and its loan system was alopted, and proved a great and permanent advantage to 'France. In 18'20 he addressed a memoir to the government demanding that cases pending between citizens and the state should he tried in ordinary courts like other cases, and not by special appo'ntees of the crown. Accused in 1824 of dishonesty in connection with supplies for the Freneh army in Spain, lie was tried. and fully acquitted; but was subsequently eon: victed of some improper procedure in the Bourse, and sentenced to a punishment. whi•li was avoided by going to England, where he thenceforward lived an inconspicuous life.