"France is too proud of her heroes to let them be heroic elsewhere.

Napoleon may return once more." However, to satisfy his mother, Philippe took up the dazzling idea of joining General Lallemand in the United States, and helping him to found what was called the Champ d'Asile, one of the most disastrous swindles that ever appeared under the name of national subscription.

Agathe gave ten thousand francs to start her son, and she went to Havre to see him off.

By the end of 1817, she had accustomed herself to live on the six hundred francs a year which remained to her from her property in the Funds; then, by a lucky chance, she made a good investment of the ten thousand francs she still kept of her savings, from which she obtained an interest of seven per cent.

Joseph wished to emulate his mother's devotion.