The National Register. — London, England, 1817-03-24 00:00:00

1 : 4. 9 i t II No. 476.—V0L. X. POLITICAL DISQUISITIUK. NATOLEON BUONA P A RUE'S MEMORIAL. Tr is distressing that public attention should ever be directed towards an unwerthy object, and that a man, whose name alone conveys an idea of all that is vicious k amhition, and all that is abandoned in policy, should, when he is removed from the high station that he hail 'tEsgraced, not sink into the oblivion he had merited But such is the perversion of the 'human mind, that it continues la admire the .glare that suc cess may have cast upon infamy itself, even after the flame to which it was indebted .for .o.ll.its brilliancy hal expired. We are led to the ac observations by the publication df a letter addressed by Count Montholon to Sir Hud son Lowe, Governor of St. Helena, by the direction of Napoleon Buonaparte. From this document it appears that Napoleon, long -accustomed to command the admi ration of a band of base sycophants that surrounded his venal court, could no longer brook the silence and con tempt that attended him in his exile ; and, as a last effort to attract the regard of the English nation, has presented an al•stract of his former exploits, in the shape of a memorial to Sir Hudson Lowe. This paper is in itself of little importance, unless riewed as proof—nay, as a positive proof of the restless disposition of the author, and the vexation he expe riences from blighted hopes. There can at present exist no doubt that from the moment he surrendered himself a prisoner to England, he cherished the idea of being able to deceive her generosity, to evade her vigi lance, and again to appear upon the great stage of life. The prudence of Government prevented the evils he medidated ; andhy fixing upon St. Helena as the spot destined f.r c fotore residence., at once destroyed the plans his duplicity had formed. He commences his Memorial by asserting that he is •not the prisoner of England, and that she can have no ,power, nor right, to enter into any treaty with respect to his person. Here let it be recollected, that the tom- Vned Powers of Europe declared war against their .common enemy, then stiled the Emperor Napoleon ; that after being defeated in a great battle, and deserted 1w France, he decimal it prudent to surrender himself into the hands of the English—the unconditional pri s iner of England. But this pupil of Alachiavelli maintains, that a nation possessing the power, should never exert it in effecting any purpose contrary to establis3ied custom, however expedient or politic it might be For our part we should feel happy if every T;overnment would adopt a principle so just and so !veil tunneled ; but until it is generally adopt , llit would 1,•• rank fhlly not to oppose folly by folly. But can we admit this argument for one moment to be offered by Napoleon. He, who did not shrink from the violation oC neutral territory, who seized the person of an un fortunate Prince, contrary to the Law of Nations, and ca..se,l him to be shot with the precipitancy of military ciu_cution, in opposition to honour and justice. Can we admit an argument from one who in the garb of friectdship, invited an unfortunate Monarch and his son to an interview, and then made them both pri soners, contrary to the sacred rules of hospitaiity—oc copied their kingdom with his arms, and placed his own brother on their Throne ? Can such an argument be admitted from one who persecuted Sir Sidney Smith rind Captain %Wright. Where was then the pride of rectitude, that should ever grace a Monarch's brow ? Where was then that sense. of morality that now seems to warm his breast ? Where that pure spirit that now AIM 111 S at supposed injustico ? Alas ! like other tyrants, in his career he crushed all that opposed his ambition ; tlirgctful that the lustre of great acidevc-rnenta cannot excuse mural delinquency, and that the most brilliant succe% luso is fix ever obscured, if stained by cruelty. •alio mai Wittr+ Our Ulna, Comititution anTs MONDAY, .11CH 24, 1817. He next introduces his generosity to the Emperor of Austria, King of Prussia, and Emperor of Russia. We doubt not that while he adverted to these subjects, the gloom of reflection shaded bis brow, and he contem plated with horror the wreck of that splendid empire, which had been elevated and destroyed by his ambition. -Ent was his Wasted moderation the result of gene rosity or policy ? Policy decidedly. He had obtained great Nictories, but much -still remained unconquered. He therefore seined the favourable opportunity of esta blishing, without further risk, the object he desired. In filet he was always guided by a cold-blooded, calcu lating policy, that foresaw the danger of driving the Potentates of Germany to despair, and he was restrain ed alone by that policy. Buti suppose for a moment that in the midst of victory hd relented, and felt a de sire to spare the few victims that remained unimmo lated to his ambition : iu what character could we view him so placed, but in that of a generous bandit, who spared that which he had the power, but not the right, to destroy. He complains that the English treat him as a Gene ral only, and not as First Consul or Emperor, and at the same time argues against the divine right of Kings. We do not wish to support the doctrine of divine right, but we are certain that, acCbrding to the laws of every country, there are principles upon which right is found• ed. Upon what then did he found his right ? Did Its claim in right of his ancestors ? No. Did he claim in right of election ? No. In fact, he seized the Govern- ' ment by force of arms, and ruled as a despot. Upon force alone, his title rested. When, therefore, he was compelled to abdicate—when he flew as a prisoner into the arms of England, to avoid a more dreadful fate, Empire, titles, honors all vanished, and the individual, whose only glory consisted in military success, unsup ported by virtue, when defeated, sunk into the original obscurity, from whence he had sprung. The answer given by Lord Bathurst, upon Lord Holland's motion, upon this subject in the House of Peers, must satisfy all parties, that no just cause of complaint exists. Sure ly to allow so dangerous, so unprincipled a man, an opportunity of again disturbing the peace of Europe, of keeping up a correspondence with a devoted faction, anxious for anarchy, would display, weakness, fidly, and wickedness. This paper then, can be considered only as a feeble eflbrt to acquire notoriety to present his past exploits to the imagination, and to create a generous sympathy in the public mind. We are the last that would oppose, any of the wide feelings by %Thiel' En glishmen have been always distinguished, but we would wish to direct it towards worthy objects. We do not wish to trample upon a fallen enemy, nor to crush even a venomous reptile, unless self-defence might make the latter necessary, but we do and always shall oppose any thing like approbationbeing extended to that which is base and ignoble. We have treated Napoleon with modera tion—we have not accused him of any d those horrid crimes with which he has been charged—we have only placed against his own catalogues of victories, his ;ie. lnowledged oflences. We have opposed with simplicity those grounds upon which he expected to acquire a re putation amongst us, and hope therefore that the goad sense of our readers will not be dazzled by that false glory, that success may have shed upon one of the most treacherous and remorwless tyrants that ever disgraced humanity. ' IMPERIAL PARI.LIMEVT. HOUSI OF LORDS. mogimt, n.tavit 17. Tyr R'+y'nl.\s•cnt was ei►a•a by Crsiliaii,e4on to the •rrea.ou file Praelievs, the Army and * Navy S. dnrtiuu , the Cutler I)aty, :►nd the King's Bench M. Waal' The 51•ditiotta Mectimp Bill was trad a first time, and ordered tole I cat! a second time on Thursday. —Adjourned. riktcE 94d. Ti`E.SDAIi, MARCH Is. TREATMENT OF BUON A PARTE. Lord flottayu rose, pursuant to his notice on this anbjeet, and after some preliminary remarks, proceeded to a to the heads of what he had to draw the attention of their Lc Mips to. He understood, that though St. Helena was generally reckons I a holesome climate, yet that that part of the island where the prisoner was at present confined was far from min brions : and further, that exercise was most essential to health ; yet only hours which exec rise could be taken be neficially there, were thoso in which the restraints laid upon Buonaparte prevented his taking exercise. Another coat plaint made by the prisoner was, that he was refueled thu of having such publications and newqmpers from this country, and from other parts of Europe, irs hr was desi rous of receiving. But there was another complaint made by Beionatim to of still more importance, which wit-, that,as he 1.114. dies :ood, a letter addressed by Buonaparte to the Prince Regent had been intercepted. He now wished to know, upon what principle it was that this part of the prerogative of his Royal Highness, exercising the functions of the Sovereigh, had been invaded. He did not believe it was the intention of Parlia ment to gi ye the power of this restriction to any body. if it was to be exercised at all, he thought it shoula certainly be confined to the person of the Secretary of State. He wished to ask, whether a letter had been thus intercepted, whether it was scaled, and, if it was, whether it was intimated to the prisoner, that although a sealed letter would not be forwarded, au unsealed letter would. The next question lie had to advert to, was the subject of the allowance made to Buonapate, which was confined to 80001. a year, though it was confessed, on all hands, that less than 20,0001. would not suffice; but yet Ittemaparte was told, if we find yon 80001. the remaining 12,11001. you must find yourself. In any other place except St. Helena, 50001. a year would perhaps be a sufficient allow ance, but in that place 20,0001. was act too much, and he (Lord Holland) did consider, that when we had, per force. taken Baonaparte to St. Helena, then to call neon hint to deli ay expellee , :Ili out of our own act, was a disgrace to the conntiy, an.; ourzlit not to be. Looking to the circum stances altagether hich attended the imprisonment of Wm- Impart°, nut consider them as at all necessary ; but even allowing t VC were circumstances which rendered his imprisonment neue-nary, yet it would always remain illegal: and the only justification which we should hereafter be able to plead would be, that whilst we imprisoned him through nu. cesaity, he was always treated with the limiest indulgence that imprisonment would allow. After ages would not enquire into the crimes of Buonaparte with half the aridity which they as mild into the usenner in which Great Britain had treated him in his adversity. The Noble Lord then adverted to the ease of Mary Queen of Scots, who, he said, no one he thought %mild deny, was quite as dangerona an enemy to one illustrious Once') Elisabeth, as Buonaparte eould be to She was detained ill this country a prisoner for many years. Even Otis necessary step had cast an odium, 10 a certain ex- tent, en the character of our illustrimis Queen. The Noble Lord emicioded by moving for Copies of all met ions issued by Government to the Governor of St. Helena, relative to the person of Ituonaparte ; 2JIc, for all accounts rclativ e to the expellees of Buonaparte; achy, Copies of tenets written by Buonaparte; athly, Copies a letters written by persons at. melted to litionaparte's person, and various oiler papers eon. fleeted w ith Buouaparte, and the persons at Si. Heleua w ith him. LOrd BATHURST said, the complaints of lloonaparte ap peared to have bceu classed under two heads. The first was, a complaint that he had been restrained in communicating, by liqicr, with his wile and family. The instructions given to the Governor were, that all letters written by Ruonaparise, or those with him, to friends in Europe, were to be sent open to the Governor, and by hint forwarded. This was pray* usual pro% ision as t egorded prisoners of war; and if Hamm. pat tc had refused to comply wish this regulatino, he had no right to state that he could not write to his friends, since he might, if he chose, write as frequently as he pleased. With respect to letters sent to him, only one letter had been writ. ten to him, and that was from his brother Jose ph. This, after being examined by the Governor. was immediately fitrwarded to Cieneral Buonaparte. With respect to the letter to the Prince Regont, no application was ever made on the subject to Sir 11. Lowe. An application was made by Gen. Ilertvaud to Sir G. Cockburn, to know whether if a sealed letter were addressed to the Prince Regent, it would he sent ; but tie soot' letter was sent and reword, u.s sta!ed by the Noble Lord. With respect to any complaints which General ottaparte might wish to forward to this country, it a as di reeled that they should be examined previous to their being sent, that the Governor might, without h:ss of Ihne, Late an opportunity of autos cuing any charge a hick might be made against Wit:. With respect to any sealed letter being sent to the Prince Regent, had any such arrived, he should ls.lSe f. It it hi• duty to have opened it before he delivered it to his Rntial hglmess. With respect to the refusal to allow Gen. Itmomparte to have 1).101.5, a list had been sent over by Bun naparte altielt , immediately on its anise!, was deli% vied over to a person who had instructions immediately to purchase the boots named in the list. Sainte time got in this country, smile from Paris, but some of the books mentioned could not be obtained : what coulee be got were sent him. With respect to sending hint neaspopers, he could only say, that attempts hail 1)1411 made to eui'i 1 , 1 , 111101 %%Oh the prisoner by - means Ef newspapers. General Itoonaparte also complaint d, that ho em it,l not ei rere.pim i l %%jai his banker or agent a ithout having his !curls opened. With respect to the letters of'tticnds, it might, to rhaps, he painful to have lile warm effusions of hiendship, the feelings of the heart, submitted to the cold hearted investigation of official regulations. Hut who ever heard of a tootler note to a stock nuirker, or on affectionate draft upon ;t banker ith respect to the assertion ceuti, ince! in Crunt 3lonthoten's letter, that leftists sent to individuals on the continent 1144 i beau sent back, a n d those ideals tithe kept ill lin:trance of tho fate of their fin nits in Europo, Rte VI A Ar r• - •Tv. :0 0 ‘..; . L : . • C