The National Register.
London, England, 1815-11-05 00:00:00

ENTERPRISE AND EXECiII'ION OF MURAT.

Imitations but seldom succeed in politics as in litera-
ture or science. In the former, however, they are not
only atte:ided with disgrace, but with ruin and death.
A striking example of this injudici-us spirit of emulation
now lies before the world. A new Icarus has fallen
from the sky, and like the first owes his destruction to
his own ;mprudence. A rash attempt which astonishes
by its novelty may end fortunately, because the powers
of judgment are confounded, and the mind, awake
only to the idea of sudden danger, can neither measure
its extent nor devise means to arrest its course. But a
repetition of the same, though in another country,
must fail, when the fame of the former has not only
spread over the earth, but still lives in the fears of
all nations, because it then finds minds and hearts
prepared to meet and repel it. The originality of
the enterprise more than the treachery of thearmy and
the people, opened a way for Napoleon to the French
capital. lle came, accompanied only by a few adven-
turers, to dispossess a family wielding all the resources
of France. But he came as a thunderbolt falling from
an unregarded cloud, and smiting even before its flash can
be perceived. It was thus he paralysed the strength of a
mighty empire : for though it is certain that he was after-
wards assisted by traitors, yet had not the suddenness
and rapidity of his attack instantly astounded the exist-
ing Government, no defections would have taken place
from a cause which would have appeared to retain the
power of guiding the force it possessed. With less
interest in the hearts of the friends he had left behind, less
influence over the minds of the people whose Sovereignty
be had lost, less glory and inferior talents, Murat at-
tempted a repetition of what Napoleon had only effected
by surprise and the fascinations of his fame. lie also
committed the enormous fault of waiting till the downfall
of his prototype had proved that preliminary, does not al-
ways lead to ultimate, success. A good officer, but a bad
commander, he did not even possess the confidence of
those who were disposed to undertake a now revolution.
*nee, when he appeared, he found the hearts of the r
Va. III: No. CC U%

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2.:

PUBLISH]
No. 410. SU
POLITICAL DISQUISIT
•
ENTERPRISE AND EXEC:III'ION
Imitations but seldom succeed in polit
tare or science. In the former, howeve
only atte:ided with disgrace, but with r
A striking example of this injudici-us spi
now lies before the world. A new Ic
from the sky, and like the first owes his
his own ;mprudence. A rash attempt It
by its novelty may end fortunately, beca
of judgment are confounded, and the
only to the idea of sudden danger, can n
its extent nor devise means to arrest its
repetition of the same, though in anc
must fail, when the fame of the former
spread over the earth, but still lives
in
all nations, because it then finds min(
prepared to meet and repel it. The I
the enterprise more than the treachery of
the people, opened a way for Napoleon tc
capital. lle came, accompanied only by
turers, to dispossess a family wielding all I
of France. But he came as a thunderbolt
an unregarded cloud, and smiting even before
be perceived. It was thus he paralysed the
mighty empire : for though it is certain that
wards assisted by traitors, yet had not the
and rapidity of his attack instantly astounde
ing Government, no defections would have
from a cause which would have appeared tc
power of guiding the force it possessed.
interest in the hearts of the friends he had left
influence over the minds of the people whose
be had lost, less glory and inferior talents,
tempted a repetition of what Napoleon had 01
by surprise and the fascinations of his fame
committed the enormous fault of waiting till ti
of his prototype had proved that preliminary, i
ways lead to ultimate, success. A good officer
commander, he did not even possess the cor
those who were disposed to undertake a now I
*nee, when he appeared, he found tile hearts
Vol. III: No. COW-X.