The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-11-06 00:00:00

EX tR4CTS

0111011 TUN LAST NADIR [LX.] 01IP " TOR I:DIX..
SUMS asmw," JUST PUSILISMCD.
dree.-

Croat Ankle I Module Do Storrs IPositimoor Work
ost the kadigg Boosts of the French RoNlotioo."

We come at last to tonapartea name that mill
go down to posterity, and of whom it is not yet
clear, perhaps. how posterity will judge. The great-
est of conquerors, in au age when great conquests
appeared no longer possible--the most splendid of
usurpers, where usurpation had not been heard
of for ceutusies--who entered in triumph almost all
else capitals of coutieental Bumps. end ltd, at
last, to his bed, the daughter other imesedest Bo-
irereige—etho set up fangs and put them down
at hit pleasure, and, for sixteen yams. defied
alike the swords of his foreign enemies, and the
daggers of his dodiestic factious ; this is a man
on whom future Fe:koalas* most yet sit in judg-
ment, but the evidence by which they are to judge
bloat be transmitted to them by his contemponsritt.
Madame de Start has collected a greet deal of this
evidence; and has reported it, we think, on the
whole, in a tone of greet hupaniality. Her whole
talents seem to be roused and concentrated when
she begins to speak of this extraordinary man, and
much and ably as his character has been lately dis-
cussed, we do think it has never been half so well
desclibed as in the volumes before us. We shall
venture on • pretty long extract, beginning with
the accouot of their first interview—for on this, as
ow most other subjects, Madame de Steel has the
unspeakable advantage of writing frost her own ob-
sereattoo. After mentioilink the great popularity
he had acquired by his victories in Italy. and the
peace by which be had secured them at Campo
Formin, she says (the Regime, gives the extract in
the original French; the following is a transla-
tion) :
•' It was with this sentiment, at least, that I saw
him for the lint time at Paris. I could not find
words to answer hide; When hetome to tell me that
he had sought my father at Coppet. and that he
regretted having passed through Switzerland with-
out seeing lam. But whenwheel was • little recovered
from admiration at his visit. a strong sentitneut of
fear buccreded. Bonaparte then had uo power;
he was even believed to be sotil4ihat menaced ply
tine gloomy auspicious of the Directory, so that
the fear which he inspired could only be caused by
the singular effect of his Knots upon almost all
who approached him. I had seen men highly
deserving of respect—l had seen oleo mete of
ferocious aspect—there was nothing in the im-
pression which Bonaparte Isroduced upon me
that could recal to my mind either the one or
the other. I quickly fiert-eived on the different
occiibions which I had of meeting him during his
stay at Paris. that his character could nut he de-
fined by the ordinary words with which we are ac-
customed to express ourselves-6d was neither good
nor vinletit. neither mild nor cruel, accorzling to
that of indiiiduals hitherto known to as, Such a
being having no equal; cotild neither feel, nor house
any syntpathy, he must he either more or less than
man. Hie air (thstraise), his diind, his hinguage,
are the Uteri, of a shoal* nature, high!), calett.
laird to overstate (attbjtoguet) the French, its the
manlier whiCli I hive already mkaitioitiA.
" Far from feeling confidence in often meeting
Bonaparte, he ewer intimidated the the more. I
felt confused idea that no emotion of the hetirt
coaild act optics him—he bolts upon a Mime.;
being as a mere thing (Rue/. hot out as an
equal. He hates nu more thou he totes-elf is
every thids with him, all other ivied are but cipher*.
The force of his will vitalist, in the immoveable eel:
celitinti of self—hr is a skilful chess-player vas.
tending with the Widths race, which be propmei to
himself to check-mate. Ilia successes hold as
murlh am 'hal., qualities which he wants as on
those talent; whico lie posiesser. Neither oily; nor
rrhrion; not attachment leant punish& We.; has

turu inns from bid object. HI is for his
own interest what sju4 num onglit to lie for virtues
if the pitd were gnu& bas perseverance would be

Every time that I heard him speak, I Wes
*track with hi• superiority—it bum iso resesseblanee
to that of men instricte4 and enlightened by stuffy
or Society, such u -England and France can r-
nish minutiae's of; but hi. discourse inirke4l the
train (is Met) of circumstances, as the • hunter
does the track of his prey. Sometimes he recount-
ed the, political and military deeds of Ititslife its
most interesting nisisper ; he had eves in thMse re-
citals, admitted of gaiety, a little of ciie
Italian imagination. Iloweyer, nothing could tau.
fitter my inensolblecopognaoce fur what It perceiti-
ed in him. I wearier(' in his seal a cold and
piercing sword, which froze iu wunhdihg. I esw
is his naiad r deep irony, from which nothing great
M line, ma, mei rent Air eine hearlferf g/siy, (void
deep., for he despised that notion who-it suffrages
ha wanted, and no *nark of enthusiasm introduced
itself into his desire to astonish mankind.

This was in the interval between the return of
Bonaparte and his departure for Egypt. shoot the
t)'
year 177, when I was in the habit of seeing him
fair:lividly in Paris, and.never in hie presence .1111 I
lose a ififfieulty of breathing. I was once at table
between, him and the Abbe,Sieyes—singular ua-
lion, if I could have foreseen what followed-1 was
exam' • g with attention the figure of Bonaparte,
but each time that 1w discovered my observing looks
he had the art of withdrawing all express. from
his eyes, as if they had instantly become marble.—
his countenance, became then immoveable. except a
vague smile, which he carelessly expressed with his
lip., for the µurpuse of deceiving whoever wished
to observe the exterior mirk' of has thotights.
" His Ilium. thee' meagre and pales war yet
agreeable--since then, he has grown corpulent,
which is extremely bed for him, fur we gitivt sup.
pose that such • than, tormented by such a duo.
racier, musk stiffer a little when labouring under
an inConvenkoce from which others suffer PO much.
His stattire being low. and his body nevertheless
very long, .he *brays looked better en linreeback
than on foot—in short it was war, and war alone.
which became him.
;His manner in society is. con-
strained. without timidity—he has SoMething °Otis.
dein When he is res'erVed. and of vulgiiiirY when he
is at his ease-the disdain becomes him best, pro-
vided he does not err in it. • •
Iy a natural bias for prioce reek. he ever
addreased insignificant question* to all who were
presented to bini. Are you gnarlier! ?' said lie, to
How-

baying disagreeable things,
which lie has since reduced to a system, as of all
others that moat calculated to userwhelui the ob-
ject. He ha,l. however, ut this period a desire. to
please, since he concealed its his mind the project
of ovetturning the Directory cud egabliihingkiin-
self in its piece; hut notwithstanding this desire,
it might be esid, in opposition to the Petit)ltet—lie
Involuntarily cursed, though lie intern to confer
u blessing.
" I saw him one day approach a French woman,
remarkable for her beauty, her wit, and freedom of
her opinions; he placed himself straight before her,
like the most Rued of the German Generals.—
' Madame.' said lie;, I don't wi-h that women
should mix in You ale right. General.'
said she, but in a country where they cut off
people's heady, it is very natural to ask the reason
why.'—Bonaparte made no reply. He is a mom
whom Otte resistance appeases: those who have
sultived hie despotism, ought to blame none hat
thentsekes."

AMERICAN PAPERS.

. NORFOLK, OCTOBRR Q.

NosoLfstercirentit—LThe law whith closes the
ports of the United States against vessels coining
direct front the British West India Woad.; went
into operation yeiterdny. Within the list three
weeks this port has been crowded with such vessels,
aiailiag themseltres of the little time that remained
to take iiitay cargoes of our produce. Some of
these hove wiled, and probably, ere this, hove
made a gond offing; others hive put teen, halt
owing to the north-easterly gale that is now prevail-
ing, most have been compelled to put back, while
others; though ready fur sea, have not been aWe
to get out, owing to head winds.
The orders from the Secretary of the Tressaiy
do lint leave it discretionary with the collector to
permit the aniline► of vessels alter the lot of Oc-
tober, who have loaded and cleared for the British
Islands before that day; in colosequence of which,
the nine mil e-~•rrtious were Made to eepe•
Bite thine vessels which arrived at the eleventh
hour. Of the eiperlition with tibia they have
beet, Sinliiaded and laden again, en instance was
Ono in our last, and anothrt in to-day's Paper.
Not one has been behind hand—not one craved
indulgence bfyot►d the time allotted ; all were ready
to depart the dry belble the law wits to take effect,
when they and themitlvett itnfottiat►ately detained
by advert, winds
Since Saturday night lot, till Wind has been
hanging oh at N.E. cud during Hie last two Mir
his beret blowing a hurricane, consequently uo
vessel Could get to sea frolic 'thin port, or turn from
Ilamptoti Linda. We do not sppirliesid, how-
ever. ibet %bees 'erects will be made t 4 asp:mace

r ~

06* tric::.4.; •

PRICE LEVI:N-PENCE.

' any further detention after the f!orth-euster has re
moved its embargo; yet we ctn.-iat witness their
final departure from our Witters bi:t with feelings
regret ; since the knee tbt}: Wave kern
'Waders to our port ; some of dyer.: linvmg, in tliht
period, moils seven or eight voyages hither ; each
time bringing valuable ea'rgoes, paying heavy du-
ties, and taking away our luirlier, nasal-stores,
and Moor in return. !love 37,4 to le•ro wheilitr
the inhibition. of
.thet tracer, which his certainly
been highly henegrial tO this section of the coon-
try, and to 'the nation nt large, wit produce ea
equitalent !advantage itt the eniploy.tnent of our
own ihippiug... We hope, yet we thotht it.
Anotikr, basset of Quick tlispltA.,—The
Bri-
tish schooner -Fuverrite. from Buthadoes, .whisk
arralred Otitis' port uu Tuesday, rootning, entered
st the Custom-house at nine o'clock, sort instate.,
diattly cowmen:4-d discharging her (.mall) cup,
of sugar and mit. At eight O'clock the lime
night she had a full Oleo, of Four, tiered, and
staves in. sod her hatches battened down. The
nett morning had har deck load of shingles taken
in, her longsboat stowed, cleared sit ten o'clock,

11111.1 at flue .was on I,er way down the river. T 4
favomriee I% • vessel that will stove •bo'li 600 barrels
wider dec•lts.

• ioavot.i..., ocTottee 5.
•
• A detscluneirt of 290 4illantry troo" under the
command of Major Bird, of the United. Statee!
army, arrived isi-the steam-both Virttimir,, mid are
quartered for the present at Creney Istind. We
underrtund they itre.drs!lneti. for the defence of our
southern frontier.. Tinier trotnat h.ive beets recruit-
ed in ties neighbourhood of Baltintoie, and are it
fine body of men. ,
More TtoOps its 11101i0R.—Yettriclay arrived here
front Petertborgh, by wiurra i, tlehiClopeor of
men under the costianand elf
,Copt. MiGarvock, ur
the Unitea„Statee aunty. It iv unilarstuort that
they are to be united to the detachMent from Kati-
snore, under Major Bird, which Will shortly leave
this fur the sotithward.

. BUFFALO, acricicssit 29.
Lord Selkirk.—The Ar6oin for the Western
Di.triet of Upper Canted* were Inld nit Monday,
th- 7th instant, at Sandwich. before --- Powell;
Chief Justice Of the King's Ilvisch of the Province,
and were adjourned on the Monday following, with-
out misking any direporeticto whatever of the Import..
ant controversies betisi4n Lard Shirk end the
British North West Company. The expected trial
of his Lordship and the principal sews in that
quarrel, or rather civil war, some of whom had
here charged with Murder, had excited a lively
interest iu the Province, a hich tailed to the Court
a very large assemblage of people.
Oir . Monday a bill of indictment against Lord
Selkirk apd others,. for resistinive to legal process,
at Fort %inborn, was laid before the Grand Jury,
but rtjected by them. Another bill for a colloid-
,ticy to injure or destroy the trade of the Nor!
West Company, was arterwords presented them,
on which they were occupied three days in licsritig
evidence, t considerable part of which was docu-
mentary, and the whole confused and intricate. Ott
this bill the Grand Jury would ncl, ur.at least did
not, come to any determination. The Judge wait-
ed two or thite days (all the other business of the
Court having been finished) after the testimony be-
fore the Grand Jury had closed, for them to come
toe decision; and then; niter consulting the Alto.
Ory- Geueral, adjourned the Court.
Both parties (for it appears td have become
wholly a party question) are nisch dissatisfied with
the malt, cud both complaia isf partiality and cor.
raption. Lord Selkirk, we lest.), accused the
Attorney-blesceral and the Prosecdeot end witnesses,
iu open Coiirt, of corrupt mad oppressive designs,
to which the, Attorney-General reeriiiinated, by
*charging the Grind Jury with partiality, and othei
anal-conduct. The controversy wes so warm, than
the Court with difficulty preserved order by sikoc.
lug then' both.
The friends of his LOrdship are disposed tocharge
the Chief Justice with (inhering the designs of the
North West Ccimpani, and intimate that the Court
was suddenly adjourned to prevent, a formal rejec.
tiou of the hill of indictment by the Grand jury;
and to preclude the opportunity of presenting bills
against Mr. M'Gillivray and other servants of the
Company. The other Side, on the eontrare. charge
his Lordship with practising itnproperly with the
Grand Jury during their lining, end intimate that
something little different front direct bribery wad
used to present a fair investigation br the charger.

11111.111-Liti 30.

To-mOrroirr the interdiction of British vessel:, from
Non Scotia sod New Britoswick to so entry inn, the
ports of the United States commences. This tn.,:
ceeding of the Aintree's° Government we nitwit :rut
comidet as eseentirely ill-natured. Ted 44d10)i,i1
are essigited for that the Act oprtitti,.!
the port) b.' Hidden and St. Johik to iirtetice, 14
limited in its duration ; and, itd, that it resmia3l
the iinportatirms in ihim to Cettritt arLicits. •-•••
Had the Ave been Rind n Mantic the

mile t. ever. -A
\eirk
.-- I • - •••• \ ‘•• ' .

on" eof his guests. • Wow nisi children have
you?' acid he, to imbiber. • N'hen 'lid you ar•
rove ? when dad you set off r and such other inter-
rogatories as *hew the superiority of bun who ask.
' them Weer the permit to whom they are atatie. At
notithivr tittle he amused hinorlr in the art of tru-
berreesing—iii isyiiiK disagreeable things; an set