The Sun.
London, England, 1829-12-04 00:00:00

UNITED SERVICE JOURNAL.

The motto of this periodical should be "-battle,
murder, and sudden death," as it is full of
accounts of perilous sieges and encounters,
both by sea and land, told in a spirited, stirring,
and professional manner. The best paper in
the whole number is the account of the battle of
Vittoria, which brings the bloody scene before
us in all its horrors. It is eviTently the produc-
tion of a person who was an eye-witness of all
that he describes, and whose recollections are of
the most forcible and impressive nature. We
have no doubt it will be generally read and ad-
mired at the Naval and Military Club, where
we learn this Magazine is a great favourite.

COURT AND CAMP OF BUONAPARTE.
LONDON, 1829.

We anticipate a prodigious circulation for
this attractive volume. It is drawn up with
consummate ability,—by the writer apparently
of the Memoirs of Napoleon—and, from the
judicious and condensed style of its writing,
forms an appropriate sequel to that excellent spe-
cimen of biography. Indeed we have seldom
perused a work more uniformly entertaining in
its details. It presents us with a bird's-eye
view of the character of the old republican war-
riors, the heroes of the army of Italy and of the
Rhine, as well as of those astute and wary
Statesmen who so long shed splendour on the
:Empire, and supported the authority of Napo.
leon. Talleyrand—Bernadotte—the
iinosC for-
tun* of the exile of Saint Helena',S Generals
—Ney, the " bravest of the brave,"—Joachim
Murat, the modern Paladin, in whom the cour-
teous chivalry of the old knight of romance,
was strangely blended with the coarse and reek-
' less vehemence of the plebeian soldier—Fouche,
the wily, jesuitical, unprincipled cruel Fouche,
one of the most sanguinary of the revo-
lutionists, and subsequently the most de-
voted of Buonaparte's adherents—Augereau,
faithless to all parties, and equally detested by
all-v-Massena, second only to the Emperor in
military sagacity and decision—Pauline, the
most beautiful and profligate of his sisters, and.
Lucien the most ambitious of his brothers.—
These various characters, together with numerous
others " Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the
brooks of Vallombrosa," crowd the pages of this
varied and instructive volume. To those who
wish to glean a competent knowledge of Napo-
leon and his times, we would cordially recom-
mend its perusal. It will satisfy, without weary-
ing their attention, so consummate is the art
with which it has been compiled, so authentic
and satisfactory its numerous sources of intelli-
gence. To complete its attractions, it is accom-
panied by excellent steel engravings of Talley-
rand, Soult, and Murat. Of its style of com-
position we adduce the following sample
" On the eve of the expedition to St. Domingo, liuo-
naparte resolved that his brother-in-law Leclerc (the bus-
,
baud of Pauline) should command it. Ile summoned the
General to his cabinet, and made known his will. 1
should be happy,' be answered, , to serve France agniPp

•
ut, Citizen CJ neul, ti sacred duty retains me here.'
Your love for ? She shall go with you. The
sir of Paris is fit only for coquetry : sh 4 shall go with
you, I repeat it.' Assuirlly I should be concerned to
leave her ; but this reason alone could not suffice to make
me refuse an honourable conunand. My wife would he
surrounded by relatives who love her, and I should have
no anxiety on her account : it is the situation of my be-
loved sister, which forces me to decline what I should
otherwise embrace with eagerness. She is pretty, young;
her education is not quite finished : I have no dowry for
her; can I leave her unprotected, when my absence may
be long, perhaps eternal? My brothers are not here ;
must remain where I am. I appeal to your own heart
who are so devoted to your family : General, can I do
otherwise than remain ?" Very well ; but we must
marry her without loss of time,—to-morrow, for example,
and then you can set out.' I repeat, I have no dowry to
give her, and—" And am not I here to serve you ?
Go, my good fellow, and commence your preparations.
To-morrow your sister shall be married—to, whom I can-
not tell just now; but no m Ater ; she shall be married,
and well too.' But—" I have spoken so as to be
understood, I believe ; say no more.' The General, like
his comrades, accustomed to obey, left the cabinet without
another word of remonstrance.

" In a few minutes, Davoust entered to acquaint the
First Consul with his intended marriage—' With Made-
moiselle Leclerc ? I very much approve your choice.'
No, General, with Madame—' With Mademoiselle
Leclerc,' interrupted Napoleon (laying a strong emphasis
on the name)—' Not only do I think the match a suitable
one, but it shall take place immediately.' I have long
loved Madame ; she is now at liberty, and nothing
shall make me sacrifice her.' Except my will !' replied
the First Consul, fixing his eagle eye on the other. ' You
will immediately go to Madame Courasan's, at St. Ger-
mains : you will inquire for your future wife; she will
be introduced to you by her brother, General Leclerc, who
is now with my wife ; he will accompany you thither.
The young lady will come to Paris this very night. You
will have the disposal of her portion, which, as I shall
give her away, must be something ; leave the dowry, &c.
to me ; the ceremony shall be performed as soon as legal
formalities permit ; I shall take care to shorten them. You
understand me—obedience!' Having pronounced these
words in the absolute tone peculiar to himself, Napoleon
rang the bell, and ordered some one to fetch General Le-
clerc. When the latter arrived—' Was I wrong? (said
he). Here is your sister's husband. Off, both of you,
to St. Germaine ! let me see neither until every thing is
arranged ; I hate interested discussions !' Both Generals
were equally astonished, but both obeyed."

REFUSAL of the lIIGH SHERIFF & ,LIN
COLNSHIRE to CALL a COUNTY MEETING.

, (Frum the Stamford News of this day
Mr. Collett requests Mr. Drakard will maken to
the Gentlemen who have signed the Requisition to the
Sheriff, requesting him to call io_siounty Meeting to
consider of the propriety of petitiVtV the Legislature on
the subject of the Malt and. Beer Taxes, that he (Mr.
Collett) yesterday, the Ist' December, received the fol-
lowing letter from the Sheriff. It is for them to deter-
mine if they will submit to this refusal, or take other
means of calling a Meeting. The reasons given for re-
fusing to call the Meeting,—the Requisition for which was
more respectably signed than any one ever pn4ented to any
Sheriff,—appear most unsatisfactory and incorrect; inas-
much as the "severe pressure under which all classes in
the kingdom are now labouring," is misunderstood ; the
Fundholders and Annuitants having actually a benefit,
being themselves untaxed, and the Landowner overwhelmed.
The Jungle, Dec. 2, 1829.