Star.
London, England, 1816-11-28 00:00:00

BONAPARTB.

CONDUCT AND CONVERSATION OF THE EX-EM-
PEROR; ON BOARD THE NORTHUMBERLAND.
(From s work of Dr. %Timor u, Surgeon of the Northumberland,
Ow published )

During the evening Napoleon addressed his in.
quiries to Captain Beatty of the Marines, who speaks
French with great fluency. They related to the re-
gulations and discipline of the marine troops, etc.
Sec- Nor could he have chosen an officer who was
better qualified t& gratify his military curiosity on
the subject which at this time employed it. Captain
Batty had served with Sir Sidney Smith in the East,
and was 'at the siege of Acre • an event that is not
l
among Bonaparte's mostpleasing recollections.—
When, however, he was informed of this circum.
stance, he treated it with glut good humour, and
seizing thetaptain by the ear, exclaimed in a jocular
tone,"" Ab, you rogue, you rogue; were you there ?"
He then asked what was become of Sir Sidney
Smith : when he was told that the gallant Knight
was at this time on the Continent, and had 'submitted
a proposition to the Congress at Vienna to destroy
the Corsairs on the coast of. Barbary, an instant reply
was given, ci That it was, as it bad loag been, most
disgraceful to the European ?wen, to permit the
existence of such a nest of miscreants."—This opi-
nion confirms, in some degree, what has been su;.
Bested respecting a proposisas that Andreossi is said
to have been instructed to make to our Government
daring the short peace with Consular France. In this
interval of hostilities a notion is entertained that the
First Consul proposed a co-operating expedition be-
ttveen the two powers to destroy, root and branch,
the piratical States of Birbary ; on which occasion,
as the story goes, he offered to supply the military
force; if England would engage to furnish all the
naval implements necessary to give effect to an en•
terprize so honourable to them both. It such pro-
positions were actually made, there cap be no dqubt
that: sufficient reasons then predominated for hesita-
ting in the acceptance of them; and the hasty re-
newal of the war put an end to all further delisa.
Lions, if any had ever existed, on the subject.
The next inquiries which Napoleon made were
respecting the British „Artillery service; they were
addressed to the Captain of Artillery on board, whom
be found completely qualified to answer the mime.
rous questions which he addressed to him. I under-
stand that his first entrance into the army was in the
Artillery Corps, and the subject was consequently the
more interesting, and a very few week* only had
passed away since be bad fully experienced our Sold
tactics in that branch of warfare. He descended into'
all the misstate of the service, and inquiredinto the
state and discipline of the non-commissioned officers,
bombadiers, miners, and privates of every Character.
The education of the cadets, was also scrutMsed,and
he particularly asked, if they were instructed by pm.
fesseraip Mothematics, satural.philosophy, cheenie,l
trirs itc. and ia oedee that thee, *light he a Blear
understanding as to theapectic tams of art, be cilia)

feat, took refuge in Fermi. From that harbour he
was peremptorily ordered to sea, according to his
original instructions; but, contrary to their most im-
perative and explicit intent, he steered his course for
Cadiz. 66 He might as well," exilairried Napoleon,
raising his voice, and increasing 'his impetti .s..ty—
eg he might as well have gone to the East Indies."
Two days after Villeneuve had quitted his anchotaot
before Cadiz, a naval officer arrived t'tere to super.
sede him. The glorious victory of Trategar soLn
followed, and the French Admiral died a:eby dos,
after his arrival in France: report says, by his awn
hand. —lt had been a favourite conkrcture in-Several'
of the Newspapers, that Bonaparte, who had• tidlitt
death in so many forms in the field of battie,.:Sii(
whose courage cannot, I should suppose, be liablpto.
Suspicion, would, nevertheless, play the coward at,
last, and put an end to his life, rather than suffer the'
disgrace of being sent a banished man. and a capflva.
to St. Helena. The prevalence of such an.opinion
reached the ear of the object of it, who calmly re.
plied—" No, no I I have not enough of the Roman ..
in me to destroy myself." ,
The subject was continued, in consequence of the
incidental mention of Mr. Whitbread's name and •
the unhapy termination of his life. That circuits-
stance, its well as the political. character of Mr. Whit.
bread, wit not altogether unknown to .Napolebn.--:
After having described him as a faithful and active
friend to his country, but who never betrayed ant
illiberal or local prejudices against the enemies' *of it,
he seemed disposed to attribute the lainentabte event
to the moisture of our climate. He was not ignorant
of the effects ascribed to our gloomy month. of No.
vember, and multiplied Isis questions as to the preva.
lence of fogs in our island, and their supposed effects
on the physical' system of its inhabitants, so as to
produce those hypochondriac disorders and theta/sine
vita to which self-destruction is frequency imputed.
He reasoned for some time with no commostingenuity
on the unexpected topic, and concluded with this de.,
cisive opinion :...e. Suicide is a crime the most revolt.
ing to my feelings; nor does anyleason present itself
to nay understanding by which it tan be justified: It
certainly originates in that species of fear which we
denolninate cowardice (liolironerie). For what claim
can Opt man have to courage who trembles at the
frowns of fortune? True heroism consists in becoming
' superjr to the ills of life, in whatever shapethey tray
challft_e_ him to the combat." .14
Dr. Warden says, g 4 Ever since .l bald enjoyed; Ato ,
occasional communication with Napoleon, I never.
ceased to be animated with a strong and carious de.'
sire to learn his opinion of out renown'edComMndir.
I had repeatedly beard that he -did 'flat 'withhold it ;
but I could never ascertain the fact on any certain
authority. The present ntornent appeared to, atkril
me the opportunity which I had so anxipiisly sought,
1
as hi seemed to be in a temper of more than usual
communication and courtesy, though I have never
had reason to complain of either. At all hazards, I
therefore resolved to make the trial, as it might'he
the only opportunity I should ever possess. The
people of England, I said, appear to feel an iiitercst
in knowing your sendalects 'respecting the military
character of the Duke of Wellington. They have veno
doubt that you would be just; and perhaps they may
indulge the ezpectation that your justice would pro.
.duce an eurogium of which the Duke of Wellington
might be proud. Silence ensued : I began to think
that I might have gone rather too far ,for it .a
Most
anti that I bad never before addressed him withnet
,looking full in his face for a reply, but my eyes
dropped at the pause, and no reply was made. This,
'however, was the second question I had ever asked
which remained a moment (unanswered. At the ranks
time, be did nit appear to be in the least displeased,
as in a few minutia be renewed the COMMILKIII with
an inquiry.'!
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.v.

FRANKFORT, NOVEMBER 12.
Though the commencement of the Diet gave reason
to expect some oficialarticles, the fastidintio Mono-
tony of its operations continots to fatigue us. From
the sth to the Ilth there was no Sitting, but as some
conapensation to the Envoys, M. Buol gave three
grand dinners and a ball. There was, indeed,
matter for rejoicing, for in the opening speech it
was laid down'as *principle, that there should be
• xio Federative State in Germany, .but merely a
Ontfederation of equally independent States-I—.
By this arrangement, the hopes of the nation are
irretrievably extingtiished ; for who does not see the
remit which , must follow t Three things are now
. no longer doubtful—lst, That • the influence of the
Diet in the affairs of Germany will prove of very
little weight 2d, That the welfare of the several.
States will in future depend only on the wisdom of
their respective Governments, for those who may
SOW look forward to changes in the system of reeog.
nixed Sovereignties, mast greatly deeeive themselves
That foreigners may be perfectly tranquillized'
respecting German politics. There is no longer any
seal union, and the twenty. German Governments
will rapidly acquire private juterests which will go. •
wern their relations with foreign countries, astd to
particular, with France.
FROM A SWISS PAPER.
Some German manufacturers have formed the re-
solution of inviting the Diet assembled at Frankfort
to propose to their respective Sovereigns the esta-
blishment of a continental system, and to close the
European Continent to English manufacturers. In
order to procure partisans, they send round circulars
every where, and have particularly invited the Swiss
merchants to make common cause with them. These
good people seem to be ignorant that free trade is the
permanent motto as well as safeguard of Switzerland ;
and that it is only to secure that freedom that Swit-
zerland would ever be induced to exert all its means;
that it is with that view she has actually sent a De-
putation to Paris, and that she never will engage in
web a foolish enterprise as that of endeavouring to
exclude England front the market of Europe. The
present crisis of commerue has other causes than any
share that England may take in it, and requires other
remedies duos prohibitions.