Star.
London, England, 1827-07-03 00:00:00

LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.

FURTHER EXTRACTS.

Sir Wa Scoria Life of this extraordinary nun consist', of no
less than nine volumes. It commences with the year 1783, and
concludes with the death of Bo a. We this day resume
our extracts, and shall continue them from time to time, until
we'shall have laid before our Readers every thing that is intr.
resting in the Work.
PASSAGE OF THE BRIDGE OF LODI.
Thougia the bridge was left standing, it was awept by twenty
or thirty Austrian pieces of artillery, whose thunders menaced
death to any who should attempt that pass of peril. The French,
with great alertness, got as many guns in position on the left banks
and answered this tremendous fire with equal spirit. During this
cannonade, Bonaparte threw himself personally amongst the fire,
in order to station two guns loaded with grape shot. in such a post.
tlou as rendered it impossible for any one to approach for the pur-
pose of undermining or destroying the bridge; and then calmly
proceeded to make arrangements for a desperate attempt. His
cavalry was directed to cross, if possible, at a place where the Adds
was said to be fordable—a task which they accomplished with dif.
Acuity. Meantime Napoleon observed that the Austrian line of in.
(entry was thrown considerably behind the batteries of artillery
which they supported, in order that they might have the advantage of
a bending slope of ground, which afforded them shelter from the
French fire. He, therefore, drew up a close column of 3000 grena-
diers, protected from the artillery of the Austrians by the walls and '
houses of the town, and yet considerably nearer to the enemy's line of ,
guns on the opposite side of the Adda than were their own infantry,
width ought to have protected them. The column of grenadiers,'
thus secured, waited in comparative safety, until the appearance of
the French cavalry, who had crossed the ford began to disquiet
the lank of the Austrians. This was the critical moment wnich
Bofiaparte expected. 'A single word of command wheeled the head
of the column of grenadiers to the left, and placed it on the perilous
bridge. The word was given to advance, and they rushed on with
loud shouts of Vim la Republique I But their appearance upon the
bridge was the signal for a redoubled shower of grape-shot, while
from the window, of the houses of the left side of the river, the sol.
dierswho occupied them poured volley otter volley of musketry on
the thick column, as it endeavoured to force its way over the long
bridge. At one time the French grenadiers, unable to sustain this
dreadful storm, appeared for an instant to hesitate. But Berthier,
the Chief of lionaparte's Staff, with Massena, L'Ailemagne, and
Curvini, hurried to the head of the column, and by their presence
and gallantry renewed the resolution of the soldiers, who now pour..
ed across the bridge. The Austrians had but one resource left; to
rush on the French with the bayonet, and kill or drive back into
the Adda, those who had forced their passage, before they could
deploy into line, or receive support from their comrades, who were
still filing along the beige. But the opportunity was neglected,
either because the troops who should have executed the manteuvre
had been, as we have already noticed, withdrawn too far front the
river; or because the soldiery, as happens when they repose too
much confidence in a strong position, became panic-struck when
they saw it unexpectedly carried. Or it may be that Gem Beaulieu,
so old and so unfortunate, had somewhat lost that energy and pre-
sence of mind which the critical moment demanded. Whatever
was the cause, the French rustled on the artillery men, front whose
are they had lately suffered so tremendously, and, unsupported as'
they were, had little difficulty in bayonetth.g them. The Austrian
army now completely gave way, and lost in th.ir retre,t, annoyed
as it was by the French Cavalry, upwards of twenty guns, a thou-
sand prisoners, and perhaps two thousand more wounded and slain.
Such was the famous pans tge of the Bridge of Lodi, achieved with
such skill and gallantry, as gave the victor the sante character for
fearless intrepidity and practical talent in actual battle, which the
former part of the campaign had gained him as a most able tactician.
NAPOLEON'S GOVERNMENT.
The faults of Bonaparte, we conclude as we commenced, were
rather those of the sovereign and politician, than of the individual.
Wisely is it written, that if we sty we have uo siu we deceive our-
selves, and the truth is not in us. It was the inordinate force of
ambition which made him the .couree of Europe; it was his efforts
i 3 disguise that selfish principle, that made hint combine fraud with
force, and establish a regular system for deceiving those whom he
could not subdue. Had his natural disposition been coldly cruel,
like that of Octavio', or bad be given way to the warmth of his
temper, like other despots, his private history, as well as that or his
campaigns, must have been written in letters of blood. If, instead

• CONCLUSION OF THE ITALIAN WAR.
Negotiations proceeded amid gaiety and pleasure. The various
11Mina,' and Revoys of Austria, of the Pope, of the Kinp of
Naples and Sardinia, of the Duke of Puma, of the Swiss Cantons, of
several of the Ponces •f Germany—the throng of' Generals, of per
eons of authority, of Deputies of towns—with the daily arrival and
dispatch of numerous couriers, the bustle of important business, min •
gled with fetes and entertainments, with halls and with' hunting par-
ties, gave the picture of a splendid Court, and the assemblage was cal.
led accordingly, by the Italians, the eosin of Montebello. It was
Ilsuch in point of importance; foe the deliberations agitated there
were to regulate the political relations of Germany, and decide the
fate of the-King of Sardinia, of Swiss Thad, of Venice, of Genoa;
an destined to hear from the voice of Napoleon the terms on which
their national existence was to be prolonged or terminated. Mon-
tebello was not less the abode of pleasure. The Sovereigns of this
diplomatic and niffitary Court male excursions to the Lego
Maggiore, to the Lign dl Comd, to the icirromean Islands, and
occupied at pleasure the villas which surround those delicious re.
glom. Every town, every village, desired to distinguish heel(
by some peculiar mark of homage and respect to him whom they
then named the Liberator of Italy. These expressions are in a
great measure those of Napoleon himself, Who seems to have looked
back on this period of his life with warmer recollections of plea-
sterAbl: enjoyment than he had experienced on any other occasion.
It was probably the happiest time of his life. Honour, beyond
that of a Crowned • Head, was his own, and had the full relish of
novelty to a mind which two or three years before was &lug
in obscurity. Power was his, and be had not experienced its
cares and risks; high hopes were formed of him by all around,
land he had nut yet disappointed them. He was in the lower of
youth, and married to the woman of his heart. Above an, he had
the glow of Elope, which was marshalling him even to more exalted
dominion; and be had not yet become aware that possession brings
satiety and that all earthly desires and seristiestermitrate, when fully
attained, In vanity and vexation of spirit. • • • •
The expedition to Egypt Is the next grand event. -The con-
duct of Banal, irte in this country is descrlb:d as being in
many respects useful and praiseworthy; in others absurd—he
is acquitted of the charge of poisoning the sick at Jaffa, though
his foul murder of the prisoners there is admitted by himself, and
his defence of it completely refuted. The deep stain rests on the
name of Soma AAAAA . His return to Europe; his dissolving the
Council of Five Hundred (19 and 19 Brumaire, Ikbruardeucloa:o);
and the formation of the copulate with Sieyes and are
familiar events—the battle of Marengo not less so.
NAPOLEON IN HIS LAST MOMENTS.
Turing the rid of May; it Was seen that the life of Napoleon wm
'drawing evidently to a close and his followers, and particularly
his Physidan became &sirens to call In more medical assistance ;
that of Dr. Siam, Physician to the Forces, and of Dr. Mitchell,
Surgeon of the flag-ship, was referred to. Dr. Shorn, however,
thought It proper to assert the dignity belonging to his profession.
and refused to give an opinion on a ease of so much importance in
itself, and attended with so much obscurity, unless he were per-
mitted to see and examine the patient. The Officers of Napo-
leon's household excused themselves, by professing that the Empe-
ror s strict commands had been laid on them that no English
'Physician, Dr. Alton excepted, should approach his dying bed.
They said, thp even when be was speechless they Would be unable
to brook his eye, should he turn it upon them in reproof for their
disobediewie.

About two o'clock of the same day, Priest Viva administered
the ucrament of extreme unction. Some days before, Napoleon
had tzplained to him the manner in which be desired his body
should be laid out in state, in an apartment lighted by torches, or
what Catholics call cane diansfirs ardente. " lam neither," be said,
in the same phrase which we have formerly quoted, " a philoso-
pher nor a physician. I believe in GOD, and am of the religion of
my father. It is not every body who can be an Atheist. I was
born t Catholic, and will fulfil all the duties of the Catholic
Church, and receive the assistance which it administers." He then
turned to Dr. Antommarchi, whom he seemed to have suspected
of heterodoxy, which the Doctor, however, disowned, " How
can you carry it so far?" he said. " Can you not believe in Goo,
whose existence every thing proclaims, and In whom the greatest
minds have believed?"

As if to mark a closing point of resemblance betwixt Cromwell
and Napoleon, a dreadful tempest arose on the 4th of Way, which
preceded the day that was to close the immortal existeoce of this
extraordinary man. A willow, which had been the exile's favors.
rite, and snider which he had often enjoyed the fresh breeze, was
torn up by the hurricane, and almost all the trees about Longwood
shared the same fate.

The sth of May came amid wind and rain. Napoleon's parting
spirit was deliriously engaged In a strife more terrible than that of
the elements around. The words " tete d'ornge," the last which
escaped his lips, intimated that his thoughts were watching the
current of a heavy fight. About eleven minutes before six in the
evening, Napoleon, after a struggle, which iiiilicat.d the original
strength of his constitution, breathed his last.—(7b be continued.)