The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-04

| the nation, iomc other hero OF the revolution.
would have nept forward and a,temptsdto direet
the deltnies of Francei The modef, the finn
pie, the magnaniraous Moreau had .decli-
ned the Offer and the opportunity and
| Napoleon Donaparte became underline unailum-
ing title OF Conini, a name which the early
ages ofthe Roman Republic have devoted to an
honorable immortality, tine real Dictator of
France. Trace him now in the wild career of
his ambition Zee him cncircled with a Confu-
. late Tor life; accompany him to the bloody
held OF Mdrengo, where he is flrroundcd bv
new dangers, and covered with new la,irels ::
oe.erve him attending Till nearer and nearer to
the throne OF France, and at each new Rep me-
naced by new ptciudices, 10y iecret confpirators,
or The manly reiitance of former competitors,
Until he at length arrives at the fummt of all
his hopes Is there any one, who can furvey
this iingular tiiiue of events, without agreeing
with Fontanes, that "the events of his life are
more wonderful than the fables with which hif-
tory has turrounded the cradles of ancient Dv-
naitIes"! a Coriican, folder of fortune,
the early friend of liberty, the man who
braves new dangers in diftant country, the
/; competitor OF 10 many difinguiihed heroes, If
tabllhes new empire upon the ruins of a
I throne "upheld by the veneraton of fourteen
csntureS";* throne, which the people of
France had deitioycd at the expence of MILL
. on of brave men, and which they had fworn up
on the affairs of liberty, fhould never b. re-eta-
bhihed. All this is as wonderful, rs the tale of
a Romance. But lean eaEvconceive fomething
perhaps even more wonderful than all thefe e.
vents; certainly tonc;hing more honorable to
himfef and to his adopted country.
What "elorious, golden opportunity" was
preisnted to BonaParte, of giving 4 deathlefs
glory to his name Why could not this man
who had 70 often and 70 greatly conquered the
\ Df h,J
the field ofthckef danger why could he not
have exerted futfcient magnaninity to conquer
hImief! The glory of the. frlt victory was d.
vided between himfelfand Fortune; and we have
! already ieen, that be was willing to give For
tune an appropriate fhare. But the honour of
the lait might have belonged wholly to him
isf. Why, after he was made Firft Con-
lul OF France, did he not iilently and gra-
dualIy attempt to habituate the people
to the representative fyftem why did he not
Organize the government upon iuch model, as
that he might be 1owly and tilently giving up
his ownpower, and calling into acton the pow
er or the people Was it that the habits of
Frenchnen forbid it that they were really un-
ut the enjoyment of free contribution; or
was it that Bonaparte hewildered and hewitch-
ed by his own ambition, was unwilling TO make
them free? If it was the frf, and our own ig.
norance of the condition of that nation pre-
vents us from deciding, we can only pity the
degradation OF their character, and preferye our
own from imlar dilgrace. But if it were the
latt, and the new contribution, (Which certainly
gives him much more power than is necenarv to
tecure IFS protected object, the eftablifhment OF
lanheredltary power Contributes to prove the ex-
tent OF his ambition, we have perhaps MANY
reatons to lament that he ever " numbered
his thir y-four years."
If there be any one, whole Imagination is too
weak TO delineate picture of what Bonaparte
might have been, or whole heart is too infenfhIs
to its beauties Z; let him for moment direct his
attention to a man who in fome reflects NAV
ferTe as an illuff-ions ndsl; to the model and
magnanimous
MOREAU,
:. Known as the rival of Bonaparte equal if moi
hyperion to him in arms, in the number of hi
laurels, in his military reputation; he exhibit
a angular contraft to the Emperor ofthe French
was Piutarch living at the preient time, what Z
rich iu6jett would be here prefented to him 70,
the exerciIe of his inimitably discriminating pen
His utual plan of comparing together a Roman
and Grecian, two men of different nations
would here give way to the propriety of bring
ing together two men ofthe fame country, refem
bling each otherfo much in the greatneis oftheil
military renown, yet 70 ftrongly difcrininatedir
their moral character. Inftead of afpirine to :
throne as Bonaparte has done, obferye the walk.
OF life, In which Moreau was ambitious to feek
TIE pureit enioyments of his life. sc | only
thought" lays the hero of Hohenlinden TO hi
Judges, I" of diibanding the army, & returning
to the repofe ola citizen. In this repofe, which
was not without glory, l enjoyed without
doubt my honours--thofe honours which hu.
man power can never wref from me, the re.
membrance ofmy actions, the teltimony of nv
confidence, the efteem of my compatrots and
trangers, and fit may be faid, the latterine anc
iweet prefentiments of poferity." Moreau i.
right in one afertion. Even fhould his compa.
triots defert his fortunes, frangers will not ceafe
to eteem him. -..
ind more true Joy Marcelln5 exiPd ferlJ,
Than CGjczr zCitb q Senate at bis beeI5.
Sispben5'S qVarJ oft5s French ReDoIutior.