The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-19
FRENCH NOBILITY.

There is a feature in the policy of Bona
parte which has hitherto been scarcely no,
uCed. We &Lude to the titles and estates
which hehas conferred on the Generals in
his service; to which we may add those of
the Chief civil officers OF his governments
In a list published, it will appear that not a
single French title, not an acre of land in
France has been given to any of Bonaparte's
othcers, either civil or military
What is the object OF this policy? Is it an
unreasonable conjecture, that the French
ruler, being determined to centre all autho-
rity III himself, is fearful of ultimately weak
ening his own power, if he should establish
a landed aristocracy in France? The pow
er and influence attached to his mere title
uhconnected with military command, and
unsupported by the consequence that attends
the possession of extensive landed PROPERTY
must remain at ali times very inconsidera-
bic. The earlier history OF cur own conn
try supplies many instances Of the success
with which the power 0. territorial barons
las they may be termed) has been opposed
TO the authority OF the crown and indeed
IN all Countries where moliarchical govern
mentS have been established, similar com
petitions for paramount authority have, for
time and particularly before the introduC-
tlon OF standing armies, disturbed the public
tranquility. JoprevcHt an union Of militia
ry renown with the influence and conse-
quence arising from large possessions in
land, seems to have been The aim to which the
views and iears of Bonaparte have been di-
rected. purely titular aiistocraCy, both
military and civil, can never venture to op-
pose itself to the supreme x arbitrary autho-
rity which he has assumed, and which is
likely to be effected by nothing short of some
great national disaster, of which he himself
IS the cause. H0nCe we may fud among the
utular creations, Italian, Portuguese, Ger
man, Ragusan and Dalmatian Dukes.
None OF the departments or principal towns
In France, appear to have furnished a single
title for any Prince, Duke, Marquis, Count
or Baron in the empire. Even the Generals
who were rewarded for the hardshIps and
sufferings they endured, in the severe cam
paiEn aSainst the Russians in Poland, were
remunerated by grants of land III that distant
Country. Whether or not such a DISTRIBUTE
ON OF rewards be wise and polite, time can
alone determine. But however high may be
the distinction OF foreign duk seldom, it sure
~ cannot afford toits pOssessor a gratihcati-
ON equal TO the satisfaction of deriving his
title from the country which gave him birth
BY future changes which time will jnfallibly
operate IN the present distribution of sove-
reign power on the continent, the towns and
states, from which these ducai titles are de-
rived, may all form part OF the territorial
possessions OF other potentates. 1t is as great
folly to bear the title Of duke of any pro-
vince, which forms part OF another empire,
as It wcnld be TO revive, for the crown Of En-
gland the reinquished claim TO the king
dom OF France. The a6surdity of these 70.
reign titles might he rendered, in the event
OF the &c. conquest Of the emperor of Austri.
as Italian possessions, most strikingly appa-
rent. should he think proper to create a
Oatch OF dukes, and confer or them the land
I'd possessions and Italian titles of some of
the French marshals, the Austrian creation
would reduce the Preach duSeAUus 20 mere
= titulsr roneDtltics