Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-03-18
AN EMPEROR's LETTER TO AN EN-
PRESS.
fTranslated for the .Alerandria Gazet'e')

am surrounded by set of brutal sailors, ana
.osssd ahont by the waves Gantheanme tells
me there is no danger, and am willing to be-
Hexe him: but | rebuked him severely Tor
nor having foreseen that the wind might
CHANGE and drive me from the shore, where
was so much safer When | found that 1t
was impossible to return, could not help ex-
claiming, What am going to do IN tins IN
fernal galley $50 here am, and God knows
when shall return, for | intended to nave
ioined YOU Yesterday. 1t Is this consideration
That increases my impatience. Well what
STRANGE thing human nature Is! How diver
si6ed (! Would YOU believe it, my love,-i
think that the longer stay IN the vessel, the
less lam respected by people on board they
Imagine we are more upon a level every MI
mute, and accordingly treat ne with more as
surance and familiarity They behold me
on ships deck, without any imperial retinue;
and the sailors believe / am entirely dcpep-
dent on them, while my--ladies, seeing have
so fen to converse with, are excessively I'M
p,,dent. I don't like this, because hate eve
nv thing that reminds me of belonging to the
race which was born to rule. / am thus bit
ter from nature as we'll as from design, and l
owe nv personal safety to the austerity of my
,
ways determined TO punish, seldom relaxes
into pleasant countenance. Full OF THIS
thought, and knowing that ought to do some
thing which would prove that could dive to
the bottom of every heart, assumed every APP
pcaraAce Of anger and suspicion, and accord
inrly thundcred out from my retirement the
most alarming orders. Can 1t be believed
that on board of vessel, which is the same as
my palace, with this difficulty only, that IN the
one I was surrounded by sailors instead OF SOL
diers. should cease 10 be Bonaparte |! My
situation was such, that In moment OF rciaXa-
ton, or by the timely n,aneuyre OF some
traitor, my splcndor might have been over
thrown Thought siruce He ffse II ghfnmIng ing
when was informed that we could not get to
port while the wind blew in its present direc-
ton. jumped up with my usual brskness,
as sometimes enter the Council of State to
illuminate my DEGREES. In the first place / or
dered all those on board to be arrested, who
had no particular duty to perform. This hap
pened to be the Case with Ave poor devils
who am sure had only come through curio-
sity but they answered my purpose, to shew
my severity and vigilance, Then demanded
an account of the discipline which prevailed
III the ship; and being told of some appear
ahce of neglect In the master and mate, which
had occurred about days before, / ordered
them to be keel hauled, taking care at the
same time to distribute money, crosses, and
promises of pensions to the pilots and sailors
who should be dihgent. / increased these
precautions by giving Ganthaume a kick, and
the Bishop of Namur a BLOW, which Inspired
the rest with a respectful terror. But alas
eli hr,,r c+,o
familiarity Of some and the intrigues of others,
it could not keep from my couch those dreams
and Entonis hy which ] was disturbed the two
imagine.
ny First Dream
thought was transported to high noun
tain, although still enveIoped in horrid dark
ness, From time to time / felt ice-coid
hands on my body, and heard light eroans
The touches were so distinct, that each pro-
duced in me different sensation and every
groan had so peculiar an expression, that, not
withstanding the frequency OF their utterance.
could distinguish all the different grades OF
sorrow, terror and remorse A sudden ray
of light then caught 10y attention and soon
had fair view of my past conduct: The
means by which | had established nv DOW
er, and caused men to fear me, appeared as |
useless atrocities and objectionable crimes |;
Infamy lost its attractions, and the sight of hu-
naan blood was hideous spectacle. saw |
all the victims sacrificed by my ambition, re-
verge, and the fcrocity which seems to be !
the principal trait in my character: saw them /
In the splendor of their virtue and Innocence. |
cursed the hand which had DESTROYED them,
and the fatality which had driven me to deeds
of murder. Thought their shades surround
ed me-; and that each touch, each sigh, pro.
eeeded from some Prince whom i lad cru.
ely assassinated, some general who had fall
len to appease my unbranded jealousy or bar
barous pride, SOM unfortunate female VICTIM