Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-18
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
THE CENSOR, NO. a
Richmond, .NIarember Is. 1915.
Fon TIE y1no1NIA Ansus.


When the French, under the despotic SWAY of
Napoleon, carried oppression, pillage and plum
der into nearly every part of tie continent I
commisserated the condition of the nations Of
Europe: now France having become the thea
tire of similar scenes, synpath;ze with her
Discerning, rejecting men saw in the continent
tai power of France and in the maritime power
of England, equal danger to the independence
of nations, and to the liberties of the world
They saw that one coupterbalanccd the other
and diat if either should be totally DESTROYED
without any diminution Of the other, the world
would have much TO apprehend. IF Napoleon
could have destroyed the English navy, he would
have stood with one foot on the earth, and with
the otter, on the seas. He would have overstrd-
den tle world. IF Spain and Russia had fallen
beneath his grasp, and, was the case with other
conquered nations, had joined their arms to his.
the British government would have soon found il
impossible TO maintain itself and the navy. Bri-
tain would have been reduced TO the present con-
diton'of France. Conquest after conquest would
have Increased his means and augmented his
power until he might haye wept, ike Alex2n-
der, because tie world afforded no other cotn.
tries for bin, TO subdue. The Supreme Ruler
has SO ordered II, that the human race should be
delivered from one danger, the dissipation of
which seems for the present, to have invested
England more firmly with the power of tyranniz-
ing on the ocean. But mankind may coneratu.
late themselves that ships can not invade their
coil, and, that now, they are delivered from one
tyrant, they can, without dread Of him. take
measures OF safety against the unjust pretensions
of the other. The Great Disposer of events did
: not, in his wisdom and goodness, permit the to-
tai prostration of Napoeon's power, until the
trident of the ocean had been wrested from Bri.
fish hands Ii was reserved for the brave, unfor-
tunate Spaniards, TO break hecharm of Napo-
Icons inyncibility ola land ; and for the renown.
Il A tr. =
vincibilty sea The imitationof the Spanish
example proved fatal 10 the first, may the iuita.
ton of America prove destructive to the others
/ viii now proceed to % the great man Napo-
leon, who has filled, by fur, the greatest SPACE
inthe eyes of the world, and has struck SO many
blows that resoundeti throughout the universe
IN this extraordinary man, one set of his fellow
beings, can sec nothing to spplaud or excuse
the other, nothing TO blame or condemn. This j.
aproofuiatth the characters oflving men, are scarce
iy ever rightly estimated. The virtues and The
talents of men are generally over or underrated
Few men erioy the reputation which is their due
Mankind too often prosecute their beneiactors
and treat them criminals, then defy thsn wheI
dead whist on the contrary, they worship somt
others as Gods when living, who are booked upo,
as beasts by succeeding generations. Good, o.
evil fortune, success or failure, is the general
but erroneous criterion, by which, men are julg
cd Hence, e fool who stumbles upon success
or fortune, is more caressed and honored thai
tie most virtnous, enlightened man vino, from
causes which he could neither forcsee nor control
or from tie envy caIu.nny and opposition q
those whose good lie would promote, las failed i
a laudsble undertaking II we look back TO an
period of time, we find tbat The opinion whic
was entertained OF men by their contemporaries:
was very often revefsed by their posterity a Gil
oumstance illustrative of the scripture doctrine
that we are TO receive in the next world the Tt
wards and punishshents due to our virtues an
crimes IN this. History furnishes many exam
plesof men who were idoized when living an
exccrated when dead and of men who perish
cd as criminals, and have been saiuted and Gale
divine by after ages. It would be too great a d
gression to account for this perversity of gu
race, but it proceeds in some degree, from on
being as ignorant of the merits Of good men,
we are, Of the designs and motives of bad mel
The friends and the foes of Bonsparte, wi
hardly come TO any agreement respecting tn
wonderful man, although he is now civiy on
politically dead. The most candid and impartr
representations which have seen, Of his condu,
and character, are, one, published in Tile CoFybli
Of the twenty fourth OF Dcccmber last, extracte
from London paper the other written by on
of his servants, the Archbishop Of Mechln, an
lately published in The different papers. ref
the reader to these two accounts. A well il
formed American, IN q letter written from PAR
says that /" The weight and popularity ct Bon
parties character, are much lessened IN Franc
BY bic many ACES Of trC-cheiy, in prosperity, an
coward &C and extreme attachment 70 life. in a
vcrsity. II is by many Of his most faithful COZ
panions in arms, that have him most abused T
having. BY flight, abandoned them IN Egypt,
Spain, IA Russia, IN Germany, and lastly, aft
the battle Of Waterloo while yet the spil
Of his Psrty, and of his other armies in Franc
remained lmbrokon, and Il is believed, will hi
At their head might ultimately have succeed,
in expelling the Allies. The blood now spilln
Of some Of lis Generals whom he 50 lately aba
doned, seems toseal this sentiment Of his degi
dation" Another American writer from Fran
says, that " Napoleon, by the last acts Of his e
tTaordinaFy and eyentfui LIE, has forfeited We
great part bis claims TO the character Of gre
man. Tie scenes OF Waterloo should have be
TO him, ether the scene ola brilliant victory,
his grave. lie should have died, nobly fightn
ri tie head Oft those Goops who were so enthusi:
uedly attaches " bim. and who, tS MN, We