Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-18


quarters. Scarcely one of them survived. Yet
these men he deser' ed"
In my opinion, this last writer is judicous, II,
excusing Bonaparte's fight from Egypt, and
from Russia. He could have done nothing more
by remaining in Egypt. BY returning to France,
he rendered his country very important sqry,ces !;
though, he afterwards usurped the sovereign
power rs his reward. Had he remained in RUS
STA, he could not have saved his army nor could
he have raiseda new one, but by his presence in
France, where he could, most easily, over awe
those vanqushed powers, those unwilling Allies,
who, as might have been expected, took the first
opportunity TO assert their independence. and
turn their arms against him. The Bishop of
Mechln says" His genius, fitted alike for the
great theatre of the world, or for stage of buff
ICONS, resemblsd a Royal mantle thrown over
the party-colored jacket ola Harlequin. lie
was the man OF extremes the man who having
commanded the Alps to lower their heads, tie
Sinplon to smooth its rugged front, the sea TO
approach or remove its banks, ends all by deli
rering himself up to British man of war;" Che
might have added, y 10 be hanged, or exed and
imprisoned. The Archbishop concludes thus.
" Misi0rtunes, such as the world never experien-
ced, hatred such rs it never exhalel, positi-
on such as never was created by man, lost by
series oftauts SURPRISING in extent and obstinacy,
all those which ever caused The ruin of any ruler
still more shameful to the world who has render
ed, than to him who received adulaton---such
IS the character of career Which has been diyi-
ded between the highest flights and the lowest
falls between the most brilliant grandeur and
the most abject degradation between the ex-
remes of ability and of folly'
After his exile " Elba, and previously to his
last return to France, an English writer, after do
ing ample homage to his genius, thus speaks of
him. mind, bold, independent, and decisive
"a viii despotic in its dictates, an energy that
distanced expedition, and a conscience pliable TO
every touch OF interest, mark ed the outline of his
character, the most extraordinary perhaps, that,
in the annals Of this world, ever was, or egned,
or fell. Flung into life in the midst Of reyolu-
ton which quickened every energy Of people
who acknowledged no superior, he commenced
his course, stranger by birth, and scholar by
charity With no friend but his sword, and no
fortune bat his talents, he rushed into The lists
where rank, and wealth, and genius, had arrayed
themselves, and competition aed from him az
from the chance of destiny He knew no motive
but interest, he acknowledged no criterion but
success, he worshipped no God but ambition;
and with stern devotion kneeled at the shrine
of his Idolatry. Subsidiary to this, there was no
creed which he did not profess, there was no OPT
mon which he did not promulgate. In the hope
of dynasty he upheld die crescent for tlie sake
ola divorce, he bowed before the cross The
orphan Of st. LOUIS, he became the adopted child
of the re public and with parricidal ingratitude
he reared the tower Of his despotism, on the ruins
of the Throne, and of the Tribune. A protested
catholic, he imprisoned the Pops pretended
patriot, he impoverished the country and in the
name ofBrutus,s he grasped without remorsc,
and without shame, tie diadem of the Cx5srs.
At his touch crowns crunlblcd, and begGGrs
reigned. The gaoler of the press, he affected tho
patronage OF letters the Prcscriber OF books, he
| encouraged philosophy the prosecutor of au-
! thors, and the murderer ofprlnters, he yet pre-
tended to the protection OF learning The assas-
sin of Palm the silencer OF De Stsel, and the de-
| nouncer of Kotzebne, he was the friend OF David,
The beneac fde Lille, and sent his aca,Iemical
prize to the philosophers OF England. A Royslist,
q Republican and AN Emperor /; q nlahouletan, a
catholic, and apatTon of the Synagogue sub.
sltern, and soverelgni 2 traitor and tyrant 1
= Christian and an in6dei-"
To deny that 3onaparte possesses great talents
and versatility oigenus, Iiibera, and uncandi1l
but to say thathe is the greatest man OF hi.
own or of any other age, would be proof of an ie.
| good nIsn, he could never have accomplished
| what hedid. France has produced many gene
rails who ware his equals; and some who were su.
| perIor 10 him, in bravery and military talents -
| but they were sincere, faithful and honest They
~sis TOO good 10 be great, in the common accep
! tiiton OF the word. Had theY been his EQUALS in
ambition, in .he ,aos1 cons1sHn,ate hy9ocrisv Gun
Ming and bersdy they might have anticipated ii /:
! srsGtlle75 and have had him fora subaltern Btu
| such is the fralty Of our nature, that he whC
commits small offences, IS deemed yillian il.
who exceeds ali others, in the magnitude an{
/ number ofhis crimes, and If they produce move,
1 and profit, is esteemed the greatest man; wh.fs
| the virtuous, the benevolent and humsne. VIII,
with The mae7iavfuity cfthe Diviraty, and fAs bai
| LlUthropy oiG SaU0ur seek the happiness of thei
species, snd sacrifice themselves to the good o
j man, are treated as fsols and are, not unfre
quently, consigned to poverty, neglect and con
! tempt. THIS strange man ow ed much of bis sue
cess, to his genius lnloFe TO iortune-and most a
all to his unrivalied baseness, and perfect desti
tuition OF honor and honesty. Ifhe ever perform
ed any actions seemingly good, they were no
done with good motive. lie had but one OBJ
ject in view to aggrsndizs himself gra ify hi
ambition, and acquire all the power he possibl
could In tie pursuit. OF this object, he respect
ed no consideration or principle; he consulte
the glory, the welfare and power of France NJ
farther than they could be auxiliary to his views
aad he at last sacrificed his country in the fool
ish attempt to regain the ascendancy which n
had proven himself unworthy to hold am 4,
from denying his military talents but mus
Z say that he owes much OF his good fortune {
the superior genius OF his Lieutenants He wa
, beaten and would probably have been ruined !
MarengO but general DessaIx turned the seal,
decided the fortune Of the day and saved Bona
[ parte aud the army He embraced Marshal Soul
in The presence Of his whole army, after the bal
! tie of husterlitz aud acknowledged his great soi
, vices on that occasion.
BOnaparte would suffer much even IN a contras
with Julius Gear cesar WAS rnOre brave ,,not