Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-04-22
BONAPARTE.
r From tie Qaarterty Revietc.

From the Quarterly Rerietc.
One ofBonaparte's first cares was to
select Flag for the Elbese empire, and
after some hesitation he fixed on :. ar
gent, on bend gules, three bees or, y at
the armorial ensign Of his new dominion.
IT is strange that neither he nor any of
those whom he consulted should have
been aware that Elba had an ancient and
peculiar ensign, and it is still more re-
nlarkable that this ensign should be one
singalarly adapted to Bonaparte's situa-
tion-being no other than.1 a loheel-the
uicissitudes of human life, which the FL
bese have borrowed from the Egyptian
mysteries. - e. s, S. 9, s
This is as curious a coincidence as
any we ever recollect to have met-as
tie medals of Elba with the emblem of
the wheel are well known, we cannot but
suppose that Bonaparte was aware of the
circumstance. Yet he represented as
having in vain made several anxious en-
ouiries after the ancient arms of the Is
land.
During the first months of bis resi-
dence there, his life was, in general, one
of characteristic activity and sarulous
frankness. He gave dinners, went to
balls, rode every day about his island,
planned Notifications, aqueducts, laza-
rettos, harbors aud places.-and the We
ry second day after he landed, fitted out
an expedition of dozen soldiers to take
possession of little uninha5ited island
called Pianosa, which lies a few leagues
from Elba-on this occasion he said
good humoredly," Toute l'Europe dira,
cue j'ai deja fat une conquete."
Having in one of his excursions reach
ed the summit Of the highest hill On tie
island, where the sea was visible all
around hin, he shook his head with af-
tected solemnity, and exclaimed, in
bantering tone, :: Ehil fault avouer que
mon lie est bien petite
The chief violence of his rage seems
to be directed against Marshall Marmont;
whom, as well as Augereau, he sometimes
calls by names too gross for repetition, &
charges roundly with treachery.
Of TIE allied troops, as compared
with bis, he expressed the most pro-
found contempt. :. Ire Prussians were
the best, but he would beat even them
with one third Of their number" Ia the
yexation Of his heart, however, he did
justice to Blucher;" &c vieux diable,"
he said. never gave ne rest. | beat him
to day-good, he attacked me to-mor-
row. | Beat him in tie morning-he
was ready to fight again In the evening.
He suffered enormous losses, and &C
cording to all calculation, ought to have
thought himself too happy to be allowed
to retire unn.olested, instead of which
he Immediately advanced upon me: alb
lie vieux diabIe !"
On several occasions he has been for
ward toexpress his contempt of the peo-
pie, and more. pointedly Of the govern
ment of tie United States. He has total
" forgotten NJ. lie Duo dc Bassano's as
surance, tsat his ase3ecty toced the e.
nieficaas," and has very candic"y avow-
ed that he published his Berlin and Nil
Ian DEGREES with the object CT involving
them in war with Great Britain, which
he expected, would have operated as
diversion to his own continental pre-
jects.
When the first impressions of novelty
we're effaced. and the first hurry of bis
arrangements over, Bonaparte seems
from all the accounts which we have
read or heard, to have gradually subsid-
ed, as was naturally to be expected, into
a state bordering on enhai. He has grown
much fatter, exercises less, and sleeps
more yet still exhibits, by fits all his
characteristic restlessness, and still
amuses himself with plans of building,
and projects administration, which are
abandoned as fast as conceived.