The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-09-18

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| spirit and non ctaldnce back into the midst q
tue peril from which they were seeking e
escape. In consequence OF these cold anc
| torbdding features in hIs character, be soor
acquired the nick name Of the Spartan, which
be retained during his residence at brenne
| The branch Of study 10 which Napoleon a.
rected his almost undivided attention, was
mathematics. He paid but little attention tc
the languages, and still less TO the elegant arts
nay, even in writing he is SAID TO have taken
SO little pleasure as 10 neg ect IT almost entire
lv; whence il has arisen, that we never heal
Of any paper written by him il his riper years
without a note OF wonder either al his igegl
bility, or its legibIe incOrrectness, both in
character and orhGpy.
With book Of mathematics or history
Euclid or Plutarch in his hand his great de-
light was to shut himself up in his little garden,
to walk and TO mediate. His mind seemed
! for long time 10 disdain all lower occupations
and less important studies; but desire for
action al last broke in upon his repose, aud be
| had no sooner mixed with his schoolleIOws
for this purpose, than he began 10 acI the part
them the military exercise, and instituted Tor
their usual sports the Combats OF the Roman
circus, aud the evoUtIons of the Macedonian
phalanx. His schoolfeiows began now to
testify an oncomnon desire of respect and at
tachment towards him; they felt, and Were
the first 10 pay tribute TO that fascinating, or
rather commanding, influence, which was ar
n Al IF
10 empire and renown.
In The bard winter Of 1893, Napoleon con
ceved the idea Of constructing little fort Of
snow. With the assistance OF some OF his
most Jealous comrades, and with no other IN
struments than the ordinary garden tools, he
perfected a complete quadrangle, defended at
the corners by lour baslions, the walls of which
were three feet and an half high. So well
was il executed, that some remains of it were
10 existence many weeks aterward While
it lasted, nothing but sieges and sallies were
the order Of the day.
Some Of his leisure hours be employed in
writing poem on the liberty of his native
country, Corsica. 1t was constructed on The
idea, that the genius of bis country had APP
ard in his hand, had called on him for ven
geance. The effort appears to have been an
abortive one since beyond The bare mention
Of the piece nothing more Of il is recorded.
Alter he had passed FIVE years in THIS acad
envy, the royal Inspector, on his annual exam
instion, found him 20 well informed IN the art
OF ratification, that he removed him to the
ec0te mtlitairc at Paris, where he arrived on
the l7Ih OF October, 1884 Here young Ma
pOle0n was under the direction of able and
merlorious officers, and found excellent teach
eTs I'D all the arts and sciences, particularly
those connected with war. In the mathemal-
les he had the celebrated Monge for his pre-
ceptor; and benefited so much by his in
sructions, that on passing his first examination,
after joining The school, he was placed as an
officer IN the corps Of engineers.
| While yet cadet, ne went on one occasion
{ 10 witness the ascent OF balloon IN the Champ
de Mars lmpelIed by all eager curiosity, he
made his way through the crowd, and upper
| ceived entered The inner fence which contain
ed the apparatus for initiating the silken globe.
1t was then very nearly filled, aud restrained
from IT'S aerial flight by the last cord only (;
| when Napoleon requested The aeronaut 10
| permit him TO mount the car 10 company with
hrm. This however was refused, from an
apprehension that the feelings Ut The boy might
| embarrass the experiments on which BuOna
parte is stated 10 have exclaimed, :" am
young, II Is true, but fear neither the powers
OF earth nor Of air !" sternly adding, +" win
you lei me ascend 30 The erratick phiIoso
pher sharply replied, !" No, sir, will not |
beg that you Will retire." The little cadet,
enraged at the refusal, instantly drew small
sabre, which he wore with bis uniform, cut
the balloon IN several places, and destroyed
the curious apparatus which the aeronaut had
constructed with infinite labour and ingenuity
for the purpose of his experiment.
Such was the last notable act Of the boyhood
Of Napoleon Buosaparte it would seem as il
on the verge Of manhood, be had 10 this one
adventure preigured the whole Of that extra
ordinary career which be aiterw ards run; as
the clouds aspiring. as the air trackless IL
only object to ascend its only rudder the
whrl%ind svapour IFS impulse downlall
its destiny.-Percy anecdotes.
FROM THE NEw-HAmPsHIRE PATRIOT.
Excursion on The While .Hotmtains.-Cspt.
PARTRIDGE and Professor MARSH, accompani-
ed by eight Of the students al the Norwich