The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-02-12

1 iul Tor such signal blessings, decreed him
the title of emperor. II, was then tha,
the French eagle, necessarily pressing
the British lion, would have reduced him
to the last shift, if the corruptipg gold of
England had not aYerled the mortal stroke
by instigating in the north new war :
gainst France.
1t was here that commenced those plo-
rious campaigns of Germany, of Prns,
sia, and of Poland, that shed such
months were sufficient for the emperor
10 annihilate armies which his enemies
had formed with the utmost difficulty,
and to invade their states and capitals
The fields Of Austerlitz, of Jena, of Ey-
lau, of Friedland, of Ratisbon, of Essling,
| OF Wagram, will be eternaliy celebrated
In the fctes Of France. In less than three
years, the French armies, always con-
Quoted by Napoleon, twice conquered
Austria, invaded Prussia, and halted only
OH the confines of Poland. Never was
the military glory of France at higher
pitch. Never had any people more con-
idence in their sovereign. He seemed
TO be the man destined for them by he a.
ven. He held in chains for fifteen years
the hckleness of fortune He had learnt
how TO command her: Under his reign,
each year was more and more prolific in
great and glorious events, which, in other
Times, ages would hardly have accom-.
plished. He always knew how to excite
admiration anew, when exhausted by a
long series of prodigies.
| the great destroyer war, seemed TO
| give new life to France. The genius of
| Napoleon was not confined to the field OF
battle Al Vienna, at Berlin, AT Tiisit, he
established those immense works which
alone would have been the glory of any
other monarch.
| The perfect tranquility which France
enjoyed caused her lnterior commerce 10
flourish; The banks Of the Seine became
the country OF the sciences and the fine
arts; agriculture doubled its products.
On all sides, new portss new roads,
new canals, rendered conamunica>
ton more easy, and exchanges more &C
i've. Industry reached such degree of
perfection, that in no branches did there
remaina rival nation. The finances were
IN the mos, prosperous condition, for the
subJugated people showered upon Us SUBJ
sides. Misery no longer weighed down
the people. All brealhed happiness and
Content. An hundred monuments atIes
the gIcry Of France. and the grandeur Of
the hero who governed her.
Such vas the state of this vast empire
during nearly fifteen years. 1t is in VAN
that some seek to represent her as having
always been plunged In misforlunes and
troubles. Never was France greater,
richer, happier, than during this memo
rable period.
But Napoleon, great as he was, was
but man. He was not perfect. He
committed serious faults, and fortune be-
came untrue to him. The elements
leagued with his enemies, and the plains
OF Muscovie became the tomb OF the fl
nest and most intrepid army that ever ex-
lsted. Napoleon, astonishcd, measured
the extent OF his losses, and, without stop
ping 10 dep!ore, he fastened TO repair
them. In short time he again appeared
formidable The fields oil Lu.zen and
OF Bautzen saw him again conqueror,
md full OF confidence. Fatal confidence,
hich permitted him not 10 foresee that
nis allies would abandon him when aban-
Toned by fortune And how could he
imagine that princes, TO whom he had gil
Ven kingdoms, forgetting his favors,
would have turned traitors!
The fatal battles Of Lcipsic were the
result of that disastrous deserIion. "
lie found only enemies where he had sta
TONED friends
Forced TO become the defender of the
French territory, with the wreck of his
army, he astonished and terrified twenty
lmeS, his iDnumerable enemies. Ii was
IN that grand, but unfortunate campaign,
that Napoleon displayed all his science,
and inexhaus;l6le activity. Each day
victorious IN combat, he devoted each
night IN preparations to engage the fol-
lowing day upon some other point
RuadrupliDg' his forces by his mastery
maDoeuVres, he presented on all sides
his old soldiers, and amongst them all he
Showed himself. Harrassing necessarily
armies always complete, defeating them
al Champ Aubert, at Montmirail, at
Aonlereuau, the result Of that admirable
campaign would have been fatal TO the
allies of Paris, had it not been so precl~
pitately surrendered.
The enemies OF Napoleon, masters of a
part OF France, andsncamped IN his ca
pital, yet dreaded him. The French,
whom they thought they well knew, APP
Peared 10 them too formidable under
such head. Henceiorth they saw no se-