The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-05-07
MISCELLANY.
.01IlNO0Osl
From the Springfield Journal.
O'BfE.aR.a IND NAPOLEON.

Every Dody nowadays reads Barry
O'Meara's account of Bonaparte. All
at once the hard fate of the /" Island
Emperor" seems to have awakened
wondrous deal of sympathy. We can
hardly pop our heads into the midst of
any coterie of readers without encoun-
tering, at the bare mention of Napo-
Icons ignominy, the heightened visage
of some modish Simon Pure and to
risk the assertion that he was man of
crime, calls up forthwith the very coun-
terpart of Mr.. Matthew's Dismal
Now how comes all this about Is
there not deal of affectation in this
out-pouring of " the milk Of human
kindness ?'' Is it true that the recol-
lection of what has passed before our
eyes for twenty years is already efaced !?
Can it be that we are so soon prepar-
ed for the apotheosis of the man, at
whose portentous movements all the
nations have trembled? Are we not
suffering ourselves to be led astray by a
sickly sensibility, in contemplating the
fallen fortunes of Wanted and mis-
called hero
1t is far from my purpose to furnish a
review of the Voice from St. Helena. |
do believe, however, that its tendency
is to do much mischief in the commu-
nifty 1t comes before the world most
imposingly. 1t details series of con-
versations with the most extraordinary
man that ever hved-conversati
held occasionally during a few years
preceding his decease--at period
when he was in state of extreme de-
preston, the sceptre of European do
minion having just been wrested from
him, when, to all human appearance,
fairly within his grasp-his mind en-
Uttered by disappointment-his tenn
per petulent and fretful--at fault with
himself-at fault with all around him.
In such situation, and under such Cir
cumstances, he gives to one of his ply
sicians an account of his busy and teem-
ing life, with the understanding that il
should go before the world.
Now it is entirely unnecessary to de-
ny the authenticity of these conversa-
tons. The point in issue is very diff
ferent one-it is whether we are to
Judge of Bonaparte from any account
which he has seen fit to give of him.
self, from any apology for his own life
/. and conductor whether we are TO
draw our conclusions from the living
evidence spread before US, year after
year, during the acting of the scenes in
which be was engaged-from the tes-
timony OF those who were around him
from what has already become history.
In his case, the world at large consti-
tutes the jury by which he is TO be tri-
ed-that jury viii not be governed by
rules ID any respect different from those
long-established and well-founded ones,
by which all juries are governed.
In forming an estimate, then, of the
character and career of Bonaparte,
O'Meara's book, allowing it all possible
credit for its authenticity, can have no
weight. 1t is a sort of evidence uni
formly rejected and stands confronted
by every principle of law, justice and
equity. Laying aside, then, any chival-
rick attachment we may have towards
being, whom we would fain call he
TO, we shall still think of him precisely
as we should if O'Meara had never
written a syllable. Notwithstanding,
therefore, we find Bonaparte declaring,
as he does, through the medium of his
physician, my elevation was unpar-
aIleled, because unaccompanied by
crime,' we shall yet believe that D.
Enghien and Villeneuve were murdered,
and that st. Domingo was covered with
blood.
The Voice from st. Helena, then, so
far as Bonaparte is concerned, is simply
an object of curiosity, as evincing the
ingenuity, sophistry and evasiveness of
a most wonderful man, the writings of
troubled ENTHUSIASTICALLY the frank
ness Of the soldier-yet upon the whole,
all the bad passions that flow from
mind detected, jaundiced, and undisci-
plned.
And how stands the account with o.
Meara himself? If there be any truth
in evidence-if the notes laid before
the publck in the last No. of the Quar-
terly Review be indeed genuine, (and
of this there can hardly be doubt
then O'Meara stands convicted OF the
most shameless duplicity and jesuitism
If the facts be as | have supposed them,
no honest mind can fail to rejoice in
the triumphant detection made by the
Reviewer. abominate nothing in the
human character more heartily than
4 4 I /,