Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-05-10


endeavourn g for the last three years draw the forces
OF Napoleon into the defes of Spain, and to exhaust
them ii was they also who tie watch TO take
advantage of the vindicYe eumity of the Prince of
Sweden.
':Knowipg that the active and restless vanity of men
who have newly nscn from odscury is always uneasy
and susceptible IN the presence Of ancient parvenus,
George and Alexander were lavish Of their promises
and battery in order TO cJoe Bernadotte. II thus
that they caressed him the time the i,rated NAPOLEON
was threatening him; they promised him Norway, and
subsidy, when the other, forced refuse him that pro-
vince OF faithful ally, took possession of Pomerania.
I" While Napoleon monarch deriving bis elevation from
himself, relying the remembrance of past benefits
and On the real interests Of Sweden required
from Bernadotte the ancient monarchs of London and
Petersburgh demanded his opinion with Difference, and
submitted themselves by anticipation the Of
his experience Finally, while the genias of n apoeon
the grandeur of his eevuion the Importance of his en-
tcrpre, and the habit of their former relations still cas-
sed Bernadoe as his lieutenant the, appeared already
to treat him their general. How was it possiblc for
him not to seek to escape the hand from sense of
Inieriory, and on the other toresst mode treatment
and promises SO seductive? Thus that the furc
prospects oil Sweden were sacrificed, and her iDdepen
dcnce forever laid at the of Russian faith bv the
treaty of Petersburg which Bernadotte signed on the
21th of March 1912 That of Eucharist between Alex
amder and Nlanoud, was concluded the e8th of May
mus did we lose the support of our two wings"
'Ncverlhclcss, the Emperor of the French, at lie
mead OF more than six hundred thousand men, and al
ready too far advanced TO think of retreang Gatered
himself that his strength would determine every thing
that victory on the Nemen would cut the knot of all
these diplomatic difficulties which he despised probably
too much; that then all the monarcls of Europe COM
Peiied To acknowledge his ascendancy would be eager
10 return INTO his system and that all those satellites
would be drawn into IFS vortex"
When Napoleon still Paris his ssgreat officers,
and his ministers alarmed the terrible encounter
winch was preparing, and their opinions delivered to
their Sovereign are extremely amusing de-
tails hs chief reasons for the Expeditions in these words
That he dill not create circumstances but that he
void net al ow them ocscapehm, that he comprehendcd
them all, and held hmseifin much readiness as pos
sioc Tor their appearances that in order accomplish his
designs he was perfectly that twelve wears were
necessary, bat that lie could not spare time to wait so
long.
That as 10 the rest he had not provoked this war;
'ha he had D! en- faithful to ms engagements with Alex
andcr that proof of this be found i'm the GOODNESS
OF his relations with Turkey, and Sweden delivered into
the hands OF Russia, almost entirely the otlerii
possessed OF Finland and even the island of Aaud,
WITCH was 50 near Stockholm That he had repiicd TO
| to make the cesson.
| "ihat nevertheless, since 1909, the Russian srmv
ucs'lnr! 10 act IN with Poniato ski in Autvi-
Gaiiacta had come forward too late was too veal, and
had acted per6dously: that since that time Alexardor
by ukase oi the 3lst of Dec. 1870 had abandone6 the
continental system, and by his prohibitions declared an
actual war against French commences tina, he pcrfectl
understood that the national interest and spirit of tho
Russians may have compelled hun to that but that no
mad then made know TO the emperor that he was aware
OF ls position, and that he would enter into every kind
OF arrangement which his repcse required: and that ne
Fer'heess Alexander, instead Of modifying his ukase
DrCtcnCp
ing his custom house officers; that he had suffered him
self to be suborned by England that in short even AZ
tins time lie had refused recognise the thru, second
military division, and required The evacuation of prus
sla by the French; rcquistiun which amounted TO Il
declaration OF war.
Through all these complaints, many of which were
wen grounded sUine persons thought they perceived
uat the pride OF Napoleon had been wounded hy the re-
sai wlnc Russia, i'll 1907, had made of his hand siuce
ne had cXPosed himself TO by disposscssing the
tnssian Princess OF Oldenbug of her duchy."
that a., AZ
meet all tie objections of his opponents LAT least accor
ding To Segur's opinion, he rcny to he inriucle
'tiIs skiiIu hand Was able to comprehend and turn
TO his purpose every disposition; and III fact when e
wanted to PERSUADE there was kind of charm in his
department which il impossible resist. One felt
oVefp"ered by his superior strengths and compelled az
1t were to submit to his influence. II was if il NAV be
so explained kind of magnetic influence: for his ar
dent and variable genius Infused itself entirely into all
MS desires the least as well the greatest whatever
he wed all his energies and all his faculties united to
effect they appeared at his beck; they FASTENED for
ward; aDd obedient to- his dictation simultaneously as
| surned the forms which he desired.
alt was thus that the greater part Of those whom he
wished to gam over found themselves a. it were fasci
mated by him in spite OF themselves. 1t was istterinp
to your vanity to the Europe appearing 10
have no other ambition, other desire, than that of
convincing you to behold those features so formidable
to muiitudes expressing towards you other feeling
but nid and affecting benev oence to hear that mys-
ferrous man, whose every word historical Welding
as IT for your sake alone irresistible impulse If
the most frank and confdng disclosure; and that voce
caressiDg while it addressed YOU was it not the same
whose 10" est whisper rang throughout all Europe an
nounced wars, decided battles, settled the fate of en-
pres raised or destroyed regulations? What vanity
could resist charm ofso great potency? ANY defen
slVe position was forced all points: his eoouence was
SO much more convincing he himself appeared TO be
convinced.
ON this occasion there no variety of nts With
winch his brilliant and fertile imagination did not adorn
ms PROJECT, IN order to convince and persuade. The
same text supplied him with thousand different com
mentares with which the character and position of each
OF hs nterlocutors inspired him he enlisted each in his
undertaking. by presenting II to him under &c form and
color, and point OF view, most likely TO CRAFTY him
"But to the princes Of his family ne had long revealed
the state of his thoughts: he complained that they df
not sufficiently appreciate his position Gan Won not
see" said he 10 them, that, as not born rlpon
throne must support myself it, as ascended IT, BIZ
my renowD' that 1t IS necessary for il TO 90 ON ncreas
ing; that private indy idua become SOVEREIGN li o.
myself no longer stop; that ne must be continually