The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-06-29
NAPOLEON.

The following particulars OF this extraor-
dinary man are given in very interesting
work recently published, called Recollec-
tions of Pedestrian :"
"Toulon has become famous in history,
for having been the spot upon which a GER
tain Lieutenant Of Artillery first made him-
self known, during its occupation by the
English. His behaviour, during that peri
cd, afterwards recommended him to more
particular notice, as a man we'll qualified to
execute bloody and unrelenting projects.
had determined to make some enquiries res
pecting the events that had occurred during
the siege; and having letter to deliver to
gentleman, to whom l had been recon-
mended, proceeded to his house, which
stood not far from the Court. He was at
home, received me with much politeness,
and requested that / would dine with him
that day. did so, and met two or three per-
sons. After dinner our conversation turned
upon the death of Bonaparte, which had tax
en- place not a very long time before
An old man, who was one of the company,
said:
"When I knew the future King of
France
"Did you know him Intimately" l ask
I ed.-
mo Sir, no! it was difficult to do that
He was always cold and reserved, and there
was something in his eve that made one feel
uneasy in his company. Besides, he appear
ed to be constantly Illuminating on some pro-
ject, and we'll remember that when the
news of the approach of our army had arriv-
ed, at the time Toulon was occupied by the
English he seemed to become every day
more restless. And then the army came,
and Salcctta got him appointed Chief de
Brigade, and when he put on his uniform l
saw him smile, and heard him mutter, My
destiny is commencing. was brave
fellow, but not too merciful for when he
entered Toulon, the day the English troops
evacuated it, he had the streets swept with
cannon, and down he marched his brigade
first to the quay and when l got there
with my men terrible sight it was; for
there were the ships blazing, and women and
children screaming, and imploring mercy,
and 20 be taken on board the boats; and then
two powder ships which had been set on FIRE.
blew up with a tremendous roar, and the
| whole harbor looked like purgatory. with
the poor devils struggling upon the water,
and the trumpets and drums sounding, and
the houses on fire, and the cries of terror
and rage, which we heard all round Ma
1foI thought too, that the young Chief
de Brigade looked as if he was just in his
element, for he was as cool and calm among
! it all as if he had been at a skirmish in the
! College of Brienne. When the Govern
ment changed, he was arrested at Nice.
| (whither he had retired as Terrorist y
but he was SOON released, and never heard
of. or saw him again, till he was the Gener-
al of the Italian army. was lite confoun-
i<ed when found myself taking an oath of f.
deity to him. N1ais ma fol! had rather
be where am, with good glass oe wine,
than have been Emperor of France, and now
lying in my grave The reflection, ifnot
one which did credit to my informant, as an
ambitious or enterprising man, at least prov
ed his philosophy; and had the subject of it
been as Indifferent to fame and power as his
ancient acquaintance, Europe might, perhaps
have been now at peace with the Republic
of France; the Duke of Wellington, plain
Sir Arthur Wellesley; Waterloo, nameless
village, Venice, free state; and the ruler
on the whirlwind-the director of the storm
himself, an elderly contented coffee drink
ing invalid. Such is destiny such is the
influence of one mighty seepless spirit,
which feels its own. Like the proud vessel
which, compared to the vast and yawning
abyss around her, is as a speck, an atom, yet
by the skill Of those within her, makes the
winds and wases subservient to her COURSE"