Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-09-04
SELECTIONS.
FROM III. National Gazette.
Extract tfoa! Sir Water ScOti's Life Of .Na-
Ilnienn.
coNcLusioN.


Arrived at the conclusion of this rnomentous
narrative, The reader may be disposed to pause a
moment TO reflect on the character of that won
deriul person, whom fortune show ered go many
'avours la the beginning and through The middle OF
MS career, TO oyer~belm lis close with euch deep
and unwonted ali c,iohs.
| Ihe external appearance OF Napoleon was not
imposing on the irs, glance, his stature being only
nVe ieei six inches English. His person, thin in
youth, and some hat corpueai ia age, was ra'heI
dshca'e than robust in outward appearance, bus
Cast In The mould most capable of enduring priva-
uoh aud fatigue. He rode ungrscefully, and with.
ou' me command of his horse which Distinguishes
perfect cavalier; that he sho " ed 10 disadvan-
rage when riding beside such hotseulsn as AIurst.
out lie was fearless, sat Il In his seat, rode with
IHpdity, ami VAS capable OF enduring the exercise
Tor longer time than We have already
mentioned his indifference to The quality Of his
icod, and his power of enduring abstinence. A
nj rsei OF food, and flask of wine hung a, bis
saddie-oow, usei, in hrs earlier campaisn- to sup
port him tor days. In his latter wars, lac used q
Carriage more frequently; not, as has been sur
msed IRON any particular Illness, but from feeling
:" frame 40 con-tantly In icise-, the preina-
IRE effects Of age.
Ibe oountenance OF Napoleon is familiar to al
most every one iram description, and the portraits
winch are found every where. The dark brown
hair bore little marks of the attention OF the tot
leue. ihe shape of the couatsnance approached
"'""S 10 usual IN tue human to a square
his eyes were grey, and full of expression, the
pupils IA her large, and The eye brows not very
sFoHeiy marked. The brow and upper part of the
couh enance was rather of stern character. His
nose and mouth were beautifully foriued. The up
per Up was very short. The teeth were indife-
rent pai We're li'te shown in speaking" His
IN lie possessed uncommon sweetness and is stat Ell
10 have been ia esi-tibie. The complexion was
clear olive, o:herwi-e in general colourless. The
prevailing character Of his countenance was grave,
even to melancholy, but without any signs of Sc.
verify or violence. Alter death, the plscidiiy, and
! dignity oil expression which continued to occupy
ne features, rendered them eIniu emily beautiful.
and The admiration OF all who looked on them.
Such was NspoeOn's exterior. His personal and
private charac,er.was decidedly amiable excepting
IN one particular. HE temper, when lie received
or though he received provocsiion, especially if
OF personal character, and vindic;ive
he wss, however, piacable in the case even of bis
enemies, provided that they submitted TO his mer-
c5--but he had not that species Of generosity hich
respects the sincerity of manly and fair opponent
"a Tie Other band, no one more liberal re
waIder OF the attachments oil his friends.s He was
an excel!en, husband, kind relation and, unles.
when stale policy interv ened, most atfsctionate
brother General GouTSaud. whose communities
lions were not 10 every case TO Nspoleon's adyan
tase, states him to have been The best of masters
isbouIng to assist all his dom estc- wherever il Law
IN his power, giving them the highest credit for s,e
talents as they actually possessei and imputing
IN some instances, good qualities to such as had
them not.
There gentleness, and even sensibli,y. in
hi character. lie was effected when be rode owe
the fields of battle, which his ambition had srewed
With the dead and the dying, and seemed not only
desrous 10 relieve the victims, issuing for tina,
purpose directions which too often were not, and
could not, be obeyed, but subject to the Influence
OF that more acute and imaginative species of sym-
Is mel IL
circumstance which indicates a deep sense of feel
log. As he passed over field of battle in I,aIy
he saw houseless dog lying the body of biz
slain u steT The creature came tow ards them
then returned to the dead body, moanso over il pi-
tifuIly and seemed to ask their assistance. "Wbe.
iher 1t were the feeling oil the moment CONTINUED
NapoIeoo, g the scene, the hour. or the circuu-
stance Itself. was never deeply affected by
any thng which have seen upon a field OF bat
tie. That man, l thought, ha. pefhaps had
house, friends, comrades, aud here he lies desert.
Ell BY every Que bat his dog. How mysterious are
tie Impressions to which are subject! | was
in The habit without emotion, of Ordering battles
which must decide the fate Of a csmcsisn. and
could look with dry eye on the execution of ma
ncenvTes which must be attended with much loss.
and here wss movej-nay, painfully effected
by the cries and the grief Of dog. II is cerl.i,
that at that moment would have been more ac
ceS ib!e 10 supp,iant enemy, and coull better nm
derstdnd the conduct OF Achilles in Restoring The
bofy OF Hector TO the Tears Of PrIam.''t The an,
ecdote at once shows that Napoleon POSSESSED
heart smensbie to humane feelings, and that tbey
were usually in total Subsection TO the STEM pre
cePts OF military stoicsm. Il was his common
and expressive phrase, that the heart of polticis
should be in hi head. bot his feelings seme,ime,
surprised him M geniler mood
a calculator by nature and by bsbit, Napoleon
was fond OF order, and friend to that moral con.
doc IN which order Is best exemplifsJ. The II
Dsis OF the day have made some sCsndalous aver.
mrnt7 10 The contrary, but without adequate fuo.
d@tion. Napoleon respected Himself TOO much
and understood the value OF public opinion 100
well, 10 have plunged into general or vague de-
b4uchefy.
Considering bis natural disposition. then. il may
be assumed that II Napoleon had continued IN The
vale OF private life, and no strong temptation OF
passion or revenge crossed III. paih, he must have
been generally regarded az one whg-e f,iendshlp
was every way desirable, and whose ennly 1t was
not safe to incur.
But the opportunity afforded by the times. end
the elasticity OF his great talents both r,,,s
~ and political, raised him with mex snpled eele-
riiy to sphere Of great power, and At least eogAl
temptation. Ere we consider The use which he
made Of his sscendsncy, let ~ briefly revie.y the
causes by which u wa accomplished.
The consequences OF the Revolution however,
fatal 10 private families, were the mesos OF filing
the camps OF The nsfion witb armies Of descrip9
Ton which Europe had never seen before and il,
Is 10 be hoped, viii never witness again. There
was neither safety, honour, nor smost subsistence
IN any Ciber profession, and accordingly IL became
me refuge OF he best sud bfsvesi Of the youth OF
france, until the army ceased 10 consist AZ in
mott nations, OF the miserable and disofdeflv class
Of the community. br was levied it, the body and
bosom oil The slate, and comrO4ej Of the flower OF
France, whether regarded health, moral ,iIal,.
u-s or elevation Of mind. Win such men, the