Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-09-04

armies at the disposal OF foreign pow err, sink
the ancient kingdom of the Cloths into secondary
and vassal gov eminent
Self love, sensitive as that OF Napoleon, shun
ned especially the touch of rijcule. The gbes Of
the English papers; the caricatures of The London
professions, the petty sings which in stisated
in great measure, the brescb of the peace of
Amiens. The laughter-loving Frenchmen were in
terd'csd the OF satire, which, all licensed dur
ing the times of the republic, had, under the
monarchy, been only punished with shor, and
easy confinement in the Bastle. During the time
oil the consulate, Napoleon Informed that a
comic opera. something the plan of the English
farce ot High Life Bclotv Stairs. had been con-
posed by Monsieur Dupaty and brough, forward ON
the stage, and that, in this audacous performance
three Wallets min lex ed the manners and even the
dress OF the three Consus, and especially his own
lie opde ed that the actors should be exposed at the
Greve, IN the dresses they had dared to assume
which should be there stripped from their back by
the execu,ioner; and he commanded that the aohor
should be sent to ST. Domingo, and placed "a a
person under requi-ition, at the disposal of the
commagder-in- chief. The sentence was not ex.
ecuted, for the offetce had not existed. Bat the
rumor shows Napoleon's ideas OF the liberty of the
Stage. and intimaes what would have been the fate
OF the author OF the Beggar's Opero, bad he
written for the French Opera Comiuue
But no light, which reason or information couli
supply was able TO guide the intensity OF a selfish
ambition, which made Napoleon desire tina, tn.
no
only remotely, but directly and immediately
del end on his own pleasure. When he disr,bu
ted kingdoms 10 his brothers, il was under the ex-
press understanding that they were to follow in
every thing the course CT politics which he should
dictate; and after all, he seemed only to create de-
pendent states for the purpose of .esuming them
lie deihr oned his brother Louis, for refusing TO
counteuence the expressions, which in the name of
France, he imposed on Holland; and he had
thoughts OF removing Joseph from Spain, when he
saw OF what fair and goodly realm he had pro-
nounced hiri king. In his Witness and Unsuitable
extravaganza of administering in person the govern.
ment of every realm which he conquered, he
brought his powerful mind 10 the level of thai of
The spoiled child, who will be satisfied with
OUT holding IN its own band whatever has caught
bis eye. The system, grounded on ambition 20 ia
ordinate carried with j, IN excess the principles
OF its own iuin. The runner who will never sion
Tor repose must at last fall down with fatigue Had
Napoleon succeeded both in Sp-in and Russia, he
would not have rested until he had found elsewhe
the disasters of Baylen and Of Moscoyy
The consequence of the urillstiii able aesress;onv
81 the French emperor we're unlmie ed extent
OF slaughter, fire, and human misery, all arising
from The ambition of one man, who never giving
the least sign OF having repented the unboundeJ
mischief, seemed, Oh the contrary, TO justify aud
take pride in the rayage which he had occasioned
This ambition, equally Unsuitable and incurable,
justified Europe in securing his person. as if il
had been that of 4 luHatic, whose misguided race
was noi directed against ndiyitlasl but against
the civilized world, which, well nigh overcome by
him. and escaping with d!s1cuIty, had a natural
right 10 be ell against repetition of the fran
tic exploits of being who seemed guided by more
than human passion, aud capable of employing
In execution OF his purpose more than human
strength.
The same egotsm, the same spirit Of self-decep-
ton, which marked Napoleon dUt g his long and
awful career of success, follow ed him into adyer-
sity. He framed apologies for the use Of his little
company OF followers, as he had formerly manu.
featured bulletins for the Great Nation Those 10
whom these excuses were addressed, Las Gases
and the other gentlemen of Napoleon's suite being
too much devoted to him, and too generou, To dis
pute after his fall, doctrines which it would hay.
been dangerous to coDIoveTt during his power re-
ceived whatever he said as hutas delivered bv
prophet and set down doubtless to the serr's in
splraiion " hat could by effort he reconcjIeJ to
truh h. The horrid evils which afflicted Europe du
ring the years of his success, were esented 10
others, and perhaps to his mind as conse-
quences which the Emperor neither wished nor
| contemplated but which were necessarily and nm
sterably attached to the execution of tbego,os,
plans which the Man OF Destiny had been Eliza
upon earth to perform, resembling in SO far the
lurld and iesT-insplring train pursuing the rand
course OF brilliant comet, which the laws of the
universe have projected through The patbless frms
meni.
Some crimes he committed of different cha
1 e.
neral evils, OF war, from the execution of great &.
calculated ans Of political or military kind bnI
must have had their source in a femler naturs1lv
| passionate and vindc i've. The Duke d'Enshi
ems murder was at the bead Of this list a gratni
tous act OF hescbe!y and cruelty, which being
undenlabie, led Napoleon to be believed capable
Oh other crimes oil secret and bloody Character
| OF The murder OF Pichegru and of Wright of IN.
! spTiiiBs away of Mr.. Windham who was meyer
afterwards heard Of, and Of other actions of simi-
lar strociiy. We pause before charging him with
any OF those which have not been distinctly
or, while II IS certain that he had love of per
sonai vengeance, proper, it is said to his country,
u Is equally certain that, vehement by tempera.
ment, ne was leBient and calm by policy and that.
II he had INDUCED The former disposition the securi
~ WI IA which he might have done So together
with The ready agency Of his fatal police, would
nave made his rage resemble that OF one of the
Roman emperoTs. lie was made eensbIe too late
OF the general odium drawn upon him By the
murder OF the Duke d'Engben, s. does not seem 10
nave been disposed TO incur farther rss Of popular
hatred IN prosecution OF his pers, nal resentment
HE records OF his palace, however, and the pprse
cuiioDs experienced by those whom NapoIeon con.
sideTed as ius personal enemies, show that bv
starts al least, nature resumed her bent, and he
upon whom there no restraint, save his res
Pect Tor public opinion, gave way to the tentts-
uon OF aveDgiDg his private Injuries. lie remark
eJ II as weakness Ia the character OF bis fayorile
Cssar' That he suffered his enemies TO .emsin in
possession oil the power to iniure him. and the re-
porter of The observation could not helm scLnosv
Lodging IN his heart, when be looked on the oer
son oeiord him, that he was unlikely TO fall into
such error.
When Napoleon laid aside reserve and spoke
what were probably his true sentiments he endea
Vored 10 justify those acts OF his government which