The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-03-19
MISCELLANEOUS.
WASHINGTON AND RoNApARTE.

Il.
The Viscount C hateaubriand has recently
published at Paris an account of his travels in
America. After describing his first visit to Gen.
Washington he makes the following COMPARE
son between Washington and Bonaparte -
/" If a comparison be instituted between
Washington and Bonaparte, between man and
man, the genius Of the first appears to be of a
less elevated character than that of the second.
Washington does not belong, as Bonaparte, to
that race of the Alexanders and Caesars, who
surpass the ordinary standard of the human spe-
cies Nothing astonishing appertains to his per-
sonal history he is not placed upon vast the
atre he has not to contend with the ablest cap
tains, and most potent monarchs of the age he
I does not traverse seas; he does not rush from
Memphis to Vienna, from Cadiz to Moscow he
defends himself with handful of citizens, upon
| a new and renownless shore, within the narrow
circle ofsdomestic firesides. He engages in
none ofthose combats which renew the bloody
triumphs of Arbellas and Pharsalia he does
not PROSTATE thrones in order to erect others
on their ruins he places rot has foot upon the
neck Of kings he does not cause it to be said
! to them, while waiting in the vestibule of his
palace
Qu'ilsse font trop attendre etqu' Attila SEN
"The actions of Washington seem, as ii
were, to be wrapped in silence; he acts with
caution it might be said, that he feels himself
responsible for the liberty of the future, and
that he fears to compromit it. 1t is NOT with
his own Cestinies that this hero of new order
is charged; it is with those of his country and
he does not allow himself to trife with what is
not his own But from this profound darkness
what effulgence is about TO burst forth Search
the unknown woods where glittered the sword
| Washington, and what will you find tombs ?
No world Washington has left the United
States as the glorious trophy of his field of bat
! tie,
"Bonaparte has no trait of resemblance to
this staid American he combats upon an an
cient soil, covered with splendor and renown ;
I he is occupied with his own fate alone He
seems to know that his mission viii be short,
/ that the torrent which tumbies from so lofty
height will quickly pass away ; therefore hast
ems TO enjoy and abase his glory as if it were
| like fugitive youth. Similar to the gods of Ho-
mer he wishes with four strides to reach the
extremity of the world he appears upon every
shore he inscribes his name precipitately in
the register of every people; he throws crowns
to his family and soldiers, in his impetuous pro-
gress he is alike rapid in his movements, in
| his victories, in his laws. Incumbent over the
world, with one hand he strikes down kings,
with the other he prostrates the revolutionary
monster but in destroying anarchy he stiles
I liberty, and ends by losing his own on his final
battle plain.
"Every one receives the recompense due TO
his works; Washington raises country to in
| dependence retired chief magistrate, he
TRANQUILITY Yields up his spirit under his paternal
/ roof, amid the regrets and tears Of his country
men, and the veneration of every land
Bonaparte deprived nation of her liberty
a fallen emperor, he is hurried into exile, where
the dread Of the earth deems him not yet suffi-
GENTLY imprisoned under the oceans guard Al
long as he struggles with the power Of death
feeble and enchanted as he is to rock, Eu
rope daros not resign her arms. lie expires
and this news, when proclaimed at the gate o
the very palace before which the conqueror haC
issued his orders for so many grand catastro
Plies, neither stops nor surprises the passenger
for what had the citizen to bewail
"The republic of Washington still exists
the empire of Bonaparte is destroyed; it ha
passed away between the first and second voy
age of Frenchman, who found grateful en-,
happy nation, Where he had formerly fought
for some few oppressed colonists
" Washington and Bonaparte issued from tn
bosom of republic: born both for, liberty
the first was faithful the second betrayed her
|, Their fate, according to their choice, will b
, different with posterity.
"The name of Washington will spread witt
: liberty from age TO age ; itsS'ill mark the com
, mencement of new era for the human race.
"The name Of Bonaparte will also be uttei
ed by future generations; but it will be az
!, companied with no benedctiCn, and will ofte
1 serve as an authority for oppressors both gre'
: and small
: Washington was the complete represent
! tive of the WARTS the ideas, the knowledge, Il
J. opinions of his epoch; he seconded instead
j impeding the march Of human intellect;