Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-03-26

mory with impa..iaIity, that no ono among
those upon whom the destnies oil nations were
dependent, proved less vindici've and cruel.
He was sober, and only possessed the most
noble passions. 10 vain would his detractors
gause TO contemplate The horrors wherewi'h II
has been sought to tarnish his moral repnta'
zion. Where those accusations solely depend
on the falsehvods and sarcasms OF iibeis. they
may we'll serve 10 accompany such ePne>
neral productions but they constitute no fra-
ture Of Tie grand page Vi history:
What cannot be ccntroverted is, that, In the
| character Of husband to his first wife, much
older than himself, he lived with her, as sol
der, in the greatest harmony, until the last
hour Of their union, without giving her one
cause for complaint.
Another incontes,ible fact is, that he cannot
be reproached with ever having kept an ac-
knowIedged mistress, or been guilty OF any
fragrant conduc, while, when married Sc
cond time, at the age OF for.y-two years, he con-
Quoted himself towards his second wife with
uniform courtesy, amiabili,y, and grace, and
never proved ,6cent in his attentions 10 her.
We must here record, in answer 10 the accu-
sation OF Sir Walter Scott respecting Napo'
Icons egotism, what ,ransp'red on the occa.
sion OF the birth Of his son, when the celebrated
Dubois informed him that, under the moment
Gus circumstances attending the delivery "i the
Empress, the lives OF the mother and infant
were endangered, and that, therefore, 1t became
necessary to lose The one or the other-his an.
wer was, g Save tie mother before euery thing ="
Does not that conduct alone give the writer IN
question the most direct lie
| His hunting excursions we're never destruc>
tive or bur,hensome to the public and the
chief end proposed in the magni6cenee Of his
court was the prosperity Of arts and manufae-
tures, while his personal simplicity was aimos:
unparalleled.
His system Of administration was admirable.
II bore the stamp OF genius, and deserves TO be
as much studied as his campaigns; and even
his enemies ought 10 allow shat, In spite Of
themselves, they are compelled 10 be his Pu-
pills.
Since the reign Of Napoleon, governments
have manifested more activity and vigilance;
from the period in question, utility and anne,
liorations are become the leading objects oil
foreign cabinets; and j, would be futile Tor his
opponents to deny that they have been neees>
STATED TO follow even thuse errors which he
has left behind him.
1t canno, be denied that he was the grand
promoter Of the general aud uniform codes
whereby France is al present legislated. Eow
many difficulties had he no, 10 subdue; and how
imminently was the self love and interests OF
was displayed in obtaining this noble and gen.
erous end His genius was blazoned IN all
his actions, but principally in those immortal
assemblies, where the association of all the
mos, distinguished geuiuses of France ar.
gued upon and framed the grand code OF
French legislation. Upon these occasions he
was present, ard reasoned as il he had been
the most consumma,e Of legislators. On quit
ting the study where he had been combining
the plans of campaign, or discussing the most
W IpoiaId,en Enter a ne toISe 81 State and display
talents equal 10 those Of Portals and Tronchet.
LIE, whatsoever may be the changes effected
in hat immortal code, IL can never be wholly
divested Of his name, nor will it be forgotten
that he was its author; for, even supposing this
lille Justly belongs to those princes who origin
ally conceived the idea Of collection and
classification Of laws, how much more is due
to him who took the most active part in bring
ing them TO perfection?
The Divinity is alone withou, fault; and eve
~ mortal man who approximates to that hap
| DIV state must be endowed with wisdom; bu' he
who pre,ends to have obtained supreme excel
| lence, applies TO himself The diploma Of msd>
man. Where shall we find hero or con-
queror Invested Of all reproach! Titus, uni.
| versslly regarded as the best Of princes, has he
| not to reproach himself, as before remarked,
with the slaughter Of more than million Of
Jews? Did he not cause wretched captives OF
that prosecuted nation to be cruci6ed in pre-
sence Of the whole population ofSJerusaIem
plunged in the abyss Of deepest despair?
War, and the cares attendant on Government,
not only require a resolute mind, but heart
little gifted with sensbili,y; and such is the at
tribute of all great men. As for myself, do
| no, envy those who are crowned with The splen-
dor Of glory; yet cannot bot do justice to the
beauty irradisting sublime actions. while al
lowing that glory can only be acquired at the
price of deeds sffiie'ng to the soul, and even
incompatible with the sentiments Of feeling
heart.
Let those who reproach Napoleon with hav-
ing held the rens of power with too nervous
grasp, and paid little attention to secondary
interests in pursuin & and ad ,ancing The gene
raj interests Of France; let them call 10 reco'
lection the difficulties Of the times and his 2o-
sition, and more particularly, what was next 10