Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-15
Prom the Boston Journal.
LOUIS BONAPARTE'S REPLY.

.In
LOUIS BONAPARTE'S REPLY.
Louis Bonapartes reply to Sir Waiter Scotts
"liistory of Napoleon" has been repubshed by
Carey, Lea g. Carey, Philadelphia. and by Munroe
& Francis, Boston Written by the brother of the
emperor to so celebrated man Sir Walter, it
will no doubt be sought with avdity, and read with
eagerness; but if it depended on its own intrinsic
merit, we apprchend il would fall heavily from the
press-uncss, indeed, it should be valued by those,
who have curiosity TO see how far vanity and
cour can make man blind and ridiculous. The iii-
accracies as to matter of fact which Louis detects
In the History of Napoleon gent~aly cxcee-
DINGHY unimportant; and barely sufficient to create a
passing regret that the distinguished historian did not
take time to perfect his nmor al work The only sat
lsaction Louis gives concerning the murder of the
Duke d'Enghien Is, at is impossible Napoleon should
have brought the Prince TO Paris to be immolatcI lie
who established Bourbon IN Tuscany had quite
contrary design, and which could hut
he favorable. Why the design was so cruelty
changed, | cannot explain; but l am persuaded
impartial history will one day reveal the secret"
He allows that every thing relative to the "inlurious
treatment of Prussia, and its incompatible Queen is
Just-and so 1t is with regard to all the leading tca-
lures of Napoleons career. Yet he Considers Sir
Walters work "a vast libel the glory of France
and OF Napoleon" Hesays, ''The pretended histo-
Try is dictated by the most calumnous and dcfamatory
spirit" a hundred times he repeats that 1.-The
book IS worthy Of the author of so many fctions
"a truth, by the way,though not in The sense he in
ltcndedt Sir Walter consid Bonaparte sproclama-
ton to his army, their departure from Toaloun
mixture OF bombast aud bad aste which Louis
makes the courteous reply that 'slich an obscr-
vation appears qpte natural from the author of ro-
lmances frequently filed with tavern scenes. -
He to think Sir Walter was jealous of the
rcnown of the illustrious Frenchman for he SAYS
ITO cxnggeratc the defects and errors of great men
proves how much their celebrity wounds common
place rvalship and enmity: but great actions have
this advantage over 6nc writing, even over the
most adroit calumnies, that the latter disappear
under the scythe of time, while the former is
consolidated as il grows older" One proof of S;r
Walters malice Is that ''he wished to make Napoleon
pass foreigner in France; else why this
obstinacy III writing the family name BuonapGrie
iustead of BOadparte, coilsecrated it is by long
habit" The Historian remarks that, Napoleon
had not a decided taste FOR the fine arts."-And
Louis dempnds Indignantly how this can be true
OF him "who enriched his country by the most bril-
liant collections, recompensed artists with un-
heard of maguifcence, and caused TO be constructed
the prodigiouS road which frayerSes The .1lps!" To
the simple and apparently trhng remark "Napo-
leon never again visited Corsica" he friously res
ponds, "This is false! He dscmbarked at Aacco on
his return from Egypt, and remained there sever1i
days" A consciousness of the folly of such criti-
cism seems to occur to him; for he adds, "Howeyer
puere this may appear, 1t proves the little respect
the author has paid to truth"
Sir Walter writes, "Those who pEactice calumny
know, according to the vuigar expression, that If they
do but throw dirt sufficient part of it will ad-
here To which Louis replies, ''This no doubt is
the reason that the author has accumulated all the ies
CT against Napoleon during thirty years lie was ashe avows
not Ignorant of this yul gar maxim"
The only place where lie allows written in the
style of Historian is where lie speaks years
OF such hllancy battle Criticism aud charm
silence, till the undertakings of the Emperor rise anve
each other in wondo each being step toward the completion
OF that siuPendous pyramid of which the gIadaions
| be formed Of conquered provinces"
On the whole, recommend this pamphlet "By Louis Be-
dPGrte, Count de ST. LeH ErKing Of HoHsnd Brofhe,
Of ne Emperor" as singular instance of the inflated Ian
guage and overweenng vanity Of angry Gau; and of
| vtuperatye spirit, hitter as gall.