, 1841-12-04

N~iP0LE0N's CHARACTER.

His genius was vast, but II was after the man
ner Of the 0rientals, rather than the Europeans
he followed neither the dictates Of truth mol
the lessons Of experience, bat the vivid picture:
and vehement suggestions of his own fervcn
imagination. Such was the intensity of these
impressions, that they made him entirely forget re.
ality; he reasoned AMI acted upon them after the
manner Of insane persons, as il they had been &C.
tual eXistences. Ideas with him instantly led to de.
sire; his incipient thought was alreadya passion
and his chief endeavors afterwards were direc-
ted TO conquering the difficulties or overcoming
the obstacles which opposed its execution
Thence the complaint, so commonly made against
him, especially in his latter years, that he had an
instructive aversion to truth, and that no one
could secure his favor but by anticipating and con-
frming his preconceived opinions. 1t was not that
he had a repugnanc towards truth in the abstract,
but that he resisted every thing which deranged
or unsettled the current Of his ideas. From the
same cause. he never YVES known to change his
opinion CT any subject nor did he ever admit,
except in one or tTo fragrant instances, such as
the attack on Spain, that he had done WRONG or
committed q mistake in his life. His ideas were
conceived in the vivid Imagination of the East,
and much more frequently founded on abstract
conceptions than practical observation but they
were developed with the s~trictness Of gcometri-
cal demonstrations and engraved on his mind in
characters more durable ana unalterable than
the sculptures on Egyptian granite.
SAPoLroS's EYE AND CALCULATION.
BY long experience, joined TO great natural
qulckness and precision of eye he had acquired
the power of judging with extraordinary accura-
cy both Of the amount Of the enemies force OPP
posed to hin in the field, AM Of the probable re-
suit of movements, even the most complicated,
going forward in the opposite armies. The roar
Of artillery, the smoke and rattle OF musketry,
even the falling Of balls around him, were a like
unable to divert his steady gaze, or disturb his
accurate Judgment. Never was he known to
be mistaken in the estimate which he formed on
the distance or approach Of tie fire Of the enc
my. Even or The fr,hcst extremity of the hori-
ION, if his telescope could reach the hostile col
umns, he observed every moment, anticipated
every necessity, and from the slightest indica-
tons drew correct conclusions as to the designs
which were in contemplation. No sooner had
he ascendei a hight from which Z whole field of
battle could be surveyed, than lie looked around
him FOR a few minutes with his telescope, and i'm
mediaiely formed q clear conception of the posi-
ton, forces and intentions OF the whole hostile
array. II this way he could, with surprising
accuracy, calculate in 4 few minutes, according
to what he could see OF their formation and the
extent of ground which they occupied. the nu-
merical force of armies OF 90 or 10000 men;
and ii their troops were at all scattered, he knew
at once how long i would require for them to
concentrate, and how many hours must clapsc
before they could make their attack. On orc &C.
c%asion, in tie autumn o. I6l3, some OF Napoicon's
Generals expressed an opinion that he might cx-
poet an attack on Ike side of Bohemia. From
what | can see said he, calmly closing lis telc-
scope, "the enemy have there two corps Of sixty
Thousand men, they will rc4ui:e more than one
day f. concentrate and be ready 10 attack; We
may pursue our march"
EAPoLEoys EAEITs DCEIYG \ cAIPAIGH.
Il in the course of a campaign he met a couri-
or on the road, he generally stopped. got ont of
his carriage, and called Ber;hier or Caulaincourt,
who sat down or the ground to write what the
Emperor dictated. Frequently then the officers
around him were sent in different directions, so
that hardly any remained in attendance on his
person. When he expected some intelligence
from his Generals, and i. WAS supposed that a
battle was in contemplation, he was generally in
the most anxious STATE Of disquictude; and not
unfrequentlv in the middle of the night called
out aloud-'Cali D,Albe. (his principal Secre
tary, let every one arise" He then began 10
work at one or two in the morning; having gone
TO bed the night before. according 10 his invaria-
bic custom, at nine o'clock, as soon as he had
dincd. Three or four hours sleep was all that
he either allowed himself or required; during
the campaigno OF 1879, there was only one night;
that when he rested at Gorlitz, after the con-
clusion of the armiStice, that he slept ten hours
without Weakening. Often, Caulaincourt or Du-
roc were up with him hard at work all night
On such occasions, BIS favorite mameluke Ru-
stan, brought him frequently strong coffee, and
he walked about from dark till sunrise, speak
ing and debating without interlnission in his
apartment, which was always well lighted, wrap
ped up in his night-gown, with a silken handker.
chief tied like a turban round his head. But
these stretches were only made under the pres.
sure of necessity; generally he retired to rest al
eight or nine, and slept till two; then rose ant
dictated for a couple of hours; then rested, oil
more frequently meditated, for two hours alone
after which he dressed, and a warm bath prepa
red him for the labors of the succeeding day.
His travelling carriage was a perfect curiosity
and singularly characteristic of the prevailing
temper of his disposition. 1t was divided int
two equal compartments, separated by a small
low partition, on which the elbows could rest
while it prevented either from encroaching Oh
the other; the smaller was for Berthier; the lar