The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-09
NAPOLEON AND THE HISTORY OF
FRANCE

In the first months of the year 1903 the Able Hal.
ma, who for time had the tile of honorary librarian
TO the Empress Josephine, forwarded to the Emperor
memoir upon the " Continuation of the History OF
France of Veliey, Vlllaret, and GARNER. The
manuscript was ira nsmted from the Cabinet TO the
imperial Librarian, with the following note " Refer.
red to M Barber for his report to the Emperor BY
command"
A few days after The reception of this document,
M. Barber addressed the following report TO the EN-
peror:
Sir M. Halma honorary librarian to her Ma
Jesiy the Empress, wishes to be entrusted with the
continuation Of the History of France which Val.
ley Vlaret, and GARNER have left Of at the fourth
year ol lhe reign OF Charles TX or the year I564-
lie would add to hat continuation geographical ma
for each period the coins of each reipn the porros
OF the most ilustT0us parsonage S. and description
OF monuments OF public and general utility. This
work would also enable him to continue to the pre-
sent time the excellent chronological abridgment Of
President Henault.
He would also reduce the substance of his labors
INTO synoptc tables, like those he has had the honor
OF presenting to the Empress, which contained tn,
History OF France, and those Of Martinique and
Corsica.
an. Halma is aware of the extent of the field he
wishes TO enter. He intends deyotng his whole time
10 consulting all the public records where the monu.
ments of our history and laws are to be found
nave me honor 10 propose to your Majesty to
grant Nj. Halma such salary as may enable HIM 10
devo himself exclusively TO the study of the Hiso-
ry, with the title of contnualor of the History of
France, of Veey, VilIaret and GARNER
J. BARBER
'Paris, 25th Mars, 1903"
The Home Minister Nj. Cretet, after examining
the above documents made report to the Emper r.
the conclusions of which were ''that Nj Halmas de-
mand could not be acceded 10, because il beloved
not the Government TO interfere in such enterprises
they should be left at the disposal Of literary men
and the Governments ha hno
only on OBJECTS OF more general interest"
II was during his stay at Bordeaux that NAPOLEON
e:elved (on the 18th OF April, lS0S) the Home Min.
sters report AS soon as he had read it, he dictated
he suploined note, which he immediately despatched
TO NJ. Creict:
81 do not approve of the principles set forth in
the Home Minister'S note. They were true twenty
years ago. and will be so in sixty years hence but
they are not true at the present day. Neley is the
only author who has written with some detail upon|
the history of France Pres dent Henaut's Abrege
Chronologlque, IS good classical book, and
continuation OF both would be very useful VeIley
ends at the reign of Henry ". and the other hsto-
rians go not beyond Louis XIV. IL is of the utmost
Importance TO make sure of the spirit in which the
contributors write II is only by the manner in which
facts are represented that young people can Judge of
them correctly. To deceive them in describin9 the
past IS 10 prepare future error for them have de-
sired the Minister Of Police 10 watch owe, the con
tnuation of SIillot, and wish the two Ministers to
concert themselves Tor the continuation of Veley and
Henault. This work must not only be intr,lsted TO
men OF real talent, but likewise to men attached TO
,he Government, who shall present facts in their true
i'gn, ana prepare wholesome instruction, by taking
up those historians at the period they stop at, and
conducting the history to the year VIII
81 am fan from reckoning The expense anu cons;a,ro
fion. II is my intention that the Minister make II 10
be understood that uork more deserve py p,o,
ton.
every line must nculcato the effects Of the inau
ence oil the court OF Rome, OF confession bills, the
of the edct Of Nantes. the rid;cpla Of
Louis the Fourteenths marriage with Nine. de Main
tenon, &c. The weakness which drove The VaIois
from the throne, and that Of the Bourbons who have
suffered the reins of Government to escape from
their hands must be made TO excite the same feelings
Justice must be done to Henry W. Louis XIII