The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-30
900


such as the world had never known. can remem-
Der well how deeply excited by the mere
perusal OF the accounts Of these imposing ceremo-
Mes His remains, after having lain for nearly
twenty years IN the "rock of the ocean," where he
died an English prisoner, were brought back in tri-
nmph to France, and borne through the streets of
Paris with all the pomp and magnifcence which seem
to accord 80 well with his dazzling and wonderful
career. The English reviewer, at the time these
expensive and superb ceremonies were performed,
made use of this memorable expression
Ellis life his DEATH and this last magnificent celebration
o. ms funeral ooseques all stand without parallel in the
history q the past His corpse has been received at
Louis Philippe himself their head he has had the rem
nans Oh his shattered egon for mourner 100 900 soldiers
Tor his guard and thousands Of spectators
Europe to the last and memorable Of his tr
urnphant professions"
The life Of Napoleon is, indeed, without a par
allel. He was commander-n-chefo of the army Of
Italy at twenty-seven years Of age; and in another
year, he had fought the great battles ofLod Castig-
lone, and Arcola, and the first soldier and cap
tain in Europe. From that time, what wonderful
career! What rapid passage from triumph to tri-
umph from conquest TO conquest! from concep-
ton to execution Marengo !--'sthe most perous
OF hls victories, but the most comprehensve'-
baole which sealed the fate of the republic of Eu-
rope and himself. Austcrliiz, jena, and the fatal
Russian campaign from the period Of which the star
OF the hero began to wane. This is certainly most
impressive and instructive retrospect and proves of
course, beyond doubt, that the life of Napoleon
is without parallel. But, then, if he was great in
war, ne was great in guilt great in unscrupulous-
ness, great in boldness and cruelty. His warmest
admirer cannot deny that, in the language of a
famous writer, "his wars cost. France two millions
of lives;' and that "his trophies were gained only
TO embtter defeat by their reSumplioals. In all his
insults to thrones, he did nothing for tho people.
He abolished the tyranny Of birth in his military
school-that is true-and raised some of his ablcst
generals from the ranks; but this was for his own
Ma k.A
at this hour, France would have remained a slave;
her land but largo Bastile; her people but con-
scription, governed by gens-dmn,es; her laws a
theory; and her sovereign tyrant, scofing at the
name of freedom, and ruling by the scourge and
the sword" Thus, then, while we admit his great
ness, we must also admit that his greatness was
bloody, and his career a soldier was in many
places marked by cruelty unequalled His dying
moments were embittered by delirium; and al
though the words, SO true to his character, "tete
darmse," escaped from his lips ere his breath
left his body, yet, beyond this, his final hour
was clouded and dark, and leaves to his
friends but sad remembrance. He was created
rapidly; the most brilliant part Of his career
was run in little more than ten years; and he
at the very top of the ladder, and in the lowest
age. He died at the age of ffiytwo having spent in
exile about six years of his life and was then buried in
the ocean rock, where, after having lain for over
nineteen years, his corpse was reclaimed by penn
tent country, and buried in style Of grand and au-
gust solemnity.
triumphant France bears homo her mighty brave
To fll-oh, glorious mockery!-A CRAWL"
My memory has REQUIRED to these wcll-known
scenes, now that zoe have lost a hero and sage
now that our great man has gone to his final home.
But between Andrew Jackson and Napoleon Bona
parte, what contrast Both men Of vast concep-
tons, and unusual power ito execute and COM
bold and courageous--both possessed
of excitabe temperamentsyet in their life, death,
and burial, how different! The story of Bonaparte
has just been mperfecty told, and allusion has been
made to the memorable grandeur of his fureral,
nearly twenty years after his death. The life Of
the cabinet-great as captain, as well as ruler;
and so with Napoleon. But Jackson's hand, Jack
sons sword, unstaned with cruelty or ingrati-
tude; unmarked by any such damning stain
as the murder of D'Enghien; and it is wonder
full how few of his countrymen were sacrificed in
those unequaed military triumphs which have
made his name SO great. His death is equally in
contrast with one with whom he was cotempora-
neous. He died with all his faculties about him
serene, sensible, and clear. "God and his country"
were interviewer with his latest instincts; and the
same prayer that commended his soul to Heaven,
his country 70 the same divine care.
Before he died, he pointed out, with all his charac
teristc frankness the necessity of maintaining our
rights to our soil, and the importance of repeling
British aggression. Such was the death of Andrew
evening Of the life of the great conqueror Of the East
But the contrast does not finish here. His burial,
according to his dying request, was by the side of
his wife, in the family vault, amid the quiet shades
of the secluded Hermitage If there were any cerc-
monals, they did not occur over his remains. That
was duty left to the country; and nobly has it
been executed. Although it may not have been aa
splenddly performed az that of France over Napo-
leon; yet, what was wanting in display, was made
up in the sincerity of the general grief, and in the
manner in which all men attested to the fall of our
patriot and sage.
Professor Frost has just issued No. 5 Of his
pictorial History Of the World''--a work that is
destined to attain still higher place than it now en-
Joys. The typographical execution of this book is
beautiful; and the plates, done on wood, are tho
me that the history is meeting with rapid sale and
that the prospect for the disposal of increased
number OF copies is most favorable. II is by the
circulation and reading of such books, that the ma
tiona taste is exalted and purified.
rode out, few days ago, to Girard college,
which, some Of the papers have been telling us,
was to be completed in about year. IL this costly
edfce is finished in fpe years. shall be amazed. 1t
has now been in progress since 1883; and, IN con-
nexion with the bad investments of the trustees OF
the Girard fund.- the seven millions of dollars left by
that munfcent philanthropst in the hands Of our
wing councils, and TO be devoted to a holy and inn
portant purpose, will be found at the close of few
years, to be materially melted away. There never
was a more cruel recklessness than that which has
been manifested by those having the fund of Mr..
Girard in charge. They seem to exhaust every
means of violating the plainest purposes of his will;
and yet they are sustained by the wings Of this
city!
MmrrARY.--Company "E,n Sd regiment United
States artillery, under the command of First Lieu
tenant Braxton Bragg, accompanied by First Lieut.
tenant George H. Thomas and Brevct Second Lcu-
tenant D. HI. Hill, left this port yesterday, on board