Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-09-16

ried in the profoundest melancholy. His
most intimate friends dare not approach
him, and favorite officers stood in groups
as distance, gazing anxiously and sadly
on that silent tent. But immense conse.
quences were hanging on the movements
of the next morning-a powerful enemy
was near, with their array yet unbroken
and they at length ventured TO approach
and ask for orders. But the broken. hear
led chiefiain only shook his head, ex.
claiming, 'euerythtng 10 morroi1 = and SUI
kept his mourniul attitude. Oh, how over
whelming was the grief that could so mas
Ter that stern heart! The magnificent
spectacle of the day that had passed, the
glorious victory he had won, were remem-
bered no more, and he saw only his dying
friend before him. No sobs escaped him,
but silent and moiionless he sat, his palid
face buried in his hands, and his noble
heart wrung with agony. Darkness drew
her curtain over the scene, and the stars
came out one after another upon the sky,
and, at length, the moon rose above the
hills, bathing in her soft beams the tented
host, while the flames from burning villa.
ges in the distance shed a lurid light thro'
the gloom-and all was sad, mournful, yet
sublime. There was the dark cottage, with
the sentinels at the door, in which Duroc
lay dying, and there, too, was the solitary
tent of Napoleon, and within, the bowed
form of the Emperor. Around at distance,
stood the squares of the Old Guard, and
nearer by, silent group of chieftains, and
over all lay the moonlight. Those brave
soldiers, filled with grief to see their be-
loved chief borne down with such sorrow
stood for long time silent and fearful
Atlength to break the mornful silence, and
to express the sympathy they might not
speak, the bands struck up requiem for
the dying marshal. The melancholy
strains arose and fell in prolonged echoes
over the field, and swept in soitened caden-
ces on the ear of the fainting warrior-bnt
still Napoleon moved not. They then
changed the measure to a triumphant
strain, and the thrilling trumpets breathed
forth their most joyful notes, till the hen
yens rung with the melody. Such bursts
of music had welcomed Napoleon as he
returned fiushedswith victory, till his eye
kindled ia exultalion; but now they fell on
dull and listIess ear. 1t ceased, and
again the mornful requiem filled all the air.
But nothing cound arouse hlm from MS
agonizinq reflections-his friend lay oy'
ing, and the heart he loved more than his
lie throbbing its last pulsations.
What theme for painter, and what
eulogy on Napoleon was that scene
That noble heart, which the enmity Of the
world could not shake-nor the terrors OF
battlefield move from its calm repose--
nor even the hatred and insults of his, at
last, victorious enemies humble--here sunk
in the moment of victory before the tide
of affection. What military chieitain ever
mourned thus on the field of victory, and
what soldiers ever loved leader SO?
We have nothing further 10 add about
Napoleon. We simply feel, that while in
military genius, in diplomatic foresight, IN
far-reaching comprehensiveness of State
interest, in sublimity of self.counsel, in
grandeur of sustained purpose, he was su
perior to all the other leaders, monarchs
and statesmen of Europe, he was not then
inferior in magnanimity, justice or faith
They we're all, at times, deficient enough
in these last great qualities; but why as
sail one, and say nothing Of the rest?-
France was Napoleon's country, and he
fought for France; if he fought also for
himself, he was not therefore the wors
among men.