New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-04-20

of the enemy to die in glory. Any one could have
done that--and il reserved Napoleon to disgrace
Napoleon was-not a prisoner-but-a slave
stolen by the English and robbed most bssely Of
his rights. Sout saw that il was all over with the
Emperor, and to save his own neck he published &
Memoir in his own justification, in which he speaks
Of Bonaparte in the most disdainful terms. He is
DO longer Emperor and Hero, but " ths man"
soult and family were banished by the Ordi.
nance Of July oath. and took their residence in
Dusseldorf In 1919, he was allowed to return,
the baton he had dishonored. In November, 1929,
Charles X. conferred upon him the collar Of the
Order of the Holy Spirit and made him Peer Of
France Whether the collar was the cause or the
result cannot say, but Soult was at this time en-
Enthusiastically religious He certainly needed re-
pentance.
After the Revolution Of July-under the admin.
stration Of Laftte-the old soldier was called to
the War Department and an army Of 10000 men
at once armed, equipped and disciplined proved
that the veteran had lost none of his old energy and
that he was quite as willing to serve a third dy-
nasty as he had been the two others precedent
Cssimir Perier came into power and Soult rose
to the Presidency Of the Council of Ministers on
the occasion of his untimely death. France was
in crisis to carry her through which bold strokes
were necessary. The arrest of the Duchess Of
Berry-the expedition to Antwerp-the project Of
the detached forts and of the Law upon the subject
the republicans at Lyons and Paris, are the points
ol, IL
After the days of April the Soult system fell
more and more into dsrepute.
In 1884, De Brogle was broken down upon the
question of indemnity to the United States-Dupin
pressed Sout for the accounts Of his expenditures
and finally dissolution of the Chamber became
necessary. The reelection only made it worse for
the old warrior, and Theirs now detached himself
from bis colleague and the President of the Council
was obliged to yield his place.
In 1893, he was sent as Minister TO London and,
what was both singular and gratifying, the whole
population Of England was carried away in per
feet hurricane of enthusiasm and the friendly meet
ing of Soult and Wellington shook the sides Of John
Bull with joy for weeks together. France caught
the wild delight and the old Chief who had but a
short time before been the execraton Of all parties
now became the tutelar deity Of French Democra-
cy-the Wellington Of France.
In 1889, Soult was again called to the Presidency
of the Council The complications of the East
placed France in danger of war, and the Ministry
of 1899 fell on the LIST March, ls4O and that which
took its place was itself overthrown in October
following. Soult and Guizot were charged to form
a pacific Cabinet, which-with some notifications
still exists. They refused to raise an army of
100000 men, which had been determined on by
Theirs, but they sustained the ornaments already
made and pushed the Fortfcations of Paris to
their completion, notwithstanding their predeces-
sors had been thrown by commencing them.
The Soult. Guizot Cabinet has endured for more
than six years l will not go into the history its
transactions for if that the purpose of these
sketches would be better to discuss such matters
in the notice Of some man who has had more to
do with the business than Marshal Soult-who
after all is little more than cipher, sort OF make
weight in the scale of political reputation and who
of course can hardly be held responsible for what
the Cabinet have or have not done-a fact which
have no doubt be felt most deeply when I saw
him in his cabriolet.
The old Marshal is a little above the medium
hight and was once fine erect, soldierlike man
but he stoops now and is lame from the effects of
wound His features have been strong and sharp
the perceptive faculties phrenologst would say
immensely large-but his face has lost something
of its sharp chiseing by the accumulation Of aabby
flesh, to which in his old age he has become vic
tim. The old mans hair is quite white and he
wears it long-I cannot help saying that his head
would have done excellently well for an aged
Methodist minister thirty years ago; it is precisely
of the type of the oldfashioned men of that class.
Marshal Soult is no orator, though he speaks
tolerably He is no writer, unless he is penning a
military order, in which no one can excel him. He
is no statesman, though few men have had more
concern with State affairs. 1t will be asked, What
then are his remarkable qualities ! answer -
sound common sense, untiring energy, and a most
wonderful power Of combining and using the means
Of accomplishing any plan which may have been
given him. There could not probably be a better |
Minister of War or worse Minister for Foreign |
Affairs.
The worst feature in his character has been |
shown in the facility with which he has changed |
MS allegiance from one sovereign to another, and
he cold blooded and bitter persecution 10 winch he
mas subjected those whose only fault is that they
were what he was and have not seen fit to turn
traitors with him. l know Napoleon at ST. Helena
justified Soult from the charge Of treason, but the
easons for which he did so have been satisfactory
o no one, presume, who has read the Msm0riei
ie Saiate HelSne.
But it is not, perhaps well to complain too
much of errors which were partly the fault of the
ines though for the most part the fruit personal
mbition. Marshal Soult is nearly eighty years
Id. He cannot live long and he will probably
nough, die a Minister Of France. He is said a.
eady to have built his tomb according to his own
aste and he has quite familiarized himself to
Death, in whose service be has formerly wrought
o well. He has lived long and active life in
roublous times. He is covered with half a century
{ glory, and when he dies the world will follow
i'm with thousand honors to the tomb which is
eady to receive him. Such is the reward Of such
life. l cannot help subjoining one of Byron's
tanzas
There snail they rot-Ambton's honored fools
Yes Honor decks the turf that wraps their clay
Vsin Sophstry In these behold the tools.
The broken tools, that tyrants cast away
By myriads. when they dare TO pave their way
With human hesrts-to what "A Dream alone
Can despots compass sught that halls their sway
Or call with truth one spsn Of earth their own
Save that wherein at last they crumbe bone BY bone
PALMER