The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-01-16
NAPoLEoN's PROPHECY.

The remarks with regard to the future of Eu-
rope, in another column, are attributed to the
Emperor Napoleon, while at St. Helena, and
are said to have been made to Count Las Cases,
from whose journal they were stricken oa,by
the censors Of the press. We can see, indeed,
very good reasons why they should not have
been published at the time when that journal
was first given to the world. That was during
the year 1872, while Castebreagh was still alive
in England, while Louis XVIII. still occupied
the throne OF France, on which he had been
placed by the bayone of foreigners, while
France still cherished in her heart of hearts the
memory OF the dead Napoleon, while the Holy
Alliance was still busted in keeping down the
liberties of the people, while despotism s.ill
troubled al the wild name of him who had been
Its ightiest victim. To have published such
prophecy as this, in any country OF Europe,
at that day, would have been to become a can.
didate for exile, death or Imprisonment for life.
Yet we are not aware of the manner in which
this extraordinary prediction of the man whom
M. dc Lainartine regards as altogether deficient
in foresight, first saw the light. That the con-
versa,ion was held, we do not doubt-that it
is properly reported, can scarcely be question
ed-that it was genuine prophecy, and no
thought after the event, is apparent from the
fact that it was given to the world long before
the revolution Of 1913. Thus far, it seems to
have been fulfilled to the very letter, but it he's
yet great length to run. That it may be all
accomplished. is not only our ardent wish, but
that of every republican. That even that por-
ton of it which relates to England, the most
douhlfal of the whole, will one day become his
tory, we hold to be a self.evdent truth
There is, then, much to be yet accomplished
but enough has been already fulfilled to con.
vince the world, if it had any doubts before,
what extraordinary man the prophet was.-
The view which he took of European affairs
seems TO have resembled inspiration his simple
predictions set the wisdom and the reasoning
of the most profound statesmen at naught; he
arrived III his conclusions by q process which
baffled the skill of the most profound log :cians;
he stated consequences with the authority of
man who could look into the future and tell
what seed should grow, as unerring as
those ancient seers, who received their mes
S"S AZ iSoShiouo Mugs iftSu iIOm
the lips Of Omnipotence itself. Yethe pretend
ed to no comm sson from above. His inspira-
ton was entirely of that kind alluded to by
Cicero. lie knew man, aud he had studied
history. He was aware that the nature of man
has not changed, and he believed that the les.
SONS Of history, for that reason, were as lamp
hung on high, whereby to read the future
Every day adds cubit more to the intellec-
tua! statue of this wonderful man.
There is only ore thing about these remarks
that induce us to suspect that they are spu-
rious. In the acknowledged journal of the
Count, his name is always spelt Las Cases
He himself says that his family was originally
Spanish, and Of a common origin with that of
the famous Las Casas, who exered himselfso
much in favor Of the American aborigines, who
had been reduced to slavery by the Spaniards,
as to have acquired the name of the Good Las
Casas." But his branch of the family had
been living in France for ages, and had long
since adopted the French form of spelling this
name "Las Cases"