The Nevada journal., 1852-12-03

tendants were Immediately called, and
Napoleon, aided by the Count de Beau
mont, bore the lifeless body of Josephine
to her chamber. 1t is not probable that
the human heart has ever experienced
more intense anguish than Josephine en-
dured upon this occasion. A fearful re-
tribution overwhelmed Napoleon for this
abandonment of the faithful wife of his
youth. 1t is not at all improbable that
this event was the influential cause Of
his 6nal overthrow
1t was at Fontainebleau that Napole-
on abdicated the empire, and took his
affecting leave of the Imperial guard.
Like everything else which this extra
ordinary man did, this act was invested
with all the attributes Of sublimity. 1t
was on the goth of April, 1914. His
faithful guard were drawn up in the
courtyard of the palace, to receive the
farewell of their beloved Emperor. At
noon, descending the stairs Of the pal
ace, he passed through the throng of
carriages waiting at the door, and enter
ed into the midst of the Imperial Guard,
which Immediately closed in circle
around him. For moment he cast his
eye in silence over the familiar ranks Of
those who had been his companions for
many stormy years, and who loved him
almost to alteration Then, in calm,
subdued veice, he said
"Officers and soldiers of my Guard.
bid you adieu. For twenty years l
have led you in the path of victory
For twenty years you have served me
with homer and fidelity. Receive my
thanks. My aim has always been the
happiness and glory Of France. To-day
circumstances are changed. When all
Europe is armed against me when all
the princes and powers have leagued TO-
gether; when a great portion of my en-
Hire is seized, and part of France"
Here, momentarily overcome with emo
tion, and unwilling to exhibit it by a
tremulous voice, he paused but soen, in
an altered tone, continued, "When anoth-
er order of things is established, should
yield. With you and the brave men
who remained devoted to me, | could
have resisted all the efforts of my ene-
mics. But shsuld have kindlsd civ
il war in our beautiful France, in the
bosom of our beloved country. Do not
abandon your unhappy country. Sub
nit 10 your Chiefs and continue to march
in the road Of honor where you have al
ways been found. Lament not my lot.
Great remembrances remain with me.
| shall occupy my time in writing my
history and yours. Adieu, my children!
| would that | could press you all to my
heart. But will embrace your eagle"
The standard-bearer inclined the ban
ner, and he kissed the eagle three times,
exclaiming, with voice now almost in
artculate with emotion, 'Ah, dear ca
gle." Then, turning to the soldiers,
many of whom were sobbing aloud, he
said, 'Adieu, my children, adieu, adieu,
and throwing his arms around their gen
eral, and pressing him warmly to his
heart, he exclaimed, may this last en-
brace penetrate your hearts," He then
tore himself away, threw himself into
carriage, and disappeared, leaving every
one of those war Scared veterans bathed
in tears.
No person has ever been so unfavora-
bly, situated to obtain just verdict re-
spocting his character as Napoleon Be-
napartc. Immediately upon his down
fall, England, to justify herself before
the world for the course she had pur-
sued, commenced series of the most
atrocious libels upon his career. Gold
smith, Lockart, and Scott have written
of Napoleon, as the Quarterly Review,
Madame Trollops, and Basil Hall, have
written of America. And all who read
the English language have formed their
estimate of his character from these
highly prejudiced deineations. Scotts
life of Napoleon is the least interesting
and the least truthful of any of his ro-
mances. AS history, in England even,
it has now suEk into contempt. In
France, Napoleon has been almost equal
ly unfortunate. Upon the restoration of
the Bourbons, no historian could, without
drawing upon himself the frewn of king
and court, do justice to the man who so
long and with so much glory, occupied
the throne from which the Bourbons had
been elected. Lamartine is now writing
the history of the Restoration. But ev-
cry intelligent man in France under
stands his work to be political pamph-
let against his great rival, Louis Napo.
leon. Let me not be Understood as
speaking disrespectfully Of Lamartinc.
There are few persons whose genius and
whose character more highly admire.
His superior in all the destinations of
rhc toric, the world has, perhaps, never
produced. But he must indeed be more
than man, could he, under the peculi-
arly exasperating circumstances in
which he is now placed, do justice to the
great Emperor, and thus establish that
Napoleonie dynasty which, above all
things, he wishes to overthrow. Theirs
also, an exile from his native land, feted
by the English mobiles, and eating of the
bread and drinking of the cup of the
Duke of Wellington, is not in a favora
bic situation to portray, with impartiali-
fv tho caraar % tba ,l1,Striouc anap,y