Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-02
From the Home Journal.
Napoleon anti the Literati.

Napoleon and the Literati:
1t will not be long before the world is tired of
hearing of Napoleon, and we accordingly publish
passage from article in the last London Quarter
ly, which gives a sample of the conquerors inter-
course with literary men. 1t was in Germany, af-
ter that terrible campaign which Frustrated Prusz
sia and made Napoleon master of half the CONT
nent that the scenes occurred which are described
in our extract. Napole6n's opiron of Christianity
is particularly Interesting:
1t was here that before an dudsnee of soyereicns
and their men of counc and action, the ehef-d nu-
vres OF French classic drama were acted by such
performers as Tama, lnfond Rauconrt. and Duches:
nois 1t was difficult amid the Confusion of great
names and grand equipages; to PRESERVE intact the
rules even of military etiquette The drums of the
guard of honor at the theatre rolled thrice for an
emperor once only for king. On one occasion tho
armorial bearings on the Wirtembefg carriage all
but obtained the honOrs due only to France or Rus
sia The officer was just in time to check the drum
mer with g 1d'seeCous, ce NEST Qtun Rot"
Among thnsn who most kee-fJ e.joyru tire verses
of Racine in the mouth of Talma was the authors
friend, Goethe, of whose principal interview with
Napoleon he gave particular account. Ma
poleon was not inexpert at examining for this kind
of conversation. W Wolzogen tells how at Stuttgart
he captivated the electress Albeit: daughter of
George HI, by his remarks English literature
For Goethe, however, he needed less preparation.-
Bourricnne mentions the Sorrows Of Wcrther as one
of the few books which he took with him 10 Egypt:
pnd he Goethe that he had read il sew
tailed criticism which Goethe acknowledged to be at
once subtitle and correct, Turhins to the DRAMA he
censured Votaires Nlahomet, pointing out how un-
natural it was to represent the religious condueror
giving an unfavoruble description of himself. He
condemned more severely the Fate Drdmas- -Schick
sal Stucke ''Thty belong he said to darker age
What have we to do with Fate r.? Policy is Fate
After ain interval spent on matters of business with
Daru and Soult he returned to Goethe and the dra-
MIA. "Tragedy;'' he said should be the school of
kinpS nd is oh hG
dramatic poet can attain. You: for example, should
treat the death of Cesar it ought to be treated
in grander style than that of Volaire's piece
This might be the greatest pcrfornan6e of your life
You should show the World what Caesar would have
done for its welfare; how it's desnies would have
been altered if time had been spared him to execute
his lofty designs Come to Paris. J demand this
of you. There is the true point of view from which
to contemplate the world There YOU will find ma
terials for your powers.' After every observation
he added. Quen dit Monsieur Goet ?n As the court
y poet retired with his sefesteem fully consoled for
the murderous divellication of a dpthong and the
suppression of final in his unpronounceable name,
Napoleon said to Berthier and Daru :. Voila I'm
homme.n
At subsequent ball. Napoleon after q conversa-
ton with Goethe, turned suddenly round on the
Chancellor, and asked 9 Where is Wieland o. The
question was rightly interpreted as a command and
a carriage sent by the Duke returned with the
invalid veteran The Emperor went to business
with his wonted abruptness. After obtaining from
Wieland somewhat hesitating preference among
his own works for Oberon and Agathon, he put Il
question which he had once at Berlin addressed to
Muller, the historian what period in the annals of
mankind he accounted the most fortunate for hu-
manity Muller had given his verdict for the age
of the Anonines. Weland evaded the question:
Greeks had been happy emperors had been good
B1en ben p said Bonaparte, bit it is not Just to
paint as Tacitus does, everything in black True.
he is a skilful artist a bold and seductive one hus
his only aim was effect History admits of no ilu-
sions. 1t is her part to enlighen and instruct no.
to deal in impressive imagery Tacitus has not dis
closed the causes and inner motives of events has
not investigated the mystery of transa ctions and
ideas, sufficiently to lay the foundation of fair and
impartial verdict on the part of prosperity. The
Roman emperors were not so bad as Tacus has de-
scribed them In this respect give by far the pre-
ference to Montesqueu he is more true and more
just Napoleon then adverted to the Christian re-
ligon and its history, especially to the of ts
rapid diffusion g | see IN this he said, g remark
able reaction of the Greek spirit against the Ro-
man. Greece. 6verpowered in a physical struggle.
recovered predomiGance in spirituas by embracing
and fostering every germ of good which Providence
had scattered on the earth For the rest,' he con-
tinued-here he drew close to Wiefand. and held
his hand up, so that other but himself could hear
for the rest it still remains great question whetl-
er Jesus Christ existed Wieland. hitherto a.
listener, replied with promptitude and animation,
IL know WELL Sire, there some senselcss persons
who doubt it but it seems to me as reasonable to
doubt whether Julius Caesar ever lived whether
your Majesty lives" On this NAPOLEON clarrel
him the shoulder and said, CO Coed. good The
philosophers torment themselves to discover new
systems; they will seek in vain for a better than
that of Christianity: by which man is reconced to
himself and which gives pledges for public order
and the peace of commun ties well rs for the hap
piness and the hope of individuals" Napoleon seem
ed well inclined to continue the conversation; but
the old man showed symptoms Of fatigue. and was
considerably released. Muller thinks that Napo-
leon had heard Wieland spoken of as the Germar
Voltaire and wished to test the justice of the appel
latiOn