Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-08
FROM OUR LoND on CORRESPONDENT

FROM OUR LOND ON CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, DECEMBER 16, 1852.
/ The great enigma of the day, and which occu-
pies the attention Of all our politicians and moral
ists is the character and the probable future
of the singular child Of fortune who rules the
destinies of France under the and title of the
Emperor NAPOLEON Ill On the 10th Of April,
lS4S, the same person was sworn in as special
constable to aid in keeping the peace in London
against the dreaded rising Of the Chartiss, and did
duty that day. by keeping guard and walking up and
down the road, Finsbury. Fortune surely never
played capricious vagary, gave stronger evil
dence Of the uncertainty of human condition
| Our journalists discussing the character and con-
duct and from thence deducng the designs wishes and
intentions, of the who yields without control
the military power of our neighbor
with desire penetrate far possible the projects
which he entertains the Interior which he pro-
poses himself and the necessities of his position which
may drive him to which, of his free WILL he
would not have adopted These are, indeed, difficult pro-
bems to solve. On this subject, most Others &C
curate knowledge is not easy Of attainment in France
The Economist thus discourses upon the matter:
In the first place, is quite certain, and now be-
ginning be admitted by his btteret enemies that
LOUIS NAPOLEON is not the foolish imbecile long
the fashion consider him. Those who aided in recall
ing him to France, and eleyatng him to the Presidency
under the impression that silly and borne would be
rendered plant tool in their hands found that they
reckoned without their host His mind it is true is
neither capacious powerful well-stored; but his
moral qualities Of most and serviceable kind
His talents ordinary, but his perseverance enacy
power of assimilation and nfexibty of will are
traordnary. He is memorable and most instructive
example that great achievements within the reach OF
very moderate intellect when that intellect is concen-
trated upon single object, and linked with unbending
andayy
mens though neither varied nor comprehensive, very
vigorous He is naturally shrewd secret and impene
trabe. He has the invaluable faculty Of silence. He
has also been patient and wide observer He has studied
politics in Switzerland, in America and in England He
has devoted his mind to that object He is also
deep thinker He ponders much, which few Frenchmen
do. His six years captivity in Ham matured and
strengthened by silent meditation whatever natural capa
cities he may have possessed He writes well and speaks
WELL and all his writings and speeches, when they
betray the narrow limits Of his knowledge, indicate
eminently thoughtful mind. He has brooded the
history politics. and social condition of France till
these subjects he is probably of the best informed
in the country 1t is certain, also, that whatever he
says and does is his He acts and speaks for him.
SELF without interference and without assistance He
listens to every one asks advice from one, gives his
interocutors no idea whether not their arguments
have made the least impression upon him. but reyolves
his plans in the gloomy OF his brain, and
brings them forth matured, homogeneous, aud
pected The minuest details Of the coup fetdt
ranged by himself All those, from Changarnier and
Theirs down TO Faucher who have endeavored to lead
drive or govern him. have been bafied ouwtted, and
cast aside IL known that when he rose make his
celebrated speech Bordeaux he whispered
his Minister of Foreign Affairs Now am going to as
tonish you little General ST. Arnaud expressed
his hope that the President would think Of beratng
Abd-elKadir, and thought he had convinced him Of the
improperly Of doing until he heard Louis Napoleon
announce to the Emr that his captivity had terminated
Whatever therefore, Of sagacty wisdom is displayed
in the language conduct of the Emperor must be
credited to himself alone.
"But," it is observed, I" we shall greatly and danger
ously misconceve Louis Napoleon if regard him as
man Of shrewdness, reflection, and calculation only
The most prominent feature of his character is Wild
irregular roradnequ imagination which often overrides
all his reasoning and reflective faculties and spurs him
on TO actions and attempts which seem insane il they
fail and the Of splendid boldness If they succeed
The abortons of Strasbourg and Bouogne and the coup
fdat Of last December equally the Dictates alike
the legitimate progeny of the mental popularity
He believes, too, in his STAR He is binder and
rasher faalis than his uncle He twice attempted to
pluck the pear Of Empire before it ripe His u-
dcrous failures in degree discouraged him. or shook
his conviction Of ultimate success He waited Tor an
other opportunity, and prepared for it with more sedu
lous diligence and caution. He bded his time the
time came he struck and After such success, after
having risen in fsur years from being an Impoverished
exile to be Emperor of France after having played the
boldest stroke for Empire known in modern history we
may believe that his faith in his destiny Is confirmed
almost to the degree of monomania and that
no future achievement further pinnacle Of greatness
i
full marvellous, and demoralizng.
Another popularity Of his character is that he never
abandons an idea project that he has once entertain
ed II he meets with difficulties and opposition, he dis
Stimulates and pospones he really yield changes
Assuredy we have said enough to show that France
has given herself whom 1t concerns all Euro
pean statesmen-those Of England more especialy-to
study closely and to watch unremitingy Cool, daring
imperturbable, cunning, and profoundly secreta per-
picking compound Of the sagacous calculator and the
headstrong fanatic-wth a large navy, unrivaled
army, and PROSTATE and approving nation-what Is
there which ne mil not attempt and might not achieve
One other feature of LOUIS NAPoLEoSs mind. He is
close copyist Of his uncle The talents Of the two men
are however, very different and the internal condition
and TO great extent the character and feelings OF the
French nation have been changed by thryhve years
of peace and free institutions, that maxims and modes
Of proceeding sound and expedient in the days OF his
uncle may be utterly nappcabe in those Of the nephew
dazzling fame and the wonderful sagacity Of NAPOLEON
may be the gnis fatus which will lure astray NAPOLEON
| Ill. to discontinue and ruin"
In another view Of the subject we find it said:
" There three from which mans intentions
and probable Of action may be inferedhs Ian
guage, his obvious interests and his known character
The pordso Louis Is his public announce
ments and can never be relied on
indicative Of his intentions but, If regarded at all
be interpreted by the rules Of contrares His
immediate and obvious interests all lie the side of
peace With the great of the French people Of all
| classes any war would be most unpopular They
want rest they want prosperity; they want time to de-