The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-05-06
TIlE DAILY DISPATCH,


THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Tme-dny rie,nirz, May 9, ISIS.
,.,. N.pcrecn-.sketch % him Twenty
Years Ago.
20 many conflicting accounts Of the cnAi.e's'
and c.pscItIes Of the French Emperor nave occn
.,ven 10 the public since his accession 70 power
that the American public has been sore'y ps'
r,exed 10 form definite and fxed opinion OF sne
man Some documents, however. when We nad
never seen before, have been kindly placed IN cur
hands by friend and they 90 far to show that
Iou,s Napoleon in training and intellect Ia worthy
of bis great destiny.
These documents are contained in the United
States Naval Magazine Of 1887, to which they were
,ranferred from French paper Of 1885, 10 that
they are twenty years old, and Of course, their
testimony cannot be set down a. adulation to
power and prosperity. Louis was then an exile,
wi,hou, the slightest hope or prospect of ever
curing political influence Let us see what was
said of him at such time, and we may, perhaps,
form just opinion of his real qualities and char
acter
We make some extracts, regretting that our
space does not permit to give the articles in fall
THE Queen Hortense gave to her son a very grave
and severe education. Destined to reign one day,
in the event of the death of the heir apparent the
young Prince was early brought up like the son of
a laborer He became the great favorite of the
Empress Josephine" His mother continued her
strict mode of tutorsge during her exile and then
continued further to develop the precocious dispo
sitions of his mind and the growing energy of his
character" His education in the classics In TO-
reign living languages, in chemistry and natural
philosophy is said to have been solid and thorough
He also applied himself with great zeal to military
exercises. In $780, he was admitted to the instruc
ton camp of officers Of engineers, and artillery,
in the canton of Berne. HE participated in all
the man9uvres, instructions, and courses upon the
glaciers, with his haversack on his shoulders, eat
ing the coarse soldiers bread, and carrying either
chair or compass in hand" He devoted all his en-
ergy to the study of the science Of artillery.
His remarkable galantry in several actions in
Italy in 1880, is spoken of in warm terms OF his
subsequent visit to England, it is said That yoy
age became useful and instructive to him. He
visited with the most scrupulous attention every
establishment of industry and science. The high
English aristocracy were eager to show him every
consideration and sympathy. The young Prince
declined the hosptable honors which were lavished
upon him; he accepted of no invitation, out of re-
spect for the memory of the Emperor, whom he
venerated with the pious worship of religious de-
votiou"
So high was the estimation in which his talents
and character were held that, in 1881, a secret
deputation of Polish noblemen was sent to him
from Warsaw, to propose to him to place himself
at the head of that nation in arms. Again: 1.-THE
philosophical studies and labors in political econo.
my of the young Prince, soon brought forth their
fruits" He published very remarkable pam
phlet entitled Political and Military Considera.
lions upon the Swiss Confederacy." 1t caused a
great sensation in the diplomatic world, and in the
minds of the men of arms. On one side, all the
constitutions of the different cantons were exam
ined described, and analysed with astonishing sa-
gacity in SO young an author. In 1t were at once
recognized the quick survey of a student and
matured reflection of diplomatist, in which supe-
rior views abounded. On the other hand the mill.
tary tactics were treated with masters hand and
with much science"
In June, 1884, the Swiss Government appointed
Louis a captain of artillery in the regiment o
Berne He appears to have excelled in gymnastic
games, as well as intellectual exercises. In the
annual trials of feats of strength and skill at the
federal joust" of Switzerland, the Prince "never
declined challenge, and has often carried away,
attended by the loud riuas of the assembly, the
victorious prize of skill and there was no gym.
nastic game in which he did not distinguish him.
self He rides mastery, swan across the great
lake of Constance, and is very expert in handling
arms, especially the lance in the Polish manner
Such is the result of his Spartan education
The Manual of Artillery for Switzerland"
which he produced in 1885, placed him in the
first rank of military tacticians. The Military
Spectator, the French press, the Swiss and Eng
lish Journals, have spoken of 1t a capital work
the best treatise artillery existing in Europe.
The union of an uniformity of exact knowledge,
and capacity of great intelligence was necessary
for so remarkable production"
The republican writer, M. Correl, thus speaks OF
the Prince: "The political and military works of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. exhibit . strong
mind and noble character. The name he bears is
the most august of modern times. He only has it
in his power strongly to excite the sympathies Of
the French. If this young man understands the
present interests of France and can forget the L.
gitimacy of his imperial rights he may be called on
to act grand part In life"
The details of the attempt upon Strasbourg,
relieve Napoleon from the imputation of rashness
and folly and his opinions upon French institu.
TONS which given at length in the articles be.
fore us, are philosophical and profound.
The evidence in these articles, written twenty
years ago. shows that he was then considered by
all who knew his history, man of extraordinary
parts. So that his late wonderful successes may
be set down to the credit of his talents rath.
er than the caprices Of fortune. The vexed ques-
ton Of his career In n York is also put at rest by
the Naval Magazine, which, in . note to the arti.
cles copied from the French paper and written
about month after Louis Napoleon re-embarked
from New York for Europe, said: During the
few weeks of his soourn in the United States, ma.
ny of our citizens had the pleasure Of making his
acquaintance. Upon all he made favorable i'm
preston, by his intelligence, unpretending dignity,
and amiabiity while some--thrown by circum-
stances more constantly into bis society-had the
happiness of being enabled, justly, to appreciate
the strength and cultivation of mind, the noble.
ness and warmth of heart, the elevated principles
and spirit of high honor, which, Joined to his posi-
ton and his name, give him power over the head
ana heart, felt by all who have Known him well.
even for n short onf If which anne e the