, 1859-07-01

Napo1eon,s Personal Pccu1tarltic8.
Eidcktseod's Aagd-ine for June gives some
remarks on tic personal characteristics Of M.
potcon Ill:
lie has gained friends as well as enemies by
onemost extraordinary faculty that he possesses
that Of holding his tongue, and Of doing so in
t!Ic company IF The 1uOst loquaclons people in
the world. A perfectly unjeinon.srative man;
sumo Frcnchairn respect Lin fur ii; willie
others fear him, others hatc him because he will
not take them into his counsel; and many Eng-
lis!,n'en. agnin, like him because he hatters
tile national vanity by being in many re-
sE'ccts very like an Lnslshman. lie ii cu'l
aud reserved III his public denIcauor; more cor
taintv liz does not ''wear his heart upon his
sleere for .laws To peck nt." He listens to all
that is said to him. and then takes his own
course. lie consul,s everybody aud follows lis
own advice
Again i,e has good seat on horseback. Other
EaSl>hu:cn dislike linn either because they ride
badly themselves, or because not being alle to
Keep their own counsel, tiles hate close char.
acter. Such CAUSES, Or causes Of no greater
weight, are perhaps more nearly tue true causes
Of his unpopularity in En- .1and than any con,-
mon place notions Of Ills being the destroyer Of
tie liberties of France. IL had equally de-
strs,ycd the lbcralitics Of Trancc when he made
his triunphal eutry in London. The English
press, at least Of its leading organs, has uader-
gone many phases Of opinion concerning him;
aud lie complained in his lettcr to Sir Francis
Head Of this conduct Of the English press, by
that very complaint showing that h. had some
regard 10 the public opinion in England Il
VT venture ourselves to express an opinion re-
garding lis character, we put it forth in atl mo-
dcsty, and wish it to be understood in as vague
and general a sense ns possible. Feeling our
selves incompetent to take the measure Of 4
man. 1t is our impression that lie is ulan
whose general talent has been rather oyerrate.l
than otAecwise. lie has doubtless great power
OF will, I'LL undauntcd courage. butll ply steal and
moral, and by that incstllnabfe faculty If hold
inG his tongue lie is able to bidc his time, OBJ
serrc circumstances, and tus make the most Of
them, and bring tU bear OH them, at the right
time all the faculties he Possesses
Perhaps bis policy appears 10 be mysterious,
simply because lie has no policy at all, but is
reaa, 10 abandon one course aud adopt another.
according as he s'uinbles against barrier or
drifts iato an opening. Doubtless it is ottcu
the cause Of success iu life. Some men Of TN.
comparable strength Of will and great talent
get or. rs it il called. by bending the wurld tu
their plans. others do so by forming no plans
nj all in rcg1uauencc, but fushioninE and re.
f,.sl.,oniu.: those they do form n the mould oi
of circumstances; willie the secret ofiltsucccss
even n,ure often tl,lu deficiency in ability cul.
sists in not KNOWN. whetl.cr one possesses tlit
ability to lead, OF whether one must be content
to follow. Louis Napoleon is said to be Il fatal
i>t, and lis extraordinary elevation would tcut
to confirm him in his flialisns. Before he take,
any st, lie seems 10 hold u, his hand and set
which way the wind is blowing, md whether
the air ceues against it hot or cold. But iaa
lloliin. Of tile tongue is his most ndmirab]'
quality.