Smyrna times., 1860-08-02
From the Queens Of society.l
Napoleon and Madame De Stael.

Napoleon and Madame De Stael.
suits from dishearlening check. Napoleon
Bonsparte. young, unknown and insignificant
soldier, lost his appointment in the army on
the overthrow OF Robespierre. This loss made
him Emperor of the French, when he might
otherwise have been nothing but an obscure
soldier. 1t brought him up to Paris, to get
another post. He saw Barras, Barras saw him.
Barrss saw not the mere soldier, but the future
Emperor Of the French, the conqueror of Eu-
rope. lie kept him in Paris, and the young
Bonaparte's fame was secured.
Ii was not probable thar the daughter of Nee.
ker, the friend of constitutional liberty, should
adhere very ardently to the encroaching policy
of General Bonaparte, as year after year his
brief, brilliant campaigns raised him a step
higher in influence at Paris. Still, Madame
de Slael had returned 10 Paris. had opened her
saloon aud her mouth, and not only could moi
avoid the first man of the day, but even sought
him out TO tackle him with her wit. She found
her match iu the blunt, rude soldier. "Whom
do you think the greatest woman. dead or
alive r. she asked him, with that direct mode
of attack which was her peculiar charscteris.
tic, and made her society often, as Byron
thought il, rather oppressive. " Her, Madam
replied the general, " who has born the most
sons" "They say you are not very friendly
TO the sex" she resumed. Is / am passionately
fond Of my wife," said he, and off be walked
Still Napoleon was justly afraid of her bitter
truths" " She has shafts" be said, some years
later. {" which would hit a man if be were
seated on a rainbow" Madame de Stael had
more than one occasion of testing her powers
with the great man. Thus. when he was pre-.
pairing for the invasion of Switzerland, which
was almost to her as native country, soc
sought an interview with him. and in tete-a-
tete Of an honr, attempted to dissuade him from
such an unjusti6ables step. He listened atten-
lively, but was, Of course, by no means con.
vinced. and Madame de Sisel could have known
very little of this man, or been very confident
of her own powers, 60 suppose for moment
; that she could turn him from any fixed purpose.
Necker, was still living at Coppet, and, as l.
prescribed emigre, would have been involved
in the fate of The Swiss His wife was dead
and his daughter FASTENED to him and attempt
ed in vain TO induce him to leave the chateau
, and fy 10 secarer spot. The event proved
that be was right 10 remain there. The French
troops entered by the Canton Vaud, aud passed
close 10 Coppet; but message from the Di-
rectors Informed M. Necker that his life and
freedom would be respected during the inva-
, sion. The inhabitants of Coppet listened to the
sound Of The cannon which was bone TO them
through Alpine echoes from Berne, distance
of nearly eighty miles. and the old Genevsr
knew well enough that his native land wsf
destined to become an appanage of his adopted
country.
> Madame de Stael returned TO Paris about the
same time that Napoleon came back in triumph
FROM Egypt, and made his first great step to
ward absolute power, backed by the army
She reopened her salon, which was now crowd
ed with all that party which, like herself
! dreaded the increasing influence of this new
: man, and looked with regret on the decay o
the republic, which they had imagined to b
y we'll and firmly established. Among be-
0 guests was Joseph Bonaparte, for whom sh,
i entertained sincere regard. The first Consu
= gathered from his brother something Of III,
!, principles OF ths most popular drawing room II
: Paris, and felt that here wis rival TO bis owl
! popularity among the educated classes Of th,
" metropolis. The great little man was no
}. above jealousy of such woman, and tried u
attach her to himself.
"what does she want ~ he said to Joseph
"Her fathers two millions She shall hav
70 them. Leave to stay 10 Paris! She shall re
4 main. What does abe WANT Why does sh
y not join us1"
= When Joseph reported this TO bis friend. !
" the hope OF bringing her round 10 MS brogher'
% party, she replied, = The difficulty, monsieur
a. Is not what want, but whas think"
The popularity of her salon was not IL
a creased by the speech in the Senate of Ben
: Constant, the famous journalist. who there d.
e nounced the first Consul, without spscifyin
81 him by name. a. aspiring to arbitrary power.-
~ Madame de- Stasl was suspected of havin
- prompted this speech, and the next day he
salon was empty, and she was recommended
" the minister, Fouche, to retire for a few da]
- to the country" At this period, both Lucie
and Josesh Bonaparte we're as frequent visilo
- 81 Madame de StseI's as AT her intimate frier
:. Madame Rscamier's, Joseph was her especi
- favorits, and il will well 10 understood ho
~ completely the conqueror of 8 wilzerIand, Egg
p; and ltsIy. dreaded tbs tongue and indspsnde
spirit Of this one woman, when il i known tn
~ he evsn warned his brother, soon after Il
~ speeeh OF Constant, to desss from his visi
- which Of course he did, II was from the a
pat On which this speech was made that Madss
Dc Sssel dates the hostility Of the fslurs emf
:. TOR. Constant war known to be her intims
= friend. II WIS known that he had apprised
g. u bis intentioa and shs confessed that q
~ had encouraged bin sireauousIy II deliver /
nee Ispeech which created - much sensation
k~ Toward the end Of September ~ recoiv'
- cemms ndans o. esndamerie, IN order
retiFs 10 distance u forty Leagues from PA
and iot spqreoth The capital witein the cir
-, = - rsdils. This vae tbs fashionable M