New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,r,,r,ps,c covc,r1, ATE AND EMPIRE.

CAlsE. Par NJ A. Ihihhs W.
brsiTe. o.. "a, -,
The name Of Napoleon l., radiant with glory,
and a, the same time surrounded with the gloom
lest ,bsdow, stands 10 history by the SIDE OF
.hose Of Alexander, Caesar, and Charlenagne'
whose lives we're eras in the progress OF human
affairs. Yet there can be no just comparison
between him and his great prototypes. Alexander
nna Cesar. and, in some respects, Chariemagne,
held in their hands political aud material evil
i,atiop far more perfect than that existing in the
nations by which they were surrounded, and
which they marked for conquest. The Internal
administration Of Macedon and Of Rome, their
military organization, its arms, its phaianxes
and ifs legions, were far superior TO those OF
the PerFiaus and the Gauls and the Asiatics OF
the Ponus and OF Syria. The nations with
which Napoleon contended were on an equality
with France in civilization, in science in mate
rial resources, and in arms; and at certain Pc
RODS even her superior in civil and military
power. Neither Alexander, Cesar, nor Charlie
imagine WIS ever called upon to contend with
antagonists who were their equals. Napoleon en-
countered and oyercame those who were stronger
than he by the energy of genius. The military
empire Of Alexander tumbled to pieces before his
body had modered into dust. The Napoleonic
structure built up of victories and military occu-
pations crumbled in his own hands, and nations
sprung again into independence from under
his iron heel. Alexander attempted to make
HeIas Persian; Napoleon strove to sub
due to his despotc win France, Europe, and
as much more of the world as was within his
resch. But the Alexandrian coDquests helenIzed
the East for centuries without regenerating 1t,
and il is even maintained by some historians that
both Greeks and Asiatics were thereby the more
degraded; while Napoleon, the propaganda of
the idea Of the French Revolution, spread the
immortal French Civil Code over half of Europe,
and gave an irresistible impulse to her regenera-
ton. Cesar destroyed slaveholding, selfish,
and beartless oligarcby, but even his energy
could not create from the ruins of the degenera-
ted patricans any social or political order, and
speculation alone hes detected any constructive
idea in his career. Thus Mommsen finds in it the
germ of constitutional monarchy. Charlemagne
was surrounded by elements crude, and, for the
most part, unintelligent, and therefore the more
pliable. Napoleon, as Consul, had to deal with
exalted passions and with the highest intellectual
powers struggling undireced in the revolutionary
tempest. The genius of the First Consul, and
not his dcspotic WILL attracted and crystallized
them.
The history Of Napoleon is written with full.
ness and breadth of detail which it was impossi-
bic to give in the times of either Alexander,
CBsar, or Charlemagne, or in the age immedi-
ately succeeding them. NJ. Theirs. almost co.
temporary of the Napoleonc epoch, inhsling its
still warm breath, having before his eyes the
good and the evil which it generated, coming IN
personal contact with many of the prominent
actors Of that great drama in and out Of France,
with the freest access to the most secret
archives of the Government, familiar with the
most minnie sources Of evidence, and with the
ever.expanding literature illustrative Of that Pc
Rod, has peculiar qualifications, as its historian
Of all these appliances he has carefully ayaed him
self he has visited most Of the batte-feds OF the
Emperor, scattered all over Europe, and he las
gathered, on the spot, the "reminiscences and the
feelings Of the people with whom he engaged.
Theirs is journalist, student Of history,
and leader has Influenced the politics Of his Own
country and Of Europe. Dealing thus hand to
hand with great events, acquiring thus ex-
perience, maturity OF judgment, and the practice
of cOmprehendng and analyzing facts, both an
observer and on actor, his opportunities have
been such as seldom fall TO the lot of one who
is also writer of history. Napoleon and hi.
Il b. 10 OF +ha No
poleon of Allison and still less of Abbott These
writer's, eminent for their misrepresentation,
peryersions of fact, and caricatures Of PERSONS
aroddes 0mJO-are, unhappy, held by MAORI
ty Of the American people as authorities on the
revolutionary and NspoeOnic era of France.
M. Thierss first work was a complete history
of the Revolution down to the overthrow Of the
Directory by Napoleon. on the 18th Brumaire,
l799 The first volume Of the new series was
published in 1916, and the 18th volume ending
in the abdicatiOn at FontaiDebleau and the exile
TO Elba, was published in 1860. Another is now
in course Of publication, embracing The Hun
bred Days, or the period between the return
from Elbn and the Battle of Waterloo. But
Waterloo is only bloody and feyerish epilogue;
the great drama was actually closed at fOntaine-
bleau. The 10Th volume, published in 1855, con-
tnns Preface, in which the author gives al
account Of the laborious task, begun in 1870, and
justii!ing The delay in its appearance by his anx-
iety to verify completely all his statements. This
preface is worthy Of careful perusal, and the
thorough cOnscienciousness it eyinces is worthy
Of being followed by other historians. II estab
fishes the proposition that the first qualification