The Portland daily press., 1862-10-20
MISCELLANY.
The Death of Napoleon.
BY JOHN S. G. ABBoTT.


exceeding weak, suffering great pain, and often
in extreme detection of spirits. One evening,
but short time before his death, he made the
following remarkable confession to Count
Montholon:
Upon the throne, surrounded by generals,
far from devout-yes, will deny it-I had too
much regard for public opinion, and far too
much timidy; and perhaps L did not dare to
say aloud, L am q belieter.' | said religion
Is a power, a political engine But even then,
If any one had questioned me directly, should
have replied, Yes, am Christian And if
1t had been necessary to confess my faith at the
price of martyrdom, should have found all
my flrunness. But now that am at st. Hele-
ma WHY should dissemble that which | be-
lieve at the bottom of my heart. | desire the
communion of the Lords supper. aud to con-
fess what | believe. | will not force any one
to accompany me there; but those who love
me will fellow me"
Even in these solemn hours of approaching
death he had no penitence TO express in view
of his political career, for his motives had been
exalted, and his measures beniflcent in the eX-
trene. With gratitude and well founded pride
he could say:
AZ have hallowed the Revolution by infus-
ing into it our laws NV code is the sheet an
chor which will save France and enttle me to
the benedictions OF posterity. The plan of lev
cling the Alps was one of the first formed at
tered Italy, and finding that the eommunica-
tions with Paris occupied considerable time,
and were attended with much difficulty, / en-
deavored to render them quicker, and resolved
to open them through the valley of the Rhone.
also wished 10 render that river navigable and
blow up the rocks under which it engulis and
disappears. had sent engineers on the spot
The expense would have been inconsiderable,
and submitted the plan to the Directory. But
we were carried away by the events. On my
return from Egypt. we applied our hammers to
the Alps We executed what the Romans had
not dared to try, and traced through blocks
of granite, solid aud spacious road, capable
OF resisting the efforts of time
As, restless with pain and burning with in
appeasable thirst, he tost upon his pillow, he
said to DIR. Antommacchi. This is not liie it
is mere existence. Death will soon terminate
my suierings. In what state am l, Doctor?
Every thing seems to weigh upon me to fa-
tigue me. l can scarcely support myself. Have
you not, among the resources of art, anything
to revive the play of the machine?"
He had some fishes in pond near his door,
and he was fond OF feeding them with crumbs
of bread. Suddenly they all died. Sadly he
said You see very well that there is fatali
ty attached TO me. Everything love, every
thing that belongs to me, is Immediately
struck"
At length the hidden disease which subse-
quently proved itself TO be a cancer in the
stomach, SO prostrated him that he could rare
ly leave his bed, and the pain was SO great
that bat seldom could heget even moment of
sleep. doctor" said he, "what delightful
thing rest is! The bed has become for me
place of luxury. How fallen am |. whose ac-
tivity was bouudless, whose mind never slum-
bered and now plunged in a lethargic stupor,
and must make an effort even to rise my eye
lies. some times dictated upon different sub
-
fast as words could be uttered But then was
Napoleon. Now | am no longer anything"
One day he vainly endeavored, leaning upon
another's arm, to walk across the room. His
limbs sank beneath him, They are exhausted"
said he. See, there is nothing left-mere
skeletons. Everything must have an end. |
am fast approaching mine and do not regret
1t, for have, indeed, no reason to be attached
to lifen
The news came one day of the death of his
sister Eliza. 1t threw him into a state of stu
por. His head fell upon his brest. Deep sighs
escaped him and for long time he uttered
not a word Then fixing his eyes intently up
on the doctor, he said, 'You see Eliza has just
shown us the way. Death which seems to
have overlooked our family now begins to
strike it. My turn can not be far distant. |
have no longer any strenth, activity or energy
lett. am no longer Napoirou. Tire ffrst per-
son OF our family who will follow Eliza to the
grave, is that great Napoleon, who here drags
on miserable existence, who sinks under its
weight, but who however still keeps Europe
in a state of alarm. As for me. all is over.
My days will soon end on this miserable rock"
DR.. Antommacchi was an intdel. One day
he ventured TO assume a contemptuous express
sion of countenance. in view of some religious
conversation which was passing between the
Emperor and the Able Vignali. Napoleon
said to him severely, "You are an atheist, sir.
Be an atheist ii you will. But as for me,
will fulfil all the duties which religion impos-
es, and seek all the solace which it administers"
Then turning to the Able, he said, Il wish you
to say mass in the chapel every day, and to
continue to say it after my death. You will
not cease until am buried. As soon as | am
dead wish you to place a crucihx upon my
bosom and your altar at my head. And you
will not omit solemnzing the sacrament of the
Lords Supper and offering daily prayers until
l am buried"
Thus day after day fingered sadly along,
each one rich in historic interest, until the 2nd
of May. The Emperor was then in burning
fever and his mind was in delirium. His spir
1t was wandering through scenes of the past,
and moved amidst the carnage and the uproar
OF the field Of battle. At one time he cried
out wildly, "Stengel Desaix, Massena: victo-
ry Is declaring! Run, hasten. press the charge
They are ours" In his eagerness, with that
momentary strength which delirium gives, he
leaped from his bed, but fell PROSTATE upon the
floor. After few hours the fever abated and
reason returned. 81 am very ill.," said he. 81
am going TO die. My poor Chinese servants
Do not let them be forgotten. / must take
leave of them also" In his will he had par
ticularly remembered all Of his friends, and all
from whom he hal received any acts of kind
ness.
At 2o'clock in the forenoon of the Sd of Nav
after very touching conversation with the
friends who surrounded his bedside, he sent
for the Abbe Vignali, and received the sacra-
ment of the Lords Supper After the solemn
ordinance, the placid expression of his counte-
nance indicated the peace which reigned with
In his soul. He slept quietly through he
night, and in the morning he said to his valet
"Open the window, Marchand, open it wide
that may breathe the air, the good air which
God has made"
The night of the 4th was black and stormy
The dying hour had come. The little house
hold at st. Helena were all gathered around
their dying friend. The Emperor lay uncon-
scious and motionless upon his pillow, breath
Ing heavily and occasionally uttering broken
and almost inartcuate words. Twice |
thought" said Count Montholon, shat | dis
tinguished the unconnected words, France,
Army, Head of the Army. Josephine" Ate
O'Clock in the evening, as he was lying upon
his back with his right arm out of bed, and
his eyes fixed, as in deepest meditation, he
gently and without a struggle, ceased to
breathe. Just as the sun was descending be-
low the horizon, sinking behind the clouds of
that sombre and tempestuous day, the spirit
of Napoleon took its flight into the dread nm