The Placer herald., 1862-11-15
The Death of Napoleon.

years The latter days of bis life were alt
most exclusively directed to religious
thoughts. He was exceeding weak, suffer
ing great pain, and often in extreme dejec'
tion of spirits. One evening, but short
time before his death, he made the follow
ing remarkable confession to Count Mon
tholm:
upon the throne, surrounded by gene
rails far from devout-yes, | will not deny
it-l had too much regard for public opin
ion, and far too much timidity; and perhaps
| did not dare to say aloud, 4 am a believer
| said religion is power, political engine
But even then, had any one questioned me
directly, should have replied, Yes | am a
Christian And if it had been necessary to
confess my faith at the price of martyrdom,
| should have found all my firmness. But
now, that am at st. Helena, why should
dssemble that which | believe at the bot
tom of my heart? desire the communion
of the Lords supper and to confess what
believe. | will not force any one to accom-
pany me there; but those who love me will
follow me-"
Even in these solemn hours of approach
ing death he had no penitence to express in
view of his political career, for his motives
had been exalted and his measures benif'
cent in the extreme With gratitude and
we'll founded pride, be could say:
81 have halIowed the Revolution by infus'
inc into it our laws My code is the sheet
anchor which will save France, and entitle
me to the benedictions CT posterity. The
plan of leveing the A ps was one of the
first formed at the commencement of my
career. had entered Italy, and finding
that the communications with Paris occupied
considerable time, and were attended with
much difficulty, endeavored to render them
quicker, and resolved to open them through
the valley of the Rhone 1 also wished to
render that river navigable, and blow up the
rocks under which it engul(s and disappears.
! | had sent engineers on the spot. The ex'
pense would have been nconsiderable, and
submitted the plan to the Directory. But
we were carried away by events. On my
return from Egypt we applied our hammers
to the Alps. We executed what the Romans
had not dsred to try, and traced, thro gh
Llocks of granite, solid and spacious road,
capable Of resisting the efforts Of time"
As, restless with pain and burning with
inappeasabe thirst, he tost upon his pillow,
he said to Dir. Antommacchi, This is not
life; It is mere existence. Death will soon
terminate my sutferings. Everything seems
to weigh upon me to fatigue me. | can
scarcely support myself Have you not,
among the resources of art, anything to
revive the play Of the machine?'
lie had some fishes in a pond near the
door and was fond of feeding them with
crumbs of bread. Suddenly they all died.
Sadly lie said: lyon see very well that
there Is fatality attached to me- Every
thing | love, every thing that belongs to me,
is Immediately struck"
At length the hidden disease, which subj
sequentIy proved itself to be a cancer in
the stomach, so prostrated him that he could
rarely leave his bed, and the pain was so
great, that but seldom could he get even a
moment of sleep "Doctor," said he, "what
delightful thing rest is! The bed has be
come for me place of luxury. How fallen
| am! |, whose activity was boundless, am
now plunged in lethargic stupor and must
make an effort even to, raise my eyelid. |
sometimes dictated upon different subjects to
four or five secretaries, who wrote as fast as
words could be uttered But then | was
Napoleon. Now lam no longer anvthing.'
One day he vainy 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 it, for | have, indeed, no
reason to be attached 20 life"
The news came one day of the death of
his sister Eliza. This threw him into a
State of stupor. His head fell upon his
breast. Deep signs escaped him, and for
long time he uttered not word Then
fixing his eyes intently upon the doctor, he
said, you see Eliza has just shown us the
way. Death which seems to have overlook,
ed our family now begins to strike it. My
turn cannot be far distant. | have no lon'
ger any strength, activity or energy left. |
am no longer Napoleon. The first person of
our family who will follow Eliza to the grave
is that great Napoleon, who here drags out
a miserable existence, who sinks under its
weight, b who, however still keeps Europe
in state of alarm. AS for me all is over.
My days will soon end on this miserable rock"
DR.. Antommacchi was an infidel. One
day he ventured to assume contemptuous
expression 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 if you will. But
as for me, will fulfill all the duties which
religion imposes, and seek all the sOlace
which it administers" Then turning to the
Able. he said, 81 wish you TO say mass in
the chapel every day, and continue to say it
after my death. You will not cease until |
am buried. AS soon as am dead | wish
you to place crucifx upon my bosom and
your altar at my head. And you will not
omit solemnizing the Sacrament of the Lords
Supper, and offering daily prayers until | am
buried"
Thus day after day fingered sadly along,