The Shasta courier., 1862-11-22
The Death OF Napoleon.

| The Death OF Napoleon.
| AT six o'clock in the evening of the 5th of
May, 1922, the Emperor Napoleon died at ST.
Helena, after cruel Imprisonment Of six
years. The latter days Of his life were al
most exclusively directed to religious thoughts
He was exceeding weak, suffering great pain,
and often in extreme detection of spirits. One
evening, but a short time before his death,
he made the following remarkable confession
to Count NJ ntholm:
Upon the throne, surrounded by generals,
far from devout-yes, will not deny it-I
far too much timidity and perhaps did not
dare to say aloud, l am a believer said
religion is power, a political engine But
even then if any one had questioned me di-
rectly, should have replied, Yes, am
| Christian And if it had been necessary to
confess my faith at the price Of martyrdom,
| should have found all my frmness. But now
that | am at st. Helena, why should | dis
semble that which | believe at the bottom of
my heart? | desire the comm union of the
Lords sdpper, and to confess what believe
l will not force any one to accompany 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
vsew of his political career, for his motives
had been exalted, and his measures benifcent
in the extreme. With gratitude and well
founded pride, he could say:
81 have hallowed the Revolution by in
fusing into it our laws. My code is the sheet
anchor which will save France, and entite
me to the penedictions of posterity. The
plan of leveling the Alps was one of the first
formed at the commencement of my career.
had entered Ituly, and finding that the
communications with Paris occupied a con-
siderable time, and were attended with much
difficulty, 1 endeavored to render them
quicker, and resolved to open them through
the valley of the Rhone. ] also wished to
render that river navigable, and blow up the
rocks under which it engulfs and disappears.
had sent engineers on the spot. The ex-
pense would have been inconsiderable. and
submitted the plan to the Directory. Butwe
were carried away by 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 and spacious road, capable
of resisting the efforts of time"
As, restless with pain, and burning with
inappeasabe thirst he tossed upon his pillow,
he said 30 DIR. Antommacchi, 8 This is not
life it is mere existence. Death will soon
terminate my sufferings. In what state am
l. Doctn ? Everything seems to weigh upon
me to fatigue me | can scarcely support
myself Have you not, among the resour-
ces of art. anything to revive the play of
the machine?''
He had some fishes in pond near the
door and he was fond of feeding them with
crumbs of bread. Suddenly they all died.
Sadly he said g You see very we'll that
there is fatality attached to me. Every
thing l love, everything that belongs to me,
is Immediately struck"
At length the hidden disease, which sub.
sequently proved itself to be cancer in the
stomach so Frustrated him that he could
rarely leave his bed, and the pain was so
moment of sleep. s. Doctor" said he ''what
a delightful thing rest isl The bed has be
come for me place of luxury How fallen
am I l, whose activity was boundless, am
now plunged in lethargic stupor. and
must make an effort even to raise my eve
lid. sometimes dictated upon different
subjects to four or five secretaries, who wrote
as fast as words could be uttered. But then
l was Napoleon. Now am no longer any
thing"
One day he yainly endeavored, leaning
upon another's arm, to walk across the room.
His limbs sank beneath him. .'They are
exhausted said he g See, there is moth
ing else-mere skeletons. Everything must
have an end. ! am fast approaching mine
and do not regret it, for have, indeed no
reason to be attached to life."
The news came one day of the death of
his sister Eliza 1t threw him in a state of
stupor. His head fell upon bis breast
Deep sighs escaped him, and for long
time he uttered not word Then fixing his
eyes intently upon the doctor, he said
You see that Eliza has just shown us the
way. Death which seems to overlook our
family, now begins to strike it. My turn
cannot be far distant. have no longer any
strength. activity or energy left | am no
longer Napoleon. The first person of our
family who will fol ow Eliza to t.ie grave, is
that great Napoleon who here drags on a
miserable existence, who sinks under its
weight, but who. however, still keeps Eu
rope in state of alarm. As for me, all is
over. My days will soon end on this mis-
erable rock
DIR. Antommacchi was an inhdel. One
day he ventured to assume contemptuous
expression of countenaace. in view of some
religious conversation which was passing be-
tween the Emperor and the Ahbe 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 So
lace which it administers" Then turning
to the Able, he said. 50 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 l am dead
l wish you to place a crueifx upon my bo-
som and your altar at my head And you
will not omit solemnizing the Sacrament of
the Lords Supper, and offering daily pray
ers until / am buried"
Thus day after day fingered sadly along,
each one rich in historic interest, until the
I'd of May. The Emperor was then in
burning fever and his mindswas in deiirium.
His spirit was wandering through the scenes
of the rast, and moved amidst the carnage
and uproar of the field of battle. At one
time he cried out wildly, - Steingel, Desaix,
Massena, victory is declared. Run. hasten,
press the charge. They are ours,' In his