The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-06-22

perial family, and Alexander I. of Russia
Book III is entitled Collection of Writing,
from the First Period of Metternich and in
oludes part Of Vol. l and the whole of Vol. II
bringing the narrative down to 1915. Volume
Ill embraces the Fourth and Fifth Books, ano
covers the period from the year 1916 to the Con
gress of Verona in 1922. Volume w (Book
VIZ refers to the Eastern Question and the Bat
tie of Navarino 1S27), and closes with the Peace
of Adrianople in 1929.
The interest of the earlier volumes necessarily
centres in the Napoleonic wars and in the con.
versations and anecdotes connected with Napo-
leon himself; but in the later volumes, after the
appearance of O'Meara's and other personal re.
collections Of the Emperor Metternich returns
to this topic, and gives an even more caustic
review OF Napoleon's character than in the first
volumes. The whole work is also enlivened
with recollections and studies of half the leading
statesmen of the period covered, and with
glimpses into the arstecratic circles of the Euro.
pean courts, as well as with letters to his wife
and most intimate friends.
The chief value of such Memoir as this,
however, must lie in the great historic study
which 1t affords by laying open before us the
opinions, the feelings, the motives of the repre-
sentative reactionary chief among the statesmen
of modern Europe The work constitutes an
authoritative exposition of the sentiments and
views Of the monarchical and conservative party
which has waged war during the past century
with the republican and revolutionary senti-
ment of Europe.
NJ
Metternich's estimate of Napoleon is given in
the following extract, and.we are compelled to
say that we are inclined to the opinion that
perusal of the memoirs will greatly tend to
lower the extravaganza judgment which has been
formed of that remarkable phenomenon in hui
man history. The suggestion of Metternich is
true, that Napoleon was essentially the creature
of the period in which he lived, and that in
the situation in which he was placed he must
have played the part he did play and which no
man of better principles could have ventured to
undertake.
NAPoLEoN.-All may be said in two words
Napoleon was very small man of imposing
character. He was Ignorant, as a sub-lieuteno
ant generally is; a remarkable instinct supplied
the place of knowledge. From his mean opin-
ION OF men, he never had any anxiety lest he
should go wrong He ventured everything
and gained thereby an immense step toward
success. Throwing himself upon a prodigious
arena, he amazed the world and made himself
master of it, while others cannot even get so far
as being masters of their own hearth. Then he
went on and on. until he broke his neck He
ended as he must have ended and was Judged
as all those are Judged who find means to sub
due the &C common herd: As legitimate ruler. of
a small State, he would never have been heard
OF, except as an arbitrary monarch AS mill |
tary commander in any country whatever as an
administrator wherever the storm of revolution
ragged, he would always have come out strongly.
In the situation in which he was placed he must
have played the part he did play, and which no
man OF better principles could have ventured to
undertake.
We gather the impression that the great diplo-
matist himself was a man. of unbounded self
esteem, of undoubting self confidence, of great
courage, of the most bigoted and narrow prin-
ciples, of profound and incurable prejudices.
The work is for sale in Richmond by West,
Johnston Co., Main street.