Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-15
RECORDER TO Nh. ROYAL.
Our Lady Correspondent Insists Upon Her
view Of Nspoison's Character.

View Of Nspolson's Character.
! To ne Editor Of ne DispatcA;
Far be IL from one of the sex supposed
TO have no logical instinct and no sequence
of thought to engage IN argument with
gentleman SO well known for legal scumen,
readiness Of thought, and fiuency of speech
as Mr.. Royal.
will only state that my facts and inn
pressions are gained chiefly from French
memoirs and histories. more particularly
those OF Guizot, Taine, and Theirs.
The latter az Prime Minister to Louis
Philippe and President of the third re.
public had access to and used the most
secret and important papers in the State
Archives. besides having the rSlvantage OF
actual contact with persons OF prominence
In the reign of Napoleon /. and with many
of their papers in the hands OF their de-
scendants.
On the other hand the authorities whom
Mr.. Royall quotes are Bourrienne, Madame
do Renusat. and the Dictionary OK Ma
tional Biography Borrienne was al at
tainted peculator on the public funds,
whom Napoleon dismissed from his service
on this account.
Madame de Remusat was woman
scornedn (by Napoleon) than whom a
certain lirid place is said to have no greater
fury. Her memoirs, published with Po-
ltical purpose by her son, a violent he
publican and in opposltloA TO Napoleon
III, are not considered reliable.
/ have seen in one English account OF
the Battle of Waterloo, not, however, by
reputable historian. the fable about Cen
eral Cambroune. 49,
According to Mr.. Royals own authority,
the Dictionary of National Biography"
the redoubtable Halkett seems 10 have
been commander of militia, and the 18TH
=. IL. IL GrrFr sr-3z fah h.af
| not emerge until the close OF the day, when
| the victory had been won. AS most
writers agree in stating that General Cam
| broune was desperately wounded before
beng captured, he would have been rather
| an EASY prey for the big Englishman just
| out of the woods 10 bear down uponi
Napoleon never distrusted the character
of Marshal Ney. He. did deprecate his
| impetuosity, which had such serious con-
sequences at Waterloo. Ney, with his
| warm heart and splendid courage, was
vacillating in purpose except on the battle
| field. He did leave Paris with On idle
| boast upon his lips. But at Lyons the
brayest of the brave" was infected with
| the delirium of the troops at the sight OF
| Napoleon and, with his army, went over to
his former friend and master.
Savary, Duke de Rovigo, was deeply at
tached TO Napoleon. 1t was this feeling
/ WHICH W DUN w accompany
| the Emperor in his voluntary exile to st.
Helena. The English permitted only a
| limited number 10 go, and Savary was not
| one of them. He parted with Napoleon on
| the Bellorophon and sought refuge in
| the East. He was for some time at
| Smyrna, where he received much kindness
| from the Austrian Ambassador. Finally,
| weary Of exile and poverty, Savary return
| ed to Paris. stood his trial, and WAS &C
| quilted as had been Cambroune, Coulain.
! court, Dronot, and others. The memoirs OF
| the Duke de Rovigo are extremely inte-
resting. He lived until 1888.
| AS to Duroc, Bourr1enne's statement IL
simply false. He was intimately and ten
| DERBY the Emperor's friend,
General Bertrand remained az st. Helena
until after Napoleon's burial there. He
lived to witness the magnificent obsequies
| at Paris in 1910, dying four years later.
Among the most interesting exhibits at the
| last Paris Exposition was a case contain
| ing relics of the first Napoleon, loaned by
| the family of General Bertrand. There
| was hls glorious sword, piece of his hair,
| miniatures. letters. &c.
The Duke of Anerstadt and Prince of
| Eckmuhl, whose name is almost as frequent
| " written Davonst as Davont. was a fell
low-student of Napoleon's at Brienne, and
although q Republican in principle, adj
hered to the Emperor's fortunes through
out his career and his reyerses.
have not read the Abbott story-books.
Is it there perhaps, that Mr.. Royal finds
the name of Desaix written with two SIS 2
As to my estimate of Napoleon. 1t is not
usual now TO consider him in the aspect Of
"tyrant,"" fiend." and demon" only.
One must deplore his overweening ambi-
ton.
But added to his unparalleled military
genius was the supreme instinct of national
government, and with the vast might of
his character he diffused his liberal lnsti-
tutions in every quarter" says Hegel "a
GERMANY in his Philosophy of History"
His renown need never fear tho light Of
history. Renewed research only results in
greater justice being done his many
colored mind" and character.
And now | modestly and finally retire
from so unequal a contest. feeling rather
alarmed at my own temerity in daring so
much.
May II, 1891. FRANCAIsE,