The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-28
HIS LECTURE ON B0NAPARTE
Mr.. W. L. Royal EntertalnS a Large Cul-
tured Audience.
FRENCH HISTORY DEEPLY SEARCHED.
NAPOLEON n Man without Heart or Soul,
Only Intelleotual-A Great Soldier,
Though.

Napoleon Bonaparte' at the Richmond The
atre.
The lower floor was filed with a very select
and intelligent audience, representing the
very best elements of this city.
Judge Samuel b. Witt introduced Mr. Roy
all to the audience in few well chosen re-
marks and stated the object of the lecture to
assist in swelling the funds for the Rosemary
Public Library.
Before beginning his lecture Mr. Royal
stated that he would cndeayor 20 picture Ma
p0ie0u BOnaparte as be was described by hls
contemporaries.
lie then showed the assemblage on large
sheet of white canvas stretched across the
background of the stage. a very good portrait
of Napoleon clad i'm the becoming uniform Of
Colonel dies Chasseuls de Guards IN which
he was buried on st. Helena and later On
under the Dome DIES lnvaldes.
The lecture wa, greatly enjoyed by all pres
emit and Mr. ROYAL delivered It IN his IN
imltable style, frequently creating much
merriWent
Among the audience were Congressman W.
7. II. Leo, General T. NJ Logan. General
Peyton Wise Professor l.. y. Valentine,
Judge IL H. Marshall Hon. ". ". Henry,
Major Lewis Ginter. Colonel ". L. Tanner
c. W. Tanner. Captain Phil IIaXall, Mr.. W
IL. AtlelIIu. lIf. hDlili, \. i t1t. Ltt H..
Page, Captain L. 4. Daniel.
TAscINATING PERSONALITY,
Mr.. Royal started his lecture with the
statement that Napoleon was the most fascl-
Mating pers )nalty on this EARTH who hal ln-
troduccd himself % the world with the sem
tence. Il am the revolution
To interpret this expression properly the
lecturer quoted from the first volume Of Les
Memoirs do Ialleyrand, which has just been
published.
lie did not agree. however. with the view
which the famous French writer takes Of the
French revolution and It's causes, but asserts
that the origin of that revolution was rooted
deeper i'm society. which meant the expulsion
Of the aristOcrats who had tattened on the
people boy the plebeiaus.
The speaker referred to- the history Of
France about fifteen hundred or two thou
sand years ago. when the Gauls We're super
seeded boy the Franks tribe which had mi
grated from Southern Germany.
He showed an intense knowledge Of the
history off the two countries. and during the
short space of an hour on 50 while his lecture
lasted bee fully convinced the attentyey lis
tening audience of the deep study which he
had made Of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte.
so HEART Oh SOUL.
II am the revolution said Napoleon, and
he came 10 continue 70 bv seating himself q
plabeau making kings of plebeians. while
liberty was to follow some day later on.
In order 10 show what manner of a man
Napoleon B0naparte was, Mr.. ROYAL quoted
from "a sketch written Oy Mr.. BOurlen, his
former private secretary, who stated be-
fore he was abandoned Dy his protector. that
Napoleon had no heart at all. that he was all
intellect without heart and slul his character
was reserved and his smile hypocritcal.
no show him 70 the world in his true light.
Bourien cites an instance whore Napoleon
laughed loudly while be described how
friend Of his had been torn % pieces Is q
canon ball M battle before IoulOu.
ON another occasion he makes Napoleon tell
Of his actions IN Cairo. whore he had men dee
capitated every day whether they mad CON-
mlttcd any oncuse or not.
Ar. Royal also quoted from Talloyrand,
who pictured Napoleon blacker than mid
night
He describes him as being fond ii deceiv,
in. who nd not possess any generosity, ana |
never knew % admire.
He did not value sincerity and one OF his
uncles said of him tnat he would govern the
world. because he Was an habituM liar.
lie had no gratitude. but paid Tor services
rendered. and wneu he dds he made 1t plain
thar he was ready % buy another.
tits supreme intellect was acknowledged !
10y all. and bee possessed a remarkable endOw-
meut TO slccoed.
lle aid not care for the news Of success. but
tod jourien to wake him when bad news
va. received
lie WAS q monster and tho most detestable
character that had ever inf, ,ted this earth.
But % take him as a friend without paying
tribute % hi7 qualities hs "A soldier would be-
like playing Hamlet with the part of Hamlet
loft OUT
BATTLE or WATERLOO.
After reading some quotations from the
memoirs Of Madam Renaissaute, another con-
temporary. who describes him in a similar
manner. Mr. Royal Went into very interest
ing description Of tho circumstances con-
n"ctei with the battle OF Waterloo which |
brought on Napoleon's downfall.
be illustrated the several movements Of
tho different armies ou map. and showed /
that Wellington, who lad about 100000 men
under hl- command around Brussels. did not |
get zap more than 1900 soldiers against Mar
shal Ney 10 QuaTc-Bras, who could have !
easily crushed him. with his A. 900 men had me /
not reduced AIs forces by sending one corps |
ot 1900 men under Soult against Butcher, !
VINO then stood ut llgny.
Although tile latter was being defeated |
there he managed % rally. his troops and came
o. the Rescue or Wellington at the most cri,i-
cal moment at j.. NJ. ON June 18th when
the English commander was ~ the point OF
succumbng.
Mr.. Royal alluded to the manner in which
the French spoke OF their Imperial Guards
'that died but mover surrenderel,n which ex-
tiA'-'lifAl NArNti Wi0 4.'A 10y III l-llplAHl
general, who had fought against them. rs a
d hunhus"
Mr. Royal became highly pathetic when he
pictured the murder OF Marshal Ney, who had
dared to set aside his oath az allegiance T. Ma
p0.con's successor and gone back 10 the cause
OF his idol. the subdued Emperor.
For this deed he was tried by a set Of politi-
clans and condemned tO he shot
ON the morning of his execution the officer
IN charge Of the military detachment did not
have the heart 20 We the command 30 fire on
his former chieltan. and his place had 70 be
taken by u politician. one Of the judges who
had found hin guilty.
After describing conversation which took ,
place ut Welmar between Napoleon and two
OF the greatest German poets then living.
Goethe and WielInd on the merits OF the
works of Tacitus. Alr. Royal gave brief
sketch of the military career of Napoleon
Bonaparte
The lecture was very instructive and was
greatly appreciated by the attentively listen
ing audience. Several times when Mr.. Royall
intended 10 stop. on account of the lateuess
THE BEST is 7