New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-16

cd
Consulate-the Empire, Vol. III. lsii-isi5' Up
xviii, 4Cl. Charles Scribners sons
This volume lacks the unity that characterized
each Of It's predecessors The rise and fal or
the revolutionary movement. the growth ana de-
cay OF Napoleons Empire were sufficient TO give
form ~ the earlier portions Of VI. Pasquier's his
tory. But now France mas fallen In this third
volume upon times Of uncertainty. defeat. IN
competence and wcarine's. The great figures on
the European scene are not Frcnchmen nor per-
sonages with whom Pasquier is familiar. but
foreigners-the Duke Of Wellington and Alexan-
der Of Russia. Napoleon interrupts Violently
indeed but only for the so-caed One Hundred
DAYS the inanities OF Bourbon rule. inanities
which Pasquer a Royast. does not deny nor
excuse But there is no longer a single anirnatng
purpose in the narrative. and the author no
longer stands where the secret threads OF events
reach his hands as they did when he was the
Prefect Of Police of Paris. Tho volume opens
with Napoleon on the Island Of Elba, with LOUIS
XVIII in power surrounded by his family ana
his court and with almost everybody in state
Of growing dissatisfaction The new government
has won neither the affections q Its friends nor
the respect Of its foes. Those Royalis's who had
abandoned France and lied in foreign iandS
during the Revolutionary aid Imperial perious
returned with hopes that did not harmonic win
the wishes and necessities OF the men VINO had
risked their lives at home. II was true that Ma
noleon had attempted a work Of pacihcation by
authorizing the return Of the emigres. But in his
cas-. they were admitted to ,he country by an
act Of cIenency. Now they came as victors oy
arms that were neither their own nor those OF
France In this they shared the disadvantage Of
the Government whose countenance and favor
they demanded 1T came back not In blaze OF
glory since not a single victory had In the past
twenty years been won either by II or In us
name No more was one 10 revel IN the ENJOY
ment Of the brilliant victories which had become
ca dear 70 the French heart. Fate and the force
Of circumstances were the cause that memories
Of these victories. while 50 dear to the large ma
FORTY Of Frenchmen. were d matter OF pain 70
the King. the royal family. and almost all those
who had returned in their wake
1t happened that In the brief period OF the
Restoration preceding the return Of Napoleon
from Elba NJ. Pasquer had occasion to make
an extensive journey in France. He went back
10 Paris convinced that France was monarchical
In its sentiments toward the personality OF the
King. but democratic In Its tastes and inclina-
tons The old nobility had regained none OF It's
old authority On the contrary, 1t was an OBJ
tect OF distrust. The convenience OF avoiding
the distinctions OF rank In politics were so OBJ
vious so many had now tasted the pleasures OF
office. which used to be the exclusive property
of the aristocrats, many powerful interests ex-
! listed Of which the people Of high degree knew
nothing, that 1t was impossible TO restore even
| the shadow of the old system. Yet even at such
a moment he who stood next to the King could
cav abiding TO the Few constitution: People
have got what they asked for and 1t has been
| necessary 10 give this form Of government a
| trial; but the experiment will soon be over and
II in the course OF year or two things do not
| 90 smoothly there will be a return 10 the natural
| order OF things" NJ. Pasquier even hesitated
10 place such words on record against Mon
s,eur" but he reconciled his too loyal conscience
| TO doing this by the thought that doubtless the
| Prince had used the same language to others.
| But when the approach Of the Emperor was an
| nounced and the Bourbons thought 1t necessary
| to be complaisant, the Prince, In studied ad-
| dress concerted, as NJ. Pasquier Indicates. with
| the King voluntarily swore by his honor to live
| and die true to the King and Ito. the constitu-
tional charter which Ia guarantee Of France $
happiness There was no lack Of men among
| the old nobility who We're more active than
| the Prince. who still shared his imprudent man.
| ner of speech. Their words justified suspicious
| and fears which they should have sought 70 dis
sipate.
Following upon the criminal deeds Of violence
| Of the revolutionary party" said N. Pasouisr. In