The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-11
A NEW WORK or THE NAPOLE0NiC
PERIOD.


nressrs D. Appleton & Company. OF
New York. have contributed TO the Ma
poleoaic literature another m5st eharin-
ing addition, in furnishing us with
translation of the inen,oira Of General
Count philippe de SeguJ. who was one of
Napoleons aide-dc-camps, serving long
on his personal STAFF. VINO for some time
commanded the portion OF his guard
that had immediate supervision of his
personal safety. and who rose To the
rank Of q general of division.
Count de Segur came from one Of the
Oldest and most aristocratic families OF
France and he claims that as a hoy OF
nineteen. he was the first of his order
TO step across the gulf that divided the
old order from the new, by enlisting In
the French army as soon as Napoleon was
made first consul. The book is one of
the most fascinating and delightful of
the many memoirs of that wonderful pc
Rod that have yet been published. What
most strongly arrests the attention Of the
thoughtful reader in perusing this work
persons who were brought into direct con-
tact with Napoleon. is the writer's I'M
bounded admiration of the man, and his
passionate attachment TO him. We 10
not refer to their admiration OF his tn-
paraIeled genius and ability 20 perform
wonders. but to their uniform testimony
TO the loftiness, benevoencc, fidelity, and
tenderness of his nature. Credible as
writer's like de Segur, Savary. Meneval,
Marmont, D'Abrantes. Las Cases, Marriott
Levy. etc. are 1t is nevertheless absolute
ly certain that Napoleon was wholly des-
titute of all moral principle; that he had
not the slightest reverence or regard for
truth; that ne answered absolutely 10
what is meant by the modern slang word
'fakir." and that he never performed any
act that bore the appearance of generosi-
" that did not have an Interior object
pehind It. A more thoroughly depraVed
nature than his never occupied a human
form.
Students OF Napoleon and his period
have always known this 10 be true. hut
the strongest Hight ever Vet shed upon
his character is thrown by the two first
volumes of the memoirs OF Barras. just
published That Barras was an intense
~ prejudiced witness. goes without say
ing. 1t seems hardly possible for one
nan 10 hate another more intensely than
Barras hated Napoleon. Nevertheless.
Barras was one of the most capable men
Of the period. he was a man Of The high
est position and authority. when Ma
pollen was an unknown lieutenant OF
artillery. seIving in the siege Of london.
Barras continued to ADVANCE In power
and authority. until he became one OF
the i've supreme xnIers OF France. catied
the Directory. and he maintained that
position through all the Nicissituies OF
France nnfn that soim OF government
was overthIown. II WAS certainly Bar
ras who. serving at London as tho rep
resen,atiye OF the convention Win that
army first discovered Napoleon. lie
promoted him aloi,S during that Siege
successfully from rank to rank tutii he
reached that OF brigadier- general. When
the siege was ovcr. Napoleon certainly
came 10 Paris. and was Il haugef-0n Of
his until Barras got him the command OF
the army of Italy. and Barras can. there
fore. be set down With absolute certain
~ to have been the creator of Napoleon.
so far as advancing him from position TO
position. and giving him the opportunity
20 display his genius was concerned.
Though Rarras is prejudiccd witness.
therefore. there can be no question about
his competency. He knew more OF Ma
pollen and hts relation to the period than
any other one man. and his narrative OF
events contains such internal evidence Of
sts truth that every reader is forced TO
believe what be tells us. whether he
w.shes 10 do so or not II is impossible
10 form an idea of more fawning, con-
temptsblc, debasea syeophan,. and hypo-
critic than DaIras paints Napoleon, as q
youux man whom hs was for years hang