The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-25
Nnnnleon nj St. Hclcnn.

those who knew him there. 1t is in every
way an exceedingly interesting work. 1t
not only contains much information hith-
erto withheld from the public, or to be
had only in rare and expensive works, but
it describes phase of Napoleon's charac-
ter which is somewhat at variance with
the popular conception.
The marvellous influence which this
man had upon the life of his time, and
upon the Imagination of mankind for gen.
erations, can hardly be estimated in its
fullness. Hitherto, as the present biogra-
pher remarks, the public has been more
interested in works about Napoleon and
the memoirs of his courtiers than in the
records left by the man himself. Lord
Rosebsry has striven to throw some light
on his personality as a private not pub
lie character.
Considered as a force-an embodied
force almost irresistible in strength
Napoleon was marvel. Considered as a
human being he was and is an enigma.
The character of a man who was born the
son of poor Corsican gentleman, and by
his own unassisted genius rose 20 the mas
terry of half Europe and the control of the
rest, must necessarily be full of compleXi-
ties and contradictions, and his mental
processes a mystery to the average hu-
man being. Yet it may be that, as with
many other great natures, his was less
puzzling than might be supposed if one
had the key. Lord Rosebery has certainly
attempted the analysis of this last phase
of il with considerable success.
One of the things which make such an
analysis difficult is the unreliability of NEST
of the documents at hand. In the greater
part of the records available are fragrant
Misrepresentation, and they occur even
in diaries supposed to be only for the eyes
There seems to have been something in The
air OF st. Helena that blighted exact truth;
and he who collates the various narratives On
any given point will find strange and hopeless
contradictions.
The work of Las Cases, for example, is
full of frauds, of several OF which the BIZ
ographer gives examples; and the same is
true of the "reminiscences of Antommar-
chi, the Italian physician VINO attended
Napoleon. The most reliable record. ac-
cording to Lord Rosebery. is the private
diary of Gourgaud. published about two
years ago. Though this gentleman ap-
pears to have had, as the biographer says,
the manners of '.fretful porcupine," his
diary was cstensibly written for his own
eyes alone. and is therefore more or less
to be trusted.
Antommarchi is, the writer thinks, OBJ
yiously trying to whitewash his own repu-
tation. since Montholon. whose memoirs
are exceedingly interesting, If not vera
cious in all points. repeatedly notes the
physicians unsatisfactory record both as
a doctor and as q man. But Gourgaud is
not only biographer of Napoleon who
gives considerable satisfaction to the his
torisn. but he is an interesting study in
himself. Lord Rosebery says of him:
He alone of all the ciironiclers strove to be
accurate. and on the whole. succeeded. For
no man would willingly draw such portrait Of
himself as CourgaUd page by page deineated.
He takes, indeed, the greatest pains to prove
that no more captions. cantankerous. sullen, and
impossible being than hinsel. has ever eS-
listed. He watched his master like jealous
woman, Napoleon himself remarked, HE
loved me lover loves his mistress; he was
impossible Did Napoleon call Bertrand an ex-
celent engineer. or Las Cases devoted friend,
or Montholon BY the endearing term of son. Gour
gaud went off into dumb. E,owering self-tor-
turing rage, which he fuses into his journal; and
yet, by strange hazard. writing sometimes with
almost insane fury about his master, produces
the most pleasing portrait Of Napoleon that ex-
fists. The fact is, he utterly out OF place.
On active service, on the field of battle, he
would have been of the utmost service to his
chief; keen, intelligent. devoted aide-de-canp.
But in the inaction of 81. Helena his energy,
deprived Of its natural outlet. turned on him.
self. on his nerves. on his relations to Others.
The result is that he was never happy except
when quarreling or grumbling. Napoleon him
self was in much the same position. His fire
without fuel, to Use Nine. de Montholon's fig
ure. consumed hifnsel. and those around him.
But Napoleon had the command Of what luxury
and companonsiip there was; the others Of the
little colony had their wives and children. Gour-
gaud had nothing.
And again:
Goarrsud was not merely passvely gloomy; he
became actively bore. He began on every
slisit occasion to detail his services and his
claims, a preface epilogUe to long
OF this with exemplary patience; for Gourgaud's
conception OF conversation with Bertrand is en-
bodied in this entry: "Iie talks of his worries.
and of mime But at last he told Gourgaud
that no lcrgcr, this mutual principle,
could he be wesred with Gourgauds complaints.
One Of Courgsuds great achievements the
having saved Nspeleor's life at the battle OF
Brienne. He was supposed. by Warden .: any
account Of this exploit. This all very well;
but Napoleon heard too much of il. and SO the
following occurred. Gourgaud: Il never
had engraved on my sword that ] saved your
life and yet I killed hGssar that was attack
ing YcW Majesty" Napoleon. 81 do not recol-
lect it, Goulraud: This is too much.'' and
% poor Gourgaud storms At last the En-
peror Puts q stop TO this outbnrst Of spleen by
saying that Gourgaud is brave youBg man. bu;
that il is astonishing that with such good sense
he should be such baby
II is evident from this and other incl |
dents quoted in the book that Napoleon's |
six years Of exile were not spent in soli- |
tary and pictorial grandeur, pacing the |
beach at ST. Helena, and looking longingly \
toward the scene of his former triumph. |
They were full of the most petty and |
criticism, qusrreling, accusation, |
Tor this petulant officer, thirty-four years /
Of age, hcctcrs Napoleon as II he were /
he Emperor and Napoleon the aide.
Nothing more narrowing and democrat
zing to the disposition can be imagined
han such a life to a man accustomed to
action, dominion. and plans which in
volvcd nations. 1t is like setting an
eagle TO catch mice.
And how did Napoleon put up with all
his Here comes in the surprising part
,f the story-the new light on the charac-
Ter of the great soldier. Throughout Gour-
,auds chronicle the Emperor appears as
he gentle, considerate, concillatory mas
er. or rather friend, coaxing Gourgaud to
Ne sensible and get over his sulks, using
mild ridieule. quiet dignity. or persuasive
iinaness to overcome his aides fits of
emper. This Is SO contradictory to the /
General idea OF him as an imperious and
naughty dictator that one can hardly be-
ieve it, But there IL Is in black and white
n Gourgands diary. and, as Lord Rosebery
emarks, surely no man would knowingly
raw such portrait of himself, even in a