New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-31

Englishmen; the others are competent
TRANSACTIONS from French originals.
At first thought. the production OF still
another life of Napoleon would seem to
he d work of supererogation, yet MI
Hassall gives us in his brief history a
work which more than justities itself,
and which should find wide and appre-
ciative recognition. Chiefly intended, APP
parently, as an introduction to the more
serious study OF it's subject; based upon
the researches ana conclusions of leading
recent Investigators. laying no claim to
original discoveries or new interpreta-
lions. the book will at the same time
admirably serve the purpose OF him VINO
would draw his knowledge of this period
Of history from a single source. The
English view q Napoleonic history will
always differ in many details from that
taken of it by Continental historians.
Mr.. Hassall presents the English view
so far as the struggle between his cOun-
try and Napoleon is concerned but al
the same time presents the significance
to the Continent of the COnqucrors poll
cies and exploits.
He presents Napoleon as the chosen
instrument Of the French Revolution, the
Man of Destiny who restored order at
home and gave liberalism the oppor-
tunity 70 take root and send forth its
tendrils in the soil of Continental Europe,
oppressed by me benevolent despOtisms'
Of the end Of the eighteenth century.
That was his true mission. says Mr. Has
sail. and he fulfilled it only to be lured to
his destruction by a dream of world
dominion. He was welcomed as a de-
liverer in Italy. Germany, Belgium and
Holland He brought TO the peoples the
hope of liberty, then became their i'm
uerial oppressOr. Scoring TO make them
his friends. he put his trust in their
princes and in princely alliances. The
spirit which he. as emissary of the
French republic, had encouraged, lived on
under his tyrannical heel His heavy
hand unwitungly fostered national con-
seriousness and national aspirations and
in the end they turned upon him to his
undoing.
1t is not a new view of NapoleOns his
one. and links his name and influence to
the history of the world to this day. Mr..
Hassall presents it ably, with proper
tribute to the genius, and proper recog-
milton, also of his great service as
law maker. There is a capital bibliog-
raphy for those wishing TO continue their
study of the subject. and there are SER
I;.to nf NannIpnD'S n1dTGhalS
generals and leading ministers, together
with a genealogy of the Bonaparte fam
iIv. which does not, however. include the
present generation of the house.
NJ. Turquan tells the plain, unvar-
nished truth about Josephine Bonaparte,
firmly and with "A restrained vein of bit
fer satire To be sure, that truth has
been told often enough in recent years,
but this author evidently considered it
necessary to restate IL once more, prob
ably i'm order TO Kill once and for all a
sentimental tradition that may still
lingev in his country and elsewhere.
As his title indicates, he ends the
sorry. tawdry record with Napoleon's
sclf-elevation TO the imperial dignity, no
doub intending TO take up Josephine's
career as Empress in a future volume.
Tie root Of the evil he seeks in her linn
fed intellect and tropical mental indo-
Ience. Satan finds work still for idle
hands % do" Her education was de-
fect'ye, and worse; she lacked the am
bition- II. other words, the energy-to
supply its deficiencies when the opDortu-
nifty was offered fer on coming TO
Francs wiz. her first husband. All that
h: brief social experience under the old
regime taught her was certain tact In
conversation. an inStii ctiye hiding Of
her ignorance and mental inferlority.
Loving lI-xur2 insensatGy she en-
bsrked, when q wido ,, @: her gallant