Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-07-06
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY
NAPOLEON AND AMERICA,

The Revolution and the influence Of
the young United States is said to have
had a strong influence upon the career
of Napoleon Bonaparte. Many of tire
early memoranda left by Bonaparte
contains reference to America. to Deane,
"the first Deputy of the United PROVING
es to Versailles" and to Monsieur"
Franklin.
After his marriage to Josephine Bon
aparte's interest in American affairs
must have been considerably enhanced
That his pride in the French achieve
ments beyond the Atlantic was sustained,
is indicated by his reception Of Roehafn-
beau at the Tul1ieres.
With the opening Of the nineteenth
century the academic interest of Ma
poleon in the new world was to assume
a practical form He became defiber-
ately engaged in the attempt 20 found. or
to rebound, a French empire il America,
and when we come to measure his re-
sources at that time 1t was by o
means the most quixetic Of his ventures
Public opinion in France sustained
the government in its transatlantic en-
terprise The French had REGARDED the
cession of Louisiana to Spain. only thir-
teen years before our Revolutionary war,
as the weakest act of the weak admin
istration of Louis XIV.
But the dream of Napoleon for Ameri-
can conquest was to have its awaken
ing. Instead of Gallicizins the Valley
of the Mississippi, as he had planned &c
do, he turned his attention to the con-
quest of the Holy Roman Empire as more
to his liking thereby transferring ms
subversive energies from the youngest
republic to the oldest monarch
The scene of American relations with
Napoleon and influence upon his destinies
ow shifts 20 the European side OF the
Atlantic. This shift helped materially
in the downfall of Napoleon. The great
Frenchman tried to prevent the European
nations receiving supplies through an m
land blockade and endeavored to close
all the ports of the European. mainland
from the I.evant around to the Baltic,
but at this time the United States. q
nation only twenty, years old, developed
| a mercantile marine which was destined
! to affect the fate of nations.
The American shippers" In spite OF
| Napoleon. penetrated the harbors of the
world from Riga to Singapore. As =
! neutral power and under its Commercial
treaties. the United States was entitled to
trade freely with the belligerent powers
unIss their harbors were blockaded. Al
matter of fact there was no naval
blockade by France or her allies.
In the face of these breaches Of hi:
Continental system, Napoleon concluded
that the complete dominotion of Russia
must precede the commercial ruin anC
consequent submission of England
Hence the great invasion of 1912
Whether the outcome might not have re
suited from some other cause, the fac
remains that the presence Of our neutra
/
relieving the commercial necessities o
his empire, and his resort to that relic
provoked the French invasion In short
the performance and ubiquity of ou
merchant cruisers furnished the weapo,
which severed the Continental system
The retreat from Moscow gave it the Fl
NAL stroke, and was itself the besinnin
of the end of the Napolonic empire.
Even in the fast phase" our eountr
sustained a certain association with tn
captive of st, Helena. The English Re,
that any danger Of rescue would orig
nate upon the western shore Of the Al
lantic. Admiral Cockburn occupied tn
neighboring island of Ascension avowed
" to prevent 1t from falling into tt
hands Of Yankee raiders.
The feeling in the United STATE
against England was at that time ami,
| DteN-Si' ~NdRViCOI ldHulnS AT 81. He
ena followed the battle Of New orrear
only about seven months and the dowr
fall Of the revolutionary nenarc
aroused deep sympathy throughout IL
country.
But the actual grounds for the belt.
in the existence Of a rescue party an
S rescue plans in the United States re,
! upon the movements of General Ian;
, mand and his associates His devotic
to the emperor was loyal and persisten
He had tried to accompany him to s
Helena. and then escaped to this countr
Many French refugees had landed
$ this country and our government grant.
: them 100000 acres on the banks of ii
Tombigby river, but they sold this lar
and settled on the Trinity river in Texa
a., nearer the sea- All the circumstances Il
dictate that it was not the intention
: Lallamand and his followers to found 9
! agricultural colony. but to Unite abo
1000 old soldiers for me deiiverance
the great prisoner, Preparations for Il
" /