Star. — 1825-03-28 (London, England)

LITERATURE. TAi Loll Days of the Entpror Napokon. By Doctor F. AIiTiMMARCHII his Physician. 2 Vols. Svo. 1.04dOll. 1b26.  Much as has already appeared respecting Bonaparte, thb subject still continues to excite an unvarying interest; and we shall be most mistaken if it will not be long ere it is exhausted. The work.; of Month°lon, Gout-gaud, and Las Cates, have given us a better insight to the teal character of this extrat.rdinary individual than we had previously been enahled to obtain, and the two volumes con•ecrated to his last days by hi• attendant physician, :hew how he sustained the last act of the eventful drama of life.  Dr. Antommarchi is an ardent and enthusiastic ad-1 mirer of Napoleon; he denies that he wa, of that vio. lent temper imputed to him, or that lie was revengeful ; and he particularly contradicts one assertion, namely, that Napoleon ever meditated suicide. " Amid! le, kind, hasty, but just," says the Doctor, g, he took a plea,rn4 in exalting the services, and in recalling the noble actions of even those who had offended him ; itr a word, his mind was as inaccessible to hateful pa .sions, as it was incapable of yielding to the blows of fate." The prejudices cf Dr. Antommarchi sometimes carry him too far in his hostility to the British Government. The Doctor was sent by Napoleon's mother to attend him at St. Helena, where he arrived in the Spring of 1819: his work doe, not contain a Mere diary of the health of his patient, but includes several interesting conversations hd had with Napoleon relating to his former life and present feelings. Bonaparte appears to have entertained a strong attachment to the Empress Maria Louisa, and a truly paternal affection for his son, the young Napoleon, as will be seen by the following anecdote:—  ig The Emperor had passed the night in perusing the newspapers, and was very tired. I recommended rest, some food, and a bath in the course of the day. 6 Very well, Doctor,' said he, looking at the picture of the King of Rome, which he still held in his hands: Here, place this admirable child by the side of his mother There,..to the right, nearer to the mantel-piece. You know her by her blooming looks—that is Maria Louisa : she holds her son in her arms! And that other picture, you know it also ? It is the Imperial Prince. You do not guess what graceful hand held the needle that sketched this representation of his features ?—lt was that of his mother. That picture before which you now stand is Maria Louisa again; the two others are portraits of Josephine.—l loved her tenderly. You are examining that large clock?—lt served to wake the Great Frederick early in the morning. I took it at Potsdam: it was all Prussia was worth. Move the bust of the Imperial Print* to the left, it is too much to the right. The ornaments, of my mantel-piece are, as you see, not •ery sumptuous. The bust of my son, two candlesticks, two gilt cups, tw• phials of East de Cologne, a pair of seisms to cut nails with, and a small glass are all it contains. This is no longer the splendour of the Tuilleries. But no matter; if lam decayed in my power, I am not in my glory : I preserve all my recollections. Few sovereigns have immolated themselves fur their people: a sacrifice so immense is not without its charms.' ln a few minutes I withdrew."  A tracrtwo