The life of Napoleon Buonaparte, emperor of the French. By Sir Walter Scott.

LIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 32)
The French ministry, on the other hand, pressed for Malta, until his majesty had received the most
literal execution of the treaty. After some diplo- ample satisfaction for this new and singular aggresmatic evasions had been resorted to, it appeared sion..as if the cession could be no longer deferred, when While things were thus rapidly approaching to a
a publication appeared in the Moniteur, which rupture, the chief consul adopted the unusal resoluroused to a high pitch the suspicions, as well as the tion, of himself entering personally into conference
indignation, of the British nation. with the British ambassador. He probably took
The publication alluded to was a report of Gene- this determination upon the same grounds which
ral Sebastiani. This officer had been sent as the dictated his contempt of customary forms, in enteremissary of the first consul, to various Mahomme- ing, or attempting to enter, into direct corresponddan courts in Asia and Africa, in all of which it ence with the princes whom he had occasion to
seemis to have been his object, not only to exalt thie treat with. Such a deviation from the established
greatness of his master, but to misrepresent and mode of procedure seemed to mnark his elevation
degrade the character of England. He had visited above ordinary rules, and would afford him, he might
Egypt, of which, with its fortresses, and the troops think, an opportunity of bearing down the British
that defended them, he had made a complete sur- ambassador's reasoning, by exhibiting one of those
vey. He then waited upon Djezzar Pacha, and bursts of passion, to which he had been accustomed
gives a flattering account of his reception, and of to see most men give way.
the high esteem in which Djezzar held the first It would have been more prudent in Napoleon to
consul, whom he had so many reasons for wishing have left the conduct of the negotiation to I'alleywell to. At the Ionian Islands, he harangued the rand. A sovereign cannot enter in person upon
natives, and assured them of the protection of Bo- such conferences, unless with the previous determinaparte. The whole report is full of the most hos- nation of adhering precisely and finally to whatever
tile expressions towards England, and accuses Ge- ultimatum he has to propose. He cannot, without
neral Stuart of having encouraged the Turks to as- a compromise of digtlity, chaffer or capitulate, or
sassinate tie writer. Wherever S6bastiani wrent, he even argue, and of course is incapable of wielding
states himself to have interfered in the factions and any of the usual, and allost indispensable weapons
quarrels of the country; lie inquired into its forces; of negotiators. If it was Napoleon's expectation,
renewed old intimacies, or made new ones with lead- by one stunning and emphatic declaration of his
ing persons; enhanced his master's power, and was pleasure, to beat down all arguments, and confound
liberal in promises of French aid. EIe concludes, all opposition, he would have done wisely to rethat a French army of six thousand men would be menmber, that he was not now, as in other cases, a
sufficient to conquer Egypt, and that the Ionian general upon a victorious field of battle, dictating
Islands were altogether attached to the French terms to a defeated enemy; but was treating upon
interest. a footing of equality with Britain, mistress of the'The publication of this report, which seemed as if seas, possessing strength as formidable as his own,
Bohaparte were blazoning forth to the world his though of a different character, and whose prince
arnaltered determnination to persist in his eastern and people were f:ar more likely to be incensed than
- projects of colonization and conquest, would have intimidated by any menaces which his passion might
rendered it an act of treason in the English ministers, throw out.
if; by the cession of Malta, they had put into his The character of the English ambassador was as
land, or at least placed within his grasp, the readiest nmfavourable for the chief consul's probable purpose,
means of carrying into execution those gigantic as that of the nation he represented. Lord Whitschemes of ambition, which had for their ultimate, worth was possessed of great experience and sagaperhaps their ml)st desired object, the destruction of city. His integrity and honour were undoubted;
the Indian commerce of Britain. and, with the highest degree of courage, lie had a
As it were by way of corollary to the gasconading calm and collected disposition, admirably calculated
journal of S6bastiani, an elaborate account of the to give him the advantage in any discuission with aln
forces and natural advantages of France was pub- antagonist, of a fiery, impatient, and overbearing
lished at the same period, which, in order that temper.
there might be no doubt concerning the purpose of We will make no apology for dwelling at unusual
its appearance at this crisis, was summed up by the length on the conferences betwixt the first consul
express conclusion, "'trhat Britain was unable to and Lord Whiitworth, as they are strikingly illulscontend with France single-handed." This tone of trative of the character of Bonaparte, and were in
defiance, officially adopted at such a moment, added their consequences decisive of his fate, and that of
nBot a little to tile resentment of the English nation, the world.
not accustonied to decline a challenge or endure an Their first interview of a political nature took
insult. place in the Tuileries, 17th February, 180)3. BonaThie cOurt of Britain, on the appearance of this parte, having announced that this meeting was for
Report on the State of France, together with that of the purpose of" nmaking his sentiments knownv to the
S&bastiani, drawn tip and subscribed by an official King of England in a clear and authentic nlainer,"
agent, containing insinuations totally void of founda- proceeded to talk incessantly for the space of' nearly
t4on, and disclosing intrigues inconsistent with the two hours, not without considerable incoherence,
preservation of peace, anid the objects for which his temper rising as he dwelt on the alleged cauises
peace had been made, declared that the king would of complaint which he preferred against England,
enter into loo thither discussion on the subject of though not so much or so incautiously as to rmaLe