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

Atd0 LTIFE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.
dhe execltim of that part of the Italian constitu- surmised, being cut short of this fair prospect, would
tion, which, after Napoleon's death, guaranteed the no longer have the same motives for serving the
succession in the kingdom of Italy to some one dif- living Napoleon, whose inheritance at his death was
ferent from the Emperor of France, when the title now to descend, like the patrimonly of a peasant or
of King of Rome was assumed as that of the heir of burgess, in the regular and lawful line of inheritance.
the French empire?+ But the politicians who argued thus did not sufSuch ominous remarks, however, only circulated ficiently regard the pitch of superiority which Naamong the disaffected, or passed with anti-imperial poleon had attained over those around him; his habit
jests, satires, and calembourgs, through such saloons of absolute command, theirs of implicit obedience;
of the Faubourg St Germain, as were still tenant- and the small likelihood there was of any one who
ed by the ancient and faithfil adherents of the served under him venturing to incur his displeasure,
house of Bourbon. The city of Paris made as ge- and the risk of losing the rank and fortune which
ineral a show of rejoicing as they ever testified when most had actually obtained, by showing any marks
an heir swas born to one of their most beloved sore- of coldness or dissatisfaction, on account of the
reigns; deputations with addresses came from public disappointment of distant and visionary hopes.
bodies of every description; and, that flattery might There were others who augured different conse7 sound the very base string of humility, the fashion- quences, from the effect of the same event on the,able colour of dress for the season bore a name al- feelings of Bonaparte's enemies, both open and
luding to the young King of Rome, which delicacy, unavowed. It had been a general belief, and cerif not pride, ought to have rejected. But, perhlaps, tainly was founded on probability, that the immense
the strangest circumstance of the whole was, that but ill-constructed empire which Napoleon had
the old dethroned King of Spain, and his consort, erected would fall to pieces, so soon as it was
undertook a journey, for the purpose of carrying not kept steady and compact by the fear and admitheir personal congratulations on the birth of an ration of his personal talents. Hence the damp cast
heir, to one who had deposed, and was detaining by persons affecting a wise caution, upon the genein plison their own lineage, and had laid Spain, ral desire to shake off the yoke of France. They
their native dominions, in blood, from the Pyrenees enlarged upon the invincible talent, upon the inevitto the Pillars of Hercules. able destinies of Napoleon personally; but they
Napoleon, and his more devoted admirers, rejoiced consoled the more impatient patriots, by counseling
in this happy incident, as that which was most likely, them to await his death, before making a daring
in their eyes, to sustain the empire of France, when attempt to vindicate their freedom. Such counsels
fate should remove him by whom it was founded. were favourably listened to, because men are, in
The protection of the house of Austria, and the spite of themselves, always willing to listen to prucharm flung around the child by the high fame of the dent argurrents, when they tend to postpone despef ther, could not, it was thought, but insure a peac - rate risks. But this species of argument was ended,
fhl accession to the throne, and an undisturbed se vlhen the inheritance of despotism seemed ready to
carity in possessing it. His life, too, was insimed ble transmitted from father to son in direct descent.
infiuture againstsuch fanaticsasthatofSchoenbrunn; Th'lere was no termination seen to themelancholy
for Mwhat purpose would it serve to cut off the em- prospect, nor was it easy for the most Ilukewarm of
peror, when the empire was to survive, and descend patriots to assign any longer a reason for putting off'
in all its strength upon his son and heir? till Napoleon's death tile resistance which to-day
Others there were, who pretendi d that the ad- demanded. Under these various lights was the
vantages arising from the birth of the King of Rorne birth of the King of Rome considered; and it may
were balanced by corresponding inconveniences. afterall remain a inatter of doubt, whether the blessThese asserted, that several of the French great ing of a son and heir-, acceptable as it must necesgenerals had followed the fortunes of Napoleon, in sarily have been to his domnestic feelings, was polihopes that, upon his death in battle, or upon his tically of that advantage to him which the Emperor
natural decease, they, or some of them, might, like the of France unquestionably expected.
successors of Alexander the Great, share ainongst And now, bebfore we begin to trace the growing
them the ample succession of kingdoms and princi- diflfeences betwixt France and Russin, which speepalities which were likely to become the property of dily led to such important consequences, we lllay
the strongest and bravest, in the lottery which might briefly notice some circumstances connected with
be expected to take place on the death of the great Spail and with Spanish affairs, though the two infavourite of Fortune. These great soldiers, it was cidents which we ace to mention first, are rather of
a detached and insulated nature:' Jests, as well as serious observations, were made on The first of these refers to the Ex-Queen of Etluthis occasion.,Have you any commands for France? nria, a daughter, it will be remenmbered, of Charles,
said a F lenchman at Naples to an English friend; I shall King of Spain, and a sister of Ferdinand. Upon
be here in two ay "In ttrance? off for swered his frid, this princess and her son Bonaparte had settled the
"I thought you were sattiog off for Rome." "True; but
ome, by a decree of the emperor, is o indissoluby kingdom of Etruria, or Tuscany. Preparatory to
united to France." 1 have no newvs to burthen you withl ti e Bayonne intrigue, he had corcibly deprived her
said his friend; "but can I do anything for you in Eng- of this dignity, in order to offer it as an imndemnificalta.? I shall be there in half an horr.' "In England?" tion to Ferdinand for the cession, which he proposed
said the Frenchman, "and in half an hour!" "Yes," said to that unhappy prince, of the inheritance of Spain
his friend,,within that time I shall be at sea, and the sea }laving contrived to obtain that cession witllhout alny
l has been indissolhuly united to the British empire.s colpensation, Bonaparte reserved EtlUria to hiill
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