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1823.]

REVIEW.-Napoleon's Memoirs of France.

conspicuous and important an individual have been actuated.

Before entering on the historical part, we shall explain the origin of the MEMOIRS, by extracting the Advertisement of the Editors.

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During the last seven years much has been written respecting Napoleon; all have wished to say what they knew of him; many have said what they did not know. Statesmen, soldiers, and authors of all nations have been desirous of passing judgment upon him; everybody has spoken except himself. At length he also breaks

silence, and in the most solemn manner. At the time of his abdication at Fontainbleau, he said.to the remains of his old legions, I will record the deeds we have performed together;" but the rapid succession of events which led to the revolution of the 20th of March, did not permit him to write his memoirs at the Isle of Elba; nor was he able to fulfil the promise given at Fontainbleau, until he arrived at St. Helena. Too active to delay for an instant the execution of a project on which he had determined, he did not even wait till he arrived at the rock of exile; on board the vessel which carried him thither he commenced his memoirs.

"He employed the six years of his captivity in writing the account of the twenty years of his political life. So constantly was he occupied in this undertaking, that to describe the labour he bestowed upon it, would almost be to write the history of his life at Saint-Helena. He seldom wrote himself; impatient at the pen which refused to follow the rapidity of his thoughts. When he wished to write an

account

of any event, he caused the Generals who surrounded him to investigate the subject; and when all the materials were collected, he dictated to them extempore."

The NOTES and MISCELLANIES are of a more detached description; but, in our judgment, they possess a more extraordinary degree of interest; and may be considered as invaluable to military men, on account of the important suggestions connected with the tactics and operations of war. The Editors introduce them with the following explanation:

"Napoleon had requested that all new works should be sent to him from France; some of them reached him. He read them with eagerness, particularly those which were published against him. Lampoons and libels only excited in him a smile of contempt; but when he met with passages in important works, in which his policy had been mistaken or misinterpreted, he de

53

fended himself with his usual vivacity.› He would read the passages several times over: then, folding his arms, and walking up and down with more or less rapidity, according to the degree in which he felt excited, he would dictate a reply; but in the course of a few sentences, hurried away by the force of his imagination, he almost always forgot both the author and the book, and was entirely absorbed by the fact itself to which the work related.

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"Napoleon considered these notes constituting materials for his memoirs; they are the more interesting, because, being the fruits of an unpremeditated dictation, the author's ideas lie on the surface; and because they throw a light on events, the particulars of which have hitherto remained unknown. We have therefore made a separate collection of them."

Our Author does not fatigue us by an unnecessary exordium. He is as prompt an historian as he was a soldier. Under the head of the "SIEGE OF TOULON," where his military career first commenced, he enters at once on the following particulars :

"First operations of the Army of Italy in 1792-Expedition against SardiniaToulon delivered up to the EnglishPlan of attack adopted against ToulonSiege and taking of the place-Hints on the fortifications of coasts-Fortifying the shores of the Mediterranean-Taking of Saorgio Positions of the French Army-Napoleon accused - Action Cairo Montenotte - Napoleon goes to Paris-Kellerman Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Italy-Schérer-Loano."

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Napoleon was sent by the Committee of Public Safety to command the besieging artillery against Toulon, which had been taken by the English.

"In conformity to the plan adopted, the French raised five or six batteries against Little Gibraltar, and constructed platforms for fifteen mortars. A battery had also been raised of eight twenty-four pounders and four mortars against Fort Malbosquet, the construction of which was a profound secret to the enemy, as the men who were employed on the work were entirely concealed from observation by a plantation of olives. It was intended that this battery should not be unmasked till the moment of marching against Little Gibraltar; but on the 20th of November the Representatives of the People went to inspect it, when they were informed by the cannoneers that it had been completed eight days, and that no use had yet been made of it, though it was supposed the effect produced by it would be very important. Without further explanation, the Representatives ordered them

to

54

REVIEW. Napoleon's Memoirs of France.

to open a fire, and accordingly the cannoneers with great joy immediately opened an alternate fire from the battery.

General O'Hara, who commanded the Allied Army at Toulon, was greatly sur prised at the erection of so considerable a battery close to a fort of such importance as Malbosquet, and gave orders that a sortie should be made at break of day. The bat tery was situated in the centre of the left of the army: the troops in that part consisted of about 6000 men; occupying the line from Fort Rouge to Malbosquet, and so dis posed as to prevent all individual communication, though too much scattered to make an effectual resistance in any given point.

"An hour before day, General O'Hara sallied out of the garrison with 6000 men; and, meeting with no obstacle, his skirmishers only being engaged, spiked the guns of the battery.

"In the mean while the drums beat the generale at head-quarters, and Dugommier with all haste rallied his troops: the Commandant of Artillery posted himself on a fittle headland behind the battery, on which he had previously established a depôt of arms. A communication from this point to the battery had been effected, by means of a boyau which was substituted for the trench. Perceiving from this point that the enemy had formed to the right and left of the battery, he conceived the idea of leading a battalion which was stationed near him through the boyau. By this plan he succeeded in coming out unperceived among the brambles, close to the battery, and immediately commenced a brisk fire upon the English, whose surprise was such, that they imagined it was their own troops on the right, who through some mistake were firing on those of the left. General O'Hara hastened towards the trench to rectify the supposed mistake, when he was wounded in the hand by a musket-ball, and a serjeant seized and draged him prisoner into the boyau; the disappearance of the English General was so sudden, that his own troops did not know what had become of him.

"In the mean time, Dugommier, with the troops he had rallied, placed himself between the town' and the battery: this movement disconcerted the enemy, who forthwith commenced their retreat. They were hotly pursued as far as the gates of the fortress, which they entered in the greatest disorder, and without being able to ascertain the fate of the General."

Of the HISTORICAL MISCELLANIES, we have already expressed our opinion. We shall therefore, at present, confine ourselves to a few detached selections from this volume; reserving our further notices of both for a future Number.

EGYPT.

[Jan.

"The army of Egypt might have mainin that country, without receiving any astained, nay, might have perpetuated itself sistance from France; provisions, clothing, in Egypt. There were military stores and all that is necessary for an army, abounded besides, Champy and Conté had established ammunition enough for several campaigns; powder-mills; the army had sufficient of ficers, &c. to organize a force of 80,000 might be desired, especially amongst the men; it could obtain as many recruits as young Copts, the Greeks, Syrians, and negroes of Darfur and Sennaar. The 21st whom were made sub-officers, and received demi-brigade recruited 500 Copts, many of there are, no doubt, some of them now in the decoration of the Legion of Honour ; France. But what power was there that man Porte? could possibly attack Egypt?-The Otto

It had lost its two armies of

Syria and Rhodes; the battles of the Pyramids, of Mount Tabor, and of Aboukir, had completely exposed the weakness of the his mob of Asiatic rabble, was not even forOttoman armies. The Grand Vizier, with midable to the inhabitants. - Russia? French army to be established in Egypt; mere phantom. The Czar wished the gates of Constantinople to him. What reit was playing his game, and opening the mained? England. But it required an army of at least 36,000 men to succeed in such an operation, and England had no such force disposable; and it was evident, since she had succeeded in forming a new coalition, that she should attempt the conquest of Egypt in Italy, Switzerland, or France."

MAMELUKES.

"Two Mamelukes kept three Frenchmen at bay, because they were better armed, bethad two pair of pistols, a tromblon, a carter mounted, and better exercised; they bine, a helmet with a vizor, a coat of mail, several horses, and several men on foot to attend on them. But a hundred French did not fear a hundred Mamelukes; three hundred were more than a match for an equal number; and 1000 would beat 1500: so powerful is the influence of tactics, order, and evolutions! Murat, Leclerc, and Lasalle, cavalry generals, presented themselves to the Mamelukes in several lines; when the latter were upon the point of outfronting the first line, the second came to its assistance on the right and left; the Mamelukes of this new line: this was the moment seizthen stopped, and wheeled, to turn the wings ed for charging them; they were always broken."

CONSCRIPTIONS.

"Forced enlistments have ever been in use among Republics as well as Monarchies, both with the ancients and the moderns

The

1823.]

REVIEW.-Las Cases' Journal of Napoleon at St. Helena.

The peasants being slaves in Russia and Poland, men are levied in those countries as horses are in others. In Germany, every village has its lord, who names the recruits, without regard either to their rights or convenience. In France, the recruiting of the army has always been determined by lot:

under Louis XIV. Louis XV. and Louis XVI. it was called drawing the Militia; under Napoleon, drawing the Conscription. The privileged classes were exempt from the former; no one was exempt from the latter: it was a levy without distinction, which rendered it as unpalatable to the privileged classes, as the former mode was to the mass of the people. The Conscription was the milder, the more equitable, and the more advantageous plan for the people in general. The regulations respecting it were rendered so perfect under the Empire, that there is nothing to change, not even the

name, lest it should lead to an alteration in the principle. The departments which since 1814 have been detached from France, have solicited and obtained, as a benefit, the con

tinuance of the laws of the Conscription, in order to escape the arbitrary, unjust, and vexatious regulations of the Austrians and Prussians on this subject. The Illyrian provinces, long accustomed to the Austrian mode of recruiting, never ceased to express their admiration of the French Conscription; and since they have returned to the dominion of their former sovereign, they have obtained a continuance of its regulations."

BERNADOTTE.

"Bernadotte was for two months minister of war; his administration was marked only by folly, and by the protection he afforded to the vulgar declaimers of the Société du Manège. He affected nothing in the way of organization, and the Directory was obliged to dismiss him from office, on account of his seditious intrigues. He had ceased to be minister, when Massena de

cided the campaign, by the victory of Zurich, towards the end of September 1799. He was completely ignorant of these combinations, and his causing a diversion to be made on Philipsburg with 25,000 men, was an operation contrary to all rule."

"The conduct of Bernadotte, at Jena, was such, that the Emperor had signed the decree for bringing him before a council of war, and he would inevitably have been shot, so general was the indignation of the army against him; he had nearly occasioned the loss of the battle. It was out of regard for his wife, that the Emperor destroyed the order, at the moment he was about to put it in the hands of the Prince Neufchâtel. Shortly after, Bernadotte distinguished himself at the battle of Halle, which in some degree effaced the former unfavourable impressions."

(To be continued.)

55

8. Journal of the private Life and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon at St. Helena. By the Count De Las Cases. 2 vols. 8vo.

naparte;

THIS Journal, like Mr. O'Meara's "Voice from St. Helena," relates more particularly to the private life of Buoand is more amusing than the "Memoirs," but not so valuable or important, though it will probably be as generally read. It must be borne in mind that Las Cases is an old emigrant; and as he seems frequently to forget the obligations due to England from that class of Frenchmen, his statements ought to be received with some degree of caution. Renegades are often the most intolerant opponents of their old friends.

Las Cases having first emigrated as a royalist, then made his peace with the Emperor, then offered himself to Louis XVIII. and, finally, gone back again to Napoleon, it may readily be anticipated that his tergiversations have imbued his work with the spirit pertaining to all his weathercock tribe.

The Count commences his work by detailing several particulars respecting himself, from which it appears, that he often considers himself as great a personage as his master. He was originally a Lieutenant de Vaisseau, and joined the emigrant Princes in the early part of the revolutionary war. At the peace of Amiens he returned to France, and found his patrimony disposed of, and then devoted himself to literature. In progress of time he attached himself to the Emperor, and obtained several official and diplomatic situations. After the battle of Waterloo, the Emperor's fortune was like a sinking ship, that promised more perils than prize money to those that should cling to it. He requested permission to accompany his fallen master to St. Helena. "Do you know," said Napoleon, "whither your offer would lead you?" "I care not," said Las Cases," and I have made no calculation about it;" and he lived to write the account of these transactions in St. Helena.

The portion of Las Cases' Journal which is now printed, comes down no farther than the end of March 1816, but several parts are yet to follow.

We have been much amused with this Volume; which is embellished with a ground plan of Longwood.

9. A Letter

56

REVIEW.-Durham Clergy, and Edinburgh Review.

9. A Letter to Francis Jeffrey, Esq. the reputed Editor of the Edinburgh Review, on an article entitled, "Durham CaseClerical Abuses.' By the Rev. H. Philpotts, D. D. Rector of Stanhope. 8vo. pp. 40. Hatchard.

DR. PHILPOTTS' " Letter to Mr. Jeffrey" is a very able answer to the intemperate article in the Edinburgh Review. After disposing of the theological matter which the ill-advised Critic introduced into his Review, Dr. P. shews, that in talking of the doctrines of the Church of England, he has displayed woeful ignorance; as well as on the subjects of Transubstantiation, the Real Presence, and the Power of Absolution. What the Reviewer says of Bishops Burnet and Butler is shewn to be at variance with history. His censures on the excellent Bp. of London are next exposed with still greater force. That amiable individual, so grossly misrepresented by the Reviewer, is one of the best of human beings; mild and benevolent, in every thought, word, and deed, and an ornament to that profession, in which he holds so conspicuous a station.

After thus disposing of the introductory matter, Dr. Philpotts enters into his more immediate subject, his refutation of the calumnies against himself particularly, and the Durham Clergy in general, by an able exposition of the real state of the case.

It is manifest, that the Clergy had nothing to do with the cause or the effect of the Queen's Trial; nor could they alter the Act of Uniformity, which compelled them to adhere to the Royal Proclamation, prohibiting the insertion of her Majesty's name in the Liturgy. Admitting with her Majesty's own especial friends, that "she was so odd a woman, no one could form correct opinions about her" (and we quote their own words), appearances were unquestionably against her, nor were they removed by her own countertestimony. The feelings of the majority of the Publick were with her, and those feelings saved her. To the Clergy the question came as one of morality and reason. To comply with popular feeling they were called upon to sanction either immorality or imprudence, (for what other name can be given to women of rank being for days and weeks without female attendants?) and to join in the verdict be

[Jan.

fore they had heard the evidence.
Their duty to God implied the very
part which the majority of them did
take, that of considering the affair to
be one which regarded justice, and
not feeling; fact, and not preposses-
sion; evidence, and not advocacy. At
all events, they had a right to exer-
cise their own judgments, as English-
men; and, if those judgments were
unfavourable, they were not the in-
stigators or abettors of the events
which led to that bias. In the same
unjustifiable manner is the conduct
of the Durham Clergy misrepresented.
To the masterly writing of the North-
ern Reviewers we readily bear testi-
mony; but in manners should they be
butchers? The facts are these. The
party of the Opposition Member is
very strong in the County; and the
Bishop and his Clergy are, if not the
sole, at least the chief defenders of
Government, and so it is their duty
to be. By what authority does the
Editor of a Provincial Journal take
upon himself to pass a censure upon
a learned body of men, who had as
much right as himself to form an opi-
nion of the guilt or innocence of the
late Queen? Who made him "a Judge
or Decider among them?" They pro-
secuted him for an unwarrantable in-
sult offered to them—an act of atro-
cious presumption. Had he content-
ed himself with lamenting a difference
of opinion, which led to the event in
question, that of not tolling the bell
at the funeral, not a word could have
been said. We might say that they had
more civil right to omit tolling the bell,
than he had for meddling with them
for so doing. Equally fallacious is the
doctrine, that the property of the Clergy
is that of the Publick. The duty we
admit to be so.
The Church property
was given by pious individuals to
Churchmen, and for Church purposes.
Surely Sacrilege is not a word with-
out meaning. Commit the sin. Com-
mutation is no accession of wealth.
Hierarchy is only office, and office
there must be in all civil institutions.
The Clergy are the guardians of the
Literature and Civilization of the Coun-
try, and their incomes are spent in it,
or saved for it. The same thing only
ensues, if it be done by persons in a
brown coat? Thus far we have gone
from sincere respect for a munificent
Prelate and learned Clergy, and in
accordance with our principles of at-

tachment

1823.]

REVIEW.-Account of the Coronation of Charles II.

tachment to the Constitution in Church and State. We could say more; but is it necessary in a mere affair of party perversion?

io. A circumstantial Account of the Preparations for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles II. and a minute Detail of that splendid Ceremony, with all the Particulars connected with it; including the Installation of Knights, Creation of Peers, &c. To which is prefixed, an Account of the Landing, Reception, and Journey of His Majesty from Dover to London. By Sir Edward Walker, Knight. 8vo. pp. 132. Nichols and Son.

AMONGST the various publications consequent on the late Coronation, noticed in our Review, we accidentally omitted to make mention of this curious work, which is printed from an original Manuscript, by the Garter Principal King of Arms at that period; the authenticity of which is thus attested by the present Garter King of Arms :

"Having examined a MS. entitled, 'The Preparations for his Maiesties Coronation, together with the Installation of Knights of the Garter, the makings of Knights of the Bath, Creation of Noblemen, His Maties Royall Proceeding through London, and his Ma'ties Coronation at Westminster the 28th of Aprill, 1661. Collected by Sr Edward Walker, Knight, Garter Principall King of Arms;' I do hereby certify that the same appears to me to be an authentic document, and that I consider the signature annexed thereto to be the actual Signature of the said Sir Edward Walker. Witness my hand, at the College of Arms, London, this thirtieth day of May (Signed)

1820.

"GEO. NAYLER, Clarenceux."

The work is embellished with 21 neatly engraved Representations of the Regalia, from drawings annexed to the MS.; and contains the names of those Noblemen and Gentlemen, living in England, who adhered to the cause of his Majesty during his exile; a List of the Regalia, and numerous other ornaments, used at the Coronation, and a particular description of the different purposes for which they were used; the names of those Gentlemen and Sons of Noblemen who were made Knights of the Bath, and a very particular account of the creation of Noblemen previous to the Coronation; the procession of his Majesty from the Tower through the City to Whitehall, on the day previous to the Coronation, with the names of those GENT. MAG. January, 1823.

57

Noblemen and Gentlemen who were in the Procession, and "ranked according to their degrees;" and lastly, an Account of the Procession itself;this is very minute, containing every particular connected with it, and concludes with a detail of the Festival in Westminster Hall.

11. Two Reports of a Deputation, who in pursuance of the Resolutions of the Court of Assistants of the Drapers' Company of the 23d of Jan. 1817, and 3d of Aug. 1818, visited the Estates of the Company in the County of Londonderry in Ireland in those years; and which were ordered by the Court to be printed for the use of its Members. 8vo. pp. 96.

THE present state of Ireland leads men to reflect more particularly on its resources and its local government; and on that account induces us to notice this privately-printed work. HapPy would it be for Ireland, if all her great Landlords would follow the wise measures adopted by the respectable Company of Drapers.

The first Report contains many interesting statistical particulars of the Company's estate, which is on lease to Sir William Rowley.

"The summary of the property, in point of profit to Sir William Rowley, was as follows:

"The whole of the estate is situate in the Barony of Longhinshollin, bordering towards the South-West, on the county of Tyrone: it lies in several distinct parcels, and extends into ten parishes, some of them in the diocese of Armagh, and others in the diocese of Derry: it divides itself into three principal districts, each consisting of several townlands, which are ancient civil divisions, answering to tythings or hamlets in England. The three principal divisions referred to, are Moneymore, Brackasliavgallon, and Ballinascreen with DunAbout 13,761 acres English of Sterling. logan."

cultivated land, and about
12,284 acres English of un-
cultivated land, making toge- £. s. d.
ther 26,045 acres of land, let
in 948 parcels at sundry
rents, amounting to
About 100 houses, besides the

mansion-house, let in 68
holdings at sundry rents
amounting to
Three Grist Mills, let for

Moneymore Fair let for
Quit-rents, payable by free-
tenants, amounting to

9,084 14 4

27 14

571

6

9

227 0 5

0

10 11

5

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