PREFACE. N COMPILING a new History of Napoleon, it has been the object of the Author to relate, as clearly, concisely, and impartially as possible, the great events which his work necessarily embraces. The previous Biographers of the French Emperor have, for the most part, been men who were themselves partisans or actors in the long struggle produced by the French Revolution, and therefore, though perhaps unconsciously, biassed by feelings excited by passing occurrences. Hence the character of Napoleon has been exalted or depreciated, and his actions magnified or disparaged, according to the political or personal views of the writers who have recorded his achievements. The principal aim of the writer of the present work has been to review the Life of Napoleon as a whole; not only in its chivalric details, but as to its influence upon the state and prospects of Europe, and the progress of civilization throughout the world. The Author was not old enough at the termination of the extraordinary career of the Emperor, to participate in any of the various feelings which then agitated all classes of society; and he is still too little of a partisan to be influenced by a consideration of the mere persons engaged PREFACE. in opposition to, or in support of, the politics pursued during that eventful period. He has been only solicitous, therefore, to render strict justice to all that his duty required him to narrate. Nothing, that was deemed necessary to a faithful portraiture of the man and his actions, has been wilfully omitted, exaggerated, or misrepresented; but praise or blame, when either has been thought requisite, has been distributed according as the facts themselves seemed to demand. The authorities which have been consulted for the work are chiefly those which have been, from time to time, presented to the Public, by statesmen, officers, and others, who had served under Napoleon: persons of all shades of opinion, but whose veracity is generally to be relied upon (if for no other reason), because they speak of things which were seldom matters of confidence, or confined to the knowledge of a few. Without trusting, however, implicitly to these, their statements, whenever it could be done, have been carefully compared with those of the best English authors on the subject, and nothing admitted but what at least had the semblance of perfect authenticity. The accounts contained in the majority of publications concerning Napoleon, which appeared previously to 1821, differ so materially from those of later date, and from each other, that their authority has been almost wholly rejected, as unworthy of credit. It has been considered advisable to prefix to this History, a Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the great French Revolution; without some knowledge of which, it would be scarcely possible rightly to understand the state of France, and the condition of its people, when Napoleon appeared upon the scene to influence, and eventually to control, the destinies of the Nation. This, however, from the space to PREFACE. which it has been necessarily limited, is not intended for a full or perfect history of that perilous change: it forms simply a requisite introduction to the Life of him who has been called its "Child and Champion." The object has been to give a fair, general view of the occurrences as they happened, without entering into elaborate detail, or attempting to draw thence philosophical deductions: the Author has endeavoured merely to relate the circumstances and incidents of the period, so that they may be comprehensible without imposing on the reader a necessity for reference to other volumes. Of the manner in which he has executed his task, it remains for the Public to decide the writer feels it his duty, however, to avail himself of this opportunity to tender his thanks for the many flattering notices with which the Work in its progress has been honoured; and to which, although it may seem like vanity to allude, it could be but affectation to pretend to feel indifferent. LONDON, January, 1840. ix Dedication. INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. - Causes of the Revolution-Assembly of Notables States General - National As- sembly-The Bastille-Constituent Assembly-Declaration of Rights-Flight and Arrest of the King-Legislative Assembly-Coalition against France-The Convention-Execution of Louis XVI.-Insurrections-The Queen guillotined -Christianity abolished-Reign of Terror-Fall of Robespierre-Effects of the Generals Cartaux, Doppet, and Dugommier -Junot - Duroc-Little Gibraltar- Fall of Toulon-Promotion of Napoleon - Army at Nice-Female Represen- |