CURIOUS COINCIDENCES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1863, 9 June 1888, Page 4

CURIOUS COINCIDENCES

la " The Century " for February there Is an Article on " Astrology, Divination, and Coincidences," In which some very curious Instances are given, especially of the latter. The writer, ofter detailing several, says : — " I will present one more, which I think will justify the assertion that no coincidence more wonderful has ever occurred. The article was found by me In an Italian paper whila Louis Napoleon was m prison at Wllheluasbohe, If It has ever appeared m Engllah it has escaped my notice " : — The Letter "M" andihb Nafoleoks. Marfcceaf was the first to recognise the genius of Napoleon at the Eoole MUltalre, Marengo was the greatest battle gained by Bonaparte, and Melas operjed to him the way into Italy. Mortler was one of his fiiit gonerala, Moreau betrayed him, and Murat was the first martyr m hia cause. Marie Louise partook of hiß highest destinies, Moscow was the abyss m which j he was engolfet', Metternlch conquered him on the fild of diplomacy. Six marshels (Massena, Mortier, Marmont. Msodonald, Murat, MoDcey) and twenty- j six of bis generals of division had names beginning with the letter M. Murat, Duke of Ba'ssanu, was the counsellor m whom he placed the greatest confidence ; hlo first ' great battle w»s thst of Monterotle, his last that of Mont St Jean. He gained the battles of Moscow, Montmirail, and Monterean Ihon came the a6Bault of Montmartre Milan waa the first enemy's capital and Moscow the hat iv which he entered. Be lost Egypt through the blunders of Menou, and employed Miollioto mnko Pius Vll prisoner Malet conspired against him ; afterwards Mar* mont. His Ministers were Mnret, MontaJivet, and Mollien. Fi is first chamberlain was Montesquieu ; his last Hojnnn Maixnaison. He g<>ve himself up to Captain Maitland He had for his companion at St htelena Monthalon, and for his valet Marobnnd . If we examine the history of hia nephew Napoleon IK-, we find tlio same letter -has no leas influence, and wo are assured that the captive of Wilhelimhohe attacht-s still more importance to its mysterious influence than did bis uncle. The Kmprefls — his wife — is a Countess Montijo ; hia greatest friend was Mori^y ; the taking of the MalakofE and ot the Maine louve-t the principal exploits of the Crimean war — exploits chiefl-y due 10 the French. HI) plan m tho Italian oimps'gn waa to give the first battle at Msrengo ; but this was not f< ught until after the engagement of Montfbello at Magenta. MoMahoo received for the important services rendered by him the title of Duke of Mtgeuta, as Pelloser received for a similar service that of Duke of Malateff Napoleon 111. now made his entry into Milan, and repulsed the- Austrian at Meleguanr. After 1886 the later M eeema to have bßOome for him a pressa^e of misfortune. We pass over Mexioo and Maximilian, and take the present war, m whioh he had sounded a vain hope on three Ma Marshal M'Mahon, Montauban, and Mitrailleuse. Msyenoe was to hive been the bate of operations for the Fienoh Army, but, repulsed on tho Moselle, her fate wsb decided upon the Meute at Sedan, Finally we have to mention the fall of Melz. All these disasters are doe to another M, the enemy of Napoleon, and thia is a capita M— Moltke