THE TWO NAPOLEONS.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 106, 26 October 1858, Page 3

THE TWO NAPOLEONS.

{From the New York Herald) ' ... \ Those attentive readers of history who are also close observers of passing events cannot but be struck with the many coincidences observable in the careers of the first Napoleon and the third. From the start, the nephew seems to have kept in view the pojicy and system of his uncle, and to have been full of those "Napoleonic ideas" which elevated a Corsican sous-lieutenant to an imperial throne. Even in his short career the present Emperor has encountered many difficulties and imitated many actions recorded in-the life of the Caporal Vholet, and in the progress of events the coincidences may continue to be as curious. Both, while seizing by force on absolute power, have always avowed themselves the friends of liberty and the champions ofthe people, and both have received large majorities whenever they have had occasion to appeal to the French electors. There are three of those coincidences worthy of note: in the frequent attempts at assassination, the interference with the freedom of foreign nations, and the efforts to detach Russia from any system that might endanger the Imperial dynasties. In 1800 Napoleon came very near being assassinated at the opera-house, by a band of Jacobin conspirators, at the head of whom was Arena, an ex-member of the Council of Five Hundred, and 'deputy from Corsica; Cerachhi and Diana, two Italian refugees, the former a sculptor, who, under pretence of modelling the bust of the First Consul, proposed to drive a dagger through his heart. Another of the confederates was Toopino Lebrun, an historical painter and pupil of David, and there were , several other •'enthusiasts of low condition" engaged in the scheme. The plan failed through the vigilance of the police, but the circumstances ofthe plot were not revealed to the public until the subsequent more remarkable attempt of the royalists, with what was termed the infernal machine. This destructive engine, the invention, according to Fouche, of a person named Chevalier, was exploded on the evening of the 24th of December, in the same year, in the street of St. Nicaise, as Bonaparte was driving to.the Opera with Lannes and Bessieres. While slumbering in his carriage an explosion took place. "We are blown lip!" said the Consul, as he awoke amidst thunder and flame. Two or th]*ee. houses' were badly injured, twenty persons were killed, and fifty-three wounded. The intended victim was saved from death by being two seconds of time beyond the moment of the explosion. The next memorable attempt was that of General Mallet, who, diiring' Napoleon's absence in his Russian campaign, projected and partially succeeded in overturning his Government.' While under the restraint of the police for former political offences, and an actual occupant of a maison de sante, he procured a forged decree ofthe Senate, announcing the death of the Emperor, the abolition ofthe Imperial authority, and the establishment of a provisional Government, the document apparently attested in an official manner. Escaping from his confinement, dressing himself in full uniform, and accompanied by a corporal in the guise of ati aide-de-camp, he obtained the control ofthe troops, seized Savary, the then Minister of Police, ordered the tocsin to be soundedyand had nearly established his quarters in the Hotel de Ville. While on his way to the Palace Vendome, however, he was suddenly encountered by General Hullin, recognised by the Chief of the .Military .Police, captured, and in a week afterwards was shot with twenty-four of his associates in the plain of Grenelle. This affair gave the Emperor more uneasiness than any other attempt ever made against his life or authority, and led him to separate himself from his retreating army and hurry back to Paris. Louis Napoleon has had many similar experiences, and the last attempt on his life reminds us of the infernal machine in many of its circumstances, and the disastrous consequences to a large number of innocent persons. In 1802, the royalists, who had found shelter in England, were very active in their opposition to the First Consul, and one of their number, Peltier, established a newspaper in London (I'Ambigu) in which he made Napoleon the subject of the most bitter and violent attacks, and which sveve much relished by the British nation. So infuriated became Napoleon that lie made a peremptory demand on the British Goveramentthat the attacks of the Press should be discontinued, aiid that the French emigres he sent out of England. It was Lord Hawkesbiiry, we believe, who, in replying to the notes ot the French envoy, M.' Otto, asserted these memorable principles, still of authority enough to send Lord Palmerston into retirement, " that the French Government must have formed a very erroneous judgment of the, disposition of the British nation and of the character of its Government, if they had been taught to expect that any representation of a foreign Power will ever induce them to a violation of those rights on which the liberties of the people of thaticountry are founded." Bonaparte was.obliged to -abandon tliis attempt, and to appeal to such existing-British laws as were within his reach, the same as any other individual. Peltier, was tried for a libel, splendidly defended by Macintosh, and though found guilty, was never brought up for sentence. He was, however, -too small game for Napoleon, who had the mortification to perceive that it was he who had been tried rather than Peltier. Who does not perceive that the late diplomatic intercourse between France and England has recently turned upon similar points ? Louis Napoleon, his colonels and his minister, have complained of the facilities afforded in England to the enemies of his throne ; has sought their exclusion not only from that country, but Switzerland; and has in reality demanded a change in the principles of the British laws and constitution. Failing in thisyhe is now left to such existing statutes as may apply to the conspiracy of Orsini, Bernard, and Allsop, and doubtless with no very good feeling. -The recent interview of Louis Napoleon with the Emperor of Russia at Stuttgardt also reminds us of Napoleon I. with Alexander at Tilsit and Erfurt. The colossal power of Russia is really the only obstacle to the revival of the continental system of the first Napoleon should it be again attempted. An alliance with her would place the. Eastern World at the mercy of the two emperors. So the first Napoleon thought, and so the present. Napoleon may imagine. There is one coincidence not yet occurred-—the attempted invasion of England. On coming into .power, the present Emperor, in some of his manifestos, alluded to the probability of the time when certain old wrongs would be redressed, and lie was understood to have in.mind the predictions and the wrathful legacies of the Exile of St. Helena. Should such an idea J_urk in his mind ? either as an

inheritance or an advxAt escape from internal disorder, and there be" further attempts of *tho Brutuses, so called, of France and Italy, it is riot impossible we may yet witness the most remarkable event in modern times. Steam has now nearly equalised the marine power of the two great nations; good machinery and well served artillery are now the common property of both. If Lord Nelson were again alive, his talents would not now be practically as valuable as when he kept the Boulogne flotilla at bay. Then sails ruled the sea, but now it is steam. Who can tell what would be the result of the departure of three or four divisions of large steamers at night from the coast of France, carrying a force of fifty or sixty thousand men, convoyed by fighting squadrons to keep an assailing enemy in check? It is impossible to foresee the consequences of such .an enterprise. The English themselves do not shut their eyes to its possibility. It is Montholon who tells us that the first Napoleon.always considered the invasion of England practicable. What does the second Napoleon think of it ? We may see. It is well known that the coast defences of England have not kept pace with the modern improvements in the art of war, and even the great Wellington had his moments of anxiety as to her future safety.