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THE YANKEE
Boston, Friday, October 13, 1815BONAPARTE AND THE ENGLISH PEOPLE
The utmost power of the English language has been put in requisition , for at least 15 years past, to furnish terms of reproach suitable to the supposed political and personal character of Napoleon. The people of England, and the citizens of this country, have been continually assailed by an incessant din of slander against that man of great errors, and greater virtues and talents. "Secret Histories," and "respectable residents in Paris," as well as hireling paraghraphists, have represented him, not only as ambitious, cruel and tyrannical, but as petulant, whimsical, morose, vulgar, capricious, and to the last degree, repulsive in his temper and manners.
There were represented as foils to his great political and military talents, which were then acknowledged by his bitterest enemies. But when misfortune laid her paralyzing hand upon him, and rendered the greatest mental power unavailing, every heroic attribute was denied him; and he was represented not only as a bad man, not to be loved; but as a blundering coward, not even to be admired. All these things were swallowed by credulous John Bull, when John trusted to hearsay; but what said John when he had seen this caged monster on board one of his ships, on his own coast? Let the Plymouth paper answer:
"It is impossible, we have learned from good authority, to imagine the fascinations of Bonaparte's address and conversation, which compel involuntary esteem and attachment, and bereave even those most inimical to him in their hearts, of hostile feelings while they remain in his presence."
Is it possible to recognize, in this glowing description, the great raw head and bloody bones, which has been exhibited to frighten the grown children of England and America?
By the following extract from an English paper, it seems that Bonaparte, as a prisoner on the English coast, was more formidable to the English government, than when he encamped at Boulogne at the head of the French nation, and a French army. It is no wonder the federalists dreaded his coming to this country. His deportment, of mingled dignity and suavity, would have detected their lies about his character; as even the stubborn prejudices of Englishmen melted before it:
"There certainly appears a considerable degree of haste in this business, (sending away Bonaparte), not to say harshness. Many reasons are assigned for it. The Plymouth Dock paper says, 'On Sunday, we regret to say, a large proportion of spectators, not only took off their hats, but cheered him; apparently with a view of soothing his fallen fortunes, and treating him with respect and consideration.' His linen sent ashore to be washed, has been held in much esteem, that many individuals have temporarily put on his shirts, waistcoats and neckcloths. Blind infatuation! Our correspondent, who was alongside the Bellerophon on Sunday last, says that the sympathy in his favour was astonishing, that he heard no cheering, but that the hats of the men, and the handkerchiefs of the ladies, were waving in every direction. Bonaparte himself has observed, that he recognized in the behaviour of the myriads in Plymouth sound, the magnaminity of the British people; who he said, were in general, too noble to strike or insult an enemy at their mercy. It is too probable, however, that the respect and consideration in which he was held on board the Bellerophon, and the altogether unexpected but generous treatment, which he experienced in Plymouth Sound, has partly produced the precipitate sailing of the Bellerophon from that port.
This is a spice of anticipated history. The living Socrates was odious, even to his own fellow citizens, but when dead, his bitterest enemies canonized him. Napoleon was odious only to his country's enemies. Those very enemies have already evinced more spontaneous sympathy for him than they ever did for any one of their own princes of the house of Brunswick. Our grandchildren will be hardly able to discover the character of the Prince Regent, in the blaze of historical splendour that will surround the character of Bonaparte.
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