ment on the amount of human suffering caused by the career of Napoleon. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the land was as the Garden of Eden before him, and behind him a desolate wilderness. Tears did not fail to flow for each homestead burned, each family outraged, each peasant and each soldier slain, in that long series of years during which he ruled the destinies of France. And what did France gain under his sway? A code of laws which is his best title to her gratitude, and that which she values more-military glory. But at what a price was that glory purchased! The bravest and the best of her sons died in distant fields of battle, amidst the sands of Egypt or the snows of Russia. A ruthless conscription depopulated the villages, and at last reached, in its downward course, youths who were just emerging into manhood, but who were still rather boys than men. Her treasure was exhausted, her liberties were gone. A system of espionnage betrayed family secrets to the minister of police, whose agents were every where, and whose omnipresence no one could escape. And at last came bitter retribution for the long-continued and daring attempt against the rights of nations. Her soil was invaded, her capital was taken; and Pandours and Cossacks bivouacked in the Champde-Mars, while English soldiers kept guard at the Louvre, and foreign bayonets brought back the King whom she had driven into exile and proclaimed an outlaw.

Such

Of his merits as a great Captain we need not speak. a World-Conqueror will perhaps never be seen again. But we may hope the time is coming, if, indeed, it has not already come, when men will sit in stern judgment upon those who without adequate and just cause, and for the sake of their own aggrandizement, involve nations in strife. War is in itself an unmitigated curse. It is indeed the abomination of desolation. It may impose upon the imagination with all its proud pomp and circumstance, and few sights can be conceived. of more thrilling interest than the march of a great army in compact array. But follow that army to the battle-field. See it after the shock of conflict, when the clash of swords is over and the artillery has ceased to thunder. Listen to the

cries of the wounded and the groans of the dying: follow the surgeon, and observe what his mission is when the battle is won, and acres of God's fair earth are strewed with corpses and converted into a vast charnel-house. And what sorrow accompanies the tidings of every victory! The child is fatherless, and the wife a widow, and the wail of mourning for those who have fallen mingles with the shout with which the nation exults in its success. War may be a necessity in defense of outraged rights, and to repel aggression, but it ought ever to be looked upon as a miserable calamity, and he who wantonly provokes it is one of the worst enemies of his race. No man ever felt this more strongly than Wellington. No great commander was more anxious to avert the horrors of war. He said that the most dreadful thing next to a battle lost was a battle won; and it is one of his best titles to the gratitude of Europe that he always fought for peace.

But who can say this of Napoleon? His whole public life was one series of acts of hostile aggression, and we do not find it recorded that he ever betrayed compunction or expressed remorse for the loss of the countless thousands whom his ambition caused to perish by the cannon and the sword.

CHAPTER XXXI.

CONCLUSION OF THE MEMOIR OF SIR HUDSON LOWE.

ON the 27th of May, 1821, the Camel store-ship sailed from St. Helena, having on board Count and Countess Bertrand and their children, Count Montholon, Dr. Antommarchi, the Abbé Vignali, and the servants of the Longwood establishment. Mr. Henry, who accompanied the party, says that during the voyage, no complaint whatever was made by any of them of the deportment of Sir Hudson Lowe toward them during their exile.1

Sir Hudson Lowe sailed from St. Helena, with his family and suite on the 25th of July, but before he quitted the island he had the gratification of receiving the following address from the inhabitants :

"SIR-As your Excellency is upon the eve of resigning your authority on this island, we the undersigned inhabitants can not be suspected of views of an interested nature in respectfully offering our most sincere and grateful acknowledg ments for the consideration, justice, impartiality, and moderation which have distinguished your government.

"A prominent measure of your Excellency's was a proposal which might have been expected to have been unpopular in a colony where slavery had long been recognized: yet, Sir, it met with the instantaneous and unanimous approbation of the inhabitants, a result which affords no slight proof of our entire confidence in your concern for our welfare.

"Under the existence of such ties between the governor and governed, and your marked discountenance of any rising indication of party spirit. it is easy to account for the tranquii

1 "Events of a Military Life," vol. ii. p. 60.

lity and comfort we have enjoyed during your Excellency's residence among us.

Finding we can not have the happiness of the continuation of your Excellency's government, we beg you will accept the assurances of our sincere, respectful, and affectionate wishes for the health and prosperity of your Excellency, and of every member of your family."

Before Sir Hudson Lowe's arrival in England, Lord Bathurst had written a dispatch in which he conveyed to him the King's marked approbation of his conduct during the whole period of his government at St. Helena. After mentioning that he had received his letters announcing Bonaparte's death, Lord Bathurst said

"I am happy to assure you that your conduct, as detailed in those dispatches, has received His Majesty's approbation. It is most satisfactory to His Majesty to observe that no measures were omitted by you for the purpose of placing at General Bonaparte's disposal the best medical advice, and of affording every relief and alleviation of his sufferings during the latter period of his life of which his state admitted. After the discussions which have taken place between yourself and General Bonaparte's attendants, it is no inconsiderable gratification to observe that, if your offers of service and assistance were latterly declined, the refusal to accept them seems to have arisen, not from any unwillingness on the part of General Bonaparte to do justice to your motives, but from the satisfaction which he expressed himself to feel in the talents and conduct of the medical officer who had been already selected to attend upon him.

"His Majesty has further commanded me to avail myself of this opportunity to repeat that general approbation of your conduct during the time that you have administered the government of St. Helena, which I have on particular occasions had so often the pleasure of conveying. Placed as you have been in a situation which must, under any circumstances, have been one of heavy responsibility, but which particular events contributed to render yet more difficult and invidious, you dis

charged your arduous trust with strict fidelity, discretion, and humanity, and have effectually reconciled the two main duties of your command, combining the secure detention of General Bonaparte's person, which was of necessity the paramount object of your attention, with every practicable consideration and indulgence which your own disposition prompted and your instructions authorized you to show to his peculiar situation."

Sir Hudson Lowe was presented to the King on the 14th of November, and, being about to kiss His Majesty's hand, the King took hold of his and shook it heartily saying, "I congratulate you most sincerely upon your return, after a trial the most arduous and exemplary that perhaps any man ever had. I have felt for your situation, and may appeal to Lord Bathurst how frequently I have talked to him about you." Sir Hudson Lowe, describing the interview in a letter to a friend, says, "He took my hand a second time, and again repeated his congratulations on the exemplary manner in which I had fulfilled my duties, turning at the time to all the Ministers who were present, as if to impress his own sentiments upon 'them." And soon after Sir Hudson Lowe had the gratification-of receiving a convincing proof of the approval of Government of his conduct, by being appointed to the first vacant colonelcy of a regiment (the 93d) that occurred after his return to England. This was an honorable distinction, to which his long and arduous services well entitled him.

But evil days were now before him. The partisans of Bonaparte could not forgive the man who had had the guardianship of his person, and for six long years discharged the duties of his trust with such firmness and fidelity. The flood-gates of abuse were opened against him, and he had to endure insinuations and attacks the most painful to an honorable mind. Nor was it only these that annoyed him. As he said himself in a private letter written in July, 1823, to Mr. Wilmot Hor

One day in November, 1822, young Las Cases who was then in London, assaulted Sir Hudson Lowe in the street, and afterward sent him a challenge, which Sir Hudson had the good sense and moral courage to treat with the contempt it deserved.