"A great nation like France cannot easily be parcelled out, or, if it should, it will be constantly re-uniting and seeking to recover its importance; like Ariosto’s giant, who runs after his limbs and even his head, as they are lopped off, and after putting them on begins to fight again." “But Sire,” said some one present, “the power of the giant depended on the plucking out of a single hair; and, in like manner, Napoleon may be said to be the hair on which depended the existence of France.” “No,” resumed the Emperor, “my memory and my ideas would still survive.—But,” continued he, “England, on the contrary, would in course of time have become a mere appendage to France, had the latter continued under my dominion. England was by nature intended to be one of our Islands, as well as Oleron or Corsica. On what trifles does the fate of Empires depend! How petty and insignificant are our revolutions in the grand organization of the universe! If, instead of entering upon the Egyptian expedition, I had invaded Ireland; if some slight derangement of my plans had not thrown obstacles in the way of my Boulogne enterprise; what would England have been to-day? What would have been the situation of the continent and of the whole political world?”
25th.—After dinner the Emperor read Œdipus, which he admired exceedingly. He next took up Brutus, of which he gave us a very remarkable analysis. He observed that Voltaire seemed not to have entered into the right feeling for his subject. “The Romans,” said he, “were guided by patriotism, as we are by honour. Voltaire has not portrayed the real sublimity of Brutus, sacrificing his sons for the welfare of his country, and in spite of the pangs of paternal affection. He has made him a monster of pride, decreeing the death of his children for the sake of preserving his power, his name, and his celebrity. The other characters of the tragedy, he added, are equally misconceived. Tullia is described as a fury who takes advantage of her situation; and not as a woman of tender sentiment, who might be led into crime by seduction and dangerous influence.”
FRENCH COLONY ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER ST. LAWRENCE.—THE EMPEROR MIGHT HAVE PROCEEDED TO AMERICA.—CARNOT AT THE TIME OF THE ABDICATION.