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occafionally joined in their parties of amusement, began to lose that degree of awe and refpect for him, which he fo well knows how to appreciate, as well as to infpire. In confequence of this, he gradually retired from every circle of fashion, and was at this period almost as inacceffible as a Chinese emperor. The fame line of conduct was alfo adopted by the principal officers of government. He refided almost wholly at Mal Maison, except on ftate days, when only those strangers were permitted to be introduced to him, who had fatisfied the ambaffadors of their respective nations, that they had been previously prefented at their courts. If Bonaparte is fpared from the stroke of the affaffin, or the prætorian caprice of the army for any length of time, he will have it in his power to augment the fervices which he has already afforded to the the republic, by rebuilding the political edifice of France, with many meliorations, for which fome materials may be collected from her own ruins, and fome from the tried and approved constitutions of other countries. If his ambition will permit him to discharge this great undertaking faithfully, in a manner uniform with that glory which he has acquired in the field, and influenced only by the noble defire of giving rational liberty,and practicable happiness to the people over whom he sways, they will in return, without jealoufy or regret, behold the being to whofe wifdom and moderation they will be thus indebted, led to the highest feat amongst them-they will con

fer thofe fanétions upon his well merited diftinction, without which all authority is but difaftrous ufurpation a comet's blaze, flaming in a night of difmay, and fetting in gloom. Pero

The dignity of fuch a legiflator will be felf maintained, and lasting. Upon him, the grateful French will confer thofe unforced, unpurchafed fuffrages, which will prevent that fate, which, in their abfence, the fubtilty of policy, the fascinations of addrefs, the charm of corruption, and even the terror of the bayonet can only poftpone. Yes, Bonaparte! millions of fuffering beings, raifing themselves from the duft, in which a barbarous revolution has paroftrated them, look up to thee for liberty, protection, and repose. They will not look to thee in vain. The retiring form ftill flashing its leffening flame, and rolling its diftant thunders will teach thee, were it neceffary, not to force them to remeasure their vengeance, by their wrongs.

In Paris, the achievements, of the first conful are not much talked of, fo true is the old adage, that no man is a hero to his own domeftic. The beauties of a coloffal ftatue, muft be contemplated at a distance.

The French at prefent work, walk, eat, drink, and fleep in tranquility, and what is of more confequence to them, they dance in fecurity, to which may be added, that their taxes are neither very heavy, nor opprefive. In every party which I entered, I found the late minifter of Great Britain was the prevailing

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fubject of curiofity. I was overpowered with queftions refpecting this great man, which in their minute detail, extended to afcertain what was the color of his eye, the shape of his nofe, and whether in a morning he wore huffar boots, or fhoes. This little circumftance could not fail of proving pleasant to an Englishman. They informed me, that throughout the war, they regularly read in their own diurnal prints, our parliamentary debates, and the general outline of most of our political schemes, which were furnished by people in the pay of the French government, who refided in England notwithstanding the severity of the legislative, and the vigilance of the executive authorities. Whilft I am mentioning the fubject of newfpaper intercourfe, I cannot help lamenting, that fince the renewal of national friendship, the public prints of both countries are not more under the influence of cordiality and good humor.

The liberty of the prefs is the palladiunt of reason, the distributor of light and learning, the public and undifinayed afferter of interdicted truth. It is the body and the honor guard of civil and political liberty. Where the laws halt with dread, the freedom of the prefs advances, and with the fubtle activity of confcience, penetrates the fortified receffes and writes its fearful fentence on the palace wall of recoiling tyAs an Englishman, my expiring figh fhould be breathed for its preservation; but as an admirer of focial repofe and national liberty, I regret to fee

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its noble energies engaged in the degrading fervice of fretful spleen, and ungenerous animadverfion. When the horizon is no longer blackened with the smoke of the battle, it is unworthy of two mighty empires to carry on an ignoble war of words. If peace is their wish, let them manifeft the great and enlightened fentiment in all its purity, and disdain to irritate each other by acts of petulent and provoking recrimination.

A fhort time preceding my arrival in France, Bonaparte had rendered himfelf very popular amongst the conftitutional clergy, by a well timed compliment to the metropolitan archbishop. The firft conful gave a grand dinner to this dignified prelate, and to feveral of his brethren. After the entertainment, Bonaparte addreffed the archbishop by obferving, that as he had given directions for the repairing of the archiepifcopal palace, he fhould very much like to take a ride in the archbishop's carriage, to fee the progrefs which the workmen had made. The prelate bowed to the first conful, and informed him that he had no carriage, otherwife he fhould be much flattered by conducting him thither. Bonaparte good humoredly faid, "how can that be? your coach has been waiting at the gate this half hour," and immediately led the venerable archbishop down the steps of the Thuilleries, where he found a plain handsome carriage, with a valuable pair of horfes, and a coachman, and footmen dreffed in livery which Bo

naparte had juft before informed him would be allotted to him, when his establishment was completed. The whole was a prefent from the private purfe of the first conful. Upon their arrival at the palace, the archbishop was agreeably furprifed by finding that the most minute, and liberal attention had been paid to his comfort and accommodation.

The clergy feem to be in favor with Bonaparte. When he affifted in the laft fpring at the inauguration of the archbishop of Paris, in the metropolitan church of Notre Dame, and gave to the restoration of religion "all the circumftance of pomp" and milsitary parade, he was defirous of having the colors of -his regiment confecrated by the holy prelate, and fubmitted his wishes to his foldiers. A few days afterwards, a deputation waited upon their general in chief, with this reply, " Our banners have already "been confecrated by the blood of our enemies at Marengo; the benediction of a prieft cannot render them more facred in our eyes, nor more anim"ating in the time of battle." Bonaparte prudently fubmitted himself to their prætorian refolution, and the confular colors remain to this hour in the fame unchristianlike condition as when they first waved at the head of their victorious legions. This anecdote will in fome degree prove a fact which, notwithstanding the counter reports of English newspapers, I found every where confirmed, that although religion" is new to the French, yet that the novelty has at pref

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