"tion from persons named by himself. Not"withstanding the improbability of success "however, they had the courage to reject a "civil code presented by him, which was full "of absurdity and tyrannical enactments. The

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rejection of this code violently enraged him; "he testified his displeasure by observations "which were not even bounded by the com"mon rules of decorum, and soon found means "to shew those bodies that they must for the "future be more subordinate to his will than "ever the Parliament of Paris, or the Provin"cial Parliamen's, were to the venerable pris"tine sovereigns of France. Usurped and des"potic power could never stand the test of cool "and free discussion in times of

peace. Buon

aparte as well aware of this, and therefore "in every constitution he ever made for any "country, he laid it down as the first principle,

that the legislative or mock representative body must never originate any thing, must "never discuss any point but what the govern"ment should send to them for discussion, or

rather for their acceptance. By the constitu

tion which had been made for the regulation "of the French government, one-fifth of those "bodies were to go out annually by ballot; *" and whoever ventured to displease him might "be certain of being displaced at the end of

"the year, and of never again resuming his "seat. This was a stretch of absolute dominion, "more absolute, perhaps, than had ever been "assumed by any Executive power over its "Senate. After those expulsions, the First "Consul had an easy and complying Senate, "who were ready to accept his civil code, or any other code he should present them, his

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Legion of Honour, or any project that came "into his head, however absurd or unjust. "The public bodies dared no longer express a "sentiment of freedom, and if any individual "ventured either to converse or write with

6-6

freedom, the examples of Laharpe and of "Duval held out sufficient terrors. An imprudent word might send the father of a family to Guiana, and it could not reasonably "be expected that Mademoiselle Beauharnois "would always undertake to solicit pardon for "those who offended the First Consul*." Thus did Buonaparte do according to his will when he commenced his career as Sovereign of France. In 1804 the Moniteur, the official organ of government, used the following language: "The First Consul, superior to all " events, is more enabled than ever to fulfil the "decree of the Fates." The "Senatus Con

*Dodsley's Annual Register for 1802, p. 89.

"sultum," passed in the same year, by which the title of Emperor was conferred on him, raised him still further above all control, none either at home or abroad being able to dispute his power.

He shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished, for that that is determined shall be done. The short campaign of the year 1805 against Austria, in the course of which Buonaparte took possession of Vienna, terminated in the defeat of the combined Austrian and Russian armies, in the battle of Austerlitz; and led to the peace of Presburg, which was signed on the 26th December, 1805. "This campaign," it is observed, "increased the power, dominion, "and renown, of France to a degree not easily "to be appreciated.""No talents, power, or "combination, in opposition to Buonaparte, "seemed calculated to check his progress ;

but, on the contrary, served in their effect

to swell his career with fresh victories, and "to add to his strength by increasing his con"quests." His successes led the French people "to identify their glory and renown with his "own, and by his wisdom in council, greatness "of enterprise, and promptness of action, "he" (apparently)" put it almost out of the to course of things that he should ever meet * with a reverse of fortune.By the events of

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this campaign, the Emperor Francis saw "himself despoiled of by far the greater part "of his hereditary estates, and forced to accept the conditions of peace imposed upon "him by his opponent, and dictated on the "frontiers of Hungary, his last remaining possession."

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The years 1806 and 1807 brought an immense accession to the power of Buonaparte. The Confederation of the Rhine, that masterpiece as it is called of Buonaparte's policy, was formed in July, 1806, under his protection. On the 14th October, 1806, the armies of Prussia were completely defeated in the battle of Jena, and on the 27th of that month Buonaparte took possession of Berlin. The battle of Friedland was fought on the 14th of June, 1807, when the Russians, who had come to the assistance of the Prussians, were defeated with immense loss; and this led to the peace of Tilsit, which was concluded between Russia, Prussia, and France, on the 7th July. By this treaty "the King of "Prussia, together with an immense territory, "lost nearly the half of his yearly revenues, "and five millions of his subjects;" and it is observed, that "all the continent of Europe "now lay prostrate before Buonaparte."

At the latter end of the year 1807, he occupied Portugal with his troops; and afterwards,

in 1808, treacherously seized the person of Ferdinand the Seventh, and took possession of the kingdom of Spain: for "Buonaparte's power "had by this time risen to so enormous a pitch, "that he did not think it necessary to manage "or keep any terms with the opinions and prejudices of men or nations"-and he declared, "that if the Spanish nation would not willingly receive Joseph for their king, he would put the crown on his own head, treat them as

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a conquered province, and find another king"dom for his brother; for God had given him "both inclination and power to surmount all "obstacles." If the noble, and in some degree successful, resistance which began to be made to his arms by the Spaniards, at the latter end of the year 1808, may be considered as intimating that his prosperous career was noW drawing towards its conclusion; its immediate effect was to increase the sufferings of the Spanish nation, and to lead the French to inflict upon them unheard-of cruelties, and thus to accomplish the indignation which was now poured out upon Spain and Portugal in common with all the other Papal nations; and to bring to a speedy conclusion, that which it was determined in the counsels of God should be done.

It is observed by the historians of these times, that "a heavy load of national guilt lay upon