Sayings of Napoleon: Meetings and Conversations of Napoleon Bonaparte

The aim of this book is so clearly seen in its title, that few words are necessary here, and these will be used only to assure the reader, that from the mass of literature which has already grown around the history of the most extraordinary captain and statesman of modern times, the conversations, phrases and opinions which are most characteristic have been carefully gathered together, and subjected to some sort of arrangement ; so that we have here, in a small compass, that which will best, without bias, form our judgement of a man who, while he has on the one hand been unduly exalted, has on the other been unjustly condemned. Judged here by his own words, by his warm opinions, his ardent wishes, his generous impulses, or his selfish and inexorable determinations, he will perhaps receive that justice which he believed posterity would accord him.

Judges of literary work will easily perceive the difficulty of adequately performing this task in so small a space. It would have been easier to have written a much larger volume, just as it is less difficult to produce several gallons of tasteless broth than one half pint of Liebig's essence of meat. It was indeed of the life of Napoleon that Sir Walter Scott declared that " he produced nine volumes because he had not time to write one." If the critics will bear this in mind, the necessity for omission of purely military and political matters and details, they will probably not complain that we have not given all the words of a great man during a busy life.

It may be as well, however, for the editor of the series, while bearing witness to the industry and judgement of the compiler, to submit a list of the chief works consulted, with a remark that were it ostentatiously paraded, it could be very largely extended.

"History of Napoleon." By J. G. Lockhart. Murray's Family Library.

" History of Napoleon." Sir Walter Scott.

" Recits de la Captivite de l'Empereur Napoleon a S te - Helene." Par le Comte Montholon.

"The Last Days of the Emperor Napoleon." G. Antommarchi.

Caulaincourt's "Recollections of Napoleon."

" The Entertaining History of the Early Years of Napoleon." By a Royal Emigrant.

"Private Memoirs of Napoleon." By Bour-rienne.

"Memoires de Josephine."

"The Edinburgh Review." (Several volumes.)

"Memoirs of Fouche."

"The Court and Camp of Buonaparte."

"The Book of Fate of H. I. M. Napoleon."

"The Last Six Weeks of Napoleon's Life." By John Monkhouse, a Naval Officer.

"History of a Visit to St. Helena." By Mrs. Ward. (Privately printed.)

And various pamphlets, reviews, private memoirs.