have mouldered, and the night of barbarism obscured its very ruins, that mighty continent may emerge from the horizon, to rule for its time sovereign of the ascendant!

"Such. sir, is the natural progress of human operations, and such the unsubstantial mockery of human pride. But I should apologise for this digression--the tombs are at best a sad, although an instruc tive subject. At all events, they are ill suited to such an hour as this. I shall endeavor to atone for it, by turning to a theme which tombs cannot inurn, nor revolutions alter-It is the ustom of your board, and a noble one it is, to deck the cup of the gay with the garland of the great, and surely, even in the eyes of its deity, his grape is not less lovely when glowing beneath the foilage of the palm tree and the myr tle. Allow me to add one flower to the chaplet, which though it sprung in America, is no exotic--virtue has planted it, and it is na turalized every where,

No matter what may be the birth place of such a man as Washington. No climate can claim, no country can appropriate him-the boon of Providence to the human race---his fame is eternity, and his residence creation. Though it was the defeat of our arms and the discomfiture of our policy, I almost bless the convulsion in which he had his origin; if the heavens thundered and the earth rocked, yet, when the storm passed, how pure was the climate that it cleared--how bright in the brow of the firmament was the planet it revealed to us? In the production of Washington, it does really appear as if nature was endeavouring to improve upon herself, and that all the virtues of the ancient world were but so many studies preparatory to the patriot of the new. Individual instances no doubt there were, splendid exemplifications of some single qualification. Cæsar was merciful--Scipio was continent---Hannibal was patient---but it was reserved for Washington to blend them all in one, and like the lovely chef d'euvre of the Grecian artist, to exhibit, in one glow of associated beauty, the pride of every model, and the perfection of every master. As a general, he marshalled the peasant into a veteran, and supplied by discipline the absence of experience. As a statesman, he enlarged the policy of the cabinet into the most comprehensive system of general advantage, and such was the wisdom of his views, the philosophy of his councils, that to the soldier and the statesman he almost added

the character of the sage. A conqueror, he was untainted with the crime of blood---a revolutionist, he was free from any stain of treason; for aggression commenced the contest, and a country called him to the command. Liberty unsheathed his sword--necessity stained---victory returned it. If he had paused here, history might doubt what station to assign him, whether at the head of her citizens or her soldiers--her heroes or her patriots. But the last glorious act crowned his carcer, and banishes hesitation. Who, like Washington, after having freed his country, resigned her crown, and retired to a cottage, rather than live in a capitol! Immortal man! He took from the battle its crime, and from the conquest its chains---he left the victorious the glory of his self denial, and turned upon the vanquished only the re tribution of his mercy. Happy America! The lightnings of Heayen could not resist your sage--the temptations of earth could not core rupt your soldier!

CHARACTER OF

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.

(Supposed to have been written by George Lidwell, Esq.}

The power of this illustrious character seems to be at an end; the great contest is over-England has triumphed-France has fallen.

Were we to look on the late events as a victory over the rights of those who vainly struggled for independence, we would not rejoice. No: we would sooner mourn over the ruins of liberty, than rejoice with those who contributed to its fall. Considering the thing in another point, we may well indulge in expressions of pride, and hope ever foremost in the path of glory, Ireland on this, as on all other occasions, displayed her valour and her strength; her heroes have added fresh honours to her fame; her genius, her bravery, her devotion, supported and triumphed in the contest. May the reward of her sons be as great as their achievements have been glorious. When her soldier returns from the toils of battle, may oppression wither at his approach; glorious be the morning of his Country's resurrection, and distant the day of that Country's calamity.

For the fate of Napoleon we feel most anxious, Why should any little motive prevent us from expressing solicitude for a man, whose talents, with all his faults, are honourable to human nature? Nor is it for him alone we feel, we feel for the honour of the British name. We trust that her magnanimous spirit will honour, in adversity, the man, whose talents and whose power she had every reason to respect.

His situation is an awful lesson to human pride. He who had Crowns at his feet, and Kingdoms at his will---whose actions filled the world with astonishment, is now a lonely captive, banished from his throne, exiled from his country, torn from the companions of his glory, the dearest connexions of his private life---behold him obliged to solicit the hospitality of a people whom he so often threatened to subdue.

We speak of this great character with freedom; with respect, and, we trust, with impartiality. We do not mean to gloss over his errors, but we scorn to insult his fallen fortunes. There are men who will descend to the vile occupation---venal---unprincipled---un manly.Like hungry vultures, devouring the remains of some fallen hero, they will collect around his reputation, to defame, and to dishonour; but a noble mind will forget his errors, in the contemplation of his genius, and his misfortunes.

He had many great and distinguished qualities---able---enterprising ---commanding---often impetuous---always peculiar--he acted from himself. The scheme of his Government, bold, original, and compre. hensive, was the image of a mighty and extensive mind. Bred in the camp, he was early accustomed to a soldier's teil, and early fired with

a soldier's ambition---his education attached him to arms---his passion to glory and to conquest. Unpatronised---unsupported---almost unknown---he entered life with no friend but his sword; and won his way to power by the exertion of a superior capacity. The soldier of fortune himself, he promoted none but men of acknowledged merit. Anxious to elevate the reputation of the army, he shared with them the toils of the camp, and the glories of the field. Affable--generous--courageous---ever slow to punish--ever ready to reward---ever willing to relieve---he gained their affection, and he retained it. Their fidelity continued unshaken, through all the vicissitudes of his life :--in peril-in safety-in power---in misfortunes---in exile; they mourned his absence, and greeted his return with shouts of joy. A noble instance of sincerity, equally creditable to him, and to them.

In the wars of Italy, Napoleon gained great power and reputation, yet aspired to more---the rays of fortune beaming on a vulgar eye, dazzle and confound---but to an elevated mind, they are the "lights of future glory." Napoleon rose successively to the first rank in the army, and the first honours in the state, and he deserved them.

Had he remained a free citizen of France, he would have remained illustrious--superior to Cæsar in enterprize and in arms, he would have been his superior in virtue---he would have displayed all the great qualities of his gigantic mind, and none of its infirmities---but, unfortunately, a sordid ambition prevailed over noble sentiments, and ruined his country and his reputation; he erected a throne on the ruins of that liberty, which he fought to establish, and swore to defend.

He became a King from choice---he soon became a Despot from necessity---he first deceived the people---he next enslaved the press; he controled the Representation---he organized or supported an odious system of Police--governing with absolute sway, his voice declared the law which his will enacted---awed, or astonished, the People sunk into apathy or despair---no voice was heard to animate the public soul, or defend the public rights---driven from her insulted sanctuary, the spirit of Liberty fled to the kindred soil of her Columbia, there to mourn over the tomb of Washington, or to celebrate the memory of Fox.

Napoleon became a despot, but he never degenerated into a tyrant---he enslaved the People, but his chains were light and loose; or if he acted severely, he acted from necessity; the nature of his institutions, or the schemes of his policy, required it. He governed, it is true, with absolute authority, but he was able to govern: grand and imposing, his mind, like his power, was great and comprehensive. If his victories remain imperishable monuments of his military talents, his laws are splendid evidence of legislative wisdom; he proInoted learning, he patronised the arts, he encouraged commerce, he administered justice, purely and impartially, he granted perfect freedom of conscience; unacquainted with favouritism, despising corruption, he bestowed on every man the full measure of his desert, but bestowed no more.

By means like these, he, gradually, assimilated the minds of men to the maxims of his government; the ardent friends of liberty indeed retired, but the light inconstant maltitude, dazzled by the splendour of the throne, or awed by the majesty which adorned it, quietly re

reclined on their chains, and forgot that liberty, which they once adored.

Though his power was established on the ruins of National Inde pendence, many of the most ardent promoters of the revolution sup ported, his authority. Their friendship seduced them from their country; in admiration of the man, they forgot the constitution; the instance was melancholy, but the transition was neither uncommon nor unnatural. There were other, and stronger reasons, which served to establish the dominion of Napoleon. Engaged almost incessantly in foreign wars, the attention of the people was directed from the consideration of their political institutions, to the conduct and achievements of the army. Happily for him, those achievements were well calculated to excite the admiration of a vain, enthusiastic people; they were pleased to witness the progress of their arms, marked by the most splendid victories---victories which raised the reputation, whilst they increased the strength and resources of the country. She subdued most of her enemies, she humbled others, she distressed them all, she advanced from one advantage to another; her power increased her pretensions, her pretensions increased her power, her vigour, her capacity, and above all her success, threw around her character the features of invincibility; the current of mighty events swept before it the ordinary speculations of man, and and exceeded the ordinary bounds of human action; men became astonished; the Eagle of France fixed its soaring eye on the bright star of victory; and if her soaring spirit has been subdued, she owes her fall less to the power of man, than the fury of the elements.

There are limits to our prosperity, as well as to our afflictions; great events are often promoted by causes remote from human calculation, and independent of human aid. Providence often exalts, and often depresses, to prove, it should seem, the fallibility of human power, and the weakness of human ambition. Never was this observation more clearly illustrated, than by the late reverses of France. The hand of Fate seemed to direct her fortunes, victory followed in her footsteps, and destruction hurled its thunder at her foes; yet, in a moment, her power dissolves---it vanishes like the airy figures of imagination! Fallen, unfriended, unsupported, hehold her prostrate on the earth. Her glory, like her government, extinguished; her provinces invaded, her independence subdued, her people dishonoured, and her patriots proscribed. I trace not her humiliation to late disasters; her power received the mortal wound in Russia; she lingered, indeed, for a season, but the grave opened to receive her ---her death was inevitable.

Napolenon led out to this unfortunate campaign the finest army the world ever saw; it was composed of the veteran heroes of the Revolution; alas, they perished in nameless thousands on the bleak and harren plains of those inhospitable regions; they met not the foe, they fell not in battle, but shrunk under the fury of the wintry storm, undistinguished and unhonoured. They fell, and with them perished the independence of the country; they were the foundation of her strength, and the pillars of her greatness.

France, in her turn, was invaded, and subdued; her Government was dismembered, her Sovereign banished, and Louis called to the throne of his ancestors, Conducted to that throne by a foreign

soldiery, he ascended to power amid the regrets of the people, and he soon convinced the world, that he was as incapable as he was unpopular. All those unhappy passions which produced the revolution, sprung into life under the shade of his authority.

Feudalism raised its head, tythes were exacted, the press enslaved, religious freedom threatened, and in some degree put down; those were the opening features of the feeble and unpopular administration of Louis. In the midst of those transactions, Napoleon arrived from Elba-the throne trembled as he approached-Louis fled-Napoleon quietly succeeded to power.

Returning from exile, the lessons of adversity seemed not lost upon him; the first act of his authority was an act of wisdom, and one which an exalted mind alone could perform; he confessed the errors of his former government; he did more he called around him the friends of liberty, he emancipated the press, he improved the representation, he re-organized the police, he put down feudalism, he abolished the slave trade, he granted perfect religious freedom to all.

Thus did he establish a new government, a beauteous fabric, sub. lime in its formation, and consistent in all its parts; its towering dome aspired to heaven, whilst its foundation was firmly laid in a land of liberty.

France, at this crisis, appeared the most interesting spectacle that could arrest the attention of man. Peaceful, happy, independent-every blessing seemed to smile upon her, and every hope seemed realised. The measures of her government, and the wishes of her people, were alike wise, consistent, and conciliatory.

"France (said Napoleon) requires peace, its boundaries are traced, nor will the Emperor violate them; no government has been either attacked or compromised; none has either motive or pretexts for declaring hostilities against France; the Emperor has quitted his retreat on a new system, exterior and interior; he renounces for the exterior all idea of a great empire, and for the interior he wishes a free constitution."

But no measure however moderate, no acts, however unequivocal, could subdue the hostility of powers, determined and able to subdue the power of France, The allies entered the territory of France; history will record their actions, and posterity will judge them.— When the shouts of victory are heard no more, and the effects of these events only felt in the remotest degree, posterity will declare, that true giory can only be acquired by honour, and supported by justice and generosity.