and the reiterated statements of Napoleon's words regarding the necessity of doing things which were not in his "system," because the English forced him thus to act. The sad necessity in which he considered himself placed, to vivre au jour le jour, seems to have been frequently expressed in these very words by him to his older brother. The reader will recollect the emperor's words when urged by the Poles, after the defeat of the Prussians, in 1806, to re-establish the independence of Poland. "I am no god," he said, "I am not doing that which I would, but only that which I can do." Joseph told us once that several times, when the emperor had severely and even passionately rated some persons, he would say, when alone with his brother, "I must thus, always wear a mask. If I do not show myself farouche, on such occasions, everything would go wrong.' ." Another time Joseph told us that at dinner, the conversation had turned on the subject of ambition and glory. Joseph had stoutly maintained that he cared nothing for all this, and that true happiness consisted in the peaceful enjoyment of life, remote from the anxieties of ambition. "What is it to me, Joseph had observed, that people mention my name after I am gone?" Napoleon took umbrage at this, and after the company had dispersed, informed his brother that he did not desire him to repeat such discourse. All that Joseph had said might be very well for a philosopher, but that Napoleon's duty was to conquer victories, and that, in accordance he must develop the most ambitious spirit. want men to consider it their highest glory to die on the battle-field," he said. "At some future period your views may obtain a proper place." "I These things are mentioned here, simply as facts. The historian and statesman must weigh and probe them, as, indeed, they must do with this entire letter, which at any rate is a remarkable document, even if it be taken in its narrowest possible limits; namely, as the expression of those views with which the brother of Napoleon, who had been the recipient of the emperor's confidence, desired to impress an individual with whom Joseph was pleased to correspond. To examine and criticise this letter, would require a work of commentaries on the whole career of the emperor. Nothing of the kind can be possibly expected here. We close our paper, adding but one remark on an expression of Joseph's, which, even in an off-hand letter, seems to be surprising. The writer says: Napoleon was the scholar of Plato and the philosophers (était élève de Platon et des philosophes). We do not understand this sentence, even if it were meant in the most hyperbolical sense. A scholar of Plato? Of what work of Plato? Of his Republic? Napoleon took, as is known, every occasion of expressing his bond fide detestation and hatred of the "idéologues," as he called, in a bunch, all philosophers; and Plato, assuredly was idéologue, if any one was. In one of his letters to Joseph, then king of Naples, and which is published in the very collection from which the foregoing translation has been made, he distinctly and very positively enjoins his brother, to discountenance all hommes de lettres, gens d'esprit, and philosophers; telling him that they are nothing but coquettes. Napoleon was so positive on this point, that he may be said to have established a sort of school in this sense. No one who has lived any time in France can have helped observing what a deeprooted contempt for legistes (lawyers), philosophers, and orators, pervades the army and all true Napoleonists. common dinner conversation with an officer is almost sure to bring it out. It was so at the time of Napoleon, and has ever since been so. The complaints of the arrogance of the army were universal in the reign of Napoleon. It had become an intolerable military aristocracy. Napoleon ended with falling into an idolatry of power, and considering the profession of the soldier le plus noble de tous les métiers, as he calls it in one of his letters; he forgot or he had never a true perception of the simple fact, that of all the mighty things, the mightiest, the sovereigns of the earth, are Will, Love, and Thought.* He acknowledged the first. Did he acknowledge the two others of the triumvirate? A Louis the Fourteenth was, at least in the shrewdness of perceiving the power of the sword and the pen, his superior. He took great care to conciliate the latter. Since this article was written, the author has met with the following passage in Mr. Crowe's "History of the Reigns of Louis XVIII. and Charles X.," London 1854: But the more perfectly France became organized and disciplined for war and domination, the more unfit CAN THE OLD SCULPTOR AND HIS PUPIL. YAN we wonder Donatello's eyes were dim with blissful tears, Waking wild ideal yearnings, weary years the dream had lain And, at last, its fit expression in some outward type it sought- Calm it stood a statued image of the young impassioned saint, And the passing shadows flitting lightly o'er the earnest face, Yet, methinks, o'er something nobler might those wayward shadows glide, He was one among his pupils, scarce to manhood-summer grown,— For there seemed around his forehead and within his eye to glow And behind the noblest figure, born beneath thy potent hand, Then upon that lofty forehead, Care's rude fingers had not wrought,- "Nay-what think'st thou ?" said the master, "seems it not almost divine ?” In his eye the glow of genius seemed with clearer light to shine,As he answered, "Only one thing does it lack,-this work of thine." did it become to establish its influence peaceably and permanently over that Europe which it had conquered. For, thanked be Providence and civilization, there are no rights which have been so modified and curtailed as those of conquest. Of old the victor might make of the vanquished his slave, and partition his territory to new holders. But the days of exterminating a people, of enslaving or dispossessing them, are past. The race and the soil remain, and the victors must devise some means of satisfying the wants, and even the pride of the vanquished; for the rule of brute intimidation is far too ineffectual and costly. Had the French Revolution achieved wide conquest, however turbulent and irregular its rule, in foreign countries, it would at least have found friends amongst the classes it emancipated, and by degrees it would have succeeded in the formation of allied States, republics like itself. But a military chief and an embryo emperor, commanding the French soldiers, and through them master of the State, saw or would see nothing in other nations but monarch like himself. With these alone he would negotiate-these alone conciliate or court. Napoleon, from character as well as position, was fitted to enact this part of the mere crowned head. His early experience made him acquainted with all that was abhorrent and impuissant in Democracy. He thus learnt to ignore the existence of a people altogether. His political optics were so formed as exclusively to discern princes and courts and armies. He neither knew what the word people meant, nor the worth nor the power which it implied. "One thing lacks it!"-did not matchless stand that form of youthful grace? Ne'er a fault could he discover there, to mar its perfect claim, And, in sooth, a heavy burden it had grown to be that day, Patient- -yet, within his spirit seemed some vexing thought to bide, -With a smile the old man died. "Only speech!" O mighty spirit! who through time didst nobly send, All our loftiest thoughts and visions seem, for want of language, lost ;— All the Holy Spirit tells us we may never hope to teach,— PROFESSOR PHANTILLO. A ROMANCE OF THE WATER OURE CHAPTER I. PROFESSOR PHANTILLO was, and I presume still is, an astrologer. His advertisements, which ornamented the newspapers a year ago, told the public in what esteem he was held by the kings and potentates of the old world, who consulted him on all important occasions with astonishing success. Why this favorite of royalty should wish to establish himself in the shire-town of Bearbrook in New England-or why his august disciples should suffer him to come, if he did-were questions to which the advertisements aforementioned afforded no response. The particular service rendered by this illustrious stranger to my uncle, Major Wherrey, being rather paternal than astrological in its character, need be preceded by no inquiry concerning the claims of that occult science which yet finds many dupes in the midst of our boasted enlightenment. Now, my uncle, Major Wherrey, was a very thin gentleman, with queer little eyes and still droller mouth-not at all like the engraving of the picture in possession of the Bearbrook High Art Association, which serves (or should serve) as frontispiece to the history. A constitutional shyness-or, as he chose to call it, an elegant fastidiousness-prevented my uncle from relishing the society of ladies; so that his forty-second birthday found him in celibacy, and chambered in the city of New York. Of the particular nature of the festivities that distinguished this annual commemoration, I am unfortunately ignorant -never having been invited to assist thereat; and, as the present narrative has only to do with facts, I decline consulting my fancy, or even the doctrine of probabilities, for a sketch of the occasion. It is sufficient to conclude the introductory chapter (which, in my opinion, should be devoted to telling the reader who people are-whether they figure immediately or not) with a statement to the following effect. The morning succeeding the Major's party found him prostrate and headachy upon a sofa, endeavoring to extract some comfort from the columns of a weekly journal. "The very thing, by Jove!" exclaimed my uncle, as he read an advertisement headed "Granville County Water-Cure." "The very thing! I'll go immediately!" CHAPTER II. A WRITER Who is concise and intelligible in the first chapter, has surely earned the right to a little episodical description in the second-of which allowed title advantage is thus taken. A water-cure! Who does not remember the mixture of surprise and incredulity, with which he first heard the name! What sexagenarian invalid does not recall the glow caused by the first reading of Bulwer's panegyric upon the new remedial agent! An unhappy man he was, if his literary cravings happened to take him to the Medical Reviews after having perused this delicious publication. In their conservative pages, he found the professors of the new art placed in the same category with the proprietors of all-healing sarsaparillas or vegetable pills. The short dream of a perfect restoration to all bodily and mental vigor-that fair palace of perpetual health-that the brilliant novelist had conjured up, was suddenly assailed by the harsh words "humbug," "self-delusion,” “quackery," and such other vituperative missives as the professional batteries afforded. Yet, in spite of the extravagant laudation of enthusiasts, and the vigorous attacks of opponents, the establishments for the practice of the new system have steadily increased among us; till the discovery of Preissnitz, with certain modifications, is almost universally allowed to be of service in many cases of chronic disorder. It is hardly just, however, to attribute the number and thriving condition of the Hydropathic institutions by which we are surrounded, to the wonders wrought by the simple agency of water. A great part of their success is doubtless owing to the love of that easy, independent intercourse with one another, which crowds Saratoga and Newport, and has made the "boarding-house" an American institution. There is always an excuse for passing a few weeks at a Water Cure, which must be inconveniently stretched to apply to Fabiari's, or the Mountain House at Catskill. To the former we are driven, not by inclination, but misfortune. A gentleman's business connections have no cause to complain -a lady's household duties may with propriety be left to take care of themselves when the great necessity of health demand their absence. There are other circumstances that make these establishments a favorite retreat for a large class of our restless population. The moderate cost of such a sojourn in some pleasant part of the country, in comparison with a visit to the Lakes or Niagara-the complete absolution from the daily penance of dressing-and, above all, the perfect equality in the state and position of each occupant-are, to the great mass of migratory citizens, very positive advantages. "Why, the fact is," says young Wilkinson (he who lost so heavily a few years ago, by the failure of a noted firm in this city), "the fact is, that at Newport, where I formerly passed the season, I should now be positively nobody! There are plenty of fellows whose kids and broadcloth, not to speak of turnouts, it would be impossible for me to equal, whereas, by going through the water cure, I can flourish and flirt in dressing-gown and slippers, and get up quite as pleasant an understanding with a damsel in a calico morning-gown, with hair damp and dishevelled by frequent ablutions, as if we were mutually booted and laced to the most orthodox pattern." The recent visit of my uncle to one of the most famous of these establishments, has given me a particularity of information concerning the details of watercure life, that, under other circumstances could only be attained by a personal residence. It has always been the habit of Major Wherrey to keep a daily diary to the end, that should he by some unforseen event blaze into notoriety, there may not be wanting the materials for a biography sufficiently copious to satisfy his warmest admirer. A great amount of blotted manuscript was recently presented me by the good gentleman, accompanied by the same friendly permission with which people who have been restored to health by some elixir or cordial, conclude their certificatesnamely, that they might be put to any use likely to benefit the proprietor. From these inky fountains, the stream of this narrative derives its source some tributaries may help to increase its body-but the main supplies I here openly acknowledge. CHAPTER III. A FAVORABLE first impression is of acknowledged importance in reconciling us to places or people. In our younger days we may, indeed, recover from the shock of seeing a fine view in a thunder storm, or of failing to recognize some shabby little gentleman as the favorite poet, whose intellectual visage had beamed at us from the first page of his published productions. But in mature life, the loss of impulse is supplied by the comparative duration of the feeling excited; and it must be regarded as a happy circumstance when a middle-aged bachelor, an imaginary or real invalid, on arriving at the place where he has determined to make a considerable stay, discovers that matters are reasonably to his liking. Such a satisfaction did my uncle experience on reaching the Granville County Water-Cure. The house, to be sure, had rather a patched effect, for nearly every water-cure was originally designed for something else, and had been through various processes of enlargement and adaptation. But the inside seemed quiet and cheerful, and looked remarkably unlike a hotel. The existence of any peculiar aquatic privileges would never have been suspected by a transient visitor; for baths of every description were banished to the cellar, where they kept company with an immense tank, whose calm dark surface was strongly suggestive of mosquitoes. Whether these annoying insects were actually generated in this lower region could never be fully determined; but that they appeared up stairs in goodly numbers, is a fact concerning which my uncle is peculiarly positive. The chambers were small and low, as they must necessarily be where many are to be accommodated-but the architect, with the view of providing a sufficiency of oxygen, as well as mitigating the evils of solitude, placed ventilators over all the doors, by which means my kinsman was kept pleasantly informed of the affairs of his neighbors, and listened to many profitable strictures upon himself. It is not until the first breakfast that the stranger sees the full corps of pa tients among whom he is to take his place. Then, they all enter fresh and rosy from an early walk, where has been dispersed that silent misanthropy which usually characterizes the first hour after rising. There is certainly a republican mixture of the different varieties of the human race. The pale and the florid, the fastidious and the gossiping, the judge, the colonel, and the author, all mingle together as the black and white spirits are instructed to do about the witches' cauldron. Among the ladies the variety is no less striking. First, there is the pleasant, chatty little person, whose toilet, manners, and conversation, may be described by the newspaper phrase very neat." Opposite are several damsels of the intensely natural and unaffected school. These are the young ladies who are afraid of nobody, despise all sentiment, and can talk about fast horses and fancy drinks. Next, come some representatives of a different order, who manage to smile a little, occasionally screw up their courage sufficiently to ask for the butter, and secretly envy the ease and volubility of their neighbors. Besides these, there is a dowager, who sparkles with breast-pins and showy rings, and a young lady or two, who, not being patients, and consequently allowed to rise when they please, steal to their places with that guilty look that the consciousness of having overslept oneself invariably occasions. The breakfast itself is always plain, though exceedingly good; yet my uncle sees fit to express his private distaste for a dark, husky mixture, which might pass for the species of provender upon which the prodigal son was tempted to regale in the hour of necessity, and which is handed about under the name of "cracked wheat." From the memoranda made during the first few days of his sojourn, it is conjectured that my uncle's visit began in a manner by no means disagreeable. The day was spent in bathing and walking; and, until the walkers and bathers had narrated the principal events in their past lives, and told when they had come, and how long they meant to stay-there seems to have been little lack of diversion. The end of the week, however, brought with it the time that must come sooner or later, when our companions began to repeat the same observations in the same way, and we feel that con |