Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIII.—April, 1852.—Vol. IV.: None — John Shaqi
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIII.—April, 1852.—Vol. IV.: NoneVarious
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXIII.—April, 1852.—Vol. IV.: None
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
gazed calmly upon his beloved France, with pale cheek and marble brow,
too proud to manifest emotion. At eight o'clock in the morning the four
vessels dropped anchor in the little harbor of Frejus. It was the
morning of the 8th of October. Thus for fifty days Napoleon had been
tossed upon the waves of the Mediterranean, surrounded by the hostile
fleets of England, Russia, and Turkey, and yet had eluded their
vigilance.
This wonderful passage of Napoleon, gave rise to many caricatures, both
in England and France. One of these caricatures, which was conspicuous
in the London shop windows, possessed so much point and historic truth,
that Napoleon is said to have laughed most heartily on seeing it. Lord
Nelson, as is well known, with all his heroism, was not exempt from the
frailties of humanity. The British admiral was represented as guarding
Napoleon. Lady Hamilton makes her appearance, and his lordship becomes
so engrossed in caressing the fair enchantress, that Napoleon escapes
between his legs. This was hardly a caricature. It was almost historic
verity. While Napoleon was struggling against adverse storms off the
coast of Africa, Lord Nelson, adorned with the laurels of his
magnificent victory, in fond dalliance with his frail Delilah, was
basking in the courts of voluptuous and profligate kings. "No one," said
Napoleon, "can surrender himself to the dominion of love, without the
forfeiture of some palms of glory."
[Illustration: THE LANDING AT FREJUS.]
When the four vessels entered the harbor of Frejus, a signal at the
mast-head of the Muiron informed the authorities on shore that Napoleon
was on board. The whole town was instantly in commotion. Before the
anchors were dropped the harbor was filled with boats, and the ships
were surrounded with an enthusiastic multitude, climbing their sides,
thronging their decks, and rending the air with their acclamations. All
the laws of quarantine were disregarded. The people, weary of anarchy,
and trembling in view of the approaching Austrian invasion, were almost
delirious with delight in receiving thus, as it were from the clouds, a
deliverer, in whose potency they could implicitly trust. When warned
that the ships had recently sailed from Alexandria, and that there was
imminent danger that the plague might be communicated, they replied, "We
had rather have the plague than the Austrians." Breaking over all the
municipal regulations of health, the people took Napoleon, almost by
violence, hurried him over the side of the ship to the boats, and
conveyed him in triumph to the shore. The tidings had spread from
farm-house to farm-house with almost electric speed, and the whole
country population, men, women, and children, were crowding down to the
shore. Even the wounded soldiers in the hospital, left their cots and
crawled to the beach, to get a sight of the hero. The throng became so
great that it was with difficulty that Napoleon could land. The
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account