France -- Civilization; France -- Politics and government; France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
[Footnote 1220: De Ségur, V., 348.]
[Footnote 1221: Yung, II., 329, 331. (Narrated by Lucien, and report to
Louis XVIII.)]
[Footnote 1222: "Nouvelle relation de l'Itinéraire de Napoléon, de
Fontainebleau à l'Ile de l'Elbe," by Count Waldberg-Truchsees, Prussian
commissioner (1885), pp.22, 24, 25, 26, 30, 32, 34, 37.--The violent
scenes, probably, of the abdication and the attempt at Fontainebleau to
poison himself had already disturbed his balance. On reaching Elba, he
says to the Austrian commissioner, Koller, "As to you, my dear general,
I have let you see my bare rump."--Cf. in "Madame de Rémusat," I., 108,
one of his confessions to Talleyrand: he crudely points out in himself
the distance between natural instinct and studied courage.--Here and
elsewhere, we obtain a glimpse of the actor and even of the Italian
buffoon; M. de Pradt called him "Jupiter Scapin." Read his reflections
before M. de Pradt, on his return from Russia, in which he appears in
the light of a comedian who, having played badly and failed in his
part, retires behind the scenes, runs down the piece, and criticize the
imperfections of the audience. (De Pradt, p.219.)]
[Footnote 1223: The reader may find his comprehension of the author's
meaning strengthened by the following translation of a passage from his
essay on Jouffroy (Philosophes classiques du XIXth Siécle," 3rd ed.):
"What is a man, master of himself? He is one who, dying with thirst,
refrains from swallowing a cooling draft, merely moistening his lips:
who insulted in public, remains calm in calculating his most appropriate
revenge; who in battle, his nerves excited by a charge, plans a
difficult maneuver, thinks it out, and writes it down with a lead-pencil
while balls are whistling around him, and sends it to his colonels. In
other words, it is a man in whom the deliberate and abstract idea of
the greatest good is stronger than all other ideas and sensations. The
conception of the greatest good once attained, every dislike, every
species of indolence, every fear, every seduction, every agitation, are
found weak. The tendency which arise from the idea of the greatest good
constantly dominates all others and determines all actions." TR.]
[Footnote 1224: Bourrienne, I. 21.]
[Footnote 1225: Yung, 1., 125.]
[Footnote 1226: Madame de Rémusat, I., 267.--Yung, II., 109. On his
return to Corsica he takes upon himself the government of the whole
family. "Nobody could discuss with him, says his brother Lucien; he
took offence at the slightest observation and got in a passion at the
slightest resistance. Joseph (the eldest) dared not even reply to his
brother."]
[Footnote 1227: Mémorial, August 27-31, 1815.]
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