who were desirous that it should be kept up to recruit and augment their numbers: they had encouraged it for their own advantage.

The question of the liberty of the blacks is very complicated and difficult. In Africa and in Asia it has been resolved; but it has been so by means of polygamy. The whites and the blacks there form parts of the same family. The head of the family having white and black wives, and wives of colour, the white and mulatto children are brothers, are bred in the same cradle, bear the same name, and eat at the same table. Would it then be impossible to authorize polygamy in our islands, restricting the number of wives to two, a white one and a black one? The First Consul had several conferences with theologians to prepare this grand measure. The patriarchs had several wives in the first ages of Christianity: the Church permitted and tolerated a species of concubinage, the effect of which was to allow one man to have several wives. The Pope and the Councils have the authority and the means to authorize such an institution, because the object of it is the conciliation and harmony of society, and not the increasing of carnal pleasures. The effect of these marriages would be confined to the

colonies: proper measures would be taken to prevent them from spreading disorder in the bosom of European society.

The fact is, that the decree of May, relative to the blacks, was but a pretext. Their insurrection was the effect of the intrigues of the English in that month, and of the cruel disease which swept off the best of our troops. It was then that the Captain-general repented his imprudent indulgence, in neglecting the orders of the First Consul during the first week of May. Every thing would have turned out very differently, if he had then freed the colony of two or three hundred of the black chiefs. In politics, as in war, the lost moment never

returns.

NOTES

ON THE WORK INTITLED

MEMOIRS

RELATIVE TO THE HISTORY OF CHARLES XIV. JOHN,

KING OF SWEDEN.*

PAGE 105.

Bonaparte replied that he had already passed his word to the Prince Royal of Denmark, and to the Emperor of Russia."

False.

PAGE 119.

"On the 28th of May, 1810, the unexpected death of the Prince of Augustenburg, called on the States to make new regulations respecting the inheritance of the throne of Sweden. France was then at the summit of her power: the States assembled at Oërebro, resolved to consign the destinies of Sweden to a French Prince: they called Marshal Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte-Corvo, to succeed Charles XIII."

The King of Sweden required a French Prince of Napoleon. The Viceroy was wished for; but the change of his religion was an in

* Mémoires pour servir à l'Histoire de Charles XIV. Jean, Roi de Suède.

superable obstacle. There only remained the Prince of Ponte-Corvo, and he was conceded, after long negotiations carried on at Paris by the Swedish general, Count de Wrede.

66

PAGE 119.

Napoleon, far from approving of this election, seemed at first much dissatisfied with it. But afterwards on reflecting that in consenting to Bernadotte's elevation, he was removing a rival whose popularity excited his jealousy; 'Well,' said he, let the decree of fate be accomplished." "

This is too absurd to merit refutation. Bernadotte was destitute of military reputation. There were in France twenty generals who had commanded in chief, and were more celebrated than he. Besides he was very unpopular, from having been attached to the Société du Manige. He had received no education what

ever.

PAGE 135.

"After having supported the passage of the Tagliamento, Bernadotte, with the advanced guard of the French army, entered the strong town of Palma-Nuova, and from thence proceeded to attack the fortress of Gradisca," &c.

Bernadotte attacked Gradisca during the passage of the Isonzo; he was completely defeated, and lost between 400 and 500 choice troops. It was so unskilful an operation as to excite in a high degree the displeasure of

Napoleon, who at this time passed the Isonzo with Serrurier's division, and occupied a commanding position on the heights of the left bank. It was not until then, that the fortress, thus invested and commanded, surrendered.

PAGE 138.

"He had caused M. d'Entraigues, attached to the Russian embassy at Venice, to be arrested at Trieste."

M. d'Entraigues was arrested on the Brenta, as he was leaving Venice, by Bernadotte, whose division occupied that part of the country.

PAGE 139.

"He displayed the tri-coloured flag."

His conduct in this respect, was considered as equally ridiculous and impolitic: it was universally condemned in France. The Directory disavowed it.

PAGE 140.

"Soon after, he married the daughter of a merchant of Avignon, settled at Marseilles, named Clary. This young lady, sister-in-law to Joseph Bonaparte, had been intended. for General Duphot, who was assassinated at Rome in a popular insurrection."

In 1796, while Napoleon was in Egypt, Joseph married his sister-in-law to Bernadotte;