One of the charges made against him by serene critics who have been desirous of showing his weak points is that he was too careless and forgiving towards the squabbling nest of paid and unpaid murderers who prowled about in disguise, thirsting after his blood.  It is certain that he carried clemency to a fault in many instances, and this no doubt contributed to his undoing; but at the same time there is ample proof that he knew well enough where his foes were to be found, and whenever the dignity and safety of the State were imperilled, he was not slow to punish.  His habit was not weakness, but only a too careless regard for his own personal safety.

FOOTNOTES: 

[1] Montholon, “History of the Captivity of Napoleon,” p. 326.  The editor says he is indebted for these details to the official accounts published at the time by the French Government.

[2] This was the name given to Napoleon by the Arabs.  “Kebir” means “great” (Montholon, vol. iv. p. 245).

[3] These words were dictated to Las Cases by Napoleon at St. Helena in 1819 (p. 315, vol. iv., of his Journal).

[4] See p. 183, vol. i., “Captivity of Napoleon.”

[5] O’Meara, in his second volume, p. 134, states:  “The Emperor was so firmly impressed with the idea that an attempt would be made to forcibly intrude upon his privacy, that, from a short time after the departure of Sir George Cockburn, he always kept four or five loaded pistols and some swords in his apartments, with which he was determined to despatch the first who entered against his will.”

[6] See p. 299, Montholon’s “Captivity of Napoleon,” vol. i.

[7] See p. 301, vol. i., “Captivity of Napoleon.”

[8] See pp. 57-62, bust incident.

[9] The easygoing Joseph had been careless of the letters, which would have further proved the infamy of the oligarchy.  These letters were in many cases applications for territory.  He had intrusted them to a base friend, by whom they were offered to the various Governments for L30,000.  The Russian Ambassador is reported to have paid L10,000 to get hold of those concerning his master.  His Majesty of Prussia appears to have had a covetous eye on Hanover.  He always entertained a paternal regard for that country.  The sovereigns in general seem to have compromised themselves deeply in their efforts to secure territory.

[10] See “Montholon,” vol. iii p. 37.

[11] This is an impudent lie.  The quarrel was with Lowe because the doctor refused to be his accomplice.

CHAPTER II

THE MAN OF THE REVOLUTION—­CRITICISM, CONTEMPORARY AND OTHERWISE

On May 9, 1821, the mortal remains of the Exile were interred at a spot called the Valley of Napoleon.  He had selected this spot in the event of the Powers not allowing his remains to be transferred to France or Ajaccio.  Lowe desired to put on the lid of the coffin “Napoleon Bonaparte,” but his followers very properly disdained committing a breach of faith on the dead Emperor, and insisted on having “Napoleon” and nothing else.  The Governor was stubbornly opposed to it, so he was buried without any name being put on the coffin.[12]