the
nation seemed to be raised through the genius of its chief, compensation
was found for all financial burdens, consolations for domestic
calamities, and an equivalent for that liberty in whose name the Tyrant
had achieved his first glories. But it must not be omitted that
Napoleon, in every department of his government, made it his first rule
to employ the men best fitted, in his mind, to do honour to his service
by their talents and diligence; and that he thus attached to himself,
throughout the whole of his empire as well as in his army, the hopes and
the influence of those whose personal voices were most likely to control
the opinions of society.

He gratified the French nation by adorning the capital, and by
displaying in the Tuileries a court as elaborately magnificent as that
of Louis XIV. himself. The old nobility, returning from their exile,
mingled in those proud halls with the heroes of the revolutionary
campaigns; and over all the ceremonial of these stately festivities
Josephine presided with the grace and elegance of one born to be a
queen. In the midst of the pomp and splendour of a court, in whose
antechambers kings jostled each other, Napoleon himself preserved the
soldier-like simplicity of his original dress and manners. The great
Emperor continued throughout to labour more diligently than any
subaltern in office. He devoted himself wholly to the ambition to which
he compelled all others to contribute.

Napoleon, as Emperor, had little time for social pleasures. His personal
friends were few; his days were given to labour, and his nights to
study. If he was not with his army in the field, he traversed the
provinces, examining with his own eyes into the minutest details of
local arrangement; and even from the centre of his camp he was
continually issuing edicts which showed the accuracy of his observation
during these journeys, and his anxiety to promote by any means,
consistent with his great purpose, the welfare of some French district,
town, or even village.

The manners of the Court were at least decent. Napoleon occasionally
indulged himself in amours unworthy of his character and tormenting to
his wife; but he never suffered any other female to possess influence
over his mind, nor insulted public opinion by any approach to that
system of unveiled debauchery which had, during whole ages, disgraced
the Bourbon Court, and undermined their throne.

CHAPTER XXIII

Relations of Nap