ommotion caused by the French Revolution.

Tumult raged round the Emperor during the whole of his public career,
and powerful agencies were constantly proclaiming against him and his
methods. His advent had brought with it a new form of democracy, which
cast down oligarchies and despotisms everywhere. His system destroyed
and affected too many interests not to leave behind it feelings of
revenge, but this revenge did not exist among the common people. Those
who persecuted the common people felt his heavy hand upon them. The
populace entered into his service in shoals, only to betray him when
the time of trial came. He knew the risk he ran, but did not shrink
from it. He hoped that he might bring them to adopt the great
principles he held and the plan he had in view.

His ambition was to seek out all those who had talent and character
and give them the opportunity of developing their gifts for the
benefit of the race. Humble origin had no deterrent effect on him. His
most brilliant officers and men of position sprang from the middle and
lower middle class, and taking them as a whole, their devotion never
gave way, even during the most terrible adversity that ever befell
mortal man. One small instance of admiration and sympathy is evidenced
by the beautiful reverence shown by the officers and men of the
English army and navy, who defiled before the dead hero's remains and
bent their knees to the ground.

Montholon says that "some of the officers entreated to be allowed the
honour of pressing to their lips the cloak of Marengo which covered
the Emperor's feet." Lowe must have felt a pang of remorse when he saw
these simple men pouring out in their sailorly and soldierly way
tokens of profound sorrow. Everything that could had been done to
cause their captive to be regarded as a menace to human safety, and to
be forgotten altogether; but how futile to attempt such a task while
the world of civilisation is swayed by human instinct and not by
barbarity!

The report of Napoleon's death did not relieve the anxieties of the
European Cabinets. They knew the danger of being overwhelmed by a
revulsion of feeling, and the difficulty of stopping the masses once
they are set in motion, and there were strong manifestations of the
popular indignation breaking loose, with all the terrible consequences
of a reign of terror. The feeling of grief was universal and intense.
A spark might have caused a great conflagration. Lord Holland de