472

LIFE OF COLONEL MACEEONI.

Next—and for the sake of brevity, lastly, I will point outthe magnificent observatory which now honours and adornsNaples, as having been erected by Murat. The architectwas the astronomer, Baron Zach, and the instruments wereconstructed by the celebrated Reichembach.

Although a coolness had began to exist between Napoleon and his brother-in-law, the policy of the one, and theinstinctive veneration and the love of war in the other,brought them together on this memorable occasion. Inalluding to this great Russian campaign of 1812, the poli-ticians who descant upon the character, views, and inten-tions of Napoleon , without much knowledge of their subject,seize the opportunity as confirmatory of their doctrine—Napoleon ’s aim at universal empire. This story of uni-versal monarchy is too evidently a self-contradicted vulgarvoice from Tory saloons and card tables to require seriousrefutation. Had Napoleon ever entertained that idea, is itlikely that he would have restored the sovereignty ofPrussia and of Austria three times over 1 That he would havedone violence to his domestic, household feelings —for Napo-leon had such—in repudiating his beloved Josephine , andmarrying a daughter of one of his vanquished and prostrateenemies ? No! would to heaven that he had annihilated thosevile rotten despotisms of Germany , and in their lieu estab-lished or allowed the people to establish, governments evennot more liberal than his own imperial regime ! Would toheaven, I say, he had done that thing, which only dependedon a breath. Now would the left arm of Europe (Germany )have been strong and free, and, thanks to the preparatorynoviciatory process of equal laws, equal rights, no privi-leges, the vast German people would by this time havebeen a mass of free men, mayhap republicans. The socialand moral condition of Europe would have been advanced acentury, at least, beyond its present hopes! But these dis-