The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

Napoleon's Ruling Passion. Napoleon was always a solitary and a selfish being. At school, in the army, on the throne, he had no companions, no friends. He made small account of good wishes or kind feelings. He required obedience; he cared little for affection. He was like one of those masses of ice, that are sometimes loosened in the polar seas, and float down to milder climates,—beautiful and grand at a distance, as they reflect the play of the sunbeams—but, on their near approach, cold, and dreary, and desolate; chilling the very air with their snows, and crushing all before them with their resistless weight.

One effect of this cold selfishness was apparent in his military career. Except Frederick of Prussia, a name that should never be pronounced without the malediction of the human race, no commander in modern times has been so prodigal of human life. In all his campaigns blood flowed like water. At the battle of Lodi he ordered his army to pass a bridge that was incessantly raked by grape-shot from thirty pieces of cannon. Twice all who entered upon the bridge were swept away; and the third time, Berthier, Massena, and Lannes succeeded, in passing it over the dead bodies of three thousand of their companions. At the bridge of Arcole, a month or two afterwards, there was nearly an equal slaughter.