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INTRODUCTION.
and the weapons with which he fights, as well as the object for which he fights, it turns the chance of success in our favor, and prevents the sacrifice of money and men on unprofitable objects. A question will naturally arise: Does Buonaparte, act thus?. I answer, Yes[1]. He is more conversant with
- ↑ The genius of Buonaparte, like a powerful lever, moves and shakes all Europe, and changes the political system of its governments. His treaties of alliance have a double object. 1st. To preserve his conquests, extend the national commerce, and augment the federal the federal power; 2d. To make the strength of other governments subservient to that of France. The legislator, the warrior, and the statesman; ought to establish his combinations and his plans on the relation which his government ought to have with other powers; he ought to know, examine, and consider their political systems and their commercial relations, in order to turn them to the advantage and prosperity of the state which he governs; he ought to penetrate their secret views, and foresee their designs. Buonaparte enters into the mysteries of external policy, his genius examines, weighs, and calculates it; he foresees the events and sways them at his pleasure, and opposes the firmness of his principles to the diplomatic oscillations and the shadowy versatility of the govern- ments of Europe. He knows what treaties and alliances to conclude, &c. &c.—Tableau Historique et Politique de Buonaparte, par De Chas. Pa. 243.
