make good his retreat; but in order to prevent pursuit
by the foreign army, he had ordered it to be blown up at the very
moment it was covered with thousands of Frenchmen, who were
endeavoring to fly. By means of this _murderous manoeuvre_ he abandoned
a part of his army on the bank of the stream."

Now this is a most inhuman calumny, and one that sounds strangely
coming from a French woman, and that woman the wife of the unfortunate
Napoleon. Bonaparte's strongest and ablest decryer, Alison, admits
that the destruction of the bridge was an accident, resulting from the
mistake of a corporal, who supposed the retreating French upon the
bridge were the pursuing allies, and fired the train. It is seldom
that we expect to find extraordinary instances of conjugal affection
upon thrones; and we are strongly disposed to believe that the love of
Josephine for her husband has been exaggerated. According to her own
account, she had many previous draughts made upon her capital stock of
love; and she describes her marriage with Napoleon as one induced by
the representations of Barras and Mad. Tallien of the advantages to be
derived from it. She thus characterizes her feelings toward Bonaparte
just before marriage. "I discovered in him a tone of assurance and
exaggerated pretension, which injured him greatly in my estimation.
The more I studied his character, the more I discovered the oddities
for which I was at a loss to account; and at length he inspired me
with so much aversion that I ceased to frequent the house of Mad.
Chat*** Ren***, where he spent his evenings." Notwithstanding the
excessive affection professed, a large portion of the period of their
connection seems to have been embroiled and troubled. Yet there can be
no doubt that she devoted herself assiduously and faithfully to the
promotion and protection of the greatness which she shared; and, at
the close of her career, though she caressed his conquerors, she died
uttering the warmest expressions of affection for him, even in the
presence of his foe. The death-scene, as described by M'lle. Le
Normand, is truly touching. Her last tears fell upon the portrait of
Napoleon.

The whole story is full of romance, and will be read with great
interest. The translator has performed his task with eminent ability;
and the volumes are printed in a style highly creditable to the
publishers.

_Memoir of Sarah B. Judson, Member of the American
Mission to Burmah. By "