great man, the famous
emperor sometimes was prone to indulge in prophetic utterances himself.

One of the most interesting of the compositions of Napoleon is a
remarkable prophecy which, in the emperor's own handwriting, was found in
his desk on the island of Elba. The document was discovered by Captain
Campbell, in 1815. It is as follows:

The foundation of our political society is so defective and
tottering that it threatens ruin; the fall will be terrible,
and all the nations on the continent will be involved in it;
no human force can arrest the course of events.

All civilized Europe will find itself in the position in
which a part of Italy once was under the Caesars.

The storm of the Revolution, some clouds of which will
extend over France, will soon cover all that portion of the
globe which we inhabit with a frightful darkness.

The world can be saved only by shedding torrents of blood; a
terrible and violent hurricane can alone purge the poisonous
air which envelops Europe.

I only could have saved the world, and no other.

I would have given it the chalice of suffering to empty at a
single draft; instead of which it must now drink it drop by
drop.

That which is now fermenting in Spain and at Rome will soon
cause a general commotion. Then the crisis will be terrible.

I know men and the age; I would have hastened the advent of
happiness on earth, if those with whom I had to deal had not
been villains. They accuse me of having despised and
enslaved them; their own groveling spirit and thirst for
gold and distinction brought them to my feet. Could I take
one step without crushing them? I did not need to spread
snares in their path; it sufficed to present to them the cup
of worldly riches and honors. Then, like a swarm of hungry
flies, they precipitated themselves on their prey. The
slaves needed a master, but I had no need of slaves.

What shall we think of forty millions of people who complain
bitterly of the oppression of a single individual!

Cupidity, envy, vanity, false glory, pursue them like furies
through this stormy life; they talk incessantly of virtue,
generosity, and love, while, like an incurable cancer, envy,
interest, and ambition are gnawing the inner folds of their
hearts. They carefully conceal their wickedness, and feign a
virtue which t