Three-Quarters of a Century (1807 to 1882) Volume 1; A Retrospect Political, Social, and Ecclesiastical Events in France (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1912 Excerpt: ... POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND ECCLESIASTICAL EVENTS IN FRANCE CHAPTER I THE FIRST NAPOLEONIC EMPIRE This is not an autobiography. It is a plain review of the chief events that occurred under my personal observation during the period of three-quarters of a century. The insignificant incidents of my life are simply mentioned as a kind of chronological index which will enable me to control my observations and thoughts, as far as my memory can recall them. No thoughtful man could live in the midst of so many stirring events without receiving vivid impressions; and as every particular is still, thank God, quite fresh in my memory, I have thought they might contain some useful lessons for those who will peruse these pages. A few years more, and all this shall undoubtedly have vanished. It is not unprofitable, I think, to put on paper whatever struck me as important in every situation in which my lot was cast. I was born on the 20th of November, 1807. The Peace of Tilsit between Napoleon and Alexander I had been signed on the 8th of July previous. This was the period of the French Emperor's greatest prosperity. He was at the time brooding over his projects for the annexation of Spain and Rome, which were to mark the first steps of his decline. Still five years of wonderful success were to elapse before the burning of Moscow foreboded his downfall. But before I was five years old many occurrences made impressions on my young mind which may deserve to be recorded. The first is the enthusiastic attachment of Frenchmen to the great man, le grand homme, who then ruled their country. I still feel at this distance of time the atmosphere of admiration for him which pervaded all classes of people. I recollect many things I saw and heard in childhood, and into a number of them the...