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of the Pope when he was about to set it on his head.

"His boyhood shewed symptoms of a vehement and passionate temperament. and he was at perpetual variance with his eldest brother Joseph. In these childish quarrels Joseph had always the worst of it, and was rudely handled; and when he ran to complain, Napoleon was declared to be in the right. Joseph became at last quite submissive to his younger brother; and the family began very early to look upon Napoleon as taking the lead among his brothers and sisters. The Archdeacon Lucian said to Joseph on his deathbed: 'You are the oldest of the family, but there stands its head-you must not forget that.'

himself, taking the crown from the hands | from his perilous situation, and he succeeded in reaching the fleet. "Much disconcerted, he was proceeding to Bastia by land. On the way, however, he learned that his life was threatened, that Marius Peraldi had instigated the people to seize him, and put him into the hands of Paoli, who meant to shoot him as soon as he had him in his power. In Vivario he was concealed by the parish priest; in Bocognano his friends rescued him with the greatest difficulty from the fury of the people; during the night, he escaped through the window from the chamber in which he had hid himself, and at length reached Ajaccio in safety. Here again, however, menaced still more seriously, he fled from his house to a grotto near the chapel of the Greeks, where he remained concealed for a night. His friends now conveyed him safely on board a vessel, and he reached Bastia by sea. The fury of the Paolists was meanwhile directed upon Napoleon's family. Madame Letitia, terrified at the symptoms of approaching danger, fled with her children to Milelli, accompanied by some trusty peasants of Bastelica and Bocognano. Louis, Eliza, Paulina, and the Abbé Fesch, were with her; Jerome and Caroline remained in concealment with the Ramolinos. Still insecure in Milelli, the persecuted family fled during the night to the shore in the vicinity of the Tower of Capitello, to await there the arrival of the French fleet, which had been announced as on its way to reduce the citadel of Ajaccio. The flight through the rugged hill-country was difficult and fatiguing; for there are no paths in that region but over the rocks, through the macchia, and over the mountain torrents. Madame Letitia held little Paulina by the hand, Fesch preceded with Eliza and Louis; a troop of adherents from Bastelica, the birthplace of Sampiero, marched in advance, and behind them the men of Bocognano, armed with daggers, muskets, and pistols. The family of Napoleon wandering thus through the mountains, reached at length, after great exertions-clambering over rocks, and wading through streams-the shore at Capitello, where they all concealed themselves in the woods.

"We are willing enough to believe that the boy Napoleon shewed a quite indomitable passion for everything military, and that this born soldier liked nothing so well as to run by the side of the soldiery of Ajaccio. The soldiers had a pleasure in seeing the boy go through the exercise beside them; and many a greyhaired veteran lifted him in his arms and caressed him for imitating the drill so valiantly. He teased his father till he purchased him a cannon; and the toy was long shewn in the house of the Bonapartes with which he used to make his mimic battle-thunder, and play the cloud-compelling Jove. He soon began to exercise empire over the youth of Ajaccio; and, like Cyrus with the shepherd-boys of the Medes, and Peter the Great with his play-fellows, he formed the children of Ajaccio into a regiment of soldiers, who bravely took the field against the youngsters of the Borgo of Ajaccio, and fought sanguinary engagements with stones and wooden sabres."

NAPOLEON'S EARLY DANGER IN CORSICA. "The three representatives now made Napoleon Inspector-general of Corsican artillery, and instructed him to reduce the citadel of Ajaccio. He attempted it, but all his exertions to conquer the fortress of his native town were in vain. Destiny had planted no laurels for Napoleon in Corsica. During the siege, his life was on one occasion in extreme danger. He had occupied the Tower of Capitello with about fifty men, in order to operate from that point by land, while the vessels of war carried on the bombardment from the sea. A storm blew the fleet out of the gulf, and Napoleon remained cut off from it in the tower, where he had to defend himself for three days, living on horse-flesh, till some herdsmen from the mountains freed him

"About this time Napoleon had thrown himself on board a small vessel in Bastia, had out-sailed the French fleet, and landed at Isola Rossa, where many of the herdsmen of his family have their pasturing-grounds. Here learning that his relatives were in flight, he sent shepherds out in all directions to seek for them, and passed the night waiting in the most painfu! suspense for news.

Morning dawned; he was sitting under a rock, anxiously pondering the fate of his friends. Suddenly a herdsman rushed up to him, crying, 'Save yourself!' A band of men from Ajaccio, in quest of Bonaparte and his family, was hastening towards him. Napoleon sprang into the sea. His little vessel, a chebeque, kept his pursuers off by its fire, and the boat it had immediately lowered took him safely on board.

"On the same day Bonaparte sailed into the gulf, and keeping close in shore, he saw people making signals to be taken off. These were his mother Letitia and her children.

"The suffering family was conveyed with all speed to Calvi, where hospitable entertainers were found. But the house of the Bonapartes, in Ajaccio, had been entered and plundered by the furious mob. The family owed its rescue entirely to the prudence and foresight of the Corsican Costa, to whom Napoleon in his will bequeathed the sum of 100,000 francs in acknowledgment of the service."

THE TWO COFFINS.

"Where is Napoleon? What is left of him?

"A name and a relic, which an easily blinded nation now publicly worships. What lately happened beyond the Rhine, appears to me like the celebration of Napoleon's suppressed funeral of 1821. But the dead do not rise again. After the gods have come their ghosts; and after the hero-tragedy, the satyr-farce. The breath of a charnel-house has spread through the world from beyond the Rhine since they wakened a dead man there.

"I went from the house of Letitia to the church where her coffin stands.

"The street of the King of Rome leads to the cathedral of Ajaccio. This church is a heavy building, with a plain façade; above its portal are some defaced armorial bearings. They are, doubtless, those of the extinct Republic of Genoa. The in

terior of the cathedral has a motley and rustic appearance. Heavy pillars divide it into three naves, (drei Schiffe); the dome is small, like the gallery.

"Near the choir, to the right, a little chapel, hung with black, has been put up. Two coffins, covered with black velvet, stand therein, before an altar, coarsely decorated in the style we find in village churches. Clumsy wooden candlesticks have been placed at the head and foot of each coffin; and above each hangs a perpetual, but extinguished lamp. On the coffin to the left lies a cardinal's hat and an amaranth-wreath; on the coffin to the right an imperial crown and an amaranth-wreath.

"They are the coffins of Cardinal Fesch and Madame Letitia. They were brought hither from their Italian tombs in the year 1851. Letitia died in her Roman palace, in the Place di Venezia, on the 2d of February 1836, and her coffin had since stood in a church of the little town of Corneto, near Rome.

"No marble, no sculpture, nothing of the pomp of death, adorns the spot where a woman lies who gave birth to an emperor, three kings, and three princesses.

"I was astonished at the unconscious irony, the deep tragic meaning that lay, as it seemed to me, in the almost rustic simplicity of Letitia's tomb. It was like a princely tomb in the scenes of a theatre. Her coffin rests on a high wooden platform; the clumsy candlesticks are of wood, the gold is tinsel. The canopy of the chapel would fain look like velvet, but it is of common taffeta, and the long silver fringes are only silver paper. The golden imperial diadem on the coffin is of gilded wood. The amaranthine wreath of Letitia alone is genuine.

"Never, so long as the world has stood, has a mother's heart beat higher than the heart of the woman in this coffin. She saw her children, one after another, stand at the loftiest zenith of human glory; and, one after another, saw the same children fall."

GLASGOW MISSION TO THE HOSPITAL AT SCUTARI.

LETTERS FROM THE REV. MR. FERGUSSON TO THE SECRETARY.

LETTER I.

"SCUTARI, Monday Morning, "12th February, 1855. "When I arrived here on Wednesday last, the 7th instant, I found your kind and most welcome letter awaiting me.

I hope you have received my note from Malta.

We sailed from Corfu on Saturday, and landed at Constantinople on Wednesday morning-a quick and pleasant passage. The number of 'sail' that were finding

their way along with us in the direction of the Bosphorus, was so large that it was with difficulty we could find our way through them. We were told at Constantinople that 400 had arrived that morning, and there seemed to be nearly as many to come. They had been windbound in the Archipelago; and when the wind changed to south, they were all driven up the Dardanelles together.

termaster's offices, and invited me to dine at six P.M. He and Mrs. S. live along with Mrs. Denny, wife of Colonel Denny, of 71st Highlanders. He could not give me a bed, as a chaplain had just arrived sick from the Crimea, to whom he had given lodging. I was turned into my room with no other furniture than my baggage ; and having unfortunately brought no bed with me, I had the prospect of spending the night upon the boards, wrapped in a plaid. 1 rather liked the idea of trying this sort of life. But I thought it better to accept the kind offer of a mattrass and quilt from a brother chaplain next door. The officers get room; but no furniture. The consequence of not knowing this before leaving home, was a whole day spent at Pera,

signs, a few necessaries. I paid £2, 58. for a bed, mattrass, and quilt; £1, 78. for two pairs of sheets; and £1, 10s. for a blanket.

"Praised be the Lord that, in His most gracious providence, I am again at work; for during the past summer, to use the words of Charles Buxton, I have 'suffered much from the pain of inaction and the obscurity that hung upon the future.' I feel grateful to your Committee for having sent me to this most important field. I wish I could give you some idea of the state of things here; but it is hope-purchasing, through the medium of less to attempt it, at least at the present time. A little experience of the work will, I trust, leave me more leisure. So far as I have seen, the sick have every comfort. I find that even upon the spot, as well as at home, there are many opinions. I have asked every man to whom I have spoken as to their comforts, and every one says we have everything we require. Several have spoken strongly of the kindnesses shewn them by all parties. But I would not speak decidedly as yet on any point. Things here are upon such a large scale, that it would require not a few days, but a few weeks, to judge correctly of the general management of matters; and, besides, that is not my business.

"I was very happy to find Mr. Drennan here, who was ordained as chaplain by the Presbytery of Edinburgh. The day after my arrival, I took a walk through part of the hospitals. You ask, 'What are my first impressions?' It is difficult to say-the vast magnitude of the whole wellnigh confounded me. I walked first round the lower corridor of the Barrack hospital, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile, in a narrow passage lined on each side by my fellowcountrymen, as closely as is possible, to allow the necessary space between each bed. The great majority are suffering from diarrhoea, some from dysentery, rheumatism, fever, &c. &c.; some have been lying ever since the battle of Alma, with little prospect of getting better; some are dying, (the mortality is somewhat less of late, between fifty and sixty are laid in one grave daily); some are convalescent, and are walking about on tottering and aching limbs, and many upon crutches; some expecting soon to return to their hard labour in the trenches, or on the heights; and some to return to their native land, to tell the soldier's tale, and to reap the rewards of their honourable toils. Many are lying

"As this is the first of, I trust, many letters, allow me to give you a brief account of my first doings here. After a most tedious delay on board the 'Bahiana,' in expectation of a small steamer which was expected alongside to take off the packages which were addressed to Scutari, I took a caique across the Bosphorus, and was thankful, after a frightful tossing, as in a nut-shell, to find myself and all my baggage safe on the landing-stage at Scutari. I loaded a pair of Turks, and walked with them towards the Barrack hospital. On the way, an old gentleman on horseback accosted me, from whom I learned that Mr. Fraser, of the Free Church, had just arrived, hav-on their beds in good health; but with ing come overland. He kindly guided me to the main gateway, and told me where to find the senior chaplain and the commandant, to both of whom I wished to report myself. I afterwards learned that my unknown friend is a Mr. Bracebridge, who, with his lady, is living here with Miss Nightingale. Mr. Sabin, senior chaplain, received me most kindly, went with me to the commandant's and quar

painful wounds; and some with frostbitten feet-here, a toe or more-there, nearly a whole of one, or of both, lost.

"But there is no end to the variety of their sufferings. It is truly a sad, a heart-sickening sight. And this corridor is a mere fraction of the whole. There are, I am told, from seven to eight thousand at Scutari alone, and they

appear to be arriving from the Crimea almost daily. They were carrying them in on stretchers the whole day yesterday. I saw one poor fellow literally 'skin and bone,' seated upon a bed, getting his entire body cleared of several months' accumulation of filth. The look of satisfaction, which shewed itself upon his spare features and hollow eyes, at once more getting a sight of his skin in its natural state, would have been a rich reward to me though I had performed the disagreeable work of scrubbing him! As I came from the hospital this afternoon, about five o'clock, I met a few artillerymen just come from the Crimea. One poor fellow was creeping along with much difficulty. I asked him how he did, and what was going on at Sebastopol. He seemed to know little about it. His reply was: There is a deal of sickness in the camp. His feet were swollen, so that his shoes would not hold them. But when I suggested that he should get a carry, he smiled, and said: 'Oh! no; I'll make it out.'

"It did seem to me a puzzling task to find out a few Presbyterians among so many thousands; and the Episcopal chaplains all said they would not like to undertake it. Mr. D. and I agreed to divide the field-he taking the Barrack, and I the General hospital. Everybody here is overwrought, and things in general are, of course, imperfectly attended to. I heard a medical man say yesterday, that people at home know nothing at all about the real state of matters here. Before he came out, which was lately, he had said, Where, in the name of wonder, can all these medical men who are already at Scutari, go to? Now, he sees it is physically impossible that any man can do the work assigned to him with any satisfaction. One hundred-and-seventy patients, allowing only five minutes to each, would require fourteen hours a-day to see them all daily. No man can stand in these wards the balf of that time. The orderlies are constantly being laid up with fever.

"I began my labours in the General hospital on Saturday last. On the preceding evening, a chaplain told me that he had seen that day a Presbyterian who wished much to see one of his own chaplains, as he had never seen one since he left home. I went immediately, and had a talk with him. He was able to move about, and promised to attend a meeting on Sabbath, in the chaplain's room. He had no Bible. There are very many in this state, particularly in the General hospital. It is quite distressing not to be able to put the Word of Life into their hands.

If you only heard how they thank me when I promise to procure them a Bible. 'I'll be very muckle obliged to you, sir.' This case encouraged me to set to work on the following day; so, handing it over to my colleague, to whom it belonged, I went to my own division.

"Oh! when will these Testaments be here? The desponding wish I had a complete copy, psalms and paraphrases, and all; but it went with my knapsack, and I fear I shall never see it again,' almost rends my heart, when I cannot meet it by the hearty words: Here, my good fellow, is a new copy for you; regret not the one you have lost.' It would amuse, as well as melt you, to hear and see some men say: 'My Bible is gone with all my traps.' The arms are thrown out, and the hands opened wide, to shew how empty they are; and, when able, held up to shew that he is indebted to another for the very shirt he wears; and with a becoming indifference for an old knapsack, and an air, I think, peculiar to a soldier, he exclaims: 'Í have nothing here!'-apparently grateful that he is still here himself, although all else is gone.

"Well, my plan was to go over the whole hospital, talking a few minutes to each man; and beginning at corridor A, I walked up between the two first beds, having learned, from the ticket attached to each, that I had two Protestants beside me. (The new tickets have English and Scotch Protestant upon them.) Both were so willing to listen, and I felt so much inclined to prolong the conversation, that I soon discovered my plan would not do. One of my friends, with honesty portrayed in his face, said: 'I was thinking that may be this was a warning to me.' A hopeful state; and though not Scotch, I must see him again. I speak to all, even to Catholics, when opportunity offers. One told me yesterday, he was a Catholic; but would be thankful for a good advice from any one. The hopeful lad of whom I have just spoken, pointed me to a Scotchman near by. This one told me where I would find another, and so on, till I found myself surrounded by Scots Greys, mostly from Edinburgh and Glasgow. In this way I saw and conversed with fifteen; and with all I found no difficulty in entering upon the chief object of my mission. I have now the addresses of thirty-two; but I have not made the acquaintance of all these, as I got a list of names from the English chaplain.

"Here I must close, or be too late for to-day's mail. I shall write again on this day week. To-day I have to take

writing material to the hospital, to write | be re-examined. Government has paid, some letters to my friends by their bed- and will continue to pay, for all the side.

"To the queries of your letter I shall reply after. I have the necessary information."

LETTER II.

"Scutari, 25th February,
"Sunday Evening.

nurses. Miss N. asked me whether I thought trained nurses could be found in Scotland. She says, if this war continues, more may be required than the four named now. She has great confidence in the moral character of the Scotch; and the medical men here being mostly from Scotland, she thinks the nurses and they will draw well together. I said I thought that in the infirmaries in Scotland there "I beg you will excuse my not writing could be found, with ease, four well-trained by the mail of Monday last, according to nurses; and that I thought the Commitpromise. I assure you nothing would tee of the Glasgow Scutari Mission would have prevented me but the pressure of be glad if they could find for her some work. I had many letters to write for suitable assistants. She replied, that she my people, which I could not let stand. should have much pleasure in receiving I find the correspondence part of my the services of the Scotch nurses. duty not a small part. The letters I have The kindness of many of the nurses to all written for the soldiers average more the men is highly spoken of by many of my than one a-day, which would not be much men. Many of the nurses seem to attend could they be thus distributed; but when the dressing of wounds; this, however, is, I three or four are crowded into one day, think, not their proper work. Their work so as to give the latest news possible, the is to attend upon the weak, the helpless, case is altered. I began with the plan of and the dying-to attend to their little writing at the bedside of the men, which, wants, and minister to their comfort in when they were able to bear it, was a any way possible. Women who would pleasure to them, and I thought would feel for the souls of men as well as for gratify those receiving the letters. Now, their bodies, ought to be selected. however, I have discontinued this, unless "I wish you saw the welcome we rein any case where the man wishes to dic-ceive from the Scotch soldiers. I have, tate himself. Much time was lost for- I think, seen the whole that are in the merly, and I was precluded sometimes from putting in a word or two for the benefit of the reader.

"The books have not yet made their appearance. Men are asking almost daily for the Scotch psalms and paraphrases, and some ask for the Shorter Catechism. The psalms are much wanted on Sabbath for public worship, as we can have no singing without them. I called on Miss Nightingale to inquire about the nurses. She received me very kindly and politely -said that it would be necessary to write to the War Office about it. I said that you had written to ask permission to send them, and I only wished her to say whether they were required. She declined giving any reply-said she was in correspondence with the War Office on the subject. I left her, agreeing to call again. I did so yesterday, and have the happiness to tell you that Miss Nightingale has, in consequence of my application, written to the War Office, recommending that six more nurses be sent, two-thirds of whom are to be Presbyterians. They must be trained nurses-she cannot receive any more ladies. She has recommended that a board be formed in London, and a sub-board in Scotland, for the examination of the nurses; and those from Scotland will require to go to London to

General, the Stable, and the Palace hospitals. I have ministered to 115, of whom there are professedly, 11 Free Church; 4 United Presbyterian; 6 Irish Presbyterian; 4 English Presbyterian; 3 Wesleyan; 1 Baptist; and 1 Independent; and the remaining 85 Established Church. Of the whole, so far as I have ascertained, only 16 have been communicants-9 Established; 1 Free; 1 Irish Presbyterian; 1 English Presbyterian; 1 Baptist; 3 Wesleyan. Of the 115, 19 bave left the hospital since the 10th inst.-12 by death,and 7 by recovery.

"What of the success of your mission?' Alas! that has, I fear, been small as yet; but I trust some good has been done, and the field is hopeful. There is an unusual seriousness among the soldiers at this time, as might well be expected— they are open to impressions. I bave not met with one who does not acknowledge that now especially is the time to be thoughtful-not one who does not profess to look to the Lord for help and mercy. But it cannot be expected, that men steeped in sin, as soldiers generally are, and in ignorance as well, should be brought quickly to a better mind without the leavening influence of the truth. Hence, though there is a universal profession, there is a fearful apathy, and, with

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