File:A life of Napoleon Boneparte- (1901) (14580260199).jpg

Identifier: lifeofnapoleonbo00tarb (find matches)
Title: A life of Napoleon Boneparte:
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Tarbell, Ida M. (Ida Minerva), 1857-1944
Subjects: Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 Josephine, Empress, consort of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1763-1814
Publisher: New York, McClure, Phillips & co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
In fact, itwas the most democratic distinction possible, since the samereward was given for all classes of service and to all classesof people. Now the Revolutionary spirt spurned all distinction; andas free discussion was allowed on the law, a severe arraign-ment of it was made. Nevertheless, it passed. It im-mediately became a power in the hands of the First Consul,and such it has remained until to-day in the government.Though it has been frequently abused, and never, perhaps,more flagrantly than by the present Republic, unquestion-ably the French red button is a decoration of which to beproud. The greatest civil achievement of Napoleon was the codi-fication of the laws. Up to the Revolution, the laws ofFrance had been in a misty, incoherent condition, feudal intheir spirit, and by no means uniform in their application.The Constituent Assembly had ordered them revised, butthe work had only been begun. Napoleon believed justlythat the greatest benefit he could render France would be
Text Appearing After Image:
NAPOLEON REVIEWING THE CONSULAR GUARDS IN THE COURT OF THE TUILERIES. I 800. Engraved in London, by C. Turner, after a painting by J. Masquerier. 126 RETURN OF THE EMIGRES 127 to give her a complete and systematic code. He organizedthe force for this gigantic task, and pushed revision withunflagging energy. His part in the work was interesting and important.After the laws had been well digested and arranged in pre-liminary bodies, they were submitted to the Council of State.It was in the discussion before this body that Napoleon tookpart. That a man of thirty-one, brought, up as a soldier,and having no legal training, could follow the discussionsof such a learned and serious body as Napoleons Councilof State always was, seems incredible. In fact, he preparedfor each session as thoroughly as the law-makers themselves.His habit was to talk over, beforehand generally withCambaceres and Portalis, two legislators of great learningand clearness of judgment, all the matters which were tocome

Note About Images