Joel Barlow and Napoleon

Abstract

plane, he wrote toJefferson on October i, from London: That country [France] is now taking proper ground on which to establish a glorious republic, nor will be in power of all combined despots to prevent it And he added: Paine will do much good in National Convention, they seem now to be removing all rubbish out of way, in order to lay proper foundation for a rational government: When French actually did cut head from their king, on January 21, 1793, Barlow's letters became altogether discreet. In August, 1794. he commented to his wife on Robespierre's character, but otherwise he avoided politicsas was wise, for his friends were mostly among Girondists. The notes which he later made for a planned history of Revolution are, however, significant. For example, he wrote: A picture of French Revolution would be epitome of history of man. All his predominate passions are there developed acted out without disguise; all shades of his moral character exhibited This content downloaded from 157.55.39.254 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 05:49:30 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms JOEL BARLOW AND NAPOLEON 41 in their full force, each occupying without mixture a different canton of piece ... each day of revolution becomes age; he that has seen all has lived a thousand years:' Made probably in 1797, comment implies that Revolution as an epitome of history of man had not yet come up to date. The brief outline which Barlow made for his proposed account of Revolution further emphasizes his dissatisfaction with its progress. Chapter nine was to include horrors of Vendee, his note reads: Small progress yet made in republican principles' The next chapter was to cover 1795 give Proof of slow progress of republican principles in France' Nowhere did he directly mention Napoleon in these notes, but source of his doubts is implied in his rough draft of introduction. After suggesting that Revolution had fallen short of direct complete success, he spoke of mistakes blunders in conducting speculated on result French Revolution should fail in its intended object; and, instead of establishing a peaceable rational republic, should lead through long bloody wars to a monarchy of more extravagant despotism than that from which rose' Apparently before invasion of Switzerland had shocked many of English liberals into violent reaction, Barlow had seen shadows of coming events anticipated result. Certainly his early enthusiasm for French political moral experiment was gone he was rapidly becoming disillusioned. The anticipation of long bloody wars leading to a monarchy of extravagant despotism makes unnecessary for him to mention Bonaparte as reason for his disillusionment, prepares us for bitterness of his reference, in letter to Baldwin, to the land of Corsican' His early flood of indignation store of argument had been betrayed. He was weary was going home to rest from doubtful politics. Consequently is not surprising that his comment, in 1 8o6, to Stephen Jacobs, of Windsor, Vermont, on subject of republican principles, was rather tired. wish to live in error if is one;' he declared, and die in it. I am too old to examine reasons for discarding a system from which I have never yet deviated:' Conflicts of doctrine in America, particularly steady habits of Connecticut, may have further discouraged him; but, living in WashThis content downloaded from 157.55.39.254 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 05:49:30 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 42 HUNTINGTON LIBRARY QUARTERLY ington, near Jefferson Madison a triumphant national republicanism, he could hold on to his old faith. It was Napoleon fate of French republicanism that had almost worn him out.