HOW THE GREAT NAPOLEON DIED.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 72, 12 September 1874, Page 12

HOW THE GREAT NAPOLEON DIED.

AN INTEBESTING CHAPTEB.

The following incident from the pen of the celebrated ecclesiastical Historian, Abbe Roublncher, is one which has been seldom seen by the general reader, aud will prove of great interest to Catholics, as it at once contradicts the absurd aud irreligious stories that have been circulated with reference to the death of Napoleon Bonaparte by a certain class of historians : P y

We have seen a man who, in the history of the world, walked in the footsteps ot Nimrod, Cyrus, Alexander, Cfesar, and Charlemagne, We have seen Napoleon, the modern incarnation of military and political genius. We have seen him turn his dying eyes towards Rome, and nek ot her a Catholic priest to receive his last confessions, and to sanctify Ins lust moments on the rock of St. Helena. On the 27th of April, 1821, he found himself irremediably attacked by the malady of which his father died. From this moment, says the universol biographer, he only occupied himself with the duties of piety, and the priest Vignai was almost constantly with him. 'I was born in the Catholic religion,' he said at different times, c I wish to fulfil all the duties which it imposes, and receive all the consolations, all the assistance which I iiope for from it.' One of the companions of his captivity, the Count. Montholon, adds : ' On the 30th April, I had passed thinj-nino nights at the bed-side, of the Emperor, without his allowing me to be replaced in this jvons and filial service; when in the night between the 291h and 30th of A]-)vi\, he appeared to be concevned on account of the fatigue I was suffering; and begged me to let Abbe Yifinali tako my place. His persistence proved to me that ho tpokeundor a pre-ocoupation foreign to the thought he expressed to me. lie permitted me to speak to him as a father. I dared to sny what I eo-nprehended ; he answered without any hesitation, ' Yes itis ike priest I aslcfor ; ialce care that lam left alone, and sail noihinq? I obeyed, and brought directly the Abbe Vignali, whom I warned of the holy ministry ho was about to exercise. Introducod to Napoleon the priest fulfilled all the duties of his office. After having lunnblv confessed, the Emperor formerly so proud, received the Viaticum and Extreme Unction, and passed the whole of the ni"ht in prayer, and in touching and sincere ucts of piety. In the mo'rnin", when General Moiifholon arrived, he said to him in an affectionate tone of voice, and full of satisfaction : ' General, I am happy : I have fulfilled ail my ieligious duties ; I wish you, at your death, the same happiness. I had need of it ; I am an Italian; a child of rank of Corsica. The sound of the bell affects me— the sight of a priest tx'wes me pleasure. I wUhed to mako n my.-tery of this, but that would not bo right ; 1 ought, I will render glory to God. I think He will not. be pleased to restore me to health, but give your orders, G-eiicrnl, let an altar be prepared in the next room ; let the Blessed Biicrnment be exposed, and let the Forty Hours' Prayer be said.' The Oenerul was goii.g out to execute the order, when Napoleon called Jam back. » ' No,' he said, ' you have many enemies ; as a noble they vill impute the arrangement of .this to you, and they will cay that my

senses were wandering. I will g W 9 the orders myself.' And from, the orders given by Napoleon himself, an altar was arranged in t£ adjoining room, where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed TW ?nTi rr ° r i Btlll . T e ] Ucid moment8 ' ™ d ** calffio Smd^he ■ lAhr ? n f- '" hla sfc.5 fc . foi> reli S ion - ' At leaßt .' he said" I have religion. It is a service of which no one can wloiSSTh P rZ qU L n TU°u r Wl . mt *T ld man become without rel? 6 Sn?^ Ihen he addeJ, « There is nothing terrible in death : it has been fL companion of my pillow for th* last three weeksfand now it is on the" point of seizing on me forever. I should have been ghd lo see my ' rr f «»"dtona g nin: lutthe willof God be done.' o£fheßdd?lK- & l g»Ji=rS| l Sr SStf a h m Ti .°t%S a w d iS