History affords us but too many instances, proving it the bane of Sovereigns, unless when endowed with an extraordinary portion of repulsive wisdom, to be not only flattered in their virtues, but in their vices, fostered. Be the disposition of the Sovereign pious or profane, temperate or voluptuous, mild or tyrannical, it is the interest of parasites to study and promote it. He is solicited to indulgence—urged in his propensities—and precipitated in his passions, until, with unlimited means of gratification, he becomes extremely that to which he was originally but inclined—until his virtues become weaknesses, and his initiate vices dangerous and detestable.—The necessity of a barrier to all extremes of human conduct is so rationally obvious, that whenever the consciousness of that necessity is lost, we may affirm, the Man is lost, and the monster appears in magnitude proportioned to his power.

In the instance of Buonaparte, the flatteries of his fortune were of themselves sufficient to generate in him all that extravagance of character and conduct which has so long disturbed and distracted the peace of Europe—and which has exhibited instances of tyranny and cruelty in him, so monstrous, that they can scarcely be considered as the acts of a human being.