Napoleon - The Portrait Of A King

NAPOLEON THE PORTRAIT OF A KING BY R. McNAIR WILSON Authoi of Josephine Germaine de Stael f Napoleons Monarchy or Money Poiuer 937 EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE LONDON Made and Printed in Great Britain for Eyre and Spottiswoode Publishers, London To PATRICK AND MICHAEL AND THEIR MOTHER IN DEEP AFFECTION PREFACE HREE years ago the world learned that all its knowledge about Napoleon was incomplete because the central motive of his career had, during more than a hundred years, remained unsuspected. This discovery followed the publication of the Memoires of Caulaincourt, his Ambassador in Russia its full implications have not yet, by any means, been understood. This present is the first biography of Napoleon in which the central motive of his life, as declared by himself, is given place. It is the first study, therefore, in which the struggle which involved the whole world between 1800 and 1815 is presete as the Emperor of the French himself saw it. That is no virtue of mine I have been so fortunate as to learn truth unknown, or at least only partially known, to earlier writers. But I ask my reader to credit me with this namely, that I have spent many years in studying not only financial method, but the influence ofr monetary policy upon historical event. That study has convinced me that history cannot properly be understood without such knowledge. The most astonishing fact of present-day life is the abysmal ignyrance about money of men and women otherwise fully instructed and informed. In fact, however, instruction must now be acquired by all who hope to play a part in human affairs, because, during the last four years, the system against whicTi Napoleon fought has received its death-blow and isbeing replaced slowly by the system which he tried to introduce into France and Europe, During a recent address to the Committee on Monetary Reform at the House of Commons I quoted from The Times, the Economist, and the Financial New to show that, in the year 1936, domestic trade in England has reached a peak of expan sion never before known. But on the same showing there has been virtually no increase in loans from banks. This can only mean, as I pointed out, that the system of debt-money has ceased vn PREFACE to function, The reason is that the President of the United States, Mr. Roosevelt, has adopted Napoleons system of debt less money and has compelled the world to adopt it also a remarkable fulfilment of a prophecy made by the Emperor at St. Helena. I wish to take this opportunity of thanking the large body of friends upon whose knowledge I have so freely drawn. To the Rev. S. N, L. Ford, Vicar of All Souls Church, Hampstead, I owe my first glimmerings of understanding of the Christian philosophy as a separate and distinct system of thought, the most precious gift I ever received. From Mr. Featherstone Hammond I have received the benefit of a continuous discussion and exchange of views about monetary matters, and so a know ledge of these matters to which I should not, otherwise, have attained. Mr. Hammonds essays, Economics in the Middle Ages, Financial Armageddon, and others, deserve the study of dl students of history. Nor can I refrain from paying tribute to the work of Mr. Gregory MacDonald, who, week by week, has interpreted present-day events in the light of monetary policy and thereby offered to his wide public a true understand ing of the news behind the news. I can neverforget that it was my present publisher, Mr. Douglas Jerrold, who too k the risk of accepting my early work on financial policy in history namely, Monarchy and Money Power. To Mr. Jerrold I owe escape from many pitfalls, especially in the political field. His own writings are witness of the clearness of his vision. Again, I am indebted to Mr. Christopher Hollis for the great joy I have derived from his work The Two Nations and for the light which, from time to time, he has thrown on Mr...