886. BONAPARTE (N.), Rights of Nations and.—[further continued].
No man more severely condemned Bonaparte than myself during his
former career, for his unprincipled enterprises
on the liberty of his own country, and the
independence of others. But the allies having
now taken up his pursuits, and he arrayed
himself on the legitimate side, I also
am changed as to him. He is now fighting
for the independence of nations, of which his
whole life hitherto had been a continued violation,
and he has now my prayers as sincerely
for success as he had before for his overthrow.
He has promised a free government to
his own country, and to respect the rights of
others; and although his former conduct does
not inspire entire faith in his promises; yet
we had better take the chance of his word for
doing right than the certainty of the wrong
which his adversaries avow.—
To Phillip Mazzei.
Ford ed., ix, 525.
(M.
Aug. 1815)
