Note 211 — Chapter XIV

The contrast of Bonaparte’s conduct may enable us to appreciate more fully Cromwell’s magnanimity. Bonaparte had also for enemies two implacable parties, Jacobins and Royalists. As he was driving to the opera an attempt was made to kill him by blowing up a barrel of gunpowder close to his carriage. The plot had been laid by the Royalists, and two of the assassins were brought before a court of justice, condemned, and executed. Bonaparte, however, though he knew the contrary, affected to believe that the Jacobins were guilty, five of whom lost their lives by sentence of a military commission, while 300 others were transported. Cromwell’s government by major-generals for a year and a half, may again be contrasted favourably with the present French government, which keeps half France under martial law for more than three years because of a revolt of the capital.