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154
Hereditary Genius
and geography, much behind in his Latin and belles-lettres and other
accomplishments, of regular habits, studious and well-behaved, and enjoying
excellent health” (Bourienne). He first distinguished himself, aet. 24, at the
siege of Toulon. Became general of the army of Italy, when it was in a
disorganized condition, aet. 26; and thenceforward began his almost
uninterrupted career of victory. He was emperor, aet. 35; was vanquished at
Waterloo, aet. 46; and died at St. Helena six years after. Among the more
remarkable qualities of this extraordinary man were a prodigious memory and
intellectual restlessness. His vigour was enormous.
There are so many considerable persons in the Bonaparte family, while at the same
time some of these have been so helped and others so restrained by political
circumstances, that it is very difficult to indicate which should be and which
should not be selected as instances of hereditary genius. I will give a
genealogical tree of the family (p. 155), and shall assume the ratio of hereditary
influence to be—
f., B., b., S., and 2 N.
Lucien, Eliza, and Louis were very gifted persons, and others of the brothers and
sisters of Napoleon I. were certainly above the average. There are members of
the family yet alive, including the Cardinal at Rome, who may have high
political parts to play.
Caesar, Julius; Dictator of Rome. Was not only a general of the highest order and a
statesman, but also an orator and man of letters. He gave the greatest promise,
even when a boy, and was remarkable in his youth for his judgment, literary
ability, and oratorical powers. Owing to the disturbed state of Roman politics,
he did not become consul till aet. 41, nor begin his military career till aet. 42.
Thenceforward he had unbroken success for fourteen years. He was
assassinated aet. 56. He must be considered as a peculiarly profligate man,
even when his character is measured by the low standard of the time in which
he lived. He had no brothers, only two sisters. He was married four times, and
had one illegitimate son, by Cleopatra, called Caesarion, whom Augustus
caused to be executed
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