2go 
[May, 
Offensive and Defensive 
were apprehended and brought to punishment.* It is said 
that the chief conspirator afterwards turned Trappist, and 
sought to expiate his crime by religious austerities.” 
Such were two of the many plots against Napoleon, who, 
in adverting to the many attempts that had been made to 
assassinate him (such as those disclosed during the enquiry 
into the conspiracy of Charles d’Hosier, Moreau, Georges, 
and Pichegru), observed that he was bound in justice to say 
that he had never detected Louis XVIII. in any direct con- 
spiracy against his life, though such plots had been inces- 
santly renewed in other high quarters. The following is 
significant: — “If,” said Napoleon, “I had continued in 
France in 1815, I intended to have given publicity to some 
of the later attempts that were made against me. The 
Maubreuil affair, in particular, should have been investigated 
by the First Consul of the Empire, and Europe would have 
shuddered to see to what an extent the crime of secret 
assassination could be carried.” — (Id., vol. ii., p. 226.) 
In a Ledture given before the United Service Institution, 
February 15th, 1878, by Admiral the Right Hon. Lord 
Dunsany, “ On the Laws and Customs of War, as limiting 
the use of Fire-ships, Explosion Vessels, Torpedoes, and 
Submarine Mines,” we were told “ Some of the old jurists 
of the highest authority justify assassination and poisoning.” 
Wheaton, a standard American authority, tells us — “ Even 
such institutionary writers as Bynkershoek or Wolf, who 
lived in the most learned and not the least civilised countries 
of Europe, at the commencement of the 18th century, assert 
the broad principle that everything done against an enemy 
is lawful ; that he may be destroyed, though unarmed and 
helpless ; that fraud, and even poison, may be employed 
against him ; and that an unlimited right is acquired by the 
vidtor to his person and property. Such, however, was not 
the sentiment and practice of enlightened Europe at the 
* The two principal conspirators were Arena and Cerachi, although they 
were doubtless inspired on this occasion, in 1800, by far higher and aristocraiic 
Royalist plotters. Since this attempt forty-one murderous attacks have been 
made on Royal personages and Rulers of States, including three attacks on 
our own Queen, four on the person of the Emperor of Germany ; five of these 
attempts were directed against the present Czar — in 1866, 1867, and three 
times within the last twelve months have they been renewed. The assassina- 
tion of Napoleon III. was intended on seven occasions, and the life of his 
predecessor, Louis Philippe, was attempted six times within eleven years. 
Very few assassinations were successful, viz., those five murders which reckon 
as their vidlims Paul II., Emperor of Russia, strangled in 1801 ; Prince Obre- 
novitch, of Servia, killed in 1868 ; President Lincoln, shot in 1865 ; President 
Morenos, assassinated in 1875 ; and President Gill, of Paraguay, murdered in 
J877. The execution of the Emperor Maximilian, of Brazil, can hardly be 
included in this category. 
