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Updated: May 27, 2025
I have been informed on unquestionable authority that Staps set out from Erfurth with the intention of assassinating the Emperor; but he wanted the necessary courage for executing the design. He was armed with a large dagger, and was twice sufficiently near Napoleon to have struck him. I heard this from Rapp, who seized Stags, and felt the hilt of the dagger under his coat.
"I obtained from General Lauer the information which the Emperor desired. I learned that Staps, whose attempt on the Emperor's life was made on the 23d of October; was executed at seven o'clock in the morning of the 27th, having refused to take any sustenance since the 24th.
The quiet firmness with which Staps gave these replies and then went to his doom made a deep impression on Napoleon; and he sought to hurry on the conclusion of peace with these odd Germans whom he could conquer but not convince. The Emperor Francis was now resigned to his fate, but he refused to hear of giving up his remaining sea-coast in Istria.
I saw in a wink what they were jaloosin'. "Ye needna bather your heids ahoot a cab," says I. "I'm wyser than the twa o' ye puttin' thegither; so keep on your dickies. Gude-nicht," says I; an' doon the front staps I gaed, three at a time, an' hame. The beathel cam' doon afore he gaed hame, an' speered what i' the world had happened.
To these details may be added a very remarkable circumstance, which I received from another but not less authentic source. I have been assured that the attempt of the German Mutius Scaevola had a marked influence on the concessions which the Emperor made, because he feared that Staps, like him who attempted the life of Porsenna, might have imitators among the illuminati of Germany.
I shall never be persuaded that the intriguers of Berlin and Weimar are strangers to the affair. 'Sire, allow me to say that your suspicions appear unfounded. Staps has had no accomplice; his placid countenance, and even his fanaticism, are easiest proofs of that. 'I tell you that he has been instigated by women: furies thirsting for revenge.
The Emperor put the following questions to Staps, which I translated, together with the answers: "'Where do you come from? 'From Narremburgh. 'What is your father? 'A Protestant minister. 'How old are you? 'Eighteen. 'What did you intend to do with your knife? 'To kill you. 'You are mad, young man; you are one of the illuminati? 'I am not mad; I know not what is meant by the illuminati! 'You are ill, then? 'I am not; I am very well. 'Why did you wish to kill me? 'Because you have ruined my country. 'Have I done you any harm? 'Yes, you have harmed me as well as all Germans. 'By whom were you sent?
When Corvisart arrived Napoleon directed him to feel the young man's pulse, which he immediately did; and Staps then very coolly said, 'Am I not well, sir? Corvisart told the Emperor that nothing ailed him. 'I told you so, said Steps, pronouncing the words with an air of triumph.
The quiet firmness with which Staps gave these replies and then went to his doom made a deep impression on Napoleon; and he sought to hurry on the conclusion of peace with these odd Germans whom he could conquer but not convince. The Emperor Francis was now resigned to his fate, but he refused to hear of giving up his remaining sea-coast in Istria.
From that moment many people regarded him as predestined, and said that the hand of God was upon him. Meanwhile political events were developing themselves around the boy, and their seriousness made him a man before the age of manhood. Napoleon weighed upon Germany like another Sennacherib. Staps had tried to play the part of Mutius Scaevola, and had died a martyr.
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