THE PUNISHMENT OF WILLIAM II.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The Congress of Vienna did not trouble itself about trial or procedure in the case of Buonaparte. On March 13th, 1815, it issued a Declaration (translated in full in the Annual Register, 1815, p. 366) —which is certain to be used as a precedent on this occasion. It says in one passage :-
"Buonaparte . . . has deprived himself of the protection of the law, and has manifested to the universe that there can be 'wither peace nor truce with him. The Powers consequently declare that Napoleon Buonaparte has placed himself without the pale of civil and social relations, and that as an enemy and die- tuiber of the tranquillity of the world he has rendered himself liable to public vengeance—a /a vindicte publique."
As Lord Rosebery puts it (Napoleon—the Last Phase, c. vi.): " The Congress of Vienna had outlawed Napoleon." The British signatories were " Wellington, Clancarty, Cathcart, Stewart." To- day, no doubt, there must be trial before sentence, but need we be disturbed because there is no exact precedent for the Tribunal? As Lord Holt said in 1703, " if men will multiply injuries, actions must be multiplied too."—I am, Sir, &c., HERMAN COHEN.
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