Hehadnotasteforthestudyoflanguages，politeliterature，orthearts.Astherewerenoindicationsofhiseverbecomingascholar，thepedantsoftheestablishmentwereinclinedtothinkhimstupid.Hissuperiorintelligencewas，however，sufficientlyperceptible，eventhroughthereserveunderwhichitwasveiled.Ifthemonkstowhomthesuperintendenceoftheestablishmentwasconfidedhadunderstoodtheorganisationofhismind，iftheyhadengagedmoreablemathematicalprofessors，orifwehadhadanyincitementtothestudyofchemistry，naturalphilosophy，astronomy，etc.，IamconvincedthatBonapartewouldhavepursuedthesescienceswithallthegeniusandspiritofinvestigationwhichhedisplayedinacareer，morebrilliantitistrue，butlessusefultomankind.Unfortunately，themonksdidnotperceivethis，andweretoopoortopayforgoodmasters.However，afterBonaparteleftthecollegetheyfounditnecessarytoengagetwoprofessorsfromParis，otherwisethecollegewouldhavefallentonothing.Thesetwonewprofessors，MM.DurfortandDesponts，finishedmyeducation;andIregrettedthattheydidnotcomesooner.Theoften—

repeatedassertionofBonapartehavingreceivedacarefuleducationatBrienneisthereforeuntrue.Themonkswereincapableofgivingithim;

and，formyownpart，ImustconfessthattheextendedinformationofthepresentdayistomeapainfulcontrastwiththelimitedcourseofeducationIreceivedattheMilitaryCollege.Itisonlysurprisingthattheestablishmentshouldhaveproducedasingleableman.

ThoughBonapartehadnoreasontobesatisfiedwiththetreatmenthereceivedfromhiscomrades，yethewasabovecomplainingofit;andwhenhehadthesupervisionofanydutywhichtheyinfringed，hewouldrathergotoprisonthandenouncethecriminals.

Iwasonedayhisaccompliceinomittingtoenforceadutywhichwewereappointedtosupervise.Heprevailedonmetoaccompanyhimtoprison，whereweremainedthreedays.Wesufferedthissortofpunishmentseveraltimes，butwithlessseverity.

In1783theDukeofOrleansandMadamedeMontessonvisitedBrienne;and，forupwardsofamonth，themagnificentchateauoftheComtedeBriennewasaVersaillesinminiature.Theseriesofbrilliantentertainmentswhichweregiventotheaugusttravellersmadethemalmostforgettheroyalmagnificencetheyhadleftbehindthem.

ThePrinceandMadamedeMontessonexpressedawishtopresideatthedistributionoftheprizesofourcollege.BonaparteandIwontheprizesintheclassofmathematics，which，asIhavealreadyobserved，wasthebranchofstudytowhichheconfinedhisattention，andinwhichheexcelled.WhenIwascalledupfortheseventhtimeMadamedeMontessonsaidtomymother，whohadcomefromSenstobepresentatthedistribution，"Pray，madame，crownyoursonthistime;myhandsarea—

weary."

Therewasaninspectorofthemilitaryschools，whosebusinessitwastomakeanannualreportoneachpupil，whethereducatedatthepublicexpenseorpaidforbyhisfamily.Icopiedfromthereportof1784anotewhichwasprobablyobtainedsurreptitiouslyfromtheWarOffice.I

wantedtopurchasethemanuscript，butLouisBonaparteboughtit.Ididnotmakeacopyofthenotewhichrelatedtomyself，becauseIshouldnaturallyhavefeltdiffidentinmakinganyuseofit.Itwould，however，haveservedtoshowhowtimeandcircumstancesfrequentlyreversedthedistinctionswhichariseatschoolorcollege.Judgingfromthereportsoftheinspectorofmilitaryschools，youngBonapartewasnot，ofallthepupilsatBriennein1784，theonemostcalculatedtoexciteprognosticsoffuturegreatnessandglory.

ThenotetowhichIhavejustalluded，andwhichwaswrittenbyM.deKerralio，theninspectorofthemilitaryschools，describesBonaparteinthefollowingterms：

INSPECTIONOFMILITARYSCHOOLS

1784.

REPORTMADEFORHISMAJESTYBYM.DEKERALIO.

M.deBuonaparte（Napoleon），born15thAugust1769，height4feet10

inches10lines，isinthefourthclass，hasagoodconstitution，excellenthealth，characterobedient，upright，grateful，conductveryregular;hasbeenalwaysdistinguishedbyhisapplicationtomathematics.Heknowshistoryandgeographyverypassably.HeisnotwellupinornamentalstudiesorinLatininwhichheisonlyinthefourthclass.Hewillbeanexcellentsailor.HedeservestobepassedontotheMilitarySchoolofParis.

FatherBerton，however，opposedBonaparte’sremovaltoParis，becausehehadnotpassedthroughthefourthLatinclass，andtheregulationsrequiredthatheshouldbeinthethird.Iwasinformedbythevice—

principalthatareportrelativetoNapoleonwassentfromtheCollegeofBriennetothatofParis，inwhichhewasdescribedasbeingdomineering，imperious，andobstinate.

——[NapoleonremainedupwardsoffiveyearsatBrienne，fromApril1779tillthelatterendof1784.In1783theChevalierKeralio，sub—inspectorofthemilitaryschools，selectedhimtopasstheyearfollowingtothemilitaryschoolatParis，towhichthreeofthebestscholarswereannuallysentfromeachofthetwelveprovincialmilitaryschoolsofFrance.Itiscuriousaswellassatisfactorytoknowtheopinionatthistimeentertainedofhimbythosewhowerethebestqualifiedtojudge.Hisoldmaster，LeGuille，professorofhistoryatParis，boastedthat，inalistofthedifferentscholars，hehadpredictedhispupil’ssubsequentcareer.

Infact，tothenameofBonapartethefollowingnoteisadded："aCorsicanbybirthandcharacter——hewilldosomethinggreat，ifcircumstancesfavourhim."Mengewashisinstructoringeometry，whoalsoentertainedahighopinionofhim.M.Bauer，hisGermanmaster，wastheonlyonewhosawnothinginhim，andwassurprisedatbeingtoldhewasundergoinghisexaminationfortheartillery.——

Hazlitt.]——

IknewBonapartewell;andIthinkM.deKeralio’sreportofhimwasexceedinglyjust，except，perhaps，thathemighthavesaidhewasverywellastohisprogressinhistoryandgeography，andverybackwardinLatin;butcertainlynothingindicatedtheprobabilityofhisbeinganexcellentseaman.Hehimselfhadnothoughtofthenavy.

——[BourrienneiscertainlywrongastoBonapartehavingnothoughtofthenavy.Inaletterof1784totheMinisterofWarhisfathersaysofNapoleonthat，"followingtheadviceoftheComtedeMarbeuf，hehasturnedhisstudiestowardsthenavy;andsowellhashesucceededthatbewasintendedbyM.deKeraliofortheschoolofParis，andafterwardsforthedepartmentofToulon.Theretirementoftheformerprofessor（Keralio）haschangedthefateofmyson."

Itwasonlyonthefailureofhisintentiontogetintothenavythathisfather，on15thJuly1784appliedforpermissionforhimtoentertheartillery;Napoleonhavingahorroroftheinfantry，wherehesaidtheydidnothing.ItwasonthesuccessofthisapplicationthathewasallowedtoentertheschoolofParts（Iung，tomei.pp.

91—103）.Oddlyenough，inlateryears，on30thAugust1792，havingjustsucceededingettinghimselfreinstatedascaptainafterhisabsence，overstayingleave，heappliedtopassintotheArtilleriedelaMarine."Theapplicationwasjudgedtobesimplyabsurd，andwasfiledwiththisnote，’S.R.’（’sansreponse’）"（Iung，tomeii.

p.201]——

InconsequenceofM.deKeralio’sreport，BonapartewastransferredtotheMilitaryCollegeofParis，alongwithMM.MontarbydeDampierre，deCastres，deComminges，anddeLaugierdeBellecourt，whowereall，likehim，educatedatthepublicexpense，andall，atleast，asfavorablyreported.

WhatcouldhaveinducedSirWalterScotttosaythatBonapartewastheprideofthecollege，thatourmathematicalmasterwasexceedinglyfondofhim，andthattheotherprofessorsinthedifferentscienceshadequalreasontobesatisfiedwithhim？WhatIhaveabovestated，togetherwiththereportofM.deKeralio，bearevidenceofhisbackwardnessinalmosteverybranchofeducationexceptmathematics.Neitherwasit，asSirWalteraffirms，hisprecociousprogressinmathematicsthatoccasionedhimtoberemovedtoParis.Hehadattainedtheproperage，andthereportofhimwasfavourable，thereforehewasverynaturallyincludedamongthenumberofthefivewhowerechosenin1784.

InabiographicalaccountofBonaparteIhavereadthefollowinganecdote：——WhenhewasfourteenyearsofagehehappenedtobeatapartywheresomeonepronouncedahigheulogiumonTurenne;andaladyinthecompanyobservedthathecertainlywasagreatman，butthatsheshouldlikehimbetterifhehadnotburnedthePalatinate."Whatsignifiesthat，"repliedBonaparte，"ifitwasnecessarytotheobjecthehadinview？"

Thisiseitherananachronismoramerefabrication.Bonapartewasfourteenintheyear1783.HewasthenatBrienne，wherecertainlyhedidnotgointocompany，andleastofallthecompanyofladies.

CHAPTERII.

1784—1794.

BonaparteenterstheMilitaryCollegeofParis——Heurgesmetoembracethemilitaryprofession——HisreportonthestateoftheMilitarySchoolofParis——Heobtainsacommission——IsetoffforVienna——ReturntoParis，whereIagainmeetBonaparte——Hissingularplansforraisingmoney——LouisXVI，withtheredcaponhishead——

The10thofAugust——MydepartureforStuttgart——BonapartegoestoCorsica——Mynameinscribedonthelistofemigrants——BonaparteatthesiegeofToulon——LeSouperdeBeaucaire——Napoleon’smissiontoGenoa——Hisarrest——Hisautographicaljustification——Duroc’sfirstconnectionwithBonaparte.

BonapartewasfifteenyearsandtwomonthsoldwhenhewenttotheMilitaryCollegeofParis.

——[MadameJunotrelatessomeinterestingparticularsconnectedwithNapoleon’sfirstresidenceinParis.

"Mymother’sfirstcare，"saysshe，"onarrivinginPariswastoinquireafterNapoleonBonaparte.HewasatthattimeinthemilitaryschoolatParis，havingquittedBrienneintheSeptemberoftheprecedingyear.

MyuncleDemetriushadmethimjustafterhealightedfromthecoachwhichbroughthimtotown;’Andtruly.’saidmyuncle，’hehadtheappearanceofafreshimportation.ImethiminthePalmsRoyal，wherehewasgapingandstaringwithwonderateverythinghesaw.

Hewouldhavebeenanexcellentsubjectforsharpers，if，indeed，hehadhadanythingworthtaking！’Myuncleinvitedhimtodineathishouse;forthoughmyunclewasabachelor，hedidnotchoosetodineata’traiteur’（thename’restaurateur’wasnotthenintroduced）.

HetoldmymotherthatNapoleonwasverymorose.’Ifear，’addedhe，’thatthatyoungmanhasmoreself—conceitthanissuitabletohiscondition.Whenhedinedwithmehebegantodeclaimviolentlyagainsttheluxuryoftheyoungmenofthemilitaryschool.AfteralittleheturnedtheconversationonMania，andthepresenteducationoftheyoungManiotes，drawingacomparisonbetweenitandtheancientSpartansystemofeducation.HisobservationsonthisheadbetoldmeheintendedtoembodyinamemorialtobepresentedtotheMinisterofWar.Allthis，dependuponit，willbringhimunderthedispleasureofhiscomrades;anditwillbeluckyifheescapebeingrunthrough.’AfewdaysafterwardsmymothersawNapoleon，andthenhisirritabilitywasatitsheight.Hewouldscarcelybearanyobservations，evenifmadeinhisfavour，andIamconvincedthatitistothisuncontrollableirritabilitythatbeowedthereputationofhavingbeenill—temperedinhisboyhood，andspleneticinhisyouth.Myfather，whowasacquaintedwithalmostalltheheadsofthemilitaryschool，obtainedleaveforhimsometimestocomeoutforrecreation.Onaccountofanaccident（asprain，ifIrecollectrightly）Napoleononcespentawholeweekatourhouse.Tothisday，wheneverIpasstheQuaiConti，Icannothelplookingupata’mansarde’attheleftangleofthehouseonthethirdfloor.ThatwasNapoleon’schamberwhenhepaidusavisit，andaneatlittleroomitwas.Mybrotherusedtooccupytheonenexttoit.Thetwoyoungmenwerenearlyofthesameage：mybrotherperhapshadtheadvantageofayearorfifteenmonths.MymotherhadrecommendedhimtocultivatethefriendshipofyoungBonaparte;butmybrothercomplainedhowunpleasantitwastofindonlycoldpolitenesswherebeexpectedaffection.ThisrepulsivenessonthepartofNapoleonwasalmostoffensive，andmusthavebeensensiblyfeltbymybrother，whowasnotonlyremarkableforthemildnessofhistemperandtheamenityandgraceofhismanner，butwhosesocietywascourtedinthemostdistinguishedcirclesofParisonaccountofhisaccomplishments.HeperceivedinBonaparteakindofacerbityandbitterirony，ofwhichhelongendeavouredtodiscoverthecause.’Ibelieve，’saidAlbertonedaytomymother，’thatthepooryoungmanfeelskeenlyhisdependentsituation.’"（’MemoirsoftheDuchessed’Abrantes，vol.i.p.18，edit.1883）.]——IaccompaniedhiminacarrioleasfarasNogentSurSeine，whencethecoachwastostart.Wepartedwithregret，andwedidnotmeetagaintilltheyear1792.Duringtheseeightyearswemaintainedanactivecorrespondence;butsolittledidIanticipatethehighdestinywhich，afterhiselevation，itwasaffirmedthewonderfulqualitiesofhisboyhoodplainlydenoted，thatIdidnotpreserveoneofthelettershewrotetomeatthatperiod，buttorethemupassoonastheywereanswered.

Iremember，however，thatinaletterwhichIreceivedfromhimaboutayearafterhisarrivalinParisheurgedmetokeepmypromiseofenteringthearmywithhim.Likehim，Ihadpassedthroughthestudiesnecessaryfortheartilleryservice;andin1787

IwentforthreemonthstoMetz，inordertounitepracticewiththeory.AstrangeOrdinance，whichIbelievewasissuedin1778byM.deSegur，requiredthatamanshouldpossessfourquarteringsofnobilitybeforehecouldbequalifiedtoservehiskingandcountryasamilitaryofficer.MymotherwenttoParis，takingwithhertheletterspatentofherhusband，whodiedsixweeksaftermybirth.

Sheprovedthatintheyear1640LouisXIII.had，byletterspatent，restoredthetitlesofoneFauveletdeVillemont，whoin1586hadkeptseveralprovincesofBurgundysubjecttotheking’sauthorityattheperilofhislifeandthelossofhisproperty;andthathisfamilyhadoccupiedthefirstplacesinthemagistracysincethefourteenthcentury.Allwascorrect，butitwasobservedthatthelettersofnobilityhadnotbeenregisteredbytheParliament，andtorepairthislittleomission，thesumoftwelvethousandfrancswasdemanded.Thismymotherrefusedtopay，andtherethematterrested.]——

OnhisarrivalattheMilitarySchoolofParis，BonapartefoundtheestablishmentonsobrilliantandexpensiveafootingthatheimmediatelyaddressedamemorialonthesubjecttotheVice—PrincipalBertonofBrienne.

——[AsecondmemoirpreparedbyhimtothesameeffectwasintendedfortheMinisterofWar，butFatherBertonwiselyadvisedsilencetotheyoungcadet（Iung，tomei.p.122）.Althoughbelievinginthenecessityofshowandofmagnificenceinpubliclife，Napoleonremainedtruetotheseprinciples.Whilelavishingwealthonhisministersandmarshals，"Inyourprivatelife，"saidbe，"beeconomicalandevenparsimonious;inpublicbemagnificent"

（Meneval，tomei.p.146）.]——

Heshowedthattheplanofeducationwasreallypernicious，andfarfrombeingcalculatedtofulfiltheobjectwhicheverywisegovernmentmusthaveinview.Theresultofthesystem，hesaid，wastoinspirethepupils，whowereallthesonsofpoorgentlemen，withaloveofostentation，orrather，withsentimentsofvanityandself—sufficiency;

sothat，insteadofreturninghappytothebosomoftheirfamilies，theywerelikelytobeashamedoftheirparents，andtodespisetheirhumblehomes.Insteadofthenumerousattendantsbywhomtheyweresurrounded，theirdinnersoftwocourses，andtheirhorsesandgrooms，hesuggestedthattheyshouldperformlittlenecessaryservicesforthemselves，suchasbrushingtheirclothes，andcleaningtheirbootsandshoes;thattheyshouldeatthecoarsebreadmadeforsoldiers，etc.Temperanceandactivity，headded，wouldrenderthemrobust，enablethemtobeartheseverityofdifferentseasonsandclimates，tobravethefatiguesofwar，andtoinspiretherespectandobedienceofthesoldiersundertheircommand.ThusreasonedNapoleonattheageofsixteen，andtimeshowedthatheneverdeviatedfromtheseprinciples.TheestablishmentofthemilitaryschoolatFontainebleauisadecidedproofofthis.

AsNapoleonwasanactiveobserverofeverythingpassingaroundhim，andpronouncedhisopinionopenlyanddecidedly，hedidnotremainlongattheMilitarySchoolofParis.Hissuperiors，whowereanxioustogetridofhim，acceleratedtheperiodofhisexamination，andheobtainedthefirstvacantsub—lieutenancyinaregimentofartillery.

IleftBriennein1787;andasIcouldnotentertheartillery，IproceededinthefollowingyeartoVienna，withaletterofrecommendationtoM.deMontmorin，solicitingemploymentintheFrenchEmbassyattheCourtofAustria.

IremainedtwomonthsatVienna，whereIhadthehonouroftwiceseeingtheEmperorJoseph.Theimpressionmadeuponmebyhiskindreception，hisdignifiedandelegantmanners，andgracefulconversation，willneverbeobliteratedfrommyrecollection.AfterM.deNoailleshadinitiatedmeinthefirststepsofdiplomacy，headvisedmetogotooneoftheGermanuniversitiestostudythelawofnationsandforeignlanguages.

IaccordinglyrepairedtoLeipsic，aboutthetimewhentheFrenchRevolutionbrokeout.

IspentsometimeatLeipsic，whereIappliedmyselftothestudyofthelawofnations，andtheGermanandEnglishlanguages.IafterwardstravelledthroughPrussiaandPoland，andpassedapartofthewinterof1791and1792atWarsaw，whereIwasmostgraciouslyreceivedbyPrincessTyszicwiez，nieceofStanislausAugustus，thelastKingofPoland，andthesisterofPrincePoniatowski.ThePrincesswasverywellinformed，andwasagreatadmirerofFrenchliterature：AtherinvitationIpassedseveraleveningsincompanywiththeKinginacirclesmallenoughtoapproachtosomethinglikeintimacy.IrememberthathisMajestyfrequentlyaskedmetoreadtheMoniteur;thespeechestowhichhelistenedwiththegreatestpleasurewerethoseoftheGirondists.ThePrincessTyszicwiezwishedtoprintatWarsaw，atherownexpense，atranslationIhadexecutedofKotzebue’s’MenschenhassandReue，towhichIgavethetitleof’L’Inconnu’."

——[AplayknownontheEnglishstageasTheStranger.]——

IarrivedatViennaonthe26thofMarch1792，whenIwasinformedoftheseriousillnessoftheEmperor，LeopoldII，whodiedonthefollowingday.Inprivatecompanies，andatpublicplaces，Iheardvaguesuspicionsexpressedofhishavingbeenpoisoned;butthepublic，whowereadmittedtothepalacetoseethebodylieinstate，weresoonconvincedofthefalsehoodofthesereports.Iwenttwicetoseethemournfulspectacle，andIneverheardawordwhichwascalculatedtoconfirmtheodioussuspicion，thoughthespacioushallinwhichtheremainsoftheEmperorwereexposedwasconstantlythrongedwithpeople.

InthemonthofApril1792IreturnedtoParis，whereIagainmetBonaparte，——[Bonaparteissaid，onverydoubtfulauthority，tohavespentfiveorsixweeksinLondonin1791or1792，andtohave"lodgedinahouseinGeorgeStreet，Strand.HischiefoccupationappearedtobetakingpedestrianexerciseinthestreetsofLondon——hencehismarvellousknowledgeofthegreatmetropoliswhichusedtoastonishanyEnglishmenofdistinctionwhowerenotawareofthisvisit.Heoccasionallytookhiscupofchocolateatthe’Northumberland，’

occupyinghimselfinreading，andpreservingaprovokingtaciturnitytothegentlemenintheroom;thoughhismannerwasstern，hisdeportmentwasthatofagentleman."ThestoryofhisvisitisprobablyasapocryphalasthatofhisofferinghisservicestotheEnglishGovernmentwhentheEnglishforcesworeblockadingthecoastofCorsica，]——

andourcollegeintimacywasfullyrenewed.Iwasnotverywelloff，andadversitywashangingheavilyonhim;hisresourcesfrequentlyfailedhim.Wepassedourtimeliketwoyoungfellowsoftwenty—threewhohavelittlemoneyandlessoccupation.BonapartewasalwayspoorerthanI.

Everydayweconceivedsomenewprojectorother.Wewereonthelook—

outforsomeprofitablespeculation.Atonetimehewantedmetojoinhiminrentingseveralhouses，thenbuildingintheRueMontholon，tounderletthemafterwards.Wefoundthedemandsofthelandlordsextravagant——everythingfailed.

AtthesametimehewassolicitingemploymentattheWarOffice，andIattheofficeofForeignAffairs.Iwasforthemomenttheluckierofthetwo.

Whilewewerespendingourtimeinasomewhatvagabondway，——[Itwasbeforethe20thofJunethatinourfrequentexcursionsaroundPariswewenttoSt.CyrtoseehissisterMarianne（Elisa）.

WereturnedtodinealoneatTrianon.——Bourrienne.]——

the20thofJunearrived.Wemetbyappointmentatarestaurateur’sintheRueSt.Honore，nearthePalaisRoyal，totakeoneofourdailyrambles.Ongoingoutwesawapproaching，inthedirectionofthemarket，amob，whichBonapartecalculatedatfiveorsixthousandmen.

Theywereallinrags，ludicrouslyarmedwithweaponsofeverydescription，andwereproceedinghastilytowardstheTuilleries，vociferatingallkindsofgrossabuse.ItwasacollectionofallthatwasmostvileandabjectinthepurlieusofParis."Letusfollowthemob，"saidBonaparte.Wegotthestartofthem，andtookupourstationontheterraceofthebanksoftheriver.Itwastherethathewitnessedthescandaloussceneswhichtookplace;anditwouldbedifficulttodescribethesurpriseandindignationwhichtheyexcitedinhim.WhentheKingshowedhimselfatthewindowsoverlookingthegarden，withtheredcap，whichoneofthemobhadputonhishead，hecouldnolongerrepresshisindignation."Checoglione！"

heloudlyexclaimed."Whyhavetheyletinallthatrabble！Theyshouldsweepofffourorfivehundredofthemwiththecannon;therestwouldthensetofffastenough."

Whenwesatdowntodinner，whichIpaidfor，asIgenerallydid，forI

wasthericherofthetwo，hespokeofnothingbutthescenewehadwitnessed.Hediscussedwithgreatgoodsensethecausesandconsequencesofthisunrepressedinsurrection.Heforesawanddevelopedwithsagacityallthatwouldensue.Hewasnotmistaken.The10thofAugustsoonarrived.IwasthenatStuttgart，whereIwasappointedSecretaryofLegation.

AtSt.HelenaBonapartesaid，"OnthenewsoftheattackoftheTuilleries，onthe10thofAugust，IhurriedtoFauvelet，Bourrienne’sbrother，whothenkeptafurniturewarehouseattheCarrousel."Thisispartlycorrect.Mybrotherwasconnectedwithwhatwastermedan’enterprised’encannational’，wherepersonsintendingtoquitFrancereceivedanadvanceofmoney，ondepositinganyeffectswhichtheywishedtodisposeof，andwhichweresoldforthemimmediately.Bonapartehadsometimepreviouslypledgedhiswatchinthisway.

Afterthefatal10thofAugustBonapartewenttoCorsica，anddidnotreturntill1793.SirWalterScottsaysthatafterthattimeheneversawCorsicaagain.Thisisamistake，aswillbeshownwhenIspeakofhisreturnfromEgypt.

——[SirWalterappearstohavecollectedhisinformationfortheLifeofNapoleononlyfromthoselibelsandvulgarstorieswhichgratifiedthecalumniousspiritandnationalhatred.Hisworkiswrittenwithexcessivenegligence，which，addedtoitsnumerouserrors，showshowmuchrespecthemusthaveentertainedforhisreaders.Itwouldappearthathisobjectwastomakeittheinverseofhisnovels，whereeverythingisborrowedfromhistory.IhavebeenassuredthatMarshalMacdonaldhavingofferedtointroduceScotttosomegeneralswhocouldhavefurnishedhimwiththemostaccurate，informationrespectingmilitaryevents，thegloryofwhichtheyhadshared，SirWalterreplied，"Ithankyou，butIshallcollectmyinformationfromunprofessionalreports."——Bourrienne.]——

HavingbeenappointedSecretaryofLegationtoStuttgart，Isetoffforthatplaceonthe2dofAugust，andIdidnotagainseemyardentyoungfrienduntil1795.HetoldmethatmydepartureacceleratedhisforCorsica.Weseparated，asmaybesupposed，withbutfainthopesofevermeetingagain.

Byadecreeofthe28thofMarchof1793，allFrenchagentsabroadwereorderedtoreturntoFrance，withinthreemonths，underpainofbeingregardedasemigrants.WhatIhadwitnessedbeforemydepartureforStuttgart，theexcitementinwhichIhadleftthepublicmind，andthewell—knownconsequencesofeventsofthiskind，mademefearthatI

shouldbecompelledtobeeitheranaccompliceoravictiminthedisastroussceneswhichwerepassingathome.Mydisobedienceofthelawplacedmynameonthelistofemigrants.

Ithasbeensaidofme，inabiographicalpublication，that"itwasasremarkableasitwasfortunateforBourriennethat，onhisreturn，hegothisnameerasedfromthelistofemigrantsofthedepartmentoftheYonne，onwhichithadbeeninscribedduringhisfirstjourneytoGermany.Thiscircumstancehasbeeninterpretedinseveraldifferentways，whicharenotallequallyfavourabletoM.deBourrienne."

Idonotunderstandwhatfavourableinterpretationscanbeputuponastatemententirelyfalse.GeneralBonaparterepeatedlyappliedfortheerasureofmyname，fromthemonthofApril1797，whenIrejoinedhimatLeoben，totheperiodofthesignatureofthetreatyofCampo—Formio;butwithoutsuccess.HedesiredhisbrotherLouis，Berthier，Bernadotte，andothers，whenhesentthemtotheDirectory，tourgemyerasure;butinvain.HecomplainedofthisinattentiontohiswishestoBottot，whenhecametoPasseriano，afterthe18thFructidor.Bottot，whowassecretarytoBarras，wasastonishedthatIwasnoterased，andhemadefinepromisesofwhathewoulddo.OnhisreturntoFrancehewrotetoBonaparte："Bourrienneiserased."Butthiswasuntrue.IwasnoteraseduntilNovember1797，uponthereiteratedsolicitationsofGeneralBonaparte.

ItwasduringmyabsencefromFrancethatBonaparte，intherankof’chefdebataillon’，performedhisfirstcampaign，andcontributedsomateriallytotherecaptureofToulon.OfthisperiodofhislifeIhavenopersonalknowledge，andthereforeIshallnotspeakofitasaneye—

witness.Ishallmerelyrelatesomefactswhichfilluptheintervalbetween1793and1795，andwhichIhavecollectedfrompaperswhichhehimselfdeliveredtome.Amongthesepapersisalittleproduction，entitled’LeSouperdeBeaucaire’，thecopiesofwhichheboughtupatconsiderableexpense，anddestroyeduponhisattainingtheConsulate.

Thislittlepamphletcontainsprinciplesveryoppositetothosehewishedtoseeestablishedin1800，aperiodwhenextravagantideasoflibertywerenolongerthefashion，andwhenBonaparteentereduponasystemtotallythereverseofthoserepublicanprinciplesprofessedin’LeSouperdeBeaucaire.

——[Thisisnot，asSirWaltersays，adialoguebetweenMaratandaFederalist，butaconversationbetweenamilitaryofficer，anativeofNismes，anativeofMarseilles，andamanufacturerfromMontpellier.Thelatter，thoughhetakesashareintheconversation，doesnotsaymuch.’LeSouperdeBeaucaire’isgivenatfulllengthintheFrencheditionoftheseMemoirs，tomei.pp.

319—347;andbyIung，tomeii.p.354，withthefollowingremarks：

"Thefirsteditionof’LeSouperdeBeaucaire’wasissuedatthecostofthePublicTreasury，inAugust1798.SabinTournal，itseditor，alsotheneditedthe’Courrierd’Avignon’.Thesecondeditiononlyappearedtwenty—eightyearsafterwards，in1821，precededbyanintroductionbyFrederickRoyou（Paris：BrasseurAine，printer，Terrey，publisher，inoctavo）.Thispamphletdidnotmakeanysensationatthetimeitappeared.ItwasonlywhenNapoleonbecameCommandantoftheArmyofItalythatM.Loubet，secretaryandcorrectorofthepressforM.Tournal，attachedsomevaluetothemanuscript，andshowedittoseveralpersona.LouisBonaparte，later，orderedseveralcopiesfromM.Aurel.Thepamphlet，dated29thduly1793，isintheformofadialoguebetweenanofficerofthearmy，acitizenofNismes，amanufacturerofMontpellier，andacitizenofMarseilles.MarseilleswastheninastateofinsurrectionagainsttheConvention.ItsforceshadseizedAvignon，buthadbeendrivenoutbythearmyofCartesna，whichwasabouttoattackMarseillesitself.InthedialoguetheofficergivesmostexcellentmilitaryadvicetotherepresentativeofMarseillesontheimpossibilityoftheirresistingtheoldsoldiersofCarteaux.TheMarseillescitizenarguesbutfeebly，andisalarmedattheofficer’srepresentations;whilehisthreattocallintheSpaniardsturnstheotherspeakersagainsthim.EvenColonelIungsays，tomeii.p.372，"IntheseconcisejudgmentsisfeltthedecisionofthemasterandofthemanofwarThesemarvellousqualitiesconsequentlystruckthemembersoftheConvention，whomademuchofBonaparte，authorisedhimtohaveitpublishedatthepublicexpense，andmadehimmanypromises."Lanfrey，vol.i.pp.

201，saysofthispamphlets"Commonenoughideas，expressedinastyleonlyremarkableforits’Italianisms，’butbecomingsingularlyfirmandpreciseeverytimetheauthorexpresseshismilitaryviews.

Underanapparentroughness，wefindinitararecircumspection，leavingnoholdonthewriter，evenifeventschange."]——

Itmayberemarked，thatinallthathascometousfromSt.Helena，notawordissaidofthisyouthfulproduction.Itscharactersufficientlyexplainsthissilence.InallBonaparte’swritingsposteritywillprobablytracetheprofoundpoliticianratherthantheenthusiasticrevolutionist.

SomedocumentsrelativetoBonaparte’ssuspensionandarrest，byorderoftherepresentativesAlbitteandSalicetti，servetoplaceintheirtruelightcircumstanceswhichhavehithertobeenmisrepresented.ishallenterintosomedetailsofthisevent，becauseIhaveseenitstatedthatthiscircumstanceofBonaparte’slifehasbeenpervertedandmisrepresentedbyeverypersonwhohashithertowrittenabouthim;andthewriterwhomakesthisremark，himselfdescribestheaffairincorrectlyandvaguely.OthershaveattributedBonaparte’smisfortunetoamilitarydiscussiononwar，andhisconnectionwithRobespierretheyounger.

——[Itwillpresentlybeseenthatallthisiserroneous，andthatSirWaltercommitsanothermistakewhenhesaysthatBonaparte’sconnectionwithRobespierrewasattendedwithfatalconsequencestohim，andthathisjustificationconsistedinacknowledgingthathisfriendswereverydifferentfromwhathehadsupposedthemtobe.——

Bourrienne.]——

Ithas，moreover，beensaidthatAlbitteandSalicettiexplainedtotheCommitteeofPublicSafetytheimpossibilityoftheirresumingthemilitaryoperationsunaidedbythetalentsofGeneralBonaparte.Thisismereflattery.Thefactsarethese：

Onthe13thofJuly1794（25thMessidor，yearII），therepresentativesofthepeoplewiththearmyofItalyorderedthatGeneralBonaparteshouldproceedtoGenoa，there，conjointlywiththeFrench’charged’affaires’，toconferoncertainsubjectswiththeGenoeseGovernment.Thismission，togetherwithalistofsecretinstructions，directinghimtoexaminethefortressesofGenoaandtheneighbouringcountry，showtheconfidencewhichBonaparte，whowasthenonlytwenty—five，inspiredinmenwhoweredeeplyinterestedinmakingaprudentchoiceoftheiragents.

BonapartesetoffforGenoa，andfulfilledhismission.The9thThermidorarrived，andthedeputies，calledTerrorists，weresupersededbyAlbitteandSalicetti.InthedisorderwhichthenprevailedtheywereeitherignorantoftheordersgiventoGeneralBonaparte，orpersonsenviousoftherisinggloryoftheyounggeneralofartilleryinspiredAlbitteandSalicettiwithsuspicionsprejudicialtohim.Bethisasitmay，thetworepresentativesdrewuparesolution，orderingthatGeneralBonaparteshouldbearrested，suspendedfromhisrank，andarraignedbeforetheCommitteeofPublicSafety;and，extraordinaryasitmayappear，thisresolutionwasfoundedinthatveryjourneytoGenoawhichBonaparteexecutedbythedirectionoftherepresentativesofthepeople.

——[MadameJunotthrowssomelightonthisPersecutionofBonapartebySalicetti."Onemotive（Idonotmeantosaytheonlyone），"

remarksthislady，"oftheanimosityshownbySalicettitoBonaparte，intheaffairofLoano，wasthattheywereatonetimesuitorstothesamelady.IamnotsurewhetheritwasinCorsicaorinParis，butIknowforafactthatBonaparte，inspiteofhisyouth，orperhapsIshouldrathersayonaccountofhisyouth，wasthefavouredlover.Itwastheopinionofmybrother，whowassecretarytoSalicetti，thatBonaparteowedhislifetoacircumstancewhichisnotverywellknown.Thefactis，thatSalicettireceivedaletterfromBonaparte，thecontentsofwhichappearedtomakeadeepimpressiononhim.Bonaparte’spapershadbeendeliveredintoSalicetti’shands，who，afteranattentiveperusalofthem，laidthemasidewithevidentdissatisfaction.Hethentookthemupagain，andreadthemasecondtime.Salicettideclinedmybrother’sassistanceistheexaminationofthepapers，andafterasecondexamination，whichwasprobablyasunsatisfactoryasthefirst，heseatedhimselfwithaveryabstractedair.Itwouldappearthathehadseenamongthepaperssomedocumentwhichconcernedhimself.Anothercuriousfactis，thatthemanwhohadthecareofthepapersaftertheyweresealedupwasaninferiorclerkentirelyunderthecontrolofSalicetti;andmybrother，whosebusinessitwastohavechargeofthepapers，wasdirectednottotouchthem.Hehasoftenspokentomeofthiscircumstance，andI

mentionithereasoneofimportancetothehistoryofthetime.

NothingthatrelatestoamanlikeNapoleoncanbeconsidereduselessortrivial.

"What，afterall，wastheresultofthisstrangebusinesswhichmighthavecostBonapartehishead？——for，hadhebeentakentoParisandtriedbytheCommitteeofPublicSafety，thereislittledoubtthatthefriendofRobespierretheyoungerwouldhavebeencondemnedbyBillaud—VarennesandCollotd’Herbois.Theresultwastheacquittaloftheaccused.Thisresultisthemoreextraordinary，sinceitwouldappearthatatthattimeSalicettistoodinfearoftheyounggeneral.AcomplimentisevenpaidtoBonaparteinthedecree，bywhichhewasprovisionallyrestoredtoliberty.ThatliberationwassaidtobegrantedontheconsiderationthatGeneralBonapartemightheusefultotheRepublic.Thiswasforesight;butsubsequentlywhenmeasuresweretakenwhichrenderedBonapartenolongeranobjectoffear，hisnamewaserasedfromthelistofgeneralofficers，anditisacuriousfactthatCambaceres，whowasdestinedtobehiscolleagueintheConsulate，wasoneofthepersonswhosignedtheactoferasure"（MemoirsoftheDuchessed’Abrantes，vol.i，p.69，edit.1843）.]——

BonapartesaidatSt.HelenathathewasashorttimeimprisonedbyorderoftherepresentativeLaporte;buttheorderforhisarrestwassignedbyAlbitte，Salicetti，andLaporte.

——[AlbitteandLaporteweretherepresentativessentfromtheConventiontothearmyoftheAlps，andSalicettitothearmyofItaly.]——

Laportewasnotprobablythemostinfluentialofthethree，forBonapartedidnotaddresshisremonstrancetohim.Hewasafortnightunderarrest.

Hadthecircumstanceoccurredthreeweeksearlier，andhadBonapartebeenarraignedbeforetheCommitteeofPublicSafetyprevioustothe9thThermidor，thereiseveryprobabilitythathiscareerwouldhavebeenatanend;andweshouldhaveseenperishonthescaffold，attheageoftwenty—five，themanwho，duringthetwenty—fivesucceedingyears，wasdestinedtoastonishtheworldbyhisvastconceptions，hisgiganticprojects，hisgreatmilitarygenius，hisextraordinarygoodfortune，hisfaults，reverses，andfinalmisfortunes.

Itisworthwhiletoremarkthatinthepost—ThermidorianresolutionjustalludedtonomentionismadeofBonaparte’sassociationwithRobespierretheyounger.Theseveritywithwhichhewastreatedisthemoreastonishing，sincehismissiontoGenoawastheallegedcauseofit.

Wasthereanyotherchargeagainsthim，orhadcalumnytriumphedovertheserviceshehadrenderedtohiscountry？Ihavefrequentlyconversedwithhimonthesubjectofthisadventure，andheinvariablyassuredmethathehadnothingtoreproachhimselfwith，andthathisdefence，whichIshallsubjoin，containedthepureexpressionofhissentiments，andtheexacttruth.

Inthefollowingnote，whichheaddressedtoAlbitteandSalicetti，hemakesnomentionofLaporte.ThecopywhichIpossessisinthehandwritingof，Junot，withcorrectionsintheGeneral’shand.ItexhibitsallthecharacteristicsofNapoleon’swriting：hisshortsentences，hisabruptratherthanconcisestyle，sometimeshiselevatedideas，andalwayshisplaingoodsense.

TOTHEREPRESENTATIVESALBITTEANDSALICETTI.

Youhavesuspendedmefrommyduties，putmeunderarrest，anddeclaredmetobesuspected.

ThusIamdisgracedbeforebeingjudged，orindeedjudgedbeforebeingheard.

Inarevolutionarystatetherearetwoclasses，thesuspectedandthepatriots.

Whenthefirstarearoused，generalmeasuresareadoptedtowardsthemforthesakeofsecurity.

Theoppressionofthesecondclassisablowtopublicliberty.Themagistratecannotcondemnuntilafterthefullestevidenceandasuccessionoffacts.Thisleavesnothingtoarbitrarydecision.

Todeclareapatriotsuspectedistodeprivehimofallthathemosthighlyvalues——confidenceandesteem.

InwhatclassamIplaced？

SincethecommencementoftheRevolution，haveInotalwaysbeenattachedtoitsprinciples？

HaveInotalwaysbeencontendingeitherwithdomesticenemiesorforeignfoes？

Isacrificedmyhome，abandonedmyproperty，andlosteverythingfortheRepublic？

IhavesinceservedwithsomedistinctionatToulon，andearnedapartofthelaurelsofthearmyofItalyatthetakingofSaorgio，Oneille，andTanaro.

OnthediscoveryofRobespierre’sconspiracy，myconductwasthatofamanaccustomedtolookonlytoprinciples.

Myclaimtothetitleofpatriot，thereforecannotbedisputed.

Why，then，amIdeclaredsuspectedwithoutbeingheard，andarrestedeightdaysafterIheardthenewsofthetyrant’sdeathIamdeclaredsuspected，andmypapersareplacedunderseal.

Thereverseofthiscourseoughttohavebeenadopted.Mypapersshouldfirsthavebeensealed;thenIshouldhavebeencalledonformyexplanation;and，lastly，declaredsuspected，iftherewasreasonforcomingto，suchadecision.

ItiswishedthatIshouldgotoPariswithanorderwhichdeclaresmesuspected.Itwillnaturallybepresumedthattherepresentativesdidnotdrawupthisdecreewithoutaccurateinformation，andIshallbejudgedwiththebiaswhichamanofthatclassmerits.

Thoughapatriotandaninnocentandcalumniatedman，yetwhatevermeasuresmaybeadoptedbytheCommitteeIcannotcomplain.

IfthreemendeclarethatIhavecommittedacrime，Icannotcomplainofthejurywhocondemnsme.

Salicetti，youknowme;andIaskwhetheryouhaveobservedanythinginmyconductforthelastfiveyearswhichcanaffordgroundofsuspicion？

Albitte，youdonotknowme;butyouhavereceivedproofofnofactagainstme;youhavenotheardme，andyouknowhowartfullythetongueofcalumnysometimesworks.

MustIthenbeconfoundedwiththeenemiesofmycountryandoughtthepatriotsinconsideratelytosacrificeageneralwhohasnotbeenuselesstotheRepublic？OughttherepresentativestoreducetheGovernmenttothenecessityofbeingunjustandimpolitic？

Hearme;destroytheoppressionthatoverwhelmsme，andrestoremetotheesteemofthepatriots.

Anhourafter，ifmyenemieswishformylife，letthemtakeit.IhaveoftengivenproofshowlittleIvalueft.NothingbutthethoughtthatI

mayyetbeusefultomycountrymakesmebeartheburdenofexistencewithcourage.

Itappearsthatthisdefence，whichisremarkableforitsenergeticsimplicity，producedaneffectonAlbitteandSalicetti.Inquiriesmoreaccurate，andprobablymorefavourabletotheGeneral，wereinstituted;

andonthe3dFructidor（20thAugust1794）therepresentativesofthepeopledrewupadecreestatingthat，afteracarefulexaminationofGeneralBonaparte’spapers，andoftheordershehadreceivedrelativetohismissiontoGenoa，theysawnothingtojustifyanysuspicionofhisconduct;andthat，moreover，takingintoconsiderationtheadvantagethatmightaccruetotheRepublicfromthemilitarytalentsofthesaidGeneralBonaparte，itwasresolvedthatheshouldbeprovisionallysetatliberty.

——[WithreferencetothearrestofBonaparte（whichlastedthirteendays）see’BourrienneetsesErreurs’，tomei.pp.16—28，andIung，tomeii.pp.443—457.Both，inoppositiontoBourrienne，attributethearresttohisconnectionwiththeyoungerRobespierre.

ApparentlyAlbitteandSalicettiwetsnotacquaintedwiththesecretplanofcampaignpreparedbytheyoungerRobespierreandbyBonaparte，orwiththerealinstructionsgivenforthemissiontoGenoa.JealousybetweentherepresentativesinthestaffofthearmyoftheAlpsandthosewiththearmyofItaly，withwhichNapoleonwas，alsoplayedapartintheaffair.IunglooksonSalicettiasactingastheprotectoroftheBonapartes;butNapoleondoesnotseemtohaveregardedhiminthatlight;seethelettergiveninTunot，vol.i.p.l06，wherein1795hetakescreditfornotreturningtheilldonetohim;seealsothesamevolume，p.89.

SalicettieventuallybecameMinisterofPolicetoJoseph，whenKingofNaples，in1806;butwhenheappliedtoreturntoFrance，NapoleonsaidtoMathieuDumas，"LethimknowthatIamnotpowerfulenoughtoprotectthewretcheswhovotedforthedeathofLouisXVI.

fromthecontemptandindignationofthepublic"（Dumas，tomeiii.

p.318）.AtthesametimeNapoleondescribedSalicettiasworsethanthelazzaroni.]——

SalicettiafterwardsbecamethefriendandconfidantofyoungBonaparte;

buttheirintimacydidnotcontinueafterhiselevation.

WhatistobethoughtofthemotivesforBonaparte’sarrestandprovisionalliberation，whenhisinnocenceandtheerrorthathadbeencommittedwereacknowledged？TheimportanceoftheGeneral’smilitarytalents，thoughnomentionismadeabouttheimpossibilityofdispensingwiththem，isapretenceforrestoringhimtothatlibertyofwhichhehadbeenunjustlydeprived.

ItwasnotatToulon，ashasbeenstated，thatBonapartetookDurocintotheartillery，andmadehimhis’aidedecamp’.

——[MichelDuroc（1773—1813）atfirstonlyaidedecamptoNapoleon，wasseveraltimesentrustedwithspecialdiplomaticmissions（forexample，toBerlin，etc.）OntheformationoftheEmpirehebecameGrandMarechalduPalais，andDucdeFrioul.HealwaysremainedincloseconnectionwithNapoleonuntilhewaskilledin1813.Asheisoftenmentionedincontemporarymemoirsunderhisabbreviatedtitleof’Marshal’，hehassometimesbeenerroneouslyincludedinthenumberoftheMarshalsoftheEmpire——amilitaryrankheneverattainedto.]——

Theacquaintancewasformedatasubsequentperiod，inItaly.Duroc’scoldcharacterandunexcursivemindsuitedNapoleon，whoseconfidenceheenjoyeduntilhisdeath，andwhoentrustedhimwithmissionsperhapsabovehisabilities.AtSt.HelenaBonaparteoftendeclaredthathewasmuchattachedtoDuroc.Ibelievethistobetrue;butIknowthattheattachmentwasnotreturned.Theingratitudeofprincesisproverbial.

Mayitnothappenthatcourtiersarealsosometimesungrateful？——[ItisonlyjusttoDuroctoaddthatthischargedoesnotseemborneoutbytheimpressionsofthosemorecapablethanBourrienneofjudginginthematter.]

CHAPTERIII.

1794—1795.

ProposaltosendBonapartetoLaVendee——Heisstruckoffthelistofgeneralofficers——Salicetti——Joseph’smarriagewithMademoiselleClary——Bonaparte’swishtogotoTurkey——Noteexplainingtheplanofhisproposedexpedition——MadameBourrienne’scharacterofBonaparte，andaccountofherhusband’sarrest——ConstitutionoftheyearIII——

The13thVendemiaire——Bonaparteappointedsecondincommandofthearmyoftheinterior——EulogiumofBonapartebyBarras，anditsconsequences——St.Helenamanuscript.

GeneralBonapartereturnedtoParis，whereIalsoarrivedfromGermanyshortlyafterhim.Ourintimacywasresumed，andhegavemeanaccountof，allthathadpassedinthecampaignofthesouth.Hefrequentlyalludedtothepersecutionshehadsuffered，andhedeliveredtomethepacketofpapersnoticedinthelastchapter，desiringmetocommunicatetheircontentstomyfriends.Hewasveryanxious，hesaid，todoawaywiththesuppositionthathewascapableofbetrayinghiscountry，and，underthepretenceofamissiontoGenoa，becomingaSPYontheinterestsofFrance.HelovedtotalkoverhismilitaryachievementsatToulonandinItaly.Hespokeofhisfirstsuccesseswiththatfeelingofpleasureandgratificationwhichtheywerenaturallycalculatedtoexciteinhim.

TheGovernmentwishedtosendhimtoLaVendee，withtherankofbrigadier—generalofinfantry.Bonaparterejectedthispropositionontwogrounds.Hethoughtthesceneofactionunworthyofhistalents，andheregardedhisprojectedremovalfromtheartillerytotheinfantryasasortofinsult.Thislastwashismostpowerfulobjection，andwastheonlyoneheurgedofficially.Inconsequenceofhisrefusaltoaccepttheappointmentofferedhim，theCommitteeofPublicSafetydecreedthatheshouldbestruckoffthelistofgeneralofficers.

——[ThisstatementastotheproposedtransferofBonapartetotheinfantry，hisdisobediencetotheorder，andhisconsequentdismissal，isfiercelyattackedinthe’Erreurs’，tomei.chap.iv.

Itis，however，correctinsomepoints;buttherealtruthsaboutBonaparte’slifeatthistimeseemsolittleknownthatitmaybewelltoexplainthewholematter.Onthe27thofMarch1795

Bonaparte，alreadyremovedfromhisemploymentinthesouth，wasorderedtoproceedtothearmyofthewesttocommanditsartilleryasbrigadier—general.HewentasfarasParis，andthenlingeredthere，partlyonmedicalcertificate.WhileinParisheapplied，asBourriennesays，togotoTurkeytoorganiseitsartillery.Hisapplication，insteadofbeingneglected，asBourriennesays，wasfavourablyreceived，twomembersofthe’ComitedeSaintPublic’

puttingonitsmarginmostfavorablereportsofhim;one，JeanDebry，evensayingthathewastoodistinguishedanofficertobesenttoadistanceatsuchatime.Farfrombeinglookedonasthehalf—crazyfellowBourrienneconsideredhimatthattime，Bonapartewasappointed，onthe21stofAugust1795，oneoffourgeneralsattachedasmilitaryadviserstotheCommitteeforthepreparationofwarlikeoperations，hisowndepartmentbeingamostimportantone.HehimselfatthetimetellsJosephthatheisattachedtothetopographicalbureauoftheComitedeSaintPublic，forthedirectionofthearmiesintheplaceofCarnot.ItisapparentlythissignificantappointmenttowhichMadameJunot，wronglydatingit，alludesas"nogreatthing"（Junot，vol.i，p.143）.AnotherofficerwasthereforesubstitutedforhimascommanderofRochesartillery，afactmadeuseofintheErreurs（p.31）todenyhishavingbeendismissed——Butageneralre—classificationofthegeneralswasbeingmade.Theartillerygeneralswereinexcessoftheirestablishment，andBonaparte，asjuniorinage，wasorderedon13thJunetojoinHoche’sarmyatBresttocommandabrigadeofinfantry.Allhiseffortstogettheordercancelledfailed，andashedidnotobeyithewasstruckoffthelistofemployedgeneralofficersonthe15thofSeptember1795，theorderofthe’ComitedeSalutPublic’beingsignedbyCambaceres，Berber，Merlin，andBoissy.HisapplicationtogotoTurkeystill，however，remained;

anditisacuriousthingthat，ontheverydayhewasstruckoffthelist，thecommissionwhichhadreplacedtheMinisterofWarrecommendedtothe’ComitedeSaintPublic’thatheandhistwoaidesdecamp，JunotandLivrat，withotherofficers，underhim，shouldbesenttoConstantinople.Solateasthe29thofSeptember，twelvedayslater，thismatterwasbeingconsidered，theonlyquestionbeingastoanydepartmentalobjectionstotheotherofficersselectedbyhim，apointwhichwasjustbeingsettled.Butonthe13thVendemiaire（5thOctober1795），orratheronthenightbefore，onlynineteendaysafterhisremoval，hewasappointedsecondincommandtoBarras，acareerinFrancewasopenedtohim，andTurkeywasnolongerthoughtof.

Thiers（vol.iv，p.326）andmostwriters，contemporaryandotherwise，saythatAubrygavetheorderforhisremovalfromthelist.Aubry，himselfabrigadier—generalofartillery，didnotbelongtothe’ComitedeSalutPublic’atthetimeBonapartewasremovedfromthesouth;andhehadlefttheComiteearlyisAugust，thatis，beforetheorderstrikingBonaparteoffwasgiven.Aubrywas，however，ontheComiteinJune1795，andsignedtheorder，whichprobablymayhaveoriginatedfromhim，forthetransferofBonapartetotheinfantry.Itwillbeseenthat，intheordinarymilitarysenseoftheterm，NapoleonwasonlyinPariswithoutemploymentfromthe15thofSeptembertothe4thor6thofOctober1796;alltherestofthetimeinParishehadacommandwhichhedidnotchoosetotakeup.ThedistressunderwhichNapoleonissaidtohavelabouredinpecuniarymatterswasprobablysharedbymostofficersatthattime;see’Erreurs’，tomei.p.32.ThisperiodisfullydescribedinIung，tomeii.p.476，andtomeiii.

pp.1—93.]——

Deeplymortifiedatthisunexpectedstroke，Bonaparteretiredintoprivatelife，andfoundhimselfdoomedtoaninactivityveryuncongenialwithhisardentcharacter.HelodgedintheRueduMail，inanhotelnearthePlacedesVictoires，andwerecommencedthesortoflifewehadledin1792，beforehisdepartureforCorsica.Itwasnotwithoutastrugglethathedeterminedtoawaitpatientlytheremovaloftheprejudiceswhichwerecherishedagainsthimbymeninpower;andhehopedthat，intheperpetualchangeswhichweretakingplace，thosemenmightbesupersededbyothersmorefavourabletohim.Hefrequentlydinedandspenttheeveningwithmeandmyelderbrother;andhispleasantconversationandmannersmadethehourspassawayveryagreeably.I

calledonhimalmosteverymorning，andImetathislodgingsseveralpersonswhoweredistinguishedatthetime;amongothersSalicetti，withwhomheusedtomaintainveryanimatedconversations，andwhowouldoftensolicitaprivateinterviewwithhim.OnoneoccasionSalicettipaidhimthreethousandfrancs，inassignats，asthepriceofhiscarriage，whichhisstraitenedcircumstancesobligedhimtodisposeof.

——[OfNapoleon’spovertyatthistimeMadameJunotsays，"OnBonaparte’sreturntoParis，afterthemisfortunesofwhichheaccusedSalicettiofbeingthecause，hewasinverydestitutecircumstances.Hisfamily，whowerebanishedfromCorsica，foundanasylumatMarseilles;andtheycouldnotnowdoforhimwhattheywouldhavedonehadtheybeeninthecountrywhencetheyderivedtheirpecuniaryresources.Fromtimetotimehereceivedremittancesofmoney，andIsuspecttheycamefromhisexcellentbrotherJoseph，whohadthenrecentlymarried’MademoiselleClary;

butwithallhiseconomythesesupplieswereinsufficient.

Bonapartewasthereforeinabsolutedistress.JunotoftenusedtospeakofthesixmonthstheypassedtogetherinParisatthistime.

WhentheytookaneveningstrollontheBoulevard，whichusedtobetheresortofyoungmen，mountedonfinehorses，anddisplayingelltheluxurywhichtheywerepermittedtoshowatthattime，Bonapartewoulddeclaimagainstfate，andexpresshiscontemptforthedandieswiththeirwhiskersandtheir’oriellesdechiene’，who，astheyrodePast，wereeulogisinginecstasythemannerinwhichMadameSciosang.Anditisonsuchbeingsasthese，’hewouldsay，’thatFortuneconfersherfavours.GrandDieu！howcontemptibleishumannature！’"（MemoirsoftheDuchessed’Abrantes，vol.i.p.80，edit.1883.）]——

Icould，easilyperceivethatouryoungfriendeitherwasorwishedtobeinitiatedinsomepoliticalintrigue;andImoreoversuspectedthatSalicettihadboundhimbyanoathnottodisclosetheplansthatwerehatching.

Hebecamepensive，melancholy，andanxious;andhealwayslookedwithimpatienceforSalicetti’sdailyvisit.

——[Salicettiwasimplicatedintheinsurrectionofthe20thMay1795，1stPrairial，YearIII.，andwasobligedtoflytoVenice.]——

Sometimes，withdrawinghismindfrompoliticalaffairs，hewouldenvythehappinessofhisbrotherJoseph，whohadjustthenmarriedMademoiselleClary，thedaughterofarichandrespectablemerchantofMarseilles.Hewouldoftensay，"ThatJosephisaluckyrogue."

Meanwhiletimepassedaway，andnoneofhisprojectssucceeded——noneofhisapplicationswerelistenedto.Hewasvexedbytheinjusticewithwhichhewastreated，andtormentedbythedesireofenteringuponsomeactivepursuit.Hecouldnotendurethethoughtofremainingburiedinthecrowd.HedeterminedtoquitFrance;andthefavouriteidea，whichheneverafterwardsrelinquished，thattheEastisafinefieldforglory，inspiredhimwiththewishtoproceedtoConstantinople，andtoentertheserviceoftheGrandSeignior.Whatromanticplans，whatstupendousprojectsheconceived！HeaskedmewhetherIwouldgowithhim？Irepliedinthenegative.Ilookeduponhimasahalf—crazyyoungfellow，whowasdriventoextravagantenterprisesanddesperateresolutionsbyhisrestlessactivityofmind，joinedtotheirritatingtreatmenthehadexperienced，and，perhaps，itmaybeadded，hiswantofmoney.Hedidnotblamemeformyrefusaltoaccompanyhim;andhetoldmethatJunot，Marmont，andsomeotheryoungofficerswhomhehadknownatToulon，wouldbewillingtofollowhisfortunes.

Hedrewupanotewhichcommencedwiththewords’Notefor’

Itwasaddressedtonoone，andwasmerelyaplan.Somedaysafterhewroteoutanother，which，however，didnotdifferverymateriallyfromthefirst，andwhichheaddressedtoAubertandConi.Imadehimafaircopyofit，anditwasregularlyforforwarded.Itwasasfollows：——

NOTE.

AtamomentwhentheEmpressofRussiahasstrengthenedherunionwiththeEmperorofGermany（Austria），itistheinterestofFrancetodoeverythinginherpowertoincreasethemilitarypowerofTurkey.

Thatpowerpossessesanumerousandbravemilitiabutisverybackwardinthescientificpartoftheartofwar.

Theorganizationandtheserviceoftheartillery，which，inourmoderntactics，sopowerfullyfacilitatethegainingofbattles，andonwhich，almostexclusively，dependtheattackanddefenceoffortresses，areespeciallythepointsinwhichFranceexcels，andinwhichtheTurksaremostdeficient.

Theyhaveseveraltimesappliedtousforartilleryofficers，andwehavesentthemsome;buttheofficersthussenthavenotbeensufficientlypowerful，eitherinnumbersortalent，toproduceanyimportantresult.

GeneralBonaparte，who，fromhisyouth，hasservedintheartillery，ofwhichhewasentrustedwiththecommandatthesiegeofToulon，andinthetwocampaignsofItaly，offershisservicestoproceedtoTurkey，withamissionfromthe（French）Government.

Heproposestotakealongwithhimsixorsevenofficers，ofdifferentkinds，andwhomaybe，altogether，perfectmastersofthemilitaryart.

Hewillhavethesatisfactionofbeingusefultohiscountryinthisnewcareer，ifhesucceedinrenderingtheTurkishpowermoreformidable，bycompletingthedefenceoftheirprincipalfortresses，andconstructingnewones.

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读