CONTENTS：
Preface，NotesandIntroductionChapterI.toChapterIV.，1797
PREFACE
BYTHEEDITORSOFTHE1836EDITION.
InintroducingthepresenteditionofM.deBourrienne’sMemoirstothepublicwearebound，asEditors，tosayafewWordsonthesubject.
Agreeing，however，withHoraceWalpolethataneditorshouldnotdwellforanylengthoftimeonthemeritsofhisauthor，weshalltouchbutlightlyonthispartofthematter.WearethemorereadytoabstainsincethegreatsuccessinEnglandoftheformereditionsoftheseMemoirs，andthehighreputationtheyhaveacquiredontheEuropeanContinent，andineverypartofthecivilisedworldwherethefameofBonapartehaseverreached，sufficientlyestablishthemeritsofM.deBourrienneasabiographer.Thesemeritsseemtoustoconsistchieflyinananxiousdesiretobeimpartial，topointoutthedefectsaswellasthemeritsofamostwonderfulman;andinapeculiarlygraphicpowerofrelatingfactsandanecdotes.WiththishappyfacultyBourriennewouldhavemadethelifeofalmostanyactiveindividualinteresting;butthesubjectofwhichthemostfavourablecircumstancespermittedhimtotreatwasfullofeventsandofthemostextraordinaryfacts.Theheroofhisstorywassuchabeingastheworldhasproducedonlyontherarestoccasions，andthecompletecounterparttowhomhas，probably，neverexisted;fortherearebroadshadesofdifferencebetweenNapoleonandAlexander，Caesar，andCharlemagne;neitherwillmodernhistoryfurnishmoreexactparallels，sinceGustavusAdolphus，FredericktheGreat，Cromwell，Washington，orBolivarbearbutasmallresemblancetoBonaparteeitherincharacter，fortune，orextentofenterprise.Forfourteenyears，tosaynothingofhisprojectsintheEast，thehistoryofBonapartewasthehistoryofallEurope！
Withthecopiousmaterialshepossessed，M.deBourriennehasproducedaworkwhich，fordeepinterest，excitement，andamusement，canscarcelybeparalleledbyanyofthenumerousandexcellentmemoirsforwhichtheliteratureofFranceissojustlycelebrated.
M.deBourrienneshowsustheheroofMarengoandAusterlitzinhisnight—gownandslippers——witha’traitdeplume’he，inahundredinstances，placestherealmanbeforeus，withallhispersonalhabitsandpeculiaritiesofmanner，temper，andconversation.
ThefriendshipbetweenBonaparteandBourriennebeganinboyhood，attheschoolofBrienne，andtheirunreservedintimacycontinuedduringthemoatbrilliantpartofNapoleon’scareer.Wehavesaidenough，themotivesforhiswritingthisworkandhiscompetencyforthetaskwillbebestexplainedinM.deBourrienne’sownwords，whichthereaderwillfindintheIntroductoryChapter.
M.deBourriennesayslittleofNapoleonafterhisfirstabdicationandretirementtoElbain1814：wehaveendeavouredtofillupthechasmthusleftbyfollowinghisherothroughtheremainingsevenyearsofhislife，tothe\"lastscenesofall\"thatendedhis\"strange，eventfulhistory，\"
——tohisdeathbedandaliengraveatSt.Helena.Acompletenesswillthusbegiventotheworkwhichitdidnotbeforepossess，andwhichwehopewill，withtheotheradditionsandimprovementsalreadyalludedto，tendtogiveitaplaceineverywell—selectedlibrary，asoneofthemostsatisfactoryofallthelivesofNapoleon.
LONDON，1836.
PREFACE
BYTHEEDITOROFTHE1885EDITION.
TheMemoirsofthetimeofNapoleonmaybedividedintotwoclasses——
thosebymarshalsandofficers，ofwhichSuchet’sisagoodexample，chieflydevotedtomilitarymovements，andthosebypersonsemployedintheadministrationandintheCourt，givingusnotonlymaterialsforhistory，butalsovaluabledetailsofthepersonalandinnerlifeofthegreatEmperorandofhisimmediatesurroundings.OfthislatterclasstheMemoirsofBourrienneareamongthemostimportant.
LongtheintimateandpersonalfriendofNapoleonbothatschoolandfromtheendoftheItaliancampaignsin1797till1802——workinginthesameroomwithhim，usingthesamepurse，theconfidantofmostofhisschemes，and，ashissecretary，havingthelargestpartofalltheofficialandprivatecorrespondenceofthetimepassedthroughhishands，Bourrienneoccupiedaninvaluablepositionforstoringandrecordingmaterialsforhistory.TheMemoirsofhissuccessor，Meneval，aremorethoseofanesteemedprivatesecretary;yet，valuableandinterestingastheyare，theywantthepeculiarityofpositionwhichmarksthoseofBourrienne，whowasacompoundofsecretary，minister，andfriend.TheaccountsofsuchmenasMiotdeMelito，Raederer，etc.，aremostvaluable，butthesewriterswerenotinthatclosecontactwithNapoleonenjoyedbyBourrienne.Bonrrienne’spositionwassimplyunique，andwecanonlyregretthathedidnotoccupyittilltheendoftheEmpire.
ThusitisnaturalthathisMemoirsshouldhavebeenlargelyusedbyhistorians，andtoproperlyunderstandthehistoryofthetime，theymustbereadbyallstudents.Theyareindeedfullofinterestforeveryone.
Buttheyalsorequiretobereadwithgreatcaution.WhenwemeetwithpraiseofNapoleon，wemaygenerallybelieveit，for，asThiers（Consulat.，ii.279）says，Bourrienneneedbelittlesuspectedonthisside，foralthoughbeowedeverythingtoNapoleon，hehasnotseemedtorememberit.ButveryofteninpassagesinwhichblameisthrownonNapoleon，Bourriennespeaks，partlywithmuchofthenaturalbitternessofaformeranddiscardedfriend，andpartlywiththecuriousmixedfeelingwhicheventhebrothersofNapoleondisplayintheirMemoirs，prideinthewonderfulabilitiesevincedbythemanwithwhomhewasallied，andjealousyatthewayinwhichbewasoutshonebythemanhehadinyouthregardedasinferiortohimself.Sometimesalsowemayevensuspectthepraise.ThuswhenBourriennedefendsNapoleonforgiving，ashealleges，poisontothesickatJaffa，adoubtariseswhetherhisobjectwastoreallydefendwhattomostEnglishmenofthisday，withremembrancesofthedeedsandresolutionsoftheIndianMutiny，willseemanacttobepardoned，ifnotapproved;orwhetherhewasmoreanxioustofixthecommittaloftheactonNapoleonatatimewhenpublicopinionloudlyblamedit.ThesamemaybesaidofhisdefenceofthemassacreoftheprisonersofJaffa.
LouisAntoineFauveletdeBourriennewasbornin1769，thatis，inthesameyearasNapoleonBonaparte，andhewasthefriendandcompanionofthefutureEmperoratthemilitaryschoolofBrienne—le—Chateautill1784，whenNapoleon，oneofthesixtypupilsmaintainedattheexpenseoftheState，waspassedontotheMilitarySchoolofParis.Thefriendsagainmetin1792andin1795，whenNapoleonwashangingaboutParis，andwhenBourriennelookedonthevaguedreamsofhisoldschoolmateasonlysomuchfolly.In1796，assoonasNapoleonhadassuredhispositionattheheadofthearmyofItaly，anxiousasevertosurroundhimselfwithknownfaces，hesentforBourriennetobehissecretary.Bourriennehadbeenappointedin1792assecretaryoftheLegationatStuttgart，andhad，probablywisely，disobeyedtheordersgivenhimtoreturn，thusescapingthedangersoftheRevolution.HeonlycamebacktoParisin1795，havingthusbecomeanemigre.HejoinedNapoleonin1797，aftertheAustrianshadbeenbeatenoutofItaly，andatonceassumedtheofficeofsecretarywhichheheldforsolong.HehadsufficienttacttoforbeartreatingthehaughtyyoungGeneralwithanyassumptionoffamiliarityinpublic，andhewasindefatigableenoughtopleaseeventhenever—restingNapoleon.TalentBourriennehadinabundance;indeedheiscarefultohintthatatschoolifanyonehadbeenaskedtopredictgreatnessforanypupil，itwasBourrienne，notNapoleon，whowouldhavebeenfixedonasthefuturestar.HewentwithhisGeneraltoEgypt，andreturnedwithhimtoFrance.WhileNapoleonwasmakinghisformalentryintotheTuileries，BourriennewaspreparingthecabinethewasstilltosharewiththeConsul.Inthiscabinet——ourcabinet，asheiscarefultocallit——lieworkedwiththeFirstConsultill1802.
Duringallthistimethepairleadlivedontermsofequalityandfriendshipcreditabletoboth.Thesecretaryneitheraskedfornorreceivedanysalary：whenherequiredmoney，hesimplydippedintothecash—boxoftheFirstConsul.AsthewholepoweroftheStategraduallypassedintothehandsoftheConsul，thelaboursofthesecretarybecameheavier.Hissuccessorbrokedownunderalighterload，andhadtoreceiveassistance;but，perhapsborneupbytheabsorbinginterestoftheworkandthegreatinfluencegivenbyhispost，Bourriennestucktohisplace，andtoallappearancemight，exceptforhimself，havecomedowntousasthecompanionofNapoleonduringhiswholelife.Hehadenemies，andoneofthem——[BoulaydelaMeurthe.]——hasnotshrunkfromdescribingtheirgratificationatthedisgraceofthetrustedsecretary.
Anyoneinfavour，orindeedinoffice，underNapoleonwasthesuremarkofcalumnyforallaspirantstoplace;yetBourriennemighthaveweatheredanytemporarystormraisedbyunfoundedreportsassuccessfullyasMeneval，whofollowedhim.ButBourrienne’shandswerenotcleaninmoneymatters，andthatwasanunpardonablesininanyonewhodesiredtobeinrealintimacywithNapoleon.HebecameinvolvedintheaffairsoftheHouseofCoulon，whichfailed，aswillbeseeninthenotes，atthetimeofhisdisgrace;andinOctober1802hewascalledontohandoverhisofficetoMeneval，whoretainedittillinvalidedaftertheRussiancampaign.
Ashasbeensaid，Bourriennewouldnaturallybethemarkformanyaccusations，buttheconclusiveproofofhismisconduct——atleastforanyoneacquaintedwithNapoleon’sobjectionanddisliketochangesinoffice，whetherfromhisstrongbeliefintheeffectsoftraining，orhisequallystrongdislikeofnewfacesroundhim——isthathewasneveragainemployednearhisoldcomrade;indeedhereallyneversawtheEmperoragainatanyprivateinterview，exceptwhengrantedthenavalofficialreceptionin1805，beforeleavingtotakeuphispostatHamburg，whichheheldtill1810.Weknowthathisre—employmentwasurgedbyJosephineandseveralofhisformercompanions.Savaryhimselfsayshetriedhisadvocacy;butNapoleonwasinexorabletothosewho，inhisownphrase，hadsacrificedtothegoldencalf.
Sent，aswehavesaid，toHamburgin1805，asMinisterPlenipotentiarytotheDukeofBrunswick，theDukeofMecklenburg—Schwerin，andtotheHansetowns，Bourrienneknewhowtomakehispostanimportantone.HewasatoneofthegreatseatsofthecommercewhichsufferedsofearfullyfromtheContinentalsystemoftheEmperor，andhewaschargedtowatchovertheGermanpress.HowwellhefulfilledthisdutywelearnfromMetternich，whowritesin1805：\"IhavesentanarticletothenewspapereditorsinBerlinandtoM.deHoferatHamburg.Idonotknowwhetherithasbeenaccepted，forM.Bourriennestillexercisesanauthoritysosevereoverthesejournalsthattheyarealwayssubmittedtohimbeforetheyappear，thathemayeraseoralterthearticleswhichdonotpleasehim.\"
HispositionatHamburggavehimgreatopportunitiesforbothfinancialandpoliticalintrigues.InhisMemoirs，asMenevalremarks，heorhiseditorisnotashamedtoboastofbeingthankedbyLouisXVIII.atSt.
OuenforservicesrenderedwhilehewastheministerofNapoleonatHamburg.Hewasrecalledin1810，whentheHansetownswereunited，or，tousethephraseoftheday，re—unitedtotheEmpire.HethenhungaboutParis，keepingongoodtermswithsomeoftheministers——Savary，notthemostreputableofthem，forexample.In1814hewastobefoundattheofficeofLavallette，theheadoftheposts，disguising，hisenemiessaid，hisdelightatthebadnewswhichwaspouringin，byexaggeratedexpressionsofdevotion.HeisaccusedofacloseandsuspiciousconnectionwithTalleyrand，anditisoddthatwhenTalleyrandbecameheadoftheProvisionalGovernmentin1814，Bourrienneofallpersonsshouldhavebeenputattheheadoftheposts.ReceivedinthemostflatteringmannerbyLouisXVIII，hewasasastonishedaspoorBeugnotwasin1815，tofindhimselfon13thMaysuddenlyejectedfromoffice，having，however，hadtimetofurnishpost—horsestoManbreuilforthemysteriousexpedition，saidtohavebeenatleastknowntoTalleyrand，andintendedcertainlyfortherobberyoftheQueenofWestphalia，andprobablyforthemurderofNapoleon.
IntheextraordinaryscurrybeforetheBourbonsscuttledoutofParisin1814，BourriennewasmadePrefetofthePoliceforafewdays，histenureofthatpostbeingsignalisedbytheabortiveattempttoarrestFouche，theonlyeffectofwhichwastodrivethatwilyministerintothearmsoftheBonapartists.
HefledwiththeKing，andwasexemptedfromtheamnestyproclaimedbyNapoleon.OnthereturnfromGhenthewasmadeaMinisterofStatewithoutportfolio，andalsobecameoneoftheCouncil.TheruinofhisfinancesdrovehimoutofFrance，butheeventuallydiedinamadhouseatCaen.
WhentheMemoirsfirstappearedin1829theymadeagreatsensation.
TilltheninmostwritingsNapoleonhadbeentreatedaseitherademonorasademi—god.Therealfactsofthecasewerenotsuitedtothetastesofeitherhisenemiesorhisadmirers.WhilethemonarchsofEuropehadbeendisputingamongthemselvesaboutthedivisionofthespoilstobeobtainedfromFranceandfromtheunsettlementoftheContinent，therehadarisenanextraordinarilycleverandunscrupulousmanwho，byalternatelybribingandoverthrowingthegreatmonarchies，hadsoonmadehimselfmasterofthemainland.Hisadmirerswereunwillingtoadmitthepartplayedinhissuccessbythejealousyofhisfoesofeachother’sshareinthebooty，andtheydelightedtoinvesthimwitheverygreatqualitywhichmancouldpossess.Hisenemieswerereadyenoughtoallowhismilitarytalents，buttheywishedtoattributethefirstsuccessofhisnotverydeeppolicytoamarvellousduplicity，apparentlyconsideredbythemthemorewickedaspossessedbyaparvenuemperor，andfarremoved，inamoralpointofview，fromthestatecraftsoallowableinanancientmonarchy.ButforNapoleonhimselfandhisfamilyandCourttherewasliterallynolimittothereallymarvellousinventionsofhisenemies.HemightentereverycapitalontheContinent，buttherewassomeconsolationinbelievingthathehimselfwasamonsterofwickedness，andhisCourtbutthesceneofonelongprotractedorgie.
TherewasenoughagainsttheEmperorintheMemoirstomakethemcomfortablereadingforhisopponents，thoughverymanyoftheoldcalumniesweredisposedofinthem.Theycontainedindeedthenearestapproximationtothetruthwhichhadyetappeared.Metternich，whomusthavebeenagoodjudge，asnomanwasbetteracquaintedwithwhathehimselfcallsthe\"ageofNapoleon，\"saysoftheMemoirs：\"Ifyouwantsomethingtoread，bothinterestingandamusing，gettheM6moiresdeBourrienne.ThesearetheonlyauthenticMemoirsofNapoleonwhichhaveyetappeared.Thestyleisnotbrilliant，butthatonlymakesthemthemeretrustworthy.\"Indeed，MetternichhimselfinhisownMemoirsoftenfollowsagooddealinthelineofBourrienne：amongmanyformalattacks，everynowandthenhelapsesintohalfinvoluntaryandindirectpraiseofhisgreatantagonist，especiallywherehecomparesthemenhehadtodealwithinaftertimeswithhisformerrapidandtalentedinterlocutor.TosomeevenamongtheBonapartists，Bourriennewasnotaltogetherdistasteful.LucienBonaparte，remarkingthatthetimeinwhichBourriennetreatedwithNapoleonasequalwithequaldidnotlastlongenoughforthesecretary，sayshehastakenalittlerevengeinhisMemoirs，justasalover，afterabreakwithhismistress，revealsallherdefects.ButLucienconsidersthatBourriennegivesusagoodenoughideaoftheyoungofficeroftheartillery，ofthegreatGeneral，andoftheFirstConsul.OftheEmperor，saysLucien，hewastoomuchinretirementtobeabletojudgeequallywell.ButLucienwasnotafairrepresentativeoftheBonapartists;indeedhehadneverreallythoughtwellofhisbrotherorofhisactionssinceLucien，theformer\"Brutus\"
Bonaparte，hadceasedtobetheadviseroftheConsul.ItwaswellforLucienhimselftoamassafortunefromthepresentsofacorruptcourt，andtobemadeaPrinceandDukebythePope，buthewastoosincerearepublicannottodisapproveoftheimperialsystem.TherealBonapartistswerenaturallyandinevitablyfuriouswiththeMemoirs.
Theywerenottrue，theywerenottheworkofBourrienne，Bourriennehimselfwasatraitor，apurloinerofmanuscripts，hismemorywasasbadashisprinciples，hewasnotevenentitledtothedebeforehisname.
IftheMemoirswereatalltobepardoned，itwasbecausehissharewasonlyreallyafewnoteswrungfromhimbylargepecuniaryoffersatatimewhenhewaspursuedbyhiscreditors，andwhenhisbrainwasalreadyaffected.
TheBonapartistattackontheMemoirswasdeliveredinfullform，intwovolumes，’BourrienneetsesErreurs，VolontairesetInvolontaires’
（Paris，Heideloff，1830），editedbytheComted’Aure，theOrdonnateurenChefoftheEgyptianexpedition，andcontainingcommunicationsfromJosephBonaparte，Gourgaud，Stein，etc.’
——[Inthenotesinthispresenteditionthesevolumesarereferredtoinbrief’Erreurs’.]——
PartofthesystemofattackwastocallinquestiontheauthenticityoftheMemoirs，andthiswasthemoreeasyasBourrienne，losinghisfortune，diedin1834inastateofimbecility.Butthisplanisnotsystematicallyfollowed，andtheveryreproachesaddressedtothewriteroftheMemoirsoftenshowthatitwasbelievedtheywerereallywrittenbyBourrienne.Theyundoubtedlycontainplentyoffaults.Theeditor（Villemarest，itissaid）probablyhadalargeshareinthework，andBourriennemusthaveforgottenormisplacedmanydatesandoccurrences.
Insuchawork，undertakensomanyyearsaftertheevents，itwasinevitablethatmanyerrorsshouldbemade，andthatmanystatementsshouldbeatleastdebatable.ButoncloseinvestigationtheworkstandstheattackinawaythatwouldbeimpossibleunlessithadreallybeenwrittenbyapersoninthepeculiarpositionoccupiedbyBourrienne.Hehasassuredlynotexaggeratedthatposition：hereally，saysLucienBonaparte，treatedasequalwithequalwithNapoleonduringapartofhiscareer，andhecertainlywasthenearestfriendandconfidantthatNapoleoneverhadinhislife.
Wherehefails，orwheretheBonapartistfireismosttelling，isintheaccountoftheEgyptianexpedition.Itmayseemoddthatheshouldhaveforgotten，eveninsomethirtyyears，detailssuchasthewayinwhichthesickwereremoved;butsuchmatterswerenotinhisprovince;anditwouldbeeasytomatchsimilaromissionsinotherworks，suchastheaccountsoftheCrimea，andstillmoreofthePeninsula.ItiswithhispersonalrelationswithNapoleonthatwearemostconcerned，anditisinthemthathisaccountreceivesmostcorroboration.
ItmaybeinterestingtoseewhathasbeensaidoftheMemoirsbyotherwriters.WehavequotedMetternich，andLucienBonaparte;letushearMeneval，hissuccessor，whoremainedfaithfultohismastertotheend：
\"AbsoluteconfidencecannotbegiventostatementscontainedinMemoirspublishedunderthenameofamanwhohasnotcomposedthem.ItisknownthattheeditoroftheseMemoirsofferedtoM.deBourrienne，whohadthentakenrefugeinHolsteinfromhiscreditors，asumsaidtobethirtythousandfrancstoobtainhissignaturetothem，withsomenotesandaddenda.M.deBourriennewasalreadyattackedbythediseasefromwhichhediedafewyearslatterinamaisondesanteatCaen.Manyliterarymenco—operatedinthepreparationofhisMemoirs.In1825ImetM.deBourrienneinParis.HetoldmeithadbeensuggestedtohimtowriteagainsttheEmperor.’Notwithstandingtheharmhehasdoneme，’saidhe，’Iwouldneverdoso.Soonermaymyhandbewithered.’IfM.deBourriennehadpreparedhisMemoirshimself，hewouldnothavestatedthatwhilehewastheEmperor’sministeratHamburgheworkedwiththeagentsoftheComtedeLille（LouisXVIII.）atthepreparationofproclamationsinfavourofthatPrince，andthatin1814heacceptedthethanksoftheKing，LouisXVIII.，fordoingso;hewouldnothavesaidthatNapoleonhadconfidedtohimin1805thathehadneverconceivedtheideaofanexpeditionintoEngland，andthattheplanofalanding，thepreparationsforwhichhegavesuchpublicityto，wasonlyasnaretoamusefools.TheEmperorwellknewthatneverwasthereaplanmoreseriouslyconceivedormorepositivelysettled.M.deBourriennewouldnothavespokenofhisprivateinterviewswithNapoleon，noroftheallegedconfidencesentrustedtohim，whilereallyNapoleonhadnolongerreceivedhimafterthe20thOctober1802.WhentheEmperor，in1805，forgettinghisfaults，namedhimMinisterPlenipotentiaryatHamburg，hegrantedhimthecustomaryaudience，buttothisfavourhedidnotaddthereturnofhisformerfriendship.Bothbeforeandafterwardsheconstantlyrefusedtoreceivehim，andhedidnotcorrespondwithhim\"（Meneval，ii.378—79）.AndinanotherpassageMenevalsays：\"Besides，itwouldbewrongtoregardtheseMemoirsastheworkofthemanwhosenametheybear.ThebitterresentmentM.deBourriennehadnourishedforhisdisgrace，theenfeeblementofhisfaculties，andthepovertyhewasreducedto，renderedhimaccessibletothepecuniaryoffersmadetohim.
HeconsentedtogivetheauthorityofhisnametoMemoirsinwhosecompositionhehadonlyco—operatedbyincomplete，confused，andofteninexactnotes，materialswhichaneditorwasemployedtoputinorder.\"
AndMeneval（iii.29—30）goesontoquotewhathehimselfhadwrittenintheSpectateurMilitaire，inwhichhemakesmuchthesameassertions，andespeciallyobjectstotheaccountofconversationswiththeEmperorafter1802，exceptalwaystheoneaudienceontakingleaveforHamburg.
MenevalalsosaysthatNapoleon，whenhewishedtoobtainintelligencefromHamburg，didnotcorrespondwithBourrienne，butdeputedhim，Meneval，toaskBourrienneforwhatwaswanted.ButhecorroboratesBourrienneonthesubjectoftheeffortsmade，amongothersbyJosephine，forhisreappointment.
SucharethestatementsoftheBonaparistspure;andthereader，ashasbeensaid，canjudgeforhimselfhowfartheattackisgood.Bourrienne，orhiseditor，maywellhaveconfusedthedateofhisinterviews，buthewillnotbefoundmuchastrayonmanypoints.HisaccountoftheconversationofJosephineafterthedeathoftheDued’EughienmaybecomparedwithwhatweknowfromMadamedeRemusat，who，bytheway，wouldhavebeenhorrifiedifshehadknownthatheconsideredhertoresembletheEmpressJosephineincharacter.
WenowcometotheviewsofSavary，theDuedeRovigo，whoavowedlyremainedongoodtermswithBourrienneafterhisdisgrace，thoughthefriendshipofSavarywasnotexactlyathingthatmostmenwouldhavemuchpridedthemselveson.\"Bourriennehadaprodigiousmemory;hespokeandwroteinseverallanguages，andhispenranasquicklyasonecouldspeak.Norwerethesetheonlyadvantageshepossessed.Heknewtheroutineofpublicbusinessandpubliclaw.HisactivityanddevotionmadehimindispensabletotheFirstConsul.Iknewthequalitieswhichwonforhimtheunlimitedconfidenceofhischief，butIcannotspeakwiththesameassuranceofthefaultswhichmadehimloseit.Bourriennehadmanyenemies，bothonaccountofhischaracterandofhisplace\"
（Savary，i.418—19）.
MarmontoughttobeanimpartialcriticoftheMemoirs.Hesays，\"Bourriennehadaverygreatcapacity，butheisastrikingexampleofthegreattruththatourpassionsarealwaysbadcounsellors.
Byinspiringuswithanimmoderateardourtoreachafixedend，theyoftenmakeusmissit.Bourriennehadanimmoderateloveofmoney.WithhistalentsandhispositionnearBonaparteatthefirstdawnofgreatness，withtheconfidenceandrealgood—willwhichBonapartefeltforhim，inafewyearshewouldhavegainedeverythinginfortuneandinsocialposition.Buthiseagerimpatienceminedhiscareeratthemomentwhenitmighthavedevelopedandincreased\"（Marmont，i.64）.Thecriticismappearsjust.AstotheMemoirs，Marmontsays（ii.224），\"Ingeneral，theseMemoirsareofgreatveracityandpowerfulinterestsolongastheytreatofwhattheauthorhasseenandheard;butwhenhespeaksofothers，hisworkisonlyanassemblageofgratuitoussuppositionsandoffalsefactsputforwardforspecialpurposes.\"
TheComteAlexandredePuymaigre，whoarrivedatHamburghsoonafterBourriennehadleftitin1810，says（page135）ofthepartoftheMemoirswhichrelatestoHamburg，\"Imustacknowledgethatgenerallyhisassertionsarewellfounded.ThisformercompanionofNapoleonhasonlyforgottentospeakoftheopinionthattheyhadofhiminthistown.
\"Thetruthis，thathewasbelievedtohavemademuchmoneythere.\"
ThuswemaytakeBourrienneasaclever，ableman，whowouldhaverisentothehighesthonoursundertheEmpirehadnothisshort—sightedgraspingafterlucredrivenhimfromoffice，andpreventedhimfromeverregainingitunderNapoleon.
InthepresenteditionthetranslationhasbeencarefullycomparedwiththeoriginalFrenchtext.Whereintheoriginaltextinformationisgivenwhichhasnowbecomemerematterofhistory，andwhereBourriennemerelyquotesthedocumentswellenoughknownatthisday，hispossessionofwhichformspartofthechargesofhisopponents，advantagehasbeentakentolightenthemassoftheMemoirs.Thishasbeendoneespeciallywheretheydealwithwhatthewriterdidnothimselfseeorhear，thepartoftheMemoirswhichareofleastvalveandofwhichMarmont’sopinionhasjustbeenquoted.ButinthepersonalandmorevaluablepartoftheMemoirs，wherewehavetheactualknowledgeofthesecretaryhimself，theoriginaltexthasbeeneitherfullyretained，orsomefewpassagespreviouslyomittedrestored.IllustrativenoteshavebeenaddedfromtheMemoirsofthesuccessorofBourrienne，Meneval，MadamedeRemusat，theworksofColonelIungon’BonaparteetSonTemps’，andon’LucienBonaparte’，etc.，andotherbooks.Attentionhasalsobeenpaidtotheattacksofthe’Erreurs’，andwhereverthesecriticismsaremorethanamereexpressionofdisagreement，theirpurporthasbeenrecordedwith，wherepossible，somejudgmentoftheevidence.Thusthereaderwillhavebeforehimthematerialsfordecidinghimselfhowfar，Bourrienne’sstatementsareinagreementwiththefactsandwiththeaccountsofotherwriters.
AtthepresenttimetoomuchattentionhasbeenpaidtotheMemoirsofMadamedeRemusat.She，asalsoMadameJunot，wasthewifeofamanonwhomthefullshowerofimperialfavoursdidnotdescend，and，womanlike，shesawandthoughtonlyoftheCourtlifeofthegreatmanwhowasneverlessgreatthaninhisCourt.SheisequallyastonishedandindignantthattheEmperor，comingstraightfromlonghoursofworkwithhisministersandwithhissecretary，couldnotfindsoftwordsfortheladiesoftheCourt，andthat，ahorriblethingintheeyesofaFrenchwoman，whenamistressthrewherselfintohisarms，hefirstthoughtofwhatpoliticalknowledgehecouldobtainfromher.
Bourrienne，ontheotherhand，showsustheotherandthereallyimportantsideofNapoleon’scharacter.HetellsusofthelonghoursintheCabinet，ofthenever—restingactivityoftheConsul，ofNapoleon’sdreams，noignobledreamsandoftenrealised，ofgreatlaboursofpeaceaswellasofwar.Heisawitness，andthemorevaluableasareluctantone，tothemarvellouspowersofthemanwho，ifnotthegreatest，wasatleasttheonemostfullyendowedwitheverygreatqualityofmindandbodytheworldhaseverseen.
R.W.P.
AUTHOR’SINTRODUCTION.
Thetradinguponanillustriousnamecanalonehavegivenbirthtothemultitudeofpublicationsunderthetitlesofhistoricalmemoirs，secretmemoirs，andotherrhapsodieswhichhaveappearedrespectingNapoleon.
Onlookingintothemitisdifficulttodeterminewhethertheimpudenceofthewritersorthesimplicityofcertainreadersismostastonishing.
Yettheserudeandilldigestedcompilations，filledwithabsurdanecdotes，fabricatedspeeches，fictitiouscrimesorvirtues，anddisfiguredbynumerousanachronisms，insteadofbeingconsignedtojustcontemptandspeedyoblivion，havebeenpushedintonoticebyspeculators，andhavefoundzealouspartisansandenthusiasticapologists.
——[ThisIntroductionhasbeenreprintedasbearinguponthecharacterofthework，butrefersveryoftentoeventsofthedayatthetimeofitsfirstappearance.]——
ForatimeIentertainedtheideaofnoticing，onebyone，thenumerouserrorswhichhavebeenwrittenrespectingNapoleon;butIhaverenouncedataskwhichwouldhavebeentoolaborioustomyself，andverytedioustothereader.Ishallthereforeonlycorrectthosewhichcomewithintheplanofmywork，andwhichareconnectedwiththosefacts，toamoreaccurateknowledgeofwhichthananyotherpersoncanpossessImaylayclaim.TherearemenwhoimaginethatnothingdonebyNapoleonwilleverbeforgotten;butmustnottheslowbutinevitableinfluenceoftimebeexpectedtooperatewithrespecttohim？Theeffectofthatinfluenceis，thatthemostimportanteventofanepochsoonsinks，almostimperceptiblyandalmostdisregarded，intotheimmensemassofhistoricalfacts.Time，initsprogress，diminishestheprobabilityaswellastheinterestofsuchanevent，asitgraduallywearsawaythemostdurablemonuments.
IattachonlyarelativeimportancetowhatIamabouttolaybeforethepublic.Ishallgiveauthenticdocuments.IfallpersonswhohaveapproachedNapoleon，atanytimeandinanyplace，wouldcandidlyrecordwhattheysawandheard，withoutpassion，thefuturehistorianwouldberichinmaterials.ItismywishthathewhomayundertakethedifficulttaskofwritingthehistoryofNapoleonshallfindinmynotesinformationusefultotheperfectionofhiswork.Therehewillatleastfindtruth.IhavenottheambitiontowishthatwhatIstateshouldbetakenasabsoluteauthority;butIhopethatitwillalwaysbeconsulted.
IhaveneverbeforepublishedanythingrespectingNapoleon.Thatmalevolencewhichfastensitselfuponmenwhohavethemisfortunetobesomewhatseparatedfromthecrowdhas，becausethereisalwaysmoreprofitinsayingillthangood，attributedtomeseveralworksonBonaparte;amongothers，’LesMemoiressecretsd’unHomnaequinel’apasquitte’，parM.B———————，and’MemoiressecretssurNapoleonBonaparte，parM.deB——————，and’LePrecisHistoriquesurNapoleon’.Theinitialofmynamehasservedtopropagatethiserror.Theincredibleignorancewhichrunsthroughthosememoirs，theabsurditiesandinconceivablesillinesswithwhichtheyabound，donotpermitamanofhonourandcommonsensetoallowsuchwretchedrhapsodiestobeimputedtohim.I
declaredin1816，andatlaterperiodsintheFrenchandforeignjournals，thatIhadnohandinthosepublications，andI
hereformallyrepeatthisdeclaration.
Butitmaybesaidtome，Whyshouldweplacemoreconfidenceinyouthaninthosewhohavewrittenbeforeyou？
Myreplyshallbeplain.IenterthelistsoneofthelastIhavereadallthatmypredecessorshavepublishedconfidentthatallIstateistrue.Ihavenointerestindeceiving，nodisgracetofear，norewardtoexpect.Ietherwishtoobscurenorembellishhisglory.HowevergreatNapoleonmayhavebeen，washenotalsoliabletopayhistributetotheweaknessofhumannature？IspeakofNapoleonsuchasIhaveseenhim，knownhim，frequentlyadmiredandsometimesblamedhim.IstatewhatI
saw，heard，wrote，andthoughtatthetime，undereachcircumstancethatoccurred.Ihavenotallowedmyselftobecarriedawaybytheillusionsoftheimagination，nortobeinfluencedbyfriendshiporhatred.I
shallnotinsertasinglereflectionwhichdidnotoccurtomeattheverymomentoftheeventwhichgaveitbirth.HowmanytransactionsanddocumentswerethereoverwhichIcouldbutlament！——howmanymeasures，contrarytomyviews，tomyprinciples，andtomycharacter！——whilethebestintentionswereincapableofovercomingdifficultieswhichamostpowerfulanddecidedwillrenderedalmostinsurmountable.
IalsowishthefuturehistoriantocomparewhatIsaywithwhatothershaverelatedormayrelate.Butitwillbenecessaryforhimtoattendtodates，circumstances，differenceofsituation，changeoftemperament，andage，——foragehasmuchinfluenceovermen.Wedonotthinkandactatfiftyasattwenty—five.Byexercisingthiscautionhewillbeabletodiscoverthetruth，andtoestablishanopinionforposterity.
ThereadermustnotexpecttofindintheseMemoirsanuninterruptedseriesofalltheeventswhichmarkedthegreatcareerofNapoleon;nordetailsofallthosebattles，withtherecitalofwhichsomanyeminentmenhaveusefullyandablyoccupiedthemselves.IshallsaylittleaboutwhateverIdidnotseeorhear，andwhichisnotsupportedbyofficialdocuments.
PerhapsIshallsucceedinconfirmingtruthswhichhavebeendoubted，andincorrectingerrorswhichhavebeenadopted.IfIsometimesdifferfromtheobservationsandstatementsofNapoleonatSt.Helena，Iamfarfromsupposingthatthosewhoundertooktobethemediumofcommunicationbetweenhimandthepublichavemisrepresentedwhathesaid.IamwellconvincedthatnoneofthewritersofSt.Helenacanbetaxedwiththeslightestdeception;disinterestedzealandnoblenessofcharacterareundoubtedpledgesoftheirveracity.ItappearstomeperfectlycertainthatNapoleonstated，dictated，orcorrectedalltheyhavepublished.
Theirhonourisunquestionable;noonecandoubtit.Thattheywrotewhathecommunicatedmustthereforebebelieved;butitcannotwithequalconfidencebecreditedthatwhathecommunicatedwasnothingbutthetruth.Heseemsoftentohaverelatedasafactwhatwasreallyonlyanidea，——anidea，too，broughtforthatSt.Helena，thechildofmisfortune，andtransportedbyhisimaginationtoEuropeinthetimeofhisprosperity.Hisfavouritephrase，whichwaseverymomentonhislips，mustnotbeforgotten——\"Whatwillhistorysay——whatwillposteritythink？\"Thispassionforleavingbehindhimacelebratednameisonewhichbelongstotheconstitutionofthehumanmind;andwithNapoleonitsinfluencewasexcessive.InhisfirstItaliancampaignhewrotethustoGeneralClarke：\"Thatambitionandtheoccupationofhighofficeswerenotsufficientforhissatisfactionandhappiness，whichhehadearlyplacedintheopinionofEuropeandtheesteemofposterity.\"Heoftenobservedtomethatwithhimtheopinionofposteritywastherealimmortalityofthesoul.
ItmayeasilybeconceivedthatNapoleonwishedtogivetothedocumentswhichheknewhistorianswouldconsultafavourablecolour，andtodirect，accordingtohisownviews，thejudgmentofposterityonhisactions：Butitisonlybytheimpartialcomparisonofperiods，positions，andagethatawellfoundeddecisionwillbegiven.AbouthisfortiethyearthephysicalconstitutionofNapoleonsustainedconsiderablechange;anditmaybepresumedthathismoralqualitieswereaffectedbythatchange.Itisparticularlyimportantnottolosesightoftheprematuredecayofhishealth，which，perhaps，didnotpermithimalwaysto，possessthevigourofmemoryotherwiseconsistentenoughwithhisage.Thestateofourorganisationoftenmodifiesourrecollections，ourfeelings，ourmannerofviewingobjects，andtheimpressionswereceive.Thiswillbetakenintoconsiderationbyjudiciousandthinkingmen;andforthemIwrite.
WhatM.deLasCasasstatesNapoleontohavesaidinMay1816onthemannerofwritinghishistorycorroboratestheopinionIhaveexpressed.
Itprovesthatallthefactsandobservationshecommunicatedordictatedweremeanttoserveasmaterials.WelearnfromtheMemorialthatM.deLasCasaswrotedaily，andthatthemanuscriptwasreadoverbyNapoleon，whooftenmadecorrectionswithhisownhand.Theideaofajournalpleasedhimgreatly.Hefancieditwouldbeaworkofwhichtheworldcouldaffordnootherexample.Buttherearepassagesinwhichtheorderofeventsisderanged;inothersfactsaremisrepresentedanderroneousassertionsaremade，Iapprehend，notaltogetherinvoluntarily.
Ihavepaidparticularattentiontoallthathasbeenpublishedbythenobleparticipatorsoftheimperialcaptivity.Nothing，however，couldinducemetochangeawordintheseMemoirs，becausenothingcouldtakefrommemyconvictionofthetruthofwhatIpersonallyheardandsaw.
ItwillbefoundthatNapoleoninhisprivateconversationsoftenconfirmswhatIstate;butwesometimesdiffer，andthepublicmustjudgebetweenus.However，Imustheremakeoneobservation.
WhenNapoleondictatedorrelatedtohisfriendsinSt.Helenathefactswhichtheyhavereportedhewasoutoftheworld，——hehadplayedhispart.Fortune，which，accordingtohisnotions，hadconferredonhimallhispowerandgreatness，hadrecalledallhergiftsbeforehesankintothetomb.Hisrulingpassionwouldinducehimtothinkthatitwasduetohisglorytoclearupcertainfactswhichmightproveanunfavourableescortiftheyaccompaniedhimtoposterity.Thiswashisfixedidea.
Butistherenotsomegroundforsuspectingthefidelityofhimwhowritesordictateshisownhistory？WhymighthenotimposeonafewpersonsinSt.Helena，whenhewasabletoimposeonFranceandEurope，respectingmanyactswhichemanatedfromhimduringthelongdurationofhispower？ThelifeofNapoleonwouldbeveryunfaithfullywrittenweretheauthortoadoptastrueallhisbulletinsandproclamations，andallthedeclarationshemadeatSt.Helena.Suchahistorywouldfrequentlybeincontradictiontofacts;andsuchonlyisthatwhichmightbeentitled，’TheHistoryofNapoleon，writtenbyHimself’.
IhavesaidthusmuchbecauseitismywishthattheprincipleswhichhaveguidedmeinthecompositionoftheseMemoirsmaybeunderstood.
Iamawarethattheywillnotpleaseeveryreader;thatisasuccesstowhichIcannotpretend.Somemerit，however，maybeallowedmeonaccountofthelabourIhaveundergone.Ithasneitherbeenofaslightnoranagreeablekind.ImadeitaruletoreadeverythingthathasbeenwrittenrespectingNapoleon，andIhavehadtodeciphermanyofhisautographdocuments，thoughnolongersofamiliarwithhisscrawlasformerly.Isaydecipher，becausearealciphermightoftenbemuchmorereadilyunderstoodthanthehandwritingofNapoleon.Myownnotes，too，whichwereoftenveryhastilymade，inthehandIwroteinmyyouth，havesometimesalsomuchembarrassedme.
MylongandintimateconnectionwithBonapartefromboyhood，mycloserelationswithhimwhenGeneral，Consul，andEmperor，enabledmetoseeandappreciateallthatwasprojectedandallthatwasdoneduringthatconsiderableandmomentousperiodoftime.Inotonlyhadtheopportunityofbeingpresentattheconceptionandtheexecutionoftheextraordinarydeedsofoneoftheablestmennatureeverformed，but，notwithstandinganalmostunceasingapplicationtobusiness，IfoundmeanstoemploythefewmomentsofleisurewhichBonaparteleftatmydisposalinmakingnotes，collectingdocuments，andinrecordingforhistoryfactsrespectingwhichthetruthcouldotherwisewithdifficultybeascertained;andmoreparticularlyincollectingthoseideas，oftenprofound，brilliant，andstriking，butalwaysremarkable，towhichBonapartegaveexpressionintheoverflowingfranknessofconfidentialintimacy.
TheknowledgethatIpossessedmuchimportantinformationhasexposedmetomanyinquiries，andwhereverIhaveresidedsincemyretirementfrompublicaffairsmuchofmytimehasbeenspentinreplyingtoquestions.
Thewishtobeacquaintedwiththemostminutedetailsofthelifeofamanformedonanunexampledmdel[？？D.W.]isverynatural;andtheobservationonmyrepliesbythosewhoheardthemalwayswas，\"YoushouldpublishyourMemoirs！\"
IhadcertainlyalwaysinviewthepublicationofmyMemoirs;but，atthesametime，IwasfirmlyresolvednottopublishthemuntilaperiodshouldarriveinwhichImighttellthetruth，andthewholetruth.
WhileNapoleonwasinthepossessionofpowerIfeltitrighttoresisttheurgentapplicationsmadetomeonthis~Subjectbysomepersonsofthehighestdistinction.Truthwouldthenhavesometimesappearedflattery，andsometimes，also，itmightnothavebeenwithoutdanger.
Afterwards，whentheprogressofeventsremovedBonapartetoafardistantislandinthemidstoftheocean，silencewasimposedonmebyotherconsiderations，—byconsiderationsofproprietyandfeeling.
AfterthedeathofBonaparte，atSt.Helena，reasonsofadifferentnatureretardedtheexecutionofmyplan.Thetranquillityofasecludedretreatwasindispensableforpreparingandputtinginordertheabundantmaterialsinmypossession.Ifounditalsonecessarytoreadagreatnumberofworks，inordertorectifyimportanterrorstowhichthewantofauthenticdocumentshadinducedtheauthorstogivecredit.Thismuch—desiredretreatwasfound.Ihadthegoodfortunetobeintroduced，throughafriend，totheDuchessedeBrancas，andthatladyinvitedmetopasssometimeononeofherestatesinHainault.Receivedwiththemostagreeablehospitality，Ihavethereenjoyedthattranquillitywhichcouldalonehaverenderedthepublicationofthesevolumespracticable.
FAUVELETDEBOURRIENNE
NOTE.
TheEditorofthe1836editionhadaddedtotheMemoirsseveralchapterstakenfromorfoundedonotherworksofthetime，soastomakeamorecompletehistoryoftheperiod.Thesematerialshavebeenmostlyretained，butwiththecorrectionswhichlaterpublicationshavemadenecessary.Achapterhasnowbeenaddedtogive，abriefaccountofthepartplayedbythechiefhistoricalpersonagesduringtheCentTours，andanotherattheendtoincludetheremovalofthebodyofNapoleonfromSt.HelenatoFrance.
Twospecialimprovementshave，itishoped，beenmadeinthisedition.
Greatcarehasbeentakentogetnames，dates，andfiguresrightlygiven，——pointsmuchneglectedinmosttranslations，thoughinsomefewcases，suchasDavoust，theordinarybutnotstrictlycorrectspellinghasbeenfollowedtosuitthegeneralreader.Thenumberofreferencestootherworkswhicharegiveninthenoteswall，itisbelieved，beofusetoanyonewishingtocontinuethestudyofthehistoryofNapoleon，andmaypreservethemfrommanyoftheerrorstoooftencommitted.ThepresentEditorhashadthegreatadvantageofhavinghisworksharedbyMr.RichardBentley，whohasbroughthisknowledgeoftheperiodtobear，andwhohasfound，asonlyabusymancoulddo，thetimetominutelyenterintoeveryfreshdetail，withtheardourwhichsoonseizesanyonewholongfollowsthatenticingpursuit，thespecialstudyofanhistoricalperiod.
January1885
R.W.P.
MEMOIRS
ofNAPOLEONBONAPARTE.
CHAPTER1
1769—1783.
AuthenticdateofBonaparte’sbirth——HisfamilyrainedbytheJesuits——Histasteformilitaryamusements——ShamsiegeattheCollegeofBrienne——Theporter’swifeandNapoleon——MyintimacywithBonaparteatcollege——Hisloveforthemathematics，andhisdislikeofLatin——HedefendsPaoliandblameshisfather——Heisridiculedbyhiscomrades——Ignoranceofthemonks——DistributionofprizesatBrienne——MadamedeMontessonandtheDukeofOrleans——ReportofM.
KeralioonBonaparte——HeleavesBrienne.
NAPOLEONBONAPARTEwasbornatAjaccio，inCorsica，onthe15thofAugust1769;theoriginalorthographyofhisnamewasBuonaparte，buthesuppressedtheduringhisfirstcampaigninItaly.Hismotivesforsodoingweremerelytorenderthespellingconformablewiththepronunciation，andtoabridgehissignature.HesignedBuonaparteevenafterthefamous13thVendemiaire.
Ithasbeenaffirmedthathewasbornin1768，andthatherepresentedhimselftobeayearyoungerthanhereallywas.Thisisuntrue.Healwaystoldmethe9thofAugustwashisbirthday，and，asIwasbornonthe9thofJuly1769，ourproximityofageservedtostrengthenourunionandfriendshipwhenwewerebothattheMilitaryCollegeofBrienne.
ThefalseandabsurdchargeofBonapartehavingmisrepresentedhisage，isdecidedlyrefutedbyanoteintheregisterofM.Berton，sub—
principaloftheCollegeofBrienne，inwhichitisstatedthatM.NapoleondeBuonaparte，ecuyer，borninthecityofAjaccio，inCorsica，onthe15thofAugust1769，lefttheRoyalMilitaryCollegeofBrienneonthe17thOctober1784.
Thestoriesabouthislowextractionarealikedevoidoffoundation.Hisfamilywaspoor，andhewaseducatedatthepublicexpense，anadvantageofwhichmanyhonourablefamiliesavailedthemselves.Amemorialaddressedbyhisfather，CharlesBuonaparte，totheMinisterofWarstatesthathisfortunehadbeenreducedbythefailureofsomeenterpriseinwhichhehadengaged，andbytheinjusticeoftheJesuits，bywhomhehadbeendeprivedofaninheritance.Theobjectofthismemorialwastosolicitasub—lieutenant’scommissionforNapoleon，whowasthenfourteenyearsofage，andtogetLucienenteredapupiloftheMilitaryCollege.TheMinisterwroteonthebackofthememorial，\"Givetheusualanswer，iftherebeavacancy;\"andonthemarginarethesewords——\"ThisgentlemanhasbeeninformedthathisrequestisinadmissibleaslongashissecondsonremainsattheschoolofBrienne.Twobrotherscannotbeplacedatthesametimeinthemilitaryschools.\"WhenNapoleonwasfifteenhewassenttoParisuntilheshouldattaintherequisiteageforenteringthearmy.LucienwasnotreceivedintotheCollegeofBrienne，atleastnotuntilhisbrotherhadquittedtheMilitarySchoolofParis.
Bonapartewasundoubtedlyamanofgoodfamily.Ihaveseenanauthenticaccountofhisgenealogy，whichheobtainedfromTuscany.AgreatdealhasbeensaidaboutthecivildissensionswhichforcedhisfamilytoquitItalyandtakerefugeinCorsica.OnthissubjectIshallsaynothing.
ManyandvariousaccountshavebeengivenofBonaparte’syouth.
——[ThefollowinginterestingtraitofNapoleon’schildhoodisderivedfromthe’MemoirsoftheDuchessed’Arbranes’：——\"Hewasonedayaccusedbyoneofhissistersofhavingeatenabasketfulofgrapes，figs，andcitrons，whichhadcomefromthegardenofhisuncletheCanon.NonebutthosewhowereacquaintedwiththeBonapartefamilycanformanyideaoftheenormityofthisoffence.
ToeatfruitbelongingtotheuncletheCanonwasinfinitelymorecriminalthantoeatgrapesandfigswhichmightbeclaimedbyanybodyelse.Aninquirytookplace.Napoleon.deniedthefact，andwaswhipped.Hewastoldthatifhewouldbegpardonheshouldbeforgiven.Heprotestedthathewasinnocent，buthewasnotbelieved.IfIrecollectrightly，hismotherwasatthetimeonavisittoM.deMarbeuf，orsomeotherfriend.TheresultofNapoleon’sobstinacywas，thathewaskeptthreewholedaysonbreadandcheese，andthatcheesewasnot’broccio’.However，bewouldnotcry：hewasdull，butnotsulky.Atlength，onthefourthdayofhispunishmentalittlefriendofMarianneBonapartereturnedfromthecountry，andonhearingofNapoleon’sdisgracesheconfessedthatsheandMariannehadeatenthefruit.ItwasnowMarianne’sturntobepunished.WhenNapoleonwasaskedwhyhehadnotaccusedhissister，herepliedthatthoughhesuspectedthatshewasguilty，yetoutofconsiderationtoherlittlefriend，whohadnoshareinthefalsehood，hehadsaidnothing.Hewasthenonlysevenyearsofage\"（vol.i.p.9，edit.1883）.]——
Hehasbeendescribedintermsofenthusiasticpraiseandexaggeratedcondemnation.Itiseverthuswithindividualswhobytalentorfavourablecircumstancesareraisedabovetheirfellow—creatures.
Bonapartehimselflaughedatallthestorieswhichweregotupforthepurposeofembellishingorblackeninghischaracterinearlylife.
Ananonymouspublication，entitledthe’HistoryofNapoleonBonaparte’，fromhisBirthtohislastabdication，containsperhapsthegreatestcollectionoffalseandridiculousdetailsabouthisboyhood.Amongotherthings，itisstatedthathefortifiedagardentoprotecthimselffromtheattacksofhiscomrades，who，afewlineslowerdown，aredescribedastreatinghimwithesteemandrespect.Irememberthecircumstanceswhich，probably，gaverisetothefabricationinsertedintheworkjustmentioned;theywereasfollows.
Duringthewinterof1783—84，somemorableforheavyfallsofsnow，Napoleonwasgreatlyatalossforthoseretiredwalksandoutdoorrecreationsinwhichheusedtotakemuchdelight.Hehadnoalternativebuttominglewithhiscomrades，and，forexercise，towalkwiththemupanddownaspacioushall.Napoleon，wearyofthismonotonouspromenade，toldhiscomradesthathethoughttheymightamusethemselvesmuchbetterwiththesnow，inthegreatcourtyard，iftheywouldgetshovelsandmakehornworks，digtrenches，raiseparapets，cavaliers，etc.\"Thisbeingdone，\"saidhe，\"wemaydivideourselvesintosections，formasiege，andIwillundertaketodirecttheattacks.\"Theproposal，whichwasreceivedwithenthusiasm，wasimmediatelyputintoexecution.Thislittleshamwarwascarriedonforthespaceofafortnight，anddidnotceaseuntilaquantityofgravelandsmallstoneshavinggotmixedwiththesnowofwhichwemadeourbullets，manyofthecombatants，besiegersaswellasbesieged，wereseriouslywounded.IwellrememberthatIwasoneoftheworstsufferersfromthissortofgrapeshotfire.
Itisalmostunnecessarytocontradictthestoryabouttheascentintheballoon.ItisnowverywellknownthattheheroofthatheadlongadventurewasnotyoungBonaparte，ashasbeenalleged，butoneofhiscomrades，DudontdeChambon，whowassomewhateccentric.Ofthishissubsequentconductaffordedsufficientproofs.
Bonaparte’smindwasdirectedtoobjectsofatotallydifferentkind.
Heturnedhisattentiontopoliticalscience.DuringsomeofhisvacationsheenjoyedthesocietyoftheAbbyRaynal，whousedtoconversewithhimongovernment，legislation，commercialrelations，etc.
Onfestivaldays，whentheinhabitantsofBriennewereadmittedtoouramusements，postswereestablishedforthemaintenanceoforder.Nobodywaspermittedtoentertheinteriorofthebuildingwithoutacardsignedbytheprincipal，orvice—principal.Therankofofficersorsub—
officerswasconferredaccordingtomerit;andBonaparteonedayhadthecommandofapost，whenthefollowinglittleadventureoccurred，whichaffordsaninstanceofhisdecisionofcharacter.
Thewifeoftheporteroftheschool，——[Thiswoman，namedHaute，wasafterwardsplacedatMalmaison，withherhusband.TheybothdiedasconciergesofMalmaison.ThisshowsthatNapoleonhadamemory.——Bourrienne.]——
whowasverywellknown，becausesheusedtosellmilk，fruit，etc.，tothepupils，presentedherselfoneSaintLouisdayforadmittancetotherepresentationofthe’DeathofCaesar，corrected’，inwhichIwastoperformthepartofBrutus.Asthewomanhadnoticket，andinsistedonbeingadmittedwithoutone，somedisturbancearose.Theserjeantofthepostreportedthemattertotheofficer，NapoleonBonaparte，whoinanimperioustoneofvoiceexclaimed：\"Sendawaythatwoman，whocomesherewithhercampimpudence.\"Thiswasin1782.
BonaparteandIwereeightyearsof，agewhenourfriendshipcommenced.
Itspeedilybecameveryintimate，fortherewasacertainsympathyofheartbetweenus.Ienjoyedthisfriendshipandintimacyuntil1784，whenhewastransferredfromtheMilitaryCollegeofBriennetothatofParis.Iwasoneamongthoseofhisyouthfulcomradeswhocouldbestaccommodatethemselvestohissterncharacter.Hisnaturalreserve，hisdispositiontomeditateontheconquestofCorsica，andtheimpressionshehadreceivedinchildhoodrespectingthemisfortunesofhiscountryandhisfamily，ledhimtoseekretirement，andrenderedhisgeneraldemeanour，thoughinappearanceonly，somewhatunpleasing.Ourequalityofagebroughtustogetherintheclassesofthemathematicsand’belleslettres’.Hisardentwishtoacquireknowledgewasremarkablefromtheverycommencementofhisstudies.WhenhefirstcametothecollegehespokeonlytheCorsicandialect，andtheSieurDupuis，——[HeafterwardsfilledthepoutoflibrariantoNapoleonatMalmaison.]——
whowasvice—principalbeforeFatherBerton，gavehiminstructionsintheFrenchlanguage.InthishemadesuchrapidprogressthatinashorttimehecommencedthefirstrudimentsofLatin.Buttothisstudyheevincedsucharepugnancethatattheageoffifteenhewasnotoutofthefourthclass.ThereIlefthimveryspeedily;butIcouldnevergetbeforehiminthemathematicalclass，inwhichhewasundoubtedlythecleverestladatthecollege.IusedsometimestohelphimwithhisLatinthemesandversionsinreturnfortheaidheaffordedmeinthesolutionofproblems，atwhichheevincedadegreeofreadinessandfacilitywhichperfectlyastonishedme.
WhenatBrienne，Bonapartewasremarkableforthedarkcolorofhiscomplexion（which，subsequently，theclimateofFrancesomewhatchanged），forhispiercingandscrutinisingglance，andforthestyleofhisconversationbothwithhismastersandcomrades.Hisconversationalmostalwaysboretheappearanceofill—humour，andhewascertainlynotveryamiable.ThisIattributetothemisfortuneshisfamilyhadsustainedandtheimpressionsmadeonhismindbytheconquestofhiscountry.
ThepupilswereinvitedbyturnstodinewithFatherBerton，theheadoftheschool.Oneday，itbeingBonaparte’sturntoenjoythisindulgence，someoftheprofessorswhowereattabledesignedlymadesomedisrespectfulremarksonPaoli，ofwhomtheyknewtheyoungCorsicanwasanenthusiasticadmirer.\"Paoli，\"observedBonaparte，\"wasagreatman;
helovedhiscountry;andIwillneverforgivemyfather，whowashisadjutant，forhavingconcurredintheunionofCorsicawithFrance.HeoughttohavefollowedPaoli’sfortune，andhavefallenwithhim.\"
——[TheDuchessed’Abrantes，speakingofthepersonalcharacteristicsofBonaparteinyouthandmanhood，says，\"SaveriatoldmethatNapoleonwasneveraprettyboy，asJosephwas，forexample：hisheadalwaysappearedtoolargeforhisbody，adefectcommontotheBonapartefamily.WhenNapoleongrewup，thepeculiarcharmofhiscountenancelayinhiseye，especiallyinthemildexpressionitassumedinhismomentsofkindness.Hisanger，tobesure，wasfrightful，andthoughIamnocoward，Inevercouldlookathiminhisfitsofragewithoutshuddering.Thoughhissmilewascaptivating，yettheexpressionofhismonthwhendisdainfulorangrycouldscarcelybeseenwithoutterror.Butthatforeheadwhichseemedformedtobearthecrownsofawholeworld;thosehands，ofwhichthemostcoquettishwomenmighthavebeenvain，andwhosewhiteskincoveredmusclesofiron;inshort，ofallthatpersonalbeautywhichdistinguishedNapoleonasayoungman，notraceswerediscernibleintheboy.Saveriaspoketrulywhenshesaid，thatofallthechildrenofSignoraLaetitia，theEmperorwastheonefromwhomfuturegreatnesswasleasttobeprognosticated\"
（vol.i.p.10，edit.1883）]——
Generallyspeaking，BonapartewasnotmuchlikedbyhiscomradesatBrienne.Hewasnotsocialwiththem，andrarelytookpartintheiramusements.Hiscountry’srecentsubmissiontoFrancealwayscausedinhismindapainfulfeeling，whichestrangedhimfromhisschoolfellows.
I，however，wasalmosthisconstantcompanion.Duringplay—hoursheusedtowithdrawtothelibrary，wherehe—readwithdeepinterestworksofhistory，particularlyPolybiusandPlutarch.HewasalsofondofArrianus，butdidnotcaremuchforQuintusGurtius.Ioftenwentofftoplaywithmycomrades，andlefthimbyhimselfinthelibrary.
ThetemperoftheyoungCorsicanwasnotimprovedbytheteasinghefrequentlyexperiencedfromhiscomrades，whowerefondofridiculinghimabouthisChristiannameNapoleonandhiscountry.Heoftensaidtome，\"IwilldotheseFrenchallthemischiefIcan;\"andwhenItriedtopacifyhimhewouldsay，\"Butyoudonotridiculeme;youlikeme.\"
FatherPatrauld，ourmathematicalprofessor，wasmuchattachedtoBonaparte.Hewasjustlyproudofhimasapupil.Theotherprofessors，inwhoseclasseshewasnotdistinguished，tooklittlenoticeofhim.