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.