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.