Alawofthe23dofAugust1794forbadetheuseofanyothernamesthanthoseintheregisterofbirths.Iwishedtoconformtothislaw，whichveryfoolishlyinterferedwitholdhabits.Myeldestbrotherwasliving，andIthereforedesignatedmyselfFauvelettheyounger.ThisannoyedGeneralBonaparte."Suchchangeofnameisabsolutenonsense，"saidhe.
"IhaveknownyoufortwentyyearsbythenameofBourrienne.Signasyoustillarenamed，andseewhattheadvocateswiththeirlawswilldo."
Onthe20thofApril，asBonapartewasreturningtoItaly，hewasobligedtostoponanislandoftheTagliamento，whileatorrentpassedby，whichhadbeenoccasionedbyaviolentstorm.Acourierappearedontherightbankoftheriver.Hereachedtheisland.BonapartereadinthedespatchesoftheDirectorythatthearmiesoftheSambre—et—MeuseandtheRhinewereinmotion;thattheywerepreparingtocrosstheRhine，andhadcommencedhostilitiesontheverydayofthesigningofthepreliminaries.ThisinformationarrivedsevendaysaftertheDirectoryhadwrittenthat"hemustnotreckonontheco—operationofthearmiesofGermany."ItisimpossibletodescribetheGeneral’svexationonreadingthesedespatches.HehadsignedthepreliminariesonlybecausetheGovernmenthadrepresentedtheco—operationofthearmiesoftheRhineasimpracticableatthatmoment，andshortlyafterwardshewasinformedthattheco—operationwasabouttotakeplace！TheagitationofhismindwassogreatthatheforamomentconceivedtheideaofcrossingtotheleftbankoftheTagliamento，andbreakingoffthenegotiationsundersomepretextorother.Hepersistedforsometimeinthisresolution，which，however，Berthierandsomeothergeneralssuccessfullyopposed.Heexclaimed，"Whatadifferencewouldtherehavebeeninthepreliminaries，if，indeed，therehadbeenany！"
Hischagrin，Imightalmostsayhisdespair，increasedwhen，somedaysafterhisentryintotheVenetianStates，hereceivedaletterfromMoreau，datedthe23dofApril，inwhichthatgeneralinformedhimthat，havingpassedtheRhineonthe20thwithbrilliantsuccess，andtakenfourthousandprisoners，itwouldnotbelongbeforehejoinedhim.
Who，infact，cansaywhatwouldhavehappenedbutforthevacillatinganddistrustfulpolicyoftheDirectory，whichalwaysencouragedlowintrigues，andparticipatedinthejealousyexcitedbytherenownoftheyoungconqueror？BecausetheDirectorydreadedhisambitiontheysacrificedthegloryofourarmsandthehonourofthenation;foritcannotbedoubtedthat，hadthepassageoftheRhine，sourgentlydemandedbyBonaparte，takenplacesomedayssooner，hewouldhavebeenable，withoutincurringanyrisk，todictateimperiouslytheconditionsofpeaceonthespot;or，ifAustriawereobstinate，tohavegoneontoViennaandsigneditthere.Stilloccupiedwiththisidea，hewrotetotheDirectoryonthe8thofMay："SinceIhavereceivedintelligenceofthepassageoftheRhinebyHocheandMoreau，Imuchregretthatitdidnottakeplacefifteendayssooner;or，atleast，thatMoreaudidnotsaythathewasinasituationtoeffectit."（Hehadbeeninformedtothecontrary.）What，afterthis，becomesoftheunjustreproachagainstBonaparteofhaving，throughjealousyofMoreau，deprivedFranceoftheadvantageswhichaprolongedcampaignwouldhaveprocuredher？BonapartewastoodevotedtothegloryofFrancetosacrificeittojealousyofthegloryofanyindividual.
IntraversingtheVenetianStatestoreturntoMilan，heoftenspoketomeofVenice.Healwaysassuredmethathewasoriginallyentirelyunconnectedwiththeinsurrectionswhichhadagitatedthatcountry;thatcommonsensewouldshow，ashisprojectwastoadvanceintothebasinoftheDanube，hehadnointerestinhavinghisreardisturbedbyrevolts，andhiscommunicationsinterruptedorcutoff："Suchanidea，"saidhe，"wouldbeabsurd，andcouldneverenterintothemindofamantowhomevenhisenemiescannotdenyacertaindegreeoftact."Heacknowledgedthathewasnotvexedthatmattershadturnedoutastheyhaddone，becausehehadalreadytakenadvantageofthesecircumstancesinthepreliminariesandhopedtoprofitstillmorefromtheminthedefinitivepeace."WhenIarriveatMilan，"saidhe，"IwilloccupymyselfwithVenice."ItisthereforequiteevidenttomethatinrealitytheGeneral—in—ChiefhadnothingtodowiththeVenetianinsurrections;thatsubsequentlyhewasnotdispleasedwiththem;andthat，laterstill，hederivedgreatadvantagefromthem.
WearrivedatMilanonthe5thofMay，bywayofLawbook，Thrust，Palma—
Nova，Padua，Verona，andMantua.BonapartesoontookuphisresidenceatMontebello，averyfinechateau，threeleaguesfromMilan，withaviewovertherichandmagnificentplainsofLombard.AtMontebellocommencedthenegotiationsforthedefinitivepeacewhichwereterminatedatPasseriano.TheMarquisdeGallo，theAustrianplenipotentiary，residedhalfaleaguefromMontebello.
DuringhisresidenceatMontebellotheGeneral—in—ChiefmadeanexcursiontotheLakeofComoandtotheAgoMaguire.HevisitedtheBorromeanIslandsinsuccession，andoccupiedhimselfonhisreturnwiththeorganizationofthetownsofVenice，Genoa，andMilan.Hesoughtformenandfoundnone."GoodGod，"saidhe，"howraremenare！ThereareeighteenmillionsinItaly，andIhavewithdifficultyfoundtwo，DandoloandMelzi."
Heappreciatedthemproperly.Dandolowasoneofthemenwho，inthoserevolutionarytimes，reflectedthegreatesthonouruponItaly.AfterbeingamemberofthegreatcounciloftheCisalpineRepublic，heexercisedthefunctionsofProveditore—GeneralinDalmatia.ItisonlynecessarytomentionthenameofDandolototheDalmatianstolearnfromthegratefulinhabitantshowjustandvigoroushisadministrationwas.
TheservicesofMelziareknown.HewasChancellorandKeeperoftheSealsoftheItalianmonarchy，andwascreatedDukeofLodi.
——[Francesco，ComtedeMelzid’Eryl（1753—1816），vicePresidentoftheItalianRepublic，1802;ChancelloroftheKingdomofItaly，1805;DucdeLoth，1807.]——
InthosewhohaveseentheworldthetruthofNapoleon’sreproachexciteslittleastonishment.Inacountrywhich，accordingtobiographiesandnewspapers，aboundswithextraordinarymen，awomanofmuchtalent—（MadameRoland.）—said，"Whathasmostsurprisedme，sincetheelevationofmyhusbandhasaffordedmetheopportunityofknowingmanypersons，andparticularlythoseemployedinimportantaffairs，istheuniversalmediocritywhichexists.Itsurpassesallthattheimaginationcanconceive，anditisobservableinallranks，fromtheclerktotheminister.WithoutthisexperienceInevercouldhavebelievedmyspeciestobesocontemptible."
WhodoesnotrememberOxenstiern’sremarktohisson，whotrembledatgoingsoyoungtothecongressofMunster："Go，myson.Youwillseebywhatsortofmentheworldisgoverned."
CHAPTERVI.
1797.
Napoleon’scorrespondence——ReleaseofFrenchprisonersatOlmutz——
NegotiationswithAustria——Bonaparte’sdissatisfaction——LetterofcomplaintfromBonapartetotheExecutiveDirectory——NoterespectingtheaffairsofVeniceandtheClubofClichy，writtenbyBonaparteandcirculatedinthearmy——InterceptedletteroftheEmperorFrancis.
DuringthetimewhenthepreliminariesofLeobensuspendedmilitaryoperations，Napoleonwasnotanxioustoreplyimmediatelytoallletters.
Hetookafancytodo，notexactlyasCardinalDuboisdid，whenhethrewintothefirethelettershehadreceived，saying，"There！mycorrespondentsareanswered，"butsomethingofthesamekind.Tosatisfyhimselfthatpeoplewrotetoomuch，andlost，intriflinganduselessanswers，valuabletime，hetoldmetoopenonlytheletterswhichcamebyextraordinarycouriers，andtoleavealltherestforthreeweeksinthebasket.Attheendofthattimeitwasunnecessarytoreplytofour—
fifthsofthesecommunications.Somewerethemselvesanswers;somewereacknowledgmentsoflettersreceived;otherscontainedrequestsforfavoursalreadygranted，butofwhichintelligencehadnotbeenreceived.
Manywerefilledwithcomplaintsrespectingprovisions，pay，orclothing，andordershadbeenissueduponallthesepointsbeforetheletterswerewritten.Somegeneralsdemandedreinforcements，money，promotion，etc.
BynotopeningtheirlettersBonapartewassparedtheunpleasingofficeofrefusing.WhentheGeneral—in—Chiefcomparedtheverysmallnumberofletterswhichitwasnecessarytoanswerwiththelargenumberwhichtimealonehadanswered，helaughedheartilyathiswhimsicalidea.Wouldnotthismodeofproceedingbepreferabletothatofcausingletterstobeopenedbyanyonewhomaybeemployed，andreplyingtothembyacirculartowhichitisonlynecessarytoattachadate？
DuringthenegotiationswhichfollowedthetreatyofLeoben，theDirectoryorderedGeneralBonapartetodemandthelibertyofMM.deLaFayette，Latour—Marbourg，andBureaudePuzy，detainedatOlmutzsince1792asprisonersofstate.TheGeneral—in—Chiefexecutedthiscommissionwithasmuchpleasureaszeal，butheoftenmetwithdifficultieswhichappearedtobeinsurmountable.IthasbeenveryincorrectlystatedthattheseprisonersobtainedtheirlibertybyoneofthearticlesofthepreliminariesofLeoben.IwroteagreatdealonthissubjecttothedictationofGeneralBonaparte，andIjoinedhimonlyonthedayafterthesignatureofthesepreliminaries.ItwasnottilltheendofMayoftheyear1797thattheliberationofthesecaptiveswasdemanded，andtheydidnotobtaintheirfreedomtilltheendofAugust.
Therewasnoarticleinthetreaty，publicorsecret，whichhadreferencetothem.NeitherwasitathisownsuggestionthatBonapartedemandedtheenlargementoftheprisoners，butbyorderoftheDirectory.ToexplainwhytheydidnotgotoFranceimmediatelyaftertheirliberationfromOlmutz，itisnecessarytorecollectthattheeventsofthe18thFructidoroccurredbetweentheperiodwhenthefirststepsweretakentoprocuretheirlibertyandthedateoftheirdeliverance.ItrequiredallBonaparte’sascendencyandvigourofcharactertoenablehimtosucceedinhisobjectattheendofthreemonths.
WehadarrivedatthemonthofJuly，andthenegotiationsweretediouslyprotracted.ItwasimpossibletoattributetheembarrassmentwhichwasconstantlyoccurringtoanythingbuttheartfulpolicyofAustria：OtheraffairsoccupiedBonaparte.ThenewsfromParisengrossedallhisattention.Hesawwithextremedispleasurethemannerinwhichtheinfluentialoratorsofthecouncils，andpamphletswritteninthesamespiritastheyspoke，criticisedhim，hisarmy，hisvictories，theaffairsofVenice，andthenationalglory.Hewasquiteindignantatthesuspicionswhichitwassoughttocreaterespectinghisconductandulteriorviews.
Thefollowingexcerpts，attributedtothepensofDumouriezorRivarol，arespecimensofsomeofthecommentsofthetime：
EXTRACTSOFLETTERSIN"LESPECTATUERDUNORDof1797.
GeneralBonaparteis，withoutcontradiction，themostbrilliantwarriorwhohasappearedattheheadofthearmiesoftheFrenchRepublic.Hisgloryisincompatiblewithdemocraticequality，andtheserviceshehasrenderedaretoogreattoberecompensedexceptbyhatredandingratitude.Heisveryyoung，andconsequentlyhastopursuealongcareerofaccusationsandofpersecutions
Whatevermaybethecrowningeventofhismilitarycareer，Bonaparteisstillagreatman.Allhisgloryisduetohimselfalone;becausehealonehasdevelopedscharacterendageniusofwhichnooneelsehasfurnishedanexample.
EXTRACTOFLETTEROR18THAPRIL1797in"THESPECTATEURDUNORD."
Regard，forinstance，thiswretchedwar.UncertaininChampagne，itbecomesdaringunderDumouriez，unbridledunderthebrigandswhofoughttheVendeeans，methodicunderPichegru，vulgarunderJourdan，skilledunderMoreau，rashunderBonaparte.Eachgeneralhasputthesealofhisgeniusonhiscareer，andhasgivenlifeordeathtohisarmy.FromthecommencementofhiscareerBonapartehasdevelopedanardentcharacterwhichisirritatedbyobstacles，andaquicknesswhichforestallseverydeterminationoftheenemy.Itiswithheavierandheavierblowsthat，hestrikes.Hethrowshisarmyontheenemylikeanunloosedtorrent.Heisallaction，andheissoineverything.Seehimfight，negotiate，decree，punish，allisthematterofamoment.HecompromiseswithTurinaswithRome.HeinvadesModenaasheburnsBinasco.Heneverhesitates;tocuttheGordianknotisalwayshismethod.
Bonapartecouldnotenduretohavehisconductpredicated;andenragedatseeinghiscampaignsdepreciated，hisgloryandthatofhisarmydisparaged，——[TheextraordinaryfollyoftheoppositiontotheDirectoryinthrowingBonaparteontothesideoftheDirectory，willbeseenbyreadingthespeechofDumolard，sooftenreferredtobyBourrienne（Thiers，vol.v.pp.110—111），andbytheattemptsofMathieuDumastoremovetheimpressionthattheoppositionslightedthefortunateGeneral.（SeeDumas，tomeiii.p.80;seealsoLanfrey，tomei.
pp.257—299）.]——
andintriguesformedagainsthimintheClubofClichy，hewrotethefollowinglettertotheDirectory：——
TOTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEEXECUTIVEDIRECTORY.
Ihavejustreceived，Citizens—Directors，acopyofthemotionofDumolard（23dJune1797）.
Thismotion，printedbyorderoftheAssembly，itisevident，isdirectedagainstme.Iwasentitled，after，havingfivetimesconcludedpeace，andgivenadeath—blowtothecoalition，ifnottocivictriumphs，atleasttolivetranquillyundertheprotectionofthefirstmagistratesoftheRepublic.AtpresentIfindmyselfill—treated，persecuted，anddisparaged，byeveryshamefulmeans，whichtheirpolicybringstotheaidofpersecution.IwouldhavebeenindifferenttoallexceptthatspeciesofopprobriumwithwhichthefirstmagistratesoftheRepublicendeavourtooverwhelmme.
Afterhavingdeservedwellofmycountrybymylastact，Iamnotboundtohearmyselfaccusedinamannerasabsurdasatrocious.
Ihavenotexpectedthatamanifesto，signedbyemigrants，paidbyEngland，shouldobtainmorecreditwiththeCouncilofFiveHundredthantheevidenceofeightythousandmen——thanmine！What！wewereassassinatedbytraitors——upwardsoffourhundredmenperished;andthefirstmagistratesoftheRepublicmakeitacrimetohavebelievedthestatementforamoment.UpwardsoffourhundredFrenchmenweredraggedthroughthestreets.Theywereassassinatedbeforetheeyesofthegovernorofthefort.Theywerepiercedwithathousandblowsofstilettos，suchasIsentyouandtherepresentativesoftheFrenchpeoplecauseittobeprinted，thatiftheybelievedthisfactforaninstant，theywereexcusable.Iknowwelltherearesocietieswhereitissaid，"Isthisblood，then，sopure？"
Ifonlybasemen，whoaredeadtothefeelingofpatriotismandnationalglory，hadspokenofmethus，Iwouldnothavecomplained.
Iwouldhavedisregardedit;butIhavearighttocomplainofthedegradationtowhichthefirstmagistratesoftheRepublicreducethosewhohaveaggrandised，andcarriedtheFrenchnametosohighapitchofglory.Citizens—Directors，IreiteratethedemandImadeformydismissal;Iwishtoliveintranquillity，iftheponiardsofClichywillallowmetolive.Youhaveemployedmeinnegotiations.
Iamnotveryfittoconductthem.
AboutthesametimehedrewupthefollowingnoterespectingtheaffairsofVenice，whichwasprintedwithouttheauthor’sname，andcirculatedthroughthewholearmy：——
NOTE.
Bonaparte，pausingbeforethegatesofTurin，Parma，Rome，andVienna，offeringpeacewhenhewassureofobtainingnothingbutfreshtriumphs——Bonaparte，whoseeveryoperationexhibitsrespectforreligion，morality，andoldage;who，insteadofheaping，ashemighthavedone，dishonourupontheVenetians，andhumblingtheirrepublictotheearth，loadedherwithactsofkindness，andtooksuchgreatinterestinherglory——isthisthesameBonapartewhoisaccusedofdestroyingtheancientGovernmentofVenice，anddemocratisingGenoa，andevenofinterferingintheaffairsoftheprudentandworthypeopleoftheSwissCantons？BonapartehadpassedtheTagliamento，andenteredGermany，wheninsurrectionsbrokeoutintheVenetianStates;theseinsurrectionswere，therefore，opposedtoBonaparte’sproject;surely，then，hecouldnotfavourthem.WhenhewasintheheartofGermanytheVenetiansmassacredmorethanfourhundredFrenchtroops，drovetheirquartersoutofVerona，assassinatedtheunfortunateLaugier，andpresentedthespectacleofafanaticalpartyinarms.HereturnedtoItaly;
andonhisarrival，asthewindsceasetheiragitationatthepresenceofNeptune，thewholeofItaly，whichwasincommotion，whichwasinarms，wasrestoredtoorder.
However，thedeputiesfromBonapartedrewupdifferentarticlesconformabletothesituationofthecountry，andinordertoprevent，notarevolutionintheGovernment，fortheGovernmentwasdefunct，andhaddiedanaturaldeath，butacrisis，andtosavethecityfromconvulsion，anarchy，andpillage.BonapartesparedadivisionofhisarmytosaveVenicefrompillageandmassacre.AllthebattalionswereinthestreetsofVenice，thedisturberswereputdown，andthepillagediscontinued.Propertyandtradewerepreserved，whenGeneralBaragneyd’HilliersenteredVenicewithhisdivision.Bonaparte，asusual，sparedblood，andwastheprotectorofVenice.WhilsttheFrenchtroopsremainedtheyconductedthemselvespeaceably，andonlyinterferedtosupporttheprovisionalGovernment.
BonapartecouldnotsaytothedeputiesofVenice，whocametoaskhisprotectionandassistanceagainstthepopulace，whowishedtoplunderthem，"Icannotmeddlewithyouraffairs."Hecouldnotsaythis，forVenice，andallitsterritories，hadreallyformedthetheatreofwar;and，beingintherearofthearmyofItaly，theRepublicofVenicewasreallyunderthejurisdictionofthatarmy.
Therightsofwarconferuponageneralthepowersofsupremepoliceoverthecountrieswhicharetheseatofwar.AsthegreatFredericksaid，"Therearenoneutralswherethereiswar."
Ignorantadvocatesandbabblershaveasked，intheClubofClichy，whyweoccupytheterritoryofVenice.Thesedeclaimersshouldlearnwar，andtheywouldknowthattheAdige，theBrenta，andtheTagliamento，wherewehavebeenfightingfortwoyears，arewithintheVenetianStates.But，gentlemenofClichy，weareatnolosstoperceiveyourmeaning.YoureproachthearmyofItalyforhavingsurmountedalldifficulties——forsubduingallItalyforhavingtwicepassedtheAlps——forhavingmarchedonVienna，andobligedAustriatoacknowledgetheRepublicthat，you，menofClichy，woulddestroy.
YouaccuseBonaparte，Iseeclearly，forhavingbroughtaboutpeace.
ButIknowyou，andIspeakinthenameofeightythousandsoldiers.
Thetimeisgonewhenbaseadvocatesandwretcheddeclaimerscouldinducesoldierstorevolt.If，however，yoncompelthem，thesoldiersofthearmyofItalywillsoonappearattheBarrierofClichy，withtheirGeneral.Butwoeuntoyouiftheydo！
BonapartehavingarrivedatPalma—Nova，issuedamanifestoonthe2dofMay1797.ArrivedatMestre，wherehepostedhistroops，theGovernmentsentthreedeputiestohim，withadecreeoftheGreatCouncil，withoutBonapartehavingsoliciteditandwithouthishavingthoughtofmakinganychangeintheGovernmentofthatcountry：ThegovernorofVenicewasanoldman，ninety—nineyears—ofage，confinedbyillnesstohisapartment.EveryonefeltthenecessityofrenovatingthisGovernmentoftwelvehundredyears’
existence，andtosimplifyitsmachinery，inordertopreserveitsindependence，honour，andglory.Itwasnecessarytodeliberate，first，onthemannerofrenovatingtheGovernment;secondly，onthemeansofatoningforthemassacreoftheFrench，theiniquityofwhicheveryonewassensible
Bonaparte，afterhavingreceivedthedeputationatMestre，toldthemthatinordertoobtainsatisfaction，fortheassassinationofhisbrethrenisarms，hewishedtheGreatCounciltoarresttheinquisitors.Heafterwardsgrantedthemanarmistice，andappointedMilanastheplaceofconference.ThedeputiesarrivedatMilanontheAnegotiationcommencedtore—establishharmonybetweentheGovernments.However，anarchy，withallitshorrors，afflictedthecityofVenice.TenthousandSclavoniansthreatenedtopillagetheshops.Bonaparteacquiescedinthepropositionsubmittedbythedeputies，whopromisedtoverifythelosswhichhadbeensustainedbypillage.
BonapartealsoaddressedamanifestototheDoge，whichappearedinallthepublicpapers.Itcontainedfifteenarticlesofcomplaint，andwasfollowedbyadecreeorderingtheFrenchMinistertoleaveVenice，theVenetianagentstoleaveLombard，andtheLionofSt.MarktobepulleddowninalltheContinentalterritoriesofVenice.
TheGeneral—in—ChiefnowopenlymanifestedhisresolutionofmarchingonParis;andthisdisposition，whichwaswellknowninthearmy，wassooncommunicatedtoVienna.AtthisperiodaletterfromtheEmperorFrancisII.tohisbrother，theGrandDukeofTuscany，wasinterceptedbyBonaparte.Itranslatedtheletter，whichprovedtohimthatFrancisII.
wasacquaintedwithhisproject.HelikewisesawwithpleasuretheassuranceswhichtheEmperorgavehisbrotherofhisloveofpeace，aswellasthewaveringoftheimperialresolves，andtheincertituderespectingthefateoftheItalianprinces，whichtheEmperoreasilyperceivedtodependonBonaparte.TheEmperor’sletterwasasfollows：——
MYDEARBROTHER——Ipunctuallyreceivedyourthirdletter，containingadescriptionofyourunhappyanddelicatesituation.YoumaybeassuredthatIperceiveitasclearlyasyoudoyourself;andIpityyouthemorebecause，intruth，Idonotknowwhatadvicetogiveyou.Youare，likeme，thevictimoftheformerinactivityoftheprincesofItaly，whoought，atonce，tohaveactedwithalltheirunitedforces，whileIstillpossessedMantua.IfBonaparte’sprojectbe，asIlearn，toestablishrepublicsinItaly，thisislikelytoendinspreadingrepublicanismoverthewholecountry.I
havealreadycommencednegotiationsforpeace，andthepreliminariesareratified.IftheFrenchobservethemasstrictlyasIdo，andwilldo，thenyoursituationwillbeimproved;butalreadytheFrencharebeginningtodisregardthem.Theprincipalproblemwhichremainstobesolvedis，whethertheFrenchDirectoryapproveofBonaparte’sproceedings，andwhetherthelatter，asappearsbysomepapersdistributedthroughhisarmy，isnotdisposedtorevoltagainsthiscountry，whichalsoseemstobeprobable，fromhissevereconducttowardsSwitzerland，notwithstandingtheassurancesoftheDirectory，thathehadbeenorderedtoleavethecountryuntouched.Ifthisshouldbethecase，newandinnumerabledifficultiesmayarise.UnderthesecircumstancesIcan，atpresent，advisenothing;for，astomyself，itisonlytimeandthecircumstancesofthemomentwhichcanpointouthowIamtoact.
Thereisnothingnewhere.Weareallwell;buttheheatisextraordinary.Alwaysretainyourfriendshipandloveforme.
Makemycomplimentstoyourwife，andbelievemeeverYourbestFriendandBrother，FRANCIS.
HETZENDORF，July20，1797.
CHAPTERVII.
1797.
Unfoundedreports——Carnot——CapitulationofMantua——GeneralClarke——
TheDirectoryyieldstoBonaparte——Berthier——ArrivalofEugeneBeauharnaisatMilan——ComteDelannayd’Entraigues——HisinterviewwithBonaparte——Seizureofhispapers——CopyofonedescribingaconversationbetweenhimandComtedeMontgaillard——TheEmperorFrancis——ThePrincedeCondeandGeneralPichegru.
WhileBonapartewasexpressinghisopiniononhiscampaignsandtheinjusticewithwhichtheyhadbeencriticised，itwasgenerallybelievedthatCarnotdictatedtohimfromaclosetintheLuxembourgalltheplansofhisoperations，andthatBerthierwasathisrighthand，withoutwhom，notwithstandingCarnot’splans，whichwereoftenmereromances，hewouldhavebeengreatlyembarrassed.Thistwofoldmisrepresentationwasverycurrentforsometime;and，notwithstandingitwascontrarytotheevidenceoffacts，itmetwithmuchcredence，particularlyabroad.Therewas，however，nofoundationfortheopinion：LetusrendertoCaesarthatwhichisCaesar’sdue.Bonapartewasacreatorintheartofwar，andnoimitator.Thatnomanwassuperiortohiminthatartisincontestable.
AtthecommencementofthegloriouscampaigninItalytheDirectorycertainlysentoutinstructionstohim;buthealwaysfollowedhisownplans，andcontinually，wrotebackthatallwouldbelostifmovementsconceivedatadistancefromthesceneofactionweretobeblindlyexecuted.Healsoofferedtoresign.AtlengththeDirectoryperceivedtheimpossibilityofprescribingoperationsofwaraccordingtotheviewofpersonsinParis;andwhenIbecamethesecretaryoftheGeneral—in—
ChiefIsawadespatchoftheDirectory，datedMay，1796，committingthewholeplanofthecampaigntohisjudgment;andassuredlytherewasnotasingleoperationormovementwhichdidnotoriginatewithhim.Carnotwasobligedtoyieldtohisfirmness.WhentheDirectory，towardstheendof1796，feltdisposedtotreatforpeace，GeneralClarke，appointedtoconcludethearmistice，wasauthorised，incaseMantuashouldnotbetakenbeforethenegotiationwasbroughttoaclose，toproposeleavingtheblockadeinstatuquo.HadsuchaconditionbeenadopteditwoulddoubtlesshaysbeenstipulatedthattheEmperorofAustriashouldbeallowedtoprovisionthegarrisonandinhabitantsofthecitydaybyday.
Bonaparte，convincedthatanarmisticewithoutMantuawouldbynomeansconducetopeace，earnestlyopposedsuchacondition.Hecarriedhispoint;Mantuacapitulated，andtheresultiswellknown.Yethewasnotblindtothehazardsofwar;whilepreparing，duringtheblockade，anassaultonMantua，hewrotethustotheDirectory："Aboldstrokeofthisnaturedependsabsolutelyforsuccessonadogoragoose."Thiswasaboutaquestionofsurprise.
BonapartewasexceedinglysensitivetotherumourswhichreachedhimrespectingCarnotandBerthier.Heonedaysaidtome："Whatgrossstupidity，isthis？Itisverywelltosaytoageneral，’DepartforItaly，gainbattles，andsignapeaceatVienna;’buttheexecutionthatisnotsoeasy.IneverattachedanyvaluetotheplanswhichtheDirectorysentme.Toomanycircumstancesoccuronthespottomodifythem.Themovementofasinglecorpsoftheenemy’sarmymayconfoundawholeplanarrangedbythefireside.Onlyfoolscanbelievesuchstuff！
AsforBerthier，sinceyouhavebeenwithme，youseewhatheis——heisablockhead.Yetitishewhodoesitall;itishewhogathersagreatpartofthegloryofthearmyofItaly."Itoldhimthatthiserroneousopinioncouldnotlastlong;thateachpersonwouldbeallowedhismerit，andthatatleastposteritywouldjudgerightly.Thisobservationseemedtopleasehim.
Berthierwasamanfullofhonour，courage，andprobity，andexceedinglyregularintheperformanceofhisduties.Bonaparte’sattachmenttohimarosemorefromhabitthanliking.Berthierdidnotconcedewithaffability，andrefusedwithharshness.Hisabrupt，egotistic，andcarelessmannersdidnot，however，createhimmanyenemies，but，atthesametime，didnotmakehimmanyfriends.Inconsequenceofourfrequentintercoursehehadcontractedthefriendlypracticeofspeakingtomeinthesecondpersonsingular;butheneverwrotetomeisthatstyle.Hewasperfectlyacquaintedwiththedispositionofallthecorps，andcouldnametheircommandersandtheirrespectiveforces.DayornighthewasalwaysathandandmadeoutwithclearnessallthesecondaryorderswhichresultedfromthedispositionsoftheGeneral—in—Chief.Infact，hewas，anexcellentheadofthestaffofanarmy;butthatisallthepraisethatcanbegiven，andindeedhewishedfornogreater.HehadsuchentireconfidenceinBonaparte，andlookeduptohimwithsomuchadmiration，thatheneverwouldhavepresumedtoopposehisplansorgiveanyadvise.Berthier’stalentwasverylimited，andofaspecialnature;
hischaracterwasoneofextremeweakness.Bonaparte’sfriendshipforhimandthefrequencyofhisnameinthebulletinsandofficialdespatcheshaveundulyelevatedhisreputation.Bonaparte，givinghisopiniontotheDirectoryrespectingthegeneralsemployedinhisarmy，said，"Berthierhastalents，activity，courage，character——allinhisfavour."Thiswasin1796.Hethenmadeaneagleofhim;atSt.Helenahecalledhimagoose.Heshouldneitherhave，raisedhimsohighnorsunkhimsolow.
Berthierneithermeritedtheonenortheother.Bonapartewasamanofhabit;hewasmuchattachedtoallthepeopleabouthim，anddidnotlikenewfaces.Berthierlovedhim.Hecarriedouthisorderswell，andthatenabledhimtopassoffwithhissmallportionoftalent.
ItwasaboutthistimethatyoungBeauharnaiscametoMilan.Hewasseventeenyearsold.HehadlivedinPariswithhismothersincethedepartureofBonaparte.Onhisarrivalheimmediatelyenteredtheserviceas’aidedecamp’totheGeneral—in—Chief，whofeltforhimanaffectionwhichwasjustifiedbyhisgoodqualities.
ComteDelaunayd’Entraigues，wellknownintheFrenchRevolution，heldadiplomaticpostatVenicewhenthatcitywasthreatenedbytheFrench.
AwareofhisbeingconsideredtheagentofallthemachinationsthenexistingagainstFrance，andespeciallyagainstthearmyofItaly，heendeavouredtoescape;butthecitybeing，surrounded，hewasseized，togetherwithallhispapers.TheapparentlyfrankmannersoftheCountpleasedBonaparte，whotreatedhimwithindulgence.Hispaperswererestored，withtheexceptionofthreerelatingtopoliticalsubjects.
HeafterwardsfledtoSwitzerland，andungratefullyrepresentedhimselfashavingbeenoppressedbyBonaparte.Hisfalsestatementshaveinducedmanywriterstomakeofhimanheroicvictim.Hewasassassinatedbyhisownservantin1802.
Ikeptacopyofoneofhismostinterestingpapers.Ithasbeenmuchspokenof，andFauche—Borelhas，Ibelieve，denieditsauthenticityandthetruthofitscontents.ThemannerinwhichitfellintothehandsoftheGeneral—in—Chief，theimportanceattachedtoitbyd’Entraigues，thedifferencesIhaveobservedbetweenthemanuscriptIcopiedandversionswhichIhavesinceread，andthe，knowledgeofits，authenticity，havingmyselftranscribeditfromthehandwritingoftheCount，whoinmypresencevouchedforthetruthofthefactsitdetails——allthesecircumstancesinducemetoinsertithere，andcompelmetodoubtthatitwas，asFauche—Borelasserted，afabrication.
Thismanuscriptisentitled，’MyConversationwithComtedeMontgaillard，onthe4thofDecember1796，fromSixintheAfternoontillmidnight，inthepresenceoftheAbbeDumontel.’
[Onmycopyarewrittenthewords，"Extractsfromthisconversation，madebyme，fromtheoriginal."IomittedwhatIthoughtunimportant，andtranscribedonlythemostinterestingpassages.Montgaillardspokeofhisescape，ofhisflighttoEngland，ofhisreturntoFrance，ofhisseconddeparture，andfinallyofhisarrivalatBaleinAugust1795.]
ThePrincedeCondesoonafterwards，hesaid，calledmetoMulheim，andknowingtheconnectionsIhadhadinFrance，proposedthatI
shouldsoundGeneralPichegru，whoseheadquarterswereatAltkirch，wherehethenwas，surroundedbyfourrepresentativesoftheConvention.
IimmediatelywenttoNeufchatel，takingwithmefourorfivehundredLouis.IcastmyeyesonFauche—Borel，theKing’sprinteratNeufchatel，andalsoyoursandmine，astheinstrumentbywhichtomakethefirstoverture，andIselectedashiscolleagueM.
Courant，anativeofNeufchatel.Ipersuadedthemtoundertakethebusiness：Isuppliedthemwithinstructionsandpassports.Theywereforeigners：soIfurnishedthemwithallthenecessarydocumentstoenablethemtotravelinFranceasforeignmerchantsandpurchasersofnationalproperty.IwenttoBaletowaitfornewsfromthem.
Onthe13thofAugustFaucheandCourantsetoutfortheheadquartersatAltkirch.TheyremainedthereeightdayswithoutfindinganopportunitytospeaktoPichegru，whowassurroundedbyrepresentativesandgenerals.Pichegruobservedthem，andseeingthemcontinuallywheresoeverhewent，heconjecturedthattheyhadsomethingtosaytohim，andhecalledoutinaloudvoice，whilepassingthem，"IamgoingtoHuningen."Fauchecontrivedtothrowhimselfinhiswayattheendofacorridor.Pichegruobservedhim，andfixedhiseyesuponhim，andalthoughitrainedintorrents，hesaidaloud，"IamgoingtodineatthechateauofMadame，Salomon."
ThischateauwasthreeleaguesfromHuningen，andMadameSalomonwasPichegru’smistress.
Fauchesetoffdirectlytothechateau，andbeggedtospeakwithGeneralPichegru.Hetoldthegeneralthat，beinginthepossessionofsomeofJ.J.Rousseau’smanuscripts，hewishedtopublishthemanddedicatethemtohim."Verygood，"saidPichegru;"butIshouldliketoreadthemfirst;forRousseauprofessedprinciplesoflibertyinwhichIdonotconcur，andwithwhichIshouldnotliketohavemynameconnected."——"But，"saidFauche，"Ihavesomethingelsetospeaktoyouabout."——"Whatisit，andonwhosebehalf？"——
"OnbehalfofthePrincedeConde."——"Besilent，then，andfollowme."
HeconductedFauchealoneintoaretiredcabinet，andsaidtohim，"Explainyourself;whatdoesMonseigneurlePrincedeCondewishtocommunicatetome？"Fauchewasembarrassed，andstammeredoutsomethingunintelligible."Composeyourself."saidPichegru;
"mysentimentsarethesame，asthePrincedeConde’s.Whatdoeshedesireofme？"Fauche，encouragedbythesewords，replied，"ThePrincewishestojoinyou.Hecountsonyou，andwishestoconnecthimselfwithyou."
"Thesearevagueandunmeaningwords，"observedPichegru."Allthisamountstonothing.Goback，andaskforwritteninstructions，andreturninthreedaystomyheadquartersatAltkirch.Youwillfindmealonepreciselyatsixo’clockintheevening."
Faucheimmediatelydeparted，arrivedatBale，andinformedmeofallthathadpassed.IspentthenightinwritingalettertoGeneralPichegru.（ThePrincedeConde，whowasinvestedwithallthepowersofLouisXVIII，exceptthatofgrantingthe’cordon—bleu’，had，byanoteinhisownhandwriting，deputedtomeallhispowers，toenablemetomaintainanegotiationwithGeneralPichegru）.
Ithereforewrotetothegeneral，stating，intheoutset，everythingthatwascalculatedtoawakeninhimthatnoblesentimentofpridewhichistheinstinctofgreatminds;andafterpointingouttohimthevastgooditwasinhispowertoeffect，IspokeofthegratitudeoftheKing，andthebenefithewouldconferonhiscountrybyrestoringroyalty.ItoldhimthathisMajestywouldmakehimamarshalofFrance，andgovernorofAlsace，asnoonecouldbettergoverntheprovincethanhewhohadsovaliantlydefendedit.Iaddedthathewouldhavethe’cordon—rouge’，theChateaudeChambord，withitspark，andtwelvepiecesofcannontakenfromtheAustrians，amillionofreadymoney，200，000livresperannum，andanhotelinParis;thatthetownofArbors，Pichegru’snativeplace，shouldbearhisname，andbeexemptfromalltaxationfortwenty—fiveyears;thatapensionof200，000livreswouldbegrantedtohim，withhalfreversiontohiswife，and50，000
livrestohisheirsforever，untiltheextinctionofhisfamily.
Suchweretheoffers，madeinthenameoftheKing，toGeneralPichegru.（Thanfollowedtheboonstobegrantedtotheofficersandsoldiers，anamnestytothepeople，etc）.IaddedthatthePrincedeCoudedesiredthathewouldproclaimtheKinginthecamps，surrenderthecityofHuningentohim，andjoinhimforthepurposeofmarchingonParis.
Pichegru，havingreadmyletterwithgreatattention，saidtoFauche，"Thisisallverywell;butwhoisthisM.deMontgaillardwhotalksofbeingthusauthorised？Ineitherknowhimnorhissignature.Ishetheauthor？"——"Yes，"repliedFauche."But，"saidPichegru，"Imust，beforemakinganynegotiationonmypart，beassuredthatthePrincedeConde，withwhosehandwritingIamwellacquainted，approvesofallthathasbeenwrittenishisnamebyM.
deMontgaillard.ReturndirectlytoM.deMontgaillard，andtellhimtocommunicatemyanswertothePrince.
Faucheimmediatelydeparted，leavingM.CourantwithPichegru.HearrivedatBaleatnineo’clockintheevening.IsetoffdirectlyforMalheim，thePrincedeConde’sheadquarters，andarrivedthereathalf—pasttwelve.ThePrincewasinbed，butIawokehim.Hemademesitdownbyhisbedside，andourconferencethencommenced.
AfterhavinginformedthePrinceofthestateofaffairs，allthatremainedwastoprevailonhimtowritetoGeneralPichegrutoconfirmthetruthofwhathadbeenstatedinhisname.Thismatter，whichappearedsosimple，andsolittleliabletoobjection，occupiedthewholenight.ThePrince，asbraveamanascanpossiblybe，inheritednothingfromthegreatCondebuthisundauntedcourage.Inotherrespectsheisthemostinsignificantofmen;withoutresourcesofmind，ordecisionofcharacter;
surroundedbymenofmediocrity，andevenbaseness;andthoughheknowsthemwell，hesuffershimselftobegovernedbythem.
ItrequiredninehoursofhardexertiononmyparttogethimtowritetoGeneralPichegrualetterofeightlines.1st.Hedidnotwishittobeinhishandwriting.2d.Heobjectedtodatingit3d.HewasunwillingtocallhimGeneral，lestheshouldrecognisetherepublicbygivingthattitle.4th.Hedidnotliketoaddressit，oraffixhissealtoit.
Atlengthheconsentedtoall，andwrotetoPichegruthathemightplacefullconfidenceinthelettersoftheComtedeMontgaillard.
Whenallthiswassettled，aftergreatdifficulty，thePrincenexthesitatedaboutsendingtheletter;butatlengthheyielded.IsetoffforBale，anddespatchedFauchetoAltkirch，toGeneralPichegru.
Thegeneral，afterreadingtheletterofeightlines，andrecognisingthehandwritingandsignature，immediatelyreturnedittoFauche，saying，"Ihaveseenthesignature：thatisenoughforme.ThewordofthePrinceisapledgewithwhicheveryFrenchmanoughttobesatisfied.Takebackhisletter."HetheninquiredwhatwasthePrince’swish.Faucheexplainedthathewished——1st.
ThatPichegrushouldproclaimtheKingtohistroops，andhoisttheWhiteflag.2d.ThatheshoulddeliverupHuningentothePrince.
Pichegruobjectedtothis."Iwillnevertakepartinsuchaplot，"
saidhe;"IhavenowishtomakethethirdvolumeofLaFayetteandDumouriez.Iknowmyresources;theyareascertainastheyarevast.Theirrootsarenotonlyinmyarmy，butinParis，intheConvention，inthedepartments，andinthearmiesofthosegenerals，mycolleagues，whothinkasIdo.Iwishtodonothingbyhalves.
Theremustbeacompleteendofthepresentstateofthings.FrancecannotcontinueaRepublic.Shemusthaveaking，andthatkingmustbeLouisXVIII.Butwemustnotcommencethecounter—
revolutionuntilwearecertainofeffectingit.’Surelyandrightly’ismymotto.ThePrince’splanleadstonothing.HewouldbedrivenfromHuningeninfourdays，andinfifteenIshouldbelost.Myarmyiscomposedbothofgoodmenandbad.Wemustdistinguishbetweenthem，and，byaboldstroke，assuretheformeroftheimpossibilityofdrawingback，andthattheironlysafetyliesinsuccess.ForthispurposeIproposetopasstheRhine，atanyplaceandanytimethatmaybethoughtnecessary.IntheadvanceIwillplacethoseofficersonwhomIcandepend，andwhoareofmywayofthinking.Iwillseparatethebad，andplacetheminsituationswheretheycandonoharm，andtheirpositionshallbesuchastopreventthemfromuniting.Thatdone，assoonasIshallbeontheothersideoftheRhine，IwillproclaimtheKing，andhoistthewhiteflag.Conde’scorpsandtheEmperor’sarmywillthenjoinus.IwillimmediatelyrepasstheRhine，andre—enterFrance.Thefortresseswillbesurrendered，andwillbeheldintheKing’snamebytheImperialtroops.HavingjoinedConde’sarmy，I
immediatelyadvance.Allmymeansnowdevelopthemselvesoneveryside.WemarchuponParis，andinafortnightwillbethere.ButitisnecessarythatyoushouldknowthatyoumustgivetheFrenchsoldierwineandacrowninhishandifyouwouldhavehimcry’ViveleRoi！Nothingmustbewantingatthefirstmoment.MyarmymustbewellpaidasfarasthefourthorfifthmarchintheFrenchterritory.TheregoandtellallthistothePrince，showmyhandwriting，andbringmebackhisanswer."
DuringtheseconferencesPichegruwassurroundedbyfourrepresentativesofthepeople，attheheadofwhomwasMerlindeThionville，themostinsolentandthemostferociousofinquisitors.
Thesemen，havingtheordersoftheCommittee，pressedPichegrutopasstheRhineandgoandbesiegeManheim，whereMerlinhadanunderstandingwiththeinhabitants.Thus，ifontheonehandtheCommitteebyitsordersmadePichegruwishtohastentheexecutionofhisplan，ontheotherhehadnotamomenttolose;fortodelayobeyingtheordersofthefourrepresentativeswastorenderhimselfsuspected.Everyconsideration，therefore，calleduponthePrincetodecide，anddecidepromptly.Goodsenserequiredhimalsotodoanotherthing，namely，toexaminewithoutprejudicewhatsortofmanPichegruwas，toconsiderthenatureofthesacrificehemade，andwhatwerehispropositions.Europeacknowledgedhistalents，andhehadplacedthePrinceinaconditiontojudgeofhisgoodfaith.
Besides，hisconductandhisplanaffordedfreshproofsofhissincerity.BypassingtheRhineandplacinghimselfbetweenthearmiesofCondeandWurmser，herendereddesertionimpossible;and，ifsuccessdidnotattendhisattempt，hisownactsforcedhimtobecomeanemigrant.Heleftinthepowerofhisfierceenemieshiswife，hisfather，hischildren.Everythingboretestimonytohishonesty;thetalentshehadshownwereapledgeforhisgenius，hisgeniusforhisresources;andthesacrificeshewouldhavetomakeincaseoffailureprovedthathewasconfidentofsuccess.
WhatstupidconceitwasitforanyonetosupposehimselfbetterabletocommandPichegru’sarmythanPichegruhimself！——topretendtobebetteracquaintedwiththefrontierprovincesthanPichegru，whocommandedthem，andhadplacedhisfriendsinthemascommandersofthetowns！Thisself—conceit，however，ruinedthemonarchyatthistime，aswellasatsomanyothers.ThePrincedeConde，afterreadingtheplan，rejecteditintoto.TorenderitsuccessfulitwasnecessarytomaketheAustrianspartiestoit.ThisPichegruexacted，butthePrinceofCondewouldnothearawordofit，wishingtohaveconfinedtohimselfthegloryofeffectingthecounter—revolution.HerepliedtoPichegrubyafewobservations，andconcludedhisanswerbyreturningtohisfirstplan——thatPichegrushouldproclaimtheKingwithoutpassingtheRhine，andshouldgiveupHuningen;thatthenthearmyofCondebyitself，andwithouttheaidoftheAustrians，wouldjoinhim.Inthatcasehecouldpromise100，000crownsinlouis，whichhehadatBale，and1，400，000livres，whichhehadingoodbillspayableatsight.
NoargumentorentreatyhadanyeffectonthePrincedeCondo.TheideaofcommunicatinghisplantoWurmserandsharinghisglorywithhimrenderedhimblindanddeaftoeveryconsideration.However，itwasnecessarytoreporttoPichegrutheobservationsofthePrincedeConde，andCourantwascommissionedtodoso.
ThisdocumentappearedsointerestingtomethatwhileBonapartewassleepingIwasemployedincopyingit.Notwithstandingposteriorandreiterateddenialsofitstruth，Ibelieveittobeperfectlycorrect.
Napoleonhadorderedplansofhismostfamousbattlestobeengraved，andhadpaidinadvanceforthem.Theworkwasnotdonequicklyenoughforhim.Hegotangry，andonedaysaidtohisgeographer，Baclerd’Albe，whomhelikedwellenough，"Ah！dohurryyourself，andthinkallthisisonlythebusinessofamoment.Ifyoumakefurtherdelayyouwillsellnothing;everythingissoonforgotten！"
WewerenowinJuly，andthenegotiationswerecarriedonwithatardinesswhichshowedthatsomethingwaskeptinreserveonbothsides.
Bonaparteatthistimewasanythingbutdisposedtosignapeace，whichbealwayshopedtobeabletomakeatVienna，afteracampaigninGermany，secondedbythearmiesoftheRhineandtheSambre—et—Meuse.
TheminorityoftheDirectoryrecommendedpeaceonthebasisofthepreliminaries，butthemajoritywishedformorehonourableandadvantageousterms;whileAustria，relyingontroublesbreakingoutinFrance，wasinnohastetoconcludeatreaty.InthesecircumstancesBonapartedrewupalettertobesenttotheEmperorofAustria，inwhichhesetforththemoderationofFrance;butstatedthat，inconsequenceofthemanydelays，nearlyallhopeofpeacehadvanished.HeadvisedtheEmperornottorelyondifficultiesarisinginFrance，anddoubted，ifwarshouldcontinueandtheEmperorbesuccessfulinthenextcampaign，thathewouldobtainamoreadvantageouspeacethanwasnowathisoption.ThisletterwasneversenttotheEmperor，butwascommunicatedasthedraftofaproposeddespatchtotheDirectory.TheEmperorFrancis，however，wroteanautographlettertotheGeneral—in—ChiefofthearmyofItaly，whichwillbenoticedwhenIcometotheperiodofitsreception：ItiscertainthatBonaparteatthistimewishedforwar.HewasawarethattheCabinetofViennawasplayingwithhim，andthattheAustrianMinistersexpectedsomepoliticalconvulsioninParis，whichtheyhopedwouldbefavourabletotheBourbons.Hethereforeaskedforreinforcements.Hisarmyconsistedof35，900men，andhedesiredittoberaisedto60，000infantryand10，000cavalryreadyforthefield.
GeneralDesaix，profitingbythepreliminariesofLeoben，cameintheendofJulytovisitthesceneofthearmyofItaly’striumphs.HisconversationswithBonaparterespectingthearmyoftheRhinewerefarfromgivinghimconfidenceinhismilitarysituationinItaly，orassuranceofsupportfromthatarmyintheeventofhostilitiescommencingbeyondthemountains.Itwasatthisperiodthattheirintimacybegan.BonaparteconceivedforDesaixthegreatestesteemandthesincerestfriendship.
——[DesaixdiscontentedwiththeconductofaffairsinGermany，secededfromthearmyoftheRhine，towhichhebelonged，tojointhatofNapoleon.HewassenttoItalytoorganisethepartoftheEgyptianexpeditionstartingfromCivitaVecchia.Hetookwithhimhistwoaidesdecamp，RappandSavary（laterDucdeRovigo），bothofwhom，onhisdeath，weregiventhesamepostwithBonaparte.]——
WhenDesaixwasnamedtemporarycommanderoftheforcecalledthearmyofEngland，duringtheabsenceofGeneralBonaparte，thelatterwrotetotheDirectorythattheycouldnothavechosenamoredistinguishedofficerthanDesaix;thesesentimentsheneverbelied.TheearlydeathofDesaixalonecouldbreaktheirunion，which，Idoubtnot，wouldeventuallyhavehadgreatinfluenceonthepoliticalandmilitarycareerofGeneralBonaparte.
AlltheworldknowsthepartwhichtheGeneral—in—ChiefofthearmyofItalytookatthefamouscrisisofthe18thFructidor;hisproclamation，hisaddressestothearmy，andhiscelebratedorderoftheday.
BonapartewentmuchintodetailonthissubjectatSt.Helena;andI
shallnowproceedtostatewhatIknewatthetimerespectingthatmemorableevent，whichwasinpreparationinthemonthofJune.
CHAPTERVIII.
1797.
Theroyalistsoftheinterior——Bonaparte’sintentionofmarchingonPariswith25，000men——HisanimosityagainsttheemigrantsandtheClichyClub——HischoicebetweenthetwopartiesoftheDirectory——
Augereau’sorderofthedayagainsttheword’Monsieur’——BonapartewishestobemadeoneofthefiveDirectors——HesupportsthemajorityoftheDirectory——LaVallette，Augereau，andBernadottesenttoParis——Interestingcorrespondencerelativetothe18thFructidor.
BonapartehadlongobservedthestrugglewhichwasgoingonbetweenthepartisansofroyaltyandtheRepublic.Hewastoldthatroyalismwaseverywhereontheincrease.AllthegeneralswhoreturnedfromParistothearmycomplainedofthespiritofreactiontheyhadnoticed.
Bonapartewasconstantlyurgedbyhisprivatecorrespondentstotakeonesideortheother，ortoactforhimself.HewasirritatedbytheaudacityoftheenemiesoftheRepublic，andhesawplainlythatthemajorityofthecouncilshadanevidentill—willtowardshim.TheoratorsoftheClubofClichymissednoopportunityofwoundinghisself—
loveinspeechesandpamphlets.Theysparednoinsults，disparagedhissuccess，andbitterlycensuredhisconductinItaly，particularlywithrespecttoVenice.Thushisserviceswererecompensedbyhatredoringratitude.Aboutthistimehereceivedapamphlet，whichreferredtothejudgmentspronounceduponhimbytheGermanjournals，andmoreparticularlybytheSpectatoroftheNorth，whichhealwaysmademetranslate.
BonapartewastouchedtothequickbythecomparisonmakebetweenhimandMoreau，andbythewishtorepresenthimasfoolhardy（"savantssousMoreau，fougueusesousBuonaparte"）.Inthetermof"brigands，"appliedtothegeneralswhofoughtinLaVendee，hethoughtherecognizedthehandofthepartyhewasabouttoattackandoverthrow.HewastiredofthewayinwhichMoreau’ssystemofwarwascalled"savants."ButwhatgrievedhimstillmorewastoseesittinginthecouncilsofthenationFrenchmenwhoweredetractorsandenemiesofthenationalglory.
HeurgedtheDirectorytoarresttheemigrants，todestroytheinfluenceofforeigners，torecallthearmies，tosuppressthejournalssoldtoEngland，suchasthe’Quotidienne’，the’Memorial’，andthe’The’，whichheaccusedofbeingmoresanguinarythanMarateverwas.IncaseoftherebeingnomeansofputtingastoptoassassinationsandtheinfluenceofLouisXVIII.，heofferedtoresign.
HisresolutionofpassingtheAlpswith25，000menandmarchingbyLyonsandPariswasknowninthecapital，anddiscussionsaroserespectingtheconsequencesofthispassageofanotherRubicon.Onthe17thofAugust1797Carnotwrotetohim："Peopleattributetoyouathousandabsurdprojects.Theycannotbelievethatamanwhohasperformedsomanygreatexploitscanbecontenttoliveasaprivatecitizen."ThisobservationappliedtoBonaparte’sreiteratedrequesttobepermittedtoretirefromtheserviceonaccountofthestateofhishealth，which，hesaid，disabledhimfrommountinghishorse，andtotheneedwhichheconstantlyurgedofhavingtwoyears’rest.
TheGeneral—in—ChiefwasjustlyofopinionthatthetardinessofthenegotiationsandthedifficultieswhichincessantlyarosewerefoundedontheexpectationofaneventwhichwouldchangethegovernmentofFrance，andrenderthechancesofpeacemorefavourabletoAustria.Hestillurgentlyrecommendedthearrestoftheemigrants，thestoppingofthepressesoftheroyalistjournals，whichhesaidweresoldtoEnglandandAustria，thesuppressionoftheClichyClub.ThisclubwasheldattheresidenceofGerardDesodieres，intheRuedeClichy.Aubry，wasoneofitswarmestpartisans，andhewastheavowedenemyoftherevolutionarycausewhichBonaparteadvocatedatthisperiod.Aubry’sconductatthistime，togetherwiththeparthehadtakeninprovokingBonaparte’sdismissalin1795，inspiredtheGeneralwithanimplacablehatredofhim.
BonapartedespisedtheDirectory，whichheaccusedofweakness，indecision，pusillanimity，wastefulexpenditure，ofmanyerrors，andperseveranceinasystemdegradingtothenationalglory.
——[TheDirectorymeritedthoseaccusations.Thefollowingsketchesoftwooftheirofficialsittingspresentasingularcontrast：
AtthetimethattheDirectorywerefirstinstalledintheLuxembourg（27thOctober1795）."saysM.Baileul，"therewashardlyasinglearticleoffurnitureinit.Inasmallroom，roundalittlebrokentable，oneofthelegsofwhichhadgivenwayfromage，onwhichtabletheyhaddepositedaquireofletter—paper，andawritingdesk’acalamet’，whichluckilytheyhadhadtheprecautiontobringwiththemfromtheCommitteeofPublicsafety，seatedonfourrush—bottomedchairs，infrontofsomelogsofwoodill—lighted，thewholeborrowedfromtheporterDupont;whowouldbelievethatitwasinthisdeplorableconditionthatthemember’softhenewGovernment，afterhavingexaminedallthedifficulties，nay，letmeadd，allthehorrorsoftheirsituation，resolvedtoconfrontallobstacles，andthattheywouldeitherdeliverFrancefromtheabyssinwhichshewasplungedorperishintheattempt？
Theydrewuponasheetofletter—papertheactbywhichtheydeclaredthemselvesconstituted，andimmediatelyforwardedittotheLegislativeBodies."
AndtheComtedeLaVallette，writingtoM.CuvillierFleury，says：
"Isawourfivekings，dressedintherobesofFrancisI.，hishat，hispantaloons，andhislace：thefaceofLaReveillierelookedlikeacorkupontwopins，withtheblackandgreasyhairofClodion.M.
deTalleyrand，inpantaloonsofthecolourofwinedregs，satinafoldingchairatthefeetoftheDirectorBarras，intheCourtofthePetitLuxembourg，andgravelypresentedtohissovereignsasambassadorfromtheGrandDukeofTuscany，whiletheFrenchwereeatinghismaster’sdinner，fromthesouptothecheese.AttherighthandtherewerefiftymusiciansandsingersoftheOpera，Laine，Lays，Regnault，andtheactresses，notalldeadofoldage，roaringapatrioticcantatatothemusicofMehul.Facingthem，onanotherelevation，thereweretwohundredyoungandbeautifulwomen，withtheirarmsandbosomsbare，allinecstasyatthemajestyofourPentarchyandthehappinessoftheRepublic.Theyalsoworetightflesh—colouredpantaloons，withringsontheirtoes.Thatwasasightthatneverwillbeseenagain.Afortnightafterthismagnificentfete，thousandsoffamiliesweptovertheirbanishedfathers，forty—eightdepartmentsweredeprivedoftheirrepresentatives，andfortyeditorsofnewspaperswereforcedtogoanddrinkthewatersoftheElbe，theSynamaryortheOhio！ItwouldbeacuriousdisquisitiontoseektodiscoverwhatreallywereatthattimetheRepublicandLiberty."]
HeknewthattheClichypartydemandedhisdismissalandarrest.HewasgiventounderstandthatDumolardwasoneofthemostdecidedagainsthim，andthat，finally，theroyalistpartywasonthepointoftriumphing.
BeforedecidingforonepartyortheotherBonapartefirstthoughtofhimself.Hedidnotimaginethathehadyetachievedenoughtoventureonpossessinghimselfofthatpowerwhichcertainlyhemighteasilyhaveobtained.Hethereforecontentedhimselfwithjoiningthepartywhichwas，forthemoment，supportedbypublicopinion.IknowhewasdeterminedtomarchuponPariswith25，000menhadaffairstakenaturnunfavourabletotheRepublic，whichhepreferredtoroyalty.Hecautiouslyformedhisplan.TodefendtheDirectorywas，heconceived，todefendhisownfuturefortune;thatistosay，itwasprotectingapowerwhichappearedtohavenootherobjectthantokeepaplaceforhimuntilhisreturn.
ThepartieswhichroseupinParisproducedareactioninthearmy.Theemploymentoftheword’Monsieur’hadoccasionedquarrels，andevenbloodshed.GeneralAugereau，inwhosedivisionthesecontestshadtakenplace，publishedanorderoftheday，settingforththateveryindividualinhisdivisionwhoshouldusetheword’Monsieur’，eitherverballyorinwriting，underanypretencewhatever，shouldbedeprivedofhisrank，anddeclaredincapableofservingintheRepublicanarmies.Thisorderwasreadattheheadofeachcompany.
Bonaparteviewedtheestablishmentofpeaceasthecloseofhismilitarycareer.Reposeandinactivityweretohimunbearable.HesoughttotakepartinthecivilaffairsoftheRepublic，andwasdesirousofbecomingoneofthefiveDirectors，convincedthat，ifheobtainedthatobject，hewouldspeedilystandsingleandalone.ThefulfilmentofthiswishwouldhavepreventedtheEgyptianexpedition，andplacedtheimperialcrownmuchsooneruponhishead.IntrigueswerecarriedoninParisinhisname，withtheviewofsecuringtohimalegaldispensationonthescoreofage.Hehoped，thoughhewasbuteight—and—twenty，tosupersedeoneofthetwoDirectorswhoweretogooutofoffice.
——[TheDirectorshadtobefortyyearsofagobeforetheycouldbeappointed.]——
Hisbrothersandtheirfriendsmadegreatexertionsforthesuccessoftheproject，which，however，wasnotofficiallyproposed，becauseitwastooadversetotheprevailingnotionsoftheday，andseemedtooearlyaviolationoftheconstitutionoftheyearIII.，which，nevertheless，wasviolatedinanotherwayafewmonthsafter.
ThemembersoftheDirectorywerebynomeansanxioustohaveBonapartefortheircolleague.Theydissembled，andsodidhe.Bothpartieswerelavishoftheirmutualassurancesoffriendship，whiletheycordiallyhatedeachother.TheDirectory，however，appealedforthesupportofBonaparte，whichhegranted;buthissubsequentconductclearlyprovesthatthemaintenanceoftheconstitutionoftheyearIII.wasamerepretest.Heindeeddefendeditmeanwhile，because，byaidingthetriumphoftheoppositeparty，hecouldnothopetopreservetheinfluencewhichheexercisedovertheDirectory.Iknowwellthat，incaseoftheClichypartygainingtheascendency，hewasdeterminedtocrosstheAlpswithhisarmy，andtoassembleallthefriendsoftheRepublicatLyons，thencetomarchuponParis.