Bourrienne's Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte

Front matter

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Chapter I. Page

BiKTH and Parentage of Napoleon Bonaparte ; his Education at Brienne ; his Early Taste for Military Amusements ; enters the Militai-y College of Paris ; his Observations on the System of Instruction pursued there ; he obtains his First Commission ; witnesses the breaking out of tlie Revolution ; returns to Corsica, . . . . . . . .13

Chapter II

Sent on a Mission to Genoa ; his Arrest ; Proposal to send him to La Vendee ; is struck off the List of General Officers ; the 13th Vendemaire ; the Day of the Sections ; Marries Josephine ; appointed to command the Army of Italy ; Battles of Monte Notte ; Millesimo ; Mondo^i ; Peace granted to Sardinia, ....>..... 27

Chapter III

The Fi-ench cross the Po; the Bridge of Lodi; MUan occupied; Mantua besieged; Battles of Lonato, CastigUone, Roveredo, Primolano, Bassano, St. George, Ai-cola, Eivoli, and La Fevorita ; Surrender of Mantua ; Treaty of ToUenttno, . . . . . .39

Chapter IV

state of Venice ; Battle of TagUamento ; the Austrians retreat ; Treaty of Leoben ; Bom-rienne joins the Army; Reasons for Delay; Leaves Sens for Italy; Insurrection in the Venetian States ; Reflections on Venice, ......... 59

Chapter V

My Arrival and Reception at Leoben; Arrival at MUan; Negotiations with Austria; Bonaparte complains to the Du-ectory ; Royalist Clubs ; sends La Valette, Augereau, and Bemadotte to Pai-is ; 18th Fructidor, ......... 65

Chapter VI

Effect of the 18th Fructidor; Treaty of Campo-Formio ; leaves Italy; Arrival at Rastadt; Intrigues against Josephine ; Grand Reception at Paris by the Directory ; Egyptian Expedition projected ; Bonaparte's Arrival at Toulon ; Departure for Egypt, . . . .71

Chapter XVI

Austria, bribed by England, refuses to ratify the Treaty of Peace ; Rupture of the Armistice ; Battle of Hohenlinden ; Congress at Luneville ; Peace between France and Austria ; Death of Paul I. of Russia ; the Fi'ench Defeated in Egypt, and Evacuate the country ; Negotiations •with England ; Peace of Amiens, ......... 183

Chapter XVII

The Peace of Amiens glorious for France ; Expedition to St. Domingo ; is Unsuocessful and Disastrous ; First Symptoms of Bonaparte's Malady ; Josephine's Intrigues for the Marriage of Hortense ; Hortense married to Louis ; Falsehood contradicted ; Bonaparte President of the Cisalpine Republic ; Peace of Amiens signed ; his Dislike to the Liberty of the Press ; General Sebastiani sent to Constantinople; his Report; Legion of Honour; Consulate for Life, . 150

Chapter XVIII

Bonaparte authorized to appoint his Successor ; Barbmity of Lucien ; his Theatricals ; the Consul's Private Theatre ; Lost Watch; Canova; Disgrace of Fouch6; Josephine's Regret and Fears; Injustice done to her Memory at St. Helena; Prosperity of France; MiUtary Gk)vernment; Bonaparte's Quarrel with Lannes ; Disgrace of Bourrienne, . . . .309

Chapter XIX

The First Consul's doubts respecting the continuance of Peace ; the Discontent of England; her Bad Faith ; Bonaparte and Lord Whitworth ; Bonapai-te's Message to the Senate ; Causes of the Discontent of England ; Lord Whitworth's Departure ; Complaints of the English Government; My Interview with Bonaparte ; Fauche-Borel ; Moreau and Pichegru ; Reports respecting Hortense ; Death of the Duke d'Enghien ; Josephine's Grief, . . . .230

Chapter XX

Consequences of the Death of the Duke d'Enghien ; Pichegru an'ested ; his Death ; Moreau ; his Treatment in Prison ; the Trial of Georges, Moreau, and others ; their Sentence, . . 244

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER SXI. PAGE.

Tfie Empire Rehearsal ; Secret Negotiations with the Senate ; Hereditary Succession proposed by the Tribune Ciu-ee ; the Piwposition adopted by the Tiibune ; Address of the Senate ; the Emperor's Reply; Revival of old Fonnulas and Titles ; the Creation of the Marshals ; the Invar sion of England never seriously contemplated ; the Fete of the 14th of July; Church Festivals a Waste of Time ; Grand Ceremonial at the Invalids ; Depai-ture for Boulogne ; Distribution of the Crosses of the Legion of Honour ; Intrepidity of two English Sailors ; Negotiations with the Pope ; the Pope ai'rives at Fontaiubleau ; the Coronation ; Distribution of the Eagles in the Champ-de-Mars, .......... 251

Chapter XXII

Remarkable Events contemporary with Napoleon's Coronation ; his Letter to the King of England ; Acts of HostOity against Spain on the part of England ; Opening of the Sittings of the Legislative Body ; my Appointment as Minister to Hambm-g ; Interview with Napoleon ; his Views respecting Italy; Demands of the Holy See ; Napoleon's Depai-ture for Italy; Last Interview with the Pope at Tm-in ; Alessandi'ia ; Napoleon crowned King of Italy at Milan ; Symptoms of Dissatisfaction on the part of Austria and Russia ; Napoleon retm-ns to Paris, and departs for Boulogne ; Unfortunate Result of a Naval Engagement ; my Depai'tui-e for Hambm-g ; Militai-y ObseiTations, and Indications of War, , ^ . . . . 265

Chapter XXIII

Difficulties of my Situation at Hambm-g ; Warlike Preparations in Austria ; Najwleon's Complaints agauist the Emperor of Austria ; Napoleon at Sti-asbm-g ; Captain Bemai-d's Reconnoitering Expedition ; Rapidity of Napoleon's Operations ; the French Anny before Ulm ; Capitulation of Ulm ; Napoleon before and after Victory ; his Address to the Captive Generals ; Abstract of the Causes which led to the Renewal of Hostilities— their Consequences, . 276

Chapter XXIV

The Emperor's Proclamation ; Ten Thousand Prisoners taken by Murat ; Mission of M. de GiiUay ; the first French Eagles taken by the Russians ; Bold Adventui-e of Lannes and Miu-at ; the Fi-ench enter Vienna ; the Battle of Austerlitz, ...... 287

Chapter XXV

Interview of Napolecm and the Emperor of Austria; Treaty of Pi-esbm'g; Consequences of the Campaign; Conduct of Prussia; Battle of Trafalgar; Financial Difficulties; Ouvrard; his Chai-acter and Treatment by the Emperor, ........ 298

Chapter XXVI

The King of Sweden ; Projects in Holland ; Negotiations for Peace ; Mr. Fox, British Minister ; Intended Assassination of Napoleon ; Propositions made through Lord Yannouth ; the Emperor retm-ns to Paris ; Creation of the new Nobility, ...... 308

Chapter XXVII

Menaces of Prussia ; Hostilities commenced between France and Prussia ; Battle of Jena ; Death of the Duke of Brmawick, .......... 313

Chapter XXVIII

Triumph of the French Armies ; Generous Conduct of Napoleon towai'ds the Pitoce of Hatzfeld ; Blucher my Prisoner: his Cliaracter ; Pi-iuce Paul of Wu-temberg also a Prisoner ; Negotiations for Peace ; the Demands of Napoleon rejected ; Displeasure of the King of Sweden, . . 319

Chapter XXIX

The Berlin Decrees ; Remarks on the Continental System ; its Tendencies to produce Napoleon's FaU, 326

10 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXS. PAGE.

Deputation of the Senate to Berlin ; New System of War ; Napoleon mai'ches to meet the Russians; Murat enters Warsaw; Excitement in Poland; Military Preparations; the Battle of Eylau ; Gardanne'a Mission to Persia ; Fall of Dantzic ; Battle of Friedland, . . . 330

Chapter XXXI

Interview between the two Emperora at Tilsit ; the Treaty of Tilsit : its Coijseqiiences ; the Kingdom of Westphalia fomided ; the Duchy of Warsaw ; King of Saxony ; Bombardment of Copenhagen ; Napoleon's Retm-n to Paiis ; Suppression of the Tribimate ; Affairs of Portugal ; the Code Napoleon ; Introduction of French Laws into Germany, .... 340

Chapter XXXII

Disturbed State of Spain ; Godoy, Prince of Peace ; Differences between the Kmg of Spain and his Son ; both appeal to Napoleon : are deceived, and Induced to abdicate ; Mui'at at Madrid ; his Ambition ; the Crown of Spain destined for Joseph ; Summary of Events ; Insm'rection in Spain and Portugal ; Landing of the British ; Junot defeated ; Convention of Cintra, . 349

Chapter XXXIII

Arbitrary Conduct of the French Military Governors ; General Dupas at Hambiu-g ; the Code of Commerce ; Conquests by Senatus Consulta ; Creation of the Imperial Nobility ; Restoration of the Univereity ; Italy aggi-andized at the Expense of the Pope ; the Interview at Erfiut between the Emperors Napoleon and Alexander, ....... 302

Chapter XXXIV

Eomana's Defection; Napoleon's Journey to Italy; Adoption of Eugene; Louis, King of Holland ; Displeases Napoleon ; Abdicates tu favour of his Son ; Holland united to France, , 368

Chapter XXXV

Napoleon arrives in Spain; the French successful every where; Sir John Moore's Retreat; Napoleon leaves Spain; Austria declai-es War; Napoleon heads his Army in Germany; Austrian Disasters ; Vienna taken, ......... 377

Chapter XXXVI

The Papal States united to France ; the Battle of Talavera ; Sir Arthur Wellesley ; Staps' Attempt to assassinate the Emperor at Schoenbruim ; his Examination and Death ; Influence of this Attempt on the Conclusion of Peace ; Treaty of Schoenbrxmn ; Napoleon returns to Paris, , 3So

Chapter XXXVII

Napoleon divorces Josephine, and marries Maiia-Louisa ; the Hanse Towns refuse to pay new French Troops ; Decree for burning EngUsh Merchandise ; my Recall to Paris ; Union of the Hanse Towns with France ; Visit to Malmaison ; Grief of Josephine, . » . . 391

Chapter Xxxviii. •

The French unsuccessful in Spain ; Hostility of the People ; State of France ; Birth of the King of Rome ; Certainty of War with Russia ; War in Spain neglected ; Preparaticms for War ; Removal of the Pope to Fontainbleau, ........ 396

Chapter XXXIX

Departiu-e of Napoleon and Maria-Louisa for Dresden; Napoleon and Alexander desire War ; Attempt to detach Sweden from her Alliance with Russia, . , , . . 401

CHAPTERXL.

Reflections on Poland ; Disasters in Russia ; Mallet's Conspiracy ; Motives of Napoleon's Return to Paris; his Exertions to repair his Losses; War still resolved on, .... 404

CONTENTS. 11

Chapter XLI. Page

Discontent in France and the Provinces; Hamburg evacuated: is occupied by the Cossacks ; Napoleon's new Ai-my; Reoccupation of Hamburg; Congress at Prague, . . . 409

Chapter XLII

Ruptuie of the Conferences at Prague ; Defection of Jomini ; Battles of Dresden and Leipsic ; Prince Poniatowsld killed ; Defection of Austria and Bavaria ; fresh Levy of Men ; Siege of Hamburg : is defended by Davoust ; Distress of the Inhabitants, .... 414

CHAPTER SLIII.

Prince Eugene and the Affairs of Italy; Murat's Perfidy: declares War against France; the National Guard of Paris enrolled ; the Emperor's Address, ..... 421

CHAPTER XLIT.

The Congress of Chatillon ; Ruptm-e of the Conferences ; the Prussians repulsed ; Battles of Brienne and Craonne ; Capture of a Convoy ; the Council of Regency ; Departure of the Empress ; Mai-mont's Defence of Paris ; Capitulation of Paris ; Popular Expression in Favour of the Bourbons ; Deputation to the Emperor Alexander, ..... 435

CHAPTERXLV.

The Allied Sovereigns enter Paris ; Alexander's Declaration ; Provisional Government appointed ; Napoleon negotiates ; his Conditional Abdication ; his Wish to retract, . . . 436

CHAPTER XLVI.

Conference of the Marshals with Alexander ; Mutiny in the Corps of Marmont : they return to Order ; Unconditional Abdication reqiiii'ed of Napoleon ; Farewell Interview between Napoleon and Macdonald ; Unconditional Abdication signed, ...... 447

CHAPTER XLVII.

Tranquillity of Paris ; Arrival of the Count d'Artois : his Entry into Paris ; Arrival of the Emperor of Austria ; Maria-Lotiisa : her Departure for Vienna ; Italy, and Eugene, . . 453

CHAPTER XLVIII.

Napoleon consents to proceed to Elba ; his Farewell to his Troops ; his Journey ; embarks for Elba, . .■ 457

CHAPTER XLIX.

Changes produced by time ; Louis XVIII. lands at Calais ; Berthier's Addi'ess to the King ; the ICing enters Paris ; Unexpected Dismissal from my Post ; Signs of a Commotion ; Symptoms of an Approaching Crisis ; Landing of Bonaparte ; Bourrienne Prefect of Police ; Council of the Tuileries ; Evident Understanding between Murat and Bonaparte ; Plans laid at Elba ; Louis XVni. leaves Paris ; Departure from France ; Bonaparte returns to Paris ; Aspect of France, 463

CHAPTER L.

Assurance of Protection from Bonaparte ; Recollection of old Persecutions ; Seals placed upon my Effects : Useless Search ; Extracts from the Letters of M. de Talleyrand on the State of Affairs ; Napoleon prepares for War : departs for the Army ; HostiUties commence, and are terminated by the Battle of Waterloo ; the King returns to Paris ; my Departui-e from Hambmg, and Arrival at Paris; Fouch6 Jlinister ; my Appointment as President of the Yonne, and Election as Deputy : named Counsellor and Minister of State, .... 476.

12 CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Pace

Preliminary Remarks ; Situation of France and Belgimn ; the Duke of Wellington at Brussels ; Rapid Concentration of an Ai-my by Napoleon ; Blucher assembles his Army ; Encounter at Quatre-bras ; Details of the Battle of Waterloo ; its Disastrous Results to the French ; the English and Pi-ussiana equally entitled to the Honours of the Victory, .... 485

Chapter II

The Consequences of the Battle of Waterloo ; the Chambers meet, and adopt several important resolutions, submitted by La Fayette ; the Ministers make a detailed statement of recent disasters ; the Abdication of Napoleon considered a necessary measure ; he communicates his Act of Abdication : repau-s to Slalmaison, and thence to Rochefort ; Paris sm-rendered to the Allies ; Louis XVIII. reestablished upon the Throne ; Negotiations of Las Cases and Savary with Captain Maitland ; Napoleon determines to embark on board the Bellerophon ; Letter to the Prince Regent ; Reception by Captain Maitland ; Interview with Admu-al Hotham ; Napoleon and the Marines ; Sails for England ; Ai'rives at Torbay, whence the Bellerophon is ordered to anchor off Plymouth ; Meeting of Napoleon and the English Commissioners ; Attempt to remove him on shore by writ of Habeas Corpus ; Napoleon's Protest against the Decision of the English Government ; Selection of his Companions in Exile ; Examination of his Effects ; is transferred on board the Northumberland, and committed to the care of Admiral Cockburn ; Sails for St. Helena, . , . , , . . . 499

Chapter III

Arrival at St. Helena ; General Description of the Island ; Napoleon's Residence at the Briars : his Pastimes ; Removal to Longwood ; Boimdaries assigned for Recreation ; Domestic Arrangements ; Exercises for Health ; Arrival of Sir Hudson Lowe : his Interview with Napoleon ; Annoyances ; Unpleasant Altercations with the Governor ; Arrival of Sir Pultuey Malcolm with Commissioners from the Em'opean Powera ; Treaty of the Allied Sovereigns ; " Bonaparte's Detention Bill;" Lord and Lady Holland; Reduction of Expenses at Longwood; Building Materials and Fm-niture sent to St. Helena ; Napoleon's Opinion of this Measm-e ; his Treasures ; Description of his Apartment ; the Imperial Plate sold to supply Deficiencies ; Further Restrictions ; Santini ; Las Coses enti-apped and banished ; Removal of Doctors O'Meara and Stokoe ; Arrival of Dr. Antommarchi ; Napoleon turns Gardener ; Fails rapidly ; Dictates his Will : his Death ; Post-mortem Examination ; Funeral, ..... 516

Chapter IV

Arrangements made for ti-ansporting the remains of Napoleon from St. Helena ; Communication from Lord Palmerston ; Prince de JoLnviUe appointed to command the Expedition ; its Departm-e from France and arrival at St. Helena ; Exhumation and Reception of the Remains ; Report of the Commissioners ; Retm-n to France ; Ceremonies along the Route to Pai-is ; Final Disposition in the Chapel of the Invalides, ....... 549

MEMOIRS

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

Chapter I

Birth and Parentage of Napoleon Bonaparte; his Education at Brienne; his Early Taste for Military Amusements ; enters the Militaiy College of Paris ; his Observations on the System of Instruction pursued there; he obtains his First Commission; witnesses the breaking out of the- Revolution ; returns to Corsica.

The desire of speculating upon an illustrious name could alone have given birth to the numerous publications under the title of 'memiors,' of 'secret histories,' and of 'rhapsodies,' which have appeared about Napoleon. On reading them, we are at a loss to determine whether we ought to be most surprised at the audacity of the writers, or the good-nature of their readers. But, in fact,. contemporary biography is for the most part an imposture, and the history of a great man, written during his life, is either a panegyric or a satire.

Posterity will not be divided in their judgment of Napoleon as his contemporaries have been. In a future age, the recollections of his splendid triumphs will have been very much weakened; but, at the same time, the evils which his sixty victories have brought upon the great European family, will have been forgotten. His wars and his conquests will be estimated s'olely by their results ; his policy, by the utility and permanency of the institutions which he created, and their harmony with the age in which he lived.

It will be asked, whether he might not have chosen a career less painfully splendid, but more marked by wisdom, than that of war; and whether he was right in preferring the renown which always accompanies great military glory, to the reputation, less brilliant, but more desirable, of having powerfully contributed to the happiness of mankind.

An historian will one day arise, who will do justice to his merit : as for myself, I do not even pretend to aspire to the honour of being his biographer ; I am only about to relate all that I know of this extraordinary man, and which I believe I know well — that which I have seen and heard, and of which I have preserved numerous notes. With confidence I call him an extraordinary man; — who, owing every thing to himself, acquired the most absolute sway over a great and enlightened nation, obtained so many victories, subdued so many states, distributed crowns to his family, made and unmade kings, and who became nearly the most ancient sovereign in Europe, and who was, without doubt, the most distinguished of his age : such an individual cannot be called an ordinary man.

The reader must not expect to find in these Memoirs an uninterrupted series of all the events which marked the great career of Napoleon; nor details of all the battles, with the recital of which so many eminent men have usefully and ably occupied themselves. 1 shall say little about whatever I did not see or hear myself, and which is not supported by official documents- Napoleon Buonaparte was born at Ajaccio, in Corsica, on the 15th of August, 1769. The name was written Buonaparte; but during the first campaign in Italy he dropped the u, merely to render the spelling conformable with the pronunciation, and to abridge his signature. It has been said that he suppressed a year in his age, and that he was born in 1768; but this is untrue. He always told me that the 15th of August, 1769, was his birthday ; and as I was born on the 9th of July in that year, our proximity of age seemed to strengthen our union and friendship when at the military school of Brienne.

Napoleon was the second son of Charles Marie de Buonaparte, a noble, deputy of the noblesse of Corsica, and Lsetitia Ramolino, his wife: there were five brothers — Joseph, Napoleon, Lucien, Louis, and Jerome; and three sisters — Eliza, Caroline, and Pauline. Five others must have died in infancy, for we are informed that his mother had thirteen children, and became a widow at the age of thirty.*

Bonaparte was undoubtedly a man of good family. I have seen an authentic account of his genealogy, which he obtained from Tuscany. A great deal has been written about the civil dissensions which forced his family to leave Italy, and take refuge in

* Bonaparte ever, in after life acknowledged with gratitude the obligations he was under to his mother, and expressed his belief that he owed his subsequent elevation principally to her early lessons; and, indeed, laid it down as a maxim, that the future "good or bad conduct of a child depends entirely on the mother."

Corsica. On this subject, I have nothing to state. His father was poor, and he himself received his education at the public expense, an advantage of which many honourable families availed themselves. A memorial, addressed by his father, Charles Buonaparte, to M. de Segur, then Minister of War, states, that his fortune had been reduced by an attempt to drain the salt marshes, and by the injustice of the Jesuits, by whom he had been deprived of his inheritance. The object of this memorial was to solicit a sub-lieutenant's commission for Napoleon, who was then fourteen years of age ; and to get Lucien, his third son, admitted a king's scholar at the military college of Brienne. The answer returned by the minister to this memorial was, "that his request was inadmissible so long as his second son remained at the military school at Brienne. Two brothers cannot be placed at the same time in the military schools." When Napoleon had completed his fifteenth year, he was sent to Paris, until he should attain the requisite age for entering the army.

Much has been said, and in an opposite spirit, of Bonaparte's boyhood; he has been described in terms of enthusiastic praise, and the most ridiculous condemnation. This will always be the case with those individuals whom genius or other favourable circumstances have elevated above their fellow-men. It is absurd to endeavour to find in an infant the germ of great crimes or of eminent virtues. He used to laugh heartily at those tales which bedecked him with virtues or loaded him with crimes, just as their authors were actuated by admiration or hatred. I recollect, however, an anecdote which has been given to the public with various modifications, and which has become familiar to most readers.

During the winter of 1783-4, so memorable for .the heavy falls of snow, which blocked up the roads and covered the country to a depth of six or eight feet, Napoleon was greatly at a loss for those out-door amusements and retired walks in which he used to take so much delight. During play-hours he had no alternative but to mix with the crowd of his school-fellows, and to walk with them up and down the area of an immense hall. To relieve himself from this monotonous parade, he contrived to stir up the whole school to amuse themselves in a different manner, by forming passages through the snow in the great court-yard, and erecting horn- works, sinking trenches, raising parapets, &c., &c. "Our works being completed," said he, "we can divide ourselves into parties, enact a species of siege, and I, as the inventor of this new amusement, undertake to direct the attack." The proposal was joyfully acceded to by his school-fellovv^s, and immediately put into execution. This mimic combat was carried on during a period of fifteen days, and did not cease until, by gravel and small stones having got mixed with the snow which formed our bullets, many of the students, besiegers as well as besieged, were severely wounded. I recollect that I myself was a considerable sufferer from this kind of shot.

Bonaparte and I were nine years old when our friendship commenced. We soon became very intimate, for there was a certain sympathy of heart between us. I enjoyed this intimacy and friendship without interruption until 1784, when he was transferred from the military school at Brienne to that of Paris. I was one of those youthful companions who could best accommodate themselves to his stern and severe character. His natural reserve, his disposition to meditate on the subjugation of Corsica, and the impressions which he had received in his youth respecting the misfortunes of his country, and of his family, led him to seek solitude, and rendered his general demeanour somewhat disagreeable ; but this was more in appearance than in reality. Our equality of age placed us together in the classes of languages and the mathematics. His ardent desire to acquire knowledge was remarkable from the very commencement of his studies. When he first came to the college, he only spoke the Corsican dialect, from which circumstance he already excited a lively interest. The Sieur Dupius, then vice-principal, a gentleman of polished manners, and an excellent grammarian, undertook to give him lessons in the French language. His pupil repaid his care so well, that in a very short time he had also learned the first rudiments of Latin. But to this language he had such an aversion, that in his fifteenth year he was still in the fourth class. In the Latin, I left him very speedily ; but I could never get before him in the mathematical class, in which, in my opinion, he was, beyond dispute, the ablest in the whole school. I used sometimes to help him with his Latin themes and versions; and in return he assisted me in the solution of problems, which he demonstrated with a readiness and facility that perfectly astonished me ; but to themes and translations he had a great aversion.

At Brienne, Bonaparte was remarkable for the dark colour of his complexion, which the climate of France afterwards very much changed, as well as for his piercing and scrutinizing glance, and for the style of his conversation, both with his masters and companions. His conversation almost always bore the appearance of ill-humour, and he was certainly not very sociable. This I think may be attributed to the misfortunes of his family during his childhood, and the impressions made on his mind by the subjugation pf his country.

The students were invited by turns to dine with Father Benton, the principal of the school. One day, it being Bonaparte's turn to enjoy this indulgence, some of the professors who were at table, knowing his admiration for Paoli, purposely spoke disrespectfully of him. " Paoli," Bonaparte replied, "was a great man ; he loved his country ; and I never shall forgive my father, who was his adjutant, for consenting to the union of Corsica with France. He ought to have followed Paoli's fortunes, and to have fallen with him."

Generally speaking, Bonaparte was not liked by his companions, and they certainly did not flatter him. He associated but little with them, and rarely took part in their amusements. The submission of his country to France seemed to disturb his mind, and led him to keep away from the boisterous exercises of his school-fellows. I, however, was almost always with him. During play-hours he withdrew to the library, where he read with great eagerness books of history, particularly Polybius and Plutarch. He ran over Arrian with great delight, but had little taste for Quintus Curtius. I have often left him in the library to join the sports of my companions.

The temper of the young Corsican was not improved by the railleries of the students, who were fond of ridiculing his name, Napoleon, and his country. He has often said to me, "I will do these French all the mischief in my power:" and when I have endeavoured to pacify him, he would say, "But you never insult me ; you love me."

Father Patrauld, our mathematical professor, was much attached to Bonaparte, and he had great reason to be proud of him as a pupil. The other professors, in whose classes he was not distinguished, took little notice of him. He had no taste for the study of languages, polite literature, or the fine arts ; and as there were no indications of his ever becoming a scholar, the pedants of the establishment were inclined to consider him stupid. It has often been reported that he received a careful education at Brienne; but this is untrue, for at that time the monks were incapable of giving it. I must confess, that the extended information of the present day is, to me, a painful contrast with the limited education I received at the military college. I am only surprised that the establishment should have produced a single able man.

Though Bonaparte had seldom reason to speak well of his fellow-students, yet he was above complaining against them ; and when in his turn he had to see to the performance of any duty which they neglected, he preferred to go into confinement himself than to denounce the culprits.

Bonaparte, during his life, has performed a sufficiency of great B 2* actions to render it unnecessary to dilate upon the pretended wonders of his boyhood. I should be unjust were I to say that he was an ordinary boy; I have never considered him as such. I am bound to declare, on the contrary, that, amidst a crowd of competitors, he was a very distinguished scholar.

I have read, in some biographical account of him, that when about fourteen years of age he happened to be at a party where some one eulogized Turenne, and a lady observed that he certainly was a great man, but that she would have liked him better had he not burned the Palatinate. "What signifies that," said he, "if the burning was necessary to the object he had in view?" This may be very pretty, but it is a mere fiction. Bonaparte was fourteen in 1783; he was then at Brienne, where we saw no company, and least of all the company of ladies.

Bonaparte was fifteen years and two months old when he went to the military college of Paris. I accompained him in a chaise to Nogent-sur-Seine ; and we parted with mutual regret. We did not again meet until 1792. We continued our correspondence during these eight years, but so little did I anticipate the high destinies, which, after his elevation, it has been said his youth indicated, that I have not kept one of the letters which he wrote me during this period. I destroyed the whole so soon as they were answered. I only recollect that, in a letter which he wrote to me about a year after his arrival in Paris, he called upon me to fulfil a promise which I had made at Brienne to enter the army with him. Like him and with him I had passed through a course of study necessary for the service of the artillery : and I had even gone, in 1787, for three months to Metz, in order to join practice to theory. But a strange ordinance, issued in 1778, by M. de Segur, required, as a proof of the necessary talent, that aspirants for the honour of serving their king and country should have at least four quarters of nobility on their escutcheons. My mother, who had been told that we had at least a dozen, immediately set off for Paris to find a M. d'Ogny, of the Heralds' office, to whom she presented the lettei's patent of her husband, who had died six weeks before I was born. She showed that Louis XIII. had, in 1640, granted a patent of nobility to Fauvelet de Villemont, who, in 1586, had kept several districts in Burgundy in obedience to the king, at the peril of his life and to the ruin of his fortune ; and that his family had filled the first places in the magistracy, downwards from the fourteenth century. All was correct : but it was observed that the patent of nobility had not been duly registered by the parliament ; and to remedy this omission, they demanded a fee of twelve thousand francs. This my mother refused to pay, and there the matter rested.