CHAPTER XX.

December 1796 and January 1797.

Bonaparte's domestic feelings-He goes to Milan-Josephine visits GenozHis chagrin His felicity-The painter Legros-Bonaparte's two new aides de camp-Madame Muiron-Bonaparte renews the war against the swindlers in his army-His letters and menaces-His conduct in relation to the new republics-Suppresses the revolt of Grafagniana-The congress of Reggio-Bonaparte acknowledged as the founder of the Cispadan republicHis letter to the president-Venice-Bonaparte occupies the citadel of Bergamo His letter and concession to Battaglia-His compliment to the Italian clergy-Delicacy of his position - Impression of his language and character on the Italians-His vain efforts to reopen negotiations with Rome-Determines to use military force-Assembles troops at BolognaPuts himself at their head-Obstinacy of the Pope-Manfredini-Efforts of the directors to make peace with Austria-They send general Clarke with overtures into Italy-Bonaparte disapproves the measure-Clarke failsAlvinzi gets in motion-Number of his troops-His plan of operations-His letter communicating one from the Emperor to marshal Wurmser-It is intercepted-Number and distribution of Bonaparte's army-Advance of Alvinzi to the Brenta, and of Provera to the lower Adige-Bonaparte orders Victor to march back to the Adige, and returns to Verona-Massena gains the combat of St. Michel—Gallantry of general Brune and the 75th-Bonaparte withdraws Massena to the right bank of the Adige at VeronaMovement of Alvinzi on the upper Adige, and of Provera on the loweruncertainty of Bonaparte at Verona-Marches against Alvinzi-Joins Joubert at Rivoli-The plateau of Rivoli-Battle of Rivoli-Defeat of the Austrians - Provera effects the passage of the lower Adige-Augereau defeats his rearguard, and burns his bridge-Provera marches upon Mantua, and Bonaparte to intercept him-Sortie of Wurmser-Battle of the Favorita-Wurmser repulsed, and Provera defeated and taken-Joubert pursues and disperses the army of Alvinzi-Takes Trent and penetrates to the Lavis-Augereau returns to Porto Legnago-Marches through Padua to Treviso-Massena drives Bayalitch back to the Piave-General result of the battles of Rivoli and the Favorita-The colours presented to the directory by Bessières-Conduct of Bonaparte.

Having witnessed the battles and triumphs of Bonaparte in the marshes of Arcola, and his combats and success in the mountains

of the Adige, the reader will not be indisposed to contemplate for a moment his private life and domestic feelings.

Soon after returning to Verona, he visited the posts of the blockading army, and then repaired to Milan in the fond hope of meeting his beloved Josephine. But she, either from excessive love of gaiety or from coquettish caprice, foibles from which, with all its virtues, her character was not free, had notwithstanding her husband's late letters announcing his intention of paying her a visit, accepted an invitation from certain magnificoes of Genoa, and was gone on a pilgrimage of pleasure to that proud city. His surprise and mortification were extreme upon finding on his arrival at Milan, that his wife had left there. In a letter he wrote her on the occasion, these feelings were strongly expressed, but without the least harshness; his reproaches, which are those of tenderness not resentment, being conveyed in that tone of magnanimity, with which it appears injuries terminating in himself, invariably inspired his language:

"I arrived at Milan at three o'clock. Quitting every thing else, I hastened to your apartment to see you and clasp you in my arms; when lo! you were gone! You pass from city to city, from festival to festival; you fly from me at the moment of my approach. You care no more for your dear Napoleon. You loved him only from caprice, and from inconstancy you disregard him.

"Accustomed to dangers, I am acquainted with the remedy for the crosses and ills of life. The misery I experience is incalculable. Had I a right to count on it?

"I shall be here until the 29th: do not disarrange your plans. Follow pleasure; felicity was made for you. The world will rejoice if it can make you happy. Your husband only is wretched; he is truly wretched."

A letter of the next day, the 28th, breathes the same affectionate chagrin.

"I have received the courier Berthier sent to Genoa. You had not time to write to me; that I can easily conceive. Surrounded by pleasure and amusements, you would have been wrong to make the slightest sacrifice for me. Berthier has been so good as to show me your letter to him. It is not my intention that you should alter your plans, or interrupt the parties of pleasure that are offered you. I am not worth such a sacrifice. The happiness or misery of a man you love not, cannot be expected to interest you.

"For me, it is my destiny and the object of my life, to love you only, to make you happy, and in nothing to oppose your inclinations. Be happy, do not reproach yourself, nor take concern about a man whose life depends on yours and whose sole pleasure consists in your felicity. I am wrong to require of you love like mine. Can we expect lace to weigh like gold? When I devote to you all my wishes, all my thoughts, and every instant of my exist ence, I obey the ascendancy which the charms of your character and person have established over my unhappy heart. If I have not the qualities to captivate you, it is not your fault. But at least I deserve from Josephine regard and esteem, for I love her alone, and I love her to madness.

"Adieu Josephine, adorable woman adieu. May fate concentrate upon me, the cares and sorrows of our common lot, and bestow on you uniform prosperity and happiness. Who better deserves it? And when it shall be too well proved, that you can no longer love me, my grief shall be confined to my own breast, and I will be satisfied with the power of being useful to you. "I open my letter to send you one kiss. Ah, Josephine! Josephine!" (1)

By these letters the fair wanderer was speedily recalled, and the happiness of the victorious general, after her return, is described by an officer of his suite as having been perfect. "The general in chief was then in all the ecstacy of married life. Madame Bonaparte was full of charms, nor could all the anxieties of command, nor the cares of governing Italy, prevent her husband from yielding himself up to domestic bliss" (2).

It appears that the hard service to which he had been exposed in the late contest with Alvinzi, and particularly a contusion which he suffered in the battle of Arcola, had considerably affected his already enfeebled health (3). Consequently the few days of comparative repose which were allowed him at Milan, were not less serviceable to his health than they were delightful to his heart. Here it was that Legros, who subsequently became celebrated as a painter of his battles, executed his first portrait of Bonaparte. He was represented on the bridge of Lodi, with a flag in his hand, leading on the grenadiers in their decisive charge. Bonaparte, who dedicated to love all the time which he could spare from duty, was unwilling to give a moment to the artist. So that the only thing like a sitting that could be obtained, was after break

fast, just as he was passing into his cabinet. The charming Josephine would then take the conqueror on her lap, and detain him by caresses a few moments. In this way, after a thousand interruptions, Legros finished the portrait, which is said to be in the possession of Josephine's daughter, and to bear a striking resemblance to the original (4).

It was his own observation to the faithful Las Cases, that he was never able to enjoy the pleasure of his victories in this campaign, because as soon as he gained one battle, he was obliged to prepare, with overwhelming odds against him, for fighting another. So that it is probable this interval of quiet and affection, extending from the close of the operations of Arcola, to the beginning of those which preceded the battle of Rivoli, was the longest respite from toil and danger which, since his departure from Paris, had been allowed him.

The death of two aides de camp in the battle of Arcola, gave him the sad opportunity of supplying their places. On the recommendation of general Baraguay d'Hilliers, he appointed, in the place of Muiron, the chief of battalion Lavalette, who became subsequently connected with his family and devoted to his fortunes. In the room of Elliot he selected lieutenant Croisier, a cavalry officer of merit and promise. Thus recomposed, his list of aides de camp stood as follows; Junot, Marmont, Duroc, Le Marrais, Sulkowski (5), Louis Bonaparte, Lavalette, and Croisier.

From a letter which he wrote at this time to the directory, it appears that the widow of Muiron made but a modest demand on his benevolence and her country's gratitude. Giving a detailed account of Muiron's services at Toulon, at Paris, and in Italy, Bonaparte adds-" He died gloriously in the battle of Arcola. In consideration of the services he rendered in the different campaigns of this war, I request that the name of Berault Courville, his mother in law, be erased from the list of emigrants on which it was inscribed, although she never emigrated; as likewise that of his brother in law Charles Marie Berault Courville. This youth, when he was but fourteen years old, was put on the list of emigrants, although he went abroad only for his education" (6).

While the imperial government and commander were endeavouring to repair, and preparing to revenge, their losses in the campaign of Arcola, the French general turned the arms of exposure and denunciation against the paymasters and contractors,

whose frauds infested his army. The delinquencies of which he complained, and the punishments which of himself he sometimes inflicted, and at others suggested to the directory, are set forth in his correspondence with a distinctness and zeal which, considering the vexatious complexity of the subject, and the weight and variety of his other duties, evince in a remarkable degree, the strength of his common sense, and the warmth of his solicitude for the public good. In a letter of the 6th of December he says, "I have caused to be arrested citizen Auzou, the principal agent for the forage of the army. He has received, in the course of the campaign, one million seven hundred thousand francs, and notwithstanding, has allowed his service to fail every where. I am going to have him tried by a court martial. A great example is necessary; but unfortunately there is such a medly in these courts, that they are not sufficiently severe. A certain Lemosse, who is denounced by public opinion, and has been more specifically accused to me by the monks of a particular convent, from whom he proposed accepting two hundred sequins as a gratuity for not establishing a hospital there, has been set at liberty by a court martial during my absence. I have just ordered him to be deprived of his commission, and driven from the army. But this punishment is too mild."

In a subsequent letter he entered more fully into a history of the evil, and a statement of the remedies by which it should be combated. "The more I reflect, in my leisure moments, on the violent ulcers in the administrative service of the army of Italy, the more I am convinced of the necessity of applying to them a prompt and infallible remedy.

"The accounts of the army in the paymaster's department are in striking disorder. Nothing can be accounted for; and to the comptroller's well established reputation for knavery, is joined the stupidity of the subordinate agents. Every thing is bought and sold. The army consumes five times as much as is necessary, because the magazine keepers make false issues, and go halves with the military commissaries.

"The principal actresses of Italy are kept by the agents of the French army. Luxury, depravity, and embezzlement, are carried to the highest pitch. The laws are not sufficient. There is only one remedy, which is in harmony with experience, history, and the nature of republican government. This is a syndicature or