the cabinet, amid diplomatists and ministers, he displayed the most astonishing knowledge and judgment; and being now but twenty-nine years old, his military ability, united with his talent in council, rendered him a subject of wonder and admiration to all Europe. The German officers, who had learnt the art of war according to the old tactics, had been sadly puzzled at the novel manœuvres introduced by him in the Italian campaigns; and the gray-haired statesmen, assembled for the adjustment of treaties, and who considered the whole art of diplomacy to consist in artifice and trick, were as much confounded by his keen sagacity and direct action.

In Dec., 1797, Bonaparte arrived at Paris, where he was the great object of interest and attention. He was received with the greatest honors by the Directory; splendid public festivals were given to the conqueror of Italy. Politicians, poets, artists, marshals, musicians and fair ladies crowded around him, and heaped upon him every species of adulation. He was not, however, seduced by these flatteries. His manners were cool and distant, as if he had no sympathy with those around him. Every one felt his superiority, and was impressed with the idea that he was a mysterious, inscrutable individual, whose thoughts were his own, as if he were the only man on the face of the globe. While everybody in Paris was acting as if it were one continued holiday, because Bonaparte was there, he alone seemed to be looking beyond these things and indifferent to them. If, indeed, he ever condescended to use the powers of pleasing which he possessed, it was generally to

obtain some influence which might promote his future
plans.

The Directory becoming at last a little uneasy at the presence of a man so idolized by the soldiery, and so much an object of pride to the people, gave him the command of the expedition to Egypt, which was fitted out and despatched with the utmost secrecy. It sailed in May, 1798, and carried land forces amounting to 30,000 men. Having taken possession of Malta, in their way, the army proceeded to Egypt, where they were followed by the British fleet under Lord Nelson.

We need not detail the exploits of the French in Egypt. It will be sufficient to say, that Bonaparte soon made himself master of that country, and proceeded as far as Palestine. He was everywhere successful, except at Acre, where he was baffled by the British under Sir Sidney Smith. His victory at Aboukir over the Turkish forces completed his operations in Egypt, and hearing of the unsettled state of things in France, he privately took his departure, with two frigates, and fortunately escaping the British vessels, he landed at Frejus, Oct. 9, 1799. He proceeded directly to Paris, being everywhere received with the greatest enthusiasm by the people. His journey was little less than a triumphal procession. Bells were rung, illuminations and fêtes took place everywhere. The messenger who brought the news of his arrival in Paris, was hailed as if he had borne intelligence of a glorious victory.

Again Napoleon was the observed of all observers; but he shunned society, and led a retired life, appear.

Ge

rest

con

ing to take little interest in public affairs, while, in fact, he was very busy in gaining information as to the state of parties, the feelings of the people, and the character of leading men. At length his plans were formed, and he resolved to strike a decisive blow for dominion.

The people had become tired of the existing government, and Napoleon determined to overthrow it, and place himself at the head of the nation. Accordingly, on the 10th November, 1799, accompanied by a number of officers, he repaired to the palace of St. Cloud, about six miles from Paris, where the legislative assembly held their sessions. He entered the hall of the Council of Five Hundred, and after a violent speech, a scuffle took place, and he was forced back. Some troops, who were held ready, now entered the hall, and the members were easily dispersed,-some going out by the doors, and others leaping from the windows. The final result of these decisive measures was the abolition of the Directory, and the placing of the executive power in the hands of three consuls, of whom Bonaparte was one. He soon made himself First Consul, thus becoming possessed of the chief authority.

One of the first acts of the First Consul was to propose peace to Austria and England. It was declined by both powers. The proposal was made to England, in a letter written by Bonaparte, directly to King George III., and not by means of ministers, as correspondence between two governments is usually conducted.

The command of the French army, in Germany,

was given to Moreau; that of Italy, Bonaparte reserved for himself. On the 6th of May, 1800, he left Paris to place himself at the head of sixty thousand men, which had been assembled with great secrecy, in Switzerland. For the execution of his plans, it was necessary that this large army, with its cannon, its ammunition, and its baggage, should march over the Alps, the highest chain of mountains in Europe, by a path scarcely wide enough for a goat. An officer of engineers was sent to survey Mount Bernard, one of the peaks of this lofty range.

With great difficulty he ascended to the top, and then returned to make his report to the first consul. "Is the route practicable?" said Bonaparte. "It is barely possible to pass," replied the engineer.

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us forward then," said Napoleon; and the extraordinary march commenced.

On the 15th of May, Bonaparte, at the head of the main body of the army, marched from Lausanne to the little village of St. Pierre, at which point everything resembling a road ended. An immense and apparently inaccessible mountain, its head among general desolation and eternal frosts, now stood in his way. Precipices, ravines, and a boundless extent of snows, which a breath of air might cause to roll down the sides of the mountain in masses capable of burying armies in their descent, seemed to forbid access to all living things, save only the sure-footed chamois.

But these had no terrors for the First Consul and his troops. The cannon were placed in the trunks of trees, hollowed out for the purpose. Each was dragged by a hundred men. The carriages were taken to pieces and fastened to the backs of mules, or carried by the soldiers. The ammunition was transported in the same manner.

While one half of the soldiers were thus engaged, the others were obliged to carry the muskets, cartridge-boxes, knapsacks, and provisions of their comrades, as well as their own. Each man so loaded was estimated to carry from sixty to seventy pounds weight, up icy precipices, where a man entirely unincumbered could scarcely ascend. The musical bands played from time to time at the head of the regiments, and in places of unusual difficulty the drums beat a charge, as if to encourage the soldiers to encounter the opposition of nature itself. Proba