and clean their own boots, adding that frugal allowances and simple fare would make them "robust, able to support the inclemencies of weather and the toils of war, and fit them to inspire the soldiers with respect and attachment." Remarks like these, while they must be allowed to show a surprising range of observation and maturity of judgment, in a youth of fifteen, discover also how soon the self-exalting spring of his genius was beginning to act, elevating him above his own situation, and enabling him to look down on that of others.

About this period also he is said to have formed liberal political opinions, which he indulged so far as to express himself in a letter to his parents, disrespectfully of the kingly office. The letter being submitted, according to the regulations of the school, to the professor of belles lettres, this sentiment was of course reprobated, the letter was destroyed and the writer rebuked. Afterwards when he was first consul, having occasion to employ a preceptor for his brother Jerome, he sent for his old instructor and reverting kindly to their former acquaintance, reminded him of the fate to which he had doomed his unlucky epistle.

In the course of one of his lectures, the professor of history at Paris introduced the revolt of the Constable of Bourbon, and enlarged, with loyal emphasis, on the enormity of his fighting against his king. This view of the subject did not satisfy the mind of Bonaparte, whose finer feeling and nicer sagacity discriminated at once between patriotism and loyalty. The Constable's crime, he justly apprehended, consisted not in fighting against his king, but in uniting with foreigners to make war on his own country. A mind like this, it was not in the power of temptation or adversity to degrade to the part of Bernadotte or Moreau.

His reputation soon reached beyond the limits of his school, and attracted the notice of the Abbé Raynal, who paid him flattering attentions.

While he was thus enlarging the circle of his knowledge, and unfolding the rich promise of his character, his father died of a cancer of the stomach, at Montpellier (12). In this son were centered his hopes and affections-so strongly that, although Joseph was the attendant of his sick bed, his dying thoughts were fixed on Napoleon. On his name he was heard frequently to call, and in moments of delirious agony, to invoke the succour of his mighty sword; as if the clouds which darkened the death-bed of the pa

14

THE LIFE OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

[CHAP. 1.] rent, were tinged with prospects of the greatness and glory that were to descend upon his son. As it does not appear that Napoleon had visited Corsica from the time of his entering the school of Brienne, his last interview with his father most probably took place when the latter came to Paris for medical advice, on the first access of his disorder. Of course he knew very little of this parent..

Among his fellow students, two individuals are mentioned, whose names are eventfully connected with his own. Philippeaux, who, at Acre, under hostile banners, contributed to arrest the course of his Syrian conquests; and Lauriston, his favourite aidede-camp, whose protracted and ineffectual negotiations with Kutusoff contributed not to shorten his delay at Moscow.

In September 1785, his diligence and aptitude having again accelerated his examination, he received his first appointment in the army; a second lieutenancy in the regiment of La Fère, or the 1st artillery (13). His success on this occasion was the more creditable, as his examination in the important branch of mathematics was conducted by the great La Place. He is said to have been transported with joy at finding himself an officer; an emotion proportioned less to the inconsiderable event itself, than to the vast career which it opened. He joined his regiment forthwith at Valence in Dauphiné, and there first did duty as an officer.

Pausing to contemplate him, when thus emerging from the restraints of adolescence, it will appear that he was a youth fit to be loved with devotion by a friend, and with pride by a parent; that he was sensitive yet ingenuous, grateful but not vindictive, and though obstinate against injury tractable to kindness; capacious of knowledge, and ardent in pursuing it, not as a badge of boyish superiority, but as an instrument for intellectual purposes. The progress of his understanding though rapid was steady, proportioned, not only to the strength of genius in which its impulse originated, but to the extent of advancement which its maturity was to reach. It was natural that his preceptors should have entertained, with affection for his person, anticipations of his greatness; and it is probable they were not more gratified at seeing their predictions fulfilled, than surprised at the degree to which they were surpassed by his exploits.

CHAPTER II.

From 1785 to 1793.

Napoleon in garrison at Valence in Dauphiné-Madame Colombier's kindness and esteem for him-In love with her daughter-His success in society— His comrades in the regiment—His prize essay succesful in the academy of Lyons- His history of Corsica Commended by the Abbé Raynal—In garrison at Auxonne — Near being drowned in the Saône— Prince of Condé- Bonaparte's public letter to the Corsican deputy Butlafoco-Kindness to his brother Louis- Promoted to a first lieutenancy in the regiment of Grenoble-Returns to Valence-Anecdote General Dutheil-Bonaparte's liberal political opinions-Rescues a brother officer -Visits Corsica-Death of his father's uncle-Anecdote Promoted to a captaincy Commands a Corsican battalion, and suppresses a riot at Ajaccio-The first slander against him-Goes to Paris- Remarks on the horrors of the 20th of June, and 10th of August Reflection-Interest about his sisters-Returns to Corsica-The expedition against SardiniaPaoli-Anecdote - Refuses to join Paoli-Paoli's cruelty to the Bonaparte family - Civil war in Corsica-Bonaparte active on the side of France Paoli calls in the English · Corsica subdued by England Madame Bonaparte takes refuge on the continent, and settles at Marseilles -Bonaparte joins the army of Italy-Writes and publishes "Le Souper de Beaucaire."

At the head of the society of Valence, when Lieutenant Bonaparte joined his regiment, was Madame Colombier, a lady of amiable character and penetrating mind. The officers of the garrison were invited to her parties, where she soon noticed and liberally encouraged the strong and brilliant faculties of young Bonaparte. She introduced him to her acquaintances and recommended him to her friends, especially to the Abbé de St. Rufe, by whose hospitality he was associated with the most distinguished persons of the province. His mother supplied him with an allowance which, added to his pay, placed him above the inconveniences of a

narrow income. He became a favourite with his commanding officer, was of an age to feel the allurements of society as well as the attractions of knowledge, and entered its circles with pleasure and success. His slight elegant form, classical expressive face, original conversation, in which flashes of genius incessantly appeared, excited general admiration; and being new to life and its fashions, he pleased without the rules of pleasing, and therefore pleased the more.

Mademoiselle Colombier was about his own age. It was natural that he should see the graces of his friend's daughter, that she should perceive the merits of her mother's favourite; and a sentiment of tenderness arose between them. Having established the usual intelligence of lovers, they met one morning by day-break in an orchard, where their passionate indulgence consisted in eating cherries together. This was his first love; pure as the dew on the cherries, it proved to be as transient, and appears to have been as cool.

It was not without incurring the envy of his comrades, that he led this life of privilege and pleasure in the kind and happy society of Valence. This feeling does not appear to have disturbed his enjoyment at the time, nor to have stood in the way of their future good fortune; for, of his mesmates at Valence, six lived to receive marks of his particular favour; viz., Lariboissière, Sorbier, Desmazzis, d'Hedouville, Roland, and Mabille.

Madame Colombier died soon after the commencement of the revolution, in the success of which she is said to have taken a warm interest. Her enthusiastic esteem for young Bonaparte continued to the last. Though he had left Valence, she mentioned him in her last moments, and told those around her, that if he was not prematurely cut off, his career in life would certainly be glorious. He always spoke of her as his benefactress, and when he had more than verified her predictions, testified his respect for her memory by making a munificent provision for her daughter. If Madame Colombier deserved his gratitude, she demands the notice of his biographer, as being the only person to whom his infant fortune was indebted.

Society, its charms and flatteries, the envy of young men and the favour of young ladies, did not allay his thirst for knowledge or for fame. He chanced to be quartered at the house of a bookseller who allowed him the free use of his miscellaneous assort

ment of volumes. Most of these during his stay at Valence, he read over and over, pushing his studies beyond the limits of his profession and the taste of his class, into the distant regions of ecclesiastical history and papal government. Even from this irregular reading he appears to have gleaned a fund of sound and applicable knowledge. At the age of eighteen he became a competitor for literary honours. The academy of Lyons offered a prize for the best essay on the following question by the Abbé Raynal: "What are the principles and institutions, the application of which is most conducive to the happiness of society?" A subject so abstract and comprehensive, it required boldness to undertake, and ability to manage. Bonaparte it seems, though but a stripling, was deficient in neither prerequisite, and his anonymous essay not only gained the academical prize, but general applause. Cast in a liberal political mould, it coincided with the literary spirit and popular feeling of the time, and to that circumstance doubtless, owed in some degree its success. But there was a force of logic, and an energy of feeling and expression in the essay, which under any circumstances must have been admired. The upward progress of its author, soon left this small title to credit beneath him. When however he had risen high in the firmament of power and glory, it was retrieved by the officious flattery of Talleyrand. The Emperor, with a fastidiousness proper to his elevation, and common to men of great genius, saw, in his juvenile essay, nothing but its imperfections, and threw it into the fire. A copy, it seems, had been taken by his brother Louis, and the essay is now in print.

About this time too, actuated by a noble veneration for the place of his birth and the land of his fathers, he undertook to compose a history of Corsica. He made some progress in the work, which, with a proper feeling of respect, he dedicated to the Abbé Raynal. But though thus early and strongly inclined to authorship, the disposition appears to have proceeded more from the abundance of his resources, and the creative ardour of his mind, than from a predilection for pursuits so meditative. His essay towards a history of Corsica was read and commended by the Abbé Raynal, who in vain advised its publication. The production itself is lost, but the familiarity which its preparation had given its author with the subject, no doubt furnished his retentive memory with the materials out of which was constructed

VOL. I.

2