OF THE

EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

CHAPTER I.

From 1769 to 1785.

Circumstances attending his

Corsica - Birth of Napoleon - His family birth-Anecdotes of his infancy-His father, a deputy of the nobles to Versailles in 1779-Places him at the military school of Brienne-Anecdotes respecting him while at Brienne-Pichegru his comrade and tutor― His admiration for Turenne-His early transfer to the school of Paris-The Chevalier Keralio's opinion and report of him- Admiration of his instructors at Paris-His favourite authors-Anecdotes in regard to him while at the school of Paris-Noticed by the Abbé Raynal-Death of his father-His comrades at school-Examined by La Place-Receives his first commission as second lieutenant of Artillery-Joins his regiment at Valence, in Dauphiné- His character at the time.

The island of Corsica, though known from the earliest ages, of considerable extent, and adjacent to the coasts of Italy and France, had been the scene of few memorable events, when it became the birth place of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was born at Ajaccio, on the 15th of August, 1769 (1). His father was distinguished for eloquence and liberality; his mother respected for the pride of virtue, and the prudence of an independent spirit.

As the exertion of power awakens our wonder, its origin excites our curiosity. After contemplating the actions of great men, we are pleased to trace the course of their parentage; as travellers leave the currents of rivers to explore their sources, in untrodden wilds, in the clefts of rocks, and in barren mountains. In compliance with this general inclination, the following particulars

VOL. I.

1

respecting the Bonaparte family have, with more or less detail, been before related.

During the wars of the Guelph and Ghibelline factions in Italy, the Bonapartes were among the adherents of the latter, which was the liberal and defeated party. Expelled from Florence, the city from which Dante had been banished, a younger brother of the family found a refuge and a home in Corsica. From this adventurous exile was descended Charles Bonaparte; who, though unprosperous and shortlived, was the sire of sovereigns, and among them of a monarch, to whom Emperors were suppliants, and who prostrated, pardoned, and created kings.

The great grandfather of Napoleon had three sons-Joseph, Napoleon, and Lucien. The first of these had an only son, Charles; the second an only daughter, Elisabeth; the third who was a priest, long survived his brothers, and died in 1791 archdeacon of Ajaccio. The father of Napoleon was thus the eldest in descent, and the sole representative of his name in Corsica. From these circumstances, as well as from the ancient distinction of the family, which had been eminent in the church, had figured in the politics and literature of Italy, and which besides, mingling its blood with the Orsini, the Lomellini, and the Medici, claimed descent from the imperial house of the Comneni (2), great care was bestowed on his education. He studied at Pisa and Rome, and took the degree of doctor of laws.

Returning home, handsome, intelligent, and accomplished, he won the affections of Letitia Ramolino, a young lady of the island, descended from a noble family of Naples, and remarkable for personal beauty and strength of character. They were married so young, that a connection which was deemed eligible in other res→ pects, their friends disapproved as premature. The fruits of this marriage were, besides five children who died in infancy, Joseph, king of Spain; Napoleon; Lucien, prince of Canino; Louis, king of Holland; Jerome, king of Westphalia; Elisa, grand duchess of Tuscany; Pauline, princess Borghese; and Caroline, queen of Naples.

The war of 1768, in which the Corsicans contended against the power of France in vain, found Charles Bonaparte at the head of his island clan (or pieve), and a friend and follower of Paoli. His wife, prompted by congenial spirit and the fervour of youthful love, resolved to share, if not his dangers, at least his hardships.

In the disastrous campaign of 1769, accordingly, she followed the head quarters of the Corsican army, throughout that series of mountain marches, which terminated in the battle of Ponte Novo, and the final defeat of Paoli.

Charles Bonaparte at first resolved to accompany Paoli in his voluntary exile, being like him indignant at the subjugation of his country. But the situation of his wife requiring his immediate care and her longer residence in the island, he deferred his departure until a safe conduct was obtained for her from the French commander in chief. Then, while the father of Napoleon repaired to Porto Vecchio with intention to seek an asylum in England, his mother regained her solitary residence in Ajaccio, there to bring into the world, the future Emperor of France,

The period of her pregnancy was approaching, when influenced by distress and apprehension, rather than by the spirit of youth or beauty, Madame Bonaparte attended the celebration of mass on the day of the feast of the assumption (3). The solemn ceremony was not concluded, when the first pangs of childbirth surprised her. Hastening home, she was met by a gentleman who, observing an uncommon glow in her countenance and lustre in her eyes, with a gallantry more natural than seasonable, made these effects of pain and agitation, subjects of compliment and praise. She was just able to reach her house and throw herself on a sofa in the parlour, When discovered by her domestics, the child was born and the mother had swooned. He came into the world as he rose to greatness, without assistance (4).

About this time, Charles Bonaparte, overcome by tenderness for his family, and the expostulations of his uncle the archdeacon, declined his purposed emigration, and returned home.

In conformity with a custom of the family, the second son was christened Napoleon. Of his infancy little is known, as probably little was remarkable. He was healthy, sprightly, inquisitive and wilful; mastered his elder brother who was of a gentle disposition; disobeyed his father who was indulgent; but was submissive to his mother, who, being of a firm and discreet character, united discipline with affection. He said of her, that she never overlooked a good or a bad action of her children; she said of him that, though wild and headstrong, he was a kind brother and a good son. He was the favourite of his father, who by averting sometimes, and sometimes inviting the mother's authority, curbed or licensed

6

classical seminary at Autun; and the policy of the government facilitating it, admittance was obtained for Napoleon, in the month of April, as a King's scholar, at the royal military school of Brienne.

At this period there were two French generals in authority in Corsica, whose conflicting pretensions created two parties. M. de Narbonne Pellet was haughty and violent; M. de Marbœuf was mild and affable. The former, being of high birth and superior interest, was likely to prevail over his rival. Fortunately for M. de Marbœuf, the deputation, with Charles Bonaparte at its head, arrived at the moment when this competition was under consideration. He was consulted by the minister, and made representations which effectually sustained M. de Marbœuf. - The nephew of Marboeuf, who was archbishop of Lyons, and minister of ecclesiastical affairs, acknowledged this act of welltimed justice; and, learning that M. de Bonaparte was conducting his són to the school of Brienne, introduced him by letter to a noble family of that name, residing there. This was the commencement of that kindness which the families of De Brienne and De Marbœuf extended to young Bonaparte, and which, from sportive malice or disappointed emulation, was ascribed by his school-fellows to a different cause. The aspersion being nourished by the press, and the policy of England, outlived the usual date of such ephemera. The manly beauty and graceful accomplishments of Charles Bonaparte, the advanced age of M. de Marbœuf, and the character of Madame Bonaparte, were circumstances which rendered the story ridiculous, while they proved it to be untrue.

At the school of Brienne, the young Corsican was not long in showing a disposition and ability to excel. He seemed to abound in sensibility and genius. If the last obtained him triumphs, the first exposed him to mortifications. His preceptors praised, but his comrades persecuted him. They ridiculed his Italian accent, mocked his imperfect French, and derided his comparative poverty; they called him a foreigner, the brat of a Corsican attorney, the bastard of the Count Marbœuf. As love for his parents, and affeetion for his home, were heightened by recent separation from both, he keenly resented these insults; and his spirit in combating boys, his superiors in age and in size, associated in a cabal against him, soon secured him friends. It was observed that, even when worsted, he never succumbed nor complained; and, though pro

voked and injured, could not be induced, when in the routine of duty he became superintendant of the class, to report the misconduct of the boys by whose annoyance he himself had suffered. Rather than swerve from this point of honour, he preferred enduring imprisonment, which he submitted to on one occasion, for the space of three days (7).

These injuries and mortifications, though manfully supported, as they were felt to be unjust and found to be unavoidable, sunk deep into his youthful heart, which was disposed to overflows of feeling and ardent attachments. Their influence on his temper soon discovered itself by a change in his habits. From being sprightly, confident, and joyous, he became quiet, sensitive, and solitary; fonder of his books than of his schoolfellows (8). He naturally associated, in the same resentment, the wrongs inflicted on his native island with the sneers aimed at himself, and unconsciously infused the merit of public grief into his own puerile vexations. Thus was kindled that intense patriotism which animated his whole life; which warmed his boyish indignation; directed his youthful studies; inspired his greatest actions; and sanctified the dignity of his last request.

He was too capable of acquiring knowledge to be long insensible of its value. His application accordingly seemed less a matter of duty than of choice; and his attention to discipline to be directed more by a sentiment of order than by the force of rules. Studious and reserved, he was rather respected than popular in the school; but when he did engage in the sports or enterprises of the little republic, his strength and fertility of character made him at once its dictator.

The following anecdotes, relating to this period of his life, are accounted authentic.

Soon after his arrival at Brienne, with all his natural vivacity about him, he was shown into a hall in which was a portrait of the Duke of Choiseul. The sight of this minister, who had defrauded Corsica of independence, excited his indignation so strongly, that he indulged it in epithets of abuse, in defiance of the rank and power of its object, and in spite of the reprehension and menaces of the professors.

The first time he dined at the table of the principal, that person, with a view of trying the spirit of his guest, spoke ill of Paoli. The young Corsican interrupted him instantly, stoutly exclaiming