him who puts them over those who submit to be thus questioned. He already took delight in the art of embarrassing, by saying disagreeable things;-an art which he has since reduced into a system, as he has every other mode of subjugating men by degrading them. At this epoch, however, he had a desire to please, for he confined to his own thoughts the project of overturning the Directory, and substituting himself in its stead; but in spite of this desire, one would have said that, unlike the prophet, he cursed in voluntarily, though he intended to bless.

I saw him one day approach a French lady distinguished for her beauty, her wit, and the ardour of her opinions. He placed himself straight before her, like the stiffest of the German generals, and said to her, "Madam, I don't like women to meddle with politics." "You are right, general," replied she; "but in a country where they lose their heads, it is natural for them to desire to know the reason." Buonaparté made no answer. He is a man who is calmed by an effective resistance; those who have borne his despotism deserve to be accused as much as he himself.

The Directory gave general Buonaparté a solemn reception, which in several respects should be considered as one of the most important epochs in the history of the revolution. The court of the palace of the Luxembourg was chosen for this ceremony. No hall would have been large enough to contain the multitude which it attracted: all the win

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dows and all the roofs were crowded with spectators. five directors, in Roman costume, were seated on a platform at the further end of the court, and near them the deputies of the two councils, the tribunals, and the institute. Had this spectacle occurred before the subjugation of the national representation to military power on the 18th Fructidor, it would have exhibited an air of grandeur: patriotic tunes were played by an excellent band; banners served as a canopy to the Directors, and these banners brought back the recollection of great victories.

Buonaparté arrived, dressed very simply, followed by his aides-de-camp, all taller than himself, but nearly bent by the respect which they displayed to him. In the presence of whatever was most distinguished in France, the victorious general was covered with applauses: he was the hope of every one: republicans, royalists, all saw the present or the future in the sup port of his powerful hand. Alas! of the young men who then cried, "Long live Buonaparté!" how many has his insatiable ambition left alive?

M. de Talleyrand, in present<< ing Buonaparte to the Directory, called him "the liberator of Italy, and the pacificator of the continent." He assured them that "general Buonaparté detested luxury and splendor, the miserable ambition of vulgar souls, and that he loved the poems of Ossian, particularly because they detach us from the earth." The earth would have required nothing better, I think, than to let

him detach himself from its concerns. Buonaparté himself then spoke with a sort of affected negligence, as if he had wished to intimate, that he bore little love to the government under which he was called to serve.

He said that for twenty centuries royalty and feudality had governed the world, and that the peace which he had just concluded was the era of republican government. "When the hap

piness of the French," said he, "shall be established upon better organical laws, all Europe will be free." I know not whether by the organical laws of freedom he meant the establishment of his

absolute power. However that might be, Barras, at that time his friend, and president of the Directory, made a reply which supposed him to be sincere in all that he had just said, and concluded by charging him specially with the conquest of England, a mission rather difficult.

Nothing was better calculated to produce a striking effect on the mind than the Egyptian war; and though the great naval victory gained by Nelson near Aboukir, had destroyed all its possible advantages, letters dated from Cairo, orders issuing from Alexandria to penetrate to Thebes, on the confines of Ethiopia, increased the reputation of a man who was not now within sight, but who at a distance seemed an extraordinary phenomenon. He put at the head of his proclamations, "Buonaparté, Commander-in-chief, and Member of the National Institute;" whence it was concluded, that he was a friend to knowledge, and a protector of letters; but

the security which he gave for these qualities was not more firm than his profession of the Mahomedan faith, followed by his concordat with the pope. He was already beginning to impose upon Europe by a system of juggling tricks, convinced, as he was, that the science of life consists merely in the manœuvres of egotism. Buonaparté is not a man only, but also a system; and if he were right, the human species would no longer be what God has made it. He ought therefore to be examined like a great problem, the solution of which is of importance to meditation throughout all ages.

Buonaparté, in reducing every thing to calculation, was sufficiently acquainted with that part of the nature of man which does not obey the will, to feel the necessity of acting upon the imagination; and his twofold dexterity consisted in the art of dazzling multitudes and of corrupting individuals.

His conversation with the mufti in the pyramid of the Cheops could not fail to enchant the Parisians, for it united the two qualities by which they are most easily captivated; a certain kind of grandeur and of mockery together. The French like to be moved and to laugh at being moved: quackery is their delight, and they aid willingly in deceiving themselves, provided they be allowed, while they act as dupes, to show by some witticisms that they are not so.

Buonaparté, in the pyramid, made use of the oriental style. Glory to Allah," said he, "there is no true God but God, and

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and Mahomet is his prophet. The bread stolen by the wicked turns into dust in his mouth." "Thou hast spoken," said the mufti," like the most learned of the mullahs."-" I can cause a chariot of fire to descend from heaven," continued Buonaparté, "and direct it upon the earth.” "Thou art the mightiest cap. tain," replied the mufti, "whose hand the power of Mahomet hath armed." Mahomet, however, did not prevent Sir Sidney Smith from arresting, by his brilliant valour, the successes of Buona. parté at St. Jean d'Acre.

When Napoleon, in 1805, was named King of Italy, he said to general Berthier, in one of those moments when he talked of every thing that he might try his ideas upon other people; "This Sidney Smith made fortune fail me at St. Jean d'Acre; my purpose was, to set out from Egypt, proceed to Constantinople, and arrive at Paris by marching back through Europe." This failure, however, made at the time a very decent appearance. Whatever his regrets might be, gigantic like the enterprises which followed them, Buonaparté found means to make his reverses in Egypt pass for successes; and although his expedition had no other result than the ruin of the fleet, and the destruction of one of our finest armies, he was called the Conqueror of the East.

Buonaparte, availing himself with ability of the enthusiasm of the French for military glory, associated their self-love with his victories as well as with his defeats. He gradually took possession of the place which the

revolution occupied in every head, and attached to his own name that national feeling, which had aggrandized France in the eyes of foreigners.

Two of his brothers, Lucien and Joseph, had seats in the Council of Five Hundred; and both in their different lines had enough of intellect and talent to be eminently useful to the general. They watched for him over the state of affairs, and when the moment was come, they advised him to return to France. The armies had been beaten in Italy, and were for the most part disorganized through the misconduct of the administration. The Jacobins began to show themselves once more; the Directory was without reputation and without strength. Buonaparte received all this intelligence in Egypt, and after some hours of solitary meditation, he resolved to set out. This rapid and certain perception of circumstances is precisely what distinguishes him, and opportunity has never offered itself to him in vain. It has been frequently repeated, that on departing then, he deserted his army. Doubtless, there is a species of exalted disinterestedness, which would not have allowed a warrior to separate himself thus from the men who had followed him, and whom he left in distress. But Buonaparte ran such risks in traversing the sea, covered with English vessels; the design which summoned him to France was so bold, that it is absurd to treat his departure from Egypt as cowardice. Such a being must not be attacked with common declamations: every man, who has produced a

great

great effect on other men, to be judged, should be examined thoroughly.

A reproach of a much graver nature is the total want of humanity which Buonaparte manifested in his Egyptian campaign. Whenever he found any advantage in cruelty, he indulged in it, and yet his despotism was not sanguinary. He had no more desire to shed blood, than a reasonable man has to spend money without need. But his ambition was, in his nomenclature, necessity; and when this ambition was concerned, he did not for a moment allow himself to hesitate to sacrifice others to himself. What we call conscience, was in his eyes only the poetical name of co

zenage.

Different accounts have been given of the manner in which the revolution of the 18th Brumaire was accomplished. The point of chief importance is, to observe on this occasion the characteristical traits of the man, who has been for nearly fifteen years the master of the continent of Europe. He repaired to the bar of the Council of Ancients, and wished to draw them into his views by addressing them with warmth and dignity: but he cannot express himself in connected discourse; it is only in conversation that his keen and decisive spirit shows itself to advantage. Besides, as he has no true enthusiasm on any subject, he is never eloquent but in abuse; and nothing was more difficult for him than to confine himself in his address to that kind of respect which is due to an assembly whom we wish to convince. He

attempted to say to the Council of Ancients," I am the god of war and of fortune, follow me.' But he used these pompous words from mere embarrassment, and in their place would rather have said, "You are all a pack of wretches, and I will have shot if you you do not obey me.

On the 19th Brumaire he came to the Council of Five Hundred, his arms crossed, with a very gloomy air, and followed by two tall grenadiers, who protected the shortness of his stature. The deputies, who were named Jacobins, uttered violent exclamations when they saw him enter the hall: fortunately for him his brother Lucien was president at the time; it was in vain that he rang the bell to re-establish order; cries of traitor and usurper resounded from every quarter; and one of the members, a countryman of Buonaparte, the Corsican Arena, approached the general, and shook him violently by the collar of his coat. It has been supposed, but without reason, that he had a poignard to kill him. His action, however, terrified Buonaparte, who said to the nadiers by his side, as he let his head drop over the shoulder of one of them, "Get me out of this." The grenadiers carried him away from among the deputies who surrounded him, and bore him from the hall into the open air. He was no sooner out than his presence of mind returned. He instantly mounted on horseback, and passing along the ranks of his grenadiers, soon determined them to what he wished should be done.

gre.

In this situation, as in many others,