18 Travels and Adventurts of the Brothers Bacheville [Feb. 1, 



character of Napoleon, tbe complete in t!)e senate, and so excel- 

 lent in tbe more difficult province of 



cioiis 



causes introductory to it being happily 

 incorporated with bis wbole conduct. 

 To this he was ever returning, with an 

 engaging natural ease; and, during 

 the ten months that we passed in tlie 

 isle of Elba, our time was spent, if not 

 in a manner perfectly new, yet so as 

 to be remarkable for its animation or 

 pleasantness ; and I can vouch for my- 

 self and coinrades, that it was the 

 most agreeable and happy of our 

 lives. 



The emperor (for he certainly car- 

 ried himself in this character with us,) 

 frequently superintended the several 

 movements of our military exercises, 

 discoursing wiih the soldiers on ihe 

 distinguishing features which formed 

 the cast of their aflections, their inter- 

 ests, their campaigns; nothing that 

 affected them was indifferent to him. 



One day, aTfer raiontely examining 

 our mounting guard, all of a sudden, 

 ■with a sprightliness of fancy, a loose 

 €asy caslof air, but such as to leave an 

 interesting impression on the ear, be 

 exclaimed: 'Ofi! ga ne va pas comma 

 A Paris; il faudra que nous y retonruions 

 tmde ces muiins :' ' 'i'his grave and slow 

 step is not the best and easiest way. 

 I cannot but think we should be more 

 successfully employed, one of these 

 days, in a majestic march to Paris, for 

 a different object.' He then began to 

 parade before us with much fire and 

 energy, accommodating h's gait to the 

 expression of martial m usic ; but, though 

 it was of a piece, and in a style bold 

 and broad, consonant with his general 

 demeanour in action, it certainly ap- 

 peared to be only a characteristic 

 common-place feat of mimickry, ima- 

 gined and exhibited for our diversion. 

 As such, he relieved it with a powerful 

 effect by the laughter which succeeded, 

 and in which we all joined. Notwith- 

 standing this light and transient effort 

 of bis more volatile buuour, the sol- 

 diers in general had a notion, that, 

 from the curious, the wonderful, fecun- 

 dity of bis genius and imagination, he 

 would embrace some favourable occa- 

 sion of again claiming that rank which 

 he bad held among the nations of 

 Enrope. 'J'bough well acquainted 

 with the misfortunes of Russia, the 

 reverses of Saxony, and ilie catas- 

 trophe of Fontaiubleau, they well 

 knew, at the same lime, that Napoleon 

 united qualities the most uncommon, 

 superadded to those requisite for 

 martial exeriioca. What talents ! so 



conquering kingdoms, they thought 

 nothing impossible for him to dare'; 

 and that, in his utmost daring, he could 

 not be eas'ly deceived, but would 

 always succeed. Napoleon's private 

 character, however, has been dressed 

 up and colonced with slang of such a 

 choice and dainly sort, that nothing- 

 can be more fantastical and romantic : 

 his real character is concealed, not 

 displayed. From ocular testimony I 

 c;'n aver, that, excepting M. de Pradt, 

 in his last work, I have met with no 

 writer that has not passed a long, long 

 way, even beyond the limits of untem- 

 pered nonsense, in most unjustly 

 miirking the character of Napoleon. 

 This is so strongly my opinion, that 

 J must say, allowing for ambition as his 

 continual ruling passion, with its great 

 faults, he had a thousand good quali- 

 ties, that, in tlie present depraved 

 state of human nature, very few can 

 rival, and that most people would 

 endeavour to ape. In the line of the 

 iuter'or domesticity, be bad a talent 

 per se, given, like every other branch 

 of genuine accomplishments, by 

 nature alone. He was kind and good 

 natured,of a very obliging deportment, 

 afi'able in behaviour, easy, of access, 

 admitting, partaking of that afl'ection 

 from others, which reigned in his own 

 breast. Considering him, in this dis- 

 tinct view, it may be more allowable 

 for me, than for other writers, to 

 speak of hiui. 



According to common report, fami- 

 liarity breeds contempt. Many are 

 timid, on this account, and afraid to 

 commit themselves by speaking out, 

 or following, as a guide, the genuine 

 impulse of their own sentiments. If 

 this hesitation, waiting for the good 

 opinion of others, be owing to a want 

 of dignity, I am not afraid to say that 

 the emperor might safely arrogate that 

 qualify to himself. He frequently 

 mingled uith us, overlooked our games 

 and pastimes, and would take part in 

 our concerns, our little conflicts of 

 sentimenis, interests, passions, and 

 incidental perplexities; but it never so 

 much as entered into any one's thoughts 

 to be w anting to him in respect. 



He was always accompanied in his 

 promenades by an officer of service. 

 The first time that this duty came to 

 my turn, he put the question to me : 

 'Are you a good horseman?' My 

 answer was : ' Very well for an oflacer 



of 



