HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



[11 



impressions, too, in times, when the 

 spirit of liberty in his native land 

 excited every latent sparlc of genius 

 and adventure. Though the supe- 

 rior and irresistible power of France 

 damped and crushed all hopes of 

 maintaining the independence of 

 Corsica, the tone and temper of 

 mind to which the unequal struggle 

 gave birth, the ardent spirit of ex- 

 ertion remained in the youthful 

 bosom of Buonaparte, who, by a 

 scries of incidental circumstances, 

 was led into the famous ecolc niili- 

 tairc of France, where he added the 

 accomplishments to be acquired by 

 the most refined, to the benefits 

 derived from one of the simplest, 

 and most virtuous nations in Eu- 

 rope. To personal courage, carried 

 to the verge of temerity, and mili- 

 tary art and stratagem, he united 

 blameless, and, with his inferiors in 

 station, affable manners. Of a firm 

 and undaunted spirit, and a genius 

 penetrating, sublime and inventive, 

 he distinguished difficulties from 

 impossibilities, discerned the nature 

 and dispositions of men, and bodies 

 of men, and not only improved, but, 

 in some degree, created conjunc- 

 tures. He had taken a wide range 

 over the ancient as well as modern 

 world, and chosen the greatest and 

 most heroic models for his imita- 

 tion. His letters, his speeches, his 

 actions, all proclaimed a sublimity 

 of courage, imagination, and design, 

 beyond the limits of vulgar con- 

 ccpticm. 



In such times, it was certainly to 

 be expected, that the genius of the 

 warlike should j)revailover tliat of 

 the metaphysical politician. Not 

 more than a week had elapsed, 

 after the general's arrival in Paris, 

 when it was clearly perceived that 

 his sentiments were wholly in op- 



jiosition to the jacobins, and on the 

 side of the moderate party. It was 

 almost as soon perceived that he 

 c(msidered the destinies of France 

 as in his own hands, and that he 

 would not brook either any superior 

 or equal. He spoke in a tone of 

 laconic decision, which sufficiently 

 indicated the opinion he entertained 

 of his talents, power, and import- 

 ance. 



It was a singular spectacle to see 

 so many generals, and these of the 

 first rate, in the midst of a war, in 

 Paris. Buonaparte was supported 

 by the presence, countenance, and 

 authority of Moreau, Berthier, Le- 

 febre, Serrurier, Macdonald,Murat, 

 Berryer, and several other general 

 officers. In other circumstances, 

 such a congress of generals, in the 

 seat of the government and legis- 

 lature, would probably have occa- 

 sioned some murmurs of jealou.sy 

 and dissatisfaction ; but every pas- 

 sion was hushed, and every head 

 bowed down before the man, who 

 was not only the idol of France, 

 but the admiration of the world. 



The day fixed on by the direc- 

 tory and legislative councils for the 

 feast in honour of the two generals, 

 Buonaparte and Moreau, was the 

 seventh of November. There was 

 nothing extraordinary in such an 

 entertainment on the arrival of 

 Buonaparte from Egypt; or what 

 was not to have been expected. — 

 But neither is it unnatural to sup- 

 pose that the politics of the day 

 might in some shape and degree, 

 insinuate themselves into this design 

 after it was formed, although it 

 would not be reasonable to ascribe 

 its original formation to any other 

 cause than what is most natural and 

 obvious. It served to solemnize the 

 union and friendship between the 



