166 Mr. Colquhoun OH the Life and Writings [Mabgh, 



Bertholletwas not found wanting. The plague broke out in the 

 French army, and this, added to the many fatigues they had 

 previously endured, the diseases under which they were already 

 labouring causing the loss of the eyes and of other ruerabers, it 

 was feared might either lead to insurrection on the one hand, or 

 totally sink the spirits of the men into despair qn the other. But 

 Acre was not yet taken, the expedition had accomplished nothing 

 of permanent advantage, aqd the general was anxious tq dissem- 

 ble to himself, and to conceal from his troops, the fatal intelli- 

 gence. When the opinion of M. Bertholletwas however asked 

 in council, he spoke at .once the plain and simple, though 

 unwelcome truth. He was assailed immediately by the 

 most violent reproaches. " In a week," said he, " my 

 opinion will be unfortunately but too well vindicated." Jt was 

 as he foretold ; and when nothing but a hasty I'ptreat could gave 

 the wretched remains of the army of Egypt, the carriage of Ber- 

 thoUet was seized for tlie convenience of some wounded officers; 

 immediately upon which, and without the smallest discomposure, 

 he travelled on foot across twenty leagues of the desart. 



Napoleon knew to appreciate character ; and the conduct of 

 EerthoUet, even when most contrary to his wishes, had ever 

 commanded his esteem. Once more, thei'efore, they were com- 

 panions in that most hazardous voyage in which Napoleon tra- 

 versed half the Mediterranean in a single vessel, at a time when 

 it was scoured by our fleet, and arrived in Franco to effect an 

 instantaneous revolution in the government. Long afterwards, 

 when he had attained to the highest pit^h of power, however 

 immersed he might be in state ailairs, he never forgot his asso- 

 ciate BerthoUet. He was in the habit of placing all chemical 

 discoveries to his account, to the frequent annoyance of our che- 

 mist, and when an unsatisfactory answer was given to him on 

 any scientific subject, he was in the habit of saying, " Well, J 

 shall ask this of BerthoUet." Napoleon did not, however, lipiit 

 his affection to these, however striking proof^ of his regard ; but 

 having been informed that Berthollet's earnest pursuit qf science 

 had led him to so much expenditure as considerably to embarrass 

 his circumstances, he sent for him, and said in a tone of affec- 

 tionate reproach, "M. BerthoUet, I have always 100,000 crowns 

 at the service of my friends," and in fapt this sum was imme- 

 diately presented to him. Besides this, he was, upon liis return 

 from Egypt, nominated a senator by the First Consul, and after- 

 wards received the distinction of Grand Officer qfthe Legion of 

 Honour, Grand Cross of the Order of Reuniou, Titulary qf the 

 Senatorerie of Montpellier; and under the empire, he was 

 created a Peer of France, receiving the dignity of Count. The 

 ^advancement to these offices produced no change in the manners 

 of BerthoUet ; of which he gave a striking proof by adopting as 

 ijis armorial distinction, at the time when others eagerly blazoned 



