58 CARNOT. 



boudoir intrigue; and because every one, I think, must 

 be glad to see the history of the incomparable campaign 

 of Italy purified from such a stain. I have thought, in 

 short, that I ought not to neglect to show you your col- 

 league discerning with infinite perspicacity the hero of 

 Rivoli, of Arcole, of Castiglione, through the bark of 

 timidity, of reserve, let us out with the true word, of 

 awkwardness, that everybody then remarked in the 

 protege of Barras. 



I foresee all the incredulity I should meet with, if I 

 were to venture on still farther extending the limits of 

 the influence that our colleague exercised over the Italian 

 campaign ; and yet, should I not have found, even in the 

 small number of official documents already known to the 

 public, under date of the 10th Floreal, year IV., for 

 example, a despatch from the head-quarters of Cherasco, 

 in which Bonaparte writes to Carnot : " The armistice 

 concluded between the King of Sardinia and ourselves, 

 enables me to communicate through Turin, that is to say, 

 to spare half the journey ; / could therefore quickly re- 

 ceive YOUR ORDERS AND LEARN YOUR INTENTIONS, AS 

 TO THE DIRECTION TO BE GIVEN TO THE ARMY." A 



letter to the Minister of Finance, of the 2d Prairial, year 

 IV., dated from head-quarters at Milan, would afford the 

 following sentence : " The Executive Directory, who 

 named me to the command of this army, HAS ARRANGED 

 A PLAN OF OFFENSIVE WARFARE which requires prompt 

 measures and extraordinary resources." 



The 2d of Prairial, year IV. (May 21, 1796,) Carnot 

 wrote thus to the young general : " Attack Beaulieu 

 before reinforcements can reach him ; do not neglect 

 any thing to prevent this junction ; you must not weaken 

 yourself before him, and above all, do not, by disastrously 



