oS 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 
protégé 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 Floréal, year IV., for 
example, a despatch from the head-quarters of Chérasco, 
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; I 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 
