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BUONAPARTE. 
knowing that he had obtained a list of the persons of the Embassy, 
and of their particular situations in it, previously to our introduction 
to him, we should have gone away with a much higher opinion of 
his address in conforming the subject of his conversation to indi- 
vidual characters. 
Buonaparte’s person had nothing of that morbid fulness which I 
had been led to look for. On the contrary, I scarcely recollect to 
have seen a form more expressive of strength and even of vigour. It 
is true that he was very large, considering his height, which is about 
five feet seven inches ; but his largeness had nothing of unwieldiness. 
The fine proportion of his limbs, which has been often noticed, was 
still preserved. His legs, although very muscular, had the exactest 
symmetry. His whole form, indeed, was so closely knit, that firmness 
might be said to be its striking characteristic. His standing posture 
had a remarkable statue-like fixedness about it, which seemed scarcely 
to belong to the graceful ease of his step. The most remarkable 
character of his countenance was, to me, its variableness. Buonaparte 
has the habit of earnestly gazing for a few seconds upon the person 
whom he is about to address ; and whilst thus occupied holds his 
features in perfect repose. The character of his countenance in this 
state, especially when viewed in profile, might be called settled 
design. But the instant that he enters into conversation his fea- 
tures express any force or kind of emotion with suddenness and 
ease. His eye, especially, seems not only to alter its expression, 
but its colour. I am sure, had I only noticed it while the muscles 
of the face, and particularly of the forehead, were in play, I should 
have called it a very dark eye ; on the contrary, when at rest, I had 
remarked its light colour and peculiar glary lustre. Nothing, indeed, 
could better prove its changeable character than the difference of opi- 
nion which occurred amongst us respecting its colour. Although each 
person of the Embassy naturally fixed his attention on Napoleon’s 
countenance, all did not agree on the colour of his eyes. 
There was nothing in the appearance of Buonaparte which led us 
