1806.]. 
Tt contains a few lively touches of all 
that can be feen of Bonaparte; and though 
what was feen is fet down with all the 
eafe and pleafantnefs of table-tallc, it will 
be acknowledged by every traveller to be 
a faithful {ketch. 
“© Augufi 16, 1805. 
<¢ Since I wrote fo plentifuly by the 
Anacreon, you need not expect much 
more very foon ; though, while the fub- 
jet is frefh, why fhould I not tell you 
about the wonder of the age, Le Grand 
Napoleon, ou Napoleon le Grand? I will 
fet down juaft what trifles I obferved. 
“* The firft time I faw him was at a re- 
view, which is ufually on Sunday. I was 
ftationed in a balcony, and with my ope- 
ra-glafs determined to watch the move- 
ment of every mufcle. The troops, all 
cavalry without the yard of the palace, 
were drawn up in feveral lines in the Place 
Carroufel. Within the iron-railing, or 
court, were the confular, now imperial, 
foot-guards. I could not help obferving 
that the cavalry was much better mounted 
and equipped than I expected. They 
were inall about 5000. They kept no or- 
der in the lines till the trumpets announced 
that his iittle Majefty was mounted on h's 
white Arabian. At that initant D locked 
towards the court, and fawa little fellow 
galloping in full {peed through the lines, 
attended by a Mameluke and half adozen 
officers covered «with lace and plumes, 
who with much difficulty kept pace with 
Rim. He now fallied forth into the fquare, 
and was foon (topped by a crowd of wo- 
men and men who were waiting to prefent 
their petitions. I was a little furprized to 
fee him fo willing to expofe himfelf. He 
was within a few pacesof me. He imme- 
diately dropped his reins, and took the 
petitions, which were thruft upon him 
with very little ceremony. Some he in- 
ftantly handed over to his officers, and 
others he read with much apparent inte- 
reft, frequently converfing with the peti- 
tioners, and looking with an eye which is 
not eafily defcribed, nor to be obferved 
indeed withovt fome dread. He fat on 
his horfe in the pofture of a man who was 
abferbed in a thoufand refie&tions, and 
with a hollow fiomach, as children callit, 
as if he had not eaten for a month. He 
was dreffed in a blue coat with broad 
white facing and little buttoas, and but- 
toned clofe up to his chin without fhowing 
anv linen 3 2 pair of white breeches, and 
black boots ; and above all a fmall cock- 
edahat, no trimmings, but with a litile 
Defeription of Bonaparte and his Wife. — 7 
fneaking cockade (the Jaft fragment of 
the revolution) on the top edge. He has 
a face rather handfome, that is, the fea- 
tures are fo; the lower-jaw and chin fome-. 
what large’ and full. His teeth are fine. 
- His complexion is neither fallow nor un- 
healthy, as has been faid ; it is of that 
fairnefs which Mr. **** has. ~ His 
hair is black, and cut all away from the 
ears, without whifkers. His eyes thew 
much of the white: the pupil being laree, 
and the iris very fmall, they have a very 
bright, darting, and fierce lock. Aj} 
around they are literally black and blue, 
as if he had not flept, but thought and 
fludied night and day. Thee is, on the 
whole, a look of great energy, and none 
of any amiable quality : Icfs of the fun- 
burnt warrior, than of the ftudent of 
“¢ gémie.” After refting an hour in read- 
ing petitions, he fuddenly {natched up his 
reins, regardlefs of what was about or be- 
fore him, and dafhed o5 in full gallop, 
He rides very badly, with fhort ftirrups, 
which throw him continually on the back 
of his faddle. Every motion is fo quick, 
fo militaire, that there is neither grace nor 
dignity in his deportment ; nothing buc 
his face is imperial, and that will rank 
very well with the Czefars ; there is much 
of the Roman in it. 
‘¢ Now you fhall have him in another 
light, at the theatre, where he is always 
much expofed, though, as be fits low in 
the box, if he were a little taller he would 
be much more fo. When he enters, he is 
fo quick, that he 1s always feated before 
any one is aware of his auguit prefence,. 
A faint applaufe is attempted, and he half 
rifes, which puts an end to it. During 
the performance he looks continually to- 
wards the ftage, now and then catching a 
glance at his chained-tigers in the pit, 
turning his eyes ina fly way without mov. 
ing his head. He continually picks his 
nofe like an irritable man, takes fnuff, and. 
then, Frenchman-like, blows his trumpet. 
He has a fine high forehead, that is, it is 
rather narrow, but the diftance is great 
between his eye-brows and the hair, 
which grows far from the face. His hair 
is totally negké€ted, cut rather fhorte. £ 
have frequently been at the theatre wher 
in the old plays of Racine and Corneille 
there have been very fevere allufions to his 
fituation, to his ufurpation, &¢., which 
probably the audience applauded in of7 
times, but they are now fure to receive 
them with inftantaneous and loud ap- 
plaule. He however only -runs hs 
forefinger 
