ciples, but full of
resource, wit, and fascination. Both were lovable in spite of their
great defects, because of their humanity and kindness. Both belonged
at the same time to the {96} old regime and the Revolution. Before
arriving at celebrity, each had a stormy youth, tormented by the love
of pleasure, the need of money, and a sort of perpetual restlessness:
they flattered every power of the time, sought fortune by the most
circuitous ways, were diplomatic couriers, and secret agents; before
coming out into open daylight, they made trial of their marvellous
address in obscurity, and signalized themselves among those men of
action and initiative whom governments, which make use of them in
occult ways, first launch, then compromise, disavow, and sometimes
imprison.

Born at Cambrai, January 25, 1739, Dumouriez belonged to a family of
the upper middle class. Entering the army early, he distinguished
himself by his high spirits and courage. As a cornet of the Penthievre
cavalry, he served in the German campaigns from 1758 to 1761, and was
invalided in 1763. He spent twenty-four years at the wars and brought
back nothing but twenty-two wounds, the rank of captain, a decoration,
and some debts. Seeking then a new career, he entered, thanks to his
connection with Favier, the secret diplomacy of Louis XV., and was sent
to Corsica, Italy, and Portugal. He returned to the army in 1768, and
made a brilliant record in the Corsican campaign, obtaining
successively the grades of adjutant-major general,
adjutant-quartermaster, and colonel of cavalry. It was he who seized
the castle of Corte, Paoli's last asylum. In 1771, he again became a
secret agent. Louis {97} XV. wished to befriend Poland in its
death-struggle, but without betraying his hand. Dumouriez was sent to
the Polish confederates. He was reputed to be merely acting on his own
impulses. He organized troops and fought successfully against
Souvaroff, the future adversary of the French Republic, but could not
save Poland--that Asiatic nation of Europe, as he called it. He came
back to Paris in 1772, and the government, complying with the demands
of Russia, shut him up for a year in the Bastille, where he had leisure
to meditate on the ingratitude of courts. This captivity strengthened
his taste for study, and, far from allaying his ambition, gave it
renewed force.

Louis XVI. put him in command at Cherbourg, and it was he who conceived
the plan of making