ve in such a way a world so often worthy of contempt? What one of
us has not a hundred times regretted that he could not thus be
withdrawn from the powerful effects of calumny, of envy, and of all
the hateful passions that seem almost entirely to control human
conduct?" Perhaps these few words to the widow of one of his late
officers are even finer: "Muiron died at my side on the late
battle-field of Arcola. You have lost a husband that was dear to you;
I, a friend to whom I have long been attached: but the country loses
more than us both in the death of an officer distinguished no less by
his talents than by his rare courage. If I can be of service in
anything to you or his child, I pray you count altogether upon me."
That was all; but it was enough. With the ripening of character, and
under the responsibilities of life, an individual style had come at
last. It is martial and terse almost to affectation, defying
translation, and perfectly reflecting the character of its writer.

But the hours when the general-in-chief was war-worn, weary, tender,
and subject to human regrets like other men, were not those which he
revealed to the world. He was peremptory, and sometimes even peevish,
with the French executive after he had them in his hand; with Italy he
assumed a parental role, meting out chastisement and reward as best
suited his purpose. A definite treaty of peace had been made with
Sardinia, and that power, though weak and maimed, was going its own
way. The Transpadane Republic, which he had begun to organize as soon
as he entered Milan, was carefully cherished and guided in its
artificial existence; but the people, whether or not they were fit,
had no chance to exercise any real independence under the shadow of
such a power. It was, moreover, not the power of France; for, by
special order of Bonaparte, the civil agents of the Directory were
subordinated to the military commanders, ostensibly because the former
were so rapacious. Lombardy in this way became his very own. Rome had
made the armistice of Bologna merely to gain time, and in the hope of
eventual disaster to French arms. A pretext for the resumption of
hostilities was easily found by her in a foolish command, issued from
Paris, that the Pope should at length recognize as regular those of
the clergy who had sworn allegiance to the successive constitutions
adopted under the republic, and withdraw all his proclamations against
those who had observed their oat