should be
accomplished; but we have seen that Bonaparte dared not court the death
of Moreau. Never was more decided cowardice shewn by any man than by
Napoleon after the entry of the allies into Paris. How easily might he
have fought his way, with a numerous band of determined followers, who,
to the last minute, never failed him; but he preferred remaining to beg
for his life, and to attend to the removal _of his wines and
furniture_!! But we must proceed more regularly in developing the traits
of this extraordinary man. A gentleman of Aix, one of whose near
relations had the charge of Napoleon, when his character was suspected
at Toulon, gave me the following particulars of his first employment.
During the siege of Toulon, he had greatly distinguished himself, and
had applied to the "Commissaires de Convention," who at that time
possessed great power in the army, to promote him; but these men
detesting Bonaparte's character, refused his request.--On this occasion,
General De Gominier said to them, [18]"Avancez cet officier; car si vous
ne l'avancez pas, il saura bien s'avancer lui meme." The Commissaries
could no longer refuse, and Bonaparte was appointed colonel of
artillery. Shortly after this, having got into some scrape from his
violent and turbulent disposition, he was put under arrest; and it was
even proposed that he should be tried and executed (a necessary
consequence of a trial at that period). His situation at this time was
extremely unpromising; Robespierre and his accomplices, Daunton, St
Juste, Barrere, &c. were all either put to death or forced to conceal
themselves. Bonaparte now perceived, that for the accomplishment of his
views, it was necessary that he should forsake his haughty and
domineering tone, and flatter those in power. He immediately commenced a
series of intrigues, and by the assistance of his friends at Paris, and
that good fortune which has always befriended him, he soon found an
opportunity of extricating himself from the danger which surrounded him.
Barras, who was then at the head of the administration, under the title
of Directeur, alarmed by the distracted state of Paris, and dreading the
return of the Bourbons, assembled a council of his friends and
associates in crime; it was then determined that an attack should
immediately be made on the Parisian royalists, or, as the gentleman who
gave me this account expressed it, [19]"Dissiper les royalistes, et
foudroyer les Parisiens jusque