au fond de son coeur. On le regarde comme humilie, apres vingt
ans des triomphes continues, pour avoir perdu une seule partie
malhereusement etait la partie d'honneur; et qui a fait la regle de nos
destinees."--Such is the language of the military.

In conversation one evening with one of the noblesse, who had suffered
in the revolution, he told me that this military spirit extended not
only to all ranks and professions, but to all ages. He said that the
young men in the schools refused to learn any thing but mathematics and
the science of arms; and that he recollected many instances of boys ten
and twelve years of age, daily entreating their fathers and mothers to
permit them to join Napoleon. It was in vain to represent to them the
hardships they must suffer; their constant reply was, "If we die, we
will at least find glory." Read the campaign of Moscow, said another
gentleman to me, you will there see the French character:[24] "Les
Francois sont les seuls dans l'univers qui pourroient rire meme en
gelant."

Napoleon certainly greatly encreased the military spirit of the people:
Before his time, you heard of commerce, of agriculture, of manufactures,
as furnishing the support of the community; under him, you heard of
nothing but war. The rapid destruction of the population of France
occasioned constant promotion, and the army became the most promising
profession. It was a profession in which no education was wanting--to
which all had access. Bonaparte never allowed merit to go unrewarded.
The institution of the Legion of Honour alone was an instrument in his
hands of sufficient power to call forth the energy of a brave people; to
this rank even the private soldier might arrive. In this organization
of the army, therefore, we may trace his first means of success.

The next was his military _tactique_:--The great and simple principle on
which this was founded, is evident in every one of the pitched battles
which he gained;--he out-numbered his opponents,--he sacrificed a
troop,--a battalion,--a division,--or a whole army without bestowing a
moment's thought. Bonaparte has sometimes, though very seldom, shewn
that his heart could be touched, but never, on any occasion, did the
miserable display of carnage in the field of battle call forth these
feelings; never was he known to pity his soldiers. On seeing a body of
fresh recruits join the army, his favourite expression was always,
[25]"Eh bien, voyez encore de matiere p