reme on all such occasions.
The meanest soldier might then address him.

The rapid military promotion may be given as another cause of Napoleon's
success. The most distinguished corps were, of course, the greatest
sufferers; and the young man who joined the army, as a lieutenant, on
the eve of an action, was a captain the next day, perhaps a colonel
before he had seen a year's service. [28]"Des ouvriers sortis de leurs
atteliers (says Monsieur Gaillais in his "Histoire de Dix Huit
Brumaire,") des paysans echappes de villages, avec un bonnet sur la tete
et un baton a la main, devenaient au bout de six mois des soldats
intrepides, et au bout de deux ans des officiers agueris, et des
generaux redoubtables au plus anciens generaux de l'Europe." Nothing
struck me more forcibly than the youth of the French officers. The
generals only are veterans, for Bonaparte well knew, that experience is
as necessary as courage in a General.

Next, we may direct our attention to the means which this despot
possessed, by filling the war department with his own creatures; by
giving liberal salaries and unlimited power to the prefects of the
different departments, he amassed both troops and pay to support them.
The tyrannic measures for levying these became at last insupportable;
the people were rising in the villages, and by force of arms rescuing
their companions; and it is very probable that he might have found,
latterly, a want of men; but for years he has had at his disposal three
hundred thousand men annually. In describing the effects of the
conscription, one of the members of the Senate made use of the
following expression:--[29]"On moissonne les homines trois fois
l'annee."

With such supplies, what single power could resist him? War with him
became a mere mechanical calculation. Among the causes of his elevation,
the use he made of the other continental Powers must not be forgotten;
whether gained by corruption, treachery, or force, they all became his
allies; they were all compelled to assist him with troops. When the
Sovereigns of these countries consented to his plans, they were
permitted to govern their own kingdoms, otherwise the needy family of
Bonaparte supplied the _roitelets_ at a moment's warning. These little
monarchs, he is said to have treated with the utmost contempt.

My readers may perhaps be inclined to smile, when I mention among the
causes of Napoleon's elevation, the use made by him of ballad-singers,
newsmo