ed
the impossibility of prescribing operations of war according to the view
of persons in Paris; and when I became the secretary of the
General-in-Chief I saw a despatch of the Directory, dated May, 1796,
committing the whole plan of the campaign to his judgment; and assuredly
there was not a single operation or movement which did not originate
with him. Carnot was obliged to yield to his firmness. When the
Directory, towards the end of 1796, felt disposed to treat for peace,
General Clarke, appointed to conclude the armistice, was authorised, in
case Mantua should not be taken before the negotiation was brought to a
close, to propose leaving the blockade in statu quo. Had such a
condition been adopted it would doubtless hays been stipulated that the
Emperor of Austria should be allowed to provision the garrison and
inhabitants of the city day by day. Bonaparte, convinced that an
armistice without Mantua would by no means conduce to peace, earnestly
opposed such a condition. He carried his point; Mantua capitulated, and
the result is well known. Yet he was not blind to the hazards of war;
while preparing, during the blockade, an assault on Mantua, he wrote
thus to the Directory: "A bold stroke of this nature depends absolutely
for success on a dog or a goose." This was about a question of
surprise.

Bonaparte was exceedingly sensitive to the rumours which reached him
respecting Carnot and Berthier. He one day said to me: "What gross
stupidity, is this? It is very well to say to a general, 'Depart for
Italy, gain battles, and sign a peace at Vienna;' but the execution that
is not so easy. I never attached any value to the plans which the
Directory sent me. Too many circumstances occur on the spot to modify
them. The movement of a single corps of the enemy's army may confound a
whole plan arranged by the fireside. Only fools can believe such stuff!
As for Berthier, since you have been with me, you see what he is--he is a
blockhead. Yet it is he who does it all; it is he who gathers a great
part of the glory of the army of Italy." I told him that this erroneous
opinion could not last long; that each person would be allowed his merit,
and that at least posterity would judge rightly. This observation seemed
to please him.

Berthier was a man full of honour, courage, and probity, and exceedingly
regular in the performance of his duties. Bonaparte's attachment to him
arose more from habit than liking. Berthier did not conced