XX. 127. Bour. i. 22. CHAP. versal tremor of the nerves.' But in the games of his companions he was inferior to none in spirit and agi1796. lity, and already began to evince, in a decided predilection for military pursuits, the native bias of his 1 Las Cas. i. mind. During the winter of 1783-4, so remarkable for its severity even in southern latitudes, the amusements of the boys without doors were completely stopped. Napoleon proposed to his companions to beguile the weary hours by forming intrenchments and bastions of snow, with parapets, ravelins, and hornworks. The little army was divided into two parties, one of which was intrusted with the attack, the other with the defence of the works; and the mimic war was continued for several weeks, during which fractures and wounds were received on both sides. On another occasion, the wife of the porter of the school, well known to the boys for the fruit which she sold, having presented herself at the door of their theatre to be allowed to see the Death of Caesar, which was to be played by the youths, and been refused an entrance, the sergeant at the entrance, induced by the vehemence of her manner, reported the matter to the young Napoleon, who was the officer in command on the occasion. "Remove Bour. i. 25, 28. that woman, who brings here the license of camps,' said the future ruler of the Revolution.2 It was the fortune of the school at Brienne at this time to possess among its scholars, besides Napoleon, another boy, who rose to the highest eminence in the was at the Revolution, PICHEGRU, afterwards conqueror of Holsame school. land. He was several years older than Napoleon, Pichegru and instructed him in the elements of mathematics, and the four first rules of arithmetic. Pichegru early perceived the firm character of his little pupil; and when, many years afterwards, he had embraced XX. the Royalist party, and it was proposed to him to CHAP. sound Napoleon, then in the command of the army of Italy, he replied, "Don't waste time upon him: 1796. I have known him from his infancy; his character is inflexible; he has taken his side, and will never swerve from it." The fate of these two illustrious men afterwards rose in painful contrast to each 1 Las Cas. i. other: Pichegru was strangled in a dungeon, when 128, 131. Napoleon was ascending the throne of France.1 i. 240. O'Meara, subjects of The speculations of Napoleon at this time were more devoted to political than military subjects. His His early habits were thoughtful and solitary; and his con-thought. versation, even at that early age, was so remarkable for its reflection and energy, that it attracted the notice of the Abbé Raynal, with whom he frequently lived in vacations, and who discoursed with him on government, legislation, and the relations of commerce. He was distinguished by his Italian complexion, his piercing look, and the decided style of his expression: a peculiarity which frequently led to a vehemence of manner, which rendered him not generally popular with his schoolfellows. The moment their play-time arrived, he flew to the library of the school, where he read with avidity the historical works of the ancients, particularly Polybius, Plutarch, and Arrian. His companions disliked him, on account of his not joining their games at these hours, and frequently rallied him on his name and Corsican birth. He often said to Bourrienne, his earliest friend, with much bitterness,-"I hate these French-I will do them all the mischief in my power." Notwithstanding this, his animosity had nothing ungenerous in it; and when he was intrusted, in his turn, with the enforcing of any regulation CHAP. which was infringed, he preferred going to prison to informing against the young delinquents.1 XX. 1796. 1 Bour. i. 27, 32, 33, 35. Las Cas. i. 136. 111. His progress at School. Though his progress at school was respectable, it was not remarkable; and the notes transmitted to government in 1784, exhibited many other young men much more distinguished for their early proD'Abr. i. ficiency-a circumstance frequently observable in those who ultimately rise to greatness. In the private instructions communicated to government by the masters of the establishment, he was characterised as of a "domineering, imperious, and headstrong character." During the vacations of school, he returned in general to Corsica; where he gave vent to the ardour of his mind, in traversing the mountains and valleys of that romantic island, and listening to the tales of feudal strife and family revenge by which its inhabitants are so remarkably distinguished. The celebrated Paoli, the hero of Corsica, accompanied him in some of these excursions, and explained to him on the road the actions which he had fought, and the positions which he had occupied during his struggle for the independence of the island. The energy and decision of his young 147. Las companion at this period, made a great impression Cas. i. 136. on that illustrious man. "Oh, Napoleon!" said he, you do not resemble the moderns--you belong only to the heroes of Plutarch."2 • Antom. ii. ii. 348. Bour. i. 37, " 38. Is sent to At the age of fourteen, he was sent from the school of Brienne to the Ecole Militaire at Paris, for the Ecole the completion of his military studies. He had not Paris. been long there, when he was so much struck with Enters the the luxurious habits in which the young men were Militaire at Army. then brought up, that he addressed an energetic memorial to the governor on the subject, strongly XX. 1796. urging that instead of having footmen and grooms to CHAP. wait upon their orders, they should be taught to do every thing for themselves, and be inured to the hardships and privations which awaited them in real warfare. In the year 1785, at the age of sixteen, he received a commission in a regiment of artillery, and was soon promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, in a corps quartered at Valence. Shortly after, he gave a proof of the varied subjects which occupied his mind, by writing a history of Corsica, and an Essay for a prize, proposed by the Abbé Raynal, on the "Institutions most likely to contribute to Public Happiness." The prize was adjudged to the young soldier. These productions, as might have been expected, were distinguished by the revolutionary doc-, 1 O'Meara, trines then generally prevalent, and very different ii. 168, 169. from his maturer speculations. The essay was covered by Talleyrand after Napoleon was on throne; but the moment the Emperor saw it threw it into the flames.1 Las Cas. i. re-43, 136, the 141. Bour. i. 44. D' he Abr. i. 76. ter there. At this period, Napoleon was generally disliked by his companions: he was considered as proud, haughty, His characand irascible; but with the few whose conversation he valued, and whose friendship he chose to cultivate, he was already a favourite, and high expectations began to be formed of the future eminence to which he might rise. His powers of reasoning were especially remarkable; his expressions lucid and energetic; his knowledge and information immense, considering his years and the opportunities of study which he had enjoyed. Logical accuracy was the great characteristic of his mind; and his subsequent compositions have abundantly proved, that if he had not become the first conqueror, he would have been CHAP. 1796. 111. Las 141. one of the greatest writers, as he assuredly was one of the most profound thinkers of modern times.1 His figure, always diminutive, was at that period thin and meagre in the highest degree; a circum1 D'Abr. i. stance which rendered his appearance somewhat ridiCas. i. 140, culous when he first assumed the military dress. Mademoiselle Permon, afterwards Duchess of Abrantes, one of his earliest female acquaintances, and who afterwards became one of the most brilliant wits of the Imperial court, mentions that he came to their house on the day on which he first put on his uniform, in the highest spirits, as is usual with young men on such an occasion: but her sister, two years younger than herself, who had just left her boardingschool, was so struck with his comical appearance, in the enormous boots which were at that period worn by the artillery, which he had entered, that she immediately burst into an immoderate fit of laughter, saying he resembled nothing so much as Puss in Boots. The stroke told; the libel was too true not to be felt: but Napoleon soon recovered his good-humour, and, a few days afterwards, presented her with an ele* D'Abr. i. gantly bound copy of Puss in Boots, as a proof that he retained no rancour for her raillery.' 113. ses, with his When the Revolution broke out, he adhered, like He espou- almost all the young officers of a subaltern rank, to regiment, the popular side, and continued a warm patriot during the cause of the whole time of the Constituent Assembly. But, lution. on the appointment of the Legislative Assembly, he the Revo has himself declared that his sentiments underwent a rapid change; and he soon imbibed, under the Reign of Terror, that profound hatred of the Jacobins, which his subsequent life so strongly evinced; and which he never, even for the purposes of ambi |