Page:Entertaining history of the early years of General Bonaparte (1).pdf/8

 paſſion; but latent genius already directed his choice to the ſtudy of thoſe branches of knowledge which were afterwards to become the inſtruments of his glory. Mathematics, fortification, the attack and defence of places, but, above all, the ſtudy of hiſtory, occupied all his time. To theſe ſtudies he gave himſelf up without relaxation; and I have no doubt but his enthuſiaſm originated in his favorite reading of the lives of great and induſtrious men, whom he had, from the begining, propoſed to himſelf as proper models. No one was able to judge better than myſelf of the uncommon avidity with which he perſued his readings; the great connections which we had together on that head, were, doubtleſs, what contributed to fix my attention upon him in ſo particular a manner. To explain that more clearly, it is neceſſary to mention an eſtabliſhment which had taken place, in the Military School of Brienne, during the reſidence- of Bonaparte, which was the foundation of a library entirely under the direction of the young men, and deſtined to their pleaſure and inſtruction.

But, to give us proper, nations of arrangement, your ſuperiors propoſed to leave the diſtribution of the books, and the adminiſtration of the funds, dedicated to the ſupport of the library, to the abſolute management of two of the boarders, to be choſen by their comrades. I was one of thoſe whom my