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( 22  ) settled near Toulon. The siege of that town, then occupied by the English, having taken place soon after, Bonaparte was pro- moted, by Barras and the other Commis- sioners to the rank of General of the artil- lery : It was there he gave the first proofs of his military genius. Instructed to direct the attack of the redoubts and out-works which formed the defence of the place, his bold and enterprising genius devised a plan which one would have thought impractica- ble, if the courage, of which he set the ex- ample, and knew so well to communicate to his army, had not taught us that he was not less capable to execute than to project

The reign of Robespierre. which imme- diately followed the retaking of Toulon was unfavourable to noble actions and an ignominious death becoming the lot of who- soever excited the jealousy of that monster, condemned true merit to silence and retire- ment. I imagined Bonaparte to.have been among the number of the victims, but the event of the 13th Vendemaire undeceived me, Barras who directed on that occasion, the measures of the Government against the revolted sections, intrusted to him the Command of the conventional army after the resignation of General Gentili whose deafness was an obstacle to the discharge of the duty of his post. The most complete sucess justified still more the partiality of