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( 24  ) unprovided, as they were, of magazines inexperienced till now in the art of war and in want of clothes, the soldiers did not seem encouraged by the appearance of their new chief. His exterior, not very prepos- sessing gave occasion to many of her jokes! Bonaparte, tar from being alarmed by these obstacles. did not seem at all affected by them. Persuaded that the attachment of soldiers cannot be forced, he fought the on^ true means of rendering himself worthy of their confidence. The dressing wants of his troops became the first object of his at tention ; he employed himself unceasingly to supply them and, in a little time, his unremitting activity had provided for every thing. The army being now in a condition to act offensively the campaign was hardly open when the first essays of that ill-organ ized army were marked by very important successes. From this time l cannot follow the hero, a pen bolder than mine is distined to record facts which posterity will hardly be able to credit. Bonaparte is all activity, and every where the same, whether you behold him fighting, negociating or punishing ; it is al ways an affair of a moment, of a word — Never any hesitation, he cuts the gordian knot which he cannot untie.

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