Page:Life of Napoleon Bonaparte.pdf/13

Rh Buffered so much for their country, perished thus miserably by the order of its idol!!

On the 23d of August, 1799, Napoleon conferred the command of the army on General Kleber, and returned to Paris. During his absence in Egypt, it is well known how much France missed his military genius, and with what rapturous acclamations he was hailed on his return.

Many weighty motives existed for effecting a change at this critical period, which might have operated upon the mind of Bonaparte, or any other chief who had the good of his country at heart. He found its government enfeebled to the utmost importance of childhood, the prey of perpetual caprice and revolutions. He found it without an army, and without the resources for procuring one. He found all public spirit evaporated, and the people in a state of civil war with each other. But, what was most wounding to the beeoming pride of a warrior, he found all the conquests he had gained in Europe nearly wrested from his country, and subject to the severe requisitions of those armies he had discomfited.

Let us now mark the reverse: by a blow equally illegal, but equally neeessary, he boldly put himself in possession of the supreme power, and in six months he new-modelled the constitution, revived the national credit, re-animated the public spirit, and from every quarter concentrated the abilities of every man of talent and courage; subdued every civil insurrection, and in six weeks, by gaining the battle of Marengo, re-conquered all that had been lost. Never was a campaign so well planned and so completely executed.

The year 1800 terminated triumphantly for the French arms in Italy. And having made peace with Austria, Napoleon was now at liberty to bend his undivided attention towards England; for whatever might be his hopes of effecting an important blow against this country, he knew the appearance might