Page:Life of Napoleon Bonaparte.pdf/6

6 On his return to Corsica, after the memorable 10th of August, of the same year, Bonaparte at length found an opportunity for the exercise of his military talents. France being proclaimed a Republic, was threatened and attacked by all the powers of Europe. More than a million of Republicans flew to arms, and, in a short time, the French forces appeared on the territories of those powers who had been expulsed from the soil of France. Belgium was conquered ; Savoy invaded; while a fleet had sailed from Toulou, under the orders of Admiral Truguet Bonaparte was entrusted with that expedition, which seized upon the island and fort St. Etienne, as well as the Isle de la Madeleine, belonging to the King of Sardinia. He was, however, soon compelled to evacuate those places, as the disasters sustained by the fleet had affected the success of the whole expedition.

Nothing could be more deplorable than Bonaparte's prospects at the period in question; and nothing more uncertain than his future destiny. He, not- withstanding, felt a persuasion that Fortune might not always abandon him; and was well aware a vast scene still lay open to his views. It was then he was heard to ejaculate—“In a revolution, a soldier should never despair, if he possesses courage and genius."

Having re-entered the corps of artillery, Napoleon passed as first lieutenant in the fourth regiment of that corps, and, a few months after, rose by right of seniority, to the rank of captain, in the second company of the same corps, then in garrison at Nice. This occured in 1793, and subsequent to this period his name attracted general notice throughout France.

The mercantile town of Toulon having been threatened by the so-termed Jacobinical party, the citizens implored the aid of the English and Spanish admirals -Lord Hood and Gravina, who were cruising off their port; and several battalions of marines were in consequence sent for their protection. Toulon thus