Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/507

 Napoleon Bonaparte 469 got himself introduced to Madame de Beauharnais he spent almost every evening at her house, which was frequented by the most agreeable company in Paris. When the majority of the party retired, there usually remained Monsieur de Montesquiou, the father of the grand chamberlain, the duke of Nivernais, so celebrated for the graces of his wit, and a few others. They used to look around to see that the doors were all shut, and then they would say, "Now let us sit down and chat about the old court ; let us revisit Versailles once more." The poverty of the treasury and the scarcity of specie were so great during the republic that on the departure of General Bonaparte to join the army of Italy all his efforts, joined to those of the Directory, only resulted in raising two thousand louis, which he carried with him in his car- riage. With this sum he set out to conquer Italy, and to advance toward the empire of the world. The following is a curious fact. An order of the day was issued, signed by Berthier, directing the general in chief, on his arrival at the headquarters at Nice, to distribute to the different generals the sum of four louis in specie to enable them to enter on the campaign. For a considerable time no such thing as specie had been seen. This order of the day displays the circumstances of the time more truly and faithfully than whole volumes written on the subject. As soon as Napoleon joined the army he proved himself to be a man born to command. From that moment he filled the theater of the world ; he occupied all Europe ; he was a meteor blazing in the firmament; he centered all eyes on himself, riveted all thoughts, and formed the subject of all conversation. From that time every gazette, every publica- tion, every monument became the record of his deeds. His name was inscribed on every page and in every line, and echoed from every mouth. His entrance upon the command produced a revolution in his manners, conduct, and language. Decres has often told me that he was at Toulon when he first heard of Napoleon's appointment to the command of the army of Italy. He had known him well in Paris and thought himself on terms of Bonaparte falls in with the former aristocracy. Bonaparte alters his friendly manner.