Early next morning the Prince of Liechtenstein came from General Melas with negotiations to the First Consul.  The propositions of the General did not suit Bonaparte, and he declared to the Prince that the army shut up in Alessandria should evacuate freely, and with the honours of war; but on those conditions, which are well known, and by which Italy was to be fully restored to the French domination.  That day were repaired the faults of Scherer, whose inertness and imbecility had paralysed everything, and who had fled, and been constantly beaten, from the Adriatic to Mont Cenis.  The Prince of Liechtenstein begged to return to render an account of his mission to General Melas.  He came back in the evening, and made many observations on the hard nature of the conditions.  “Sir,” replied the First Consul, in a tone of marked impatience, “carry my final determination to your General, and return quickly.  It is irrevocable!  Know that I am as well acquainted with your position as you are yourselves.  I did not begin to learn the art of war yesterday.  You are blocked up in Alessandria; you have many sick and wounded; you are in want of provisions and medicines.  I occupy the whole of your rear.  Your finest troops are among the killed and wounded.  I might insist on harder conditions; my position would warrant me in so doing; but I moderate my demands in consideration of the gray hairs of your General, whom I respect.”

This reply was delivered with considerable dignity and energy.  I showed the Prince out, and he said to me, “These conditions are very hard, especially that of giving up Genoa, which surrendered to us only a fortnight ago, after so long a siege.”  It is a curious fact that the Emperor of Austria received intelligence of the capitulation and restitution of Genoa at the same time.

When the First Consul returned to Milan he made Savary and Rapp his aides de camp.  They had previously served in the same rank under Desaix.  The First Consul was at first not much disposed to take them, alleging that he had aides de camp enough.  But his respect for the choice of Desaix, added to a little solicitation on my part, soon removed every obstacle.  These two officers served him to the last hour of his political career with unfailing zeal and fidelity.

I have seen nothing in the Memoirs of the Due de Rovigo (Savary) about my having had anything to do with his admission to the honour.  I can probably tell the reason why one of the two aides de camp has risen higher than the other.  Rapp had an Alsatian frankness which always injured him.

CHAPTER II.

1800.