Place in Kleber the boundless confidence which you reposed in me. 
   He deserves it.

   Soldiers, think of the day when you will return victorious to the
   sacred territory of France.  That will be a glorious day for the
   whole nation.

Nothing can more forcibly show the character of Bonaparte than the above allusion to Kleber, after he had seen the way in which Kleber spoke of him to the Directory.  Could it ever have been imagined that the correspondence of the army, to whom he addressed this proclamation, teemed with accusations against him?  Though the majority of these accusations were strictly just, yet it is but fair to state that the letters from Egypt contained some calumnies.  In answer to the well-founded portion of the charges Bonaparte said little; but he seemed to feel deeply the falsehoods that were stated against him, one of which was, that he had carried away millions from Egypt.  I cannot conceive what could have given rise to this false and impudent assertion.  So far from having touched the army chest, Bonaparte had not even received all his own pay.  Before he constituted himself the Government the Government was his debtor.

Though he knew well all that was to be expected from the Egyptian expedition, yet those who lauded that affair were regarded with a favourable eye by Bonaparte.  The correspondence which had fallen into his hands was to him of the highest importance in enabling him to ascertain the opinions which particular individuals entertained of him.

It was the source of favours and disgraces which those who were not in the secret could not account for.  It serves to explain why many men of mediocrity were elevated to the highest dignities and honours, while other men of real merit fell into disgrace or were utterly neglected.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

1800.

Great and common men—­Portrait of Bonaparte—­The varied expression of his countenance—­His convulsive shrug—­Presentiment of his corpulency—­Partiality for bathing—­His temperance—­His alleged capability of dispensing with sleep—­Good and bad news—­Shaving, and reading the journals—­Morning, business—­Breakfast—­Coffee and snuff —­Bonaparte’s idea of his own situation—­His ill opinion of mankind —­His dislike of a ’tete-a-tete’—­His hatred of the Revolutionists —­Ladies in white—­Anecdotes—­Bonaparte’s tokens of kindness, and his droll compliments—­His fits of ill humour—­Sound of bells—­ Gardens of Malmaison—­His opinion of medicine—­His memory—­ His poetic insensibility—­His want of gallantry—­Cards and conversation—­The dress-coat and black cravat—­Bonaparte’s payments —­His religious ideas—­His obstinacy.

In perusing the history of the distinguished characters of past ages, how often do we regret that the historian should have portrayed the hero rather than the man!  We wish to know even the most trivial habits of those