On the 17th of March, in a moment of gaiety and good humour, he desired me to unroll Chauchard’s great map of Italy.  He lay down upon it, and desired me to do likewise.  He then stuck into it pins, the heads of which were tipped with wax, some red and some black.  I silently observed him; and awaited with no little curiosity the result of this plan of campaign.  When he had stationed the enemy’s corps, and drawn up the pins with red heads on the points where he hoped to bring his own troops, he said to me, “Where do you think I shall beat Melas?”—­“How the devil should I know?”—­“Why, look here, you fool!  Melas is at Alessandria with his headquarters.  There he will remain until Genoa surrenders.  He has in Alessandria his magazines, his hospitals, his artillery, and his reserves.  Crossing the Alps here (pointing to the Great Mont St. Bernard) I shall fall upon Melas, cut off his communications with Austria, and meet him here in the plains of Scrivia” (placing a red, pin at San Giuliano).  Finding that I looked on this manoeuvre of pins as mere pastime, he addressed to me some of his usual compliments, such as fool, ninny, etc., and then proceeded to demonstrate his plans more clearly on the map.  At the expiration of a quarter of an hour we rose; I folded up the map, and thought no more of the matter.

Four months after this, when I was at San Giuliano with Bonaparte’s portfolio and despatches, which I had saved from the rout which had taken place during the day, and when that very evening I was writing at Torre di Galifolo the bulletin of the battle to Napoleon’s dictation, I frankly avowed my admiration of his military plans.  He himself smiled at the accuracy of his own foresight.

The First Consul was not satisfied with General Berthier as War Minister, and he superseded him by Carnot,

—­[There were special reasons for the appointment of Carnot, Berthier was required with his master in Italy, while Carnot, who had so long ruled the armies of the Republic, was better fitted to influence Moreau, at this time advancing into Germany.  Carnot probably fulfilled the main object of his appointment when he was sent to Moreau, and succeeded in getting that general, with natural reluctance, to damage his own campaign by detaching a large body of troops into Italy.  Berthier was reappointed to the Ministry on the 8th of October 1800,—­a very speedy return if he had really been disgraced.]—­

who had given great proofs of firmness and integrity, but who, nevertheless, was no favourite of Bonaparte, on account of his decided republican principles.  Berthier was too slow in carrying out the measures ordered, [duplicated line removed here D.W.] and too lenient in the payment of past charges and in new contracts.  Carnot’s appointment took place on the 2d of April 1800; and to console Berthier, who, he knew, was more at home in the camp than in the office, he dictated to me the following letter for him:—­