of the arrival of that General, who had only joined the army two days before.  Both were ignorant of each other’s position, which the First Consul was alone acquainted with; he alone could introduce harmony into their movements; he alone could make their efforts respectively conduce to the same object.

“The fate of the battle was decided by Kellerman’s bold charge; had it, however, been made previously to General Desaix’s attack, in all probability it would have had a quite different result.  Kellerman appears to have been convinced of it, since he allowed the Austrian column to cross our field of battle and extend its front beyond that of the troops we had still in line without making the least attempt to impede its progress.  The reason of Kellerman’s not charging it sooner was that it was too serious a movement, and the consequences of failure would have been irretrievable:  that charge, therefore, could only enter into a general combination of plans, to which he was necessarily a stranger” (Memoirs of the Duke of Rovigo, tome i. pp. 218-280).]—­

M. Delaforet, the Postmaster-general, sometimes transacted business with the First Consul.  The nature of this secret business may easily be guessed at.

—­[When M. Delaforet was replaced soon after this by Lavalette, Napoleon ordered the discontinuance of the practice followed until then of allowing letters to be opened by subordinate officials.  This right was restricted, as in England, to the Minister.  However bad this practice, it was limited, not extended, in his reign.  See Mineval, tome iii. pp. 60-62, and Lavalette, tome ii. p. 10.]—­

On the occasion of one of their interviews the First Consul saw a letter from Kellerman to Lasalle, which contained the following passage:  “Would you believe, my friend, that Bonaparte has not made me a general of division though I have just placed the crown on his head?” The letter was sealed again and sent to its address; but Bonaparte never forgot its contents.

Whether Kellerman did or did not give the crown of France to the First Consul, it is very certain that on the evening of the battle of Marengo he gave him a supper, of which his famishing staff and the rest of us partook.  This was no inconsiderable service in the destitute condition in which we were.  We thought ourselves exceeding fortunate in profiting by the precaution of Kellerman, who had procured provisions from one of those pious retreats which are always well supplied, and which soldiers are very glad to fall in with when campaigning.  It was the convent del Bosco which on this occasion was laid under contribution; and in return for the abundance of good provisions and wine with which they supplied the commander of the heavy cavalry the holy fathers were allowed a guard to protect them against pillage and the other disastrous concomitants of war.