the boat was filled with water.  The waves poured over it again and again, and the Emperor was drenched.  One wave larger than the others almost threw him overboard and his hat was carried sway.  Inspired by so much courage, officers, soldiers, seamen, and citizens tried to succour the drowning, some in boats, some swimming.  But, alas! only a small number could be saved of the unfortunate men.  The following day more than 200 bodies were thrown ashore, and with them the hat of the conqueror of Marengo.  That sad day was one of desolation for Boulogne and for the camp.  The Emperor groaned under the burden of an accident which he had to attribute solely to his own obstinacy.  Agents were despatched to all parts of the town to subdue with gold the murmurs which ware ready to break out into a tumult.]—­

—­ceased as if by enchantment.  The flotilla entered the port safe and sound and he went back to the camp, where the sports and amusements prepared for the soldiers commenced, and in the evening the brilliant fireworks which were let off rose in a luminous column, which was distinctly seen from the English coast.—­[It appears that Napoleon was so well able to cover up this fiasco that not even Bourrienne ever heard the true story.  D.W.]

When he reviewed the troops he asked the officers, and often the soldiers, in what battles they had been engaged, and to those who had received serious wounds he gave the cross.  Here, I think, I may appropriately mention a singular piece of charlatanism to which the Emperor had recourse, and which powerfully contributed to augment the enthusiasm of his troops.  He would say to one of his aides decamp, “Ascertain from the colonel of such a regiment whether he has in his corps a man who has served in the campaigns of Italy or the campaigns of Egypt.  Ascertain his name, where he was born, the particulars of his family, and what he has done.  Learn his number in the ranks, and to what company he belongs, and furnish me with the information.”

On the day of the review Bonaparte, at a single glance, could perceive the man who had been described to him.  He would go up to him as if he recognised him, address him by his name, and say, “Oh! so you are here!  You area brave fellow—­I saw you at Aboukir—­how is your old father?  What! have you not got the Cross?  Stay, I will give it you.”  Then the delighted soldiers would say to each other, “You see the Emperor knows us all; he knows our families; he knows where we have served.”  What a stimulus was this to soldiers, whom he succeeded in persuading that they would all some time or other become Marshals of the Empire!