whom I was intimately acquainted, constantly expressed his apprehensions about my health; but my zeal carried me through every difficulty, and during our stay at the Tuileries I cannot express how happy I was in enjoying the unreserved confidence of the man on whom the eyes of all Europe were filed.  So perfect was this confidence that Bonaparte, neither as General, Consul, nor Emperor, ever gave me any fixed salary.  In money matters we were still comrades:  I took from his funds what was necessary to defray my expenses, and of this Bonaparte never once asked me for any account.

He often mentioned his wish to regenerate public education, which he thought was ill managed.  The central schools did not please him; but he could not withhold his admiration from the Polytechnic School, the finest establishment of education that was ever founded, but which he afterwards spoiled by giving it a military organisation.  In only one college of Paris the old system of study was preserved:  this was the Louis-le-Grand, which had received the name of Pritanee.  The First Consul directed the Minister of the Interior to draw up a report on that establishment; and he himself went to pay an unexpected visit to the Pritanee, accompanied by M. Lebrun and Duroc.  He remained there upwards of an hour, and in the evening he spoke to me with much interest on the subject of his visit.  “Do you know, Bourrienne,” said he, “that I have been performing the duties of professor?”—­“you, General!”—­“Yes! and I did not acquit myself badly.  I examined the pupils in the mathematical class; and I recollected enough of my Bezout to make some demonstrations before them.  I went everywhere, into the bedrooms and the dining-room.  I tasted the soup, which is better than we used to have at Brienne.  I must devote serious attention to public education and the management of the colleges.  The pupils must have a uniform.  I observed some well and others ill dressed.  That will not do.  At college, above all places, there should be equality.  But I was much pleased with the pupils of the Pritanee.  I wish to know the names of those I examined, and I have desired Duroc to report them to me.  I will give them rewards; that stimulates young people.  I will provide for some of them.”

On this subject Bonaparte did not confine himself to an empty scheme.  After consulting with the headmaster of the Pritanee, he granted pensions of 200 francs to seven or eight of the most distinguished pupils of the establishment, and he placed three of them in the department of Foreign Affairs, under the title of diplomatic pupils.

   —­[This institution of diplomatic pupils was originally suggested by
   M. de Talleyrand.]—­