After supper was over the First Consul dictated to me the bulletin of the battle.  When we were alone I said to him, “General, here is a fine victory!  You recollect what you said the other day about the pleasure with which you would return to France after striking a grand blow in Italy; surely you must be satisfied now?”—­“Yes, Bourrienne, I am satisfied.—­But Desaix! . . .  Ah, what a triumph would this have been if I could have embraced him to-night on the field of battle!” As he uttered these words I saw that Bonaparte was on the point of shedding tears, so sincere and profound was his grief for the death of Desaix.  He certainly never loved, esteemed, or regretted any man so much.

The death of Desaix has been variously related, and I need not now state that the words attributed to him in the bulletin were imaginary.  Neither did he die in the arms of his aide de camp, Lebrun, as I wrote from the dictation of the First Consul.  The following facts are more correct, or at all events more probable:—­the death of Desaix was not perceived at the moment it took place.  He fell without saying a word, at a little distance from Lefebre-Desnouettes.  A sergeant of battalion of the 9th brigade light infantry, commanded by Barrois, seeing him extended on the ground, asked permission to pick up his cloak.  It was found to be perforated behind; and this circumstance leaves it doubtful whether Desaix was killed by some unlucky inadvertency, while advancing at the head of his troops, or by the enemy when turning towards his men to encourage them.  However, the event was so instantaneous, the disorder so complete, and the change of fortune so sudden, that it is not surprising there should be no positive account of the circumstances which attended his death.

Early next morning the Prince of Liechtenstein came from General Melas with negotiations to the First Consul.  The propositions of the General did not suit Bonaparte, and he declared to the Prince that the army shut up in Alessandria should evacuate freely, and with the honours of war; but on those conditions, which are well known, and by which Italy was to be fully restored to the French domination.  That day were repaired the faults of Scherer, whose inertness and imbecility had paralysed everything, and who had fled, and been constantly beaten, from the Adriatic to Mont Cenis.  The Prince of Liechtenstein begged to return to render an account of his mission to General Melas.  He came back in the evening, and made many observations on the hard nature of the conditions.  “Sir,” replied the First Consul, in a tone of marked impatience, “carry my final determination to your General, and return quickly.  It is irrevocable!  Know that I am as well acquainted with your position as you are yourselves.  I did not begin to learn the art of war yesterday.  You are blocked up in Alessandria; you have many sick and wounded; you are in want of provisions and medicines.  I occupy the whole of your rear.  Your finest troops are among the killed and wounded.  I might insist on harder conditions; my position would warrant me in so doing; but I moderate my demands in consideration of the gray hairs of your General, whom I respect.”