The First Consul appointed for the government of Piedmont a Council which, as may naturally be imagined; he composed of those Piedmontese who were the declared partisans of France.  He stated as the grounds of this arrangement that it was to give to Piedmont a new proof of the affection and attachment of the French people.  He afterwards appointed General.  Dupont President of the Council, with the title of Minister-Extraordinary of the French government.  I will here mention a secret step taken by Bonaparte towards the overthrowing of the Republic.  In making the first draught of General Dupont’s appointment I had mechanically written, “Minister-Extraordinary of the French Republic.”—­“No! no!” said Bonaparte, “not of the Republic; say of the Government.”

On his return to Paris the First Consul gave almost incredible proofs of his activity.  The day after his arrival he promulgated a great number of decrees, and afterwards allotted the rewards to his soldiers.  He appointed Kellerman General of division which, on every principle of justice, he ought to have done on the field of battle.  He distributed sabres of honour, with the following inscription, highly complimentary to himself:—­

   “Battle of Maringo,—­[spelt for some time, I do not know why, as,
   Maringo—­Bourrienne]—­commanded in person by the First Consul. 
   —­Given by the Government of the Republic to General Lannes.”

Similar sabres where presented to Generals Victor, Watrin, Gardanne, and Murat; and sabres of less value to other officers:  and also muskets and drumsticks of honour to the soldiers and drummers who had distinguished themselves at Marengo, or in the army of the Rhine; for Bonaparte took care that the officers and men who had fought under Moreau should be included among those to whom the national rewards were presented.  He even had a medal struck to perpetuate the memory of the entry of the French army into Munich.  It is worthy of remark that while official fabrications and exaggerated details of facts were published respecting Marengo and the short campaign of Italy, by a feigned modesty the victorious army of Marengo received the unambitious title of ’Army of Reserve’.  By this artifice the honour of the Constitution was saved.  The First Consul had not violated it.  If he had marched to the field, and staked everything on a chance it was merely accidentally, for he commanded only an “Army of Reserve,” which nevertheless he had greeted with the title of Grand Army before he entered upon the campaign.  It is scarcely conceivable that Bonaparte, possessing as he did an extraordinary mind, should have descended to such pitiful artifices.