the members of the Convention, who made much of Bonaparte, authorised him to have it published at the public expense, and made him many promises.”  Lanfrey, vol. i. pp. 201, says of this pamphlets “Common enough ideas, expressed in a style only remarkable for its ‘Italianisms,’ but becoming singularly firm and precise every time the author expresses his military views.  Under an apparent roughness, we find in it a rare circumspection, leaving no hold on the writer, even if events change."]—­

It may be remarked, that in all that has come to us from St. Helena, not a word is said of this youthful production.  Its character sufficiently explains this silence.  In all Bonaparte’s writings posterity will probably trace the profound politician rather than the enthusiastic revolutionist.

Some documents relative to Bonaparte’s suspension and arrest, by order of the representatives Albitte and Salicetti, serve to place in their true light circumstances which have hitherto been misrepresented.  I shall enter into some details of this event, because I have seen it stated that this circumstance of Bonaparte’s life has been perverted and misrepresented by every person who has hitherto written about him; and the writer who makes this remark, himself describes the affair incorrectly and vaguely.  Others have attributed Bonaparte’s misfortune to a military discussion on war, and his connection with Robespierre the younger.

—­[It will presently be seen that all this is erroneous, and that Sir Walter commits another mistake when he says that Bonaparte’s connection with Robespierre was attended with fatal consequences to him, and that his justification consisted in acknowledging that his friends were very different from what he had supposed them to be.  —­Bourrienne.]—­

It has, moreover, been said that Albitte and Salicetti explained to the Committee of Public Safety the impossibility of their resuming the military operations unaided by the talents of General Bonaparte.  This is mere flattery.  The facts are these: 

On the 13th of July 1794 (25th Messidor, year ii), the representatives of the people with the army of Italy ordered that General Bonaparte should proceed to Genoa, there, conjointly with the French ‘charge d’affaires’, to confer on certain subjects with the Genoese Government.  This mission, together with a list of secret instructions, directing him to examine the fortresses of Genoa and the neighbouring country, show the confidence which Bonaparte, who was then only twenty-five, inspired in men who were deeply interested in making a prudent choice of their agents.