Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 4 | Page 6

addressed to the army of the East:
SOLDIERS!--The Consuls of the French Republic frequently direct
their attention to the army of the East.
France acknowledges all the influence of your conquests on the
restoration of her trade and the civilisation of the world.
The eyes of all Europe are upon you, and in thought I am often with
you.
In whatever situation the chances of war may place you, prove
yourselves still the soldiers of Rivoli and Aboukir--you will be
invincible.
Place in Kleber the boundless confidence which you reposed in me. He
deserves it.
Soldiers, think of the day when you will return victorious to the sacred
territory of France. That will be a glorious day for the whole nation.
Nothing can more forcibly show the character of Bonaparte than the
above allusion to Kleber, after he had seen the way in which Kleber
spoke of him to the Directory. Could it ever have been imagined that

the correspondence of the army, to whom he addressed this
proclamation, teemed with accusations against him? Though the
majority of these accusations were strictly just, yet it is but fair to state
that the letters from Egypt contained some calumnies. In answer to the
well- founded portion of the charges Bonaparte said little; but he
seemed to feel deeply the falsehoods that were stated against him, one
of which was, that he had carried away millions from Egypt. I cannot
conceive what could have given rise to this false and impudent
assertion. So far from having touched the army chest, Bonaparte had
not even received all his own pay. Before he constituted himself the
Government the Government was his debtor.
Though he knew well all that was to be expected from the Egyptian
expedition, yet those who lauded that affair were regarded with a
favourable eye by Bonaparte. The correspondence which had fallen
into his hands was to him of the highest importance in enabling him to
ascertain the opinions which particular individuals entertained of him.
It was the source of favours and disgraces which those who were not in
the secret could not account for. It serves to explain why many men of
mediocrity were elevated to the highest dignities and honours, while
other men of real merit fell into disgrace or were utterly neglected.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
1800.
Great and common men--Portrait of Bonaparte--The varied expression
of his countenance--His convulsive shrug--Presentiment of his
corpulency--Partiality for bathing--His temperance--His alleged
capability of dispensing with sleep--Good and bad news--Shaving, and
reading the journals--Morning, business--Breakfast--Coffee and snuff
--Bonaparte's idea of his own situation--His ill opinion of mankind
--His dislike of a 'tete-a-tete'--His hatred of the Revolutionists --Ladies
in white--Anecdotes--Bonaparte's tokens of kindness, and his droll
compliments--His fits of ill humour--Sound of bells-- Gardens of

Malmaison--His opinion of medicine--His memory-- His poetic
insensibility--His want of gallantry--Cards and conversation--The
dress-coat and black cravat--Bonaparte's payments --His religious
ideas--His obstinacy.
In perusing the history of the distinguished characters of past ages, how
often do we regret that the historian should have portrayed the hero
rather than the man! We wish to know even the most trivial habits of
those whom great, talents and vast reputation have elevated above their
fellow-creatures. Is this the effect of mere curiosity, or rather is it not
an involuntary feeling of vanity which prompts us to console ourselves
for the superiority of great men by reflecting on their faults, their
weaknesses, their absurdities; in short, all the points of resemblance
between them and common men? For the satisfaction of those who are
curious in details of this sort, I will here endeavour to paint Bonaparte,
as I saw him, in person and in mind, to describe what were his tastes
and habits, and even his whims and caprices.
Bonaparte was now in the prime of life, and about thirty. The person of
Bonaparte has served as a model for the most skilful painters and
sculptors; many able French artists have successfully delineated his
features, and yet it may be said that no perfectly faithful portrait of him
exists. His finely-shaped head, his superb forehead, his pale
countenance, and his usual meditative look, have been transferred to
the canvas; but the versatility of his expression was beyond the reach of
imitation: All the various workings of his mind were instantaneously
depicted in his countenance; and his glance changed from mild to
severe, and from angry to good-humoured, almost with the rapidity of
lightning. It may truly be said that he had a particular look for every
thought that arose in his mind.
Bonaparte had beautiful hands, and he was very proud of them; while
conversing he would often look at them with an air of self-complacency.
He also fancied he had fine teeth, but his pretension to that advantage
was not so well founded as his