CHAP. V.

Corsica. Napoleon born, 1769. Sent to the Royal Military School.Appointed Captain of Artillery. Siege of Toulon. Anecdotes during the siege. Allied troops resolve to Evacuate Toulon. Dreadful particulars of the Evacuation. Napoleon appointed Chief of Battalion in the Army of Italy. Returns to France, and obtains command of the troops of Paris. Marries. Appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Battle of Monte Notte. Terrible passage of the

Italian armies.
Bridge of Lodi.

THE Island of Corsica was, in ancient times, remarkable as the scene of Seneca's exile, and in the last century was distinguished by the memorable stand which the natives made in defence of their liberties against the Genoese and French, during a war which tended to show the high and indomitable spirit of the islanders, united as it is with the fiery and vindictive feelings proper to their country and climate. In this island, which was destined to derive its future importance chiefly from the circumstance, NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, had his origin. He was born on the 15th day of August, 1769, at his father's house in Ajaccio. We read with interest, that his mother's good constitution and bold character of mind having induced her to attend mass upon the day of his birth (being the Festival of the Assumption,) she was oblige o return home immediately, and as there was no time to prepare a bed or bedroom, she was delivered of the future victor upon a temporary couch prepared for her accommodation, and covered with an ancient piece of tapestry, representing the heroes of the Iliad. The young Napoleon had, of course, the simple and hardy education proper to the natives of the mountainous island of his birth, and in his infancy was not remarkable for more than that animation of temper, and wilfulness and impatience of inactivity, by which children of quick parts and lively sensibility are usually distinguished.

The Governor of Corsica, interested himself in the young Napoleon, so much as to obtain him an appointment to the Royal Military School at Brienne, which was maintained at the royal expense, in order to bring up youths for the engineer and artillery service. Nothing could be more suitable to the nature of young Buonaparte's genius, than the line of study which thus fortunately was opened before him. His ardor for the abstract sciences amounted to a passion, and was com

bined with a singular aptitude for applying them to the purposes of war, while his attention to pursuits so interesting and exhaustless in themselves, was stimulated by his natural ambition and desire of distinction. Almost all the scientific teachers at Brienne, being accustomed to study the character of their pupils, and obliged by their duty to make memoranda and occasional reports on the subject, spoke of the talents of Buonaparte, and the progress of his studies, with admiration.

In 1783, Napoleon Buonaparte, then only fourteen years old, was, though under the usual age, selected by Monsieur de Keralio, the inspector of the twelve military schools, to be sent to have his education completed in the general school of Paris. It was a compliment paid to the precocity of his extraordinary mathematical talent, and the steadiness of his application.

In his seventeenth year he received his first commission as second lieutenant in a regiment of artillery, and was immediately afterwards promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in the corps quartered at Valance. He mingled with society when he joined his regiment, more than he had hitherto been accustomed to do; mixed in public amusements, and exhibited the powers of pleasing which he possessed in an uncommon degree, when he chose to exert them. His handsome and intelligent features, with his active and neat, though slight figure, gave him additional advantages. Early in the year 1792, he became a captain in the artillery by seniority; and in the same year, being at Paris, he witnessed the two insurrections of the 22d June and the 10th of August. He was accustomed to speak of the insurgents as the most dispicable banditti, and to express with what ease a determined officer could have checked these apparently formidable, but dastardly and unwieldly masses. But with what a different feeling of interest would Napoleon have looked on that infuriated populace, those still resisting though overpowered Swiss, and that burning palace, had any seer whispered to him, “Emperor that shall be, all this bicod and massacre is but to prepare your future empire."

The Siege of Toulon was the first incident of inportance which enabled Buonaparte to distinguish himself in the eyes of the French government, and of the world at large. He was promoted to the rank of a brigadier-general of artillery, with the command of the artillery during the siege. At a council of war, the instructions of the Committee of Public Safety were read, directing tha the siege of Toulon should

be commenced according to the usual forms, by investing the body of the place, in other words, the city itself. The orders of the Committee of Public Safety were no safe subject of discussion or criticism for those who were to act under them; yet Buonaparte ventured to recommend their being departed from on this important occasion. His comprehensive genius had at once discovered a less direct, yet more certain manner, of obtaining the surrender of the place. He advised, that neglecting the body of the town, the attention of the besiegers should be turned to attain possession of the promontory, called Hauteur de Grasse, by driving the besieged from the strong work of Fort Mulgrave, and the two redoubts of L'Eguillette and Balagniere, by means of which the English had established the line of defence necessary to protect the fleet and harbor. The fortress of Malbosquet, on the same point, he also recommended as a principal object of attack.He argued, that if the besiegers succeeded in possessing themselves of these fortifications, they must obtain a complete command of the roads where the English fleet lay, and oblige them to put to sea. They would, in the same manner, effectually command the entrance of the bay, and prevent supplies or provisions from being thrown into the city. If the garrison were thus in danger of being totally cut off from supplies by their vessels being driven from their anchorage, it was natural to suppose that the English troops would rather evacuate Toulon than remain within the place, blockaded on every side, until they might be compelled to surrender by famine.

The plan was adopted by the council of war after much hesitation, and the young officer by whom it was projected received full powers to carry it on. He rallied round him a number of excellent artillery officers and soldiers; assembled against Toulon more than two hundred pieces of cannon, well served; and stationed them so advantageously, that he annoyed considerably the English vessels in the roads, even before he had constructed those batteries on which he depended for reducing Fort Mulgrave and Malbosquet, by which they were in a great measure protected.

One of the dangers which he incurred was of a singular character. An artilleryman being shot at the gun which he was serving, while Napoleon was visiting a battery, he took up the dead man's rammer, and to give encouragement to the soldiers, charged the gun repeatedly with his own hands.Upon another occasion, while Napoleon was overlooking the

construction of a battery, which the enemy endeavored to interrupt by their fire, he called for some person who could write, that he might dictate an order. A young soldier sted ped out of the ranks, and res ng the paper on the breastwork, began to write accordingly. A shot from the enemy's battery covered the letter with earth the instant it was finish ed. "Thank you-we shall have no occasion for sand this bout," said the military secretary. The gaiety and courage of the remark drew Buonaparte's attention on the young man, who was the celebrated General Junot, afterwards created Duke D'Abrantes. During this siege, also, he discovered the talents of Duroc, afterwards one of his most faithful adherents. In these and many other instances, Buonaparte showed his extensive knowledge of mankind, by the deep sagacity which enabled him to discover and attach to him those whose talents were most distinguished, and most capable of rendering him service.

Five batteries were opened on Fort Mulgrave, the possession of which Buonaparte considered as ensuring success.After a fire of twenty-four hours, Dugommier and Napoleon resolved to try the fate of a general attack. The attacking column advanced before day, during a heavy shower of rain. They were at first driven back on every point by the most determined opposition; and Dugommier, as he saw the troops fly in confusion, exclaimed, well knowing the consequences of bad success to a General of the Republic, "I am a lost man!" Renewed efforts, however, at last prevailed; the Spanish artillerymen giving way on one point, the fort fell into the possession of the French, who showed no mercy to its defenders.

The officers of the allied troops, after a hurried council of war, resolved to evacuate Toulon, since the posts gained by the French must drive the English ships from their anchorage, and deprive them of a future opportunity of retreating, if they neglected the passing moment.

The safety of the unfortunate citizens, who had invoked the protection of the British was not neglected, even amid the confusion of the retreat. The numerous merchant vessels and other craft, offered means of transportation to ail, who, having to fear the resentment of the republicans, might be desirous of quitting Toulon. Such was the dread of the victors' cruelty, that upwards of fourteen thousand persons accepted this melancholy refuge. Meantime there was other work to do.

It had been resolved, that the arsenal and naval stores, with such of the French ships as were not ready for sea, should be destroyed; and they were set on fire accordingly.The rising conflagration growing redder and redder, seemed at length a great volcano, amid which were long distinctly seen the masts and yards of the burning vessels, and which rendered obscurely visible the advancing bodies of republican troops, who attempted on different points to push their way into the place. The Jacobins began to rise in the town upon the flying Royalists;-horrid screams and yells of vengeance, and revolutionary chorusses, were heard to mingle with the cries and plaintive entreaties of the remaining fugitives, who had not yet found means of embarkation. The guns from Malbosquet, now possessed by the French, and turned on the bulwarks of the town, increased the uproar. At once a shock like that of an earthquake, occasioned by the explosion of many hundred barrels of gunpowder, silenced all noise save its own, and threw high into the midnight heaven a thousand blazing fragments, which descended, threatening ruin wherever they fell. A second explosion took place, as the other magazine blew up, with the same dreadful effects.

It was upon this night of terror, conflagration, tears and blood, that the star of Napoleon first ascended the horizon; and though it gleamed over many a scene of horror ere it set, it may be doubtful whether its light was ever blended with those of one more dreadful.

The young General of artillery was now rapidly rising in reputation. The praises which were suppressed by the representatives of the people, were willingly conferred and promulgated by the frank old veteran Dugommier. Buonaparte's name was placed on the list of those whom he recommended for promotion, with the pointed addition, that if neglected, he would be sure to force his own way. He was accordingly confirmed in his provisional situation of Chief of Battalion, and appointed to hold that rank in the army of Italy.

He proceeded to join the head quarters of the French army, then lying at Nice, straitened considerably and hemmed in by the Sardinians and Austrians, who, after some vain attempts of General Brunet to dislodge them, had remained masters of the Col di Tende, and lower passes of the Alps, together with the road leading from Turin to Nice by Saorgio.

Buonaparte had influence enough to recommend with success to the general, Dumorbion, a plan for driving the enemy out of this position, forcing them to retreat beyond the higher