Walter Scott - Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. Volume II

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 174.

"Is it, then, so difficult for Sir Walter to justify the motive which induced Napoleon to prefer works of art? It was a motive too great and too praiseworthy to need justification." – Louis Buonaparte, p. 21.

On the 7th of May, Carnot had written to Buonaparte – "The executive Directory is convinced, citizen-general, that you consider the glory of the fine arts connected with that of the army under your command. Italy is, in great part, indebted to them for her riches and renown; but the time is arrived when their reign must pass into France to strengthen and embellish that of liberty. The National Museum must contain the most distinguished monuments of all the arts, and you will neglect no opportunity of enriching it with such as it expects from the present conquests of the army of Italy, and those which may follow," &c. — Correspondence Inédite , tom. i., p. 155.

Moniteur, 25th Floreal, 16th May.

See also Lacretelle's "Digression sur l'enlèvement de statues, tableaux, &c." — Hist. , tom. xiii., p. 172.

See Letter of the Directory to Buonaparte, May 7; Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 145; and Montholon, tom. iv., p. 447.

"Je crois qu'il faut plutôt un mauvais général que deux bons. La guerre est comme le gouvernement — c'est une affaire de tact ." — Correspondence Inédite , tom. i., p. 160.

"You appear desirous, citizen-general, to continue to conduct the whole series of the military operations of the present campaign in Italy. The Directory have maturely reflected on this proposition, and the confidence they have in your talents and Republican zeal, has decided this question in the affirmative." – Carnot to Buonaparte, 21st May; Correspondence Inédite , tom. i., p. 202.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 196.

It has been alleged, that in a farce exhibited on the public stage by authority of Buonaparte, the Pope was introduced in his pontifical dress. This, which could not be looked on as less than sacrilege by a Catholic population, does not accord with the general conduct of Buonaparte. See, however, " Tableau des Premières Guerres de Buonaparte ," Paris, 1815, par Le Chevalier Mechaud de Villelle, p. 41. – S.

"The pillage lasted several hours; but occasioned more fear than damage; it was confined to some goldsmiths' shops. The selection of the hostages fell on the principal families. It was conceived to be advantageous that some of the persons of most influence should visit France. In fact, they returned a few months after, several of them having travelled in all our provinces, where they had adopted French manners." – Napoleon, Montholon , tom. iii., p. 200.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 227.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 227.

"The examples of the Imperial Fiefs and Lugo, though extremely severe, were indispensable, and authorised by the usage of war." – Jomini, tom. viii., p. 156.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 204; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 140.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 206.

Napoleon, Memoirs, tom. iii., p. 209.

Daru, Hist. de Venise; tom. v., p. 436; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 257.

Moniteur, No. 267, June 17; Montholon, tom. iv., p. 121.

Thiers, tom. viii., p. 225.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 213; Thibaudeau, tom. i., p. 275.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 221; Thiers, tom. viii., p. 236.

"Il parcourut avet le grand-duc la célèbre galerie et n'y remarqua que trop la Vénus de Medicis." – Lacretelle, tom. xiii., p. 190.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 226; Pommereuil, Campagnes de Buonaparte, p. 78.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 222.

The following letter appears in the journals as an intercepted despatch from Beaulieu to the Aulic Council of War. It seems worthy of preservation, as expressing the irritated feelings with which the veteran general was certainly affected, whether he wrote the letter in question or not. It will be recollected, that D'Argenteau, of whom he complains, was the cause of his original misfortunes at Montenotte. See ante , p. 52. "I asked you for a general , and you have sent me Argenteau – I am quite aware that he is a great lord, and that he is to be created Field-marshal of the Empire, to atone for my having placed him under arrest – I apprise you that I have no more than twenty thousand men remaining, and that the French are sixty thousand strong. I apprise you farther, that I will retreat to-morrow – next day – the day after that – and every day – even to Siberia itself, if they pursue me so far. My age gives me a right to speak out the truth. Hasten to make peace on any condition whatever." — Moniteur , 1796, No. 269. – S.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 229; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 163.

See Correspondence Inédite, tom. i., p. 12; Montholon, tom. iv., p. 372; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 388.

"That retreat was the greatest blunder that ever Moreau committed. If he had, instead of retreating, made a détour, and marched in the rear of Prince Charles, he would have destroyed or taken the Austrian army. The Directory, jealous of me, wanted to divide, if possible, the stock of military reputation; and as they could not give Moreau credit for a victory, they caused his retreat to be extolled in the highest terms: although even the Austrian generals condemned him for it." – Napoleon, Voice , &c., vol. ii., p. 40. See also Gourgaud, tom. i., p. 157.

Montholon, tom. iii., pp. 292-307; Jomini, tom. viii., pp. 178-194.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 234.

Montholon, tom. iii., p. 235; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 302.

Jomini, tom. viii., p. 314; Montholon, tom. iii., p. 239.

"Napoleon despatched Louis in the greatest haste to Paris, with an account of what had taken place. Louis left his brother with regret on the eve of the battle, to become the bearer of bad news. 'It must be so,' said Napoleon, 'but before you return you will have to present to the Directory the colours which we shall take to-morrow.'" – Louis Buonaparte, tom. i., p 63.

Buonaparte to the Directory; Moniteur, No. 328; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 318; Botta, tom. ii., p. 64.

"Sa manœuvre me parut un sûr garant de la victoire." – Buonaparte to the Directory, 6th August.

Buonaparte, in his despatch to the Directory, states the loss of the Austrians at from two to three thousand killed, and four thousand prisoners; Jomini, tom. viii., p. 325, says, "three thousand killed, wounded, or prisoners."

"That day was the most brilliant of Augereau's life, nor did Napoleon ever forget it." – Montholon, tom. iii., p. 255.