The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-06-23 00:00:00

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GENEA.II. IIF.RTIMEIt, TIM NSW DL
OF IVLUF-CJIATLI...
Among all the French Generals and Officers vtd
State, note has been for so many years intimatelj
zonuected with Napoleon. as Alexander ,Berthier,
h insepat able companion iu arms of the French
7..nperor Accordingly, we find that lie 'xis the
first Frenchman, after the branches and relatives of
the Imperial Fatally, who was raised from the con-
dition of A private individual, to the rank of a So-
vereign Y. nice and Duke. This distinetion he had
eat ned by hil trophies and his important military seri-
v :es. In early infancy he was destined for a mili-
tary life. Conformably to this determitution, Alex-
ander Berthier received an excellent education is his
native place, Versailles, and held a commission in
toe corps of engineers, at the period of the rupture
between Great Britain and her American colonies. He
was' one of the warriors sent by the Ministers of
Louis XVI. to gather laurels On the banks of the
Ohio.
• Like ill the military men who had assisted Ame-
rica Li asserting her tudependenc:, Alexander BA--
drier was a professed patriot, at the commencement
of the French Revolution, even before the destruc-
tion of toe Bastille. His fellow-citizens honoured
hint with their confidenoe, and appointed him Ma•
jor-Geort al of the natiottal game of Versailles. In
thiipost, when the tempest raged on evei y side, he
behaved towalus the eccentric Lecointr: wall a dis-
ereettnoderationaby*hich blood.thed was pi 'vented.
Berthier obtained a command in the army of
Marshal, Luckner. He bad still to contend with
• invidious malevolence, when the French army was
compelled to retreat before the combined forces of
Austria and Prussia, towards Lisle. Luckner, how-
ever, in a letter to the legislature, declerud the ac-
cusations brought againt Berthier unfounded.
In the attacks upon the insurgents of the West,
at Vic, General Berthier pertorined prodigies or
valour. At that tune, the French army was corn-
manded by General Laberuliere, and the Repre-
sentatives of the people, Bourbotve and Taurean.
But viaories in which General Berthier was obliged
to shed the blood of his fellow-citizens, drew tears
from his eyes ; he felt, as he said, that he was
destined for a more glorious career. His wish was
accomplished. Bonaparte, when be assumed the
command of the Italian army, called Min to his side.
According to the reports of the General-in-Chief,
Berthier took a most aftive part in the battles ut
Millesimo, Ceva, blondovi, Lodi, trent, Rove-
redo, Brescia; in al; the viaories of the French arms
in Italy. The intrepidity displayed by bun at the
battle of Arcola, procured hun a wain.' eulogiern
From Bonaparte.
Peace was the of these achievements.

Bruit _ ___
Berthier was direaed to convey the prelimmaties
of Peace, signed at Leoben, by Bonaparte, and the
Marchese Gallo, to Hoche, the Commander in
Chief of the army of the Sambre and Meuse.
All France resounded with the praises of toe gallant
army of Italy ; Mathieu Dumas said, among other
things, in the Council of • Five Hundred :—" Ber-
thier ha. so powerfully contributed by ha rare
talents and his courage to the conquest of Italy,
_that Bonaparte doss himself bosons, by demanding
for him an equal portion of gratitude and praise."
In the year 1797 Berthier was commissioned by
Bonaparte to carry to Paris the treaty of Campo
Formic,. At the same time, the General in Chief
wrote As follows to the Ihrettury : 4. Genotal Ber-
t/sin, is one of the pillars of the republic, as Well as
one of the most Malous defenders of liberty ; the
army of Italy has folioed no vi&ory to which be
has not contributed ; I am not apprehensive lest
friendship should mislead me, when I repeat the
services which this brave General has rendered to
his country ; but history will perform this duty, and
its testimony will be grounded on the opinion of the
whole army."
Alexander Berthier returned to the post of honour
which Bonaparte had assigned him. He was at
Milan when an extraordinary courier brought him
orders to march immediately to Rome, to avenge
the Planes of the murdered General Duphat. The
execution of these orders was not attended with any
great obstacles.; Berthier soon entered the Capitol.
l'emporarydistui trances, however, prevailed atkome,
occasioned by the delay io the payment of thommerf-
buttons, and the Arrival of the new Gentedl
Was to relieve Berthier. The mel-contents a • a,
selves of this opportunity to raise an i
which extended from Rome, over the wilt*
En
clesintical State, and might have led to serious
consequences. To the zeal And pru.:eirce 01 Bet-
4r, Bonaparte was tchleige.l fur the speedy sub-
•in of the Romans.
When Brune was appointed Commander-imChief
a the army of Italy. Berthier quitted this theatre
of his glory, and hastened to earls. His destiny
bras closely linked with that of Napoleon Bonaparte,
who again nominated him Chin of the Stall of the
Army of England. Tim plan of invasion was,
however, reliugaished, and the views of France
were darded to the British Empire in India. Bo-
naparte became General of the Army of the East,
and Heather Chief of the Staff attached to it. The
tat.: of thisexpedition is too well known to need re-
petition. Berthier followed Bonaparte, when he,
retuned from Lgypt to FIAIICII4 He was soon
with Ism at Prit, where he assieted him in the
exc,:ution of his great designs.
At the battle of Marengo he was by his side; with
pain he was obliged to intorm Bonaparte, that the
Finish were retreating, and that the army wasin a
highly critical situAtion. -Bonaparte read in Bea-
thier's countecrance that the danger was great.
" General," immediately replied rsonaparte, •• ynu
do nit flit me so with cold blond." Ihe two OlL-
ter% consoled together, arid the result was. the
riattll.t.l ti.e .uluasn commanded by DessAix. a
S* augagentent, and a viaory.
Berthier was twice appointed Minister of War
bt the First Consul, once befogs:, and once alter the
beat of Morengo. He was then dispatched: as
Ainbaesadur hstraordiaary, to the Spanish Court.
When l:e had concluded this ination, fe rtsmir,d,
for the !herd t.me, at Paris, the aireetron of the War

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Dvartmc;.t. This post he retained during the late
tem.itLsbie campa.gn, in which he cliredeJ the
gentitai tit the grenJ army. under use supretne
namaj et ; and he still keeps it, since
hi. elev tion to the Dukedom of Neufchatel. Duke
A essnd-r ft..lda first iu the list of N 144613414 of the
Fivaa./1 C