Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-01
BONAPARrE.
CConciIded from our last. }

his constitution suffered much from long
inaction during his first years at school.
a too close application may perhaps re-
tard more than long continued repose !;
tor, though OF form calculated to resist
fatigue, and Of much natural strength, he
had always the appearance Of a weak and
delicate health. Although of middle
statrue, is remarkable Tor the breadth of
his shoulders; his eye, of a deep blue, are
small, but animated his hair brown, his
forehead large and prominent, his chin
sharp, his face long, and his complexion
olive the general expression Of his coun.
tenance does not strike at first sight but
in observing him with attention., you rea.
Oily distinguish the traces of deep think
ing; and the vivacity of his looks indi-
Gates energy and activity.
His withdrawing from the society of his
comrades has given a rudeness, perhaps
ferocity to his manner; anger against
his young companions sometimes amount
Ell 10 fury the instance am going to re-
peat is mos. Characteristic.
Every year on the 25th Of August. the
day OF St. Louis, the pupils of the Mill.
tary Schools, in honor OF. the King, were
permitted almost withou trestraint, to give
themselves up to pleasure, and the most
noisy demonstrations of Joy. Every spe-
cies of restraint wss suspended during
that happy day, and it is easy to foresee,
that it could seldom pass without being
attended by some accident but without
blaming Or excusing hat too grea, indul-
genCe of our masters will only recount
that OF which was eye witness.
Whenever pupilhad reached the age
OF fourteen, custom (Which we kept up
with great care,) gave him the privilege to
purchase certain quantity of gunpowder
for st. Louis's day, and during the fort
night which preceded the solemnity, and
the young people Of that age associated
together TO prepare fireworks. The in
dolgencies went go Ear IS 10 iatrust thera
with some small pieces of artillery, some
muskets and pistols, which were fired to
announce the day. What Joy! What
moment! perhaps the most happy OF their
lives.
So complete and so animated was the
general pleasure amongst the scholars, as
10 render more remarkable the indiffe.
renee, real OF affected, which Bonaparte
testified on that occasion, the last year
O775O which he passed at the school of
Brienne. Retired the whole day in his
garden, ne not only did not participate in
the public rejoicing, but affected to CONT
nue. his usual study and occupations, with
out being disturbed by the noise. His
comrades were too much engaged in their
own amusement 10 think of troubling his,
and would only have laughed al him, if
his strange behaviour, in all uncommon
circumstance, had not drawn upon him
the general attention.
Towards nine o'clock of the evening a.
bout twenty of The young pecple were as
sembled in that garden which Joined to
his, where the proprietor had promised
shew to his friends it was a pyramid,
composedo of different kinds Of fireworks, TO
bepIayed off; unfortunately he had forgot
ten toremove little box containing several
pounds of powder; and the spectators lit
tie imagined how dear they were about to
pay for their innocent curiosity. We
were pressing round the little building to
which he had set fire, and while we were
admiring the object, some unlucky spark
entered the fatal magazine-the explosion
was dreadfu!--some legs and arms bro
ken, two or three faces were miserably
burned, and some PAGES of wall thrown
down, were the disagreeable consequences
OF it: but while, to save themselves, all
those whom the spinters had not reached,
broke down the palisades of the neigh
boring acknowledgements was seen arm-
ed with pick-axe, pushing back into the
fire all those who had burst through his
fence; he became enTaged in seeing the
destruction Of his arbour; and blows
which he bestowed on the unhappy fugi-
tives increased the number of the wound
ed,
II is useless TO say how our comrades
swerc revenged. Bonapsrte himself, with
out doubt, would own nn'y that he Justly
deserved our resentment; but at that time
no thought of nothing but his ruined gar.
den he had no concern H. the impru-
dence Of his companions, and he thought il
hard to be the victim Of IL. Exaspera,cd,
perhaps, by the noisy demonstration of a
Joy, Of which his heart did not Dar,ake,
It is also very reasonable 10 suppose that
rejoicing in honor OF king, might have
excited the i'll humor Of republican