The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-05-28
From BePs Weekly Messenger.
MEMOIR OF BoNApARTE

WE NIOlK OF BONAPARTE.
| The hrst singularity in the work
(Which is only published in French, i,
the abrupt, and as it were, passionate
style OF the writer; style which has
SO VIGOROUSLY the characteristic man
ner OF Bonaparte, as to be an arpu-
ment neither on the one side or the ..
iher Tor the authenticity Of the work
Inc narrative (fer such it isl is thro'-
out In the first person The book an
octave volume of $50 pages, sd the
subject is running commentary upon
| the principal events of the military and
civil life of Napoleon.
1t commences with a narrative of bis
early LIE, his education, SC. but which
are all despatched, each in lis turn.
with sentence. Some Of these con.
densed members are very s,rikine
some even acute, and all are cbarac,e
hst'c. We shall subjoin few fthem
succeeded in every thing because
l resolved TO succeed. MY will was
strong looked at the point and pre-
cipltated myself towards it. | carried
all difficulties by assault, and as few
olfhcnities are mails of brass, thew fell
before me. The secret of nv snc.ess
mas Oeen that never hesitated.
HE best part of courage, or rather
courage itself is in the wilI--in vipo.
rous but decided resolution. Bnt ,bis
VIII the faculty of thus willing, is no,
d matter OF choice; it is the gift of ma.
ture 1t is the natural frmness." But
me french is so much more expressiv.
IMAM any translation that we are induced
TO add it--'+La Voicnte DEPEND, an
reste' de la trempe dc l'indiyidu il
n'aPPariient pas chachun d'eire mai.
tire chez iui."
I" l derived no advantage from any
study but the mathematics. read
'haeeo' all, because would not be ie.
horant OF what was known to those a.
round me. But long and methodical
arguments OF these writer's on morals,
law, and history, seemed so much heal
ing about the bush; l saw their object
al once In history / wanted only the
TACT, and lnsmorals | saw the reasons in
the DOCK OF the world before me. !;
very early accustomed myself TO i'm.
press distinct idea, a picture in Cuu
% every subject in my own mind |
men closed my eyes and ears, and ex.
ahmed 1t as If it were In the silence and
darkness of selfreaeciion This is the
secret OF my strong conceptions"
II was first under fire (when lieut y /
IN small action with the Genevese
Ny natural GOODNESS and habit Of alien
lively looking at the affair before me
made me at once soldier, and date
my military ability from this moment
saw that both parties merely occunied
IN firing strait forward al
each other; and that this mode promised
nothing decisive on either side boib
parties lighting merely to discharge
lneir duty. l saw a hill at a small
distance | saw that it commanded
their rear, and / concluded thai If
tell on them from that post should de.
eide the battle. took a small bodv of
men made the movement, and psin.
ed the victory. was made c,6tain
70 consequence but my reason for
mentioning ii is that it taught me the
art OF gaining victory this art con-
ISIS OF being In earnest in looking at.
ehtlVely upon the point while ali o.
.hers are employed in the noise and
'ustle of the common detail, and in
making some decisive movement which ,
orIune may admit. l require of INV
OILERS only steadiness in front, MI ,
ortnne shall throw the cast, which aE.
ordS the opportunity for my pIay.
ms was my first notion, and al.
Ways has been, and is still of what he. 8
ongs to good general. 1 now be
anne attached to my profe ssion of arms :
all books within nv reach, ,
nd applied them to the system in INV +
"n mind and in what was going on a,
ound me thus formed my own the.
~ OF war, and Europe has seen wha, i
RE then proceeds 20 relate his part :
me siege OF Toulon; it introduced !.
I'M to the notice and patronage OF Bar 4
AS Barras was 10 power, & Bopaoarte p
eeded patron, Each suited the Other.
bonaParte was made gen'l. In the af- :,
iir OF sections he regards himself, as ;
aVing merely done his duty. He wa. b