The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-11-18

constantly in mems mouths, that they be-
! gan To be Joined in praise by those who
knew neither personally, and there might,
TO this day, have been great difference OF
opinion respecting his merit, ii nc had
| never attempted anything more than to
obey orders.
Still. Berthier showed at times ability
which brought on him the commentators
of the Commander in Chief. At Lodi, Ar
cola, and indeed throughout the first cam
paign of the young Bonaparte, he behaved
with so much bravery, and brought such
aid to the army, that he was most honor
ably mentioned hfthf reports to the Direc
tory. IL
On Bonaparte's rAhrn to Paris, after his
victorious campaign in Italy, Berthier was
left in command Of the army. Not long
after, in an emeute in Rome, the French
Legation was assailed, and the young Gem
Duphet killed which brought an order
from the Directory to Berthicr TO march on
tie city.
Arrived atAthe gates of the home of the
CeSars the soldiers were transported with
enthusiasm; and they, with the republican
citizens, conducted Rcrthier through the
Porta di Popolo in triumph to the Capitol,
as the victorious Generals of old were wont
to be borne.
TIE Delm was chanted in ST. Peters by
| ii Cardinals and the old Roman form of
| Government proclaimed in the ancient
| Forum.
But he was no sooner installed in his
| place than he began to practice such ex
| tortion and pillage that even his own off
| GERS broke out IN open complaints against
| him, and he had 90 leave the army and
set out for Paris.
He was one of those selected by Bona
parte To accompany him to Egypt. Ber
| thier could not bear to leave his he
loved Generals" side; but, though - years
| of age, he had conceived such a violent
| passion for one Madame Visc0nti that it
| quite upset his weak intellect and drove
| him into paroXysms OF griei when he
thought also OF leaving the object oil his
passion.
| He FASTENED to Toulon, and told Bona
! parte that he was sick and could not go;
and requested to he left behind. But his
prayers and tears fell on heart that had
no sympathy with such nonsense, and he
was forced to set sail. The long, tedious
vOyage-the separation of so many thou
sand miles the new and glorious field to
honor and fame which Egypt spread out
before him could not drive the image Of
| his dear NiscOnti from his mind. He had
| tent placed beside his own fitted up in
| the most elegant style, in which was suS-
pended the portrait of this lady.
; Here "the Chief Of the Staff of the Army
! of Egypt would retire alone, and proStrat-
! ing himself before it, indulge in the most
passionate expressions OF love and grief,
and went so far at times even as to burn
he an ignorant devotee.
At Alexandria, his grief became so in
tense that he beSought Bonaparte to al
low him to return. Finding it Impossible
to drive this absurd passion from the
turned head of his Major General, he at
length granted his request. Poor Berthler
babe his commander a solemn farewell,
and departed. In few hours, however
he returned, his eyes swimming in tears,
saying, after all, he could not leave his
"beloved General
RECIPIENT OF A PORTFOLIO.
He accompanied Bonaparte in his re-
turn to France, and with Lannes and Mu-
rat was his chief reliance and confidant
in his plans to oyerturn the Directory.
After the establishment of the Consular
system, and his own appointment as First
Consul Napoleon did not forget the serv-
ices of Berthier, hut gave to him the Port
folio Of War He bestowed on him also, at
different times, large sums of money, which
might as we'll have been thrown in the
Seine, as to all good they did this imbecile
spcndthrlit.
On one occasion he presented him with
a magnificent diamond worth nearly So
900. saying: Take this; we frequently play
high; lay it up against time of need"
In "A few hours ii was sparkling on the
head Of his lady love.
This mad passion, OUTLYING separation,
change, and ALI the excitements of the
camp and battlefield, was doomed to a
most bitter disappointment. At the urgent
request OF Napoleon, he finally married