186 Napoleon's Account of his first Campaigns to the Institute. KEAN, A DRAMATIC ALLUSION; WRITTEN IN 1814, NOW FIRST PUBLISHED. EXT comes the fiery Champion, whose NE Came, saw and conquer'd the impassion'd crowd: So swiftly shot his fame from Isle to Isle, [VOL. 2 The tardy growth of long uncertain years, Of her green hills reflected in the stream, And the brown elephant majestic moves, + For Ceylon. Lit. Gaz. July 1817. MANUSCRIPT SPEECH OF BUONAPARTE. From the Monthly Magazine. PLANS of BUONAPARTE, which I HEARD ed at Stradella, I had a right to consider HIM DELIVER HIMSELF at the FIRST the campaign as finished. If Genoa CLASS of the INSTITUTE, at which he PRESIDED in AUGUST 1800; he was FIRST CONSUL, and had recently RETURNED from MARENGO. (Translated from an Original Manuscript fo a Member of the Institute, who communicated it to the Translator.) had held out, I remained firm in my entrenched camp at Stradella-the strongest military position in Italy. I had five bridges over the Po; which rendered my communications easy with the divisions, Chabran, Lapeyre, Turreau, and Moncey in case of necessity, I could either summon them to my aid if THE army of reserve assembled at attacked, or aid them in case they were. Dijon gave me the advantage of M. de Melas in short, was forced, in orpassing rapidly, either into Germany or der to be able to open bis communicainto Italy, as the case might require. tions, to come and offer me battle, on a The season somewhat favoured me- ground which I myself had chosen; exthe monks of St. Bernard assured me tremely intersected, covered with wood, that the snow had dissolved this year very favourable to my infantry—the retwenty days sooner than usual: they verse for his cavalry; and where I had received our army, which was a little the disposal of all my troops. fatigued by the passage of the Alps, ex- The capture of Genoa changed the tremely well; I had pre-informed them face of every thing; henceforward the of our arrival ;-I had sent them money, enemy possessed a sure retreat, and very and they furnished us with provisions strong positions: he could either retire and very good wine. The monks of into Genoa, and defend himself therein St. Bernard are an order infinitely re- deriving his provisisns from the sea; spectable; it is one of those institutions or line the heights of Bobbio with artilwhich governments ought never to des- lery, and retire, in spite of my efforts to troy-but should protect and encourage oppose him, into Placentia, regain Manby all the means in their power. tua and Peschiara, put himself into comI arrived in Italy: I found myself munication with Austria and reduce me behind the enemy, and master of all his to an ordinary war. All my plan of the magazines and equipages; I had ob- campaign would have been frustrated; tained great advantages, but, once arrive a great chance presented itself to me- -I FOL. 2.] Translation of a Manuscript Speech of the Ex-Emperor Napoleon, 187 risked it-I set out from Milan, and they told me that their troops were in traversed thirty-two leagues in seven flight, that they could not stop them-hours: I commanded the battle of Mon- they asked for support, and requested tebello-we gained it, and this victory me to march with my reserve. I replied caused the enemy's retreat from Genoa; to all, "Hold out as long as possiblebut this same victory weakened my ar- if you cannot, fall back." I perceived my-I was obliged to leave two divi- that the enemy had not yet employed sions on the other side of the Po, to close his reserve, and, in these kind of affairs, the entrance of the states of Milan; they the great object is to make the enemy were not, to say the truth, distant from employ all his forces, in managing your me above three leagues-but they would own; and to make him attack at right require three days to effect them in: they and at left, as long as you cannot be demust have passed by Placentia, or by ceived, the difficulty being to make him Stradella. I had also against me anoth employ his reserve. He had 34,000 er disadvantage the country, from men against at most 20,000, who were Montebello to Alexandria, is nothing in flight-he had but to pursue his adbut an immense plain, most advantageous vantage: I repaired to the first line in for the Austrian cavalry; I nevertheless an elegant uniform-I attack them myresolved to offer a pitched battle, be- self with a demi-brigade-I break their cause I was in an extraordinary situation, order of battle-I pierce their line. M. and that I risked little to gain much. de Melas, who saw me at the head of Beaten-I should retire into my en- the army, and his lines broken, imagintrenched camp of Stradella: I should ed that I had arrived with the reserve to pass the Po by my five bridges, protect reinforce the combat-he advanced on ed by my batteries; without the possi- this point with his own, 6,000 Hungaribility of the enemy's army being able to an grenadiers, the flower of his infantry; hinder it I should unite my second this corps filled up the vacancy, and atdivision with the corps of Moncey, Lec- tacked us in our turn. Seeing this, I chy, and Turreau. I suffered one corps gave way; and, in a retreat of half a of Melas to pass the Po (and he desired no better;) then, superior in numbers, I could attack him with all my forces, if I beat him. Conqueror-I obtained the same results; his army, pent up between us and the river, would have been forced to have laid down their arms, or to have I opened, by an extremely rapid movesurrendered all their forts. Had I been beaten, which I believe impossible, I brought myself to a regular war; and I had Switzerland for my support. league, exposed to their cannon, I rallied all the army, and re-formed it in order of battle: arrived near my reserve-which was composed of 6,000 men, had fifteen pieces of artillery, and Dessaix for general, and which was my sheet-anchor ment, the whole army. I formed the two wings of Dessaix, and I shewed them 6,000 fresh troops. A tremen dous discharge of artillery, and a despeDetermined to give battle, I ordered rate charge at the point of the bayonet, an account of the effective strength of broke the line, and cut his two wings: my army to be rendered to me: I had I then ordered Kellermann to attack in all 26,000 men; M. de Melas had them with 800. horse, and, as cavalry 40,000--18,000 of which were cavalry. march quicker than infantry, they cut At two o'clock in the morning they off from the rest of their army 6,000 came to inform me that the enemy had Hungarian grenadiers, in sight of the fallen on our advanced guard, and that Austrian cavalry; but this was half a our troops gave way: the French like league off, they required a quarter of an not to be attacked. Our troops fell hour to arrive and I have always obback somewhat in disorder; some be- served that it is these quarters of an took themselves to flight: the enemy hour which decide the fate of battles. took some prisoners-we had retreated Kellermann's troops throw him towards a league and a half. The generals of the our infantry-they are all made prisonadvanced guard, Lasnes, Murat, and ers in a moment. The Austrian caval Berthier, sent me courier after courier; ry then arrived; but our infantry is in 188 Napoleon's Account of his first Campaigns. line-its cannon in the front-a line discharge, and a barrier of bayonets, prevent their attack; they retire somewhat in disorder I press them with three regiments which had just joined me; they deploy; and, in seeking to pass the bridge of Borunda, which is very narrow, a great many were drowned in the river. They were pursued till night. [VOL. 2 Afterwards, turning to some members of the Institute-You see, two armies are two bodies which encounter each other; there is a moment of panic which must be seized. All this is nothing but mechanism and moral principle; see what it is to be a member of the Institute: in fact, all this is nothing but habitude-when we have seen many affairs I learnt after the battle, from several we distinguish the moment to a nicety *; general officers, (prisoners,) that, in the it is as common as a sum in arithmemidst of their success, they were not tict without inquietude; they had a secret The first time I penetrated into Italy, presentiment of their defeat. During I found there a good government-a the fight they questioned our prisoners, little despotic it is true, but mildly admiasking them, Where is General Buona- nistered. This time it was widely difparte?" "He is in the rear," they re- ferent-a re-action had commenced with plied; and those who had already fury; they had imprisoned, condemned, fought against me in Italy, who knew my and fined, all those who had taken any custom to reserve myself for the end, part in the government. I had placed exclaimed, "Our day's work is not yet in different charges of the Cisalpine redone." public the partizans of Austria-because They confessed also that when I it is my system to neutralize the great shewed myself at the first line, they masses in order that the country where were completely deceived, and that they I carry the war may not be an inclosed believed all my reserve were engaged. In battles there is always a moment, when all the brave men have done their best, when they seek nothing better than to run away; but these are misgivings of the heart, they want a pretext -the talent is to give them one. list, but a theatre. Well!-All these people had been regarded with an evil eye, and confounded in the hatred which they bore to the revolutionists. Moreover, the English, Russians, and Turks, had, in Italy, by despising the religion of the country, in the degree that At Arcole I gained the battle with they scrupulously observed their own, twenty-five horsemen. I perceived the entirely indisposed the inhabitants, for critical moment of lassitude in each ar- whom the extent of religion is much my; I saw that the Austrians, in spite more than with us in France. Still more, of their being old soldiers, would have the Austrian notes were sixty per cent. been well content to find themselves in beneath par, which they forced the Italtheir camp; and that my Frenchmen, ians to take as ready money, completed all brave as they were, had wished to be the alienation of their good will. They in their tents: all my forces had been were enchanted to perceive that we paid engaged-more than once I had been for every thing in hard cash-" Here are forced to re-establish the battle. There the French Louis again;" Ecci i Luigi remained to me but five-and-twenty di Francia tornati! It would seem that guides; I sent them on the flanks of the kings are at this moment at their seventeen enemy with three trumpets, sounding a hundred and ninety-three; they issue charge very loud. "Here is the French their assignats, make their requisitions, cavalry," is the cry; and they are in and they fatten their priests. flight. It is true that one must seize the It was a Turkish corps which guarded moment a moment sooner or later it our Lady of Loretto, and who were canhad been useless: had I sent 12,000 toned in the church; I had not thus horse, the infantry would have executed much difficulty in ranging the Italians a quarter of a conversion; covered by on my side: I said to them, "The Ausits pieces, it would have made a good trians pretend to be the defenders of your discharge, and the cavalry would not religion, and they bring you a set of even have attacked. Protestant English, who burn the pope VOL. 2.] Robert Southey, Esq. 189 In Italy I employed some priests: in Egypt it was my care to fill the admin once a year in St. Peter's-square;t a they take any oath you wish, and such number of Russians, who have been was all I wanted. heretic and schismatic since the fifth cen. tury; and, to crown all, a parcel of Mahometan Turks, a race of infidels. istration with them; we knew not the Whilst I-I am a Catholic; I have fought against the Turks-I am almost a crusader. I established several priests in the government of the Cisalpine republic; the Italian priests are tolerant, but they form not a separate and powerful body, like the clergy in France; besides, accustomed to be conquered twice an age, they lift up the hand as often as desired + It is singular that the idea is prevalent in France, that the pope is regularly and officialby burnt in effigy in London once a-year. The translator has frequently been asked the question, why it was so? His assertion that it was not so, was always received with doubt. THE language, but we had want of intermediators between us and the people; their character and their wealth gave them a certain influence; besides, they are great cowards, know not the use of arms, nor how to mount a horse. [They spoke to him of Dessaix :-). He was the best general of the French armies-he possessed every requisite: in Upper Egypt they gave him no other name than "the good sultan-the just sultan." Swearing fealty in France and Italy is thus performed :---The oath is read to them, and every one, lifting his right hand above his head, pronounces solemnly the words I swear. MEMOIRS OF EMINENT PERSONS. From the Literary Gazette. ROBERT SOUTHEY, ESQ. POET-LAUREATE. THE families from which Mr. Rob- him in reading some of our best writers ert Southey is descended, both on of the old school, converted his youthful his father's and on his mother's side, are and transitory passion for the muses into of great respectability, in the county of a fixed and enthusiastic attachment.— Somerset, and at the time the subject of We have been shown by one of his the present memoir was born, on the school-fellows, two copies of verses said 12th of August, 1774, the father was to have been written by Southey when engaged in an extensive business in the he was about fourteen years old. Deep city of Bristol. To obtain the first thought, which is the offspring of exrudiments of knowledge, young Southey perience, cannot, of course, be expected was placed under the care of a Mr. in them, but they may be justly admired Foote, who kept a small school in for the very easy and musical flow of the Bristol, but before he had reached his numbers. Most probably the great seventh year he was removed to a sem- attention he paid to English poetry, was inary at Carston. After continuing there the true reason why his Latin verses about two years, he returned to his gained him little credit, while he remainpative place, where he was put under ed at Westminster school. His amiable the care of a clergyman. At a very early and inoffensive manners attracted the love age his friends discovered in him talents of his companions though from his re and qualities that deserved to be placed tired disposition and his love of study, or in a higher sphere than that in which his more properly of reading, be seldom father had moved; they therefore de- joined in the noisy mirth of school-boy signed him for the church. With a exultation. view to give him every advantage, Robert At the age of a little more than eighSouthey, in the year 1787, was sent to teen, in Nov. 1792, Mr. Southey was Westminster school. His maternal aunt, entered a commoner of Baliol College, Miss Tyler, was extremely fond of her Oxford. His father was at this time in promising nephew, took great pains no condition, from losses in trade, to with his education, and by encouraging defray his expenses, which were paid, we 190 Robert Southey, Esq. . (VOL. 2. believe, in a great measure, by his mater- nisation, which in France had been nal uncle the Rev. Mr. Hill, (formerly carried to so ridiculous an extent, was many years chaplain of the British factory transplanted into England. The three at Lisbon, and now of Streatham, Surrey,) fellow students vowed an eternal brotherly and by his aunt Miss Tyler, a lady of affection, and, heated with the prevailing considerable fortune. About three democratical opinions upon the revolution. months after the college rolls had received in France, listening only to the favourathe name of Robert Southey, the King ble representations, and remembering of France was beheaded, the Revolution that but ten years previous what was being at that time at its height. Whoever termed by some the "ever glorious work recollects that the most specious pretences of independence" had been effected in of public benefits were then held out by America, they left college with a deterthose who were only anxious to secure mination to forsake their native country, their own private interests, that the whole (where they then idly thought an inempire was divided into two great parties, destructible system of slavery was the young and enthusiastic, who confi- established,) to settle on the fertile banks dently looked forward to the happiest re- of the Susquehanna. sults, being ranged on the one side, and It was an age of madness, and many the experienced and timid, who dreaded others entertained the same wild project that "a death-blow would be given to all with which the youthful poets were enrational liberty," (to use Mr. Burke's chanted. If persons of cold and calcuwords,) being united on the other, will lating minds, uninfluenced by any thing not wonder at finding the naine of Southey but a supposed estimate of augmented in the ranks of the former. Constitu- interest, entered into such a vain schemer tional energy of feeling and warmth of it is not wonderful that three boys, (fo imagination, naturally attached a young man of eighteen to a cause which, even to graver heads, seemed to promise so much: nor can we severely blame a choice which, however erroneous, was governed, not by any factious or ambi tious spirit, but by the purest love of genuine liberty; the fault was judging too benevolently of the views of the chief instigators of the Revolution: their admirers "drew men as they ought to be, not as they are." The result has undeceived Mr. Southey, and half Europe with him; to have changed an opinion with all experience in favour of the al- the History of Poland,) and several teration, cannot surely be imputed as a crime the offence is, and no slight one, to continue to maintain, with something worse than senseless obstinacy, the truth and justice of the exploded opinions which those who now uphold them were formerly deeply interested to support. they were little more,) gifted with imagi nations soaring towards "the highest heaven of invention," should promise delights of more than human transport, that none but themselves could foresee, and depict scenes dressed in more than the gay luxuries of nature that only fancy's eye could behold. When the three friends quitted college they repaired to Bristol, for the purpose of carrying their design into execution. We understand that Mr. Southey's father was at this time dead.-A Mr. Allen, Mr. Burnett, (the author of others, were to accompany them in this expedition. They were to form an independent colony on the banks of the Susquehanna, and consistently with the reigning views at that time, they were to have every thing in common, and, as the title which they gave their society implies, all were to have the same share in the administration of the public affairs of their new government. It was termed a Pantisocracy. At Oxford, during the year 1793, Mr. Southey became acquainted with two fellow commoners, Mr. S. T. Coleridge and Mr. Lovell: they formed a triumvirate of enthusiasts in politics and poetry, Mr. Southey and his relations had for and the similarity of literary pursuits and some time been acquainted with a family of political sentiments, soon united them of the name of Fricker, in which there in bonds of the most strict and confiden- were four daughters, three of whom were tial friendship. The system of frater- at that time of a marriageable age. To |