they did for a retreat, which they caused to be extolled in the highest terms; although even the Austrian generals condemned Moreau for having done it. You may probably hereafter," continued Napoleon, "have an opportunity of hearing the opinion of French generals on the subject, who were present, and you will find it consonant to mine. Instead of credit, Moreau merited the greatest censure and disgrace for it. As a general, Pichegru had much more talent than Moreau."

"Moreau ridiculed the idea of the formation of the legion of honour. When he heard from some one that it was also intended to be given to those who had distinguished themselves in science, and not to be confined to feats of arms alone, he replied, 'Well, then, I shall apply for my cook to be made a commander of the order, as his talents are most superior in the science of cookery.'"

In reply to some arguments which I offered to convince him that *** and the English *** ** were ignorant of that part of Pichegru's plot which embraced assassination, Napoléon replied, "I do not suppose that **** or any other of the English ***** actually said to Georges or Pichegru, 'you must kill the first consul;' but they well knew that such formed the chief and indeed the only hope of success; and yet they, knowing this, furnished them with money, and provided ships to land them in France, which, to all intents

and purposes, rendered them accomplices; and if *** had been tried by an English jury, he would have been condemned as such. Lord **** took great pains to persuade the foreign courts that they were ignorant of the project of assassination, and wrote several letters, in which he acknowledged that the English had landed men for the purpose of overturning the French government; but denied the other. However, he made a very lame business of it, and none of the continental governments gave any credit to his assertions. It was naturally condemned as, on the ground of retaliation, none of the sovereigns or rulers were safe. It was at the time that I had it in contemplation to effect a descent in England. Your *** did not want to get rid of 'Napoleon Bonaparte,' but of the first consul.' Fox had some conversations with me on the subject of the 3rd Nivose. He too, like you, denied that the *** were privy to the scheme of assassination, but faintly, after hearing what I had to say, and condemned the whole transaction. Indeed his own measures were quite opposed to it. The conduct of the Emperor of Germany also formed a striking contrast. When I had possession of his capital, he, through religious motives, positively and with sincerity prohibited any attempt of the kind, which might have been executed daily, as I often walked about without suspicion."

During this interview, I mentioned that Bernadotte had been strongly suspected of being lukewarm in the cause of the allies, if not of playing a double part; that he was called Charles Jean Charlatan, and supposed to be likely to join him if any reverse happened to the allies. Napoleon replied, "Probably they called him Charlatan, because he is a Gascon, a little inclined to boasting. As to joining me, if I had been successful, he would have done no more than all the rest. The Saxons, Wirtemburghers, Bavarians, and all those who abandoned me when I was unfortunate, would have joined me again if I had been successful. After Dresden, the Emperor of Austria went upon his knees to me,* called me his dear son, and begged for the sake of his very dear, dear daughter, to whom I was married, not to ruin him altogether, but to be reconciled to him. Had it not been for the desertion of the Saxons with their artillery, I should have gained a victory at Leipsic, and the allies would have been far differently situated."

16th.-Napoleon in his bed-room, complained

This is a rigid translation of the words used by Napoleon, and were not intended to be understood, as must be evident, in their literal sense, but merely as a forcible manner of making me comprehend the earnestness with which the Emperor of Austria made the application. Napoleon frequently used the same expression in similar instances.

of headach, and had his feet immersed in a pail of hot water. At first he was rather melancholy, but subsequently became tolerably lively and communicative. He spoke about Egypt, and asked many questions; amongst others, whether a three-decker could enter the harbour of Alexandria without having been lightened? I replied, that I thought it might, or if not, that it might be very easily lightened.* Napoleon observed, that he had sent an officer named Julien, from Cairo, with peremptory orders to Brueys to enter the harbour of Alexandria, but that unfortunately he was killed by the Arabs on the way. " I called," continued he, "a fort which I built at Rosetta after him." He asked me if I knew that fort, to which I replied in the affirmative. "It was surprising," continued he, "how Brueys could have thought of engaging at anchor without having first fortified the island with twenty or thirty pieces of cannon, and having brought out a Venetian sixty-four, and some frigates which he had in the port of Alexandria. In a conversation which I had with Brueys some weeks before, on board of the Orient, he himself demonstrated to me that a fleet ought never to engage at anchor, at least that a fleet which did so, must always be

When at Alexandria, I saw the Tigre and Canopus enter the harbour. They were 80-gun ships of the largest class, and drew as much water as a three-decker.

beaten on account of the facility which the attacking ships would have of taking up their position; and that an order (whether from Brueys, or not, I did not understand) actually existed prohibiting it. Notwithstanding which, Brueys himself adopted it afterwards. "Brueys," continued he, always believed, that if Nelson attacked him, it would be made on his right, thinking his left inexpugnable on account of the island, and had prepared matters accordingly. I endeavoured to convince him that a ship or two of his left might be taken by a superior force, and an opening afforded thereby for the enemy's fleet to enter."

I observed, that if Brueys had anchored head and stern, he might have gone in much closer to the shore, as he would not have been obliged to make an allowance for the ships to swing, and consequently no space would have been left for Nelson to pass between the French fleet and the land. Napoleon appeared to coincide in this opinion, and said that he would ask the opinion of the admiral on the subject. He added, that prior to the departure of Julien, orders had been sent to Brueys, that he should not quit the coast of Egypt until after he had ascertained the physical impossibility of the fleet's being able to enter the harbour of Alexandria. If possible, he was ordered to carry it into execution; if not, to proceed to Corfu with his fleet. "Now, Brueys," conti