Anonymous

“ The supply of bread was uncertain, that of meat had long censed; as for the purposes of conveyance, there remained only two hundred mules, and it was consequently impossible to think of transporting more than twelve pieces of cannon. Bonaparte, thus critically circumstanced, having put the army in motion, issued the following laconic address:-" Soldiers! you are naked and ill fed; much is due, and there is nothing where with to pay. The patience and courage you have displayed amidst these rocks are admirable; but they acquire you no glory. ”

“ Everything was in motion throughout France, so that it was augured, should the allies persist in the designs announced of making war on Napoleon, and violate the frontiers of France, the fruits of such an attempt on the rights of the nation would stimulate the population to make any sacrifice for the maintenance of national independence and the honour of the throne. ”

“ The French army of Italy was then about thirty-one thousand strong, while nearly three times that number were opposed to them, having two hundred pieces of cannon. The character of the French troops was excellent, but the cavalry wretchedly mounted, and very deficient in artillery. They possessed no means of transporting military stores from the arsenals; all the draught horses having perished through want. The poverty of the French finances was so great, that every effort resorted to by government was only capable of furnishing two thousand lonis in specie to the military chest ”

“ The general attack of the besiegers was made upon Toulon, from the land side, on the 16th of December; when neither the severity of the season, nor the unceasing wetness of the weather, could damp the impetuosity of the French troops; those exhausted by fatigue being continually supplied by fresh reinforcements, during this protracted assault, which continued the major part of the siege. The principal redoubt, defended by two thousand men, was carried on the 17th, though protected by a double row of palisadoes, an intrenched camp, and a cross fire from three batteries. ”

“ In a revolution, a soldier should never despair, if he possesses courage and genius."
Having re-entered the corps of artillery, Napoleon passed as first lieutenant in the fourth regiment of that corps, and, a few months after, rose by right of seniority, to the rank of captain, in the second company of the same corps, then in garrison at Nice. This occured in 1793, and subsequent to this period his name attracted general notice throughout France. ”

“ Toulon thus declared itself for the ancient colours of France, and being thus in possession of the above-named powers, the French assembled an army of thirty thousand men, prepared for a siege.
Bonaparte not only performed all that could be expected of him, but frequently rectified the errors of others, and displayed the superiority of his genius to more than one officer officiating as his superior in rank. Preserving his dignity with the representatives sent by the Convention to Toulon, as in regard to every one else, he trusted such self-confidence would be justificd by ultimate success. ”

“ A descent was the only means of defence he had, and that he was determined to attempt, by putting himself at the head of the expedition."-He acknowledged there were a hundred chances to one against him, but still he was determined to attempt it, if war should be the consequence of the present discussion.—He then expatiated on the natural foree of the two countries, France with an army of 480,000 men-and England with a fleet that made her mistress of the seas, might, by a proper understanding, govern the world, but by their strife will overturn it. ”

“ England persisted in her demands, and the Emperor was forced to accede to a precipitate opening of the campaign. Having made the necessary arrangements, he left Paris on the 24th of September, and arrived at Strasbourg on the 27th, where he awaited the arrival and concentration of the troops that were to form the grand army that he intended to conduct into Germany.
Ourspace will not allow us to enumerate or describe the battles of Napoleon. He had long proposed to himself the conquest of Europe-of the world; and his victories hitherto added intenseness to his purpose ”

“ During the same month the British arms triumphed in Egypt, upon learning which, Bonaparte is said to have exclaimed-"Well, there remains only the descent on Britain;" and an immense flotilla of flat-bottomed boats were prepared in the harbour of Boulogne, while an army of 100,000 troops were assembled on the coasts of France. ”

“ Gaza next became conquered, and on the 28th the army encamped before Jaffa (the Joppa of the scriptures) where the enemy had considerable forces. The walls were carried by storm, 3,000 Turks died with arms in their hands, and the town was given up during three hours to the fury of the French soldiery. It was here Napoleon ordered 1,200 prisoners to be shot.
The Pacha of Syria, Achmet-Dgezzar, having fortified St. Jean d'Acre with a determination to defend it to the last, Bonaparte pushed his troops forward, and on the 19th led his forces to an eminence which commanded Acre. ”

“ The voyage commenced with a propitious wind, and the first operation was the taking of Malta. During the continuance of the French fleet at Malta, it is said that the intelligence first reached Bonaparte that Nelson, having penetrated his design, was in pursuit of him. During the night of the 22nd of June, (the French having departed from Malta on the 19th) , the English fleet passed within six leagues of the French fleet! What myriads of human beings would have been preserved had Nelson that night espied his enemy. ”

“ The Prussians were driven from Ligny with the loss of 15,000 men and 21 guns, besides 10,000 stragglers, while the loss of the French was scarcely 7,000.
At Quatre Bras, an equally desperate conflict was raging between Wellington and Ney. On learning the defeat of the Prussians, however, the Duke fell back, on the morning of the 17th, through Gemappe to Waterloo. Napoleon meanwhile drew up his army on both sides of the road, from Charleroi to Brussels. ”

“ France being proclaimed a Republic, was threatened and attacked by all the powers of Europe. More than a million of Republicans flew to arms, and, in a short time, the French forces appeared on the territories of those powers who had been expulsed from the soil of France. Belgium was conquered ; Savoy invaded; while a fleet had sailed from Toulou, under the orders of Admiral Truguet Bonaparte was entrusted with that expedition, which seized upon the island and fort St. ”

“ That the title of Emperor, and the Imperial power, be made hereditary in his family, in the male line, according to the order of primogeniture: that in introducing into the organization of the constituted authorities, the modifications rendered necessary by the establishment of hereditary power, the equality, the liberty, and the rights of the people, shall be preserved in all their integrity. ”

“ Soldiers of Italy! can your courage fail?"-Such was the address disseminated among the troops on the 29th of March; and, on the 8th of April, he was within a day's march of Turin, when, having subdued the Sarilinian government, he issued the following document:-
“In fifteen days you have gained six victories, taken twenty-one stand of colours, fifty five pieces of cannon, and conquered the richest territory of Piedmont. Your services are equal to those of the army of Holland and the Rhine. You were in want of every thing, and have provided every thing. You have gained battles without cannon ”