no Empire, no conquest of
Europe--but also, it may be added, no St. Helena. None of these, events
would have ensued had not the English squadron, when it appeared off
Corsica, obliged the Huiron to scud about at hazard, and to touch at the
first land she could reach.

The Egyptian expedition filled too important a place in the life of
Bonaparte for him to neglect frequently reviving in the public mind the
recollection of his conquests in the East. It was not to be forgotten
that the head of the Republic was the first of her generals. While
Moreau received the command of the armies of the Rhine, while Massena, as
a reward for the victory of Zurich, was made Commander-in-Chief in Italy,
and while Brune was at the head of the army of Batavia, Bonaparte, whose
soul was in the camps, consoled himself for his temporary inactivity by a
retrospective glance on his past triumphs. He was unwilling that Fame
should for a moment cease to blazon his name. Accordingly, as soon as he
was established at the head of the Government, he caused accounts of his
Egyptian expedition to be from time to time published in the Moniteur.
He frequently expressed his satisfaction that the accusatory
correspondence, and, above all, Kleber's letter, had fallen into his own
hands.' Such was Bonaparte's perfect self-command that immediately after
perusing that letter he dictated to me the following proclamation,
addressed to the army of the East:

SOLDIERS!--The Consuls of the French Republic frequently direct
their attention to the army of the East.

France acknowledges all the influence of your conquests on the
restoration of her trade and the civilisation of the world.

The eyes of all Europe are upon you, and in thought I am often with
you.

In whatever situation the chances of war may place you, prove
yourselves still the soldiers of Rivoli and Aboukir--you will be
invincible.

Place in Kleber the boundless confidence which you reposed in me.
He deserves it.

Soldiers, think of the day when you will return victorious to the
sacred territory of France. That will be a glorious day for the
whole nation.

Nothing can more forcibly show the character of Bonaparte than the above
allusion to Kleber, after he had seen the way in which Kleber spoke of
him to the Directory. Could it ever have been imagined that the
correspondence of the army, to whom he addressed this proclamation,
teemed with accusation