The life of Napoleon Buonaparte, emperor of the French. By Sir Walter Scott.

LIFE OP NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 233
having executed his mission of delivering to the Honour, beyond that of a crowned head, was his
Directory, and representatives of the French people, own, and had tile full relish of novelty to a mind
the banners and colours taken from Beaulieu. In which two or three years before was pining in
December, 1796, Josephine was at Genoa, where obscurity. Power was his, and he had not exshe was received with studied magnificence, by perienced its cares and risks; high hopes were
those in that ancient state who adhered to the formed of him by all around, and he had not yet
French interest, and where, to the scandal of the disappointed them. He was in the flower of youth,
rigid catholics, the company continued assembled, and married to the woman of his heart. Above all,
at a ball given by Monsieur de Serva, till a late he had the glow of Hope, which was marshaling
hour on Friday morning, despite the presence of a him even to more exalted dominion; and he had
senator having in his pocket, but not venturing to not yet become aware that possession brings satiety,
enforce, a decree of the senate for the better ob- and that all earthly desires and wishes terminate,
servation of the fast day upon the occasion. These, when fhlly attained, in vanity and vexation of spirit.
however, were probably only occasional visits; The various objects which occupied Bonaparte's
but after the signature of the treaty of Leoben, and- mind during this busy yet pleasing interval were the
during the various negotiations which took place affairs of Genoa, of Sardinia, of Naples, of the Cisbefore it was finally adjusted, as ratified at Campo alpine Republic, of the Grisons, and lastly, and by
Formio, Jos6phine lived in domestic society with far the most important of them, the definitive treaty
her husband, at the beautiful seat, or rather palace, with Austria, which involved the annihilation of Veof Montebello. nice as an independent state.
This villa, celebrated from the important negotia- Genoa, the proud rival of Venice, had never dttions of which it was the scene, is situated. a few tained the same permanent importance with that
leagues from Milan, on a gently sloping hill, which sister republic; but her nobility, who still adminiscommands an extensive prospect over the fertile tered her government according to the model asplains of Lombardy. The ladies of the highest signed them by Andrew Doria, preserved more
rank, as well as those celebrated for beauty and national spirit, and a more warlike disposition. The
accomplishments,-all, in short, who could add neighbourhood of France, and the prevalence of her
charms to society,-were daily paying their homage opinions, had stirred up among the citizens of the
to Josephine, who received them with a felicity of middling class aparty taking the name of Morandists,
address, which seemed as if she had been born for from a club so termed, whose object it was to break
exercising the high courtesies that devolved upon down the oligarchy, and revolutionize the governthe witfe of so distinguished a person as Napoleon. ment. The nobles were naturally opposed to this,
Negotiations proceeded amid gaiety and pleasure. and a large body of the populace, much employed
The various ministers and envoys of Austria, of the by them, and strict catholics, were ready to second
pope, of the Kings of Naples and Sardinia, of the them in their defence.
Duke of Parma, of the Swiss Cantons, of several The establishment of two Italian democracies
of the Princes of Germany,-the throng of generals, upon the Po, made the Genoese revolutionists conof persons in authority, of deputies of towns,-with ceive the time was arrived when their own state
the daily arrival and dispatch of numerous couriers, ought to pass through a similar ordeal of regenerathe bustle of important business, mingled with tion. They mustered their strength, and petitioned
fetes and entertainments, with balls and with hunt- the doge for the abolition of the government as it
ing parties,-gave the picture of a splendid court, existed, and the adoption of a democratic model.
and the assemblage was called accordingly, by the The doge condescended so far to their demand, as
Italians, the Court of Montebello. It was such in to name a committee of nine persons, five of them
point of importance; for the deliberations agitated of plebeian birth, to consider and report on the
there were to regulate the political relations of means of infusing a more popular spirit into the conGermany, and decide the fate of the King of Sar- stitution.
dinia, of Switzerland, of Venice, of Genoa; all The three chief Inquisitors of State, or Censors,
destined to hear, from the voice of Napoleon, the as the actual rulers of the oligarchy were entitled,
terms on which their national existence was to be opposed the spirit of religious enthusiasm to that of
prolonged or terminated. democratic zeal. They employed the pulpit and
Montebello was not less the abode of pleasure. the confessional as the means of warning good caThe sovereigns of this diplomatic and military court tholics against the change demanded by the moranmade excursions to the Lago Maggiore, to Lago dists-they exposed the Holy Sacrament, and made
di Como, to the Borromean islands, and occupied processions and public prayers, as if threatened
at pleasure the villas which surround those deli- with a descent of the Algerines.
cious regions. Every town, every village, desired Meanwhile the morandists took up arms, disto distinguish itself by some peculiar mark of played the French colours, and, conceiving their
homage and respect to him, whom they then enatrprise was on the point of success, seized the
named the Liberator of Italy. These expressions gate of the arsenal and that of the harbour. But
are in a great measure those of Napoleon himself, their triumph was short. Ten thousand armed lawho seems to have looked back on this period of bourers started as from out of the earth, under the
his life with warmer recollections of pleasurable command of their syndics, or municipal officers,
enjoyment than he had experienced on any other with cries of Viva Maria! and declared for the
occasion. aristocracy. The insurgents, totally defeated, were
It was probably the happiest timte of his life. compelled to shut themselves up in their houses,
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