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conduct. Inſenſible to affronts which he could not reſent; -he repelled the railleries of the matters by ſilence and diſdain. Humiliation, and even puniſhment, which were alſo employed had to better ſucceſs.
I believe I have forgotten to mention, that the meetings of the young men were eſtabliſhed on a military footing. Divided into companies, they compoſed a little battalion, the Colonel and all the officers of which, choſen among ourſelves, were decorated by the ornaments which diſtinguiſh the French uniform. Bonaparte had the rank of Captain. One would ſuppoſe that he muſt be ſenſible to the loſs of a diſtinction only granted to merit, and every day becoming more flattering from the eagerneſs by which it was fought for by the young men. A council of war, eſtablished with all its forms, declared him unworthy to command thoſe comrades whoſe good will he deſpiſed. After the ſentence was read, which degraded him to the laſt place of the battalion, he was ſtripped of the diſtinguiſhing marks of his rank. Bonaparte appeared inſenſible to the affront, or diſdained, at leaſt, to ſhow that he was affected by it; his ſuperiors; perhaps, repented having obliged him to undergo this diſgrace; but his comrades, from that time, reſtored to him their friendſhip, becauſe generous minded youth ceaſes to perſecute thoſe who are unfortunate.
