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One day, walking by a river-ſide with ſome young officers. with whom he generally aſſociated, the diſpute ran high, and in a moment of enthuſiaſm, of which there have been numerous inſtances in all the wars of opinion, the young people, enraged, ſeized Bonaparte, and were on the point of throwing him headlong into the ſtream, when a momentary reflection made them perceive the ſhameful inequality of the number. Bonaparte could not be forced to retract his mode of thinking, the danger which he had run altered not his plan; but he broke off all connection with his companions till the revolutionary ſpirit, having, made more progreſs, in-induced ſome of thoſe who had condemned him, to adopt, ſhortly after, the ſame opinion.
The others liſtening to nothing but their attachment to the King, and deſpairing to be able to aid his cauſe at the head of troops who had the moll decidedly revolted againſt him, took the deſperate reſolution to ſacrifice their rank and fortune to the ſentiments of honour and brobity, by which they were animated. Their departure, ſtill rendered more exaſperated thoſe of their comrades who were attached to the oppoſite party. From the time they themſelves elevated thee ſtandard of revolt, excited the ſoldiers to ſedition, and gave publicly an example of the moſt violent exceſſes!- But I muſt drop the curtain on ſuch afſlicting ſcenes!
