(22)
The reign of Robeſpierre, which immediately followed the revoking of Toulon was unfavourable to noble actions, and an ignominious death becoming the lot of whoſoever excited the jealouſy of that monſter, condemned true merit to ſilence and retirement.- I imagined Bonaparte to have been among the number of the victims, but the event of the 13th Vendemaire undeceived me.-Barras, who directed, on that occaſion, the meaſures of the government againſt the revolted ſections, intruſted to him the command of the Conventional army, after the reſignation of General Gentili, whoſe deafneſs was an obſtacle to the diſcharge of the duty of his poſt. The moſt complete ſucceſs juſtified ſtill more the partiality of Barras for the young Bonaparte. Paris, on the point of being reduced to aſhes, ſaw its interior calm reſtored.- The Convention was indebted for its triumph to Bonaparte, and France, appeared as much by his firmneſs as by his courage, owed to him the preſervation of a number of its citizens, whom a ſenſeleſs fury had excited to deſtroy each other.
From that period, to the moment when the French government formed the project of carrying the war into Italy, the public life of Bonaparte offers nothing very intereſting; but the unfavourable auſpices under which he was truſted with the conduct of that dangerous expedition, contributed not a little to heighten his reputation.
