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The ferocious Robeſpierre had ſacrificed to his fury the beſt generals of France - Cuſtine and Houchard, both well known by their great ſucceſſes, had periſhed on a ſcaffold; Dumourier had betrayed his truſt, and. Pichegru, the conqueror of Holland, had been recalled; when Bonaparte, ſtill very young, was choſen to retrieve ſo many diſaſters.
On the eve of engaging the beſt troops and the moſt experienced generals of Europe, and in a country where nature preſents on everyſide obſtacles which Hannibal alone had been able to overcome, the French troops could have little confidence in the conduct of a general only 26 years old; unprovided, as they were, of magazines, inexperienced till now in the art of war, and in want of cloaths, the ſoldiers did not ſeem encouraged by the appearance of their new chief. - His exterior not very prepoſſeſſing, gave occaſion to many of their jokes.
Bonaparte, far from being alarmed by theſe obstacles, did not ſeem at all affected by them. Perſuaded that the attachment of ſoldiers cannot be forced, he ſought the only true means of rendering himſelf worthy of their confidence.
The preſſing wants of his troops became the firſt object of his attentions he employed himſelf unceaſingly to ſupply them, and, in a little time, his unremitting activity had provided for every thing.
