refusal to surrender to them Monte-Pulciano, which their government had demanded of Pisa.
They are light and changeable, and keep their words like a conqueror; they neither love the language nor the great reputation of the Romans."
With these data, and an experience of many years during a period when the character of the people was necessarily developed in all its shades, Buonaparte steered his course towards the empire, unsuspected and unobserved. In no one instance did he affect to introduce any considerable change in the system of government, but by degrees he effected every thing he wished. He had already attracted the admiration of France by his brilliant exploits and constant contempt of danger in her service; and flattered her characteristic vanity by appearing to espouse the popular opinion, and resounding her greatness and her triumphs
