sepoys.

A small armament from Madras, consisting of the Resistance, Captain Newcombe, some transports, and the Suffolk trader, with four European and some of the native troops, commanded by Major Browne, obtained possession of Malacca on the 17th of August; by which addition, security was afforded to the British commerce in the straits of that name, as well as in the Chinese seas. Cochin also surrendered to the English arms, with Chinsurah and its dependencies, and the fort of Porca and Quilon; in short, all the settlements on the continent of India appertaining to the Dutch.

The invasion of the Cape of Good Hope was undertaken, partly with a view of preventing the French from obtaining possession of it, and partly for the purpose of securing an intermediate station between Europe and the rich and numerous acquisitions of Great Britain in the east. The conduct of this expedition was entrusted to Viceadmiral Sir George Keith Elphinstone and Gen. Sir Alured Clark; but a considerable time elapsed before the armament could be completed, and even then it sailed liable to many disadvantages. At length part of the squadron reached the place of its destination, and a negociation was immediately entered into with the governor of Simon'stown; but, as he could not be prevailed upon either to acknowledge the Prince of Orange or surrender his charge, a landing was effected and possession obtained of that place, July 14, though the enemy had intended to destroy it with fire previous to its evacuation.

At this time the British troops consisted of the 78th regiment, the marines of the squadron, and two battalions of seamen, in all about 1600 men; while the enemy, composed chiefly of the Burgher militia and Hottentots, were not only more numerous, but amply provided with heavy cannon and field-pieces. Notwithstanding this disparity, and although the commander-in-chief with the remainder of the troops had not yet arrived, and they were entirely destitute of artillery, Majorgeneral Craig determined to march against the enemy, who occupied Mysenberg, a formidable station, provided with cannon and rendered difficult of approach both by land and sea, on account of a steep mountain on the right and the shallow water and high surf on the left. In the interim, the admiral secretly prepared a gun-boat, and armed the launches of the fleet with heavy carronades; he also obtained two battalions of sea

men, about 1000 in number, under the command of Captain Hardy of the Echo, and Captain Spranger of the Rattle-snake; while his cruisers were frequently dispatched around the bay, that no suspicion of an attack might be entertained. About 12 o'clock on the 7th of August a favorable opportunity occurred, and the preconcerted signal was hoisted from the flag-ship; on which General Craig put the troops in motion, while Commodore Blankett in the America, with the Stately, Echo, and Rattle-snake, got under weigh, in order to precede and protect the march of the advancing columus. Immediately on their approach, two small batteries were abandoned, and the respective vessels having taken the stations assigned them, a fire commenced upon the Dutch camp; which, in the course of a few minutes, was evacuated with precipitation. Hereupon the major-general proceeded over heavy sand, and, after a most fatiguing march, took possession of it. He also drove the Dutch from an advantageous ridge of rocky heights, and resisted an attack which was made the succeeding morning upon his position by the whole force of the enemy, supported by eight field-pieces. An attempt, however, failed, which was made at night upon one of the principal out-posts, defended by the burgher militia; partly through the timidity and ignorance of the guides, and partly on account of the intricacy of the road.

The situation of the British commanders was at this period very critical, for neither the numbers nor energy of their adversaries appeared to be diminished; and while the army had no fair opportunity of advancing, the navy was not able, on account of the unfavorableness of the weather, to occupy Table Bay, by means of which a shorter and readier communication with the troops would have been procured. It was at length agreed to wait six days longer for General Clarke; and if, at the expiration of that time, no succour arrived, Major-general Craig was to march forward under every disadvantage, in order to try the fortune of an attack, before the total failure of their provisions rendered a retreat inevitable.

The enemy, however, anticipating their intentions, meditated a general assault on the British camp; and on the 1st of September advanced during the night with their whole strength, supported by a train of eighteen field-pieces. At this critical and important moment, considerable bodies of troops had already made their appearance, when fortunately the signal for a fleet, soon after succeeded by the appearance. of fourteen large vessels, induced them to relinquish their enterprize, and return to their former post in haste.

Had the enemy's project been accelerated, the British troops would have been in a very aukward dilemma; the timely arrival of the fleet, however,

was decisive of the conquest of the Cape. General Clarke having immediately landed, September 4 with a body of troops, proceeded to the camp, and soon after advanced against the post of Wyneberg, where the Dutch, with nine pieces of cannon, seemed determined for resistance. Here upon the army, which had marched in columns, was formed into two lines, and a detachment dispatched against each of the flanks of the enemy, while the main body and artillery advanced against the centre. As Commodore Blankett appeared

at the same time with three ships in Table Bay, BOOK II. in order to effect a diversion on that side, the Dutch immediately retired, and early on the 16th CHAP. VI. of September an officer arrived with a flag and letter from Governor Sluysken; in consequence of which a cessation of arms ensued, and the castle and Cape of Good Hope were surrendered to the British.

In addition tó five Dutch men of war detained in England, one of sixty-four was seized at Cork, and six smaller ships were captured elsewhere.

1796.

As hostilities were now doomed to take a more extensive range, the unoffending inhabitants of the Alps and the Tyrolese mountains, as well as those of the Danube and the Po, experienced all the horrors of a conflict which the Revolution in the capital of France produced, when a new constitution was presented to the French, June 29, 1795. The Italian war consequently began to assume an interesting appearance, and great preparations for the approaching campaign were made on all sides. The command of the troops of the King of Sardinia was still entrusted to General Colli, an officer supposed to be admirably calculated for the management of a defensive system; while the emperor confided the direction of his forces to Baron Beaulieu, an able and enterprising warrior, who had acquired considerable reputation, not only for his exploits, but for his virtues.

The Directory, (for thus the present government of France was styled,) instead of selecting an experienced officer, General Scherer having been displaced for habitual intoxication, gave the command of the army of Italy to Napoleon Bonaparte, a man hitherto untried and almost unknown.

In our history of the WARS of the French Revolution, biographical sketches of the principal warriors are absolutely essential. We have not copiously dwelt upon the trials and executions arising from the revolution, as they are not the leading features of a work of this nature; and particularly as unnecssary prolixity would oblige

us to curtail recent events, by an abbreviation of which that part of our history which should be most interesting, would be the least satisfactory.

Napoleon Bonaparte, who has been slightly mentioned in our first book, on his being employed as engineer at the siege of Toulon, was born August 15, 1769, at Ajaccio, a small town in the island of Corsica. He was the eldest son of Carlo Bonaparte, (supposed to be a lawyer,) of Italian extraction, by his wife Letitia Raniolini. General Count Marboeuf was the only patron of Napoleon, who became so much the object of his protection, that by the count's influence with the Maréchal de Segur, he was admitted as an Elève du Roi, into l'Ecole Royale Militaire, at Brienne, in the province of Champaigue.

This school was one of the thirteen royal military schools, or colleges, which were established in various provinces of the kingdom of France, and they were particularly patronised by the two last sovereigns of the Bourbon family. These establishments were magnificently endowed, and the pupils enjoyed every advantage which was essential to their domestic convenience. The most able masters superintended their education, and they were principally encouraged to acquire a competent knowledge of the ancient and modern languages, geography, history, the mathematics, and every branch of military science. L'Ecole Royal Militaire, at Paris, was at the head of the other military schools in the provinces; and it was to this school that not only subordination was

1796.

BOOK II. acknowledged by the pupils of the others, but to which they looked forward as the haven of all CHAP. VI. the youths of pre-eminent genius that the military schools of the provinces had educated. Bonaparte arrived at the Royal Military School at Brienne in the year 1779, being then only ten years old. At this early age, however, he discovered a peculiar temper of mind. He avoided the juvenile sports and amusements of the other pupils, and courted solitude and gloom; with drawing himself from their mirth, he devoted his attention to sedentary, rather than to active employments, and appeared entirely engaged in his own individual and retired pursuits. He seems to have neglected, if not altogether rejected, in his early years, the attainment of the Latin language. He soon, however, applied himself with earnestness to the mathematics, the rudiments of which he was taught by Father Patrault, a minim at Briennes Fortification, and all the other branches of military science and tactics, he studied with increasing ardor; and these, with the reading of history, principally of ancient Rome and Greece, were his most delightful occupations. During the period which Bonaparte continued at Brienne, a library was formed for the amusement and instruction of the pupils, and which was to be under their entire direction. To give them proper notions of arrangement and order, their superiors left the distribution of their books and other affairs to the management of two of the boarders, chosen by their comrades. The calls of Bonaparte on one of these, who was appointed librarian, were so often and so much more frequent than the applications of his companions, that the young man considered him tiresome, and sometimes lost his temper; Bonaparte was not less patient nor less positive, and on these occa sions extorted submission by blows.

The rudeness of manners which Bonaparte displayed, and the violence of temper to which he was subject, were not at all softened or subdued previous to his quitting Brienne; his paroxysms of passion had sometimes amounted even to fury, and his anger was often so sudden and so uncontrollable that few of his comrades would venture to hazard his displeasure.

The annual examination of the pupils by the Royal Inspector General, M. le Chevalier de Renault, took place soon after. This officer found This officer found Bonaparte well versed in the art of fortification, and as he himself owed his preferment and his fortune to his talents, and to the universal testimony of an honorable conduct, he knew well how to estimate the ingenuity and ability which are the result of inquiry and reflection, and he adjudged that Bonaparte's proficiency in military knowledge entitled him to be sent to L'Ecole Royal Militaire at Paris. His masters, however, represented to the inspector several occurrences

unfavourable to his promotion, but without effect, and Bonaparte arrived at the Military College at Paris on the 17th of October, 1784. To complete his knowledge of the mathematics, was the principal object of Bonaparte. He laboured with unwearied diligence under the instructions of the celebrated Monge. The corps of artillery and the corps of engineers were, at that time, the only corps in France where merit was certain of promotion, and in which interest had no influence, and into one of these he determined to enter as soon as he had passed the requisite probation. Monge had so well qualified Bonaparte by his care and information, that, on his first examination, he passed with praise, and was allowed to enter the regiment of artillery de la Fere, in garrison at Auxone, as Lieutenant, in the month of July, 1785, and he immediately proceeded to join the regiment. His attention to the theory of his profession was unremitting; he devoted part of the night to the study of military details, and passed most of the day in contemplating and examining the fortifications of the garrison. In his occasional conversations with the officers of the regiment, he expressed opinions which were then considered as factious, both by those of the higher orders and those who were the partisans of roy alty. His opposition of sentiment to all the measures of government was uniform, and unchangeable by any endeavours to reason its inconsistency or its injustice. The death of General Count Marboeuf, in the year 1786, deprived Bonaparte of his protection and influence; the advantages which he derived from that officer's pecuniary as sistance, were no longer attainable, and his pay as a lieutenant was scarcely adequate to support the appearance his rank required. His dissatisfaction was increased by the narrowness of his income, and the numerous factions which disor dered all the ranks of society in France, induced him to await with complacence for some terrible convulsion of the state that should open a path to his military activity and preferment.

When the Directory were inaugurated, Bonaparte, as General of the armed force of Paris, waited on each of the five directors. Carnot, who succeeded Sieyes, lived at the top of a house beneath the ruins of the Luxemburg, his official apartments not being ready. It was on a Monday that Bonaparte presented himself, the day when a celebrated writer regularly visited Carnot. This person was singing an air, accompanied by a young lady on the piano-forte. The appearance of Bonaparte, a little well-made olive-complexioned youth, amid five or six tall young men, who paid him great attention, was a great contrast: he entered the room, and bowed with an air of ease and self-possession; and the author in question asked Carnot who the gentlemen were. The Director answered, "the General of the armed force of