multiply　himself　by　his　inconceivable　activity；　and　one　might　say　that　he
  was　present　everywhere。
  At　the　Emperor's　departure　it　was　generally　believed　at　Paris　that　the
  distribution　of　the　crosses　at　the　camp　of　Boulogne　was　only　a　pretext；
  and　that　Bonaparte　had　at　length　gone　to　carry　into　execution　the　project
  of　an　invasion　of　England；　which　every　body　supposed　he　contemplated。　　It
  was；　indeed；　a　pretext。　　The　Emperor　wished　to　excite　more　and　more　the
  enthusiasm　of　the　armyto　show　himself　to　the　military　invested　in　his
  new　dignity；　to　be　present　at　some　grand　manoeuvres；　and　dispose　the　army
  to　obey　the　first　signal　he　might　give。　　How　indeed；　on　beholding　such
  great　preparations；　so　many　transports　created；　as　it　were；　by
  enchantment；　could　any　one　have　supposed　that　be　did　not　really　intend　to
  attempt　a　descent　on　England？　　People　almost　fancied　him　already　in
  London；　it　was　known　that　all　the　army　corps　echelloned　on　the　coast　from
  Maples　to　Ostend　were　ready　to　embark。　　Napoleon's　arrival　in　the　midst
  of　his　troops　inspired　them；　if　possible；　with　a　new　impulse。　　The　French
  ports　on　the　Channel　had　for　a　long　period　been　converted　into　dockyards
  and　arsenals；　where　works　were　carried　on　with　that　inconceivable
  activity　which　Napoleon　knew　so　well　how　to　inspire。　　An　almost
  incredible　degree　of　emulation　prevailed　amongst　the　commanders　of　the
  different　camps；　and　it　descended　from　rank　to　rank　to　the　common
  soldiers　and　even　to　the　labourers。
  As　every　one　was　eager　to　take　advantage　of　the　slightest　effects　of
  chance；　and　exercised　his　ingenuity　in　converting　them　into　prognostics
  of　good　fortune　for　the　Emperor；　those　who　had　access　to　him　did　not　fail
  to　call　his　attention　to　some　remains　of　a　Roman　camp　which　had　been
  discovered　at　the　Tour　d'Ordre；　where　the　Emperor's　tent　was　pitched。
  This　was　considered　an　evident　proof　that　the　French　Caesar　occupied　the
  camp　which　the　Roman　Caesar　had　formerly　constructed　to　menace　Great
  Britain。　　To　give　additional　force　to　this　allusion；　the　Tour　d'Ordre
  resumed　the　name　of　Caesar's　Tower。　　Some　medals　of　William　the
  Conqueror；　found　in　another　spot；　where；　perhaps；　they　had　been　buried
  for　the　purpose　of　being　dug　up；　could　not　fail　to　satisfy　the　most
  incredulous　that　Napoleon　must　conquer　England。
  It　was　not　far　from　Caesar's　Tower　that　80；000　men　of　the　camps　of
  Boulogne　and　Montreuil；　under　the　command　of　Marshal　Soult；　were
  assembled　in　a　vast　plain　to　witness　the　distribution　of　the　crosses　of
  the　Legion　of　Honour　impressed　with　the　Imperial　effigy。　　This　plain；
  which　I　saw　with　Bonaparte　in　our　first　journey　to　the　coast；　before　our
  departure　to　Egypt；　was　circular　and　hollow；　and　in　the　centre　was　a
  little　hill。　　This　hill　formed　the　Imperial　throne　of　Bonaparte　in　the
  midst　of　his　soldiers。　　There　he　stationed　himself　with　his　staff　and
  around　this　centre　of　glory　the　regiments　were　drawn　up　in　lines　and
  looked　like　so　many　diverging　rays。　　From　this　throne；　which　had　been
  erected　by　the　hand　of　nature；　Bonaparte　delivered　in　a　loud　voice　the
  same　form　of　oath　which　he　had　pronounced　at　the　Hotel　des　Invalides　a
  few　days　before。　　It　was　the　signal　for　a　general　burst　of　enthusiasm；
  and　Rapp；　alluding　to　this　ceremony；　told　me　that　he　never　saw　the
  Emperor　appear　more　pleased。　　How　could　he　be　otherwise？　　Fortune　then
  seemed　obedient　to　his　wishes。　　A　storm　came　on　during　this　brilliant
  day；　and　it　was　apprehended　that　part　of　the　flotilla　would　have
  suffered。
  Bonaparte　quitted　the　hill　from　which　he　had　distributed　the　crosses　and
  proceeded　to　the　port　to　direct　what　measures　should　be　taken；　when　upon
  his　arrival　the　storm
  ＇The　following　description　of　the　incident　when　Napoleon　nearly
  occasioned　the　destruction　of　the　Boulogne　flotilla　was　forwarded　to
  the　'Revue　Politique　et　Litteraire'　from　a　private　memoir。　　The
  writer；　who　was　an　eye…witness；　says
  One　morning；　when　the　Emperor　was　mounting　his　horse；　he　announced
  that　he　intended　to　hold　a　review　of　his　naval　forces；　and　gave　the
  order　that　the　vessels　which　lay　in　the　harbour　should　alter　their
  positions；　as　the　review　was　to　be　held　on　the　open　sea。　　He　started
  on　his　usual　ride；　giving　orders　that　everything　should　be　arranged
  on　his　return；　the　time　of　which　be　indicted。　　His　wish　was
  communicated　to　Admiral　Bruix；　who　responded　with　imperturbable
  coolness　that　he　was　very　sorry；　but　that　the　review　could　not　take
  place　that　day。　　Consequently　not　a　vessel　was　moved。　　On　his　return
  back　from　his　ride　the　Emperor　asked　whether　all　was　ready。　　He　was
  told　what　the　Admiral　had　said。　　Twice　the　answer　had　to　be　repeated
  to　him　before　he　could　realise　its　nature；　and　then；　violently
  stamping　his　foot　on　the　ground；　he　sent　for　the　Admiral。　　The
  Emperor　met　him　halfway。　　With　eyes　burning　with　rage；　he　exclaimed
  in　an　excited　voice；　〃Why　have　my　orders　not　been　executed？〃　　With
  respectful　firmness　Admiral　Bruix　replied；　〃Sire；　a　terrible　storm
  is　brewing。　　Your　Majesty　may　convince　yourself　of　it；　would　you
  without　need　expose　the　lives　of　so　many　men？〃　　The　heaviness　of　the
  atmosphere　and　the　sound　of　thunder　in　the　distance　more　than
  justified　the　fears　of　the　Admiral。　　〃Sir；　said　the　Emperor；　getting
  more　and　more　irritated；　〃I　have　given　the　orders　once　more；　why
  have　they　not　been　executed？　　The　consequences　concern　me　alone。
  Obey！〃　　'Sire；　I　will　not　obey；'　replied　the　Admiral。　　〃You　are
  insolent！〃　　And　the　Emperor；　who　still　held　his　riding…whip　in　his
  hand；　advanced　towards　the　admiral　with　a　threatening　gesture。
  Admiral　Bruix　stepped　back　and　put　his　hand　on　the　sheath　of　his
  sword　and　said；　growing　very　pale；　〃sire；　take　care！〃　　The　whole
  suite　stood　paralysed　with　fear。　　The　Emperor　remained　motionless
  for　some　time；　his　hand　lifted　up；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　Admiral；
  who　still　retained　his　menacing　attitude。　　At　last　the　Emperor　threw
  his　whip　on　the　floor。　　M。　Bruix　took　his　hand　off　his　sword；　and
  with　uncovered　head　awaited　in　silence　the　result　of　the　painful
  scene。　　Rear…Admiral　Magon　was　then　ordered　to　see　that　the
  Emperor's　orders　were　instantly　executed。　　〃As　for　you；　sir；〃　said
  the　Emperor；　fixing　his　eyes　on　Admiral　Bruix；　you　leave　Boulogne
  within　twenty…four　hours　and　depart　for　Holland。　　Go！〃　　M。　Magon
  ordered　the　fatal　movement　of　the　fleet　on　which　the　Emperor　had
  insisted。　　The　first　arrangements　had　scarcely　been　made　when　the
  sea　because　very　high。　　The　black　sky　was　pierced　by　lightning；　the
  thunder　rolled　and　every　moment　the　line　of　vessels　was　broken　by
  the　wind；　and　shortly　after；　that　which　the　Admiral　had　foreseen
  came　to　pass；　and　the　most　frightful　storm　dispersed　the　vessels　in
  each　a　way　that　it　seamed　impossible　to　save　them。　　With　bent　head；
  arms　crossed；　and　a　sorrowful　　look　in　his　face；　the　Emperor　walked
  up　and　down　on　the　beach；　when　suddenly　the　most　terrible　cries　were
  heard。　　More　than　twenty　gunboats　filled　with　soldiers　and　sailors
  were　being　driven　towards　the　shore；　and　the　unfortunate　men　were
  vainly　fighting　against　the　furious　waves；　calling　for　help　which
  nobody　could　give　them。　　Deeply　touched　by　the　spectacle　and　the
  heart…rending　cries　and　lamentations　of　the　multitude　which　had
  assembled　on　the　beach；　the　Emperor；　seeing　his　generals　and
  officers　tremble　with　horror；　attempted　to　set　an　example　of
  devotion；　and；　in　spite　of　all　efforts　to　keep　him　back；　he　threw
  himself　into　a　boat；　saying；　〃Let　me　go！　let　me　go！　they　must　be
  brought　out　of　this。〃　　In　a　moment　the　boat　was　filled　with　water。
  The　waves　poured　over　it　again　and　again；　and　the　Emperor　was
  drenched。　　One　wave　larger　than　the　others　almost　threw　him
  overboard　and　his　hat　was　carried　sway。　　Inspired　by　so　much
  courage；　officers；　soldiers；　seamen；　and　citizens　tried　to　succour
  the　drowning；　some　in　boats；　some　swimming。　　But；　alas！　only　a　small
  number　could　be　saved　of　the　unfortunate　men。　　The　following　day
  more　than　200　bodies　were　thrown　ashore；　and　with　them　the　hat　of
  the　conqueror　of　Marengo。　　That　sad　day　was　one　of　desolation　for
  Boulogne　and　for　the　camp。　　The　Emperor　groaned　under　the　burden　of
  an　accident　which　he　had　to　attribute　solely　to　his　own　obstinacy。
  Agents　were　despatched　to　all　parts　of　the　town　to　subdue　with　gold
  the　murmurs　which　ware　ready　to　break　out　into　a　tumult。＇
  ceased　as　if　by　enchantment。　　The　flotilla　entered　the　port　safe　and
  sound　and　he　went　back　to　the　camp；　where　the　sports　and　amusements
  prepared　for　the　soldiers　commenced；　and　in　the　evening　the　brilliant
  fireworks　which　were　let　off　rose　in　a　luminous　column；　which　was
  distinctly　seen　from　the　English　coast。　＇It　appears　that　Napoleon　was
  so　well　able　to　cover　up　this　fiasco　that　not　even　Bourrienne　ever　heard
  the　true　story。　　D。W。＇
  When　he　reviewed　the　troops　he　asked　the　officers；　and　often　the
  soldiers；　in　what