[2] His first battle.
[3] Napoleon, with his stockings about his heels, makes love to Giacominetta.
[4] Corsica became by law a French department only two months before Napoleon was born.
[5] The report, in consequence of which Buonaparte received this distinction, is in these words: "M. de Buonaparte (Napoleon), born the 15th August, 1769, height four feet ten inches ten lines; good constitution; health excellent; character docile, upright, grateful; conduct very regular: has always distinguished himself by his application to the mathematics. He is passably acquainted with history and geography: is weak enough as to his Latin diction and other elegant accomplishments: would make an excellent sea-officer: deserves to be transferred to the Military School at Paris."
[6] De Bourienne.
[7] According to some, the last clause ran "die in an hospital," and this was in the sequel interpreted to mean Malmaison—a palace which (like our own St. James's) had once been an hospital.
[8] Berthier used to keep, as a curiosity, a general order, by which three louis-d'or were granted as a great supply to each general of division, dated on the very day of the victory at Albegna.
[9] The same who became afterwards Louis XVIII. of France.
[10] Vallette was cashiered. Augereau was afterwards created Duke of Castiglione, in memory of this exploit.
[11] Buonaparte, to replace all his losses in the two last campaigns, had received only 7000 recruits.