NAPOLEON’S PROMOTION--HIS POVERTY--JUNOT’S KINDNESS--REVOLT OF THE SECTIONS--NAPOLEON’S SHARE THEREIN--MADE GENERAL OF THE INTERIOR--INTRODUCTION TO JOSEPHINE--SKETCH OF HER LIFE. For the capture of Toulon, Bonaparte was speedily promoted; indeed, his superior officer, Dugommier, in his report, said, ‘Reward and advance this young man, otherwise he will find means to advance himself.’ He afterwards joined the army at Nice, and was sent on a secret diplomatic mission to Genoa; on his return from which he was arrested and thrown into prison, where he remained a fortnight before he obtained his release. He was without any employment during the remainder of 1794, and till the autumn of 1795. He was then in very poor circumstances financially, and Madame Junot gives a graphic picture of his distress at this time.[24] ‘Bonaparte’s servant informed Mariette that the general was often in want of money;’ but, he added, ‘he has an aide-de-camp who shares with him all he gets. When he is lucky at play, the largest share of his winnings is always for his general. The aide-de-camp’s family sometimes sends him money, and then almost all is given to the general. The general, adds the man, loves this aide-de-camp as dearly as if he were his own brother.’ The aide-de-camp was Junot, who got a commission after Toulon. The wretched Boney, we are told, Reduced, and shivering with the cold, To public houses used to rove, And warm his hands before a stove; Nay, in Corrozza, it is said, A large score still remains unpaid. He in an humble garret slept, Which never very clean was kept, Hence got he a disorder, which The vulgar people call the ‘itch.’ Long might have been poor Nap’s dejection But for a pending insurrection; For now was entertained th’ intention Of overturning the Convention. The party by Barras were led, He of the rebels was the head; But, neither brave nor skilful reckon’d, He wish’d to have an able second. This task, by many, as we find, Was conscientiously declin’d; For every one of them well knew, A dreadful slaughter must ensue. Barras said in a thinking mood, ‘I know a rascal fond of blood-- A little Corsican blackguard, But now to find him may be hard.’ Then, having mentioned Boney’s name, They all agreed upon the same; And Tallien gladly undertook For the said Corsican to look. Soon Boney on their honors waited, Though all in rags as it is stated; And, matters being quick concluded, No ‘saucy doubts or fears’ intruded; Nap with a horse was soon provided, And regimentals he beside had. This scheme began they to contrive In seventeen hundred, ninety five. And of October, we may say, The fourth was now a fatal day! For, lo! the insurgents sallied out, And desolation spread about; All honest opposition fail’d And blood-stain’d tyranny prevail’d. Men, women, children, at a bitter rate The cries of ‘Treason,’ did reiterate,