Toward the close of the year 1799, Napoleon occupied the palace of the Luxembourg. Several courtiers thought that a palace in the country should also be allotted to his use. He had lived at Malmaison, but this was considered unsuitable for the abode of the chief of a great republic and it was decided that St. Cloud should be offered him. This he chose to decline. In August, 1802, Napoleon was made consul for life. The court then became such as it had been at Versailles under the Bourbons. A French writer says, that when at the Tuileries, “he found it a tiresome abode; there he had no freedom--no liberty. His happiest days were spent at Malmaison. Great in himself, he appeared still greater in that charming retreat.” Having formerly refused St. Cloud at the hands of the people, he now took it on his own authority. There he had less leisure than at Malmaison, as etiquette was augmented in proportion to the grandeur of his establishment. Josephine suffered more from this new state of things than any other individual. She was much attached to Malmaison; it was there she had spent many happy hours with her dearest friends. She was often heard to say, “How all this excitement fatigues and wearies me! I have not a moment to myself! I ought to have been the wife of an humble cottager.” [Illustration: NAPOLEON AT MALMAISON.] THE BATTLE OF MARENGO. On the 11th of June, 1800, and in the evening after the battle of Montebello, General Desaix arrived at headquarters. The two generals conversed with each other nearly the whole night. Desaix had much to tell of Egypt, since Napoleon had quitted it; and he now burned to distinguish himself in the Italian campaign. Napoleon immediately gave him the command of a division. Early in the morning on the 14th of June, the Austrians commenced a furious attack on the village of Marengo. The First Consul found it necessary to call in Desaix, who was now half a day’s journey distant from headquarters, where he had been sent to watch the road to Genoa. Napoleon arrived on the field at ten o’clock, when the enemy was in possession of Marengo, and the division under Victor was completely routed. He sent his guard to Victor’s aid, and assisted himself in the support of Lannes, directing the division of Carra-Saint-Cyr upon the extreme right, in order to take in flank the whole left wing of the enemy. At the moment when the Austrian horse were about to rush on Lannes’ retreating corps, the reserve under Desaix appeared on the outskirts of the field. Desaix himself riding up to the First Consul with “I think this is a battle lost.” “I think it is a battle won,” answered Napoleon, “do you push on, and I will speedily rally the line behind you.” And in effect the timely arrival of this reserve turned the fortune of the day. [Illustration: THE BATTLE OF MARENGO.] THE BATTLE OF ABOUKIR.