LETTER OF BUONAPARTE TO TALMA. 99

barked as well as they could. Many were drowned andsome left prisoners. The traitorous Frenchmen , who hadtaken part in the base surrender of the place, escaped alongwith the routed allies. Horses, arms, tents, artillery, andevery article of war materiel, landed by the fugitives, wereleft in the possession of the victors.

Upon sailing from Toulon , the allied fleet, dispersed bystorms, took shelter piecemeal, in various ports of theMediterranean ; and it was not until the second of February,1794, that the wreck of the Neapolitan contingent returnedto the port of Naples.

I have thought it my duty to call the recollection of myreaders to the circumstances of this Toulon expedition,because it is the first occasion in which history records aname, that shortly after echoed through the world. Anotherfact gives additional interest to the memorable occurrence.Very shortly after Lieutenant Colonel Napoleon Buonaparte had given such signal earnest of his military skill, and justselection of the fittest spot to strike a deadening blow uponhis enemy, he found himself in such a situation as to patron-age, and worldly things depending upon others, as to beinduced to write a letter to his good friend Talma, the tra-gedian, of which the following is a faithful translation :—

My dear Talma,—I have fought like a lion for the Republic ; butmy good friend Talma, as my reward, I am left to die with hunger. Iam at the end of all my resources, that miserable fellow Aubry [thenminister of war], leaves me in the mire, when he might do somethingfor me. I feel that I have the power of doing more than GeneralsSanterre, and Rossignol, and yet they cannot find a corner for me inLa Vendde, or elsewhere, to give me employment ’. You are happy—your reputation depends upon yourself alone. Two hours passed onthe boards, bring you before the public, whence all glory emanates; butfor us soldiers, we are forced to pay dearly for fame upon an ex-tensive stage, and after all we are not allowed to attain it. Therefore