306

LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

self the blame and the punishment of faults that had beencommitted by his friends. Thus, he was held in muchhigher estimation by his school-fellows than by themasters.

However evident it became, that Murat was little fittedfor the profession his parents had selected, they persisted intheir error, and sent him to Toulouse for ordination. Atthat time, the only link by which a family not “Noble,’could hope to become connected with the “ higher orders ”and employments, was that of the priesthood. A priest inthe family, might become a Bishop ; as shortly after, everysoldier felt and knew, that he might be one day a FieldMarshal. The Abbe Murat was a most welcome guest inthe best society of Toulouse . A young lady of condition andgreat beauty, conceived for him a violent passion;— anelopement, a duel, and the usual and various disturbances ofthe social harmonies ensued.

This latter circumstance decided the destinies of JoachimMurat . He abandoned the idea of completing his ordina-tion as a priest, and his discontented parents refusing tosupply him with any further pecuniary means, he suddenlyenlisted in the 12th regiment of light horse, which happenedto pass through Toulouse . The Abbe Murat’was instantlytransformed into a tall, elegant, martial looking soldier.

The commander of his regiment struck by his distin-guished appearance and manners, as well as by the alacrityand skill with which he performed his military duties, soongave him the rank of Troop Sergeant Major. This was inthe year 1788, in the twenty-first year of his age. The warraging in North America , and the new ideas which werethen spreading, in consequence of the new wants, and therapidly improving condition of the social mind, extendedeven to the French army, feelings of uneasiness and disap-probation of arbitrary power and passive obedience. An offi-