by several of the generals who had helped him to defeat the Russians
in Switzerland, among them, Soult, Oudinot and Gazan, but none of them
had yet arrived, and it was essential to do something about the
serious situation.

Masséna, who was born in La Turbie, a village in the little
principality of Monaco, was one of the most crafty Italians that ever
existed. He did not know my father, but he decided on their first
meeting that he was a big-hearted man who loved his country, and, to
persuade him to stay, he played on these sensitive areas, his
generosity and his patriotism, suggesting to him how much nobler it
would be for him to continue to serve in the unhappy army of Italy
rather than go to the Rhine. He said that he would take the
responsibility for the failure to carry out the orders given to my
father by the government if he would agree to stay. My father,
beguiled by these speeches and not wishing to leave the new
commander in a mess, consented to remain with him. He did not doubt
that his chief-of-staff, Col. Ménard, his friend, would also give up
the idea of going to the Rhine; but this was not to be. Ménard stuck
to the order he had been given, although he was assured that it would
be cancelled if he wished. My father felt very badly about this
desertion. Ménard hurried off to Paris, where he took the job of
chief-of-staff to general Lefebvre.

My father went to Genoa, where he took command of the three
divisions which composed the right wing of the army. Despite all the
shortages, the winter carnival was quite gay in the town, the
Italians being so pleasure-loving! We were lodged in the Centurione
Palace, where we spent the end of the winter 1799-1800. My father
had left Spire at Nice with the greater part of his baggage. He now