During the Hundred Days, (1815) there lay in Napoleon's study in the Tuileries a packet of papers, sealed with the Imperial arms, on the cover of which was written, "A remettre au Cardinal Fesch seul." This packet was carried by Fesch to Rome, but he never had the curiosity to open it, and it remained sealed and tied up till his death, on May 13th, 1839. Many years later it was eventually opened, and an astonished world discovered that Napoleon had collected papers relating to his boyhood and youth.
Using this amazing material and many other sources Oscar Browning produced the first English language account of the formative years between Napoleon's birth in 1769 and when he first forced his way onto the world stage as a young man of importance at the siege of Toulon in 1793. There He personally led his men in the assault on the field earthworks guarding the city. During one of the attacks he received a bayonet wound. Napoleon with his artillery also destroyed several British warships anchored in Toulon's harbour, forcing them to sail away. It was his first victory and he was promoted to brigadier general.
