Bonaparte desired little for himself.

His aim ever was power rather than wealth.

Riches he valued only as a means to political supremacy.

But he took care to place the Directors and all his influential officers deeply in his debt.

To the five _soi-disant_ rulers of France he sent one hundred horses, the finest that could be found in Lombardy, to replace "the poor creatures which now draw your carriages";[50] to his officers his indulgence was passive, but usually effective.