_Napoleon's Spelling._--Macaulay, in his _History of England_, chap. vii.,
quotes, in a foot-note, a passage from a letter of William III., written in
French to his ambassador at Paris, and then makes this remark, "The
spelling is bad, but not worse than Napoleon's." {387}
Can you refer me to some authentic proof of the fact that Napoleon was
unable to spell correctly? It is well known that he affected to put his
thoughts upon paper with great rapidity; and the consequence of this
practice was, that in almost every word some letters were dropped, or their
places indicated by dashes. But this was only one of those numerous
contrivances, to which he was in the habit of resorting, in order to
impress those around him with an idea of his greatness.