Nothing came amiss to his summarizing genius.
Here it was that he gained that knowledge of the past which was to astonish his contemporaries.

Side by side with suggestions on regimental discipline and improvements in artillery, we find notes on the opening episodes of Plato's "Republic," and a systematic summary of English history from the earliest times down to the Revolution of 1688.

This last event inspired him with special interest, because the Whigs and their philosophic champion, Locke, maintained that James II.
had violated the original contract between prince and people.
Everywhere in his notes Napoleon emphasizes the incidents which led to conflicts between dynasties or between rival principles.

In fact, through all these voracious studies there appear signs of his determination to write a history of Corsica; and, while inspiriting his kinsmen by recalling the glorious past, he sought to weaken the French monarchy by inditing a "Dissertation sur l'Autorite Royale." His first sketch of this work runs as follows: "23 October, 1788.

Auxonne.
"This work will begin with general ideas as to the origin and the enhanced prestige of the name of king.