Dear All,

I have been looking into Napoleon's career recently and came across a quotation that I could use a little help with. Shortly after the seige of Toulon 1793, Jean-Andoche Junot (a great friend of the future Emperor and later a general himself) was asked by his father:

''Who is this General Bonaparte? Where has he served? No one knows anything about him.'' Junot responded, 'I will respond as Santeuil: 'to know him is to be him...'''

The earliest source for the above that I've found is: Coston, Baron de, Biographie des premiere annees de Napoleon Bonaparte, in 2 vols, Paris, Marc Aurel Freres, 1840, p301

However, my dilemma is discovering who was this Santeuil was that Junot was referring to? I have conducted quite a search and the most likely candidate I have been able to find is Jean Baptiste de Santeuil (1630-1697) who was a French priest, poet and hymn composer. Can anybody confirm this or, if I am wrong, tell me where this line originates from? I would appreciate it as this has proved rather difficult to track down.

Regards,

Dave