Napoleon As A Bean Counter

"A budget is made up of receipts and expenditure,

both of equal importance.

Even were only simple disbursements involved,

a mere statement of receipts would not suffice."

I am always pleased to read when Napoleon lowered the boom on spending. He was a shrewd manager and perhaps he liked accounting. He did not spend money France did not have...hence the wars with other countries created a nice cash infusion that helped pay for the major Paris monuments we know and love.

The ledger shown is:

BUDGET DE LA MAISON DE L'EMPEREUR POUR 1811.

Wouldn't I like to pour though this book!