diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3553-8.txt | 5002 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3553-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 110602 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3553.txt | 5002 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 3553.zip | bin | 0 -> 110510 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/nb03v11.zip | bin | 0 -> 112004 bytes |
8 files changed, 10020 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3553-8.txt b/3553-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fecd720 --- /dev/null +++ b/3553-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5002 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, v3, by +Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, v3 + +Author: Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + +Posted: November 24, 2012 [EBook #3553] +Release Date: December, 2002 +[This file first posted:04/20/01] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, V3 *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 3. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +Chapter XV. To Chapter XXVI. 1799 + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +1798. + + Establishment of a divan in each Egyptian province--Desaix in Upper + Egypt--Ibrahim Bey beaten by Bonaparte at Salehye'h--Sulkowsky + wounded--Disaster at Aboukir--Dissatisfaction and murmurs of the + army--Dejection of the General-in-Chief--His plan respecting Egypt + --Meditated descent upon England--Bonaparte's censure of the + Directory--Intercepted correspondence. + +From the details I have already given respecting Bonaparte's plans for +colonising Egypt, it will be seen that his energy of mind urged him to +adopt anticipatory measures for the accomplishment of objects which were +never realised. During the short interval in which he sheathed his sword +he planned provisional governments for the towns and provinces occupied +by the French troops, and he adroitly contrived to serve the interests of +his army without appearing to violate those of the country. After he had +been four days at Cairo, during which time he employed himself in +examining everything, and consulting every individual from whom he could +obtain useful information, he published the following order: + + HEADQUARTERS, CAIRO, + 9th Thermidor, year VI. + + BONAPARTE, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, + AND GENERAL-IN-CHIEF, ORDERS: + + Art. 1. There shall be in each province of Egypt a divan, composed + of seven individuals, whose duty will be to superintend the + interests of the province; to communicate to me any complaints that + may be made; to prevent warfare among the different villages; to + apprehend and punish criminals (for which purpose they may demand + assistance from the French commandant); and to take every + opportunity of enlightening the people. + + Art. 2. There shall be in each province an aga of the Janizaries, + maintaining constant communication with the French commandant. He + shall have with him a company of sixty armed natives, whom he may + take wherever he pleases, for the maintenance of good order, + subordination, and tranquillity. + + Art. 3. There shall be in each province an intendant, whose + business will be to levy the miri, the feddam, and the other + contributions which formerly belonged to the Mamelukes, but which + now belong to the French Republic. The intendants shall have as + many agents as may be necessary. + + Art. 4. The said intendant shall have a French agent to correspond + with the Finance Department, and to execute all the orders he may + receive. + (Signed) BONAPARTE. + +While Bonaparte was thus actively taking measures for the organization +of the country[1], General Desaix had marched into Upper Egypt in +pursuit of Mourad Bey. We learned that Ibrahim, who, next to Mourad, +was the most influential of the beys, had proceeded towards Syria, by +the way of Belbeis and Salehye'h. The General-in-Chief immediately +determined to march in person against that formidable enemy, and he +left Cairo about fifteen days after he had entered it. It is +unnecessary to describe the well-known engagement in which Bonaparte +drove Ibrahim back upon El-Arish; besides, I do not enter minutely +into the details of battles, my chief object being to record events +which I personally witnessed. + + [1]--[Far more thoroughly and actively than those taken by the English + Government in 1882-3-4]-- + +At the battle of Salehye'h Bonaparte thought he had lost one of his +'aides de camp', Sulkowsky, to whom he was much attached, and who had +been with us during the whole of the campaign of Italy. On the field of +battle one object of regret cannot long engross the mind; yet, on his +return to Cairo, Bonaparte frequently spoke to me of Sulkowsky in terms +of unfeigned sorrow. + +"I cannot," said he one day, "sufficiently admire the noble spirit and +determined courage of poor Sulkowsky." He often said that Sulkowsky +would have been a valuable aid to whoever might undertake the +resuscitation of Poland. Fortunately that brave officer was not killed +on that occasion, though seriously wounded. He was, however, killed +shortly after. + +The destruction of the French squadron in the roads of Aboukir occurred +during the absence of the General-in-Chief. This event happened on the +1st of August. The details are generally known; but there is one +circumstance to which I cannot refrain from alluding, and which excited +deep interest at the time. This was the heroic courage of the son of +Casablanca, the captain of the 'Orient'. Casablanca was among the +wounded, and when the vessel was blown up his son, a lad of ten years of +age, preferred perishing with him rather than saving himself, when one of +the seamen had secured him the means of escape. I told the 'aide de +camp', sent by General Kléber, who had the command of Alexandria, that +the General-in-Chief was near Salehye'h. He proceeded thither +immediately, and Bonaparte hastened back to Cairo, a distance of about +thirty-three leagues. + +In spite of any assertions that may have been made to the contrary, the +fact is, that as soon as the French troops set foot in Egypt, they were +filled with dissatisfaction, and ardently longed to return home[2]. +The illusion of the expedition had disappeared, and only its reality +remained. What bitter murmuring have I not heard from Murat, Lannes, +Berthier, Bessières, and others! Their complaints were, indeed, often so +unmeasured as almost to amount to sedition. This greatly vexed +Bonaparte, and drew from him severe reproaches and violent language[3]. +When the news arrived of the loss of the fleet, discontent increased. +All who had acquired fortunes under Napoleon now began to fear that they +would never enjoy them. All turned their thoughts to Paris, and its +amusements, and were utterly disheartened at the idea of being separated +from their homes and their friends for a period, the termination of which +it was impossible to foresee. + + [2]--['Erreurs' objects to this description of the complaints of the + army, but Savary (tome i. pp. 66, 67, and tome i. p. 89) fully + confirms it, giving the reason that the army was not a homogeneous + body, but a mixed force taken from Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, + Genoa, and Marseilles; see also Thiers, tome v. p. 283. But the + fact is not singular. For a striking instance, in the days of the + Empire, of the soldiers in 1809, in Spain, actually threatening + Napoleon in his own hearing, see De Gonneville (tome i. pp. 190-193): + "The soldiers of Lapisse's division gave loud expression to + the most sinister designs against the Emperor's person, stirring up + each other to fire a shot at him, and bandying accusations of + cowardice for not doing it." He heard it all as plainly as we did, + and seemed as if he did not care a bit for it, but "sent the + division into good quarters, when the men were as enthusiastic as + they were formerly mutinous." In 1796 d'Entraigues, the Bourbon spy, + reports, "As a general rule, the French soldier grumbles and is + discontented. He accuses Bonaparte of being a thief and a rascal. + But to-morrow the very same soldier will obey him blindly" (Iung's + Bonaparte, tome iii. p. 152).]-- + + [3]--[Napoleon related at St. Helena that in a fit of irritation he + rushed among a group of dissatisfied generals, and said to one of + them, who was remarkable for his stature, "you have held seditious + language; but take care I do not perform my duty. Though you are + five feet ten inches high, that shall not save you from being + shot."--Bourrienne.]-- + +The catastrophe of Aboukir came like a thunderbolt upon the General-in-Chief. +In spite of all his energy and fortitude, he was deeply +distressed by the disasters which now assailed him. To the painful +feelings excited by the complaints and dejection of his companions in +arms was now added the irreparable misfortune of the burning of our +fleet. He measured the fatal consequences of this event at a single +glance. We were now cut off from all communication with France, and all +hope of returning thither, except by a degrading capitulation with an +implacable and hated enemy. Bonaparte had lost all chance of preserving +his conquest, and to him this was indeed a bitter reflection. And at +what a time did this disaster befall him? At the very moment when he was +about to apply for the aid of the mother-country. + +From what General Bonaparte communicated to me previously to the 1st of +August, his object was, having once secured the possession of Egypt; to +return to Toulon with the fleet; then to send troops and provisions of +every kind to Egypt; and next to combine with the fleet all the forces +that could be supplied, not only by France, but by her allies, for the +purpose of attacking England. It is certain that previously to his +departure for Egypt he had laid before the Directory a note relative to +his plans. He always regarded a descent upon England as possible, though +in its result fatal, so long as we should be inferior in naval strength; +but he hoped by various manoeuvres to secure a superiority on one point. + +His intention was to return to France. Availing himself of the departure +of the English fleet for the Mediterranean, the alarm excited by his +Egyptian expedition, the panic that would be inspired by his sudden +appearance at Boulogne, and his preparations against England, he hoped to +oblige that power to withdraw her naval force from the Mediterranean, and +to prevent her sending out troops to Egypt. This project was often in +his head. He would have thought it sublime to date an order of the day +from the ruins of Memphis, and three months later, one from London. The +loss of the fleet converted all these bold conceptions into mere romantic +visions. + +When alone with me he gave free vent to his emotion. I observed to him +that the disaster was doubtless great, but that it would have been +infinitely more irreparable had Nelson fallen in with us at Malta, or had +he waited for us four-and-twenty hours before Alexandria, or in the open +sea. "Any one of these events," said I, "which were not only possible +but probable, would have deprived us of every resource. We are blockaded +here, but we have provisions and money. Let us then wait patiently to +see what the Directory will do for us."--"The Directory!" exclaimed he +angrily, "the Directory is composed of a set of scoundrels! they envy and +hate me, and would gladly let me perish here. Besides, you see how +dissatisfied the whole army is: not a man is willing to stay." + +The pleasing illusions which were cherished at the outset of the +expedition vanished long before our arrival in Cairo. Egypt was no +longer the empire of the Ptolemies, covered with populous and wealthy +cities; it now presented one unvaried scene of devastation and misery. +Instead of being aided by the inhabitants, whom we had ruined, for the +sake of delivering them from the yoke of the beys, we found all against +us: Mamelukes, Arabs, and fellahs. No Frenchman was secure of his life +who happened to stray half a mile from any inhabited place, or the corps +to which he belonged. The hostility which prevailed against us and the +discontent of the army were clearly developed in the numerous letters +which were written to France at the time, and intercepted. + +The gloomy reflections which at first assailed Bonaparte, were speedily +banished; and he soon recovered the fortitude and presence of mind which +had been for a moment shaken by the overwhelming news from Aboukir. +He, however, sometimes repeated, in a tone which it would be difficult to +describe, "Unfortunate Brueys, what have you done!" + +I have remarked that in some chance observations which escaped Napoleon +at St. Helena he endeavoured to throw all the blame of the affair on +Admiral Brueys. Persons who are determined to make Bonaparte an +exception to human nature have unjustly reproached the Admiral for the +loss of the fleet. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +1798. + + The Egyptian Institute--Festival of the birth of Mahomet--Bonaparte's + prudent respect for the Mahometan religion--His Turkish dress-- + Djezzar, the Pasha of Acre--Thoughts of a campaign in Germany--Want + of news from France--Bonaparte and Madame Fourés--The Egyptian + fortune-teller, M. Berthollet, and the Sheik El Bekri--The air + "Marlbrook"--Insurrection in Cairo--Death of General Dupuis--Death + of Sulkowsky--The insurrection quelled--Nocturnal executions-- + Destruction of a tribe of Arabs--Convoy of sick and wounded-- + Massacre of the French in Sicily--projected expedition to Syria-- + Letter to Tippoo Saib. + +The loss of the fleet convinced General Bonaparte of the necessity of +speedily and effectively organising Egypt, where everything denoted that +we should stay for a considerable time, excepting the event of a forced +evacuation, which the General was far from foreseeing or fearing. The +distance of Ibrahim Bey and Mourad Bey now left him a little at rest. +War, fortifications, taxation, government, the organization of the +divans, trade, art, and science, all occupied his attention. Orders and +instructions were immediately despatched, if not to repair the defeat, at +least to avert the first danger that might ensue from it. On the 21st of +August Bonaparte established at Cairo an institute of the arts and +sciences, of which he subsequently appointed me a member in the room of +M. de Sucy, who was obliged to return to France, in consequence of the +wound he received on board the flotilla in the Nile[4]. + + [4]--[The Institute of Egypt was composed of members of the French + Institute, and of the men of science and artists of the commission + who did not belong to that body. They assembled and added to their + number several officers of the artillery and staff, and others who + had cultivated the sciences and literature. + + The Institute was established in one of the palaces of the bey's. + A great number of machines, and physical, chemical, and astronomical + instruments had been brought from France. They were distributed in + the different rooms, which were also successively filled with all + the curiosities of the country, whether of the animal, vegetable, or + mineral kingdom. + + The garden of the palace became a botanical garden. A chemical + laboratory was formed at headquarters; Berthollet performed + experiments there several times every week, which Napoleon and a + great number of officers attended ('Memoirs of Napoleon')]-- + +In founding this Institute, Bonaparte wished to afford an example of his +ideas of civilisation. The minutes of the sittings of that learned body, +which have been printed, bear evidence of its utility, and of Napoleon's +extended views. The objects of the Institute were the advancement and +propagation of information in Egypt, and the study and publication of all +facts relating to the natural history, trade, and antiquities of that +ancient country. + +On the 18th Bonaparte was present at the ceremony of opening the dyke of +the canal of Cairo, which receives the water of the Nile when it reaches +the height fired by the Mequyas. + +Two days after came the anniversary festival of the birth of Mahomet. At +this Napoleon was also present, in company with the sheik El Bekri[5], who +at his request gave him two young Mamelukes, Ibrahim, and Roustan[6]. + + [5]--[The General-in-Chief went to celebrate the feast of the Prophet + at the house of the sheik El Bekri. The ceremony was begun by the + recital of a kind of litany, containing the life of Mahomet from his + birth to his death. About a hundred sheiks, sitting in a circle, on + carpets, with their legs crossed, recited all the verses, swinging + their bodies violently backwards and forwards, and altogether. + + A grand dinner was afterwards served up, at which the guests sat on + carpets, with their legs across. There were twenty tables, and five + or six people at each table. That of the General-in-Chief and the + sheik El Bekri was in the middle; a little slab of a precious kind + of wood ornamented with mosaic work was placed eighteen inches above + the floor and covered with a great number of dishes in succession. + They were pillaws of rice, a particular kind of roast, entrees, and + pastry, all very highly spiced. The sheiks picked everything with + their fingers. Accordingly water was brought to wash the hands + three times during dinner. Gooseberry-water, lemonade, and other + sorts of sherbets were served to drink, and abundance of preserves + and confectionery with the dessert. On the whole, the dinner was + not disagreeable; it was only the manner of eating it that seemed + strange to us. + + In the evening the whole city was illuminated. After dinner the + party went into the square of El Bekri, the illumination of which, + in coloured lamps, was very beautiful. An immense concourse of + people attended. They were all placed in order, in ranks of from + twenty to a hundred persons, who, standing close together, recited + the prayers and litanies of the Prophet with movements which kept + increasing, until at length they seemed to be convulsive, and some + of the most zealous fainted away ('Memoirs of Napoleon').]-- + + [6]--[Roustan or Rustan, a Mameluke, was always with Napoleon from the + time of the return from Egypt till 1814, when he abandoned his + master. He slept at or near the door of Napoleon. See Rémusat, + tome i, p. 209, for an amusing description of the alarm of + Josephine, and the precipitate flight of Madame de Rémusat, at the + idea of being met and killed by this man in one of Josephine's + nocturnal attacks on the privacy of her husband when closeted with + his mistress.]-- + +It has been alleged that Bonaparte, when in Egypt, took part in the +religious ceremonies and worship of the Mussulmans; but it cannot be said +that he celebrated the festivals of the overflowing of the Nile and the +anniversary of the Prophet. The Turks invited him to these merely as a +spectator; and the presence of their new master was gratifying to the +people. But he never committed the folly of ordering any solemnity. +He neither learned nor repeated any prayer of the Koran, as many persons +have asserted; neither did he advocate fatalism, polygamy, or any other +doctrine of the Koran. Bonaparte employed himself better than in +discussing with the Imaums the theology of the children of Ismael. The +ceremonies, at which policy induced him to be present, were to him, and +to all who accompanied him, mere matters of curiosity. He never set foot +in a mosque; and only on one occasion, which I shall hereafter mention, +dressed himself in the Mahometan costume. He attended the festivals to +which the green turbans invited him[7]. His religious tolerance was the +natural consequence of his philosophic spirit. + + [7]--[From this Sir Walter Scott infers that he did not scruple to + join the Musselmans in the external ceremonies of their religion. He + embellishes his romance with the ridiculous farce of the sepulchral + chamber of the grand pyramid, and the speeches which were addressed + to the General as well as to the muftis and Imaums; and he adds that + Bonaparte was on the point of embracing Islamism. All that Sir + Walter says on this subject is the height of absurdity, and does not + even deserve to be seriously refuted. Bonaparte never entered a + mosque except from motives of curiosity,(see contradiction in + previous paragraph. D.W.) and he never for one moment afforded any + ground for supposing that he believed to the mission of Mahomet.-- + Bourrienne.]-- + +Doubtless Bonaparte did, as he was bound to do, show respect for the +religion of the country; and he found it necessary to act more like a +Mussulman than a Catholic. A wise conqueror supports his triumphs by +protecting and even elevating the religion of the conquered people. +Bonaparte's principle was, as he himself has often told me, to look upon +religions as the work of men, but to respect them everywhere as a +powerful engine of government. However, I will not go so far as to say +that he would not have changed his religion had the conquest of the East +been the price of that change. All that he said about Mahomet, Islamism, +and the Koran to the great men of the country he laughed at himself. +He enjoyed the gratification of having all his fine sayings on the +subject of religion translated into Arabic poetry, and repeated from +mouth to mouth. This of course tended to conciliate the people. + +I confess that Bonaparte frequently conversed with the chiefs of the +Mussulman religion on the subject of his conversion; but only for the +sake of amusement. The priests of the Koran, who would probably have +been delighted to convert us, offered us the most ample concessions. +But these conversations were merely started by way of entertainment, +and never could have warranted a supposition of their leading to any +serious result. If Bonaparte spoke as a Mussulman, it was merely in his +character of a military and political chief in a Mussulman country. +To do so was essential to his success, to the safety of his army, and, +consequently, to his glory. In every country he would have drawn up +proclamations and delivered addresses on the same principle. In India he +would have been for Ali, at Thibet for the Dalai-lama, and in China for +Confucius[8]. + + [8]--[On the subject of his alleged conversion to Mahometanism + Bonaparte expressed himself at St. Helena as follows: + + "I never followed any of the tenets of that religion. I never + prayed in the mosques. I never abstained from wine, or was + circumcised, neither did I ever profess it. I said merely that we + were the friends of the Mussulmans, and that I respected Mahomet + their prophet, which was true; I respect him now. I wanted to make + the Imaums cause prayers to be offered up in the mosques for me, in + order to make the people respect me still more than they actually + did, and obey me more readily. The Imaums replied that there was a + great obstacle, because their Prophet in the Koran had inculcated to + them that they were not to obey, respect, or hold faith with + infidels, and that I came under that denomination. I then desired + them to hold a consultation, and see what was necessary to be done + in order to become a Mussulman, as some of their tenets could not be + practised by us. That, as to circumcision, God had made us unfit + for that. That, with respect to drinking wine, we were poor cold + people, inhabitants of the north, who could not exist without it. + They consulted together accordingly, and in about three weeks issued + a fetham, declaring that circumcision might be omitted, because it + was merely a profession; that as to drinking wine, it might be drunk + by Mussulmans, but that those who drank it would not go to paradise, + but to hell. I replied that this would not do; that we had no + occasion to make ourselves Mussulmans in order to go to hell, that + there were many ways of getting there without coming to Egypt, and + desired them to hold another consultation. After deliberating and + battling together for I believe three months, they finally decided + that a man might become a Mussulman, and neither circumcise nor + abstain from wine; but that, in proportion to the wine drunk, some + good works must be done. I then told them that we were all + Mussulmans and friends of the Prophet, which they really believed, + as the French soldiers never went to church, and had no priests with + them. For you must know that during the Revolution there was no + religion whatever in the French army. Menou," continued Napoleon, + "really turned Mahometan, which was the reason I left him behind." + --(Voices from St. Helena.)]-- + +The General-in-Chief had a Turkish dress made, which he once put on, +merely in joke. One day he desired me to go to breakfast without waiting +for him, and that he would follow me. In about a quarter of an hour he +made his appearance in his new costume. As soon as he was recognised he +was received with a loud burst of laughter. He sat down very coolly; but +he found himself so encumbered and ill at ease in his turban and Oriental +robe that he speedily threw them off, and was never tempted to a second +performance of the masquerade. + +About the end of August Bonaparte wished to open negotiations with the +Pasha of Acre, nicknamed the Butcher. He offered Djezzar his friendship, +sought his in return, and gave him the most consolatory assurances of the +safety of his dominions. He promised to support him against the Grand +Seignior, at the very moment when he was assuring the Egyptians that he +would support the Grand Seignior against the beys. But Djezzar, +confiding in his own strength and in the protection of the English, who +had anticipated Bonaparte, was deaf to every overture, and would not even +receive Beauvoisin, who was sent to him on the 22d of August. A second +envoy was beheaded at Acre. The occupations of Bonaparte and the +necessity of obtaining a more solid footing in Egypt retarded for the +moment the invasion of that pashalic, which provoked vengeance by its +barbarities, besides being a dangerous neighbour. + +From the time he received the accounts of the disaster of Aboukir until +the revolt of Cairo on the 22d of October, Bonaparte sometimes found the +time hang heavily on his hands. Though he devoted attention to +everything, yet there was not sufficient occupation for his singularly +active mind. When the heat was not too great he rode on horseback; and +on his return, if he found no despatches to read (which often happened), +no orders to send off; or no letters to answer, he was immediately +absorbed in reverie, and would sometimes converse very strangely. One +day, after a long pause, he said to me: + +"Do you know what I am thinking of?"--"Upon my word, that would be very +difficult; you think of such extraordinary things."--"I don't know," +continued he, "that I shall ever see France again; but if I do, my only +ambition is to make a glorious campaign in Germany--in the plains of +Bavaria; there to gain a great battle, and to avenge France for the +defeat of Hochstadt. After that I would retire into the country, and +live quietly." + +He then entered upon a long dissertation on the preference he would give +to Germany as the theatre of war[9]; the fine character of the people, and +the prosperity and wealth of the country, and its power of supporting an +army. His conversations were sometimes very long; but always replete +with interest. + + [9]--[So early as 1794 Napoleon had suggested that Austria should + always be attacked in Germany, not in Italy. "It is Germany that + should be overwhelmed; that done, Italy and Spain fall of + themselves. Germany should be attacked, not Spain or Italy. If we + obtain great success, advantage should never be taken of it to + penetrate into Italy while Germany, unweakened, offers a formidable + front" (Iung's Bonaparte, tome ii. p. 936), He was always opposed + to the wild plans which had ruined so many French armies in Italy, + and which the Directory tried to force on him, of marching on Rome + and Naples after every success in the north.]-- + +In these intervals of leisure Bonaparte was accustomed to retire to bed +early. I used to read to him every evening. When I read poetry he would +fall asleep; but when he asked for the Life of Cromwell I counted on +sitting up pretty late. In the course of the day he used to read and +make notes. He often expressed regret at not receiving news from France; +for correspondence was rendered impracticable by the numerous English and +Turkish cruisers. Many letters were intercepted and scandalously +published. Not even family secrets and communications of the most +confidential nature were respected. + +About the middle of September in this year (1798), Bonaparte ordered to +be brought to the house of Elfy Bey half a dozen Asiatic women whose +beauty he had heard highly extolled. But their ungraceful obesity +displeased him, and they were immediately dismissed. A few days after he +fell violently in love with Madame Fourés, the wife of a lieutenant of +infantry. She was very pretty, and her charms were enhanced by the +rarity of seeing a woman in Egypt who was calculated to please the eye of +a European. Bonaparte engaged for her a house adjoining the palace of +Elfy Bey, which we occupied. He frequently ordered dinner to be prepared +there, and I used to go there with him at seven o'clock, and leave him at +nine. + +This connection soon became the general subject of gossip at head-quarters. +Through a feeling of delicacy to M. Fourés, the General-in-Chief gave +him a mission to the Directory. He embarked at Alexandria, +and the ship was captured by the English, who, being informed of the +cause of his mission, were malicious enough to send him back to Egypt, +instead of keeping him prisoner. Bonaparte wished to have a child by +Madame Fourés, but this wish was not realised. + +A celebrated soothsayer was recommended to Bonaparte by the inhabitants +of Cairo, who confidentially vouched for the accuracy with which he could +foretell future events. He was sent for, and when he arrived, I, +Venture, and a sheik were with the General. The prophet wished first to +exercise his skill upon Bonaparte, who, however, proposed that I should +have my fortune told first, to which I acceded without hesitation. +To afford an idea of his prophetic skill I must mention that since my +arrival in Cairo I had been in a very weak state. The passage of the +Nile and the bad food we had had for twelve days had greatly reduced me, +so that I was miserably pale and thin. + +After examining my hands, feeling my pulse, my forehead, and the nape of +my neck, the fortune-teller shrugged his shoulders, and, in a melancholy +tone, told Venture that he did not think it right to inform me of my +fate. I gave him to understand that he might say what he pleased, as it +was a matter of indifference to me. After considerable hesitation on his +part and pressing on mine, he announced to me that the earth of Egypt +would receive me in two months. + +I thanked him, and he was dismissed. When we were alone the General +said to me, "Well, what do you think of that?" I observed that the +fortune-teller did not run any great risk in foretelling my death, which +was a very probable circumstance in the state in which I was; "but," +added I, "if I procure the wines which I have ordered from France, you +will soon see me get round again." + +The art of imposing on mankind has at all times been an important part of +the art of governing; and it was not that portion of the science of +government which Bonaparte was the least acquainted with. He neglected +no opportunity of showing off to the Egyptians the superiority of France +in arts and sciences; but it happened, oftener than once, that the simple +instinct of the Egyptians thwarted his endeavours in this way. Some days +after the visit of the pretended fortune-teller he wished, if I may so +express myself, to oppose conjurer to conjurer. For this purpose he +invited the principal sheiks to be present at some chemical experiments +performed by M. Berthollet. The General expected to be much amused at +their astonishment; but the miracles of the transformation of liquids, +electrical commotions and galvanism, did not elicit from them any symptom +of surprise. They witnessed the operations of our able chemist with the +most imperturbable indifference. When they were ended, the sheik El +Bekri desired the interpreter to tell M. Berthollet that it was all very +fine; "but," said he, "ask him whether he can make me be in Morocco and +here at one and the same moment?" M. Berthollet replied in the negative, +with a shrug of his shoulders. "Oh! then," said the sheik, "he is not +half a sorcerer." + +Our music produced no greater effect upon them. They listened with +insensibility to all the airs that were played to them, with the +exception of "Marlbrook." When that was played they became animated, and +were all in motion, as if ready to dance. + +An order which had been issued on our arrival in Cairo for watching the +criers of the mosques had for some weeks been neglected. At certain +hours of the night these criers address prayers to the Prophet. As it was +merely a repetition of the same ceremony over and over again, in a short +time no notice was taken of it. The Turks, perceiving this negligence, +substituted for their prayers and hymns cries of revolt, and by this sort +of verbal telegraph, insurrectionary excitement was transmitted to the +northern and southern extremities of Egypt. By this means, and by the +aid of secret emissaries, who eluded our feeble police, and circulated +real or forged firmans of the Sultan disavowing the concord between +France and the Porte, and provoking war, the plan of a revolution was +organised throughout the country. + +The signal for the execution of this plan was given from the minarets on +the night of the 20th of October, and on the morning of the 21st it was +announced at headquarters that the city of Cairo was in open +insurrection. The General-in-Chief was not, as has been stated, in the +isle of Raeuddah: he did not hear the firing of the alarm-guns. He rose +when the news arrived; it was then five o'clock. He was informed that +all the shops were closed, and that the French were attacked. A moment +after he heard of the death of General Dupuis, commandant of the +garrison, who was killed by a lance in the street. Bonaparte immediately +mounted his horse, and, accompanied by only thirty guides, visited all +the threatened points, restored confidence, and, with great presence of +mind, adopted measures of defence. + +He left me at headquarters with only one sentinel; but he had been +accurately informed of the situation of the insurgents; and such was my +confidence in his activity and foresight that I had no apprehension, and +awaited his return with perfect composure. This composure was not +disturbed even when I saw a party of insurgents attack the house of M. +Estève, our paymaster-general, which was situated on the opposite side of +Ezbekye'h Place. M. Estève was, fortunately, able to resist the attack +until troops from Boulac came up to his assistance. + +After visiting all the posts, and adopting every precautionary measure, +Bonaparte returned to headquarters. Finding me still alone with the +sentinel, he asked me, smiling, "whether I had not been frightened?"-- +"Not at all, General, I assure you," replied I. + +--It was about half-past eight in the morning when Bonaparte returned to +headquarters, and while at breakfast he was informed that some Bedouin +Arabs, on horseback, were trying to force their entrance into Cairo. He +ordered his aide de camp, Sulkowsky, to mount his horse, to take with him +fifteen guides, and proceed to the point where the assailants were most +numerous. This was the Bab-el-Nasser, or the gate of victory. Croisier +observed to the General-in-Chief that Sulkowsky had scarcely recovered +from the wounds at Salehye'h, and he offered to take his place. He had +his motives for this. Bonaparte consented; but Sulkowsky had already set +out. Within an hour after, one of the fifteen guides returned, covered +with blood, to announce that Sulkowsky and the remainder of his party had +been cut to pieces. This was speedy work, for we were still at table +when the sad news arrived. + +Mortars were planted on Mount Mokatam, which commands Cairo. The +populace, expelled from all the principal streets by the troops, +assembled in the square of the Great Mosque, and in the little streets +running into it, which they barricaded. The firing of the artillery on +the heights was kept up with vigour for two days. + +About twelve of the principal chiefs of Cairo were arrested and confined +in an apartment at headquarters. They awaited with the calmest +resignation the death they knew they merited; but Bonaparte merely +detained them as hostages. The aga in the service of Bonaparte was +astonished that sentence of death was not pronounced upon them; and he +said, shrugging his shoulders, and with a gesture apparently intended to +provoke severity, "You see they expect it." + +On the third the insurrection was at an end, and tranquillity restored. +Numerous prisoners were conducted to the citadel. In obedience to an +order which I wrote every evening, twelve were put to death nightly. The +bodies were then put into sacks and thrown into the Nile. There were +many women included in these nocturnal executions. + +I am not aware that the number of victims amounted to thirty per day, as +Bonaparte assured General Reynier in a letter which he wrote to him six +days after the restoration of tranquillity. "Every night," said he, +"we cut off thirty heads. This, I hope, will be an effectual example." +I am of opinion that in this instance he exaggerated the extent of his +just revenge. + +Some time after the revolt of Cairo the necessity of ensuring our own +safety forced the commission of a terrible act of cruelty. A tribe of +Arabs in the neighbourhood of Cairo had surprised and massacred a party +of French. The General-in-Chief ordered his aide de camp Croisier to +proceed to the spot, surround the tribe, destroy the huts, kill all the +men, and conduct the rest of the population to Cairo. The order was to +decapitate the victims, and bring their heads in sacks to Cairo to be +exhibited to the people. Eugène Beauharnais accompanied Croisier, who +joyfully set out on this horrible expedition, in hope of obliterating all +recollection of the affair of Damanhour. + +On the following day the party returned. Many of the poor Arab women had +been delivered on the road, and the children had perished of hunger, +heat, and fatigue. About four o'clock a troop of asses arrived in +Ezbekye'h Place, laden with sacks. The sacks were opened and the heads +rolled out before the assembled populace. I cannot describe the horror +I experienced; but I must nevertheless acknowledge that this butchery +ensured for a considerable time the tranquillity and even the existence +of the little caravans which were obliged to travel in all directions for +the service of the army. + +Shortly before the loss of the fleet the General-in Chief had formed the +design of visiting Suez, to examine the traces of the ancient canal which +united the Nile to the Gulf of Arabia, and also to cross the latter. The +revolt at Cairo caused this project to be adjourned until the month of +December. + +Before his departure for Suez, Bonaparte granted the commissary Sucy +leave to return to France. He had received a wound in the right hand, +when on board the xebec 'Cerf'. I was conversing with him on deck when +he received this wound. At first it had no appearance of being serious; +but some time after he could not use his hand. General Bonaparte +despatched a vessel with sick and wounded, who were supposed to be +incurable, to the number of about eighty. All envied their fate, and +were anxious to depart with them, but the privilege was conceded to very +few. However, those who were disappointed had no cause for regret. We +never know what we wish for. Captain Marengo, who landed at Augusta in +Sicily, supposing it to be a friendly land, was required to observe +quarantine for twenty-two days, and information was given of the arrival +of the vessel to the court, which was at Palermo. On the 25th of January +1799 all on board the French vessel were massacred, with the exception of +twenty-one who were saved by a Neapolitan frigate, and conducted to +Messing, where they were detained. + +Before he conceived the resolution of attacking the Turkish advanced +guard in the valleys of Syria, Bonaparte had formed a plan of invading +British India from Persia. He had ascertained, through the medium of +agents, that the Shah of Persia would, for a sum of money paid in +advance, consent to the establishment of military magazines on certain +points of his territory. Bonaparte frequently told me that if, after the +subjugation of Egypt, he could have left 15,000 men in that country, and +have had 30,000 disposable troops, he would have marched on the +Euphrates. He was frequently speaking about the deserts which were to be +crossed to reach Persia. + +How many times have I seen him extended on the ground, examining the +beautiful maps which he had brought with him, and he would sometimes make +me lie down in the same position to trace to me his projected march. +This reminded him of the triumphs of his favourite hero, Alexander, with +whom he so much desired to associate his name; but, at the same time, he +felt that these projects were incompatible with our resources, the +weakness of the Government; and the dissatisfaction which the army +already evinced. Privation and misery are inseparable from all these +remote operations. + +This favourite idea still occupied his mind a fortnight before his +departure for Syria was determined on, and on the 25th of January 1799 +he wrote to Tippoo Saib as follows:-- + + You are of course already informed of my arrival on the banks of + the Red Sea, with a numerous and invincible army. Eager to deliver + you from the iron yoke of England, I hasten to request that you will + send me, by the way of Mascate or Mocha, an account of the political + situation in which you are. I also wish that you could send to + Suez, or Grand Cairo, some able man, in your confidence, with whom I + may confer[10]. + + [10]--[It is not true, as has often been stated, that Tippoo Saib + wrote to General Bonaparte. He could not reply to a letter written on + the 23th of January, owing to the great difficulty of communication, + the considerable distance, and the short interval which elapsed + between the 25th of January and the fall of the Empire of Mysore, + which happened on the 20th of April following. The letter to Tippo + Saib commenced "Citizen-Sultan!"--Bourrienne]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +1798-1799. + + Bonaparte's departure for Suez--Crossing the desert--Passage of the + Red Sea--The fountain of Moses--The Cenobites of Mount Sinai--Danger + in recrossing the Red Sea--Napoleon's return to Cairo--Money + borrowed at Genoa--New designs upon Syria--Dissatisfaction of the + Ottoman Porte--Plan for invading Asia--Gigantic schemes--General + Berthier's permission to return to France--His romantic love and the + adored portrait--He gives up his permission to return home--Louis + Bonaparte leaves Egypt--The first Cashmere shawl in France-- + Intercepted correspondence--Departure for Syria--Fountains of + Messoudish--Bonaparte jealous--Discontent of the troops--El-Arish + taken--Aspect of Syria--Ramleh--Jerusalem. + +On the 24th of December we set out for Suez, where we arrived on the +26th. On the 25th we encamped in the desert some leagues before Ad-Geroth. +The heat had been very great during the day; but about eleven at +night the cold became so severe as to be precisely in an inverse ratio to +the temperature of the day. This desert, which is the route of the +caravans from Suez, from Tor and the countries situated on the north of +Arabia, is strewed with the bones of the men and animals who, for ages +past, have perished in crossing it. As there was no wood to be got, we +collected a quantity of these bones for fuel. Monge himself was induced +to sacrifice some of the curious skulls of animals which he had picked up +on the way and deposited in the Berlin of the General-in-Chief. But no +sooner had we kindled our fires than an intolerable effluvium obliged us +to raise our camp and advance farther on, for we could procure no water +to extinguish the fires. + +On the 27th Bonaparte employed himself in inspecting the town and port +of Suez, and in giving orders for some naval and military works. He +feared--what indeed really occurred after his departure from Egypt--the +arrival of some English troops from the East Indies, which he had intended +to invade. These regiments contributed to the loss of his conquest[11]. + + [11]--[Sir David Baird, with a force of about 7000 men sent from + India, landed at Cosseir in July 1801.]-- + +On the morning of the 28th we crossed the Red Sea dry-shod, to go to +the Wells of Moses, which are nearly a myriametre from the eastern +coast, and a little southeast of Suez. The Gulf of Arabia terminates +at about 5,000 metres north of that city. Near the port the Red Sea is +not above 1,500 metres wide, and is always fordable at low water. The +caravans from Tor and Mount Sinai[12] always pass at that part, either +in going to or returning from Egypt. This shortens their journey +nearly a myriametre. At high tide the water rises five or six feet at +Suez, and when the wind blows fresh it often rises to nine or ten +feet. + + [12]--[I shall say nothing of the Cenobites of Mount Sinai, as I + had not the honour of seeing them. Neither did I see the register + containing the names of Ali, Salah-Eddin, Ibrahim or Abraham, + on which Bonaparte is said to have inscribed his name. I perceived + at a distance some high hills which were said to be Mount Sinai. + I conversed, through the medium of an interpreter, with some Arabian + chiefs of Tor and its neighbourhood. They had been informed of our + excursion to the Wells, and that they might there thank the French + General for the protection granted to their caravans and their trade + with Egypt. On the 19th of December, before his departure from + Suez, Bonaparte signed a sort of safeguard, or exemption from + duties, for the convent of Mount Sinai. This had been granted out + of respect to Moses and the Jewish nation, and also because the + convent of Mount Sinai is a seat of learning and civilisation amidst + the barbarism of the deserts.--Bourrienne.]-- + +We spent a few hours seated by the largest of the springs called the +Wells of Moses, situated on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Arabia. +We made coffee with the water from these springs, which, however, gave it +such a brackish taste that it was scarcely drinkable. + +Though the water of the eight little springs which form the Wells of +Moses is not so salt as that of many wells dug in other parts of the +deserts, it is, nevertheless, exceedingly brackish, and does not allay +thirst so well as fresh water. + +Bonaparte returned to Suez that same night. It was very dark when we +reached the sea-shore. The tide was coming up, and the water was pretty +high. We deviated a little from the way we had taken in the morning; we +crossed a little too low down; we were thrown into disorder, but we did +not lose ourselves in the marshes as has been stated. There were none. + +I have read somewhere, though I did not see the fact, nor did I hear it +mentioned at the time, that the tide, which was coming up, would have +been the grave of the General-in-Chief had not one of the guides saved +him by carrying him on his shoulders. If any such danger had existed, +all who had not a similar means of escape must have perished. + +This is a fabrication. General Caffarelli was the only person who was +really in danger, for his wooden leg prevented his sitting firmly on his +horse in the water; but some persons came to his assistance and supported +him[13]. + + [13]--[Bonaparte extricated himself as the others did from the real + danger he and his escort had run. At St. Helena he said, "Profiting + by the low tide, I crossed the Red Sea dry-shod. On my return I was + overtaken by the night and went astray in the middle of the rising + tide. I ran the greatest danger. I nearly perished in the same + manner as Pharaoh did. This would certainly have furnished all the + Christian preachers with a magnificent test against me." + --Bourrienne.]-- + +On his return to Cairo the General-in-Chief wished to discover the site +of the canal which in ancient times formed a junction between the Red Sea +and the Nile by Belbeis. M. Lepère, who was a member of the Egyptian +Institute, and is now inspector-general of bridges and highways, executed +on the spot a beautiful plan, which may confidently be consulted by those +who wish to form an accurate idea of that ancient communication, and the +level of the two seas[14]. + + [14]--[Since accurately ascertained during the progress of the works + for the Suez Canal.]-- + +On his arrival at the capital Bonaparte again devoted all his thoughts to +the affairs of the army, which he had not attended to during his short +absence. The revenues of Egypt were far from being sufficient to meet +the military expenditure. To defray his own expenses Bonaparte raised +several considerable loans in Genoa through the medium of M. James. The +connection of James with the Bonaparte family takes its date from this +period[15]. + + [15]--[Joseph Bonaparte says that the fathers of Napoleon and of M. + James had long known one another, and that Napoleon had met James at + Autun. ('Erreurs', tome i, p. 296).]-- + +Since the month of August the attention of General Bonaparte had been +constantly fixed on Syria. The period of the possible landing of an +enemy in Egypt had now passed away, and could not return until the month +of July in the following year. Bonaparte was fully convinced that that +landing would take place, and he was not deceived. The Ottoman Porte +had, indeed, been persuaded that the conquest of Egypt was not in her +interest. She preferred enduring a rebel whom she hoped one day to +subdue to supporting a power which, under the specious pretext of +reducing her insurgent beys to obedience, deprived her of one of her +finest provinces, and threatened the rest of the empire. + +On his return to Cairo the General-in-Chief had no longer any doubt as to +the course which the Porte intended to adopt. The numerous class of +persons who believed that the Ottoman Porte had consented to our +occupation of Egypt were suddenly undeceived. It was then asked how we +could, without that consent, have attempted such an enterprise? Nothing, +it was said, could justify the temerity of such an expedition, if it +should produce a rupture between France, the Ottoman empire, and its +allies. However, for the remainder of the year Bonaparte dreaded nothing +except an expedition from Gaza and El-Arish, of which the troops of +Djezzar had already taken possession. This occupation was justly +regarded as a decided act of hostility; war was thus practically +declared. "We must adopt anticipatory measures," thought Napoleon; +"we must destroy this advanced guard of the Ottoman empire, overthrow +the ramparts of Jaffa and Acre, ravage the country, destroy all her +resources, so as to render the passage of an army across the desert +impracticable." Thus was planned the expedition against Syria. + +General Berthier, after repeated entreaties, had obtained permission to +return to France. The 'Courageuse' frigate, which was to convey him +home, was fitting out at Alexandria; he had received his instructions, +and was to leave Cairo on the 29th of January, ten days before +Bonaparte's departure for Syria. Bonaparte was sorry to part with him; +but he could not endure to see an old friend, and one who had served him +well in all his campaigns, dying before his eyes, the victim of nostalgia +and romantic love. Besides, Berthier had been for some time past, +anything but active in the discharge of his duties. His passion, which +amounted almost to madness, impaired the feeble faculties with which +nature had endowed him. Some writers have ranked him in the class of +sentimental lovers: be this as it may, the homage which Berthier rendered +to the portrait of the object of his adoration more frequently excited +our merriment than our sensibility. + +One day I went with an order from Bonaparte to the chief of his staff, +whom I found on his knees before the portrait of Madame Visconti, which +was hanging opposite the door. I touched him, to let him know I was +there. He grumbled a little, but did not get angry. + +The moment was approaching when the two friends were to part, perhaps +forever. Bonaparte was sincerely distressed at this separation, and the +chief of his staff was informed of the fact. At a moment when it was +supposed Berthier was on his way to Alexandria, he presented himself to +the General-in-Chief. "You are, then, decidedly going to Asia?" said +he.--"You know," replied the General, "that all is ready, and I shall set +out in a few days."--"Well, I will not leave you. I voluntarily renounce +all idea of returning to France. I could not endure to forsake you at a +moment when you are going to encounter new dangers. Here are my +instructions and my passport." Bonaparte, highly pleased with this +resolution, embraced Berthier; and the coolness which had been excited by +his request to return home was succeeded by a sincere reconciliation. + +Louis Bonaparte, who was suffering from the effects of the voyage, was +still at Alexandria. The General-in-Chief, yielding to the pacific views +of his younger brother, who was also beginning to evince some symptoms of +nostalgia, consented to his return home. He could not, however, depart +until the 11th of March 1799. I felt the absence of Louis very much. + +On his return to France Louis passed through Sens, where he dined with +Madame de Bourrienne, to whom he presented a beautiful shawl, which +General Berthier had given me. This, I believe, was the first Cashmere +that had ever been seen in France. Louis was much surprised when Madame +de Bourrienne showed him the Egyptian correspondence, which had been +seized by the English and printed in London. He found in the collection +some letters addressed to himself, and there were others, he said, which +were likely to disturb the peace of more than one family on the return of +the army. + +On the 11th of February 1799 we began our march for Syria, with about +12,000 men. It has been erroneously stated that the army amounted to +only 6000: nearly that number was lost in the course of the campaign. +However, at the very moment we were on our way to Syria, with 12,000 men, +scarcely as many being left in Egypt, the Directory published that, +"according to the information which had been received," we had 60,000 +infantry and 10,000 cavalry; that the army had doubled its numbers by +battles; and that since our arrival in Egypt, we had lost only 300 men. +Is history to be written from such documents? + +We arrived, about four o'clock in the afternoon, at Messoudiah, or, +"the Fortunate Spot." Here we witnessed a kind of phenomenon, which was +not a little agreeable to us. Messoudiah is a place situated on the +coast of the Mediterranean, surrounded with little dunes of very fine +sand, which the copious rains of winter readily penetrate. The rain +remains in the sand, so that on making with the fingers holes of four or +five inches in depth at the bottom of these little hills, the water +immediately flows out. This water was, indeed, rather thick, but its +flavour was agreeable; and it would have become clear if we could have +spared time to allow it to rest and deposit the particles of sand it +contained. + +It was a curious spectacle to behold us all lying prostrate, digging +wells in miniature; and displaying a laughable selfishness in our +endeavours to obtain the most abundant source. This was a very important +discovery to us. We found these sand-wells at the extremity of the +desert, and it contributed, in no small degree, to revive the courage of +our soldiers; besides, when men are, as was the case with us, subject to +privations of every kind, the least benefit which accrues inspires the +hope of a new advantage. We were approaching the confines of Syria, and +we enjoyed by anticipation, the pleasure we were about to experience, on +treading a soil which, by its variety of verdure and vegetation, would +remind us of our native land. At Messoudiah we likewise possessed the +advantage of bathing in the sea, which was not more than fifty paces from +our unexpected water-supply. + +Whilst near the wells of Messoudiah, on the way to El-Arish, I one day +saw Bonaparte walking alone with Junot, as he was often in the habit of +doing. I stood at a little distance, and my eyes, I know not why, were +fixed on him during their conversation. The General's countenance, which +was always pale, had, without my being able to divine the cause, become +paler than usual. There was something convulsive in his features--a +wildness in his look, and he several times struck his head with his hand. +After conversing with Junot about a quarter of an hour he quitted him and +came towards me. I never saw him exhibit such an air of dissatisfaction, +or appear so much under the influence of some prepossession. I advanced +towards him, and as soon as we met, he exclaimed in an abrupt and angry +tone, "So! I find I cannot depend upon you.--These women!--Josephine! +--if you had loved me, you would before now have told me all I have heard +from Junot--he is a real friend--Josephine!--and I 600 leagues from her-- +you ought to have told me.--That she should thus have deceived me!--'Woe +to them!--I will exterminate the whole race of fops and puppies!--As to +her--divorce!--yes, divorce! a public and open divorce!--I must write! +--I know all!--It is your fault--you ought to have told me!" + +These energetic and broken exclamations, his disturbed countenance and +altered voice informed me but too well of the subject of his conversation +with Junot. I saw that Junot had been drawn into a culpable +indiscretion; and that, if Josephine had committed any faults, he had +cruelly exaggerated them. My situation was one of extreme delicacy. +However, I had the good fortune to retain my self-possession, and as soon +as some degree of calmness succeeded to this first burst, I replied that +I knew nothing of the reports which Junot might have communicated to him; +that even if such reports, often the offspring of calumny, had reached my +ear, and if I had considered it my duty to inform him of them, +I certainly would not have selected for that purpose the moment when he +was 600 leagues from France. I also did not conceal how blamable Junot's +conduct appeared to me, and how ungenerous I considered it thus rashly to +accuse a woman who was not present to justify or defend herself; that it +was no great proof of attachment to add domestic uneasiness to the +anxiety, already sufficiently great, which the situation of his brothers +in arms, at the commencement of a hazardous enterprise, occasioned him. + +Notwithstanding these observations, which, however, he listened to with +some calmness, the word "divorce" still escaped his lips; and it is +necessary to be aware of the degree of irritation to which he was liable +when anything seriously vexed him, to be able to form an idea of what +Bonaparte was during this painful scene. However, I kept my ground. +I repeated what I had said. I begged of him to consider with what +facility tales were fabricated and circulated, and that gossip such as +that which had been repeated to him was only the amusement of idle +persons; and deserved the contempt of strong minds. I spoke of his +glory. "My glory!" cried he. "I know not what I would not give if that +which Junot has told me should be untrue; so much do I love Josephine! +If she be really guilty a divorce must separate us for ever. I will not +submit to be a laughing-stock for all the imbeciles in Paris. I will +write to Joseph; he will get the divorce declared." + +Although his agitation continued long, intervals occurred in which he was +less excited. I seized one of these moments of comparative calm to +combat this idea of divorce which seemed to possess his mind. +I represented to him especially that it would be imprudent to write to +his brother with reference to a communication which was probably false. +"The letter might be intercepted; it would betray the feelings of +irritation which dictated it. As to a divorce, it would be time to think +of that hereafter, but advisedly." + +These last words produced an effect on him which I could not have +ventured to hope for so speedily. He became tranquil, listened to me as +if he had suddenly felt the justice of my observations, dropped the +subject, and never returned to it; except that about a fortnight after, +when we were before St. Jean d'Acre, he expressed himself greatly +dissatisfied with Junot, and complained of the injury he had done him by +his indiscreet disclosures, which he began to regard as the inventions of +malignity. I perceived afterwards that he never pardoned Junot for this +indiscretion; and I can state, almost with certainty, that this was one +of the reasons why Junot was not created a marshal of France, like many +of his comrades whom Bonaparte had loved less. It may be supposed that +Josephine, who was afterwards informed by Bonaparte of Junot's +conversation, did not feel particularly interested in his favour[16]. +He died insane on the 27th of July 1813. + + [16]--[However indiscreet Junot might on this occasion have shown + himself in interfering in so delicate a matter, it is pretty certain + that his suspicions were breathed to no other ear than that of + Bonaparte himself. Madame Junot, in speaking of the ill-suppressed + enmity between her husband and Madame Bonaparte, says that he never + uttered a word even to her of the subject of his conversation with + the General-in-Chief to Egypt. That Junot's testimony, however, + notwithstanding the countenance it obtained from Bonaparte's + relations, ought to be cautiously received, the following passage + from the Memoirs of the Duchesse d'Abrantès, vol. i. p. 250, + demonstrative of the feelings of irritation between the parties, + will show: + + "Junot escorted Madame Bonaparte when she went to join the + General-in-Chief in Italy. I am surprised that M. de Bourrienne has + omitted mentioning this circumstance in his Memoirs. He must have + known it, since he was well acquainted with everything relating to + Josephine, and knew many facts of high interest in her life at this + period and subsequently. How happens it too that he makes no mention + of Mademoiselle Louise, who might be called her 'demoiselle de + compagnie' rather than her 'femme de chambre'? At the outset of the + journey to Italy she was such a favourite with Josephine that she + dressed like her mistress, ate at table with her, and was in all + respects her friend and confidante. + + "The journey was long, much too long for Junot, though he was very + much in love with Mademoiselle Louise. But he was anxious to join + the army, for to him his General was always the dearest of + mistresses. Junot has often spoken to me, and to me alone, of the + vexations he experienced on this journey. He might have added to + his circumstantial details relative to Josephine the conversation he + is reported to have had with Bonaparte to Egypt; but he never + breathed a word on the subject, for his character was always noble + and generous. The journey to Italy did not produce the effect which + usually arises from such incidents in common life; namely, a closer + friendship and intimacy between the parties. On the contrary, + Madame Bonaparte from that moment evinced some degree of ill-humour + towards Junot, and complained with singular warmth of the want of + respect which he had shown her, in making love to her 'femme de + chambre' before her face." + + According to 'Erreurs (tome i. pp. 4, 50) Junot was not then in + Syria. On 10th February Napoleon was at Messoudiah. Junot only + arrived from Egypt at Gaza on the 25th February. Madame d'Abrantès + (ii. 32) treats this conversation as apocryphal. "This (an anecdote + of her own) is not an imaginary episode like that, for example, of + making a person speak at Messoudiah who never was there."]-- + +Our little army continued its march on El-Arish, where we arrived on the +17th of February. The fatigues experienced in the desert and the +scarcity of water excited violent murmurs amongst the soldiers during +their march across the isthmus. When any person on horseback passed them +they studiously expressed their discontent. The advantage possessed by +the horsemen provoked their sarcasms. I never heard the verses which +they are said to have repeated, but they indulged in the most violent +language against the Republic, the men of science, and those whom they +regarded as the authors of the expedition. Nevertheless these brave +fellows, from whom it was not astonishing that such great privations +should extort complaints, often compensated by their pleasantries for the +bitterness of their reproaches. + +Many times during the crossing of the isthmus I have seen soldiers, +parched with thirst, and unable to wait till the hour for distribution of +water, pierce the leathern bottles which contained it; and this conduct, +so injurious to all, occasioned numerous quarrels. + +El-Arish surrendered on the 17th of February. It has been erroneously +stated that the garrison of this insignificant place, which was set at +liberty on condition of not again serving against us, was afterwards +found amongst the besieged at Jaffa. It has also been stated that it was +because the men composing the El-Arish garrison did not proceed to +Bagdad, according to the capitulation, that we shot them at Jaffa. We +shall presently see the falsehood of these assertions. + +On the 28th of February we obtained the first glimpse of the green and +fertile plains of Syria, which, in many respects, reminded us of the +climate and soil of Europe. We now had rain, and sometimes rather too +much. The feelings which the sight of the valleys and mountains called +forth made us, in some degree, forget the hardships and vexations of an +expedition of which few persons could foresee the object or end. There +are situations in life when the slightest agreeable sensation alleviates +all our ills. + +On the 1st of March we slept at Ramleh[17], in a small convent occupied by +two monks, who paid us the greatest attention. They gave us the church +for a hospital. These good fathers did not fail to tell us that it was +through this place the family of Jesus Christ passed into Egypt, and +showed us the wells at which they quenched their thirst. +The pure and cool water of these wells delighted us. + + [17]--[Ramleh, the ancient Arimathea, is situated at the base of a + chain of mountains, the eastern extremity of which is washed by the + Persian Gulf, and the western by the Mediterranean.--Bourrienne.]-- + +We were not more than about six leagues from Jerusalem. +I asked the General whether he did not intend to direct his march by the +way of that city, so celebrated in many respects. He replied, "Oh no! +Jerusalem is not in my line of operations. I do not wish to be annoyed +by mountaineers in difficult roads. And, besides, on the other side of +the mountain I should be assailed by swarms of cavalry. I am not +ambitious of the fate of Cassius." + +We therefore did not enter Jerusalem, which was not disturbed by the war. +All we did was to send a written declaration to the persons in power at +Jerusalem, assuring them that we had no design against that country, and +only wished them to remain at peace. To this communication no answer was +returned, and nothing more passed on the subject[18]. + + [18]--[Sir Walter Scott says, speaking of Bonaparte, that he believes + that little officer of artillery dreamed of being King of Jerusalem. + What I have just stated proves that he never thought of such a + thing. The "little officer of artillery" had a far more splendid + dream in his head.--Bourrienne.]-- + +We found at Ramleh between two and three hundred Christians in a pitiable +state of servitude, misery, and dejection. On conversing with them I +could not help admiring how much the hope of future rewards may console +men under present ills. But I learned from many of them that they did +not live in harmony together. The feelings of hatred and jealousy are +not less common amongst these people than amongst the better-instructed +inhabitants of rich and populous cities. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +1799. + + Arrival at Jaffa--The siege--Beauharnais and Croisier--Four thousand + prisoners--Scarcity of provisions--Councils of war--Dreadful + necessity--The massacre--The plague--Lannes and the mountaineers-- + Barbarity of Djezzar--Arrival at St Jean d'Acre, and abortive + attacks--Sir Sidney Smith--Death of Caffarelli--Duroc wounded-- + Rash bathing--Insurrections in Egypt. + +On arriving before Jaffa, where there were already some troops, the first +person I met was Adjutant-General Gresieux, with whom I was well +acquainted. I wished him good-day, and offered him my hand. "Good God! +what are you about?" said he, repulsing me with a very abrupt gesture; +"you may have the plague. People do not touch each other here!" +I mentioned the circumstance to Bonaparte, who said, "If he be afraid of +the plague, he will die of it." Shortly after, at St. Jean d'Acre, he +was attacked by that malady, and soon sank under it. + +On the 4th of March we commenced the siege of Jaffa. That paltry place, +which, to round a sentence, was pompously styled the ancient Joppa, held +out only to the 6th of March, when it was taken by storm, and given up to +pillage. The massacre was horrible. General Bonaparte sent his aides de +camp Beauharnais and Croisier to appease the fury of the soldiers as much +as possible, and to report to him what was passing. They learned that a +considerable part of the garrison had retired into some vast buildings, +a sort of caravanserai, which formed a large enclosed court. Beauharnais +and Croisier, who were distinguished by wearing the 'aide de camp' scarf +on their arms, proceeded to that place. The Arnauts and Albanians, of +whom these refugees were almost entirely composed, cried from the windows +that they were willing to surrender upon an assurance that they would be +exempted from the massacre to which the town was doomed; if not, they +threatened to fire on the 'aides de camp', and to defend themselves to +the last extremity. The two officers thought that they ought to accede +to the proposition, notwithstanding the decree of death which had been +pronounced against the whole garrison, in consequence of the town being +taken by storm. They brought them to our camp in two divisions, one +consisting of about 2500 men, the other of about 1600. + +I was walking with General Bonaparte, in front of his tent, when he +beheld this mass of men approaching, and before he even saw his 'aides de +camp' he said to me, in a tone of profound sorrow, "What do they wish me +to do with these men? Have I food for them?--ships to convey them to +Egypt or France? Why, in the devil's name, have they served me thus?" +After their arrival, and the explanations which the General-in-Chief +demanded and listened to with anger, Eugène and Croisier received the +most severe reprimand for their conduct. But the deed was done. Four +thousand men were there. It was necessary to decide upon their fate. +The two aides de camp observed that they had found themselves alone in +the midst of numerous enemies, and that he had directed them to restrain +the carnage. "Yes, doubtless," replied the General-in-Chief, with great +warmth, "as to women, children, and old men--all the peaceable +inhabitants; but not with respect to armed soldiers. It was your duty to +die rather than bring these unfortunate creatures to me. What do you want +me to do with them?" These words were pronounced in the most angry tone. + +The prisoners were then ordered to sit down, and were placed, without any +order, in front of the tents, their hands tied behind their backs. +A sombre determination was depicted on their countenances. We gave them +a little biscuit and bread, squeezed out of the already scanty supply for +the army. + +On the first day of their arrival a council of war was held in the tent +of the General-in-Chief, to determine what course should be pursued with +respect to them. The council deliberated a long time without coming to any +decision. + +On the evening of the following day the daily reports of the generals of +division came in. They spoke of nothing but the insufficiency of the +rations, the complaints of the soldiers--of their murmurs and discontent +at seeing their bread given to enemies who had been withdrawn from their +vengeance, inasmuch as a decree of death, in conformity with the laws of +war, had been passed on Jaffa. All these reports were alarming, and +especially that of General Bon, in which no reserve was made. He spoke +of nothing less than the fear of a revolt, which would be justified by +the serious nature of the case. + +The council assembled again. All the generals of division were summoned +to attend, and for several hours together they discussed, under separate +questions, what measures might be adopted, with the most sincere desire +to discover and execute one which would save the lives of these +unfortunate prisoners. + +(1.) Should they be sent into Egypt? Could it be done? + +To do so, it would be necessary to send with them a numerous escort, +which would too much weaken our little army in the enemy's country. How, +besides, could they and the escort be supported till they reached Cairo, +having no provisions to give them on setting out, and their route being +through a hostile territory, which we had exhausted, which presented no +fresh resources, and through which we, perhaps, might have to return, + +(2.) Should they be embarked? + +Where were the ships?--Where could they be found? All our telescopes, +directed over the sea, could not descry a single friendly sail. Bonaparte, +I affirm, would have regarded such an event as a real favour of fortune. +It was, and--I am glad to have to say it, this sole idea, this sole hope, +which made him brave, for three days, the murmurs of his army. But in +vain was help looked for seaward. It did not come. + +(3.) Should the prisoners be set at liberty? + +They would then instantly proceed to St. Jean d'Acre to reinforce the +pasha, or else, throwing themselves into the mountains of Nablous, would +greatly annoy our rear and right-flank, and deal out death to us, as a +recompense for the life we had given them. There could be no doubt of +this. What is a Christian dog to a Turk? It would even have been a +religious and meritorious act in the eye of the Prophet. + +(4.) Could they be incorporated, disarmed, with our soldiers in the +ranks? + +Here again the question of food presented itself in all its force. Next +came to be considered the danger of having such comrades while marching +through an enemy's country. What might happen in the event of a battle +before St. Jean d'Acre? Could we even tell what might occur during the +march? And, finally, what must be done with them when under the ramparts +of that town, if we should be able to take them there? The same +embarrassments with respect to the questions of provisions and security +would then recur with increased force. + +The third day arrived without its being possible, anxiously as it was +desired, to come to any conclusion favourable to the preservation of +these unfortunate men. The murmurs in the camp grew louder--the evil went +on increasing--remedy appeared impossible--the danger was real and +imminent. The order for shooting the prisoners was given and executed on +the 10th of March. We did not, as has been stated, separate the Egyptians +from the other prisoners. There were no Egyptians. + +Many of the unfortunate creatures composing the smaller division, which +was fired on close to the seacoast, at some distance from the other +column, succeeded in swimming to some reefs of rocks out of the reach of +musket-shot. The soldiers rested their muskets on the sand, and, to +induce the prisoners to return, employed the Egyptian signs of +reconciliation in use in the country. They came back; but as they +advanced they were killed, and disappeared among the waves. + +I confine myself to these details of this act of dreadful necessity, of +which I was an eye-witness. Others, who, like myself, saw it, have +fortunately spared me the recital of the sanguinary result. This +atrocious scene, when I think of it, still makes me shudder, as it did on +the day I beheld it; and I would wish it were possible for me to forget +it, rather than be compelled to describe it. All the horrors imagination +can conceive, relative to that day of blood, would fall short of the +reality. + +I have related the truth, the whole truth. I was present at all the +discussions, all the conferences, all the deliberations. I had not, as +may be supposed, a deliberative voice; but I am bound to declare that +the situation of the army, the scarcity of food, our small numerical +strength, in the midst of a country where every individual was an enemy, +would have induced me to vote in the affirmative of the proposition which +was carried into effect, if I had a vote to give. It was necessary to be +on the spot in order to understand the horrible necessity which existed. + +War, unfortunately, presents too many occasions on which a law, immutable +in all ages, and common to all nations, requires that private interests +should be sacrificed to a great general interest, and that even humanity +should be forgotten. It is for posterity to judge whether this terrible +situation was that in which Bonaparte was placed. For my own part, I +have a perfect conviction that he could not do otherwise than yield to +the dire necessity of the case. It was the advice of the council, whose +opinion was unanimous in favour of the execution, that governed him. +Indeed I ought in truth to say, that he yielded only in the last +extremity, and was one of those, perhaps, who beheld the massacre with +the deepest pain. + +After the siege of Jaffa the plague began to exhibit itself with a little +more virulence. We lost between seven and eight hundred, men by the +contagion during the campaign of Syria[19]. + + [19]--[Sir Walter Scott says, that Heaven sent this pestilence amongst + us to avenge the massacre of Jaffa]-- + +During our march on St. Jean d'Acre, which was commenced on the 14th of +March, the army neither obtained the brilliant triumphs nor encountered +the numerous obstacles spoken of in certain works. Nothing of importance +occurred but a rash skirmish of General Lannes who, in spite of contrary +orders from Bonaparte, obstinately pursued a troop of mountaineers into +the passes of Nablous. On returning, he found the mountaineers placed in +ambush in great numbers amongst rocks, the windings of which they were +well acquainted with, whence they fired close upon our troops, whose +situation rendered them unable to defend themselves. During the time of +this foolish and useless enterprise, especially while the firing was +brisk, Bonaparte exhibited much impatience, and it must be confessed, +his anger was but natural. The Nablousians halted at the openings of the +mountain defiles. Bonaparte reproached Lannes bitterly for having +uselessly exposed himself, and "sacrificed, without any object, a number +of brave men." Lannes excused himself by saying that the mountaineers +had defied him, and he wished to chastise the rabble. "We are not in a +condition to play the swaggerer," replied Napoleon. + +In four days we arrived before St. Jean d'Acre, where we learned that +Djezzar had cut off the head of our envoy, Mailly-de-Chateau-Renaud, and +thrown his body into the sea in a sack. This cruel pasha was guilty of a +great number of similar executions. The waves frequently drove dead +bodies towards the coast, and we came upon them whilst bathing. + +The details of the siege of Acre are well known. Although surrounded by +a wall, flanked with strong towers, and having, besides, a broad and deep +ditch defended by works this little fortress did not appear likely to +hold out against French valour and the skill of our corps of engineers +and artillery; but the ease and rapidity with which Jaffa had been taken +occasioned us to overlook in some degree the comparative strength of the +two places, and the difference of their respective situations. At Jaffa +we had sufficient artillery: at St. Jean d'Acre we had not. At Jaffa we +had to deal only with a garrison left to itself: at St. Jean d'Acre we +were opposed by a garrison strengthened by reinforcements of men and +supplies of provisions, supported by the English fleet, and assisted by +European Science. + +Sir Sidney Smith was, beyond doubt, the man who did us the greatest +injury[20]. Much has been said respecting his communications with the +General-in-Chief. The reproaches which the latter cast upon him for +endeavouring to seduce the soldiers and officers of the army by +tempting offers were the more singular, even if they were well +founded, inasmuch as these means are frequently employed by leaders in +war[21]. As to the embarking of French prisoners on board a vessel in +which the plague existed, the improbability of the circumstance alone, +but especially the notorious facts of the case, repell this odious +accusation. I observed the conduct of Sir Sidney Smith closely at the +time, and I remarked in him a chivalric spirit, which sometimes +hurried him into trifling eccentricities; but I affirm that his +behaviour towards the French was that of a gallant enemy. I have seen +many letters, in which the writers informed him that they "were very +sensible of the good treatment which the French experienced when they +fell into his hands." Let any one examine Sir Sidney's conduct before +the capitulation of El-Arish, and after its rupture, and then they can +judge of his character[22]. + + [20]--[Sir Sidney Smith was the only Englishman besides the Duke of + Wellington who defeated Napoleon in military operations. The third + Englishman opposed to him, Sir John Moore, was compelled to make a + precipitate retreat through the weakness of his force]-- + + [21]--[At one time the French General was so disturbed by them as to + endeavour to put a stop to them; which object he effected by + interdicting all communication with the English, and signifying, in + an order of the day, that their Commodore was a madman. This, being + believed in the army, so enraged Sir Sidney Smith, that in his wrath + he sent a challenge to Napoleon. The latter replied, that he had + too many weighty affairs on his hands to trouble himself in so + trifling a matter. Had it, indeed, been the great Marlborough, it + might have been worthy his attention. Still, if the English sailor + was absolutely bent upon fighting, he would send him a bravo from the + army, and show them a small portion of neutral ground, where the mad + Commodore might land, and satisfy his humour to the full.--(Editor + of 1836 edition.)]-- + + [22]--[Napoleon, when at St. Helena, in speaking of the siege of Acre, + said,--Sidney Smith is a brave officer. He displayed considerable + ability in the treaty for the evacuation of Egypt by the French. He + took advantage of the discontent which he found to prevail amongst + the French troops at being so long away from France, and other + circumstances. He manifested great honour in sending immediately to + Kléber the refusal of Lord Keith to ratify the treaty, which saved + the French army; if he had kept it a secret seven or eight days + longer, Cairo would have been given up to the Turks, and the French + army necessarily obliged to surrender to the English. He also + showed great humanity and honour in all his proceedings towards the + French who felt into his hands. He landed at Havre, for some + 'sottise' of a bet he had made, according to some, to go to the + theatre; others said it was for espionage; however that may be, he + was arrested and confined in the Temple as a spy; and at one time it + was intended to try and execute him. Shortly after I returned from + Italy he wrote to me from his prison, to request that I would + intercede for him; but, under the circumstances in which he was + taken, I could do nothing for him. He is active, intelligent, + intriguing, and indefatigable; but I believe that he is 'mezzo + pazo'. + + "The chief cause of the failure at Acre was, that he took all my + battering train, which was on board of several small vessels. + Had it not been for that, I would have taken Acre in spite of him. + He behaved very bravely, and was well seconded by Phillipeaux, a + Frenchman of talent, who had studied with me as an engineer. There + was a Major Douglas also, who behaved very gallantly. The + acquisition of five or six hundred seamen as gunners was a great + advantage to the Turks, whose spirits they revived, and whom they + showed how to defend the fortress. But he committed a great fault + in making sorties, which cost the lives of two or three hundred + brave fellows without the possibility of success. For it was + impossible he could succeed against the number of the French who + were before Acre. I would lay a wage that he lost half of his crew + in them. He dispersed Proclamations amongst my troops, which + certainly shook some of them, and I in consequence published an + order, stating that he was mad, and forbidding all communication + with him. Some days after he sent, by means of a flag of truce, + a lieutenant or a midshipman with a letter containing a challenge to + me to meet him at some place he pointed out in order to fight a + duel. I laughed at this, and sent him back an intimation that + when he brought Marlborough to fight me I would meet him. + Notwithstanding this, I like the character of the man." (Voices from + St. Helena, vol. 4, p. 208).]-- + +All our manoeuvres, our works, and attacks were made with that levity and +carelessness which over-confidence inspires. Kléber, whilst walking with +me one day in the lines of our camp, frequently expressed his surprise +and discontent. "The trenches," said, he, "do not come up to my knees." +Besieging artillery was, of necessity, required: we commenced with field +artillery. This encouraged the besieged, who perceived the weakness of our +resources. The besieging artillery, consisting only of three twenty-four +pounders and six eighteen pounders, was not brought up until the +end of April, and before that period three assaults had taken place with +very serious loss. On the 4th of May our powder began to fail us. This +cruel event obliged us to slacken our fire. We also wanted shot; and an +order of the day fixed a price to be given for all balls, according to +their calibre, which might be picked up after being fired from the +fortress or the two ships of the line, the 'Tiger' and 'Theseus', which +were stationed on each side of the harbour. These two vessels embarrassed +the communication between the camp and the trenches; but though they +made much noise, they did little harm. A ball from one of them killed +an officer on the evening the siege was raised. + +The enemy had within the walls some excellent riflemen, chiefly +Albanians. They placed stones, one over the other, on the walls, put +their firearms through the interstices, and thus, completely sheltered, +fired with destructive precision. + +On the 9th of April General Caffarelli, so well known for his courage and +talents, was passing through the trench, his hand resting as he stooped +on his hip, to preserve the equilibrium which his wooden leg impaired; +his elbow only was raised above the trench. He was warned that the +enemy's shot, fired close upon us, did not miss the smallest object. +He paid no attention to any observation of this kind, and in a few +instants his elbow joint was fractured. Amputation of the arm was judged +indispensable. The General survived the operation eighteen days. +Bonaparte went regularly twice a day to his tent. By his order, added to +my friendship for Caffarelli, I scarcely ever quitted him. Shortly +before he expired he said to me, "My dear Bourrienne, be so good as to +read to me Voltaire's preface to 'Esprit des Lois'." When I returned to +the tent of the General-in-Chief he asked, "How is Caffarelli?" I +replied, "He is near his end; but he asked me to read him Voltaire's +preface to the 'Esprit de Lois', he has just fallen asleep." Bonaparte +said, "Bah! to wish to hear that preface? how singular!" He went to see +Caffarelli, but he was still asleep. I returned to him that evening and +received his last breath. He died with the utmost composure. His death. +was equally regretted by the soldiers and the men of science, who +accompanied us. It was a just regret due to that distinguished man, in +whom very extensive information was united with great courage and amiable +disposition. + +On the 10th of May, when an assault took place, Bonaparte proceeded at +an early hour to the trenches[23]. Croisier, who was mentioned on our +arrival at Damanhour and on the capture of Jaffa, had in vain courted +death since the commencement of the siege. Life had become +insupportable to him since the unfortunate affair at Jaffa. He as +usual accompanied his General to the trenches. Believing that the +termination of the siege, which was supposed to be near, would +postpone indefinitely the death which he sought, he mounted a battery. +In this situation his tall figure uselessly provoked all the enemy's +shots. "Croisier, come down, I command you; you have no business +there," cried Bonaparte, in a loud and imperative tone. Croisier +remained without making any reply. A moment after a ball passed +through his right leg. Amputation was not considered indispensable. On +the day of our departure he was placed on a litter, which was borne by +sixteen men alternately, eight at a time. I received his farewell +between Gaza and El-Arish, where he died of tetanus. His modest tomb +will not be often visited. + + [23]--[Sir Sidney Smith, in his official report of the assault of the + 8th of May, says that Napoleon was distinctly seen directing the + operation.]-- + +Croisier, who was mentioned on our arrival at Damanhour and on the +capture of Jaffa, had in vain courted death since the commencement of the +siege. Life had become insupportable to him since the unfortunate affair +at Jaffa. He as usual accompanied his General to the trenches. +Believing that the termination of the siege, which was supposed to be +near, would postpone indefinitely the death which he sought, he mounted a +battery. In this situation his tall figure uselessly provoked all the +enemy's shots. "Croisier, come down, I command you; you have no business +there," cried Bonaparte, in a loud and imperative tone. Croisier +remained without making any reply. A moment after a ball passed through +his right leg. Amputation was not considered indispensable. On the day +of our departure he was placed on a litter, which was borne by sixteen +men alternately, eight at a time. I received his farewell between Gaza +and El-Arish, where he died of tetanus. His modest tomb will not be +often visited. + +The siege of St. Jean d'Acre lasted sixty days. During that time eight +assaults and twelve sorties took place. In the assault of the 8th of May +more than 200 men penetrated into the town. Victory was already shouted; +but the breach having been taken in reverse by the Turks, it was not +approached without some degree of hesitation, and the men who had entered +were not supported. The streets were barricaded. The cries, the +howlings of the women, who ran through the streets throwing, according to +the custom of the country, dust in the air, excited the male inhabitants +to a desperate resistance, which rendered unavailing this short +occupation of the town, by a handful of men, who, finding themselves left +without assistance, retreated towards the breach. Many who could not +reach it perished in the town. + +During this assault Duroc, who was in the trench, was wounded in the +right thigh by the splinter from a shell fired against the +fortifications. Fortunately this accident only carried away the flesh +from the bone, which remained untouched. He had a tent in common with +several other 'aides de camp'; but for his better accommodation I gave +him mine, and I scarcely ever quitted him. Entering his tent one day +about noon, I found him in a profound sleep. The excessive heat had +compelled him to throw off all covering, and part of his wound was +exposed. I perceived a scorpion which had crawled up the leg of the +camp-bed and approached very near to the wound. I was just in time to +hurl it to the ground. The sudden motion of my hand awoke Duroc. + +We often bathed in the sea. Sometimes the English, perhaps after taking +a double allowance of grog, would fire at our heads, which appeared above +water. I am not aware that any accident was occasioned by their +cannonade; but as we were beyond reach of their guns, we paid scarcely +any attention to the firing. It was seen a subject of amusement to us. + +Had our attack on St. Jean d'Acre been less precipitate, and had the +siege been undertaken according to the rules of war, the place would not +have held out three days; one assault, like that of the 8th of May, would +have been sufficient. If, in the situation in which we were on the day +when we first came in sight of the ramparts of Acre; we had made a less +inconsiderate estimate of the strength of the place; if we had likewise +taken into consideration the active co-operation of the English and the +Ottoman Porte, our absolute want of artillery of sufficient calibre, our +scarcity of gunpowder and the difficulty of procuring food, we certainly +should not have undertaken the siege; and that would have been by far the +wisest course. + +Towards the end of the siege the General-in-Chief received intelligence +of some trifling insurrections in northern Egypt. An angel had excited +them, and the heavenly messenger, who had condescended to assume a name, +was called the Mahdi, or El Mohdy. This religious extravagance, however, +did not last long, and tranquillity was soon restored. All that the +fanatic Mahdi, who shrouded himself in mystery, succeeded in doing was to +attack our rear by some vagabonds, whose illusions were dissipated by a +few musket shots. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +1799. + + The siege of Acre raised--Attention to names in bulletins--Gigantic + project--The Druses--Mount Carmel--The wounded and infected-- + Order to march on foot--Loss of our cannon--A Nablousian fires at + Bonaparte--Return to Jaffa--Bonaparte visits the plague hospital-- + A potion given to the sick--Bonaparte's statement at St. Helena. + +The siege of St. Jean d'Acre was raised on the 20th of May. It cost us a +loss of nearly 3000 men, in killed, deaths by the plague, or wounds. A +great number were wounded mortally. In those veracious documents, the +bulletins, the French loss was made 500 killed, and 1000 wounded, and the +enemy's more than 15,000. + +Our bulletins may form curious materials for history; but their value +certainly will not depend on the credit due to their details. Bonaparte +attached the greatest importance to those documents; generally drawing +them up himself, or correcting them, when written by another hand, if the +composition did not please him. + +It must be confessed that at that time nothing so much flattered +self-love as being mentioned in a bulletin. Bonaparte was well aware +of this; he knew that to insert a name in a bulletin was conferring a +great honour, and that its exclusion was a severe disappointment. +General Berthier, to whom I had expressed a strong desire to examine +the works of the siege, took me over them; but, notwithstanding his +promise of secrecy, he mentioned the circumstance to the +General-in-Chief, who had desired me not to approach the works. "What +did you go there for?" said Bonaparte to me, with some severity; "that +is not your place." I replied that Berthier told me that no assault +would take place that day; and he believed there would be no sortie, +as the garrison had made one the preceding evening. "What matters +that? There might have been another. Those who have nothing to do in +such places are always the first victims. Let every man mind his own +business. Wounded or killed, I would not even have noticed you in the +bulletin. You could have been laughed at, and that justly." + +Bonaparte, not having at this time experienced reverses, having +continually proceeded from triumph to triumph, confidently anticipated +the taking of St. Jean d'Acre. In his letters to the generals in Egypt +he fixed the 25th of April for the accomplishment of that event. He +reckoned that the grand assault against the tower could not be made +before that day; it took place, however, twenty-four hours sooner. He +wrote to Desaix on the 19th of April, "I count on being master of Acre +in six days." On the 2d of May he told Junot, "Our 18 and 24 pounders +have arrived. We hope to enter Acre in a few days. The fire of their +artillery is completely extinguished." Letters have been printed, +dated 30th Floréal (19th. May), in which he announces to Dugua and to +Poussielque that they can rely on his being in Acre on 6th Floréal +(25th April). Some mistake has evidently been made. "The slightest +circumstances produce the greatest events," said Napoleon, according +to the Memorial of St. Helena; "had St. Jean d'Acre fallen, I should +have changed the face of the world." And again, "The fate of the East +lay in that small town." This idea is not one which he first began to +entertain at St. Helena; he often repeated the very same words at St. +Jean d'Acre. On the shore of Ptolemes gigantic projects agitated him, +as, doubtless, regret for not having carried them into execution +tormented him at St. Helena. + +Almost every evening Bonaparte and myself used to walk together, at a +little distance from the sea-shore. The day after the unfortunate +assault of the 8th of May Bonaparte, afflicted at seeing the blood of so +many brave men uselessly shed, said to me, "Bourrienne, I see that this +wretched place has cost me a number of men, and wasted much time. But +things are too far advanced not to attempt a last effort. If I succeed, +as I expect, I shall find in the town the pasha's treasures, and arms for +300,000 men. I will stir up and arm the people of Syria, who are +disgusted at the ferocity of Djezzar, and who, as you know, pray for his +destruction at every assault. I shall then march upon Damascus and +Aleppo. On advancing into the country, the discontented will flock round +my standard, and swell my army. I will announce to the people the +abolition of servitude and of the tyrannical governments of the pashas. +I shall arrive at Constantinople with large masses of soldiers. I shall +overturn the Turkish empire, and found in the East a new and grand +empire, which will fix my place in the records of posterity. Perhaps +I shall return to Paris by Adrianople, or by Vienna, after having +annihilated the house of Austria." After I had made some observations +which these grand projects naturally suggested, he replied, "What! do you +not see that the Druses only wait for the fall of Acre to rise in +rebellion? Have not the keys of Damascus already been offered me? +I only stay till these walls fall because until then I can derive no +advantage from this large town. By the operation which I meditate I +cut off all kind of succour from the beys, and secure the conquest of +Egypt. I will have Desaix nominated commander-in-chief; but if I do +not succeed in the last assault I am about to attempt, I set off +directly. Time presses,--I shall not be at Cairo before the middle of +June; the winds will then lie favourable for ships bound to Egypt, from +the north. Constantinople will send troops to Alexandria and Rosetta. +I must be there. As for the army, which will arrive afterwards by land, +I do not fear it this year. I will cause everything to be destroyed, all +the way to the entrance of the desert. I will render the passage of an +army impossible for two years. Troops cannot exist amoung ruins." + +As soon as I returned to my tent I committed to paper this conversation, +which was then quite fresh in my memory, and, I may venture to say that +every word I put down is correct. I may add, that during the siege our +camp was constantly filled with the inhabitants, who invoked Heaven to +favour our arms, and prayed fervently at every assault for our success, +many of them on their knees, with their faces to the city. The people of +Damascus, too, had offered the keys to Bonaparte. Thus everything +contributed to make him confident in his favourite plan. + +The troops left St. Jean d'Acre on the 20th of May, taking advantage of +the night to avoid a sortie from the besieged, and to conceal the retreat +of the army, which had to march three leagues along the shore, exposed to +the fire of the English vessels lying in the roads of Mount Carmel. The +removal of the wounded and sick commenced on the 18th and 19th of May. + +Bonaparte then made a proclamation, which from one end to the other +offends against truth. It has been published in many works. The season of +the year for hostile landing is there very dexterously placed in the +foreground; all the rest is a deceitful exaggeration. It must be observed +that the proclamations which Bonaparte regarded as calculated to dazzle +an ever too credulous public were amplifications often ridiculous and +incomprehensible upon the spot, and which only excited the laughter of +men of common sense. In all Bonaparte's correspondence there is an +endeavour to disguise his reverses, and impose on the public, and even on +his own generals. For example, he wrote to General Dugua, commandant of +Cairo, on the 15th of February, "I will bring you plenty of prisoners and +flags!" One would almost be inclined to say that he had resolved, during +his stay in the East, thus to pay a tribute to the country of fables[24]. + + [24]--[The prisoners and flags were sent. The Turkish flags were + entrusted by Berthier to the Adjutant-Commandant Boyer, who + conducted a convoy of sick and wounded to Egypt. Sidney Smith + acknowledges the loss of some flags by the Turks. The Turkish + prisoners were used as carriers of the litters for the wounded, and + were, for the most part, brought into Egypt. (Erreurs, tome i. pp. + 47 and 160)]-- + +Thus terminated this disastrous expedition. I have read somewhere that +during this immortal campaign the two heroes Murat and Mourad had often +been in face of one another. There is only a little difficulty; Mourad +Bey never put his foot in Syria. + +We proceeded along the coast, and passed Mount Carmel. Some of the +wounded were carried on litters, the remainder on horses, mules, and +camels. At a short distance from Mount Carmel we were informed that +three soldiers, ill of the plague, who were left in a convent (which +served for a hospital), and abandoned too confidently to the generosity +of the Turks, had been barbarously put to death. + +A most intolerable thirst, the total want of water, an excessive heat, +and a fatiguing march over burning sand-hills, quite disheartened the +men, and made every generous sentiment give way to feelings of the +grossest selfishness and most shocking indifference. I saw officers, with +their limbs amputated, thrown off the litters, whose removal in that way +had been ordered, and who had themselves given money to recompense the +bearers. I saw the amputated, the wounded, the infected, or those only +suspected of infection, deserted and left to themselves. The march was +illumined by torches, lighted for the purpose of setting fire to the +little towns, villages, and hamlets which lay in the route, and the rich +crops with which the land was then covered. The whole country was in a +blaze. Those who were ordered to preside at this work of destruction +seemed eager to spread desolation on every side, as if they could thereby +avenge themselves for their reverses, and find in such dreadful havoc an +alleviation of their sufferings. We were constantly surrounded by +plunderers, incendiaries, and the dying, who, stretched on the sides of +the road, implored assistance in a feeble voice, saying, "I am not +infected--I am only wounded;" and to convince those whom they addressed, +they reopened their old wounds, or inflicted on themselves fresh ones. +Still nobody attended to them. "It is all over with him," was the +observation applied to the unfortunate beings in succession, while every +one pressed onward. The sun, which shone in an unclouded sky in all its +brightness, was often darkened by our conflagrations. On our right lay +the sea; on our left, and behind us, the desert made by ourselves; before +were the privations and sufferings which awaited us. Such was our true +situation. + +We reached Tentoura on the 20th of May, when a most oppressive heat +prevailed, and produced general dejection. We had nothing to sleep on but +the parched and burning sand; on our right lay a hostile sea; our losses +in wounded and sick were already considerable since leaving Acre; and +there was nothing consolatory in the future. The truly afflicting +condition in which the remains of an army called triumphant were plunged, +produced, as might well be expected, a corresponding impression on the +mind of the General-in-Chief. Scarcely had he arrived at Tentoura when +he ordered his tent to be pitched. He then called me, and with a mind +occupied by the calamities of our situation, dictated an order that every +one should march on foot; and that all the horses, mules, and camels +should be given up to the wounded, the sick, and infected who had been +removed, and who still showed signs of life. "Carry that to Berthier," +said he; and the order was instantly despatched. Scarcely had I returned +to the tent when the elder Vigogne, the General-in-Chief's groom, +entered, and raising his hand to his cap, said, "General, what horse do +you reserve for yourself?" In the state of excitement in which Bonaparte +was this question irritated him so violently that, raising his whip, he +gave the man a severe blow on the head, saying in a terrible voice, +"Every-one must go on foot, you rascal--I the first--Do you not know the +order? Be off!" + +Every one in parting with his horse was now anxious to avoid giving it to +any unfortunate individual supposed to be suffering from plague. Much +pains were taken to ascertain the nature of the diseases of the sick; and +no difficulty was made in accommodating the wounded of amputated. For my +part I had an excellent horse; a mule, and two camels, all which I gave +up with the greatest pleasure; but I confess that I directed my servant +to do all he could to prevent an infected person from getting my horse. +It was returned to me in a very short time. The same thing happened to +many others. The cause maybe easily conjectured. + +The remains of our heavy artillery were lost in the moving sands of +Tentoura, from the want of horses, the small number that remained being +employed in more indispensable services. The soldiers seemed to forget +their own sufferings, plunged in grief at the loss of their bronze guns, +often the instruments of their triumphs, and which had made Europe +tremble. + +We halted at Caesarea on the 22d of May, and we marched all the following +night. Towards daybreak a man, concealed in a bush upon the left of the +road (the sea was two paces from us on the right), fired a musket almost +close to the head of the General-in-Chief, who was sleeping on his horse. +I was beside him. The wood being searched, the Nablousian was taken +without difficulty, and ordered to be shot on the spot. Four guides +pushed him towards the sea by thrusting their carbines against his back; +when close to the water's edge they drew the triggers, but all the four +muskets hung fire: a circumstance which was accounted for by the great +humidity of the night. The Nablousian threw himself into the water, and, +swimming with great agility and rapidity, gained a ridge of rocks so far +off that not a shot from the whole troop, which fired as it passed, +reached him. Bonaparte, who continued his march, desired me to wait for +Kléber, whose division formed the rear-guard, and to tell him not to +forget the Nablousian. He was, I believe, shot at last. + +We returned to Jaffa on the 24th of May, and stopped there during the +25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th. This town had lately been the scene of a +horrible transaction, dictated by necessity, and it was again destined to +witness the exercise of the same dire law. Here I have a painful duty to +perform--I will perform it. I will state what I know, what I saw. + +I have seen the following passage in a certain, work:--"Bonaparte, +having arrived at Jaffa, ordered three removals of the infected: one by +sea to Damietta, and also by land; the second to Gaza; and the third to +El-Arish!" So, many words, so many errors! + +Some tents were pitched on an eminence near the gardens east of Jaffa. +Orders were given directly to undermine the fortifications and blow them +up; and on the 27th of May, upon the signaling given, the town was in a +moment laid bare. An hour afterwards the General-in-Chief left his tent +and repaired to the town, accompanied by Berthier, some physicians and +surgeons, and his usual staff. I was also one of the party. A long and +sad deliberation took place on the question which now arose relative to +the men who were incurably ill of the plague, or who were at the point of +death. After a discussion of the most serious and conscientious kind it +was decided to accelerate a few moments, by a potion, a death which was +inevitable, and which would otherwise be painful and cruel. + +Bonaparte took a rapid view of the destroyed ramparts of the town and +returned to the hospital, where there were men whose limbs had been +amputated, many wounded, many afflicted with ophthalmia, whose +lamentations were distressing, and some infected with the plague. The +beds of the last description of patients were to the right on entering +the first ward. I walked by the General's side, and I assert that I +never saw him touch any one of the infected. And why should he have done +so? They were in the last stage of the disease. Not one of them spoke a +word to him, and Bonaparte well knew that he possessed no protection +against the plague. Is Fortune to be again brought forward here? She +had, in truth, little favoured him during the last few months, when he +had trusted to her favours. I ask, why should he have exposed himself to +certain death, and have left his army in the midst of a desert created by +our ravages, in a desolate town, without succour, and without the hope of +ever receiving any? Would he have acted rightly in doing so--he who was +evidently so necessary, so indispensable to his army; he on whom depended +at that moment the lives of all who had survived the last disaster, and +who had proved their attachment to him by their sufferings, their +privations, and their unshaken courage, and who had done all that he +could have required of men, and whose only trust was in him? + +Bonaparte walked quickly through the rooms, tapping the yellow top of his +boot with a whip he held in his hand. As he passed along with hasty +steps he repeated these words: "The fortifications are destroyed. +Fortune was against me at St. Jean d'Acre. I must return to Egypt to +preserve it from the enemy, who will soon be there: In a few hours the +Turks will be here. Let all those who have strength enough rise and come +along with us. They shall be carried on litters and horses." There were +scarcely sixty cases of plague in the hospital; and all accounts stating +a greater number are exaggerated. The perfect silence, complete +dejection, and general stupor of the patients announced their approaching +end. To carry them away in the state in which they were would evidently +have been doing nothing else than inoculating the rest of the army with +the plague. I have, it is true, learned, since my return to Europe, that +some persons touched the infected with impunity; nay; that others went so +far as to inoculate themselves with the plague in order to learn how to +cure those whom it might attack. It certainly was a special protection +from Heaven to be preserved from it; but to cover in some degree the +absurdity of such a story, it is added that they knew how to elude the +danger, and that any one else who braved it without using precautions met +with death for their temerity. This is, in fact, the whole point of the +question. Either those privileged persons took indispensable +precautions; and in that case their boasted heroism is a mere juggler's +trick; or they touched the infected without using precautions, and +inoculated themselves with the plague, thus voluntarily encountering +death, and then the story is really a good one. + +The infected were confided, it has been stated, to the head apothecary of +the army, Royer, who, dying in Egypt three years after, carried the +secret with him to the grave. But on a moment's reflection it will be +evident that the leaving of Royer alone in Jaffa would have been to +devote to certain death; and that a prompt and cruel one, a man who was +extremely useful to the army, and who was at the time in perfect health. +It must be remembered that no guard could be left with him, and that the +Turks were close at our heels. Bonaparte truly said, while walking +through the rooms of the hospital, that the Turks would be at Jaffa in a +few hours. With this conviction, would he have left the head apothecary +in that town? + +Recourse has been had to suppositions to support the contrary belief to +what I state. For example, it is said that the infected patients were +embarked in ships of war. There were no such ships. Where had they +disembarked, who had received them; what had been done with them? +No one speaks of them. Others, not doubting that the infected men died +at Jaffa, say, that the rearguard under Kléber, by order of Bonaparte, +delayed its departure for three days, and only began its march when +death had put an end to the sufferings of these unfortunate beings, +unshortened by any sacrifice. All this is incorrect. No rear-guard was +left--it could not be done. Pretence is made of forgetting that the +ramparts were destroyed, that the town was as open and as defenceless as +any village, so this small rear-guard would have been left for certain +destruction. The dates themselves tell against these suppositions. It +is certain, as can be seen by the official account, that we arrived at +Jaffa on 24th May, and stayed there the 25th, 26th, and 27th. We left it +on the 28th. Thus the rear-guard, which, according to these writers, left +on the 29th, did not remain, even according to their own hypothesis, three +days after the army to see the sick die. In reality it left on the 29th +of May, the day after we did. Here are the very words of the Major-General +(Berthier) in his official account, written under the eye and +under the dictation of the Commander-in-Chief:-- + + The army arrived at Jaffa, 5th Prairial (24th May), and remained + there the 6th, 7th, and 8th (25th-27th May). This time was employed + in punishing the village, which had behaved badly. The + fortifications of Jaffa were blown up. All the iron guns of the + place were thrown into the sea. The wounded were removed by sea and + by land. There were only a few ships, and to give time to complete + the evacuation by land, the departure of the army had to be deferred + until the 9th (28th May). Kléber's division formed the rear-guard, + and only left Jaffa on the 10th (29th May). + +The official report of what passed at Jaffa was drawn up by Berthier, +under the eye of Bonaparte. It has been published; but it may be +remarked that not a word about the infected, not a word of the visit to +the hospital, or the touching of the plague-patients with impunity, is +there mentioned. In no official report is anything said about the +matter. Why this silence? Bonaparte was not the man to conceal a fact +which would have afforded him so excellent and so allowable a text for +talking about his fortune. If the infected were removed, why not mention +it? Why be silent on so important an event? But it would have been +necessary to confess that being obliged to have recourse to so painful a +measure was the unavoidable consequence of this unfortunate expedition. +Very disagreeable details must have been entered into; and it was thought +more advisable to be silent on the subject. + +But what did Napoleon himself say on the subject at St. Helena? His +statement there was to the following effect:--"I ordered a consultation +as to what was best to be done. The report which was made stated that +there were seven or eight men (the question is not about the number) so +dangerously ill that they could not live beyond twenty-four hours, and +would besides infect the rest of the army with the plague. It was +thought it would be an act of charity to anticipate their death a few +hours." + +Then comes the fable of the 500 men of the rear guard, who, it is +pretended, saw them die! I make no doubt that the story of the poisoning +was the invention of Den----. He was a babbler, who understood a story +badly, and repeated it worse. I do not think it would have been a crime +to have given opium to the infected. On the contrary, it would have been +obedience to the dictates of reason. Where is the man who would not, in +such a situation, have preferred a prompt death, to being exposed to the +lingering tortures inflicted by barbarians? If my child, and I believe I +love him as much as any father does his, had been in such a state, my +advice would have been the same; if I had been among the infected myself, +I should have demanded to be so treated. + +Such was the reasoning at St. Helena, and such was the view which he and +every one else took of the case twenty years ago at Jaffa. + +Our little army arrived at Cairo on the 14th of June, after a painful and +harassing march of twenty-five days. The heats during the passage of the +desert between El-Arish and Belbeis exceeded thirty-three degrees. On +placing the bulb of the thermometer in the sand the mercury rose to +forty-five degrees. The deceitful mirage was even more vexatious than in +the plains of Bohahire'h. In spite of our experience an excessive +thirst, added to a perfect illusion, made us goad on our wearied horses +towards lakes which vanished at our approach, and left behind nothing but +salt and arid sand. In two days my cloak was completely covered with +salt, left on it after the evaporation of the moisture which held it in +solution. Our horses, who ran eagerly to the brackish springs of the +desert, perished in numbers, after travelling about a quarter of a league +from the spot where they drank the deleterious fluid. + +Bonaparte preceded his entry into the capital of Egypt by one of those +lying bulletins which only imposed on fools. "I will bring with me," +said he, "many prisoners and flags. I have razed the palace of the +Djezzar and the ramparts of Acre--not a stone remains upon another. All +the inhabitants have left the city, by sea. Djezzar is severely +wounded." + +I confess that I experienced a painful sensation in writing, by his +dictation, these official words, everyone of which was an imposition. +Excited by all I had just witnessed, it was difficult for me to refrain +from making the observation; but his constant reply was, "My dear fellow, +you are a simpleton: you do not understand this business." And he +observed, when signing the bulletin, that he would yet fill the world +with admiration, and inspire historians and poets. + +Our return to Cairo has been attributed to the insurrections which broke +out during the unfortunate expedition into Syria. Nothing is more +incorrect. The term insurrection cannot be properly applied to the +foolish enterprises of the angel El-Mahdi in the Bohahire'h, or to the +less important disturbances in the Charkyeh. The reverses experienced +before St. Jean d'Acre, the fear, or rather the prudent anticipation of a +hostile landing, were sufficient motives, and the only ones, for our +return to Egypt. What more could we do in Syria but lose men and time, +neither of which the General had to spare? + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +1799. + + Murat and Moarad Bey at the Natron Lakes--Bonaparte's departure for + the Pyramids--Sudden appearance of an Arab messenger--News of + the landing of the Turks at Aboukir--Bonaparte marches against + them--They are immediately attacked and destroyed in the battle of + Aboukir--Interchange of communication with the English--Sudden + determination to return to Europe--Outfit of two frigates-- + Bonaparte's dissimulation--His pretended journey to the Delta-- + Generous behaviour of Lanusee--Bonaparte's artifice--His bad + treatment of General Kléber. + +Bonaparte had hardly set foot in Cairo when he was informed that the +brave and indefatigable Mourad Bey was descending by the Fayoum, in order +to form a junction with reinforcements which had been for some time past +collected in the Bohahire'h. In all probability this movement of Mourad +Bey was the result of news he had received respecting plans formed at +Constantinople, and the landing which took place a short time after in +the roads of Aboukir. Mourad had selected the Natron Lakes for his place +of rendezvous. To these lakes Murat was despatched. The Bey no sooner +got notice of Murat's presence than he determined to retreat and to +proceed by the desert to Gizeh and the great Pyramids. I certainly never +heard, until I returned to France, that Mourad had ascended to the summit +of the great Pyramid for the purpose of passing his time in contemplating +Cairo! + +Napoleon said at St. Helena that Murat might have taken Mourad Bey had +the latter remained four-and-twenty hours longer in the Natron Lakes. Now +the fact is, that as soon as the Bey heard of Murat's arrival he was off. +The Arabian spies were far more serviceable to our enemies than to us; we +had not, indeed, a single friend in Egypt. Mourad Bey, on being informed +by the Arabs, who acted as couriers for him, that General Desaix was +despatching a column from the south of Egypt against him, that the +General-in-Chief was also about to follow his footsteps along the +frontier of Gizeh, and that the Natron Lakes and the Bohahire'h were +occupied by forces superior to his own, retired into Fayoum. + +Bonaparte attached great importance to the destruction of Mourad, whom he +looked upon as the bravest, the most active, and most dangerous of his +enemies in Egypt. As all accounts concurred in stating that Mourad, +supported by the Arabs, was hovering about the skirts of the desert of +the province of Gizeh, Bonaparte proceeded to the Pyramids, there to +direct different corps against that able and dangerous partisan. He, +indeed, reckoned him so redoubtable that he wrote to Murat, saying he +wished fortune might reserve for him the honour of putting the seal on +the conquest of Egypt by the destruction of this opponent. + +On the 14th of July Bonaparte left Cairo for the Pyramids. He intended +spending three or four days in examining the ruins of the ancient +necropolis of Memphis; but he was suddenly obliged to alter his plan. +This journey to the Pyramids, occasioned by the course of war, has given +an opportunity for the invention of a little piece of romance. Some +ingenious people have related that Bonaparte gave audiences to the mufti +and ulemas, and that on entering one of the great Pyramids he cried out, +"Glory to Allah! God only is God, and Mahomet is his prophet!" Now the +fact is, that Bonaparte never even entered the great Pyramid. He never +had any thought of entering it:--I certainly should have accompanied him +had he done so for I never quitted his side a single moment in the desert. +He caused some person to enter into one of the great Pyramids while he +remained outside, and received from them, on their return, an account of +what they had seen. In other words, they informed him there was nothing +to be seen! + +On the evening of the 15th of July, while we were taking a walk, we +perceived, on the road leading from Alexandria, an Arab riding up to us +in all haste. He brought to the General-in-Chief a despatch from General +Marmont, who was entrusted with the command of Alexandria, and who had +conducted himself so well, especially during the dreadful ravages of the +plague, that he had gained the unqualified approbation of Bonaparte. The +Turks had landed on the 11th of July at Aboukir, under the escort and +protection of English ships of war. The news of the landing of from +fifteen to sixteen thousand men did not surprise Bonaparte, who had for +some time expected it. It was not so, however, with the generals most in +his favor, whose apprehensions, for reasons which may be conjectured, he +had endeavoured to calm. He had even written to Marmont, who, being in +the most exposed situation, had the more reason to be vigilant, in these +terms: + + The army which was to have appeared before Alexandria, and which + left Constantinople on the 1st of the Ramadhan, has been destroyed + under the walls of Acre. If, however, that mad Englishman (Smith) + has embarked the remains of that army in order to convey them to + Aboukir, I do not believe there can be more than 2000 men. + +He wrote in the following strain to General Dugua, who had the command of +Cairo: + + The English Commander, who has summoned Damietta, is a madman. The + combined army they speak of has been destroyed before Acre, where it + arrived a fortnight before we left that place. + +As soon as he arrived at Cairo, in a letter he despatched to Desaix, he +said: + + The time has now arrived when disembarkations have become + practicable. I shall lose no time in getting ready. The + probabilities, however, are, that none will take place this year. + +What other language could he hold, when he had proclaimed when after the +raising of the siege of Acre, that he had destroyed those 15,000 men who +two months after landed at Aboukir? + +No sooner had Bonaparte perused the contents of Marmont's letter than he +retired into his tent and dictated to me, until three in the morning, his +orders for the departure of the troops, and for the routes he wished to +be pursued during his absence by the troops who should remain in the +interior. At this moment I observed in him the development of that +vigorous character of mind which was excited by obstacles until he +overcame them--that celerity of thought which foresaw everything. He was +all action, and never for a moment hesitated. On the 16th of July, at +four in the morning, he was on horseback and the army in full march. +I cannot help doing justice to the presence of mind, promptitude of +decision, and rapidity of execution which at this period of his life +never deserted him on great occasions. + +We reached Ouardan, to the north of Gizeh, on the evening of the 16th; +on the 19th we arrived at Rahmalianie'h, and on the 23d at Alexandria, +where every preparation was made for that memorable battle which, though +it did not repair the immense losses and fatal consequences of the naval +conflict of the same name, will always recall to the memory of Frenchmen +one of the most brilliant achievements of their arms[25]. + + [25]--[As M. de Bourrienne gives no details of the battle, the + following extract from the Duc de Rovigo's Memoirs, tome i, p. 167, + will supply the deficiency: + + "General Bonaparte left Cairo in the utmost haste to place himself + at the head of the troops which he had ordered to quit their + cantonments and march down to the coast. + + "Whilst the General was making these arrangements and coming in + person from Cairo, the troops on board the Turkish fleet had + effected a landing and taken possession of the fort of Aboukir, and + of a redoubt placed behind the village of that name which ought to + have been put into a state of defence six months before, but had + been completely neglected. + + "The Turks had nearly destroyed the weak garrisons that occupied + those two military points when General Marmont (who commanded at + Alexandria) came to their relief. This general, seeing the two + posts in the power of the Turks, returned to shut himself up in + Alexandria, where he would probably have been blockaded by the + Turkish army had it not been for the arrival of General Bonaparte + with his forces, who was very angry when he saw that the fort and + redoubt had been taken; but he did not blame Marmont for retreating + to Alexandria with the forces at his disposal. + + "General Bonaparte arrived at midnight with his guides and the + remaining part of his army, and ordered the Turks to be attacked the + next morning. In this battle, as in the preceding ones, the attack, + the encounter, and the rout were occurrences of a moment, and the + result of a single movement on the part of our troops. The whole + Turkish army plunged into the sea to regain its ships, leaving + behind them everything they had brought on shore. + + "Whilst this event was occurring on the seashore a pasha had left + the field of battle with a corps of about 3000 men in order to throw + himself into the fort of Aboukir. They soon felt the extremities + of thirst, which compelled them, after the lapse of a few days, to + surrender unconditionally to General Menou, who was left to close + the operations connected with the recently defeated Turkish army."] + +After the battle, which took place on the 25th of July, Bonaparte sent a +flag of truce on board the English Admiral's ship. Our intercourse was +full of politeness, such as might be expected in the communications of +the people of two civilised nations. The English Admiral gave the flag +of truce some presents in exchange for some we sent, and likewise a copy +of the French Gazette of Frankfort, dated 10th of June 1799. For ten +months we had received no news from France. Bonaparte glanced over this +journal with an eagerness which may easily be conceived[26]. + + + [26]--[The French, on their return from St. Jean d'Acre were totally + ignorant of all that had taken place in Europe for several months. + Napoleon, eager to obtain intelligence, sent a flag of truce on + board the Turkish admiral's ship, under the pretence of treating for + the ransom of the prisoners taken at Aboukir, not doubting but the + envoy would be stopped by Sir Sidney Smith, who carefully prevented + all direct communication between the French and the Turks. + Accordingly the French flag of truce received directions from Sir + Sidney to go on board his ship. He experienced the handsomest + treatment; and the English commander having, among other things, + ascertained that the disasters of Italy were quite unknown to + Napoleon, indulged in the malicious pleasure of sending him a file + of newspapers. Napoleon spent the whole night in his tent perusing + the papers; and he came to the determination of immediately + proceeding to Europe to repair the disasters of France; and if + possible, to save her from destruction (Memorial de Sainte Helene)]. + +"Heavens!" said he to me, "my presentiment is verified: the fools have +lost Italy. All the fruits of our victories are gone! I must leave +Egypt!" + +He sent for Berthier, to whom he communicated the news, adding that +things were going on very badly in France--that he wished to return home +--that he (Berthier) should go along with him, and that, for the present, +only he, Gantheaume, and I were in the secret. He recommended Berthier +to be prudent, not to betray any symptoms of joy, nor to purchase or sell +anything, and concluded by assuring him that he depended on him. "I can +answer," said he, "for myself and for Bourrienne." Berthier promised to +be secret, and he kept his word. He had had enough of Egypt, and he so +ardently longed to return to France, that there was little reason to fear +he would disappoint himself by any indiscretion. + +Gantheaume arrived, and Bonaparte gave him orders to fit out the two +frigates, the 'Muiron' and the 'Carrère', and the two small vessels, the +'Revanche' and the 'Fortune', with a two months' supply of provisions for +from four to five hundred men. He enjoined his secrecy as to the object +of these preparations, and desired him to act with such circumspection +that the English cruisers might have no knowledge of what was going on. +He afterwards arranged with Gantheaume the course he wished to take. No +details escaped his attention. + +Bonaparte concealed his preparations with much care, but still some vague +rumours crept abroad. General Dugua, the commandant of Cairo, whom he +had just left for the purpose of embarking, wrote to him on the 18th of +August to the following effect: + + I have this moment heard that it is reported at the Institute you + are about to return to France, taking with you Monge, Berthollet, + Berthier, Lannes, and Murat. This news has spread like lightning + through the city, and I should not be at all surprised if it produce + an unfavourable effect, which, however, I hope you will obviate. + +Bonaparte embarked five days after the receipt of Dugua's letter, and, as +may be supposed, without replying to it. + +On the 18th of August he wrote to the divan of Cairo as follows: + + I set out to-morrow for Menouf, whence I intend to make various + excursions in the Delta, in order that I may myself witness the acts + of oppression which are committed there, and acquire some knowledge + of the people. + +He told the army but half the truth: + + The news from Europe (said he) has determined me to proceed to + France. I leave the command of the army to General Kléber. The + army shall hear from me forthwith. At present I can say no more. + It costs me much pain to quit troops to whom I am so strongly + attached. But my absence will be but temporary, and the general I + leave in command has the confidence of the Government as well as + mine. + +I have now shown the true cause of General Bonaparte's departure for +Europe. This circumstance, in itself perfectly natural, has been the +subject of the most ridiculous conjectures to those who always wish to +assign extraordinary causes for simple events. There is no truth +whatever in the assertion of his having planned his departure before the +battle of Aboukir. Such an idea never crossed his mind. He had no +thought whatever of his departure for France when he made the journey to +the Pyramids, nor even when he received the news of the landing of the +Anglo-Turkish force. + +At the end of December 1798 Bonaparte thus wrote to the Directory: "We +are without any news from France. No courier has arrived since the month +of June." + +Some writers have stated that we received news by the way of Tunis, +Algiers, or Morocco; but there is no contradicting a positive fact. At +that period I had been with Bonaparte more than two years, and during +that time not a single despatch on any occasion arrived of the contents +of which I was ignorant. How then should the news alluded to have +escaped me?[27] + + [27]--[Details on the question of the correspondence of Napoleon with + France while he was to Egypt will be found in Colonel Iung's work, + Lucien Bonaparte (Paris. Charpentier, 1882), tome i. pp. 251-274. + It seems most probable that Napoleon was in occasional communication + with his family and with some of the Directors by way of Tunis and + Tripoli. It would not be his interest to let his army or perhaps + even Bourrienne know of the disasters in Italy till he found that + they were sure to hear of them through the English. This would + explain his affected ignorance till such a late date. On the 11th + of April Barras received a despatch by which Napoleon stated his + intention of returning to France if the news brought by Hamelin was + confirmed. On the 26th of May 1799 three of the Directors, Barras, + Rewbell, and La Révellière-Lepeaux, wrote to Napoleon that Admiral + Bruix had been ordered to attempt every means of bringing back his + army. On the 15th of July Napoleon seems to have received this and + other letters. On the 20th of July he warns Admiral Gantheaume to + be ready to start. On the 11th of September the Directors formally + approved the recall of the army from Egypt. Thus at the time + Napoleon landed in France (on the 8th October), his intended return + had been long known to and approved by the majority of the + Directors, and had at last been formally ordered by the Directory. + At the most he anticipated the order. He cannot be said to have + deserted his post. Lantrey (tome i. p. 411) remarks that the + existence and receipt of the letter from Joseph denied by Bourrienne + is proved by Miot (the commissary, the brother of Miot de Melito) + and by Joseph himself. Talleyrand thanks the French Consul at + Tripoli for sending news from Egypt, and for letting Bonaparte know + what passed in Europe. See also Ragusa (Marmont), tome i. p. 441, + writing on 24th December 1798: "I have found an Arab of whom I am + sure, and who shall start to-morrow for Derne . . . . This means + can be used to send a letter to Tripoli, for boats often go there."] + +Almost all those who endeavour to avert from Bonaparte the reproach of +desertion quote a letter from the Directory, dated the 26th of May 1799. +This letter may certainly have been written, but it never reached its +destination. Why then should it be put upon record? + +The circumstance I have stated above determined the resolution of +Bonaparte, and made him look upon Egypt as an exhausted field of glory, +which it was high time he had quitted, to play another part in France. +On his departure from Europe Bonaparte felt that his reputation was +tottering. He wished to do something to raise up his glory, and to fix +upon him the attention of the world. This object he had in great part +accomplished; for, in spite of serious disasters, the French flag waved +over the cataracts of the Nile and the ruins of Memphis, and the battles +of the Pyramids, and Aboukir were calculated in no small degree to +dazzle the imagination. Cairo and Alexandria too were ours. Finding +that the glory of his arms no longer supported the feeble power of the +Directory, he was anxious to see whether he could not share it, or +appropriate it to himself. + +A great deal has been said about letters and secret communications from +the Directory, but Bonaparte needed no such thing. He could do what he +pleased: there was no power to check him; such had been the nature of +his arrangements on leaving France. He followed only the dictates of his +own will, and probably, had not the fleet been destroyed, he would have +departed from Egypt much sooner. To will and to do were with him one and +the same thing. The latitude he enjoyed was the result of his verbal +agreement with the Directory, whose instructions and plans he did not +wish should impede his operations. + +Bonaparte left Alexandria on the 5th of August, and on the 10th arrived +at Cairo. He at first circulated the report of a journey to Upper Egypt. +This seemed so much the more reasonable, as he had really entertained +that design before he went to the Pyramids, and the fact was known to the +army and the inhabitants of Cairo. Up to this time our secret had been +studiously kept. However, General Lanusse, the commandant at Menouf, +where we arrived on the 20th of August, suspected it. "You are going to +France," said he to me. My negative reply confirmed his suspicion. This +almost induced me to believe the General-in-Chief had been the first to +make the disclosure. General Lanusse, though he envied our good fortune, +made no complaints. He expressed his sincere wishes for our prosperous +voyage, but never opened his mouth on the subject to any one. + +On the 21st of August we reached the wells of Birkett. The Arabs had +rendered the water unfit for use, but the General-in-Chief was resolved +to quench his thirst, and for this purpose squeezed the juice of several +lemons into a glass of the water; but he could not swallow it without +holding his nose and exhibiting strong feelings of disgust. + +The next day we reached Alexandria, where the General informed all those, +who had accompanied him from Cairo that France was their destination. +At this announcement joy was pictured in every countenance. + +General Kléber, to whose command Bonaparte had resigned the army, was +invited to come from Damietta to Rosetta to confer with the +General-in-Chief on affairs of extreme importance. Bonaparte, in +making an appointment which he never intended to keep, hoped to escape +the unwelcome freedom of Kléber's reproaches. He afterwards wrote to +him all he had to say; and the cause he assigned for not keeping his +appointment was, that his fear of being observed by the English +cruisers had forced him to depart three days earlier than he intended. +But when he wrote Bonaparte well knew that he would be at sea before +Kléber could receive his letter. KKléber in his letter to the +Directory, complained bitterly of this deception. The singular fate +that befell this letter will be seen by and by. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +1799. + + Our departure from Egypt--Nocturnal embarkation--M. Parseval + Grandmaison--On course--Adverse winds--Fear of the English-- + Favourable weather--Vingt-et-un--Chess--We land at Ajaccio-- + Bonaparte's pretended relations--Family domains--Want of money-- + Battle of Novi--Death of Joubert--Visionary schemes--Purchase of a + boat--Departure from Corsica--The English squadron--Our escape-- + The roads of Fréjus--Our landing in France--The plague or the + Austrians--Joy of the people--The sanitary laws--Bonaparte falsely + accused. + +We were now to return to our country--again to cross the sea, to us so +pregnant with danger--Caesar and his fortune were once more to embark. +But Caesar was not now advancing to the East to add Egypt to the +conquests of the Republic. He was revolving in his mind vast schemes, +unawed by the idea of venturing everything to chance in his own favour +the Government for which he had fought. The hope of conquering the most +celebrated country of the East no longer excited the imagination, as on +our departure from France. Our last visionary dream had vanished before +the walls of St. Jean d'Acre, and we were leaving on the burning sands of +Egypt most of our companions in arms. An inconceivable destiny seemed to +urge us on, and we were obliged to obey its decrees. + +On the 23d of August we embarked on board two frigates, the 'Muiron'[28] +and 'Carrère'. Our number was between four and five hundred. Such was +our squadron, and such the formidable army with which Bonaparte had +resolved, as he wrote to the divan of Cairo, "to annihilate all his +enemies." This boasting might impose on those who did not see the real +state of things; but what were we to think of it? What Bonaparte himself +thought the day after. + + [28]--[Named after Bonaparte's aide de camp killed in the Italian + campaign]-- + +The night was dark when we embarked in the frigates which lay at a +considerable distance from the port of Alexandria; but by the faint light +of the stars we perceived a corvette, which appeared to be observing our +silent nocturnal embarkation.[29] + + [29]--[The horses of the escort had been left to run loose on the + beach, and all was perfect stillness in Alexandria, when the advanced + posts of the town were alarmed by the wild galloping of horses, which + from a natural instinct, were returning to Alexandria through the + desert. The picket ran to arms on seeing horses ready saddled and + bridled, which were soon discovered to belong to the regiment of + guides. They at first thought that a misfortune had happened to some + detachment in its pursuit of the Arabs. With these horses came also + those of the generals who had embarked with General Bonaparte; so + that Alexandria was for a time in considerable alarm. The cavalry + was ordered to proceed in all haste in the direction whence the + horses came, and every one was giving himself up to the most gloomy + conjectures, when the cavalry returned to the city with the Turkish + groom, who was bringing back General Bonaparte's horse to Alexandria + (Memoirs of the Duc de Rovigo, tome i. p. 182).]-- + +Next morning, just as we were on the point of setting sail, we saw. +coming from the port of Alexandria a boat, on board of which was M. +Parseval Grandmaison. This excellent man, who was beloved by all of us, +was not included among the persons whose return to France had been +determined by the General-in-Chief. In his anxiety to get off Bonaparte +would not hear of taking him on board. It will readily be conceived how +urgent were the entreaties of Parseval; but he would have sued in vain +had not Gantheaume, Monge, Berthollet, and I interceded for him. With +some difficulty we overcame Bonaparte's resistance, and our colleague of +the Egyptian Institute got on board after the wind had filled our sails. + +It has been erroneously said that Admiral Gantheaume had full control of +the frigates, as if any one could command when Bonaparte was present. +On the contrary, Bonaparte declared to the admiral, in my hearing, that +he would not take the ordinary course and get into the open sea. "Keep +close along the coast of the Mediterranean," said he, "on the African +side, until you get south of Sardinia. I have here a handful of brave +fellows and a few pieces of artillery; if the English should appear I +will run ashore, and with my party, make my way by land to Oran, Tunis, +or some other port, whence we may find an opportunity of getting home." +This was his irrevocable determination. + +For twenty-one days adverse winds, blowing from west or north-west, drove +us continually on the coast of Syria, or in the direction of Alexandria. +At one time it was even proposed that we should again put into the port; +but Bonaparte declared he would rather brave every danger than do so. +During the day we tacked to a certain distance northward, and in the +evening we stood towards Africa, until we came within sight of the +coast. Finally after no less than twenty-one days of impatience and +disappointment, a favourable east wind carried us past that point of +Africa on which Carthage formerly stood, and we soon doubled Sardinia. +We kept very near the western coast of that island, where Bonaparte had +determined to land in case of our falling in with the English squadron. +From thence his plan was to reach Corsica, and there to await a +favourable opportunity of returning to France. + +Everything had contributed to render our voyage dull and monotonous; and, +besides, we were not entirely without uneasiness as to the steps which +might be taken by the Directory, for it was certain that the publication +of the intercepted correspondence must have occasioned many unpleasant +disclosures. Bonaparte used often to walk on deck to superintend the +execution of his orders. The smallest sail that appeared in view excited +his alarm. + +The fear of falling into the hands of the English never forsook him. +That was what he dreaded most of all, and yet, at a subsequent period, he +trusted to the generosity of his enemies. + +However, in spite of our well-founded alarm, there were some moments in +which we sought to amuse ourselves, or, to use a common expression, to +kill time. Cards afforded us a source of recreation, and even this +frivolous amusement served to develop the character of Bonaparte. In +general he was not fond of cards; but if he did play, vingt-et-un was his +favourite game, because it is more rapid than many others, and because, +in short, it afforded him an opportunity of cheating. For example, he +would ask for a card; if it proved a bad one he would say nothing, but +lay it down on the table and wait till the dealer had drawn his. If the +dealer produced a good card, then Bonaparte would throw aside his hand, +without showing it, and give up his stake. If, on the contrary, the +dealer's card made him exceed twenty-one, Bonaparte also threw his cards +aside without showing them, and asked for the payment of his stake. He +was much diverted by these little tricks, especially when they were +played off undetected; and I confess that even then we were courtiers +enough to humour him, and wink at his cheating. I must, however, mention +that he never appropriated to himself the fruit of these little +dishonesties, for at the end of the game he gave up all his winnings, and +they were equally divided. Gain, as may readily be supposed, was not his +object; but he always expected that fortune would grant him an ace or a +ten at the right moment with the same confidence with which he looked for +fine weather on the day of battle. If he were disappointed he wished +nobody to know it. + +Bonaparte also played at chess, but very seldom, because he was only a +third-rate player, and he did not like to be beaten at that game, +which, I know not why, is said to bear a resemblance to the grand game +of war. At this latter game Bonaparte certainly feared no adversary. +This reminds me that when we were leaving Passeriano he announced his +intention of passing through Mantua. He was told that the commandant +of that town, I believe General Beauvoir, was a great chess-player, +and he expressed a wish to play a game with him. General Beauvoir +asked him to point out any particular pawn with which he would be +checkmated; adding, that if the pawn were taken, he, Bonaparte, should +be declared the winner. Bonaparte pointed out the last pawn on the +left of his adversary. A mark was put upon it, and it turned out that +he actually was checkmated with that very pawn. Bonaparte was not very +well pleased at this. He liked to play with me because, though rather +a better player than himself, I was not always able to beat him. As +soon as a game was decided in his favour he declined playing any +longer, preferring to rest on his laurels. + +The favourable wind which had constantly prevailed after the first twenty +days of our voyage still continued while we kept along the coast of +Sardinia; but after we had passed that island the wind again blew +violently from the west, and on the 1st of October we were forced to +enter the Gulf of Ajaccio. We sailed again next day but we found it +impossible to work our way out of the gulf. We were therefore obliged to +put into the port and land at Ajaccio. Adverse winds obliged us to +remain there until the 7th of October. It may readily be imagined how +much this delay annoyed Bonaparte. He sometimes expressed his +impatience, as if he could enforce the obedience of the elements as well +as of men. He was losing time, and time was everything to him. + +There was one circumstance which seemed to annoy him as much as any of +his more serious vexations. "What will become of me," said he, "if the +English, who are cruising hereabout, should learn that I have landed +in Corsica? I shall be forced to stay here. That I could never endure. +I have a torrent of relations pouring upon me." His great reputation +had certainly prodigiously augmented the number of his family. He was +overwhelmed with visits, congratulations, and requests. The whole town +was in a commotion. Every one of its inhabitants wished to claim him +as their cousin; and from the prodigious number of his pretended +godsons and goddaughters, it might have been supposed that he had held +one-fourth of the children of Ajaccio at the baptismal font. + +Bonaparte frequently walked with us in the neighbourhood of Ajaccio; and +when in all the plenitude of his power he did not count his crowns with +greater pleasure than he evinced in pointing out to us the little domains +of his ancestors. + +While we were at Ajaccio M. Fesch gave Bonaparte French money in +exchange for a number of Turkish sequins, amounting in value to 17,000 +francs. This sum was all that the General brought with him from Egypt. +I mention this fact because he was unjustly calumniated in letters +written after his departure, and which were intercepted and published by +the English. I ought also to add, that as he would never for his own +private use resort to the money-chest of the army, the contents of which +were, indeed, never half sufficient to defray the necessary expenses, he +several times drew on Genoa, through M. James, and on the funds he +possessed in the house of Clary, 16,000, 25,000, and up to 33,000 francs. +I can bear witness that in Egypt I never saw him touch any money beyond +his pay; and that he left the country poorer than he had entered it is a +fact that cannot be denied. In his notes on Egypt it appears that in one +year 12,600,000 francs were received. In this sum were included at least +2,000,000 of contributions, which were levied at the expense of many +decapitations. Bonaparte was fourteen months in Egypt, and he is said to +have brought away with him 20,000,000. Calumny may be very gratifying to +certain persons, but they should at least give it a colouring of +probability. The fact is, that Bonaparte had scarcely enough to maintain +himself at Ajaccio and to defray our posting expenses to Paris. + +On our arrival at Ajaccio we learnt the death of Joubert, and the loss of +the battle of Novi, which was fought on the 15th of August. Bonaparte +was tormented by anxiety; he was in a state of utter uncertainty as to +the future. From the time we left Alexandria till our arrival in Corsica +he had frequently talked of what he should do during the quarantine, +which he supposed he would be required to observe on reaching Toulon, the +port at which he had determined to land. + +Even then he cherished some illusions respecting the state of affairs; +and he often said to me, "But for that confounded quarantine, I would +hasten ashore, and place myself at the head of the army of Italy. All is +not over; and I am sure that there is not a general who would refuse me +the command. The news of a victory gained by me would reach Paris as +soon as the battle of Aboukir; that, indeed, would be excellent." + +In Corsica his language was very different. When he was informed of our +reverses, and saw the full extent of the evil, he was for a moment +overwhelmed. His grand projects then gave way to the consideration of +matters of minor import, and he thought about his detention in the +Lazaretto of Toulon. He spoke of the Directory, of intrigues, and of +what would be said of him. He accounted his enemies those who envied +him, and those who could not be reconciled to his glory and the influence +of his name. Amidst all these anxieties Bonaparte was outwardly calm, +though he was moody and reflective. + +Providing against every chance of danger, he had purchased at Ajaccio a +large launch which was intended to be towed by the 'Muiron', and it was +manned by twelve of the best sailors the island could furnish. His +resolution was, in case of inevitable danger, to jump into this boat and +get ashore. This precaution had well-nigh proved useful[30]. + + [30]--[Sir Walter Scott, at the commencement of his Life of Napoleon, + says that Bonaparte did not see his native City after 1793. + Probably to avoid contradicting himself, the Scottish historian + observes that Bonaparte was near Ajaccio on his return from Egypt. + He spent eight days there.--Bourrienne.]-- + +After leaving the Gulf of Ajaccio the voyage was prosperous and +undisturbed for one day; but on the second day, just at sunset, an +English squadron of fourteen sail hove in sight. The English, having +advantage of the lights which we had in our faces, saw us better than we +could see them. They recognised our two frigates as Venetian built; but +luckily for us, night came on, for we were not far apart. We saw the +signals of the English for a long time, and heard the report of the guns +more and more to our left, and we thought it was the intention of the +cruisers to intercept us on the south-east. Under these circumstances +Bonaparte had reason to thank fortune; for it is very evident that had +the English suspected our two frigates of coming from the East and going +to France, they would have shut us out from land by running between us +and it, which to them was very easy. Probably they took us for a convoy +of provisions going from Toulon to Genoa; and it was to this error and +the darkness that we were indebted for escaping with no worse consequence +than a fright[31]. + + [31]--[Here Bourrienne says in a note "Where did Sir Walter Scott + learn that we were neither seen nor recognised? We were not + recognised, but certainly seen," This is corroborated by the testimony + of the Duc de Rovigo, who, in his Memoirs, says, "I have met officers + of the English navy who assured me that the two frigates had been seen + but were considered by the Admiral to belong to his squadron, as + they steered their course towards him; and as he knew we had only + one frigate in the Mediterranean, and one in Toulon harbour, he was + far from supposing that the frigates which he had descried could + have General Bonaparte on board" (Savary, tome i. p. 226).]-- + +During the remainder of the night the utmost agitation prevailed on board +the Muiron. Gantheaume especially was in a state of anxiety which it is +impossible to describe, and which it was painful to witness: he was quite +beside himself, for a disaster appeared inevitable. He proposed to +return to Corsica. "No, no!" replied Bonaparte imperiously. "No! +Spread all sail! Every man at his post! To the north-west! To the +north-west!" This order saved us; and I am enabled to affirm that in the +midst of almost general alarm Bonaparte was solely occupied in giving +orders. The rapidity of his judgment seemed to grow in the face of +danger. The remembrance of that night will never be effaced from my +mind. The hours lingered on; and none of us could guess upon what new +dangers the morrow's sun would shine. + +However, Bonaparte's resolution was taken: his orders were given, his +arrangements made. During the evening he had resolved upon throwing +himself into the long boat; he had already fixed on the persons who were +to share his fate, and had already named to me the papers which he +thought it most important to save. Happily our terrors were vain and our +arrangements useless. By the first rays of the sun we discovered the +English fleet sailing to the north-east, and we stood for the wished-for +coast of France. + +The 8th of October, at eight in the morning, we entered the roads of +Fréjus. The sailors not having recognised the coast during the night, we +did not know where we were. There was, at first, some hesitation whether +we should advance. We were by no means expected, and did not know how to +answer the signals, which has been changed during our absence. Some guns +were even fired upon us by the batteries on the coast; but our bold entry +into the roads, the crowd upon the decks of the two frigates, and our +signs of joy, speedily banished all doubt of our being friends. We were +in the port, and approaching the landing-place, when the rumour spread +that Bonaparte was on board one of the frigates. In an instant the sea +was covered with boats. In vain we begged them to keep at a distance; we +were carried ashore, and when we told the crowd, both of men and women +who were pressing about us, the risk they ran, they all exclaimed, "We +prefer the plague to the Austrians!" + +What were our feelings when we again set foot on the soil of France +I will not attempt to describe. Our escape from the dangers that +threatened us seemed almost miraculous. We had lost twenty days at the +beginning of our voyage, and at its close we had been almost taken by an +English squadron. Under these circumstances, how rapturously we inhaled +the balmy air of Provence! Such was our joy, that we were scarcely +sensible of the disheartening news which arrived from all quarters. At +the first moment of our arrival, by a spontaneous impulse, we all +repeated, with tears in our eyes, the beautiful lines which Voltaire has +put into the mouth of the exile of Sicily. + +Bonaparte has been reproached with having violated the sanitary laws; +but, after what I have already stated respecting his intentions, I +presume there can remain no doubt of the falsehood of this accusation. +All the blame must rest with the inhabitants of Fréjus, who on this +occasion found the law of necessity more imperious than the sanitary +laws. Yet when it is considered that four or five hundred persons, and a +quantity of effects, were landed from Alexandria, where the plague had +been raging during the summer, it is almost a miracle that France, and +indeed Europe escaped the scourge. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +1799. + + Effect produced by Bonaparte's return--His justification-- + Melancholy letter to my wife--Bonaparte's intended dinner at Sens-- + Louis Bonaparte and Josephine--He changes his intended route-- + Melancholy situation of the provinces--Necessity of a change-- + Bonaparte's ambitious views--Influence of popular applause-- + Arrival in Paris--His reception of Josephine--Their reconciliation-- + Bonaparte's visit to the Directory--His contemptuous treatment of + Sieyès. + +The effect produced in France and throughout Europe by the mere +intelligence of Bonaparte's return is well known. I shall not yet speak +of the vast train of consequences which that event entailed. I must, +however, notice some accusations which were brought against him from the +time of our landing to the 9th of November. He was reproached for having +left Egypt, and it was alleged that his departure was the result of long +premeditation. But I, who was constantly with him, am enabled positively +to affirm that his return to France was merely the effect of a sudden +resolution. Of this the following fact is in itself sufficient evidence. + +While we were at Cairo, a few days before we heard of the landing of the +Anglo-Turkish fleet, and at the moment when we were on the point of +setting off to encamp at the Pyramids, Bonaparte despatched a courier to +France. I took advantage of this opportunity to write to my wife. I +almost bade her an eternal adieu. My letter breathed expressions of grief +such as I had not before evinced. I said, among other things, that we +knew not when or how it would be possible for us to return to France. If +Bonaparte had then entertained any thought of a speedy return I must have +known it, and in that case I should not certainly have distressed my +family by a desponding letter, when I had not had an opportunity of +writing for seven months before. + +Two days after the receipt of my letter my wife was awoke very early in +the morning to be informed of our arrival in France. The courier who +brought this intelligence was the bearer of a second letter from me, +which I had written on board ship, and dated from Fréjus. In this letter +I mentioned that Bonaparte would pass through Sens and dine with my +mother. + +In fulfilment of my directions Madame de Bourrienne set off for Paris at +five in the morning. Having passed the first post-house she met a Berlin +containing four travellers, among whom she recognised Louis Bonaparte +going to meet the General on the Lyons road. On seeing Madame de +Bourrienne Louis desired the postillion to stop, and asked her whether +she had heard from me. She informed him that we should pass through +Sens, where the General wished to dine with my mother, who had made every +preparation for receiving him. Louis then continued his journey. About +nine o'clock my wife met another Berlin, in which were Madame Bonaparte +and her daughter. As they were asleep, and both carriages were driving +at a very rapid rate, Madame de Bourrienne did not stop them. Josephine +followed the route taken by Louis. Both missed the General, who changed +his mind at Lyons, and proceeded by way of Bourbonnais. He arrived +fifteen hours after my wife; and those who had taken the Burgundy road +proceeded to Lyons uselessly. + +Determined to repair in all haste to Paris, Bonaparte had left Fréjus on +the afternoon of the day of our landing. He himself had despatched the +courier to Sens to inform my mother of his intended visit to her; and it +was not until he got to Lyons that he determined to take the Bourbonnais +road. His reason for doing so will presently be seen. All along the +road, at Aix, at Lyons, in every town and village, he was received, as at +Fréjus, with the most rapturous demonstrations of joy[32]. +Only those who witnessed his triumphal journey can form any notion of it; +and it required no great discernment to foresee something like the 18th +Brumaire. + + [32]--[From Fréjus to Aix a crowd of men kindly escorted us, carrying + torches alongside the carriage of the General, not so much to show + their enthusiasm as to ensure our safety (Bourrienne) These brigands + became so bad in France that at one time soldiers were placed in the + imperials of all the diligences, receiving from the wits the + curiously anticipative name of "imperial armies".]-- + +The provinces, a prey to anarchy and civil war, were continually +threatened with foreign invasion. Almost all the south presented the +melancholy spectacle of one vast arena of conflicting factions. The +nation groaned beneath the yoke of tyrannical laws; despotism was +systematically established; the law of hostages struck a blow at personal +liberty, and forced loans menaced every man's property. The generality +of the citizens had declared themselves against a pentarchy devoid of +power, justice, and morality, and which had become the sport of faction +and intrigue. Disorder was general; but in the provinces abuses were +felt more sensibly than elsewhere. In great cities it was found more +easy to elude the hand of despotism and oppression. + +A change so earnestly wished for could not fail to be realised, and to be +received with transport. The majority of the French people longed to be +relieved from the situation in which they then stood. There were two +dangers bar to cope with--anarchy and the Bourbons. Every one felt the +urgent and indispensable necessity of concentrating the power of the +Government in a single hand; at the same time maintaining the +institutions which the spirit of the age demanded, and which France, +after having so dearly purchased, was now about to lose. The country +looked for a man who was capable of restoring her to tranquillity; but as +yet no such man had appeared. A soldier of fortune presented himself, +covered with glory; he had planted the standard of France on the Capitol +and on the Pyramids. The whole world acknowledged his superior talent; +his character, his courage, and his victories had raised him to the very +highest rank. His great works, his gallant actions, his speeches, and +his proclamations ever since he had risen to eminence left no doubt of +his wish to secure happiness and freedom to France, his adopted country. +At that critical moment the necessity of a temporary dictatorship, which +sometimes secures the safety of a state, banished all reflections on the +consequences of such a power, and nobody seemed to think glory +incompatible with personal liberty. All eyes were therefore directed on +the General, whose past conduct guaranteed his capability of defending +the Republic abroad, and liberty at home,--on the General whom his +flatterers, and indeed some of his sincere friends, styled, "the hero of +liberal ideas," the title to which he aspired. + +Under every point of view, therefore, he was naturally chosen as the +chief of a generous nation, confiding to him her destiny, in preference +to a troop of mean and fanatical hypocrites, who, under the names of +republicanism and liberty, had reduced France to the most abject slavery. + +Among the schemes which Bonaparte was incessantly revolving in his mind +may undoubtedly be ranked the project of attaining the head of the French +Government; but it would be a mistake to suppose that on his return from +Egypt he had formed any fixed plan. There was something vague in his +ambitious aspirations; and he was, if I may so express myself, fond of +building those imaginary edifices called castles in the air. The current +of events was in accordance with his wishes; and it may truly be said +that the whole French nation smoothed for Bonaparte the road which led +to power. Certainly the unanimous plaudits and universal joy which +accompanied him along a journey of more than 200 leagues must have +induced him to regard as a national mission that step which was at first +prompted merely by his wish of meddling with the affairs of the Republic. + +This spontaneous burst of popular feeling, unordered and unpaid for, +loudly proclaimed the grievances of the people, and their hope that the +man of victory would become their deliverer. The general enthusiasm +excited by the return of the conqueror of Egypt delighted him to a degree +which I cannot express, and was, as he has often assured me, a powerful +stimulus in urging him to the object to which the wishes of France seemed +to direct him. + +Among people of all classes and opinions an 18th Brumaire was desired and +expected. Many royalists even believed that a change would prove +favourable to the King. So ready are we to persuade ourselves of the +reality of what we wish. + +As soon as it was suspected that Bonaparte would accept the power offered +him, an outcry was raised about a conspiracy against the Republic, and +measures were sought for preserving it. But necessity, and indeed, it +must be confessed, the general feeling of the people, consigned the +execution of those measures to him who was to subvert the Republic. On +his return to Paris Bonaparte spoke and acted like a man who felt his own +power; he cared neither for flattery, dinners, nor balls,--his mind took +a higher flight. + +We arrived in Paris on the 24th Vendémiaire (the 16th of October). +As yet he knew nothing of what was going on; for he had seen neither his +wife nor his brothers, who were looking for him on the Burgundy road. +The news of our landing at Fréjus had reached Paris by a telegraphic +despatch. Madame Bonaparte, who was dining with M. Gohier when that +despatch was communicated to him, as president of the Directory, +immediately set off to meet her husband, well knowing how important it +was that her first interview with him should not be anticipated by his +brothers. + +The imprudent communications of Junot at the fountains of Messoudiah will +be remembered, but, after the first ebullition of jealous rage, all +traces of that feeling had apparently disappeared. Bonaparte however, +was still harassed by secret suspicion, and the painful impressions +produced by Junot were either not entirely effaced or were revived after +our arrival in Paris. We reached the capital before Josephine returned. +The recollection of the past, the ill-natured reports of his brothers[33], +and the exaggeration of facts had irritated Napoleon to the very highest +pitch, and he received Josephine with studied coldness, and with an air +of the most cruel indifference. He had no communication with her for +three days, during which time he frequently spoke to me of suspicions +which his imagination converted into certainty; and threats of divorce +escaped his lips with no less vehemence than when we were on the confines +of Syria. I took upon me the office of conciliator, which I had before +discharged with success. I represented to him the dangers to be +apprehended from the publicity and scandal of such an affair; and that +the moment when his grand views might possibly be realized was not the +fit time to entertain France and Europe with the details of a charge of +adultery. I spoke to him of Hortense and Eugène, to whom he was much +attached. Reflection, seconded by his ardent affection for Josephine, +brought about a complete reconciliation. After these three days of +conjugal misunderstanding their happiness was never afterwards disturbed +by a similar cause[34]. + + [33]--[Joseph Bonaparte remarks on this that Napoleon met Josephine + at Paris before his brothers arrived there, (Compare d'Abrantès, + vol. 1, pp. 260-262 and Rémusat, tome i. pp. 147-148.)]-- + + [34]--[In speaking of the unexpected arrival of Bonaparte and of the + meeting between him and Josephine, Madame Junot says: "On the 10th + October Josephine set off to meet her husband, but without knowing + exactly what road he would take. She thought it likely he would + come by way of Burgundy, and therefore Louis and she set off for + Lyons. + + "Madame Bonaparte was a prey to great and well-founded aspersions. + Whether she was guilty or only imprudent, she was strongly accused + by the Bonaparte family, who were desirous that Napoleon should + obtain a divorce. The elder M. de Caulaincourt stated to us his + apprehensions on this point; but whenever the subject was introduced + my mother changed the conversation, because, knowing as she did the + sentiments of the Bonaparte family, she could not reply without + either committing them or having recourse to falsehood. She knew, + moreover, the truth of many circumstances which M. de Caulaincourt + seemed to doubt, and which her situation with respect to Bonaparte + prevented her from communicating to him. + + "Madame Bonaparte committed a great fault in neglecting at this + juncture to conciliate her mother-in-law, who might have protected + her against those who sought her ruin and effected it nine years + later; for the divorce in 1809 was brought about by the joint + efforts of all the members of the Bonaparte family, aided by some of + Napoleon's most confidential servants, whom Josephine, either as + Madame Bonaparte or as Empress, had done nothing to make her + friends. + + "Bonaparte, on his arrival in Paris, found his house deserted: but + his mother, sisters, and sisters-in-law, and, in short, every member + of his family, except Louis, who had attended Madame Bonaparte to + Lyons, came to him immediately. The impression made upon him by the + solitude of his home and its desertion by its mistress was profound + and terrible, and nine years afterwards, when the ties between him + and Josephine were severed for ever, he showed that it was not + effaced. From not finding her with his family he inferred that she + felt herself unworthy of their presence, and feared to meet the man + she had wronged. He considered her journey to Lyons as a mere + pretence. + + "M. de Bourrienne says that for some days after Josephine's return + Bonaparte treated her with extreme coldness. As he was an + eyewitness, why does he not state the whole truth, and say that on + her return Bonaparte refused to see her and did not see her? It was + to the earnest entreaties of her children that she owed the + recovery, not of her husband's love, for that had long ceased, but + of that tenderness acquired by habit, and that intimate intercourse + which made her still retain the rank of consort to the greatest man + of his age. Bonaparte was at this period much attached to Eugène + Beauharnais, who, to do him justice, was a charming youth. He knew + less of Hortense; but her youth and sweetness of temper, and the + protection of which, as his adopted daughter, she besought him not + to deprive her, proved powerful advocates, and overcame his + resistance. + + "In this delicate negotiation it was good policy not to bring any + other person into play, whatever might be their influence with + Bonaparte, and Madame Bonaparte did not, therefore, have recourse + either to Barras, Bourrienne, or Berthier. It was expedient that + they who interceded for her should be able to say something without + the possibility of a reply. Now Bonaparte could not with any degree + of propriety explain to such children as Eugène or Hortense the + particulars of their mother's conduct. He was therefore constrained + to silence, and had no argument to combat the tears of two innocent + creatures at his feet exclaiming, 'Do not abandon our mother; she + will break her heart! and ought injustice to take from us, poor + orphans, whose natural protector the scaffold has already deprived + us of, the support of one whom Providence has sent to replace him!' + + "The scene, as Bonaparte has since stated, was long and painful, and + the two children at length introduced their mother, and placed her + in his arms. The unhappy woman had awaited his decision at the door + of a small back staircase, extended at almost full length upon the + stairs, suffering the acutest pangs of mental torture. + + "Whatever might be his wife's errors, Bonaparte appeared entirely to + forget them, and the reconciliation was complete. Of all the + members of the family Madame Leclerc was most vexed at the pardon + which Napoleon had granted to his wife. Bonaparte's mother was also + very ill pleased; but she said nothing. Madame Joseph Bonaparte, + who was always very amiable, took no part in these family quarrels; + therefore she could easily determine what part to take when fortune + smiled on Josephine. As to Madame Bacciocchi, she gave free vent to + her ill-humour and disdain; the consequence was that her sister-in-law + could never endure her. Christine who was a beautiful creature, + followed the example of Madame Joseph, and Caroline was so young + that her opinion could have no weight in such an affair. As to + Bonaparte's brothers, they were at open war with Josephine."]-- + +On the day after his arrival Bonaparte visited the Directors[35]. +The interview was cold. On the 24th of October he said to me, "I dined +yesterday at Gohier's; Sieyès was present, and I pretended not to see +him. I observed how much he was enraged at this mark of disrespect."-- +"But are you sure he is against you?" inquired I. "I know nothing yet; +but he is a scheming man, and I don't like him." Even at that time +Bonaparte had thoughts of getting himself elected a member of the +Directory in the room of Sieyès. + + [35]--[The Directors at this time were Barras, Sieyès, Moulins, + Gohier, and Roger Ducos.]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +1799. + + Moreau and Bernadotte--Bonaparte's opinion of Bernadotte--False + report--The crown of Sweden and the Constitution of the year III.-- + Intrigues of Bonaparte's brothers--Angry conversation between + Bonaparte and Bernadotte--Bonaparte's version--Josephine's version-- + An unexpected visit--The Manège Club--Salicetti and Joseph Bonaparte + --Bonaparte invites himself to breakfast with Bernadotte--Country + excursion--Bernadotte dines with Bonaparte--The plot and conspiracy + --Conduct of Lucien--Dinner given to Bonaparte by the Council of the + Five Hundred--Bonaparte's wish to be chosen a member of the + Directory--His reconciliation with Sieyès--Offer made by the + Directory to Bonaparte--He is falsely accused by Barras. + +To throw a clear light on the course of the great events which will +presently be developed it is necessary to state briefly what intrigues +had been hatched and what ambitious hopes had risen up while we were in +Egypt. When in Egypt Bonaparte was entirely deprived of any means of +knowing what was going on in France; and in our rapid journey from Fréjus +to Paris we had no opportunity of collecting much information. Yet it +was very important that we should know the real state of affairs, and the +sentiments of those whom Bonaparte had counted among his rivals in glory, +and whom he might now meet among his rivals in ambition. + +Moreau's military reputation stood very high, and Bernadotte's firmness +appeared inflexible. Generally speaking, Bonaparte might have reckoned +among his devoted partisans the companions of his glory in Italy, and +also those whom he subsequently denominated "his Egyptians." But brave +men had distinguished themselves in the army of the Rhine; and if they +did not withhold their admiration from the conqueror of Italy, they felt +at least more personally interested in the admiration which they lavished +on him who had repaired the disaster of Scherer. Besides, it must be +borne in mind that a republican spirit prevailed, almost without +exception, in the army, and that the Directory appeared to be a +Government invented expressly to afford patronage to intriguers. All +this planted difficulties in our way, and rendered it indispensably +necessary that we should know our ground. We had, it is true, been +greeted by the fullest measure of popular enthusiasm on our arrival; but +this was not enough. We wanted suffrages of a more solid kind. + +During the campaign of Egypt, Bernadotte, who was a zealous republican, +had been War Minister[36], but he had resigned the portfolio to +Dubois-Crancé three weeks before Bonaparte's return to France. Some +partisans of the old Minister were endeavouring to get him recalled, +and it was very important to Bonaparte's interests that he should +prevent the success of this design. I recollect that on the second day +of our arrival Bonaparte said to me, "I have learned many things; but +we shall see what will happen. Bernadotte is a singular man. When he +was War Minister Augereau, Salicetti, and some others informed him +that the Constitution was in danger, and that it was necessary to get +rid of Sieyès, Barras, and Fouché, who were at the head of a plot. +What did Bernadotte do? Nothing. He asked for proofs. None could be +produced. He asked for powers. Who could grant them? Nobody. He should +have taken them; but he would not venture on that. He wavered. He said +he could not enter into the schemes which were proposed to him. He +only promised to be silent on condition that they were renounced. +Bernadotte is not a help; he is an obstacle. I have heard from good +authority that a great number of influential persons wished to invest +him with extensive power for the public good; but he was obstinate, +and would listen to nothing." + + [36]--[Bernadotte was Minister of War from 2d July 1799 to 14th + September 1799, when, as he himself wrote to the Directory, they + "accepted" the resignation he had not offered.]-- + +After a brief interval of silence, during which Bonaparte rubbed his +forehead with his right hand, he then resumed: + +"I believe I shall have Bernadotte and Moreau against me. But I do not +fear Moreau. He is devoid of energy. I know he would prefer military +to political power. The promise of the command of an army would gain +him over. But Bernadotte has Moorish blood in his veins. He is bold +and enterprising. He is allied to my brothers[37]. He does not like +me, and I am almost certain that he will oppose me. If he should +become ambitious he will venture anything. And yet, you recollect in +what a lukewarm way he acted on the 18th Fructidor, when I sent him to +second Augereau. This devil of a fellow is not to be seduced. He is +disinterested and clever. But, after all, we have but just arrived, +and know not what may happen." + + [37]--[Joseph Bonaparte and Bernadotte had married sisters. + Marie-Julie and Eugénie Bernardine-Desirée Clary. The feeling of + Bourrienne for Bernadotte makes this passage doubtful. It is to be + noticed that in the same conversation he makes Napoleon describe + Bernadotte as not venturing to act without powers and as enterprising. + The stern republican becoming Prince de Monte Carlo and King of + Sweden, in a way compatible with his fidelity to the Constitution + of the year III., is good. Lanfrey attributes Bernadotte's refusal + to join more to rivalry than to principle (Lanfrey, tome i. p. 440). + But in any case Napoleon did not dread Bernadotte, and was soon + threatening to shoot him; see Lucien, tome ii. p. 107.]-- + +Bernadotte, it was reported, had advised that Bonaparte should be brought +to a court-martial, on the two-fold charge of having abandoned his army +and violated the quarantine laws. This report came to the ear of +Bonaparte; but he refused to believe it and he was right. Bernadotte +thought himself bound to the Constitution which he had sworn to defend. +Hence the opposition he manifested to the measures of the 18th Brumaire. +But he cherished no personal animosity against Bonaparte as long as he +was ignorant of his ambitious designs. The extraordinary and complicated +nature of subsequent events rendered his possession of the crown of +Sweden in no way incompatible with his fidelity to the Constitution of +the year III. + +On our first arrival in Paris, though I was almost constantly with the +General, yet, as our routine of occupation was not yet settled, I was +enabled now and then to snatch an hour or two from business. This +leisure time I spent in the society of my family and a few friends, and +in collecting information as to what had happened during our absence, for +which purpose I consulted old newspapers and pamphlets. I was not +surprised to learn that Bonaparte's brothers--that is to say, Joseph and +Lucien--had been engaged in many intrigues. I was told that Sieyès had +for a moment thought of calling the Duke of Brunswick to the head of the +Government; that Barras would not have been very averse to favouring the +return of the Bourbons; and that Moulins, Roger Ducos, and Gohier alone +believed or affected to believe, in the possibility of preserving the +existing form of government. From what I heard at the time I have good +reasons for believing that Joseph and Lucien made all sorts of endeavours +to inveigle Bernadotte into their brother's party, and in the hope of +accomplishing that object they had assisted in getting him appointed War +Minister. However, I cannot vouch for the truth of this. I was told +that Bernadotte had at first submitted to the influence of Bonaparte's +two brothers; but that their urgent interference in their client's behalf +induced him to shake them off, to proceed freely in the exercise of his +duties, and to open the eyes of the Directory on what the Republic might +have to apprehend from the enterprising character of Bonaparte. It is +certain that what I have to relate respecting the conduct of Bernadotte +to Bonaparte is calculated to give credit to these assertions. + +All the generals who were in Paris, with the exception of Bernadotte, +had visited Bonaparte during the first three days which succeeded his +arrival. Bernadotte's absence was the more remarkable because he had +served under Bonaparte in Italy. It was not until a fortnight had +elapsed, and then only on the reiterated entreaties of Joseph and Madame +Joseph Bonaparte (his sister-in-law), that he determined to go and see +his old General-in-Chief. I was not present at their interview, being at +that moment occupied in the little cabinet of the Rue Chantereine. But I +soon discovered that their conversation had been long and warm; for as +soon as it was ended Bonaparte entered the cabinet exceedingly agitated, +and said to me, "Bourrienne, how do you think Bernadotte has behaved? +You have traversed France with me--you witnessed the enthusiasm which my +return excited--you yourself told me that you saw in that enthusiasm the +desire of the French people to be relieved from the disastrous position +in which our reverses have placed them. Well! would you believe it? +Bernadotte boasts, with ridiculous exaggeration, of the brilliant and +victorious situation of France! He talks about the defeat of the +Russians, the occupation of Genoa, the innumerable armies that are rising +up everywhere. In short, I know not what nonsense he has got in his +head."--"What can all this mean?" said I. "Did he speak about Egypt?"-- +"Oh, yes! Now you remind me. He actually reproached me for not having +brought the army back with me! 'But,' observed I, 'have you not just +told me that you are absolutely overrun with troops; that all your +frontiers are secure, that immense levies are going on, and that you will +have 200,000 infantry?--If this be true, what do you want with a few +thousand men who may ensure the preservation of Egypt?' He could make no +answer to this. But he is quite elated by the honour of having been War +Minister, and he told me boldly that he looked upon the army of Egypt as +lost nay, more. He made insinuations. He spoke of enemies abroad and +enemies at home; and as he uttered these last words he looked +significantly at me. I too gave him a glance! But stay a little. +The pear will soon be ripe! You know Josephine's grace and address. She +was present. The scrutinising glance of Bernadotte did not escape her, +and she adroitly turned the conversation. Bernadotte saw from my +countenance that I had had enough of it, and he took his leave. But +don't let me interrupt you farther. I am going back to speak to +Josephine." + +I must confess that this strange story made me very impatient to find +myself alone with Madame Bonaparte, for I wished to hear her account of +the scene. An opportunity occurred that very evening. I repeated to her +what I had heard from the General, and all that she told me tended to +confirm its accuracy. She added that Bernadotte seemed to take the +utmost pains to exhibit to the General a flattering picture of the +prosperity of France; and she reported to me, as follows, that part of +the conversation which was peculiarly calculated to irritate Bonaparte:-- +"'I do not despair of the safety of the Republic, which I am certain can +restrain her enemies both abroad and at home.' As Bernadotte uttered +these last words,'" continued Josephine, "his glance made me shudder. +One word more and Bonaparte could have commanded himself no longer! It +is true," added she, "that it was in some degree his own fault, for it +was he who turned the conversation on politics; and Bernadotte, in +describing the flourishing condition of France, was only replying to the +General, who had drawn a very opposite picture of the state of things. +You know, my dear Bourrienne, that Bonaparte is not always very prudent. +I fear he has said too much to Bernadotte about the necessity of changes +in the Government." Josephine had not yet recovered from the agitation +into which this violent scene had thrown her. After I took leave of her +I made notes of what she had told me. + +A few days after, when Bonaparte, Josephine, Hortense, Eugène, and I +were together in the drawing-room, Bernadotte unexpectedly entered. His +appearance, after what had passed, was calculated to surprise us. He was +accompanied by a person whom he requested permission to introduce to +Bonaparte. I have forgotten his name, but he was, I think, +secretary-general while Bernadotte was in office. Bonaparte betrayed no +appearance of astonishment. He received Bernadotte with perfect ease, +and they soon entered into conversation. Bonaparte, who seemed to +acquire confidence from the presence of those who were about him, said a +great deal about the agitation which prevailed among the republicans, +and expressed himself in very decided terms against the Manège Club.[38] +I seconded him by observing that M. Moreau de Worms of my department, +who was a member of that club, had himself complained to me of the +violence that prevailed in it. "But, General," said Bernadotte, "your +brothers were its most active originators. Yet," added he in a tone of +firmness, "you accuse me of having favoured that club, and I repel the +charge. It cannot be otherwise than false. When I came into office I +found everything in the greatest disorder. I had no leisure to think +about any club to which my duties did not call me. You know well that +your friend Salicetti, and that your brother, who is in your confidence, +are both leading men in the Manège Club. To the instructions of I know +not whom is to be attributed the violence of which you complain." At +these words, and especially the tone in which Bernadotte uttered 'I know +not whom,' Bonaparte could no longer restrain himself. "Well, General," +exclaimed he furiously, "I tell you plainly, I would rather live wild in +the woods than in a state of society which affords no security." +Bernadotte then said, with great dignity of manner, "Good God! General, +what security would you have?" From the warmth evinced by Bonaparte I +saw plainly that the conversation would soon be converted into a +dispute, and in a whisper I requested Madame Bonaparte to change the +conversation, which she immediately did by addressing a question to some +one present. Bernadotte, observing Madame Bonaparte's design, checked +his warmth. The subject of conversation was changed, and it became +general. Bernadotte soon took up his hat and departed. + + [38]--[The Manège Club, the last resort of the Jacobins, formed in + 1799, and closed seven or eight months afterwards. Joseph Bonaparte + (Erreurs, time i. p. 251) denies that he or Lucien--for whom the + allusion is meant--were members of this club, and he disputes this + conversation ever having taken place. Lucien (tome i. p. 219) + treats this club as opposed to his party.]-- + +One morning, when I entered Bonaparte's chamber--it was, I believe, three +or four days after the second visit of Bernadotte--he said: + +"Well, Bourrienne, I wager you will not guess with whom I am going to +breakfast this morning?"--"Really, General, I ------"--"With Bernadotte; +and the best of the joke is, that I have invited myself. You would have +seen how it was all brought about if you had been with us at the Théâtre +Français, yesterday evening. You know we are going to visit Joseph today +at Mortfontaine. Well, as we were coming out of the theatre last night, +finding myself side by side with Bernadotte and not knowing what to talk +about, I asked him whether he was to be of our party to-day? He replied +in the affirmative; and as we were passing his house in the Rue +Cisalpine[39], I told him, without any ceremony, that I should be happy +to come and take a cup of coffee with him in the morning. He seemed +pleased. What do you think of that, Bourrienne?"--"Why, General, I hope +you may have reason on your part to be pleased with him."--" Never fear, +never fear. I know what I am about. This will compromise him with +Gohier. Remember, you must always meet your enemies with a bold face, +otherwise they think they are feared, and that gives them confidence." + + [39]--[Joseph Bonaparte lays great stress on the fact that Napoleon + would not have passed this house, which was far from the theatre + (Erreurs, tome i, p. 251).]-- + +Bonaparte stepped into the carriage with Josephine, who was always ready +when she had to go out with him, for he did not like to wait. They +proceeded first to Bernadotte's to breakfast, and from thence to +Mortfontaine. On his return Bonaparte told me very little about what had +passed during the day, and I could see that he was not in the best of +humours. I afterwards learned that Bonaparte had conversed a good deal +with Bernadotte, and that he had made every effort to render himself +agreeable, which he very well knew how to do when he chose! but that, in +spite of all his conversational talent; and supported as he was by the +presence of his three brothers, and Regnault de St. Jean d'Angély, he +could not withstand the republican firmness of Bernadotte. However, the +number of his partisans daily augmented; for all had not the +uncompromising spirit of Bernadotte; and it will soon be seen that Moreau +himself undertook charge of the Directors who were made prisoners on the +18th Brumaire. + +Bernadotte's shrewd penetration made him one of the first to see clearly +into Bonaparte's designs. He was well convinced of his determination to +overthrow the constitution and possess himself of power. He saw the +Directory divided into two parties; the one duped by the promises and +assurances of Bonaparte, and the other conniving with him for the +accomplishment of his plans. In these circumstances Bernadotte offered +his services to all persons connected with the Government who, like +himself, were averse to the change which he saw good reason to apprehend. +But Bonaparte was not the man to be outdone in cunning or activity; and +every moment swelled the ranks of his adherents. + +On the 16th Brumaire I dined in the Rue de la Victoire. Bernadotte was +present, and I believe General Jourdan also. While the grand conspiracy +was hastening to its accomplishment Madame Bonaparte and I had contrived +a little plot of a more innocent kind. We let no one into our secret, +and our 16th Brumaire was crowned with complete success. We had agreed +to be on the alert to prevent any fresh exchange of angry words. All +succeeded to the utmost of our wishes. The conversation languished +during dinner; but it was not dulness that we were afraid of. It turned +on the subject of war, and in that vast field Bonaparte's superiority +over his interlocutors was undeniable. + +When we retired to the drawing-rooms a great number of evening visitors +poured in, and the conversation then became animated, and even gay. +Bonaparte was in high spirits. He said to some one, smiling, and +pointing to Bernadotte, "You are not aware that the General yonder is a +Chouan."--"A Chouan?" repeated Bernadotte, also in a tone of pleasantry. +"Ah! General you contradict yourself. Only the other day you taxed me +with favouring the violence of the friends of the Republic, and now you +accuse me of protecting the Chouans[40]. You should at least be +consistent." A few moments after, availing himself of the confusion +occasioned by the throng of visitors, Bernadotte slipped off. + + [40]--[The "Chouans," so called from their use of the cry of the + screech-owl (chathouan) as a signal, were the revolted peasants of + Brittany and of Maine.]-- + +As a mark of respect to Bonaparte the Council of the Five Hundred +appointed Lucien its president. The event proved how important this +nomination was to Napoleon. Up to the 19th Brumaire, and especially on +that day, Lucien evinced a degree of activity, intelligence, courage, and +presence of mind which are rarely found united in one individual. I have +no hesitation in stating that to Lucien's nomination and exertions must +be attributed the success of the 19th Brumaire. + +The General had laid down a plan of conduct from which he never deviated +during the twenty-three days which intervened between his arrival in +Paris and the 18th Brumaire. He refused almost all private invitations, +in order to avoid indiscreet questions, unacceptable offers, and answers +which might compromise him. + +It was not without some degree of hesitation that he yielded to a project +started by Lucien, who, by all sorts of manoeuvring, had succeeded in +prevailing on a great number of his colleagues to be present at a grand +subscription dinner to be given to Bonaparte by the Council of the +Ancients. + +The disorder which unavoidably prevailed in a party amounting to upwards +of 250 persons, animated by a diversity of opinions and sentiments; the +anxiety and distrust arising in the minds of those who were not in the +grand plot, rendered this meeting one of the most disagreeable I ever +witnessed. It was all restraint and dulness. Bonaparte's countenance +sufficiently betrayed his dissatisfaction; besides, the success of his +schemes demanded his presence elsewhere. Almost as soon as he had +finished his dinner he rose, saying to Berthier and me, "I am tired: let +us be gone." He went round to the different tables, addressing to the +company compliments and trifling remarks, and departed, leaving at table +the persons by whom he had been invited. + +This short political crisis was marked by nothing more grand, dignified, +or noble than the previous revolutionary commotions. All these plots +were so contemptible, and were accompanied by so much trickery, +falsehood, and treachery, that, for the honour of human nature, it is +desirable to cover them with a veil. + +General Bonaparte's thoughts were first occupied with the idea he had +conceived even when in Italy, namely, to be chosen a Director. Nobody +dared yet to accuse him of being a deserter from the army of the East. +The only difficulty was to obtain a dispensation on the score of age. +And was this not to be obtained? No sooner was he installed in his +humble abode in the Rue de la Victoire than he was assured that, on the +retirement of Rewbell, the majority of suffrages would have devolved on +him had he been in France, and had not the fundamental law required the +age of forty; but that not even his warmest partisans were disposed to +violate the yet infant Constitution of the year III. + +Bonaparte soon perceived that no efforts would succeed in overcoming this +difficulty, and he easily resolved to possess himself wholly of an office +of which he would nominally have had only a fifth part had he been a +member of the Directory. + +As soon as his intentions became manifest he found himself surrounded by +all those who recognised in him the man they had long looked for. These +persons, who were able and influential in their own circles, endeavoured +to convert into friendship the animosity which existed between Sieyès and +Bonaparte. This angry feeling had been increased by a remark made by +Sieyès, and reported to Bonaparte. He had said, after the dinner at +which Bonaparte treated him so disrespectfully, "Do you see how that +little insolent fellow behaves to a member of a Government which would do +well to order him to be SHOT?" + +But all was changed when able mediators pointed out to Bonaparte the +advantage of uniting with Sieyès for the purpose of overthrowing a +Constitution which he did not like. He was assured how vain it would be +to think of superseding him, and that it would be better to flatter him +with the hope of helping to subvert the constitution and raising up a new +one. One day some one said to Bonaparte in my hearing, "Seek for support +among the party who call the friends of the Republic Jacobins, and be +assured that Sieyès is at the head of that party." + +On the 25th Vendémiaire (17th of October) the Directory summoned General +Bonaparte to a private sitting. "They offered me the choice of any army +I would command," said he to me the next morning. "I would not refuse, +but I asked to be allowed a little time for the recovery of my health; +and, to avoid any other embarrassing offers, I withdrew. I shall go to +no more of their sittings." (He attended only one after this.) "I am +determined to join Sieyès' party. It includes a greater diversity of +opinions than that of the profligate Barras. He proclaims everywhere +that he is the author of my fortune. He will never be content to play an +inferior part, and I will never bend to such a man. He cherishes the mad +ambition of being the support of the Republic. What would he do with +me? Sieyès, on the contrary, has no political ambition." + +No sooner did Sieyès begin to grow friendly with Bonaparte than the +latter learned from him that Barras had said, "The 'little corporal' has +made his fortune in Italy and does not want to go back again." Bonaparte +repaired to the Directory for the sole purpose of contradicting this +allegation. He complained to the Directors of its falsehood, boldly +affirmed that the fortune he was supposed to possess had no existence, +and that even if he had made his fortune it was not, at all events, at +the expense of the Republic "You know," said he to me, "that the mines of +Hydria have furnished the greater part of what I possess."--"Is it +possible," said I, "that Barras could have said so, when you know so well +of all the peculations of which he has been guilty since your return?" + +Bonaparte had confided the secret of his plans to very few persons--to +those only whose assistance he wanted. The rest mechanically followed +their leaders and the impulse which was given to them; they passively +awaited the realisation of the promises they had received, and on the +faith of which they had pledged themselves. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +1799. + + Cambacérès and Lebrun--Gohier deceived--My nocturnal visit to Barras + --The command of the army given to Bonaparte--The morning of the + 18th Brumaire--Meeting of the generals at Bonaparte's house-- + Bernadotte's firmness--Josephine's interest, for Madame Gohier-- + Disappointment of the Directors--Review in the gardens of the + Tuileries--Bonaparte's harangue--Proclamation of the Ancients-- + Moreau, jailer of the Luxembourg--My conversation with La Vallette-- + Bonaparte at St. Cloud. + +The parts of the great drama which was shortly to be enacted were well +distributed. During the three days preceding the 18th Brumaire every one +was at his post. Lucien, with equal activity and intelligence, forwarded +the conspiracy in the two Councils; Sieyès had the management of the +Directory; Réal[41], under the instructions of Fouché[42], +negotiated with the departments, and dexterously managed, without +compromising Fouché, to ruin those from whom that Minister had received +his power. There was no time to lose; and Fouché said to me on the 14th +Brumaire, "Tell your General to be speedy; if he delays, he is lost." + + [41]--[Pierre Francois Réal (1757-1834); public accuser before the + revolutionary criminal tribunal; became, under Napoleon, Conseiller + d'Etat and Comte, and was charged with the affairs of the "haute + police."]-- + + [42]--[Joseph Fouché (1754-1820); Conventionalist; member of extreme + Jacobin party; Minister of Police under the Directory, August 1799; + retained by Napoleon in that Ministry till 1802, and again from 1804 + to 1810; became Duc d'Otrante in 1809; disgraced in 1810, and sent in + 1813 as governor of the Illyrian Provinces; Minister of Police + during the 'Cent Jours'; President of the Provisional Government, + 1815; and for a short time Minister of Police under second + restoration.]-- + +On the 17th, Regnault de St. Jean d'Angély told Bonaparte that the +overtures made to Cambacérès and Lebrun had not been received in a very +decided way. "I will have no tergiversation," replied Bonaparte with +warmth. "Let them not flatter themselves that I stand in need of them. +They must decide to-day; to-morrow will be too late. I feel myself +strong enough now to stand alone." + +Cambacérès[43] and Lebrun[44] were almost utter strangers to the +intrigues which preceded the 18th Brumaire. Bonaparte had cast his eyes +on the Minister of Justice to be one of his colleagues when he should be +at liberty to name them, because his previous conduct had pledged him as +a partisan of the Revolution. To him Bonaparte added Lebrun, to +counterbalance the first choice. Lebrun was distinguished for honourable +conduct and moderate principles. By selecting these two men Bonaparte +hoped to please every one; besides, neither of them were able to contend +against his fixed determination and ambitious views. + + [43]--[Cambacérès (J. J. Régis de) (1763-1824) Conventionalist; + Minister of Justice under Directory, 1799; second Consul, 25th + December 1799; Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, 1804; Duc de Parma, + 1806; Minister of Justice during the 'Cent Jours': took great part + in all the legal and administrative projects of the Consulate and + Empire.]-- + + [44]--[Charles Francois Lebrun (1757-1824). Deputy to the National + Assembly, and member of the Council of the Five Hundred; Third + Consul, 25th December 1799; Arch-Treasurer of the Empire, 1804; + Duc de Plaisance, 1806; Governor-General of Holland, 1806; + Lieutenant-Governor of Holland, 1810 to 1813; chiefly engaged in + financial measures]-- + +What petty intrigues marked the 17th Brumaire! On that day I dined with +Bonaparte; and after dinner he said, "I have promised to dine to-morrow +with Gohier; but, as you may readily suppose, I do not intend going. +However, I am very sorry for his obstinacy. By way of restoring his +confidence Josephine is going to invite him to breakfast with us +to-morrow. It will be impossible for him to suspect anything. I saw +Barras this morning, and left him much disturbed. He asked me to return +and visit him to-night. I promised to do so, but I shall not go. +To-morrow all will be over. There is but little time; he expects me at +eleven o'clock to-night. You shall therefore take my carriage, go there, +send in my name, and then enter yourself. Tell him that a severe +headache confines me to my bed, but that I will be with him without fail +tomorrow. Bid him not be alarmed, for all will soon be right again. +Elude his questions as much as possible; do not stay long, and come to +me on your return." + +At precisely eleven o'clock I reached the residence of Barras, in General +Bonaparte's carriage. Solitude and silence prevailed in all the +apartments through which I passed to Barras' cabinet. Bonaparte was +announced, and when Barras saw me enter instead of him, he manifested the +greatest astonishment and appeared much cast down. It was easy to +perceive that he looked on himself as a lost man. I executed my +commission, and stayed only a short time. I rose to take my leave, and +he said, while showing me out, "I see that Bonaparte is deceiving me: he +will not come again. He has settled everything; yet to me he owes all." +I repeated that he would certainly come tomorrow, but he shook his head +in a way which plainly denoted that he did not believe me. When I gave +Bonaparte an account of my visit he appeared much pleased. He told me +that Joseph was going to call that evening on Bernadotte, and to ask him +to come tomorrow. I replied that, from all I knew, he would be of no use +to him. "I believe so too," said he; "but he can no longer injure me, +and that is enough. Well, good-night; be here at seven in the morning." +It was then one o'clock. + +I was with him a little before seven o'clock on the morning of the 18th +Brumaire, and on my arrival I found a great number of generals and +officers assembled. I entered Bonaparte's chamber, and found him already +up--a thing rather unusual with him. At this moment he was as calm as on +the approach of a battle. In a few moments Joseph and Bernadotte +arrived. Joseph had not found him at home on the preceding evening, and +had called for him that morning. I was surprised to see Bernadotte in +plain clothes, and I stepped up to him and said in a low voice, "General, +every one here, except you and I, is in uniform."--"Why should I be in +uniform?" said he. As he uttered these words Bonaparte, struck with the +same surprise as myself, stopped short while speaking to several persons +around him, and turning quickly towards Bernadotte said, "How is this? +you are not in uniform!"--"I never am on a morning when I am not on +duty," replied Bernadotte.--"You will be on duty presently."--"I have +not heard a word of it: I should have received my orders sooner." + +Bonaparte then led Bernadotte into an adjoining room. Their conversation +was not long, for there was no time to spare. + +On the other hand, by the influence of the principal conspirators the +removal of the legislative body to St. Cloud was determined on the +morning of the 18th Brumaire, and the command of the army was given to +Bonaparte. + +All this time Barras was no doubt waiting for Bonaparte, and Madame +Bonaparte was expecting Gohier to breakfast. At Bonaparte's were +assembled all the generals who were devoted to him. I never saw so +great a number before in the Rue de la Victoire. They were all, except +Bernadotte, in full uniform; and there were, besides, half a dozen +persons there initiated in the secrets of the day. The little hotel of +the conqueror of Italy was much too small for such an assemblage, and +several persons were standing in the court-yard. Bonaparte was +acquainted with the decree of the Council of the Ancients, and only +waited for its being brought to him before he should mount his horse. +That decree was adopted in the Council of the Ancients by what may be +called a false majority, for the members of the Council were summoned at +different hours, and it was so contrived that sixty or eighty of them, +whom Lucien and his friends had not been able to gain over, should not +receive their notices in time. + +As soon as the message from the Council of the Ancients arrived Bonaparte +requested all the officers at his house to follow him. At that +announcement a few who were in ignorance of what was going on did not +follow--at least I saw two groups separately leave the hotel. Bernadotte +said to me, "I shall stay with you." I perceived there was a good deal +of suspicion in his manner. Bonaparte, before going down the stairs +which led from the small round dining-room into the courtyard, returned +quickly to bid Bernadotte follow him. He would not, and Bonaparte then +said to me, while hurrying off, "Gohier is not come--so much the worse +for him," and leaped on his horse. Scarcely was he off when Bernadotte +left me. Josephine and I being now left alone, she acquainted me with +her anxiety. I assured her that everything had been so well prepared +that success was certain. She felt much interest about Gohier on account +of her friendship for his wife. She asked me whether I was well +acquainted with Gohier. "You know, Madame," replied I, "that we have +been only twenty days in Paris, and that during that time I have only +gone out to sleep in the Rue Martel. I have seen M. Gohier several +times, when he came to visit the General, and have talked to him about +the situation of our affairs in Switzerland, Holland, France, and other +political matters, but I never exchanged a word with him as to what is +now going on. This is the whole extent of my acquaintance with him." + +"I am sorry for it," resumed Josephine, "because I should have asked you +to write to him, and beg him to make no stir, but imitate Sieyès and +Roger, who will voluntarily retire, and not to join Barras, who is +probably at this very moment forced to do so. Bonaparte has told me that +if Gohier voluntarily resigns, he will do everything for him." I believe +Josephine communicated directly with the President of the Directory +through a friend of Madame Gohier's. + +Gohier and Moulins, no longer depending on Sieyès and Roger Ducos, waited +for their colleague, Barras, in the hall of the Directory, to adopt some +measure on the decree for removing the Councils to St. Cloud. But they +were disappointed; for Barras, whose eyes had been opened by my visit on +the preceding night, did not join them. He had been invisible to his +colleagues from the moment that Bruix and M. de Talleyrand had informed +him of the reality of what he already suspected, and insisted on his +retirement. + +On the 18th Brumaire a great number of military, amounting to about +10,000 men, were assembled in the gardens of the Tuileries, and were +reviewed by Bonaparte, accompanied by Generals Beurnonville, Moreau, and +Macdonald. Bonaparte read to them the decree just issued by the +commission of inspectors of the Council of the Ancients, by which the +legislative body was removed to St. Cloud; and by which he himself was +entrusted with the execution of that decree, and appointed to the command +of all the military force in Paris, and afterwards delivered an address +to the troops. + +Whilst Bonaparte was haranguing the soldiers, the Council of the Ancients +published an address to the French people, in which it was declared that +the seat of the legislative body was changed, in order to put down the +factions, whose object was to control the national representation. + +While all this was passing abroad I was at the General's house in the Rue +de la Victoire; which I never left during the whole day. Madame +Bonaparte and I were not without anxiety in Bonaparte's absence. +I learned from Josephine that Joseph's wife had received a visit from +Adjutant-General Rapatel, who had been sent by Bonaparte and Moreau to +bring her husband to the Tuileries. Joseph was from home at the time, +and so the message was useless. This circumstance, however, awakened +hopes which we had scarcely dared to entertain. Moreau was then in +accordance with Bonaparte, for Rapatel was sent in the name of both +Generals. This alliance, so long despaired of, appeared to augur +favourably. It was one of Bonaparte's happy strokes. Moreau, who was a +slave to military discipline, regarded his successful rival only as a +chief nominated by the Council of the Ancients. He received his orders +and obeyed them. Bonaparte appointed him commander of the guard of the +Luxembourg, where the Directors were under confinement. He accepted the +command, and no circumstance could have contributed more effectually to +the accomplishment of Bonaparte's views and to the triumph of his +ambition. + +At length Bonaparte, whom we had impatiently expected, returned. +Almost everything had gone well with him, for he had had only to do with +soldiers. In the evening he said to me, "I am sure that the committee of +inspectors of the hall are at this very moment engaged in settling what +is to be done at St. Cloud to-morrow. It is better to let them decide +the matter, for by that means their vanity is flattered. I will obey +orders which I have myself concerted." What Bonaparte was speaking of +had been arranged nearly two or three days previously. The committee of +inspectors was under the influence of the principal conspirators. + +In the evening of this anxious day, which was destined to be succeeded by +a stormy morrow, Bonaparte, pleased with having gained over Moreau, spoke +to me of Bernadotte's visit in the morning.--"I saw," said he, "that you +were as much astonished as I at Bernadotte's behaviour. A general out of +uniform! He might as well have come in slippers. Do you know what +passed when I took him aside? I told him all; I thought that the best +way. I assured him that his Directory was hated, and his Constitution +worn out; that it was necessary to turn them all off, and give another +impulse to the government. 'Go and put on your uniform said I: I cannot +wait for you long. You will find me at the Tuileries, with the rest of +our comrades. Do not depend on Moreau, Beurnonville, or the generals of +your party. When you know them better you will find that they promise +much but perform little. Do not trust them.' Bernadotte then said that +he would not take part in what he called a rebellion. A rebellion! +Bourrienne, only think of that! A set of imbeciles, who from morning to +night do nothing but debate in their kennels! But all was in vain. I +could not move Bernadotte. He is a bar of iron. I asked him to give me +his word that he would do nothing against me; what do you think was his +answer?"--"Something unpleasant, no doubt."--"Unpleasant! that is too +mild a word. He said, 'I will remain quiet as a citizen; but if the +Directory order me to act, I will march against all disturbers.' But I +can laugh at all that now. My measures are taken, and he will have no +command. However, I set him at ease as to what would take place. +I flattered him with a picture of private life, the pleasures of the +country, and the charms of Malmaison; and I left him with his head full +of pastoral dreams. In a word, I am very well satisfied with my day's +work. Good-night, Bourrienne; we shall see what will turn up to-morrow." + +On the 19th I went to St. Cloud with my friend La Vallette. As we passed +the Place Louis XV., now Louis XVI., he asked me what was doing, and what +my opinion was as to the coming events? Without entering into any detail +I replied, "My friend, either we shall sleep tomorrow at the Luxembourg, +or there will be an end of us." Who could tell which of the two things +would happen! Success legalised a bold enterprise, which the slightest +accident might have changed into a crime. + +The sitting of the Ancients, under the presidency of Lemercier, commenced +at one o'clock. A warm discussion took place upon the situation of +affairs, the resignation of the members of the Directory, and the +immediate election of others. Great heat and agitation prevailed during +the debate. Intelligence was every minute carried to Bonaparte of what +was going forward, and he determined to enter the hall and take part in +the discussion. He entered in a hasty and angry way, which did not give +me a favourable foreboding of what he was about to say. We passed +through a narrow passage to the centre of the hall; our backs were turned +to the door. Bonaparte had the President to his right. He could not see +him full in the face. I was close to the General on his right. Berthier +was at his left. + +All the speeches which have been subsequently passed off as having been +delivered by Bonaparte on this occasion differ from each other; as well +they may, for he delivered none to the Ancients, unless his confused +conversation with the President, which was alike devoid of dignity and +sense, is to be called a speech. He talked of his "brothers in arms" and +the "frankness of a soldier." The questions of the President followed +each other rapidly: they were clear; but it is impossible to conceive +anything more confused or worse delivered than the ambiguous and +perplexed replies of Bonaparte. He talked without end of "volcanoes; +secret agitations, victories, a violated constitution!" He blamed the +proceedings of the 18th Fructidor, of which he was the first promoter +and the most powerful supporter. He pretended to be ignorant of +everything until the Council of Ancients had called him to the aid of +his country. Then came "Caesar--Cromwell--tyrant!" and he several times +repeated, "I have nothing more to say to you!" though, in fact, he had +said nothing. He alleged that he had been called to assume the supreme +authority, on his return from Italy, by the desire of the nation, and +afterwards by his comrades in arms. Next followed the words +"liberty-equality!" though it was evident he had not come to St. Cloud +for the sake of either. No sooner did he utter these words, than a +member of the Ancients, named, I think, Linglet, interrupting him, +exclaimed, "You forget the Constitution!" His countenance immediately +lighted up; yet nothing could be distinguished but, "The 18th +Fructidor--the 30th Prairial--hypocrites--intriguers--I will disclose +all!--I will resign my power, when the danger which threatens the +Republic shall have passed away!" + +Bonaparte, believing all his assertions to be admitted as proved, assumed +a little confidence, and accused the two directors Barras and Moulins of +having proposed to put him at the head of a party whose object was to +oppose all men professing liberal ideas. + +At these words, the falsehood of which was odious, a great tumult arose +in the hall. A general committee was loudly called for to hear the +disclosures. "No, no!" exclaimed others, "no general committee! +conspirators have been denounced: it is right that France should know +all!" + +Bonaparte was then required to enter into the particulars of his +accusation against Barras and Moulins, and of the proposals which had +been made to him: "You must no longer conceal anything." + +Embarrassed by these interruptions and interrogatories Bonaparte believed +that he was completely lost. Instead of giving an explanation of what he +had said, he began to make fresh accusations; and against whom? The +Council of the Five Hundred, who, he said, wished for "scaffolds, +revolutionary committees, and a complete overthrow of everything." + +Violent murmurs arose, and his language became more and more incoherent +and inconsequent. He addressed himself at one moment to the +representatives of the people, who were quite overcome by astonishment; +at another to the military in the courtyard, who could not hear him. +Then, by an unaccountable transition, he spoke of "the thunderbolts of +war!" and added, that he was "attended by the God of war and the God of +fortune." + +The President, with great calmness, told him that he saw nothing, +absolutely nothing, upon which the Council could deliberate; that there +was vagueness in all he had said. "Explain yourself; reveal the plot +which you say you were urged to join." + +Bonaparte repeated again the same things. But only those who were +present can form any idea of his manner. There was not the slightest +connection in what he stammered out. Bonaparte was then no orator. It +may well be supposed that he was more accustomed to the din of war than +to the discussions of the tribunes. He was more at home before a battery +than before a President's chair. + +Perceiving the bad effect which this unconnected babbling produced on the +assembly, as well as the embarrassment of Bonaparte, I said, in a low +voice, pulling him gently by the skirt of his coat, "withdraw, General; +you know not what you are saying." I made signs to Berthier, who was on +his left, to second me in persuading him to leave the hall; and all at +once, after having stammered out a few more words, he turned round +exclaiming, "Let those who love me follow me!" The sentinels at the door +offered no opposition to his passing. The person who went before him +quietly drew aside the tapestry which concealed the door, and General +Bonaparte leaped upon his horse, which stood in the court-yard. It is +hard to say what would have happened if, on seeing the General retire, +the President had said, "Grenadiers, let no one pass!" Instead of +sleeping next day at the Luxembourg he would, I am convinced, have ended +his career on the Place de la Revolution. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +1799. + + The two Councils--Barras' letter--Bonaparte at the Council of the + Five Hundred--False reports--Tumultuous sitting--Lucien's speech-- + He resigns the Presidency of the Council of the Five Hundred--He is + carried out by grenadiers--He harangues the troops--A dramatic scene + --Murat and his soldiers drive out the Five Hundred--Council of + Thirty--Consular commission--Decree--Return to Paris--Conversation + with Bonaparte and Josephine respecting Gohier and Bernadotte--The + directors Gohier and Moulins imprisoned. + +The scene which occurred at the sitting of the Council of the Ancients +was very different from that which passed outside. Bonaparte had +scarcely reached the courtyard and mounted his horse when cries of "Vive +Bonaparte!" resounded on all sides. But this was only a sunbeam between +two storms. He had yet to brave the Council of the Five Hundred, which +was far more excited than the Council of the Ancients. Everything tended +to create a dreadful uncertainty; but it was too late to draw back. We +had already staked too heavily. The game was desperate, and everything +was to be ventured. In a few hours all would be determined. + +Our apprehensions were not without foundation. In the Council of the +Five Hundred agitation was at its height. The most serious alarm marked +its deliberations. It had been determined to announce to the Directory +the installation of the Councils, and to inquire of the Council of the +Ancients their reasons for resolving upon an extraordinary convocation. +But the Directory no longer existed. Sieyès and Roger Ducos had joined +Bonaparte's party. Gohier and Moulins were prisoners in the Luxembourg, +and in the custody of General Moreau; and at the very moment when the +Council of the Five Hundred had drawn up a message to the Directory, the +Council of the Ancients transmitted to them the following letter, +received from Barras. This letter, which was addressed to the Council of +the Ancients, was immediately read by Lucien Bonaparte, who was President +of the Council of the Five Hundred. + + CITIZEN PRESIDENT--Having entered into public affairs solely from my + love of liberty, I consented to share the first magistracy of the + State only that I might be able to defend it in danger; to protect + against their enemies the patriots compromised in its cause; and to + ensure to the defenders of their country that attention to their + interests which no one was more calculated to feel than a citizen, + long the witness of their heroic virtues, and always sensible to + their wants. + + The glory which accompanies the return of the illustrious warrior to + whom I had the honour of opening the path of glory, the striking + marks of confidence given him by the legislative body, and the + decree of the National Convention, convince me that, to whatever + post he may henceforth be called, the dangers to liberty will be + averted, and the interests of the army ensured. + + I cheerfully return to the rank of a private citizen: happy, after + so many storms, to resign, unimpaired, and even more glorious than + ever, the destiny of the Republic, which has been, in part, + committed to my care. + (Signed) BARRAS. + + +This letter occasioned a great sensation in the Council of the Five +Hundred. A second reading was called for, and a question was started, +whether the retirement was legal, or was the result of collusion, and of +the influence of Bonaparte's agents; whether to believe Barras, who +declared the dangers of liberty averted, or the decree for the removal of +the legislative corps, which was passed and executed under the pretext of +the existence of imminent peril? At that moment Bonaparte appeared, +followed by a party of grenadiers, who remained at the entrance of the +hall. + +I did not accompany him to the Council of the Five Hundred. He had +directed me to send off an express to ease the apprehensions of +Josephine, and to assure her that everything would go well. It was some +time before I joined him again. + +However, without speaking as positively as if I had myself been an +eye-witness of the scene, I do not hesitate to declare that all that has +been said about assaults and poniards is pure invention. I rely on what +was told me, on the very night, by persons well worthy of credit, and +who were witnessess of all that passed. + +As to what passed at the sitting, the accounts, given both at the time +and since, have varied according to opinions. Some have alleged that +unanimous cries of indignation were excited by the appearance of the +military. From all parts of the hall resounded, "The sanctuary of the +laws is violated. Down with the tyrant!--down with Cromwell!--down with +the Dictator!" Bonaparte stammered out a few words, as he had done +before the Council of the Ancients, but his voice was immediately drowned +by cries of "Vive la Republique!" "Vive la Constitution!" "Outlaw the +Dictator!" The grenadiers are then said to have rushed forward, +exclaiming, "Let us save our General!" at which indignation reached its +height, and cries, even more violent than ever, were raised; that +Bonaparte, falling insensible into the arms of the grenadiers, said, +"They mean to assassinate me!" All that regards the exclamations and +threats I believe to be correct; but I rank with the story of the +poniards the assertion of the members of the Five Hundred being provided +with firearms, and the grenadiers rushing into the hall; because +Bonaparte never mentioned a word of anything of the sort to me, either on +the way home, or when I was with him in his chamber. Neither did he say +anything on the subject to his wife, who had been extremely agitated by +the different reports which reached her. + +After Bonaparte left the Council of the Five Hundred the deliberations +were continued with great violence. The excitement caused by the +appearance of Bonaparte was nothing like subsided when propositions of +the most furious nature were made. The President, Lucien, did all in his +power to restore tranquillity. As soon as he could make himself heard he +said, "The scene which has just taken place in the Council proves what +are the sentiments of all; sentiments which I declare are also mine. It +was, however, natural to believe that the General had no other object +than to render an account of the situation of affairs, and of something +interesting to the public. But I think none of you can suppose him +capable of projects hostile to liberty." + +Each sentence of Lucien's address was interrupted by cries of "Bonaparte +has tarnished his glory! He is a disgrace to the Republic!" + +Lucien[45] made fresh efforts to be heard, and wished to be allowed to +address the assembly as a member of the Council, and for that purpose +resigned the Presidentship to Chasal. He begged that the General might +be introduced again and heard with calmness. But this proposition was +furiously opposed. Exclamations of "Outlaw Bonaparte! outlaw him!" rang +through the assembly, and were the only reply given to the President. +Lucien, who had reassumed the President's chair, left it a second time, +that he might not be constrained to put the question of outlawry +demanded against his brother. Braving the displeasure of the assembly, +he mounted the tribune, resigned the Presidentship, renounced his seat +as a deputy, and threw aside his robes. + + [45]--[The next younger brother of Napoleon, President of the Council + of the Five Hundred in 1799; Minister of the Interior, 1st December + 1799 to 1841; Ambassador in Spain, 1801 to December 1801; left + France in disgrace in 1804; retired to Papal States; Prisoner in + Malta and England, 1810 to 1814; created by Pope in 1814 Prince de + Canino and Duc de Musignano; married firstly, 1794, Christine Boyer, + who died 1800; married secondly, 1802 or 1803, a Madame Jonberthon. + Of his part in the 18th Brumaire Napoleon said to him in 1807, + "I well know that you were useful to me on the 18th Brumaire, but it + is not so clear to me that you saved me then" (Iung's Lucien, tome + iii. p.89).]-- + +Just as Lucien left the Council I entered. Bonaparte, who was well +informed of all that was passing[46], had sent in soldiers to the +assistance of his brother; they carried him off from the midst of the +Council, and Bonaparte thought it a matter of no little importance to +have with him the President of an assembly which he treated as +rebellious. Lucien was reinstalled in office; but he was now to +discharge his duties, not in the President's chair, but on horseback, +and at the head of a party of troops ready to undertake anything. Roused +by the danger to which both his brother and himself were exposed he +delivered on horseback the following words, which can never be too often +remembered, as showing what a man then dared to say, who never was +anything except from the reflection of his brother's glory:-- + + CITIZENS! SOLDIERS!--The President of the Council of the Five + Hundred declares to you that the majority of that Council is at this + moment held in terror by a few representatives of the people, who + are armed with stilettoes, and who surround the tribune, threatening + their colleagues with death, and maintaining most atrocious + discussions. + + I declare to you that these brigands, who are doubtless in the pay + of England, have risen in rebellion against the Council of the + Ancients, and have dared to talk of outlawing the General, who is + charged with the execution of its decree, as if the word "outlaw" + was still to be regarded as the death-warrant of persons most + beloved by their country. + + I declare to you that these madmen have outlawed themselves by their + attempts upon the liberty of the Council. In the name of that + people, which for so many years have been the sport of terrorism, + I consign to you the charge of rescuing the majority of their + representatives; so that, delivered from stilettoes by bayonets, + they may deliberate on the fate of the Republic. + + General, and you, soldiers, and you, citizens, you will not + acknowledge, as legislators of France, any but those who rally round + me. As for those who remain in the orangery, let force expel + them. They are not the representatives of the people, but the + representatives of the poniard. Let that be their title, and let it + follow them everywhere; and whenever they dare show themselves to + the people, let every finger point at them, and every tongue + designate them by the well-merited title of representatives of the + poniard! + + Vive la Republique! + + [46]--[Lucien distinctly states that he himself, acting within his + right as President, had demanded an escort of the grenadiers of the + Councils as soon as he saw his withdrawal might be opposed. + Then the first entry of the soldiers with Napoleon would be illegal. + The second, to withdraw Lucien, was nominally legal (see Iung's + Lucien, tome i, pp. 318-322)]-- + +Notwithstanding the cries of "Vive Bonaparte!" which followed this +harangue, the troops still hesitated. It was evident that they were not +fully prepared to turn their swords against the national representatives. +Lucien then drew his sword, exclaiming, "I swear that I will stab my own +brother to the heart if he ever attempt anything against the liberty of +Frenchmen." This dramatic action was perfectly successful; hesitation +vanished; and at a signal given by Bonaparte, Murat, at the head of his +grenadiers, rushed into the hall, and drove out the representatives. +Everyone yielded to the reasoning of bayonets, and thus terminated the +employment of the armed force on that memorable day. + +At ten o'clock at night the palace of St. Cloud, where so many tumultuous +scenes had occurred, was perfectly tranquil. All the deputies were still +there, pacing the hall, the corridors, and the courts. Most of them had +an air of consternation; others affected to have foreseen the event, and +to appear satisfied with it; but all wished to return to Paris, which +they could not do until a new order revoked the order for the removal of +the Councils to St. Cloud. + +At eleven o'clock Bonaparte, who had eaten nothing all day, but who was +almost insensible to physical wants in moments of great agitation, said +to me, "We must go and write, Bourrienne; I intend this very night to +address a proclamation to the inhabitants of Paris. To-morrow morning I +shall be all the conversation of the capital." He then dictated to me +the following proclamation, which proves, no less than some of his +reports from Egypt, how much Bonaparte excelled in the art of twisting +the truth to own advantage: + + TO THE PEOPLE. + + 19th Brumaire, 11 o'clock, p.m. + + Frenchmen!--On my return to France I found division reigning amongst + all the authorities. They agreed only on this single point, that + the Constitution was half destroyed, and was unable to protect + liberty! + + Each party in turn came to me, confided to me their designs, + imparted their secrets, and requested my support. I refused to be + the man of a party. + + The Council of the Ancients appealed to me. I answered their + appeal. A plan of general restoration had been concerted by men + whom the nation has been accustomed to regard as the defenders of + liberty, equality, and property. This plan required calm and free + deliberation, exempt from all influence and all fear. The Ancients, + therefore, resolved upon the removal of the legislative bodies to + St. Cloud. They placed at my disposal the force necessary to secure + their independence. I was bound, in duty to my fellow-citizens, to + the soldiers perishing in our armies, and to the national glory, + acquired at the cost of so much blood, to accept the command. + + The Councils assembled at St. Cloud. Republican troops guaranteed + their safety from without, but assassins created terror within. + Many members of the Council of the Five Hundred, armed with + stilettoes and pistols, spread menaces of death around them. + + The plans which ought to have been developed were withheld. The + majority of the Council was rendered inefficient; the boldest + orators were disconcerted, and the inutility of submitting any + salutary proposition was quite evident. + + I proceeded, filled with indignation and grief, to the Council of + the Ancients. I besought them to carry their noble designs into + execution. I directed their attention to the evils of the nation, + which were their motives for conceiving those designs. They + concurred in giving me new proofs of their uniform goodwill, I + presented myself before the Council of the Five Hundred, alone, + unarmed, my head uncovered, just as the Ancients had received and + applauded me. My object was to restore to the majority the + expression of its will, and to secure to it its power. + + The stilettoes which had menaced the deputies were instantly raised + against their deliverer. Twenty assassins rushed upon me and aimed + at my breast. The grenadiers of the legislative body, whom I had + left at the door of the hall, ran forward, and placed themselves + between me and the assassins. One of these brave grenadiers + (Thomé[47]) had his clothes pierced by a stiletto. They bore me off. + + [47]--[Thomé merely had a small part of his coat torn by a + deputy, who took him by the collar. This constituted the whole of + the attempted assassinations of the 19th Brumaire.--Bourrienne]-- + + At the same moment cries of "Outlaw him!" were raised against the + defender of the law. It was the horrid cry of assassins against the + power destined to repress them. + + They crowded round the President, uttering threats. With arms in + their hands they commanded him to declare "the outlawry." I was + informed of this. I ordered him to be rescued from their fury, and + six grenadiers of the legislative body brought him out. Immediately + afterwards some grenadiers of the legislative body charged into the + hall and cleared it. + + The factions, intimidated, dispersed and fled. The majority, freed + from their assaults, returned freely and peaceably into the hall; + listened to the propositions made for the public safety, + deliberated, and drew up the salutary resolution which will become + the new and provisional law of the Republic. + + Frenchmen, you doubtless recognise in this conduct the zeal of a + soldier of liberty, of a citizen devoted to the Republic. + Conservative, tutelary, and liberal ideas resumed their authority + upon the dispersion of the factions, who domineered in the Councils, + and who, in rendering themselves the most odious of men, did not + cease to be the most contemptible. + (Signed) BONAPARTE, General, etc. + + +The day had been passed in destroying a Government; it was necessary to +devote the night to framing a new one. Talleyrand, Raederer, and Sieyès +were at St. Cloud. The Council of the Ancients assembled, and Lucien set +himself about finding some members of the Five Hundred on whom he could +reckon. He succeeded in getting together only thirty, who, with their +President, represented the numerous assembly of which they formed part. +This ghost of representation was essential, for Bonaparte, +notwithstanding his violation of all law on the preceding day, wished to +make it appear that he was acting legally. The Council of the Ancients +had, however, already decided that a provisional executive commission +should be appointed, composed of three members, and was about to name the +members of the commission--a measure which should have originated with +the Five Hundred--when Lucien came to acquaint Bonaparte that his chamber +'introuvable' was assembled. + +This chamber, which called itself the Council of the Five Hundred, though +that Council was now nothing but a Council of Thirty, hastily passed a +decree, the first article of which was as follows: + + The Directory exists no longer; and the individuals hereafter named + are no longer members of the national representation, on account of + the excesses and illegal acts which they have constantly committed, + and more particularly the greatest part of them, in the sitting of + this morning. + +Then follow the names of sixty-one members expelled. + +By other articles of the same decree the Council instituted a provisional +commission, similar to that which the Ancients had proposed to appoint, +resolved that the said commission should consist of three members, who +should assume the title of Consuls; and nominated as Consuls Sieyès, +Roger Ducos, and Bonaparte. The other provisions of the nocturnal decree +of St. Cloud had for their object merely the carrying into effect those +already described. This nocturnal sitting was very calm, and indeed it +would have been strange had it been otherwise, for no opposition could be +feared from the members of the Five Hundred, who were prepared to concur +with Lucien. All knew beforehand what they would have to do. Everything +was concluded by three o'clock in the morning; and the palace of St. +Cloud, which had been so agitated since the previous evening, resumed in +the morning its wonted stillness, and presented the appearance of a vast +solitude. + +All the hurrying about, the brief notes which I had to write to many +friends, and the conversations in which I was compelled to take part, +prevented me from dining before one o'clock in the morning. It was not +till then that Bonaparte, having gone to take the oath as Consul before +the Five Hundred, afforded me an opportunity of taking some refreshment +with Admiral Bruix and some other officers. + +At three o'clock in the morning I accompanied Bonaparte, in his carriage +to Paris. He was extremely fatigued after so many trials and fatigues. +A new future was opened before him. He was completely absorbed in +thought, and did not utter a single word during the journey. But when he +arrived at his house in the Rue de la Victoire, he had no sooner entered +his chamber and wished good morning to Josephine, who was in bed, and in +a state of the greatest anxiety on account of his absence, than he said +before her, "Bourrienne, I said many ridiculous things?"--"Not so very +bad, General"--"I like better to speak to soldiers than to lawyers. +Those fellows disconcerted me. I have not been used to public +assemblies; but that will come in time." + +We then began, all three, to converse. Madame Bonaparte became calm, and +Bonaparte resumed his wonted confidence. The events of the day naturally +formed the subject of our conversation. Josephine, who was much attached +to the Gohier family, mentioned the name of that Director in a tone of +kindness. "What would you have, my dear?" said Bonaparte to her. "It +is not my fault. He is a respectable man, but a simpleton. He does not +understand me!--I ought, perhaps, to have him transported. He wrote +against me to the Council of the Ancients; but I have his letter, and +they know nothing about it. Poor man! he expected me to dinner +yesterday. And this man thinks himself a statesman!--Speak no more of +him." + +During our discourse the name of Bernadotte was also mentioned. +"Have you seen him, Bourrienne?" said Bonaparte to me.--"No, +General"--"Neither have I. I have not heard him spoken of. Would you +imagine it? I had intelligence to-day of many intrigues in which he is +concerned. Would you believe it? he wished nothing less than to be +appointed my colleague in authority. He talked of mounting his horse and +marching with the troops that might be placed under his command. He +wished, he said, to maintain the Constitution: nay, more; I am assured +that he had the audacity to add that, if it were necessary to outlaw me, +the Government might come to him and he would find soldiers capable of +carrying the decree into execution."--"All this, General, should give +you an idea how inflexible his principles are."--"Yes, I am well aware +of it; there is something in that: he is honest. But for his obstinacy, +my brothers would have brought him over. They are related to him. His +wife, who is Joseph's sister-in-law, has ascendency over him. As for me, +have I not, I ask you, made sufficient advances to him? You have +witnessed them. Moreau, who has a higher military reputation than he, +came over to me at once. However, I repent of having cajoled Bernadotte. +I am thinking of separating him from all his coteries without any one +being able to find fault with the proceeding. I cannot revenge myself in +any other manner. Joseph likes him. I should have everybody against me. +These family considerations are follies! Goodnight, Bourrienne.--By the +way, we will sleep in the Luxembourg to-morrow." + +I then left the General, whom, henceforth, I will call the First Consul, +after having remained with him constantly during nearly twenty-four +hours, with the exception of the time when he was at the Council of the +Five Hundred. I retired to my lodging, in the Rue Martel, at five +o'clock in the morning. + +It is certain that if Gohier had come to breakfast on the morning of the +18th Brumaire, according to Madame Bonaparte's invitation, he would have +been one of the members of the Government. But Gohier acted the part of +the stern republican. He placed himself, according to the common phrase +of the time, astride of the Constitution of the year III.; and as his +steed made a sad stumble, he fell with it. + +It was a singular circumstance which prevented the two Directors Gohier +and Moulins from defending their beloved Constitution. It was from their +respect for the Constitution that they allowed it to perish, because they +would have been obliged to violate the article which did not allow less +than three Directors to deliberate together. Thus a king of Castile was +burned to death, because there did not happen to be in his apartment men +of such rank as etiquette would permit to touch the person of the +monarch. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +1799. + + General approbation of the 18th Brumaire--Distress of the treasury-- + M. Collot's generosity--Bonaparte's ingratitude--Gohier set at + Liberty--Constitution of the year VIII.--The Senate, Tribunate, and + Council of State--Notes required on the character of candidates-- + Bonaparte's love of integrity and talent--Influence of habit over + him--His hatred of the Tribunate--Provisional concessions--The first + Consular Ministry--Mediocrity of La Place--Proscription lists-- + Cambacérès report--M. Moreau de Worms--Character of Sieyès-- + Bonaparte at the Luxembourg--Distribution of the day and visits-- + Lebrun's opposition--Bonaparte's singing--His boyish tricks-- + Assumption of the titles "Madame" and "Monseigneur"--The men of the + Revolution and the partisans of the Bourbons--Bonaparte's fears-- + Confidential notes on candidates for office and the assemblies. + +It cannot be denied that France hailed, almost with unanimous voice, +Bonaparte's accession to the Consulship as a blessing of Providence. +I do not speak now of the ulterior consequences of that event; I speak +only of the fact itself, and its first results, such as the repeal of the +law of hostages, and the compulsory loan of a hundred millions. +Doubtless the legality of the acts of the 18th Brumaire may be disputed; +but who will venture to say that the immediate result of that day ought +not to be regarded as a great blessing to France? Whoever denies this +can have no idea of the wretched state of every branch of the +administration at that deplorable epoch. A few persons blamed the 18th +Brumaire; but no one regretted the Directory, with the exception, +perhaps, of the five Directors themselves. But we will say no more of +the Directorial Government. What an administration! In what a state +were the finances of France! Would it be believed? on the second day of +the Consulate, when Bonaparte wished to send a courier to General +Championet, commander-in-chief of the army of Italy, the treasury had not +1200 francs disposable to give to the courier! + +It may be supposed that in the first moments of a new Government money +would be wanted. M. Collot, who had served under Bonaparte in Italy, and +whose conduct and administration deserved nothing but praise, was one of +the first who came to the Consul's assistance. In this instance +M. Collot was as zealous as disinterested. He gave the Consul 500,000 +francs in gold, for which service he was badly rewarded. Bonaparte +afterwards behaved to M. Collot as though he was anxious to punish him +for being rich. This sum, which at the time made so fine an appearance +in the Consular treasury, was not repaid for a long time after, and then +without interest. This was not, indeed, the only instance in which +M. Collot had cause to complain of Bonaparte, who was never inclined to +acknowledge his important services, nor even to render justice to his +conduct. + +On the morning of the 20th Brumaire Bonaparte sent his brother Louis to +inform the Director Gohier that he was free. This haste in relieving +Gohier was not without a reason, for Bonaparte was anxious to install +himself in the Luxembourg, and we went there that same evening. + +Everything was to be created. Bonaparte had with him almost the whole of +the army, and on the soldiers he could rely. But the military force was +no longer sufficient for him. Wishing to possess a great civil power +established by legal forms, he immediately set about the composition of a +Senate and Tribunate; a Council of State and a new legislative body, and, +finally, a new Constitution[48]. + + [48]--[The Constitution of the year VIII. was presented on the 18th of + December 1799 (22d Frimaire, year VIII.), and accepted by the people + on the 7th of February 1800 (18th Pluviose, year VIII.). It + established a Consular Government, composed of Bonaparte, First + Consul, appointed for ten years; Cambacérès, Second Consul, also for + ten years; and Lebrun, Third Consul appointed for five years. It + established a conservative Senate, a legislative body of 800 + members, and a Tribunate composed of 100 members. The establishment + of the Council of State took place on the 29th of December 1799. + The installation of the new legislative body and the Tribunate was + fixed for the 1st of January 1800.--Bourrienne. Lanfrey (tome i. + p. 329) sees this Constitution foreshadowed in that proposed by + Napoleon in 1797 for the Cisalpine Republic.]-- + +As Bonaparte had not time to make himself acquainted with the persons by +whom he was about to be surrounded, he requested from the most +distinguished men of the period, well acquainted with France and the +Revolution, notes respecting the individuals worthy and capable of +entering the Senate, the Tribunate, and the Council of State. From the +manner in which all these notes were drawn up it was evident that the +writers of them studied to make their recommendation correspond with what +they conceived to be Bonaparte's views, and that they imagined he +participated in the opinions which were at that time popular. +Accordingly they stated, as grounds for preferring particular candidates, +their patriotism, their republicanism, and their having had seats in +preceding assemblies. + +Of all qualities, that which most influenced the choice of the First +Consul was inflexible integrity; and it is but just to say that in this +particular he was rarely deceived. He sought earnestly for talent; and +although he did not like the men of the Revolution, he was convinced that +he could not do without them. He had conceived an extreme aversion for +mediocrity, and generally rejected a man of that character when +recommended to him; but if he had known such a man long, he yielded to +the influence of habit, dreading nothing so much as change, or, as he was +accustomed to say himself, new faces[49]. + + [49]--[Napoleon loved only men with strong passions and great + weakness; he judged the most opposite qualities in men by these + defects (Metternich, tome iii. p.589)]-- + +Bonaparte then proceeded to organise a complaisant Senate, a mute +legislative body, and a Tribunate which was to have the semblance of +being independent, by the aid of some fine speeches and high-sounding +phrases. He easily appointed the Senators, but it was different with the +Tribunate. He hesitated long before he fixed upon the candidates for +that body, which inspired him with an anticipatory fear. However, on +arriving at power he dared not oppose himself to the exigencies of the +moment, and he consented for a time to delude the ambitious dupes who +kept up a buzz of fine sentiments of liberty around him. He saw that +circumstances were not yet favourable for refusing a share in the +Constitution to this third portion of power, destined apparently to +advocate the interests of the people before the legislative body. But in +yielding to necessity, the mere idea of the Tribunate filled him with the +utmost uneasiness; and, in a word, Bonaparte could not endure the public +discussions on his projects[50]. + + [50]--[The Tribunate under this Constitution of the year VIII. was the + only body allowed to debate in public on proposed laws, the + legislative body simply hearing in silence the orators sent by the + Council of State and by the Tribunals to state reasons for or + against propositions, and then voting in silence. Its orators were + constantly giving umbrage to Napoleon. It was at first purified, + early in 1802, by the Senate naming the members to go out in + rotation then reduced from 100 to 50 members later in 1802, and + suppressed in 1807; its disappearance being regarded by Napoleon as + his last break with the Revolution.]-- + +Bonaparte composed the first Consular Ministry as follows: Berthier was +Minister of War; Gaudin, formerly employed in the administration of the +Post Office, was appointed Minister of Finance; Cambacérès remained +Minister of Justice; Forfait was Minister of Marine; La Place of the +Interior; Fouché of Police; and Reinhard of Foreign Affairs. + +Reinhard and La Place were soon replaced, the former by the able M. +Talleyrand, the latter by Lucien Bonaparte[51]. It may be said that +Lucien merely passed through the Ministry on his way to a lucrative +embassy in Spain. As to La Place, Bonaparte always entertained a high +opinion of his talents. His appointment to the Ministry of the Interior +was a compliment paid to science; but it was not long before the First +Consul repented of his choice. La Place, so happily calculated for +science, displayed the most inconceivable mediocrity in administration. +He was incompetent to the most trifling matters; as if his mind, formed +to embrace the system of the world, and to interpret the laws of Newton +and Kepler, could not descend to the level of subjects of detail, or +apply itself to the duties of the department with which he was entrusted +for a short, but yet, with regard to him, too long a time. + + [51]--[When I quitted the service of the First Consul Talleyrand was + still at the head of the Foreign Department. I have frequently been + present at this great statesman's conferences with Napoleon, and I + can declare that I never saw him flatter his dreams of ambition; + but, on the contrary, he always endeavoured to make him sensible of + his true interests.--Bourrienne.]-- + +On the 26th Brumaire (17th November 1799) the Consuls issued a decree, +in which they stated that, conformably with Article III. of the law of +the 19th of the same month, which especially charged them with the +reestablishment of public tranquillity, they decreed that thirty-eight +individuals, who were named, should quit the continental territory of the +Republic, and for that purpose should proceed to Rochefort, to be +afterwards conducted to, and detained in, the department of French +Guiana. They likewise decreed that twenty-three other individuals, who +were named, should proceed to the commune of Rochelle, in the department +of the lower Charente, in order to be afterwards filed and detained in +such part of that department as should be pointed out by the Minister of +General Police. I was fortunate enough to keep my friend M. Moreau de +Worms, deputy from the Youne, out of the fiat of exiles. This produced a +mischievous effect. It bore a character of wanton severity quite +inconsistent with the assurances of mildness and moderation given at St. +Cloud on the 19th Brumaire. Cambacérès afterwards made a report, in +which he represented that it was unnecessary for the maintenance of +tranquillity to subject the proscribed to banishment, considering it +sufficient to place them under the supervision of the superior police. +Upon receiving the report the Consuls issued a decree, in which they +directed all the individuals included in the proscription to retire +respectively into the different communes which should be fixed upon by +the Minister of Justice, and to remain there until further orders. + +At the period of the issuing of these decrees Sieyès was still one of the +Consuls, conjointly with Bonaparte and Roger Ducos; and although +Bonaparte had, from the first moment, possessed the whole power of the +government, a sort of apparent equality was, nevertheless, observed +amongst them. It was not until the 25th of December that Bonaparte +assumed the title of First Consul, Cambacérès and Lebrun being then +joined in the office with him. He had fixed his eyes on them previously +to the 18th Brumaire, and he had no cause to reproach them with giving +him much embarrassment in his rapid progress towards the imperial throne. + +I have stated that I was so fortunate as to rescue M. Moreau de Worms +from the list of proscription. Some days after Sieyès entered +Bonaparte's cabinet and said to him, "Well, this M. Moreau de Worms, whom +M. Bourrienne induced you to save from banishment, is acting very finely! +I told you how it would be! I have received from Sens, his native place, +a letter which informs me that Moreau is in that town, where he has +assembled the people in the market-place, and indulged in the most +violent declamations against the 18th Brumaire,"--"Can you rely upon +your agent" asked Bonaparte.--"Perfectly. I can answer for the truth of +his communication." Bonaparte showed me the bulletin of Sieyès' agent, +and reproached me bitterly. "What would you say, General," I observed, +"if I should present this same M. Moreau de Worms, who is declaiming at +Sens against the 18th Brumaire, to you within an hour?"--"I defy you to +do it."--"I have made myself responsible for him, and I know what I am +about. He is violent in his politics; but he is a man of honour, +incapable of failing in his word."--"Well, we shall see. Go and find +him." I was very sure of doing what I had promised, for within an hour +before I had seen M. Moreau de Worms. He had been concealed since the +19th Brumaire, and had not quitted Paris. Nothing was easier than to +find him, and in three-quarters of an hour he was at the Luxembourg. I +presented him to Bonaparte, who conversed with him a long time concerning +the 18th Brumaire. When M. Moreau departed Bonaparte said to me, "You +are right. That fool Sieyès is as inventive as a Cassandra. This proves +that one should not be too ready to believe the reports of the wretches +whom we are obliged to employ in the police." Afterwards he added, +"Bourrienne, Moreau is a nice fellow: I am satisfied with him; I will do +something for him." It was not long before M. Moreau experienced the +effect of the Consul's good opinion. Some days after, whilst framing the +council of prizes, he, at my mere suggestion, appointed M. Moreau one of +the members, with a salary of 10,000 francs. On what extraordinary +circumstances the fortunes of men frequently depend! As to Sieyès, in +the intercourse, not very frequent certainly, which I had with him, he +appeared to be far beneath the reputation which he then enjoyed[52]. +He reposed a blind confidence in a multitude of agents, whom he sent into +all parts of France. When it happened, on other occasions, that I proved +to him, by evidence as sufficient as that in the case of M. Moreau, the +falseness of the reports he had received, he replied, with a confidence +truly ridiculous, "I can rely on my men." Sieyès had written in his +countenance, "Give me money!" I recollect that I one day alluded to this +expression in the anxious face of Sieyès to the First Consul. "You are +right," observed he to me, smiling; "when money is in question, Sieyès is +quite a matter-of-fact man. He sends his ideology to the right about and +thus becomes easily manageable. He readily abandons his constitutional +dreams for a good round sum, and that is very convenient[53]." + + [52]--[M. de Talleyrand, who is so capable of estimating men, and + whose admirable sayings well deserve to occupy a place in history, + had long entertained a similar opinion of Sieyès. One day, when he + was conversing with the Second Consul concerning Sieyès, Cambacérès + said to him. "Sieyès, however, is a very profound man."--"Profound?" + said Talleyrand. "Yes, he is, a cavity, a perfect cavity, as you + would say."--Bourrienne.]-- + + [53]--[Everybody knows, in fact, that Sieyès refused to resign his + consular dignities unless he received in exchange a beautiful farm + situated in the park of Versailles, and worth about 15,000 livres a + year. The good abbé consoled himself for no longer forming a third + of the republican sovereignty by making himself at home in the + ancient domain of the kings of France.--Bourrienne.]-- + +Bonaparte occupied, at the Little Luxembourg, the apartments on the +ground floor which lie to the right on entering from the Rue de +Vaugirard. His cabinet was close to a private staircase, which conducted +me to the first floor, where Josephine dwelt. My apartment was above. + +After breakfast, which was served at ten o'clock, Bonaparte would +converse for a few moments with his usual guests, that is to say, his +'aides de camp', the persons he invited, and myself, who never left him. +He was also visited very often by Deferment, Regnault (of the town of St. +Jean d'Angély), Boulay (de la Meurthe), Monge, and Berber, who were, with +his brothers, Joseph and Lucien, those whom he most delighted to see; he +conversed familiarly with them. Cambacérès generally came at mid-day, +and stayed some time with him, often a whole hour. Lebrun visited but +seldom. Notwithstanding his elevation, his character remained unaltered; +and Bonaparte considered him too moderate, because he always opposed his +ambitious views and his plans to usurp power. When Bonaparte left the +breakfast-table it was seldom that he did not add, after bidding +Josephine and her daughter Hortense good-day, "Come, Bourrienne, come, +let us to work." + +After the morning audiences I stayed with Bonaparte all the day, either +reading to him, or writing to his dictation. Three or four times in the +week he would go to the Council. On his way to the hall of deliberation +he was obliged to cross the courtyard of the Little Luxembourg and ascend +the grand staircase. This always vexed him, and the more so as the +weather was very bad at the time. This annoyance continued until the +25th of December, and it was with much satisfaction that he saw himself +quit of it. After leaving the Council he used to enter his cabinet +singing, and God knows how wretchedly he sung! He examined whatever work +he had ordered to be done, signed documents, stretched himself in his +arm-chair, and read the letters of the preceding day and the publications +of the morning. When there was no Council he remained in his cabinet, +conversed with me, always sang, and cut, according to custom, the arm of +his chair, giving himself sometimes quite the air of a great boy. Then, +all at once starting up, he would describe a plan for the erection of a +monument, or dictate some of those extraordinary productions which +astonished and dismayed the world. He often became again the same man, +who, under the walls of St. Jean d'Acre, had dreamed of an empire worthy +his ambition. + +At five o'clock dinner was served up. When that was over the First +Consul went upstairs to Josephine's apartments, where he commonly +received the visits of the Ministers. He was always pleased to see among +the number the Minister of Foreign Affairs, especially since the +portfolio of that department had been entrusted to the hands of M. de +Talleyrand. At midnight, and often sooner, he gave the signal for +retiring by saying in a hasty manner, "Allons nous coucher." + +It was at the Luxembourg, in the salons of which the adorable Josephine +so well performed the honours, that the word 'Madame' came again into +use. This first return towards the old French politeness was startling +to some susceptible Republicans; but things were soon carried farther at +the Tuileries by the introduction of 'Votre Altesse' on occasions of +state ceremony, and Monseigneur in the family circle. + +If, on the one hand, Bonaparte did not like the men of the Revolution, on +the other he dreaded still more the partisans of the Bourbons. On the +mere mention of the name of those princes he experienced a kind of inward +alarm; and he often spoke of the necessity of raising a wall of brass +between France and them. To this feeling, no doubt, must be attributed +certain nominations, and the spirit of some recommendations contained in +the notes with which he was supplied on the characters of candidates, and +which for ready reference were arranged alphabetically. Some of the +notes just mentioned were in the handwriting of Regnault de St. Jean +d'Angély, and some in Lucien Bonaparte's[54]. + + [54]--[Among them was the following, under the title of "General + Observations": "In choosing among the men who were members of the + Constituent Assembly it is necessary to be on guard against the + Orleans' party, which is not altogether a chimera, and may one day + or other prove dangerous. + + "There is no doubt that the partisans of that family are intriguing + secretly; and among many other proofs of this fact the following is + a striking one: the journal called the 'Aristargue', which + undisguisedly supports royalism, is conducted by a man of the name + of Voidel, one of the hottest patriots of the Revolution. He was + for several months president of the committee of inquiry which + caused the Marquis de Favras to be arrested and hanged, and gave so + much uneasiness to the Court. There was no one in the Constituent + Assembly more hateful to the Court than Voidel, so much on account + of his violence as for his connection with the Duke of Orleans, + whose advocate and counsel he was. When the Duke of Orleans was + arrested, Voidel, braving the fury of the revolutionary tribunals, + had the courage to defend him, and placarded all the walls of Paris + with an apology for the Duke and his two sons. This man, writing + now in favour of royalism, can have no other object than to advance + a member of the Orleans family to the throne."--Bourrienne.]-- + +At the commencement of the First Consul's administration, though he +always consulted the notes he had collected, he yet received with +attention the recommendations of persons with whom he was well +acquainted; but it was not safe for them to recommend a rogue or a fool. +The men whom he most disliked were those whom he called babblers, who are +continually prating of everything and on everything. He often said,-- +"I want more head and less tongue." What he thought of the regicides will +be seen farther on, but at first the more a man had given a gage to the +Revolution, the more he considered him as offering a guarantee against +the return of the former order of things. Besides, Bonaparte was not the +man to attend to any consideration when once his policy was concerned. + +As I have said a few pages back, on taking the government into his own +hands Bonaparte knew so little of the Revolution and of the men engaged +in civil employments that it was indispensably necessary for him to +collect information from every quarter respecting men and things. But +when the conflicting passions of the moment became more calm and the +spirit of party more prudent, and when order had been, by his severe +investigations, introduced where hitherto unbridled confusion had +reigned, he became gradually more scrupulous in granting places, whether +arising from newly-created offices, or from those changes which the +different departments often experienced. He then said to me, +"Bourrienne, I give up your department to you. Name whom you please for +the appointments; but remember you must be responsible to me." + +What a list would have been which should contain the names of all the +prefects, sub-prefects, receivers-general, and other civil officers to +whom I gave places! I have kept no memoranda of their names; and indeed, +what advantage would there have been in doing so? It was impossible for +me to have a personal knowledge of all the fortunate candidates; but I +relied on recommendations in which I had confidence. + +I have little to complain of in those I obliged; though it is true that, +since my separation from Bonaparte, I have seen many of them take the +opposite side of the street in which I was walking, and by that delicate +attention save me the trouble of raising my hat. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, v3, by +Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, V3 *** + +***** This file should be named 3553-8.txt or 3553-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/5/3553/ + +Produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/3553-8.zip b/3553-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a5b49c --- /dev/null +++ b/3553-8.zip diff --git a/3553.txt b/3553.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..949fd6a --- /dev/null +++ b/3553.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5002 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, v3, by +Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, v3 + +Author: Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + +Posted: November 24, 2012 [EBook #3553] +Release Date: December, 2002 +[This file first posted:04/20/01] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, V3 *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 3. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +Chapter XV. To Chapter XXVI. 1799 + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +1798. + + Establishment of a divan in each Egyptian province--Desaix in Upper + Egypt--Ibrahim Bey beaten by Bonaparte at Salehye'h--Sulkowsky + wounded--Disaster at Aboukir--Dissatisfaction and murmurs of the + army--Dejection of the General-in-Chief--His plan respecting Egypt + --Meditated descent upon England--Bonaparte's censure of the + Directory--Intercepted correspondence. + +From the details I have already given respecting Bonaparte's plans for +colonising Egypt, it will be seen that his energy of mind urged him to +adopt anticipatory measures for the accomplishment of objects which were +never realised. During the short interval in which he sheathed his sword +he planned provisional governments for the towns and provinces occupied +by the French troops, and he adroitly contrived to serve the interests of +his army without appearing to violate those of the country. After he had +been four days at Cairo, during which time he employed himself in +examining everything, and consulting every individual from whom he could +obtain useful information, he published the following order: + + HEADQUARTERS, CAIRO, + 9th Thermidor, year VI. + + BONAPARTE, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, + AND GENERAL-IN-CHIEF, ORDERS: + + Art. 1. There shall be in each province of Egypt a divan, composed + of seven individuals, whose duty will be to superintend the + interests of the province; to communicate to me any complaints that + may be made; to prevent warfare among the different villages; to + apprehend and punish criminals (for which purpose they may demand + assistance from the French commandant); and to take every + opportunity of enlightening the people. + + Art. 2. There shall be in each province an aga of the Janizaries, + maintaining constant communication with the French commandant. He + shall have with him a company of sixty armed natives, whom he may + take wherever he pleases, for the maintenance of good order, + subordination, and tranquillity. + + Art. 3. There shall be in each province an intendant, whose + business will be to levy the miri, the feddam, and the other + contributions which formerly belonged to the Mamelukes, but which + now belong to the French Republic. The intendants shall have as + many agents as may be necessary. + + Art. 4. The said intendant shall have a French agent to correspond + with the Finance Department, and to execute all the orders he may + receive. + (Signed) BONAPARTE. + +While Bonaparte was thus actively taking measures for the organization +of the country[1], General Desaix had marched into Upper Egypt in +pursuit of Mourad Bey. We learned that Ibrahim, who, next to Mourad, +was the most influential of the beys, had proceeded towards Syria, by +the way of Belbeis and Salehye'h. The General-in-Chief immediately +determined to march in person against that formidable enemy, and he +left Cairo about fifteen days after he had entered it. It is +unnecessary to describe the well-known engagement in which Bonaparte +drove Ibrahim back upon El-Arish; besides, I do not enter minutely +into the details of battles, my chief object being to record events +which I personally witnessed. + + [1]--[Far more thoroughly and actively than those taken by the English + Government in 1882-3-4]-- + +At the battle of Salehye'h Bonaparte thought he had lost one of his +'aides de camp', Sulkowsky, to whom he was much attached, and who had +been with us during the whole of the campaign of Italy. On the field of +battle one object of regret cannot long engross the mind; yet, on his +return to Cairo, Bonaparte frequently spoke to me of Sulkowsky in terms +of unfeigned sorrow. + +"I cannot," said he one day, "sufficiently admire the noble spirit and +determined courage of poor Sulkowsky." He often said that Sulkowsky +would have been a valuable aid to whoever might undertake the +resuscitation of Poland. Fortunately that brave officer was not killed +on that occasion, though seriously wounded. He was, however, killed +shortly after. + +The destruction of the French squadron in the roads of Aboukir occurred +during the absence of the General-in-Chief. This event happened on the +1st of August. The details are generally known; but there is one +circumstance to which I cannot refrain from alluding, and which excited +deep interest at the time. This was the heroic courage of the son of +Casablanca, the captain of the 'Orient'. Casablanca was among the +wounded, and when the vessel was blown up his son, a lad of ten years of +age, preferred perishing with him rather than saving himself, when one of +the seamen had secured him the means of escape. I told the 'aide de +camp', sent by General Kleber, who had the command of Alexandria, that +the General-in-Chief was near Salehye'h. He proceeded thither +immediately, and Bonaparte hastened back to Cairo, a distance of about +thirty-three leagues. + +In spite of any assertions that may have been made to the contrary, the +fact is, that as soon as the French troops set foot in Egypt, they were +filled with dissatisfaction, and ardently longed to return home[2]. +The illusion of the expedition had disappeared, and only its reality +remained. What bitter murmuring have I not heard from Murat, Lannes, +Berthier, Bessieres, and others! Their complaints were, indeed, often so +unmeasured as almost to amount to sedition. This greatly vexed +Bonaparte, and drew from him severe reproaches and violent language[3]. +When the news arrived of the loss of the fleet, discontent increased. +All who had acquired fortunes under Napoleon now began to fear that they +would never enjoy them. All turned their thoughts to Paris, and its +amusements, and were utterly disheartened at the idea of being separated +from their homes and their friends for a period, the termination of which +it was impossible to foresee. + + [2]--['Erreurs' objects to this description of the complaints of the + army, but Savary (tome i. pp. 66, 67, and tome i. p. 89) fully + confirms it, giving the reason that the army was not a homogeneous + body, but a mixed force taken from Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice, + Genoa, and Marseilles; see also Thiers, tome v. p. 283. But the + fact is not singular. For a striking instance, in the days of the + Empire, of the soldiers in 1809, in Spain, actually threatening + Napoleon in his own hearing, see De Gonneville (tome i. pp. 190-193): + "The soldiers of Lapisse's division gave loud expression to + the most sinister designs against the Emperor's person, stirring up + each other to fire a shot at him, and bandying accusations of + cowardice for not doing it." He heard it all as plainly as we did, + and seemed as if he did not care a bit for it, but "sent the + division into good quarters, when the men were as enthusiastic as + they were formerly mutinous." In 1796 d'Entraigues, the Bourbon spy, + reports, "As a general rule, the French soldier grumbles and is + discontented. He accuses Bonaparte of being a thief and a rascal. + But to-morrow the very same soldier will obey him blindly" (Iung's + Bonaparte, tome iii. p. 152).]-- + + [3]--[Napoleon related at St. Helena that in a fit of irritation he + rushed among a group of dissatisfied generals, and said to one of + them, who was remarkable for his stature, "you have held seditious + language; but take care I do not perform my duty. Though you are + five feet ten inches high, that shall not save you from being + shot."--Bourrienne.]-- + +The catastrophe of Aboukir came like a thunderbolt upon the General-in-Chief. +In spite of all his energy and fortitude, he was deeply +distressed by the disasters which now assailed him. To the painful +feelings excited by the complaints and dejection of his companions in +arms was now added the irreparable misfortune of the burning of our +fleet. He measured the fatal consequences of this event at a single +glance. We were now cut off from all communication with France, and all +hope of returning thither, except by a degrading capitulation with an +implacable and hated enemy. Bonaparte had lost all chance of preserving +his conquest, and to him this was indeed a bitter reflection. And at +what a time did this disaster befall him? At the very moment when he was +about to apply for the aid of the mother-country. + +From what General Bonaparte communicated to me previously to the 1st of +August, his object was, having once secured the possession of Egypt; to +return to Toulon with the fleet; then to send troops and provisions of +every kind to Egypt; and next to combine with the fleet all the forces +that could be supplied, not only by France, but by her allies, for the +purpose of attacking England. It is certain that previously to his +departure for Egypt he had laid before the Directory a note relative to +his plans. He always regarded a descent upon England as possible, though +in its result fatal, so long as we should be inferior in naval strength; +but he hoped by various manoeuvres to secure a superiority on one point. + +His intention was to return to France. Availing himself of the departure +of the English fleet for the Mediterranean, the alarm excited by his +Egyptian expedition, the panic that would be inspired by his sudden +appearance at Boulogne, and his preparations against England, he hoped to +oblige that power to withdraw her naval force from the Mediterranean, and +to prevent her sending out troops to Egypt. This project was often in +his head. He would have thought it sublime to date an order of the day +from the ruins of Memphis, and three months later, one from London. The +loss of the fleet converted all these bold conceptions into mere romantic +visions. + +When alone with me he gave free vent to his emotion. I observed to him +that the disaster was doubtless great, but that it would have been +infinitely more irreparable had Nelson fallen in with us at Malta, or had +he waited for us four-and-twenty hours before Alexandria, or in the open +sea. "Any one of these events," said I, "which were not only possible +but probable, would have deprived us of every resource. We are blockaded +here, but we have provisions and money. Let us then wait patiently to +see what the Directory will do for us."--"The Directory!" exclaimed he +angrily, "the Directory is composed of a set of scoundrels! they envy and +hate me, and would gladly let me perish here. Besides, you see how +dissatisfied the whole army is: not a man is willing to stay." + +The pleasing illusions which were cherished at the outset of the +expedition vanished long before our arrival in Cairo. Egypt was no +longer the empire of the Ptolemies, covered with populous and wealthy +cities; it now presented one unvaried scene of devastation and misery. +Instead of being aided by the inhabitants, whom we had ruined, for the +sake of delivering them from the yoke of the beys, we found all against +us: Mamelukes, Arabs, and fellahs. No Frenchman was secure of his life +who happened to stray half a mile from any inhabited place, or the corps +to which he belonged. The hostility which prevailed against us and the +discontent of the army were clearly developed in the numerous letters +which were written to France at the time, and intercepted. + +The gloomy reflections which at first assailed Bonaparte, were speedily +banished; and he soon recovered the fortitude and presence of mind which +had been for a moment shaken by the overwhelming news from Aboukir. +He, however, sometimes repeated, in a tone which it would be difficult to +describe, "Unfortunate Brueys, what have you done!" + +I have remarked that in some chance observations which escaped Napoleon +at St. Helena he endeavoured to throw all the blame of the affair on +Admiral Brueys. Persons who are determined to make Bonaparte an +exception to human nature have unjustly reproached the Admiral for the +loss of the fleet. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +1798. + + The Egyptian Institute--Festival of the birth of Mahomet--Bonaparte's + prudent respect for the Mahometan religion--His Turkish dress-- + Djezzar, the Pasha of Acre--Thoughts of a campaign in Germany--Want + of news from France--Bonaparte and Madame Foures--The Egyptian + fortune-teller, M. Berthollet, and the Sheik El Bekri--The air + "Marlbrook"--Insurrection in Cairo--Death of General Dupuis--Death + of Sulkowsky--The insurrection quelled--Nocturnal executions-- + Destruction of a tribe of Arabs--Convoy of sick and wounded-- + Massacre of the French in Sicily--projected expedition to Syria-- + Letter to Tippoo Saib. + +The loss of the fleet convinced General Bonaparte of the necessity of +speedily and effectively organising Egypt, where everything denoted that +we should stay for a considerable time, excepting the event of a forced +evacuation, which the General was far from foreseeing or fearing. The +distance of Ibrahim Bey and Mourad Bey now left him a little at rest. +War, fortifications, taxation, government, the organization of the +divans, trade, art, and science, all occupied his attention. Orders and +instructions were immediately despatched, if not to repair the defeat, at +least to avert the first danger that might ensue from it. On the 21st of +August Bonaparte established at Cairo an institute of the arts and +sciences, of which he subsequently appointed me a member in the room of +M. de Sucy, who was obliged to return to France, in consequence of the +wound he received on board the flotilla in the Nile[4]. + + [4]--[The Institute of Egypt was composed of members of the French + Institute, and of the men of science and artists of the commission + who did not belong to that body. They assembled and added to their + number several officers of the artillery and staff, and others who + had cultivated the sciences and literature. + + The Institute was established in one of the palaces of the bey's. + A great number of machines, and physical, chemical, and astronomical + instruments had been brought from France. They were distributed in + the different rooms, which were also successively filled with all + the curiosities of the country, whether of the animal, vegetable, or + mineral kingdom. + + The garden of the palace became a botanical garden. A chemical + laboratory was formed at headquarters; Berthollet performed + experiments there several times every week, which Napoleon and a + great number of officers attended ('Memoirs of Napoleon')]-- + +In founding this Institute, Bonaparte wished to afford an example of his +ideas of civilisation. The minutes of the sittings of that learned body, +which have been printed, bear evidence of its utility, and of Napoleon's +extended views. The objects of the Institute were the advancement and +propagation of information in Egypt, and the study and publication of all +facts relating to the natural history, trade, and antiquities of that +ancient country. + +On the 18th Bonaparte was present at the ceremony of opening the dyke of +the canal of Cairo, which receives the water of the Nile when it reaches +the height fired by the Mequyas. + +Two days after came the anniversary festival of the birth of Mahomet. At +this Napoleon was also present, in company with the sheik El Bekri[5], who +at his request gave him two young Mamelukes, Ibrahim, and Roustan[6]. + + [5]--[The General-in-Chief went to celebrate the feast of the Prophet + at the house of the sheik El Bekri. The ceremony was begun by the + recital of a kind of litany, containing the life of Mahomet from his + birth to his death. About a hundred sheiks, sitting in a circle, on + carpets, with their legs crossed, recited all the verses, swinging + their bodies violently backwards and forwards, and altogether. + + A grand dinner was afterwards served up, at which the guests sat on + carpets, with their legs across. There were twenty tables, and five + or six people at each table. That of the General-in-Chief and the + sheik El Bekri was in the middle; a little slab of a precious kind + of wood ornamented with mosaic work was placed eighteen inches above + the floor and covered with a great number of dishes in succession. + They were pillaws of rice, a particular kind of roast, entrees, and + pastry, all very highly spiced. The sheiks picked everything with + their fingers. Accordingly water was brought to wash the hands + three times during dinner. Gooseberry-water, lemonade, and other + sorts of sherbets were served to drink, and abundance of preserves + and confectionery with the dessert. On the whole, the dinner was + not disagreeable; it was only the manner of eating it that seemed + strange to us. + + In the evening the whole city was illuminated. After dinner the + party went into the square of El Bekri, the illumination of which, + in coloured lamps, was very beautiful. An immense concourse of + people attended. They were all placed in order, in ranks of from + twenty to a hundred persons, who, standing close together, recited + the prayers and litanies of the Prophet with movements which kept + increasing, until at length they seemed to be convulsive, and some + of the most zealous fainted away ('Memoirs of Napoleon').]-- + + [6]--[Roustan or Rustan, a Mameluke, was always with Napoleon from the + time of the return from Egypt till 1814, when he abandoned his + master. He slept at or near the door of Napoleon. See Remusat, + tome i, p. 209, for an amusing description of the alarm of + Josephine, and the precipitate flight of Madame de Remusat, at the + idea of being met and killed by this man in one of Josephine's + nocturnal attacks on the privacy of her husband when closeted with + his mistress.]-- + +It has been alleged that Bonaparte, when in Egypt, took part in the +religious ceremonies and worship of the Mussulmans; but it cannot be said +that he celebrated the festivals of the overflowing of the Nile and the +anniversary of the Prophet. The Turks invited him to these merely as a +spectator; and the presence of their new master was gratifying to the +people. But he never committed the folly of ordering any solemnity. +He neither learned nor repeated any prayer of the Koran, as many persons +have asserted; neither did he advocate fatalism, polygamy, or any other +doctrine of the Koran. Bonaparte employed himself better than in +discussing with the Imaums the theology of the children of Ismael. The +ceremonies, at which policy induced him to be present, were to him, and +to all who accompanied him, mere matters of curiosity. He never set foot +in a mosque; and only on one occasion, which I shall hereafter mention, +dressed himself in the Mahometan costume. He attended the festivals to +which the green turbans invited him[7]. His religious tolerance was the +natural consequence of his philosophic spirit. + + [7]--[From this Sir Walter Scott infers that he did not scruple to + join the Musselmans in the external ceremonies of their religion. He + embellishes his romance with the ridiculous farce of the sepulchral + chamber of the grand pyramid, and the speeches which were addressed + to the General as well as to the muftis and Imaums; and he adds that + Bonaparte was on the point of embracing Islamism. All that Sir + Walter says on this subject is the height of absurdity, and does not + even deserve to be seriously refuted. Bonaparte never entered a + mosque except from motives of curiosity,(see contradiction in + previous paragraph. D.W.) and he never for one moment afforded any + ground for supposing that he believed to the mission of Mahomet.-- + Bourrienne.]-- + +Doubtless Bonaparte did, as he was bound to do, show respect for the +religion of the country; and he found it necessary to act more like a +Mussulman than a Catholic. A wise conqueror supports his triumphs by +protecting and even elevating the religion of the conquered people. +Bonaparte's principle was, as he himself has often told me, to look upon +religions as the work of men, but to respect them everywhere as a +powerful engine of government. However, I will not go so far as to say +that he would not have changed his religion had the conquest of the East +been the price of that change. All that he said about Mahomet, Islamism, +and the Koran to the great men of the country he laughed at himself. +He enjoyed the gratification of having all his fine sayings on the +subject of religion translated into Arabic poetry, and repeated from +mouth to mouth. This of course tended to conciliate the people. + +I confess that Bonaparte frequently conversed with the chiefs of the +Mussulman religion on the subject of his conversion; but only for the +sake of amusement. The priests of the Koran, who would probably have +been delighted to convert us, offered us the most ample concessions. +But these conversations were merely started by way of entertainment, +and never could have warranted a supposition of their leading to any +serious result. If Bonaparte spoke as a Mussulman, it was merely in his +character of a military and political chief in a Mussulman country. +To do so was essential to his success, to the safety of his army, and, +consequently, to his glory. In every country he would have drawn up +proclamations and delivered addresses on the same principle. In India he +would have been for Ali, at Thibet for the Dalai-lama, and in China for +Confucius[8]. + + [8]--[On the subject of his alleged conversion to Mahometanism + Bonaparte expressed himself at St. Helena as follows: + + "I never followed any of the tenets of that religion. I never + prayed in the mosques. I never abstained from wine, or was + circumcised, neither did I ever profess it. I said merely that we + were the friends of the Mussulmans, and that I respected Mahomet + their prophet, which was true; I respect him now. I wanted to make + the Imaums cause prayers to be offered up in the mosques for me, in + order to make the people respect me still more than they actually + did, and obey me more readily. The Imaums replied that there was a + great obstacle, because their Prophet in the Koran had inculcated to + them that they were not to obey, respect, or hold faith with + infidels, and that I came under that denomination. I then desired + them to hold a consultation, and see what was necessary to be done + in order to become a Mussulman, as some of their tenets could not be + practised by us. That, as to circumcision, God had made us unfit + for that. That, with respect to drinking wine, we were poor cold + people, inhabitants of the north, who could not exist without it. + They consulted together accordingly, and in about three weeks issued + a fetham, declaring that circumcision might be omitted, because it + was merely a profession; that as to drinking wine, it might be drunk + by Mussulmans, but that those who drank it would not go to paradise, + but to hell. I replied that this would not do; that we had no + occasion to make ourselves Mussulmans in order to go to hell, that + there were many ways of getting there without coming to Egypt, and + desired them to hold another consultation. After deliberating and + battling together for I believe three months, they finally decided + that a man might become a Mussulman, and neither circumcise nor + abstain from wine; but that, in proportion to the wine drunk, some + good works must be done. I then told them that we were all + Mussulmans and friends of the Prophet, which they really believed, + as the French soldiers never went to church, and had no priests with + them. For you must know that during the Revolution there was no + religion whatever in the French army. Menou," continued Napoleon, + "really turned Mahometan, which was the reason I left him behind." + --(Voices from St. Helena.)]-- + +The General-in-Chief had a Turkish dress made, which he once put on, +merely in joke. One day he desired me to go to breakfast without waiting +for him, and that he would follow me. In about a quarter of an hour he +made his appearance in his new costume. As soon as he was recognised he +was received with a loud burst of laughter. He sat down very coolly; but +he found himself so encumbered and ill at ease in his turban and Oriental +robe that he speedily threw them off, and was never tempted to a second +performance of the masquerade. + +About the end of August Bonaparte wished to open negotiations with the +Pasha of Acre, nicknamed the Butcher. He offered Djezzar his friendship, +sought his in return, and gave him the most consolatory assurances of the +safety of his dominions. He promised to support him against the Grand +Seignior, at the very moment when he was assuring the Egyptians that he +would support the Grand Seignior against the beys. But Djezzar, +confiding in his own strength and in the protection of the English, who +had anticipated Bonaparte, was deaf to every overture, and would not even +receive Beauvoisin, who was sent to him on the 22d of August. A second +envoy was beheaded at Acre. The occupations of Bonaparte and the +necessity of obtaining a more solid footing in Egypt retarded for the +moment the invasion of that pashalic, which provoked vengeance by its +barbarities, besides being a dangerous neighbour. + +From the time he received the accounts of the disaster of Aboukir until +the revolt of Cairo on the 22d of October, Bonaparte sometimes found the +time hang heavily on his hands. Though he devoted attention to +everything, yet there was not sufficient occupation for his singularly +active mind. When the heat was not too great he rode on horseback; and +on his return, if he found no despatches to read (which often happened), +no orders to send off; or no letters to answer, he was immediately +absorbed in reverie, and would sometimes converse very strangely. One +day, after a long pause, he said to me: + +"Do you know what I am thinking of?"--"Upon my word, that would be very +difficult; you think of such extraordinary things."--"I don't know," +continued he, "that I shall ever see France again; but if I do, my only +ambition is to make a glorious campaign in Germany--in the plains of +Bavaria; there to gain a great battle, and to avenge France for the +defeat of Hochstadt. After that I would retire into the country, and +live quietly." + +He then entered upon a long dissertation on the preference he would give +to Germany as the theatre of war[9]; the fine character of the people, and +the prosperity and wealth of the country, and its power of supporting an +army. His conversations were sometimes very long; but always replete +with interest. + + [9]--[So early as 1794 Napoleon had suggested that Austria should + always be attacked in Germany, not in Italy. "It is Germany that + should be overwhelmed; that done, Italy and Spain fall of + themselves. Germany should be attacked, not Spain or Italy. If we + obtain great success, advantage should never be taken of it to + penetrate into Italy while Germany, unweakened, offers a formidable + front" (Iung's Bonaparte, tome ii. p. 936), He was always opposed + to the wild plans which had ruined so many French armies in Italy, + and which the Directory tried to force on him, of marching on Rome + and Naples after every success in the north.]-- + +In these intervals of leisure Bonaparte was accustomed to retire to bed +early. I used to read to him every evening. When I read poetry he would +fall asleep; but when he asked for the Life of Cromwell I counted on +sitting up pretty late. In the course of the day he used to read and +make notes. He often expressed regret at not receiving news from France; +for correspondence was rendered impracticable by the numerous English and +Turkish cruisers. Many letters were intercepted and scandalously +published. Not even family secrets and communications of the most +confidential nature were respected. + +About the middle of September in this year (1798), Bonaparte ordered to +be brought to the house of Elfy Bey half a dozen Asiatic women whose +beauty he had heard highly extolled. But their ungraceful obesity +displeased him, and they were immediately dismissed. A few days after he +fell violently in love with Madame Foures, the wife of a lieutenant of +infantry. She was very pretty, and her charms were enhanced by the +rarity of seeing a woman in Egypt who was calculated to please the eye of +a European. Bonaparte engaged for her a house adjoining the palace of +Elfy Bey, which we occupied. He frequently ordered dinner to be prepared +there, and I used to go there with him at seven o'clock, and leave him at +nine. + +This connection soon became the general subject of gossip at head-quarters. +Through a feeling of delicacy to M. Foures, the General-in-Chief gave +him a mission to the Directory. He embarked at Alexandria, +and the ship was captured by the English, who, being informed of the +cause of his mission, were malicious enough to send him back to Egypt, +instead of keeping him prisoner. Bonaparte wished to have a child by +Madame Foures, but this wish was not realised. + +A celebrated soothsayer was recommended to Bonaparte by the inhabitants +of Cairo, who confidentially vouched for the accuracy with which he could +foretell future events. He was sent for, and when he arrived, I, +Venture, and a sheik were with the General. The prophet wished first to +exercise his skill upon Bonaparte, who, however, proposed that I should +have my fortune told first, to which I acceded without hesitation. +To afford an idea of his prophetic skill I must mention that since my +arrival in Cairo I had been in a very weak state. The passage of the +Nile and the bad food we had had for twelve days had greatly reduced me, +so that I was miserably pale and thin. + +After examining my hands, feeling my pulse, my forehead, and the nape of +my neck, the fortune-teller shrugged his shoulders, and, in a melancholy +tone, told Venture that he did not think it right to inform me of my +fate. I gave him to understand that he might say what he pleased, as it +was a matter of indifference to me. After considerable hesitation on his +part and pressing on mine, he announced to me that the earth of Egypt +would receive me in two months. + +I thanked him, and he was dismissed. When we were alone the General +said to me, "Well, what do you think of that?" I observed that the +fortune-teller did not run any great risk in foretelling my death, which +was a very probable circumstance in the state in which I was; "but," +added I, "if I procure the wines which I have ordered from France, you +will soon see me get round again." + +The art of imposing on mankind has at all times been an important part of +the art of governing; and it was not that portion of the science of +government which Bonaparte was the least acquainted with. He neglected +no opportunity of showing off to the Egyptians the superiority of France +in arts and sciences; but it happened, oftener than once, that the simple +instinct of the Egyptians thwarted his endeavours in this way. Some days +after the visit of the pretended fortune-teller he wished, if I may so +express myself, to oppose conjurer to conjurer. For this purpose he +invited the principal sheiks to be present at some chemical experiments +performed by M. Berthollet. The General expected to be much amused at +their astonishment; but the miracles of the transformation of liquids, +electrical commotions and galvanism, did not elicit from them any symptom +of surprise. They witnessed the operations of our able chemist with the +most imperturbable indifference. When they were ended, the sheik El +Bekri desired the interpreter to tell M. Berthollet that it was all very +fine; "but," said he, "ask him whether he can make me be in Morocco and +here at one and the same moment?" M. Berthollet replied in the negative, +with a shrug of his shoulders. "Oh! then," said the sheik, "he is not +half a sorcerer." + +Our music produced no greater effect upon them. They listened with +insensibility to all the airs that were played to them, with the +exception of "Marlbrook." When that was played they became animated, and +were all in motion, as if ready to dance. + +An order which had been issued on our arrival in Cairo for watching the +criers of the mosques had for some weeks been neglected. At certain +hours of the night these criers address prayers to the Prophet. As it was +merely a repetition of the same ceremony over and over again, in a short +time no notice was taken of it. The Turks, perceiving this negligence, +substituted for their prayers and hymns cries of revolt, and by this sort +of verbal telegraph, insurrectionary excitement was transmitted to the +northern and southern extremities of Egypt. By this means, and by the +aid of secret emissaries, who eluded our feeble police, and circulated +real or forged firmans of the Sultan disavowing the concord between +France and the Porte, and provoking war, the plan of a revolution was +organised throughout the country. + +The signal for the execution of this plan was given from the minarets on +the night of the 20th of October, and on the morning of the 21st it was +announced at headquarters that the city of Cairo was in open +insurrection. The General-in-Chief was not, as has been stated, in the +isle of Raeuddah: he did not hear the firing of the alarm-guns. He rose +when the news arrived; it was then five o'clock. He was informed that +all the shops were closed, and that the French were attacked. A moment +after he heard of the death of General Dupuis, commandant of the +garrison, who was killed by a lance in the street. Bonaparte immediately +mounted his horse, and, accompanied by only thirty guides, visited all +the threatened points, restored confidence, and, with great presence of +mind, adopted measures of defence. + +He left me at headquarters with only one sentinel; but he had been +accurately informed of the situation of the insurgents; and such was my +confidence in his activity and foresight that I had no apprehension, and +awaited his return with perfect composure. This composure was not +disturbed even when I saw a party of insurgents attack the house of M. +Esteve, our paymaster-general, which was situated on the opposite side of +Ezbekye'h Place. M. Esteve was, fortunately, able to resist the attack +until troops from Boulac came up to his assistance. + +After visiting all the posts, and adopting every precautionary measure, +Bonaparte returned to headquarters. Finding me still alone with the +sentinel, he asked me, smiling, "whether I had not been frightened?"-- +"Not at all, General, I assure you," replied I. + +--It was about half-past eight in the morning when Bonaparte returned to +headquarters, and while at breakfast he was informed that some Bedouin +Arabs, on horseback, were trying to force their entrance into Cairo. He +ordered his aide de camp, Sulkowsky, to mount his horse, to take with him +fifteen guides, and proceed to the point where the assailants were most +numerous. This was the Bab-el-Nasser, or the gate of victory. Croisier +observed to the General-in-Chief that Sulkowsky had scarcely recovered +from the wounds at Salehye'h, and he offered to take his place. He had +his motives for this. Bonaparte consented; but Sulkowsky had already set +out. Within an hour after, one of the fifteen guides returned, covered +with blood, to announce that Sulkowsky and the remainder of his party had +been cut to pieces. This was speedy work, for we were still at table +when the sad news arrived. + +Mortars were planted on Mount Mokatam, which commands Cairo. The +populace, expelled from all the principal streets by the troops, +assembled in the square of the Great Mosque, and in the little streets +running into it, which they barricaded. The firing of the artillery on +the heights was kept up with vigour for two days. + +About twelve of the principal chiefs of Cairo were arrested and confined +in an apartment at headquarters. They awaited with the calmest +resignation the death they knew they merited; but Bonaparte merely +detained them as hostages. The aga in the service of Bonaparte was +astonished that sentence of death was not pronounced upon them; and he +said, shrugging his shoulders, and with a gesture apparently intended to +provoke severity, "You see they expect it." + +On the third the insurrection was at an end, and tranquillity restored. +Numerous prisoners were conducted to the citadel. In obedience to an +order which I wrote every evening, twelve were put to death nightly. The +bodies were then put into sacks and thrown into the Nile. There were +many women included in these nocturnal executions. + +I am not aware that the number of victims amounted to thirty per day, as +Bonaparte assured General Reynier in a letter which he wrote to him six +days after the restoration of tranquillity. "Every night," said he, +"we cut off thirty heads. This, I hope, will be an effectual example." +I am of opinion that in this instance he exaggerated the extent of his +just revenge. + +Some time after the revolt of Cairo the necessity of ensuring our own +safety forced the commission of a terrible act of cruelty. A tribe of +Arabs in the neighbourhood of Cairo had surprised and massacred a party +of French. The General-in-Chief ordered his aide de camp Croisier to +proceed to the spot, surround the tribe, destroy the huts, kill all the +men, and conduct the rest of the population to Cairo. The order was to +decapitate the victims, and bring their heads in sacks to Cairo to be +exhibited to the people. Eugene Beauharnais accompanied Croisier, who +joyfully set out on this horrible expedition, in hope of obliterating all +recollection of the affair of Damanhour. + +On the following day the party returned. Many of the poor Arab women had +been delivered on the road, and the children had perished of hunger, +heat, and fatigue. About four o'clock a troop of asses arrived in +Ezbekye'h Place, laden with sacks. The sacks were opened and the heads +rolled out before the assembled populace. I cannot describe the horror +I experienced; but I must nevertheless acknowledge that this butchery +ensured for a considerable time the tranquillity and even the existence +of the little caravans which were obliged to travel in all directions for +the service of the army. + +Shortly before the loss of the fleet the General-in Chief had formed the +design of visiting Suez, to examine the traces of the ancient canal which +united the Nile to the Gulf of Arabia, and also to cross the latter. The +revolt at Cairo caused this project to be adjourned until the month of +December. + +Before his departure for Suez, Bonaparte granted the commissary Sucy +leave to return to France. He had received a wound in the right hand, +when on board the xebec 'Cerf'. I was conversing with him on deck when +he received this wound. At first it had no appearance of being serious; +but some time after he could not use his hand. General Bonaparte +despatched a vessel with sick and wounded, who were supposed to be +incurable, to the number of about eighty. All envied their fate, and +were anxious to depart with them, but the privilege was conceded to very +few. However, those who were disappointed had no cause for regret. We +never know what we wish for. Captain Marengo, who landed at Augusta in +Sicily, supposing it to be a friendly land, was required to observe +quarantine for twenty-two days, and information was given of the arrival +of the vessel to the court, which was at Palermo. On the 25th of January +1799 all on board the French vessel were massacred, with the exception of +twenty-one who were saved by a Neapolitan frigate, and conducted to +Messing, where they were detained. + +Before he conceived the resolution of attacking the Turkish advanced +guard in the valleys of Syria, Bonaparte had formed a plan of invading +British India from Persia. He had ascertained, through the medium of +agents, that the Shah of Persia would, for a sum of money paid in +advance, consent to the establishment of military magazines on certain +points of his territory. Bonaparte frequently told me that if, after the +subjugation of Egypt, he could have left 15,000 men in that country, and +have had 30,000 disposable troops, he would have marched on the +Euphrates. He was frequently speaking about the deserts which were to be +crossed to reach Persia. + +How many times have I seen him extended on the ground, examining the +beautiful maps which he had brought with him, and he would sometimes make +me lie down in the same position to trace to me his projected march. +This reminded him of the triumphs of his favourite hero, Alexander, with +whom he so much desired to associate his name; but, at the same time, he +felt that these projects were incompatible with our resources, the +weakness of the Government; and the dissatisfaction which the army +already evinced. Privation and misery are inseparable from all these +remote operations. + +This favourite idea still occupied his mind a fortnight before his +departure for Syria was determined on, and on the 25th of January 1799 +he wrote to Tippoo Saib as follows:-- + + You are of course already informed of my arrival on the banks of + the Red Sea, with a numerous and invincible army. Eager to deliver + you from the iron yoke of England, I hasten to request that you will + send me, by the way of Mascate or Mocha, an account of the political + situation in which you are. I also wish that you could send to + Suez, or Grand Cairo, some able man, in your confidence, with whom I + may confer[10]. + + [10]--[It is not true, as has often been stated, that Tippoo Saib + wrote to General Bonaparte. He could not reply to a letter written on + the 23th of January, owing to the great difficulty of communication, + the considerable distance, and the short interval which elapsed + between the 25th of January and the fall of the Empire of Mysore, + which happened on the 20th of April following. The letter to Tippo + Saib commenced "Citizen-Sultan!"--Bourrienne]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +1798-1799. + + Bonaparte's departure for Suez--Crossing the desert--Passage of the + Red Sea--The fountain of Moses--The Cenobites of Mount Sinai--Danger + in recrossing the Red Sea--Napoleon's return to Cairo--Money + borrowed at Genoa--New designs upon Syria--Dissatisfaction of the + Ottoman Porte--Plan for invading Asia--Gigantic schemes--General + Berthier's permission to return to France--His romantic love and the + adored portrait--He gives up his permission to return home--Louis + Bonaparte leaves Egypt--The first Cashmere shawl in France-- + Intercepted correspondence--Departure for Syria--Fountains of + Messoudish--Bonaparte jealous--Discontent of the troops--El-Arish + taken--Aspect of Syria--Ramleh--Jerusalem. + +On the 24th of December we set out for Suez, where we arrived on the +26th. On the 25th we encamped in the desert some leagues before Ad-Geroth. +The heat had been very great during the day; but about eleven at +night the cold became so severe as to be precisely in an inverse ratio to +the temperature of the day. This desert, which is the route of the +caravans from Suez, from Tor and the countries situated on the north of +Arabia, is strewed with the bones of the men and animals who, for ages +past, have perished in crossing it. As there was no wood to be got, we +collected a quantity of these bones for fuel. Monge himself was induced +to sacrifice some of the curious skulls of animals which he had picked up +on the way and deposited in the Berlin of the General-in-Chief. But no +sooner had we kindled our fires than an intolerable effluvium obliged us +to raise our camp and advance farther on, for we could procure no water +to extinguish the fires. + +On the 27th Bonaparte employed himself in inspecting the town and port +of Suez, and in giving orders for some naval and military works. He +feared--what indeed really occurred after his departure from Egypt--the +arrival of some English troops from the East Indies, which he had intended +to invade. These regiments contributed to the loss of his conquest[11]. + + [11]--[Sir David Baird, with a force of about 7000 men sent from + India, landed at Cosseir in July 1801.]-- + +On the morning of the 28th we crossed the Red Sea dry-shod, to go to +the Wells of Moses, which are nearly a myriametre from the eastern +coast, and a little southeast of Suez. The Gulf of Arabia terminates +at about 5,000 metres north of that city. Near the port the Red Sea is +not above 1,500 metres wide, and is always fordable at low water. The +caravans from Tor and Mount Sinai[12] always pass at that part, either +in going to or returning from Egypt. This shortens their journey +nearly a myriametre. At high tide the water rises five or six feet at +Suez, and when the wind blows fresh it often rises to nine or ten +feet. + + [12]--[I shall say nothing of the Cenobites of Mount Sinai, as I + had not the honour of seeing them. Neither did I see the register + containing the names of Ali, Salah-Eddin, Ibrahim or Abraham, + on which Bonaparte is said to have inscribed his name. I perceived + at a distance some high hills which were said to be Mount Sinai. + I conversed, through the medium of an interpreter, with some Arabian + chiefs of Tor and its neighbourhood. They had been informed of our + excursion to the Wells, and that they might there thank the French + General for the protection granted to their caravans and their trade + with Egypt. On the 19th of December, before his departure from + Suez, Bonaparte signed a sort of safeguard, or exemption from + duties, for the convent of Mount Sinai. This had been granted out + of respect to Moses and the Jewish nation, and also because the + convent of Mount Sinai is a seat of learning and civilisation amidst + the barbarism of the deserts.--Bourrienne.]-- + +We spent a few hours seated by the largest of the springs called the +Wells of Moses, situated on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Arabia. +We made coffee with the water from these springs, which, however, gave it +such a brackish taste that it was scarcely drinkable. + +Though the water of the eight little springs which form the Wells of +Moses is not so salt as that of many wells dug in other parts of the +deserts, it is, nevertheless, exceedingly brackish, and does not allay +thirst so well as fresh water. + +Bonaparte returned to Suez that same night. It was very dark when we +reached the sea-shore. The tide was coming up, and the water was pretty +high. We deviated a little from the way we had taken in the morning; we +crossed a little too low down; we were thrown into disorder, but we did +not lose ourselves in the marshes as has been stated. There were none. + +I have read somewhere, though I did not see the fact, nor did I hear it +mentioned at the time, that the tide, which was coming up, would have +been the grave of the General-in-Chief had not one of the guides saved +him by carrying him on his shoulders. If any such danger had existed, +all who had not a similar means of escape must have perished. + +This is a fabrication. General Caffarelli was the only person who was +really in danger, for his wooden leg prevented his sitting firmly on his +horse in the water; but some persons came to his assistance and supported +him[13]. + + [13]--[Bonaparte extricated himself as the others did from the real + danger he and his escort had run. At St. Helena he said, "Profiting + by the low tide, I crossed the Red Sea dry-shod. On my return I was + overtaken by the night and went astray in the middle of the rising + tide. I ran the greatest danger. I nearly perished in the same + manner as Pharaoh did. This would certainly have furnished all the + Christian preachers with a magnificent test against me." + --Bourrienne.]-- + +On his return to Cairo the General-in-Chief wished to discover the site +of the canal which in ancient times formed a junction between the Red Sea +and the Nile by Belbeis. M. Lepere, who was a member of the Egyptian +Institute, and is now inspector-general of bridges and highways, executed +on the spot a beautiful plan, which may confidently be consulted by those +who wish to form an accurate idea of that ancient communication, and the +level of the two seas[14]. + + [14]--[Since accurately ascertained during the progress of the works + for the Suez Canal.]-- + +On his arrival at the capital Bonaparte again devoted all his thoughts to +the affairs of the army, which he had not attended to during his short +absence. The revenues of Egypt were far from being sufficient to meet +the military expenditure. To defray his own expenses Bonaparte raised +several considerable loans in Genoa through the medium of M. James. The +connection of James with the Bonaparte family takes its date from this +period[15]. + + [15]--[Joseph Bonaparte says that the fathers of Napoleon and of M. + James had long known one another, and that Napoleon had met James at + Autun. ('Erreurs', tome i, p. 296).]-- + +Since the month of August the attention of General Bonaparte had been +constantly fixed on Syria. The period of the possible landing of an +enemy in Egypt had now passed away, and could not return until the month +of July in the following year. Bonaparte was fully convinced that that +landing would take place, and he was not deceived. The Ottoman Porte +had, indeed, been persuaded that the conquest of Egypt was not in her +interest. She preferred enduring a rebel whom she hoped one day to +subdue to supporting a power which, under the specious pretext of +reducing her insurgent beys to obedience, deprived her of one of her +finest provinces, and threatened the rest of the empire. + +On his return to Cairo the General-in-Chief had no longer any doubt as to +the course which the Porte intended to adopt. The numerous class of +persons who believed that the Ottoman Porte had consented to our +occupation of Egypt were suddenly undeceived. It was then asked how we +could, without that consent, have attempted such an enterprise? Nothing, +it was said, could justify the temerity of such an expedition, if it +should produce a rupture between France, the Ottoman empire, and its +allies. However, for the remainder of the year Bonaparte dreaded nothing +except an expedition from Gaza and El-Arish, of which the troops of +Djezzar had already taken possession. This occupation was justly +regarded as a decided act of hostility; war was thus practically +declared. "We must adopt anticipatory measures," thought Napoleon; +"we must destroy this advanced guard of the Ottoman empire, overthrow +the ramparts of Jaffa and Acre, ravage the country, destroy all her +resources, so as to render the passage of an army across the desert +impracticable." Thus was planned the expedition against Syria. + +General Berthier, after repeated entreaties, had obtained permission to +return to France. The 'Courageuse' frigate, which was to convey him +home, was fitting out at Alexandria; he had received his instructions, +and was to leave Cairo on the 29th of January, ten days before +Bonaparte's departure for Syria. Bonaparte was sorry to part with him; +but he could not endure to see an old friend, and one who had served him +well in all his campaigns, dying before his eyes, the victim of nostalgia +and romantic love. Besides, Berthier had been for some time past, +anything but active in the discharge of his duties. His passion, which +amounted almost to madness, impaired the feeble faculties with which +nature had endowed him. Some writers have ranked him in the class of +sentimental lovers: be this as it may, the homage which Berthier rendered +to the portrait of the object of his adoration more frequently excited +our merriment than our sensibility. + +One day I went with an order from Bonaparte to the chief of his staff, +whom I found on his knees before the portrait of Madame Visconti, which +was hanging opposite the door. I touched him, to let him know I was +there. He grumbled a little, but did not get angry. + +The moment was approaching when the two friends were to part, perhaps +forever. Bonaparte was sincerely distressed at this separation, and the +chief of his staff was informed of the fact. At a moment when it was +supposed Berthier was on his way to Alexandria, he presented himself to +the General-in-Chief. "You are, then, decidedly going to Asia?" said +he.--"You know," replied the General, "that all is ready, and I shall set +out in a few days."--"Well, I will not leave you. I voluntarily renounce +all idea of returning to France. I could not endure to forsake you at a +moment when you are going to encounter new dangers. Here are my +instructions and my passport." Bonaparte, highly pleased with this +resolution, embraced Berthier; and the coolness which had been excited by +his request to return home was succeeded by a sincere reconciliation. + +Louis Bonaparte, who was suffering from the effects of the voyage, was +still at Alexandria. The General-in-Chief, yielding to the pacific views +of his younger brother, who was also beginning to evince some symptoms of +nostalgia, consented to his return home. He could not, however, depart +until the 11th of March 1799. I felt the absence of Louis very much. + +On his return to France Louis passed through Sens, where he dined with +Madame de Bourrienne, to whom he presented a beautiful shawl, which +General Berthier had given me. This, I believe, was the first Cashmere +that had ever been seen in France. Louis was much surprised when Madame +de Bourrienne showed him the Egyptian correspondence, which had been +seized by the English and printed in London. He found in the collection +some letters addressed to himself, and there were others, he said, which +were likely to disturb the peace of more than one family on the return of +the army. + +On the 11th of February 1799 we began our march for Syria, with about +12,000 men. It has been erroneously stated that the army amounted to +only 6000: nearly that number was lost in the course of the campaign. +However, at the very moment we were on our way to Syria, with 12,000 men, +scarcely as many being left in Egypt, the Directory published that, +"according to the information which had been received," we had 60,000 +infantry and 10,000 cavalry; that the army had doubled its numbers by +battles; and that since our arrival in Egypt, we had lost only 300 men. +Is history to be written from such documents? + +We arrived, about four o'clock in the afternoon, at Messoudiah, or, +"the Fortunate Spot." Here we witnessed a kind of phenomenon, which was +not a little agreeable to us. Messoudiah is a place situated on the +coast of the Mediterranean, surrounded with little dunes of very fine +sand, which the copious rains of winter readily penetrate. The rain +remains in the sand, so that on making with the fingers holes of four or +five inches in depth at the bottom of these little hills, the water +immediately flows out. This water was, indeed, rather thick, but its +flavour was agreeable; and it would have become clear if we could have +spared time to allow it to rest and deposit the particles of sand it +contained. + +It was a curious spectacle to behold us all lying prostrate, digging +wells in miniature; and displaying a laughable selfishness in our +endeavours to obtain the most abundant source. This was a very important +discovery to us. We found these sand-wells at the extremity of the +desert, and it contributed, in no small degree, to revive the courage of +our soldiers; besides, when men are, as was the case with us, subject to +privations of every kind, the least benefit which accrues inspires the +hope of a new advantage. We were approaching the confines of Syria, and +we enjoyed by anticipation, the pleasure we were about to experience, on +treading a soil which, by its variety of verdure and vegetation, would +remind us of our native land. At Messoudiah we likewise possessed the +advantage of bathing in the sea, which was not more than fifty paces from +our unexpected water-supply. + +Whilst near the wells of Messoudiah, on the way to El-Arish, I one day +saw Bonaparte walking alone with Junot, as he was often in the habit of +doing. I stood at a little distance, and my eyes, I know not why, were +fixed on him during their conversation. The General's countenance, which +was always pale, had, without my being able to divine the cause, become +paler than usual. There was something convulsive in his features--a +wildness in his look, and he several times struck his head with his hand. +After conversing with Junot about a quarter of an hour he quitted him and +came towards me. I never saw him exhibit such an air of dissatisfaction, +or appear so much under the influence of some prepossession. I advanced +towards him, and as soon as we met, he exclaimed in an abrupt and angry +tone, "So! I find I cannot depend upon you.--These women!--Josephine! +--if you had loved me, you would before now have told me all I have heard +from Junot--he is a real friend--Josephine!--and I 600 leagues from her-- +you ought to have told me.--That she should thus have deceived me!--'Woe +to them!--I will exterminate the whole race of fops and puppies!--As to +her--divorce!--yes, divorce! a public and open divorce!--I must write! +--I know all!--It is your fault--you ought to have told me!" + +These energetic and broken exclamations, his disturbed countenance and +altered voice informed me but too well of the subject of his conversation +with Junot. I saw that Junot had been drawn into a culpable +indiscretion; and that, if Josephine had committed any faults, he had +cruelly exaggerated them. My situation was one of extreme delicacy. +However, I had the good fortune to retain my self-possession, and as soon +as some degree of calmness succeeded to this first burst, I replied that +I knew nothing of the reports which Junot might have communicated to him; +that even if such reports, often the offspring of calumny, had reached my +ear, and if I had considered it my duty to inform him of them, +I certainly would not have selected for that purpose the moment when he +was 600 leagues from France. I also did not conceal how blamable Junot's +conduct appeared to me, and how ungenerous I considered it thus rashly to +accuse a woman who was not present to justify or defend herself; that it +was no great proof of attachment to add domestic uneasiness to the +anxiety, already sufficiently great, which the situation of his brothers +in arms, at the commencement of a hazardous enterprise, occasioned him. + +Notwithstanding these observations, which, however, he listened to with +some calmness, the word "divorce" still escaped his lips; and it is +necessary to be aware of the degree of irritation to which he was liable +when anything seriously vexed him, to be able to form an idea of what +Bonaparte was during this painful scene. However, I kept my ground. +I repeated what I had said. I begged of him to consider with what +facility tales were fabricated and circulated, and that gossip such as +that which had been repeated to him was only the amusement of idle +persons; and deserved the contempt of strong minds. I spoke of his +glory. "My glory!" cried he. "I know not what I would not give if that +which Junot has told me should be untrue; so much do I love Josephine! +If she be really guilty a divorce must separate us for ever. I will not +submit to be a laughing-stock for all the imbeciles in Paris. I will +write to Joseph; he will get the divorce declared." + +Although his agitation continued long, intervals occurred in which he was +less excited. I seized one of these moments of comparative calm to +combat this idea of divorce which seemed to possess his mind. +I represented to him especially that it would be imprudent to write to +his brother with reference to a communication which was probably false. +"The letter might be intercepted; it would betray the feelings of +irritation which dictated it. As to a divorce, it would be time to think +of that hereafter, but advisedly." + +These last words produced an effect on him which I could not have +ventured to hope for so speedily. He became tranquil, listened to me as +if he had suddenly felt the justice of my observations, dropped the +subject, and never returned to it; except that about a fortnight after, +when we were before St. Jean d'Acre, he expressed himself greatly +dissatisfied with Junot, and complained of the injury he had done him by +his indiscreet disclosures, which he began to regard as the inventions of +malignity. I perceived afterwards that he never pardoned Junot for this +indiscretion; and I can state, almost with certainty, that this was one +of the reasons why Junot was not created a marshal of France, like many +of his comrades whom Bonaparte had loved less. It may be supposed that +Josephine, who was afterwards informed by Bonaparte of Junot's +conversation, did not feel particularly interested in his favour[16]. +He died insane on the 27th of July 1813. + + [16]--[However indiscreet Junot might on this occasion have shown + himself in interfering in so delicate a matter, it is pretty certain + that his suspicions were breathed to no other ear than that of + Bonaparte himself. Madame Junot, in speaking of the ill-suppressed + enmity between her husband and Madame Bonaparte, says that he never + uttered a word even to her of the subject of his conversation with + the General-in-Chief to Egypt. That Junot's testimony, however, + notwithstanding the countenance it obtained from Bonaparte's + relations, ought to be cautiously received, the following passage + from the Memoirs of the Duchesse d'Abrantes, vol. i. p. 250, + demonstrative of the feelings of irritation between the parties, + will show: + + "Junot escorted Madame Bonaparte when she went to join the + General-in-Chief in Italy. I am surprised that M. de Bourrienne has + omitted mentioning this circumstance in his Memoirs. He must have + known it, since he was well acquainted with everything relating to + Josephine, and knew many facts of high interest in her life at this + period and subsequently. How happens it too that he makes no mention + of Mademoiselle Louise, who might be called her 'demoiselle de + compagnie' rather than her 'femme de chambre'? At the outset of the + journey to Italy she was such a favourite with Josephine that she + dressed like her mistress, ate at table with her, and was in all + respects her friend and confidante. + + "The journey was long, much too long for Junot, though he was very + much in love with Mademoiselle Louise. But he was anxious to join + the army, for to him his General was always the dearest of + mistresses. Junot has often spoken to me, and to me alone, of the + vexations he experienced on this journey. He might have added to + his circumstantial details relative to Josephine the conversation he + is reported to have had with Bonaparte to Egypt; but he never + breathed a word on the subject, for his character was always noble + and generous. The journey to Italy did not produce the effect which + usually arises from such incidents in common life; namely, a closer + friendship and intimacy between the parties. On the contrary, + Madame Bonaparte from that moment evinced some degree of ill-humour + towards Junot, and complained with singular warmth of the want of + respect which he had shown her, in making love to her 'femme de + chambre' before her face." + + According to 'Erreurs (tome i. pp. 4, 50) Junot was not then in + Syria. On 10th February Napoleon was at Messoudiah. Junot only + arrived from Egypt at Gaza on the 25th February. Madame d'Abrantes + (ii. 32) treats this conversation as apocryphal. "This (an anecdote + of her own) is not an imaginary episode like that, for example, of + making a person speak at Messoudiah who never was there."]-- + +Our little army continued its march on El-Arish, where we arrived on the +17th of February. The fatigues experienced in the desert and the +scarcity of water excited violent murmurs amongst the soldiers during +their march across the isthmus. When any person on horseback passed them +they studiously expressed their discontent. The advantage possessed by +the horsemen provoked their sarcasms. I never heard the verses which +they are said to have repeated, but they indulged in the most violent +language against the Republic, the men of science, and those whom they +regarded as the authors of the expedition. Nevertheless these brave +fellows, from whom it was not astonishing that such great privations +should extort complaints, often compensated by their pleasantries for the +bitterness of their reproaches. + +Many times during the crossing of the isthmus I have seen soldiers, +parched with thirst, and unable to wait till the hour for distribution of +water, pierce the leathern bottles which contained it; and this conduct, +so injurious to all, occasioned numerous quarrels. + +El-Arish surrendered on the 17th of February. It has been erroneously +stated that the garrison of this insignificant place, which was set at +liberty on condition of not again serving against us, was afterwards +found amongst the besieged at Jaffa. It has also been stated that it was +because the men composing the El-Arish garrison did not proceed to +Bagdad, according to the capitulation, that we shot them at Jaffa. We +shall presently see the falsehood of these assertions. + +On the 28th of February we obtained the first glimpse of the green and +fertile plains of Syria, which, in many respects, reminded us of the +climate and soil of Europe. We now had rain, and sometimes rather too +much. The feelings which the sight of the valleys and mountains called +forth made us, in some degree, forget the hardships and vexations of an +expedition of which few persons could foresee the object or end. There +are situations in life when the slightest agreeable sensation alleviates +all our ills. + +On the 1st of March we slept at Ramleh[17], in a small convent occupied by +two monks, who paid us the greatest attention. They gave us the church +for a hospital. These good fathers did not fail to tell us that it was +through this place the family of Jesus Christ passed into Egypt, and +showed us the wells at which they quenched their thirst. +The pure and cool water of these wells delighted us. + + [17]--[Ramleh, the ancient Arimathea, is situated at the base of a + chain of mountains, the eastern extremity of which is washed by the + Persian Gulf, and the western by the Mediterranean.--Bourrienne.]-- + +We were not more than about six leagues from Jerusalem. +I asked the General whether he did not intend to direct his march by the +way of that city, so celebrated in many respects. He replied, "Oh no! +Jerusalem is not in my line of operations. I do not wish to be annoyed +by mountaineers in difficult roads. And, besides, on the other side of +the mountain I should be assailed by swarms of cavalry. I am not +ambitious of the fate of Cassius." + +We therefore did not enter Jerusalem, which was not disturbed by the war. +All we did was to send a written declaration to the persons in power at +Jerusalem, assuring them that we had no design against that country, and +only wished them to remain at peace. To this communication no answer was +returned, and nothing more passed on the subject[18]. + + [18]--[Sir Walter Scott says, speaking of Bonaparte, that he believes + that little officer of artillery dreamed of being King of Jerusalem. + What I have just stated proves that he never thought of such a + thing. The "little officer of artillery" had a far more splendid + dream in his head.--Bourrienne.]-- + +We found at Ramleh between two and three hundred Christians in a pitiable +state of servitude, misery, and dejection. On conversing with them I +could not help admiring how much the hope of future rewards may console +men under present ills. But I learned from many of them that they did +not live in harmony together. The feelings of hatred and jealousy are +not less common amongst these people than amongst the better-instructed +inhabitants of rich and populous cities. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +1799. + + Arrival at Jaffa--The siege--Beauharnais and Croisier--Four thousand + prisoners--Scarcity of provisions--Councils of war--Dreadful + necessity--The massacre--The plague--Lannes and the mountaineers-- + Barbarity of Djezzar--Arrival at St Jean d'Acre, and abortive + attacks--Sir Sidney Smith--Death of Caffarelli--Duroc wounded-- + Rash bathing--Insurrections in Egypt. + +On arriving before Jaffa, where there were already some troops, the first +person I met was Adjutant-General Gresieux, with whom I was well +acquainted. I wished him good-day, and offered him my hand. "Good God! +what are you about?" said he, repulsing me with a very abrupt gesture; +"you may have the plague. People do not touch each other here!" +I mentioned the circumstance to Bonaparte, who said, "If he be afraid of +the plague, he will die of it." Shortly after, at St. Jean d'Acre, he +was attacked by that malady, and soon sank under it. + +On the 4th of March we commenced the siege of Jaffa. That paltry place, +which, to round a sentence, was pompously styled the ancient Joppa, held +out only to the 6th of March, when it was taken by storm, and given up to +pillage. The massacre was horrible. General Bonaparte sent his aides de +camp Beauharnais and Croisier to appease the fury of the soldiers as much +as possible, and to report to him what was passing. They learned that a +considerable part of the garrison had retired into some vast buildings, +a sort of caravanserai, which formed a large enclosed court. Beauharnais +and Croisier, who were distinguished by wearing the 'aide de camp' scarf +on their arms, proceeded to that place. The Arnauts and Albanians, of +whom these refugees were almost entirely composed, cried from the windows +that they were willing to surrender upon an assurance that they would be +exempted from the massacre to which the town was doomed; if not, they +threatened to fire on the 'aides de camp', and to defend themselves to +the last extremity. The two officers thought that they ought to accede +to the proposition, notwithstanding the decree of death which had been +pronounced against the whole garrison, in consequence of the town being +taken by storm. They brought them to our camp in two divisions, one +consisting of about 2500 men, the other of about 1600. + +I was walking with General Bonaparte, in front of his tent, when he +beheld this mass of men approaching, and before he even saw his 'aides de +camp' he said to me, in a tone of profound sorrow, "What do they wish me +to do with these men? Have I food for them?--ships to convey them to +Egypt or France? Why, in the devil's name, have they served me thus?" +After their arrival, and the explanations which the General-in-Chief +demanded and listened to with anger, Eugene and Croisier received the +most severe reprimand for their conduct. But the deed was done. Four +thousand men were there. It was necessary to decide upon their fate. +The two aides de camp observed that they had found themselves alone in +the midst of numerous enemies, and that he had directed them to restrain +the carnage. "Yes, doubtless," replied the General-in-Chief, with great +warmth, "as to women, children, and old men--all the peaceable +inhabitants; but not with respect to armed soldiers. It was your duty to +die rather than bring these unfortunate creatures to me. What do you want +me to do with them?" These words were pronounced in the most angry tone. + +The prisoners were then ordered to sit down, and were placed, without any +order, in front of the tents, their hands tied behind their backs. +A sombre determination was depicted on their countenances. We gave them +a little biscuit and bread, squeezed out of the already scanty supply for +the army. + +On the first day of their arrival a council of war was held in the tent +of the General-in-Chief, to determine what course should be pursued with +respect to them. The council deliberated a long time without coming to any +decision. + +On the evening of the following day the daily reports of the generals of +division came in. They spoke of nothing but the insufficiency of the +rations, the complaints of the soldiers--of their murmurs and discontent +at seeing their bread given to enemies who had been withdrawn from their +vengeance, inasmuch as a decree of death, in conformity with the laws of +war, had been passed on Jaffa. All these reports were alarming, and +especially that of General Bon, in which no reserve was made. He spoke +of nothing less than the fear of a revolt, which would be justified by +the serious nature of the case. + +The council assembled again. All the generals of division were summoned +to attend, and for several hours together they discussed, under separate +questions, what measures might be adopted, with the most sincere desire +to discover and execute one which would save the lives of these +unfortunate prisoners. + +(1.) Should they be sent into Egypt? Could it be done? + +To do so, it would be necessary to send with them a numerous escort, +which would too much weaken our little army in the enemy's country. How, +besides, could they and the escort be supported till they reached Cairo, +having no provisions to give them on setting out, and their route being +through a hostile territory, which we had exhausted, which presented no +fresh resources, and through which we, perhaps, might have to return, + +(2.) Should they be embarked? + +Where were the ships?--Where could they be found? All our telescopes, +directed over the sea, could not descry a single friendly sail. Bonaparte, +I affirm, would have regarded such an event as a real favour of fortune. +It was, and--I am glad to have to say it, this sole idea, this sole hope, +which made him brave, for three days, the murmurs of his army. But in +vain was help looked for seaward. It did not come. + +(3.) Should the prisoners be set at liberty? + +They would then instantly proceed to St. Jean d'Acre to reinforce the +pasha, or else, throwing themselves into the mountains of Nablous, would +greatly annoy our rear and right-flank, and deal out death to us, as a +recompense for the life we had given them. There could be no doubt of +this. What is a Christian dog to a Turk? It would even have been a +religious and meritorious act in the eye of the Prophet. + +(4.) Could they be incorporated, disarmed, with our soldiers in the +ranks? + +Here again the question of food presented itself in all its force. Next +came to be considered the danger of having such comrades while marching +through an enemy's country. What might happen in the event of a battle +before St. Jean d'Acre? Could we even tell what might occur during the +march? And, finally, what must be done with them when under the ramparts +of that town, if we should be able to take them there? The same +embarrassments with respect to the questions of provisions and security +would then recur with increased force. + +The third day arrived without its being possible, anxiously as it was +desired, to come to any conclusion favourable to the preservation of +these unfortunate men. The murmurs in the camp grew louder--the evil went +on increasing--remedy appeared impossible--the danger was real and +imminent. The order for shooting the prisoners was given and executed on +the 10th of March. We did not, as has been stated, separate the Egyptians +from the other prisoners. There were no Egyptians. + +Many of the unfortunate creatures composing the smaller division, which +was fired on close to the seacoast, at some distance from the other +column, succeeded in swimming to some reefs of rocks out of the reach of +musket-shot. The soldiers rested their muskets on the sand, and, to +induce the prisoners to return, employed the Egyptian signs of +reconciliation in use in the country. They came back; but as they +advanced they were killed, and disappeared among the waves. + +I confine myself to these details of this act of dreadful necessity, of +which I was an eye-witness. Others, who, like myself, saw it, have +fortunately spared me the recital of the sanguinary result. This +atrocious scene, when I think of it, still makes me shudder, as it did on +the day I beheld it; and I would wish it were possible for me to forget +it, rather than be compelled to describe it. All the horrors imagination +can conceive, relative to that day of blood, would fall short of the +reality. + +I have related the truth, the whole truth. I was present at all the +discussions, all the conferences, all the deliberations. I had not, as +may be supposed, a deliberative voice; but I am bound to declare that +the situation of the army, the scarcity of food, our small numerical +strength, in the midst of a country where every individual was an enemy, +would have induced me to vote in the affirmative of the proposition which +was carried into effect, if I had a vote to give. It was necessary to be +on the spot in order to understand the horrible necessity which existed. + +War, unfortunately, presents too many occasions on which a law, immutable +in all ages, and common to all nations, requires that private interests +should be sacrificed to a great general interest, and that even humanity +should be forgotten. It is for posterity to judge whether this terrible +situation was that in which Bonaparte was placed. For my own part, I +have a perfect conviction that he could not do otherwise than yield to +the dire necessity of the case. It was the advice of the council, whose +opinion was unanimous in favour of the execution, that governed him. +Indeed I ought in truth to say, that he yielded only in the last +extremity, and was one of those, perhaps, who beheld the massacre with +the deepest pain. + +After the siege of Jaffa the plague began to exhibit itself with a little +more virulence. We lost between seven and eight hundred, men by the +contagion during the campaign of Syria[19]. + + [19]--[Sir Walter Scott says, that Heaven sent this pestilence amongst + us to avenge the massacre of Jaffa]-- + +During our march on St. Jean d'Acre, which was commenced on the 14th of +March, the army neither obtained the brilliant triumphs nor encountered +the numerous obstacles spoken of in certain works. Nothing of importance +occurred but a rash skirmish of General Lannes who, in spite of contrary +orders from Bonaparte, obstinately pursued a troop of mountaineers into +the passes of Nablous. On returning, he found the mountaineers placed in +ambush in great numbers amongst rocks, the windings of which they were +well acquainted with, whence they fired close upon our troops, whose +situation rendered them unable to defend themselves. During the time of +this foolish and useless enterprise, especially while the firing was +brisk, Bonaparte exhibited much impatience, and it must be confessed, +his anger was but natural. The Nablousians halted at the openings of the +mountain defiles. Bonaparte reproached Lannes bitterly for having +uselessly exposed himself, and "sacrificed, without any object, a number +of brave men." Lannes excused himself by saying that the mountaineers +had defied him, and he wished to chastise the rabble. "We are not in a +condition to play the swaggerer," replied Napoleon. + +In four days we arrived before St. Jean d'Acre, where we learned that +Djezzar had cut off the head of our envoy, Mailly-de-Chateau-Renaud, and +thrown his body into the sea in a sack. This cruel pasha was guilty of a +great number of similar executions. The waves frequently drove dead +bodies towards the coast, and we came upon them whilst bathing. + +The details of the siege of Acre are well known. Although surrounded by +a wall, flanked with strong towers, and having, besides, a broad and deep +ditch defended by works this little fortress did not appear likely to +hold out against French valour and the skill of our corps of engineers +and artillery; but the ease and rapidity with which Jaffa had been taken +occasioned us to overlook in some degree the comparative strength of the +two places, and the difference of their respective situations. At Jaffa +we had sufficient artillery: at St. Jean d'Acre we had not. At Jaffa we +had to deal only with a garrison left to itself: at St. Jean d'Acre we +were opposed by a garrison strengthened by reinforcements of men and +supplies of provisions, supported by the English fleet, and assisted by +European Science. + +Sir Sidney Smith was, beyond doubt, the man who did us the greatest +injury[20]. Much has been said respecting his communications with the +General-in-Chief. The reproaches which the latter cast upon him for +endeavouring to seduce the soldiers and officers of the army by +tempting offers were the more singular, even if they were well +founded, inasmuch as these means are frequently employed by leaders in +war[21]. As to the embarking of French prisoners on board a vessel in +which the plague existed, the improbability of the circumstance alone, +but especially the notorious facts of the case, repell this odious +accusation. I observed the conduct of Sir Sidney Smith closely at the +time, and I remarked in him a chivalric spirit, which sometimes +hurried him into trifling eccentricities; but I affirm that his +behaviour towards the French was that of a gallant enemy. I have seen +many letters, in which the writers informed him that they "were very +sensible of the good treatment which the French experienced when they +fell into his hands." Let any one examine Sir Sidney's conduct before +the capitulation of El-Arish, and after its rupture, and then they can +judge of his character[22]. + + [20]--[Sir Sidney Smith was the only Englishman besides the Duke of + Wellington who defeated Napoleon in military operations. The third + Englishman opposed to him, Sir John Moore, was compelled to make a + precipitate retreat through the weakness of his force]-- + + [21]--[At one time the French General was so disturbed by them as to + endeavour to put a stop to them; which object he effected by + interdicting all communication with the English, and signifying, in + an order of the day, that their Commodore was a madman. This, being + believed in the army, so enraged Sir Sidney Smith, that in his wrath + he sent a challenge to Napoleon. The latter replied, that he had + too many weighty affairs on his hands to trouble himself in so + trifling a matter. Had it, indeed, been the great Marlborough, it + might have been worthy his attention. Still, if the English sailor + was absolutely bent upon fighting, he would send him a bravo from the + army, and show them a small portion of neutral ground, where the mad + Commodore might land, and satisfy his humour to the full.--(Editor + of 1836 edition.)]-- + + [22]--[Napoleon, when at St. Helena, in speaking of the siege of Acre, + said,--Sidney Smith is a brave officer. He displayed considerable + ability in the treaty for the evacuation of Egypt by the French. He + took advantage of the discontent which he found to prevail amongst + the French troops at being so long away from France, and other + circumstances. He manifested great honour in sending immediately to + Kleber the refusal of Lord Keith to ratify the treaty, which saved + the French army; if he had kept it a secret seven or eight days + longer, Cairo would have been given up to the Turks, and the French + army necessarily obliged to surrender to the English. He also + showed great humanity and honour in all his proceedings towards the + French who felt into his hands. He landed at Havre, for some + 'sottise' of a bet he had made, according to some, to go to the + theatre; others said it was for espionage; however that may be, he + was arrested and confined in the Temple as a spy; and at one time it + was intended to try and execute him. Shortly after I returned from + Italy he wrote to me from his prison, to request that I would + intercede for him; but, under the circumstances in which he was + taken, I could do nothing for him. He is active, intelligent, + intriguing, and indefatigable; but I believe that he is 'mezzo + pazo'. + + "The chief cause of the failure at Acre was, that he took all my + battering train, which was on board of several small vessels. + Had it not been for that, I would have taken Acre in spite of him. + He behaved very bravely, and was well seconded by Phillipeaux, a + Frenchman of talent, who had studied with me as an engineer. There + was a Major Douglas also, who behaved very gallantly. The + acquisition of five or six hundred seamen as gunners was a great + advantage to the Turks, whose spirits they revived, and whom they + showed how to defend the fortress. But he committed a great fault + in making sorties, which cost the lives of two or three hundred + brave fellows without the possibility of success. For it was + impossible he could succeed against the number of the French who + were before Acre. I would lay a wage that he lost half of his crew + in them. He dispersed Proclamations amongst my troops, which + certainly shook some of them, and I in consequence published an + order, stating that he was mad, and forbidding all communication + with him. Some days after he sent, by means of a flag of truce, + a lieutenant or a midshipman with a letter containing a challenge to + me to meet him at some place he pointed out in order to fight a + duel. I laughed at this, and sent him back an intimation that + when he brought Marlborough to fight me I would meet him. + Notwithstanding this, I like the character of the man." (Voices from + St. Helena, vol. 4, p. 208).]-- + +All our manoeuvres, our works, and attacks were made with that levity and +carelessness which over-confidence inspires. Kleber, whilst walking with +me one day in the lines of our camp, frequently expressed his surprise +and discontent. "The trenches," said, he, "do not come up to my knees." +Besieging artillery was, of necessity, required: we commenced with field +artillery. This encouraged the besieged, who perceived the weakness of our +resources. The besieging artillery, consisting only of three twenty-four +pounders and six eighteen pounders, was not brought up until the +end of April, and before that period three assaults had taken place with +very serious loss. On the 4th of May our powder began to fail us. This +cruel event obliged us to slacken our fire. We also wanted shot; and an +order of the day fixed a price to be given for all balls, according to +their calibre, which might be picked up after being fired from the +fortress or the two ships of the line, the 'Tiger' and 'Theseus', which +were stationed on each side of the harbour. These two vessels embarrassed +the communication between the camp and the trenches; but though they +made much noise, they did little harm. A ball from one of them killed +an officer on the evening the siege was raised. + +The enemy had within the walls some excellent riflemen, chiefly +Albanians. They placed stones, one over the other, on the walls, put +their firearms through the interstices, and thus, completely sheltered, +fired with destructive precision. + +On the 9th of April General Caffarelli, so well known for his courage and +talents, was passing through the trench, his hand resting as he stooped +on his hip, to preserve the equilibrium which his wooden leg impaired; +his elbow only was raised above the trench. He was warned that the +enemy's shot, fired close upon us, did not miss the smallest object. +He paid no attention to any observation of this kind, and in a few +instants his elbow joint was fractured. Amputation of the arm was judged +indispensable. The General survived the operation eighteen days. +Bonaparte went regularly twice a day to his tent. By his order, added to +my friendship for Caffarelli, I scarcely ever quitted him. Shortly +before he expired he said to me, "My dear Bourrienne, be so good as to +read to me Voltaire's preface to 'Esprit des Lois'." When I returned to +the tent of the General-in-Chief he asked, "How is Caffarelli?" I +replied, "He is near his end; but he asked me to read him Voltaire's +preface to the 'Esprit de Lois', he has just fallen asleep." Bonaparte +said, "Bah! to wish to hear that preface? how singular!" He went to see +Caffarelli, but he was still asleep. I returned to him that evening and +received his last breath. He died with the utmost composure. His death. +was equally regretted by the soldiers and the men of science, who +accompanied us. It was a just regret due to that distinguished man, in +whom very extensive information was united with great courage and amiable +disposition. + +On the 10th of May, when an assault took place, Bonaparte proceeded at +an early hour to the trenches[23]. Croisier, who was mentioned on our +arrival at Damanhour and on the capture of Jaffa, had in vain courted +death since the commencement of the siege. Life had become +insupportable to him since the unfortunate affair at Jaffa. He as +usual accompanied his General to the trenches. Believing that the +termination of the siege, which was supposed to be near, would +postpone indefinitely the death which he sought, he mounted a battery. +In this situation his tall figure uselessly provoked all the enemy's +shots. "Croisier, come down, I command you; you have no business +there," cried Bonaparte, in a loud and imperative tone. Croisier +remained without making any reply. A moment after a ball passed +through his right leg. Amputation was not considered indispensable. On +the day of our departure he was placed on a litter, which was borne by +sixteen men alternately, eight at a time. I received his farewell +between Gaza and El-Arish, where he died of tetanus. His modest tomb +will not be often visited. + + [23]--[Sir Sidney Smith, in his official report of the assault of the + 8th of May, says that Napoleon was distinctly seen directing the + operation.]-- + +Croisier, who was mentioned on our arrival at Damanhour and on the +capture of Jaffa, had in vain courted death since the commencement of the +siege. Life had become insupportable to him since the unfortunate affair +at Jaffa. He as usual accompanied his General to the trenches. +Believing that the termination of the siege, which was supposed to be +near, would postpone indefinitely the death which he sought, he mounted a +battery. In this situation his tall figure uselessly provoked all the +enemy's shots. "Croisier, come down, I command you; you have no business +there," cried Bonaparte, in a loud and imperative tone. Croisier +remained without making any reply. A moment after a ball passed through +his right leg. Amputation was not considered indispensable. On the day +of our departure he was placed on a litter, which was borne by sixteen +men alternately, eight at a time. I received his farewell between Gaza +and El-Arish, where he died of tetanus. His modest tomb will not be +often visited. + +The siege of St. Jean d'Acre lasted sixty days. During that time eight +assaults and twelve sorties took place. In the assault of the 8th of May +more than 200 men penetrated into the town. Victory was already shouted; +but the breach having been taken in reverse by the Turks, it was not +approached without some degree of hesitation, and the men who had entered +were not supported. The streets were barricaded. The cries, the +howlings of the women, who ran through the streets throwing, according to +the custom of the country, dust in the air, excited the male inhabitants +to a desperate resistance, which rendered unavailing this short +occupation of the town, by a handful of men, who, finding themselves left +without assistance, retreated towards the breach. Many who could not +reach it perished in the town. + +During this assault Duroc, who was in the trench, was wounded in the +right thigh by the splinter from a shell fired against the +fortifications. Fortunately this accident only carried away the flesh +from the bone, which remained untouched. He had a tent in common with +several other 'aides de camp'; but for his better accommodation I gave +him mine, and I scarcely ever quitted him. Entering his tent one day +about noon, I found him in a profound sleep. The excessive heat had +compelled him to throw off all covering, and part of his wound was +exposed. I perceived a scorpion which had crawled up the leg of the +camp-bed and approached very near to the wound. I was just in time to +hurl it to the ground. The sudden motion of my hand awoke Duroc. + +We often bathed in the sea. Sometimes the English, perhaps after taking +a double allowance of grog, would fire at our heads, which appeared above +water. I am not aware that any accident was occasioned by their +cannonade; but as we were beyond reach of their guns, we paid scarcely +any attention to the firing. It was seen a subject of amusement to us. + +Had our attack on St. Jean d'Acre been less precipitate, and had the +siege been undertaken according to the rules of war, the place would not +have held out three days; one assault, like that of the 8th of May, would +have been sufficient. If, in the situation in which we were on the day +when we first came in sight of the ramparts of Acre; we had made a less +inconsiderate estimate of the strength of the place; if we had likewise +taken into consideration the active co-operation of the English and the +Ottoman Porte, our absolute want of artillery of sufficient calibre, our +scarcity of gunpowder and the difficulty of procuring food, we certainly +should not have undertaken the siege; and that would have been by far the +wisest course. + +Towards the end of the siege the General-in-Chief received intelligence +of some trifling insurrections in northern Egypt. An angel had excited +them, and the heavenly messenger, who had condescended to assume a name, +was called the Mahdi, or El Mohdy. This religious extravagance, however, +did not last long, and tranquillity was soon restored. All that the +fanatic Mahdi, who shrouded himself in mystery, succeeded in doing was to +attack our rear by some vagabonds, whose illusions were dissipated by a +few musket shots. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +1799. + + The siege of Acre raised--Attention to names in bulletins--Gigantic + project--The Druses--Mount Carmel--The wounded and infected-- + Order to march on foot--Loss of our cannon--A Nablousian fires at + Bonaparte--Return to Jaffa--Bonaparte visits the plague hospital-- + A potion given to the sick--Bonaparte's statement at St. Helena. + +The siege of St. Jean d'Acre was raised on the 20th of May. It cost us a +loss of nearly 3000 men, in killed, deaths by the plague, or wounds. A +great number were wounded mortally. In those veracious documents, the +bulletins, the French loss was made 500 killed, and 1000 wounded, and the +enemy's more than 15,000. + +Our bulletins may form curious materials for history; but their value +certainly will not depend on the credit due to their details. Bonaparte +attached the greatest importance to those documents; generally drawing +them up himself, or correcting them, when written by another hand, if the +composition did not please him. + +It must be confessed that at that time nothing so much flattered +self-love as being mentioned in a bulletin. Bonaparte was well aware +of this; he knew that to insert a name in a bulletin was conferring a +great honour, and that its exclusion was a severe disappointment. +General Berthier, to whom I had expressed a strong desire to examine +the works of the siege, took me over them; but, notwithstanding his +promise of secrecy, he mentioned the circumstance to the +General-in-Chief, who had desired me not to approach the works. "What +did you go there for?" said Bonaparte to me, with some severity; "that +is not your place." I replied that Berthier told me that no assault +would take place that day; and he believed there would be no sortie, +as the garrison had made one the preceding evening. "What matters +that? There might have been another. Those who have nothing to do in +such places are always the first victims. Let every man mind his own +business. Wounded or killed, I would not even have noticed you in the +bulletin. You could have been laughed at, and that justly." + +Bonaparte, not having at this time experienced reverses, having +continually proceeded from triumph to triumph, confidently anticipated +the taking of St. Jean d'Acre. In his letters to the generals in Egypt +he fixed the 25th of April for the accomplishment of that event. He +reckoned that the grand assault against the tower could not be made +before that day; it took place, however, twenty-four hours sooner. He +wrote to Desaix on the 19th of April, "I count on being master of Acre +in six days." On the 2d of May he told Junot, "Our 18 and 24 pounders +have arrived. We hope to enter Acre in a few days. The fire of their +artillery is completely extinguished." Letters have been printed, +dated 30th Floreal (19th. May), in which he announces to Dugua and to +Poussielque that they can rely on his being in Acre on 6th Floreal +(25th April). Some mistake has evidently been made. "The slightest +circumstances produce the greatest events," said Napoleon, according +to the Memorial of St. Helena; "had St. Jean d'Acre fallen, I should +have changed the face of the world." And again, "The fate of the East +lay in that small town." This idea is not one which he first began to +entertain at St. Helena; he often repeated the very same words at St. +Jean d'Acre. On the shore of Ptolemes gigantic projects agitated him, +as, doubtless, regret for not having carried them into execution +tormented him at St. Helena. + +Almost every evening Bonaparte and myself used to walk together, at a +little distance from the sea-shore. The day after the unfortunate +assault of the 8th of May Bonaparte, afflicted at seeing the blood of so +many brave men uselessly shed, said to me, "Bourrienne, I see that this +wretched place has cost me a number of men, and wasted much time. But +things are too far advanced not to attempt a last effort. If I succeed, +as I expect, I shall find in the town the pasha's treasures, and arms for +300,000 men. I will stir up and arm the people of Syria, who are +disgusted at the ferocity of Djezzar, and who, as you know, pray for his +destruction at every assault. I shall then march upon Damascus and +Aleppo. On advancing into the country, the discontented will flock round +my standard, and swell my army. I will announce to the people the +abolition of servitude and of the tyrannical governments of the pashas. +I shall arrive at Constantinople with large masses of soldiers. I shall +overturn the Turkish empire, and found in the East a new and grand +empire, which will fix my place in the records of posterity. Perhaps +I shall return to Paris by Adrianople, or by Vienna, after having +annihilated the house of Austria." After I had made some observations +which these grand projects naturally suggested, he replied, "What! do you +not see that the Druses only wait for the fall of Acre to rise in +rebellion? Have not the keys of Damascus already been offered me? +I only stay till these walls fall because until then I can derive no +advantage from this large town. By the operation which I meditate I +cut off all kind of succour from the beys, and secure the conquest of +Egypt. I will have Desaix nominated commander-in-chief; but if I do +not succeed in the last assault I am about to attempt, I set off +directly. Time presses,--I shall not be at Cairo before the middle of +June; the winds will then lie favourable for ships bound to Egypt, from +the north. Constantinople will send troops to Alexandria and Rosetta. +I must be there. As for the army, which will arrive afterwards by land, +I do not fear it this year. I will cause everything to be destroyed, all +the way to the entrance of the desert. I will render the passage of an +army impossible for two years. Troops cannot exist amoung ruins." + +As soon as I returned to my tent I committed to paper this conversation, +which was then quite fresh in my memory, and, I may venture to say that +every word I put down is correct. I may add, that during the siege our +camp was constantly filled with the inhabitants, who invoked Heaven to +favour our arms, and prayed fervently at every assault for our success, +many of them on their knees, with their faces to the city. The people of +Damascus, too, had offered the keys to Bonaparte. Thus everything +contributed to make him confident in his favourite plan. + +The troops left St. Jean d'Acre on the 20th of May, taking advantage of +the night to avoid a sortie from the besieged, and to conceal the retreat +of the army, which had to march three leagues along the shore, exposed to +the fire of the English vessels lying in the roads of Mount Carmel. The +removal of the wounded and sick commenced on the 18th and 19th of May. + +Bonaparte then made a proclamation, which from one end to the other +offends against truth. It has been published in many works. The season of +the year for hostile landing is there very dexterously placed in the +foreground; all the rest is a deceitful exaggeration. It must be observed +that the proclamations which Bonaparte regarded as calculated to dazzle +an ever too credulous public were amplifications often ridiculous and +incomprehensible upon the spot, and which only excited the laughter of +men of common sense. In all Bonaparte's correspondence there is an +endeavour to disguise his reverses, and impose on the public, and even on +his own generals. For example, he wrote to General Dugua, commandant of +Cairo, on the 15th of February, "I will bring you plenty of prisoners and +flags!" One would almost be inclined to say that he had resolved, during +his stay in the East, thus to pay a tribute to the country of fables[24]. + + [24]--[The prisoners and flags were sent. The Turkish flags were + entrusted by Berthier to the Adjutant-Commandant Boyer, who + conducted a convoy of sick and wounded to Egypt. Sidney Smith + acknowledges the loss of some flags by the Turks. The Turkish + prisoners were used as carriers of the litters for the wounded, and + were, for the most part, brought into Egypt. (Erreurs, tome i. pp. + 47 and 160)]-- + +Thus terminated this disastrous expedition. I have read somewhere that +during this immortal campaign the two heroes Murat and Mourad had often +been in face of one another. There is only a little difficulty; Mourad +Bey never put his foot in Syria. + +We proceeded along the coast, and passed Mount Carmel. Some of the +wounded were carried on litters, the remainder on horses, mules, and +camels. At a short distance from Mount Carmel we were informed that +three soldiers, ill of the plague, who were left in a convent (which +served for a hospital), and abandoned too confidently to the generosity +of the Turks, had been barbarously put to death. + +A most intolerable thirst, the total want of water, an excessive heat, +and a fatiguing march over burning sand-hills, quite disheartened the +men, and made every generous sentiment give way to feelings of the +grossest selfishness and most shocking indifference. I saw officers, with +their limbs amputated, thrown off the litters, whose removal in that way +had been ordered, and who had themselves given money to recompense the +bearers. I saw the amputated, the wounded, the infected, or those only +suspected of infection, deserted and left to themselves. The march was +illumined by torches, lighted for the purpose of setting fire to the +little towns, villages, and hamlets which lay in the route, and the rich +crops with which the land was then covered. The whole country was in a +blaze. Those who were ordered to preside at this work of destruction +seemed eager to spread desolation on every side, as if they could thereby +avenge themselves for their reverses, and find in such dreadful havoc an +alleviation of their sufferings. We were constantly surrounded by +plunderers, incendiaries, and the dying, who, stretched on the sides of +the road, implored assistance in a feeble voice, saying, "I am not +infected--I am only wounded;" and to convince those whom they addressed, +they reopened their old wounds, or inflicted on themselves fresh ones. +Still nobody attended to them. "It is all over with him," was the +observation applied to the unfortunate beings in succession, while every +one pressed onward. The sun, which shone in an unclouded sky in all its +brightness, was often darkened by our conflagrations. On our right lay +the sea; on our left, and behind us, the desert made by ourselves; before +were the privations and sufferings which awaited us. Such was our true +situation. + +We reached Tentoura on the 20th of May, when a most oppressive heat +prevailed, and produced general dejection. We had nothing to sleep on but +the parched and burning sand; on our right lay a hostile sea; our losses +in wounded and sick were already considerable since leaving Acre; and +there was nothing consolatory in the future. The truly afflicting +condition in which the remains of an army called triumphant were plunged, +produced, as might well be expected, a corresponding impression on the +mind of the General-in-Chief. Scarcely had he arrived at Tentoura when +he ordered his tent to be pitched. He then called me, and with a mind +occupied by the calamities of our situation, dictated an order that every +one should march on foot; and that all the horses, mules, and camels +should be given up to the wounded, the sick, and infected who had been +removed, and who still showed signs of life. "Carry that to Berthier," +said he; and the order was instantly despatched. Scarcely had I returned +to the tent when the elder Vigogne, the General-in-Chief's groom, +entered, and raising his hand to his cap, said, "General, what horse do +you reserve for yourself?" In the state of excitement in which Bonaparte +was this question irritated him so violently that, raising his whip, he +gave the man a severe blow on the head, saying in a terrible voice, +"Every-one must go on foot, you rascal--I the first--Do you not know the +order? Be off!" + +Every one in parting with his horse was now anxious to avoid giving it to +any unfortunate individual supposed to be suffering from plague. Much +pains were taken to ascertain the nature of the diseases of the sick; and +no difficulty was made in accommodating the wounded of amputated. For my +part I had an excellent horse; a mule, and two camels, all which I gave +up with the greatest pleasure; but I confess that I directed my servant +to do all he could to prevent an infected person from getting my horse. +It was returned to me in a very short time. The same thing happened to +many others. The cause maybe easily conjectured. + +The remains of our heavy artillery were lost in the moving sands of +Tentoura, from the want of horses, the small number that remained being +employed in more indispensable services. The soldiers seemed to forget +their own sufferings, plunged in grief at the loss of their bronze guns, +often the instruments of their triumphs, and which had made Europe +tremble. + +We halted at Caesarea on the 22d of May, and we marched all the following +night. Towards daybreak a man, concealed in a bush upon the left of the +road (the sea was two paces from us on the right), fired a musket almost +close to the head of the General-in-Chief, who was sleeping on his horse. +I was beside him. The wood being searched, the Nablousian was taken +without difficulty, and ordered to be shot on the spot. Four guides +pushed him towards the sea by thrusting their carbines against his back; +when close to the water's edge they drew the triggers, but all the four +muskets hung fire: a circumstance which was accounted for by the great +humidity of the night. The Nablousian threw himself into the water, and, +swimming with great agility and rapidity, gained a ridge of rocks so far +off that not a shot from the whole troop, which fired as it passed, +reached him. Bonaparte, who continued his march, desired me to wait for +Kleber, whose division formed the rear-guard, and to tell him not to +forget the Nablousian. He was, I believe, shot at last. + +We returned to Jaffa on the 24th of May, and stopped there during the +25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th. This town had lately been the scene of a +horrible transaction, dictated by necessity, and it was again destined to +witness the exercise of the same dire law. Here I have a painful duty to +perform--I will perform it. I will state what I know, what I saw. + +I have seen the following passage in a certain, work:--"Bonaparte, +having arrived at Jaffa, ordered three removals of the infected: one by +sea to Damietta, and also by land; the second to Gaza; and the third to +El-Arish!" So, many words, so many errors! + +Some tents were pitched on an eminence near the gardens east of Jaffa. +Orders were given directly to undermine the fortifications and blow them +up; and on the 27th of May, upon the signaling given, the town was in a +moment laid bare. An hour afterwards the General-in-Chief left his tent +and repaired to the town, accompanied by Berthier, some physicians and +surgeons, and his usual staff. I was also one of the party. A long and +sad deliberation took place on the question which now arose relative to +the men who were incurably ill of the plague, or who were at the point of +death. After a discussion of the most serious and conscientious kind it +was decided to accelerate a few moments, by a potion, a death which was +inevitable, and which would otherwise be painful and cruel. + +Bonaparte took a rapid view of the destroyed ramparts of the town and +returned to the hospital, where there were men whose limbs had been +amputated, many wounded, many afflicted with ophthalmia, whose +lamentations were distressing, and some infected with the plague. The +beds of the last description of patients were to the right on entering +the first ward. I walked by the General's side, and I assert that I +never saw him touch any one of the infected. And why should he have done +so? They were in the last stage of the disease. Not one of them spoke a +word to him, and Bonaparte well knew that he possessed no protection +against the plague. Is Fortune to be again brought forward here? She +had, in truth, little favoured him during the last few months, when he +had trusted to her favours. I ask, why should he have exposed himself to +certain death, and have left his army in the midst of a desert created by +our ravages, in a desolate town, without succour, and without the hope of +ever receiving any? Would he have acted rightly in doing so--he who was +evidently so necessary, so indispensable to his army; he on whom depended +at that moment the lives of all who had survived the last disaster, and +who had proved their attachment to him by their sufferings, their +privations, and their unshaken courage, and who had done all that he +could have required of men, and whose only trust was in him? + +Bonaparte walked quickly through the rooms, tapping the yellow top of his +boot with a whip he held in his hand. As he passed along with hasty +steps he repeated these words: "The fortifications are destroyed. +Fortune was against me at St. Jean d'Acre. I must return to Egypt to +preserve it from the enemy, who will soon be there: In a few hours the +Turks will be here. Let all those who have strength enough rise and come +along with us. They shall be carried on litters and horses." There were +scarcely sixty cases of plague in the hospital; and all accounts stating +a greater number are exaggerated. The perfect silence, complete +dejection, and general stupor of the patients announced their approaching +end. To carry them away in the state in which they were would evidently +have been doing nothing else than inoculating the rest of the army with +the plague. I have, it is true, learned, since my return to Europe, that +some persons touched the infected with impunity; nay; that others went so +far as to inoculate themselves with the plague in order to learn how to +cure those whom it might attack. It certainly was a special protection +from Heaven to be preserved from it; but to cover in some degree the +absurdity of such a story, it is added that they knew how to elude the +danger, and that any one else who braved it without using precautions met +with death for their temerity. This is, in fact, the whole point of the +question. Either those privileged persons took indispensable +precautions; and in that case their boasted heroism is a mere juggler's +trick; or they touched the infected without using precautions, and +inoculated themselves with the plague, thus voluntarily encountering +death, and then the story is really a good one. + +The infected were confided, it has been stated, to the head apothecary of +the army, Royer, who, dying in Egypt three years after, carried the +secret with him to the grave. But on a moment's reflection it will be +evident that the leaving of Royer alone in Jaffa would have been to +devote to certain death; and that a prompt and cruel one, a man who was +extremely useful to the army, and who was at the time in perfect health. +It must be remembered that no guard could be left with him, and that the +Turks were close at our heels. Bonaparte truly said, while walking +through the rooms of the hospital, that the Turks would be at Jaffa in a +few hours. With this conviction, would he have left the head apothecary +in that town? + +Recourse has been had to suppositions to support the contrary belief to +what I state. For example, it is said that the infected patients were +embarked in ships of war. There were no such ships. Where had they +disembarked, who had received them; what had been done with them? +No one speaks of them. Others, not doubting that the infected men died +at Jaffa, say, that the rearguard under Kleber, by order of Bonaparte, +delayed its departure for three days, and only began its march when +death had put an end to the sufferings of these unfortunate beings, +unshortened by any sacrifice. All this is incorrect. No rear-guard was +left--it could not be done. Pretence is made of forgetting that the +ramparts were destroyed, that the town was as open and as defenceless as +any village, so this small rear-guard would have been left for certain +destruction. The dates themselves tell against these suppositions. It +is certain, as can be seen by the official account, that we arrived at +Jaffa on 24th May, and stayed there the 25th, 26th, and 27th. We left it +on the 28th. Thus the rear-guard, which, according to these writers, left +on the 29th, did not remain, even according to their own hypothesis, three +days after the army to see the sick die. In reality it left on the 29th +of May, the day after we did. Here are the very words of the Major-General +(Berthier) in his official account, written under the eye and +under the dictation of the Commander-in-Chief:-- + + The army arrived at Jaffa, 5th Prairial (24th May), and remained + there the 6th, 7th, and 8th (25th-27th May). This time was employed + in punishing the village, which had behaved badly. The + fortifications of Jaffa were blown up. All the iron guns of the + place were thrown into the sea. The wounded were removed by sea and + by land. There were only a few ships, and to give time to complete + the evacuation by land, the departure of the army had to be deferred + until the 9th (28th May). Kleber's division formed the rear-guard, + and only left Jaffa on the 10th (29th May). + +The official report of what passed at Jaffa was drawn up by Berthier, +under the eye of Bonaparte. It has been published; but it may be +remarked that not a word about the infected, not a word of the visit to +the hospital, or the touching of the plague-patients with impunity, is +there mentioned. In no official report is anything said about the +matter. Why this silence? Bonaparte was not the man to conceal a fact +which would have afforded him so excellent and so allowable a text for +talking about his fortune. If the infected were removed, why not mention +it? Why be silent on so important an event? But it would have been +necessary to confess that being obliged to have recourse to so painful a +measure was the unavoidable consequence of this unfortunate expedition. +Very disagreeable details must have been entered into; and it was thought +more advisable to be silent on the subject. + +But what did Napoleon himself say on the subject at St. Helena? His +statement there was to the following effect:--"I ordered a consultation +as to what was best to be done. The report which was made stated that +there were seven or eight men (the question is not about the number) so +dangerously ill that they could not live beyond twenty-four hours, and +would besides infect the rest of the army with the plague. It was +thought it would be an act of charity to anticipate their death a few +hours." + +Then comes the fable of the 500 men of the rear guard, who, it is +pretended, saw them die! I make no doubt that the story of the poisoning +was the invention of Den----. He was a babbler, who understood a story +badly, and repeated it worse. I do not think it would have been a crime +to have given opium to the infected. On the contrary, it would have been +obedience to the dictates of reason. Where is the man who would not, in +such a situation, have preferred a prompt death, to being exposed to the +lingering tortures inflicted by barbarians? If my child, and I believe I +love him as much as any father does his, had been in such a state, my +advice would have been the same; if I had been among the infected myself, +I should have demanded to be so treated. + +Such was the reasoning at St. Helena, and such was the view which he and +every one else took of the case twenty years ago at Jaffa. + +Our little army arrived at Cairo on the 14th of June, after a painful and +harassing march of twenty-five days. The heats during the passage of the +desert between El-Arish and Belbeis exceeded thirty-three degrees. On +placing the bulb of the thermometer in the sand the mercury rose to +forty-five degrees. The deceitful mirage was even more vexatious than in +the plains of Bohahire'h. In spite of our experience an excessive +thirst, added to a perfect illusion, made us goad on our wearied horses +towards lakes which vanished at our approach, and left behind nothing but +salt and arid sand. In two days my cloak was completely covered with +salt, left on it after the evaporation of the moisture which held it in +solution. Our horses, who ran eagerly to the brackish springs of the +desert, perished in numbers, after travelling about a quarter of a league +from the spot where they drank the deleterious fluid. + +Bonaparte preceded his entry into the capital of Egypt by one of those +lying bulletins which only imposed on fools. "I will bring with me," +said he, "many prisoners and flags. I have razed the palace of the +Djezzar and the ramparts of Acre--not a stone remains upon another. All +the inhabitants have left the city, by sea. Djezzar is severely +wounded." + +I confess that I experienced a painful sensation in writing, by his +dictation, these official words, everyone of which was an imposition. +Excited by all I had just witnessed, it was difficult for me to refrain +from making the observation; but his constant reply was, "My dear fellow, +you are a simpleton: you do not understand this business." And he +observed, when signing the bulletin, that he would yet fill the world +with admiration, and inspire historians and poets. + +Our return to Cairo has been attributed to the insurrections which broke +out during the unfortunate expedition into Syria. Nothing is more +incorrect. The term insurrection cannot be properly applied to the +foolish enterprises of the angel El-Mahdi in the Bohahire'h, or to the +less important disturbances in the Charkyeh. The reverses experienced +before St. Jean d'Acre, the fear, or rather the prudent anticipation of a +hostile landing, were sufficient motives, and the only ones, for our +return to Egypt. What more could we do in Syria but lose men and time, +neither of which the General had to spare? + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +1799. + + Murat and Moarad Bey at the Natron Lakes--Bonaparte's departure for + the Pyramids--Sudden appearance of an Arab messenger--News of + the landing of the Turks at Aboukir--Bonaparte marches against + them--They are immediately attacked and destroyed in the battle of + Aboukir--Interchange of communication with the English--Sudden + determination to return to Europe--Outfit of two frigates-- + Bonaparte's dissimulation--His pretended journey to the Delta-- + Generous behaviour of Lanusee--Bonaparte's artifice--His bad + treatment of General Kleber. + +Bonaparte had hardly set foot in Cairo when he was informed that the +brave and indefatigable Mourad Bey was descending by the Fayoum, in order +to form a junction with reinforcements which had been for some time past +collected in the Bohahire'h. In all probability this movement of Mourad +Bey was the result of news he had received respecting plans formed at +Constantinople, and the landing which took place a short time after in +the roads of Aboukir. Mourad had selected the Natron Lakes for his place +of rendezvous. To these lakes Murat was despatched. The Bey no sooner +got notice of Murat's presence than he determined to retreat and to +proceed by the desert to Gizeh and the great Pyramids. I certainly never +heard, until I returned to France, that Mourad had ascended to the summit +of the great Pyramid for the purpose of passing his time in contemplating +Cairo! + +Napoleon said at St. Helena that Murat might have taken Mourad Bey had +the latter remained four-and-twenty hours longer in the Natron Lakes. Now +the fact is, that as soon as the Bey heard of Murat's arrival he was off. +The Arabian spies were far more serviceable to our enemies than to us; we +had not, indeed, a single friend in Egypt. Mourad Bey, on being informed +by the Arabs, who acted as couriers for him, that General Desaix was +despatching a column from the south of Egypt against him, that the +General-in-Chief was also about to follow his footsteps along the +frontier of Gizeh, and that the Natron Lakes and the Bohahire'h were +occupied by forces superior to his own, retired into Fayoum. + +Bonaparte attached great importance to the destruction of Mourad, whom he +looked upon as the bravest, the most active, and most dangerous of his +enemies in Egypt. As all accounts concurred in stating that Mourad, +supported by the Arabs, was hovering about the skirts of the desert of +the province of Gizeh, Bonaparte proceeded to the Pyramids, there to +direct different corps against that able and dangerous partisan. He, +indeed, reckoned him so redoubtable that he wrote to Murat, saying he +wished fortune might reserve for him the honour of putting the seal on +the conquest of Egypt by the destruction of this opponent. + +On the 14th of July Bonaparte left Cairo for the Pyramids. He intended +spending three or four days in examining the ruins of the ancient +necropolis of Memphis; but he was suddenly obliged to alter his plan. +This journey to the Pyramids, occasioned by the course of war, has given +an opportunity for the invention of a little piece of romance. Some +ingenious people have related that Bonaparte gave audiences to the mufti +and ulemas, and that on entering one of the great Pyramids he cried out, +"Glory to Allah! God only is God, and Mahomet is his prophet!" Now the +fact is, that Bonaparte never even entered the great Pyramid. He never +had any thought of entering it:--I certainly should have accompanied him +had he done so for I never quitted his side a single moment in the desert. +He caused some person to enter into one of the great Pyramids while he +remained outside, and received from them, on their return, an account of +what they had seen. In other words, they informed him there was nothing +to be seen! + +On the evening of the 15th of July, while we were taking a walk, we +perceived, on the road leading from Alexandria, an Arab riding up to us +in all haste. He brought to the General-in-Chief a despatch from General +Marmont, who was entrusted with the command of Alexandria, and who had +conducted himself so well, especially during the dreadful ravages of the +plague, that he had gained the unqualified approbation of Bonaparte. The +Turks had landed on the 11th of July at Aboukir, under the escort and +protection of English ships of war. The news of the landing of from +fifteen to sixteen thousand men did not surprise Bonaparte, who had for +some time expected it. It was not so, however, with the generals most in +his favor, whose apprehensions, for reasons which may be conjectured, he +had endeavoured to calm. He had even written to Marmont, who, being in +the most exposed situation, had the more reason to be vigilant, in these +terms: + + The army which was to have appeared before Alexandria, and which + left Constantinople on the 1st of the Ramadhan, has been destroyed + under the walls of Acre. If, however, that mad Englishman (Smith) + has embarked the remains of that army in order to convey them to + Aboukir, I do not believe there can be more than 2000 men. + +He wrote in the following strain to General Dugua, who had the command of +Cairo: + + The English Commander, who has summoned Damietta, is a madman. The + combined army they speak of has been destroyed before Acre, where it + arrived a fortnight before we left that place. + +As soon as he arrived at Cairo, in a letter he despatched to Desaix, he +said: + + The time has now arrived when disembarkations have become + practicable. I shall lose no time in getting ready. The + probabilities, however, are, that none will take place this year. + +What other language could he hold, when he had proclaimed when after the +raising of the siege of Acre, that he had destroyed those 15,000 men who +two months after landed at Aboukir? + +No sooner had Bonaparte perused the contents of Marmont's letter than he +retired into his tent and dictated to me, until three in the morning, his +orders for the departure of the troops, and for the routes he wished to +be pursued during his absence by the troops who should remain in the +interior. At this moment I observed in him the development of that +vigorous character of mind which was excited by obstacles until he +overcame them--that celerity of thought which foresaw everything. He was +all action, and never for a moment hesitated. On the 16th of July, at +four in the morning, he was on horseback and the army in full march. +I cannot help doing justice to the presence of mind, promptitude of +decision, and rapidity of execution which at this period of his life +never deserted him on great occasions. + +We reached Ouardan, to the north of Gizeh, on the evening of the 16th; +on the 19th we arrived at Rahmalianie'h, and on the 23d at Alexandria, +where every preparation was made for that memorable battle which, though +it did not repair the immense losses and fatal consequences of the naval +conflict of the same name, will always recall to the memory of Frenchmen +one of the most brilliant achievements of their arms[25]. + + [25]--[As M. de Bourrienne gives no details of the battle, the + following extract from the Duc de Rovigo's Memoirs, tome i, p. 167, + will supply the deficiency: + + "General Bonaparte left Cairo in the utmost haste to place himself + at the head of the troops which he had ordered to quit their + cantonments and march down to the coast. + + "Whilst the General was making these arrangements and coming in + person from Cairo, the troops on board the Turkish fleet had + effected a landing and taken possession of the fort of Aboukir, and + of a redoubt placed behind the village of that name which ought to + have been put into a state of defence six months before, but had + been completely neglected. + + "The Turks had nearly destroyed the weak garrisons that occupied + those two military points when General Marmont (who commanded at + Alexandria) came to their relief. This general, seeing the two + posts in the power of the Turks, returned to shut himself up in + Alexandria, where he would probably have been blockaded by the + Turkish army had it not been for the arrival of General Bonaparte + with his forces, who was very angry when he saw that the fort and + redoubt had been taken; but he did not blame Marmont for retreating + to Alexandria with the forces at his disposal. + + "General Bonaparte arrived at midnight with his guides and the + remaining part of his army, and ordered the Turks to be attacked the + next morning. In this battle, as in the preceding ones, the attack, + the encounter, and the rout were occurrences of a moment, and the + result of a single movement on the part of our troops. The whole + Turkish army plunged into the sea to regain its ships, leaving + behind them everything they had brought on shore. + + "Whilst this event was occurring on the seashore a pasha had left + the field of battle with a corps of about 3000 men in order to throw + himself into the fort of Aboukir. They soon felt the extremities + of thirst, which compelled them, after the lapse of a few days, to + surrender unconditionally to General Menou, who was left to close + the operations connected with the recently defeated Turkish army."] + +After the battle, which took place on the 25th of July, Bonaparte sent a +flag of truce on board the English Admiral's ship. Our intercourse was +full of politeness, such as might be expected in the communications of +the people of two civilised nations. The English Admiral gave the flag +of truce some presents in exchange for some we sent, and likewise a copy +of the French Gazette of Frankfort, dated 10th of June 1799. For ten +months we had received no news from France. Bonaparte glanced over this +journal with an eagerness which may easily be conceived[26]. + + + [26]--[The French, on their return from St. Jean d'Acre were totally + ignorant of all that had taken place in Europe for several months. + Napoleon, eager to obtain intelligence, sent a flag of truce on + board the Turkish admiral's ship, under the pretence of treating for + the ransom of the prisoners taken at Aboukir, not doubting but the + envoy would be stopped by Sir Sidney Smith, who carefully prevented + all direct communication between the French and the Turks. + Accordingly the French flag of truce received directions from Sir + Sidney to go on board his ship. He experienced the handsomest + treatment; and the English commander having, among other things, + ascertained that the disasters of Italy were quite unknown to + Napoleon, indulged in the malicious pleasure of sending him a file + of newspapers. Napoleon spent the whole night in his tent perusing + the papers; and he came to the determination of immediately + proceeding to Europe to repair the disasters of France; and if + possible, to save her from destruction (Memorial de Sainte Helene)]. + +"Heavens!" said he to me, "my presentiment is verified: the fools have +lost Italy. All the fruits of our victories are gone! I must leave +Egypt!" + +He sent for Berthier, to whom he communicated the news, adding that +things were going on very badly in France--that he wished to return home +--that he (Berthier) should go along with him, and that, for the present, +only he, Gantheaume, and I were in the secret. He recommended Berthier +to be prudent, not to betray any symptoms of joy, nor to purchase or sell +anything, and concluded by assuring him that he depended on him. "I can +answer," said he, "for myself and for Bourrienne." Berthier promised to +be secret, and he kept his word. He had had enough of Egypt, and he so +ardently longed to return to France, that there was little reason to fear +he would disappoint himself by any indiscretion. + +Gantheaume arrived, and Bonaparte gave him orders to fit out the two +frigates, the 'Muiron' and the 'Carrere', and the two small vessels, the +'Revanche' and the 'Fortune', with a two months' supply of provisions for +from four to five hundred men. He enjoined his secrecy as to the object +of these preparations, and desired him to act with such circumspection +that the English cruisers might have no knowledge of what was going on. +He afterwards arranged with Gantheaume the course he wished to take. No +details escaped his attention. + +Bonaparte concealed his preparations with much care, but still some vague +rumours crept abroad. General Dugua, the commandant of Cairo, whom he +had just left for the purpose of embarking, wrote to him on the 18th of +August to the following effect: + + I have this moment heard that it is reported at the Institute you + are about to return to France, taking with you Monge, Berthollet, + Berthier, Lannes, and Murat. This news has spread like lightning + through the city, and I should not be at all surprised if it produce + an unfavourable effect, which, however, I hope you will obviate. + +Bonaparte embarked five days after the receipt of Dugua's letter, and, as +may be supposed, without replying to it. + +On the 18th of August he wrote to the divan of Cairo as follows: + + I set out to-morrow for Menouf, whence I intend to make various + excursions in the Delta, in order that I may myself witness the acts + of oppression which are committed there, and acquire some knowledge + of the people. + +He told the army but half the truth: + + The news from Europe (said he) has determined me to proceed to + France. I leave the command of the army to General Kleber. The + army shall hear from me forthwith. At present I can say no more. + It costs me much pain to quit troops to whom I am so strongly + attached. But my absence will be but temporary, and the general I + leave in command has the confidence of the Government as well as + mine. + +I have now shown the true cause of General Bonaparte's departure for +Europe. This circumstance, in itself perfectly natural, has been the +subject of the most ridiculous conjectures to those who always wish to +assign extraordinary causes for simple events. There is no truth +whatever in the assertion of his having planned his departure before the +battle of Aboukir. Such an idea never crossed his mind. He had no +thought whatever of his departure for France when he made the journey to +the Pyramids, nor even when he received the news of the landing of the +Anglo-Turkish force. + +At the end of December 1798 Bonaparte thus wrote to the Directory: "We +are without any news from France. No courier has arrived since the month +of June." + +Some writers have stated that we received news by the way of Tunis, +Algiers, or Morocco; but there is no contradicting a positive fact. At +that period I had been with Bonaparte more than two years, and during +that time not a single despatch on any occasion arrived of the contents +of which I was ignorant. How then should the news alluded to have +escaped me?[27] + + [27]--[Details on the question of the correspondence of Napoleon with + France while he was to Egypt will be found in Colonel Iung's work, + Lucien Bonaparte (Paris. Charpentier, 1882), tome i. pp. 251-274. + It seems most probable that Napoleon was in occasional communication + with his family and with some of the Directors by way of Tunis and + Tripoli. It would not be his interest to let his army or perhaps + even Bourrienne know of the disasters in Italy till he found that + they were sure to hear of them through the English. This would + explain his affected ignorance till such a late date. On the 11th + of April Barras received a despatch by which Napoleon stated his + intention of returning to France if the news brought by Hamelin was + confirmed. On the 26th of May 1799 three of the Directors, Barras, + Rewbell, and La Revelliere-Lepeaux, wrote to Napoleon that Admiral + Bruix had been ordered to attempt every means of bringing back his + army. On the 15th of July Napoleon seems to have received this and + other letters. On the 20th of July he warns Admiral Gantheaume to + be ready to start. On the 11th of September the Directors formally + approved the recall of the army from Egypt. Thus at the time + Napoleon landed in France (on the 8th October), his intended return + had been long known to and approved by the majority of the + Directors, and had at last been formally ordered by the Directory. + At the most he anticipated the order. He cannot be said to have + deserted his post. Lantrey (tome i. p. 411) remarks that the + existence and receipt of the letter from Joseph denied by Bourrienne + is proved by Miot (the commissary, the brother of Miot de Melito) + and by Joseph himself. Talleyrand thanks the French Consul at + Tripoli for sending news from Egypt, and for letting Bonaparte know + what passed in Europe. See also Ragusa (Marmont), tome i. p. 441, + writing on 24th December 1798: "I have found an Arab of whom I am + sure, and who shall start to-morrow for Derne . . . . This means + can be used to send a letter to Tripoli, for boats often go there."] + +Almost all those who endeavour to avert from Bonaparte the reproach of +desertion quote a letter from the Directory, dated the 26th of May 1799. +This letter may certainly have been written, but it never reached its +destination. Why then should it be put upon record? + +The circumstance I have stated above determined the resolution of +Bonaparte, and made him look upon Egypt as an exhausted field of glory, +which it was high time he had quitted, to play another part in France. +On his departure from Europe Bonaparte felt that his reputation was +tottering. He wished to do something to raise up his glory, and to fix +upon him the attention of the world. This object he had in great part +accomplished; for, in spite of serious disasters, the French flag waved +over the cataracts of the Nile and the ruins of Memphis, and the battles +of the Pyramids, and Aboukir were calculated in no small degree to +dazzle the imagination. Cairo and Alexandria too were ours. Finding +that the glory of his arms no longer supported the feeble power of the +Directory, he was anxious to see whether he could not share it, or +appropriate it to himself. + +A great deal has been said about letters and secret communications from +the Directory, but Bonaparte needed no such thing. He could do what he +pleased: there was no power to check him; such had been the nature of +his arrangements on leaving France. He followed only the dictates of his +own will, and probably, had not the fleet been destroyed, he would have +departed from Egypt much sooner. To will and to do were with him one and +the same thing. The latitude he enjoyed was the result of his verbal +agreement with the Directory, whose instructions and plans he did not +wish should impede his operations. + +Bonaparte left Alexandria on the 5th of August, and on the 10th arrived +at Cairo. He at first circulated the report of a journey to Upper Egypt. +This seemed so much the more reasonable, as he had really entertained +that design before he went to the Pyramids, and the fact was known to the +army and the inhabitants of Cairo. Up to this time our secret had been +studiously kept. However, General Lanusse, the commandant at Menouf, +where we arrived on the 20th of August, suspected it. "You are going to +France," said he to me. My negative reply confirmed his suspicion. This +almost induced me to believe the General-in-Chief had been the first to +make the disclosure. General Lanusse, though he envied our good fortune, +made no complaints. He expressed his sincere wishes for our prosperous +voyage, but never opened his mouth on the subject to any one. + +On the 21st of August we reached the wells of Birkett. The Arabs had +rendered the water unfit for use, but the General-in-Chief was resolved +to quench his thirst, and for this purpose squeezed the juice of several +lemons into a glass of the water; but he could not swallow it without +holding his nose and exhibiting strong feelings of disgust. + +The next day we reached Alexandria, where the General informed all those, +who had accompanied him from Cairo that France was their destination. +At this announcement joy was pictured in every countenance. + +General Kleber, to whose command Bonaparte had resigned the army, was +invited to come from Damietta to Rosetta to confer with the +General-in-Chief on affairs of extreme importance. Bonaparte, in +making an appointment which he never intended to keep, hoped to escape +the unwelcome freedom of Kleber's reproaches. He afterwards wrote to +him all he had to say; and the cause he assigned for not keeping his +appointment was, that his fear of being observed by the English +cruisers had forced him to depart three days earlier than he intended. +But when he wrote Bonaparte well knew that he would be at sea before +Kleber could receive his letter. KKleber in his letter to the +Directory, complained bitterly of this deception. The singular fate +that befell this letter will be seen by and by. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +1799. + + Our departure from Egypt--Nocturnal embarkation--M. Parseval + Grandmaison--On course--Adverse winds--Fear of the English-- + Favourable weather--Vingt-et-un--Chess--We land at Ajaccio-- + Bonaparte's pretended relations--Family domains--Want of money-- + Battle of Novi--Death of Joubert--Visionary schemes--Purchase of a + boat--Departure from Corsica--The English squadron--Our escape-- + The roads of Frejus--Our landing in France--The plague or the + Austrians--Joy of the people--The sanitary laws--Bonaparte falsely + accused. + +We were now to return to our country--again to cross the sea, to us so +pregnant with danger--Caesar and his fortune were once more to embark. +But Caesar was not now advancing to the East to add Egypt to the +conquests of the Republic. He was revolving in his mind vast schemes, +unawed by the idea of venturing everything to chance in his own favour +the Government for which he had fought. The hope of conquering the most +celebrated country of the East no longer excited the imagination, as on +our departure from France. Our last visionary dream had vanished before +the walls of St. Jean d'Acre, and we were leaving on the burning sands of +Egypt most of our companions in arms. An inconceivable destiny seemed to +urge us on, and we were obliged to obey its decrees. + +On the 23d of August we embarked on board two frigates, the 'Muiron'[28] +and 'Carrere'. Our number was between four and five hundred. Such was +our squadron, and such the formidable army with which Bonaparte had +resolved, as he wrote to the divan of Cairo, "to annihilate all his +enemies." This boasting might impose on those who did not see the real +state of things; but what were we to think of it? What Bonaparte himself +thought the day after. + + [28]--[Named after Bonaparte's aide de camp killed in the Italian + campaign]-- + +The night was dark when we embarked in the frigates which lay at a +considerable distance from the port of Alexandria; but by the faint light +of the stars we perceived a corvette, which appeared to be observing our +silent nocturnal embarkation.[29] + + [29]--[The horses of the escort had been left to run loose on the + beach, and all was perfect stillness in Alexandria, when the advanced + posts of the town were alarmed by the wild galloping of horses, which + from a natural instinct, were returning to Alexandria through the + desert. The picket ran to arms on seeing horses ready saddled and + bridled, which were soon discovered to belong to the regiment of + guides. They at first thought that a misfortune had happened to some + detachment in its pursuit of the Arabs. With these horses came also + those of the generals who had embarked with General Bonaparte; so + that Alexandria was for a time in considerable alarm. The cavalry + was ordered to proceed in all haste in the direction whence the + horses came, and every one was giving himself up to the most gloomy + conjectures, when the cavalry returned to the city with the Turkish + groom, who was bringing back General Bonaparte's horse to Alexandria + (Memoirs of the Duc de Rovigo, tome i. p. 182).]-- + +Next morning, just as we were on the point of setting sail, we saw. +coming from the port of Alexandria a boat, on board of which was M. +Parseval Grandmaison. This excellent man, who was beloved by all of us, +was not included among the persons whose return to France had been +determined by the General-in-Chief. In his anxiety to get off Bonaparte +would not hear of taking him on board. It will readily be conceived how +urgent were the entreaties of Parseval; but he would have sued in vain +had not Gantheaume, Monge, Berthollet, and I interceded for him. With +some difficulty we overcame Bonaparte's resistance, and our colleague of +the Egyptian Institute got on board after the wind had filled our sails. + +It has been erroneously said that Admiral Gantheaume had full control of +the frigates, as if any one could command when Bonaparte was present. +On the contrary, Bonaparte declared to the admiral, in my hearing, that +he would not take the ordinary course and get into the open sea. "Keep +close along the coast of the Mediterranean," said he, "on the African +side, until you get south of Sardinia. I have here a handful of brave +fellows and a few pieces of artillery; if the English should appear I +will run ashore, and with my party, make my way by land to Oran, Tunis, +or some other port, whence we may find an opportunity of getting home." +This was his irrevocable determination. + +For twenty-one days adverse winds, blowing from west or north-west, drove +us continually on the coast of Syria, or in the direction of Alexandria. +At one time it was even proposed that we should again put into the port; +but Bonaparte declared he would rather brave every danger than do so. +During the day we tacked to a certain distance northward, and in the +evening we stood towards Africa, until we came within sight of the +coast. Finally after no less than twenty-one days of impatience and +disappointment, a favourable east wind carried us past that point of +Africa on which Carthage formerly stood, and we soon doubled Sardinia. +We kept very near the western coast of that island, where Bonaparte had +determined to land in case of our falling in with the English squadron. +From thence his plan was to reach Corsica, and there to await a +favourable opportunity of returning to France. + +Everything had contributed to render our voyage dull and monotonous; and, +besides, we were not entirely without uneasiness as to the steps which +might be taken by the Directory, for it was certain that the publication +of the intercepted correspondence must have occasioned many unpleasant +disclosures. Bonaparte used often to walk on deck to superintend the +execution of his orders. The smallest sail that appeared in view excited +his alarm. + +The fear of falling into the hands of the English never forsook him. +That was what he dreaded most of all, and yet, at a subsequent period, he +trusted to the generosity of his enemies. + +However, in spite of our well-founded alarm, there were some moments in +which we sought to amuse ourselves, or, to use a common expression, to +kill time. Cards afforded us a source of recreation, and even this +frivolous amusement served to develop the character of Bonaparte. In +general he was not fond of cards; but if he did play, vingt-et-un was his +favourite game, because it is more rapid than many others, and because, +in short, it afforded him an opportunity of cheating. For example, he +would ask for a card; if it proved a bad one he would say nothing, but +lay it down on the table and wait till the dealer had drawn his. If the +dealer produced a good card, then Bonaparte would throw aside his hand, +without showing it, and give up his stake. If, on the contrary, the +dealer's card made him exceed twenty-one, Bonaparte also threw his cards +aside without showing them, and asked for the payment of his stake. He +was much diverted by these little tricks, especially when they were +played off undetected; and I confess that even then we were courtiers +enough to humour him, and wink at his cheating. I must, however, mention +that he never appropriated to himself the fruit of these little +dishonesties, for at the end of the game he gave up all his winnings, and +they were equally divided. Gain, as may readily be supposed, was not his +object; but he always expected that fortune would grant him an ace or a +ten at the right moment with the same confidence with which he looked for +fine weather on the day of battle. If he were disappointed he wished +nobody to know it. + +Bonaparte also played at chess, but very seldom, because he was only a +third-rate player, and he did not like to be beaten at that game, +which, I know not why, is said to bear a resemblance to the grand game +of war. At this latter game Bonaparte certainly feared no adversary. +This reminds me that when we were leaving Passeriano he announced his +intention of passing through Mantua. He was told that the commandant +of that town, I believe General Beauvoir, was a great chess-player, +and he expressed a wish to play a game with him. General Beauvoir +asked him to point out any particular pawn with which he would be +checkmated; adding, that if the pawn were taken, he, Bonaparte, should +be declared the winner. Bonaparte pointed out the last pawn on the +left of his adversary. A mark was put upon it, and it turned out that +he actually was checkmated with that very pawn. Bonaparte was not very +well pleased at this. He liked to play with me because, though rather +a better player than himself, I was not always able to beat him. As +soon as a game was decided in his favour he declined playing any +longer, preferring to rest on his laurels. + +The favourable wind which had constantly prevailed after the first twenty +days of our voyage still continued while we kept along the coast of +Sardinia; but after we had passed that island the wind again blew +violently from the west, and on the 1st of October we were forced to +enter the Gulf of Ajaccio. We sailed again next day but we found it +impossible to work our way out of the gulf. We were therefore obliged to +put into the port and land at Ajaccio. Adverse winds obliged us to +remain there until the 7th of October. It may readily be imagined how +much this delay annoyed Bonaparte. He sometimes expressed his +impatience, as if he could enforce the obedience of the elements as well +as of men. He was losing time, and time was everything to him. + +There was one circumstance which seemed to annoy him as much as any of +his more serious vexations. "What will become of me," said he, "if the +English, who are cruising hereabout, should learn that I have landed +in Corsica? I shall be forced to stay here. That I could never endure. +I have a torrent of relations pouring upon me." His great reputation +had certainly prodigiously augmented the number of his family. He was +overwhelmed with visits, congratulations, and requests. The whole town +was in a commotion. Every one of its inhabitants wished to claim him +as their cousin; and from the prodigious number of his pretended +godsons and goddaughters, it might have been supposed that he had held +one-fourth of the children of Ajaccio at the baptismal font. + +Bonaparte frequently walked with us in the neighbourhood of Ajaccio; and +when in all the plenitude of his power he did not count his crowns with +greater pleasure than he evinced in pointing out to us the little domains +of his ancestors. + +While we were at Ajaccio M. Fesch gave Bonaparte French money in +exchange for a number of Turkish sequins, amounting in value to 17,000 +francs. This sum was all that the General brought with him from Egypt. +I mention this fact because he was unjustly calumniated in letters +written after his departure, and which were intercepted and published by +the English. I ought also to add, that as he would never for his own +private use resort to the money-chest of the army, the contents of which +were, indeed, never half sufficient to defray the necessary expenses, he +several times drew on Genoa, through M. James, and on the funds he +possessed in the house of Clary, 16,000, 25,000, and up to 33,000 francs. +I can bear witness that in Egypt I never saw him touch any money beyond +his pay; and that he left the country poorer than he had entered it is a +fact that cannot be denied. In his notes on Egypt it appears that in one +year 12,600,000 francs were received. In this sum were included at least +2,000,000 of contributions, which were levied at the expense of many +decapitations. Bonaparte was fourteen months in Egypt, and he is said to +have brought away with him 20,000,000. Calumny may be very gratifying to +certain persons, but they should at least give it a colouring of +probability. The fact is, that Bonaparte had scarcely enough to maintain +himself at Ajaccio and to defray our posting expenses to Paris. + +On our arrival at Ajaccio we learnt the death of Joubert, and the loss of +the battle of Novi, which was fought on the 15th of August. Bonaparte +was tormented by anxiety; he was in a state of utter uncertainty as to +the future. From the time we left Alexandria till our arrival in Corsica +he had frequently talked of what he should do during the quarantine, +which he supposed he would be required to observe on reaching Toulon, the +port at which he had determined to land. + +Even then he cherished some illusions respecting the state of affairs; +and he often said to me, "But for that confounded quarantine, I would +hasten ashore, and place myself at the head of the army of Italy. All is +not over; and I am sure that there is not a general who would refuse me +the command. The news of a victory gained by me would reach Paris as +soon as the battle of Aboukir; that, indeed, would be excellent." + +In Corsica his language was very different. When he was informed of our +reverses, and saw the full extent of the evil, he was for a moment +overwhelmed. His grand projects then gave way to the consideration of +matters of minor import, and he thought about his detention in the +Lazaretto of Toulon. He spoke of the Directory, of intrigues, and of +what would be said of him. He accounted his enemies those who envied +him, and those who could not be reconciled to his glory and the influence +of his name. Amidst all these anxieties Bonaparte was outwardly calm, +though he was moody and reflective. + +Providing against every chance of danger, he had purchased at Ajaccio a +large launch which was intended to be towed by the 'Muiron', and it was +manned by twelve of the best sailors the island could furnish. His +resolution was, in case of inevitable danger, to jump into this boat and +get ashore. This precaution had well-nigh proved useful[30]. + + [30]--[Sir Walter Scott, at the commencement of his Life of Napoleon, + says that Bonaparte did not see his native City after 1793. + Probably to avoid contradicting himself, the Scottish historian + observes that Bonaparte was near Ajaccio on his return from Egypt. + He spent eight days there.--Bourrienne.]-- + +After leaving the Gulf of Ajaccio the voyage was prosperous and +undisturbed for one day; but on the second day, just at sunset, an +English squadron of fourteen sail hove in sight. The English, having +advantage of the lights which we had in our faces, saw us better than we +could see them. They recognised our two frigates as Venetian built; but +luckily for us, night came on, for we were not far apart. We saw the +signals of the English for a long time, and heard the report of the guns +more and more to our left, and we thought it was the intention of the +cruisers to intercept us on the south-east. Under these circumstances +Bonaparte had reason to thank fortune; for it is very evident that had +the English suspected our two frigates of coming from the East and going +to France, they would have shut us out from land by running between us +and it, which to them was very easy. Probably they took us for a convoy +of provisions going from Toulon to Genoa; and it was to this error and +the darkness that we were indebted for escaping with no worse consequence +than a fright[31]. + + [31]--[Here Bourrienne says in a note "Where did Sir Walter Scott + learn that we were neither seen nor recognised? We were not + recognised, but certainly seen," This is corroborated by the testimony + of the Duc de Rovigo, who, in his Memoirs, says, "I have met officers + of the English navy who assured me that the two frigates had been seen + but were considered by the Admiral to belong to his squadron, as + they steered their course towards him; and as he knew we had only + one frigate in the Mediterranean, and one in Toulon harbour, he was + far from supposing that the frigates which he had descried could + have General Bonaparte on board" (Savary, tome i. p. 226).]-- + +During the remainder of the night the utmost agitation prevailed on board +the Muiron. Gantheaume especially was in a state of anxiety which it is +impossible to describe, and which it was painful to witness: he was quite +beside himself, for a disaster appeared inevitable. He proposed to +return to Corsica. "No, no!" replied Bonaparte imperiously. "No! +Spread all sail! Every man at his post! To the north-west! To the +north-west!" This order saved us; and I am enabled to affirm that in the +midst of almost general alarm Bonaparte was solely occupied in giving +orders. The rapidity of his judgment seemed to grow in the face of +danger. The remembrance of that night will never be effaced from my +mind. The hours lingered on; and none of us could guess upon what new +dangers the morrow's sun would shine. + +However, Bonaparte's resolution was taken: his orders were given, his +arrangements made. During the evening he had resolved upon throwing +himself into the long boat; he had already fixed on the persons who were +to share his fate, and had already named to me the papers which he +thought it most important to save. Happily our terrors were vain and our +arrangements useless. By the first rays of the sun we discovered the +English fleet sailing to the north-east, and we stood for the wished-for +coast of France. + +The 8th of October, at eight in the morning, we entered the roads of +Frejus. The sailors not having recognised the coast during the night, we +did not know where we were. There was, at first, some hesitation whether +we should advance. We were by no means expected, and did not know how to +answer the signals, which has been changed during our absence. Some guns +were even fired upon us by the batteries on the coast; but our bold entry +into the roads, the crowd upon the decks of the two frigates, and our +signs of joy, speedily banished all doubt of our being friends. We were +in the port, and approaching the landing-place, when the rumour spread +that Bonaparte was on board one of the frigates. In an instant the sea +was covered with boats. In vain we begged them to keep at a distance; we +were carried ashore, and when we told the crowd, both of men and women +who were pressing about us, the risk they ran, they all exclaimed, "We +prefer the plague to the Austrians!" + +What were our feelings when we again set foot on the soil of France +I will not attempt to describe. Our escape from the dangers that +threatened us seemed almost miraculous. We had lost twenty days at the +beginning of our voyage, and at its close we had been almost taken by an +English squadron. Under these circumstances, how rapturously we inhaled +the balmy air of Provence! Such was our joy, that we were scarcely +sensible of the disheartening news which arrived from all quarters. At +the first moment of our arrival, by a spontaneous impulse, we all +repeated, with tears in our eyes, the beautiful lines which Voltaire has +put into the mouth of the exile of Sicily. + +Bonaparte has been reproached with having violated the sanitary laws; +but, after what I have already stated respecting his intentions, I +presume there can remain no doubt of the falsehood of this accusation. +All the blame must rest with the inhabitants of Frejus, who on this +occasion found the law of necessity more imperious than the sanitary +laws. Yet when it is considered that four or five hundred persons, and a +quantity of effects, were landed from Alexandria, where the plague had +been raging during the summer, it is almost a miracle that France, and +indeed Europe escaped the scourge. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +1799. + + Effect produced by Bonaparte's return--His justification-- + Melancholy letter to my wife--Bonaparte's intended dinner at Sens-- + Louis Bonaparte and Josephine--He changes his intended route-- + Melancholy situation of the provinces--Necessity of a change-- + Bonaparte's ambitious views--Influence of popular applause-- + Arrival in Paris--His reception of Josephine--Their reconciliation-- + Bonaparte's visit to the Directory--His contemptuous treatment of + Sieyes. + +The effect produced in France and throughout Europe by the mere +intelligence of Bonaparte's return is well known. I shall not yet speak +of the vast train of consequences which that event entailed. I must, +however, notice some accusations which were brought against him from the +time of our landing to the 9th of November. He was reproached for having +left Egypt, and it was alleged that his departure was the result of long +premeditation. But I, who was constantly with him, am enabled positively +to affirm that his return to France was merely the effect of a sudden +resolution. Of this the following fact is in itself sufficient evidence. + +While we were at Cairo, a few days before we heard of the landing of the +Anglo-Turkish fleet, and at the moment when we were on the point of +setting off to encamp at the Pyramids, Bonaparte despatched a courier to +France. I took advantage of this opportunity to write to my wife. I +almost bade her an eternal adieu. My letter breathed expressions of grief +such as I had not before evinced. I said, among other things, that we +knew not when or how it would be possible for us to return to France. If +Bonaparte had then entertained any thought of a speedy return I must have +known it, and in that case I should not certainly have distressed my +family by a desponding letter, when I had not had an opportunity of +writing for seven months before. + +Two days after the receipt of my letter my wife was awoke very early in +the morning to be informed of our arrival in France. The courier who +brought this intelligence was the bearer of a second letter from me, +which I had written on board ship, and dated from Frejus. In this letter +I mentioned that Bonaparte would pass through Sens and dine with my +mother. + +In fulfilment of my directions Madame de Bourrienne set off for Paris at +five in the morning. Having passed the first post-house she met a Berlin +containing four travellers, among whom she recognised Louis Bonaparte +going to meet the General on the Lyons road. On seeing Madame de +Bourrienne Louis desired the postillion to stop, and asked her whether +she had heard from me. She informed him that we should pass through +Sens, where the General wished to dine with my mother, who had made every +preparation for receiving him. Louis then continued his journey. About +nine o'clock my wife met another Berlin, in which were Madame Bonaparte +and her daughter. As they were asleep, and both carriages were driving +at a very rapid rate, Madame de Bourrienne did not stop them. Josephine +followed the route taken by Louis. Both missed the General, who changed +his mind at Lyons, and proceeded by way of Bourbonnais. He arrived +fifteen hours after my wife; and those who had taken the Burgundy road +proceeded to Lyons uselessly. + +Determined to repair in all haste to Paris, Bonaparte had left Frejus on +the afternoon of the day of our landing. He himself had despatched the +courier to Sens to inform my mother of his intended visit to her; and it +was not until he got to Lyons that he determined to take the Bourbonnais +road. His reason for doing so will presently be seen. All along the +road, at Aix, at Lyons, in every town and village, he was received, as at +Frejus, with the most rapturous demonstrations of joy[32]. +Only those who witnessed his triumphal journey can form any notion of it; +and it required no great discernment to foresee something like the 18th +Brumaire. + + [32]--[From Frejus to Aix a crowd of men kindly escorted us, carrying + torches alongside the carriage of the General, not so much to show + their enthusiasm as to ensure our safety (Bourrienne) These brigands + became so bad in France that at one time soldiers were placed in the + imperials of all the diligences, receiving from the wits the + curiously anticipative name of "imperial armies".]-- + +The provinces, a prey to anarchy and civil war, were continually +threatened with foreign invasion. Almost all the south presented the +melancholy spectacle of one vast arena of conflicting factions. The +nation groaned beneath the yoke of tyrannical laws; despotism was +systematically established; the law of hostages struck a blow at personal +liberty, and forced loans menaced every man's property. The generality +of the citizens had declared themselves against a pentarchy devoid of +power, justice, and morality, and which had become the sport of faction +and intrigue. Disorder was general; but in the provinces abuses were +felt more sensibly than elsewhere. In great cities it was found more +easy to elude the hand of despotism and oppression. + +A change so earnestly wished for could not fail to be realised, and to be +received with transport. The majority of the French people longed to be +relieved from the situation in which they then stood. There were two +dangers bar to cope with--anarchy and the Bourbons. Every one felt the +urgent and indispensable necessity of concentrating the power of the +Government in a single hand; at the same time maintaining the +institutions which the spirit of the age demanded, and which France, +after having so dearly purchased, was now about to lose. The country +looked for a man who was capable of restoring her to tranquillity; but as +yet no such man had appeared. A soldier of fortune presented himself, +covered with glory; he had planted the standard of France on the Capitol +and on the Pyramids. The whole world acknowledged his superior talent; +his character, his courage, and his victories had raised him to the very +highest rank. His great works, his gallant actions, his speeches, and +his proclamations ever since he had risen to eminence left no doubt of +his wish to secure happiness and freedom to France, his adopted country. +At that critical moment the necessity of a temporary dictatorship, which +sometimes secures the safety of a state, banished all reflections on the +consequences of such a power, and nobody seemed to think glory +incompatible with personal liberty. All eyes were therefore directed on +the General, whose past conduct guaranteed his capability of defending +the Republic abroad, and liberty at home,--on the General whom his +flatterers, and indeed some of his sincere friends, styled, "the hero of +liberal ideas," the title to which he aspired. + +Under every point of view, therefore, he was naturally chosen as the +chief of a generous nation, confiding to him her destiny, in preference +to a troop of mean and fanatical hypocrites, who, under the names of +republicanism and liberty, had reduced France to the most abject slavery. + +Among the schemes which Bonaparte was incessantly revolving in his mind +may undoubtedly be ranked the project of attaining the head of the French +Government; but it would be a mistake to suppose that on his return from +Egypt he had formed any fixed plan. There was something vague in his +ambitious aspirations; and he was, if I may so express myself, fond of +building those imaginary edifices called castles in the air. The current +of events was in accordance with his wishes; and it may truly be said +that the whole French nation smoothed for Bonaparte the road which led +to power. Certainly the unanimous plaudits and universal joy which +accompanied him along a journey of more than 200 leagues must have +induced him to regard as a national mission that step which was at first +prompted merely by his wish of meddling with the affairs of the Republic. + +This spontaneous burst of popular feeling, unordered and unpaid for, +loudly proclaimed the grievances of the people, and their hope that the +man of victory would become their deliverer. The general enthusiasm +excited by the return of the conqueror of Egypt delighted him to a degree +which I cannot express, and was, as he has often assured me, a powerful +stimulus in urging him to the object to which the wishes of France seemed +to direct him. + +Among people of all classes and opinions an 18th Brumaire was desired and +expected. Many royalists even believed that a change would prove +favourable to the King. So ready are we to persuade ourselves of the +reality of what we wish. + +As soon as it was suspected that Bonaparte would accept the power offered +him, an outcry was raised about a conspiracy against the Republic, and +measures were sought for preserving it. But necessity, and indeed, it +must be confessed, the general feeling of the people, consigned the +execution of those measures to him who was to subvert the Republic. On +his return to Paris Bonaparte spoke and acted like a man who felt his own +power; he cared neither for flattery, dinners, nor balls,--his mind took +a higher flight. + +We arrived in Paris on the 24th Vendemiaire (the 16th of October). +As yet he knew nothing of what was going on; for he had seen neither his +wife nor his brothers, who were looking for him on the Burgundy road. +The news of our landing at Frejus had reached Paris by a telegraphic +despatch. Madame Bonaparte, who was dining with M. Gohier when that +despatch was communicated to him, as president of the Directory, +immediately set off to meet her husband, well knowing how important it +was that her first interview with him should not be anticipated by his +brothers. + +The imprudent communications of Junot at the fountains of Messoudiah will +be remembered, but, after the first ebullition of jealous rage, all +traces of that feeling had apparently disappeared. Bonaparte however, +was still harassed by secret suspicion, and the painful impressions +produced by Junot were either not entirely effaced or were revived after +our arrival in Paris. We reached the capital before Josephine returned. +The recollection of the past, the ill-natured reports of his brothers[33], +and the exaggeration of facts had irritated Napoleon to the very highest +pitch, and he received Josephine with studied coldness, and with an air +of the most cruel indifference. He had no communication with her for +three days, during which time he frequently spoke to me of suspicions +which his imagination converted into certainty; and threats of divorce +escaped his lips with no less vehemence than when we were on the confines +of Syria. I took upon me the office of conciliator, which I had before +discharged with success. I represented to him the dangers to be +apprehended from the publicity and scandal of such an affair; and that +the moment when his grand views might possibly be realized was not the +fit time to entertain France and Europe with the details of a charge of +adultery. I spoke to him of Hortense and Eugene, to whom he was much +attached. Reflection, seconded by his ardent affection for Josephine, +brought about a complete reconciliation. After these three days of +conjugal misunderstanding their happiness was never afterwards disturbed +by a similar cause[34]. + + [33]--[Joseph Bonaparte remarks on this that Napoleon met Josephine + at Paris before his brothers arrived there, (Compare d'Abrantes, + vol. 1, pp. 260-262 and Remusat, tome i. pp. 147-148.)]-- + + [34]--[In speaking of the unexpected arrival of Bonaparte and of the + meeting between him and Josephine, Madame Junot says: "On the 10th + October Josephine set off to meet her husband, but without knowing + exactly what road he would take. She thought it likely he would + come by way of Burgundy, and therefore Louis and she set off for + Lyons. + + "Madame Bonaparte was a prey to great and well-founded aspersions. + Whether she was guilty or only imprudent, she was strongly accused + by the Bonaparte family, who were desirous that Napoleon should + obtain a divorce. The elder M. de Caulaincourt stated to us his + apprehensions on this point; but whenever the subject was introduced + my mother changed the conversation, because, knowing as she did the + sentiments of the Bonaparte family, she could not reply without + either committing them or having recourse to falsehood. She knew, + moreover, the truth of many circumstances which M. de Caulaincourt + seemed to doubt, and which her situation with respect to Bonaparte + prevented her from communicating to him. + + "Madame Bonaparte committed a great fault in neglecting at this + juncture to conciliate her mother-in-law, who might have protected + her against those who sought her ruin and effected it nine years + later; for the divorce in 1809 was brought about by the joint + efforts of all the members of the Bonaparte family, aided by some of + Napoleon's most confidential servants, whom Josephine, either as + Madame Bonaparte or as Empress, had done nothing to make her + friends. + + "Bonaparte, on his arrival in Paris, found his house deserted: but + his mother, sisters, and sisters-in-law, and, in short, every member + of his family, except Louis, who had attended Madame Bonaparte to + Lyons, came to him immediately. The impression made upon him by the + solitude of his home and its desertion by its mistress was profound + and terrible, and nine years afterwards, when the ties between him + and Josephine were severed for ever, he showed that it was not + effaced. From not finding her with his family he inferred that she + felt herself unworthy of their presence, and feared to meet the man + she had wronged. He considered her journey to Lyons as a mere + pretence. + + "M. de Bourrienne says that for some days after Josephine's return + Bonaparte treated her with extreme coldness. As he was an + eyewitness, why does he not state the whole truth, and say that on + her return Bonaparte refused to see her and did not see her? It was + to the earnest entreaties of her children that she owed the + recovery, not of her husband's love, for that had long ceased, but + of that tenderness acquired by habit, and that intimate intercourse + which made her still retain the rank of consort to the greatest man + of his age. Bonaparte was at this period much attached to Eugene + Beauharnais, who, to do him justice, was a charming youth. He knew + less of Hortense; but her youth and sweetness of temper, and the + protection of which, as his adopted daughter, she besought him not + to deprive her, proved powerful advocates, and overcame his + resistance. + + "In this delicate negotiation it was good policy not to bring any + other person into play, whatever might be their influence with + Bonaparte, and Madame Bonaparte did not, therefore, have recourse + either to Barras, Bourrienne, or Berthier. It was expedient that + they who interceded for her should be able to say something without + the possibility of a reply. Now Bonaparte could not with any degree + of propriety explain to such children as Eugene or Hortense the + particulars of their mother's conduct. He was therefore constrained + to silence, and had no argument to combat the tears of two innocent + creatures at his feet exclaiming, 'Do not abandon our mother; she + will break her heart! and ought injustice to take from us, poor + orphans, whose natural protector the scaffold has already deprived + us of, the support of one whom Providence has sent to replace him!' + + "The scene, as Bonaparte has since stated, was long and painful, and + the two children at length introduced their mother, and placed her + in his arms. The unhappy woman had awaited his decision at the door + of a small back staircase, extended at almost full length upon the + stairs, suffering the acutest pangs of mental torture. + + "Whatever might be his wife's errors, Bonaparte appeared entirely to + forget them, and the reconciliation was complete. Of all the + members of the family Madame Leclerc was most vexed at the pardon + which Napoleon had granted to his wife. Bonaparte's mother was also + very ill pleased; but she said nothing. Madame Joseph Bonaparte, + who was always very amiable, took no part in these family quarrels; + therefore she could easily determine what part to take when fortune + smiled on Josephine. As to Madame Bacciocchi, she gave free vent to + her ill-humour and disdain; the consequence was that her sister-in-law + could never endure her. Christine who was a beautiful creature, + followed the example of Madame Joseph, and Caroline was so young + that her opinion could have no weight in such an affair. As to + Bonaparte's brothers, they were at open war with Josephine."]-- + +On the day after his arrival Bonaparte visited the Directors[35]. +The interview was cold. On the 24th of October he said to me, "I dined +yesterday at Gohier's; Sieyes was present, and I pretended not to see +him. I observed how much he was enraged at this mark of disrespect."-- +"But are you sure he is against you?" inquired I. "I know nothing yet; +but he is a scheming man, and I don't like him." Even at that time +Bonaparte had thoughts of getting himself elected a member of the +Directory in the room of Sieyes. + + [35]--[The Directors at this time were Barras, Sieyes, Moulins, + Gohier, and Roger Ducos.]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +1799. + + Moreau and Bernadotte--Bonaparte's opinion of Bernadotte--False + report--The crown of Sweden and the Constitution of the year III.-- + Intrigues of Bonaparte's brothers--Angry conversation between + Bonaparte and Bernadotte--Bonaparte's version--Josephine's version-- + An unexpected visit--The Manege Club--Salicetti and Joseph Bonaparte + --Bonaparte invites himself to breakfast with Bernadotte--Country + excursion--Bernadotte dines with Bonaparte--The plot and conspiracy + --Conduct of Lucien--Dinner given to Bonaparte by the Council of the + Five Hundred--Bonaparte's wish to be chosen a member of the + Directory--His reconciliation with Sieyes--Offer made by the + Directory to Bonaparte--He is falsely accused by Barras. + +To throw a clear light on the course of the great events which will +presently be developed it is necessary to state briefly what intrigues +had been hatched and what ambitious hopes had risen up while we were in +Egypt. When in Egypt Bonaparte was entirely deprived of any means of +knowing what was going on in France; and in our rapid journey from Frejus +to Paris we had no opportunity of collecting much information. Yet it +was very important that we should know the real state of affairs, and the +sentiments of those whom Bonaparte had counted among his rivals in glory, +and whom he might now meet among his rivals in ambition. + +Moreau's military reputation stood very high, and Bernadotte's firmness +appeared inflexible. Generally speaking, Bonaparte might have reckoned +among his devoted partisans the companions of his glory in Italy, and +also those whom he subsequently denominated "his Egyptians." But brave +men had distinguished themselves in the army of the Rhine; and if they +did not withhold their admiration from the conqueror of Italy, they felt +at least more personally interested in the admiration which they lavished +on him who had repaired the disaster of Scherer. Besides, it must be +borne in mind that a republican spirit prevailed, almost without +exception, in the army, and that the Directory appeared to be a +Government invented expressly to afford patronage to intriguers. All +this planted difficulties in our way, and rendered it indispensably +necessary that we should know our ground. We had, it is true, been +greeted by the fullest measure of popular enthusiasm on our arrival; but +this was not enough. We wanted suffrages of a more solid kind. + +During the campaign of Egypt, Bernadotte, who was a zealous republican, +had been War Minister[36], but he had resigned the portfolio to +Dubois-Crance three weeks before Bonaparte's return to France. Some +partisans of the old Minister were endeavouring to get him recalled, +and it was very important to Bonaparte's interests that he should +prevent the success of this design. I recollect that on the second day +of our arrival Bonaparte said to me, "I have learned many things; but +we shall see what will happen. Bernadotte is a singular man. When he +was War Minister Augereau, Salicetti, and some others informed him +that the Constitution was in danger, and that it was necessary to get +rid of Sieyes, Barras, and Fouche, who were at the head of a plot. +What did Bernadotte do? Nothing. He asked for proofs. None could be +produced. He asked for powers. Who could grant them? Nobody. He should +have taken them; but he would not venture on that. He wavered. He said +he could not enter into the schemes which were proposed to him. He +only promised to be silent on condition that they were renounced. +Bernadotte is not a help; he is an obstacle. I have heard from good +authority that a great number of influential persons wished to invest +him with extensive power for the public good; but he was obstinate, +and would listen to nothing." + + [36]--[Bernadotte was Minister of War from 2d July 1799 to 14th + September 1799, when, as he himself wrote to the Directory, they + "accepted" the resignation he had not offered.]-- + +After a brief interval of silence, during which Bonaparte rubbed his +forehead with his right hand, he then resumed: + +"I believe I shall have Bernadotte and Moreau against me. But I do not +fear Moreau. He is devoid of energy. I know he would prefer military +to political power. The promise of the command of an army would gain +him over. But Bernadotte has Moorish blood in his veins. He is bold +and enterprising. He is allied to my brothers[37]. He does not like +me, and I am almost certain that he will oppose me. If he should +become ambitious he will venture anything. And yet, you recollect in +what a lukewarm way he acted on the 18th Fructidor, when I sent him to +second Augereau. This devil of a fellow is not to be seduced. He is +disinterested and clever. But, after all, we have but just arrived, +and know not what may happen." + + [37]--[Joseph Bonaparte and Bernadotte had married sisters. + Marie-Julie and Eugenie Bernardine-Desiree Clary. The feeling of + Bourrienne for Bernadotte makes this passage doubtful. It is to be + noticed that in the same conversation he makes Napoleon describe + Bernadotte as not venturing to act without powers and as enterprising. + The stern republican becoming Prince de Monte Carlo and King of + Sweden, in a way compatible with his fidelity to the Constitution + of the year III., is good. Lanfrey attributes Bernadotte's refusal + to join more to rivalry than to principle (Lanfrey, tome i. p. 440). + But in any case Napoleon did not dread Bernadotte, and was soon + threatening to shoot him; see Lucien, tome ii. p. 107.]-- + +Bernadotte, it was reported, had advised that Bonaparte should be brought +to a court-martial, on the two-fold charge of having abandoned his army +and violated the quarantine laws. This report came to the ear of +Bonaparte; but he refused to believe it and he was right. Bernadotte +thought himself bound to the Constitution which he had sworn to defend. +Hence the opposition he manifested to the measures of the 18th Brumaire. +But he cherished no personal animosity against Bonaparte as long as he +was ignorant of his ambitious designs. The extraordinary and complicated +nature of subsequent events rendered his possession of the crown of +Sweden in no way incompatible with his fidelity to the Constitution of +the year III. + +On our first arrival in Paris, though I was almost constantly with the +General, yet, as our routine of occupation was not yet settled, I was +enabled now and then to snatch an hour or two from business. This +leisure time I spent in the society of my family and a few friends, and +in collecting information as to what had happened during our absence, for +which purpose I consulted old newspapers and pamphlets. I was not +surprised to learn that Bonaparte's brothers--that is to say, Joseph and +Lucien--had been engaged in many intrigues. I was told that Sieyes had +for a moment thought of calling the Duke of Brunswick to the head of the +Government; that Barras would not have been very averse to favouring the +return of the Bourbons; and that Moulins, Roger Ducos, and Gohier alone +believed or affected to believe, in the possibility of preserving the +existing form of government. From what I heard at the time I have good +reasons for believing that Joseph and Lucien made all sorts of endeavours +to inveigle Bernadotte into their brother's party, and in the hope of +accomplishing that object they had assisted in getting him appointed War +Minister. However, I cannot vouch for the truth of this. I was told +that Bernadotte had at first submitted to the influence of Bonaparte's +two brothers; but that their urgent interference in their client's behalf +induced him to shake them off, to proceed freely in the exercise of his +duties, and to open the eyes of the Directory on what the Republic might +have to apprehend from the enterprising character of Bonaparte. It is +certain that what I have to relate respecting the conduct of Bernadotte +to Bonaparte is calculated to give credit to these assertions. + +All the generals who were in Paris, with the exception of Bernadotte, +had visited Bonaparte during the first three days which succeeded his +arrival. Bernadotte's absence was the more remarkable because he had +served under Bonaparte in Italy. It was not until a fortnight had +elapsed, and then only on the reiterated entreaties of Joseph and Madame +Joseph Bonaparte (his sister-in-law), that he determined to go and see +his old General-in-Chief. I was not present at their interview, being at +that moment occupied in the little cabinet of the Rue Chantereine. But I +soon discovered that their conversation had been long and warm; for as +soon as it was ended Bonaparte entered the cabinet exceedingly agitated, +and said to me, "Bourrienne, how do you think Bernadotte has behaved? +You have traversed France with me--you witnessed the enthusiasm which my +return excited--you yourself told me that you saw in that enthusiasm the +desire of the French people to be relieved from the disastrous position +in which our reverses have placed them. Well! would you believe it? +Bernadotte boasts, with ridiculous exaggeration, of the brilliant and +victorious situation of France! He talks about the defeat of the +Russians, the occupation of Genoa, the innumerable armies that are rising +up everywhere. In short, I know not what nonsense he has got in his +head."--"What can all this mean?" said I. "Did he speak about Egypt?"-- +"Oh, yes! Now you remind me. He actually reproached me for not having +brought the army back with me! 'But,' observed I, 'have you not just +told me that you are absolutely overrun with troops; that all your +frontiers are secure, that immense levies are going on, and that you will +have 200,000 infantry?--If this be true, what do you want with a few +thousand men who may ensure the preservation of Egypt?' He could make no +answer to this. But he is quite elated by the honour of having been War +Minister, and he told me boldly that he looked upon the army of Egypt as +lost nay, more. He made insinuations. He spoke of enemies abroad and +enemies at home; and as he uttered these last words he looked +significantly at me. I too gave him a glance! But stay a little. +The pear will soon be ripe! You know Josephine's grace and address. She +was present. The scrutinising glance of Bernadotte did not escape her, +and she adroitly turned the conversation. Bernadotte saw from my +countenance that I had had enough of it, and he took his leave. But +don't let me interrupt you farther. I am going back to speak to +Josephine." + +I must confess that this strange story made me very impatient to find +myself alone with Madame Bonaparte, for I wished to hear her account of +the scene. An opportunity occurred that very evening. I repeated to her +what I had heard from the General, and all that she told me tended to +confirm its accuracy. She added that Bernadotte seemed to take the +utmost pains to exhibit to the General a flattering picture of the +prosperity of France; and she reported to me, as follows, that part of +the conversation which was peculiarly calculated to irritate Bonaparte:-- +"'I do not despair of the safety of the Republic, which I am certain can +restrain her enemies both abroad and at home.' As Bernadotte uttered +these last words,'" continued Josephine, "his glance made me shudder. +One word more and Bonaparte could have commanded himself no longer! It +is true," added she, "that it was in some degree his own fault, for it +was he who turned the conversation on politics; and Bernadotte, in +describing the flourishing condition of France, was only replying to the +General, who had drawn a very opposite picture of the state of things. +You know, my dear Bourrienne, that Bonaparte is not always very prudent. +I fear he has said too much to Bernadotte about the necessity of changes +in the Government." Josephine had not yet recovered from the agitation +into which this violent scene had thrown her. After I took leave of her +I made notes of what she had told me. + +A few days after, when Bonaparte, Josephine, Hortense, Eugene, and I +were together in the drawing-room, Bernadotte unexpectedly entered. His +appearance, after what had passed, was calculated to surprise us. He was +accompanied by a person whom he requested permission to introduce to +Bonaparte. I have forgotten his name, but he was, I think, +secretary-general while Bernadotte was in office. Bonaparte betrayed no +appearance of astonishment. He received Bernadotte with perfect ease, +and they soon entered into conversation. Bonaparte, who seemed to +acquire confidence from the presence of those who were about him, said a +great deal about the agitation which prevailed among the republicans, +and expressed himself in very decided terms against the Manege Club.[38] +I seconded him by observing that M. Moreau de Worms of my department, +who was a member of that club, had himself complained to me of the +violence that prevailed in it. "But, General," said Bernadotte, "your +brothers were its most active originators. Yet," added he in a tone of +firmness, "you accuse me of having favoured that club, and I repel the +charge. It cannot be otherwise than false. When I came into office I +found everything in the greatest disorder. I had no leisure to think +about any club to which my duties did not call me. You know well that +your friend Salicetti, and that your brother, who is in your confidence, +are both leading men in the Manege Club. To the instructions of I know +not whom is to be attributed the violence of which you complain." At +these words, and especially the tone in which Bernadotte uttered 'I know +not whom,' Bonaparte could no longer restrain himself. "Well, General," +exclaimed he furiously, "I tell you plainly, I would rather live wild in +the woods than in a state of society which affords no security." +Bernadotte then said, with great dignity of manner, "Good God! General, +what security would you have?" From the warmth evinced by Bonaparte I +saw plainly that the conversation would soon be converted into a +dispute, and in a whisper I requested Madame Bonaparte to change the +conversation, which she immediately did by addressing a question to some +one present. Bernadotte, observing Madame Bonaparte's design, checked +his warmth. The subject of conversation was changed, and it became +general. Bernadotte soon took up his hat and departed. + + [38]--[The Manege Club, the last resort of the Jacobins, formed in + 1799, and closed seven or eight months afterwards. Joseph Bonaparte + (Erreurs, time i. p. 251) denies that he or Lucien--for whom the + allusion is meant--were members of this club, and he disputes this + conversation ever having taken place. Lucien (tome i. p. 219) + treats this club as opposed to his party.]-- + +One morning, when I entered Bonaparte's chamber--it was, I believe, three +or four days after the second visit of Bernadotte--he said: + +"Well, Bourrienne, I wager you will not guess with whom I am going to +breakfast this morning?"--"Really, General, I ------"--"With Bernadotte; +and the best of the joke is, that I have invited myself. You would have +seen how it was all brought about if you had been with us at the Theatre +Francais, yesterday evening. You know we are going to visit Joseph today +at Mortfontaine. Well, as we were coming out of the theatre last night, +finding myself side by side with Bernadotte and not knowing what to talk +about, I asked him whether he was to be of our party to-day? He replied +in the affirmative; and as we were passing his house in the Rue +Cisalpine[39], I told him, without any ceremony, that I should be happy +to come and take a cup of coffee with him in the morning. He seemed +pleased. What do you think of that, Bourrienne?"--"Why, General, I hope +you may have reason on your part to be pleased with him."--" Never fear, +never fear. I know what I am about. This will compromise him with +Gohier. Remember, you must always meet your enemies with a bold face, +otherwise they think they are feared, and that gives them confidence." + + [39]--[Joseph Bonaparte lays great stress on the fact that Napoleon + would not have passed this house, which was far from the theatre + (Erreurs, tome i, p. 251).]-- + +Bonaparte stepped into the carriage with Josephine, who was always ready +when she had to go out with him, for he did not like to wait. They +proceeded first to Bernadotte's to breakfast, and from thence to +Mortfontaine. On his return Bonaparte told me very little about what had +passed during the day, and I could see that he was not in the best of +humours. I afterwards learned that Bonaparte had conversed a good deal +with Bernadotte, and that he had made every effort to render himself +agreeable, which he very well knew how to do when he chose! but that, in +spite of all his conversational talent; and supported as he was by the +presence of his three brothers, and Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, he +could not withstand the republican firmness of Bernadotte. However, the +number of his partisans daily augmented; for all had not the +uncompromising spirit of Bernadotte; and it will soon be seen that Moreau +himself undertook charge of the Directors who were made prisoners on the +18th Brumaire. + +Bernadotte's shrewd penetration made him one of the first to see clearly +into Bonaparte's designs. He was well convinced of his determination to +overthrow the constitution and possess himself of power. He saw the +Directory divided into two parties; the one duped by the promises and +assurances of Bonaparte, and the other conniving with him for the +accomplishment of his plans. In these circumstances Bernadotte offered +his services to all persons connected with the Government who, like +himself, were averse to the change which he saw good reason to apprehend. +But Bonaparte was not the man to be outdone in cunning or activity; and +every moment swelled the ranks of his adherents. + +On the 16th Brumaire I dined in the Rue de la Victoire. Bernadotte was +present, and I believe General Jourdan also. While the grand conspiracy +was hastening to its accomplishment Madame Bonaparte and I had contrived +a little plot of a more innocent kind. We let no one into our secret, +and our 16th Brumaire was crowned with complete success. We had agreed +to be on the alert to prevent any fresh exchange of angry words. All +succeeded to the utmost of our wishes. The conversation languished +during dinner; but it was not dulness that we were afraid of. It turned +on the subject of war, and in that vast field Bonaparte's superiority +over his interlocutors was undeniable. + +When we retired to the drawing-rooms a great number of evening visitors +poured in, and the conversation then became animated, and even gay. +Bonaparte was in high spirits. He said to some one, smiling, and +pointing to Bernadotte, "You are not aware that the General yonder is a +Chouan."--"A Chouan?" repeated Bernadotte, also in a tone of pleasantry. +"Ah! General you contradict yourself. Only the other day you taxed me +with favouring the violence of the friends of the Republic, and now you +accuse me of protecting the Chouans[40]. You should at least be +consistent." A few moments after, availing himself of the confusion +occasioned by the throng of visitors, Bernadotte slipped off. + + [40]--[The "Chouans," so called from their use of the cry of the + screech-owl (chathouan) as a signal, were the revolted peasants of + Brittany and of Maine.]-- + +As a mark of respect to Bonaparte the Council of the Five Hundred +appointed Lucien its president. The event proved how important this +nomination was to Napoleon. Up to the 19th Brumaire, and especially on +that day, Lucien evinced a degree of activity, intelligence, courage, and +presence of mind which are rarely found united in one individual. I have +no hesitation in stating that to Lucien's nomination and exertions must +be attributed the success of the 19th Brumaire. + +The General had laid down a plan of conduct from which he never deviated +during the twenty-three days which intervened between his arrival in +Paris and the 18th Brumaire. He refused almost all private invitations, +in order to avoid indiscreet questions, unacceptable offers, and answers +which might compromise him. + +It was not without some degree of hesitation that he yielded to a project +started by Lucien, who, by all sorts of manoeuvring, had succeeded in +prevailing on a great number of his colleagues to be present at a grand +subscription dinner to be given to Bonaparte by the Council of the +Ancients. + +The disorder which unavoidably prevailed in a party amounting to upwards +of 250 persons, animated by a diversity of opinions and sentiments; the +anxiety and distrust arising in the minds of those who were not in the +grand plot, rendered this meeting one of the most disagreeable I ever +witnessed. It was all restraint and dulness. Bonaparte's countenance +sufficiently betrayed his dissatisfaction; besides, the success of his +schemes demanded his presence elsewhere. Almost as soon as he had +finished his dinner he rose, saying to Berthier and me, "I am tired: let +us be gone." He went round to the different tables, addressing to the +company compliments and trifling remarks, and departed, leaving at table +the persons by whom he had been invited. + +This short political crisis was marked by nothing more grand, dignified, +or noble than the previous revolutionary commotions. All these plots +were so contemptible, and were accompanied by so much trickery, +falsehood, and treachery, that, for the honour of human nature, it is +desirable to cover them with a veil. + +General Bonaparte's thoughts were first occupied with the idea he had +conceived even when in Italy, namely, to be chosen a Director. Nobody +dared yet to accuse him of being a deserter from the army of the East. +The only difficulty was to obtain a dispensation on the score of age. +And was this not to be obtained? No sooner was he installed in his +humble abode in the Rue de la Victoire than he was assured that, on the +retirement of Rewbell, the majority of suffrages would have devolved on +him had he been in France, and had not the fundamental law required the +age of forty; but that not even his warmest partisans were disposed to +violate the yet infant Constitution of the year III. + +Bonaparte soon perceived that no efforts would succeed in overcoming this +difficulty, and he easily resolved to possess himself wholly of an office +of which he would nominally have had only a fifth part had he been a +member of the Directory. + +As soon as his intentions became manifest he found himself surrounded by +all those who recognised in him the man they had long looked for. These +persons, who were able and influential in their own circles, endeavoured +to convert into friendship the animosity which existed between Sieyes and +Bonaparte. This angry feeling had been increased by a remark made by +Sieyes, and reported to Bonaparte. He had said, after the dinner at +which Bonaparte treated him so disrespectfully, "Do you see how that +little insolent fellow behaves to a member of a Government which would do +well to order him to be SHOT?" + +But all was changed when able mediators pointed out to Bonaparte the +advantage of uniting with Sieyes for the purpose of overthrowing a +Constitution which he did not like. He was assured how vain it would be +to think of superseding him, and that it would be better to flatter him +with the hope of helping to subvert the constitution and raising up a new +one. One day some one said to Bonaparte in my hearing, "Seek for support +among the party who call the friends of the Republic Jacobins, and be +assured that Sieyes is at the head of that party." + +On the 25th Vendemiaire (17th of October) the Directory summoned General +Bonaparte to a private sitting. "They offered me the choice of any army +I would command," said he to me the next morning. "I would not refuse, +but I asked to be allowed a little time for the recovery of my health; +and, to avoid any other embarrassing offers, I withdrew. I shall go to +no more of their sittings." (He attended only one after this.) "I am +determined to join Sieyes' party. It includes a greater diversity of +opinions than that of the profligate Barras. He proclaims everywhere +that he is the author of my fortune. He will never be content to play an +inferior part, and I will never bend to such a man. He cherishes the mad +ambition of being the support of the Republic. What would he do with +me? Sieyes, on the contrary, has no political ambition." + +No sooner did Sieyes begin to grow friendly with Bonaparte than the +latter learned from him that Barras had said, "The 'little corporal' has +made his fortune in Italy and does not want to go back again." Bonaparte +repaired to the Directory for the sole purpose of contradicting this +allegation. He complained to the Directors of its falsehood, boldly +affirmed that the fortune he was supposed to possess had no existence, +and that even if he had made his fortune it was not, at all events, at +the expense of the Republic "You know," said he to me, "that the mines of +Hydria have furnished the greater part of what I possess."--"Is it +possible," said I, "that Barras could have said so, when you know so well +of all the peculations of which he has been guilty since your return?" + +Bonaparte had confided the secret of his plans to very few persons--to +those only whose assistance he wanted. The rest mechanically followed +their leaders and the impulse which was given to them; they passively +awaited the realisation of the promises they had received, and on the +faith of which they had pledged themselves. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +1799. + + Cambaceres and Lebrun--Gohier deceived--My nocturnal visit to Barras + --The command of the army given to Bonaparte--The morning of the + 18th Brumaire--Meeting of the generals at Bonaparte's house-- + Bernadotte's firmness--Josephine's interest, for Madame Gohier-- + Disappointment of the Directors--Review in the gardens of the + Tuileries--Bonaparte's harangue--Proclamation of the Ancients-- + Moreau, jailer of the Luxembourg--My conversation with La Vallette-- + Bonaparte at St. Cloud. + +The parts of the great drama which was shortly to be enacted were well +distributed. During the three days preceding the 18th Brumaire every one +was at his post. Lucien, with equal activity and intelligence, forwarded +the conspiracy in the two Councils; Sieyes had the management of the +Directory; Real[41], under the instructions of Fouche[42], +negotiated with the departments, and dexterously managed, without +compromising Fouche, to ruin those from whom that Minister had received +his power. There was no time to lose; and Fouche said to me on the 14th +Brumaire, "Tell your General to be speedy; if he delays, he is lost." + + [41]--[Pierre Francois Real (1757-1834); public accuser before the + revolutionary criminal tribunal; became, under Napoleon, Conseiller + d'Etat and Comte, and was charged with the affairs of the "haute + police."]-- + + [42]--[Joseph Fouche (1754-1820); Conventionalist; member of extreme + Jacobin party; Minister of Police under the Directory, August 1799; + retained by Napoleon in that Ministry till 1802, and again from 1804 + to 1810; became Duc d'Otrante in 1809; disgraced in 1810, and sent in + 1813 as governor of the Illyrian Provinces; Minister of Police + during the 'Cent Jours'; President of the Provisional Government, + 1815; and for a short time Minister of Police under second + restoration.]-- + +On the 17th, Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely told Bonaparte that the +overtures made to Cambaceres and Lebrun had not been received in a very +decided way. "I will have no tergiversation," replied Bonaparte with +warmth. "Let them not flatter themselves that I stand in need of them. +They must decide to-day; to-morrow will be too late. I feel myself +strong enough now to stand alone." + +Cambaceres[43] and Lebrun[44] were almost utter strangers to the +intrigues which preceded the 18th Brumaire. Bonaparte had cast his eyes +on the Minister of Justice to be one of his colleagues when he should be +at liberty to name them, because his previous conduct had pledged him as +a partisan of the Revolution. To him Bonaparte added Lebrun, to +counterbalance the first choice. Lebrun was distinguished for honourable +conduct and moderate principles. By selecting these two men Bonaparte +hoped to please every one; besides, neither of them were able to contend +against his fixed determination and ambitious views. + + [43]--[Cambaceres (J. J. Regis de) (1763-1824) Conventionalist; + Minister of Justice under Directory, 1799; second Consul, 25th + December 1799; Arch-Chancellor of the Empire, 1804; Duc de Parma, + 1806; Minister of Justice during the 'Cent Jours': took great part + in all the legal and administrative projects of the Consulate and + Empire.]-- + + [44]--[Charles Francois Lebrun (1757-1824). Deputy to the National + Assembly, and member of the Council of the Five Hundred; Third + Consul, 25th December 1799; Arch-Treasurer of the Empire, 1804; + Duc de Plaisance, 1806; Governor-General of Holland, 1806; + Lieutenant-Governor of Holland, 1810 to 1813; chiefly engaged in + financial measures]-- + +What petty intrigues marked the 17th Brumaire! On that day I dined with +Bonaparte; and after dinner he said, "I have promised to dine to-morrow +with Gohier; but, as you may readily suppose, I do not intend going. +However, I am very sorry for his obstinacy. By way of restoring his +confidence Josephine is going to invite him to breakfast with us +to-morrow. It will be impossible for him to suspect anything. I saw +Barras this morning, and left him much disturbed. He asked me to return +and visit him to-night. I promised to do so, but I shall not go. +To-morrow all will be over. There is but little time; he expects me at +eleven o'clock to-night. You shall therefore take my carriage, go there, +send in my name, and then enter yourself. Tell him that a severe +headache confines me to my bed, but that I will be with him without fail +tomorrow. Bid him not be alarmed, for all will soon be right again. +Elude his questions as much as possible; do not stay long, and come to +me on your return." + +At precisely eleven o'clock I reached the residence of Barras, in General +Bonaparte's carriage. Solitude and silence prevailed in all the +apartments through which I passed to Barras' cabinet. Bonaparte was +announced, and when Barras saw me enter instead of him, he manifested the +greatest astonishment and appeared much cast down. It was easy to +perceive that he looked on himself as a lost man. I executed my +commission, and stayed only a short time. I rose to take my leave, and +he said, while showing me out, "I see that Bonaparte is deceiving me: he +will not come again. He has settled everything; yet to me he owes all." +I repeated that he would certainly come tomorrow, but he shook his head +in a way which plainly denoted that he did not believe me. When I gave +Bonaparte an account of my visit he appeared much pleased. He told me +that Joseph was going to call that evening on Bernadotte, and to ask him +to come tomorrow. I replied that, from all I knew, he would be of no use +to him. "I believe so too," said he; "but he can no longer injure me, +and that is enough. Well, good-night; be here at seven in the morning." +It was then one o'clock. + +I was with him a little before seven o'clock on the morning of the 18th +Brumaire, and on my arrival I found a great number of generals and +officers assembled. I entered Bonaparte's chamber, and found him already +up--a thing rather unusual with him. At this moment he was as calm as on +the approach of a battle. In a few moments Joseph and Bernadotte +arrived. Joseph had not found him at home on the preceding evening, and +had called for him that morning. I was surprised to see Bernadotte in +plain clothes, and I stepped up to him and said in a low voice, "General, +every one here, except you and I, is in uniform."--"Why should I be in +uniform?" said he. As he uttered these words Bonaparte, struck with the +same surprise as myself, stopped short while speaking to several persons +around him, and turning quickly towards Bernadotte said, "How is this? +you are not in uniform!"--"I never am on a morning when I am not on +duty," replied Bernadotte.--"You will be on duty presently."--"I have +not heard a word of it: I should have received my orders sooner." + +Bonaparte then led Bernadotte into an adjoining room. Their conversation +was not long, for there was no time to spare. + +On the other hand, by the influence of the principal conspirators the +removal of the legislative body to St. Cloud was determined on the +morning of the 18th Brumaire, and the command of the army was given to +Bonaparte. + +All this time Barras was no doubt waiting for Bonaparte, and Madame +Bonaparte was expecting Gohier to breakfast. At Bonaparte's were +assembled all the generals who were devoted to him. I never saw so +great a number before in the Rue de la Victoire. They were all, except +Bernadotte, in full uniform; and there were, besides, half a dozen +persons there initiated in the secrets of the day. The little hotel of +the conqueror of Italy was much too small for such an assemblage, and +several persons were standing in the court-yard. Bonaparte was +acquainted with the decree of the Council of the Ancients, and only +waited for its being brought to him before he should mount his horse. +That decree was adopted in the Council of the Ancients by what may be +called a false majority, for the members of the Council were summoned at +different hours, and it was so contrived that sixty or eighty of them, +whom Lucien and his friends had not been able to gain over, should not +receive their notices in time. + +As soon as the message from the Council of the Ancients arrived Bonaparte +requested all the officers at his house to follow him. At that +announcement a few who were in ignorance of what was going on did not +follow--at least I saw two groups separately leave the hotel. Bernadotte +said to me, "I shall stay with you." I perceived there was a good deal +of suspicion in his manner. Bonaparte, before going down the stairs +which led from the small round dining-room into the courtyard, returned +quickly to bid Bernadotte follow him. He would not, and Bonaparte then +said to me, while hurrying off, "Gohier is not come--so much the worse +for him," and leaped on his horse. Scarcely was he off when Bernadotte +left me. Josephine and I being now left alone, she acquainted me with +her anxiety. I assured her that everything had been so well prepared +that success was certain. She felt much interest about Gohier on account +of her friendship for his wife. She asked me whether I was well +acquainted with Gohier. "You know, Madame," replied I, "that we have +been only twenty days in Paris, and that during that time I have only +gone out to sleep in the Rue Martel. I have seen M. Gohier several +times, when he came to visit the General, and have talked to him about +the situation of our affairs in Switzerland, Holland, France, and other +political matters, but I never exchanged a word with him as to what is +now going on. This is the whole extent of my acquaintance with him." + +"I am sorry for it," resumed Josephine, "because I should have asked you +to write to him, and beg him to make no stir, but imitate Sieyes and +Roger, who will voluntarily retire, and not to join Barras, who is +probably at this very moment forced to do so. Bonaparte has told me that +if Gohier voluntarily resigns, he will do everything for him." I believe +Josephine communicated directly with the President of the Directory +through a friend of Madame Gohier's. + +Gohier and Moulins, no longer depending on Sieyes and Roger Ducos, waited +for their colleague, Barras, in the hall of the Directory, to adopt some +measure on the decree for removing the Councils to St. Cloud. But they +were disappointed; for Barras, whose eyes had been opened by my visit on +the preceding night, did not join them. He had been invisible to his +colleagues from the moment that Bruix and M. de Talleyrand had informed +him of the reality of what he already suspected, and insisted on his +retirement. + +On the 18th Brumaire a great number of military, amounting to about +10,000 men, were assembled in the gardens of the Tuileries, and were +reviewed by Bonaparte, accompanied by Generals Beurnonville, Moreau, and +Macdonald. Bonaparte read to them the decree just issued by the +commission of inspectors of the Council of the Ancients, by which the +legislative body was removed to St. Cloud; and by which he himself was +entrusted with the execution of that decree, and appointed to the command +of all the military force in Paris, and afterwards delivered an address +to the troops. + +Whilst Bonaparte was haranguing the soldiers, the Council of the Ancients +published an address to the French people, in which it was declared that +the seat of the legislative body was changed, in order to put down the +factions, whose object was to control the national representation. + +While all this was passing abroad I was at the General's house in the Rue +de la Victoire; which I never left during the whole day. Madame +Bonaparte and I were not without anxiety in Bonaparte's absence. +I learned from Josephine that Joseph's wife had received a visit from +Adjutant-General Rapatel, who had been sent by Bonaparte and Moreau to +bring her husband to the Tuileries. Joseph was from home at the time, +and so the message was useless. This circumstance, however, awakened +hopes which we had scarcely dared to entertain. Moreau was then in +accordance with Bonaparte, for Rapatel was sent in the name of both +Generals. This alliance, so long despaired of, appeared to augur +favourably. It was one of Bonaparte's happy strokes. Moreau, who was a +slave to military discipline, regarded his successful rival only as a +chief nominated by the Council of the Ancients. He received his orders +and obeyed them. Bonaparte appointed him commander of the guard of the +Luxembourg, where the Directors were under confinement. He accepted the +command, and no circumstance could have contributed more effectually to +the accomplishment of Bonaparte's views and to the triumph of his +ambition. + +At length Bonaparte, whom we had impatiently expected, returned. +Almost everything had gone well with him, for he had had only to do with +soldiers. In the evening he said to me, "I am sure that the committee of +inspectors of the hall are at this very moment engaged in settling what +is to be done at St. Cloud to-morrow. It is better to let them decide +the matter, for by that means their vanity is flattered. I will obey +orders which I have myself concerted." What Bonaparte was speaking of +had been arranged nearly two or three days previously. The committee of +inspectors was under the influence of the principal conspirators. + +In the evening of this anxious day, which was destined to be succeeded by +a stormy morrow, Bonaparte, pleased with having gained over Moreau, spoke +to me of Bernadotte's visit in the morning.--"I saw," said he, "that you +were as much astonished as I at Bernadotte's behaviour. A general out of +uniform! He might as well have come in slippers. Do you know what +passed when I took him aside? I told him all; I thought that the best +way. I assured him that his Directory was hated, and his Constitution +worn out; that it was necessary to turn them all off, and give another +impulse to the government. 'Go and put on your uniform said I: I cannot +wait for you long. You will find me at the Tuileries, with the rest of +our comrades. Do not depend on Moreau, Beurnonville, or the generals of +your party. When you know them better you will find that they promise +much but perform little. Do not trust them.' Bernadotte then said that +he would not take part in what he called a rebellion. A rebellion! +Bourrienne, only think of that! A set of imbeciles, who from morning to +night do nothing but debate in their kennels! But all was in vain. I +could not move Bernadotte. He is a bar of iron. I asked him to give me +his word that he would do nothing against me; what do you think was his +answer?"--"Something unpleasant, no doubt."--"Unpleasant! that is too +mild a word. He said, 'I will remain quiet as a citizen; but if the +Directory order me to act, I will march against all disturbers.' But I +can laugh at all that now. My measures are taken, and he will have no +command. However, I set him at ease as to what would take place. +I flattered him with a picture of private life, the pleasures of the +country, and the charms of Malmaison; and I left him with his head full +of pastoral dreams. In a word, I am very well satisfied with my day's +work. Good-night, Bourrienne; we shall see what will turn up to-morrow." + +On the 19th I went to St. Cloud with my friend La Vallette. As we passed +the Place Louis XV., now Louis XVI., he asked me what was doing, and what +my opinion was as to the coming events? Without entering into any detail +I replied, "My friend, either we shall sleep tomorrow at the Luxembourg, +or there will be an end of us." Who could tell which of the two things +would happen! Success legalised a bold enterprise, which the slightest +accident might have changed into a crime. + +The sitting of the Ancients, under the presidency of Lemercier, commenced +at one o'clock. A warm discussion took place upon the situation of +affairs, the resignation of the members of the Directory, and the +immediate election of others. Great heat and agitation prevailed during +the debate. Intelligence was every minute carried to Bonaparte of what +was going forward, and he determined to enter the hall and take part in +the discussion. He entered in a hasty and angry way, which did not give +me a favourable foreboding of what he was about to say. We passed +through a narrow passage to the centre of the hall; our backs were turned +to the door. Bonaparte had the President to his right. He could not see +him full in the face. I was close to the General on his right. Berthier +was at his left. + +All the speeches which have been subsequently passed off as having been +delivered by Bonaparte on this occasion differ from each other; as well +they may, for he delivered none to the Ancients, unless his confused +conversation with the President, which was alike devoid of dignity and +sense, is to be called a speech. He talked of his "brothers in arms" and +the "frankness of a soldier." The questions of the President followed +each other rapidly: they were clear; but it is impossible to conceive +anything more confused or worse delivered than the ambiguous and +perplexed replies of Bonaparte. He talked without end of "volcanoes; +secret agitations, victories, a violated constitution!" He blamed the +proceedings of the 18th Fructidor, of which he was the first promoter +and the most powerful supporter. He pretended to be ignorant of +everything until the Council of Ancients had called him to the aid of +his country. Then came "Caesar--Cromwell--tyrant!" and he several times +repeated, "I have nothing more to say to you!" though, in fact, he had +said nothing. He alleged that he had been called to assume the supreme +authority, on his return from Italy, by the desire of the nation, and +afterwards by his comrades in arms. Next followed the words +"liberty-equality!" though it was evident he had not come to St. Cloud +for the sake of either. No sooner did he utter these words, than a +member of the Ancients, named, I think, Linglet, interrupting him, +exclaimed, "You forget the Constitution!" His countenance immediately +lighted up; yet nothing could be distinguished but, "The 18th +Fructidor--the 30th Prairial--hypocrites--intriguers--I will disclose +all!--I will resign my power, when the danger which threatens the +Republic shall have passed away!" + +Bonaparte, believing all his assertions to be admitted as proved, assumed +a little confidence, and accused the two directors Barras and Moulins of +having proposed to put him at the head of a party whose object was to +oppose all men professing liberal ideas. + +At these words, the falsehood of which was odious, a great tumult arose +in the hall. A general committee was loudly called for to hear the +disclosures. "No, no!" exclaimed others, "no general committee! +conspirators have been denounced: it is right that France should know +all!" + +Bonaparte was then required to enter into the particulars of his +accusation against Barras and Moulins, and of the proposals which had +been made to him: "You must no longer conceal anything." + +Embarrassed by these interruptions and interrogatories Bonaparte believed +that he was completely lost. Instead of giving an explanation of what he +had said, he began to make fresh accusations; and against whom? The +Council of the Five Hundred, who, he said, wished for "scaffolds, +revolutionary committees, and a complete overthrow of everything." + +Violent murmurs arose, and his language became more and more incoherent +and inconsequent. He addressed himself at one moment to the +representatives of the people, who were quite overcome by astonishment; +at another to the military in the courtyard, who could not hear him. +Then, by an unaccountable transition, he spoke of "the thunderbolts of +war!" and added, that he was "attended by the God of war and the God of +fortune." + +The President, with great calmness, told him that he saw nothing, +absolutely nothing, upon which the Council could deliberate; that there +was vagueness in all he had said. "Explain yourself; reveal the plot +which you say you were urged to join." + +Bonaparte repeated again the same things. But only those who were +present can form any idea of his manner. There was not the slightest +connection in what he stammered out. Bonaparte was then no orator. It +may well be supposed that he was more accustomed to the din of war than +to the discussions of the tribunes. He was more at home before a battery +than before a President's chair. + +Perceiving the bad effect which this unconnected babbling produced on the +assembly, as well as the embarrassment of Bonaparte, I said, in a low +voice, pulling him gently by the skirt of his coat, "withdraw, General; +you know not what you are saying." I made signs to Berthier, who was on +his left, to second me in persuading him to leave the hall; and all at +once, after having stammered out a few more words, he turned round +exclaiming, "Let those who love me follow me!" The sentinels at the door +offered no opposition to his passing. The person who went before him +quietly drew aside the tapestry which concealed the door, and General +Bonaparte leaped upon his horse, which stood in the court-yard. It is +hard to say what would have happened if, on seeing the General retire, +the President had said, "Grenadiers, let no one pass!" Instead of +sleeping next day at the Luxembourg he would, I am convinced, have ended +his career on the Place de la Revolution. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +1799. + + The two Councils--Barras' letter--Bonaparte at the Council of the + Five Hundred--False reports--Tumultuous sitting--Lucien's speech-- + He resigns the Presidency of the Council of the Five Hundred--He is + carried out by grenadiers--He harangues the troops--A dramatic scene + --Murat and his soldiers drive out the Five Hundred--Council of + Thirty--Consular commission--Decree--Return to Paris--Conversation + with Bonaparte and Josephine respecting Gohier and Bernadotte--The + directors Gohier and Moulins imprisoned. + +The scene which occurred at the sitting of the Council of the Ancients +was very different from that which passed outside. Bonaparte had +scarcely reached the courtyard and mounted his horse when cries of "Vive +Bonaparte!" resounded on all sides. But this was only a sunbeam between +two storms. He had yet to brave the Council of the Five Hundred, which +was far more excited than the Council of the Ancients. Everything tended +to create a dreadful uncertainty; but it was too late to draw back. We +had already staked too heavily. The game was desperate, and everything +was to be ventured. In a few hours all would be determined. + +Our apprehensions were not without foundation. In the Council of the +Five Hundred agitation was at its height. The most serious alarm marked +its deliberations. It had been determined to announce to the Directory +the installation of the Councils, and to inquire of the Council of the +Ancients their reasons for resolving upon an extraordinary convocation. +But the Directory no longer existed. Sieyes and Roger Ducos had joined +Bonaparte's party. Gohier and Moulins were prisoners in the Luxembourg, +and in the custody of General Moreau; and at the very moment when the +Council of the Five Hundred had drawn up a message to the Directory, the +Council of the Ancients transmitted to them the following letter, +received from Barras. This letter, which was addressed to the Council of +the Ancients, was immediately read by Lucien Bonaparte, who was President +of the Council of the Five Hundred. + + CITIZEN PRESIDENT--Having entered into public affairs solely from my + love of liberty, I consented to share the first magistracy of the + State only that I might be able to defend it in danger; to protect + against their enemies the patriots compromised in its cause; and to + ensure to the defenders of their country that attention to their + interests which no one was more calculated to feel than a citizen, + long the witness of their heroic virtues, and always sensible to + their wants. + + The glory which accompanies the return of the illustrious warrior to + whom I had the honour of opening the path of glory, the striking + marks of confidence given him by the legislative body, and the + decree of the National Convention, convince me that, to whatever + post he may henceforth be called, the dangers to liberty will be + averted, and the interests of the army ensured. + + I cheerfully return to the rank of a private citizen: happy, after + so many storms, to resign, unimpaired, and even more glorious than + ever, the destiny of the Republic, which has been, in part, + committed to my care. + (Signed) BARRAS. + + +This letter occasioned a great sensation in the Council of the Five +Hundred. A second reading was called for, and a question was started, +whether the retirement was legal, or was the result of collusion, and of +the influence of Bonaparte's agents; whether to believe Barras, who +declared the dangers of liberty averted, or the decree for the removal of +the legislative corps, which was passed and executed under the pretext of +the existence of imminent peril? At that moment Bonaparte appeared, +followed by a party of grenadiers, who remained at the entrance of the +hall. + +I did not accompany him to the Council of the Five Hundred. He had +directed me to send off an express to ease the apprehensions of +Josephine, and to assure her that everything would go well. It was some +time before I joined him again. + +However, without speaking as positively as if I had myself been an +eye-witness of the scene, I do not hesitate to declare that all that has +been said about assaults and poniards is pure invention. I rely on what +was told me, on the very night, by persons well worthy of credit, and +who were witnessess of all that passed. + +As to what passed at the sitting, the accounts, given both at the time +and since, have varied according to opinions. Some have alleged that +unanimous cries of indignation were excited by the appearance of the +military. From all parts of the hall resounded, "The sanctuary of the +laws is violated. Down with the tyrant!--down with Cromwell!--down with +the Dictator!" Bonaparte stammered out a few words, as he had done +before the Council of the Ancients, but his voice was immediately drowned +by cries of "Vive la Republique!" "Vive la Constitution!" "Outlaw the +Dictator!" The grenadiers are then said to have rushed forward, +exclaiming, "Let us save our General!" at which indignation reached its +height, and cries, even more violent than ever, were raised; that +Bonaparte, falling insensible into the arms of the grenadiers, said, +"They mean to assassinate me!" All that regards the exclamations and +threats I believe to be correct; but I rank with the story of the +poniards the assertion of the members of the Five Hundred being provided +with firearms, and the grenadiers rushing into the hall; because +Bonaparte never mentioned a word of anything of the sort to me, either on +the way home, or when I was with him in his chamber. Neither did he say +anything on the subject to his wife, who had been extremely agitated by +the different reports which reached her. + +After Bonaparte left the Council of the Five Hundred the deliberations +were continued with great violence. The excitement caused by the +appearance of Bonaparte was nothing like subsided when propositions of +the most furious nature were made. The President, Lucien, did all in his +power to restore tranquillity. As soon as he could make himself heard he +said, "The scene which has just taken place in the Council proves what +are the sentiments of all; sentiments which I declare are also mine. It +was, however, natural to believe that the General had no other object +than to render an account of the situation of affairs, and of something +interesting to the public. But I think none of you can suppose him +capable of projects hostile to liberty." + +Each sentence of Lucien's address was interrupted by cries of "Bonaparte +has tarnished his glory! He is a disgrace to the Republic!" + +Lucien[45] made fresh efforts to be heard, and wished to be allowed to +address the assembly as a member of the Council, and for that purpose +resigned the Presidentship to Chasal. He begged that the General might +be introduced again and heard with calmness. But this proposition was +furiously opposed. Exclamations of "Outlaw Bonaparte! outlaw him!" rang +through the assembly, and were the only reply given to the President. +Lucien, who had reassumed the President's chair, left it a second time, +that he might not be constrained to put the question of outlawry +demanded against his brother. Braving the displeasure of the assembly, +he mounted the tribune, resigned the Presidentship, renounced his seat +as a deputy, and threw aside his robes. + + [45]--[The next younger brother of Napoleon, President of the Council + of the Five Hundred in 1799; Minister of the Interior, 1st December + 1799 to 1841; Ambassador in Spain, 1801 to December 1801; left + France in disgrace in 1804; retired to Papal States; Prisoner in + Malta and England, 1810 to 1814; created by Pope in 1814 Prince de + Canino and Duc de Musignano; married firstly, 1794, Christine Boyer, + who died 1800; married secondly, 1802 or 1803, a Madame Jonberthon. + Of his part in the 18th Brumaire Napoleon said to him in 1807, + "I well know that you were useful to me on the 18th Brumaire, but it + is not so clear to me that you saved me then" (Iung's Lucien, tome + iii. p.89).]-- + +Just as Lucien left the Council I entered. Bonaparte, who was well +informed of all that was passing[46], had sent in soldiers to the +assistance of his brother; they carried him off from the midst of the +Council, and Bonaparte thought it a matter of no little importance to +have with him the President of an assembly which he treated as +rebellious. Lucien was reinstalled in office; but he was now to +discharge his duties, not in the President's chair, but on horseback, +and at the head of a party of troops ready to undertake anything. Roused +by the danger to which both his brother and himself were exposed he +delivered on horseback the following words, which can never be too often +remembered, as showing what a man then dared to say, who never was +anything except from the reflection of his brother's glory:-- + + CITIZENS! SOLDIERS!--The President of the Council of the Five + Hundred declares to you that the majority of that Council is at this + moment held in terror by a few representatives of the people, who + are armed with stilettoes, and who surround the tribune, threatening + their colleagues with death, and maintaining most atrocious + discussions. + + I declare to you that these brigands, who are doubtless in the pay + of England, have risen in rebellion against the Council of the + Ancients, and have dared to talk of outlawing the General, who is + charged with the execution of its decree, as if the word "outlaw" + was still to be regarded as the death-warrant of persons most + beloved by their country. + + I declare to you that these madmen have outlawed themselves by their + attempts upon the liberty of the Council. In the name of that + people, which for so many years have been the sport of terrorism, + I consign to you the charge of rescuing the majority of their + representatives; so that, delivered from stilettoes by bayonets, + they may deliberate on the fate of the Republic. + + General, and you, soldiers, and you, citizens, you will not + acknowledge, as legislators of France, any but those who rally round + me. As for those who remain in the orangery, let force expel + them. They are not the representatives of the people, but the + representatives of the poniard. Let that be their title, and let it + follow them everywhere; and whenever they dare show themselves to + the people, let every finger point at them, and every tongue + designate them by the well-merited title of representatives of the + poniard! + + Vive la Republique! + + [46]--[Lucien distinctly states that he himself, acting within his + right as President, had demanded an escort of the grenadiers of the + Councils as soon as he saw his withdrawal might be opposed. + Then the first entry of the soldiers with Napoleon would be illegal. + The second, to withdraw Lucien, was nominally legal (see Iung's + Lucien, tome i, pp. 318-322)]-- + +Notwithstanding the cries of "Vive Bonaparte!" which followed this +harangue, the troops still hesitated. It was evident that they were not +fully prepared to turn their swords against the national representatives. +Lucien then drew his sword, exclaiming, "I swear that I will stab my own +brother to the heart if he ever attempt anything against the liberty of +Frenchmen." This dramatic action was perfectly successful; hesitation +vanished; and at a signal given by Bonaparte, Murat, at the head of his +grenadiers, rushed into the hall, and drove out the representatives. +Everyone yielded to the reasoning of bayonets, and thus terminated the +employment of the armed force on that memorable day. + +At ten o'clock at night the palace of St. Cloud, where so many tumultuous +scenes had occurred, was perfectly tranquil. All the deputies were still +there, pacing the hall, the corridors, and the courts. Most of them had +an air of consternation; others affected to have foreseen the event, and +to appear satisfied with it; but all wished to return to Paris, which +they could not do until a new order revoked the order for the removal of +the Councils to St. Cloud. + +At eleven o'clock Bonaparte, who had eaten nothing all day, but who was +almost insensible to physical wants in moments of great agitation, said +to me, "We must go and write, Bourrienne; I intend this very night to +address a proclamation to the inhabitants of Paris. To-morrow morning I +shall be all the conversation of the capital." He then dictated to me +the following proclamation, which proves, no less than some of his +reports from Egypt, how much Bonaparte excelled in the art of twisting +the truth to own advantage: + + TO THE PEOPLE. + + 19th Brumaire, 11 o'clock, p.m. + + Frenchmen!--On my return to France I found division reigning amongst + all the authorities. They agreed only on this single point, that + the Constitution was half destroyed, and was unable to protect + liberty! + + Each party in turn came to me, confided to me their designs, + imparted their secrets, and requested my support. I refused to be + the man of a party. + + The Council of the Ancients appealed to me. I answered their + appeal. A plan of general restoration had been concerted by men + whom the nation has been accustomed to regard as the defenders of + liberty, equality, and property. This plan required calm and free + deliberation, exempt from all influence and all fear. The Ancients, + therefore, resolved upon the removal of the legislative bodies to + St. Cloud. They placed at my disposal the force necessary to secure + their independence. I was bound, in duty to my fellow-citizens, to + the soldiers perishing in our armies, and to the national glory, + acquired at the cost of so much blood, to accept the command. + + The Councils assembled at St. Cloud. Republican troops guaranteed + their safety from without, but assassins created terror within. + Many members of the Council of the Five Hundred, armed with + stilettoes and pistols, spread menaces of death around them. + + The plans which ought to have been developed were withheld. The + majority of the Council was rendered inefficient; the boldest + orators were disconcerted, and the inutility of submitting any + salutary proposition was quite evident. + + I proceeded, filled with indignation and grief, to the Council of + the Ancients. I besought them to carry their noble designs into + execution. I directed their attention to the evils of the nation, + which were their motives for conceiving those designs. They + concurred in giving me new proofs of their uniform goodwill, I + presented myself before the Council of the Five Hundred, alone, + unarmed, my head uncovered, just as the Ancients had received and + applauded me. My object was to restore to the majority the + expression of its will, and to secure to it its power. + + The stilettoes which had menaced the deputies were instantly raised + against their deliverer. Twenty assassins rushed upon me and aimed + at my breast. The grenadiers of the legislative body, whom I had + left at the door of the hall, ran forward, and placed themselves + between me and the assassins. One of these brave grenadiers + (Thome[47]) had his clothes pierced by a stiletto. They bore me off. + + [47]--[Thome merely had a small part of his coat torn by a + deputy, who took him by the collar. This constituted the whole of + the attempted assassinations of the 19th Brumaire.--Bourrienne]-- + + At the same moment cries of "Outlaw him!" were raised against the + defender of the law. It was the horrid cry of assassins against the + power destined to repress them. + + They crowded round the President, uttering threats. With arms in + their hands they commanded him to declare "the outlawry." I was + informed of this. I ordered him to be rescued from their fury, and + six grenadiers of the legislative body brought him out. Immediately + afterwards some grenadiers of the legislative body charged into the + hall and cleared it. + + The factions, intimidated, dispersed and fled. The majority, freed + from their assaults, returned freely and peaceably into the hall; + listened to the propositions made for the public safety, + deliberated, and drew up the salutary resolution which will become + the new and provisional law of the Republic. + + Frenchmen, you doubtless recognise in this conduct the zeal of a + soldier of liberty, of a citizen devoted to the Republic. + Conservative, tutelary, and liberal ideas resumed their authority + upon the dispersion of the factions, who domineered in the Councils, + and who, in rendering themselves the most odious of men, did not + cease to be the most contemptible. + (Signed) BONAPARTE, General, etc. + + +The day had been passed in destroying a Government; it was necessary to +devote the night to framing a new one. Talleyrand, Raederer, and Sieyes +were at St. Cloud. The Council of the Ancients assembled, and Lucien set +himself about finding some members of the Five Hundred on whom he could +reckon. He succeeded in getting together only thirty, who, with their +President, represented the numerous assembly of which they formed part. +This ghost of representation was essential, for Bonaparte, +notwithstanding his violation of all law on the preceding day, wished to +make it appear that he was acting legally. The Council of the Ancients +had, however, already decided that a provisional executive commission +should be appointed, composed of three members, and was about to name the +members of the commission--a measure which should have originated with +the Five Hundred--when Lucien came to acquaint Bonaparte that his chamber +'introuvable' was assembled. + +This chamber, which called itself the Council of the Five Hundred, though +that Council was now nothing but a Council of Thirty, hastily passed a +decree, the first article of which was as follows: + + The Directory exists no longer; and the individuals hereafter named + are no longer members of the national representation, on account of + the excesses and illegal acts which they have constantly committed, + and more particularly the greatest part of them, in the sitting of + this morning. + +Then follow the names of sixty-one members expelled. + +By other articles of the same decree the Council instituted a provisional +commission, similar to that which the Ancients had proposed to appoint, +resolved that the said commission should consist of three members, who +should assume the title of Consuls; and nominated as Consuls Sieyes, +Roger Ducos, and Bonaparte. The other provisions of the nocturnal decree +of St. Cloud had for their object merely the carrying into effect those +already described. This nocturnal sitting was very calm, and indeed it +would have been strange had it been otherwise, for no opposition could be +feared from the members of the Five Hundred, who were prepared to concur +with Lucien. All knew beforehand what they would have to do. Everything +was concluded by three o'clock in the morning; and the palace of St. +Cloud, which had been so agitated since the previous evening, resumed in +the morning its wonted stillness, and presented the appearance of a vast +solitude. + +All the hurrying about, the brief notes which I had to write to many +friends, and the conversations in which I was compelled to take part, +prevented me from dining before one o'clock in the morning. It was not +till then that Bonaparte, having gone to take the oath as Consul before +the Five Hundred, afforded me an opportunity of taking some refreshment +with Admiral Bruix and some other officers. + +At three o'clock in the morning I accompanied Bonaparte, in his carriage +to Paris. He was extremely fatigued after so many trials and fatigues. +A new future was opened before him. He was completely absorbed in +thought, and did not utter a single word during the journey. But when he +arrived at his house in the Rue de la Victoire, he had no sooner entered +his chamber and wished good morning to Josephine, who was in bed, and in +a state of the greatest anxiety on account of his absence, than he said +before her, "Bourrienne, I said many ridiculous things?"--"Not so very +bad, General"--"I like better to speak to soldiers than to lawyers. +Those fellows disconcerted me. I have not been used to public +assemblies; but that will come in time." + +We then began, all three, to converse. Madame Bonaparte became calm, and +Bonaparte resumed his wonted confidence. The events of the day naturally +formed the subject of our conversation. Josephine, who was much attached +to the Gohier family, mentioned the name of that Director in a tone of +kindness. "What would you have, my dear?" said Bonaparte to her. "It +is not my fault. He is a respectable man, but a simpleton. He does not +understand me!--I ought, perhaps, to have him transported. He wrote +against me to the Council of the Ancients; but I have his letter, and +they know nothing about it. Poor man! he expected me to dinner +yesterday. And this man thinks himself a statesman!--Speak no more of +him." + +During our discourse the name of Bernadotte was also mentioned. +"Have you seen him, Bourrienne?" said Bonaparte to me.--"No, +General"--"Neither have I. I have not heard him spoken of. Would you +imagine it? I had intelligence to-day of many intrigues in which he is +concerned. Would you believe it? he wished nothing less than to be +appointed my colleague in authority. He talked of mounting his horse and +marching with the troops that might be placed under his command. He +wished, he said, to maintain the Constitution: nay, more; I am assured +that he had the audacity to add that, if it were necessary to outlaw me, +the Government might come to him and he would find soldiers capable of +carrying the decree into execution."--"All this, General, should give +you an idea how inflexible his principles are."--"Yes, I am well aware +of it; there is something in that: he is honest. But for his obstinacy, +my brothers would have brought him over. They are related to him. His +wife, who is Joseph's sister-in-law, has ascendency over him. As for me, +have I not, I ask you, made sufficient advances to him? You have +witnessed them. Moreau, who has a higher military reputation than he, +came over to me at once. However, I repent of having cajoled Bernadotte. +I am thinking of separating him from all his coteries without any one +being able to find fault with the proceeding. I cannot revenge myself in +any other manner. Joseph likes him. I should have everybody against me. +These family considerations are follies! Goodnight, Bourrienne.--By the +way, we will sleep in the Luxembourg to-morrow." + +I then left the General, whom, henceforth, I will call the First Consul, +after having remained with him constantly during nearly twenty-four +hours, with the exception of the time when he was at the Council of the +Five Hundred. I retired to my lodging, in the Rue Martel, at five +o'clock in the morning. + +It is certain that if Gohier had come to breakfast on the morning of the +18th Brumaire, according to Madame Bonaparte's invitation, he would have +been one of the members of the Government. But Gohier acted the part of +the stern republican. He placed himself, according to the common phrase +of the time, astride of the Constitution of the year III.; and as his +steed made a sad stumble, he fell with it. + +It was a singular circumstance which prevented the two Directors Gohier +and Moulins from defending their beloved Constitution. It was from their +respect for the Constitution that they allowed it to perish, because they +would have been obliged to violate the article which did not allow less +than three Directors to deliberate together. Thus a king of Castile was +burned to death, because there did not happen to be in his apartment men +of such rank as etiquette would permit to touch the person of the +monarch. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +1799. + + General approbation of the 18th Brumaire--Distress of the treasury-- + M. Collot's generosity--Bonaparte's ingratitude--Gohier set at + Liberty--Constitution of the year VIII.--The Senate, Tribunate, and + Council of State--Notes required on the character of candidates-- + Bonaparte's love of integrity and talent--Influence of habit over + him--His hatred of the Tribunate--Provisional concessions--The first + Consular Ministry--Mediocrity of La Place--Proscription lists-- + Cambaceres report--M. Moreau de Worms--Character of Sieyes-- + Bonaparte at the Luxembourg--Distribution of the day and visits-- + Lebrun's opposition--Bonaparte's singing--His boyish tricks-- + Assumption of the titles "Madame" and "Monseigneur"--The men of the + Revolution and the partisans of the Bourbons--Bonaparte's fears-- + Confidential notes on candidates for office and the assemblies. + +It cannot be denied that France hailed, almost with unanimous voice, +Bonaparte's accession to the Consulship as a blessing of Providence. +I do not speak now of the ulterior consequences of that event; I speak +only of the fact itself, and its first results, such as the repeal of the +law of hostages, and the compulsory loan of a hundred millions. +Doubtless the legality of the acts of the 18th Brumaire may be disputed; +but who will venture to say that the immediate result of that day ought +not to be regarded as a great blessing to France? Whoever denies this +can have no idea of the wretched state of every branch of the +administration at that deplorable epoch. A few persons blamed the 18th +Brumaire; but no one regretted the Directory, with the exception, +perhaps, of the five Directors themselves. But we will say no more of +the Directorial Government. What an administration! In what a state +were the finances of France! Would it be believed? on the second day of +the Consulate, when Bonaparte wished to send a courier to General +Championet, commander-in-chief of the army of Italy, the treasury had not +1200 francs disposable to give to the courier! + +It may be supposed that in the first moments of a new Government money +would be wanted. M. Collot, who had served under Bonaparte in Italy, and +whose conduct and administration deserved nothing but praise, was one of +the first who came to the Consul's assistance. In this instance +M. Collot was as zealous as disinterested. He gave the Consul 500,000 +francs in gold, for which service he was badly rewarded. Bonaparte +afterwards behaved to M. Collot as though he was anxious to punish him +for being rich. This sum, which at the time made so fine an appearance +in the Consular treasury, was not repaid for a long time after, and then +without interest. This was not, indeed, the only instance in which +M. Collot had cause to complain of Bonaparte, who was never inclined to +acknowledge his important services, nor even to render justice to his +conduct. + +On the morning of the 20th Brumaire Bonaparte sent his brother Louis to +inform the Director Gohier that he was free. This haste in relieving +Gohier was not without a reason, for Bonaparte was anxious to install +himself in the Luxembourg, and we went there that same evening. + +Everything was to be created. Bonaparte had with him almost the whole of +the army, and on the soldiers he could rely. But the military force was +no longer sufficient for him. Wishing to possess a great civil power +established by legal forms, he immediately set about the composition of a +Senate and Tribunate; a Council of State and a new legislative body, and, +finally, a new Constitution[48]. + + [48]--[The Constitution of the year VIII. was presented on the 18th of + December 1799 (22d Frimaire, year VIII.), and accepted by the people + on the 7th of February 1800 (18th Pluviose, year VIII.). It + established a Consular Government, composed of Bonaparte, First + Consul, appointed for ten years; Cambaceres, Second Consul, also for + ten years; and Lebrun, Third Consul appointed for five years. It + established a conservative Senate, a legislative body of 800 + members, and a Tribunate composed of 100 members. The establishment + of the Council of State took place on the 29th of December 1799. + The installation of the new legislative body and the Tribunate was + fixed for the 1st of January 1800.--Bourrienne. Lanfrey (tome i. + p. 329) sees this Constitution foreshadowed in that proposed by + Napoleon in 1797 for the Cisalpine Republic.]-- + +As Bonaparte had not time to make himself acquainted with the persons by +whom he was about to be surrounded, he requested from the most +distinguished men of the period, well acquainted with France and the +Revolution, notes respecting the individuals worthy and capable of +entering the Senate, the Tribunate, and the Council of State. From the +manner in which all these notes were drawn up it was evident that the +writers of them studied to make their recommendation correspond with what +they conceived to be Bonaparte's views, and that they imagined he +participated in the opinions which were at that time popular. +Accordingly they stated, as grounds for preferring particular candidates, +their patriotism, their republicanism, and their having had seats in +preceding assemblies. + +Of all qualities, that which most influenced the choice of the First +Consul was inflexible integrity; and it is but just to say that in this +particular he was rarely deceived. He sought earnestly for talent; and +although he did not like the men of the Revolution, he was convinced that +he could not do without them. He had conceived an extreme aversion for +mediocrity, and generally rejected a man of that character when +recommended to him; but if he had known such a man long, he yielded to +the influence of habit, dreading nothing so much as change, or, as he was +accustomed to say himself, new faces[49]. + + [49]--[Napoleon loved only men with strong passions and great + weakness; he judged the most opposite qualities in men by these + defects (Metternich, tome iii. p.589)]-- + +Bonaparte then proceeded to organise a complaisant Senate, a mute +legislative body, and a Tribunate which was to have the semblance of +being independent, by the aid of some fine speeches and high-sounding +phrases. He easily appointed the Senators, but it was different with the +Tribunate. He hesitated long before he fixed upon the candidates for +that body, which inspired him with an anticipatory fear. However, on +arriving at power he dared not oppose himself to the exigencies of the +moment, and he consented for a time to delude the ambitious dupes who +kept up a buzz of fine sentiments of liberty around him. He saw that +circumstances were not yet favourable for refusing a share in the +Constitution to this third portion of power, destined apparently to +advocate the interests of the people before the legislative body. But in +yielding to necessity, the mere idea of the Tribunate filled him with the +utmost uneasiness; and, in a word, Bonaparte could not endure the public +discussions on his projects[50]. + + [50]--[The Tribunate under this Constitution of the year VIII. was the + only body allowed to debate in public on proposed laws, the + legislative body simply hearing in silence the orators sent by the + Council of State and by the Tribunals to state reasons for or + against propositions, and then voting in silence. Its orators were + constantly giving umbrage to Napoleon. It was at first purified, + early in 1802, by the Senate naming the members to go out in + rotation then reduced from 100 to 50 members later in 1802, and + suppressed in 1807; its disappearance being regarded by Napoleon as + his last break with the Revolution.]-- + +Bonaparte composed the first Consular Ministry as follows: Berthier was +Minister of War; Gaudin, formerly employed in the administration of the +Post Office, was appointed Minister of Finance; Cambaceres remained +Minister of Justice; Forfait was Minister of Marine; La Place of the +Interior; Fouche of Police; and Reinhard of Foreign Affairs. + +Reinhard and La Place were soon replaced, the former by the able M. +Talleyrand, the latter by Lucien Bonaparte[51]. It may be said that +Lucien merely passed through the Ministry on his way to a lucrative +embassy in Spain. As to La Place, Bonaparte always entertained a high +opinion of his talents. His appointment to the Ministry of the Interior +was a compliment paid to science; but it was not long before the First +Consul repented of his choice. La Place, so happily calculated for +science, displayed the most inconceivable mediocrity in administration. +He was incompetent to the most trifling matters; as if his mind, formed +to embrace the system of the world, and to interpret the laws of Newton +and Kepler, could not descend to the level of subjects of detail, or +apply itself to the duties of the department with which he was entrusted +for a short, but yet, with regard to him, too long a time. + + [51]--[When I quitted the service of the First Consul Talleyrand was + still at the head of the Foreign Department. I have frequently been + present at this great statesman's conferences with Napoleon, and I + can declare that I never saw him flatter his dreams of ambition; + but, on the contrary, he always endeavoured to make him sensible of + his true interests.--Bourrienne.]-- + +On the 26th Brumaire (17th November 1799) the Consuls issued a decree, +in which they stated that, conformably with Article III. of the law of +the 19th of the same month, which especially charged them with the +reestablishment of public tranquillity, they decreed that thirty-eight +individuals, who were named, should quit the continental territory of the +Republic, and for that purpose should proceed to Rochefort, to be +afterwards conducted to, and detained in, the department of French +Guiana. They likewise decreed that twenty-three other individuals, who +were named, should proceed to the commune of Rochelle, in the department +of the lower Charente, in order to be afterwards filed and detained in +such part of that department as should be pointed out by the Minister of +General Police. I was fortunate enough to keep my friend M. Moreau de +Worms, deputy from the Youne, out of the fiat of exiles. This produced a +mischievous effect. It bore a character of wanton severity quite +inconsistent with the assurances of mildness and moderation given at St. +Cloud on the 19th Brumaire. Cambaceres afterwards made a report, in +which he represented that it was unnecessary for the maintenance of +tranquillity to subject the proscribed to banishment, considering it +sufficient to place them under the supervision of the superior police. +Upon receiving the report the Consuls issued a decree, in which they +directed all the individuals included in the proscription to retire +respectively into the different communes which should be fixed upon by +the Minister of Justice, and to remain there until further orders. + +At the period of the issuing of these decrees Sieyes was still one of the +Consuls, conjointly with Bonaparte and Roger Ducos; and although +Bonaparte had, from the first moment, possessed the whole power of the +government, a sort of apparent equality was, nevertheless, observed +amongst them. It was not until the 25th of December that Bonaparte +assumed the title of First Consul, Cambaceres and Lebrun being then +joined in the office with him. He had fixed his eyes on them previously +to the 18th Brumaire, and he had no cause to reproach them with giving +him much embarrassment in his rapid progress towards the imperial throne. + +I have stated that I was so fortunate as to rescue M. Moreau de Worms +from the list of proscription. Some days after Sieyes entered +Bonaparte's cabinet and said to him, "Well, this M. Moreau de Worms, whom +M. Bourrienne induced you to save from banishment, is acting very finely! +I told you how it would be! I have received from Sens, his native place, +a letter which informs me that Moreau is in that town, where he has +assembled the people in the market-place, and indulged in the most +violent declamations against the 18th Brumaire,"--"Can you rely upon +your agent" asked Bonaparte.--"Perfectly. I can answer for the truth of +his communication." Bonaparte showed me the bulletin of Sieyes' agent, +and reproached me bitterly. "What would you say, General," I observed, +"if I should present this same M. Moreau de Worms, who is declaiming at +Sens against the 18th Brumaire, to you within an hour?"--"I defy you to +do it."--"I have made myself responsible for him, and I know what I am +about. He is violent in his politics; but he is a man of honour, +incapable of failing in his word."--"Well, we shall see. Go and find +him." I was very sure of doing what I had promised, for within an hour +before I had seen M. Moreau de Worms. He had been concealed since the +19th Brumaire, and had not quitted Paris. Nothing was easier than to +find him, and in three-quarters of an hour he was at the Luxembourg. I +presented him to Bonaparte, who conversed with him a long time concerning +the 18th Brumaire. When M. Moreau departed Bonaparte said to me, "You +are right. That fool Sieyes is as inventive as a Cassandra. This proves +that one should not be too ready to believe the reports of the wretches +whom we are obliged to employ in the police." Afterwards he added, +"Bourrienne, Moreau is a nice fellow: I am satisfied with him; I will do +something for him." It was not long before M. Moreau experienced the +effect of the Consul's good opinion. Some days after, whilst framing the +council of prizes, he, at my mere suggestion, appointed M. Moreau one of +the members, with a salary of 10,000 francs. On what extraordinary +circumstances the fortunes of men frequently depend! As to Sieyes, in +the intercourse, not very frequent certainly, which I had with him, he +appeared to be far beneath the reputation which he then enjoyed[52]. +He reposed a blind confidence in a multitude of agents, whom he sent into +all parts of France. When it happened, on other occasions, that I proved +to him, by evidence as sufficient as that in the case of M. Moreau, the +falseness of the reports he had received, he replied, with a confidence +truly ridiculous, "I can rely on my men." Sieyes had written in his +countenance, "Give me money!" I recollect that I one day alluded to this +expression in the anxious face of Sieyes to the First Consul. "You are +right," observed he to me, smiling; "when money is in question, Sieyes is +quite a matter-of-fact man. He sends his ideology to the right about and +thus becomes easily manageable. He readily abandons his constitutional +dreams for a good round sum, and that is very convenient[53]." + + [52]--[M. de Talleyrand, who is so capable of estimating men, and + whose admirable sayings well deserve to occupy a place in history, + had long entertained a similar opinion of Sieyes. One day, when he + was conversing with the Second Consul concerning Sieyes, Cambaceres + said to him. "Sieyes, however, is a very profound man."--"Profound?" + said Talleyrand. "Yes, he is, a cavity, a perfect cavity, as you + would say."--Bourrienne.]-- + + [53]--[Everybody knows, in fact, that Sieyes refused to resign his + consular dignities unless he received in exchange a beautiful farm + situated in the park of Versailles, and worth about 15,000 livres a + year. The good abbe consoled himself for no longer forming a third + of the republican sovereignty by making himself at home in the + ancient domain of the kings of France.--Bourrienne.]-- + +Bonaparte occupied, at the Little Luxembourg, the apartments on the +ground floor which lie to the right on entering from the Rue de +Vaugirard. His cabinet was close to a private staircase, which conducted +me to the first floor, where Josephine dwelt. My apartment was above. + +After breakfast, which was served at ten o'clock, Bonaparte would +converse for a few moments with his usual guests, that is to say, his +'aides de camp', the persons he invited, and myself, who never left him. +He was also visited very often by Deferment, Regnault (of the town of St. +Jean d'Angely), Boulay (de la Meurthe), Monge, and Berber, who were, with +his brothers, Joseph and Lucien, those whom he most delighted to see; he +conversed familiarly with them. Cambaceres generally came at mid-day, +and stayed some time with him, often a whole hour. Lebrun visited but +seldom. Notwithstanding his elevation, his character remained unaltered; +and Bonaparte considered him too moderate, because he always opposed his +ambitious views and his plans to usurp power. When Bonaparte left the +breakfast-table it was seldom that he did not add, after bidding +Josephine and her daughter Hortense good-day, "Come, Bourrienne, come, +let us to work." + +After the morning audiences I stayed with Bonaparte all the day, either +reading to him, or writing to his dictation. Three or four times in the +week he would go to the Council. On his way to the hall of deliberation +he was obliged to cross the courtyard of the Little Luxembourg and ascend +the grand staircase. This always vexed him, and the more so as the +weather was very bad at the time. This annoyance continued until the +25th of December, and it was with much satisfaction that he saw himself +quit of it. After leaving the Council he used to enter his cabinet +singing, and God knows how wretchedly he sung! He examined whatever work +he had ordered to be done, signed documents, stretched himself in his +arm-chair, and read the letters of the preceding day and the publications +of the morning. When there was no Council he remained in his cabinet, +conversed with me, always sang, and cut, according to custom, the arm of +his chair, giving himself sometimes quite the air of a great boy. Then, +all at once starting up, he would describe a plan for the erection of a +monument, or dictate some of those extraordinary productions which +astonished and dismayed the world. He often became again the same man, +who, under the walls of St. Jean d'Acre, had dreamed of an empire worthy +his ambition. + +At five o'clock dinner was served up. When that was over the First +Consul went upstairs to Josephine's apartments, where he commonly +received the visits of the Ministers. He was always pleased to see among +the number the Minister of Foreign Affairs, especially since the +portfolio of that department had been entrusted to the hands of M. de +Talleyrand. At midnight, and often sooner, he gave the signal for +retiring by saying in a hasty manner, "Allons nous coucher." + +It was at the Luxembourg, in the salons of which the adorable Josephine +so well performed the honours, that the word 'Madame' came again into +use. This first return towards the old French politeness was startling +to some susceptible Republicans; but things were soon carried farther at +the Tuileries by the introduction of 'Votre Altesse' on occasions of +state ceremony, and Monseigneur in the family circle. + +If, on the one hand, Bonaparte did not like the men of the Revolution, on +the other he dreaded still more the partisans of the Bourbons. On the +mere mention of the name of those princes he experienced a kind of inward +alarm; and he often spoke of the necessity of raising a wall of brass +between France and them. To this feeling, no doubt, must be attributed +certain nominations, and the spirit of some recommendations contained in +the notes with which he was supplied on the characters of candidates, and +which for ready reference were arranged alphabetically. Some of the +notes just mentioned were in the handwriting of Regnault de St. Jean +d'Angely, and some in Lucien Bonaparte's[54]. + + [54]--[Among them was the following, under the title of "General + Observations": "In choosing among the men who were members of the + Constituent Assembly it is necessary to be on guard against the + Orleans' party, which is not altogether a chimera, and may one day + or other prove dangerous. + + "There is no doubt that the partisans of that family are intriguing + secretly; and among many other proofs of this fact the following is + a striking one: the journal called the 'Aristargue', which + undisguisedly supports royalism, is conducted by a man of the name + of Voidel, one of the hottest patriots of the Revolution. He was + for several months president of the committee of inquiry which + caused the Marquis de Favras to be arrested and hanged, and gave so + much uneasiness to the Court. There was no one in the Constituent + Assembly more hateful to the Court than Voidel, so much on account + of his violence as for his connection with the Duke of Orleans, + whose advocate and counsel he was. When the Duke of Orleans was + arrested, Voidel, braving the fury of the revolutionary tribunals, + had the courage to defend him, and placarded all the walls of Paris + with an apology for the Duke and his two sons. This man, writing + now in favour of royalism, can have no other object than to advance + a member of the Orleans family to the throne."--Bourrienne.]-- + +At the commencement of the First Consul's administration, though he +always consulted the notes he had collected, he yet received with +attention the recommendations of persons with whom he was well +acquainted; but it was not safe for them to recommend a rogue or a fool. +The men whom he most disliked were those whom he called babblers, who are +continually prating of everything and on everything. He often said,-- +"I want more head and less tongue." What he thought of the regicides will +be seen farther on, but at first the more a man had given a gage to the +Revolution, the more he considered him as offering a guarantee against +the return of the former order of things. Besides, Bonaparte was not the +man to attend to any consideration when once his policy was concerned. + +As I have said a few pages back, on taking the government into his own +hands Bonaparte knew so little of the Revolution and of the men engaged +in civil employments that it was indispensably necessary for him to +collect information from every quarter respecting men and things. But +when the conflicting passions of the moment became more calm and the +spirit of party more prudent, and when order had been, by his severe +investigations, introduced where hitherto unbridled confusion had +reigned, he became gradually more scrupulous in granting places, whether +arising from newly-created offices, or from those changes which the +different departments often experienced. He then said to me, +"Bourrienne, I give up your department to you. Name whom you please for +the appointments; but remember you must be responsible to me." + +What a list would have been which should contain the names of all the +prefects, sub-prefects, receivers-general, and other civil officers to +whom I gave places! I have kept no memoranda of their names; and indeed, +what advantage would there have been in doing so? It was impossible for +me to have a personal knowledge of all the fortunate candidates; but I +relied on recommendations in which I had confidence. + +I have little to complain of in those I obliged; though it is true that, +since my separation from Bonaparte, I have seen many of them take the +opposite side of the street in which I was walking, and by that delicate +attention save me the trouble of raising my hat. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, v3, by +Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, V3 *** + +***** This file should be named 3553.txt or 3553.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/5/3553/ + +Produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/3553.zip b/3553.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..909fd00 --- /dev/null +++ b/3553.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..48821e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #3553 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3553) diff --git a/old/nb03v11.zip b/old/nb03v11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..774aee8 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nb03v11.zip |