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diff --git a/3564.txt b/3564.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f0d872b --- /dev/null +++ b/3564.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1784 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1815, v14 +#14 in our series by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne +#14 in our Napoleon Bonaparte series + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER VII. to CHAPTER X. 1815 + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + --[By the Editor of the 1836 edition]-- + +1815. + + Napoleon at Paris--Political manoeuvres--The meeting of the Champ- + de-Mai--Napoleon, the Liberals, and the moderate Constitutionalists + --His love of arbitrary power as strong as ever--Paris during the + Cent Jours--Preparations for his last campaign--The Emperor leaves + Paris to join the army--State of Brussels--Proclamation of Napoleon + to the Belgians--Effective strength of the French and Allied armies + --The Emperor's proclamation to the French army. + +Napoleon was scarcely reseated on his throne when he found he could not +resume that absolute power he had possessed before his abdication at +Fontainebleau. He was obliged to submit to the curb of a representative +government, but we may well believe that he only yielded, with a mental +reservation that as soon as victory should return to his standards and +his army be reorganised he would send the representatives of the people +back to their departments, and make himself as absolute as he had ever +been. His temporary submission was indeed obligatory. + +The Republicans and Constitutionalists who had assisted, or not opposed +his return, with Carnot, Fouche, Benjamin Constant, and his own brother +Lucien (a lover of constitutional liberty) at their head, would support +him only on condition of his reigning as a constitutional sovereign; he +therefore proclaimed a constitution under the title of "Acte additionnel +aux Constitutions de l'Empire," which greatly resembled the charter +granted by Louis XVIII. the year before. An hereditary Chamber of Peers +was to be appointed by the Emperor, a Chamber of Representatives chosen +by the Electoral Colleges, to be renewed every five years, by which all +taxes were to be voted, ministers were to be responsible, judges +irremovable, the right of petition was acknowledged, and property was +declared inviolable. Lastly, the French nation was made to declare that +they would never recall the Bourbons. + +Even before reaching Paris, and while resting on his journey from Elba at +Lyons, the second city in France, and the ancient capital of the Franks, +Napoleon arranged his ministry, and issued sundry decrees, which show how +little his mind was prepared for proceeding according to the majority of +votes in representative assemblies. + +Cambaceres was named Minister of Justice, Fouche Minister of Police (a +boon to the Revolutionists), Davoust appointed Minister of War. Decrees +upon decrees were issued with a rapidity which showed how laboriously +Bonaparte had employed those studious hours at Elba which he was supposed +to have dedicated to the composition of his Memoirs. They were couched +in the name of "Napoleon, by the grace of God, Emperor of France," and +were dated on the 13th of March, although not promulgated until the 21st +of that month. The first of these decrees abrogated all changes in the +courts of justice and tribunals which had taken place during the absence +of Napoleon. The second banished anew all emigrants who had returned to +France before 1814 without proper authority, and displaced all officers +belonging to the class of emigrants introduced into the army by the King. +The third suppressed the Order of St. Louis, the white flag, cockade, and +other Royal emblems, and restored the tri-coloured banner and the +Imperial symbols of Bonaparte's authority. The same decree abolished the +Swiss Guard and the Household troops of the King. The fourth sequestered +the effects of the Bourbons. A similar Ordinance sequestered the +restored property of emigrant families. + +The fifth decree of Lyons suppressed the ancient nobility and feudal +titles, and formally confirmed proprietors of national domains in their +possessions. (This decree was very acceptable to the majority of +Frenchmen). The sixth declared sentence of exile against all emigrants +not erased by Napoleon from the list previously to the accession of the +Bourbons, to which was added confiscation of their property. The seventh +restored the Legion of Honour in every respect as it had existed under +the Emperor; uniting to its funds the confiscated revenues of the Bourbon +order of St. Louis. The eighth and last decree was the most important of +all. Under pretence that emigrants who had borne arms against France had +been introduced into the Chamber of Peers, and that the Chamber of +Deputies had already sat for the legal time, it dissolved both Chambers, +and convoked the Electoral Colleges of the Empire, in order that they +might hold, in the ensuing month of May, an extraordinary assembly--the +Champ-de-Mai. + +This National Convocation, for which Napoleon claimed a precedent in the +history of the ancient Franks, was to have two objects: first, to make +such alterations and reforms in the Constitution of the Empire as +circumstances should render advisable; secondly, to assist at the +coronation of the Empress Maria Louisa. Her presence, and that of her +son, was spoken of as something that admitted of no doubt, though +Bonaparte knew there was little hope of their return from Vienna. These +various enactments were well calculated to serve Napoleon's cause. They +flattered the army, and at the same time stimulated their resentment +against the emigrants, by insinuating that they had been sacrificed by +Louis to the interest of his followers. They held out to the Republicans +a prospect of confiscation, proscription, and, revolution of government, +while, the Imperialists were gratified with a view of ample funds for +pensions, offices, and honorary decorations. To proprietors of the +national domains security was promised, to the Parisians the grand +spectacle of the Champ-de-Mai, and to. France peace and tranquillity, +since the arrival of the Empress and her son, confidently asserted to be +at hand, was taken as a pledge of the friendship of Austria. + +Napoleon at the same time endeavoured to make himself popular with the +common people--the, mob of the Faubourg St. Antoine and other obscure +quarters of Paris. On the first evening of his return, as he walked +round the glittering circle met to welcome him, in the State apartments +of the Tuileries, he kept repeating, "Gentlemen, it is to the poor and +disinterested mass of the people that I owe everything; it is they who +have brought me back to the capita. It is the poor subaltern officers +and common soldiers that have done all this. I owe everything to the +common people and the ranks of the army. Remember that! I owe +everything to the army and the people!" Some time after he took +occasional rides through the Faubourg St. Antoine, but the demonstrations +of the mob gave him little pleasure, and, it was easy to detect a sneer +in his addresses to them. He had some slight intercourse with the men of +the Revolution--the fierce, bloodthirsty Jacobins--but even now he could +not conceal his abhorrence of them, and, be it said to his honour, he had +as little to do with them as possible. + +When Napoleon, departed for the summer campaign he took care beforehand +to leave large sums of money for the 'federes'; in the hands of the +devoted Real; under whose management the mob was placed. These sums were +to be distributed at appropriate seasons, to make the people cry in the +streets of Paris, "Napoleon or death." He also left in the hands of +Davoust a written authority for the publication of his bulletins, many +clauses of which were written long before the battles were fought that +they were to describe. He gave to the same Marshal a plan of his +campaign, which he had arranged for the defensive. This was not confided +to him without an injunction of the strictest secrecy, but it is said +that Davoust communicated the plan to Fouche. Considering Davoust's +character this is very unlikely, but if so, it is far from improbable +that Fouche communicated the plan to the Allies with whom, and more +particularly with Prince Metternich, he is well known to have been +corresponding at the time. + +Shortly after the Emperor's arrival in Paris Benjamin Constant, a +moderate and candid man, was deputed by the constitutional party to +ascertain Napoleon's sentiments and intentions. Constant was a lover of +constitutional liberty, and an old opponent of Napoleon, whose headlong +career of despotism, cut out by the sword, he had vainly endeavoured to +check by the eloquence of his pen. + +The interview took place at the Tuileries. The Emperor, as was his wont, +began the conversation, and kept it nearly all to himself during the rest +of the audience. He did not affect to disguise either his past actions +or present dispositions. + +"The nation," he said, "has had a respite of twelve years from every kind +of political agitation, and for one year has enjoyed a respite from war. +This double repose has created a craving after activity. It requires, or +fancies it requires, a Tribune and popular assemblies. It did not always +require them. The people threw themselves at my feet when I took the +reins of government You ought to recollect this, who made a trial of +opposition. Where was your support--your strength? Nowhere. I assumed +less authority than I was invited to assume. Now all is changed. A +feeble government, opposed to the national interests, has given to these +interests the habit of standing on the defensive and evading authority. +The taste for constitutions, for debates, for harangues, appears to have +revived. Nevertheless it is but the minority that wishes all this, be +assured. The people, or if you like the phrase better; the multitude, +wish only for me. You would say so if you had only seen this multitude +pressing eagerly on my steps, rushing down from the tops of the +mountains, calling on me, seeking me out, saluting me. On my way from +Cannes hither I have not conquered--I have administered. I am not only +(as has been pretended) the Emperor of the soldiers; I am that of the +peasants of the plebeians of France. Accordingly, in spite of all that +has happened, you see the people come back to me. There is sympathy +between us. It is not as with the privileged classes. The noblesse have +been in my service; they thronged in crowds into my antechambers. There +is no place that they have not accepted or solicited. I have had the +Montmorencys, the Noailles, the Rohans, the Beauveaus, the Montemarts, +in my train. But there never was any cordiality between us. The steed +made his curvets--he was well broken in, but I felt him quiver under me. +With the people it is another thing. The popular fibre responds to mine. +I have risen from the ranks of the people: my voice seta mechanically +upon them. Look at those conscripts, the sons of peasants: I never +flattered them; I treated them roughly. They did not crowd round me the +less; they did not on that account cease to cry, `Vive l'Empereur!' +It is that between them and me there is one and the same nature. They +look to me as their support, their safeguard against the nobles. I have +but to make a sign, or even to look another way, and the nobles would be +massacred in every province. So well have they managed matters in the +last ten months! but I do not desire to be the King of a mob. If there +are the means to govern by a constitution well and good. I wished for +the empire of the world, and to ensure it complete liberty of action was +necessary to me. To govern France merely it is possible that a +constitution may be better. I wished for the empire of the world, as who +would not have done in my place? The world invited me to rule over it. +Sovereigns and subjects alike emulously bowed the neck under my sceptre. +I have seldom met with opposition in France, but still I have encountered +more of it from some obscure and unarmed Frenchmen than from all these +Kings so resolute, just now, no longer to have a man of the people for +their equal! See then what appears to you possible; let me know your +ideas. Public discussion, free elections, responsible ministers, the +liberty of the press, I have no objection to all that, the liberty of the +press especially; to stifle it is absurd. I am convinced on this point. +I am the man of the people: if the people really wish for liberty let +them have it. I have acknowledged their sovereignty. It is just that I +should lend an ear to their will, nay, even to their caprices I have +never been disposed to oppress them for my pleasure. I conceived great +designs; but fate 'has been against me; I am no longer a conqueror, nor +can I be one. I know what is possible and what is not.--I have no +further object than to raise up France and bestow on her a government +suitable to her. I have no hatred to liberty, I have set it aside when +it obstructed my path, but I understand what it means; I was brought up +in its school: besides, the work of fifteen years is overturned, and it +is not possible to recommence it. It would take twenty years, and the +lives of 2,000,000 of men to be sacrificed to it. As for the rest, I +desire peace, but I can only obtain it by means of victory. I would not +inspire you with false expectations. I permit it to be said that +negotiations are going on; there are none. I foresee a hard struggle, +a long war. To support it I must be seconded by the nation, but in +return I believe they will expect liberty. They shall have it: the +circumstances are new. All I desire is to be informed of the truth. +I am getting old. A man is no longer at forty-five what he was at +thirty. The repose enjoyed by a constitutional king may suit me: it will +still more certainly be the best thing, for my son." + +From this remarkable address. Benjamin Constant concluded that no +change had taken place in Bonaparte's views or feelings in matters of +government, but, being convinced that circumstances had changed, he had +made up his mind to conform to them. He says, and we cannot doubt it, +"that he listened to Napoleon with the deepest interest, that there was a +breadth and grandeur of manner as be spoke, and a calm serenity seated on +a brow covered with immortal laurels." + +Whilst believing the utter incompatibility of Napoleon and constitutional +government we cannot in fairness omit mentioning that the causes which +repelled him from the altar and sanctuary of freedom were strong: the +real lovers of a rational and feasible liberty--the constitutional +monarchy men were few--the mad ultra-Liberals, the Jacobins, the refuse +of one revolution and the provokers of another, were numerous, active, +loud, and in pursuing different ends these two parties, the respectable +and the disreputable, the good and the bad, got mixed and confused with +one another. + +On the 14th of May, when the 'federes' were marshalled in processional +order and treated with what was called a solemn festival, as they moved +along the boulevards to the Court of the Tuileries, they coupled the name +of Napoleon with Jacobin curses and revolutionary songs. The airs and +the words that had made Paris tremble to her very centre during the Reign +of Terror--the "Marseillaise," the "Carmagnole," the "Jour du depart," +the execrable ditty, the burden of which is, "And with the entrails of +the last of the priests let us strangle the last of the kings," were all +roared out in fearful chorus by a drunken, filthy, and furious mob. Many +a day had elapsed since they had dared to sing these blasphemous and +antisocial songs in public. Napoleon himself as soon as he had power +enough suppressed them, and he was as proud of this feat and his triumph +over the dregs of the Jacobins as he was of any of his victories; and in +this he was right, in this he proved himself the friend of humanity. As +the tumultuous mass approached the triumphal arch and the grand entrance +to the Palace he could not conceal his abhorrence. His Guards were drawn +up under arms, and numerous pieces of artillery, already loaded were +turned out on the Place du Carrousel. He hastily dismissed these +dangerous partisans with some praise, some money, and some drink. On +coming into close contact with such a mob he did not feel his fibre +respond to that of the populace! Like Frankenstein, he loathed and was +afraid of the mighty monster he had put together. + +But it was not merely the mob that checked the liberalism or constitution +of Napoleon, a delicate and doubtful plant in itself, that required the +most cautious treatment to make it really take root and grow up in such a +soil: Some of his councillors, who called themselves "philosophical +statesmen," advised him to lay aside the style of Emperor, and assume +that of High President or Lord General of the Republic! Annoyed with +such puerilities while the enemy was every day drawing nearer the +frontiers he withdrew from the Tuileries to the comparatively small and +retired palace of the Elysee, where he escaped these talking-dreamers, +and felt himself again a sovereign: Shut up with Benjamin Constant and a +few other reasonable politicians, he drew up the sketch of a new +constitution, which was neither much better nor much worse than the royal +charter of Louis XVIII. We give an epitome of its main features. + +The Emperor was to have executive power, and to exercise legislative +power in concurrence with the two Chambers. The Chamber of Peers was to +be hereditary, and nominated by the Emperor, and its number was +unlimited. The Second Chamber was to be elected by the people, and to +consist of 629 members; none to be under the age of twenty-five. The +President was to be appointed by the members, but approved of by the +Emperor. Members were to be paid at the rate settled by the Constituent +Assembly, which was to be renewed every five years. The Emperor might +prorogue, adjourn, or dissolve the House of Representatives, whose +sittings were to be public. The Electoral Colleges were maintained. +Land tax and direct taxes were to be voted only for a year, indirect +taxes might be imposed for several years. No levy of men for the army +nor any exchange of territory was to be made but by a law. Taxes were to +be proposed by the Chamber of Representatives. Ministers to be +responsible. Judges to be irremovable. Juries to be established. Right +of petition, freedom of worship, inviolability of property, were +recognised. Liberty of the press was given under legal responsibility, +and press offences were to be judged with a jury. No place or part of +the territory could be placed in a state of siege except in case of +foreign invasion or civil troubles. Finally, the French people declared +that in the delegation it thus made of its powers it was not to be taken +as giving the right to propose the re-establishment of the Bourbons, or +of any Prince of that family on the throne, even in case of the +extinction of the imperial dynasty. Any such proposal was formally +interdicted to the Chambers or to the citizens, as well as any of the +following measures,.viz. the re-establishment of the former, feudal +nobility, of the feudal and seignorial rights, of tithes, of any +privileged and dominant religion, as well as of the power of making any +attack on the irrevocability of the sale of the national goods. + +Shortly after the return of Napoleon from Elba, believing it to be +impossible to make the Emperor of Austria consent to his wife's rejoining +him (and Maria Louisa had no inclination to a renewal of conjugal +intercourse), Napoleon had not been many days in Paris when he concocted +a plan for carrying off from Vienna both his wife and his son: In this +project force was no less necessary than stratagem. A number of French +of both sexes much devoted to the Emperor, who, had given them rank and +fortune, had accompanied Maria Louisa in 1814 from Paris to Blois and +thence to Vienna. A correspondence was opened with these persons, who +embarked heart and soul in the plot; they forged passports, procured- +relays, of horses; and altogether arranged matters so well that but a for +a single individual--one who revealed the whole project a few days +previously to that fixed upon for carrying it into effect--there is +little room to doubt that the plan would have succeeded, and that the +daughter of Austria and the titular King of home would have given such, +prestige as their presence could give at the Tuileries and he Champs-de- +Mai. No sooner had the Emperor of Austria discovered this plot, which, +had it been successful, would have placed him in a very awkward +predicament, than he dismissed all the French people about his daughter, +compelled her to lay aside the armorial bearings and liveries of +Napoleon, and even to relinquish the title of Empress of the French: No +force, no art, no police could conceal these things from the people of +Paris; who, moreover, and at nearly the same time; were made very uneasy +by the failure of Murat's attempt in Italy, which greatly increased the +power and political influence of Austria. Murat being disposed of, the +Emperor Francis was enabled to concentrate all his forces in Italy, and +to hold them in readiness for the re-invasion of France. + +"Napoleon," says Lavallette, "had undoubtedly expected that the Empress +and his son would be restored to him; he had published his wishes as a +certainty, and to prevent it was, in fact, the worst injury the Emperor +of Austria could have done, him. His hope was, however, soon destroyed. + +"One evening I was summoned to the palace. I found the Emperor in a +dimly-lighted closet, warming himself in a corner of the fireplace, and +appearing to suffer already from the complaint which never afterwards +left him. 'Here is a letter,' he said, 'which the courier from Vienna +says is meant for you--read it.' On first casting my eyes on the letter +I thought I knew the handwriting, but as it was long I read it slowly, +and came at last to the principal object. The writer said that we ought +not to reckon upon the Empress, as she did not even attempt to conceal +her dislike of the Emperor, and was disposed to approve all the measures +that could be taken against him; that her return was not to be thought +of, as she herself would raise the greatest obstacles in the way of it; +in case it should be proposed; finally, that it was not possible for him +to dissemble his indignation that the Empress, wholly enamoured of ----, +did not even take pains to hide her ridiculous partiality for him. The +handwriting of the letter was disguised, yet not so much but that I was +able to discover whose it was. I found; however, in the manner in which +the secret was expressed a warmth of zeal and a picturesque style that +did not belong to the author of the letter. While reading it, I all of a +sudden suspected it was a counterfeit, and intended to mislead the +Emperor. I communicated ms idea to him, and the danger I perceived in +this fraud. As I grew more and more animated I found plausible reasons +enough to throw the Emperor himself into some uncertainty. 'How is it +possible,' I said, 'that ----- should have been imprudent enough to write +such things to me, who am not his friend, and who have had so little +connection with him? How can one suppose that the Empress should forget +herself, in such circumstances, so far as to manifest aversion to you, +and, still more, to cast herself away upon a man who undoubtedly still +possesses some power to please, but who is no longer young, whose face is +disfigured, and whose person, altogether, has nothing agreeable in it?' +'But,' answered the Emperor, ----- is attached to me; and though he is +not your friend, the postscript sufficiently explains the motive of the +confidence he places in you.' The following words were, in fact, written +at the bottom of the letter: 'I do not think you ought to mention the +truth to the Emperor, but make whatever use of it you think proper.' +I persisted, however, in maintaining that the letter was a counterfeit; +and the Emperor then said to me, 'Go to Caulaincourt. He possesses a +great many others in the same handwriting. Let the comparison decide +between your opinion and mine.' + +"I went to Caulaincourt, who said eagerly to me, 'I am sure the letter is +from -----, and I have not the least doubt of the truth of the +particulars it contains. The best thing the Emperor can do is to be +comforted; there is no help to be expected from that side.' + +"So sad a discovery was very painful to the Emperor, for he was sincerely +attached to the Empress, and still hoped again to see his son, whom he +loved most tenderly.' + +"Fouche had been far from wishing the return of the Emperor. He was long +tired of obeying, and had, besides, undertaken another plan, which +Napoleon's arrival had broken off. The Emperor, however, put him again +at the head of the police, because Savary was worn out in that +employment, and a skillful man was wanted there. Fouche accepted the +office, but without giving up his plan of deposing the Emperor, to put in +his place either his son or a Republic under a President. He had never +ceased to correspond with Prince Metternich, and, if he is to be +believed, he tried to persuade the Emperor to abdicate in favour of his +son. That was also my opinion; but; coming from such a quarter, the +advice was not without danger for the person to whom it was given. +Besides, that advice having been rejected, it: was the duty of the +Minister either to think no more of his plan or to resign his office. +Fouche, however, remained in the Cabinet; and continued his +correspondence. The Emperor, who placed but little confidence in him; +kept a careful eye upon him. One evening the Emperor: had a great deal +of company at the Elysee, he told me not to go home, because he wished to +speak to me. When everybody was gone the Emperor stopped with Fouche in +the apartment next to the one I was in. The door remained half open. +They walked up and down together talking very calmly. I was therefore +greatly astonished when, after a quarter of, an hour, I heard the Emperor +say to him' gravely, 'You are a traitor! Why do you remain Minister of +the Police if you wish to betray me? It rests with me to have you +hanged, and everybody would rejoice at your death!' I did not hear +Fouche's reply, but the conversation lasted above half an hour longer, +the parties all the time walking up and down. When Fouche went away he +bade me cheerfully, good-night, and said that the Emperor had gone back +to his apartments. + +"The next day the Emperor spoke to me of the previous night's +conversation. 'I suspected,' he said, 'that the wretch was in +correspondence with Vienna. I have had a banker's clerk arrested on his +return from that city. He has acknowledged that he brought a letter for +Fouche from Metternich, and that the answer was to be sent at a fixed +time to Bale, where a man was to wait for the bearer on the bridge: I +sent for Fouche a few days ago, and kept him three hours long in my +garden, hoping that in the course of a friendly conversation he would +mention that letter to me, but he said nothing. At last, yesterday +evening, I myself opened the subject.' (Here the Emperor repeated to me +the words I had heard the night before, 'You are a traitor,' etc.) He +acknowledged, in fact, continued the Emperor, 'that he had received such +a letter, but that it was not signed and that he had looked upon it as a +mystification. He showed it me. Now that letter was evidently an +answer, in which the writer again declared that he would listen to +nothing more concerning the Emperor, but that, his person excepted, it +would be easy to agree to all the rest. I expected that the Emperor +would conclude his narrative by expressing his anger against Fouche, but +our conversation turned on some other subject, and he talked no more of +him. + +"Two days afterwards I went to Fouche to solicit the return to Paris of +an officer of musqueteers who had been banished far from his family. I +found him at breakfast, and sat down next to him. Facing him sat a +stranger. 'Do you see this man?' he said to me; pointing with his spoon +to the stranger; 'he is an aristocrat, a Bourbonist, a Chouan; it is the +Abbe -----, one of the editors of the Journal des Debats--a sworn enemy +to Napoleon, a fanatic partisan of the Bourbons; he is one of our men. +I looked, at him. At every fresh epithet of the Minister the Abbe bowed +his head down to his plate with a smile of cheerfulness and self- +complacency, and with a sort of leer. I never saw a more ignoble +countenance. Fouche explained to me, on leaving the breakfast table, +in what manner all these valets of literature were men of his, and while +I acknowledged to myself that the system might be necessary, I scarcely +knew who were really more despicable--the wretches who thus sold +themselves to the highest bidder, or the minister who boasted of having +bought them, as if their acquisition were a glorious conquest. Judging +that the Emperor had spoken to me of the scene I have described above, +Fouche said to me, 'The Emperor's temper is soured by the resistance he +finds, and he thinks it is my fault. He does not know that I have no +power but by public opinion. To morrow I might hang before my door +twenty persons obnoxious to public opinion, though I should not be able +to imprison for four-and-twenty hours any individual favoured by it. +As I am never in a hurry to speak I remained silent, but reflecting on +what the Emperor had said concerning Fouche I found the comparison of +their two speeches remarkable. The master could have his minister hanged +with public applause, and the minister could hang--whom? Perhaps the +master himself, and with the same approbation. What a singular +situation!--and I believe they were both in the right; so far public +opinion, equitable in regard to Fouche, had swerved concerning the +Emperor." + +The wrath of Napoleon was confined to the Lower House, the Peers, from +the nature of their composition, being complacent and passive enough. +The vast majority of them were in fact mere shadows gathered round the +solid persons of Joseph, Lucien, Louis, and Jerome Bonaparte, and Sieyes, +Carnot, and the military men of the Revolution. As a political body +Napoleon despised them himself, and yet he wanted the nation to respect +them. But respect was impossible, and the volatile Parisians made the +Peers a constant object of their witticisms. The punsters of Paris made +the following somewhat ingenious play upon words. Lallemand, Labedogure, +Drouot, and Ney they called Las Quatre Pairs fides (perfides), which in +pronunciation may equally mean the four faithful peers or the four +perfidious men. The infamous Vandamme and another were called Pair- +siffles, the biased peers, or the biased pair, or (persiffles) men made +objects of derision. It was thus the lower orders behaved while the, +existence of France was at stake. + +By this time the thunder-cloud of war had gathered and was ready to +burst. Short as the time at his disposal was Napoleon prepared to meet +it with his accustomed energy. Firearms formed one of the most important +objects of attention. There were sufficient sabres, but muskets were +wanting. The Imperial factories could, in ordinary times, furnish +monthly 20,000 stands of new arms; by the extraordinary activity and +inducements offered this number was doubled. Workmen were also employed +in repairing the old muskets. There was displayed at this momentous +period the same activity in the capital as in 1793, and better directed, +though without the same ultimate success. The clothing of the army was +another difficulty, and this was got over by advancing large sums of +money to the cloth manufacturers beforehand. The contractors delivered +20,000 cavalry horses before the 1st of June, 10,000 trained horses had +been furnished by the dismounted gendarmerie. Twelve thousand artillery +horses were also delivered by the 1st of June, in addition to 6000 which +the army already had. + +The facility with which the Ministers of Finance and of the Treasury +provided for all these expenses astonished everybody, as it was necessary +to pay for everything in ready money. The system of public works was at +the same time resumed throughout France. "It is easy to see," said the +workmen, "that 'the great contractor' is returned; all was dead, now +everything revives." + +"We have just learnt," says a writer who was at Brussels at this time, +"that Napoleon had left the capital of France on the 12th; on the 15th +the frequent arrival of couriers excited extreme anxiety, and towards +evening General Muffing presented himself at the hotel of the Duke of +Wellington with despatches from Blucher. We were all aware that the +enemy was in movement, and the ignorant could not solve the enigma of the +Duke going tranquilly to the ball at the Duke of Richmond's--his coolness +was above their comprehension. Had he remained at his own hotel a panic +would have probably ensued amongst the inhabitants, which would have +embarrassed the intended movement of the British division of the army. + +"I returned home late, and we were still talking over our uneasiness when +we heard the trumpets sound. Before the sun had risen in full splendour +I heard martial music approaching, and soon beheld from my windows the +5th reserve of the British army passing; the Highland brigade were the +first in advance, led by their noble thanes, the bagpipes playing their +several pibrochs; they were succeeded by the 28th, their bugles' note +falling more blithely upon the ear. Each regiment passed in succession +with its band playing." + +The gallant Duke of Brunswick was at a ball at the assembly-rooms in the +Rue Ducale on the night of the 15th of June when the French guns, which +he was one of the first to hear, were clearly distinguished at Brussels. +"Upon receiving the information that a powerful French force was +advancing in the direction of Charleroi. 'Then it is high time for me to +be off,' he exclaimed, and immediately quitted, the ball-room." + +"At four the whole disposable force under the Duke off Wellington was +collected together, but in such haste that many of the officers had no +time to change their silk stockings and dancing-shoes; and some, quite +overcome by drowsiness, were seen lying asleep about the ramparts, still +holding, however, with a firm hand, the reins of their horses, which were +grazing by their sides. + +"About five o'clock the word march' was heard in ail directions, and +instantly the whole mass appeared to move simultaneously. I conversed +with several of the officers previous to their departure, and not one +appeared to have the slightest idea of an approaching engagement. + +"The Duke of Wellington and his staff did not quit Brussels till past +eleven o'clock, and it was not till some time after they were gone that +it was generally known the whole French army, including a strong corps of +cavalry, was within a few miles of Quatre Bras." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + --[Like the preceding, this chapter first appeared in the 1836 + edition, and is not from the pen of M. de Bourrienne.]-- + +1815. + +THE BATTLES OF LIGNY AND QUATRE BRAS. + +The moment for striking a decisive blow had now come, and accordingly, +early on the morning of the 15th, the whole of the French army was in +motion. The 2d corps proceeded to Marchiennes to attack the Prussian +outposts at Thuin and Lobes, in order to secure the communication across +the Sambre between those places. The 3d corps, covered by General +Pajol's cavalry, advanced upon Charleroi, followed by the Imperial Guard +and the 6th corps, with the necessary detachments of pontoniers. The +remainder of the cavalry, under Grouchy, also advanced upon Charleroi, on +the flanks of the 3d and 6th corps. The 4th corps was ordered to march +upon the bridge of Chatelet. + +On the approach of the French advanced guards an incessant skirmish was +maintained during the whole morning with the Prussians, who, after losing +many men, were compelled to yield to superior numbers. General Zieten, +finding it impossible, from the extent of frontier he had to cover, to +cheek the advance of the French, fell back towards Fleurus by the road to +Charleroi, resolutely contesting the advance of the enemy wherever it was +possible. In the repeated attacks sustained by him he suffered +considerable loss. It was nearly mid-day before a passage through +Charleroi was secured by the French army, and General Zieten continued +his retreat upon Fleurus, where he took up his position for the night. +Upon Zieten's abandoning, in the course of his retreat, the chaussee +which leads to Brussels through Quatre Bras, Marshal Ney, who had only +just been put in command on the left of the French army, was ordered to +advance by this road upon Gosselies, and found at Frasnes part of the +Duke of Wellington's army, composed of Nassau troops under the command of +Prince Bernard of Saxe-Weimar, who, after some skirmishing, maintained +his position. "Notwithstanding all the exertions of the French at a +moment when time was of such importance, they had only been able to +advance about fifteen English miles during the day, with nearly fifteen +hours of daylight." + +It was the intention of Napoleon during his operations on this day to +effect a separation between the English and Prussian armies, in which he +had nearly succeeded. Napoleon's plan for this purpose, and the +execution of it by his army, were alike admirable, but it is hardly +probable that the Allied generals were taken by surprise, as it was the +only likely course which Napoleon could have taken. His line of +operation was on the direct road to Brussels, and there were no fortified +works to impede his progress, while from the nature of the country his +numerous and excellent cavalry could be employed with great effect. + +In the French accounts Marshal Ney was much blamed for not occupying +Quatre Bras with the whole of his force on the evening of the 16th. "Ney +might probably have driven back the Nassau troops at Quatre Bras, and +occupied that important position, but hearing a heavy cannonade on his +right flank, where General Zieten had taken up his position, he thought +it necessary to halt and detach a division in the direction of Fleurus. +He was severely censured by Napoleon for not having literally followed +his orders and pushed on to Quatre Bras." This accusation forms a +curious contrast with that made against Grouchy, upon whom Napoleon threw +the blame of the defeat at Waterloo, because he strictly fulfilled his +orders, by pressing the Prussians at Wavre, unheeding the cannonade on +his left, which might have led him to conjecture that the more important +contest between the Emperor and Wellington was at that moment raging. + +It was at six o'clock in the evening of the 16th that the Drake of +Wellington received the first information of the advance of the French +army; but it was not, however, until ten o'clock that positive news +reached him that the French army had moved upon the line of the Sambre. +This information induced him to push forward reinforcements on Quatre +Bras, at which place he himself arrived at an early hour on the 16th, and +immediately proceeded to Bry, to devise measures with Marshal Blucher in +order to combine their efforts. From the movement of considerable masses +of the French in front of the Prussians it was evident that their first +grand attack would be directed against them. That this was Napoleon's +object on the 16th maybe seen by his orders to Ney and Grouchy to turn +the right of the Prussians, and drive the British from their position at +Quatre Bras, and then to march down the chaussee upon Bry in order +effectually to separate the two armies. Ney was accordingly detached for +this purpose with 43,000 men. In the event of the success of Marshal Ney +he would have been enabled to detach a portion of his forces for the +purpose of making a flank attack upon the Prussians in the rear of St. +Amend, whilst Napoleon in person was directing his main efforts against +that village the strongest in the Prussian position. Ney's reserve was +at Frasnes, disposable either for the purpose of supporting the attack on +Quatre Bras or that at St. Amand; and in case of Ney's complete success +to turn the Prussian right flank by marching on Bry. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +1815 + +THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. + +One of the most important struggles of modern times was now about to +commence--a struggle which for many years was to decide the fate of +Europe. Napoleon and Wellington at length stood opposite one another. +They had never met; the military reputation of each was of the highest +kind, + + --[For full details of the Waterloo campaign see Siborne's History + of the War in France and Belgium in 1815, giving the English + contemporary account; Chesney's Waterloo Lectures, the best English + modern account, which has been accepted by the Prussians as pretty + nearly representing their view; and Waterloo by Lieutenant-Colonel + Prince Edouard de la Tour d'Auvergne (Paris, Plon, 1870), which may + be taken as the French modern account. + + + In judging this campaign the reader must guard himself from looking + on it as fought by two different armies-the English and the + Prussian-whose achievements are to be weighed against one another. + Wellington and Blucher were acting in a complete unison rare even + when two different corps of the same nation are concerned, but + practically unexampled in the case of two armies of different + nations. Thus the two forces became one army, divided into two + wings, one, the left (or Prussian wing) having been defeated by the + main body of the French at Ligny on the 16th of June, the right (or + English wing) retreated to hold the position at Waterloo, where the + left (or Prussian wing) was to join it, and the united force was to + crash the enemy. Thus there is no question as to whether the + Prussian army saved the English by their arrival, or whether the + English saved the Prussians by their resistance at Waterloo. Each + army executed well and gallantly its part in a concerted operation. + The English would never have fought at Waterloo if they had not + relied on the arrival of the Prussians. Had the Prussians not come + up on the afternoon of the 18th of June the English would have been + exposed to the same great peril of having alone to deal with the + mass of the French army, as the Prussians would have had to face if + they had found the English in full retreat. To investigate the + relative performances of the two armies is lunch the same as to + decide the respective merits of the two Prussian armies at Sadowa, + where one held the Austrians until the other arrived. Also in + reading the many interesting personal accounts of the campaign it + most be remembered that opinions about the chance of success in a + defensive struggle are apt to warp with the observer's position, as + indeed General Grant has remarked in answer to criticisms on his + army's state at the end of the first day of the battle of Shiloh or + 'Pittsburg Landing. The man placed in the front rank or fighting + line sees attack after attack beaten off. He sees only part of his + own losses, am most of the wounded disappear, and he also knows + something of the enemy's loss by seeing the dead in front of him. + Warmed by the contest, he thus believes in success. The man placed + in rear or advancing with reinforcements, having nothing of the + excitement of the struggle, sees only the long and increasing column + of wounded, stragglers, and perhaps of fliers. He sees his + companion fall without being able to answer the fire. He sees + nothing of the corresponding loss of the enemy, and he is apt to + take a most desponding view of the situation. Thus Englishmen + reading the accounts of men who fought at Waterloo are too ready to + disbelieve representations of what was taking place in the rear of + the army, and to think Thackeray's life-like picture in Vanity Fair + of the state of Brussels must be overdrawn. Indeed, in this very + battle of Waterloo, Zieten began to retreat when his help was most + required, because one of his aides de camp told him that the right + wing of the English was in full retreat. "This inexperienced young + man," says Muffling, p. 248, "had mistaken the great number of + wounded going, or being taken, to the rear to be dressed, for + fugitives, and accordingly made a false report." Further, reserves + do not say much of their part or, sometimes, no part of the fight, + and few people know that at least two English regiments actually + present on the field of Waterloo hardly fired a shot till the last + advance. + + The Duke described the army as the worst he ever commanded, and said + that if he had had his Peninsular men, the fight would have been + over much sooner. But the Duke, sticking to ideas now obsolete, had + no picked corps. Each man, trusting in and trusted by his comrades, + fought under his own officers and under his own regimental colours. + Whatever they did not know, the men knew how to die, and at the end + of the day a heap of dead told where each regiment and battery had + stood.]-- + +the career of both had been marked by signal victory; Napoleon had +carried his triumphant legions across the stupendous Alps, over the north +of Italy, throughout Prussia, Austria, Russia, and even to the foot of +the Pyramids, while Wellington, who had been early distinguished in +India, had won immortal renown in the Peninsula, where he had defeated, +one after another, the favourite generals of Napoleon. He was now to +make trial of his prowess against their Master. + +Among the most critical events of modern times the battle of Waterloo +stands conspicuous. This sanguinary encounter at last stopped the +torrent of the ruthless and predatory ambition of the French, by which so +many countries had been desolated. With the peace which immediately +succeeded it confidence was restored to Europe. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +1815 + + Interview with Lavallette--Proceedings in the French Chambers-- + Second abdication of Napoleon--He retires to Rochefort, negotiates + with Captain Maitland, and finally embarks in the 'Bellerophon'. + +One of the first public men to see Napoleon after his return from +Waterloo was Lavallette. "I flew," says he, "to the Elysee to see the +Emperor: he summoned me into his closet, and as soon as he saw me, he +came to meet me with a frightful epileptic 'laugh. `Oh, my God!' he +said, raising his eyes to heaven, and walking two or three times up and +down the room. This appearance of despair was however very short. He +soon recovered his coolness, and asked me what was going forward in the +Chamber of Representatives. I could not attempt to hide that party +spirit was there carried to a high pitch, and that the majority seemed +determined to require his abdication, and to pronounce it themselves if +he did not concede willingly. 'How is that?' he said. 'If proper +measures are not taken the enemy will be before the gates of Paris in +eight days. Alas!' he added, 'have I accustomed them to such great +victories that they knew not how to bear one day's misfortune? What will +become of poor France? I have done all I could for her!' He then heaved +a deep sigh. Somebody asked to speak to him, and I left him, with a +direction to come back at a later hour. + +"I passed the day in seeking information among all my friends and +acquaintances. I found in all of them either the greatest dejection or +an extravagant joy, which they disguised by feigned alarm and pity for +myself, which I repulsed with great indignation. Nothing favourable was +to be expected from the Chamber of Representatives. They all said they +wished for liberty, but, between two enemies who appeared ready to +destroy it, they preferred the foreigners, the friends of the Bourbons, +to Napoleon, who might still have prolonged the struggle, but that he +alone would not find means to save them and erect the edifice of liberty. +The Chamber of Peers presented a much sadder spectacle. Except the +intrepid Thibaudeau, who till, the last moment expressed himself with +admirable energy against the Bourbons, almost all the others thought of +nothing else but getting out of the dilemma with the least loss they +could. Some took no pains to hide their wish of bending again under the +Bourbon yoke." + +On the evening of Napoleon's return to Paris he sent for Benjamin +Constant to come to him at the Elysee about seven o'clock. The Chambers +had decreed their permanence, and proposals for abdication had reached +the Emperor. He was serious but calm. In reply to some words on the +disaster of Waterloo he said, "The question no longer concerns me, but +France. They wish me to abdicate. Have they calculated upon the +inevitable consequences of this abdication? It is round me, round my +name, that the army rallies: to separate me from it is to disband it. +If I abdicate to-day, in two days' time you will no longer have an army. +These poor fellows do not understand all your subtleties. Is it believed +that axioms in metaphysics, declarations of right, harangues from the +tribune, will put a stop to the disbanding of an army? To reject me when +I landed at Cannes I can conceive possible; to abandon me now is what I +do not understand. It is not when the enemy is at twenty-five leagues' +distance that any Government can be overturned with impunity. Does any +one imagine that the Foreign Powers will be won over by fine words? If +they had dethroned me fifteen days ago there would have been some spirit +in it; but as it is, I make part of what strangers attack, I make part, +then, of what France is bound to defend. In giving me up she gives up +herself, she avows her weakness, she acknowledges herself conquered, she +courts the insolence of the conqueror. It is not the love of liberty +which deposes me, but Waterloo; it is fear, and a fear of which your +enemies will take advantage. And then what title has the Chamber to +demand my abdication? It goes out of its lawful sphere in doing so; it +has no authority. It is my right, it is my duty to dissolve it." + +"He then hastily ran over the possible consequences of such a step. +Separated from the Chambers, he could only be considered as a military +chief: but the army would be for him; that would always join him who can +lead it against foreign banners, and to this might be added all that part +of the population which is equally powerful and easily, led in such a +state of things. As if chance intended to strengthen Napoleon in this +train of thought, while he was speaking the avenue of Marigny resounded +with the cries of 'Vive l'Empereur!' A crowd of men, chiefly of the poor +and labouring class, pressed forward into the avenue, full of wild +enthusiasm, and trying to scale the walls to make an offer to Napoleon to +rally round and defend him. Bonaparte for some time looked attentively +at this group. 'You see it is so,' said he; "those are not the men whom +I have loaded with honours and riches. What do these people owe me? I +found them--I left them--poor. The instinct of necessity enlightens +them; the voice of the country speaks by their months; and if I choose, +if I permit it, in an hour the refractory Chambers will have ceased to +exist. But the life of a man is not worth purchasing at such a price: I +did not return from the Isle of Elba that Paris should be inundated with +blood: He did not like the idea of flight. 'Why should I not stay +here?' he repeated. 'What do you suppose they would do to a man disarmed +like me? I will go to Malmaison: I can live there in retirement with +some friends, who most certainly will come to see me only for my own +sake.' + +"He then described with complacency and even with a sort of gaiety this +new kind of life. Afterwards, discarding an idea which sounded like mere +irony, he went on. 'If they do not like me to remain in France, where am +I to go? To England? My abode there would be ridiculous or disquieting. +I should be tranquil; no one would believe it. Every fog would be +suspected of concealing my landing on the coast. At the first sign of a +green coat getting out of a boat one party would fly from France, the +other would put France out of the pale of the law. I should compromise +everybody, and by dint of the repeated "Behold he comes!" I should feel +the temptation to set out. America would be more suitable; I could live +there with dignity. But once more, what is there to fear? What +sovereign can, without injuring himself, persecute me? To one I have +restored half his dominions; how often has the other pressed my hand, +calling me a great man! And as to the third, can he find pleasure or +honour in humiliation of his son-in-law? Would they wish to proclaim in +the face of the world that all they did was through fear? As to the +rest, I shall see: I do not wish to employ open force. I came in the +hope of combining our last resources: they abandoned me; they do so with +the same facility with which they received me back. Well, then, let them +efface, if possible, this double stain of weakness and levity! Let them +cover it over with some sacrifice, with some glory! Let them do for the +country what they will not do for me. I doubt it. To-day, those who +deliver up Bonaparte say that it is to save France: to-morrow, by +delivering up France, they will prove that it was to save their own +heads.'" + +The humiliating scenes which rapidly succeeded one another; and which +ended in Napoleon's unconditional surrender, may be briefly told. As +soon as possible after his arrival at Paris he assembled his counsellors, +when he declared himself in favour of still resisting. The question, +however, was, whether the Chambers would support him; and Lafayette being +treacherously informed, it is said by Fouche, that it was intended to +dissolve the Chambers, used his influence to get the chambers to adopt +the propositions he laid before them. By these the independence of the +nation was asserted to be in danger; the sittings of the Chamber were +declared permanent, and all attempts to dissolve it were pronounced +treasonable. The propositions were adopted, and being communicated to +the Chamber of Peers, that body also declared itself permanent. Whatever +might have been the intentions of Bonaparte, it was now manifest that +there were no longer any hopes of his being able to make his will the law +of the nation; after some vacillation, therefore, on 22d June he +published the following declaration: + + TO THE FRENCH PEOPLE + + FRENCHMEN!--In commencing war for maintaining the national + independence, I relied on the union of all efforts, of all wills, + and the concurrence of all the national authorities. I had reason + to hope for success, and I braved all the declarations of the powers + against me. Circumstances appear to me changed. I offer myself a + sacrifice to the hatred of the enemies of France. May they prove + sincere in their declarations, and really have directed them only + against my power. My political life is terminated, and I proclaim + my son under the title of: + + NAPOLEON II., + + EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH. + + The present Ministers will provisionally form the Council of the + Government. The interest which I take in my son induces me to + invite the Chambers to form without delay the Regency by a law. + Unite all for the public safety, that you may continue an + independent nation. + (Signed) NAPOLEON. + + +This declaration was conveyed to both the Chambers, which voted +deputations to the late Emperor, accepting this abdication, but in their +debates the nomination of his son to the succession was artfully eluded. +The Chamber of Representatives voted the nomination of a Commission of +five persons, three to be chosen from that Chamber, and two from the +Chamber of Peers, for the purpose of provisionally exercising the +functions of Government, and also that the Ministers should continue +their respective functions under the authority of this Commission. The +persons chosen by the Chamber of Representatives were Carnot, Fouche, and +Grenier, those nominated by the Peers were the Duke of Vicenza +(Caulaincourt) and Baron Quinette. The Commission nominated five persons +to the Allied army for the purpose of proposing peace. These proceedings +were, however, rendered of little importance by the resolution of the +victors to advance to Paris. + +Napoleon's behaviour just before and immediately after the crisis is well +described by Lavallette. "The next day," he observes, "I returned to the +Emperor. He had received the most positive accounts of the state of +feeling in the Chamber of Representatives. The reports had, however, +been given to him with some little reserve, for he did not seem to me +convinced that the resolution was really formed to pronounce his +abdication, I was better informed on the matter, and I came to him +without having the least doubt in my mind that the only thing he could do +was to descend once more from the throne. I communicated to him all the +particulars I had just received, and I did not hesitate to advise him to +follow the only course worthy of him. He listened to me with a sombre +air, and though he was in some measure master of himself, the agitation +of his mind and the sense of his position betrayed themselves in his face +and in all his motions. 'I know,' said I, 'that your Majesty may still +keep the sword drawn, but with whom, and against whom? Defeat has +chilled the courage of every one; the army is still in the greatest +confusion. Nothing is to be expected from Paris, and the coup d'etat of +the 18th Brumaire cannot be renewed.'--'That thought,' he replied, +stopping, 'is far from my mind. I will hear nothing more about myself. +But poor France!' At that moment Savary and Caulaincourt entered, and +having drawn a faithful picture of the exasperation of the Deputies, they +persuaded him to assent to abdication. Some words he uttered proved to +us that he would have considered death preferable to that step; but still +he took it. + +"The great act of abdication being performed, he remained calm during the +whole day, giving his advice on the position the army should take, and on +the manner in which the negotiations with the enemy ought to be +conducted. He insisted especially on the necessity of proclaiming his +son Emperor, not so much for the advantage of the child as with a view to +concentrate all the power of sentiments and affections. Unfortunately, +nobody would listen to him. Some men of sense and courage rallied found +that proposition in the two Chambers, but fear swayed the majority; and +among those who remained free from it many thought that a public +declaration of liberty, and the resolution to defend it at any price, +would make the enemy and the Bourbons turn back. Strange delusion of +weakness and want of experience! It must, however, be respected, for it +had its source in love of their country; but, while we excuse it, can it +be justified? The population of the metropolis had resumed its usual +appearance, which was that of complete indifference, with a resolution to +cry 'Long live the King!' provided the King arrived well escorted; for +one must not judge of the whole capital by about one-thirtieth part of +the inhabitants, who called for arms, and declared themselves warmly +against the return of the exiled family. + +"On the 23d I returned to the Elysee. The Emperor had been for two hours +in his bath. He himself turned the discourse on the retreat he ought to +choose, and spoke of the United States. I rejected the idea without +reflection, and with a degree of vehemence that surprised him. 'Why not +America?' he asked. I answered, 'Because Moreau retired there.' The +observation was harsh, and I should never have forgiven myself for having +expressed it; if I had not retracted my advice a few days afterwards. He +heard it without any apparent ill-humour, but I have no doubt that it +must have made an unfavourable impression on his mind. I strongly urged +on his choosing England for his asylum. + +"The Emperor went to Malmaison. He was accompanied thither by the +Duchesse de St. Leu, Bertrand and his family, and the Duc de Bassano. +The day that he arrived there he proposed to me to accompany him abroad. +Drouot,' he said, 'remains in France. I see the Minister of War wishes +him not to be lost to his country. I dare not complain, but it is a +great loss for me; I never met with a better head, or a more upright +heart. That man was formed to be a prime minister anywhere.' I declined +to accompany him at the time, saying, 'My wife is enceinte; I cannot make +up my mind to leave her. Allow me some time, and I will join you +wherever you may be. I have remained faithful to your Majesty in better +times, and you may reckon upon me now. Nevertheless, if my wife did not +require all my attention, I should do better to go with you, for I have +sad forebodings respecting my fate." + +"The Emperor made no answer; but I saw by the expression of his +countenance that he had no better augury of my fate than I had. However, +the enemy was approaching, and for the last three days he had solicited +the Provisional Government to place a frigate at his disposal, with which +he might proceed to America. It had been promised him; he was even +pressed to set off; but he wanted to be the bearer of the order to the +captain to convey him to the United States, and that order did not +arrive. We all felt that the delay of a single hour might put his +freedom in jeopardy. + +"After we had talked the subject over among ourselves, I went to him and +strongly pointed out to him how dangerous it might be to prolong his +stay. He observed that he could not go without the order. 'Depart, +nevertheless,' I replied; your presence on board the ship will still have +a great influence over Frenchmen; cut the cables, promise money to the +crew, and if the captain resist have him put on shore, and hoist your +sails. I have no doubt but Fouche has sold you to the Allies.'-- +'I believe it also; but go and make the last effort with the Minister of +Marine.' I went off immediately to M. Decres. He was in bed, and +listened to me with an indifference that made my blood boil. He said to +me, 'I am only a Minister. Go to Fouche; speak to the Government. As +for me, I can do nothing. Good-night.' And so saying he covered himself +up again in his blankets. I left him; but I could not succeed in +speaking either to Fouche or to any of the others. It was two o'clock in +the morning when I returned to Malmaison; the Emperor was in bed. I was +admitted to his chamber, where I gave him an account of the result of my +mission, and renewed my entreaties. He listened to me, but made no +answer. He got up, however, and spent a part of the night in walking up +and down the room. + +"The following day was the last of that sad drama. The Emperor had gone +to bed again, and slept a few hours. I entered his cabinet at about +twelve o'clock. 'If I had known you were here,' he said, 'I would have +had you called in.' He then gave me, on a subject that interested him +personally, some instructions which it is needless for me to repeat. +Soon after I left him, full of anxiety respecting his fate, my heart +oppressed with grief, but still far from suspecting the extent to which +both the rigour of fortune and the cruelty of his enemies would be +carried." + +All the morning of the 29th of June the great road from St. Germain rung +with the cries of "Vive l'Empereur!" proceeding from the troops who +passed under the walls of Malmaison. About mid-day General Becker, sent +by the Provisional Government, arrived. He had been appointed to attend +Napoleon. Fouche knew that General Becker had grievances against the +Emperor, and thought to find in him willing agent. He was greatly +deceived, for the General paid to the Emperor a degree of respect highly +to his honour. Time now became pressing. The Emperor, at the moment of +departure, sent a message by General Becker himself to the Provisional +Government, offering to march as a private citizen at the head of the +troops. He promised to repulse Blucher, and afterwards to continue his +route. Upon the refusal of the Provisional Government he quitted +Malmaison on the 29th. Napoleon and part of his suite took the road to +Rochefort. He slept at Rambouillet on the 29th of June, on the 30th at +Tours, on the 1st of July he arrived at Niort, and on the 3d reached +Rochefort, on the western coast of France, with the intention of escaping +to America; but the whole western seaboard was so vigilantly watched by +British men-of-war that, after various plans and devices, he was obliged +to abandon the attempt in despair. He was lodged at the house of the +prefect, at the balcony of which he occasionally showed himself to +acknowledge the acclamations of the people. + +During his stay here a French naval officer, commanding a Danish merchant +vessel, generously offered to some of Napoleon's adherents to further his +escape. He proposed to take Napoleon alone, and undertook to conceal his +person so effectually as to defy the most rigid scrutiny, and offered to +sail immediately to the United States of America. He required no other +compensation than a small sum to indemnify the owners of his ship for the +loss this enterprise might occasion them. This was agreed to by Bertrand +upon certain stipulations. + +On the evening of the 8th of July Napoleon reached Fouras, receiving +everywhere testimonies of attachment. He proceeded on board the Saale, +one of the two frigates appointed by the Provisional Government to convey +him to the United States, and slept on board that night. Very early on +the following morning he visited the fortifications of that place, and +returned to the frigate for dinner. On the evening of the 9th of July he +despatched Count Las Cases and the Duke of Rovigo to the commander of the +English squadron, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the passports +promised by the Provisional Government to enable him to proceed to +America had been received. A negative answer was returned; it was at the +same time signified that the Emperor would be attacked by the English +squadron if he attempted to sail under a flag of truce, and it was +intimated that every neutral vessel would be examined, and probably sent +into an English port. Las Cases affirms that Napoleon was recommended to +proceed to England by Captain Maitland, who assured him that he would +experience no ill-treatment there. The English ship 'Bellerophon' then +anchored in the Basque roads, within sight of the French vessels of war. +The coast being, as we have stated, entirely blockaded by the English +squadron, the Emperor was undecided as to the course he should pursue. +Neutral vessels and 'chasse-marees', manned by young naval officers, were +proposed, and many other plans were devised. + +Napoleon disembarked on the 12th at the Isle of Aix with acclamations +ringing on every side. He had quitted the frigates because they refused +to sail, owing either to the weakness of character of the commandant, or +in consequence of his receiving fresh orders from the Provisional +Government. Many persons thought that the enterprise might be undertaken +with some probability of success; the wind, however, remained constantly +in the wrong quarter. + +Las Cases returned to the Bellerophon at four o'clock in the morning of +the 14th, to inquire whether any reply had been received to the +communication made by Napoleon. Captain Maitland stated that he expected +to receive it every moment, and added that, if the Emperor would then +embark for England, he was authorized to convey him thither. He added, +moreover, that in his own opinion, and many other officers present +concurred with him, be had no doubt Napoleon would be treated in England +with all-possible attention and respect; that in England neither the King +nor Ministers exercised the same arbitrary power as on the Continent; +that the English indeed possessed generosity of sentiment and a +liberality of opinions superior even to those of the King. Las Cases +replied that he would make Napoleon acquainted with Captain Maitland's +offer, and added, that he thought the Emperor would not hesitate to +proceed to England, so as to be able to continue his voyage to the United +States. He described France, south of the Loire, to be in commotion, the +hopes of the people resting on Napoleon as long as he was present; the +propositions everywhere made to him, and at every moment; his decided +resolution not to become the pretest of a civil war; the generosity he +had exhibited in abdicating, in order to render the conclusion of a peace +more practicable; and his settled determination to banish himself, in +order to render that peace more prompt and more lasting. + +The messengers returned to their Master, who, after some doubt and +hesitation, despatched General Gourgaud with the following well-known +letter to the Prince Regent:-- + + ROCHEFORT, 13th July 1815. + + ROYAL HIGHNESS--A victim to the factions which divide my country, + and to the hostility of the greatest Powers of Europe, I have + terminated my political career, and come, like Themistocles, to + share the hospitality of the British people. I place myself under + the protection of their laws, and I claim that from your Royal + Highness as the most powerful, the most constant, and the most + generous of my enemies. + (Signed) NAPOLEON. + + +About four P.M. Las Cases and Savory returned to the 'Bellerophon', where +they had a long conversation with Captain Maitland, in the presence of +Captains Sartorius and Gambler, who both declare that Maitland repeatedly +warned Napoleon's adherents not to entertain the remotest idea that he +was enabled to offer any pledge whatever to their Master beyond the +simple assurance that he would convey him in safety to the English coast, +there to await the determination of the British Government. + +Napoleon had begun to prepare for his embarkation before daylight on the +15th. It was time that he did so, for a messenger charged with orders to +arrest him had already arrived at Rochefort from the new Government. +The execution of this order was delayed by General Becker for a few hours +in order to allow Napoleon sufficient time to escape. At daybreak, he +quitted the 'Epervier', and was enthusiastically cheered by the ship's +company so long as the boat was within hearing. Soon after six he was +received on board the 'Bellerophon' with respectful silence, but without +those honours generally paid to persons of high rank. Bonaparte was +dressed in the uniform of the 'chasseurs a cheval' of the Imperial Guard, +and wore the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. + +On entering the vessel he took off his hat, and addressing Captain +Maitland, said, "I am come to throw myself on the protection of the laws +of England." Napoleon's manner was well calculated to make a favourable +impression on those with whom he conversed. He requested to be +introduced to the officers of the ship, and put various questions to +each. He then went round the ship, although he was informed that the men +were cleaning and scouring, and remarked upon anything which struck him +as differing from what he had seen on French vessels. The clean +appearance of the men surprised him. "He then observed," says Captain +Maitland, to whose interesting narrative we refer, "'I can see no +sufficient reason why your ships should beat the French ones with so much +ease. The finest men-of-war in your service are French; a French ship is +heavier in every respect than one of yours; she carries more guns, and +those guns are of a larger calibre, and she has a great many more men.'" +His inquiries, which were minute, proved that he had directed much +attention to the French navy. + +On the first morning Napoleon took breakfast in the English fashion, but +observing that his distinguished prisoner did not eat much, Captain +Maitland gave direction that for the future a hot breakfast should be +served up after the French manner. 'The Superb', the Admiral's ship, +which had been seen in the morning, was now approaching. Immediately on +her anchoring Captain Maitland went on board to give an account of all +that had happened, and received the Admiral's approbation of what he had +done. In the afternoon Admiral Sir Henry Hotham was introduced to +Napoleon, and invited by him to dinner. This was arranged, in order to +make it more agreeable to him, by Bonaparte's maitre d'hotel. On dinner +being announced Napoleon led the way, and seated himself in the centre at +one side of the table, desiring Sir Henry Hotham to take the seat on his +right, and Madame Bertrand that on his left hand. On this day Captain +Maitland took his seat at the end of the table, but on the following day, +by Napoleon's request, he placed himself on his right hand, whilst +General Bertrand took the top. Two of the ship's officers dined with the +Emperor daily, by express invitation. The conversation of Napoleon was +animated. He made many inquiries as to the family and connections of +Captain Maitland, and in alluding to Lord Lauderdale, who was sent as +ambassador to Paris during the administration of Mr. Fox, paid that +nobleman some compliments and said of the then Premier, "Had Mr. Fox +lived it never would have come to this; but his death put an end to all +hopes of peace." + +On one occasion he ordered his camp-bed to be displayed for the +inspection of the English officers. In two small leather packages were +comprised the couch of the once mighty ruler of the Continent. The steel +bedstead which, when folded up, was only two feet long, and eighteen +inches wide, occupied one case, while the other contained the mattress +and curtains. The whole was so contrived as to be ready for use in three +minutes. + +Napoleon spoke in terms of high praise of the marines on duty in the +Bellerophon, and on going through their ranks exclaimed to Bertrand, +"How much might be done with a hundred thousand such soldiers as these!" +In putting them through their exercise he drew a contrast between the +charge of the bayonet as made by the English and the French, and observed +that the English method of fixing the bayonet was faulty, as it might +easily be twisted off when in close action. In visiting Admiral Hotham's +flag-ship, the 'Superb', he manifested the same active curiosity as in +former instances, and made the same minute inquiries into everything by +which he was surrounded. During breakfast one of Napoleon's suite, +Colonel Planat, was much affected, and even wept, on witnessing the +humiliation of his Master. + +On the return of Bonaparte from the Superb to the 'Bellerophon' the +latter ship was got under weigh and made sail for England. When passing +within a cable's length of the 'Superb' Napoleon inquired of Captain +Maitland if he thought that distance was sufficient for action. The +reply of the English officer was characteristic; he told the Emperor that +half the distance, or even less, would suit much better. Speaking of Sir +Sidney Smith, Bonaparte repeated the anecdote connected with his quarrel +at St. Jean d'Acre with that officer, which has already been related in +one of the notes earlier in these volumes. Patting Captain Maitland on +the shoulder, he observed, that had it not been for the English navy he +would have been Emperor of the East, but that wherever he went he was +sure to find English ships in the way. + +The 'Bellerophon', with Bonaparte on board, sighted the coast of England +on Sunday, the 23d of July 1815, and at daybreak on the 24th the vessel +approached Dartmouth. No sooner had the ship anchored than an order from +Loral Keith was delivered to Captain Maitland, from which the following +is an extract: + + Extract of an Order from Admiral Viscount Keith, G. C. B., addressed + to Captain Maitland, of H. M. S. "Bellerophon," dated Ville de + Paris, Hamoaze, 23d July 1815. + + Captain Sartorius, of His Majesty's ship 'Slaney', delivered to me + last night, at eleven o'clock, your despatch of the 14th instant, + acquainting me that Bonaparte had proposed to embark on board the + ship you command, and that you had acceded thereto, with the + intention of proceeding to Torbay, there to wait for further orders. + I lost no time in forwarding your letter by Captain Sartorius to the + Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in order that their Lordships + might, through him, be acquainted with every circumstance that had + occurred on an occasion of so much importance; and you may expect + orders from their Lordships for your further guidance. You are to + remain in Torbay until you receive such orders; and in the meantime, + in addition to the directions already in your possession, you are + most positively ordered to prevent every person whatever from coming + on board the ship you command, except the officers and men who + compose her crew; nor is any person whatever, whether in His + Majesty's service or not, who does not belong, to the ship, to be + suffered to come on board, either for the purpose of visiting the + officers, or on any pretence whatever, without express permission + either from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty or from me. As + I understand from Captain Sartorius that General Gourgaud refused to + deliver the letter with which he was charged for the Prince Regent + to any person except His Royal Highness, you are to take him out of + the 'Slaney' into the ship you command, until you receive directions + from the Admiralty on the subject, and order that ship back to + Plymouth Sound, when Captain Sartorius returns from London. + +It was stated about this time, in some of the English newspapers, that +St. Helena would be the place of exile of the ex-Emperor, the bare report +of which evidently caused great pain to Napoleon and his suite. General +Gourgaud was obliged to return to the 'Bellerophon', not having been +suffered to go on shore to deliver the letter from Bonaparte to the +Prince Regent with which be had been entrusted. The ship which bore the +modern Alexander soon became a natural object of attraction to the whole +neighbourhood, and was constantly surrounded by crowds of boats. +Napoleon frequently showed himself to the people from shore with a view +of gratifying their curiosity. On the 25th of July the number of guard- +boats which surrounded the vessel was greatly increased; and the alarm of +the captives became greater as the report was strengthened as to the +intention of conveying Bonaparte to St. Helena. + +In conversation with Captain Maitland, Napoleon, who seemed to be aware +that the English fishermen united the occupation of smugglers to their +usual trade; stated that many of them had been bribed by him, and had +assisted in the escape of French prisoners of war. They had even +proposed to deliver Louis XVIII. into his power, but as they would .not +answer for the safety of his life, Napoleon refused the offer. Upon the +arrival of despatches from London the 'Bellerophon' got under weigh for +Plymouth Sound on the 26th of July. This movement tended still further +to disconcert the ex-Emperor and his followers. In passing the +breakwater Bonaparte could not withhold his admiration of that work, +which he considered highly honourable to the public spirit of the nation, +and, alluding to his own improvements at Cherbourg, expressed his +apprehensions that they would now be suffered to fall into decay. + +Captain Maitland was directed by Lord Keith to observe the utmost +vigilance to prevent the escape of his prisoners, and with this view no +boat was permitted to approach the Bellerophon; the 'Liffey' and +'Eurotas' were ordered to take up an anchorage on each side of the ship, +and further precautions were adopted at night. + +On the 27th of July Captain Maitland proceeded to Lord Keith, taking with +him Bonaparte's original letter to the Prince Regent, which, as General +Gourgaud had not been permitted to deliver it personally, Napoleon now +desired to be transmitted through the hands of the Admiral. As Lord +Keith had now received instructions from his Government as to the manner +in which Napoleon was to be treated, he lost no time in paying his +respects to the fallen chief. + +On the 31st of July the anxiously-expected order of the English +Government arrived. In this document, wherein the ex-Emperor was styled +"General Bonaparte," it was notified that he was to be exiled to St. +Helena, the place of all others most dreaded by him and his devoted +adherents. It was, moreover, specified that he might be allowed to take +with him three officers, and his surgeon, and twelve servants. To his +own selection was conceded the choice of these followers, with the +exclusion, however, of Savary and Lallemand, who were on no account to be +permitted any further to share his fortunes. This prohibition gave +considerable alarm to those individuals, who became excessively anxious +as to their future disposal, and declared that to deliver them up to the +vengeance of the Bourbons would be a violation of faith and honour. + +Napoleon himself complained bitterly on the subject of his destination, +and said, "The idea, of it is horrible to me. To be placed for life on +an island within the tropics, at an immense distance from any land, cut +off from all communication with the world, and everything that I hold +dear in it!--c'est pis que la cage de fer de Tamerlan. I would prefer +being delivered up to the Bourbons. Among other insults," said he,-- +"but that is a mere bagatelle, a very secondary consideration--they style +me General! They can have no right to call me General; they may as well +call me `Archbishop,' for I was Head of the Church as well as of the +Army. If they do not acknowledge me as Emperor they ought as First +Counsul; they have sent ambassadors to me as such; and your King, in his +letters, styled me 'Brother.' Had they confined me in the Tower of +London, or one of the fortresses in England (though not what I had hoped +from the generosity of the English people), I should not have so much +cause of complaint; but to banish me to an island within the tropics! +They might as well have signed my death-warrant at once, for it is +impossible a man of my habit of body can live long in such a climate." + +Having so expressed himself, he wrote a second letter to the Prince +Regent, which was forwarded through Lord Keith. It was the opinion of +Generals Montholon and Gourgaud that Bonaparte would sooner kill himself +than go to St. Helena. This idea arose from his having been heard +emphatically to exclaim, "I will not go to St. Helena!" The generals, +indeed, declared that were he to give his own consent to be so exiled +they would themselves prevent him. In consequence of this threat Captain +Maitland was instructed by Lord Keith to tell those gentlemen that as the +English law awarded death to murderers, the crime they meditated would +inevitably conduct them to the gallows. + +Early on the morning of the 4th of August the 'Bellerophon' was ordered +to be ready at a moment's notice for sea. The reason of this was traced +to a circumstance which is conspicuous among the many remarkable +incidents by which Bonaparte's arrival near the English coast was +characterised. A rumour reached Lord Keith that a 'habeas corpus' had +been procured with a view of delivering Napoleon from the custody he was +then in. This, however, turned out to be a subpoena for Bonaparte as a +witness at a trial in the Court of King's Bench; and, indeed, a person +attempted to get on board the Bellerophon to serve the document; but he +was foiled in his intention; though, had he succeeded, the subpoena +would, in the situation wherein the ex-Emperor then stood, have been +without avail. + +On the 5th Captain Maitland, having been summoned to the flag-ship of +Lord Keith, acquainted General Bertrand that he would convey to the +Admiral anything which Bonaparte (who had expressed an urgent wish to see +his lordship) might desire to say to him. Bertrand requested the captain +to delay his departure until a document, then in preparation, should be +completed: the "PROTEST OF HIS MAJESTY THE LATE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH, +ETC." + +Captain Maitland denied that any snare was laid for Bonaparte, either by +himself or by the English Government, and stated that the precautions for +preventing the escape of Napoleon from Rochefort were so well ordered +that it was impossible to evade them; and that the fugitive was compelled +to surrender himself to the English ship. + +On the 7th of August Bonaparte, with the suite he had selected, was +transferred from the 'Bellerophon' to the 'Northumberland'. Lord Keith's +barge was prepared for his conveyance to the latter vessel, and his +lordship was present on the occasion. A captain's guard was turned out, +and as Napoleon left the 'Bellerophon' the marines presented arms, and +the drum was beaten as usual in saluting a general officer. When he +arrived on board the Northumberland the squadron got under weigh, and +Napoleon sailed for the place of his final exile and grave.' + + --[For the continuation of Napoleon's voyage see Chapter XIII.]-- + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon, V14, 1815 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + |