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Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + + +PREFACE + +BY THE EDITORS OF THE 1836 EDITION. + +In introducing the present edition of M. de Bourrienne's Memoirs to the +public we are bound, as Editors, to say a few Words on the subject. +Agreeing, however, with Horace Walpole that an editor should not dwell +for any length of time on the merits of his author, we shall touch but +lightly on this part of the matter. We are the more ready to abstain +since the great success in England of the former editions of these +Memoirs, and the high reputation they have acquired on the European +Continent, and in every part of the civilised world where the fame of +Bonaparte has ever reached, sufficiently establish the merits of M. de +Bourrienne as a biographer. These merits seem to us to consist chiefly +in an anxious desire to be impartial, to point out the defects as well as +the merits of a most wonderful man; and in a peculiarly graphic power of +relating facts and anecdotes. With this happy faculty Bourrienne would +have made the life of almost any active individual interesting; but the +subject of which the most favourable circumstances permitted him to treat +was full of events and of the most extraordinary facts. The hero of his +story was such a being as the world has produced only on the rarest +occasions, and the complete counterpart to whom has, probably, never +existed; for there are broad shades of difference between Napoleon and +Alexander, Caesar, and Charlemagne; neither will modern history furnish +more exact parallels, since Gustavus Adolphus, Frederick the Great, +Cromwell, Washington, or Bolivar bear but a small resemblance to +Bonaparte either in character, fortune, or extent of enterprise. For +fourteen years, to say nothing of his projects in the East, the history +of Bonaparte was the history of all Europe! + +With the copious materials he possessed, M. de Bourrienne has produced a +work which, for deep interest, excitement, and amusement, can scarcely be +paralleled by any of the numerous and excellent memoirs for which the +literature of France is so justly celebrated. + +M. de Bourrienne shows us the hero of Marengo and Austerlitz in his +night-gown and slippers--with a 'trait de plume' he, in a hundred +instances, places the real man before us, with all his personal habits +and peculiarities of manner, temper, and conversation. + +The friendship between Bonaparte and Bourrienne began in boyhood, at the +school of Brienne, and their unreserved intimacy continued during the +moat brilliant part of Napoleon's career. We have said enough, the +motives for his writing this work and his competency for the task will be +best explained in M. de Bourrienne's own words, which the reader will +find in the Introductory Chapter. + +M. de Bourrienne says little of Napoleon after his first abdication and +retirement to Elba in 1814: we have endeavoured to fill up the chasm thus +left by following his hero through the remaining seven years of his life, +to the "last scenes of all" that ended his "strange, eventful history," +--to his deathbed and alien grave at St. Helena. A completeness will +thus be given to the work which it did not before possess, and which we +hope will, with the other additions and improvements already alluded to, +tend to give it a place in every well-selected library, as one of the +most satisfactory of all the lives of Napoleon. + +LONDON, 1836. + + + + + + + +PREFACE + +BY THE EDITOR OF THE 1885 EDITION. + +The Memoirs of the time of Napoleon may be divided into two classes-- +those by marshals and officers, of which Suchet's is a good example, +chiefly devoted to military movements, and those by persons employed in +the administration and in the Court, giving us not only materials for +history, but also valuable details of the personal and inner life of the +great Emperor and of his immediate surroundings. Of this latter class +the Memoirs of Bourrienne are among the most important. + +Long the intimate and personal friend of Napoleon both at school and from +the end of the Italian campaigns in 1797 till 1802--working in the same +room with him, using the same purse, the confidant of most of his +schemes, and, as his secretary, having the largest part of all the +official and private correspondence of the time passed through his hands, +Bourrienne occupied an invaluable position for storing and recording +materials for history. The Memoirs of his successor, Meneval, are more +those of an esteemed private secretary; yet, valuable and interesting as +they are, they want the peculiarity of position which marks those of +Bourrienne, who was a compound of secretary, minister, and friend. The +accounts of such men as Miot de Melito, Raederer, etc., are most +valuable, but these writers were not in that close contact with Napoleon +enjoyed by Bourrienne. Bonrrienne's position was simply unique, and we +can only regret that he did not occupy it till the end of the Empire. +Thus it is natural that his Memoirs should have been largely used by +historians, and to properly understand the history of the time, they must +be read by all students. They are indeed full of interest for every one. +But they also require to be read with great caution. When we meet with +praise of Napoleon, we may generally believe it, for, as Thiers +(Consulat., ii. 279) says, Bourrienne need be little suspected on this +side, for although be owed everything to Napoleon, he has not seemed to +remember it. But very often in passages in which blame is thrown on +Napoleon, Bourrienne speaks, partly with much of the natural bitterness +of a former and discarded friend, and partly with the curious mixed +feeling which even the brothers of Napoleon display in their Memoirs, +pride in the wonderful abilities evinced by the man with whom he was +allied, and jealousy at the way in which be was outshone by the man he +had in youth regarded as inferior to himself. Sometimes also we may even +suspect the praise. Thus when Bourrienne defends Napoleon for giving, as +he alleges, poison to the sick at Jaffa, a doubt arises whether his +object was to really defend what to most Englishmen of this day, with +remembrances of the deeds and resolutions of the Indian Mutiny, will seem +an act to be pardoned, if not approved; or whether he was more anxious to +fix the committal of the act on Napoleon at a time when public opinion +loudly blamed it. The same may be said of his defence of the massacre of +the prisoners of Jaffa. + +Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne was born in 1769, that is, in the +same year as Napoleon Bonaparte, and he was the friend and companion of +the future Emperor at the military school of Brienne-le-Chateau till +1784, when Napoleon, one of the sixty pupils maintained at the expense of +the State, was passed on to the Military School of Paris. The friends +again met in 1792 and in 1795, when Napoleon was hanging about Paris, and +when Bourrienne looked on the vague dreams of his old schoolmate as only +so much folly. In 1796, as soon as Napoleon had assured his position at +the head of the army of Italy, anxious as ever to surround himself with +known faces, he sent for Bourrienne to be his secretary. Bourrienne had +been appointed in 1792 as secretary of the Legation at Stuttgart, and +had, probably wisely, disobeyed the orders given him to return, thus +escaping the dangers of the Revolution. He only came back to Paris in +1795, having thus become an emigre. He joined Napoleon in 1797, after the +Austrians had been beaten out of Italy, and at once assumed the office of +secretary which he held for so long. He had sufficient tact to forbear +treating the haughty young General with any assumption of familiarity in +public, and he was indefatigable enough to please even the never-resting +Napoleon. Talent Bourrienne had in abundance; indeed he is careful to +hint that at school if any one had been asked to predict greatness for +any pupil, it was Bourrienne, not Napoleon, who would have been fixed on +as the future star. He went with his General to Egypt, and returned with +him to France. While Napoleon was making his formal entry into the +Tuileries, Bourrienne was preparing the cabinet he was still to share +with the Consul. In this cabinet--our cabinet, as he is careful to call +it--lie worked with the First Consul till 1802. + +During all this time the pair lead lived on terms of equality and +friendship creditable to both. The secretary neither asked for nor +received any salary: when he required money, he simply dipped into the +cash-box of the First Consul. As the whole power of the State gradually +passed into the hands of the Consul, the labours of the secretary became +heavier. His successor broke down under a lighter load, and had to +receive assistance; but, perhaps borne up by the absorbing interest of +the work and the great influence given by his post, Bourrienne stuck to +his place, and to all appearance might, except for himself, have come +down to us as the companion of Napoleon during his whole life. He had +enemies, and one of them--[Boulay de la Meurthe.]--has not shrunk from +describing their gratification at the disgrace of the trusted secretary. +Any one in favour, or indeed in office, under Napoleon was the sure mark +of calumny for all aspirants to place; yet Bourrienne might have +weathered any temporary storm raised by unfounded reports as successfully +as Meneval, who followed him. But Bourrienne's hands were not clean in +money matters, and that was an unpardonable sin in any one who desired to +be in real intimacy with Napoleon. He became involved in the affairs of +the House of Coulon, which failed, as will be seen in the notes, at the +time of his disgrace; and in October 1802 he was called on to hand over +his office to Meneval, who retained it till invalided after the Russian +campaign. + +As has been said, Bourrienne would naturally be the mark for many +accusations, but the conclusive proof of his misconduct--at least for any +one acquainted with Napoleon's objection and dislike to changes in +office, whether from his strong belief in the effects of training, or his +equally strong dislike of new faces round him--is that he was never again +employed near his old comrade; indeed he really never saw the Emperor +again at any private interview, except when granted the naval official +reception in 1805, before leaving to take up his post at Hamburg, which +he held till 1810. We know that his re-employment was urged by Josephine +and several of his former companions. Savary himself says he tried his +advocacy; but Napoleon was inexorable to those who, in his own phrase, +had sacrificed to the golden calf. + +Sent, as we have said, to Hamburg in 1805, as Minister Plenipotentiary to +the Duke of Brunswick, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and to the Hanse +towns, Bourrienne knew how to make his post an important one. He was at +one of the great seats of the commerce which suffered so fearfully from +the Continental system of the Emperor, and he was charged to watch over +the German press. How well he fulfilled this duty we learn from +Metternich, who writes in 1805: "I have sent an article to the newspaper +editors in Berlin and to M. de Hofer at Hamburg. I do not know whether +it has been accepted, for M. Bourrienne still exercises an authority so +severe over these journals that they are always submitted to him before +they appear, that he may erase or alter the articles which do not please +him." + +His position at Hamburg gave him great opportunities for both financial +and political intrigues. In his Memoirs, as Meneval remarks, he or his +editor is not ashamed to boast of being thanked by Louis XVIII. at St. +Ouen for services rendered while he was the minister of Napoleon at +Hamburg. He was recalled in 1810, when the Hanse towns were united, or, +to use the phrase of the day, re-united to the Empire. He then hung +about Paris, keeping on good terms with some of the ministers--Savary, +not the most reputable of them, for example. In 1814 he was to be found +at the office of Lavallette, the head of the posts, disguising, his +enemies said, his delight at the bad news which was pouring in, by +exaggerated expressions of devotion. He is accused of a close and +suspicious connection with Talleyrand, and it is odd that when Talleyrand +became head of the Provisional Government in 1814, Bourrienne of all +persons should have been put at the head of the posts. Received in the +most flattering manner by Louis XVIII, he was as astonished as poor +Beugnot was in 1815, to find himself on 13th May suddenly ejected from +office, having, however, had time to furnish post-horses to Manbreuil for +the mysterious expedition, said to have been at least known to +Talleyrand, and intended certainly for the robbery of the Queen of +Westphalia, and probably for the murder of Napoleon. + +In the extraordinary scurry before the Bourbons scuttled out of Paris in +1814, Bourrienne was made Prefet of the Police for a few days, his tenure +of that post being signalised by the abortive attempt to arrest Fouche, +the only effect of which was to drive that wily minister into the arms of +the Bonapartists. + +He fled with the King, and was exempted from the amnesty proclaimed by +Napoleon. On the return from Ghent he was made a Minister of State +without portfolio, and also became one of the Council. The ruin of his +finances drove him out of France, but he eventually died in a madhouse at +Caen. + +When the Memoirs first appeared in 1829 they made a great sensation. +Till then in most writings Napoleon had been treated as either a demon or +as a demi-god. The real facts of the case were not suited to the tastes +of either his enemies or his admirers. While the monarchs of Europe had +been disputing among themselves about the division of the spoils to be +obtained from France and from the unsettlement of the Continent, there +had arisen an extraordinarily clever and unscrupulous man who, by +alternately bribing and overthrowing the great monarchies, had soon made +himself master of the mainland. His admirers were unwilling to admit the +part played in his success by the jealousy of his foes of each other's +share in the booty, and they delighted to invest him with every great +quality which man could possess. His enemies were ready enough to allow +his military talents, but they wished to attribute the first success of +his not very deep policy to a marvellous duplicity, apparently considered +by them the more wicked as possessed by a parvenu emperor, and far +removed, in a moral point of view, from the statecraft so allowable in an +ancient monarchy. But for Napoleon himself and his family and Court +there was literally no limit to the really marvellous inventions of his +enemies. He might enter every capital on the Continent, but there was +some consolation in believing that he himself was a monster of +wickedness, and his Court but the scene of one long protracted orgie. + +There was enough against the Emperor in the Memoirs to make them +comfortable reading for his opponents, though very many of the old +calumnies were disposed of in them. They contained indeed the nearest +approximation to the truth which had yet appeared. Metternich, who must +have been a good judge, as no man was better acquainted with what he +himself calls the "age of Napoleon," says of the Memoirs: "If you want +something to read, both interesting and amusing, get the Memoires de +Bourrienne. These are the only authentic Memoirs of Napoleon which have +yet appeared. The style is not brilliant, but that only makes them the +mere trustworthy." Indeed, Metternich himself in his own Memoirs often +follows a good deal in the line of Bourrienne: among many formal attacks, +every now and then he lapses into half involuntary and indirect praise of +his great antagonist, especially where he compares the men he had to deal +with in aftertimes with his former rapid and talented interlocutor. To +some even among the Bonapartists, Bourrienne was not altogether +distasteful. Lucien Bonaparte, remarking that the time in which +Bourrienne treated with Napoleon as equal with equal did not last long +enough for the secretary, says he has taken a little revenge in his +Memoirs, just as a lover, after a break with his mistress, reveals all +her defects. But Lucien considers that Bourrienne gives us a good enough +idea of the young officer of the artillery, of the great General, and of +the First Consul. Of the Emperor, says Lucien, he was too much in +retirement to be able to judge equally well. But Lucien was not a fair +representative of the Bonapartists; indeed he had never really thought +well of his brother or of his actions since Lucien, the former "Brutus" +Bonaparte, had ceased to be the adviser of the Consul. It was well for +Lucien himself to amass a fortune from the presents of a corrupt court, +and to be made a Prince and Duke by the Pope, but he was too sincere a +republican not to disapprove of the imperial system. The real +Bonapartists were naturally and inevitably furious with the Memoirs. +They were not true, they were not the work of Bourrienne, Bourrienne +himself was a traitor, a purloiner of manuscripts, his memory was as bad +as his principles, he was not even entitled to the de before his name. +If the Memoirs were at all to be pardoned, it was because his share was +only really a few notes wrung from him by large pecuniary offers at a +time when he was pursued by his creditors, and when his brain was already +affected. + +The Bonapartist attack on the Memoirs was delivered in full form, in two +volumes, 'Bourrienne et ses Erreurs, Volontaires et Involontaires' +(Paris, Heideloff, 1830), edited by the Comte d'Aure, the Ordonnateur en +Chef of the Egyptian expedition, and containing communications from +Joseph Bonaparte, Gourgaud, Stein, etc.' + + --[In the notes in this present edition these volumes are referred + to in brief 'Erreurs'.]-- + +Part of the system of attack was to call in question the authenticity of +the Memoirs, and this was the more easy as Bourrienne, losing his +fortune, died in 1834 in a state of imbecility. But this plan is not +systematically followed, and the very reproaches addressed to the writer +of the Memoirs often show that it was believed they were really written +by Bourrienne. They undoubtedly contain plenty of faults. The editor +(Villemarest, it is said) probably had a large share in the work, and +Bourrienne must have forgotten or misplaced many dates and occurrences. +In such a work, undertaken so many years after the events, it was +inevitable that many errors should be made, and that many statements +should be at least debatable. But on close investigation the work stands +the attack in a way that would be impossible unless it had really been +written by a person in the peculiar position occupied by Bourrienne. He +has assuredly not exaggerated that position: he really, says Lucien +Bonaparte, treated as equal with equal with Napoleon during a part of his +career, and he certainly was the nearest friend and confidant that +Napoleon ever had in his life. + +Where he fails, or where the Bonapartist fire is most telling, is in the +account of the Egyptian expedition. It may seem odd that he should have +forgotten, even in some thirty years, details such as the way in which +the sick were removed; but such matters were not in his province; and it +would be easy to match similar omissions in other works, such as the +accounts of the Crimea, and still more of the Peninsula. It is with his +personal relations with Napoleon that we are most concerned, and it is in +them that his account receives most corroboration. + +It may be interesting to see what has been said of the Memoirs by other +writers. We have quoted Metternich, and Lucien Bonaparte; let us hear +Meneval, his successor, who remained faithful to his master to the end: +"Absolute confidence cannot be given to statements contained in Memoirs +published under the name of a man who has not composed them. It is known +that the editor of these Memoirs offered to M. de Bourrienne, who had +then taken refuge in Holstein from his creditors, a sum said to be thirty +thousand francs to obtain his signature to them, with some notes and +addenda. M. de Bourrienne was already attacked by the disease from which +he died a few years latter in a maison de sante at Caen. Many literary +men co-operated in the preparation of his Memoirs. In 1825 I met M. de +Bourrienne in Paris. He told me it had been suggested to him to write +against the Emperor. 'Notwithstanding the harm he has done me,' said he, +'I would never do so. Sooner may my hand be withered.' If M. de +Bourrienne had prepared his Memoirs himself, he would not have stated +that while he was the Emperor's minister at Hamburg he worked with the +agents of the Comte de Lille (Louis XVIII.) at the preparation of +proclamations in favour of that Prince, and that in 1814 he accepted the +thanks of the King, Louis XVIII., for doing so; he would not have said +that Napoleon had confided to him in 1805 that he had never conceived the +idea of an expedition into England, and that the plan of a landing, the +preparations for which he gave such publicity to, was only a snare to +amuse fools. The Emperor well knew that never was there a plan more +seriously conceived or more positively settled. M. de Bourrienne would +not have spoken of his private interviews with Napoleon, nor of the +alleged confidences entrusted to him, while really Napoleon had no longer +received him after the 20th October 1802. When the Emperor, in 1805, +forgetting his faults, named him Minister Plenipotentiary at Hamburg, he +granted him the customary audience, but to this favour he did not add the +return of his former friendship. Both before and afterwards he +constantly refused to receive him, and he did not correspond with him +"(Meneval, ii. 378-79). And in another passage Meneval says: "Besides, +it would be wrong to regard these Memoirs as the work of the man whose +name they bear. The bitter resentment M. de Bourrienne had nourished for +his disgrace, the enfeeblement of his faculties, and the poverty he was +reduced to, rendered him accessible to the pecuniary offers made to him. +He consented to give the authority of his name to Memoirs in whose +composition he had only co-operated by incomplete, confused, and often +inexact notes, materials which an editor was employed to put in order." +And Meneval (iii. 29-30) goes on to quote what he himself had written in +the Spectateur Militaire, in which he makes much the same assertions, and +especially objects to the account of conversations with the Emperor after +1802, except always the one audience on taking leave for Hamburg. +Meneval also says that Napoleon, when he wished to obtain intelligence +from Hamburg, did not correspond with Bourrienne, but deputed him, +Meneval, to ask Bourrienne for what was wanted. But he corroborates +Bourrienne on the subject of the efforts made, among others by Josephine, +for his reappointment. + +Such are the statements of the Bonaparists pure; and the reader, as has +been said, can judge for himself how far the attack is good. Bourrienne, +or his editor, may well have confused the date of his interviews, but he +will not be found much astray on many points. His account of the +conversation of Josephine after the death of the Due d'Eughien may be +compared with what we know from Madame de Remusat, who, by the way, would +have been horrified if she had known that he considered her to resemble +the Empress Josephine in character. + +We now come to the views of Savary, the Due de Rovigo, who avowedly +remained on good terms with Bourrienne after his disgrace, though the +friendship of Savary was not exactly a thing that most men would have +much prided themselves on. "Bourrienne had a prodigious memory; he spoke +and wrote in several languages, and his pen ran as quickly as one could +speak. Nor were these the only advantages he possessed. He knew the +routine of public business and public law. His activity and devotion +made him indispensable to the First Consul. I knew the qualities which +won for him the unlimited confidence of his chief, but I cannot speak +with the same assurance of the faults which made him lose it. Bourrienne +had many enemies, both on account of his character and of his place" +(Savary, i. 418-19). + +Marmont ought to be an impartial critic of the Memoirs. He says, +"Bourrienne . . . had a very great capacity, but he is a striking +example of the great truth that our passions are always bad counsellors. +By inspiring us with an immoderate ardour to reach a fixed end, they +often make us miss it. Bourrienne had an immoderate love of money. With +his talents and his position near Bonaparte at the first dawn of +greatness, with the confidence and real good-will which Bonaparte felt +for him, in a few years he would have gained everything in fortune and in +social position. But his eager impatience mined his career at the moment +when it might have developed and increased" (Marmont, i. 64). The +criticism appears just. As to the Memoirs, Marmont says (ii. 224), "In +general, these Memoirs are of great veracity and powerful interest so +long as they treat of what the author has seen and heard; but when he +speaks of others, his work is only an assemblage of gratuitous +suppositions and of false facts put forward for special purposes." + +The Comte Alexandre de Puymaigre, who arrived at Hamburgh soon after +Bourrienne had left it in 1810, says (page 135) of the part of the +Memoirs which relates to Hamburg, "I must acknowledge that generally his +assertions are well founded. This former companion of Napoleon has only +forgotten to speak of the opinion that they had of him in this town. + +"The truth is, that he was believed to have made much money there." + +Thus we may take Bourrienne as a clever, able man, who would have risen +to the highest honours under the Empire had not his short-sighted +grasping after lucre driven him from office, and prevented him from ever +regaining it under Napoleon. + +In the present edition the translation has been carefully compared with +the original French text. Where in the original text information is +given which has now become mere matter of history, and where Bourrienne +merely quotes the documents well enough known at this day, his possession +of which forms part of the charges of his opponents, advantage has been +taken to lighten the mass of the Memoirs. This has been done especially +where they deal with what the writer did not himself see or hear, the +part of the Memoirs which are of least valve and of which Marmont's +opinion has just been quoted. But in the personal and more valuable part +of the Memoirs, where we have the actual knowledge of the secretary +himself, the original text has been either fully retained, or some few +passages previously omitted restored. Illustrative notes have been added +from the Memoirs of the successor of Bourrienne, Meneval, Madame de +Remusat, the works of Colonel Iung on 'Bonaparte et Son Temps', and on +'Lucien Bonaparte', etc., and other books. Attention has also been paid +to the attacks of the 'Erreurs', and wherever these criticisms are more +than a mere expression of disagreement, their purport has been recorded +with, where possible, some judgment of the evidence. Thus the reader +will have before him the materials for deciding himself how far, +Bourrienne's statements are in agreement with the facts and with the +accounts of other writers. + +At the present time too much attention has been paid to the Memoirs of +Madame de Remusat. She, as also Madame Junot, was the wife of a man on +whom the full shower of imperial favours did not descend, and, womanlike, +she saw and thought only of the Court life of the great man who was never +less great than in his Court. She is equally astonished and indignant +that the Emperor, coming straight from long hours of work with his +ministers and with his secretary, could not find soft words for the +ladies of the Court, and that, a horrible thing in the eyes of a +Frenchwoman, when a mistress threw herself into his arms, he first +thought of what political knowledge he could obtain from her. +Bourrienne, on the other hand, shows us the other and the really +important side of Napoleon's character. He tells us of the long hours in +the Cabinet, of the never-resting activity of the Consul, of Napoleon's +dreams, no ignoble dreams and often realised, of great labours of peace +as well as of war. He is a witness, and the more valuable as a reluctant +one, to the marvellous powers of the man who, if not the greatest, was at +least the one most fully endowed with every great quality of mind and +body the world has ever seen. + +R. W. P. + + + + + + +AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION. + +The trading upon an illustrious name can alone have given birth to the +multitude of publications under the titles of historical memoirs, secret +memoirs, and other rhapsodies which have appeared respecting Napoleon. +On looking into them it is difficult to determine whether the impudence +of the writers or the simplicity of certain readers is most astonishing. +Yet these rude and ill digested compilations, filled with absurd +anecdotes, fabricated speeches, fictitious crimes or virtues, and +disfigured by numerous anachronisms, instead of being consigned to just +contempt and speedy oblivion, have been pushed into notice by +speculators, and have found zealous partisans and enthusiastic +apologists. + + --[This Introduction has been reprinted as bearing upon the + character of the work, but refers very often to events of the + day at the time of its first appearance.]-- + +For a time I entertained the idea of noticing, one by one, the numerous +errors which have been written respecting Napoleon; but I have renounced +a task which would have been too laborious to myself, and very tedious to +the reader. I shall therefore only correct those which come within the +plan of my work, and which are connected with those facts, to a more +accurate knowledge of which than any other person can possess I may lay +claim. There are men who imagine that nothing done by Napoleon will ever +be forgotten; but must not the slow but inevitable influence of time be +expected to operate with respect to him? The effect of that influence +is, that the most important event of an epoch soon sinks, almost +imperceptibly and almost disregarded, into the immense mass of historical +facts. Time, in its progress, diminishes the probability as well as the +interest of such an event, as it gradually wears away the most durable +monuments. + +I attach only a relative importance to what I am about to lay before the +public. I shall give authentic documents. If all persons who have +approached Napoleon, at any time and in any place, would candidly record +what they saw and heard, without passion, the future historian would be +rich in materials. It is my wish that he who may undertake the difficult +task of writing the history of Napoleon shall find in my notes +information useful to the perfection of his work. There he will at least +find truth. I have not the ambition to wish that what I state should be +taken as absolute authority; but I hope that it will always be consulted. + +I have never before published anything respecting Napoleon. That +malevolence which fastens itself upon men who have the misfortune to be +somewhat separated from the crowd has, because there is always more +profit in saying ill than good, attributed to me several works on +Bonaparte; among others, 'Les Memoires secrets d'un Homnae qui ne l'a pas +quitte', par M. B-------, and 'Memoires secrets sur Napoleon Bonaparte, +par M. de B------, and 'Le Precis Historique sur Napoleon'. The initial +of my name has served to propagate this error. The incredible ignorance +which runs through those memoirs, the absurdities and inconceivable +silliness with which they abound, do not permit a man of honour and +common sense to allow such wretched rhapsodies to be imputed to him. I +declared in 1816, and at later periods in the French +and foreign journals, that I had no hand in those publications, and I +here formally repeat this declaration. + +But it may be said to me, Why should we place more confidence in you than +in those who have written before you? + +My reply shall be plain. I enter the lists one of the last I have read +all that my predecessors have published confident that all I state is +true. I have no interest in deceiving, no disgrace to fear, no reward to +expect. I ether wish to obscure nor embellish his glory. However great +Napoleon may have been, was he not also liable to pay his tribute to the +weakness of human nature? I speak of Napoleon such as I have seen him, +known him, frequently admired and sometimes blamed him. I state what I +saw, heard, wrote, and thought at the time, under each circumstance that +occurred. I have not allowed myself to be carried away by the illusions +of the imagination, nor to be influenced by friendship or hatred. I +shall not insert a single reflection which did not occur to me at the +very moment of the event which gave it birth. How many transactions and +documents were there over which I could but lament!--how many measures, +contrary to my views, to my principles, and to my character!--while the +best intentions were incapable of overcoming difficulties which a most +powerful and decided will rendered almost insurmountable. + +I also wish the future historian to compare what I say with what others +have related or may relate. But it will be necessary for him to attend +to dates, circumstances, difference of situation, change of temperament, +and age,--for age has much influence over men. We do not think and act +at fifty as at twenty-five. By exercising this caution he will be able +to discover the truth, and to establish an opinion for posterity. + +The reader must not expect to find in these Memoirs an uninterrupted +series of all the events which marked the great career of Napoleon; nor +details of all those battles, with the recital of which so many eminent +men have usefully and ably occupied themselves. I shall say little about +whatever I did not see or hear, and which is not supported by official +documents. + +Perhaps I shall succeed in confirming truths which have been doubted, and +in correcting errors which have been adopted. If I sometimes differ from +the observations and statements of Napoleon at St. Helena, I am far from +supposing that those who undertook to be the medium of communication +between him and the public have misrepresented what he said. I am well +convinced that none of the writers of St. Helena can be taxed with the +slightest deception; disinterested zeal and nobleness of character are +undoubted pledges of their veracity. It appears to me perfectly certain +that Napoleon stated, dictated, or corrected all they have published. +Their honour is unquestionable; no one can doubt it. That they wrote +what he communicated must therefore be believed; but it cannot with equal +confidence be credited that what he communicated was nothing but the +truth. He seems often to have related as a fact what was really only an +idea,--an idea, too, brought forth at St. Helena, the child of +misfortune, and transported by his imagination to Europe in the time of +his prosperity. His favourite phrase, which was every moment on his +lips, must not be forgotten--"What will history say--what will posterity +think?" This passion for leaving behind him a celebrated name is one +which belongs to the constitution of the human mind; and with Napoleon +its influence was excessive. In his first Italian campaign he wrote thus +to General Clarke: "That ambition and the occupation of high offices were +not sufficient for his satisfaction and happiness, which he had early +placed in the opinion of Europe and the esteem of posterity." He often +observed to me that with him the opinion of posterity was the real +immortality of the soul. + +It may easily be conceived that Napoleon wished to give to the documents +which he knew historians would consult a favourable colour, and to +direct, according to his own views, the judgment of posterity on his +actions: But it is only by the impartial comparison of periods, +positions, and age that a well founded decision will be given. About his +fortieth year the physical constitution of Napoleon sustained +considerable change; and it may be presumed that his moral qualities were +affected by that change. It is particularly important not to lose sight +of the premature decay of his health, which, perhaps, did not permit him +always to, possess the vigour of memory otherwise consistent enough with +his age. The state of our organisation often modifies our recollections, +our feelings, our manner of viewing objects, and the impressions we +receive. This will be taken into consideration by judicious and thinking +men; and for them I write. + +What M. de Las Casas states Napoleon to have said in May 1816 on the +manner of writing his history corroborates the opinion I have expressed. +It proves that all the facts and observations he communicated or dictated +were meant to serve as materials. We learn from the Memorial that M. de +Las Casas wrote daily, and that the manuscript was read over by Napoleon, +who often made corrections with his own hand. The idea of a journal +pleased him greatly. He fancied it would be a work of which the world +could afford no other example. But there are passages in which the order +of events is deranged; in others facts are misrepresented and erroneous +assertions are made, I apprehend, not altogether involuntarily. + +I have paid particular attention to all that has been published by the +noble participators of the imperial captivity. Nothing, however, could +induce me to change a word in these Memoirs, because nothing could take +from me my conviction of the truth of what I personally heard and saw. +It will be found that Napoleon in his private conversations often +confirms what I state; but we sometimes differ, and the public must judge +between us. However, I must here make one observation. + +When Napoleon dictated or related to his friends in St. Helena the facts +which they have reported he was out of the world,--he had played his +part. Fortune, which, according to his notions, had conferred on him all +his power and greatness, had recalled all her gifts before he sank into +the tomb. His ruling passion would induce him to think that it was due +to his glory to clear up certain facts which might prove an unfavourable +escort if they accompanied him to posterity. This was his fixed idea. +But is there not some ground for suspecting the fidelity of him who +writes or dictates his own history? Why might he not impose on a few +persons in St. Helena, when he was able to impose on France and Europe, +respecting many acts which emanated from him during the long duration of +his power? The life of Napoleon would be very unfaithfully written were +the author to adopt as true all his bulletins and proclamations, and all +the declarations he made at St. Helena. Such a history would frequently +be in contradiction to facts; and such only is that which might be +entitled, 'The History of Napoleon, written by Himself'. + +I have said thus much because it is my wish that the principles which +have guided me in the composition of these Memoirs may be understood. +I am aware that they will not please every reader; that is a success to +which I cannot pretend. Some merit, however, may be allowed me on +account of the labour I have undergone. It has neither been of a slight +nor an agreeable kind. I made it a rule to read everything that has been +written respecting Napoleon, and I have had to decipher many of his +autograph documents, though no longer so familiar with his scrawl as +formerly. I say decipher, because a real cipher might often be much more +readily understood than the handwriting of Napoleon. My own notes, too, +which were often very hastily made, in the hand I wrote in my youth, have +sometimes also much embarrassed me. + +My long and intimate connection with Bonaparte from boyhood, my close +relations with him when General, Consul, and Emperor, enabled me to see +and appreciate all that was projected and all that was done during that +considerable and momentous period of time. I not only had the +opportunity of being present at the conception and the execution of the +extraordinary deeds of one of the ablest men nature ever formed, but, +notwithstanding an almost unceasing application to business, I found +means to employ the few moments of leisure which Bonaparte left at my +disposal in making notes, collecting documents, and in recording for +history facts respecting which the truth could otherwise with difficulty +be ascertained; and more particularly in collecting those ideas, often +profound, brilliant, and striking, but always remarkable, to which +Bonaparte gave expression in the overflowing frankness of confidential +intimacy. + +The knowledge that I possessed much important information has exposed me +to many inquiries, and wherever I have resided since my retirement from +public affairs much of my time has been spent in replying to questions. +The wish to be acquainted with the most minute details of the life of a +man formed on an unexampled m del [?? D.W.] is very natural; and the +observation on my replies by those who heard them always was, +"You should publish your Memoirs!" + +I had certainly always in view the publication of my Memoirs; but, at the +same time, I was firmly resolved not to publish them until a period +should arrive in which I might tell the truth, and the whole truth. +While Napoleon was in the possession of power I felt it right to resist +the urgent applications made to me on this subject by some persons of +the highest distinction. Truth would then have sometimes appeared +flattery, and sometimes, also, it might not have been without danger. +Afterwards, when the progress of events removed Bonaparte to a far +distant island in the midst of the ocean, silence was imposed on me by +other considerations,-by considerations of propriety and feeling. + +After the death of Bonaparte, at St. Helena, reasons of a different +nature retarded the execution of my plan. The tranquillity of a secluded +retreat was indispensable for preparing and putting in order the abundant +materials in my possession. I found it also necessary to read a great +number of works, in order to rectify important errors to which the want +of authentic documents had induced the authors to give credit. This +much-desired retreat was found. I had the good fortune to be introduced, +through a friend, to the Duchesse de Brancas, and that lady invited me to +pass some time on one of her estates in Hainault. Received with the most +agreeable hospitality, I have there enjoyed that tranquillity which could +alone have rendered the publication of these volumes practicable. + +FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + + + + +NOTE. + +The Editor of the 1836 edition had added to the Memoirs several chapters +taken from or founded on other works of the time, so as to make a more +complete history of the period. These materials have been mostly +retained, but with the corrections which later publications have made +necessary. A chapter has now been added to give, a brief account of the +part played by the chief historical personages during the Cent Tours, and +another at the end to include the removal of the body of Napoleon from +St. Helena to France. + +Two special improvements have, it is hoped, been made in this edition. +Great care has been taken to get names, dates, and figures rightly +given,--points much neglected in most translations, though in some few +cases, such as Davoust, the ordinary but not strictly correct spelling +has been followed to suit the general reader. The number of references +to other works which are given in the notes wall, it is believed, be of +use to any one wishing to continue the study of the history of Napoleon, +and may preserve them from many of the errors too often committed. The +present Editor has had the great advantage of having his work shared by +Mr. Richard Bentley, who has brought his knowledge of the period to bear, +and who has found, as only a busy man could do, the time to minutely +enter into every fresh detail, with the ardour which soon seizes any one +who long follows that enticing pursuit, the special study of an +historical period. + +January 1885 +R. W. P. + + + + + + + + MEMOIRS + of + NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. + + +CHAPTER 1 + +1769-1783. + + Authentic date of Bonaparte's birth--His family rained by the + Jesuits--His taste for military amusements--Sham siege at the + College of Brienne--The porter's wife and Napoleon--My intimacy with + Bonaparte at college--His love for the mathematics, and his dislike + of Latin--He defends Paoli and blames his father--He is ridiculed by + his comrades--Ignorance of the monks--Distribution of prizes at + Brienne--Madame de Montesson and the Duke of Orleans--Report of M. + Keralio on Bonaparte--He leaves Brienne. + + +NAPOLEON BONAPARTE was born at Ajaccio, in Corsica, on the 15th of August +1769; the original orthography of his name was Buonaparte, but he +suppressed the during his first campaign in Italy. His motives for so +doing were merely to render the spelling conformable with the +pronunciation, and to abridge his signature. He signed Buonaparte even +after the famous 13th Vendemiaire. + +It has been affirmed that he was born in 1768, and that he represented +himself to be a year younger than he really was. This is untrue. He +always told me the 9th of August was his birthday, and, as I was born on +the 9th of July 1769, our proximity of age served to strengthen our union +and friendship when we were both at the Military College of Brienne. + +The false and absurd charge of Bonaparte having misrepresented his age, +is decidedly refuted by a note in the register of M. Berton, sub- +principal of the College of Brienne, in which it is stated that +M. Napoleon de Buonaparte, ecuyer, born in the city of Ajaccio, in +Corsica, on the 15th of August 1769, left the Royal Military College of +Brienne on the 17th October 1784. + +The stories about his low extraction are alike devoid of foundation. His +family was poor, and he was educated at the public expense, an advantage +of which many honourable families availed themselves. A memorial +addressed by his father, Charles Buonaparte, to the Minister of War +states that his fortune had been reduced by the failure of some +enterprise in which he had engaged, and by the injustice of the Jesuits, +by whom he had been deprived of an inheritance. The object of this +memorial was to solicit a sub-lieutenant's commission for Napoleon, who +was then fourteen years of age, and to get Lucien entered a pupil of the +Military College. The Minister wrote on the back of the memorial, "Give +the usual answer, if there be a vacancy;" and on the margin are these +words--"This gentleman has been informed that his request is inadmissible +as long as his second son remains at the school of Brienne. Two brothers +cannot be placed at the same time in the military schools." When +Napoleon was fifteen he was sent to Paris until he should attain the +requisite age for entering the army. Lucien was not received into the +College of Brienne, at least not until his brother had quitted the +Military School of Paris. + +Bonaparte was undoubtedly a man of good family. I have seen an authentic +account of his genealogy, which he obtained from Tuscany. A great deal +has been said about the civil dissensions which forced his family to quit +Italy and take refuge in Corsica. On this subject I shall say nothing. + +Many and various accounts have been given of Bonaparte's youth. + + --[The following interesting trait of Napoleon's childhood is + derived from the 'Memoirs of the Duchesse d'Arbranes':--"He was one + day accused by one of his sisters of having eaten a basketful of + grapes, figs, and citrons, which had come from the garden of his + uncle the Canon. None but those who were acquainted with the + Bonaparte family can form any idea of the enormity of this offence. + To eat fruit belonging to the uncle the Canon was infinitely more + criminal than to eat grapes and figs which might be claimed by + anybody else. An inquiry took place. Napoleon. denied the fact, + and was whipped. He was told that if he would beg pardon he should + be forgiven. He protested that he was innocent, but he was not + believed. If I recollect rightly, his mother was at the time on a + visit to M. de Marbeuf, or some other friend. The result of + Napoleon's obstinacy was, that he was kept three whole days on bread + and cheese, and that cheese was not 'broccio'. However, be would + not cry: he was dull, but not sulky. At length, on the fourth day + of his punishment a little friend of Marianne Bonaparte returned + from the country, and on hearing of Napoleon's disgrace she + confessed that she and Marianne had eaten the fruit. It was now + Marianne's turn to be punished. When Napoleon was asked why he had + not accused his sister, he replied that though he suspected that she + was guilty, yet out of consideration to her little friend, who had + no share in the falsehood, he had said nothing. He was then only + seven years of age" (vol. i. p. 9, edit. 1883).]-- + +He has been described in terms of enthusiastic praise and exaggerated +condemnation. It is ever thus with individuals who by talent or +favourable circumstances are raised above their fellow-creatures. +Bonaparte himself laughed at all the stories which were got up for the +purpose of embellishing or blackening his character in early life. +An anonymous publication, entitled the 'History of Napoleon Bonaparte', +from his Birth to his last abdication, contains perhaps the greatest +collection of false and ridiculous details about his boyhood. Among +other things, it is stated that he fortified a garden to protect himself +from the attacks of his comrades, who, a few lines lower down, are +described as treating him with esteem and respect. I remember the +circumstances which, probably, gave rise to the fabrication inserted in +the work just mentioned; they were as follows. + +During the winter of 1783-84, so memorable for heavy falls of snow, +Napoleon was greatly at a loss for those retired walks and outdoor +recreations in which he used to take much delight. He had no alternative +but to mingle with his comrades, and, for exercise, to walk with them up +and down a spacious hall. Napoleon, weary of this monotonous promenade, +told his comrades that he thought they might amuse themselves much better +with the snow, in the great courtyard, if they would get shovels and make +hornworks, dig trenches, raise parapets, cavaliers, etc. "This being +done," said he, "we may divide ourselves into sections, form a siege, and +I will undertake to direct the attacks." The proposal, which was +received with enthusiasm, was immediately put into execution. This +little sham war was carried on for the space of a fortnight, and did not +cease until a quantity of gravel and small stones having got mixed with +the snow of which we made our bullets, many of the combatants, besiegers +as well as besieged, were seriously wounded. I well remember that I was +one of the worst sufferers from this sort of grapeshot fire. + +It is almost unnecessary to contradict the story about the ascent in the +balloon. It is now very well known that the hero of that headlong +adventure was not young Bonaparte, as has been alleged, but one of his +comrades, Dudont de Chambon, who was somewhat eccentric. Of this his +subsequent conduct afforded sufficient proofs. + +Bonaparte's mind was directed to objects of a totally different kind. +He turned his attention to political science. During some of his +vacations he enjoyed the society of the Abby Raynal, who used to converse +with him on government, legislation, commercial relations, etc. + +On festival days, when the inhabitants of Brienne were admitted to our +amusements, posts were established for the maintenance of order. Nobody +was permitted to enter the interior of the building without a card signed +by the principal, or vice-principal. The rank of officers or sub- +officers was conferred according to merit; and Bonaparte one day had the +command of a post, when the following little adventure occurred, which +affords an instance of his decision of character. + +The wife of the porter of the school, + + --[This woman, named Haute, was afterwards placed at Malmaison, with + her husband. They both died as concierges of Malmaison. This shows + that Napoleon had a memory.--Bourrienne.]-- + +who was very well known, because she used to sell milk, fruit, etc., to +the pupils, presented herself one Saint Louis day for admittance to the +representation of the 'Death of Caesar, corrected', in which I was to +perform the part of Brutus. As the woman had no ticket, and insisted on +being admitted without one, some disturbance arose. The serjeant of the +post reported the matter to the officer, Napoleon Bonaparte, who in an +imperious tone of voice exclaimed: "Send away that woman, who comes here +with her camp impudence." This was in 1782. + +Bonaparte and I were eight years of, age when our friendship commenced. +It speedily became very intimate, for there was a certain sympathy of +heart between us. I enjoyed this friendship and intimacy until 1784, +when he was transferred from the Military College of Brienne to that of +Paris. I was one among those of his youthful comrades who could best +accommodate themselves to his stern character. His natural reserve, his +disposition to meditate on the conquest of Corsica, and the impressions +he had received in childhood respecting the misfortunes of his country +and his family, led him to seek retirement, and rendered his general +demeanour, though in appearance only, somewhat unpleasing. Our equality +of age brought us together in the classes of the mathematics and 'belles +lettres'. His ardent wish to acquire knowledge was remarkable from the +very commencement of his studies. When he first came to the college he +spoke only the Corsican dialect, and the Sieur Dupuis, + + --[He afterwards filled the pout of librarian to Napoleon at + Malmaison.]-- + +who was vice-principal before Father Berton, gave him instructions in the +French language. In this he made such rapid progress that in a short +time he commenced the first rudiments of Latin. But to this study he +evinced such a repugnance that at the age of fifteen he was not out of +the fourth class. There I left him very speedily; but I could never get +before him in the mathematical class, in which he was undoubtedly the +cleverest lad at the college. I used sometimes to help him with his +Latin themes and versions in return for the aid he afforded me in the +solution of problems, at which he evinced a degree of readiness and +facility which perfectly astonished me. + +When at Brienne, Bonaparte was remarkable for the dark color of his +complexion (which, subsequently, the climate of France somewhat changed), +for his piercing and scrutinising glance, and for the style of his +conversation both with his masters and comrades. His conversation almost +always bore the appearance of ill-humour, and he was certainly not very +amiable. This I attribute to the misfortunes his family had sustained +and the impressions made on his mind by the conquest of his country. + +The pupils were invited by turns to dine with Father Berton, the head of +the school. One day, it being Bonaparte's turn to enjoy this indulgence, +some of the professors who were at table designedly made some +disrespectful remarks on Paoli, of whom they knew the young Corsican was +an enthusiastic admirer. "Paoli," observed Bonaparte, "was a great man; +he loved his country; and I will never forgive my father, who was his +adjutant, for having concurred in the union of Corsica with France. He +ought to have followed Paoli's fortune, and have fallen with him." + + --[The Duchesse d'Abrantes, speaking of the personal characteristics + of Bonaparte in youth and manhood, says, "Saveria told me that + Napoleon was never a pretty boy, as Joseph was, for example: his + head always appeared too large for his body, a defect common to the + Bonaparte family. When Napoleon grew up, the peculiar charm of his + countenance lay in his eye, especially in the mild expression it + assumed in his moments of kindness. His anger, to be sure, was + frightful, and though I am no coward, I never could look at him in + his fits of rage without shuddering. Though his smile was + captivating, yet the expression of his month when disdainful or + angry could scarcely be seen without terror. But that forehead + which seemed formed to bear the crowns of a whole world; those + hands, of which the most coquettish women might have been vain, and + whose white skin covered muscles of iron; in short, of all that + personal beauty which distinguished Napoleon as a young man, no + traces were discernible in the boy. Saveria spoke truly when she + said, that of all the children of Signora Laetitia, the Emperor was + the one from whom future greatness was least to be prognosticated" + (vol. i. p. 10, edit. 1883)]-- + +Generally speaking, Bonaparte was not much liked by his comrades at +Brienne. He was not social with them, and rarely took part in their +amusements. His country's recent submission to France always caused in +his mind a painful feeling, which estranged him from his schoolfellows. +I, however, was almost his constant companion. During play-hours he used +to withdraw to the library, where he-read with deep interest works of +history, particularly Polybius and Plutarch. He was also fond of +Arrianus, but did not care much for Quintus Gurtius. I often went off to +play with my comrades, and left him by himself in the library. + +The temper of the young Corsican was not improved by the teasing he +frequently experienced from his comrades, who were fond of ridiculing him +about his Christian name Napoleon and his country. He often said to me, +"I will do these French all the mischief I can;" and when I tried to +pacify him he would say, "But you do not ridicule me; you like me." + +Father Patrauld, our mathematical professor, was much attached to +Bonaparte. He was justly proud of him as a pupil. The other professors, +in whose classes he was not distinguished, took little notice of him. +He had no taste for the study of languages, polite literature, or the +arts. As there were no indications of his ever becoming a scholar, the +pedants of the establishment were inclined to think him stupid. His +superior intelligence was, however, sufficiently perceptible, even +through the reserve under which it was veiled. If the monks to whom the +superintendence of the establishment was confided had understood the +organisation of his mind, if they had engaged more able mathematical +professors, or if we had had any incitement to the study of chemistry, +natural philosophy, astronomy, etc., I am convinced that Bonaparte would +have pursued these sciences with all the genius and spirit of +investigation which he displayed in a career, more brilliant it is true, +but less useful to mankind. Unfortunately, the monks did not perceive +this, and were too poor to pay for good masters. However, after +Bonaparte left the college they found it necessary to engage two +professors from Paris, otherwise the college would have fallen to +nothing. These two new professors, MM. Durfort and Desponts, finished my +education; and I regretted that they did not come sooner. The often- +repeated assertion of Bonaparte having received a careful education at +Brienne is therefore untrue. The monks were incapable of giving it him; +and, for my own part, I must confess that the extended information of the +present day is to me a painful contrast with the limited course of +education I received at the Military College. It is only surprising that +the establishment should have produced a single able man. + +Though Bonaparte had no reason to be satisfied with the treatment he +received from his comrades, yet he was above complaining of it; and when +he had the supervision of any duty which they infringed, he would rather +go to prison than denounce the criminals. + +I was one day his accomplice in omitting to enforce a duty which we were +appointed to supervise. He prevailed on me to accompany him to prison, +where we remained three days. We suffered this sort of punishment +several times, but with less severity. + +In 1783 the Duke of Orleans and Madame de Montesson visited Brienne; and, +for upwards of a month, the magnificent chateau of the Comte de Brienne +was a Versailles in miniature. The series of brilliant entertainments +which were given to the august travellers made them almost forget the +royal magnificence they had left behind them. + +The Prince and Madame de Montesson expressed a wish to preside at the +distribution of the prizes of our college. Bonaparte and I won the +prizes in the class of mathematics, which, as I have already observed, +was the branch of study to which he confined his attention, and in which +he excelled. When I was called up for the seventh time Madame de +Montesson said to my mother, who had come from Sens to be present at the +distribution, "Pray, madame, crown your son this time; my hands are a- +weary." + +There was an inspector of the military schools, whose business it was to +make an annual report on each pupil, whether educated at the public +expense or paid for by his family. I copied from the report of 1784 a +note which was probably obtained surreptitiously from the War Office. I +wanted to purchase the manuscript, but Louis Bonaparte bought it. I did +not make a copy of the note which related to myself, because I should +naturally have felt diffident in making any use of it. It would, +however, have served to show how time and circumstances frequently +reversed the distinctions which arise at school or college. Judging from +the reports of the inspector of military schools, young Bonaparte was +not, of all the pupils at Brienne in 1784, the one most calculated to +excite prognostics of future greatness and glory. + +The note to which I have just alluded, and which was written by M. de +Kerralio, then inspector of the military schools, describes Bonaparte in +the following terms: + + INSPECTION OF MILITARY SCHOOLS + 1784. + REPORT MADE FOR HIS MAJESTY BY M. DE KERALIO. + + M. de Buonaparte (Napoleon), born 15th August 1769, height 4 feet 10 + inches 10 lines, is in the fourth class, has a good constitution, + excellent health, character obedient, upright, grateful, conduct + very regular; has been always distinguished by his application to + mathematics. He knows history and geography very passably. He is + not well up in ornamental studies or in Latin in which he is only in + the fourth class. He will be an excellent sailor. He deserves to + be passed on to the Military School of Paris. + +Father Berton, however, opposed Bonaparte's removal to Paris, because he +had not passed through the fourth Latin class, and the regulations +required that he should be in the third. I was informed by the vice- +principal that a report relative to Napoleon was sent from the College of +Brienne to that of Paris, in which he was described as being domineering, +imperious, and obstinate. + + --[Napoleon remained upwards of five years at Brienne, from April + 1779 till the latter end of 1784. In 1783 the Chevalier Keralio, + sub-inspector of the military schools, selected him to pass the year + following to the military school at Paris, to which three of the + best scholars were annually sent from each of the twelve provincial + military schools of France. It is curious as well as satisfactory + to know the opinion at this time entertained of him by those who + were the best qualified to judge. His old master, Le Guille, + professor of history at Paris, boasted that, in a list of the + different scholars, he had predicted his pupil's subsequent career. + In fact, to the name of Bonaparte the following note is added: "a + Corsican by birth and character--he will do something great, if + circumstances favour him." Menge was his instructor in geometry, + who also entertained a high opinion of him. M. Bauer, his German + master, was the only one who saw nothing in him, and was surprised + at being told he was undergoing his examination for the artillery.-- + Hazlitt.]-- + +I knew Bonaparte well; and I think M. de Keralio's report of him was +exceedingly just, except, perhaps, that he might have said he was very +well as to his progress in history and geography, and very backward in +Latin; but certainly nothing indicated the probability of his being an +excellent seaman. He himself had no thought of the navy. + + --[Bourrienne is certainly wrong as to Bonaparte having no thought + of the navy. In a letter of 1784 to the Minister of War his father + says of Napoleon that, "following the advice of the Comte de + Marbeuf, he has turned his studies towards the navy; and so well has + he succeeded that be was intended by M. de Keralio for the school of + Paris, and afterwards for the department of Toulon. The retirement + of the former professor (Keralio) has changed the fate of my son." + It was only on the failure of his intention to get into the navy + that his father, on 15th July 1784 applied for permission for him to + enter the artillery; Napoleon having a horror of the infantry, where + he said they did nothing. It was on the success of this application + that he was allowed to enter the school of Parts (Iung, tome i. pp. + 91-103). Oddly enough, in later years, on 30th August 1792, having + just succeeded in getting himself reinstated as captain after his + absence, overstaying leave, he applied to pass into the Artillerie + de la Marine. "The application was judged to be simply absurd, and + was filed with this note, 'S. R.' ('sans reponse')" (Iung, tome ii. + p. 201)]-- + +In consequence of M. de Keralio's report, Bonaparte was transferred to +the Military College of Paris, along with MM. Montarby de Dampierre, de +Castres, de Comminges, and de Laugier de Bellecourt, who were all, like +him, educated at the public expense, and all, at least, as favorably +reported. + +What could have induced Sir Walter Scott to say that Bonaparte was the +pride of the college, that our mathematical master was exceedingly fond +of him, and that the other professors in the different sciences had equal +reason to be satisfied with him? What I have above stated, together with +the report of M. de Keralio, bear evidence of his backwardness in almost +every branch of education except mathematics. Neither was it, as Sir +Walter affirms, his precocious progress in mathematics that occasioned +him to be removed to Paris. He had attained the proper age, and the +report of him was favourable, therefore he was very naturally included +among the number of the five who were chosen in 1784. + +In a biographical account of Bonaparte I have read the following +anecdote:--When he was fourteen years of age he happened to be at a party +where some one pronounced a high eulogium on Turenne; and a lady in the +company observed that he certainly was a great man, but that she should +like him better if he had not burned the Palatinate. "What signifies +that," replied Bonaparte, "if it was necessary to the object he had in +view?" + +This is either an anachronism or a mere fabrication. Bonaparte was +fourteen in the year 1783. He was then at Brienne, where certainly he +did not go into company, and least of all the company of ladies. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +1784-1794. + + Bonaparte enters the Military College of Paris--He urges me to + embrace the military profession--His report on the state of the + Military School of Paris--He obtains a commission--I set off for + Vienna--Return to Paris, where I again meet Bonaparte--His singular + plans for raising money--Louis XVI, with the red cap on his head-- + The 10th of August--My departure for Stuttgart--Bonaparte goes to + Corsica--My name inscribed on the list of emigrants--Bonaparte at + the siege of Toulon--Le Souper de Beaucaire--Napoleon's mission to + Genoa--His arrest--His autographical justification + --Duroc's first connection with Bonaparte. + +Bonaparte was fifteen years and two months old when he went to the +Military College of Paris. + + --[Madame Junot relates some interesting particulars connected with + Napoleon's first residence in Paris: + "My mother's first care," says she, "on arriving in Paris was to + inquire after Napoleon Bonaparte. He was at that time in the + military school at Paris, having quitted Brienne in the September of + the preceding year. + + "My uncle Demetrius had met him just after he alighted from the coach + which brought him to town; 'And truly.' said my uncle, 'he had the + appearance of a fresh importation. I met him in the Palms Royal, + where he was gaping and staring with wonder at everything he saw. + He would have been an excellent subject for sharpers, if, indeed, he + had had anything worth taking!' My uncle invited him to dine at his + house; for though my uncle was a bachelor, he did not choose to dine + at a 'traiteur' (the name 'restaurateur' was not then introduced). + He told my mother that Napoleon was very morose. 'I fear,' added + he, 'that that young man has more self-conceit than is suitable to + his condition. When he dined with me he began to declaim violently + against the luxury of the young men of the military school. After a + little he turned the conversation on Mania, and the present + education of the young Maniotes, drawing a comparison between it and + the ancient Spartan system of education. His observations on this + head be told me he intended to embody in a memorial to be presented + to the Minister of War. All this, depend upon it, will bring him + under the displeasure of his comrades; and it will be lucky if he + escape being run through.' A few days afterwards my mother saw + Napoleon, and then his irritability was at its height. He would + scarcely bear any observations, even if made in his favour, and I am + convinced that it is to this uncontrollable irritability that be + owed the reputation of having been ill-tempered in his boyhood, and + splenetic in his youth. My father, who was acquainted with almost + all the heads of the military school, obtained leave for him + sometimes to come out for recreation. On account of an accident (a + sprain, if I recollect rightly) Napoleon once spent a whole week at + our house. To this day, whenever I pass the Quai Conti, I cannot + help looking up at a 'mansarde' at the left angle of the house on + the third floor. That was Napoleon's chamber when he paid us a + visit, and a neat little room it was. My brother used to occupy the + one next to it. The two young men were nearly of the same age: my + brother perhaps had the advantage of a year or fifteen months. My + mother had recommended him to cultivate the friendship of young + Bonaparte; but my brother complained how unpleasant it was to find + only cold politeness where be expected affection. This + repulsiveness on the part of Napoleon was almost offensive, and must + have been sensibly felt by my brother, who was not only remarkable + for the mildness of his temper and the amenity and grace of his + manner, but whose society was courted in the most distinguished + circles of Paris on account of his accomplishments. He perceived in + Bonaparte a kind of acerbity and bitter irony, of which he long + endeavoured to discover the cause. 'I believe,' said Albert one day + to my mother, 'that the poor young man feels keenly his dependent + situation.'" ('Memoirs of the Duchesse d'Abrantes, vol. i. p. 18, + edit. 1883).]-- + +I accompanied him in a carriole as far as Nogent Sur Seine, whence the +coach was to start. We parted with regret, and we did not meet again +till the year 1792. During these eight years we maintained an active +correspondence; but so little did I anticipate the high destiny which, +after his elevation, it was affirmed the wonderful qualities of his +boyhood plainly denoted, that I did not preserve one of the letters +he wrote to me at that period, but tore them up as soon as they were +answered. + + --[I remember, however, that in a letter which I received from him + about a year after his arrival in Paris he urged me to keep my + promise of entering the army with him. Like him, I had passed + through the studies necessary for the artillery service; and in 1787 + I went for three months to Metz, in order to unite practice with + theory. A strange Ordinance, which I believe was issued in 1778 by + M. de Segur, required that a man should possess four quarterings of + nobility before he could be qualified to serve his king and country + as a military officer. My mother went to Paris, taking with her the + letters patent of her husband, who died six weeks after my birth. + She proved that in the year 1640 Louis XIII. had, by letters + patent, restored the titles of one Fauvelet de Villemont, who in + 1586 had kept several provinces of Burgundy subject to the king's + authority at the peril of his life and the loss of his property; and + that his family had occupied the first places in the magistracy + since the fourteenth century. All was correct, but it was observed + that the letters of nobility had not been registered by the + Parliament, and to repair this little omission, the sum of twelve + thousand francs was demanded. This my mother refused to pay, and + there the matter rested.]-- + +On his arrival at the Military School of Paris, Bonaparte found the +establishment on so brilliant and expensive a footing that he immediately +addressed a memorial on the subject to the Vice-Principal Berton of +Brienne. + + --[A second memoir prepared by him to the same effect was intended + for the Minister of War, but Father Berton wisely advised silence to + the young cadet (Iung, tome i. p. 122). Although believing in the + necessity of show and of magnificence in public life, Napoleon + remained true to these principles. While lavishing wealth on his + ministers and marshals, "In your private life," said be, "be + economical and even parsimonious; in public be magnificent" + (Meneval, tome i. p. 146).]-- + +He showed that the plan of education was really pernicious, and far from +being calculated to fulfil the object which every wise government must +have in view. The result of the system, he said, was to inspire the +pupils, who were all the sons of poor gentlemen, with a love of +ostentation, or rather, with sentiments of vanity and self-sufficiency; +so that, instead of returning happy to the bosom of their families, they +were likely to be ashamed of their parents, and to despise their humble +homes. Instead of the numerous attendants by whom they were surrounded, +their dinners of two courses, and their horses and grooms, he suggested +that they should perform little necessary services for themselves, such +as brushing their clothes, and cleaning their boots and shoes; that they +should eat the coarse bread made for soldiers, etc. Temperance and +activity, he added, would render them robust, enable them to bear the +severity of different seasons and climates, to brave the fatigues of war, +and to inspire the respect and obedience of the soldiers under their +command. Thus reasoned Napoleon at the age of sixteen, and time showed +that he never deviated from these principles. The establishment of the +military school at Fontainebleau is a decided proof of this. + +As Napoleon was an active observer of everything passing around him, and +pronounced his opinion openly and decidedly, he did not remain long at +the Military School of Paris. His superiors, who were anxious to get rid +of him, accelerated the period of his examination, and he obtained the +first vacant sub-lieutenancy in a regiment of artillery. + +I left Brienne in 1787; and as I could not enter the artillery, +I proceeded in the following year to Vienna, with a letter of +recommendation to M. de Montmorin, soliciting employment in the French +Embassy at the Court of Austria. + +I remained two months at Vienna, where I had the honour of twice seeing +the Emperor Joseph. The impression made upon me by his kind reception, +his dignified and elegant manners, and graceful conversation, will never +be obliterated from my recollection. After M. de Noailles had initiated +me in the first steps of diplomacy, he advised me to go to one of the +German universities to study the law of nations and foreign languages. +I accordingly repaired to Leipsic, about the time when the French +Revolution broke out. + +I spent some time at Leipsic, where I applied myself to the study of the +law of nations, and the German and English languages. I afterwards +travelled through Prussia and Poland, and passed a part of the winter of +1791 and 1792 at Warsaw, where I was most graciously received by Princess +Tyszicwiez, niece of Stanislaus Augustus, the last King of Poland, and +the sister of Prince Poniatowski. The Princess was very well informed, +and was a great admirer of French literature: At her invitation I passed +several evenings in company with the King in a circle small enough to +approach to something like intimacy. I remember that his Majesty +frequently asked me to read the Moniteur; the speeches to which he +listened with the greatest pleasure were those of the Girondists. The +Princess Tyszicwiez wished to print at Warsaw, at her own expense, a +translation I had executed of Kotzebue's 'Menschenhass and Reue, to which +I gave the title of 'L'Inconnu'. + + --[A play known on the English stage as The Stranger.]-- + +I arrived at Vienna on the 26th of March 1792, when I was informed of the +serious illness of the Emperor, Leopold II, who died on the following +day. In private companies, and at public places, I heard vague +suspicions expressed of his having been poisoned; but the public, who +were admitted to the palace to see the body lie in state, were soon +convinced of the falsehood of these reports. I went twice to see the +mournful spectacle, and I never heard a word which was calculated to +confirm the odious suspicion, though the spacious hall in which the +remains of the Emperor were exposed was constantly thronged with people. + +In the month of April 1792 I returned to Paris, where I again met +Bonaparte, + + --[Bonaparte is said, on very doubtful authority, to have spent five + or six weeks in London in 1791 or 1792, and to have "lodged in a + house in George Street, Strand. His chief occupation appeared to be + taking pedestrian exercise in the streets of London--hence his + marvellous knowledge of the great metropolis which used to astonish + any Englishmen of distinction who were not aware of this visit. He + occasionally took his cup of chocolate at the 'Northumberland,' + occupying himself in reading, and preserving a provoking taciturnity + to the gentlemen in the room; though his manner was stern, his + deportment was that of a gentleman." The story of his visit is + probably as apocryphal as that of his offering his services to the + English Government when the English forces wore blockading the coast + of Corsica,]-- + +and our college intimacy was fully renewed. I was not very well off, and +adversity was hanging heavily on him; his resources frequently failed +him. We passed our time like two young fellows of twenty-three who have +little money and less occupation. Bonaparte was always poorer than I. +Every day we conceived some new project or other. We were on the look- +out for some profitable speculation. At one time he wanted me to join +him in renting several houses, then building in the Rue Montholon, to +underlet them afterwards. We found the demands of the landlords +extravagant--everything failed. + +At the same time he was soliciting employment at the War Office, and I at +the office of Foreign Affairs. I was for the moment the luckier of the +two. + +While we were spending our time in a somewhat vagabond way, + + --[It was before the 20th of June that in our frequent excursions + around Paris we went to St. Cyr to see his sister Marianne (Elisa). + We returned to dine alone at Trianon.--Bourrienne.]-- + +the 20th of June arrived. We met by appointment at a restaurateur's in +the Rue St. Honore, near the Palais Royal, to take one of our daily +rambles. On going out we saw approaching, in the direction of the +market, a mob, which Bonaparte calculated at five or six thousand men. +They were all in rags, ludicrously armed with weapons of every +description, and were proceeding hastily towards the Tuilleries, +vociferating all kinds of gross abuse. It was a collection of all that +was most vile and abject in the purlieus of Paris. "Let us follow the +mob," said Bonaparte. We got the start of them, and took up our station +on the terrace of the banks of the river. It was there that he witnessed +the scandalous scenes which took place; and it would be difficult to +describe the surprise and indignation which they excited in him. When +the King showed himself at the windows overlooking the garden, with the +red cap, which one of the mob had put on his head, he could no longer +repress his indignation. "Che coglione!" +he loudly exclaimed. "Why have they let in all that rabble! They should +sweep off four or five hundred of them with the cannon; the rest would +then set off fast enough." + +When we sat down to dinner, which I paid for, as I generally did, for I +was the richer of the two, he spoke of nothing but the scene we had +witnessed. He discussed with great good sense the causes and +consequences of this unrepressed insurrection. He foresaw and developed +with sagacity all that would ensue. He was not mistaken. The 10th of +August soon arrived. I was then at Stuttgart, where I was appointed +Secretary of Legation. + +At St. Helena Bonaparte said, "On the news of the attack of the +Tuilleries, on the 10th of August, I hurried to Fauvelet, Bourrienne's +brother, who then kept a furniture warehouse at the Carrousel." This is +partly correct. My brother was connected with what was termed an +'enterprise d'encan national', where persons intending to quit France +received an advance of money, on depositing any effects which they wished +to dispose of, and which were sold for them immediately. Bonaparte had +some time previously pledged his watch in this way. + +After the fatal 10th of August Bonaparte went to Corsica, and did not +return till 1793. Sir Walter Scott says that after that time he never +saw Corsica again. This is a mistake, as will be shown when I speak of +his return from Egypt. + + --[Sir Walter appears to have collected his information for the Life + of Napoleon only from those libels and vulgar stories which + gratified the calumnious spirit and national hatred. His work is + written with excessive negligence, which, added to its numerous + errors, shows how much respect he must have entertained for his + readers. It would appear that his object was to make it the inverse + of his novels, where everything is borrowed from history. I have + been assured that Marshal Macdonald having offered to introduce + Scott to some generals who could have furnished him with the most + accurate, information respecting military events, the glory of which + they had shared, Sir Walter replied, "I thank you, but I shall + collect my information from unprofessional reports."--Bourrienne.]-- + +Having been appointed Secretary of Legation to Stuttgart, I set off for +that place on the 2d of August, and I did not again see my ardent young +friend until 1795. He told me that my departure accelerated his for +Corsica. We separated, as may be supposed, with but faint hopes of ever +meeting again. + +By a decree of the 28th of March of 1793, all French agents abroad were +ordered to return to France, within three months, under pain of being +regarded as emigrants. What I had witnessed before my departure for +Stuttgart, the excitement in which I had left the public mind, and the +well-known consequences of events of this kind, made me fear that I +should be compelled to be either an accomplice or a victim in the +disastrous scenes which were passing at home. My disobedience of the law +placed my name on the list of emigrants. + +It has been said of me, in a biographical publication, that "it was as +remarkable as it was fortunate for Bourrienne that, on his return, he got +his name erased from the list of emigrants of the department of the +Yonne, on which it had been inscribed during his first journey to +Germany. This circumstance has been interpreted in several different +ways, which are not all equally favourable to M. de Bourrienne." + +I do not understand what favourable interpretations can be put upon a +statement entirely false. General Bonaparte repeatedly applied for the +erasure of my name, from the month of April 1797, when I rejoined him at +Leoben, to the period of the signature of the treaty of Campo-Formio; but +without success. He desired his brother Louis, Berthier, Bernadotte, and +others, when he sent them to the Directory, to urge my erasure; but in +vain. He complained of this inattention to his wishes to Bottot, when he +came to Passeriano, after the 18th Fructidor. Bottot, who was secretary +to Barras, was astonished that I was not erased, and he made fine +promises of what he would do. On his return to France he wrote to +Bonaparte: "Bourrienne is erased." But this was untrue. I was not +erased until November 1797, upon the reiterated solicitations of General +Bonaparte. + +It was during my absence from France that Bonaparte, in the rank of 'chef +de bataillon', performed his first campaign, and contributed so +materially to the recapture of Toulon. Of this period of his life I have +no personal knowledge, and therefore I shall not speak of it as an eye- +witness. I shall merely relate some facts which fill up the interval +between 1793 and 1795, and which I have collected from papers which he +himself delivered to me. Among these papers is a little production, +entitled 'Le Souper de Beaucaire', the copies of which he bought up at +considerable expense, and destroyed upon his attaining the Consulate. +This little pamphlet contains principles very opposite to those he wished +to see established in 1800, a period when extravagant ideas of liberty +were no longer the fashion, and when Bonaparte entered upon a system +totally the reverse of those republican principles professed in +'Le Souper de Beaucaire. + + --[This is not, as Sir Walter says, a dialogue between Marat and a + Federalist, but a conversation between a military officer, a native + of Nismes, a native of Marseilles, and a manufacturer from + Montpellier. The latter, though he takes a share in the + conversation, does not say much. 'Le Souper de Beaucaire' is given + at full length in the French edition of these Memoirs, tome i. pp. + 319-347; and by Iung, tome ii. p. 354, with the following remarks: + "The first edition of 'Le Souper de Beaucaire' was issued at the + cost of the Public Treasury, in August 1798. Sabin Tournal, its + editor, also then edited the 'Courrier d'Avignon'. The second + edition only appeared twenty-eight years afterwards, in 1821, + preceded by an introduction by Frederick Royou (Paris: Brasseur + Aine, printer, Terrey, publisher, in octavo). This pamphlet did not + make any sensation at the time it appeared. It was only when + Napoleon became Commandant of the Army of Italy that M. Loubet, + secretary and corrector of the press for M. Tournal, attached some + value to the manuscript, and showed it to several persona. Louis + Bonaparte, later, ordered several copies from M. Aurel. The + pamphlet, dated 29th duly 1793, is in the form of a dialogue between + an officer of the army, a citizen of Nismes, a manufacturer of + Montpellier, and a citizen of Marseilles. Marseilles was then in a + state of insurrection against the Convention. Its forces had seized + Avignon, but had been driven out by the army of Cartesna, which was + about to attack Marseilles itself." In the dialogue the officer + gives most excellent military advice to the representative of + Marseilles on the impossibility of their resisting the old soldiers + of Carteaux. The Marseilles citizen argues but feebly, and is + alarmed at the officer's representations; while his threat to call + in the Spaniards turns the other speakers against him. Even Colonel + Iung says, tome ii. p. 372, "In these concise judgments is felt the + decision of the master and of the man of war..... These marvellous + qualities consequently struck the members of the Convention, who + made much of Bonaparte, authorised him to have it published at the + public expense, and made him many promises." Lanfrey, vol. i. pp. + 201, says of this pamphlets "Common enough ideas, expressed in a + style only remarkable for its 'Italianisms,' but becoming singularly + firm and precise every time the author expresses his military views. + Under an apparent roughness, we find in it a rare circumspection, + leaving no hold on the writer, even if events change."]-- + +It may be remarked, that in all that has come to us from St. Helena, not +a word is said of this youthful production. Its character sufficiently +explains this silence. In all Bonaparte's writings posterity will +probably trace the profound politician rather than the enthusiastic +revolutionist. + +Some documents relative to Bonaparte's suspension and arrest, by order of +the representatives Albitte and Salicetti, serve to place in their true +light circumstances which have hitherto been misrepresented. i shall +enter into some details of this event, because I have seen it stated that +this circumstance of Bonaparte's life has been perverted and +misrepresented by every person who has hitherto written about him; and +the writer who makes this remark, himself describes the affair +incorrectly and vaguely. Others have attributed Bonaparte's misfortune +to a military discussion on war, and his connection with Robespierre the +younger. + + --[It will presently be seen that all this is erroneous, and that + Sir Walter commits another mistake when he says that Bonaparte's + connection with Robespierre was attended with fatal consequences to + him, and that his justification consisted in acknowledging that his + friends were very different from what he had supposed them to be.-- + Bourrienne.]-- + +It has, moreover, been said that Albitte and Salicetti explained to the +Committee of Public Safety the impossibility of their resuming the +military operations unaided by the talents of General Bonaparte. This is +mere flattery. The facts are these: + +On the 13th of July 1794 (25th Messidor, year II), the representatives of +the people with the army of Italy ordered that General Bonaparte should +proceed to Genoa, there, conjointly with the French 'charge d'affaires', +to confer on certain subjects with the Genoese Government. This mission, +together with a list of secret instructions, directing him to examine the +fortresses of Genoa and the neighbouring country, show the confidence +which Bonaparte, who was then only twenty-five, inspired in men who were +deeply interested in making a prudent choice of their agents. + +Bonaparte set off for Genoa, and fulfilled his mission. The 9th +Thermidor arrived, and the deputies, called Terrorists, were superseded +by Albitte and Salicetti. In the disorder which then prevailed they were +either ignorant of the orders given to General Bonaparte, or persons +envious of the rising glory of the young general of artillery inspired +Albitte and Salicetti with suspicions prejudicial to him. Be this as it +may, the two representatives drew up a resolution, ordering that General +Bonaparte should be arrested, suspended from his rank, and arraigned +before the Committee of Public Safety; and, extraordinary as it may +appear, this resolution was founded in that very journey to Genoa which +Bonaparte executed by the direction of the representatives of the people. + + --[Madame Junot throws some light on this Persecution of Bonaparte + by Salicetti. "One motive (I do not mean to say the only one)," + remarks this lady, "of the animosity shown by Salicetti to + Bonaparte, in the affair of Loano, was that they were at one time + suitors to the same lady. I am not sure whether it was in Corsica + or in Paris, but I know for a fact that Bonaparte, in spite of his + youth, or perhaps I should rather say on account of his youth, was + the favoured lover. It was the opinion of my brother, who was + secretary to Salicetti, that Bonaparte owed his life to a + circumstance which is not very well known. The fact is, that + Salicetti received a letter from Bonaparte, the contents of which + appeared to make a deep impression on him. Bonaparte's papers had + been delivered into Salicetti's hands, who, after an attentive + perusal of them, laid them aside with evident dissatisfaction. He + then took them up again, and read them a second time. Salicetti + declined my brother's assistance is the examination of the papers, + and after a second examination, which was probably as unsatisfactory + as the first, he seated himself with a very abstracted air. It + would appear that he had seen among the papers some document which + concerned himself. Another curious fact is, that the man who had + the care of the papers after they were sealed up was an inferior + clerk entirely under the control of Salicetti; and my brother, whose + business it was to have charge of the papers, was directed not to + touch them. He has often spoken to me of this circumstance, and I + mention it here as one of importance to the history of the time. + Nothing that relates to a man like Napoleon can be considered + useless or trivial. + + "What, after all, was the result of this strange business which + might have cost Bonaparte his head?--for, had he been taken to Paris + and tried by the Committee of Public Safety, there is little doubt + that the friend of Robespierre the younger would have been condemned + by Billaud-Varennes and Collot d'Herbois. The result was the + acquittal of the accused. This result is the more extraordinary, + since it would appear that at that time Salicetti stood in fear of + the young general. A compliment is even paid to Bonaparte in the + decree, by which he was provisionally restored to liberty. That + liberation was said to be granted on the consideration that General + Bonaparte might he useful to the Republic. This was foresight; but + subsequently when measures were taken which rendered Bonaparte no + longer an object of fear, his name was erased from the list of + general officers, and it is a curious fact that Cambaceres, who was + destined to be his colleague in the Consulate, was one of the + persons who signed the act of erasure" (Memoirs of the Duchesse + d'Abrantes, vol. i, p. 69, edit. 1843).]-- + +Bonaparte said at St. Helena that he was a short time imprisoned by order +of the representative Laporte; but the order for his arrest was signed by +Albitte, Salicetti, and Laporte. + + --[Albitte and Laporte were the representatives sent from the + Convention to the army of the Alps, and Salicetti to the army of + Italy.]-- + +Laporte was not probably the most influential of the three, for Bonaparte +did not address his remonstrance to him. He was a fortnight under +arrest. + +Had the circumstance occurred three weeks earlier, and had Bonaparte been +arraigned before the Committee of Public Safety previous to the 9th +Thermidor, there is every probability that his career would have been at +an end; and we should have seen perish on the scaffold, at the age of +twenty-five, the man who, during the twenty-five succeeding years, was +destined to astonish the world by his vast conceptions, his gigantic +projects, his great military genius, his extraordinary good fortune, his +faults, reverses, and final misfortunes. + +It is worth while to remark that in the post-Thermidorian resolution just +alluded to no mention is made of Bonaparte's association with Robespierre +the younger. The severity with which he was treated is the more +astonishing, since his mission to Genoa was the alleged cause of it. +Was there any other charge against him, or had calumny triumphed over the +services he had rendered to his country? I have frequently conversed +with him on the subject of this adventure, and he invariably assured me +that he had nothing to reproach himself with, and that his defence, which +I shall subjoin, contained the pure expression of his sentiments, and the +exact truth. + +In the following note, which he addressed to Albitte and Salicetti, he +makes no mention of Laporte. The copy which I possess is in the +handwriting of, Junot, with corrections in the General's hand. It +exhibits all the characteristics of Napoleon's writing: his short +sentences, his abrupt rather than concise style, sometimes his elevated +ideas, and always his plain good sense. + + TO THE REPRESENTATIVES ALBITTE AND SALICETTI. + +You have suspended me from my duties, put me under arrest, and declared +me to be suspected. + +Thus I am disgraced before being judged, or indeed judged before being +heard. + +In a revolutionary state there are two classes, the suspected and the +patriots. + +When the first are aroused, general measures are adopted towards them for +the sake of security. + +The oppression of the second class is a blow to public liberty. The +magistrate cannot condemn until after the fullest evidence and a +succession of facts. This leaves nothing to arbitrary decision. + +To declare a patriot suspected is to deprive him of all that he most +highly values--confidence and esteem. + +In what class am I placed? + +Since the commencement of the Revolution, have I not always been attached +to its principles? + +Have I not always been contending either with domestic enemies or foreign +foes? + +I sacrificed my home, abandoned my property, and lost everything for the +Republic? + +I have since served with some distinction at Toulon, and earned a part of +the laurels of the army of Italy at the taking of Saorgio, Oneille, and +Tanaro. + +On the discovery of Robespierre's conspiracy, my conduct was that of a +man accustomed to look only to principles. + +My claim to the title of patriot, therefore cannot be disputed. + +Why, then, am I declared suspected without being heard, and arrested +eight days after I heard the news of the tyrant's death + +I am declared suspected, and my papers are placed under seal. + +The reverse of this course ought to have been adopted. My papers should +first have been sealed; then I should have been called on for my +explanation; and, lastly, declared suspected, if there was reason for +coming to, such a decision. + +It is wished that I should go to Paris with an order which declares me +suspected. It will naturally be presumed that the representatives did +not draw up this decree without accurate information, and I shall be +judged with the bias which a man of that class merits. + +Though a patriot and an innocent and calumniated man, yet whatever +measures may be adopted by the Committee I cannot complain. + +If three men declare that I have committed a crime, I cannot complain of +the jury who condemns me. + +Salicetti, you know me; and I ask whether you have observed anything in +my conduct for the last five years which can afford ground of suspicion? + +Albitte, you do not know me; but you have received proof of no fact +against me; you have not heard me, and you know how artfully the tongue +of calumny sometimes works. + +Must I then be confounded with the enemies of my country and ought the +patriots inconsiderately to sacrifice a general who has not been useless +to the Republic? Ought the representatives to reduce the Government to +the necessity of being unjust and impolitic? + +Hear me; destroy the oppression that overwhelms me, and restore me to the +esteem of the patriots. + +An hour after, if my enemies wish for my life, let them take it. I have +often given proofs how little I value ft. Nothing but the thought that I +may yet be useful to my country makes me bear the burden of existence +with courage. + + +It appears that this defence, which is remarkable for its energetic +simplicity, produced an effect on Albitte and Salicetti. Inquiries more +accurate, and probably more favourable to the General, were instituted; +and on the 3d Fructidor (20th August 1794) the representatives of the +people drew up a decree stating that, after a careful examination of +General Bonaparte's papers, and of the orders he had received relative to +his mission to Genoa, they saw nothing to justify any suspicion of his +conduct; and that, moreover, taking into consideration the advantage that +might accrue to the Republic from the military talents of the said +General Bonaparte, it was resolved that he should be provisionally set at +liberty. + + --[With reference to the arrest of Bonaparte (which lasted thirteen + days) see 'Bourrienne et ses Erreurs', tome i. pp. 16-28, and Iung, + tome ii. pp. 443-457. Both, in opposition to Bourrienne, attribute + the arrest to his connection with the younger Robespierre. + Apparently Albitte and Salicetti wets not acquainted with the secret + plan of campaign prepared by the younger Robespierre and by + Bonaparte, or with the real instructions given for the mission to + Genoa. Jealousy between the representatives in the staff of the + army of the Alps and those with the army of Italy, with which + Napoleon was, also played a part in the affair. Iung looks on + Salicetti as acting as the protector of the Bonapartes; but Napoleon + does not seem to have regarded him in that light; see the letter + given in Tunot, vol. i. p. l06, where in 1795 he takes credit for + not returning the ill done to him; see also the same volume, p. 89. + Salicetti eventually became Minister of Police to Joseph, when King + of Naples, in 1806; but when he applied to return to France, + Napoleon said to Mathieu Dumas, "Let him know that I am not powerful + enough to protect the wretches who voted for the death of Louis XVI. + from the contempt and indignation of the public" (Dumas, tome iii. + p. 318). At the same time Napoleon described Salicetti as worse + than the lazzaroni.]-- + +Salicetti afterwards became the friend and confidant of young Bonaparte; +but their intimacy did not continue after his elevation. + +What is to be thought of the motives for Bonaparte's arrest and +provisional liberation, when his innocence and the error that had been +committed were acknowledged? The importance of the General's military +talents, though no mention is made about the impossibility of dispensing +with them, is a pretence for restoring him to that liberty of which he +had been unjustly deprived. + +It was not at Toulon, as has been stated, that Bonaparte took Duroc into +the artillery, and made him his 'aide de camp'. + + --[Michel Duroc (1773-1813) at first only aide de camp to Napoleon, + was several times entrusted with special diplomatic missions (for + example, to Berlin, etc.) On the formation of the Empire he became + Grand Marechal du Palais, and Duc de Frioul. He always remained in + close connection with Napoleon until he was killed in 1813. As he + is often mentioned in contemporary memoirs under his abbreviated + title of 'Marshal', he has sometimes been erroneously included in + the number of the Marshals of the Empire--a military rank he never + attained to.]-- + +The acquaintance was formed at a subsequent period, in Italy. Duroc's +cold character and unexcursive mind suited Napoleon, whose confidence he +enjoyed until his death, and who entrusted him with missions perhaps +above his abilities. At St. Helena Bonaparte often declared that he was +much attached to Duroc. I believe this to be true; but I know that the +attachment was not returned. The ingratitude of princes is proverbial. +May it not happen that courtiers are also sometimes ungrateful?--[It is +only just to Duroc to add that this charge does not seem borne out by the +impressions of those more capable than Bourrienne of judging in the +matter.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +1794-1795. + + Proposal to send Bonaparte to La Vendee--He is struck off the list + of general officers--Salicetti--Joseph's marriage with Mademoiselle + Clary--Bonaparte's wish to go to Turkey--Note explaining the plan of + his proposed expedition--Madame Bourrienne's character of Bonaparte, + and account of her husband's arrest--Constitution of the year III-- + The 13th Vendemiaire--Bonaparte appointed second in command of the + army of the interior--Eulogium of Bonaparte by Barras, and its + consequences--St. Helena manuscript. + +General Bonaparte returned to Paris, where I also arrived from Germany +shortly after him. Our intimacy was resumed, and he gave me an account +of, all that had passed in the campaign of the south. He frequently +alluded to the persecutions he had suffered, and he delivered to me the +packet of papers noticed in the last chapter, desiring me to communicate +their contents to my friends. He was very anxious, he said, to do away +with the supposition that he was capable of betraying his country, and, +under the pretence of a mission to Genoa, becoming a SPY on the interests +of France. He loved to talk over his military achievements at Toulon and +in Italy. He spoke of his first successes with that feeling of pleasure +and gratification which they were naturally calculated to excite in him. + +The Government wished to send him to La Vendee, with the rank of +brigadier-general of infantry. Bonaparte rejected this proposition on +two grounds. He thought the scene of action unworthy of his talents, and +he regarded his projected removal from the artillery to the infantry as a +sort of insult. This last was his most powerful objection, and was the +only one he urged officially. In consequence of his refusal to accept +the appointment offered him, the Committee of Public Safety decreed that +he should be struck off the list of general officers. + + --[This statement as to the proposed transfer of Bonaparte to the + infantry, his disobedience to the order, and his consequent + dismissal, is fiercely attacked in the 'Erreurs', tome i. chap. iv. + It is, however, correct in some points; but the real truths about + Bonaparte's life at this time seem so little known that it may be + well to explain the whole matter. On the 27th of March 1795 + Bonaparte, already removed from his employment in the south, was + ordered to proceed to the army of the west to command its artillery + as brigadier-general. He went as far as Paris, and then lingered + there, partly on medical certificate. While in Paris he applied, as + Bourrienne says, to go to Turkey to organise its artillery. His + application, instead of being neglected, as Bourrienne says, was + favourably received, two members of the 'Comite de Saint Public' + putting on its margin most favorable reports of him; one, Jean + Debry, even saying that he was too distinguished an officer to be + sent to a distance at such a time. Far from being looked on as the + half-crazy fellow Bourrienne considered him at that time, Bonaparte + was appointed, on the 21st of August 1795, one of four generals + attached as military advisers to the Committee for the preparation + of warlike operations, his own department being a most important + one. He himself at the time tells Joseph that he is attached to the + topographical bureau of the Comite de Saint Public, for the + direction of the armies in the place of Carnot. It is apparently + this significant appointment to which Madame Junot, wrongly dating + it, alludes as "no great thing" (Junot, vol. i, p. 143). Another + officer was therefore substituted for him as commander of Roches + artillery, a fact made use of in the Erreurs (p. 31) to deny his + having been dismissed--But a general re-classification of the + generals was being made. The artillery generals were in excess of + their establishment, and Bonaparte, as junior in age, was ordered on + 13th June to join Hoche's army at Brest to command a brigade of + infantry. All his efforts to get the order cancelled failed, and as + he did not obey it he was struck off the list of employed general + officers on the 15th of September 1795, the order of the 'Comite de + Salut Public' being signed by Cambaceres, Berber, Merlin, and + Boissy. His application to go to Turkey still, however, remained; + and it is a curious thing that, on the very day he was struck off + the list, the commission which had replaced the Minister of War + recommended to the 'Comite de Saint Public' that he and his two + aides de camp, Junot and Livrat, with other officers, under him, + should be sent to Constantinople. So late as the 29th of September, + twelve days later, this matter was being considered, the only + question being as to any departmental objections to the other + officers selected by him, a point which was just being settled. But + on the 13th Vendemiaire (5th October 1795), or rather on the night + before, only nineteen days after his removal, he was appointed + second in command to Barras, a career in France was opened to him, + and Turkey was no longer thought of. + + Thiers (vol. iv, p. 326) and most writers, contemporary and + otherwise, say that Aubry gave the order for his removal from the + list. Aubry, himself a brigadier-general of artillery, did not + belong to the 'Comite de Salut Public' at the time Bonaparte was + removed from the south; and he had left the Comite early is August, + that is, before the order striking Bonaparte off was given. Aubry + was, however, on the Comite in June 1795, and signed the order, + which probably may have originated from him, for the transfer of + Bonaparte to the infantry. It will be seen that, in the ordinary + military sense of the term, Napoleon was only in Paris without + employment from the 15th of September to the 4th or 6th of October + 1796; all the rest of the time in Paris he had a command which he + did not choose to take up. The distress under which Napoleon is + said to have laboured in pecuniary matters was probably shared by + most officers at that time; see 'Erreurs', tome i. p. 32. This + period is fully described in Iung, tome ii. p. 476, and tome iii. + pp. 1-93.]-- + +Deeply mortified at this unexpected stroke, Bonaparte retired into +private life, and found himself doomed to an inactivity very uncongenial +with his ardent character. He lodged in the Rue du Mail, in an hotel +near the Place des Victoires, and we recommenced the sort of life we had +led in 1792, before his departure for Corsica. It was not without a +struggle that he determined to await patiently the removal of the +prejudices which were cherished against him by men in power; and he hoped +that, in the perpetual changes which were taking place, those men might +be superseded by others more favourable to him. He frequently dined and +spent the evening with me and my elder brother; and his pleasant +conversation and manners made the hours pass away very agreeably. I +called on him almost every morning, and I met at his lodgings several +persons who were distinguished at the time; among others Salicetti, with +whom he used to maintain very animated conversations, and who would often +solicit a private interview with him. On one occasion Salicetti paid him +three thousand francs, in assignats, as the price of his carriage, which +his straitened circumstances obliged him to dispose of. + + --[Of Napoleon's poverty at this time Madame Junot says, "On + Bonaparte's return to Paris, after the misfortunes of which he + accused Salicetti of being the cause, he was in very destitute + circumstances. His family, who were banished from Corsica, found an + asylum at Marseilles; and they could not now do for him what they + would have done had they been in the country whence they derived + their pecuniary resources. From time to time he received + remittances of money, and I suspect they came from his excellent + brother Joseph, who had then recently married 'Mademoiselle Clary; + but with all his economy these supplies were insufficient. + Bonaparte was therefore in absolute distress. Junot often used to + speak of the six months they passed together in Paris at this time. + When they took an evening stroll on the Boulevard, which used to be + the resort of young men, mounted on fine horses, and displaying ell + the luxury which they were permitted to show at that time, Bonaparte + would declaim against fate, and express his contempt for the dandies + with their whiskers and their 'orielles de chiene', who, as they + rode Past, were eulogising in ecstasy the manner in which Madame + Scio sang. And it is on such beings as these,' he would say, 'that + Fortune confers her favours. Grand Dieu! how contemptible is human + nature!'" (Memoirs of the Duchesse d'Abrantes, vol. i. p. 80, + edit. 1883.)]-- + +I could, easily perceive that our young friend either was or wished to be +initiated in some political intrigue; and I moreover suspected that +Salicetti had bound him by an oath not to disclose the plans that were +hatching. + +He became pensive, melancholy, and anxious; and he always looked with +impatience for Salicetti's daily visit. + + --[Salicetti was implicated in the insurrection of the 20th May + 1795, 1st Prairial, Year III., and was obliged to fly to Venice.]-- + +Sometimes, withdrawing his mind from political affairs, he would envy the +happiness of his brother Joseph, who +had just then married Mademoiselle Clary, the daughter of a rich and +respectable merchant of Marseilles. He would often say, "That Joseph is +a lucky rogue." + +Meanwhile time passed away, and none of his projects succeeded--none of +his applications were listened to. He was vexed by the injustice with +which he was treated, and tormented by the desire of entering upon some +active pursuit. He could not endure the thought of remaining buried in +the crowd. He determined to quit France; and the favourite idea, which +he never afterwards relinquished, that the East is a fine field for +glory, inspired him with the wish to proceed to Constantinople, and to +enter the service of the Grand Seignior. What romantic plans, what +stupendous projects he conceived! He asked me whether I would go with +him? I replied in the negative. I looked upon him as a half-crazy young +fellow, who was driven to extravagant enterprises and desperate +resolutions by his restless activity of mind, joined to the irritating +treatment he had experienced, and, perhaps, it may be added, his want of +money. He did not blame me for my refusal to accompany him; and he told +me that Junot, Marmont, and some other young officers whom he had known +at Toulon, would be willing to follow his fortunes. + +He drew up a note which commenced with the words 'Note for . . .' +It was addressed to no one, and was merely a plan. Some days after he +wrote out another, which, however, did not differ very materially from +the first, and which he addressed to Aubert and Coni. I made him a fair +copy of it, and it was regularly for forwarded. It was as follows:-- + + + NOTE. + +At a moment when the Empress of Russia has strengthened her union with +the Emperor of Germany (Austria), it is the interest of France to do +everything in her power to increase the military power of Turkey. + +That power possesses a numerous and brave militia but is very backward in +the scientific part of the art of war. + +The organization and the service of the artillery, which, in our modern +tactics, so powerfully facilitate the gaining of battles, and on which, +almost exclusively, depend the attack and defence of fortresses, are +especially the points in which France excels, and in which the Turks are +most deficient. + +They have several times applied to us for artillery officers, and we have +sent them some; but the officers thus sent have not been sufficiently +powerful, either in numbers or talent, to produce any important result. + +General Bonaparte, who, from his youth, has served in the artillery, of +which he was entrusted with the command at the siege of Toulon, and in +the two campaigns of Italy, offers his services to proceed to Turkey, +with a mission from the (French) Government. + +He proposes to take along with him six or seven officers, of different +kinds, and who may be, altogether, perfect masters of the military art. + +He will have the satisfaction of being useful to his country in this new +career, if he succeed in rendering the Turkish power more formidable, by +completing the defence of their principal fortresses, and constructing +new ones. + + +This note shows the error of the often-repeated assertion, that he +proposed entering the service of the Turks against Austria. He makes no +mention of such a thing; and the two countries were not at war. + + --[The Scottish biographer makes Bonaparte say that it would be + strange if a little Corsican should become King of Jerusalem. I + never heard anything drop from him which supports the probability of + such a remark, and certainly there is nothing in his note to warrant + the inference of his having made it.--Bourrienne.]-- + +No answer was returned to this note. Turkey remained unaided, and +Bonaparte unoccupied. I must confess that for the failure of this +project, at least I was not sorry. I should have regretted to see a +young man of great promise, and one for whom I cherished a sincere +friendship, devote himself to so uncertain a fate. Napoleon has less +than any man provoked the events which have favoured him; no one has more +yielded to circumstances from which he was so skilful to derive +advantages. If, however, a clerk of the War Office had but written on +the note, "Granted," that little word would probably have changed the +fate of Europe. + +Bonaparte remained in Paris, forming schemes for the gratification of his +ambition, and his desire of making a figure in the world; but obstacles +opposed all he attempted. + +Women are better judges of character than men. Madame de Bourrienne, +knowing the intimacy which subsisted between us, preserved some notes +which she made upon Bonaparte, and the circumstances which struck her as +most remarkable, during her early connection with him. My wife did not +entertain so favourable an opinion of him as I did; the warm friendship I +cherished for him probably blinded me to his faults. I subjoin Madame de +Bourrienne's notes, word for word: + +On the day after our second return from Germany, which was in May 1795, +we mat Bonaparte in the Palais Royal, near a shop kept by a man named +Girardin. Bonaparte embraced Bourrienne as a friend whom he loved and +was glad to see. We went that evening to the Theatre Francais. The +performance consisted of a tragedy; and 'Le Sourd, ou l'Auberge pleine'. +During the latter piece the audience was convulsed with laughter. The +part of Dasnieres was represented by Batiste the younger, and it was +never played better. The bursts of laughter were so loud and frequent +that the actor was several times obliged to stop in the midst of his +part. Bonaparte alone (and it struck me as being very extraordinary) was +silent, and coldly insensible to the humour which was so irresistibly +diverting to everyone else. I remarked at this period that his character +was reserved, and frequently gloomy. His smile was hypocritical, and +often misplaced; and I recollect that a few days after our return he gave +us one of these specimens of savage hilarity which I greatly disliked, +and which prepossessed me against him. He was telling us that, being +before Toulon, where he commanded the artillery, one of his officers was +visited by his wife, to wham he had been but a short time married, and +whom he tenderly loved. A few days after, orders were given for another +attack upon the town, in which this officer was to be engaged. His wife +came to General Bonaparte, and with tears entreated him to dispense with +her husband's services that day. The General was inexorable, as he +himself told us, with a sort of savage exaltation. The moment for the +attack arrived, and the officer, though a very brave man, as Bonaparte +him self-assured us, felt a presentiment of his approaching death. He +turned pale and trembled. Ha was stationed beside the General, and +during an interval when the firing from the town was very heavy, +Bonaparte called out to him, "Take care, there is a shell coming!" The +officer, instead of moving to one side, stooped down, and was literally +severed in two. Bonaparte laughed loudly while he described the event +with horrible minuteness. At this time we saw him almost every day. He +frequently came to dine with us. As there was a scarcity of bread, and +sometimes only two ounces per head daily were distributed in the section, +it was customary to request one's guests to bring their own bread, as it +could not be procured for money. Bonaparte and his brother Louis (a +mild, agreeable young man, who was the General's aide de army) used to +bring with them their ration bread, which was black, and mixed with bran. +I was sorry to observe that all this bad bread fell to the share of the +poor aide de camp, for we provided the General with a finer kind, which +was made clandestinely by a pastrycook, from flour which we contrived to +smuggle from Sens, where my husband had some farms. Had we been +denounced, the affair might have cost us our heads. + +We spent six weeks in Paris, and we went frequently with Bonaparte to the +theatres, and to the fine concerts given by Garat in the Rue St. Marc. +These were the first brilliant entertainments that took place after the +death of Robespierre. There was always something original in Bonaparte's +behaviour, for he often slipped away from us without saying a word; and +when we were supposing he had left the theatre, we would suddenly +discover him in the second or third tier, sitting alone in a box, and +looking rather sulky. + +Before our departure for Sens, where my husband's family reside, and +which was fixed upon for the place of my first accouchement, we looked +out for more agreeable apartments than we had in the Rue Grenier St. +Lazare, which we only had temporarily. Bonaparte used to assist us in +our researches. At last we took the first floor of a handsome new house, +No. 19 Rue des Marais. Bonaparte, who wished to stop in Paris, went to +look at a house opposite to ours. Ha had thoughts of taking it for +himself, his uncle Fesch (afterwards Cardinal Fesch), and a gentleman +named Patrauld, formerly one of his masters at the Military School. One +day he said, "With that house over there, my friends in it, and a +cabriolet, I shall be the happiest fellow in the world." + +We soon after left town for Sens. The house was not taken by him, for +other and great affairs were preparing. During the interval between our +departure and the fatal day of Vendemiaire several letters passed between +him and his school companion. These letters were of the most amiable and +affectionate description. They have been stolen. On our return, in +November of the same year, everything was changed. The college friend +was now a great personage. He had got the command of Paris in return for +his share in the events of Vendemiaire. Instead of a small house in the +Rue des Marais, he occupied a splendid hotel in the Rue des Capucines; +the modest cabriolet was converted into a superb equipage, and the man +himself was no longer the same. But the friends of his youth were still +received when they made their morning calls. They were invited to grand +dejeuners, which were sometimes attended by ladies; and, among others, by +the beautiful Madame Tallien and her friend the amiable Madame de +Beauharnais, to whom Bonaparte had begun to pay attention. He cared +little for his friends, and ceased to address them in the style of +familiar equality. + +After the 13th of Vendemiaire M. de Bourrienne saw Bonaparte only at +distant periods. In the month of February 1796 my husband was arrested, +at seven in the morning, by a party of men, armed with muskets, on the +charge of being a returned emigrant. He was torn from his wife and his +child, only six months old, being barely allowed time to dress himself. +I followed him. They conveyed him to the guard-house of the Section, and +thence I know not whither; and, finally, in the evening, they placed him +in the lockup-house of the prefecture of police, which, I believe, is now +called the central bureau. There he passed two nights and a day, among +men of the lowest description, some of whom were even malefactors. I and +his friends ran about everywhere, trying to find somebody to rescue him, +and, among the rest, Bonaparte was applied to. It was with great +difficulty he could be seen. Accompanied by one of my husband's friends, +I waited for the commandant of Paris until midnight, but he did not come +home. Next morning I returned at an early hour, and found him. I stated +what had happened to my husband, whose life was then at stake. He +appeared to feel very little for the situation of his friend, but, +however; determined to write to Merlin, the Minister of Justice. I +carried the letter according to its address, and met the Minister as he +was coming downstairs, on his way to the Directory. Being in grand +costume, he wore a Henri IV. hat, surmounted with a multitude of plumes, +a dress which formed a singular contrast with his person. He opened the +letter; and whether it was that he cared as little for the General as for +the cause of M. do Bourrienne's arrest, he replied that the matter was no +longer in his hands, and that it was now under the cognisance of the +public administrators of the laws. The Minister then stepped into his +carriage, and the writer was conducted to several offices in his hotel. +She passed through them with a broken heart, for she met with none but +harsh men, who told her that the prisoner deserved death. From them she +learned that on the following day he would be brought before the judge of +the peace for his Section, who would decide whether there was ground for +putting him on his trial. In fact, this proceeding took place next day. +He was conveyed to the house of the judge of the peace for the Section of +Bondy, Rue Grange-sue-Belles, whose name was Lemaire. His countenance +was mild; and though his manner was cold, he had none of the harshness +and ferocity common to the Government agents of that time. His +examination of the charge was long, and he several times shook his head. +The moment of decision had arrived, and everything seemed to indicate +that the termination would be to place the prisoner under accusation. +At seven o'clock be desired me to be called. I hastened to him, and +beheld a most heart rending scene. Bourrienne was suffering under a +hemorrhage, which had continued since two o'clock, and had interrupted +the examination. The judge of the peace, who looked sad, sat with his +head resting on his hand. I threw myself at his feet and implored his +clemency. The wife and the two daughters of the judge visited this scene +of sorrow, and assisted me in softening him. He was a worthy and feeling +man, a good husband and parent, and it was evident that he struggled +between compassion and duty. He kept referring to the laws on the +subject, and, after long researches said to me, "To-morrow is Decadi, and +no proceedings can take place on that day. Find, madams, two responsible +persons, who will answer for the appearance of your husband, and I will +permit him to go home with you, accompanied by the two guardians." Next +day two friends were found, one of whom was M. Desmaisons, counsellor of +the court, who became bail for M. de Bourrienne. He continued under +these guardians six months, until a law compelled the persons who were +inscribed on the fatal list to remove to the distance of ten leagues from +Paris. One of the guardians was a man of straw; the other was a knight +of St. Louis. The former was left in the antechamber; the latter made, +every evening, one of our party at cards. The family of M. de +Bourrienne have always felt the warmest gratitude to the judge of the +peace and his family. That worthy man saved the life of M. de +Bourrienne, who, when he returned from Egypt, and had it in his power to +do him some service, hastened to his house; but the good judge was no +more! + + +The letters mentioned in the narrative were at this time stolen from me +by the police officers. + +Everyone was now eager to pay court to a man who had risen from the crowd +in consequence of the part he had acted at an, extraordinary crisis, and +who was spoken of as the future General of the Army of Italy. It was +expected that he would be gratified, as he really was, by the restoration +of some letters which contained the expression of his former very modest +wishes, called to recollection his unpleasant situation, his limited +ambition, his pretended aversion for public employment, and finally +exhibited his intimate relations with those who were, without hesitation, +characterised as emigrants, to be afterwards made the victims of +confiscation and death. + +The 13th of Vendemiaire (5th October 1795) was approaching. The National +Convention had been painfully delivered of a new constitution, called, +from the epoch of its birth, "the Constitution of Year III." It was +adopted on the 22d of August 1795. The provident legislators did not +forget themselves. They stipulated that two-thirds of their body should +form part of the new legislature. The party opposed to the Convention +hoped, on the contrary, that, by a general election, a majority would be +obtained for its opinion. That opinion was against the continuation of +power in the hands of men who had already so greatly abused it. + +The same opinion was also entertained by a great part of the most +influential Sections of Paris, both as to the possession of property and +talent. These Sections declared that, in accepting the new constitution, +they rejected the decree of the 30th of August, which required the re- +election of two-thirds The Convention, therefore, found itself menaced in +what it held moat dear--its power;--and accordingly resorted to measures +of defence. A declaration was put forth, stating that the Convention, if +attacked, would remove to Chalons-sur-Marne; and the commanders of the +armed force were called upon to defend that body. + +The 5th of October, the day on which the Sections of Paris attacked the +Convention, is certainly one which ought to be marked in the wonderful +destiny of Bonaparte. + +With the events of that day were linked, as cause and effect, many great +political convulsions of Europe. The blood which flowed ripened the +seeds of the youthful General's ambition. It must be admitted that the +history of past ages presents few periods full of such extraordinary +events as the years included between 1795 and 1815. The man whose name +serves, in some measure, as a recapitulation of all these great events +was entitled to believe himself immortal. + +Living retired at Sens since the month of July, I only learned what had +occasioned the insurrection of the Sections from public report and the +journals. I cannot, therefore, say what part Bonaparte may have taken in +the intrigues which preceded that day. He was officially characterised +only as secondary actor in the scene. The account of the affair which +was published announces that Barras was, on that very day, Commander-in- +chief of the Army of the Interior, and Bonaparte second in command. +Bonaparte drew up that account. The whole of the manuscript was in his +handwriting, and it exhibits all the peculiarity of his style and +orthography. He sent me a copy. + +Those who read the bulletin of the 13th Vendemiaire, cannot fail to +observe the care which Bonaparte took to cast the reproach of shedding +the first blood on the men he calls rebels. He made a great point of +representing his adversaries as the aggressors. It is certain he long +regretted that day. He often told me that he would give years of his +life to blot it out from the page of his history. He was convinced that +the people of Paris were dreadfully irritated against him, and he would +have been glad if Barras had never made that Speech in the Convention, +with the part of which, complimentary to himself, he was at the time so +well pleased. Barras said, "It is to his able and prompt dispositions +that we are indebted for the defence of this assembly, around which he +had posted the troops with so much skill." This is perfectly true, but +it is not always agreeable that every truth should be told. Being out of +Paris, and a total stranger to this affair, I know not how far he was +indebted for his success to chance, or to his own exertions, in the part +assigned to him by the miserable Government which then oppressed France. +He represented himself only as secondary actor in this sanguinary scene +in which Barras made him his associate. He sent to me, as already +mentioned, an account of the transaction, written entirely in his own +hand, and distinguished by all the peculiarities of--his style and +orthography. + + --[Joseph Bonaparte, in a note on this peerage, insinuates that the + account of the 13th Vendemiaire was never sent to Sens, but was + abstracted by Bourrienne, with other documents, from Napoleon's + Cabinet (Erreurs, tome i. p. 239).]-- + +"On the 13th," says Bonaparte, "at five o'clock in the morning, the +representative of the people, Barras, was appointed Commander-in-chief of +the Army of the Interior, and General Bonaparte was nominated second in +command. + +"The artillery for service on the frontier was still at the camp of +Sablons, guarded solely by 150 men; the remainder was at Marly with 200 +men. The depot of Meudon was left unprotected. There were at the +Feuillans only a few four-pounders without artillerymen, and but 80,000 +cartridges. The victualling depots were dispersed throughout Paris. +In many Sections the drums beat to arms; the Section of the Theatre +Francais had advanced posts even as far as the Pont Neuf, which it had +barricaded. + +"General Barras ordered the artillery to move immediately from the camp +of Sablons to the Tuileries, and selected the artillerymen from the +battalions of the 89th regiment, and from the gendarmerie, and placed +them at the Palace; sent to Meudon 200 men of the police legion whom he +brought from Versailles, 50 cavalry, and two companies of veterans; he +ordered the property which was at Marly to be conveyed to Meudon; caused +cartridges to be brought there, and established a workshop at that place +for the manufacture of more. He secured means for the subsistence of the +army and of the Convention for many days, independently of the depots +which were in the Sections. + +"General Verdier, who commanded at the Palais National, exhibited great +coolness; he was required not to suffer a shot to be fired till the last +extremity. In the meantime reports reached him from all quarters +acquainting him that the Sections were assembled in arms, and had formed +their columns. He accordingly arrayed his troops so as to defend the +Convention, and his artillery was in readiness to repulse the rebels. +His cannon was planted at the Feuillans to fire down the Rue Honore. +Eight-pounders were pointed at every opening, and in the event of any +mishap, General Verdier had cannon in reserve to fire in flank upon the +column which should have forced a passage. He left in the Carrousel +three howitzers (eight-pounders) to batter down the houses from which the +Convention might be fired upon. At four o'clock the rebel columns +marched out from every street to unite their forces. It was necessary to +take advantage of this critical moment to attack the insurgents, even had +they been regular troops. But the blood about to flow was French; it was +therefore for these misguided people, already guilty of rebellion, to +embrue their hands in the blood of their countrymen by striking the first +blow. + +"At a quarter before five o'clock the insurgents had formed. The attack +was commenced by them on all sides. They were everywhere routed. French +blood was spilled: the crime, as well as the disgrace, fell this day upon +the Sections. + +"Among the dead were everywhere to be recognized emigrants, landowners, +and nobles; the prisoners consisted for the most part of the 'chouans' of +Charette. + +"Nevertheless the Sections did not consider themselves beaten: they took +refuge in the church of St. Roch, in the theatre of the Republic, and in +the Palais Egalite; and everywhere they were heard furiously exciting the +inhabitants to arms. To spare the blood which would have been shed the +next day it was necessary that no time should be given them to rally, but +to follow them with vigour, though without incurring fresh hazards. The +General ordered Montchoisy, who commanded a reserve at the Place de la +Resolution, to form a column with two twelve-pounders, to march by the +Boulevard in order to turn the Place Vendome, to form a junction with the +picket stationed at headquarters, and to return in the same order of +column. + +"General Brune, with two howitzers, deployed in the streets of St. +Nicaise and St. Honore. General Cartaux sent two hundred men and a four- +pounder of his division by the Rue St. Thomas-du-Louvre to debouch in the +square of the Palais Egalite. General Bonaparte, who had his horse +killed under him, repaired to the Feuillans. + +"The columns began to move, St. Roch and the theatre of the Republic were +taken, by assault, when the rebels abandoned them, and retreated to the +upper part of the Rue de la Loi, and barricaded themselves on all sides. +Patrols were sent thither, and several cannon-shots were fired during the +night, in order to prevent them from throwing up defences, which object +was effectually accomplished. + +"At daybreak, the General having learned that some students from the St. +Genevieve side of the river were marching with two pieces of cannon to +succour the rebels, sent a detachment of dragoons in pursuit of them, who +seized the cannon and conducted them to the Tuileries. The enfeebled +Sections, however, still showed a front. They had barricaded the Section +of Grenelle, and placed their cannon in the principal streets. At nine +o'clock General Beruyer hastened to form his division in battle array in +the Place Vendome, marched with two eight-pounders to the Rue des Vieux- +Augustins, and pointed them in the direction of the Section Le Pelletier. +General Vachet, with a corps of 'tirailleurs', marched on his right, +ready to advance to the Place Victoire. General Brune marched to the +Perron, and planted two howitzers at the upper end of the Rue Vivienne. +General Duvigier, with his column of six hundred men, and two twelve- +pounders, advanced to the streets of St. Roch and Montmartre. The +Sections lost courage with the apprehension of seeing their retreat cut +off, and evacuated the post at the sight of our soldiers, forgetting the +honour of the French name which they had to support. The Section of +Brutus still caused some uneasiness. The wife of a representative had +been arrested there. General Duvigier was ordered to proceed along the +Boulevard as far as the Rue Poissonniere. General Beruyer took up a +position at the Place Victoire, and General Bonaparte occupied the Pont- +au-Change. + +"The Section of Brutus was surrounded, and the troops advanced upon the +Place de Greve, where the crowd poured in from the Isle St. Louis, from +the Theatre Francais, and from the Palace. Everywhere the patriots had +regained their courage, while the poniards of the emigrants, armed +against us, had disappeared. The people universally admitted their +error. + +"The next day the two Sections of Ls Pelletier and the Theatre Francais +were disarmed." + + +The result of this petty civil war brought Bonaparte forward; but the +party he defeated at that period never pardoned him for the past, and +that which he supported dreaded him in the future. Five years after he +will be found reviving the principles which he combated on the 5th of +October 1795. On being appointed, on the motion of Barras, Lieutenant- +General of the Army of the Interior, he established his headquarters in +the Rue Neuve des Capucines. The statement in the 'Manuscrit de Sainte +Helene, that after the 13th Brumaire he remained unemployed at Paris, is +therefore obviously erroneous. So far from this, he was incessantly +occupied with the policy of the nation, and with his own fortunes. +Bonaparte was in constant, almost daily, communication with every one +then in power, and knew how to profit by all he saw or heard. + +To avoid returning to this 'Manuscrit de Sainte Helene', which at the +period of its appearance attracted more attention than it deserved, and +which was very generally attributed to Bonaparte, I shall here say a few +words respecting it. I shall briefly repeat what I said in a note when +my opinion was asked, under high authority, by a minister of Louis XVIII. + +No reader intimately acquainted with public affairs can be deceived by +the pretended authenticity of this pamphlet. What does it contain? +Facts perverted and heaped together without method, and related in an +obscure, affected, and ridiculously sententious style. Besides what +appears in it, but which is badly placed there, it is impossible not to +remark the omission of what should necessarily be there, were Napoleon +the author. It is full of absurd and of insignificant gossip, of +thoughts Napoleon never had, expressions unknown to him, and affectations +far removed from his character. With some elevated ideas, more than one +style and an equivocal spirit can be seen in it. Professed coincidences +are put close to unpardonable anachronisms, and to the most absurd +revelations. It contains neither his thoughts, his style, his actions, +nor his life. Some truths are mimed up with an inconceivable mass of +falsehoods. Some forms of expression used by Bonaparte are occasionally +met with, but they are awkwardly introduced, and often with bad taste. + +It has been reported that the pamphlet was written by M. Bertrand, +formerly an officer of the army of the Vistula, and a relation of the +Comte de Simeon, peer of France. + + --['Manuscrit de Sainte Helene d'une maniere inconnue', London. + Murray; Bruxelles, De Mat, 20 Avril 1817. This work merits a note. + Metternich (vol, i. pp. 312-13) says, "At the time when it appeared + the manuscript of St. Helena made a great impression upon Europe. + This pamphlet was generally regarded as a precursor of the memoirs + which Napoleon was thought to be writing in his place of exile. The + report soon spread that the work was conceived and executed by + Madame de Stael. Madame de Stael, for her part, attributed it to + Benjamin Constant, from whom she was at this time separated by some + disagreement. Afterwards it came to be known that the author was + the Marquis Lullin de Chateauvieux, a man in society, whom no one + had suspected of being able to hold a pen: Jomini (tome i. p. 8 + note) says. "It will be remarked that in the course of this work + [his life of Napoleon] the author has used some fifty pages of the + pretended 'Manuscrit de Sainte Helene'. Far from wishing to commit + a plagiarism, he considers he ought to render this homage to a + clever and original work, several false points of view in which, + however, he has combated. It would have been easy for him to + rewrite these pages in other terms, but they appeared to him to be + so well suited to the character of Napoleon that he has preferred to + preserve them." In the will of Napoleon occurs (see end of this + work): "I disavow the 'Manuscrit de Sainte Helene', and the other + works under the title of Maxims, Sentences, etc., which they have + been pleased to publish during the last six years. Such rules are + not those which have guided my life: This manuscript must not be + confused with the 'Memorial of Saint Helena'.]-- + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +1795-1797 + + On my return to Paris I meet Bonaparte--His interview with Josephine + --Bonaparte's marriage, and departure from Paris ten days after-- + Portrait and character of Josephine--Bonaparte's dislike of national + property--Letter to Josephine--Letter of General Colli, and + Bonaparte's reply--Bonaparte refuses to serve with Kellerman-- + Marmont's letters--Bonaparte's order to me to join the army--My + departure from Sens for Italy--Insurrection of the Venetian States. + +After the 13th Vendemiaire I returned to Paris from Sens. During the +short time I stopped there I saw Bonaparte less frequently than formerly. +I had, however, no reason to attribute this to anything but the pressure +of public business with which he was now occupied. When I did meet him +it was most commonly at breakfast or dinner. One day he called my +attention to a young lady who sat opposite to him, and asked what I +thought of her. The way in which I answered his question appeared to +give him much pleasure. He then talked a great deal to me about her, her +family, and her amiable qualities; he told me that he should probably +marry her, as he was convinced that the union would make him happy. I +also gathered from his conversation that his marriage with the young +widow would probably assist him in gaining the objects of his ambition. +His constantly-increasing influence with her had already brought him into +contact with the most influential persons of that epoch. He remained in +Paris only ten days after his marriage, which took place on the 9th of +March 1796. It was a union in which great harmony prevailed, +notwithstanding occasional slight disagreements. Bonaparte never, to my +knowledge, caused annoyance to his wife. Madame Bonaparte possessed +personal graces and many good qualities. + + --["Eugene was not more than fourteen years of age when he ventured + to introduce himself to General Bonaparte, for the purpose of + soliciting his father's sword, of which he understood the General + had become possessed. The countenance, air, and frank manner of + Eugene pleased Bonaparte, and he immediately granted him the boon he + sought. As soon as the sword was placed in the boy's hands tie + burst into tears, and kissed it. This feeling of affection for his + father's memory, and the natural manner in which it was evinced, + increased the interest of Bonaparte in his young visitor. Madame de + Beauharnais, on learning the kind reception which the General had + given her son, thought it her duty to call and thank him. Bonaparte + was much pleased with Josephine on this first interview, and he + returned her visit. The acquaintance thus commenced speedily led to + their marriage."--Constant]-- + + --[Bonaparte himself, at St. Helena, says that he first met + Josephine at Barras' (see Iung's Bonaparte, tome iii. p. 116).]-- + + --["Neither of his wives had ever anything to complain of from + Napoleon's personal manners" (Metternich, vol. 1 p. 279).]-- + + --[Madame de Remusat, who, to paraphrase Thiers' saying on + Bourrienne himself, is a trustworthy witness, for if she received + benefits from Napoleon they did not weigh on her, says, "However, + Napoleon had some affection for his first wife; and, in fact, if he + has at any time been touched, no doubt it has been only for her and + by her" (tome i. p. 113). "Bonaparte was young when he first knew + Madame de Beauharnais. In the circle where he met her she had a + great superiority by the name she bore and by the extreme elegance + of her manners . . . . In marrying Madame de Beauharnais, + Bonaparte believed he was allying himself to a very grand lady; thus + this was one more conquest" (p. 114). But in speaking of + Josephine's complaints to Napoleon of his love affairs, Madame de + Remusat says, "Her husband sometimes answered by violences, the + excesses of which I do not dare to detail, until the moment when, + his new fancy having suddenly passed, he felt his tenderness for his + wife again renewed. Then he was touched by her sufferings, replaced + his insults by caresses which were hardly more measured than his + violences and, as she was gentle and untenacious, she fell back into + her feeling of security" (p. 206).]-- + + --[Miot de Melito, who was a follower of Joseph Bonaparte, says, "No + woman has united go much kindness to so much natural grace, or has + done more good with more pleasure than she did. She honoured me + with her friendship, and the remembrance of the benevolence she has + shown me, to the last moment of her too short existence, will never + be effaced from my heart" (tome i. pp.101-2).]-- + + --[Meneval, the successor of Bourrienne is his place of secretary to + Napoleon, and who remained attached to the Emperor until the end, + says of Josephine (tome i. p. 227), "Josephine was irresistibly + attractive. Her beauty was not regular, but she had 'La grace, plus + belle encore que la beaute', according to the good La Fontaine. She + had the soft abandonment, the supple and elegant movements, and the + graceful carelessness of the creoles.--(The reader must remember + that the term "Creole" does not imply any taint of black blood, but + only that the person, of European family, has been born in the West + Indies.)--Her temper was always the same. She was gentle and + kind."]-- + +I am convinced that all who were acquainted with her must have felt bound +to speak well of her; to few, indeed, did she ever give cause for +complaint. In the time of her power she did not lose any of her friends, +because she forgot none of them. Benevolence was natural to her, but she +was not always prudent in its exercise. Hence her protection was often +extended to persons who did not deserve it. Her taste for splendour and +expense was excessive. This proneness to luxury became a habit which +seemed constantly indulged without any motive. What scenes have I not +witnessed when the moment for paying the tradesmen's bills arrived! She +always kept back one-half of their claims, and the discovery of this +exposed her to new reproaches. How many tears did she shed which might +have been easily spared! + +When fortune placed a crown on her head she told me that the event, +extraordinary as it was, had been predicted: It is certain that she put +faith in fortune-tellers. I often expressed to her my astonishment that +she should cherish such a belief, and she readily laughed at her own +credulity; but notwithstanding never abandoned it: The event had given +importance to the prophecy; but the foresight of the prophetess, said to +be an old regress, was not the less a matter of doubt. + +Not long before the 13th of Vendemiaire, that day which opened for +Bonaparte his immense career, he addressed a letter to me at Sens, in +which, after some of his usually friendly expressions, he said, "Look out +a small piece of land in your beautiful valley of the Yonne. I will +purchase it as soon as I can scrape together the money. I wish to retire +there; but recollect that I will have nothing to do with national +property." + +Bonaparte left Paris on the 21st of March 1796, while I was still with my +guardians. He no sooner joined the French army than General Colli, then +in command of the Piedmontese army, transmitted to him the following +letter, which, with its answer, I think sufficiently interesting to +deserve preservation: + + GENERAL--I suppose that you are ignorant of the arrest of one of my + officers, named Moulin, the bearer of a flag of truce, who has been + detained for some days past at Murseco, contrary to the laws of war, + and notwithstanding an immediate demand for his liberation being + made by General Count Vital. His being a French emigrant cannot + take from him the rights of a flag of truce, and I again claim him + in that character. The courtesy and generosity which I have always + experienced from the generals of your nation induces me to hope that + I shall not make this application in vain; and it is with regret + that I mention that your chief of brigade, Barthelemy, who ordered + the unjust arrest of my flag of truce, having yesterday by the + chance of war fallen into my hands, that officer will be dealt with + according to the treatment which M. Moulin may receive. + + I most sincerely wish that nothing may occur to change the noble and + humane conduct which the two nations have hitherto been accustomed + to observe towards each other. I have the honour, etc., + (Signed) COLLI. + + CEVA. 17th April 1796. + + +Bonaparte replied as follows: + + GENERAL--An emigrant is a parricide whom no character can render + sacred. The feelings of honour, and the respect due to the French + people, were forgotten when M. Moulin was sent with a flag of truce. + You know the laws of war, and I therefore do not give credit to the + reprisals with which you threaten the chief of brigade, Barthelemy. + If, contrary to the laws of war, you authorise such an act of + barbarism, all the prisoners taken from you shall be immediately + made responsible for it with the most deplorable vengeance, for I + entertain for the officers of your nation that esteem which is due + to brave soldiers. + +The Executive Directory, to whom these letters were transmitted, approved +of the arrest of M. Moulin; but ordered that he should be securely +guarded, and not brought to trial, in consequence of the character with +which he had been invested. + +About the middle of the year 1796 the Directory proposed to appoint +General Kellerman, who commanded the army of the Alps, second in command +of the army of Italy. + +On the 24th of May 1796 Bonaparte wrote to, Carnot respecting, this plan, +which was far from being agreeable to him. He said, "Whether I shall be +employed here or anywhere else is indifferent to me: to serve the +country, and to merit from posterity a page in our history, is all my +ambition. If you join Kellerman and me in command in Italy you will undo +everything. General Kellerman has more experience than I, and knows how +to make war better than I do; but both together, we shall make it badly. +I will not willingly serve with a man who considers himself the first +general in Europe." + +Numbers of letters from Bonaparte to his wife have been published. +I cannot deny their, authenticity, nor is it my wish to do so. I will, +however, subjoin one which appears to me to differ a little from the +rest. It is less remarkable for exaggerated expressions of love, and a +singularly ambitious and affected style, than most of the correspondence +here alluded to. Bonaparte is announcing the victory of Arcola to +Josephine. + + VERONA, the 29th, noon. + + At length, my adored Josephine, I live again. Death is no longer + before me, and glory and honour are still in my breast. The enemy + is beaten at Arcola. To-morrow we will repair the blunder of + Vaubois, who abandoned Rivoli. In eight days Mantua will be ours, + and then thy husband will fold thee in his arms, and give thee a + thousand proofs of his ardent affection. I shall proceed to Milan + as soon as I can: I am a little fatigued. I have received letters + from Eugene and Hortense. I am delighted with the children. I will + send you their letters as soon as I am joined by my household, which + is now somewhat dispersed. + + We have made five thousand prisoners, and killed at least six + thousand of the enemy. Adieu, my adorable Josephine. Think of me + often. When you cease to love your Achilles, when your heart grows + cool towards him, you wilt be very cruel, very unjust. But I am + sure you will always continue my faithful mistress, as I shall ever + remain your fond lover ('tendre amie'). Death alone can break the + union which sympathy, love, and sentiment have formed. Let me have + news of your health. A thousand and a thousand kisses. + + +It is impossible for me to avoid occasionally placing myself in the +foreground in the course of these Memoirs. I owe it to myself to answer, +though indirectly, to certain charges which, on various occasions, have +been made against me. Some of the documents which I am about to insert +belong, perhaps, less to the history of the General-in-Chief of the army +of-Italy than to that of his secretary; but I must confess I wish to show +that I was not an intruder, nor yet pursuing, as an obscure intriguer, +the path of fortune. I was influenced much more by friendship than by +ambition when I took a part on the scene where the rising-glory of the +future Emperor already shed a lustre on all who were attached to his +destiny. It will be seen by the following letters with what confidence +I was then honoured; but these letters, dictated by friendship, and not +written for history, speak also of our military achievements; and +whatever brings to recollection the events of that heroic period must +still be interesting to many. + + + HEADQUARTERS AT MILAN, + 20th Prairial, year IV. (8th June 1796). + + The General-in-Chief has ordered me, my dear Bourrienne, to make + known to you the pleasure he experienced on hearing of you, and his + ardent desire that you should join us. Take your departure, then, + my dear Bourrienne, and arrive quickly. You may be certain of + obtaining the testimonies of affection which are your due from all + who know you; and we much regret that you were not with us to have a + share in our success. The campaign which we have just concluded + will be celebrated in the records of history. With less than 30,000 + men, in a state of almost complete destitution, it is a fine thing + to have, in the course of less than two months, beaten, eight + different times, an army of from 65 to 70,000 men, obliged the King + of Sardinia to make a humiliating peace, and driven the Austrians + from Italy. The last victory, of which you have doubtless had an + account, the passage of the Mincio, has closed our labours. There + now remain for us the siege of Mantua and the castle of Milan; but + these obstacles will not detain us long. Adieu, my dear Bourrienne: + I repeat General Bonaparte's request that you should repair hither, + and the testimony of his desire to see you. + Receive, etc., (Signed) MARMONT. + Chief of Brigade (Artillery) and Aide de camp to the + General-in-Chief. + +I was obliged to remain at Sens, soliciting my erasure from the emigrant +list, which I did not obtain, however, till 1797, and to put an end to a +charge made against me of having fabricated a certificate of residence. +Meanwhile I applied myself to study, and preferred repose to the +agitation of camps. For these reasons I did not then accept his friendly +invitation, notwithstanding that I was very desirous of seeing my young +college friend in the midst of his astonishing triumphs. Ten months +after, I received another letter from Marmont, in the following terms:-- + + HEADQUARTERS GORIZIA + 2d Germinal, year V. (22d March 1797). + + The General-in-Chief, my dear Bourrienne, has ordered me to express + to you his wish for your prompt arrival here. We have all along + anxiously desired to see you, and look forward with great pleasure + to the moment when we shall meet. I join with the General, my dear + Bourrienne, in urging you to join the army without loss of time. + You will increase a united family, happy to receive you into its + bosom. I enclose an order written by the General, which will serve + you as a passport. Take the post route and arrive as soon as you + can. We are on the point of penetrating into Germany. The language + is changing already, and in four days we shall hear no more Italian. + Prince Charles has been well beaten, and we are pursuing him. If + this campaign be fortunate, we may sign a peace, which is so + necessary for Europe, in Vienna. Adieu, my dear Bourrienne: reckon + for something the zeal of one who is much attached to you. + (Signed) MARMONT. + + + BONAPARTE, GENERAL-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY OF ITALY. + + Headquarters, Gorizia, 2d Germinal, year V. + + The citizen Bourrienne is to come to me on receipt + of the present order. + (Signed) BONAPARTE. + + +The odious manner in which I was then harassed, I know not why, on the +part of the Government respecting my certificate of residence, rendered +my stay in France not very agreeable. I was even threatened with being +put on my trial for having produced a certificate of residence which was +alleged to be signed by nine false witnesses. This time, therefore, I +resolved without hesitation to set out for the army. General Bonaparte's +order, which I registered at the municipality of Sens, answered for a +passport, which otherwise would probably have been refused me. I have +always felt a strong sense of gratitude for his conduct towards me on +this occasion. + +Notwithstanding the haste I made to leave Sens, the necessary formalities +and precautions detained me some days, and at the moment I was about to +depart I received the following letter: + + + HEADQUARTERS, JUDENBOURG, + 19th Germinal, Year V. (8th April 1797). + + The General-in-Chief again orders me, my dear Bourrienne, to urge + you to come to him quickly. We are in the midst of success and + triumphs. The German campaign begins even more brilliantly than did + the Italian. You may judge, therefore, what a promise it holds out + to us. Come, my dear Bourrienne, immediately--yield to our + solicitations--share our pains and pleasures, and you will add to + our enjoyments. + + I have directed the courier to pass through Sens, that he may + deliver this letter to you, and bring me back your answer. + (Signed) MARMONT. + + +To the above letter this order was subjoined: + + The citizen Fauvelet de Bourrienne is ordered to leave Sens, and + repair immediately by post to the headquarters of the army of Italy. + (Signed) BONAPARTE. + + +I arrived at the Venetian territory at the moment when the insurrection +against the French was on the point of breaking out. Thousands of +peasants were instigated to rise under the pretext of appeasing the +troubles of Bergamo and Brescia. I passed through Verona on the 16th of +April, the eve of the signature of the preliminaries of Leoben and of the +revolt of Verona. Easter Sunday was the day which the ministers of Jesus +Christ selected for preaching "that it was lawful, and even meritorious, +to kill Jacobins." Death to Frenchmen!--Death to Jacobins! as they +called all the French, were their rallying cries. At the time I had not +the slightest idea of this state of things, for I had left Sens only on +the 11th of April. + +After stopping two hours at Verona, I proceeded on my journey without +being aware of the massacre which threatened that city. When about a +league from the town I was, however, stopped by a party of insurgents on +their way thither, consisting, as I estimated, of about two thousand men. +They only desired me to cry 'El viva Santo Marco', an order with which I +speedily complied, and passed on. What would have become of me had I +been in Verona on the Monday? On that day the bells were rung, while the +French were butchered in the hospitals. Every one met in the streets was +put to death. The priests headed the assassins, and more than four +hundred Frenchmen were thus sacrificed. The forts held out against the +Venetians, though they attacked them with fury; but repossession of the +town was not obtained until after ten days. On the very day of the +insurrection of Verona some Frenchmen were assassinated between that city +and Vicenza, through which I passed on the day before without danger; and +scarcely had I passed through Padua, when I learned that others had been +massacred there. Thus the assassinations travelled as rapidly as the +post. + +I shall say a few words respecting the revolt of the Venetian States, +which, in consequence of the difference of political opinions, has been +viewed in very contradictory lights. + +The last days of Venice were approaching, and a storm had been brewing +for more than a year. About the beginning of April 1797 the threatening +symptoms of a general insurrection appeared. The quarrel commenced when +the Austrians entered Peschiera, and some pretext was also afforded by +the reception given to Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIII. It was certain +that Venice had made military preparations during the siege of Mantua in +1796. The interests of the aristocracy outweighed the political +considerations in our favour. On, the 7th of June 1796 General Bonaparte +wrote thus to the Executive Directory: + + The Senate of Venice lately sent two judges of their Council here to + ascertain definitively how things stand. I repeated my complaints. + I spoke to them about the reception given to Monsieur. Should it be + your plan to extract five or six millions from Venice, I have + expressly prepared this sort of rupture for you. If your intentions + be more decided, I think this ground of quarrel ought to be kept up. + Let me know what you mean to do, and wait till the favourable + moment, which I shall seize according to circumstances; for we must + not have to do with all the world at once. + +The Directory answered that the moment was not favourable; that it was +first necessary to take Mantua, and give Wurmser a sound beating. +However, towards the end of the year 1796 the Directory began to give +more credit to the sincerity of the professions of neutrality made on the +part of Venice. It was resolved, therefore, to be content with obtaining +money and supplies for the army, and to refrain from violating the +neutrality. The Directory had not then in reserve, like Bonaparte, +the idea of making the dismemberment of Venice serve as a compensation +for such of the Austrian possessions as the French Republic might retain. + +In 1797 the expected favourable moment had arrived. The knell of Venice +was rung; and Bonaparte thus wrote to the Directory on the 30th of April: +"I am convinced that the only course to be now taken is to destroy this +ferocious and sanguinary Government." On the 3d of May, writing from +Palma Nuova, he says: "I see nothing that can be done but to obliterate +the Venetian name from the face of the globe." + +Towards the end of March 1797 the Government of Venice was in a desperate +state. Ottolini, the Podesta of Bergamo, an instrument of tyranny in the +hands of the State inquisitors, then harassed the people of Bergamo and +Brescia, who, after the reduction of Mantua, wished to be separated from +Venice. He drew up, to be sent to the Senate, a long report respecting +the plans of separation, founded on information given him by a Roman +advocate, named Marcelin Serpini; who pretended to have gleaned the facts +he communicated in conversation with officers of the French army. The +plan of the patriotic party was, to unite the Venetian territories on the +mainland with Lombardy, and to form of the whole one republic. The +conduct of Ottolini exasperated the party inimical to Venice, and +augmented the prevailing discontent. Having disguised his valet as a +peasant, he sent him off to Venice with the report he had drawn up on +Serpini's communications, and other information; but this report never +reached the inquisitors. The valet was arrested, his despatches taken, +and Ottolini fled from Bergamo. This gave a beginning to the general +rising of the Venetian States. In fact, the force of circumstances alone +brought on the insurrection of those territories against their old +insular government. General La Hoz, who commanded the Lombard Legion, +was the active protector of the revolution, which certainly had its +origin more in the progress of the prevailing principles of liberty than +in the crooked policy of the Senate of Venice. Bonaparte, indeed, in his +despatches to the Directory, stated that the Senate had instigated the +insurrection; but that was not quite correct, and he could not wholly +believe his own assertion. + +Pending the vacillation of the Venetian Senate, Vienna was exciting the +population of its States on the mainland to rise against the French. The +Venetian Government had always exhibited an extreme aversion to the +French Revolution, which had been violently condemned at Venice. Hatred +of the French had been constantly excited and encouraged, and religious +fanaticism had inflamed many persons of consequence in the country. From +the end of 1796 the Venetian Senate secretly continued its armaments, and +the whole conduct of that Government announced intentions which have been +called perfidious, but the only object of which was to defeat intentions +still more perfidious. The Senate was the irreconcilable enemy of the +French Republic. Excitement was carried to such a point that in many +places the people complained that they were not permitted to arm against +the French. The Austrian generals industriously circulated the most +sinister reports respecting the armies of the Sombre-et-Meuse and the +Rhine, and the position of the French troops in the Tyrol. These +impostures, printed in bulletins, were well calculated to instigate the +Italians, and especially the Venetians, to rise in mass to exterminate +the French, when the victorious army should penetrate into the Hereditary +States. + +The pursuit of the Archduke Charles into the heart of Austria encouraged +the hopes which the Venetian Senate had conceived, that it would be easy +to annihilate the feeble remnant of the French army, as the troops were +scattered through the States of Venice on the mainland. Wherever the +Senate had the ascendency, insurrection was secretly fomented; wherever +the influence of the patriots prevailed, ardent efforts were made to +unite the Venetian terra firma to the Lombard Republic. + +Bonaparte skillfully took advantage of the disturbances, and the +massacres consequent on them, to adopt towards the Senate the tone of an +offended conqueror. He published a declaration that the Venetian +Government was the moat treacherous imaginable. The weakness and cruel +hypocrisy of the Senate facilitated the plan he had conceived of making a +peace for France at the expense of the Venetian Republic. On returning +from Leoben, a conqueror and pacificator, he, without ceremony, took +possession of Venice, changed the established government, and, master of +all the Venetian territory, found himself, in the negotiations of Campo +Formio, able to dispose of it as he pleased, as a compensation for the +cessions which had been exacted from Austria. After the 19th of May he +wrote to the Directory that one of the objects of his treaty with Venice +was to avoid bringing upon us the odium of violating the preliminaries +relative to the Venetian territory, and, at the same time, to afford +pretexts and to facilitate their execution. + +At Campo Formio the fate of this republic was decided. It disappeared +from the number of States without effort or noise. The silence of its +fall astonished imaginations warmed by historical recollections from the +brilliant pages of its maritime glory. Its power, however, which had +been silently undermined, existed no longer except in the prestige of +those recollections. What resistance could it have opposed to the man +destined to change the face of all Europe? + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1797, v1 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 2. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +Chapter V. to Chapter XIV. 1798 + + + + +CHAPTER V + +1797. + + Signature of the preliminaries of peace--Fall of Venice--My arrival + and reception at Leoben--Bonaparte wishes to pursue his success-- + The Directory opposes him--He wishes to advance on Vienna--Movement + of the army of the Sombre-et-Mouse--Bonaparte's dissatisfaction-- + Arrival at Milan--We take up our residence at Montebello--Napoleon's + judgment respecting Dandolo and Melzi. + +I joined Bonaparte at Leoben on the 19th of April, the day after the +signature of the preliminaries of peace. These preliminaries resembled +in no respect the definitive treaty of Campo Formio. The still +incomplete fall of the State of Venice did not at that time present an +available prey for partition. All was arranged afterwards. Woe to the +small States that come in immediate contact with two colossal empires +waging war! + +Here terminated my connection with Bonaparte as a comrade and equal, and +those relations with him commenced in which I saw him suddenly great, +powerful, and surrounded with homage and glory. I no longer addressed +him as I had been accustomed to do. I appreciated too well his personal +importance. His position placed too great a social distance between him +and me not to make me feel the necessity of fashioning my demeanour +accordingly. I made with pleasure, and without regret, the easy +sacrifice of the style of familiar companionship and other little +privileges. He said, in a loud voice, when I entered the salon where he +was surrounded by the officers who formed his brilliant staff, "I am glad +to see you, at last"--"Te voila donc, enfin;", but as soon as we were +alone he made me understand that he was pleased with my reserve, and +thanked me for it. I was immediately placed at the head of his Cabinet. +I spoke to him the same evening respecting the insurrection of the +Venetian territories, of the dangers which menaced the French, and of +those which I had escaped, etc. "Care thou' nothing about it," said he; + + --[He used to 'tutoyer' me in this familiar manner until his return + to Milan.]-- + +"those rascals shall pay for it. Their republic has had its day, and is +done." This republic was, however, still existing, wealthy and powerful. +These words brought to my recollection what I had read in a work by one +Gabriel Naude, who wrote during the reign of Louis XIII. for Cardinal de +Bagin: "Do you see Constantinople, which flatters itself with being the +seat of a double empire; and Venice, which glories in her stability of a +thousand years? Their day will come." + +In the first conversation which Bonaparte had with me, I thought I could +perceive that he was not very well satisfied with the preliminaries. He +would have liked to advance with his army to Vienna. He did not conceal +this from me. Before he offered peace to Prince Charles, he wrote to the +Directory that he intended to pursue his success, but that for this +purpose he reckoned on the co-operation of the armies of the Sambre-et- +Meuse and the Rhine. The Directory replied that he must not reckon on a +diversion in Germany, and that the armies of the Sambre-et-Meuse and the +Rhine were not to pass that river. A resolution so unexpected-- +a declaration so contrary to what he had constantly solicited, compelled +him to terminate his triumphs, and renounce his favourite project of +planting the standard of the republic on the ramparts of Vienna, or at +least of levying contributions on the suburbs of that capital. + +A law of the 23d of August 1794 forbade the use of any other names than +those in the register of births. I wished to conform to this law, which +very foolishly interfered with old habits. My eldest brother was living, +and I therefore designated myself Fauvelet the younger. This annoyed +General Bonaparte. "Such change of name is absolute nonsense," said he. +"I have known you for twenty years by the name of Bourrienne. Sign as +you still are named, and see what the advocates with their laws will do." + +On the 20th of April, as Bonaparte was returning to Italy, he was obliged +to stop on an island of the Tagliamento, while a torrent passed by, which +had been occasioned by a violent storm. A courier appeared on the right +bank of the river. He reached the island. Bonaparte read in the +despatches of the Directory that the armies of the Sambre-et-Meuse and +the Rhine were in motion; that they were preparing to cross the Rhine, +and had commenced hostilities on the very day of the signing of the +preliminaries. This information arrived seven days after the Directory +had written that "he must not reckon on the co-operation of the armies of +Germany." It is impossible to describe the General's vexation on reading +these despatches. He had signed the preliminaries only because the +Government had represented the co-operation of the armies of the Rhine as +impracticable at that moment, and shortly afterwards he was informed that +the co-operation was about to take place! The agitation of his mind was +so great that he for a moment conceived the idea of crossing to the left +bank of the Tagliamento, and breaking off the negotiations under some +pretext or other. He persisted for some time in this resolution, which, +however, Berthier and some other generals successfully opposed. He +exclaimed, "What a difference would there have been in the preliminaries, +if, indeed, there had been any!" + +His chagrin, I might almost say his despair, increased when, some days +after his entry into the Venetian States, he received a letter from +Moreau, dated the 23d of April, in which that general informed him that, +having passed the Rhine on the 20th with brilliant success, and taken +four thousand prisoners, it would not be long before he joined him. +Who, in fact, can say what would have happened but for the vacillating +and distrustful policy of the Directory, which always encouraged low +intrigues, and participated in the jealousy excited by the renown of the +young conqueror? Because the Directory dreaded his ambition they +sacrificed the glory of our arms and the honour of the nation; for it +cannot be doubted that, had the passage of the Rhine, so urgently +demanded by Bonaparte, taken place some days sooner, he would have been +able, without incurring any risk, to dictate imperiously the conditions +of peace on the spot; or, if Austria were obstinate, to have gone on to +Vienna and signed it there. Still occupied with this idea, he wrote to +the Directory on the 8th of May: "Since I have received intelligence of +the passage of the Rhine by Hoche and Moreau, I much regret that it did +not take place fifteen days sooner; or, at least, that Moreau did not say +that he was in a situation to effect it." (He had been informed to the +contrary.) What, after this, becomes of the unjust reproach against +Bonaparte of having, through jealousy of Moreau, deprived France of the +advantages which a prolonged campaign would have procured her? Bonaparte +was too devoted to the glory of France to sacrifice it to jealousy of the +glory of any individual. + +In traversing the Venetian States to return to Milan, he often spoke to +me of Venice. He always assured me that he was originally entirely +unconnected with the insurrections which had agitated that country; that +common sense would show, as his project was to advance into the basin of +the Danube, he had no interest in having his rear disturbed by revolts, +and his communications interrupted or cut off: "Such an idea," said he, +"would be absurd, and could never enter into the mind of a man to whom +even his enemies cannot deny a certain degree of tact." He acknowledged +that he was not vexed that matters had turned out as they had done, +because he had already taken advantage of these circumstances in the +preliminaries and hoped to profit still more from them in the definitive +peace. "When I arrive at Milan," said he, "I will occupy myself with +Venice." It is therefore quite evident to me that in reality the +General-in-Chief had nothing to do with the Venetian insurrections; that +subsequently he was not displeased with them; and that, later still, he +derived great advantage from them. + +We arrived at Milan on the 5th of May, by way of Lawbook, Thrust, Palma- +Nova, Padua, Verona, and Mantua. Bonaparte soon took up his residence at +Montebello, a very fine chateau, three leagues from Milan, with a view +over the rich and magnificent plains of Lombard. At Montebello commenced +the negotiations for the definitive peace which were terminated at +Passeriano. The Marquis de Gallo, the Austrian plenipotentiary, resided +half a league from Montebello. + +During his residence at Montebello the General-in-Chief made an excursion +to the Lake of Como and to the Ago Maguire. He visited the Borromean +Islands in succession, and occupied himself on his return with the +organization of the towns of Venice, Genoa, and Milan. He sought for men +and found none. "Good God," said he, "how rare men are! There are +eighteen millions in Italy, and I have with difficulty found two, Dandolo +and Melzi." + +He appreciated them properly. Dandolo was one of the men who, in those +revolutionary times, reflected the greatest honour upon Italy. After +being a member of the great council of the Cisalpine Republic, he +exercised the functions of Proveditore-General in Dalmatia. It is only +necessary to mention the name of Dandolo to the Dalmatians to learn from +the grateful inhabitants how just and vigorous his administration was. +The services of Melzi are known. He was Chancellor and Keeper of the +Seals of the Italian monarchy, and was created Duke of Lodi. + + --[Francesco, Comte de Melzi d'Eryl (1753-1816), vice President of + the Italian Republic, 1802; Chancellor of the Kingdom of Italy, + 1805; Duc de Loth, 1807.]-- + +In those who have seen the world the truth of Napoleon's reproach excites +little astonishment. In a country which, according to biographies and +newspapers, abounds with extraordinary men, a woman of much talent +--(Madame Roland.)--said, "What has most surprised me, since the elevation +of my husband has afforded me the opportunity of knowing many persons, +and particularly those employed in important affairs, is the universal +mediocrity which exists. It surpasses all that the imagination can +conceive, and it is observable in all ranks, from the clerk to the +minister. Without this experience I never could have believed my species +to be so contemptible." + +Who does not remember Oxenstiern's remark to his son, who trembled at +going so young to the congress of Munster: "Go, my son. You will see by +what sort of men the world is governed." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +1797. + + Napoleon's correspondence--Release of French prisoners at Olmutz-- + Negotiations with Austria--Bonaparte's dissatisfaction--Letter of + complaint from Bonaparte to the Executive Directory--Note respecting + the affairs of Venice and the Club of Clichy, written by Bonaparte + and circulated in the army--Intercepted letter of the Emperor + Francis. + +During the time when the preliminaries of Leoben suspended military +operations, Napoleon was not anxious to reply immediately to all letters. +He took a fancy to do, not exactly as Cardinal Dubois did, when he threw +into the fire the letters he had received, saying, "There! my +correspondents are answered," but something of the same kind. To satisfy +himself that people wrote too much, and lost, in trifling and useless +answers, valuable time, he told me to open only the letters which came by +extraordinary couriers, and to leave all the rest for three weeks in the +basket. At the end of that time it was unnecessary to reply to four- +fifths of these communications. Some were themselves answers; some were +acknowledgments of letters received; others contained requests for +favours already granted, but of which intelligence had not been received. +Many were filled with complaints respecting provisions, pay, or clothing, +and orders had been issued upon all these points before the letters were +written. Some generals demanded reinforcements, money, promotion, etc. +By not opening their letters Bonaparte was spared the unpleasing office +of refusing. When the General-in-Chief compared the very small number of +letters which it was necessary to answer with the large number which time +alone had answered, he laughed heartily at his whimsical idea. Would not +this mode of proceeding be preferable to that of causing letters to be +opened by any one who may be employed, and replying to them by a circular +to which it is only necessary to attach a date? + +During the negotiations which followed the treaty of Leoben, the +Directory ordered General Bonaparte to demand the liberty of MM. de La +Fayette, Latour-Marbourg, and Bureau de Puzy, detained at Olmutz since +1792 as prisoners of state. The General-in-Chief executed this +commission with as much pleasure as zeal, but he often met with +difficulties which appeared to be insurmountable. It has been very +incorrectly stated that these prisoners obtained their liberty by one of +the articles of the preliminaries of Leoben. I wrote a great deal on +this subject to the dictation of General Bonaparte, and I joined him only +on the day after the signature of these preliminaries. It was not till +the end of May of the year 1797 that the liberation of these captives was +demanded, and they did not obtain their freedom till the end of August. +There was no article in the treaty, public or secret, which had reference +to them. Neither was it at his own suggestion that Bonaparte demanded +the enlargement of the prisoners, but by order of the Directory. To +explain why they did not go to France immediately after their liberation +from Olmutz, it is necessary to recollect that the events of the 18th +Fructidor occurred between the period when the first steps were taken to +procure their liberty and the date of their deliverance. It required all +Bonaparte's ascendency and vigour of character to enable him to succeed +in his object at the end of three months. + +We had arrived at the month of July, and the negotiations were tediously +protracted. It was impossible to attribute the embarrassment which was +constantly occurring to anything but the artful policy of Austria: Other +affairs occupied Bonaparte. The news from Paris engrossed all his +attention. He saw with extreme displeasure the manner in which the +influential orators of the councils, and pamphlets written in the same +spirit as they spoke, criticised him, his army, his victories, the +affairs of Venice, and the national glory. He was quite indignant at the +suspicions which it was sought to create respecting his conduct and +ulterior views. + +The following excerpts, attributed to the pens of Dumouriez or Rivarol, +are specimens of some of the comments of the time: + + EXTRACTS OF LETTERS IN "LE SPECTATUER DU NORD" of 1797. + + General Bonaparte is, without contradiction, the most brilliant + warrior who has appeared at the head of the armies of the French + Republic. His glory is incompatible with democratic equality, and + the services he has rendered are too great to be recompensed except + by hatred and ingratitude. He is very young, and consequently has + to pursue a long career of accusations and of persecutions. + + ........Whatever may be the crowning event of his military career, + Bonaparte is still a great man. All his glory is due to himself + alone; because he alone has developed s character end a genius of + which no one else has furnished an example. + + + EXTRACT OF LETTER OR 18TH APRIL 1797 in "THE SPECTATEUR DU NORD." + + Regard, for instance, this wretched war. Uncertain in Champagne, it + becomes daring under Dumouriez, unbridled under the brigands who + fought the Vendeeans, methodic under Pichegru, vulgar under Jourdan, + skilled under Moreau, rash under Bonaparte. Each general has put + the seal of his genius on his career, and has given life or death to + his army. From the commencement of his career Bonaparte has + developed an ardent character which is irritated by obstacles, and a + quickness which forestalls every determination of the enemy. It is + with heavier and heavier blows that, he strikes. He throws his army + on the enemy like an unloosed torrent. He is all action, and he is + so in everything. See him fight, negotiate, decree, punish, all is + the matter of a moment. He compromises with Turin as with Rome. He + invades Modena as he burns Binasco. He never hesitates; to cut the + Gordian knot is always his method. + + +Bonaparte could not endure to have his conduct predicated; and enraged at +seeing his campaigns depreciated, his glory and that of his army +disparaged, + + --[The extraordinary folly of the opposition to the Directory in + throwing Bonaparte on to the side of the Directory, will be seen by + reading the speech of Dumolard, so often referred to by Bourrienne + (Thiers, vol. v. pp. 110-111), and by the attempts of Mathieu Dumas + to remove the impression that the opposition slighted the fortunate + General. (See Dumas, tome iii. p. 80; see also Lanfrey, tome i. + pp. 257-299).]-- + +and intrigues formed against him in the Club of Clichy, he wrote the +following letter to the Directory:-- + + TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORY. + + I have just received, Citizens-Directors, a copy of the motion of + Dumolard (23d June 1797). + + This motion, printed by order of the Assembly, it is evident, is + directed against me. I was entitled, after, having five times + concluded peace, and given a death-blow to the coalition, if not to + civic triumphs, at least to live tranquilly under the protection of + the first magistrates of the Republic. At present I find myself + ill-treated, persecuted, and disparaged, by every shameful means, + which their policy brings to the aid of persecution. I would have + been indifferent to all except that species of opprobrium with which + the first magistrates of the Republic endeavour to overwhelm me. + After having deserved well of my country by my last act, I am not + bound to hear myself accused in a manner as absurd as atrocious. + I have not expected that a manifesto, signed by emigrants, paid by + England, should obtain more credit with the Council of Five Hundred + than the evidence of eighty thousand men--than mine! What! we were + assassinated by traitors--upwards of four hundred men perished; and + the first magistrates of the Republic make it a crime to have + believed the statement for a moment. Upwards of four hundred + Frenchmen were dragged through the streets. They were assassinated + before the eyes of the governor of the fort. They were pierced with + a thousand blows of stilettos, such as I sent you and the + representatives of the French people cause it to be printed, that if + they believed this fact for an instant, they were excusable. I know + well there are societies where it is said, "Is this blood, then, so + pure?" + + If only base men, who are dead to the feeling of patriotism and + national glory, had spoken of me thus, I would not have complained. + I would have disregarded it; but I have a right to complain of the + degradation to which the first magistrates of the Republic reduce + those who have aggrandised, and carried the French name to so high a + pitch of glory. Citizens-Directors, I reiterate the demand I made + for my dismissal; I wish to live in tranquillity, if the poniards of + Clichy will allow me to live. You have employed me in negotiations. + I am not very fit to conduct them. + + +About the same time he drew up the following note respecting the affairs +of Venice, which was printed without the author's name, and circulated +through the whole army:-- + + NOTE. + + Bonaparte, pausing before the gates of Turin, Parma, Rome, and + Vienna, offering peace when he was sure of obtaining nothing but + fresh triumphs--Bonaparte, whose every operation exhibits respect + for religion, morality, and old age; who, instead of heaping, as he + might have done, dishonour upon the Venetians, and humbling their + republic to the earth, loaded her with acts of kindness, and took + such great interest in her glory--is this the same Bonaparte who is + accused of destroying the ancient Government of Venice, and + democratising Genoa, and even of interfering in the affairs of the + prudent and worthy people of the Swiss Cantons? Bonaparte had + passed the Tagliamento, and entered Germany, when insurrections + broke out in the Venetian States; these insurrections were, + therefore, opposed to Bonaparte's project; surely, then, he could + not favour them. When he was in the heart of Germany the Venetians + massacred more than four hundred French troops, drove their quarters + out of Verona, assassinated the unfortunate Laugier, and presented + the spectacle of a fanatical party in arms. He returned to Italy; + and on his arrival, as the winds cease their agitation at the + presence of Neptune, the whole of Italy, which was in commotion, + which was in arms, was restored to order. + + However, the deputies from Bonaparte drew up different articles + conformable to the situation of the country, and in order to + prevent, not a revolution in the Government, for the Government was + defunct, and had died a natural death, but a crisis, and to save the + city from convulsion, anarchy, and pillage. Bonaparte spared a + division of his army to save Venice from pillage and massacre. All + the battalions were in the streets of Venice, the disturbers were + put down, and the pillage discontinued. Property and trade were + preserved, when General Baragney d'Hilliers entered Venice with his + division. Bonaparte, as usual, spared blood, and was the protector + of Venice. Whilst the French troops remained they conducted + themselves peaceably, and only interfered to support the provisional + Government. + + Bonaparte could not say to the deputies of Venice, who came to ask + his protection and assistance against the populace, who wished to + plunder them, "I cannot meddle with your affairs." He could not say + this, for Venice, and all its territories, had really formed the + theatre of war; and, being in the rear of the army of Italy, the + Republic of Venice was really under the jurisdiction of that army. + The rights of war confer upon a general the powers of supreme police + over the countries which are the seat of war. As the great + Frederick said, "There are no neutrals where there is war." + Ignorant advocates and babblers have asked, in the Club of Clichy, + why we occupy the territory of Venice. These declaimers should + learn war, and they would know that the Adige, the Brenta, and the + Tagliamento, where we have been fighting for two years, are within + the Venetian States. But, gentlemen of Clichy, we are at no loss to + perceive your meaning. You reproach the army of Italy for having + surmounted all difficulties--for subduing all Italy for having twice + passed the Alps--for having marched on Vienna, and obliged Austria + to acknowledge the Republic that, you, men of Clichy, would destroy. + You accuse Bonaparte, I see clearly, for having brought about peace. + But I know you, and I speak in the name of eighty thousand soldiers. + The time is gone when base advocates and wretched declaimers could + induce soldiers to revolt. If, however, yon compel them, the + soldiers of the army of Italy will soon appear at the Barrier of + Clichy, with their General. But woe unto you if they do! + + Bonaparte having arrived at Palma-Nova, issued a manifesto on the 2d + of May 1797. Arrived at Mestre, where he posted his troops, the + Government sent three deputies to him, with a decree of the Great + Council, without Bonaparte having solicited it and without his + having thought of making any change in the Government of that + country: The governor of Venice was an old man, ninety-nine years-of + age, confined by illness to his apartment. Everyone felt the + necessity of renovating this Government of twelve hundred years' + existence, and to simplify its machinery, in order to preserve its + independence, honour, and glory. It was necessary to deliberate, + first, on the manner of renovating the Government; secondly, on the + means of atoning for the massacre of the French, the iniquity of + which every one was sensible.. + + Bonaparte, after having received the deputation at Mestre, told them + that in order to obtain satisfaction, for the assassination of his + brethren is arms, he wished the Great Council to arrest the + inquisitors. He afterwards granted them an armistice, and appointed + Milan as the place of conference. The deputies arrived at Milan on + the . . . A negotiation commenced to re-establish harmony between + the Governments. However, anarchy, with all its horrors, afflicted + the city of Venice. Ten thousand Sclavonians threatened to pillage + the shops. Bonaparte acquiesced in the proposition submitted by the + deputies, who promised to verify the loss which had been sustained + by pillage. + + +Bonaparte also addressed a manifesto to the Doge, which appeared in all +the public papers. It contained fifteen articles of complaint, and was +followed by a decree ordering the French Minister to leave Venice, the +Venetian agents to leave Lombard, and the Lion of St. Mark to be pulled +down in all the Continental territories of Venice. + +The General-in-Chief now openly manifested his resolution of marching on +Paris; and this disposition, which was well known in the army, was soon +communicated to Vienna. At this period a letter from the Emperor Francis +II. to his brother, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, was intercepted by +Bonaparte. I translated the letter, which proved to him that Francis II. +was acquainted with his project. He likewise saw with pleasure the +assurances which the Emperor gave his brother of his love of peace, as +well as the wavering of the imperial resolves, and the incertitude +respecting the fate of the Italian princes, which the Emperor easily +perceived to depend on Bonaparte. The Emperor's letter was as follows:-- + + MY DEAR BROTHER--I punctually received your third letter, containing + a description of your unhappy and delicate situation. You may be + assured that I perceive it as clearly as you do yourself; and I pity + you the more because, in truth, I do not know what advice to give + you. You are, like me, the victim of the former inactivity of the + princes of Italy, who ought, at once, to have acted with all their + united forces, while I still possessed Mantua. If Bonaparte's + project be, as I learn, to establish republics in Italy, this is + likely to end in spreading republicanism over the whole country. I + have already commenced negotiations for peace, and the preliminaries + are ratified. If the French observe them as strictly as I do, and + will do, then your situation will be improved; but already the + French are beginning to disregard them. The principal problem which + remains to be solved is, whether the French Directory approve of + Bonaparte's proceedings, and whether the latter, as appears by some + papers distributed through his army, is not disposed to revolt + against his country, which also seems to be probable, from his + severe conduct towards Switzerland, notwithstanding the assurances + of the Directory, that he had been ordered to leave the country + untouched. If this should be the case, new and innumerable + difficulties may arise. Under these circumstances I can, at + present, advise nothing; for, as to myself, it is only time and the + circumstances of the moment which can point out how I am to act. + + There is nothing new here. We are all well; but the heat is + extraordinary. Always retain your friendship and love for me. + Make my compliments to your wife, and believe me ever + + Your best Friend and Brother, + FRANCIS. + + HETZENDORF, July 20, 1797. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +1797. + + Unfounded reports--Carnot--Capitulation of Mantua--General Clarke-- + The Directory yields to Bonaparte--Berthier--Arrival of Eugene + Beauharnais at Milan--Comte Delannay d'Entraigues--His interview + with Bonaparte--Seizure of his papers--Copy of one describing a + conversation between him and Comte de Montgaillard--The Emperor + Francis--The Prince de Conde and General Pichegru. + +While Bonaparte was expressing his opinion on his campaigns and the +injustice with which they had been criticised, it was generally believed +that Carnot dictated to him from a closet in the Luxembourg all the plans +of his operations, and that Berthier was at his right hand, without whom, +notwithstanding Carnot's plans, which were often mere romances, he would +have been greatly embarrassed. This twofold misrepresentation was very +current for some time; and, notwithstanding it was contrary to the +evidence of facts, it met with much credence, particularly abroad. There +was, however, no foundation for the opinion: Let us render to Caesar that +which is Caesar's due. Bonaparte was a creator in the art of war, and no +imitator. That no man was superior to him in that art is incontestable. +At the commencement of the glorious campaign in Italy the Directory +certainly sent out instructions to him; but he always followed his own +plans, and continually, wrote back that all would be lost if movements +conceived at a distance from the scene of action were to be blindly +executed. He also offered to resign. At length the Directory perceived +the impossibility of prescribing operations of war according to the view +of persons in Paris; and when I became the secretary of the General-in- +Chief I saw a despatch of the Directory, dated May, 1796, committing the +whole plan of the campaign to his judgment; and assuredly there was not a +single operation or movement which did not originate with him. Carnot +was obliged to yield to his firmness. When the Directory, towards the +end of 1796, felt disposed to treat for peace, General Clarke, appointed +to conclude the armistice, was authorised, in case Mantua should not be +taken before the negotiation was brought to a close, to propose leaving +the blockade in statu quo. Had such a condition been adopted it would +doubtless hays been stipulated that the Emperor of Austria should be +allowed to provision the garrison and inhabitants of the city day by day. +Bonaparte, convinced that an armistice without Mantua would by no means +conduce to peace, earnestly opposed such a condition. He carried his +point; Mantua capitulated, and the result is well known. Yet he was not +blind to the hazards of war; while preparing, during the blockade, an +assault on Mantua, he wrote thus to the Directory: "A bold stroke of this +nature depends absolutely for success on a dog or a goose." This was +about a question of surprise. + +Bonaparte was exceedingly sensitive to the rumours which reached him +respecting Carnot and Berthier. He one day said to me: "What gross +stupidity, is this? It is very well to say to a general, 'Depart for +Italy, gain battles, and sign a peace at Vienna;' but the execution that +is not so easy. I never attached any value to the plans which the +Directory sent me. Too many circumstances occur on the spot to modify +them. The movement of a single corps of the enemy's army may confound a +whole plan arranged by the fireside. Only fools can believe such stuff! +As for Berthier, since you have been with me, you see what he is--he is a +blockhead. Yet it is he who does it all; it is he who gathers a great +part of the glory of the army of Italy." I told him that this erroneous +opinion could not last long; that each person would be allowed his merit, +and that at least posterity would judge rightly. This observation seemed +to please him. + +Berthier was a man full of honour, courage, and probity, and exceedingly +regular in the performance of his duties. Bonaparte's attachment to him +arose more from habit than liking. Berthier did not concede with +affability, and refused with harshness. His abrupt, egotistic, and +careless manners did not, however, create him many enemies, but, at the +same time, did not make him many friends. In consequence of our frequent +intercourse he had contracted the friendly practice of speaking to me in +the second person singular; but he never wrote to me is that style. He +was perfectly acquainted with the disposition of all the corps, and could +name their commanders and their respective forces. Day or night he was +always at hand and made out with clearness all the secondary orders which +resulted from the dispositions of the General-in-Chief. In fact, he was, +an excellent head of the staff of an army; but that is all the praise +that can be given, and indeed he wished for no greater. He had such +entire confidence in Bonaparte, and looked up to him with so much +admiration, that he never would have presumed to oppose his plans or give +any advise. Berthier's talent was very limited, and of a special nature; +his character was one of extreme weakness. Bonaparte's friendship for +him and the frequency of his name in the bulletins and official +despatches have unduly elevated his reputation. Bonaparte, giving his +opinion to the Directory respecting the generals employed in his army, +said, "Berthier has talents, activity, courage, character--all in his +favour." This was in 1796. He then made an eagle of him; at St. Helena +he called him a goose. He should neither have, raised him so high nor +sunk him so low. + +Berthier neither merited the one nor the other. Bonaparte was a man of +habit; he was much attached to all the people about him, and did not like +new faces. Berthier loved him. He carried out his orders well, and that +enabled him to pass off with his small portion of talent. + +It was about this time that young Beauharnais came to Milan. He was +seventeen years old. He had lived in Paris with his mother since the +departure of Bonaparte. On his arrival he immediately entered the +service as 'aide de camp' to the General-in-Chief, who felt for him an +affection which was justified by his good qualities. + +Comte Delaunay d'Entraigues, well known in the French Revolution, held a +diplomatic post at Venice when that city was threatened by the French. +Aware of his being considered the agent of all the machinations then +existing against France, and especially against the army of Italy, he +endeavoured to escape; but the city being, surrounded, he was seized, +together with all his papers. The apparently frank manners of the Count +pleased Bonaparte, who treated him with indulgence. His papers were +restored, with the exception of three relating to political subjects. +He afterwards fled to Switzerland, and ungratefully represented himself +as having been oppressed by Bonaparte. His false statements have induced +many writers to make of him an heroic victim. He was assassinated by his +own servant in 1802. + +I kept a copy of one of his most interesting papers. It has been much +spoken of, and Fauche-Borel has, I believe, denied its authenticity and +the truth of its contents. The manner in which it fell into the hands of +the General-in-Chief, the importance attached to it by d'Entraigues, the +differences I have observed between the manuscript I copied and versions +which I have since read, and the, knowledge of its, authenticity, having +myself transcribed it from the handwriting of the Count, who in my +presence vouched for the truth of the facts it details--all these +circumstances induce me to insert it here, and compel me to doubt that it +was, as Fauche-Borel asserted, a fabrication. + +This manuscript is entitled, 'My Conversation with Comte de Montgaillard, +on the 4th of December 1796, from Six in the Afternoon till midnight, in +the presence of the Abbe Dumontel.' + +[On my copy are written the words, "Extracts from this conversation, made +by me, from the original." I omitted what I thought unimportant, and +transcribed only the most interesting passages. Montgaillard spoke of +his escape, of his flight to England, of his return to France, of his +second departure, and finally of his arrival at Bale in August 1795.] + + The Prince de Conde soon afterwards, he said, called me to Mulheim, + and knowing the connections I had had in France, proposed that I + should sound General Pichegru, whose headquarters were at Altkirch, + where he then was, surrounded by four representatives of the + Convention. + + I immediately went to Neufchatel, taking with me four or five + hundred Louis. I cast my eyes on Fauche-Borel, the King's printer + at Neufchatel, and also yours and mine, as the instrument by which + to make the first overture, and I selected as his colleague M. + Courant, a native of Neufchatel. I persuaded them to undertake the + business: I supplied them with instructions and passports. They + were foreigners: so I furnished them with all the necessary + documents to enable them to travel in France as foreign merchants + and purchasers of national property. I went to Bale to wait for + news from them. + + On the 13th of August Fauche and Courant set out for the + headquarters at Altkirch. They remained there eight days without + finding an opportunity to speak to Pichegru, who was surrounded by + representatives and generals. Pichegru observed them, and seeing + them continually wheresoever he went, he conjectured that they had + something to say to him, and he called out in a loud voice, while + passing them, "I am going to Huningen." Fauche contrived to throw + himself in his way at the end of a corridor. Pichegru observed him, + and fixed his eyes upon him, and although it rained in torrents, he + said aloud, "I am going to dine at the chateau of Madame Salomon." + This chateau was three leagues from Huningen, and Madame Salomon was + Pichegru's mistress. + + Fauche set off directly to the chateau, and begged to speak with + General Pichegru. He told the general that, being in the possession + of some of J. J. Rousseau's manuscripts, he wished to publish them + and dedicate them to him. "Very good," said Pichegru; "but I should + like to read them first; for Rousseau professed principles of + liberty in which I do not concur, and with which I should not like + to have my name connected."--"But," said Fauche, "I have something + else to speak to you about."--"What is it, and on whose behalf?"-- + "On behalf of the Prince de Conde."--"Be silent, then, and follow + me." + + He conducted Fauche alone into a retired cabinet, and said to + him, "Explain yourself; what does Monseigneur le Prince de Conde + wish to communicate to me?" Fauche was embarrassed, and stammered + out something unintelligible. "Compose yourself." said Pichegru; + "my sentiments are the same, as the Prince de Conde's. What does he + desire of me?" Fauche, encouraged by these words, replied, "The + Prince wishes to join you. He counts on you, and wishes to connect + himself with you." + + "These are vague and unmeaning words," observed Pichegru. "All this + amounts to nothing. Go back, and ask for written instructions, and + return in three days to my headquarters at Altkirch. You will find + me alone precisely at six o'clock in the evening." + + Fauche immediately departed, arrived at Bale, and informed me of all + that had passed. I spent the night in writing a letter to General + Pichegru. (The Prince de Conde, who was invested with all the + powers of Louis XVIII, except that of granting the 'cordon-bleu', + had, by a note in his own handwriting, deputed to me all his powers, + to enable me to maintain a negotiation with General Pichegru). + + I therefore wrote to the general, stating, in the outset, everything + that was calculated to awaken in him that noble sentiment of pride + which is the instinct of great minds; and after pointing out to him + the vast good it was in his power to effect, I spoke of the + gratitude of the King, and the benefit he would confer on his + country by restoring royalty. I told him that his Majesty would + make him a marshal of France, and governor of Alsace, as no one + could better govern the province than he who had so valiantly + defended it. I added that he would have the 'cordon-rouge', the + Chateau de Chambord, with its park, and twelve pieces of cannon + taken from the Austrians, a million of ready money, 200,000 livres + per annum, and an hotel in Paris; that the town of Arbors, + Pichegru's native place, should bear his name, and be exempt from + all taxation for twenty-five years; that a pension of 200,000 livres + would be granted to him, with half reversion to his wife, and 50,000 + livres to his heirs for ever, until the extinction of his family. + Such were the offers, made in the name of the King, to General + Pichegru. (Than followed the boons to be granted to the officers + and soldiers, an amnesty to the people, etc). I added that the + Prince de Coude desired that he would proclaim the King in the + camps, surrender the city of Huningen to him, and join him for the + purpose of marching on Paris. + + Pichegru, having read my letter with great attention, said to + Fauche, "This is all very well; but who is this M. de Montgaillard + who talks of being thus authorised? I neither know him nor his + signature. Is he the author?"--"Yes," replied Fauche. "But," said + Pichegru, "I must, before making any negotiation on my part, be + assured that the Prince de Conde, with whose handwriting I am well + acquainted, approves of all that has been written is his name by M. + de Montgaillard. Return directly to M. de Montgaillard, and tell + him to communicate my answer to the Prince." + + Fauche immediately departed, leaving M. Courant with Pichegru. He + arrived at Bale at nine o'clock in the evening. I set off directly + for Malheim, the Prince de Conde's headquarters, and arrived there + at half-past twelve. The Prince was in bed, but I awoke him. He + made me sit down by his bedside, and our conference then commenced. + + After having informed the Prince of the state of affairs, all that + remained was to prevail on him to write to General Pichegru to + confirm the truth of what had been stated in his name. This matter, + which appeared so simple, and so little liable to objection, + occupied the whole night. The Prince, as brave a man as can + possibly be, inherited nothing from the great Conde but his + undaunted courage. In other respects he is the most insignificant + of men; without resources of mind, or decision of character; + surrounded by men of mediocrity, and even baseness; and though he + knows them well, he suffers himself to be governed by them. + + It required nine hours of hard exertion on my part to get him to + write to General Pichegru a letter of eight lines. 1st. He did not + wish it to be in his handwriting. 2d. He objected to dating it + 3d. He was unwilling to call him General, lest he should recognise + the republic by giving that title. 4th. He did not like to address + it, or affix his seal to it. + + At length he consented to all, and wrote to Pichegru that he might + place full confidence in the letters of the Comte de Montgaillard. + When all this was settled, after great difficulty, the Prince next + hesitated about sending the letter; but at length he yielded. I set + off for Bale, and despatched Fauche to Altkirch, to General + Pichegru. + + The general, after reading the letter of eight lines, and + recognising the handwriting and signature, immediately returned it + to Fauche, saying, "I have seen the signature: that is enough for + me. The word of the Prince is a pledge with which every Frenchman + ought to be satisfied. Take back his letter." He then inquired + what was the Prince's wish. Fauche explained that he wished--1st. + That Pichegru should proclaim the King to his troops, and hoist the + White flag. 2d. That he should deliver up Huningen to the Prince. + Pichegru objected to this. "I will never take part in such a plot," + said he; "I have no wish to make the third volume of La Fayette and + Dumouriez. I know my resources; they are as certain as they are + vast. Their roots are not only in my army, but in Paris, in the + Convention, in the departments, and in the armies of those generals, + my colleagues, who think as I do. I wish to do nothing by halves. + There must be a complete end of the present state of things. France + cannot continue a Republic. She must have a king, and that king + must be Louis XVIII. But we must not commence the counter- + revolution until we are certain of effecting it. 'Surely and + rightly' is my motto. The Prince's plan leads to nothing. He would + be driven from Huningen in four days, and in fifteen I should be + lost. My army is composed both of good men and bad. We must + distinguish between them, and, by a bold stroke, assure the former + of the impossibility of drawing back, and that their only safety + lies in success. For this purpose I propose to pass the Rhine, at + any place and any time that may be thought necessary. In the + advance I will place those officers on whom I can depend, and who + are of my way of thinking. I will separate the bad, and place them + in situations where they can do no harm, and their position shall be + such as to prevent them from uniting. That done, as soon as I shall + be on the other side of the Rhine, I will proclaim the King, and + hoist the white flag. Conde's corps and the Emperor's army will + then join us. I will immediately repass the Rhine, and re-enter + France. The fortresses will be surrendered, and will be held in the + King's name by the Imperial troops. Having joined Conde's army, I + immediately advance. All my means now develop themselves on every + side. We march upon Paris, and in a fortnight will be there. But + it is necessary that you should know that you must give the French + soldier wine and a crown in his hand if you would have him cry 'Vive + le Roi! Nothing must be wanting at the first moment. My army must + be well paid as far as the fourth or fifth march in the French + territory. There go and tell all this to the Prince, show my + handwriting, and bring me back his answer." + + During these conferences Pichegru was surrounded by four + representatives of the people, at the head of whom was Merlin de + Thionville, the most insolent and the most ferocious of inquisitors. + These men, having the orders of the Committee, pressed Pichegru to + pass the Rhine and go and besiege Manheim, where Merlin had an + understanding with the inhabitants. Thus, if on the one hand the + Committee by its orders made Pichegru wish to hasten the execution + of his plan, on the other he had not a moment to lose; for to delay + obeying the orders of the four representatives was to render himself + suspected. Every consideration, therefore, called upon the Prince + to decide, and decide promptly. Good sense required him also to do + another thing, namely, to examine without prejudice what sort of man + Pichegru was, to consider the nature of the sacrifice he made, and + what were his propositions. Europe acknowledged his talents, and he + had placed the Prince in a condition to judge of his good faith. + Besides, his conduct and his plan afforded fresh proofs of his + sincerity. By passing the Rhine and placing himself between the + armies of Conde and Wurmser, he rendered desertion impossible; and, + if success did not attend his attempt, his own acts forced him to + become an emigrant. He left in the power of his fierce enemies his + wife, his father, his children. Everything bore testimony to his + honesty; the talents he had shown were a pledge for his genius, his + genius for his resources; and the sacrifices he would have to make + in case of failure proved that he was confident of success. + + What stupid conceit was it for any one to suppose himself better + able to command Pichegru's army than Pichegru himself!--to pretend + to be better acquainted with the frontier provinces than Pichegru, + who commanded them, and had placed his friends in them as commanders + of the towns! This self-conceit, however, ruined the monarchy at + this time, as well as at so many others. The Prince de Conde, after + reading the plan, rejected it in toto. To render it successful it + was necessary to make the Austrians parties to it. This Pichegru + exacted, but the Prince of Conde would not hear a word of it, + wishing to have confined to himself the glory of effecting the + counter-revolution. He replied to Pichegru by a few observations, + and concluded his answer by returning to his first plan--that + Pichegru should proclaim the King without passing the Rhine, and + should give up Huningen; that then the army of Conde by itself, and + without the aid of the Austrians, would join him. In that case he + could promise 100,000 crowns in louis, which he had at Bale, and + 1,400,000 livres, which he had in good bills payable at sight. + + No argument or entreaty had any effect on the Prince de Condo. The + idea of communicating his plan to Wurmser and sharing his glory with + him rendered him blind and deaf to every consideration. However, it + was necessary to report to Pichegru the observations of the Prince + de Conde, and Courant was commissioned to do so. + +This document appeared so interesting to me that while Bonaparte was +sleeping I was employed in copying it. Notwithstanding posterior and +reiterated denials of its truth, I believe it to be perfectly correct. + +Napoleon had ordered plans of his most famous battles to be engraved, and +had paid in advance for them. The work was not done quickly enough for +him. He got angry, and one day said to his geographer, Bacler d'Albe, +whom he liked well enough, "Ah! do hurry yourself, and think all this is +only the business of a moment. If you make further delay you will sell +nothing; everything is soon forgotten!" + +We were now in July, and the negotiations were carried on with a +tardiness which showed that something was kept in reserve on both sides. +Bonaparte at this time was anything but disposed to sign a peace, which +be always hoped to be able to make at Vienna, after a campaign in +Germany, seconded by the armies of the Rhine and the Sambre-et-Meuse. +The minority of the Directory recommended peace on the basis of the +preliminaries, but the majority wished for more honourable and +advantageous terms; while Austria, relying on troubles breaking out in +France, was in no haste to conclude a treaty. In these circumstances +Bonaparte drew up a letter to be sent to the Emperor of Austria, in which +he set forth the moderation of France; but stated that, in consequence of +the many delays, nearly all hope of peace had vanished. He advised the +Emperor not to rely on difficulties arising in France, and doubted, if +war should continue and the Emperor be successful in the next campaign, +that he would obtain a more advantageous peace than was now at his +option. This letter was never sent to the Emperor, but was communicated +as the draft of a proposed despatch to the Directory. The Emperor +Francis, however, wrote an autograph letter to the General-in-Chief of +the army of Italy, which will be noticed when I come to the period of its +reception: It is certain that Bonaparte at this time wished for war. He +was aware that the Cabinet of Vienna was playing with him, and that the +Austrian Ministers expected some political convulsion in Paris, which +they hoped would be favourable to the Bourbons. He therefore asked for +reinforcements. His army consisted of 35,900 men, and he desired it to +be raised to 60,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry ready for the field. + +General Desaix, profiting by the preliminaries of Leoben, came in the end +of July to visit the scene of the army of Italy's triumphs. His +conversations with Bonaparte respecting the army of the Rhine were far +from giving him confidence in his military situation in Italy, or +assurance of support from that army in the event of hostilities +commencing beyond the mountains. It was at this period that their +intimacy began. Bonaparte conceived for Desaix the greatest esteem and +the sincerest friendship. + + --[Desaix discontented with the conduct of affairs in Germany, + seceded from the army of the Rhine, to which he belonged, to join + that of Napoleon. He was sent to Italy to organise the part of the + Egyptian expedition starting from Civita Vecchia. He took with him + his two aides de camp, Rapp and Savary (later Duc de Rovigo), both + of whom, on his death, were given the same post with Bonaparte.]-- + +When Desaix was named temporary commander of the force called the army of +England, during the absence of General Bonaparte, the latter wrote to the +Directory that they could not have chosen a more distinguished officer +than Desaix; these sentiments he never belied. The early death of Desaix +alone could break their union, which, I doubt not, would eventually have +had great influence on the political and military career of General +Bonaparte. + +All the world knows the part which the General-in-Chief of the army of +Italy took at the famous crisis of the 18th Fructidor; his proclamation, +his addresses to the army, and his celebrated order of the day. +Bonaparte went much into detail on this subject at St. Helena; and I +shall now proceed to state what I knew at the time respecting that +memorable event, which was in preparation in the month of June. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +1797. + + The royalists of the interior--Bonaparte's intention of marching on + Paris with 25,000 men--His animosity against the emigrants and the + Clichy Club--His choice between the two parties of the Directory-- + Augereau's order of the day against the word 'Monsieur'--Bonaparte + wishes to be made one of the five Directors--He supports the + majority of the Directory--La Vallette, Augereau, and Bernadotte + sent to Paris--Interesting correspondence relative to the 18th + Fructidor. + +Bonaparte had long observed the struggle which was going on between the +partisans of royalty and the Republic. He was told that royalism was +everywhere on the increase. All the generals who returned from Paris to +the army complained of the spirit of reaction they had noticed. +Bonaparte was constantly urged by his private correspondents to take one +side or the other, or to act for himself. He was irritated by the +audacity of the enemies of the Republic, and he saw plainly that the +majority of the councils had an evident ill-will towards him. The +orators of the Club of Clichy missed no opportunity of wounding his self- +love in speeches and pamphlets. They spared no insults, disparaged his +success, and bitterly censured his conduct in Italy, particularly with +respect to Venice. Thus his services were recompensed by hatred or +ingratitude. About this time he received a pamphlet, which referred to +the judgments pronounced upon him by the German journals, and more +particularly by the Spectator of the North, which he always made me +translate. + +Bonaparte was touched to the quick by the comparison make between him and +Moreau, and by the wish to represent him as foolhardy ("savants sous +Moreau, fougueuse sous Buonaparte"). In the term of "brigands," applied +to the generals who fought in La Vendee, he thought he recognized the +hand of the party he was about to attack and overthrow. He was tired of +the way in which Moreau's system of war was called "savants." But what +grieved him still more was to see sitting in the councils of the nation +Frenchmen who were detractors and enemies of the national glory. + +He urged the Directory to arrest the emigrants, to destroy the influence +of foreigners, to recall the armies, to suppress the journals sold to +England, such as the 'Quotidienne', the 'Memorial', and the 'The', which +he accused of being more sanguinary than Marat ever was. In case of +there being no means of putting a stop to assassinations and the +influence of Louis XVIII., he offered to resign. + +His resolution of passing the Alps with 25,000 men and marching by Lyons +and Paris was known in the capital, and discussions arose respecting the +consequences of this passage of another Rubicon. On the 17th of August +1797 Carnot wrote to him: "People attribute to you a thousand absurd +projects. They cannot believe that a man who has performed so many great +exploits can be content to live as a private citizen." This observation +applied to Bonaparte's reiterated request to be permitted to retire from +the service on account of the state of his health, which, he said, +disabled him from mounting his horse, and to the need which he constantly +urged of having two years' rest. + +The General-in-Chief was justly of opinion that the tardiness of the +negotiations and the difficulties which incessantly arose were founded on +the expectation of an event which would change the government of France, +and render the chances of peace more favourable to Austria. He still +urgently recommended the arrest of the emigrants, the stopping of the +presses of the royalist journals, which he said were sold to England and +Austria, the suppression of the Clichy Club. This club was held at the +residence of Gerard Desodieres, in the Rue de Clichy. Aubry, was one of +its warmest partisans, and he was the avowed enemy of the revolutionary +cause which Bonaparte advocated at this period. Aubry's conduct at this +time, together with the part he had taken in provoking Bonaparte's +dismissal in 1795, inspired the General with an implacable hatred of him. + +Bonaparte despised the Directory, which he accused of weakness, +indecision, pusillanimity, wasteful expenditure, of many errors, and +perseverance in a system degrading to the national glory. + + --[The Directory merited those accusations. The following sketches + of two of their official sittings present a singular contrast: + + "At the time that the Directory were first installed in the + Luxembourg (27th October 1795)." says M. Baileul, "there was hardly + a single article of furniture in it. In a small room, round a + little broken table, one of the legs of which had given way from + age, on which table they had deposited a quire of letter-paper, and + a writing desk 'a calamet', which luckily they had had the + precaution to bring with them from the Committee of Public safety, + seated on four rush-bottomed chairs, in front of some logs of wood + ill-lighted, the whole borrowed from the porter Dupont; who would + believe that it was in this deplorable condition that the member's + of the new Government, after having examined all the difficulties, + nay, let me add, all the horrors of their situation, resolved to + confront all obstacles, and that they would either deliver France + from the abyss in which she was plunged or perish in the attempt? + They drew up on a sheet of letter-paper the act by which they + declared themselves constituted, and immediately forwarded it to the + Legislative Bodies." + + And the Comte de La Vallette, writing to M. Cuvillier Fleury, says: + "I saw our five kings, dressed in the robes of Francis I., his hat, + his pantaloons, and his lace: the face of La Reveilliere looked like + a cork upon two pins, with the black and greasy hair of Clodion. M. + de Talleyrand, in pantaloons of the colour of wine dregs, sat in a + folding chair at the feet of the Director Barras, in the Court of + the Petit Luxembourg, and gravely presented to his sovereigns as + ambassador from the Grand Duke of Tuscany, while the French were + eating his master's dinner, from the soup to the cheese. At the + right hand there were fifty musicians and singers of the Opera, + Laine, Lays, Regnault, and the actresses, not all dead of old age, + roaring a patriotic cantata to the music of Mehul. Facing them, on + another elevation, there were two hundred young and beautiful women, + with their arms and bosoms bare, all in ecstasy at the majesty of + our Pentarchy and the happiness of the Republic. They also wore + tight flesh-coloured pantaloons, with rings on their toes. That was + a sight that never will be seen again. A fortnight after this + magnificent fete, thousands of families wept over their banished + fathers, forty-eight departments were deprived of their + representatives, and forty editors of newspapers were forced to go + and drink the waters of the Elbe, the Synamary or the Ohio! It + would be a curious disquisition to seek to discover what really were + at that time the Republic and Liberty."] + + +He knew that the Clichy party demanded his dismissal and arrest. He was +given to understand that Dumolard was one of the most decided against +him, and that, finally, the royalist party was on the point of +triumphing. + +Before deciding for one party or the other Bonaparte first thought of +himself. He did not imagine that he had yet achieved enough to venture +on possessing himself of that power which certainly he might easily have +obtained. He therefore contented himself with joining the party which +was, for the moment, supported by public opinion. I know he was +determined to march upon Paris with 25,000 men had affairs taken a turn +unfavourable to the Republic, which he preferred to royalty. He +cautiously formed his plan. To defend the Directory was, he conceived, +to defend his own future fortune; that is to say, it was protecting a +power which appeared to have no other object than to keep a place for him +until his return. + +The parties which rose up in Paris produced a reaction in the army. The +employment of the word 'Monsieur' had occasioned quarrels, and even +bloodshed. General Augereau, in whose division these contests had taken +place, published an order of the day, setting forth that every individual +in his division who should use the word 'Monsieur', either verbally or in +writing, under any pretence whatever, should be deprived of his rank, and +declared incapable of serving in the Republican armies. This order was +read at the head of each company. + +Bonaparte viewed the establishment of peace as the close of his military +career. Repose and inactivity were to him unbearable. He sought to take +part in the civil affairs of the Republic, and was desirous of becoming +one of the five Directors, convinced that, if he obtained that object, he +would speedily stand single and alone. The fulfilment of this wish would +have prevented the Egyptian expedition, and placed the imperial crown +much sooner upon his head. Intrigues were carried on in Paris in his +name, with the view of securing to him a legal dispensation on the score +of age. He hoped, though he was but eight-and-twenty, to supersede one +of the two Directors who were to go out of office. + + --[The Directors had to be forty years of ago before they could be + appointed.]-- + +His brothers and their friends made great exertions for the success of +the project, which, however, was not officially proposed, because it was +too adverse to the prevailing notions of the day, and seemed too early a +violation of the constitution of the year III., which, nevertheless, was +violated in another way a few months after. + +The members of the Directory were by no means anxious to have Bonaparte +for their colleague. They dissembled, and so did he. Both parties were +lavish of their mutual assurances of friendship, while they cordially +hated each other. The Directory, however, appealed for the support of +Bonaparte, which he granted; but his subsequent conduct clearly proves +that the maintenance of the constitution of the year III. was a mere +pretest. He indeed defended it meanwhile, because, by aiding the triumph +of the opposite party, he could not hope to preserve the influence which +he exercised over the Directory. I know well that, in case of the Clichy +party gaining the ascendency, he was determined to cross the Alps with +his army, and to assemble all the friends of the Republic at Lyons, +thence to march upon Paris. + +In the Memorial of St. Helena it is stated, in reference to the 18th +Fructidor, "that the triumph of the majority of the councils was his +desire and hope, we are inclined to believe from the following fact, +viz., that at the crisis of the contest between the two factions a secret +resolution was drawn up by three of the members of the Directory, asking +him for three millions to support the attack on the councils, and that +Napoleon, under various pretences, did not send the money, though he +might easily have done so." + +This is not very comprehensible. There was no secret resolution of the +members who applied for the three millions. It was Bonaparte who offered +the money, which, however, he did not send; it was he who despatched +Augereau; and he who wished for the triumph of the Directorial majority. +His memory served him badly at St. Helena, as will be seen from some +correspondence which I shall presently submit to the reader. It is very +certain that he did offer the money to the Directory; that is to say, to +three of its members. + + --[Barras, La Revelliere-Lepaux, and Rewbell, the three Directors + who carried out the 'coup d'etat' of the 18th Fructidor against + their colleagues Carnot and Bartholemy. (See Thiers' French + Revolution", vol. v. pp. 114,139, and 163.)]-- + +Bonaparte had so decidedly formed his resolution that on the 17th of +July, wishing to make Augereau his confidant, he sent to Vicenza for him +by an extraordinary courier. + +Bonaparte adds that when Bottot, the confidential agent of Barras, came +to Passeriano, after the 18th Fructidor, he declared to him that as soon +as La Vallette should make him acquainted with the real state of things +the money should be transmitted. The inaccuracy of these statements will +be seen in the correspondence relative to the event. In thus distorting +the truth Napoleon's only object could have been to proclaim his +inclination for the principles he adopted and energetically supported +from the year 1800, but which, previously to that period, he had with no +less energy opposed. + +He decidedly resolved to support the majority of the Directory, and to +oppose the royalist faction; the latter, which was beginning to be +important, would have been listened to had it offered power to him. +About the end of July he sent his 'aide de camp' La Vallette to Paris. +La Vallette was a man of good sense and education, pleasing manners, +pliant temper, and moderate opinions. He was decidedly devoted to +Bonaparte. With his instructions he received a private cipher to enable +him to correspond with the General-in-Chief. + +Augereau went, after La Vallette, on the 27th of July. Bonaparte +officially wrote to the Directory that Augereau "had solicited leave to +go to Paris on his own private business." + +But the truth is, Augereau was sent expressly to second the revolution +which was preparing against the Clichy party and the minority of the +Directory. + +Bonaparte made choice of Augereau because he knew his staunch republican +principles, his boldness, and his deficiency in political talent. He +thought him well calculated to aid a commotion, which his own presence +with the army of Italy prevented him from directing in person; and +besides, Augereau was not an ambitious rival who might turn events to his +own advantage. Napoleon said, at St. Helena, that he sent the addresses +of the army of Italy by Augereau because he was a decided supporter of +the opinions of the day. That was the true reason for choosing him. + +Bernadotte was subsequently despatched on the same errand. Bonaparte's +pretence for sending him was, that he wished to transmit to the Directory +four flags, which, out of the twenty-one taken at the battle of Rivoli, +had been left, by mistake, at Peschiera. Bernadotte, however, did not +take any great part in the affair. He was always prudent. + +The crisis of the 18th Fructidor, which retarded for three years the +extinction of the pentarchy, presents one of the most remarkable events +of its short existence. It will be seen how the Directors extricated +themselves from this difficulty. I subjoin the correspondence relating +to this remarkable episode of our Revolution, cancelling only such +portions of it as are irrelevant to the subject. It exhibits several +variations from the accounts given by Napoleon at St. Helena to his noble +companions in misfortune. + +Augereau thus expressed himself on the 18th Fructidor (4th September +1797):-- + + At length, General, my mission is accomplished, and the promises of + the army of Italy are fulfilled. The fear of being anticipated has + caused measures to be hurried. + + At midnight I despatched orders to all the troops to march towards + the points specified. Before day all the bridges and principal + places were planted with cannon. At daybreak the halls of the + councils were surrounded, the guards of the councils were amicably + mingled with our troops, and the members, of whom I send you a list, + were arrested and conveyed to the Temple. The greater number have + escaped, and are being pursued. Carnot has disappeared.' + + --[In 1824 Louis XVIII. sent letters of nobility to those members + of the two councils who were, as it was termed, 'fructidorized'. + --Bourrienne]-- + + Paris is tranquil, and every one is astounded at an event which + promised to be awful, but which has passed over like a fete. + + The stout patriots of the faubourgs proclaim the safety of the + Republic, and the black collars are put down. It now remains for + the wise energy of the Directory and the patriots of the two + councils to do the rest. The place of sitting is changed, and the + first operations promise well. This event is a great step towards + peace; which it is your task finally to secure to us. + +On the 24th Fructidor (10th September 1797) Augereau writes: + + My 'aide de camp', de Verine, will acquaint you with the events of + the 18th. He is also to deliver to you some despatches from the + Directory, where much uneasiness is felt at not hearing from you. + No less uneasiness is experienced on seeing in Paris one of your + 'aides de camp',--(La Vallette)--whose conduct excites the + dissatisfaction and distrust of the patriots, towards whom he has + behaved very ill. + + The news of General Clarke's recall will have reached you by this + time, and I suspect has surprised you. Amongst the thousand and one + motives which have determined the Government to take this step may + be reckoned his correspondence with Carnot, which has been + communicated to me, and in which he treated the generals of the army + of Italy as brigands. + + Moreau has sent the Directory a letter which throws a new light on + Pichegru's treason. Such baseness is hardly to be conceived. + + The Government perseveres in maintaining the salutary measures which + it has adopted. I hope it will be in vain for the remnant of the + factions to renew their plots. The patriots will continue united. + + Fresh troops having been summoned to Paris, and my presence at their + head being considered indispensable by the Government, I shall not + have the satisfaction of seeing you so soon as I hoped. This has + determined me to send for my horses and carriages, which I left at + Milan. + +Bernadotte wrote to Bonaparte on the 24th Fructidor as follows:-- + + The arrested deputies are removed to Rochefort, where they will be + embarked for the island of Madagascar. Paris is tranquil. The + people at first heard of the arrest of the deputies with + indifference. A feeling of curiosity soon drew them into the + streets; enthusiasm followed, and cries of 'Vive la Republique', + which had not been heard for a long time, now resounded in every + street. The neighbouring departments have expressed their + discontent. That of Allier has, it is said, protested; but it will + cut a fine figure. Eight thousand men are marching to the environs + of Paris. Part is already within the precincts; under the orders of + General Lemoine. The Government has it at present in its power to + elevate public spirit; but everybody feels that it is necessary the + Directory should be surrounded by tried and energetic Republicans. + Unfortunately a host of men, without talent and resources, already + suppose that what has taken place has been done only in order to + advance their interests. Time is necessary to set all to rights. + The armies have regained consistency. The soldiers of the interior + are esteemed, or at least feared. The emigrants fly, and the non- + juring priests conceal themselves. Nothing could have happened more + fortunately to consolidate the Republic. + +Bonaparte wrote as follows, to the Directory on the 26th Fructidor: + + Herewith you will receive a proclamation to the army, relative to + the events of the 18th. I have despatched the 45th demi-brigade, + commanded by General Bon, to Lyons, together with fifty cavalry; + also General Lannes, with the 20th light infantry and the 9th + regiment of the line, to Marseilles. I have issued the enclosed + proclamation in the southern departments. I am about to prepare a + proclamation for the inhabitants of Lyons, as soon as I obtain some + information of what may have passed there. + + If I find there is the least disturbance, I will march there with + the utmost rapidity. Believe that there are here a hundred thousand + men, who are alone sufficient to make the measures you have taken to + place liberty on a solid basis be respected. What avails it that we + gain victories if we are not respected in our country. In speaking + of Paris, one may parody what Cassius said of Rome: "Of what use to + call her queen on the banks of the Seine, when she is the slave of + Pitt's gold?" + +After the 18th Fructidor Augereau wished to have his reward for his share +in the victory, and for the service which he had rendered. He wished to +be a Director. He got, however, only the length of being a candidate; +honour enough for one who had merely been an instrument on that day. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +1797. + + Bonaparte's joy at the result of the 18th Fructidor.--His letter to + Augerean--His correspondence with the Directory and proposed + resignation--Explanation of the Directory--Bottot--General Clarke-- + Letter from Madame Bacciocchi to Bonaparte--Autograph letter of the + Emperor Francis to Bonaparte--Arrival of Count Cobentzel--Autograph + note of Bonaparte on the conditions of peace. + +Bonaparte was delighted when he heard of the happy issue of the 18th +Fructidor. Its result was the dissolution of the Legislative Body and +the fall of the Clichyan party, which for some months had disturbed his +tranquillity. The Clichyans had objected to Joseph Bonaparte's right to +sit as deputy for Liamone in the Council of Five Hundred. + + --[He was ambassador to Rome, and not a deputy at this time. When + he became a member of the council, after his return from Rome, he + experienced no opposition (Bourrienne et ses Erreurs, tome i. + p. 240).]-- + +His brother's victory removed the difficulty; but the General-in-Chief +soon perceived that the ascendant party abused its power, and again +compromised the safety of the Republic, by recommencing the Revolutionary +Government. The Directors were alarmed at his discontent and offended by +his censure. They conceived the singular idea of opposing to Bonaparte, +Augereau, of whose blind zeal they had received many proofs. The +Directory appointed Augereau commander of the army of Germany. Augereau, +whose extreme vanity was notorious, believed himself in a situation to +compete with Bonaparte. What he built his arrogance on was, that, with a +numerous troop, he had arrested some unarmed representatives, and torn +the epaulettes from the shoulders of the commandant of the guard of the +councils. The Directory and he filled the headquarters at Passeriano +with spies and intriguers. + +Bonaparte, who was informed of everything that was going on, laughed at +the Directory, and tendered his resignation, in order that he might be +supplicated to continue in command. + +The following post-Thermidorian letters will prove that the General's +judgment on this point was correct. + +On the 2d Vendemiaire, year VI. (23d September 1797), he wrote to +Augereau, after having announced the arrival of his 'aide de camp' as +follows: + + The whole army applauds the wisdom and vigour which you have + displayed upon this important occasion, and participates in the + success of the country with the enthusiasm and energy which + characterise our soldiers. It is only to be hoped, however, that + the Government will not be playing at see saw, and thus throw itself + into the opposite party. Wisdom and moderate views alone can + establish the happiness of the country on a sure foundation. As for + myself, this is the most ardent wish of my heart. I beg that you + will sometimes let me know what you are doing in Paris. + +On the 4th Vendemiaire Bonaparte wrote a letter to the Directory in the +following terms: + + The day before yesterday an officer arrived at the army from Paris. + He reported that he left Paris on the 25th, when anxiety prevailed + there as to the feelings with which I viewed the events of the 18th + He was the bearer of a sort of circular from General Augereau to all + the generals of division; and he brought a letter of credit from the + Minister of War to the commissary-general, authorising him to draw + as much money as he might require for his journey. + + It is evident from these circumstances that the Government is acting + towards me in somewhat the same way in which Pichegru was dealt with + after Vendemiaire (year IV.). + + I beg of you to receive my resignation, and appoint another to my + place. No power on earth shall make me continue in the service + after this shocking mark of ingratitude on the part of the + Government, which I was very far from expecting. My health, which + is considerably impaired, imperiously demands repose and + tranquillity. + + The state of my mind, likewise, requires me to mingle again in the + mass of citizens. Great power has for a longtime been confided to + my hands. I have employed it on all occasions for the advantage of + my country; so much the worse for those who put no faith in virtue, + and may have suspected mine. My recompense is in my own conscience, + and in the opinion of posterity. + + Now that the country is tranquil and free from the dangers which + have menaced it, I can, without inconvenience, quit the post in + which I have been placed. + + Be sure that if there were a moment of danger, I would be found in + the foremost rank of the defenders of liberty and of the + constitution of the year III. + +The Directory, judging from the account which Bottot gave of his mission +that he had not succeeded in entirely removing the suspicions of +Bonaparte, wrote the following letter on the 30th Vendemiaire: + + The Directory has itself been troubled about the impression made on + you by the letter to the paymaster-general, of which an 'aide de + camp' was the bearer. The composition of this letter has very much + astonished the Government, which never appointed nor recognised such + an agent: it is at least an error of office. But it should not + alter the opinion you ought otherwise to entertain of the manner in + which the Directory thinks of and esteems you. It appears that the + 18th Fructidor was misrepresented in the letters which were sent to + the army of Italy. You did well to intercept them, and it may be + right to transmit the most remarkable to the Minister of Police. + --(What an ignoble task to propose to the conqueror of Italy.) + + In your observations on the too strong tendency of opinion towards + military government, the Directory recognises an equally enlightened + and ardent friend of the Republic. + + Nothing is wiser than the maxim, 'cedant arma togae', for the + maintenance of republics. To show so much anxiety on so important a + point is not one of the least glorious features in the life of a + general placed at the head of a triumphant army. + +The Directory had sent General Clarke + + --[H. J. G. Clarke, afterwards Minister of War under Napoleon, + 1807-1814, acid under the Bourbons in 1816, when he was made a + Marshal of France. He was created Due de Feltre in 1819.]-- + +to treat for peace, as second plenipotentiary. Bonaparte has often told +me he had no doubt from the time of his arrival that General Clarke was +charged with a secret mission to act as a spy upon him, and even to +arrest him if an opportunity offered for so doing without danger. That +he had a suspicion of this kind is certain; but I must own that I was +never by any means able to discover its grounds; for in all my +intercourse since with Clarke he never put a single question to me, nor +did I ever hear a word drop from his mouth, which savoured of such a +character. If the fact be that he was a spy, he certainly played his +part well. In all the parts of his correspondence which were intercepted +there never was found the least confirmation of this suspicion. Be this +as it may, Bonaparte could not endure him; he did not make him acquainted +with what was going on, and his influence rendered this mission a mere +nullity. The General-in-Chief concentrated all the business of the +negotiation in his own closet; and, as to what was going on, Clarke +continued a mere cipher until the 18th Fructidor, when he was recalled. +Bonaparte made but little count of Clarke's talents. It is but justice, +however, to say that he bore him no grudge for the conduct of which he +suspected he was guilty in Italy. "I pardon him because I alone have the +right to be offended." + +He even had the generosity to make interest for an official situation for +him. These amiable traits were not uncommon with Bonaparte. + +Bonaparte had to encounter so many disagreeable contrarieties, both in +the negotiators for peace and the events at Paris, that he often +displayed a good deal of irritation and disgust. This state of mind was +increased by the recollection of the vexation his sister's marriage had +caused him, and which was unfortunately revived by a letter he received +from her at this juncture. His excitement was such that he threw it down +with an expression of anger. It has been erroneously reported in several +publications that "Bacciocchi espoused Marie-Anne-Eliza Bonaparte on the +5th of May 1797. The brother of the bride was at the time negotiating +the preliminaries of peace with Austria." + +In fact, the preliminaries were signed in the month of April, and it was +for the definitive peace we were negotiating in May. But the reader will +find by the subjoined letter that Christine applied to her brother to +stand godfather to her third child. Three children in three months would +be rather quick work. + + + AJACCIO, 14th, Thermidor, year V. (1st August 1797). + + GENERAL--Suffer me to write to you and call you by the name of + brother. My first child was born at a time when you were much + incensed against us. I trust she may soon caress you, and so make + you forget the pain my marriage has occasioned you. My second child + was still-born. Obliged to quit Paris by your order, + + --[Napoleon had written in August 1796 to Carnot, to request that + Lucien might be ordered to quit Paris; see Iung, tome iii. + p. 223.]-- + + I miscarried in Germany. In a month's time I hope to present you + with a nephew. A favourable time, and other circumstances, incline + me to hope my next will be a boy, and I promise you I will make a + soldier of him; but I wish him to bear your name, and that you + should be his godfather. I trust you will not refuse your sister's + request. + + Will you send, for this purpose, your power of attorney to + Baciocchi, or to whomsoever you think fit? I shall expect with + impatience your assent. Because we are poor let not that cause you + to despise us; for, after all, you are our brother, mine are the + only children that call you uncle, and we all love you more than we + do the favours of fortune. Perhaps I may one day succeed in + convincing you of the love I bear you.--Your affectionate sister, + + CHRISTINE BONAPARTE. + + --[Madame Bacciocchi went by the name of Marianne at St. Cyr, of + Christine while on her travels, and of Eliza under the Consulate.-- + Bourrienne.]-- + + P.S.--Do not fail to remember me to your wife, whom I strongly + desire to be acquainted with. They told me at Paris I was very like + her. If you recollect my features you can judge. C. B. + + +This letter is in the handwriting of Lucien Bonaparte.' + + --[Joseph Bonaparte in his Notes says, "It is false that Madame + Bonaparte ever called herself Christine; it is false that she ever + wrote the letter of which M. de Bourrienne here gives a copy." It + will be observed that Bourrienne says it was written by her brother + Lucien. This is an error. The letter is obviously from Christine + Boyer, the wife of Lucien Bonaparte, whose marriage had given such + displeasure to Napoleon. (See Erreurs, tome i. p. 240, and Iung's + Lucien, tome i p. 161).]-- + +General Bonaparte had been near a month at Passeriano when he received +the following autograph letter from the Emperor of Austria: + + + TO MONSIEUR LE GENERAL BONAPARTE, GENERAL-IN-CHIEF + OF THE ARMY OF ITALY. + + MONSIEUR LE GENERAL BONAPARTE--When I thought I had given my + plenipotentiaries full powers to terminate the important negotiation + with which they were charged, I learn, with as much pain as + surprise, that in consequence of swerving continually from the + stipulations of the preliminaries, the restoration of tranquillity, + with the tidings of which I desire to gladden the hearts of my + subjects, and which the half of Europe devoutly prays for, becomes + day after day more uncertain. + + Faithful to the performance of my engagements, I am ready to execute + what was agreed to at Leoben, and require from you but the + reciprocal performance of so sacred a duty. This is what has + already been declared in my name, and what I do not now hesitate + myself to declare. If, perhaps, the execution of some of the + preliminary articles be now impossible, in consequence of the events + which have since occurred, and in which I had no part, it may be + necessary to substitute others in their stead equally adapted to the + interests and equally conformable to the dignity of the two nations. + To such alone will I put my hand. A frank and sincere explanation, + dictated by the same feelings which govern me, is the only way to + lead to so salutary a result. In order to accelerate this result as + far as in me lies, and to put an end at once to the state of + uncertainty we remain in, and which has already lasted too long, I + have determined to despatch to the place of the present negotiations + Comte de Cobentzel, a man who possesses my most unlimited + confidence, and who is instructed as to my intentions and furnished + with my most ample powers. I have authorised him to receive and + accept every proposition tending to the reconciliation of the two + parties which may be in conformity with the principles of equity and + reciprocal fitness, and to conclude accordingly. + + After this fresh assurance of the spirit of conciliation which + animates me, I doubt not you will perceive that peace lies in your + own hands, and that on your determination will depend the happiness + or misery of many thousand men. If I mistake as to the means I + think best adapted to terminate the calamities which for along time + have desolated Europe, I shall at least have the consolation of + reflecting that I have done all that depended on me. With the + consequences which may result I can never be reproached. + + I have been particularly determined to the course I now take by the + opinion I entertain of your upright character, and by the personal + esteem I have conceived towards you, of which I am very happy, M. le + General Bonaparte, to give you here an assurance. + + (Signed) FRANCIS. + + +In fact, it was only on the arrival of the Comte de Cobentzel that the +negotiations were seriously set on foot. Bonaparte had all along clearly +perceived that Gallo and Meerweldt were not furnished with adequate +powers. He saw also clearly enough that if the month of September were, +to be trifled away in unsatisfactory negotiations, as the month which +preceded it had been, it would be difficult in October to strike a blow +at the house of Austria on the side of Carinthia. The Austrian Cabinet +perceived with satisfaction the approach of the bad weather, and insisted +more strongly on its ultimatum, which was the Adige, with Venice. + +Before the 18th Fructidor the Emperor of Austria hoped that the movement +which was preparing in Paris would operate badly for France and +favourably to the European cause. The Austrian plenipotentiaries, in +consequence, raised their pretensions, and sent notes and an ultimatum +which gave the proceedings more an air of trifling than of serious +negotiation. Bonaparte's original ideas, which I have under his hand, +were as follows: + + 1. The Emperor to have Italy as far as the Adda. + 2. The King of Sardinia as far as the Adda. + 3. The Genoese Republic to have the boundary of Tortona as far as + the Po (Tortona to be demolished), as also the imperial fiefs. + (Coni to be ceded to France, or to be demolished.) + 4. The Grand Duke of Tuscany to be restored. + 5. The Duke of Parma to be restored. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +1797. + + Influence of the 18th Fructidor on the negotiations--Bonaparte's + suspicion of Bottot--His complaints respecting the non-erasure of + Bourrienne--Bourrienne's conversation with the Marquis of Gallo-- + Bottot writes from Paris to Bonaparte on the part of the Directory + Agents of the Directory employed to watch Bonaparte--Influence of + the weather on the conclusion of peace--Remarkable observation of + Bonaparte--Conclusion of the treaty--The Directory dissatisfied with + the terms of the peace--Bonaparte's predilection for representative + government--Opinion on Bonaparte. + +After the 18th Fructidor Bonaparte was more powerful, Austria less +haughty and confident. Venice was the only point of real difficulty. +Austria wanted the line of the Adige, with Venice, in exchange for +Mayence, and the boundary of the Rhine until that river enters Holland. +The Directory wished to have the latter boundary, and to add Mantua to +the Italian Republic, without giving up all the line of the Adige and +Venice. The difficulties were felt to be so irreconcilable that within +about a month of the conclusion of peace the Directory wrote to General +Bonaparte that a resumption of hostilities was preferable to the state of +uncertainty which was agitating and ruining France. The Directory, +therefore, declared that both the armies of the Rhine should take the +field. It appears from the Fructidorian correspondence, which has been +already given, that the majority of the Directory then looked upon a +peace such as Bonaparte afterwards made as infamous. + +But Bonaparte, from the moment the Venetian insurrection broke out, +perceived that Venice might be used for the pacification. Bonaparte, +who was convinced that, in order to bring matters to an issue, Venice and +the territory beyond the Adige must fall beneath the Hapsburg sceptre, +wrote to the Directory that he could not commence operations, +advantageously, before the end of March, 1798; but that if the objections +to giving Venice to the Emperor of Austria were persisted in, hostilities +would certainly be resumed in the month of October, for the Emperor would +not renounce Venice. In that case it would be necessary to be ready on +the Rhine for an advance in Germany, as the army of Italy, if it could +make head against the Archduke Charles, was not sufficiently strong for +any operations on a grand scale. At this period the conclusion of peace +was certainly very doubtful; it was even seriously considered in, what +form the rupture should be notified. + +Towards the end of September Bottot, Barras' secretary, arrived at +Passeriano. He was despatched by the Directory. Bonaparte immediately +suspected he was a new spy, come on a secret mission, to watch him. He +was therefore received and treated with coolness; but Bonaparte never +had, as Sir Walter Scott asserts, the idea of ordering him to be shot. +That writer is also in error when he says that Bottot was sent to +Passeriano to reproach Bonaparte for failing to fulfil his promise of +sending money to the Directory. + +Bonaparte soon gave Bottot an opportunity of judging of the kind of +spirit which prevailed at headquarters. He suddenly tendered his +resignation, which he had already several times called upon the Directory +to accept. He accused the Government, at table, in Bottot's presence, +of horrible ingratitude. He recounted all his subjects of complaint, +in loud and impassioned language, without any restraint, and before +twenty or thirty persons. + +Indignant at finding that his reiterated demands for the erasure of my +name from the list of emigrants had been slighted, and that, in spite of +his representations, conveyed to Paris by General Bernadotte, Louis +Bonaparte, and others, I was still included in that fatal list, he +apostrophised M. Bottot at dinner one day, before forty individuals, +among whom were the diplomatists Gallo, Cobentzel, and Meerweldt. The +conversation turned upon the Directory. "Yes, truly," cried Bonaparte, +in a loud voice, "I have good reason to complain; and, to pass from great +to little things, look, I pray you, at Bourrienne's case. He possesses +my most unbounded confidence. He alone is entrusted, under my orders, +with all the details of the negotiation. This you well know; and yet +your Directory will not strike him off the list. In a word it is not +only an inconceivable, but an extremely stupid piece of business; for he +has all my secrets; he knows my ultimatum, and could by a single word +realize a handsome fortune, and laugh at your obstinacy. Ask M. de Gallo +if this be not true." + +Bottot wished to offer some excuse; but the general murmur which followed +this singular outburst reduced him to silence. + +The Marquis de Gallo had conversed with me but three days before, in the +park of Passeriano, on the subject of my position with regard to France, +of the determination expressed by the Directory not to erase my name, and +of the risk I thereby ran. "We have no desire," continued he, "to renew +the war; we wish sincerely for peace; but it must be an honourable one. +The Republic of Venice presents a large territory for partition, which +would be sufficient for both parties. The cessions at present proposed +are not, however, satisfactory. We want to know Bonaparte's ultimatum; +and I am authorised to offer an estate in Bohemia, with a title and +residence, and an annual revenue of 90,000 florins." + +I quickly interrupted M. de Gallo, and assured him that both my +conscience and my duty obliged me to reject his proposal; and so put at +once an end to the conversation. + +I took care to let the General-in-Chief know this story, and he was not +surprised at my reply. His conviction, however, was strong, from all +that M. de Gallo had said, and more particularly from the offer he had +made, that Austria was resolved to avoid war, and was anxious for peace. + +After I had retired to rest M. Bottot came to my bedroom and asked me, +with a feigned surprise, if it was true that my name was still on the +list of emigrants. On my replying in the affirmative, he requested me to +draw up a note on the subject. This I declined doing, telling him that +twenty notes of the kind he required already existed; that I would take +no further steps; and that I would henceforth await the decision in a +state of perfect inaction. + +General Bonaparte thought it quite inexplicable that the Directory should +express dissatisfaction at the view he took of the events of the 18th +Fructidor, as, without his aid, they would doubtless have been overcome. +He wrote a despatch, in which he repeated that his health and his spirits +were affected--that he had need of some years' repose-that he could no +longer endure the fatigue of riding; but that the prosperity and liberty +of his country would always command his warmest interests. In all this +there was not a single word of truth. The Directory thought as much, and +declined to accept his resignation in the most flattering terms. + +Bottot proposed to him, on the part of the Directory, to revolutionise +Italy. The General inquired whether the whole of Italy would be included +in the plan. The revolutionary commission had, however, been entrusted +to Bottot in so indefinite a way that he could only hesitate, and give a +vague reply. Bonaparte wished for more precise orders. In the interval +peace was concluded, and the idea of that perilous and extravagant +undertaking was no longer agitated. Bottot, soon after his return to +Paris, wrote a letter to General Bonaparte, in which he complained that +the last moments he had passed at Passeriano had deeply afflicted his +heart. He said that cruel suspicions had followed him even to the gates +of the Directory. These cruel suspicions had, however, been dissipated +by the sentiments of admiration and affection which he had found the +Directory entertained for the person of Bonaparte. + +These assurances, which were precisely what Bonaparte had expected, did +not avail to lessen the contempt he entertained for the heads of the +Government, nor to change his conviction of their envy and mistrust of +himself. To their alleged affection he made no return. Bottot assured +the hero of Italy of "the Republican docility" of the Directory, and +touched upon the reproaches Bonaparte had thrown out against them, and +upon his demands which had not been granted. He said: + +"The three armies, of the North, of the Rhine, and of the Sambre-et- +Meuse, are to form only one, the army of Germany.--Augereau? But you +yourself sent him. The fault committed by the Directory is owing to +yourself! Bernadotte?--he is gone to join you. Cacault?--he is +recalled. Twelve thousand men for your army?--they are on their march. +The treaty with Sardinia?--it is ratified. Bourrienne?--he is erased. +The revolution of Italy?--it is adjourned. Advise the Directory, then: I +repeat it, they have need of information, and it is to you they look for +it." + +The assertion regarding me was false. For six months Bonaparte demanded +my erasure without being able to obtain it. I was not struck off the +list until the 11th of November 1797. + +Just before the close of the negotiation Bonaparte, disgusted at the +opposition and difficulties with which he was surrounded, reiterated +again and again the offer of his resignation, and his wish to have a +successor appointed. What augmented his uneasiness was an idea he +entertained that the Directory had penetrated his secret, and attributed +his powerful concurrence on the 18th Fructidor to the true cause--his +personal views of ambition. In spite of the hypocritical assurances of +gratitude made to him in writing, and though the Directory knew that his +services were indispensable, spies were employed to watch his movements, +and to endeavour by means of the persons about him to discover his views. +Some of the General's friends wrote to him from Paris, and for my part I +never ceased repeating to him that the peace, the power of making which +he had in his own hands, would render him far more popular than the +renewal of hostilities undertaken with all the chances of success and +reverse. The signing of the peace, according to his own ideas, and in +opposition to those of the Directory, the way in which he just halted at +Rastadt, and avoided returning to the Congress, and, finally, his +resolution to expatriate himself with an army in order to attempt new +enterprises, sprung more than is generally believed from the ruling idea +that he was distrusted, and that his ruin was meditated. He often +recalled to mind what La Vallette had written to him about his +conversation with Lacuee; and all he saw and heard confirmed the +impression he had received on this subject. + +The early appearance of bad weather precipitated his determination. On +the 13th of October, at daybreak, on opening my window, I perceived the +mountains covered with snow. The previous night had been superb, and the +autumn till then promised to be fine and late. I proceeded, as I always +did, at seven o'clock in the morning, to the General's chamber. I woke +him, and told him what I had seen. He feigned at first to disbelieve me, +then leaped from his bed, ran to the window, and, convinced of the sudden +change, he calmly said, "What! before the middle of October! What a +country is this! Well, we must make peace!" While he hastily put on his +clothes I read the journals to him, as was my daily custom. He paid but +little attention to them. + +Shutting himself up with me in his closet, he reviewed with the greatest +care all the returns from the different corps of his army. "Here are," +said he, "nearly 80,000 effective men. I feed, I pay them: but I can +bring but 60,000 into the field on the day of battle. I shall gain it, +but afterwards my force will be reduced 20,000 men--by killed, wounded, +and prisoners. Then how oppose all the Austrian forces that will march +to the protection of Vienna? It would be a month before the armies of +the Rhine could support me, if they should be able; and in a fortnight +all the roads and passages will be covered deep with snow. It is +settled--I will make peace. Venice shall pay for the expense of the war +and the boundary of the Rhine: let the Directory and the lawyers say what +they like." + +He wrote to the Directory in the following words: "The summits of the +hills are covered with snow; I cannot, on account of the stipulations +agreed to for the recommencement of hostilities, begin before five-and- +twenty days, and by that time we shall be overwhelmed with snow." + +Fourteen years after, another early winter, in a more severe climate, was +destined to have a fatal influence on his fortunes. Had he but then +exercised equal foresight! + +It is well known that, by the treaty of Campo-Formio, the two belligerent +powers made peace at the expense of the Republic of Venice, which had +nothing to do with the quarrel in the first instance, and which only +interfered at a late period, probably against her own inclination, and +impelled by the force of inevitable circumstances. But what has been the +result of this great political spoliation? A portion of the Venetian +territory was adjudged to the Cisalpine Republic; it is now in the +possession of Austria. + +Another considerable portion, and the capital itself, fell to the lot of +Austria in compensation for the Belgic provinces and Lombard, which she +ceded to France. Austria has now retaken Lombard, and the additions then +made to it, and Belgium is in the possession of the House of Orange. +France obtained Corfu and some of the Ionian isles; these now belong to +England. + + --[Afterwards to be ceded by her to Greece. Belgium is free.]-- + +Romulus never thought he was founding Rome for Goths and priests. +Alexander did not foresee that his Egyptian city would belong to the +Turks; nor did Constantine strip Rome for the benefit of Mahomet II. Why +then fight for a few paltry villages? + +Thus have we been gloriously conquering for Austria and England. An +ancient State is overturned without noise, and its provinces, after being +divided among different bordering States, are now all under the dominion +of Austria. We do not possess a foot of ground in all the fine countries +we conquered, and which served as compensations for the immense +acquisitions of the House of Hapsburgh in Italy. Thus that house was +aggrandised by a war which was to itself most disastrous. But Austria +has often found other means of extending her dominion than military +triumphs, as is recorded in the celebrated distich of Mathias Corvinus: + + "Bella gerunt alli, to felix Austria nube; + Nam quae Mars allis, dat tibi regna Venus." + + ["Glad Austria wins by Hymen's silken chain + What other States by doubtful battle gain, + And while fierce Mars enriches meaner lands, + Receives possession from fair Venus' hands."] + +The Directory was far from being satisfied with the treaty of Campo- +Formio, and with difficulty resisted the temptation of not ratifying it. +A fortnight before the signature the Directors wrote to General Bonaparte +that they would not consent to give to the Emperor Venice, Frioul, Padua, +and the 'terra firma' with the boundary of the Adige. "That," said they, +"would not be to make peace, but to adjourn the war. We shall be +regarded as the beaten party, independently of the disgrace of abandoning +Venice, which Bonaparte himself thought so worthy of freedom. France +ought not, and never will wish, to see Italy delivered up to Austria. +The Directory would prefer the chances of a war to changing a single word +of its ultimatum, which is already too favourable to Austria." + +All this was said in vain. Bonaparte made no scruple of disregarding his +instructions. It has been said that the Emperor of Austria made an offer +of a very considerable sum of money, and even of a principality, to +obtain favourable terms. I was never able to find the slightest ground +for this report, which refers to a time when the smallest circumstance +could not escape my notice. The character of Bonaparte stood too high +for him to sacrifice his glory as a conqueror and peacemaker for even the +greatest private advantage. This was so thoroughly known, and he was so +profoundly esteemed by the Austrian plenipotentiaries, that I will +venture to say none of them would have been capable of making the +slightest overture to him of so debasing a proposition. Besides, it +would have induced him to put an end to all intercourse with the +plenipotentiaries. Perhaps what I have just stated of M. de Gallo will +throw some light upon this odious accusation. But let us dismiss this +story with the rest, and among them that of the porcelain tray, which was +said to have been smashed and thrown at the head of M. de Cobentzel. +I certainly know nothing of any such scene; our manners at Passeriano +were not quite so bad! + +The presents customary on such occasions were given, and the Emperor of +Austria also took that opportunity to present to General Bonaparte six +magnificent white horses. + +Bonaparte returned to Milan by way of Gratz, Laybach, Thrust, Mestre, +Verona, and Mantua. + +At this period Napoleon was still swayed by the impulse of the age. He +thought of nothing but representative governments. Often has he said to +me, "I should like the era of representative governments to be dated from +my time." His conduct in Italy and his proclamations ought to give, and +in fact do give, weight to this account of his opinion. But there is no +doubt that this idea was more connected with lofty views of ambition than +a sincere desire for the benefit of the human race; for, at a later +period, he adopted this phrase: "I should like to be the head of the most +ancient of the dynasties cf Europe." What a difference between +Bonaparte, the author of the 'Souper de Beaucaire', the subduer of +royalism at Toulon; the author of the remonstrance to Albitte and +Salicetti, the fortunate conqueror of the 13th Vendemiaire, the +instigator and supporter of the revolution of Fructidor, and the founder +of the Republics of Italy, the fruits of his immortal victories,--and +Bonaparte, First Consul in 1800, Consul for life in 1802, and, above all, +Napoleon, Emperor of the French in 1804, and King of Italy in 1805! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +1797 + + Effect of the 18th Fructidor on the peace--The standard of the army + of Italy--Honours rendered to the memory of General Hoche and of + Virgil at Mantua--Remarkable letter--In passing through Switzerland + Bonaparte visits the field of Morat--Arrival at Rastadt--Letter from + the Directory calling Bonaparte to Paris--Intrigues against + Josephine--Grand ceremony on the reception of Bonaparte by the + Directory--The theatres--Modesty of Bonaparte--An assassination-- + Bonaparte's opinion of the Parisians--His election to the National + Institute--Letter to Camus--Projects--Reflections. + +The day of the 18th Fructidor had, without any doubt, mainly contributed +to the conclusion of peace at Campo Formio. On the one hand, the +Directory, hitherto not very pacifically inclined, after having effected +a 'coup d'etat', at length saw the necessity of appeasing the +discontented by giving peace to France. On the other hand, the Cabinet +of Vienna, observing the complete failure of all the royalist plots in +the interior, thought it high time to conclude with the French Republic a +treaty which, notwithstanding all the defeats Austria had sustained, +still left her a preponderating influence over Italy. + +Besides, the campaign of Italy, so fertile in glorious achievements of +arms, had not been productive of glory alone. Something of greater +importance followed these conquests. Public affairs had assumed a +somewhat unusual aspect, and a grand moral influence, the effect of +victories and of peace, had begun to extend all over France. +Republicanism was no longer so sanguinary and fierce as it had been some +years before. Bonaparte, negotiating with princes and their ministers on +a footing of equality, but still with all that superiority to which +victory and his genius entitled him, gradually taught foreign courts to +be familiar with Republican France, and the Republic to cease regarding +all States governed by Kings as of necessity enemies. + +In these circumstances the General-in-Chief's departure and his expected +visit to Paris excited general attention. The feeble Directory was +prepared to submit to the presence of the conqueror of Italy in the +capital. + +It was for the purpose of acting as head of the French legation at the +Congress of Rastadt that Bonaparte quitted Milan on the 17th of November. +But before his departure he sent to the Directory one of those monuments, +the inscriptions on which may generally be considered as fabulous, but +which, in this case, were nothing but the truth. This monument was the +"flag of the Army of Italy," and to General Joubert was assigned the +honourable duty of presenting it to the members of the Executive +Government. + +On one side of the flag were the words "To the Army of Italy, the +grateful country." The other contained an enumeration of the battles +fought and places taken, and presented, in the following inscriptions, a +simple but striking abridgment of the history of the Italian campaign. + + 150,000 PRISONERS; 170 STANDARDS; 550 PIECES OF SIEGE ARTILLERY; + 6OO PIECES OF FIELD ARTILLERY; FIVE PONTOON EQUIPAGES; NINE 64-GUN + SHIPS; TWELVE 32-GUN FRIGATES; 12 CORVETTES; 18 GALLEYS; ARMISTICE + WITH THE KING OF SARDINIA; CONVENTION WITH GENOA; ARMISTICE WITH THE + DUKE OF PARMA; ARMISTICE WITH THE KING OF NAPLES; ARMISTICE WITH THE + POPE; PRELIMINARIES OF LEOBEN; CONVENTION OF MONTEBELLO WITH THE + REPUBLIC OF GENOA; TREATY OF PEACE WITH THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY AT + CAMPO-FORMIO. + + LIBERTY GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF BOLOGNA, FERRARA, MODENA, MASSA- + CARRARA, LA ROMAGNA, LOMBARD, BRESCIA, BERGAMO, MANTUA, CREMONA. + PART OF THE VERONESE, CHIAVENA, BORMIO, THE VALTELINE, THE GENOESE, + THE IMPERIAL FIEFS, THE PEOPLE OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF CORCYRA, OF THE + AEGEAN SEA, AND OF ITHACA. + + SENT TO PARIS ALL THE MASTERPIECES OF MICHAEL ANGELO, OF GVERCINO, + OF TITIAN, OF PAUL VERONESE, OF CORREGGIO, OF ALBANA, OF THE + CARRACCI, OF RAPHAEL, AND OF LEONARDO DA VINCI. + + +Thus were recapitulated on a flag, destined to decorate the Hall of the +Public Sittings of the Directory, the military deeds of the campaign in +Italy, its political results, and the conquest of the monuments of art. + +Most of the Italian cities looked upon their conqueror as a liberator- +such was the magic of the word liberty, which resounded from the Alps to +the Apennines. On his way to Mantua the General took up his residence in +the palace of the ancient dukes. Bonaparte promised the authorities of +Mantua that their department should be one of the most extensive; +impressed on them the necessity of promptly organising a local militia, +and of putting in execution the plans of Mari, the mathematician, for the +navigation of the Mincio from Mantua to Peschiera. + +He stopped two days at Mantua, and the morrow of his arrival was devoted +to the celebration of a military funeral solemnity, in honour of General +Hoche, who had just died. His next object was to hasten the execution of +the monument which was erecting to the memory of Virgil. Thus, in one +day, he paid honour to France and Italy, to modern and to ancient glory, +to the laurels of war and to the laurels of poetry. + +A person who saw Bonaparte on this occasion for the first time thus +described him in a letter he wrote to Paris:--"With lively interest and +extreme attention I have observed this extraordinary man, who has +performed such great deeds, and about whom there is something which seems +to indicate that his career is not yet terminated. I found him very like +his portraits--little, thin, pale, with an air of fatigue, but not of +ill-health, as has been reported of him. He appears to me to listen with +more abstraction than interest, and that he was more occupied with what +he was thinking of than with what was said to him. There is great +intelligence in his countenance, along with which may be marked an air of +habitual meditation, which reveals nothing of what is passing within. +In that thinking head, in that bold mind, it is impossible not to believe +that some daring designs are engendering which will have their influence +an the destinies of Europe." + +From the last phrase, in particular, of this letter, one might suspect +that it was written after Bonaparte had made his name feared throughout +Europe; but it really appeared in a journal in the month of December +1797, a little before his arrival in Paris. + +There exists a sort of analogy between celebrated men and celebrated +places; it was not, therefore, an uninteresting spectacle to see +Bonaparte surveying the field of Morat, where, in 1476, Charles the Bold, +Duke of Burgundy, daring like himself, fell with his powerful army under +the effects of Helvetian valour. Bonaparte slept during the night at +Maudon, where, as in every place through which he passed, the greatest +honours were paid him. In the morning, his carriage having broken down, +we continued our journey an foot, accompanied only by some officers and +an escort of dragoons of the country. Bonaparte stopped near the +Ossuary, and desired to be shown the spot where the battle of Morat was +fought. A plain in front of the chapel was pointed out to him. An +officer who had served in France was present, and explained to him how +the Swiss, descending from the neighbouring mountains, were enabled, +under cover of a wood, to turn the Burgundian army and put it to the +rout. "What was the force of that army?" asked Bonaparte.--"Sixty +thousand men."--"Sixty thousand men!" he exclaimed: "they ought to have +completely covered these mountains!"--"The French fight better now," said +Lannes, who was one of the officers of his suite. "At that time," +observed Bonaparte, interrupting him, "the Burgundians were not +Frenchmen." + +Bonaparte's journey through Switzerland was not without utility; and his +presence served to calm more than one inquietude. He proceeded on his +journey to Rastadt by Aix in Savoy, Berne, and Bale. On arriving at +Berne during night we passed through a double file of well-lighted +equipages, filled with beautiful women, all of whom raised the cry of +"Long live, Bonaparte!--long live the Pacificator! "To have a proper +idea of this genuine enthusiasm it is necessary to have seen it. + +The position in society to which his services had raised him rendered it +unfit to address him in the second person singular and the familiar +manner sometimes used by his old schoolfellows of Brienne. I thought, +this very natural. + +M. de Cominges, one of those who went with him to the military school at +Paris, and who had emigrated, was at Bale. Having learned our arrival, +he presented himself without ceremony, with great indecorum, and with a +complete disregard of the respect due to a man who had rendered himself +so illustrious. General Bonaparte, offended at this behaviour, refused +to receive him again, and expressed himself to me with much warmth on the +occasion of this visit. All my efforts to remove his displeasure were +unavailing this impression always continued, and he never did for M. de +Cominges what his means and the old ties of boyhood might well have +warranted. + +On arriving at Rastadt + + --[The conference for the formal peace with the Empire of Germany + was held there. The peace of Leoben was only one made with + Austria.]-- + +Bonaparte found a letter from the Directory summoning him to Paris. He +eagerly obeyed this invitation, which drew him from a place where he +could act only an insignificant part, and which he had determined to +leave soon, never again to return. Some time after his arrival in Paris, +on the ground that his presence was necessary for the execution of +different orders, and the general despatch of business, he required that +authority should be given to a part of his household, which he had left +at Rastadt, to return. + +How could it ever be said that the Directory "kept General Bonaparte away +from the great interests which were under discussion at Rastadt"? Quite +the contrary! The Directory would have been delighted to see him return +there, as they would then have been relieved from his presence in Paris; +but nothing was so disagreeable to Bonaparte as long and seemingly +interminable negotiations. Such tedious work did not suit his character, +and he had been sufficiently disgusted with similar proceedings at Campo- +Formio. + +On our arrival at Rastadt I soon found that General Bonaparte was +determined to stay there only a short time. I therefore expressed to him +my decided desire to remain in Germany. I was then ignorant that my +erasure from the emigrant list had been ordered on the 11th of November, +as the decree did not reach the commissary of the Executive Directory at +Auxerre until the 17th of November, the day of our departure from Milan. + +The silly pretext of difficulties by which my erasure, notwithstanding +the reiterated solicitations of the victorious General, was so long +delayed made me apprehensive of a renewal, under a weak and jealous +pentarchy, of the horrible scenes of 1796. Bonaparte said to me, in +atone of indignation, "Come, pass the Rhine; they will not dare to seize +you while near me. I answer for your safety." On reaching Paris I found +that my erasure had taken place. It was at this period only that General +Bonaparte's applications in my favour were tardily crowned with success. +Sotin, the Minister of General Police, notified the fact to Bonaparte; +but his letter gave a reason for my erasure very different from that +stated in the decree. The Minister said that the Government did not wish +to leave among the names of traitors to their country the name of a +citizen who was attached to the person of the conqueror of Italy; while +the decree itself stated as the motive for removing my name from the list +that I never had emigrated. + +At St. Helena it seems Bonaparte said that he did not return from Italy +with more than 300,000 francs; but I assert that he had at that time in +his possession something more than 3,000,000. + + --[Joseph says that Napoleon, when he exiled for Egypt, left with + him all his fortune, and that it was much nearer 300,000 francs than + 3,000,000. (See Erreurs, tome i. pp. 243, 259)]-- + +How could he with 300,000 francs have been able to provide for the +extensive repairs, the embellishment, and the furnishing of his house in +the Rue Chantereine? How could he have supported the establishment he +did with only 15,000 francs of income and the emoluments of his rank? +The excursion which he made along the coast, of which I have yet to +speak, of itself cost near 12,000 francs in gold, which he transferred to +me to defray the expense of the journey; and I do not think that this sum +was ever repaid him. Besides, what did it signify, for any object he +might have in disguising his fortune, whether he brought 3,000,000 or +300,000 francs with him from Italy? No one will accuse him of +peculation. He was an inflexible administrator. He was always irritated +at the discovery of fraud, and pursued those guilty of it with all the +vigour of his character. He wished to be independent, which he well knew +that no one could be without fortune. He has often said to me, "I am no +Capuchin, not I" But after having been allowed only 300,000 francs on +his arrival from the rich Italy, where fortune never abandoned him, it +has been printed that he had 20,000,000 (some have even doubled the +amount) on his return from Egypt, which is a very poor country, where +money is scarce, and where reverses followed close upon his victories. +All these reports are false. What he brought from Italy has just been +stated, and it will be seen when we come to Egypt what treasure he +carried away from the country of the Pharaohs. + +Bonaparte's brothers, desirous of obtaining complete dominion over his +mind, strenuously endeavoured to lessen the influence which Josephine +possessed from the love of her husband. They tried to excite his +jealousy, and took advantage of her stay at Milan after our departure, +which had been authorised by Bonaparte himself. My intimacy with both +the husband and the wife fortunately afforded me an opportunity of +averting or lessening a good deal of mischief. If Josephine still lived +she would allow me this merit. I never took part against her but once, +and that unwillingly. It was on the subject of the marriage of her +daughter Hortense. Josephine had never as yet spoken to me on the +subject. Bonaparte wished to give his stepdaughter to Duroc, and his +brothers were eager to promote the marriage, because they wished to +separate Josephine from Hortense, for whom Bonaparte felt the tenderest +affection. Josephine, on the other hand, wished Hortense to marry Louis +Bonaparte. Her motives, as may easily be divined, were to, gain support +in a family where she experienced nothing but enmity, and she carried her +point. + + --[Previous to her marriage with Louis, Hortense cherished an + attachment for Duroc, who was at that time a handsome man about + thirty, and a great favourite of Bonaparte. However, the + indifference with which Duroc regarded the marriage of Louis + Bonaparte sufficiently proves that the regard with which be had + inspired Hortense was not very ardently returned. It is certain + that Duroc might have become the husband of Mademoiselle de + Beauharnais had he been willing to accede to the conditions on which + the First Consul offered him his step-daughter's hand. But Duroc + looked forward to something better, and his ordinary prudence + forsook him at a moment when he might easily have beheld a + perspective calculated to gratify even a more towering ambition than + his. He declined the proposed marriage; and the union of Hortense + and Louis, which Madame Bonaparte, to conciliate the favour of her + brothers-in-law, had endeavoured to bring about, was immediately + determined on (Memoires de Constant). + + In allusion to the alleged unfriendly feeling of Napoleon's brothers + towards Josephine, the following observation occurs in Joseph + Bonaparte's Notes on Bourrienne: + + "None of Napoleon's brothers," he says, "were near him from the time + of his departure for Italy except Louis who cannot be suspected of + having intrigued against Josephine, whose daughter he married. + These calumnies are without foundation" (Erreurs, tome i. p. 244)]-- + +On his arrival from Rastadt the most magnificent preparations were made +at the Luxembourg for the reception of Bonaparte. The grand court of the +Palace was elegantly ornamented; and at its farther end, close to tho +Palace, a large amphitheatre was erected for the accommodation of +official persons. Curiosity, as on all like occasions, attracted +multitudes, and the court was filled. Opposite to the principal +vestibule stood the altar of the country, surrounded by the statues of +Liberty, Equality, and Peace. When Bonaparte entered every head was +uncovered. The windows were full of young and beautiful females. But +notwithstanding this great preparation an icy coldness characterized the +ceremony. Every one seemed to be present only for the purpose of +beholding a sight, and curiosity was the prevailing expression rather +than joy or gratitude. It is but right to say, however, that an +unfortunate event contributed to the general indifference. The right +wing of the Palace was not occupied, but great preparations had been +making there, and an officer had been directed to prevent anyone from +ascending. One of the clerks of the Directory, however, contrived to get +upon the scaffolding, but had scarcely placed his foot on the first plank +when it tilted up, and the imprudent man fell the whole height into the +court. This accident created a general stupor. Ladies fainted, and the +windows were nearly deserted. + +However, the Directory displayed all the Republican splendour of which +they were so prodigal on similar occasions. Speeches were far from being +scarce. Talleyrand, who was then Minister for Foreign Affairs, on +introducing Bonaparte to the Directory, made a long oration, in the +course of which he hinted that the personal greatness of the General +ought not to excite uneasiness, even in a rising Republic. "Far from +apprehending anything from his ambition, I believe that we shall one day +be obliged to solicit him to tear himself from the pleasures of studious +retirement. All France will be free, but perhaps he never will; such is +his destiny." + +Talleyrand was listened to with impatience, so anxious was every one to +hear Bonaparte. The conqueror of Italy then rose, and pronounced with a +modest air, but in a firm voice, a short address of congratulation on the +improved position of the nation. + +Barras, at that time President of the Directory, replied to Bonaparte +with so much prolixity as to weary everyone; and as soon as he had +finished speaking he threw himself into the arms of the General, who was +not much pleased with such affected displays, and gave him what was then +called the fraternal embrace. The other members of the Directory, +following the example of the President, surrounded Bonaparte and pressed +him in their arms; each acted, to the best of his ability, his part in +the sentimental comedy. + +Chenier composed for this occasion a hymn, which Mehul set to music. A +few days after an opera was produced, bearing the title of the 'Fall of +Carthage', which was meant as an allusion to the anticipated exploits of +the conqueror of Italy, recently appointed to the command of the "Army of +England." The poets were all employed in praising him; and Lebrun, with +but little of the Pindaric fire in his soul, composed the following +distich, which certainly is not worth much: + + "Heros, cher a la paix, aux arts, a la victoire-- + Il conquit en deux ans mille siecles de gloire." + +The two councils were not disposed to be behind the Directory in the +manifestation of joy. A few days after they gave a banquet to the +General in the gallery of the Louvre, which had recently been enriched by +the masterpieces of painting conquered in Italy. + +At this time Bonaparte displayed great modesty in all his transactions in +Paris. The administrators of the department of the Seine having sent a +deputation to him to inquire what hour and day he would allow them to +wait on him, he carried himself his answer to the department, accompanied +by General Berthier. It was also remarked that the judge of the peace of +the arrondissement where the General lived having called on him on the +6th of December, the evening of his arrival, he returned the visit next +morning. These attentions, trifling as they may appear, were not without +their effect on the minds of the Parisians. + +In consequence of General Bonaparte's victories, the peace he had +effected, and the brilliant reception of which he had been the object, +the business of Vendemiaire was in some measure forgotten. Every one was +eager to get a sight of the young hero whose career had commenced with so +much 'eclat'. He lived very retiredly, yet went often to the theatre. +He desired me, one day, to go and request the representation of two of +the best pieces of the time, in which Elleviou, Mesdames St. Aubin, +Phillis, and other distinguished performers played. His message was, +that he only wished these two pieces on the same night, if that were +possible. The manager told me that nothing that the conqueror of Italy +wished for was impossible, for he had long ago erased that word from the +dictionary. Bonaparte laughed heartily at the manager's answer. When we +went to the theatre he seated himself, as usual, in the back of the box, +behind Madame Bonaparte, making me sit by her side. The pit and boxes, +however, soon found out that he was in the house, and loudly called for +him. Several times an earnest desire to see him was manifested, but all +in vain, for he never showed himself. + +Some days after, being at the Theatre des Arts, at the second +representation of 'Horatius Cocles', although he was sitting at the back +of a box in the second tier, the audience discovered that he was in the +house. Immediately acclamations arose from all quarters; but he kept +himself concealed as much as possible, and said to a person in the next +box, "Had I known that the boxes were so exposed, I should not have +come." + +During Bonaparte's stay at Paris a woman sent a messenger to warn him +that his life would be attempted, and that poison was to be employed for +that purpose. Bonaparte had the bearer of this information arrested, +who: went, accompanied by the judge of the peace, to the woman's house, +where she was found extended on the floor, and bathed in her blood. The +men whose plot she had overheard, having discovered that she had revealed +their secret, murdered her. The poor woman was dreadfully mangled: her +throat was cut; and, not satisfied with that, the assassins had also +hacked her body with sharp instruments. + +On the night of the 10th of Nivose the Rue Chantereine, in which +Bonaparte had a small house (No. 6), received, in pursuance of a decree +of the department, the name of Rue de la Victoire. The cries of "Vive +Bonaparte!" and the incense prodigally offered up to him, did not however +seduce him from his retired habits. Lately the conqueror and ruler of +Italy, and now under men for whom he had no respect, and who saw in him a +formidable rival, he said to me one day, "The people of Paris do not +remember anything. Were I to remain here long, doing nothing, I should +be lost. In this great Babylon one reputation displaces another. Let me +be seen but three times at the theatre and I shall no longer excite +attention; so I shall go there but seldom." When he went he occupied a +box shaded with curtains. The manager of the opera wished to get up a +special performance in his honour; but he declined the offer. When I +observed that it must be agreeable to him to see his fellow-citizens so +eagerly running after him, he replied, "Bah! the people would crowd as +fast to see me if I were going to the scaffold." + + --[A similar remark made to William III. on his lending at Brixham + elicited the comment, "Like the Jews, who cried one day 'Hosanna!' + and the next 'Crucify Him! crucify Him!'"]-- + +On the 28th of December Bonaparte was named a member of the Institute, in +the class of the Sciences and arts. + + --[Napoleon seems to have really considered this nomination as a + great honour. He was fond of using the title in his proclamations; + and to the last the allowance attached to the appointment figured in + the Imperial accounts. He replaced Carnot, the exiled Director.]-- + +He showed a deep sense of this honour, and wrote the following letter to +Camus; the president of the class: + + CITIZEN PRESIDENT--The suffrage of the distinguished men who compose + the institute confers a high honour on me. I feel well assured + that, before I can be their equal, I must long be their scholar. If + there were any way more expressive than another of making known my + esteem for you, I should be glad to employ it. True conquests--the + only ones which leave no regret behind them--are those which are + made over ignorance. The most honourable, as well as the most + useful, occupation for nations is the contributing to the extension + of human knowledge. The true power of the French Republic should + henceforth be made to consist in not allowing a single new idea to + exist without making it part of its property. + BONAPARTE. + + +The General now renewed, though unsuccessfully, the attempt he had made +before the 18th Fructidor to obtain a dispensation of the age necessary +for becoming a Director. Perceiving that the time was not yet favourable +for such a purpose, he said to me, on the 29th of January 1798, +"Bourrienne, I do not wish to remain here; there is nothing to do. They +are unwilling to listen to anything. I see that if I linger here, I +shall soon lose myself. Everything wears out here; my glory has already +disappeared. This little Europe does not supply enough of it for me. I +must seek it in the East, the fountain of glory. However, I wish first +to make a tour along the coast, to ascertain by my own observation what +may be attempted. I will take you, Lannes, and Sulkowsky, with me. If +the success of a descent on England appear doubtful, as I suspect it +will, the army of England shall become the army of the East, and I will +go to Egypt." + +This and other conversations give a correct insight into his character. +He always considered war and conquest as the most noble and inexhaustible +source of that glory which was the constant object of his desire. He +revolted at the idea of languishing in idleness at Paris, while fresh +laurels were growing for him in distant climes. His imagination +inscribed, in anticipation, his name on those gigantic monuments which +alone, perhaps, of all the creations of man, have the character of +eternity. Already proclaimed the most illustrious of living generals, +he sought to efface the rival names of antiquity by his own. If Caesar +fought fifty battles, he longed to fight a hundred--if Alexander left +Macedon to penetrate to the Temple of Ammon, he wished to leave Paris to +travel to the Cataracts of the Nile. While he was thus to run a race +with fame, events would, in his opinion, so proceed in France as to +render his return necessary and opportune. His place would be ready for +him, and he should not come to claim it a forgotten or unknown man. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +1798. + + Bonaparte's departure from Paris--His return--The Egyptian + expedition projected--M. de Talleyrand--General Desaix--Expedition + against Malta--Money taken at Berne--Bonaparte's ideas respecting + the East--Monge--Non-influence of the Directory--Marriages of + Marmont and La Valette--Bonaparte's plan of colonising Egypt--His + camp library--Orthographical blunders--Stock of wines--Bonaparte's + arrival at Toulon--Madame Bonaparte's fall from a balcony--Execution + of an old man--Simon. + +Bonaparte left Paris for the north on the 10th of February 1798--but he +received no order, though I have seen it everywhere so stated, to go +there--"for the purpose of preparing the operations connected with the +intended invasion of England." He occupied himself with no such +business, for which a few days certainly would not have been sufficient. +His journey to the coast was nothing but a rapid excursion, and its sole +object was to enable him to form an opinion on the main point of the +question. Neither did he remain absent several weeks, for the journey +occupied only one. There were four of us in his carriage--himself, +Lannes, Sulkowsky, and I. Moustache was our courier. Bonaparte was not +a little surprised on reading, in the 'Moniteur' of the 10th February, an +article giving greater importance to his little excursion than it +deserved. + + "General Bonaparte," said the 'Moniteur', "has departed for Dunkirk + with some naval and engineer officers. They have gone to visit the + coasts and prepare the preliminary operations for the descent [upon + England]. It may be stated that he will not return to Rastadt, and + that the close of the session of the Congress there is approaching." + +Now for the facts. Bonaparte visited Etaples, Ambleteuse, Boulogne, +Calais, Dunkirk, Furnes, Niewport, Ostend, and the Isle of Walcheren. +He collected at the different ports all the necessary information with +that intelligence and tact for which he was so eminently distinguished. +He questioned the sailors, smugglers, and fishermen, and listened +attentively to the answers he received. + +We returned to Paris by Antwerp, Brussels, Lille, and St. Quentin. The +object of our journey was accomplished when we reached the first of these +towns. "Well, General," said I, "what think you of our journey? Are you +satisfied? For my part, I confess I entertain no great hopes from +anything I have seen and heard." Bonaparte immediately answered, "It is +too great a chance. I will not hazard it. I would not thus sport with +the fate of my beloved France." On hearing this I already fancied myself +in Cairo! + +On his return to Paris Bonaparte lost no time in setting on foot the +military and scientific preparations for the projected expedition to the +banks of the Nile, respecting which such incorrect statements have +appeared. It had long occupied his thoughts, as the following facts will +prove. + +In the month of August 1797 he wrote "that the time was not far distant +when we should see that, to destroy the power of England effectually, it +would be necessary to attack Egypt." In the same month he wrote to +Talleyrand, who had just succeeded Charles de Lacroix as Minister of +Foreign Affairs, "that it would be necessary to attack Egypt, which did +not belong to the Grand Signior." Talleyrand replied, "that his ideas +respecting Egypt were certainly grand, and that their utility could not +fail to be fully appreciated." He concluded by saying he would write to +him at length on the subject. + +History will speak as favourably of M. de Talleyrand as his +contemporaries have spoken ill of him. When a statesman, throughout a +great, long, and difficult career, makes and preserves a number of +faithful friends, and provokes but few enemies, it must be acknowledged +that his character is honourable and his talent profound, and that his +political conduct has been wise and moderate. It is impossible to know +M. de Talleyrand without admiring him. All who have that advantage, no +doubt, judge him as I do. + +In the month of November of the same year Bonaparte sent Poussielgue, +under the pretence of inspecting the ports of the Levant, to give the +finishing stroke to the meditated expedition against Malta. + +General Desaix, whom Bonaparte had made the confidant of all his plans at +their interview in Italy after the preliminaries of Leoben, wrote to him +from Affenbourg, on his return to Germany, that he regarded the fleet of +Corfu with great interest. "If ever," said he, "it should be engaged in +the grand enterprises of which I have heard you speak, do not, I beseech +you, forget me." Bonaparte was far from forgetting him. + +The Directory at first disapproved of the expedition against Malta, which +Bonaparte had proposed long before the treaty of Campo-Formio was signed. +The expedition was decided to be impossible, for Malta had observed +strict neutrality, and had on several occasions even assisted our ships +and seamen. Thus we had no pretext for going to war with her. It was +said, too, that the legislative body would certainly not look with a +favourable eye on such a measure. This opinion, which, however, did not +last long, vexed Bonaparte. It was one of the disappointments which made +him give a rough welcome to Bottot, Barras' agent, at the commencement of +October 1797. + +In the course of an animated conversation he said to Bottot, shrugging +his shoulders, "Mon Dieu! Malta is for sale!" Sometime after he himself +was told that "great importance was attached to the acquisition of Malta, +and that he must not suffer it to escape." At the latter end of +September 1797 Talleyrand, then Minister of Foreign Affairs, wrote to him +that the Directory authorized him to give the necessary orders to Admiral +Brueys for taking Malta. He sent Bonaparte some letters for the island, +because Bonaparte had said it was necessary to prepare the public mind +for the event. + +Bonaparte exerted himself night and day in the execution of his projects. +I never saw him so active. He made himself acquainted with the abilities +of the respective generals, and the force of all the army corps. Orders +and instructions succeeded each other with extraordinary rapidity. If he +wanted an order of the Directory he ran to the Luxembourg to get it +signed by one of the Directors. Merlin de Douai was generally the person +who did him this service, for he was the most constant at his post. +Lagarde, the Secretary-General, did not countersign any document relative +to this expedition, Bonaparte not wishing him to be informed of the +business. He transmitted to Toulon the money taken at Berne, which the +Directory had placed at his disposal. It amounted to something above +3,000,000 francs. In those times of disorder and negligence the finances +were very badly managed. The revenues were anticipated and squandered +away, so that the treasury never possessed so large a sum as that just +mentioned. + +It was determined that Bonaparte should undertake an expedition of an +unusual character to the East. I must confess that two things cheered me +in this very painful interval; my friendship and admiration for the +talents of the conqueror of Italy, and the pleasing hope of traversing +those ancient regions, the historical and religious accounts of which had +engaged the attention of my youth. + +It was at Passeriano that, seeing the approaching termination of his +labours in Europe, he first began to turn serious attention to the East. +During his long strolls in the evening in the magnificent park there he +delighted to converse about the celebrated events of that part of the +world, and the many famous empires it once possessed. He used to say, +"Europe is a mole-hill. There have never been great empires and +revolutions except in the East, where there are 600,000,000 men." He +considered that part of the world as the cradle of all religious, of all +metaphysical extravagances. This subject was no less interesting than +inexhaustible, and he daily introduced it when conversing with the +generals with whom he was intimate, with Monge, and with me. + +Monge entirely concurred in the General-in-Chief's opinions on this +point; and his scientific ardour was increased by Bonaparte's enthusiasm. +In short, all were unanimously of one opinion. The Directory had no +share in renewing the project of this memorable expedition, the result of +which did not correspond with the grand views in which it had been +conceived. Neither had the Directory any positive control over +Bonaparte's departure or return. It was merely the passive instrument of +the General's wishes, which it converted into decrees, as the law +required. He was no more ordered to undertake the conquest of Egypt than +he was instructed as to the plan of its execution. Bonaparte organised +the army of the East, raised money, and collected ships; and it was he +who conceived the happy idea of joining to the expedition men +distinguished in science and art, and whose labours have made known, in +its present and past state, a country, the very name of which is never +pronounced without exciting grand recollections. + +Bonaparte's orders flew like lightning from Toulon to Civita Vecchia. +With admirable precision he appointed some forces to assemble before +Malta, and others before Alexandria. He dictated all these orders to me +in his Cabinet. + +In the position in which France stood with respect to Europe, after the +treaty of Campo-Formio, the Directory, far from pressing or even +facilitating this expedition, ought to have opposed it. A victory on the +Adige would have been far better far France than one on the Nile. From +all I saw, I am of opinion that the wish to get rid of an ambitious and +rising man, whose popularity excited envy, triumphed over the evident +danger of removing, for an indefinite period, an excellent army, and the +possible loss of the French fleet. As to Bonaparte, he was well assured +that nothing remained for him but to choose between that hazardous +enterprise and his certain ruin. Egypt was, he thought, the right place +to maintain his reputation, and to add fresh glory to his name. + +On the 12th of April 1798 he was appointed General-in-Chief of the army +of the East. + +It was about this time that Marmont was married to Mademoiselle +Perregaux; and Bonaparte's aide de camp, La Valletta, to Mademoiselle +Beauharnais. + + --[Sir Walter Scott informs us that Josephine, when she became + Empress, brought about the marriage between her niece and La + Vallette. This is another fictitious incident of his historical + romance.--Bourrienne.]-- + +Shortly before our departure I asked Bonaparte how long he intended to +remain in Egypt. He replied, "A few months, or six years: all depends on +circumstances. I will colonise the country. I will bring them artists +and artisans of every description; women, actors, etc. We are but nine- +and-twenty now, and we shall then be five-and-thirty. That is not an old +age. Those six years will enable me, if all goes well, to get to India. +Give out that you are going to Brest. Say so even to your family." I +obeyed, to prove my discretion and real attachment to him. + +Bonaparte wished to form a camp library of cabinet editions, and he gave +me a list of the books which I was to purchase. This list is in his own +writing, and is as follows: + + CAMP LIBRARY. + +1. ARTS AND SCIENCE.--Fontenelle's Worlds, 1 vol. Letters to a German +Princess, 2 vols. Courses of the Normal School, 6 vols. The Artillery +Assistant, 1 vol. Treatise on Fortifications, 3 vols. Treatise on +Fireworks, 1 vol. + +2. GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVELS.--Barclay's Geography, 12 vols. Cook's +Voyages, 3 vols. La Harpe's Travels, 24 vols. + +3. HISTORY.--Plutarch, 12 vols. Turenne, 2 vols. Conde, 4 vols. +Villars, 4 vols. Luxembourg, 2 vols. Duguesclin, 2 vols. +Saxe, 3 vols. Memoirs of the Marshals of France, 20 vols. President +Hainault, 4 vols. Chronology, 2 vols. Marlborough, 4 vols. Prince +Eugene, 6 vols. Philosophical History of India, 12 vols. +Germany, 2 vols. Charles XII., 1 vol. Essay on the Manners of +Nations, 6 vols. Peter the Great, 1 vol. Polybius, 6 vols. +Justin, 2 vols. Arrian, 3 vols. Tacitus, 2 vols. Titus Livy, +Thucydides, 2 vols. Vertot, 4 vols. Denina, 8 vols. +Frederick II, 8 vols. + +4. POETRY.--Osaian, 1 vol. Tasso, 6 vols. Ariosto, 6 vols. +Homer, 6 vols. Virgil, 4 vols. The Henriade, 1 vol. +Telemachus, 2 vols. Les Jardin, 1 vol. The Chefs-d'Oeuvre of the +French Theatre, 20 vols. Select Light Poetry, 10 vols. La Fontaine. + +5. ROMANCE.--Voltaire, 4 vols. Heloise, 4 vols. Werther, 1 vol. +Marmontel, 4 vols. English Novels, 40 vols. Le Sage, 10 vols. +Prevost, 10 vols. + +6. POLITICS AND MORALS.--The Old Testament. The New Testament. The +Koran. The Vedan. Mythology. Montesquieu. The Esprit des Lois. + + +It will be observed that he classed the books of the religious creeds of +nations under the head of "politics." + +The autograph copy of the above list contains some of those +orthographical blunders which Bonaparte so frequently committed. Whether +these blunders are attributable to the limited course of instruction he +received at Brienne, to his hasty writing, the rapid flow of his ideas, +or the little importance he attached to that indispensable condition of +polite education, I know not. Knowing so well as he did the authors and +generals whose names appear in the above list, it is curious that he +should have written Ducecling for Duguesclin, and Ocean for Ossian. The +latter mistake would have puzzled me not a little had I not known his +predilection for the Caledonian bard. + +Before his departure Bonaparte laid in a considerable stock of Burgundy. +It was supplied by a man named James, of Dijon. I may observe that on +this occasion we had an opportunity of ascertaining that good Burgundy, +well racked off, and in casks hermetically sealed, does not lose its +quality on a sea voyage. Several cases of this Burgundy twice crossed +the desert of the Isthmus of Suez on camels' backs. We brought some of +it back with us to Frejus, and it was as good as when we departed. James +went with us to Egypt + +During the remainder of our stay in Paris nothing occurred worthy of +mention, with the exception of a conversation between Bonaparte and me +some days before our departure for Toulon. He went with me to the +Luxembourg to get signatures to the official papers connected with his +expedition. He was very silent. As we passed through the Rue Sainte +Anne I asked him, with no other object than merely to break a long pause, +whether he was still determined to quit France. He replied, "Yes: I have +tried everything. They do not want me (probably alluding to the office +of Director). I ought to overthrow them, and make myself King; but it +will not do yet. The nobles will never consent to it. I have tried my +ground. The time is not yet come. I should be alone. But I will dazzle +them again." I replied, "Well, we will go to Egypt;" and changed the +conversation. + + --[Lucien and the Bonapartists of course deny that Napoleon wished + to become Director, or to seize on power at this time; see Lucien, + tome 1. p. 154. Thiers (vol. v. p. 257) takes the same view. + Lanfrey (tome i. p. 363) believes Napoleon was at last compelled by + the Directory to start and he credits the story told by Desaix to + Mathieu Dumas, or rather to the wife of that officer, that there was + a plot to upset the Directory, but that when all was ready Napoleon + judged that the time was not ripe. Lanfrey, however, rather + enlarges what Dumas says; see Dumas, tome iii. p. 167. See also + the very remarkable conversation of Napoleon with Miot de Melito + just before leaving Italy for Rastadt: "I cannot obey any longer. I + have tasted the pleasures of command, and I cannot renounce it. My + decision is taken. If I cannot be master, I shall quit France + (Miot, tome i. p. 184).]-- + +The squabble with Bernadotte at Vienna delayed our departure for a +fortnight, and might have had the most disastrous influence on the fate +of the squadron, as Nelson would most assuredly have waited between Malta +and Sicily if he had arrived there before us.' + + --[Sir Walter Scott, without any authority, states that, at the + moment of his departure, Bonaparte seemed disposed to abandon the + command of an expedition so doubtful and hazardous, and that for + this purpose he endeavoured to take advantage of what had occurred + at Vienna. This must be ranked in the class of inventions, together + with Barras mysterious visit to communicate the change of + destination, and also the ostracism and honourable exile which the + Directory wished to impose on Bonaparte.--Bourrienne.]-- + +It is untrue that he ever entertained the idea of abandoning the +expedition in consequence of Bernadotte's affair. The following letter +to Brueys, dated the 28th of April 1798, proves the contrary: + + Some disturbances which have arisen at Vienna render my presence in + Paris necessary for a few days. This will not change any of the + arrangements for the expedition. I have sent orders by this courier + for the troops at Marseilles to embark and proceed to Toulon. On + the evening of the 30th I will send you a courier with orders for + you to embark and proceed with the squadron and convoy to Genoa, + where I will join you. + + The delay which this fresh event has occasioned will, I imagine, + have enabled you to complete every preparation. + +We left Paris on the 3d of May 1798. Ten days before Bonaparte's +departure for Egypt a prisoner (Sir Sidney Smith) escaped from the Temple +who was destined to contribute materially to his reverses. An escape so +unimportant in itself afterwards caused the failure of the most gigantic +projects and daring conceptions. This escape was pregnant with future +events; a false order of the Minister of Police prevented the revolution +of the East! + +We were at Toulon on the 8th. Bonaparte knew by the movements of the +English that not a moment was to be lost; but adverse winds detained us +ten days, which he occupied in attending to the most minute details +connected with the fleet. + +Bonaparte, whose attention was constantly occupied with his army, made a +speech to the soldiers, which I wrote to his dictation, and which +appeared in the public papers at the time. This address was followed by +cries of "The Immortal Republic for ever!" and the singing of national +hymns. + +Those who knew Madame Bonaparte are aware that few women were more +amiable and fascinating. Bonaparte was passionately fond of her, and to +enjoy the pleasure of her society as long as possible he brought her with +him to Toulon. Nothing could be more affecting than their parting. On +leaving Toulon Josephine went to the waters of Plombieres. I recollect +that during her stay at Plombieres she incurred great danger from a +serious accident. Whilst she was one day sitting at the balcony of the +hotel, with her suite, the balcony suddenly gave way, and all the persons +in it fell into the street. Madame Bonaparte was much hurt, but no +serious consequences ensued. + +Bonaparte had scarcely arrived at Toulon when he heard that the law for +the death of emigrants was enforced with frightful rigour; and that but +recently an old man, upwards of eighty, had been shot. Indignant at this +barbarity, he dictated to me, in a tone of anger, the following letter: + + HEADQUARTERS TOULON, + 27th Floreal, year VI. (16th May 1798). + + BONAPARTE, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, TO THE MILITARY + COMMISSIONERS OF THE NINTH DIVISION, ESTABLISHED BY THE LAW OF + THE 19TH FRUCTIDOR. + + I have learned, citizens, with deep regret, that an old man, between + seventy and eighty years of age, and some unfortunate women, in a + state of pregnancy, or surrounded with children of tender age, have + been shot on the charge of emigration. + + Have the soldiers of liberty become executioners? Can the mercy + which they have exercised even in the fury of battle be extinct in + their hearts? + + The law of the 19th Fructidor was a measure of public safety. Its + object was to reach conspirators, not women and aged men. + + I therefore exhort you, citizens, whenever the law brings to your + tribunals women or old men, to declare that in the field of battle + you have respected the women and old men of your enemies. + + The officer who signs a sentence against a person incapable of + bearing arms is a coward. + (Signed) BONAPARTE. + + +This letter saved the life of an unfortunate man who came under the +description of persons to whom Bonaparte referred. The tone of this note +shows what an idea he already entertained of his power. He took upon +him, doubtless from the noblest motives, to step out of his way to +interpret and interdict the execution of a law, atrocious, it is true, +but which even in those times of weakness, disorder, and anarchy was +still a law. In this instance, at least, the power of his name was nobly +employed. The letter gave great satisfaction to the army destined for +the expedition. + +A man named Simon, who had followed his master in emigration, and dreaded +the application of the law, heard that I wanted a servant. He came to me +and acknowledged his situation. He suited me, and I hired him. He then +told me he feared he should be arrested whilst going to the port to +embark. Bonaparte, to whom I mentioned the circumstance, and who had +just given a striking proof of his aversion to these acts of barbarity, +said to me in a tone of kindness, "Give him my portfolio to carry, and +let him remain with you." The words "Bonaparte, General-in-Chief of the +Army of the East," were inscribed in large gold letters on the green +morocco. Whether it was the portfolio or his connection with us that +prevented Simon from being arrested I know not; but he passed on without +interruption. I reprimanded him for having smiled derisively at the ill +humour of the persons appointed to arrest him. He served me faithfully, +and was even sometimes useful to Bonaparte. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +1798. + + Departure of the squadron--Arrival at Malta--Dolomieu--General + Barguay d'Hilliers--Attack on the western part of the island-- + Caffarelli's remark--Deliverance of the Turkish prisoners--Nelson's + pursuit of the French fleet--Conversations on board--How Bonaparte + passed his, time--Questions to the Captains--Propositions discussed + --Morning music--Proclamation--Admiral Brueys--The English fleet + avoided Dangerous landing--Bonaparte and his fortune--Alexandria + taken--Kleber wounded--Bonaparte's entrance into Alexandria. + +The squadron sailed on the 19th of May. The Orient, which, owing to her +heavy lading, drew too much water, touched the ground; but she was got +off without much difficulty. + +We arrived off Malta on the 10th of June. We had lost two days in +waiting for some convoys which joined us at Malta. + +The intrigues throughout Europe had not succeeded in causing the ports of +that island to be opened to us immediately on our arrival. Bonaparte +expressed much displeasure against the persons sent from Europe to +arrange measures for that purpose. One of them, however, M. Dolomieu, +had cause to repent his mission, which occasioned him to be badly treated +by the Sicilians. M. Poussielgue had done all he could in the way of +seduction, but he had not completely succeeded. There was some +misunderstanding, and, in consequence, some shots were interchanged. +Bonaparte was very much pleased with General Baraguay d'Hilliers' +services in Italy. He could not but praise his military and political +conduct at Venice when, scarcely a year before, he had taken possession +of that city by his orders. General Baraguay d'Hilliers joined us with +his division,--which had embarked in the convoy that sailed from Genoa. +The General-in-Chief ordered him to land and attack the western part of +the island. He executed this order with equal prudence and ability, and +highly to the satisfaction of the General-in-Chief. As every person in +the secret knew that all this was a mere form, these hostile +demonstrations produced no unpleasant consequences. We wished to save +the honour of the knights--that was all; for no one who has seen Malta +can imagine that an island surrounded with such formidable and perfect +fortifications would have surrendered in two days to a fleet which was +pursued by an enemy. The impregnable fortress of Malta is so secure +against a 'coup de main' that General Caffarelli, after examining its +fortifications, said to the General-in-Chief, in my presence, "Upon my +word, General, it is luck: there is some one in the town to open the +gates for us." + +By comparing the observation of General Caffarelli with what has been +previously stated respecting the project of the expedition to Egypt and +Malta, an idea may be formed of the value of Bonaparte's assertion at St. +Helena: + +"The capture of Malta was not owing to private intrigues, but to the +sagacity of the Commander-in-chief. I took Malta when I was in Mantua!" + +It is not the less true, however, that I wrote, by his dictation, a mass +of instructions for private intrigues. Napoleon also said to another +noble companion of his exile at St Helena, "Malta certainly possessed +vast physical means of resistance; but no moral means. The knights did +nothing dishonourable nobody is obliged to do impossibilities. No; but +they were sold; the capture of Malta was assured before we left Toulon." + +The General-in-Chief proceeded to that part of the port where the Turks +made prisoners by the knights were kept. + +The disgusting galleys were emptied of their occupants: The same +principles which, a few days after, formed the basis of Bonaparte's +proclamation to the Egyptians, guided him in this act of reason and +humanity. + +He walked several times in the gardens of the grandmaster. They were in +beautiful order, and filled with magnificent orange-trees. We regaled +ourselves with their fruit, which the great heat rendered most delicious. + +On the 19th of June, after having settled the government and defence of +the island, the General left Malta, which he little dreamed he had taken +for the English, who have very badly requited the obligation. Many of +the knights followed Bonaparte and took civil and military appointments. + +During the night of the 22d of June the English squadron was almost close +upon us. It passed at about six leagues from the French fleet. Nelson, +who learned the capture of Malta at Messina on the day we left the +island, sailed direct for Alexandria, without proceeding into the north. +He considered that city to be the place of our destination. By taking +the shortest course, with every sail set, and unembarrassed by any +convoy, he arrived before Alexandria on the 28th of June, three days +before the French fleet, which, nevertheless, had sailed before him from +the shores of Malta. The French squadron took the direction of Candia, +which we perceived on the 25th of June, and afterwards stood to the +south, favoured by the Etesian winds, which regularly prevail at that +season. The French fleet did not reach Alexandria till the 30th of June. + +When on board the 'Orient' he took pleasure in conversing frequently with +Monge and Berthollet. The subjects on which they usually talked were +chemistry, mathematics, and religion. General Caffarelli, whose +conversation, supplied by knowledge, was at once energetic, witty, and +lively, was one of those with whom he most willingly discoursed. +Whatever friendship he might entertain for Berthollet, it was easy to +perceive that he preferred Monge, and that he was led to that preference +because Monge, endowed with an ardent imagination, without exactly +possessing religious principles, had a kind of predisposition for +religious ideas which harmonised with the notions of Bonaparte. On this +subject Berthollet sometimes rallied his inseparable friend Monge. +Besides, Berthollet was, with his cold imagination, constantly devoted to +analysis and abstractions, inclined towards materialism, an opinion with +which the General was always much dissatisfied. + +Bonaparte sometimes conversed with Admiral Brueys. His object was always +to gain information respecting the different manoeuvres, and nothing +astonished the Admiral more than the sagacity of his questions. +I recollect that one day, Bonaparte having asked Brueys in what manner +the hammocks were disposed of when clearing for action, he declared, +after he had received an answer, that if the case should occur he would +order every one to throw his baggage overboard. + +He passed a great part of his time in his cabin, lying on a bed, which, +swinging on a kind of castors, alleviated the severity of the sea- +sickness from which he frequently suffered much when the ship rolled. + +I was almost always with him in his cabin, where I read to him some of +the favourite works which he had selected for his camp library. He also +frequently conversed, for hours together, with the captains of the +vessels which he hailed. He never failed to ask whence they came? what +was their destination? what ships they had met? what course they had +sailed? His curiosity being thus satisfied, he allowed them to continue +their voyage, after making them promise to say nothing of having seen the +French squadron. + +Whilst we were at sea he seldom rose before ten o'clock in the morning. +The 'Orient' had the appearance of a populous town, from which women had +been excluded; and this floating city was inhabited by 2000 individuals, +amongst whom were a great number of distinguished men. Bonaparte every +day invited several persons to dine with him, besides Brueys, Berthier, +the colonels, and his ordinary household, who were always present at the +table of the General-in-Chief. When the weather was fine he went up to +the quarter-deck, which, from its extent, formed a grand promenade. + +I recollect once that when walking the quarter-deck with him whilst we +were in Sicilian waters I thought I could see the summits of the Alps +beautifully lighted by the rays of the setting sun. Bonaparte laughed +much, and joked me about it. He called Admiral Brueys, who took his +telescope and soon confirmed my conjecture. The Alps! + +At the mention of that word by the Admiral I think I can see Bonaparte +still. He stood for a long time motionless; then, suddenly bursting from +his trance, exclaimed, "No! I cannot behold the land of Italy without +emotion! There is the East: and there I go; a perilous enterprise +invites me. Those mountains command the plains where I so often had the +good fortune to lead the French to victory. With them we will conquer +again." + +One of Bonaparte's greatest pleasures during the voyage was, after +dinner, to fix upon three or four persons to support a proposition and as +many to oppose it. He had an object in view by this. These discussions +afforded him an opportunity of studying the minds of those whom he had an +interest in knowing well, in order that he might afterwards confide to +each the functions for which he possessed the greatest aptitude: It will +not appear singular to those who have been intimate with Bonaparte, that +in these intellectual contests he gave the preference to those who had +supported an absurd proposition with ability over those who had +maintained the cause of reason; and it was not superiority of mind which +determined his judgment, for he really preferred the man who argued well +in favour of an absurdity to the man who argued equally well in support +of a reasonable proposition. He always gave out the subjects which were +to be discussed; and they most frequently turned upon questions of +religion, the different kinds of government, and the art of war. One day +he asked whether the planets were inhabited; on another, what was the age +of the world; then he proposed to consider the probability of the +destruction of our globe, either by water or fire; at another time, +the truth or fallacy of presentiments, and the interpretation of dreams. +I remember the circumstance which gave rise to the last proposition was +an allusion to Joseph, of whom he happened to speak, as he did of almost +everything connected with the country to which we were bound, and which +that able administrator had governed. No country came under Bonaparte's +observation without recalling historical recollections to his mind. +On passing the island of Candia his imagination was excited, and he spoke +with enthusiasm of ancient Crete and the Colossus, whose fabulous renown +has surpassed all human glories. He spoke much of the fall of the empire +of the East, which bore so little resemblance to what history has +preserved of those fine countries, so often moistened with the blood of +man. The ingenious fables of mythology likewise occurred to his mind, +and imparted to his language something of a poetical, and, I may say, of +an inspired character. The sight of the kingdom of Minos led him to +reason on the laws best calculated for the government of nations; and the +birthplace of Jupiter suggested to him the necessity of a religion for +the mass of mankind. This animated conversation lasted until the +favourable north winds, which drove the clouds into the valley of the +Nile, caused us to lose sight of the island of Candia. + +The musicians on board the Orient sometimes played serenades; but only +between decks, for Bonaparte was not yet sufficiently fond of music to +wish to hear it in his cabin. It may be said that his taste for this art +increased in the direct ratio of his power; and so it was with his taste +for hunting, of which he gave no indication until after his elevation to +the empire; as though he had wished to prove that he possessed within +himself not only the genius of sovereignty for commanding men, but also +the instinct for those aristocratical pleasures, the enjoyment of which +is considered by mankind to be amongst the attributes of kings. + +It is scarcely possible that some accidents should not occur during a +long voyage in a crowded vessel--that some persons should not fall +overboard. Accidents of this kind frequently happened on board the +'Orient'. On those occasions nothing was more remarkable than the great +humanity of the man who has since been so prodigal of the blood of his +fellow-creatures on the field of battle, and who was about to shed rivers +of it even in Egypt, whither we were bound. When a man fell into the sea +the General-in-Chief was in a state of agitation till he was saved. He +instantly had the ship hove-to, and exhibited the greatest uneasiness +until the unfortunate individual was recovered. He ordered me to reward +those who ventured their lives in this service. Amongst these was a +sailor who had incurred punishment for some fault. He not only exempted +him from the punishment, but also gave him some money. I recollect that +one dark night we heard a noise like that occasioned by a man falling +into the sea. Bonaparte instantly caused the ship to be hove-to until +the supposed victim was rescued from certain death. The men hastened +from all sides, and at length they picked up-what?--the quarter of a +bullock, which had fallen from the hook to which it was hung. What was +Bonaparte's conduct? He ordered me to reward the sailors who had exerted +themselves in this occasion even more generously than usual, saying, +"It might have been a sailor, and these brave fellows have shown as much +activity and courage as if it had." + +After the lapse of thirty years all these things are as fresh in my +recollection as if they were passing at the present moment. In this +manner Bonaparte employed his time on board the Orient during the voyage, +and it was also at this time that he dictated to me the following +proclamation: + + HEADQUARTERS ON BOARD THE "ORIENT," + The 4th Messidor, Year VI. + + BONAPARTE, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE, + GENERAL-IN-CHIEF. + + SOLDIERS--You are about to undertake a conquest the effects of which + on civilisation and commerce are incalculable. The blow you are + about to give to England will be the best aimed, and the most + sensibly felt, she can receive until the time arrive when you can + give her her deathblow. + + We must make some fatiguing marches; we must fight several battles; + we shall succeed in all we undertake. The destinies are with us. + The Mameluke Beys who favour exclusively English commerce, whose + extortions oppress our merchants, and who tyrannise over the + unfortunate inhabitants of the Nile, a few days after our arrival + will no longer exist. + + The people amongst whom we are going to live are Mahometans. The + first article of their faith is this: "There is no God but God, and + Mahomet is his prophet." Do not contradict them. Behave to them as + you have behaved to the Jews--to the Italians. Pay respect to their + muftis, and their Imaums, as you did to the rabbis and the bishops. + Extend to the ceremonies prescribed by the Koran and to the mosques + the same toleration which you showed to the synagogues, to the + religion of Moses and of Jesus Christ. + + The Roman legions protected all religions. You will find here + customs different from those of Europe. You must accommodate + yourselves to them. The people amongst whom we are to mix differ + from us in the treatment of women; but in all countries he who + violates is a monster. Pillage enriches only a small number of men; + it dishonours us; it destroys our resources; it converts into + enemies the people whom it is our interest to have for friends. + + The first town we shall come to was built by Alexander. At every + step we shall meet with grand recollections, worthy of exciting the + emulation of Frenchmen. + BONAPARTE. + + +During the voyage, and particularly between Malta and Alexandria, +I often conversed with the brave and unfortunate Admiral Brueys. +The intelligence we heard from time to time augmented his uneasiness. +I had the good fortune to obtain the confidence of this worthy man. +He complained bitterly of the imperfect manner in which the fleet had +been prepared for sea; of the encumbered state of the ships of the line +and frigates, and especially of the 'Orient'; of the great number of +transports; of the bad Outfit of all the ships and the weakness of their +crews. He assured me that it required no little courage to undertake the +command of a fleet so badly equipped; and he often declared, that in the +event of our falling in with the enemy, he could not answer for the +consequences. The encumbered state of the vessels, the immense quantity +of civic and military baggage which each person had brought, and would +wish to save, would render proper manoeuvres impracticable. In case of +an attack, added Brueys, even by an inferior squadron, the confusion and +disorder amongst so great a number of persons would produce an inevitable +catastrophe. Finally, if the English had appeared with ten vessels only, +the Admiral could not have guaranteed a fortunate result. He considered +victory to be a thing that was impossible, and even with a victory, what +would have become of the expedition? "God send," he said, with a sigh, +"that we may pass the English without meeting them!" He appeared to +foresee what did afterwards happen to him, not in the open sea, but in a +situation which he considered much more favourable to his defence. + +On the morning of the 1st of July the expedition arrived off the coast of +Africa, and the column of Septimus-Severus pointed out to us the city of +Alexandria. Our situation and frame of mind hardly permitted us to +reflect that in the distant point we beheld the city of the Ptolemies and +Caesars, with its double port, its pharos, and the gigantic monuments of +its ancient grandeur. Our imaginations did not rise to this pitch. + +Admiral Brueys had sent on before the frigate Juno to fetch M. Magallon, +the French Consul. It was near four o'clock when he arrived, and the sea +was very rough. He informed the General-in-Chief that Nelson had been +off Alexandria on the 28th--that he immediately dispatched a brig to +obtain intelligence from the English agent. On the return of the brig +Nelson instantly stood away with his squadron towards the north-east. +But for a delay which our convoy from Civita Vecchia occasioned, we +should have been on this coast at the same time as Nelson. + +It appeared that Nelson supposed us to be already at Alexandria when he +arrived there. He had reason to suppose so, seeing that we left Malta on +the 19th of June, whilst he did not sail from Messina till the 21st. +Not finding us where he expected, and being persuaded we ought to have +arrived there had Alexandria been the place of our destination; he sailed +for Alexandretta in Syria, whither he imagined we had gone to effect a +landing. This error saved the expedition a second time. + +Bonaparte, on hearing the details which the French Consul communicated, +resolved to disembark immediately. Admiral Brueys represented the +difficulties and dangers of a disembarkation--the violence of the surge, +the distance from the coast,--a coast, too, lined with reefs of rocks, +the approaching night, and our perfect ignorance of the points suitable +for landing. The Admiral, therefore, urged the necessity of waiting till +next morning; that is to say, to delay the landing twelve hours. He +observed that Nelson could not return from Syria for several days. +Bonaparte listened to these representations with impatience and ill- +humour. He replied peremptorily, "Admiral, we have no time to lose. +Fortune gives me but three days; if I do not profit by them we are lost." +He relied much on fortune; this chimerical idea constantly influenced his +resolutions. + +Bonaparte having the command of the naval as well as the military force, +the Admiral was obliged to yield to his wishes. + +I attest these facts, which passed in my presence, and no part of which +could escape my observation. It is quite false that it was owing to the +appearance of a sail which, it is pretended, was descried, but of which, +for my part, I saw nothing, that Bonaparte exclaimed, "Fortune, have you +abandoned me? I ask only five days!" No such thing occurred. + +It was one o'clock in the morning of the 2d of July when we landed on the +soil of Egypt, at Marabou, three leagues to the west of Alexandria. We +had to regret the loss of some lives; but we had every reason to expect +that our losses would have been greater. + +At three o'clock the same morning the General-in-Chief marched on +Alexandria with the divisions of Kleber, Bon, and Menou. The Bedouin +Arabs, who kept hovering about our right flank and our rear, picked up +the stragglers. + +Having arrived within gunshot of Alexandria, we scaled the ramparts, and +French valour soon triumphed over all obstacles. + +The first blood I saw shed in war was General Kleber's. He was struck in +the head by a ball, not in storming the walls, but whilst heading the +attack. He came to Pompey's Pillar, where many members of the staff were +assembled, and where the General-in-Chief was watching the attack. I +then spoke to Kleber for the first time, and from that day our friendship +commenced. I had the good fortune to contribute somewhat towards the +assistance of which he stood in need, and which, as we were situated, +could not be procured very easily. + +It has been endeavoured to represent the capture of Alexandria, which +surrendered after a few hours, as a brilliant exploit. The General-in- +Chief himself wrote that the city had been taken after a few discharges +of cannon; the walls, badly fortified, were soon scaled. Alexandria was +not delivered up to pillage, as has been asserted, and often repeated. +This would have been a most impolitic mode of commencing the conquest of +Egypt, which had no strong places requiring to be intimidated by a great +example. + +Bonaparte, with some others, entered the city by a narrow street which +scarcely allowed two persons to walk abreast; I was with him. We were +stopped by some musket-shots fired from a low window by a man and a +woman. They repeated their fire several times. The guides who preceded +their General kept up a heavy fire on the window. The man and woman fell +dead, and we passed on in safety, for the place had surrendered. + +Bonaparte employed the six days during which he remained in Alexandria in +establishing order in the city and province, with that activity and +superior talent which I could never sufficiently admire, and in directing +the march of the army across the province of Bohahire'h. He sent Desaix +with 4500 infantry and 60 cavalry to Beda, on the road to Damanhour. +This general was the first to experience the privations and sufferings +which the whole army had soon to endure. His great mind, his attachment +to Bonaparte, seemed for a moment about to yield to the obstacles which +presented themselves. On the 15th of July he wrote from Bohahire'h as +follows: "I beseech you do not let us stop longer in this position. My +men are discouraged and murmur. Make us advance or fall back without +delay. The villages consist merely of huts, absolutely without +resources." + +In these immense plains, scorched by the vertical rays of a burning sun, +water, everywhere else so common, becomes an object of contest. The +wells and springs, those secret treasures of the desert, are carefully +concealed from the travellers; and frequently, after our most oppressive +marches, nothing could be found to allay the urgent cravings of thirst +but a little brackish water of the most disgusting description. + + --[Some idea of the misery endured by the French troops on this + occasion may be gathered from the following description is + Napoleon's Memoirs, dictated at St. Helena: + + "As the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness complained, and angrily + asked Moses for the onions and flesh-pots of Egypt, the French + soldiers constantly regretted the luxuries of Italy. In vain were + they assured that the country was the most fertile in the world, + that it was even superior to Lombard; how were they to be persuaded + of this when they could get neither bread nor wine? We encamped on + immense quantities of wheat, but there was neither mill nor oven in + the country. The biscuit brought from Alexandria had long been + exhausted; the soldiers were even reduced to bruise the wheat + between two stones and to make cake which they baked under the + ashes. Many parched the wheat in a pan, after which they boiled it. + This was the best way to use the grain; but, after all, it was not + bread. The apprehensions of the soldiers increased daily, and rose + to such a pitch that a great number of them said there was no great + city of calm; and that the place bring that name was, like + Damanhour, a vast assemblage of mere huts, destitute of everything + that could render life comfortable or agreeable. To such a + melancholy state of mind had they brought themselves that two + dragoons threw themselves, completely clothed, into the Nile, where + they were drowned. It is nevertheless true that, though there was + neither bread nor wine, the resources which were procured with + wheat, lentils, meat, and sometimes pigeons, furnished the army with + food of some kind. But the evil was, in the ferment of the mind. + The officers complained more loudly than the soldiers, because the + comparison was proportionately more disadvantageous to them. In + Egypt they found neither the quarters, the good table, nor the + luxury of Italy. The General-in-Chief, wishing to set an example, + tried to bivouac in the midst of the army, and in the least + commodious spots. No one had either tent or provisions; the dinner + of Napoleon and his staff consisted of a dish of lentils. The + soldiers passed the evenings in political conversations, arguments, + and complaints. 'For what purpose are we come here?' said some of + them, 'the Directory has transported us.' 'Caffarelli,' said others, + 'is the agent that has been made use of to deceive the General-in- + Chief.' Many of them, having observed that wherever there were + vestiges of antiquity they were carefully searched, vented their + spite in invective against the savants, or scientific men, who, they + said, had started the idea of she expedition to order to make these + searches. Jests were showered upon them, even in their presence. + The men called an ass a savant; and said of Caffarelli Dufalga, + alluding to his wooden leg, 'He laughs at all these troubles; he has + one foot to France.'" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +1798. + + The mirage--Skirmishes with the Arabs--Mistake of General Desaix's + division--Wretchedness of a rich sheik--Combat beneath the General's + window--The flotilla on the Nile--Its distress and danger--The + battle of Chebreisse--Defeat of the Mamelukes--Bonaparte's reception + of me--Letter to Louis Bonaparte--Success of the French army-- + Triumphal entrance into Cairo--Civil and military organisation of + Cairo--Bonaparte's letter to his brother Joseph--Plan of + colonisation. + +On the 7th of July General Bonaparte left Alexandria for Damanhour. In +the vast plains of Bohahire'h the mirage every moment presented to the +eye wide sheets of water, while, as we advanced, we found nothing but +barren ground full of deep cracks. Villages, which at a distance appear +to be surrounded with water, are, on a nearer approach, discovered to be +situated on heights, mostly artificial, by which they are raised above +the inundations of the Nile. This illusion continually recurs; and it is +the more treacherous, inasmuch as it presents to the eye the perfect +representation of water, at the time when the want of that article is +most felt. This mirage is so considerable in the plain of Pelusium that +shortly after sunrise no object is recognisable. The same phenomenon has +been observed in other countries. Quintus Curtius says that in the +deserts of Sogdiana, a fog rising from the earth obscures the light, and +the surrounding country seems like a vast sea. The cause of this +singular illusion is now fully explained; and, from the observations of +the learned Monge, it appears that the mirage will be found in almost +every country situated between the tropics where the local circumstances +are similar. + +The Arabs harassed the army without intermission. The few wells met with +in the desert were either filled up or the water was rendered unfit for +use. The intolerable thirst with which the troops were tormented, even +on this first march, was but ill allayed by brackish and unwholesome +water. The army crossed the desert with the rapidity of lightning, +scarcely tasting a drop of water. The sufferings of the troops were +frequently expressed by discouraging murmurs. + +On the first night a mistake occurred which might have proved fatal. +We were advancing in the dark, under feeble escort, almost sleeping on +our horses, when suddenly we were assailed by two successive discharges +of musketry. We aroused ourselves and reconnoitred, and to our great +satisfaction discovered that the only mischief was a alight wound +received by one of our guides. Our assailants were the division of +General Desaix, who, forming the advanced guard of the army, mistook us +for a party of the enemy, and fired upon us. It was speedily ascertained +that the little advanced guard of the headquarters had not heard the "Qui +vive?" of Desaix's advanced posts. + +On reaching Damanhour our headquarters were established at the residence +of a sheik. The house had been new whitened, and looked well enough +outside, but the interior was inconceivably wretched. Every domestic +utensil was broken, and the only seats were a few dirty tattered mats. +Bonaparte knew that the sheik was rich, and having somewhat won his +confidence, he asked him, through the medium of the interpreter, why, +being in easy circumstances, be thus deprived himself of all comfort. +"Some years ago," replied the sheik, "I repaired and furnished my house. +When this became known at Cairo a demand was made upon me for money, +because it was said my expenses proved me to be rich. I refused to pay +the money, and in consequence I was ill-treated, and at length forced to +pay it. From that time I have allowed myself only the bare necessaries +of life, and I shall buy no furniture for my house." The old man was +lame in consequence of the treatment he had suffered. Woe to him who in +this country is suspected of having a competency--a hundred spies are +always ready to denounce him. The appearance of poverty is the only +security against the rapine of power and the cupidity of barbarism. + +A little troop of Arabs on horseback assailed our headquarters. +Bonaparte, who was at the window of the sheik's house, indignant at this +insolence, turned to one of his aides de camp, who happened to be on +duty, and said, "Croisier, take a few guides and drive those fellows +away!" In an instant Croisier was in the plain with fifteen guides. A +little skirmish ensued, and we looked on from the window. In the +movement and in the attack of Croisier and his party there was a sort of +hesitation which the General-in-Chief could not comprehend. "Forward, +I say! Charge!" he exclaimed from the window, as if he could have been +heard. Our horsemen seemed to fall back as the Arabs returned to the +attack; and after a little contest, maintained with tolerable spirit, the +Arabs retired without loss, and without being molested in their retreat. +Bonaparte could no longer repress his rage; and when Croisier returned he +experienced such a harsh reception that the poor fellow withdrew deeply +mortified and distressed. Bonaparte desired me to follow him and say +something to console him: but all was in vain. "I cannot survive this," +he said. "I will sacrifice my life on the first occasion that offers +itself. I will not live dishonoured." The word coward had escaped the +General's lips. Poor Croisier died at Saint Jean d'Acre. + +On the 10th of July our headquarters were established at Rahmahanie'h, +where they remained during the 11th and 12th. At this place commences +the canal which was cut by Alexander to convey water to his new city; and +to facilitate commercial intercourse between Europe and the East. + +The flotilla, commanded by the brave chief of division Perree, had just +arrived from Rosette. Perree was on board the xebec 'Cerf'. + + --[Bonaparte had great confidence in him. He had commanded, under + the General's orders, the naval forces in the Adriatic in 1797.-- + Bourrienne]-- + +Bonaparte placed on board the Cerf and the other vessels of the flotilla +those individuals who, not being military, could not be serviceable in +engagements, and whose horses served to mount a few of the troops. + +On the night of the 14th of July the General-in-Chief directed his march +towards the south, along the left bank of the Nile. The flotilla sailed +up the river parallel with the left wing of the army. But the force of +the wind, which at this season blows regularly from the Mediterranean +into the valley of the file, carried the flotilla far in advance of the +army, and frustrated the plan of their mutually defending and supporting +each other. The flotilla thus unprotected fell in with seven Turkish +gunboats coming from Cairo, and was exposed simultaneously to their fire +and to that of the Mamelukes, fellahs, and Arabs who lined both banks of +the river. They had small guns mounted on camels. + +Perree cast anchor, and an engagement commenced at nine o'clock on the +14th of July, and continued till half past twelve. + +At the same time the General-in-Chief met and attacked a corps of about +4000 Mamelukes. His object, as he afterwards said, was to turn the corps +by the left of the village of Chebreisse, and to drive it upon the Nile. + +About eleven in the morning Perree told me that the Turks were doing us +more harm than we were doing them; that our ammunition would soon be +exhausted; that the army was far inland, and that if it did not make a +move to the left there would be no hope for us. Several vessels had +already been boarded and taken by the Turks, who massacred the crews +before our eyes, and with barbarous ferocity showed us the heads of the +slaughtered men. + +Perree, at considerable risk, despatched several persons to inform the +General-in-Chief of the desperate situation of the flotilla. The +cannonade which Bonaparte had heard since the morning, and the explosion +of a Turkish gunboat, which was blown up by the artillery of the xebec, +led him to fear that our situation was really perilous. He therefore +made a movement to the left, in the direction of the Nile and Chebreisse, +beat the Mamelukes, and forced them to retire on Cairo. At sight of the +French troops the commander of the Turkish flotilla weighed anchor and +sailed up the Nile. The two banks of the river were evacuated, and the +flotilla escaped the destruction which a short time before had appeared +inevitable. Some writers have alleged that the Turkish flotilla was +destroyed in this engagement. The truth is, the Turks did us +considerable injury, while on their part they suffered but little. We +had twenty men killed and several wounded. Upwards of 1500 cannon-shots +were fired during the action. + +General Berthier, in his narrative of the Egyptian expedition, enumerates +the individuals who, though not in the military service, assisted Perree +in this unequal and dangerous engagement. He mentions Monge, Berthollet, +Andreossy, the paymaster, Junot, and Bourrienne, secretary to the +General-in-Chief. It has also been stated that Sucy, the commissary- +general, was seriously wounded while bravely defending a gunboat laden +with provisions; but this is incorrect. + +We had no communication with the army until the 23d of July. On the 22d +we came in sight of the Pyramids, and were informed that we were only +about, ten leagues from Gizeh, where they are situated. The cannonade +which we heard, and which augmented in proportion as the north wind +diminished, announced a serious engagement; and that same day we saw the +banks of the Nile strewed with heaps of bodies, which the waves were +every moment washing into the sea. This horrible spectacle, the silence +of the surrounding villages, which had hitherto been armed against us, +and the cessation of the firing from the banks of the river, led us to +infer, with tolerable certainty, that a battle fatal to the Mamelukes had +been fought. The misery we suffered on our passage from Rahmahanie'h to +Gizeh is indescribable. We lived for eleven days on melons and water, +besides being momentarily exposed to the musketry of the Arabs and the +fellahs. We luckily escaped with but a few killed and wounded. The +rising of the Nile was only beginning. The shallowness of the river near +Cairo obliged us to leave the xebec and get on board a djerm. We reached +Gizeh at three in the afternoon of the 23d of July. + +When I saluted the General, whom I had not seen for twelve days, he thus +addressed me: "So you are here, are you? Do you know that you have all +of you been the cause of my not following up the battle of Chebreisse? +It was to save you, Monge, Berthollet, and the others on board the +flotilla that I hurried the movement of my left upon the Nile before my +right had turned Chebreisse. But for that, not a single Mameluke would +have escaped." + +"I thank you for my own part," replied I; "but in conscience could you +have abandoned us, after taking away our horses, and making us go on +board the xebec, whether we would or not?" He laughed, and then told me +how sorry he was for the wound of Sucy, and the death of many useful men, +whose places could not possibly be filled up. + +He made me write a letter to his brother Louis, informing him that he had +gained a complete victory over the Mamelukes at Embabeh, opposite Boulac, +and that the enemy's loss was 2000 men killed and wounded, 40 guns, and a +great number of horses. + +The occupation of Cairo was the immediate consequence of the victory of +Embabeh. Bonaparte established his head-quarters in the home of Elfy +Bey, in the great square of Ezbekye'h. + +The march of the French army to Cairo was attended by an uninterrupted +succession of combats and victories. We had won the battles of +Rahmahanie'h, Chebreisse, and the Pyramids. The Mamelukes were defeated, +and their chief, Mourad Bey, was obliged to fly into Upper Egypt. +Bonaparte found no obstacle to oppose his entrance into the capital of +Egypt, after a campaign of only twenty days. + +No conqueror, perhaps, ever enjoyed a victory so much as Bonaparte, and +yet no one was ever less inclined to abuse his triumphs. + +We entered Cairo on the 24th of July, and the General-in-Chief +immediately directed his attention to the civil and military organization +of the country. Only those who saw him in the vigour of his youth can +form an idea of his extraordinary intelligence and activity. Nothing +escaped his observation. Egypt had long been the object of his study; +and in a few weeks he was as well acquainted with the country as if he +had lived in it ten years. He issued orders for observing the strictest +discipline, and these orders were punctually obeyed. + +The mosques, the civil and religious institutions, the harems, the women, +the customs of the country-all were scrupulously respected. A few days +after they entered Cairo the French were freely admitted into the shops, +and were seen sociably smoking their pipes with the inhabitants, +assisting them in their occupations, and playing with their children. + +The day after his arrival in Cairo Bonaparte addressed to his brother +Joseph the following letter, which was intercepted and printed. Its +authenticity has been doubted, but I saw Napoleon write it, and he read +it to me before he sent it off. + + CAIRO, + 7th. Thermidor (25th July 1798) + + You will see in the public papers the bulletins of the battles and + conquest of Egypt, which were sufficiently contested to add another + wreath to the laurels of this army. Egypt is richer than any + country in the world in coin, rice, vegetables, and cattle. But the + people are in a state of utter barbarism. We cannot procure money, + even to pay the troops. I maybe in France in two months. + + Engage a country-house, to be ready for me on my arrival, either + near Paris or in Burgundy, where I mean to pass the winter. + + --[Bonaparte's autograph note, after enumerating the troops and + warlike stores he wished to be sent, concluded with the following + list: + + 1st, a company of actors; 2d, a company of dancers; 3d, some dealers + in marionettes, at least three or four; 9th, a hundred French women; + 5th, the wives of all the men employed in the corps; 6th, twenty + surgeons, thirty apothecaries, and ten Physicians; 7th, some + founders; 8th, some distillers and dealers in liquor; 9th fifty + gardeners with their families, and the seeds of every kind of + vegetable; 10th, each party to bring with them: 200,000 pints of + brandy; 11th, 30,000 ells of blue and scarlet cloth; 12th, a supply + of soap and oil.--Bourrienne.]-- + + (Signed) BONAPARTE + + +This announcement of his departure to his brother is corroborated by a +note which he despatched some days after, enumerating the supplies and +individuals which he wished to have sent to Egypt. His note proves, more +convincingly than any arguments, that Bonaparte earnestly wished to +preserve his conquest, and to make it a French colony. It must be borne +in mind that the note here alluded to, as well as the letter above +quoted, was written long before the destruction of the fleet. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1798, v2 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +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 Balehye'h--Sulkowsky + wounded--Disaster at Abonkir--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 us + 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, + + --[Far more thoroughly and actively than those taken by the English + Government in 1882-3-4]-- + +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 bays, 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. + +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.' + + --['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, sad bandying accusations of + cowardice for not doing it." He heard it all as plainly as we did, + and seemed as if be 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).]-- + +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. + + --[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.]-- + +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. + +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--Bonapartes + 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 Fours--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. + + --[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 + bad 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; Merthollet 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 tile 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,' who +at his request gave him two young Mamelukes, Ibrahim, and Roustan. + + --[The General-in-Chief went to celebrate, the feast of the Prophet + at the house of the sheik El Bekri. The ceremony was began 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 sway ('Memoirs of Napoleon').]-- + + --[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. His religious tolerance was the +natural consequence of his philosophic spirit. + + --[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 be 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. + + --[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 Musselman, 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 coining 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 lie, "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; 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. + + --[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 cries 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 wore 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. + + --[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. + + --[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 always pass at that part, + + --[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.]-- + +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. + +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. + + --[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. + + --[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. + + --[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 adapt. 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. +He died insane on the 27th of July 1813. + + --[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 'demioselle 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 go 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, 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. + + --[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.]-- + +The pure and cool water of these wells delighted us. + +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 aide 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. + + --[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 Djezasi--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 +token 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. + +(l.) 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 world 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 he 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 be 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 Jaffe 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' + + --[Sir Walter Scott says, that Heaven seat 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 Nabloua. 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. + + --[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]-- + +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. + + --[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 smell portion of neutral ground, where the + mad Commodore might land, and satisfy his humour to the full.-- + (Editor of 1836 edition.)]-- + +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. + + --[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 + 'sotttice' 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 read, 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, sad sent him back an intimation that when + he brought Marlborough to fight me I would meet him. Not, + withstanding 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 threw 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. + + --[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 litters 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 trough 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 a 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 is bulletins--Gigantic + project-- The Druses--Mount Caramel--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 +cutoff 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 assaualt 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. + + --[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 +wad 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 lead 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 stag. 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). Klebers 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 s 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--Bonapartes 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 propose 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 lie 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. + + --[As M. de Bourrienne gives no details of the battle, the + following extract from the Due do 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. + + + --[The French, on their return from St. Jean d'Acre were totally + ignorant of all that had taken place in Europe far several months. + Napoleon, eager to obtain Intelligence, sent a flag of trace 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 'Carree', 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 Dueua, 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? + + --[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. Charpentler, 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 byway 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 Reveillier-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 need 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 an 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 Rosette 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. Kleber, 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' + + --[Named after Bonaparte's aide de camp filled in the Italian + campaign]-- + +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. + +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. + + --[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 Due 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, Bionge, 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 s 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 over +whelmed 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 'Hetciron', 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. + + --[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. + + --[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 + Due 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 the 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. + +Tim 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 Seas 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. + + --[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".]-- + +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. + +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, + + --[Joseph Bonaparte remarks on this that Napoleon met Josephine at + Paris before his brothers arrived there, (Compare d'Abrantis, + vol. 1, pp. 260-262 and Rumusat, tome i. pp. 147-148.)]-- + +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. + + --[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 again 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 hid arrival Bonaparte visited the Directors. + + --[The Directors at this time were Barras, Sieyes, Moulins, Gohier, + and Roger Ducos.]-- + +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. + + + + +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, + + --[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.]-- + +but be 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 be 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." + +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. + + --[Joseph Bonaparte and Bernadotte had married sisters. Mario-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.]-- + +"He does not like me, and I am almost certain that be 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." + +Bernadotte, it was reported, had advised that Bonaparte should be brought +to a court-martial, an 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.' + + --[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.]-- + +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. + +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 aide 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, + + --[Joseph Bonaparte lays great stress on the fact that Napoleon + world not have passed this house, which was far from the theatre + (Erreurs, tome i, p. 251).]-- + +"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." + +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. + + --[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.]-- + +"You should at least be consistent." A few moments after, availing +himself of the confusion occasioned by the throng of visitors, Bernadotte +slipped off. + +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 moat 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 Sieye's 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 Pallette-- + 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, + + --[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."]-- + +under the instructions of Fouche, + + --[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 1801 + to 1810; became Duc d'Otrante in 1809; disgraced m 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.]-- + +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." + +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 + + --[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.]-- + +and Lebrun + + --[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]-- + +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. + +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 general's 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 bad 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 far, 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 + --[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 118, 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 en the 18th Brumaire, but it + is not so cleat to me that you saved me then" (Iung's Lucien, tome + iii. p.89).]-- + +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 preposition 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. + +Just as Lucien left the Council I entered. Bonaparte, who was well +informed of all that was passing, + + --[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)]-- + +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! + + +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) + had his clothes pierced by a stiletto. They bore me off. + + --[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 Admires 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. + + --[The Constitution of the year VIII. was presented an 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 Consol, 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.' + + --[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 Tribunals 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 +Tribunats. 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.' + + --[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 to 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. + + --[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.]-- + +It maybe 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. + +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 +13th 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.' + + --[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.]-- + +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." + + --[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. + + --[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 this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1799, v3 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 4. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +Chapter XXVII. to Chapter XXXV. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +1799-1800. + + Difficulties of a new Government--State of Europe--Bonaparte's wish + for peace--M. de Talleyrand Minister for Foreign Affairs-- + Negotiations with England and Austria--Their failure--Bonaparte's + views on the East--His sacrifices to policy--General Bonaparte + denounced to the First Consul--Kleber's letter to the Directory-- + Accounts of the Egyptian expedition published in the Moniteur-- + Proclamation to the army of the East--Favour and disgrace of certain + individuals accounted for. + +When a new Government rises on the ruins of one that has been overthrown, +its best chance of conciliating the favour of the nation, if that nation +be at war, is to hold out the prospect of peace; for peace is always dear +to a people. Bonaparte was well aware of this; and if in his heart he +wished otherwise, he knew how important it was to seem to desire peace. +Accordingly, immediately after his installation at the Luxembourg he +notified to all the foreign powers his accession to the Consulate, and, +for the same purpose, addressed letters to all the diplomatic agents of +the French Government abroad. + +The day after he got rid of his first two colleagues, Sieyes and Roger +Ducos, he prepared to open negotiations with the Cabinet of London. At +that time we were at war with almost the whole of Europe. We had also +lost Italy. The Emperor of Germany was ruled by his Ministers, who in +their turn were governed by England. It was no easy matter to manage +equally the organization of the Consular Government and the no less +important affairs abroad; and it was very important to the interests +of the First Consul to intimate to foreign powers, while at the same time +he assured himself against the return of the Bourbons, that the system +which he proposed to adopt was a system of order and regeneration, unlike +either the demagogic violence of the Convention or the imbecile artifice +of the Directory. In fulfilment of this object Bonaparte directed M. de +Talleyrand, the new Minister for Foreign Affairs, to make the first +friendly overtures to the English Cabinet: A correspondence ensued, which +was published at the time, and which showed at once the conciliatory +policy of Bonaparte and the arrogant policy of England. + +The exchange of notes which took place was attended by no immediate +result. However, the First Consul had partly attained his object: if the +British Government would not enter into negotiations for peace, there was +at least reason to presume that subsequent overtures of the Consular +Government might be listened to. The correspondence had at all events +afforded Bonaparte the opportunity of declaring his principles, and above +all, it had enabled him to ascertain that the return of the Bourbons to +France (mentioned in the official reply of Lord Grenville) would not be a +sine qua non condition for the restoration of peace between the two +powers. + +Since M. de Talleyrand had been Minister for Foreign Affairs the business +of that department had proceeded with great activity. It was an +important advantage to Bonaparte to find a nobleman of the old regime +among the republicans. The choice of M. de Talleyrand was in some sort +an act of courtesy to the foreign Courts. It was a delicate attention to +the diplomacy of Europe to introduce to its members, for the purpose of +treating with them, a man whose rank was at least equal to their own, and +who was universally distinguished for a polished elegance of manner +combined with solid good qualities and real talents. + +It was not only with England that Bonaparte and his Minister endeavoured +to open negotiations; the Consular Cabinet also offered peace to the +House of Austria; but not at the same time. The object of this offer was +to sow discord between the two powers. Speaking to me one day of his +earnest wish to obtain peace Bonaparte said, "You see, Bourrienne, I have +two great enemies to cope with. I will conclude peace with the one I +find most easy to deal with. That will enable me immediately to assail +the other. I frankly confess that I should like best to be at peace with +England. Nothing would then be more easy than to crush Austria. She has +no money except what she gets through England." + +For a long time all negotiations proved abortive. None of the European +powers would acknowledge the new Government, of which Bonaparte was the +head; and the battle of Marengo was required before the peace of Amiens +could be obtained. + +Though the affairs of the new Government afforded abundant occupation to +Bonaparte, he yet found leisure to direct attention to the East--to that +land of despotism whence, judging from his subsequent conduct, it might +be presumed he derived his first principles of government. On becoming +the head of the State he wished to turn Egypt, which he had conquered as +a general, to the advantage of his policy as Consul. If Bonaparte +triumphed over a feeling of dislike in consigning the command of the army +to Kleber, it was because he knew Kleber to be more capable than any +other of executing the plans he had formed; and Bonaparte was not the man +to sacrifice the interests of policy to personal resentment. It is +certainly true that he then put into practice that charming phrase of +Moliere's--"I pardon you, but you shall pay me for this!" + +With respect to all whom he had left in Egypt Bonaparte stood in a very +singular situation. On becoming Chief of the Government he was not only +the depositary of all communications made to the Directory; but letters +sent to one address were delivered to another, and the First Consul +received the complaints made against the General who had so abruptly +quitted Egypt. In almost all the letters that were delivered to us he +was the object of serious accusation. According to some he had not +avowed his departure until the very day of his embarkation; and he had +deceived everybody by means of false and dissembling proclamations. +Others canvassed his conduct while in Egypt: the army which had triumphed +under his command he had abandoned when reduced to two-thirds of its +original force and a prey to all the horrors of sickness and want: It +must be confessed that these complaints and accusations were but too well +founded, and one can never cease wondering at the chain of fortunate +circumstances which so rapidly raised Bonaparte to the Consular seat. +In the natural order of things, and in fulfilment of the design which he +himself had formed, he should have disembarked at Toulon, where the +quarantine laws would no doubt have been observed; instead of which, the +fear of the English and the uncertainty of the pilots caused him to go to +Frejus, where the quarantine laws were violated by the very persons most +interested in respecting them. Let us suppose that Bonaparte had been +forced to perform quarantine at Toulon. What would have ensued? The +charges against him would have fallen into the hands of the Directory, +and he would probably have been suspended, and put upon his trial. + +Among the letters which fell into Bonaparte's hands, by reason of the +abrupt change of government, was an official despatch (of the 4th +Vendemiaire, year VIII.) from General Kleber at Cairo to the Executive +Directory, in which that general spoke in very stringent terms of the +sudden departure of Bonaparte and of the state in which the army in Egypt +had been left. General Kleber further accused him of having evaded, by +his flight, the difficulties which he thus transferred to his successor's +shoulders, and also of leaving the army "without a sou in the chest," +with pay in arrear, and very little supply of munitions or clothing. + +The other letters from Egypt were not less accusatory than Kleber's; and +it cannot be doubted that charges of so precise a nature, brought by the +general who had now become commander-in-chief against his predecessor, +would have had great weight, especially backed as they were by similar +complaints from other quarters. A trial would have been inevitable; and +then, no 18th Brumaire, no Consulate, no Empire, no conquest of Europe- +but also, it may be added, no St. Helena. None of these, events would +have ensued had not the English squadron, when it appeared off Corsica, +obliged the Huiron to scud about at hazard, and to touch at the first +land she could reach. + +The Egyptian expedition filled too important a place in the life of +Bonaparte for him to neglect frequently reviving in the public mind the +recollection of his conquests in the East. It was not to be forgotten +that the head of the Republic was the first of her generals. While +Moreau received the command of the armies of the Rhine, while Massena, as +a reward for the victory of Zurich, was made Commander-in-Chief in Italy, +and while Brune was at the head of the army of Batavia, Bonaparte, whose +soul was in the camps, consoled himself for his temporary inactivity by a +retrospective glance on his past triumphs. He was unwilling that Fame +should for a moment cease to blazon his name. Accordingly, as soon as he +was established at the head of the Government, he caused accounts of his +Egyptian expedition to be from time to time published in the Moniteur. +He frequently expressed his satisfaction that the accusatory +correspondence, and, above all, Kleber's letter, had fallen into his own +hands.' Such was Bonaparte's perfect self-command that immediately after +perusing that letter he dictated to me the following proclamation, +addressed to the army of the East: + + SOLDIERS!--The Consuls of the French Republic frequently direct + their attention to the army of the East. + + France acknowledges all the influence of your conquests on the + restoration of her trade and the civilisation of the world. + + The eyes of all Europe are upon you, and in thought I am often with + you. + + In whatever situation the chances of war may place you, prove + yourselves still the soldiers of Rivoli and Aboukir--you will be + invincible. + + Place in Kleber the boundless confidence which you reposed in me. + He deserves it. + + Soldiers, think of the day when you will return victorious to the + sacred territory of France. That will be a glorious day for the + whole nation. + + +Nothing can more forcibly show the character of Bonaparte than the above +allusion to Kleber, after he had seen the way in which Kleber spoke of +him to the Directory. Could it ever have been imagined that the +correspondence of the army, to whom he addressed this proclamation, +teemed with accusations against him? Though the majority of these +accusations were strictly just, yet it is but fair to state that the +letters from Egypt contained some calumnies. In answer to the well- +founded portion of the charges Bonaparte said little; but he seemed to +feel deeply the falsehoods that were stated against him, one of which +was, that he had carried away millions from Egypt. I cannot conceive +what could have given rise to this false and impudent assertion. So far +from having touched the army chest, Bonaparte had not even received all +his own pay. Before he constituted himself the Government the Government +was his debtor. + +Though he knew well all that was to be expected from the Egyptian +expedition, yet those who lauded that affair were regarded with a +favourable eye by Bonaparte. The correspondence which had fallen into +his hands was to him of the highest importance in enabling him to +ascertain the opinions which particular individuals entertained of him. + +It was the source of favours and disgraces which those who were not in +the secret could not account for. It serves to explain why many men of +mediocrity were elevated to the highest dignities and honours, while +other men of real merit fell into disgrace or were utterly neglected. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +1800. + + Great and common men--Portrait of Bonaparte--The varied expression + of his countenance--His convulsive shrug--Presentiment of his + corpulency--Partiality for bathing--His temperance--His alleged + capability of dispensing with sleep--Good and bad news--Shaving, and + reading the journals--Morning, business--Breakfast--Coffee and snuff + --Bonaparte's idea of his own situation--His ill opinion of mankind + --His dislike of a 'tete-a-tete'--His hatred of the Revolutionists + --Ladies in white--Anecdotes--Bonaparte's tokens of kindness, and + his droll compliments--His fits of ill humour--Sound of bells-- + Gardens of Malmaison--His opinion of medicine--His memory-- + His poetic insensibility--His want of gallantry--Cards and + conversation--The dress-coat and black cravat--Bonaparte's payments + --His religious ideas--His obstinacy. + +In perusing the history of the distinguished characters of past ages, how +often do we regret that the historian should have portrayed the hero +rather than the man! We wish to know even the most trivial habits of +those whom great, talents and vast reputation have elevated above their +fellow-creatures. Is this the effect of mere curiosity, or rather is it +not an involuntary feeling of vanity which prompts us to console +ourselves for the superiority of great men by reflecting on their faults, +their weaknesses, their absurdities; in short, all the points of +resemblance between them and common men? For the satisfaction of those +who are curious in details of this sort, I will here endeavour to paint +Bonaparte, as I saw him, in person and in mind, to describe what were his +tastes and habits, and even his whims and caprices. + +Bonaparte was now in the prime of life, and about thirty. The person of +Bonaparte has served as a model for the most skilful painters and +sculptors; many able French artists have successfully delineated his +features, and yet it may be said that no perfectly faithful portrait of +him exists. His finely-shaped head, his superb forehead, his pale +countenance, and his usual meditative look, have been transferred to the +canvas; but the versatility of his expression was beyond the reach of +imitation: All the various workings of his mind were instantaneously +depicted in his countenance; and his glance changed from mild to severe, +and from angry to good-humoured, almost with the rapidity of lightning. +It may truly be said that he had a particular look for every thought that +arose in his mind. + +Bonaparte had beautiful hands, and he was very proud of them; while +conversing he would often look at them with an air of self-complacency. +He also fancied he had fine teeth, but his pretension to that advantage +was not so well founded as his vanity on the score of his hands. + +When walking, either alone or in company with any one, in his apartments +or in his gardens, he had the habit of stooping a little, and crossing +his hands behind his back. He frequently gave an involuntary shrug of +his right shoulder, which was accompanied by a movement of his mouth from +left to right. This habit was always most remarkable when his mind was +absorbed in the consideration of any profound subject. It was often +while walking that he dictated to me his most important notes. He could +endure great fatigue, not only on horseback but on foot; he would +sometimes walk for five or six hours in succession without being aware of +it. + +When walking with any person whom he treated with familiarity he would +link his arm into that of his companion, and lean on it. + +He used often to say to me, "You see, Bourrienne, how temperate, and how +thin I am; but, in spite of that, I cannot help thinking that at forty I +shall become a great eater, and get very fat. I foresee that my +constitution will undergo a change. I take a great deal of exercise; but +yet I feel assured that my presentiment will be fulfilled." This idea +gave him great uneasiness, and as I observed nothing which seemed to +warrant his apprehensions, I omitted no opportunity of assuring him that +they were groundless. But he would not listen to me, and all the time I +was about him, he was haunted by this presentiment, which, in the end, +was but too well verified. + +His partiality for the bath he mistook for a necessity. He would usually +remain in the bath two hours, during which time I used to read to him +extracts from the journals and pamphlets of the day, for he was anxious +to hear and know all that was going on. While in the bath he was +continually turning on the warm water to raise the temperature, so that I +was sometimes enveloped in such a dense vapour that I could not see to +read, and was obliged to open the door. + +Bonaparte was exceedingly temperate, and averse to all excess. He knew +the absurd stories that were circulated about him, and he was sometimes +vexed at theme It has been repeated, over and over again, that he was +subject to attacks of epilepsy; but during the eleven years that I was +almost constantly with him I never observed any symptom which in the +least degree denoted that malady. His health was good and his +constitution sound. If his enemies, by way of reproach, have attributed +to him a serious periodical disease, his flatterers, probably under the +idea that sleep is incompatible with greatness, have evinced an equal +disregard of truth in speaking of his night-watching. Bonaparte made +others watch, but he himself slept, and slept well. His orders were that +I should call him every morning at seven. I was therefore the first to +enter his chamber; but very frequently when I awoke him he would turn +himself, and say, "Ah, Bourrienne! let me lie a little longer." When +there was no very pressing business I did not disturb him again till +eight o'clock. He in general slept seven hours out of the twenty-four, +besides taking a short nap in the afternoon. + +Among the private instructions which Bonaparte gave me, one was very +curious. "During the night," said he, "enter my chamber as seldom as +possible. Do not awake me when you have any good news to communicate: +with that there is no hurry. But when you bring bad news, rouse me +instantly; for then there is not a moment to be lost." + +This was a wise regulation, and Bonaparte found his advantage in it. + +As soon as he rose his 'valet de chambre' shaved him and dressed his +hair. While he was being shaved I read to him the newspapers, beginning +always with the 'Moniteur.' He paid little attention to any but the +German and English papers. "Pass over all that," he would say, while I +was perusing the French papers; "I know it already. They say only what +they think will please me." I was often surprised that his valet did not +cut him while I was reading; for whenever ha heard anything interesting +he turned quickly round towards me. + +When Bonaparte had finished: his toilet, which he did with great +attention, for he was scrupulously neat in his person, we went down to +his cabinet. There he signed the orders on important petitions which had +been analysed by me on the preceding evening. On reception and parade +days he was particularly exact in signing these orders, because I used to +remind him that he would be, likely to see most of the petitioners, and +that they would ask him for answers. To spare him this annoyance I used +often to acquaint them beforehand of what had been granted or refused, +and what had been the decision of the First Consul. He next perused the +letters which I had opened and laid on his table, ranging them according +to their importance. He directed me to answer them in his name; he +occasionally wrote the answers himself, but not often. + +At ten o'clock the 'maitre d'hotel' entered, and announced breakfast, +saying, "The General is served." We went to breakfast, and the repast +was exceedingly simple. He ate almost every morning some chicken, +dressed with oil and onions. This dish was then, I believe, called +'poulet a la Provencale'; but our restaurateurs have since conferred upon +it the more ambitious name of 'poulet a la Marengo.' + +Bonaparte drank little wine, always either claret or Burgundy, and the +latter by preference. After breakfast, as well as after dinner, he took +a cup of strong coffee. + + --[M. Brillat de Savarin, whose memory is dear to all gourmands, had + established, as a gastronomic principle, that "he who does not take + coffee after each meal is assuredly not a men of taste."-- + Bourrienne.]-- + +I never saw him take any between his meals, and I cannot imagine what +could have given rise to the assertion of his being particularly fond of +coffee. When he worked late at night he never ordered coffee, but +chocolate, of which he made me take a cup with him. But this only +happened when our business was prolonged till two or three in the +morning. + +All that has been said about Bonaparte's immoderate use of snuff has no +more foundation in truth than his pretended partiality for coffee. It is +true that at an early period of his life he began to take snuff, but it +was very sparingly, and always out of a box; and if he bore any +resemblance to Frederick the Great, it was not by filling his waistcoat- +pockets with snuff, for I must again observe he carried his notions of +personal neatness to a fastidious degree. + +Bonaparte had two ruling passions, glory and war. He was never more gay +than in the camp, and never more morose than in the inactivity of peace. +Plans for the construction of public monuments also pleased his +imagination, and filled up the void caused by the want of active +occupation. He was aware that monuments form part of the history of +nations, of whose civilisation they bear evidence for ages after those +who created them have disappeared from the earth, and that they likewise +often bear false-witness to remote posterity of the reality of merely +fabulous conquests. Bonaparte was, however, mistaken as to the mode of +accomplishing the object he had in view. His ciphers, his trophies, and +subsequently his eagles, splendidly adorned the monuments of his reign. +But why did he wish to stamp false initials on things with which neither +he nor his reign had any connection; as, for example the old Louvre? Did +he imagine that the letter, "N" which everywhere obtruded itself on the +eye, had in it a charm to controvert the records of history, or alter the +course of time? + + --[When Louis XVIII. returned to the Tuileries in 1814 he found that + Bonaparte had been an excellent tenant, and that he had left + everything in very good condition.]-- + +Be this as it may, Bonaparte well knew that the fine arts entail lasting +glory on great actions, and consecrate the memory of princes who protect +and encourage them. He oftener than once said to me, "A great reputation +is a great poise; the more there is made, the farther off it is heard. +Laws, institutions, monuments, nations, all fall; but the noise continues +and resounds in after ages." This was one of his favourite ideas. "My +power," he would say at other times, "depends on my glory, and my glory +on my victories. My power would fall were I not to support it by new +glory and new victories. Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest +alone can maintain me." This was then, and probably always continued to +be, his predominant idea, and that which prompted him continually to +scatter the seeds of war through Europe. He thought that if he remained +stationary ha would fall, and he was tormented with the desire of +continually advancing. Not to do something great and decided was, in his +opinion, to do nothing. "A newly-born Government," said he to me, "must +dazzle and astonish. When it ceases to do that it falls." It was vain +to look for rest from a man who was restlessness itself. + +His sentiments towards France now differed widely from what I had known +them to be in his youth. He long indignantly cherished the recollection +of the conquest of Corsica, which he was once content to regard as his +country. But that recollection was effaced, and it might be said that he +now ardently loved France. His imagination was fired by the very thought +of seeing her great, happy, and powerful, and, as the first nation in the +world, dictating laws to the rest. He fancied his name inseparably +connected with France, and resounding in, the ears of posterity. In all +his actions he lost sight of the present moment, and thought only of +futurity; so, in all places where he led the way to glory, the opinion of +France was ever present in his thoughts. As Alexander at Arbela pleased +himself less in having conquered Darius than in having gained the +suffrage of the Athenians, so Bonaparte at Marengo was haunted by the +idea of what would be said in France. Before he fought a battle +Bonaparte thought little about what he should do in case of success, but +a great deal about what he should do in case of a reverse of fortune. +I mention this as a fact of which I have often been a witness, and leave +to his brothers in arms to decide whether his calculations were always +correct. He had it in his power to do much, for he risked everything and +spared nothing. His inordinate ambition goaded him on to the attainment +of power; and power when possessed served only to augment his ambition. +Bonaparte was thoroughly convinced of the truth that trifles often decide +the greatest events; therefore he watched rather than provoked +opportunity, and when the right moment approached, he suddenly took +advantage of it. It is curious that, amidst all the anxieties of war and +government, the fear of the Bourbons incessantly pursued him, and the +Faubourg St. Germain was to him always a threatening phantom. + +He did not esteem mankind, whom, indeed, he despised more and more in +proportion as he became acquainted with them. In him this unfavourable +opinion of human nature was justified by many glaring examples of +baseness, and he used frequently to repeat, "There are two levers for +moving men,--interest and fear." What respect, indeed, could Bonaparte +entertain for the applicants to the treasury of the opera? Into this +treasury the gaming-houses paid a considerable sum, part of which went to +cover the expenses of that magnificent theatre. The rest was distributed +in secret gratuities, which were paid on orders signed by Duroc. +Individuals of very different characters were often seen catching the +little door in the Rue Rameau. The lady who was for a while the +favourite of the General-in-Chief in Egypt, and whose husband was +maliciously sent back-by the English, was a frequent visitor to the +treasury. On an occasion would be seen assembled there a distinguished +scholar and an actor, a celebrated orator and a musician; on another, the +treasurer would have payments to make to a priest, a courtesan, and a +cardinal. + +One of Bonaparte's greatest misfortunes was, that he neither believed in +friendship not felt the necessity of loving. How often have I heard him +say, "Friendship is but a name; I love nobody. I do not even love my +brothers. Perhaps Joseph, a little, from habit and because he is my +elder; and Duroc, I love him too. But why? Because his character +pleases me. He is stern and resolute; and I really believe the fellow +never shed a tear. For my part, I know very well that I have no true +friends. As long as I continue what I am, I may have as many pretended +friends as I please. Leave sensibility to women; it is their business. +But men should be firm in heart and in purpose, or they should have +nothing to do with war or government." + +In his social relations Bonaparte's temper was bad; but his fits of ill- +humour passed away like a cloud, and spent themselves in words. His +violent language and bitter imprecations were frequently premeditated. +When he was going to reprimand any one he liked to have a witness +present. He would then say the harshest things, and level blows against +which few could bear up. But he never gave way to those violent +ebullitions of rage until be acquired undoubted proofs of the misconduct +of those against whom they were directed. In scenes of this sort I have +frequently observed that the presence of a third person seemed to give +him confidence. Consequently, in a 'tete-a-tete' interview, any one who +knew his character, and who could maintain sufficient coolness and +firmness, was sure to get the better of him. He told his friends at St. +Helena that he admitted a third person on such occasions only that the +blow might resound the farther. That was not his real motive, or the +better way would have been to perform the scene in public. He had other +reasons. I observed that he did not like a 'tete-a-tete'; and when he +expected any one, he would say to me beforehand, "Bourrienne, you may +remain;" and when any one was announced whom he did not expect, as a +minister or a general; if I rose to retire he would say in a half- +whisper, "Stay where you are." Certainly this was not done with the +design of getting what he said reported abroad; for it belonged neither +to my character nor my duty to gossip about what I had heard. Besides, +it may be presumed, that the few who were admitted as witnesses to the +conferences of Napoleon were aware of the consequences attending +indiscreet disclosures under a Government which was made acquainted with +all that was said and done. + +Bonaparte entertained a profound dislike of the sanguinary men of the +Revolution, and especially of the regicides. He felt, as a painful +burden, the obligation of dissembling towards them. He spoke to me in +terms of horror of those whole he celled the assassins of Louis XVI, and +he was annoyed at the necessity of employing them and treating them with +apparent respect. How many times has he not said to Cambaceres, pinching +him by the ear, to soften, by that habitual familiarity, the bitterness +of the remark, "My dear fellow, your case is clear; if ever the Bourbons +come back you will be hanged!" A forced smile would then relax the livid +countenance of Cambaceres, and was usually the only reply of the Second +Consul, who, however, on one occasion said in my hearing, "Come, come, +have done with this joking." + +One thing which gave Bonaparte great pleasure when in the country was to +see a tall, slender woman, dressed in white, walking beneath an alley of +shaded trees. He detested coloured dresses, and especially dark ones. +To fat women he had an invincible antipathy, and he could not endure the +sight of a pregnant woman; it therefore rarely happened that a female in +that situation was invited to his parties. He possessed every requisite +for being what is called in society an agreeable man, except the will to +be so. His manner was imposing rather than pleasing, and those who did +not know him well experienced in his presence an involuntary feeling of +awe. In the drawing-room, where Josephine did the honours with so much +grace and affability, all was gaiety and ease, and no one felt the +presence of a superior; but on Bonaparte's entrance all was changed, and +every eye was directed towards him, to read his humour in his +countenance, whether he intended to be silent or talkative, dull or +cheerful. + +He often talked a great deal, and sometimes a little too much; but no one +could tell a story in a more agreeable and interesting way. His +conversation rarely turned on gay or humorous subjects, and never on +trivial matters. He was so fond of argument that in the warmth of +discussion it was easy to draw from him secrets which he was most anxious +to conceal. Sometimes, in a small circle, he would amuse himself by +relating stories of presentiments and apparitions. For this he always +chose the twilight of evening, and he would prepare his hearers for what +was coming by some solemn remark. On one occasion of this kind he said, +in a very grave tone of voice, "When death strikes a person whom we love, +and who is distant from us, a foreboding almost always denotes the event, +and the dying person appears to us at the moment of his dissolution." +He then immediately related the following anecdote: "A gentleman of the +Court of Louis XIV. was in the gallery of Versailles at the time that the +King was reading to his courtiers the bulletin of the battle of +Friedlingen gained by Villars. Suddenly the gentleman saw, at the +farther end of the gallery, the ghost of his son, who served under +Villars. He exclaimed, 'My son is no more!' and next moment the King +named him among the dead." + +When travelling Bonaparte was particularly talkative. In the warmth of +his conversation, which was always characterised by original and +interesting idea, he sometimes dropped hints of his future views, or, at +least, he said things which were calculated to disclose what he wished to +conceal. I took the liberty of mentioning to him this indiscretion, and +far from being offended, he acknowledged his mistake, adding that he was +not aware he had gone so far. He frankly avowed this want of caution +when at St. Helena. + +When in good humour his usual tokens of kindness consisted in a little +rap on the head or a slight pinch of the ear. In his most friendly +conversations with those whom he admitted into his intimacy he would say, +"You are a fool"--"a simpleton"--"a ninny"--"a blockhead." These, and a +few other words of like import, enabled him to vary his catalogue of +compliments; but he never employed them angrily, and the tone in which +they were uttered sufficiently indicated that they were meant in +kindness. + +Bonaparte had many singular habits and tastes. Whenever he experienced +any vexation, or when any unpleasant thought occupied his mind, he would +hum something which was far from resembling a tune, for his voice was +very unmusical. He would, at the same time, seat himself before the +writing-table, and swing back in his chair so far that I have often been +fearful of his falling. + +He would then vent his ill-humour on the right arm of his chair, +mutilating it with his penknife, which he seemed to keep for no other +purpose. I always took care to keep good pens ready for him; for, as it +was my business to decipher his writing, I had a strong interest in doing +what I could to make it legible. + +The sound of bells always produced in Bonaparte pleasurable sensations, +which I could never account for. When we were at Malmaison, and walking +in the alley leading to the plain of Ruel, how many times has the bell of +the village church interrupted our most serious conversations! + +He would stop, lest the noise of our footsteps should drown any portion +of the delightful sound: He was almost angry with me because I did not +experience the impressions he did. So powerful was the effect produced +upon him by the sound of these bells that his voice would falter as he +said, "Ah! that reminds me of the first years I spent at Brienne! I was +then happy!" When the bells ceased he would resume the course of his +speculations, carry himself into futurity, place a crown on his head; and +dethrone kings. + +Nowhere, except on the field of battle, did I ever see Bonaparte more +happy than in the gardens of Malmaison. At the commencement of the +Consulate we used to go there every Saturday evening, and stay the whole +of Sunday, and sometimes Monday. Bonaparte used to spend a considerable +part of his time in walking and superintending the improvements which he +had ordered. At first he used to make excursions about the +neighbourhood, but the reports of the police disturbed his natural +confidence, and gave him reason to fear the attempts of concealed +royalist partisans. + +During the first four or five days that Bonaparte spent at Malmaison he +amused himself after breakfast with calculating the revenue of that +domain. According to his estimates it amounted to 8000 francs. "That is +not bad!" said he; "but to live here would require au income of 30,000 +livres!" I could not help smiling to see him seriously engaged in such a +calculation. + +Bonaparte had no faith in medicine. He spoke of it as an art entirely +conjectural, and his opinion on this subject was fired and +incontrovertible. His vigorous mind rejected all but demonstrative +proofs. + + +He had little memory for proper name, words, or dates, but he had a +wonderful recollection of facts and places. I recollect that, on going +from Paris to Toulon, he pointed out to me ten places calculated for +great battles, and he never forgot them. They were memoranda of his +first youthful journeys. + +Bonaparte was insensible to the charms of poetic harmony. He had not +even sufficient ear to feel the rhythm, of poetry, and he never could +recite a verse without violating the metre; yet the grand ideas of poetry +charmed him. He absolutely worshipped Corneille; and, one day, after +having witnessed a performance of 'Cinna', he said to me, "If a man like +Corneille were living in my time I would make him my Prime Minister. It +is not his poetry that I most admire; it is his powerful understanding, +his vast knowledge of the human heart, and his profound policy!" At St. +Helena he said that he would have made Corneille a prince; but at the +time he spoke to me of Corneille he had no thought of making either +princes or kings. + +Gallantry to women was by no means a trait in Bonaparte's character. +He seldom said anything agreeable to females, and he frequently addressed +to them the rudest and most extraordinary remarks. To one he would say, +"Heavens, how red your elbows are!" To another, "What an ugly headdress +you have got!" At another time he would say, "Your dress is none of the +cleanest..... Do you ever change your gown? I have seen you in that +twenty times!" He showed no mercy to any who displeased him on these +points. He often gave Josephine directions about her toilet, and the +exquisite taste for which she was distinguished might have helped to make +him fastidious about the costume of other ladies. At first he looked to +elegance above all things: at a later period he admired luxury and +splendour, but he always required modesty. He frequently expressed his +disapproval of the low-necked dresses which were so much in fashion at +the beginning of the Consulate. + +Bonaparte did not love cards, and this was very fortunate for those who +were invited to his parties; for when he was seated at a card-table, as +he sometimes thought himself obliged to be, nothing could exceed the +dulness of the drawing-room either at the Luxembourg or the Tuileries. +When, on the contrary, he walked about among the company, all were +pleased, for he usually spoke to everybody, though he preferred the +conversation of men of science, especially those who had been with him in +in Egypt; as for example, Monge and Berthollet. He also liked to talk +with Chaptal and Lacphede, and with Lemercier, the author of 'Agamemnon'. + +Bonaparte was seen to less advantage in a drawing-room than at the head +of his troops. His military uniform became him much better than the +handsomest dress of any other kind. His first trials of dress-coats were +unfortunate. I have been informed that the first time he wore one he +kept on his black cravat. This incongruity was remarked to him, and he +replied, "So much the better; it leaves me something of a military air, +and there is no harm in that." For my own part, I neither saw the black +cravat nor heard this reply. + +The First Consul paid his own private bills very punctually; but he was +always tardy in settling the accounts of the contractors who bargained +with Ministers for supplies for the public service. He put off these +payments by all sorts of excuses and shufflings. Hence arose immense +arrears in the expenditure, and the necessity of appointing a committee +of liquidation. In his opinion the terms contractor and rogue were +synonymous. All that he avoided paying them he regarded as a just +restitution to himself; and all the sums which were struck off from their +accounts he regarded as so much deducted from a theft. The less a +Minister paid out of his budget the more Bonaparte was pleased with him; +and this ruinous system of economy can alone explain the credit which +Decres so long enjoyed at the expense of the French navy. + +On the subject of religion Bonaparte's ideas were very vague. +"My reason," said he, "makes me incredulous respecting many things; but +the impressions of my childhood and early youth throw me into +uncertainty." He was very fond of talking of religion. In Italy, in +Egypt, and on board the 'Orient' and the 'Muiron', I have known him to +take part in very animated conversations on this subject. + +He readily yielded up all that was proved against religion as the work of +men and time: but he would not hear of materialism. I recollect that one +fine night, when he was on deck with some persons who were arguing in +favour of materialism, Bonaparte raised his hand to heaven and, pointing +to the stars, said, "You may talk as long as you please, gentlemen, but +who made all that?" The perpetuity of a name in the memory of man was to +him the immortality of the soul. He was perfectly tolerant towards every +variety of religious faith. + +Among Bonaparte's singular habits was that of seating himself on any +table which happened to be of a suitable height for him. He would often +sit on mine, resting his left arm on my right shoulder, and swinging his +left leg, which did not reach the ground; and while he dictated to me he +would jolt the table so that I could scarcely write. + +Bonaparte had a great dislike to reconsider any decision, even when it +was acknowledged to be unjust. In little as well as in great things he +evinced his repugnance to retrograde. An instance of this occurred in +the affair of General Latour-Foissac. The First Consul felt how much he +had wronged that general; but he wished some time to elapse before he +repaired his error. His heart and his conduct were at variance; but his +feelings were overcome by what he conceived to be political necessity. +Bonaparte was never known to say, "I have done wrong:" his usual +observation was, "I begin to think there is something wrong." + +In spite of this sort of feeling, which was more worthy of an ill- +humoured philosopher than the head of a government, Bonaparte was neither +malignant nor vindictive. I cannot certainly defend him against all the +reproaches which he incurred through the imperious law of war and cruel +necessity; but I may say that he has often been unjustly accused. None +but those who are blinded by fury will call him a Nero or a Caligula. +I think I have avowed his faults with sufficient candour to entitle me to +credit when I speak in his commendation; and I declare that, out of the +field of battle, Bonaparte had a kind and feeling heart. He was very +fond of children, a trait which seldom distinguishes a bad man. In the +relations of private life to call him amiable would not be using too +strong a word, and he was very indulgent to the weakness of human nature. +The contrary opinion is too firmly fixed in some minds for me to hope to +root it out. I shall, I fear, have contradictors, but I address myself +to those who look for truth. To judge impartially we must take into +account the influence which time and circumstances exercise on men; and +distinguish between the different characters of the Collegian, the +General, the Consul, and the Emperor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +1800. + + Bonaparte's laws--Suppression of the festival of the 21st of + January--Officials visits--The Temple--Louis XVI. and Sir Sidney + Smith--Peculation during the Directory--Loan raised--Modest budget + --The Consul and the Member of the Institute--The figure of the + Republic--Duroc's missions--The King of Prussia--The Emperor + Alesander--General Latour-Foisac--Arbitrary decree--Company of + players for Egypt--Singular ideas respecting literary property-- + The preparatory Consulate--The journals--Sabres and muskets of + honour--The First Consul and his Comrade--The bust of Brutus-- + Statues in the gallery of the Tuileries--Sections of the Council of + State--Costumes of public functionaries--Masquerades--The opera- + balls--Recall of the exiles. + +It is not my purpose to say much about the laws, decrees, and 'Senatus- +Consultes', which the First Consul either passed, or caused to be passed, +after his accession to power, what were they all, with the exception of +the Civil Code? The legislative reveries of the different men who have +from time to time ruled France form an immense labyrinth, in which +chicanery bewilders reason and common sense; and they would long since +have been buried in oblivion had they not occasionally served to +authorise injustice. I cannot, however, pass over unnoticed the happy +effect produced in Paris, and throughout the whole of France, by some of +the first decisions of the Consuls. Perhaps none but those who witnessed +the state of society during the reign of Terror can fully appreciate the +satisfaction which the first steps towards the restoration of social +order produced in the breasts of all honest men. The Directory, more +base and not less perverse than the Convention, had retained the horrible +21st of January among the festivals of the Republic. One of Bonaparte's +first ideas on attaining the possession of power was to abolish this; but +such was the ascendency of the abettors of the fearful event that he +could not venture on a straightforward course. He and his two +colleagues, who were Sieyes and Roger Ducos, signed, on the 5th Nivose, +a decree, setting forth that in future the only festivals to be +celebrated by the Republic were the 1st Vendemiaire and the 14th of July, +intending by this means to consecrate provisionally the recollection of +the foundation of the Republic and of liberty. + +All was calculation with Bonaparte. To produce effect was his highest +gratification. Thus he let slip no opportunity of saying or doing things +which were calculated to dazzle the multitude. While at the Luxembourg, +he went sometimes accompanied by his 'aides de camp' and sometimes by a +Minister, to pay certain official visits. I did not accompany him on +these occasions; but almost always either on his return, after dinner, or +in the evening, he related to me what he had done and said. He +congratulated himself on having paid a visit to Daubenton, at the Jardin +des Plantes, and talked with great self-complacency of the distinguished +way in which he had treated the contemporary of Buffon. + +On the 24th Brumaire he visited the prisons. He liked to make these +visits unexpectedly, and to take the governors of the different public +establishments by surprise; so that, having no time to make their +preparations, he might see things as they really were. I was in his +cabinet when he returned, for I had a great deal of business to go +through in his absence. As he entered he exclaimed, "What brutes these +Directors are! To what a state they have brought our public +establishments! But, stay a little! I will put all in order. The +prisons are in a shockingly unwholesome state, and the prisoners +miserably fed. I questioned them, and I questioned the jailers, for +nothing is to be learned from the superiors. They, of course, always +speak well of their own work! When I was in the Temple I could not help +thinking of the unfortunate Louis XVI. He was an excellent man, but too +amiable, too gentle for the times. He knew not how to deal with mankind! +And Sir Sidney Smith! I made them show me his apartment. If the fools +had not let him escape I should have taken St. Jean d'Acre! There are +too many painful recollections connected with that prison! I will +certainly have it pulled down some day or other! What do you think I did +at the Temple? I ordered the jailers' books to be brought to me, and +finding that some hostages were still in confinement I liberated them. +'An unjust law,' said I, 'has deprived you of liberty; my first duty is +to restore it to you.' Was not this well done, Bourrienne? "As I was, no +less than Bonaparte himself, an enemy to the revolutionary laws, I +congratulated him sincerely; and he was very sensible to my approbation, +for I was not accustomed to greet him with "Good; very good," on all +occasions. It is true, knowing his character as I did, I avoided saying +anything that was calculated to offend him; but when I said nothing, he +knew very well how to construe my silence. Had I flattered him I should +have continued longer in favour. + +Bonaparte always spoke angrily of the Directors he had turned off. Their +incapacity disgusted and astonished him. "What simpletons! what a +government!" he would frequently exclaim when he looked into the measures +of the Directory. "Bourrienne," said he, "can you imagine anything more +pitiable than their system of finance? Can it for a moment be doubted +that the principal agents of authority daily committed the most +fraudulent peculations? What venality! what disorder! what +wastefulness! everything put up for sale: places, provisions, clothing, +and military, all were disposed of. Have they not actually consumed +75,000,000 in advance? And then, think of all the scandalous fortunes +accumulated, all the malversations! But are there no means of making +them refund? We shall see." + +In these first moments of poverty it was found necessary to raise a loan, +for the funds of M. Collot did not last long, and 12,000,000 were +advanced by the different bankers of Paris, who, I believe, were paid by +bills of the receivers-general, the discount of which then amounted to +about 33 per cent. The salaries of the first offices were not very +considerable, and did not amount to anything like the exorbitant stipends +of the Empire. + +Bonaparte's salary was fixed at 500,000 francs. What a contrast to the +300,000,000 in gold which were reported to have been concealed in 1811 in +the cellars of the Tuileries! + +In mentioning Bonaparte's nomination to the Institute, and his +affectation in putting at the head of his proclamation his title of +member of that learned body before that of General-in-Chief, I omitted to +state what value he really attached to that title. The truth is that; +when young and ambitious, he was pleased with the proffered title, which +he thought would raise him in public estimation. How often have we +laughed together when he weighed the value of his scientific titles! +Bonaparte, to be sure, knew something of mathematics, a good deal of +history, and, I need not add, possessed extraordinary military talent; +but he was nevertheless a useless member of the Institute. + +On his return from Egypt he began to grow weary of a title which gave him +so many colleagues. "Do you not think," said he one day to me, "that +there is something mean and humiliating in the words, 'I have the honour +to be, my dear Colleague'! I am tired of it!" Generally speaking, all +phrases which indicated equality displeased him. It will be recollected +how gratified he was that I did not address him in the second person +singular on our meeting at Leoben, and also what befell M. de Cominges at +Bale because he did not observe the same precaution. + +The figure of the Republic seated and holding a spear in her hand, which +at the commencement of the Consulate was stamped on official letters, was +speedily abolished. Happy would it have been if Liberty herself had not +suffered the same treatment as her emblem! The title of First Consul +made him despise that of Member of the Institute. He no longer +entertained the least predilection for that learned body, and +subsequently he regarded it with much suspicion. It was a body, an +authorised assembly; these were reasons sufficient for him to take +umbrage at it, and he never concealed his dislike of all bodies +possessing the privilege of meeting and deliberating. + +While we were at the Luxembourg Bonaparte despatched Duroc on a special +mission to the King of Prussia. This happened, I think, at the very +beginning of the year 1800. He selected Duroc because be was a man of +good education and agreeable manners, and one who could express himself +with elegance and reserve, qualities not often met with at that period. +Duroc had been with us in Italy, in Egypt, and on board the 'Muiron', +and the Consul easily guessed that the King of Prussia would be delighted +to hear from an eye-witness the events of Bonaparte's campaigns, +especially the siege of St. Jean d'Acre, and the scenes which took place +during the months of March and May at Jaffa. Besides, the First Consul +considered it indispensable that such circumstantial details should be +given in a way to leave no doubt of their correctness. His intentions +were fully realised; for Duroc told me, on his return, that nearly the +whole of the conversation he had with the King turned upon St. Jean +d'Acre and Jaffa. He stayed nearly two whole hours with his Majesty, who, +the day after, gave him an invitation to dinner. When this intelligence +arrived at the Luxembourg I could perceive that the Chief of the Republic +was flattered that one of his aides de camp should have sat at table with +a King, who some years after was doomed to wait for him in his +antechamber at Tilsit. + +Duroc never spoke on politics to the King of Prussia, which was very +fortunate, for, considering his age and the exclusively military life he +had led, he could scarcely have been expected to avoid blunders. Some +time later, after the death of Paul I., he was sent to congratulate +Alexander on his accession to the throne. Bonaparte's design in thus +making choice of Duroc was to introduce to the Courts of Europe, by +confidential missions, a young man to whom he was much attached, and also +to bring him forward in France. Duroc went on his third mission to +Berlin after the war broke out with Austria. He often wrote to me, and +his letters convinced me how much he had improved himself within a short +time. + +Another circumstance which happened at the commencement of the Consulate +affords an example of Bonaparte's inflexibility when he had once formed a +determination. In the spring of 1799, when we were in Egypt, the +Directory gave to General Latour-Foissac, a highly distinguished officer, +the command of Mantua, the taking of which had so powerfully contributed +to the glory of the conqueror of Italy. Shortly after Latour's +appointment to this important post the Austrians besieged Mantua. It was +welt known that the garrison was supplied with provisions and ammunition +for a long resistance; yet, in the month of July it surrendered to the +Austrians. The act of capitulation contained a curious article, viz. +"General Latour-Foissac and his staff shall be conducted as prisoners to +Austria; the garrison shall be allowed to return to France." This +distinction between the general and the troops entrusted to his command, +and at the same time the prompt surrender of Mantua, were circumstances +which, it must be confessed, were calculated to excite suspicions of +Latour-Foissac. The consequence was, when Bernadotte was made War +Minister he ordered an inquiry into the general's conduct by a court- +martial. Latour-Foissac had no sooner returned to France than he +published a justificatory memorial, in which he showed the impossibility +of his having made a longer defence when he was in want of many objects +of the first necessity. + +Such was the state of the affair on Bonaparte's elevation to the Consular +power. The loss of Mantua, the possession of which had cost him so many +sacrifices, roused his indignation to so high a pitch that whenever the +subject was mentioned he could find no words to express his rage. +He stopped the investigation of the court-martial, and issued a violent +decree against Latour-Foissac even before his culpability had been +proved. This proceeding occasioned much discussion, and was very +dissatisfactory to many general officers, who, by this arbitrary +decision, found themselves in danger of forfeiting the privilege of being +tried by their natural judges whenever they happened to displease the +First Consul. For my own part, I must say that this decree against +Latour-Foissac was one which I saw issued with considerable regret. I was +alarmed for the consequences. After the lapse of a few days I ventured +to point out to him the undue severity of the step he had taken; I +reminded him of all that had been said in Latour-Foissac's favour, and +tried to convince him how much more just it would be to allow the trial +to come to a conclusion. "In a country," said I, "like France, where the +point of honour stands above every thing, it is impossible Foissac can +escape condemnation if he be culpable."--"Perhaps you are right, +Bourrienne," rejoined he; "but the blow is struck; the decree is issued. +I have given the same explanation to every one; but I cannot so suddenly +retrace my steps. To retro-grade is to be lost. I cannot acknowledge +myself in the wrong. By and by we shall see what can be done. Time will +bring lenity and pardon. At present it would be premature." Such, word +for word, was Bonaparte's reply. If with this be compared what he said +on the subject at St. Helena it will be found that his ideas continued +nearly unchanged; the only difference is that, instead of the impetuosity +of 1800, he expressed himself with the calmness which time and adversity +naturally produce. + + --["It was," says the 'Memorial of St. Helena', "an illegal and + tyrannical act, but still it was a necessary evil. It was the fault + of the law. He was a hundred, nay, a thousand fold guilty, and yet + it was doubtful whether he would be condemned. We therefore + assailed him with the shafts of honour and public opinion. Yet I + repeat it was a tyrannical act, and one of those violent measures + which are at times necessary in great nations and in extraordinary + circumstances."]-- + +Bonaparte, as I have before observed, loved contrasts; and I remember at +the very time he was acting so violently against Latour-Foissac he +condescended to busy himself about a company of players which he wished +to send to Egypt, or rather that he pretended to wish to send there, +because the announcement of such a project conveyed an impression of the +prosperous condition of our Oriental colony. The Consuls gravely +appointed the Minister of the Interior to execute this business, and the +Minister in his turn delegated his powers to Florence, the actor. In +their instructions to the Minister the Consuls observed that it would be +advisable to include some female dancers in the company; a suggestion +which corresponds with Bonaparte's note, in which were specified all that +he considered necessary for the Egyptian expedition. + +The First Consul entertained singular notions respecting literary +property. On his hearing that a piece, entitled 'Misanthropie et +Repentir', had been brought out at the Odeon, he said to me, "Bourrienne, +you have been robbed."--"I, General? how?"--"You have been robbed, +I tell you, and they are now acting your piece." I have already +mentioned that during my stay at Warsaw I amused myself with translating +a celebrated play of Kotzebue. While we were in Italy I lent Bonaparte +my translation to read, and he expressed himself much pleased with it. +He greatly admired the piece, and often went to see it acted at the +Odeon. On his return he invariably gave me fresh reasons for my claiming +what he was pleased to call my property. I represented to him that the +translation of a foreign work belonged to any one who chose to execute +it. He would not, however, give up his point, and I was obliged to +assure him that my occupations in his service left me no time to engage +in a literary lawsuit. He then exacted a promise from me to translate +Goethe's 'Werther'. I told him it was already done, though +indifferently, and that I could not possibly devote to the subject the +time it merited. I read over to him one of the letters I had translated +into French, and which he seemed to approve. + +That interval of the Consular Government during which Bonaparte remained +at the Luxembourg may be called the preparatory Consulate. Then were +sown the seeds of the great events which he meditated, and of those +institutions with which he wished to mark his possession of power. He +was then, if I may use the expression, two individuals in one: the +Republican general, who was obliged to appear the advocate of liberty and +the principles of the Revolution; and the votary of ambition, secretly +plotting the downfall of that liberty and those principles. + +I often wondered at the consummate address with which he contrived to +deceive those who were likely to see through his designs. This +hypocrisy, which some, perhaps, may call profound policy, was +indispensable to the accomplishment of his projects; and sometimes, as if +to keep himself in practice, he would do it in matters of secondary +importance. For example, his opinion of the insatiable avarice of Sieyes +is well known; yet when he proposed, in his message to the Council of +Ancients, to give his colleague, under the title of national recompense, +the price of his obedient secession, it was, in the words of the message, +a recompense worthily bestowed on his disinterested virtues. + +While at the Luxembourg Bonaparte showed, by a Consular act, his hatred +of the liberty of the press above all liberties, for he loved none. +On the 27th Nivose the Consuls, or rather the First Consul, published a +decree, the real object of which was evidently contrary to its implied +object. + +This decree stated that: + +The Consuls of the Republic, considering that some of the journals +printed at Paris are instruments in the hands of the enemies of the +Republic, over the safety of which the Government is specially entrusted +by the people of France to watch, decree-- + +That the Minister of Police shall, during the continuation of the war, +allow only the following journals to be printed and published, viz. +(list of 20 publications) + +.....and those papers which are exclusively devoted to science, art, +literature, commerce, and advertisements. + +Surely this decree may well be considered as preparatory; and the +fragment I have quoted may serve as a standard for measuring the greater +part of those acts by which Bonaparte sought to gain, for the +consolidation of his power, what he seemed to be seeking solely for the +interest of the friends of the Republic. The limitation to the period of +the continuance of the war had also a certain provisional air which +afforded hope for the future. But everything provisional is, in its +nature, very elastic; and Bonaparte knew how to draw it out ad infinitum. +The decree, moreover, enacted that if any of the uncondemned journals +should insert articles against the sovereignty of the people they would +be immediately suppressed. In truth, great indulgence was shown on this +point, even after the Emperor's coronation. + +The presentation of swords and muskets of honour also originated at the +Luxembourg; and this practice was, without doubt, a preparatory step to +the foundation of the Legion of Honour. + + --["Armes d'honneur," decreed 25th December 1799. Muskets for + infantry, carbines for cavalry, grenades for artillery, swords for + the officers. Gouvion St. Cyr received the first sword (Thiers, + tome i. p. 126).]-- + +A grenadier sergeant, named Leon Aune, who had been included in the first +distribution, easily obtained permission to write to the First Consul to +thank him. Bonaparte, wishing to answer him in his own name, dictated to +me the following letter for Aune:-- + + I have received your letter, my brave comrade. You needed not to + have told me of your exploits, for you are the bravest grenadier in + the whole army since the death of Benezete. You received one of the + hundred sabres I distributed to the army, and all agreed you most + deserved it. + + I wish very much again to see you. The War Minister sends you an + order to come to Paris. + +This wheedling wonderfully favoured Bonaparte's designs. His letter to +Aune could not fail to be circulated through the army. A sergeant called +my brave comrade by the First Consul--the First General of France! Who +but a thorough Republican, the stanch friend of equality, would have done +this? This was enough to wind up the enthusiasm of the army. At the +same time it must be confessed that Bonaparte began to find the +Luxembourg too little for him, and preparations were set on foot at the +Tuileries. + +Still this great step towards the re-establishment of the monarchy was to +be cautiously prepared. It was important to do away with the idea that +none but a king could occupy the palace of our ancient kings. What was +to be done? A very fine bust of Brutus had been brought from Italy. +Brutus was the destroyer of tyrants! This was the very thing; and David +was commissioned to place it in a gallery of the Tuileries. Could there +be a greater proof of the Consul's horror of tyranny? + +To sleep at the Tuileries, in the bedchamber of the kings of France, was +all that Bonaparte wanted; the rest would follow in due course. He was +willing to be satisfied with establishing a principle the consequences of +which were to be afterwards deduced. Hence the affectation of never +inserting in official acts the name of the Tuileries, but designating +that place as the Palace of the Government. The first preparations were +modest, for it did not become a good Republican to be fond of pomp. +Accordingly Lecomte, who was at that time architect of the Tuileries, +merely received orders to clean the Palace, an expression which might +bear more than one meaning, after the meetings which had been there. For +this purpose the sum of 500,000 francs was sufficient. Bonaparte's drift +was to conceal, as far as possible, the importance he attached to the +change of his Consular domicile. But little expense was requisite for +fitting up apartments for the First Consul. Simple ornaments, such as +marbles and statues, were to decorate the Palace of the Government. + +Nothing escaped Bonaparte's consideration. Thus it was not merely at +hazard that he selected the statues of great men to adorn the gallery of +the Tuileries. Among the Greeks he made choice of Demosthenes and +Alesander, thus rendering homage at once to the genius of eloquence and +the genius of victory. The statue of Hannibal was intended to recall the +memory of Rome's most formidable enemy; and Rome herself was represented +in the Consular Palace by the statues of Scipio, Cicero, Cato, Brutus and +Caesar--the victor and the immolator being placed side by side. Among +the great men of modern times he gave the first place to Gustavus +Adolphus, and the next to Turenne and the great Conde, to Turenne in +honour of his military talent, and to Conde to prove that there was +nothing fearful in the recollection of a Bourbon. The remembrance of the +glorious days of the French navy was revived by the statue of Duguai +Trouin. Marlborough and Prince Eugene had also their places in the +gallery, as if to attest the disasters which marked the close of the +great reign; and Marshal Sage, to show that Louis XV.'s reign was not +without its glory. The statues of Frederick and Washington were +emblematic of false philosophy on a throne and true wisdom founding a +free state. Finally, the names of Dugommier, Dampierre, and Joubert were +intended to bear evidence of the high esteem which Bonaparte cherished +for his old comrades,--those illustrious victims to a cause which had now +ceased to be his. + +The reader has already been informed of the attempts made by Bonaparte to +induce England and Austria to negotiate with the Consular Government, +which the King of Prussia was the first of the sovereigns of Europe to +recognise. These attempts having proved unavailing, it became necessary +to carry on the war with renewed vigour, and also to explain why the +peace, which had been promised at the beginning of the Consulate, was +still nothing but a promise. In fulfilment of these two objects +Bonaparte addressed an energetic proclamation to the armies, which was +remarkable for not being followed by the usual sacred words, "Vive la +Republique!" + +At the same time Bonaparte completed the formation of the Council of +State, and divided it into five sections:--(1) The Interior; (2) Finance; +(3) Marine; (4) The War Department; (5) Legislation. He fixed the +salaries of the Councillors of the State at 25,000 francs, and that of +the Precedents of Sections at 30,000. He settled the costume of the +Consuls, the Ministers, and the different bodies of the State. This led +to the re-introduction of velvet, which had been banished with the old +regime, and the encouragement of the manufactures of Lyons was the reason +alleged for employing this un-republican article in the different +dresses, each as those of the Consuls and Ministers. It was Bonaparte's +constant: aim to efface the Republic, even in the utmost trifles, and to +prepare matters so well that the customs and habits of monarchy being +restored, there should only then remain a word to be changed. + +I never remember to have seen Bonaparte in the Consular dress, which he +detested, and which he wore only because duty required him to do so at +public ceremonies. The only dress he was fond of, and in which he felt +at ease, was that in which he subjugated the ancient Eridanus and the +Nile, namely, the uniform of the Guides, to which corps Bonaparte was +always sincerely attached. + +The masquerade of official dresses was not the only one which Bonaparte +summoned to the aid of his policy. At that period of the year VIII. +which corresponded with the carnival of 1800, masques began to be resumed +at Paris. Disguises were all the fashion, and Bonaparte favoured the +revival of old amusements; first, because they were old, and next, +because they were, the means of diverting the attention of the people: +for, as he had established the principle that on the field of battle it +is necessary to divide the enemy in order to beat him, he conceived it no +less advisable to divert the people in order to enslave them. Bonaparte +did not say 'panem et circenses', for I believe his knowledge of Latin +did not extend even to that well-known phrase of Juvenal, but he put the +maxim in practice. He accordingly authorised the revival of balls at the +opera, which they who lived during that period of the Consulate know was +an important event in Paris. Some gladly viewed it as a little conquest +in favour of the old regime; and others, who for that very reason +disapproved it, were too shallow to understand the influence of little +over great things. The women and the young men did not bestow a thought +on the subject, but yielded willingly to the attractions of pleasure. +Bonaparte, who was delighted at having provided a diversion for the +gossiping of the Parisian salons, said to me one day, "While they are +chatting about all this, they do not babble upon politics, and that is +what I want. Let them dance and amuse themselves as long as they do not +thrust their noses into the Councils of the Government; besides, +Bourrienne," added he, "I have other reasons for encouraging this, I see +other advantages in it. Trade is languishing; Fouche tells me that there +are great complaints. This will set a little money in circulation; +besides, I am on my guard about the Jacobins. Everything is not bad, +because it is not new. I prefer the opera-balls to the saturnalia of the +Goddess of Reason. I was never so enthusiastically applauded as at the +last parade." + +A Consular decision of a different and more important nature had, shortly +before, namely, at the commencement of Nivose, brought happiness to many +families. Bonaparte, as every one knows, had prepared the events of the +18th Fructidor that he might have some plausible reasons for overthrowing +the Directors. The Directory being overthrown, he was now anxious, at +least in part, to undo what he had done on the 18th Fructidor. He +therefore ordered a report on the persons exiled to be presented to him +by the Minister of Police. In consequence of this report he authorised +forty of them to return to France, placing them under the observation of +the Police Minister, and assigning them their place of residence. +However, they did not long remain under these restrictions, and many of +them were soon called to fill high places in the Government. It was +indeed natural that Bonaparte, still wishing, at least in appearance, to +found his government on those principles of moderate republicanism which +had caused their exile, should invite them to second his views. + +Barrere wrote a justificatory letter to the First Consul, who, however, +took no notice of it, for he could not get so far as to favour Barrere. +Thus did Bonaparte receive into the Councils of the Consulate the men who +had been exiled by the Directory, just as he afterwards appointed the +emigrants and those exiles of the Revolution to high offices under the +Empire. The time and the men alone differed; the intention in both cases +was the same. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +1800. + + Bonaparte and Paul I.--Lord Whitworth--Baron Sprengporten's arrival + at Paris--Paul's admiration of Bonaparte--Their close connection and + correspondence--The royal challenge--General Mack--The road to + Malmaison--Attempts at assassination--Death of Washington--National + mourning--Ambitious calculation--M. de Fontanel, the skilful orator + --Fete at the Temple of Mars--Murat's marriage with Caroline + Bonaparte--Madame Bonaparte's pearls. + +The first communications between Bonaparte and Paul I. commenced a short +time after his accession to the Consulate. Affairs then began to look a +little less unfavourable for France; already vague reports from +Switzerland and the banks of the Rhine indicated a coldness existing +between the Russians and the Austrians; and at the same time, symptoms of +a misunderstanding between the Courts of London and St. Petersburg began +to be perceptible. The First Consul, having in the meantime discovered +the chivalrous and somewhat eccentric character of Paul I., thought the +moment a propitious one to attempt breaking the bonds which united Russia +and England. He was not the man to allow so fine an opportunity to pass, +and he took advantage of it with his usual sagacity. The English had +some time before refused to include in a cartel for the exchange of +prisoners 7000 Russians taken in Holland. Bonaparte ordered them all to +be armed, and clothed in new uniforms appropriate to the corps to which +they had belonged, and sent them back to Russia, without ransom, without +exchange, or any condition whatever. This judicious munificence was not +thrown away. Paul I. showed himself deeply sensible of it, and closely +allied as he had lately been with England, he now, all at once, declared +himself her enemy. This triumph of policy delighted the First Consul. + +Thenceforth the Consul and the Czar became the best friends possible. +They strove to outdo each other in professions of friendship; and it may +be believed that Bonaparte did not fail to turn this contest of +politeness to his own advantage. He so well worked upon the mind of Paul +that he succeeded in obtaining a direct influence over the Cabinet of St. +Petersburg. + +Lord Whitworth, at that time the English ambassador in Russia, was +ordered to quit the capital without delay, and to retire to Riga, which +then became the focus of the intrigues of the north which ended in the +death of Paul. The English ships were seized in all the ports, and, at +the pressing instance of the Czar, a Prussian army menaced Hanover. +Bonaparte lost no time, and, profiting by the friendship manifested +towards him by the inheritor of Catherine's power, determined to make +that friendship subservient to the execution of the vast plan which he +had long conceived: he meant to undertake an expedition by land against +the English colonies in the East Indies. + +The arrival of Baron Sprengporten at Paris caused great satisfaction +among the partisans of the Consular Government, that is to say, almost +every one in Paris. M. Sprengporten was a native of Swedish Finland. +He had been appointed by Catherine chamberlain and lieutenant-general of +her forces, and he was not less in favour with Paul, who treated him in +the most distinguished manner. He came on an extraordinary mission, +being ostensibly clothed with the title of plenipotentiary, and at the +same time appointed confidential Minister to the Consul. Bonaparte was +extremely satisfied with the ambassador whom Paul had selected, and with +the manner in, which he described the Emperor's gratitude for the +generous conduct of the First Consul. M. Sprengporten did not conceal +the extent of Paul's dissatisfaction with his allies. The bad issue, he +said, of the war with France had already disposed the Czar to connect +himself with that power, when the return of his troops at once determined +him. + +We could easily perceive that Paul placed great confidence in M. +Sprengporten. As he had satisfactorily discharged the mission with which +he had been entrusted, Paul expressed pleasure at his conduct in several +friendly and flattering letters, which Sprengporten always allowed us to +read. No one could be fonder of France than he was, and he ardently +desired that his first negotiations might lead to a long alliance between +the Russian and French Governments. The autograph and very frequent +correspondence between Bonaparte and Paul passed through his hands. I +read all Paul's letters, which were remarkable for the frankness with +which his affection for Bonaparte was expressed. His admiration of the +First Consul was so great that no courtier could have written in a more +flattering manner. + +This admiration was not feigned on the part of the Emperor of Russia: it +was no less sincere than ardent, and of this he soon gave proofs. The +violent hatred he had conceived towards the English Government induced +him to defy to single combat every monarch who would not declare war +against England and shut his ports against English ships. He inserted a +challenge to the King of Denmark in the St. Petersburg Court Gazette; but +not choosing to apply officially to the Senate of Hamburg to order its +insertion in the 'Correspondant', conducted by M. Stoves, he sent the +article, through Count Pahlen, to M. Schramm, a Hamburg merchant. The +Count told M. Schramm that the Emperor would be much pleased to see the +article of the St. Petersburg Court Gazette copied into the +Correspondant; and that if it should be inserted, he wished to have a +dozen copies of the paper printed on vellum, and sent to him by an +extraordinary courier. It was Paul's intention to send a copy to every +sovereign in Europe; but this piece of folly, after the manner of Charles +XII., led to no further results. + +Bonaparte never felt greater satisfaction in the-whole course of his life +than he experienced from Paul's enthusiasm for him. The friendship of a +sovereign seemed to him a step by which he was to become a sovereign +himself. At the same time the affairs of La Vendee began to assume a +better aspect, and he hoped soon to effect that pacification in the +interior which he so ardently desired. + +It was during the First Consul's residence at the Luxembourg that the +first report on the civil code was made to the legislative body. It was +then, also, that the regulations for the management of the Bank of France +were adopted, and that establishment so necessary to France was founded. + +There was at this time in Paris a man who has acquired an unfortunate +celebrity, the most unlucky of modern generals--in a word, General Mack. +I should not notice that person here were it not for the prophetic +judgment which Bonaparte then pronounced on him. Mack had been obliged +to surrender himself at Championnet some time before our landing at +Frejus. He was received as a prisoner of war, and the town of Dijon had +been appointed his place of residence, and there he remained until after +the 18th Brumaire. Bonaparte, now Consul, permitted him to come to +Paris, and to reside there on his parole. He applied for leave to go to +Vienna, pledging himself to return again a prisoner to France if the +Emperor Francis would not consent to exchange him for Generals Wrignon +and Grouchy, then prisoners in Austria. His request was not granted, but +his proposition was forwarded to Vienna. The Court of Vienna refused to +accede to it, not placing perhaps so much importance on the deliverance +of Mack as he had flattered himself it would. + +Bonaparte speaking to me of him one day said, "Mack is a man of the +lowest mediocrity I ever saw in my life; he is full of self-sufficiency +and conceit, and believes himself equal to anything. He has no talent. +I should like to see him opposed some day to one of our good generals; +we should then see fine work. He is a boaster, and that is all. He is +really one of the most silly men existing; and, besides all that, he is +unlucky." Was not this opinion of Bonaparte, formed on the past, fully +verified by the future? + +It was at Malmaison that Bonaparte thus spoke of General Mack. That +place was then far from resembling what it afterwards became, and the +road to it was neither pleasant nor sure. There was not a house on the +road; and in the evening, during the season when we were there, it was +not frequented all the way from St. Germain. Those numerous vehicles, +which the demands of luxury and an increasing population have created, +did not then, as now, pass along the roads in the environs of Paris. +Everywhere the road was solitary and dangerous; and I learned with +certainty that many schemes were laid for carrying off the First Consul +during one of his evening journeys. They were unsuccessful, and orders +were given to enclose the quarries, which were too near to the road. On +Saturday evening Bonaparte left the Luxembourg, and afterwards the +Tuileries, to go to Malmaison, and I cannot better express the joy he +then appeared to experience than by comparing it to the delight of a +school-boy on getting a holiday. + +Before removing from the Luxembourg to the Tuileries Bonaparte determined +to dazzle the eyes of the Parisians by a splendid ceremony. He had +appointed it to take place on the 'decadi', Pluviose 20 (9th February +1800), that is to say, ten days before his final departure from the old +Directorial palace. These kinds of fetes did not resemble what they +afterwards became; their attraction consisted in the splendour of +military dress: and Bonaparte was always sure that whenever he mounted +his horse, surrounded by a brilliant staff from which he was to be +distinguished by the simplicity of his costume, his path would be crowded +and himself greeted with acclamations by the people of Paris. The object +of this fete was at first only to present to the 'Hotel des Invalides', +their called the Temple of Mars, seventy-two flags taken from the Turks +in the battle of Aboukir and brought from Egypt to Paris; but +intelligence of Washington's death, who expired on the 14th of December +1799, having reached Bonaparte; he eagerly took advantage of that event +to produce more effect, and mixed the mourning cypress with the laurels +he had collected in Egypt. + +Bonaparte did not feel much concerned at the death of Washington, that +noble founder of rational freedom in the new world; but it afforded him +an opportunity to mask his ambitious projects under the appearance of a +love of liberty. In thus rendering honour to the memory of Washington +everybody would suppose that Bonaparte intended to imitate his example, +and that their two names would pass in conjunction from mouth to mouth. +A clever orator might be employed, who, while pronouncing a eulogium on +the dead, would contrive to bestow some praise on the living; and when +the people were applauding his love of liberty he would find himself one +step nearer the throne, on which his eyes were constantly fixed. When +the proper time arrived, he would not fail to seize the crown; and would +still cry, if necessary, "Vive la Liberte!" while placing it on his +imperial head. + +The skilful orator was found. M. de Fontanes + + --[L. de Fontenes (1767-1821) became president of the Corps + Legislatif, Senator, and Grand Master of the University. He was the + centre of the literary group of the Empire,]-- + +was commissioned to pronounce the funeral eulogium on Washington, and the +flowers of eloquence which he scattered about did not all fall on the +hero of America. + +Lannes was entrusted by Bonaparte with the presentation of the flags; and +on the 20th Pluviose he proceeded, accompanied by strong detachments of +the cavalry then in Paris, to the council-hall of the Invalides, where he +was met by the Minister of War, who received the colours. All the +Ministers, the councillors of, State, and generals were summoned to the +presentation. Lannes pronounced a discourse, to which Berthier replied, +and M. de Fontanes added his well-managed eloquence to the plain military +oratory of the two generals. In the interior of this military temple a +statue of Mars sleeping had been placed, and from the pillars and roof +were suspended the trophies of Denain, Fontenoy, and the campaign of +Italy, which would still have decorated that edifice had not the demon of +conquest possessed Bonaparte. Two Invalides, each said to be a hundred +years old, stood beside the Minister of War; and the bust of the +emancipator of America was placed under the trophy composed of the flags +of Aboukir. In a word, recourse was had to every sort of charlatanism +usual on such occasions. In the evening there was a numerous assembly at +the Luxembourg, and Bonaparte took much credit to himself for the effect +produced on this remarkable day. He had only to wait ten days for his +removal to the Tuileries, and precisely on that day the national mourning +for Washington was to cease, for which a general mourning for freedom +might well have been substituted. + +I have said very little about Murat in the course of these Memoirs except +mentioning the brilliant part he performed in several battles. Having +now arrived at the period of his marriage with one of Napoleon's sisters +I take the opportunity of returning to the interesting events which +preceded that alliance. + +His fine and well-proportioned form, his great physical strength and +somewhat refined elegance of manner,--the fire of his eye, and his fierce +courage in battle, gave to Murat rather the character of one of those +'preux chevaliers' so well described by Ariosto and Taro, that, that a +Republican soldier. The nobleness of his look soon made the lowness of +his birth be forgotten. He was affable, polished, gallant; and in the +field of battle twenty men headed by Murat were worth a whole regiment. +Once only he showed himself under the influence of fear, and the reader +shall see in what circumstance it was that he ceased to be himself. + + --[Marshal Lannes, so brave and brilliant in war and so well able to + appreciate courage, one day sharply rebuked a colonel for having + punished a young officer just arrived from school at Fontainebleau + because he gave evidence of fear in his first engagement. "Know, + colonel," said he, "none but a poltroon (the term was oven more + strong) will boast that he never was afraid."--Bourrienne.]-- + +When Bonaparte in his first Italian campaign had forced Wurmser to +retreat into Mantua with 28,000 men, he directed Miollis, with only 4000 +men, to oppose any sortie that might be attempted by the Austrian +general. In one of these sorties Murat, who was at the head of a very +weak detachment, was ordered to charge Wurmser. He was afraid, neglected +to execute the order, and in a moment of confusion said that he was +wounded. Murat immediately fell into disgrace with the General-in-Chief, +whose 'aide de camp' he was. + +Murat had been previously sent to Paris to present to the Directory the +first colours taken by the French army of Italy in the actions of Dego +and Mondovi, and it was on this occasion that he got acquainted with +Madame Tallien and the wife of his General. But he already knew the +beautiful Caroline Bonaparte, whom he had seen at Rome in the residence +of her brother Joseph, who was then discharging the functions of +ambassador of the Republic. It appears that Caroline was not even +indifferent to him, and that he was the successful rival of the Princess +Santa Croce's son, who eagerly sought the honour of her hand. Madame +Tallien and Madame Bonaparte received with great kindness the first 'aide +de camp', and as they possessed much influence with the Directory, they +solicited, and easily obtained for him, the rank of brigadier-general. +It was somewhat remarkable at that time Murat, notwithstanding his newly- +acquired rank, to remain Bonaparte's 'aide de camp', the regulations not +allowing a general-in-chief an 'aide de camp' of higher rank than chief +of brigade, which was equal to that of colonel: This insignificant act +was, therefore, rather a hasty anticipation of the prerogatives +everywhere reserved to princes and kings. + +It was after having discharged this commission that Murat, on his return +to Italy, fell into disfavour with the General-in Chief. He indeed +looked upon him with a sort of hostile feeling, and placed him in +Reille's division, and afterwards Baragasy d'Hilliers'; consequently, +when we went to Paris, after the treaty of Campo-Formio, Murat was not of +the party. But as the ladies, with whom he was a great favourite, were +not devoid of influence with the Minister of War, Murat was, by their +interest, attached to the engineer corps in the expedition to Egypt. +On board the Orient he remained in the most complete disgrace. Bonaparte +did not address a word to him during the passage; and in Egypt the +General-in-Chief always treated him with coldness, and often sent him +from the headquarters on disagreeable services. However, the General-in- +Chief having opposed him to Mourad Bey, Murat performed such prodigies of +valour in every perilous encounter that he effaced the transitory stain +which a momentary hesitation under the walls of Mantua had left on his +character. Finally, Murat so powerfully contributed to the success of +the day at Aboukir that Bonaparte, glad to be able to carry another +laurel plucked in Egypt to France, forgot the fault which had made so +unfavourable an impression, and was inclined to efface from his memory +other things that he had heard to the disadvantage of Murat; for I have +good reasons for believing, though Bonaparte never told me so, that +Murat's name, as well as that of Charles, escaped from the lips of Junot +when he made his indiscreet communication to Bonaparte at the walls of +Messoudiah. The charge of grenadiers, commanded by Murat on the 19th +Brumaire in the hall of the Five Hundred, dissipated all the remaining +traces of dislike; and in those moments when Bonaparte's political views +subdued every other sentiment of his mind, the rival of the Prince Santa +Croce received the command of the Consular Guard. + + --[Joachim Murat (1771-1616), the son of an innkeeper, aide de camp + to Napoleon in Italy, etc.; Marshal, 1804; Prince in 1806; Grand + Admiral; Grand Duc de Berg et de Clesves, 1808; King of Naples, + 1808. Shot by Bourbons 13th October 1815. Married Caroline + Bonaparte (third sister of Napoleon) 20th January 1600.]-- + +It may reasonably be supposed that Madame Bonaparte, in endeavouring to +win the friendship of Murat by aiding his promotion, had in view to gain +one partisan more to oppose to the family and brothers of Bonaparte; and +of this kind of support she had much need. Their jealous hatred was +displayed on every occasion; and the amiable Josephine, whose only fault +was being too much of the woman, was continually tormented by sad +presentiments. Carried away by the easiness of her character, she did +not perceive that the coquetry which enlisted for her so many defenders +also supplied her implacable enemies with weapons to use against her. + +In this state of things Josephine, who was well convinced that she had +attached Murat to herself by the bonds of friendship and gratitude, and +ardently desired to see him united to Bonaparte by a family connection, +favoured with all her influence his marriage with Caroline. She was not +ignorant that a close intimacy had already sprung up at Milan between +Caroline and Murat, and she was the first to propose a marriage. Murat +hesitated, and went to consult M. Collot, who was a good adviser in all +things, and whose intimacy with Bonaparte had initiated him into all the +secrets of the family. M. Collot advised Murat to lose no time, but to +go to the First Consul and formally demand the hand of his sister. Murat +followed his advice. Did he do well? It was to this step that he owed +the throne of Naples. If he had abstained he would not have been shot at +Pizzo. 'Sed ipsi Dei fata rumpere non possunt!' + +However that might be, Bonaparte received, more in the manner of a +sovereign than of a brother in arms, the proposal of Murat. He heard him +with unmoved gravity, said that he would consider the matter, but gave no +positive answer. + +This affair was, as may be supposed, the subject of conversation in the +evening in the; salon of the Luxembourg. Madame Bonaparte employed all +her powers of persuasion to obtain the First Consul's consent, and her +efforts were seconded by Hortense, Eugene, and myself, "Murat," said he, +among other things, "Murat is an innkeeper's son. In the elevated rank +where glory and fortune have placed me, I never can mix his blood with +mine! Besides, there is no hurry: I shall see by and by." We forcibly +described to him the reciprocal affection of the two young people, and +did not fail to bring to his observation Murat's devoted attachment to +his person, his splendid courage and noble conduct in Egypt. "Yes," said +he, with warmth, "I agree with you; Murat was superb at Aboukir." We did +not allow so favourable a moment to pass by. We redoubled our +entreaties, and at last he consented. When we were together in his +cabinet in the evening, "Well; Bourrienne," said he to me, "you ought to +be satisfied, and so am I, too, everything considered. Murat is suited +to my sister, and then no one can say that I am proud, or seek grand +alliances. If I had given my sister to a noble, all your Jacobins would +have raised a cry of counter-revolution. Besides, I am very glad that my +wife is interested in this marriage, and you may easily suppose the +cause. Since it is determined on, I will hasten it forward; we have no +time to lose. If I go to Italy I will take Murat with me. I must strike +a decisive blow there. Adieu." + +When I entered the First Consul's chamber at seven o'clock the next day +he appeared even more satisfied than on the preceding evening with the +resolution he had taken. I easily perceived that in spite of all his +cunning, he had failed to discover the real motive which had induced +Josephine to take so lively an interest respecting Murat's marriage with +Caroline. Still Bonaparte's satisfaction plainly showed that his wife's +eagerness for the marriage had removed all doubt in his mind of the +falsity of the calumnious reports which had prevailed respecting her +intimacy with Murat. + +The marriage of Murat and Caroline was celebrated at the Luxembourg, but +with great modesty. The First Consul did not yet think that his family +affairs were affairs of state. But previously to the celebration a +little comedy was enacted in which I was obliged to take a part, and I +will relate how. + +At the time of the marriage of Murat Bonaparte had not much money, and +therefore only gave his sister a dowry of 30,000 francs. Still, thinking +it necessary to make her a marriage present, and not possessing the means +to purchase a suitable one, he took a diamond necklace which belonged to +his wife and gave it to the bride. Josephine was not at all pleased with +this robbery, and taxed her wits to discover some means of replacing her +necklace. + +Josephine was aware that the celebrated jeweler Foncier possessed a +magnificent collection of fine pearls which had belonged, as he said, to +the late Queen, Marie Antoinette. Having ordered them to be brought to +her to examine them, she thought there were sufficient to make a very +fine necklace. But to make the purchase 250,000 francs were required, +and how to get them was the difficulty. Madame Bonaparte had recourse to +Berthier, who was then Minister of War. Berthier, after, biting his +nails according to his usual habit, set about the liquidation of the +debts due for the hospital service in Italy with as much speed as +possible; and as in those days the contractors whose claims were admitted +overflowed with gratitude towards their patrons, through whom they +obtained payment, the pearls soon passed from Foncier's shop to the +casket of Madame Bonaparte. + +The pearls being thus obtained, there was still another difficulty, which +Madame Bonaparte did not at first think of. How was she to wear a +necklace purchased without her husband's knowledge? Indeed it was the +more difficult for her to do so as the First Consul knew very well that +his wife had no money, and being, if I may be allowed the expression, +something of the busybody, he knew, or believed he knew, all Josephine's +jewels. The pearls were therefore condemned to remain more than a +fortnight in Madame Bonaparte's casket without her daring to use them. +What a punishment for a woman! At length her vanity overcame her +prudence, and being unable to conceal the jewels any longer, she one day +said to me, "Bourrienne, there is to be a large party here to-morrow, and +I absolutely must wear my pearls. But you know he will grumble if he +notices them. I beg, Bourrienne, that you will keep near me. If he asks +me where I got my pearls I must tell him, without hesitation, that I have +had them a long time." + +Everything happened as Josephine feared and hoped. + +Bonaparte, on seeing the pearls, did not fail to say to Madame, "What is +it you have got there? How fine you are to-day! Where did you get these +pearls? I think I never saw them before."--"Oh! 'mon Dieu'! you have +seen them a dozen times! It is the necklace which the Cisalpine Republic +gave me, and which I now wear in my hair."--"But I think--"--"Stay: ask +Bourrienne, he will tell you."--"Well, Bourrienne, what do you say to it? +Do you recollect the necklace?"--"Yes, General, I recollect very well +seeing it before." This was not untrue, for Madame Bonaparte had +previously shown me the pearls. Besides, she had received a pearl +necklace from the Cisalpine Republic, but of incomparably less value than +that purchased from Fancier. Josephine performed her part with charming +dexterity, and I did not act amiss the character of accomplice assigned +me in this little comedy. Bonaparte had no suspicions. When I saw the +easy confidence with which Madame Bonaparte got through this scene, I +could not help recollecting Suzanne's reflection on the readiness with +which well-bred ladies can tell falsehoods without seeming to do so. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +1800. + + Police on police--False information--Dexterity of Fouche--Police + agents deceived--Money ill applied--Inutility of political police-- + Bonaparte's opinion--General considerations--My appointment to the + Prefecture of police. + +Before taking up his quarters in the Tuileries the First Consul organised +his secret police, which was intended, at the same time, to be the rival +or check upon Fouche's police. Duroc and Moncey were at first the +Director of this police; afterwards Davonst and Junot. Madame Bonaparte +called this business a vile system of espionage. My remarks on the +inutility of the measure were made in vain. Bonaparte had the weakness +at once to fear Fouche and to think him necessary. Fouche, whose talents +at this trade are too well known to need my approbation, soon discovered +this secret institution, and the names of all the subaltern agents +employed by the chief agents. It is difficult to form an idea of the +nonsense, absurdity, and falsehood contained in the bulletins drawn up by +the noble and ignoble agents of the police. I do not mean to enter into +details on this nauseating subject; and I shall only trespass on the +reader's patience by relating, though it be in anticipation, one fact +which concerns myself, and which will prove that spies and their wretched +reports cannot be too much distrusted. + +During the second year of the Consulate we were established at Malmaison. +Junot had a very large sum at his disposal for the secret police of the +capital. He gave 3000 francs of it to a wretched manufacturer of +bulletins; the remainder was expended on the police of his stable and his +table. In reading one of these daily bulletins I saw the following +lines: + + "M. de Bourrienne went last night to Paris. He entered an hotel of + the Faubourg St. Germain, Rue de Varenne, and there, in the course + of a very animated discussion, he gave it to be understood that the + First Consul wished to make himself King." + +As it happens, I never had opened my mouth, either respecting what +Bonaparte had said to me before we went to Egypt or respecting his other +frequent conversations with me of the same nature, during this period of +his Consulship. I may here observe, too, that I never quitted, nor ever +could quit Malmaison for a moment. At any time, by night or day, I was +subject to be called for by the First Consul, and, as very often was the +case, it so happened that on the night in question he had dictated to me +notes and instructions until three o'clock in the morning. + +Junot came every day to Malmaison at eleven o'clock in the morning. I +called him that day into my cabinet, when I happened to be alone. "Have +you not read your bulletin?" said I, "Yes, I have."--"Nay, that is +impossible."--"Why?"--"Because, if you had, you would have suppressed an +absurd story which relates to me."--"Ah!" he replied, "I am sorry on your +account, but I can depend on my agent, and I will not alter a word of his +report." I then told him all that had taken place on that night; but he +was obstinate, and went away unconvinced. + +Every morning I placed all the papers which the First Consul had to read +on his table, and among the, first was Junot's report. The First Consul +entered and read it; on coming to the passage concerning me he began to +smile. + +"Have you read this bulletin?"--"yes, General."--"What an ass that Junot +is! It is a long time since I have known that."--" How he allows himself +to be entrapped! Is he still here?"--"I believe so. I have just seen +him, and made observations to him, all in good part, but he would hear +nothing."--"Tell him to come here." When Junot appeared Bonaparte began +--"Imbecile that you are! how could you send me such reports as these? +Do you not read them? How shall I be sure that you will not compromise +other persons equally unjustly? I want positive facts, not inventions. +It is some time since your agent displeased me; dismiss him directly." +Junot wanted to justify himself, but Bonaparte cut him short--"Enough!-- +It is settled!" + +I related what had passed to Fouche, who told me that, wishing to amuse +himself at Junot's expense, whose police agents only picked up what they +heard related in coffeehouses, gaming-houses, and the Bourse, he had +given currency to this absurd story, which Junot had credited and +reported, as he did many other foolish tales. Fouche often caught the +police of the Palace in the snares he laid for them, and thus increased +his own credit. + +This circumstance, and others of the same nature, induced the First +Consul to attach less importance than at first he had to his secret +police, which seldom reported anything but false and silly stories. +That wretched police! During the time I was with him it embittered his +life, and often exasperated him against his wife, his relations, and +friends. + + --[Bourrienne, it must be remembered, was a sufferer from the + vigilance of this police.]-- + +Rapp, who was as frank as he was brave, tells us in his Memoirs (p. 233) +that when Napoleon, during his retreat from Moscow, while before +Smolenski, heard of the attempt of Mallet, he could not get over the +adventure of the Police Minister, Savary, and the Prefect of Police, +Pasquier. "Napoleon," says Rapp, "was not surprised that these wretches +(he means the agents of the police) who crowd the salons and the taverns, +who insinuate themselves everywhere and obstruct everything, should not +have found out the plot, but he could not understand the weakness of the +Duc de Rovigo. The very police which professed to divine everything had +let themselves be taken by surprise." The police possessed no foresight +or faculty of prevention. Every silly thing that transpired was reported +either from malice or stupidity. What was heard was misunderstood or +distorted in the recital, so that the only result of the plan was +mischief and confusion. + +The police as a political engine is a dangerous thing. It foments and +encourages more false conspiracies than it discovers or defeats real +ones. Napoleon has related "that M. de la Rochefoucauld formed at Paris +a conspiracy in favour of the King, then at Mittau, the first act of +which was to be the death of the Chief of the Government: The plot being +discovered, a trusty person belonging to the police was ordered to join +it and become one of the most active agents. He brought letters of +recommendation from an old gentleman in Lorraine who had held a +distinguished rank in the army of Conde." After this, what more can be +wanted? A hundred examples could not better show the vileness of such a +system. Napoleon, when fallen, himself thus disclosed the scandalous +means employed by his Government. + +Napoleon on one occasion, in the Isle of Elba, said to an officer who was +conversing with him about France, "You believe, then; that the police +agents foresee everything and know everything? They invent more than +they discover. Mine, I believe, was better than that they have got now, +and yet it was often only by mere chance, the imprudence of the parties +implicated, or the treachery of some of them, that something was +discovered after a week or fortnight's exertion." Napoleon, in directing +this officer to transmit letters to him under the cover of a commercial +correspondence, to quiet his apprehensions that the correspondence might +be discovered, said, "Do you think, then, that all letters are opened at +the post office? They would never be able to do so. I have often +endeavoured to discover what the correspondence was that passed under +mercantile forms, but I never succeeded. The post office, like the +police, catches only fools." + +Since I am on the subject of political police, that leprosy of modern +society, perhaps I may be allowed to overstep the order of time, and +advert to its state even in the present day. + +The Minister of Police, to give his prince a favourable idea of his +activity, contrives great conspiracies, which he is pretty sure to +discover in time, because he is their originator. The inferior agents, +to find favour in the eyes of the Minister, contrive small plots. It +would be difficult to mention a conspiracy which has been discovered, +except when the police agents took part in it, or were its promoters. +It is difficult to conceive how those agents can feed a little intrigue, +the result at first, perhaps, of some petty ill-humour and discontent +which, thanks to their skill, soon becomes a great affair. How many +conspiracies have escaped the boasted activity and vigilance of the +police when none of its agents were parties. I may instance Babeuf's +conspiracy, the attempt at the camp at Grenelle, the 18th Brumaire, the +infernal machine, Mallet, the 20th of March, the affair of Grenoble, and +many others. + +The political police, the result of the troubles of the Revolution, has +survived them. The civil police for the security of property, health, +and order, is only made a secondary object, and has been, therefore, +neglected. There are times in which it is thought of more consequence +to discover whether a citizen goes to mass or confession than to defeat +the designs of a band of robbers. Such a state of things is unfortunate +for a country; and the money expended on a system of superintendence over +persons alleged to be suspected, in domestic inquisitions, in the +corruption of the friends, relations, and servants of the man marked out +for destruction might be much better employed. The espionage of opinion, +created, as I have said, by the revolutionary troubles, is suspicious, +restless, officious, inquisitorial, vexatious, and tyrannical. +Indifferent to crimes and real offences, it is totally absorbed in the +inquisition of thoughts. Who has not heard it said in company, to some +one speaking warmly, "Be moderate, M------ is supposed to belong to the +police." This police enthralled Bonaparte himself in its snares, and +held him a long time under the influence of its power. + +I have taken the liberty thus to speak of a scourge of society of which +I have been a victim. What I here state may be relied on. I shall not +speak of the week during which I had to discharge the functions of +Prefect of Police, namely, from the 13th to the 20th of March 1816. +It may well be supposed that though I had not held in abhorrence the +infamous system which I have described, the important nature of the +circumstances and the short period of my administration must have +prevented me from making complete use of the means placed at my disposal. +The dictates of discretion, which I consider myself bound to obey, +forbid me giving proofs of what I advance. What it was necessary to do +I accomplished without employing violent or vexatious means; and I can +take on myself to assert that no one has cause to complain of me. Were I +to publish the list of the persons I had orders to arrest, those of them +who are yet living would be astonished that the only knowledge they had +of my being tho Prefect of Police was from the Moniteur. I obtained by +mild measures, by persuasion, and reasoning what I could never have got +by violence. I am not divulging any secrets of office, but I believe I +am rendering a service to the public in pointing out what I have often +observed while an unwilling confidant in the shameful manoeuvres of that +political institution. + +The word ideologue was often in Bonaparte's mouth; and in using it he +endeavoured to throw ridicule on those men whom he fancied to have a +tendency towards the doctrine of indefinite perfectibility. He esteemed +them for their morality, yet he looked on them as dreamers seeking for +the type of a universal constitution, and considering the character of +man in the abstract only. The ideologues, according to him, looked for +power in institutions; and that he called metaphysics. He had no idea of +power except in direct force: All benevolent men who speculate on the +amelioration of human society were regarded by Bonaparte as dangerous, +because their maxims and principles were diametrically opposed to the +harsh and arbitrary system he had adopted. He said that their hearts +were better than their heads, and, far from wandering with them in +abstractions, he always said that men were only to be governed by fear +and interest. The free expression of opinion through the press has been +always regarded by those who are not led away by interest or power as +useful to society. But Bonaparte held the liberty of the press in the +greatest horror; and so violent was his passion when anything was urged +in its favour that he seemed to labour under a nervous attack. Great man +as he was, he was sorely afraid of little paragraphs. + + --[Joseph Bonaparte fairly enough remarks on this that such writings + had done great harm in those extraordinary times (Erreurs, tome i, + p. 259). Metternich, writing in 1827 with distrust of the + proceedings of Louis XVIII., quotes, with approval, Napoleon's + sentiments on this point. "Napoleon, who could not have been + wanting in the feeling of power, said to me, 'You see me master of + Prance; well, I would not, undertake to govern her for three months + with liberty of the press. Louis XVIII., apparently thinking + himself stronger than Napoleon, is not content with allowing the + press its freedom, but has embodied its liberty in the charter" + (Metternich, tome iv, p. 391.)]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +1800. + + Successful management of parties--Precautions--Removal from the + Luxembourg to the Tuileries--Hackney-coaches and the Consul's white + horses--Royal custom and an inscription--The review--Bonaparte's + homage to the standards--Talleyrand in Bonaparte's cabinet-- + Bonaparte's aversion to the cap of liberty even in painting--The + state bed--Our cabinet. + +Of the three brothers to whom the 18th Brumaire gave birth Bonaparte +speedily declared himself the eldest, and hastened to assume all the +rights of primogeniture. He soon arrogated to himself the whole power. +The project he had formed, when he favoured the revolution of the 18th +Fructidor, was now about to be realized. It was then an indispensable +part of his plan that the Directory should violate the constitution in +order to justify a subsequent subversion of the Directory. The +expressions which escaped him from time to time plainly showed that his +ambition was not yet satisfied, and that the Consulship was only a state +of probation preliminary to the complete establishment of monarchy. +The Luxembourg was then discovered to be too small for the Chief of the +Government, and it was resolved that Bonaparte should inhabit the +Tuileries. Still great prudence was necessary to avoid the quicksands +which surrounded him! He therefore employed great precaution in dealing +with the susceptibilities of the Republicans, taking care to inure them +gradually to the temperature of absolute power. But this mode of +treatment was not sufficient; for such was Bonaparte's situation between +the Jacobins and the Royalists that he could not strike a blow at one +party without strengthening the other. He, however, contrived to solve +this difficult problem, and weakened both parties by alternately +frightening each. "You see, Royalists," he seemed to say, "if you do not +attach yourselves to my government the Jacobins will again rise and bring +back the reign of terror and its scaffold." To the men of the Revolution +he, on the other hand, said, "See, the counter-Revolution appears, +threatening reprisals and vengeance. It is ready to overwhelm you; my +buckler can alone protect you from its attacks." Thus both parties were +induced, from their mutual fear of each other, to attach themselves to +Bonaparte; and while they fancied they were only placing themselves under +the protection of the Chief of the Government, they were making +themselves dependent on an ambitious man, who, gradually bending them to +his will, guided them as he chose in his political career. He advanced +with a firm step; but he never neglected any artifice to conceal, as long +as possible, his designs. + +I saw Bonaparte put in motion all his concealed springs; and I could not +help admiring his wonderful address. + +But what most astonished me was the control he possessed over himself, in +repressing any premature manifestation of his intentions which might +prejudice his projects. Thus, for instance, he never spoke of the +Tuileries but under the name of "the Palace of the Government," and he +determined not to inhabit, at first, the ancient palace of the kings of +France alone. He contented himself with selecting the royal apartments, +and proposed that the Third Consul should also reside in the Tuileries, +and in consequence he occupied the Pavilion of Flora. This skilful +arrangement was perfectly in accordance with the designation of "Palace +of the Government" given to the Tuileries, and was calculated to deceive, +for a time; the most clear-sighted. + +The moment for leaving the Luxembourg having arrived, Bonaparte still +used many deceptive precautions. The day filed for the translation of +the seat of government was the 30th Pluviose, the previous day having +been selected for publishing the account of the votes taken for the +acceptance of the new Constitution. He had, besides, caused the +insertion in the 'Moniteur' of the eulogy on Washington, pronounced, by +M. de Fontanes, the decadi preceding, to be delayed for ten days. He +thought that the day when he was about to take so large a step towards +monarchy would be well chosen for entertaining the people of Paris with +grand ideas of liberty, and for coupling his own name with that of the +founder of the free government of the United States. + +At seven o'clock on the morning of the 30th Pluviuse I entered, as usual, +the chamber of the First Consul. He was in a profound sleep, and this +was one of the days on which I had been desired to allow him to sleep a +little longer than usual. I have often observed that General Bonaparte +appeared much less moved when on the point of executing any great design +--than during the time of projecting it, so accustomed was he to think +that what he had resolved on in his mind, was already done. + +When I returned to Bonaparte he said to me, with a marked air of +satisfaction, "Well, Bourrienne, to-night, at last, we shall sleep in the +Tuileries. You are better off than I: you are not obliged to make a +spectacle of yourself, but may go your own road there. I must, however, +go in procession: that disgusts me; but it is necessary to speak to the +eyes. That has a good effect on the people. The Directory was too +simple, and therefore never enjoyed any consideration. In the army +simplicity is in its proper place; but in a great city, in a palace, +the Chief of the Government must attract attention in every possible way, +yet still with prudence. Josephine is going to look out from Lebrun's +apartments; go with her, if you like; but go to the cabinet as soon as +you see me alight from my-horse." + +I did not go to the review, but proceeded to the Tuileries, to arrange in +our new cabinet the papers which it was my duty to take care of, and to +prepare everything for the First Consul's arrival. It was not until the +evening that I learned, from the conversation in the salon, where there +was a numerous party, what had taken piece in the course of the day. + +At one o'clock precisely Bonaparte left the Luxembourg. The procession +was, doubtless, far from approaching the magnificent parade of the +Empire: but as much pomp was introduced as the state of things in France +permitted. The only real splendour of that period consisted in fine +troops. Three thousand picked men, among whom was the superb regiment of +the Guides, had been ordered out for the occasion: all marched in the +greatest order; with music at the head of each corps. The generals and +their staffs were on horseback, the Ministers in carriages, which were +somewhat remarkable, as they were almost the only private carriages then +in Paris, for hackney-coaches had been hired to convey the Council of +State, and no trouble had been taken to alter them, except by pasting +over the number a piece of paper of the same colour as the body of the +vehicle. The Consul's carriage was drawn by six white horses. With the +sight of those horses was associated the recollection of days of glory +and of peace, for they had been presented to the General-in-Chief of the +army of Italy by the Emperor of Germany after the treaty of Campo-Formio. +Bonaparte also wore the magnificent sabre given him by the Emperor +Francis. With Cambaceres on his left, and Lebrun in the front of the +carriage, the First Consul traversed a part of Paris, taking the Rue de +Thionville; and the Quai Voltaire to the Pont Royal. Everywhere he was +greeted by acclamations of joy, which at that time were voluntary, and +needed not to be commanded by the police. + +From the-wicket-of the Carrousel to the gate of the Tuileries the troops +of the Consular Guard were formed in two lines, through which the +procession passed--a royal custom, which made a singular contrast with an +inscription in front of which Bonaparte passed on entering the courtyard. +Two guard-houses had been built, one on the right and another on the left +of the centre gate. On the one to the right were written these words: + + "THE TENTH of AUGUST 1792.--ROYALTY IN FRANCE + IS ABOLISHED; AND SHALL NEVER BE RE-ESTABLISHED!" + +It was already re-established! + +In the meantime the troops had been drawn up in line in the courtyard. +As soon as the Consul's carriage stopped Bonaparte immediately alighted, +and mounted, or, to speak more properly, leaped on his horse, and +reviewed his troops, while the other two Consuls proceeded to the state +apartments of the Tuileries, where the Council of State and the Ministers +awaited them. A great many ladies, elegantly dressed in Greek costume, +which was then the fashion, were seated with Madame Bonaparte at the +windows of the Third Consul's apartments in the Pavilion of Flora. It is +impossible to give an idea of the immense crowds which flowed in from all +quarters. The windows looking to the Carrousel were let for very large +sums; and everywhere arose, as if from one voice, shouts of "Long live +the First Consul! "Who could help being intoxicated by so much +enthusiasm? + +Bonaparte prolonged the review for some time, passed down all the ranks, +and addressed the commanders of corps in terms of approbation and praise. +He then took his station at the gate of the Tuileries, with Murat on his +right, and Lannes on his left, and behind him a numerous staff of young +warriors, whose complexions had been browned by the sun of Egypt and +Italy, and who had been engaged in more battles than they numbered years +When the colours of the 96th, 43d, and 34th demi-brigades, or rather +their flagstaffs surmounted by some shreds, riddled by balls and +blackened by powder, passed before him, he raised his hat and inclined +his head in token of respect. Every homage thus paid by a great captain +to standards which had been mutilated on the field of battle was saluted +by a thousand acclamations. When the troops had finished defiling before +him, the First Consul, with a firm step, ascended the stairs of the +Tuileries. + +The General's part being finished for the day, that of the Chief of the +State began; and indeed it might already be said that the First Consul +was the whole Consulate. At the risk of interrupting my narrative of +what occurred on our arrival at the Tuileries, by a digression, which may +be thought out of place, I will relate a fact which had no little weight +in hastening Bonaparte's determination to assume a superiority over his +colleagues. It may be remembered that when Roger Ducos and Sieyes bore +the title of Consuls the three members of the Consular commission were +equal, if not in fact at least in right. But when Cambaceres and Lebrun +took their places, Talleyrand; who had at the same time been appointed to +succeed M. Reinhart as Minister of Foreign Affairs, obtained a private +audience of the First Consul in his cabinet, to which I was admitted. +The observations of Talleyrand on this occasion were highly agreeable to +Bonaparte, and they made too deep an impression on my mind to allow me to +forget them. + +"Citizen Consul," said he to him, "you have confided to me the office of +Minister for Foreign Affairs, and I will justify your confidence; but I +must declare to you that from this moment, I will not transact business +with any but yourself. This determination does not proceed from any vain +pride on my part, but is induced, by a desire to serve France. In order +that France may be well governed, in order that there may be a unity of +action in the government, you must be First Consul, and the First Consul +must have the control over all that relates directly to politics; that is +to say, over the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Police, +for Internal Affairs, and over my department, for Foreign Affairs; and, +lastly, over the two great means of execution, the military and naval +forces. It will therefore be most convenient that the Ministers of those +five departments should transact business with you. The Administration +of Justice and the ordering of the Finances are objects certainly +connected with State politics by numerous links, which, however, are not +of so intimate a nature as those of the other departments. If you will +allow me, General, I should advise that the control over the +Administration of Justice be given to the Second Consul, who is well +versed in jurisprudence; and to the Third Consul, who is equally well +acquainted with Finance, the control over that department. That will +occupy and amuse them, and you, General, having at your disposal all the +vital parts of the government, will be able to reach the end you aim at, +the regeneration of France." + +Bonaparte did not hear these remarkable words with indifference. They +were too much in accordance with his own secret wishes to be listened to +without pleasure; and he said to me as soon as Talleyrand had taken +leave, "Do you know, Bourrienne, I think Talleyrand gives good advice. +He is a man of great understanding."--"Such is the opinion," I replied, +"of all who know him."--"He is perfectly right." Afterwards he added, +smiling, "Tallyrand is evidently a shrewd man. He has penetrated my +designs. What he advises you know I am anxious to do. But again I say, +he is right; one gets on quicker by oneself. Lebrun is a worthy man, but +he has no policy in his head; he is a book-maker. Cambaceres carries +with him too many traditions of the Revolution. My government must be an +entirely new one." + +Talleyrand's advice had been so punctually followed that even on the +occasion of the installation of the Consular Government, while Bonaparte +was receiving all the great civil and military officers of the State in +the hall of presentation, Cambaceres and Lebrun stood by more like +spectators of the scene than two colleagues of the First Consul. The +Minister of the Interior presented the civil authorities of Paris; the +Minister of War, the staff of the 17th military division; the Minister of +Marine, several naval officers; and the staff of the Consular Guard was +presented by Murat. As our Consular republicans were not exactly +Spartans, the ceremony of the presentations was followed by grand dinner- +parties. The First Consul entertained at his table, the two other +Consuls, the Ministers, and the Presidents of the great bodies of the +State. Murat treated the heads of the army; and the members of the +Council of State, being again seated in their hackney-coaches with +covered numbers, drove off to dine with Lucien. + +Before taking possession of the Tuileries we had frequently gone there to +see that the repairs, or rather the whitewashing, which Bonaparte had +directed to be done, was executed. On our first visit, seeing a number +of red caps of liberty painted on the walls, he said to M. Lecomte, at +that time the architect in charge, "Get rid of all these things; I do not +like to see such rubbish." + +The First Consul gave directions himself for what little alterations he +wanted in his own apartments. A state bed--not that of Louis XVI.--was +placed in the chamber next his cabinet, on the south side, towards the +grand staircase of the Pavilion of Flora. I may as well mention here +that he very seldom occupied that bed, for Bonaparte was very simple in +his manner of living in private, and was not fond of state, except as a +means of imposing on mankind. At the Luxembourg, at Malmaison, and +during the first period that he occupied the Tuileries, Bonaparte, if I +may speak in the language of common life, always slept with his wife. +He went every evening down to Josephine by a small staircase leading from +a wardrobe attached to his cabinet, and which had formerly been the +chapel of Maria de Medici. I never went to Bonaparte's bedchamber but +by this staircase; and when he came to our cabinet it was always by the +wardrobe which I have mentioned. The door opened opposite the only +window of our room, and it commanded a view of the garden. + +As for our cabinet, where so many great, and also small events were +prepared, and where I passed so many hours of my life, I can, even now, +give the most minute description of it to those who like such details. + +There were two tables. The best, which was the First Consul's, stood in +the middle of the room, and his armchair was turned with its back to the +fireplace, having the window on the right. To the right of this again +was a little closet where Duroc sat, through which we could communicate +with the clerk of the office and the grand apartments of tile Court. +When the First Consul was seated at his table in his chair (the arms of +which he so frequently mutilated with his penknife) he had a large +bookcase opposite to him. A little to the right, on one side of the +bookcase, was another door, opening into the cabinet which led directly +to the state bedchamber which I have mentioned. Thence we passed into +the grand Presentation Saloon, on the ceiling of which Lebrun had painted +a likeness of Louis XIV. A tri-coloured cockade placed on the forehead +of the great King still bore witness of the imbecile turpitude of the +Convention. Lastly came the hall of the Guards, in front of the grand +staircase of the Pavilion of Flora. + +My writing-table, which was extremely plain, stood near the window, and +in summer I had a view of the thick foliage of the chestnut-trees; but in +order to see the promenaders in the garden I was obliged to raise myself +from my seat. My back was turned to the General's side, so that it +required only a slight movement of the head to speak to each other. +Duroc was seldom in his little cabinet, and that was the place where I +gave some audiences. The Consular cabinet, which afterwards became the +Imperial, has left many impressions on my mind; and I hope the reader, in +going through these volumes, will not think that they have been of too +slight a description. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +1800. + + The Tuileries--Royalty in perspective--Remarkable observation-- + Presentations--Assumption of the prerogative of mercy--M. Defeu-- + M. de Frotte--Georges Cadondal's audience of Bonaparte--Rapp's + precaution and Bonaparte's confidence--The dignity of France-- + Napper Tandy and Blackwell delivered up by the Senate of Hamburg-- + Contribution in the Egyptian style--Valueless bill--Fifteen thousand + francs in the drawer of a secretaire--Josephine's debts--Evening + walks with Bonaparte. + +The morning after that ardently wished-for day on which we took +possession of the Palace of the Kings of France I observed to Bonaparte +on entering his chamber, "Well, General, you have got here without much +difficulty, and with the applause of the people! Do you remember what +you said to me in the Rue St. Anne nearly two years ago?"--"Ay, true +enough, I recollect. You see what it is to have the mind set on a thing. +Only two years have gone by! Don't you think we have not worked badly +since that time? Upon the whole I am very well content. Yesterday +passed off well. Do you imagine that all those who came to flatter me +were sincere? No, certainly not: but the joy of the people was real. +They know what is right. Besides, consult the grand thermometer of +opinion, the price of the funds: on the 17th Brumaire at 11 francs, on +the 20th at 16 and to-day at 21. In such a state of things I may let the +Jacobins prate as they like. But let them not talk too loudly either!" + +As soon as he was dressed we went to look through the Gallery of Diana +and examine the statues which had been placed there by his orders. We +ended our morning's work by taking complete possession of our new +residence. I recollect Bonaparte saying to me, among other things, "To +be at the Tuileries, Bourrienne, is not all. We must stay here. Who, in +Heaven's name, has not already inhabited this palace? Ruffians, +conventionalists! But hold! there is your brother's house! Was it not +from those windows I saw the Tuileries besieged, and the good Louis XVI. +carried off? But be assured they will not come here again!" + +The Ambassadors and other foreign Ministers then in Paris were presented +to the First Consul at a solemn audience. On this occasion all the +ancient ceremonials belonging to the French Court were raked up, and in +place of chamberlains and a grand master of ceremonies a Counsellor of +State, M. Benezech, who was once Minister for Foreign Affairs, +officiated. + +When the Ambassadors had all arrived M. Benezech conducted them into the +cabinet, in which were the three Consuls, the Ministers, and the Council +of State. The Ambassadors presented their credentials to the First +Consul, who handed them to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. These +presentations were followed by others; for example, the Tribunal of +Cassation, over which the old advocate, Target, who refused to defend +Louis XVI., then presided. All this passed in view of the three Consuls; +but the circumstance which distinguished the First Consul from his +colleagues was, that the official personages, on leaving the audience- +chamber, were conducted to Madame Bonaparte's apartments, in imitation of +the old practice of waiting on the Queen after presentation to the King. + +Thus old customs of royalty crept by degrees into the former abodes of +royalty. Amongst the rights attached to the Crown, and which the +Constitution of the year VIII. did not give to the First Consul, was one +which he much desired to possess, and which, by the most happy of all +usurpations, he arrogated to himself. This was the right of granting +pardon. Bonaparte felt a real pleasure in saving men under the sentence +of the law; and whenever the imperious necessity of his policy, to which, +in truth, he sacrificed everything, permitted it, he rejoiced in the +exercise of mercy. It would seem as if he were thankful to the persons +to whom he rendered such service merely because he had given them +occasion to be thankful to him. Such was the First Consul: I do not +speak of the Emperor. Bonaparte, the First Consul, was accessible to the +solicitations of friendship in favour of persons placed under +proscription. The following circumstance, which interested me much, +affords an incontestable proof of what I state:-- + +Whilst we were still at the Luxembourg, M. Defeu, a French emigrant, was +taken in the Tyrol with arms in his hand by the troops of the Republic. +He was carried to Grenoble, and thrown into the military prison of that +town. In the course of January General Ferino, then commanding at +Grenoble, received orders to put the young emigrant on his trial. The +laws against emigrants taken in arms were terrible, and the judges dared +not be indulgent. To be tried in the morning, condemned in the course of +the day, and shot in the evening, was the usual course of those +implacable proceedings. One of my cousins, the daughter of M. +Poitrincourt, came from Sens to Paris to inform me of the dreadful +situation of M. Defeu. She told me that he was related to the most +respectable families of the town of Sens, and that everybody felt the +greatest interest in his fate. + +I had escaped for a few moments to keep the appointment I made with +Mademoiselle Poitrincourt. On my return I perceived the First Consul +surprised at finding himself alone in the cabinet, which I was not in the +habit of quitting without his knowledge. "Where have you been?" said he. +"I have been to see one of my relations, who solicits & favour of you."-- +"What is it?" I then informed him of the unfortunate situation of M. +Defeu. His first answer was dreadful. "No pity! no pity for emigrants! +Whoever fights against his country is a child who tries to kill his +mother!" This first burst of anger being over, I returned to the charge. +I urged the youth of M. Defeu, and the good effect which clemency would +produce. "Well," said he, "write-- + + "The First Consul orders the judgment on M. Defeu to be suspended." + +He signed this laconic order, which I instantly despatched to General +Ferino. I acquainted my cousin with what had passed, and remained at +ease as to the result of the affair. + +Scarcely had I entered the chamber of the First Consul the next morning +when he said to me, "Well, Bourrienne, you say nothing about your M. +Defeu. Are you satisfied?"--"General, I cannot find terms to express my +gratitude."--"Ah, bah! But I do not like to do things by halves. Write +to Ferino that I wish M. Defeu to be instantly set at liberty. Perhaps I +am serving one who will prove ungrateful. Well, so much the worse for +him. As to these matters, Bourrienne, always ask them from me. When I +refuse, it is because I cannot help it." + +I despatched at my own expense an extraordinary courier, who arrived in +time to save M. Defeu's life. His mother, whose only son he was, and M. +Blanchet, his uncle, came purposely from Sens to Paris to express their +gratitude to me. I saw tears of joy fall from the eyes of a mother who +had appeared to be destined to shed bitter drops, and I said to her as I +felt, "that I was amply recompensed by the success which had attended my +efforts." + +Emboldened by this success, and by the benevolent language of the First +Consul, I ventured to request the pardon of M. de Frotte, who was +strongly recommended to me by most honourable persons. Comte Louis de +Frotte had at first opposed all negotiation for the pacification of La +Vendee. At length, by a series of unfortunate combats, he was, towards +the end of January, reduced to the necessity of making himself the +advances which he had rejected when made by others. At this period he +addressed a letter to General Guidal, in which he offered pacificatory +proposals. A protection to enable him to repair to Alencon was +transmitted to him. Unfortunately for M. de Frotte, he did not confine +himself to writing to General Guidal, for whilst the safe-conduct which +he had asked was on the way to him, he wrote to his lieutenants, advising +them not to submit or consent to be disarmed. This letter was +intercepted. It gave all the appearance of a fraudulent stratagem to his +proposal to treat for peace. Besides, this opinion appeared to be +confirmed by a manifesto of M. de Frotte, anterior, it is true, to the +offers of pacification, but in which he announced to all his partisans +the approaching end of Bonaparte's "criminal enterprise." + +I had more trouble than in M: Defeu's case to induce the First Consul to +exercise his clemency. However, I pressed him so much, I laboured so +hard to convince him of the happy effect of such indulgence, that at +length I obtained an order to suspend the judgment. What a lesson I then +experienced of the evil which may result from the loss of time! Not +supposing that matters were so far advanced as they were, I did not +immediately send off the courier with the order for the suspension of the +judgment. Besides, the Minister-of-Police had marked his victim, and he +never lost time when evil was to be done. Having, therefore, I know not +for what motive, resolved on the destruction of M. de Frotte, he sent an +order to hasten his trial. + +Comte Louis de Frotte was brought to trial on the 28th Pluviose, +condemned the same day, and executed the next morning, the day before we +entered the Tuileries. The cruel precipitation of the Minister rendered +the result of my solicitations abortive. I had reason to think that +after the day on which the First Consul granted me the order for delay he +had received some new accusation against M. de Frotte, for when he heard +of his death he appeared to me very indifferent about the tardy arrival +of the order for suspending judgment. He merely said to me, with unusual +insensibility, "You should take your measures better. You see it is not +my fault." + +Though Bonaparte put no faith in the virtue of men, he had confidence in +their honour. I had proof of this in a matter which deserves to be +recorded in history. When, during the first period of our abode at the +Tuileries, he had summoned the principal chiefs of, La Vendee to +endeavour to bring about the pacification of that unhappy country; he +received Georges Cadoudal in a private audience. The disposition in +which I beheld him the evening before the day appointed for this audience +inspired me with the most flattering hopes. Rapp introduced Georges into +the grand salon looking into the garden. Rapp left him alone with the +First Consul, but on returning to the cabinet where I was he did not +close either of the two doors of the state bedchamber which separated the +cabinet from the salon. We saw the First Consul and Georges walk from +the window to the bottom of the salon--then return--then go back again. +This lasted for a long time. The conversation appeared very animated, +and we heard several things, but without any connection. There was +occasionally a good deal of ill-humour displayed in their tone and +gestures. The interview ended in nothing. The First Consul, perceiving +that Georges entertained some apprehensions for his personal safety, gave +him assurances of security in the most noble manner, saying, "You take a +wrong view of things, and are wrong in not coming to some understanding; +but if you persist in wishing to return to your country you shall depart +as freely as you came to Paris." When Bonaparte returned to his cabinet +he said to Rapp, "Tell me, Rapp, why you left these doors open, and +stopped with Bourrienne?" Rapp replied, "If you had closed the doors I +would have opened them again. Do you think I would have left you alone +with a man like that? There would have been danger in it."--"No, Rapp," +said Bonaparte, "you cannot think so." When we were alone the First +Consul appeared pleased with Rapp's attachment, but very vexed at +Georges' refusal. He said, "He does not take a correct view of things; +but the extravagance of his principles has its source in noble +sentiments, which must give him great influence over his countrymen. +It is necessary, however, to bring this business soon to an end." + +Of all the actions of Louis XIV. that which Bonaparte most admired was +his having made the Doge of Genoa send ambassadors to Paris to apologise +to him. The slightest insult offered in a foreign country to the rights +and dignity of France put Napoleon beside himself. This anxiety to have +the French Government respected exhibited itself in an affair which made +much noise at the period, but which was amicably arranged by the soothing +influence of gold. + +Two Irishmen, Napper Tandy and Blackwell, who had been educated in +France, and whose names and rank as officers appeared in the French army +list, had retired to Hamburg. The British Government claimed them as +traitors to their country, and they were given up; but, as the French +Government held them to be subjects of France, the transaction gave rise +to bitter complaints against the Senate of Hamburg. + +Blackwell had been one of the leaders of the united Irishmen. He had +procured his naturalisation in France, and had attained the rank, of chef +d'escadrou. Being sent on a secret mission to Norway, the ship in which +he was embarked was wrecked on the coast of that kingdom. He then +repaired to Hamburg, where the Senate placed him under arrest on the +demand of Mr. Crawford, the English Minister. After being detained in +prison a whole year he was conveyed to England to be tried. The French +Government interfered, and preserved, if not, his liberty, at least his +life. + +Napper Tandy was also an Irishman. To escape the search made after him, +on account of the sentiments of independence which had induced him to +engage in the contest for the liberty of his country, he got on board a +French brig, intending to land at Hamburg and pass into Sweden. Being +exempted from the amnesty by the Irish Parliament, he was claimed by the +British Government, and the Senators of Hamburg forgot honour and +humanity in their alarm at the danger which at that moment menaced their +little republic both from England and France. The Senate delivered up +Napper Tandy; he was carried to Ireland, and condemned to death, but owed +the suspension of his execution to the interference of France. He +remained two years in prison, when M. Otto, who negotiated with Lord +Hawkesbury the preliminaries of peace, obtained the release of Napper +Tandy, who was sent back to France. + +The First Consul spoke at first of signal vengeance; but the Senate of +Hamburg sent him a memorial, justificatory of its conduct, and backed the +apology with a sum of four millions and a half, which mollified him +considerably. This was in some sort a recollection of Egypt--one of +those little contributions with which the General had familiarised the +pashas; with this difference, that on the present occasion not a single +sous went into the national treasury. The sum was paid to the First +Consul through the hands of M. Chapeau Rouge. + + --[A solemn deputation from the Senate arrived at the Tuileries to + make public apologies to Napoleon. He again testified his + indignation: and when the envoys urged their weakness he said to + them. "Well and had you not the resource of weak states? was it not + in your power to let them escape?" (Napoleon's Memoirs).]-- + +I kept the four millions and a half in Dutch bonds in a secretaire for a +week. Bonaparte then determined to distribute them; after paying +Josephine's debts, and the whole of the great expenses incurred at +Malmaison, he dictated to me a list of persons to whom he wished to make +presents. My name did not escape his lips, and consequently I had not +the trouble to transcribe it; but some time after he said to me, with the +most engaging kindness, "Bourrienne, I have given you none of the money +which came from Hamburg, but I will make you amends for it." He took +from his drawer a large and broad sheet of printed paper, with blanks +filled up in his own handwriting, and said to me, "Here is a bill for +300,000 Italian livres on the Cisalpine Republic, for the price of cannon +furnished. It is endorsed Halter and Collot--I give it you." To make +this understood, I ought to state that cannon had been sold to the +Cisalpine. Republic, for the value of which the Administrator-general of +the Italian finances drew on the Republic, and the bills were paid over +to M. Collot, a provision contractor, and other persons. M. Collot had +given one of these bills for 300,000 livres to Bonaparte in quittance of +a debt, but the latter had allowed the bill to run out without troubling +himself about it. The Cisalpine Republic kept the cannons and the money, +and the First Consul kept his bill. When I had examined it I said, +"General, it has been due for a long time; why have you not got it paid? +The endorsers are no longer liable."--"France is bound to discharge debts +of this kind;" said he; "send the paper to de Fermont: he will discount +it for three per cent. You will not have in ready money more than about +9000 francs of renters, because the Italian livre is not equal to the +franc." I thanked him, and sent the bill to M. de Fermont. He replied +that the claim was bad, and that the bill would not be liquidated because +it did not come within the classifications made by the laws passed in the +months the names of which terminated in 'aire, ose, al, and or'. + +I showed M. de Fermont's answer to the First Consul, who said, "Ah, bah! +He understands nothing about it--he is wrong: write." He then dictated a +letter, which promised very favourably for the discounting of the bill; +but the answer was a fresh refusal. I said, "General, M. de Fermont does +not attend to you any more than to myself." Bonaparte took the letter, +read it, and said, in the tone of a man who knew beforehand what he was +about to be, informed of, "Well, what the devil would you have me do, +since the laws are opposed to it? Persevere; follow the usual modes of +liquidation, and something will come of it! "What finally happened was, +that by a regular decree this bill was cancelled, torn, and deposited in +the archives. These 300,000 livres formed part of the money which +Bonaparte brought from Italy. If the bill was useless to me it was also +useless to him. This scrap of paper merely proves that be brought more. +than 25,000 francs from Italy. + +I never had, from the General-in-Chief of the army of Italy, nor from the +General in-Chief of the army of, Egypt, nor from the First Consul, for +ten years, nor from the Consul for life, any fixed salary: I took from +his drawer what was necessary for my expenses as well as his own: He +never asked me for any account. After the transaction of the bill on the +insolvent Cisalpine Republic he said to me, at the beginning of the +winter of 1800, "Bourrienne, the weather, is becoming very bad; I will go +but seldom to Malmaison. Whilst I am at council get my papers and little +articles from Malmaison; here is the key of my secretaire, take out +everything that is there." I, got into the carriage at two o'clock and +returned at six. When he had dined I placed upon the table of his +cabinet the various articles which I had found in his secretaire +including 15,000 francs (somewhere about L 600 of English money) in +banknotes which were in the corner of a little drawer. When he looked at +them he said, "Here is money--what is the meaning of this?" I replied, +"I know nothing about it, except that it was in your secretaire."-- +"Oh yes; I had forgotten it. It was for my trifling expenses. Here, +take it." I remembered well that one summer morning he had given me his +key to bring him two notes of 1000 francs for some incidental expense, +but I had no idea that he had not drawn further on his little treasure. + +I have stated the appropriation of the four millions and a half, the +result of the extortion inflicted on the Senate of Hamburg, in the affair +of Napper Tandy and Blackwell. + +The whole, however, Was not disposed of in presents. A considerable +portion was reserved fob paying Josephine's debts, and this business +appears to me to deserve some remarks. + +The estate of Malmaison had cost 160,000 francs. Josephine had purchased +it of M. Lecouteuix while we were in Egypt. Many embellishments, and +some new buildings, had been made there; and a park had been added, which +had now become beautiful. All this could not be done for nothing, and +besides, it was very necessary that what was due for the original +purchase should be entirely discharged; and this considerable item was +not the only debt of Josephine. The creditors murmured, which had a bad +effect in Paris; and I confess I was so well convinced that the First +Consul would be extremely displeased that I constantly delayed the moment +of speaking to him on the subject. It was therefore with extreme +satisfaction I learned that M. de Talleyrand had anticipated me. No +person was more capable than himself of gilding the pill, as one may say, +to Bonaparte. Endowed with as much independence of character as of mind, +he did him the service, at the risk of offending him, to tell him that a +great number of creditors expressed their discontent in bitter complaints +respecting the debts contracted by Madame Bonaparte during his expedition +to the East. Bonaparte felt that his situation required him promptly to +remove the cause of such complaints. It was one night about half-past +eleven o'clock that M. Talleyrand introduced this delicate subject. As +soon he was gone I entered the little cabinet; Bonaparte said to me, +"Bourrienne, Talleyrand has been speaking to me about the debts of my +Wife. I have the money from Hamburg--ask her the exact amount of her +debts: let her confess all. I wish to finish, and not begin again. But +do not pay without showing me the bills of those rascals: they are a gang +of robbers." + +Hitherto the apprehension of an unpleasant scene, the very idea of which +made Josephine tremble, had always prevented me from broaching this +subject to the First Consul; but, well pleased that Talleyrand had first +touched upon it, I resolved to do all in my power to put an end to the +disagreeable affair. + +The next morning I saw Josephine. She was at first delighted with her +husband's intentions; but this feeling did not last long. When I asked +her for an exact account of what she owed she entreated me not to press +it, but content myself with what she should confess. I said to her, +"Madame, I cannot deceive you respecting the disposition of the First +Consul. He believes that you owe a considerable sum, and is willing to +discharge it. You will, I doubt not, have to endure some bitter +reproaches, and a violent scene; but the scene will be just the same for +the whole as for a part. If you conceal a large proportion of your debts +at the end of some time murmurs will recommence, they will reach the ears +of the First Consul, and his anger will display itself still more +strikingly. Trust to me--state all; the result will be the same; you +will hear but once the disagreeable things he will say to you; by +reservations you will renew them incessantly." Josephine said, "I can +never tell all; it is impossible. Do me the service to keep secret what +I say to you. I owe, I believe, about 1,200,000 francs, but I wish to +confess only 600,000; I will contract no more debts, and will pay the +rest little by little out of my savings."--"Here, Madame, my first +observations recur. As I do not believe he estimates your debts at so +high a sum as 600,000 francs, I can warrant that you will not experience +more displeasure for acknowledging to 1,200,000 than to 600,000; and by +going so far you will get rid of them for ever."--"I can never do it, +Bourrienne; I know him; I can never support his violence." After a +quarter of an hour's further discussion on the subject I was obliged to +yield to her earnest solicitation, and promise to mention only the +600,000 francs to the First Consul. + +The anger and ill-humour of Bonaparte may be imagined. He strongly +suspected that his wife was dissembling in some respect; but he said, +"Well, take 600,000 francs, but liquidate the debts for that sum, and let +me hear nothing more on the subject. I authorise you to threaten these +tradesmen with paying nothing if they, do not reduce their enormous +charges. They ought to be taught not to be so ready in giving credit." +Madame Bonaparte gave me all her bills. The extent to which the articles +had been overcharged, owing to the fear of not being paid for a long +period, and of deductions being made from the amount, was inconceivable. +It appeared to me, also, that there must be some exaggeration in the +number of articles supplied. I observed in the milliner's bill thirty- +eight new hats, of great price, in one month. There was likewise a +charge of 1800 francs for heron plumes, and 800 francs for perfumes. +I asked Josephine whether she wore out two hats in one day? She objected +to this charge for the hats, which she merely called a mistake. The +impositions which the saddler attempted, both in the extravagance of his +prices and in charging for articles which he had not furnished, were +astonishing. I need say nothing of the other tradesmen, it was the same +system of plunder throughout. + +I availed myself fully of the First Consul's permission, and spared +neither reproaches nor menaces. I am ashamed to say that the greater +part of the tradesmen were contented with the half of what they demanded. +One of them received 35,000 francs for a bill of 80,000; and he had the +impudence to tell me that he made a good profit nevertheless. Finally, I +was fortunate enough, after the most vehement disputes, to settle +everything for 600,000 francs. Madame Bonaparte, however, soon fell +again into the same excesses, but fortunately money became more +plentiful. This inconceivable mania of spending money was almost the +sole cause of her unhappiness. Her thoughtless provusion occasioned +permanent disorder in her household until the period of Bonaparte's +second marriage, when, I am informed, she became regular in her +expenditure. I could not say so of her when she was Empress in 1804. + + --[Notwithstanding her husband's wish, she could never bring her + establishment into any order or rule. He wished that no tradesmen + should ever reach her, but he was forced to yield on this point. + The small inner roams were filled with them, as with artists of all + sorts. She had a mania for having herself painted, and gave her + portraits to whoever wished for one, relations, 'femmes de chambre', + even to tradesmen. They never ceased bringing her diamonds, jewels, + shawls, materials for dresses, and trinkets of all kinds; she bought + everything without ever asking the price; and generally forgot what + she had purchased. . . All the morning she had on a shawl which + she draped on her shoulders with a grace I have seen in no one else. + Bonaparte, who thought her shawls covered her too much, tore them + off, and sometimes threw them into the fire; then she sent for + another (Remusat, tome ii. pp. 343-345). After the divorce her + income, large as it was, was insufficient, but the Emperor was more + compassionate then, and when sending the Comte Mollien to settle her + affairs gave him strict orders "not to make her weep" (Meneval, + tome iii. p.237]-- + +The amiable Josephine had not less ambition in little thins than her +husband had in great. She felt pleasure in acquiring and not in +possessing. Who would suppose it? She grew tired of the beauty of the +park of Malmaison, and was always asking me to take her out on the high +road, either in the direction of Nanterre, or on that of Marly, in the +midst of the dust occasioned by the passing of carriages. The noise of +the high road appeared to her preferable to the calm silence of the +beautiful avenues of the park, and in this respect Hortense had the same +taste as her mother. This whimsical fancy astonished Bonaparte, and he +was sometimes vexed at it. My intercourse with Josephine was delightful; +for I never saw a woman who so constantly entered society with such an +equable disposition, or with so much of the spirit of kindness, which is +the first principle of amiability. She was so obligingly attentive as to +cause a pretty suite of apartments to be prepared at Malmaison for me and +my family. + +She pressed me earnestly, and with all her known grace, to accept it; but +almost as much a captive at Paris as a prisoner of state, I wished to +have to myself in the country the moments of liberty I was permitted to +enjoy. Yet what was this liberty? I had bought a little house at Ruel, +which I kept during two years and a half. When I saw my friends there, +it had to be at midnight, of at five o'clock in the morning; and the +First Consul would often send for me in the night when couriers arrived. +It was for this sort of liberty I refused Josephine's kind offer. +Bonaparte came once to see me in my retreat at Ruel, but Josephine and +Hortense came often: It was a favourite walk with these ladies. + +At Paris I was less frequently absent from Bonaparte than at Malmaison. +We sometimes in the evening walked together in the garden of the +Tuileries after the gates were closed. In these evening walks he always +wore a gray greatcoat, and a round hat. I was directed to answer, +"The First Consul," to the sentinel's challenge of, "Who goes there?" +These promenades, which were of much benefit to Bonaparte, and me also, +as a relaxation from our labours, resembled those which we had at +Malmaison. As to our promenades in the city, they were often very +amusing. + +At the period of our first inhabiting the Tuileries, when I saw Bonaparte +enter the cabinet at eight o'clock in the evening in his gray coat, I +knew he would say, "Bourrienne, come and take a turn." Sometimes, then, +instead of going out by the garden arcade, we would take the little gate +which leads from the court to the apartments of the Due d'Angouleme. He +would take my arm, and we would go to buy articles of trifling value in +the shops of the Rue St. Honore; but we did not extend our excursions +farther than Rue de l'Arbre Sec. Whilst I made the shopkeeper exhibit +before us the articles which I appeared anxious to buy he played his part +in asking questions. + +Nothing was more amusing than to see him endeavouring to imitate the +careless and jocular tone of the young men of fashion. How awkward was +he in the attempt to put on dandy airs when pulling up the corners of his +cravat he would say, "Well, Madame, is there anything new to-day? +Citizen, what say they of Bonaparte? Your shop appears to be well +supplied. You surely have a great deal of custom. What do people say of +that buffoon; Bonaparte?" He was made quite happy one day when we were +obliged to retire hastily from a shop to avoid the attacks drawn upon us +by the irreverent tone in which Bonaparte spoke of the First Consul. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +1800. + + War and monuments--Influence of the recollections of Egypt-- + First improvements in Paris--Malmaison too little--St. Cloud taken + --The Pont des Arts--Business prescribed for me by Bonaparte-- + Pecuniary remuneration--The First Consul's visit to the Pritanee-- + His examination of the pupils--Consular pensions--Tragical death of + Miackzinski--Introduction of vaccination--Recall of the members of + the Constituent Assembly--The "canary" volunteers--Tronchet and + Target--Liberation of the Austrian prisoners--Longchamps and sacred + music. + +The destruction of men and the construction of monuments were two things +perfectly in unison in the mind of Bonaparte. It may be said that his +passion for monuments almost equalled his passion for war; + + --[Take pleasure, if you can, in reading your returns. The good + condition of my armies is owing to my devoting to them one or two + hours in every day. When the monthly returns of my armies and of my + fleets, which form twenty thick volumes, are sent to me. I give up + every other occupation in order to read them in detail and to + observe the difference between one monthly return and another. + No young girl enjoys her novel so much as I do these returns! + (Napoleon to Joseph, 20th August 1806--Du Casse, tome iii. + p. 145).]-- + +but as in all things he disliked what was little and mean, so he liked +vast constructions and great battles. The sight of the colossal ruins of +the monuments of Egypt had not a little contributed to augment his +natural taste for great structures. It was not so much the monuments +themselves that he admired, but the historical recollections they +perpetuate the great names they consecrate, the important events they +attest. What should he have cared for the column which we beheld on our +arrival in Alexandria had it not been Pompey's pillar? It is for artists +to admire or censure its proportions and ornaments, for men of learning +to explain its inscriptions; but the name of Pompey renders it an object +of interest to all. + +When endeavouring to sketch the character of Bonaparte, I ought to have +noticed his taste for monuments, for without this characteristic trait +something essential is wanting to the completion of the portrait. This +taste, or, as it may more properly be called, this passion for monuments, +exercised no small influence on his thoughts and projects of glory; yet +it did not deter him from directing attention to public improvements; of +a less ostentatious kind. He wished for great monuments to perpetuate +the recollection of his glory; but at the same time he knew how to +appreciate all that was truly useful. He could very rarely be reproached +for rejecting any plan without examination; and this examination was a +speedy affair, for his natural tact enabled him immediately to see things +in their proper light. + +Though most of the monuments and embellishments of Paris are executed +from the plans of men of talent, yet some owe their origin to +circumstances merely accidental. Of this I can mention an example. + +I was standing at the window of Bonaparte's' cabinet, which looked into +the garden of the Tuileries. He had gone out, and I took advantage of +his absence to arise from my chair, for I was tired of sitting. He had +scarcely been gone a minute when he unexpectedly returned to ask me for a +paper. "What are you doing there, Bourrienne? I'll wager anything you +are admiring the ladies walking on the terrace."--"Why, I must confess I +do sometimes amuse myself in that way," replied I; "but I assure you, +General, I was now thinking of something else. I was looking at that +villainous left bank of the Seine, which always annoys me with the gaps +in its dirty quay, and the floodings which almost every winter prevent +communication with the Faubourg St. Germain; and I was thinking I would +speak to you on the subject." He approached the window, and, looking +out, said, "You are right, it is very ugly; and very offensive to see +dirty linen washed before our windows. Here, write immediately: 'The +quay of the Ecole de Natation is to. be finished during next campaign.' +Send that order to the Minister of the Interior." The quay was finished +the year following. + +An instance of the enormous difference which frequently appears between +the original estimates of architects and their subsequent accounts I may +mention what occurred in relation to the Palace of St. Cloud. But I must +first say a word about the manner in which Bonaparte originally refused +and afterwards took possession of the Queen's pleasure-house. Malmaison +was a suitable country residence for Bonaparte as long as he remained +content with his town apartments in the little Luxembourg; but that +Consular 'bagatelle' was too confined in comparison with the spacious +apartments in the Tuileries. The inhabitants of St. Cloud, well-advised, +addressed a petition to the Legislative Body, praying that their deserted +chateau might be made the summer residence of the First Consul. The +petition was referred to the Government; but Bonaparte, who was not yet +Consul for life, proudly declared that so long as he was at the head of +affairs, and, indeed, for a year afterwards, he would accept no national +recompense. Sometime after we went to visit the palace of the 18th +Brumaire. Bonaparte liked it exceedingly, but all was in a, state of +complete dilapidation. It bore evident marks of the Revolution. The +First Consul did not wish, as yet, to burden the budget of the State with +his personal expenses, and he was alarmed at the enormous sum required to +render St. Cloud habitable. Flattery had not yet arrived at the degree +of proficiency which it subsequently attained; but even then his +flatterers boldly assured him he might take possession of St. Cloud for +25,000 francs. I told the First Consul that considering the ruinous +state of the place, I could to say that the expense would amount to more +than 1,200,000 francs. Bonaparte determined to have a regular estimate +of the expense, and it amounted to nearly 3,000,000. He thought it a +great sum; but as he had resolved to make St. Cloud his residence he gave +orders for commencing the repairs, the expense of which, independently of +the furniture, amounted to 6,000,000. So much for the 3,000,000 of the +architect and the 25,000 francs of the flatterers. + +When the First Consul contemplated the building of the Pont des Arts we +had a long conversation on the subject. I observed that it would be much +better to build the bridge of stone. "The first object of monuments of +this kind," said I, "is public utility. They require solidity of +appearance, and their principal merit is duration. I cannot conceive, +General, why, in a country where there is abundance of fine stone of +every quality, the use of iron should be preferred."--"Write," said +Bonaparte, "to Fontaine and Percier, the architects, and ask what they +think of it." I wrote and they stated in their answer that "bridges were +intended for public utility and the embellishment of cities. The +projected bridge between the Louvre and the Quatre-Nations would +unquestionably fulfil the first of these objects, as was proved by the +great number of persons who daily crossed the Seine at that point in +boats; that the site fixed upon between the Pont Neuf and the Tuileries +appeared to be the best that could be chosen for the purpose; and that on +the score of ornament Paris would gain little by the construction of an +iron bridge, which would be very narrow, and which, from its light form, +would not correspond with the grandeur of the two bridges between which +it would be placed." + +When we had received the answer of MM. Percier and Fontaine, we again had +a conversation on the subject of the bridge. I told the First Consul +that I perfectly concurred in the opinion of MM. Fontame and Percier; how +ever, he would have his own way, and thus was authorised the construction +of the toy which formed a communication between the Louvre and the +Institute. But no sooner was the Pont des Arts finished than Bonaparte +pronounced it to be mean and out of keeping with the other bridges above +and below it. One day when visiting the Louvre he stopped at one of the +windows looking towards the Pout des Arts and said, "There is no +solidity, no grandeur about that bridge. In England, where stone is +scarce, it is very natural that iron should be used for arches of large +dimensions. But the case is different in France, where the requisite +material is abundant." + +The infernal machine of the 3d Nivose, of which I shall presently speak +more at length, was the signal for vast changes in the quarter of the +Tuileries. That horrible attempt was at least so far attended by happy +results that it contributed to the embellishment of Paris. It was +thought more advisable for the Government to buy and pull down the houses +which had been injured by the machine than to let them be put under +repair. As an example of Bonaparte's grand schemes in building I may +mention that, being one day at the Louvre, he pointed towards St. Germain +l'Auxerrois and said to me, "That is where I will build an imperial +street. It shall run from here to the Barriere du Trone. It shall be a +hundred feet broad, and have arcades and plantations. This street shall +be the finest in the world." + +The palace of the King of Rome, which was to face the Pont de Jena and +the Champ de Mars, would have been in some measure isolated from Paris, +with which, however, it was to be connected by a line of palaces. These +were to extend along the quay, and were destined as splendid residences +for the Ambassadors of foreign sovereigns, at least as long as there +should be any sovereigns Europe except Napoleon. The Temple of Glory, +too, which was to occupy the site of the Church of la Madeleine, was +never finished. If the plan of this monument, proved the necessity. +which Bonaparte felt of constantly holding out stimulants to his +soldiers, its relinquishment was at least a proof of his wisdom. He who +had reestablished religious worship in France, and had restored to its +destination the church of the Invalides, which was for a time +metamorphosed into the Temple of Mars, foresaw that a Temple of Glory +would give birth to a sort of paganism incompatible with the ideas of the +age. + +The recollection of the magnificent Necropolis of Cairo frequently +recurred to. Bonaparte's mind. He had admired that city of the dead, +which he had partly contributed to people; and his design was to make, +at, the four cardinal points of Paris, four vast cemeteries on the plan +of that at Cairo. + +Bonaparte determined that all the new streets of Paris should be 40 feet +wide, and be provided with foot-pavements; in short, he thought nothing +too grand for the embellishment of the capital of a country which he +wished to make the first in the world. Next to war, he regard the +embellishment of Paris as the source of his glory; and he never +considered a victory fully achieved until he had raised a monument to +transmit its memory to posterity. He, wanted glory, uninterrupted +glory, for France as well as for himself: How often, when talking over +his schemes, has he not said, "Bourrienne, it is for France I am doing +all this! All I wish, all I desire, the end of all my labours is, that +my name should be indissolubly connected with that of France!" + +Paris is not the only city, nor is France the only kingdom, which bears +traces of Napoleon's passion for great and useful monuments. In Belgium, +in Holland, in Piedmont, in all Italy, he executed great improvements. +At Turin a splendid bridge was built over the Po, in lieu of an old +bridge which was falling in ruins. + +How many things were undertaken and executed in Napoleon s short and +eventful reign! To obviate the difficulty of communication between Metz +and Mayence a magnificent road was made, as if by magic, across +impracticable marshes and vast forests. Mountains were cut through and +ravines filled up. He would not allow nature more than man to resist +him. One day when be was proceeding to Belgium by the way of Civet, he +was detained for a short time at Little Givet, on the right bank of the +Meuse, in consequence of an accident which happened to the ferry-boat. +He was within a gunshot of the fortress of Charlemont, on the left bank, +and in the vexation which the delay occasioned he dictated the following +decree: "A bridge shall be built over the Meuse to join Little Civet to +Great Givet. It shall be terminated during the ensuing campaign." It +was completed within the prescribed time: In the great work of bridges +and highways Bonaparte's chief object was to remove the obstacles and +barriers which nature had raised up as the limits of old France so as to +form a junction with the provinces which he successively annexed to the +Empire. Thus in Savoy a road, smooth as a garden-walk, superseded the +dangerous ascents and descents of the wood of Bramant; thus was the +passage of Mont Cenis a pleasant promenade at almost every season of the +year; thus did the Simplon bow his head, and Bonaparte might have said, +"There are now my Alps," with more reason than Louis XIV. said, "There +are now no Pyrenees." + + --[Metternich (tome iv. p. 187) says on this subject, 'If you look + closely at the course of human affairs you will make strange + discoveries. For instance, that the Simplon Pass has contributed as + surely to Napoleon's immortality as the numerous works done in the + reign of the Emperor Francis will fail to add to his.]-- + +Such was the implicit confidence which Bonaparte reposed in me that I was +often alarmed at the responsibility it obliged me to incur. + + --[Of this confidence the following instructions for me, which he + dictated to Duroc, afford sufficient proof:-- + + "1st. Citizen Bourrienne shall open all the letters addressed to + the First Consul, Vol, and present them to him three times a day, or + oftener in case of urgent business. The letters shall be deposited + in the cabinet when they are opened. Bourrienne is to analyse all + those which are of secondary interest, and write the First Consul's + decision on each letter. The hours for presenting the letters shall + be, first, when the Consul rises; second, a quarter of an hour + before dinner; and third, at eleven at night. + + "2d. He is to have the superintendence of the Topographical office, + and of an office of Translation, in which there shall be a German + and an English clerk. Every day he shall present to the First + Consul, at the hours above mentioned the German and English + journals, together with a translation. With respect to the Italian + journals, it will only be necessary to mark what the First Consul is + to read. + + "3d. He shall keep a register of appointments to offices under + Government; a second, for appointments to judicial posts; a third + for appointments to places abroad; and a fourth, for the situations + of receivers and great financial posts, where he is to inscribe the + names of all the individuals whom the First Consul may refer to him. + These registers must be written by his own hand, and must be kept + entirely private. + + "4th. Secret correspondence, and the different reports of + surveillance, are to be addressed directly to Bourrienne, and + transmitted by him to the hand of the First Consul, by whom they + will be returned without the intervention of any third party. + + "6th. There shall be a register for all that relates to secret + extraordinary expenditure. Bourrienne shall write the whole with + his own hand, in order that the business may be kept from the + knowledge of any one. + + "7th. He shall despatch all the business which maybe referred to + him, either from Citizen Duroc, or from the cabinet of the First + Consul, taking care to arrange everything so as to secure secrecy. + + "(Signed) "BONAPARTE, First Council. + + "Paris, 13th Germinal, year VIII. + "(3d. April 1800.)"]-- + + +Official business was not the only labour that devolved upon me. I had +to write to the dictation of the First Consul during a great part of the +day, or to decipher his writing, which was always the most laborious part +of my duty. I was so closely employed that I scarcely ever went out; and +when by chance I dined in town, I could not arrive until the very moment +of dinner, and I was obliged to run away immediately after it. Once a +month, at most, I went without Bonaparte to the Comedie Francaise, but I +was obliged to return at nine o'clock, that being the hour at which we +resumed business. Corvisart, with whom I was intimately acquainted, +constantly expressed his apprehensions about my health; but my zeal +carried me through every difficulty, and during our stay at the Tuileries +I cannot express how happy I was in enjoying the unreserved confidence of +the man on whom the eyes of all Europe were filed. So perfect was this +confidence that Bonaparte, neither as General, Consul, nor Emperor, ever +gave me any fixed salary. In money matters we were still comrades: I +took from his funds what was necessary to defray my expenses, and of this +Bonaparte never once asked me for any account. + +He often mentioned his wish to regenerate public education, which he +thought was ill managed. The central schools did not please him; but he +could not withhold his admiration from the Polytechnic School, the finest +establishment of education that was ever founded, but which he afterwards +spoiled by giving it a military organisation. In only one college of +Paris the old system of study was preserved: this was the Louis-le-Grand, +which had received the name of Pritanee. The First Consul directed the +Minister of the Interior to draw up a report on that establishment; and +he himself went to pay an unexpected visit to the Pritanee, accompanied +by M. Lebrun and Duroc. He remained there upwards of an hour, and in the +evening he spoke to me with much interest on the subject of his visit. +"Do you know, Bourrienne," said he, "that I have been performing the +duties of professor?"--"you, General!"--"Yes! and I did not acquit +myself badly. I examined the pupils in the mathematical class; and I +recollected enough of my Bezout to make some demonstrations before them. +I went everywhere, into the bedrooms and the dining-room. I tasted the +soup, which is better than we used to have at Brienne. I must devote +serious attention to public education and the management of the colleges. +The pupils must have a uniform. I observed some well and others ill +dressed. That will not do. At college, above all places, there should +be equality. But I was much pleased with the pupils of the Pritanee. +I wish to know the names of those I examined, and I have desired Duroc to +report them to me. I will give them rewards; that stimulates young +people. I will provide for some of them." + +On this subject Bonaparte did not confine himself to an empty scheme. +After consulting with the headmaster of the Pritanee, he granted pensions +of 200 francs to seven or eight of the most distinguished pupils of the +establishment, and he placed three of them in the department of Foreign +Affairs, under the title of diplomatic pupils. + + --[This institution of diplomatic pupils was originally suggested by + M. de Talleyrand.]-- + +What I have just said respecting the First Consul's visit to the Pritanee +reminds me of a very extraordinary circumstance which arose out of it. +Among the pupils at the Pritanee there was a son of General Miackzinski, +who died fighting under the banners of the Republic. Young Miackzinski +was then sixteen or seventeen years of age. He soon quitted the college, +entered the army as a volunteer, and was one of a corps reviewed by +Bonaparte, in the plain of Sablons. He was pointed out to the First +Consul, who said to him. "I knew your father. Follow his example, and +in six months you shall be an officer." Six months elapsed, and +Miackzinski wrote to the First Consul, reminding him of his promise. No +answer was returned, and the young man then wrote a second letter as +follows: + + You desired me to prove myself worthy of my father; I have done so. + You promised that I should be an officer in six months; seven have + elapsed since that promise was made. When you receive this letter I + shall be no more. I cannot live under a Government the head of + which breaks his word. + +Poor Miackzinski kept his word but, too faithfully. After writing the +above letter to the First Consul he retired to his chamber and blew out +his brains with a pistol. A few days after this tragical event +Miackzinski's commission was transmitted to his corps, for Bonaparte had +not forgotten him. A delay in the War Office had caused the death of +this promising young man Bonaparte was much affected at the circumstance, +and he said to me, "These Poles have such refined notions of honour.... +Poor Sulkowski, I am sure, would have done the same." + +At the commencement of the Consulate it was gratifying, to see how +actively Bonaparte was seconded in the execution of plans for the social +regeneration of France all seemed animated with new life, and every one +strove to do good as if it were a matter of competition. + +Every circumstance concurred to favour the good intentions of the +First Consul. Vaccination, which, perhaps, has saved as many lives +as war has sacrificed, was introduced into France by M. d Liancourt; and +Bonaparte, immediately appreciating the 'value of such a discovery, gave +it his decided approbation. At the same time a council of Prizes was +established, and the old members of the Constituent Assembly were invited +to return to France. It was for their sake and that of the Royalists +that the First Consul recalled them, but it was to please the Jacobins, +whom he was endeavouring to conciliate, that their return was subject to +restrictions. At first the invitation to return to France extended only +to those who could prove that they had voted in favour of the abolition +of nobility. The lists of emigrants were closed, and committees were +appointed to investigate their claims to the privilege of returning. + +From the commencement of the month of Germinal the reorganisation of the +army of Italy had proceeded with renewed activity. The presence in Paris +of the fine corps of the Consular Guard, added to the desire of showing +themselves off in gay uniforms, had stimulated the military ardour of +many respectable young men of the capital. Taking advantage of this +circumstance the First Consul created a corps of volunteers destined for +the army of reserve, which was to remain at Dijon. He saw the advantage +of connecting a great number of families with his cause, and imbuing them +with the spirit of the army. This volunteer corps wore a yellow uniform +which, in some of the salons of Paris where it was still the custom to +ridicule everything, obtained for them the nickname of "canaries." +Bonaparte, who did not always relish a joke, took this in very ill part, +and often expressed to me his vexation at it. However, he was gratified +to observe in the composition of this corps a first specimen of +privileged soldiers; an idea which he acted upon when he created the +orderly gendarmes in the campaign of Jena, and when he organised the +guards of honour after the disasters of Moscow. + +In every action of his life Bonaparte had some particular object in view. +I recollect his saying to me one day, "Bourrienne, I cannot yet venture +to do anything against the regicides; but I will let them see what I +think of them. To-morrow I shall have some business with Abrial +respecting the organisation of the court of Cassation. Target, who is +the president of that court, would not defend Louis XVI. Well, whom do +you think I mean to appoint in his place? . . . Tronchet, who did +defend the king. They may say what they please; I care not." + + --[On this, as on many other occasions, the cynicism of Bonaparte's + language does, not admit of a literal translation.]-- + +Tronchet was appointed. + +Nearly about the same time the First Consul, being informed of the escape +of General Mack, said to me, "Mack may go where he pleases; I am not +afraid of him. But I will tell you what I have been thinking. There are +some other Austrian officers who were prisoners with Mack; among the +number is a Count Dietrichstein, who belongs to a great family in Vienna. +I will liberate them all. At the moment of opening a campaign this will +have a good effect. They will see that I fear nothing; and who knows but +this may procure me some admirers in Austria." The order for liberating +the Austrian prisoners was immediately despatched. Thus Bonaparte's acts +of generosity, as well as his acts of severity and his choice of +individuals, were all the result of deep calculation. + +This unvarying attention to the affairs of the Government was manifest in +all he did. I have already mentioned the almost simultaneous suppression +of the horrible commemoration of the month of January, and the permission +for the revival of the opera balls. A measure something similar to this +was the authorisation of the festivals of Longchamps, which had been +forgotten since the Revolution. He at the same time gave permission for +sacred music to be performed at the opera. Thus, while in public acts he +maintained the observance of the Republican calendar, he was gradually +reviving the old calendar by seasons of festivity. Shrove-Tuesday was +marked by a ball, and Passion-week by promenades and concerts. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +1800. + + The Memorial of St. Helena--Louis XVIII.'s first letter to Bonaparte + --Josephine, Hortense, and the Faubourg St. Germain-- + Madame Bonaparte and the fortune-teller--Louis XVIII's second letter + --Bonaparte's answer--Conversation respecting the recall of Louis + XVIII.--Peace and war--A battle fought with pins-Genoa and Melas-- + Realisation of Bonaparte's military plans--Ironical letter to + Berthier--Departure from Paris--Instructions to Lucien and + Cambaceres--Joseph Bonaparte appointed Councillor of State-- + Travelling conversation--Alexander and Caesar judged by Bonaparte. + +It sometimes happens that an event which passes away unnoticed at the +time of its occurrence acquires importance from events which subsequently +ensue. This reflection naturally occurs to my mind now that I am about +to notice the correspondence which passed between Louis XVIII. and the +First Consul. This is certainly not one of the least interesting +passages in the life of Bonaparte. + +But I must first beg leave to make an observation on the 'Memorial of St. +Helena.' That publication relates what Bonaparte said respecting the +negotiations between Louis XVIII. and himself; and I find it necessary to +quote a few lines on the subject, in order to show how far the statements +contained in the Memorial differ from the autograph letters in my +possession. + +At St. Helena Napoleon said that he never thought of the princes of the +House of Bourbon. This is true to a certain point. He did not think of +the princes of the House of Bourbon with the view of restoring them to +their throne; but it has been shown, in several parts of these Memoirs, +that he thought of them very often, and on more than one occasion their +very names alarmed him. + + --[The Memorial states that "A letter was delivered to the First + Consul by Lebrun who received it from the Abbe de Montesquieu, the + secret agent of the Bourbons in Paris." This letter which was very + cautiously written, said:-- + + "You are long delaying the restoration of my throne. It is to be + feared you are suffering favourable moments to escape. You cannot + secure the happiness of France without me, and I can do nothing for + France without you. Hasten, then, to name the offices which you + would choose for your friends." + + The answer, Napoleon said, was as follows:-- + + "I have received your royal highness' letter. I have always taken a + lively interest in your misfortunes, and those of your family. You + must not think of appearing in France; you could only return here by + trampling over a hundred thousand dead bodies. I shall always be + happy to do anything that can alleviate your fate and help to banish + the recollection of your misfortunes."--Bourrienne.]-- + +The substance of the two letters given in the 'Memorial of St. Helena' is +correct. The ideas are nearly the same as those of the original letters. +But it is not surprising that, after the lapse of so long an interval, +Napoleon's memory should somewhat have failed him. However, it will not, +I presume, be deemed unimportant if I present to the reader literal +copies of this correspondence; together with the explanation of some +curious circumstances connected with it. + +The following is Louis XVIII's letter:-- + + February 20,1800. + + SIR--Whatever may be their apparent conduct, men like you never + inspire alarm. You have accepted an eminent station, and I thank + you for having done so. You know better than any one how much + strength and power are requisite to secure the happiness of a great + nation. Save France from her own violence, and you will fulfil the + first wish of my heart. Restore her King to her, and future + generations will bless your memory. You will always be too + necessary to the State for me ever to be able to discharge, by + important appointments, the debt of my family and myself. + + (Signed) Louis. + + +The First Consul was much agitated on the reception of this letter. +Though he every day declared his determination to have nothing to do with +the Princes, yet he hesitated whether or no he should reply to this +overture. The numerous affairs which then occupied his mind favoured +this hesitation. Josephine and Hortense conjured him to hold out hope to +the King, as by so doing he would in no way pledge himself, and would +gain time to ascertain whether he could not ultimately play a far greater +part than that of Monk. Their entreaties became so urgent that he said +to me, "These devils of women are mad! The Faubourg St. Germain has +turned their heads! They make the Faubourg the guardian angel of the +royalists; but I care not; I will have nothing to do with them." + +Madame Bonaparte said she was anxious he should adopt the step she +proposed in order to banish from his mind all thought of making himself +King. This idea always gave rise to a painful foreboding which she could +never overcome. + +In the First Consul's numerous conversations with me he discussed with +admirable sagacity Louis XVIII.'s proposition and its consequences. +"The partisans of the Bourbons," said he, "are deceived if they suppose +I am the man to play Monk's part." Here the matter rested, and the +King's letter remained on the table. In the interim Louis XVIII. wrote a +second letter, without any date. It was as follows: + + You must have long since been convinced, General, that you possess + my esteem. If you doubt my gratitude, fix your reward and mark out + the fortune of your friends. As to my principles, I am a Frenchman, + merciful by character, and also by the dictates of reason. + + No, the victor of Lodi, Castiglione, and Arcola, the conqueror of + Italy and Egypt, cannot prefer vain celebrity to real glory. But + you are losing precious time. We may ensure the glory of France. + + I say we, because I require the aid of Bonaparte, and he can do + nothing without me. + + General, Europe observes you. Glory awaits you, and I am impatient + to restore peace to my people. + (Signed) LOUIS. + + +This dignified letter the First Consul suffered to remain unanswered for +several weeks; at length he proposed to dictate an answer to me. I +observed, that as the King's letters were autographs, it would be more +proper that he should write himself. He then wrote with his own hand the +following: + + Sir--I have received your letter, and I thank you for the + compliments you address to me. + + You must not seek to return to France. To do so you must trample + over a hundred thousand dead bodies. + + Sacrifice your interest to the repose and happiness of France, and + history will render you justice. + + I am not insensible to the misfortunes of your family. I shall + learn with pleasure, and shall willingly contribute to ensure, the + tranquillity of your retirement. + (Signed) BONAPARTE. + + +He showed me this letter, saying, "What do you think of it? is it not +good? "He was never offended when I pointed out to him an error of +grammar or style, and I therefore replied, "As to the substance, if such +be your resolution, I have nothing to say against it; but," added I, +"I must make one observation on the style. You cannot say that you shall +learn with pleasure to ensure, etc." On reading the passage over again +he thought he had pledged himself too far in saying that he would +willingly contribute, etc. He therefore scored out the last sentence, +and interlined, "I shall contribute with pleasure to the happiness and +tranquillity of your retirement." + +The answer thus scored and interlined could not be sent off, and it lay +on the table with Bonaparte's signature affixed to it. + +Some time after he wrote another answer, the three first paragraphs of +which were exactly alike that first quoted; but far the last paragraph he +substituted the following + + "I am not insensible to the misfortunes of your family; and I shall + learn with pleasure that you are surrounded with all that can + contribute to the tranquillity of your retirement." + +By this means he did not pledge himself in any way, not even in words, +for he himself made no offer of contributing, to the tranquillity of the +retirement. Every day which augmented his power and consolidated his +position diminished, he thought, the chances of the Bourbons; and seven +months were suffered to intervene between the date of the King's first +letter and the answer of the First Consul, which was written on the 2d +Vendemiaire, year IX. (24th September 1800) just when the Congress of +Luneville was on the point of opening. + +Soma days after the receipt of Louis XVIII.'s letter we were walking in +the gardens of Malmaison; he was in good humour, for everything was going +on to his mind. "Has my wife been saying anything more to you about the +Bourbons?" said he.--"No, General."--"But when you converse with her you +concur a little in her opinions. Tell me why you wish the Bourbons back? +You have no interest in their return, nothing to expect from them. Your +family rank is not high enough to enable you to obtain any great post. +You would be nothing under them. Through the patronage of M. de +Chambonas you got the appointment of Secretary of Legation at Stuttgart; +but had it not been for the change you would have remained all your life +in that or some inferior post. Did you ever know men rise by their own +merit under kings? Everything depends on birth, connection, fortune, and +intrigue. Judge things more accurately; reflect more maturely on the +future."--"General," replied I, "I am quite of your opinion on one +point. I never received gift, place, or favour from the Bourbons; and +I have not the vanity to believe that I should ever have attained any +important Appointment. But you must not forget that my nomination as +Secretary of Legation at Stuttgart preceded the overthrow of the throne +only by a few days; and I cannot infer, from what took place under +circumstances unfortunately too certain, what might have happened in the +reverse case. Besides, I am not actuated by personal feelings; +I consider not my own interests, but those of France. I wish you to hold +the reins of government as long as you live; but you have no children, +and it is tolerably certain that you will have none by Josephine: What +will become of us when you are gone? You talk of the future; but what +will be the future fate of France? I have often heard you say that your +brothers are not--"--"You are right," said he, abruptly interrupting +me. "If I do not live thirty years to complete my work you will have a +long series of civil wars after my death. My brothers will not suit +France; you know what they are. A violent conflict will therefore arise +among the most distinguished generals, each of whom will think himself +entitled to succeed me."--"Well, General, why not take means to obviate +the mischief you foresee?"--"Do you imagine I do not think of it? But +look at the difficulties that stand in my way. How are so many acquired- +rights and material results to be secured against the efforts of a family +restored to power, and returning with 80,000 emigrants and the influence +of fanaticism? What would become of those who voted for the death, of +the King--the men who acted a conspicuous part in the Revolution--the +national domains, and a multitude of things that have been done during +twelve years? Can you see how far reaction would extend?"--"General, +need I remind you that Louis, in his letter, guarantees the contrary of +all you apprehend? I know what will be your answer; but are you not able +to impose whatever conditions you may think fit? Grant what is asked of +you only at that price. Take three or four years; in that time you may +ensure the happiness of France by institutions conformable to her wants. +Custom and habit would give them a power which it would not be easy to +destroy; and even supposing such a design were entertained, it could not +be accomplished. I have heard you say it is wished you should act the +part of Monk; but you well know the difference between a general opposing +the usurper of a crown, and one whom victory and peace have raised above +the ruins of a subverted throne, and who restores it voluntarily to those +who have long occupied it. You are well aware what you call ideology +will not again be revived; and--"--"I know what you are going to say; +but it all amounts to nothing. Depend upon it, the Bourbons will think +they have reconquered their inheritance, and will dispose of it as they +please. The most sacred pledges, the most positive promises, will be +violated. None but fools will trust them. My resolution is formed; +therefore let us say no more on the subject. But I know how these women +torment you. Let them mind their knitting, and leave me to do what I +think right." + +Every one knows the adage, 'Si vis pacem para bellum'. Had Bonaparte +been a Latin scholar he would probably have reversed it and said, 'Si vis +bellum para pacem'. While seeking to establish pacific relations with +the powers of Europe the First Consul was preparing to strike a great +blow in Italy. As long as Genoa held out, and Massena continued there, +Bonaparte did not despair of meeting the Austrians in those fields which +not four years before had been the scenes of his success. He resolved to +assemble an army of reserve at Dijon. Where there was previously nothing +he created everything. At that period of his life the fertility of his +imagination and the vigour of his genius must have commanded the +admiration of even his bitterest enemies. I was astonished at the +details into which he entered. While every moment was engrossed by the +most important occupations he sent 24,000 francs to the hospital of Mont +St. Bernard. When he saw that his army of reserve was forming, and +everything was going on to his liking, he said to me, "I hope to fall on +the rear of Melas before he is aware I am in Italy . . . that is to +say, provided Genoa holds out. But MASSENA is defending it." + +On the 17th of March, in a moment of gaiety and good humour, he desired +me to unroll Chauchard's great map of Italy. He lay down upon it, and +desired me to do likewise. He then stuck into it pins, the heads of +which were tipped with wax, some red and some black. I silently observed +him; and awaited with no little curiosity the result of this plan of +campaign. When he had stationed the enemy's corps, and drawn up the pins +with red heads on the points where he hoped to bring his own troops, he +said to me, "Where do you think I shall beat Melas?"--"How the devil +should I know?"--"Why, look here, you fool! Melas is at Alessandria with +his headquarters. There he will remain until Genoa surrenders. He has +in Alessandria his magazines, his hospitals, his artillery, and his +reserves. Crossing the Alps here (pointing to the Great Mont St. +Bernard) I shall fall upon Melas, cut off his communications with +Austria, and meet him here in the plains of Scrivia" (placing a red, pin +at San Giuliano). Finding that I looked on this manoeuvre of pins as +mere pastime, he addressed to me some of his usual compliments, such as +fool, ninny, etc., and then proceeded to demonstrate his plans more +clearly on the map. At the expiration of a quarter of an hour we rose; +I folded up the map, and thought no more of the matter. + +Four months after this, when I was at San Giuliano with Bonaparte's +portfolio and despatches, which I had saved from the rout which had taken +place during the day, and when that very evening I was writing at Torre +di Galifolo the bulletin of the battle to Napoleon's dictation, I frankly +avowed my admiration of his military plans. He himself smiled at the +accuracy of his own foresight. + +The First Consul was not satisfied with General Berthier as War Minister, +and he superseded him by Carnot, + + --[There were special reasons for the appointment of Carnot, + Berthier was required with his master in Italy, while Carnot, who + had so long ruled the armies of the Republic, was better fitted to + influence Moreau, at this time advancing into Germany. Carnot + probably fulfilled the main object of his appointment when he was + sent to Moreau, and succeeded in getting that general, with natural + reluctance, to damage his own campaign by detaching a large body of + troops into Italy. Berthier was reappointed to the Ministry on the + 8th of October 1800,--a very speedy return if he had really been + disgraced.]-- + +who had given great proofs of firmness and integrity, but who, +nevertheless, was no favourite of Bonaparte, on account of his decided +republican principles. Berthier was too slow in carrying out the +measures ordered, [duplicated line removed here D.W.] and too lenient in +the payment of past charges and in new contracts. Carnot's appointment +took place on the 2d of April 1800; and to console Berthier, who, he +knew, was more at home in the camp than in the office, he dictated to me +the following letter for him:-- + + PARIS, 2d April 1800. + + CITIZEN-GENERAL,--The military talents of which you have given so + many proofs, and the confidence of the Government, call you to the + command of an army. During the winter you have REORGANISED the War + Department, and you have provided, as far as circumstances would + permit, for the wants of our armies. During the spring and summer + it must be your task to lead our troops to victory, which is the + effectual means of obtaining peace and consolidating the Republic. + + +Bonaparte laughed heartily while he dictated this epistle, especially +when he uttered the word which I have marked in italics [CAPS]. Berthier +set out for Dijon, where he commenced the formation of the army of +reserve. + +The Consular Constitution did not empower the First Consul to command an +army out of the territory of France. Bonaparte therefore wished to keep +secret his long-projected plan of placing himself at the head of the army +of Italy, which, he then for the first time called the grand army. I +observed that by his choice of Berthier nobody could be deceived, because +it must be evident that he would have made another selection had he not +intended to command in person. He laughed at my observation. + +Our departure from Paris was fixed for the 6th of May, or, according to +the republican calendar, the 16th Floreal Bonaparte had made all his +arrangements and issued all his orders; but still he did not wish it to +be known that he was going to take the command of the army. On the eve +of our departure, being in conference with the two other Consuls and the +Ministers, he said to Lucien, "Prepare, to-morrow morning, a circular to +the prefects, and you, Fouche, will publish it in the journals. Say I am +gone to Dijon to inspect the army of reserve. You may add that I shall +perhaps go as far as Geneva; but you must affirm positively that I shall +not be absent longer than a fortnight: You, Cambaceres, will preside to- +morrow at the Council of State. In my absence you are the Head of the +Government. State that my absence will be but of short duration, but +specify nothing. Express my approbation of the Council of State; it has +already rendered great services, and I shall be happy to see it continue +in the course it has hitherto pursued. Oh! I had nearly forgotten--you +will at the same time announce that I have appointed Joseph a Councillor +of State. Should anything happen I shall be back again like a +thunderbolt. I recommend to you all the great interests of France, and I +trust that I shall shortly be talked of in Vienna and in London." + +We set out at two in the morning, taking the Burgundy road, which we had +already so often travelled under very different circumstances. + +On the journey Bonaparte conversed about the warriors of antiquity, +especially Alexander, Caesar, Scipio, and Hannibal. I asked him which he +preferred, Alexander or Caesar. "I place Alexander in the first rank," +said he, "yet I admire Caesar's fine campaign in Africa. But the ground +of my preference for the King of Macedonia is the plan, and above all the +execution, of his campaign in Asia. Only those who are utterly ignorant +of war can blame Alexander for having spent seven months at the siege of +Tyre. For my part, I would have stayed there seven years had it been +necessary. This is a great subject of dispute; but I look upon the siege +of Tyre, the conquest of Egypt, and the journey to the Oasis of Ammon as +a decided proof of the genius of that great captain. His object was to +give the King of Persia (of whose force he had only beaten a feeble +advance-guard at the Granicus and Issus) time to reassemble his troops, +so that he might overthrow at a blow the colossus which he had as yet +only shaken. By pursuing Darius into his states Alexander would have +separated himself from his reinforcements, and would have met only +scattered parties of troops who would have drawn him into deserts where +his army would have been sacrificed. By persevering in the taking of +Tyre he secured, his communications with Greece, the country he loved as +dearly as I love France, and in whose glory he placed his own. By taking +possession of the rich province of Egypt he forced Darius to come to +defend or deliver it, and in so doing to march half-way to meet him. +By representing himself as the son of Jupiter he worked upon the ardent +feelings of the Orientals in a way that powerfully seconded his designs. +Though he died at thirty-three what a name he has left behind him!" + +Though an utter stranger to the noble profession of arms, yet I could +admire Bonaparte's clever military plans and his shrewd remarks on the +great captains of ancient and modern times. I could not refrain from +saying, "General, you often reproach me for being no flatterer, but now I +tell you plainly I admire you." And certainly, I really spoke the true +sentiments of my mind. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1800, v4 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 5. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER I. to CHAPTER VIII., 1800-1803 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +1800. + + Bonaparte's confidence in the army--'Ma belle' France--The convent + of Bernadins--Passage of Mont St. Bernard--Arrival at the convent-- + Refreshments distributed to the soldiers--Mont Albaredo--Artillery + dismounted--The fort of Bard--Fortunate temerity--Bonaparte and + Melas--The spy--Bonaparte's opinion of M. Necker--Capitulation of + Genoa--Intercepted despatch--Lannes at Montebello--Boudet succeeded + by Desaix--Coolness of the First Consul to M. Collot--Conversation + and recollections--The battle of Marengo--General Kellerman--Supper + sent from the Convent del Bosco--Particulars respecting the death of + Desaix--The Prince of Lichtenstein--Return to Milan--Savary and + Rapp. + +It cannot be denied that if, from the 18th Brumaire to the epoch when +Bonaparte began the campaign, innumerable improvements had been made in +the internal affairs of France, foreign affairs could not be seen with +the same satisfaction. Italy had been lost, and from the frontiers of +Provence the Austrian camp fires were seen. Bonaparte was not ignorant +of the difficulties of his position, and it was even on account of these +very difficulties that, whatever might be the result of his hardy +enterprise, he wished to escape from it as quickly as possible. He +cherished no illusions, and often said all must be staked to gain all. + +The army which the First Consul was preparing to attack was numerous, +well disciplined, and victorious. + +His, with the exception of a very small number of troops, was composed of +conscripts; but these conscripts were commanded by officers whose ardour +was unparalleled. Bonaparte's fortune was now to depend on the winning +or losing of a battle. A battle lost would have dispelled all the dreams +of his imagination, and with them would have vanished all his immense +schemes for the future of France. He saw the danger, but was not +intimidated by it; and trusting to his accustomed good fortune, and to +the courage and fidelity of his troops, he said, "I have, it is true, +many conscripts in my army, but they are Frenchmen. Four years ago did I +not with a feeble army drive before me hordes of Sardinians and +Austrians, and scour the face of Italy? We shall do so again. The sun +which now shines on us is the same that shone at Arcola and Lodi. I rely +on Massena. I hope he will hold out in Genoa. But should famine oblige +him to surrender, I will retake Genoa in the plains of the Scrivia. With +what pleasure shall I then return to my dear France! Ma belle France." + +At this moment, when a possible, nay, a probable chance, might for ever +have blasted his ambitious hopes, he for the first time spoke of France +as his. Considering the circumstances in which we then stood, this use +of the possessive pronoun "my" describes more forcibly than anything that +can be said the flashes of divination which crossed Bonaparte's brain +when he was wrapped up in his chimerical ideas of glory and fortune. + +In this favourable disposition of mind the First Consul arrived at +Martigny on the 20th of May. Martigny is a convent of Bernardins, +situated in a valley where the rays of the sun scarcely ever penetrate. +The army was in full march to the Great St. Bernard. In this gloomy +solitude did Bonaparte wait three days, expecting the fort of Bard, +situated beyond the mountain and covering the road to Yvree, to +surrender. The town was carried on the 21st of May, and on the third day +he learned that the fort still held out, and that there were no +indications of its surrender. He launched into complaints against the +commander of the siege, and said, "I am weary of staying in this convent; +those fools will never take Bard; I must go myself and see what can be +done. They cannot even settle so contemptible an affair without me!" +He immediately gave orders for our departure. + +The grand idea of the invasion of Italy by crossing Mont St. Bernard +emanated exclusively from the First Consul. This miraculous achievement +justly excited the admiration of the world. The incredible difficulties +it presented did not daunt the courage of Bonaparte's troops. His +generals, accustomed as they had been to brave fatigue and danger, +regarded without concern the gigantic enterprise of the modern Hannibal. + +A convent or hospice, which had been established on the mountain for the +purpose of affording assistance to solitary travellers, sufficiently +bespeaks the dangers of these stormy regions. But the St. Bernard was +now to be crossed, not by solitary travellers, but by an army. Cavalry, +baggage, limbers, and artillery were now to wend their way along those +narrow paths where the goat-herd cautiously picks his footsteps. On the +one hand masses of snow, suspended above our heads, every moment +threatened to break in avalanches, and sweep us away in their descent. +On the other, a false step was death. We all passed, men and horse, one +by one, along the goat paths. The artillery was dismounted, and the +guns, put into excavated trunks of trees, were drawn by ropes. + +I have already mentioned that the First Consul had transmitted funds to +the hospice of the Great St. Bernard. The good fathers had procured from +the two valleys a considerable supply of cheese, bread, and wine. Tables +were laid out in front of the hospice, and each soldier as he defiled +past took a glass of wine and a piece of bread and cheese, and then +resigned his place to the next. The fathers served, and renewed the +portions with admirable order and activity. + +The First Consul ascended the St. Bernard with that calm self-possession +and that air of indifference for which he was always remarkable when he +felt the necessity of setting an example and exposing himself to danger. +He asked his guide many questions about the two valleys, inquired what +were the resources of the inhabitants, and whether accidents were as +frequent as they were said to be. The guide informed him that the +experience of ages enabled the inhabitants to foresee good or bad +weather, and that they were seldom deceived. + +Bonaparte, who wore his gray greatcoat, and had his whip in his hand, +appeared somewhat disappointed at not seeing any one come from the valley +of Aorta to inform him of the taking of the fort of Bard. I never left +him for a moment during the ascent. We encountered no personal danger, +and escaped with no other inconvenience than excessive fatigue. + +On his arrival at the convent the First Consul visited the chapel and the +three little libraries. He had time to read a few pages of an old book, +of which I have forgotten the title. + +Our breakfast-dinner was very frugal. The little garden was still +covered with snow, and I said to one of the fathers, "You can have but +few vegetables here."--"We get our vegetables from the valleys," he +replied; "but in the month of August, in warm seasons, we have a few +lettuces of our own growing." + +When we reached the summit of the mountain we seated ourselves on the +snow and slid down. Those who went first smoothed the way for those who +came behind them. This rapid descent greatly amused us, and we were only +stopped by the mud which succeeded the snow at the distance of five or +six hundred toises down the declivity. + +We crossed, or rather climbed up, Mont Albaredo to avoid passing under +the fort of Bard, which closes the valley of Aorta. As it was impossible +to get the artillery up this mountain it was resolved to convey it +through the town of Bard, which was not fortified. For this operation we +made choice of night, and the wheels of the cannon and caissons, and even +the horses' feet, being wrapped in straw, the whole passed quietly +through the little town. They were, indeed, under the fire of the fort; +however, it did not so completely command the street but that the houses +would have protected them against any very fatal consequences. A great +part of the army had passed before the surrender of the fort, which so +completely commands the narrow valley leading to Aorta that it is +difficult to comprehend the negligence of the Austrians in not throwing +up more efficient works; by very simple precautions they might have +rendered the passage of St. Bernard unavailing. + +On the 23d we came within sight of the fort of Bard, which commands the +road bounded by the Doria Baltea on the right and Mont Albaredo on the +left. The Doria Baltea is a small torrent which separates the town of +Bard from the fort. Bonaparte, whose retinue was not very numerous, +crossed the torrent. On arriving within gunshot of the fort he ordered +us to quicken our pace to gain a little bridle-path on the left, leading +to the summit of Mont Albaredo, and turning the town and fort of Bard. + +We ascended this path on foot with some difficulty. On reaching the +summit of the mountain, which commands the fort, Bonaparte levelled his +telescope on the grass, and stationing himself behind some bushes, which +served at once to shelter and conceal him, he attentively reconnoitered +the fort. After addressing several questions to the persons who had come +to give him information, he mentioned, in a tone of dissatisfaction, the +faults that had been committed, and ordered the erection of a new battery +to attack a point which he marked out, and from whence, he guaranteed, +the firing of a few shots would oblige the fort to surrender. Having +given these orders he descended the mountain and went to sleep that night +at Yvree. On the 3d of June he learned that the fort had surrendered the +day before. + +The passage of Mont St. Bernard must occupy a great place in the annals +of successful temerity. The boldness of the First Consul seemed, as it +were, to have fascinated the enemy, and his enterprise was so unexpected +that not a single Austrian corps defended the approaches of the fort of +Bard. The country was entirely exposed, and we only encountered here and +there a few feeble parties, who were incapable of checking our march upon +Milan. Bonaparte's advance astonished and confounded the enemy, who +thought of nothing but marching back the way he came, and renouncing the +invasion of France. The bold genius which actuated Bonaparte did not +inspire General Melas, the commander-in-chief of the Austrian forces. +If Melas had had the firmness which ought to belong to the leader of an +army--if he had compared the respective positions of the two parties--if +he had considered that there was no longer time to regain his line of +operations and recover his communication with the Hereditary States, that +he was master of all the strong places in Italy, that he had nothing to +fear from Massena, that Suchet could not resist him:--if, then, following +Bonaparte's' example, he had marched upon Lyons, what would have become +of the First Consul? Melas would have found few obstacles, and almost +everywhere open towns, while the French army would have been exhausted +without having an enemy to fight. This is, doubtless, what Bonaparte +would have done had he been Melas; but, fortunately for us, Melas was not +Bonaparte. + +We arrived at Milan on the 2d of June, the day on which the First Consul +heard that the fort of Bard was taken. But little resistance was opposed +to our entrance to the capital of Lombardy, and the term "engagements" +can scarcely be applied to a few affairs of advance posts, in which +success could not be for a moment doubtful; the fort of Milan was +immediately blockaded. Murat was sent to Piacenza, of which he took +possession without difficulty, and Lannes beat General Ott at Montebello. +He was far from imagining that by that exploit he conquered for himself a +future duchy! + +The First Consul passed six days at Milan. On the day after our arrival +there a spy who had served us very well in the first campaign in Italy +was announced. The First Consul recollected him, and ordered him to be +shown into his cabinet.--"What, are you here?" he exclaimed; "so you are +not shot yet!"--"General," replied the spy, "when the war recommenced I +determined to serve the Austrians because you were far from Europe. +I always follow the fortunate; but the truth is, I am tired of the trade. +I wish to have done with it, and to get enough to enable me to retire. +I have been sent to your lines by General Melas, and I can render you an +important service. I will give an exact account of the force and the +position of all the enemy's corps, and the names of their commanders. +I can tell you the situation in which Alessandria now is. You know me +I will not deceive you; but, I must carry back some report to my general. +You need not care for giving me some true particulars which I can +communicate to him."--"Oh! as to that," resumed the First Consul, "the +enemy is welcome to know my forces and my positions, provided I know his, +and he be ignorant of my plans. You shall be satisfied; but do not +deceive me: you ask for 1000 Louis, you shall have them if you serve me +well." I then wrote down from the dictation of the spy, the and the +names of the corps, their amount, their positions, names of the generals +commanding them. The Consul stuck pins in the map to mark his plans on +places respecting which he received information from the spy. We also +learned that Alexandria was without provisions, that Melas was far from +expecting a siege, that many of his troops were sick, and that be wanted +medicines. Berthier was ordered to draw up for the spy a nearly accurate +statement of our positions. + +The information given by this man proved so accurate and useful that on +his return from Marengo Bonaparte ordered me to pay him the 1000 Louis. +The spy afterwards informed him that Melas was delighted with the way in +which he had served him in this affair, and had rewarded him handsomely. +He assured us that he had bidden farewell to his odious profession. The +First Consul regarded this little event as one of the favours of fortune. + +In passing through Geneva the First Consul had an interview with M. +Necker. + + --[Madame de Stael briefly mention this interview in her + 'Considerations sur la Revolution Francaise' "M. Necker," she says, + "had an interview with Bonaparte, when he was on his way to Italy by + the passage of Mont. St. Bernard, a few days before the battle of + Marengo, During this conversation, which lasted two hours, the First + Consul made a very favourable impression on my father by the + confident way he spoke of his future projects."--Bourrienne.]-- + +I know not how it happened, but at the time he did not speak to me of +this interview. However, I was curious to know what be thought of a man +who had acquired much celebrity in France. One evening, when we were +talking of one thing and another, I managed to turn the conversation on +that subject. M. Necker," said he, "appears to me very far below his +reputation. He did not equal the idea I had formed of him. I tried all +I could to get him to talk; but he said nothing remarkable. He is an +ideologist-- + + --[This was a constant term of reproach with Bonaparte. He set all + the metaphysicians of the Continent against him by exclaiming, "Je + ne veux point d'ideologues."]-- + +a banker. It is impossible that such a man can have any but narrow +views; and, besides, most celebrated people lose on a close view."-- +"Not always, General," observed I--"Ah!" said he, smiling, "that is not +bad, Bourrienne. You are improving. I see I shall make something of you +in time!" + +The day was approaching when all was to be lost or won. The First Consul +made all his arrangements, and sent off the different corps to occupy the +points be had marked out. I have already mentioned that Murat's task was +the occupation of Piacenza. As soon as he was in possession of that town +he intercepted a courier of General Melas. The despatch, which was +addressed to the Aulic Council of Vienna, was delivered to us on the +night of the 8th of June. It announced the capitulation of Genoa, which +took place on the 4th, after the long and memorable defence which +reflected so much honour on Massena. Melas in his despatch spoke of what +he called our pretended army of reserve with inconceivable contempt, and +alluded to the presence of Bonaparte in Italy as a mere fabrication. He +declared he was still in Paris. It was past three in the morning when +Murat's courier arrived. I immediately translated the despatch, which +was in German. About four o'clock I entered the chamber of the First +Consul, whom I was obliged to shake by the arm in order to wake him. He +had desired me; as I have already mentioned, never to respect his repose +an the arrival of bad news; but on the receipt of good news to let him +sleep. I read to him the despatch, and so much was he confounded by this +unexpected event that his first exclamation was, "Bah! you do not +understand German." But hardly had be uttered these words when he arose, +and by eight o'clock in the morning orders were despatched for repairing +the possible consequences of this disaster, and countermanding the march +of the troops on the Scrivia. He himself proceeded the same day to +Stradella. + +I have seen it mentioned in some accounts that the First Consul in person +gained the battle of Montebello. This is a mistake. He did not leave +Milan until the 9th of June, and that very day Lannes was engaged with +the enemy. The conflict was so terrible that Lannes, a few days after, +describing it in my presence to M. Collot, used these remarkable words, +which I well remember: "Bones were cracking in my division like a shower +of hail falling on a skylight." + +By a singular chance Desaix, who was to contribute to the victory and +stop the rout of Marengo, arrived from Egypt at Toulon, on the very day +on which we departed from Paris. He was enabled to leave Egypt in +consequence of the capitulation of El-Arish, which happened on the 4th of +January 1800. He wrote me a letter, dated 16th Floreal, year VIII. (6th +of May 1800), announcing his arrival. This letter I did not receive +until we reached Martigny. I showed it to the First Consul. "Ah!" +exclaimed he, "Desaix in Paris!" and he immediately despatched an order +for him to repair to the headquarters of the army of Italy wherever they +might be. Desaix arrived at Stradella on the morning of the 11th of +June. The First Consul received him with the warmest cordiality, as a +man for whom he had a high esteem, and whose talents and character +afforded the fairest promise of what might one day be expected of him. +Bonaparte was jealous of some generals, the rivalry of whose ambition he +feared; but on this subject Desaix gave him no uneasiness; equally +remarkable for his unassuming disposition, his talent, and information, +he proved by his conduct that he loved glory for her own sake, and that +every wish for the possession of political power was foreign to his mind. +Bonaparte's friendship for him was enthusiastic. At this interview at +Stradella, Desaix was closeted with the First Consul for upwards of three +hours. On the day after his arrival an order of the day communicated to +the army that Desaix was appointed to the command of Boudet's division. + + --[Boudet was on terms of great intimacy with Bonaparte, who, no + doubt, was much affected at his death. However, the only remark he + made on receiving the intelligence, was "Who the devil shall I get + to supply Boudet's place?"--Bourrienne. + + The command given to Desaix was a corps especially formed of the two + divisions of Boudet and Monnier (Savary, tome i. p. 262). Boudet + was not killed at Marengo, still less before (see Erreurs, tome i. + p. 14).]-- + +I expressed to Bonaparte my surprise at his long interview with Desaix. +"Yes," replied he, "he has been a long time with me; but you know what a +favourite he is. As soon as I return to Paris I will make him War +Minister. I would make him a prince if I could. He is quite an antique +character." Desaix died two days after he had completed his thirty-third +year, and in less than a week after the above observations. + +About this time M. Collot came to Italy and saw Bonaparte at Milan. The +latter received him coldly, though he had not yet gained the battle of +Marengo. M. Collot hed been on the most intimate footing with Bonaparte, +and had rendered him many valuable services. These circumstances +sufficiently accounted for Bonaparte's coolness, for he would never +acknowledge himself under obligations to any one, and he did not like +those who were initiated into certain family secrets which he had +resolved to conceal. + + --[The day after the interview I had a long conversation with M. + Collot while Bonaparte was gone to review some corps stationed at + Milan. M. Collot perfectly understood the cause of the unkind + treatment he had experienced, and of which he gave me the following + explanation: + + Some days before the Consulate--that is to say, two or three days + after our return from Egypt,--Bonaparte, during his jealous fit, + spoke to M. Collot about his wife, her levities, and their + publicity. "Henceforth," said Bonaparte, "I will have nothing to do + with her."--"What, would you part from her?"--"Does not her conduct + justify me in so doing?"--"I do not know; but is this the time to + think of such a thing, when the eyes of all France are fixed upon + you? These domestic squabbles will degrade you in the eyes of the + people, who expect you to be wholly devoted to their interests; and + you will be laughed at, like one of Moliere's husbands, if you are + displeased with your wife's conduct you can call her to account when + you have nothing better to do. Begin by raising up the state. + After that you may find a thousand reasons for your resentment when + now you would not find one. You know the French people well enough + to see how important it is that you should not commence with this + absurdity." + + By these and other similar remarks M. Collot thought he had produced + some impression, when Bonaparte suddenly exclaimed: "No, my + determination is fixed; she shall never again enter my house. I + care not what people say. They will gossip about the affair for two + days, and on the third it will be forgotten. She shall go to + Malmaison, and I will live here. The public know enough, not to be + mistaken as to the reasons of her removal." + + M. Collot vainly endeavoured to calm his irritation. Bonaparte + vented a torrent of reproaches upon Josephine. "All this violence," + observed M. Collot, "proves that you still love her. Do but see + her, she will explain the business to your satisfaction and you will + forgive her."--"I forgive her! Never! Collot, you know me. If I + were not sure of my own resolution, I would tear out this heart, and + cast it into the fire." Here anger almost choked his utterance, and + he made a motion with his hand as if tearing his breast. + + When this violent paroxysm had somewhat subsided M. Collot withdrew; + but before he went away Bonaparte invited him to breakfast on the + following morning. + + At ten o'clock M. Collot was there, and as he was passing through + the courtyard he was informed that Madame Bonaparte, who, as I have + already mentioned, had gone to Lyons without meeting the General, + had returned during the night. On M. Collot's entrance Bonaparte + appeared considerably embarrassed. He led him into a side room, not + wishing to bring him into the room where I was writing. "Well," + said Bonaparte to M. Collot, "she is here."--"I rejoice to hear it. + You have done well for yourself as well as for us."--"But do not + imagine I have forgiven her. As long as I live I shall suspect. + The fact is, that on her arrival I desired her to be gone; but that + fool Joseph was there. What could I do, Collot? I saw her descend + the staircase followed by Eugine and Hortense. They were all + weeping; and I have not a heart to resist tears Eugene was with me + in Egypt. I have been accustomed to look upon him as my adopted + son. He is a fine brave lad. Hortense is just about to be + introduced into society, and she is admired by all who know her. + I confess, Collot, I was deeply moved; I could not endure the + distress of the two poor children. 'Should they,' thought I, + 'suffer for their mother's faults?' I called back Eugene and + Hortense, and their mother followed them. What could I say, what + could I do? I should not be a man without some weakness."-- + "Be assured they will reward you for this."--"They ought, Collot + they ought; for it has cost me a hard struggle." After this + dialogue Bonaparte and M. Collot entered the breakfast-parlour, + where I was then sitting. Eugene breakfasted with us, but neither + Josephine nor Hortense. I have already related how I acted the part + of mediator in this affair. Next day nothing was wanting to + complete the reconciliation between the Conqueror of Egypt and the + charming woman who conquered Bonaparte.--Bourrienne.]-- + +On the 13th the First Consul slept at Torre di Galifolo. During the +evening he ordered a staff-officer to ascertain whether the Austrians had +a bridge across the Bormida. A report arrived very late that there was +none. This information set Bonaparte's mind at rest, and he went to bed +very well satisfied; but early next morning, when a firing was heard, and +he learned that the Austrians had debouched on the plain, where the +troops were engaged, he flew into a furious passion, called the staff- +officer a coward, and said he had not advanced far enough. He even spoke +of bringing the matter to an investigation. + +From motives of delicacy I refrain from mentioning the dame of the +officer here alluded to. + +Bonaparte mounted his horse and proceeded immediately to the scene of +action. I did not see him again until six in tine evening. In obedience +to his instructions; I repaired to San Giuliano, which is not above two +leagues from the place where the engagement commenced. In the course of +the afternoon I saw a great many wounded passing through the village, and +shortly afterwards a multitude of fugitives. At San Giuliano nothing was +talked of but a retreat, which, it was said, Bonaparte alone firmly +opposed. I was then advised to leave San Giuliano, where I had just +received a courier for the General-in-Chief. On the morning of the 14th +General Desaix was sent towards Novi to observe the road to Genoa, which +city had fallen several days before, in spite of the efforts of its +illustrious defender, Massena. I returned with this division to San +Giuliano. I was struck with the numerical weakness of the corps which +was marching to aid an army already much reduced and dispersed. The +battle was looked upon as lost, and so indeed it was. The First Consul +having asked Desaix what he thought of it, that brave General bluntly +replied, "The battle is completely lost; but it is only two o'clock, we +have time to gain another to-day." I heard this from Bonaparte himself +the same evening. Who could have imagined that Desaix's little corps, +together with the few heavy cavalry commanded by General Kellerman, +would, about five o'clock, have changed the fortune of the day? It +cannot be denied that it was the instantaneous inspiration of Kellerman +that converted a defeat into a victory, and decided the battle of +Marengo. + +That memorable battle, of which the results were incalculable, has been +described in various ways. Bonaparte had an account of it commenced no +less than three times; and I must confess that none of the narratives are +more correct than that contained in the 'Memoirs of the Duke of Rovigo'. +The Emperor Napoleon became dissatisfied with what had been said by the +First Consul Bonaparte. For my part, not having had the honour to bear a +sword, I cannot say that I saw any particular movement executed this or +that way; but I may mention here what I heard on the evening of the +battle of Marengo respecting the probable chances of that event. As to +the part which the First Consul took in it, the reader, perhaps, is +sufficiently acquainted with his character to account for it. He did not +choose that a result so decisive should be attributed to any other cause +than the combinations of his genius, and if I had not known his +insatiable thirst for glory I should have been surprised at the sort of +half satisfaction evinced at the cause of the success amidst the joy +manifested for the success itself. It must be confessed that in this he +was very unlike Jourdan, Hoche, Kleber, and Moreau, who were ever ready +to acknowledge the services of those who had fought under their orders. + +Within two hours of the time when the divisions commanded by Desaix left +San Giuliano I was joyfully surprised by the triumphant return of the +army, whose fate, since the morning, had caused me so much anxiety. +Never did fortune within so short a time show herself under two such +various faces. At two o'clock all denoted the desolation of a defeat, +with all its fatal consequences; at five victory was again faithful to +the flag of Arcola. Italy was reconquered by a single blow, and the +crown of France appeared in the perspective. + +At seven in the evening, when I returned with the First Consul to +headquarters, he expressed to me his sincere regret for the loss of +Desaix, and then he added, "Little Kellerman made a lucky charge. He did +it at just the right moment. We are much indebted to him. You see what +trifling circumstances decide these affairs." + +These few words show that Bonaparte sufficiently appreciated the services +of Kellerman. However, when that officer approached the table at which +were seated the First Consul and a number of his generals, Bonaparte +merely said, "You made a pretty good charge." By way of counter- +balancing this cool compliment he turned towards Bessieres, who commanded +the horse grenadiers of the Guard, and said, "Bessieres, the Guard has +covered itself with glory." Yet the fact is, that the Guard took no part +in the charge of Kellerman, who could assemble only 500 heavy cavalry; +and with this handful of brave men he cut in two the Austrian column, +which had overwhelmed Desaix's division, and had made 6000 prisoners. +The Guard did not charge at Marengo until nightfall. + +Next day it was reported that Kellerman, in his first feeling of +dissatisfaction at the dry congratulation he had received, said to the +First Consul, "I have just placed the crown on your head!" I did not +hear this, and I cannot vouch for the truth of its having been said. I +could only have ascertained that fart through Bonaparte, and of +course I could not, with propriety, remind him of a thing which must have +been very offensive to him. However, whether true or not, the +observation was circulated about, verbally and in writing, and Bonaparte +knew it. Hence the small degree of favour shown to Kellerman, who was +not made a general of division on the field of battle as a reward for his +charge at Marengo. + + --[If Savary's story be correct, and he was then aide de camp to + Desaix, and Bourrienne acknowledges his account to be the best, the + inspiration of the charge did not come from the young Kellerman. + Savary says that Desaix sent him to tell Napoleon that he could not + delay his attack, and that he must be supported by some cavalry. + + Savary was then sent by Napoleon to a spot where he was told he + would find Kellerman, to order him to charge in support of Desaix. + Desaix and Kellerman were so placed as to be out of sight of each + other (Savary, tome i. pp. 279-279). Thiers (tome i, p. 445) + follows Savary. + + It may here be mentioned that Savary, in his account of the battle, + expressly states that he carried the order from Bonaparte to + Kellerman to make this charge. He also makes the following + observations on the subject:-- + + After the fall of the Imperial Government some pretended friends of + General Kellerman have presumed to claim for him the merit of + originating the charge of cavalry. That general, whose share of + glory is sufficiently brilliant to gratify his most sanguine wishes, + can have no knowledge of so presumptuous a pretension. I the more + readily acquit him from the circumstance that, as we were conversing + one day respecting that battle, I called to his mind my having + brought, to him the First Consul's orders, and he appeared not to + have forgotten that fact. I am far from suspecting his friends of + the design of lessening the glory of either General Bonaparte or + General Desaix; they know as well as myself that theirs are names so + respected that they can never be affected by such detractions, and + that it would be as vain to dispute the praise due to the Chief who + planned the battle was to attempt to depreciate the brilliant share + which General Kellerman had in its successful result. I will add to + the above a few observations. + + "From the position which he occupied General Desaix could not see + General Kellerman; he had even desired me to request the First + Consul to afford him the support of some cavalry. Neither could + General Kellerman, from the point where he was stationed, perceive + General Desaix's division; it is even probable that he was not aware + of the arrival of that General, who had only joined the army two + days before. Both were ignorant of each other's position, which the + First Consul was alone acquainted with; he alone could introduce + harmony into their movements; he alone could make their efforts + respectively conduce to the same object. + + "The fate of the battle was decided by Kellerman's bold charge; had + it, however, been made previously to General Desaix's attack, in all + probability it would have had a quite different result. Kellerman + appears to have been convinced of it, since he allowed the Austrian + column to cross our field of battle and extend its front beyond that + of the troops we had still in line without making the least attempt + to impede its progress. The reason of Kellerman's not charging it + sooner was that it was too serious a movement, and the consequences + of failure would have been irretrievable: that charge, therefore, + could only enter into a general combination of plans, to which he + was necessarily a stranger" (Memoirs of the Duke of Rovigo, tome i. + pp. 218-280).]-- + +M. Delaforet, the Postmaster-general, sometimes transacted business with +the First Consul. The nature of this secret business may easily be +guessed at. + + --[When M. Delaforet was replaced soon after this by Lavalette, + Napoleon ordered the discontinuance of the practice followed until + then of allowing letters to be opened by subordinate officials. + This right was restricted, as in England, to the Minister. However + bad this practice, it was limited, not extended, in his reign. See + Mineval, tome iii. pp. 60-62, and Lavalette, tome ii. p. 10.]-- + +On the occasion of one of their interviews the First Consul saw a letter +from Kellerman to Lasalle, which contained the following passage: "Would +you believe, my friend, that Bonaparte has not made me a general of +division though I have just placed the crown on his head?" The letter +was sealed again and sent to its address; but Bonaparte never forgot its +contents. + +Whether Kellerman did or did not give the crown of France to the First +Consul, it is very certain that on the evening of the battle of Marengo +he gave him a supper, of which his famishing staff and the rest of us +partook. This was no inconsiderable service in the destitute condition +in which we were. We thought ourselves exceeding fortunate in profiting +by the precaution of Kellerman, who had procured provisions from one of +those pious retreats which are always well supplied, and which soldiers +are very glad to fall in with when campaigning. It was the convent del +Bosco which on this occasion was laid under contribution; and in return +for the abundance of good provisions and wine with which they supplied +the commander of the heavy cavalry the holy fathers were allowed a guard +to protect them against pillage and the other disastrous concomitants of +war. + +After supper was over the First Consul dictated to me the bulletin of the +battle. When we were alone I said to him, "General, here is a fine +victory! You recollect what you said the other day about the pleasure +with which you would return to France after striking a grand blow in +Italy; surely you must be satisfied now?"--"Yes, Bourrienne, I am +satisfied. --But Desaix! . . . Ah, what a triumph would this have +been if I could have embraced him to-night on the field of battle!" +As he uttered these words I saw that Bonaparte was on the point of +shedding tears, so sincere and profound was his grief for the death of +Desaix. He certainly never loved, esteemed, or regretted any man so +much. + +The death of Desaix has been variously related, and I need not now state +that the words attributed to him in the bulletin were imaginary. Neither +did he die in the arms of his aide de camp, Lebrun, as I wrote from the +dictation of the First Consul. The following facts are more correct, or +at all events more probable:--the death of Desaix was not perceived at +the moment it took place. He fell without saying a word, at a little +distance from Lefebre-Desnouettes. A sergeant of battalion of the 9th +brigade light infantry, commanded by Barrois, seeing him extended on the +ground, asked permission to pick up his cloak. It was found to be +perforated behind; and this circumstance leaves it doubtful whether +Desaix was killed by some unlucky inadvertency, while advancing at the +head of his troops, or by the enemy when turning towards his men to +encourage them. However, the event was so instantaneous, the disorder so +complete, and the change of fortune so sudden, that it is not surprising +there should be no positive account of the circumstances which attended +his death. + +Early next morning the Prince of Liechtenstein came from General Melas +with negotiations to the First Consul. The propositions of the General +did not suit Bonaparte, and he declared to the Prince that the army shut +up in Alessandria should evacuate freely, and with the honours of war; +but on those conditions, which are well known, and by which Italy was to +be fully restored to the French domination. That day were repaired the +faults of Scherer, whose inertness and imbecility had paralysed +everything, and who had fled, and been constantly beaten, from the +Adriatic to Mont Cenis. The Prince of Liechtenstein begged to return to +render an account of his mission to General Melas. He came back in the +evening, and made many observations on the hard nature of the conditions. +"Sir," replied the First Consul, in a tone of marked impatience, "carry +my final determination to your General, and return quickly. It is +irrevocable! Know that I am as well acquainted with your position as you +are yourselves. I did not begin to learn the art of war yesterday. You +are blocked up in Alessandria; you have many sick and wounded; you are in +want of provisions and medicines. I occupy the whole of your rear. Your +finest troops are among the killed and wounded. I might insist on harder +conditions; my position would warrant me in so doing; but I moderate my +demands in consideration of the gray hairs of your General, whom I +respect." + +This reply was delivered with considerable dignity and energy. I showed +the Prince out, and he said to me, "These conditions are very hard, +especially that of giving up Genoa, which surrendered to us only a +fortnight ago, after so long a siege." It is a curious fact that the +Emperor of Austria received intelligence of the capitulation and +restitution of Genoa at the same time. + +When the First Consul returned to Milan he made Savary and Rapp his aides +de camp. They had previously served in the same rank under Desaix. The +First Consul was at first not much disposed to take them, alleging that +he had aides de camp enough. But his respect for the choice of Desaix, +added to a little solicitation on my part, soon removed every obstacle. +These two officers served him to the last hour of his political career +with unfailing zeal and fidelity. + +I have seen nothing in the Memoirs of the Due de Rovigo (Savary) about my +having had anything to do with his admission to the honour. I can +probably tell the reason why one of the two aides de camp has risen +higher than the other. Rapp had an Alsatian frankness which always +injured him. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +1800. + + Suspension of hostilities--Letter to the Consuls--Second Occupation + of Milan--Bonaparte and Massena--Public acclamations and the voice + of Josephine--Stray recollections--Organization of Piedmont--Sabres + of honour--Rewards to the army of the Rhine--Pretended army of + reserve--General Zach--Anniversary of the 14th of July--Monument to + Desaix--Desaix and Foy--Bonaparte's speech in the Temple of Mars-- + Arrival of the Consular Guard--The bones of marshal Turenne-- + Lucien's successful speech--Letter from Lucien to Joseph Bonaparte-- + The First Consul's return to Paris--Accidents on the road-- + Difficulty of gaining lasting fame--Assassination of Kleber-- + Situation of the terrace on which Kleber was stabbed--Odious rumours + --Arrival of a courier--A night scene--Bonaparte's distress on + perusing the despatches from Egypt. + +What little time, and how few events sometimes suffice to change the +destiny of nations! We left Milan on the 13th of June, Marengo on the +14th, and on the 15th Italy was ours! A suspension of hostilities +between the French and Austrian armies was the immediate result of a +single battle; and by virtue of a convention, concluded between Berthier +and Melas, we resumed possession of all the fortified places of any +importance, with the exception of Mantua. As soon as this convention was +signed Bonaparte dictated to me at Torre di Galifolo the following letter +to his colleagues: + + The day after the battle of Marengo, CITIZENS CONSULS, General Melas + transmitted a message to our advance posts requesting permission to + send General Skal to me. During the day the convention, of which I + send you a copy, was drawn up, and at night it was signed by + Generals Berthier and Melas. I hope the French people will be + satisfied with the conduct, of their army. + (Signed) Bonaparte + +The only thing worthy of remark in this letter would be the concluding +sentence, in which the First Consul still affected to acknowledge the +sovereignty of the people, were it not that the words "Citizens Consuls" +were evidently foisted in with a particular design. The battle was +gained; and even in a trifling matter like this it was necessary that the +two, other Consuls should feel that they were not so much the colleagues +as the subordinates of the First Consul. + +We returned to Milan, and our second occupation of that, city was marked +by continued acclamations wherever the First Consul showed himself. +At Milan the First Consul now saw Massena for the first time since our +departure for Egypt. Bonaparte lavished upon, him the highest praises, +but not higher than he deserved, for his admirable, defence of Genoa. +He named him his successor in the command of the army of Italy. Moreau +was on the Rhine, and therefore none but the conqueror of Zurich could +properly have succeeded the First Consul in that command. The great blow +was struck; but there might still occur an emergency requiring the +presence of a skillful experienced general, well acquainted with the +country. And besides, we could not be perfectly at ease, until it was +ascertained what conditions would be adhered to by the Cabinet of Vienna, +which was then entirely under the influence of the Cabinet of London. +After our return from the battle the popular joy was general and +heartfelt not only among the higher and middle ranks of society, but in +all classes; and the affection evinced from all quarters to the First +Consul was unfeigned. In what a tone of sincerity did he say to me one +day, when returning from the parade, "Bourrienne, do you hear the +acclamations still resounding? That noise is as sweet to me as the sound +of Josephine's voice. How happy and proud I am to be loved by such a +people!" + +During our stay at Milan Bonaparte had arranged a new government for +Piedmont; he had ever since cherished the wish to unite that rich and +fertile country to the French territory because some Piedmontese +provinces had been possessed by Louis XIV. That monarch was the only +king whom the First Consul really admired. "If," said he one day, "Louis +XIV. had not been born a king, he would have been a great man. But he +did not know mankind; he could not know them, for he never knew +misfortune." He admired the resolution of the old King, who would rather +bury himself under the ruins of the monarchy than submit to degrading +conditions, after having commanded the sovereigns of Europe. I recollect +that Bonaparte was extremely pleased to see in the reports which he +ordered to be made that in Casal, and in the valleys of Pignerol, Latour, +and Luzerne, there still existed many traces of the period when those +countries belonged to France; and that the French language was yet +preserved there. He already began to identify himself with the past; and +abusing the old kings of France was not the way to conciliate his favour. + +The First Consul appointed for the government of Piedmont a Council +which, as may naturally be imagined; he composed of those Piedmontese who +were the declared partisans of France. He stated as the grounds of this +arrangement that it was to give to Piedmont a new proof of the affection +and attachment of the French people. He afterwards appointed General. +Dupont President of the Council, with the title of Minister-Extraordinary +of the French government. I will here mention a secret step taken by +Bonaparte towards the overthrowing of the Republic. In making the first +draught of General Dupont's appointment I had mechanically written, +"Minister-Extraordinary of the French Republic."--"No! no!" said +Bonaparte, "not of the Republic; say of the Government." + +On his return to Paris the First Consul gave almost incredible proofs of +his activity. The day after his arrival he promulgated a great number of +decrees, and afterwards allotted the rewards to his soldiers. He +appointed Kellerman General of division which, on every principle of +justice, he ought to have done on the field of battle. He distributed +sabres of honour, with the following inscription, highly complimentary to +himself:-- + + "Battle of Maringo,--[spelt for some time, I do not know why, as, + Maringo--Bourrienne]-- commanded in person by the First Consul. + --Given by the Government of the Republic to General Lannes." + +Similar sabres where presented to Generals Victor, Watrin, Gardanne, and +Murat; and sabres of less value to other officers: and also muskets and +drumsticks of honour to the soldiers and drummers who had distinguished +themselves at Marengo, or in the army of the Rhine; for Bonaparte took +care that the officers and men who had fought under Moreau should be +included among those to whom the national rewards were presented. He +even had a medal struck to perpetuate the memory of the entry of the +French army into Munich. It is worthy of remark that while official +fabrications and exaggerated details of facts were published respecting +Marengo and the short campaign of Italy, by a feigned modesty the +victorious army of Marengo received the unambitious title of 'Army of +Reserve'. By this artifice the honour of the Constitution was saved. +The First Consul had not violated it. If he had marched to the field, +and staked everything on a chance it was merely accidentally, for he +commanded only an "Army of Reserve," which nevertheless he had greeted +with the title of Grand Army before he entered upon the campaign. It is +scarcely conceivable that Bonaparte, possessing as he did an +extraordinary mind, should have descended to such pitiful artifices. + + --[ Thiers (tome. vi., p. 70) says the title Grande Armee was first + given by Napoleon to the force prepared in 1805 for the campaign + against Austria. The Constitution forbad the First Consul to + command the armies in person. Hence the title, "Army of Reserve," + gives to the force which fought Marengo.]-- + +Even foreigners and prisoners were objects of Bonaparte's designing +intentions. I recollect one evening his saying to me; "Bourrienne, write +to the Minister of War, and tell him to select a fine brace of pistols, +of the Versailles manufacture, and send them, in my name, to General +Zach. He dined with me to-day, and highly praised our manufacture of +arms. I should like to give him a token of remembrance; besides,--the, +matter will be talked of at Vienna, and may perhaps do good!" + +As soon as the news of the battle of Marengo reached Paris Lucien +Bonaparte, Minister of the Interior, ordered preparations for the +festival, fixed for the 14th of July, in commemoration of the first +Federation. This festival and that of the 1st Vendemiaire were the only +ones preserved by the Consular Government. Indeed, in those memorable +days, when the Revolution appeared in its fairest point of view, France +had never known such joy as that to which the battle of Marengo gave +rise. Still, amidst all this popular transport there was a feeling of +regret. The fame of Desaix, his heroic character, his death, the words +attributed to him and believed to be true, caused mourning to be mingled +with joy. It was agreed to open a subscription for erecting a national +monument to his memory. A reflection naturally arises here upon the +difference between the period referred to and the present time. France +has endowed with nearly a million the children of one of her greatest +orators and most eloquent defenders of public liberty, yet, for the +monument to the memory of Desaix scarcely 20,000 francs were subscribed. +Does not this form a singular contrast with the patriotic munificence +displayed at the death of General Foy? The pitiful monument to Desaix, +on the Place Dauphins, sufficiently attests the want of spirit on the +part of the subscribers. Bonaparte, who was much dissatisfied with it, +gave the name of Desaix to a new quay, the first stone of which was laid +with great solemnity on the 14th of July. + +On that day the crowd was immense in the Champ-de-Mars and in the Temple +of Mars, the name which at that the Church of the Invalides still +preserved. Lucien delivered a speech on the encouraging prospects of +France, and Lannes made an appropriate address on presenting to the +Government the flags taken at Marengo. Two more followed; one from an +aide de cramp of Massena, and the other from an aide de camp of Lecourbe; +and after the distribution of some medals the First Consul then delivered +the following address:-- + + CITIZENS! SOLDIERS!--The flags presented to the Government, in the + presence of the people of this immense capital, attest at once the + genius of the Commanders-in-Chief Moreau, Massena, and Berthier; the + military talents of the generals, their lieutenants; and bravery of + the French soldiers. + + On your return to the camp tell your comrades that for the 1st + Vendemiaire, when we shall celebrate the anniversary of the + Republic, the French people expect either peace or, if the enemy + obstinately refuse it, other flags, the fruit of fresh victories. + + +After this harangue of the First Consul, in which he addressed to the +military in the name of the people, and ascribed to Berthier the glory of +Marengo, a hymn was chanted, the words of which were written by M. de +Fontanes and the music composed by Mehul. But what was most remarkable +in this fete was neither the poetry, music, nor even the panegyrical +eloquence of Lucien, -- it was the arrival at the Champ-de-Mars, after +the ceremony at the Invalides, of the Consular Guard returning from +Marengo. I was at a window of the Ecole-Militaire, and I can never +forget the commotion, almost electrical, which made the air resound with +cries of enthusiasm at their appearance. These soldiers did not defile +before the First Consul in fine uniforms as at a review. Leaving the +field of battle when the firing ceased, they had crossed Lombardy, +Piedmont, Mont Cenis, Savoy, and France in the space of twenty-nine days. +They appeared worn by the fatigue of a long journey, with faces browned +by the summer sun of Italy, and with their arms and clothing showing the +effects of desperate struggles. Do you wish to have an idea of their +appearance? You will find a perfect type in the first grenadier put by +Gerard at one side of his picture of the battle of Austerlitz. + +At the time of this fete, that is to say, in the middle of the month of +July, the First Consul could not have imagined that the moderate +conditions he had proposed after the victory would not be accepted by +Austria. In the hope, therefore, of a peace which could not but be +considered probable, he, for the first time since the establishment of +the Consular Government, convoked the deputies of the departments, and +appointed their time of assembling in Paris for the 1st Vendemiaire, a +day which formed the close of one remarkable century and marked the +commencement of another. + +The remains of Marshal Turenne; to which Louis XIV. had awarded the +honours of annihilation by giving them a place among the royal tombs in +the vaults of St. Denis, had been torn from their grave at the time of +the sacrilegious violation of the tombs. His bones, mingled +indiscriminately with others, had long lain in obscurity in a garret of +the College of Medicine when M. Lenoir collected and restored them to the +ancient tomb of Turenne in the Mussee des Petits Augustins. Bonaparte- +resolved to enshrine these relics in that sculptured marble with which +the glory of Turenne could so well dispense. This was however, intended +as a connecting link between the past days of France and the future to +which he looked forward. He thought that the sentiments inspired by the +solemn honours rendered to the memory of Turenne would dispose the +deputies of the departments to receive with greater enthusiasm the +pacific communications he hoped to be able to make. + +However, the negotiations did not take the favourable turn which the +First Consul had expected; and, notwithstanding all the address of +Lucien, the communication was not heard without much uneasiness. But +Lucien had prepared a speech quite to the taste of the First Consul. +After dilating for some time on the efforts of the Government to obtain +peace he deplored the tergiversations of Austria, accused the fatal +influence of England, and added in a more elevated and solemn tone, +"At the very moment when, the Consuls were leaving the Palace of the +Government a courier arrived bearing despatches which the First Consul +has directed me to communicate to you." He then read a note declaring +that the Austrian Government consented to surrender to France the three +fortresses of Ulm, Philipsburg, and Ingolstadt. This was considered as a +security for the preliminaries of peace being speedily signed. The news +was received with enthusiasm, and that anxious day closed in a way highly +gratifying to the First Consul. + +Whilst victory confirmed in Italy the destinies of the First Consul, his +brothers were more concerned about their own interests than the affairs +of France. They loved money as much as Bonaparte loved glory. A letter +from Lucien to his brother Joseph, which I shall subjoin, shows how ready +they always were to turn to their own advantage the glory and fortune of +him to whom they were indebted for all their importance. I found this +letter among my papers, but I cannot tell why and how I preserved it. +It is interesting, inasmuch as it shows, the opinion that family of +future kings entertained of their own situation, and of what their fate +would have been had Bonaparte, like Desaix, fallen on the field of +Marengo. It is, besides, curious to observe the, philosopher Lucien +causing Te Deum, to be chanted with the view of influencing the public +funds. At all events I copy Lucien's letter as he wrote it, giving the +words marked in italics [CAPS] and the numerous notes of exclamation +which distinguish the original. + +MY BROTHER--I send you a courier; I particularly wish that the First +Consul would give me notice of his arrival twenty-four hours +beforehand, and that he would inform ME ALONE of the barrier by which +he will enter. The city wishes to prepare triumphal arches for him, +and it deserves not to be disappointed. + +AT MY REQUEST a Te Deum was chanted yesterday. There were 60,000 +persons present. + +The intrigues of Auteuil continue. + + --[This intrigue, so called from Talleyrand one of its heads, living + in the suburb of Auteuil, arose from the wish of many of the most + influential men to be prepared in case of the death of Napoleon in + any action in Italy: It was simply a continuation of the same + combinations which had been attempted or planned in 1799, till the + arrival of Bonaparte from Egypt made the party choose him as the + instrument for the overthrow of the Directors. There was little + secrecy about their plans; see Miot de Melito (tome i p. 276), + where Joseph Bonaparte tells his friends all that was being proposed + in case his brother fell. Carnot seems to have been the most + probable choice as leader and replacer of Bonaparte. In the above + letter "C----," stands for Carrot, "La F----" for La Fayette, the + "High Priest" is Sieyes, and the "friend of Auteuil" is Talleyrand; + see Iung's Lucien, tome i. p. 411. The postscript seems to refer to + a wretched scandal about Caroline, and Lucien; see Iung's Lucien, + tome i. pp. 411, 432-433. The reader should remark the retention + of this and other documents by Bourrienne, which forms one of the + charges brought against him farther on.]-- + +--It has been found difficult to decide between C---- and La F----. +The latter has proposed his daughter in marriage to me. Intrigue has +been carried to the last extreme. I do not know yet whether the High +Priest has decided for one party or the other. I believe that he would +cheat them both for an Orleans, and your friend of Auteuil was at the +bottom of all. The news of the battle of Marengo petrified them, and yet +next day the High Priest certainly spent three hours with your friend of +Auteuil. As to us, had the victory of Marengo closed the First Consul's +career we should now have been Proscribed. + +Your letters say nothing of what I expected to hear. I hope at least to +be informed of the answer from Vienna before any one. I am sorry you +have not paid me back for the battle of Marengo. + +The festival of the 14th of July will be very gratifying. We expect +peace as a certainty, and the triumphant return of the First Consul. +The family is all well. Your wife and all her family are at +Mortfontaine. Ney is at Paris. Why do you return with the First Consul? +Peace! and Italy! Think of our last interview. I embrace you. + (Signed) LUCIEN. +On the margin is written-- + +P.S.--Read the letter addressed to the Consul, and give it to him AFTER +YOU HAVE CAREFULLY CLOSED IT. + +Forward the enclosed. Madame Murat never lodged in my house. Her +husband is a fool, whom his wife ought to punish by not writing to him +for a month. + (Signed) LUCIEN BONAPARTE + + +Bonaparte, confirmed in his power by the victory of Marengo, remained +some days longer at Milan to settle the affairs of Italy. He directed +one to furnish Madame Grassini with money to pay her expenses to Paris. +We departed amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants, and took the road +to Turin. The First Consul stopped at Turin for some hours, and +inspected the citadel, which had bean surrendered to us in pursuance of +the capitulation of Alessandria. In passing over Mont Cenis we observed +the carriage of Madame Kellerman, who was going to meet her husband. +Bonaparte on recognizing the lady stopped his carriage and congratulated +her on the gallant conduct of her husband at the battle of Marengo. + +On our arrival at Lyons we alighted at the Hotel des Celestins, and the +loud acclamations of a numerous multitude assembled round the hotel +obliged Bonaparte to show himself on the balcony. Next day he proceeded +to the Square of Bellecour, where, amidst the plaudits of the people, he +laid the first stone of some new buildings destined to efface one of the +disasters of the Revolution. + +We left Lyons that evening and continued our journey by way of Dijon. +On our arrival in that town the joy of the inhabitants was very great. +I never saw a more graceful and captivating sight than that which was +presented by a group of beautiful young females, crowned with flowers, +who accompanied Bonaparte's carriage, and which at that period, when the +Revolution had renewed all the republican recollections of Greece and +Rome, looked like the chorus of females dancing around the victor at the +Olympic games. + +But all our journey was not so agreeable. Some accidents awaited us. +The First Consul's carriage broke down between Villeneuve-le-Roi and +Sens. He sent a courier to inform my mother that he would stop at her +house till his carriage was repaired. He dined there, and we started +again at seven in the evening. + +But we had other disasters to encounter. One of our off-wheels came off, +and as we were driving at a very rapid pace the carriage was overturned +on the bridge at a short distance from Montreau-Faut-Yonne. The First +Consul, who sat on my left, fell upon me, and sustained no injury. My +head was slightly hurt by striking against some things which were in the +pocket of the carriage; but this accident was not worth stopping for, and +we arrived at Paris on the same night, the 2d of July. Duroc, who was +the third in the carriage, was not hurt. + +I have already mentioned that Bonaparte was rather talkative when +travelling; and as we were passing through Burgundy, on our return to +Paris from Marengo, he said exultingly, "Well, a few more events like +this campaign, and I may go down to posterity."--"I think," replied I, +"that you have already done enough to secure great and lasting fame."-- +"Yes," resumed he, "I have done enough, it is true. In less than two +years I have won Cairo, Paris, and Milan; but for all that, my dear +fellow, were I to die to-morrow I should not at the end of ten centuries +occupy half a page of general history!" + +On the very day when Desaix fell on the field of Marengo Kleber was +assassinated by a fanatical Mussulman, named Soleiman Haleby, who stabbed +him with a dagger, and by that blow decided the fate of Egypt. + + --["This fellah was, at most, eighteen or twenty years of age: he + was a native of Damascus, and declared that he had quitted his + native city by command of the grand vizier, who had entrusted him + with the commission of repairing to Egypt and killing the grand + sultan of the French [Bonaparte being probably intended]. That for + this purpose alone he had left his family, and performed the whole + journey on foot and had received from the grand vizier no other + money than what was absolutely requisite for the exigencies of the + journey. On arriving at Cairo he had gone forthwith to perform his + devotions in the great mosque, and it was only on the eve of + executing his project that he confided it to one of the scherifs of + the mosque" (Duc de Rovigo's Memoirs, tome 1. p. 367)]-- + +Thus was France, on the same day, and almost at the same hour, deprived +of two of her most distinguished generals. Menou, as senior in command, +succeeded Kleber, and the First Consul confirmed the appointment. From +that moment the loss of Egypt was inevitable. + +I have a few details to give respecting the tragical death of Kleber. +The house of Elfy Bey, which Bonaparte occupied at Cairo, and in which +Kleber lived after his departure; had a terrace leading from a salon to +an old ruined cistern, from which, down a few steps, there was an +entrance into the garden. The terrace commanded a view of the grand +square of El Beguyeh, which was to the right on coming out of the salon, +while the garden was on the left. This terrace was Bonaparte's favourite +promenade, especially in the evenings, when he used to walk up and down +and converse with the persons about him, I often advised him to fill up +the reservoir, and to make it level with the terrace. I even showed him, +by concealing myself in it, and coming suddenly behind him, how easy it +would be for any person to attempt his life and then escape, either by +jumping into the square, or passing through the garden. He told me I was +a coward, and was always in fear of death; and he determined not to make +the alteration I suggested, which, however, he acknowledged to be +advisable. Kleber's assassin availed himself of the facility which I so +often apprehended might be fatal to Bonaparte. + +I shall not atop to refute all the infamous rumours which were circulated +respecting Kleber's death. When the First Consul received the unexpected +intelligence he could scarcely believe it. He was deeply affected; and +on reading the particulars of the assassination he instantly called to +mind how often he had been in the same situation as that in which Kleber +was killed, and all I had said respecting the danger of the reservoir-- +a danger from which it is inconceivable he should have escaped, +especially after his Syrian expedition had excited the fury of the +natives. Bonaparte's knowledge of Kleber's talents--the fact of his +having confided to him the command of the army, and the aid which he +constantly endeavoured to transmit to him, repelled at once the horrible +suspicion of his having had the least participation in the crime, and the +thought that he was gratified to hear of it. + +It is very certain that Bonaparte's dislike of Kleber was as decided as +the friendship he cherished for Desaix. Kleber's fame annoyed him, for +he was weak enough to be annoyed at it. He knew the manner in which +Kleber spoke of him, which was certainly not the most respectful. During +the long and sanguinary siege of St. Jean d'Acre Kleber said to me, "That +little scoundrel Bonaparte, who is no higher than my boot, will enslave +France. See what a villainous expedition he has succeeded in involving +us in." Kleber often made the same remark to others as well as to me. +I am not certain that it was ever reported to Bonaparte; but there is +reason to believe that those who found it their interest to accuse others +did not spare Kleber. + +Kleber, who was a sincere republican, saw and dreaded for his country's +sake the secret views and inordinate ambition of Bonaparte. He was a +grumbler by nature; yet he never evinced discontent in the discharge of +his duties as a soldier. He swore and stormed, but marched bravely to +the cannon's mouth: he was indeed courage personified. One day when he +was in the trench at St. Jean d'Acre, standing up, and by his tall +stature exposed to every shot, Bonaparte called to him, "Stoop down, +Kleber, stoop down!"--"Why;" replied he, "your confounded trench does +not reach to my knees." He never regarded the Egyptian expedition with a +favourable eye. He thought it too expensive, and utterly useless to +France. He was convinced that in the situation in which we stood, +without a navy or a powerful Government, it would have been better to +have confined our attention to Europe than to have wasted French blood +and money on the banks of the Nile, and among the ruined cities of Syria. +Kleber, who was a cool, reflecting man, judged Bonaparte without +enthusiasm, a thing somewhat rare at that time, and he was not blind to +any of his faults. + +Bonaparte alleged that Kleber said to him, "General, you are as great as +the world!" Such a remark is in direct opposition to Kleber's character. +He was too sincere to say anything against his conviction. Bonaparte, +always anxious to keep Egypt, of which the preservation alone could +justify the conquest, allowed Kleber to speak because he acted at the +same time. He knew that Kleber's sense of military duty would always +triumph over any opposition he might cherish to his views and plans. +Thus the death of his lieutenant, far from causing Bonaparte any feeling +of satisfaction, afflicted him the more, because it almost totally +deprived him if the hope of preserving a conquest which had cost France +so dear, and which was his work. + +The news of the death of Kleber arrived shortly after our return to +Paris. Bonaparte was anxiously expecting accounts from Egypt, none +having been received for a considerable time. The arrival of the courier +who brought the fatal intelligence gave rise to a scene which I may +relate here. It was two o'clock in the morning when the courier arrived +at the Tuileries. In his hurry the First Consul could not wait to rouse +any one to call me up. I had informed him some days before that if he +should want me during the night he should send for me to the corridor, as +I had changed my bedchamber on account of my wife's accouchement. He +came up himself and instead of knocking at my door knocked at that of my +secretary. The latter immediately rose, and opening the door to his +surprise saw the First Consul with a candle in his hand, a Madras +handkerchief on his head, and having on his gray greatcoat. Bonaparte, +not knowing of the little step down into the room, slipped and nearly +fell, "Where is Bourrienne?" asked he. The surprise of my secretary at +the apparition of the First Consul can be imagined. "What; General, is +it you?"--" Where is Bourrienne?" Then my secretary, in his shirt, showed +the First Consul my door. After having told him that he was sorry at +having called him up, Napoleon came to me. I dressed in a hurry, and we +went downstairs to my usual room. We rang several times before they +opened the door for us. The guards were not asleep, but having heard so +much running to and fro feared we were thieves. At last they opened the +door, and the First Consul threw on the table the immense packet of +despatches which he had just received. They had been fumigated and +steeped in vinegar. When he read the announcement of the death of Kleber +the expression of his countenance sufficiently denoted the painful +feelings which arose in his mind. I read in his face; EGYPT IS LOST! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Bonaparte's wish to negotiate with England and Austria-- + An emigrant's letter--Domestic details--The bell--Conspiracy of + Ceracchi, Arena, Harrel, and others--Bonaparte's visit to the opera + --Arrests--Rariel appointed commandant of Vincennes--The Duc + d'Enghien's foster-sister--The 3d Nivoise--First performance of + Haydn's "Creation"--The infernal machine--Congratulatory addresses-- + Arbitrary condemnations--M. Tissot erased from the list of the + banished--M. Truguet--Bonapartes' hatred of the Jacobins explained-- + The real criminals discovered--Justification of Fouche--Execution of + St. Regent and Carbon--Caesar, Cromwell, and Bonaparte--Conversation + between Bonaparte and Fouche--Pretended anger--Fouche's + dissimulation--Lucien's resignation--His embassy to Spain--War + between Spain and Portugal--Dinner at Fouche's--Treachery of Joseph + Bonaparte--A trick upon the First Consul--A three days' coolness-- + Reconciliation. + +The happy events of the campaign of Italy had been crowned by the +armistice, concluded on the 6th of July. This armistice was broken on +the 1st of September, and renewed after the battle of Hohenlinden. On +his return from Marengo Bonaparte was received with more enthusiasm than +ever. The rapidity with which, in a campaign of less than two months, he +had restored the triumph of the French standard, excited universal +astonishment. He then actively endeavoured to open negotiations with +England and Austria; but difficulties opposed him in every direction. He +frequently visited the theatre, where his presence attracted prodigious +throngs of persons, all eager to see and applaud him. + +The immense number of letters which were at this time addressed to the +First Consul is scarcely conceivable. They contained requests for +places, protestations of fidelity, and, in short, they were those +petitionary circulars that are addressed to all persons in power. These +letters were often exceedingly curious, and I have preserved many of +them; among the rest was one from Durosel Beaumanoir, an emigrant who had +fled to Jersey. This letter contains some interesting particulars +relative to Bonaparte's family. It is dated Jersey, 12th July 1800, and +the following are the moat remarkable passages it contains: + + I trust; General, that I may, without indiscretion, intrude upon + your notice, to remind you of what, I flatter myself, you have not + totally forgotten, after having lived eighteen or nineteen years at + Ajaccio. But you will, perhaps, be surprised that so trifling an + item should be the subject of the letter which I have the honour to + address to you. You cannot have forgotten, General, that when your + late father was obliged to take your brothers from the college of + Autun, from whence he went to see you at Brienne, he was unprovided + with mousy, and he asked me for twenty-five louis, which I lent him + with pleasure. After his return he had no opportunity of paying me, + and when I left Ajaccio your mother offered to dispose of some plate + in order to pay the debt. To this I objected, and told her that I + would wait until she could pay me at her convenience, and previous + to the breaking out of the revolution I believe it was not in her + power to fulfil her wish of discharging the debt. + + I am sorry, General, to be obliged to trouble yon about such a + trifle. But such is my unfortunate situation that even this trifle + is of some importance to me. Driven from my country, and obliged to + take refuge in this island, where everything is exceedingly + expensive, the little sum I have mentioned, which was formerly a + matter of indifference, would now be of great service to me. + + You will understand, General, that at the age of eighty-six, after + serving served my country well for sixty years, without the least + interruption, not counting the time of emigration, chased from every + place, I have been obliged to take refuge here, to subsist on the + scanty succour given by the English Government to the French + emigrant. I say emigrant because I have been forced to be one. + I had no intention of being one, but a horde of brigands, who came + from Caen to my house to assassinate me, considered I had committed + the great crime in being the senior general of the canton and in + having the Grand Cross of St. Louis: this was too much for them; if + it had not been for the cries of my neighbours, my door would have + been broken open, and I should have been assassinated; and I had but + time to fly by a door at the back, only carrying away what I had on + me. At first I retired to Paris, but there they told me that I + could do nothing but go into a foreign country, so great was the + hate entertained for me by my fellow-citizens, although I lived in + retirement, never having any discussion with any one. Thus, + General; I have abandoned all I possessed, money and goods, leaving + them at the mercy of what they call the nation, which has profited a + good deal by this, as I have nothing left in the world, not even a + spot to put my foot on. If even a horse had been reserved for me, + General, I could ask for what depends on you, for I have heard it + said that some emigrants have been allowed to return home. I do not + even ask this favour, not having a place to rest my foot. And, + besides, I have with me here an exiled brother, older than I am, + very ill and in perfect second childhood, whom I could not abandon. + I am resigned to my own unhappy fate, but my sole and great grief is + that not only I myself have been ill-treated, but that my fate has, + contrary to the law, injured relations whom I love and respect. I + have a mother-in-law, eighty years old, who has been refused the + dower I had given her from my property, and this will make me die a + bankrupt if nothing is changed, which makes me miserable. + + I acknowledge, General, that I know little of the new style, but, + according to the old form, I am your humble servant, + + DUROSEL BEAUMANOIR. + + +I read this letter to the First Consul, who immediately said, +"Bourrienne, this is sacred! Do not lose a minute. Send the old man ten +times the sum. Write to General Durosel that he shall be immediately +erased from the list of emigrants. What mischief those brigands of the +Convention have done! I can never repair it all." Bonaparte uttered +these words with a degree of emotion which I rarely saw him evince. In +the evening he asked me whether I had executed his orders, which I had +done without losing a moment. The death of M. Froth had given me a +lesson as to the value of time! + +Availing myself of the privilege I have already frequently taken of +making abrupt transitions from one subject to another, according as the +recollection of past circumstances occurs to my mind, I shall here note +down a few details, which may not improperly be called domestic, and +afterwards describe a conspiracy which was protected by the very man +against whom it was hatched. + +At the Tuileries, where the First Consul always resided during the winter +and sometimes a part of the summer, the grand salon was situated between +his cabinet and the Room in which he received the persons with whom he +had appointed audiences. When in this audience-chamber, if he wanted +anything or had occasion to speak to anybody, he pulled a bell which was +answered by a confidential servant named Landoire, who was the messenger +of the First Consul's cabinet. When Bonaparte's bell rung it was usually +for the purpose of making some inquiry of me respecting a paper, a name, +a date, or some matter of that sort; and then Landoire had to pass +through the cabinet and salon to answer the bell and afterwards to return +and to tell me I was wanted. Impatient at the delay occasioned by this +running about, Bonaparte, without saying anything to me, ordered the bell +to be altered so that it should ring within the cabinet; and exactly +above my table. Next morning when I entered the cabinet I saw a man +mounted-upon a ladder. "What are you doing here?" said I. "I am hanging +a bell, sir." I called Landoire and asked him who had given the order. +"The First Consul," he replied. I immediately ordered the man to come +down and remove the ladder, which he accordingly did. When I went, +according to custom, to awaken the First Consul and read the newspapers +to him I said, "General, I found a man this morning hanging a bell in +your cabinet. I was told it was by your orders; but being convinced +there must be some mistake I sent him away. Surely the bell was not +intended for you, and I cannot imagine it was intended for me: who then +could it be for?--"What a stupid fellow that Landoire is!" said +Bonaparte. "Yesterday, when Cambaceres was with me, I wanted you. +Landoire did not come when I touched the bell. I thought it was broken, +and ordered him to get it repaired. I suppose the bell-hanger was doing +it when you saw him, for you know the wire passes through the cabinet." +I was satisfied with this explanation, though I was not deceived, by it. +For the sake of appearance he reproved Landoire, who, however, had done +nothing more than execute the order he had received. How could he +imagine I would submit to such treatment, considering that we had been +friends since our boyhood, and that I was now living on full terms of +confidence and familiarity with him? + +Before I speak of the conspiracy of Ceracchi, Arena, Topino-Lebrun, and +others, I must notice a remark made by Napoleon at St. Helena. He said, +or is alleged to have said, "The two attempts which placed me in the +greatest danger were those of the sculptor Ceracchi and of the fanatic of +Schoenbrun." I was not at Schoenbrun at the time; but I am convinced +that Bonaparte was in the most imminent danger. I have been informed on +unquestionable authority that Staps set out from Erfurth with the +intention of assassinating the Emperor; but he wanted the necessary +courage for executing the design. He was armed with a large dagger, and +was twice sufficiently near Napoleon to have struck him. I heard this +from Rapp, who seized Stags, and felt the hilt of the dagger under his +coat. On that occasion Bonaparte owed his life only to the irresolution +of the young 'illuminato' who wished to sacrifice him to his fanatical +fury. It is equally certain that on another occasion, respecting which +the author of the St. Helena narrative observes complete silence, another +fanatic--more dangerous than Steps attempted the life of Napoleon. + + --[At the time of this attempt I was not with Napoleon; but he + directed me to see the madmen who had formed the design of + assassinating him. It will be seen in the coarse of these Memoirs + what were has plans, and what was the result of them--Bourrienne]-- + +The following is a correct statement of the facts relative to Ceracchi's +conspiracy. The plot itself was a mere shadow; but it was deemed +advisable to give it substance, to exaggerate, at least in appearance, +the danger to which the First Consul had been exposed:-- + +There was at that time in Paris an idle fellow called Harrel; he had been +a 'chef de battalion', but he had been dismissed the service, and was +consequently dissatisfied. He became connected with Cerracchi, Arena, +Topino-Lebrun, and Demerville. From different motives all these +individuals were violently hostile to the First Consul, who on his part, +was no friend to Cerracchi and Arena, but scarcely knew the two others. +These four individuals formed, in conjunction with Harrel, the design of +assassinating the First Consul, and the time fixed for the perpetration +of the deed was one evening when Bonaparte intended to visit the opera. + +On the 20th of September 1804 Harrel came to me at the Tuileries. He +revealed to me the plot in which he was engaged, and promised that his +accomplices should be apprehended in the very act if I would supply him +with money to bring the plot to maturity. I knew not how to act upon +this disclosure, which I, however, could not reject without incurring too +great a responsibility. I immediately communicated the business to the +First Consul, who ordered me to supply Harrel with money; but not to +mention the affair to Fouche, to whom he wished to prove that he knew +better how to manage the police than he did. + +Harrel came nearly every evening at eleven o'clock to inform me of the +progress of the conspiracy, which I immediately communicated to the First +Consul, who was not sorry to find Arena and Ceracchi deeply committed. +But the time passed on, and nothing was done. The First Consul began to +grow impatient. At length Harrel came to say that they had no money to +purchase arms. Money was given him. He, however, returned next day to +say that the gunsmith refused to sell them arms without authority. It +was now found necessary to communicate the business to Fouche in order +that he might grant the necessary permission to the gunsmith, which I was +not empowered to do. + +On the 10th of October the Consuls, after the breaking up of the Council, +assembled in the cabinet of their colleague. Bonaparte asked them in my +presence whether they thought he ought to go to the opera. They observed +that as every precaution was taken no danger could be apprehended, and +that it was desirable to show the futility of attempts against the First +Consul's life. After dinner Bonaparte put on a greatcoat over his green +uniform and got into his carriage accompanied by me and Duroc. He seated +himself in front of his box, which at that time was on the left of the +theatre between the two columns which separated the front and side boxes. +When we had been in the theatre about half an hour the First Consul +directed me to go and see what was doing in the corridor. Scarcely had I +left the box than I heard a great uproar, and soon discovered that a +number of persons, whose names I could not learn, had been arrested. I +informed the First Consul of what I had heard, and we immediately +returned to the Tuileries. + +It is certain that the object of the conspiracy was to take the First +Consul's life, and that the conspirators neglected nothing which could +further the accomplishment of their atrocious design. The plot, however, +was known through the disclosures of Harrel; and it would have been easy +to avert instead of conjuring up the storm. Such was, and such still is, +my opinion. Harrel's name was again restored to the army list, and he +was appointed commandant of Vincennes. This post he held at the time of +the Duc d'Enghien's assassination. I was afterwards told that his wife +was foster-sister to the unfortunate prince, and that she recognised him +when he entered the prison which in a few short hours was to prove his +grave. + +Carbonneau, one of the individuals condemned, candidly confessed the part +he had taken in the plot, which he said was brought to maturity solely by +the agents of the police, who were always eager to prove their zeal to +their employers by some new discovery. + +Although three months intervened between the machinations of Ceracchi and +Arena and the horrible attempt of the 3d Nivose, I shall relate these two +events in immediate succession; for if they had no other points of +resemblance they were at least alike in their object. The conspirators +in the first affair were of the revolutionary faction. They sought +Bonaparte's life as if with the view of rendering his resemblance to +Caesar so complete that not even a Brutus should be wanting. The latter, +it must with regret be confessed, were of the Royalist party, and in +their wish to destroy the First Consul they were not deterred by the fear +of sacrificing a great number of citizens. + +The police knew nothing of the plot of the 3d Nivose for two reasons; +first, because they were no parties to it, and secondly, because two +conspirators do not betray and sell each other when they are resolute in +their purpose. In such cases the giving of information can arise only +from two causes, the one excusable, the other infamous, viz. the dread of +punishment, and the hope of reward. But neither of these causes +influenced the conspirators of the 3d Nivose, the inventors and +constructors of that machine which has so justly been denominated +infernal! + +On the 3d Nivose (24th December 1800) the first performance of Haydn's +magnificent oratorio of the "Creation" took place at the opera, and the +First Consul had expressed his intention of being present. I did not +dine with him that day, but as he left me he said, "Bourrienne, you know +I am going to the opera to-night, and you may go too; but I cannot take +you in the carriage, as Lannes, Berthier, and Lauriston are going with +me." I was very glad of this, for I much wished to hear one of the +masterpieces of the German school of composition. I got to the opera +before Bonaparte, who on his entrance seated himself, according to +custom, in front of the box. The eye's of all present were fixed upon +him, and he appeared to be perfectly calm and self-possessed. Lauriston, +as soon as he saw me, came to my box, and told me that the First Consul, +on his way to the opera, had narrowly escaped being assassinated in the +Rue St. Nicaise by the explosion of a barrel of gunpowder, the concussion +of which had shattered the windows of his carriage. "Within ten seconds +after our escape," added Lauriston, "the coachman having turned the +corner of the Rue St Honore, stopped to take the First Consul's orders; +and he coolly said, 'To the opera.'" + + --[The following particulars respecting the affair of the infernal + machine are related by Rapp, who attended Madame Bonaparte to the + opera. He differs from Bourrienne as to the total ignorance of the + police: + + "The affair of the infernal machine has never been property + understood by the public. The police had intimated to Napoleon that + an attempt would be made against his life and cautioned him not to + go out. Madame Bonaparte, Mademoiselle Beauharnais, Madame Murat, + Lannes, Bessieres, the aide de camp on duty, Lieutenant Lebrun, now + duke of Placenza were all assembled in the salon, while the First + Consul was writing in his cabinet. Haydn's oratorio was to be + performed that evening; the ladies were anxious to hear the music, + and we also expressed a wish to that effect. The escort piquet was + ordered out; and Lannes requested that Napoleon would join the + party. He consented; his carriage was ready, and he took along with + him Bessieres and the aide de camp on duty. I was directed to + attend the ladies. Josephine had received a magnificent shawl from + Constantinople and she that evening wore it for the first time. + 'Permit me to observe,' said I, 'that your shawl is not thrown on + with your usual elegance.' She good-humouredly begged that I would + fold it after the fashion of the Egyptian ladies. While I was + engaged in this operation we heard Napoleon depart. 'Come sister,' + said Madame Murat, who was impatient to get to the theatre: + 'Bonaparte is going:' We stopped into the carriage: the First + Consul's equipage had already reached the middle of the Place du + Carrousel. We drove after it, but we had scarcely entered the place + when the machine exploded. Napoleon escaped by a singular chance, + St. Regent, or his servant Francois, had stationed himself in the + middle of tho Rue Nicaise. A grenadier of the escort, supposing he + was really what he appeared to be, a water-carrier, gave him a few + blows with the flat of his sabre and drove him off. The cart was + turned round, and the machine exploded between the carriages of + Napoleon and Josephine. The ladies shrieked on hearing the report; + the carriage windows were broken, and Mademoiselle Beauharnais + received a slight hurt on her hand. I alighted and crossed the Rue + Nicaise which was strewed with the bodies of those who had been + thrown down, and the fragments of the walls that had been shattered + with the explosion. Neither the consul nor any individual of his, + suite sustained any serious injury. When I entered the theatre + Napoleon was seated in his box; calm and composed, and looking at + the audience through his opera-glass. Fouche was beside him. + 'Josephine' said he as soon as he observed me. She entered at that + instant and he did not finish his question 'The rascals' said he + very cooly, wanted to blow me up: Bring me a book of the oratorio'" + (Memoirs of General Count Rape. P. 19)]-- + +On hearing this I left the theatre and returned to the Palace, under the +expectation that I should speedily be wanted. Bonaparte soon returned +home; and as intelligence of the affair had spread through Paris the +grand salon on the ground-floor was filled with a crowd of functionaries, +eager to read in the eye of their master what they were to think and say +on the occasion. He did not keep them long in suspense. "This," +exclaimed he vehemently, "is the work of the Jacobins: they have +attempted my life.... There are neither nobles, priests, nor Chouans in +this affair!.... I know what I am about, and they need not think to +impose on me. These are the Septembrizers who have been in open revolt +and conspiracy, and arrayed against every succeeding Government. It is +scarce three months since my life was attempted by Uracchi, Arena; +Topino-Lebrun, and Demerville. They all belong to one gang! The +cutthroats of September, the assassins of Versailles, the brigands of the +81st of May, the conspirators of Prairial are the authors of all the +crimes committed against established Governments! If they cannot be +checked they must be crashed! France must be purged of these ruffians!" +It is impossible to form any idea of the bitterness with which Bonaparte, +pronounced these words. In vain did some of the Councillors of State, +and Fouche in particular, endeavour to point out to him that there was no +evidence against any one, and that before he pronounced people to be +guilty it would be right to ascertain the fact. Bonaparte repeated with +increased violence what he had before said of the Jacobins; thus adding; +not without some ground of suspicion, one crime more to, the long +catalogue for which they had already to answer. + +Fouche had many enemies, and I was not, therefore, surprised to find some +of the Ministers endeavouring to take advantage of the difference between +his opinion and that of the First Consul; and it must be owned that the +utter ignorance of the police respecting this event was a circumstance +not very favourable to Fouche. He, however, was like the reed in the +fable--he bent with the wind, but was soon erect again. The most skilful +actor could scarcely imitate the inflexible calmness he maintained during +Bonaparte's paroxysm of rage, and the patience with which he allowed +himself to be accused. + +Fouche, when afterwards conversing with me, gave me clearly to understand +that he did not think the Jacobins guilty. I mentioned this to the First +Consul, but nothing could make him retract his opinion. "Fouche," said +he, "has good reason for his silence. He is serving his own party. It +is very natural that he should seek to screen a set of men who are +polluted with blood and crimes! He was one of their leaders. Do not I +know what he did at Lyons and the Loire? That explains Fouche's conduct +now!" + +This is the exact truth; and now let me contradict one of the thousand +fictions about this event. It has been said and printed that "the +dignitaries and the Ministers were assembled at the Tuileries. 'Well,' +said the First Consul, advancing angrily towards Fouche, 'will you still +say that this is the Royalist party?' Fouche, better informed than was +believed, answered coolly, 'Yes, certainly, I shall say so; and, what is +more, I shall prove it.' This speech caused general astonishment, but +was afterwards fully borne out." This is pure invention. The First +Consul only said to Fouche; "I do not trust to your police; I guard +myself, and I watch till two in the morning." This however, was very +rarely the case. + +On the day after the explosion of the infernal machine a considerable +concourse assembled at the Tuileries. There was absolutely a torrent of +congratulations. The prefect of the Seine convoked the twelve mayors of +Paris and came at their head to wait on the First Consul. In his reply +to their address Bonaparte said, "As long as this gang of assassins +confined their attacks to me personally I left the law to take its +course; but since, by an unparalleled crime, they have endangered the +lives of a portion of the population of Paris, their punishment must be +as prompt as exemplary. A hundred of these wretches who have libeled +liberty by perpetrating crimes in her name must be effectually prevented +from renewing their atrocities." He then conversed with the Ministers, +the Councillors of State, etc., on the event of the preceding day; and as +all knew the First Consul's opinion of the authors of the crime each was +eager to confirm it. The Council was several times assembled when the +Senate was consulted, and the adroit Fouche, whose conscience yielded to +the delicacy of his situation, addressed to the First Consul a report +worthy of a Mazarin. At the same time the journals were filled with +recollections of the Revolution, raked up for the purpose of connecting +with past crimes the individuals on whom it was now wished to cast odium. +It was decreed that a hundred persons should be banished; and the senate +established its character for complaisance by passing a 'Senatus- +consulte' conformable to the wishes of the First Consul. + +A list was drawn up of the persons styled Jacobins, who were condemned to +transportation. I was fortunate enough to obtain the erasure of the +names of several whose opinions had perhaps been violent, but whose +education and private character presented claims to recommendation. Some +of my readers may probably recollect them without my naming them, and I +shall only mention M. Tissot, for the purpose of recording, not the +service I rendered him, but an instance of grateful acknowledgment. + +When in 1815 Napoleon was on the point of entering Paris M. Tissot came +to the prefecture of police, where I then was, and offered me his house +as a safe asylum; assuring me I should there run no risk of being +discovered. Though I did not accept the offer yet I gladly seize on this +opportunity of making it known. It is gratifying to find that difference +of political opinion does not always exclude sentiments of generosity and +honour! I shall never forget the way in which the author of the essays +on Virgil uttered the words 'Domus mea'. + +But to return to the fatal list. Even while I write this I shudder to +think of the way in which men utterly innocent were accused of a +revolting crime without even the shadow of a proof. The name of an +individual, his opinions, perhaps only assumed, were sufficient grounds +for his banishment. A decree of the Consuls, dated 4th of January 1801, +confirmed by a 'Senates-consulte' on the next day, banished from the +territory of the Republic, and placed under special inspectors, 130 +individuals, nine of whom were merely designated in the report as +Septembrizers. + +The exiles, who in the reports and in the public acts were so unjustly +accused of being the authors of the infernal machine, were received at +Nantes, with so much indignation that the military were compelled to +interfere to save them from being massacred. + +In the discussions which preceded the decree of the Consuls few persons +had the courage to express a doubt respecting the guilt of the accused. +Truguet was the first to mount the breach. He observed that without +denying the Government the extraordinary means for getting rid of its +enemies he could not but acknowledge that the emigrants threatened the +purchasers of national domains, that the public mind was corrupted by +pamphlets, and that--Here the First Consul, interrupting him, exclaimed, +"To what pamphlets do you allude?"--"To pamphlets which are publicly +circulated."--"Name them!"--"You know them as well as I do." + + --[The Parallel between Caesar, Cromwell, and Bonaparte, of which I + shall speak a little farther on, is here alluded to.--Bourrienne.]-- + +After a long and angry ebullition the First Consul abruptly dismissed the +Council. He observed that he would not be duped; that the villains were +known; that they were Septembrizers, the hatchers of every mischief. He +had said at a sitting three days before, "If proof should fail, we must +take advantage of the public excitement. The event is to me merely the +opportunity. They shall be banished for the 2d September, for the 31st +May, for Baboeuf's conspiracy--or anything else." + +On leaving one of the sittings of the Council, at which the question of a +special tribunal had been discussed, he told me that he had been a little +ruffled; that he had said a violent blow must be struck; that blood must +be spilt; and that as many of the guilty should be shot as there had been +victims of the explosion (from fifteen to twenty); that 200 should be +banished, and the Republic purged of these scoundrels. + +The arbitrariness and illegality of the proceeding were so evident that +the 'Senatus-consulte' contained no mention of the transactions of the 3d +Nivose, which was very remarkable. It was, however, declared that the +measure of the previous day had been adopted with a view to the +preservation of the Constitution. This was promising. + +The First Consul manifested the most violent hatred of the Jacobins; +for this he could not have been blamed if under the title of Jacobins he +had not comprised every devoted advocate of public liberty. Their +opposition annoyed him and he could never pardon them for having presumed +to condemn his tyrannical acts, and to resist the destruction of the +freedom which he had himself sworn to defend, but which he was +incessantly labouring to overturn. These were the true motives of his +conduct; and, conscious of his own faults, he regarded with dislike those +who saw and disapproved of them. For this reason he was more afraid of +those whom he called Jacobins than of the Royalists. + +I am here recording the faults of Bonaparte, but I excuse him; situated +as he was, any other person would have acted in the same way. Truth now +reached him with difficulty, and when it was not agreeable he had no +disposition to hear it. He was surrounded by flatterers; and, the +greater number of those who approached him, far from telling him what +they really thought; only repeated what he had himself been thinking. +Hence he admired the wisdom of his Counsellors. Thus Fouche, to maintain +himself in favour, was obliged to deliver up to his master 130 names +chosen from among his own most intimate friends as objects of +proscription. + +Meanwhile Fouche, still believing that he was not deceived as to the real +authors of the attempt of the 3d Nivose, set in motion with his usual +dexterity all the springs of the police. His efforts, however, were for +sometime unsuccessful; but at length on Saturday, the 31st January 1801, +about two hours after our arrival at Malmaison, Fouche presented himself +and produced authentic proofs of the accuracy of his conjectures. There +was no longer any doubt on the subject; and Bonaparte saw clearly that +the attempt of the 3d Nivose was the result of a plot hatched by the +partisans of royalty. But as the act of proscription against those who +were jumbled together under the title of the Jacobins had been executed, +it was not to be revoked. + +Thus the consequence of the 3d Nivose was that both the innocent and +guilty were punished; with this difference, however, that the guilty at +least had the benefit of a trial. + +When the Jacobins, as they were called, were accused with such +precipitation, Fouche had no positive proofs of their, innocence; and +therefore their illegal condemnation ought not to be attributed to him. +Sufficient odium is attached to his memory without his being charged with +a crime he never committed. Still, I must say that had he boldly opposed +the opinion of Bonaparte in the first burst of his fury he might have +averted the blow. Every time he came to the Tuileries, even before he +had acquired any traces of the truth, Fouche always declared to me his +conviction of the innocence of the persons first accused. But he was +afraid to make the same observation to Bonaparte. I often mentioned to +him the opinion of the Minister of Police; but as proof was wanting he +replied to me with a triumphant air, "Bah! bah! This is always the way +with Fouche. Besides, it is of little consequence. At any rate we shall +get rid of them. Should the guilty be discovered among the Royalists +they also shall be punished." + +The real criminals being at length discovered through the researches of +Fouche, St. Regent and Carbon expiated their crimes by the forfeit of +their heads. Thus the First Consul gained his point, and justice gained +hers. + + --[It was St. Regent, or St. Rejeant, who fired the infernal + machine. The violence of the shock flung him against a post and + part of his breast bone was driven in. He was obliged to resort to + a surgeon, and it would seem that this man denounced him. (Memoirs + of Miot de Melito, tome i. p. 264). + + The discussions which took place in the Council of State on this + affair are remarkable, both for the violence of Napoleon and for the + resistance made in the Council, to a great extent successfully, to + his views as to the, plot being one of the Jacobin party.]-- + +I have often had occasion to notice the multifarious means employed by +Bonaparte to arrive at the possession of supreme power, and to prepare +men's minds for so great change. Those who have observed his life must +have so remarked how entirely he was convinced of the truth that public +opinion wastes itself on the rumour of a project and possesses no energy +at the moment of its execution. In order, therefore, to direct public +attention to the question of hereditary power a pamphlet was circulated +about Paris, and the following is the history of it:-- + +In the month of December 1800, while Fouche was searching after the real +authors of the attempt of the 3d Nivose, a small pamphlet, entitled +"Parallel between Caesar, Cromwell, anal Bonaparte," was sent to the +First Consul. He was absent when it came. I read it, and perceived that +it openly advocated hereditary monarchy. I then knew nothing about the +origin of this pamphlet, but I soon learned that it issued from the +office of the Minister of the Interior [Lucien Bonaparte], and that it +had been largely circulated. After reading it I laid it on the table. +In a few minutes Bonaparte entered, and taking up the pamphlet pretended +to look through it: "Have you read this?" said he.--"Yes, General."-- +"Well! what is your opinion of it?"--"I think it is calculated to +produce an unfavourable effect on the public mind: it is ill-timed, for +it prematurely reveals your views." The First Consul took the pamphlet +and threw it on the ground, as he did all the stupid publications of the +day after having slightly glanced over them. I was not singular in my +opinion of the pamphlet, for next day the prefects in the immediate +neighbourhood of Paris sent a copy of it to the First Consul, complaining +of its mischievous effect; and I recollect that in one of their letters +it was stated that such a work was calculated to direct against him the +poniards of new assassins. After reading this correspondence he said to +me, "Bourrienne, sent for Fouche; he must come directly, and give an +account of this matter." In half an hour Fouche was in the First +Consul's cabinet. No sooner had he entered than the following dialogue +took place, in which the impetuous warmth of the one party was strangely +contrasted with the phlegmatic and rather sardonic composure of the +other. + +"What pamphlet is this? What is said about it in Paris?"--"General, +there is but one opinion of its dangerous tendency."--"Well, then, why +did you allow it to appear?"--"General, I was obliged to show some +consideration for the author!"--"Consideration for the author! What do +you mean? You should have sent him to the temple."--"But, General, your +brother Lucien patronises this pamphlet. It has been printed and +published by his order. In short, it comes from the office of the +Minister of the Interior."--"No matter for that! Your duty as Minister +of Police was to have arrested Lucien, and sent him to the Temple. The +fool does nothing but contrive how he can commit me!" + +With these words the First Consul left the cabinet, shutting the door +violently behind him. Being now alone with Fouche, I was eager to get an +explanation of the suppressed smile which had more than once curled his +lips during Bonaparte's angry expostulation. I easily perceived that +there was something in reserve. "Send the author to the Temple!" said +Fouche; "that would be no easy matter! Alarmed at the effect which this +parallel between Caesar, Cromwell, and Bonaparte was likely to produce, +I went to Lucien to point out to him his imprudence. He made me no +answer, but went and got a manuscript, which he showed me, and which +contained corrections and annotations in the First Consul's handwriting." + +When Lucien heard how Bonaparte had expressed his displeasure at the +pamphlet, he also came to the Tuileries to reproach his brother with +having thrust him forward and then abandoned him. "'Tis your own fault," +said the First Consul. "You have allowed yourself to be caught! So much +the worse for you! Fouche is too cunning for you! You are a mere fool +compared with him!" Lucien tendered his resignation, which was accepted, +and he departed for Spain. This diplomatic mission turned to his +advantage. It was necessary that one should veil the Machiavellian +invention of the 'Parallel.' + + --[The 'Parallel' has been attributed to different writers; some + phrases seemed the work of Lucien, but, says Thiers (tome ii p. + 210), its rare elegance of language and its classical knowledge of + history should attribute it to its real anchor, Fontanel, Joseph + Bonaparte (Erreurs tome i. p. 270) says that Fontanel wrote it, and + Lucien Bonaparte corrected it. See Meneval, tome iii. p. 105. + Whoever wrote it Napoleon certainly planned its issue. "It was," + said he to Roederer, "a work of which he himself had given the idea, + but the last pages were by a fool" (Miot, tome i, p. 318). See also + Lanfrey, tome ii. p. 208; and compare the story in Iung's Lucien, + tome ii. p. 490. Miot, then in the confidence of Joseph, says, + that Lucien's removal from, office was the result of an angry + quarrel between him and Fouche in the presence of Napoleon, when + Fouche attacked Lucien, not only for the pamphlet, but also for the + disorder of his public and his private life; but Miot (tome i, p, + 319) places the date of this as the 3d November, while Bourrienne + dates the disapproval of the pamphlet in December.]-- + +Lucien, among other instructions, was directed to use all his endeavours +to induce Spain to declare against Portugal in order to compel that power +to separate herself from England. + +The First Consul had always regarded Portugal as an English colony, and +he conceived that to attack it was to assail England. He wished that +Portugal should no longer favour England in her commercial relations, +but that, like Spain, she should become dependent on him. Lucien was +therefore sent as ambassador to Madrid, to second the Ministers of +Charles IV. in prevailing on the King to invade Portugal. The King +declared war, but it was not of long duration, and terminated almost +without a blow being struck, by the taking of Olivenza. On the 6th of +June 1801 Portugal signed the treaty of Badajoz, by which she promised to +cede Olivenza, Almeida, and some other fortresses to Spain, and to close +her ports against England. The First Consul, who was dissatisfied with +the treaty, at first refused to ratify it. He still kept his army in +Spain, and this proceeding determined Portugal to accede to some slight +alterations in the first treaty. This business proved very advantageous +to Lucien and Godoy. + +The cabinet of the Tuileries was not the only place in which the question +of hereditary succession was discussed. It was the constant subject of +conversation in the salons of Paris, where a new dynasty was already +spoken of. This was by no means displeasing to the First Consul; but he +saw clearly that he had committed a mistake in agitating the question +prematurely; for this reason he waged war against the Parallel, as he +would not be suspected of having had any share in a design that had +failed. One day he said to me, "I believe I have been a little too +precipitate. The pear is not quite ripe!" The Consulate for life was +accordingly postponed till 1802, and the hereditary empire till 1804. + +After the failure of the artful publication of the pamphlet Fouche +invited me to dine with him. As the First Consul wished me to dine out +as seldom as possible, I informed him of the invitation I had received. +He was, however, aware of it before, and he very readily gave me leave to +go. At dinner Joseph was placed on the right of Fouche, and I next to +Joseph, who talked of nothing but his brother, his designs, the pamphlet, +and the bad effect produced by it. In all that fell from him there was a +tone of blame and disapproval I told him my opinion, but with greater +reserve than I had used towards his brother. He seemed to approve of +what I said; his confidence encouraged me, and I saw with pleasure that +he entertained sentiments entirely similar to my own. His unreserved +manner so imposed upon me that, notwithstanding the experience I had +acquired, I was far from suspecting myself to be in the company of a spy. +Next day the First Consul said to me very coldly, "Leave my letters in +the basket, I will open them myself." This unexpected direction +surprised me exceedingly, and I determined to play him a trick in revenge +for his unfounded distrust. For three mornings I laid at the bottom of +the basket all the letters which I knew came from the Ministers, and all +the reports which were addressed to me for the First Consul. I then +covered them over with those which; judging from their envelopes and +seals, appeared to be of that trifling kind with which the First Consul +was daily overwhelmed: these usually consisted of requests that he would +name the number of a lottery ticket, so, that the writer might have the +benefit of his good luck--solicitations that he would stand godfather to +a child--petitions for places--announcements of marriages and births-- +absurd eulogies, etc. Unaccustomed to open the letters, he became +impatient at their number, and he opened very few. Often on the same +day, but always on the morrow, came a fresh letter from a Minister, who +asked for an answer to his former one, and who complained of not having +received one. The First Consul unsealed some twenty letters and left the +rest. + +The opening of all these letters, which he was not at other times in the +habit of looking at, annoyed him extremely; but as I neither wished to +carry the joke too far, nor to remain in the disagreeable position in +which Joseph's treachery had placed me, I determined to bring the matter +to a conclusion. After the third day, when the business of the night, +which had been interrupted by little fits of ill-humour, was concluded, +Bonaparte retired to bed. Half an hour after I went to his chamber, to +which I was admitted at all hours. I had a candle in my hand, and, +taking a chair, I sat down on the right side of the bed, and placed the +candle on the table. Both he and Josephine awoke. "What is the matter?" +he asked with surprise. "General, I have come to tell you that I can no +longer remain here, since I have lost your confidence. You know how +sincerely I am devoted to you; if you have, then, anything to reproach me +with, let me at least know it, for my situation during the last three +days lies been very painful."--"What has Bourrienne done?" inquired +Josephine earnestly.--"That does not concern you," he replied. Then +turning to me he said, "Tis true, I have cause to complain of you. I +have been informed that you have spoken of important affairs in a very +indiscreet manner."--"I can assure you that I spoke to none but your +brother. It was he who led me into the conversation, and he was too well +versed in the business for me to tell him any secret. He may have +reported to you what he pleased, but could not I do the same by him? +I could accuse and betray him as he has accused and betrayed me. When I +spoke in confidence to your brother, could I regard him as an +inquisitor?"--"I must confess," replied Bonaparte, "that after what I +heard from Joseph I thought it right to put my confidence in +quarantine."--"The quarantine has lasted three days, General; surely that +is long enough."--"Well, Bourrienne, let us say no more about it. Open +my letters as usual; you will find the answers a good deal in arrear, +which has much vexed me; and besides, I was always stumbling on some +stupid nonsense or other!" + +I fancy I still see and hear the amiable Josephine sitting up in bed and +saying, in her gentle way, "What! Bonaparte, is it possible you could +suspect Bourrienne, who is so attached to you, and who is your only +friend? How could you suffer such a snare to be laid for him? What! +a dinner got up on purpose! How I hate these odious police manoeuvres!" +--"Go to sleep," said Bonaparte; "let women mind their gewgaws, and not +interfere with politics." It was near two in the morning before I +retired. + +When, after a few hours' sleep, I again saw the First Consul, he was more +kind to me than ever, and I perceived that for the present every cloud +had dispersed.' + + --[Joseph Bonaparte (Erreurs, tome i. p. 273) says what he + reported to his brother was Bourrienne's conversation to him in the + First Consul's cabinet during Napoleon's absence. It is curious + that at the only time when Napoleon became dissatisfied with Meneval + (Bourrienne's successor), and ordered him not to open the letters, + he used the same expression when returning to the usual order of + business, which in this case was to a few hours. "My dear Meneval," + said he, "there are circumstances in which I am forced to put my + confidence in quarantine." (Meneval, tome i. p. 123). For any one + who has had to manage an office it is pleasant to find that even + Napoleon was much dependent on a good secretary. In an illness of + his secretary he said, showing the encumbrance of his desk, "with + Meneval I should soon clear off all that."(Meneval, tome i. p. 151.)] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +1800-1801 + + Austria bribed by England--M. de St. Julien in Paris--Duroc's + mission--Rupture of the armistice--Surrender of three garrisons-- + M. Otto in London--Battle of Hohenlinden--Madame Moreau and Madame + Hulot--Bonaparte's ill-treatment of the latter--Congress of + Luneville--General Clarke--M. Maret--Peace between France and + Austria--Joseph Bonaparte's speculations in the funds-- + M. de Talleyrand's advice--Post-office regulation--Cambaceres-- + Importance of good dinners in the affairs of Government--Steamboats + and intriguers--Death of Paul I.--New thoughts of the + reestablishment of Poland--Duroc at St. Petersburg--Bribe rejected-- + Death of Abercromby. + +Mm armistice concluded after the battle of Marengo, which had been first +broken and then resumed, continued to be observed for some time between +the armies of the Rhine and Italy and the Imperial armies. But Austria, +bribed by a subsidy of 2,000,000 sterling, would not treat for peace +without the participation of England. She did not despair of +recommencing the war successfully. + +M. de St. Julien had signed preliminaries at Paris; but the Court of +Vienna disavowed them, and Duroc, whom Bonaparte sent to convey the +preliminaries to Vienna for the Imperial ratification, was not permitted +to pass the Austrian advance poets. This unexpected proceeding, the +result of the all-powerful influence of England, justly incensed the +First Consul, who had given decided proofs of moderation and a wish for +peace. "I want peace," said he to me, "to enable me to organise the +interior; the people also want it. You see the conditions I offer. +Austria, though beaten, obtains all she got at Campo-Formio. What can +she want more? I could make further exactions; but, without fearing the +reverses of 1799, I must think of the future. Besides, I want +tranquillity, to enable me to settle the affairs of the interior, and to +send aid to Malta and Egypt. But I will not be trifled with. I will +force an immediate decision!" + +In his irritation the First Consul despatched orders to Moreau, directing +him to break the armistice and resume hostilities unless he regained +possession of the bridges of the Rhine and the Danube by the surrender of +Philipsburg, Ulm, and Ingolstadt. The Austrians then offered to treat +with France on new bases. England wished to take part in the Congress, +but to this the First Consul would not consent until she should sign a +separate armistice and cease to make common cause with Austria. + +The First Consul received intelligence of the occupation of the three +garrisons on the 23d of September, the day he had fixed in his ultimatum +to England for the renewal of hostilities. But for the meanwhile he was +satisfied with the concessions of Austria: that power, in the expectation +of being supported by England, asked her on what terms she was to treat. + +During these communications with Austria M. Otto was in London +negotiating for the exchange of prisoners. England would not hear of an +armistice by sea like that which France had concluded with Austria by +land. She alleged that, in case of a rupture, France would derive from +that armistice greater advantage than Austria would gain by that already +concluded. The difficulty and delay attending the necessary +communications rendered these reasons plausible. The First Consul +consented to accept other propositions from England, and to allow her to +take part in the discussions of Luneville, but on condition that she +should sign a treaty with him without the intervention of Austria. This +England refused to do. Weary of this uncertainty, and the tergiversation +of Austria, which was still under the influence of England, and feeling +that the prolongation of such a state of things could only turn to his +disadvantage, Bonaparte broke the armistice. He had already consented to +sacrifices which his successes in Italy did not justify. The hope of an +immediate peace had alone made him lose sight of the immense advantages +which victory had given him. + +Far from appearing sensible to the many proofs of moderation which the +First Consul evinced, the combined insolence of England and Austria +seemed only to increase. Orders were immediately given for resuming the +offensive in Germany and Italy, and hostilities then recommenced. + +The chances of fortune were long doubtful. After a reverse Austria made +promises, and after an advantage she evaded them; but finally, fortune +proved favourable to France. The French armies in Italy and Germany +crossed the Mincio and the Danube, and the celebrated battle of +Hohenlinden brought the French advanced posts within ten leagues of +Vienna. This victory secured peace; for, profiting by past experience, +the First Consul would not hear of any suspension of arms until Austria +should consent to a separate treaty. Driven into her last intrenchments, +Austria was obliged to yield. She abandoned England; and the English +Cabinet, in spite of the subsidy of 2,000,000 sterling, consented to the +separation. Great Britain was forced to come to this arrangement in +consequence of the situation to which the successes of the army of Moreau +had reduced Austria, which it was certain would be ruined by longer +resistance. + +England wished to enter into negotiations at Luneville. To this the +First Consul acceded; but, as he saw that England was seeking to deceive +him, he required that she should suspend hostilities with France, as +Austria had done. Bonaparte very reasonably alleged that an indefinite +armistice on the Continent would be more to the disadvantage of France +than a long armistice by sea would be unfavourable to England. All this +adjourned the preliminaries to 1801 and the peace to 1802. + +The impatience and indignation of the First Consul had been highly +excited by the evasions of Austria and the plots of England, for he knew +all the intrigues that were carrying on for the restoration of the +Bourbons. His joy may be therefore conceived when the battle of +Hohenlinden balanced the scale of fortune in his favour. On the 3d of +December 1800 Moreau gained that memorable victory which at length put an +end to the hesitations of the Cabinet of Vienna. + + --[On the eve of the battle of Hohenlinden Moreau was at supper with + his aides de camp and several general officers, when a despatch was + delivered to him. After he had read it be said to his guests, + though he was far from being in the habit of boasting, "I am here + made acquainted with Baron Kray's movements. They are all I could + wish. To-morrow we will take from him 10,000 prisoners." Moreau + took 40,000, besides a great many flags.--Bourrienne.]-- + +On the 6th of December the First Consul received intelligence of the +battle of Hohenlinden. It was on a Saturday, and he had just returned +from the theatre when I delivered the despatches to him. He literally +danced for joy. I must say that he did not expect so important a result +from the movements of the army of the Rhine. This victory gave a new +face to his negotiations for peace, and determined the opening of the +Congress of Luneville, which took place on the 1st of January following. + +On receiving information of the battle of Hohenlinden, Madame Moreau came +to the Tuileries to call on the First Consul and Madame Bonaparte. She +did not see them, and repeated her calls several times with no better +success. The last time she came she was accompanied by her mother, +Madame Hulot. She waited for a considerable time in vain, and when she +was going away her mother, who could no longer restrain her feelings, +said aloud, before me and several persons of the household, that "it ill +became the wife of the conqueror of Hohenlinden to dance attendance in +this way." This remark reached the ears of those to whom it was +directed. Madame Moreau shortly after rejoined her husband in Germany; +and some time after her departure Madame Hulot came to Malmaison to +solicit promotion for her eldest son, who was in the navy. Josephine +received Madame Hulot very kindly, and requested her to stay to dinner. +She accepted the invitation. The First Consul, who did not see her until +the hour of dinner, treated her very coolly: he said little to her, and +retired as soon as dinner was over. His rudeness was so marked and +offensive that Josephine, who was always kind and amiable, thought it +necessary to apologise, by observing that his mind was disturbed by the +non-arrival of a courier whom he expected. + +Bonaparte entertained no dislike of Moreau, because he did not fear him; +and after the battle of Hohenlinden he spoke of him in the highest terms, +and frankly acknowledged the services he had rendered on that important +occasion; but he could not endure his wife's family, who, he said, were a +set of intriguers. + + --[Napoleon had good reason for his opinion. "Moreau had a mother- + in-law and a wife lively and given to intrigue. Bonaparte could not + bear intriguing women. Besides, on one occasion Madame Moreau's + mother, when at Malmaison, had indulged in sharp remarks on a + suspected scandalous intimacy between Bonaparte and his young sister + Caroline, then just married. The Consul had not forgiven such + conversation" (Remusat tome i. P. 192). see also Meneval, tome + iii. p. 57, as to the mischief done by Madame Hulot.]-- + +Luneville having been fixed upon for the Congress, the First Consul sent +his brother Joseph to treat with Count Louis de Cobentzel. On his way +Joseph met M. de Cobentzel, who had passed Luneville, and was coming to +Paris to sound the sentiments of the French Government. Joseph returned +to Paris with him. After some conversation with the First Consul they +set out next day for Luneville, of which place Bonaparte appointed +General Clarke governor. This appeared to satisfy Clarke, who was very +anxious to be something, and had long been importuning Bonaparte for an +appointment. + +A day or two after the news of the battle of Hohenlinden M. Maret came to +present for Bonaparte's signature some, decrees made in Council. While +affixing the signatures, and without looking up, the First Consul said to +M. Maret, who was a favourite with him, and who was standing at his right +hand, "Are you rich, Maret?"--"No, General."--" So much the worse: a man +should be independent."--"General, I will never be dependent on any one +but you." The First Consul then raised his eyes to Maret and said, +"Hem! that is not bad!" and when the secretary-general was gone he said +to me, "Maret is not deficient in cleverness: he made me a very good +answer." + +On the 9th of February 1801, six weeks after the opening of the Congress +of Luneville, peace was signed between Austria and France. This peace-- +the fruit of Marengo and Hohenlinden--restored France to that honourable +position which had been put in jeopardy by the feeble and incapable +government of the pentarchy and the reverses of 1799. This peace, which +in the treaty, according to custom, was called perpetual, lasted four +years. + +Joseph Bonaparte, while treating for France at Luneville, was speculating +on the rise of the funds which he thought the peace would produce. +Persons more wise, who were like him in the secret, sold out their stock +at the moment when the certainty of the peace became known. But Joseph +purchased to a great extent, in the hope of selling to advantage on the +signature of peace. However, the news had been discounted, and a fall +took place. Joseph's loss was considerable, and he could not satisfy the +engagements in which his greedy and silly speculations had involved him. +He applied to his brother, who neither wished nor was able to advance him +the necessary sum. Bonaparte was, however, exceedingly sorry to see his +elder brother in this embarrassment. He asked me what was to be done. +I told him I did not know; but I advised him to consult M. de Talleyrand, +from whom he had often received good advice. He did so, and M. de +Talleyrand replied, with that air of coolness which is so peculiar to +him, "What! is that all? Oh! that is nothing. It is easily settled. +You have only to raise the price of the funds."--"But the money?"-- +"Oh, the money may be easily obtained. Make some deposits in the Mont- +de-Piste, or the sinking fund. That will give you the necessary money to +raise the funds; and then Joseph may sell out, and recover his losses." +M. de Talleyrand's advice was adopted, and all succeeded as he had +foretold. None but those who have heard M. de Talleyrand converse can +form an accurate idea of his easy manner of expressing himself, his +imperturbable coolness, the fixed unvarying expression of his +countenance, and his vast fund of wit. + + --[Talleyrand had a large experience in all sorts of speculation. + When old he gave this counsel to one of his proteges: "Do not + speculate. I have always speculated on assured information, and + that has cost me so many millions;" and he named his losses. We may + believe that in this reckoning he rather forgot the amount of his + gains (Sainte-Beuve, Talleyrand, 93).]-- + +During the sitting of the Congress the First Consul learnt that the +Government couriers conveyed to favoured individuals in Paris various +things, but especially the delicacies of the table, and he ordered that +this practice should be discontinued. On the very evening on which this +order was issued Cambaceres entered the salon, where I was alone with the +First Consul, who had already been laughing at the mortification which he +knew this regulation would occasion to his colleague: "Well, Cambaceres, +what brings you here at this time of night?"--"I come to solicit an +exception to the order which you have just given to the Director of the +Posts. How do you think a man can make friends unless he keeps a good +table? You know very well how much good dinners assist the business of +Government." The First Consul laughed, called him a gourmand, and, +patting him on the shoulder, said, "Do not distress yourself, my dear +Cambaceres; the couriers shall continue to bring you your 'dindes aux +truffes', your Strasburg 'pates', your Mayence hams, and your other +titbits." + +Those who recollect the magnificent dinners given by Cambaceres and +others, which were a general topic of conversation at the time, and who +knew the ingenious calculation which was observed in the invitation of +the guests, must be convinced of the vast influence of a good dinner in +political affairs. As to Cambaceres, he did not believe that a good +government could exist without good dinners; and his glory (for every man +has his own particular glory) was to know that the luxuries of his table +were the subject of eulogy throughout Paris, and even Europe. A banquet +which commanded general suffrage was to him a Marengo or a Friedland. + + --[Bourrienne does not exaggerate this excellent quality of the + worthy Cambaceres. When Beugnot was sent to administer the Grand + Duchy of Berg, Cambaceres said to him, "My dear Beugnot, the Emperor + arranges crowns as he chooses; here is the Grand Duke of Berg + (Murat) going to Naples; he is welcome, I have no objection, but + every year the Grand Duke sent me a couple of dozen hams from his + Grand Duchy, and I warn you I do not intend to lose them, so you + must make your preparations" . . . . I never once omitted to + acquit myself of the obligation, and if there were any delay, . . + his Highness never failed to cause one of his secretaries to write a + good scolding to my house steward; but when the hams arrived + exactly, his highness never failed to write to my wife himself to + thank her. + + This was not all; the hams were to come carriage free. This petty + jobbery occasioned discontent, . . . and it would not have cost + me more to pay the carriage. The Prince would not allow it. There + was an agreement between him and Lavalette (the head of the Posts), + . . . And my Lord appeared to lay as much stress on the + performance of this treaty as on the procuring of the ham, (Beugnot, + tome i. p. 262). + + Cambaceres never suffered the cares of Government to distract his + attention from the great object of life. On one occasion, for + example, being detained in consultation with Napoleon beyond the + appointed hour of dinner--it is said that the fate of the Duc + d'Enghien was the topic under discussion--he was observed, when the + hour became very late, to show great symptoms of impatience sod + restlessness. He at last wrote a note which he called a gentleman + usher in waiting to carry. Napoleon, suspecting the contents, + nodded to an aide de camp to intercept the despatch. As he took it + into his hands Cambaceres begged earnestly that he would not read a + trifling note upon domestic matters. Napoleon persisted, and found + it to be a note to the cook containing only the following words, + "Gardez les entremetes--les rotis sont perdue." When Napoleon was + in good humor at the result of a diplomatic conference he was + accustomed to take leave of the plenipotentiaries with, "Go and dine + Cambaceres." His table was in fact an important state engine, as + appears from the anecdote of the trout sent to him by the + municipality of Geneva, and charged 300 francs in their accounts. + The Imperial 'Cour des Comptes' having disallowed the item, was + interdicted from meddling with similar municipal affairs in future + (Hayward's Art of Dining, p. 20).] + +At the commencement of 1801 Fulton presented to Bonaparte his memorial on +steamboats. I urged a serious examination of the subject. "Bah!" said +he, "these projectors are all either intriguers or visionaries. Don't +trouble me about the business." I observed that the man whom he called +an intriguer was only reviving an invention already known, and that it +was wrong to reject the scheme without examination. He would not listen +to me; and thus was adjourned, for some time, the practical application +of a discovery which has given such an important impulse to trade and +navigation. + +Paul I. fell by the hands of assassins on the night of the 24th of March +1801. The First Consul was much shocked on receiving the intelligence. +In the excitement caused by this unexpected event, which had so important +an influence on his policy, he directed me to send the following note to +the Moniteur:-- + + Paul I. died on the night of the 24th of March, and the English + squadron passed the Sound on the 30th. History will reveal the + connection which probably exists between these two events. + +Thus were announced the crime of the 24th of March and the not ill- +founded suspicions of its authors. + + --[We do not attempt to rescue the fair name of our country. This + is one among many instances in which Bourrienne was misled.--Editor + of 1886 edition.]-- + +The amicable relations of Paul and Bonaparte had been daily strengthened. +"In concert with the Czar," said Bonaparte, "I was sure of striking a +mortal blow at the English power in India. A palace revolution has +overthrown all my projects." This resolution, and the admiration of the +Autocrat of Russia for the head of the French Republic, may certainly be +numbered among the causes of Paul's death. The individuals generally +accused at the time were those who were violently and perseveringly +threatened, and who had the strongest interest in the succession of a new +Emperor. I have seen a letter from a northern sovereign which in my mind +leaves no doubt on this subject, and which specified the reward of the +crime, and the part to be performed by each actor. But it must also be +confessed that the conduct and character of Paul I., his tyrannical acts, +his violent caprices, and his frequent excesses of despotism, had +rendered him the object of accumulated hatred, for patience has its +limit. These circumstances did not probably create the conspiracy, but +they considerably facilitated the execution of the plot which deprived +the Czar of his throne and his life. + +As soon as Alexander ascended the throne the ideas of the First Consul +respecting the dismemberment of Poland were revived, and almost wholly +engrossed his mind. During his first campaign in Italy, and several +times when in Egypt, he told Sulkowsky that it was his ardent wish to +reestablish Poland, to avenge the iniquity of her dismemberment, and by +that grand repertory act to restore the former equilibrium of Europe. He +often dictated to me for the 'Moniteur' articles tending to prove, by +various arguments, that Europe would never enjoy repose until those great +spoilations were avenged and repaired; but he frequently destroyed these +articles instead of sending them to press. His system of policy towards +Russia changed shortly after the death of Paul. The thought of a war +against that empire unceasingly occupied his mind, and gave birth to the +idea of that fatal campaign which took place eleven years afterwards, and +which had other causes than the re-establishment of Poland. That object +was merely set forward as a pretext. + +Duroc was sent to St. Petersburg to congratulate the Emperor Alexander on +his accession to the throne. He arrived in the Russian capital on the +24th of May. Duroc, who was at this time very young, was a great +favourite of the First Consul. He never importuned Bonaparte by his +solicitations, and was never troublesome in recommending any one or +busying himself as an agent for favour; yet he warmly advocated the cause +of those whom he thought injured, and honestly repelled accusations which +he knew to be false. These moral qualities; joined to an agreeable +person and elegant manners, rendered him a very superior man. + +The year 1801 was, moreover, marked by the fatal creation of special +tribunals, which were in no way justified by the urgency of +circumstances. This year also saw the re-establishment of the African +Company, the treaty of Luneville (which augmented the advantages France +had obtained by the treaty of Campo-Formio), and the peace concluded +between Spain and Portugal by means of Lucien. On the subject of this +peace I may mention that. Portugal, to obtain the cession of Olivenza, +secretly offered Bonaparte, through me, 8,000,000 of francs if he would +contribute his influence towards the acquisition of that town by +Portugal. He, rejected this offer indignantly, declaring that he would +never sell honour for money. He has been accused of having listened to a +similar proposition at Passeriano, though in fact no such proposition was +ever made to him. Those who bring forward such accusations little know +the inflexibility of his principles on this point. + +One evening in April 1801 an English paper--the London Gazette--arrived +at Malmaison. It announced the landing in Egypt of the army commanded by +Abercromby, the battle given by the English, and the death of their +General. I immediately translated the article, and presented it to the +First Consul, with the conviction that the news would be very painful to +him. He doubted its truth, or at least pretended to do so. Several +officers and aides de camp who were in the salon coincided in his +opinion, especially Lannes, Bessieres, and Duroc. They thought by so +doing to please the First Consul, who then said to me, in a jeering tone, +"Bah! you do not understand English. This is the way with you: you are +always inclined to believe bad news rather than good!" These words, and +the approving smiles of the gentlemen present, ruffled me, and I said +with some warmth, "How, General, can you believe that the English +Government would publish officially so important an event if it were not +true? Do you think that a Government that has any self-respect would, in +the face of Europe, state a falsehood respecting an affair the truth of +which cannot long remain unknown? Did you ever know an instance of so +important an announcement proving untrue after it had been published in +the London Gazette? I believe it to be true, and the smiles of these +gentlemen will not alter my opinion." On these observations the First +Consul rose and said, "Come, Bourrienne, I want you in the library." +After we had left the salon he added, "This is always the way with you. +Why are you vexed at such trifles? I assure you I believe the news but +too confidently, and I feared it before it came. But they think they +please me by thus appearing to doubt it. Never mind them."--"I ask your +pardon," said I, "but I conceive the best way of proving my attachment to +you is to tell you what I believe to be true. You desire me not to delay +a moment in announcing bad news to you. It would be far worse to +disguise than to conceal it." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +1801-1802. + + An experiment of royalty--Louis de Bourbon and Maria Louisa, of + Spain--Creation of the kingdom of Etruria--The Count of Leghorn in + Paris--Entertainments given him--Bonaparte's opinion of the King of + Etruria--His departure for Florence, and bad reception there-- + Negotiations with the Pope--Bonaparte's opinion on religion--Te Deum + at Notre Dame--Behaviour of the people in the church--Irreligion of + the Consular Court--Augerean's remark on the Te Deum--First Mass at + St. Cloud-Mass in Bonaparte's apartments--Talleyrand relieved from + his clerical vows--My appointment to the Council of State. + +Before he placed two crowns on his own head Bonaparte thought it would +promote the interests of his policy to place one on the head of a prince, +and even a prince of the House of Bourbon. He wished to accustom the +French to the sight of a king. It will hereafter be seen that he gave +sceptres, like his confidence, conditionally, and that he was always +ready to undo his own work when it became an obstacle to his ambitious +designs. + +In May 1801 the Infanta of Spain, Maria Louisa, third daughter of Charles +IV., visited Paris. The Infante Louis de Bourbon, eldest son of the Duke +of Parma, had gone to Madrid in 1798 to contract a marriage with Maria +Amelia, the sister of Maria Louisa; but he fell in love with the latter. +Godoy favoured the attachment, and employed all his influence to bring +about the marriage. The son who, six years later, was born of this +union, was named Charles Louis, after the King of Spain. France occupied +the Duchy of Parma, which, in fulfilment of the conventions signed by +Lucien Bonaparte, was to belong to her after the death of the reigning +Duke. On the other hand, France was to cede the Grand Duchy of Tuscany +to the son of the Duke of Parma; and Spain paid to France, according to +stipulation, a considerable sum of money. Soon after the treaty was +communicated to Don Louis and his wife they left Madrid and travelled +through France. The prince took the title of Count of Leghorn. All +accounts are unanimous as to the attentions which the Prince and Princess +received on their journey. Among the, fetes in honour of the illustrious +couple that given by M. de Talleyrand at Neuilly was remarkable for +magnificence. + +When the Count of Leghorn was coming to pay his first visit to Malmaison +Bonaparte went into the drawing-room to see that everything was suitably +prepared for his reception. In a few minutes he returned to his cabinet +and said to me, somewhat out of humour, "Bourrienne, only think of their +stupidity; they had not taken down the picture representing me on the +summit of the Alps pointing to Lombardy and commanding the conquest of +it. I have ordered its removal How mortifying it would have been if the +Prince had seen it!" + +Another picture in the drawing-room at Malmaison represented the First +Consul sleeping on the snow on the summit of the Alps before the battle +of Marengo. + +The Count of Leghorn's visit to Paris imparted brilliancy to the first +years of the reign of Bonaparte, of whom it was at that time said, "He +made kings, but would not be one!" + +At the representation of AEdipus, the following expression of Philactetes +was received with transport:-- + + "J'ai fait des Souverains, et n'ai pas voulu l'etre." + + ["Monarchs I've made, but one I would not be."] + +The First Consul, on leaving the theatre, did not conceal his +satisfaction. He judged, from the applause with which that verse had +been received, that his pamphlet was forgotten. The manner, moreover, in +which a king, crowned by his hands, had been received by the public, was +no indifferent matter to him, as he expected that the people would thus +again become familiar with what had been so long proscribed. + +This King, who, though well received and well entertained, was in all +respects a very ordinary man, departed for Italy. I say very ordinary, +not that I had an opportunity of judging of his character myself, but the +First Consul told me that his capabilities were extremely limited; that +he even felt repugnance to take a pen in his hand; that he never cast a +thought on anything but his pleasures: in a word, that he was a fool. + +One day, after the First Consul had spent several hours in company with +him and his consort, he said to me, "I am quite tired. He is a mere +automaton. I put a number of questions to him, but he can answer none. +He is obliged to consult his wife, who makes him understand as well as +she is able what he ought to say." The First Consul added, "The poor +Prince will set off to-morrow, without knowing what he is going to do." +I observed that it was a pity to see the happiness of the people of +Tuscany entrusted to such a prince. Bonaparte replied, "Policy requires +it. Besides, the young man is not worse than the usual run of kings." +The Prince fully justified in Tuscany the opinion which the First Consul +formed of him. + + --[This unfortunate Prince was very ill-calculated to recommend, by + his personal character, the institutions to which the nobility clung + with so much fondness. Nature had endowed him with an excellent + heart, but with very limited talents; and his mind had imbibed the + false impress consequent upon his monastic education. He resided at + Malmaison nearly the whole time of his visit to Paris. Madame + Bonaparte used to lead the Queen to her own apartments; and as the + First Consul never left his closet except to sit down to meals, the + aides de camp were under the necessity of keeping the King company, + and of endeavoring to entertain him, so wholly was he devoid of + intellectual resources. It required, indeed, a great share of + patience to listen to the frivolities which engrossed his attention. + His turn of mind being thus laid open to view, care was taken to + supply him with the playthings usually placed in the hands of + children; he was, therefore, never at a loss for occupation. His + nonentity was a source of regret to us: we lamented to see s tall + handsome youth, destined to rule over his fellow-men, trembling at + the eight of a horse, and wasting his time in the game of hide-and- + seek, or at leap-frog and whose whole information consisted in + knowing his prayers, and in saying grace before and after meals. + Such, nevertheless, was the man to whom the destinies of a nation + were about to be committed! When he left France to repair to his + kingdom, "Rome need not be uneasy," said the First Consul to us + after the farewell audience, "there is no danger of his crossing the + Rubicon" (Memoirs of the Duke of Rovigo, vol. i. p. 363).]-- + +In order to show still further attention to the King of Etruria, after +his three weeks' visit to Paris, the First Consul directed him to be +escorted to Italy by a French guard, and selected his brother-in-law +Murat for that purpose. + +The new King of a new kingdom entered Florence on the 12th of April 1801; +but the reception given him by the Tuscans was not at all similar to what +he had experienced at Paris. The people received the royal pair as +sovereigns imposed on them by France. The ephemeral kingdom of Etruria +lasted scarcely six years. The King died in 1803, in the flower of his +age, and in 1807 the Queen was expelled from her throne by him who had +constructed it for her. + +At this period a powerful party urged Bonaparte to break with the Pope, +and to establish a Gallican Church, the head of which should reside in +France. They thought to flatter his ambition by indicating to him a new +source of power which might establish a point of comparison between him +and the first Roman emperors. But his ideas did not coincide with theirs +on this subject. "I am convinced," said he, "that a part of France would +become Protestant, especially if I were to favour that disposition. +I am also certain that the much greater portion would remain Catholic, +and would oppose, with the greatest zeal and fervour, the schism of a +part of their fellow-citizens. I dread the religious quarrels, the +family dissensions, and the public distractions, which such a state of +things would inevitably occasion. In, reviving a religion which has +always prevailed in the country, and which still prevails in the hearts +of the people, and in giving the liberty of exercising their worship to +the minority, I shall satisfy every one." + +The First Consul, taking a superior view of the state of France, +considered that the re-establishment of religious worship would prove a +powerful support to his Government: and he had been occupied ever since +the commencement of 1801 in preparing a Concordat with the Pope. It was +signed in the month of July in the same year. It required some time to +enable the parties to come to an understanding on the subject. + +Cardinal Consalvi arrived, in the month of June 1801, at Paris, to +arrange matters on the part of the Pope. Cardinal Caprara and M. de +Spina also formed part of the embassy sent by the Holy Father. There +were, besides, several able theologians, among whom Doctor C---- was +distinguished. + + --[The "Doctor C----" was Caselti, later Archbishop of Parma. Bonier + was green the Bishopric of Orleans, not Versailles; see Erreurs, + tome i, p. 276. The details of the surprise attempted at the last + moment by putting before Cardinal Consalvi for his signature an + altered copy of the Concordat should be read in his Memoirs (tome i. + p. 355), or in Lanfrey (tome ii. p. 267). As for Napoleon's + belief that part of the nation might become Protestant, Narbonne + probably put the matter truly when he said there was not religion + enough in France to stand a division. It should be noted that the + Concordat did not so much restore the Catholic Church as destroy the + old Gallican Church, with all its liberties, which might annoy + either Pope or Emperor. But on this point see The Gallican Church + and the Revolution, by Jervis: London, Began Paul, Trench and Co., + 1882. The clergy may, it is true, have shown wisdom in acceding to + any terms of restoration.]-- + +He was a member of the Pope's chancery; his knowledge gave him so much +influence over his colleagues that affairs advanced only as much as he +pleased. However, he was gained over by honours conferred on him, and +promises of money. Business then went on a little quicker. The +Concordat was signed on the 15th of July 1801, and made a law of the +State in the following April. The plenipotentiaries on the part of +Bonaparte were Joseph Bonaparte, Cretet, and the Abby Bernier, afterwards +Bishop of Versailles.--[Orleans not Versailles. D.W.] + +A solemn Te Deum was chanted at the cathedral of Notre Dame on Sunday, +the 11th of April. The crowd was immense, and the greater part of those +present stood during the ceremony, which was splendid in the extreme; +but who would presume to say that the general feeling was in harmony with +all this pomp? Was, then, the time for this innovation not yet arrived? +Was it too abrupt a transition from the habits of the twelve preceding +years? It is unquestionably true that a great number of the persons +present at the ceremony expressed, in their countenances and gestures, +rather a feeling of impatience and displeasure than of satisfaction or of +reverence for the place in which they were. Here and there murmurs arose +expressive of discontent. The whispering, which I might more properly +call open conversation, often interrupted the divine service, and +sometimes observations were made which were far from being moderate. +Some would turn their heads aside on purpose to take a bit of chocolate- +cake, and biscuits were openly eaten by many who seemed to pay no +attention to what was passing. + +The Consular Court was in general extremely irreligious; nor could it be +expected to be otherwise, being composed chiefly of those who had +assisted in the annihilation of all religious worship in France, and of +men who, having passed their lives in camps, had oftener entered a church +in Italy to carry off a painting than to hear the Mass. Those who, +without being imbued with any religious ideas, possessed that good sense +which induces men to pay respect to the belief of others, though it be +one in which they do not participate, did not blame the First Consul for +his conduct, and conducted themselves with some regard to decency. But +on the road from the Tuileries to Notre Dame, Lannes and Augereau wanted +to alight from the carriage as soon as they saw that they ware being +driven to Mass, and it required an order from the First Consul to prevent +their doing so. They went therefore to Notre Dame, and the next day +Bonaparte asked Augereau what he thought of the ceremony. "Oh! it was +all very fine," replied the General; "there was nothing wanting, except +the million of men who have perished in the pulling down of what you are +setting up." Bonaparte was much displeased at this remark. + + --[This remark has been attributed elsewhere to General Delmas. + + According to a gentleman who played a part in this empty pageantry, + Lannes at one moment did get out of the carriage, and Augerean kept + swearing in no low whisper during the whole of the chanted Mass. + Most of the military chiefs who sprang out of the Revolution had no + religion at all, but there were some who were Protestants, and who + were irritated by the restoration of Catholicism as the national + faith.--Editor of 1896 edition.]-- + +During the negotiations with the Holy Father Bonaparte one day said to +me, "In every country religion is useful to the Government, and those who +govern ought to avail themselves of it to influence mankind. I was a +Mahometan in Egypt; I am a Catholic in France. With relation to the +police of the religion of a state, it should be entirely in the hands of +the sovereign. Many persons have urged me to found a Gallican Church, +and make myself its head; but they do not know France. If they did, they +would know that the majority of the people would not like a rupture with +Rome. Before I can resolve on such a measure the Pope must push matters +to an extremity; but I believe he will not do so."--"You are right, +General, and you recall to my memory what Cardinal Consalvi said: +'The Pope will do all the First Consul desires.'"--"That is the best +course for him. Let him not suppose that he has to do with an idiot. +What do you think is the point his negotiations put most forward? The +salvation of my soul! But with me immortality is the recollection one +leaves in the memory of man. That idea prompts to great actions. It +would be better for a man never to have lived than to leave behind him no +traces of his existence." + +Many endeavours were made to persuade the First Consul to perform in +public the duties imposed by the Catholic religion. An influential +example, it was urged, was required. He told me once that he had put an +end to that request by the following declaration: "Enough of this. +Ask me no more. You will not obtain your object. You shall never make a +hypocrite of me. Let us remain where we are." + +I have read in a work remarkable on many accounts that it was on the +occasion of the Concordat of the 15th July 1801 that the First Consul +abolished the republican calendar and reestablished the Gregorian. This +is an error. He did not make the calendar a religious affair. The +'Senatus-consulte', which restored the use of the Gregorian calendar, to +commence in the French Empire from the 11th Nivose, year XIV. (1st +January 1806), was adopted on the 22d Fructidor, year XIII. (9th +September 1805), more than four years after the Concordat. The re- +establishment of the ancient calendar had no other object than to bring +us into harmony with the rest of Europe on a point so closely connected +with daily transactions, which were much embarrassed by the decadary +calendar. + +Bonaparte at length, however, consented to hear Mass, and St. Cloud was +the place where this ancient usage was first re-established. He directed +the ceremony to commence sooner than the hour announced in order that +those who would only make a scoff at it might not arrive until the +service was ended. + +Whenever the First Consul determined to hear Mass publicly on Sundays in +the chapel of the Palace a small altar was prepared in a room near his +cabinet of business. This room had been Anne of Austria's oratory. +A small portable altar, placed on a platform one step high, restored it +to its original destination. During the rest of the week this chapel was +used as a bathing-room. On Sunday the door of communication was opened, +and we heard Mass sitting in our cabinet of business. The number of +persons there never exceeded three or four, and the First Consul seldom +failed to transact some business during the ceremony, which never lasted +longer than twelve minutes. Next day all the papers had the news that +the First Consul had heard Mass in his apartments. In the same way Louis +XVIII. has often heard it in his! + +On the 19th of July 1801 a papal bull absolved Talleyrand from his vows. +He immediately married Madame Grandt, and the affair obtained little +notice at the time. This statement sufficiently proves how report has +perverted the fact. It has been said that Bonaparte on becoming Emperor +wished to restore that decorum which the Revolution had destroyed, and +therefore resolved to put an end to the improper intimacy which subsisted +between Talleyrand and Madame Grandt. It is alleged that the Minister at +first refused to marry the lady, but that he at last found it necessary +to obey the peremptory order of his master. This pretended resurrection +of morality by Bonaparte is excessively ridiculous. The bull was not +registered in the Council of State until the 19th of August 1802. + + --[The First Consul had on several occasions urged M. de Talleyrand + to return to holy orders. He pointed out to him that that course + world be most becoming his age and high birth, and premised that he + should be made a cardinal, thus raising him to a par with Richelieu, + and giving additional lustre to his administration (Memoirs of the + Duke of Rovigo, vol. i. p. 426). + + But M. de Talleyrand vindicated his choice, saying, "A clever wife + often compromises her husband; a stupid one only compromises + herself" (Historical Characters, p.122, Bulwer, Lord Dulling).]-- + +I will end this chapter by a story somewhat foreign to the preceding +transactions, but which personally concerns myself. On the 20th of July +1801 the First Consul, 'ex proprio motu', named me a Councillor of State +extraordinary. Madame Bonaparte kindly condescended to have an elegant +but somewhat ideal costume made for me. It pleased the First Consul, +however, and he had a similar one made for himself. He wore it a short +time and then left it off. Never had Bonaparte since his elevation shown +himself so amiable as on this occasion. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +1802. + + Last chapter on Egypt--Admiral Gantheaume--Way to please Bonaparte-- + General Menou's flattery and his reward--Davoust--Bonaparte regrets + giving the command to Menou, who is defeated by Abercromby--Otto's + negotiation in London--Preliminaries of peace. + +For the last time in these Memoirs I shall return to the affairs of +Egypt--to that episode which embraces so short a space of time and holds +so high a place in the life of Bonaparte. Of all his conquests he set +the highest value on Egypt, because it spread the glory of his name +throughout the East. Accordingly he left nothing unattempted for the +preservation of that colony. In a letter to General Kleber he said, +"You are as able as I am to understand how important is the possession of +Egypt to France. The Turkish Empire, in which the symptoms of decay are +everywhere discernible, is at present falling to pieces, and the evil of +the evacuation of Egypt by France would now be the greater, as we should +soon see that fine province pass into the possession of some other +European power." The selection of Gantheaume, however, to carry +assistance to Kleber was not judicious. Gantheaume had brought the First +Consul back from Egypt, and though the success of the passage could only +be attributed to Bonaparte's own plan, his determined character, and +superior judgment, yet he preserved towards Gantheaume that favourable +disposition which is naturally felt for one who has shared a great danger +with us, and upon whom the responsibility may be said to have been +imposed. + +This confidence in mediocrity, dictated by an honourable feeling, did not +obtain a suitable return. Gantheaume, by his indecision and creeping +about in the Mediterranean, had already failed to execute a commission +entrusted to him. The First Consul, upon finding he did not leave Brest +after he had been ordered to the Mediterranean, repeatedly said to me, +"What the devil is Gantheaume about?" With one of the daily reports sent +to the First Consul he received the following quatrain, which made him +laugh heartily: + + "Vaisseaux lestes, tete sans lest, + Ainsi part l'Amiral Gantheaume; + Il s'en va de Brest a Bertheaume, + Et revient de Bertheaume a Brest!" + + "With ballast on board, but none in his brain, + Away went our gallant Gantheaume, + On a voyage from Brest to Bertheaume, + And then from Bertheaume--to Brest back again!" + +Gantheaume's hesitation, his frequent tergiversations, his arrival at +Toulon, his tardy departure, and his return to that port on the 19th of +February 1801, only ten days prior to Admiral Keith's appearance with Sir +Ralph Abercromby off Alexandria, completely foiled all the plans which +Bonaparte had conceived of conveying succour and reinforcements to a +colony on the brink of destruction. + +Bonaparte was then dreaming that many French families would carry back +civilisation, science, and art to that country which was their cradle. +But it could not be concealed that his departure from Egypt in 1799 had +prepared the way for the loss of that country, which was hastened by +Kleber's death and the choice of Menou as his successor. + +A sure way of paying court to the First Consul and gaining his favour was +to eulogise his views about Egypt, and to appear zealous for maintaining +the possession of that country. By these means it was that Menou gained +his confidence. In the first year of the occupation of that country he +laid before him his dreams respecting Africa. He spoke of the negroes +of Senegal, Mozambique, Mehedie, Marabout, and other barbarous countries +which were all at once to assume a new aspect, and become civilised, +in consequence of the French possession of Egypt. To Menou's adulation +is to be attributed the favourable reception given him by the First +Consul, even after his return from Egypt, of which his foolish conduct +had allowed the English to get possession. The First Consul appointed +him Governor of Piedmont, and at my request gave my elder brother the +situation of Commissary-General of Police in that country; but I am in +candour obliged to confess that the First Consul was obliged to retract +this mark of his favour in consequence of my brother's making an abuse of +it. + +It was also by flattering the First Consul on the question of the East +that Davoust, on his return from Egypt in 1800 in consequence of the +Convention of El-Ariah, insinuated himself into Bonaparte's good graces +and, if he did not deserve, obtained his favour. At that time Davoust +certainly had no title whatever to the good fortune which he suddenly +experienced. He obtained, without first serving in a subordinate rank, +the command-in-chief of the grenadiers of the Consular Guard; and from +that time commenced the deadly hatred which Davoust bore towards me. +Astonished at the great length of time that Bonaparte had been one day +conversing with him I said, as soon as he was gone, "How could you talk +so long with a man whom you have always called a stupid fellow?"--"Ah! +but I did not know him well enough before. He is a better man, I assure +you, than he is thought; and you will come over to my opinion."--"I hope +so." The First Consul, who was often extremely indiscreet, told Davoust +my opinion of him, and his hostility against me ceased but with his life. + +The First Consul could not forget his cherished conquest in the East. +It was constantly the object of his thoughts. He endeavoured to send +reinforcements to his army from Brest and Toulon, but without success. +He soon had cause to repent having entrusted to the hands of Menou the +command-in-chief, to which he became entitled only by seniority, after +the assassination of Kleber by Soleiman Heleby. But Bonaparte's +indignation was excited when he became acquainted with Menou's neglect +and mismanagement, when he saw him giving reins to his passion for +reform, altering and destroying everything, creating nothing good in its +stead, and dreaming about forming a land communication with the +Hottentots and Congo instead of studying how to preserve the country. +His pitiful plans of defence, which were useless from their want of +combination, appeared to the First Consul the height of ignorance. +Forgetful of all the principles of strategy, of which Bonaparte's conduct +afforded so many examples, he opposed to the landing of Abercromby a few +isolated corps, which were unable to withstand the enemy's attack, while +the English army might have been entirely annihilated had all the +disposable troops been sent against it. + +The great admiration which Menou expressed at the expedition to Egypt; +his excessive fondness for that country, the religion of which he had +ridiculously enough embraced under the name of Abdallah; the efforts he +made, in his sphere, to preserve the colony; his enthusiasm and blind +attachment to Bonaparte; the flattering and encouraging accounts he gave +of the situation of the army, at first had the effect of entirely +covering Menou's incapacity. + + --[For a ludicrous description of Menou see the Memoirs of Marmont:- + "Clever and gay, ho was an agreeable talker, but a great liar. He + was not destitute of some education. His character, one of the + oddest in the world, came very near to lunacy: Constantly writing, + always in motion in his room, riding for exercise every day, he was + never able to start on any necessary of useful journey . . . . + When, later, Bonaparte, then First Consul, gave him by special + favour the administration of Piedmont, he put off his departure from + day to day for six months; and then he only did start because his + friend Maret himself put him into his carriage, with post-horses + already harnessed to it . . . . When he left this post they + found in his cabinet 900 letters which he had not opened. He was an + eccentric lunatic, amusing enough sometimes, but a curse to + everything which depended on him " (Memoirs of the Duc de Raguse, + tome i. p. 410).]-- + +This alone can account for the First Consul's preference of him. But I +am far from concurring in what has been asserted by many persons, that +France lost Egypt at the very moment when it seemed most easy of +preservation. Egypt was conquered by a genius of vast intelligence, +great capacity, and profound military science. Fatuity, stupidity, and +incapacity lost it. What was the result of that memorable expedition? +The destruction of one of our finest armies; the loss of some of our best +generals; the annihilation of our navy; the surrender of Malta; and the +sovereignty of England in the Mediterranean. What is the result at +present? A scientific work. The gossiping stories and mystifications of +Herodotus, and the reveries of the good Rollin, are worth as much, and +have not cost so dear. + +The First Consul had long been apprehensive that the evacuation of Egypt +was unavoidable. The last news he had received from that country was not +very encouraging, and created a presentiment of the approach of the +dreaded catastrophe. He, however, published the contrary; but it was +then of great importance that, an account of the evacuation should not +reach England until the preliminaries of peace were signed, for which +purpose M. Otto was exerting all his industry and talent. We made a +great merit of abandoning our conquests in Egypt; but the sacrifice would +not have been considered great if the events which took place at the end +of August had been known in London before the signing of the +preliminaries on the 1st of October. The First Consul himself answered +M. Otto's last despatch, containing a copy of the preliminaries ready to +be adopted by the English Ministry. Neither this despatch nor the answer +was communicated to M. de Talleyrand, then Minister for Foreign Affairs. +The First Consul, who highly appreciated the great talents and knowledge +of that Minister, never closed any diplomatic arrangement without first +consulting him; and he was right in so doing. On this occasion, however, +I told him that as M. de Talleyrand was, for his health, taking the +waters of Bourbon-l'Archambault, four days must elapse before his reply +could be received, and that the delay might cause the face of affairs to +change. I reminded him that Egypt was on the point of yielding. He took +my advice, and it was well for him that he did, for the news of the +compulsory evacuation of Egypt arrived in London the day after the +signing of the preliminaries. M. Otto informed the First Consul by +letter that Lord Hawkesbury, ill communicating to him the news of the +evacuation, told him he was very glad everything was settled, for it +would have been impossible for him to have treated on the same basis +after the arrival of such news. In reality we consented at Paris to the +voluntary evacuation of Egypt, and that was something for England, while +Egypt was at that very time evacuated by a convention made on the spot. +The definitive evacuation of Egypt took place on the 30th of August 1801; +and thus the conquest of that country, which had cost so dear, was +rendered useless, or rather injurious. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +1802. + + The most glorious epoch for France--The First Consul's desire of + peace--Malta ceded and kept--Bonaparte and the English journals-- + Mr. Addington's letter to the First Consul--Bonaparte prosecutes + Peltier--Leclerc's expedition to St. Domingo--Toussaint Louverture-- + Death of Leclerc--Rochambeau, his successor, abandons St. Domingo-- + First symptoms of Bonaparte's malady--Josephine's intrigues for the + marriage of Hortense--Falsehood contradicted. + +The epoch of the peace of Amiens must be considered as the most glorious +in the history of France, not excepting the splendid period of Louis +XIV.'s victories and the more brilliant era of the Empire. The Consular +glory was then pure, and the opening prospect was full of flattering +hope; whereas those who were but little accustomed to look closely into +things could discern mighty disasters lurking under the laurels of the +Empire. + +The proposals which the First Consul made in order to obtain peace +sufficiently prove his sincere desire for it. He felt that if in the +commencement of his administration he could couple his name with so hoped +for an act he should ever experience the affection and gratitude of the +French. I want no other proof of his sentiments than the offer he made +to give up Egypt to the Grand Seignior, and to restore all the ports of +the Gulf of Venice and of the Mediterranean to the States to which they +had previously belonged; to surrender Malta to the order of the Knights +of St. John, and even to raze its fortifications if England should think +such a measure necessary for her interests. In the Indies, Ceylon was to +be left to him, + + --[Ceylon belonged to Holland, but was retained by England under the + treaty of Amiens.]-- + +and he required the surrender of the Cape of Good Hope and all the places +taken by the English in the West Indies. + +England had firmly resolved to keep Malta, the Gibraltar of the +Mediterranean, and the Cape of Good Hope, the caravanserai of the Indies. +She was therefore unwilling to close with the proposition respecting +Malta; and she said that an arrangement might be made by which it would +be rendered independent both of Great Britain and France. We clearly saw +that this was only a lure, and that, whatever arrangements might be +entered into, England would keep Malta, because it was not to be expected +that the maritime power would willingly surrender an island which +commands the Mediterranean. I do not notice the discussions respecting +the American islands, for they were, in my opinion, of little consequence +to us. + + --[It is strange that Bourrienne does not allude to one of the first + arbitrary acts of Napoleon, the discussions on which formed part of + those conversations between Napoleon and his brother Lucien of which + Bourrienne complained to Josephine he knew nothing. In 1763 France + had ceded to England the part of Louisiana on the east of the + Mississippi, and the part on the west of that river, with New + Orleans, to Spain. By the treaty negotiated with Spain by Lucien + Bonaparte in 1800 her share was given back to France. On the 80th + April 1803 Napoleon sold the whole to the United States for + 80,000,000 francs (L 3,260,000), to the intense anger of his + brothers Joseph and Lucien. Lucien was especially proud of having + obtained the cession for which Napoleon was, at that time, very + anxious; but both brothers were horrified when Napoleon disclosed + how little he cared for constitutional forms by telling them that if + the Legislature, as his brothers threatened, would not ratify the + treaty, he would do without the ratification; see Iung's Letter, + tome ii. p. 128. + + Napoleon's most obvious motives were want of money and the certainty + of the seizure of the province by England, as the rupture with her + was now certain. But there was perhaps another cause. The States + had already been on the point of seizing the province from Spain, + which had interfered with their trade (Hinton's United States, p. + 435, and Thiers tome iv, p. 320). + + Of the sum to be paid, 20,000,000 were to go to the States, to cover + the illegal seizures of American ships by the French navy, a matter + which was not settled for many years later. The remaining + 80,000,000 were employed in the preparations for the invasion of + England; see Thiers, tome iv. pp. 320 and 326, and Lanfrey, tome + iii. p. 48. The transaction is a remarkable one, as forming the + final withdrawal of France from North America (with the exception of + some islands on the Newfoundland coast), where she had once held + such a proud position. It also eventually made an addition to the + number of slave States.]-- + +They cost more than they produce; and they will escape from us, some time +or other, as all colonies ultimately do from the parent country. Our +whole colonial system is absurd; it forces us to pay for colonial produce +at a rate nearly double that for which it may be purchased from our +neighbours. + +When Lord Hawkesbury consented to evacuate Malta, on condition that it +should be independent of France and Great Britain, he must have been +aware that such a condition would never be fulfilled. He cared little +for the order of St. John, and he should have put, by way of postscript, +at the bottom of his note, "We will keep Malta in spite of you." +I always told the First Consul that if he were in the situation of the +English he would act the same part; and it did not require much sagacity +to foretell that Malta would be the principal cause of the rupture of +peace. He was of my opinion; but at that moment he thought everything +depended on concluding the negotiations, and I entirely agreed with him. +It happened, as was foreseen, that Malta caused the renewal of war. The +English, on being called upon to surrender the island, eluded the demand, +shifted about, and at last ended by demanding that Malta should be placed +under the protection of the King of Naples,--that is to say, under the +protection of a power entirely at their command, and to which they might +dictate what they pleased. This was really too cool a piece of irony! + +I will here notice the quarrel between the First Consul and the English +newspapers, and give a new proof of his views concerning the freedom of +the press. However, liberty of the press did once contribute to give him +infinite gratification, namely, when all the London journals mentioned +the transports of joy manifested in London on the arrival of General +Lauriston, the bearer of the ratification of the preliminaries of peace. + +The First Consul was at all times the declared enemy of the liberty of +the press, and therefore he ruled the journals with a hand of iron. + + --[An incident, illustrative of the great irritation which Bonaparte + felt at the plain speaking of the English press, also shows the + important character of Coleridge's writings in the 'Morning Post'. + In the course of a debate in the House of Commons Fox asserted that + the rupture of the trace of Amiens had its origin in certain essays + which had appeared in the Morning POST, and which were known to have + proceeded from the pen of Coleridge. But Fox added an ungenerous + and malicious hint that the writer was at Rome, within the reach of + Bonaparte. The information reached the ears for which it was + uttered, and an order was sent from Paris to compass the arrest of + Coleridge. It was in the year 1806, when the poet was making a tour + in Italy. The news reached him at Naples, through a brother of the + illustrious Humboldt, as Mr. Gillman says--or in a friendly warning + from Prince Jerome Bonaparte, as we have it on the authority of Mr. + Cottle--and the Pope appears to have been reluctant to have a hand + in the business, and, in fact, to have furnished him with a + passport, if not with a carriage for flight, Coleridge eventually + got to Leghorn, where he got a passage by an American ship bound for + England; but his escape coming to the ears of Bonaparte, a look-out + was kept for the ship, and she was chased by a French cruiser, which + threw the captain into such a state of terror that he made Coleridge + throw all his journals and papers overboard (Andrews' History of + Journalism, vol. ii. p. 28).]-- + +I have often heard him say, "Were I to slacken the reins, I should not +continue three months in power." He unfortunately held the same opinion +respecting every other prerogative of public freedom. The silence he had +imposed in France he wished, if he could, to impose in England. He was +irritated by the calumnies and libels so liberally cast upon him by the +English journals, and especially by one written in French, called +'L'Ambigu', conducted by Peltier, who had been the editor of the 'Actes +des Apotres' in Paris. The 'Ambigu' was constantly teeming with the moat +violent attacks on the First Consul and the French nation. Bonaparte +could never, like the English, bring himself to despise newspaper libels, +and he revenged himself by violent articles which he caused to be +inserted in the 'Moniteur'. He directed M. Otto to remonstrate, in an +official note, against a system of calumny which he believed to be +authorised by the English Government. Besides this official proceeding +he applied personally to Mr. Addington, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, +requesting him to procure the adoption of legislative measures against +the licentious writings complained of; and, to take the earliest +opportunity of satisfying his hatred against the liberty of the press, +the First Consul seized the moment of signing the preliminaries to make +this request. + +Mr. Addington wrote a long answer to the First Consul, which I translated +for him. The English Minister refuted, with great force, all the +arguments which Bonaparte had employed against the press. He also +informed the First Consul that, though a foreigner, it was competent in +him to institute a complaint in the courts of law; but that in such case +he must be content to see all the scandalous statements of which he +complained republished in the report of the trial. He advised him to +treat the libels with profound contempt, and do as he and others did, who +attached not the slightest importance to them. I congratulate myself on +having in some degree prevented a trial taking place at that time. + +Things remained in this state for the moment; but after the peace of +Amiens the First Consul prosecuted Pettier, whose journal was always full +of violence and bitterness against him. Pettier was defended by the +celebrated Mackintosh, who, according to the accounts of the time, +displayed great eloquence on this occasion, yet, in spite of the ability +of his counsel, he was convicted. The verdict, which public opinion +considered in the light of a triumph for the defendant, was not followed +up by any judgment, in consequence of the rupture of the peace occurring +soon after. It is melancholy to reflect that this nervous susceptibility +to the libels of the English papers contributed certainly as much as, and +perhaps more than, the consideration of great political interests to the +renewal of hostilities. The public would be astonished at a great many +things if they could only look under the cards. + +I have anticipated the rupture of the treaty of Amiens that I might not +interrupt what I had to mention respecting Bonaparte's hatred of the +liberty of the press. I now return to the end of the year 1801, the +period of the expedition against St. Domingo. + +The First Consul, after dictating to me during nearly: the whole of one +night instructions for that expedition, sent for General Leclerc, and +said to him in my presence, "Here, take your instructions; you have a +fine opportunity for filling your purse. Go, and no longer tease me with +your eternal requests for money." The friendship which Bonaparte felt +for his sister Pauline had a good deal of influence in inducing him to +take this liberal way of enriching her husband. + +The expedition left the ports of France on the 14th of December 1801, and +arrived off Cape St. Domingo on the 1st of February 1802. The fatal +result of the enterprise is well known, but we are never to be cured of +the folly of such absurd expeditions. In the instructions given to +Leclerc everything was foreseen; but it was painful to know that the +choice of one of the youngest and least capable of all the generals of +the army left no hope of a successful result. The expedition to St. +Domingo was one of Bonaparte's great errors. Almost every person whom he +consulted endeavoured to dissuade him from it. He attempted a +justification through the medium of his historians of St. Helena; but +does he succeed when he says, "that he was obliged to yield to the advice +of his Council of State?" He, truly, was a likely man to submit a +question of war to the discussion of the Council of State, or to be +guided in such an affair by any Council! We must believe that no other +motive influenced the First Consul but the wish, by giving him the means +of enriching himself, to get rid of a brother-in-law who had the gift of +specially annoying him. The First Consul, who did not really much like +this expedition, should have perhaps reflected longer on the difficulties +of attempting to subdue the colony by force. He was shaken by this +argument, which I often repeated to him, and he agreed with it, but the +inconceivable influence which the members of his family exercised on him +always overcame him. + +Bonaparte dictated to me a letter for Toussaint, full of sounding words +and fine promises, informing him that his two children, who had been +educated in Paris, were sent back to him, offering him the title of vice- +governor, and stating that he ought readily to assist in an arrangement +which would contribute to reconnect the colony with the mother-country. +Toussaint, who had at first shown a disposition to close with the +bargain, yet feeling afraid of being deceived by the French, and probably +induced by ambitious motives, resolved on war. He displayed a great deal +of talent; but, being attacked before the climate had thinned the French +ranks, he was unable to oppose a fresh army, numerous and inured to war. +He capitulated, and retired to a plantation, which he was not to leave +without Leclerc's permission. A feigned conspiracy on the part of the +blacks formed a pretence for accusing Toussaint, and he was seized and +sent to France. + +Toussaint was brought to Pains in the beginning of August. He was sent, +in the first instance, to the Temple, whence he was removed to the +Chateau de Joux. His imprisonment was rigorous; few comforts were +allowed him. This treatment, his recollection of the past, his +separation from the world, and the effects of a strange climate, +accelerated his death, which took place a few months after his arrival in +France. The reports which spread concerning his death, the assertion +that it was not a natural one, and that it had been caused by poison, +obtained no credit. I should add that Toussaint wrote a letter to +Bonaparte; but I never saw in it the expression attributed to him, "The +first man of the blacks to the first man of the whites" Bonaparte +acknowledged that the black leader possessed energy, courage, and great +skill. I am sure that he would have rejoiced if the result of his +relations with St. Domingo had been something else than the kidnaping and +transportation of Toussaint. + +Leclerc, after fruitless efforts to conquer the colony, was himself +carried off by the yellow fever. Rochambeau succeeded him by right of +seniority, and was as unsuccessful as Menou had been in Egypt. The +submission of the blacks, which could only have been obtained by +conciliation, he endeavoured to compel by violence. At last, in December +1803, he surrendered to an English squadron, and abandoned the island to +Dessalines. + +Bonaparte often experienced severe bodily pain, and I have now little +doubt, from the nature of his sufferings, that they were occasioned by +the commencement of that malady which terminated his life at St. Helena. +These pains, of which he frequently complained, affected him most acutely +on the night when he dictated to me the instructions for General Leclerc. +It was very late when I conducted him to his apartment. We had just been +taking a cup of chocolate, a beverage of which we always partook when our +business lasted longer than one o'clock in the morning. He never took a +light with him when he went up to his bedroom. I gave him my arm, and we +had scarcely got beyond the little staircase which leads to the corridor, +when he was rudely run against by a man who was endeavouring to escape as +quickly as possible by the staircase. The First Consul did not fall +because I supported him. We soon gained his chamber, where we, found +Josephine, who, having heard the noise, awoke greatly alarmed. From the +investigations which were immediately made it appeared that the uproar +was occasioned by a fellow who had been keeping an assignation and had +exceeded the usual hour for his departure. + +On the 7th of January 1802 Mademoiselle Hortense was married to Louis +Bonaparte. As the custom was not yet resumed of adding the religious +ceremony to the civil contract, the nuptial benediction was on this +occasion privately given by a priest at the house Rue de la Victoire. +Bonaparte also caused the marriage of his sister Caroline,--[The wife of +Murat, and the cleverest of Bonaparte's sisters.]--which had taken place +two years earlier before a mayor, to be consecrated in the same manner; +but he and his wife did not follow the example. Had he already, then, an +idea of separating from Josephine, and therefore an unwillingness to +render a divorce more difficult by giving his marriage a religious +sanction? I am rather inclined to think, from what he said to me, that +his neglecting to take a part in the religious ceremony arose from +indifference. + +Bonaparte said at St. Helena, speaking of Louis and Hortense, that "they +loved each other when they married: they desired to be united. The +marriage was also the result of Josephine's intrigues, who found her +account in it." I will state the real facts. Louis and Hortense did not +love one another at all. That is certain. The First Consul knew it, +just as he well knew that Hortense had a great inclination for Duroc, who +did not fully return it. The First Consul agreed to their union, but +Josephine was troubled by such a marriage, and did all she could to +prevent it. She often spoke to me about it, but rather late in the day. +She told me that her brothers-in law were her declared enemies, that I +well knew their intrigues, and that I well knew there was no end to the +annoyances they made her undergo. In fact, I did know all this +perfectly. She kept on repeating to me that with this projected marriage +she would not have any support; that Duroc was nothing except by the +favour of Bonaparte; that he had neither fortune, fame, nor reputation, +and that he could be no help to her against the well-known ill-will of +the brothers of Bonaparte. She wanted some assurance for the future. +She added that her husband was very fond of Louis, and that if she had +the good fortune to unite him to her daughter this would be a +counterpoise to the calumnies and persecutions of her other brothers-in- +law. I answered her that she had concealed her intentions too long from +me, and that I had promised my services to the young people, and the more +willingly as I knew the favourable opinion of the First Consul, who had +often said to me, "My wife has done well; they suit one another, they +shall marry one another. I like Duroc; he is of good family. I have +rightly given Caroline to Murat, and Pauline to Leclerc, and I can well +give Hortense to Duroc, who is a fine fellow. He is worth more than the +others. He is now general of a division there is nothing against this +marriage. Besides, I have other plans for Louis." In speaking to Madame +Bonaparte I added that her daughter burst into tears when spoken to about +her marriage with Louis. + +The First Consul had sent a brevet of general of division to Duroc by a +special courier, who went to Holland, through which the newly-made +general had to pass on his return from St. Petersburg, where, as I have +already said, he had been sent to compliment the Emperor Alexander on his +accession to the throne. The First Consul probably paid this compliment +to Duroc in the belief that the marriage would take place. + +During Duroc's absence the correspondence of the lovers passed, by their +consent, through my hands. Every night I used to make one in a party at +billiards, at which Hortense played very well. When I told her, in a +whisper, that I had got a letter for her, she would immediately leave off +playing and run to her chamber, where I followed and gave her Duroc's +epistle. When she opened it her eyes would fill with tears, and it was +some time before she could return to the salon. All was useless for her. +Josephine required a support in the family against the family. Seeing +her firm resolution, I promised to no longer oppose her wishes, which I +could not disapprove, but I told her I could only maintain silence and +neutrality in these little debates, and she seemed satisfied. + +When we were at Malmaison those intrigues continued. At the Tuileries +the same conduct was pursued, but then the probability of success was on +Duroc's side; I even congratulated him on his prospects, but he received +my compliments in a very cold manner. In a few days after Josephine +succeeded in changing the whole face of affairs. Her heart was entirely +set on the marriage of Louis with her daughter; and prayers, entreaties, +caresses, and all those little arts which she so well knew how to use, +were employed to win the First Consul to her purpose. + +On the 4th of January the First Consul, after dinner, entered our +cabinet, where I was employed. "Where is Duroc?" he inquired.--"He has +gone to the opera, I believe."--"Tell him, as soon as he returns, that I +have promised Hortense to him, and he shall have her. But I wish the +marriage to take place in two days at the latest. I will give him +500,000 francs, and name him commandant of the eighth military division; +but he must set out the day after his marriage with his wife for Toulon. +We must live apart; I want no son-in-law at home. As I wish to come to +some conclusion, let me know to-night whether this plan will satisfy +him."--"I think it will not."--"Very well! then she shall marry Louis." +--"Will she like that?"--"She must like it." Bonaparte gave me these +directions in a very abrupt manner, which made me think that some little +domestic warfare had been raging, and that to put an end to it he had +come to propose his ultimatum. At half-past ten in the evening Duroc +returned; I reported to him, word for word, the proposition of the First +Consul. "Since it has come to that, my good friend," said he, "tell him +he may keep his daughter for me. I am going to see the -----," and, with +an indifference for which I cannot account, he took his hat and went off. + + --[Duroc eventually married a Mademoiselle Hervae d'Almenara, the + daughter of a Spanish banker, who was later Minister of Joseph, and + was created Marquis of Abruenara. The lady was neither handsome nor + amiable, but she possessed a vast fortune, and Bonaparte himself + solicited her hand for his aide de camp. After the death of Duroc + his widow married a M. Fabvier, and Napoleon gave his Duchy of + Frioul to his daughter.]-- + +The, First Consul, before going to bed, was informed of Duroc's reply, +and Josephine received from him the promise that Louis and Hortense +should be married. The marriage took place a few days after, to the +great regret of Hortense, and probably to the satisfaction of Duroc. +Louis submitted to have forced on him as a wife a woman who had hitherto +avoided him as much as possible. She always manifested as much +indifference for him as he displayed repugnance for her, and those +sentiments have not been effaced. + + --[The marriage of Louis Bonaparte took place on the 7th January. + The bride and bridegroom were exceedingly dull, and Mademoiselle + Hortense wept daring the whole of the ceremony. Josephine, knowing + that this union, which commenced so inauspiciously, was her own + work, anxiously endeavoured to establish a more cordial feeling + between her daughter and son-in-law. But all her efforts were vain, + and the marriage proved a very unhappy one (Memoirs de Constant). + + Napoleon III. was the son of the Queen of Holland (Hortense + Beauharnais).]-- + +Napoleon said at St. Helena that he wished to unite Louis with a niece of +Talleyrand. I can only say that I never heard a word of this niece, +either from himself, his wife, or his daughter; and I rather think that +at that time the First Consul was looking after a royal alliance for +Louis. He often expressed regret at the precipitate marriages of his +sisters. It should be recollected that we were now in the year which saw +the Consulship for life established, and which, consequently, gave +presage of the Empire. Napoleon said truly to the companions of his +exile that "Louis' marriage was the result of Josephine's intrigues," but +I cannot understand how he never mentioned the intention he once had of +uniting Hortense to Duroc. It has been erroneously stated that the First +Consul believed that he reconciled the happiness of his daughter with his +policy. Hortense did not love Louis, and dreaded this marriage. There +was no hope of happiness for her, and the event has proved this. As for +the policy of the First Consul, it is not easy to see how it was +concerned with the marriage of Louis to Hortense, and in any case the +grand policy which professed so loudly to be free from all feminine +influences would have been powerless against the intrigues of Josephine, +for at this time at the Tuileries the boudoir was often stronger than the +cabinet. Here I am happy to have it in my power to contradict most +formally and most positively certain infamous insinuations which have +prevailed respecting Bonaparte and Hortense. Those who have asserted +that Bonaparte ever entertained towards Hortense any other sentiments +than those of a father-in-law for a daughter-in-law have, as the ancient +knights used to say, "lied in their throats." We shall see farther on +what he said to me on this subject, but it is never too soon to destroy +such a base calumny. Authors unworthy of belief have stated, without any +proof, that not only was there this criminal liaison, but they have gone +so far as to say that Bonaparte was the father of the eldest son of +Hortense. It is a lie, a vile lie. And yet the rumour has spread +through all France and all Europe. Alas! has calumny such powerful +charms that, once they are submitted to, their yoke cannot be broken? + + --[Bourrienne's account of this marriage, and his denial of the vile + calumny about Napoleon, is corroborated by Madame Remusat. After + saying that Hortense had refused to marry the son of Rewbell and + also the Comte de Nun, she goes on: "A short time afterwards Duroc, + then aide de camp to the Consul, and already noted by him, fell in + love with Hortense. She returned the feeling, and believed she had + found that other half of herself which she sought. Bonaparte looked + favourably on their union, but Madame Bonaparte in her turn was + inflexible. 'My daughter,' said she, 'must marry s gentleman or a + Bonaparte.' Louis was then thought of. He had no fancy for + Hortense; defeated the Beauharnais family, and had a supreme + contempt for his sister-in-law. But as he was silent, he was + believed to be gentle; and as he was severe by character, he was + believed to be upright. Madame Louis told me afterwards that at the + news of this arrangement she experienced violent grief. Not only + was she forbidden to think of the man she loved, but she was about + to be given to another of whom she had a secret distrust" (Remusat, + tome i. p. l56). For the cruel treatment of Hortense by Louis see + the succeeding pages of Remusat. As for the vile scandal about + Hortense and Napoleon, there is little doubt that it was spread by + the Bonapartist family for interested motives. Madame Louis became + enceinte soon after her marriage. The Bonapartists, and especially + Madame Murat (Caroline); had disliked this marriage because Joseph + having only daughters, it was forseen that the first son of Louis + and the grandson of Madame Bonaparte would be the object of great + interest. They therefore spread the revolting story that this was + the result of a connection of the First Consul with his daughter-in- + law, encouraged by the mother herself. "The public willingly + believed this suspicion.' Madame Murat told Louis," etc. (Remusat, + tome i, p. 169). This last sentence is corroborated by Miot de + Melito (tome ii. p. 170), who, speaking of the later proposal of + Napoleon to adopt this child, says that Louis "remembered the + damaging stories which ill-will had tried to spread among the public + concerning Hortense Beauharnais before be married her, and although + a comparison of the date of his marriage with that of the birth of + his son must have shown him that these tales were unfounded, he felt + that they world be revived by the adoption of this child by the + First Consul." Thus this wretched story did harm in every way. + The conduct of Josephine mast be judged with leniency, engaged as + she was in a desperate straggle to maintain her own marriage,--a + struggle she kept up with great skill; see Metternich, tome ii. p. + 296. "she baffled all the calculations, all the manoeuvres of her + adversaries." But she was foolish enough to talk in her anger as if + she believed some of the disgraceful rumours of Napoleon. "Had he + not seduced his sisters, one after the other?" (Remusat, tome i. p. + 204). As to how far this scandal was really believed by the + brothers of Napoleon, see Iung's Lucien (tome ii. pp. 268-269), + where Lucien describes Louis as coming three times to him for advice + as to his marriage with Hortense, both brothers referring to this + rumour. The third time Louis announces he is in love with Hortense. + "You are in love? Why the devil, then, do you come to me for + advice? If so, forget what has been rumoured, and what I have + advised you. Marry, and may God bless you." + + Thiers (tome iii. p. 308) follows Bourrienne's account. Josephine, + alluding to Louis Bonaparte, said, "His family have maliciously + informed him of the disgraceful stories which have been spread on + the conduct of my daughter and on the birth of her son. Hate + assigns this child to Napoleon." (Remusat, tome i, p. 206). The + child in question was Napoleon Charles (1802-1807).]-- + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +1802-1803. + + Bonaparte President of the Cisalpine Republic--Meeting of the + deputation at Lyons--Malta and the English--My immortality--Fete + given by Madame Murat--Erasures from the emigrant list--Restitution + of property--General Sebastiani--Lord Whitworth--Napoleon's first + symptoms of disease--Corvisart--Influence of physical suffering on + Napoleon's temper--Articles for the Moniteur--General Andreossi-- + M. Talleyrand's pun--Jerome Bonaparte--Extravagance of Bonaparte's + brothers--M. Collot and the navy contract. + +Bonaparte was anxious to place the Cisalpine Republic on a footing of +harmony with the Government of France. It was necessary to select a +President who should perfectly agree with Bonaparte's views; and in this +respect no one could be so suitable as Bonaparte himself. The two +Presidencies united would serve as a transition to the throne. Not +wishing to be long absent from Paris, and anxious to avoid the trouble of +the journey to Milan, he arranged to meet the deputation half-way at +Lyons. Before our departure I said to him, "Is it possible that you do +not wish to revisit Italy, the first scene of your glory, and the +beautiful capital of Lombardy, where you were the object of so much +homage?"--"I certainly should," replied the First Consul, "but the +journey to Milan would occupy too much precious time. I prefer that the +meeting should take place in France. My influence over the deputies will +be more prompt and certain at Lyons than at Milan; and then I should be +glad to see the noble wreck of the army of Egypt, which is collected at +Lyons." + +On the 8th of January 1802 we set out. Bonaparte who was now ready to +ascend the throne of France, wished to prepare the Italians for one day +crowning him King of Italy, in imitation of Charlemagne, of whom in +anticipation he considered himself the successor. He saw that the title +of President of the Cisalpine Republic was a great advance towards the +sovereignty of Lombardy, as he afterwards found that the Consulate for +life was a decisive step towards the throne of France. He obtained the +title of President without much difficulty on the 36th of January 1802. +The journey to Lyons and the conferences were only matters of form; but +high sounding words and solemn proceedings were required for the public +mind. + +The attempts which had been made on the life of the First Consul gave +rise to a report that be took extraordinary precautions for his safety +during this journey to Lyons. I never saw those precautions, and +Bonaparte was at all times averse to adopt any. He often repeated "That +whoever would risk his own life might take his." It is not true that +guards preceded his carriage and watched the roads. The Consul travelled +like a private person, and very rarely had arms in his carriage. + + --[Bonaparte may have been careless of his own safety, but that he + took great pains in regard to his brother's may be inferred from the + following letter, written a few years later: + + "Take care that your valets de chambre, your cooks, the guards that + sleep in your apartments, and those who come during the night to + awaken you with despatches, are all Frenchmen. No one should enter + your room during the night except your aides de camp, who should + sleep in the chamber that precedes your bedroom. Your door should + be fastened inside, and you ought not to open it, even to your aide + de camp, until you have recognised his voice; he himself should not + knock at your door until he has locked that of the room which he is + in, to make sure of being alone, and of being followed by no one. + These precautions are important; they give no trouble, and they + inspire confidence--besides, they may really save your life. You + should establish these habits immediately end permanently; You ought + not to be obliged to have resource to them on some emergency, which + would hurt the feelings of those around you. Do not trust only to + your own experience. The Neapolitan character has been violent in + every age, and you have to do with a woman [Queen of Naples] who is + the impersonation of crime" (Napoleon to Joseph, May 31, 1806.--Du + Casse, tome ii. p. 260).]-- + + +At this time, when the ambition of Bonaparte every day took a farther +flight, General Clarke took it into his head to go into the box of the +First Consul at the "Francais," and to place himself in the front seat. +By chance the First Consul came to the theatre, but Clarke, hardly +rising, did not give up his place. The First Consul only stayed a short +time, and when he came back he showed great discontent at this +affectation of pride and of vanity. Wishing to get rid of a man whom he +looked on as a blundering flatterer and a clumsy critic, he sent him away +as charge d'affaires to the young extemporized King of Etruria, where +Clarke expiated his folly in a sort of exile. This is all the "great +disfavour" which has been so much spoken about, In the end General Clarke +returned to favour. Berlin knows and regrets it. + +On the 25th of March of the same year England signed, at Amiens, a +suspension of arms for fourteen months, which was called a treaty of +peace. The clauses of this treaty were not calculated to inspire the +hope of a very long peace. It was evident, as I have already said, that +England would not evacuate Malta; and that island ultimately proved the +chief cause of the rupture of the treaty of Amiens. But England, +heretofore so haughty in her bearing to the First Consul, had at length +treated with him as the Head of the French Government. This, as +Bonaparte was aware, boded well for the consolidation of his power. + +At that time, when he saw his glory and power augmenting, he said to me +in one of our walks at Malmaison, in a moment of hilarity, and clapping +me on the shoulder, "Well, Bourrienne, you also will be immortal!"-- +"why, General?"--"Are you not my secretary?"--"Tell me the name of +Alexander's," said I. + + --[Bonaparte did not know the name of Alexander's secretary, and I + forgot at the moment to tell him it was Clallisthenes. He wrote + Alexander's Memoirs, as I am writing Bonaparte's; but, + notwithstanding this coincidence, I neither expect nor desire the + immortality of my name.--Bourrienne.]-- + +Bonaparte then turned to me and laughing, said, "Hem! that is not bad." +There was, to be sure, a little flattery conveyed in my question, but +that never displeased him, and I certainly did not in that instance +deserve the censure he often bestowed on me for not being enough of a +courtier and flatterer. + +Madame Murat gave a grand fete in honour of Bonaparte at her residence at +Neuilly. At dinner Bonaparte sat opposite Madame Murat at the principal +table, which was appropriated to the ladies. He ate fast, and talked but +little. However, when the dessert was served, he put a question to each +lady. This question was to inquire their respective ages. When Madame +Bourrienne's turn came he said to her, "Oh! I know yours." This was a +great deal for his gallantry, and the other ladies were far from being +pleased at it. + +Next day, while walking with me in his favourite alley at Malmaison, he +received one of those stupid reports of the police which were so +frequently addressed to him. It mentioned the observations which had +been made in Paris about a green livery he had lately adopted. Some said +that green had been chosen because it was the colour of the House of +Artois. On reading that a slight sneer was observable in his +countenance, and he said, "What are these idiots dreaming of? They must +be joking, surely. Am I no better than M. d'Artois? They shall soon see +the difference." + +Until the middle of the year 1801 the erasures from the emigrant list had +always been proposed by the Minister of Police. The First Consul having +been informed that intrigue and even bribery had been employed to obtain +them, determined that in future erasures should be part of the business +of his cabinet. But other affairs took up his attention, and a dozen or +fifteen erasures a week were the most that were made. After Te Deum had +been chanted at Malmaison for the Concordat and the peace, I took +advantage of that moment of general joy to propose to Bonaparte the +return of the whole body of emigrants. "You have," said I in a half- +joking way, "reconciled Frenchmen to God--now reconcile them to each +other. There have never been any real emigrants, only absentees; and the +proof of this is, that erasures from the list have always been, and will +always be, made daily." He immediately seized the idea. "We shall see," +said he; "but I must except a thousand persons belonging to high +families, especially those who are or have been connected with royalty or +the Court." + +I said in the Chamber of Deputies, and I feel pleasure in repeating here, +that the plan of the 'Senatus-consults', which Bonaparte dictated to me, +excepted from restitution only such mansions as were used for public +establishments. These he would neither surrender nor pay rent for. With +those exceptions he was willing to restore almost all that was possessed +by the State and had not been sold. + +The First Consul, as soon as he had finished this plan of a decree, +convoked a Grand Council to submit it to their consideration. I was in +an adjoining room to that in which they met, and as the deliberations +were carried on with great warmth, the members talking very loudly, +sometimes even vociferating, I heard all that passed. The revolutionary +party rejected all propositions of restitution. They were willing to +call back their victims, but they would not part with the spoil. + +When the First Consul returned to his cabinet, dissatisfied with the ill +success of his project, I took the liberty of saying to him, "you cannot +but perceive, General, that your object has been defeated, and your +project unsuccessful. The refusal to restore to the emigrants all that +the State possesses takes from the recall all its generosity and dignity +of character. I wonder how you could yield to such an unreasonable and +selfish opposition."--"The revolutionary party," replied he, "had the +majority in the Council. What could I do? Am I strong enough to +overcome all those obstacles?"--" General, you can revive the question +again, and oppose the party you speak of."--"That would be difficult," he +said; "they still have a high hand in these matters. Time is required. +However, nothing is definitively arranged. We shall see what can be +done." The 'Senatus-consulte', published on the 6th Floreal, year X. +(26th of April 1802), a fortnight after the above conversation took +place, is well known. Bonaparte was then obliged to yield to the +revolutionary party, or he would have adhered to his first proposition. + + --[The Senatus-consulte retained the woods and forests of the + emigrants, and made their recall an "amnesty." In the end this + retention of the forests was used by Napoleon with great dexterity + as a means of placing them under personal obligation to him for + restoring this species of property. See Thiers tome iii, p. 458, + livre xiv.]-- + +Napoleon referred to this matter at St. Helena. He himself says that he +"would have been able" (he should have said that he wished) to grant +everything, that for a moment he thought of doing so, and that it was a +mistake not to do so. "This limitation on my part," he adds, "destroyed +all the good effect of the return of the emigrants. The mistake was the +greater since I thought of doing it, but I was alone, surrounded by +oppositions and by spies: all were against your party, you cannot easily +picture the matter to yourself, but important affairs hurried me, time +pressed, and I was obliged to act differently." Afterwards he speaks of +a syndicate he wished to form, but I have never heard a word of that. I +have said how things really happened, and what has been just read +confirms this. + + --[This was by no means the only time that Napoleon's wishes were + opposed successfully in his Council of State. On such occasions he + used to describe himself as "repulsed with losses." See the + interesting work of St. Hilaire, Napoleon au Conseil d'Etat.]-- + +The Royalists, dissatisfied with the state of political affairs, were not +better pleased with the illiberal conditions of the recall of the +emigrants. The friends of public liberty, on the other hand, were far +from being satisfied with the other acts of the First Consul, or with the +conduct of the different public authorities, who were always ready to +make concessions to him. Thus all parties were dissatisfied. + +Bonaparte was much pleased with General Sebastiani's conduct when he was +sent to Constantinople, after the peace of Amiens, to induce the Grand +Seignior to renew amicable relations with France. + +At the period here alluded to, namely, before the news of the evacuation +of Egypt, that country greatly occupied Bonaparte's attention. He +thought that to send a man like Sebastiani travelling through Northern +Africa, Egypt, and Syria might inspire the sovereigns of those countries +with a more favourable idea of France than they now entertained, and +might remove the ill impressions which England was endeavouring to +produce. On this mission Sebastiani was accordingly despatched. He +visited all the Barbary States, Egypt, Palestine, and the Ionian Isles. +Everywhere he drew a highly-coloured picture of the power of Bonaparte, +and depreciated the glory of England. + + --[This General, or Count Sebastian, was afterwards ambassador for + Louis Philippe at our Court.]-- + +He strengthened old connections, and contracted new ones with the chiefs +of each country. He declared to the authorities of the Ionian Isles that +they might rely on the powerful protection of France. Bonaparte, in my +opinion, expected too much from the labours of a single individual +furnished with but vague instructions. Still Sebastiani did all that +could be done. The interesting details of his proceedings were published +in the 'Moniteur'. The secret information respecting the means of +successfully attacking the English establishments in India was very +curious, though not affording the hope of speedy success. + +The published abstract of General Sebastiani's report was full of +expressions hostile to England. Among other things it was stated that +Egypt might be conquered with 6000 men, and that the Ionian Isles where +disposed to throw off the yoke. There can be little doubt that this +publication hastened the rupture of the treaty of Amiens. + +England suspended all discussions respecting Malta, and declared that she +would not resume them till the King of Great Britain should receive +satisfaction for what was called an act of hostility. This was always +put forward as a justification, good or bad, for breaking the treaty of +Amiens, which England had never shown herself very ready to execute. + +Bonaparte, waiving the usual forma of etiquette, expressed his wish to +have a private conference with Lord Whitworth, the ambassador from London +to Paris, and who had been the English ambassador at St. Petersburg +previous to the rupture which preceded the death of Paul I. Bonaparte +counted much on the effect he might produce by that captivating manner +which he so well knew how to assume in conversation; but all was in vain. +In signing the treaty of Amiens the British Minister was well aware that +he would be the first to break it. + +About the commencement of the year 1802 Napoleon began to feel acute +pains in his right side. I have often seen him at Malmaison, when +sitting up at night, lean against the right arm of his chair, and +unbuttoning his coat and waistcoat exclaim,--"What pain I feel!" I would +then accompany him to his bedchamber, and have often been obliged to +support him on the little staircase which led from his cabinet to the +corridor. He frequently used to say at this time, "I fear that when I am +forty I shall become a great eater: I have a foreboding that I shall grow +very corpulent." This fear of obesity, though it annoyed him very much, +did not appear to have the least foundation, judging from his habitual +temperance and spare habit of body. He asked me who was my physician. +I told him M. Corvisart, whom his brother Louis had recommended to me. +A few days after he called in Corvisart, who three years later was +appointed first physician to the Emperor. He appeared to derive much +benefit from the prescriptions of Corvisart, whose open and good-humoured +countenance at once made a favourable impression on him. + +The pain which the First Consul felt at this time increased his +irritability. Perhaps many of the sets of this epoch of his life should +be attributed to this illness. At the time in question his ideas were +not the same in the evening as they had been in the morning; and often in +the morning he would tear up, even without the least remark, notes he had +dictated to me at night and which he had considered excellent. At other +times I took on myself not to send to the Moniteur, as he wished me to +do, notes which, dictated by annoyance and irascibility, might have +produced a bad effect in Europe. When the next day he did not see the +article, I attributed this to the note being too late, or to the late +arrival of the courier. But I told him it was no loss, for it would be +inserted the next day. He did not answer at once, but a quarter of an +hour afterwards he said to me, "Do not send my note to the 'Moniteur' +without showing it to me." He took it and reread it. Sometimes he was +astonished at what he had dictated to me, and amused himself by saying +that I had not understood him properly. "That is not much good, is it? +"--"`Pon my word, I don't quite know."--"Oh no, it is worthless; what say +you?" Then he bowed his head a little, and tore up the paper. Once when +we were at the Tuileries he sent me at two o'clock in the morning a small +note in his own writing, in which was, "To Bourrienne. Write to Maret to +make him erase from the note which Fleurieu has read to the Tribunate the +phrase (spelt frase) concerning Costaz, and to soften as much as possible +what concerns the reporter of the Tribunate." + +This change, after time for reflection, arose, as often happened with +him, from observations I had made to him, and which he had at first +angrily repulsed. + +After the peace of Amiens the First Consul, wishing to send an ambassador +to England, cast his eyes--for what reason I know not--on General +Andreossi. I took the liberty of making some observation on a choice +which did not appear to me to correspond with the importance of the +mission. Bonaparte replied, "I have not determined on it; I will talk to +Talleyrand on the subject." When we were at Malmaison in the evening +M. de Talleyrand came to transact business with the First Consul. The +proposed appointment of an ambassador to England was mentioned. After +several persons had been named the First Consul said, "I believe I must +send Andreossi." M. de Talleyrand, who was not much pleased with the +choice, observed in a dry sarcastic tone, "You must send Andre 'aussi', I +Pray, who is this Andre?"--"I did not mention any Andre; I said +Andreossi. You know Andreossi, the general of artillery?"--"Ah! true; +Andreossi: I did not think of him: I was thinking only of the diplomatic +men, and did not recollect any of that name. Yes, yes; Andreossi is in +the artillery!" The general was appointed ambassador, and went to London +after the treaty of Amiens; but he returned again in a few months. He +had nothing of consequence to do, which was very lucky for him. + +In 1802 Jerome was at Brest in the rank of 'enseigne de vaisseau'--[A +rank in the navy equivalent to that of our lieutenant.]--He launched +into expenses far beyond what his fortune or his pay could maintain. He +often drew upon me for sums of money which the First Consul paid with +much unwillingness. One of his letters in particular excited Napoleon's +anger. The epistle was filled with accounts of the entertainments Jerome +was giving and receiving, and ended by stating that he should draw on me +for 17,000 francs. To this Bonaparte wrote the following reply:-- + + I have read your letter, Monsieur l'Enseigne de Vaisseau; and I am + waiting to hear that you are studying on board your corvette a + profession which you ought to consider as your road to glory. Die + young, and I shall have some consolatory reflection; but if you live + to sixty without having served your country, and without leaving + behind you any honourable recollections, you had better not have + lived at all. + +Jerome never fulfilled the wishes of his brother, who always called him a +little profligate. From his earliest years his conduct was often a +source of vexation to his brother and his family. Westphalia will not +soon forget that he was her King; and his subjects did not without reason +surname him "Heliogabalus in miniature." + +The First Consul was harassed by the continual demands for money made on +him by his brothers. To get rid of Joseph, who expended large sums at +Mortfontaine, as Lucien did at Neuilly, he gave M. Collot the contract +for victualling the navy, on the condition of his paying Joseph 1,600,000 +francs a year out of his profits. I believe this arrangement answered +Joseph's purpose very well; but it was anything but advantageous to M. +Collot. I think a whole year elapsed without his pocketing a single +farthing. He obtained an audience of the First Consul, to whom he stated +his grievances. His outlays he showed were enormous, and he could get no +payment from the navy office. Upon which the Consul angrily interrupted +him, saying, "Do you think I am a mere capuchin? Decres must have +100,000 crowns, Duroc 100,000, Bourrienne 100,000; you must make the +payments, and don't come here troubling me with your long stories. It is +the business of my Ministers to give me accounts of such matters; I will +hear Decres, and that's enough. Let me be teased no longer with these +complaints; I cannot attend to them." Bonaparte then very +unceremoniously dismissed M. Collot. I learned afterwards that he did +not get a settlement of the business until after a great deal of trouble. +M. Collot once said to me, "If he had asked me for as much money as would +have built a frigate he should have had it. All I want now is to be +paid, and to get rid of the business." M. Collot had reason and honour +on his side; but there was nothing but shuffling on the other. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Calumny such powerful charms +Die young, and I shall have some consolatory reflection +Immortality is the recollection one leaves +Most celebrated people lose on a close view +Religion is useful to the Government +The boudoir was often stronger than the cabinet +To leave behind him no traces of his existence +Treaty, according to custom, was called perpetual + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1802, v5 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 6. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER IX. to CHAPTER XVIII. 1802-1803 + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +1802. + + Proverbial falsehood of bulletins--M. Doublet--Creation of the + Legion of Honour--Opposition to it in the Council and other + authorities of the State--The partisans of an hereditary system-- + The question of the Consulship for life. + +The historian of these times ought to put no faith in the bulletins, +despatches, notes, and proclamations which have emanated from Bonaparte, +or passed through his hands. For my part, I believe that the proverb, +"As great a liar as a bulletin," has as much truth in it as the axiom, +two and two make four. + +The bulletins always announced what Bonaparte wished to be believed true; +but to form a proper judgment on any fact, counter-bulletins must be +sought for and consulted. It is well known, too, that Bonaparte attached +great importance to the place whence he dated his bulletins; thus, he +dated his decrees respecting the theatres and Hamburg beef at Moscow. + +The official documents were almost always incorrect. There was falsity +in the exaggerated descriptions of his victories, and falsity again in +the suppression or palliation of his reverses and losses. A writer, if +he took his materials from the bulletins and the official correspondence +of the time, would compose a romance rather than a true history. Of this +many proofs have been given in the present work. + +Another thing which always appeared to me very remarkable was, that +Bonaparte, notwithstanding his incontestable superiority, studied to +depreciate the reputations of his military commanders, and to throw on +their shoulders faults which he had committed himself. It is notorious +that complaints and remonstrances, as energetic as they were well +founded, were frequently addressed to General Bonaparte on the subject of +his unjust and partial bulletins, which often attributed the success of a +day to some one who had very little to do with it, and made no mention of +the officer who actually had the command. The complaints made by the +officers and soldiers stationed at Damietta compelled General Lanusse, +the commander, to remonstrate against the alteration of a bulletin, by +which an engagement with a body of Arabs was represented as an +insignificant affair, and the loss trifling, though the General had +stated the action to be one of importance, and the loss considerable. +The misstatement, in consequence of his spirited and energetic +remonstrances, was corrected. + +Bonaparte took Malta, as is well known, in forty-eight hours. The empire +of the Mediterranean, secured to the English by the battle of Aboukir, +and their numerous cruising vessels, gave them the means of starving the +garrison, and of thus forcing General Vaubois, the commandant of Malta, +who was cut off from all communication with France, to capitulate. +Accordingly on the 4th of September 1800 he yielded up the Gibraltar of +the Mediterranean, after a noble defence of two years. These facts +require to be stated in order the better to understand what follows. + +On 22d February 1802 a person of the name of Doublet, who was the +commissary of the French Government at Malta when we possessed that +island, called upon me at the Tuileries. He complained bitterly that the +letter which he had written from Malta to the First Consul on the 2d +Ventose, year VIII. (9th February 1800), had been altered in the +'Moniteur'. "I congratulated him," said M. Doublet, "on the 18th +Brumaire, and informed him of the state of Malta, which was very +alarming. Quite the contrary was printed in the 'Moniteur', and that is +what I complain of. It placed me in a very disagreeable situation at +Malta, where I was accused of having concealed the real situation of the +island, in which I was discharging a public function that gave weight to +my words." I observed to him that as I was not the editor of the +'Moniteur' it was of no use to apply to me; but I told him to give me a +copy of the letter, and I would mention the subject to the First Consul, +and communicate the answer to him. Doublet searched his pocket for the +letter, but could not find it. He said he would send a copy, and begged +me to discover how the error originated. On the same day he sent me the +copy of the letter, in which, after congratulating Bonaparte on his +return, the following passage occurs:--"Hasten to save Malta with men and +provisions: no time is to be lost." For this passage these words were +substituted in the 'Moniteur': "His name inspires the brave defenders of +Malta with fresh courage; we have men and provisions." + +Ignorant of the motives of so strange a perversion, I showed this letter +to the First Consul. He shrugged up his shoulders and said, laughing, +"Take no notice of him, he is a fool; give yourself no further trouble +about it." + +It was clear there was nothing more to be done. It was, however, in +despite of me that M. Doublet was played this ill turn. I represented to +the First Consul the inconveniences which M. Doublet might experience +from this affair. But I very rarely saw letters or reports published as +they were received. I can easily understand how particular motives might +be alleged in order to justify such falsifications; for, when the path of +candour and good faith is departed from, any pretest is put forward to +excuse bad conduct. What sort of a history would he write who should +consult only the pages of the 'Moniteur'? + +After the vote for adding a second ten years to the duration of +Bonaparte's Consulship he created, on the 19th of May, the order of the +Legion of Honour. This institution was soon followed by that of the new +nobility. Thus, in a short space of time, the Concordat to tranquillize +consciences and re-establish harmony in the Church; the decree to recall +the emigrants; the continuance of the Consular power for ten years, by +way of preparation for the Consulship for life, and the possession of the +Empire; and the creation, in a country which had abolished all +distinctions, of an order which was to engender prodigies, followed +closely on the heels of each other. The Bourbons, in reviving the +abolished orders, were wise enough to preserve along with them the Legion +of Honour. + +It has already been seen how, in certain circumstances, the First Consul +always escaped from the consequences of his own precipitation, and got +rid of his blunders by throwing the blame on others--as, for example, in +the affair of the parallel between Caesar, Cromwell, and Bonaparte. He +was indeed so precipitate that one might say, had he been a gardener, he +would have wished to see the fruits ripen before the blossoms had fallen +off. This inconsiderate haste nearly proved fatal to the creation of the +Legion of Honour, a project which ripened in his mind as soon as he +beheld the orders glittering at the button-holes of the Foreign +Ministers. He would frequently exclaim, "This is well! These are the +things for the people!" + +I was, I must confess, a decided partisan of the foundation in France of +a new chivalric order, because I think, in every well-conducted State, +the chief of the Government ought to do all in his power to stimulate the +honour of the citizens, and to render them more sensible to honorary +distinctions than to pecuniary advantages. I tried, however, at the same +time to warn the First Consul of his precipitancy. He heard me not; but +I must with equal frankness confess that on this occasion I was soon +freed from all apprehension with respect to the consequences of the +difficulties he had to encounter in the Council and in the other +constituted orders of the State. + +On the 4th of May 1801 lie brought forward, for the first time +officially, in the Council of State the question of the establishment of +the Legion of Honour, which on the 19th May 1802 was proclaimed a law of +the State. The opposition to this measure was very great, and all the +power of the First Consul, the force of his arguments, and the immense +influence of his position, could procure him no more than 14 votes out of +24. The same feeling was displayed at the Tribunate; where the measure +only passed by a vote of 56 to 38. The balance was about the same in the +Legislative Body, where the votes were 166 to 110. It follows, then, +that out of the 394 voters in those three separate bodies a majority only +of 78 was obtained. Surprised at so feeble a majority, the First Consul +said in the evening, "Ah! I see very clearly the prejudices are still +too strong. You were right; I should have waited. It was not a thing of +such urgency. But then, it must be owned, the speakers for the measure +defended it badly. The strong minority has not judged me fairly."-- +"Be calm," rejoined I: "without doubt it would have been better to wait; +but the thing is done, and you will soon find that the taste for these +distinctions is not near gone by. It is a taste which belongs to the +nature of man. You may expect some extraordinary circumstances from this +creation--you will soon see them." + +In April 1802 the First Consul left no stone unturned to get himself +declared Consul for life. It is perhaps at this epoch of his career that +he most brought into play those principles of duplicity and dissimulation +which are commonly called Machiavellian. Never were trickery, falsehood, +cunning, and affected moderation put into play with more talent or +success. + +In the month of March hereditary succession and a dynasty were in +everybody's mouths. Lucien was the most violent propagator of these +ideas, and he pursued his vocation of apostle with constancy and address. +It has already been mentioned that, by his brother's confession; he +published in 1800 a pamphlet enforcing the same ideas; which work +Bonaparte afterwards condemned as a premature development of his +projects. M. de Talleyrand, whose ideas could not be otherwise than +favourable to the monarchical form of government, was ready to enter into +explanations with the Cabinets of Europe on the subject. The words which +now constantly resounded in every ear were "stability and order," under +cloak of which the downfall of the people's right was to be concealed. +At the same time Bonaparte, with the view of disparaging the real friends +of constitutional liberty, always called them ideologues, + + --[I have classed all these people under the denomination of + Ideologues, which, besides, is what specially and literally fits + them,--searchers after ideas (ideas generally empty). They have + been made more ridiculous than even I expected by this application, + a correct one, of the term ideologue to them. The phrase has been + successful, I believe, because it was mine (Napoleon in Iung's + Lucien, tome ii. p, 293). Napoleon welcomed every attack on this + description of sage. Much pleased with a discourse by Royer + Collard, he said to Talleyrand, "Do you know, Monsieur is Grand + Electeur, that a new and serious philosophy is rising in my + university, which may do us great honour and disembarrass us + completely of the ideologues, slaying them on the spot by + reasoning?" It is with something of the same satisfaction that + Renan, writing of 1898, says that the finer dreams had been + disastrous when brought into the domain of facts, and that human + concerns only began to improve when the ideologues ceased to meddle + with them (Souvenirs, p. 122).]-- + +or terrorists. Madame Bonaparte opposed with fortitude the influence of +counsels which she believed fatal to her husband. He indeed spoke +rarely, and seldom confidentially, with her on politics or public +affairs. "Mind your distaff or your needle," was with him a common +phrase. The individuals who applied themselves with most perseverance in +support of the hereditary question were Lucien, Roederer, Regnault de St. +Jean d'Angely, and Fontanel. Their efforts were aided by the conclusion +of peace with England, which, by re-establishing general tranquillity for +a time, afforded the First Consul an opportunity of forwarding any plan. + +While the First Consul aspired to the throne of France, his brothers, +especially Lucien, affected a ridiculous pride and pretension. Take an +almost incredible example of which I was witness. On Sunday, the 9th of +May, Lucien came to see Madame Bonaparte, who said to him, "Why did you +not come to dinner last Monday?"--"Because there was no place marked for +me: the brothers of Napoleon ought to have the first place after him."-- +"What am I to understand by that?" answered Madame Bonaparte. "If you +are the brother of Bonaparte, recollect what you were. At my house all +places are the same. Eugene world never have committed such a folly." + + --[On such points there was constant trouble with the Bonapartist + family, as will be seen in Madame de Remusat's Memoirs. For an + instance, in 1812, where Joseph insisted on his mother taking + precedence of Josephine at a dinner in his house, when Napoleon + settled the matter by seizing Josephine's arm and leading her in + first, to the consternation of the party. But Napoleon, right in + this case, had his own ideas on such points, The place of the + Princess Elisa, the eldest of his sisters, had been put below that + of Caroline, Queen of Naples. Elisa was then only princess of + Lucca. The Emperor suddenly rose, and by a shift to the right + placed the Princess Elisa above the Queen. 'Now,' said he, 'do not + forget that in the imperial family I am the only King.' (Iung's + Lucien, tome ii. p. 251), This rule he seems to have adhered to, + for when he and his brothers went in the same carriage to the Champ + de Mai in 1815, Jerome, titular King of Westphalia, had to take the + front seat, while his elder brother, Lucien, only bearing the Roman + title of Prince de Canino, sat on one of the seats of honour + alongside Napoleon. Jerome was disgusted, and grumbled at a King + having to give way to a mere Roman Prince, See Iung's Lucien, tome + ii. p, 190.]-- + +At this period, when the Consulate for life was only in embryo, +flattering counsels poured in from all quarters, and tended to encourage +the First Consul in his design of grasping at absolute power. + +Liberty rejected an unlimited power, and set bounds to the means he +wished and had to employ in order to gratify his excessive love of war +and conquest. "The present state of things, this Consulate of ten +years," said he to me, does not satisfy me; "I consider it calculated to +excite unceasing troubles." On the 7th of July 1801, he observed, "The +question whether France will be a Republic is still doubtful: it will be +decided in five or six years." It was clear that he thought this too +long a term. Whether he regarded France as his property, or considered +himself as the people's delegate and the defender of their rights, I am +convinced the First Consul wished the welfare of France; but then that +welfare was in his mind inseparable from absolute power. It was with +pain I saw him following this course. The friends of liberty, those who +sincerely wished to maintain a Government constitutionally free, allowed +themselves to be prevailed upon to consent to an extension of ten years +of power beyond the ten years originally granted by the constitution. +They made this sacrifice to glory and to that power which was its +consequence; and they were far from thinking they were lending their +support to shameless intrigues. They were firm, but for the moment only, +and the nomination for life was rejected by the Senate, who voted only +ten years more power to Bonaparte, who saw the vision of his ambition +again adjourned. + +The First Consul dissembled his displeasure with that profound art which, +when he could not do otherwise, he exercised to an extreme degree. To a +message of the Senate on the subject of that nomination he returned a +calm but evasive and equivocating answer, in which, nourishing his +favourite hope of obtaining more from the people than from the Senate, +he declared with hypocritical humility, "That he would submit to this new +sacrifice if the wish of the people demanded what the Senate authorised." +Such was the homage he paid to the sovereignty of the people, which was +soon to be trampled under his feet! + +An extraordinary convocation of the Council of State took place on +Monday, the 10th of May. A communication was made to them, not merely of +the Senate's consultation, but also of the First Consul's adroit and +insidious reply. The Council regarded the first merely as a +notification, and proceeded to consider on what question the people +should be consulted. Not satisfied with granting to the First Consul ten +years of prerogative, the Council thought it best to strike the iron +while it was hot, and not to stop short in the middle of so pleasing a +work. In fine, they decided that the following question should be put to +the people: "Shall the First Consul be appointed for life, and shall he +have the power of nominating his successor?" The reports of the police +had besides much influence on the result of this discussion, for they one +and all declared that the whole of Paris demanded a Consul for life, with +the right of naming a successor. The decisions on these two questions +were carried as it were by storm. The appointment for life passed +unanimously, and the right of naming the successor by a majority. The +First Consul, however, formally declared that he condemned this second +measure, which had not originated with himself. On receiving the +decision of the Council of State the First Consul, to mask his plan for +attaining absolute power, thought it advisable to appear to reject a part +of what was offered him. He therefore cancelled that clause which +proposed to give him the power of appointing a successor, and which had +been carried by a small majority. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +1802. + + General Bernadotte pacifies La vendee and suppresses a mutiny at + Tours--Bonaparte's injustice towards him--A premeditated scene-- + Advice given to Bernadotte, and Bonaparte disappointed--The First + Consul's residence at St. Cloud--His rehearsals for the Empire-- + His contempt of mankind--Mr. Fox and Bonaparte--Information of plans + of assassination--A military dinner given by Bonaparte--Moreau not + of the party--Effect of the 'Senates-consultes' on the Consulate for + life--Journey to Plombieres--Previous scene between Lucien and + Josephine--Theatrical representations at Neuilly and Malmaison-- + Loss of a watch, and honesty rewarded--Canova at St. Cloud-- + Bonaparte's reluctance to stand for a model. + +Having arrived at nearly the middle of the career which I have undertaken +to trace, before I advance farther I must go back for a few moments, as I +have already frequently done, in order to introduce some circumstances +which escaped my recollection, or which I purposely reserved, that I +might place them amongst facts analogous to them: Thus, for instance, I +have only referred in passing to a man who, since become a monarch, has +not ceased to honour me with his friendship, as will be seen in the +course of my Memoirs, since the part we have seen him play in the events +of the 18th Brumaire. This man, whom the inexplicable combination of +events has raised to a throne for the happiness of the people he is +called to govern, is Bernadotte. + +It was evident that Bernadotte must necessarily fall into a kind of +disgrace for not having supported Bonaparte's projects at the period of +the overthrow of the Directory. The First Consul, however, did not dare +to avenge himself openly; but he watched for every opportunity to remove +Bernadotte from his presence, to place him in difficult situations, and +to entrust him with missions for which no precise instructions were +given, in the hope that Bernadotte would commit faults for which the +First Consul might make him wholly responsible. + +At the commencement of the Consulate the deplorable war in La Vendee +raged in all its intensity. The organization of the Chouans was +complete, and this civil war caused Bonaparte much more uneasiness than +that which he was obliged to conduct on the Rhine and in Italy, because, +from the success of the Vendeans might arise a question respecting +internal government, the solution of which was likely to be contrary to +Bonaparte's views. The slightest success of the Vendeans spread alarm +amongst the holders of national property; and, besides, there was no hope +of reconciliation between France and England, her eternal and implacable +enemy, as long as the flame of insurrection remained unextinguished. + +The task of terminating this unhappy struggle was obviously a difficult +one. Bonaparte therefore resolved to impose it on Bernadotte; but this +general's conciliatory disposition, his chivalrous manners, his tendency +to indulgence, and a happy mixture of prudence and firmness, made him +succeed where others would have failed. He finally established good +order and submission to the laws. + +Some time after the pacification of La Vendee a rebellious disposition +manifested itself at Tours amongst the soldiers of a regiment stationed +there. The men refused to march until they received their arrears of +pay. Bernadotte, as commander-in-chief of the army of the west, without +being alarmed at the disturbance, ordered the fifty-second demi-brigade-- +the one in question--to be drawn up in the square of Tours, where, at the +very head of the corps, the leaders of the mutiny were by his orders +arrested without any resistance being offered. Carnot who was then +Minister of War, made a report to the First Consul on this affair, which, +but for the firmness of Bernadotte, might have been attended with +disagreeable results. Carnet's report contained a plain statement of the +facts, and of General Bernadotte's conduct. Bonaparte was, however, +desirous to find in it some pretext for blaming him, and made me write +these words on the margin of the report: "General Bernadotte did not act +discreetly in adopting such severe measures against the fifty-second +demi-brigade, he not having the means, if he head been unsuccessful, of +re-establishing order in a town the garrison of which was not strong +enough to subdue the mutineers." + +A few days after, the First Consul having learned that the result of this +affair was quite different from that which he affected to dread, and +being convinced that by Bernadotte's firmness alone order had been +restored, he found himself in some measure constrained to write to the +General, and he dictated the following letter to me: + + PARIS, 11th Vendemiaire. Year XI. + + CITIZEN-GENERAL--I have read with interest the account of what you + did to re-establish order in the fifty-second demi-brigade, and + also the report of General Liebert, dated the 5th Vendemiaire. + Tell that officer that the Government is satisfied with his conduct. + His promotion from the rank of Colonel to that of General of brigade + is confirmed. I wish that brave officer to come to Paris. He has + afforded an example of firmness and energy which does honour to a + soldier. + (Signed) BONAPARTE. + +Thus in the same affair Bonaparte, in a few days, from the spontaneous +expression of blame dictated by hate, was reduced to the necessity of +declaring his approbation, which he did, as may be seen, with studied +coldness, and even taking pains to make his praises apply to Colonel +Liebert, and not to the general-in-chief. + +Time only served to augment Bonaparte's dislike of Bernadotte. It might +be said that the farther he advanced in his rapid march towards absolute +power the more animosity he cherished against the individual who had +refused to aid his first steps in his adventurous career. At the same +time the persons about Bonaparte who practised the art of flattering +failed not to multiply reports and insinuations against Bernadotte. +I recollect one day, when there was to be a grand public levee, seeing +Bonaparte so much out of temper that I asked him the cause of it. "I can +bear it no longer," he replied impetuously. "I have resolved to have a +scene with Bernadotte to-day. He will probably be here. I will open the +fire, let what will come of it. He may do what he pleases. We shall +see! It is time there should be an end of this." + +I had never before observed the First Consul so violently irritated. +He was in a terrible passion, and I dreaded the moment when the levee was +to open. When he left me to go down to the salon I availed myself of the +opportunity to get there before him, which I could easily do, as the +salon was not twenty steps from the cabinet. By good luck Bernadotte was +the first person I saw. He was standing in the recess of a window which +looked on the square of the Carrousel. To cross the salon and reach the +General was the work of a moment. "General!" said I, "trust me and +retire!--I have good reasons for advising it!" Bernadotte, seeing my +extreme anxiety, and aware of the sincere sentiments of esteem end +friendship which I entertained for him, consented to retire, and I +regarded this as a triumph; for, knowing Bernadotte's frankness of +character and his nice sense of honour, I was quite certain that he would +not submit to the harsh observations which Bonaparte intended to address +to him. My stratagem had all the success I could desire. The First +Consul suspected nothing, and remarked only one thing, which was that his +victim was absent. When the levee was over he said to me, "What do you +think of it, Bourrienne?---Bernadotte did not come."--"So much the better +for him, General," was my reply. Nothing further happened. The First +Consul on returning from Josephine found me in the cabinet, and +consequently could suspect nothing, and my communication with Bernadotte +did not occupy five minutes. Bernadotte always expressed himself much +gratified with the proof of friendship I gave him at this delicate +conjuncture. The fact is, that from a disposition of my mind, which I +could not myself account for, the more Bonaparte'a unjust hatred of +Bernadotte increased the more sympathy and admiration I felt for the +noble character of the latter. + +The event in question occurred in the spring of 1802. It was at this +period that Bonaparte first occupied St. Cloud, which he was much pleased +with, because he found himself more at liberty there than at the +Tuileries; which palace is really only a prison for royalty, as there a +sovereign cannot even take the air at a window without immediately being +the object of the curiosity of the public, who collect in large crowds. +At St. Cloud, on the contrary, Bonaparte could walk out from his cabinet +and prolong his promenade without being annoyed by petitioners. One of +his first steps was to repair the cross road leading from St. Cloud to +Malmaison, between which places Bonaparte rode in a quarter of an hour. +This proximity to the country, which he liked, made staying at St. Cloud +yet pleasanter to him. It was at St. Cloud that the First Consul made, +if I may so express it, his first rehearsals of the grand drama of the +Empire. It was there he began to introduce, in external forms, the +habits and etiquette which brought to mind the ceremonies of sovereignty. +He soon perceived the influence which pomp of ceremony, brilliancy of +appearance, and richness of costume, exercise over the mass of mankind. +"Men," he remarked to me a this period, "well deserve the contempt I feel +for them. I have only to put some gold lace on the coats of my virtuous +republicans and they immediately become just what I wish them." + +I remember one day, after one of his frequent sallies of contempt for +human kind, I observed to him that although baubles might excite vulgar +admiration, there were some distinguished men who did not permit +themselves to be fascinated by their allurements; and I mentioned the +celebrated Fox by way of example, who, previous to the conclusion of the +peace of Amiens, visited Paris, where he was remarked for his extreme +simplicity. The First Consul said, "Ah! you are right with respect to +him. Mr. Fox is a truly great man, and pleases me much." + +In fact, Bonaparte always received Mr. Fox's visits with the greatest +satisfaction; and after every conversation they had together he never +failed to express to me the pleasure which he experienced in discoursing +with a man every way worthy of the great celebrity he had attained. +He considered him a very superior man, and wished he might have to treat +with him in his future negotiations with England. It may be supposed +that Mr. Fox, on his part, never forgot the terms of intimacy, I may say +of confidence, on which he had been with the First Consul. In fact, he +on several occasions informed him in time of war of the plots formed +against his life. Less could not be expected from a man of so noble a +character. I can likewise affirm, having more than once been in +possession of proofs of the fact, that the English Government constantly +rejected with indignation all such projects. I do not mean those which +had for their object the overthrow of the Consular or Imperial +Government, but all plans of assassination and secret attacks on the +person of Bonaparte, whether First Consul or Emperor. I will here +request the indulgence of the reader whilst I relate a circumstance which +occurred a year before Mr. Fox's journey to Paris; but as it refers to +Moreau, I believe that the transposition will be pardoned more easily +than the omission. + +During the summer 1801 the First Consul took a fancy to give a grand +military dinner at a restaurateur's. The restaurateur he favoured with +his company was Veri, whose establishment was situated on the terrace of +the Feuillans with an entrance into the garden of the Tuileries. +Bonaparte did not send an invitation to Moreau, whom I met by chance that +day in the following manner:--The ceremony of the dinner at Veri's +leaving me at liberty to dispose of my time, I availed myself of it to go +and dine at a restaurateur's named Rose, who then enjoyed great celebrity +amongst the distinguished gastronomes. I dined in company with M. +Carbonnet, a friend of Moreau's family, and two or three other persons. +Whilst we were at table in the rotunda we were informed by the waiter who +attended on us that General Moreau and his wife, with Lacuee and two +other military men, were in an adjoining apartment. Suchet, who had +dined at Veri's, where he said everything was prodigiously dull, on +rising from the table joined Moreau's party. These details we learned +from M. Carbonnet, who left us for a few moments to see the General and +Madame Moreau. + +Bonaparte's affectation in not inviting Moreau at the moment when the +latter had returned a conqueror from the army of the Rhine, and at the +same time the affectation of Moreau in going publicly the same day to +dine at another restaurateur's, afforded ground for the supposition that +the coolness which existed between them would soon be converted into +enmity. The people of Paris naturally thought that the conqueror of +Marengo might, without any degradation, have given the conqueror of +Hohenlinden a seat at his table. + +By the commencement of the year 1802 the Republic had ceased to be +anything else than a fiction, or an historical recollection. All that +remained of it was a deceptive inscription on the gates of the Palace. +Even at the time of his installation at the Tuileries, Bonaparte had +caused the two trees of liberty which were planted in the court to be cut +down; thus removing the outward emblems before he destroyed the reality. +But the moment the Senatorial decisions of the 2d and 4th of August were +published it was evident to the dullest perceptions that the power of the +First Consul wanted nothing but a name. + +After these 'Consultes' Bonaparte readily accustomed himself to regard +the principal authorities of the State merely as necessary instruments +for the exercise of his power. Interested advisers then crowded round +him. It was seriously proposed that he should restore the ancient +titles, as being more in harmony with the new power which the people had +confided to him than the republican forms. He was still of opinion, +however, according to his phrase, that "the pear was not yet ripe," and +would not hear this project spoken of for a moment. "All this," he said +to me one day, "will come in good time; but you must see, Bourrienne, +that it is necessary I should, in the first place, assume a title, from +which the others that I will give to everybody will naturally take their +origin. The greatest difficulty is surmounted. There is no longer any +person to deceive. Everybody sees as clear as day that it is only one +step which separates the throne from the Consulate for life. However, we +must be cautious. There are some troublesome fellows in the Tribunate, +but I will take care of them." + +Whilst these serious questions agitated men's minds the greater part of +the residents at Malmaison took a trip to Plombieres. Josephine, +Bonaparte's mother, Madame Beauharnais-Lavallette, Hortense, and General +Rapp, were of this party. It pleased the fancy of the jocund company to +address to me a bulletin of the pleasant and unpleasant occurrences of +the journey. I insert this letter merely as a proof of the intimacy +which existed between the writers and myself. It follows, precisely as I +have preserved it, with the exception of the blots, for which it will be +seen they apologised. + + + AN ACCOUNT OF THE JOURNEY TO PLOMBIERES. + To the Inhabitants of Malmaison. + +The whole party left Malmaison in tears, which brought on such dreadful +headaches that all the amiable persons were quite overcome by the idea of +the journey. Madame Bonaparte, mere, supported the fatigues of this +memorable day with the greatest courage; but Madame Bonaparte, +Consulesse, did not show any. The two young ladies who sat in the +dormouse, Mademoiselle Hortense and Madame Lavallette, were rival +candidates for a bottle of Eau de Cologne; and every now and then the +amiable M. Rapp made the carriage stop for the comfort of his poor little +sick heart, which overflowed with bile: in fine, he was obliged to take +to bed on arriving at Epernay, while the rest of the amiable party tried +to drown their sorrows in champagne. The second day was more fortunate +on the score of health and spirits, but provisions were wanting, and +great were the sufferings of the stomach. The travellers lived on the +hope of a good supper at Toul; but despair was at its height when, +on arriving there, they found only a wretched inn, and nothing in it. +We saw some odd-looking folks there, which indemnified us a little for +spinach dressed in lamp-oil, and red asparagus fried with curdled milk. +Who would not have been amused to see the Malmaison gourmands seated at a +table so shockingly served! + +In no record of history is there to be found a day passed in distress so +dreadful as that on which we arrived at Plombieres. On departing from +Toul we intended to breakfast at Nancy, for every stomach had been empty +for two days; but the civil and military authorities came out to meet us, +and prevented us from executing our plan. We continued our route, +wasting away, so that you might, see us growing thinner every moment. +To complete our misfortune, the dormouse, which seemed to have taken a +fancy to embark on the Moselle for Metz, barely escaped an overturn. +But at Plombieres we have been well compensated for this unlucky journey, +for on our arrival we were received with all kinds of rejoicings. The +town was illuminated, the cannon fired, and the faces of handsome women +at all the windows give us reason to hope that we shall bear our absence +from Malmaison with the less regret. + +With the exception of some anecdotes, which we reserve for chit-chat on +our return, you have here a correct account of our journey, which we, the +undersigned, hereby certify. + +JOSEPHINE BONAPARTE. +BEAUHARNAIS-LAPALLETTE. +HORTENSE BEAUHARNAIS. +RAPP. +BONAPARTE, mere. + +The company ask pardon for the blots. + 21st Messidor. + +It is requested that the person who receives this journal will show it to +all who take an interest in the fair travellers. + + +This journey to Plombieres was preceded by a scene which I should abstain +from describing if I had not undertaken to relate the truth respecting +the family of the First Consul. Two or three days before her departure +Madame Bonaparte sent for me. I obeyed the summons, and found her in +tears. "What a man-what a man is that Lucien!" she exclaimed in accents +of grief. "If you knew, my friend, the shameful proposals he has dared +to make to me! 'You are going to the waters,' said he; 'you must get a +child by some other person since you cannot have one by him.' Imagine +the indignation with which I received such advice. 'Well,' he continued, +'if you do not wish it, or cannot help it, Bonaparte must get a child by +another woman, and you must adopt it, for it is necessary to secure an +hereditary successor. It is for your interest; you must know that.'-- +'What, sir!' I replied, 'do you imagine the nation will suffer a bastard +to govern it? Lucien! Lucien! you would ruin your brother! This is +dreadful! Wretched should I be, were any one to suppose me capable of +listening, without horror, to your infamous proposal! Your ideas are +poisonous; your language horrible!'--'Well, Madame,' retorted he, 'all I +can say to that is, that I am really sorry for you!'" + +The amiable Josephine was sobbing whilst she described this scene to me, +and I was not insensible to the indignation which she felt. The truth +is, that at that period Lucien, though constantly affecting to despise +power for himself, was incessantly labouring to concentrate it in the +hands of his brother; and he considered three things necessary to the +success of his views, namely, hereditary succession, divorce, and the +Imperial Government. + +Lucien had a delightful house near Neuilly. Some days before the +deplorable scene which I have related he invited Bonaparte and all the +inmates at Malmaison to witness a theatrical representation. 'Alzire' +was the piece performed. Elise played Alzire, and Lucien, Zamore. The +warmth of their declarations, the energetic expression of their gestures, +the too faithful nudity of costume, disgusted most of the spectators, and +Bonaparte more than any other. When the play was over he was quite +indignant. "It is a scandal," he said to me in an angry tone; "I ought +not to suffer such indecencies--I will give Lucien to understand that I +will have no more of it." When his brother had resumed his own dress, +and came into the salon, he addressed him publicly, and gave him to +understand that he must for the future desist from such representations. +When we returned to Malmaison; he again spoke of what had passed with +dissatisfaction. "What!" said he, "when I am endeavouring to restore +purity of manners, my brother and sister must needs exhibit themselves +upon the boards almost in a state of nudity! It is an insult!" + +Lucien had a strong predilection for theatrical exhibitions, to which he +attached great importance. The fact is, he declaimed in a superior +style, and might have competed with the best professional actors. It was +said that the turban of Orosmane, the costume of America, the Roman toga, +or the robe of the high priest of Jerusalem, all became him equally well; +and I believe that this was the exact truth. Theatrical representations +were not confined to Neuilly. We had our theatre and our company of +actors at Malmaison; but there everything was conducted with the greatest +decorum; and now that I have got behind the scenes, I will not quit them +until I have let the reader into the secrets of our drama. + +By the direction of the First Consul a very pretty little theatre was +built at Malmaison. Our usual actors were Eugene BEAUHARNAIS, Hortense, +Madame Murat, Lauriston, M. Didelot, one of the prefects of the Palace, +some other individuals belonging to the First Consul's household, and +myself. Freed from the cares of government, which we confined as much as +possible to the Tuileries, we were a very happy colony at Malmaison; and, +besides, we were young, and what is there to which youth does not add +charms? The pieces which the First Consul most liked to see us perform +were, 'Le Barbier de Seville' and 'Defiance et Malice'. In Le Barbier +Lauriston played the part of Count Almaviva; Hortense, Rosins; Eugene, +Basil; Didelot, Figaro; I, Bartholo; and Isabey, l'Aveille. Our other +stock pieces were, Projets de Mariage, La Gageltre, the Dapit Anloureux, +in which I played the part of the valet; and L'Impromptu de Campagne, in +which I enacted the Baron, having for my Baroness the young and handsome +Caroline Murat. + +Hortense's acting was perfection, Caroline was middling, Eugene played +very well, Lauriston was rather heavy, Didelot passable, and I may +venture to assert, without vanity, that I was not quite the worst of the +company. If we were not good actors it was not for want of good +instruction and good advice. Talma and Michot came to direct us, and +made us rehearse before them, sometimes altogether and sometimes +separately. How many lessons have I received from Michot whilst walking +in the beautiful park of Malmaison! And may I be excused for saying, +that I now experience pleasure in looking back upon these trifles, which +are matters of importance when one is young, and which contrasted so +singularly with the great theatre on which we did not represent +fictitious characters? We had, to adopt theatrical language, a good +supply of property. Bonaparte presented each of us with a collection of +dramas very well bound; and, as the patron of the company, he provided us +with rich and elegant dresses. + +--[While Bourrienne, belonging to the Malmaison company, considered +that the acting at Neuilly was indecent, Lucien, who refused to act at +Malmaison, naturally thought the Malmaison troupe was dull. "Hortense +and Caroline filled the principal parts. They were very commonplace. In +this they followed the unfortunate Marie Antoinette and her companions. +Louis XVI., not naturally polite, when seeing them act, had said that it +was royally badly acted" (see Madame Campan's Life of Marie Antoinette, +tome i. p. 299). "The First Consul said of his troupe that it was +sovereignly badly acted". . . Murat, Lannes, and even Caroline ranted. +Elisa, who, having been educated at Saint Cyr, spoke purely and without +accent, refused to act. Janot acted well the drunken parts, and even the +others he undertook. The rest were decidedly bad. Worse than bad-- +ridiculous" (Iung's Lucien's, tome ii. p. 256). Rival actors are not +fair critics. Let us hear Madame Junot (tome ii. p. 103). "The +cleverest of our company was M. de Bourrienne. He played the more +dignified characters in real perfection, and his talent was the more +pleasing as it was not the result of study, but of a perfect +comprehension of his part." And she goes on to say that even the best +professional actors might have learnt from him in some parts. The +audience was not a pleasant one to face. It was the First Consul's habit +to invite forty persons to dinner, and a hundred and fifty for the +evening, and consequently to hear, criticise, and banter us without +mercy" (Memoirs of Duchesse d'Abrantes, tome ii. p. 108). ]-- + +Bonaparte took great pleasure in our performances. He liked to see plays +acted by persons with whom he was familiar. Sometimes he complimented us +on our exertions. Although I was as much amused with the thing as +others, I was more than once obliged to remind him that my occupations +left me but little time to learn my parts. Then he would assume his +coaxing manner and say, "Come, do not vex me! You have such a memory! +You know that it amuses me. You see that these performances render +Malmaison gay and animated; Josephine takes much pleasure in them. Rise +earlier in the morning.--In fact, I sleep too much; is not that the +cafe--Come, Bourrienne, do oblige me. You make me laugh so heartily! +Do not deprive me of this pleasure. I have not over much amusement, as +you well know."--"All, truly! I would not deprive you of any pleasure. +I am delighted to be able to contribute to your amusement." After a +conversation of this sort I could not do less than set about studying my +part. + +At this period, during summer, I had half the Sunday to myself. I was, +however, obliged to devote a portion of this precious leisure to pleasing +Bonaparte by studying a new part as a surprise for him. Occasionally, +however, I passed the time at Ruel. I recollect that one day, when I had +hurried there from Malmaison, I lost a beautiful watch made by Breguet. +It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and the road was that day thronged +with people. I made my loss publicly known by means of the crier of +Ruel. An hour after, as I was sitting down to table, a young lad +belonging to the village brought me my watch. He had found it on the +high road in a wheel rut. I was pleased with the probity of this young +man, and rewarded both him and his father, who accompanied him. I +reiterated the circumstance the same evening to the First Consul, who was +so struck with this instance of honesty that he directed me to procure +information respecting the young man and his family. I learned that they +were honest peasants. Bonaparte gave employment to three brothers of +this family; and, what was most difficult to persuade him to, he exempted +the young man who brought me the watch from the conscription. + +When a fact of this nature reached Bonaparte's ear it was seldom that he +did not give the principal actor in it some proof of his satisfaction. +Two qualities predominated in his character--kindness and impatience. +Impatience, when he was under its influence, got the better of him; it +was then impossible for him to control himself. I had a remarkable proof +of it about this very period. + +Canova having arrived in Paris came to St. Cloud to model the figure of +the First Consul, of whom he was about to make a colossal statue. This +great artist came often, in the hope of getting his model to stand in the +proper attitude; but Bonaparte was so tired, disgusted, and fretted by +the process, that he very seldom put himself in the required attitude, +and then only for a short time. Bonaparte notwithstanding had the +highest regard for Canova. Whenever he was announced the First Consul +sent me to keep him company until he was at leisure to give him a +sitting; but he would shrug up his shoulders and say, "More modeling! +Good Heavens, how vexatious!" Canova expressed great displeasure at not +being able to study his model as he wished to do, and the little anxiety +of Bonaparte on the subject damped the ardour of his imagination. +Everybody agrees in saying that he has not succeeded in the work, and I +have explained the reason. The Duke of Wellington afterwards possessed +this colossal statue, which was about twice his own height. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +1802. + + Bonaparte's principle as to the change of Ministers--Fouche--His + influence with the First Consul--Fouche's dismissal--The departments + of Police and Justice united under Regnier--Madame Bonaparte's + regret for the dismissal of Fouche--Family scenes--Madame Louis + Bonaparte's pregnancy--False and infamous reports to Josephine-- + Legitimacy and a bastard--Raederer reproached by Josephine--Her + visit to Ruel--Long conversation with her--Assertion at St. Helena + respecting a great political fraud. + +It is a principle particularly applicable to absolute governments that a +prince should change his ministers as seldom as possible, and never +except upon serious grounds. Bonaparte acted on this principle when +First Consul, and also when he became Emperor. He often allowed unjust +causes to influence him, but he never dismissed a Minister without cause; +indeed, he more than once, without any reason, retained Ministers longer +than he ought to have done in the situations in which he had placed them. +Bonaparte's tenacity in this respect, in some instances, produced very +opposite results. For instance, it afforded M. Gaudin' time to establish +a degree of order in the administration of Finance which before his time +had never existed; and on the other hand, it enabled M. Decres to reduce +the Ministry of Marine to an unparalleled state of confusion. + +Bonaparte saw nothing in men but helps and obstacles. On the 18th +Brumaire Fouche was a help. The First Consul feared that he would become +an obstacle; it was necessary, therefore, to think of dismissing him. +Bonaparte's most sincere friends had from the beginning been opposed to +Fouche's having any share in the Government. But their disinterested +advice produced no other result than their own disgrace, so influential a +person had Fouche become. How could it be otherwise? Fouche was +identified with the Republic by the death of the King, for which he had +voted; with the Reign of Terror by his sanguinary missions to Lyons and +Nevers; with the Consulate by his real though perhaps exaggerated +services; with Bonaparte by the charm with which he might be said to have +fascinated him; with Josephine by the enmity of the First Consul's +brothers. Who would believe it? Fouche ranked the enemies of the +Revolution amongst his warmest partisans. They overwhelmed him with +eulogy, to the disparagement even of the Head of the State, because the +cunning Minister, practising an interested indulgence, set himself up as +the protector of individuals belonging to classes which, when he was +proconsul, he had attacked in the mass. Director of public opinion, and +having in his hands the means at his pleasure of inspiring fear or of +entangling by inducements, it was all in his favour that he had already +directed this opinion. The machinery he set in motion was so calculated +that the police was rather the police of Fouche than that of the Minister +of the General Police. Throughout Paris, and indeed throughout all +France, Fouche obtained credit for extraordinary ability; and the popular +opinion was correct in this respect, namely, that no man ever displayed +such ability in making it be supposed that he really possessed talent. +Fouche's secret in this particular is the whole secret of the greater +part of those persons who are called statesmen. + +Be this as it may, the First Consul did not behold with pleasure the +factitious influence of which Fouche had possessed himself. For some +time past, to the repugnance which at bottom he had felt towards. +Fouche, were added other causes of discontent. In consequence of having +been deceived by secret reports and correspondence Bonaparte began to +shrug up his shoulders with an expression of regret when he received +them, and said, "Would you believe, Bourrienne, that I have been imposed +on by these things? All such denunciations are useless--scandalous. +All the reports from prefects and the police, all the intercepted +letters, are a tissue of absurdities and lies. I desire to have no more +of them." He said so, but he still received them. However, Fouche's +dismissal was resolved upon. But though Bonaparte wished to get rid of +him, still, under the influence of the charm, he dared not proceed +against him without the greatest caution. He first resolved upon the +suppression of the office of Minister of Police in order to disguise the +motive for the removal of the Minister. The First Consul told Fouche +that this suppression, which he spoke of as being yet remote, was +calculated more than anything else to give strength to the Government, +since it would afford a proof of the security and internal tranquillity +of France. Overpowered by the arguments with which Bonaparte supported +his proposition, Fouche could urge no good reasons in opposition to it, +but contented himself with recommending that the execution of the design, +which was good in intention, should, however, be postponed for two years. +Bonaparte appeared to listen favourably to Fouche's recommendation, who, +as avaricious for money as Bonaparte of glory, consoled himself by +thinking that for these two years the administration of the gaming tables +would still be for him a Pactolus flowing with gold. For Fouche, already +the possessor of an immense fortune, always dreamed of increasing it, +though he himself did not know how to enjoy it. With him the ambition of +enlarging the bounds of his estate of Pont-Carre was not less felt than +with the First Consul the ambition of extending the frontier of France. + +Not only did the First Consul not like Fouche, but it is perfectly true +that at this time the police wearied and annoyed him. Several times he +told me he looked on it as dangerous, especially for the possessor of +power. In a Government without the liberty of the press he was quite +right. The very services which the police had rendered to the First +Consul were of a nature to alarm him, for whoever had conspired against +the Directory in favour of the Consulate might also conspire against the +Consulate in favour of any other Government. It is needless to say that +I only allude to the political police, and not to the municipal police, +which is indispensable for large towns, and which has the honourable +mission of watching over the health and safety of the citizens. + +Fouche, as has been stated, had been Minister of Police since the 18th +Brumaire. Everybody who was acquainted with, the First Consul's +character was unable to explain the ascendency which he had suffered +Fouche to acquire over him, and of which Bonaparte himself was really +impatient. He saw in Fouche a centre around which all the interests of +the Revolution concentrated themselves, and at this he felt indignant; +but, subject to a species of magnetism, he could not break the charm +which enthralled him. When he spoke of Fouche in his absence his +language was warm, bitter, and hostile. When Fouche was present, +Bonaparte's tone was softened, unless some public scene was to be acted +like that which occurred after the attempt of the 3d Nivose. + +The suppression of the Ministry of Police being determined on, Bonaparte +did not choose to delay the execution of his design, as he had pretended +to think necessary. On the evening of the 12th of September we went to +Mortfontaine. We passed the next day, which was Monday, at that place, +and it was there, far removed from Fouche, and urged by the combined +persuasions of Joseph and Lucien, that the First Consul signed the decree +of suppression. The next morning we returned to Paris. Fouche came to +Malmaison, where we were, in the regular execution of his duties. The +First Consul transacted business with him as usual without daring to tell +him of his dismissal, and afterwards sent Cambaceres to inform him of it. +After this act, respecting which he had hesitated so long, Bonaparte +still endeavoured to modify his rigour. Having appointed Fouche a +Senator, he said in the letter which he wrote to the Senate to notify the +appointment: + + "Fouche, as Minister of Police, in times of difficulty, has by his + talent, his activity, and his attachment to the Government done all + that circumstances required of him. Placed in the bosom of the + Senate, if events should again call for a Minister of Police the + Government cannot find one more worthy of its confidence." + +From this moment the departments of Justice and Police united were +confided to the hands of Regnier.' Bonaparte's aversion for Fouche +strangely blinded him with respect to the capabilities of his successor. +Besides, how could the administration of justice, which rests on fixed, +rigid, and unchangeable bases, proceed hand in hand with another +administration placed on the quicksand of instantaneous decisions, and +surrounded by stratagems and deceptions? Justice should never have +anything to do with secret police, unless it be to condemn it. + + --[M. Abrial, Minister of Justice, was called to the Senate at the + same time as Fouche. Understanding that the assimilation of the two + men was more a disgrace to Abrial than the mere loss of the + Ministry, the First Consul said to M. Abrial: "In uniting the + Ministry of Police to that of Justice I could not retain yon in the + Ministry, you are too upright a man to manage the police." Not a + flattering speech for Regnier.--Bourrienne.]-- + + +What could be expected from Regnier, charged as he was with incompatible +functions? What, under such circumstances, could have been expected even +from a man gifted with great talents? Such was the exact history of +Fouche's disgrace. No person was more afflicted at it than Madame +Bonaparte, who only leaned the news when it was announced to the public. +Josephine, on all occasions, defended Fouche against her husband's +sallies. She believed that he was the only one of his Ministers who told +him the truth. She had such a high opinion of the way in which Fouche +managed the police that the first time I was alone with her after our +return from Mortfontaine she said to me, "My dear Bourrienne; speak +openly to me; will Napoleon know all about the plots from the police of +Moncey, Duroc, Junot, and of Davoust? You know better than I do that +these are only wretched spies. Has not Savary also eventually got his +police? How all this alarms me. They take away all my supports, and +surround me only with enemies."--"To justify your regrets we should be +sure that Fouche has never been in agreement with Lucien in favour of the +divorce."--"Oh, I do not believe that. Bonaparte does not like him, and +he would have been certain to tell me of it when I spoke favourably to +him of Fouche. You will see that his brothers will end by bringing him +into their plan." + +I have already spoken of Josephine's troubles, and of the bad conduct of +Joseph, but more particularly of Lucien, towards her; I will therefore +describe here, as connected with the disgrace of Fouche, whom Madame +Bonaparte regretted as a support, some scenes which occurred about this +period at Malmaison. Having been the confidant of both parties, and an +involuntary actor in those scenes, now that twenty-seven years have +passed since they occurred what motive can induce me to disguise the +truth in any respect? + +Madame Louis Bonaparte was enceinte. Josephine, although she tenderly +loved her children, did not seem to behold the approaching event which +the situation of her daughter indicated with the interest natural to the +heart of a mother. She had long been aware of the calumnious reports +circulated respecting the supposed connection between Hortense and the +First Consul, and that base accusation cost her many tears. Poor +Josephine paid dearly for the splendour of her station! As I knew how +devoid of foundation these atrocious reports were, I endeavoured to +console her by telling her what was true, that I was exerting all my +efforts to demonstrate their infamy and falsehood. Bonaparte, however, +dazzled by the affection which was manifested towards him from all +quarters, aggravated the sorrow of his wife by a silly vanity. He +endeavoured to persuade her that these reports had their origin only in +the wish of the public that he should have a child, so that these seeming +consolations offered by self-love to Josephine's grief gave force to +existing conjugal alarms, and the fear of divorce returned with all its +horrors. Under the foolish illusion of his vanity Bonaparte imagined +that France was desirous of being governed even by a bastard if supposed +to be a child of his,--a singular mode truly of founding a new +legitimacy! + +Josephine, whose susceptibility appears to me even now excusable, well +knew my sentiments on the subject of Bonaparte's founding a dynasty, and +she had not forgotten my conduct when two years before the question had +been agitated on the occasion of Louis XVIII.'s letters to the First +Consul. I remember that one day, after the publication of the parallel +of Caesar, Cromwell, and Bonaparte, Josephine having entered our cabinet +without being announced, which she sometimes did when from the good +humour exhibited at breakfast she reckoned upon its continuance, +approached Bonaparte softly, seated herself on his knee, passed her hand +gently through his hair and over his face, and thinking the moment +favourable, said to him in a burst of tenderness, "I entreat of you, +Bonaparte, do not make yourself a King! It is that wretch Lucien who +urges you to it. Do not listen to him!" Bonaparte replied, without +anger, and even smiling as he pronounced the last words, "You are mad, +my poor Josephine. It is your old dowagers of the Faubourg St. Germain, +your Rochefoucaulds, who tell you all these fables!...... Come now, you +interrupt me--leave me alone." + +What Bonaparte said that day good-naturedly to his wife I have often +heard him declare seriously. I have been present at five or six +altercations on the subject. That there existed, too, an enmity +connected with this question between the family of BEAUHARNAIS and the +family of Bonaparte cannot be denied. + +Fouche, as I have stated, was in the interest of Josephine, and Lucien +was the most bitter of her enemies. One day Raederer inveighed with so +much violence against Fouche in the presence of Madame Bonaparte that she +replied with extreme warmth, "The real enemies of Bonaparte are those who +feed him with notions of hereditary descent, of a dynasty, of divorce, +and of marriage!" Josephine could not check this exclamation, as she +knew that Roederer encouraged those ideas, which he spread abroad by +Lucien's direction. I recollect one day when she had been to see us at +our little house at Ruel: as I walked with her along the high road to her +carriage, which she had sent forward, I acknowledged too unreservedly my +fears on account of the ambition of Bonaparte, and of the perfidious +advice of his brothers. "Madame," said I, "if we cannot succeed in +dissuading the General from making himself a King, I dread the future for +his sake. If ever he re-establishes royalty he will in all probability +labour for the Bourbons, and enable them one day to re-ascend the throne +which he shall erect. No one, doubtless, without passing for a fool, can +pretend to say with certainty what series of chances and events such a +proceeding will produce; but common sense alone is sufficient to convince +any one that unfavourable chances must long be dreaded. The ancient +system being re-established, the occupation of the throne will then be +only a family question, and not a question of government between liberty +and despotic power. Why should not France, if it ceases to be free, +prefer the race of her ancient kings? You surely know it. You had not +been married two years when, on returning from Italy, your husband told +me that he aspired to royalty. Now he is Consul for life. Would he but +resolve to stop there! He already possesses everything but an empty +title. No sovereign in Europe has so much power as he has. I am sorry +for it, Madame, but I really believe that, in spite of yourself, you will +be made Queen or Empress." + +Madame Bonaparte had allowed me to speak without interruption, but when I +pronounced the words Queen and Empress she exclaimed, "My God! +Bourrienne, such ambition is far from my thoughts. That I may always +continue the wife of the First Consul is all I desire. Say to him all +that you have said to me. Try and prevent him from making himself +King."--"Madame," I replied, "times are greatly altered. The wisest men, +the strongest minds, have resolutely and courageously opposed his +tendency to the hereditary system. But advice is now useless. He would +not listen to me. In all discussions on the subject he adheres +inflexibly to the view he has taken. If he be seriously opposed his +anger knows no bounds; his language is harsh and abrupt, his tone +imperious, and his authority bears down all before him."--"Yet, +Bourrienne, he has so much confidence in you that of you should try once +more!"--"Madame, I assure you he will not listen to me. Besides, what +could I add to the remarks I made upon his receiving the letters of Louis +XVIII., when I fearlessly represented to him that being without children +he would have no one to whom to bequeath the throne--that, doubtless, +from the opinion which be entertained of his brothers, he could not +desire to erect it for them?" Here Josephine again interrupted me by +exclaiming, "My kind friend, when you spoke of children did he say +anything to you? Did he talk of a divorce?"--"Not a word, Madame, I +assure you."--"If they do not urge him to it, I do not believe he will +resolve to do such a thing. You know how he likes Eugene, and Eugene +behaves so well to him. How different is Lucien. It is that wretch +Lucien, to whom Bonaparte listens too much, and of whom, however, he +always speaks ill to me."--"I do not know, Madame, what Lucien says to +his brother except when he chooses to tell me, because Lucien always +avoids having a witness of his interviews with your husband, but I can +assure you that for two years I have not heard the word 'divorce' from +the General's mouth."--"I always reckon on you, my dear Bourrienne; to +turn him away from it; as you did at that time."--"I do not believe he is +thinking of it, but if it recurs to him, consider, Madame, that it will +be now from very different motives: He is now entirely given up to the +interests of his policy and his ambition, which dominate every other +feeling in him. There will not now be any question of scandal, or of a +trial before a court, but of an act of authority which complaisant laws +will justify and which the Church perhaps will sanction."--"That's true. +You are right. Good God! how unhappy I am." + + --[When Bourrienne complains of not knowing what passed between + Lucien and Napoleon, we can turn to Lucien's account of Bourrienne, + apparently about this very time. "After a stormy interview with + Napoleon," says Lucien, "I at once went into the cabinet where + Bourrienne was working, and found that unbearable busybody of a + secretary, whose star had already paled more than once, which made + him more prying than ever, quite upset by the time the First Consul + had taken to come out of his bath. He must, or at least might, have + heard some noise, for enough had been made. Seeing that he wanted + to know the cause from me, I took up a newspaper to avoid being + bored by his conversation" (Iung's Lucien, tome ii. p.156)]-- + +Such was the nature of one of the conversations I had with Madame +Bonaparte on a subject to which she often recurred. It may not perhaps +be uninteresting to endeavour to compare with this what Napoleon said at +St. Helena, speaking of his first wife. According to the Memorial +Napoleon there stated that when Josephine was at last constrained to +renounce all hope of having a child, she often let fall allusions to a +great political fraud, and at length openly proposed it to him. I make +no doubt Bonaparte made use of words to this effect, but I do not believe +the assertion. I recollect one day that Bonaparte, on entering our +cabinet, where I was already seated, exclaimed in a transport of joy +impossible for me to describe, "Well, Bourrienne, my wife is at last +enceinte!" I sincerely congratulated him, more, I own, out of courtesy +than from any hope of seeing him made a father by Josephine, for I well +remembered that Corvisart, who had given medicines to Madame Bonaparte, +had nevertheless assured me that he expected no result from them. +Medicine was really the only political fraud to which Josephine had +recourse; and in her situation what other woman would not have done as +much? Here, then, the husband and the wife are in contradiction, which +is nothing uncommon. But on which side is truth? I have no hesitation +in referring it to Josephine. There is indeed an immense difference +between the statements of a women--trusting her fears and her hopes to +the sole confidant of her family secrets, and the tardy declaration of a +man who, after seeing the vast edifice of his ambition leveled with the +dust, is only anxious, in his compulsory retreat, to preserve intact and +spotless the other great edifice of his glory. Bonaparte should have +recollected that Caesar did not like the idea of his wife being even +suspected. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +1802. + + Citizen Fesch created Cardinal Fesch--Arts and industry--Exhibition + in the Louvre--Aspect of Paris in 1802--The Medicean Venus and the + Velletrian Pallas--Signs of general prosperity--Rise of the funds-- + Irresponsible Ministers--The Bourbons--The military Government-- + Annoying familiarity of Lannes--Plan laid for his disgrace-- + Indignation of Lannes--His embassy to Portugal--The delayed + despatch--Bonaparte's rage--I resign my situation--Duroc-- + I breakfast with Bonaparte--Duroc's intercession--Temporary + reconciliation. + +Citizen Fesch, who, when we were forced to stop at Ajaccio on our return +from Egypt, discounted at rather a high rate the General-in-Chief's +Egyptian sequins, became again the Abbe Fesch, as soon as Bonaparte by +his Consular authority re-erected the altars which the Revolution had +overthrown. On the 15th of August 1802 he was consecrated Bishop, and +the following year received the Cardinal's hat. Thus Bonaparte took +advantage of one of the members of his family being in orders to elevate +him to the highest dignities of the Church. He afterwards gave Cardinal +Fesch the Archbishopric of Lyons, of which place he was long the titular. + + --[Like Cambaceres the Cardinal was a bit of a gourmet, and on one + occasion had invited a large party of clerical magnates to dinner. + By a coincidence two turbots of singular beauty arrived as presents + to his Eminence on the very morning of the feast. To serve both + would have appeared ridiculous, but the Cardinal was most anxious to + have the credit of both. He imparted his embarrassment to his chef: + + "'Be of good faith, your Eminence,' was the reply, 'both shall appear + and enjoy the reception so justly their due.' The dinner was + served: one of the turbots relieved the soup. Delight was on every + face--it was the moment of the 'eprouvette positive'. The 'maitre + a'hotel' advances; two attendants raise the turbot and carry him off + to cut him up; but one of them loses his equilibrium: the attendants + and the turbot roll together on the floor. At this sad sight the + assembled Cardinals became as pale as death, and a solemn silence + reigned in the 'conclave'--it was the moment of the 'eprouvette + negative'; but the 'maitre a'hotel' suddenly turns to one of the + attendants, Bring another turbot,' said he, with the most perfect + coolness. The second appeared, and the eprouvette positive was + gloriously renewed." (Hayward's Art of Dining, P. 65.)]-- + +The First Consul prided himself a good deal on his triumph, at least in +appearance, over the scruples which the persons who surrounded him had +manifested against the re-establishment of worship. He read with much +self-satisfaction the reports made to him, in which it was stated that +the churches were well frequented: Indeed, throughout the year 1802, all +his attention wad directed to the reformation of manners, which had +become more dissolute under the Directory than even during the Reign of +Terror. + +In his march of usurpation the First Consul let slip no opportunity of +endeavouring to obtain at the same time the admiration of the multitude +and the approbation of judicious men. He was very fond of the arts, and +was sensible that the promotion of industry ought to be the peculiar care +of the head of the Government. It must, however, at the same time be +owned that he rendered the influence of his protection null and void by +the continual violations he committed on that liberty which is the +animating principle of all improvement. + +During the supplementary days of the year X., that is to say, about the +beginning of the autumn of 1802, there was held at the Louvre an +exhibition of the products of industry. The First Consul visited the +exhibition, and as even at that period he had begun to attribute every +good result to himself, he seemed proud of the high degree of perfection +the manufacturing arts had attained in France. He was, above all, +delighted with the admiration this exhibition excited among the numerous +foreigners who resorted to Paris during the peace. + +In fact, throughout the year 1802 the capital presented an interesting +and animating-spectacle. The appetite for luxury and pleasure had +insinuated itself into manners--which were no longer republican, and the +vast number of Russians and English who drove about everywhere with +brilliant equipages contributed not a little to this metamorphosis. +All Paris flocked to the Carrousel on review days, and regarded with eyes +of delight the unusual sight of rich foreign liveries and emblazoned +carriages. The parties at the Tuileries were brilliant and numerous, and +nothing was wanting but the name of levees. Count Markoff, who succeeded +M. de Kalitscheff as Russian ambassador; the Marquis de Lucchesini, the +Prussian ambassador; and Lord Whitworth, the Minister from England, made +numerous presentations of their countrymen to the First Consul, who was +well pleased that the Court he was forming should have examples set by +foreign courtiers. Never since the meeting of the States-General had the +theatres been so frequented, or fetes so magnificent; and never since +that period had Paris presented so cheering an aspect. The First Consul, +on his part, spared no exertion to render the capital more and more +worthy the admiration of foreigners. The statue of the Venus de Medicis, +which had been robbed from the gallery of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, now +decorated the gallery of the Louvre, and near it was placed that of the +Velletrian Pallas, a more legitimate acquisition, since it was the result +of the researches of some French engineers at Velletri. Everywhere an +air of prosperity was perceptible, and Bonaparte proudly put in his claim +to be regarded as the author of it all. With what heartfelt satisfaction +did he likewise cast his eye upon what he called the grand thermometer of +opinion, the price of the funds! For if he saw them doubled in value in +consequence of the revolution of the 18th Brumaire, rising as they did at +that period from seven to sixteen francs, this value was even more than +tripled after the vote of Consulship for life and the 'Senates-consulte' +of the 4th of August,--when they rose to fifty-two francs. + +While Paris presented so satisfactory an aspect the departments were in a +state of perfect tranquillity; and foreign affairs had every appearance +of security. The Court of the Vatican, which since the Concordat may be +said to have become devoted to the First Consul, gave, under all +circumstances, examples of submission to the wishes of France. The +Vatican was the first Court which recognised the erection of Tuscany into +the Kingdom of Etruria, and the formation of the Helvetic, Cisalpine, and +Batavian Republics. Prussia soon followed the example of the Pope, which +was successively imitated by the other powers of Europe. + +The whole of these new states, realms, or republics were under the +immediate influence of France. The Isle of Elba, which Napoleon's first +abdication afterwards rendered so famous, and Piedmont, divided into six +departments, were also united to France, still called it Republic. +Everything now seemed to concur in securing his accession to absolute +power. We were now at peace with all the world, and every circumstance +tended to place in the hands of the First Consul that absolute power +which indeed was the only kind of government be was capable of forming +any conception of. Indeed, one of the characteristic signs of Napoleon's +government, even under the Consular system, left no doubt as to his real +intentions. Had he wished to found a free Government it is evident that +he world have made the Ministers responsible to the country, whereas he +took care that there should be no responsibility but to himself. He +viewed them, in fact, in the light of instruments which he might break as +be pleased. I found this single index sufficient to disclose all his +future designs In order to make the irresponsibility of his Ministers to +the public perfectly clear, he had all the acts of his Government signed +merely by M. Maret, Secretary of State. Thus the Consulship for life was +nothing but an Empire in disguise, the usufruct of which could not long +satisfy the First Consul's ambition. His brothers influenced him, and it +was resolved to found a new dynasty. + +It was not in the interior of France that difficulties were likely first +to arise on Bonaparte's carrying his designs into effect, but there was +some reason to apprehend that foreign powers, after recognising and +treating with the Consular Government, might display a different feeling, +and entertain scruples with regard to a Government which had resumed its +monarchical form. The question regarding the Bourbons was in some +measure kept in the background as long as France remained a Republic, but +the re-establishment of the throne naturally called to recollection the +family which had occupied it for so many ages. Bonaparte fully felt the +delicacy of his position, but he knew how to face obstacles, and had been +accustomed to overcome them: he, however, always proceeded cautiously, as +when obstacles induced him to defer the period of the Consulship for +life. + +Bonaparte laboured to establish iii France not only an absolute +government, but, what is still worse, a military one. He considered a +decree signed by his hand possessed of a magic virtue capable of +transforming his generals into able diplomatists, and so he sent them on +embassies, as if to show the Sovereigns to whom they were accredited that +he soon meant to take their thrones by assault. The appointment of +Lannes to the Court of Lisbon originated from causes which probably will +be read with some interest, since they serve to place Bonaparte's +character in, its true light, and to point out, at the same time, the +means he disdained not to resort to, if he wished to banish his most +faithful friends when their presence was no longer agreeable to him. + +Bonaparte had ceased to address Lannes in the second person singular; but +that general continued the familiarity of thee and thou in speaking to +Napoleon. It is hardly possible to conceive how much this annoyed the +First Consul. Aware of the unceremonious candour of his old comrade, +whose daring spirit he knew would prompt him to go as great lengths in +civil affairs as on the field of battle, Bonaparte, on the great occasion +of the 18th Brumaire, fearing his reproaches, had given him the command +of Paris in order to ensure his absence from St. Cloud. + +After that time, notwithstanding the continually growing greatness of the +First Consul, which, as it increased, daily exacted more and more +deference, Lannes still preserved his freedom of speech, and was the only +one who dared to treat Bonaparte as a comrade, and tell him the truth +without ceremony. This was enough to determine Napoleon to rid himself +of the presence of Lannes. But under what pretest was the absence of the +conqueror of Montebello to be procured? It was necessary to conjure up +an excuse; and in the truly diabolical machination resorted to for that +purpose, Bonaparte brought into play that crafty disposition for which he +was so remarkable. + +Lannes, who never looked forward to the morrow, was as careless of his +money as of his blood. Poor officers and soldiers partook largely of his +liberality. Thus he had no fortune, but plenty of debts when he wanted +money, and this was not seldom, he used to come, as if it were a mere +matter of course, to ask it of the First Consul, who, I must confess, +never refused him. Bonaparte, though he well knew the general's +circumstances, said to him one day, "My friend, you should attend a +little more to appearances. You must have your establishment suitable to +your rank. There is the Hotel de Noailles--why don't you take it, and +furnish it in proper style?" Lannes, whose own candour prevented him +from suspecting the artful designs of others, followed the advice of the +First Consul The Hotel de Noailles was taken and superbly fitted up. +Odiot supplied a service of plate valued at 200,000 francs. + +General Lannes having thus conformed to the wishes of Bonaparte came to +him and requested 400,000 francs, the amount of the expense incurred, as +it were, by his order. "But," said the First Consul, "I have no money." +--"You have no money! What the devil am I to do, then?" + +"But is there none in the Guard's chest? Take what you require, and we +will settle it, hereafter." + +Mistrusting nothing, Lannes went to the treasurer of the Guards, who made +some objections at first to the advance required, but who soon yielded on +learning that the demand was made with the consent of the First Consul. + +Within twenty-four hours after Lannes had obtained the 400,000 francs the +treasurer received from the head commissary an order to balance his +accounts. The receipt for the 400,000 francs advanced to Lannes, was not +acknowledged as a voucher. In vain the treasurer alleged the authority +of the First Consul for the transaction. Napoleon's memory had suddenly +failed him; he had entirely forgotten all about it. In a word, it was +incumbent on Lannes to refund the 400,000 francs to the Guards' chest; +and, as I have already said, he had no property on earth, but debts in +abundance. He repaired to General Lefebre, who loved him as his son, and +to him he related all that had passed. "Simpleton," said Lefebvre, +"why did you not come to me? Why did you go and get into debt with that +-----? Well, here are the 400,000 francs; take them to him, and let him +go to the devil!" + +Lannes hastened to the First Consul. "What!"--he exclaimed, "is it +possible you can be guilty of such baseness as this? To treat me in such +a manner! To lay such a foul snare for me after all that I have done for +you; after all the blood I have shed to promote your ambition! Is this +the recompense you had in store for me? You forget the 13th Vendemiaire, +to the success of which I contributed more than you! You forget +Millesimo: I was colonel before you! For whom did I fight at Bassano? +You were witness of what I did at Lodi and at Governolo, where I was +wounded; and yet you play me such a trick as this! But for me, Paris +would have revolted on the 18th Brumaire. But for me, you would have +lost the battle of Marengo. I alone, yes, I alone, passed the Po, at +Montebello, with my whole division. You gave the credit of that to +Berthier, who was not there; and this is my reward--humiliation. This +cannot, this shall not be. I will----" Bonaparte, pale with anger, +listened without stirring, and Lannes was on the point of challenging him +when Junot, who heard the uproar, hastily entered. The unexpected +presence of this general somewhat reassured the First Consul, and at the +same time calmed, in some degree, the fury of Lannes. "Well," said +Bonaparte, "go to Lisbon. You will get money there; and when you return +you will not want any one to pay your debts for you." Thus was +Bonaparte's object gained. Lannes set out for Lisbon, and never +afterwards annoyed the First Consul by his familiarities, for on his +return he ceased to address him with thee and thou. + +Having described Bonaparte's ill-treatment of Lannes I may here subjoin a +statement of the circumstances which led to a rupture between the First +Consul and me. So many false stories have been circulated on the subject +that I am anxious to relate the facts as they really were. + +Nine months had now passed since I had tendered my resignation to the +First Consul. The business of my office had become too great for me, +and my health was so much endangered by over-application that my +physician, M. Corvisart, who had for a long time impressed upon me the +necessity of relaxation, now formally warned me that I should not long +hold out under the fatigue I underwent. Corvisart had no doubt spoken to +the same effect to the First Consul, for the latter said to me one day, +in a tone which betrayed but little feeling, "Why, Corvisart says you +have not a year to live." This was certainly no very welcome compliment +in the mouth of an old college friend, yet I must confess that the doctor +risked little by the prediction. + +I had resolved, in fact, to follow the advice of Corvisart; my family +were urgent in their entreaties that I would do so, but I always put off +the decisive step. I was loath to give up a friendship which had +subsisted so long, and which had been only once disturbed: on that +occasion when Joseph thought proper to play the spy upon me at the table +of Fouche. I remembered also the reception I had met with from the +conqueror of Italy; and I experienced, moreover, no slight pain at the +thought of quitting one from whom I had received so many proofs of +confidence, and to whom I had been attached from early boyhood. These +considerations constantly triumphed over the disgust to which I was +subjected by a number of circumstances, and by the increasing vexations +occasioned by the conflict between my private sentiments and the nature +of the duties I had to perform. + +I was thus kept in a state of perplexity, from which some unforeseen +circumstance alone could extricate me. Such a circumstance at length +occurred, and the following is the history of my first rupture with +Napoleon: + +On the 27th of February 1802, at ten at night, Bonaparte dictated to me a +despatch of considerable importance and urgency, for M. de Talleyrand, +requesting the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the Tuileries next +morning at an appointed hour. According to custom, I put the letter into +the hands of the office messenger that it might be forwarded to its +destination. + +This was Saturday. The following day, Sunday, M. de Talleyrand came as +if for an audience about mid-day. The First Consul immediately began to +confer with him on the subject of the letter sent the previous evening, +and was astonished to learn that the Minister had not received it +until the morning. He immediately rang for the messenger, and ordered me +to be sent for. Being in a very. bad humour, he pulled the bell with so +much fury that he struck his hand violently against the angle of the +chimney-piece. I hurried to his presence. "Why," he said, addressing me +hastily, "why was not my letter delivered yesterday evening?"--"I do not +know: I put it at once into the hands of the person whose duty it was to +see that it was sent."--"Go and find the cause of the delay, and come +back quickly." Having rapidly made my inquiries, I returned to the +cabinet. "Well?" said the First Consul, whose irritation seemed to have +increased. "Well, General, it is not the fault of anybody, M. de +Talleyrand was not to be found, either at the office or at his own +residence, or at the houses of any of his friends where he was thought +likely to be." Not knowing with whom to be angry, restrained by the +coolness of M. de Talleyrand, yet at the same time ready to burst with +rage, Bonaparte rose from his seat, and proceeding to the hall, called +the messenger and questioned him sharply. The man, disconcerted by the +anger of the First Consul, hesitated in his replies, and gave confused +answers. Bonaparte returned to his cabinet still more irritated than he +had left it. + +I had followed him to the hall, and on my way back to the cabinet I +attempted to soothe him, and I begged him not to be thus discomposed by a +circumstance which, after all, was of no great moment. I do not know +whether his anger was increased by the sight of the blood which flowed +from his hand, and which he was every moment looking at; but however that +might be, a transport of furious passion, such as I had never before +witnessed, seized him; and as I was about to enter the cabinet after him +he threw back the door with so much violence that, had I been two or +three inches nearer him, it must infallibly have struck me in the face. +He accompanied this action, which was almost convulsive, with an +appellation, not to be borne; he exclaimed before M. de Talleyrand, +"Leave me alone; you are a fool." At an insult so atrocious I confess +that the anger which had already mastered the First Consul suddenly +seized on me. I thrust the door forward with as much impetuosity as he +had used in throwing it back, and, scarcely knowing what I said, +exclaimed, "You are a hundredfold a greater fool than I am!" I then +banged the door and went upstairs to my apartment, which was situated +over the cabinet. + +I was as far from expecting as from wishing such an occasion of +separating from the First Consul. But what was done could not be undone; +and therefore, without taking time for reflection, and still under the +influence of the anger that had got the better of me, I penned the +following positive resignation: + +GENERAL--The state of my health no longer permits me to continue in your +service. I therefore beg you to accept my resignation. + BOURRIENNE. + +Some moments after this note was written I saw Bonaparte's saddle-horses +brought up to the entrance of the Palace. It was Sunday morning, and, +contrary to his usual custom on that day, he was going to ride out. + +Duroc accompanied him. He was no sooner done than I, went down into his +cabinet, and placed my letter on his table. On returning at four o'clock +with Duroc Bonaparte read my letter. "Ah! ah!" said he, before opening +it, "a letter from Bourrienne." And he almost immediately added, for the +note was speedily perused, "He is in the sulks.--Accepted." I had left +the Tuileries at the moment he returned, but Duroc sent to me where I was +dining the following billet: + +The First Consul desires me, my dear Bourrienne, to inform you that he +accepts your resignation, and to request that you will give me the +necessary information respecting your papers.--Yours, + DUROC. + +P.S.:--I will call on you presently. + +Duroc came to me at eight o'clock the same evening. The First Consul was +in his cabinet when we entered it. I immediately commenced giving my +intended successor the necessary explanations to enable him to enter upon +his new duties. Piqued at finding that I did not speak to him, and at +the coolness with which I instructed Duroc, Bonaparte said to me in a +harsh tone, "Come, I have had enough of this! Leave me." I stepped down +from the ladder on which I had mounted for the purpose of pointing out to +Duroc the places in which the various papers were deposited and hastily +withdrew. I too had quite enough of it! + +I remained two more days at the Tuileries until I had suited myself with +lodgings. On Monday I went down into the cabinet of the First Consul to +take my leave of him. We conversed together for a long time, and very +amicably. He told me he was very sorry I was going to leave him, and +that he would do all he could for me. I pointed out several places to +him; at last I mentioned the Tribunate. "That will not do for you," he +said; "the members are a set of babblers and phrasemongers, whom I mean to +get rid of. All the troubles of States proceed from such debatings. I +am tired of them." He continued to talk in a strain which left me in no +doubt as to his uneasiness about the Tribunate, which, in fact, reckoned +among its members many men of great talent and excellent character. + + --[In 1802 the First Consul made a reduction of fifty members of the + Tribunate, and subsequently the whole body was suppressed. + --Bourrienne.]-- + +The following day, Tuesday, the First Consul asked me to breakfast with +him. After breakfast, while he was conversing with some other person, +Madame Bonaparte and Hortense pressed me to make advances towards +obtaining a re-instalment in my office, appealing to me on the score of +the friendship and kindness they had always shown me. They told me that +I had been in the wrong, and that I had forgotten myself. I answered +that I considered the evil beyond remedy; and that, besides, I had really +need of repose. The First Consul then called me to him, and conversed a +considerable time with me, renewing his protestations of goodwill towards +me. + +At five o'clock I was going downstairs to quit the Tuileries for good +when I was met by the office messenger, who told me that the First Consul +wished to see me. Duroc; who was in the room leading to the cabinet, +stopped me as I passed, and said, "He wishes you to remain. I beg of you +not to refuse; do me this favour. I have assured him that I am incapable +of filling your office. It does not suit my habits; and besides, to tell +you the truth, the business is too irksome for me." I proceeded to the +cabinet without replying to Duroc. The First Consul came up to me +smiling, and pulling me by the ear, as he did when he was in the best of +humours, said to me, "Are you still in the sulks?" and leading me to my +usual seat he added, "Come, sit down." + +Only those who knew Bonaparte can judge of my situation at that moment. +He had at times, and when he chose, a charm in his manners which it was +quite impossible to resist. I could offer no opposition, and I resumed +my usual office and my accustomed labours. Five minutes afterwards it +was announced that dinner was on table. "You will dine with me?" he +said. "I cannot; I am expected at the place where I was going when Duroc +called me back. It is an engagement that I cannot break."--"Well, I have +nothing to say, then. But give me your word that you will be here at +eight o'clock."--"I promise you." Thus I became again the private +secretary of the First Consul, and I believed in the sincerity of our +reconciliation. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +1802-1803. + + The Concordat and the Legion of Honour--The Council of State and the + Tribunate--Discussion on the word 'subjects'--Chenier--Chabot de + l'Allier's proposition to the Tribunate--The marked proof of + national gratitude--Bonaparte's duplicity and self-command--Reply to + the 'Senatus-consulte'--The people consulted--Consular decree-- + The most, or the least--M. de Vanblanc's speech--Bonaparte's reply-- + The address of the Tribunate--Hopes and predictions thwarted. + +It may truly be said that history affords no example of an empire founded +like that of France, created in all its parts under the cloak of a +republic. Without any shock, and in the short space of four years, there +arose above the ruins of the short-lived Republic a Government more +absolute than ever was Louis XIV.'s. This extraordinary change is to be +assigned to many causes; and I had the opportunity of observing the +influence which the determined will of one man exercised over his fellow- +men. + +The great object which Bonaparte had at heart was to legitimate his +usurpations by institutions. The Concordat had reconciled him with the +Court of Rome; the numerous erasures from the emigrant list gathered +round him a large body of the old nobility; and the Legion of Honour, +though at first but badly received, soon became a general object of +ambition. Peace, too, had lent her aid in consolidating the First +Consul's power by affording him leisure to engage in measures of internal +prosperity. + +The Council of State, of which Bonaparte had made me a member, but which +my other occupations did not allow me to attend, was the soul of the +Consular Government. Bonaparte felt much interest in the discussions of +that body, because it was composed of the most eminent men in the +different branches of administration; and though the majority evinced a +ready compliance with his wishes, yet that disposition was often far from +being unanimous. In the Council of State the projects of the Government +were discussed from the first with freedom and sincerity, and when once +adopted they were transmitted to the Tribunate, and to the Legislative +Body. This latter body might be considered as a supreme Legislative +Tribunal, before which the Tribunes pleaded as the advocates of the +people, and the Councillors of State, whose business it was to support +the law projects, as the advocates of the Government. This will at once +explain the cause of the First Consul's animosity towards the Tribunate, +and will show to what the Constitution was reduced when that body was +dissolved by a sudden and arbitrary decision. + +During the Consulate the Council of State was not only a body politic +collectively, but each individual member might be invested with special +power; as, for example, when the First Consul sent Councillors of State +on missions to each of the military divisions where there was a Court of +Appeal, the instructions given them by the First Consul were extensive, +and might be said to be unlimited. They were directed to examine all the +branches of the administration, so that their reports collected and +compared together presented a perfect description of the state of France. +But this measure, though excellent in itself, proved fatal to the State. +The reports never conveyed the truth to the First Consul, or at least if +they did, it was in such a disguised form as to be scarcely recognisable; +for the Councillors well knew that the best way to pay their court to +Bonaparte was not to describe public feeling as it really was, but as he +wished it to be. Thus the reports of the councillors of State only +furnished fresh arguments in favour of his ambition. + +I must, however, observe that in the discussions of the Council of State +Bonaparte was not at all averse to the free expression of opinion. He, +indeed, often encouraged it; for although fully resolved to do only what +he pleased, he wished to gain information; indeed, it is scarcely +conceivable how, in the short space of two years, Bonaparte adapted his +mind so completely to civil and legislative affairs. But he could not +endure in the Tribunate the liberty of opinion which he tolerated in the +Council; and for this reason--that the sittings of the Tribunate were +public, while those of the Council of State were secret, and publicity +was what he dreaded above all things. He was very well pleased when he +had to transmit to the Legislative Body or to the Tribunate any proposed +law of trifling importance, and he used then to say that he had thrown +them a bone to gnaw. + +Among the subjects submitted to the consideration of the Council and the +Tribunate was one which gave rise to a singular discussion, the ground of +which was a particular word, inserted in the third article of the treaty +of Russia with France. This word seemed to convey a prophetic allusion +to the future condition of the French people, or rather an anticipated +designation of what they afterwards became. The treaty spoke of "the +subjects of the two Governments." This term applied to those who still +considered themselves citizens, and was highly offensive to the +Tribunate. Chenier moat loudly remonstrated against the introduction of +this word into the dictionary of the new Government. He said that the +armies of France had shed their blood that the French people might be +citizens and not subjects. Chenier's arguments, however, had no effect +on the decision of the Tribunate, and only served to irritate the First +Consul. The treaty was adopted almost unanimously, there being only +fourteen dissentient voices, and the proportion of black balls in the +Legislative Body was even less. + +Though this discussion passed off almost unnoticed, yet it greatly +displeased the First Consul, who expressed his dissatisfaction in the +evening. "What is it," said he, "these babblers want? They wish to be +citizens--why did they not know how to continue so? My government must +treat on an equal footing with Russia. I should appear a mere puppet in +the eyes of foreign Courts were I to yield to the stupid demands of the +Tribunate.. Those fellows tease me so that I have a great mind to end +matters at once with them." I endeavoured to soothe his anger, and +observed, that one precipitate act might injure him. "You are right," he +continued; "but stay a little, they shall lose nothing by waiting." + +The Tribunate pleased Bonaparte better in the great question of the +Consulate for life, because he had taken the precaution of removing such +members as were most opposed to the encroachments of his ambition. The +Tribunate resolved that a marked proof of the national gratitude should +be offered to the First Consul, and the resolution was transmitted to the +Senate. Not a single voice was raised against this proposition, which +emanated from Chabot de l'Allier, the President of the Tribunate. When +the First Consul came back to his cabinet after receiving the deputation +of the Tribunate he was very cheerful, and said to me, "Bourrienne, it is +a blank cheque that the Tribunate has just offered me; I shall know how +to fill it up. That is my business." + +The Tribunate having adopted the indefinite proposition of offering to +the First Consul a marked proof of the national gratitude, it now only +remained to determine what that proof should be. Bonaparte knew well +what he wanted, but he did not like to name it in any positive way. +Though in his fits of impatience, caused by the lingering proceedings of +the Legislative Body and the indecision of some of its members, he often +talked of mounting on horseback and drawing his sword, yet he so far +controlled himself as to confine violence to his conversations with his +intimate friends. He wished it to be thought that he himself was +yielding to compulsion; that he was far from wishing to usurp permanent +power contrary to the Constitution; and that if he deprived France of +liberty it was all for her good, and out of mere love for her. Such +deep-laid duplicity could never have been conceived and maintained in any +common mind; but Bonaparte's was not a mind of the ordinary cast. It +must have required extraordinary self-command to have restrained so long +as he did that daring spirit which was so natural to him, and which was +rather the result of his temperament than his character. For my part, I +confess that I always admired him more for what he had the fortitude not +to do than for the boldest exploits he ever performed. + +In conformity with the usual form, the proposition of the Tribunate was +transmitted to the Senate. From that time the Senators on whom Bonaparte +most relied were frequent in their visits to the Tuileries. In the +preparatory conferences which preceded the regular discussions in the +Senate it has been ascertained that the majority was not willing that the +marked proof of gratitude should be the Consulate for life; it was +therefore agreed that the reporter should limit his demand to a temporary +prolongation of the dignity of First Consul in favour of Bonaparte. The +reporter, M. de Lacepede, acted accordingly, and limited the prolongation +to ten years, commencing from the expiration of the ten years granted by +the Constitution. I forget which of the Senators first proposed the +Consulate for life; but I well recollect that Cambaceres used all his +endeavours to induce those members of the Senate whom he thought he could +influence to agree to that proposition. Whether from flattery or +conviction I know not, but the Second Consul held out to his colleague, +or rather his master, the hope of complete success Bonaparte on hearing +him shook his head with an air of doubt, but afterwards said to me, "They +will perhaps make some wry faces, but they must come to it at last!" + +It was proposed in the Senate that the proposition of the Consulate for +life should take the priority of that of the decennial prolongation; but +this was not agreed to; and the latter proposition being adopted, the +other, of course, could not be discussed. + +There was something very curious in the 'Senatus-consulte' published on +the occasion. It spoke in the name of the French people, and stated +that, "in testimony of their gratitude to the Consuls of the Republic," +the Consular reign was prolonged for ten years; but that the prolongation +was limited to the First Consul only. + +Bonaparte, though much dissatisfied with the decision of the Senate, +disguised his displeasure in ambiguous language. When Tronchet, then +President of the Senate, read to him, in a solemn audience, at the head +of the deputation, the 'Senatus-consulte' determining the prorogation, +he said in reply that he could not be certain of the confidence of the +people unless his continuance in the Consulship were sanctioned by their +suffrages. "The interests of my glory and happiness," added he, "would +seem to have marked the close of my public life at the moment when the +peace of the world is proclaimed. But the glory and the happiness of the +citizen must yield to the interests of the State and wishes of the +public. You, Senators, conceive that I owe to the people another +sacrifice. I will make it if the voice of the people commands what your +suffrage authorises." + +The true meaning of these words was not understood by everybody, and was +only manifest to those who were initiated in the secret of Bonaparte's +designs. He did not accept the offer of the Senate, because he wished +for something more. The question was to be renewed and to be decided by +the people only; and since the people had the right to refuse what the +Senate offered, they possessed, for the same reason, the right to give +what the Senate did not offer. + +The moment now arrived for consulting the Council of State as to the mode +to be adopted for invoking and collecting the suffrages of the people. +For this purpose au extraordinary meeting of the Council of State was +summoned on the 10th of May. Bonaparte wished to keep himself aloof from +all ostensible influence; but his two colleagues laboured for him more +zealously than he could have worked for himself, and they were warmly +supported by several members of the Council. A strong majority were of +opinion that Bonaparte should not only be invested with the Consulship +for life, but that he should be empowered to nominate his successor. But +he, still faithful to his plan, affected to venerate the sovereignty of +the people, which he held in horror, and he promulgated the following +decree, which was the first explanation of his reply to the Senate + + The Consuls of the Republic, considering that the resolution of the + First Consul is an homage rendered to the sovereignty of the People, + and that the People, when consulted on their dearest interests, will + not go beyond the limits of those interests, decree as follows:- + First, that the French people shall be consulted on the question + whether Napoleon Bonaparte is to be made Consul for life, etc. + +The other articles merely regulated the mode of collecting the votes. + +This decree shows the policy of the First Consul in a new point of view, +and displays his art in its fullest extent. He had just refused the less +for the sake of getting the greater; and now he had contrived to get the +offer of the greater to show off his moderation by accepting only the +less. The Council of State sanctioned the proposition for conferring on +the First Consul the right of nominating his successor, and, of his own +accord, the First Consul declined this. Accordingly the Second Consul, +when he, the next day, presented the decree to the Council of State, did +not fail to eulogise this extreme moderation, which banished even the +shadow of suspicion of any ambitious after-thought. Thus the Senate +found itself out-manoeuvred, and the decree of the Consuls was +transmitted at once to the Legislative Body and to the Tribunate. + +In the Legislative Body, M. de Vaublanc was distinguished among all the +deputies who applauded the conduct of the Government; and it was he who +delivered the apologetic harangue of the deputation of the Legislative +Body to the First Consul. After having addressed the Government +collectively he ended by addressing the First Consul individually--a sort +of compliment which had not hitherto been put in practice, and which was +far from displeasing him who was its object. As M. de Vaublanc's speech +had been communicated beforehand to the First Consul, the latter prepared +a reply to it which sufficiently showed how much it had gratified him. +Besides the flattering distinction which separated him from the +Government, the plenitude of praise was not tempered by anything like +advice or comment. It was not so with the address of the Tribunate. +After the compliments which the occasion demanded, a series of hopes were +expressed for the future, which formed a curious contrast with the events +which actually ensued. The Tribunate, said the address, required no +guarantee, because Bonaparte's elevated and generous sentiments would +never permit him to depart from those principles which brought about the +Revolution and founded the Republic;--he loved real glory too well ever +to stain that which he had acquired by the abuse of power;--the nation +which he was called to govern was free and generous he would respect and +consolidate her liberty; he would distinguish his real friends, who spoke +truth to him, from flatterers who might seek to deceive him. In short, +Bonaparte would surround himself with the men who, having made the +Revolution, were interested in supporting it. + +To these and many other fine things the Consul replied, "This testimony +of the affection of the Tribunate is gratifying to the Government. The +union of all bodies of the State is a guarantee of the stability and +happiness of the nation. The efforts of the Government will be +constantly directed to the interests of the people, from whom all power +is derived, and whose welfare all good men have at heart." + +So much for the artifice of governments and the credulity of subjects! +It is certain that, from the moment Bonaparte gained his point in +submitting the question of the Consulate for life to the decision of the +people, there was no longer a doubt of the result being in his favour. +This was evident, not only on account of the influential means which a +government always has at its command, and of which its agents extend the +ramifications from the centre to the extremities, but because the +proposition was in accordance with the wishes of the majority. The +Republicans were rather shy in avowing principles with which people were +now disenchanted;--the partisans of a monarchy without distinction of +family saw their hopes almost realised in the Consulate for life; the +recollection of the Bourbons still lived in some hearts faithful to +misfortune but the great mass were for the First Consul, and his external +acts in the new step he had taken towards the throne had been so +cautiously disguised as to induce a belief in his sincerity. If I and a +few others were witness to his accomplished artifice and secret ambition, +France beheld only his glory, and gratefully enjoyed the blessings of +peace which he had obtained for her. The suffrages of the people +speedily realised the hopes of the First Consul, and thus was founded the +CONSULATE FOR LIFE. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +1802-1803. + + Departure for Malmaison--Unexpected question relative to the + Bourbons--Distinction between two opposition parties--New intrigues + of Lucien--Camille Jordan's pamphlet seized--Vituperation against + the liberty of the press--Revisal of the Constitution--New 'Senatus- + consulte--Deputation from the Senate--Audience of the Diplomatic + Body--Josephine's melancholy--The discontented--Secret meetings-- + Fouche and the police agents--The Code Napoleon--Bonaparte's regular + attendance at the Council of State--His knowledge of mankind, and + the science of government--Napoleon's first sovereign act--His visit + to the Senate--The Consular procession--Polite etiquette--The Senate + and the Council of State--Complaints against Lucien--The deaf and + dumb assembly--Creation of senatorships. + +When nothing was wanting to secure the Consulate for life but the votes +of the people, which there was no doubt of obtaining, the First Consul +set off to spend a few days at Malmaison. + +On the day of our arrival, as soon as dinner was ended, Bonaparte said to +me, "Bourrienne, let us go and take a walk." It was the middle of May, +so that the evenings were long. We went into the park: he was very +grave, and we walked for several minutes without his uttering a syllable. +Wishing to break silence in a way that would be agreeable to him, I +alluded to the facility with which he had nullified the last 'Senatus- +consulte'. He scarcely seemed to hear me, so completely was his mind +absorbed in the subject on which he was meditating. At length, suddenly +recovering from his abstraction, he said, "Bourrienne, do you think that +the pretender to the crown of France would renounce his claims if I were +to offer him a good indemnity, or even a province in Italy?" Surprised +at this abrupt question on a subject which I was far from thinking of, +I replied that I did not think the pretender would relinquish his claims; +that it was very unlikely the Bourbons would return to France as long as +he, Bonaparte, should continue at the head of the Government, though they +would look forward to their ultimate return as probable. "How so?" +inquired he. "For a very simple reason, General. Do you not see every +day that your agents conceal the truth from you, and flatter you in your +wishes, for the purpose of ingratiating themselves in your favour? are +you not angry when at length the truth reaches your ear?"--"And what +then?"--"why, General, it must be just the same with the agents of Louis +XVIII. in France. It is in the course of things, in the nature of man, +that they should feed the Bourbons with hopes of a possible return, were +it only to induce a belief in their own talent and utility."--"That is +very true! You are quite right; but I am not afraid. However, something +might perhaps be done--we shall see." Here the subject dropped, and our +conversation turned on the Consulate for life, and Bonaparte spoke in +unusually mild terms of the persons who had opposed the proposition. +I was a little surprised at this, and could not help reminding him of the +different way in which he had spoken of those who opposed his accession +to the Consulate. "There is nothing extraordinary in that," said he. +"Worthy men may be attached to the Republic as I have made it. It is a +mere question of form. I have nothing to say against that; but at the +time of my accession to the Consulate it was very different. Then, none +but Jacobins, terrorists, and rogues resisted my endeavours to rescue +France from the infamy into which the Directory had plunged her. But now +I cherish no ill-will against those who have opposed me." + +During the intervals between the acts of the different bodies of the +State, and the collection of the votes, Lucien renewed his intrigues, or +rather prosecuted them with renewed activity, for the purpose of getting +the question of hereditary succession included in the votes. Many +prefects transmitted to M. Chaptal anonymous circulars which had been +sent to them: all stated the ill effect produced by these circulars, +which had been addressed to the principal individuals of their +departments. Lucien was the originator of all this, though I cannot +positively say whether his brother connived with him, as in the case of +the pamphlet to which I have already alluded. I believe, however, that +Bonaparte was not entirely a stranger to the business; for the circulars +were written by Raederer at the instigation of Lucien, and Raederer was +at that time in favour at the Tuileries. I recollect Bonaparte speaking +to me one day very angrily about a pamphlet which had just, been +published by Camille Jordan on the subject of the national vote on the +Consulate for life. Camille Jordan did not withhold his vote, but gave +it in favour of the First Consul; and instead of requiring preliminary +conditions, he contented himself, like the Tribunate, with enumerating +all the guarantees which he expected the honour of the First Consul would +grant. Among these guarantees were the cessation of arbitrary +imprisonments, the responsibility of the agents of Government, and the +independence of the judges. But all these demands were mere peccadilloes +in comparison with Camille Jordan's great crime of demanding the liberty +of the press. + +The First Consul had looked through the fatal pamphlet, and lavished +invectives upon its author. "How!" exclaimed he, "am I never to have +done with these fire brands?--These babblers, who think that politics may +be shown on a printed page like the world on a map? Truly, I know not +what things will come to if I let this go on. Camille Jordan, whom I +received so well at Lyons, to think that he should--ask for the liberty +of the press! + +Were I to accede to this I might as well pack up at once and go and live +on a farm a hundred leagues from Paris." Bonaparte's first act in favour +of the liberty of the press was to order the seizure of the pamphlet in +which Camille Jordan had extolled the advantages of that measure. +Publicity, either by words or writing, was Bonaparte's horror. +Hence his aversion to public speakers and writers. + +Camille Jordan was not the only person who made unavailing efforts to +arrest Bonaparte in the first steps of his ambition. There were yet in +France many men who, though they had hailed with enthusiasm the dawn of +the French Revolution, had subsequently been disgusted by its crimes, and +who still dreamed of the possibility of founding a truly Constitutional +Government in France. Even in the Senate there were some men indignant +at the usual compliance of that body, and who spoke of the necessity of +subjecting the Constitution to a revisal, in order to render it +conformable to the Consulate for life. + +The project of revising the Constitution was by no means unsatisfactory +to Bonaparte. It afforded him an opportunity of holding out fresh +glimmerings of liberty to those who were too shortsighted to see into the +future. He was pretty certain that there could be no change but to his +advantage. Had any one talked to him of the wishes of the nation he +would have replied, "3,577,259 citizens have voted. Of these how many +were for me? 3,368,185. Compare the difference! There is but one vote +in forty-five against me. I must obey the will of the people!" To this +he would not have failed to add, "Whose are the votes opposed to me? +Those of ideologists, Jacobins, and peculators under the Directory." To +such arguments what could have been answered? It must not be supposed +that I am putting these words into Bonaparte's mouth. They fell from him +oftener than once. + +As soon as the state of the votes was ascertained the Senate conceived +itself under the necessity of repairing the only fault it had committed +in the eyes of the First Consul, and solemnly presented him with a new +'Senatus-consulte', and a decree couched in the following terms: + +ARTICLE I. The French people nominate and the Senate proclaim Napoleon +Bonaparte Consul for life. + +ARTICLE II. A statue representing Peace, holding in one hand the laurel +of victory, and in the other the decree of the senate, shall commemorate +to posterity the gratitude of the Nation. + +ARTICLE III. The Senate will convey to the First Consul the expression +of the confidence, the love, and the admiration of the French people. + +Bonaparte replied to the deputation from the Senate, in the presence of +the Diplomatic Body, whose audience had been appointed for that day in +order that the ambassadors might be enabled to make known to their +respective Courts that Europe reckoned one King more. In his reply he +did not fail to introduce the high-sounding words "liberty and equality." +He commenced thus: "A citizen's life belongs to his country. The French +people wish that mine should be entirely devoted to their service. I +obey." + +On the day this ceremony took place, besides the audience of the +Diplomatic Body there was an extraordinary assemblage of general officers +and public functionaries. The principal apartments of the Tuileries's +presented the appearance of a fete. This gaiety formed a striking +contrast with the melancholy of Josephine, who felt that every step of +the First Consul towards the throne removed him farther from her. + +She had to receive a party that evening, and though greatly depressed in +spirits she did the honours with her usual grace. + +Let a Government be what it may, it can never satisfy everyone. At the +establishment of the Consulate for life, those who were averse to that +change formed but a feeble minority. But still they met, debated, +corresponded, and dreamed of the possibility of overthrowing the Consular +Government. + +During the first six months of the year 1802 there were meetings of the +discontented, which Fouche, who was then Minister of the Police, knew and +would not condescend to notice; but, on the contrary, all the inferior +agents of the police contended for a prey which was easily seized, and, +with the view of magnifying their services, represented these secret +meetings as the effect of a vast plot against the Government. Bonaparte, +whenever he spoke to me on the subject, expressed himself weary of the +efforts which were made to give importance to trifles; and yet he +received the reports of the police agents as if he thought them of +consequence. This was because he thought Fouche badly informed, and he +was glad to find him at fault; but when he sent for the Minister of +Police the latter told him that all the reports he had received were not +worth a moment's attention. He told the First Consul all, and even a +great deal more than had been revealed to him, mentioning at the same +time how and from whom Bonaparte had received his information. + +But these petty police details did not divert the First Consul's +attention from the great object he had in view. Since March 1802 he had +attended the sittings of the Council of State with remarkable regularity. +Even while we were at the Luxembourg he busied himself in drawing up a +new code of laws to supersede the incomplete collection of revolutionary +laws, and to substitute order for the sort of anarchy which prevailed in +the legislation. The man who were most distinguished for legal knowledge +had cooperated in this laborious task, the result of which was the code +first distinguished by the name of the Civil Code, and afterwards called +the Code Napoleon. The labours of this important undertaking being +completed, a committee was appointed for the presentation of the code. +This committee, of which Cambaceres was the president, was composed of +MM. Portalis, Merlin de Douai, and Tronchet. During all the time the +discussions were pending, instead of assembling as usual three times a +week, the Council of State assembled every day, and the sittings, which +on ordinary occasions only lasted two or three hours, were often +prolonged to five or six. The First Consul took such interest in these +discussions that, to have an opportunity of conversing upon them in the +evening, he frequently invited several members of the Council to dine +with him. It was during these conversations that I most admired the +inconceivable versatility of Bonaparte's genius, or rather, that superior +instinct which enabled him to comprehend at a glance, and in their proper +point of view, legislative questions to which he might have been supposed +a stranger. Possessing as he did, in a supreme degree, the knowledge of +mankind, ideas important to the science of government flashed upon his +mind like sudden inspirations. + +Some time after his nomination to the Consulate for life, anxious to +perform a sovereign act, he went for the first time to preside at the +Senate. Availing myself that day of a few leisure moments I went out to +see the Consular procession. It was truly royal. The First Consul had +given orders that the military should-be ranged in the streets through +which he had to pass. On his first arrival at the Tuileries, Napoleon +had the soldiers of the Guard ranged in a single line in the interior of +the court, but he now ordered that the line should be doubled, and should +extend from the gate of the Tuileries to that of the Luxembourg. +Assuming a privilege which old etiquette had confined exclusively to the +Kings of France, Bonaparte now for the first time rode in a carriage +drawn by eight horses. A considerable number of carriages followed that +of the First Consul, which was surrounded by generals and aides de camp +on horseback. Louis XIV. going to hold a bed of justice at the +Parliament of Paris never displayed greater pomp than did Bonaparte in +this visit to the Senate. He appeared in all the parade of royalty; and +ten Senators came to meet him at the foot of the staircase of the +Luxembourg. + +The object of the First Consul's visit to the Senate was the presentation +of five plans of 'Senatus-consultes'. The other two Consuls were present +at the ceremony, which took place about the middle of August. + +Bonaparte returned in the same style in which he went, accompanied by M. +Lebrun, Cambaceres remaining at the Senate, of which he was President. +The five 'Senatus-consultes' were adopted, but a restriction was made in +that which concerned the forms of the Senate. It was proposed that when +the Consuls visited the Senate they should be received by a deputation of +ten members at the foot of the staircase, as the First Consul had that +day been received; but Bonaparte's brothers Joseph and Lucien opposed +this, and prevented the proposition from being adopted, observing that +the Second and Third Consuls being members of the Senate could not be +received with such honours by their colleagues. This little scene of +political courtesy, which was got up beforehand, was very well acted. + +Bonaparte's visit to the Senate gave rise to a change of rank in the +hierarchy of the different authorities composing the Government. +Hitherto the Council of State had ranked higher in public opinion; but +the Senate, on the occasion of its late deputation to the Tuileries, had +for the first time, received the honour of precedency. This had greatly +displeased some of the Councillors of State, but Bonaparte did not care +for that. He instinctively saw that the Senate would do what he wished +more readily than the other constituted bodies, and he determined to +augment its rights and prerogatives even at the expense of the rights of +the Legislative Body. These encroachments of one power upon another, +authorised by the First Consul, gave rise to reports of changes in +ministerial arrangements. It was rumoured in Paris that the number of +the ministers was to be reduced to three, and that Lucien, Joseph, and M. +de Talleyrand were to divide among them the different portfolios. Lucien +helped to circulate these reports, and this increased the First Consul's +dissatisfaction at his conduct. The letters from Madrid, which were +filled with complaints against him, together with some scandalous +adventures, known in Paris, such as his running away with the wife of a +'limonadier', exceedingly annoyed Bonaparte, who found his own family +more difficult to govern than France. + +France, indeed, yielded with admirable facility to the yoke which, the +First Consul wished to impose on her. How artfully did he undo all that +the Revolution had done, never neglecting any means of attaining his +object! He loved to compare the opinions of those whom he called the +Jacobins with the opinions of the men of 1789; and even them he found too +liberal. He felt the ridicule which was attached to the mute character +of the Legislative Body, which he called his deaf and dumb assembly. But +as that ridicule was favourable to him he took care to preserve the +assembly as it was, and to turn it into ridicule whenever he spoke of it. +In general, Bonaparte's judgment must not be confounded with his actions. +His accurate mind enabled him to appreciate all that was good; but the +necessity of his situation enabled him to judge with equal shrewdness +what was useful to himself. + +What I have just said of the Senate affords me an opportunity of +correcting an error which has frequently been circulated in the chit-chat +of Paris. It has erroneously been said of some persons that they refused +to become members of the Senate, and among the number have been mentioned +M. Ducis, M. de La Fayette, and the Marechal de Rochambeau. The truth +is, that no such refusals were ever made. The following fact, however, +may have contributed to raise these reports and give them credibility. +Bonaparte used frequently to say to persons in his salon and in his +cabinet; "You should be a Senator--a man like you should be a Senator." +But these complimentary words did not amount to a nomination. To enter +the Senate certain legal forms were to be observed. It was necessary to +be presented by the Senate, and after that presentation no one ever +refused to become a member of the body, to which Bonaparte gave +additional importance by the creation of "Senatoreries."--[Districts +presided over by a Senator.]--This creation took place in the beginning +of 1803. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +1802. + + The intoxication of great men--Unlucky zeal--MM. Maret, Champagny, + and Savary--M. de Talleyrand's real services--Postponement of the + execution of orders--Fouche and the Revolution--The Royalist + committee--The charter first planned during the Consulate--Mission + to Coblentz--Influence of the Royalists upon Josephine--The statue + and the pedestal--Madame de Genlis' romance of Madame de la + Valliere--The Legion of Honour and the carnations--Influence of the + Faubourg St. Germain--Inconsiderate step taken by Bonaparte--Louis + XVIII's indignation--Prudent advice of the Abbe Andre--Letter from + Louis XVIII. to Bonaparte--Council held at Neuilly--The letter + delivered--Indifference of Bonaparte, and satisfaction of the + Royalists. + +Perhaps one of the happiest ideas that ever were expressed was that of +the Athenian who said, "I appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober." +The drunkenness here alluded to is not of that kind which degrades a man +to the level of a brute, but that intoxication which is occasioned by +success, and which produces in the heads of the ambitious a sort of +cerebral congestion. Ordinary men are not subject to this excitement, +and can scarcely form an idea of it. But it is nevertheless true that +the fumes of glory and ambition occasionally derange the strongest heads; +and Bonaparte, in all the vigour of his genius, was often subject to +aberrations of judgment; for though his imagination never failed him, his +judgment was frequently at fault. + +This fact may serve to explain, and perhaps even to excuse the faults +with which the First Consul has been most seriously reproached. The +activity of his mind seldom admitted of an interval between the +conception and the execution of a design; but when he reflected coolly on +the first impulses of his imperious will, his judgment discarded what was +erroneous. Thus the blind obedience, which, like an epidemic disease, +infected almost all who surrounded Bonaparte, was productive of the most +fatal effects. The best way to serve the First Consul was never to +listen to the suggestions of his first ideas, except on the field of +battle, where his conceptions were as happy as they were rapid. Thus, +for example, MM. Maret, de Champagny, and Savary evinced a ready +obedience to Bonaparte's wishes, which often proved very unfortunate, +though doubtless dictated by the best intentions on their part. To this +fatal zeal may be attributed a great portion of the mischief which +Bonaparte committed. When the mischief was done, and past remedy, +Bonaparte deeply regretted it. How often have I heard him say that Maret +was animated by an unlucky zeal! This was the expression he made use of. + +M. de Talleyrand was almost the only one among the ministers who did not +flatter Bonaparte, and who really served both the First Consul and the +Emperor. When Bonaparte said to M. de Talleyrand, "Write so and so, and +send it off by a special courier," that minister was never in a hurry to +obey the order, because he knew the character of the First Consul well +enough to distinguish between what his passion dictated and what his +reason would approve: in short, he appealed from Philip drunk to Philip +sober. When it happened that M. de Talleyrand suspended the execution of +an order, Bonaparte never evinced the least displeasure. When, the day +after he had received any hasty and angry order, M. de Talleyrand +presented himself to the First Consul, the latter would say, "Well, did +you send off the courier?"--"No," the minister would reply, "I took care +not to do so before I showed you my letter." Then the First Consul would +usually add, "Upon second thoughts I think it would be best not to send +it." This was the way to deal with Bonaparte. When M. de Talleyrand +postponed sending off despatches, or when I myself have delayed the +execution of an order which I knew had been dictated by anger, and had +emanated neither from his heart nor his understanding, I have heard him +say a hundred times, "It was right, quite right. You understand me: +Talleyrand understands me also. This is the way to serve me: the others +do not leave me time for reflection: they are too precipitate." Fouche +also was one of those who did not on all occasions blindly obey +Bonaparte's commands. His other ministers, on the other hand, when told +to send off a courier the next morning, would have more probably sent him +off the same evening. This was from zeal, but was not the First Consul +right in saying that such zeal was unfortunate? + +Of Talleyrand and Fouche, in their connections with the First Consul, it +might be said that the one represented the Constituent Assembly, with a +slight perfume of the old regime, and the other the Convention in all its +brutality. Bonaparte regarded Fouche as a complete personification of +the Revolution. With him, therefore, Fouche's influence was merely the +influence of the Revolution. That great event was one of those which had +made the most forcible impression on Bonaparte's ardent mind, and he +imagined he still beheld it in a visible form as long as Fouche continued +at the head of his police. I am now of opinion that Bonaparte was in +some degree misled as to the value of Fouche's services as a minister. +No doubt the circumstance of Fouche being in office conciliated those of +the Revolutionary party who were his friends. But Fouche cherished an +undue partiality for them, because he knew that it was through them he +held his place. He was like one of the old Condottieri, who were made +friends of lest they should become enemies, and who owed all their power +to the soldiers enrolled under their banners. + +Such was Fouche, and Bonaparte perfectly understood his situation. He +kept the chief in his service until he could find an opportunity of +disbanding his undisciplined followers. But there was one circumstance +which confirmed his reliance on Fouche. He who had voted the death of +the King of France, and had influenced the minds of those who had voted +with him, offered Bonaparte the best guarantee against the attempts of +the Royalists for raising up in favour of the Bourbons the throne which +the First Consul himself had determined to ascend. Thus, for different +reasons, Bonaparte and Fouche had common interests against the House of +Bourbon, and the master's ambition derived encouragement from the +supposed terror of the servant. + +The First Consul was aware of the existence in Paris of a Royalist +committee, formed for the purpose of corresponding with Louis XVIII. +This committee consisted of men who must not be confounded with those +wretched intriguers who were of no service to their employers, and were +not unfrequently in the pay of both Bonaparte and the Bourbons. +The Royalist committee, properly so called, was a very different thing. +It consisted of men professing rational principles of liberty, such as +the Marquis de Clermont Gallerande, the Abbe de Montesqiou, M. Becquet, +and M. Royer Collard. This committee had been of long standing; the +respectable individuals whose names I have just quoted acted upon a +system hostile to the despotism of Bonaparte, and favourable to what they +conceived to be the interests of France. Knowing the superior wisdom of +Louis XVIII., and the opinions which he had avowed and maintained in the +Assembly of the Notables, they wished to separate that Prince from the +emigrants, and to point him out to the nation as a suitable head of a +reasonable Constitutional Government. Bonaparte, whom I have often heard +speak on the subject, dreaded nothing so much as these ideas of liberty, +in conjunction with a monarchy. He regarded them as reveries, called the +members of the committee idle dreamers, but nevertheless feared the +triumph of their ideas. He confessed to me that it was to counteract the +possible influence of the Royalist committee that he showed himself so +indulgent to those of the emigrants whose monarchical prejudices he knew +were incompatible with liberal opinions. By the presence of emigrants +who acknowledged nothing short of absolute power, he thought he might +paralyse the influence of the Royalists of the interior; he therefore +granted all such emigrants permission to return. + +About this time I recollect having read a document, which had been +signed, purporting to be a declaration of the principles of Louis XVIII. +It was signed by M. d'Andre, who bore evidence to its authenticity. +The principles contained in the declaration were in almost all points +conformable to the principles which formed the basis of the charter. +Even so early as 1792, and consequently previous to the fatal 21st of +January, Louis XVI., who knew the opinions of M. de Clermont Gallerande, +sent him on a mission to Coblentz to inform the Princes from him, and the +Queen, that they would be ruined by their emigration. I am accurately +informed, and I state this fact with the utmost confidence. I can also +add with equal certainty that the circumstance was mentioned by M. de +Clermont Gallerande in his Memoirs, and that the passage relative to his +mission to Coblentz was cancelled before the manuscript was sent to +press. + +During the Consular Government the object of the Royalist committee was +to seduce rather than to conspire. It was round Madame Bonaparte in +particular that their batteries were raised, and they did not prove +ineffectual. The female friends of Josephine filled her mind with ideas +of the splendour and distinction she would enjoy if the powerful hand +which had chained the Revolution should raise up the subverted throne. +I must confess that I was myself, unconsciously, an accomplice of the +friends of the throne; for what they wished for the interest of the +Bourbons I then ardently wished for the interest of Bonaparte. + +While endeavours were thus made to gain over Madame Bonaparte to the +interest of the royal family, brilliant offers were held out for the +purpose of dazzling the First Consul. It was wished to retemper for him +the sword of the constable Duguesclin; and it was hoped that a statue +erected to his honour would at once attest to posterity his spotless +glory and the gratitude of the Bourbons. But when these offers reached +the ears of Bonaparte he treated them with indifference, and placed no +faith in their sincerity. Conversing on the subject one day with M. de +La Fayette he said, "They offer me a statue, but I must look to the +pedestal. They may make it my prison." I did not hear Bonaparte utter +these words; but they were reported to me from a source, the authenticity +of which may be relied on. + +About this time, when so much was said in the Royalist circles and in the +Faubourg St. Germain, of which the Hotel de Luynes was the headquarters, +about the possible return of the Bourbons, the publication of a popular +book contributed not a little to direct the attention of the public to +the most brilliant period of the reign of Louis XIV. The book was the +historical romance of Madame de la Valloire, by Madame de Genlis, who had +recently returned to France. Bonaparte read it, and I have since +understood that he was very well pleased with it, but he said nothing to +me about it. It was not until some time after that he complained of the +effect which was produced in Paris by this publication, and especially by +engravings representing scenes in the life of Louis XIV., and which were +exhibited in the shop-windows. The police received orders to suppress +these prints; and the order was implicitly obeyed; but it was not +Fouche's police. Fouche saw the absurdity of interfering with trifles. +I recollect that immediately after the creation of the Legion of Honour, +it being summer, the young men of Paris indulged in the whim of wearing a +carnation in a button-hole, which at a distance had rather a deceptive +effect. Bonaparte took this very seriously. He sent for Fouche, and +desired him to arrest those who presumed thus to turn the new order into +ridicule. Fouche merely replied that he would wait till the autumn; and +the First Consul understood that trifles were often rendered matters of +importance by being honoured with too much attention. + +But though Bonaparte was piqued at the interest excited by the engravings +of Madame de Genlis' romance he manifested no displeasure against that +celebrated woman, who had been recommended to him by MM. de Fontanes and +Fievee and who addressed several letters to him. As this sort of +correspondence did not come within the routine of my business I did not +see the letters; but I heard from Madame Bonaparte that they contained a +prodigious number of proper names, and I have reason to believe that they +contributed not a little to magnify, in the eyes of the First Consul, the +importance of the Faubourg St. Germain, which, in spite of all his +courage, was a scarecrow to him. + +Bonaparte regarded the Faubourg St. Germain as representing the whole +mass of Royalist opinion; and he saw clearly that the numerous erasures +from the emigrant list had necessarily increased dissatisfaction among +the Royalists, since the property of the emigrants had not been restored +to its old possessors, even in those cases in which it had not been sold. +It was the fashion in a certain class to ridicule the unpolished manners +of the great men of the Republic compared with the manners of the +nobility of the old Court. The wives of certain generals had several +times committed themselves by their awkwardness. In many circles there +was an affectation of treating with contempt what are called the +parvenus; those people who, to use M. de Talleyrand's expression, do not +know how to walk upon a carpet. All this gave rise to complaints against +the Faubourg St. Germain; while, on the other hand, Bonaparte's brothers +spared no endeavours to irritate him against everything that was +calculated to revive the recollection of the Bourbons. + +Such were Bonaparte's feelings, and such was the state of society during +the year 1802. The fear of the Bourbons must indeed have had a powerful +influence on the First Consul before he could have been induced to take a +step which may justly be regarded as the most inconsiderate of his whole +life. After suffering seven months to elapse without answering the first +letter of Louis XVIII., after at length answering his second letter in +the tone of a King addressing a subject, he went so far as to write to +Louis, proposing that he should renounce the throne of his ancestors in +his, Bonaparte's, favour, and offering him as a reward for this +renunciation a principality in Italy, or a considerable revenue for +himself and his family. + + --[Napoleon seems to have always known, as with Cromwell and the + Stuarts, that if his dynasty failed the Bourbons must succeed him. + "I remember," says Metternich, "Napoleon said to me, 'Do you know + why Louis XVIII. is not now sitting opposite to you? It is only + because it is I who am sitting here. No other person could maintain + his position; and if ever I disappear in consequence of a + catastrophe no one but a Bourbon could sit here.'" (Metternich, tome + i. p. 248). Farther, he said to Metternich, "The King overthrown, + the Republic was master of the soil of France. It is that which I + have replaced. The old throne of France is buried under its + rubbish. I had to found a new one. The Bourbons could not reign + over this creation. My strength lies in my fortune. I am new, like + the Empire; there is, therefore, a perfect homogeneity between the + Empire and myself."--"However," says Metternich, "I have often + thought that Napoleon, by talking in this way, merely sought to + study the opinion of others, or to confuse it, and the direct + advance which he made to Louis XVIII., in 1804 seemed to confirm + this suspicion. Speaking to me one day of this advance he said, + 'Monsieur's reply was grand; it was full of fine traditions. There + is something in legitimate rights which appeals to more than the + mere mind. If Monsieur had consulted his mind only he would have + arranged with me, and I should have made for him a magnificent + future'" (Metternich, tome i, p. 276). According to Iung's Lucien + (tome ii. p. 421), the letter written and signed by Napoleon, but + never sent, another draft being substituted, is still in the French + archives. Metternich speaks of Napoleon making a direct advance to + Louis XVIII. in 1804. According to Colonel Iung (Lucien Bonaparte, + tome ii. pp. 4211-426) the attempt was made through the King of + Prussia in 1802, the final answer of Louis being made on the 28th + February 1803, as given in the text, but with a postscript of his + nephew in addition, "With the permission of the King, my uncle, I + adhere with heart and soul to the contents of this note. + "(signed) LOUIS ANTOINE, Due d'Angouleme." + + The reader will remark that there is no great interval between this + letter and the final break with the Bourbons by the death of the Duc + d'Enghien. At this time, according to Savory (tome iii. p. 241), + some of the Bourbons were receiving French pensions. The Prince de + Conti, the Duchesse de Bourbon, and the Duchesse d'Orleans, when + sent out of France by the Directory, were given pensions of from + 20,000 to 26,000 francs each. They lived in Catalonia. When the + French troops entered Spain in 1808 General Canclaux, a friend of + the Prince de Conti, brought to the notice of Napoleon that the + tiresome formalities insisted on by the pestilent clerks of all + nations were observed towards these regal personages. Gaudin, the + Minister of Finance, apparently on his own initiative, drew up a + decree increasing the pensions to 80,000 francs, and doing away with + the formalities. "The Emperor signed at once, thanking the Minister + of Finance." The reader, remembering the position of the French + Princes then, should compare this action of Napoleon with the + failure of the Bourbons in 1814 to pay the sums promised to + Napoleon, notwithstanding the strong remonstrances made at Vienna to + Talleyrand by Alexander and Lord Castlereagh. See Talleyrand's + Correspondence with Louis XVIII., tome ii. pp. 27, 28; or French + edition, pp. 285, 288.]-- + +The reader will recollect the curious question which the First Consul put +to me on the subject of the Bourbons when we were walking in the park of +Malmaison. To the reply which I made to him on that occasion I attribute +the secrecy he observed towards me respecting the letter just alluded to. +I am indeed inclined to regard that letter as the result of one of his +private conferences with Lucien; but I know nothing positive on the +subject, and merely mention this as a conjecture. However, I had an +opportunity of ascertaining the curious circumstances which took place at +Mittau, when Bonaparte's letter was delivered to Louis XVIII. + +That Prince was already much irritated against Bonaparte by his delay in +answering his first letter, and also by the tenor of his tardy reply; +but on reading the First Consul's second letter the dethroned King +immediately sat down and traced a few lines forcibly expressing his +indignation at such a proposition. The note, hastily written by Louis +XVIII. in the first impulse of irritation, bore little resemblance to the +dignified and elegant letter which Bonaparte received, and which I shall +presently lay before the reader. This latter epistle closed very happily +with the beautiful device of Francis I., "All is lost but honour." But +the first letter was stamped with a more chivalrous tone of indignation. +The indignant sovereign wrote it with his hand supported on the hilt of +his sword; but the Abbe Andre, in whom Louis XVIII. reposed great +confidence, saw the note, and succeeded, not without some difficulty, +in soothing the anger of the King, and prevailing on him to write the +following letter: + + I do not confound M. Bonaparte with those who have preceded him. + I esteem his courage and his military talents. I am grateful for + some acts of his government; for the benefits which are conferred on + my people will always be prized by me. + + But he errs in supposing that he can induce me to renounce my + rights; so far from that, he would confirm them, if they could + possibly be doubtful, by the step he has now taken. + + I am ignorant of the designs of Heaven respecting me and my + subjects; but I know the obligations which God has imposed upon me. + As a Christian, I will fulfil my duties to my last breath--as the + son of St. Louis, I would, like him, respect myself even in chains-- + as the successor of Francis I., I say with him--'Tout est perdu fors + l'honneur'. + + MITTAU, 1802. LOUIS. + + +Louis XVIII.'s letter having reached Paris, the Royalist committee +assembled, and were not a little embarrassed as to what should be done. +The meeting took place at Neuilly. After a long deliberation it was +suggested that the delivery of the letter should be entrusted to the +Third Consul, with whom the Abby de Montesqiou had kept up acquaintance +since the time of the Constituent Assembly. This suggestion was adopted. +The recollections of the commencement of his career, under Chancellor +Maupeou, had always caused M. Lebrun to be ranked in a distinct class by +the Royalists. For my part, I always looked upon him as a very honest +man, a warm advocate of equality, and anxious that it should be protected +even by despotism, which suited the views of the First Consul very well. +The Abbe de Montesquiou accordingly waited upon M. Lebrun, who undertook +to deliver the letter. Bonaparte received it with an air of +indifference; but whether that indifference were real or affected, I am +to this day unable to determine. He said very little to me about the ill +success of the negotiation with Louis XVIII. On this subject he dreaded, +above all, the interference of his brothers, who created around him a +sort of commotion which he knew was not without its influence, and which +on several occasions had excited his anger. + +The letter of Louis XVIII. is certainly conceived in a tone of dignity +which cannot be too highly admired; and it may be said that Bonaparte on +this occasion rendered a real service to Louis by affording him the +opportunity of presenting to the world one of the finest pages in the +history of a dethroned King. This letter, the contents of which were +known in some circles of Paris, was the object of general approbation to +those who preserved the recollection of the Bourbons, and above all, to +the Royalist committee. The members of that committee, proud of the +noble spirit evinced by the unfortunate monarch, whose return they were +generously labouring to effect, replied to him by a sort of manifesto, to +which time has imparted interest, since subsequent events have fulfilled +the predictions it contained. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +1802. + + The day after my disgrace--Renewal of my duties--Bonaparte's + affected regard for me--Offer of an assistant--M. de Meneval--My + second rupture with Bonaparte--The Due de Rovigo's account of it-- + Letter from M. de Barbe Marbois--Real causes of my separation from + the First Consul--Postscript to the letter of M. de Barbe Marbois-- + The black cabinet--Inspection of letters dining the Consulate-- + I retire to St. Cloud--Communications from M. de Meneval--A week's + conflict between friendship and pride--My formal dismissal--Petty + revenge--My request to visit England--Monosyllabic answer--Wrong + suspicion--Burial of my papers--Communication from Duroc--My letter + to the First Consul--The truth acknowledged. + +I shall now return to the circumstances which followed my first disgrace, +of which I have already spoken. The day after that on which I had +resumed my functions I went as usual to awaken the First Consul at seven +in the morning. He treated me just the same as if nothing had happened +between us; and on my part I behaved to him just as usual, though I +really regretted being obliged to resume labours which I found too +oppressive for me. When Bonaparte came down into his cabinet he spoke to +me of his plans with his usual confidence, and I saw, from the number of +letters lying in the basket, that during the few days my functions had +been suspended Bonaparte had not overcome his disinclination to peruse +this kind of correspondence. At the period of this first rupture and +reconciliation the question of the Consulate for life was yet unsettled. +It was not decided until the 2d of August, and the circumstances to which +I am about to refer happened at the end of February. + +I was now restored to my former footing of intimacy with the First +Consul, at least for a time; but I soon perceived that, after the scene +which M. de Talleyrand had witnessed, my duties in the Tuileries were +merely provisional, and might be shortened or prolonged according to +circumstances. I saw at the very first moment that Bonaparte had +sacrificed his wounded pride to the necessity (for such I may, without +any vanity, call it) of employing my services. The forced preference he +granted to me arose from the fact of his being unable to find any one +able to supply my place; for Duroc, as I have already said, showed a +disinclination to the business. I did not remain long in the dark +respecting the new situation in which I stood. I was evidently still +under quarantine; but the period of my quitting the port was +undetermined. + +A short time after our reconciliation the First Consul said to me, in a +cajoling tone of which I was not the dupe, "My dear Bourrienne, you +cannot do everything. Business increases, and will continue to increase. +You know what Corvisart says. You have a family; therefore it is right +you should take care of your health. You must not kill yourself with +work; therefore some one must be got to assist you. Joseph tells me that +he can recommend a secretary, one of whom he speaks very highly. He +shall be under your direction; he can make out your copies, and do all +that can consistently be required of him. This, I think, will be a great +relief to you."--"I ask for nothing better," replied I, "than to have the +assistance of some one who, after becoming acquainted with the business, +may, some time or other, succeed me." Joseph sent M. de Meneval, a young +man who, to a good education, added the recommendations of industry and +prudence. I had every reason to be satisfied with him. + +It was now that Napoleon employed all those devices and caresses which +always succeeded so well with him, and which yet again gained the day, to +put an end to the inconvenience caused to him by my retirement, and to +retain me. Here I call every one who knew me as witnesses that nothing +could equal my grief and despair to find myself obliged to again begin my +troublesome work. My health had suffered much from it. Corvisart was a +clever counsellor, but it was only during the night that I could carry +out his advice. To resume my duties was to renounce all hope of rest, +and even of health. + + --[There is considerable truth in this statement about the effect on + his health. His successor, Meneval, without the same amount of + work, broke down and had to receive assistance (Meneval, tome i. p. + 149).]-- + +I soon perceived the First Consul's anxiety to make M. de Meneval +acquainted with the routine of business, and accustomed to his manner. +Bonaparte had never pardoned me for having presumed to quit him after he +had attained so high a degree of power; he was only waiting for an +opportunity to punish me, and he seized upon an unfortunate circumstance +as an excuse for that separation which I had previously wished to bring +about. + +I will explain this circumstance, which ought to have obtained for me the +consolation and assistance of the First Consul rather than the forfeiture +of his favour. My rupture with him has been the subject of various +misstatements, all of which I shall not take the trouble to correct; +I will merely notice what I have read in the Memoirs of the Duc de +Rovigo, in which it is stated that I was accused of peculation. M. de +Rovigo thus expresses himself: + + Ever since the First Consul was invested with the supreme power his + life had been a continued scene of personal exertion. He had for + his private secretary M. de Bourrienne, a friend and companion of + his youth, whom he now made the sharer of all his labours. He + frequently sent for him in the dead of the night, and particularly + insisted upon his attending him every morning at seven. Bourrienne + was punctual in his attendance with the public papers, which he had + previously glanced over. The First Consul almost invariably read + their contents himself; he then despatched some business, and sat + down to table just as the clock struck nine. His breakfast, which + lasted six minutes, was no sooner over than he returned to his + cabinet, only left it for dinner, and resumed his close occupation + immediately after, until ten at night, which was his usual hour for + retiring to rest. + + Bourrienne was gifted with a most wonderful memory; he could speak + and write many languages, and would make his pen follow as fast as + words were uttered. He possessed many other advantages; he was well + acquainted with the administrative departments, was versed in the + law of nations, and possessed a zeal and activity which rendered his + services quite indispensable to the First Consul. I have known the + several grounds upon which the unlimited confidence placed in him by + his chief rested, but am unable to speak with equal assurance of the + errors which occasioned his losing that confidence. + + Bourrienne had many enemies; some were owing to his personal + character, a greater number to the situation which he held. + Others were jealous of the credit he enjoyed with the Head of the + Government; others, again, discontented at his not making that + credit subservient to their personal advantage. Some even imputed + to him the want of success that had attended their claims. It was + impossible to bring any charge against him on the score of + deficiency of talent or of indiscreet conduct; his personal habits + were watched--it was ascertained that he engaged in financial + speculations. An imputation could easily be founded on this + circumstance. Peculation was accordingly laid to his charge. + + This was touching the most tender ground, for the First Consul held + nothing in greater abhorrence than unlawful gains. A solitary + voice, however, would have failed in an attempt to defame the + character of a man for whom he had so long felt esteem and + affection; other voices, therefore, were brought to bear against + him. Whether the accusations were well founded or otherwise, it is + beyond a doubt that all means were resorted to for bringing them to + the knowledge of the First Consul. + + The most effectual course that suggested itself was the opening a + correspondence either with the accused party direct, or with those + with whom it was felt indispensable to bring him into contact; this + correspondence was carried on in a mysterious manner, and related to + the financial operations that had formed the grounds of a charge + against him.--Thus it is that, on more than one occasion, the very + channels intended for conveying truth to the knowledge of a + sovereign have been made available to the purpose of communicating + false intelligence to him. To give an instance. + + Under the reign of Louis XV., and even under the Regency, the Post + Office was organized into a system of minute inspection, which did + not indeed extend to every letter, but was exercised over all such + as afforded grounds for suspicion. They were opened, and, when it + was not deemed safe to suppress them, copies were taken, and they + were returned to their proper channel without the least delay. Any + individual denouncing another may, by the help of such an + establishment, give great weight to his denunciation. It is + sufficient for his purpose that he should throw into the Post Office + any letter so worded as to confirm the impression which it is his + object to convey. The worthiest man may thus be committed by a + letter which he has never read, or the purport of which is wholly + unintelligible to him. + + I am speaking from personal experience. It once happened that a + letter addressed to myself, relating to an alleged fact which had + never occurred, was opened. A copy of the letter so opened was also + forwarded to me, as it concerned the duties which I had to perform + at that time; but I was already in possession of the original, + transmitted through the ordinary channel. Summoned to reply to the + questions to which such productions had given rise, I took that + opportunity of pointing out the danger that would accrue from + placing a blind reliance upon intelligence derived from so hazardous + a source. Accordingly, little importance was afterwards attached to + this means of information; but the system was in operation at the + period when M. de Bourrienne was disgraced; his enemies took care to + avail themselves of it; they blackened his character with M. de + Barbe Marbois, who added to their accusations all the weight of his + unblemished character. The opinion entertained by this rigid public + functionary, and many other circumstances, induced the First Consul + to part with his secretary (tome i. p. 418). + +Peculation is the crime of those who make a fraudulent use of the public +money. But as it was not in my power to meddle with the public money, no +part of which passed through my hands, I am at loss to conceive how I can +be charged with peculation! The Due de Rovigo is not the author, but +merely the echo, of this calumny; but the accusation to which his Memoirs +gave currency afforded M. de Barbe Marbois an opportunity of adding one +more to the many proofs he has given of his love of justice. + +I had seen nothing of the Memoirs of the Due de Rovigo except their +announcement in the journals, when a letter from M. de Barbe Marbois was +transmitted to me from my family. It was as follows: + + SIR--My attention has been called to the enclosed article in a + recent publication. The assertion it contains is not true, and I + conceive it to be a duty both to you and myself to declare that I + then was, and still am, ignorant of the causes of the separation in + question:--I am, etc. + (Signed) MARBOIS + +I need say no more in my justification. This unsolicited testimony of M. +de Marbois is a sufficient contradiction to the charge of peculation +which has been raised against me in the absence of correct information +respecting the real causes of my rupture with the First Consul. + +M. le Due de Rovigo also observes that my enemies were numerous. My +concealed adversaries were indeed all those who were interested that the +sovereign should not have about him, as his confidential companion, a man +devoted to his glory and not to his vanity. In expressing his +dissatisfaction with one of his ministers Bonaparte had said, in the +presence of several individuals, among whom was M. Maret, "If I could +find a second Bourrienne I would get rid of you all." This was +sufficient to raise against me the hatred of all who envied the +confidence of which I was in possession. + +The failure of a firm in Paris in which I had invested a considerable sum +of money afforded an opportunity for envy and malignity to irritate the +First Consul against me. Bonaparte, who had not yet forgiven me for +wishing to leave him, at length determined to sacrifice my services to a +new fit of ill-humour. + +A mercantile house, then one of the moat respectable in Patna, had among +its speculations undertaken some army contracts. With the knowledge of +Berthier, with whom, indeed, the house had treated, I had invested some +money in this business. Unfortunately the principals were, unknown to +me, engaged in dangerous speculations in the Funds, which in a short time +so involved them as to occasion their failure for a heavy amount. This +caused a rumour that a slight fall of the Funds, which took place at that +period, was occasioned by the bankruptcy; and the First Consul, who never +could understand the nature of the Funds, gave credit to the report. He +was made to believe that the business of the Stock Exchange was ruined. +It was insinuated that I was accused of taking advantage of my situation +to produce variations in the Funds, though I was so unfortunate as to +lose not only my investment in the bankrupt house, but also a sum of +money for which I had become bound, by way of surety, to assist the house +in increasing its business. I incurred the violent displeasure of the +First Consul, who declared to me that he no longer required my services. +I might, perhaps have cooled his irritation by reminding him that he +could not blame me for purchasing an interest in a contract, since he +himself had stipulated for a gratuity of 1,500,000 francs for his brother +Joseph out of the contract for victualling the navy. But I saw that for +some time past M. de Meneval had begun to supersede me, and the First +Consul only wanted such an opportunity as this for coming to a rupture +with me. + +Such is a true statement of the circumstances which led to my separation +from Bonaparte. I defy any one to adduce a single fact in support of the +charge of peculation, or any transaction of the kind; I fear no +investigation of my conduct. When in the service of Bonaparte I caused +many appointments to be made, and many names to be erased from the +emigrant list before the 'Senatus-consulte' of the 6th Floreal, year X.; +but I never counted upon gratitude, experience having taught me that it +was an empty word. + +The Duc de Rovigo attributed my disgrace to certain intercepted letters +which injured me in the eyes of the First Consul. I did not know this at +the time, and though I was pretty well aware of the machinations of +Bonaparte's adulators, almost all of whom were my enemies, yet I did not +contemplate such an act of baseness. But a spontaneous letter from M. de +Barbe Marbois at length opened my eyes, and left little doubt on the +subject. The following is the postscript to that noble peer's letter: + + I recollect that one Wednesday the First Consul, while presiding at + a Council of Ministers at St. Cloud, opened a note, and, without + informing us what it contained, hastily left the Board, apparently + much agitated. In a few minutes he returned and told us that your + functions had ceased. + +Whether the sudden displeasure of the First Consul was excited by a false +representation of my concern in the transaction which proved so +unfortunate to me, or whether Bonaparte merely made that a pretence for +carrying into execution a resolution which I am convinced had been +previously adopted, I shall not stop to determine; but the Due de Rovigo +having mentioned the violation of the secrecy of letters in my case, I +shall take the opportunity of stating some particulars on that subject. + +Before I wrote these Memoirs the existence in the Post Office of the +cabinet, which had obtained the epithet of black, had been denounced in +the chamber of deputies, and the answer was, that it no longer existed, +which of course amounted to an admission that it had existed. I may +therefore, without indiscretion, state what I know respecting it. + +The "black cabinet" was established in the reign of Louis XV., merely for +the purpose of prying into the scandalous gossip of the Court and the +capital. The existence of this cabinet soon became generally known to +every one. The numerous postmasters who succeeded each other, especially +in latter times, the still more numerous Post Office clerks, and that +portion of the public who are ever on the watch for what is held up as +scandalous, soon banished all the secrecy of the affair, and none but +fools were taken in by it. All who did not wish to be committed by their +correspondence chose better channels of communication than the Post; but +those who wanted to ruin an enemy or benefit a friend long continued to +avail themselves of the black cabinet, which, at first intended merely to +amuse a monarch's idle hours, soon became a medium of intrigue, dangerous +from the abuse that might be made of it. + +Every morning, for three years, I used to peruse the portfolio containing +the bulletins of the black cabinet, and I frankly confess that I never +could discover any real cause for the public indignation against it, +except inasmuch as it proved the channel of vile intrigue. Out of 30,000 +letters, which daily left Paris to be distributed through France and all +parts of the world, ten or twelve, at most, were copied, and often only a +few lines of them. + +Bonaparte at first proposed to send complete copies of intercepted +letters to the ministers whom their contents might concern; but a few +observations from me induced him to direct that only the important +passages should be extracted and sent. I made these extracts, and +transmitted them to their destinations, accompanied by the following +words: "The First Consul directs me to inform you that he has just +received the following information," etc. Whence the information came +was left to be guessed at. + +The First Consul daily received through this channel about a dozen +pretended letters, the writers of which described their enemies as +opponents of the Government, or their friends as models of obedience and +fidelity to the constituted authorities. But the secret purpose of this +vile correspondence was soon discovered, and Bonaparte gave orders that +no more of it should be copied. I, however, suffered from it at the time +of my disgrace, and was well-nigh falling a victim to it at a subsequent +period. + +The letter mentioned by M. de Marbois, and which was the occasion of this +digression on the violation of private correspondence, derived importance +from the circumstance that Wednesday, the 20th of October, when Bonaparte +received it, was the day on which I left the Consular palace. + +I retired to a house which Bonaparte had advised me to purchase at St. +Cloud, and for the fitting up and furnishing of which he had promised to +pay. We shall see how he kept this promise! I immediately sent to +direct Landoire, the messenger of Bonaparte's cabinet, to place all +letters sent to me in the First Consul's portfolio, because many intended +for him came under cover for me. In consequence of this message I +received the following letter from M. de Meneval: + + MY DEAR BOURRIENNE--I cannot believe that the First Consul would + wish that your letters should be presented to him. I presume you + allude only to those which may concern him, and which come addressed + under cover to you. The First Consul has written to citizens + Lavallette and Mollien directing them to address their packets to + him. I cannot allow Landoire to obey the order you sent. + + The First Consul yesterday evening evinced great regret. He + repeatedly said, "How miserable I am! I have known that man since + he was seven years old." I cannot but believe that he will + reconsider his unfortunate decision. I have intimated to him that + the burden of the business is too much for me, and that he must be + extremely at a loss for the services of one to whom he was so much + accustomed, and whose situation, I am confident, nobody else can + satisfactorily fill. He went to bed very low-spirited. I am, etc. + (Signed) MENEVAL. + + 19 Vendemiaire, an X. + (21st October 1802.) + +Next day I received another letter from M. Meneval as follows:-- + + I send you your letters. The First Consul prefers that you should + break them open, and send here those which are intended for him. I + enclose some German papers, which he begs you to translate. + + Madame Bonaparte is much interested in your behalf; and I can assure + you that no one more heartily desires than the First Consul himself + to see you again at your old post, for which it would be difficult + to find a successor equal to you, either as regards fidelity or + fitness. I do not relinquish the hope of seeing you here again. + +A whole week passed away in conflicts between the First Consul's +friendship and pride. The least desire he manifested to recall me was +opposed by his flatterers. On the fifth day of our separation he +directed me to come to him. He received me with the greatest kindness, +and after having good-humouredly told me that I often expressed myself +with too much freedom--a fault I was never solicitous to correct--he +added: "I regret your absence much. You were very useful to me. You are +neither too noble nor too plebeian, neither too aristocratic nor too +Jacobinical. You are discreet and laborious. You understand me better +than any one else; and, between ourselves be it said, we ought to +consider this a sort of Court. Look at Duroc, Bessieres, Maret. +However, I am very much inclined to take you back; but by so doing I +should confirm the report that I cannot do without you." + +Madame Bonaparte informed me that she had heard persons to whom Bonaparte +expressed a desire to recall me observe, "What would you do? People will +say you cannot do without him. You have got rid of him now; therefore +think no more about him: and as for the English newspapers, he gave them +more importance than they really deserved: you will no longer be troubled +with them." This will bring to mind a scene--which occurred at Malmaison +on the receipt of some intelligence in the 'London Gazette'. + +I am convinced that if Bonaparte had been left to himself he would have +recalled me, and this conviction is warranted by the interval which +elapsed between his determination to part with me and the formal +announcement of my dismissal. Our rupture took place on the 20th of +October, and on the 8th of November following the First Consul sent me +the following letter: + + CITIZEN BOURRIENNE, MINISTER OF STATE--I am satisfied with the + services which you have rendered me during the time yon have been + with me; but henceforth they are no longer necessary. I wish you to + relinquish, from this time, the functions and title of my private + secretary. I shall seize an early opportunity of providing for you + in a way suited to your activity and talents, and conducive to the + public service. + (Signed)BONAPARTE. + +If any proof of the First Consul's malignity were wanting it would be +furnished by the following fact:--A few days after the receipt of the +letter which announced my dismissal I received a note from Duroc; but, +to afford an idea of the petty revenge of him who caused it to be +written, it will be necessary first to relate a few preceding +circumstances. + +When, with the view of preserving a little freedom, I declined the offer +of apartments which Madame Bonaparte had prepared at Malmaison for myself +and my family, I purchased a small house at Ruel: the First Consul had +given orders for the furnishing of this house, as well as one which I +possessed in Paris. From the manner in which the orders were given I had +not the slightest doubt but that Bonaparte intended to make me a present +of the furniture. However, when I left his service he applied to have it +returned. As at first I paid no attention to his demand, as far as it +concerned the furniture at Ruel, he directed Duroc to write the following +letter to me: + + The First Consul, my dear Bourrienne, has just ordered me to send + him this evening the keys of your residence in Paris, from which the + furniture is not to be removed. + + He also directs me to put into a warehouse whatever furniture you + may have at Ruel or elsewhere which you have obtained from + Government. + + I beg of you to send me an answer, so as to assist me in the + execution of these orders. You promised me to have everything + settled before the First Consul's return. I must excuse myself in + the best way I can. + (Signed) DUROC. + + 24 Brumaire, an X. + (15th November 1802.) + +Believing myself to be master of my own actions, I had formed the design +of visiting England, whither I was called by some private business. +However, I was fully aware of the peculiarity of my situation, and I was +resolved to take no step that should in any way justify a reproach. + +On the 11th of January I therefore wrote to Duroc: + + My affairs require my presence in England for some time. I beg of + you, my dear Duroc, to mention my intended journey to the First + Consul, as I do not wish to do anything inconsistent with his views. + I would rather sacrifice my own interest than displease him. I rely + on your friendship for an early answer to this, for uncertainty + would be fatal to me in many respects. + +The answer, which speedily arrived, was as follows:-- + + MY DEAR BOURRIENNE--I have presented to the First Consul the letter + I just received from you. He read it, and said, "No!" + + That is the only answer I can give you. (Signed) DUROC. + +This monosyllable was expressive. It proved to me that Bonaparte was +conscious how ill he had treated me; and, suspecting that I was actuated +by the desire of vengeance, he was afraid of my going to England, lest I +should there take advantage of that liberty of the press which he had so +effectually put down in France. He probably imagined that my object was +to publish statements which would more effectually have enlightened the +public respecting his government and designs than all the scandalous +anecdotes, atrocious calumnies, and ridiculous fabrications of Pelletier, +the editor of the 'Ambigu'. But Bonaparte was much deceived in this +supposition; and if there can remain any doubt on that subject, it will +be removed on referring to the date of these Memoirs, and observing the +time at which I consented to publish them. + +I was not deceived as to the reasons of Bonaparte's unceremonious refusal +of my application; and as I well knew his inquisitorial character, +I thought it prudent to conceal my notes. I acted differently from +Camoens. He contended with the sea to preserve his manuscripts; I made +the earth the depository of mine. I carefully enclosed my most valuable +notes and papers in a tin box, which I buried under ground. A yellow +tinge, the commencement of decay, has in some places almost obliterated +the writing. + +It will be seen in the sequel that my precaution was not useless, and +that I was right in anticipating the persecution of Bonaparte, provoked +by the malice of my enemies. On the 20th of April Duroc sent me the +following note: + + I beg, my dear Bourrienne, that you will come to St. Cloud this + morning. I have something to tell you on the part of the First + Consul. + (Signed) DUROC. + +This note caused me much anxiety. I could not doubt but that my enemies +had invented some new calumny; but I must say that I did not expect such +baseness as I experienced. + +As soon as Duroc had made me acquainted with the business which the First +Consul had directed him to communicate, I wrote on the spot the subjoined +letter to Bonaparte: + + At General Duroc's desire I have this moment waited upon him, and he + informs me that you have received notice that a deficit of 100,000 + francs has been discovered in the Treasury of the Navy, which you + require me to refund this day at noon. + + Citizen First Consul, I know not what this means! I am utterly + ignorant of the matter. I solemnly declare to you that this charge + is a most infamous calumny. It is one more to be added to the + number of those malicious charges which have been invented for the + purpose of destroying any influence I might possess with you. + + I am in General Duroc's apartment, where I await your orders. + +Duroc carried my note to the First Consul as soon as it was written. He +speedily returned. "All's right!" said he. "He has directed me to say +it was entirely a mistake!--that he is now convinced he was deceived! +that he is sorry for the business, and hopes no more will be said about +it." + +The base flatterers who surrounded Bonaparte wished him to renew his +Egyptian extortions upon me; but they should have recollected that the +fusillade employed in Egypt for the purpose of raising money was no +longer the fashion in France, and that the days were gone by when it was +the custom to 'grease the wheels of the revolutionary car.' + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +1803. + + The First Consul's presentiments respecting the duration of peace-- + England's uneasiness at the prosperity of France--Bonaparte's real + wish for war--Concourse of foreigners in Paris--Bad faith of + England--Bonaparte and Lord Whitworth--Relative position of France + and England-Bonaparte's journey to the seaboard departments-- + Breakfast at Compiegne--Father Berton--Irritation excited by the + presence of Bouquet--Father Berton's derangement and death--Rapp + ordered to send for me--Order countermanded. + +The First Consul never anticipated a long peace with England. He wished +for peace merely because, knowing it to be ardently desired by the +people, after ten years of war he thought it would increase his +popularity and afford him the opportunity of laying the foundation of his +government. Peace was as necessary to enable him to conquer the throne +of France as war was essential to secure it, and to enlarge its base at +the expense of the other thrones of Europe. This was the secret of the +peace of Amiens, and of the rupture which so suddenly followed, though +that rupture certainly took place sooner than the First Consul wished. +On the great questions of peace and war Bonaparte entertained elevated +ideas; but in discussions on the subject he always declared himself in +favour of war. When told of the necessities of the people, of the +advantages of peace, its influence on trade, the arts, national industry, +and every branch of public prosperity, he did not attempt to deny the +argument; indeed, he concurred in it; but he remarked, that all those +advantages were only conditional, so long as England was able to throw +the weight of her navy into the scale of the world, and to exercise the +influence of her gold in all the Cabinets of Europe. Peace must be +broken; since it was evident that England was determined to break it. +Why not anticipate her? Why allow her to have all the advantages of the +first step? We must astonish Europe! We must thwart the policy of the +Continent! We must strike a great and unexpected blow. Thus reasoned +the First Consul, and every one may judge whether his actions agreed with +his sentiments. + +The conduct of England too well justified the foresight of Bonaparte's +policy; or rather England, by neglecting to execute her treaties, played +into Bonaparte's hand, favoured his love for war, and justified the +prompt declaration of hostilities in the eyes of the French nation, whom +he wished to persuade that if peace were broken it would be against his +wishes. England was already at work with the powerful machinery of her +subsidies, and the veil beneath which she attempted to conceal her +negotiations was still sufficiently transparent for the lynx eye of the +First Consul. It was in the midst of peace that all those plots were +hatched, while millions who had no knowledge of their existence were +securely looking forward to uninterrupted repose. + +Since the Revolution Paris had never presented such a spectacle as during +the winter of 1802-3. At that time the concourse of foreigners in the +French capital was immense. Everything wore the appearance of +satisfaction, and the external signs of public prosperity. The visible +regeneration in French society exceedingly annoyed the British Ministry. +The English who flocked to the Continent discovered France to be very +different from what she was described to be by the English papers. This +caused serious alarm on the other side of the Channel, and the English +Government endeavoured by unjust complaints to divert attention from just +dissatisfaction, which its own secret intrigues excited. The King of +England sent a message to Parliament, in which he spoke of armaments +preparing in the ports of France, and of the necessity of adopting +precautions against meditated aggressions. This instance of bad faith +highly irritated the First Consul, who one day, in a fit of displeasure, +thus addressed Lord Whitworth in the salon, where all the foreign +Ambassadors were assembled: + +"What is the meaning of this? Are you then tired of peace? Must Europe +again be deluged with blood? Preparations for war indeed! Do you think +to overawe us by this? You shall see that France may be conquered, +perhaps destroyed, but never intimidated--never!" + +The English Ambassador was astounded at this unexpected sally, to which +he made no reply. He contented himself with writing to his Government an +account of an interview in which the First Consul had so far forgotten +himself,-whether purposely or not I do not pretend to say. + +That England wished for war there could be no doubt. She occupied Malta, +it is true, but she had promised to give it up, though she never had any +intention of doing so. She was to have evacuated Egypt, yet there she +still remained; the Cape of Good Hope was to have been surrendered, but +she still retained possession of it. England had signed, at Amiens, a +peace which she had no intention of maintaining. She knew the hatred of +the Cabinets of Europe towards France, and she was sure, by her intrigues +and subsidies, of arming them on her side whenever her plans reached +maturity. She saw France powerful and influential in Europe, and she +knew the ambitious views of the First Consul, who, indeed, had taken +little pains to conceal them. + +The First Consul, who had reckoned on a longer duration of the peace of +Amiens, found himself at the rupture of the treaty in an embarrassing +situation. The numerous grants of furloughs, the deplorable condition +of the cavalry, and the temporary absence of artillery, in consequence of +a project for refounding all the field-pieces, caused much anxiety to +Bonaparte. He had recourse to the conscription to fill up the +deficiencies of the army; and the project of refounding the artillery was +abandoned. Supplies of money were obtained from the large towns, and +Hanover, which was soon after occupied, furnished abundance of good +horses for mounting the cavalry. + +War had now become inevitable; and as soon as it was declared the First +Consul set out to visit Belgium and the seaboard departments to ascertain +the best means of resisting the anticipated attacks of the English. In +passing through Compiegne he received a visit from Father Berton, +formerly principal of the military school of Brienne. He was then rector +of the school of arts at Compiegne, a situation in which he had been +placed by Bonaparte. I learned the particulars of this visit through +Josephine. Father Berton, whose primitive simplicity of manner was +unchanged since the time when he held us under the authority of his +ferule, came to invite Bonaparte and Josephine to breakfast with him, +which invitation was accepted. Father Berton had at that time living +with him one of our old comrades of Brienne, named Bouquet; but he +expressly forbade him to show himself to Bonaparte or any one of his +suite, because Bouquet, who had been a commissary at headquarters in +Italy, was in disgrace with the First Consul. Bouquet promised to +observe Father Berton's injunctions, but was far from keeping his +promise. As soon as he saw Bonaparte's carriage drive up, he ran to the +door and gallantly handed out Josephine. Josephine, as she took his +hand, said, "Bouquet,--you have ruined yourself!" Bonaparte, indignant +at what he considered an unwarrantable familiarity, gave way to one of +his uncontrollable fits of passion, and as soon as he entered the room +where the breakfast was laid, he seated himself, and then said to his +wife in an imperious tone, "Josephine, sit there!" He then commenced +breakfast, without telling Father Becton to sit down, although a third +plate had been laid for him. Father Becton stood behind his old pupil's +chair apparently confounded at his violence. The scene produced such an +effect on the old man that he became incapable of discharging his duties +at Compiegne. He retired to Rheims, and his intellect soon after became +deranged. I do not pretend to say whether this alienation of mind was +caused by the occurrence I have just related, and the account of which I +received from Josephine. She was deeply afflicted at what had passed. +Father Berton died insane. What I heard from Josephine was afterwards +confirmed by the brother of Father Becton. The fact is, that in +proportion as Bonaparte acquired power he was the more annoyed at the +familiarity of old companions; and, indeed, I must confess that their +familiarity often appeared very ridiculous. + +The First Consul's visit to the northern coast took place towards the end +of the year 1803, at which time the English attacked the Dutch +settlements of Surinam, Demerara, and Essequibo, and a convention of +neutrality was concluded between France, Spain, and Portugal. Rapp +accompanied the First Consul, who attentively inspected the preparations +making for a descent on England, which it was never his intention to +effect, as will be shortly shown. + +On the First Consul's return I learned from Rapp that I had been spoken +of during the journey, and in the following way:--Bonaparte, being at +Boulogne, wanted some information which no one there could give, him. +Vexed at receiving no satisfactory answer to his inquiries he called +Rapp, and said, "Do you know, Rapp, where Bourrienne is?"--"General, he +is in Paris."--" Write to him to come here immediately, and send off one +of my couriers with the letter." The rumour of the First Consul's sudden +recollection of me spread like lightning, and the time required to write +the letter and despatch the courier was more than sufficient for the +efforts of those whom my return was calculated to alarm. Artful +representations soon checked these spontaneous symptoms of a return to +former feelings and habits. When Rapp carried to the First Consul the +letter he had been directed to write the order was countermanded. +However, Rapp advised me not to leave Paris, or if I did, to mention the +place where I might be found, so that Duroc might have it in his power to +seize on any favourable circumstance without delay. I was well aware of +the friendship of both Rapp and Duroc, and they could as confidently rely +on mine. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +1803. + + Vast works undertaken--The French and the Roman soldiers--Itinerary + of Bonaparte's journeys to the coast--Twelve hours on horseback-- + Discussions in Council--Opposition of Truguet--Bonaparte'a opinion + on the point under discussion--Two divisions of the world--Europe a + province--Bonaparte's jealousy of the dignity of France--The + Englishman in the dockyard of Brest--Public audience at the + Tuilleries--The First Consul's remarks upon England--His wish to + enjoy the good opinion of the English people--Ball at Malmaison-- + Lines on Hortense's dancing--Singular motive for giving the ball. + +At the time of the rupture with England Bonaparte was, as I have +mentioned, quite unprepared in most branches of the service; yet +everything was created as if by magic, and he seemed to impart to others +a share of his own incredible activity. It is inconceivable how many +things had been undertaken and executed since the rupture of the peace. +The north coast of France presented the appearance of one vast arsenal; +for Bonaparte on this occasion employed his troops like Roman soldiers, +and made the tools of the artisan succeed to the arms of the warrior. + +On his frequent journeys to the coast Bonaparte usually set off at night, +and on the following morning arrived at the post office of Chantilly, +where he breakfasted. Rapp, whom I often saw when he was in Paris, +talked incessantly of these journeys, for he almost always accompanied +the First Consul, and it would have been well had he always been +surrounded by such men. In the evening the First Consul supped at +Abbeville, and arrived early next day at the bridge of Brique. "It would +require constitutions of iron to go through what we do," said Rapp. +"We no sooner alight from the carriage than we mount on horseback, and +sometimes remain in our saddles for ten or twelve hours successively. +The First Consul inspects and examines everything, often talks with the +soldiers. How he is beloved by them! When shall we pay a visit to +London with those brave fellows?" + +Notwithstanding these continual journeys the First Consul never neglected +any of the business of government, and was frequently present at the +deliberations of the Council. I was still with him when the question as +to the manner in which the treaties of peace should be concluded came +under the consideration of the Council. Some members, among whom Truguet +was conspicuous, were of opinion that, conformably with an article of the +Constitution, the treaties should be proposed by the Head of the +Government, submitted to the Legislative Body, and after being agreed to +promulgated as part of the laws. Bonaparte thought differently. I was +entirely of his opinion, and he said to me, "It is for the mere pleasure +of opposition that they appeal to the Constitution, for if the +Constitution says so it is absurd. There are some things which cannot +become the subject of discussion in a public assembly; for instance, if I +treat with Austria, and my Ambassador agrees to certain conditions, can +those conditions be rejected by the Legislative Body? It is a monstrous +absurdity! Things would be brought to a fine pass in this way! +Lucchesini and Markow would give dinners every day like Cambaceres; +scatter their money about, buy men who are to be sold, and thus cause our +propositions to be rejected. This would be a fine way to manage +matters!" + +When Bonaparte, according to his custom, talked to me in the evening of +what had passed in the Council, his language was always composed of a +singular mixture of quotations from antiquity, historical references, and +his own ideas. He talked about the Romans, and I remember when Mr. Fox +was at Paris that he tried to distinguish himself before that Foreign +Minister, whom he greatly esteemed. In his enlarged way of viewing the +world Bonaparte divided it into two large states, the East and the West: +"What matters," he would often say, "that two countries are separated by +rivers or mountains, that they speak different languages? With very +slight shades of variety France, Spain, England, Italy, and Germany, have +the same manners and customs, the same religion, and the same dress. In +them a man can only marry one wife; slavery is not allowed; and these are +the great distinctions which divide the civilised inhabitants of the +globe. With the exception of Turkey, Europe is merely a province of the +world, and our warfare is but civil strife. There is also another way of +dividing nations, namely, by land and water." Then he would touch on all +the European interests, speak of Russia, whose alliance he wished for, +and of England, the mistress of the seas. He usually ended by alluding +to what was then his favourite scheme--an expedition to India. + +When from these general topics Bonaparte descended to the particular +interests of France, he still spoke like a sovereign; and I may truly say +that he showed himself more jealous than any sovereign ever was of the +dignity of France, of which he already considered himself the sole +representative. Having learned that a captain of the English navy had +visited the dockyard of Brest passing himself off as a merchant, whose +passport he had borrowed, he flew into a rage because no one had ventured +to arrest him.--[see James' Naval History for an account of Sir Sidney +Smith's daring exploit.]--Nothing was lost on Bonaparte, and he made +use of this fact to prove to the Council of State the necessity of +increasing the number of commissary-generals of police. At a meeting of +the Council he said, "If there had been a commissary of police at Brest +he would have arrested the English captain and sent him at once to Paris. +As he was acting the part of a spy I would have had him shot as such. +No Englishman, not even a nobleman, or the English Ambassador, should be +admitted into our dockyards. I will soon regulate all this." He +afterwards said to me, "There are plenty of wretches who are selling me +every day to the English without my being subjected to English spying." + + --[During the short and hollow peace of Amiens Bonaparte sent over + to England as consuls and vice-consuls, a number of engineers and + military men, who were instructed to make plans of all the harbours + and coasts of the United Kingdom. They worked in secrecy, yet not + so secretly but that they were soon suspected: the facts were + proved, and they were sent out of the country without ceremony.-- + Editor of 1836 edition.]-- + +He had on one occasion said before an assemblage of generals, senators, +and high officers of State, who were at an audience of the Diplomatic +Body, "The English think that I am afraid of war, but I am not." And +here the truth escaped him, in spite of himself. "My power will lose +nothing by war. In a very short time I can have 2,000,000 of men at my +disposal. What has been the result of the first war? The union of +Belgium and Piedmont to France. This is greatly to our advantage; it +will consolidate our system. France shall not be restrained by foreign +fetters. England has manifestly violated the treaties! It would be +better to render homage to the King of England, and crown him King of +France at Paris, than to submit to the insolent caprices of the English +Government. If, for the sake of preserving peace, at most for only two +months longer, I should yield on a single point, the English would become +the more treacherous and insolent, and would enact the more in proportion +as we yield. But they little know me! Were we to yield to England now, +she would next prohibit our navigation in certain parts of the world. +She would insist on the surrender of par ships. I know not what she +would not demand; but I am not the man to brook such indignities. Since +England wishes for war she shall have it, and that speedily!" + +On the same day Bonaparte said a great deal more about the treachery of +England. The gross calumnies to which he was exposed in the London +newspapers powerfully contributed to increase his natural hatred of the +liberty of the press; and he was much astonished that such attacks could +be made upon him by English subjects when he was at peace with the +English Government. + +I had one day a singular proof of the importance which Bonaparte attached +to the opinion of the English people respecting any misconduct that was +attributed to him. What I am about to state will afford another example +of Bonaparte's disposition to employ petty and roundabout means to gain +his ends. He gave a ball at Malmaison when Hortense was in the seventh +month of her pregnancy. + + --[This refers to the first son of Louis and of Hortense, Napoleon + Charles, the intended successor of Napoleon, who was born 1802, died + 1807, elder brother of Napoleon III.]-- + +I have already mentioned that he disliked to see women in that situation, +and above all could not endure to see them dance. Yet, in spite of this +antipathy, he himself asked Hortense to dance at the ball at Malmaison. +She at first declined, but Bonaparte was exceedingly importunate, and +said to her in a tone of good-humoured persuasion, "Do, I beg of you; +I particularly wish to see you dance. Come, stand up, to oblige me." +Hortense at last consented. The motive for this extraordinary request I +will now explain. + +On the day after the ball one of the newspapers contained some verses on +Hortense's dancing. She was exceedingly annoyed at this, and when the +paper arrived at Malmaison she expressed, displeasure at it. Even +allowing for all the facility of our newspaper wits, she was nevertheless +at a loss to understand how the lines could have been written and printed +respecting a circumstance which only occurred the night before. +Bonaparte smiled, and gave her no distinct answer. When Hortense knew +that I was alone in the cabinet she came in and asked me to explain the +matter; and seeing no reason to conceal the truth, I told her that the +lines had been written by Bonaparte's direction before the ball took +place. I added, what indeed was the fact, that the ball had been +prepared for the verses, and that it was only for the appropriateness of +their application that the First Consul had pressed her to dance. He +adopted this strange contrivance for contradicting an article which +appeared in an English journal announcing that Hortense was delivered. +Bonaparte was highly indignant at that premature announcement, which he +clearly saw was made for the sole purpose of giving credit to the +scandalous rumours of his imputed connection with Hortense. Such were +the petty machinations which not unfrequently found their place in a mind +in which the grandest schemes were revolving. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Ability in making it be supposed that he really possessed talent +Absurdity of interfering with trifles +Admired him more for what he had the fortitude not to do +Animated by an unlucky zeal +Ideologues +Put some gold lace on the coats of my virtuous republicans +Trifles honoured with too much attention +Were made friends of lest they should become enemies +Would enact the more in proportion as we yield + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1803, v6 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 7. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER XIX. to CHAPTER XXVI. 1803-1804 + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +1803. + + Mr. Pitt--Motive of his going out of office--Error of the English + Government--Pretended regard for the Bourbons--Violation of the + treaty of Amiens--Reciprocal accusations--Malta--Lord Whitworth's + departure--Rome and Carthage--Secret satisfaction of Bonaparte-- + Message to the Senate, the Legislative Body, and the Tribunate-- + The King of England's renunciation of the title of King of France-- + Complaints of the English Government--French agents in British ports + --Views of France upon Turkey--Observation made by Bonaparte to the + Legislative Body--Its false interpretation--Conquest of Hanover-- + The Duke of Cambridge caricatured--The King of England and the + Elector of Hanover--First address to the clergy--Use of the word + "Monsieur"--The Republican weeks and months. + +One of the circumstances which foretold the brief duration of the peace +of Amiens was, that Mr. Pitt was out of office at the time of its +conclusion. I mentioned this to Bonaparte, and I immediately perceived +by his hasty "What do you say?" that my observation had been heard--but +not liked. It did not, however, require any extraordinary shrewdness to +see the true motive of Mr. Pitt's retirement. That distinguished +statesman conceived that a truce under the name of a peace was +indispensable for England; but, intending to resume the war with France +more fiercely than ever, he for a while retired from office, and left to +others the task of arranging the peace; but his intention was to mark his +return to the ministry by the renewal of the implacable hatred he had +vowed against France. Still, I have always thought that the conclusion +of peace, however necessary to England, was an error of the Cabinet of +London. England alone had never before acknowledged any of the +governments which had risen up in France since the Revolution; and as the +past could not be blotted out, a future war, however successful to +England, could not take from Bonaparte's Government the immense weight it +had acquired by an interval of peace. Besides, by the mere fact of the +conclusion of the treaty England proved to all Europe that the +restoration of the Bourbons was merely a pretext, and she defaced that +page of her history which might have shown that she was actuated by +nobler and more generous sentiments than mere hatred of France. It is +very certain that the condescension of England in treating with the First +Consul had the effect of rallying round him a great many partisans of the +Bourbons, whose hopes entirely depended on the continuance of war between +Great Britain and France. This opened the eyes of the greater number, +namely, those who could not see below the surface, and were not +previously aware that the demonstrations of friendship so liberally made +to the Bourbons by the European Cabinets, and especially by England, were +merely false pretences, assumed for the purpose of disguising, beneath +the semblance of honourable motives, their wish to injure France, and to +oppose her rapidly increasing power. + +When the misunderstanding took place, France and England might have +mutually reproached each other, but justice was apparently on the side of +France. It was evident that England, by refusing to evacuate Malta, was +guilty of a palpable infraction of the treaty of Amiens, while England +could only institute against France what in the French law language is +called a suit or process of tendency. But it must be confessed that this +tendency on the part of France to augment her territory was very evident, +for the Consular decrees made conquests more promptly than the sword. +The union of Piedmont with France had changed the state of Europe. This +union, it is true, was effected previously to the treaty of Amiens; but +it was not so with the states of Parma and Piacenza, Bonaparte having by +his sole authority constituted himself the heir of the Grand Duke, +recently deceased. It may therefore be easily imagined how great was +England's uneasiness at the internal prosperity of France and the +insatiable ambition of her ruler; but it is no less certain that, with +respect to Malta, England acted with decidedly bad faith; and this bad +faith appeared in its worst light from the following circumstance:-- +It had been stipulated that England should withdraw her troops from Malta +three months after the signing of the treaty, yet more than a year had +elapsed, and the troops were still there. The order of Malta was to be +restored as it formerly was; that is to say, it was to be a sovereign and +independent order, under the protection of the Holy See. The three +Cabinets of Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg were to guarantee the +execution of the treaty of Amiens. The English Ambassador, to excuse the +evasions of his Government, pretended that the Russian Cabinet concurred +with England in the delayed fulfilment of the conditions of the treaty; +but at the very moment he was making that excuse a courier arrived from +the Cabinet of St. Petersburg bearing despatches completely, at variance +with the assertion of Lord Whitworth. His lordship left Paris on the +night of the 12th May 1803, and the English Government, unsolicited, sent +passports to the French embassy in London. The news of this sudden +rupture made the English console fall four per cent., but did not +immediately produce such a retrograde effect on the French funds, which +were then quoted at fifty-five francs;--a very high point, when it is +recollected that they were at seven or eight francs on the eve of the +18th Brumaire. + +In this state of things France proposed to the English Government to +admit of the mediation of Russia; but as England had declared war in +order to repair the error she committed in concluding peace, the +proposition was of course rejected. Thus the public gave the First +Consul credit for great moderation and a sincere wish for peace. Thus +arose between England and France a contest resembling those furious wars +which marked the reigns of King John and Charles VII. Our beaux esprits +drew splendid comparisons between the existing state of things and the +ancient rivalry of Carthage and Rome, and sapiently concluded that, as +Carthage fell, England must do so likewise. + +Bonaparte was at St. Cloud when Lord Whitworth left Paris. A fortnight +was spent in useless attempts to renew negotiations. War, therefore, was +the only alternative. Before he made his final preparations the First +Consul addressed a message to the Senate, the Legislative Body, and the +Tribunate. In this message he mentioned the recall of the English +Ambassador, the breaking out of hostilities, the unexpected message of +the King of England to his Parliament, and the armaments which +immediately ensued in the British ports. "In vain," he said, "had France +tried every means to induce England to abide by the treaty. She had +repelled every overture, and increased the insolence of her demands. +France," he added, "will not submit to menaces, but will combat for the +faith of treaties, and the honour of the French name, confidently +trusting that the result of the contest will be such as she has a right +to expect from the justice of her cause and the courage of her people." + +This message was dignified, and free from that vein of boasting in which +Bonaparte so frequently indulged. The reply of the Senate was +accompanied by a vote of a ship of the line, to be paid for out of the +Senatorial salaries. With his usual address Bonaparte, in acting for +himself, spoke in the name of the people, just as he did in the question +of the Consulate for life. But what he then did for his own interests +turned to the future interests of the Bourbons. The very treaty which +had just been broken off gave rise to a curious observation. Bonaparte, +though not yet a sovereign, peremptorily required the King of England to +renounce the empty title of King of France, which was kept up as if to +imply that old pretensions were not yet renounced. The proposition was +acceded to, and to this circumstance was owing the disappearance of the +title of King of France from among the titles of the King of England, +when the treaty of Paris was concluded on the return of the Bourbons. + +The first grievance complained of by England was the prohibition of +English merchandise, which had been more rigid since the peace than +during the war. The avowal of Great Britain on this point might well +have enabled her to dispense with any other subject of complaint; for the +truth is, she was alarmed at the aspect of our internal prosperity, and +at the impulse given to our manufactures. The English Government had +hoped to obtain from the First Consul such a commercial treaty as would +have proved a death-blow to our rising trade; but Bonaparte opposed this, +and from the very circumstance of his refusal he might easily have +foreseen the rupture at which he affected to be surprised. What I state +I felt at the time, when I read with great interest all the documents +relative to this great dispute between the two rival nations, which +eleven years afterwards was decided before the walls of Paris. + +It was evidently disappointment in regard to a commercial treaty which +created the animosity of the English Government, as that circumstance was +alluded to, by way of reproach, in the King of England's declaration. +In that document it was complained that France had sent a number of +persona into the ports of Great Britain and Ireland in the character of +commercial agents, which character, and the privileges belonging to it, +they could only have acquired by a commercial treaty. Such was, in my +opinion, the real cause of the complaints of England; but as it would +have seemed too absurd to make it the ground of a declaration of war, she +enumerated other grievances, viz., the union of Piedmont and of the +states of Parma and Piacenza with France, and the continuance of the +French troops in Holland. A great deal was said about the views and +projects of France with respect to Turkey, and this complaint originated +in General Sebastiani's mission to Egypt. On that point I can take upon +me to say that the English Government was not misinformed. Bonaparte too +frequently spoke to are of his ideas respecting the East, and his project +of attacking the English power in India, to leave any doubt of his ever +having renounced them. The result of all the reproaches which the two +Governments addressed to each other was, that neither acted with good +faith. + +The First Consul, in a communication to the Legislative Body on the state +of France and on her foreign relations; had said, "England, single- +handed, cannot cope with France." This sufficed to irritate the +susceptibility of English pride, and the British Cabinet affected to +regard it as a threat. However, it was no such thing. When Bonaparte +threatened, his words were infinitely more energetic. The passage above +cited was merely au assurance to France; and if we only look at the past +efforts and sacrifices made by England to stir up enemies to France on +the Continent, we may be justified in supposing that her anger at +Bonaparte's declaration arose from a conviction of its truth. Singly +opposed to France, England could doubtless have done her much harm, +especially by assailing the scattered remnants of her navy; but she could +have done nothing against France on the Continent. The two powers, +unaided by allies, might have continued long at war without any +considerable acts of hostility. + +The first effect of the declaration of war by England was the invasion of +Hanover by the French troops under General Mortier. The telegraphic +despatch by which this news was communicated to Paris was as laconic as +correct, and contained, in a few words, the complete history of the +expedition. It ran as follows: "The French are masters of the Electorate +of Hanover, and the enemy's army are made prisoners of war." A day or +two after the shop windows of the print-sellers were filled with +caricatures on the English, and particularly on the Duke of Cambridge. +I recollect seeing one in which the Duke was represented reviewing his +troops mounted on a crab. I mention these trifles because, as I was then +living entirely at leisure, in the Rue Hauteville, I used frequently to +take a stroll on the Boulevards, where I was sometimes much amused with +these prints; and I could not help remarking, that in large cities such +triffles have more influence on the public mind than is usually supposed. + +The First Consul thought the taking of the prisoners in Hanover a good +opportunity to exchange them for those taken from us by the English navy. +A proposition to this effect was accordingly made; but the English +Cabinet was of opinion that, though the King of England was also Elector +of Hanover, yet there was no identity between the two Governments, of +both which George III. was the head. In consequence of this subtle +distinction the proposition for the exchange of prisoners fell to the +ground. At this period nothing could exceed the animosity of the two +Governments towards each other, and Bonaparte, on the declaration of war, +marked his indignation by an act which no consideration can justify; +I allude to the order for the arrest of all the English in France-- +a truly barbarious measure; for; can anything be more cruel and unjust +than to visit individuals with the vengeance due to the Government whose +subjects they may happen to be? But Bonaparte, when under the influence +of auger, was never troubled by scruples. + +I must here notice the fulfilment of a remark Bonaparte often made, use +of to me during the Consulate. "You shall see, Bourrienne," he would +say," what use I will make of the priests." + +War being declared, the First Consul, in imitation of the most Christian +kings of olden times, recommended the success of his arms to the prayers +of the faithful through the medium of the clergy. To this end he +addressed a circular letter, written in royal style, to the Cardinals, +Archbishops, and Bishops of France. + +It was as follows: + + MONSIEUR--The motives of the present war are known throughout + Europe. The bad faith of the King of England, who has violated his + treaties by refusing to restore Malta to the order of St. John of + Jerusalem, and attacked our merchant vessels without a previous + declaration of war, together with the necessity of a just defence, + forced us to have recourse to arms. I therefore wish you to order + prayers to be offered up, in order to obtain the benediction of + Heaven on our enterprises. The proofs I have received of your zeal + for the public service give me an assurance of your readiness to + conform with my wishes. + + Given at St. Cloud, 18 Prairial, an XI. (7th June 1803). + + (Signed) BONAPARTE. + +This letter was remarkable in more than one respect. It astonished most +of his old brothers-in-arms, who turned it into ridicule; observing that +Bonaparte needed no praying to enable him to conquer Italy twice over. +The First Consul, however, let them laugh on, and steadily followed the +line he had traced out. His letter was admirably calculated to please +the Court of Rome, which he wished should consider him in the light of +another elder son of the Church. The letter was, moreover, remarkable +for the use of the word "Monsieur," which the First Consul now employed +for the first time in an act destined for publicity. This circumstance +would seem to indicate that he considered Republican designations +incompatible with the forms due to the clergy: the clergy were especially +interested in the restoration of monarchy. It may, perhaps, be thought +that I dwell too much on trifles; but I lived long enough in Bonaparte's +confidence to know the importance he attached to trifles. The First +Consul restored the old names of the days of the week, while he allowed +the names of the months, as set down in the Republican calendar, to +remain. He commenced by ordering the Moniteur to be dated "Saturday," +such a day of "Messidor." "See," said he one day, "was there ever such +an inconsistency? We shall be laughed at! But I will do away with the +Messidor. I will efface all the inventions of the Jacobins." + +The clergy did not disappoint the expectations of the First Consul. They +owed him much already, and hoped for still more from him. The letter to +the Bishops, etc., was the signal for a number of circulars full of +eulogies on Bonaparte. + +These compliments were far from displeasing to the First Consul, who had +no objection to flattery though he despised those who meanly made +themselves the medium of conveying it to him. Duroc once told me that +they had all great difficulty in preserving their gravity when the cure +of a parish in Abbeville addressed Bonaparte one day while he was on his +journey to the coast. "Religion," said the worthy cure, with pompous +solemnity, "owes to you all that it is, we owe to you all that we are; +and I, too, owe to you all that I am." + + --[Not so fulsome as some of the terms used a year later when + Napoleon was made Emperor. "I am what I am," was placed over a seat + prepared for the Emperor. One phrase, "God made Napoleon and then + rested," drew from Narbonne the sneer that it would have been better + if the Deity had rested sooner. "Bonaparte," says Joseph de + Maistre, "has had himself described in his papers as the 'Messenger + of God.' Nothing more true. Bonaparte comes straight from heaven, + like a thunderbolt." (Saints-Benve, Caureries, tome iv. p. 203.)] + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +1803. + + Presentation of Prince Borghese to Bonaparte--Departure for Belgium + Revival of a royal custom--The swans of Amiens--Change of formula + in the acts of Government--Company of performers in Bonaparte's + suite--Revival of old customs--Division of the institute into four + classes--Science and literature--Bonaparte's hatred of literary men + --Ducis--Bernardin de Saint-Pierre--Chenier and Lemercier-- + Explanation of Bonaparte's aversion to literature--Lalande and his + dictionary--Education in the hands of Government--M. de Roquelaure, + Archbishop of Malines. + +In the month of April 1803 Prince Borghese, who was destined one day to +become Bonaparte's brother-in-law by marrying the widow of Leclerc, was +introduced to the First Consul by Cardinal Caprara. + +About the end of June Bonaparte proceeded, with Josephine, on his journey +to Belgium and the seaboard departments. Many curious circumstances were +connected with this journey, of which I was informed by Duroc after the +First Consul's return. Bonaparte left Paris on the 24th of June, and +although it was not for upwards of a year afterwards that his brow was +encircled with the imperial-diadem, everything connected with the journey +had an imperial air. It was formerly the custom, when the Kings of +France entered the ancient capital of Picardy, for the town of Amiens to +offer them in homage some beautiful swans. Care was taken to revive this +custom, which pleased Bonaparte greatly, because it was treating him like +a King. The swans were accepted, and sent to Paris to be placed in the +basin of the Tuileries, in order to show the Parisians the royal homage +which the First Consul received when absent from the capital. + +It was also during this journey that Bonaparte began to date his decrees +from the places through which he passed. He had hitherto left a great +number of signatures in Paris, in order that he might be present, as it +were, even during his absence, by the acts of his Government. Hitherto +public acts had been signed in the name of the Consuls of the Republic. +Instead of this formula, he substituted the name of the Government of the +Republic. By means of this variation, unimportant as it might appear, +the Government was always in the place where the First Consul happened to +be. The two other Consuls were now mere nullities, even in appearance. +The decrees of the Government, which Cambaceres signed during the +campaign of Marengo, were now issued from all the towns of France and +Belgium which the First Consul visited during his six weeks' journey. +Having thus centred the sole authority of the Republic in himself, the +performers of the theatre of the Republic became, by a natural +consequence, his; and it was quite natural that they should travel in his +suite, to entertain the inhabitants of the towns in which he stopped by +their performances. But this was not all. He encouraged the renewal of +a host of ancient customs. He sanctioned the revival of the festival of +Joan of Arc at Orleans, and he divided the Institute into four classes, +with the intention of recalling the recollection of the old academies, +the names of which, however, he rejected, in spite of the wishes and +intrigues of Suard and the Abby Morellet, who had gained over Lucien upon +this point. + +However, the First Consul did not give to the classes of the Institute +the rank which they formerly possessed as academies. He placed the class +of sciences in the first rank, and the old French Academy in the second +rank. It must be acknowledged that, considering the state of literature +and science at that period, the First Consul did not make a wrong +estimate of their importance. + +Although the literature of France could boast of many men of great +talent, such as La Harpe, who died during the Consulate, Ducis, Bernardin +de Saint-Pierre, Chenier, and Lemercier, yet they could not be compared +with Lagrange, Laplace, Monge, Fourcroy, Berthollet, and Cuvier, whose +labours have so prodigiously extended the limits of human knowledge. No +one, therefore, could murmur at seeing the class of sciences in the +Institute take precedence of its elder sister. Besides, the First Consul +was not sorry to show, by this arrangement, the slight estimation in +which he held literary men. When he spoke to me respecting them he +called them mere manufacturers of phrases. He could not pardon them for +excelling him in a pursuit in which he had no claim to distinction. +I never knew a man more insensible than Bonaparte to the beauties of +poetry or prose. A certain degree of vagueness, which was combined with +his energy of mind, led him to admire the dreams of Ossian, and his +decided character found itself, as it were, represented in the elevated +thoughts of Corneille. Hence his almost exclusive predilection for these +two authors With this exception, the finest works in our literature were +in his opinion merely arrangements of sonorous words, void of sense, and +calculated only for the ear. + +Bonaparte's contempt, or, more properly speaking, his dislike of +literature, displayed itself particularly in the feeling he cherished +towards some men of distinguished literary talent. He hated Chenier, and +Ducis still more. He could not forgive Chenier for the Republican +principles which pervaded his tragedies; and Ducis excited in him; as if +instinctively, an involuntary hatred. Ducis, on his part, was not +backward in returning the Consul's animosity, and I remember his writing +some verses which were inexcusably violent, and overstepped all the +bounds of truth. Bonaparte was so singular a composition of good and bad +that to describe him as he was under one or other of these aspects would +serve for panegyric or satire without any departure from truth. +Bonaparte was very fond of Bernardin Saint-Pierre's romance of 'Paul and +Virginia', which he had read in his boyhood. I remember that he one day +tried to read 'Les etudes de la Nature', but at the expiration of a +quarter of an hour he threw down the book, exclaiming, "How can any one +read such silly stuffy. It is insipid and vapid; there is nothing in it. +These are the dreams of a visionary! What is nature? The thing is vague +and unmeaning. Men and passions are the subjects to write about--there +is something there for study. These fellows are good for nothing under +any government. I will, however, give them pensions, because I ought to +do so, as Head of the State. They occupy and amuse the idle. I will +make Lagrange a Senator--he has a head." + +Although Bonaparte spoke so disdainfully of literary men it must not be +taken for granted that he treated them ill. On the contrary, all those +who visited at Malmaison were the objects of his attention, and even +flattery. M. Lemercier was one of those who came most frequently, and +whom Bonaparte received with the greatest pleasure. Bonaparte treated +M. Lemercier with great kindness; but he did not like him. His character +as a literary man and poet, joined to a polished frankness, and a mild +but inflexible spirit of republicanism, amply sufficed to explain +Bonaparte's dislike. He feared M. Lemercier and his pen; and, as +happened more than once, he played the part of a parasite by flattering +the writer. M. Lemercier was the only man I knew who refused the cross +of the Legion of Honour. + +Bonaparte's general dislike of literary men was less the result of +prejudice than circumstances. In order to appreciate or even to read +literary works time is requsite, and time was so precious to him that he +would have wished, as one may say, to shorten a straight line. He liked +only those writers who directed their attention to positive and precise +things, which excluded all thoughts of government and censures on +administration. He looked with a jealous eye on political economists and +lawyers; in short, as all persons who in any way whatever meddled with +legislation and moral improvements. His hatred of discussions on those +subjects was strongly displayed on the occasion of the classification of +the Institute. Whilst he permitted the reassembling of a literary class, +to the number of forty, as formerly, he suppressed the class of moral and +political science. Such was his predilection for things of immediate and +certain utility that even in the sciences he favoured only such as +applied to terrestrial objects. He never treated Lalande with so much +distinction as Monge and Lagrange. Astronomical discoveries could not +add directly to his own greatness; and, besides, he could never forgive +Lalande for having wished to include him in a dictionary of atheists +precisely at the moment when he was opening negotiations with the court +of Rome. + +Bonaparte wished to be the sole centre of a world which he believed he +was called to govern. With this view he never relaxed in his constant +endeavour to concentrate the whole powers of the State in the hands of +its Chief. His conduct upon the subject of the revival of public +instruction affords evidence of this fact. He wished to establish 6000 +bursaries, to be paid by Government, and to be exclusively at his +disposal, so that thus possessing the monopoly of education, he could +have parcelled it out only to the children of those who were blindly +devoted to him. This was what the First Consul called the revival of +public instruction. During the period of my closest intimacy with him +he often spoke to me on this subject, and listened patiently to my +observations. I remember that one of his chief arguments was this: +"What is it that distinguishes men? Education--is it not? Well, if the +children of nobles be admitted into the academies, they will be as well +educated as the children of the revolution, who compose the strength of +my government. Ultimately they will enter into my regiments as officers, +and will naturally come in competition with those whom they regard as the +plunderers of their families. I do not wish that!" + +My recollections have caused me to wander from the journey of the First +Consul and Madame Bonaparte to the seabord departments and Belgium. +I have, however, little to add to what I have already stated on the +subject. I merely remember that Bonaparte's military suite, and +Lauriston and Rapp in particular, when speaking to me about the journey, +could not conceal some marks of discontent on account of the great +respect which Bonaparte had shown the clergy, and particularly to M. de +Roquelaure, the Archbishop of Malines (or Mechlin). That prelate, who +was a shrewd man, and had the reputation of having been in his youth more +addicted to the habits of the world than to those of the cloister, had +become an ecclesiastical courtier. He went to Antwerp to pay his homage +to the First Consul, upon whom he heaped the most extravagant praises. +Afterwards, addressing Madame Bonaparte, he told her that she was united +to the First Consul by the sacred bonds of a holy alliance. In this +harangue, in which unction was singularly blended with gallantry, surely +it was a departure from ecclesiastical propriety to speak of sacred bonds +and holy alliance when every one knew that those bonds and that alliance +existed only by a civil contract. Perhaps M. de Roquelaure merely had +recourse to what casuists call a pious fraud in order to engage the +married couple to do that which he congratulated them on having already +done. Be this as it may, it is certain that this honeyed language gained +M. de Roquelaure the Consul's favour, and in a short time after he was +appointed to the second class of the Institute. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +1804. + + The Temple--The intrigues of Europe--Prelude to the Continental + system--Bombardment of Granville--My conversation with the First + Consul on the projected invasion of England--Fauche Borel--Moreau + and Pichegru--Fouche's manoeuvres--The Abbe David and Lajolais-- + Fouche's visit to St. Cloud--Regnier outwitted by Fouche-- + My interview with the First Consul--His indignation at the reports + respecting Hortense--Contradiction of these calumnies--The brothers + Faucher--Their execution--The First Consul's levee--My conversation + with Duroc--Conspiracy of Georges, Moreau, and Pichegru--Moreau + averse to the restoration of the Bourbons--Bouvet de Lozier's + attempted suicide--Arrest of Moreau--Declaration of MM. de Polignac + and de Riviere--Connivance of the police--Arrest of M. Carbonnet and + his nephew. + +The time was passed when Bonaparte, just raised to the Consulate, only +proceeded to the Temple to release the victims of the "Loi des suspects" +by his sole and immediate authority. This state prison was now to be +filled by the orders of his police. All the intrigues of Europe were in +motion. Emissaries came daily from England, who, if they could not +penetrate into the interior of France, remained in the towns near the +frontiers, where they established correspondence, and published +pamphlets, which they sent to Paris by post, in the form of letters. + +The First Consul, on the other hand, gave way, without reserve, to the +natural irritation which that power had excited by her declaration of +war. He knew that the most effective war he could carry on against +England would be a war against her trade. + +As a prelude to that piece of madness, known by the name of the +Continental system, the First Consul adopted every possible preventive +measure against the introduction of English merchandise. Bonaparte's +irritation against the English was not without a cause. The intelligence +which reached Paris from the north of France was not very consolatory. +The English fleets not only blockaded the French ports, but were acting +on the offensive, and had bombarded Granville. The mayor of the town did +his duty, but his colleagues, more prudent, acted differently. In the +height of his displeasure Bonaparte issued a decree, by which he bestowed +a scarf of honour on Letourneur, the mayor, and dismissed his colleagues +from office as cowards unworthy of trust. The terms of this decree were +rather severe, but they were certainly justified by the conduct of those +who had abandoned their posts at s critical moment. + +I come now to the subject of the invasion of England, and what the First +Consul said to me respecting it. I have stated that Bonaparte never had +any idea of realising the pretended project of a descent on England. The +truth of this assertion will appear from a conversation which I had with +him after he returned from his journey to the north. In this +conversation he repeated what he had often before mentioned to me in +reference to the projects and possible steps to which fortune might +compel him to resort. + +The peace of Amiens had been broken about seven months when, on the 15th +of December 1803, the First Consul sent for me to the Tuileries. His +incomprehensible behaviour to me was fresh in my mind; and as it was +upwards of a year since I had seen him, I confess I did not feel quite at +ease when I received the summons. He was perfectly aware that I +possessed documents and data for writing his history which would describe +facts correctly, and destroy the illusions with which his flatterers +constantly, entertained the public. I have already stated that at that +period I had no intention of the kind; but those who laboured constantly +to incense him against me might have suggested apprehensions on the +subject. At all events the fact is, that when he sent for me I took the +precaution of providing myself with a night-cap, conceiving it to be very +likely that I should be sent to sleep at Vincennes. On the day appointed +for the interview Rapp was on duty. I did not conceal from him my +opinion as to the possible result of my visit. "You need not be afraid," +said Rapp; "the First Consul merely wishes to talk with you." He then +announced me. + +Bonaparte came into the grand salon where I awaited him, and addressing +me in the most good-humoured way said, "What do the gossips say of my +preparations for the invasion of England?"--"There is a great difference +of opinion on the subject, General," I replied. "Everyone speaks +according to his own views. Suchet, for instance, who comes to see me +very often, has no doubt that it will take place, and hopes to give you +on the occasion fresh proofs of his gratitude and fidelity."--"But Suchet +tells me that you do not believe it will be attempted."--"That is true, I +certainly do not."--"Why?"--"Because you told me at Antwerp, five years +ago, that you would not risk France on the cast of a die--that the +adventure was too hazardous--and circumstances have not altered since +that time."--"You are right. Those who look forward to the invasion of +England are blockheads. They do not see the affair in its true light. +I can, doubtless, land in England with 100,000 men. A great battle will +be fought, which I shall gain; but I must reckon upon 30,000 men killed, +wounded, and prisoners. If I march on London, a second battle must be +fought. I will suppose myself again victorious; but what should I do in +London with an army diminished three-fourths and without the hope of +reinforcements? It would be madness. Until our navy acquires +superiority it is useless to think of such a project. The great +assemblage of troops in the north has another object. My Government must +be the first in the world, or it must fall." Bonaparte then evidently +wished it to be supposed that he entertained the design of invading +England in order to divert the attention of Europe to that direction. + +From Dunkirk the First Consul proceeded to Antwerp, where also he had +assembled experienced men to ascertain their opinions respecting the +surest way of attempting a landing, the project of which was merely a +pretence. The employment of large ships of was, after rang discussions, +abandoned in favour of a flotilla. + + --[At this period a caricature (by Gillray) appeared in London. + which was sent to Paris, and strictly sought after by the police. + One of the copies was shown to the First Consul, who was highly + indignant at it. The French fleet was represented by a number of + nut-shells. An English sailor, seated on a rock, was quietly + smoking his pipe, the whiffs of which were throwing the whole + squadron into disorder.--Bourrienne. Gillray's caricatures should + be at the reader's side during the perusal of this work, also + English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I., by J. Ashton Chatto: + and Windus, 1884.]-- + +After visiting Belgium, and giving directions there, the First Consul +returned from Brussels to Paris by way of Maestricht, Liege, and +Soissons. + +Before my visit to the Tuileries, and even before the rupture of the +peace of Amiens, certain intriguing speculators, whose extravagant zeal +was not less fatal to the cause of the Bourbons than was the blind +subserviency of his unprincipled adherents to the First Consul, had taken +part in some underhand manoeuvres which could have no favourable result. +Amongst these great contrivers of petty machinations the well-known +Fauche Borel, the bookseller of Neufchatel, had long been conspicuous. +Fauche Borel, whose object was to create a stir, and who wished nothing +better than to be noticed and paid, failed not to come to France as soon +as the peace of Amiens afforded him the opportunity. I was at that time +still with Bonaparte, who was aware of all these little plots, but who +felt no personal anxiety on the subject, leaving to his police the care +of watching their authors. + +The object of Fauche Borel's mission was to bring about a reconciliation +between Moreau and Pichegru. The latter general, who was banished on the +18th Fructidor 4th (September 1797), had not obtained the First Consul's +permission to return to France. He lived in England, where he awaited a +favourable opportunity for putting his old projects into execution. +Moreau was in Pains, but no longer appeared at the levees or parties of +the First Consul, and the enmity of both generals against Bonaparte, +openly avowed on the part of Pichegru; and still disguised by Moreau, was +a secret to nobody. But as everything was prosperous with Bonaparte he +evinced contempt rather than fear of the two generals. His apprehensions +were, indeed, tolerably allayed by the absence of the one and the +character of the other. Moreau's name had greater weight with the army +than that of Pichegru; and those who were plotting the overthrow of the +Consular Government knew that that measure could not be attempted with +any chance of success without the assistance of Moreau. The moment was +inopportune; but, being initiated in some secrets of the British Cabinet, +they knew that the peace was but a truce, and they determined to profit +by that truce to effect a reconciliation which might afterwards secure a +community of interests. Moreau and Pichegru had not been friends since +Moreau sent to the Directory the papers seized in M. de Klinglin's +carriage, which placed Pichegru's treason in so clear a light. Since +that period Pichegru's name possessed no influence over the minds of the +soldiers, amongst whom he had very few partisans, whilst the name of +Moreau was dear to all who had conquered under his command. + +Fauche Borel's design was to compromise Moreau without bringing him to +any decisive step. Moreau's natural indolence, and perhaps it may be +said his good sense, induced him to adopt the maxim that it was necessary +to let men and things take their course; for temporizing policy is often +as useful in politics as in war. Besides, Moreau was a sincere +Republican; and if his habit of indecision had permitted him to adopt any +resolution, it is quite certain that he would not then have assisted in +the reestablishment of the Bourbons, as Pichegru wished. + +What I have stated is an indispensable introduction to the knowledge of +plots of more importance which preceded the great event that marked the +close of the Consulship: I allude to the conspiracy of Georges, Cadoudal, +Moreau, and Pichegru, and that indelible stain on the character of +Napoleon,--the death of the Duc d'Enghien. Different opinions have been +expressed concerning Georges' conspiracy. I shall not contradict any of +them. I will relate what I learned and what I saw, in order to throw +some light on that horrible affair. I am far from believing what I have +read in many works, that it was planned by the police in order to pave +the First Consul's way to the throne. I think that it was contrived by +those who were really interested in it, and encouraged by Fouche in order +to prepare his return to office. + +To corroborate my opinion respecting Fouche's conduct and his manoeuvres +I must remind the reader that about the close of 1803 some persons +conceived the project of reconciling Moreau and Pichegru. Fouche, who +was then out of the Ministry, caused Moreau to be visited by men of his +own party, and who were induced, perhaps unconsciously, by Fouche's art, +to influence and irritate the general's mind. It was at first intended +that the Abbe David, the mutual friend of Moreau and Pichegru, should +undertake to effect their reconciliation; but he, being arrested and +confined in the Temple, was succeeded by a man named Lajolais, whom every +circumstance proves to have been employed by Fouche. He proceeded to +London, and, having prevailed on Pichegru and his friends to return to +France, he set off to announce their arrival and arrange everything for +their reception and destruction. Moreau's discontent was the sole +foundation of this intrigue. I remember that one day, about the end of +January 1804, I called on Fouche, who informed me that he had been at St. +Cloud, where he had had a long conversation with the First Consul on the +situation of affairs. Bonaparte told him that he was satisfied with the +existing police, and hinted that it was only to make himself of +consequence that he had given a false colouring to the picture. Fouche +asked him what he would say if he told him that Georges and Pichegru had +been for some time in Paris carrying on the conspiracy of which he had +received information. The First Consul, apparently delighted at what he +conceived to be Fouche's mistake, said, with an air of contempt, "You are +well informed, truly! Regnier has just received a letter from London +stating that Pichegru dined three days ago at Kingston with one of the +King of England's ministers." + +As Fouche, however, persisted in his assertion, the First Consul sent to +Paris for the Grand Judge, Regnier, who showed Fouche the letter he had +received. The First Consul triumphed at first to see Fouche at fault; +but the latter so clearly proved that Georges and Pichegru were actually +in Paris that Regnier began to fear he had been misled by his agents, +whom his rival paid better than he did. The First Consul, convinced that +his old minister knew more than his new one, dismissed Regnier, and +remained a long time in consultation with Fouche, who on that occasion +said nothing about his reinstatement for fear of exciting suspicion. +He only requested that the management of the business might be entrusted +to Real, with orders to obey whatever instructions he might receive from +him. I will return hereafter to the arrest of Moreau and the other +persons accused, and will now subjoin the account of a long interview +which I had with Bonaparte in the midst of these important events. + +On the 8th of March 1804, some time after the arrest but before the trial +of General Moreau, I had an audience of the First Consul, which was +unsought on my part. Bonaparte, after putting several unimportant +questions to me as to what I was doing, what I expected he should do for +me, and assuring me that he would bear me in mind, gave a sudden turn to +the conversation, and said, "By the by, the report of my connection with +Hortense is still kept up: the most abominable rumours have been spread +as to her first child. I thought at the time that these reports had only +been admitted by the public in consequence of the great desire that I +should not be childless. Since you and I separated have you heard them +repeated?"--"Yes, General, oftentimes; and I confess I could not have +believed that this calumny would have existed so long."--"It is truly +frightful to think of! You know the truth--you have seen all--heard all +--nothing could have passed without your knowledge; you were in her full +confidence during the time of her attachment to Duroc. I therefore +expect, if you should ever write anything about me, that you will clear +me from this infamous imputation. I would not have it accompany my name +to posterity. I trust in you. You have never given credit to the horrid +accusation?"--"No, General, never." Napoleon then entered into a number +of details on the previous life of Hortense; on the way in which she +conducted herself, and on the turn which her marriage had taken. "It has +not turned out," he said, "as I wished: the union has not been a happy +one. I am sorry for it, not only because both are dear to me, but +because the circumstance countenances the infamous reports that are +current among the idle as to my intimacy with her." He concluded the +conversation with these words:--"Bourrienne, I sometimes think of +recalling you; but as there is no good pretext for so doing, the world +would say that I have need of you, and I wish it to be known that I stand +in need of nobody." He again said a few words about Hortense. +I answered that it would fully coincide with my conviction of the truth +to do what he desired, and that I would do it; but that suppressing the +false reports did not depend on me. + +Hortense, in fact, while she was Mademoiselle BEAUHARNAIS, regarded +Napoleon with respectful awe. She trembled when she spoke to him, and +never dared to ask him a favour. When she had anything to solicit she +applied to me; and if I experienced any difficulty in obtaining for her +what she sought, I mentioned her as the person for whom I pleaded. +"The little simpleton!" Napoleon would say, "why does she not ask me +herself: is the girl afraid of me?" Napoleon never cherished for her any +feeling but paternal tenderness. He loved her after his marriage with +her mother as he would have loved his own child. During three years I +was a witness to all their most private actions, and I declare that I +never saw or heard anything that could furnish the least ground for +suspicion, or that afforded the slightest trace of the existence of a +culpable intimacy. This calumny must be classed among those with which +malice delights to blacken the characters of men more brilliant than +their fellows, and which are so readily adopted by the light-minded and +unreflecting. I freely declare that did I entertain the smallest doubt +with regard to this odious charge, of the existence of which I was well +aware before Napoleon spoke to me on the subject, I would candidly avow +it. He is no more: and let his memory be accompanied only by that, be it +good or bad, which really belongs to it. Let not this reproach be one of +those charged against him by the impartial historian. I must say, in +concluding this delicate subject, that the principles of Napoleon on +points of this kind were rigid in the utmost degree, and that a +connection of the nature of that charged against him was neither in +accordance with his morals nor his tastes. + +I cannot tell whether what followed was a portion of his premeditated +conversation with me, or whether it was the result of the satisfaction he +had derived from ascertaining my perfect conviction of the purity of his +conduct with regard to Hortense, and being assured that I would express +that conviction. Be this as it may, as I was going out at the door he +called me back, saying, "Oh! I have forgotten something." I returned. +"Bourrienne," said he, "do you still keep up your acquaintance with the +Fauchers?"--"Yes, General; I see them frequently."--"You are wrong."-- +"Why should I not? They are clever, well-educated men, and exceedingly +pleasant company, especially Caesar. I derive great pleasure from their +society; and then they are almost the only persons whose friendship has +continued faithful to me since I left you. You know people do not care +for those who can render them no service."--"Maret will not see the +Fauchers."--"That may be, General; but it is nothing to me; and you must +recollect that as it was through him I was introduced to them at the +Tuileries, I think he ought to inform me of his reasons for dropping +their acquaintance."--"I tell you again he has closed his door against +them. Do you the same; I advise you." As I did not seem disposed to +follow this advice without some plausible reason, the First Consul added, +"You must know, then, that I learn from Caesar all that passes in your +house. You do not speak very ill of me yourself, nor does any one +venture to do so in your presence. You play your rubber and go to bed. +But no sooner are you gone than your wife, who never liked me, and most +of those who visit at your house, indulge in the most violent attacks +upon me. I receive a bulletin from Caesar Faucher every day when he +visits at your house; this is the way in which he requites you for your +kindness, and for the asylum you afforded his brother.--[Constantine +Rancher had been condemned in contumacy for the forgery of a public +document.--Bourrienne.]--But enough; you see I know all--farewell;" and +he left me. + +The grave having closed over these two brothers,--[The Fauchers were twin +brothers, distinguished in the war of the Revolution, and made brigadier- +generals at the same time on the field of battle. After the Cent Jours +they refused to recognise the Bourbons, and were shot by sentence of +court-martial at Bordeaux. (Bouillet)]--I shall merely state that they +wrote me a letter the evening preceding their execution, in which they +begged me to forgive their conduct towards me. The following is an +extract from this letter: + +In our dungeon we hear our sentence of death being cried in the streets. +To-morrow we shall walk to the scaffold; but we will meet death with such +calmness and courage as shall make our executioners blush. We are sixty +years old, therefore our lives will only be shortened by a brief apace. +During our lives we have shared in common, illness, grief, pleasure, +danger, and good fortune. We both entered the world on the same day, and +on the same day we shall both depart from it. As to you, sir.... + +I suppress what relates to myself. + +The hour of the grand levee arrived just as the singular interview which +I have described terminated. I remained a short time to look at this +phantasmagoria. Duroc was there. As soon as he saw me he came up, and +taking me into the recess of a window told me that Moreau's guilt was +evident, and that he was about to be put on his trial. I made some +observations on the subject, and in particular asked whether there were +sufficient proofs of his guilt to justify his condemnation? "They should +be cautious," said I; "it is no joke to accuse the conqueror of +Hohenlinden." Duroc's answer satisfied me that he at least had no doubt +on the subject. "Besides," added he, "when such a general as Moreau has +been between two gendarmes he is lost, and is good for nothing more. He +will only inspire pity." In vain I tried to refute this assertion so +entirely contrary to facts, and to convince Duroc that Moreau would never +be damaged by calling him "brigand," as was the phrase then, without +proofs. Duroc persisted in his opinion. As if a political crime ever +sullied the honour of any one! The result has proved that I judged +rightly. + +No person possessing the least degree of intelligence will be convinced +that the conspiracy of Moreau, Georges, Pichegru, and the other persons +accused would ever have occurred but for the secret connivance of +Fouche's police. + +Moreau never for a moment desired the restoration of the Bourbons. I was +too well acquainted with M. Carbonnet, his most intimate friend, to be +ignorant of his private sentiments. It was therefore quite impossible +that he could entertain the same views as Georges, the Polignacs, +Riviera, and others; and they had no intention of committing any overt +acts. These latter persons had come to the Continent solely to +investigate the actual state of affairs, in order to inform the Princes +of the House of Bourbon with certainty how far they might depend on the +foolish hopes constantly held out to them by paltry agents, who were +always ready to advance their own interests at the expense of truth. +These agents did indeed conspire, but it was against the Treasury of +London, to which they looked for pay. + +Without entering into all the details of that great trial I will relate +some facts which may assist in eliciting the truth from a chaos of +intrigue and falsehood. + +Most of the conspirators had been lodged either in the Temple or La +Force, and one of them, Bouvet de Lozier, who was confined in the Temple, +attempted to hang himself. He made use of his cravat to effect his +purpose, and had nearly succeeded, when a turnkey by chance entered and +found him at the point of death. When he was recovered he acknowledged +that though he had the courage to meet death, he was unable to endure the +interrogatories of his trial, and that he had determined to kill himself, +lest he might be induced to make a confession. He did in fact confess, +and it was on the day after this occurred that Moreau was arrested, while +on his way from his country-seat of Grosbois to Paris. + +Fouche, through the medium of his agents, had given Pichegru, Georges, +and some other partisans of royalty, to understand that they might depend +on Moreau, who, it was said, was quite prepared. It is certain that +Moreau informed Pichegru that he (Pichegru) had been deceived, and that +he had never been spoken to on the subject. Russillon declared on the +trial that on the 14th of March the Polignacs said to some one, +"Everything is going wrong--they do not understand each other. Moreau +does not keep his word. We have been deceived." M. de Riviera declared +that he soon became convinced they had been deceived, and was about to +return to England when he was arrested. It is certain that the principal +conspirators obtained positive information which confirmed their +suspicions. They learned Moreau's declaration from Pichegru. Many of +the accused declared that they soon discovered they had been deceived; +and the greater part of them were about to quit Paris, when they were all +arrested, almost at one and the same moment. Georges was going into La +Vendee when he was betrayed by the man who, with the connivance of the +police, had escorted him ever since his departure from London, and who +had protected him from any interruption on the part of the police so long +as it was only necessary to know where he was, or what he was about. +Georges had been in Paris seven months before it was considered that the +proper moment had arrived for arresting him. + +The almost simultaneous arrest of the conspirators proves clearly that +the police knew perfectly well where they could lay their hands upon +them. + +When Pichegru was required to sign his examination he refused. He said +it was unnecessary; that, knowing all the secret machinery of the police, +he suspected that by some chemical process they would erase all the +writing except the signature, and afterwards fill up the paper with +statements which he had never made. His refusal to sign the +interrogatory, he added, would not prevent him from repeating before a +court of justice the truth which he had stated in answer to the questions +proposed to him. Fear was entertained of the disclosures he might make +respecting his connection with Moreau, whose destruction was sought for, +and also with respect to the means employed by the agents of Fouche to +urge the conspirators to effect a change which they desired. + +On the evening of the 15th of February I heard of Moreau's arrest, and +early next morning I proceeded straight to the Rue St. Pierre, where +M. Carbonnet resided with his nephew. I was anxious to hear from him the +particulars of the general's arrest. What was my surprise! I had hardly +time to address myself to the porter before he informed me that +M. Carbonnet and his nephew were both arrested. "I advise you, sir," +added the man, "to retire without more ado, for I can assure you that the +persons who visit M. Carbonnet are watched."--"Is he still at home?" +said I. "Yes, Sir; they are examining his papers."--" Then," said I, +"I will go up." M. Carbonnet, of whose friendship I had reason to be +proud, and whose memory will ever be dear to me, was more distressed by +the arrest of his nephew and Moreau than by his own. His nephew was, +however, liberated after a few hours. M. Carbonnet's papers were sealed +up, and he was placed in solitary confinement at St. Pelagic. + +Thus the police, who previously knew nothing, were suddenly informed of +all. In spite of the numerous police agents scattered over France, it +was only discovered by the declarations of Bouvet de Lozier that three +successive landings had been effected, and that a fourth was expected, +which, however, did not take place, because General Savary was despatched +by the First Consul with orders to seize the persons whose arrival was +looked for. There cannot be a more convincing proof of the fidelity of +the agents of the police to their old chief, and their combined +determination of trifling with their new one, + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +1804. + + The events of 1804--Death of the Due d'Enghien--Napoleon's arguments + at St. Helena--Comparison of dates--Possibility of my having saved + the Due d'Enghien's life--Advice given to the Duc d'Enghien--Sir + Charles Stuart--Delay of the Austrian Cabinet--Pichegru and the + mysterious being--M. Massias--The historians of St. Helena-- + Bonaparte's threats against the emigrants and M. Cobentzel-- + Singular adventure of Davoust's secretary--The quartermaster-- + The brigand of La Vendee. + +In order to form a just idea of the events which succeeded each other so +rapidly at the commencement of 1804 it is necessary to consider them both +separately and connectedly. It must be borne in mind that all +Bonaparte's machinations tended to one object, the foundation of the +French Empire in his favour; and it is also essential to consider how the +situation of the emigrants, in reference to the First Consul, had changed +since the declaration of war. As long as Bonaparte continued at peace +the cause of the Bourbons had no support in foreign Cabinets, and the +emigrants had no alternative but to yield to circumstances; but on the +breaking out of a new war all was changed. The cause of the Bourbons +became that of the powers at war with France; and as many causes +concurred to unite the emigrants abroad with those who had returned but +half satisfied, there was reason to fear something from their revolt, in +combination with the powers arrayed against Bonaparte. + +Such was the state of things with regard to the emigrants when the +leaders and accomplices of Georges' conspiracy were arrested at the very +beginning of 1804. The assassination of the Due d'Enghien + + --[Louis Antoine Henri de Bourbon, Duc d'Enghien (1772-1804), son of + the Duc de Bourbon, and grandson of the Prince de Conde, served + against France in the army of Conde. When this force was disbanded + he stayed at Ettenheim on account of a love affair with the + Princesse Charlotte de Rohan-Rochefort. Arrested in the territory + of Baden, he was taken to Vincennes, and after trial by court- + martial shot is the moat, 21st May 1804. With him practically ended + the house of Bourbon-Conde as his grandfather died in 1818, leaving + only the Duc de Bourbon, and the Princesee Louise Adelaide, Abbesse + de Remiremont, who died in 1824.]-- + +took place on the 21st of March; on the 30th of April appeared the +proposition of the Tribunate to found a Government in France under the +authority of one individual; on the 18th of May came the 'Senatus- +consulte', naming Napoleon Bonaparte EMPEROR, and lastly, on the 10th. +of June, the sentence of condemnation on Georges and his accomplices. +Thus the shedding of the blood of a Bourbon, and the placing of the crown +of France on the head of a soldier of fortune were two acts interpolated +in the sanguinary drama of Georges' conspiracy. It must be remembered, +too, that during the period of these events we were at war with England, +and on the point of seeing Austria and the Colossus of the north form a +coalition against the new Emperor. + +I will now state all I know relative to the death of the Due d'Enghien. +That unfortunate Prince, who was at Ettenheim, in consequence of a love +affair, had no communication whatever with those who were concocting a +plot in the interior. Machiavelli says that when the author of a crime +cannot be discovered we should seek for those to whose advantage it +turns. In the present case Machiavelli's advice will find an easy +application, since the Duke's death could be advantageous only to +Bonaparte, who considered it indispensable to his accession to the crown +of France. The motives may be explained, but can they be justified? +How could it ever be said that the Due d'Enghien perished as a presumed +accomplice in the conspiracy of Georges? + +Moreau was arrested on the 15th of February 1804, at which time the +existence of the conspiracy was known. Pichegru and Georges were also +arrested in February, and the Due d'Enghien not till the 15th of March. +Now if the Prince had really been concerned in the plot, if even he had a +knowledge of it, would he have remained at Ettenheim for nearly a month +after the arrest of his presumed accomplices, intelligence of which he +might have obtained in the space of three days? Certainly not. So +ignorant was he of that conspiracy that when informed at Ettenheim of +the affair he doubted it, declaring that if it were true his father and +grandfather would have made him acquainted with it. Would so long an +interval have been suffered to elapse before he was arrested? Alas! +cruel experience has shown that that step would have been taken in a few +hours. + +The sentence of death against Georges and his accomplices was not +pronounced till the 10th of June 1804, and the Due d'Enghien was shot on +the 21st of March, before the trials were even commenced. How is this +precipitation to be explained? If, as Napoleon has declared, the young +Bourbon was an accomplice in the crime, why was he not arrested at the +time the others were? Why was he not tried along with them, on the +ground of his being an actual accomplice; or of being compromised, by +communications with them; or, in short, because his answers might have +thrown light on that mysterious affair? How was it that the name of the +illustrious accused was not once mentioned in the course of that awful +trial? + +It can scarcely be conceived that Napoleon could say at St. Helena, +"Either they contrived to implicate the unfortunate Prince in their +project, and so pronounced his doom, or, by omitting to inform him of +what was going on, allowed him imprudently to slumber on the brink of a +precipice; for he was only a stone's cast from the frontier when they +were about to strike the great blow in the name and for the interest of +his family." + +This reasoning is not merely absurd, it is atrocious. If the Duke was +implicated by the confession of his accomplices, he should have been +arrested and tried along with them. Justice required this. If he was +not so implicated, where is the proof of his guilt? Because some +individuals, without his knowledge, plotted to commit a crime in the name +of his family he was to be shot! Because he was 130 leagues from the +scene of the plot, and had no connection with it, he was to die! Such +arguments cannot fail to inspire horror. It is absolutely impossible any +reasonable person can regard the Due d'Enghien as an accomplice of +Cadoudal; and Napoleon basely imposed on his contemporaries and posterity +by inventing such falsehoods, and investing them with the authority of +his name. + +Had I been then in the First Consul's intimacy I may aver, with as much +confidence as pride, that the blood of the Due d'Enghien would not have +imprinted an indelible stain on the glory of Bonaparte. In this terrible +matter I could have done what no one but me could even attempt, and this +on account of my position, which no one else has since held with +Bonaparte. I quite admit that he would have preferred others to me, and +that he would have had more friendship for them than for me, supposing +friendship to be compatible with the character of Bonaparte, but I knew +him better than any one else. Besides, among those who surrounded him I +alone could have permitted myself some return to our former familiarity +on account of our intimacy of childhood. Certainly, in a matter which +permanently touched the glory of Bonaparte, I should not have been +restrained by the fear of some transitory fit of anger, and the reader +has seen that I did not dread disgrace. Why should I have dreaded it? +I had neither portfolio, nor office, nor salary, for, as I have said, I +was only with Bonaparte as a friend, and we had, as it were, a common +purse. I feel a conviction that it would have been very possible for me +to have dissuaded Bonaparte from his fatal design, inasmuch as I +positively know that his object, after the termination of the peace, was +merely to frighten the emigrants, in order to drive them from Ettenheim, +where great numbers, like the Due d'Enghien, had sought refuge. His +anger was particularly directed against a Baroness de Reith and a +Baroness d'Ettengein, who had loudly vituperated him, and distributed +numerous libels on the left bank of the Rhine. At that period Bonaparte +had as little design against the Due d'Enghien's life as against that of +any other emigrant. He was more inclined to frighten than to harm him, +and certainly his first intention was not to arrest the Prince, but, +as I have said, to frighten the 'emigres', and to drive them to a +distance. I must, however, admit that when Bonaparte spoke to Rapp and +Duroc of the emigrants on the other side of the Rhine he expressed +himself with much irritability: so much so, indeed, that M. de +Talleyrand, dreading its effects for the Due d'Enghien, warned that +Prince, through the medium of a lady to whom he was attached, of his +danger, and advised him to proceed to a greater distance from the +frontier. On receiving this notice the Prince resolved to rejoin his +grandfather, which he could not do but by passing through the Austrian +territory. Should any doubt exist as to these facts it may be added that +Sir Charles Stuart wrote to M. de Cobentzel to solicit a passport for the +Duc d'Enghien; and it was solely owing to the delay of the Austrian +Cabinet that time was afforded for the First Consul to order the arrest +of the unfortunate Prince as soon as he had formed the horrible +resolution of shedding the blood of a Bourbon. This resolution could +have originated only with himself, for who would have dared to suggest it +to him? The fact is, Bonaparte knew not what he did. His fever of +ambition amounted to delirium; and he knew not how he was losing himself +in public opinion because he did not know that opinion, to gain which he +would have made every sacrifice. + +When Cambaceres (who, with a slight reservation, had voted the death of +Louis XVI.) warmly opposed in the Council the Duc d'Enghien's arrest, the +First Consul observed to him, "Methinks, Sir, you have grown very chary +of Bourbon blood!" + +Meanwhile the Due d'Enghien was at Ettenheim, indulging in hope rather +than plotting conspiracies. It is well known that an individual made an +offer to the Prince de Conde to assassinate the First Consul, but the +Prince indignantly rejected the proposition, and nobly refused to recover +the rights of the Bourbons at the price of such a crime. The individual +above-mentioned was afterwards discovered to be an agent of the Paris +police, who had been commissioned to draw the Princes into a plot which +would have ruined them, for public feeling revolts at assassination under +any circumstances. + +It has been alleged that Louis XVIII.'s refusal to treat with Bonaparte +led to the fatal catastrophe of the Due d'Enghien's death. The first +correspondence between Louis XVIII. and the First Consul, which has been +given in these Memoirs, clearly proves the contrary. It is certainly +probable that Louis XVIII.'s refusal to renounce his rights should have +irritated Bonaparte. But it was rather late to take his revenge two +years after, and that too on a Prince totally ignorant of those +overtures. It is needless to comment on such absurdities. It is equally +unnecessary to speak of the mysterious being who often appeared at +meetings in the Faubourg St. Germain, and who was afterwards discovered +to be Pichegru. + +A further light is thrown on this melancholy catastrophe by a +conversation Napoleon had, a few days after his elevation to the imperial +throne, with M. Masaias, the French Minister at the Court of the Grand +Duke of Baden. This conversation took place at Aix-la-Chapelle. After +some remarks on the intrigues of the emigrants Bonaparte observed, "You +ought at least to have prevented the plots which the Due d'Enghien was +hatching at Ettenheim."--"Sire, I am too old to learn to tell a +falsehood. Believe me, on this subject your Majesty's ear has been +abused."--"Do you not think, then, that had the conspiracy of Georges and +Pichegru proved successful, the Prince would have passed the Rhine, and +have come post to Paris?" + +M. Massias, from whom I had these particulars, added, "At this last +question of the Emperor I hung down my head and was silent, for I saw he +did not wish to hear the truth." + +Now let us consider, with that attention which the importance of the +subject demands, what has been said by the historians of St. Helena. + +Napoleon said to his companions in exile that "the Due d'Enghien's death +must be attributed either to an excess of zeal for him (Napoleon), to +private views, or to mysterious intrigues. He had been blindly urged on; +he was, if he might say so, taken by surprise. The measure was +precipitated, and the result predetermined." + +This he might have said; but if he did so express himself, how are we to +reconcile such a declaration with the statement of O'Meara? How give +credit to assertions so very opposite? + +Napoleon said to M. de Las Casas: + + "One day when alone, I recollect it well, I was taking my coffee, + half seated on the table at which I had just dined, when suddenly + information was brought to me that a new conspiracy had been + discovered. I was warmly urged to put an end to these enormities; + they represented to me that it was time at last to give a lesson to + those who had been day after day conspiring against my life; that + this end could only be attained by shedding the blood of one of + them; and that the Due d'Enghien, who might now be convicted of + forming part of this new conspiracy, and taken in the very act, + should be that one. It was added that he had been seen at + Strasburg; that it was even believed that he had been in Paris; and + that the plan was that he should enter France by the east at the + moment of the explosion, whilst the Due de Berri was disembarking in + the west. I should tell you," observed the Emperor, "that I did not + even know precisely who the Due d'Enghien was (the Revolution having + taken place when I was yet a very young man, and I having never been + at Court), and that I was quite in the dark as to where he was at + that moment. Having been informed on those points I exclaimed that + if such were the case the Duke ought to be arrested, and that orders + should be given to that effect. Everything had been foreseen and + prepared; the different orders were already drawn up, nothing + remained to be done but to sign them, and the fate of the young + Prince was thus decided." + +Napoleon next asserts that in the Duke's arrest and condemnation all the +usual forms were strictly observed. But he has also declared that the +death of that unfortunate Prince will be an eternal reproach to those +who, carried away by a criminal zeal, waited not for their Sovereign's +orders to execute the sentence of the court-martial. He would, perhaps, +have allowed the Prince to live; but yet he said, "It is true I wished to +make an example which should deter." + +It has been said that the Due d'Enghien addressed a letter to Napoleon, +which was not delivered till after the execution. This is false and +absurd! How could that Prince write to Bonaparte to offer him his +services and to solicit the command of an army? His interrogatory makes +no mention of this letter, and is in direct opposition to the sentiments +which that letter would attribute to him. The truth is, no such letter +ever existed. The individual who was with the Prince declared he never +wrote it. It will never be believed that any one would have presumed to +withhold from Bonaparte a letter on which depended the fate of so august +a victim. + +In his declarations to his companions in exile Napoleon endeavoured +either to free himself of this crime or to justify it. His fear or his +susceptibility was such, that in discoursing with strangers he merely +said, that had he known of the Prince's letter, which was not delivered +to him.--God knows why!--until after he had breathed his last, he would +have pardoned him. But at a subsequent date he traced, with his own +hand, his last thoughts, which he supposed would be consecrated in the +minds of his contemporaries, and of posterity. Napoleon, touching on the +subject which he felt would be one of the most important attached to his +memory, said that if the thing were to do again he would act as he then +did. How does this declaration tally with his avowal, that if he had +received the Prince's letter he should have lived? This is +irreconcilable. But if we compare all that Napoleon said at St. Helena, +and which has been transmitted to us by his faithful followers; if we +consider his contradictions when speaking of the Due d'Enghien's death to +strangers, to his friends, to the public, or to posterity, the question +ceases to be doubtful Bonaparte wished to strike a blow which would +terrify his enemies. Fancying that the Duc de Berri was ready to land in +France, he despatched his aide de camp Savary, in disguise, attended by +gendarmes, to watch the Duke's landing at Biville, near Dieppe. This +turned out a fruitless mission. The Duke was warned in time not to +attempt the useless and dangerous enterprise, and Bonaparte, enraged to +see one prey escape him, pounced upon another. It is well known that +Bonaparte often, and in the presence even of persons whom he conceived to +have maintained relations with the partisans of the Bourbons at Paris, +expressed himself thus: "I will put an end to these conspiracies. If any +of the emigrants conspire they shall be shot. I have been told that +Cobentzel harbours some of them. I do not believe this; but if it be +true, Cobentzel shall be arrested and shot along with them. I will let +the Bourbons know I am not to be trifled with." The above statement of +facts accounts for the suppositions respecting the probable influence of +the Jacobins in this affair. It has been said, not without some +appearance of reason, that to get the Jacobins to help him to ascend the +throne Bonaparte consented to sacrifice a victim of the blood royal, as +the only pledge capable of ensuring them against the return of the +proscribed family. Be this as it may, there are no possible means of +relieving Bonaparte from his share of guilt in the death of the Due +d'Enghien. + +To the above facts, which came within my own knowledge, I may add the +following curious story, which was related to me by an individual who +himself heard it from the secretary of General Davoust. + +Davoust was commanding a division in the camp of Boulogne, and his +secretary when proceeding thither to join him met in the diligence a man +who seemed to be absorbed in affliction. This man during the whole +journey never once broke silence but by some deep sighs, which he had not +power to repress. General Davoust's secretary observed him with +curiosity and interest, but did not venture to intrude upon his grief by +any conversation. The concourse of travellers from Paris to the camp +was, however, at that time very great, and the inn at which the diligence +stopped in the evening was so crowded that it was impossible to assign a +chamber to each traveller. Two, therefore, were put into one room, and +it so happened that the secretary was lodged with his mysterious +travelling companion. + +When they were alone he addressed him in a torso of interest which +banished all appearance of intrusion. He inquired whether the cause of +his grief was of a nature to admit of any alleviation, and offered to +render him any assistance in his power. "Sir," replied the stranger, +"I am much obliged for the sympathy you express for me--I want nothing. +There is no possible consolation for me. My affliction can end only with +my life. You shall judge for yourself, for the interest you seem to take +in my misfortune fully justifies my confidence. I was quartermaster in +the select gendarmerie, and formed part of a detachment which was ordered +to Vincennes. I passed the night there under arms, and at daybreak was +ordered down to the moat with six men. An execution was to take place. +The prisoner was brought out, and I gave the word to fire. The man fell, +and after the execution I learned that we had shot the Due d'Enghien. +Judge of my horror! . . . I knew the prisoner only by the name of the +brigand of La Vendee! . . . I could no longer remain in the service +--I obtained my discharge, and am about to retire to my family. Would +that I had done so sooner!" The above has been related to me and other +persons by Davoust's secretary, whom I shall not name. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +1804. + + General Ordener's mission--Arrest of the Due d'Enghien--Horrible + night-scene---Harrel's account of the death of the Prince--Order for + digging the grave--The foster-sister of the Duo d'Enghien--Reading + the sentence--The lantern--General Savary--The faithful dog and the + police--My visit to Malmaison--Josephine's grief-- + The Duc d'Enghien's portrait and lock of hair--Savary's emotion-- + M. de Chateaubriand's resignation--M. de Chatenubriand's connection + with Bonaparte--Madame Bacciocchi and M. de Fontanes--Cardinal Fesch + --Dedication of the second edition of the 'Genie du Christianisme' + --M. de Chateaubriand's visit to the First Consul on the morning of + the Due d'Enghien's death--Consequences of the Duo d'Enghien's + death--Change of opinion in the provinces--The Gentry of the + Chateaus--Effect of the Due d'Enghien's death on foreign Courts-- + Remarkable words of Mr. Pitt--Louis XVIII. sends back the insignia + of the Golden Fleece to the King of Spain. + +I will now narrate more fully the sanguinary scene which took place at +Vincennes. General Ordener, commanding the mounted grenadiers of the +Guard, received orders from the War Minister to proceed to the Rhine, to +give instructions to the chiefs of the gendarmerie of New Brissac, which +was placed at his disposal. General Ordener sent a detachment of +gendarmerie to Ettenheim, where the Due d'Enghien was arrested on the +15th of March. He was immediately conducted to the citadel of Strasburg, +where he remained till the 18th, to give time for the arrival of orders +from Paris. These orders were given rapidly, and executed promptly, for +the carriage which conveyed the unfortunate Prince arrived at the barrier +at eleven o'clock on the morning of the 20th, where it remained for five +hours, and afterwards proceeded by the exterior boulevards on the road to +Vincennes, where it arrived at night. Every scene of this horrible drama +was acted under the veil of night: the sun did not even shine upon its +tragical close. The soldiers received orders to proceed to Vincennes at +night. It was at night that the fatal gates of the fortress were closed +upon the Prince. At night the Council assembled and tried him, or rather +condemned him without trial. When the clock struck six in the morning +the orders were given to fire, and the Prince ceased to exist. + +Here a reflection occurs to me. Supposing one were inclined to admit +that the Council held on the 10th of March had some connection with the +Due d'Enghien's arrest, yet as no Council was held from the time of the +Duke's arrival at the barrier to the moment of his execution, it could +only be Bonaparte himself who issued the orders which were too punctually +obeyed. When the dreadful intelligence of the Duc d'Enghien's death was +spread in Paris it excited a feeling of consternation which recalled the +recollection of the Reign of Terror. Could Bonaparte have seen the gloom +which pervaded Paris, and compared it with the joy which prevailed on the +day when he returned victorious from the field of Marengo, he would have +felt that he had tarnished his glory by a stain which could never be +effaced. + +About half-past twelve on the 22d of March I was informed that some one +wished to speak with me. It was Harrel. + + --[Harrel, who had been unemployed till the plot of Arena and + Ceracchi on the 18th Vendemiairean IX (10th October 1800) which he + had feigned to join, and had then revealed to the police (see ante), + had been made Governor of Vincennes.]-- + +I will relate word for word what he communicated to me. Harrel probably +thought that he was bound in gratitude to acquaint me with these details; +but he owed me no gratitude, for it was much against my will that he had +encouraged the conspiracy of Ceracchi, and received the reward of his +treachery in that crime. The following is Harrel's statement:-- + +"On the evening of the day before yesterday, when the Prince arrived, +I was asked whether I had a room to lodge a prisoner in; I replied, No-- +that there were only my apartments and the Council-chamber. I was told +to prepare instantly a room in which a prisoner could sleep who was to +arrive that evening. I was also desired to dig a pit in the courtyard. + + --[This fact must be noted. Harrel is told to dig a trench before + the sentence. Thus it was known that they had come to kill the Duc + d'Enghien. How can this be answered? Can it possibly be supposed + that anyone, whoever it was, would have dared to give each an order + in anticipation if the order had not been the carrying out of a + formal command of Bonaparte? That is incredible.--Bourrienne.]-- + +"I replied that that could not be easily done, as the courtyard was paved. +The moat was then fixed upon, and there the pit was dug. The Prince +arrived at seven o'clock in the evening; he was perishing with cold and +hunger. He did not appear dispirited. He said he wanted something to +eat, and to go to bed afterwards. His apartment not being yet +sufficiently aired, I took him into my own, and sent into the village for +some refreshment. The Prince sat down to table, and invited me to eat +with him. He then asked me a number of questions respecting Vincennes-- +what was going on there, and other particulars. He told me that he had +been brought up in the neighbourhood of the castle, and spoke to me with +great freedom and kindness. 'What do they want with me?' he said. What +do they mean to do with me?' But these questions betrayed no uneasiness +or anxiety. My wife, who was ill, was lying in the same room in an +alcove, closed by a railing. She heard, without being perceived, all our +conversation, and she was exceedingly agitated, for she recognised the +Prince, whose foster-sister she was, and whose family had given her a +pension before the Revolution. + +"The Prince hastened to bed, but before he could have fallen asleep the +judges sent to request his presence in the Council-chamber. I was not +present at his examination; but when it was concluded he returned to his +chamber, and when they came to read his sentence to him he was in a +profound sleep. In a few moments after he was led out for execution. +He had so little suspicion of the fate that awaited him that on +descending the staircase leading to the moat he asked where they were +taking him. He received no answer. I went before the Prince with a +lantern. Feeling the cold air which came up the staircase he pressed my +arm and said, 'Are they going to put me into a dungeon?'" + +The rest is known. I can yet see Harrel shuddering while thinking of +this action of the Prince's. + +Much has been said about a lantern which it is pretended was attached to +one of the Due d'Enghien's button-holes. This is a pure invention. +Captain Dautancourt, whose sight was not very good, took the lantern out +of Harrel's hand to read the sentence to the victim, who had been +condemned with as little regard to judicial forms as to justice. This +circumstance probably gave rise to the story about the lantern to which I +have just alluded. The fatal event took place at six o'clock on the +morning of the 21st of March, and it was then daylight. + +General Savary did not dare to delay the execution of the sentence, +although the Prince urgently demanded to have an interview with the First +Consul. Had Bonaparte seen the prince there can be little doubt but that +he would have saved his life. Savary, however, thought himself bound to +sacrifice his own opinions to the powerful faction which then controlled +the First Consul; and whilst he thought he was serving his master, he was +in fact only serving the faction to which, I must say, he did not belong. +The truth is, that General Savary can only be reproached for not having +taken upon himself to suspend the execution, which very probably would +not have taken place had it been suspended. He was merely an instrument, +and regret on his part would, perhaps, have told more in his favour than +his vain efforts to justify Bonaparte. I have just said that if there +had been any suspension there would have been no execution; and I think +this is almost proved by the uncertainty which must have existed in the +mind of the First Consul. If he had made up his mind all the measures +would have been taken in advance, and if they had been, the carriage of +the Duke would certainly not have been kept for five hours at the +barriers. Besides, it is certain that the first intention was to take +the Prince to the prison of the Temple. + +From all that I have stated, and particularly from the non-suspension of +the execution, it appears to me as clear as day that General Savary had +received a formal order from Bonaparte for the Due d'Enghien's death, and +also a formal order that it should be so managed as to make it impossible +to speak to Bonaparte again on the subject until all should be over. Can +there be a more evident, a more direct proof of this than the digging of +the grave beforehand? I have repeated Harrel's story just as he related +it to me. He told it me without solicitation, and he could not invent a +circumstance of this nature. + +General Savary was not in the moat during the execution, but on the bank, +from whence he could easily see all that passed. Another circumstance +connected with the Due d'Enghien's death has been mentioned, which is +true. The Prince had a little dog; this faithful animal returned +incessantly to the fatal spot in the moat. There are few who have not +seen that spot. Who has not made a pilgrimage to Vincennes and dropped a +tear where the victim fell? The fidelity of the poor dog excited so much +interest that the police prevented any one from visiting the fatal spot, +and the dog was no longer heard to howl over his master's grave. + +I promised to state the truth respecting the death of the Due d'Enghien, +and I have done so, though it has cost me some pain. Harrel's narrative, +and the shocking circumstance of the grave being dug beforehand, left me +no opportunity of cherishing any doubts I might have wished to entertain; +and everything which followed confirmed the view I then took of the +subject. When Harrel left me on the 22d I determined to go to Malmaison +to see Madame Bonaparte, knowing, from her sentiments towards the House +of Bourbon, that she would be in the greatest affliction. I had +previously sent to know whether it would be convenient for her to see me, +a precaution I had never before observed, but which I conceived to be +proper upon that occasion. On my arrival I was immediately introduced to +her boudoir, where she was alone with Hortense and Madame de Remusat. +They were all deeply afflicted. "Bourrienne," exclaimed Josephine, +as soon as she perceived me, "what a dreadful event! Did you but know +the state of mind Bonaparte is in! He avoids, he dreads the presence of +every one! Who could have suggested to him such an act as this?" +I then acquainted Josephine with the particulars which I had received +from Harrel. "What barbarity!" she resumed. "But no reproach can rest +upon me, for I did everything to dissuade him from this dreadful project. +He did not confide the secret to me, but I guessed it, and he +acknowledged all. How harshly he repelled my entreaties! I clung to +him! I threw myself at his feet! 'Meddle with what concerns you!' +he exclaimed angrily. 'This is not women's business! Leave me!' And he +repulsed me with a violence which be had never displayed since our first +interview after your return from Egypt. Heavens! what will become of +us?" + +I could say nothing to calm affliction and alarm in which I participated, +for to my grief for the death of the Due d'Enghien was added my regret +that Bonaparte should be capable of such a crime. "What," said +Josephine, "can be thought of this in Paris? He must be the object of +universal, imprecation, for even here his flatterers appear astounded +when they are out of his presence. How wretched we have been since +yesterday; and he!.... You know what he is when be is dissatisfied with +himself. No one dare speak to him, and all is mournful around us. What +a commission he gave to Savary! You know I do not like the general, +because he is one of those whose flatteries will contribute to ruin +Bonaparte. Well! I pitied Savary when he came yesterday to fulfil a +commission which the Due d'Enghien had entrusted to him. Here," added +Josephine, "is his portrait and a lock of his hair, which he has +requested me to transmit to one who was dear to him. Savary almost shed +tears when he described to me the last moments of the Duke; then, +endeavouring to resume his self-possession, he said: 'It is in vain to +try to be indifferent, Madame! It is impossible to witness the death of +such a man unmoved!'" + +Josephine afterwards informed me of the only act of courage which +occurred at this period--namely, the resignation which M. de +Chateaubriand had sent to Bonaparte. She admired his conduct greatly, +and said: "What a pity he is not surrounded by men of this description! +It would be the means of preventing all the errors into which he is led +by the constant approbation of those about him." Josephine thanked me +for my attention in coming to see her at such an unhappy juncture; and I +confess that it required all the regard I cherished for her to induce me +to do so, for at that moment I should not have wished to see the First +Consul, since the evil was irreparable. On the evening of that day +nothing was spoken of but the transaction of the 21st of March, and the +noble conduct of M. de Chateaubriand. As the name of that celebrated man +is for ever written in characters of honour in the history of that +period, I think I may with propriety relate here what I know respecting +his previous connection with Bonaparte. + +I do not recollect the precise date of M. de Chateaubriand's return to +France; I only know that it was about the year 1800, for we were, +I think, still at the Luxembourg: However, I recollect perfectly that +Bonaparte began to conceive prejudices against him; and when I one day +expressed my surprise to the First Consul that M. de Chateaubriand's name +did not appear on any of the lists which he had ordered to be presented +to him for filling up vacant places, he said: "He has been mentioned to +me, but I replied in a way to check all hopes of his obtaining any +appointment. He has notions of liberty and independence which will not +suit my system. I would rather have him my enemy than my forced friend. +At all events, he must wait awhile; I may, perhaps, try him first in a +secondary place, and, if he does well, I may advance him." + +The above is, word for word, what Bonaparte said the: first time I +conversed with him about M. de Chateaubriand. The publication of 'Atala' +and the 'Genie du Christianisme' suddenly gave Chateaubriand celebrity, +and attracted the attention of the First Consul. Bonaparte who then +meditated the restoration of religious worship: in France, found himself +wonderfully supported by the publication of a book which excited the +highest interest, and whose superior merit led the public mind to the +consideration of religious topics. I remember Madame Bacciocchi coming +one day to visit her brother with a little volume in her hand; it was +'Atala'. She presented it to the First Consul, and begged he would read +it. "What, more romances!" exclaimed he. "Do you think I have time to +read all your fooleries?" He, however, took the book from his sister and +laid it down on my desk. Madame Bacciocchi then solicited the erasure of +M. de Chateaubriand's name from the list of emigrants. "Oh! oh!" said +Bonaparte, "it is Chateaubriand's book, is it? I will read it, then. +Bourrienne, write to Fouche to erase his name from the list." + +Bonaparte, at that time paid so little attention to what was doing in the +literary world that he was not aware of Chateaubriand being the author of +'Atala'. It was on the recommendation of M. de Fontanel that Madame +Bacciocchi tried this experiment, which was attended by complete success. +The First Consul read 'Atala', and was much pleased with it. On the +publication of the 'Genie du Christianisme' some time after, his first +prejudices were wholly removed. Among the persons about him there were +many who dreaded to see a man of de Chateaubriand's talent approach the +First Consul, who knew how to appreciate superior merit when it did not +exite his envy. + +Our relations with the Court of the Vatican being renewed, and Cardinal +Fesch appointed Ambassador to the Holy See, Bonaparte conceived the idea +of making M. de Chateaubriand first secretary to the Embassy, thinking +that the author of the 'Genie du Christianisme' was peculiarly fitted to +make up for his uncle's deficiency of talent in the capital of the +Christian world, which was destined to become the second city of the +Empire. + +It was not a little extraordinary to let a man, previously, a stranger to +diplomatic business; stepping over all the intermediate degrees; and +being at once invested with the functions of first secretary to an +important Embassy. I oftener than once heard the First Consul +congratulate himself on having made the appointment. I knew, though +Bonaparte was not aware of the circumstance at the time, that +Chateaubriand at first refused the situation, and that he was only +induced to accept it by the entreaties of the head of the clergy, +particularly of the Abby Emery, a man of great influence. They +represented to the author of the' Genie du Christianisme that it was +necessary he should accompany the uncle of the First Consul to Rome; and +M. de Chateaubriand accordingly resolved to do so. + +However, clouds, gathered; I do not know from what cause, between the +ambassador and his secretary. All I know is, that on Bonaparte being +informed of the circumstance he took the part of the Cardinal, and the +friends of M. de Chateaubriand expected to see him soon deprived of his +appointment, when, to the great astonishment of every one, the secretary +to the Roman Embassy, far from being disgraced, was raised by the First +Consul to the rank of Minister Plenipotentiary to the Valais, with leave +to travel in Switzerland and Italy, together with the promise of the +first vacant Embassy. + +This favour excited a considerable sensation at the Tuileries; but as it +was known to be the will and pleasure of the First Consul all expression +of opinion on the subject was confined to a few quiet murmurs that +Bonaparte had done for the name of Chateaubriand what, in fact, he had +done only on account of his talent. It was during the continuance of +this favour that the second edition of the 'Genie du Christianisme' was +dedicated to the First Consul. + +M. de Chateaubriand returned to France previously to entering on the +fulfilment of his new mission. He remained for some months in Paris, and +on the day appointed for his departure he went to take leave of the First +Consul. By a singular chance it happened to be the fatal morning of the +21st of March, and consequently only a few hours after the Duc d'Enghien +had been shot. It is unnecessary to observe that M. de Chateaubriand was +ignorant of the fatal event. However, on his return home he said to his +friends that he had remarked a singular change in the appearance of the +First Consul, and that there was a sort of sinister expression in his +countenance. Bonaparte saw his new minister amidst the crowd who +attended the audience, and several times seemed inclined to step forward +to speak to him, but as often turned away, and did not approach him the +whole morning. A few hours after, when M. de Chatenubriand mentioned his +observations to some of his friends; he was made acquainted with the +cause of that agitation which, in spite of all his strength of mind and +self-command, Bonaparte could not disguise. + +M. de Chateaubriand instantly resigned his appointment of Minister +Plenipotentiary to the Valais. For several days his friends were much +alarmed for his safety, and they called every morning early to ascertain +whether he had not been carried off during the night. Their fears were +not without foundation. I must confess that I, who knew Bonaparte well, +was somewhat surprised that no serious consequence attended the anger he +manifested on receiving the resignation of the man who had dedicated his +work to him. In fact, there was good reason for apprehension, and it was +not without considerable difficulty that Elisa succeeded in averting the +threatened storm. From this time began a state of hostility between +Bonaparte and Chateaubriand which only terminated at the Restoration. + +I am persuaded, from my knowledge of Bonaparte's character, that though +he retained implacable resentment against a returned emigrant who had +dared to censure his conduct in so positive a manner, yet, his first +burst of anger being soothed, that which was the cause of hatred was at +the same time the ground of esteem. Bonaparte's animosity was, +I confess, very natural, for he could not disguise from himself the real +meaning of a resignation made under such circumstances. It said plainly, +"You have committed a crime, and I will not serve your Government, which +is stained with the blood of a Bourbon!" I can therefore very well +imagine that Bonaparte could never pardon the only man who dared to give +him such a lesson in the midst of the plenitude of his power. But, as I +have often had occasion to remark, there was no unison between +Bonaparte's feelings and his judgment. + +I find a fresh proof of this in the following passage, which he dictated +to M. de Montholon at St. Helena (Memoires, tome iv. p 248). "If," said +he, "the royal confidence had not been placed in men whose minds were +unstrung by too important circumstances, or who, renegade to their +country, saw no safety or glory for their master's throne except under +the yoke of the Holy Alliance; if the Duc de Richelieu, whose ambition +was to deliver his country from the presence of foreign bayonets; if +Chateaubriand, who had just rendered valuable services at Ghent; if they +had had the direction of affairs, France would have emerged from these +two great national crises powerful and redoubtable. Chateaubriand had +received from Nature the sacred fire-his works show it! His style is not +that of Racine but of a prophet. Only he could have said with impunity +in the chamber of peers, 'that the redingote and cocked hat of Napoleon, +put on a stick on the coast of Brest, would make all Europe run to +arms.'" + +The immediate consequences of the Duc d'Enghien's death were not confined +to the general consternation which that unjustifiable stroke of state +policy produced in the capital. The news spread rapidly through the +provinces and foreign countries, and was everywhere accompanied by +astonishment and sorrow. There is in the departments a separate class of +society, possessing great influence, and constituted entirely of persons +usually called the "Gentry of the Chateaux," who may be said to form the +provincial Faubourg St. Germain, and who were overwhelmed by the news. +The opinion of the Gentry of the Chateaux was not hitherto unfavourable +to the First Consul, for the law of hostages which he repealed had been +felt very severely by them. With the exception of some families +accustomed to consider themselves, in relation to the whole world, what +they were only within the circle of a couple of leagues; that is to say, +illustrious personages, all the inhabitants of the provinces, though they +might retain some attachment to the ancient order of things, had viewed +with satisfaction the substitution of the Consular for the Directorial +government, and entertained no personal dislike to the First Consul. +Among the Chateaux, more than anywhere else, it had always been the +custom to cherish Utopian ideas respecting the management of public +affairs, and to criticise the acts of the Government. It is well known +that at this time there was not in all France a single old mansion +surmounted by its two weathercocks which had not a systems of policy +peculiar to itself, and in which the question whether the First Consul +would play the part of Cromwell or Monk was not frequently canvassed. +In those innocent controversies the little news which the Paris papers +were allowed to publish was freely discussed, and a confidential letter +from Paris sometimes furnished food for the conversation of a whole week. + +While I was with Bonaparte he often talked to me about the life in the +Chateaux, which he considered as the happiest for men with sufficient +income and exempt from ambition. He knew and could appreciate this sort +of life, for he often told me the period of his life which he remembered. +with the greatest pleasure was that which he had passed in a Chateau of +the family of Boulat du Colombier near Valence. Bonaparte set great +value on the opinion of the Chateaux, because while living in the country +he had observed the moral influence which their inhabitants exercise over +their neighbourhood. He had succeeded to a great degree in conciliating +them, but the news of the death of the Due d'Enghien alienated from him +minds which were still wavering, and even those which had already +declared in his favour. That act of tyranny dissolved the charm which +had created hope from his government and awakened affections which had as +yet only slumbered. Those to whom this event was almost indifferent also +joined in condemning it; for there are certain aristocratic ideas which +are always fashionable in a certain class of society. Thus for different +causes this atrocity gave a retrograde direction to public opinion, which +had previously been favourably disposed to Bonaparte throughout the whole +of France. + +The consequences were not less important, and might have been disastrous +with respect to foreign Courts. I learned, through a channel which does +not permit me to entertain any doubt of the correctness of my +information, that as soon as the Emperor Alexander received the news it +became clear that England might conceive a well-founded hope of forming a +new coalition against France. Alexander openly expressed his +indignation. I also learned with equal certainty that when Mr. Pitt was +informed of the death of the French Prince he said, "Bonaparte has now +done himself more mischief than we have done him since the last +declaration of war." + + --[The remark made on this murder by the astute cold-blooded Fouche + is well known. He said, "It was worse than a crime--it was a + blunder!"--Editor of 1836 Edition.]-- + +Pitt was not the man to feel much concern for the death of any one; but +he understood and seized all the advantages afforded to him by this great +error of policy committed by the most formidable enemy of England. In +all the Treasury journals published in London Bonaparte was never spoken +of under any other name than that of the "assassin of the Duc d'Enghien." +The inert policy of the Cabinet of Vienna prevented the manifestation of +its displeasure by remonstrances, or by any outward act. At Berlin, in +consequence of the neighbourhood of the French troops in Hanover, the +commiseration for the death of the Due d'Enghien was also confined to the +King's cabinet, and more particularly to the salons of the Queen of +Prussia; but it is certain that that transaction almost everywhere +changed the disposition of sovereigns towards the First Consul, and that +if it did not cause, it at least hastened the success of the negotiations +which England was secretly carrying on with Austria and Prussia. Every +Prince of Germany was offended by the violation of the Grand Duke of +Baden's territory, and the death of a Prince could not fail everywhere to +irritate that kind of sympathy of blood and of race which had hitherto +always influenced the crowned heads and sovereign families of Europe; for +it was felt as an injury to all of them. + +When Louis XVIII. learned the death of the Due d'Enghien he wrote to the +King of Spain, returning him the insignia of the Order of the Golden +Fleece (which had also been conferred on Bonaparte), with the +accompanying letter: + + SIRE, MONSIEUR, AND DEAR COUSIN--It is with regret that I send back + to you the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece which his + Majesty, your father, of glorious memory conferred upon me. There + can be nothing in common between me and the great criminal whom + audacity and fortune have placed on my throne, since he has had the + barbarity to stain himself with the blood of a Bourbon, the Duc + d'Enghien. + + Religion might make me pardon an assassin, but the tyrant of my + people must always be my enemy. + + In the present age it is more glorious to merit a sceptre than to + possess one. + + Providence, for incomprehensible reasons, may condemn me to end my + days in exile, but neither my contemporaries nor posterity shall + ever have to say, that in the period of adversity I showed my self + unworthy of occupying the throne of my ancestors. + LOUIS + +The death of the Due d'Enghien was a horrible episode in the proceedings +of the great trial which was then preparing, and which was speedily +followed by the accession of Bonaparte to the Imperial dignity. It was +not one of the least remarkable anomalies of the epoch to see the +judgment by which criminal enterprises against the Republic were +condemned pronounced in the name of the Emperor who had so evidently +destroyed that Republic. This anomaly certainly was not removed by the +subtlety, by the aid of which he at first declared himself Emperor of the +Republic, as a preliminary to his proclaiming himself Emperor of the +French. Setting aside the means, it must be acknowledged that it is +impossible not to admire the genius of Bonaparte, his tenacity in +advancing towards his object, and that adroit employment of suppleness +and audacity which made him sometimes dare fortune, sometimes avoid +difficulties which he found insurmountable, to arrive, not merely at the +throne of Louis XVI., but at the reconstructed throne of Charlemagne. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +1804. + + Pichegru betrayed--His arrest--His conduct to his old aide de camp-- + Account of Pichegru's family, and his education at Brienne-- + Permission to visit M. Carbonnet--The prisoners in the Temple-- + Absurd application of the word "brigand"--Moreau and the state of + public opinion respecting him--Pichegru's firmness--Pichegru + strangled in prison--Public opinion at the time--Report on the death + of Pichegru. + +I shall now proceed to relate what I knew at the time and what I have +since learnt of the different phases of the trial of Georges, Pichegru, +Moreau and the other persons accused of conspiracy,--a trial to all the +proceedings of which I closely attended. From those proceedings I was +convinced that Moreau was no conspirator, but at the same time I must +confess that it is very probable the First Consul might believe that he +had been engaged in the plot, and I am also of opinion that the real +conspirators believed Moreau to be their accomplice and their chief; for +the object of the machinations of the police agents was to create a +foundation for such a belief, it being important to the success of their +scheme. + +It has been stated that Moreau was arrested on the day after the +confessions made by Bouvet de Lozier; Pichegru was taken by means of the +most infamous treachery that a man can be guilty of. The official police +had at last ascertained that he was in Paris, but they could not learn +the place of his concealment. The police agents had in vain exerted all +their efforts to discover him, when an old friend, who had given him his +last asylum, offered to deliver him up for 100,000 crowns. This infamous +fellow gave an enact description of the chamber which Pichegru occupied +in the Rue de Chabanais, and in consequence of his information Comminges, +commissary of police, proceeded thither, accompanied by some determined +men. Precautions were necessary, because it was known that Pichegru was +a man of prodigious bodily strength, and that besides, as he possessed +the means of defence, he would not allow himself to be taken without +making a desperate resistance. The police entered his chamber by using +false keys, which the man who had sold him had the baseness to get made +for them. A light was burning on his night table. The party of police, +directed by Comminges, overturned the table, extinguished the light, and +threw themselves on the general, who struggled with all his strength, and +cried out loudly. They were obliged to bind him, and in this state the +conqueror of Holland was removed to the Temple, out of which he was +destined never to come alive. + +It must be owned that Pichegru was far from exciting the same interest as +Moreau. The public, and more especially the army, never pardoned him for +his negotiations with the Prince de Conde prior to the 18th Fructidor. +However, I became acquainted with a trait respecting him while he was in +Paris which I think does him much honour. A son of M. Lagrenee, formerly +director of the French Academy at Rome, had been one of Pichegru's aides +de camp. This young man, though he had obtained the rank of captain, +resigned on the banishment of his general, and resumed the pencil, which +he had lad aside for the sword. Pichegru, while he was concealed in +Paris; visited his former aide de camp, who insisted upon giving him an +asylum; but Pichegru positively refused to accept M. Lagrenee's offer, +being determined not to commit a man who had already given him so strong +a proof of friendship. I learned this fact by a singular coincidence. +At this period Madame de Bourrienne wished to have a portrait of one of +our children; she was recommended to M. Lagrenee, and he related the +circumstance to her. + +It was on the night of the 22d of February that Pichegru was arrested in +the manner I have described. The deceitful friend who gave him up was +named Le Blanc, and he went to settle at Hamburg with the reward of his +treachery, I had entirely lost sight of Pichegru since we left Brienne, +for Pichegru was also a pupil of that establishment; but, being older +than either Bonaparte or I, he was already a tutor when we were only +scholars, and I very well recollect that it was he who examined Bonaparte +in the four first rules of arithmetic. + +Pichegru belonged to an agricultural family of Franche-Comte. He had a +relation, a minim,' in that country. The minim, who had the charge of +educating the pupils of the Military School of Brienne, being very poor, +and their poverty not enabling them to hold out much inducement to other +persons to assist them, they applied to the minims of Franche-Comte. In +consequence of this application Pichegru's relation, and some other +minims, repaired to Brienne. An aunt of Pichegru, who was a sister of +the order of charity, accompanied them, and the care of the infirmary was +entrusted to her. This good woman took her nephew to Brienne with her, +and he was educated at the school gratuitously. As soon as his age +permitted, Pichegru was made a tutor; but all, his ambition was to become +a minim. He was, however, dissuaded from that pursuit by his relation, +and he adopted the military profession. There is this further remarkable +circumstance in the youth of Pichegru, that, though he was older by +several years than Bonaparte, they were both made lieutenants of +artillery at the same time. What a difference in their destiny! While +the one was preparing to ascend a throne the other was a solitary +prisoner in the dungeon of the Temple. + +I had no motive to induce me to visit either the Temple or La Force, but +I received at the time circumstantial details of what was passing in +those prisons, particularly in the former; I went, however, frequently to +St. Pelagie, where M. Carbonnet was confined. As soon as I knew that he +was lodged in that prison I set about getting an admission from Real, who +smoothed all difficulties. M. Carbonnet was detained two months in +solitary confinement. He was several times examined, but the +interrogatories produced no result, and, notwithstanding the desire to +implicate him in consequence of the known intimacy between him and +Moreau, it was at last found impossible to put him on trial with the +other parties accused. + +The Temple had more terrors than St. Pelagie, but not for the prisoners +who were committed to it, for none of those illustrious victims of police +machination displayed any weakness, with the exception of Bouvet de +Lozier, who, being sensible of his weakness, wished to prevent its +consequences by death. The public, however, kept their attention riveted +on the prison in which Moreau was confined. I have already mentioned +that Pichegru was conveyed thither on the night of the 22d of February; a +fortnight later Georges was arrested, and committed to the same prison. + +Either Real or Desmarets, and sometimes both together, repaired to the +Temple to examine the prisoners. In vain the police endeavoured to +direct public odium against the prisoners by placarding lists of their +names through the whole of Paris, even before they were arrested. In +those lists they were styled "brigands," and at the head of "the +brigands," the name of General Moreau shone conspicuously. An absurdity +without a parallel. The effect produced was totally opposite to that +calculated on; for, as no person could connect the idea of a brigand with +that of a general who was the object of public esteem, it was naturally +concluded that those whose names were placarded along with his were no +more brigands than he. + +Public opinion was decidedly in favour of Moreau, and every one was +indignant at seeing him described as a brigand. Far from believing him +guilty, he was regarded as a victim fastened on because his reputation +embarrassed Bonaparte; for Moreau had always been looked up to as capable +of opposing the accomplishment of the First Consul's ambitious views. +The whole crime of Moreau was his having numerous partisans among those +who still clung to the phantom of the Republic, and that crime was +unpardonable in the eyes of the First Consul, who for two years had ruled +the destinies of France as sovereign master. What means were not +employed to mislead the opinion of the public respecting Moreau? The +police published pamphlets of all sorts, and the Comte de Montgaillard +was brought from Lyons to draw up a libel implicating him with Pichegru +and the exiled Princes. But nothing that was done produced the effect +proposed. + +The weak character of Moreau is known. In fact, he allowed himself to be +circumvented by a few intriguers, who endeavoured to derive advantage +from the influence of his name. But he was so decidedly opposed to the +reestablishment of the ancient system that he replied to one of the +agents who addressed' him, "I cannot put myself at the head of any +movement for the Bourbons, and such an attempt would not succeed. If +Pichegru act on another principle--and even in that case I have told him +that the Consuls and the Governor of Paris must disappear--I believe that +I have a party strong enough in the Senate to obtain possession of +authority, and I will immediately make use of it to protect his friends; +public opinion will then dictate what may be fit to be done, but I will +promise nothing in writing." Admitting these words attributed to Moreau +to be true, they prove that he was dissatisfied with the Consular +Government, and that he wished a change; but there is a great difference +between a conditional wish and a conspiracy. + +The commander of the principal guard of the Temple was General Savory, +and he had reinforced that guard by his select gendarmerie. The +prisoners did not dare to communicate one with another for fear of mutual +injury, but all evinced a courage which created no little alarm as to the +consequences of the trial. Neither offers nor threats produced any +confessions in the course of the interrogatories. Pichegru, in +particular, displayed an extraordinary firmness, and Real one day, on +leaving the chamber where he had been examining him, said aloud in the +presence of several persons, "What a man that Pichegru is!" + +Forty days elapsed after the arrest of General Pichegru when, on the +morning of the 6th of April, he was found dead in the chamber he occupied +in the Temple. Pichegru had undergone ten examinations; but he had made +no confessions, and no person was committed by his replies. + +All his declarations, however, gave reason to believe that he would speak +out, and that too in a lofty and energetic manner during the progress of +the trial. "When I am before my judges," said he, "my language shall be +conformable to truth and the interests of my country." What would that +language have been? Without doubt there was no wish that it should be +heard. Pichegru would have kept his promise, for he was distinguished +for his firmness of character above everything, even above his qualities +as a soldier; differing in this respect from Moreau, who allowed himself +to be guided by his wife and mother-in-law, both of whom displayed +ridiculous pretensions in their visits to Madame Bonaparte. + +The day on which Real spoke before several persons of Pichegru in the way +I have related was the day of his last examination. I afterwards +learned, from a source on which I can rely, that during his examination +Pichegru, though careful to say nothing which could affect the other +prisoners, showed no disposition to be tender of him who had sought and +resolved his death, but evinced a firm resolution to unveil before the +public the odious machinery of the plot into which the police had drawn +him. He also declared that he and his companions had no longer any +object but to consider of the means of leaving Paris, with the view of +escaping from the snares laid for them when their arrest took place. +He declared that they had all of them given up the idea of overturning +the power of Bonaparte, a scheme into which they had been enticed by +shameful intrigues. I am convinced the dread excited by his +manifestation of a resolution to speak out with the most rigid candour +hastened the death of Pichegru. M. Real, who is still living, knows +better than any one else what were Pichegru's declarations, as he +interrogated him. I know not whether that gentleman will think fit, +either at the present or some future period, to raise the veil of mystery +which hangs over these events, but of this I am sure, he will be unable +to deny anything I advance. There is evidence almost amounting to +demonstration that Pichegru was strangled in prison, and consequently all +idea of suicide must be rejected as inadmissible. Have I positive and +substantive proof of what I assert? I have not; but the concurrence of +facts and the weight of probabilities do not leave me in possession of +the doubts I should wish to entertain on that tragic event. Besides, +there exists a certain popular instinct, which is rarely at fault, and it +must be in the recollection of many, not only that the general opinion +favoured the notion of Pichegru's assassination, but that the pains taken +to give that opinion another direction, by the affected exhibition of the +body, only served to strengthen it. He who spontaneously says, I have not +committed such or such a crime, at least admits there is room for +suspecting his guilt. + +The truth is, the tide of opinion never set in with such force against +Bonaparte as during the trial of Moreau; nor was the popular sentiment in +error on the subject of the death of Pichegru, who was clearly strangled +in the Temple by secret agents. The authors, the actors, and the +witnesses of the horrible prison scenes of the period are the only +persons capable of removing the doubts which still hang over the death of +Pichegru; but I must nevertheless contend that the preceding +circumstances, the general belief at the time, and even probability, are +in contradiction with any idea of suicide on the part of Pichegru. His +death was considered necessary, and this necessity was its real cause. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +1804. + + Arrest of Georges--The fruiterer's daughter of the Rue de La + Montagne--St. Genevieve--Louis Bonaparte's visit to the Temple-- + General Lauriston--Arrest of Villeneuve and Barco--Villeneuve + wounded--Moreau during his imprisonment--Preparations for leaving + the Temple--Remarkable change in Georges--Addresses and + congratulations--Speech of the First Consul forgotten--Secret + negotiations with the Senate--Official proposition of Bonaparte's + elevation to the Empire--Sitting of the Council of State-- + Interference of Bonaparte--Individual votes--Seven against twenty-- + His subjects and his people--Appropriateness of the title of + Emperor--Communications between Bonaparte and the Senate--Bonaparte + first called Sire by Cambaceres--First letter signed by Napoleon as + Emperor--Grand levee at the Tuileries--Napoleon's address to the + Imperial Guard--Organic 'Senatus-consulte'--Revival of old formulas + and titles--The Republicanism of Lucien--The Spanish Princess-- + Lucien's clandestine marriage--Bonaparte's influence on the German + Princes--Intrigues of England--Drake at Munich--Project for + overthrowing Bonaparte's Government--Circular from the Minister for + Foreign Affairs to the members of the Diplomatic Body--Answers to + that circular. + +Georges was arrested about seven o'clock, on the evening of the 9th of +March, with another conspirator, whose name, I think, was Leridan. +Georges was stopped in a cabriolet on the Place de l'Odeon, whither he +had no doubt been directed by the police agent, who was constantly about +him. In not seizing him at his lodgings, the object, probably, was to +give more publicity to his arrest, and to produce an effect upon the +minds of the multitude. This calculation cost the life of one man, and +had well-nigh sacrificed the lives of two, for Georges, who constantly +carried arms about him, first shot dead the police officer who seized the +horse's reins, and wounded another who advanced to arrest him is the +cabriolet. Besides his pistols there was found upon him a poniard of +English manufacture. + +Georges lodged with a woman named Lemoine, who kept a fruiterer's shop in +the Rue de la Montagne St. Genevieve, and on the evening of the 9th of +March he had just left his lodging to go, it was said, to a perfumer's +named Caron. It is difficult to suppose that the circumstance of the +police being on the spot was the mere effect of chance. The fruiterer's +daughter was putting into the cabriolet a parcel belonging to Georges at +the moment of his arrest. Georges, seeing the officers advance to seize +him, desired the girl to get out of the way, fearing lest he should shoot +her when he fired on the officers. She ran into a neighbouring house, +taking the parcel along with her. The police, it may readily be +supposed, were soon after her. The master of the house in which she had +taken refuge, curious to know what the parcel contained, had opened it, +and discovered, among other things, a bag containing 1000 Dutch +sovereigns, from which he acknowledged he had abstracted a considerable +sum. He and his wife, as well as the fruiterer's daughter, were all +arrested; as to Georges, he was taken that same evening to the Temple, +where he remained until his removal to the Conciergerie when the trial +commenced. + +During the whole of the legal proceedings Georges and the other important +prisoners were kept in solitary confinement. Immediately on Pichegru's +death the prisoners were informed of the circumstance. As they were all +acquainted with the general, and none believed the fact of his reported +suicide, it may easily be conceived what consternation and horror the +tragical event excited among them. I learned, and I was sorry to hear of +it, that Louis Bonaparte, who was an excellent man, and, beyond all +comparison, the best of the family, had the cruel curiosity to see +Georges in his prison a few days after the death of Pichegru, and when +the sensation of horror excited by that event in the interior of the +Temple was at its height, Louis repaired to the prison, accompanied by a +brilliant escort of staff-officers, and General Savary introduced him to +the prisoners. When Louis arrived, Georges was lying on his bed with his +hands strongly bound by manacles. Lauriston, who accompanied Louis, +related to me some of the particulars of this visit, which, in spite of +his sincere devotedness to the first Consul, he assured me had been very +painful to him. + +After the arrest of Georges there were still some individuals marked out +as accomplices in the conspiracy who had found means to elude the search +of the police. The persons last arrested were, I think, Villeneuve, one- +of the principal confidants of Georges, Burban Malabre, who went by the +name of Barco, and Charles d'Hozier. They were not taken till five days +after the arrest of the Duc d'Enghien. The famous Commissioner +Comminges, accompanied by an inspector and a detachment of gendarmes +d'Elite, found Villeneuve and Burban Malabre in the house of a man named +Dubuisson, in the Rue Jean Robert. + +This Dubuisson and his wife had sheltered some of the principal persons +proscribed by the police. The Messieurs de Polignac and M. de Riviere +had lodged with them. When the police came to arrest Villeneuve and +Burban Malabre the people with whom they lodged declared that they had +gone away in the morning. The officers, however, searched the house, and +discovered a secret door within a closet. They called, and receiving no +answer, the gendarmerie had recourse to one of those expedients which +were, unfortunately, too familiar to them. They fired a pistol through +the door. Villeneuve, who went by the name of Joyau, was wounded in the +arm, which obliged him and his companion to come from the place of their +concealment, and they were then made prisoners. + +Moreau was not treated with the degree of rigour observed towards the +other prisoners. Indeed, it would not have been safe so to treat him, +for even in his prison he received the homage and respect of all the +military, not excepting even those who were his guards. Many of these +soldiers had served under him, and it could not be forgotten how much he +was beloved by the troops he had commanded. He did not possess that +irresistible charm which in Bonaparte excited attachment, but his +mildness of temper and excellent character inspired love and respect. +It was the general opinion in Paris that a single word from Moreau to the +soldiers in whose custody he was placed would in a moment have converted +the gaoler-guard into a guard of honour, ready to execute all that might +be required for the safety of the conqueror of Hohenlinden. Perhaps the +respect with which he was treated and the indulgence of daily seeing his +wife and child were but artful calculations for keeping him within the +limits of his usual character. Besides, Moreau was so confident of the +injustice of the charge brought against him that he was calm and +resigned, and showed no disposition to rouse the anger of an enemy who +would have been happy to have some real accusation against him. To these +causes combined I always attributed the resignation; and I may say the +indifference, of Moreau while he was in prison and on his trial. + +When the legal preparations for the trial were ended the prisoners of the +Temple were permitted to communicate with each other, and, viewing their +fate with that indifference which youth, misfortune, and courage +inspired, they amused themselves with some of those games which usually +serve for boyish recreation. While they were thus engaged the order +arrived for their removal to the Conciergerie. The firmness of all +remained unshaken, and they made their preparations for departure as if +they were going about any ordinary business. This fortitude was +particularly remarkable in Georges, in whose manner a change had taken +place which was remarked by all his companions in misfortune. + +For some time past the agents of Government throughout France had been +instructed to solicit the First Consul to grant for the people what the +people did not want, but what Bonaparte wished to take while he appeared +to yield to the general will, namely, unlimited sovereign authority, free +from any subterfuge of denomination. The opportunity of the great +conspiracy just discovered, and in which Bonaparte had not incurred a +moment's danger, as he did at the time of the infernal machine, was not +suffered to escape; that opportunity was, on the contrary, eagerly +seized by the authorities of every rank, civil, ecclesiastical, and +military, and a torrent of addresses, congratulations, and thanksgivings +inundated the Tuileries. Most of the authors of these addressee did not +confine themselves to mere congratulations; they entreated Bonaparte to +consolidate his work, the true meaning of which was that it was time he +should make himself Emperor and establish hereditary succession. Those +who on other occasions had shown an officious readiness to execute +Bonaparte's commands did not now fear to risk his displeasure by opposing +the opinion he had expressed in the Council of State on the discussion of +the question of the Consulate for life. Bonaparte then said, "Hereditary +succession is absurd. It is irreconcilable with the principle of the +sovereignty of the people, and impossible in France." + +In this scene of the grand drama Bonaparte played his part with his +accustomed talent, keeping himself in the background and leaving to +others the task of preparing the catastrophe. The Senate, who took the +lead in the way of insinuation, did not fail, while congratulating the +First Consul on his escape from the plots of foreigners, or, as they were +officially styled, the daggers of England, to conjure him not to delay +the completion of his work. Six days after the death of the Due +d'Enghien the Senate first expressed this wish. Either because Bonaparte +began to repent of a useless crime, and felt the ill effect it must +produce on the public mind, or because he found the language of the +Senate somewhat vague, he left the address nearly a month unanswered, and +then only replied by the request that the intention of the address might +be more completely expressed. These negotiations between the Senate and +the Head of the Government were not immediately published. Bonaparte did +not like publicity except for what had arrived at a result; but to attain +the result which was the object of his ambition it was necessary that the +project which he was maturing should be introduced in the Tribunate, and +the tribune Curee had the honour to be the first to propose officially, +on the 30th of April 1804, the conversion of the Consular Republic into +an Empire, and the elevation of Bonaparte to the title of Emperor; with +the rights of hereditary succession. + +If any doubts could exist respecting the complaisant part which Curee +acted on this occasion one circumstance would suffice to remove them; +that is, that ten days before the development of his proposition +Bonaparte had caused the question of founding the Empire and establishing +hereditary succession in his family to be secretly discussed in the +Council of State. I learned from one of the Councillors of State all +that passed on that occasion, and I may remark that Cambaceres showed +himself particularly eager in the Council of State, as well as afterwards +in the Senate, to become the exalted subject of him who had been his +first colleague in the Consulate. + +About the middle of April, the Council of State being assembled as for an +ordinary sitting, the First Consul, who was frequently present at the +sittings, did not appear. Cambaceres arrived and took the Presidency in +his quality of Second Consul, and it was remarked that his air was more +solemn than usual, though he at all times affected gravity. + +The partisans of hereditary succession were the majority, and resolved to +present an address to the First Consul. Those of the Councillors who +opposed this determined on their part to send a counter-address; and to +avoid this clashing of opinions Bonaparte signified his wish that each +member of the Council should send him his opinion individually, with his +signature affixed. By a singular accident it happened to be Berlier's +task to present to the First Consul the separate opinions of the Council. +Out of the twenty-seven Councillors present only seven opposed the +question. Bonaparte received them all moat graciously, and told them, +among other things, that be wished for hereditary power only for the +benefit of France; that the citizens would never be his subjects, and +that the French people would never be his people. Such were the +preliminaries to the official proposition of Curee to the Tribunate, and +upon reflection it was decided that, as all opposition would be useless +and perhaps dangerous to the opposing party, the minority should join the +majority. This was accordingly done. + +The Tribunate having adopted the proposition of Curee, there was no +longer any motive for concealing the overtures of the Senate. Its +address to the First Consul was therefore published forty days after its +date: the pear was then ripe. This period is so important that I must +not omit putting together the most remarkable facts which either came +within my own observation, or which I have learned since respecting the +foundation of the Empire. + +Bonaparte had a long time before spoken to me of the title of Emperor as +being the most appropriate for the new sovereignty which he wished to +found in France. This, he observed, was not restoring the old system +entirely, and he dwelt much on its being the title which Caesar had +borne. He often said, "One may be the Emperor of a republic, but not the +King of a republic, those two terms are incongruous." + +In its first address the Senate had taken as a test the documents it had +received from the Government in relation to the intrigues of Drake, who +had been sent from England to Munich. That text afforded the opportunity +for a vague expression of what the Senate termed the necessities of +France. To give greater solemnity to the affair the Senate proceeded in +a body to the Tuileries, and one thing which gave a peculiar character to +the preconcerted advances of the Senate was that Cambaceres, the Second +Consul, fulfilled his functions of President on this occasion, and +delivered the address to the First Consul. + +However, the First Consul thought the address of the Senate, which, I +have been informed, was drawn up by Francois de Neufchateau, was not +expressed with sufficient clearness; he therefore, after suffering a +little interval to elapse, sent a message to the Senate signed by +himself, in which he said, "Your address has been the object of my +earnest consideration." And though the address contained no mention of +hereditary succession, he added, "You consider the hereditary succession +of the supreme magistracy necessary to defend the French people against +the plots of our enemies and the agitation arising from rival ambition. +At the same time several of our institutions appear to you to require +improvement so as to ensure the triumph of equality and public liberty, +and to offer to the nation and the Government the double guarantee they +require." From the subsequent passages of the message it will be +sufficient to extract the following: "We have been constantly guided by +this great truth: that the sovereignty dwells with the French people, and +that it is for their interest, happiness, and glory that the Supreme +Magistracy, the Senate, the Council of State, the Legislative Body, the +Electoral Colleges, and the different branches of the Government, are and +must be instituted." The omission of the Tribunate in this enumeration +is somewhat remarkable. It announced a promise which was speedily +realised. + +The will of Bonaparte being thus expressed in his message to the--Senate, +that body, which was created to preserve the institutions consecrated by +the Constitution of the year VIII., had no alternative but to submit to +the intentions manifested by the First Consul. The reply to the message +was, therefore, merely a counterpart of the message itself. It +positively declared that hereditary government was essential to the +happiness, the glory, and the prosperity of France, and that that +government could be confided only to Bonaparte and his family. While the +Senate so complaisantly played its part in this well-get-up piece, yet, +the better to impose on the credulity of the multitude, its reply, like +Bonaparte's message, resounded with the words liberty and equality. +Indeed, it was impudently asserted in that reply that Bonaparte's +accession to hereditary power would be a certain guarantee for the +liberty of the press, a liberty which Bonaparte held in the greatest +horror, and without which all other liberty is but a vain illusion. + +By this reply of the Senate the most important step was performed. There +now remained merely ceremonies to regulate and formulas to fill up. +These various arrangements occasioned a delay of a fortnight. On the +18th of May the First Consul was greeted for the first time by the +appellation of Sire by his former colleague, Cambaceres, who at the head +of the Senate went to present to Bonaparte the organic 'Senatus-consulte' +containing the foundation of the Empire. Napoleon was at St. Cloud, +whither the Senate proceeded in state. After the speech of Cambaceres, +in which the old designation of Majesty was for the first time revived, +the EMPEROR replied:-- + + All that can contribute to the welfare of the country is essentially + connected with my happiness. I accept the title which you believe + to be conducive to the glory of the nation. I submit to the + sanction of the people the law of hereditary succession. I hope + that France will never repent the honours she may confer on my + family. At all events, my spirit will not be with my posterity when + they cease to merit the confidence and love of the great nation. + +Cambaceres next went to congratulate the Empress, and then was realised +to Josephine the prediction which I had made to her three years before at +Malmaison. + + + --[In the original motion as prepared by Curee, the Imperial dignity + was to be declared hereditary in the family of Napoleon. Previous to + being formerly read before the Tribunate, the First Consul sent for + the document, and when it was returned it was found that the word + family was altered to descendants. Fabre, the President of the + Tribunate, who received the altered document from Maret, seeing the + effect the alteration would have on the brothers of Napoleon, and + finding that Maret affected to crest the change as immaterial, took + on himself to restore the original form, and in that shape it was + read by the unconscious Curee to the Tribunals. On this curious, + passage see Miot de Melito, tome ii, p. 179. As finally settled the + descent of the crown in default of Napoleon's children was limited + to Joseph and Louis and their descendants, but the power of adoption + was given to Napoleon. The draft of the 'Senates-consulte' was + heard by the Council of State in silence, and Napoleon tried in vain + to get even the most talkative of the members now to speak. The + Senate were not unanimous in rendering the 'Senatus-consulte'. The + three votes given against it were said to have been Gregoire, the + former constitutional Bishop of Blois, Carat, who as Minister of + Justice had read to Louis XVI. the sentence of death, and + Lanjuinais, one of the very few survivors of the Girondists, Thiers + says there was only one dissentient voice. For the fury of the + brothers of Napoleon, who saw the destruction of all their ambitions + hopes in any measure for the descent of the crown except in the + family, see Miot, tome ii. p.. 172, where Joseph is described as + cursing the ambition of his brother, and desiring his death as a + benefit for France and his family.]-- + +Bonaparte's first act as Emperor, on the very day of his elevation to the +Imperial throne, was the nomination of Joseph to the dignity of Grand +Elector, with the title of Imperial Highness. Louis was raised to the +dignity of Constable, with the same title, and Cambaceres and Lebrun were +created Arch-Chancellor and Arch-Treasurer of the Empire. On the same +day Bonaparte wrote the following letter to Cambaceres, the first which +he signed as Emperor, and merely with the name of Napoleon:-- + + CITIZEN CONSUL CAMBACERES--Your title has changed; but your + functions and my confidence remain the same. In the high dignity + with which you are now invested you will continue to manifest, as + you have hitherto done in that of Consul, that wisdom and that + distinguished talent which entitle you to so important a share in + all the good which I may have effected. I have, therefore, only to + desire the continuance of the sentiments you cherish towards the + State and me. + + Given at the Palace of St. Cloud, 28th Floreal, an XII. + (18th May 1804). + (Signed) NAPOLEON. + + By the Emperor. + H. B. MARET. + +I have quoted this first letter of the Emperor because it is +characteristic of Bonaparte's art in managing transitions. It was to the +Citizen Consul that the Emperor addressed himself, and it was dated +according to the Republican calendar. That calendar, together with the +delusive inscription on the coin, were all that now remained of the +Republic. Next day the Emperor came to Paris to hold a grand levee at +the Tuileries, for he was not the man to postpone the gratification that +vanity derived from his new dignity and title. The assembly was more +numerous and brilliant than on any former occasion. Bessieres having +addressed the Emperor on the part of the Guards, the Emperor replied in +the following terms: "I know the sentiments the Guards cherish towards +me. I repose perfect confidence in their courage and fidelity. I +constantly see, with renewed pleasure, companions in arms who have +escaped so many dangers, and are covered with so many honourable wounds. +I experience a sentiment of satisfaction when I look at the Guards, and +think that there has not, for the last fifteen years, in any of the four +quarters of the world, been a battle in which some of them have not taken +part." + +On the same day all the generals and colonels in Paris were presented to +the Emperor by Louis Bonaparte, who had already begun to exercise his +functions of Constable. In a few days everything assumed a new aspect; +but in spite of the admiration which was openly expressed the Parisians +secretly ridiculed the new courtiers. This greatly displeased Bonaparte, +who was very charitably informed of it in order to check his +prepossession in favour of the men of the old Court, such as the Comte de +Segur, and at a later period Comte Louis de Narbonne. + +To give all possible solemnity to his accession Napoleon ordered that the +Senate itself should proclaim in Paris the organic 'Senates-consulte', +which entirely changed the Constitution of the State. By one of those +anomalies which I have frequently had occasion to remark, the Emperor +fixed for this ceremony Sunday, the 30th Floral. That day was a festival +in all Paris, while the unfortunate prisoners were languishing in the +dungeons of the Temple. + +On the day after Bonaparte's accession the old formulae were restored. +The Emperor determined that the French Princes and Princesses should +receive the title of Imperial Highness; that his sisters should take the +same title; that the grand dignitaries of the Empire should be called +Serene Highnesses; that the Princes and titularies of the grand +dignitaries should be addressed by the title of Monseigneur; that M. +Maret, the Secretary of State, should have the rank of Minister; that the +ministers should retain the title of Excellency, to which should be added +that of Monseigneur in the petitions addressed to them; and that the +title of Excellency should be given to the President of the Senate. + +At the same time Napoleon appointed the first Marshals of the Empire, +and determined that they should be called Monsieur le Marechal when +addressed verbally, and Monseigneur in writing. The following are the +names of these sons of the Republic transformed into props of the Empire: +Berthier, Murat, Moncey, Jourdan, Massena, Augereau, Bernadotte, Soult, +Brune, Lannes, Mortier, Ney, Davoust, and Besaieres. The title of +Marshal of the Empire was also granted to the generals Kellerman, +Lefebvre, Perignon, and Serrurier, as having served as commander-in- +chief. + +The reader cannot have failed to observe that the name of Lucien has not +been mentioned among the individuals of Bonaparte's family on whom +dignities were conferred. The fact is, the two brothers were no longer +on good terms with each other. Not, as it has been alleged, because +Lucien wished to play the part of a Republican, but because he would not +submit to the imperious will of Napoleon in a circumstance in which the +latter counted on his brother's docility to serve the interests of his +policy. In the conferences which preceded the great change in the form +of government it was not Lucien but Joseph who, probably for the sake of +sounding opinion, affected an opposition, which was by some mistaken for +Republicanism. With regard to Lucien, as he had really rendered great +services to Napoleon on the 19th Brumaire at St. Cloud, and as he himself +exaggerated the value of those services, he saw no reward worthy of his +ambition but a throne independent of his brother. It is certain that +when at Madrid he had aspired to win the good graces of a Spanish +Infanta, and on that subject reports were circulated with which I have +nothing to do, because I never had any opportunity of ascertaining their +truth. All I know is that, Lucien's first wife being dead, Bonaparte, +wished him to marry a German Princess, by way of forming the first great +alliance in the family. Lucien, however, refused to comply with +Napoleon's wishes, and he secretly married the wife of an agent, named, +I believe, Joubertou, who for the sake of convenience was sent to the +West Indies, where he: died shortly after. When Bonaparte heard of this +marriage from the priest by whom it had been clandestinely performed, he +fell into a furious passion, and resolved not to confer on Lucien the +title of French Prince, on account of what he termed his unequal match. +Lucien, therefore, obtained no other dignity than that of Senator. + + --[According to Lucien himself, Napoleon wished him to marry the + Queen of Etruria Maria-Louise, daughter of Charles IV. of Spain, who + had married, 1795 Louie de Bourbon, Prince of Parma, son of the Duke + of Parma, to whom Napoleon had given Tuscany in 1801 as the Kingdom + of, Etruria. Her husband had died in May 1808, and she governed in + the name of her son. Lucien, whose first wife, Anne Christine + Boyer, had died in 1801, had married his second wife, Alexandrine + Laurence de Bleschamps, who had married, but who had divorced, a M. + Jonberthon. When Lucien had been ambassador in Spain in 1801, + charged among other things with obtaining Elba, the Queen, he says, + wished Napoleon should marry an Infanta,--Donna Isabella, her + youngest daughter, afterwards Queen of Naples, an overture to which + Napoleon seems not to have made any answer. As for Lucien, he + objected to his brother that the Queen was ugly, and laughed at + Napoleon's representations as to her being "propre": but at last he + acknowledged his marriage with Madame Jouberthon. This made a + complete break between the brothers, and on hearing of the execution + of the Due d'Enghien, Lucien said to his wife, "Alexandrine, let us + go; he has tasted blood." He went to Italy, and in 1810 tried to go + to the United States. Taken prisoner by the English, he was + detained first at Malta, and then in England, at Ludlow Castle and + at Thorngrove, till 1814, when he went to Rome. The Pope, who ever + showed a kindly feeling towards the Bonapartes, made the ex- + "Brutus" Bonaparte Prince de Canino and Due de Musignano. In 1815 + he joined Napoleon and on the final fall of the Empire he was + interned at Rome till the death of his brother.]-- + +Jerome, who pursued an opposite line of conduct, was afterwards made a +King. As to Lucien's Republicanism, it did not survive the 18th +Brumaire, and he was always a warm partisan of hereditary succession. + +But I pass on to relate what I know respecting the almost incredible +influence which, on the foundation of the Empire, Bonaparte exercised +over the powers which did not yet dare to declare war against him. +I studied Bonaparte's policy closely, and I came to this conclusion on +the subject, that he was governed by ambition, by the passion of +dominion, and that no relations, on a footing of equality, between +himself and any other power, could be of long duration. The other States +of Europe had only to choose one of two things--submission or war. As to +secondary States, they might thenceforth be considered as fiefs of the +French Government; and as they could not resist, Bonaparte easily +accustomed them to bend to his yoke. Can there be a stronger proof of +this arbitrary influence than what occurred at Carlsruhe, after the +violation of the territory of Baden, by the arrest of the Due d'Enghien? +Far from venturing to make any observation on that violation, so contrary +to the rights of nations, the Grand Duke of Baden was obliged to publish, +in his own State, a decree evidently dictated by Bonaparte. The decree +stated, that many individuals formerly belonging to the army of Conde +having come to the neighbourhood of Carlsruhe, his Electoral Highness had +felt it his duty to direct that no individual coming from Conde's army, +nor indeed any French emigrant, should, unless he had permission +previously to the place, make a longer sojourn than was allowed to +foreign travellers. Such was already the influence which Bonaparte +exercised over Germany, whose Princes, to use an expression which he +employed in a later decree, were crushed by the grand measures of the +Empire. + +But to be just, without however justifying Bonaparte, I must acknowledge +that the intrigues which England fomented in all parts of the Continent +were calculated to excite his natural irritability to the utmost degree. +The agents of England were spread over the whole of Europe, and they +varied the rumours which they were commissioned to circulate, according +to the chances of credit which the different places afforded. Their +reports were generally false; but credulity gave ear to them, and +speculators endeavoured, each according to his interest, to give them +support. The headquarters of all this plotting was Munich, where Drake, +who was sent from England, had the supreme direction. His +correspondence, which was seized by the French Government, was at first +placed amongst the documents to be produced on the trial of Georges, +Moreau, and the other prisoners; but in the course of the preliminary +proceedings the Grand Judge received directions to detach them, and make +them the subject of a special report to the First Consul, in order that +their publication beforehand might influence public opinion, and render +it unfavourable to those who were doomed to be sacrificed. The +instructions given by Drake to his agents render it impossible to doubt +that England wished to overthrow the Government of Bonaparte. Drake +wrote as follows to a man who was appointed to travel through France:-- + + The principal object of your journey being the overthrow of the + existing Government, one of the means of effecting it is to acquire + a knowledge of the enemy's plans. For this purpose it is of the + highest importance to begin, in the first place, by establishing + communications with persons who may be depended upon in the + different Government offices in order to obtain exact information of + all plans with respect to foreign or internal affairs. The + knowledge of these plans will supply the best means of defeating + them; and failure is the way to bring the Government into complete + discredit--the first and most important step towards the end + proposed. Try to gain over trustworthy agents in the different + Government departments. Endeavour, also, to learn what passes in + the secret committee, which is supposed to be established at St + Cloud, and composed of the friends of the First Consul. Be careful + to furnish information of the various projects which Bonaparte may + entertain relative to Turkey and Ireland. Likewise send + intelligence respecting the movements of troops, respecting vessels + and ship-building, and all military preparations. + +Drake, in his instructions, also recommended that the subversion of +Bonaparte's Government should, for the time, be the only object in view, +and that nothing should be said about the King's intentions until certain +information could be obtained respecting his views; but most of his +letters and instructions were anterior to 1804. The whole bearing of the +seized documents proved what Bonaparte could not be ignorant of, namely, +that England was his constant enemy; but after examining them, I was of +opinion that they contained nothing which could justify the belief that +the Government of Great Britain authorised any attempt at assassination. + +When the First Consul received the report of the Grand Judge relative to +Drake's plots' against his Government he transmitted a copy of it to the +Senate, and it was in reply to this communication that the Senate made +those first overtures which Bonaparte thought vague, but which, +nevertheless, led to the formation of the Empire. Notwithstanding this +important circumstance, I have not hitherto mentioned Drake, because his +intrigues for Bonaparte'soverthrow appeared to me to be more immediately +connected with the preliminaries of the trial of Georges and Moreau, +which I shall notice in my next chapter. + + --[These were not plots for assassination. Bonaparte, in the same + way, had his secret agents in every country of Europe, without + excepting England. Alison (chap. xxxvii. par. 89) says on this + matter of Drake that, though the English agents were certainly + attempting a counter-revolution, they had no idea of encouraging the + assassination of Napoleon, while "England was no match for the + French police agents in a transaction of this description, for the + publication of Regular revealed the mortifying fact that the whole + correspondence both of Drake and Spencer Smith had been regularly + transmitted, as fast as it took place, to the police of Paris, and + that their principal corresponded in that city, M. Mehu de la + Tonche, was himself an agent of the police, employed to tempt the + British envoys into this perilous enterprise."]-- + +At the same time that Bonaparte communicated to the Senate the report of +the Grand Judge, the Minister for Foreign Affairs addressed the following +circular letter to the members of the Diplomatic Body: + + The First Consul has commanded me to forward to your Excellency a + copy of a report which has been presented to him, respecting a + conspiracy formed in France by Mr. Drake, his Britannic Majesty's + Minister at the Court of Munich, which, by its object as well as its + date, is evidently connected with the infamous plot now in the + course of investigation. + + The printed copy of Mr. Drake's letters and authentic documents is + annexed to the report. The originals will be immediately sent, by + order of the First Consul, to the Elector of Bavaria. + + Such a prostitution of the most honourable function which can be + intrusted to a man is unexampled in the history of civilised + nations. It will astonish and afflict Europe as an unheard of + crime, which hitherto the most perverse Governments have not dared + to meditate. The First Consul is too well acquainted with + sentiments of the Diplomatic Body accredited to him not to be fully + convinced that every one of its members will behold, with profound + regret, the profanation of the sacred character of Ambassador, + basely transformed into a minister of plots, snares, and corruption. + +All the ambassadors, ministers, plenipotentiaries, envoys, ordinary or +extraordinary, whatever might be their denomination, addressed answers to +the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in which they expressed horror and +indignation at the conduct of England and Drake's machinations. These +answers were returned only five days after the Duc d'Enghien's death; +and here one cannot help admiring the adroitness of Bonaparte, who thus +compelled all the representatives of the European Governments to give +official testimonies of regard for his person and Government. + + + + +CHAPTER XXYI. + +1804. + + Trial of Moreau, Georges, and others--Public interest excited by + Moreau--Arraignment of the prisoners--Moreau's letter to Bonaparte-- + Violence of the President of the Court towards the prisoners-- + Lajolais and Rolland--Examinations intended to criminate Moreau-- + Remarkable observations--Speech written by M. Garat--Bonaparte's + opinion of Garat's eloquence--General Lecourbe and Moreau's son-- + Respect shown to Moreau by the military--Different sentiments + excited by Georges and Moreau--Thoriot and 'Tui-roi'--Georges' + answers to the interrogatories--He refuses an offer of pardon-- + Coster St. Victor--Napoleon and an actress--Captain Wright-- + M. de Riviere and the medal of the Comte d'Artois--Generous struggle + between MM. de Polignac--Sentence on the prisoners--Bonaparte's + remark--Pardons and executions. + +On the 28th of May, about ten days after Napoleon had been declared +Emperor, the trials of Moreau and others commenced. No similar event +that has since occurred can convey an idea of the fermentation which then +prevailed in Paris. The indignation excited by Moreau's arrest was +openly manifested, and braved the observation of the police. Endeavours +had been successfully made to mislead public opinion with respect to +Georges and some others among the accused, who were looked upon as +assassins in the pay of England, at least by that numerous portion of the +public who lent implicit faith to declarations presented to them as +official. But the case was different with regard to those individuals +who were particularly the objects of public interest, -viz. MM. de +Polignac, de Riviere, Charles d'Hozier, and, above all, Moreau. The name +of Moreau towered above all the rest, and with respect to him the +Government found itself not a little perplexed. It was necessary on the +one hand to surround him with a guard sufficiently imposing, to repress +the eagerness of the people and of his friends, and yet on the other hand +care was required that this guard should not be so strong as to admit of +the possibility of making it a rallying-point, should the voice of a +chief so honoured by the army appeal to it for defence. A rising of the +populace in favour of Moreau was considered as a very possible event,-- +some hoped for it, others dreaded it. When I reflect on the state of +feeling which then prevailed, I am certain that a movement in his favour +would infallibly have taken place had judges more complying than even +those who presided at the trial condemned Moreau to capital punishment. + +It is impossible to form an idea of the crowd that choked up the avenues +of the Palace of Justice on the day the trials commenced. This crowd +continued during the twelve days the proceedings lasted, and was +exceedingly great on the day the sentence was pronounced. Persons of the +highest class were anxious to be present. + +I was one of the first in the Hall, being determined to watch the course +of these solemn proceedings. The Court being assembled, the President +ordered the prisoners to be brought in. They entered in a file, and +ranged themselves on the benches each between two gendarmes. They +appeared composed and collected, and resignation was depicted on the +countenances of all except Bouvet de Lozier, who did not dare to raise +his eyes to his companions in misfortune, whom his weakness, rather than +his will, had betrayed. I did not recognise him until the President +proceeded to call over the prisoners, and to put the usual questions +respecting their names, professions, and places of abode. Of the forty- +nine prisoners, among whom were several females, only two were personally +known to me; namely, Moreau, whose presence on the prisoner's bench +seemed to wring every heart, and Georges, whom I had seen at the +Tuileries in the First Consul's cabinet. + +The first sitting of the Court was occupied with the reading of the act +of accusation or indictment, and the voices of the ushers, commanding +silence, could scarce suppress the buzz which pervaded the Court at the +mention of Moreau's name. All eyes were turned towards the conqueror of +Hohenlinden, and while the Procureur Imperial read over the long +indictment and invoked the vengeance of the law on an attempt against the +head of the Republic, it was easy to perceive how he tortured his +ingenuity to fasten apparent guilt on the laurels of Moreau. The good +sense of the public discerned proofs of his innocence in the very +circumstances brought forward against him. I shall never forget the +effect produced--so contrary to what was anticipated by the prosecutors-- +by the reading of a letter addressed by Moreau from his prison in the +Temple to the First Consul, when the judges appointed to interrogate him +sought to make his past conduct the subject of accusation, on account of +M. de Klinglin's papers having fallen into his hands. He was reproached +with having too long delayed transmitting these documents to the +Directory; and it was curious to see the Emperor Napoleon become the +avenger of pretended offences committed against the Directory which he +had overthrown. + +In the letter here alluded to Moreau said to Bonaparte, then First +Consul-- + + "In the short campaign of the year V. (from the 20th to the 23d of + March 1797) we took the papers belonging to the staff of the enemy's + army, and a number of documents were brought to me which General + Desaix, then wounded, amused himself by perusing. It appeared from + this correspondence that General Pichegru had maintained + communications with the French Princes. This discovery was very + painful, and particularly to me, and we agreed to say nothing of the + matter. Pichegru, as a member of the Legislative Body, could do but + little to injure the public cause, since peace was established. I + nevertheless took every precaution for protecting the army against + the ill effects of a system of espionage . . . . The events of + the 18th Fructidor occasioned so much anxiety that two officers, who + knew of the existence of the correspondence, prevailed on me to + communicate it to the Government . . . . I felt that, as a + public functionary, I could no longer remain silent . . . . + During the two last campaigns in Germany, and since the peace, + distant overtures have been made to me, with the view of drawing me + into connection with the French Princes. This appeared so absurd + that I took no notice of these overtures. As to the present + conspiracy, I can assure you I have been far from taking any share + in it. I repeat to you, General, that whatever proposition to that + effect was made me, I rejected it, and regarded it as the height of + madness. When it was represented to me that the invasion of England + would offer a favourable opportunity for effecting a change in the + French Government, I invariably answered that the Senate was the + authority to which the whole of France would naturally cling in the + time of trouble, and that I would be the first to place myself under + its orders. To such overtures made to a private individual, who + wished to preserve no connection either with the army, of whom nine- + tenths have served under me, or any constituted authority, the only + possible answer was a refusal. Betrayal of confidence I disdained. + Such a step, which is always base, becomes doubly odious when the + treachery is committed against those to whom we owe gratitude, or + have been bound by old friendship. + + "This, General, is all I have to tell you respecting my relations + with Pichegru, and it must convince you that very false and hasty + inferences have been drawn from conduct which, though perhaps + imprudent, was far from being criminal." + +Moreau fulfilled his duty as a public functionary by communicating to the +Directory the papers which unfolded a plot against the Government, and +which the chances of war had thrown into his hands. He fulfilled his +duty as a man of honour by not voluntarily incurring the infamy which can +never be wiped from the character of an informer. Bonaparte in Moreau's +situation would have acted the same part, for I never knew a man express +stronger indignation than himself against informers, until be began to +consider everything a virtue which served his ambition, and everything a +crime which opposed it. + +The two facts which most forcibly obtruded themselves on my attention +during the trial were the inveterate violence of the President of the +Court towards the prisoners and the innocence of Moreau. + + --[It is strange that Bourrienne does not acknowledge that he was + charged by Napoleon with the duty of attending this trial of Moreau, + and of sending in a daily report of the proceedings.]-- + +But, in spite of the most insidious examinations which can be conceived, +Moreau never once fell into the least contradiction. If my memory fail +me not, it was on the fourth day that he was examined by Thuriot, one of +the judges. The result, clear as day to all present, was, that Moreau +was a total stranger to all the plots, all the intrigues which had been +set on foot in London. In fact, during the whole course of the trial, to +which I listened with as much attention as interest, I did not discover +the shadow of a circumstance which could in the least commit him, or +which had the least reference to him. Scarcely one of the hundred and +thirty-nine witnesses who were heard for the prosecution knew him, and he +himself declared on the fourth sitting, which took place on the 31st of +May, that there was not an individual among the accused whom he knew,-- +not one whom he had ever seen. In the course of the long proceedings, +notwithstanding the manifest efforts of Thuriot to extort false +admissions and force contradictions, no fact of any consequence was +elicited to the prejudice of Moreau. His appearance was as calm as his +conscience; and as he sat on the bench he had the appearance of one led +by curiosity to be present at this interesting trial, rather than of an +accused person, to whom the proceedings might end in condemnation and +death. But for the fall of Moreau in the ranks of the enemy,--but for +the foreign cockade which disgraced the cap of the conqueror of +Hohenlinden, his complete innocence would long since have been put beyond +doubt, and it would have been acknowledged that the most infamous +machinations were employed for his destruction. It is evident that +Lajolais, who had passed from London to Paris, and from Paris to London, +had been acting the part of an intriguer rather than of a conspirator; +and that the object of his missions was not so much to reconcile Moreau +and Pichegru as to make Pichegru the instrument of implicating Moreau. +Those who supposed Lajolais to be in the pay of the British Government +were egregiously imposed on. Lajolais was only in the pay of the secret +police; he was condemned to death, as was expected, but he received his +pardon, as was agreed upon. Here was one of the disclosures which +Pichegru might have made; hence the necessity of getting him out of the +way before the trial. As to the evidence of the man named Rolland, +it was clear to everybody that Moreau was right when he said to the +President, "In my opinion, Rolland is either a creature of the police, or +he has given his evidence under the influence of fear." Rolland made two +declarations the first contained nothing at all; the second was in answer +to the following observations: "You see you stand in a terrible +situation; you must either be held to be an accomplice in the conspiracy, +or you must be taken as evidence. If you say nothing, you will be +considered in the light of an accomplice; if you confess, you will be +saved." This single circumstance may serve to give an idea of the way +the trials were conducted so as to criminate Moreau. On his part the +general repelled the attacks, of which he was the object, with calm +composure and modest confidence, though flashes of just indignation would +occasionally burst from him. I recollect the effect he produced upon the +Court and the auditors at one of the sittings, when the President had +accused him of the design of making himself Dictator. He exclaimed, +"I Dictator! What, make myself Dictator at the head of the partisans of +the Bourbons! Point out my partisans! My partisans would naturally be +the soldiers of France, of whom I have commanded nine-tenths, and saved +more than fifty thousand. These are the partisans I should look to! All +my aides de camp, all the officers of my acquaintance, have been +arrested; not the shadow of a suspicion could be found against any of +them, and they have been set at liberty. Why, then, attribute to me the +madness of aiming to get myself made Dictator by the aid of the adherents +of the old French Princes, of persons who have fought in their cause +since 1792? You allege that these men, in the space of four-and-twenty +hours, formed the project of raising me to the Dictatorship! It is +madness to think of it! My fortune and my pay have been alluded to; I +began the world with nothing; I might have had by this time fifty +millions; I have merely a house and a bit of ground; as to my pay, it is +forty thousand francs. Surely that sum will not be compared with my +services." + +During the trial Moreau delivered a defence, which I knew had been +written by his friend Garat, whose eloquence I well remember was always +disliked by Bonaparte. Of this I had a proof on the occasion of a grand +ceremony which took place in the Place des Victoires, on laying the first +stone of a monument which was to have been erected to the memory of +Desaix, but which was never executed. The First Consul returned home in +very ill-humour, and said to me, "Bourrienne, what a brute that Garat is! +What a stringer of words! I have been obliged to listen to him for +three-quarters of an hour. There are people who never know when to hold +their tongues!" + +Whatever might be the character of Garat's eloquence or Bonaparte's +opinion of it, his conduct was noble on the occasion of Moreau's trial; +for he might be sure Bonaparte would bear him a grudge for lending the +aid of his pen to the only man whose military glory, though not equal to +that of the First Consul, might entitle him to be looked upon as his +rival in fame. At one of the sittings a circumstance occurred which +produced an almost electrical effect. I think I still see General +Lecourbe, the worthy friend of Moreau, entering unexpectedly into the +Court, leading a little boy. Raising the child in his arms, he exclaimed +aloud, and with considerable emotion, "Soldiers, behold the son of your +general!" + + --[This action of Lecourbe, together with the part played in this + trial by his brother, one of the judges, was most unfortunate, not + only for Lecourbe but for France, which consequently lost the + services of its best general of mountain warfare. His campaigns of + Switzerland in 1799 on the St. Gothard against Suwarrow are well + known. Naturally disgraced for the part he took with Moreau, he was + not again employed till the Cent Jours, when he did good service, + although he had disapproved of the defection of Ney from the + Royalist cause. He died in 1816; his brother, the judge, had a most + furious reception from Napoleon, who called him a prevaricating + judge, and dismissed him from his office (Remusat, tome ii. p. + 8).]-- + +At this unexpected movement all the military present spontaneously rose +and presented arms; while a murmur of approbation from the spectators +applauded the act. It is certain that had Moreau at that moment said but +one word, such was the enthusiasm in his favour, the tribunal would have +been broken up and the prisoners liberated. Moreau, however, was silent, +and indeed appeared the only unconcerned person in Court. Throughout the +whole course of the trial Moreau inspired so much respect that when he +was asked a question and rose to reply the gendarmes appointed to guard +him rose at the same time and stood uncovered while he spoke. + +Georges was far from exciting the interest inspired by Moreau. He was an +object of curiosity rather than of interest. The difference of their +previous conduct was in itself sufficient to occasion a great contrast in +their situation before the Court. Moreau was full of confidence and +Georges full of resignation. The latter regarded his fate with a fierce +kind of resolution. He occasionally resumed the caustic tone which he +seemed to have renounced when he harangued his associates before their +departure from the Temple. With the most sarcastic bitterness he alluded +to the name and vote of Thuriot, one of the most violent of the judges, +often terming him 'Tue-roi'; + + --[Thuriot and the President Hemart both voted for the death of the + King. Merlin, the imperial Procureur-General, was one of the + regicides.--Bourrienne.]-- + +and after pronouncing his name, or being forced to reply to his +interrogatories, he would ask for a glass of brandy to wash his mouth. + +Georges had the manners and bearing of a rude soldier; but under his +coarse exterior he concealed the soul of a hero. When the witnesses of +his arrest had answered the questions of the President Hemart, this judge +turned towards the accused, and inquired whether he had anything to say +in reply.--"No."--"Do you admit the facts?"--"Yes." Here Georges busied +himself in looking over the papers which lay before him, when Hemart +warned him to desist, and attend to the questions. The following +dialogue then commenced. "Do you confess having been arrested in the +place designated by the witness?"--"I do not know the name of the +place."--"Do you confess having been arrested?"--"Yes."--" Did you twice +fire a pistol?"--"Yes."--"Did you kill a man?"--"Indeed I do not know."-- +"Had you a poniard?"--"Yes."--"And two pistols?"--" Yes."--"Who was in +company with you?"--"I do not know the person."--" Where did you lodge in +Paris?"--" Nowhere."--"At the time of your arrest did you not reside in +the house of a fruiterer in the Rue de la Montagne St. Genevieve?"-- +"At the time of my arrest I was in a cabriolet. I lodged nowhere."-- +"Where did you sleep on the evening of your arrest?"--"Nowhere."--"What +were you doing in Paris?"--"I was walking about."--" Whom have you seen +in Paris?"--" I shall name no one; I know no one." + +From this short specimen of the manner in which Georges replied to the +questions of the President we may judge of his unshaken firmness during +the proceedings. In all that concerned himself he was perfectly open; +but in regard to whatever tended to endanger his associates he maintained +the moat obstinate silence, notwithstanding every attempt to overcome his +firmness. + +That I was not the only one who justly appreciated the noble character of +Georges is rendered evident by the following circumstance. Having +accompanied M. Carbonnet to the police, where he went to demand his +papers, on the day of his removal to St. Pelagic, we were obliged to +await the return of M. Real, who was absent. M. Desmarets and several +other persons were also in attendance. M. Real had been at the +Conciergerie, where he had seen Georges Cadoudal, and on his entrance +observed to M. Desmarets and the others, sufficiently loud to be +distinctly heard by M. Carbonnet and myself, "I have had an interview +with Georges who is an extraordinary man. I told him that I was disposed +to offer him a pardon if he would promise to renounce the conspiracy and +accept of employment under Government. But to my arguments and +persuasions he only replied, 'My comrades followed me to France, and I +shall fellow them, to death.'" In this he kept his word. + +Were we to judge these memorable proceedings from the official documents +published in the Moniteur and other journals of that period, we should +form a very erroneous opinion. Those falsities were even the object of a +very serious complaint on the part of Cosier St. Victor, one of the +accused. + +After the speech of M. Gauthier, the advocate of Coster St. Victor, the +President inquired of the accused whether he had anything further to say +in his defence, to which he replied, "I have only to add that the +witnesses necessary to my exculpation have not yet appeared. I must +besides express my surprise at the means which have been employed to lead +astray public opinion, and to load with infamy not only the accused but +also their intrepid defenders. I have read with pain in the journals of +to-day that the proceedings--" Here the President interrupting, observed +that "these were circumstances foreign to the case."--" Not in the +least," replied Cosier St. Victor; "on the contrary, they bear very +materially on the cause, since mangling and misrepresenting our defence +is a practice assuredly calculated to ruin us in the estimation of the +public. In the journals of to-day the speech of M. Gauthier is +shamefully garbled, and I should be deficient in gratitude were I not +here to bear testimony to the zeal and courage which he has displayed in +my defence. I protest against the puerilities and absurdities which have +been put into his mouth, and I entreat him not to relax in his generous +efforts. It is not on his account that I make this observation; he does +not require it at my hands; it is for 'myself, it is for the accused, +whom such arts tend to injure in the estimation of the public." + +Coster St. Victor had something chivalrous in his language and manners +which spoke greatly in his favour; he conveyed no bad idea of one of the +Fiesco conspirators, or of those leaders of the Fronds who intermingled +gallantry with their politics. + +An anecdote to this effect was current about the period of the trial. +Coster St. Victor, it is related, being unable any longer to find a +secure asylum in Paris, sought refuge for a single night in the house of +a beautiful actress, formerly in the good graces of the First Consul; and +it is added that Bonaparte, on the same night, having secretly arrived on +a visit to the lady, found himself unexpectedly in the presence of Coster +St. Victor, who might have taken his life; but that only an interchange +of courtesy took place betwixt the rival gallants. + +This ridiculous story was doubtless intended to throw additional odium on +the First Consul, if Cosier St. Victor should be condemned and not obtain +a pardon, in which case malignity would not fail to attribute his +execution to the vengeance of a jealous lover. + +I should blush to relate such stories, equally destitute of probability +and truth, had they not obtained some credit at the time. Whilst I was +with Bonaparte he never went abroad during the night; and it was not +surely at a moment when the saying of Fouche, "The air is full of +poniards," was fully explained that he would have risked such nocturnal +adventures. + +Wright was heard in the sixth sitting, on the 2d of June, as the hundred +and thirty-fourth witness in support of the prosecution. He, however, +refused to answer any interrogatories put to him, declaring that, as a +prisoner of war, he considered himself only amenable to his own +Government. + +The Procureur-General requested the President to order the examinations +of Captain Wright on the 21st of May' and at a later period to be read +over to him; which being done, the witness replied, that it was omitted +to be stated that on these occasions the questions had been accompanied +with the threat of transferring him to a military tribunal, in order to +be shot, if he did not betray the secrets of his country. + +In the course of the trial the most lively interest was felt for MM. de +Polignac-- + + --[The eldest of the Polignacs, Armand (1771-1847), condemned to + death, had that penalty remitted, but was imprisoned in Ham till + permitted to escape m 1813. He became Duc de Richelieu in 1817. + His younger brother, Jules (1780-1847) was also imprisoned and + escaped. In 1814 he was one of the first to display the white flag + in Paris. In 1829 he became Minister of Charles X. and was + responsible for the ordinances which oust his master his throne in + 1830. Imprisoned, nominally for life, he was released in 1836, and + after passing some time in England returned to France. The + remission of the sentence of death on Prince Armand was obtained by + the Empress Josephine. Time after time, urged on by Madame de + Remusat, she implored mercy from Napoleon, who at last consented to + see the wife of the Prince. Unlike the Bourbon Louis XVIII., who + could see Madame de Lavalette only to refuse the wretched woman's + prayer for her husband, for Napoleon to grant the interview was to + concede the pardon. The Prince escaped death, and his wife who had + obtained the interview by applying to Madame de Remusat, when she + met her benefactress in the times of the Restoration, displayed a + really grand forgetfulness of what had passed (see Remusat, tome ii. + chap. i.).]-- + +Charles d'Hozier, and de Riviere. So short a period had elapsed since +the proscription of the nobility that, independently of every feeling of +humanity, it was certainly impolitic to exhibit before the public the +heirs of an illustrious name, endowed with that devoted heroism which +could not fail to extort admiration even from those who condemned their +opinions and principles. + +The prisoners were all young, and their situation create universal +sympathy. The greatest number of them disdained to have recourse to a +denial, and seemed less anxious for the preservation of their own lives +than for the honour of the cause in which they had embarked, not with the +view of assassination, as had been demonstrated, but for the purpose of +ascertaining the true state of the public feeling, which had been +represented by some factious intriguers as favourable to the Bourbons. +Even when the sword of the law was suspended over their heads the +faithful adherents of the Bourbons displayed on every occasion their +attachment and fidelity to the royal cause. I recollect that the Court +was dissolved in tears when the President adduced as a proof of the guilt +of M. de Riviere his having worn a medal of the Comte d'Artois, which the +prisoner requested to examine; and, on its being handed to him by an +officer, M. de Riviere pressed it to his lips and his heart, then +returning it, he said that he only wished to render homage to the Prince +whom he loved. + +The Court was still more deeply affected on witnessing the generous +fraternal struggle which took place during the last sitting between the +two De Polignacs. The emotion was general when the eldest of the +brothers, after having observed that his always going out alone and +during the day did not look like a conspirator anxious for concealment, +added these remarkable words which will remain indelibly engraven on my +memory: "I have now only one wish, which is that, as the sword is +suspended over our heads, and threatens to cut short the existence of +several of the accused, you would, in consideration of his youth if not +of his innocence, spare my brother, and shower down upon me the whole +weight of your vengeance." It was during the last sitting but one, on +Friday the 8th of June, that M. Armand de Polignac made the above +affecting appeal in favour of his brother. The following day, before the +fatal sentence was pronounced, M. Jules de Polignac addressed the judges, +saying, "I was so deeply affected yesterday, while my brother was +speaking, as not fully to have attended to what I read in my own defence: +but being now perfectly tranquil, I entreat, gentlemen, that you will not +regard what he urged in my behalf. I repeat, on the contrary, and with +most justice, if one of us must fall a sacrifice, if there be yet time, +save him, restore him to the tears of his wife; I have no tie like him, I +can meet death unappalled;--too young to have tasted the pleasures of the +world, I cannot regret their loss."--" No, no," exclaimed his brother, +"you are still in the outset of your career; it is I who ought to fall." + +At eight in the morning the members of the Tribunal withdrew to the +council-chamber. Since the commencement of the proceedings the crowd, +far from diminishing, seemed each day to increase; this morning it was +immense, and, though the sentence was not expected to be pronounced till +a late hour, no one quitted the Court for fear of not being able to find +a place when the Tribunal should resume its sitting. + +Sentence of death was passed upon Georges Caudoudal, Bouvet de Lozier, +Rusillon, Rochelle, Armand de Polignac, Charles d'Hozier, De Riviere, +Louis Ducorps, Picot, Lajolais, Roger, Coster St. Victor, Deville, +Gaillard, Joyaub, Burban; Lemercier, Jean Cadudol, Lelan, and Merille; +while Lies de Polignac, Leridant, General Moreau,--[General Moreau's +sentence was remitted, and he was allowed to go to America.]--Rolland, +and Hisay were only condemned to two years' imprisonment. + +This decree was heard with consternation by the assembly, and soon spread +throughout Paris. I may well affirm it to have been a day of public +mourning; even though it was Sunday every place of amusement was nearly +deserted. To the horror inspired by a sentence of death passed so +wantonly, and of which the greater number of the victims belonged to the +most distinguished class of society, was joined the ridicule inspired by +the condemnation of Moreau; of the absurdity of which no one seemed more +sensible than Bonaparte himself, and respecting which he expressed +himself in the most pointed terms. I am persuaded that every one who +narrowly watched the proceedings of this celebrated trial must have been +convinced that all means were resorted to in order that Moreau, once +accused, should not appear entirely free from guilt. + +Bonaparte is reported to have said, "Gentlemen, I have no control over +your proceedings; it is your duty strictly to examine the evidence before +presenting a report to me. But when it has once the sanction of your +signatures, woe to you if an innocent man be condemned." This remark is +in strict conformity with his usual language, and bears a striking +similarity to the conversation I held with him on the following Thursday; +but though this language might be appropriate from the lips of a +sovereign whose ministers are responsible, it appears but a lame excuse +in the mouth of Bonaparte, the possessor of absolute power. + +The condemned busied themselves in endeavouring to procure a repeal of +their sentence, the greatest number of them yielded in this respect to +the entreaties of their friends, who lost no time in taking the steps +requisite to obtain the pardon of those in whom they were most +interested. Moreau at first also determined to appeal; but he +relinquished his purpose before the Court of Cessation commenced its +sittings. + +As soon as the decree of the special Tribunal was delivered, Murat, +Governor of Paris, and brother-in-law to the Emperor, sought his presence +and conjured him in the most urgent manner to pardon all the criminals, +observing that such an act of clemency would redound greatly to his +honour in the opinion of France and all Europe, that it would be said the +Emperor pardoned the attempt against the life of the First Consul, that +this act of mercy would shed more glory over the commencement of his +reign than any security which could accrue from the execution of the +prisoners. Such was the conduct of Murat; but he did not solicit, as +has been reported, the pardon of any one in particular. + +Those who obtained the imperial pardon were Bouvet de Lozier, who +expected it from the disclosures he had made; Rusillon, de Riviere, +Rochelle, Armand de Polignac, d'Hozier, Lajolais, who had beforehand +received a promise to that effect, and Armand Gaillard. + +The other ill-fated victims of a sanguinary police underwent their +sentence on the 25th of June, two days after the promulgation of the +pardon of their associates. + +Their courage and resignation never forsook them even for a moment, and +Georges, knowing that it was rumoured he had obtained a pardon, +entreated that he might die the first, in order that his companions in +their last moments might be assured he had not survived them. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Malice delights to blacken the characters of prominent men +Manufacturers of phrases +More glorious to merit a sceptre than to possess one +Necessary to let men and things take their course + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1804, v7 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 8. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER XXVII. to CHAPTER XXXIV. 1804-1805 + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +1804. + + Clavier and Hemart--Singular Proposal of Corvisart-M. Desmaisons-- + Project of influencing the judges--Visit to the Tuileries--Rapp in + attendance--Long conversation with the Emperor--His opinion on the + trial of Moreau--English assassins and Mr. Fox--Complaints against + the English Government--Bonaparte and Lacuee--Affectionate + behaviour--Arrest of Pichegru--Method employed by the First Consul + to discover his presence in Paris--Character of Moreau--Measures of + Bonaparte regarding him--Lauriston sent to the Temple--Silence + respecting the Duc d'Enghien--Napoleon's opinion of Moreau and + Georges--Admiration of Georges--Offers of employment and dismissal-- + Recital of former vexations--Audience of the Empress--Melancholy + forebodings--What Bonaparte said concerning himself--Marks of + kindness. + +The judges composing the Tribunal which condemned Moreau were not all +like Thuriot and Hemart. History has recorded an honourable contrast to +the general meanness of the period in the reply given by M. Clavier, when +urged by Hemart to vote for the condemnation of Moreau. "Ah, Monsieur, +if we condemn him, how shall we be able to acquit ourselves?" I have, +besides, the best reason for asserting that the judges were tampered +with, from, a circumstance which occurred to myself. + +Bonaparte knew that I was intimately connected with M. Desmaisons, one of +the members of the Tribunal, and brother in-law to Corvisart; he also +knew that Desmaisons was inclined to believe in Moreau's innocence, and +favourable to his acquittal. During the progress of the trial Corvisart +arrived at my house one morning at a very early hour, in a state of such +evident embarrassment that, before he had time to utter a word, I said to +him, "What is the matter? Have you heard any bad news?" + +"No," replied Corvisart, "but I came by the Emperor's order. He wishes +you to see my brother-in-law. 'He is,' said he to me, 'the senior judge, +and a man of considerable eminence; his opinion will carry with it great +weight, and I know that he is favourable to Moreau; he is in the wrong. +Visit Bourrienne, said the Emperor, and concert with him respecting the +best method of convincing Desmaisons of his error, for I repeat he is +wrong, he is deceived.' This is the mission with which I am entrusted." + +"How," said I, with thorough astonishment, "how came you to be employed +in this affair? Could you believe for one moment that I would tamper +with a magistrate in order to induce him to exercise an unjust rigour?" + +"No, rest assured," replied Corvisart, "I merely visited you this morning +in obedience to the order of the Emperor; but I knew beforehand in what +manner you would regard the proposition with which I was charged. I knew +your opinions and your character too well to entertain the smallest doubt +in this respect, and I was convinced that I ran no risk in becoming the +bearer of a commission which would be attended with no effect. Besides, +had I refused to obey the Emperor, it would have proved prejudicial to +your interest, and confirmed him in the opinion that you were favourable +to the acquittal of Moreau. For myself," added Corvisart, "it is +needless to affirm that I have no intention of attempting to influence +the opinion of my brother-in-law; and if I had, you know him sufficiently +well to be convinced in what light he would regard such a proceeding." + +Such were the object and result of Corvisart's visit, and I am thence led +to believe that similar attempts must have been made to influence other +members of the Tribunal. + + --["The judges had been pressed and acted on in a thousand ways by + the hangerson of the Palace and especially by Real, the natural + intermediary between justice and the Government. Ambition, + servility, fear, every motive capable of influencing them, had been + used: even their humane scruples were employed" (Lanfrey tome iii. + p. 193, who goes on to say that the judges were urged to sentence + Moreau to death in order that the Emperor might fully pardon him).] + +But however this may be, prudence led me to discontinue visiting +M. Desmaisons, with whom I was in habits of the strictest friendship. + +About this period I paid a visit which occupies an important place in my +recollections. On the 14th of June 1804, four days after the +condemnation of Georges and his accomplices, I received a summons to +attend the Emperor at St. Cloud. It was Thursday, and as I thought on +the great events and tragic scenes about to be acted, I was rather uneasy +respecting his intentions. + +But I was fortunate enough to find my friend Rapp in waiting, who said to +me as I entered, "Be not alarmed; he is in the best of humours at +present, and wishes to have some conversation. with you." + +Rapp then announced me to the Emperor, and I was immediately admitted to +his presence. After pinching my ear and asking his usual questions, such +as, "What does the world say? How are your children? What are you +about? etc.," he said to me, "By the by, have you attended the +proceedings against Moreau?"--" Yes, Sire, I have not been absent during +one of the sittings."--" Well, Bourrienne, are you of the opinion that +Moreau is innocent?"--"Yes, Sire; at least I am certain that nothing has +come out in the course of the trial tending to criminate him; I am even +surprised how he came to be implicated in this conspiracy, since nothing +has appeared against him which has the most remote connexion with the +affair."--" I know your opinion on this subject; Duroc related to me the +conversation you held with him at the Tuileries; experience has shown +that you were correct; but how could I act otherwise? You know that +Bouvet de Lozier hanged himself in prison, and was only saved by +accident. Real hurried to the Temple in order to interrogate him, and in +his first confessions he criminated Moreau, affirming that he had held +repeated conferences with Pichegru. Real immediately reported to me this +fact, and proposed that Moreau should be arrested, since the rumours +against him seemed to be well founded; he had previously made the same +proposition. I at first refused my sanction to this measure; but after +the charge made against him by Bouvet de Lozier, how could I act +otherwise than I did? Could I suffer such open conspiracies against the +Government? Could I doubt the truth of Bouvet de Lozier's declaration, +under the circumstances in which it was made? Could I foresee that he +would deny his first declaration when brought before the Court? There +was a chain of circumstances which human sagacity could not penetrate, +and I consented to the arrest of Moreau when it was proved that he was in +league with Pichegru. Has not England sent assassins?"--"Sire," said I, +"permit me to call to your recollection the conversation you had in my +presence with Mr. Fox, after which you said to me, 'Bourrienne, I am very +happy at having heard from the mouth of a man of honour that the British +Government is incapable of seeking my life; I always wish to esteem my +enemies."--"Bah! you are a fool! Parbleu! I did not say that the +English Minister sent over an assassin, and that he said to him, 'Here is +gold and a poniard; go and kill the First Consul.' No, I did not believe +that; but it cannot be denied that all those foreign conspirators against +my Government were serving England, and receiving pay from that power. +Have I agents in London to disturb the Government of Great Britain? +I have waged with it honourable warfare; I have not attempted to awaken a +remembrance of the Stuarts amongst their old partisans. Is not Wright, +who landed Georges and his accomplices at Dieppe, a captain in the +British navy? But rest assured that, with the exception of a few +babblers, whom I can easily silence, the hearts of the French people are +with me; everywhere public opinion has been declared in my favour, so +that I have nothing to apprehend from giving the greatest publicity to +these plots, and bringing the accused to a solemn trial. The greater +number of those gentlemen wished me to bring the prisoners before a +military commission, that summary judgment might be obtained; but I +refused my consent to this measure. It might have been said that I +dreaded public opinion; and I fear it not. People may talk as much as +they please, well and good, I am not obliged to hear them; but I do not +like those who are attached to my person to blame what I have done." + +As I could not wholly conceal an involuntary emotion, in which the +Emperor saw something more than mere surprise, he paused, took me by the +ear, and, smiling in the most affectionate manner, said, "I had no +reference to you in what I said, but I have to complain of Lacuee. Could +you believe that during the trial he went about clamouring in behalf of +Moreau? He, my aide de camp--a man who owes everything to me! As for +you, I have said that you acted very well in this affair."--" I know not, +Sire, what has either been done or said by Lacuee,--whom I have not seen +for a long time; what I said to Duroc is what history teaches in every +page."--"By the by," resumed the Emperor, after a short silence, "do you +know that it was I myself who discovered that Pichegru was in Paris. +Everyone said to me, Pichegru is in Paris; Fouche, Real, harped on the +same string, but could give me no proof of their assertion. 'What a fool +you are,' said I to Real, when in an instant you may ascertain the fact. +Pichegru has a brother, an aged ecclesiastic, who resides in Paris; let +his dwelling be searched, and should he be absent, it will warrant a +suspicion that Pichegru is here; if, on the contrary, his brother should +be at home, let him be arrested: he is a simple-minded man, and in the +first moments of agitation will betray the truth. Everything happened as +I had foreseen, for no sooner was he arrested than, without waiting to be +questioned, he inquired if it was a crime to have received his brother +into his house. Thus every doubt was removed, and a miscreant in the +house in which Pichegru lodged betrayed him to the police. What horrid +degradation to betray a friend for the sake of gold." + +Then reverting to Moreau, the Emperor talked a great deal respecting that +general. "Moreau," he said, "possesses many good qualities; his bravery +is undoubted; but he has more courage than energy; he is indolent and +effeminate. When with the army he lived like a pasha; he smoked, was +almost constantly in bed, and gave himself up to the pleasures of the +table. His dispositions are naturally good; but he is too indolent for +study; he does not read, and since he has been tied to his wife's +apronstrings is fit for nothing. He sees only with the eyes of his wife +and her mother, who have had a hand in all these late plots; and then, +Bourrienne, is it not very strange that it was by my advice that he +entered into this union? I was told that Mademoiselle Hulot was a +creole, and I believed that he would find in her a second Josephine; how +greatly was I mistaken! It is these women who have estranged us from +each other, and I regret that he should have acted so unworthily. You +must remember my observing to you more than two years ago that Moreau +would one day run his head against the gate of the Tuileries; that he has +done so was no fault of mine, for you know how much I did to secure his +attachment. You cannot have forgotten the reception I gave him at +Malmaison. On the 18th Brumaire I conferred on him the charge of the +Luxembourg, and in that situation he fully justified my, choice. But +since that period he has behaved towards me with the utmost ingratitude +--entered into all the silly cabala against me, blamed all my measures, +and turned into ridicule the Legion of Honour. Have not some of the +intriguers put it into his head that I regard him with jealousy? You +must be aware of that. You must also know as well as I how anxious the +members of the Directory were to exalt the reputation of Moreau. Alarmed +at my success in Italy, they wished to have in the armies a general to +serve as a counterpoise to my renown. I have ascended the throne and he +is the inmate of a prison! You are aware of the incessant clamouring +raised against me by the whole family, at which I confess I was very much +displeased; coming from those whom I had treated so well! Had he +attached himself to me, I would doubtless have conferred on him the title +of First Marshal of the Empire; but what could I do? He constantly +depreciated my campaigns and my government. From discontent to revolt +there is frequently only one step, especially when a man of a weak +character becomes the tool of popular clubs; and therefore when I was +first informed that Moreau was implicated in the conspiracy of Georges I +believed him to be guilty, but hesitated to issue an order for his arrest +till I had taken the opinion of my Council. The members having +assembled, I ordered the different documents to be laid before them, with +an injunction to examine them with the utmost care, since they related to +an affair of importance, and I urged them candidly to inform me whether, +in their opinion, any of the charges against Moreau were sufficiently +strong to endanger his life. The fools! their reply was in the +affirmative; I believe they were even unanimous! Then I had no +alternative but to suffer the proceedings to take their course. It is +unnecessary to affirm to you, Bourrienne, that Moreau never should have +perished on a scaffold! Most assuredly I would have pardoned him; but +with the sentence of death hanging over his head he could no longer have +proved dangerous; and his name would have ceased to be a rallying-point +for disaffected Republicans or imbecile Royalists. Had the Council +expressed any doubts respecting his guilt I would have intimated to him +that the suspicions against him were so strong as to render any further +connection between us impossible; and that the best course he could +pursue would be to leave France for three years, under the pretext of +visiting some of the places rendered celebrated during the late wars; but +that if he preferred a diplomatic mission I would make a suitable +provision for his expenses; and the great innovator, Time, might effect +great changes during the period of his absence. But my foolish Council +affirmed to me that his guilt, as a principal, being evident, it was +absolutely necessary to bring him to trial; and now his sentence is only +that of a pickpocket. What think you I ought to do? Detain him? He +might still prove a rallying-point. No. Let him sell his property and +quit? Can I confine him in the Temple? It is full enough without him. +Still, if this had been the only great error they had led me to commit--" + +"Sire, how greatly you have been deceived." + +"Oh yes, I have been so; but I cannot see everything with my own eyes." + +At this part of our conversation, of which I have suppressed my own share +as much as possible, I conceived that the last words of Bonaparte alluded +to the death of the Duc d'Enghien; and I fancied he was about to mention +that event but he again spoke of Moreau. + +"He is very much mistaken," resumed the Emperor, "if he conceives I bore +any ill-will towards him. After his arrest I sent Lauriston to the +Temple, whom I chose because he was of an amiable and conciliating +disposition; I charged him to tell Moreau to confess he had only seen +Pichegru, and I would cause the proceedings against him to be suspended. +Instead of receiving this act of generosity as he ought to have done, he +replied to it with great haughtiness, so much was he elated that Pichegru +had not been arrested; he afterwards, however, lowered his tone. He wrote +to me a letter of excuse respecting his anterior conduct, which I caused +to be produced on the trial. He was the author of his own ruin; besides, +it would have required men of a different stamp from Moreau to conspire +against me. Amoung, the conspirators, for example, was an individual +whose fate I regret; this Georges in my hands might have achieved great +things. I can duly appreciate the firmness of character he displayed, +and to which I could have given a proper direction. I caused Real to +intimate to him that, if he would attach himself to me, not only should +he be pardoned, but that I would give him the command of a regiment. +Perhaps I might even have made him my aide de camp. Complaints would +have been made, but, parbleu, I should not have cared. Georges refused +all my offers; he was as inflexible as iron. What could I do? he +underwent his fate, for he was a dangerous man; circumstances rendered +his death a matter of necessity. Examples of severity were called for, +when England was pouring into France the whole offscouring of the +emigration; but patience, patience! I have a long arm, and shall be able +to reach them, when necessary. Moreau regarded Georges merely as a +ruffian--I viewed him in a different light. You may remember the +conversation I had with him at the Tuileries--you and Rapp were in an +adjoining cabinet. I tried in vain to influence him--some of his +associates were affected at the mention of country and of glory; he alone +stood cold and unmoved. I addressed myself to his feelings, but in vain; +he was insensible to everything I said. At that period Georges appeared +to me little ambitious of power; his whole wishes seemed to centre in +commanding the Vendeans. It was not till I had exhausted every means of +conciliation that I assumed the tone and language of the first +magistrate. I dismissed him with a strong injunction to live retired-- +to be peaceable and obedient--not to misinterpret the motives of my +conduct towards himself--nor attribute to weakness what was merely the +result of moderation and strength. 'Rest assured,' I added, 'and repeat +to your associates, that while I hold the reins of authority there will +be neither chance nor salvation for those who dare to conspire against +me: How he conformed to this injunction the event has shown. Real told +me that when Moreau and Georges found themselves in the presence of +Pichegru they could not come to any understanding, because Georges would +not act against the Bourbons. Well, he had a plan, but Moreau had none; +he merely wished for my overthrow, without having formed any ulterior +views whatever. This showed that he was destitute of even common sense. +Apropos, Bourrienne, have you seen Corvisart?"--"Yes, Sire."--"Well!" +"He delivered to me the message with which you entrusted him."--"And +Desmaisons!--I wager that you have not spoken to him in conformity to my +wishes."--" Sire, the estimation in which I hold Desmaisons deterred me +from a course so injurious to him; for in what other light could he have +considered what I should have said to him? I have never visited at his +house since the commencement of the trial."--"Well! well! Be prudent and +discreet, I shall not forget you." He then waved a very gracious salute +with his hand, and withdrew into his cabinet. + +The Emperor had detained me more than an hour. On leaving the audience- +chamber I passed through the outer salon, where a number of individuals +were waiting; and I perceived that an observance of etiquette was fast +gaining ground, though the Emperor had not yet adopted the admirable +institution of Court Chamberlains. + +I cannot deny that I was much gratified with my reception; besides I was +beginning to be weary of an inactive life, and was anxious to obtain a +place, of which I stood in great need, from the losses I had sustained +and the unjust resumption which Bonaparte had made of his gifts. Being +desirous to speak of Napoleon with the strictest impartiality, I prefer +drawing my conclusions from those actions in which I had no personal +concern. I shall therefore only relate here, even before giving an +account of my visit to the Empress on leaving the audience-chamber, the +former conduct of Napoleon towards myself and Madame de Bourrienne, which +will justify the momentary alarm with which I was seized when summoned to +the Tuileries, and the satisfaction I felt at my reception. I had a +proof of what Rapp said of the Emperor being in good-humour, and was +flattered by the confidential manner in which he spoke to me concerning +some of the great political secrets of his Government. On seeing me come +out Rapp observed, "You have had a long audience."--"Yes, not amiss;" and +this circumstance procured for me a courtly salutation from all persons +waiting in the antechamber.' + +I shall now relate how I spent the two preceding years. The month after +I tendered my resignation to the First Consul, and which he refused to +accept, the house at St. Cloud belonging to Madame Deville was offered to +me; it was that in which the Due d'Angouleme and the Due de Berri were +inoculated. I visited this mansion, thinking it might be suitable for my +family; but, notwithstanding the beauty of its situation, it seemed far +too splendid either for my taste or my fortune. Except the outer walls, +it was in a very dilapidated state, and would require numerous and +expensive repairs. Josephine, being informed that Madame de Bourrienne +had set her face against the purchase, expressed a wish to see the +mansion, and accompanied us for that purpose. She was so much delighted +with it that she blamed my wife for starting any objections to my +becoming, its possessor. "With regard to the expense," Josephine replied +to her, "ah, we shall arrange that." On our return to Malmaison she +spoke of it in such high terms that Bonaparte said to me, "Why don't you +purchase it, Bourrienne, since the price is so reasonable?" + +The house was accordingly purchased. An outlay of 20,000 francs was +immediately required to render it habitable. Furniture was also +necessary for this large mansion, and orders for it were accordingly +given. But no sooner were repairs begun than everything crumbled to +pieces, which rendered many additional expenses necessary. + +About this period Bonaparte hurried forward the works at St. Cloud, +to which place he immediately removed. My services being constantly +required, I found it so fatiguing to go twice or thrice a day from Ruel +to St. Cloud that I took possession of my new mansion, though it was +still filled with workmen. Scarcely eight days had elapsed from this +period when Bonaparte intimated that he no longer had occasion for my +services. When my wife went to take leave Napoleon spoke to her in a +flattering manner of my good qualities, my merit, and the utility of my +labours, saying that he was himself the most unfortunate of the three, +and that my loss could never be replaced. He then added, "I shall be +absent for a month, but Bourrienne may be quite easy; let him remain in +retirement, and on my return I shall reward his services, should I even +create a place on purpose for him." + +Madame de Bourrienne then requested leave to retain the apartments +appropriated to her in the Tuileries till after her accouchement, which +was not far distant, to which he replied, "You may keep them as long as +you please; for it will be some time before I again reside in Paris." + +Bonaparte set out on his journey, and shortly afterwards I went with my +family to visit Madame de Coubertin, my cousin-german, who received us +with her usual kindness. We passed the time of the First Consul's +absence at her country seat, and only returned to St. Cloud on the day +Bonaparte was expected. + +Scarcely a quarter of an hour had elapsed after his arrival when I +received an intimation to give up, in twenty-four hours, the apartments +in the Tuileries, which he had promised my wife should retain till after +her confinement. He reclaimed at the same time the furniture of Ruel, +which he presented to me two years before, when I purchased that small +house on purpose to be near him. + +I addressed several memorials to him on this subject, stating that I had +replaced the worn-out furniture with new and superior articles; but this +he wholly disregarded, compelling me to give up everything, even to the +greatest trifle. It may be right to say that on his return the Emperor +found his table covered with information respecting my conduct in Paris, +though I had not held the smallest communication with any one in the +capital, nor once entered it during his absence. + +After my departure for Hamburg, Bonaparte took possession of my stables +and coach-house, which he filled with horses. Even the very avenues and +walks were converted into stabling. A handsome house at the entrance to +the park was also appropriated to similar purposes; in fact, he spared +nothing. Everything was done in the true military style; I neither had +previous intimation of the proceedings nor received any remuneration for +my loss. The Emperor seemed to regard the property as his own; but +though he all but ordered me to make the purchase, he did not furnish the +money that was paid for it. In this way it was occupied for more than +four years. + +The recollection of those arbitrary and vexatious proceedings on the part +of Bonaparte has led me farther than I intended. I shall therefore +return to the imperial residence of St. Cloud. On leaving the audience- +chamber, as already stated, I repaired to the apartments of the Empress, +who, knowing that I was in the Palace, had intimated her wishes for my +attendance. No command could have been more agreeable to me, for every +one was certain of a gracious reception from Josephine. I do not +recollect which of the ladies in waiting was in attendance when my name +was announced; but she immediately retired, and left me alone with +Josephine. Her recent elevation had not changed the usual amenity of her +disposition. After some conversation respecting the change in her +situation, I gave her an account of what had passed between the Emperor +and myself. + +I faithfully related all that he had said of Moreau, observing that at +one moment I imagined he was about to speak of the Due d'Enghien, when he +suddenly reverted to what he had been saying, and never made the +slightest allusion to the subject. + +Madame Bonaparte replied to me, "Napoleon has spoken the truth respecting +Moreau. He was grossly deceived by those who believed they could best +pay their court to him by calumniating that general. His silence on the +subject of the Due d'Enghien does not surprise me; he says as little +respecting it as possible, and always in a vague manner, and with +manifest repugnance. When you see Bonaparte again be silent on the +subject, and should chance bring it forward, avoid every expression in +the smallest degree indicative of reproach; he would not suffer it; you +would ruin yourself for ever in his estimation, and the evil is, alas! +without remedy. When you came to Malmaison I told you that I had vainly +endeavoured to turn him from his fatal purpose, and how he had treated +me. Since then he has experienced but little internal satisfaction; it +is only in the presence of his courtiers that he affects a calm and +tranquil deportment; but I perceive his sufferings are the greater from +thus endeavouring to conceal them. By the by, I forgot to mention that +he knew of the visit you paid me on the day after the catastrophe. I +dreaded that your enemies, the greater number of whom are also mine, +might have misrepresented that interview; but, fortunately, he paid +little attention to it. He merely said, 'So you have seen Bourrienne? +Does he sulk at me? Nevertheless I must do something for him.' He has +again spoken in the same strain, and repeated nearly the same expressions +three days ago; and since he has commanded your presence to-day, I have +not a doubt but he has something in view for your advantage."--" May I +presume to inquire what it is?"--"I do not yet know; but I would +recommend to you, in the meantime, to be more strictly on your guard than +ever; he is so suspicious, and so well informed of all that is done or +said respecting himself. I have suffered so much since I last saw you; +never can I forget the unkind manner in which he rejected my entreaties! +For several days I laboured under a depression of spirits which greatly +irritated him, because he clearly saw whence it proceeded. I am not +dazzled by the title of Empress; I dread some evil will result from this +step to him, to my children, and to myself. The miscreants ought to be +satisfied; see to what they have driven us! This death embitters every +moment of my life. I need not say to you, Bourrienne, that I speak this +in confidence."--"You cannot doubt my prudence."--" No, certainly not, +Bourrienne. I do not doubt it. My confidence in you is unbounded. Rest +assured that I shall never forget what you have done for me, under +various circumstances, and the devotedness you evinced to me on your +return from Egypt.--Adieu, my friend. Let me see you soon again." + +It was on the 14th of June 1804 that I had this audience of the Emperor, +and afterwards attended the Empress. + +On my return home I spent three hours in making notes of all that was +said to me by these two personages; and the substance of these notes I +have now given to the reader. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +1804. + + Curious disclosures of Fouche--Remarkable words of Bonaparte + respecting the protest of Louis XVIII--Secret document inserted in + the Moniteur--Announcement from Bonaparte to Regnier--Fouche + appointed Minister of Police--Error of Regnier respecting the + conspiracy of Georges--Undeserved praise bestowed on Fouche-- + Indication of the return of the Bourbons--Variation between the + words and conduct of Bonaparte--The iron crown--Celebration of the + 14th of July--Church festivals and loss of time--Grand ceremonial at + the Invalides--Recollections of the 18th Brumaire--New oath of the + Legion of Honour--General enthusiasm--Departure for Boulogne--Visits + to Josephine at St. Cloud and Malmaison--Josephine and Madame de + Remusat--Pardons granted by the Emperor--Anniversary of the 14th of + July--Departure for the camp of Boulogne--General error respecting + Napoleon's designs--Caesar's Tower--Distribution of the crosses of + the Legion of Honour--The military throne--Bonaparte's charlatanism + --Intrepidity of two English sailors--The decennial prizes and the + Polytechnic School--Meeting of the Emperor and Empress--First + negotiation with the Holy Sea--The Prefect of Arras and Comte Louis + de Narbonne--Change in the French Ministry. + +Louis XVIII., being at Warsaw when he was informed of the elevation of +Napoleon to the Imperial dignity, addressed to the sovereigns of Europe a +protest against that usurpation of his throne. Fouche, being the first +who heard of this protest, immediately communicated the circumstance to +the Emperor, observing that doubtless the copies would be multiplied and +distributed amongst the enemies of his Government, in the Faubourg St. +Germain, which might produce the worst effects, and that he therefore +deemed it his duty to inform him that orders might be given to Regnier +and Real to keep a strict watch over those engaged in distributing this +document. + +"You may judge of my surprise," added Fouche, "you who know so well that +formerly the very mention of the Bourbons rendered Bonaparte furious, +when, after perusing the protest, he returned it to me, saying, 'Ah, ah, +so the Comte de Lille makes his protest! Well, well, all in good time. +I hold my right by the voice of the French nation, and while I wear a +sword I will maintain it! The Bourbons ought to know that I do not fear +them; let them, therefore, leave me in tranquillity. Did you say that +the fools of the Faubourg St. Germain would multiply the copies of this +protest of Comte de Lille? well, they shall read it at their ease. Send +it to the Moniteur, Fouche; and let it be inserted to-morrow morning.'" +This passed on the 30th of June, and the next day the protest of Louis +XVIII. did actually appear in that paper. + +Fouche was wholly indifferent respecting the circulation of this protest; +he merely wished to show the Emperor that he was better informed of +passing events than Regnier, and to afford Napoleon another proof of the +inexperience and inability of the Grand Judge in police; and Fouche was +not long in receiving the reward which he expected from this step. In +fact, ten days after the publication of the protest, the Emperor +announced to Regnier the re-establishment of the Ministry of General +Police. + +The formula, I Pray God to have you in His holy keeping, with which the +letter to Regnier closed, was another step of Napoleon in the knowledge +of ancient usages, with which he was not sufficiently familiar when he +wrote Cambaceres on the day succeeding his elevation to the Imperial +throne; at the same time it must be confessed that this formula assorted +awkwardly with the month of "Messidor," and the "twelfth year of the +Republic!" + +The errors which Regnier had committed in the affair of Georges were the +cause which determined Bonaparte to re-establish the Ministry of Police, +and to bestow it on a man who had created a belief in the necessity of +that measure, by a monstrous accumulation of plots and intrigues. I am +also certain that the Emperor was swayed by the probability of a war +breaking out, which would force him to leave France; and that he +considered Fouche as the most proper person to maintain the public +tranquillity during his absence, and detect any cabala that might be +formed in favour of the Bourbons. + +At this period, when Bonaparte had given the finishing blow to the +Republic, which had only been a shadow since the 19th Brumaire, it was +not difficult to foresee that the Bourbons would one day remount the +throne of their ancestors; and this presentiment was not, perhaps, +without its influence in rendering the majority greater in favour of the +foundation of the Empire than for the establishment of a Consulate for +life. The reestablishment of the throne was a most important step in +favour of the Bourbons, for that was the thing most difficult to be done. +But Bonaparte undertook the task; and, as if by the aid of a magic rod, +the ancient order of things was restored in the twinkling of an eye. The +distinctions of rank--orders--titles, the noblesse--decorations--all the +baubles of vanity--in short, all the burlesque tattooing which the vulgar +regard as an indispensable attribute of royalty, reappeared in an +instant. The question no longer regarded the form of government, but the +individual who should be placed at its head. By restoring the ancient +order of things, the Republicans had themselves decided the question, and +it could no longer be doubted that when an occasion presented itself the +majority of the nation would prefer the ancient royal family, to whom +France owed her civilisation, her greatness, and her power, and who had +exalted her to such a high degree of glory and prosperity. + +It was not one of the least singular traits in Napoleon's character that +during the first year of his reign he retained the fete of the 14th of +July. It was not indeed strictly a Republican fate, but it recalled the +recollection of two great popular triumphs,--the taking of the Bastille +and the first Federation. This year the 14th of July fell on a Saturday, +and the Emperor ordered its celebration to be delayed till the following +day, because it was Sunday; which was in conformity with the sentiments +he delivered respecting the Concordat. "What renders me," he said, "most +hostile to the re-establishment of the Catholic worship is the number of +festivals formerly observed. A saint's day is a day of indolence, and I +wish not for that; the people must labour in order to live. I consent to +four holidays in the year, but no more; if the gentlemen from Rome are +not satisfied with this, they may take their departure." + +The loss of time seemed to him so great a calamity that he seldom failed +to order an indispensable solemnity to be held on the succeeding holiday. +Thus he postponed the Corpus Christi to the following Sunday. + +On Sunday, the 15th of July 1804, the Emperor appeared for the first time +before the Parisians surrounded by all the pomp of royalty. The members +of the Legion of Honour, then in Paris, took the oath prescribed by the +new Constitution, and on this occasion the Emperor and Empress appeared +attended for the first time by a separate and numerous retinue. + +The carriages in the train of the Empress crossed the garden of the +Tuileries, hitherto exclusively appropriated to the public; then followed +the cavalcade of the Emperor, who appeared on horseback, surrounded by +his principal generals, whom he had created Marshals of the Empire. +M. de Segur, who held the office of Grand Master of Ceremonies, had the +direction of the ceremonial to be observed on this occasion, and with, +the Governor received the Emperor on the threshold of the Hotel des +Invalides. They conducted the Empress to a tribune prepared for her +reception, opposite the Imperial throne which Napoleon alone occupied, to +the right of the altar. I was present at this ceremony, notwithstanding +the repugnance I have to such brilliant exhibitions; but as Duroc had two +days before presented me with tickets, I deemed it prudent to attend on +the occasion, lest the keen eye of Bonaparte should have remarked my +absence if Duroc had acted by his order. + +I spent about an hour contemplating the proud and sometimes almost +ludicrous demeanour of the new grandees of the Empire; I marked the +manoeuvring of the clergy, who, with Cardinal Belloy at their head, +proceeded to receive the Emperor on his entrance into the church. What a +singular train of ideas was called up to my mind when I beheld my former +comrade at the school of Brienne seated upon an elevated throne, +surrounded by his brilliant staff, the great dignitaries of his Empire-- +his Ministers and Marshals! I involuntarily recurred to the 19th +Brumaire, and all this splendid scene vanished; when I thought of +Bonaparte stammering to such a degree that I was obliged to pull the +skirt of his coat to induce him to withdraw. + +It was neither a feeling of animosity nor of jealousy which called up +such reflections; at no period of our career would I have exchanged my +situation for his; but whoever can reflect, whoever has witnessed the +unexpected elevation of a former equal, may perhaps be able to conceive +the strange thoughts that assailed my mind, for the first time, on this +occasion. + +When the religious part of the ceremony terminated, the church assumed, +in some measure, the appearance of a profane temple. The congregation +displayed more devotion to the Emperor than towards the God of the +Christians,--more enthusiasm than fervour. The mass had been heard with +little attention; but when M. de Lacepede, Grand Chancellor of the Legion +of Honour, after pronouncing a flattering discourse, finished the call of +the Grand Officers of the Legion, Bonaparte covered, as did the ancient +kings of France when they held a bed of justice. A profound silence, a +sort of religious awe, then reigned throughout the assembly, and +Napoleon, who did not now stammer as in the Council of the Five Hundred, +said in a firm voice: + +"Commanders, officers, legionaries, citizens, soldiers; swear upon your +honour to devote yourselves to the service of the Empire--to the +preservation of the integrity of the French territory--to the defence of +the Emperor, of the laws of the Republic, and of the property which they +have made sacred--to combat by all the means which justice, reason, and +the laws authorise every attempt to reestablish the feudal system; in +short, swear to concur with all your might in maintaining liberty and +equality, which are the bases of all our institutions. Do you swear?" + +Each member of the Legion of Honour exclaimed, "I swear;" adding, "Vive +l'Empereur!" with an enthusiam it is impossible to describe, and in which +all present joined. + +What, after all, was this new oath? It only differed from that taken by +the Legion of Honour, under the Consulate, in putting the defence of the +Emperor before that of the laws of the Republic; and this was not merely +a form. It was, besides, sufficiently laughable and somewhat audacious, +to make them swear to support equality at the moment so many titles and +monarchical distinctions had been re-established. + +On the 18th of July, three days after this ceremony, the Emperor left +Paris to visit the camp at Boulogne. He was not accompanied by the +Empress on this journey, which was merely to examine the progress of the +military operations. Availing myself of the invitation Josephine had +given me, I presented myself at St. Cloud a few days after the departure +of Napoleon; as she did not expect my visit, I found her surrounded by +four or five of the ladies in waiting, occupied in examining some of the +elegant productions of the famous Leroi and Madame Despeaux; for amidst +the host of painful feelings experienced by Josephine she was too much of +a woman not to devote some attention to the toilet. + +On my introduction they were discussing the serious question of the +costume to be worn by the Empress on her journey to Belgium to meet +Napoleon at the Palace of Lacken, near Brussels. Notwithstanding those +discussions respecting the form of hats, the colour and shape of dresses, +etc., Josephine received me in her usual gracious manner. But not being +able to converse with me, she said, without giving it an appearance of +invitation but in a manner sufficiently evident to be understood, that +she intended to pass the following morning at Malmaison. + +I shortened my visit, and at noon next day repaired to that delightful +abode, which always created in my mind deep emotion. Not an alley, not a +grove but teemed with interesting recollections; all recalled to me the +period when I was the confidant of Bonaparte. But the time was past when +he minutely calculated how much a residence at Malmaison would cost, and +concluded by saying that an income of 30,000 livrea would be necessary. + +When I arrived Madame Bonaparte was in the garden with Madame de Remusat, +who was her favourite from the similarity of disposition which existed +between them. + +Madame de Remusat was the daughter of the Minister Vergennes, and sister +to Madame de Nansouty, whom I had sometimes seen with Josephine, but not +so frequently as her elder sister. I found the ladies in the avenue +which leads to Ruel, and saluted Josephine by inquiring respecting the +health of Her Majesty. Never can I forget the tone in which she replied: +"Ah! Bourrienne, I entreat that you will suffer me, at least here, to +forget that I am an Empress." As she had not a thought concealed from +Madame de Remusat except some domestic vexations, of which probably I was +the only confidant, we conversed with the same freedom as if alone, and +it is easy to define that the subject of our discourse regarded +Bonaparte. + +After having spoken of her intended journey to Belgium, Josephine said +tome, "What a pity, Bourrienne, that the past cannot be recalled! +He departed in the happiest disposition: he has bestowed some pardons +and I am satisfied that but for those accursed politics he would have +pardoned a far greater number. I would have said much more, but I +endeavoured to conceal my chagrin because the slightest contradiction +only renders him the more obstinate. Now, when in the midst of his army, +he will forget everything. How much have I been afflicted that I was not +able to obtain a favourable answer to all the petitions which were +addressed to me. That good Madame de Monteason came from Romainville to +St. Cloud to solicit the pardon of MM. de Riviere and de Polignac; we +succeeded in gaining an audience for Madame de Polignac; . . . how +beautiful she is! Bonaparte was greatly affected on beholding her; he +said to her, 'Madame, since it was only my life your husband menaced, I +may pardon him.' You know Napoleon, Bourrienne; you know that he is not +naturally cruel; it is his counsellors and flatterers who have induced +him to commit so many villainous actions. Rapp has behaved extremely +well; he went to the Emperor, and would not leave him till he had +obtained the pardon of another of the condemned, whose name I do not +recollect. How much these Polignacs have interested me! There will be +then at least some families who will owe him gratitude! Strive, if it be +possible, to throw a veil over the past; I am sufficiently miserable in +my anticipations of the future. Rest assured, my dear Bourrienne, that I +shall not fail to exert myself during our stay in Belgium in your behalf, +and inform you of the result. Adieu!" + +During the festival in celebration of the 14th of July, which I have +already alluded to, the Emperor before leaving the Hotel des Invalides +had announced that he would go in person to distribute the decorations of +the Legion of Honour to the army assembled in the camp of Boulogne. He +was not long before he fulfilled his promise. He left St. Cloud on the +18th and travelled with such rapidity that the next morning, whilst every +one was busy with preparations for his reception, he was already at that +port, in the midst of the labourers, examining the works. He seemed to +multiply himself by his inconceivable activity, and one might say that he +was present everywhere. + +At the Emperor's departure it was generally believed at Paris that the +distribution of the crosses at the camp of Boulogne was only a pretext, +and that Bonaparte had at length gone to carry into execution the project +of an invasion of England, which every body supposed he contemplated. It +was, indeed, a pretext. The Emperor wished to excite more and more the +enthusiasm of the army--to show himself to the military invested in his +new dignity, to be present at some grand manoeuvres, and dispose the army +to obey the first signal he might give. How indeed, on beholding such +great preparations, so many transports created, as it were, by +enchantment, could any one have supposed that be did not really intend to +attempt a descent on England? People almost fancied him already in +London; it was known that all the army corps echelloned on the coast from +Maples to Ostend were ready to embark. Napoleon's arrival in the midst +of his troops inspired them, if possible, with a new impulse. The French +ports on the Channel had for a long period been converted into dockyards +and arsenals, where works were carried on with that inconceivable +activity which Napoleon knew so well how to inspire. An almost +incredible degree of emulation prevailed amongst the commanders of the +different camps, and it descended from rank to rank to the common +soldiers and even to the labourers. + +As every one was eager to take advantage of the slightest effects of +chance, and exercised his ingenuity in converting them into prognostics +of good fortune for the Emperor, those who had access to him did not fail +to call his attention to some remains of a Roman camp which had been +discovered at the Tour d'Ordre, where the Emperor's tent was pitched. +This was considered an evident proof that the French Caesar occupied the +camp which the Roman Caesar had formerly constructed to menace Great +Britain. To give additional force to this allusion, the Tour d'Ordre +resumed the name of Caesar's Tower. Some medals of William the +Conqueror, found in another spot, where, perhaps, they had been buried +for the purpose of being dug up, could not fail to satisfy the most +incredulous that Napoleon must conquer England. + +It was not far from Caesar's Tower that 80,000 men of the camps of +Boulogne and Montreuil, under the command of Marshal Soult, were +assembled in a vast plain to witness the distribution of the crosses of +the Legion of Honour impressed with the Imperial effigy. This plain, +which I saw with Bonaparte in our first journey to the coast, before our +departure to Egypt, was circular and hollow; and in the centre was a +little hill. This hill formed the Imperial throne of Bonaparte in the +midst of his soldiers. There he stationed himself with his staff and +around this centre of glory the regiments were drawn up in lines and +looked like so many diverging rays. From this throne, which had been +erected by the hand of nature, Bonaparte delivered in a loud voice the +same form of oath which he had pronounced at the Hotel des Invalides a +few days before. It was the signal for a general burst of enthusiasm, +and Rapp, alluding to this ceremony, told me that he never saw the +Emperor appear more pleased. How could he be otherwise? Fortune then +seemed obedient to his wishes. A storm came on during this brilliant +day, and it was apprehended that part of the flotilla would have +suffered. + +Bonaparte quitted the hill from which he had distributed the crosses and +proceeded to the port to direct what measures should be taken, when upon +his arrival the storm-- + + --[The following description of the incident when Napoleon nearly + occasioned the destruction of the Boulogne flotilla was forwarded to + the 'Revue Politique et Litteraire' from a private memoir. The + writer, who was an eye-witness, says-- + + One morning, when the Emperor was mounting his horse, he announced + that he intended to hold a review of his naval forces, and gave the + order that the vessels which lay in the harbour should alter their + positions, as the review was to be held on the open sea. He started + on his usual ride, giving orders that everything should be arranged + on his return, the time of which be indicted. His wish was + communicated to Admiral Bruix, who responded with imperturbable + coolness that he was very sorry, but that the review could not take + place that day. Consequently not a vessel was moved. On his return + back from his ride the Emperor asked whether all was ready. He was + told what the Admiral had said. Twice the answer had to be repeated + to him before he could realise its nature, and then, violently + stamping his foot on the ground, he sent for the Admiral. The + Emperor met him halfway. With eyes burning with rage, he exclaimed + in an excited voice, "Why have my orders not been executed?" With + respectful firmness Admiral Bruix replied, "Sire, a terrible storm + is brewing. Your Majesty may convince yourself of it; would you + without need expose the lives of so many men?" The heaviness of the + atmosphere and the sound of thunder in the distance more than + justified the fears of the Admiral. "Sir, said the Emperor, getting + more and more irritated, "I have given the orders once more; why + have they not been executed? The consequences concern me alone. + Obey!" 'Sire, I will not obey,' replied the Admiral. "You are + insolent!" And the Emperor, who still held his riding-whip in his + hand, advanced towards the admiral with a threatening gesture. + Admiral Bruix stepped back and put his hand on the sheath of his + sword and said, growing very pale, "sire, take care!" The whole + suite stood paralysed with fear. The Emperor remained motionless + for some time, his hand lifted up, his eyes fixed on the Admiral, + who still retained his menacing attitude. At last the Emperor threw + his whip on the floor. M. Bruix took his hand off his sword, and + with uncovered head awaited in silence the result of the painful + scene. Rear-Admiral Magon was then ordered to see that the + Emperor's orders were instantly executed. "As for you, sir," said + the Emperor, fixing his eyes on Admiral Bruix, you leave Boulogne + within twenty-four hours and depart for Holland. Go!" M. Magon + ordered the fatal movement of the fleet on which the Emperor had + insisted. The first arrangements had scarcely been made when the + sea because very high. The black sky was pierced by lightning, the + thunder rolled and every moment the line of vessels was broken by + the wind, and shortly after, that which the Admiral had foreseen + came to pass, and the most frightful storm dispersed the vessels in + each a way that it seamed impossible to save them. With bent head, + arms crossed, and a sorrowful look in his face, the Emperor walked + up and down on the beach, when suddenly the most terrible cries were + heard. More than twenty gunboats filled with soldiers and sailors + were being driven towards the shore, and the unfortunate men were + vainly fighting against the furious waves, calling for help which + nobody could give them. Deeply touched by the spectacle and the + heart-rending cries and lamentations of the multitude which had + assembled on the beach, the Emperor, seeing his generals and + officers tremble with horror, attempted to set an example of + devotion, and, in spite of all efforts to keep him back, he threw + himself into a boat, saying, "Let me go! let me go! they must be + brought out of this." In a moment the boat was filled with water. + The waves poured over it again and again, and the Emperor was + drenched. One wave larger than the others almost threw him + overboard and his hat was carried sway. Inspired by so much + courage, officers, soldiers, seamen, and citizens tried to succour + the drowning, some in boats, some swimming. But, alas! only a small + number could be saved of the unfortunate men. The following day + more than 200 bodies were thrown ashore, and with them the hat of + the conqueror of Marengo. That sad day was one of desolation for + Boulogne and for the camp. The Emperor groaned under the burden of + an accident which he had to attribute solely to his own obstinacy. + Agents were despatched to all parts of the town to subdue with gold + the murmurs which ware ready to break out into a tumult.]-- + +--ceased as if by enchantment. The flotilla entered the port safe and +sound and he went back to the camp, where the sports and amusements +prepared for the soldiers commenced, and in the evening the brilliant +fireworks which were let off rose in a luminous column, which was +distinctly seen from the English coast.--[It appears that Napoleon was +so well able to cover up this fiasco that not even Bourrienne ever heard +the true story. D.W.] + +When he reviewed the troops he asked the officers, and often the +soldiers, in what battles they had been engaged, and to those who had +received serious wounds he gave the cross. Here, I think, I may +appropriately mention a singular piece of charlatanism to which the +Emperor had recourse, and which powerfully contributed to augment the +enthusiasm of his troops. He would say to one of his aides decamp, +"Ascertain from the colonel of such a regiment whether he has in his +corps a man who has served in the campaigns of Italy or the campaigns of +Egypt. Ascertain his name, where he was born, the particulars of his +family, and what he has done. Learn his number in the ranks, and to what +company he belongs, and furnish me with the information." + +On the day of the review Bonaparte, at a single glance, could perceive +the man who had been described to him. He would go up to him as if he +recognised him, address him by his name, and say, "Oh! so you are here! +You area brave fellow--I saw you at Aboukir--how is your old father? +What! have you not got the Cross? Stay, I will give it you." Then the +delighted soldiers would say to each other, "You see the Emperor knows us +all; he knows our families; he knows where we have served." What a +stimulus was this to soldiers, whom he succeeded in persuading that they +would all some time or other become Marshals of the Empire! + +Lauriston told me, amongst other anecdotes relating to Napoleon's sojourn +at the camp at Boulogne, a remarkable instance of intrepidity on the part +of two English sailors. These men had been prisoners at Verdun, which +was the most considerable depot of English prisoners in France at the +rupture of the peace of Amiens. They effected their escape from Verdun, +and arrived at Boulogne without having been discovered on the road, +notwithstanding the vigilance with which all the English were watched +They remained at Boulogne for some time, destitute of money, and without +being able to effect their escape. They had no hope of getting aboard a +boat, on account of the strict watch that was kept upon vessels of every +kind. These two sailors made a boat of little pieces of wood, which they +put together as well as they could, having no other tools than their +knives. They covered it with a piece of sail-cloth. It was only three +or four feet wide, and not much longer, and was so light that a man could +easily carry it on his shoulders,--so powerful a passion is the love of +home and liberty! Sure of being shot if they were discovered, almost +equally sure of being drowned if they effected their escape, they, +nevertheless, resolved to attempt crossing the Channel in their fragile +skiff. Perceiving an English frigate within sight of the coast, they +pushed off and endeavoured to reach her. They had not gone a hundred +toises from the shore when they were perceived by the custom-house +officers, who set out in pursuit of them, and brought them back again. +The news of this adventure spread through the camp, where the +extraordinary courage of the two sailors was the subject of general +remark. The circumstance reached the Emperor's ears. He wished to see +the men, and they were conducted to his presence, along with their little +boat. Napoleon, whose imagination was struck by everything +extraordinary, could not conceal his surprise at so bold a project, +undertaken with such feeble means of execution. "Is it really true," +said the Emperor to them, "that you thought of crossing the sea in +this?"--"Sire," said they, "if you doubt it, give us leave to go, and you +shall see us depart."--"I will. You are bold and enterprising men--I +admire courage wherever I meet it. But you shall not hazard your lives. +You are at liberty; and more than that, I will cause you to be put on +board an English ship. When you return to London tell how I esteem brave +men, even when they are my enemies." Rapp, who with Lauriaton, Duroc, +and many others were present at this scene, were not a little astonished +at the Emperor's generosity. If the men had not been brought before him, +they would have been shot as spies, instead of which they obtained their +liberty, and Napoleon gave several pieces of gold to each. This +circumstance was one of those which made the strongest impression on +Napoleon, and he recollected it when at St. Helena, in one of his +conversations with M. de Las Casas. + +No man was ever so fond of contrasts as Bonaparte. He liked, above +everything, to direct the affairs of war whilst seated in his easy chair, +in the cabinet of St. Cloud, and to dictate in the camp his decrees +relative to civil administration. Thus, at the camp of Boulogne, he +founded the decennial premiums, the first distribution of which he +intended should take place five years afterwards, on the anniversary of +the 18th Brumaire, which was an innocent compliment to the date of the +foundation of the Consular Republic. This measure also seemed to promise +to the Republican calendar a longevity which it did not attain. All +these little circumstances passed unobserved; but Bonaparte had so often +developed to me his theory of the art of deceiving mankind that I knew +their true value. It was likewise at the camp of Boulogne that, by a +decree emanating from his individual will, he destroyed the noblest +institution of the Republic, the Polytechnic School, by converting it +into a purely military academy. He knew that in that sanctuary of high +study a Republican spirit was fostered; and whilst I was with him he had +often told me it was necessary that all schools, colleges, and +establishments for public instruction should be subject to military +discipline. I frequently endeavoured to controvert this idea, but +without success. + +It was arranged that Josephine and the Emperor should meet in Belgium. +He proceeded thither from the camp of Boulogne, to the astonishment of +those who believed that the moment for the invasion of England had at +length arrived. He joined the Empress at the Palace of Lacken, which the +Emperor had ordered to be repaired and newly furnished with great +magnificence. + +The Emperor continued his journey by the towns bordering on the Rhine. +He stopped first in the town of Charlemagne, passed through the three +bishoprics, + + --[There are two or three little circumstances in connection with + this journey that seem worth inserting here: + + Mademoiselle Avrillion was the 'femme de chambre' of Josephine, and + was constantly about her person from the time of the first + Consulship to the death of the Empress in 1814. In all such matters + as we shall quote from them, her memoirs seem worthy of credit. + According to Mademoiselle, the Empress during her stay at Aix-la- + Chapelle, drank the waters with much eagerness and some hope. As + the theatre there was only supplied with some German singers who + were not to Josephine's taste, she had part of a French operatic + company sent to her from Paris. The amiable creole had always a + most royal disregard of expense. When Bonaparte joined her, he + renewed his old custom of visiting his wife now and then at her + toilet, and according to Mademoiselle Avrillion, he took great + interest in the subject of her dressing. She says, "It was a most + extraordinary thing for us to see the man whose head was filled with + such vast affairs enter into the most minute details of the female + toilet and of what dresses, what robes, and what jewels the Empress + should wear on such and such an occasion. One day he daubed her + dress with ink because be did not like it, and wanted her to put on + another. Whenever he looked into her wardrobe he was sure to throw + everything topsy-turvy." + + This characteristic anecdote perfectly agrees with what we have + heard from other persons. When the Neapolitan Princess di----- was + at the Tuileries as 'dame d'honneur' to Bonaparte's sister Caroline + Murat, then Queen of Naples, on the grand occasion of the marriage + with Maria Louisa, the, Princess, to her astonishment, saw the + Emperor go up to a lady of the Court and address her thus: "This is + the same gown you wore the day before yesterday! What's the meaning + of this, madame? This is not right, madame!" + + Josephine never gave him a similar cause of complaint, but even when + he was Emperor she often made him murmur at the profusion of her + expenditure under this head. The next anecdote will give some idea + of the quantity of dresses which she wore for a day or so, and then + gave away to her attendants, who appear to have carried on a very + active trade in them. + + "While we were at Mayence the Palace was literally besieged by Jews, + who continually brought manufactured and other goods to show to the + followers of the Court; and we had the greatest difficulty to avoid + buying them. At last they proposed that we should barter with them; + and when Her Majesty had given us dresses that were far too rich for + us to wear ourselves, we exchanged them with the Jews for + piecegoods. The robes we thus bartered did not long remain in the + hands of the Jews, and there must have been a great demand for them + among the belles of Mayence, for I remember a ball there at which + the Empress might have seen all the ladies of a quadrille party + dressed in her cast-off clothes.--I even saw German Princesses + wearing them" (Memoires de Mademoiselle Avrillion). + +--on his way Cologne and Coblentz, which the emigration had rendered so +famous, and arrived at Mayence, where his sojourn was distinguished by the +first attempt at negotiation with the Holy See, in order to induce the +Pope to come to France to crown the new Emperor, and consolidate his +power by supporting it with the sanction of the Church. This journey of +Napoleon occupied three months, and he did not return to St. Cloud till +October. Amongst the flattering addresses which the Emperor received in +the course of his journey I cannot pass over unnoticed the speech of M. +de la Chaise, Prefect of Arras, who said, "God made Bonaparte, and then +rested." This occasioned Comte Louis de Narbonne, who was not yet +attached to the Imperial system, to remark "That it would have been well +had God rested a little sooner." + +During the Emperor's absence a partial change took place in the Ministry. +M. de Champagny succeeded M. Chaptal as Minister of the Interior. At the +camp of Boulogne the pacific Joseph found himself, by his brother's +wish, transformed into a warrior, and placed in command of a regiment of +dragoons, which was a subject of laughter with a great number of +generals. I recollect that one day Lannes, speaking to me of the +circumstance in his usual downright and energetic way, said, "He had +better not place him under my orders, for upon the first fault I will put +the scamp under arrest." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +1804. + + England deceived by Napoleon--Admirals Missiessy and Villeneuve-- + Command given to Lauriston--Napoleon's opinion of Madame de Stael-- + Her letters to Napoleon--Her enthusiasm converted into hatred-- + Bonaparte's opinion of the power of the Church--The Pope's arrival + at Fontainebleau--Napoleon's first interview with Pius VII.-- + The Pope and the Emperor on a footing of equality--Honours rendered + to the Pope--His apartments at the Tuileries--His visit to the + Imperial printing office--Paternal rebuke--Effect produced in + England by the Pope's presence in Paris--Preparations for Napoleon's + coronation--Votes in favour of hereditary succession--Convocation of + the Legislative Body--The presidents of cantons--Anecdote related by + Michot the actor--Comparisons--Influence of the Coronation on the + trade of Paris--The insignia of Napoleon and the insignia of + Charlemagne--The Pope's mule--Anecdote of the notary Raguideau-- + Distribution of eagles in the Champ de Mars--Remarkable coincidence. + +England was never so much deceived by Bonaparte as during the period of +the encampment at Boulogne. The English really believed that an invasion +was intended, and the Government exhausted itself in efforts for raising +men and money to guard against the danger of being taken by surprise. +Such, indeed, is the advantage always possessed by the assailant. He can +choose the point on which he thinks it most convenient to act, while the +party which stands on the defence, and is afraid of being attacked, is +compelled to be prepared in every point. However, Napoleon, who was then +in the full vigour of his genius and activity, had always his eyes fixed +on objects remote from those which surrounded him, and which seemed to +absorb his whole attention. Thus, during the journey of which I have +spoken, the ostensible object of which was the organisation of the +departments on the Rhine, he despatched two squadrons from Rochefort and +Boulogne, one commanded by Missiessy, the other by Villeneuve--I shall +not enter into any details about those squadrons; I shall merely mention +with respect to them that, while the Emperor was still in Belgium, +Lauriston paid me a sudden and unexpected visit. He was on his way to +Toulon to take command of the troops which were to be embarked on +Villeneuve's squadron, and he was not much pleased with the service to +which he had been appointed. + +Lauriston's visit was a piece of good fortune for me. We were always on +friendly terms, and I received much information from him, particularly +with respect to the manner in which the Emperor spent his time. "You can +have no idea," said he, "how much the Emperor does, and the sort of +enthusiasm which his presence excites in the army. But his anger at the +contractors is greater than ever, and he has been very severe with some +of them." These words of Lauriaton did not at all surprise me, for I +well knew Napoleon's dislike to contractors, and all men who had +mercantile transactions with the army. I have often heard him say that +they were a curse and a leprosy to nations; that whatever power he might +attain, he never would grant honours to any of them, and that of all +aristocracies, theirs was to him the moat insupportable. After his +accession to the Empire the contractors were no longer the important +persons they had been under the Directory, or even during the two first +years of the Consulate. Bonaparte sometimes acted with them as he had +before done with the Beya of Egypt, when he drew from them forced +contributions. + + --[Lauriston, one of Napoleon's aides de camp, who was with him at + the Military School of Paris, and who had been commissioned in the + artillery at the same time as Napoleon, considered that he should + have had the post of Grand Ecuyer which Caulaincourt had obtained. + He had complained angrily to the Emperor, and after a stormy + interview was ordered to join the fleet of Villeneuve--In + consequence he was at Trafalgar. On his return after Austerlitz + his temporary disgrace was forgotten, and he was sent as governor to + Venice. He became marshal under the Restoration.]-- + +I recollect another somewhat curious circumstance respecting the visit of +Lauriston, who had left the Emperor and Empress at Aix-la-Chapelle. +Lauriston was the best educated of the aides de camp, and Napoleon often +conversed with him on such literary works as he chose to notice. +"He sent for me one day," said Lauriston, "when I was on duty at the +Palace of Lacken, and spoke to me of the decennial prizes, and the +tragedy of 'Carion de Nisas', and a novel by Madame de Stael, which he +had just read, but which I had not seen, and was therefore rather +embarrassed in replying to him. Respecting Madame de Stael and her +Delphine, he said some remarkable things. 'I do not like women,' he +observed, 'who make men of themselves, any more than I like effeminate +men. There is s proper part for every one to play in the world. What +does all this flight of imagination mean? What is the result of it? +Nothing. It is all sentimental metaphysics and disorder of the mind. I +cannot endure that woman; for one reason, that I cannot bear women who +make a set at me, and God knows how often she has tried to cajole me!'" + +The words of Lauriston brought to my recollection the conversations I had +often had with Bonaparte respecting Madame de Stael, of whose advances +made to the First Consul, and even to the General of the Army of Italy, +I had frequently been witness. Bonaparte knew nothing at first of Madame +de Stael but that she was the daughter of M. Necker, a man for whom, as I +have already shown, he had very little esteem. Madame de Stael had not +been introduced to him, and knew nothing more of him than what fame had +published respecting the young conqueror of Italy, when she addressed to +him letters full of enthusiasm. Bonaparte read some passages of them to +me, and, laughing, said, "What do you think, Bourrienne, of these +extravagances. This woman is mad." I recollect that in one of her +letters Madame de Stael, among other things, told him that they certainly +were created for each other--that it was in consequence of an error in +human institutions that the quiet and gentle Josephine was united to his +fate--that nature seemed to have destined for the adoration of a hero +such as he, a soul of fire like her own. These extravagances disgusted +Bonaparte to a degree which I cannot describe. When he had finished +reading these fine epistles he used to throw them into the fire, or tear +them with marked ill-humour, and would say, "Well, here is a woman who +pretends to genius--a maker of sentiments, and she presumes to compare +herself to Josephine! Bourrienne, I shall not reply to such letters." + +I had, however, the opportunity of seeing what the perseverance of a +woman of talent can effect. Notwithstanding Bonaparte's prejudices +against Madame de Stael, which he never abandoned, she succeeded in +getting herself introduced to him; and if anything could have disgusted +him with flattery it would have been the admiration, or, to speak more +properly, the worship, which she paid him; for she used to compare him to +a god descended on earth,--a kind of comparison which the clergy, I +thought, had reserved for their own use. But, unfortunately, to please +Madame de Stael it would have been necessary that her god had been +Plutua; for behind her eulogies lay a claim for two millions, which M. +Necker considered still due to him on account of his good and worthy +services. However, Bonaparte said on this occasion that whatever value +he might set on the suffrage of Madame de Stael, he did not think fit to +pay so dear for it with the money of the State. The conversion of Madame +de Stael's enthusiasm into hatred is well known, as are also the petty +vexations, unworthy of himself, with which the Emperor harassed her in +her retreat at Coppet. + +Lauriston had arrived at Paris, where he made but a short stay, some days +before Caffarelli, who was sent on a mission to Rome to sound the Papal +Court, and to induce the Holy Father to come to Paris to consecrate +Bonaparte at his coronation. I have already described the nature of +Bonaparte's ideas on religion. His notions on the subject seemed to +amount to a sort of vague feeling rather than to any belief founded on +reflection. Nevertheless, he had a high opinion of the power of the +Church; but not because he considered it dangerous to Governments, +particularly to his own. Napoleon never could have conceived how it was +possible that a sovereign wearing a crown and a sword could have the +meanness to kneel to a Pope, or to humble his sceptre before the keys of +St. Peter. His spirit was too great to admit of such a thought. On the +contrary, he regarded the alliance between the Church and his power as a +happy means of influencing the opinions of the people, and as an +additional tie which was to attach them to a Government rendered +legitimate by the solemn sanction of the Papal authority. Bonaparte was +not deceived. In this, as well as in many other things, the perspicacity +of his genius enabled him to comprehend all the importance of a +consecration bestowed on him by the Pope; more especially as Louis +XVIII., without subjects, without territory, and wearing only an illusory +crown, had not received that sacred unction by which the descendants of +Hugh Capet become the eldest sons of the Church. + +As soon as the Emperor was informed of the success of Caffarelli's +mission, and that the Pope, in compliance with his desire, was about to +repair to Paris to confirm in his hands the sceptre of Charlemagne, +nothing was thought of but preparations for that great event, which had +been preceded by the recognition of Napoleon as Emperor of the French on +the part of all the States of Europe, with the exception of England. + +On the conclusion of the Concordat Bonaparte said to me, "I shall let the +Republican generals exclaim as much as they like against the Mass. I +know what I am about; I am working for posterity." He was now gathering +the fruits of his Concordat. He ordered that the Pope should be +everywhere treated in his journey through the French territory with the +highest distinction, and he proceeded to Fontainebleau to receive his +Holiness. This afforded an opportunity for Bonaparte to re-establish the +example of those journeys of the old Court, during which changes of +ministers used formerly to be made. The Palace of Fontainebleau, now +become Imperial, like all the old royal chateaux, had been newly +furnished with a luxury and taste corresponding to the progress of modern +art. The Emperor was proceeding on the road to Nemours when courtiers +informed him of the approach of Pius VII. Bonaparte's object was to +avoid the ceremony which had been previously settled. He had therefore +made the pretext of going on a hunting-party, and was in the way as it +were by chance when the Pope's carriage was arriving. He alighted from +horseback, and the Pope came out of his carriage. Rapp was with the +Emperor, and I think I yet hear him describing, in his original manner +and with his German accent, this grand interview, upon which, however, he +for his part looked with very little respect. Rapp, in fact, was among +the number of those who, notwithstanding his attachment to the Emperor, +preserved independence of character, and he knew he had no reason to +dissemble with me. "Fancy to yourself," said he, "the amusing comedy +that was played." After the Emperor and the Pope had well embraced they +went into the same carriage; and, in order that they might be upon a +footing of equality, they were to enter at the same time by opposite +doors. All that was settled; but at breakfast the Emperor had calculated +how he should manage, without appearing to assume anything, to get on the +righthand side of the Pope, and everything turned out as he wished. "As +to the Pope," said Rapp, "I must own that I never saw a man with a finer +countenance or more respectable appearance than Pius VII." + +After the conference between the Pope and the Emperor at Fontainebleau, +Pius VII. set off for Paris first. On the road the same honours were +paid to him as to the Emperor. Apartments were prepared for him in the +Pavilion de Flore in the Tuileries, and his bedchamber was arranged and +furnished in the same manner as his chamber in the Palace of Monte- +Cavallo, his usual residence in Rome. The Pope's presence in Paris was +so extraordinary a circumstance that it was scarcely believed, though it +had some time before been talked of. What, indeed, could be more +singular than to see the Head of the Church in a capital where four years +previously the altars had been overturned, and the few faithful who +remained had been obliged to exercise their worship in secret! + +The Pope became the object of public respect and general curiosity. I +was exceedingly anxious to see him, and my wish was gratified on the day +when he went to visit the Imperial printing office, then situated where +the Bank of France now is. + +A pamphlet, dedicated to the Pope, containing the "Pater Noster," in one +hundred and fifty different languages, was struck off in the presence of +his Holiness. During this visit to the printing office an ill-bred young +man kept his hat on in the Pope's presence. Several persons, indignant +at this indecorum, advanced to take off the young man's hat. A little +confusion arose, and the Pope, observing the cause of it, stepped up to +the young man and said to him, in a tone of kindness truly patriarchal, +"Young man, uncover, that I may give thee my blessing. An old man's +blessing never yet harmed any one." This little incident deeply affected +all who witnessed it. The countenance and figure of Pope Pius VII. +commanded respect. David's admirable portrait is a living likeness of +him. + +The Pope's arrival at Paris produced a great sensation in London, greater +indeed there than anywhere else, notwithstanding the separation of the +English Church from the Church of Rome. The English Ministry now spared +no endeavours to influence public opinion by the circulation of libels +against Bonaparte. The Cabinet of London found a twofold advantage in +encouraging this system, which not merely excited irritation against the +powerful enemy of England, but diverted from the British Government the +clamour which some of its measures were calculated to create. +Bonaparte's indignation against England was roused to the utmost extreme, +and in truth this indignation was in some degree a national feeling in +France. + +Napoleon had heard of the success of Caffarelli's negotiations previous +to his return to Paris, after his journey to the Rhine. On arriving at +St. Cloud he lost no time in ordering the preparations for his +coronation. Everything aided the fulfilment of his wishes. On 28th +November the Pope arrived at Paris, and two days after, viz. on the 1st +of December, the Senate presented to the Emperor the votes of the people +for the establishment of hereditary succession in his family: for as it +was pretended that the assumption of the title of Emperor was no way +prejudicial to the Republic, the question of hereditary succession only +had been proposed for public sanction. Sixty thousand registers had been +opened in different parts of France,--at the offices of the ministers, +the prefects, the mayors of the communes, notaries, solicitors, etc. +France at that time contained 108 departments, and there were 3,574,898 +voters. Of these only 2569 voted against hereditary succession. +Bonaparte ordered a list of the persons who had voted against the +question to be sent to him, and he often consulted it. They proved to be +not Royalist, but for the most part staunch Republicans. To my knowledge +many Royalists abstained from voting at all, not wishing to commit +themselves uselessly, and still less to give their suffrages to the +author of the Duo d'Enghien's death. For my part, I gave my vote in +favour of hereditary succession in Bonaparte's family; my situation, as +may well be imagined, did not allow me to do otherwise. + +Since the month of October the Legislative Body had been convoked to +attend the Emperor's coronation. Many deputies arrived, and with them a +swarm of those presidents of cantons who occupied a conspicuous place in +the annals of ridicule at the close of the year 1804. They became the +objects of all sorts of witticisms and jests. The obligation of wearing +swords made their appearance very grotesque. As many droll, stories were +told of them as were ten years afterwards related of those who were +styled the voltigeurs of Louis XIV. One of these anecdotes was so +exceedingly ludicrous that, though it was probably a mere invention, yet +I cannot refrain from relating it. A certain number of these presidents +were one day selected to be presented to the Pope; and as most of them +were very poor they found it necessary to combine economy with the +etiquette necessary to be observed under the new order of things. To +save the expense of hiring carriages they therefore proceeded to the +Pavilion de Flore on foot, taking the precaution of putting on gaiters to +preserve their white silk stockings from the mud which covered the +streets, for it was then the month of December. On arriving at the +Tuileries one of the party put his gaiters into his pocket. It happened +that the Pope delivered such an affecting address that all present were +moved to tears, and the unfortunate president who had disposed of his +gaiters in the way just mentioned drew them out instead of his +handkerchief and smeared his face over with mud. The Pope is said to +have been much amused at this mistake. If this anecdote should be +thought too puerile to be repeated here, I may observe that it afforded +no small merriment to Bonaparte, who made Michot the actor relate it to +the Empress at Paris one evening after a Court performance. + +Napoleon had now attained the avowed object of his ambition; but his +ambition receded before him like a boundless horizon. On the 1st of +December; the day on which the Senate presented to the Emperor the result +of the votes for hereditary succession, Francois de Neufchateau delivered +an address to him, in which there was no want of adulatory expressions. +As President of the Senate he had had some practice in that style of +speechmaking; and he only substituted the eulogy of the Monarchical +Government for that of the Republican Government 'a sempre bene', as the +Italians say. + +If I wished to make comparisons I could here indulge in some curious +ones. Is it not extraordinary that Fontainebleau should have witnessed, +at the interval of nearly ten years, Napoleon's first interview with the +Pope, and his last farewell to his army, and that the Senate, who had +previously given such ready support to Bonaparte, should in 1814 have +pronounced his abdication at Fontainebleau. + +The preparations for the Coronation proved very advantageous to the +trading classes of Paris. Great numbers of foreigners and people from +the provinces visited the capital, and the return of luxury and the +revival of old customs gave occupation to a variety of tradespeople who +could get no employment under the Directory or Consulate, such as +saddlers, carriage-makers, lacemen, embroiderers, and others. By these +positive interests were created more partisans of the Empire than by +opinion and reflection; and it is but just to say that trade had not been +so active for a dozen years before. The Imperial crown jewels were +exhibited to the public at Biennais the jeweller's. The crown was of a +light form, and, with its leaves of gold, it less resembled the crown of +France than the antique crown of the Caesars. These things were +afterwards placed in the public treasury, together with the imperial +insignia of Charlemagne, which Bonaparte had ordered to be brought from +Aix-la-Chapelle. But while Bonaparte was thus priding himself in his +crown and his imagined resemblance to Charlemagne, Mr. Pitt, lately +recalled to the Ministry, was concluding at Stockholm a treaty with +Sweden, and agreeing to pay a subsidy to that power to enable it to +maintain hostilities against France. This treaty was concluded on the 3d +of December, the day after the Coronation. + + --[The details of the preparation for the Coronation caused many + stormy scenes between Napoleon and his family. The Princesses, his + sisters and sisters-in-law, were especially shocked at having to + carry the train of the Imperial mantle of Josephine, and even when + Josephine was actually moving from the altar to the throne the + Princesses evinced their reluctance so plainly that Josephine could + not advance and an altercation took place which had to be stopped by + Napoleon himself. Joseph was quite willing himself give up + appearing in a mantle with a train, but he wished to prevent his + wife bearing the mantle of the Empress; and he opposed his brother + on so many points that Napoleon ended by calling on him to either + give up his position and retire from all politics, or else to fully + accept the imperial regime. How the economical Camberceres used up + the ermine he could not wear will be seen in Junot tome iii. p. + 196. Josephine herself was in the greatest anxiety as to whether + the wish of the Bonaparte family that she should be divorced would + carry the day with her husband. When she had gained her cause for + the time and after the Pope had engaged to crown her, she seems to + have most cleverly managed to get the Pope informed that she was + only united to Napoleon by a civil marriage. The Pope insisted on + a religious marriage. Napoleon was angry, but could not recede, and + the religions rite was performed by Cardinal Fesch the day, or two + days, before the Coronation. The certificate of the marriage was + carefully guarded from Napoleon by Josephine, and even placed beyond + his reach at the time of the divorce. Such at least seems to be the + most probable account of this mysterious and doubtful matter. + + The fact that Cardinal Fesch maintained that the religious rite had + been duly performed, thirteen of the Cardinals (not, however + including Fesch) were so convinced of the legality of the marriage + that they refused to appear at the ceremony of marriage with Marie + Louise, thus drawing down the wrath of the Emperor, and becoming the + "Cardinals Noirs," from being forbidden; to wear their own robes, + seems to leave no doubt that the religious rite had been performed. + The marriage was only pronounced to be invalid in 1809 by the local + canonical bodies, not by the authority of the pope.]-- + +It cannot be expected that I should enter into a detail of the ceremony +which took place on the 2d of December. The glitter of gold, the waving +plumes, and richly-caparisoned horses of the Imperial procession; the +mule which preceded the Pope's cortege, and occasioned so much merriment. +to the Parisians, have already been described over and over again. +I may, however, relate an anecdote connected with the Coronation, told me +by Josephine, and which is exceedingly characteristic of Napoleon. + +When Bonaparte was paying his addresses to Madame de BEAUHARNAIS, neither +the one nor the other kept a carriage; and therefore Bonaparte frequently +accompanied her when she walked out. One day they went together to the +notary Raguideau, one of the shortest men I think I ever saw in my life, +Madame de Beauharnais placed great confidence, in him, and went there on +purpose to acquaint him of her intention to marry the young general of +artillery,--the protege of Barras. Josephine went alone into, the +notary's cabinet, while Bonaparte waited for her in an adjoining room. +The door of Raguideau's cabinet did not shut close, and Bonaparte plainly +heard him dissuading Madame de Beauharnais from her projected marriage. +"You are going to take a very wrong step," said he, "and you will be +sorry for it, Can you be so mad as to marry a young man who has nothing +but his cloak and his sword?" Bonaparte, Josephine told me, had never +mentioned this to her, and she never supposed that he had heard what fell +from Raguideau. "Only think, Bourrienne," continued she, "what was my +astonishment when, dressed in the Imperial robes on the Coronation day, +he desired that Raguideau might be sent for, saying that he wished to see +him immediately; and when Raguidesu appeared; he said to him, 'Well, sir! +have I nothing but my cloak and my sword now?'" + +Though Bonaparte had related to me almost all the circumstances of his +life, as they occurred to his memory, he never once mentioned this affair +of Raguideau, which he only seemed to have suddenly recollected on his +Coronation day. + +The day after the Coronation all the troops in Paris were assembled in +the Champ de Mars the Imperial eagles might be distributed to each +regiment, in lieu of the national flags. I has stayed away from the +Coronation in the church of Notre Dame, but I wished to see the military +fete in the Champ de Mars because I took real pleasure in seeing +Bonaparte amongst his soldiers. A throne was erected in front of the +Military School, which, though now transformed into a barrack, must have +recalled, to Bonaparte's mind some singular recollections of his boyhood. +At a given signal all the columns closed and approached the throne. Then +Bonaparte, rising, gave orders for the distribution of the eagles, and +delivered the following address to the deputations of the different corps +of the army: + + "Soldiers, Soldiers! behold your colours. These eagles will always + be your rallying-point! They will always be where your Emperor may + thank them necessary for the defence of his throne and of his + people. Swear to sacrifice your lives to defend them, and by your + courage to keep them constantly in the path of victory.--Swear!" + +It would be impossible to describe the acclamations which followed this +address; there is something so seductive in popular enthusiasm that even +indifferent persons cannot help yielding to its influence. And yet the +least reflection would have shown how shamefully Napoleon forswore the +declaration he made to the Senate, when the organic 'Senatus-consulte' +for the foundation of the Empire was presented to him at St: Cloud: On +that occasion he said; "The French people shall never be MY people!" +And yet the day after his Coronation his eagles were to, be carried +wherever they might be necessary for the defence of his people. + +By a singular coincidence, while on the 2d of December 1804 Bonaparte was +receiving from the head of the Church the Imperial crown of France, Louis +XVIII., who was then at Colmar, prompted as it were by an inexplicable +presentiment, drew up and signed a declaration to the French people, in +which he declared that he then, swore never to break the sacred bond +which united his destiny to theirs, never to renounce the inheritance of +his ancestors, or to relinquish his rights. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +1805 + + + My appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary at Hamburg--My interview + with Bonaparte at Malmaison--Bonaparte's designs respecting Italy-- + His wish to revisit Brienne--Instructions for my residence in + Hamburg--Regeneration of European society--Bonaparte's plan of + making himself the oldest sovereign in Europe--Amedee Jaubert's + mission--Commission from the Emperor to the Empress--My conversation + with Madame Bonaparte. + +I must now mention an event which concerns myself personally, namely, my +appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary, to the Dukes of Brunswick and +Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and to the Hanse towns. + +This appointment took place on the 22d of March 1806. Josephine, who had +kindly promised to apprise me of what the Emperor intended to do for me, +as soon as she herself should know his intentions, sent a messenger to +acquaint me with my appointment, and to tell me that the Emperor wished +to see me. I had not visited Josephine since her departure for Belgium. +The pompa and ceremonies of the Coronation had, I may say, dazzled me, +and deterred me from presenting myself at the Imperial Palace, where I +should have been annoyed by the etiquette which had been observed since +the Coronation. I cannot describe what a disagreeable impression this +parade always produced on me. I could not all at once forget the time +when I used without ceremony to go into Bonaparte's chamber and wake him +at the appointed hour. As to Bonaparte I had not seen him since he sent +for me after the condemnation of Georges, when I saw that my candour +relative to Moreau was not displeasing to him. Moreau had since quitted +France without Napoleon's subjecting him to the application of the odious +law which has only been repealed since the return of the Bourbons, and by +virtue of which he was condemned to the confiscation of his property. +Moreau sold his estate of Gros Bois to Bertlier, and proceeded to Cadiz, +whence he embarked for America. I shall not again have occasion to speak +of him until the period of the intrigues into which he was drawn by the +same influence which ruined him in France. + +On the evening of the day when I received the kind message from Josephine +I had an official invitation to proceed the next day to Malmaison, where +the Emperor then was. I was much pleased at the idea of seeing him there +rather than at the Tuileries, or even at St. Cloud. Our former intimacy +at Malmaison made me feel more at my ease respecting an interview of +which my knowledge of Bonaparte's character led me to entertain some +apprehension. Was I to be received by my old comrade of Brienne, or by +His Imperial Majesty? I was received by my old college companion. + +On my arrival at Malmaison I was ushered into the tentroom leading to the +library. How I was astonished at the good-natured familiarity with which +he received me! This extraordinary man displayed, if I may employ the +term, a coquetry towards me which surprised me, notwithstanding my past +knowledge of his character. He came up to me with a smile on his lips, +took my hand (which he had never done since he was Consul), pressed it +affectionately, and it was impossible that I could look upon him as the +Emperor of France and the future King of Italy. Yet I was too well aware +of his fits of pride to allow his familiarity to lead me beyond the +bounds of affectionate respect. "My dear Bourrienne," said he, "can you +suppose that the elevated rank I have attained has altered my feelings +towards you? No. I do not attach importance to the glitter of +Imperial pomp; all that is meant for the people; but I must still be +valued according to my deserts. I have been very well satisfied with +your services, and I have appointed you to a situation where I shall have +occasion for them. I know that I can rely upon you." He then asked with +great warmth of friendship what I was about, and inquired after my +family, etc. In short, I never saw him display less reserve or more +familiarity and unaffected simplicity; which he did the more readily, +perhaps, because his greatness was now incontestable. + +"You know," added Napoleon, "that I set out in a week for Italy. I shall +make myself King; but that is only a stepping-stone. I have greater +designs respecting Italy. + +"It must be a kingdom comprising all the Transalpine States, from Venice +to the Maritime Alps. The union of Italy with France can only be +temporary; but it is necessary, in order to accustom the nations of Italy +to live under common laws. The Genoese, the Piedmontese, the Venetians, +the Milanese, the inhabitants of Tuscany, the Romans, and the +Neapolitans, hate each other. None of them will acknowledge the +superiority of the other, and yet Rome is, from the recollections +connected with it, the natural capital of Italy. To make it so, however, +it is necessary that the power of the Pope should be confined within +limits purely spiritual. I cannot now think of this; but I will reflect +upon it hereafter. At present I have only vague ideas on the subject, +but they will be matured in time, and then all depends on circumstances. +What was it told me, when we were walking like two idle fellows, as we +were, in the streets of Paris, that I should one day be master of France +--my wish--merely a vague wish. Circumstances have done the rest. It is +therefore wise to look into the future, and that I do. With respect to +Italy, as it will be impossible with one effort to unite her so as to +form a single power, subject to uniform laws, I will begin by making her +French. All these little States will insensibly become accustomed to the +same laws, and when manners shall be assimilated and enmities +extinguished, then there will be an Italy, and I will give her +independence. But for that I must have twenty years, and who can count +on the future? Bourrienne, I feel pleasure in telling you all this. It +was locked up in my mind. With you I think aloud." + +I do not believe that I have altered two words of what Bonaparte said to +me respecting Italy, so perfect, I may now say without vaniy, was my +memory then, and so confirmed was my habit of fixing in it all that he +said to me. After having informed me of his vague projects Bonaparte, +with one of those transitions so common to him, said, "By the by, +Bourrienne, I have something to tell you. Madame de Brienne has begged +that I will pass through Brienne, and I promised that I will. I will not +conceal from you that I shall feel great pleasure in again beholding the +spot which for six years was the scene of our boysh sports and studies." +Taking advantage of the Emperor's good humour I ventured to tell him what +happiness it would give me if it were possible that I could share with +him the revival of all recollections which were mutually dear to us. But +Napoleon, after a moment's pause, said with extreme kindness, "Hark ye, +Bourrienne, in your situation and mine this cannot be. It is more than +two years since we parted. What would be said of so sudden a +reconciliation? I tell you frankly that I have regretted you, and the +circumstances in which I have frequently been placed have often made me +wish to recall you. At Boulogne I was quite resolved upon it. Rapp, +perhaps, has informed you of it. He liked you, and he assured me that he +would be delighted at your return. But if upon reflection I changed my +mind it was because, as I have often told you, I will not have it said +that I stand in need of any one. No. Go to Hamburg. I have formed some +projects respecting Germany in which you can be useful to me. It is +there I will give a mortal blow to England. I will deprive her of the +Continent,--besides, I have some ideas not yet matured which extend much +farther. There is not sufficient unanimity amongst the nations of +Europe. European society must be regenerated--a superior power must +control the other powers, and compel them to live in peace with each +other; and France is well situated for that purpose. For details you +will receive instructions from Talleyrand; but I recommend you, above all +things, to keep a strict watch on the emigrants. Woe to them if they +become too dangerous! I know that there are still agitators,--among them +all the 'Marquis de Versailles', the courtiers of the old school. But +they are moths who will burn themselves in the candle. You have been an +emigrant yourself, Bourrienne; you feel a partiality for them, and you +know that I have allowed upwards of two hundred of them to return upon +your recommendation. But the case is altered. Those who are abroad are +hardened. They do not wish to return home. Watch them closely. That is +the only particular direction I give you. You are to be Minister from +France to Hamburg; but your place will be an independent one; besides +your correspondence with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I authorise +you to write to me personally, whenever you have anything particular +to communicate. You will likewise correspond with Fouche." + +Here the Emperor remained silent for a moment, and I was preparing to +retire, but he detained me, saying in the kindest manner, "What, are you +going already, Bourrienne? Are you in a hurry? Let, us chat a little +longer. God knows, when we may see each other again!" Then after two or +three moments' silence he said, "The more I reflect on our situation, on +our former intimacy, and our subsequent separation, the more I see the +necessity of your going to Hamburg. Go, then, my dear fellow, I advise +you. Trust me. When do you think of setting out?" "In May."--"In May? +. . . Ah, I shall be in Milan then, for I wish to stop at Turin. I +like the Piedmontese; they are the best soldiers in Italy."--"Sire, the +King of Italy will be the junior of the Emperor of France!" + + --[I alluded to a conversation which I had with Napoleon when we + first went to the Tuileries. He spoke to me about his projects of + royalty, and I stated the difficulties which I thought he would + experience in getting himself acknowledged by the old reigning + families of Europe. "If it comes to that," he replied. "I will + dethrone them all, and then I shall be the oldest sovereign among + them."--Bourrienne.]-- + +--"Ah! so you recollect what I said one day at the Tuileries; but, my +dear fellow, I have yet a devilish long way to go before I gain my +point."--"At the rate, Sire, at which you are going you will not be long +in reaching it."--"Longer than you imagine. I see all the obstacles in +my way; but they do not alarm me. England is everywhere, and the +struggle is between her and me. I see how it will be. The whole of +Europe will be our instruments; sometimes serving one, sometimes the +other, but at bottom the dispute is wholly between England and France. + +"A propos," said the Emperor, changing the subject, for all who knew him +are aware that this 'a propos' was his favourite, and, indeed, his only +mode of transition; a propos, Bourrienne, you surely must have heard of +the departure of Jaubert, + + --[Amedee Jaubart had been with Napoleon in Egypt, and was appointed + to the cabinet of the Consul as secretary interpreter of Oriental + languages. He was sent on several missions to the East, and brought + back, is 1818, goats from Thibet, naturalising in France the + manufacture of cashmeres. He became a peer of France under the + Monarchy of July.]-- + +and his mission. What is said on the subject?"--"Sire, I have only +heard it slightly alluded to. His father, however, to whom he said +nothing respecting the object of his journey, knowing I was intimate with +Jaubert, came to me to ascertain whether I could allay his anxiety +respecting a journey of the duration of which he could form no idea. The +precipitate departure of his son had filled him with apprehension I told +him the truth, viz., that Jaubert had said no more to me on the subject +than to him."--"Then you do not know where he is gone?"--"I beg your +pardon, Sire; I know very well."--"How, the devil!" said Bonaparte, +suddenly turning on me a look of astonishment. "No one, I, declare, has +ever told me; but I guessed it. Having received a letter from Jaubert +dated Leipsic, I recollected what your Majesty had often told me of your +views respecting Persia and India. I have not forgotten our conversation +in Egypt, nor the great projects which you enfolded to me to relieve the +solitude and sometimes the weariness of the cabinet of Cairo. Besides, I +long since knew your opinion of Amedee, of his fidelity, his ability, +and his courage. I felt convinced, therefore, that he had a mission to +the Shah of Persia."--"You guessed right; but I beg of you, Bourrienne, +say nothing of this to any person whatever. Secrecy on this point is of +grew importance. The English would do him an ill turn, for they are well +aware that my views are directed against their possessions and their +influence in the East."--"I think, Sire, that my answer to Anedee's +worthy father is a sufficient guarantee for my discretion. Besides, it +was a mere supposition on my part, and I could have stated nothing with +certainty before your Majesty had the kindness to inform me of the fact. +Instead of going to Hamburg, if your Majesty pleases, I will join +Jaubert, accompany him to Persia, and undertake half his mission."-- +"How! would you go with him?"--"Yes, Sire; I am much attached to him. He +is an excellent man, and I am sure that he would not be sorry to have me +with him."--"But . . . Stop, Bourrienne, . . . this, perhaps, +would not be a bad idea. You know a little of the East. You are +accustomed to the climate. You could assist Jaubert . . . . But. . +. . . No. daubert must be already far off-- I, fear you could not +overtake him. And besides you have a numerous family. You will be more +useful to me in Germany. All things considered, go to Hamburg--you know +the country, and, what is better you speak the language." + +I could see that Bonaparte still had something to say to me. As we were +walking up and down the room he stopped; and looking at me with an +expression of sadness, he said, "Bourrienne, you must, before I proceed +to Italy, do me a service. You sometimes visit my wife, and it is right; +it is fit you should. You have been too long one of the family not to +continue your friendship with her. Go to her. + + --[This employment of Bourrienne to remonstrate with Josephine is a + complete answer to the charge sometimes made that Napoleon, while + scolding, really encouraged the foolish expenses of his wife, as + keeping her under his control. Josephine was incorrigible. "On the + very day of her death," says Madame de Remusat "she wished to put on + a very pretty dressing-gown because she thought the Emperor of + Russia would perhaps come to see her. She died all covered with + ribbons and rose-colored satin." "One would not, sure, be frightful + when one's dead!" As for Josephine's great fault--her failure to + give Napoleon an heir--he did not always wish for one. In 1802, on + his brother Jerome jokingly advising Josephine to give the Consul a + little Caesar. Napoleon broke out, "Yea, that he may end in the + same manner as that of Alexander? Believe me, Messieurs, that at + the present time it is better not to have children: I mean when one + is condemned to role nations." The fate of the King of Rome shows + that the exclamation was only too true!]-- + +"Endeavour once more to make her sensible of her mad extravagance. Every +day I discover new instances of it, and it distresses me. When I speak +to her--on the subject I am vexed; I get angry--she weeps. I forgive +her, I pay her bills--she makes fair promises; but the same thing occurs +over and over again. If she had only borne me a child! It is the +torment of my life not to have a child. I plainly perceive that my power +will never be firmly established until I have one. If I die without an +heir, not one of my brothers is capable of supplying my place. All is +begun, but nothing is ended. God knows what will happen! Go and see +Josephine, and do not forget my injunctions.." + +Then he resumed the gaiety which he had exhibited at intervals during our +conversation, far clouds driven by the wind do not traverse the horizon +with such rapidity as different ideas and sensations succeeded each other +m Napoleon's mind. He dismissed me with his usual nod of the head, and +seeing him in such good humour I said on departing, "well, Sire, you are +going to hear the old bell of Brienne. I have no doubt it will please +you better than the bells of Ruel." He replied, "That's tree--you are +right. Adieu!" + +Such are my recollections of this conversation, which lasted for more +than an hour and a half. We walked about all the time, for Bonaparte was +indefatigable in audiences of this sort, and would, I believe, have +walked and talked for a whole day without being aware of it. I left him, +and, according to his desire, went to see Madame Bonaparte, which indeed +I had intended to do before he requested it. + +I found Josephine with Madame de la Rochefoucauld, who had long been in +her suite, and who a short time before had obtained the title of lady of +honour to the Empress. Madame de la Rochefoucauld was a very amiable +woman, of mild disposition, and was a favourite with Josephine. When I +told the Empress that I had just left the Emperor, she, thinking that I +would not speak freely before a third person, made a sign to Madame de la +Rochefoucauld to retire. I had no trouble in introducing the +conversation on the subject concerning which Napoleon had directed me to +speak to Josephine, for; after the interchange of a few indifferent +remarks, she herself told me of a violent scene, which had occurred +between her and the Emperor two days before. "When I wrote to you +yesterday," said she, "to announce your appointment, and to tell you that +Bonaparte would recall you, I hoped that you would come to see me on +quitting him, but I did not think that he would have sent for you so +soon. Ah! how I wish that you were still with him, Bourrienne; you +could make him hear reason. I know not who takes pleasure in bearing +tales to him; but really I think there are persons busy everywhere in +finding out my debts, and telling him of them." + +These complaints, so gently uttered by Josephine rendered less difficult +the preparatory mission with which I commenced the exercise of my +diplomatic functions. I acquainted Madame Bonaparte with all that the +Emperor had said to me. I reminded her of the affair of the 1,200,000 +francs which we had settled with half that sum. I even dropped some +allusions to the promises she had made. + +"How can I help it?" Said she. "Is it my fault?" Josephine uttered +these words in a tone of sincerity which was at once affecting and +ludicrous. "All sorts of beautiful things are brought to me," she +continued; "they are praised up; I buy them--I am not asked for the +money, and all of a sudden, when I have got none, they come upon me with +demands for payment. This reaches Napoleon's ears, and he gets angry. +When I have money, Bourrienne you know how I employ it. I give it +principally to the unfortunate who solicit my assistance, and to poor +emigants. But I will try to be more economical in future. Tell him so +if you see him again, But is it not my duty to bestow as much in charity +as I can?"--"Yes, Madame; but permit me to say that nothing requires +greater discernment than the distribution of chaxity. If you had always +sat upon a throne you might have always supposed that your bounty always +fall into the hands of the deserving; but you cannot be ignorant that it +oftener falls to the lot of intrigue than to the meritorious needy. +I cannot disguise from you that the Emperor was very earnest when he +spoke on this subject; and he desired me to tell you so."--"Did he +reproach me with nothing else?"--"No Madame. You know the influence you +have over him with respect to everything but what relates to politics. +Allow a faithful and sincere friend to prevail upon you seriously not to +vex him on this point."--"Bourrienne, I give you my word. Adieu! my +friend." + +In communicating to Josephine what the Emperor had said to me I took care +not to touch a chord which would have awakened feelings far more painful +to her than even the Emperor's harsh reproof on account of her +extravagance. Poor Josephine! how I should have afflicted her had I +uttered a word of Bonaparte's regret at not having a child. She always +had a presentiment of the fate that one day awaited her. Besides, +Josephine told the truth in assuring me that it was not her fault that, +she spent as she did; at least all the time I was with both of them, +order and economy were no more compatible with her than moderation and-- +patience with Napoleon. The sight of the least waste put him beside +himself, and that was a sensation his wife hardly ever spared him. He +saw with irritation the eagerness of his family to gain riches; the more +he gave, the more insatiable they appeared, with the exception of Louis, +whose inclinations were always upright, and his tastes moderate. As for +the other members of his family, they annoyed him so much by their +importunity that one day he said, "Really to listen to them it would be +thought that I had wasted the heritage of our father." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +1805 + + Napoleon and Voltaire--Demands of the Holy See--Coolness between the + pope and the Emperor--Napoleon's departure for Italy--Last interview + between the Pope and the Emperor at Turin--Alessandria--The field of + Marengo--The last Doge of Genoa--Bonaparte's arrival at Milan--Union + of Genoa to the French Empire--Error in the Memorial of St. Helen-- + Bonaparte and Madam Grassini--Symptoms of dissatisfaction on the + part of Austria and Russia--Napoleon's departure from Milan-- + Monument to commemorate the battle of Marengo--Napoleon's arrival in + Paris and departure for Boulogne--Unfortunate result of a naval + engagement--My visit to Fouche's country seat--Sieyes, Barras, the + Bourbons, and Bonaparte--Observations respecting Josephine. + +Voltaire says that it is very well to kiss the feet of Popes provided +their hands are tied. Notwithstanding the slight estimation in which +Bonaparte held Voltaire, he probably, without being aware of this +irreverent satire, put it into practice. The Court of Rome gave him the +opportunity of doing so shortly after his Coronation. The Pope, or +rather the Cardinals, his advisers' conceiving that so great an instance +of complaisance as the journey of His Holiness to Paris ought not to go +for nothing; demanded a compensation, which, had they been better +acquainted with Bonaparte's character and policy, they would never have +dreamed of soliciting. The Holy see demanded the restitution of Avignon, +Bologna, and some parts of the Italian territory which had formerly been +subject to the Pope's dominion. It may be imagined how such demands were +received by Napoleon, particularly after he had obtained all he wanted +from the Pope. It was, it must be confessed, a great mistake of the +Court of Rome, whose policy is usually so artful and adroit, not to make +this demand till after the Coronation. Had it been made the condition of +the Pope's journey to France perhaps Bonaparte would have consented to +give up, not Avignon, certainly, but the Italian territories, with the +intention of taking them back again. Be this as it may, these tardy +claims, which were peremptorily rejected, created an extreme coolness +between Napoleon and Pius VII. The public did not immediately perceive +it, but there is in the public an instinct of reason which the most able +politicians never can impose upon; and all eyes were opened when it was +known that the Pope, after having crowned Napoleon as Emperor of France, +refused to crown him as sovereign of the regenerated kingdom of Italy. + +Napoleon left Paris on the 1st of April to take possession of the Iron +Crown at Milan. The Pope remained some time longer in the French +capital. The prolonged presence of His Holiness was not without its +influence on the religious feelings of the people, so great was the +respect inspired by the benign countenance and mild manners of the Pope. +When the period of his persecutions arrived it would have been well for +Bonaparte had Pius VII. never been seen in Paris, for it was impossible +to view in any other light than as a victim the man whose truly evangelic +meekness had been duly appreciated. + +Bonaparte did not evince great impatience to seize the Crown of Italy, +which he well knew could not escape him. He stayed a considerable time +at Turin, where he resided in the Stupinis Palace, which may be called +the St. Cloud of the Kings of Sardinia. The Emperor cajoled the +Piedmontese. General Menou, who was made Governor of Piedmont, remained +there till Napoleon founded the general government of the Transalpine +departments in favour of his brother-in-law, the Prince Borghese, of whom +he would have, found it difficult to make anything else than a Roman +Prince. Napoleon was still at Turin when the Pope passed through that +city on his return to Rome. Napoleon had a final interview with His +Holiness to whom he now affected to show the greatest personal deference. +From Turin Bonaparte proceeded to Alessandria, where he commenced those +immense works on which such vast sums were expended. He had many times +spoken to me of his projects respecting Alessandria, as I have already +observed, all his great measures as Emperor were merely the execution of +projects conceived at a time when his future elevation could have been +only a dream of the imagination. He one day said to Berthier, in my +presence, during our sojurn at Milan after the battle of Marengo, "With +Alessandria in my possession I should always be master of Italy. It +might be made the strongest fortress in the world; it is capable of +containing a garrison of 40,000 men, with provisions for six months. +Should insurrection take place, should Austria send a formidable force +here, the French troops might retire to Alessandria, and stand a six +months' siege. Six months would be more than sufficient, wherever I +might be, to enable me to fall upon Italy, rout the Austrians, and +raise the siege of Alessandria!" + +As he was so near the field of Marengo the Emperor did not fail to visit +it, and to add to this solemnity he reviewed on the field all the corps +of French troops which were in Italy. Rapp told me afterwards that the +Emperor had taken with him from Paris the dress and the hat which he wore +on the day of that memorable battle, with the intention of wearing them +on the field where it was fought. He afterwards proceeded by the way of +Casal to Milan. + +There the most brilliant reception he had yet experienced awaited him. +His sojourn at Milan was not distinguished by outward demonstrations of +enthusiasm alone. M. Durszzo, the last Doge of Genoa, added another gem +to the Crown of Italy by supplicating the Emperor in the name of the +Republic, of which he was the representative, to permit Genoa to exchange +her independence for the honour of becoming a department of France. This +offer, as may be guessed, was merely a plan contrived beforehand. It was +accepted with an air of protecting kindness, and at the same moment that +the country of Andrea Doria was effaced from the list of nations its last +Doge was included among the number of French Senators. Genoa, which +formerly prided herself in her surname, the Superb, became the chief +station of the twenty-seventh military division. The Emperor went to +take possession of the city in person, and slept in the Doria Palace, in +the bed where Charles V. had lain. He left M. le Brun at Genoa as +Governor-General. + +At Milan the Emperor occupied the Palace of Monza. The old Iron Crown of +the Kings of Lombardy was brought from the dust in which it had been +buried, and the new Coronation took place in the cathedral at Milan, the +largest in Italy, with the exception of St. Peter's at Rome. Napoleon +received the crown from the hands of the Archbishop of Milan, and placed +it on his head, exclaiming, "Dieu me l'a donnee, gare a qui la touche." +This became the motto of the Order of the Iron Crown, which the Emperor +founded in commemoration of his being crowned King of Italy. + +Napoleon was crowned in the month of May 1805: and here I cannot avoid +correcting some gross and inconceivable errors into which Napoleon must +have voluntarily fallen at St. Helena. The Memorial states "that the +celebrated singer Madame Grasaini attracted his attention at the time of +the Coronation." Napoleon alleges that Madame Grassini on that occasion +said to him, "When I was in the prime of my beauty and talent all I +wished was that you would bestow a single look upon me. That wish was +not fulfilled, and now you notice me when I am no longer worthy your +attention." + +I confess I am at a loss to conceive what could induce Napoleon to invent +such a story. He might have recollected his acquaintance with Madame +Grassini at Milan before the battle of Marengo. It was in 1800, and not +in 1805, that I was first introduced to her, and I know that I several +times took tea with her and Bonaparte in the General's apartments I +remember also another circumstance, which is, that on the night when I +awoke Bonaparte to announce to him the capitulation of Genoa, Madame +Grassini also awoke. Napoleon was charmed with Madame Grasaini's +delicious voice, and if his imperious duties had permitted it he would +have listened with ecstasy to her singing for hours together. Whilst +Napoleon was at Milan, priding himself on his double sovereignty, some +schemes were set on foot at Vienna and St. Petersburg which I shall +hereafter have occasion to notice. The Emperor, indeed, gave cause for +just complaint by the fact of annexing Genoa to the Empire within four +months after his solemn declaration to the Legislative Body, in which he +pledged himself in the face of France and Europe not to seek any +aggrandisement of territory. The pretext of a voluntary offer on the +part of Genoa was too absurd to deceive any one. The rapid progress of +Napoleon's ambition could not escape the observation of the Cabinet of +Vienna, which began to allow increased symptoms of hostility. The change +which was effected in the form of the Government of the Cisalpine +Republic was likewise an act calculated to excite remonstrance on the +part of all the powers who were not entirely subject to the yoke of +France. He disguised the taking of Genoa under the name of a gift, and +the possession of Italy under the appearance of a mere change of +denomination. Notwithstanding these flagrant outrages the exclusive +apologists of Napoleon have always asserted that he did not wish for war, +and he himself maintained that assertion at St. Helena. It is said that +he was always attacked, and hence a conclusion is drawn in favour of his +love of peace. I acknowledge Bonaparte would never have fired a single +musket-shot if all the powers of Europe had submitted to be pillaged by +him one after the other without opposition. It was in fact declaring war +against them to place them under the necessity of breaking a peace, +during the continuance of which he was augmenting his power, and +gratifying his ambition, as if in defiance of Europe. In this way +Napoleon commenced all the wars in which he was engaged, with the +exception of that which followed the peace of Marengo, and which +terminated in Moreau's triumph at Hohenlinden. As there was no liberty +of the press in France he found it easy to deceive the nation. He was in +fact attacked, and thus he enjoyed the pleasure of undertaking his great +military expeditions without being responsible in the event of failure. + +During the Emperor's stay in the capital of the new kingdom of Italy he +received the first intelligence of the dissatisfaction of Austria and +Russia. That dissatisfaction was not of recent date. When I entered on +my functions at Hamburg I learned some curious details (which I will +relate in their proper place) respecting the secret negotiations which +had been carried on for a considerable time previously to the +commencement of hostilities. Even Prussia was no stranger to the +dissatisfaction of Austria and Russia; I do not mean the King, but the +Cabinet of Berlin, which was then under the control of Chancellor +Hardenberg; for the King of Prussia had always personally declared +himself in favour of the exact observance of treaties, even when their +conditions were not honourable. Be that as it may, the Cabinet of +Berlin, although dissatisfied in 1806 with the rapid progress of +Napoleon's ambition, was nevertheless constrained to conceal its +discontent, owing to the presence of the French troops in Hanover. + +On returning from Milan the Emperor ordered the erection, of a monument +on the Great St. Bernard in commemoration of the victory of Marengo. +M. Denon who accompanied Napoleon, told me that he made a use less search +to discover the body of Desaix, which Bonaparte wished to be buried +beneath the monument and that it was at length found by General Savary. +It is therefore certain that the ashes of the brave Desaix repose on the +summit of the Alps. + +The Emperor arrived in Paris about the end of June and instantly set off +for the camp at Boulogne. It was now once more believed that the project +of invading England would be accomplished. This idea obtained the +greater credit because Bonaparte caused some experiments for embarkation +to be made, in his presence. These experiments, however, led to no +result. About this period a fatal event but too effectually contributed +to strengthen the opinion of the inferiority of our navy. A French +squadron consisting of fifteen ships, fell in with the English fleet +commanded by Admiral Calder, who had only nine vessels under his command, +and in an engagement, which there was every reason to expect would +terminate in our favour, we had the misfortune to lose two ships. The +invasion of England was as little the object of this as of the previous +journey to Boulogne; all Napoleon had in view was to stimulate the +enthusiasm of the troops, and to hold out those threats against England +when conceived necessary for diverting attention from the real motive of +his hostile preparations, which was to invade Germany and repulse the +Russian troops, who had begun their march towards Austria. Such was the +true object of Napoleons last journey to Boulogne. + +I had been some time at Hamburg when these events took place, and it was +curious to observe the effect they produced. But I must not forget one +circumstance in which I am personally concerned, and which brings me back +to the time when I was in Paris. My new title of Minister +Plenipotentiary obliged me to see a little more of society than during +the period when prudence required me to live as it were in retirement. +I had received sincere congratulations from Duroc, Rape, and Lauriston, +the three friends who had shown the greatest readiness to serve my +interests with the Emperor; and I had frequent occasion to see M. +Talleyrand, as my functions belonged to his department. The Emperor, on +my farewell audience, having informed me that I was to correspond +directly with the Minister of the General Police, I called on Fouche, who +invited me to spend some days at his estate of Pont-Carre. I accepted +the invitation because I wanted to confer with him, and I spent Sunday +and Monday, the 28th and 29th of April, at Pont-Carre. + +Fouche, like the Emperor, frequently revealed what he intended to +conceal; but he had such a reputation for cunning that this sort of +indiscretion was attended by no inconvenience to him. He was supposed to +be such a constant dissembler that those who did not know him well looked +upon the truth when he spoke it merely as an artful snare laid to entrap +them. I, however, knew that celebrated person too well to confound his +cunning with his indiscretion. The best way to get out of him more than +he was aware of was to let him talk on without interruption. There were +very few visitors at Pont-Carre, and during the two days I spent there I +had several conversations with Fouche. He told me a great deal about the +events of 1804, and he congratulated himself on having advised Napoleon +to declare himself Emperor--"I have no preference," says Fouche, "for +one form of government more than another. Forms signify nothing. The +first object of the Revolution was not the overthrow of the Bourbons, but +merely the reform of abuses and the destruction of prejudices. However, +when it was discovered that Louis XVI. had neither firmness to refuse +what he did not wish to grant, nor good faith to grant what his weakness +had led him to promise, it was evident that the Bourbons could no longer +reign over France and things were carried to such a length that we were +under the necessity of condemning Louis XVI. and resorting to energetic +measures. You know all that passed up to the 18th Brumaire, and after. +We all perceived that a Republic could not exist in France; the question, +therefore, was to ensure the perpetual removal of the Bourbons; and I +behaved the only means for so doing was to transfer the inheritance of +their throne to another family. Some time before the 18th Brumaire I had +a conversation with Sieyes and Barras, in which it was proposed, in case +of the Directory being threatened, to recall the Duke of Orleans; and I +could see very well that Barras favoured that suggestion, although he +alluded to it merely as a report that was circulated about, and +recommended me to pay attention to it. Sieyes said nothing, and I +settled the question by observing, that if any such thing had been +agitated I must have been informed of it through the reports of my +agents. I added, that the restoration of the throne to a collateral +branch of the Bourbons would be an impolitic act, and would but +temporarily change the position of those who had brought about the +Revolution. I rendered an account of this interview with Barras to +General Bonaparte the first time I had an opportunity of conversing with +him after your return from Egypt. I sounded him; and I was perfectly +convinced that in the state of decrepitude into which the Directory had +fallen he was just the man we wanted. I therefore adopted such measures +with the police as tended to promote his elevation to the First +Magistracy. He soon showed himself ungrateful, and instead of giving me +all his confidence he tried to outwit me. He put into the hands of a +number of persons various matters of police which were worse than +useless. Most of their agents, who were my creatures, obeyed my +instructions in their reports; and it often happened that the First +Consul thought he had discovered, through the medium of others, +information that came from me, and of the falsehood of which I easily +convinced him. I confess I was at fault on the 3d Nivoise; but are there +any human means of preventing two men, who have no accomplices, from +bringing a plot to execution? You saw the First Consul on his return +from the opera; you heard all his declamations. I felt assured that the +infernal machine was the work of the Royalists. I told the Emperor this, +and he was, I am sure, convinced of it; but he, nevertheless, proscribes +a number of men on the mere pretence of their old opinions. Do you +suppose I am ignorant of what he said of me and of my vote at the +National Convention? Most assuredly it ill becomes him to reproach the +Conventionists. It was that vote which placed the crown upon his head. +But for the situation in which we were placed by that event, which +circumstances had rendered inevitable, what should we have cared for the +chance of seeing the Bourbons return? You must have remarked that the +Republicans, who were not Conventionists, were in general more averse +than we to the proceedings of the 18th Brumaire, as, for example, +Bernadotte and Moreau. I know positively that Moreau was averse to the +Consulate; and that it was only from irresolution that he accepted the +custody of the Directory. I know also that he excused himself to his +prisoners for the duty which had devolved upon him. They themselves told +me this." + +Fouche entered further into many details respecting his conduct, and the +motives which had urged him to do what he did in favour of the First +Consul. My memory does not enable me to report all he told me, but I +distinctly recollect that the impression made on my mind by what fell +from him was, that he had acted merely with a view to his own interests. +He did not conceal his satisfaction at having outwitted Regnier, and +obliged Bonaparte to recall him, that he set in motion every spring +calculated to unite the conspirators, or rather to convert the +discontented into conspirators, is evident from the following remarks +which fell from him: "With the information I possessed, had I remained in +office it is probable that I might have prevented the conspiracy, but +Bonaparte would still have had to fear the rivalry of Moreau. He would +not have been Emperor; and we should still have had to dread the return +of the Bourbons, of which, thank God, there is now no fear." + +During my stay at Pont-Carry I said but little to Fouche about my long +audience with the Emperor. However, I thought I might inform him that I +was authorised to correspond directly with his Majesty. I thought it +useless to conceal this fact, since he would soon learn it through his +agents. I also said a few words about Bonaparte's regret at not having +children. My object was to learn Fouche's opinion on this subject, and +it was not without a feeling of indignation that I heard him say, "It is +to be hoped the Empress will soon die. Her death will remove many +difficulties. Sooner or later he must take a wife who will bear him a +child; for as long as he has no direct heir there is every chance that +his death will be the signal for a Revolution. His brothers are +perfectly incapable of filling his place, and a new party would rise up +in favour of the Bourbons; which must be prevented above all things. At +present they are not dangerous, though they still have active and devoted +agents. Altona is full of them, and you will be surrounded by them. +I beg of you to keep a watchful eye upon them, and render me a strict +account of all their movements, and even of their most trivial actions. +As they have recourse to all sorts of disguises, you cannot be too +vigilant; therefore it will be advisable, in the first place, to +establish a good system of espionage; but have a care of the spies who +serve both sides, for they swarm in Germany." + +This is all I recollect of my, conversations with Fouche at Pont-Carre. +I returned to Paris to make preparations for my journey to Hamburg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +1805. + + Capitulation of Sublingen--Preparations for war--Utility of + commercial information--My instructions--Inspection of the emigrants + and the journals--A pamphlet by Kotzebue--Offers from the Emperor of + Russia to Moreau--Portrait of Gustavus Adolphus by one of his + ministers--Fouche's denunciations--Duels at Hamburg--M. de Gimel + --The Hamburg Correspondent--Letter from Bernadotte. + +I left Paris on the 20th of May 1805. On the 5th of June following I +delivered my credentials to the Senate of Hamburg, which was represented +by the Syndic Doormann and the Senator Schutte. M. Reinhart, my +predecessor, left Hamburg on the 12th of June. + +The reigning Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Brunswick, to whom I had +announced my arrival as accredited Minister to them, wrote me letters +recognising me in that character. General Walmoden had just signed the +capitulation of Sublingen with Marshal Mortier, who had the command in +Hanover. The English Government refused to ratify this, because it +stipulated that the troops should be prisoners of war. Bonaparte had two +motives for relaxing this hard condition. He wished to keep Hanover as a +compensation for Malta, and to assure the means of embarrassing and +attacking Prussia, which he now began to distrust. By advancing upon +Prussia he would secure his left, so that when convenient he might march +northward. Mortier, therefore, received orders to reduce the conditions +of the capitulation to the surrender of the arms, baggage, artillery, and +horses. England, which was making great efforts to resist the invasion +with which she thought herself threatened, expended considerable sums for +the transport of the troops from Hanover to England. Her precipitation +was indescribable, and she paid the most exorbitant charges for the hire +of ships. Several houses in Hamburg made fortunes on this occasion. +Experience has long since proved that it is not at their source that +secret transactions are most readily known. The intelligence of an event +frequently resounds at a distance, while the event itself is almost +entirely unknown in the place of its occurrence. The direct influence of +political events on commercial speculations renders merchants exceedingly +attentive to what is going on. All who are engaged in commercial +pursuits form a corporation united by the strongest of all bonds, common +interest; and commercial correspondence frequently presents a fertile +field for observation, and affords much valuable information, which often +escapes the inquiries of Government agents. + +I resolved to form a connection with some of the mercantile houses which +maintained extensive and frequent communications with the Northern +States. I knew that by obtaining their confidence I might gain a +knowledge of all that was going on in Russia, Sweden, England, and +Austria. Among the subjects upon which it was desirable to obtain +information I included negotations, treaties, military measures--such as +recruiting troops beyond the amount settled for the peace establishment, +movements of troops, the formation of camps and magazines, financial +operations, the fitting-out of ships, and many other things, which, +though not important in themselves, frequently lead to the knowledge of +what is important. + +I was not inclined to place reliance on all public reports and gossiping +stories circulated on the Exchange without close investigation; for I +wished to avoid transmitting home as truths what might frequently be mere +stock-jobbing inventions. I was instructed to keep watch on the +emigrants, who were exceedingly numerous in Hamburg and its +neighbourhood, Mecklenburg, Hanover, Brunswick, and Holstein; but I must +observe that my inspection was to extend only to those who were known to +be actually engaged in intrigues and plots. + +I was also to keep watch on the state of the public mind, and on the +journals which frequently give it a wrong direction, and to point out +those articles in the journals which I thought censurable. At first I +merely made verbal representations and complaints, but I could not always +confine myself to this course. I received such distinct and positive +orders that, in spite of myself, inspection was speedily converted into +oppression. Complaints against the journals filled one-fourth of my +despatches. + +As the Emperor wished to be made acquainted with all that was printed +against him, I sent to Paris, in May 1805, and consequently a very few +days after my arrival in Hamburg, a pamphlet by the celebrated Kotzebue, +entitled 'Recollections of my Journey to Naples and Rome'. This +publication, which was printed at Berlin, was full of indecorous attacks +and odious allusions on the Emperor. + +I was informed at that time, through a certain channel, that the Emperor +Alexander had solicited General Moreau to enter his service, and take the +command of the Russian infantry. He offered him 12,000 roubles to defray +his travelling expenses. At a subsequent period Moreau unfortunately +accepted these offers, and died in the enemy's ranks. + +On the 27th of June M. Bouligny arrived at Hamburg. He was appointed to +supersede M. d'Ocariz at Stockholm. The latter minister had left Hamburg +on the 11th of June for Constantinople, where he did not expect to stay +three months. I had several long conversations with him before his +departure, and he did not appear to be satisfied with his destination. +We frequently spoke of the King of Sweden, whose conduct M. d'Ocariz +blamed. He was, he said, a young madman, who, without reflecting on the +change of time and circumstances, wished to play the part of Gustavus +Adolphus, to whom he bore no resemblence but in name. M. d'Ocariz spoke +of the King of Sweden's camp in a tone of derision. That Prince had +returned to the King of Prussia the cordon of the Black Eagle because the +order had been given to the First Consul. I understood that Frederick +William was very much offended at this proceeding, which was as +indecorous and absurd as the return of the Golden Fleece by Louis XVII. +to the King of Spain was dignified and proper. Gustavus Adolphus was +brave, enterprising, and chivalrous, but inconsiderate and irascible. He +called Bonaparte Monsieur Napoleon. His follies and reverses in Hanover +were without doubt the cause of his abdication. On the 31st of October +1805 he published a declaration of war against France in language highly +insulting to the Emperor. + +Fouche overwhelmed me with letters. If I had attended to all his +instructions I should have left nobody unmolested. He asked me for +information respecting a man named Lazoret, of the department of Gard, +a girl, named Rosine Zimbenni, having informed the police that he had +been killed in a duel at Hamburg. I replied that I knew but of four +Frenchmen who had been killed in that way; one, named Clement, was killed +by Tarasson; a second, named Duparc, killed by Lezardi; a third, named +Sadremont, killed by Revel; and a fourth, whose name I did not know, +killed by Lafond. This latter had just arrived at Hamburg when he was +killed, but he was not the man sought for. + +Lafond was a native of Brabant, and had served in the British army. He +insulted the Frenchman because he wore the national cockade--A duel was +the consequence, and the offended party fell. M. Reinhart, my +predecessor wished to punish Lafond, but the Austrian Minister having +claimed him as the subject of his sovereign, he was not molested. Lafond +took refuge in Antwerp, where he became a player. + +During the first months which succeeded my arrival in Hamburg I received +orders for the arrest of many persons, almost all of whom were designated +as dangerous and ill disposed men. When I was convinced that the +accusation was groundless I postponed the arrest. The matter was then +forgotten, and nobody complained. + +A title, or a rank in foreign service, was a safeguard against the Paris +inquisition. Of this the following is an instance. Count Gimel, of whom +I shall hereafter have occasion to speak more at length, set out about +this time for Carlsbad. Count Grote the Prussian Minister, frequently +spoke to me of him. On my expressing apprehension that M. de Gimel might +be arrested, as there was a strong prejudice against him, M. Grote +replied, "Oh! there is no fear of that. He will return to Hamburg with +the rauk of an English colonel." + +On the 17th of July there appeared in the Correspondent an article +exceedingly insulting to France. It had been inserted by order of Baron +Novozilzow, who was at Berlin, and who had become very hostile to France, +though it was said he had been sent from St. Petersburg on a specific +mission to Napoleon. The article in question was transmitted from Berlin +by an extraordinary courier, and Novozilzow in his note to the Senate +said it might be stated that the article was inserted at the request of +His Britannic Majesty. The Russian Minister at Berlin, M. Alopaeus, +despatched also an 'estafette' to the Russian charge d'affaires at +Hamburg, with orders to apply for the insertion of the article, which +accordingly appeared. In obedience to the Emperor's instructions, I +complained of it, and the Senate replied that it never opposed the +insertion of an official note sent by any Government; that insults would +redound against those from whom they came; that the reply of the French +Government would be published; and that the Senate had never deviated +from this mode of proceeding. + +I observed to the Senate that I did not understand why the Correspondent +should make itself the trumpet of M. Novozilzow; to which the Syndic +replied, that two great powers, which might do them much harm, had +required the insertion of the article, and that it could not be refused. + +The hatred felt by the foreign Princes, which the death of the Duc +d'Enghien had considerably increased; gave encouragement to the +publication of everything hostile to Napoleon. This was candidly avowed +to me by the Ministers and foreigners of rank whom I saw in Hamburg. The +King of Sweden was most violent in manifesting the indignation which was +generally excited by the death of the Due d'Enghien. M. Wetterstadt, who +had succeeded M. La Gerbielske in the Cabinet of Stockholm, sent to the +Swedish Minister at Hamburg a long letter exceedingly insulting to +Napoleon. It was in reply to an article inserted in the 'Moniteur' +respecting the return of the Black Eagle to the King of Prussia. +M. Peyron, the Swedish Minister at Hamburg, who was very far from +approving all that his master did, transmitted to Stockholm some very +energetic remarks on the ill effect which would be produced by the +insertion of the article in the 'Correspondent'. The article was then a +little modified, and M. Peyron received formal orders to get it inserted. +However; on my representations the Senate agreed to suppress it, and it +did not appear. + +Marshal Bernadotte, who had the command of the French troops in Hanover, +kept up a friendly correspondence with me unconnected with the duties of +our respective functions. + +On the occupation of Hanover Mr. Taylor, the English Minister at Cassel, +was obliged to leave that place; but he soon returned in spite of the +opposition of France. On this subject the marshal furnished me with the +following particulars: + + I have just received, my dear Bourrienne, information which leaves + no doubt of what has taken place at Cassel with respect to Mr. + Taylor. That Minister has been received in spite of the + representations of M. Bignon, which, however, had previously been + merely verbal. I know that the Elector wrote to London to request + that Mr. Taylor should not return. In answer to this the English + Government sent him back. Our Minister has done everything he could + to obtain his dismissal; but the pecuniary interests of the Elector + have triumphed over every other consideration. He would not risk + quarrelling with the Court from which he expects to receive more + than 12,000,000 francs. The British Government has been written to + a second time, but without effect. The Elector himself, in a + private letter, has requested the King of England to recall Mr. + Taylor, but it is very probable that the Cabinet of London will + evade this request. + + Under these circumstances our troops have approached nearer to + Cassel. Hitherto the whole district of Gottingen had been exempt + from quartering troops. New arrangements, tendered necessary by the + scarcity of forage, have obliged me to send a squadron of 'chasseurs + de cheval' to Munden, a little town four leagues from Cassel. This + movement excited some alarm in the Elector, who expressed a wish to + see things restored to the same footing as before. He has requested + M. Bignon to write to me, and to assure me again that he will be + delighted to become acquainted with me at the waters of Nemidorff, + where he intends to spend some time. But on this subject I shall + not alter the determination I have already mentioned to you. + --Yours, etc., + (Signed) BERNADOTTE. + STADE, 10th Thermidor (29th July, 1805). + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +1805. + + Treaty of alliance between England and Russia--Certainty of an + approaching war--M. Forshmann, the Russian Minister--Duroc's mission + to Berlin--New project of the King of Sweden--Secret mission to the + Baltic--Animosity against France--Fall of the exchange between + Hamburg and Paris--Destruction of the first Austrian army--Taking of + Ulm--The Emperor's displeasure at the remark of a soldier--Battle of + Trafalgar--Duroc's position at the Court of Prussia--Armaments in + Russia--Libel upon Napoleon in the Hamburg 'Corespondent'-- + Embarrassment of the Syndic and Burgomaster of Hamburg--The conduct + of the Russian Minister censured by the Swedish and English + Ministers. + +At the beginning of August 1805 a treaty of alliance between Russia and +England was spoken of. Some persons of consequence, who had the means of +knowing all that was going on in the political world, had read this +treaty, the principal points of which were communicated to me. + +Article 1st stated that the object of the alliance was to restore the +balance of Europe. By art. 2d the Emperor of Russia was to place 36,000 +men at the disposal of England. Art. 3d stipulated that neither of the +two powers would consent to treat with France, nor to lay down arms until +the King of Sardinia should either be restored to his dominions or +receive an equivalent indemnity in the northeast of Italy. By art. 4th +Malta was to be evacuated by the English, and occupied by the Russians. +By art. 5th the two powers were to guarantee the independence of the +Republic of the Ionian Isles, and England was to pledge herself to assist +Russia in her war against Persia. If this plan of a treaty, of the +existence of which I was informed on unquestionable authority, had been +brought to any result it is impossible to calculate what might have been +its consequences. + +At that time an immediate Continental war was confidently expected by +every person in the north of Europe; and it is very certain that, had not +Napoleon taken the hint in time and renounced his absurd schemes at +Boulogne, France would have stood in a dangerous situation. + +M. Forshmann, the Russian charge d'affaires, was intriguing to excite the +north of Europe against France. He repeatedly received orders to obtain +the insertion of irritating articles in the 'Correspondent'. He was an +active, intriguing, and spiteful little man, and a declared enemy of +France; but fortunately his stupidity and vanity rendered him less +dangerous than he wished to be. He was universally detested, and he +would have lost all credit but that the extensive trade carried on +between Russia and Hamburg forced the inhabitants and magistrates of that +city to bear with a man who might have done them, individually, +considerable injury. + +The recollection of Duroc's successful mission to Berlin during the +Consulate induced Napoleon to believe that that general might appease the +King of Prussia, who complained seriously of the violation of the +territory of Anspach, which Bernadotte, in consequence of the orders he +received, had not been able to respect. Duroc remained about six weeks +in Berlin. + +The following letter from Duroc will show that the facility of passing +through Hesse seemed to excuse the second violation of the Prussian +territory; but there was a great difference between a petty Prince of +Hesse and the King of Prussia. + + I send you, my dear Bourrienne, two despatches, which I have + received for you. M. de Talleyrand, who sends them, desires me to + request that you will transmit General Victor's by a sure + conveyance. + + I do not yet know whether I shall stay long in Berlin. By the last + accounts I received the Emperor is still in Paris, and numerous + forces are assembling on the Rhine. The hopes of peace are + vanishing every day, and Austria does everything to promote war. + + I have received accounts from Marshal Bernadotte. He has effected + his passage through Hesse. Marshal Bernadotte was much pleased with + the courtesy he experienced from the Elector. + +The junction of the corps commanded by Bernadotte with the army of the +Emperor was very important, and Napoleon therefore directed the Marshal +to come up with him as speedily as possible, and by the shortest road. +It was necessary he should arrive in time for the battle of Austerlitz. +Gustavus, King of Sweden, who was always engaged in some enterprise, +wished to raise an army composed of Swedes, Prussians, and English; and +certainly a vigorous attack in the north would have prevented Bernadotte +from quitting the banks of the Elbe and the Weser, and reinforcing the +Grand Army which was marching on Vienna. But the King of Sweden's +coalition produced no other result than the siege of the little fortress +of Hameln. + +Prussia would not come to a rupture with France, the King of Sweden was +abandoned, and Bonaparte's resentment against him increased. This +abortive project of Gustavus contributed not a little to alienate the +affections of his subjects, who feared that they might be the victims of +the revenge excited by the extravagant plans of their King, and the +insults he had heaped upon Napoleon, particularly since the death of the +Due d'Enghien. + +On the 13th of September 1805 I received a letter from the Minister of +Police soliciting information about Swedish Pomerania. + +Astonished at not obtaining from the commercial Consuls at Lubeck and +Stettin any accounts of the movements of the Russians, I had sent to +those ports, four days before the receipt of the Police Minister's +letter, a confidential agent, to observe the Baltic: though we were only +64 leagues from Stralsund the most uncertain and contradictory accounts +came to hand. It was, however, certain that a landing of the Russians +was expected at Stralsund, or at Travemtinde, the port of Lubeck, at the +mouth of the little river Trave. I was positively informed that Russia +had freighted a considerable number of vessels for those ports. + +The hatred of the French continued to increase in the north of Europe. +About the end of September there appeared at Kiel, in Denmark, a +libellous pamphlet, which was bought and read with inconceivable avidity. +This pamphlet, which was very ably written, was the production of some +fanatic who openly preached a crusade against France. The author +regarded the blood of millions of men as a trifling sacrifice for the +great object of humiliating France and bringing her back to the limits of +the old monarchy. This pamphlet was circulated extensively in the German +departments united to France, in Holland, and in Switzerland. The number +of incendiary publications which everywhere abounded indicated but too +plainly that if the nations of the north should be driven back towards +the Arctic regions they would in their turn repulse their conquerors +towards the south; and no man of common sense could doubt that if the +French eagles were planted in foreign capitals, foreign standards would +one day wave over Paris. + +On the 30th of September 1805 I received, by an 'estafette', intelligence +of the landing at Stralsund of 6000 Swedes, who had arrived from +Stockholm in two ships of war. + +About the end of September the Hamburg exchange on Paris fell alarmingly. +The loss was twenty per cent. The fall stopped at seventeen below par. +The speculation for this fall of the exchange had been made with equal +imprudence and animosity by the house of Osy and Company + +The head of that house, a Dutch emigrant, who had been settled at Hamburg +about six years, seized every opportunity of manifesting his hatred of +France. An agent of that rich house at Rotterdam was also very hostile +to us, a circumstance which shows that if many persons sacrifice their +political opinions to their interests there are others who endanger their +interests for the triumph of their opinions. + +On the 23d of October 1805 I received official intelligence of the total +destruction of the first Austrian army: General Barbou, who was in +Hanover, also informed me of that event in the following terms: "The +first Austrian army has ceased to exist." He alluded to the brilliant +affair of Ulm. I immediately despatched twelve estafettes to different +parts; among other places to Stralsund and Husum. I thought that these +prodigies, which must have been almost incredible to those who were +unacquainted with Napoleon's military genius, might arrest the progress +of the Russian troops, and produces some change in the movements of the +enemy's forces. A second edition of the 'Correspondent' was published +with this intelligence, and 6000 copies were sold at four times the usual +price. + +I need not detain the reader with the details of the capitulation of Ulm, +which have already been published, but I may relate the following +anecdote, which is not generally known. A French general passing before +the ranks of his men said to them, "Well, comrades, we have prisoners +enough here."--"yes indeed," replied one of the soldiers, "we never saw +so many . . . collected together before." It was stated at the time, +and I believe it, that the Emperor was much displeased when he heard of +this, and remarked that it was "atrocious to insult brave men to whom the +fate of arms had proved unfavourable." + +In reading the history of this period we find that in whatever place +Napoleon happened to be, there was the central point of action. The +affairs of Europe were arranged at his headquarters in the same manner as +if he had been in Paris. Everything depended on his good or bad fortune. +Espionage, seduction, false promises, exactions,--all were put in force +to promote the success of his projects; but his despotism, which excited +dissatisfaction in France, and his continual aggressions, which +threatened the independence of foreign States, rendered him more and more +unpopular everywhere. + +The battle of Trafalgar took place while Napoleon was marching on Vienna, +and on the day after the capitulation of Ulm. The southern coast of +Spain then witnessed an engagement between thirty-one French and about an +equal number of English ships, and in spite of this equality of force the +French fleet was destroyed.--[The actual forces present were 27 English +ships of the line and 38 Franco-Spanish ships of the line; see James' +Naval History, vol. iii. p. 459.] + +This great battle afforded another proof of our naval inferiority. +Admires Calder first gave us the lesson which Nelson completed, but which +cost the latter his life. According to the reports which Duroc +transmitted to me, courage gave momentary hope to the French; but they +were at length forced to yield to the superior naval tactics of the +enemy. The battle of Trafalgar paralysed our naval force, and banished +all hope of any attempt against England. + +The favour which the King, of Prussia had shown to Duroc was withdrawn +when his Majesty received intelligence of the march of Bernadotte's +troops through the Margravate of Anspach. All accounts concurred +respecting the just umbrage which that violation of territory occasioned +to the King of Prussia. The agents whom I had in that quarter +overwhelmed me with reports of the excesses committed by the French in +passing through the Margravate. A letter I received from Duroc contains +the following remarks on this subject: + + The corps of Marshal Bernadotte has passed through Anapach and by + some misunderstanding this has been regarded at Berlin as an insult + to the King, a violence committed upon his neutrality. How can it + be supposed, especially under present circumstances, that the + Emperor could have any intention of insulting or committing violence + upon his friend? Besides, the reports have been exaggerated, and + have been made by persons who wish to favour our enemies rather than + us. However, I am perfectly aware that Marshal Bernadotte's 70,000 + men are not 70,000 virgins. Be this as it may, the business might + have been fatal, and will, at all events, be very injurious to us. + Laforeat and I are treated very harshly, though we do not deserve + it. All the idle stories that have been got up here must have + reached you. Probably Prussia will not forget that France was, and + still may be, the only power interested in her glory and + aggrandisement. + +At the end of October the King of Prussia, far from thinking of war, but +in case of its occurrence wishing to check its disasters as far as +possible, proposed to establish a line of neutrality. This was the first +idea of the Confederation of the North. Duroc, fearing lest the Russians +should enter Hamburg, advised me, as a friend, to adopt precautions. But +I was on the spot; I knew all the movement the little detached corps, and +I was under no apprehension. + +The editor of the Hamburg 'Correspondent' sent me every evening a proof +of the number which was to appear next day,--a favour which was granted +only to the French Minister. On the 20th of November I received the +proof as usual, and saw nothing objectionable in it. How great, +therefore, was my astonishment when next morning I read in the same +journal an article personally insulting to the Emperor, and in which the +legitimate sovereigns of Europe were called upon to undertake a crusade +against the usurper etc. I immediately sent for M. Doormann, first +Syndic of the Senate of Hamburg. When he appeared his mortified look +sufficiently informed me that he knew what I had to say to him. I +reproached him sharply, and asked him how, after all I had told him of +the Emperor's susceptibility, he could permit the insertion of such an +article. I observed to him that this indecorous diatribe had no official +character, since it had no signature; and that, therefore, he had acted +in direct opposition to a decree of the Senate, which prohibited the +insertion in the journals of any articles which were not signed. I told +him plainly that his imprudence might be attended with serious +consequences. M. Doormann did not attempt to justify himaelt but merely +explained to me how the thing had happened. + +On the 20th of November, in the evening, M. Forshmann, the Russian charge +d'affaires who had in the course of the day arrived from the Russian +headquarters presented to the editor of the Correspondent the article in +question. The editor, after reading the article, which he thought +exceedingly indecorous, observed to M. Forshmann that his paper was +already made up, which was the fact, for I had seen a proof. +M. Forshmann, however, insisted on the insertion of the article. The +editor then told him that he could not admit it without the approbation +of the Syndic Censor. M. Forshmann immediately waited upon M. Doormann, +and when the latter begged that he would not insist on the insertion of +the article, M. Forshmann produced a letter written in French, which, +among other things, contained the following: "You will get the enclosed +article inserted in the Correspondent without suffering a single word to +be altered. Should the censor refuse, you must apply to the directing +Burgomaster, and, in case of his refusal, to General Tolstoy, who will +devise some means of rendering the Senate more complying, and forcing it +to observe an impartial deference." + +M. Doorman, thinking he could not take upon himself to allow the +insertion of the article, went, accompanied by M. Forshmann, to wait upon +M. Von Graffen, the directing Burgomaster. MM. Doorman and Von Graffen +earnestly pointed out the impropriety of inserting the article; but M. +Forshmann referred to his order, and added that the compliance of the +Senate on this point was the only means of avoiding great mischief. The +Burgomaster and the Syndic, finding themselves thus forced to admit the +article, entreated that the following passage at least might be +suppressed: "I know a certain chief, who, in defiance of all laws divine +and human,--in contempt of the hatred he inspires in Europe, as well as +among those whom he has reduced to be his subjects, keeps possession of +a usurped throne by violence and crime. His insatiable ambition would +subject all Europe to his rule. But the time is come for avenging the +rights of nations . . . ." M. Forshmann again referred to his orders, +and with some degree of violence insisted on the insertion of the article +in its complete form. The Burgomaster then authorised the editor of the +Correspondent to print the article that night, and M. Forshmann, having +obtained that authority, carried the article to the office at half-past +eleven o'clock. + +Such was the account given me by M. Doormann. I observed that I did not +understand how the imaginary apprehension of any violence on the part of +Russia should have induced him to admit so insolent an attack upon the +most powerful sovereign in Europe, whose arms would soon dictate laws to +Germany. The Syndic did not dissemble his fear of the Emperor's +resentment, while at the same time he expressed a hope that the Emperor +would take into consideration the extreme difficulty of a small power +maintaining neutrality in the extraordinary circumstances in which +Hamburg was placed, and that the articles might be said to have been +presented almost at the point of the Cossacks' spears. M. Doormann added +that a refusal, which world have brought Russian troops to Hamburg, might +have been attended by very unpleasant consequences to me, and might have +committed the Senate in a very different way. I begged of him, once for +all, to set aside in these affairs all consideration of my personal +danger: and the Syndic, after a conversation of more than two hours, +departed more uneasy in his mind than when he arrived, and conjuring me +to give a faithful report of the facts as they had happened. + +M. Doormann was a very worthy man, and I gave a favourable representation +of his excuses and of the readiness which he had always evinced to keep +out of the Correspondent articles hostile to France; as, for example, the +commencement of a proclamation of the Emperor of Germany to his subjects, +and a complete proclamation of the King of Sweden. As it happened, the +good Syndic escaped with nothing worse than a fright; I was myself +astonished at the success of my intercession. I learned from the +Minister for Foreign Affairs that the Emperor was furiously indignant on +reading the article, in which the French army was outraged as well as he. +Indeed, he paid but little attention to insults directed against himself +personally. Their eternal repetition had inured him to them; but at the +idea of his army being insulted he was violently enraged, and uttered the +most terrible threats. + +It is worthy of remark that the Swedish and English Ministers, as soon as +they read the article, waited upon the editor of the Correspondent, and +expressed their astonishment that such a libel should have been +published. "Victorious armies," said they, "should be answered by +cannonballs and not by insults as gross as they are ridiculous." This +opinion was shared by all the foreigners at that time in Hamburg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +1805 + + Difficulties of my situation at Hamburg--Toil and responsibility-- + Supervision of the emigrants--Foreign Ministers--Journals--Packet + from Strasburg--Bonaparte fond of narrating Giulio, an extempore + recitation of a story composed by the Emperor. + +The brief detail I have given in the two or three preceding chapters of +the events which occurred previously to and during the campaign of +Austerlitz, with the letters of Duroc and Bernadotte, may afford the +reader some idea of my situation during the early part of my residence in +Hamburg. Events succeeded each other with such incredible rapidity as to +render my labour excessive. My occupations were different, but not less +laborious, than those which I formerly performed when near the Emperor; +and, besides, I was now loaded with a responsibility which did not attach +to me as the private secretary of General Bonaparte and the First Consul. +I had, in fact, to maintain a constant watch over the emigrants in +Altona, which was no easy matter--to correspond daily with the Minister +for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Police--to confer with the +foreign Ministers accredited at Hamburg--to maintain active relations +with the commanders of the French army--to interrogate my secret agents, +and keep a strict surveillance over their proceedings; it was, besides, +necessary to be unceasingly on the watch for scurrilous articles against +Napoleon in the Hamburg 'Corespondent'. I shall frequently have occasion +to speak of all these things, and especially of the most marked +emigrants, in a manner less irregular, because what I have hitherto said +may, in some sort, be considered merely as a summary of all the facts +relating to the occurrences which daily passed before my eyes. + +In the midst of these multifarious and weighty occupations I received a +packet with the Strasburg postmark at the time the Empress was in that +city. This packet had not the usual form of a diplomatic despatch, and +the superscription announced that it came from the residence of +Josephine. My readers, I venture to presume, will not experience less +gratification than I did on a perusal of its contents, which will be +found at the end of this chapter; but before satisfying the curiosity to +which I have perhaps given birth, I may here relate that one of the +peculiarities of Bonaparte was a fondness of extempore narration; and it +appears he had not discontinued the practice even after he became +Emperor. + +In fact, Bonaparte, during the first year after his elevation to the +Imperial throne, usually passed those evenings in the apartments of the +Empress which he could steal from public business. Throwing himself on a +sofa, he would remain absorbed in gloomy silence, which no one dared to +interrupt. Sometimes, however, on the contrary, he would give the reins +to his vivid imagination and his love of the marvelous, or, to speak more +correctly, his desire to produce effect, which was perhaps one of his +strongest passions, and would relate little romances, which were always +of a fearful description and in unison with the natural turn of his +ideas. During those recitals the ladies-in-waiting were always present, +to one of whom I am indebted for the following story, which she had +written nearly in the words of Napoleon. "Never," said this lady in her +letter to me, "did the Emperor appear more extraordinary. Led away by +the subject, he paced the salon with hasty strides; the intonations of +his voice varied according to the characters of the personages he brought +on the scene; he seemed to multiply himself in order to play the +different parts, and no person needed to feign the terror which he really +inspired, and which he loved to see depicted in the countenances of those +who surrounded him." In this tale I have made no alterations, as can be +attested by those who, to my knowledge, have a copy of it. It is curious +to compare the impassioned portions of it with the style of Napoleon in +some of the letters addressed to Josephine. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +An old man's blessing never yet harmed any one +Buried for the purpose of being dug up +Kiss the feet of Popes provided their hands are tied +Something so seductive in popular enthusiasm + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1805, v8 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 9. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER I. to CHAPTER X. 1805-1807 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +1805. + + Abolition of the Republican calendar--Warlike preparations in + Austria--Plan for re-organizing the National Guard--Napoleon in + Strasburg--General Mack--Proclamation--Captain Bernard's + reconnoitering mission--The Emperor's pretended anger and real + satisfaction--Information respecting Ragusa communicated by Bernard + --Rapid and deserved promotion--General Bernard's + retirement to the United States of America. + +I had been three months at Hamburg when I learned that the Emperor had at +last resolved to abolish the only remaining memorial of the Republic, +namely, the revolutionary calendar. That calendar was indeed an absurd +innovation, for the new denominations of the months were not applicable +in all places, even in France; the corn of Provence did not wait to be +opened by the sun of the month of Messidor. On the 9th of September a +'Senates-consulte' decreed that on the 1st of January following the +months and days should resume their own names. I read with much interest +Laplace's report to the Senate, and must confess I was very glad to see +the Gregorian calendar again acknowledged by law, as it had already been +acknowledged in fact. Frenchmen in foreign countries experienced +particular inconvenience from the adoption of a system different from all +the rest of the world. + +A few days after the revival of the old calendar the Emperor departed for +the army. When at Hamburg it may well be supposed that I was anxious to +obtain news, and I received plenty from the interior of Germany and from +some friends in Paris. This correspondence enables me to present to my +readers a comprehensive and accurate picture of the state of public +affairs up to the time when Napoleon took the field. I have already +mentioned how artfully he always made it appear that he was anxious for +peace, and that he was always the party attacked; his, conduct previous +to the first conquest of Vienna affords a striking example of this +artifice. It was pretty evident that the transformation of the Cisalpine +Republic into the kingdom of Italy, and the union of Genoa to France were +infractions of treaties; yet the Emperor, nevertheless, pretended that +all the infractions were committed by Austria. The truth is, that +Austria was raising levies as secretly as possible, and collecting her +troops on the frontiers of Bavaria. An Austrian corps even penetrated +into some provinces of the Electorate; all this afforded Napoleon a +pretest for going to the aid of his allies. + +In the memorable sitting preceding his departure the Emperor presented a +project of a 'Senatus-consulte' relative to the re-organisation of the +National Guard. The Minister for Foreign Affairs read an explanation of +the reciprocal conduct of France and Austria since the peace of +Luneville, in which the offences of France were concealed with wonderful +skill. Before the sitting broke up the Emperor addressed the members, +stating that he was about to leave the capital to place himself at the +head of the army to afford prompt succour to his allies, and defend the +dearest interests of his people. He boasted of his wish to preserve +peace, which Austria and Russia, as he alleged, had, through the +influence of England, been induced to disturb. + +This address produced a very powerful impression in Hamburg. For my +part, I recognised in it Napoleon's usual boasting strain; but on this +occasion events seemed bent on justifying it. The Emperor may certainly +have performed more scientific campaigns than that of Austerlitz, but +never any more glorious in results. Everything seemed to partake of the +marvellous, and I have often thought of the secret joy which Bonaparte +must have felt on seeing himself at last an the point of commencing a +great war in Germany, for which he had so often expressed an ardent +desire. He proceeded first to Strasburg, whither Josephine accompanied +him. + +All the reports that I received agreed with the statements of my private +correspondence in describing the incredible enthusiasm which prevailed in +the army on learning that it was to march into Germany. For the first +time Napoleon had recourse to an expeditious mode of transport, and +20,000 carriages conveyed his army, as if by enchantment, from the shores +of the Channel to the banks of the Rhine. The idea of an active campaign +fired the ambition of the junior part of the army. All dreamed of glory, +and of speedy promotion, and all hoped to distinguish themselves before +the eyes of a chief who was idolised by his troops. Thus during his +short stay at Strasburg the Emperor might with reason prophesy the +success which crowned his efforts under the walls of Vienna. + +Rapp, who accompanied him, informed me that on leaving Strasburg he +observed, in the presence of several persons, "It will be said that I +made Mack's plan of campaign for him. The Caudine Forks are at Ulm." + + --[This allusion to the Caudine Forks was always in Napoleon's mouth + when he saw an enemy's army concentrated on a point, and foresaw its + defeat--Bourrienne.]-- + +Experience proved that Bonaparte was not deceived; but I ought on this +occasion to contradict a calumnious report circulated at that time, and +since maliciously repeated. It has been said that there existed an +understanding between Mack and Bonaparte, and that the general was bought +over to deliver up the gates of Ulm. I have received positive proof that +this assertion is a scandalous falsehood; and the only thing that could +give it weight was Napoleon's intercession after the campaign that Mack +might not be put on his trial. In this intercession Napoleon was +actuated only by humanity. + +On taking the field Napoleon placed himself at the head of the Bavarians, +with whom be opposed the enemy's army before the arrival of his own +troops. As soon as they were assembled he published the following +proclamation, which still further excited the ardour of the troops. + + SOLDIERS--The war of the third coalition is commenced. The Austrian + army has passed the Inn, violated treaties, attacked and driven our + ally from his capital. You yourselves have been obliged to hasten, + by forced marches, to the defence of our frontiers. But you have + now passed the Rhine; and we will not stop till we have secured the + independence of the Germanic body, succoured our allies, and humbled + the pride of our unjust assailants. We will not again make peace + without a sufficient guarantee! Our generosity shall not again + wrong our policy. Soldiers, your Emperor is among you! You are but + the advanced guard of the great people. If it be necessary they + will all rise at my call to confound and dissolve this new league, + which has been created by the malice and the gold of England. + But, soldiers, we shall have forced marches to make, fatigues and + privations of every kind to endure. Still, whatever obstacles may + be opposed to us, we will conquer them; and we will never rest until + we have planted our eagles on the territory of our enemies! + +In the confidential notes of his diplomatic agents, in his speeches, and +in his proclamations, Napoleon always described himself as the attacked +party, and perhaps his very earnestness in so doing sufficed to reveal +the truth to all those who had learned to read his thoughts differently +from what his words expressed them. + +At the commencement of the campaign of Austerlitz a circumstance occurred +from which is to be dated the fortune of a very meritorious man. While +the Emperor was at Strasburg he asked General Marescot, the commander-in- +chief of the engineers, whether he could recommend from his corps a +brave, prudent, and intelligent young officer, capable of being entrusted +with an important reconnoitering mission. The officer selected by +General Marescot was a captain in the engineers, named Bernard, who had +been educated in the Polytechnic School. He set off on his mission, +advanced almost to Vienna, and returned to the headquarters of the +Emperor at the capitulation of Ulm. + +Bonaparte interrogated him himself, and was well satisfied with his +replies; but, not content with answering verbally the questions put by +Napoleon, Captain Bernard had drawn up a report of what he observed, and +the different routes which might be taken. Among other things he +observed that it would be a great advantage to direct the whole army upon +Vienna, without regard to the fortified places; for that, once master of +the capital of Austria, the Emperor might dictate laws to all the +Austrian monarchy. "I was present," said Rapp to me, "at this young +officer's interview with the Emperor. After reading the report, would +you believe that the Emperor flew into a furious passion? 'How!' cried +he, 'you are very bold, very presumptuous! A young officer to take the +liberty of tracing out a plan of campaign for me! Begone, and await my +orders.'" + +This, and some other circumstances which I shall have to add respecting +Captain Bernard, completely reveal Napoleon's character. Rapp told me +that as soon as the young officer had left the Emperor all at once +changed his tone. "That," said he, "is a clever young man; he has taken +a proper view of things. I shall not expose him to the chance of being +shot. Perhaps I shall sometime want his services. Tell Berthier to +despatch an order for his departure for Elyria." + +This order was despatched, and Captain Bernard, who, like his comrades, +was ardently looking forward to the approaching campaign, regarded as a +punishment what was, on the Emperor's part, a precaution to preserve a +young man whose merit he appreciated. At the close of the campaign, when +the Emperor promoted those officers who had distinguished themselves, +Bernard, who was thought to be in disgrace, was not included in +Berthier's list among the captains of engineers whom he recommended to +the rank of chef de bataillon; but Napoleon himself inscribed Bernard's +name before all the rest. However, the Emperor forgot him for some time; +and it was only an accidental circumstance that brought him to his +recollection. I never had any personal acquaintance with Bernard, but I +learned from Rapp, how he afterwards became his colleague as aide de camp +to the Emperor; a circumstance which I shall now relate, though it refers +to a later period. + +Before the Emperor left Paris for the campaign of 1812 he wished to gain +precise information respecting Ragusa and Elyria. He sent for Marmont, +but was not satisfied with his answers. He then interrogated several +other generals, but the result of his inquiries always was, "This is all +very well; but it is not what I want. I do not know Ragusa." He then +sent for General Dejean, who had succeeded M. de Marescot as first +inspector of the Engineers. + +"Have you any one among your officers," he asked, "who is well acquainted +with Ragusa? "Dejean, after a little reflection, replied, "Sire, there +is a chef de bataillon who has been a long time forgotten, but who knows +Elyria perfectly."--"What's his name?"--"Bernard."--"Ah! stop . . . +Bernard! I remember that name. Where is he?"--"At Antwerp, Sire, +employed on the fortifications."--"Let a telegraphic despatch be +immediately, transmitted,--[by semaphore arms.]--desiring him to mount +his horse and come with all speed to Paris." + +The promptitude with which the Emperor's orders were always executed is +well known. A few days after Captain Bernard was in the Emperor's +cabinet in Paris. Napoleon received him very graciously. The first +thing he said was, "Talk to me about Ragusa." This was a favourite mode +of interrogation with him in similar cases, and I have heard him say that +it was a sure way of drawing out all that a man had observed in any +country that he had visited. Be that as it may, he was perfectly +satisfied with M. Bernard's information respecting Elyria; and when the +chef de bataillon had finished speaking Napoleon said, "Colonel Bernard, +I am now acquainted with Ragusa." The Emperor afterwards conversed +familiarly with him, entered into details respecting the system of +fortification adopted at Antwerp, referred to the plan of the works, +criticised it, and showed how he would, if he besieged the town, render +the means of defence unavailing. The new Colonel explained so well how +he would defend the town against the Emperor's attack that Bonaparte was +delighted, and immediately bestowed upon, the young officer a mark of +distinction which, as far as I know, he never granted but upon that +single occasion. The Emperor was going to preside at the Council of +State, and desired Colonel Bernard to accompany him, and many times +during the sittings be asked him for his opinion upon the points which +were under discussion. On leaving the Council Napoleon said, "Bernard, +you are in future my aide de camp." After the campaign he was made +General of Brigade, soon after General of Division, and now he is +acknowledged to be one of the ablest engineer officers in existence. +Clarke's silly conduct deprived France of this distinguished man, who +refused the brilliant offers of several sovereigns of Europe for the sake +of retiring to the United States of America, where he commands the +Engineers, and has constructed fortifications on the coast of the +Floridas which are considered by engineers to be masterpieces of military +art. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +1805. + + Rapidity of Napoleon's victories--Murat at Wertingen--Conquest of + Ney's duchy--The French army before Ulm--The Prince of Liechtenstein + at the Imperial headquarters--His interview with Napoleon described + by Rapp--Capitulation of Ulm signed by Berthier and Mack--Napoleon + before and after a victory--His address to the captive generals-- + The Emperor's proclamation--Ten thousand prisoners taken by Murat-- + Battle of Caldiero in Italy--Letter from Duroc--Attempts to retard + the Emperor's progress--Fruitless mission of M. de Giulay--The first + French eagles taken by the Russians--Bold adventure of Lannes and + Murat--The French enter Vienna--Savary's mission to the Emperor + Alexander. + +To convey an idea of the brilliant campaign of 1805 from an abstract of +the reports and letters I received at Hamburg I should, like the almanac- +makers, be obliged to note down a victory for every day. Was not the +rapidity of the Emperor's first operations a thing hitherto +unprecedented? He departed from Paris on the 24th of September, and +hostilities commenced on the 2d of October. On the 6th and 7th the +French passed the Danube, and turned the enemy's army. On the 8th Murat, +at the battle of Wertingen, on the Danube, took 2000 Austrian prisoners, +amongst whom, besides other general officers, was Count Auffemberg. +Next day the Austrians fell back upon Gunsburg, retreating before our +victorious legions, who, pursuing their triumphal course, entered +Augsburg on the 10th, and Munich on the 12th. When I received my +despatches I could have fancied I was reading a fabulous narrative. Two +days after the French entered Munich--that is to say, on the 14th--an +Austrian corps of 6000 men surrendered to Marshal Soult at Memingen, +whilst Ney conquered, sword in hand, his future Duchy of Elchingen. +Finally, on the 17th of October, came the famous capitulation of General +Mack at Ulm,' and on the same day hostilities commenced in Italy between +the French and Austrians, the former commanded by Massena and the latter +by Prince Charles. + + --[Prince Maurice Liechtenstein was sent by General Mack as a flag + of truce to the Imperial headquarters before Ulm. He was, according + to custom, led blindfold on horseback. Rapp, who was present, + together with several of Napoleon's aides de camp, afterwards spoke + to me of the Prince's interview with the Emperor. I think he told + me that Berthier was present likewise. "Picture to yourself," said + Rapp, "the astonishment, or rather confusion, of the poor Prince + when the bandage was removed from his eyes. He knew nothing of what + had been going on, and did not even suspect that the Emperor had yet + joined the army. When he understood that he was in the presence of + Napoleon he could not suppress an exclamation of surprise, which did + not escape the Emperor, and he ingenuously acknowledged that General + Mack had no idea he was before the walls of Ulm." Prince + Liechtenstein proposed to capitulate on condition that the garrison + of Ulm should be allowed to return into Austria. This proposal, in + the situation in which the garrison stood, Rapp said, made the + Emperor smile. "How can you expect," said Napoleon, "that I can + accede to such a proposition? What shall I gain by it? Eight days. + In eight days you will be in my power without any condition. Do you + suppose I am not acquainted with everything? . . You expect the + Russians? . . . At the nearest they are in Bohemia. Were I to + allow you to march out, what security can I have that you will not + join them, and afterwards fight against me? Your generals have + deceived me often enough, and I will no longer be duped. At Marengo + I was weak enough to allow the troops of Melas to march out of + Alessandria. He promised to treat for peace. What happened? Two + months after Moreau had to fight with the garrison of Alessandria. + Besides, this war is not an ordinary war. After the conduct of your + Government I am not bound to keep any terms with it. I have no + faith in its promises. You have attacked me. If I should agree to + what you ask, Mack would pledge his word, I know. But, even relying + on his good faith, would be he able to keep his promise? As far as + regards himself--yes; but as regards his army--no. If the Archduke + Ferdinand were still with you I could rely upon his word, because he + would be responsible for the conditions, and he would not disgrace + himself; but I know he has quitted Ulm and passed the Danube. I + know how to reach him, however." + + Rapp said it was impossible to imagine the embarrassment of Prince + Liechtenstein whilst the Emperor was speaking. He, however, + somewhat regained his self-possession, and observed that, unless the + conditions which he proposed were granted the army would not + capitulate. "If that be the case," said Napoleon. "you may as well + go back to Mack, for I will never grant such conditions. Are you + jesting with me? Stay; here is the capitulation of Memingen--show + it to your General--let him surrender on the same conditions--I will + consent to no others. Your officers may return to Austria, but the + soldiers must be prisoners. Tell him to be speedy, for I have no + time to lose. The more he delays the worse he will render his own + condition and yours. To-morrow I shall have here the corps to which + Memingen capitulated, and then we shall see what is to be done. + Make Mack clearly understand that he has no alternative but to + conform to my will." + + The imperious tones which Napoleon employed towards his enemies + almost always succeeded, and it produced the accustomed effect upon + Mack. On the same day that Prince Liechtenstein had been at our + headquarters Mack wrote to the Emperor, stating that he would not + have treated with any other on such terms; but that he yielded to + the ascendency of Napoleon's fortune; and on the following day + Berthier was sent into Ulm, from whence he returned with the + capitulation signed. Thus Napoleon was not mistaken respecting the + Caudine Forks of the Austrian army. The garrison of Ulm marched out + with what are called the honours of war, and were led prisoners into + France.--Bourrienne.]-- + +Napoleon, who was so violently irritated by any obstacle which opposed +him, and who treated with so much hauteur everybody who ventured to +resist his inflexible will, was no longer the same man when, as a +conqueror, he received the vanquished generals at Ulm. He condoled with +them on their misfortune; and this, I can affirm, was not the result of a +feeling of pride concealed beneath a feigned generosity. Although he +profited by their defeat he pitied them sincerely. How frequently has he +observed to me, "How much to be pitied is a general on the day after a +lost battle." He had himself experienced this misfortune when he was +obliged to raise the siege of St. Jean d'Acre. At that moment he would, +I believe, have strangled Djezzar; but if Djezzar had surrendered, he +would have treated him with the same attention which he showed to Mack +and the other generals of the garrison of Ulm. These generals were +seventeen in number, and among them was Prince Liechtenstein. There were +also General Klenau (Baron de Giulay), who had acquired considerable +military reputation in the preceding wars, and General Fresnel, who stood +in a more critical situation than his companions in misfortune, for he +was a Frenchman, and an emigrant. + +Rapp told me that it was really painful to see these generals. They +bowed respectfully to the Emperor, having Mack at their head. They +preserved a mournful silence, and Napoleon was the first to speak, which +he did in the following terms: "Gentlemen, I feel sorry that such brave +men as you are should be the victims of the follies of a Cabinet which +cherishes insane projects, and which does not hesitate to commit the +dignity of the Austrian nation by trafficking with the services of its +generals. Your names are known to me--they are honourably known wherever +you have fought. Examine the conduct of those who have committed you. +What could be more iniquitous than to attack me without a declaration of +war? Is it not criminal to bring foreign invasion upon a country? Is it +not betraying Europe to introduce Asiatic barbarities into her disputes? +If good policy had been followed the Aulic Council, instead of attacking +me, would have sought my alliance in order to drive back the Russians to +the north. The alliance which your Cabinet has formed will appear +monstrous in history. It is the alliance of dogs, shepherds, and wolves +against sheep--such a scheme could never have been planned in the mind of +a statesman. It is fortunate for you that I have not been defeated in +the unjust struggle to which I have been provoked; if I had, the Cabinet +of Vienna would have soon perceived its error, for which, perhaps, it +will yet one day pay dearly." + +What a change fifteen days of success, crowned by the capture of Ulm, had +made in affairs! At Hamburg I knew through my agents to what a degree of +folly the hopes of Napoleon's enemies had risen before he began the +campaign. The security of the Cabinet of Vienna was really inexplicable; +not only did they not dream of the series of victories which made +Napoleon master of all the Austrian monarchy, but the assistants of Drake +and all the intriguers of that sort treated France already as a conquered +country, and disposed of some of our provinces. In the excess of their +folly, to only give one instance, they promised the town of Lyons to the +King of Sardinia, to recompense him for the temporary occupation of +Piedmont. + + --[In the treaties and declarations (see Martens and Thiers, tome v. + p. 355) there is rather a tendency to sell the skin of the bear + before killing him.]-- + +While Napoleon flattered his prisoners at the expense of their Government +he wished to express satisfaction at the conduct of his own army, and +with this view he published a remarkable proclamation, which in some +measure presented an abstract of all that had taken place since the +opening of the campaign. + +This proclamation was as follows:-- + + SOLDIERS OF THE GRAND ARMY--In a fortnight we have finished an + entire campaign. What we proposed to do has been done. We have + driven the Austrian troops from Bavaria, and restored our ally to + the sovereignty of his dominions. + + That army, which, with equal presumption and imprudence, marched + upon our frontiers, is annihilated. + + But what does this signify to England? She has gained her object. + We are no longer at Boulogne, and her subsidy will be neither more + nor less. + + Of a hundred thousand men who composed that army, sixty thousand are + prisoners. They will replace our conscripts in the labours of + agriculture. + + Two hundred pieces of cannon, the whole park of artillery, ninety + flags, and all their generals are in our power. Fifteen thousand + men only have escaped. + + Soldiers! I announced to you the result of a great battle; but, + thanks to the ill-devised schemes of the enemy, I was enabled to + secure the wished-for result without incurring any danger, and, what + is unexampled in the history of nations, that result has been gained + at the sacrifice of scarcely fifteen hundred men killed and wounded. + + Soldiers! this success is due to your unlimited confidence in your + Emperor, to your patience in enduring fatigues and privations of + every kind, and to your singular courage and intrepidity. + + But we will not stop here. You are impatient to commence another + campaign! + + The Russian army, which English gold has brought from the + extremities of the universe, shall experience the same fate as that + which we have just defeated. + + In the conflict in which we are about to engage the honour of the + French infantry is especially concerned. We shall now see another + decision of the question which has already been determined in + Switzerland and Holland; namely, whether the French infantry is the + first or the second in Europe. + + Among the Russians there are no generals in contending against whom + I can acquire any glory. All I wish is to obtain the victory with + the least possible bloodshed. My soldiers are, my children. + + +This proclamation always appeared to me a masterpiece of military +eloquence. While he lavished praises on his troops, he excited their +emulation by hinting that the Russians were capable of disputing with +them the first rank among the infantry of Europe, and he concluded his +address by calling them his children. + +The second campaign, to which Napoleon alleged they so eagerly looked +forward, speedily ensued, and hostilities were carried on with a degree +of vigour which fired the enthusiasm of the army. Heaven knows what +accounts were circulated of the Russians, who, as Bonaparte solemnly +stated in his proclamation, had come from the extremity of the world. +They were represented as half-naked savages, pillaging, destroying and +burning wherever they went. It was even asserted that they were +cannibals, and had been seen to eat children. In short, at that period +was introduced the denomination of northern barbarians which has since +been so generally applied to the Russians. Two days after the +capitulation of Ulm Murat obtained the capitulation of Trochtelfingen +from General Yarneck, and made 10,000 prisoners, so that, without +counting killed and wounded, the Austrian army had sustained a diminution +of 50,000 men after a campaign of twenty days. On the 27th of October +the French army crossed the Inn, and thus penetrated into the Austrian +territory. Salzburg and Brannan were immediately taken. The army of +Italy, under the command of Massena, was also obtaining great advantages. +On the 30th of October, that is to say, the very day on which the Grand +Army took the above-mentioned fortresses, the army of Italy, having +crossed the Adige, fought a sanguinary battle at Caldiero, and took 5000 +Austrian prisoners. + +In the extraordinary campaign, which has been distinguished by the name +of "the Campaign of Austerlitz," the exploits of our troops succeeded +each other with the rapidity of thought. I confess I was equally +astonished and delighted when I received a note from Duroc, sent by an +extraordinary courier, and commencing laconically with the words, "We are +in Vienna; the Emperor is well." + +Duroc's letter was dated the 13th November, and the words, "We are in +Vienna," seemed to me the result of a dream. The capital of Austria, +which from time immemorial had not been occupied by foreigners--the city +which Sobieski had saved from Ottoman violence, had become the prey of +the Imperial eagle of France, which, after a lapse of three centuries, +avenged the humiliations formerly imposed upon Francis I. by the 'Aquila +Grifagna' of Charles V. Duroc had left the Emperor before the camp of +Boulogne was raised; his mission to Berlin being terminated, he rejoined +the Emperor at Lintz. + + --[As soon as Bonaparte became Emperor he constituted himself the + avenger of all the insults given to the sovereigns, whom he styled + his predecessors. All that related to the honour of France was + sacred to him. Thus he removed the column of Rosbach from the + Prussian territory.--Bourrienne.]-- + +Before I noticed the singular mission of M. Haugwitz to the Emperor +Napoleon, and the result of that mission, which circumstances rendered +diametrically the reverse of its object, I will relate what came to my +knowledge respecting some other negotiations on the part of Austria, the +evident intent of which was to retard Napoleon's progress, and thereby to +dupe him. M. de Giulay, one of the generals included in the capitulation +of Ulm, had returned home to acquaint his sovereign with the disastrous +event. He did not conceal, either from the Emperor Francis or the +Cabinet of Vienna, the destruction of the Austrian army, and the +impossibility of arresting the rapid advance of the French. M. de Giulay +was sent with a flag of truce to the headquarters of Napoleon, to assure +him of the pacific intentions of the Emperor of Austria, and to solicit +an armistice. The snare was too clumsy not to be immediately discovered +by so crafty a man as Napoleon. + + --[Metternich (tome ii. p. 346, compare French edition, tome ii. + p. 287) says, "Let us hold always the sword in one hand and the + olive branch in the other; always ready to negotiate, but only + negotiating while advancing." Here is Napoleons system.]-- + +He had always pretended a love for peace, though be was overjoyed at the +idea of continuing a war so successfully commenced, and he directed +General Giulay to assure the Emperor of Austria that he was not less +anxious for peace than he, and that he was ready to treat for it, but +without suspending the course of his operations. Bonaparte, indeed, +could not, without a degree of imprudence of which he was incapable, +consent to an armistice; for M. de Giulay, though entrusted with powers +from Austria, had received none from Russia. Russia, therefore, might +disavow the armistice and arrive in time to defend Vienna, the occupation +of which was so important to the French army. The Russians, indeed, were +advancing to oppose us, and the corps of our army, commanded by Mortier +on the left bank of the Danube, experienced in the first engagement a +check at Dirnstein, which not a little vexed the Emperor. This was the +first reverse of fortune we had sustained throughout the campaign. It +was trivial, to be sure, but the capture by the Russians of three French +eagles, the first that had fallen into the hands of the enemy, was very +mortifying to Napoleon, and caused him to prolong for some days his staff +at St. Folten, where he then was. + +The rapid occupation of Vienna was due to the successful temerity of +Lannes and Murat, two men alike distinguished for courage and daring +spirit. A bold artifice of these generals prevented the destruction of +the Thabor bridge at Vienna, without which our army would have +experienced considerable difficulty in penetrating into the Austrian +capital. This act of courage and presence of mind, which had so great an +influence on the events of the campaign, was described to me by Lannes, +who told the story with an air of gaiety, unaccompanied by any self- +complacency, and seemed rather pleased with the trick played upon the +Austrians than proud of the brilliant action which had been performed. +Bold enterprises were so natural to Lannes that he was frequently the +only person who saw nothing extraordinary in his own exploits. Alas! +what men were sacrificed to Napoleon's ambition! + +The following is the story of the Bridge of Thabor as I heard it from +Lannes:-- + + --[I was one day walking with Murat, on the right bank of the + Danube, and we observed on the left bank, which was occupied by the + Austrians, some works going on, the evident object of which was to + blow up the bridge on the approach of our troops. The fools had the + impudence to make these preparations under our very noses; but we + gave them a good lesson. Having arranged our plan, we returned to + give orders, and I entrusted the command of my column of grenadiers + to an officer on whose courage and intelligence I could rely. I + then returned to the bridge, accompanied by Murat and two or three + other officers. We advanced, unconcernedly, and entered into + conversation with the commander of a post in the middle of the + bridge. We spoke to him about an armistice which was to be speedily + concluded: While conversing with the Austrian officers we contrived + to make them turn their eyes towards the left bank, and then, + agreeably to the orders we had given, my column of grenadiers + advanced on the bridge. The Austrian cannoneers, on the left bank, + seeing their officers in the midst of us, did not dare to fire, and + my column advanced at a quick step. Murat and I, at the head of it, + gained the left bank. All the combustibles prepared for blowing up + the bridge were thrown into the river, and my men took possession of + the batteries erected for the defence of the bridge head. The poor + devils of Austrian officers were perfectly astounded when I told + them they were my prisoners.]-- + +Such, as well as I can recollect, was the account given by Lannes, who +laughed immoderately in describing the consternation of the Austrian +officers when they discovered the trick that had been played upon them. +When Lannes performed this exploit he had little idea of the, important +consequences which would attend, it. He had not only secured to the +remainder of the French army a sure and easy entrance to Vienna, but, +without being aware of it, he created an insurmountable impediment to the +junction of the Russian army with the Austrian corps, commanded by Prince +Charles, who, being pressed by Massena, hastily advanced into the heart +of the Hereditary States, where he fully expected a great battle would +take place. + +As soon as the corps of Murat and Lannes had taken possession of Vienna +the Emperor ordered all the divisions of the army to march upon that +capital. + + --[The story to told in much the same way in Theirs (tome vi, p. + 260), Rupp (p. 57), and Savory (tome ii. p. 162), but as Erreurs + (tome i. p. 814) points out, Bourrienne makes an odd mistake in + believing the Thabor Bridge gave the French access to Vienna. The + capital is on the right bank, and was already in their power. The + possession of the bridge enabled them to pass over to the left bank, + and to advance towards Austerlitz before the Archduke Charles, + coming from Italy, could make his junction with the allied army. + See plan 48 of Thiers' Atlas, or 58 of Alison's. The immediate + result of the success of this rather doubtful artifice would have + been the destruction of the corps of Kutusoff; but Murat in his turn + was deceived by Bagration into belief in an armistice. In fact, + both sides at this time fell into curious errors.]-- + +Napoleon established his headquarters at Schoenbrunn, where he planned +his operations for compelling the corps of Prince Charles to retire to +Hungary, and also for advancing his own forces to meet the Russians. +Murat and Lannes always commanded the advanced guard during the forced +marches ordered by Napoleon, which were executed in a way truly +miraculous. + +To keep up the appearance of wishing to conclude peace as soon as +reasonable propositions should be made to him, Napoleon sent for his +Minister for foreign Affairs, who speedily arrived at Vienna, and General +Savary was sent on a mission to the Emperor Alexander. The details of +this mission I have learned only from the account of it given by the Duc +de Rovigo in his apologetic Memoirs. In spite of the Duke's eagerness to +induce a belief in Napoleon's pacific disposition, the very facts on +which he supports his argument lead to the contrary conclusion. Napoleon +wished to dictate his conditions before the issue of a battle the success +of which might appear doubtful to the young Emperor of Russia, and these +conditions were such as he might impose when victory should be declared +in favour of our eagles. It must be clear to every reflecting person +that by always proposing what he knew could not be honourably acceded to, +he kept up the appearance of being a pacificator, while at the same time +he ensured to himself the pleasure of carrying on the war. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +1805. + + My functions at Hamburg--The King of Sweden at Stralsund-- + My bulletin describing the situation of the Russian armies--Duroc's + recall from Berlin--General Dumouriez--Recruiting of the English in + Hanover--The daughter of M. de Marbeof and Napoleon--Treachery of + the King of Naples--The Sun of Austerlitz--Prince Dolgiorouki + Rapp's account of the battle of Austerlitz--Gerard's picture-- + Eugene's marriage. + +I must now relate how, in conformity with my instructions, I was employed +in Hamburg in aiding the success of the French army. I had sent an agent +to observe the Russian troops, which were advancing by forced marches to +the banks of the Elbe. This agent transmitted to me from Gadbusch an +account of the routes taken by the different columns. It was then +supposed that they would march upon Holland by the way of Bremen and +Oldenburg. On the receipt of thus intelligence the Electorate of Hanover +was evacuated by the French, and General Barbou, who had commanded there +concentrated his forces in Hamelin. + +On the 2d of November 1805 the King of Sweden arrived at Stralsund. I +immediately intimated to our Government that this circumstance would +probably give a new turn to the operations of the combined army, for +hitherto the uncertainty of its movements and the successive counter- +orders afforded no possibility of ascertaining any determined plan. The +intention seemed to be, that all the Swedo-Russian troops should cross +the Elbe at the same point; viz., Lauenburg, six miles from Hamburg. + +There was not on the 5th of November a single Russian on the southern +bank of the Elbe. + +The first column of the grand Russian army passed through Warsaw on the +1st of November, and on the 2d the Grand-Duke Constantine was expected +with the Guards. This column, which amounted to 6000 men, was the first +that passed through Prussian Poland. + +At this time we momentarily expected to see the Hanoverian army landed on +the banks of the Weser or the Elbe, augmented by some thousands of +English. Their design apparently was either to attack Holland, or to +attempt some operation on the rear of our Grand Army. + +The French Government was very anxious to receive accurate accounts of +the march of the Swedo-Russian troops through Hanover, and of the Russian +army through Poland. My agents at Warsaw and Stralsund, who were +exceedingly active and intelligent, enabled me to send off a bulletin +describing the state of Hanover, the movements of the Russians and +Swedes, together with information of the arrival of English troops in the +Elbe, and a statement of the force of the combined army in Hanover, which +consisted of 15,000 Russians, 8000 Swedes, and 12,000 English; making in +all 35,000 men. + +It was probably on account of this bulletin that Napoleon expressed to +Duroc his satisfaction with my services. The Emperor on recalling Duroc +from Berlin did not manifest the least apprehension respecting Prussia. +Duroc wrote to me the following letter on the occasion of his recall: + + MY DEAR BOURRIENNE--The Emperor having thought my services necessary + to the army has recalled me. I yesterday had a farewell audience of + the King and Queen, who treated me very graciously. His Majesty + presented me with his portrait set in diamonds. The Emperor + Alexander will probably depart to morrow, and the Archduke Anthony + vary speedily. We cannot but hope that their presence here will + facilitate a good understanding. + (Signed) DUROC. + +Whenever foreign armies were opposing France the hopes of the emigrants +revived. They falsely imagined that the powers coalesced against +Napoleon were labouring in their cause; and many of them entered the +Russian and Austrian armies. Of this number was General Dumouriez. +I received information that he had landed at Stade on the 21st of +November; but whither he intended to proceed was not known. A man named +St. Martin, whose wife lived with Dumouriez, and who had accompanied the +general from England to Stade, came to Hamburg, where he observed great +precautions for concealment, and bought two carriages, which were +immediately forwarded to Stade. St, Martin himself immediately proceeded +to the latter place. I was blamed for not having arrested this man; but +he had a commission attesting that he was in the English service, and, as +I have before mentioned; a foreign commission was a safeguard; and the +only one which could not be violated in Hamburg. + +In December 1805 the English recruiting in Hanover was kept up without +interruption, and attended with extraordinary success. Sometimes a +hundred men were raised in a day. The misery prevailing in Germany, +which had been ravaged by the war, the hatred against the French, and the +high bounty that was offered enabled the English to procure as many men +as they wished. + +The King of Sweden, meditating on the stir he should make in Hanover, +took with him a camp printing-press to publish the bulletins of the grand +Swedish army.--The first of these bulletins announced to Europe that his +Swedish Majesty was about to leave Stralsund; and that his army would +take up its position partly between Nelsen and Haarburg, and partly +between Domitz and the frontiers of Hamburg. + +Among the anecdotes of Napoleon connected with this campaign I find in my +notes the following, which was related to me by Rapp. Some days before +his entrance into Vienna Napoleon, who was riding on horseback along the +road, dressed in his usual uniform of the chasseurs of the Guard, met an +open carriage, in which were seated a lady and a priest. The lady was in +tears, and Napoleon could not refrain from stopping to ask her what was +the cause of her distress. "Sir," she replied, for she did not know the +Emperor, "I have been pillaged at my estate, two leagues from hence, by a +party of soldiers, who have murdered my gardener. I am going to seek +your Emperor, who knows my family, to whom he was once under great +obligations."--"What is your name?" inquired Napoleon.--"De Bunny," +replied the lady. "I am the daughter of M de Marbeuf, formerly Governor +of Corsica."--" Madame," exclaimed Napoleon, "I am the Emperor. I am +delighted to have the opportunity of serving you."--"You cannot +conceive," continued Rapp, "the attention which the Emperor showed Madame +de Bunny. He consoled her, pitied her, almost apologised for the +misfortune she had sustained. 'Will you have the goodness, Madame,' said +he, 'to go and wait for me at my head-quarters? I will join you +speedily; every member of M. de Marbeuf's family has a claim on my +respect.' The Emperor immediately gave her a picquet of chasseurs of his +guard to escort her. He saw her again during the day, when he loaded her +with attentions, and liberally indemnified her for the losses she had +sustained." + +For some time previous to the battle of Austerlitz the different corps of +the army intersected every part of Germany and Italy, all tending towards +Vienna as a central point. At the beginning of November the corps +commanded by Marshal Bernadotte arrived at Saltzburg at the moment when +the Emperor had advanced his headquarters to Braunau, where there were +numerous magazines of artillery and a vast quantity of provisions of +every kind. The junction of the corps commanded by Bernadotte in Hanover +with the Grand Army was a point of such high importance that Bonaparte +had directed the Marshal to come up with him as speedily as possible, and +to take the shortest road. This order obliged Bernadotte to pass through +the territory of the two Margravates. + +At that time we were at peace with Naples. In September the Emperor had +concluded with Ferdinand IV. a treaty of neutrality. This treaty enabled +Carra St. Cyr, who occupied Naples, to evacuate that city and to join +Massena in Upper Italy; both reached the Grand Army on the 28th of +November. But no sooner had the troops commanded by Carra St. Cyr +quitted the Neapolitan territory than the King of Naples, influenced by +his Ministers, and above all by Queen Caroline, broke the treaty of +neutrality, ordered hostile preparations against France, opened his ports +to the enemies of the Emperor, and received into his States 12,000 +Russians and 8000 English. It was on the receipt of this news that +Bonaparte, in one of his most violent bulletins, styled the Queen of +Naples a second Fredegonda. The victory of Austerlitz having given +powerful support to his threats, the fall of Naples was decided, and +shortly after his brother Joseph was seated on the Neapolitan throne. + +At length came the grand day when, to use Napoleon's expression, the Sun +of Austerlitz rose. All our forces were concentrated on one point, at +about 40 leagues beyond Vienna. There remained nothing but the wreck of +the Austrian army, the corps of Prince Charles being by scientific +manoeuvres kept at a distance from the line of operations; but the +Russians alone were superior to us in numbers, and their army was almost +entirely composed of fresh troops. The most extraordinary illusion +prevailed in the enemy's camp. The north of Europe has its Gascons as +well as the south of France, and the junior portion of the Russian army +at this period assumed an absurd braggadocio tone. On the very eve of +the battle the Emperor Alexander sent one of his aides de camp, Prince +Dolgorouki, as a flag of truce to Napoleon. The Prince could not repress +his self-sufficiency even in the presence of the Emperor, and Rapp +informed me that on dismissing him the Emperor said, "If you were on 'the +heights of Montmartre,' I would answer such impertinence only by cannon- +balls." This observation was very remarkable, inasmuch as subsequent +events rendered it a prophecy. + +As to the battle itself, I can describe it almost as well as if I had +witnessed it, for some time after I had the pleasure of seeing my friend +Rapp, who was sent an a mission to Prussia. He gave me the following +account: + + "When we arrived at Austerlitz the Russians were not aware of the + scientific plans which the Emperor had laid for drawing them upon + the ground he had marked out; and seeing our advanced guards fall + back before theirs they already considered themselves conquerors. + They supposed that their Guard alone would secure an easy triumph. + But the action commenced, and they experienced an energetic + resistance on all points. At one o'clock the victory was yet + uncertain, for they fought admirably. They wished to make a last + effort by directing close masses against our centre. Their Imperial + Guard deployed; their artillery, cavalry, and infantry marched upon + a bridge which they attacked, and this movement, which was concealed + by the rising and falling of the ground, was not observed by + Napoleon. I was at that moment near the Emperor, awaiting his + orders. We heard a well-maintained firing of musketry. The + Russians were repulsing one of our brigades. The Emperor ordered me + to take some of the Mamelukes, two squadrons of chasseurs, and one + of grenadiers of the Guard, and to go and reconnoitre the state of + things. I set off at full gallop, and soon discovered the disaster. + The Russian cavalry had penetrated our squares, and was sabring our + men. I perceived in the distance some masses of cavalry and + infantry; which formed the reserve of the Russians. At that moment + the enemy advanced to meet us, bringing with him four pieces of + artillery, and ranged himself in order of battle. I had the brave + Morland on my left, and General D'Allemagne on my right. 'Forward, + my lads!' exclaimed I to my troop. 'See how your brothers and + friends are being cut to pieces. Avenge them! avenge our flag! + Forward !' These few words roused my men. We advanced as swiftly as + our horses could carry us upon the artillery, which was taken. The + enemy's cavalry, which awaited us firmly, was repulsed by the same + shock, and fled in disorder, galloping as we did over the wrecks of + our squares. The Russians rallied but a squadron of horse + grenadiers came up to reinforce me, and thus enabled me to hold + ground against the reserves of the Russian Guard. We charged again, + and this charge was terrible. The brave Morland was killed by my, + side. It was downright butchery. We were opposed man to man, and + were so mingled together that the infantry of neither one nor the + other side could venture to fire for fear of killing its own men. + At length the intrepidity of our troops overcame every obstacle, and + the Russians fled in disorder, in sight of the two Emperors of + Russia and Austria, who had stationed themselves on a height in + order to witness the battle. They saw a desperate one," said Rapp, + "and I trust they were satisfied. For my part, my dear friend, I + never spent so glorious a day. What a reception the Emperor gave me + when I returned to inform him that we had won the battle! My sword + was broken, and a wound which I received on my head was bleeding + copiously, so that I was covered with blood! He made me a General + of Division. The Russians did not return to the charge; we had + taken all their cannon and baggage, and Prince Repnin was among the + prisoners." + +Thus it was that Rapp related to me this famous battle of which he was +the hero, as Kellerman had been the hero of Marengo. What now remains of +Austerlitz? The recollection, the glory, and the magnificent picture of +Gerard, the idea of which was suggested to the Emperor by the sight of +Rapp with the blood streaming from his wound. + +I cannot forbear relating here a few particulars which I learned from +Rapp respecting his mission after the cure of his wound; and the marriage +of Prince Eugene to the Princess Augusta of Bavaria. The friendship +which Rapp cherished for me was of the most sincere kind. During my +disgrace he did not even conceal it from Napoleon; and whoever knows +anything of the Emperor's Court will acknowledge that that was a greater +mark of courage than the carrying of a redoubt or making the most +brilliant charge of cavalry. Rapp possessed courage of every kind, an +excellent heart, and a downright frankness, which for a time brought him +into disgrace with Napoleon. The only thing for which Rapp could be +reproached was his extreme prejudice against the nobility, which I am +convinced was the sole reason why he was not created a Duke. The Emperor +made him a Count because he wished that all his aides de camp should have +titles. + + "He had been a fortnight at Schoenbrunn," said Rapp to me, "and I had + not yet resumed my duties, when the Emperor sent for me. He asked + me whether I was able to travel, and on my replying in the + affirmative, he said, 'Go then, and give an account of the battle of + Austerlitz to Marmont, and vex him for not having been at it.' I set + off, and in conformity with the instructions I had received from the + Emperor I proceeded to Gratz, where I found Marmont, who was indeed + deeply mortified at not having had a share in the great battle. + I told him, as the Emperor had directed me, that the negotiations + were commenced, but that nothing was yet concluded, and that + therefore, at all events, he must hold himself in readiness. I + ascertained the situation of his army in Styria, and the amount of + the enemy's force before him: The Emperor wished him to send a + number of spies into Hungary, and to transmit to him a detailed + report from their communications. I next proceeded to Laybach, + where I found Massena at the head of the eighth corps, and I + informed him that the Emperor wished him to march in all haste upon + Vienna, in case he should hear of the rupture of the negotiations. + I continued the itinerary marked out for me until I reached Venice, + and thence till I met the troops of Carra St. Cyr, who had received + orders to march back upon Naples as soon as the Emperor heard of the + treachery of the King of Naples and the landing of the English and + Russians. Having fulfilled these different missions I proceeded to + Klagenfurth, where I saw Marshal Ney, and I afterwards rejoined the + Emperor at Munich. There I had the pleasure of finding our friends + assembled, and among them Josephine, still as affable and amiable as + ever. How delighted I was when, an my arrival, I learned that the + Emperor had adopted Eugene. I was present at his marriage with the + Princess Augusta of Bavaria. As to me, you know I am not very fond + of fetes, and the Emperor might have dispensed with my performing + the duties of Chamberlain; Eugene had no idea of what was going on + when the Emperor sent to desire his presence at Munich with all + possible speed. He, too, remains unchanged; he is still our old + comrade. At first he was not much pleased with the idea of a + political marriage; but when he saw his bride he was quite + enchanted; and no wonder, for I assure you she is a very charming + woman." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +1805. + + Depreciation of the Bank paper--Ouvrard--His great discretion-- + Bonaparte'e opinion of the rich--Ouvrard's imprisonment--His + partnership with the King of Spain--His connection with Waalenberghe + and Desprez--Bonaparte's return to Paris after the campaign of + Vienna--Hasty dismissal of M. Barbe Marbois. + +At the moment when the Emperor had reason to hope that the news of his +extraordinary success would animate public spirit he was informed that +considerable disquietude prevailed, and that the Bank of France was +assailed by demands for the payment of its paper, which had fallen, more +than 5 per cent. I was not ignorant of the cause of this decline. I had +been made acquainted, through the commercial correspondence between +Hamburg and Paris, with a great financial operation, planned by M. +Ouvrard, in consequence of which he was to obtain piastres from Spanish +America at a price much below the real value; and I had learned that he +was obliged to support this enterprise by the funds which he and his +partners previously employed in victualling the forces. A fresh +investment of capital was therefore necessary for this service, which, +when on a large scale, requires extensive advances, and the tardy payment +of the Treasury at that period was well known. + +I was well acquainted with M. Ouvrard, and in what I am about to say I do +not think there will be found anything offensive or disagreeable to him. +I observed the greater number of the facts to which I shall refer in +their origin, and the rest I learned from M. Ouvrard himself, who, when +he visited Hamburg in 1808, communicated to me a variety of details +respecting his immense transaction with the King of Spain. Among other +things I recollect he told me that before the 18th Brumaire he was +possessed of 60,000,000, without owing a franc to any person. + +This celebrated financier has been the object of great public attention. +The prodigious variations of fortune which he has experienced, the +activity of his life, the immense commercial operations in which he has +been engaged; the extent and the boldness of his enterprises, render it +necessary, in forming a judgment of M. Ouvrard, to examine his conduct +with due care and deliberation. The son of a stationer, who was able +merely through his own resources to play so remarkable a part, could be +no ordinary man. It may be said of M. Ouvrard what Beaumarchais said of +himself, that his life was really a combat. I have known him long, and I +saw much of him in his relations with Josephine. He always appeared to +me to possess great knowledge of the world, accompanied by honourable +principles, and a high degree of generosity, which added greatly to the +value of his prudence and discretion. No human power, no consideration, +not even the ingratitude of those whom he had obliged, could induce him +to disclose any sacrifice which he had made at the time when, under the +Directory, the public revenue may be said to have been always at the +disposal of the highest bidder, and when no business could be brought to +a conclusion except by him who set about it with his hands full of money. +To this security, with which M. Ouvrard impressed all official persons +who rendered him services, I attribute the facility with which be +obtained the direction of the numerous enterprises in which he engaged, +and which produced so many changes in his fortune. The discretion of M. +Ouvrard was not quite agreeable to the First Consul, who found it +impossible to extract from him the information he wanted. He tried every +method to obtain from him the names of persons to whom he had given those +kind of subsidies which in vulgar language are called sops in the pan, +and by ladies pin money. Often have I seen Bonaparte resort to every +possible contrivance to gain his object. He would sometimes endeavour to +alarm M. Ouvrard by menaces, and at other times to flatter him by +promises, but he was in no instance successful. + +While we were at the Luxembourg, on, as I recollect, the 25th of January +1800, Bonaparte said to me during breakfast, "Bourrienne, my resolution +is taken. I shall have Ouvrard arrested."--"General, have you proofs +against him?"--"Proofs, indeed! He is a money-dealer, a monopoliser; we +must make him disgorge. All the contractors, the provision agents, are +rogues. How have they made their fortunes? At the expense of the +country, to be sure. I will not suffer such doings. They possess +millions, they roll in an insolent luxury, while my soldiers have neither +bread nor shoes! I will have no more of that! I intend to speak on the +business to-day in the Council, and we shall see what can be done." + +I waited with impatience for his return from the Council to know what had +passed. "Well, General?" said I "The order is given." On hearing this +I became anxious about the fate of M. Ouvrard, who was thus to be treated +more like a subject of the Grand Turk than a citizen of the Republic; but +I soon learned that the order had not been executed because he could not +be found. + +Next day I learned that a person, whom I shall not name, who was present +at the Council, and who probably was under obligations to Ouvrard, wrote +him a note in pencil to inform him of the vote for his arrest carried by +the First Consul. This individual stepped out for a moment and +despatched his servant with the note to Ouvrard. Having thus escaped the +writ of arrest, Ouvrard, after a few days had passed over, reappeared, +and surrendered himself prisoner. Bonaparte was at first furious on +learning that he had got out of the way; but on hearing that Ouvrard had +surrendered himself he said to me, "The fool! he does not know what is +awaiting him! He wishes to make the public believe that he has nothing +to fear; that his hands are clean. But he is playing a bad game; he will +gain nothing in that way with me. All talking is nonsense. You may be +sure, Bourrienne, that when a man has so much money he cannot have got it +honestly, and then all those fellows are dangerous with their fortunes. +In times of revolution no man ought to have more than 3,000,000 francs, +and that is a great deal too much." + +Before going to prison Ouvrard took care to secure against all the +searches of the police any of his papers which might have committed +persons with whom he had dealings; and I believe that there were +individuals connected with the police itself who had good reason for not +regretting the opportunity which M. Ouvrard had taken for exercising this +precaution. Seals, however, were put upon his papers; but on examining +them none of the information Bonaparte so much desired to obtain was +found. Nevertheless on one point his curiosity was satisfied, for on +looking over the documents he found from some of them that Madame +Bonaparte had been borrowing money from Ouvrard. + +As Ouvrard had a great number of friends they bestirred themselves to get +some person of influence to speak to the First Consul in his favour. +But this was a commission no one was willing to undertake; because, +prejudiced as Bonaparte was, the least hint of the kind would have +appeared to him to be dictated by private interest. Berthier was very +earnestly urged to interfere, but he replied, "That is impossible. He +would say that it was underhand work to get money for Madame Visconti." + +I do not recollect to what circumstance Ouvrard was indebted for his +liberty, but it is certain that his captivity did not last long. +Sometime after he had left his prison Bonaparte asked him for 12,000,000, +which M. Ouvrard refused. + +On his accession to the Consulate Bonaparte found M. Ouvrard contractor +for supplying the Spanish fleet under the command of Admiral Massaredo. +This business introduced him to a correspondence with the famous Godoy, +Prince of the Peace. The contract lasted three years, and M. Ouvrard +gained by it a net profit of 15,000,000. The money was payable in +piastres, at the rate of 3 francs and some centimes each, though the +piastre was really worth 5 francs 40 centimes. But to recover it at this +value it was necessary for M. Ouvrard to go and get the money in Mexico. +This he was much inclined to do, but he apprehended some obstacle on the +part of the First Consul, and, notwithstanding his habitual shrewdness, +he became the victim of his over-precaution. On his application M. de +Talleyrand undertook to ask the First Consul for authority to give him a +passport. I was in the cabinet at the time, and I think I still hear the +dry and decided "No," which was all the answer M. de Talleyrand +obtained. When we were alone the First Consul said to me, "Do you not +see, Bourrienne, this Ouvrard must have made a good thing of his business +with the Prince of the Peace? But the fool! Why did he get Talleyrand +to ask me for a passport? That is the very thing that raised my +suspicion. Why did he not apply for a passport as every one else does? +Have I the giving of them? He is an ass; so much the worse for him." + +I was sorry for Ouvrard's disappointment, and I own none the less so +because he had intimated his willingness to give me a share in the +business he was to transact its Spain; and which was likely to be very +profitable. His brother went to Mexico in his stead. + +In 1802 a dreadful scarcity afflicted France. M. Ouvrard took upon +himself, in concert with Wanlerberghe, the task of importing foreign +grain to prevent the troubles which might otherwise have been expected. +In payment of the grain the foreign houses who sent it drew upon Ouvrard +and Wanlerberghe for 26,000,000 francs in Treasury bills, which, +according to the agreement with the Government, were to be paid. But +when the bills of the foreign houses became due there was no money in the +Treasury, and payment was refused. After six months had elapsed payment +was offered, but on condition that the Government should retain half the +profit of the commission! This Ouvrard and Wanlerberghe refused, upon +which the Treasury thought it most economical to pay nothing, and the +debt remained unsettled. Notwithstanding this transaction Ouvrard and +Wanlerberghe engaged to victual the navy, which they supplied for six +years and three months. After the completion of these different services +the debt due to them amounted to 68,000,000. + +In consequence of the long delay of, payment by the Treasury the +disbursements for supplies of grain amounted at least to more than +40,000,000; and the difficulties which arose had a serious effect on the +credit of the principal dealers with those persons who supplied them. +The discredit spread and gradually reached the Treasury, the +embarrassments of which augmented with the general alarm. Ouvrard, +Wanlerberghe, and Seguin were the persons whose capital and credit +rendered them most capable of relieving the Treasury, and they agreed to +advance for that purpose 102,000,000, in return for which they were +allowed bonds of the Receivers-General to the amount of 150,000,000. M. +Desprez undertook to be the medium through which the 102,000,000 were to +be paid into the Treasury, and the three partners transferred the bands +to him. + +Spain had concluded a treaty with France, by which she was bound to pay a +subsidy of 72,000,000 francs, and 32,000,000 had become due without any +payment being made: It was thought advisable that Ouvrard should be sent +to Madrid to obtain a settlement, but he was afraid that his business in +Paris would suffer during his absence, and especially the transaction in +which he was engaged with Desprez. The Treasury satisfied him on this +point by agreeing to sanction the bargain with Desprez, and Ouvrard +proceeded to Madrid. It was on this occasion he entered into the immense +speculation for trading with Spanish America. + +Spain wished to pay the 32,000,000 which were due to France as soon as +possible, but her coffers were empty, and goodwill does not ensure +ability; besides, in addition to the distress of the Government, there +was a dreadful famine in Spain. In this state of things Ouvrard proposed +to the Spanish Government to pay the debt due to France, to import a +supply of corn, and to advance funds for the relief of the Spanish +Treasury. For this he required two conditions. (1.) The exclusive right +of trading with America. (2.) The right of bunging from America on his +own account all the specie belonging to the Crown, with the power of +making loans guaranteed and payable by the Spanish Treasuries. + +About the end of July 1805 the embarrassment which sometime before had +begun to be felt in the finances of Europe was alarmingly augmented. +Under these circumstances it was obviously the interest of Ouvrard to +procure payment as soon as possible of the 32,000,000 which he had +advanced for Spain to the French Treasury. He therefore redoubled his +efforts to bring his negotiation to a favourable issue, and at last +succeeded in getting a deed of partnership between himself and Charles +IV. which contained the following stipulation:--"Ouvrard and Company are +authorised to introduce into the ports of the New World every kind of +merchandise and production necessary for the consumption of those +countries, and to export from the Spanish Colonies, during the +continuance of the war with England; all the productions and all specie +derivable from them." This treaty was only to be in force during the war +with England, and it was stipulated that the profits arising from the +transactions of the Company should be equally divided between Charles IV. +and the rest of the Company; that is to say, one-half to the King and the +other half to his partners. + +The consequences of this extraordinary partnership between a King and a +private individual remain to be stated. On the signing of the deed +Ouvrard received drafts from the Treasury of Madrid to the extent of +52,500,000 piastres; making 262,500,000 francs; but the piastres were to +be brought from America, while the terms of the treaty required that the +urgent wants of the Spanish Government should be immediately supplied, +and, above all, the progress of the famine checked. To accomplish this +object fresh advances to an enormous amount were necessary, for M. +Ouvrard had to begin by furnishing 2,000,000 of quintals of grain at the +rate of 26 francs the quintal. Besides all this, before he could realise +a profit and be reimbursed for the advances he had made to the Treasury +of Paris, be had to get the piastres conveyed from America to Europe. +After some difficulty the English Government consented to facilitate the +execution of the transaction by furnishing four frigates for the +conveyance of the piastres. + +Ouvrard had scarcely completed the outline of his extraordinary +enterprise when the Emperor suddenly broke up his camp at Boulogne to +march to Germany. It will readily be conceived that Ouvrard's interests +then imperatively required his presence at Madrid; but he was recalled to +Paris by the Minister of the Treasury, who wished to adjust his accounts. +The Emperor wanted money for the war on which he was entering, and to +procure it for the Treasury Ouvrard was sent to Amsterdam to negotiate +with the House of Hope. He succeeded, and Mr. David Parish became the +Company's agent. + +Having concluded this business Ouvrard returned in all haste to Madrid; +but in the midst of the most flattering hopes and most gigantic +enterprises he suddenly found himself threatened with a dreadful crisis. +M. Desprez, as has been stated, had, with the concurrence of the +Treasury, been allowed to take upon himself all the risk of executing the +treaty, by which 150,000,000 were to be advanced for the year 1804, and +400,000,000 for the year 1805. Under the circumstances which had arisen +the Minister of the Treasury considered himself entitled to call upon +Ouvrard to place at his disposal 10,000,000 of the piastres which he had +received from Spain. The Minister at the same time informed him that he +had made arrangements on the faith of this advance, which he thought +could not be refused at so urgent a moment. + +The embarrassment of the Treasury, and the well-known integrity of the +Minister, M. de Barbe Marbois, induced Ouvrard to remit the 10,000,000 +piastres. But a few days after he had forwarded the money a Commissioner +of the Treasury arrived at Madrid with a ministerial despatch, in which +Ouvrard was requested to deliver to the Commissioner all the assets he +could command, and to return immediately to Paris. + +The Treasury was then in the greatest difficulty, and a general alarm +prevailed. This serious financial distress was occasioned by the +following circumstances. The Treasury had, by a circular, notified to +the Receivers-General that Desprez was the holder of their bonds. They +were also authorised to transmit to him all their disposable funds, to be +placed to their credit in an account current. Perhaps the giving of this +authority was a great error; but, be that as it may, Desprez, encouraged +by the complaisance of the Treasury, desired the Receivers-General to +transmit to him all the sums they could procure for payment of interest +under 8 per cent., promising to allow them a higher rate of interest. As +the credit of the house of Desprez stood high, it may be easily conceived +that on such conditions the Receivers-General, who were besides secured +by the authority of the Treasury, would enter eagerly into the proposed +plan. In short, the Receivers-General soon transmitted very considerable +sums. Chests of money arrived daily from every point of France. +Intoxicated by this success, Desprez engaged in speculations which in his +situation were extremely imprudent. He lent more than 50,000,000 to the +merchants of Paris, which left him no command of specie. Being obliged +to raise money, he deposited with the Bank the bonds of the Receivers- +General which had been consigned to him, but which were already +discharged by the sums transmitted to their credit in the account +current. The Bank, wishing to be reimbursed for the money advanced to +Desprez, applied to the Receivers-General whose bonds were held an +security. This proceeding had become necessary on the part of the Bank, +as Desprez, instead of making his payments in specie, sent in his +acceptances. The Directors of the Bank, who conducted that establishment +with great integrity and discretion, began to be alarmed, and required +Desprez to explain the state of his affairs. The suspicions of the +Directors became daily stronger, and were soon shared by the public. At +last the Bank was obliged to stop payment, and its notes were soon at a +discount of 12 per cent. + +The Minister of the Treasury, dismayed, as well may be supposed, at such +a state of things during the Emperor's absence, convoked a Council, at +which Joseph Bonaparte presided, and to which Desprez and Wanlerberghe +were summoned. Ouvrard being informed of this financial convulsion made +all possible haste from Madrid, and on his arrival at Paris sought +assistance from Amsterdam. Hope's house offered to take 15,000,000 +piastres at the rate of 3 francs 75 centimes each. Ouvrard having +engaged to pay the Spanish Government only 3 francs, would very willingly +have parted with them at that rate, but his hasty departure from Madrid, +and the financial events at Paris, affected his relations with the +Spanish Treasury, and rendered it impossible for him to afford any +support to the Treasury of France; thus the alarm continued, until the +news of the battle of Austerlitz and the consequent hope of peace +tranquillised the public mind. The bankruptcy of Desprez was dreadful; +it was followed by the failure of many houses, the credit of which was +previously undoubted. + +To temper the exultation which victory was calculated to excite, the news +of the desperate situation of the Treasury and the Bank reached the +Emperor on the day after the battle of Austerlitz. The alarming accounts +which he received hastened his return to France; and on the very evening +on which he arrived in Paris he pronounced, while ascending the stairs of +the Tuileries, the dismissal of M. de Barbs Marbois. This Minister had +made numerous enemies by the strict discharge of his duty, and yet, +notwithstanding his rigid probity, he sunk under the accusation of having +endangered the safety of the State by weakness of character. At this +period even Madame de Stael said, in a party where the firmness of M. +Barbs Marbois was the topic of conversation--"What, he inflexible? He is +only a reed bronzed!" But whatever may be the opinion entertained of the +character of this Minister, it is certain that Napoleon's rage against +him was unbounded. Such was the financial catastrophe which occurred +during the campaign of Vienna; but all was not over with Ouvrard, and in +so great a confusion of affairs it was not to be expected that the +Imperial hand, which was not always the hand of justice, should not make +itself somewhere felt. + +In the course of the month of February 1806 the Emperor issued two +decrees, in which he declared Ouvrard, Wanlerberghe, and Michel, +contractors for the service of 1804, and Desprez their agent, debtors to +the amount of 87,000,000, which they had misapplied in private +speculations, and in transactions with Spain "for their personal +interests." Who would not suppose from this phrase that Napoleon had +taken no part whatever in the great financial operation between Spain and +South America? He was, however, intimately acquainted with it, and was +himself really and personally interested. But whenever any enterprise +was unsuccessful he always wished to deny all connection with it. +Possessed of title-deeds made up by himself--that is to say, his own +decrees--the Emperor seized all the piastres and other property belonging +to the Company, and derived from the transaction great pecuniary +advantage,--though such advantage never could be regarded by a sovereign +as any compensation for the dreadful state into which the public credit +had been brought. + + + + + +CHAPTER V + +1805-1806. + + Declaration of Louis XVIII.--Dumouriez watched--News of a spy-- + Remarkable trait of courage and presence of mind--Necessity of + vigilance at Hamburg--The King of Sweden--His bulletins--Doctor Gall + --Prussia covets Hamburg--Projects on Holland--Negotiations for + peace--Mr. Fox at the head of the British Cabinet--Intended + assassination of Napoleon--Propositions made through Lord Yarmouth + --Proposed protection of the Hanse towns--Their state-- + Aggrandisement of the Imperial family--Neither peace nor war-- + Sebastiani's mission to Constantinople--Lord Lauderdale at Paris, + and failure of the negotiations--Austria despoiled--Emigrant + pensions--Dumouriez's intrigues--Prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin-- + Loizeau. + +I have been somewhat diffuse respecting the vast enterprises of M. +Ouvrard, and on the disastrous state of the finances during the campaign +of Vienna. Now, if I may so express myself, I shall return to the +Minister Plenipotentiary's cabinet, where several curious transactions +occurred. The facts will not always be given in a connected series, +because there was no more relation between the reports which I received +on a great variety of subjects than there is in the pleading of the +barristers who succeed each other in a court of justice. + +On the 2d of January 1806 I learned that many houses in Hamburg had +received by post packets, each containing four copies of a declaration of +Louis XVIII. Dumouriez had his carriage filled with copies of this +declaration when he passed through Brunswick; and in that small town +alone more than 3000 were distributed. The size of this declaration +rendered its transmission by post very easy, even in France. + +All my letters from the Minister recommended that I should keep a strict +watch over the motions of Dumouriez; but his name was now as seldom +mentioned as if he had ceased to exist. The part he acted seemed to be +limited to disseminating pamphlets more or less insignificant. + +It is difficult to conceive the great courage and presence of mind +sometimes found in men so degraded as are the wretches who fill the +office of spies. I had an agent amongst the Swedo-Russians, named +Chefneux, whom I had always found extremely clever and correct. Having +for a long time received no intelligence from him I became very anxious, +--an anxiety which was not without foundation. He had, in fact, been +arrested at Lauenburg, and conducted, bound, tied hand and foot, by some +Cossacks to Luneburg. There was found on him a bulletin which he was +about to transmit to me, and he only escaped certain death by having in +his possession a letter of recommendation from a Hamburg merchant well +known to M. Alopaeus, the Russian Minister in that city. This +precaution, which I had taken before he set out, saved his life. +M. Alopaeus replied to the merchant that, in consequence of his +recommendation the spy should be sent back safe and sound, but that +another time neither the recommended nor the recommender should escape so +easily. Notwithstanding this, Chefneux would certainly have paid with +his head for the dangerous business in which he was embarked but for the +inconceivable coolness he displayed under the most trying circumstances. +Though the bulletin which was found upon him was addressed to M. Schramm, +merchant, they strongly suspected that it was intended for me. They +demanded of the prisoner whether he knew me; to which he boldly replied +that he had never seen me. They endeavoured, by every possible means, to +extort a confession from him, but without success. His repeated denials, +joined to the name of M. Schramm, created doubts in the minds of his +interrogators; they hesitated lest they should condemn an innocent man. +They, however, resolved to make a last effort to discover the truth, and +Chefneux, condemned to be shot, was conducted to the plain of Luneburg. +His eyes were bandaged, and he heard the command of preparation given to +the platoon, which was to fire upon him; at that moment a man approaching +him whispered in his ear, in a tone of friendship and compassion, "They +are going to fire; but I am your friend; only acknowledge that you know +M. de Bourrienne and you are safe."--"No," replied Chefneux in a firm +tone; "if I said so I should tell a falsehood." Immediately the bandage +was removed from his eyes, and he was set at liberty. It would be +difficult to cite a more extraordinary instance of presence of mind. + +Much as I execrate the system of espionage I am nevertheless compelled to +admit that the Emperor was under the necessity of maintaining the most +unremitting vigilance amidst the intrigues which were going forward in +the neighbourhood of Hamburg, especially when the English, Swedes, and +Russians were in arms, and there were the strongest grounds for +suspecting the sincerity of Prussia. + +On the 5th of January 1806 the King of Sweden arrived before the gates of +Hamburg. The Senate of that city, surrounded on all sides by English, +Swedish, and Russian troops, determined to send a deputation to +congratulate the Swedish monarch, who, however, hesitated so long about +receiving this homage that fears were entertained lest his refusal should +be followed by some act of aggression. At length, however, the deputies +were admitted, and they returned sufficiently well satisfied with their +reception. + +The King of Sweden then officially declared, "That all the arrangements +entered into with relation to Hanover had no reference to hint, as the +Swedish army was under the immediate command of its august sovereign." + +The King, with his 6000 men, seemed inclined to play the part of the +restorer of Germany, and to make himself the Don Quixote of the treaty of +Westphalia. He threatened the Senate of Hamburg with the whole weight of +his anger, because on my application the colours which used to be +suspended over the door of the house for receiving Austrian recruits had +been removed. The poor Senate of Hamburg was kept in constant alarm by +so dangerous a neighbour. + +The King of Sweden had his headquarters at Boetzenburg, on the northern +bank of the Elbe. In order to amuse himself he sent for Dr. Gall, who +was at Hamburg, where he delivered lectures on his system of phrenology, +which was rejected in the beginning by false science and prejudice, and +afterwards adopted in consequence of arguments, in my opinion, +unanswerable. I had the pleasure of living some time with Dr. Gall, and +I owe to the intimacy which subsisted between us the honour he conferred +on me by the dedication of one of his works. I said to him, when he +departed for the headquarters of the King of Sweden, "My dear doctor, you +will certainly discover the bump of vanity." The truth is, that had the +doctor at that period been permitted to examine the heads of the +sovereigns of Europe they would have afforded very curious craniological +studies. + +It was not the King of Sweden alone who gave uneasiness to Hamburg; the +King of Prussia threatened to seize upon that city, and his Minister +publicly declared that it would very soon belong to his master. The +Hamburgers were deeply afflicted at this threat; in fact, next to the +loss of their independence, their greatest misfortune would have been to +fall under the dominion of Prussia, as the niggardly fiscal system of the +Prussian Government at that time would have proved extremely detrimental +to a commercial city. Hanover, being evacuated by the French troops, had +become a kind of recruiting mart for the British army, where every man +who presented himself was enrolled, to complete the Hanoverian legion +which was then about to be embodied. The English scattered gold by +handfuls. One hundred and fifty carriages, each with six horses, were +employed in this service, which confirmed me in the belief I had +previously entertained, that the English were to join with the Russians +in an expedition against Holland. The aim of the Anglo-Russians was to +make a diversion which might disconcert the movements of the French +armies in Germany, the allies being at that time unacquainted with the +peace concluded at Presburg. Not a moment was therefore to be lost in +uniting the whole of our disposable force for the defence of Holland; but +it is not of this expedition that I mean to speak at present. I only +mention it to afford some idea of our situation at Hamburg, surrounded, +as we then were, by Swedish, English, and Russian troops. At this period +the Russian Minister at Hamburg, M. Forshmann, became completely insane; +his conduct had been more injurious than advantageous to his Government. +He was replaced by M. Alopcous, the Russian Minister at Berlin; and they +could not have exchanged a fool for a more judicious and able +diplomatist. + +I often received from the Minister of Marine letters said packets to +transmit to the Isle of France,(Mauritius) of which the Emperor was +extremely anxious to retain possession; and I had much trouble in finding +any vessels prepared for that colony by which I could forward the +Minister's communications. The death of Pitt and the appointment of +Fox as his successor had created a hope of peace. It was universally +known that Mr. Fox, in succeeding to his office, did not inherit the +furious hatred of the deceased Minister against France and her Emperor. +There moreover existed between Napoleon and Mr. Fox a reciprocal esteem, +and the latter had shown himself really disposed to treat. The +possibility of concluding a peace had always been maintained by that +statesman when he was in opposition to Mr. Pitt; and Bonaparte himself +might have been induced, from the high esteem he felt for Mr. Fox, to +make concessions from which he would before have recoiled. But there +were two obstacles, I may say almost insurmountable ones. The first was +the conviction on the part of England that any peace which might be made +would only be a truce, and that Bonaparte would never seriously +relinquish his desire of universal dominion. On the other side, it was +believed that Napoleon had formed the design of invading England. Had he +been able to do so it would have been less with the view of striking a +blow at her commerce and destroying her maritime power, than of +annihilating the liberty of the press, which he had extinguished in his +own dominions. The spectacle of a free people, separated only by six +leagues of sea, was, according to him, a seductive example to the French, +especially to those among them who bent unwillingly under his yoke. + +At an early period of Mr. Fox's ministry a Frenchman made the proposition +to him of assassinating the Emperor, of which information was immediately +transmitted to M. de Talleyrand. In this despatch the Minister said +that, though the laws of England did not authorise the permanent +detention of any individual not convicted of a crime, he had on this +occasion taken it on himself to secure the miscreant till such time as +the French Government could be put on its guard against his attempts. +Mr. Fox said in his letter that he had at first done this individual "the +honour to take him for a spy," a phrase which sufficiently indicated the +disgust with which the British Minister viewed him. + +This information was the key which opened the door to new negotiations. +M. de Talleyrand was ordered to express, in reply to the communication of +Mr. Fox, that the Emperor was sensibly affected at the index it afforded +of the principles by which the British Cabinet was actuated. Napoleon +did not limit himself to this diplomatic courtesy; he deemed it a +favourable occasion to create a belief that he was actuated by a sincere +love of peace. He summoned to Paris Lord Yarmouth, one of the most +distinguished amongst the English who had been so unjustly detained +prisoners at Verdun on the rupture of the peace of Amiens. He gave his +lordship instructions to propose to the British Government a new form of +negotiations, offering to guarantee to England the Cape of Good Hope and +Malta. Some have been inclined from this concession to praise the +moderation of Bonaparte; others to blame him for offering to resign these +two places, as if the Cape and Malta could be put in competition with the +title of Emperor, the foundation of the Kingdom of Italy, the acquisition +of Genoa and of all the Venetian States, the dethronement of the King of +Naples and the gift of his kingdom to Joseph, and finally, the new +partition of Germany. These transactions, of which Bonaparte said not a +word, and from which he certainly had no intention of departing, were all +long after the treaty of Amiens. + +Every day brought with it fresh proofs of insatiable ambition. In fact, +Napoleon longed to obtain possession of the Hanse Towns. I was, however, +in the first place, merely charged to make overtures to the Senates of +each of these towns, and to point out the advantages they would derive +from the protection of Napoleon in exchange for the small sacrifice of +6,000,000 francs in his favour. I had on this subject numerous +conferences with the magistrates: they thought the sum too great, +representing, to me that the city was not so rich as formerly, because +their commerce had been much curtailed by the war; in short, the Senate +declared that, with the utmost goodwill, their circumstances would not +permit them to accept the "generous proposal" of the Emperor. + +I was myself, indeed, at a loss to conceive how the absurdity of +employing me to make such a proposition was overlooked, for I had, really +no advantage to offer in return to the Hanse Towns. Against whom did +Bonaparte propose to protect them? The truth is, Napoleon then wished to +seize these towns by direct aggression, which, however, he was not able +to accomplish until four years afterwards. + +During five years I witnessed the commercial importance of these cities, +and especially of Hamburg. Its geographical situation, on a great river +navigable by large vessels to the city, thirty leagues from the mouth of +the Elbe; the complete independence it enjoyed; its municipal regulations +and paternal government, were a few amongst the many causes which had +raised Hamburg to its enviable height of prosperity. What, in fact, was +the population of these remnants of the grand Hanseatic League of the +Middle Ages? The population of Hamburg when I was there amounted to +90,000, and that of its small surrounding territory to 25,000. Bremen +had 36,000 inhabitants, and 9000 in its territory; the city of Lubeck, +which is smaller and its territory a little more extensive than that of +Bremen, contained a population of 24,000 souls within and 16,000 without +the walls. Thus the total population of the Hanse Towns amounted to only +200,000 individuals; and yet this handful of men carried on an extensive +commerce, and their ships ploughed every sea, from the shores of India to +the frozen regions of Greenland. + +The Emperor arrived at Paris towards the end of January 1806. Having +created kings in Germany he deemed the moment favourable for surrounding +his throne with new princes. It was at this period that he created +Murat, Grand Duke of Cleves and Berg; Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte-Corvo; +M. de Talleyrand, Duke of Benevento; and his two former colleagues, +Cambaceres and Lebrun, Dukes of Parma and Piacenza. He also gave to his +sister Pauline, a short time after her second marriage with the Prince +Borghese, the title of Duchess of Guastalla. Strange events! who could +then have foreseen that the duchy of Cambaceres would become the refuge +of a Princess of Austria, the widowed wife of Napoleon Bonaparte? +In the midst of the prosperity of the Imperial family, when the eldest of +the Emperor's brothers had ascended the throne of Naples, when Holland +was on the eve of being offered to Louis, and Jerome had exchanged his +legitimate wife for the illegitimate throne of Westphalia, the Imperial +pillow was still far from being free from anxiety. Hostilities did not +actually exist with the Continental powers; but this momentary state of +repose lacked the tranquillity of peace. France was at war with Russia +and England, and the aspect of the Continent presented great uncertainty, +while the treaty of Vienna had only been executed in part. In the +meantime Napoleon turned his eyes towards the East. General Sebastiani +was sent to Constantinople. The measures be pursued and his judicious +conduct justified the choice of the Emperor. He was adroit and +conciliating, and peace with Turkey was the result of his mission. The +negotiations with England did not terminate so happily, although, after +the first overtures made to Lord Yarmouth, the Earl of Lauderdale had +been sent to Paris by Mr. Fox. In fact, these negotiations wholly +failed. The Emperor had drawn enormous sums from Austria, without +counting the vases, statues, and pictures. With which he decorated the +Louvre, and the bronze with which he clothed the column of the Place +Vendome,--in my opinion the finest monument of his reign and the most +beautiful one in Paris. As Austria was exhausted all the contributions +imposed on her could not be paid in cash, and they gave the Emperor bills +in payment. I received one for about 7,000,000 on Hamburg on account of +the stipulations of the treaty of Presburg. + +The affairs of the Bourbon Princes became more and more unfavourable, and +their finances, as well as their chances of success, were so much +diminished that about this period it was notified to the emigrants in +Brunswick that the pretender (Louis XVIII.) had no longer the means of +continuing their pensions. This produced great consternation amongst +those emigrants, many of whom had no other means of existence; and +notwithstanding their devotion to the cause of royalty they found a +pension very useful in strengthening their zeal. + + --[When Louis XVIII. returned to France, and Fouche was his Minister + of Police, the King asked Fouche whether during his (the King's) + exile, had not set spies over him, and who they were. Fouche + hesitated to reply, but the King insisting he said: "If your Majesty + presses for an answer, it was the Due de Blacas to whom this matter + was confided."--"And how much did you pay him?" said the King. + "Deux cents mille livres de rents, Sire."--"Ah, so!" said the King, + "then he has played fair; we went halves."--Henry Greville's Diary, + p. 430.]-- + +Amongst those emigrants was one whose name will occupy a certain place in +history; I mean Dumouriez, of whom I have already spoken, and who had for +some time employed himself in distributing pamphlets. He was then at +Stralsund; and it was believed that the King of Sweden would give him a +command. The vagrant life of this general, who ran everywhere begging +employment from the enemies of his country without being able to obtain +it, subjected him to general ridicule; in fact, he was everywhere +despised. + +To determine the difficulties which had arisen with regard to Holland, +which Dumouriez dreamed of conquering with an imaginary army, and being +discontented besides with the Dutch for not rigorously excluding English +vessels from their ports, the Emperor constituted the Batavian territory +a kingdom under his brother Louis. When I notified to the States of the +circle of Lower Saxony the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of +Holland, and the nomination of Cardinal Fesch as coadjutor and successor +of the Arch-chancellor of the Germanic Empire, along with their official +communications, the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the only member of +the circle who forebore to reply, and I understood be had applied to the +Court of Russia to know "whether" and "how" he should reply. At the same +time he made known to the Emperor the marriage of his daughter, the +Princess Charlotte Frederica, with Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark. + +At this period it would have been difficult to foresee the way in which +this union would terminate. The Prince was young and handsome, and of an +amiable disposition, which seemed to indicate that he would prove a good +husband. As for the Princess, she was as beautiful as love; but she was +heedless and giddy; in fact, she was a spoiled child. She adored her +husband, and during several years their union proved happy. I had the +honour of knowing them at the period when the Duke of Mecklenburg, with +his family, sought refuge at Altona. Before leaving that town the +Duchess of Mecklenburg, a Princess of Saxony, paid a visit to Madame de +Bourrienne and loaded her with civilities. This Princess was perfectly +amiable, and was therefore generally regretted when, two years +afterwards, death snatched her from her family. Before leaving Altona +the Duke of Mecklenburg gave some parties by way of bidding adieu to +Holstein, where he had been so kindly received; and I can never forget +the distinguished reception and many kindnesses Madame de Bourrienne and +myself received from that illustrious family. + +It consisted of the hereditary Prince, so distinguished by his talents +and acquirements (he was at that time the widower of a Grand Duchess of +Russia, a sister of the Emperor Alexander), of Prince Gustavus, so +amiable and graceful, and of Princess Charlotte and her husband, the +Prince Royal of Denmark. + +This happy couple were far from foreseeing that in two years they would +be separated for ever. The Princess was at this period in all the +splendour of her beauty; several fetes were given on her account on the +banks of the Elbe, at which the Prince always opened the ball with Madame +de Bourrienne. Notwithstanding her amiability the Princess Charlotte was +no favourite at the Danish Court. Intrigues were formed against her. I +know not whether any foundation existed for the calumnies spread to her +disadvantage, but the Court dames accused her of great levity of conduct, +which, true or false, obliged her husband to separate from her; and at +the commencement of 1809 he sent her to Altona, attended by a chamberlain +and a maid of honour. On her arrival she was in despair; hers was not a +silent grief, for she related her story to every one. This unfortunate +woman really attracted pity, as she shed tears for her son, three years +of age, whom she was doomed never again to behold. But her natural +levity returned; she did not always maintain the reserve suitable to her +rank, and some months afterwards was sent into Jutland, where I believe +she still lives. + +The enemies of the French Government did not confine themselves to +writing and publishing invectives against it. More than one wretch was +ready to employ daggers against the Emperor. Among this number was a man +named Louis Loizeau, recently arrived from London. He repaired to +Altona, there to enjoy the singular privilege which that city afforded of +sheltering all the ruffians, thieves, and bankrupts who fled from the +justice of their own Governments. On the 17th of July Loizeau presented +himself to Comte de Gimel, who resided at Altona, as the agent of the +Comte de Lille. He offered to repair to Paris and assassinate the +Emperor. Comte de Gimel rejected the proposal with indignation; and +replied, that if he had no other means of serving the Bourbons than +cowardly assassination he might go elsewhere and find confederates. This +fact, which was communicated to me by a friend of M. de Gimel, determined +me to arrest Loizeau. Not being warranted, however, to take this step at +Altona, I employed a trusty agent to keep watch, and draw him into a +quarrel the moment he should appear on the Hamburg side of a public walk +which divides that city from Altona, and deliver him up to the nearest +Hamburg guard-house. Loizeau fell into the snare; but finding that he +was about to be conducted from the guardhouse to the prison of Hamburg, +and that it was at my request he had been arrested, he hastily unloosed +his cravat, and tore with his teeth the papers it contained, part of +which he swallowed. He also endeavoured to tear some other papers which +were concealed under his arm, but was prevented by the guard. Furious at +this disappointment, he violently resisted the five soldiers who had him +in custody, and was not secured until he had been slightly wounded. His +first exclamation on entering prison was, "I am undone!" Loizeau was +removed to Paris, and, though I am ignorant of the ultimate fate of this +wretch, I am pretty certain that Fouche would take effectual means to +prevent him from doing any further mischief. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +1806. + + Menaces of Prussia--Offer for restoring Hanover to England--Insolent + ultimatum--Commencement of hostilities between France and Prussia-- + Battle of Auerstadt--Death of the Duke of Brunswick--Bernadotte in + Hamburg--Davonet and Bernadotte--The Swedes at Lubeck--Major Amiel-- + Service rendered to the English Minister at Hamburg--My appointment + of Minister for the King of Naples--New regulation of the German + post-office--The Confederation of the North--Devices of the Hanse + Towns--Occupation of Hamburg in the name of the Emperor--Decree of + Berlin--The military governors of Hamburg--Brune, Michaud, and + Bernadotte. + +The moment now approached when war was about to be renewed in Germany, +and in proportion as the hopes of peace diminished Prussia redoubled her +threats, which were inspired by the recollection of the deeds of the +great Frederick. The idea of peace was hateful to Prussia. Her +measures, which till now had been sufficiently moderate, suddenly assumed +a menacing aspect on learning that the Minister of the King of England +had declared in Parliament that France had consented to the restitution +of Hanover. The French Ministry intimated to the Prussian Government +that this was a preliminary step towards a general peace, and that a +large indemnity would be granted in return. But the King of Prussia, +who was well informed, and convinced that the House of Hanover clung to +this ancient domain, which gave to England a certain preponderance in +Germany, considered himself trifled with, and determined on war. + +Under these circumstances Lord Lauderdale was recalled from Paris by his +Government. War continued with England, and was about to commence with +Prussia. The Cabinet of Berlin sent an ultimatum which could scarcely be +regarded in any other light than a defiance, and from the well-known +character of Napoleon we may judge of his irritation at this ultimatum. + + --[The severity with which Bonaparte treated the press may be + inferred from the case of Palm the publisher. In 1808 Johann + Phillip Palm, of Nuremberg, was shot by Napoleon's order for issuing + a pamphlet against the rule of the French in Germany.]-- + +The Emperor, after his stay of eight months in Paris passed in abortive +negotiations for peace, set out on the 25th of September for the Rhine. + +Hostilities commenced on the 10th of October 1806 between France and +Prussia, and I demanded of the Senate that a stop should be put to the +Prussians recruiting. The news of a great victory gained by the Emperor +over the Prussians on the 14th of October reached Hamburg on the 19th, +brought by some fugitives, who gave such exaggerated accounts of the loss +of the French army that it was not until the arrival of the official +despatches on the 28th of October that we knew whether to mourn or to +rejoice at the victory of Jena. + +The Duke of Brunswick, who was dangerously wounded at the battle of +Auerstadt, arrived on the 29th of October at Altona.--[This Prince was in +the seventy-second year of his age, and extremely infirm.]--His entrance +into that city afforded a striking example of the vicissitudes of +fortune. That Prince entered Altona on a wretched litter, borne by ten +men, without officers, without domestics, followed by a troop of +vagabonds and children, who were drawn together by curiosity. He was +lodged in a wretched inn, and so much worn out by fatigue and the pain of +his eyes that on the day after his arrival a report of his death very +generally prevailed. Doctor Unzer was immediately sent for to attend the +unfortunate Duke, who, during the few days that he survived his wounds, +saw no one else except his wife, who arrived on the 1st of November. He +expired on the 10th of the same month. + + --[For the mistimed but rather pathetic belief of the old dying Duke + in the courtesy with which he and his States would be treated by the + French, see Beugnot, tome 1. p. 80: "I feel sure that there is a + courier of the Emperor's on the road to know how I am."]-- + +At this juncture Bernadotte returned to Hamburg. I asked him how I was +to account for his conduct while he was with Davoust, who had left +Nuremberg to attack the Prussian army; and whether it was true that he +had refused to march with that general, and afterwards to aid him when he +attacked the Prussians on the Weimar road. "The letters I received," +observed I, "state that you took no part in the battle of Auerstadt; that +I did not believe, but I suppose you saw the bulletin which I received a +little after the battle, and which stated that Bonaparte said at +Nuremberg, in the presence of several officers, 'Were I to bring him +before a court-martial he would be shot. I shall say nothing to him +about it, but I will take care he shall know what I think of his +behaviour. He has too keen a sense of honour not to be aware that he +acted disgracefully."--"I think him very likely," rejoined Bernadotte, +"to have made these observations. He hates me because he knows I do not +like him; but let him speak to me and he shall have his answer. If I am +a Gascon, he is a greater one. I might have felt piqued at receiving +something like orders from Davoust, but I did my duty." + + --[The complaints of Bernadotte's conduct on the 14th of October + 1806. when he gave no assistance to Davoust in repulsing the main + body of the Prussians at Aneratadt, are well known. Jomini says + that Davoust proposed to Bernadotte to march with him, and even + offered him the command of the two corps. Bernadotte refused, and + marched away to Dornburg, where he was of no use, "his obstinacy, + difficult to explain, nearly compromised both Davoust and the + success of the battle;" See also Thiers (tome vii. p. 172), who + attributes Bernadotte's conduct to a profound aversion for Davoust + conceived on the most frivolous grounds. Bernadotte had frequently + given cause of complaint to Napoleon in the two campaigns of 1806 + and 1806. In the movement on Vienna Napoleon considered he showed + want of activity and of zeal. These complaints seem to have been + made in good faith, for in a letter to Bernadotte's brother-in-law, + Joseph, Napoleon suggests that health may have been the causes (Du + Cases, tome i. p. 322). Bernadotte was equally unfortunate in + putting in his appearance too late at Eylan (see Due de Rovigo's + Memoirs, tome ii. p. 48), and also incurred the displeasure of + Napoleon at Wagram (see later on).]-- + +In the beginning of November the Swedes entered Lubeck; but on the 8th of +that month the town was taken by assault, and the Swedes, as well as the +rest of the corps which had escaped from Jena, were made prisoners. + +A troop of Prussians had advanced within four leagues of Hamburg, and +that town had already prepared for a vigorous resistance, in case they +should attempt an entrance, when Major Amiel attacked them at +Zollenspieker and made some prisoners. Hamburg was, however, threatened +with another danger, for Major Amiel expressed his intention of entering +with all his prisoners, notwithstanding the acknowledged neutrality of +the town. Amiel was a partisan leader in the true sense of the word; he +fought rather on his own account than with the intention of contributing +to the success of the operations of the army. His troop did not consist +of more than forty men, but that was more than sufficient to spread +terror and devastation in the surrounding villages. He was a bold +fellow, and when, with his handful of men, he threw himself upon Hamburg, +the worthy inhabitants thought he had 20,000 troops with him. He had +pillaged every place through which he passed, and brought with him 300 +prisoners, and a great many horses he had taken on his road. It was +night when he presented himself at the gates of the city, which he +entered alone, having left his men and booty at the last village. He +proceeded to the French Embassy. I was not there at the time, but I was +sent for, and about seven o'clock in the evening I had my first interview +with the Major. He was the very, beau ideal of a bandit, and would have +been an admirable model for a painter. I was not at all surprised to +hear that on his arrival his wild appearance and huge mustachios had +excited some degree of terror among those who were in the salon. He +described his exploits on the march, and did not disguise his intention +of bringing his troops into Hamburg next day. He talked of the Bank and +of pillage. I tried for some time to divert him from this idea, but +without effect, and at length said to him, "Sir, you know that this is +not the way the Emperor wishes to be served. During the seven years that +I have been about him, I have invariably heard him express his +indignation against those who aggravate the misery which war naturally +brings in her train. It is the express wish of the Emperor that no +damage, no violence whatever, shall be committed on the city or territory +of Hamburg." These few words produced a stronger effect than any +entreaties I could have used, for the mere name of the Emperor made even +the boldest tremble, and Major Amiel next thought of selling his booty. +The Senate were so frightened at the prospect of having Amiel quartered +upon them that to get rid of him they determined to purchase his booty at +once, and even furnished him with guards for his prisoners. I did not +learn till some time afterwards that among the horses Major Amiel had +seized upon the road were those of the Countess Walmoden. Had I known +this fact at the time I should certainly have taken care to have had them +restored to her. Madame Walmoden was then a refugee at Hamburg, and +between her and my family a close intimacy existed. On the very day, I +believe, of the Major's departure the Senate wrote me a letter of thanks +for the protection I afforded the town. + +Before the commencement of the Prussian campaign, while anxiety was +entertained respecting the designs of the Cabinet of Berlin, my task was +not an easy one. I exerted all my efforts to acquaint the French +Government with what was passing on the Spree. I announced the first +intelligence of an unexpected movement which had taken place among the +Prussian troops cantoned in the neighbourhood of Hamburg. They suddenly +evacuated Lauenburg, Platzburg, Haarburg, Stade, Twisenfelth, and +Cuxhaven. This extraordinary movement gave rise to a multitude of +surmises. I was not wrong when I informed the French Government that, +according to every probability, Prussia was about to declare hostilities +against France, and to enter into an alliance with England. + +I much regretted that my situation did not allow me more frequent +opportunities of meeting Mr. Thornton, the English Minister to the circle +of Lower Saxony. However; I saw him sometimes, and had on two different +occasions the opportunity of rendering him some service. Mr. Thornton +had requested me to execute a little private business for him, the +success of which depended on the Emperor. I made the necessary +communication to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, adding in my letter +that Mr. Thornton's conduct towards the French who had come in any way in +contact with him had ever been just and liberal, and that I should +receive great pleasure in being able to announce to him the success of +his application. His request was granted. + +On another occasion Mr. Thornton applied to me for my services, and I had +once more the pleasure of rendering them. He wished to procure some +information respecting an Englishman named Baker, who had gone to +Terracina, in the Campagna di Roma, for the benefit of sea-bathing. He +was there arrested, without any cause assigned, by order of the +commandant of the French troops in Terracina. The family of Mr. Baker, +not having heard from him for some months, became very uneasy respecting +him, for they had not the least idea of his arrest. His relations +applied to Mr. Thornton, and that gentleman, notwithstanding the +circumstances which, as I have stated, prevented our frequent +intercourse, hesitated not a moment in requesting me to furnish him with +some information respecting his countryman. I lost no time in writing to +M. Alquier, our Ambassador at Rome, and soon enabled Mr. Thornton to ease +the apprehension of Mr. Baker's friends. + +I had every opportunity of knowing what was passing in Italy, for I had +just been invested with a new dignity. As the new King of Naples, +Joseph, had no Minister in Lower Saxony, he wished that I should +discharge the function of Minister Plenipotentiary for Naples. His +Ministers accordingly received orders to correspond with me upon all +business connected with his government and his subjects. The relations +between Hamburg and Naples were nearly nil, and my new office made no +great addition to my labours. + +I experienced, however, a little more difficulty in combining all the +post-offices of Hamburg in the office of the Grand Duchy of Berg, thus +detaching them from the offices of Latour and Taxis, so named after the +German family who for a length of time had had the possession of them, +and who were devoted to Austria. + +After some days of negotiation I obtained the suppression of these +offices, and their union with the postoffice of the Grand Due de Berg +(Murat), who thus received letters from Italy, Hungary, Germany, Poland, +part of Russia, and the letters from England for these countries. + +The affair of the post-offices gained for me the approbation of Napoleon. +He expressed his satisfaction through the medium of a letter I received +from Duroc, who at the same time recommended me to continue informing the +Emperor of all that was doing in Germany with relation to the plans of +the Confederation of the North. I therefore despatched to the Minister +for Foreign Affairs a detailed letter, announcing that Baron Grote, the +Prussian Minister at Hamburg, had set off on a visit to Bremen and +Lubeck. Among those who accompanied him on this excursion was a person +wholly devoted to me; and I knew that Baron Grote's object was to offer +to these towns verbal propositions for their union with the Confederation +of the North, which the King of Prussia wished to form as a counterpoise +to the Confederation of the Rhine, just created by Napoleon. Baron Grote +observed the strictest secrecy in all his movements. He showed, in +confidence, to those to whom he addressed himself, a letter from M. +Haugwitz, the Minister of the King of Prussia, + + --[In July 1806, after Austerlitz, Napoleon had formed the + "Confederation du Rhin." to include the smaller States of Germany, + who threw off all connection with the German Empire, and formed a + Confederation furnishing a considerable army. ]-- + + --[The Emperor of Germany, Francis IL, had already in 1804, on + Napoleon taking the title of Emperor, declared himself Hereditary + Emperor of Austria. After the formation of the Rhenish + Confederation and Napoleon's refusal to acknowledge the German + Empire any longer, he released the States of the Holy Roman Empire + from their allegiance, declared the Empire dissolved, and contented + himself with the title of Emperor of Austria, as Francis I.]-- + +who endeavoured to point out to the Hanse Towns how much the +Confederation of the North would turn to their advantage, it being the +only means of preserving their liberty, by establishing a formidable +power. However, to the first communication only an evasive answer was +returned. M. Van Sienen, the Syndic of Hamburg, was commissioned by the +Senate to inform the Prussian Minister that the affair required the +concurrence of the burghers, and that before he could submit it to them +it would be necessary to know its basis and conditions. Meanwhile the +Syndic Doormann proceeded to Lubeck, where there was also a deputy from +Bremen. The project of the Confederation, however, never came to +anything. + +I scrupulously discharged the duties of my functions, but I confess I +often found it difficult to execute the orders I received, and more than +once I took it upon myself to modify their severity. I loved the frank +and generous character of the Hamburgers, and I could not help pity the +fate of the Hanse Towns, heretofore so happy, and from which Bonaparte +had exacted such immense sacrifices. + +On the principal gate of the Hanse Towns is inscribed the following +motto, well expressing the pacific spirit of the people: 'Da nobis pacem, +Domine, in diebus nostris'. The paternal and elected government, which +did everything to secure the happiness of these towns, was led to believe +that the sacrifices imposed on them would be recompensed by the +preservation of their neutrality. No distrust was entertained, and hope +was kept alive by the assurances given by Napoleon. He published in the +Moniteur that the Hanse Towns could not be included in any particular +Confederation. He thus strangled in its birth the Confederation of the +North, to which those feeble States would otherwise have been obliged to +consent. When in 1806 Napoleon marched against Prussia, he detached +Marshal Mortier from the Grand Army when it had passed the Rhine, and +directed him to invade the Electorate of Hesse, and march on Hamburg. On +the 19th of November the latter town was occupied by the French army in +the name of the Emperor, amidst the utmost order and tranquillity. + +I must acknowledge that I was under much apprehension as to this event. +At the intelligence of the approach of the French army consternation was +great and universal in Hamburg, which was anxious to maintain its +neutrality unimpaired. At the urgent request of the magistrates of the +city I assumed functions more than diplomatic, and became, in some +respects, the first magistrate of the town. I went to meet Marshal +Mortier to endeavour to dissuade him from entering. I thought I should +by this means better serve the interests of France than by favouring the +occupation of a neutral town by our troops. But all my remonstrances +were useless. Marshal Mortier had received formal orders from the +Emperor. + +No preparations having been made at Hamburg for the reception of Marshal +Mortier, he quartered himself and his whole staff upon me. The few +troops he had with him were disposed of in my courtyard, so that the +residence of a Minister of peace was all at once converted into +headquarters. This state of things continued until a house was got ready +for the Marshal. + +Marshal Mortier had to make very rigorous exactions, but my +representations suspended for a while Napoleon's orders for taking +possession of the Bank of Hamburg. I am here bound to bear testimony to +the Marshal's honourable principles and integrity of character. The +representations which I had sent to Marshal Mortier were transmitted by +the latter to the Emperor at Berlin; and Mortier stated that he had +suspended the execution of the orders until he should receive others. +The Emperor approved of this. It was, indeed, a happy event for France +and for Europe, even more so than for Hamburg. Those who suggested to +the Emperor the idea of pillaging that fine establishment must have been +profoundly ignorant of its importance. They thought only of the +90,000,000 of marks banco deposited in its cellars. + +By the famous decree of Berlin, dated 21st November 1806, Mortier was +compelled to order the seizure of all English merchandise in the Hanse +Towns, but he enforced the decree only so far as to preserve the +appearance of having obeyed his orders. + +Mortier, on leaving Hamburg for Mecklenburg, was succeeded by General +Michaud, who in his turn was succeeded by Marshal Brune in the beginning +of 1807. I am very glad to take the present opportunity of correcting +the misconceptions which arose through the execution of certain acts of +Imperial tyranny. The truth is, Marshal Brune, during his government, +constantly endeavoured to moderate, as far as he could, the severity of +the orders he received. Bernadotte became Governor of Hamburg when the +battle of Jena rendered Napoleon master of Prussia and the north of +Germany. + +The Prince of Ponte-Corvo lightened, as far as possible, the unjust +burdens and vexations to which that unfortunate town was subject. He +never refused his assistance to any measures which I adopted to oppose a +system of ruin and persecution. He often protected Hamburg against +exorbitant exactions, The Hanse Towns revived a little under his +government, which continued longer than that of Mortier, Michaud, and +Brune. The memory of Bernadotte will always be dear to the Hamburgers; +and his name will never be pronounced without gratitude. His attention +was especially directed to moderate the rigour of the custom-houses; and +perhaps the effect which his conduct produced on public opinion may be +considered as having, in some measure, led to the decision which, four +years after, made him Hereditary Prince of Sweden. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +1806. + + Ukase of the Emperor of Russia--Duroc's mission to Weimar-- + Napoleon's views defeated--Triumphs of the French armies--Letters + from Murat--False report respecting Murat--Resemblance between + Moreau and M. Billand--Generous conduct of Napoleon--His interview + with Madame Hatzfeld at Berlin--Letter from Bonaparte to Josephine-- + Blucher my prisoner--His character--His confidence in the future + fate of Germany--Prince Paul of Wurtemberg taken prisoner--His wish + to enter the French service--Distinguished emigrants at Altona-- + Deputation of the Senate to the Emperor at Berlin--The German + Princes at Altona--Fauche-Boiel and the Comte de Gimel. + +In September 1806 it became very manifest that, as soon as war should +break out between France and Prussia, Russia would not be slow in forming +an alliance with the latter power. Peace had, however, been +reestablished between Napoleon and Alexander by virtue of a treaty just +signed at Paris. By that treaty Russia was to evacuate the Bouches du +Cattaro,--[The Bouches do Cattaro, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic, +had formed part of the Dalmatian possessions of Venice.]--a condition +with which she was in no hurry to comply. I received a number of the +Court Gazette of St. Petersburg, containing a ukase of the Emperor of +Russia, in which Alexander pointed out the danger which again menaced +Europe, showed the necessity of adopting precautions for general +tranquillity and the security of his own Empire, and declared his +determination of not only completing but augmenting his army. He +therefore ordered a levy of four men out of every 500 inhabitants. + +Before the commencement of hostilities Duroc was sent to the King of +Prussia with the view of discovering whether there was any possibility of +renewing negotiations; but affairs were already too much embarrassed. +All Duroc's endeavours were in vain, and perhaps it was no longer in the +power of the King of Prussia to avoid war with France. Besides, he had +just grounds of offence against the Emperor. Although the latter had +given him Hanover in exchange for the two Margravates, he had, +nevertheless, offered to England the restoration of that province as one +of the terms of the negotiations commenced with Mr. Fox. This underhand +work was not unknown to the Berlin Cabinet, and Napoleon's duplicity +rendered Duroc's mission useless. At this time the King of Prussia was +at Weimar. + +Victory everywhere favoured the French arms. Prince Hohenlohe, who +commanded a corps of the Prussian army, was forced to capitulate at +Prentzlau. After this capitulation General Blucher took the command of +the remains of the corps, to which he joined the troops whose absence +from Prentzlau exempted them from the capitulation. These corps, added +to those which Blucher had at Auerstadt, were then almost the only +ramparts of the Prussian monarchy. Soult and Bernadotte received orders +from Murat to pursue Blucher, who was using all his efforts to draw from +Berlin the forces of those two generals. Blucher marched in the +direction of Lubeck. + +General Murat pursued the wreck of the Prussian army which had escaped +from Saxony by Magdeburg. Blucher was driven upon Lubeck. It was very +important to the army at Berlin that this numerous corps should be +destroyed, commanded as it was by a skillful and brave general, who drew +from the centre of the military operations numerous troops, with which he +might throw himself into Hanover, or Hesse, or even Holland, and by +joining the English troops harass the rear of the Grand Army. The Grand +Duke of Berg explained to me his plans and expectations, and soon after +announced their fulfilment in several letters which contained, among +other things, the particulars of the taking of Lubeck. + +In two of these letters Murat, who was probably deceived by his agents, +or by some intriguer, informed me that General Moreau had passed through +Paris on the 12th of October, and had arrived in Hamburg on the 28th of +October. The proof which Murat possessed of this circumstance was a +letter of Fauche-Borel, which he had intercepted. I recollect a curious +circumstance which serves to show the necessity of mistrusting the vague +intelligence furnished to persons in authority. A fortnight before I +received Murat's first letter a person informed me that General Moreau +was in Hamburg. I gave no credit to this intelligence, yet I endeavoured +to ascertain whether it had any foundation, but without effect. Two days +later I was assured that an individual had met General Moreau, that he +had spoken to him, that he knew him well from having served under him-- +together with various other circumstances, the truth of which there +appeared no reason to doubt. I immediately sent for the individual in +question, who told me that he knew Moreau, that he had met him, that the +General had inquired of him the way to the Jungfersteige (a promenade at +Hamburg), that he had pointed it out to him, and then said, "Have I not +the honour to speak to General Moreau?" upon which the General answered, +"Yes, but say nothing about having seen me; I am here incognito." All +this appeared to me so absurd that, pretending not to know Moreau, I +asked the person to describe him to me. He described a person bearing +little resemblance to Moreau, and added that he wore a braided French +coat and the national cockade in his hat. I instantly perceived the +whole was a mere scheme for getting a little money. I sent the fellow +about his business. In a quarter of an hour after I had got rid of him +M. la Chevardiere called on me, and introduced M. Billaud, the French +Consul at Stettin. This gentleman wore a braided coat and the national +cockade in his hat. He was the hero of the story I had heard from the +informer. A slight personal resemblance between the Consul and the +General had caused several persons to mistake them for each other. + +During the Prussian campaign nothing was talked of throughout Germany but +Napoleon's generous conduct with respect to Prince Hatzfeld. I was +fortunate enough to obtain a copy of a letter which the Emperor wrote to +Josephine on the subject, and which I shall presently lay before the +reader. In conformity with the inquisitorial system which too frequently +characterised the Emperor's government, and which he extended to every +country of which he had military possession, the first thing done on +entering a town was to take possession of the post-office, and then, +Heaven knows how little respect was shown to the privacy of +correspondence. Among the letters thus seized at Berlin and delivered to +Napoleon was one addressed to the King of Prussia by Prince Hatzfeld, who +had imprudently remained in the Prussian capital. In this letter the +Prince gave his Sovereign an account of all that had occurred in Berlin +since he had been compelled to quit at; and at the same time he informed +him of the force and situation of the corps of the French army. The +Emperor, after reading this letter, ordered that the Prince should be +arrested, and tried by a court-martial on the charge of being a spy. + +The Court was summoned, and little doubt could be entertained as to its +decision when Madame Hatzfeld repaired to Duroc, who on such occasions +was always happy when he could facilitate communication with the Emperor. +On that day Napoleon had been at a review. Duroc knew Madame Hatzfeld, +whom he had several times seen on his visits to Berlin. When Napoleon +returned from the review he was astonished to see Duroc at the palace at +that hour, and inquired whether he had brought any news. Duroc answered +in the affirmative, and followed the Emperor into his Cabinet, where he +soon introduced Madame Hatzfeld. The remainder of the scene is described +in Napoleon's letter. It may easily be perceived that this letter is an +answer to one from Josephine reproaching him for the manner in which he +spoke of women, and very probably of the beautiful and unfortunate Queen +of Prussia, respecting whom he had expressed himself with too little +respect in one of his bulletins. The following is Napoleon's letter:-- + + I have received your letter, in which you seem to reproach me for + speaking ill of women. It is true that I dislike female intriguers + above all things. I am used to kind, gentle, and conciliatory + women. I love them, and if they have spoiled me it is not my fault, + but yours. However, you will see that I have done an act of + kindness to one deserving woman. I allude to Madame de Hatzfeld. + When I showed her her husband's letter she stood weeping, and in a + tone of mingled grief and ingenuousness said, "It is indeed his + writing!" This went to my heart, and I said, "Well, madame, throw + the letter into the fire, and then I shall have no proof against + your husband." She burned the letter, and was restored to + happiness. Her husband now is safe: two hours later, and he would + have been lost. You see, therefore, that I like women who are + simple, gentle, and amiable; because they alone resemble you. + + November 6, 1806, 9 o'clock P.M. + + +When Marshal Bernadotte had driven Blucher into Lubeck and made him +prisoner, he sent to inform me of the circumstance; but I was far from, +expecting that the prisoner would be confided to my charge. Such, +however, was the case. After his capitulation he was sent to Hamburg, +where he had the whole city for his prison. + +I was curious to become acquainted with this celebrated man, and I saw +him very frequently. I found that he was an enthusiastic Prussian +patriot--a brave man, enterprising even to rashness, of limited +education, and almost to an incredible degree devoted to pleasure, of +which he took an ample share while he remained in Hamburg. He sat an +enormous time at table, and, notwithstanding his exclusive patriotism, +he rendered full justice to the wines of France. His passion for women +was unbounded, and one of his most favourite sources of amusement was the +gaming-table, at which he spent a considerable portion of his time. +Blucher was of an extremely gay disposition; and considered merely as a +companion he was very agreeable. The original style of his conversation +pleased me much. His confidence in the deliverance of Germany remained +unshaken in spite of the disasters of the Prussian army. He often said +to me, "I place great reliance on the public spirit of Germany--on the +enthusiasm which prevails in our universities. The events of war are +daily changing, and even defeats con tribute to nourish in a people +sentiments of honour and national glory. You may depend upon it that +when a whole nation is determined to shake off a humiliating yoke it will +succeed. There is no doubt but we shall end by having a landwehr very +different from any militia to which the subdued spirit of the French +people could give birth. England will always lend us the support of her +navy and her subsidies, and we will renew alliances with Russia and +Austria. I can pledge myself to the truth of a fact of which I have +certain knowledge, and you may rely upon it; namely, that none of the +allied powers engaged in the present war entertain views of territorial +aggrandisement. All they unanimously desire is to put an end to the +system of aggrandisement which your Emperor has established and acts upon +with such alarming rapidity. In our first war against France, at the +commencement of your Revolution, we fought for questions respecting the +rights of sovereigns, for which, I assure you, I care very little; but +now the case is altered, the whole population of Prussia makes common +cause with its Government. The people fight in defence of their homes, +and reverses destroy our armies without changing the spirit of the +nation. I rely confidently on the future because I foresee that fortune +will not always favour your Emperor. It is impossible; but the time will +come when all Europe, humbled by his exactions, and impatient of his +depredations, will rise up against him. The more he enslaves nations, +the more terrible will be the reaction when they break their chains. +It cannot be denied that he is tormented with an insatiable desire of +acquiring new territories. To the war of 1805 against Austria and Russia +the present war has almost immediately succeeded. We have fallen. +Prussia is occupied; but Russia still remains undefeated. I cannot +foresee what will be the termination of the war; but, admitting that the +issue should be favourable to you, it will end only to break out again +speedily. If we continue firm, France, exhausted by her conquests, must +in the end fall. You may be certain of it. You wish for peace. +Recommend it! By so doing You will give strong proofs of love for your +country." + +In this strain Blucher constantly spoke to me; and as I never thought it +right to play the part of the public functionary in the drawing-room I +replied to him with the reserve necessary in my situation. I could not +tell him how much my anticipations frequently coincided with his; but I +never hesitated to express to him how much I wished to see a reasonable +peace concluded. + +Blucher's arrival at Hamburg was preceded by that of Prince Paul of +Wutrtemberg, the second son of one of the two kings created by Napoleon, +whose crowns were not yet a year old. This young Prince, who was imbued +with the ideas of liberty and independence which then prevailed in +Germany, had taken a headlong step. He had quitted Stuttgart to serve in +the Prussian campaign without having asked his father's permission, which +inconsiderate proceeding might have drawn Napoleon's anger upon the King +of Wurtemberg. The King of Prussia advanced Prince Paul to the rank of +general, but he was taken prisoner at the very commencement of +hostilities. Prince Paul was not, as has been erroneously stated, +conducted to Stuttgart by a captain of gendarmerie. He came to Hamburg, +where I received many visits from him. He did not yet possess very +definite ideas as to what he wished; for after he was made prisoner he +expressed to me his strong desire to enter the French service, and often +asked me to solicit for him an interview with the Emperor. He obtained +this interview, and remained for a long time in Paris, where I know he +has frequently resided since the Restoration. + +The individuals whom I had to observe in Hamburg gave me much less +trouble than our neighbours at Altona. The number of the latter had +considerably augmented, since the events of the war had compelled a great +number of emigrants who had taken refuge at Munster to leave that town. +They all proceeded to Altona. Conquered countries became as dangerous to +them as the land which they had forsaken. The most distinguished amongst +the individuals assembled at Altona were Vicomte de Sesmaisons, the +Bailly d'Hautefeuille, the Duchess of Luxembourg, the Marquis de Bonnard, +the Due d'Aumont (then Due de Villequier), the wife of Marshal de Brogue +and her daughter, Cardinal de Montmorency, Madame de Cosse, her two +daughters and her son (and a priest), and the Bishop of Boulogne. + +Bonaparte stayed long enough at Berlin to permit of the arrival of a +deputation from the French Senate to congratulate him on his first +triumphs. I learned that in this instance the Senatorial deputation, +departing from its accustomed complaisance, ventured not to confine +itself to compliments and felicitations, but went so far as to interfere +with the Emperor's plan of the campaign, to speak of the danger that +might be incurred and finally to express a desire to in passing the Oder, +see peace concluded. Napoleon received this communication with a very +bad grace. He thought the Senators very bold to meddle with his affairs, +treated the conscript fathers of France as if they had been inconsiderate +youths, protested, according to custom, his sincere love of peace, and +told the deputation that it was Prussia, backed by Russia, and not he, +who wished for war! + +All the German Princes who had taken part against Napoleon fled to Altona +after the battle of Jena with as much precipitation as the emigrants +themselves. The Hereditary Prince of Weimar, the Duchess of Holstein, +Prince Belmonte-Pignatelli, and a multitude of other persons +distinguished for rank and fortune, arrived there almost simultaneously. +Among the persons who took refuge in Altona were some intriguers, of whom +Fauche-Borel was one. I remember receiving a report respecting a violent +altercation which Fauche had the audacity to enter into with Comte de +Gimel because he could not extort money from the Count in payment of his +intrigues. Comte de Gimel had only funds for the payment of pensions, +and, besides, he had too much sense to suppose there was any utility in +the stupid pamphlets of Fauche-Borel, and therefore he dismissed him with +a refusal. Fauche was insolent, which compelled Comte de Gimel to send +him about his business as he deserved. This circumstance, which was +first communicated to me in a report, has since been confirmed by a +person who witnessed the scene. Fauche-Borel merely passed through +Hamburg, and embarked for London on board the same ship which took Lord +Morpeth back to England. + + --[Louis Fauche-Borel (1762-1829), a Swiss who devoted himself to + the cause of the Royalists. As Louis stepped on the shore of France + in 1814, Fauche-Borel was ready to assist him from the boat, and was + met with the gracious remark that he was always at hand when a + service was required. His services were however left unrewarded]-- + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +1806. + + Alarm of the city of Hamburg--The French at Bergdorf--Favourable + orders issued by Bernadotte--Extortions in Prussia--False + endorsements--Exactions of the Dutch--Napoleon's concern for his + wounded troops--Duroc's mission to the King of Prussia--Rejection of + the Emperor's demands--My negotiations at Hamburg--Displeasure of + the King of Sweden--M. Netzel and M. Wetteratedt. + +At this critical moment Hamburg was menaced on all sides; the French even +occupied a portion of its territory. The French troops, fortunately for +the country, were attached to the corps commanded by the Prince de Ponte- +Corvo. This military occupation alarmed the town of Hamburg, to which, +indeed, it proved very injurious. I wrote to Marshal Bernadotte on the +subject. The grounds on which the Senate appealed for the evacuation of +their territory were such that Bernadotte could not but acknowledge their +justice. The prolonged stay of the French troops in the bailiwick of +Bergdorf, which had all the appearance of an occupation, might have led +to the confiscation of all Hamburg property in England, to the laying an +embargo on the vessels of the Republic, and consequently to the ruin of a +great part of the trade of France and Holland, which was carried on under +the flag of Hamburg. There was no longer any motive for occupying the +bailiwick of Bergdorf when there were no Prussians in that quarter. It +would have been an absurd misfortune that eighty men stationed in that +bailiwick should, for the sake of a few louis and a few ells of English +cloth, have occasioned the confiscation of Hamburg, French, and Dutch +property to the amount of 80,000,000 francs. + +Marshal Bernadotte replied to me on the 16th of November, and said, +"I hasten to inform you that I have given orders for the evacuation of +the bailiwick of Bergdorf and all the Hamburg territory. If you could +obtain from the Senate of Hamburg, by the 19th of this month, two or +three thousand pairs of shoes, you would oblige me greatly. They shall +be paid for in goods or in money." + +I obtained what Bernadotte required from the Senate, who knew his +integrity, while they were aware that that quality was not the +characteristic of all who commanded the French armies! What extortions +took place during the occupation of Prussia! I will mention one of the +means which, amongst others, was employed at Berlin to procure money. +Bills of exchange were drawn, on which endorsements were forged, and +these bills were presented to the bankers on whom they were purported to +be drawn. One day some of these forged bills to a large amount were +presented to Messrs. Mathiesen and Silleine of Hamburg, who, knowing the +endorsement to be forged, refused to cash them. The persons who +presented the bills carried their impudence so far as to send for the +gendarmes, but the bankers persisted in their refusal. I was informed of +this almost incredible scene, which had drawn together a great number of +people. Indignant at such audacious robbery, I instantly proceeded to +the spot and sent away the gendarmes, telling them it was not their duty +to protect robbers, and that it was my business to listen to any just +claims which might be advanced. Under Clarke's government at Berlin the +inhabitants were subjected to all kinds of oppression and exaction. +Amidst these exactions and infamous proceedings, which are not the +indispensable consequences of war, the Dutch generals distinguished +themselves by a degree of rapacity which brought to mind the period of +the French Republican peculations in Italy. It certainly was not their +new King who set the example of this conduct. His moderation was well +known, and it was as much the result of his disposition as of his honest +principles. Louis Bonaparte, who was a King in spite of himself, +afforded an example of all that a good man could suffer upon a usurped +throne. + +When the King of Prussia found himself defeated at every point he +bitterly repented having undertaken a war which had delivered his States +into Napoleon's power in less time than that in which Austria had fallen +the preceding year. He wrote to the Emperor, soliciting a suspension of +hostilities. Rapp was present when Napoleon received the King of +Prussia's letter. "It is too late," said he; "but, no matter, I wish to +stop the effusion of blood; I am ready to agree to anything which is not +prejudicial to the honour or interests of the nation." Then calling +Duroc, he gave him orders to visit the wounded, and see that they wanted +for nothing. He added, "Visit every man on my behalf; give them all the +consolation of which they stand in need; afterwards find the King of +Prussia, and if he offers reasonable proposals let me know them." + +Negotiations were commenced, but Napoleon's conditions were of a nature +which was considered inadmissible. Prussia still hoped for assistance +from the Russian forces. Besides, the Emperor's demands extended to +England, who at that moment had no reason to accede to the pretensions of +France. The Emperor wished England to restore to France the colonies +which she bad captured since the commencement of the war, that Russia +should restore to(o) the Porte Moldavia and Wallachia, which she then +occupied; in short, he acted upon the advice which some tragedy-king +gives to his ambassador: "Demand everything, that you may obtain +nothing." The Emperor's demands were, in fact, so extravagant that it +was scarcely possible he himself could entertain the hope of their being +accepted. Negotiations, alternately resumed and abandoned, were carried +on with coldness on both sides until the moment when England prevailed on +Russia to join Prussia against France; they then altogether ceased: and +it was for the sake of appearing to wish for their renewal, on bases +still more favourable to France, that Napoleon sent Duroc to the King of +Prussia. Duroc found the King at Osterode, on the other side of the +Vistula. The only answer he received from His Majesty was, "The time is +passed;" which was very much like Napoleon's observation; "It is too +late." + +Whilst Duroc was on his mission to the King of Prussia I was myself +negotiating at Hamburg. Bonaparte was very anxious to detach Sweden from +the coalition, and to terminate the war with her by a separate treaty. +Sweden, indeed, was likely to be very useful to him if Prussia, Russia, +and England should collect a considerable mass of troops in the north. +Denmark was already with us, and by gaining over Sweden also the union of +those two powers might create a diversion, and give serious alarm to the +coalition, which would be obliged to concentrate its principal force to +oppose the attack of the grand army in Poland. The opinions of M. +Peyron, the Swedish Minister at Hamburg, were decidedly opposed to the +war in which his sovereign was engaged with France. I was sorry that +this gentleman left Hamburg upon leave of absence for a year just at the +moment I received my instructions from the Emperor upon this subject. +M. Peyron was succeeded by M. Netzel, and I soon had the pleasure of +perceiving that his opinions corresponded in every respect with those +of his predecessor. + +As soon as he arrived M. Netzel sought an interview to speak to me on the +subject of the Swedes, who had been taken prisoners on the Drave. He +entreated me to allow the officers to return to Sweden on their parole. +I was anxious to get Netzel's demand acceded to, and availed myself of +that opportunity to lead him gradually to the subject of my instructions. +I had good reason to be satisfied with the manner in which he received my +first overtures. I said nothing to him of the justice of which he was +not previously convinced. I saw he understood that his sovereign would +have everything to gain by a reconciliation with France, and he told me +that all Sweden demanded peace. Thus encouraged, I told him frankly that +I was instructed to treat with him. M. Netzel assured me that M. de +Wetterstedt, the King of Sweden's private secretary, with whom he was +intimate, and from whom he showed me several letters, was of the same +opinion on the subject as himself. He added, that he had permission to +correspond with the King, and that he would; write the same evening to +his sovereign and M.. de Wetterstedt to acquaint them with our +conversation. + +It will be perceived, from what I have stated, that no negotiation was +ever commenced under more favourable auspices; but who could foresee what +turn the King of Sweden would take? That unlucky Prince took M. Netzel's +letter in very ill part, and M. de Wetterstedt himself received +peremptory orders to acquaint M. Netzel with his sovereign's displeasure +at his having presumed to visit a French Minster, and, above all, to +enter into a political conversation with him, although it was nothing +more than conversation. The King did not confine himself to reproaches; +M. Netzel came in great distress to inform me he had received orders to +quit Hamburg immediately, without even awaiting the arrival of his +successor. He regarded his disgrace as complete. I had the pleasure of +seeing M. Netzel again in 1809 at Hamburg, where he was on a mission from +King Charles XIII. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +1806 + + The Continental system--General indignation excited by it--Sale of + licences by the French Government--Custom-house system at Hamburg-- + My letter to the Emperor--Cause of the rupture with Russia-- + Bernadotte's visit to me--Trial by court-martial for the purchase of + a sugar-loaf--Davoust and the captain "rapporteur"--Influence of the + Continental system on Napoleon's fall. + +I have a few remarks to make on the famous Continental system, which was +a subject of such engrossing interest. I had, perhaps, better +opportunities than any other person of observing the fraud and estimating +the fatal consequences of this system. It took its rise during the war +in 1806, and was brought into existence by a decree; dated from Berlin. +The project was conceived by weak counsellors, who; perceiving the +Emperor's just indignation at the duplicity of England, her repugnance to +enter, into negotiations with him, and her constant endeavours to raise +enemies against France, prevailed upon him to issue the decree, which I +could only regard as an act of madness and tyranny. It was not a decree, +but fleets, that were wanting. Without a navy it was ridiculous to +declare the British Isles in a state of blockade, whilst the English +fleets were in fact blockading all the French ports. This declaration +was, however, made in the Berlin Decree. This is what was called the +Continental system! which, in plain terms, was nothing but a system of +fraud and pillage. + +One can now scarcely conceive how Europe could for a single day endure +that fiscal tyranny which extorted exorbitant prices for articles which +the habits of three centuries had rendered indispensable to the poor as +well as to the rich. So little of truth is there in the pretence that +this system had for its sole and exclusive object to prevent the sale of +English goods, that licences for their disposal were procured at a high +price by whoever was rich enough to pay for them. The number and quality +of the articles exported from France were extravagantly exaggerated. It +was, indeed, necessary to take out some of the articles is compliance +with the Emperor's wishes, but they were only thrown into the sea. And +yet no one had the honesty to tell the Emperor that England sold on the +continent but bought scarcely anything. The speculation in licences was +carried to a scandalous extent only to enrich a few, and to satisfy the +short-sighted views of the contrivers of the system. + +This system proves what is written in the annals of the human heart and +mind, that the cupidity of the one is insatiable, and the errors of the +other incorrigible. Of this I will cite an example, though it refers to +a period posterior to the origin of the Continental system. In Hamburg, +in 1811, under Davoust's government, a poor man had well-nigh been shot +for having introduced into the department of the Elbe a small loaf of +sugar for the use of his family, while at the same moment Napoleon was +perhaps signing a licence for the importation of a million of sugar- +loaves. + + --[In this same year (1811) Murat, as King of Naples, not only + winked at the infringement of the Continental system, but almost + openly broke the law himself. His troops in Calabria and all round + his immense line sea coast, carried on an active trade with Sicilian + and English smugglers. This was so much the case that an officer + never set out from Naples to join, without, being, requested by his + wife, his relations or friends, to bring them some English muslins, + some sugar and coffee, together with a few needles, pen-knives, and + razors. Some of the Neapolitan officers embarked in really large + commercial operations, going shares with the custom house people who + were there to enforce the law, and making their soldiers load and + unload the contraband vessels. The Comte de -----, a French officer + on Murat's staff, was very noble, but very poor, and excessively + extravagant. After making several vain efforts to set him up in the + world, the King told him one day he would give him the command of + the troops round the Gulf of Salerno; adding that the devil was in + it if he could not make a fortune in such a capital smuggling + district, in a couple of years.--The Count took the hint, and did + make a fortune.--Editor 1836 edition.]-- + +Smuggling on a small scale was punished with death, whilst the Government +themselves carried it on extensively. The same cause filled the Treasury +with money, and the prisons with victims: + +The custom-house laws of this period, which waged open war against +rhubarb, and armed the coasts of the Continent against the introduction +of senna, did not save the Continental system from destruction. Ridicule +attended the installation of the odious prevotal courts. The president +of the Prevotal Court at Hamburg, who was a Frenchman, delivered an +address, in which he endeavoured to prove that in the time of the +Ptolemies there had existed extraordinary fiscal tribunals, and that it +was to those Egypt owed her prosperity. Terror was thus introduced by +the most absurd folly. The ordinary customhouse officers, formerly so +much abhorred in Hamburg, declared with reason that they would soon be +regretted, and than the difference between them and the prevotal courts +would soon be felt. Bonaparte's counsellors led him to commit the folly +of requiring that a ship which had obtained a licence should export +merchandise equivalent to that of the colonial produce to be imported +under the authority of the licence. What was the consequence? The +speculators bought at a low price old stores of silk-which change of +fashion had made completely unsaleable, and as those articles were +prohibited in England they were thrown into the sea without their loss +being felt. The profits of the speculation made ample amends for the +sacrifice. The Continental system was worthy only of the ages of +ignorance and barbarism, and had it been admissible in theory, was +impracticable in application. + + --[Sydney Smith was struck with the, ridiculous side of the war of + tariffs: "We are told that the Continent is to be reconquered by the + want of rhubarb and plums." (Essays of Sydney Smith, p. 533, edition + of 1861).]-- + +It cannot be sufficiently stigmatised. They were not the friends of the +Emperor who recommended a system calculated to rouse the indignation of +Europe, and which could not fail to create reaction. To tyrannize over +the human species, and to exact uniform admiration and submission, is to +require an impossibility. It would seem that fate, which had still some +splendid triumphs in store for Bonaparte, intended to prepare beforehand +the causes which were to deprive him of all his triumphs at once, and +plunge him into reverses even greater than the good fortune which had +favoured his elevation. + +The prohibition of trade, the habitual severity in the execution of this +odious system, made it operate like a Continental impost. I will give a +proof of this, and I state nothing but what came under my own +observation. The fiscal regulations were very rigidly enforced at +Hamburg, and along the two lines of Cuxhaven and Travemunde. M. Eudel, +the director of that department, performed his duty with zeal and +disinterestedness. I feel gratified in rendering him this tribute. +Enormous quantities of English merchandise and colonial produce were +accumulated at Holstein, where they almost all arrived by way of Kiel and +Hudsum, and were smuggled over the line at the expense of a premium of 33 +and 40 per cent. Convinced of this fact by a thousand proofs, and weary +of the vexations of the preventive system, I took upon myself to lay my +opinions on the subject before the Emperor. He had given me permission +to write to him personally, without any intermediate agency, upon +everything that I might consider essential to his service. I sent an +extraordinary courier to Fontainebleau, where he then was, and in my +despatch I informed him that, notwithstanding his preventive guard, every +prohibited article was smuggled in because the profits on the sale in +Germany, Poland, Italy, and even France, into which the contrabrand goods +found their way, were too considerable not to induce persons to incur all +risks to obtain them. I advised him, at the very time he was about to +unite the Hanse Towns to the French Empire, to permit merchandise to be +imported subject to a duty of 33 per cent., which was about equal to the +amount of the premium for insurance. The Emperor adopted my advice +without hesitation, and in 1811 the regulation produced a revenue of +upwards of 60,000,000 francs in Hamburg alone. + +This system, however, embroiled us with Sweden and Russia, who could not +endure that Napoleon should enact a strict blockade from them, whilst he +was himself distributing licences in abundance. Bernadotte, on his way +to Sweden, passed through Hamburg in October 1810. He stayed with me +three days, during which time he scarcely saw any person but myself. He +asked my opinion as to what he should do in regard to the Continental +system. I did not hesitate to declare to him, not as a French Minister, +but as a private individual to his friend, that in his place, at the head +of a poor nation, which could only subsist by the exchange of its +territorial productions with England, I would open my ports, and give the +Swedes gratuitously that general licence which Bonaparte sold in detail +to intrigue and cupidity. + +The Berlin decree could not fail to cause a reaction against the +Emperor's fortune by raising up whole nations against him. The hurling +of twenty kings from their thrones would have excited less hatred than +this contempt for the wants of nations. This profound ignorance of the +maxims of political economy caused general privation and misery, which in +their turn occasioned general hostility. The system could only succeed +in the impossible event of all the powers of Europe honestly endeavouring +to carry it into effect. A single free port would have destroyed it. +In order to ensure its complete success it was necessary to conquer and +occupy all countries, and never to evacuate them. As a means of ruining +England it was contemptible. It was necessary that all Europe should be +compelled by force of arms to join this absurd coalition, and that the +same force should be constantly employed to maintain it. Was this +possible? The captain "rapporteur" of a court-martial allowed a poor +peasant to escape the punishment due to the offence of having bought a +loaf of sugar beyond the custom-house barrier. This officer was some +time afterwards at a dinner given by Marshal Davoust; the latter said to +him, "You have a very scrupulous conscience, sir; go to headquarters and +you will find an order there for you." This order sent him eighty +leagues from Hamburg. It is necessary to have witnessed, as I have, the +numberless vexations and miseries occasioned by the unfortunate +Continental system to understand the mischief its authors did in Europe, +and how much that mischief contributed to Napoleon's fall. + + --[The so-called Continental system was framed by Napoleon in + revenge for the English very extended system of blockades, after + Trafalgar had put it out of his power to attempt to keep the seas. + By these decrees all ports occupied by the French were closed to the + English, and all English goods were to be destroyed wherever found + in any country occupied by the French. All States under French + influence had to adopt this system. It must be remembered that + Napoleon eventually held or enforced his system on all the + coastlines of Europe, except that of Spain and Turkey; but as + Bourrienne shows the plan of giving licences to break his own system + was too lucrative to be resisted by him, or, still more, by his + officers. For the working of the system in the occupied lands, + Laffite the banker told Savary it was a grand idea, but + impracticable (Savary, tome v. p. 110). The Emperor Alexander is + reported to have said, after visiting England in 1814, that he + believed the system would have reduced England if it had lasted + another year. The English, who claimed the right of blockading any + coast with but little regard to the effectiveness of the blockade, + retaliated by orders in Council, the chief of which are dated 7th + January 1807, and 11th November 1807, by which no ships of any power + were allowed to trade between any French ports, or the ports of any + country closed to England. Whatever the real merits of the system, + and although it was the cause of war between the United States and + England, its execution did most to damage France and Napoleon, and + to band all Europe against it. It is curious that even in 1831 a + treaty had to be made to settle the claims of the United States on + France for unjust seizures under these decrees.]-- + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +1806-1807. + + New system of war--Winter quarters--The Emperor's Proclamation-- + Necessity of marching to meet the Russians--Distress in the Hanse + Towns--Order for 50,000 cloaks--Seizure of Russian corn and timber-- + Murat's entrance into Warsaw--Re-establishment of Poland--Duroc's + accident--M. de Talleyrand's carriage stopped by the mud--Napoleon's + power of rousing the spirit of his troops--His mode of dictating-- + The Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin--His visits to Hamburg--The Duke of + Weimar--His letter and present--Journey of the Hereditary Prince of + Denmark to Paris--Batter, the English spy--Traveling clerks--Louis + Bonaparte and the Berlin decree--Creation of the Kingdom of Saxony-- + Veneration of Germany for the King of Saxony--The Emperor's + uncertainty respecting Poland--Fetes and reviews at Warsaw--The + French Government at the Emperor's head quarters--Ministerial + portfolios sent to Warsaw.--Military preparations during the month + of January--Difference of our situation daring the campaigns of + Vienna and Prussia--News received and sent--Conduct of the Cabinet + of Austria similar to that of the Cabinet of Berlin--Battle of + Eylau--Unjust accusation against Bernadotte--Death of General + d'Hautpoult--Te Deum chanted by the Russians--Gardanne's mission to + Persia + +Bonaparte was not only beyond all comparison the greatest captain of +modern times, but he may be said to have wrought a complete change in the +art of war. Before his time the most able generals regulated the +fighting season by the almanac. It was customary in Europe to brave the +cannon's mouth only from the first fine days of spring to the last fine +days of autumn; and the months of rain, snow, and frost were passed in +what were called winter quarters. Pichegru, in Holland, had set the +example of indifference to temperature. At Austerlitz, too, Bonaparte +had braved the severity of winter; this answered his purpose well, and he +adopted the same course in 1806. His military genius and activity seemed +to increase, and, proud of his troops, he determined to commence a winter +campaign in a climate more rigorous than any in which he had yet fought. +The men, chained to his destiny, were now required to brave the northern +blast, as they had formerly braved the vertical sun of Egypt. Napoleon, +who, above all generals, was remarkable for the choice of his fields of +battle, did not wish to wait tranquilly until the Russian army, which was +advancing towards Germany, should come to measure its strength with him +in the plains of conquered Prussia; he resolved to march to meet it, and +to reach it before it should arose the Vistula; but before he left Berlin +to explore and conqueror, Poland and the confines of Russia; he addressed +a proclamation to his troops, in which he stated all that had hitherto +been achieved by the French army, and at the same time announced his +future intentions. It was especially advisable that he should march +forward, for, had he waited until the Russians had passed the Vistula, +there could probably have been no winter campaign, and he would have been +obliged either to take up miserable winter quarters between the Vistula +and the Oder, or to recross the Oder to combat the enemy in Prussia. +Napoleon's military genius and indefatigable activity served him +admirably on this occasion, and the proclamation just alluded to, which +was dated from Berlin before his departure from Charlottenburg; proves +that he did not act fortuitously, as he frequently did, but that his +calculations were well-made. + + --[Before leaving the capital of Prussia Bonaparte stole from the + monument, of Frederick the Great his sword and military orders. He + also plundered the galleries of Berlin and Potsdam of their best + pictures and statues, thus continuing the system he had began is + Italy. All those things he sent to Paris as trophies of victory and + glory.--Editor of as 1836 edition.] + + +A rapid and immense impulse given to great masses of men by the, will of +a single individual may produce transient lustre and dazzle the eyes of +the multitude; but when, at a distance from the theatre of glory, we flee +only the melancholy results which have been produced. The genius of +conquest can only be regarded as the genius of destruction. What a sad +picture was often presented to my eyes! I was continually doomed to hear +complaints of the general distress, and to execute orders which augmented +the immense sacrifices already made by the city of Hamburg. Thus, for +example, the Emperor desired me to furnish him with 50,000 cloaks which I +immediately did. I felt the importance of such an order with the +approach of winter, and in a climate--the rigour of which our troops had +not yet encountered. I also received orders to seize at Lubeck (Which +town, as I have already stated, had been alternately taken and retaken +try Blucher and Bernadotte) 400,000 lasts of corn,--[A last weighs 2000 +kilogrammes]--and to send them to Magdeburg. This corn belonged to +Russia. Marshal Mortier, too, had seized some timber for building, which +also belonged to Russia; and which was estimated at 1,400,000 francs. + +Meanwhile our troops continued to advance with such rapidity that before +the end of November Murat arrived at Warsaw, at the head of the advanced +guard of the Grand Army, of which, he had the command. The Emperor's +headquarters, were then at Posen, and, he received deputations from all +parts soliciting the re-establishment and independence of the Kingdom of +Poland. + +Rapp informed me that after receiving the deputation from Warsaw the +Emperor said to him, "I love the Poles; their enthusiastic character +pleases me; I should like to make them independent, but that is a +difficult matter. Austria, Russia, and Prussia have all had a slice of +the cake; when the match is once kindled who knows where, the +conflagration may stop? My first duty, is towards France, which I must +not sacrifice to Poland; we must refer this matter to the sovereign of +all things--Time, he will presently show us what we must do." Had +Sulkowsky lived Napoleon might have recollected what he had said to him +in Egypt, and, in all probability he would have raised up a power, the +dismemberment of which; towards the close of the last century, began to +overturn the political equilibrium which had subsisted in Europe since +the peace of Westphalia in 1648. + +It was at the headquarters at Posen that Duroc rejoined the Emperor after +his mission to the King of Prussia. His carriage overturned on the way, +and he had the misfortune to break his collar-bone. All the letters I +received were nothing but a succession of complaints on the bad state of +the roads. Our troops were absolutely fighting in mud, and it was with +extreme difficulty that the artillery and caissons of the army could be +moved along. M. de Talleyrand had been summoned to headquarters by the +Emperor, in the expectation of treating for peace, and I was informed +that his carriage stuck in the mud and he was detained on his journey for +twelve hours. A soldier having asked one of the persons in M. de +Talleyrand's suite who the traveller was, was informed that he was the +Minister for Foreign Affairs. "Ah! bah!" said the soldier, "why does he +come with his diplomacy to such a devil of a country as this?" + +The Emperor entered Warsaw on the 1st of January 1807. Most of the +reports which he had received previous to his entrance had concurred in +describing the dissatisfaction of the troops, who for some time had had +to contend with bad roads, bad weather, and all aorta of privations.' +Bonaparte said to the generals who informed him that the enthusiasm of +his troops had been succeeded by dejection and discontent, "Does their +spirit fail them when they come in sight of the enemy?"--"No, Sire."-- +"I knew it; my troops are always the same." Then turning to Rapp he +said, "I must rouse them;" and he dictated the following proclamation: + + SOLDIERS--It is a year this very hour since you were on the field of + Austerlitz, where the Russian battalions fled in disorder, or + surrendered up their arms to their conquerors. Next day proposals, + of peace were talked of; but they were deceptive. No sooner had the + Russians escaped, by perhaps, blamable generosity from the disasters + of the third coalition than they contrived a fourth. But the ally + on whose tactics they founded their principal hope was no more. His + capital, his fortresses; his magazines; his arsenals, 280 flags, and + 700 field-pieces have fallen into our power. The Oder, the Wartha, + the deserts of Poland, and the inclemency of the season have not for + a moment retarded your progress. You have braved all; surmounted + all; every obstacle has fled at your approach. The Russians have in + vain endeavoured to defend the capital of ancient and illustrious + Poland. The French eagle hovers over the Vistula. The brave and + unfortunate Poles, on beholding you, fancied they saw the legions of + Sobieski, returning from their memorable expedition. + + Soldiers, we will not lay down our arms until a general peace has + secured the power of our allies and restored to us our colonies and + our freedom of trade. We have gained on the Elbe and the Oder, + Pondicherry, our Indian establishments, the Cape of Good Hope, and + the Spanish colonies. Why should the Russians have the right of + opposing destiny and thwarting our just designs? They and we are + still the soldiers who fought at Austerlitz. + + +Rapp thus describes the entrance of the French into Warsaw, and adds a +few anecdotes connected with that event: + + "At length we entered the Polish capital. The King of Naples had + preceded us, and had driven the Russians from the city. Napoleon + was received with enthusiasm. The Poles thought that the moment of + their regeneration had arrived, and that their wishes were + fulfilled. It would be difficult to describe the joy thus evinced, + and the respect with which they treated us. The French troops, + however, were not quite so well pleased; they manifested the + greatest repugnance to crossing the Vistula. The idea of want and + bad weather had inspired them with the greatest aversion to Poland, + and they were inexhaustible, in their jokes on the country." + +When Bonaparte dictated his proclamations--and how many have I not +written from his dictation!--he was for the moment inspired, and he +evinced all the excitement which distinguishes the Italian improvisatori. +To follow him it was necessary to write with inconceivable rapidity. When +I have read over to him what he has dictated I have often known him to +smile triumphantly at the effect which he expected any particular phrase +would produce. In general his proclamations turned on three distinct +points--(1) Praising his soldiers for what they had done; (2) pointing +out to them what they had yet to do; and (3) abusing his enemies. The +proclamation to which I have just now alluded was circulated profusely +through Germany, and it is impossible to conceive the effect it produced. +on the whole army. The corps stationed in the rear burned too pass, by +forced marches, the space which still separated them from headquarters; +and those who were nearer the Emperor forgot their fatigues and +privations and were only anxious to encounter the enemy. They frequently +could not understand what Napoleon said in these proclamations; but no +matter for that, they would have followed him cheerfully barefooted and +without provisions. Such was the enthusiasm, or rather the fanaticism, +which Napoleon could inspire among his troops when he thought proper to +rouse them, as he termed it. + +When, on a former occasion, I spoke of the Duke of, Mecklenburg-Schwerin +and his family, I forgot a circumstance respecting my intercourse with +him which now occurs to my memory. When, on his expulsion from his +States, after the battle of Jena, he took refuge in Altona, he requested, +through the medium of his Minister at Hamburg, Count von Plessen, that I +would give him permission occasionally to visit that city. This +permission I granted without hesitation; but the Duke observed no +precaution in his visits, and I made some friendly observations to him on +the subject. I knew the object of his visits. It was a secret +connection in Hamburg; but in consequence of my observations he removed +the lady to Altona, and assured me that he adopted that determination to +avoid committing me. He afterwards came very seldom to Hamburg; but as +we were on the best understanding with Denmark I frequently saw his +daughter, and son-in-law, who used to visit me at a house I had in +Holstein, near Altona. + +There I likewise saw, almost every day, the Duke of Weimar, an excellent +old man. I had the advantage of being on such terms of intimacy with him +that my house was in some measure his. He also had lost his States. I +was so happy as to contribute to their restitution, for my situation +enabled me to exercise some influence on the political indulgences or +severities of the Government. I entertained a sincere regard for the +Duke of Weimar, and I greatly regretted his departure. No sooner had he +arrived in Berlin than he wrote me a letter of, thanks, to which he added +the present of a diamond, in token of his grateful remembrance of me. +The Duke of Mecklenburg was not so fortunate as the Duke of Weimar, in +spite of his alliance with the reigning family of Denmark. He was +obliged to remain at Altona until the July following, for his States were +restored only by the Treaty of Tilsit. As soon as it was known that the +Emperor had returns to Paris the Duke's son, the Hereditary Prince, +visited me in Hamburg, and asked me whether I thought he could present +himself to the Emperor, for the purpose of expressing his own and his +father's gratitude. He was a very well-educated young man. He set out, +accompanied by M. Oertzen and Baron von Brandstaten. Some time +afterwards I saw his name in the Moniteur, in one of the lists of +presentations to Napoleon, the collection of which, during the Empire, +might be regarded as a general register of the nobility of Europe. + +It is commonly said that we may accustom ourselves to anything, but to me +this remark is subject to an exception; for, in spite of the necessity to +which I was reduced of employing spies, I never could surmount the +disgust I felt at them, especially when I saw men destined to fill a +respectable rank in society degrade themselves to that infamous +profession. It is impossible to conceive the artifices to which these +men resort to gain the confidence of those whom they wish to betray. Of +this the following example just now occurs to my mind. + +One of those wretches who are employed in certain circumstances, and by +all parties, came to offer his services to me. His name was Butler, and +he had been sent from England to the Continent as a spy upon the French +Government. He immediately came to me, complaining of pretended enemies +and unjust treatment. He told me he had the greatest wish to serve the +Emperor, and that he would make any sacrifice to prove his fidelity. +The real motive of his change of party was, as it is with all such men, +merely the hope of a higher reward. Most extraordinary were the schemes +he adopted to prevent his old employers from suspecting that he was +serving new ones. To me he continually repeated how happy he was to be +revenged on his enemies in London. He asked me to allow him to go to +Paris to be examined by the Minister of Police. The better to keep up +the deception he requested that on his arrival in Paris he might be +confined in the Temple, and that there might be inserted in the French +journals an announcement in the following terms: + + "John Butler, commonly called Count Butler, has just been arrested + and sent to Paris under a good escort by the French Minister at + Hamburg." + +At the expiration of a few weeks Butler, having received his +instruction's, set out for London, but by way of precaution he said it +would be well to publish in the journals another announcement; which was +as follows: + + "John Butler, who has been arrested in Hamburg as an English agent, + and conveyed to Paris, is ordered to quit France and the territories + occupied by the French armies and their allies, and not to appear + there again until the general peace." + +In England Butler enjoyed the honours of French prosecution. He was +regarded as a victim who deserved all the confidence of the enemies of +France. He furnished Fouche with a considerable amount of information, +and he was fortunate enough to escape being hanged. + +Notwithstanding the pretended necessity of employing secret agents, +Bonaparte was unwilling that, even under that pretext, too many +communications should be established between France and England: Fouche, +nevertheless, actively directed the evolutions of his secret army. Ever +ready to seize on anything that could give importance to the police and +encourage the suspicions of the Emperor, Fouche wrote to me that the +government had received certain--information that many Frenchmen +traveling for commercial houses in France were at Manchester purchasing +articles of English manufacture. This was true; but how was it to be +prevented? These traveling clerks passed through Holland, where they +easily procured a passage to England. + +Louis Bonaparte, conceiving that the King of Holland ought to sacrifice +the interests of his new subjects to the wishes of his brother, was at +first very lenient as to the disastrous Continental system. But at this +Napoleon soon manifested his displeasure, and about the end of the year +1806 Louis was reduced to the necessity of ordering the strict observance +of the blockade. The facility with which the travelers of French +commercial houses passed from Holland to England gave rise to other +alarms on the part of the French Government. It was said that since +Frenchmen could so easily pass from the Continent to Great Britain, the +agents of the English Cabinet might, by the same means, find their way to +the Continent. Accordingly the consuls were directed to keep a watchful +eye, not only upon individuals who evidently came from England, but upon +those who might by any possibility come from that country. This plan was +all very well, but how was it to be put into execution ? . . . The +Continent was, nevertheless, inundated with articles of English +manufacture, for this simple reason, that, however powerful may be the +will of a sovereign, it is still less powerful and less lasting than the +wants of a people. The Continental system reminded me of the law created +by an ancient legislator, who, for a crime which he conceived could not +possibly be committed, condemned the person who should be guilty of it to +throw a bull over Mount Taurus. + +It is not my present design to trace a picture of the state of Europe at +the close of 1806. I will merely throw together a few facts which came to +my knowledge at the time, and which I find in my correspondence. I have +already mentioned that the Emperor arrived at Warsaw on the 1st of +January. During his stay at Posen he had, by virtue of a treaty +concluded with the Elector of Saxony, founded a new kingdom, and +consequently extended his power in Germany, by the annexation of the new +Kingdom of Saxony to the Confederation of the Rhine. By the terms of +this treaty Saxony, so justly famed for her cavalry, was to furnish the +Emperor with a contingent of 20,000 men and horses. + +It was quite a new spectacle to the Princes of Germany, all accustomed to +old habits of etiquette, to see an upstart sovereign treat them as +subjects, and even oblige them to consider themselves as such. Those +famous Saxons, who had made Charlemagne tremble, threw themselves on the +protection of the Emperor; and the alliance of the head of the House of +Saxony was not a matter of indifference to Napoleon, for the new King +was, on account of his age, his tastes, and his character, more revered +than any other German Prince. + +From the moment of Napoleon's arrival at Warsaw until the commencement of +hostilities against the Russians he was continually solicited to +reestablish the throne of Poland, and to restore its chivalrous +independence to the ancient empire of the Jagellons. A person who was at +that time in Warsaw told me that the Emperor was in the greatest +uncertainty as to what he should do respecting Poland. He was entreated +to reestablish that ancient and heroic kingdom; but he came to no +decision, preferring, according to custom, to submit to events, that he +might appear to command them. At Warsaw, indeed, the Emperor passed a +great part of his time in fetes and reviews, which, however, did not +prevent him from watching, with his eagle eye, every department of the +public service, both interior and exterior. He himself was in the capital +of Poland, but his vast influence was present everywhere. I heard Duroc +say, when we were conversing together about the campaign of Tilsit, that +Napoleon's activity and intelligence were never more conspicuously +developed. + +One very remarkable feature of the imperial wars was, that, with the +exception of the interior police, of which Fouche was the soul, the whole +government of France was at the headquarters of the Emperor. At Warsaw +Napoleon's attention was not only occupied with the affairs of his army, +but he directed the whole machinery of the French Government just the +same as if he had been in Paris. Daily estafettes, and frequently the +useless auditors of the Council of State, brought him reports more or +less correct, and curious disclosures which were frequently the invention +of the police. The portfolios of the Ministers arrived every week, with +the exception of those of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the +Minister of the War Department; the former had first stopped at Mayence +with the Empress, but had been called on to Warsaw; and the latter, +Clarke, was, for the misfortune of Berlin, governor of that city. This +state of things lasted during the ten months of the Emperor's absence +from Paris. Louis XIV. said, "I am myself the State." Napoleon did not +say this; but, in fact, under his reign the Government of France was +always at his headquarters. This circumstance had well-nigh proved fatal +to him, on the occasion of the extraordinary conspiracy of Malet, with +some points of which I alone, perhaps, am thoroughly acquainted. The +Emperor employed the month of January in military preparations for the +approaching attack of the Russians, but at the same time he did not +neglect the business of the cabinet: with him nothing was suffered to +linger in arrear. + +While Napoleon was at Warsaw a battle was not the only thing to be +thought about; affairs were much more complicated than during the +campaign of Vienna. It was necessary, on the one hand, to observe +Prussia, which was occupied; and on the other to anticipate the Russians, +whose movements indicated that they were inclined to strike the first +blow. In the preceding campaign Austria, before the taking of Vienna, +was engaged alone. The case was different now: Austria had had only +soldiers; and Prussia, as Blucher declared to me, was beginning to have +citizens. There was no difficulty in returning from Vienna, but a great +deal in returning from Warsaw, in case of failure, notwithstanding the +creation of the Kingdom of Saxony, and the provisional government given +to Prussia, and to the other States of Germany which we had conquered. +None of these considerations escaped the penetration of Napoleon: nothing +was omitted in the notes, letters, and official correspondence which came +to me from all quarters. Receiving, as I did, accurate information from +my own correspondents of all that was passing in Germany, it often +happened that I transmitted to the Government the same news which it +transmitted to me, not supposing that I previously knew it. Thus, for +example, I thought I was apprising the Government of the arming of +Austria, of which I received information from headquarters a few days +after. + +During the Prussian campaign Austria played precisely the same waiting +game which Prussia had played clueing the campaign of Austria. As +Prussia had, before the battle of Austerlitz, awaited the success or +defeat of the French to decide whether she should remain neutral or +declare herself against France, so Austria, doubtless supposing that +Russia would be more fortunate as the ally of Prussia than she had been +as her ally, assembled a corps of 40,000 men in Bohemia. That corps was +called an army of observation; but the nature of these armies of +observation is well known; they belong to the class of armed +neutralities, like the ingenious invention of sanitary cordons. The fact +is, that the 40,000 men assembled in Bohemia were destined to aid and +assist the Russians in case they should be successful (and who can blame +the Austrian Government for wishing to wash away the shame of the Treaty +of Presburg?). Napoleon had not a moment to lose, but this activity +required no spur; he had hastened the battle of Austerlitz to anticipate +Prussia, and he now found it necessary to anticipate Russia in order to +keep Austria in a state of indecision. + +The Emperor, therefore, left Warsaw about the end of January, and +immediately gave orders for engaging the Russian army in the beginning of +February; but, in spite of his desire of commencing the attack, he was +anticipated. On the 8th of February, at seven in the morning, he was +attacked by the Russians, who advanced during a terrible storm of snow, +which fell in large flakes. They approached Preussich-Eylau, where the +Emperor was, and the Imperial Guard stopped the Russian column. Nearly +the whole French army was engaged in that battle-one of the most +sanguinary ever fought in Europe. The corps commanded by Bernadotte was +not engaged, in the contest; it had been stationed on the left at +Mohrungen, whence it menaced Dantzic. The issue of the battle would have +been very different had the four, divisions of infantry and the two of +cavalry composing Bernadotte's corps arrived in time; but unfortunately +the officer instructed to convey orders to Bernadotte to march without +delay on Preussich-Eylau was taken by a body of Cossacks; Bernadotte, +therefore, did not arrive. Bonaparte, who always liked to throw blame on +some one if things did not turn out exactly as he wished, attributed the +doubtful success of the day to the absence of Bernadotte; in this he was +right; but to make his absence a reproach to that Marshal was a gross +injustice. Bernadotte was accused of not having been willing to march on +Preussich-Eylau, though, as it was alleged, General d'Hautpoult had +informed him of the necessity of his presence. But how can that fact be +ascertained, since General d'Hautpoult was killed on that same day? Who +can assure us that that General had been able to communicate with the +Marshal? + +Those who knew Bonaparte, his cunning, and the artful advantage he would +sometimes take of words which he attributed to the dead, will easily +solve the enigma. The battle of Eylau was terrible. Night came on- +Bernadotte's corps was instantly, but in vain, expected; and after a +great loss the French army had the melancholy honour of passing the night +on the field of battle. Bernadotte at length arrived, but too late. He +met the enemy, who were retreating without the fear of being molested +towards Konigsberg, the only capital remaining to Prussia. The King of +Prussia was then at Memel, a small port on the Baltic, thirty leagues +from Konigsberg. + +After the battle of Eylau both sides remained stationary, and several +days elapsed without anything remarkable taking place. The offers of +peace made by the Emperor, with very little earnestness it is true, were +disdainfully rejected, as if a victory disputed with Napoleon was to be +regarded as a triumph. The battle of Eylau seemed to turn the heads of +the Russians, who chanted Te Deum on the occasion. But while the Emperor +was making preparations to advance, his diplomacy was taking effect in a +distant quarter, and raising up against Russia an old and formidable +enemy. Turkey declared war against her. This was a powerful diversion, +and obliged Russia to strip her western frontiers to secure a line of +defence on the south. + +Some time after General Gardanne set out on the famous embassy to Persia; +for which the way had been paved by the success of the mission of my +friend, Amedee Jaubert. This embassy was not merely one of those pompous +legations such as Charlemagne, Louis XIV., and Louis XVI. received from +the Empress Irene, the King of Siam, and Tippoo Saib. It was connected +with ideas which Bonaparte had conceived at the very dawn of his power. +It was, indeed, the light from the East which fast enabled him to see his +greatness in perspective; and that light never ceased to fix his +attention and dazzle his imagination. I know well that Gardanne's +embassy was at first conceived on a much grander scale than that on which +it was executed. Napoleon had resolved to send to the Shah of Persia +4000 infantry, commanded by chosen and experienced officers, 10,000 +muskets, and 50 pieces, of cannon; and I also know that orders were given +for the execution of this design. The avowed object of the Emperor was +to enable the Shah of Persia to make an important diversion, with 80,000 +men, in, the eastern provinces of Russia. But there was likewise +another, an old and constant object, which was always, uppermost in +Napoleon's mind, namely the wish to strike at England in the very heart +of her Asiatic possessions. Such vas the principal motive of Gardanne's +mission, but circumstances did not permit the Emperor, to, give, it, all +the importance he desired. He contented himself with sending a few +officers of engineers and artillery, to Persia, who, on their arrival, +were astonished at the number of English they found there. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Always proposing what he knew could not be honourably acceded to +Cause of war between the United States and England +Conquest can only be regarded as the genius of destruction +Demand everything, that you may obtain nothing +Submit to events, that he might appear to command them +Tendency to sell the skin of the bear before killing him +When a man has so much money he cannot have got it honestly + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1807, v9 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 10. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER XI. to CHAPTER XVIII. 1807-1809 + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +1807 + + Abuse of military power--Defence of diplomatic rights--Marshal Brune + --Army supplies--English cloth and leather--Arrest on a charge of + libel--Dispatch from M. Talleyrand--A page of Napoleon's glory-- + Interview between the two Emperors at Tilsit,--Silesia restored to + the Queen of Prussia--Unfortunate situation in Prussia-- + Impossibility of reestablishing Poland in 1807--Foundation of the + Kingdom of Westphalia--The Duchy of Warsaw and the King of Saxony. + +Meanwhile the internal affairs of the towns over which my diplomatic +jurisdiction extended soon gave me more employment than ever. The +greatest misfortune of the Empire was, perhaps, the abuse of the right +arrogated by the wearers of epaulettes. My situation gave me an +opportunity of observing all the odious character of a military +government. Another in my place could not have done all that I did. I +say this confidently, for my, situation was a distinct and independent +one, as Bonaparte had told me: Being authorised to correspond directly +with the Emperor; the military chiefs feared, if they did not yield to my +just representations, that I would made private reports; this +apprehension was wonderfully useful in enabling me to maintain the rights +of the towns, which had adopted me as their first citizen. + +A circumstance occurred in which I had to defend the rights of the +diplomatic and commercial agents against the pretensions of military +power. Marshal Brune during his government at Hamburg, went to Bremman. +to watch the strict execution of the illusive blockade against England. +The Marshal acting no doubt, in conformity with the instructions of +Clarke, then Minister of War and Governor of Berlin, wished to arrogate +the right of deciding on the captures made by our cruisers. + +He attempted to prevent the Consul Lagau from selling the confiscated +ships in order to sell them himself. Of this M. Lagau complained to me. +The more I observed a disposition to encroach on the part of the military +authorities, the more I conceived it necessary to maintain the rights of +the consuls, and to favour their influence, without which they would have +lost their consideration. To the complaints of M. Lagau I replied, +"That to him alone belonged the right of deciding, in the first instance, +on the fate of the ships; that he could not be deprived of that right +without changing the law; that he was free to sell the confiscated +Prussian ships; that Marshall Brune was at Bremen only for the execution +of the decree respecting the blockade of England, and that he ought not +to interfere in business unconnected with that decree." Lagau showed +this letter to Brune, who then allowed him to do as he wished; but it was +an affair of profit, and the Marshal for a long time owed me a grudge. + +Bernadotte was exceedingly disinterested, but he loved to be talked +about. The more the Emperor endeavoured to throw accusations upon him, +the more he was anxious to give publicity to all his actions. He sent to +me an account of the brilliant affair of Braunsburg, in which a division +of the first corps had been particularly distinguished. Along with this +narrative he sent me a note in the following terms:--"I send you, my +dear. Minister, an account of the affair of Braunsburg. You will, +perhaps, think proper to publish it. In that case I shall be obliged by +your getting it inserted in the Hamburg journals," I did so. The +injustice of the Emperor, and the bad way in which he spoke of +Bernadotte, obliged the latter,--for the sake of his own credit, to make +the truth known to the world. + +I have already mentioned that I received an order from the Emperor to +supply 50,000 cloaks for the army. With this order, which was not the +only one I received of the same kind, some circumstances were connected +which I may take the present opportunity of explaining. + +The Emperor gave me so many orders for army clothing that all that could +be supplied by the cities of Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck would have been +insufficient for executing the commissions. I entered into a treaty with +a house in Hamburg, which I authorised, in spite of the Berlin decree, +to bring cloth and leather from England. Thus I procured these articles +in a sure and cheap way. Our troops might have perished of cold had the +Continental system and the absurd mass of inexecutable decrees relative +to English merchandise been observed. + +The Director of the Customs at Hamburg got angry, but I held firm: my +cloths and my leather arrived; cloaks, coats; boots, all were promptly +made, and our soldiers thus were sheltered from the severity of the +season. To preserve peace with the Imperial Custom-house I wrote to M. +Collie, then Director-General, that M. Eudel having wished to put in +execution the law of the 10th Brumaire and complaints had been made on +every side. Marshal Brune asked for my opinion on this matter, and I +gave it to him. I declared to M. Collie that the full execution of the +decree of 31st October 1796 was impracticable, injurious to France, and +to the Hanseatic Towns, without doing harm to England. Indeed, what said +article 5 of this law? "All goods imported from foreign countries, +whatever may be their origin, are to be considered as coming from English +manufacturers." According to this article France was a foreign country +for the Hanseatic Towns, and none of the objects enumerated in this +article ought to enter Hamburg! But the town received from England a +large quantity of fine cloths, buttons; ironmongery, toys, china; and +from France only clocks, bronzes, jewellery, ribbons, bonnets, gauzes and +gloves. "Let," said I to M. Eudel, "the Paris Duane be asked what that +town alone exports in matters of this sort and it will be seen how +important it is not to stop a trade all the more profitable to France, +as the workmanship forms the greatest part of the price of the goods +which make up this trade. What would happen if the importation of these +goods were absolutely prohibited in Hamburg? The consignments would +cease, and one of the most productive sources of trade for France, and +especially for Paris would be cut off." + +At this time neither Hamburg nor its territory had any manufacture of +cloth. All woollen stuffs were prohibited, according to M. Eudel, and +still my duty was to furnish, and I had furnished, 50,000 cloaks for the +Grand Army. In compliance with a recent Imperial decree I had to have +made without delay 16,000 coats, 37,000 waistcoats, and the Emperor +required of me 200,000 pairs of boots, besides the 40,000 pairs I had +sent in. Yet M. Eudel said that tanned and worked leather ought not to +enter Hamburg! If such a ridiculous application of the law of 1796 had +been made it would have turned the decree of 21st November 1796 against +France, without fulfilling its object. + +These reflections, to which I added other details, made the Government +conclude that I was right, and I traded with England to the great +advantage of the armies, which were well clothed and shod. What in the +world can be more ridiculous than commercial laws carried out to one's +own detriment? + +At the beginning of 1807 my occupations at Hamburg were divided between +the furnishing of supplies for the army and the inspection of the +emigrants, whom Fouche pretended to dread in order to give greater +importance to his office. + +I never let slip an opportunity of mitigating the rigour of Fouche's +orders, which, indeed, were sometimes so absurd that I did not attempt to +execute them. Of this an instance occurs to my recollection. A printer +at Hamburg had been arrested on the charge of having printed a libel in +the German language. The man was detained in prison because, very much +to his honour, he would not disclose the name of the writer of the +pamphlet. I sent for him and questioned him. He told me, with every +appearance of sincerity, that he had never but once seen the man who had +brought him the manuscript. I was convinced of the truth of what he +said, and I gave an order for his liberation. To avoid irritating the +susceptibility of the Minister of Police I wrote to him the following few +lines:--"The libel is the most miserable rhapsody imaginable. The author, +probably with the view of selling his pamphlet in Holstein, predicts that +Denmark will conquer every other nation and become the greatest kingdom +in the world. This alone will suffice to prove to you how little clanger +there is in rubbish written in the style of the Apocalypse." + +After the battle of Eylau I received a despatch from M. de Talleyrand, to +which was added an account in French of that memorable battle, which was +more fatal to the conqueror than to the other party,--I cannot say the +conquered in speaking of the Russians, the more especially when I +recollect the precautions which were then taken throughout Germany to +make known the French before the Russian version. The Emperor was +exceedingly anxious that every one should view that event as he himself +viewed it. Other accounts than his might have produced an unfavourable +impression in the north. I therefore had orders to publish that account. +I caused 2000 copies of it to be issued, which were more than sufficient +for circulation in the Hanse Towns and their territories. + +The reader will perhaps complain that I have been almost silent with +respect to the grand manoeuvres of the French army from the battle of +Eylau to that of Friedland, where, at all events, our success was +indisputable. There was no necessity for printing favourable versions of +that event, and, besides, its immense results were soon felt throughout +Europe. The interview at Tilsit is one of the culminating points of +modern history, and the waters of the Niemen reflected the image of +Napoleon at the height of his glory. The interview between the two +Emperors at Tilsit, and the melancholy situation of the King of Prussia, +are generally known. I was made acquainted with but few secret details +relative to those events, for Rapp had gone to Dantzic, and it was he who +most readily communicated to me all that the Emperor said and did, and +all that was passing around him.-- + + --[Savory gives the following account of the interview between + Napoleon and Alexander at Tilsit. + + "The Emperor Napoleon, whose courtesy was manifest in all his + actions, ordered a large raft to be floated in the middle of the + river, upon which was constructed a room well covered in and + elegantly decorated having two doors on opposite aides, each of + which opened into an antechamber. The work could not have been + better executed in Paris. The roof was surmounted by two + weathercocks: one displaying the eagle of Russia, and the other the + eagle of France. The two outer doors were also surmounted by the + eagles of the two countries. + + "The raft was precisely in the middle of the river, with the two + doors of the salon facing the two opposite banks. + + "The two sovereigns appeared on the banks of the river, and embarked + at the same moment But the Emperor Napoleon having a good boat, + manned by marines of the Guard, arrived first on the raft, entered + the room, and went to the opposite door, which he opened, and then + stationed himself on the edge of the raft to receive the Emperor + Alexander, who had not yet arrived, not having each good rowers as + the Emperor Napoleon. + + "The two Emperors met in the most amicable way, et least to all + appearance. They remained together for a considerable time, and + then took leave of each other with as friendly an air as that with + which they had met. + + "Next day the Emperor of Russia established himself at Tilsit with a + battalion of his Guard. Orders were given for evacuating that part + of the town where he and his battalion were to be quartered; and, + though we were very much pressed for room, no encroachment on the + space allotted to the Russians was thought of. + + "On the day the Emperor Alexander, entered Tilsit the whole army was + under arms. The Imperial Guard was drawn out in two lines of three + deep from the landing-place to the Emperor Napoleon's quarters, and + from thence to the quarters of the Emperor of Russia. A salute of + 100 guns was fired the moment Alexander stepped ashore on the spot + where the Emperor Napoleon was waiting to receive him. The latter + carried his attention to his visitor so far as to send from his + quarters the furniture for Alexander's bedchamber. Among the + articles sent was a camp-bed belonging to the Emperor, which he + presented to Alexander, who appeared much pleased with the gift. + + "This meeting; the first which history records of the same kind and + of equal importance, attracted visitors to Tilsit from 100 leagues + round. M. de Talleyrand arrived, and after the observance of the + usual ceremonies business began to be discussed." (Memoirs of the + Due de Rovigo, tome iii. p. 117). + + "When," said Napoleon, "I was at Tilsit with the Emperor Alexander + and the King of Prussia, I was the most ignorant of the three in + military affairs. These two sovereigns, especially the King of + Prussia, were completely 'au fait' as to the number of buttons there + ought to be in front of a jacket, how many behind, and the manner in + which the skirts ought to be cut. Not a tailor in the army knew + better than King Frederick how many measures of cloth it took to + make a jacket. In fact," continued he laughing, "I was nobody in + comparison with them. They continually tormented me about matters + belonging to tailors, of which I was entirely ignorant, although, in + order not to affront them, I answered just as gravely as if the fate + of an army depended upon the cut of a jacket. When I went to see + the King of Prussia, instead of a library, I found that he had a + large room, like an arsenal, furnished with shelves and pegs; on + which were hung fifty or sixty jackets of different patterns. Every + day he changed his fashion and put on a different one. He attached + more importance to this than was necessary for the salvation of a + kingdom." (O'Meara's Napoleon in Exile.)]-- + +I, however, learned one circumstance peculiarly worthy of remark which +occurred in the Emperor's apartments at Tilsit the first time he received +a visit from the King of Prussia. That unfortunate monarch, who was +accompanied by Queen Louisa, had taken refuge in a mill beyond the town. +This was his sole habitation, whilst the Emperors occupied the two +portions of the town, which is divided by the Niemen. The fact I am +about to relate reached me indirectly through the medium of an offices of +the Imperial Guard, who was on duty in Napoleon's apartments and was an +eye-witness of it. When the Emperor Alexander visited Napoleon they +continued for a long time in conversation on a balcony below, where as +immense crowd hailed their meeting with enthusiastic shouts. Napoleon +commenced the conversation, as he did the year preceding with the Emperor +of Austria, by speaking of the uncertain fate of war. Whilst they were +conversing the King of Prussia was announced. The King's emotion was +visible, and may easily be imagined; for as hostilities were suspended, +and his territory in possession of the French, his only hope was in the +generosity of the conqueror. Napoleon himself, it is said, appeared +moved by his situation, and invited him, together with the Queen, to +dinner. On sitting down to table Napoleon with great gallantry told the +beautiful Queen that he would restore to her Silesia, a province which +she earnestly wished should be retained in the new arrangements which +were necessarily about to take place. + + --[Las Cases mentions that at the time of the treaty of Tilsit + Napoleon wrote to the Empress Josephine as follows: + + "'The Queen of Prussia is really a charming woman. She is fond of + coquetting with me; but do not be jealous: I am like oilcloth, along + which everything of this sort elides without penetrating. It would + cost me too dear to play the gallant' + + "On this subject an anecdote was related in the salon of Josephine. + It was said that the Queen of Prussia one day had a beautiful rose + in her hand, which the Emperor asked her to give him. The Queen + hesitated for a few moments, and then presented it to him, saying, + 'Why should I so readily grant what you request, while you remain + deaf to all my entreaties?' (She alluded to the fortress of + Magdeburg, which she had earnestly solicited)." (Memorial de St. + Helene).]-- + +The treaty of peace concluded at Tilsit between France and Russia, on the +7th of July, and ratified two days after, produced no less striking a +change in the geographical division of Europe than had been effected the +year preceding by the Treaty of Presburg. The treaty contained no +stipulation dishonourable to Russia, whose territory was preserved +inviolate; but how was Prussia treated? Some historians, for the vain +pleasure of flattering by posthumous praises the pretended moderation of +Napoleon, have almost reproached him for having suffered some remnants of +the monarchy of the great Frederick to survive. There is, nevertheless, +a point on which Napoleon has been wrongfully condemned, at least with +reference to the campaign of 1807. It has been said that he should at +that period have re-established the kingdom of Poland; and certainly +there is every reason to regret, for the interests of France and Europe, +that it was not re-established. But when a desire, even founded on +reason, is not carried into effect, should we conclude that the wished- +for object ought to be achieved in defiance of all obstacles? At that +time, that is to say, during the campaign of Tilsit, insurmountable +obstacles existed. + +If, however, by the Treaty of Tilsit, the throne of Poland was not +restored to serve as a barrier between old Europe and the Empire of the +Czars, Napoleon founded a Kingdom of Westphalia, which he gave to the +young 'ensigne de vaisseau' whom he had scolded as a schoolboy, and whom +he now made a King, that he might have another crowned prefect under his +control. The Kingdom of Westphalia was composed of the States of Hesse- +Cassel, of a part of the provinces taken from Prussia by the moderation +of the Emperor, and of the States of Paderborn, Fulda, Brunswick, and a +part of the Electorate of Hanover. Napoleon, at the same time, though he +did not like to do things by halves, to avoid touching the Russian and +Austrian provinces of old Poland, planted on the banks of the Vistula the +Grand Duchy of Warsaw, which he gave to the King of Saxony, with the +intention of increasing or destroying it afterwards as he might find +convenient. Thus he allowed the Poles to hope better things for the +future, and ensured to himself partisans in the north should the chances +of fortune call him thither. Alexander, who was cajoled even more than +his father had been by what I may call the political coquetry of +Napoleon, consented to all these arrangements, acknowledged 'in globo' +all the kings crowned by the Emperor, and accepted some provinces which +had belonged to his despoiled ally, the King of Prussia, doubtless by way +of consolation for not having been able to get more restored to Prussia. +The two Emperors parted the best friends in the world; but the +Continental system was still in existence. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +1807. + + Effect produced at Altona by the Treaty of Tilsit--The Duke of + Mecklenburg-Schwerin's departure from Hamburg--English squadron in + the Sound--Bombardment of Copenhagen--Perfidy of England--Remark of + Bonaparte to M. Lemercier--Prussia erased from the map--Napoleon's + return to Paris--Suppression of the Tribunate--Confiscation of + English merchandise--Nine millions gained to France--M. Caulaincourt + Ambassador to Russia--Repugnance of England to the intervention of + Russia--Affairs of Portugal--Junot appointed to command the army-- + The Prince Regent's departure for the Brazils--The Code Napoleon-- + Introduction of the French laws into Germany--Leniency of Hamburg + Juries--The stolen cloak and the Syndic Doormann. + +The Treaty of Tilsit, as soon as it was known at Altona, spread +consternation amongst the emigrants. As to the German Princes, who were +awaiting the issue of events either at Altolna or Hamburg, when they +learned that a definitive treaty of peace had been signed between France +and Russia, and that two days after the Treaty of Tilsit the Prussian +monarchy was placed at the mercy of Napoleon, every courier that arrived +threw them into indescribable agitation. It depended on the Emperor's +will whether they were to be or not to be. The Duke of Mecklenburg- +Schwerin had not succeeded in getting himself re-established in his +states, by an exceptional decision, like the Duke of Weimar; but at +length he obtained the restitution of his territory at the request of the +Emperor Alexander, and on the 28th of July he quitted Hamburg to return +to his Duchy. + +The Danish charge d'affaires communicated to me about the same time an +official report from his Government. This report announced that on +Monday, the 3d of August, a squadron consisting of twelve ships of the +line and twelve frigates, commanded by Admiral Gambier, had passed the +Sound. The rest of the squadron was seen in the Categat. At the same +time the English troops which were in the island of Rugen had reembarked. +We could not then conceive what enterprise this considerable force had +been sent upon. But our uncertainty was soon at an end. M. Didelot, the +French Ambassador at Copenhagen, arrived at Hamburg, at nine o'clock in +the evening of the 12th of August. He had been fortunate enough to pass +through the Great Belt, though in sight of the English, without being +stopped. I forwarded his report to Paris by an extraordinary courier. + +The English had sent 20,000 men and twenty-seven vessels into the Baltic; +Lord Cathcart commanded the troops. The coast of Zealand was blockaded +by ninety vessels. Mr. Jackson, who had been sent by England to +negotiate with Denmark, which she feared would be invaded by the French +troops, supported the propositions he was charged to offer to Denmark by +a reference to this powerful British force. Mr. Jackson's proposals had +for their object nothing less than to induce the King of Denmark to place +in the custody of England the whole of his ships and naval stores. They +were, it is true, to be kept in deposit, but the condition contained the +words, "until the conclusion of a general peace," which rendered the +period of their restoration uncertain. They were to be detained until +such precautions should be no longer necessary. A menace and its +execution followed close upon this demand. After a noble but useless +resistance, and a terrific bombardment, Copenhagen surrendered, and the +Danish fleet was destroyed. It would be difficult to find in history a +more infamous and revolting instance of the abuse of power against +weakness. + +Sometime after this event a pamphlet entitled "Germania" appeared, which +I translated and sent to the Emperor. It was eloquently written, and +expressed the indignation which the conduct of England had excited in the +author as in every one else. + + --["That expedition," said Napoleon at St. Helena, "showed great + energy on the part of your Ministers: but setting aside the + violation of the laws of, nations which you committed--for in fact + it was nothing but a robbery--I think that it was; injurious to your + interests, as it made the Danish nation irreconcilable enemies to + you, and in fact shut you out of the north for three years. When I + heard of it I said, I am glad of it, as it will embroil England + irrecoverably with the Northern Powers. The Danes being able to + join me with sixteen sail of the line was of but little consequence. + I had plenty of ships, and only wanted seamen, whom you did not + take, and whom I obtained afterwards, while by the expedition your + Ministers established their characters as faithless, and as persons + with whom no engagements, no laws were binding." (Voice from St. + Helena.)]-- + +I have stated what were the principal consequences of the Treaty of +Tilsit; it is more than probable that if the bombardment of Copenhagen +had preceded the treaty the Emperor would have used Prussia even worse +than he did. He might have erased her from the list of nations; but he +did not do so, out of regard to the Emperor Alexander. The destruction +of Prussia was no new project with Bonaparte. I remember an observation +of his to M. Lemercier upon that subject when we first went to reside at +Malmaison. M. Lemercier had been reading to the First Consul some poem +in which Frederick the Great was spoken of. "You seem to admire him +greatly," said Bonaparte to M. Lemercier; "what do you find in him so +astonishing? He is not equal to Turenne."--"General," replied M. +Lemercier, "it is not merely the warrior that I esteem in Frederick; it +is impossible to refrain from admiring a man who was a philosopher even +on the throne." To this the First Consul replied, in a half ill-humoured +tone, "Certainly, Lemercier; but Frederick's philosophy shall not prevent +me from erasing his kingdom from the map of Europe." The kingdom of +Frederick the Great was not, however, obliterated from the map, because +the Emperor of Russia would not basely abandon a faithful ally who had +incurred with him the chances of fortune. Prussia then bitterly had to +lament the tergiversations which had prevented her from declaring herself +against France during the campaign of Austerlitz. + +Napoleon returned to Paris about the end of July after an absence of ten +months, the longest he had yet made since he had been at the head of the +French Government, whether as Consul or Emperor. The interview at +Tilsit, the Emperor Alexander's friendship, which was spoken of +everywhere in terms of exaggeration, and the peace established on the +Continent, conferred on Napoleon a moral influence in public opinion +which he had not possessed since his coronation. Constant in his hatred +of deliberative assemblies, which he had often termed collections of +babblers, ideologists, and phrasemongers, Napoleon, on his return to +Paris, suppressed the Tribunate, which had been an annoyance to him ever +since the first day of his elevation. The Emperor, who was 'skillful +above all men in speculating on the favourable disposition of opinion, +availed himself at this conjuncture of the enthusiasm produced by his +interview on the Niemen. He therefore discarded from the fundamental +institutions of the government that which still retained the shadow of a +popular character. But it was necessary that he should possess a Senate +merely to vote men; a mute Legislative Body to vote money; that there +should be no opposition in the one and no criticism in the other; no +control over him of any description; the power of arbitrarily doing +whatever he pleased; an enslaved press;--this was what Napoleon wished, +and this be obtained. But the month of March 1814 resolved the question +of absolute power! + +In the midst of these great affairs, and while Napoleon was dreaming of +universal monarchy, I beheld in a less extensive sphere the inevitable +consequences of the ambition of a single man. Pillage and robbery were +carried on in all parts over which my diplomatic jurisdiction extended. +Rapine seemed to be legally authorised, and was perpetrated with such +fury, and at the same time with such ignorance, that the agents were +frequently unacquainted with the value of the articles which they seized. +Thus, for example, the Emperor ordered the seizure at Hamburg, Bremen, +and Lubeck of all English merchandise, whatever might be its nature or +origin. The Prince of Neufchatel (Berthier) wrote to me from the Emperor +that I must procure 10,000,000 francs from the Hanse Towns. M. Daru, the +Intendant-General, whose business it was to collect this sort of levy, +which Napoleon had learned to make in Egypt, wrote to urge me to obtain a +prompt and favourable decision. The unfortunate towns which I was thus +enjoined to oppress had already suffered sufficiently. I had obtained, +by means of negotiation, more than was demanded for the ransom of the +English merchandise, which had been seized according to order. Before I +received the letters of M. Darn and the Prince of Neufchatel I had +obtained from Hamburg 16,000,000 instead of 10,000,000, besides nearly +3,000,000 from Bremen and Lubeck. Thus I furnished the Government with +9,000,000 more than had been required, and yet I had so managed that +those enormous sacrifices were not overoppressive to those who made them. +I fixed the value of the English merchandise because I knew that the high +price at which it sold on the Continent would not only cover the proposed +ransom but also leave a considerable profit. Such was the singular +effect of the Continental system that when merchandise was confiscated, +and when afterwards the permission to sell it freely was given, the price +fetched at the sale was so large that the loss was covered, and even +great advantage gained. + +Peace being concluded with Russia it was necessary to make choice of an +Ambassador, not only to maintain the new relations of amity between +Napoleon and Alexander, but likewise to urge on the promised intervention +of Russia with England,--to bring about reconciliation and peace between +the Cabinets of Paris and London. The Emperor confided this mission to +Caulaincourt, with respect to whom there existed an unfounded prejudice +relating to some circumstances which preceded the death of the Duc +d'Enghien. This unfortunate and unjust impression had preceded +Caulaincourt to St. Petersburg, and it was feared that he would not +experience the reception due to the French Ambassador and to his own +personal qualities. I knew at the time, from positive information, that +after a short explanation with Alexander that monarch retained no +suspicion unfavourable to our Ambassador, for whom he conceived and +maintained great esteem and friendship. + +Caulaincourt's mission was not, in all respects, easy of fulfilment, for +the invincible repugnance and reiterated refusal of England to enter into +negotiations with France through the medium of Russia was one of the +remarkable circumstances of the period of which I am speaking. I knew +positively that England was determined never to allow Napoleon to possess +himself of the whole of the Continent,--a project which he indicated too +undisguisedly to admit of any doubt respecting it. For two years he had +indeed advanced with rapid strides; but England was not discouraged. She +was too well aware of the irritation of the sovereigns and the discontent +of the people not be certain that when she desired it, her lever of gold +would again raise up and arm the Continent against the encroaching power +of Napoleon. He, on his part, perceiving that all his attempts were +fruitless, and that England would listen to no proposals, devised fresh +plans for raising up new enemies against England. + +It probably is not forgotten that in 1801 France compelled Portugal to +make common cause with her against England. In 1807 the Emperor did +again what the First Consul had done. By an inexplicable fatality Junot +obtained the command of the troops which were marching against Portugal. +I say against Portugal, for that was the fact, though France represented +herself as a protector to deliver Portugal from the influence of England. +Be that as it may, the choice which the Emperor made of a commander +astonished everybody. Was Junot, a compound of vanity and mediocrity, +the fit man to be entrusted with the command of an army in a distant +country, and under circumstances in which great political and military +talents were requisite? For my own part, knowing Junot's incapacity, I +must acknowledge that his appointment astonished me. I remember one day, +when I was speaking on the subject to Bernadotte, he showed me a letter +he had received from Paris, in which it was said that the Emperor had +sent Junot to Portugal only for the sake of depriving him of the +government of Paris. Junot annoyed Napoleon by his bad conduct, his +folly, and his incredible extravagance. He was alike devoid of dignity- +either in feeling or conduct. Thus Portugal was twice the place of exile +selected by Consular and Imperial caprice: first, when the First Consul +wished to get rid of the familiarity of Lannes; and next, when the +Emperor grew weary of the misconduct of a favourite. + +The invasion of Portugal presented no difficulty. It was an armed +promenade and not a war; but how many events were connected with the +occupation of that country! The Prince Regent of Portugal, unwilling to +act dishonourably to England, to which he was allied by treaties; and +unable to oppose the whole power of Napoleon, embarked for Brazil, +declaring that all defence was useless. At the same time he recommended +his subjects to receive the French troops in a friendly manner, and said +that he consigned to Providence the consequences of an invasion which was +without a motive. He was answered in the Emperor's name that, Portugal +being the ally of England, we were only carrying on hostilities against, +the latter country by invading his dominions. + +It was in the month of November that the code of French jurisprudence, +upon which the most learned legislators had indefatigably laboured, was +established as the law of the State, under the title of the Code +Napoleon. Doubtless this legislative monument will redound to Napoleon's +honour in history; but was it to be supposed that the same laws would be +equally applicable throughout so vast an extent as that comprised within +the French Empire? Impossible as this was, as soon as the Code Napoleon +way promulgated I received orders to establish it in the Hanse Towns. + + --[This great code of Civil Law was drawn up under Napoleon's orders + and personal superintendence. Much had been prepared under the + Convention, and the chief merits of it were due to the labours of + such men as Tronchet; Partatis, Bigot de Preameneu, Maleville, + Cambaceres, etc. But it was debated under and by Napoleon, who took + a lively interest in it. It was first called the "Code Civil," but + is 1807 was named "Code Napoleon," or eventually "Les Cinq Codes de + Napoleon." When completed in 1810 it included five Codes--the Code + Civil, decreed March 1803; Code de Procedure Civile, decreed April + 1806; Code de Commerce, decreed September 1807; Code d'Instruction + Criminelle, decreed November 1808; and the Code Penal, decreed + February 1810. It had to be retained by the Bourbons, and its + principles have worked and are slowly working their way into the law + of every nation. Napoleon was justly proud of this work. The + Introduction of the Code into the conquered countries was, as + Bourrienne says, made too quickly. Puymaigre, who was employed in + the administration of Hamburg after Bourrienne left, says, "I shall + always remember the astonishment of the Hamburgers when they were + invaded by this cloud of French officials, who, under every form, + made researches is their houses, and who came to apply the + multiplied demands of the fiscal system. Like Proteus, the + administration could take any shape. To only speak of my + department, which certainly was not the least odious one, for it was + opposed to the habits of the Hamburgers and annoyed all the + industries, no idea can be formed of the despair of the inhabitants, + subjected to perpetual visits, and exposed to be charged with + contraventions of the law, of which they knew nothing. + + "Remembering their former laws, they used to offer to meet a charge + of fraud by the proof of their oath, and could not imagine that such + a guarantee could be repulsed. When they were independent they paid + almost nothing, and such was the national spirit, that in urgent + cases when money was wanted the senate taxed every citizen s certain + proportion of his income, the tenth or twentieth. A donator + presided over the recovery of this tax, which was done in a very + strange manner. A box, covered with a carpet, received the offering + of every citizen, without any person verifying the sum, and only on + the simple moral guarantee of the honesty of the debtor, who himself + judged the sum he ought to pay. When the receipt was finished the + senate always obtained more than it had calculated on." (Puymaigre, + pp, 181.)]-- + +The long and frequent conversations I had on this subject with the +Senators and the most able lawyers of the country soon convinced me of +the immense difficulty I should have to encounter, and the danger of +suddenly altering habits and customs which had been firmly established by +time. + +The jury system gave tolerable satisfaction; but the severe punishments +assigned to certain offences by the Code were disapproved of. Hence +resulted the frequent and serious abuse of men being acquitted whose +guilt was evident to the jury, who pronounced them not guilty rather than +condemn them to a punishment which was thought too severe. Besides, +their leniency had another ground, which was, that the people being +ignorant of the new law were not aware of the penalties attached to +particular offences. I remember that a man who was accused of stealing a +cloak at Hamburg justified himself on the ground that he committed the +offence in a fit of intoxication. M. Von Einingen, one of the jury, +insisted that the prisoner was not guilty, because, as he said, the +Syndic Doormann, when dining with him one day, having drunk more wine +than usual, took away his cloak. This defence per Baccho was completely +successful. An argument founded on the similarity between the conduct of +the Syndic and the accused, could not but triumph, otherwise the little +debauch of the former would have been condemned in the person of the +latter. This trial, which terminated so whimsically, nevertheless proves +that the best and the gravest institutions may become objects of ridicule +when suddenly introduced into a country whose habits are not prepared to +receive them. + +The Romans very wisely reserved in the Capitol a place for the gods of +the nations they conquered. They wished to annex provinces and kingdoms +to their empire. Napoleon, on the contrary, wished to make his empire +encroach upon other states, and to realise the impossible Utopia of ten +different nations, all having different customs and languages, united +into a single State. Could justice, that safeguard of human rights, be +duly administered in the Hanse Towns when those towns were converted into +French departments? In these new departments many judges had been +appointed who did not understand a word of German, and who had no +knowledge of law. The presidents of the tribunals of Lilbeck, Stade, +Bremerlehe, and Minden were so utterly ignorant of the German language +that it was necessary to explain to them all the pleadings in the +council-chamber. Was it not absurd to establish such a judicial system, +and above all, to appoint such men in a country so important to France as +Hamburg and the Hanse Towns? Add to this the impertinence of some +favourites who were sent from Paris to serve official and legal +apprenticeships in the conquered provinces, and it may be easily +conceived what was the attachment of the people to Napoleon the Great. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +1807-1808. + + Disturbed state of Spain--Godoy, Prince of the Peace--Reciprocal + accusations between the King of Spain and his son--False promise of + Napoleon--Dissatisfaction occasioned by the presence of the French + troops--Abdication of Charles IV.--The Prince of the Peace made + prisoner--Murat at Madrid--Important news transmitted by a + commercial letter--Murat's ambition--His protection of Godoy-- + Charles IV, denies his voluntary abdication--The crown of Spain + destined for Joseph--General disapprobation of Napoleon's conduct-- + The Bourbon cause apparently lost--Louis XVIII. after his departure + from France--As Comte de Provence at Coblentz--He seeks refuge in + Turin and Verona--Death of Louis XVII--Louis XVIII. refused an + asylum in Austria, Saxony, and Prussia--His residence at Mittan and + Warsaw--Alexander and Louis XVIII--The King's departure from Milan + and arrival at Yarmouth--Determination of the King of England--M. + Lemercier's prophecy to Bonaparte--Fouche's inquiries respecting + Comte de Rechteren--Note from Josephine--New demands on the Hanse + Towns--Order to raise 3000 sailors in Hamburg. + +The disorders of Spain, which commenced about the close of the year 1807, +in a short time assumed a most complicated aspect. Though far from the +theatre of events I obtained an intimate knowledge of all the important +facts connected with the extraordinary transactions in the Peninsula. +However, as this point of history is one of the most generally, though I +cannot say the best, known, I shall omit in my notes and memoranda many +things which would be but repetitions to the reading portion of the +public. It is a remarkable fact that Bonaparte, who by turns cast his +eyes on all the States of Europe, never directed his attention to Spain +as long as his greatness was confined to mere projects. Whenever he +spoke of his future destiny he alluded to Italy, Germany, the East, and +the destruction of the English power; but never to Spain. Consequently, +when he heard of the first symptoms of disorder in the Peninsula he paid +but little attention to the business, and some time elapsed before he +took any part in events which subsequently had so great an influence on +his fate. + +Godoy reigned in Spain under the name of the imbecile Charles IV. He was +an object of execration to all who were not his creatures; and even those +whose fate depended upon him viewed him with the most profound contempt. +The hatred of a people is almost always the just reward of favourites. +What sentiments, therefore, must have been inspired by a man who, to the +knowledge of all Spain, owed the favour of the king only to the favours +of the queen! + + --[Manuel Godoy, originally a private in the guards, became the + paramour of Charles IV.'s Queen; then a grandee; and then the + supreme ruler of the State.--Editor of 1836 edition.]-- + +Godoy's ascendancy over the royal family was boundless; his power was +absolute: the treasures, of America were at his command, and he made the +most infamous use of them. In short, he had made the Court of Madrid one +of those places to which the indignant muse of Juvenal conducts the +mother of Britanicus. There is no doubt that Godoy was one of the +principal causes of all the misfortunes which have overwhelmed Spain +under so many various forms. + +The hatred of the Spaniards against the Prince of the Peace was general. +This hatred was shared by the Prince the Asturias,--[Afterwards Ferdinand +VII.]-- who openly declared himself the enemy of Godoy. The latter +allied himself with France, from which he hoped to obtain powerful +protection against his enemies. This alliance gave rise to great +dissatisfaction in Spain, and caused France to be regarded with an +unfavourable eye. The Prince of the Asturias was encouraged and +supported by the complaints of the Spaniards, who wished to see the +overthrow of Godoy's power. Charles IV., on his part, regarded all +opposition to the Prince of the Peace as directed against himself, and in +November 1807 he accused his son of wishing to dethrone him. + +The King of Spain did not confine himself to verbal complaints. He, or +rather the Prince of the Peace, acting in his name, arrested the warmest +partisans of the Prince of the Asturias. The latter, understanding the +sentiments of his father, wrote to Napoleon, soliciting his support. +Thus the father and son, at open war, were appealing one against another +for the support of him who wished only to get rid of them both, and to +put one of his brothers in their place, that he might have one junior +more in the college of European kings: but, as I have already mentioned, +this new ambition was not premeditated; and if he gave the throne of +Spain to his brother Joseph it was only on the refusal of his brother +Louis (King of Holland) to accept it. + +The Emperor had promised to support Charles IV against his son; and, not +wishing to take part in these family quarrels, he had not answered the +first letters of the Prince of the Asturias. But finding that the +intrigues of Madrid were taking a serious turn, he commenced +provisionally by sending troops to Spain. This gave offence to the +people, who were averse to the interference of France. In the provinces +through which the French troops passed it was asked what was the object: +of the invasion. Some attributed it to the Prince of the Peace, others +to the Prince of the Asturias; but it excited general indignation, and +troubles broke out at Madrid accompanied by all the violence peculiar to +the Spanish character. + +In these fearful circumstances Godoy proposed that Charles IV. should +remove to Seville, where he would be the better enabled to visit the +factious with punishment. A proposition from Godoy to his master was, in +fact, a command, and Charles IV. accordingly resolved to depart. The +people now looked upon Godoy as a traitor. An insurrection broke out, +the palace was, surrounded, and the, Prince of the Peace was on the point +of being massacred in an upper apartment, where he had taken refuge. + + --[French troops had appeared in again some months before, on their + way to Portugal, the conquest of which country by Junot was to be + aided by Godoy and a Spanish force of 27,000 men, according to a + treaty (more disgraceful to the Court of Spain than to Bonaparte) + which had been ratified at Fontainebleau on the 27th of October + 1807. Charles IV. was little better than an idiot, and Godoy and + the French made him believe that Bonaparte world give part, or the + whole of Portugal, to Spain. At the time of Junot's march on Lisbon + a reserve of 40,000 French troops were assembled at Bayonne-- + a pretty clear indication, though the factious infatuated Court of + Madrid would not see it, that Bonaparte intended to seize the whole + of the Peninsula.--Editor of 1838 edition.]-- + +One of the mob had the presence of mind to invoke in his favour the name +of the Prince of the Asturias: this saved his life. + +Charles IV. did not preserve his crown; he was easily intimidated, and +advantage was taken of a moment of alarm to demand that abdication which +he had not spirit to refuse. He surrendered up his rights to his son, +and thus was overthrown the insolent power of the Prince of the Peace; +the favourite was made prisoner, and the Spaniards, who, like all +ignorant people, are easily excited, manifested their joy on the occasion +with barbarous enthusiasm. Meanwhile the unfortunate King, who had +escaped from imaginary rather than real dangers, and who was at first +content with having exchanged the right of reigning for the right of +living, no sooner found himself in safety than he changed, his mind. +He wrote to the Emperor protesting against his abdication, and appealed. +to him as the arbiter of his future fate. + +During these internal dissensions the French army was continuing its +march towards the Pyrenees. Those barriers were speedily crossed, and +Murat entered Madrid in the beginning of April 1808. Before I received +any despatch from our Government I learned that Murat's presence in +Madrid, far from producing a good effect, had only increased the +disorder. I obtained this information from a merchant of Lubeck who came +to Hamburg on purpose to show me a letter he had received from his +correspondent in Madrid. In this letter Spain was said to be a prey +which Murat wished to appropriate to himself; and all that afterwards +came to my knowledge served only to prove the accuracy of the writer's +information. It was perfectly true that Murat wished to conquer Spain +for himself, and it is not astonishing that the inhabitants of Madrid +should have understood his designs, for he carried his indiscretion so +far as openly to express his wish to become King of Spain. The Emperor +was informed of this, and gave him to understand, in very significant +terms, that the throne of Spain was not destined for him, but that he +should not be forgotten in the disposal of other crowns. + +However, Napoleon's remonstrances were not sufficient to restrain the +imprudence of Murat; and if he did not gain the crown of Spain for +himself he powerfully contributed to make Charles IV. lose it. That +monarch, whom old habits attached to the Prince of the Peace, solicited +the Emperor to liberate his favourite, alleging that he and his family +would be content to live in any place of security provided Godoy were +with them. The unfortunate Charles seemed to be thoroughly disgusted +with greatness. + +Both the King and Queen so earnestly implored Godoy's liberation that +Murat, whose vanity was flattered by these royal solicitations, took the +Prince of the Peace under his protection; but he at the same time +declared that, in spite of the abdication of Charles IV., he would +acknowledge none but that Prince as King of Spain until he should receive +contrary orders from the Emperor. This declaration placed Murat in +formal opposition to the Spanish people, who, through their hatred of +Godoy, embraced the cause of the heir of the throne; in whose favour +Charles IV. had abdicated. + +It has been remarked that Napoleon stood in a perplexing situation in +this conflict between the King and his son. This is not correct. King +Charles, though he afterwards said that his abdication had been forced +from him by violence and threats, had nevertheless tendered it. By this +act Ferdinand was King, but Charles declared it was done against his +will, and he retracted. The Emperor's recognition was wanting, and he, +could give or withhold it as he pleased. + +In this state of things Napoleon arrived at Bayonne. Thither Ferdinand +was also invited to go, under pretence of arranging with the Emperor the +differences between his father and himself. It was some time before he +could form his determination, but at length his ill-advised friends +prevailed on him to set off, and he was caught in the snare. What +happened to him, as well as to his father, who repaired to Bayonne with +his inseparable friend the Prince of the Peace is well known. Napoleon, +who had undertaken to be arbiter between the father and son, thought the +best way of settling the difference was to give the disputed throne to +his brother Joseph, thus verifying the fable of the "Two Lawyers and the +Oyster." The insurrection in Madrid on the 2d of May accelerated the +fate of Ferdinand, who was accused of being the author of it; at least +this suspicion fell on his friends and adherents. + +Charles IV., it was said, would not return to Spain, and solicited an +asylum in France. He signed a renunciation of his rights to the crown of +Spain, which renunciation was also signed by the Infantas. + +Napoleon now issued a decree, appointing "his dearly beloved brother +Joseph Napoleon, King of Naples and Sicily, to the crowns of Spain and +the Indies." By a subsequent decree, 15th of July, he appointed "his +dearly-beloved cousin, Joachim Murat, Grand Duke of Berg, to the throne +of Naples and Sicily, which remained vacant by the accession of Joseph +Napoleon to the kingdoms of Spain and the Indies." Both these documents +are signed Napoleon, and countersigned by the Minister Secretary of +State, Maret. + +The Prince Royal of Sweden, who was at Hamburg at this time, and the +Ministers of all the European power, loudly condemned the conduct of +Napoleon with respect to Spain. I cannot say whether or not M. de +Talleyrand advised the Emperor not to attempt the overthrow of a branch +of the house of Bourbon; his good sense and elevated views might +certainly have suggested that advice. But the general opinion was that, +had he retained the portfolio of foreign affairs, the Spanish revolution +would have terminated with more decorum and good faith than was exhibited +in the tragi-comedy acted at Madrid and Bayonne. + +After the Treaty of Tilsit and the bonds of friendship which seemed +likely to produce a permanent union between the Emperors of France and +Russia, the cause of the Bourbons must have been considered irretrievably +lost. Indeed, their only hope consisted in the imprudence and folly of +him who had usurped their throne, and that hope they cherished. I will +here relate what I had the opportunity of learning respecting the conduct +of Louis XVIII. after his departure from France; this will naturally +bring me to the end of November 1807, at which time I read in the Abeille +du Nord published on the 9th of the same month, that the Comte de Lille +and the Due d'Angouleme had set off for England. + +The Comte de Provence, as Louis' title then went, left Paris on the 21st +of June 1791. He constantly expressed his wish of keeping as near as +possible to the frontiers of France. He at first took up his abode at +Coblentz, and I knew from good authority that all the emigrants did not +regard him with a favourable eye. They could not pardon the wise. +principles he had professed at a period when there was yet time to +prevent, by reasonable concession, the misfortunes which imprudent +irritation brought upon France. When the emigrants, after the campaign +of 1792, passed the Rhine, the Comte de Provence resided in the little +town of Ham on the Lippe, where he remained until he was persuaded that +the people of Toulon had called him to Provence. As he could not, of +course, pass through France, Monsieur repaired to the Court of his +father-in-law, the King of Sardinia, hoping to embark at Genoa, and from +thence to reach the coast of Provence. But the evacuation of Toulon, +where the name of Bonaparte was for the first time sounded by the breath +of fame, having taken place before he was able to leave Turin, Monsieur +remained there four months, at the expiration of which time his father- +in-law intimated to him the impossibility of his remaining longer in the +Sardinian States. He was afterwards permitted to reside at Verona, where +he heard of Louis XVI.'s death. After remaining two years in that city +the Senate of Venice forbade his presence in the Venetian States. Thus +forced to quit Italy the Comte repaired to the army of Conde. + +The cold and timid policy of the Austrian Cabinet afforded no asylum to +the Comte de Provence, and he was obliged to pass through Germany; yet, +as Louis XVIII. repeated over and over again, ever since the Restoration, +"He never intended to shed French blood in Germany for the sake of +serving foreign interests." Monsieur had, indeed, too much penetration +not to see that his cause was a mere pretext for the powers at war with +France. They felt but little for the misfortunes of the Prince, and +merely wished to veil their ambition and their hatred of France under the +false pretence of zeal for the House of Bourbon. + +When the Dauphin died, Louis XVIII. took the title of King of France, and +went to Prussia, where he obtained an asylum. + + --[His brother, Charles X., the youngest of the three grandsons of + Louis XV. (Louis XVI., Louis XVIII. Charles X.), the Comte + d'Artois, afterwards Charles X. emigrated in 1789, and went to + Turin and Mantas for 1789 and 1790. In 1791 and 1792 he lived at + Coblenta, Worms, Brussels, Vienna, and at Turin. From 1792 to 1812 + he lived at Ham on the Lippe at Westphalia at London, and for most + of the time at Holyrood, Edinburgh. During this time he visited + Russia and Germany, and showed himself on the coast of France. In + 1818 he went to Germany, and in 1814 entered France in rear of the + allies. In risking his person in the daring schemes of the + followers who were giving their lives for the cause of his family he + displayed a circumspection which was characterised by them with + natural warmth. + + "Sire, the cowardice of your brother has ruined all;" so Charette is + said to have written to Louis XVIII.]-- + +But the pretender to the crown of France had not yet drained his cup of +misfortune. After the 18th Fructidor the Directory required the King of +Prussia to send away Louis XVIII., and the Cabinet of Berlin, it must be +granted, was not in a situation to oppose the desire of the French +Government, whose wishes were commands. In vain Louis XVIII. sought an +asylum in the King of Saxony's States. There only remained Russia that +durst offer a last refuge to the descendant of Louis XIV. Paul I., who +was always in extremes, and who at that time entertained a violent +feeling of hatred towards France, earnestly offered Louis XVIII., a +residence at Mittau. He treated him with the honours of a sovereign, +and loaded him with marks of attention and respect. Three years had +scarcely passed when Paul was seized with mad enthusiasm for the man who +twelve years later, ravaged his ancient capital, and Louis XVIII. found +himself expelled from that Prince's territory with a harshness equal to +the kindness with which he had at first been received. + +It was during, his three, years' residence at Mittau that Louis XVIII., +who was then known by the title of Comte de Lille, wrote to the First +Consul those letters which have been referred to in these Memoirs. +Prussia, being again solicited, at length consented that Louis XVIII. +should reside at Warsaw; but on the accession of Napoleon to the Empire +the Prince quitted that residence in order to consult respecting his new +situation with the only sovereign who had not deserted him in his +misfortune, viz. the King of Sweden. They met at Colmar, and from that +city was dated the protest which I have already noticed. Louis XVIII. +did not stay long in the States of the King of Sweden. Russia was now on +the point of joining her eagles with those of Austria to oppose the new +eagles of imperial France. Alexander offered to the Comte de Lille the +asylum which Paul had granted to him and afterwards withdrawn. Louis +XVIII. accepted the offer, but after the peace of Tilsit, fearing lest +Alexander might imitate the second act of his father as well as the +first, he plainly saw that he must give up all intention of residing on +the Continent; and it was then that I read in the 'Abeille du Nord' the +article before alluded to. There is, however, one fact upon which I must +insist, because I know it to be true, viz. that it was of his own free +will that Louis XVIII. quitted Mittau; and if he was afraid that +Alexander would imitate his father's conduct that fear was without +foundation. The truth is, that Alexander was ignorant even of the King's +intention to go away until he heard from Baron von Driesen, Governor of +Mittau, that he had actually departed. Having now stated the truth on +this point I have to correct another error, if indeed it be only an +error, into which some writers have fallen. It has been falsely alleged +that the King left Mittau for the purpose of fomenting fresh troubles in +France. The friends of Louis XVIII., who advised him to leave Mittau, +had great hopes from the last war. They cherished still greater hopes +from the new wars which Bonaparte's ambition could not fail to excite, +but they were not so ill-informed respecting the internal condition of +France as to expect that disturbances would arise there, or even to +believe in the possibility of fomenting them. The pear was not yet ripe +for Louis XVIII. + +On the 29th of November the contents of a letter which had arrived from +London by way of Sweden were communicated to me. This letter was dated +the 3d of November, and contained some particulars respecting the Comte +de Lille's arrival in England. That Prince had arrived at Yarmouth on +the 31st of October 1807, and it was stated that the King was obliged to +wait some time in the port until certain difficulties respecting his +landing and the continuance of his journey should be removed. It +moreover appeared from this letter that the King of England thought +proper to refuse the Comte de Lille permission to go to London or its +neighbourhood. The palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh was assigned as his +place of residence; and Mr. Ross, secretary to Mr. Canning, conveyed the +determination of the King of England to Louis XVIII., at Yarmouth. + +The precaution of the English Ministry in not permitting the refugee King +to go near London appeared to me remarkable, considering the relative +position of the Governments of France and England, and I regarded it as a +corroboration of what the Prince Wittgenstein had told me respecting Mr. +Canning's inclination for an amicable arrangement. But the moment was +approaching when the affairs of Spain were to raise an invincible +obstacle to peace, to complicate more than ever the interests of the +powers of Europe, and open to Napoleon that vast career of ambition which +proved his ruin. He did not allow the hopes of the emigrants to remain +chimerical, and the year 1814 witnessed the realization of the prophetic +remark made by M. Lemereier, in a conversation with Bonaparte a few days +before the foundation of the Empire: "If you get into the bed of the +Bourbons, General, you will not lie in it ten year." Napoleon occupied +it for nine years and nine months. + +Fouche, the grand investigator of the secrets of Europe, did not fail, on +the first report of the agitations in Spain, to address to me question on +question respecting the Comte de Rechteren, the Spanish Minister at +Hamburg, who, however, had left that city, with the permission of his +Court, four months after I had entered on my functions. This was going +back very far to seek information respecting the affairs of the day. At +the very moment when I transmitted a reply to Fouche which was not +calculated to please him, because it afforded no ground for suspicion as +to the personal conduct of M. de Rechteren, I received from the amiable +Josephine a new mark of her remembrance. She sent me the following note: + +"M. Milon, who is now in Hamburg, wishes me, my dear Bourrienne, to +request that you will use your interest in his favour. I feel the more +pleasure in making this request as it affords me an opportunity of +renewing the assurance of my regard for you." + +Josephine's letter was dated from Fontainebleau, whither the Emperor used +to make journeys in imitation of the old Court of France. During these +excursions he sometimes partook of the pleasures of the chase, but merely +for the sake of reviving an old custom, for in that exercise he found as +little amusement as Montaigne did in the game of chess, + +At Fontainebleau, as everywhere else, his mind was engaged with the means +of augmenting his greatness, but, unfortunately, the exactions he imposed +on distant countries were calculated to alienate the affections of the +people. Thus, for example, I received an order emanating from him, and +transmitted to me by M. Daru, the Intendant-General of the army, that the +pay of all the French troops stationed in the Hanse Towns should be +defrayed by these towns. I lamented the necessity of making such a +communication to the Senates of Bremen, Lubeck, and Hamburg; but my duty +compelled me to do so, and I had long been accustomed to fulfil duties +even more painful than this. I tried every possible means with the three +States, not collectively but separately, to induce them to comply with +the measure, in the hope that the assent of one would help me to obtain +that of the two others. But, as if they, had been all agreed, I only +received evasive expressions of regret. + +Knowing as I did, and I may say better than any one else, the hopes and +designs of Bonaparte respecting the north of Germany, it was not without +pain, nor even without alarm, that I saw him doing everything calculated +to convert into enemies the inhabitants of a country which would always +have remained quiet had it only been permitted to preserve its +neutrality. Among the orders I received were often many which could only +have been the result of the profoundest ignorance. For example, I was +one day directed to press 3000 seamen in the Hanse Towns. Three thousand +seamen out of a population of 200,000! It was as absurd as to think of +raising 500,000 sailors in France. This project being impossible, it was +of course not executed; but I had some difficulty in persuading the +Emperor that a sixth of the number demanded was the utmost the Hanse +Towns could supply. Five hundred seamen were accordingly furnished, but +to make up that number it was necessary to include many men who were +totally unfit for war service. + + + + +CHAPTER--XIV. + +1808. + + Departure of the Prince of Ponte-Corvo--Prediction and superstition + --Stoppage of letters addressed to the Spanish troops--La Romana and + Romanillos--Illegible notifications--Eagerness of the German Princes + to join the Confederation of the Rhine--Attack upon me on account of + M. Hue--Bernadotte's successor in Hamburg--Exactions and tyrannical + conduct of General Dupas--Disturbance in Hamburg--Plates broken in a + fit of rage--My letter to Bernadotte--His reply--Bernadotte's return + to Hamburg, and departure of Dupas for Lubeck--Noble conduct of the + 'aide de camp' Barrel. + +In the spring of 1808 a circumstance occurred which gave, me much +uneasiness; it was the departure of Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte-Corvo, +who received orders to repair to Copenhagen. He left Hamburg on the 8th +of March, as he was to reach his destination on the 14th of the same +month. The Danish charge d'affaires also received orders to join the +Prince, and discharge the functions of King's commissary. It was during +his government at Hamburg and his stay in Jutland that Bernadotte +unconsciously paved his way to the throne of Sweden. I recollect that he +had also his presages and his predestinations. In short, he believed in +astrology, and I shall never forget the serious tone in which he one day +said to me, "Would you believe, my dear friend, that it was predicted at +Paris that I should be a King, but that I must cross the sea to reach my +throne?" I could not help smiling with him at this weakness of mind, +from which Bonaparte was not far removed. It certainly was not any +supernatural influence which elevated Bernadotte to sovereign rank. +That elevation was solely due to his excellent character. He had no +other talisman than the wisdom of his government, and the promptitude +which he always, showed to oppose unjust measures. This it was that +united all opinions in his favour. + +The bad state of the roads in the north prolonged Bernadotte's journey +one day. He set out on the 8th of March; he was expected to arrive at +Copenhagen on the l4th, but did not reach there till the 15th. He +arrived precisely two hours before the death of Christian, King of +Denmark, an event with which he made me acquainted by letter written two +days after his arrival. + +On the 6th of April following I received a second letter from Bernadotte, +in which he desired me to order the Grand Ducal postmaster to keep back +all letters addressed to the Spanish troops, who had been placed under +his command, and of which the corps of Romana formed part. The +postmaster was ordered to keep the letters until he received orders to +forward them to their destinations. Bernadotte considered this step +indispensable, to prevent the intrigues which he feared might be set on +foot in order to shake the fidelity of the Spaniards he commanded. I saw +from his despatch that he feared the plotting of Romanillos, who, +however, was not a person to cause much apprehension. Romanillos was as +commonplace a man as could well be conceived; and his speeches, as well +as his writings, were too innocent to create any influence on public +opinion. + +In addition to the functions with which the Emperor at first invested me, +I had to discharge the duties of French Consul-General at Hamburg, and in +that character I was obliged to present to the Minister for Foreign +Affairs a very singular request, viz. that the judicial notifications, +which as Consul-General I had to make known to the people of Hamburg, +might be written in a more legible hand. Many of these notifications had +been disregarded on account of the impossibility of reading them: With +respect to one of them it was declared that it was impossible to discover +whether the writing was German, French, or Chinese. + +I shall not record all the acts of spoliation committed by second-rate +ambitious aspirants who hoped to come in for their share in the division +of the Continent: The Emperor's lieutenants regarded Europe as a +twelfthcake, but none of them ventured to dispute the best bit with +Napoleon. Long would be the litany were I to enregister all the fraud +and treachery which they committed, either to augment their fortunes or +to win the favour of the chief who wished to have kings for his subjects. +The fact is, that all the Princes of Germany displayed the greatest +eagerness to range themselves under the protection of Napoleon, by, +joining the Confederation of the Rhine. I received from those Princes +several letters which served to prove at once the influence of Napoleon +in Germany and the facility with which men bend beneath the yoke of a new +power. I must say that among the emigrants who remained faithful to +their cause there were some who evinced more firmness of character than +the foreign Princes. I may mention, for example, M. Hue, the 'valet de +chambre' of Louis XVI. I do not intend to deny the high regard I +entertained for that faithful servant of the martyred King; but the +attentions which I congratulate myself on having shown to an excellent +man should not have subjected me to false imputations. + +I have read the following statement in a publication: + + "M. Hue retired to Hamburg, where he passed nine, months in perfect + obscurity. He afterwards went to Holland, provided with a passport + from Bourrienne, who was Napoleon's Minister, though in disgrace, + and who, foreseeing what was to happen, sought to ingratiate himself + in the favour of the Bourbons." + +The above passage contains a falsehood in almost every line. M. Hue +wished to reside in Hamburg, but he did not wish to conceal himself. +I invited him to visit me, and assured him that he might remain in +Hamburg without apprehension, provided he acted prudently. He wished to +go to Holland, and I took upon myself to give him a passport. I left M. +Hue in the free management of his business, the nature of which I knew +very well, and which was very honourable; he was deputed to pay the +pensions which Louis XVIII. granted to the emigrants. As for myself, I +had tendered my resignation of private secretary to Bonaparte; and even +admitting I was in disgrace in that character, I was not so as Minister +and Consul-General at Hamburg. My situation, which was of little +consequence at the time I was appointed to it, was later on rendered +exceedingly important by circumstances. It was, in fact, a sort of +watch-tower of the Government, whence all the movements of northern +Germany were observed; and during my residence in the Hanse Towns I +continually experienced the truth of what Bonaparte said to me at my +farewell audience--"Yours is a place independent and apart." + +It is absurd to say that the kindness I showed to M. Hue was an attempt +to ingratiate myself with the Bourbons. My attentions to him were +dictated solely by humanity, unaccompanied by any afterthought. Napoleon +had given me his confidence, and by mitigating the verity of his orders +I served him better than they who executed them in a way which could not +fail to render the French Government odious. If I am accused of +extending every possible indulgence to the unfortunate emigrants, I plead +guilty; and, far from wishing to defend myself against the charge, I +consider it honourable to me. But I defy any one of them to say that I +betrayed in their favour the interests with which I was entrusted. They +who urged Bonaparte to usurp the crown of France served, though perhaps +unconsciously, the cause of the Bourbons. I, on the contrary, used all +my endeavours to dissuade him from that measure, which I clearly saw +must, in the end, lead to the restoration, though I do not pretend that I +was sufficiently clear-sighted to guess that Napoleon's fall was so near +at hand. The kindness I showed to M. Hue and his companions in +misfortune was prompted by humanity, and not by mean speculation. +As well might it be said that Bernadotte, who, like myself, neglected +no opportunity of softening the rigour of the orders he was deputed to +execute, was by this means working his way to the throne of Sweden. + +Bernadotte had proceeded to Denmark to take the command of the Spanish +and French troops who had been removed from the Hanse Towns to occupy +that kingdom, which was then threatened by the English. His departure +was a great loss to me, for we had always agreed respecting the measures +to be adopted, and I felt his absence the more sensibly when I was +enabled to make a comparison between him and his successor. It is +painful to me to detail the misconduct of those who injured the French +name in Germany, but in fulfilment of the task I have undertaken, I am +bound to tell the truth. + +In April 1808 General Dupas came to take the command of Hamburg, but only +under the orders of Bernadotte, who retained the supreme command of the +French troops in the Hanse Towns. By the appointment of General Dupas +the Emperor cruelly thwarted the wishes and hopes of the inhabitants of +Lower Saxony. That General said of the people of Hamburg, "As long as I +see those . . . driving in their carriages I can get money from them." +It is, however, only just to add, that his dreadful exactions were not +made on his own account, but for the benefit of another man to whom he +owed his all, and to whom he had in some measure devoted his existence. + +I will state some particulars respecting the way in which the generals +who commanded the French troops at Hamburg were maintained. The Senate +of Hamburg granted to the Marshals thirty friederichs a day for the +expenses of their table exclusive of the hotel in which they were lodged +by the city. The generals of division had only twenty friederichs. +General Dupas wished to be provided for on the same footing as the +Marshals. The Senate having, with reason, rejected this demand, Dupas +required that he should be daily served with a breakfast and a dinner of +thirty covers. This was an inconceivable burden, and Dupas cost the city +more than any of his predecessors. + +I saw an account of his expenses, which during the twenty-one weeks he +remained at Hamburg amounted to 122,000 marks, or about 183,000 francs. +None but the most exquisite wines were drunk at the table of Dupas. Even +his servants were treated with champagne, and the choicest fruits were +brought from the fine hothouses of Berlin. The inhabitants were +irritated at this extravagance, and Dupas accordingly experienced the +resistance of the Senate. + +Among other vexations there was one to which the people could not readily +submit. In Hamburg, which had formerly been a fortified town, the custom +was preserved of closing the gates at nightfall. On Sundays they were +closed three-quarters of an hour later, to avoid interrupting the +amusements of the people. + +While General Dupas was Governor of Hamburg an event occurred which +occasioned considerable irritation in the public mind, and might have +been attended by fatal consequences. From some whim or other the General +ordered the gates to be closed at seven in the evening, and consequently +while it was broad daylight, for it was in the middle of spring; no +exception was made in favour of Sunday, and on that day a great number of +the inhabitants who had been walking in the outskirts of the city +presented themselves at the gate of Altona for admittance. To their +surprise they found the gate closed, though it was a greater thoroughfare +than any other gate in Hamburg. The number of persons, requiring +admittance increased, and a considerable crowd soon collected. After +useless entreaties had been addressed to the chief officer of the post +the people were determined to send to the Commandant for the keys. The +Commandant arrived, accompanied by the General. When they appeared it +was supposed they had come for the purpose of opening the gates, and they +were accordingly saluted with a general hurrah! which throughout almost +all the north is the usual cry for expressing popular satisfaction. +General Dupas not understanding the meaning of this hurrah! supposed it +to be a signal for sedition, and instead of ordering the gates to be +opened he commanded the military to fire upon the peaceful citizens,. +who only wanted to return to their homes. Several persons were killed, +and others more or less seriously wounded. Fortunately, after this first +discharge the fury of Dupas was appeased; but still he persisted in +keeping the gates closed at night. Next day an order was posted about +the city prohibiting the cry of hurrah! under pain of a severe +punishment. It was also forbidden that more than three persona should +collect together in the streets. Thus it was that certain persons +imposed the French yoke upon towns and provinces which were previously +happy. + +Dupas was as much execrated in the Hanse Towns as Clarke had been in +Berlin when he was governor of that capital during the campaign of 1807. +Clarke had burdened the people of Berlin with every kind of oppression +and exaction. He, as well as many others, manifested a ready obedience +in executing the Imperial orders, however tyrannical they might be; and +Heaven knows what epithets invariably accompanied the name of Clarke when +pronounced by the lips of a Prussian. + +Dupas seemed to have taken Clarke as his model. An artillery officer, +who was in Hamburg at the time of the disturbance I have just mentioned, +told me that it was he who was directed to place two pieces of light- +artillery before the gate of Altona. Having executed this order, he went +to General Dupas, whom he found in a furious fit of passion, breaking and +destroying everything within his reach. In the presence of the officer +he broke more than two dozen plates which were on the table before him: +these plates, of course, had cost him very little! + +On the day after the disturbance which had so fatal a termination I wrote +to inform the Prince of Porte-Corvo of what had taken place; and in my +letter I solicited the suppression of an extraordinary tribunal which had +been created by General Dupas. He returned me an immediate answer, +complying with my request. His letter was as follows: + + I have received your letter, my dear Minister: it forcibly conveys + the expression of your right feeling, which revolts against + oppression, severity, and the abase of power. I entirely concur in + your view of the subject, and I am distressed whenever I see such + acts of injustice committed. On an examination of the events which + took place on the 19th it is impossible to deny that the officer who + ordered the gates to be closed so soon was in the wrong; and next, + it may be asked, why were not the gates opened instead of the, + military being ordered to fire on the people? But, on the other + hand, did not the people evince decided obstinacy and + insubordination? were they not to blame in throwing stones at the + guard, forcing the palisades, and even refusing to listen to the + voice of the magistrates? It is melancholy that they should have + fallen into these excesses, from which, doubtless, they would have + refrained had they listened to the civil chiefs, who ought to be + their first directors. Finally, my dear Minister, the Senator who + distributed money at the gate of Altona to appease the multitude + would have done better had he advised them to wait patiently until + the gates were opened; and he might, I think, have gone to the + Commandant or the General to solicit that concession. + + Whenever an irritated mob resorts to violence there is no safety for + any one. The protecting power mast then exert its utmost authority + to stop mischief. The Senate of ancient Rome, so jealous of its + prerogatives, assigned to a Dictator, in times of trouble, the power + of life and death, and that magistrate knew no other code than his + own will and the axe of his lictors. The ordinary laws did not + resume their course until the people returned to submission. + + The event which took place in Hamburg produced a feeling of + agitation of which evil-disposed persons might take advantage to + stir up open insurrection. That feeling could only be repressed by + a severe tribunal, which, however, is no longer necessary. General + Dupas has, accordingly, received orders to dissolve it, and justice + will resume her usual course. + J. BERNADOTTE + DENSEL, 4th May, 1808. + + +When Bernadotte returned to Hamburg he sent. Dupas to Lubeck. That +city, which was poorer than Hamburg, suffered cruelly from the visitation +of such a guest. + +Dupas levied all his exactions in kind, and indignantly spurned every +offer of accepting money, the very idea of which, he said, shocked his +delicacy of feeling. But his demands became so extravagant that the city +of Lubeck was utterly unable to satisfy them. Besides his table, which +was provided in the same style of profusion as at Hamburg, he required to +be furnished with plate, linen, wood, and candles; in short, with the +most trivial articles of household consumption. + +The Senate deputed to the incorruptible General Dupas M. Nolting, a +venerable old man, who mildly represented to him the abuses which were +everywhere committed in his name, and entreated that he would vouchsafe +to accept twenty Louis a day to defray the expenses of his table alone. +At this proposition General Dupes flew into a rage. To offer him money +was an insult not to be endured! He furiously drove the terrified +Senator out of the house, and at once ordered his 'aide de camp' Barrel +to imprison him. M. de Barrel, startled at this extraordinary order, +ventured to remonstrate with the General, but in vain; and, though +against his heart, he was obliged to obey. The aide de camp accordingly +waited upon the Senator Notting, and overcome by that feeling of respect +which gray hairs involuntarily inspire in youth, instead of arresting +him, he besought the old man not to leave his house until he should +prevail on the General to retract his orders. It was not till the +following day that M. de Barrel succeeded in getting these orders +revoked--that is to say, he obtained M. Notting's release from +confinement; for Dupas would not be satisfied until he heard that the +Senator had suffered at least the commencement of the punishment to which +his capricious fury had doomed him. + +In spite of his parade of disinterestedness General Dupas yielded so far +as to accept the twenty Louis a day for the expense of his table which +M. Notting had offered him on the part of the Senate of Lubeck; but it +was not without murmurings, complaints, and menaces that he made this +generous concession; and he exclaimed more than once, "These fellows have +portioned out my allowance for me." Lubeck was not released from the +presence of General Dupes until the month of March 1809, when he was +summoned to command a division in the Emperor's new campaign against +Austria. Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless the fact, that, +oppressive as had been his presence at Lubeck, the Hanse Towns soon had +reason to regret him. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +1808. + + Promulgation of the Code of Commerce--Conquests by Status-consulte-- + Three events in one day--Recollections--Application of a line of + Voltaire--Creation of the Imperial nobility--Restoration of the + university--Aggrandisement of the kingdom of Italy at the expense of + Rome--Cardinal Caprara'a departure from Paris--The interview at + Erfurt. + +The year 1808 was fertile in remarkable events. Occupied as I was with +my own duties, I yet employed my leisure hours in observing the course of +those great acts by which Bonaparte seemed determined to mark every day +of his life. At the commencement of 1808 I received one of the first +copies of the Code of Commerce, promulgated on the 1st of January by the +Emperor's order. This code appeared to me an act of mockery; at least it +was extraordinary to publish a code respecting a subject which it was the +effect of all the Imperial decrees to destroy. What trade could possibly +exist under the Continental system, and the ruinous severity of the +customs? The line was already extended widely enough when, by a +'Senatus-consulte', it was still further widened. The Emperor, to whom +all the Continent submitted, had recourse to no other formality for the +purpose of annexing to the Empire the towns of Kehl, Cassel near Mayence, +Wesel, and Flushing, with the territories depending on them. + + --[A resolution of the senate, or a "Senatus-consulte" was the means + invented by Napoleon for altering the imperial Constitutions, and + even the extent of the Empire. By one of these, dated 21st January + 1808, the towns of Kehl, Cassel, and Wesel, with Flushing, all + already seized, were definitely united to France. The loss of + Wesel, which belonged to Murat's Grand Duchy of Berg, was a very + sore point with Murat.]-- + +These conquests, gained by decrees and senatorial decisions, had at least +the advantage of being effected without bloodshed. All these things were +carefully communicated to me by the Ministers with whom I corresponded, +for my situation at Hamburg had acquired such importance that it was +necessary I should know everything. + +At this period I observed among the news which I received from different +places a singular coincidence of dates, worthy of being noted by the +authors of ephemrides. On the same day-namely, the 1st of February +Paris, Lisbon, and Rome were the scenes of events of different kinds, +but, as they all happened on one day, affording a striking example of the +rapidity of movement which marked the reign of Bonaparte. At Paris the +niece of Josephine, Mademoiselle de Tascher, whom Napoleon had lately +exalted to the rank of Princess, was married to the reigning Prince of +Ahremberg, while at the same time Junot declared to Portugal that the +house of Braganza had ceased to reign, and French troops were, under the +command of General Miollis, occupying Rome. This occupation was the +commencement of prolonged struggles, during which Pins VII. expiated the +condescension he had shown in going to Paris to crown Napoleon. + +Looking over my notes, I see it was the day after these three events +occurred that Bonaparte gave to his brother-in-law, Prince Borghese, the +Governorship-General of the departments beyond the Alps which he had just +founded; and of which he made the eighth Grand Dignitary of the Empire. +General Menou, whom I had not seen since Egypt, was obliged by this +appointment to leave Turin, where he had always remained. Bonaparte, not +wishing to permit him to come to Paris, sent Menou to preside over the +Junta of Tuscany, of which he soon afterwards made another General- +Governorship, which he entrusted to the care of his sister Elisa. + + --[Prince Camille Philippe Louis Borghese (1755-1832), an Italian, + had married, 6th November 1808, Pauline Bonaparte, the sister of + Napoleon, and the widow of General Leclerc. He had been made Prince + and Duke of Guastalla when that duchy was given to his wife, 30th + Marsh 1806. He separated from his wife after a few years. Indeed + Pauline was impossible as a wife if half of the stories about her + are true. It was she who, finding that a lady was surprised at her + having sat naked while a statue of her was being modelled for + Canova, believed she had satisfactorily explained matters by saying, + "but there was a fire in the room."]-- + +My correspondence relative to what passed in the south of France and of +Europe presented to me, if I may so express myself, merely an anecdotal +interest. Not so the news which came from the north. At Hamburg I was +like the sentinel of an advanced post, always on the alert. I frequently +informed the Government of what would take place before the event +actually happened. I was one of the first to hear of the plans of Russia +relative to Sweden. The courier whom I sent to Paris arrived there at +the very moment when Russia made the declaration of war. About the end +of February the Russian troops entered Swedish Finland, and occupied also +the capital of that province, which had at all times been coveted by the +Russian Government. It has been said that at the interview at Erfurt +Bonaparte consented to the usurpation of that province by Alexander in +return for the complaisance of the latter in acknowledging Joseph as King +of Spain and the Indies. + +The removal of Joseph from the throne of Naples to the throne of Madrid +belongs, indeed, to that period respecting which I am now throwing +together a few recollections. Murat had succeeded Joseph at Naples, and +this accession of the brother-in-law of Napoleon to one of the thrones of +the House of Bourbon gave Bonaparte another junior in the college of +kings, of which he would have infallibly become the senior if he had gone +on as he began. + +I will relate a little circumstance which now occurs to me respecting the +kings manufactured by Napoleon. I recollect that during the King of +Etruria's stay in Paris--the First Consul went with that Prince to the +Comedie Francaise, where Voltaire's 'OEdipus' was performed. This piece, +I may observe, Bonaparte liked better than anything Voltaire ever wrote. +I was in the theatre, but not in the First Consul's box, and I observed, +as all present must have done, the eagerness with which the audience +applied to Napoleon and the King of Etruria the line in which Philoctetes +says-- + + "J'ai fait des souverains et n'ai pas voulu l'etre." + + ["I have made sovereigns, but have not wished to be one myself."] + +The application was so marked that it could not fail to become the +subject of conversation between the First Consul and me. "You remarked +it, Bourrienne?" . . . "Yes, General." . . "The fools! . . . +They shall see! They shall see! "We did indeed see. Not content with +making kings, Bonaparte, when his brow was encircled by a double crown, +after creating princes at length realised the object he had long +contemplated, namely, to found a new nobility endowed with hereditary +rights. It was at the commencement of March 1808 that he accomplished +this project; and I saw in the 'Moniteur' a long list of princes, dukes, +counts, barons, and knights of the Empire; there were wanting only +viscounts and marquises. + +At the same time that Bonaparte was founding a new nobility he determined +to raise up the old edifice of the university, but on a new foundation. +The education of youth had always been one of his ruling ideas, and I had +an opportunity of observing how he was changed by the exercise of +sovereign power when I received at Hamburg the statutes of the new elder +daughter of the Emperor of the French, and compared them with the ideas +which Bonaparte, when General and First Consul, had often expressed to me +respecting the education which ought to be given youth. Though the sworn +enemy of everything like liberty, Bonaparte had at first conceived a vast +system of education, comprising above all the study of history, and those +positive sciences, such as geology and astronomy, which give the utmost +degree of development to the human mind. The Sovereign, however, shrunk +from the first ideas of the man of genius, and his university, confided +to the elegant suppleness of M. de Fontaines, was merely a school capable +of producing educated subjects but not enlightened men. + +Before taking complete possession of Rome, and making it the second city +of the Empire, the vaunted moderation of Bonaparte was confined to +dismembering from it the legations of Ancona, Urbino, Macerata, and +Camerino, which were divided into three departments; and added to the +Kingdom of Italy. The patience of the Holy See could no longer hold out +against this act of violence, and Cardinal Caprara, who had remained in +Paris since the coronation, at last left that capital. Shortly +afterwards the Grand Duchies of Parma and Piacenza were united to the +French Empire, and annexed to the government of the departments beyond +the Alps. These transactions were coincident with the events in Spain +and Bayonne before mentioned. + +After the snare laid at Bayonne the Emperor entered Paris on the 14th of +August, the eve of his birthday. Scarcely had he arrived in the capital +when he experienced fresh anxiety in consequence of the conduct of +Russia, which, as I have stated, had declared open war with Sweden, and +did not conceal the intention of seizing Finland. But Bonaparte, +desirous of actively carrying on the war in Spain, felt the necessity of +removing his troops from Prussia to the Pyrenees. He then hastened the +interview at Erfurt, where the two Emperors of France and Russia had +agreed to meet. He hoped that this interview would insure the +tranquillity of the Continent, while he should complete the subjection of +Spain to the sceptre of Joseph. That Prince had been proclaimed on the +8th of June; and on the 21st of the same month he made his entry into +Madrid, but having received, ten days after, information of the disaster +at Baylen, he was obliged to leave the Spanish capital. + + --[The important battle of Daylen, where the French, under General + Dupont, were beaten by the Spaniards, was fought on the 19th of July + 1808.]-- + +Bonaparte's wishes must at this time have been limited to the +tranquillity of the Continent, for the struggle between him and England +was more desperate than ever. England had just sent troops to Portugal +under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley. There was no longer any hope +of a reconciliation with Great Britain: The interview at Erfurt having +been determined on, the Emperor, who had returned from Bayonne to Paris, +again left the capital about the end of September, and arrived at Metz +without stopping, except for the purpose of reviewing the regiments which +were echeloned on his route, and which were on their march from the Grand +Army to Spain. + +I had heard some time previously of the interview which was about to take +place, and which was so memorable in the life of Napoleon. It excited so +much interest in Germany that the roads were covered with the equipages +of the Princes who were going to Erfurt to witness the meeting. The +French Emperor arrived there before Alexander, and went forward three +leagues to meet him. Napoleon was on horseback, Alexander in a carriage. +They embraced, it is said, in a manner expressive of the most cordial +friendship. This interview was witnessed by most of the sovereign +Princes of Germany. However, neither the King of Prussia nor the Emperor +of Austria was present. The latter sovereign sent a letter to Napoleon, +of which I obtained a copy. It was as follows: + + SIRE, MY BROTHER,--My Ambassador in Paris informs me that your + Majesty is about to proceed to Erfurt to meet the Emperor Alexander. + I eagerly seize the opportunity of your approach to my frontier to + renew those testimonials of friendship and esteem which I have + pledged to you; and I send my Lieutenant-General, Baron Vincent, to + convey to you the assurance of my unalterable sentiments. If the + false accounts that have been circulated respecting the internal + institutions which I have established in my monarchy should for a + moment have excited your Majesty's doubts as to my intentions, I + fatter myself that the explanations given on that subject by Count + Metternich to your Minister will have entirely removed them. Baron + Vincent is enabled to confirm to your Majesty all that has been said + by Count Metternich on the subject, and to add any further + explanations, you may wish for. I beg that your Majesty will grant + him the same gracious reception he experienced at Paris and at + Warsaw. The renewed marks of favour you may bestow on him will be + an unequivocal pledge of the reciprocity of your sentiments, and + will seal that confidence which will render our satisfaction mutual. + + Deign to accept the assurance of the unalterable affection and + respect with which I am, Sire, my Brother, Your imperial and royal + Majesty's faithful brother and friend, + (Signed) FRANCIS. + PRESBURG, 8th September 1808. + +This letter appears to be a model of ambiguity, by which it is impossible +Napoleon could have been imposed upon. However, as yet he had no +suspicion of the hostility of Austria, which speedily became manifest; +his grand object then was the Spanish business, and, as I have before +observed, one of the secrets of Napoleon's genius was, that he did not +apply himself to more than one thing at a time. + +At Erfurt Bonaparte attained the principal object he had promised himself +by the meeting. Alexander recognized Joseph in his new character of King +of Spain and the Indies. It has been said that as the price of this +recognition Napoleon consented that Alexander should have Swedish +Finland; but for the truth of this I cannot vouch. However, I remember +that when, after the interview at Erfurt, Alexander had given-orders to +his ambassador to Charles IV. to continue his functions under King +Joseph, the Swedish charge d'affaires at Hamburg told me that +confidential letters received by him from Erfurt led him to fear that the +Emperor Alexander had communicated to Napoleon his designs on Finland, +and that Napoleon had given his consent to the occupation. Be this as it +may, as soon as the interview was over Napoleon returned to Paris, where +he presided with much splendour at the opening of the Legislative Body, +and set out in the month of November for Spain. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +1808. + + The Spanish troops in Hamburg--Romana's siesta--His departure for + Funen--Celebration of Napoleon's birthday--Romana's defection-- + English agents and the Dutch troops--Facility of communication + between England and the Continent--Delay of couriers from Russia-- + Alarm and complaints--The people of Hamburg--Montesquieu and the + Minister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany--Invitations at six months-- + Napoleon's journey to Italy--Adoption of Eugene--Lucien's daughter + and the Prince of the Asturias--M. Auguste de Stael's interview with + Napoleon. + +Previous to the interview at Erfurt an event took place which created a +strong interest in Hamburg and throughout Europe, an event which was +planned and executed with inconceivable secrecy. I allude to the +defection of the Marquis de la Romans, which I have not hitherto noticed, +in order that I might not separate the different facts which came to my +knowledge respecting that defection and the circumstances which +accompanied it. + +The Marquis de la Romans had come to the Hanse Towns at the head of an +army corps of 18,000 men, which the Emperor in the preceding campaign +claimed in virtue of treaties previously concluded with the Spanish +Government. The Spanish troops at first met with a good reception in the +Hanse Towns. The difference of language, indeed, occasionally caused +discord, but when better acquainted the inhabitants and their visitors +became good friends. The Marquis de la Romans was a little swarthy man, +of unprepossessing and rather common appearance; but he had a +considerable share of talent and information. He had travelled in almost +every part of Europe, and as he had been a close observer of all he saw +his conversation was exceedingly agreeable and instructive. + +During his stay at Hamburg General Romans spent almost every evening at +my house, and invariably fell asleep over a game at whist. Madame de +Bourrienne was usually his partner, and I recollect he perpetually +offered apologies for his involuntary breach of good manners. This, +however, did not hinder him from being guilty of the same offence the +next evening. I will presently explain the cause of this regular siesta. + +On the King of Spain's birthday the Marquis de la Romans gave a +magnificent entertainment. The decorations of the ballroom consisted of +military emblems. The Marquis did the honours with infinite grace, and +paid particular attention to the French generals. He always spoke of the +Emperor in very respectful terms, without any appearance of affectation, +so that it was impossible to suspect him of harbouring disaffection. He +played his part to the last with the utmost address. At Hamburg we had +already received intelligence of the fatal result of the battle of the +Sierra Morena, and of the capitulation of Dupont, which disgraced him at +the very moment when the whole army marked him out as the man most likely +next to receive the baton of Marshal of France. + +Meanwhile the Marquis de la Romans departed for the Danish island of +Funen, in compliance with the order which Marshal Bernadotte had +transmitted to him. There, as at Hamburg, the Spaniards were well liked, +for their general obliged them to observe the strictest discipline. +Great preparations were made in Hamburg on the approach of Saint +Napoleon's day, which was then celebrated with much solemnity in every +town in which France had representatives. The Prince de Ponte-Corvo was +at Travemunde, a small seaport near Lubeck, but that did not prevent him +from giving directions for the festival of the 15th of August. The +Marquis de la Romana, the better to deceive the Marshal, despatched a +courier, requesting permission to visit Hamburg on the day of the fete in +order to join his prayers to those of the French, and to receive, on the +day of the fete, from the hands of the Prince, the grand order of the +Legion of Honour, which he had solicited, and which Napoleon had granted +him. Three days after Bernadotte received intelligence of the defection +of de la Romana. The Marquis had contrived to assemble a great number of +English vessels on the coast, and to escape with all his troops except a +depot of 600 men left at Altona. We afterwards heard that he experienced +no interruption on his passage, and that he landed with his troops at +Corunna. I now knew to what to attribute the drowsiness which always +overcame the Marquis de la Romana when he sat down to take a hand at +whist. The fact was, he sat up all night making preparations for the +escape which he had long meditated, while to lull suspicion he showed +himself everywhere during the day, as usual. + +On the defection of the Spanish troops I received letters from Government +requiring me to augment my vigilance, and to seek out those persons who +might be supposed to have been in the confidence of the Marquis de la +Romans. I was informed that English agents, dispersed through the Hanse +Towns, were endeavouring to foment discord and dissatisfaction among the +King of Holland's troops. These manoeuvres were connected with the +treason of the Spaniards and the arrival of Danican in Denmark. +Insubordination had already broken out, but it was promptly repressed. +Two Dutch soldiers were shot for striking their officers, but +notwithstanding this severity desertion among the troops increased to an +alarming degree. Indefatigable agents in the pay of the English +Government laboured incessantly to seduce the soldiers of King Louis (of +Holland) from their duty. Some of these agents being denounced to me +were taken almost in the act, and positive proof being adduced of their +guilt they were condemned to death. + +These indispensable examples of severity did not check the manoeuvres of +England, though they served to cool the zeal of her agents. I used every +endeavour to second the Prince of Ponte-Corvo in tracing out the persons +employed by England. It was chiefly from the small island of Heligoland +that they found their way to the Continent. This communication was +facilitated by the numerous vessels scattered about the small islands +which lie along that coast. Five or six pieces of gold defrayed the +expense of the passage to or from Heligoland. Thus the Spanish news, +which was printed and often fabricated at London, was profusely +circulated in the north of Germany. Packets of papers addressed to +merchants and well-known persons in the German towns were put into the +post-offices of Embden, Kuipphausen, Varel, Oldenburg, Delmenhorst, and +Bremen. Generally speaking, this part of the coast was not sufficiently +well watched to prevent espionage and smuggling; with regard to +smuggling, indeed, no power could have entirely prevented it. The +Continental system had made it a necessity, so that a great part of the +population depended on it for subsistence. + +In the beginning of December 1808 we remarked that the Russian courier +who passed through Konigsberg and Berlin, was regularly detained four, +five, and even six hours on his way to Hamburg. The trading portion of +the population, always suspicious, became alarmed at this chance in the +courier's hours, into which they inquired and soon discovered the cause. +It was ascertained that two agents had been stationed by the postmaster +of the Grand Duchy of Berg at Hamburg, in a village called Eschburg +belonging to the province of Lauenburg. There the courier from Berlin +was stopped, and his packets and letters opened. As soon as these facts +were known in Hamburg there was a general consternation among the trading +class-that is to say, the influential population of the city. Important +and well-grounded complaints were made. Some letters had been +suppressed, enclosures had been taken from one letter and put into +another, and several bills of exchange had gone astray. The intelligence +soon reached the ears of the Prince of Ponte-Corvo, and was confirmed by +the official report of the commissioner for the Imperial and Royal Post- +office, who complained of the delay of the courier, of the confusion of +the packets, and of want of confidence in the Imperial Post-office. It +was impolitic to place such agents in a village where there was not even +a post-office, and where the letters were opened in an inn without any +supervision. This examination of the letters, sometimes, perhaps, +necessary, but often dangerous, and always extremely delicate, created +additional alarm, on account of the persons to whom the business was +entrusted. If the Emperor wished to be made acquainted with the +correspondence of certain persons in the north it would have been natural +to entrust the business to his agents and his commissioner at Hamburg, +and not to two unknown individuals--another inconvenience attending black +cabinets. At my suggestion the Prince of Ponte-Corvo gave orders for +putting a stop to the clandestine business at Eschburg. The two agents +were taken to Hamburg and their conduct inquired into. They were +severely punished. They deserved this, however, less than those who had +entrusted them with such an honourable mission; but leaders never make +much scruple about abandoning their accomplices in the lower ranks. + +But for the pain of witnessing vexations of this sort, which I had not +always power to prevent, especially after Bernadotte's removal, my +residence at Hamburg would have been delightful. Those who have visited +that town know the advantages it possesses from its charming situation on +the Elbe, and above all, the delightful country which surrounds it like a +garden, and extends to the distance of more than a league along the banks +of the Eyder. The manners and customs of the inhabitants bear the stamp +of peculiarity; they are fond of pursuing their occupations in the open +air. The old men are often seen sitting round tables placed before their +doors sipping tea, while the children play before them, and the young +people are at their work. These groups have a very picturesque effect, +and convey a gratifying idea of the happiness of the people. On seeing +the worthy citizens of Hamburg assembled round their doors I could not +help thinking of a beautiful remark of Montesquieu. When he went to +Florence with a letter of recommendation to the Prime Minister of the +Grand Duke of Tuscany he found him sitting at the threshold of his door, +inhaling the fresh air and conversing with some friends. "I see," said +Montesquieu, "that I am arrived among a happy people, since their Prime +Minister can enjoy his leisure moments thus." + +A sort of patriarchal simplicity characterises the manners of the +inhabitants of Hamburg. They do not visit each other much, and only by +invitation; but on such occasions they display great luxury beneath their +simple exterior. They are methodical and punctual to an extraordinary +degree. Of this I recollect a curious instance. I was very intimate +with Baron Woght, a man of talent and information, and exceedingly +amiable manners. One day he called to make us a farewell visit as he +intended to set out on the following day for Paris. On Madame de +Bourrienne expressing a hope that he would not protract his absence +beyond six months, the period he had fixed upon, he replied, "Be assured, +madame, nothing shall prevent me getting home on the day I have +appointed, for I have invited a party of friends to dine with me on the +day after my return." The Baron returned at the appointed time, and none +of his guests required to be reminded of his invitation at six months' +date. + +Napoleon so well knew the effect which his presence produced that after a +conquest he loved to show himself to the people whose territories he +added to the Empire. Duroc, who always accompanied him when he was not +engaged on missions, gave me a curious account of Napoleon's journey in +1807 to Venice and the other Italian provinces, which, conformably with +the treaty of Presburg, were annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. + +In this journey to the Kingdom of Italy Napoleon had several important +objects in view. He was planning great alliances; and he loaded Eugene +with favours for the purpose of sounding him and preparing him for his +mother's divorce. At the same time he intended to have an interview with +his brother Lucien, because, wishing to dispose of the hand of his +brother's daughter, he thought of making her marry the Prince of the +Asturias (Ferdinand), who before the Spanish war, when the first +dissensions between father and son had become manifest, had solicited an +alliance with the Emperor in the hope of getting his support. This was +shortly after the eldest son of Louis had died in Holland of croup. It +has been wrongly believed that Napoleon had an affection for this child +beyond that of an uncle for a nephew. I have already said the truth +about this. + +However this may be, it is certain that Napoleon now seriously +contemplated a divorce from Josephine. If there had been no other proof +of this I, who from long habit knew how to read Napoleon's thoughts by +his acts, found a sufficient one in the decree issued at Milan by which +Napoleon adopted Eugene as his son and successor to the crown of Italy, +in default of male and legitimate children directly descended from him. +Lucien went to Mantua on his brother's invitation, and this was the last +interview they had before the Cent Tours. Lucien consented to give his +daughter to the Prince of the Asturias, but this marriage did not take +place. I learned from Duroc to what a height the enmity of Lucien +towards the Beauharnais family, an enmity which I have often had occasion +to speak of, had been renewed on this occasion. Lucien could not pardon +Josephine for the rebuff of the counsels which he had given her, and +which she had rejected with such proper indignation. Lucien had besides +another special reason for giving his daughter to the Prince of the +Asturias. He particularly wished to prevent that Prince marrying +Mademoiselle de Tascher, the niece of Josephine, a marriage for which M. +de Beauharnais, then Ambassador of France at Madrid, was working with all +his might. Lucien also, with his Republican stolidity, submitted without +too much scruple to the idea of having a Bourbon King as son-in-law. It +was also during this journey of Napoleon that he annexed Tuscany to the +Empire. + +Bonaparte returned to Paris on the 1st of January 1808. On his way he +stopped for a short time at Chambery, where a young man had been waiting +for him several days. This was Madame de Stael's son, who was then not +more than seventeen years of age. M. Auguste de Stael lodged at the +house of the postmaster of Chambery, and as the Emperor was expected in +the course of the night, he gave orders that he should be called up on +the arrival of the first courier. The couriers, who had been delayed on +the road, did not arrive until six in the morning, and were almost +immediately followed by the Emperor himself, so that M, de Stael was +awakened by the cries of Vive l'Empereur! He had just time to dress +himself hastily, and fly to meet Napoleon, to whom he delivered a letter, +which he had prepared beforehand for the purpose of soliciting an +audience. Lauriston, the aide de camp on duty, took the letter, it being +his business to receive all the letters and petitions which were +presented to Napoleon on his way. Before breakfast the Emperor opened +the letters which Lauriston had laid on the table; he merely looked at +the signatures, and then laid them aside. On opening M. de Stael's +letter he said, "Ah! ah! what have we here? a letter from M. de Stael! +. . . He wishes to see me: . . . What can he want? . . . Can +there be anything in common between me and the refugees of Geneva?"-- +"Sire," observed Lauriston, "he is a very young man; and, as well as I +could judge from the little I saw of him, there is something very +prepossessing in his appearance."--"A very young man, say you? . . . +Oh, then I will see him . . . . Rustan, tell him to come in." +M. de Stael presented himself to Napoleon with modesty, but without any +unbecoming timidity. When he had respectfully saluted the Emperor a +conversation ensued between them, which Duroc described to me in nearly +the following manner. + +As M. de Stael advanced towards the Emperor the latter said, "Whence do +you come?"--"From Geneva, Sire."--"Where is your mother?"--"She is either +in Vienna or will soon be there."--"At Vienna! . . . Well, that is +where she ought to be; and I suppose she is happy . . . . She will +now have a good opportunity of learning German."--"Sire, how can you +imagine my mother is happy when she is absent from her country and her +friends? If I were permitted to lay before your Majesty my mother's +confidential letter you would see how unhappy she is in her exile."-- +"Ah, bah! your mother unhappy, indeed! . . . However, I do not mean +to say she is altogether a bad woman . . . . She has talent--perhaps +too much; and hers is an unbridled talent. She was educated amidst the +chaos of the subverted monarchy and the Revolution; and out of these +events she makes an amalgamation of her own! All this might become very +dangerous. Her enthusiasm is likely to make proselytes. I must keep +watch upon her. She does not like me; and for the interests of those +whom she would endanger I must prohibit her coming to Paris." + +Young De Stael stated that his object in seeking the interview with the +Emperor was to petition for his mother's return to Paris. Napoleon +having listened without impatience to the reasons he urged in support of +his request, said, "But supposing I were to permit your mother to return +to Pairs, six months would not elapse before I should be obliged to send +her to the Bicetre or to the Temple. This I should be sorry to do, +because the affair would make a noise, and injure me in public opinion. +Tell your mother that my determination is formed, that my decision is +irrevocable. She shall never set foot in Paris as long as I live."-- +"Sire, I cannot believe that you would arbitrarily imprison my mother if +she gave you no reason for such severity."--"She would give me a dozen! +. . . I know her well."--"Sire, permit me to say that I am certain my +mother would live in Paris in a way that would afford no ground of +reproach; she would live retired, and would see only a very few friends. +In spite of your Majesty's refusal I venture to entreat that you will +give her a trial, were it only for six weeks or a month. Permit her, +Sire, to pass that time in Paris, and I conjure you to come to no final +decision beforehand."--"Do you think I am to be deceived by these fair +promises? . . . I tell you it cannot be. She would serve as a +rallying point for the Faubourg St. Germain. She see nobody, indeed! +Could she make that sacrifice? She would visit and receive company. She +would be guilty of a thousand follies. She would be saying things which +she may consider as very good jokes, but which I should take seriously. +My government is no joke: I wish this to be well known by everybody."-- +"Sire, will your Majesty permit me to repeat that my mother has no wish +whatever to mingle in society? She would confine herself to the circle +of a few friends, a list of whom she would give to your Majesty. You, +Sire, who love France so well, may form some idea of the misery my mother +suffers in her banishment. I conjure your Majesty to yield to my +entreaties, and let us be included in the number of your faithful +subjects."--"You!"--"Yes, Sire; or if your Majesty persist in your +refusal, permit a son to inquire what can have raised your displeasure +against his mother. Some say that it was my grandfather's last work; but +I can assure your Majesty that my mother had nothing to do with that."-- +"Yes, certainly," added Napoleon, with more ill-humour than he had +hitherto manifested. "Yes, certainly, that work is very objectionable. +Your grandfather was an ideologist, a fool, an old lunatic. At sixty +years of age to think of forming plans to overthrow my constitution! +States would be well governed, truly, under such theorists, who judge of +men from books and the world from the map."--"Sire, since my +grandfather's plans are, in your Majesty's eyes, nothing but vain +theories, I cannot conceive why they should so highly excite your +displeasure. There is no political economist who has not traced out +plans of constitutions."--"Oh! as to political economists, they are mere- +visionaries, who are dreaming of plans of finance while they are unfit to +fulfil the duties of a schoolmaster in the most insignificant village in +the Empire. Your grandfather's work is that of an obstinate old man who +died abusing all governments."--"Sire, may I presume to suppose, from the +way in which you speak of it, that your Majesty judges from the report of +malignant persons, and that you have not yourself read it." + +"That is a mistake. I have read it myself from beginning to end."-- +"Then your Majesty must have seen how my grandfather renders justice to +your genius."--"Fine justice, truly! . . . He calls me the +indispensable man, but, judging from his arguments, the best thing that +could be done would be to cut my throat! Yes, I was indeed indispensable +to repair the follies of your grandfather, and the mischief he did to +France. It was he who overturned the monarchy and led Louis XVI. to the +scaffold."--"Sire, you seem to forget that my grandfather's property was +confiscated because he defended the King."--" Defended the King! A fine +defence, truly! You might as well say that if I give a man poison and +present him with an antidote when he is in the agonies of death I wish to +save him! Yet that is the way your grandfather defended Louis XVI..... +As to the confiscation you speak of, what does that prove? Nothing. +Why, the property of Robespierre was confiscated! And let me tell you +that Robespierre himself, Marat, and Danton did much less mischief to +France than M. Necker. It was he who brought about the Revolution. You, +Monsieur de Stael, did not see this; but I did. I witnessed all that +passed in those days of terror and public calamity. But as long as I +live those days shall never return. Your speculators trace their Utopian +schemes upon paper; fools read and believe them. All are babbling about +general happiness, and presently the people have not bread to eat; then +comes a revolution. Such is usually the fruit of all these fine +theories! Your grandfather was the cause of the saturnalia which +desolated France. He is responsible for all the blood shed in the +Revolution!" + +Duroc informed me that the Emperor uttered these last words in a tone of +fury which made all present tremble for young De Stael. Fortunately the +young man did not lose his self-possession in the conflict, while the +agitated expression of his countenance evidently showed what was passing +in his mind. He was sufficiently master of himself to reply to the +Emperor in a calm though rather faltering voice: "Sire, permit me to hope +that posterity will judge of my grandfather more favourably than your +Majesty does. During his administration he was ranked by the side of +Sully and Colbert; and let me repeat again that I trust posterity will +render him justice."--"Posterity will, probably, say little about him."-- +"I venture to hope the contrary, Sire." + +Then, added Duroc, the Emperor turning to us said with a smile, "After +all, gentlemen, it is not for me to say too much against the Revolution +since I have gained a throne by it." Then again turning to M. de Stael +he said, "The reign of anarchy is at au end. I must have subordination. +Respect the sovereign authority, since it comes from God. You are young, +and well educated, therefore; follow a better course, and avoid those bad +principles which endanger the welfare of society."--"Sire, since your +Majesty does me the honour to think me well educated, you ought not to +condemn the principles of my grandfather and my mother, for it is in +those principles that I have been brought up."--" Well, I advise you to +keep right in politics, for I will not pardon any offences of the Necker +kind. Every one should keep right in politics." + +This conversation, Duroc informed me, had continued the whole time of +breakfast, and the Emperor rose just as he pronounced these last words: +"Every one should keep right in politics." At that moment young De Stael +again renewed his solicitations for his mother's recall from exile. +Bonaparte then stepped up to him and pinched his ear with that air of +familiarity which was customary to him when he was in good humour or +wished to appear so. + +"You are young," said he; "if you had my age and experience you would +judge of things more correctly. I am far from being displeased with your +frankness. I like to see a son plead his mother's cause. Your mother +has given you a difficult commission, and you have executed it cleverly. +I am glad I have had this opportunity of conversing with you. I love to +talk with young people when they are unassuming and not too fond of +arguing. But in spite of that I will not hold out false hopes to you. +Murat has already spoken to me on the subject, and I have told him, as I +now tell you, that my will is irrevocable. If your mother were in prison +I should not hesitate to liberate her, but nothing shall induce me to +recall her from exile."--" But, Sire, is she not as unhappy in being +banished from her country and her friends as if she were in prison?"-- +"Oh! these are your mother's romantic ideas. She is exceedingly unhappy, +and much to be pitied, no doubt! . . . With the exception of Paris +she has all Europe for her prison."--"But, Sire, her friends are in +Paris."--" With her talents she may make friends anywhere. After all, +I cannot understand why she should be so anxious to come to Paris. Why +should she wish to place herself immediately within the reach of my +tyranny? Can she not go to Rome, to Berlin, to Vienna, to Milan, or to +London? Yes, let her go to London; that is the place for her. There she +may libel me as much as she pleases. In short, she has my full liberty +to be anywhere but in Paris. You see, Monsieur de Stael, that is the +place of my residence, and there I will have only those who are attached +to me. I know from experience that if I were to allow your mother to +come to Paris she would spoil everybody about me. She would finish the +spoiling of Garat. It was she who ruined the Tribunate. I know she +would promise wonders; but she cannot refrain from meddling with +politics."--" I can assure your Majesty that my mother does not now +concern herself about politics. She devotes herself exclusively to the +society of her friends and to literature."--"Ah, there it is! . . . +Literature! Do you think I am to be imposed upon by that word? While +discoursing on literature, morals, the fine arts, and such matters, it is +easy to dabble in politics. Let women mind their knitting. If your +mother were in Paris I should hear all sorts of reports about her. +Things might, indeed, be falsely attributed to her; but, be that as it +may, I will have nothing of the kind going on in the capital in which I +reside. All things considered, advise your mother to go to London. That +is the best place for her. As for your grandfather, I have not spoken +too severely of him. M. Necker knew nothing of the art of government. +I have learned something of the matter during the last twenty years. +"All the world, Sire, renders justice to your Majesty's genius, and there +is no one but acknowledges that the finances of France are now more +prosperous than ever they were before your reign. But permit me to +observe that your Majesty must, doubtless, have seen some merit in the +financial regulations of my grandfather, since you have adopted some of +them in the admirable system you have established."--"That proves +nothing; for two or three good ideas do not constitute a good system. +Be that as it may, I say again, I will never allow your mother to return +to Paris."--" But, Sire, if sacred interests should absolutely require +her presence there for a few days would not--"--"How! Sacred interests! +What do you mean?"--"Yes, Sire, if you do not allow her to return I shall +be obliged to go there, unaided by her advice, in order to recover from +your Majesty's Government the payment of a sacred debt."--"Ah! bah! +Sacred! Are not all the debts of the State sacred?"--"Doubtless, Sire; +but ours is attended with circumstances which give it a peculiar +character."--"A peculiar character! Nonsense! Does not every State +creditor say the same of his debt? Besides, I know nothing of your +claim. It does not concern me, and I will not meddle with it. If you +have the law on your side so much the better; but if you want favour I +tell you I will not interfere. If I did, I should be rather against you +than otherwise."--"Sire, my brother and myself had intended to settle in +France, but how can we live in a country where our mother cannot visit +us?"--"I do not care for that. I do not advise you to come here. Go +to England. The English like wrangling politicians. Go there, for in +France, I tell you candidly, that I should be rather against you than for +you." + +"After this conversation," added Duroc, "the Emperor got into the +carriage with me without stopping to look to the other petitions which +had been presented to him. He preserved unbroken silence until he got +nearly opposite the cascade, on the left of the road, a few leagues from +Chambery. He appeared to be absorbed in reflection. At length he said, +'I fear I have been somewhat too harsh with this young man . . . . +But no matter, it will prevent others from troubling me. These people +calumniate everything I do. They do not understand me, Duroc; their +place is not in France. How can Necker's family be for the Bourbons, +whose first duty, if ever they returned to France, would be to hang them +all.'" + +This conversation, related to me by Duroc, interested me so much that I +noted it down on paper immediately after my interview. + + + + +CHAR XVII. + +1808. + + The Republic of Batavia--The crown of Holland offered to Louis-- + Offer and refusal of the crown of Spain--Napoleon's attempt to get + possession of Brabant--Napoleon before and after Erfart-- + A remarkable letter to Louis--Louis summoned to Paris--His honesty + and courage--His bold language--Louis' return to Holland, and his + letter to Napoleon--Harsh letter from Napoleon to Louis--Affray at + Amsterdam--Napoleon's displeasure and last letter to his brother-- + Louis' abdication in favour of his son--Union of Holland to the + French Empire--Protest of Louis against that measure--Letter from M. + Otto to Louis. + +When Bonaparte was the chief of the French Republic he had no objection +to the existence of a Batavian Republic in the north of France, and he +equally tolerated the Cisalpine Republic in the south. But after the +coronation all the Republics, which were grouped like satellites round +the grand Republic, were converted into kingdoms subject to the Empire, +if not avowedly, at least in fact. In this respect there was no +difference between the Batavian and Cisalpine Republics. The latter +having been metamorphosed into the Kingdom of Italy, it was necessary to +find some pretext for transforming the former into the Kingdom of +Holland. The government of the Republic of Batavia had been for some +time past merely the shadow of a government, but still it preserved, even +in its submission to France, those internal forms of freedom which +console a nation for the loss of independence. The Emperor kept up such +an extensive agency in Holland that he easily got up a deputation +soliciting him to choose a king for the Batavian Republic. This +submissive deputation came to Paris in 1806 to solicit the Emperor, as a +favour, to place Prince Louis on the throne of Holland. The address of +the deputation, the answer of Napoleon, and the speech of Louis on being +raised to the sovereign dignity, have all been published. + +Louis became King of Holland much against his inclination, for he opposed +the proposition as much as he dared, alleging as an objection the state +of his health, to which certainly the climate of Holland was not +favourable; but Bonaparte sternly replied to his remonstrance, "It is +better to die a king than live a prince." He was then obliged to accept +the crown. He went to Holland accompanied by Hortense, who, however, did +mot stay long there. The new King wanted to make himself beloved by his +subjects, and as they were an entirely commercial people the best way to +win their affections was not to adopt Napoleon's rigid laws against +commercial intercourse with England. Hence the first coolness between +the two brothers, which ended in the abdication of Louis. + +I know not whether Napoleon recollected the motive assigned by Louis for +at first refusing the crown of Holland, namely, the climate of the +country, or whether he calculated upon greater submission in another of +his brothers; but this is certain, that Joseph was not called from the +throne of Naples to the throne of Spain until after the refusal of Louis. +I have in my possession a copy of a letter written to him by Napoleon on +the subject. It is without date of time or place, but its contents prove +it to have been written in March or April 1808. It is as follows:-- + + BROTHER:--The King of Spain, Charles IV., has just abdicated. The + Spanish people loudly appeal to me. Certain of obtaining no solid + peace with England unless I cause a great movement on the Continent, + I have determined to place a French King on the throne of Spain. + The climate of Holland does not agree with you; besides, Holland + cannot rise from her rains. In the whirlwind of events, whether we + have peace or not, there is no possibility of her maintaining + herself. In this state of things I have thought of the throne of + Spain for you. Give me your opinions categorically on this measure. + If I were to name you King of Spain would you accept the offer? May + I count on you? Answer me these two questions. Say, "I have + received your letter of such a day, I answer Yes," and then I shall + count on your doing what I wish; or say "No" if you decline my + proposal. Let no one enter into your confidence, and mention to no + one the object of this letter. The thing must be done before we + confess having thought about it. + + (signed) NAPOLEON. + +Before finally seizing Holland Napoleon formed the project of separating +Brabant and Zealand from it in exchange for other provinces, the +possession of which was doubtful, but Louis successfully resisted this +first act of usurpation. Bonaparte was, too intent on the great business +in Spain to risk any commotion in the north, where the declaration of +Russia against Sweden already sufficiently occupied him. He therefore +did not insist upon, and even affected indifference to, the proposed +augmentation of the territory of the Empire. This at least may be +collected from another letter, dated St. Cloud, 17th August, written upon +hearing from M. Alexandre de la Rochefoucauld, his Ambassador in Holland, +and from his brother himself, the opposition of Louis to his project. + +The letter was as follows:-- + + BROTHER--I have received your letter relating to that of the Sieur + de la Rochefoucauld. He was only authorised to make the proposals + indirectly. Since the exchange does not please you, let us think no + more about it. It was useless to make a parade of principles, + though I never said that you ought not to consult the nation. The + well-informed part of the Dutch people had already acknowledged + their indifference to the loss of Brabant, which is connected with + France rather than with Holland, and interspersed with expensive + fortresses; it might have been advantageously exchanged for the + northern provinces. But, once for all, since you do not like this + arrangement, let no more be said about it. It was useless even to + mention it to me, for the Sieur de la Rochefoucauld was instructed + merely to hint the matter. + +Though ill-humour here evidently peeps out beneath affected +condescension, yet the tone of this letter is singularly moderate,--I may +even say kind, in comparison with other letters which Napoleon addressed +to Louis. This letter, it is true, was written previously to the +interview at Erfurt, when Napoleon, to avoid alarming Russia, made his +ambition appear to slumber. But when he got his brother Joseph +recognised, and when he had himself struck an important blow in the +Peninsula, he began to change his tone to Louis. On the 20th of December +he wrote a very remarkable letter, which exhibits the unreserved +expression of that tyranny which he wished to exercise over all his +family in order to make them the instruments of his despotism. He +reproached Louis for not following his system of policy, telling him that +he had forgotten he was a Frenchman, and that he wished to become a +Dutchman. Among other things he said: + + Your Majesty has done more: you took advantage of the moment when I + was involved in the affairs of the Continent to renew the relations + between Holland and England--to violate the laws of the blockade, + which are the only means of effectually destroying the latter power. + I expressed my dissatisfaction by forbidding you to come to France, + and I have made you feel that even without the assistance of my + armies, by merely closing the Rhine, the Weser, the Scheldt, and the + Meuse against Holland, I should have placed her in a situation more + critical than if I had declared war against her. Your Majesty + implored my generosity, appealed to my feelings as brother, and + promised to alter your conduct. I thought this warning would be + sufficient. I raised my custom-house prohibitions, but your Majesty + has returned to your old system. + + Your Majesty received all the American ships that presented + themselves in the ports of Holland after having been expelled from + those of France. I have been obliged a second time to prohibit + trade with Holland. In this state of things we may consider + ourselves really at war. In my speech to the Legislative Body I + manifested my displeasure; for I will not conceal from you that my + intention is to unite Holland with France. This will be the most + severe blow I can aim against England, and will deliver me from the + perpetual insults which the plotters of your Cabinet are constantly + directing against me. The mouths of the Rhine and of the Meuse + ought, indeed, to belong to me. The principle that the 'Thalweg' + (towing-path) of the Rhine is the boundary of France is a + fundamental principle. Your Majesty writes to me on the 17th that + you are sure of being able to prevent all trade between Holland and + England. I am of opinion that your Majesty promises more than + you can fulfil. I shall, however, remove my custom-house + prohibitions whenever the existing treaties may be executed. The + following are my conditions:--First, The interdiction of all trade + and communication with England. Second, The supply of a fleet of + fourteen sail-of the line, seven frigates and seven brigs or + corvettes, armed and manned. Third, An army of 25,000 men. Fourth, + The suppression of the rank of marshals. Fifth, The abolition of + all the privileges of nobility which are contrary to the + constitution which I have given and guaranteed. Your Majesty may + negotiate on these bases with the Due de Cadore, through the medium + of your Minister; but be assured that on the entrance of the first + packetboat into Holland I will restore my prohibitions, and that the + first Dutch officer who may presume to insult my flag shall be + seized, and hanged at the mainyard. Your Majesty will find in me a + brother if you prove yourself a Frenchman; but if yon forget the + sentiments which attach you to our common country you cannot think + it extraordinary that I should lose sight of those which nature + created between us. In short, the union of Holland and France will + be of all things, most useful to France, to Holland, and the whole + Continent, because it will be most injurious to England. This union + must be effected willingly or by force. Holland has given me + sufficient reason to declare war against her. However, I shall not + scruple to consent to an arrangement which will secure to me the + limit of the Rhine, and by which Holland will pledge herself to + fulfil the conditions stipulated above. + + --[Much of the manner in which Napoleon treated occupied + countries such as Holland is explained by the spirit of his + answer when Beugnot complained to him of the harm done to the + Grand Duchy of Berg by the monopoly of tobacco. "It is + extraordinary that you should not have discovered the motive + that makes me persist in the establishment of the monopoly of + tobacco in the Grand Duchy. The question is not about your + Grand Duchy but about France. I am very well aware that it is + not to your benefit, and that you very possibly lose by it, but + what does that signify if it be for the good of France? I tell + you, then, that in every country where there is a monopoly of + tobacco, but which is contiguous to one where the sale is free, + a regular smuggling infiltration must be reckoned on, supplying + the consumption for twenty or twenty-five miles into the + country subject to the duty. That is what I intend to preserve + France from. You must protect yourselves as well as yon can + from this infiltration. It is enough for me to drive it back + more than twenty or twenty-five miles from my frontier." + (Beugnot, vol. ii. p. 26).]-- + +Here the correspondence between the two brothers was suspended for a +time; but Louis still continued exposed to new vexations on the part of +Napoleon. About the end of 1809 the Emperor summoned all the sovereigns +who might be called his vassals to Paris. Among the number was Louis, +who, however, did not show himself very willing to quit his States. He +called a council of his Ministers, who were of opinion that for the +interest of Holland he ought to make this new sacrifice. He did so with +resignation. Indeed, every day passed on the throne was a sacrifice made +by Louis. + +He lived very quietly in Paris, and was closely watched by the police, +for it was supposed that as he had come against his will he would not +protract his stay so long as Napoleon wished. The system of espionage +under which he found himself placed, added to the other circumstances of +his situation, inspired him with a degree of energy of which he was not +believed to be capable; and amidst the general silence of the servants of +the Empire, and even of the Kings and Princes assembled in the capital, +he ventured to say, "I have been deceived by promises which were never +intended to be kept. Holland is tired of being the sport of France." The +Emperor, who was unused to such language as this, was highly incensed at +it. Louis had now no alternative but to yield to the incessant exactions +of Napoleon or to see Holland united to France. He chose the latter, +though not before he had exerted all his feeble power in behalf of the +subjects whom Napoleon had consigned to him; but he would not be the +accomplice of the man who had resolved to make those subjects the victims +of his hatred against England. Who, indeed, could be so blind as not to +see that the ruin of the Continent would be the triumph of British +commerce? + +Louis was, however, permitted to return to his States to contemplate the +stagnating effect of the Continental blockade on every branch of trade +and industry formerly so active in Holland. Distressed at witnessing +evils to which he could apply no remedy, he endeavoured by some prudent +remonstrances to avert the utter, ruin with which Holland was threatened. +On the 23d of March 1810 he wrote the following letter to Napoleon:-- + + If you wish to consolidate the present state of France, to obtain + maritime peace, or to attack England with advantage, those objects + are not to be obtained by measures like the blockading system, the + destruction of a kingdom raised by yourself, or the enfeebling of + your allies, and setting at defiance their most sacred rights and + the first principles of the law of nations. Yon should, on the + contrary, win their affections for France, and consolidate and + reinforce your allies, making them like your brothers, in whom you + may place confidence. The destruction of Holland, far from being + the means of assailing England, will serve only to increase her + strength, by all the industry and wealth which will fly to her for + refuge. There are, in reality, only three ways of assailing + England, namely, by detaching Ireland, getting possession of the + East Indies, or by invasion. These two latter modes, which would be + the most effectual, cannot be executed without naval force. But I + am astonished that the first should have been so easily + relinquished. That is a more secure mode of obtaining peace on good + conditions than the system of injuring ourselves for the sake of + committing a greater injury upon the enemy. + + (Signed) LOUIS. + +Written remonstrances were no more to Napoleon's taste than verbal ones +at a time when, as I was informed by my friends whom fortune chained to +his destiny, no one presumed to address a word to him except in answer to +his questions. Cambaceres, who alone had retained that privilege in +public as his old colleague in the Consulate, lost it after Napoleon's +marriage with the daughter of Imperial Austria. His brother's letter +highly roused his displeasure. Two months after he received it, being on +a journey in the north, he replied from Ostend by a letter which cannot +be read without a feeling of pain, since it serves to show how weak are +the most sacred ties of blood in comparison with the interests of an +insatiable policy. This letter was as follows: + + BROTHER--In the situation in which we are placed it is best to speak + candidly. I know your secret sentiments, and all that you can say + to the contrary can avail nothing. Holland is certainly in a + melancholy situation. I believe you are anxious to extricate her + from her difficulties: it is you; and you alone, who can do this. + + When you conduct yourself in such a way as to induce the people of + Holland to believe that you act under my influence, that all your + measures and all your sentiments are conformable with mine, then you + will be loved, you will be esteemed, and you will acquire the power + requisite for re-establishing Holland: when to be my friend, and the + friend of France, shall become a title of favour at your court, + Holland will be in her natural situation. Since your return from + Paris you have done nothing to effect this object. What will be the + result of your conduct? Your subjects, bandied about between France + and England, will throw themselves into the arms of France, and will + demand to be united to her. You know my character, which is to + pursue my object unimpeded by any consideration. What, therefore, + do you expect me to do? I can dispense with Holland, but Holland + cannot dispense with my protection. If, under the dominion of one + of my brothers, but looking to me alone for her welfare, she does + not find in her sovereign my image, all confidence in your + government is at an end; your sceptre is broken. Love France, love + my glory--that is the only way to serve Holland: if you had acted as + you ought to have done that country, having becoming a part of my + Empire, would have been the more dear to me since I had given her a + sovereign whom I almost regarded as my son. In placing you on the + throne of Holland I thought I had placed a French citizen there. + You have followed a course diametrically opposite to what I + expected. I have been forced to prohibit you from coming to France, + and to take possession of a part of your territory. In proving + yourself a bad Frenchman you are less to the Dutch than a Prince of + Orange, to whose family they owe their rank as a nation, and a long + succession of prosperity and glory. By your banishment from France + the Dutch are convinced that they have lost what they would not have + lost under a Schimmelpenninek or a Prince of Orange. Prove yourself + a Frenchman, and the brother of the Emperor, and be assured that + thereby you will serve the interests of Holland. But you seem to be + incorrigible, for you would drive away the few Frenchmen who remain + with you. You must be dealt with, not by affectionate advice, but + by threats and compulsion. What mean the prayers and mysterious + fasts you have ordered? Louis, you will not reign long. Your + actions disclose better than your confidential letters the + sentiments of your mind. Return to the right course. Be a + Frenchman in heart, or your people will banish you, and you will + leave Holland an object of ridicule. + + --[It was, on the contrary, became Louis made himself a + Dutchman that his people did not banish him, and that be + carried away with him the regret of all that portion of his + subjects who could appreciate his excellent qualities and + possessed good sense enough to perceive that he was not to + blame for the evils that weighed upon Holland.--Bourrienne. + The conduct of Bonaparte to Murat was almost a counterpart to + this. When Murat attempted to consult the interests of Naples + he was called a traitor to France.--Editor of 1836 edition.]-- + + States must be governed by reason and policy, and not by the + weakness produced by acrid and vitiated humours. + + (Signed) NAPOLEON. + +A few days after this letter was despatched to Louis, Napoleon heard of a +paltry affray which had taken place at Amsterdam, and to which Comte de +la Rochefoucauld gave a temporary diplomatic importance, being aware that +he could not better please his master than by affording him an excuse for +being angry. It appeared that the honour of the Count's coachman had +been put in jeopardy by the insult of a citizen of Amsterdam, and a +quarrel had ensued, which, but for the interference of the guard of the +palace, might have terminated seriously since it assumed the character of +a party affair between the French and the Dutch. M. de la Rochefoucauld +immediately despatched to the Emperor, who was then at Lille, a full +report of his coachman's quarrel, in which he expressed himself with as +much earnestness as the illustrious author of the "Maxims" evinced when +he waged war against kings. The consequence was that Napoleon instantly +fulminated the following letter against his brother Louis: + + BROTHER--At the very moment when you were making the fairest + protestations I learn that the servants of my Ambassador have been + ill-treated at Amsterdam. I insist that those who were guilty of + this outrage be delivered up to me, in order that their punishment + may serve as an example to others. The Sieur Serrurier has informed + me how you conducted yourself at the diplomatic audiences. I have, + consequently, determined that the Dutch Ambassador shall not remain + in Paris; and Admiral Yerhuell has received orders to depart within + twenty-four hours. I want no more phrases and protestations. It is + time I should know whether you intend to ruin Holland by your + follies. I do not choose that you should again send a Minister to + Austria, or that you should dismiss the French who are in your + service. I have recalled my Ambassador as I intend only to have a + charge d'affaires in Holland. The Sieur Serrurier, who remains + there in that capacity, will communicate my intentions. My + Ambassador shall no longer be exposed to your insults. Write to me + no more of those set phrases which you have been repeating for the + last three years, and the falsehood of which is proved every day. + + This is the last letter I will ever write to you as long as I live. + + (Signed) NAPOLEON. + +Thus reduced to the cruel alternative of crushing Holland with his own +hands, or leaving that task to the Emperor, Louis did not hesitate to lay +down his sceptre. Having formed this resolution, he addressed a message +to the Legislative Body of the Kingdom of Holland explaining the motives +of his abdication. The French troops entered Holland under the command +of the Duke of Reggio, and that marshal, who was more a king than the +King himself, threatened to occupy Amsterdam. Louis then descended from +his throne, and four years after Napoleon was hurled from his. + +In his act of abdication Louis declared that he had been driven to that +step by the unhappy state of his Kingdom, which he attributed to his +brother's unfavourable feelings towards him. He added that he had made +every effort and sacrifice to put an end to that painful state of things, +and that, finally, he regarded himself as the cause of the continual +misunderstanding between the French Empire and Holland. It is curious +that Louis thought he could abdicate the crown of Holland in favour of +his son, as Napoleon only four years after wished to abdicate his crown +in favour of the King of Rome. + +Louis bade farewell to the people of Holland in a proclamation, after the +publication of which he repaired to the waters at Toeplitz. There he was +living in tranquil retirement when he learned that his brother had united +Holland to the Empire. He then published a protest, of which I obtained +a copy, though its circulation was strictly prohibited by the police. In +this protest Louis said: + + + The constitution of the state guaranteed by the Emperor, my brother, + gave me the right of abdicating in favour of my children. That + abdication was made in the form and terms prescribed by the + constitution. The Emperor had no right to declare war against + Holland, and he has not done so. + + There is no act, no dissent, no demand of the Dutch nation that can + authorise the pretended union. + + My abdication does not leave the throne vacant. I have abdicated + only in favour of my children. + + As that abdication left Holland for twelve years under a regency, + that is to say, under the direct influence of the Emperor, according + to the terms of the constitution, there was no need of that union + for executing every measure he might have in view against trade and + against England, since his will was supreme in Holland. + + But I ascended the throne without any other conditions except those + imposed upon me by my conscience, my duty, and the interest and + welfare of my subjects. I therefore declare before God and the + independent sovereigns to whom I address myself-- + + First, That the treaty of the 16th of March 1810, which occasioned + the separation of the province of Zealand and Brabant from Holland, + was accepted by compulsion, and ratified conditionally by me in + Paris, where I was detained against my will; and that, moreover, the + treaty was never executed by the Emperor my brother. Instead of + 6000 French troops which I was to maintain, according to the terms + of the treaty, that number has been more than doubled; instead of + occupying only the mouths of the rivers and the coasts, the French + custom-horses have encroached into the interior of the country; + instead of the interference of France being confined to the measures + connected with the blockade of England, Dutch magazines have been + seized and Dutch subjects arbitrarily imprisoned; finally, none of + the verbal promises have been kept which were made in the Emperor's + name by the Due de Cadore to grant indemnities for the countries + ceded by the said treaty and to mitigate its execution, if the King + would refer entirely to the Emperor, etc. I declare, in my name, in + the name of the nation and my son, the treaty of the 16th of March + 1810 to be null and void. + + Second, I declare that my abdication was forced by the Emperor, my + brother, that it was made only as the last extremity, and on this + one condition--that I should maintain the rights of Holland and my + children. My abdication could only be made in their favour. + + Third, In my name, in the name of the King my son, who is as yet a + minor, and in the name of the Dutch nation, I declare the pretended + union of Holland to France, mentioned in the decree of the Emperor, + my brother, dated the 9th of July last, to be null, void, illegal, + unjust, and arbitrary in the eyes of God and man, and that the + nation and the minor King will assert their just rights when + circumstances permit them. + (Signed)LOUIS. + August 1, 1810. + + +Thus there seemed to be an end of all intercourse between these two +brothers, who were so opposite in character and disposition. But +Napoleon, who was enraged that Louis should have presumed to protest, and +that in energetic terms, against the union of his Kingdom with the +Empire, ordered him to return to France, whither he was summoned in his +character of Constable and French Prince. Louis, however, did not think +proper to obey this summons, and Napoleon, mindful of his promise of +never writing to him again, ordered the following letter to be addressed +to him by M. Otto, who had been Ambassador from France to Vienna since +the then recent marriage of the Emperor with Maria Louisa-- + + SIRE:--The Emperor directs me to write to your Majesty as follows:-- + "It is the duty of every French Prince, and every member of the + Imperial family, to reside in France, whence they cannot absent + themselves without the permission of the Emperor. Before the union + of Holland to the Empire the Emperor permitted the King to reside at + Toeplitz, is Bohemia. His health appeared to require the use of the + waters, but now the Emperor requires that Prince Louis shall return, + at the latest by the 1st of December next, under pain of being + considered as disobeying the constitution of the Empire and the head + of his family, and being treated accordingly." + + I fulfil, Sire, word for word the mission with which I have been + entrusted, and I send the chief secretary of the embassy to be + assured that this letter is rightly delivered. I beg your Majesty + to accept the homage of my respect, etc. + + (Signed)OTTO. + + --[The eldest son of Louis, one of the fruits of his unhappy + marriage with Hortense Beauharnais, the daughter of Josephine, + the wife of his brother Napoleon, was little more than six + years of age when his father abdicated the crown of Holland in + his favour. In 1830-31 this imprudent young man joined the + ill-combined mad insurrection in the States of the Pope. He + was present in one or two petty skirmishes, and was, we + believe, wounded; but it was a malaria fever caught in the + unhealthy Campagna of Rome that carried him to the grave in the + twenty-seventh year of his age.--Editor of 1836 edition.-- + The first child of Louis and of Hortense had died in 1807. + The second son, Napoleon Louis (1804-1831) in whose favour he + abdicated had been created Grand Due de Berg et de Cleves by + Napoleon in 1809. He married to 1826 Charlotte, the daughter + of Joseph Bonaparte, and died in 1831, while engaged in a + revolutionary movement in Italy. On his death his younger + brother Charles Louis Napoleon, the future Napoleon III., first + came forward as an aspirant.]-- + +What a letter was this to be addressed by a subject to a prince and a +sovereign. When I afterwards saw M. Otto in Paris, and conversed with +him on the subject, he assured me how much he had been distressed at the +necessity of writing such a letter to the brother of the Emperor. He had +employed the expressions dictated by Napoleon in that irritation which he +could never command when his will was opposed. + + --[With regard to Louis and his conduct in Holland Napoleon thus + spoke at St. Helena: + + "Louis is not devoid of intelligence, and has a good heart, but even + with these qualifications a man may commit many errors, and do a + great deal of mischief. Louis is naturally inclined to be + capricious and fantastical, and the works of Jean Jacques Rousseau + have contributed to increase this disposition. Seeking to obtain a + reputation for sensibility and beneficence, incapable by himself of + enlarged views, and, at most, competent to local details, Louis + acted like a prefect rather than a King. + + "No sooner had he arrived in Holland than, fancying that nothing + could be finer than to have it said that be was thenceforth a true + Dutchman, he attached himself entirely to the party favourable to + the English, promoted smuggling, and than connived with our enemies. + It became necessary from that moment watch over him, and even + threaten to wage war against him. Louis then seeking a refuge + against the weakness of his disposition in the most stubborn + obstinacy, and mistaking a public scandal for an act of glory, fled + from his throne, declaiming against me and against my insatiable + ambition, my intolerable tyranny, etc. What then remained for me to + do? Was I to abandon Holland to our enemies? Ought I to have given + it another King? But is that case could I have expected more from + him than from my own brother? Did not all the Kings that I created + act nearly in the same manner? I therefore united Holland to the + Empire, and this act produced a most unfavourable impression in + Europe, and contributed not a little to lay the foundation of our + misfortunes" (Memorial de Sainte Helene)]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +1809. + + Demands for contingents from some of the small States of Germany-- + M. Metternich--Position of Russia with respect to France--Union of + Austria and Russia--Return of the English to Spain--Soult King of + Portugal, and Murat successor to the Emperor--First levy of the + landwehr in Austria--Agents of the Hamburg 'Correspondent'-- + Declaration of Prince Charles--Napoleon's march to Germany--His + proclamation--Bernadotte's departure for the army--Napoleon's + dislike of Bernadotte--Prince Charles' plan of campaign--The English + at Cuxhaven--Fruitlessness of the plots of England--Napoleon + wounded--Napoleon's prediction realised--Major Schill--Hamburg + threatened and saved--Schill in Lubeck--His death, and destruction + of his band--Schill imitated by the Duke of Brunswick-OEls-- + Departure of the English from Cuxhaven. + +Bonaparte, the foundations of whose Empire were his sword and his. +victories, and who was anxiously looking forward to the time when the +sovereigns of Continental Europe should be his juniors, applied for +contingents of troops from the States to which I was accredited. The +Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was to furnish a regiment of 1800 men, and +the other little States, such as Oldenburg and Mecklenburg-Strelitz, were +to furnish regiments of less amount. All Europe was required to rise in +arms to second the gigantic projects of the new sovereign. This demand +for contingents, and the positive way in which the Emperor insisted upon +them, gave rise to an immense correspondence, which, however, was +unattended by any result. The notes and orders remained in the +portfolios, and the contingents stayed at home. + +M. Metternich, whose talent has since been so conspicuously displayed, +had been for upwards of a year Ambassador from Austria to Paris. Even +then he excelled in the art of guiding men's minds, and of turning to the +advantage of his policy his external graces and the favour he acquired in +the drawing-room. His father, a clever man, brought up in the old +diplomatic school of Thugut and Kaunitz, had early accustomed him to the +task of making other Governments believe, by means of agents, what might +lead them into error and tend to the advantage of his own Government. +His manoeuvres tended to make Austria assume a discontented and haughty +tone; and wishing, as she said, to secure her independence, she publicly +declared her intention of protecting herself against any enterprise +similar to those of which she had so often been the victim. This +language, encouraged by the complete evacuation of Germany, and the war +in Spain, the unfortunate issue of which was generally foreseen, was +used--in time of peace between the two empires, and when France was not +threatening war to Austria. + + --[Metternich arrived in Paris as Ambassador on 4th August 1806, + after Austria had been vanquished at Austerlitz. It does not seem + probable, either from his views or his correspondence, that he + advised the rash attempt of Austria to attack Napoleon by herself; + compare Metternich tome 1. p. 69, on the mistake of Prussia in 1805 + and 1806; see also tome ii. p. 221, "To provoke a war with France + would be madness" (1st July 1808). On the other hand, the tone of + his correspondence in 1808 seams calculated to make Austria believe + that war was inevitable, and that her forces, "so inferior to those + of France before the insurrection in Spain, will at least be equal + to them immediately after that event" (tome ii. p. 808). What is + curious is that Metternich's conduct towards Napoleon while + Ambassador had led even such men as Duke Dalberg to believe that he + was really so well disposed towards Napoleon as to serve his cause + more than that of Austria. + +M. Metternich, who had instructions from his Court, gave no satisfactory +explanation of those circumstances to Napoleon, who immediately raised a +conscription, and brought soldiers from Spain into Germany. + +It was necessary, also, to come to an understanding with Russia, who, +being engaged with her war in Finland and Turkey, appeared desirous +neither to enter into alliance with Austria nor to afford her support. +What, in fact, was the Emperor Alexander's situation with respect to +France? He had signed a treaty of peace at Tilsit which he felt had been +forced upon him, and he knew that time alone would render it possible for +him to take part in a contest which it was evident would again be renewed +either with Prussia or Austria. + +Every person of common sense must have perceived that Austria, in taking +up arms, reckoned, if not on the assistance, at least on the neutrality +of Russia. Russia was then engaged with two enemies, the Swedes and the +Turks, over whom she hoped to triumph. She therefore rejoiced to see +France again engage in a struggle with Austria, and there was no doubt +that she would take advantage of any chances favourable to the latter +power to join her in opposing the encroachments of France. I never could +conceive how, under those circumstances, Napoleon could be so blind as to +expect assistance from Russia in his quarrel with Austria. He must, +indeed, have been greatly deceived as to the footing on which the two +Courts stood with reference to each other--their friendly footing and +their mutual agreement to oppose the overgrowing ambition of their common +enemy. + +The English, who had been compelled to quit Spain, now returned there. +They landed in Portugal, which might be almost regarded as their own +colony, and marched against Marshal Soult, who left Spain to meet them. +Any other man than Soult would perhaps have been embarrassed by the +obstacles which he had to surmount. A great deal has been said about his +wish to make himself King of Portugal. Bernadotte told me, when he +passed through Hamburg, that the matter had been the subject of much +conversation at headquarters after the battle of Wagram. Bernadotte +placed no faith in the report, and I am pretty sure that Napoleon also +disbelieved it. However, this matter is still involved in the obscurity +from which it will only be drawn when some person acquainted with the +intrigue shall give a full explanation of it. + +Since I have, with reference to Soult, touched upon the subject of his +supposed ambition, I will mention here what I know of Murat's expectation +of succeeding the Emperor. When Romanzow returned from his useless +mission of mediation to London the Emperor proceeded to Bayonne. +Bernadotte, who had an agent in Paris whom he paid highly, told me one +day that he had received a despatch informing him that Murat entertained +the idea of one day succeeding the Emperor. Sycophants, expecting to +derive advantage from it, encouraged Murat in this chimerical hope. +I know not whether Napoleon was acquainted with this circumstance, nor +what he said of it, but Bernadotte spoke of it to me as a certain fact. +It would, however, have been very wrong to attach great importance to an +expression which, perhaps, escaped Murat in a moment of ardour, for his +natural temperament sometimes betrayed him into acts of imprudence, the +result of which, with a man like Napoleon, was always to be dreaded. + +It was in the midst of the operations of the Spanish war, which Napoleon +directed in person, that he learned Austria had for the first time raised +the landwehr. I obtained some very curious documents respecting the +armaments of Austria from the Editor of the Hamburg 'Correspondent'. +This paper, the circulation of which amounted to not less than 60,000, +paid considerable sums to persons in different parts of Europe who were +able and willing to furnish the current news. The Correspondent paid +6000 francs a year to a clerk in the war department at Vienna, and it was +this clerk who supplied the intelligence that Austria was preparing for +war, and that orders had been issued in all directions to collect and put +in motion all the resources of that powerful monarchy. I communicated +these particulars to the French Government, and suggested the necessity +of increased vigilance and measures of defence. Preceding aggressions, +especially that of 1805, were not to be forgotten. Similar information +probably reached the French Government from many quarters. Be that as it +may, the Emperor consigned the military operations in Spain to his +generals, and departed for Paris, where he arrived at the end of January +1809. He had been in Spain only since the beginning of November 1808,' +and his presence there had again rendered our banners victorious. But +though the insurgent troops were beaten the inhabitants showed themselves +more and more unfavourable to Joseph's cause; and it did not appear very +probable that he could ever seat himself tranquilly on the throne of +Madrid. + + --[The successes obtained by Napoleon during his stay of about three + months in Spain were certainly very great, and mainly resulted from + his own masterly genius and lightning-like rapidity. The Spanish + armies, as yet unsupported by British troops, were defeated at + Gomenal, Espinosa, Reynosa, Tudela, and at the pass of the Somo + sierra Mountains, and at an early hour of the morning of the 4th + December Madrid surrendered. On the 20th of December Bonaparte + marched with far superior forces against the unfortunate Sir John + Moore, who had been sent to advance into Spain both by the wrong + route and at a wrong time. On the 29th, from the heights of + Benevento, his eyes were delighted by seeing the English in full + retreat. But a blow struck him from another quarter, and leaving + Soult to follow up Moore he took the road to Paris.]-- + +The Emperor Francis, notwithstanding his counsellors, hesitated about +taking the first step; but at length, yielding to the solicitations of +England and the secret intrigues of Russia, and, above all, seduced by +the subsidies of Great Britain, Austria declared hostilities, not at +first against France, but against her allies of the Confederation of the +Rhine. On the 9th of April Prince Charles, who was appointed commander- +in-chief of the Austrian troops, addressed a note to the commander-in- +chief of the French army in Bavaria, apprising him of the declaration of +war. + +A courier carried the news of this declaration to Strasburg with the +utmost expedition, from whence it was transmitted by telegraph to Paris. +The Emperor, surprised but not disconcerted by this intelligence, +received it at St. Cloud on the 11th of April, and two hours after he was +on the road to Germany. The complexity of affairs in which he was then +involved seemed to give a new impulse to his activity. When he reached +the army neither his troops nor his Guard had been able to come up, and +under those circumstances he placed himself at the head of the Bavarian +troops, and, as it were, adopted the soldiers of Maximilian. Six days +after his departure from Paris the army of Prince Charles, which had +passed the Inn, was threatened. The Emperor's headquarters were at +Donauwerth, and from thence he addressed to his soldiers one of those +energetic and concise proclamations which made them perform so many +prodigies, and which was soon circulated in every language by the public +journals. This complication of events could not but be fatal to Europe +and France, whatever might be its result, but it presented an opportunity +favourable to the development of the Emperor's genius. Like his +favourite poet Ossian, who loved best to touch his lyre midst the +howlings of the tempest, Napoleon required political tempests for the +display of his abilities. + +During the campaign of 1809, and particularly at its commencement, +Napoleon's course was even more rapid than it had been in the campaign +of 1805. Every courier who arrived at Hamburg brought us news, or rather +prodigies. As soon as the Emperor was informed of the attack made by the +Austrians upon Bavaria orders were despatched to all the generals having +troops under their command to proceed with all speed to the theatre of +the war. The Prince of Ponte-Corvo was summoned to join the Grand Army +with the Saxon troops under his command and for the time he resigned the +government of the Hanse Towns. Colonel Damas succeeded him at Hamburg +during that period, but merely as commandant of the fortress; and he +never gave rise to any murmur or complaint. Bernadotte was not satisfied +with his situation, and indeed the Emperor, who was never much disposed +to bring him forward, because he could not forgive him for his opposition +on the 18th Brumaire, always appointed him to posts in which but little +glory was to be acquired, and placed as few troops as possible under his +command. + +It required all the promptitude of the Emperor's march upon Vienna to +defeat the plots which were brewing against his government, for in the +event of his arms being unsuccessful, the blow was ready to be struck. +The English force in the north of Germany amounted to about 10,000 men: +The Archduke Charles had formed the project of concentrating in the +middle of Germany a large body of troops, consisting of the corps of +General Am Eude, of General Radizwowitz, and of the English, with whom +were to be joined the people who were expected to revolt. The English +would have wished the Austrian troops to advance a little farther. The +English agent made some representations on this subject to Stadion, the +Austrian Minister; but the Archduke preferred making a diversion to +committing the safety of the monarchy by departing from his present +inactivity and risking the passage of the Danube, in the face of an enemy +who never suffered himself to be surprised, and who had calculated every +possible event: In concerting his plan the Archduke expected that the +Czar would either detach a strong force to assist his allies, or that he +would abandon them to their own defence. In the first case the Archduke +would have had a great superiority, and in the second, all was prepared +in Hesse and in Hanover to rise on the approach of the Austrian and +English armies. + +At the commencement of July the English advanced upon Cuxhaven with a +dozen small ships of war. They landed 400 or 600 sailors and about 50 +marines, and planted a standard on one of the outworks. The day after +this landing at Cuxhaven the English, who were in Denmark evacuated +Copenhagen, after destroying a battery which they had erected there. +All the schemes of England were fruitless on the Continent, for with the +Emperor's new system of war, which consisted in making a push on the +capitals, he soon obtained negotiations for peace. He was master of +Vienna before England had even organised the expedition to which I have +just alluded. He left Paris on the 11th of April, was at Donauwerth on +the 17th, and on the 23d he was master of Ratisbon. In the engagement +which preceded his entrance into that town Napoleon received a slight +wound in the heel. He nevertheless remained on the field of battle. It +was also between Donauwerth and Ratisbon that Davoust, by a bold +manoeuvre, gained and merited the title of Prince of Eckmuhl. + + --[The great battle of Eckmuhl, where 100,000 Austrians were driven + from all their positions, was fought on the 22d of April.-Editor of + 1836 edition.]-- + +At this period fortune was not only bent on favouring Napoleon's arms, +but she seemed to take pleasure in realising even his boasting +predictions; for the French troops entered Vienna within a month after a +proclamation issued by Napoleon at Ratisbon, in which he said he would be +master of the Austrian capital in that time. + +But while he was thus marching from triumph to triumph the people of +Hamburg and the neighbouring countries had a neighbour who did not leave +them altogether without inquietude. The famous Prussian partisan, Major +Schill, after pursuing his system of plunder in Westphalia, came and +threw himself into Mecklenburg, whence, I understood, it was his +intention to surprise Hamburg. At the head of 600 well-mounted hussars +and between 1500 and 2000 infantry badly armed, he took possession of the +little fort of Domitz, in Mecklenburg, on the 15th of May, from whence he +despatched parties who levied contributions on both banks of the Elbe. +Schill inspired terror wherever he went. On the 19th of May a detachment +of 30 men belonging to Schill's corps entered Wismar. It was commanded +by Count Moleke, who had formerly been in the Prussian service, and who +had retired to his estate in Mecklenburg, where the Duke had kindly given +him an appointment. Forgetting his duty to his benefactor, he sent to +summon the Duke to surrender Stralsund. + +Alarmed at the progress of the partisan Schill, the Duke of Mecklenburg +and his Court quitted Ludwigsburg, their regular residence, and retired +to Doberan, on the seacoast. On quitting Mecklenburg Schill advanced to +Bergdorf, four leagues from Hamburg. The alarm then increased in that +city. A few of the inhabitants talked of making a compromise with Schill +and sending him money to get him away. But the firmness of the majority +imposed silence on this timid council. I consulted with the commandant +of the town, and we determined to adopt measures of precaution. The +custom-house chest, in which there was more than a million of gold, was +sent to Holstein under a strong escort. At the same time I sent to +Schill a clever spy, who gave him a most alarming account of the means of +defence which Hamburg possessed. Schill accordingly gave up his designs +on that city, and leaving it on his left, entered Lubeck, which was +undefended. + +Meanwhile Lieutenant-General Gratien, who had left Berlin by order of the +Prince de Neufchatel, with 2500 Dutch and 3000 Swedish troops, actively +pursued Schill, and tranquillity was soon restored throughout all the +neighbouring country, which had been greatly agitated by his bold +enterprise. Schill, after wandering for some days on the shores of the +Baltic, was overtaken by General Gratien at Stralsund, whence he was +about to embark for Sweden. He made a desperate defence, and was killed +after a conflict of two hours. His band was destroyed. Three hundred of +his hussars and 200 infantry, who had effected their escape, asked leave +to return to Prussia, and they were conducted to the Prussian general +commanding a neighbouring town. A war of plunder like that carried on by +Schill could not be honourably acknowledged by a power having, any claim +to respect. Yet the English Government sent Schill a colonel's +commission, and the full uniform of his new rank, with the assurance that +all his troops should thenceforth be paid by England. + +Schill soon had an imitator of exalted rank. In August 1809 the Duke of +Brunswick-OEls sought the dangerous honour of succeeding that famous +partisan. At the head of at most 2000 men he for some days disturbed the +left bank of the Elbe, and on the 5th entered Bremen. On his approach +the French Vice-Consul retired to Osterhulz. One of the Duke's officers +presented himself at the hones of the Vice-Consul and demanded 200 Louis. +The agent of the Vice-Consul, alarmed at the threat of the place being +given up to pillage, capitulated with the officer, and with considerable +difficulty got rid of him at the sacrifice of 80 Louis, for which a +receipt was presented to him in the name of the Duke. The Duke, who now +went by the name of "the new Schill," did not remain long in Bremen. + +Wishing to repair with all possible speed to Holland he left Bremen on +the evening of the 6th, and proceeded to Dehnenhorst, where his advanced +guard had already arrived. The Westphalian troops, commanded by Reubell, +entered Bremen on the 7th, and not finding the Duke of Brunswick, +immediately marched in pursuit of him. The Danish troops, who occupied +Cuxhaven, received orders to proceed to Bremerlehe, to favour the +operations of the Westphalians and the Dutch. Meanwhile the English +approached Cuxhaven, where they landed 3000 or 4000 men. The persons in +charge of the custom-house establishment, and the few sailors who were in +Cuxhaven, fell back upon Hamburg. The Duke of Brunswick, still pursued +crossed Germany from the frontiers of Bohemia to Elsfleth, a little port +on the left bank of the Weser, where he arrived on the 7th, being one day +in advance of his pursuers. He immediately took possession of all the +transports at Elsfleth, and embarked for Heligoland. + +The landing which the English effected at Cuxhaven while the Danes, who +garrisoned that port, were occupied in pursuing the Duke of Brunswick, +was attended by no result. After the escape of the Duke the Danes +returned to their post which the English immediately evacuated. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +I have made sovereigns, but have not wished to be one myself +Go to England. The English like wrangling politicians +Let women mind their knitting + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1809, v10 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 11. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER XIX. to CHAPTER XXVII. 1809-1812 + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +1809. + + The castle of Diernstein--Richard Coeur de Lion and Marshal Lannes, + --The Emperor at the gates of Vienna--The Archduchess Maria Louisa-- + Facility of correspondence with England--Smuggling in Hamburg--Brown + sugar and sand--Hearses filled with sugar and coffee--Embargo on the + publication of news--Supervision of the 'Hamburg Correspondant'-- + Festival of Saint Napoleon--Ecclesiastical adulation--The King of + Westphalia's journey through his States--Attempt to raise a loan-- + Jerome's present to me--The present returned--Bonaparte's unfounded + suspicions. + +Rapp, who during the campaign of Vienna had resumed his duties as aide de +camp, related to me one of those observations of Napoleon which, when his +words are compared with the events that followed them, seem to indicate a +foresight into his future destiny. When within some days' march of +Vienna the Emperor procured a guide to explain to him every village and +ruin which he observed on the road. The guide pointed to an eminence on +which were a few decayed vestiges of an old fortified castle. "Those," +said the guide, "are the ruins of the castle of Diernstein." Napoleon +suddenly stopped, and stood for some time silently contemplating the +ruins, then turning to Lannes, who was with him, he raid, "See! yonder +is the prison of Richard Coeur de Lion. He, like us, went to Syria and +Palestine. But, my brave Lannes, the Coeur de Lion was not braver than +you. He was more fortunate than I at St. Jean d'Acre. A Duke of Austria +sold him to an Emperor of Germany, who imprisoned him in that castle. +Those were the days of barbarism. How different from the civilisation of +modern times! Europe has seen how I treated the Emperor of Austria, whom +I might have made prisoner--and I would treat him so again. I claim no +credit for this. In the present age crowned heads must be respected. A +conqueror imprisoned!" + +A few days after the Emperor was at the gates of Vienna, but on this +occasion his access to the Austrian capital was not so easy as it had +been rendered in 1805 by the ingenuity and courage of Lannes and Murat. +The Archduke Maximilian, who was shut up in the capital, wished to defend +it, although the French army already occupied the principal suburbs. In +vain were flags of truce sent one after the other to the Archduke. They +were not only dismissed unheard, but were even ill-treated, and one of +them was almost killed by the populace. The city was then bombarded, and +would speedily have been destroyed but that the Emperor, being informed +that one of the Archduchesses remained in Vienna on account of ill- +health, ordered the firing to cease. By a singular caprice of Napoleon's +destiny this Archduchess was no other than Maria Louisa. Vienna at +length opened her gates to Napoleon, who for some days took up his +residence at Schoenbrunn. + +The Emperor was engaged in so many projects at once that they could not +all succeed. Thus, while he was triumphant in the Hereditary States his +Continental system was experiencing severe checks. The trade with +England on the coast of Oldenburg was carped on as uninterruptedly as if +in time of peace. English letters and newspapers arrived on the +Continent, and those of the Continent found their way into Great Britain, +as if France and England had been united by ties of the firmest +friendship. In short, things were just in the same state as if the +decree for the blockade of the British Isles had not existed. When the +custom-house officers succeeded in seizing contraband goods they were +again taken from them by main force. On the 2d of July a serious contest +took place at Brinskham between the custom-house officers and a party of +peasantry, in which the latter remained masters of eighteen wagons laden +with English goods: many were wounded on both sides. + +If, however, trade with England was carried on freely along a vast extent +of coast, it was different in the city of Hamburg, where English goods +were introduced only by fraud; and I verily believe that the art of +smuggling and the schemes of smugglers were never before carried to such +perfection. Above 6000 persons of the lower orders went backwards and +forwards, about twenty times a day, from Altona to Hamburg, and they +carried on their contraband, trade by many ingenious stratagems, two of +which were so curious that they are worth mentioning here. + +On the left of the road leading from Hamburg to Altona there was a piece +of ground where pits were dug for the purpose of procuring sand used for +building and for laying down in the streets. At this time it was +proposed to repair the great street of Hamburg leading to the gate of +Altona. The smugglers overnight filled the sandpit with brown sugar, and +the little carts which usually conveyed the sand into Hamburg were filled +with the sugar, care being taken to cover it with a layer of sand about +an inch thick. This trick was carried on for a length of time, but no +progress was made in repairing the street. I complained greatly of the +delay, even before I was aware of its cause, for the street led to a +country-house I had near Altona, whither I went daily. The officers of +the customs at length perceived that the work did not proceed, and one +fine morning the sugar-carts were stopped and seized. Another expedient +was then to be devised. + +Between Hamburg and Altona there was a little suburb situated on the +right bank of the Elbe. This suburb was inhabited, by sailors, labourers +of the port, and landowners. The inhabitants were interred in the +cemetery of Hamburg. It was observed that funeral processions passed +this way more frequently than usual. The customhouse officers, amazed at +the sudden mortality of the worthy inhabitants of the little suburb, +insisted on searching one of the vehicles, and on opening the hearse it +was found to be filled with sugar, coffee, vanilla, indigo, etc. It was +necessary to abandon this expedient, but others were soon discovered. + +Bonaparte was sensitive, in an extraordinary degree, to all that was said +and thought of him, and Heaven knows how many despatches I received from +headquarters during the campaign of Vienna directing me not only to watch +the vigilant execution of the custom-house laws, but to lay an embargo on +a thing which alarmed him more than the introduction of British +merchandise, viz. the publication of news. In conformity with these +reiterated instructions I directed especial attention to the management +of the 'Correspondant'. The importance of this journal, with its 60,000 +readers, may easily be perceived. I procured the insertion of everything +I thought desirable: all the bulletins, proclamations, acts of the French +Government, notes of the 'Moniteur', and the semi-official articles of +the French journals: these were all given 'in extenso'. On the other +hand, I often suppressed adverse news, which, though well known, would +have received additional weight from its insertion in so widely +circulated a paper. If by chance there crept in some Austrian bulletin, +extracted from the other German papers published in the States of the +Confederation of the Rhine, there was always given with it a suitable +antidote to destroy, or at least to mitigate, its ill effect. But this +was not all. The King of Wurtemberg having reproached the +'Correspondant', in a letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with +publishing whatever Austria wished should be made known, and being +conducted in a spirit hostile to the good cause, I answered these unjust +reproaches by making the Syndic censor prohibit the Hamburg papers from +inserting any Austrian order of the day, any Archduke's bulletins, any +letter from Prague; in short, anything which should be copied from the +other German journals unless those articles had been inserted in the +French journals. + +My recollections of the year 1809 at Hamburg carry me back to the +celebration of Napoleon's fete, which was on the 15th of August, for he +had interpolated his patron saint in the Imperial calendar at the date of +his birth. The coincidence of this festival with the Assumption gave +rise to adulatory rodomontades of the most absurd description. Certainly +the Episcopal circulars under the Empire would form a curious collection. + + --[It will perhaps scarcely be believed that the following words + were actually delivered from the pulpit: "God in his mercy has + chosen Napoleon to be his representative on earth. The Queen of + Heaven has marked, by the most magnificent of presents, the + anniversary of the day which witnessed his glorious entrance into + her domains. Heavenly Virgin! as a special testimony of your love + for the French, and your all-powerful influence with your son, you + have connected the first of your solemnities with the birth of the + great Napoleon. Heaven ordained that the hero should spring from + your sepulchre."--Bourrienne.]-- + +Could anything be more revolting than the sycophancy of those Churchmen +who declared that "God chose Napoleon for his representative upon earth, +and that God created Bonaparte, and then rested; that he was more +fortunate than Augustus, more virtuous than Trajan; that he deserved +altars and temples to be raised to him!" etc. + +Some time after the Festival of St. Napoleon the King of Westphalia made +a journey through his States. Of all Napoleon's brothers the King of +Westphalia was the one with whom I was least acquainted, and he, it is +pretty well known, was the most worthless of the family. His +correspondence with me is limited to two letters, one of which he wrote +while he commanded the 'Epervier', and another seven years after, dated +6th September 1809. In this latter he said: + + "I shall be in Hannover on the 10th. If you can make it convenient + to come there and spend a day with me it will give me great + pleasure. I shall then be able to smooth all obstacles to the loan + I wish to contract in the Hanse Town. I flatter myself you will do + all in your power to forward that object, which at the present + crisis is very important to my States. More than ample security is + offered, but the money will be of no use to me if I cannot have it + at least for two years." + +Jerome wanted to contract at Hamburg a loan of 3,000,000 francs. +However, the people did not seem to think like his Westphalian Majesty, +that the contract presented more than ample security. No one was found +willing to draw his purse-strings, and the loan was never raised. + +Though I would not, without the Emperor's authority, exert the influence +of my situation to further the success of Jerome's negotiation, yet I did +my best to assist him. I succeeded in prevailing on the Senate to +advance one loan of 100,000 francs to pay a portion of the arrears due to +his troops, and a second of 200,000 francs to provide clothing for his +army, etc. This scanty supply will cease to be wondered at when it is +considered to what a state of desolation the whole of Germany was reduced +at the time, as much in the allied States as in those of the enemies of +France. I learnt at the time that the King of Bavaria said to an officer +of the Emperor's household in whom he had great confidence, "If this +continues we shall have to give up, and put the key under the door." +These were his very words. + +As for Jerome, he returned to Cassel quite disheartened at the +unsuccessful issue of his loan. Some days after his return to his +capital I received from him a snuffbox with his portrait set in diamonds, +accompanied by a letter of thanks for the service I had rendered him. +I never imagined that a token of remembrance from a crowned head could +possibly be declined. Napoleon, however, thought otherwise. I had not, +it is true, written to acquaint our Government with the King of +Westphalia's loan, but in a letter, which I addressed to the Minister for +Foreign Affairs on the 22d of September, I mentioned the present Jerome +had sent me. Why Napoleon should have been offended at this I know not, +but I received orders to return Jerome's present immediately, and these +orders were accompanied with bitter reproaches for my having accepted it +without the Emperor's authority. I sent back the diamonds, but kept the +portrait. Knowing Bonaparte's distrustful disposition, I thought he must +have suspected that Jerome had employed threats, or at any rate, that he +had used some illegal influence to facilitate the success of his loan. +At last, after much correspondence, Napoleon saw clearly that everything +was perfectly regular; in a word, that the business had been transacted +as between two private persons. As to the 300,000 francs which the +Senate had lent to Jerome, the fact is, that but little scruple was made +about it, for this simple reason, that it was the means of removing from +Hamburg the Westphalian division, whose presence occasioned a much +greater expense than the loan. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +1809. + + Visit to the field of Wagram.--Marshal Macdonald--Union of the Papal + States with the Empire--The battle of Talavera--Sir Arthur + Wellesley--English expedition to Holland--Attempt to assassinate the + Emperor at Schoenbrunn--Staps Interrogated by Napoleon--Pardon + offered and rejected--Fanaticism and patriotism--Corvisart's + examination of Staps--Second interrogatory--Tirade against the + illuminati--Accusation of the Courts of Berlin and Weimar--Firmness + and resignation of Staps--Particulars respecting his death-- + Influence of the attempt of Staps on the conclusion of peace-- + M. de Champagny. + +Napoleon went to inspect all the corps of his army and the field of +Wagram, which a short time before had been the scene of one of those +great battles in which victory was the more glorious in proportion as it +had been valiantly contested. + + --[The great battle of Wagram was fought on the 6th of July 1809. + The Austrians, who committed a mistake in over-extending their line, + lost 20,000 men as prisoners, besides a large number in killed and + wounded. There was no day, perhaps, on which Napoleon showed more + military genius or more personal courage. He was in the hottest of + the fight, and for a long time exposed to showers of grapeshot.- + Editor of 1836 edition.]-- + +On that day [the type] of French honour, Macdonald, who, after achieving +a succession of prodigies, led the army of Italy into the heart of the +Austrian States, was made a marshal on the field of battle. Napoleon +said to him, "With us it is for life and for death." The general opinion +was that the elevation of Macdonald added less to the marshal's military +reputation than it redounded to the honour of the Emperor. Five days +after the bombardment of Vienna, namely, on the 17th of May, the Emperor +had published a decree, by virtue of which the Papal States were united +to the French Empire, and Rome was declared an Imperial City. I will not +stop to inquire whether this was good or bad in point of policy, but it +was a mean usurpation on the part of Napoleon, for the time was passed +when a Julius II. laid down the keys of St. Peter and took up the sword +of St. Paul. It was, besides, an injustice, and, considering the Pope's +condescension to Napoleon, an act of ingratitude. The decree of union +did not deprive the Pope of his residence, but he was only the First +Bishop of Christendom, with a revenue of 2,000,000. + +Napoleon while at Vienna heard of the affair of Talavera de la Reyna. I +was informed, by a letter from headquarters, that he was much affected at +the news, and did not conceal his vexation. I verily believe that he was +bent on the conquest of Spain, precisely on account of the difficulties +he had to surmount. At Talavera commenced the celebrity of a man who, +perhaps, would not have been without some glory even if pains had not +been taken to build him up a great reputation. That battle commenced the +career of Sir Arthur Wellesley, whose after-success, however, has been +attended by such important consequences. + + --[The battle of Talavera took place on the 28th of July, twenty-two + days after the fatal defeat of the Austrians at Wagram.]-- + +Whilst we experienced this check in Spain the English were attempting an +expedition to Holland, where they had already made themselves masters of +Walcheren. It is true they were obliged to evacuate it shortly after; +but as at that time the French and Austrian armies were in a state of +inaction, in consequence of the armistice concluded at Znaim, in Moravia, +the news unfavourable to Napoleon had the effect of raising the hopes of +the Austrian negotiators, who paused in the expectation that fresh +defeats would afford them better chances. + +It was during these negotiations, the termination of which seemed every +day to be farther distant, that Napoleon was exposed to a more real +danger than the wound he had received at Ratisbon. Germany was suffering +under a degree of distress difficult to be described. Illuminism was +making great progress, and had filled some youthful minds with an +enthusiasm not less violent than the religious fanaticism to which Henry +IV. fell a victim. A young man formed the design of assassinating +Napoleon in order to rid Germany of one whom he considered her scourge. +Rapp and Berthier were with the Emperor when the assassin was arrested, +and in relating what I heard from them I feel assured that I am giving +the most faithful account of all the circumstances connected with the +event. + +"We were at Schoenbrunn," said Rapp, "when the Emperor had just reviewed +the troops. I observed a young man at the extremity of one of the +columns just as the troops were about to defile. He advanced towards the +Emperor, who was then between Berthier and me. The Prince de Neufchatel, +thinking he wanted to present a petition, went forward to tell him that I +was the person to receive it as I was the aide de camp for the day. The +young man replied that he wished to speak with Napoleon himself, and +Berthier again told him that he must apply to me. He withdrew a little, +still repeating that he wanted to speak with Napoleon. He again advanced +and came very near the Emperor; I desired him to fall back, telling him +in German to wait till after the parade, when, if he had anything to say, +it would be attended to. I surveyed him attentively, for I began to +think his conduct suspicious. I observed that he kept his right hand in +the breast pocket of his coat; out of which a piece of paper appeared. +I know not how it was, but at that moment my eyes met his, and I was +struck with his peculiar look and air of fixed determination. Seeing an +officer of gendarmerie on the spot, I desired him to seize the young man, +but without treating him with any severity, and to convey him to the +castle until the parade was ended. + +"All this passed in less time than I have taken to tell it, and as every +one's attention was fixed on the parade the scene passed unnoticed. I +was shortly afterwards told that a large carving-knife had been found on +the young man, whose name was Staps. I immediately went to find Duroc, +and we proceeded together to the apartment to which Staps had been taken. +We found him sitting on a bed, apparently in deep thought, but betraying +no symptoms of fear. He had beside him the portrait of a young female, +his pocket-book, and purse containing only two pieces of gold. I asked +him his name, but he replied that he would tell it to no one but +Napoleon. I then asked him what he intended to do with the knife which +had been found upon him? But he answered again, 'I shall tell only +Napoleon.'--'Did you mean to attempt his life?'--'Yes.'--'Why?'--'I can +tell no one but Napoleon.' + +"This appeared to me so strange that I thought right to inform the +Emperor of it. When I told him what had passed he appeared a little +agitated, for you know how he was haunted with the idea of assassination. +He desired that the young man should be taken into his cabinet; whither +he was accordingly conducted by two gens d'armes. Notwithstanding his +criminal intention there was something exceedingly prepossessing in his +countenance. I wished that he would deny the attempt; but how was it +possible to save a man who was determined to sacrifice himself? The +Emperor asked Staps whether he could speak French, and he answered that +he could speak it very imperfectly, and as you know (continued Rapp) that +next to you I am the best German scholar in Napoleon's Court, I was +appointed interpreter on this occasion. The Emperor put the following +questions to Staps, which I translated, together with the answers: + +"'Where do you come from?'--'From Narremburgh.'--'What is your father?' +--'A Protestant minister.'--'How old are you?'--'Eighteen.'--'What did +you intend to do with your knife?'--'To kill you.'--'You are mad, young +man; you are one of the illuminati?'--'I am not mad; I know not what is +meant by the illuminati!'--'You are ill, then?'--'I am not; I am very +well.'--'Why did you wish to kill me?'--'Because you have ruined my +country.'--'Have I done you any harm?'--'Yes, you have harmed me as well +as all Germans.'--'By whom were you sent? Who urged you to this crime?' +--'No one; I was urged to it by the sincere conviction that by killing +you I should render the greatest service to my country.'--'Is this the +first time you have seen me?'--'I saw you at Erfurt, at the time of your +interview with the Emperor of Russia.'--'Did you intend to kill me +then?'--'No; I thought you would not again wage war against Germany. I +was one of your greatest admirers.'--'How long have you been in Vienna?' +--'Ten days.'--'Why did you wait so long before you attempted the +execution of your project?'--'I came to Schoenbrunn a week ago with the +intention of killing you, but when I arrived the parade was just over; I +therefore deferred the execution of my design till today.'--'I tell you, +young man, you are either mad or in bad health.' + +"The Emperor here ordered Corvisart to be sent for. Staps asked who +Corvisart was? I told him that he was a physician. He then said, +'I have no need of him.' Nothing further was said until the arrival of +the doctor, and during this interval Steps evinced the utmost +indifference. When Corvisart arrived Napoleon directed him to feel the +young man's pulse, which he immediately did; and Staps then very coolly +said, 'Am I not well, sir?' Corvisart told the Emperor that nothing +ailed him. 'I told you so,' said Steps, pronouncing the words with an +air of triumph. + +"I was really astonished at the coolness and apathy of Staps, and the +Emperor seemed for a moment confounded by the young man's behaviour.-- +After a few moments' pause the Emperor resumed the interrogatory as +follows: + +"'Your brain is disordered. You will be the ruin of your family. I will +grant you your life if you ask pardon for the crime you meditated, and +for which you ought to be sorry.'--'I want no pardon. I only regret +having failed in my attempt.'--'Indeed! then a crime is nothing to you?' +--'To kill you is no crime: it is a duty.'--'Whose portrait is that which +was found on you?'--'It is the portrait of a young lady to whom I am +attached.'--'She will doubtless be much distressed at your adventure?'-- +'She will only be sorry that I have not succeeded. She abhors you as +much as I do.'--'But if I were to pardon you would you be grateful for my +mercy?'--'I would nevertheless kill you if I could.' + +"I never," continued Rapp, "saw Napoleon look so confounded. The replies +of Staps and his immovable resolution perfectly astonished him. He +ordered the prisoner to be removed; and when he was gone Napoleon said, +'This is the result of the secret societies which infest Germany. This +is the effect of fine principles and the light of reason. They make +young men assassins. But what can be done against illuminism? A sect +cannot be destroyed by cannon-balls.' + +"This event, though pains were taken to keep it secret, became the +subject of conversation in the castle of Schoenbrunn. In the evening the +Emperor sent for me and said, 'Rapp, the affair of this morning is very +extraordinary. I cannot believe that this young man of himself conceived +the design of assassinating me. There is something under it. I shall +never be persuaded that the intriguers of Berlin and Weimar are strangers +to the affair.'--'Sire, allow me to say that your suspicions appear +unfounded. Staps has had no accomplice; his placid countenance, and even +his fanaticism, are easiest proofs of that.'--'I tell you that he has +been instigated by women: furies thirsting for revenge. If I could only +obtain proof of it I would have them seized in the midst of their +Court.'--'Ah, Sire, it is impossible that either man or woman in the +Courts of Berlin or Weimar could have conceived so atrocious a design.'-- +'I am not sure of that. Did not those women excite Schill against us +while we were at peace with Prussia; but stay a little; we shall see.'-- +'Schill's enterprise; Sire, bears no resemblance to this attempt.' +You know how the Emperor likes every one to yield to his opinion when he +has adopted one which he does not choose to give up; so he said, rather +changing his tone of good-humoured familiarity, 'All you say is in vain, +Monsieur le General: I am not liked either at Berlin or Weimar.' There +is no doubt of that, Sire; but because you are not liked in these two +Courts, is it to be inferred that they would assassinate you?'--'I know +the fury of those women; but patience. Write to General Lauer: direct +him to interrogate Staps. Tell him to bring him to a confession.' + +"I wrote conformably with the Emperor's orders, but no confession was +obtained from Staps. In his examination by General Lauer he repeated +nearly what he had said in the presence of Napoleon. His resignation and +firmness never forsook him for a moment; and he persisted in saying that +he was the sole author of the attempt, and that no one else was aware of +it. Staps' enterprise made a deep impression on the Emperor. On the day +when we left Schoenbrunn we happened to be alone, and he said to me, +'I cannot get this unfortunate Staps out of my mind. The more I think on +the subject the more I am perplexed. I never can believe that a young +man of his age, a German, one who has received a good education, +a Protestant too, could have conceived and attempted such a crime. +The Italians are said to be a nation of assassins, but no Italian ever +attempted my life. This affair is beyond my comprehension. Inquire how +Staps died, and let me know.' + +"I obtained from General Lauer the information which the Emperor desired. +I learned that Staps, whose attempt on the Emperor's life was made on the +23d of October; was executed at seven o'clock in the morning of the 27th, +having refused to take any sustenance since the 24th. When any food was +brought to him he rejected it, saying, 'I shall be strong enough to walk +to the scaffold.' When he was told that peace was concluded he evinced +extreme sorrow, and was seized with trembling. On reaching the place of +execution he exclaimed loudly, 'Liberty for ever! Germany for ever! +Death to the tyrant!'" + +Such are the notes which I committed to paper after conversing with Rapp, +as we were walking together in the garden of the former hotel of +Montmorin, in which Rapp resided. I recollect his showing me the knife +taken from Staps, which the Emperor had given him; it was merely a common +carving-knife, such as is used in kitchens. To these details may be +added a very remarkable circumstance, which I received from another but +not less authentic source. I have been assured that the attempt of the +German Mutius Scaevola had a marked influence on the concessions which +the Emperor made, because he feared that Staps, like him who attempted +the life of Porsenna, might have imitators among the illuminati of +Germany. + +It is well known that after the battle of Wagram conferences were open at +Raab. Although peace was almost absolutely necessary for both powers, +and the two Emperors appeared to desire it equally, it was not, however, +concluded. It is worthy of remark that the delay was occasioned by +Bonaparte. Negotiations were therefore suspended, and M. de Champagny +had ceased for several days to see the Prince of Lichtenstein when the +affair of Staps took place. Immediately after Napoleon's examination of +the young fanatic he sent for M. de Champagny: "How are the negotiations +going on?" he inquired. The Minister having informed him, the Emperor +added, "I wish them to be resumed immediately: I wish for peace; do not +hesitate about a few millions more or less in the indemnity demanded from +Austria. Yield on that point. I wish to come to a conclusion: I refer +it all to you." The Minister lost no time in writing to the Prince of +Lichtenstein: on the same night the two negotiators met at Raab, and the +clauses of the treaty which had been suspended were discussed, agreed +upon, and signed that very night. Next morning M. de Champagny attended +the Emperor's levee with the treaty of peace as it had been agreed on. +Napoleon, after hastily examining it, expressed his approbation of every +particular, and highly complimented his Minister on the speed with which +the treaty had been brought to a conclusion. + + --[This definitive treaty of peace, which is sometimes called the + Treaty of Vienna, Raab, or Schoenbrunn, contained the following + articles: + + 1. Austria ceded in favour of the Confederation of the Rhine (these + fell to Bavaria), Salzburg, Berchtolsgaden, and a part of Upper + Austria. + + 2. To France directly Austria ceded her only seaport, Trieste, and + all the countries of Carniola, Friuli, the circle of Vilach, with + parts of Croatia end Dalmatia. (By these cessions Austria was + excluded from the Adriatic Sea, and cut off from all communication + with the navy of Great Britain.) A small lordship, en enclave in + the, territories of the Grieve League, was also gives up. + + 3. To the constant ally of Napoleon, to the King of Saxony, in that + character Austria ceded some Bohemian enclaves in Saxony end, in his + capacity of Grand Duke of Warsaw, she added to his Polish dominions + the ancient city of Cracow, and all Western Galicia. + + 4. Russia, who had entered with but a lukewarm zeal into the war as + an ally of France, had a very moderate share of the spoils of + Austria. A portion of Eastern Galicia, with a population of 400,000 + souls, was allotted to her, but in this allotment the trading town + of Brody (almost the only thing worth having) was specially + excepted. This last circumstance gave no small degree of disgust to + the Emperor Alexander, whose admiration of Napoleon was not destined + to have a long duration.--Editor of 1836 edition.]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +1809. + + The Princess Royal of Denmark--Destruction of the German Empire-- + Napoleons visit to the Courts of Bavaria and Wurtemberg--His return + to France--First mention of the divorce--Intelligence of Napoleon's + marriage with Maria Louisa--Napoleon's quarrel with Louis--Journey + of the Emperor and Empress into Holland--Refusal of the Hanse Towns + to pay the French troops--Decree for burning English merchandise-- + M. de Vergennes--Plan for turning an inevitable evil to the best + account--Fall on the exchange of St Petersburg + +About this time I had the pleasure of again seeing the son of the +reigning Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, whose arrival in the Hanse Towns +was speedily followed by that of his sister, Princess Frederica Charlotte +of Mecklenburg, married to the Prince Royal of Denmark, Christian +Frederick. In November the Princess arrived at Altana from Copenhagen, +the reports circulated respecting her having compelled her husband to +separate from her. The history of this Princess, who, though perhaps +blamable, was nevertheless much pitied, was the general subject of +conversation in the north of Germany at the time I was at Hamburg. The +King of Denmark, grieved at the publicity of the separation, wrote a +letter on the subject to the Duke of Mecklenburg. In this letter, which +I had an opportunity of seeing, the King expressed his regret at not +having been able to prevent the scandal; for, on his return from a +journey to Kiel, the affair had become so notorious that all attempts at +reconciliation were vain. In the meantime it was settled that the +Princess was to remain at Altona until something should be decided +respecting her future condition. + +It was Baron Plessen, the Duke of Mecklenburg's Minister of State, who +favoured me with a sight of the King of Denmark's letters. M. Plessen +told me, likewise, at the time that the Duke had formed the irrevocable +determination of not receiving his daughter. A few days after her +arrival the Princess visited Madame de Bourrienne. She invited us to her +parties, which were very brilliant, and several times did us the honour +of being present at ours. But; unfortunately, the extravagance of her +conduct, which was very unsuitable to her situation, soon became the +subject of general animadversion. + +I mentioned at the close of the last chapter how the promptitude of M. de +Champagny brought about the conclusion of the treaty known by the name of +the Treaty of Schoenbrunn. Under this the ancient edifice of the German +Empire was overthrown, and Francis II. of Germany became Francis I., +Emperor of Austria. He, however, could not say, like his namesake of +France, 'Tout est perdu fors l'honneur'; for honour was somewhat +committed, even had nothing else been lost. But the sacrifices Austria +was compelled, to make were great. The territories ceded to France were +immediately united into a new general government, under the collective +denomination of the Illyrian Provinces. Napoleon thus became master of +both sides of the Adriatic, by virtue of his twofold title of Emperor of +France and King of Italy. Austria, whose external commerce thus received +a check, had no longer any direct communication with the sea. The loss +of Fiume, Trieste, and the sea-coast appeared so vast a sacrifice that it +was impossible to look forward to the duration of a peace so dearly +purchased. + +The affair of Staps, perhaps, made Napoleon anxious to hurry away from +Schoenbrunn, for he set off before he had ratified the preliminaries of +the peace, announcing that he would ratify them at Munich. He proceeded +in great haste to Nymphenburg, where he was expected on a visit to the +Court of Bavaria. He next visited the King of Wurtemberg, whom he +pronounced to be the cleverest sovereign in Europe, and at the end of +October he arrived at Fontainebleau. From thence he proceeded on +horseback to Paris, and he rode so rapidly that only a single chasseur of +his escort could keep up with him, and, attended by this one guard, he +entered the court of the Tuileries. While Napoleon was at Fontainebleau, +before his return to Paris, Josephine for the first time heard the +divorce mentioned; the idea had occurred to the Emperor's mind while he +was at Schoenbrunn. It was also while at Fontainebleau that Napoleon +appointed M. de Montalivet to be Minister of the Interior. The letters +which we received from Paris at this period brought intelligence of the +brilliant state of the capital during the winter of 1809, and especially +of the splendour of the Imperial Court, where the Emperor's levees were +attended by the Kings of Saxony, Bavaria, and Wurtemberg, all eager to +evince their gratitude to the hero who had raised them to the sovereign +rank. + +I was the first person in Hamburg who received intelligence of Napoleon's +projected marriage with the Archduchess Maria Louisa. The news was +brought to me from Vienna by two estafettes. It is impossible to +describe the effect produced by the anticipation of this event throughout +the north of Germany. + + --["Napoleon often reflected on the best mode of making this + communication to the Empress; still he was reluctant to speak to + her. He was apprehensive of the consequences of her susceptibility + of feeling; his heart was never proof against the shedding of tears. + Ho thought, however, that a favourable opportunity offered for + breaking the subject previously to his quitting Fontainebleau. He + hinted at it in a few words which be had addressed to the Empress, + but he did not explain himself until the arrival of the viceroy, + whom he had ordered to join him. He was the first person who spoke + openly to his mother and obtained her consent for that bitter + sacrifice. He acted on the occasion like a kind son and a man + grateful to his benefactor and devoted to his service, by sparing + him the necessity of unpleasant explanations towards a partner whose + removal was a sacrifice as painful to him as it was affecting: The + Emperor, having arranged whatever related to the future condition of + the Empress, upon whom he made a liberal settlement, urged the + moment of the dissolution of the marriage, no doubt because he felt + grieved at the condition of the Empress herself, who dined every day + and passed her evenings in the presence of persons who were + witnessing her descent from the throne. There existed between him + and the Empress Josephine no other bond than a civil act, according + to the custom which prevailed at the time of this marriage. Now the + law had foreseen the dissolution of such marriage oontracts. A + particular day having therefore been fixed upon, the Emperor brought + together into his apartments those persons whose ministry was + required in this case; amongst others, the Arch-Chancellor and M. + Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely. The Emperor then declared in a loud + voice his intention of annulling the marriage he had contracted with + Josephine, who was present; the Empress also made the same + declaration, which was interrupted by her repeated sobs. The Prince + Arch-Chancellor having caused the article of the law to be read, he + applied it to the cam before him, and declared the marriage to be + dissolved." (Memoirs of ad Due de Rovigo).]-- + +From all parts the merchants received orders to buy Austrian stock, in +which an extraordinary rise immediately took place. Napoleon's marriage +with Maria Louisa was hailed with enthusiastic and general joy. The +event was regarded as the guarantee of a long peace, and it was hoped +there would be a lasting cessation of the disasters created by the +rivalry of France and Austria. The correspondence I received showed that +these sentiments were general in the interior of France, and in different +countries of Europe; and, in spite of the presentiments I had always had +of the return of the Bourbons to France, I now began to think that event +problematic, or at least very remote. + +About the beginning of the year 1810 commenced the differences between +Napoleon and his brother Louis, which, as I have already stated, ended in +a complete rupture. Napoleon's object was to make himself master of the +navigation of the Scheldt which Louis wished should remain free, and +hence ensued the union of Holland with the French Empire. Holland was +the first province of the Grand Empire which Napoleon took the new +Empress to visit. This visit took place almost immediately after the +marriage. Napoleon first proceeded to Compiegne, where he remained a +week. He next set out for St. Quentin, and inspected the canal. The +Empress Maria Louisa then joined him, and they both proceeded to Belgium. +At Antwerp the Emperor inspected all the works which he had ordered, and +to the execution of which he attached great importance. He returned by +way of Ostend, Lille, and Normandy to St. Cloud, where he arrived on the +1st of June 1810. He there learned from my correspondence that the Hanse +Towns-refused to advance money for the pay of the French troops. The men +were absolutely destitute. I declared that it was urgent to put an end +to this state of things. The Hanse towns had been reduced from opulence +to misery by taxation and exactions, and were no longer able to provide +the funds. + +During this year Napoleon, in a fit of madness, issued a decree which I +cannot characterise by any other epithet than infernal. I allude to the +decree for burning all the English merchandise in France, Holland, the +Grand Duchy of Berg, the Hanse Towns; in short, in all places subject to +the disastrous dominion of Napoleon. In the interior of France no idea +could possibly be formed of the desolation caused by this measure in +countries which existed by commerce; and what a spectacle was it to, the, +destitute inhabitants of those countries to witness the destruction of +property which, had it been distributed, would have assuaged their +misery! + +Among the emigrants whom I was ordered to watch was M. de Vergennes, who +had always remained at or near Hamburg Since April 1808. I informed the +Minister that M. de Vergennes had presented himself to me at this time. +I even remember that M. de Vergennes gave me a letter from M. de Remusat, +the First Chamberlain of the Emperor. M. de Remusat strongly recommended +to me his connection, who was called by matters of importance to Hamburg. +Residence in this town was, however, too expensive, and he decided to +live at Neumuhl, a little village on the Elbe, rather to the west of +Altona. There he lived quietly in retirement with an opera dancer named +Mademoiselle Ledoux, with whom he had become acquainted in Paris, and +whom he had brought with him. He seemed much taken with her. His manner +of living did not denote large means. + +One duty with which I was entrusted, and to which great importance was +attached, was the application and execution of the disastrous Continental +system in the north. In my correspondence I did not conceal the +dissatisfaction which this ruinous measure excited, and the Emperor's +eyes were at length opened on the subject by the following circumstance. +In spite of the sincerity with which the Danish Government professed to +enforce the Continental system, Holstein contained a great quantity of +colonial produce; and, notwithstanding the measures of severity, it was +necessary that that merchandise should find a market somewhere. The +smugglers often succeeded in introducing it into Germany, and the whole +would probably soon have passed the custom-house limits. All things +considered, I thought it advisable to make the best of an evil that could +not be avoided. I therefore proposed that the colonial produce then in +Holstein, and which had been imported before the date of the King's edict +for its prohibition, should be allowed to enter Hamburg on the payment of +30, and on some articles 40, per cent. This duty was to be collected at +the custom-house, and was to be confined entirely to articles consumed in +Germany. The colonial produce in Altona, Glnckstadt, Husum, and other +towns of Holstein, lead been estimated, at about 30,000,000 francs, and +the duty would amount to 10,000,000 or 12,000,000. The adoption of the +plan I proposed would naturally put a stop to smuggling; for it could not +be doubted that the merchants would give 30 or 33 per cent for the right +of carrying on a lawful trade rather than give 40 per cent. to the +smugglers, with the chance of seizure. + +The Emperor immediately adopted my idea, for I transmitted my suggestions +to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 18th of September, and on the +4th of October a decree was issued conformable to the plan I proposed. +Within six weeks after the decree came into operation the custom-house +Director received 1300 declarations from persons holding colonial produce +in Holstein. It now appeared that the duties would amount to 40,000,000 +francs, that is to say, 28,000,000 or 30,000,000 more than my estimate. + +Bernadotte had just been nominated Prince Royal of Sweden. This +nomination, with all the circumstances connected with it, as well as +Bernadotte's residence in Hamburg, before he proceeded to Stockholm, will +be particularly noticed in the next chapter. I merely mention the +circumstance here to explain some events which took place in the north, +and which were, more or less, directly connected with it. For example, +in the month of September the course of exchange on St. Petersburg +suddenly fell. All the letters which arrived in Hamburg from the capital +of Russia and from Riga, attributed the fall to the election of the +Prince of Ponte-Corvo as Prince Royal of Sweden. Of thirty letters which +I received there was not one but described the consternation which the +event had created in St. Petersburg. This consternation, however, might +have been excited less by the choice of Sweden than by the fear that that +choice was influenced by the French Government. + + + + +CHAP XXII. + +1809-1810. + + Bernadotte elected Prince Royal of Sweden--Count Wrede's overtures + to Bernadotte--Bernadottes's three days' visit to Hamburg-- + Particulars respecting the battle of Wagram--Secret Order of the + day--Last intercourse of the Prince Royal of Sweden with Napoleon-- + My advice to Bernadotte respecting the Continental system. + +I now come to one of the periods of my life to which I look back with +moat satisfaction, the time when Bernadotte was with me in Hamburg. I +will briefly relate the series of events which led the opposer of the +18th Brumaire to the throne of Sweden. + +On the 13th of march 1809 Gustavus Adolphus was arrested, and his uncle, +the Duke of Sudermania, provisionally took the reins of Government. A +few days afterwards Gustavus published his act of abdication, which in +the state of Sweden it was impossible for him to refuse. In May +following, the Swedish Diet having been convoked at Stockholm, the Duke +of Sudermania was elected King. Christian Augustus, the only son of that +monarch, of course became Prince Royal on the accession of his father to +the throne. He, however, died suddenly at the end of May 1810, and Count +Fersen (the same who at the Court of Marie Antoinette was distinguished +by the appellation of 'le beau Fersen'), was massacred by the populace, +who suspected, perhaps unjustly, that he had been accessory to the +Prince's death. + + --[Count Fereen, alleged to have been one of the favoured lovers of + Marie Antoinette, and who was certainly deep in her confidence, had + arranged most of the details of the attempted flight to Varennes in + 1791, and he himself drove the Royal family their first stage to the + gates of Paris.]-- + +On the 21st of August following Bernadotte was elected Prince Royal of +Sweden. + +After the death of the Prince Royal the Duke of Sudermania's son, Count +Wrede, a Swede, made the first overtures to Bernadotte, and announced to +him the intention entertained at Stockholm of offering him the throne of +Sweden. Bernadotte was at that time in Paris, and immediately after his +first interview with Count Wrede he waited on the Emperor at St. Cloud; +Napoleon coolly replied that he could be of no service to him; that +events must take their course; that he might accept or refuse the offer +as he chose; that he (Bonaparte) would place no obstacles in his way, but +that he could give him no advice. It was very evident that the choice of +Sweden was not very agreeable to Bonaparte, and though he afterwards +disavowed any opposition to it, he made overtures to Stockholm, proposing +that the crown of Sweden should be added to that of Denmark. + +Bernadotte then went to the waters of Plombieres, and on his return to +Paris he sent me a letter announcing his elevation to the rank of Prince +Royal of Sweden. + +On the 11th of October he arrived in Hamburg, where he stayed only three +days. He passed nearly the whole of that time with me, and he +communicated to me many curious facts connected with the secret history +of the times, and among other things some particulars respecting the +battle of Wagram. I was the first to mention to the new Prince Royal of +Sweden the reports of the doubtful manner in which the troops under his +command behaved. I reminded him of Bonaparte's dissatisfaction at these +troops; for there was no doubt of the Emperor being the author of the +complaints contained in the bulletins, especially as he had withdrawn the +troops from Bernadotte's command. Bernadotte assured me that Napoleon's +censure was unjust; during the battle he had complained of the little +spirit manifested by the soldiers. "He refused to see me," added +Bernadotte, "and I was told, as a reason for his refusal, that he was +astonished and displeased to find that, notwithstanding his complaints, +of which I must have heard, I had boasted of having gained the battle, +and had publicly complimented the Saxons whom I commanded." + +Bernadotte then showed me the bulletin he drew up after the battle of +Wagram. I remarked that I had never heard of a bulletin being made by +any other than the General who was Commander-in-Chief during a battle, +and asked how the affair ended. He then handed to me a copy of the Order +of the day, which Napoleon said he had sent only to the Marshals +commanding the different corps. + +Bernadotte's bulletin was printed along with Bonaparte's Order of the +Day, a thing quite unparalleled. + +Though I was much interested in this account of Bonaparte's conduct after +the battle of Wagram; yet I was more curious to hear the particulars of +Bernadotte's last communication with the Emperor. The Prince informed me +that on his return from Plombieres he attended the levee, when the +Emperor asked him, before every one present, whether he had received any +recent news from Sweden. + +He replied in the affirmative. "What is it?" inquired Napoleon. "Sire, +I am informed that your Majesty's charge d'afaires at Stockholm opposes +my election. It is also reported to those who choose to believe it that +your Majesty gives the preference to the King of Denmark."--"At these +words," continued Bernadotte, "the Emperor affected surprise, which you +know he can do very artfully. He assured me it was impossible, and then +turned the conversation to another subject. + +"I know not what to think of his conduct in this affair. I am aware he +does not like me;--but the interests of his policy may render him +favourable to Sweden. Considering the present greatness and power of +France, I conceived it to be my duty to make every personal sacrifice. +But I swear to Heaven that I will never commit the honour of Sweden. He, +however, expressed himself in the best possible terms in speaking of +Charles XIII. and me. He at first started no obstacle to my acceptance +of the succession to the throne of Sweden, and he ordered the official +announcement of my election to be immediately inserted in the Moniteur'. +Ten days elapsed without the Emperor's saying a word to me about my +departure. As I was anxious to be off, and all my preparations were +made, I determined to go and ask him for the letters patent to relieve me +from my oath of fidelity, which I had certainly kept faithfully in spite +of all his ill-treatment of me. He at first appeared somewhat surprised +at my request, and, after a little hesitation, he said, 'There is a +preliminary condition to be fulfilled; a question has been raised by one +of the members of the Privy Council.'--'What condition, Sire?'--'You must +pledge yourself not to bear arms against me.'--'Does your Majesty suppose +that I can bind myself by such an engagement? My election by the Diet of +Sweden, which has met with your Majesty's assent, has made me a Swedish +subject, and that character is incompatible with the pledge proposed by a +member of the Council. I am sure it could never have emanated from your +Majesty, and must proceed from the Arch-Chancellor or the Grand Judge, +who certainly could not have been aware of the height to which the +proposition would raise me.'--'What do you mean?'--'If, Sire, you prevent +me accepting a crown unless I pledge myself not to bear arms against you, +do you not really place me on a level with you as a General?' + +"When I declared positively that my election must make me consider myself +a Swedish subject he frowned, and seemed embarrassed. When I had done +speaking he said, in a low and faltering voice, 'Well, go. Our destinies +will soon be accomplished!' These words were uttered so indistinctly +that I was obliged to beg pardon for not having heard what. he said, and +he repented, 'Go! our destinies will soon be accomplished!' In the +subsequent conversations which I had with the Emperor I tried all +possible means to remove the unfavourable sentiments he cherished towards +me. I revived my recollections of history. I spoke to him of the great +men who had excited the admiration of the world, of the difficulties and +obstacles which they had to surmount; and, above all, I dwelt upon that +solid glory which is founded on the establishment and maintenance of +public tranquillity and happiness. The Emperor listened to me +attentively, and frequently concurred in my opinion as to the principles +of the prosperity and stability of States. One day he took my hand and +pressed it affectionately, as if to assure me of his friendship and +protection. Though I knew him to be an adept in the art of +dissimulation, yet his affected kindness appeared so natural that I +thought all his unfavourable feeling towards me was at an end. I spoke +to persons by whom our two families were allied, requesting that they +would assure the Emperor of the reciprocity of my sentiments, and tell +him that I was ready to assist his great plans in any way not hostile to +the interests of Sweden. + +"Would you believe, my dear friend, that the persons to whom I made these +candid protestations laughed at my credulity? They told me that after +the conversation in which the Emperor had so cordially pressed my hand. +I had scarcely taken leave of him when he was heard to say that I had +made a great display of my learning to him, and that he had humoured me +like a child. He wished to inspire me with full confidence so as to put +me off my guard; and I know for a certainty that he had the design of +arresting me. + +"But," pursued Bernadotte, "in spite of the feeling of animosity which I +know the Emperor has cherished against me since the 18th Brumaire, I do +not think, when once I shall be in Sweden, that he will wish to have any +differences with the Swedish Government. I must tell you, also be has +given me 2,000,000 francs in exchange for my principality of Ponte-Corvo. +Half the sum has been already paid, which will be very useful to me in +defraying the expenses of my journey and installation. When I was about +to step into my carriage to set off, an individual, whom you must excuse +me naming, came to bid me farewell, and related to me a little +conversation which had just taken place at the Tuileries. Napoleon said +to the individual in question, 'Well, does not the Prince regret leaving +France?'--'Certainly, Sire.'--'As to me, I should have been very glad if +he had not accepted his election. But there is no help for it . . . . +He does not like me.'--'Sire, I must take the liberty of saying that your +Majesty labours under a mistake. I know the differences which have +existed between you and General Bernadotte for the last six years. I +know how he opposed the overthrow of the Directory; but I also know that +the Prince has long been sincerely attached to you.'--'Well, I dare say +you are right. But we have not understood each other. It is now too +late. He has his interests and his policy, and I have mine.'" + +"Such," added the Prince, "were the Emperor's last observations +respecting me two hours before my departure. The individual to whom I +have just alluded, spoke truly, my dear Bourrienne. I am indeed sorry to +leave France; and I never should have left it but for the injustice of +Bonaparte. If ever I ascend the throne of Sweden I shall owe my crown to +his ill-treatment of me; for had he not persecuted me by his animosity my +condition would have sufficed for a soldier of fortune: but we must +follow our fate." + +During the three days the Prince spent with me I had many other +conversations with him. He wished me to give him my advice as to the +course he should pursue with regard to the Continental system. "I advise +you," said I, "to reject the system without hesitation. It may be very +fine in theory, but it is utterly impossible to carry it into practice, +and it will, in the end, give the trade of the world to England. It +excites the dissatisfaction of our allies, who, in spite of themselves, +will again become our enemies. But no other country, except Russia, is +in the situation of Sweden. You want a number of objects of the first +necessity, which nature has withheld from you. You can only obtain them +by perfect freedom of navigation; and you can only pay for them with +those peculiar productions in which Sweden abounds. It would be out of +all reason to close your ports against a nation who rules the seas. It +is your navy that would be blockaded, not hers. What can France do +against you? She may invade you by land. But England and Russia will +exert all their efforts to oppose her. By sea it is still more +impossible that she should do anything. Then you have nothing to fear +but Russia and England, and it will be easy for you to keep up friendly +relations with these two powers. Take my advice; sell your iron, timber, +leather, and pitch; take in return salt, wines, brandy, and colonial +produce. This is the way to make yourself popular in Sweden. If, on the +contrary, you follow the Continental system, you will be obliged to adopt +laws against smuggling, which will draw upon you the detestation of the +people." + +Such was the advice which I gave to Bernadotte when he was about to +commence his new and brilliant career. In spite of my situation as a +French Minister I could not have reconciled it to my conscience to give +him any other counsel, for if diplomacy has duties so also has +friendship. Bernadotte adopted my advice, and the King of Sweden had no +reason to regret having done so. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +1810 + + Bernadotte's departure from Hamburg--The Duke of Holstein- + Augustenburg--Arrival of the Crown Prince in Sweden-- + Misunderstandings between him and Napoleon--Letter from Bernadotte + to the Emperor--Plot for kidnapping the Prince Royal of Sweden-- + Invasion of Swedish Pomerania--Forced alliance of Sweden with + England and Russia--Napoleon's overtures to Sweden--Bernadotte's + letters of explanation to the Emperor--The Princess Royal of Sweden + --My recall to Paris--Union of the Hanse Towns with France-- + Dissatisfaction of Russia--Extraordinary demand made upon me by + Bonaparte--Fidelity of my old friends--Duroc and Rapp--Visit to + Malmaison, and conversation with Josephine. + +While Bernadotte was preparing to fill the high station to which he had +been called by the wishes of the people of Sweden, Napoleon was involved +in his misunderstanding with the Pope, + + --[It was about this time that, irritated at what he called the + captive Pope's unreasonable obstinacy, Bonaparte conceived, and + somewhat openly expressed, his notion of making France s Protestant + country, and changing the religion of 30,000,000 of people by an + Imperial decree. One or two of the good sayings of the witty, + accomplished, and chivalrous Comte Louis de Narbonne have already + been given in the course of these volumes. The following is another + of them: + + "I tell you what I will do, Narbonne--I tell you how I will vent my + spite on this old fool of a Pope, and the dotards who may succeed + him said Napoleon one day at the Tuileries. "I will make a schism + as great as that of Luther--I will make France a Protestant + country!" + + "O Sire," replied the Count, "I see difficulties in the way of this + project. In the south, in the Vendee, in nearly all the west, the + French are bigoted Catholics and even what little religion remains + among us in our cities and great towns is of the Roman Church." + + "Never mind, Narbonne--never mind!--I shall at least carry a large + portion of the French people with me--I will make a division!" Sire, + replied Narbonne, "I am afraid that there is not enough religion in + all France to stand division!"-Editor of 1836 edition.]-- + + +and in the affairs of Portugal, which were far from proceeding according +to his wishes. Bernadotte had scarcely quitted Hamburg for Sweden when +the Duke of Holstein-Augustenburg arrived. The Duke was the brother of +the last Prince Royal of Sweden, whom Bernadotte was called to succeed, +and he came to escort his sister from Altona to Denmark. His journey had +been retarded for some days on account of the presence of the Prince of +Ponte-Gorvo in Hamburg: the preference granted to Bernadotte had +mortified his ambition, and he was unwilling to come in contact with his +fortunate rival. The Duke was favoured, by the Emperor of Russia. + +As soon as he arrived in Sweden Bernadotte directed his aide de camp, +General Lentil de St. Alphonse, to inform me of his safe passage. +Shortly after I received a letter from Bernadotte himself, recommending +one of his aides de camp, M. Villatte, who was the bearer of it. This +letter contained the same sentiments of friendship as those I used to +receive from General Bernadotte, and formed a contrast with the +correspondence of King Jerome, who when he wrote to me assumed the regal +character, and prayed that God would have me in his holy keeping. +However, the following is the Prince Royal's letter: + + MY DEAR BOURRIENNE--I have directed M. Villatte to see you on his + way through Hamburg, and to bear my friendly remembrances to you. + Lentil has addressed his letter to you, which I suppose you have + already received. Adieu, care for me always, and believe in the + inalterable attachment of yours, + + (Signed)CHARLES JOHN. + + P.S.--I beg yon will present my compliments to madame and all your + family. Embrace my little cousin for me. + +The little cousin, so called by Bernadotte, was one of my daughters, then +a child, whom Bernadotte used to be very fond of while he was at Hamburg. + +Departing from the order of date, I will anticipate the future, and +relate all I know respecting the real causes of the misunderstanding +which arose between Bernadotte and Napoleon. Bonaparte viewed the choice +of the Swedes with great displeasure, because he was well aware that +Bernadotte had too much integrity and honour to serve him in the north as +a political puppet set in motion by means of springs which he might pull +at Paris or at his headquarters. His dissatisfaction upon this point +occasioned an interesting correspondence, part of which, consisting of +letters from Bernadotte to the Emperor, is in my possession. The Emperor +had allowed Bernadotte to retain in his service, for a year at least, the +French officers who were his aides de camp--but that permission was soon +revoked, end the Prince Royal of Sweden wrote to Napoleon a letter of +remonstrance. + +Napoleon's dissatisfaction with the Prince Royal now changed to decided +resentment. He repented having acceded to his departure from France, and +he made no secret of his sentiments, for he said before his courtiers, +"That he would like to send Bernadotte to Vincennes to finish his study +of the Swedish language." Bernadotte was informed of this, but he could +not believe that the Emperor had ever entertained such a design. +However, a conspiracy was formed in Sweden against Bernadotte, whom a +party of foreign brigands were hired to kidnap in the neighbourhood of +Raga; but the plot was discovered, and the conspirators were compelled to +embark without their prey. The Emperor having at the same time seized +upon Swedish Pomerania, the Prince Royal wrote him a second letter in +these terms: + + From the papers which have just arrived I learn that a division of + the army, under the command of the Prince of Eckmuhl, invaded + Swedish Pomerania on the night of the 26th of January; that the + division continued to advance, entered the capital of the Duchy, and + took possession of the island of Rugen. The King expects that your + Majesty will explain the reasons which have induced you to act in a + manner so contrary to the faith of existing treaties. My old + connection with your Majesty warrants me in requesting you to + declare your motives without delay, in order that I may give my + advice to the King as to the conduct which Sweden ought hereafter to + adopt. This gratuitous outrage against Sweden is felt deeply by the + nation, and still more, Sire, by me, to whom is entrusted the honour + of defending it. Though I have contributed to the triumphs of + France, though I have always desired to see her respected and happy; + yet I can never think of sacrificing the interests, honour, and + independence of the country which has adopted me. Your Majesty, who + has so ready a perception of what is just, must admit the propriety + of my resolution. Though I am not jealous of the glory and power + which surrounds you, I cannot submit to the dishonour of being + regarded as a vassal. Your Majesty governs the greatest part of + Europe, but your dominion does not extend to the nation which I have + been called to govern; my ambition is limited to the defence of + Sweden. The effect produced upon the people by the invasion of + which I complain may lead to consequences which it is impossible to + foresee; and although I am not a Coriolanus, and do not command the + Volsci, I have a sufficiently good opinion of the Swedes to assure + you that they dare undertake anything to avenge insults which they + have not provoked, and to preserve rights to which they are as much + attached as to their lives. + +I was in Paris when the Emperor received Bernadotte's letter on the +occupation of Swedish Pomerania. When Bonaparte read it I was informed +that he flew into a violent rage, and even exclaimed, "You shall submit +to your degradation, or die sword in hand!" But his rage was impotent. +The unexpected occupation of Swedish Pomerania obliged the King of Sweden +to come to a decided rupture with France, and to seek other allies, for +Sweden was not strong enough in herself to maintain neutrality in the +midst of the general conflagration of Europe after the disastrous +campaign of Moscow. The Prince Royal, therefore, declared to Russia and +England that in consequence of the unjust invasion of Pomerania Sweden +was at war with France, and he despatched Comte de Lowenhjelm, the King's +aide de camp, with a letter explanatory of his views. Napoleon sent many +notes to Stockholm, where M. Alquier, his Ambassador, according to his +instructions, had maintained a haughty and even insulting tone towards +Sweden. Napoleon's overtures, after the manifestations of his anger, and +after the attempt to carry off the Prince Royal, which could be +attributed only to him, were considered by the Prince Royal merely as a +snare. But in the hope of reconciling the duties he owed to both his old +and his new country he addressed to the Emperor a moderate letter: + +This letter throws great light on the conduct of the Emperor with respect +to Bernadotte; for Napoleon was not the man whom any one whatever would +have ventured to remind of facts, the accuracy of which was in the least +degree questionable. Such then were the relations between Napoleon and +the Prince Royal of Sweden. When I shall bring to light some curious +secrets, which have hitherto been veiled beneath the mysteries of the +Restoration, it will be seen by what means Napoleon, before his fall, +again sought to wreak his vengeance upon Bernadotte. + +Oh the 4th of December I had the honour to see the Princess Royal of +Sweden,--[Madame Bernadotte, afterwards Queen of Sweden, was a +Mademoiselle Clary, and younger sister to the wife of Joseph Bonaparte]-- +who arrived that day at Hamburg. She merely passed through the city on +her way to Stockholm to join her husband, but she remained but a short +time in Sweden,--two months, I believe, at most, not being able to +reconcile herself to the ancient Scandinavia. As to the Prince Royal, he +soon became inured to the climate, having been for many years employed in +the north. + +After this my stay at Hamburg was not of long duration. Bonaparte's +passion for territorial aggrandisement knew no bounds; and the turn of +the Hanse Towns now arrived. By taking possession of these towns and +territories he merely accomplished a design formed long previously. +I, however, was recalled with many compliments, and under the specious +pretext that the Emperor wished to hear my opinions respecting the +country in which. I had been residing. At the beginning of December I +received a letter from M. de Champagny stating that the Emperor wished to +see me in order to consult with me upon different things relating to +Hamburg. In this note I was told "that the information I had obtained +respecting Hamburg and the north of Germany might be useful to the public +interest, which must be the most gratifying reward of my labours." The +reception which awaited me will presently be seen. The conclusion of the +letter spoke in very flattering terms of the manner in which I had +discharged my duties. I received it on the 8th of December, and next day +I set out for Paris. When I arrived at Mayence I was enabled to form a +correct idea of the fine compliments which had been paid me, and of the +Emperor's anxiety to have my opinion respecting the Hanse Towns. In +Mayence I met the courier who was proceeding to announce the union of the +Hanse Towns with the French Empire. I confess that, notwithstanding the +experience I had acquired of Bonaparte's duplicity, or rather, of the +infinite multiplicity of his artifices, he completely took me by surprise +on that occasion. + +On my arrival in Paris I did not see the Emperor, but the first +'Moniteur' I read contained the formula of a 'Senatus-consulte,' which +united the Hanse Towns, Lauenburg, etc., to the French Empire by the +right of the strongest. This new and important augmentation of territory +could not fail to give uneasiness to Russia. Alexander manifested his +dissatisfaction by prohibiting the importation of our agricultural +produce and manufactures into Russia. Finally, as the Continental system +had destroyed all trade by the ports of the Baltic, Russia showed herself +more favourable to the English, and gradually reciprocal complaints of +bad faith led to that war whose unfortunate issue was styled by M. +Talleyrand "the beginning of the end." + +I have now to make the reader acquainted with an extraordinary demand +made upon me by the Emperor through the medium of M. de Champagny. In +one of my first interviews with that Minister after my return to Paris he +thus addressed me: "The Emperor has entrusted me with a commission to you +which I am obliged to execute: 'When you see Bourrienne,' said the +Emperor, 'tell him I wish him to pay 6,000,000 into your chest to defray +the expense of building the new Office for Foreign Affairs.'" I was so +astonished at this unfeeling and inconsiderate demand that I was utterly +unable to make airy reply. This then was my recompense for having +obtained money and supplies during my residence at Hamburg to the extent +of nearly 100,000,000, by which his treasury and army had profited in +moments of difficulty! M. de Champagny added that the Emperor did not +wish to receive me. He asked what answer he should bear to his Majesty. +I still remained silent, and the Minister again urged me to give an +answer. "Well, then," said I, "tell him he may go to the devil." The +Minister naturally wished to obtain some variation from this laconic +answer, but I would give no other; and I afterwards learned from Duroc +that M. de Champagny was compelled to communicate it to Napoleon. +"Well," asked the latter, "have you seen Bourrienne?"--"Yes, Sire."--"Did +you tell him I wished him to pay 6,000,000 into your chest?"--" Yes, +Sire."--"And what did he say?"--" Sire, I dare not inform your +Majesty."--"What did he say? I insist upon knowing."--"Since you insist +on my telling you, Sire, M. de Bourrienne said your Majesty might go to- +the devil."--"Ah! ah! did he really say so?" The Emperor then retired +to the recess of a window, where he remained alone for seven or eight +minutes, biting his nails; in the fashion of Berthier, and doubtless +giving free scope to his projects of vengeance. He then turned to the +Minister and spoke to him of quite another subject: Bonaparte had so +nursed himself in the idea of making me pay the 6,000,000 that every time +he passed the Office for Foreign Affairs he said to those who accompanied +hint; "Bourrienne must pay for that after all." + + --[This demand of money from Bourrienne is explained in Erreurs + (tome ii, p. 228) by the son of Davoust. Bourrienne had been + suspected by Napoleon of making large sums at Hamburg by allowing + breaches of the Continental system. In one letter to Davoust + Napoleon speaks of an "immense fortune," and in another, that + Bourrienne is reported to have gained seven or eight millions at + Hamburg in giving licences or making arbitrary seizures.]-- + +Though I was not admitted to the honour of sharing the splendour of the +Imperial Court; yet I had the satisfaction of finding that; in spite of +my disgrace, those of my old friends who were worth anything evinced the +same regard for me as heretofore. I often saw Duroc; who snatched some +moments from his more serious occupations to come and chat with me +respecting all that had occurred since my secession from Bonaparte's +cabinet. I shall not attempt to give a verbatim account of my +conversations with Duroc, as I have only my memory to guide me; but I +believe I shall not depart from the truth in describing them as follows: + +On his return from the last Austrian campaign Napoleon; as I have already +stated, proceeded to Fontainebleau, where he was joined by Josephine. +Then, for the first time, the communication which had always existed +between the apartments of the husband and wife was closed. Josephine was +fully alive to the fatal prognostics which were to be deduced from this +conjugal separation. Duroc informed me that she sent for him, and on +entering her chamber, he found her bathed in tears. "I am lost!" she +exclaimed in a tone of voice the remembrance of which seemed sensibly to +affect Duroc even while relating the circumstance to me: "I am utterly +lost! all is over now! You, Duroc, I know, have always been my friend, +and so has Rapp. It is not you who have persuaded him to part from me. +This is the work of my enemies Savary and Junot! But they are more his +enemies than mine. And my poor Eugene I how will he be distressed when +he learns I am repudiated by an ungrateful man! Yes Duroc, I may truly +call him ungrateful, My God! my God! what will become of us?" . . . +Josephine sobbed bitterly while she thus addressed Duroc. + +Before I was acquainted with the singular demand which M. de Champagny +was instructed to make to me I requested Duroc to inquire of the Emperor +his reason for not wishing to see me. The Grand Marshal faithfully +executed my commission, but he received only the following answer: +"Do you think I have nothing better to do than to give Bourrienne an +audience? that would indeed furnish gossip for Paris and Hamburg. He +has always sided with the emigrants; he would be talking to me of past +times; he was for Josephine! My wife, Duroc, is near her confinement; +I shall have a son, I am sure!.... Bourrienne is not a man of the day; +I have made giant strides since he left France; in short, I do not want +to see him. He is a grumbler by nature; and you know, my dear Duroc, I +do not like men of that sort." + +I had not been above a week in Paris when Duroc related this speech to +me. Rapp was not in France at the time, to my great regret. Much +against his inclination he had been appointed to some duties connected +with the Imperial marriage ceremonies, but shortly after, having given +offence to Napoleon by some observation relating to the Faubourg St. +Germain, he had received orders to repair to Dantzic, of which place he +had already been Governor. + +The Emperor's refusal to see me made my situation in Paris extremely +delicate; and I was at first in doubt whether I might seek an interview +with Josephine. Duroc, however, having assured me that Napoleon would +have no objection to it, I wrote requesting permission to wait upon her. +I received an answer the same day, and on the morrow I repaired to +Malmaison. I was ushered into the tent drawing-room, where I found +Josephine and Hortense. When I entered Josephine stretched out her hand +to me, saying, "Ah! my friend!" These words she pronounced with deep +emotion, and tears prevented her from continuing. She threw herself on +the ottoman on the left of the fireplace, and beckoned me to sit down +beside her. Hortense stood by the fireplace, endeavouring to conceal her +tears. Josephine took my hand, which she pressed in both her own; and, +after a struggle to overcome her feelings, she said, "My dear +Bourrienne, I have drained my cup of misery. He has cast me off! +forsaken me! He conferred upon me the vain title of Empress only to +render my fall the more marked. Ah! we judged him rightly! I knew the +destiny that awaited me; for what would he not sacrifice to his +ambition!" As she finished these words one of Queen Hortense's ladies +entered with a message to her; Hortense stayed a few moments, apparently +to recover from the emotion under which she was labouring, and then +withdrew, so that I was left alone with Josephine. She seemed to wish +for the relief of disclosing her sorrows, which I was curious to hear +from her own lips; women have such a striking way of telling their +distresses. Josephine confirmed what Duroc had told me respecting the +two apartments at Fontainebleau; then, coming to the period when +Bonaparte had declared to her the necessity of a separation, she said, +"My dear Bourrienne; during all the years you were with us you know I made +you the confidant of my thoughts, and kept you acquainted with my sad +forebodings. They are now cruelly fulfilled. I acted the part of a good +wife to the very last. I have suffered all, and I am resigned! . . . +What fortitude did it require latterly to endure my situation, when, +though no longer his wife, I was obliged to seem so in the eyes of the +world! With what eyes do courtiers look upon a repudiated wife! I was +in a state of vague uncertainty worse than death until the fatal day when +he at length avowed to me what I had long before read in his looks! On +the 30th of November 1809 we were dining together as usual, I had not +uttered a word during that sad dinner, and he had broken silence only to +ask one of the servants what o'clock it was. As soon as Bonaparte had +taken his coffee he dismissed all the attendants, and I remained alone +with him. I saw in the expression of his countenance what was passing in +his mind, and I knew that my hour was come. He stepped up to me--he was +trembling, and I shuddered; he took my hand, pressed it to his heart, and +after gazing at me for a few moments in silence he uttered these fatal +words: 'Josephine! my dear Josephine! You know how I have loved you! . +. . To you, to you alone, I owe the only moments of happiness I have +tasted in this world. But, Josephine, my destiny is not to be controlled +by my will. My dearest affections must yield to the interests of +France.'--'Say no more,' I exclaimed, 'I understand you; I expected this, +but the blow is not the less mortal.' I could not say another word," +continued Josephine; "I know not what happened after I seemed to lose my +reason; I became insensible, and when I recovered I found myself in my +chamber. Your friend Corvisart and my poor daughter were with me. +Bonaparte came to see me in the evening; and oh! Bourrienne, how can I +describe to you what I felt at the sight of him; even the interest he +evinced for me seemed an additional cruelty. Alas! I had good reason to +fear ever becoming an Empress!" + +I knew not what consolation to offer: to Josephine; and knowing as I did +the natural lightness of her character, I should have been surprised to +find her grief so acute, after the lapse of a year, had I not been aware +that there are certain chords which, when struck, do not speedily cease +to vibrate in the heart of a woman. I sincerely pitied Josephine, and +among all the things I said to assuage her sorrow, the consolation to +which she appeared most sensible was the reprobation which public opinion +had pronounced on Bonaparte's divorce, and on this subject I said nothing +but the truth, for Josephine was generally beloved. I reminded her of a +prediction I had made under happier circumstances, viz. on the day that +she came to visit us in our little house at Ruel. "My dear friend," said +she, "I have not forgotten it, and I have often thought of all you then +said. For my part, I knew he was lost from the day he made himself +Emperor. Adieu! Bourrienne, come and see me soon again; come often, for +we have a great deal to talk about; you know how happy I always am to see +you." Such was, to the best of my recollection, what passed at my first +interview with Josephine after my return from Hamburg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +1811 + + Arrest of La Sahla--My visit to him--His confinement at Vincennes-- + Subsequent history of La Sahla--His second journey to France-- + Detonating powder--Plot hatched against me by the Prince of Eckmuhl + --Friendly offices of the Due de Rovigo--Bugbears of the police-- + Savary, Minister of Police. + +I had been in Paris about two months when a young man of the name of La +Sahla was arrested on the suspicion of having come from Saxony to attempt +the life of the Emperor. La Sahla informed the Duo de Rovigo, then +Minister of the Police, that he wished to see me, assigning as a reason +for this the reputation I had left behind me in Germany. The Emperor, I +presume, had no objection to the interview, for I received an invitation +to visit the prisoner. I accordingly repaired to the branch office of +the Minister of the Police, in the Rue des St. Peres, where I was +introduced to a young man between seventeen and eighteen years of age. + +My conversation with the young man, whose uncle was, I believe, Minister +to the King of Saxony, interested me greatly in his behalf; I determined, +if possible, to save La Sahla, and I succeeded. I proceeded immediately +to the Duo de Rovigo, and I convinced him that under the circumstances of +the case it was important to make it be believed that the young man was +insane. I observed that if he were brought before a court he would +repeat all that he had stated to me, and probably enter into disclosures +which might instigate fresh attempts at assassination. Perhaps an +avenger of La Sahla might rise up amongst the students of Leipzig, at +which university he had spent his youth. These reasons, together with +others, had the success I hoped for. The Emperor afterwards acknowledged +the prudent course which had been adopted respecting La Sahla; when +speaking at St. Helena of the conspiracies against his life he said, +"I carefully concealed all that I could." + +In conformity with my advice La Sahla was sent to Vincennes, where he +remained until the end of March 1814, He was then removed to the castle +of Saumur, from which he was liberated at the beginning of April. I had +heard nothing of him for three years, when one day, shortly after the +Restoration, whilst sitting at breakfast with my family at my house in +the Rue Hauteville, I heard an extraordinary noise in the antechamber, +and before I had time to ascertain its cause I found myself in the arms. +of a young man, who embraced me with extraordinary ardour. It was La +Sahla. He was in a transport of gratitude and joy at his liberation, and +at the accomplishment of the events which he had wished to accelerate by +assassination. La Sahla returned to Saxony and I saw no more of him, but +while I was in Hamburg in 1815, whither I was seat by Louis XVIII., I +learned that on the 5th of June a violent explosion was heard in the +Chamber of Representatives at Paris, which was at first supposed to be a +clap of thunder, but was soon ascertained to have been occasioned by a +young Samson having fallen with a packet of detonating powder in his +pocket. + +On receiving this intelligence I imagined, I know not why, that this +young Saxon was La Sahla, and that he had probably intended to blow up +Napoleon and even the Legislative Body; but I have since ascertained that +I was under a mistake as to his intentions. My knowledge of La Sahla's +candour induces me to believe the truth of his declarations to the +police; and if there be any inaccuracies in the report of these +declarations I do not hesitate to attribute them to the police itself, +of which Fouche was the head at the period in question. + +It is the latter part of the report which induced me to observe above, +that if there were any inaccuracies in the statement they were more +likely to proceed from Fouche's police than the false representations of +young La Sahla. It is difficult to give credit without proof to such +accusations. However, I decide nothing; but I consider it my duty to +express doubts of the truth of these charges brought against the two +Prussian ministers, of whom the Prince of Wittgenstein, a man of +undoubted honour, has always spoken to me in the best of terms. + +There is nothing to prove that La Sahla returned to France the second +time with the same intentions as before. This project, however, is a +mystery to me, and his detonating powder gives rise to many conjectures. + +I had scarcely left Hamburg when the Prince of Eckmuhl (Marshal Davoust) +was appointed Governor-General of that place on the union of the Hanse +Towns with the Empire. From that period I was constantly occupied in +contending against the persecutions and denunciations which he racked his +imagination to invent. I cannot help attributing to those persecutions +the Emperor's coolness towards me on my arrival in Paris. But as +Davoust's calumnies were devoid of proof, he resorted to a scheme by +which a certain appearance of probability might supply the place of +truth. When I arrived in Paris, at the commencement of 1811, I was +informed by an excellent friend I had left at Hamburg, M. Bouvier, an +emigrant, and one of the hostages of Louis XVI., that in a few days I +would receive a letter which would commit me, and likewise M. de +Talleyrand and General Rapp. I had never had any connection on matters +of business, with either of these individuals, for whom I entertained the +most sincere attachment. They, like myself, were not in the good graces +of Marshal Davoust, who could not pardon the one for his incontestable +superiority of talent, and the other for his blunt honesty. On the +receipt of M. Bouvier's letter I carried it to the Due de Rovigo, whose +situation made him perfectly aware of the intrigues which had been +carried on against me since I had left Hamburg by one whose ambition +aspired to the Viceroyalty of Poland. On that, as on many other similar +occasions, the Duc de Rovigo advocated my cause with Napoleon. We agreed +that it would be best to await the arrival of the letter which M. Bouvier +had announced. Three weeks elapsed, and the letter did not appear. The +Duc de Rovigo, therefore, told me that I must have been misinformed. +However, I was certain that M. Bouvier would not have sent me the +information on slight grounds, and I therefore supposed that the project +had only been delayed. I was not wrong in my conjecture, for at length +the letter arrived. To what a depth of infamy men can descend! The. +letter was from a man whom I had known at Hamburg, whom I had obliged, +whom I had employed as a spy. His epistle was a miracle of impudence. +After relating some extraordinary transactions which he said had taken +place between us, and which all bore the stamp of falsehood, he requested +me to send him by return of post the sum of 60,000 francs on account of +what I had promised him for some business he executed in England by the +direction of M. de Talleyrand, General Rapp, and myself. Such miserable +wretches are often caught in the snares they spread for others. This was +the case in the present instance, for the fellow had committed, the +blunder of fixing upon the year 1802 as the period of this pretended +business in England, that is to say, two years before my appointment as +Minister-Plenipotentiary to the Hanse Towns. This anachronism was not +the only one I discovered in the letter. + +I took a copy of the letter, and immediately carried the original to the +Duc de Rovigo, as had been agreed between us. When I waited on the +Minister he was just preparing to go to the Emperor. He took with him +the letter which I brought, and also the letter which announced its +arrival. As the Duc de Rovigo entered the audience-chamber Napoleon +advanced to meet him, and apostrophised him thus: "Well, I have learned +fine things of your Bourrienne, whom you are always defending." The fact +was, the Emperor had already received a copy of the letter, which had +been opened at the Hamburg post-office. The Due de Rovigo told the +Emperor that he had long known what his Majesty had communicated to him. +He then entered into a full explanation of the intrigue, of which it was +wished to render me the victim, and proved to him the more easily the +falsehood of my accusers by reminding him that in 1802 I was not in +Hamburg, but was still in his service at home. + +It may be supposed that I was too much interested in knowing what had +passed at the Tuileries not to return to the Duc de Rovigo the same day. +I learned from him the particulars which I have already related. He +added that he had observed to the Emperor that there was no connection +between Rapp and M. Talleyrand which could warrant the suspicion of their +being concerned in the affair in question. "When Napoleon saw the matter +in its true light," said Savary, "when I proved to him the palpable +existence of the odious machination, he could not find terms to express +his indignation. 'What baseness, what horrible villainy!' he exclaimed; +and gave me orders to arrest and bring to Paris the infamous writer of +the letter; and you may rely upon it his orders shall be promptly +obeyed." + +Savary, as he had said, instantly despatched orders for the arrest of the +writer, whom he directed to be sent to France. On his arrival he was +interrogated respecting the letter. He declared that he had written it +at the instigation and under the dictation of Marshal Davoust, for doing +which he received a small sum of money as a reward. He also confessed +that when the letter was put into the post the Prince of Eckmuhl ordered +the Director of the Post to open it, take a copy, then seal it again, and +send it to its address--that is to say, to me--and the copy to the +Emperor. The writer of the letter was banished to Marseilles, or to the +Island of Hyeres, but the individual who dictated it continued a Marshal, +a Prince, and a Governor-General, and still looked forward to the +Viceroyalty of Poland! Such was the discriminating justice of the +Empire; and Davoust continued his endeavours to revenge himself by other +calumnies for my not having considered him a man of talent. I must do +the Duc de Rovigo the justice to say that, though his fidelity to +Napoleon was as it always had been, boundless, yet whilst he executed the +Emperor's orders he endeavoured to make him acquainted with the truth, as +was proved by his conduct in the case I have just mentioned. He was much +distressed by the sort of terror which his appointment had excited in the +public, and he acknowledged to me that he intended to restore confidence +by a more mild system than that of his predecessor. I had observed +formerly that Savary did not coincide in the opinion I had always +entertained of Fouche, but when once the Due de Rovigo endeavoured to +penetrate the labyrinth of police, counter-police, inspections and +hierarchies of espionage, he found they were all bugbears which Fouche +had created to alarm the Emperor, as gardeners put up scarecrows among +the fruit-trees to frighten away the sparrows. Thus, thanks to the +artifices of Fouche, the eagle was frightened as easily as the sparrows, +until the period when the Emperor, convinced that Fouche was maintaining +a correspondence with England through the agency of Ouvrard, dismissed +him. + +I saw with pleasure that Savary, the Minister of Police, wished to +simplify the working of his administration, and to gradually diminish +whatever was annoying in it, but, whatever might be his intentions, he +was not always free to act. I acknowledge that when I read his Memoirs I +saw with great impatience that in many matters he had voluntarily assumed +responsibilities for acts which a word from him might have attributed to +their real author. However this may be, what much pleased me in Savary +was the wish he showed to learn the real truth in order to tell it to +Napoleon. He received from the Emperor more than one severe rebuff. +This came from the fact that since the immense aggrandisement of the +Empire the ostensible Ministers, instead of rising in credit, had seen +their functions diminish by degrees. Thus proposals for appointments to +the higher grades of the army came from the cabinet of Berthier, and not +from that of the Minister-of-War. Everything which concerned any part of +the government of the Interior or of the Exterior, except for the +administration of War and perhaps for that of Finance, had its centre in +the cabinet of M. Maret, certainly an honest man, but whose facility in +saying "All is right," so much helped to make all wrong. + +The home trade, manufactures, and particularly several of the Parisian +firms were in a state of distress the more hurtful as it contrasted so +singularly with the splendour of the Imperial Court since the marriage of +Napoleon with Maria Louisa. In this state of affairs a chorus of +complaints reached the ears of the Duc de Rovigo every day. I must say +that Savary was never kinder to me than since my disgrace; he nourished +my hope of getting Napoleon to overcome the prejudices against me with +which the spirit of vengeance had inspired him, and I know for certain +that Savary returned to the charge more than once to manage this. The +Emperor listened without anger, did not blame him for the closeness of +our intimacy, and even said to him some obliging but insignificant words +about me. This gave time for new machinations against me, and to fill +him with fresh doubts when he had almost overcome his former, ideas. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + M. Czernischeff--Dissimulation of Napoleon--Napoleon and Alexander-- + Josephine's foresight respecting the affairs of Spain--My visits to + Malmaison--Grief of Josephine--Tears and the toilet--Vast extent of + the Empire--List of persons condemned to death and banishment in + Piedmont--Observation of Alfieri respecting the Spaniards--Success + in Spain--Check of Massena in Portugal--Money lavished by the + English--Bertrand sent to Illyria, and Marmont to Portugal-- + Situation of the French army--Assembling of the Cortes--Europe + sacrificed to the Continental system--Conversation with Murat in the + Champs Elysees--New titles and old names--Napoleon's dislike of + literary men--Odes, etc., on the marriage of Napoleon--Chateaubriand + and Lemereier--Death of Chenier--Chateaubriand elected his successor + --His discourse read by Napoleon--Bonaparte compared to Nero- + Suppression of the 'Merceure'--M. de Chateaubriand ordered to leave + Paris--MM. Lemercier and Esmenard presented to the Emperor--Birth of + the King of Rome--France in 1811. + +Since my return to France I had heard much of the intrigues of M. +Czernischeff, an aide de camp of the Emperor of Russia, who, under the +pretest of being frequently sent to compliment Napoleon on the part of +the Emperor Alexander, performed, in fact, the office of a spy. The +conduct of Napoleon with regard to M. Czernischeff at that period struck +me as singular, especially after the intelligence which before my +departure from Hamburg I had transmitted to him respecting the +dissatisfaction of Russia and her hostile inclinations. It is therefore +clear to me that Bonaparte was well aware of the real object of M. +Czernischeffs mission, and that if he appeared to give credit to the +increasing professions of his friendship it was only because he still +wished, as he formerly did; that Russia might so far commit herself as to +afford him a fair pretext for the commencement, of hostilities in the +north. + +M. Czernischeff first arrived in Paris shortly after the interview at +Erfurt, and after that period was almost constantly on the road between +Paris and St. Petersburg; it has been computed that in the space of less +than four years he travelled more than 10,000 leagues. For a long time +his frequent journeyings excited no surmises, but while I was in Paris +Savary began to entertain suspicions, the correctness of which it was not +difficult to ascertain, so formidable was still the system of espionage, +notwithstanding the precaution taken by Fouche to conceal from his +successor the names of his most efficient spies. It was known that M. +Czernischeff was looking out for a professor of mathematics,--doubtless +to disguise the real motives for his stay in Paris by veiling them under +the desire of studying the sciences. The confidant of Alexander had +applied to a professor connected with a public office; and from that time +all the steps of M. Czermseheff were known to the police. It was +discovered that he was less anxious to question his instructor respecting +the equations of a degree, or the value of unknown quantities, than to +gain all the information he could about the different branches of the +administration, and particularly the department of war. It happened that +the professor knew some individuals employed in the public offices, who +furnished him with intelligence, which he in turn communicated to M. +Czernischeff, but not without making a report of it to the police; +according to custom, instead of putting an end to this intrigue at once +it was suffered fully to develop itself. Napoleon was informed of what +was going on, and in this instance gave a new proof of his being an adept +in the art of dissimulation, for, instead of testifying any displeasure +against M. Czernischeff, he continued to receive him with the same marks +of favour which he had shown to him during his former missions to Paris. +Being, nevertheless, desirous to get rid of him, without evincing a +suspicion that his clandestine proceedings had been discovered, he +entrusted him with a friendly letter to his brother of Russia, but +Alexander was in such haste to reply to the flattering missive of his +brother of France that M. Czernischeff was hurried back to Paris, having +scarcely been suffered to enter the gates of St. Petersburg. I believe I +am correct in the idea that Napoleon was not really displeased at the +intrigues of M. Czernischeff, from the supposition that they afforded an +indication of the hostile intentions of Russia towards France; for, +whatever he might say on this subject to his confidants, what reliance +can we place on the man who formed the camp of Boulogne without the most +distant intention of attempting a descent upon England, and who had +deceived the whole world respecting that important affair without taking +any one into his own confidence? + +During the period of my stay in Paris the war with Spain and Portugal +occupied much of the public attention; and it proved in the end an +enterprise upon which the intuition of Josephine had not deceived her. +In general she intermeddled little with political affairs; in the first +place, because her doing so would have given offence to Napoleon; and +next, because her natural frivolity led her to give a preference to +lighter pursuits. But I may safely affirm that she was endowed with an +instinct so perfect as seldom to be deceived respecting the good or evil +tendency of any measure which Napoleon engaged in; and I remember she +told me that when informed of the intention of the Emperor to bestow the +throne of Spain on Joseph, she was seized with a feeling of indescribable +alarm. It would be difficult to define that instinctive feeling which +leads us to foresee the future; but it is a fact that Josephine was +endowed with this faculty in a more perfect decree than any other person +I have ever known, and to her it was a fatal gift, for she suffered at +the same time under the weight of present and of future misfortunes. + +I often visited her at Malmaison, as Duroc assured me that the Emperor +had no objection to my doing so; yet he must have been fully aware that +when Josephine and I were in confidential conversation he would not +always be mentioned in terms of unqualified eulogy; and in truth, his +first friend and his first wife might well be excused for sometimes +commingling their complaints. + +Though more than a twelvemonth had elapsed since the divorce grief still +preyed on the heart of Josephine. "You cannot conceive, my friend," she +often said to me, "all the torments that I have suffered since that fatal +day! I cannot imagine how I survived it. You cannot figure to yourself +the pain I endure on seeing descriptions of his fetes everywhere. And +the first time he came to visit me after his marriage, what a meeting was +that! How many tears I shed! The days on which he comes are to me days +of misery, for he spares me not. How cruel to speak of his expected +heir. Bourrienne, you cannot conceive how heart-rending all this is to +me! Better, far better to be exiled a thousand leagues from hence! +However," added Josephine, "a few friends still remain faithful in my +changed fortune, and that is now the only thing which affords me even +temporary consolation." The truth is that she was extremely unhappy, and +the most acceptable consolation her friends could offer her was to weep +with her. Yet such was still Josephine's passion for dress, that after. +having wept for a quarter of an hour she would dry her tears to give +audience to milliners and jewellers. The sight of a new hat would call +forth all Josephine's feminine love of finery. One day I remember that, +taking advantage of the momentary serenity occasioned by an ample display +of sparkling gewgaws, I congratulated her upon the happy influence they +exercised over her spirits, when she said, "My dear friend, I ought, +indeed, to be indifferent to all this; but it is a habit." Josephine +might have added that it was also an occupation, for it would be no +exaggeration to say that if the time she wasted in tears and at her +toilet had been subtracted from her life its duration would have been +considerably shortened. + +The vast extent of the French Empire now presented a spectacle which +resembled rather the dominion of the Romans and the conquests of +Charlemagne than the usual form and political changes of modern Europe. +In fact, for nearly two centuries, until the period of the Revolution, +and particularly until the elevation of Napoleon, no remarkable changes +had taken place in the boundaries of European States, if we except the +partition of Poland, when two of the co-partitioners committed the error +of turning the tide of Russia towards the west! Under Napoleon +everything was overturned with astonishing rapidity: customs, manners, +laws, were superseded + + --[The so-called "French" armies of the time, drawn from all parts + of the Empire and from the dependent States, represented the + extraordinary fusion attempted by Napoleon. Thus, at the battle of + Ocana there were at least troops of the following States, viz. + Warsaw, Holland, Baden, Nassau, Hesse-Darmstadt, Frankfort, besides + the Spaniards in Joseph's service. A Spanish division went to + Denmark, the regiment from Isembourg was sent to Naples, while the + Neapolitans crossed to Spain. Even the little Valais had to furnish + a battalion. Blacks from San Domingo served in Naples, while + sixteen nations, like so many chained dogs, advanced into Russia. + Such troops could not have the spirit of a homogeneous army. + + Already, in 1808, Metternich had written from Paris to his Court, + "It is no longer the nation that fights: the present war (Spain) is + Napoleon's war; it is not even that of his army." But Napoleon + himself was aware of the danger of the Empire from its own extent. + In the silence of his cabinet his secretary Meneval sometimes heard + him murmur, "L'arc est trop longtemps tendu."]-- + +by new customs, new manners, and new laws, imposed by force, and forming +a heterogeneous whole, which could not fail to dissolve, as soon as the +influence of the power which had created it should cease to operate. +Such was the state of Italy that I have been informed by an individual +worthy of credit that if the army of Prince Eugene, instead of being +victorious, had been beaten on the Piava, a deeply-organised revolution +would have broken out in Piedmont, and even in the Kingdom of Italy, +where, nevertheless, the majority of the people fully appreciated the +excellent qualities of Eugene. I have been also credibly informed that +lists were in readiness designating those of the French who were to be +put to death, as well as those by whom the severe orders of the Imperial +Government had been mitigated, and who were only to be banished. In +fact, revolt was as natural to the Italians as submission to the Germans, +and as the fury of despair to the Spanish nation. On this subject I may +cite an observation contained in one of the works of Alfieri, published +fifteen years before the Spanish war. Taking a cursory view of the +different European nations he regarded--the Spaniards as the only people +possessed of "sufficient energy to struggle against foreign usurpation." +Had I still been near the person of Napoleon I would most assuredly have +resorted to an innocent artifice, which I had several times employed, and +placed the work of Alfieri on his table open at the page I wished him to +read. Alfieri's opinion of the Spanish people was in the end fully +verified; and I confess I cannot think without shuddering of the torrents +of blood which inundated the Peninsula; and for what? To make Joseph +Bonaparte a King! + +The commencement of 1811 was sufficiently favourable to the French arms +in Spain, but towards the beginning of March the aspect of affairs +changed. The Duke of Belluno, notwithstanding the valour of his troops, +was unsuccessful at Chiclana; and from that day the French army could not +make head against the combined forces of England and Portugal. Even +Massena, notwithstanding the title of Prince of Eslingen (or Essling), +which he had won under the walls of Vienna, was no longer "the favourite +child of victory" as he had been at Zurich. + +Having mentioned Massena I may observe that he did not favour the change +of the French Government on the foundation of the Empire. Massena loved +two things, glory and money; but as to what is termed honours, he only +valued those which resulted from the command of an army; and his +recollections all bound him to the Republic, because the Republic +recalled to his mind the most brilliant and glorious events of his +military career. He was, besides, among the number of the Marshals who +wished to see a limit put to the ambition of Bonaparte; and he had +assuredly done enough, since the commencement of the wars of the +Republic, to be permitted to enjoy some repose, which his health at that +period required. What could he achieve against the English in Portugal? +The combined forces of England and Portugal daily augmented, while ours +diminished. No efforts were spared by England to gain a superiority in +the great struggle in which she was engaged; as her money was lavished +profusely, her troops paid well wherever they went, and were abundantly +supplied with ammunition and provisions: the French army was compelled, +though far from possessing such ample means, to purchase at the same high +rate, in order to keep the natives from joining the English party. But +even this did not prevent numerous partial insurrections in different +places, which rendered all communication with France extremely difficult. +Armed bands continually carried off our dispersed soldiers; and the +presence of the British troops, supported by the money they spent in the +country, excited the inhabitants against us; for it is impossible to +suppose that, unsupported by the English, Portugal could have held out a +single moment against France. But battles, bad weather, and even want, +had so reduced the French force that it was absolutely necessary our +troops should repose when their enterprises could lead to no results. +In this state of things Massena was recalled, because his health was so +materially injured as to render it impossible for him to exert sufficient +activity to restore the army to a respectable footing. + +Under these circumstances Bonaparte sent Bertrand into Illyria to take +the place of Marmont, who was ordered in his turn to relieve Massena and +take command of the French army in Portugal Marmont on assuming the +command found the troops in a deplorable state. The difficulty of +procuring provisions was extreme, and the means he was compelled to +employ for that purpose greatly heightened the evil, at the same time +insubordination and want of discipline prevailed to such an alarming +degree that it would be as difficult as painful to depict the situation +of our army at this period, Marmont, by his steady conduct, fortunately +succeeded in correcting the disorders which prevailed, and very soon +found himself at the head of a well-organised army, amounting to 30,000 +infantry, with forty pieces of artillery, but he had only a very small +body of cavalry, and those ill-mounted. + +Affairs in Spain at the commencement of 1811 exhibited an aspect not very +different from those of Portugal. At first we were uniformly successful, +but our advantages were so dearly purchased that the ultimate issue of +this struggle might easily have been foreseen, because when a people +fight for their homes and their liberties the invading army must +gradually diminish, while at the same time the armed population, +emboldened by success, increases in a still more marked progression. +Insurrection was now regarded by the Spaniards as a holy and sacred duty, +to which the recent meetings of the Cortes in the Isle of Leon had given, +as it were, a legitimate character, since Spain found again, in the +remembrance of her ancient privileges, at least the shadow of a +Government--a centre around which the defenders of the soil of the +Peninsula could rally. + + --[Lord Wellington gave Massena a beating at Fuentes d'Onore on the + 5th of May 1811. It was soon after this battle that Napoleon sent + Marmont to succeed Massena. Advancing on the southern frontier of + Portugal the skillful Soult contrived to take Badajoz from a + wavering Spanish garrison. About this time, however, General + Graham, with his British corps, sallied out of Cadiz, and beat the + French on the heights of Barrosa, which lie in front of Cadiz, which + city the French were then besieging. Encouraged by the successes of + our regular armies, the Spanish Guerillas became more and more + numerous and daring. By the end of 1811 Joseph Bonaparte found so + many thorns in his usurped crown that he implored his brother to put + it on some other head. Napoleon would not then listen to his + prayer. In the course of 1811 a plan was laid for liberating + Ferdinand from his prison in France and placing him at the head of + affairs in Spain, but was detected by the emissaries of Bonaparte's + police. Ferdinand's sister, the ex-Queen of Etruria, had also + planned an escape to England. Her agents were betrayed, tried by a + military commission, and shot--the Princess herself was condemned to + close confinement in a Roman convent.--Editor of 1836 edition.]-- + +The Continental system was the cause, if not of the eventual fall, at +least of the rapid fall of Napoleon. This cannot be doubted if we +consider for a moment the brilliant situation of the Empire in 1811, +and the effect simultaneously produced throughout Europe by that system, +which undermined the most powerful throne which ever existed. It was the +Continental system that Napoleon upheld in Spain, for he had persuaded +himself that this system, rigorously enforced, would strike a death blow +to the commerce of England; and Duroc besides informed me of a +circumstance which is of great weight in this question. Napoleon one day +said to him, "I am no longer anxious that Joseph should be King of Spain; +and he himself is indifferent about it. I would give the crown to the +first comer who would shut his ports against the English." + +Murat had come to Paris on the occasion of the Empress' accouchement, and +I saw him several times during his stay, for we had always been on the +best terms; and I must do him the justice to say that he never assumed +the King but to his courtiers, and those who had known him only as a +monarch. Eight or ten days after the birth of the King of Rome, as I was +one morning walking in the Champs Elysees, I met Murat. He was alone, +and dressed in a long blue overcoat. We were exactly opposite the +gardens of his sister-in-law, the Princess Borghese. "Well, Bourrienne," +said Murat, after we had exchanged the usual courtesies, "well, what are +you about now?" I informed him how I had been treated by Napoleon, who, +that I might not be in Hamburg when the decree of union arrived there, +had recalled me to Paris under a show of confidence. I think I still see +the handsome and expressive countenance of Joachim when, having addressed +him by the titles of Sire and Your Majesty, he said to me, "Pshaw! +Bourrienne, are we not old comrades? The Emperor has treated you +unjustly; and to whom has he not been unjust? His displeasure is +preferable to his favour, which costs so dear! He says that he made us +Kings; but did we not make him an Emperor? To you, my friend, whom I +have known long and intimately, I can make my profession of faith. My +sword, my blood, my life belong to the Emperor. When he calls me to the +field to combat his enemies and the enemies of France I am no longer a +King, I resume the rank of a Marshal of the Empire; but let him require +no more. At Naples I will be King of Naples, and I will not sacrifice to +his false calculations the life, the well-being, and the interests of my +subjects. Let him not imagine that he can treat me as he has treated +Louis! For I am ready to defend, even against him, if it must be so, the +rights of the people over whom he has appointed me to rule. Am I then an +advance-guard King?" These last words appeared to me peculiarly +appropriate in the mouth of Murat, who had always served in the advance- +guard of our armies, and I thought expressed in a very happy manner the +similarity of his situation as a king and a soldier. + +I walked with Murat about half an hour. In the course of our +conversation he informed me that his greatest cause of complaint against +the Emperor was his having first put him forward and then abandoned him. +"Before I arrived in Naples," continued he, "it was intimated to me that +there was a design of assassinating me. What did I do? I entered that +city alone, in full daylight, in an open carriage, for I would rather +have been assassinated at once than have lived in the constant fear of +being so. I afterwards made a descent on the Isle of Capri, which +succeeded. I attempted one against Sicily, and am curtain it would have +also been successful had the Emperor fulfilled his promise of sending the +Toulon fleet to second my operations; but he issued contrary orders: he +enacted Mazarin, and unshed me to play the part of the adventurous Duke +of Guise. But I see through his designs. Now that he has a son, on whom +he has bestowed the title of King of Rome, he merely wishes the crown of +Naples to be considered as a deposit in my hands. He regards Naples as a +future annexation to the Kingdom of Rome, to which I foresee it is his +design to unite the whole of Italy. But let him not urge me too far, for +I will oppose him, and conquer, or perish in the attempt, sword in hand." + +I had the discretion not to inform Murat how correctly he had divined the +plans of the Emperor and his projects as to Italy, but in regard to the +Continental system, which, perhaps, the reader will be inclined to call +my great stalking-horse, I spoke of it as I had done to the Prince of +Sweden, and I perceived that he was fully disposed to follow my advice, +as experience has sufficiently proved. It was in fact the Continental +system which separated the interests of Murat from those of the Emperor, +and which compelled the new King of Naples to form alliances amongst the +Princes at war with France. Different opinions have been entertained on +this Subject; mine is, that the Marshal of the Empire was wrong, but the +King of Naples right. + +The Princes and Dukes of the Empire must pardon me for so often +designating them by their Republican names. The Marshals set less value +on their titles of nobility than the Dukes and Counts selected from among +the civilians. Of all the sons of the Republic Regnault de St. Jean +d'Angely was the most gratified at being a Count, whilst, among the +fathers of the Revolution no one could regard with greater disdain than +Fouche his title of Duke of Otranto; he congratulated himself upon its +possession only once, and that was after the fall of the Empire. + +I have expressed my dislike of Fouche; and the reason of that feeling +was, that I could not endure his system of making the police a government +within a government. He had left Paris before my return thither, but I +had frequent occasion to speak of that famous personage to Savary, whom, +for the reason above assigned, I do not always term Duc de Rovigo. +Savary knew better than any one the fallacious measures of Fouche's +administration, since he was his successor. Fouche, under pretence of +encouraging men of letters, though well aware that the Emperor was +hostile to them, intended only to bring them into contempt by making them +write verses at command. It was easily seen that Napoleon nourished a +profound dislike of literary men, though we must not conclude that he +wished the public to be aware of that dislike. Those, besides, who +devoted their pens to blazon his glory and his power were sure to be +received by him with distinction. On the other hand, as Charlemagne and +Louis XIV. owed a portion of the splendour of their reigns to the lustre +reflected on them by literature, he wished to appear to patronise +authors, provided that they never discussed questions relating to +philosophy, the independence of mankind, and civil and political rights. +With regard to men of science it was wholly different; those he held in +real estimation; but men of letters, properly so called, were considered +by him merely as a sprig in his Imperial crown. + +The marriage of the Emperor with an Archduchess of Austria had set all +the Court poets to work, and in this contest of praise and flattery it +must be confessed that the false gods were vanquished by the true God; +for, in spite of their fulsome verses, not one of the disciples of Apollo +could exceed the extravagance of the Bishops in their pastoral letters. +At a time when so many were striving to force themselves into notice +there still existed a feeling of esteem in the public mind for men of +superior talent who remained independent amidst the general corruption; +such was M. Lemercier, such was M. de Chateaubriand. I was in Paris in +the spring of 1811, at the period of Chenier's death, when the numerous +friends whom Chateaubriand possessed in the second class of the Institute +looked to him as the successor of Chenier. This was more than a mere +literary question, not only on account of the high literary reputation +M. de Chateaubriand already possessed, but of the recollection of his +noble conduct at the period of Duc d'Enghien's death, which was yet fresh +in the memory of every one; and, besides, no person could be ignorant of +the immeasurable difference of opinion between Chenier and M. de +Chateaubriand. + +M. de Chateaubriand obtained a great majority of votes, and was elected a +Member of the Institute. This opened a wide field for conjecture in +Paris. Every one was anxious to see how the author of the Genie du +Christianisme, the faithful defender of the Bourbons, would bend his +eloquence to pronounce the eulogium of a regicide. The time for the +admission of the new Member of the Institute arrived, but in his +discourse, copies of which were circulated in Paris, he had ventured to +allude to the death of Louis XVI., and to raise his voice against the +regicides. This did not displease Napoleon; but M. de Chateaubriand also +made a profession of faith in favour of liberty, which, he said, found +refuge amongst men of letters when banished from the politic body. This +was great boldness for the time; for though Bonaparte was secretly +gratified at seeing the judges of Louis XVI. scourged by an heroic pen, +yet those men held the highest situations under the Government. +Cambaceres filled the second place in the Empire, although at a great +distance from the first; Merlin de Douai was also in power; and it is +known how much liberty was stifled and hidden beneath the dazzling +illusion of what is termed glory. A commission was named to examine the +discourse of Chateaubriand. MM. Suard, de Segur, de Fontanes, and two or +three other members of the same class of the Institute whose names I +cannot recollect, were of opinion that the discourse should be read; but +it was opposed by the majority. + +When Napoleon was informed of what had passed he demanded a sight of the +address, which was presented to him by M. Daru. After having perused it +he exclaimed; "Had this discourse been delivered I would have shut the +gates of the Institute, and thrown M. de Chateaubriand into a dungeon for +life." The storm long raged; at length means of conciliation were tried. +The Emperor required M. de Chateaubriand to prepare another discourse, +which the latter refused to do, in spite of every menace. Madame Gay +applied to Madame Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, who interested her +husband in favour of the author of the Genie du Christianisme. M. de +Montalivet and Savary also acted on this occasion in the most +praiseworthy manner, and succeeded in appeasing the first transports of +the Emperor's rage. But the name of Chateaubriand constantly called to +mind the circumstances which had occasioned him to give in his +resignation; and, besides, Napoleon had another complaint against him. +He had published in the 'Merceure' an article on a work of M. Alexandre +de Laborde. In that article, which was eagerly read in Paris, and which +caused the suppression of the 'Merceure', occurred the famous phrase +which has been since so often repeated: "In vain a Nero triumphs: Tacitus +is already born in his Empire." This quotation leads me to repeat an +observation, which, I believe, I have already made, viz. that it is a +manifest misconception to compare Bonaparte to Nero. Napoleon's ambition +might blind his vision to political crimes, but in private life no man +could evince less disposition to cruelty or bloodshed. A proof that he +bore little resemblance to Nero is that his anger against the author of +the article in question vented itself in mere words. "What!" exclaimed +he, "does Chateaubriand think I am a fool, and that I do not know what he +means? If he goes on this way I will have him sabred on the steps of the +Tuileries." This language is quite characteristic of Bonaparte, but it +was uttered in the first ebullition of his wrath. Napoleon merely +threatened, but Nero would have made good his threat; and in such a case +there is surely some difference between words and deeds. + +The discourse of M. de Chateaubriand revived Napoleon's former enmity +against him; he received an order to quit Paris: M. Daru returned to him +the manuscript of his discourse, which had been read by Bonaparte, who +cancelled some passages with a pencil. We can be sure that the phrase +about liberty was not one of those spared by the Imperial pencil. +However that may be, written copies were circulated with text altered and +abbreviated; and I have even been told that a printed edition appeared, +but I have never seen any copies; and as I do not find the discourse in +the works of M. de Chateaubriand I have reason to believe that the author +has not yet wished to publish it. + +Such were the principal circumstances attending the nomination of +Chateaubriand to the Institute. I shall not relate some others which +occurred on a previous occasion, viz. on the election of an old and +worthy visitor at Malmaison, M. Lemercier, and which will serve to show +one of those strange inconsistencies so frequent in the character of +Napoleon. + +After the foundation of the Empire M. Lemercier ceased to present himself +at the Tuileries, St. Cloud, or at Malmaison, though he was often seen in +the salons of Madame Bonaparte while she yet hoped not to become a Queen. +Two places were vacant at once in the second class of the Institute, +which still contained a party favourable to liberty. This party, finding +it impossible to influence the nomination of both members, contented +itself with naming one, it being the mutual condition, in return for +favouring the Government candidate, that the Government party should not +oppose the choice of the liberals. The liberal party selected M. +Lemercier, but as they knew his former connection with Bonaparte had been +broken off they wished first to ascertain that he would do nothing to +commit their choice. Chenier was empowered to inquire whether M. +Lemercier would refuse to accompany them to the Tuileries when they +repaired thither in a body, and whether, on his election, he would comply +with the usual ceremony of being presented to the Emperor. M. Lemercier +replied that he would do nothing contrary to the customs and usages of +the body to which he might belong: he was accordingly elected. The +Government candidate was M. Esmenard, who was also elected. The two new +members were presented to the Emperor on the same day. On this occasion +upwards of 400 persons were present in the salon, from one of whom I +received these details. When the Emperor saw M. Lemercier, for whom he +had long pretended great friendship, he said to him in a kind tone, +"Well, Lemercier, you are now installed." Lemercier respectfully bowed +to the Emperor; but without uttering a word of reply. Napoleon was +mortified at this silence, but without saying anything more to Lemercier +he turned to Esmenard, the member who should have been most acceptable to +him, and vented upon him the whole weight of his indignation in a manner +equally unfeeling and unjust. "Well, Esmenard," said he, "do you still +hold your place in the police?" These words were spoken in so loud a +tone as to be heard by all present; and it was doubtless this cruel and +ambiguous speech which furnished the enemies of Esmenard with arms to +attack his reputation as a man of honour, and to give an appearance of +disgrace to those functions which he exercised with so much zeal and +ability. + +When, at the commencement of 1811, I left Paris I had ceased to delude +myself respecting the brilliant career which seemed opening before me +during the Consulate. I clearly perceived that since Bonaparte, instead +of receiving me as I expected, had refused to see me at all, the +calumnies of my enemies were triumphant, and that I had nothing to hope +for from an absolute ruler, whose past injustice rendered him the more +unjust. He now possessed what he had so long and ardently wished for, +--a son of his own, an inheritor of his name, his power, and his throne. +I must take this opportunity of stating that the malevolent and infamous +rumours spread abroad respecting the birth of the King of Rome were +wholly without foundation. My friend Corvisart, who did not for a single +instant leave Maria Louisa during her long and painful labour, removed +from my mind every doubt on the subject. It is as true that the young +Prince, for whom the Emperor of Austria stood sponsor at the font, was +the son of Napoleon and the Archduchess Maria Louisa as it is false that +Bonaparte was the father of the first child of Hortense. The birth of +the son of Napoleon was hailed with general enthusiasm. The Emperor was +at the height of his power from the period of the birth of his son until +the reverse he experienced after the battle of the Moskowa. The Empire, +including the States possessed by the Imperial family, contained nearly +57,000,000 of inhabitants; but the period was fast approaching when this +power, unparalleled in modern times, was to collapse under its own +weight. + + --[The little King of Rome, Napoleon Francis Bonaparte, was born on + the 20th of March 1811. Editor of 1836 edition.]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + My return to Hamburg--Government Committee established there-- + Anecdote of the Comte de Chaban--Napoleon's misunderstanding with + the Pope--Cardinal Fesch--Convention of a Council--Declaration + required from the Bishops--Spain in 1811--Certainty of war with + Russia--Lauriston supersedes Caulaincourt at St. Petersburg--The war + in Spain neglected--Troops of all nations at the disposal of + Bonaparte--Levy of the National Guard--Treaties with Prussia and + Austria--Capitulation renewed with Switzerland--Intrigues with + Czernischeff--Attacks of my enemies--Memorial to the Emperor--Ogier + de la Saussaye and the mysterious box--Removal of the Pope to + Fontainebleau--Anecdote of His Holiness and M. Denon--Departure of + Napoleon and Maria Louisa for Dresden--Situation of affairs in Spain + and Portugal--Rapp's account of the Emperor's journey to Dantzic-- + Mutual wish for war on the part of Napoleon and Alexander--Sweden + and Turkey--Napoleon's vain attempt to detach Sweden from her + alliance with Russia. + +As I took the most lively interest in all that concerned the Hanse Towns, +my first care on returning to Hamburg was to collect information from the +most respectable sources concerning the influential members of the new +Government. Davoust was at its head. On his arrival he had established +in the Duchy of Mecklenburg, in Swedish Pomerania, and in Stralsund, the +capital of that province, military posts and custom-houses, and that in a +time of profound peace with those countries, and without any previous +declaration. The omnipotence of Napoleon, and the terror inspired by the +name of Davoust, overcame all obstacles which might have opposed those +iniquitous usurpations. The weak were forced to yield to the strong. + +At Hamburg a Government Committee was formed, consisting of the Prince of +Eekmuhl as President, Comte de Chaban, Councillor of State, who +superintended the departments of the Interior and Finance, and of M. +Faure, Councillor of State, who was appointed to form and regulate the +Courts of Law. I had sometimes met M. de Chaban at Malmaison. He was +distantly related to Josephine, and had formerly been an officer in the +French Guards. He was compelled to emigrate, having been subjected to +every species of persecution during the Revolution. + +M. de Chaban was among the first of the emigrants who returned to France +after the 18th Brumaire. He was at first made Sub-Prefect of Vendome, +but on the union of Tuscany with France Napoleon created him a member of +the Junta appointed to regulate the affairs of Tuscany. He next became +Prefect of Coblentz and Brussels, was made a Count by Bonaparte, and was +afterwards chosen a member of the Government Committee at Hamburg. M. de +Chaban was a man of upright principles, and he discharged his various +functions in a way that commanded esteem and attachment. + + --[I recollect an anecdote which but too well depicts those + disastrous times. The Comte de Chaban, being obliged to cross + France during the Reign of Terror, was compelled to assume a, + disguise. He accordingly provided himself with a smockfrock; a cart + and horses, and a load of corn. In this manner he journeyed from + place to place till he reached the frontiers. He stopped at + Rochambeau, in the Vendomais, where he was recognised by the Marshal + de Rochambeau, who to guard against exciting any suspicion among- + his servants, treated him as if he had really been a carman and said + to him, "You may dine in the kitchen."--Bourrienne.]-- + +The Hanseatic Towns, united to the Grand Empire professedly for their +welfare, soon felt the blessings of the new organisation of a +regenerating Government. They were at once presented with; the stamp- +duty, registration, the lottery, the droits reunis, the tax on cards, and +the 'octroi'. This prodigality of presents caused, as we may be sure, +the most lively gratitude; a tax for military quarters and for warlike +supplies was imposed, but this did not relieve any one from laving not +only officers and soldiers; but even all the chiefs of the administration +and their officials billeted on them: The refineries, breweries, and +manufactures of all sorts were suppressed. The cash chests of the +Admiralty, of the charity houses, of the manufactures, of the savings- +banks, of the working classes, the funds of the prisons, the relief meant +for the infirm, the chests of the refuges, orphanages; and of the +hospitals, were all seized. + +More than 200,000 men, Italian, Dutch, and French soldiers came in turn +to stay there, but only to be clothed and shod; and then they left newly +clothed from head to foot. To leave nothing to be wished for, Davoust, +from 1812, established military commissions in all the thirty-second. +military division, before he entered upon the Russian campaign. To +complete these oppressive measures he established at the same time the +High Prevotal Court of the Customs. It was at this time that M. Eudes, +the director of the ordinary customs, a strict but just man, said that +the rule of the ordinary customs would be regretted, "for till now you +have only been on roses.." The professed judgments of this court were +executed without appeal and without delay. From what I have just said +the situation and the misery of the north of Germany, and the consequent +discontent, can be judged. + +During my stay in Hamburg, which on this occasion was not very long, +Napoleon's attention was particularly engaged by the campaign of +Portugal, and his discussions with the Pope. At this period the +thunderbolts of Rome were not very alarming. Yet precautions were taken +to keep secret the excommunication which Pius VII. had pronounced +against Napoleon. The event, however, got reported about, and a party in +favour of the Pope speedily rose up among the clergy, and more +particularly among the fanatics. Napoleon sent to Savona the Archbishops +of Nantes, Bourges, Treves, and Tours, to endeavour to bring about a +reconciliation with His Holiness. But all their endeavours were +unavailing, and after staying a month at Savona they returned to Paris +without having done anything. But Napoleon was not discouraged by this +first disappointment, and he shortly afterwards sent a second deputation, +which experienced the same fate as the first. Cardinal Fesch, Napoleon's +uncle, took part with the Pope. For this fact I can vouch, though I +cannot for an answer which he is said to have made to the Emperor. I +have been informed that when Napoleon was one day speaking to his uncle +about the Pope's obstinacy the Cardinal made some observations to him on +his (Bonaparte's) conduct to the Holy Father, upon which Napoleon flew +into a passion, and said that the Pope and he were two old fools. +"As for the Pope," said he, "he is too obstinate to listen to anything. +No, I am determined he shall never have Rome again . . . . He will +not remain at Savona, and where does he wish I should send him?"--"To +Heaven, perhaps," replied the Cardinal. + +The truth is, the Emperor was violently irritated against Pius VII. +Observing with uneasiness the differences and difficulties to which all +these dissensions gave rise, he was anxious to put a stop to them. As +the Pope would not listen to any propositions that were made to him, +Napoleon convoked a Council, which assembled in Paris, and at which +several Italian Bishops were present. The Pope insisted that the +temporal and spiritual interests should be discussed together; and, +however disposed a certain number of prelates, particularly the Italians, +might be to separate these two points of discussion, yet the influence of +the Church and well-contrived intrigues gradually gave preponderance to +the wishes of the Pope. The Emperor, having discovered that a secret +correspondence was carried on by several of the Bishops and Archbishops +who had seats in the Council, determined to get rid of some of them, and +the Bishops of Ghent, Troyes, Tournay, and Toulouse were arrested and +sent to Vincennes. They were superseded by others. He wished to +dissolve the Council, which he saw was making no advance towards the +object he had in view, and, fearing that it might adopt some act at +variance with his supreme wish, every member of the Council was +individually required to make a declaration that the proposed changes +were conformable to the laws of the Church. It was said at the time that +they were unanimous in this individual declaration, though it is certain +that in the sittings of the Council opinions were divided. I know not +what His Holiness thought of these written opinions compared with the +verbal opinions that had been delivered, but certain it is though still a +captive at Savona, he refused to adhere to the concessions granted in the +secret declarations. + +The conflicts which took place in Spain during the year 1811 were +unattended by any decisive results. Some brilliant events, indeed, +attested the courage of our troops and the skill of our generals. Such +were the battle of Albufera and the taking of Tarragona, while Wellington +was obliged to raise the siege of Badajoz. These advantages, which were +attended only by glory, encouraged Napoleon in the hope of triumphing in +the Peninsula, and enabled him to enjoy the brilliant fetes which took +place at Paris in celebration of the birth of the King of Rome. + +On his return from a tour in Holland at the end of October Napoleon +clearly saw that a rupture with Russia was inevitable. In vain he sent +Lauriston as Ambassador to St. Petersburg to supersede Caulaincourt, who +would no longer remain there: all the diplomatic skill in the world could +effect nothing with a powerful Government which had already formed its +determination. All the Cabinets in Europe were now unanimous in wishing +for the overthrow of Napoleon's power, and the people no less, ardently +wished for an order of things less fatal to their trade and industry. In +the state to which Europe was reduced no one could counteract the wish of +Russia and her allies to go to war with France--Lauriston no more than +Caulaincourt. + +The war for which Napoleon was now obliged to prepare forced him to +neglect Spain, and to leave his interests in that country in a state of +real danger. Indeed, his occupation of Spain and his well-known wish to +maintain himself there were additional motives for inducing the powers of +Europe to enter upon a war which would necessarily divide Napoleon's +forces. All at once the troops which were in Italy and the north of +Germany moved towards the frontiers of the Russian Empire. From March +1811 the Emperor had all the military forces of Europe at his disposal. +It was curious to see this union of nations, distinguished by difference +of manners, + + --[It should be remarked that Napoleon was far from being anxious + for the war with Russia. Metternich writing on 26th March 1811, + says "Everything seems to indicate that the Emperor Napoleon is at + present still far from desiring a war with Russia. But it is not + less true that the Emperor Alexander has given himself over, 'nolens + volens', to the war party, and that he will bring about war, because + the time is approaching when he will no longer be able to resist the + reaction of the party in the internal affairs of his Empire, or the + temper of his army. The contest between Count Romanzov and the + party opposed to that Minister seems on the point of precipitating a + war between Russia and France." This, from Metternich, is strong + evidence.]-- + +language, religion, and interests, all ready to fight for one man against +a power who had done nothing to offend them. Prussia herself, though she +could not pardon the injuries he had inflicted upon her, joined his +alliance, but with the intention of breaking it on the first opportunity. +When the war with Russia was first spoken of Savary and I had frequent +conversations on the subject. I communicated to him all the intelligence +I received from abroad respecting that vast enterprise. The Duc de +Rovigo shared all my forebodings; and if he and those who thought like +him had been listened to, the war would probably have been avoided. +Through him I learnt who were the individuals who urged the invasion. +The eager ambition with which they looked forward to Viceroyalties, +Duchies, and endowments blinded them to the possibility of seeing the +Cossacks in Paris. + +The gigantic enterprise being determined on, vast preparations were made +for carrying it into effect. Before his departure Napoleon, who was to +take with him all the disposable troops, caused a 'Senatus-consulte' to +be issued for levying the National Guards, who were divided into three +corps. He also arranged his diplomatic affairs by concluding, in +February 1812, a treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, with +Prussia, by virtue of which the two contracting powers mutually +guaranteed the integrity of their own possessions, and the European +possessions of the Ottoman Porte, because that power was then at war with +Russia. A similar treaty was concluded about the beginning of March with +Austria, and about the end of the same month Napoleon renewed the +capitulation of France and Switzerland. At length, in the month of +April, there came to light an evident proof of the success which had +attended M. Czernischeff's intrigues in Paris. It was ascertained that a +clerk in the War Office, named Michel, had communicated to him the +situation of the French forces in Germany. Michel was condemned to +death, for the time was gone by when Bonaparte, confident in his genius +and good fortune, could communicate his plans to the spy of General +Melas. + +In March 1812, when I saw that the approaching war would necessarily take +Napoleon from France, weary of the persecutions and even threats by which +I was every day assailed, I addressed to the Emperor a memorial +explaining my conduct and showing the folly and wickedness of my +accusers. Among them was a certain Ogier de la Saussaye, who had sent a +report to the Emperor, in which the principal charge was, that I had +carried off a box containing important papers belonging to the First +Consul. The accusation of Ogier de la Saussaye terminated thus: "I add +to my report the interrogatories of MM. Westphalen, Osy, Chapeau Rouge, +Aukscher, Thierry, and Gumprecht-Mores. The evidence of the latter bears +principally on a certain mysterious box, a secret upon which it is +impossible to throw any light, but the reality of which we are bound to +believe." These are his words. The affair of the mysterious box has +been already explained. I have already informed the reader that I put my +papers into a box, which I buried lest it should be stolen from me. +But for that precaution I should not have been able to lay before the +reader the autograph documents in my possession, and which I imagine form +the most essential part of these volumes. In my memorial to the Emperor +I said, in allusion to the passage above quoted, "This, Sire, is the most +atrocious part of Ogier's report. + +"Gumprecht being questioned on this point replies that the accuser has +probably, as well as himself, seen the circumstance mentioned in an +infamous pamphlet which appeared seven or eight years, ago. It was, I +think, entitled 'Le Secret du Cabinet des Tuileries,' and was very likely +at the time of its appearance denounced by the police. In that libel it +is stated, among a thousand other calumnies equally false and absurd, +'that when I left the First Consul I carried away a box full of important +papers, that I was in consequence sent to the Temple, where your brother +Joseph came to me and offered me my liberation, and a million of francs, +if I would restore the papers, which I refused to do,' etc. Ogier, +instead of looking for this libel in Hamburg, where I read it, has the +impudence to give credit to the charge, the truth of which could have +been ascertained immediately: and he adds, 'This secret we are bound to +believe.' Your Majesty knows whether I was ever in the Temple, and +whether Joseph ever made such an offer to me." I entreated that the +Emperor would do me the favour to bring me to trial; for certainly I +should have regarded that as a favour rather than to remain as I was, +exposed to vague accusations; yet all my solicitations were in vain. +My letter to the Emperor remained unanswered; but though Bonaparte could +not spare a few moments to reply to an old friend, I learned through +Duroc the contempt he cherished for my accusers. Duroc advised me not to +be uneasy, and that in all probability the Emperor's prejudices against +me would be speedily overcome; and I must say that if they were not +overcome it was neither the fault of Duroc nor Savary, who knew how to +rightly estimate the miserable intrigues just alluded to. + +Napoleon was at length determined to extend the limits of his Empire, or +rather to avenge the injuries which Russia had committed against his +Continental system. Yet, before he departed for Germany, the resolute +refusal of the Pope to submit to any arrangement urgently claimed his +consideration. Savona did not appear to him a sufficiently secure +residence for such a prisoner. He feared that when all his strength +should be removed towards the Niemen the English might carry off the +Pope, or that the Italians, excited by the clergy, whose dissatisfaction +was general in Italy, would stir up those religious dissensions which are +always fatal and difficult to quell. With the view, therefore, of +keeping the Pope under his control he removed him to Fontainebleau, and +even at one time thought of bringing him to Paris. + +The Emperor appointed M. Denon to reside with the Pope at Fontainebleau; +and to afford his illustrious prisoner the society of such a man was +certainly a delicate mark of attention on the part of Napoleon. When +speaking of his residence with Pius VII. M. Denon related to me the +following anecdote. "The Pope," said he, "was much attached to me. He +always addressed me by the appellation 'my son,' and he loved to converse +with me, especially on the subject of the Egyptian expedition. One day +he asked me for my work on Egypt, which he said he wished to read; and as +you know it is not quite orthodox, and does not perfectly agree with the +creation of the world according to Genesis, I at first hesitated; but the +Pope insisted, and at length I complied with his wish. The Holy Father +assured me that he had been much interested by the perusal of the book. +I made some allusion to the delicate points; upon which he said, "No +matter, no matter, my son; all that is exceedingly curious, and I must +confess entirely new to me." I then," continued M. Denon, told His +Holiness why I hesitated to lend him the work, which, I observed, he had +excommunicated, together with its author. "Excommunicated you, my son?" +resumed the Pope in a tone of affectionate concern. "I am very sorry for +it, and assure you I was far from being aware of any such thing." + +When M. Denon related to me this anecdote he told me how greatly he had +admired the virtues and resignation of the Holy Father; but he added that +it would nevertheless have been easier to make him a martyr than to +induce him to yield on any point until he should be restored to the +temporal sovereignty of Rome, of which he considered himself the +depositary, and which he would not endure the reproach of having +willingly sacrificed. After settling the place of the Pope's residence +Napoleon set off for Dresden, accompanied by Maria Louisa, who had +expressed a wish to see her father. + +The Russian enterprise, the most gigantic, perhaps, that the genius of +man ever conceived since the conquest of India by Alexander, now absorbed +universal attention, and defied the calculations of reason. The +Manzanares was forgotten, and nothing was thought of but the Niemen, +already so celebrated by the raft of Tilsit. Thither, as towards a +common centre, were moving men, horses, provisions, and baggage of every +kind, from all parts of Europe. The hopes of our generals and the fears +of all prudent men were directed to Russia. The war in Spain, which was +becoming more and more unfortunate, excited but a feeble interest; and +our most distinguished officers looked upon it as a disgrace to be sent +to the Peninsula. In short, it was easy to foresee that the period was +not far distant when the French would be obliged to recross the Pyrenees. +Though the truth was concealed from the Emperor on many subjects, yet he +was not deceived as to the situation of Spain in the spring of 1812. In +February the Duke of Ragusa had frankly informed him that the armies of +Spain and Portugal could not, without considerable reinforcements of men +and money, hope for any important advantages since Ciudad-Rodrigo and +Badajoz had fallen into the hands of the English. + +Before he commenced his great operations on the Niemen and the Volga +Napoleon made a journey to Dantzic, and Rapp, who was then Governor of +that city, informed me of some curious particulars connected with the +Imperial visit. The fact is, that if Rapp's advice had been listened to, +and had been supported by men higher in rank than himself, Bonaparte +would not have braved the chances of the Russian war until those chances +turned against him. Speaking to me of the Russians Rapp said, "They will +soon be as wise as we are! Every time we go to war with them we teach +them how to beat us." I was struck with the originality and truth of +this observation, which at the time I heard it was new, though it has +been often repeated since. + +"On leaving Dresden," said Rapp to me, "Napoleon came to Dantzic. I +expected a dressing; for, to tell you the truth, I had treated very +cavalierly both his custom-house and its officers, who were raising up as +many enemies to France as there were inhabitants in my Government. I had +also warned him of all that has since happened in Russia, but I assure +you I did not think myself quite so good a prophet. In the beginning of +1812 I thus wrote to him: 'If your Majesty should experience reverses you +may depend on it that both Russians and Germans will rise up in a mass to +shake off the yoke. There will be a crusade, and all your allies will +abandon you. Even the King of Bavaria, on whom you rely so confidently, +will join the coalition. I except only the King of Saxony. He, perhaps, +might remain faithful to you; but his subjects will force him to make +common cause with your enemies. The King of Naples," continued Rapp, "who +had the command of the cavalry, had been to Dantzic before the Emperor. +He did not seem to take a more favourable view of the approaching +campaign than I did. Murat was dissatisfied that the Emperor would not +consent to his rejoining him in Dresden; and he said that he would rather +be a captain of grenadiers than a King such as he was." + +Here I interrupted Rapp to tell him what had fallen from Murat when I met +him in the Champs Elysees "Bah!" resumed Rapp, "Murat, brave as he was, +was a craven in Napoleon's presence! On the Emperor's arrival in Dantzic +the first thing of which he spoke to me was the alliance he had just then +concluded with Prussia and Austria. I could not refrain from telling him +that we did a great deal of mischief as allies; a fact of which I was +assured from the reports daily transmitted to me respecting the conduct +of our troops. Bonaparte tossed his bead, as you know he was in the +habit of doing when he was displeased. After a moment's silence, +dropping the familiar thee and thou, he said, 'Monsieur le General, this +is a torrent which must be allowed to run itself out. It will not last +long. I must first ascertain whether Alexander decidedly wishes for +war.' Then, suddenly changing the subject of conversation, he said, +'Have you not lately observed something extraordinary in Murat? I think +he is quite altered. Is be ill?'--'Sire,' replied I, 'Murat is not ill, +but he is out of spirits.'--'Out of spirits! but why? Is he not +satisfied with being a King?'--'Sire, Murat says he is no King.'--'That +is his own fault. Why does he make himself a Neapolitan? Why is he not +a Frenchman? When he is in his Kingdom he commits all sorts of follies. +He favours the trade of England; that I will not suffer.' + +"When," continued Rapp, "he spoke of the favour extended by Murat to the +trade between Naples and England I thought my turn would come next; but I +was deceived. No more was said on the subject, and when I was about to +take my leave the Emperor said to me, as when in his best of humours, +'Rapp, you will sup with me this evening.' I accordingly supped that +evening with the Emperor, who had also invited the King of Naples and +Berthier. Next day the Emperor visited the fortress, and afterwards +returned to the Government Palace, where he received the civil and +military authorities. He again invited Murat, Berthier, and me to +supper. When we first sat down to table we were all very dull, for the +Emperor was silent; and, as you well know, under such circumstances not +even Murat himself dared to be the first to speak to him. At length +Napoleon, addressing me, inquired how far it was from Cadiz to Dantzic. +'Too far, Sire,' replied I. 'I understand you, Monsieur le General, but +in a few months the distance will be still greater.'--'So much the worse, +Sire!' Here there was another pause. Neither Murat nor Berthier, on +whom the Emperor fixed a scrutinising glance, uttered a word, and +Napoleon again broke silence, but without addressing any one of us in +particular: 'Gentlemen,' said be in a solemn and rather low tone of +voice, 'I see plainly that you are none of you inclined to fight again. +The King of Naples does not wish to leave the fine climate of his +dominions, Berthier wishes to enjoy the diversion of the chase at his +estate of Gros Bois, and Rapp is impatient to be back to his hotel in +Paris.' Would you believe it," pursued Rapp, "that neither Murat nor +Berthier said a word in reply? and the ball again came to me. I told +him frankly that what he said was perfectly true, and the King of Naples +and the Prince of Neufchatel complimented me on my spirit, and observed +that I was quite right in saying what I did. 'Well,' said I, 'since it +was so very right, why did you not follow my example, and why leave me to +say all?' You cannot conceive," added Rapp, "how confounded they both +were, and especially Murat, though be was very differently situated from +Berthier." + +The negotiations which Bonaparte opened with Alexander, when he yet +wished to seem averse to war, resembled those oratorical paraphrases +which do not prevent us from coming to the conclusion we wish. The two +Emperors equally desired war; the one with the view of consolidating his +power, and the other in the hope of freeing himself from a yoke which +threatened to reduce him to a state of vassalage, for it was little short +of this to require a power like Russia to close her ports against England +for the mere purpose of favouring the interests of France. At that time +only two European powers were not tied to Napoleon's fate--Sweden and +Turkey. Napoleon was anxious to gain the alliance of these two powers. +With respect to Sweden his efforts were vain; and though, in fact, Turkey +was then at war with Russia, yet the Grand Seignior was not now, as at +the time of Sebastiani's embassy, subject to the influence of France. + +The peace, which was soon concluded at Bucharest, between Russia, and +Turkey increased Napoleon's embarrassment. The left of the Russian army, +secured by the neutrality of Turkey, was reinforced by Bagration's corps +from Moldavia: it subsequently occupied the right of the Beresina, and +destroyed the last hope of saving the wreck of the French army. It is +difficult to conceive how Turkey could have allowed the consideration of +injuries she had received from France to induce her to terminate the war +with Russia when France was attacking that power with immense forces. +The Turks never had a fairer opportunity for taking revenge on Russia, +and, unfortunately for Napoleon, they suffered it to escape. + +Napoleon was not more successful when he sought the alliance of a Prince +whose fortune he had made, and who was allied to his family, but with +whom he had never been on terms of good understanding. The Emperor +Alexander had a considerable corps of troops in Finland destined to +protect that country against the Sweden, Napoleon having consented to +that occupation in order to gain the provisional consent of Alexander to +the invasion of Spain. What was the course pursued by Napoleon when, +being at war with Russia, he wished to detach Sweden from her alliance +with Alexander? He intimated to Bernadotte that he had a sure +opportunity of retaking Finland, a conquest which would gratify his +subjects and win their attachment to him. By this alliance Napoleon +wished to force Alexander not to withdraw the troops who were in the +north of his Empire, but rather to augment their numbers in order to +cover Finland and St. Petersburg. It was thus that Napoleon endeavoured +to draw the Prince Royal into his coalition. It was of little +consequence to Napoleon whether Bernadotte succeeded or not. The Emperor +Alexander would nevertheless have been obliged to increase his force in +Finland; that was all that Napoleon wished. In the gigantic struggle +upon which France and Russia were about to enter the most trivial +alliance was not to be neglected. In January 1812 Davoust invaded +Swedish Pomerania without any declaration of war, and without any +apparent motive. Was this inconceivable violation of territory likely to +dispose the Prince Royal of Sweden to the proposed alliance, even had +that alliance not been adverse to the interests of his country? That was +impossible; and Bernadotte took the part which was expected of him. He +rejected the offers of Napoleon, and prepared for coming events. + +The Emperor Alexander wished to withdraw his force from Finland for the +purpose of more effectively opposing the immense army which threatened +his States. Unwilling to expose Finland to an attack on the part of +Sweden, he had an interview on the 28th of August 1812, at Abo, with the +Prince-Royal, to come to an arrangement with him for uniting their +interests. I know that the Emperor of Russia pledged himself, whatever +might happen, to protect Bernadotte against the fate of the new +dynasties, to guarantee the possession of his throne, and promised that +he should have Norway as a compensation for Finland. He even went so far +as to hint that Bernadotte might supersede Napoleon. Bernadotte adopted +all the propositions of Alexander, and from that moment Sweden made +common cause against Napoleon. The Prince Royal's conduct has been much +blamed, but the question resolved itself into one of mere political +interest. Could Bernadotte, a Swede by adoption, prefer the alliance of +an ambitious sovereign whose vengeance he had to fear, and who had +sanctioned the seizure of Finland to that of a powerful monarch, his +formidable neighbour, his protector in Sweden, and where hostility might +effectually support the hereditary claims of young Gustavus? Sweden, in +joining France, would thereby have declared herself the enemy of England. +Where, then, would have been her navy, her trade and even her existence? + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +1812. + + Changeableness of Bonaparte's plans and opinions--Articles for the + 'Moniteur' dictated by the First Consul--The Protocol of the + Congress of Chatillon--Conversations with Davoust at Hamburg-- + Promise of the Viceroyalty of Poland--Hope and disappointment of the + Poles--Influence of illusion on Bonaparte--The French in Moscow-- + Disasters of the retreat--Mallet's conspiracy--Intelligence of the + affair communicated to Napoleon at Smolensko--Circumstances detailed + by Rapp--Real motives of Napoleon's return to Paris--Murat, Ney, and + Eugene--Power of the Italians to endure cold--Napoleon's exertions + to repair his losses--Defection of General York--Convocation of a + Privy Council--War resolved on--Wavering of the Pope--Useless + negotiations with Vienna--Maria Louisa appointed Regent. + +It may now he asked whether Bonaparte, previous to entering upon the last +campaign, had resolved on restoring Poland to independence. The fact is +that Bonaparte, as Emperor, never entertained any positive wish to +reestablish the old Kingdom of Poland, though at a previous period he was +strongly inclined to that re-establishment, of which he felt the +necessity. He may have said that he would re-establish the Kingdom of +Poland, but I beg leave to say that that is no reason for believing that +he entertained any such design. He had said, and even sworn, that he +would never aggrandise the territory of the Empire! The changeableness +of Bonaparte's ideas, plans, and projects renders it difficult to master +them; but they may be best understood when it is considered that all +Napoleon's plans and conceptions varied with his fortunes. Thus, it is +not unlikely that he might at one time have considered the +reestablishment of Poland as essential to European policy, and afterwards +have regarded it as adverse to the development of his ambition. Who can +venture to guess what passed in his mind when dazzled by his glory at +Dresden, and whether in one of his dreams he might not have regarded the +Empire of the Jagellons as another gem in the Imperial diadem? The truth +is that Bonaparte, when General-in-Chief of the army of Egypt and First +Consul, had deeply at heart the avenging the dismemberment of Poland, and +I have often conversed with him on this most interesting subject, upon +which we entirely concurred in opinion. But times and circumstances were +changed since we walked together on the terrace of Cairo and mutually +deplored the death of young Sulkowski. Had Sulkowski lived Napoleon's +favourable intentions with respect to Poland might perhaps have been +confirmed. A fact which explains to me the coolness, I may almost say +the indifference, of Bonaparte to the resurrection of Poland is that the +commencement of the Consulate was the period at which that measure +particularly occupied his attention. How often did he converse on the +subject with me and other persons who may yet recollect his sentiments! +It was the topic on which he most loved to converse, and on which he +spoke with feeling and enthusiasm. In the 'Moniteur' of the period here +alluded to I could point out more than one article without signature or +official character which Napoleon dictated to me, and the insertion of +which in that journal, considering the energy of certain expressions, +sufficiently proves that they could have emanated from none but +Bonaparte. It was usually in the evening that he dictated to me these +articles. Then, when the affairs of the day were over, he would launch +into the future, and give free scope to his vast projects. Some of these +articles were characterised by so little moderation that the First Consul +would very often destroy them in the morning, smiling at the violent +ebullitions of the preceding night. At other times I took the liberty of +not sending them to the 'Moniteur' on the night on which they were +dictated, and though he might earnestly wish their insertion I adduced +reasons good or bad, to account for the delay. He would then read over +the article in question, and approve of my conduct; but he would +sometimes add, "It is nevertheless true that with an independent Kingdom +of Poland, and 150,000 disposable troops in the east of France, I should +always be master of Russia, Prussia, and Austria."--"General," I would +reply," I am entirely of your opinion; but wherefore awaken the +suspicions of the interested parties. Leave all to time and +circumstances." + +The reader may have to learn, and not, perhaps, without some surprise, +that in the protocol of the sittings of the Congress of Chatillon +Napoleon put forward the spoliation of Poland by the three principal +powers allied against him as a claim to a more advantageous peace, and to +territorial indemnities for France. In policy he was right, but the +report of foreign cannon was already loud enough to drown the best of +arguments. + +After the ill-timed and useless union of the Hanse Towns to France I +returned to Hamburg in the spring of 1811 to convey my family to France. +I then had some conversation with Davoust. On one occasion I said to him +that if his hopes were realised, and my sad predictions respecting the +war with Russia overthrown, I hoped to see the restoration of the Kingdom +of Poland. Davoust replied that that event was probable, since he had +Napoleon's promise of the Viceroyalty of that Kingdom, and as several of +his comrades had been promised starosties. Davoust made no secret of +this, and it was generally known throughout Hamburg and the north of +Germany. + +But notwithstanding what Davoust said respecting. Napoleon's intentions +I considered that these promises had been conditional rather than +positive. + +On Napoleon's arrival in Poland the Diet of Warsaw, assured, as there +seemed reason to be, of the Emperor's sentiments, declared the Kingdom +free and independent. The different treaties of dismemberment were +pronounced to be null; and certainly the Diet had a right so to act, for +it calculated upon his support. But the address of the Diet to Napoleon, +in which these principles were declared, was ill received. His answer +was full of doubt and indecision, the motive of which could not be +blamed. To secure the alliance of Austria against Russia he had just +guaranteed to his father-in-law the integrity of his dominions. Napoleon +therefore declared that he could take no part in any movement or +resolution which might disturb Austria in the possession of the Polish +provinces forming a part of her Empire. To act otherwise, he said, would +be to separate himself from his alliance with Austria, and to throw her +into the arms of Russia. But with regard to the Polish-Russian +provinces, Napoleon declared he would see what he could do, should +Providence favour the good cause. These vague and obscure expressions +did not define what he intended to do for the Poles in the event of +success crowning his vast enterprises. They excited the distrust of the +Poles, and had no other result. On this subject, however, an observation +occurs which is of some force as an apology for Napoleon. Poland was +successively divided between three powers, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, +with each of which Napoleon had been at war, but never with all three at +once. He had therefore never been able to take advantage of his +victories to re-establish Poland without injuring the interests of +neutral powers or of his allies. Hence it may be concluded not only that +he never had the positive will which would have triumphed over all +obstacles, but also that there never was a possibility of realising those +dreams and projects of revenge in which he had indulged on the banks of +the Nile, as it were to console the departed spirit of Sulkowski. + +Bonaparte's character presents many unaccountable incongruities. +Although the most positive man that perhaps ever existed, yet there never +was one who more readily yielded to the charm of illusion. In many +circumstances the wish and the reality were to him one and the same +thing. He never indulged in greater illusions than at the beginning of +the campaign of Moscow. Even before the approach of the disasters which +accompanied the most fatal retreat recorded in history, all sensible +persons concurred in the opinion that the Emperor ought to have passed +the winter of 1812-13 in Poland, and have resumed his vast enterprises in +the spring. But his natural impatience impelled him forward as it were +unconsciously, and he seemed to be under the influence of an invisible +demon stronger than even his own strong will. This demon was ambition. +He who knew so well the value of time, never sufficiently understood its +power, and how much is sometimes gained by delay. Yet Caesar's +Commentaries, which were his favourite study, ought to have shown him +that Caesar did not conquer Gaul in one campaign. Another illusion by +which Napoleon was misled during the campaign of Moscow, and perhaps past +experience rendered it very excusable, was the belief that the Emperor +Alexander would propose peace when he saw him at the head of his army on +the Russian territory. The prolonged stay of Bonaparte at Moscow can +indeed be accounted for in no other way than by supposing that he +expected the Russian Cabinet would change its opinion and consent to +treat for peace. However, whatever might have been the reason, after his +long and useless stay in Moscow Napoleon left that city with the design +of taking up his winter quarters in Poland; but Fate now frowned upon +Napoleon, and in that dreadful retreat the elements seemed leagued with +the Russians to destroy the most formidable army ever commanded by one +chief. To find a catastrophe in history comparable to that of the +Beresina we must go back to the destruction of the legions of Varus. + +Notwithstanding the general dismay which prevailed in Paris that capital +continued tranquil, when by a singular chance, on the very day on which +Napoleon evacuated the burning city of Moscow, Mallet attempted his +extraordinary enterprise. This General, who had always professed +Republican principles, and was a man of bold decided character, after +having been imprisoned for some time, obtained the permission of +Government to live in Paris in a hospital house situated near the +Barriere de Trove. Of Mallet's, conspiracy it is not necessary to say +much after the excellent account given of it in the Memoirs of the Due de +Rovigo. Mallet's plan was to make it be believed that Bonaparte had been +killed at Moscow, and that a new Government was established under the +authority of the Senate. But what could Mallet do? Absolutely nothing: +and had his Government continued three days he would have experienced a +more favourable chance than that which he ought reasonably to have +expected than asserted that the Emperor was dead, but an estafette from +Russia would reveal the truth, resuscitate Napoleon, and overwhelm with +confusion Mallet and his proclamation. His enterprise was that of a +madman. The French were too weary of troubles to throw themselves into +the arms of, Mallet or his associate Lahorie, who had figured so +disgracefully on the trial of Moreau., Yet, in spite of the evident +impossibility of success, it must be confessed that considerable +ingenuity and address marked the commencement of the conspiracy. On the +22d of October Mallet escaped from the hospital house and went to Colonel +Soulier, who commanded the tenth cohort of the National Guard, whose +barracks were situated exactly behind the hospital house. Mallet was +loaded with a parcel of forged orders which he had himself prepared. He +introduced himself to Soulier under the name of General La Motte, and +said that he came from General Mallet. + +Colonel Soulier on hearing of the Emperor's death was affected to tears. +He immediately ordered the adjutant to assemble the cohort and obey the +orders of General La Motte, to whom he expressed his regret for being +himself too ill to leave his bed. It was then two o'clock in the +morning, and the forged documents respecting the Emperor's death slid the +new form of Government were read to the troops by lamplight. Mallet then +hastily set off with 1200 men to La Force, and liberated the Sieurs Gudal +and Laholze, who were confined there. Mallet informed them of the +Emperor's death and of the change of Government; gave them some orders, +in obedience to which the Minister and Prefect of Police were arrested in +their hotel. + +I was then at Courbevoie, and I went to Paris on that very morning to +breakfast, as I frequently did, with the Minister of Police. My surprise +may be imagined when + + --[General Mallet gave out that the Emperor was killed under the + walls of Moscow on the 8th of October; be could not take any other + day without incurring the risk of being contradicted by the arrival + of the regular courier. The Emperor being dead, he concluded that + the Senate ought to be invested with the supreme authority, and he + therefore resolved to address himself in the name of that body to + the nation and the army. In a proclamation to the soldiers he + deplored the death of the Emperor; in another, after announcing the + abolition of the Imperial system and the Restoration of the + Republic, he indicated the manner in which the Government was to be + reconstructed, described the branches into which public authority + was to be divided, and named the Directors. Attached to the + different documents there appeared the signatures of several + Senators whose names he recollected but with whom he had ceased to + have any intercourse for a great number of years. . These + signatures were all written by Mallet, and he drew up a decree in + the name of the Senate, and signed by the same Senators, appointing + himself Governor of Paris, and commander of the troops of the first + military division. He also drew up other decrees in the same form + which purported to promote to higher ranks all the military officers + he intended to make instruments in the execution of his enterprise. + + He ordered one regiment to close all the barriers of Paris, and + allow no person to pass through them. This was done: so that in all + the neighbouring towns from which assistance, in case of need, might + have been obtained, nothing was known of the transactions in Paris. + He sent the other regiments to occupy the Bank, the Treasury, and + different Ministerial offices. At the Treasury some resistance was + made. The minister of that Department was on the spot, and he + employed the guard of his household in maintaining his authority. + But in the whole of the two regiments of the Qnard not a single, + objection was started to the execution of Mallet's orders (Memoirs + of the Duc de Rivogo, tome vi. p. 20.)]-- + +I learned from the porter that the Due de Rovigo had been arrested and +carried to the prison of La Force. I went into the house and was +informed, to my great astonishment, that the ephemeral Minister was being +measured for his official suit, an act which so completely denoted the +character of the conspirator that it gave me an insight into the +business. + +Mallet repaired to General Hulin, who had the command of Paris. He +informed him that he had been directed by the Minister of Police to +arrest him and seal his papers. Hulin asked to see the order, and then +entered his cabinet, where Mallet followed him, and just as Hulin was +turning round to speak to him he fired a pistol in his face. Hulin fell: +the ball entered his cheek, but the wound was not mortal. The most +singular circumstance connected with the whole affair is, that the +captain whom Mallet had directed to follow him, and who accompanied him +to Hulin's, saw nothing extraordinary in all this, and did nothing to +stop it. Mallet next proceeded, very composedly, to Adjutant-General +Doucet's. It happened that one of the inspectors of the police was +there. He recognised General Mallet as being a man under his +supervision. He told him that he had no right to quit the hospital house +without leave, and ordered him to be arrested. Mallet, seeing that all +was over, was in the act of drawing a pistol from his pocket, but being +observed was seized and disarmed. Thus terminated this extraordinary +conspiracy, for which fourteen lives paid the forfeit; but, with the +exception of Mallet, Guidal, and Lahorie, all the others concerned in it +were either machines or dupes. + +This affair produced but little effect in Paris, for the enterprise and +its result were make known simultaneously. But it was thought droll +enough that the Minister and Prefect of Police should be imprisoned by +the men who only the day before were their prisoners. Next day I went to +see Savary, who had not yet recovered from the stupefaction caused by his +extraordinary adventure. He was aware that his imprisonment; though it +lasted only half an hour, was a subject of merriment to the Parisians. +The Emperor, as I have already mentioned, left Moscow on the day when +Mallet made his bold attempt, that is to say, the 19th of October. +He was at Smolensko when he heard the news. Rapp, who had been wounded +before the entrance into Moscow, but who was sufficiently recovered to +return home, was with Napoleon when the latter received the despatches +containing an account of what had happened in Paris. He informed me that +Napoleon was much agitated on perusing them, and that he launched into +abuse of the inefficiency of the police. Rapp added that he did not +confine himself to complaints against the agents of his authority. "Is, +then, my power so insecure," said he, "that it may be put in peril by a +single individual, and a prisoner? It would appear that my crown is not +fixed very firmly on my head if in my own capital the bold stroke of +three adventurers can shake it. Rapp, misfortune never comes alone; this +is the complement of what is passing here. I cannot be everywhere; but I +must go back to Paris; my presence there is indispensable to reanimate +public opinion. I must have men and money. Great successes and great +victories will repair all. I must set off." Such were the motives which +induced the Emperor to leave his army. It is not without indignation +that I have heard his precipitate departure attributed to personal +cowardice. He was a stranger to such feelings, and was never more happy +than on the field of battle. I can readily conceive that he was much +alarmed on hearing of Mallet's enterprise. The remarks which he made to +Rapp were those which he knew would be made by the public, and he well +knew that the affair was calculated to banish those illusions of power +and stability with which he endeavoured to surround his government. + +On leaving Moscow Napoleon consigned the wrecks of his army to the care +of his most distinguished generals to Murat who had so ably commanded the +cavalry, but who abandoned the army to return to Naples; and to Ney, the +hero, rather than the Prince of the Moskowa, whose name will be immortal +in the annals of glory, as his death will be eternal in the annals of +party revenge. Amidst the general disorder Eugene, more than any other +chief, maintained a sort of discipline among the Italians; and it was +remarked that the troops of the south engaged in the fatal campaign of +Moscow had endured the rigour of the cold better than those troops who +were natives of less genial climates. + +Napoleon's return from Moscow was not like his returns from the campaigns +of Vienna and Tilsit when he came back crowned with laurels, and bringing +peace as the reward of his triumphs. It was remarked that Napoleon's +first great disaster followed the first enterprise he undertook after his +marriage with Maria Louisa. This tended to confirm the popular belief +that the presence of Josephine was favourable to his fortune; and +superstitious as he sometimes was, I will not venture to affirm that he +himself did not adopt this ides. He now threw off even the semblance of +legality in the measures of his government: he assumed arbitrary power, +under the impression that the critical circumstances in which he was +placed would excuse everything. But, however inexplicable were the means +to which the Emperor resorted to procure resources, it is but just to +acknowledge that they were the consequence of his system of government, +and that he evinced inconceivable activity in repairing his losses so as +to place himself in a situation to resist his enemies, and restore the +triumph of the French standard. + +But in spite of all Napoleon's endeavours the disasters of the campaign +of Russia were daily more and more sensibly felt. The King of Prussia +had played a part which was an acknowledgment of his weakness in joining +France, instead of openly declaring himself for the cause of Russia, +which was also his. Then took place the defection of General York, who +commanded the Prussian contingent to Napoleon's army. The King of +Prussia, though no doubt secretly satisfied with the conduct of General +York, had him tried and condemned; but shortly after that sovereign +commanded in person the troops which had turned against ours. The +defection of the Prussians produced a very ill effect, and it was easy to +perceive that other defections would follow. Napoleon, foreseeing the +fatal chances which this event was likely to draw upon him, assembled a +privy council, composed of the Ministers and some of the great officers +of his household. MM. de Talleyrand and Cambaceres, and the President of +the senate were present. Napoleon asked whether, in the complicated +difficulties of our situation, it would be more advisable to negotiate +for peace or to prepare for a new war. Cambaceres and Talleyrand gave +their opinion in favour of peace, which however, Napoleon would not hear +of after a defeat; but the Due de Feltre,--[Clarke]--knowing how to +touch the susceptible chord in the mind of Bonaparte, said that he would +consider the Emperor dishonoured if he consented to the abandonment of +the smallest village which had been united to the Empire by a 'Senatus- +consulte'. This opinion was adopted, and the war continued. + +On Napoleon's return to Paris the Pope, who was still at Fontainebleau, +determined to accede to an arrangement, and to sign an act which the +Emperor conceived would terminate the differences between them. But +being influenced by some of the cardinals who had previously incurred the +Emperor's displeasure Pius VII. disavowed the new Concordat which he had +been weak enough to grant, and the Emperor, who then had more important +affairs on his hands, dismissed the Holy Father, and published the act to +which he had assented. Bonaparte had no leisure to pay attention to the +new difficulties started by Pius VII.; his thoughts were wholly directed +to the other side of the Rhine. He was unfortunate, and the powers with +whom he was most intimately allied separated from him, as he might have +expected, and Austria was not the last to imitate the example set by +Prussia. In these difficult circumstances the Emperor, who for some time +past had observed the talent and address of the Comte Louis de Narbonne, +sent him to Vienna, to supersede M. Otto; but the pacific propositions of +M. de Narbonne were not listened to. Austria would not let slip the fair +opportunity of taking revenge without endangering herself. + +Napoleon now saw clearly that since Austria had abandoned him and refused +her contingent he should soon have all Europe arrayed against him. But +this did not intimidate him. + +Some of the Princes of the Confederation of the Rhine still remained +faithful to him; and his preparations being completed, he proposed to +resume in person the command of the army which had been so miraculously +reproduced. But before his departure Napoleon, alarmed at the +recollection of Mallet's attempt, and anxious to guard against any +similar occurrence during his absence, did not, as on former occasions, +consign the reins of the National Government to a Council of Ministers, +presided over by the Arch-Chancellor. Napoleon placed my successor with +him, M. Meneval, near the Empress Regent as Secretaire des Commandemens +(Principal Secretary), and certainly he could not have made a better +choice. He made the Empress Maria Louisa Regent, and appointed a Council +of Regency to assist her. + + --[Meneval, who had held the post of Secretary to Napoleon from the + time of Bourrienne's disgrace in 1802, had been nearly killed by the + hardships of the Russian campaign, and now received an honourable + and responsible but less onerous post. He remained with the Empress + till 7th May 1815, when, finding that she would not return to her + husband, he left her to rejoin his master.]-- + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +A sect cannot be destroyed by cannon-balls +Every time we go to war with them we teach them how to beat us +God in his mercy has chosen Napoleon to be his representative on earth +The wish and the reality were to him one and the same thing + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1812, v11 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 12. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER XXVIII. to CHAPTER XXXVI. 1813-1814 + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +1813. + + Riots in Hamburg and Lubeck--Attempted suicide of M. Konning-- + Evacuation of Hamburg--Dissatisfaction at the conduct of General St. + Cyr--The Cabinets of Vienna and the Tuileries--First appearance of + the Cossacks--Colonel Tettenborn invited to occupy Hamburg--Cordial + reception of the Russians--Depredations--Levies of troops-- + Testimonials of gratitude to Tettenborn--Napoleon's new army--Death + of General Morand--Remarks of Napoleon on Vandamme--Bonaparte and + Gustavus Adolphus--Junction of the corps of Davoust and Vandamme-- + Reoccupation of Hamburg by the French--General Hogendorff appointed + Governor of Hamburg--Exactions and vexatious contributions levied + upon Hamburg and Lubeck--Hostages. + +A considerable time before Napoleon left Paris to join the army, the bulk +of which was in Saxony, partial insurrections occurred in many places. +The interior of France proper was indeed still in a state of +tranquillity, but it was not so in the provinces annexed by force to the +extremities of the Empire, especially in the north, and in the +unfortunate Hanse Towns, for which, since my residence at Hamburg, I have +always felt the greatest interest. The intelligence I received was +derived from such unquestionable sources that I can pledge myself for the +truth of what I have to state respecting the events which occurred in +those provinces at the commencement of 1813; and subsequently I obtained +a confirmation of all the facts communicated by my correspondence when I +was sent to Hamburg by Louis XVIII. in 1815. + +M. Steuve, agent from the Court of Russia, who lived at Altona apparently +as a private individual, profited by the irritation produced by the +measures adopted at Hamburg. His plans were so well arranged that he was +promptly informed of the route of the Grand Army from Moscow, and the +approach of the Allied troops. Aided by the knowledge and activity of +Sieur Hanft of Hamburg, M. Steuve profited by the discontent of a people +so tyrannically governed, and seized the opportunity for producing an +explosion. Between eight and nine o'clock on the morning of the 24th of +February 1813 an occurrence in which the people were concerned was the +signal for a revolt. An individual returning to Hamburg by the Altona +gate would not submit to be searched by a fiscal agent, who in +consequence maltreated him and wounded him severely. The populace +instantly rose, drove away the revenue guard, and set fire to the guard- +house. The people also, excited by secret agents, attacked other French +posts, where they committed the same excesses. Surprised at this +unexpected movement, the French authorities retired to the houses in +which they resided. All the respectable inhabitants who were unconnected +with the tumult likewise returned to their homes, and no person appeared +out of doors. + +General Carry St. Cyr had the command of Hamburg after the Prince of +Eckmuhl's departure for the Russian campaign. + + --[General Carry St. Cyr is not to be contused with the Marshal + Gonvion de St. Cyr; he fell into disgrace for his conduct at + Hamburg at this time, and was not again employed by Napoleon. Under + the Restoration he became Governor of French Guiana.]-- + +At the first news of the revolt he set about packing up his papers, and +Comte de Chaban, M. Konning, the Prefect of Hamburg, and M. Daubignosc, +the Director of Police, followed his example. It was not till about four +o'clock in the afternoon that a detachment of Danish hussars arrived at +Hamburg, and the populace: was then speedily dispersed. All the +respectable citizens and men of property assembled the next morning and +adopted means for securing internal tranquillity, so that the Danish +troops were enabled to return to Altona. Search was then made for the +ringleaders of the disturbance. Many persons were arrested, and a +military commission, ad hoc; was appointed to try them. The commission, +however, condemned only one individual, who, being convicted of being one +of the most active voters, was sentenced to be shot, and the sentence was +carried into execution. + +On the 26th February a similar commotion took place at Lubeck. Attempts +were made to attack the French Authorities. The respectable citizens +instantly assembled, protected them against outrage, and escorted them in +safety to Hamburg, where they arrived on the 27th. The precipitate +flight of these persons from Lubeck spread some alarm in Hamburg. The +danger was supposed to be greater than it was because the fugitives were +accompanied by a formidable body of troops. + +But these were not the only attempts to throw off the yoke of French +domination, which had become insupportable. All the left bank of the +Elbe was immediately in a state of insurrection, and all the official +persons took refuge in Hamburg. During these partial insurrections +everything was neglected. Indecision, weakness, and cupidity were +manifested everywhere. Instead of endeavours to soothe the minds of the +people, which had been, long exasperated by intolerable tyranny, recourse +was had to rigorous measures. The prisons were crowded with a host of +persons declared to be suspected upon the mere representations of the +agents of the police. On the 3d of March a special military commission +condemned six householders of Hamburg and its neighbourhood to be shot on +the glacis for no other offence than having been led, either by chance or +curiosity, to a part of the town which was the scene of one of the riots. +These executions excited equal horror and indignation, and General Carra +St. Cyr was obliged to issue a proclamation for the dissolution of the +military commission by whom the men had been sentenced. + +The intelligence of the march of the Russian and Prussian troops; who +were descending the Elbe, increased the prevailing agitation in +Westphalia, Hanover, Mecklenburg, and Pomerania, and all the French +troops cantoned between Berlin and Hamburg, including those who occupied +the coast of the Baltic, fell back upon Hamburg. General Carra St. Cyr +and Baron Konning, the Prefect of Hamburg, used to go every evening to +Altona. The latter, worn out by anxiety and his unsettled state of life, +lost his reason; and on his way to Hamburg, on the 5th of May, he +attempted to cut his throat with a razor. His 'valet de chambre' saved +his life by rushing upon him before he had time to execute his design. +It was given out that he had broken a blood-vessel, and he was conveyed +to Altona, where his wound was cured, and he subsequently recovered from +his derangement. M. Konning, who was a native of Holland, was a worthy +man, but possessed no decision of character, and but little ability. + +At this juncture exaggerated reports were circulated respecting the +approach of a Russian corps. A retreat was immediately ordered, and it +was executed on the 12th of March. General Carra St. Cyr having no money +for the troops, helped himself to 100,000 francs out of the municipal +treasury. He left Hamburg at the head of the troops and the enrolled men +of the custom-house service. He was escorted by the Burgher Guard, which +protected him from the insults of the populace; and the good people of +Hamburg never had any visitors of whom they were more happy to be rid. + +This sudden retreat excited Napoleon's indignation. He accused General +St. Cyr of pusillanimity, in an article inserted in the 'Moniteur', and +afterwards copied by his order into all the journals. In fact, had +General St. Cyr been better informed, or less easily alarmed, he might +have kept Hamburg, and prevented its temporary occupation by the enemy, +to dislodge whom it was necessary to besiege the city two months +afterwards. St. Cyr had 3000 regular troops, and a considerable body of +men in the custom-house service. General Morand could have furnished him +with 5000 men from Mecklenburg. He might, therefore, not only have kept +possession of Hamburg two months longer, but even to the end of the war, +as General Lexnarrois retained possession of Magdeburg. Had not General +St. Cyr so hastily evacuated the Elbe he would have been promptly aided +by the corps which General Vandamme soon brought from the Wesel, and +afterwards by the very, corps with which Marshal Davoust recaptured +Hamburg. + +The events just described occurred before Napoleon quitted Paris. In the +month of August all negotiation was broken off with Austria, though that +power, still adhering to her time-serving policy, continued to protest +fidelity to the cause of the Emperor Napoleon until the moment when her +preparations were completed and her resolution formed. But if there was +duplicity at Vienna was there not folly, nay, blindness, in the Cabinet +of the Tuileries? Could we reasonably rely upon Austria? She had seen +the Russian army pass the Vistula and advance as far as the Saale without +offering any remonstrance. At that moment a single movement of her +troops, a word of declaration, would have prevented everything. As, +therefore, she would not avert the evil when she might have done so with +certainty and safety, there must have been singular folly and blindness +in the Cabinet who saw this conduct and did not understand it. + +I now proceed to mention the further misfortunes which occurred in the +north of Germany, and particularly at Hamburg. At fifteen leagues east +of Hamburg, but within its territory, is a village named Bergdorf. +It was in that village that the Cossacks were first seen. Twelve or +fifteen hundred of them arrived there under the command of Colonel +Tettenborn. But for the retreat of the French troops, amounting to 3000, +exclusive of men in the customhouse service, no attempt would have been +made upon Hamburg; but the very name of the Cossacks inspired a degree of +terror which must be fresh in the recollection of every one. Alarm +spread in Hamburg, which, being destitute of troops and artillery, and +surrounded with dilapidated fortifications, could offer no defence. The +Senator Bartch and Doctor Know took upon themselves to proceed to +Bergdorf to solicit Colonel Tettenborn to take possession of Hamburg, +observing that they felt sure of his sentiments of moderation, and that +they trusted they would grant protection to a city which had immense +commercial relations with Russia. Tettenborn did not place reliance on +these propositions because he could not suppose that there had been such +a precipitate evacuation; he thought they were merely a snare to entrap +him, and refused to accede to them. But a Doctor Von Hess, a Swede, +settled. in Hamburg some years, and known to Tettenborn as a decided +partisan of England and Russia, persuaded the Russian Commander to comply +with the wishes of the citizens of Hamburg. However, Tettenborn +consented only on the following conditions:--That the old Government +should be instantly re-established; that a deputation of Senators in +their old costume should invite him to take possession of Hamburg, which +he would enter only as a free and Imperial Hanse Town; that if those +conditions were not complied with he would regard Hamburg as a French +town, and consequently hostile. Notwithstanding the real satisfaction +with which the Senators of Hamburg received those propositions they were +restrained by the fear of a reverse of fortune. They, however, +determined to accept them, thinking that whatever might happen they could +screen themselves by alleging that necessity had driven them to the step +they took. They therefore declared their compliance with the conditions, +and that night and the following day were occupied in assembling the +Senate, which had been so long dissolved, and in making the preparations +which Tettenborn required. + +At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 17th of March a picket of +Cossacks, consisting of only forty men, took possession of a town +recently flourishing, and containing a population of 124,000, but ruined +and reduced to 80,000 inhabitants by the blessing of being united to the +French Empire. On the following day, the 18th, Colonel Tettenborn +entered Hamburg at the head of 1000 regular and 200 irregular Cossacks. +I have described the military situation of Hamburg when it was evacuated +on the 12th of March, and Napoleon's displeasure may be easily conceived. +Tettenborn was received with all the honours usually bestowed upon a +conqueror. Enthusiasm was almost universal. For several nights the +people devoted themselves to rejoicing. The Cossacks were gorged with +provisions and drink, and were not a little astonished at the handsome +reception they experienced. + +It was not until the expiration of three or four days that the people +began to perceive the small number of the allied troops. Their amount +gradually diminished. On the day after the arrival of the Cossacks a +detachment was sent to Lubeck, where they were received with the same +honours as at Hamburg. Other detachments were sent upon different +places, and after four days' occupation there remained in Hamburg only 70 +out of the 1200 Cossacks who had entered on the 18th March. + +The first thing their commander did was to take possession of the post- +office and the treasuries of the different public offices. All the +movable effects of the French Government and its agents were seized and +sold. The officers evinced a true Cossack disregard of the rights of +private property. Counts Huhn, Buasenitz, and Venechtern, who had joined +Tettenborn's staff, rendered themselves conspicuous by plundering the +property of M. Pyonnier, the Director of the Customs, and M. Gonae, the +Postmaster, and not a bottle of wine was left in their cellars. +Tettenborn laid hands upon a sum of money, consisting of upwards of 4000 +Louis in gold, belonging to M. Gonse, which had been lodged with M. +Schwartz, a respectable banker in Hamburg, who filled the office of +Prussian Consul. M. Schwartz, with whom this money had been deposited +for the sake of security, had also the care of some valuable jewels +belonging to Mesdames Carry St. Cyr and Daubignoac; Tettenborn carried +off these as well as the money. M. Schwartz remonstrated in his +character of Prussian Consul, Prussia being the ally of Russia, but he +was considered merely as a banker, and could obtain no redress. +Tettenborn, like most of the Cossack chiefs, was nothing but a man for +blows and pillage, but the agent of Russia was M. Steuve, whose name I +have already mentioned. + +Orders were speedily given for a levy of troops, both in infantry and +cavalry, to be called Hanseatic volunteers. A man named Hanft, who had +formerly been a butcher, raised at his own expense a company of foot and +one of lancers, of which he took the command. This undertaking, which +cost him 130,000 francs, may afford some idea of the attachment of the +people of Hamburg to the French Government! But money, as well as men, +was wanting, and a heavy contribution was imposed to defray the expense +of enrolling a number of workmen out of employment and idlers, of various +kinds. Voluntary donations were solicited, and enthusiasm was so general +that even servant-maids gave their rings. The sums thus collected were +paid into the chest of Tettenborn's staff, and became a prey to dishonest +appropriation. With respect to this money a Sieur Oswald was accused of +not having acted with the scrupulous delicacy which Madame de Stael +attributes to his namesake in her romance of Corinne. + +Between 8000 and 10,000 men were levied in the Hanse Towns and their +environs, the population of which had been so greatly reduced within two +years. These undisciplined troops, who had been for the most part levied +from the lowest classes of society, committed so many outrages that they +soon obtained the surname of the Cossacks of the Elbe; and certainly they +well deserved it. + +Such was the hatred which the French Government had inspired in Hamburg +that the occupation of Tettenborn was looked upon as a deliverance. On +the colonel's departure the Senate, anxious to give high a testimonial of +gratitude, presented him with the freedom of the city, accompanied by +5000 gold fredericks (105,000 francs), with which he was doubtless much +more gratified than with the honour of the citizenship. + +The restored Senate of Hamburg did not long survive. The people of the +Hanse Towns learned, with no small alarm, that the Emperor was making +immense preparations to fall upon Germany, where his lieutenants could +not fail to take cruel revenge on those who had disavowed his authority. +Before he quitted Paris on the 15th of April Napoleon had recalled under +the banners of the army 180,000 men, exclusive of the guards of honour, +and it was evident that with such a force he might venture on a great +game, and probably win it. Yet the month of April passed away without +the occurrence of any event important to the Hanse Towns, the inhabitants +of which vacillated between hope and fear. Attacks daily took place +between parties of Russian and French troops on the territory between +Lunenburg and Bremen. In one of these encounters General Morand was +mortally wounded, and was conveyed to Lunenburg. His brother having been +taken prisoner in the same engagement, Tettenborn, into whose hands he +had fallen, gave him leave on parole to visit the General; but he arrived +in Lunenburg only in time to see him die. + +The French having advanced as far as Haarburg took up their position on +the plateau of Schwartzenberg, which commands that little town and the +considerable islands situated in that part of the river between Haarburg +and Hamburg. Being masters of this elevated point they began to threaten +Hamburg and to attack Haarburg. These attacks were directed by Vandamme, +of all our generals the most redoubtable in conquered countries. He was +a native of Cassel, in Flanders, and had acquired a high reputation for +severity. At the very time when he was attacking Hamburg Napoleon said +of him at Dresden, "If I were to lose Vandamme I know not what I would +give to have him back again; but if I had two such generals I should be +obliged to shoot one of them." It must be confessed that one was quite +enough. + +As soon as he arrived Vandamme sent to inform Tettenborn that if he did +not immediately liberate the brother and brother-in-law of Morand, both +of whom were his prisoners, he would burn Hamburg. Tettenborn replied +that if he resorted to that extremity he would hang them both on the top +of St. Michael's Tower, where he might have a view of them. This +energetic answer obliged Vandamme to restrain his fury, or at least to +direct it to other objects. + +Meanwhile the French forces daily augmented at Haarburg. Vandamme, +profiting by the negligence of the new Hanseatic troops, who had the +defence of the great islands of the Elbe, attacked them one night in the +month of May. This happened to be the very night after the battle of +Lutzsn, where both sides claimed the victory; and Te Deum was sung in the +two hostile camps. The advance of the French turned the balance of +opinion in favour of Napoleon, who was in fact really the conqueror on a +field of battle celebrated nearly two centuries before by the victory and +death of Gustavus Adolphus. The Cossacks of the Elbe could not sustain +the shock of the French; Vandamme repulsed the troops who defended +Wilhelmsburg, the largest of the two islands, and easily took possession +of the smaller one, Fidden, of which the point nearest the right bank of +the Elbe is not half a gunshot distant from Hamburg. The 9th of May was +a fatal day to the people of Hamburg; for it was then that Davoust, +having formed his junction with Vandamme, appeared at the head of a corps +of 40,000 men destined to reinforce Napoleon's Grand Army. Hamburg could +not hold out against the considerable French force now assembled in its +neighbourhood. Tettenborn had, it is true, received a reinforcement of +800 Prussians and 2000, Swedes, but still what resistance could he offer +to Davoust's 40,000 men? Tettenborn did not deceive himself as to the +weakness of the allies on this point, or the inutility of attempting to +defend the city. He yielded to the entreaties of the inhabitants, who +represented to him that further resistance must be attended by certain +ruin. He accordingly evacuated Hamburg on the 29th of May, taking with +him his Hanseatic legions, which had not held out an hour in the islands +of the Elbe, and accompanied by the Swedish Doctor Von Hess, whose +imprudent advice was the chief cause of all the disasters to which the +unfortunate city lied been exposed. + +Davoust was at Haarburg, where he received the deputies from Hamburg with +an appearance of moderation; and by the conditions stipulated at this +conference on the 30th of May a strong detachment of Danish troops +occupied Hamburg in the name of the Emperor. The French made their +entrance the same evening, and occupied the posts as quietly as if they +had been merely changing guard. The inhabitants made not a shadow of +resistance. Not a drop of blood was issued; not a threat nor an insult +was interchanged. This is the truth; but the truth did not suit +Napoleon. It was necessary to getup a pretext for revenge, and +accordingly recourse was had to a bulletin, which proclaimed to France +and Europe that Hamburg had been taken by main force, with a loss of some +hundred men. But for this imaginary resistance, officially announced, +how would it have been possible to justify the spoliations and exactions +which ensued? + +The Dutch General, Hogendorff, became Governor of Hamburg in lieu of +Carra St. Cyr, who had been confined at Osnabruck since his precipitate +retreat. General Hogendorff had been created one of the Emperor's aides +de camp, but he was neither a Rapp, a Lauriston, nor a Duroc. The +inhabitants were required to pay all the arrears of taxes due to the +different public offices during the seventy days that the French had been +absent; and likewise all the allowances that would have been paid to the +troops of the garrison had they remained in Hamburg. Payment was also +demanded of the arrears for the quartering of troops who were fifty +leagues off. However, some of the heads of the government departments, +who saw and understood the new situation of the French at Hamburg, did +not enforce these unjust and vexatious measures. The duties on +registrations were reduced. M. Pyonnier, Director of the Customs, aware +of the peculiar difficulty of his situation in a country where the +customs were held in abhorrence, observed great caution and moderation in +collecting the duties: Personal examination, which is so revolting and +indecorous, especially with respect to females, was suppressed. But +these modifications did not proceed from the highest quarter; they were +due to the good sense of the subordinate agents, who plainly saw that if +the Empire was to fall it would not be owing to little infractions in the +laws of proscription against coffee and rhubarb. + +If the custom-house regulations became less vexatious to the inhabitants +of Hamburg it was not the same with the business of the post-office. +The old manoeuvres of that department were resumed more actively than +ever. Letters were opened without the least reserve, and all the old +post-office clerks who were initiated in these scandalous proceedings +were recalled. With the exception of the registrations and the customs +the inquisitorial system, which had so long oppressed the Hanse Towns, +was renewed; and yet the delegates of the French Government were the +first to cry out, "The people of Hamburg are traitors to Napoleon: for, +in spite of all the blessings he has conferred upon them they do not say +with the Latin poet, 'Deus nobis haec otia fecit." + +But all that passed was trifling in comparison with what was to come. +On the 18th of June was published an Imperial decree, dated the 8th of +the same month, by virtue of which were to be reaped the fruits of the +official falsehood contained in the bulletin above mentioned. To expiate +the crime of rebellion Hamburg was required to pay an extraordinary +contribution of 48,000,000 francs, and Lubeck a contribution of +6,000,000. The enormous sum levied on Hamburg was to be paid in the +short space of a month, by six equal instalments, either in money, or +bills on respectable houses in Paris. In addition to this the new +Prefect of Hamburg made a requisition of grain and provisions of every +kind, wines, sailcloth, masts, pitch, hemp, iron, copper, steel, in +short, everything that could be useful for the supply of the army and +navy. + +But while these exactions were made on property in Hamburg, at Dresden +the liberties of individuals and even lives were attacked. On the 15th +of June Napoleon, doubtless blinded by the false reports that were laid +before him, gave orders for making out a list of the inhabitants of +Hamburg who were absent from the city. He allowed them only a fortnight +to return home, an interval too short to enable some of them to come from +the places where they had taken refuge. They consequently remained +absent beyond the given time. Victims were indispensable but assuredly +it was not Bonaparte who conceived the idea of hostages to answer for the +men whom prudence kept absent. Of this charge I can clear his memory. +The hostages, were, however, taken, and were declared to be also +responsible for the payment of the contribution of 48,000,000. In +Hamburg they were selected from among the most respectable and wealthy +men in the city, some of them far advanced in age. They were conveyed to +the old castle of Haarburg on the left bank of the Elbe, and these men, +who had been accustomed to all the comforts of life, were deprived even +of necessaries, and had only straw to lie on. The hostages from Lubeck +were taken to, Hamburg: they were placed between decks on board an old +ship in the port: this was a worthy imitation of the prison hulks of +England. On the 24th of July there was issued a decree which was +published in the Hamburg Correspondent of the 27th. This decree +consisted merely of a proscription list, on which were inscribed the +names of some of the wealthiest men in the Hanse Towns, Hanover, and +Westphalia. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +1813. + + Napoleon's second visit to Dresden--Battle of Bantzen--The Congress + at Prague--Napoleon ill advised--Battle of Vittoria--General Moreau + Rupture of the conferences at Prague--Defection of Jomini--Battles + of Dresden and Leipsic--Account of the death of Duroc--An + interrupted conversation resumed a year after--Particulars + respecting Poniatowski--His extraordinary courage and death-- + His monument at Leipsic and tomb in the cathedral of Warsaw. + +On the 2d of May Napoleon won the battle of Lutzen. A week after he was +at Dresden, not as on his departure for the Russian campaign, like the +Sovereign of the West surrounded by his mighty vassals: he was now in the +capital of the only one of the monarchs of his creation who remained +faithful to the French cause, and whose good faith eventually cost him +half his dominions. The Emperor stayed only ten days in Dresden, and +then went in pursuit of the Russian army, which he came up with on the +19th, at Bautzen. This battle, which was followed on the two succeeding +days by the battles of Wurtchen and Oclikirchen, may be said to have +lasted three days--a sufficient proof that it was obstinately disputed. +It ended in favour of Napoleon, but he and France paid dearly for it: +while General Kirschner and Duroc were talking together the former was +killed by a cannon-ball, which mortally wounded the latter in the +abdomen. + +The moment had now arrived for Austria to prove whether or not she. +intended entirely to desert the cause of Napoleon. + + --[There is a running attack in Erreurs (tome, ii. pp, 289-325) on + all this part of the Memoirs, but the best account of the + negotiations between France, Austria, and the Allies will be found + in Metternich, Vol. i. pp. 171-215. Metternich, with good + reason, prides himself on the skill with which he gained from + Napoleon the exact time, twenty days, necessary for the + concentration of the Austrian armies. Whether the negotiations were + consistent with good faith on the part of Austria is another matter; + but, one thing seems clear--the Austrian marriage ruined Napoleon. + He found it impossible to believe that the monarch who had given him + his daughter would strike the decisive blow against him. Without + this belief there can be no doubt that he would have attacked + Austria before she could have collected her forces, and Metternich + seems to have dreaded the result. "It was necessary, therefore to + prevent Napoleon from carrying out his usual system of leaving an + army of observation before the Allied armies, and himself turning to + Bohemia to deal a great blow at us, the effect of which it would be + impossible to foresee in the present depressed state of the great + majority of our men" (Metternich, Vol. i, p. 177). With our + knowledge of how Napoleon held his own against the three armies at + Dresden we may safely assume that he would have crushed Austria if + she had not joined him or disarmed. The conduct of Austria was + natural and politic, but it was only successful because Napoleon + believed in the good faith of the Emperor Francis, his father-in- + law. It is to be noted that Austria only succeeded in getting + Alexander to negotiate on the implied condition that the + negotiations were not to end in a peace with France. See + Metternich, Vol. i. p. 181, where, in answer to the Czar's + question as to what would become of their cause if Napoleon accepted + the Austrian mediation, he says that if Napoleon declines Austria + will join the Allies. If Napoleon accepts, "the negotiations will + most certainly show Napoleon to be neither wise nor just, and then + the result will be the same. In any case we shall have gained the + necessary time to bring our armies into such positions that we need + not again fear a separate attack on any one of them, and from which + we may ourselves take the offensive."]-- + +All her amicable demonstrations were limited to an offer of her +intervention in opening negotiations with Russia. Accordingly, on the +4th of June, an armistice was concluded at Pleiswitz, which was to last +till the 8th of July, and was finally prolonged to the 10th of August. + +The first overtures after the conclusion of the armistice of Pleiswitz +determined the assembling of a Congress at Prague. It was reported at +the time that the Allies demanded the restoration of all they had lost +since 1805; that is to say, since the campaign of Ulm. In this demand +Holland and the Hanse Towns, which had become French provinces, were +comprehended. But we should still have retained the Rhine, Belgium, +Piedmont, Nice, and Savoy. The battle of Vittoria, + + --The news of this decisive battle increased the difficulty of the + French plenipotentiaries at Prague, and raised the demands of the + Allies. It also shook the confidence of those who remained faithful + to us.--Bourrienne.]-- + +which placed the whole of Spain at the disposal of the English, the +retreat of Suchet upon the Ebro, the fear of seeing the army of Spin +annihilated, were enough to alter the opinions of those counsellors who +still recommended war. Notwithstanding Napoleon's opposition and his +innate disposition to acquire glory by his victories, probably he would +not have been inaccessible to the reiterated representations of sensible +men who loved their country, France, therefore, has to reproach his +advisers. At this juncture General Moreau arrived; it has been said that +he came at the solicitation of Bernadotte. This is neither true nor +probable. In the first place, there never was any intimacy between +Bernadotte and Moreau; and, in the next, how can it be imagined that +Bernadotte wished to see Moreau Emperor! But this question is at once +put at rest by the fact, that in the interview at Abo the Emperor of +Russia hinted to Bernadotte the possibility of his succeeding Napoleon. +It was generally reported at the time, and I have since learnt that it +was true, that the French Princes of the House of Bourbon had made +overtures to Moreau through the medium of General Willot, who had been +proscribed on the 18th Fructidor; and I have since learned from an +authentic source that General Moreau, who was then at Baltimore, refused +to support the Bourbon cause. Moreau yielded only to his desire of being +revenged on Napoleon; and he found death where he could not find glory. + +At the end of July the proceedings of the Congress at Prague were no. +further advanced than at the time of its assembling. Far from cheering +the French with the prospect of a peace, the Emperor made a journey to +Mayence; the Empress went there to see him, and returned to Paris +immediately after the Emperor's departure. Napoleon went back to +Dresden, and the armistice not being renewed, it died a natural death on +the 17th of August, the day appointed for its expiration. A fatal event +immediately followed the rupture of the conferences. On the 17th of +August Austria, wishing to gain by war as she had before gained by +alliances, declared that she would unite her forces with those of the +Allies. On the very opening of this disastrous campaign General Jomini +went over to the enemy. Jomini belonged to the staff of the unfortunate +Marshal Ney, who was beginning to execute with his wonted ability, the +orders he had received. There was much surprise at his eagerness to +profit by a struggle, begun under such melancholy auspices, to seek a +fresh fortune, which promised better than what he had tried under our +flag. Public opinion has pronounced judgment on Jomini. + + --[It was on the 11th of August, not the 17th, that Metternich + announced to Caulaincourt, Napoleon's plenipotentiary at Prague, + that Austria had joined the Allies and declared war with France; + At midnight on 10th August Metternich had despatched the passports + for the Comte Louis de Narbonne, Napoleon's Ambassador, and the war + manifesto of the Emperor Francis; then he had the beacons lighted + which had been prepared from Prague to the Silesian frontier, as a + sign of the breech of the negotiations, and the right (i.e. power) + of the Allied armies to cross the Silesian frontier (Metternich, + vol. i, p. 199).]-- + +The first actions were the battle of Dresden, which took place seven days +after the rupture of the armistice, and the battle in which Vandamme was +defeated, and which rendered the victory of Dresden unavailing. I have +already mentioned that Moreau was killed at Dresden. Bavaria was no +sooner rid of the French troops than she raised the mask and ranged +herself among our enemies. + +In October the loss of the battle of Leipsic decided the fate of France. +The Saxon army, which had long remained faithful to us, went over to the +enemy during the battle. Prince Poniatowski perished at the battle of +Leipsic in an attempt to pass the Aster. + +I will here mention a fact which occurred before Duroc's departure for +the campaign of 1812. I used often to visit him at the Pavilion Marsan, +in the Tuileries, where he lodged. One forenoon, when I had been waiting +for him a few minutes, he came from the Emperor's apartments, where he +had been engaged in the usual business, He was in his court-dress. As +soon as he entered he pulled off his coat and hat and laid them aside. +"I have just had a conversation with the Emperor about you," said he. +"Say nothing to anybody. Have patience, and you will be--" He had, no +sooner uttered these words than a footman entered to inform him that the +Emperor, wished to see him immediately. "Well," said Duroc, "I must go." +No sooner was the servant gone than Duroc stamped violently on the floor, +and exclaimed, "That ----- ----- never leaves me a moment's rest. If he +finds I have five minutes to myself in the course of the morning he is +sure to send for me." He then put on his coat and returned to the +Emperor, saying, "Another time you shall hear what I have to tell you." + +From that time I did not see Duroc until, the month of January 1813. +He was constantly absent from Paris, and did not return until the end of +1812. He was much affected at the, result of the campaign, but his +confidence in Napoleon's genius kept up his spirits. I turned the +conversation from this subject and reminded him of his promise to tell me +what had passed between the Emperor and himself relative tome. "You +shall hear," said he. "The Emperor and I had been playing at billiards, +and, between ourselves, he plays very badly. He is nothing at a game +which depends on skill. While negligently rolling his balls about he +muttered these words: 'Do you ever see Bourrienne now?'--'Yes, Sire, he +sometimes dines with me on diplomatic reception-days, and he looks so +droll in his old-fashioned court-dress, of Lyons manufacture, that you +would laugh if you saw him.'--'What does he say respecting the new +regulation for the court-dresses?'--'I confess he says it is very +ridiculous; that it will have no other result than to enable the Lyons +manufacturers to get rid of their old-fashioned goods; that forced +innovations on the customs of a nation are never successful.'--'Oh, that +is always the way with Bourrienne; he is never pleased with anything.'-- +'Certainly, Sire, he is apt to grumble; but he says what he thinks.'-- +'Do you know, Duroc, he served me very well at Hamburg. He raised a good +deal of money for me. He is a man who understands business. I will not +leave him unemployed. Time must hang heavily on his hands. I will see +what I can do for him. He has many enemies.'--`And who has not, Sire?'-- +'Many complaints against him were transmitted to me from Hamburg, but the +letter which he wrote to me in his justification opened my eyes, and I +begin to think that Savary had good motives for defending him. +Endeavours are made to dissuade me from employing him, but I shall +nevertheless do so at last. I remember that it was he who first informed +me of the near approach of the war which we are now engaged in. I forget +all that has been said against him for the last two years, and as soon as +peace is concluded, and I am at leisure, I will think of him.'" + +After relating to me this conversation Duroc said, "you must, of course, +feel assured that I said all I think of you, and I will take an +opportunity of reminding him of you. But we must we patient. Adieu, my +dear friend; we must set off speedily, and Heaven knows when we shall be +back again!" I wished him a successful campaign and a speedy return. +Alas! I was doomed to see my excellent friend only once again. + +Next to the death of Duroc the loss most sincerely regretted during the +campaign of 1813 was that of Prince Poniatowski. Joseph Poniatowaki, a +nephew of Stanislas Augustus, King of Poland, was born at Warsaw on the +7th of May 1763: At an early age he was remarkable for his patriotic +spirit; but his uncle's influence gave him an apparent irresolution, +which rendered him suspected by some of the parties in Poland. After his +uncle had acceded to the Confederation of Targowitz, Poniatowski left the +service accompanied by most of his principal officers. But when, in +1794, the Poles endeavoured to repulse the Russians, he again repaired to +the Polish camp and entered the army as a volunteer. His noble conduct +obtained for him the esteem of his countrymen. Kosciusko gave him the +command of a division, with which he rendered useful services during the +two sieges of Warsaw. Immediately after the surrender of that capital +Poniatowski went to Vienna. He refused the offers of Catherine and Paul +to bear arms in the service of Russia. + +Poniatowaki retired to his estate year Warsaw, where he lived like a +private gentleman until the creation of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw revived +the hopes of the Polish patriots. He then became War Minister. The +Archduke Ferdinand having come, in 1809, with Austrian troops to take +possession of the Duchy of Warsaw, Poniatowski, who commanded the Polish +troops, which were very inferior in numbers to the Austrian force, +obliged the latter, rather by dint of skillful maneuvering than by +fighting, to evacuate the Grand Duchy. He pursued them into Galicia as +far as Cracow. + +After this honourable campaign he continued to exercise his functions as +Minister until 1812. The war against Russia again summoned him to the +head of the Polish army. After taking part in all the events of that +war, which was attended by such various chances, Poniatowaki was present +at the battle of Leipsic. That battle, which commenced on the 14th of +October, the anniversary of the famous battles of Ulm and of Jena, lasted +four days, and decided the fate of Europe. Five hundred thousand men +fought on a surface of three square leagues. + +Retreat having become indispensable, Napoleon took leave at Leipsic of +the King of Saxony and his family, whom he had brought with him from +Dresden. The Emperor then exclaimed in a loud voice, "Adieu; Saxons," to +the people who filled the market-place, where the King of Saxony resided. +With some difficulty, and after passing through many turnings and +windings, he gained the suburb of Runstadt and left Leipsic by the outer +gate of that suburb which leads to the bridge of the Elster, and to +Lindenau. The bridge was blown up shortly after he had passed it, and +that event utterly prevented the retreat of the part of the army which +was on the left bank of the Easter, and which fell into the power of the +enemy. Napoleon was at the time accused of having ordered the +destruction of the bridge immediately after he had himself passed it in +order to secure his own personal retreat, as he was threatened by the +active pursuit of the enemy. The English journals were unanimous on this +point, and to counteract this opinion, which was very general, an article +was inserted in the 'Moniteur'. + +Before passing the bridge of the Elster Napoleon had directed +Poniatowski, in concert with Marshal Macdonald, to cover and protect the +retreat, and to defend that part of the suburb of Leipsic which is +nearest to the Borne road. For the execution of these orders he had only +2000 Polish infantry. He was in this desperate situation when he saw the +French columns in full retreat and the bridge so choked up with their +artillery and waggons that there was no possibility of passing it. Then +drawing his sword, and turning to the officers who were near him, he +said, "Here we must fall with honour!" At the head of a small party of +cuirassiers and Polish officers he rushed on the columns of the Allies. +In this action he received a ball in his left arm: he had already been +wounded on the 14th and 16th. He nevertheless advanced, but he found the +suburb filled with Allied troops. + + --[The Allies were so numerous that they scarcely perceived the + losses they sustained. Their masses pressed down upon us in every + direction, and it was impossible that victory could fail to be with + them. Their success, however, would have been less decisive had it + not been for the defection of the Saxons. In the midst of the + battle, these troops having moved towards the enemy, as if intending + to make an attack, turned suddenly around, and opened a heavy fire + of artillery and musketry on the columns by the aids of which they + had a few moments before been fighting. I do not know to what page + of history such a transaction is recorded. This event immediately + produced a great difference in our affairs, which were before in a + bad enough train. I ought here mention that before the battle the + Emperor dismissed a Bavarian division which still remained with him. + He spoke to the officers in terms which will not soon be effaced + from their memory. He told them, that, "according to the laws of + war, they were his prisoners, since their Government had taken part + against him; but that he could not forget the services they had + rendered him, and that they were therefore at liberty to return + home." These troops left the army, where they were much esteemed, + and marched for Bavaria.]-- + +He fought his way through them and received another wound. He then threw +himself into the Pleisse, which was the first river he came to. Aided by +his officers, he gained the opposite bank, leaving his horse in the +river. Though greatly exhausted he mounted another, and gained the +Elster, by passing through M. Reichenbach's garden, which was situated +on the side of that river. In spite of the steepness of the banks of the +Elster at that part, the Prince plunged with his horse into the river: +both man and horse were drowned, and the same fate was shared by several +officers who followed Poniatawski's example. Marshal Macdonald was, +luckily, one of those who escaped. Five days after a fisherman drew the +body of the Prince, out of the water. On the 26th of October it was +temporarily interred at Leipsic, with all the honours due to the +illustrious deceased. A modest stone marks the spot where the body of +the Prince was dragged from the river. The Poles expressed a wish to. +erect a monument to the memory of their countryman in the garden of M. +Reichenbach, but that gentleman declared he would do it at his own +expense, which he did. The monument consists of a beautiful sarcophagus, +surrounded by weeping willows. The body of the Prince, after bring +embalmed, was sent in the following year to Warsaw, and in 1816 it was +deposited in the cathedral, among the remains of the Kings and great men +of Poland. The celebrated Thorwaldsen was commissioned to execute a +monument for his tomb. Prince Poniatowski left no issue but a natural +son, born in 1790. The royal race, therefore existed only in a +collateral branch of King Stanislas, namely, Prince Stanislas, born in +1754. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +1813 + + Amount of the Allied forces against Napoleon--Their advance towards + the Rhine--Levy of 280,000 men--Dreadful situation of the French at + Mayence--Declaration of the Allies at Frankfort--Diplomatic + correspondents--The Due de Bassano succeeded by the Duke of Vicenza + --The conditions of the Allies vaguely accepted--Caulaincourt sent to + the headquarters of the Allies--Manifesto of the Allied powers to + the French people.--Gift of 30,000,000 from the Emperor's privy + purse--Wish to recall M. de Talleyrand--Singular advice relative to + Wellington--The French army recalled from Spain--The throne resigned + Joseph--Absurd accusation against M. Laine--Adjournment of the + Legislative Body--Napoleon's Speech to the Legislative Body--Remarks + of Napoleon reported by Cambaceres. + +When the war resumed its course after the disaster of Leipsic I am +certain that the Allied sovereigns determined to treat with Napoleon only +in his own capital, as he, four years before, had refused to treat with +the Emperor of Austria except at Vienna. The latter sovereign now +completely raised the mask, and declared to the Emperor that he would +make common cause with Russia and Prussia against him. In his +declaration he made rise of the singular pretext, that the more enemies +there were against Napoleon there would be the greater chance of speedily +obliging him to accede to conditions which would at length restore the +tranquillity of which Europe stood so much in need. This declaration on +the part of Austria was an affair of no little importance, for she had +now raised an army of 260,000 men. An equal force was enrolled beneath +the Russian banners, which were advancing towards the Rhine. Prussia had +200,000 men; the Confederation of the Rhine 150,000: in short, including +the Swedes and the Dutch, the English troops in Spain and in the +Netherlands, the Danes, who had abandoned us, the Spaniards and +Portuguese, whose courage and hopes were revived by our reverses, +Napoleon had arrayed against him upwards of a million of armed men. +Among them, too, were the Neapolitans, with Murat at their head! + +The month of November 1813 was fatal to the fortune of Napoleon. In all +parts the French armies were repulsed and driven back upon the Rhine, +while-in every direction, the Allied forces advanced towards that river. +For a considerable time I had confidently anticipated the fall of the +Empire; not because the foreign sovereigns had vowed its destruction, but +because I saw the impossibility of Napoleon defending himself against all +Europe, and because I knew that, however desperate might be his fortune, +nothing would induce him to consent to conditions which he considered +disgraceful. At this time every day was marked by a new defection. Even +the Bavarians, the natural Allies of France, they whom the Emperor had +led to victory at the commencement of the second campaign of Vienna, they +whom he had, as it were, adopted on the field of battle, were now against +us, and were the bitterest of our enemies. + +Even before the battle of Leipsic, the consequences of which were so +ruinous to Napoleon, he had felt the necessity of applying to France for +a supply of troops; as if France had been inexhaustible. He directed the +Empress Regent to make this demand; and accordingly Maria Louisa +proceeded to the Senate, for the first time, in great state: but the +glories of the Empire were now on the decline. The Empress obtained a +levy of 280,000 troops, but they were no sooner enrolled than they were +sacrificed. The defection of the Bavarians considerably augmented the +difficulties which assailed the wreck of the army that had escaped from +Leipsic. The Bavarians had got before us to Hanau, a town four leagues +distant from Frankfort; there they established themselves, with the view +of cutting off our retreat; but French valour was roused, the little town +was speedily carried, and the Bavarians were repulsed with considerable +loss. The French army arrived at Mayence; if, indeed, one may give the +name of army to a few masses of men destitute, dispirited, and exhausted +by fatigue and privation. On the arrival of the troops at Mayence no +preparation had been made for receiving them: there were no provisions, +or supplies of any kind; and, as the climax of misfortune, infectious +epidemics broke out amongst the men. All the accounts I received +concurred in assuring me that their situation vas dreadful: + +However; without counting the wreck which escaped from the disasters of +Leipsic, and the ravages of disease; without including the 280,000 men +which had been raised by a 'Senatus-consulte, on the application of Maria +Louisa, the Emperor still possessed 120,000 good troops; but they were in +the rear, scattered along the Elbe, shut up in fortresses such as +Dantzic, Hamburg, Torgau, and Spandau. Such was the horror of our +situation that if, on the one hand, we could not resolve to abandon them, +it was at the same time impossible to aid them. In France a universal +cry was raised for peace, at whatever price it could be purchased. In +this state of things it may be said that the year 1813 was more fatal to +Napoleon than the year 1812. The disasters of Moscow were repaired by +his activity and the sacrifices of France; but the disasters of Leipsic +were irreparable. + +I shall shortly speak of some negotiations in which, if I had chosen, I +might have taken a part. After the battle of Leipsic, in which France +lost, for the second time, a formidable army, all the powers allied +against Napoleon declared at Frankfort, on the 9th of November, that they +would never break the bonds which united them; that henceforth it was not +merely a Continental peace, but a general peace, that would be demanded; +and that any negotiation not having a general peace for its object would +be rejected. The Allied powers declared that France was to be confined +within her natural limits, the Rhine, the Alps, and the Pyrenees. This +was all that was to remain of the vast Empire founded by Napoleon; but +still it must be allowed it was a great deal, after the many disasters +France had experienced, and when she was menaced with invasion by +numerous and victorious armies. But Napoleon could not accede to such +proposals, for he was always ready to yield to illusion when the truth +was not satisfactory to him. + +According to the proposals of the Allies at Frankfort, Germany; Italy, +and Spain were to be entirely withdrawn from the dominion of France. +England recognised the freedom of trade and navigation, and there +appeared no reason to doubt the sincerity of her professed willingness to +make great sacrifices to promote the object proposed by the Allies. But +to these offers a fatal condition was added, namely, that the Congress +should meet in a town, to be declared neutral, on the right bank of the +Rhine, where the plenipotentiaries of all the belligerent powers were to +assemble; but the course of the war was not to be impeded by these +negotiations. + + --[This, system of negotiating and advancing was a realization of + Metternich's idea copying Napoleon's own former procedure. "Let us + hold always the sword in one head, and the olive branch in the + other; always ready to negotiate, but only negotiating whilst + advancing. Here is Napoleon's system: may he find enemies who will + carry on war . . . as he would carry it on himself." (Metternich + vol. ii. p. 346).]-- + +The Due de Bassano (Maret), who was still Minister for Foreign Affairs, +replied, by order of Napoleon, to the overtures wade by the Allies for a +general Congress; and stated that the Emperor acceded to them, and wished +Mannheim to be chosen as the neutral town. M. Metternich replied in a +note, dated Frankfort, the 25th of November, stating that the Allies felt +no difficulty in acceding to Napoleon's choice of Mannheim for the +meeting of the Congress; but as M. de Bassano's letter contained no +mention of the general and summary bases I have just mentioned, and which +had been communicated to M. de St. Aignan at Frankfort, M. Metternich +stated that the Allies wished the Emperor Napoleon to declare his +determination respecting those bases, in order that insurmountable +difficulties might not arrest the negotiations at their very outset. The +Duke of Vicenza (Caulaincourt), who had just succeeded the Due de +Bassano, received this letter. Trusting to the declaration of Frankfort +he thought he would be justified in treating on those bases; he +confidently relied on the consent of Napoleon. But the Allies had now +determined not to grant the limits accorded by that declaration. +Caulaincourt was therefore obliged to apply for fresh powers, which being +granted, he replied, on the 2d of December, that Napoleon accepted the +fundamental and summary bases which had been communicated by M. de St. +Aignan. To this letter M. Metternich answered that the Emperors of +Russia and Austria were gratified to find that the Emperor of France +recognised the bases judged necessary by the Allies; that the two +sovereigns would communicate without delay the official document to their +Allies, and that they were convinced that immediately on receiving their +reply the negotiations might be opened without any interruption of the +war. + +We shall now see the reason why these first negotiations came to no +result. In the month of October the Allies overthrew the colossal +edifice denominated the French Empire. When led by victory to the banks +of the Rhine they declared their wish to abstain from conquest, explained +their intentions, and manifested an unalterable resolution to abide by +them. This determination of the Allies induced the French Government to +evince pacific intentions. Napoleon wished, by an apparent desire for +peace, to justify, if I may so express myself, in the eyes of his +subjects, the necessity of new sacrifices; which, according to his +proclamations, he demanded only to enable him to obtain peace on as +honourable conditions as possible. But the truth is, he was resolved not +even to listen to the offers made at Frankfort. He always represented +the limits of the Rhine as merely a compensation for the dismemberment of +Poland and the immense aggrandisement of the English possessions in Asia. +But he wanted to gain time, and, if possible, to keep the Allied armies +on the right bank of the Rhine. + +The immense levies made in France, one after the other, had converted the +conscription into a sort of pressgang. Men employed in agriculture and +manufactures were dragged from their labours; and the people began to +express their dissatisfaction at the measures of Government more loudly +than they had hitherto ventured to do; yet all were willing to make +another effort, if they could have persuaded themselves that the Emperor +would henceforth confine his thoughts to France alone. Napoleon sent +Caulaincourt to the headquarters of the Allies; but that was only for the +sake of gaining time, and inducing a belief that he was favourably +disposed to peace. + +The Allies having learned the immense levies of troops which Napoleon was +making, and being well acquainted with the state of feeling in France, +published the famous manifesto, addressed to the French people, which was +profusely circulated, and may be referred to as a warning to subjects who +trust to the promises of Governments. + +The good faith with which the promises in the manifesto were kept may be +judged of from the Treaty of Paris. In the meantime the manifesto did +not a little contribute to alienate from Napoleon those who were yet +faithful to his cause; for, by believing in the declarations of the +Allies, they saw in him the sole obstacle to that peace which France so +ardently desired. On this point, too, the Allies were not wrong, and I +confess that I did not see without great surprise that the Duc de Rovigo, +in that part of his Memoirs where he mentions this manifesto, reproaches +those who framed it for representing the Emperor as a madman, who replied +to overtures of peace only by conscription levies: After all, I do not +intend to maintain that the declaration was entirely sincere; with +respect to the future it certainly was not. Switzerland was already +tampered with, and attempts were made to induce her to permit the Allied +troops to enter France by the bridge of Bale. Things were going on no +better in the south of France, where the Anglo-Spanish army threatened +our frontiers by the Pyrenees, and already occupied Pampeluna; and at the +same time the internal affairs of the country were no less critical than +its external position. It was in vain to levy troops; everything +essential to an army was wanting. To meet the most pressing demands the +Emperor drew out 30,000,000 from the immense treasure which he had +accumulated in the cellars and galleries of the Pavillion Marsan, at the +Tuileries. These 30,000,000 were speedily swallowed up. Nevertheless it +was an act of generosity on the part of Napoleon, and I never could +understand on what ground the Legislative Body complained of the outlay, +because, as the funds did not proceed from the Budget, there needed no +financial law to authorise their application. Besides, why did these +rigid legislators, who, while fortune smiled on Bonaparte, dared not +utter a word on the subject, demand, previously to the gratuitous gift +just mentioned, that the 350,000,000 in the Emperor's privy puree should +be transferred to the Imperial treasury and carried to the public +accounts? Why did they wink at the accumulation in the Tuileries of the +contributions and exactions levied in, conquered countries? The answer +is plain: because there would have been danger in opposing it. + +Amidst the difficulties which assailed the Emperor he cast his eyes on +M. de Talleyrand. But it being required, as a condition of his receiving +the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, that he should resign his office of +Vice-Grand-Elector, M. de Talleyrand preferred a permanent post to a +portfolio, which the caprice of a moment might withdraw. I have been +informed that, in a conversation with the Emperor, M. de Talleyrand gave +him the extraordinary advice of working upon the ambition of the English +family of Wellesley, and to excite in the mind of Wellington, the lustre +of whose reputation was now dawning, ambitious projects which would have +embarrassed the coalition. Napoleon, however, did not adopt this +proposition, the issue of which he thought too uncertain, and above all, +too remote, in the urgent circumstances in which it stood. Caulaincourt +was then made Minister for Foreign Affairs, in lieu of M. Maret, who was +appointed Secretary of State, an office much better suited to him. + +Meanwhile the Emperor was wholly intent on the means of repelling the +attack which was preparing against him. The critical circumstances in +which he was placed seemed to restore the energy which time had in some +measure robbed him of. He turned his eyes towards Spain, and resolved to +bring the army from that country to oppose the Allies, whose movements +indicated their intention of entering France by Switzerland. An event +occurred connected with this subject calculated to have a decided +influence on the affairs of the moment, namely, the renunciation by +Joseph, King of Spain, of all right to the crown, to be followed by the +return; as had been agreed on; of Ferdinand to his dominions. Joseph +made this sacrifice at the instigation of his brother. The treaty was +signed, but an inconceivable delay occurred in its execution, while the +torrent, which was advancing upon France, rushed forward so rapidly that +the treaty could not be carried into execution. Ferdinand, it is true, +re-ascended his throne, but from other causes. + +The Emperor was deeply interested in the march of the Allies. It was +important to destroy the bridge of Bale, because the Rhine once crossed +masses of the enemy would be thrown into France. At this time I had +close relations with a foreign diplomat whom I am forbidden by discretion +to name. He told me that the enemy was advancing towards the frontier, +and that the bridge of Bale would not be destroyed, as it had been so +agreed at Berne, where the Allies had gained the day. This astonished +me, because I knew, on the other hand, from a person who ought, to have +been equally well informed,--that it was hoped the bridge would be blown +up. Being much interested in knowing the truth, I sent on my own +account, an agent to Bale who on his return told me that the bridge would +remain. + +On the 19th of December the Legislative Body was convoked. It was on a +Wednesday. M. Laine was Vice-President under M. Regnier. A committee +was appointed to examine and report on the communications of the Emperor. +The report and conclusions of the committee were not satisfactory; it was +alleged that they betrayed a revolutionary tendency, of which M. Laine +was absurdly accused of having been one of the promoters; but all who +knew him must have been convinced of the falsehood of the charge. The +Emperor ordered the report to be seized, and then adjourned the +Legislative Body. Those who attentively observed the events of the time +will recollect the stupor which prevailed in Paris on the intelligence of +this seizure and of the adjournment of the Legislative Body. A thousand +conjectures were started as to what new occurrences had taken place +abroad, but nothing satisfactory was learned. + +I considered this a great mistake. Who can doubt that if the Legislative +Body had taken the frank and noble step of declaring that France accepted +the conditions of Frankfort they would not have been listened to by the +Allies? But the words, "You are dishonoured if you cede a single village +acquired by a 'Senatus-consulte'," always, resounded in Napoleon's ears: +they flattered his secret thoughts, and every pacific proposal was +rejected. + +The members of the adjourned Legislative Body went as usual to take leave +of the Emperor, who received them on a Sunday, and after delivering to +them the speech, which is very well known, dismissed the rebels with +great ill-humour, refusing to hear any explanation. "I have suppressed +your address," he began abruptly: "it was incendiary. I called you round +me to do good--you have done ill. Eleven-twelfths of you are well- +intentioned, the others, and above all M. Laine, are factious intriguers, +devoted to England, to all my enemies, and corresponding through the +channel of the advocate Deseze with the Bourbons. Return to your +Departments, and feel that my eye will follow you; you have endeavoured +to humble me, you may kill me, but you shall not dishonour me. You make +remonstrances; is this a time, when the stranger invades our provinces, +and 200,000 Cossacks are ready to overflow our country? There may have +been petty abuses; I never connived at them. You, M. Raynouard, you said +that. Prince Massena robbed a man at Marseilles of his house. You lie! +The General took possession of a vacant house, and my Minister shall +indemnify the proprietor. Is it thus that you dare affront a Marshal of +France who has bled for his country, and grown gray in victory? Why did +you not make your complaints in private to me? I would have done you +justice. We should wash our dirty linen at home, and not drag it out +before the world. You, call yourselves Representatives of the Nation. +It is not true; you are only Deputies of the Departments; a small portion +of the State, inferior to the Senate, inferior even to the Council of +State. The Representatives of the People! I am alone the Representative +of the People. Twice have 24,000,000 of French called me to the throne: +which of you durst undertake such a burden? It had already overwhelmed +(ecrase), your Assemblies, and your Conventions, your Vergniauds and your +Guadets, your Jacobins and your Girondins. They are all dead! What, who +are you? nothing--all authority is in the Throne; and what is the +Throne? this wooden frame covered with velvet?--no, I am the Throne! +You have added wrong to reproaches. You have talked of concessions-- +concessions that even my enemies dared not ask! I suppose if they asked +Champaigne you would have had me give them La Brie besides; but in four +months I will conquer peace, or I shall be dead! You advise! how dare +you debate of such high matters (de si graves interets)! You have put me +in the front of the battle as the cause of war--it is infamous (c'est une +atrocite). In all your committees you have excluded the friends of +Government--extraordinary commission--committee of finance--committee of +the address, all, all my enemies. M. Laine, I repeat it, is a traitor; +he is a wicked man, the others are mere intriguers. I do justice to the +eleven-twelfths; but the factions I know, and will pursue. Is it, I ask +again, is it while the enemy is in France that you should have done this? +But nature has gifted me with a determined courage--nothing can overcome +me. It cost my pride much too--I made that sacrifice; I--but I am above +your miserable declamations--I was in need of consolation, and you would +mortify me--but, no, my victories shall crush your clamours! In three +months we shall have peace, and you shall repent your folly. I am one of +those who triumph or die. + +"Go back to your Departments if any one of you dare to print your address +I shall publish it in the Moniteur with notes of my own. Go; France +stands in more need of me than I do of France. I bear the eleven- +twelfths of you in my heart--I shall nominate the Deputies to the two +series which are vacant, and I shall reduce the Legislative Body to the +discharge of its proper duties. The inhabitants of Alsace and Franche +Comte have more spirit than you; they ask me for arms, I send them, and +one of my aides de camp will lead them against the enemy." + +In after conversations he said of the Legislative Body that "its members +never came to Paris but to obtain some favours. They importuned the +Ministers from morning till night, and complained if they were not +immediately satisfied. When invited to dinner they burn with envy at the +splendour they see before them." I heard this from Cambaceres, who was +present when the Emperor made these remarks. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +1813. + + The flag of the army of Italy and the eagles of 1813--Entrance of + the Allies into Switzerland--Summons to the Minister of Police-- + My refusal to accept a mission to Switzerland--Interviews with M. de + Talleyrand and the Due de Picence--Offer of a Dukedom and the Grand + Cordon of the Legion of Honour--Definitive refusal--The Duc de + Vicence's message to me in 1815--Commencement of the siege of + Hamburg--A bridge two leagues long--Executions at Lubeck--Scarcity + of provisions in Hamburg--Banishment of the inhabitants--Men + bastinadoed and women whipped--Hospitality of the inhabitants of + Altona. + +I am now arrived at the most critical period in Napoleon's career. What +reflections must he have made, if he had had leisure to reflect, in +comparing the recollections of his rising glory with the sad picture of +his falling fortune? What a contrast presents itself when we compare the +famous flag of the army of Italy, which the youthful conqueror, +Bonaparte, carried to the Directory, with those drooping eagles who had +now to defend the aerie whence they had so often taken flight to spread +their triumphant wings over Europe! Here we see the difference between +liberty and absolute power! Napoleon, the son of liberty, to whom he +owed everything, had disowned his mother, and was now about to fall. +Those glorious triumphs were now over when the people of Italy consoled +themselves for defeat and submitted to the magical power of that liberty +which preceded the Republican armies. Now, on the contrary, it was to +free themselves from a despotic yoke that the nations of Europe had in +their turn taken up arms and were preparing to invade France. + +With the violation of the Swiss territory by the Allied armies, after the +consent of the Cantons, is connected a fact of great importance in my +life, and which, if I had chosen, might have made a great difference in +my destiny. On Tuesday, the 28th of December, I dined with my old +friend, M. Pierlot, and on leaving home I was in the habit of saying +where I might be found in case I should be wanted. At nine o'clock at +night an express arrived from the Minister of Police desiring me to come +immediately to his office. I confess, considering the circumstances of +the times, and knowing the Emperor's prejudices against me, such a +request coming at such an hour made me feel some uneasiness, and I +expected nothing less then a journey to Vincennes. The Due de Rovigo, +by becoming responsible for me, had as yet warded off the blow, and the +supervision to which the Emperor had subjected me--thanks to the good +offices of Davoust--consisted in going three times a week to show myself +to Savory. + +I accordingly, having first borrowed a night-cap, repaired to the hotel +of the Minister of Police. I was ushered into a well-lighted room, and +when I entered I found Savary waiting for me. He was in full costume, +from which I concluded he had just come from the Emperor. Advancing +towards me with an air which showed he had no bad news to communicate, he +thus addressed me: + +"Bourrienne, I have just come from the Emperor, who asked me where you +were? I told him you were in Paris, and that I saw you often. 'Well,' +continued the Emperor, 'bid him come to me, I want to employ him. It is +three years since he has had anything to do. I wish to send him as +Minister to Switzerland, but he must set off directly. He must go to the +Allies. He understands German well. The King of Prussia expressed by +letter satisfaction at his conduct towards the Prussians whom the war +forced to retire to Hamburg. He knows Prince Witgenstein, who is the +friend of the King of Prussia, and probably is at Lorrach. He will see +all the Germans who are there. I confidently rely on him, and believe +his journey will have a good result. Caulaincourt will give him his +instructions." + +Notwithstanding my extreme surprise at this communication I replied +without hesitation that I could not accept the mission; that it was +offered too late. "It perhaps is hoped;" said I, "that the bridge of +Bale will be destroyed, and that Switzerland will preserve her +neutrality. But I do not believe any such thing; nay, more, I know +positively to the contrary. I can only repeat the offer comes much too +late."--"I am very sorry for this resolution," observed Savory, "but +Caulaincourt will perhaps persuade you. The Emperor wishes you to go the +Duo de Vicence to-morrow at one o'clock; he will acquaint you with all +the particulars, and give you your instructions."--"He may acquaint me +with whatever be chooses, but I will not go to Lohraah."--"You know the +Emperor better than I do, he wishes you to go, and he will not pardon +your refusal."--"He may do as he pleases, but no consideration shall +induce me to go to Switzerland."--"You are wrong: but you will reflect on +the matter between this and tomorrow morning. Night will bring good +counsel, At any rate, do not fail to go to-morrow at one o'clock to +Caulaincourt, he expects you, and directions will be given to admit you +immediately." + +Next morning the first thing I did was to call on M. de Talleyrand. +I told him what had taken place, and as he was intimately acquainted with +Caulaincourt, I begged him to speak to that Minister in favour of my, +resolution. M. de Talleyrand approved of my determination not to go to +Switzerland, and at one o'clock precisely I proceeded to M. de +Caulaincourt's. He told me all he had been instructed to say. From the +manner in which he made the communication I concluded that he himself +considered the proposed mission a disagreeable one, and unlikely to be +attended by any useful result. I observed that he must have heard from +Savory that I had already expressed my determination to decline the +mission which the Emperor had been pleased to offer me. The Duc de +Vicence then, in a very friendly way, detailed the reasons which ought to +induce me to accept the offer, and did not disguise from me that by +persisting in my determination I ran the risk of raising Napoleon's +doubts as to my opinions and future intentions. I replied that, having +lived for three years as a private individual, unconnected with public +affairs, I should have no influence at the headquarters of the Allies, +and that whatever little ability I might be supposed to possess, that +would not counterbalance the difficulties of my situation, and the +opinion that I was out of favour. I added that I should appear at the +headquarters without any decoration, without even that of the Cordon of +the Legion of Honour to which the Emperor attached so much importance, +and the want of which would almost have the appearance of disgrace; and I +said that these trifles, however slightly valued by reasonable men, were +not, as he well knew, without their influence on the men with whom I +should have to treat. "If that be all," replied. Caulaincourt, "the +obstacle will speedily be removed. I am authorised by the Emperor to +tell you that he will create you a Duke, and give you the Grand Cordon of +the Legion of Honour." + +After these words I thought I was dreaming, and I was almost inclined to +believe that Caulaincourt was jesting with me. However, the offer was +serious, and I will not deny that it was tempting; yet I nevertheless +persisted in the refusal I had given. At length, after some further +conversation, and renewed, but useless, entreaties on the part of M. de +Caulaincourt, he arose, which was a signal that our interview was +terminated. I acknowledge I remained for a moment in doubt how to act, +for I felt we had come to no understanding. M. de' Caulaincourt advanced +slowly towards the door of his cabinet: If I went away without knowing +his opinion I had done nothing; addressing him, therefore, by his +surname, "Caulaincourt;" said I, "you have frequently assured me that you +would never forget the services I rendered to you and your family at a +time when I possessed some influence. I know you, and therefore speak to +you without disguise. I do not now address myself to the Emperor's +Minister, but to Caulaincourt. You are a man of honour, and I can open +my heart to you frankly. Consider the embarrassing situation of France, +which you know better than I do. I do not ask you for your secrets, but +I myself know enough. I will tell you candidly that I am convinced the +enemy will pass the Rhine in a few days. The Emperor has been deceived: +I should not have time to reach my destination, and I should be laughed +at. My correspondents in Germany have made me acquainted with every +particular. Now, Caulaincourt, tell me honestly, if you were in my +place, and I in yours, and I should make this proposition to you, what +determination would you adopt?" + +I observed from the expression of Caulaincourt's countenance that my +question had made an impression on him, and affectionately pressing my +hand he said, "I would do as you do: Enough. I will arrange the business +with the Emperor." This reply seemed to remove a weight from my mind, +and I left Caulaincourt with feelings of gratitude. I felt fully assured +that he would settle the business satisfactorily, and in this conjecture +I was not deceived, for I heard no more of the matter. + +I must here go forward a year to relate another occurrence in which the +Due de Vicence and I were concerned. When, in March 1815, the King +appointed me Prefect of Police, M. de Caulaincourt sent to me a +confidential person to inquire whether he ran any risk in remaining in +Paris, or whether he had better remove. He had been told that his name +was inscribed in a list of individuals whom I had received orders to +arrest. Delighted at this proof of confidence, I returned the following +answer by the Due de Vicence's messenger: "Tell M. de Caulaincourt that I +do not know where he lives. He need be under no apprehension: I will +answer for him." + +During the campaign of 1813 the Allies, after driving the French out of +Saxony and obliging them to retreat towards the Rhine, besieged Hamburg, +where Davoust was shut up with a garrison of 30,000 men, resolutely +determined to make it a second Saragossa. From the month of September +every day augmented the number of the Allied troops, who were already +making rapid progress on the left bank of the Elbe. Davoust endeavoured +to fortify Hamburg an so extended a scale that, in the opinion of the +most experienced military men, it would have required a garrison of +60,000 men to defend it in a regular and protracted siege. At the +commencement of the siege Davoust lost Vandamme, who was killed in a +sortie at the head of a numerous corps which was inconsiderately +sacrificed. + +It is but justice to admit that Davoust displayed great activity in the +defence, and began by laying in large supplies. + + --[Vandamme fought under Grouchy in 1815, and died several years + afterwards. This killing him at Hamburg is one of the curious + mistakes seized on by the Bonapartists to deny the authenticity of + these Memoirs.]-- + +General Bertrand was directed to construct a bridge to form a +communication between Hamburg and Haarburg by joining the islands of the +Elbe to the Continent along a total distance of about two leagues. This +bridge was to be built of wood, and Davoust seized upon all the timber- +yards to supply materials for its construction. In the space of eighty- +three days the bridge was finished. It was a very magnificent structure, +its length being 2529 toises, exclusive of the lines of junction, formed +on the two islands. + +The inhabitants were dreadfully oppressed, but all the cruel measures and +precautions of the French were ineffectual, for the Allies advanced in +great force and occupied Westphalia, which movement obliged the Governor +of Hamburg to recall to the town the different detachments scattered +round Hamburg. + +At Lubeck the departure of the French troops was marked by blood. Before +they evacuated the town, an old man, and a butcher named Prahl, were +condemned to be shot. The butcher's crime consisted in having said, in +speaking of the French, "Der teufel hohle sie" (the devil take them). +The old man fortunately escaped his threatened fate, but, notwithstanding +the entreaties and tears of the inhabitants, the sentence upon Prahl was +carried into execution. + +The garrison of Hamburg was composed of French, Italian, and Dutch +troops. Their number at first amounted to 30,000, but sickness made +great-havoc among them. From sixty to eighty perished daily in the +hospitals. When the garrison evacuated Hamburg in May 1814 it was +reduced to about 15,000 men. In the month of December provisions began +to diminish, and there was no possibility of renewing the supply. The +poor were first of all made to leave the town, and afterwards all persons +who were not usefully employed. It is no exaggeration to estimate at +50,000 the number of persons who were thus exiled. The colonel +commanding the gendarmerie at Hamburg notified to the exiled inhabitants +that those who did not leave the town within the prescribed time would +receive fifty blows with a cane and afterwards be driven out. But if +penance may be commuted with priests so it may with gendarmes. +Delinquents contrived to purchase their escape from the bastinado by a +sum of money, and French gallantry substituted with respect to females +the birch for the cane. I saw an order directing all female servants to +be examined as to their health unless they could produce certificates +from their masters. On the 25th of December the Government granted +twenty-four hours longer to persons who were ordered to quit the town; +and two days after this indulgence an ordinance was published declaring +that those who should return to the town after once leaving it were to be +considered as rebels and accomplices of the enemy, and as such condemned +to death by a prevotal court. But this was not enough. At the end of +December people, without distinction of sex or age, were dragged from +their beds and conveyed out of the town on a cold night, when the +thermometer was between sixteen or eighteen degrees; and it was affirmed +that several old men perished in this removal. Those who survived were +left on the outside of the Altona gates. At Altona they all found refuge +and assistance. On Christmas-day 7000 of these unfortunate persons were +received in the house of M. Rainville, formerly aide de camp to +Dumouriez, and who left France together with that general. His house, +which was at Holstein, was usually the scene of brilliant entertainments, +but it was converted into the abode of misery, mourning, and death. All +possible attention was bestowed on the unfortunate outlaws; but few +profited by it, and what is worse, the inhabitants of Altona suffered for +their generosity. Many of the unfortunate persons were affected with the +epidemic disease which was raging in Hamburg, and which in consequence +broke out at Altona. + +All means of raising money in Hamburg being exhausted, a seizure was made +of the funds of the Bank of that city, which yet contained from seven to +eight millions of marks. Were those who ordered this measure not aware +that to seize on the funds of some of the citizens of Hamburg was an +injury to all foreigners who had funds in the Bank? Such is a brief +statement of the vexations and cruelties which long oppressed this +unfortunate city. Napoleon accused Hamburg of Anglomania, and by ruining +her he thought to ruin England. Hamburg, feeble and bereft of her +sources, could only complain, like Jerusalem when besieged by Titus: +"Plorans, plorcatrit in nocte." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +1813-1814. + + Prince Eugene and the affairs of Italy--The army of Italy on the + frontiers of Austria--Eugene's regret at the defection of the + Bavarians--Murat's dissimulation and perfidy--His treaty with + Austria--Hostilities followed by a declaration of war--Murat + abandoned by the French generals--Proclamation from Paris--Murat's + success--Gigantic scheme of Napoleon--Napoleon advised to join the + Jacobins--His refusal--Armament of the National Guard--The Emperor's + farewell to the officers--The Congress of Chatillon--Refusal of an + armistice--Napoleon's character displayed in his negotiations-- + Opening of the Congress--Discussions--Rupture of the Conferences. + +I wars now proceed to notice the affairs of Italy and the principal +events of the Viceroyalty of Eugene. In order to throw together all that +I have to say about the Viceroy I must anticipate the order of time. + +After the campaign of 1812, when Eugene revisited Italy, he was promptly +informed of the more than doubtful dispositions of Austria towards +France. He then made preparations for raising an army capable of +defending the country which the Emperor had committed to his safeguard. +Napoleon was fully aware how much advantage he would derive from the +presence on the northern frontiers of Italy of an army sufficiently +strong to harass Austria, in case she should draw aside the transparent +veil which still covered her policy. Eugene did all that depended on him +to meet the Emperor's wishes; but in spite of his efforts the army of +Italy was, after all; only an imaginary army to those who could compare +the number of men actually enrolled with the numbers stated in the lists. +When, in July 1813, the Viceroy was informed of the turn taken by the +negotiations at the shadow of a Congress assembled at Prague, he had no +longer any doubt of the renewal of hostilities; and foreseeing an attack +on Italy he resolved as speedily as possible to approach the frontiers of +Austria. He had succeeded in assembling an army composed of French and +Italians, and amounting to 45,000 infantry and 5000 cavalry. On the +renewal of hostilities the Viceroy's headquarters were at Udine. Down to +the month of April 1814 he succeeded in maintaining a formidable +attitude, and in defending the entrance of his kingdom by dint of that +military talent which was to be expected in a man bred in the great +school of Napoleon, and whom the army looked up to as one of its most +skillful generals. + +During the great and unfortunate events of 1813 all eyes had been fixed +on Germany and the Rhine; but the defection of Murat for a time diverted +attention to Italy. That event did not so very much surprise me, for I +had not forgotten my conversation with the King of Naples in the Champs +Elysees, with which I have made the reader acquainted. At first Murat's +defection was thought incredible by every one, and it highly excited +Bonaparte's indignation. Another defection which occurred about the same +period deeply distressed Eugene, for although raised to the rank of a +prince, and almost a sovereign, he was still a man, and an excellent man. +He was united to the Princess Amelia of Bavaria, who was as amiable and +as much beloved as he, and he had the deep mortification to count the +subjects of his father-in-law among the enemies whom he would probably +have to combat. Fearing lest he should be harassed by the Bavarians on +the side of the Tyrol, Eugene commenced his retrograde movement in the +autumn of 1813. He at first fell back on the Tagliamento, and +successively on the Adige. On reaching that river the army of Italy was +considerably diminished, in spite of all Eugene's care of his troops. +About the end of November Eugene learned that a Neapolitan corps was +advancing upon Upper Italy, part taking the direction of Rome, and part +that of Ancona. The object of the King of Naples was to take advantage +of the situation of Europe, and he was duped by the promises held out to +him as the reward of his treason. Murat seemed to have adopted the +artful policy of Austria; for not only had he determined to join the +coalition, but he was even maintaining communications with England and +Austria, while at the same time he was making protestations of fidelity +to his engagements with Napoleon. + +When first informed of Murat's treason by the Viceroy the Emperor refused +to believe it. "No," he exclaimed to those about him, "it cannot be! +Murat, to whom I have given my sister! Murat, to whom I have given a +throne! Eugene must be misinformed. It is impossible that Murat has +declared himself against me!" It was, however, not only possible but +true. Gradually throwing aside the dissimulation beneath which he had +concealed his designs, Murat seemed inclined to renew the policy of Italy +during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when the art of deceiving +was deemed by the Italian Governments the most sublime effort of genius. +Without any declaration of war, Murat ordered the Neapolitan General who +occupied Rome to assume the supreme command in the Roman States, and to +take possession of the country. General Miollis, who commanded the +French troops in Rome, could only throw himself, with his handful of men, +into the Castle of St. Angelo, the famous mole of Adrian, in which was +long preserved the treasury of Sixtus V. The French General soon found +himself blockaded by the Neapolitan troops, who also blockaded Civita +Vecchia and Ancona. + + +The treaty concluded between Murat and Austria was definitively signed on +the 11th of January 1814. As soon as he was informed of it the Viceroy, +certain that he should soon have to engage with the Neapolitans, was +obliged to renounce the preservation of the line of the Adige, the +Neapolitan army being in the rear of his right wing. He accordingly +ordered a retrograde movement to the other side of the Mincio, where his +army was cantoned. In this position Prince Eugene, on the 8th of +February, had to engage with the Austrians, who had come up with him, and +the victory of the Mincio arrested, for some time, the invasion of the +Austrian army and its junction with the Neapolitan troops. + +It was not until eight days after that Murat officially declared war +against the Emperor; and immediately several general and superior +officers, and many French troops, who were in his service, abandoned him, +and repaired to the headquarters of the Viceroy. Murat made endeavours +to detain them; they replied, that as he had declared war against France, +no Frenchman who loved his country could remain in his service. "Do you +think," returned he, "that my heart is lees French than yours? On the +contrary, I am much to be pitied. I hear of nothing but the disasters of +the Grand Army. I have been obliged to enter into a treaty with the +Austrians, and an arrangement with the English, commanded by Lord +Bentinck, in order to save my Kingdom from a threatened landing of the +English and the Sicilians, which would infallibly have excited an +insurrection." + +There could not be a more ingenuous confession of the antipathy which +Joachim knew the Neapolitans to entertain towards his person and +government. His address to the French was ineffectual. It was easy to +foresee what would ensue. The Viceroy soon received an official +communication from Napoleon's War Minister, accompanied by an Imperial +decree, recalling all the French who were in the service of Joachim, and +declaring that all who were taken with arms in their hands should be +tried by a courtmartial as traitors to their country. Murat commenced by +gaining advantages which could not be disputed. His troops almost +immediately took possession of Leghorn and the citadel of Ancona, and the +French were obliged to evacuate Tuscany. + +The defection of Murat overthrew one of Bonaparte's gigantic conceptions. +He had planned that Murat and Eugene with their combined forces should +march on the rear of the Allies, while he, disputing the soil of France +with the invaders, should multiply obstacles to their advance; the King +of Naples and the Viceroy of Italy were to march upon Vienna and make +Austria tremble in the heart of her capital before the timid million of +her Allies, who measured their steps as they approached Paris, should +desecrate by their presence the capital of France. When informed of the +vast project, which, however, was but the dream of a moment, I +immediately recognised that eagle glance, that power of discovering great +resources in great calamities, so peculiar to Bonaparte. + +Napoleon was yet Emperor of France; but he who had imposed on all Europe +treaties of peace no less disastrous than the wars which had preceded +them, could not now obtain an armistice; and Caulaincourt, who was sent +to treat for one at the camp of the Allies, spent twenty days at +Luneville before he could even obtain permission to pass the advanced +posts of the invading army. In vain did Caulaincourt entreat Napoleon to +sacrifice, or at least resign temporarily, a portion of that glory +acquired in so many battles, and which nothing could efface in history. +Napoleon replied, "I will sign whatever you wish. To obtain peace I will +exact no condition; but I will not dictate my own humiliation." This +concession, of course, amounted to a determination not to sign or to +grant anything. + +In the first fortnight of January 1814 one-third of France was invaded, +and it was proposed to form a new Congress, to be held at Chatillon-sur- +Seine. The situation of Napoleon grew daily worse and worse. He was +advised to seek extraordinary resources in the interior of the Empire, +and was reminded of the fourteen armies which rose, as if by enchantment, +to defend France at the commencement of the Revolution. Finally, a +reconciliation with the Jacobins, a party who had power to call up masses +to aid him, was recommended. For a moment he was inclined to adopt this +advice. He rode on horseback through the surburbs of St. Antoine and St. +Marceau, courted the populace, affectionately replied to their +acclamations, and he thought he saw the possibility of turning to account +the attachment which the people evinced for him. On his return to the +Palace some prudent persons ventured to represent to him that, instead of +courting this absurd sort of popularity it would be more advisable to +rely on the nobility and the higher classes of society. "Gentlemen," +replied he, "you may say what you please, but in the situation in which I +stand my only nobility is the rabble of the faubourgs, and I know of no +rabble but the nobility whom I have created." This was a strange +compliment to all ranks, for it was only saying that they were all rabble +together. + +At this time the Jacobins were disposed to exert every effort to serve +him; but they required to have their own way, and to be allowed freely to +excite and foster revolutionary sentiments. The press, which groaned +under the most odious and intolerable censorship, was to be wholly +resigned to them. I do not state these facts from hearsay. I happened +by chance to be present at two conferences in which were set forward +projects infected with the odour of the clubs, and these projects were +supported with the more assurance because their success was regarded as +certain. Though I had not seen Napoleon since my departure for Hamburg, +yet I was sufficiently assured of his feeling towards the Jacobins to be +convinced that he would have nothing to do with them. I was not wrong. +On hearing of the price they set on their services he said, "This is too +much; I shall have a chance of deliverance in battle, but I shall have +none with these furious blockheads. There can be nothing in common +between the demagogic principles of '93 and the monarchy, between clubs +of madmen and a regular Ministry, between a Committee of Public Safety +and an Emperor, between revolutionary tribunals and established laws. +If fall I must, I will not bequeath France to the Revolution from which I +have delivered her." + +These were golden words, and Napoleon thought of a more noble and truly +national mode of parrying the danger which threatened him. He ordered +the enrolment of the National Guard of Paris, which was placed under the +command of Marshal Moncey. A better choice could not have been made, but +the staff of the National Guard was a focus of hidden intrigues, in which +the defence of Paris was less thought about than the means of taking +advantage of Napoleon's overthrow. I was made a captain in this Guard, +and, like the rest of the officers, I was summoned to the Tuileries, on +the 23d of January, when the Emperor took leave of the National Guard +previously to his departure from Paris to join the army. + +Napoleon entered with the Empress. He advanced with a dignified step, +leading by the hand his son, who was not yet three years old. It was +long since I had seen him. He had grown very corpulent, and I remarked +on his pale countenance an expression of melancholy and irritability. + +The habitual movement of the muscles of his neck was more decided and +more frequent than formerly. I shall not attempt to describe what were +my feelings during this ceremony, when I again saw, after a long +separation, the friend of my youth, who had become master of Europe, +and was now on the point of sinking beneath the efforts of his enemies. +There was something melancholy in this solemn and impressive ceremony. +I have rarely witnessed such profound silence in so numerous an assembly. +At length Napoleon, in a voice as firm and sonorous as when he used to +harangue his troops in Italy or in Egypt, but without that air of +confidence which then beamed on his countenance, delivered to the +assembled officers an address which was published in all the journals of +the time. At the commencement of this address he said, "I set out this +night to take the command of the army. On quitting the capital I +confidently leave behind me my wife and my son, in whom so many hopes are +centred." I listened attentively to Napoleon's address, and, though he +delivered it firmly, he either felt or feigned emotion. Whether or not +the emotion was sincere on his part, it was shared by many present; and +for my own part I confess that my feelings were deeply moved when he +uttered the words, "I leave you my wife and my son." At that moment my +eyes were fixed on the young Prince, and the interest with which he +inspired me was equally unconnected with the splendour which surrounded +and the misfortunes which threatened him. I beheld in the interesting +child not the King of Rome but the son of my old friend. All day long +afterwards I could not help feeling depressed while comparing the +farewell scene of the morning with the day on which we took possession of +the Tuileries. How many centuries seemed the fourteen years which +separated the two events. + +It may be worth while to remind those who are curious in comparing dates +that Napoleon, the successor of Louis XVI., and who had become the nephew +of that monarch by his marriage with the niece of Marie Antoinette, took +leave of the National Guard of Paris on the anniversary of the fatal 21st +of January, after twenty-five years of successive terror, fear, hope, +glory, and misfortune. + +Meanwhile, a Congress was opened at Chatillon-sur-Seine, at which were +assembled the Duke of Vicenza on the part of France, Lords Aderdeen and +Cathcart and Sir Charles Stewart as the representatives of England, Count +Razumowsky on the part of Russia, Count Stadion for Austria, and Count +Humboldt for Prussia. Before the opening of the Congress, the Duke of +Vicenza, in conformity with the Emperor's orders, demanded an armistice, +which is almost invariably granted during negotiations for peace; but it +was now too late: the Allies had long since determined not to listen to +any such demand. They therefore answered the Duke of Vicenza's +application by requiring that the propositions for peace should be +immediately signed. But these were not the propositions of Frankfort. +The Allies established as their bases the limits of the old French +monarchy. They conceived themselves authorised in so doing by their +success and by their situation. + +To estimate rightly Napoleon's conduct during the negotiations for peace +which took place in the conferences at Chatillon it is necessary to bear +in mind the organisation he had received from nature and the ideas with +which that organisation had imbued him at an early period of life. If +the last negotiations of his expiring reign be examined with due +attention and impartiality it will appear evident that the causes of his +fall arose out of his character. I cannot range myself among those +adulators who have accused the persons about him with having dissuaded +him from peace. Did he not say at St. Helena, in speaking of the +negotiations at Chatillon, "A thunderbolt alone could have saved us: to +treat, to conclude, was to yield foolishly to the enemy." These words +forcibly portray Napoleon's character. It must also be borne in mind how +much he was captivated by the immortality of the great names which +history has bequeathed to our admiration, and which are perpetuated from +generation to generation. Napoleon was resolved that his name should re- +echo in ages to come, from the palace to the cottage. To live without +fame appeared to him an anticipated death. If, however, in this thirst +for glory, not for notoriety, he conceived the wish to surpass Alexander +and Caesar, he never desired the renown of Erostratus, and I will say +again what I have said before, that if he committed actions to be +condemned, it was because he considered them as steps which helped him to +place himself on the summit of immortality on which he wished to place +his name. Witness what he wrote to his brother Jerome, "Better never, to +have lived than to live without glory;" witness also what he wrote later +to his brother Louis, "It is better to die as a King than to live as a +Prince." How often in the days of my intimacy with Bonaparte has he not +said to me, "Who knows the names of those kings who have passed from the +thrones on which chance or birth seated them? They lived and died +unnoticed. The learned, perhaps, may find them mentioned in old +archives, and a medal or a coin dug from the earth may reveal to +antiquarians the existence of a sovereign of whom they had never before +heard. But, on the contrary, when we hear the names of Cyrus, Alexander, +Caesar, Mahomet, Charlemagne, Henry IV., and Louis XIV., we are +immediately among our intimate acquaintance." I must add, that when +Napoleon thus spoke to me in the gardens of Malmaison he only repeated +what had often fallen from him in his youth, for his character and his +ideas never varied; the change was in the objects to which they were +applied. + +From his boyhood Napoleon was fond of reading the history of the great +men of antiquity; and what he chiefly sought to discover was the means by +which those men had become great. He remarked that military glory +secures more extended fame than the arts of peace and the noble efforts +which contribute to the happiness of mankind. History informs us that +great military talent and victory often give the power, which, in its +tern, procures the means of gratifying ambition. Napoleon was always +persuaded that that power was essential to him, in order to bend men to +his will, and to stifle all discussions on his conduct. It was his +established principle never to sign a disadvantageous peace. To him a +tarnished crown was no longer a crown. He said one day to M. de +Caulaincourt, who was pressing him to consent to sacrifices, "Courage may +defend a crown, but infamy never." In all the last acts of Napoleon's +career I can retrace the impress of his character, as I had often +recognised in the great actions of the Emperor the execution of a thought +conceived by the General-in-Chief of the Army of Italy. + +On the opening of the Congress the Duke of Vicenza, convinced that he +could no longer count on the natural limits of France promised at +Frankfort by the Allies, demanded new powers. Those limits were +doubtless the result of reasonable concessions, and they had been granted +even after the battle of Leipsic; but it was now necessary that +Napoleon's Minister should show himself ready to make further concessions +if he wished to be allowed to negotiate. The Congress was opened on the +5th of February, and on the 7th the Plenipotentiaries of the Allied +powers declared themselves categorically. They inserted in the protocol +that after the successes which had favoured their armies they insisted on +France being restored to her old limits, such as they were during the +monarchy before the Revolution; and that she should renounce all direct +influence beyond her future limits. + +This proposition appeared so extraordinary to M. de Caulaincourt that he +requested the sitting might be suspended, since the conditions departed +too far from his instructions to enable him to give an immediate answer. +The Plenipotentiaries of the Allied powers acceded to his request, and +the continuation of the sitting was postponed till eight in the evening. +When it was resumed the Duke of Vicenza renewed his promise to make the +greatest sacrifices for the attainment of peace. He added that the +amount of the sacrifices necessarily depended on the amount of the +compensations, and that he could not determine on any concession or +compensation without being made acquainted with the whole. He wished to +have a general plan of the views of the Allies, and he requested that +their Plenipotentiaries would explain themselves decidedly respecting the +number and description of the sacrifices and compensations to be +demanded. It must be acknowledged that the Duke of Vicenza perfectly +fulfilled the views of the Emperor in thus protracting and gaining time +by subtle subterfuges, for all that he suggested had already been done. + +On the day after this sitting some advantages gained by the Allies, who +took Chatillon-sur-Marne and Troves, induced Napoleon to direct +Caulaincourt to declare to the Congress that if an armistice were +immediately agreed on he was ready to consent to France being restored to +her old limits. By securing this armistice Napoleon hoped that happy +chances might arise, and that intrigues might be set on foot; but the +Allies would not listen to any such proposition. + +At the sitting of the 10th of March the Duke of Vicenza inserted in the +protocol that the last courier he had received had been arrested and +detained a considerable time by several Russian general officers, who had +obliged him to deliver up his despatches, which had not been returned to +him till thirty-six hours after at Chaumont. Caulaincourt justly +complained of this infraction of the law of nations and established +usage, which, he said, was the sole cause of the delay in bringing the +negotiations to a conclusion. After this complaint he communicated to +the Congress the ostensible instructions of Napoleon, in which he +authorised his Minister to accede to the demands of the Allies. But in +making this communication M. de Caulaincourt took care not to explain the +private and secret instructions he had also received. The Allies +rejected the armistice because it would have checked their victorious +advance; but they consented to sign the definitive peace, which of all +things was what the Emperor did not wish. + +Napoleon at length determined to make sacrifices, and the Duke of Vicenza +submitted new propositions to the Congress. The Allies replied, in the +same sitting, that these propositions contained no distinct and explicit +declaration on the project presented by them on the 17th of February; +that, having on the 28th of the same month, demanded a decisive answer +within the term of ton days, they were about to break up the negotiations +Caulaincourt then declared verbally: + +1st. That the Emperor Napoleon was ready to renounce all pretension or +influence whatever in countries beyond the boundaries of France. + +2d. To recognise the independence of Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, +and Holland, and that as to England, France would make such concessions +as might be deemed necessary in consideration of a reasonable equivalent. + +Upon this the sitting was immediately broken up without a reply. It must +be remarked that this singular declaration was verbal, and consequently +not binding, and that the limits of France were mentioned without being +specified. It cannot be doubted that Napoleon meant the limits conceded +at Frankfort, to which he was well convinced the Allies would not +consent, for circumstances were now changed. Besides, what could be +meant by the reasonable equivalent from England? Is it astonishing that +this obscurity and vagueness should have banished all confidence on the +part of the Plenipotentiaries of the Allied powers? Three days after the +sitting of the 10th of March they declared they could not even enter into +a discussion of the verbal protocol of the French Minister. They +requested that M. de Caulaincourt would declare whether he would accept +or reject the project of a treaty presented by the Allied Sovereigns, or +offer a counter-project. + +The Duke of Vicenza, who was still prohibited, by secret instructions +from coming to any conclusion on the proposed basis, inserted in the +protocol of the sitting of the 13th of March a very ambiguous note. The +Plenipotentiaries of the Allies; in their reply, insisted upon receiving +another declaration from the French Plenipotentiary, which should contain +an acceptance or refusal of their project of a treaty presented in the +conference of the 7th of February, or a counter-project. After much +discussion Caulaincourt agreed to draw up a counter-project, which he +presented on the 15th, under the following title: "Project of a +definitive Treaty between France and the Allies." In this extraordinary +project, presented after so much delay, M. de Caulaincourt, to the great +astonishment of the Allies, departed in no respect from the declarations +of the 10th of March. He replied again to the ultimatum of the Allies, +or what be wished to regard as such, by defending a multitude of petty +interests, which were of no importance in so great a contest; but in +general the conditions seemed rather those of a conqueror dictating to +his enemies than of a man overwhelmed by misfortune: As may readily be +imagined, they were, for the most part, received with derision by the +Allies. + +Everything tends to prove that the French Plenipotentiary had received no +positive instructions from the 5th of February, and that, after all the +delay which Napoleon constantly created, Caulaincourt never had it in his +power to answer, categorically, the propositions of the Allies. Napoleon +never intended to make peace at Chatillon on the terms proposed. He +always hoped that some fortunate event would enable him to obtain more +favourable conditions. + +On the 18th of March, that is to say, three days after the presentation +of this project of a treaty, the Plenipotentiaries of the Allies recorded +in the protocol their reasons for rejecting the extraordinary project of +the French Minister. For my part, I was convinced, for the reasons I +have mentioned, that the Emperor would never agree to sign the conditions +proposed in the ultimatum of the Allies, dated the 13th of March, and I +remember having expressed that opinion to M. de Talleyrand. I saw him on +the 14th, and found him engaged in perusing some intelligence he had just +received from the Duke of Vicenza, announcing, as beyond all doubt, the +early signature of peace. Caulaincourt had received orders to come to a +conclusion. Napoleon, he said, had given him a carte blanche to save the +capital, and avoid a battle, by which the last resources of the nation +would be endangered. This seemed pretty positive, to be sure; but even +this assurance did not, for a moment, alter my opinion. The better to +convince me, M. de Talleyrand gave me Caulaincourt's letter to read. +After reading it I confidently said, "He will never sign the conditions." +M. de Talleyrand could not help thinking me very obstinate in my opinion, +for he judged of what the Emperor would do by his situation, while I +judged by his character. I told M. de Talleyrand that Caulaincourt might +have received written orders to sign; for the sake of showing them to the +Plenipotentiaries of the Allies, but that I had no doubt he had been +instructed to postpone coming to a conclusion, and to wait for final +orders. I added, that I saw no reason to change my opinion, and that I +continued to regard the breaking up of the Congress as nearer than +appearances seemed to indicate. Accordingly, three days afterwards, the +Allies grew tired of the delay and the conferences were broken up. Thus +Napoleon sacrificed everything rather than his glory. He fell from a +great height, but he never, by his signature, consented to any +dismemberment of France. + +The Plenipotentiaries of the Allies, convinced that these renewed +difficulties and demands had no other object but to gain time, stated +that the Allied powers, faithful to their principles, and in conformity +with their previous declarations, regarded the negotiations at Chatillon +as terminated by the French Government. This rupture of the conferences +took place on the 19th of March, six days after the presentation of the +ultimatum of the Allied powers. The issue of these long discussions was +thus left to be decided by the chances of war, which were not very +favourable to the man who boldly contended against armed Europe. The +successes of the Allies during the conferences at Chatillon had opened to +their view the road to Paris, while Napoleon shrunk from the necessity +of signing his own disgrace. In these circumstances was to be found the +sole cause of his ruin, and he might have said, "Tout est perdu, fors la +gloire." His glory is immortal. + + --[The conviviality and harmony that reigned between the Ministers + made the society and Intercourse at Chatillon most agreeable. The + diplomatists dined alternately with each other; M. de Caulaincourt + liberally passing for all the Ministers, through the French advanced + posts, convoys of all the good cheer in epicurean wises, etc., that + Paris could afford; nor was female society wanting to complete the + charm and banish ennui from the Chatillon Congress, which I am sure + will be long recollected with sensations of pleasure by all the + Plenipotentiaries there engaged (Memoirs of Lord Burghersh).]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +1814 + + Curious conversation between General Reynier and the Emperor + Alexander--Napoleon repulses the Prussians--The Russians at + Fontainebleau--Battle of Brienne--Sketch of the campaign of France-- + Supper after the battle of Champ Aubert--Intelligence of the arrival + of tho Duc d'Angouleme and the Comte d'Artois in France--The battle + of the ravens and the eagle--Battle of Craonne--Departure of the + Pope and the Spanish Princes--Capture of a convoy--Macdonald at the + Emperor's headquarters--The inverted cipher. + +I was always persuaded, and everything I have since seen has confirmed my +opinion, that the Allies entering France had no design of restoring the +House of Bourbon, or of imposing any Government whatever on the French +people. They came to destroy and not to found. That which they wished +to destroy from the commencement of their success was Napoleon's +supremacy, in order to prevent the future invasions with which they +believed Europe would still be constantly threatened. If, indeed, I had +entertained any doubt on this subject it would have been banished by the +account I heard of General Reynier's conversation with the Emperor +Alexander. That General, who was made prisoner at Leipsic, was +exchanged, and returned to France. In the beginning of February 1814 he +passed through Troves, where the Emperor Alexander then was. Reynier +expressed a desire to be allowed to pay his respects to the Emperor, and +to thank him for having restored him to liberty. He was received with +that affability of manner which was sometimes affected by the Russian +monarch. + +On his arrival at Paris General Reynier called at the Duc de Rovigo's, +where I had dined that day, and where he still was when I arrived. He +related in my hearing the conversation to which I have alluded, and +stated that it had all the appearance of sincerity on the Emperor's part. +Having asked Alexander whether he had any instructions for Napoleon, as +the latter, on learning that he had seen his Majesty would not fail to +ask him many questions, he replied that he had nothing particular to +communicate to him. Alexander added that he was Napoleon's friend, but +that he had, personally, much reason--to complain of his conduct; that +the Allies would have nothing more to do with him; that they had no +intention of forcing any Sovereign upon France; but that they would no +longer acknowledge Napoleon as Emperor of the French. "For my part," +said Alexander, "I can no longer place any confidence in him. He has +deceived me too often." In reply to this Reynier made some remarks +dictated by his attachment and fidelity to Bonaparte. He observed that +Napoleon was acknowledged as Sovereign of France by every treaty. "But," +added Reynier, "if you should persist in forcing him to resign the +supreme power, whom will you put in his place?"--"Did you not choose him; +why then can you not choose some one else to govern you? I repeat that +we do not intend to force any one upon you but we will have no more to do +with Napoleon." + +Several Generals were then named; and after Reynier had explained the +great difficulties which would oppose any such choice, Alexander +interrupted him saying, "But, General, there is Bernadotte.' Has he not +been voluntarily chosen Prince Royal of Sweden; may he not also be raised +to the same rank in France? He is your countryman; surely then you may +choose him, since the Swedes took him, though a foreigner." General +Reynier, who was a man of firm character, started some objections, which +I thought at the time well founded; and Alexander put an end to the +conversation by saving, rather in a tone of dissatisfaction, "Well, +General, the fate of arms will decide." + +The campaign of France forced Napoleon to adopt a kind of operations +quite new to him. He had been accustomed to attack; but he was now +obliged to stand on his defence, so that, instead of having to execute a +previously conceived plan, as when, in the Cabinet of the Tuileries, he +traced out to me the field of Marengo, he had now to determine his +movements according to those of his numerous enemies. When the Emperor +arrived at Chalons-sur-Marne the Prussian army was advancing by the road +of Lorraine. He drove it back beyond St. Dizier. Meanwhile the Grand +Austro-Russian army passed the Seine and the Yonne at Montereau, and even +sent forward a corps which advanced as far as Fontainebleau. Napoleon +then made a movement to the right in order to drive back the troops which +threatened to march on Paris, and by a curious chance he came up with the +troops in the very place where he passed the boyish years in which he +cherished what then seemed wild and fabulous dreams of his future fate. +What thoughts and recollections must have crowded on his mind when he +found himself an Emperor and a King, at the head of a yet powerful army, +in the chateau of the Comte de Brienne, to whom he had so often paid his +homage! It was at Brienne that he had said to me, thirty-four years +before, "I will do these Frenchman all the harm I can." Since then he +had certainly changed his mind; but it might be said that fate persisted +in forcing the man to realise the design of the boy in spite of himself. +No sooner had Napoleon revisited Brienne as a conqueror than he was +repulsed and hurried to his fall, which became every moment more +certain.' + +I shall not enter into any details of the campaign of France, because the +description of battles forms no part of my plan. Still, I think it +indispensable briefly to describe Napoleon's miraculous activity from the +time of his leaving Paris to the entrance of the Allies into the capital. +Few successful campaigns have enabled our Generals and the French army to +reap so much glory as they gained during this great reverse of fortune. +For it is possible to triumph without honour, and to fall with glory. +The chances of the war were not doubtful, but certainly the numerous +hosts of the Allies could never have anticipated so long and brilliant a +resistance. The theatre of the military operations soon approached so +near to Paris that the general eagerness for news from the army was +speedily satisfied, and when any advantage was gained by the Emperor his +partisans saw the enemy already repulsed from the French territory. +I was not for a moment deceived by these illusions, as I well knew the +determination and the resources of the Allied sovereigns. Besides, +events were so rapid and various in this war of extermination that the +guns of the Invalides announcing a victory were sometimes immediately +followed by the distant rolling of artillery, denoting the enemy's near +approach to the capital. + +The Emperor left Paris on the 25th of January, at which time the Emperors +of Russia and Austria and the King of Prussia were assembled at Langres. +Napoleon rejoined his Guard at Vitry-le-Francais. On the second day +after his departure he drove before him the Prussian army, which he had +forced to evacuate St. Dizier. Two days after this the battle of Brienne +was fought, and on the 1st of February between 70,000 and 80,000 French +and Allied troops stood face to face. On this occasion the commanders on +both sides were exposed to personal danger, for Napoleon had a horse +killed under him, and a Cossack fell dead by the side of Marshal Blucher. + +A few days after this battle Napoleon entered Troves, where he stayed but +a short time, and then advanced to Champaubert. At the latter place was +fought the battle which bears its name. The Russians were defeated, +General Alsufieff was made prisoner, and 2000 men and 30 guns fell into +the hands of the French. After this battle the Emperor was under such a +delusion as to his situation that while supping with Berthier, Marmont, +and his prisoner, General Alsufieff, the Emperor said, "Another such +victory as this, gentlemen, and I shall be on the Vistula." + +Finding that no one replied, and reading in the countenances of his +Marshals that they did not share his hopes, "I see how it is," he added, +"every one is growing tired of war; there is no more enthusiasm. The +sacred fire is extinct." Then rising from the table, and stepping up to +General Drouot, with the marked intention of paying him a compliment +which should at the same time convey a censure on the Marshals, +"General," said he, patting him on the shoulder, "we only want a hundred +men like you, and we should succeed." Drouot replied, with great +presence of mind and modesty, "Rather say a hundred thousand, Sire." +This anecdote was related to me by the two principal persons who were +present on the occasion. + +Napoleon soon began to have other subjects of disquietude besides the +fate of battles. He was aware that since the beginning of February the +Duc d'Angouleme had arrived at St. Jean de Luz, whence he had addressed s +proclamation to the French armies in the name of his uncle, Louis XVIII.; +and he speedily heard of the Comte d'Artois' arrival at Yesoul, on the +21st of February, which place he did not leave until the 16th of March +following. + +Meanwhile hostilities were maintained with increased vigor over a vast +line of operations. How much useless glory did not our soldiers gain in +these conflicts! In spite of prodigies of valour the enemy's masses +advanced, and gradually concentrated, so that this war might be compared +to the battles of the ravens and the eagle in the Alps. The eagle slays +hundreds of his assailants--every blow of his beak is the death of an +enemy, but still the vultures return to the charge, and press upon the +eagle until they destroy him. + +As the month of February drew to its close the Allies were in retreat on +several points, but their retreat was not a rout. After experiencing +reverses they fell back without disorder, and retired behind the Aube, +where they rallied and obtained numerous reinforcements, which daily +arrived, and which soon enabled them to resume the offensive. + +Still Napoleon continued astonishing Europe, leagued as it was against +him. At Craonne, on the 7th of March, he destroyed Blucher's corps in a +severe action, but the victory was attended by great loss to the +conqueror. Marshal Victor was seriously wounded, as well as Generals +Grouchy and La Ferriere. + +While Napoleon was resisting the numerous enemies assembled to destroy +him it might be said that he was also his own enemy, either from false +calculation or from negligence with respect to his illustrious prisoners, +who, on his departure from Paris, had not yet been sent to their States. +The Pope was then at Fontainebleau, and the Princes of Spain at Valencay. +The Pope, however, was the first to be allowed to depart. Surely +Bonaparte could never have thought of the service which the Pope might +have rendered him at Rome, into which Murat's troops would never have +dared to march had his Holiness been present there. With regard to the +Spanish Princes Napoleon must have been greatly blinded by confidence in +his fortune to have so long believed it possible to retain in France +those useless trophies of defeated pretensions. It was, besides, so easy +to get rid of the exiles of Valencay by sending them back to the place +from whence they had been brought! It was so natural to recall with all +speed the troops from the south when our armies in Germany began to be +repulsed on the Rhine and even driven into France! With the aid of these +veteran troops Napoleon and his genius might have again turned the scale +of fortune. But Napoleon reckoned on the nation, and he was wrong, for +the nation was tired of him. His cause had ceased to be the cause of +France. + +The latter days of March were filled up by a series of calamities to +Napoleon. On the 23d the rear-guard of the French army suffered +considerable loss. To hear of attacks on his rear-guard must indeed have +been mortifying to Napoleon, whose advanced guards had been so long +accustomed to open the path of victory! Prince Schwartzenberg soon +passed the Aube and marched upon Vitry and Chalons. Napoleon, counting +on the possibility of defending Paris, threw himself, with the velocity +of the eagle, on Schwartzenberg's rear by passing by Doulevant and Bar- +sur-Aube. He pushed forward his advanced guards to Chaumont, and there +saw the Austrian army make a movement which he took to be a retreat; but +it was no such thing. The movement was directed on Paris, while Blucher, +who had re-occupied Chalons-sur-Maine, marched to meet Prince +Schwartzenberg, and Napoleon, thinking to cut off their retreat, was +himself cut off from the possibility of returning to Paris. Everything +then depended on the defence of Paris, or, to speak more correctly, it +seemed possible, by sacrificing the capital, to prolong for a few days +the existence of the phantom of the Empire which was rapidly vanishing. +On the 26th was fought the battle of Fere Champenoise, where, valour +yielding to numbers, Marshals Marmont and Mortier were obliged to retire +upon Sezanne after sustaining considerable loss. + +It was on the 26th of March, and I beg the reader to bear this date in +mind, that Napoleon suffered a loss which, in the circumstances in which +he stood, was irreparable. At the battle of Fere Champenoise the Allies +captured a convoy consisting of nearly all the remaining ammunition and +stores of the army, a vast quantity of arms, caissons, and equipage of +all kinds. The whole became the prey of the Allies, who published a +bulletin announcing this important capture. A copy of this order of the +day fell into the hands of Marshal Macdonald, who thought that such news +ought immediately to be communicated to the Emperor. He therefore +repaired himself to the headquarters of Napoleon, who was then preparing +to recover Vitre-le-Francais, which was occupied by the Prussians. The +Marshal, with the view of dissuading the Emperor from what he considered +a vain attempt, presented him with the bulletin. + +This was on the morning of the 27th: Napoleon would not believe the news. +"No!" said he to the Marshal, "you are deceived, this cannot be true." +Then perusing the bulletin with more attention. "Here," said he, "look +yourself. This is the 27th, and the bulletin is dated the 29th. You see +the thing is impossible. The bulletin is forged!" The Marshal, who had +paid more attention to the news than to its date, was astounded. But +having afterwards shown the bulletin to Drouot, that General said, "Alas! +Marshal, the news is but too true. The error of the date is merely a +misprint, the 9 is a 6 inverted!" On what trifles sometimes depend the +most important events. An inverted cipher sufficed to flatter +Bonaparte's illusion, or at least the illusions which he wished to +maintain among his most distinguished lieutenants, and to delay the +moment when they should discover that the loss they deplored was too +certain. On that very day the Empress left Paris. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +1814. + + The men of the Revolution and the men of the Empire--The Council of + Regency--Departure of the Empress from Paris--Marmont and Mortier-- + Joseph's flight--Meeting at Marmont's hotel--Capitulation of Paris-- + Marmont's interview with the Emperor at Fontainebleau--Colonels + Fabvier and Denys--The Royalist cavalcade--Meeting at the hotel of + the Comte de Morfontaine--M. de Chateaubriand and his pamphlet-- + Deputation to the Emperor Alexander--Entrance of the Allied + sovereigns into Paris--Alexander lodged in M. Talleyrand's hotel-- + Meetings held there--The Emperor Alexander's declaration-- + My appointment as Postmaster-General--Composition of the Provisional + Government--Mistake respecting the conduct of the Emperor of + Austria--Caulaincourt's mission from Napoleon--His interview with + the Emperor Alexander--Alexander's address to the deputation of the + Senate--M. de Caulaincourt ordered to quit the capital. + +The grandees of the Empire and the first subjects of Napoleon were +divided into two classes totally distinct from each other. Among these +patronised men were many who had been the first patrons of Bonaparte and +had favoured his accession to Consular power. This class was composed of +his old friends and former companions-in-arms. The others, who may be +called the children of the Empire, did not carry back their thoughts to a +period which they had not seen. They had never known anything but +Napoleon and the Empire, beyond which the sphere of their ideas did not +extend, while among Napoleon's old brothers-in-arms it was still +remembered that there was once a country, a France, before they had +helped to give it a master. To this class of men France was not confined +to the narrow circle of the Imperial headquarters, but extended to the +Rhine, the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the two oceans. + +On the other hand, numbers of ardent and adventurous young men, full of +enthusiasm for Bonaparte, had passed from the school to the camp. They +were entirely opposed to Napoleon's downfall, because with his power +would vanish those dreams of glory and fortune which had captivated their +imaginations. These young men, who belonged to the class which I have +denominated children of the Empire, were prepared to risk and commit +everything to prolong the political life of their Emperor. + +The distinction I have drawn between what may be called the men of France +and the men of the Empire was not confined to the army, but was equally +marked among the high civil functionaries of the State. The old +Republicans could not possibly regard Napoleon with the same eyes as +those whose elevation dated only from Napoleon; and the members of +assemblies anterior to the 18th Brumaire could not entertain the same +ideas as those whose notions of national franchises and public rights +were derived from their seats as auditors in the Council of State. I +know not whether this distinction between the men of two different +periods has been before pointed out, but it serves to explain the conduct +of many persons of elevated rank during the events of 1814. With regard +to myself, convinced as I was of the certainty of Napoleon's fall, I +conceived that the first duty of every citizen was claimed by his +country; and although I may incur censure, I candidly avow that +Napoleon's treatment of me during the last four years of his power was +not without some influence on my prompt submission to the Government +which succeeded his. I, however, declare that this consideration was not +the sole nor the most powerful motive of my conduct. Only those who were +in Paris at the period of the capitulation can form an idea of the +violence of party feeling which prevailed there both for and against +Napoleon, but without the name of the Bourbons ever being pronounced. +They were almost unknown to the new generation, forgotten by many of the +old, and feared by the conventionalists; at that time they possessed only +the frail support of the coteries of the Faubourg St. Germain, and some +remains of the emigration. But as it is certain that the emigrants could +offer only vain demonstrations and wishes in support of the old family of +our Kings, they did little to assist the restoration of the Bourbons. +Another thing equally certain is, that they alone, by their follies and +absurd pretensions, brought about the return of Bonaparte and the second +exile of Louis XVIII. in the following year. + +On the 28th of March was convoked an extraordinary Council of Regency, +at which Maria Louisa presided. The question discussed was, whether the +Empress should remain in Paris or proceed to Blois. Joseph Bonaparte +strongly urged her departure, because a letter from the Emperor had +directed that in case of Paris being threatened the Empress-Regent and +all the Council of Regency should retire to Blois. The Arch-Chancellor +and the majority of the Council were of the same opinion, but one of the +most influential members of the Council observed to Joseph that the +letter referred to had been written under circumstances very different +from those then existing, and that it was important the Empress should +remain in Paris, where she would, of course, obtain from the Emperor her +father and the Allied sovereigns, more advantageous conditions than if +she were fifty leagues from Paris. The adoption of this opinion would +only have retarded for a few days a change which had become inevitable; +nevertheless it might have given rise to great difficulties. It must be +admitted that for the interests of Napoleon it was the wisest counsel +that could be suggested. However, it was overruled by Joseph's advice. + +M. de Talleyrand, as a member of the Council of Regency, also received +the order to quit Paris on the 30th of March. At this period I was at +his house every day. When I went to him that day I was told he had +started. However I went up, and remained some time in his hotel with +several of his friends who had met there. We soon saw him return, and +for my part I heard with satisfaction that they had not allowed him to +pass the barriers. It was said then, and it has been repeated since, +that M. de Talleyrand was not a stranger to the gentle violence used +towards him. The same day of this visit to M. de Talleyrand I also went +to see the Duc de Rovigo (Savary), with the friendly object of getting +him to remain, and to profit by his position to prevent disturbances. +He refused without hesitating, as he only thought of the Emperor. +I found him by his fireside, where there was a large file, in which he +was burning all the papers which might have compromised every one who had +served his ministry (Police). I congratulated him sincerely on this +loyal occupation: fire alone could purify the mass of filth and +denunciations which encumbered the police archives. + +On the departure of the Empress many persons expected a popular movement +in favour of a change of Government, but the capital remained tranquil. +Many of the inhabitants, indeed, thought of defence, not for the sake of +preserving Napoleon's government, but merely from that ardour of feeling +which belongs to our national character. Strong indignation was excited +by the thought of seeing foreigners masters of Paris--a circumstance of +which there had been no example since the reign of Charles VII. +Meanwhile the critical moment approached. On the 29th of March Marshals +Marmont and Mortier fell back to defend the approaches to Paris. During +the night the barriers were consigned to the care of the National Guard, +and not a foreigner, not even one of their agents, was allowed to enter +the capital. + +At daybreak on the 30th of March the whole population of Paris was +awakened by the report of cannon, and the plain of St. Denis was soon +covered with Allied troops, who were debouching upon it from all points. +The heroic valour of our troops was unavailing against such a numerical +superiority. But the Allies paid dearly for their entrance into the +French capital. The National Guard, under the command of Marshal Moncey, +and the pupils of the Polytechnic School transformed into artillery men, +behaved in a manner worthy of veteran troops. The conduct of Marmont on +that day alone would suffice to immortalise him. The corps he commanded +was reduced to between 7000 and 8000 infantry and 800 cavalry, with whom, +for the space of twelve hours he maintained his ground against an army of +55,000 men, of whom it is said 14,000 were killed, wounded, and taken. +Marshal Marmont put himself so forward in the heat of the battle that a +dozen of men were killed by the bayonet at his side, and his hat was +perforated by a ball. But what was to be done against overwhelming +numbers! + +In this state of things the Duke of Ragusa made known his situation to +Joseph Bonaparte, who authorised him to negotiate. + +Joseph's answer is so important in reference to the events which +succeeded that I will transcribe it here. + + If the Dukes of Ragusa and Treviso can no longer hold out, they are + authorised to negotiate with Prince Schwartzenberg and the Emperor + of Russia, who are before them. + + They will fall back on the Loire. + (Signed) JOSEPH + + Montmartre, 30th March 1814, 12 oclock + + +It was not until a considerable time after the receipt of this formal +authority that Marmont and Mortier ceased to make a vigorous resistance +against the Allied army, for the suspension of arms was not agreed upon +until four in the afternoon. It was not waited for by Joseph; at a +quarter past twelve--that is to say, immediately after he had addressed +to Marmont the authority just alluded to Joseph repaired to the Bois de +Boulogne to regain the Versailles road, and from thence to proceed to +Rambouillet. The precipitate flight of Joseph astonished only those who +did not know him. I know for a fact that several officers attached to +his staff were much dissatisfied at his alacrity on this occasion. + +In these circumstances what was to be done but to save Paris, which there +was no possibility of defending two hours longer. Methinks I still see +Marmont when, on the evening of the 30th of March, he returned from the +field of battle to his hotel in the Rue de Paradis, where I was waiting +for him, together with about twenty other persons, among whom were MM. +Perregaua and Lafitte. When he entered he was scarcely recognisable: he +had a beard of eight days' growth; the greatcoat which covered his +uniform was in tatters, and he was blackened with powder from head to +foot. We considered what was best to be done, and all insisted on the +necessity of signing a capitulation. The Marshal must recollect that the +exclamation of every one about him was, "France must be saved." +MM. Perregaus and Lafitte delivered their opinions in a very decided way, +and it will readily be conceived how great was the influence of two men +who were at the head of the financial world. They alleged that the +general wish of the Parisians, which nobody had a better opportunity of +knowing than themselves, was decidedly averse to a protracted conflict, +and that France was tired of the yoke of Bonaparte. This last +declaration gave a wider range to the business under consideration. +The question was no longer confined to the capitulation of Paris, but a +change in the government was thought of, and the name of the Bourbons was +pronounced for the first time. I do not recollect which of us it was +who, on hearing mention made of the possible recall of the old dynasty, +remarked how difficult it would be to bring about a restoration without +retrograding to the past. But I think I am perfectly correct in stating +that M. Lafitte said, "Gentlemen, we shall have nothing to fear if we +have a good constitution which will guarantee the rights of all." The +majority of the meeting concurred in this wise opinion, which was not +without its influence on Marshal Marmont. + +During this painful meeting an unexpected incident occurred. One of the +Emperor's aides de camp arrived at Marmont's. Napoleon, being informed +of the advance of the Allies on Paris, had marched with the utmost speed +from the banks of the Marne on the road of Fontainebleau. In the evening +he was in person at Froidmanteau, whence he despatched his envoy to +Marshal Marmont. From the language of the aide de camp it was easy to +perceive that the state of opinion at the Imperial headquarters was very +different from that which prevailed among the population of Paris. The +officer expressed indignation at the very idea of capitulating, and he +announced with inconceivable confidence the approaching arrival of +Napoleon in Paris, which he yet hoped to save from the occupation of the +enemy. The officer informed us that Napoleon trusted to the people +rising in spite of the capitulation, and that they would unpave the +streets to stone the Allies on their entrance. I ventured to dissent +from this absurd idea of defence, and I observed that it was madness to +suppose that Paris could resist the numerous troops who were ready to +enter on the following day; that the suspension of arms had been +consented to by the Allies only to afford time for drawing up a more +regular capitulation, and that the armistice could not be broken without +trampling on all the laws of honour. I added that the thoughts of the +people were directed towards a better future; that the French were tired +of a despotic Government and of the distress to which continual war had +reduced trade and industry; "for," said I, "when a nation is sunk to such +a state of misery its hopes can only be directed towards the future; it +is natural they should be so directed, even without reflection." Most of +the individuals present concurred in my opinion, and the decision of the +meeting was unanimous. Marshal Marmont has since said to me, "I have +been blamed, my dear Bourrienne: but you were with me on the 30th of +March. You were a witness to the wishes expressed by a portion of the +principal inhabitants of Paris. I acted as I was urged to do only +because I considered the meeting to be composed of men entirely +disinterested, and who had nothing to expect from the return of the +Bourbons." + +Such is a correct statement of the facts which some persons have +perverted with the view of enhancing Napoleon's glory. With respect to +those versions which differ from mine I have only one comment to offer, +which is, that I saw and heard what I describe. + +The day after the capitulation of Paris--Marmont went in the evening to +see the Emperor at Fontainebleau. He supped with him. Napoleon praised +his defence of Paris.. After supper the Marshal rejoined his corps at +Essonne, and six hours after the Emperor arrived there to visit the +lines. On leaving Paris Marmont had left Colonels Fabvier and Dent's to +direct the execution of the capitulation. These officers joined the +Emperor and the Marshal as they were proceeding up the banks of the river +at Essonne. They did not disguise the effect which the entrance of the +Allies had produced in Paris. At this intelligence the Emperor was +deeply mortified, and he returned immediately to Fontainebleau, leaving +the Marshal at Essonne. + +At daybreak on the 31st of March Paris presented a novel and curious +spectacle. No sooner had the French troops evacuated the capital than +the principal streets resounded with cries of "Down with Bonaparte!"-- +"No conscription!"--"No consolidated duties (droits reunis)!" With these +cries were mingled that of "The Bourbons for ever!" but this latter cry +was not repeated so frequently as the others: in general I remarked that +the people gaped and listened with a sort of indifference. As I had +taken a very active part in all that had happened during some preceding +days I was particularly curious to study what might be called the +physiognomy of Paris. This was the second opportunity which had offered +itself for such a study, and I now saw the people applaud the fall of the +man whom they had received with enthusiasm after the 18th Brumaire. The +reason was, that liberty was then hoped for, as it was hoped for in 1814. +I went out early in the morning to see the numerous groups of people who +had assembled in the streets. I saw women tearing their handkerchiefs +and distributing the fragments as the emblems of the revived lily. That +same morning I met on the Boulevards, and some hours afterwards on the +Place Louis XV., a party of gentlemen who paraded the streets of the +capital proclaiming the restoration of the Bourbons and shouting, "Vive +le Roi!" and "Vive Louis XVIII!" At their head I recognised +MM. Sosthenes de la Rochefoucauld, Comte de Froissard, the Duc de +Luxembourg, the Duc de Crussol, Seymour, etc. The cavalcade distributed +white cockades in passing along, and was speedily joined by a numerous +crowd, who repaired to the Place Vendome. The scene that was acted there +is well known, and the enthusiasm of popular joy could scarcely excuse +the fury that was directed against the effigy of the man whose +misfortunes, whether merited or not, should have protected him from such +outrages. These excesses served, perhaps more than is generally +supposed, to favour the plans of the leaders of the Royalist party, to +whom M. Nesselrode had declared that before he would pledge himself to +further their views he must have proofs that they were seconded by the +population of Paris. + +I was afterwards informed by an eye-witness of what took place on the +evening of the 31st of March in one of the principal meetings of the +Royalists, which was held in the hotel of the Comte de Morfontaine, who +acted as president on the occasion. Amidst a chaos of abortive +propositions and contradictory motions M. Sosthenes de la Rochefoucauld +proposed that a deputation should be immediately sent to the Emperor +Alexander to express to him the wish of the meeting. This motion was +immediately approved, and the mover was chosen to head the deputation. +On leaving the hotel the deputation met M. de Chateaubriand, who had that +very day been, as it were, the precursor of the restoration, by +publishing his admirable manifesto, entitled "Bonaparte and the +Bourbons." He was invited to join the deputation; but nothing could +overcome his diffidence and induce him to speak. On arriving at the +hotel in the Rue St. Florentin the deputation was introduced to Count +Nesselrode, to whom M. Sosthenes de la Rochefoucauld briefly explained +its object; he spoke of the wishes of the meeting and of the manifest +desire of Paris and of France. He represented the restoration of the +Bourbons as the only means of securing the peace of Europe; and observed, +in conclusion, that as the exertions of the day must have been very +fatiguing to the Emperor, the deputation would not solicit the favour of +being introduced to him, but would confidently rely on the good faith of +his Imperial Majesty. "I have just left the Emperor," replied M. +Nesselrode, "and can pledge myself for his intentions. Return to the +meeting and announce to the French people that in compliance with their +wishes his Imperial Majesty will use all his influence to restore the +crown to the legitimate monarch: his Majesty Louis XVIII. shall reascend +the throne of France." With this gratifying intelligence the deputation +returned to the meeting in the Rue d'Anjou. + +There is no question that great enthusiasm was displayed on the entrance +of the Allies into Paris. It may be praised or blamed, but the fact +cannot be denied. I closely watched all that was passing, and I observed +the expression of a sentiment which I had long anticipated when, after +his alliance with the daughter of the Caesars, the ambition of Bonaparte +increased in proportion as it was gratified: I clearly foresaw Napoleon's +fall. Whoever watched the course of events during the last four years of +the Empire must have observed, as I did, that from the date of Napoleon's +marriage with Maria Louisa the form of the French Government became daily +more and more tyrannical and oppressive. The intolerable height which +this evil had attained is evident from the circumstance that at the end +of 1813 the Legislative Body, throwing aside the mute character which it +had hitherto maintained, presumed to give a lecture to him who had never +before received a lecture from any one. On the 31st of March it was +recollected what had been the conduct of Bonaparte on the occasion +alluded to, and those of the deputies who remained in Paris related how +the gendarmes had opposed their entrance into the hall of the Assembly. +All this contributed wonderfully to irritate the public mind against +Napoleon. He had become master of France by the sword, and the sword +being sheathed, his power was at an end, for no popular institution +identified with the nation the new dynasty which he hoped to found. +The nation admired but did not love Napoleon, for it is impossible to +love what is feared, and he had done nothing to claim the affections of +France. + +I was present at all the meetings and conferences which were held at M de +Talleyrand's hotel, where the Emperor Alexander had taken up his +residence. Of all the persons present at these meetings M. de Talleyrand +was most disposed to retain Napoleon at the head of the Government, with +restrictions on the exercise of his power. In the existing state of +things it was only possible to choose one of three courses: first, to +make peace with Napoleon, with the adoption of proper securities against +him; second, to establish a Regency; and third, to recall the Bourbons. + +On the 13th of March I witnessed the entrance of the Allied sovereigns +into Paris, and after the procession had passed the new street of the +Luxembourg I repaired straight to M. de Talleyrand's hotel, which I +reached before the Emperor Alexander, who arrived at a quarter-past one. +When his Imperial Majesty entered M. de Talleyrand's drawing-room most of +the persons assembled, and particularly the Abbe de Pradt, the Abbe de +Montesquieu, and General Dessolles, urgently demanded the restoration of +the Bourbons. The Emperor did not come to any immediate decision. +Drawing me into the embrasure of a window, which looked upon the street, +he made some observations which enabled me to guess what would be his +determination. "M. de Bourrienne," said he, "you have been the friend of +Napoleon, and so have I. I was his sincere friend; but there is no +possibility of remaining at peace with a man of such bad faith." These +last words opened my eyes; and when the different propositions which were +made came under discussion I saw plainly that Bonaparte, in making +himself Emperor, had made up the bed for the Bourbons. + +A discussion ensued on the three possible measures which I have above +mentioned, and which were proposed by the Emperor Alexander himself. I +thought, if I may so express myself, that his Majesty was playing a part, +when, pretending to doubt the possibility of recalling the Bourbons, +which he wished above all things, he asked M. de Talleyrand what means he +proposed to employ for the attainment of that object? Besides the +French, there were present at this meeting the Emperor Alexander, the +King of Prussia, Prince Schwartzenberg, M. Nesselrode, M. Pozzo-di-Borgo, +and Prince Liechtenstein. During the discussion Alexander walked about +with some appearance of agitation. "Gentlemen," said, he, addressing us +in an elevated tone of voice, "you know that it was not I who commenced +the war; you know that Napoleon came to attack me in my dominions. But +we are not drawn here by the thirst of conquest or the desire of revenge. +You have seen the precautions I have taken to preserve your capital, the +wonder of the arts, from the horrors of pillage, to which the chances of +war would have consigned it. Neither my Allies nor myself are engaged in +a war of reprisals; and I should be inconsolable if any violence were +committed on your magnificent city. We are not waging war against +France, but against Napoleon, and the enemies of French liberty. +William, and you, Prince" (here the Emperor turned towards the King of +Prussia and Prince Schwartzenberg, who represented the Emperor of +Austria), "you can both bear testimony that the sentiments I express are +yours." Both bowed assent to this observation of Alexander, which his +Majesty several times repeated in different words. He insisted that +France should be perfectly free; and declared that as soon as the wishes +of the country were understood, he and his Allies would support them, +without seeking to favour any particular government. + +The Abbe de Pradt then declared, in a tone of conviction, that we were +all Royalists, and that the sentiments of France concurred with ours. +The Emperor Alexander, adverting to the different governments which might +be suitable to France, spoke of the maintenance of Bonaparte on the +throne, the establishment of a Regency, the choice of Bernadotte, and the +recall of the Bourbons. M. de Talleyrand next spoke, and I well remember +his saying to the Emperor of Russia, " Sire, only one of two things is +possible. We must either have Bonaparte or Louis XVIII. Bonaparte, if +you can support him; but you cannot, for you are not alone.... We will +not have another soldier in his stead. If we want a soldier, we will +keep the one we have; he is the first in the world. After him any other +who may be proposed would not have ten men to support him. I say again, +Sire, either Bonaparte or Louis XVIII. Anything else is an intrigue." +These remarkable words of the Prince de Benevento produced on the mind of +Alexander all the effect we could hope for. Thus the question was +simplified, being reduced now to only two alternatives; and as it was +evident that Alexander would have nothing to do with either Napoleon or +his family, it was reduced to the single proposition of the restoration +of the Bourbons. + +On being pressed by us all, with the exception of M. de Talleyrand, who +still wished to leave the question undecided between Bonaparte and Louis +XVIII., Alexander at length declared that he would no longer treat with +Napoleon. When it was represented to him that that declaration referred +only to Napoleon personally, and did not extend to his family, he added, +"Nor with any member of his family." Thus as early as the 31st of March +the restoration of the Bourbons might be considered as decided. + +I cannot omit mentioning the hurry with which Laborie, whom M. de +Talleyrand appointed Secretary to the Provisional Government, rushed out +of the apartment as soon as he got possession of the Emperor Alexander's +declaration. He got it printed with such expedition that in the space of +an hour it was posted on all the walls in Paris; and it certainly +produced an extraordinary effect. As yet nothing warranted a doubt that +Alexander would not abide by his word. The treaty of Paris could not be +anticipated; and there was reason to believe that France, with a new +Government, would obtain more advantageous conditions than if the Allies +had, treated with Napoleon. But this illusion speedily vanished. + +On the evening of the 31st of March I returned to M. de Talleyrand's. +I again saw the Emperor Alexander, who, stepping up to me, said, "M. de +Bourrienne you must take the superintendence of the Post-office +department." I could not decline this precise invitation on the part of +the Czar; and besides, Lavalette having departed on the preceding day, +the business would have been for a time suspended; a circumstance which +would have been extremely prejudicial to the restoration which we wished +to favour. + +I went at once to the hotel in the Rue J. J. Rousseau, where, indeed, I +found that not only was there no order to send out the post next day, but +that it had been even countermanded. I went that night to the +administrators, who yielded to my requests and, seconded by them, next +morning I got all the clerks to be at their post. I reorganised the +service, and the post went out on the 1st of April as usual. Such are my +remembrances of the 31st of March. + +A Provisional Government was established, of which M. de Talleyrand was +appointed President. The other members were General Beurnonville, Comte +Francois de Jaucourt, the Due Dalberg, who had married one of Maria +Louisa's ladies of honour, and the Abby de Montesquieu. The place of +Chancellor of the Legion of Honour was given to the Abbe de Pradt. Thus +there were two abbes among the members of the Provisional Government, and +by a singular chance they happened to be the same who had officiated at +the mass which was performed in the Champ de Mars on the day of the first +federation. + +Those who were dissatisfied with the events of the 31st of March now saw +no hope but in the possibility that the Emperor of Austria would separate +from his Allies, or at least not make common cause with them in favour of +the re-establishment of the Bourbons. But that monarch had been brought +up in the old policy of his family, and was imbued with the traditional +principles of his Cabinet. I know for a fact that the sentiments and +intentions of the Emperor of Austria perfectly coincided with those of +his Allies. Anxious to ascertain the truth on this subject, I ventured, +when in conversation with the Emperor Alexander, to hint at the reports +I had heard relative to the cause of the Emperor of Austria's absence. +I do not recollect the precise words of his Majesty's answer, but it +enabled me to infer with certainty that Francis II. was in no way averse +to the overthrow of his son-in-law, and that his absence from the scene +of the discussions was only occasioned by a feeling of delicacy natural +enough in his situation. + +Caulaincourt, who was sent by Napoleon to the headquarters of the Emperor +Alexander, arrived there on the night of the 30th of March. He, however, +did not obtain an interview with the Czar until after his Majesty had +received the Municipal Council of Paris, at the head of which was M. de +Chabrol. At first Alexander appeared somewhat surprised to see the +Municipal Council, which he did not receive exactly in the way that was +expected; but this coldness was merely momentary, and he afterwards +addressed the Council in a very gracious way, though he dropped no hint +of his ulterior intentions. + +Alexander, who entertained a personal regard for Caulaincourt, received +him kindly in his own character, but not as the envoy of Napoleon. +"You have come too late," said the Czar. "It is all over. I can say +nothing to you at present. Go to Paris, and I will see you there." +These words perfectly enlightened Caulaincourt as to the result of his +mission. His next interview with the Emperor Alexander at M. de +Talleyrand's did not take place until after the declaration noticed in my +last chapter. The conversation they had together remained a secret, for +neither Alexander nor the Duke of Vicenza mentioned it; but there was +reason to infer, from some words which fell from the Emperor Alexander, +that he had received Caulaincourt rather as a private individual than as +the ambassador of Napoleon, whose power, indeed, he could not recognise +after his declaration. The Provisional Government was not entirely +pleased with Caulaincourt's presence in Paris, and a representation was +made to the Russian Emperor on the subject. Alexander concurred in the +opinion of the Provisional Government, which was expressed through the +medium of the Abbe de Pradt. M. de Caulaincourt, therefore, at the wish +of the Czar, returned to the Emperor, then at Fontainebleau. + + + + +CHAPTER, XXXV. + +1814. + + Situation of Bonaparte during the events of the 30th and 31st of + March--His arrival at Fontainebleau--Plan of attacking Paris-- + Arrival of troops at Fontainebleau--The Emperor's address to the + Guard--Forfeiture pronounced by the Senate--Letters to Marmont-- + Correspondence between Marmont and Schwartzenberg--Macdonald + informed of the occupation of Paris--Conversation between the + Emperor and Macdonald at Fontainebleau--Beurnonville's letter-- + Abdication on condition of a Regency--Napoleon's wish to retract his + act of abdication--Macdonald Ney, and Caulaincourt sent to Paris-- + Marmont released from his promise by Prince Schwartzenberg. + +On the morning of the 30th of March, while the battle before the walls of +Paris was at its height, Bonaparte was still at Troyes. He quitted that +town at ten o'clock, accompanied only by Bertrand, Caulaincourt, two +aides de camp, and two orderly officers. He was not more than two hours +in traveling the first ten leagues, and he and his slender escort +performed the journey without changing horses, and without even +alighting. They arrived at Sens at one o'clock in the afternoon. +Everything was in such confusion that it was impossible to prepare a +suitable mode of conveyance for the Emperor. He was therefore obliged to +content himself with a wretched cariole, and in this equipage, about four +in the morning, he reached Froidmanteau, about four leagues from Paris. +It was there that the Emperor received from General Belliard, who arrived +at the head of a column of artillery, the first intelligence of the +battle of Paris. He heard the news with an air of composure, which was +probably affected to avoid discouraging those about him. He walked for +about a quarter of an hour on the high road, and it was after that +promenade that he sent Caulaincourt to Paris. Napoleon afterwards went +to the house of the postmaster, where he ordered his maps to be brought +to him, and, according to custom, marked the different positions of the +enemy's troops with pine, the heads of which were touched with wax of +different colours. After this description of work, which Napoleon did +every day, or sometimes several times a day, he repaired to +Fontainebleau, where he arrived at six in the morning. He did not order +the great apartments of the castle to be opened, but went up to his +favourite little apartment, where he shut himself up, and remained alone +during the whole of the 31st of March. + +In the evening the Emperor sent for the Duke of Ragusa, who had just +arrived at Essonne with his troops. The Duke reached Fontainebleau +between three and four o'clock on the morning of the 1st of April. +Napoleon then received a detailed account of the events of the 30th from +Marmont, on whose gallant conduct before Paris he bestowed much praise. + +All was gloom and melancholy at Fontainebleau, yet the Emperor still +retained his authority, and I have been informed that he deliberated for +some time as to whether he should retire behind the Loire, or immediately +hazard a bold stroke upon Paris, which would have been much more to his +taste than to resign himself to the chances which an uncertain +temporising might bring about. This latter thought pleased him; and he +was seriously considering his plan of attack when the news of the 31st, +and the unsuccessful issue of Caulaincourt's mission, gave him to +understand that his situation was more desperate than he had hitherto +imagined. + +Meanwhile the heads of his columns, which the Emperor had left at Troves, +arrived on the 1st of April at Fontainebleau, the troops having marched +fifty leagues in less than three days, one of the most rapid marches ever +performed. On the 2d of April Napoleon communicated the events of Paris +to the Generals who were about him, recommending them to conceal the news +lest it should dispirit the troops, upon whom he yet relied. That day, +during an inspection of the troops, which took place in the court of the +Palace, Bonaparte assembled the officers of his Guard, and harangued them +as follows: + + Soldiers! the enemy has stolen three marches upon us, and has made + himself master of Paris. We must drive him thence. Frenchmen, + unworthy of the name, emigrants whom we have pardoned, have mounted + the white cockade, and joined the enemy. The wretches shall receive + the reward due to this new crime. Let us swear to conquer or die, + and to enforce respect to the tri-coloured cockade, which has for + twenty years accompanied us on the path of glory and honour. + +He also endeavoured to induce the Generals to second his mad designs upon +Paris, by making them believe that he had made sincere efforts to +conclude peace. He assured them that he had expressed to the Emperor +Alexander his willingness to purchase it by sacrifices; that he had +consented to resign even the conquests made during the Revolution, and to +confine himself within the old limits of France. "Alexander," added +Napoleon, "refused; and, not content with that refusal, he has leagued +himself with a party of emigrants, whom, perhaps, I was wrong in +pardoning for having borne arms against France. Through their perfidious +insinuations Alexander has permitted the white cockade to be mounted on +the capital. We will maintain ours, and in a few days we will march upon +Paris. I rely on you." + +When the boundless attachment of the Guards to the Emperor is considered +it cannot appear surprising that these last words, uttered in an +impressive tone, should have produced a feeling of enthusiasm, almost +electrical, in all to whom they were addressed. The old companions of +the glory of their chief exclaimed with one voice, "Paris! Paris!" But, +fortunately, during the night, the Generals having deliberated with each +other saw the frightful abyss into which they were about to precipitate +France. They therefore resolved to intimate in discreet terms to the +Emperor that they would not expose Paris to destruction, so that on the +3d of April, prudent ideas succeeded the inconsiderate enthusiasm of the +preceding day. + +The wreck of the army assembled at Fontainebleau, which was the remnant +of 1,000,000 of troops levied during fifteen months, consisted only of +the corps of the Duke of Reggio (Oudinot), Ney, Macdonald, and General +Gerard, which 'altogether did not amount to 25,000 men, and which, joined +to the remaining 7000 of the Guard, did not leave the Emperor a +disposable force of more than 32,000 men. Nothing but madness or despair +could have suggested the thought of subduing, with such scanty resources, +the foreign masses which occupied and surrounded Paris. + +On the 2d of April the Senate published a 'Senatus-consulte', declaring +that Napoleon had forfeited the throne, and abolishing the right of +succession, which had been established in favour of his family. +Furnished with this set, and without awaiting the concurrence of the +Legislative Body, which was given next day, the Provisional Government +published an address to the French armies. In this address the troops +were informed that they were no longer the soldiers of Napoleon, and that +the Senate released them from their oaths. These documents were widely +circulated at the time, and inserted in all the public journals. + +The address of the Senate was sent round to the Marshals, and was of +course first delivered to those who were nearest the capital; of this +latter number was Marmont, whose allegiance to the Emperor, as we have +already seen, yielded only to the sacred interests of his country. +Montessuis was directed by the Provisional Government to convey the +address to Marmont, and to use such arguments as were calculated to +strengthen those sentiments which had triumphed over his dearest personal +affections. I gave Montessuis a letter to Marmont, in which I said: + + "MY DEAR FRIEND--An old acquaintance of mine will convey to you the + remembrances of our friendship. He will, I trust, influence your + resolution: a single word will suffice to induce you to sacrifice + all for the happiness of your country. To secure that object you, + who are so good a Frenchman and so loyal a knight, will not fear + either dangers or obstacles. Your friends expect you, long for you, + and I trust will soon embrace you." + +Montessuis also took one from General Dessolles, whom the Provisional +Government had appointed Governor of the National Guard in the room of +Marshal Moncey, who had left Paris on the occupation of the Allies. +General Dessolles and I did not communicate to each other our +correspondence, but when I afterwards saw the letter of Deasolles I could +not help remarking the coincidence of our appeal to Marmont's patriotism. +Prince Schwartzenberg also wrote to Marmont to induce him to espouse a +clause which had now become the cause of France. To the Prince's letter +Marmont replied, that he was disposed to concur in the union of the army +and the people, which would avert all chance of civil war, and stop the +effusion of French blood; and that he was ready with his troops to quit +the army of the Emperor Napoleon on the condition that his troops might +retire with the honours of war, and that the safety and liberty of the +Emperor were guaranteed by the Allies. + +After Prince Schwartzenberg acceded to these conditions Marmont was +placed in circumstances which obliged him to request that he might be +released from his promise. + +I happened to learn the manner in which Marshal Macdonald was informed of +the taking of Paris. He had been two days without any intelligence from +the Emperor, when he received an order in the handwriting of Berthier, +couched in the following terms: "The Emperor desires that you halt +wherever you may receive this order." After Berthier's signature the +following words were added as a postscript: "You, of course, know that +the enemy is in possession of Paris." When the Emperor thus announced, +with apparent negligence, an event which totally changed the face of +affairs, I am convinced his object was to make the Marshal believe that +he looked upon, that event as less important than it really was. +However, this object was not attained, for I recollect having heard +Macdonald say that Berthier's singular postscript, and the tone of +indifference in which it was expressed, filled him with mingled surprise +and alarm. Marshal Macdonald then commanded the rear-guard of the army +which occupied the environs of Montereau. Six hours after the receipt of +the order here referred to Macdonald received a second order directing +him to put his troops in motion, and he learned the Emperor's intention +of marching on Paris with all his remaining force. + +On receiving the Emperor's second order Macdonald left his corps at +Montereau and repaired in haste to Fontainebleau. When he arrived there +the Emperor had already intimated to the Generals commanding divisions in +the corps assembled at Fontainebleau his design of marching on Paris. +Alarmed at this determination the Generals, most of whom had left in the +capital their wives, children, and friends, requested that Macdonald +would go with them to wait upon Napoleon and endeavour to dissuade him +from his intention. "Gentlemen," said the Marshal, "in the Emperor's +present situation such a proceeding may displease him. It must be +managed cautiously. Leave it to me, gentlemen, I will go to the +chateau." + +Marshal Macdonald accordingly went to the Palace of Fontainebleau, where +the following conversation ensued between him and the Emperor, and I beg +the reader to bear in mind that it was related to me by the Marshal +himself. As soon as he entered the apartment in which Napoleon was the +latter stepped up to him and said, "Well, how are things going on?"-- +"Very badly, Sire."--"How? . . . badly! . . . What then are the +feelings of your army?"--"My army, Sire, is entirely discouraged . . . +appalled by the fate of Paris."--"Will not your troops join me in an +advance on Paris?"--"Sire, do not think of such a thing. If I were to +give such an order to my troops I should run the risk of being +disobeyed."--"But what is to be done? I cannot remain as I am; I have +yet resources and partisans. It is said that the Allies will no longer +treat with me. Well! no matter. I will march on Paris. I will be +revenged on the inconstancy of the Parisians and the baseness of the +Senate. Woe to the members of the Government they have patched up for +the return of their Bourbons; that is what they are looking forward to. +But to-morrow I shall place myself at the head of my Guards, and to- +morrow we shall be in the Tuileries." + +The Marshal listened in silence, and when at length Napoleon became +somewhat calm he observed, "Sire, it appears, then, that you are not +aware of what has taken place in Paris--of the establishment of a +Provisional Government, and--"--"I know it all: and what then?"--"Sire," +added the Marshal, presenting a paper to Napoleon, "here is something +which will tell you more than I can." Macdonald then presented to him a +letter from General Beurnonville, announcing the forfeiture of the +Emperor pronounced by the Senate, and the determination of the Allied +powers not to treat with Napoleon, or any member of his family. +"Marshal," said the Emperor, before he opened the letter, "may this be +read aloud?"--"Certainly, Sire." The letter was then handed to Barre, +who read it. An individual who was present on the occasion described to +me the impression which the reading of the letter produced on Napoleon. +His countenance exhibited that violent contraction of the features which +I have often remarked when his mind was disturbed. However, he did not +lose his self-command, which indeed never forsook him when policy or +vanity required that he should retain it; and when the reading of +Beurnonville's letter was ended he affected to persist in his intention +of marching on Paris. "Sire," exclaimed Macdonald, "that plan must be +renounced. Not a sword would be unsheathed to second you in such an +enterprise." After this conversation between the Emperor and Macdonald +the question of the abdication began to be seriously thought of. +Caulaincourt had already hinted to Napoleon that in case of his +abdicating personally there was a possibility of inducing the Allies to +agree to a Council of Regency. Napoleon then determined to sign the act +of abdication, which he himself drew up in the following terms:-- + + The Allied powers having declared that the Emperor Napoleon is the + only obstacle to the re-establishment of peace in Europe, the + Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he is ready to + descend from the throne, to leave France, and even to lay down his + life for the welfare of the country, which is inseparable from the + rights of his son, those of the Regency of the Empress, and the + maintenance of the laws of the Empire. Given at our Palace of + Fontainebleau, 2d April 1814. + (Signed) NAPOLEON. + + +After having written this act the Emperor presented it to the Marshals, +saying, "Here, gentlemen! are you satisfied?" + +This abdication of Napoleon was certainly very useless, but in case of +anything occurring to render it a matter of importance the act might have +proved entirely illusory. Its meaning might appear unequivocal to the +generality of people, but not to me, who was so well initiated in the +cunning to which Napoleon could resort when it suited his purpose. It is +necessary to observe that Napoleon does not say that "he descends from +the throne," but that "he is ready to descend from the throne." This was +a subterfuge, by the aid of which he intended to open new negotiations +respecting the form and conditions of the Regency of his son, in case of +the Allied sovereigns acceding to that proposition. This would have +afforded the means of gaining time. + +He had not yet resigned all hope, and therefore he joyfully received a +piece of intelligence communicated to him by General Allix. The General +informed the Emperor that he had met an Austrian officer who was sent by +Francis II. to Prince Schwartzenberg, and who positively assured him that +all which had taken place in Paris was contrary to the wish of the +Emperor of Austria. That this may have been the opinion of the officer +is possible, and even probable. But it is certain from the issue of a +mission of the Duc de Cadore (Champagny), of which I shall presently +speak, that the officer expressed merely his own personal opinion. +However, as soon as General Allix had communicated this good news, as he +termed it, to Napoleon, the latter exclaimed to the persons who were +about him, "I told you so, gentlemen. Francis II. cannot carry his +enmity so far as to dethrone his daughter. Vicenza, go and desire the +Marshals to return my act of abdication. I will send a courier to the +Emperor of Austria." + +Thus Bonaparte in his shipwreck looked round for a saving plank, and +tried to nurse himself in illusions. The Duke of Vicenza went to +Marshals Ney and Macdonald, whom he found just stepping into a carriage +to proceed to Paris. Both positively refused to return the act to +Caulaincourt, saying, "We are sure of the concurrence of the Emperor of +Austria, and we take everything upon ourselves." The result proved that +they were better informed than General Allix. + +During the conversation with Marshal Macdonald which has just been +described the Emperor was seated. When he came to the resolution of +signing the abdication he arose and walked once or twice up and down his +cabinet. After he had written and signed the act he said, "Gentlemen, +the interests of my son, the interests of the army, and above all, the +interests of France, must be defended. I therefore appoint as my +commissioners to the Allied powers the Duke of Vicenza, the Prince of the +Moskowa, and the Duke of Ragusa . . . . Are you satisfied?" added he, +after a pause. "I think these interests are consigned to good hands." +All present answered, as with one voice. "Yes, Sire." But no sooner was +this answer pronounced than the Emperor threw himself upon a small yellow +sofa, which stood near the window, and striking his thigh with his hand +with a sort of convulsive motion, he exclaimed, "No, gentlemen: I will +have no Regency! With my Guards and Marmont's corps I shall be in Paris +to-morrow." Ney and Macdonald vainly endeavoured to undeceive him +respecting this impracticable design. He rose with marked ill-humour, +and rubbing his head, as he was in the habit of doing when agitated, he +said in a loud and authoritative tone, "Retire." + +The Marshals withdrew, and Napoleon was left alone with Caulaincourt. He +told the latter that what had most displeased him in the proceedings +which had just taken place was the reading of Beurnonville's letter. +"Sire," observed the Duke of Vicenza, "it was by your order that the +letter was read."--"That is true . . . . But why was it not addressed +directly to me by Macdonald?"--"Sire, the letter was at first addressed +to Marshal Macdonald, but the aide de camp who was the bearer of it had +orders to communicate its contents to Marmont on passing through Essonne, +because Beurnonville did not precisely know where Macdonald would be +found." After this brief explanation the Emperor appeared satisfied, and +he said to Caulaincourt, "Vicenza, call back Macdonald." + +The Duke of Vicenza hastened after the Marshal, whom he found at the end +of the gallery of the Palace, and he brought him back to the Emperor. +When Macdonald returned to the cabinet the Emperor's warmth had entirely +subsided, and he said to him with great composure, "Well, Duke of +Tarantum, do you think that the Regency is the only possible thing?"-- +"Yes, Sire."--"Then I wish you to go with Ney to the Emperor Alexander, +instead of Marmont; it is better that he should remain with his corps, to +which his presence is indispensable. You will therefore go with Ney. I +rely on you. I hope you have entirely forgotten all that has separated +us for so long a time."--"Yes, Sire, I have not thought of it since +1809."--"I am glad of it, Marshal, and I must acknowledge to you that I +was in the wrong." While speaking to the Marshal the Emperor manifested +unusual emotion. He approached him and pressed his hand in the most +affectionate way. + +The Emperor's three Commissioners--that is to say, Marshals Macdonald and +Ney and the Duke of Vicenza had informed Marmont that they would dine +with him as they passed through Essonne, and would acquaint him with all +that had happened at Fontainebleau. On their arrival at Essonne the +three Imperial Commissioners explained to the Due of Ragusa the object of +their mission, and persuaded him to accompany them to the Emperor +Alexander. This obliged the Marshal to inform them how he was situated. +The negotiations which Marmont had opened and almost concluded with +Prince Schwartzenberg were rendered void by the mission which he had +joined, and which it was necessary he should himself explain to the +Commander of the Austrian army. The three Marshals and the Duke of +Vicenza repaired to Petit Bourg, the headquarters of Prince +Schwartzenberg, and there the Prince released Marmont from the promise he +had given. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +1814. + + Unexpected receipts in the Post-office Department--Arrival of + Napoleon's Commissioners at M. de Talleyrand's--Conference of the + Marshals with Alexander--Alarming news from Essonne--Marmont's + courage--The white cockade and the tri-coloured cockade-- + A successful stratagem--Three Governments in France--The Duc de + Cadore sent by Maria Louisa to the Emperor of Austria--Maria + Louisa's proclamation to the French people--Interview between the + Emperor of Austria and the Duc de Cadore--The Emperor's protestation + of friendship for Napoleon--M. Metternich and M. Stadion--Maria + Louisa's departure for Orleans--Blucher's visit to me--Audience of + the King of Prussia--His Majesty's reception of Berthier, Clarke, + and myself--Bernadotte in Paris--Cross of the Polar Star presented + to me by Bernadotte. + +After my nomination as Director-General of the Post office the business +of that department proceeded as regularly as before. Having learned that +a great many intercepted letters had been thrown aside I sent, on the 4th +of April, an advertisement to the 'Moniteur', stating that the letters to +and from England or other foreign countries which had been lying at the +Post-office for more than three years would be forwarded to their +respective addresses. This produced to the Post-office a receipt of +nearly 300,000 francs, a fact which may afford an idea of the enormous +number of intercepted letters. + +On the night after the publication of the advertisement I was awakened by +an express from the Provisional Government, by which I was requested to +proceed with all possible haste to M. de Talleyrand's hotel. I rose, and +I set off immediately, and I got there some minutes before the arrival of +the Emperor's Commissioners. I went up to the salon on the first floor, +which was one of the suite of apartments occupied by the Emperor +Alexander. The Marshals retired to confer with the monarch, and it would +be difficult to describe the anxiety--or, I may rather say, +consternation--which, during their absence, prevailed among some of the +members of the Provisional Government and other persons assembled in the +salon where I was. + +While the Marshals were with Alexander, I learned that they had +previously conversed with M. de Talleyrand, who observed to them, "If you +succeed in your designs you will compromise all who have met in this +hotel since the 1st of April, and the number is not small. For my part, +take no account of me, I am willing to be compromised." I had passed the +evening of this day with M. de Talleyrand, who then observed to the +Emperor Alexander in my presence, "Will you support Bonaparte? No, you +neither can nor will. I have already had the honour to tell your Majesty +that we can have no choice but between Bonaparte and Louis XVIII.; +anything else would be an intrigue, and no intrigue can have power to +support him who may be its object. Bernadotte, Eugene, the Regency, all +those propositions result from intrigues. In present circumstances +nothing but a new principle is sufficiently strong to establish the new +order of things which must be adopted. Louis XVIII. is a principle." + +None of the members of the Provisional Government were present at this +conference, for no one was willing to appear to influence in any way the +determination of the chief of the coalition upon the subject of this +important mission. General Dessolles alone, in quality of commander of +the National Guard of Paris, was requested to be present. At length the +Marshals entered the salon where we were, and their appearance created a +sensation which it is impossible to describe; but the expression of +dissatisfaction which we thought we remarked in their countenances +restored the hopes of those who for some hours had been a prey to +apprehensions. Macdonald, with his head elevated, and evidently under +the influence of strong irritation, approached Beurnonville, and thus +addressed him, in answer to a question which the latter had put to him. +"Speak not to me, sir; I have nothing to say to you. You have made me +forget a friendship of thirty years!" Then turning to Dupont, "As for +you, sir," he continued in the same tone, "your conduct towards the +Emperor is not generous. I confess that he has treated you with +severity, perhaps he may even have been unjust to you with respect to the +affair of Baylen, but how long has it been the practice to avenge a +personal wrong at the expense of one's country?" + +These remarks were made with such warmth, and in so elevated a tone of +voice, that Caulaincourt thought it necessary to interfere, and said, +"Do not forget, gentlemen, that this is the residence of the Emperor of +Russia." At this moment M. de Talleyrand returned from the interview +with the Emperor which he had had after the departure of the Marshals, +and approaching the group formed round Macdonald, "Gentlemen," said he, +"if you wish to dispute and discuss, step down to my apartments."-- +"That would be useless," replied Macdonald; "my comrades and I do not +acknowledge the Provisional Government." The three Marshals, Ney, +Macdonald, and Marmont, then immediately retired with Caulaincourt, and +went to Ney's hotel, there to await the answer which the Emperor +Alexander had promised to give them after consulting the King of Prussia. + +Such was this night-scene; which possessed more dramatic effect than many +which are performed on the stage. In it all was real: on its denouement +depended the political state of France, and the existence of all those +who had already declared themselves in favour of the Bourbons. It is a +remarkable fact, and one which affords a striking lesson to men who are +tempted to sacrifice themselves for any political cause, that most of +those who then demanded the restoration of the Bourbons at the peril of +their lives have successively fallen into disgrace. + +When the Marshals and Caulaincourt had retired we were all anxious to +know what had passed between them and the Emperor of Russia. I learned +from Dessolles, who, as I have stated, was present at the conference in +his rank of commander of the National Guard of Paris, that the Marshals +were unanimous in urging Alexander to accede to a Regency. Macdonald +especially supported that proposition with much warmth; and among the +observations he made I recollect Dessolles mentioned the following:-- +"I am not authorised to treat in any way for the fate reserved for the +Emperor. We have full powers to treat for the Regency, the army, and +France; but the Emperor has positively forbidden us to specify anything +personally regarding himself." Alexander merely replied, "That does not +astonish me." The Marshals then, resuming the conversation, dwelt much +on the respect which was due to the military glory of France. They +strongly manifested their disinclination to abandon the family of a man +who had so often led them to victory; and lastly, they reminded the +Emperor Alexander of his own declaration, in which he proclaimed, in his +own name as well as on the part of his Allies, that it was not their +intention to impose on France any government whatever. + +Dessolles, who had all along declared himself in favour of the Bourbons, +in his turn entered into the discussion with as much warmth as the +partisans of the Regency. He represented to Alexander how many persons +would be compromised for merely having acted or declared their opinions +behind the shield of his promises. He repeated what Alexander had +already been told, that the Regency would, in fact, be nothing but +Bonaparte in disguise. However, Dessolles acknowledged that such was the +effect of Marshal Macdonald's powerful and persuasive eloquence that +Alexander seemed to waver; and, unwilling to give the Marshals a positive +refusal, he had recourse to a subterfuge, by which he would be enabled to +execute the design he had irrevocably formed without seeming to take on +himself alone the responsibility of a change of government. Dessolles +accordingly informed us that Alexander at last gave the following answer +to the Marshals: "Gentlemen, I am not alone; in an affair of such +importance I must consult the King of Prussia, for I have promised to do +nothing without consulting him. In a few hours you shall know my +decision." It was this decision which the Marshals went to wait for at +Ney's. + +Most of the members of the Provisional Government attributed the evasive +reply of the Emperor Alexander to the influence of the speech of +Dessolles. For my part, while I do justice to the manner in which he +declared himself on this important occasion, I do not ascribe to his +eloquence the power of fixing Alexander's resolution, for I well know by +experience how easy it is to make princes appear to adopt the advice of +any one when the counsel given is precisely that which they wish to +follow. From the sentiments of Alexander at this time I had not the +slightest doubt as to the course he would finally pursue, and I +considered what he said about consulting the King of Prussia to be merely +a polite excuse, by which he avoided the disagreeable task of giving the +Marshals a direct refusal. + +I therefore returned home quite satisfied as to the result of the Emperor +Alexander's visit to the King of Prussia. I knew, from the persons about +the Czar, that he cherished a hatred, which was but too well justified, +towards Bonaparte. Frederick William is of too firm a character to have +yielded to any of the considerations which might on this subject have +been pressed on him as they had been on the Emperor of Russia. But, +besides that the King of Prussia had legitimate reasons for disliking +Napoleon, policy would at that time have required that he should appear +to be his enemy, for to do so was to render himself popular with his +subjects. But the King of Prussia did not need to act under the dictates +of policy; he followed his own opinion in rejecting the propositions of +the Marshals, which he did without hesitation, and with much energy. + +While the Marshals had gone to Paris Bonaparte was anxious to ascertain +whether his Commissioners had passed the advanced posts of the foreign +armies, and in case of resistance he determined to march on Paris, for he +could not believe that he had lost every chance. He sent an aide de camp +to desire Marmont to come immediately to Fontainebleau: such was +Napoleon's impatience that instead of waiting for the return of his aide +de camp he sent off a second and then a third officer on the same errand. +This rapid succession of envoys from the Emperor alarmed the general who +commanded the different divisions of Marmont's corps at Essonne. They +feared that the Emperor was aware of the Convention concluded that +morning with Prince Schwartzenberg, and that he had sent for Marmont with +the view of reprimanding him. The fact was, Napoleon knew nothing of the +matter, for Marmont, on departing for Paris with Macdonald and Ney, had +left orders that it should be said that he had gone to inspect his lines. +Souham; Lebrun des Essarts, and Bordessoulle, who had given their assent +to the Convention with Prince Schwartzenberg, deliberated in the absence +of Marmont, and, perhaps being ignorant that he was released from his +promise, and fearing the vengeance of Napoleon, they determined to march +upon Versailles. On arriving there the troops not finding the Marshal at +their head thought themselves betrayed, and a spirit of insurrection +broke out among them. One of Marmont's aides de camp, whom he had left +at Essonne, exerted every endeavour to prevent the departure of his +general's corps, but, finding all his efforts unavailing, he hastened to +Paris to inform the Marshal of what had happened. 'When Marmont received +this news he was breakfasting at Ney's with Macdonald and Caulaincourt: +they were waiting for the answer which the Emperor Alexander had promised +to send them. The march of his corps on Versailles threw Marmont into +despair. He said to the Marshals, "I must be off to join my corps and +quell this mutiny;" and without losing a moment he ordered his carriage +and directed the coachman to drive with the utmost speed. He sent +forward one of his aides de camp to inform the troops of his approach. + +Having arrived within a hundred paces of the place where his troops were +assembled he found the generals who were under his orders advancing to +meet him. They urged him not to go farther, as the men were in open +insurrection. "I will go into the midst of them," said Marmont. "In a +moment they shall either kill me or acknowledge me as their chief:" He +sent off another aide de camp to range the troops in the order of battle. +Then, alighting from the carriage and mounting a horse, he advanced +alone, and thus harangued his troops: "How! Is there treason here? Is +it possible that you disown me? Am I not your comrade? Have I not been +wounded twenty times among you? . . . Have I not shared your fatigues +and privations? And am I not ready to do so again?" Here Marmont was +interrupted by a general shout of "Vive le Marechal! Vive le Marechal!" + +The alarm caused among the members of the Provisional Government by the +mission of the Marshals was increased by the news of the mutiny of +Marmont's troops. During the whole of the day we were in a state of +tormenting anxiety. It was feared that the insurrectionary spirit might +spread among other corps of the army, and the cause of France again be +endangered. But the courage of Marmont saved everything: It would be +impossible to convey any idea of the manner in which he was received by +us at Talleyrand's when he related the particulars of what had occurred +at Versailles. + +On the evening of the day on which Marmont had acted so nobly it was +proposed that the army should adopt the white cockade. In reply to this +proposition the Marshal said, "Gentlemen, I have made my troops +understand the necessity of serving France before all things. They have, +consequently, returned to order, and I can now answer for them. But what +I cannot answer for is to induce them to abandon the colours which have +led them to victory for the last twenty years. Therefore do not count +upon me for a thing which I consider to be totally hostile to the +interests of France. I will speak to the Emperor Alexander on the +subject." Such were Marmont's words. Every one appeared to concur in +his opinion, and the discussion terminated. For my own part, I find by +my notes that I declared myself strongly in favour of Marmont's +proposition. + +The Marshal's opinion having been adopted, at least provisionally, an +article was prepared for the Moniteur in nearly the following terms: + + The white cockade has been, during the last four days, a badge for + the manifestation of public opinion in favour of the overthrow of an + oppressive Government: it has been the only means of distinguishing + the partisans of the restoration of the old dynasty, to which at + length we are to be indebted for repose. But as the late Government + is at an end, all colours differing from our national colours are + useless: let us, therefore, resume those which have so often led us + to victory. + +Such was the spirit of the article, though possibly the above copy may +differ in a few words. It met with the unqualified approbation of every +one present. I was therefore extremely surprised, on looking at the +'Moniteur' next day, to find that the article was not inserted. I knew +not what courtly interference prevented the appearance of the article, +but I remember that Marmont was very ill pleased at its omission. He +complained on the subject to the Emperor Alexander, who promised to +write, and in fact did write, to the Provisional Government to get the +article inserted. However, it did not appear, and in a few days we +obtained a solution of the enigma, as we might perhaps have done before +if we had tried. The Emperor Alexander also promised to write to the +Comte d'Artois, and to inform him that the opinion of France was in +favour of the preservation of the three colours, but I do not know +whether the letter was written, or, if it was, what answer it received. + +Marshal Jourdan, who was then at Rouen, received a letter, written +without the knowledge of Marmont, informing him that the latter had +mounted the white cockade in his corps. Jourdan thought he could not do +otherwise than follow Marmont's example, and he announced to the +Provisional Government that in consequence of the resolution of the Duke +of Ragusa he had just ordered his corps to wear the white cockade. +Marmont could now be boldly faced, and when he complained to the +Provisional Government of the non-insertion of the article in the +Moniteur the reply was, "It cannot now appear. You see Marshal Jourdan +has mounted the white cockade: you would not give the army two sets of +colours!" + +Marmont could make no answer to so positive a fact. It was not till some +time after that I learned Jourdan had determined to unfurl the white flag +only on the positive assurance that Marmont had already done so. Thus we +lost the colours which had been worn by Louis XVI., which Louis XVIII., +when a Prince, had adopted, and in which the Comte d'Artois showed +himself on his return to the Parisians, for he entered the capital in the +uniform of the National Guard. The fraud played off by some members of +the Provisional Government was attended by fatal consequences; many evils +might have been spared to France had Marmont's advice been adopted. + +At the period of the dissolution of the Empire there might be said to be +three Governments in France, viz. the Provisional Government in Paris, +Napoleon's at Fontainebleau, and the doubtful and ambulatory Regency of +"Maria Louisa." Doubtful and ambulatory the Regency might well be called, +for there was so little decision as to the course to be adopted by the +Empress that it was at first proposed to conduct her to Orleans, then to +Tours, and she went finally to Blois. The uncertainty which prevailed +respecting the destiny of Maria Louisa is proved by a document which I +have in my possession, and of which there cannot be many copies in +existence. It is a circular addressed to the prefects by M. de +Montalivet, the Minister of the Interior, who accompanied the Empress. +In it a blank is left for the seat of the Government, to which the +prefects are desired to send their communications. In the copy I possess +the blank is filled up with the word "Blois" in manuscript. + +As soon as Maria Louisa was made acquainted with the events that had +taken place around Paris she sent for the Duc de Cadore, and gave him a +letter addressed to the Emperor of Austria, saying, "Take this to my +father, who must be at Dijon. I rely on you for defending the interests +of France, those of the Emperor, and above all those of my son." +Certainly Maria Louisa's confidence could not be better placed, and those +great interests would have been defended by the Duc de Cadore 'si defendi +possent.' + +After the departure of the Due de Cadore Maria Louisa published the +following proclamation, addressed to the French people: + + BY THE EMPRESS REGENT. + + A Proclamation + + The events of the war have placed the capital in the power of + foreigners. The Emperor has marched to defend it at the head of his + armies, so often victorious. They are face to face with the enemy + before the walls of Paris. From the residence which I have chosen, + and from the Ministers of the Emperor, will emanate the only orders + which you can acknowledge. Every town in the power of foreigners + ceases to be free, and every order which may proceed from them is + the language of the enemy, or that which it suits his hostile views + to propagate. You will be faithful to your oaths. You will listen + to the voice of a Princess who was consigned to your good faith, and + whose highest pride consists in being s Frenchwoman, and in being + united to the destiny of the sovereign whom you have freely chosen. + My son was less sure of your affections in the time of our + prosperity; his rights and his person are under your safeguard. + + (By order) MONTALIVET. (Signed) MARIA LOUISA + BLOIS, 3d April 1814. + + +It is to be inferred that the Regency had within three days adopted the +resolution of not quitting Blois, for the above document presents no +blanks, nor words filled up in writing. The Empress' proclamation, +though a powerful appeal to the feelings of the French people, produced +no effect. Maria Louisa's proclamation was dated the 4th of April, on +the evening of which day Napoleon signed the conditional abdication, with +the fate of which the reader has already been made acquainted. M. de +Montalivet transmitted the Empress' proclamation, accompanied by another +circular, to the prefects, of whom very few received it. + +M. de Champagny, having left Blois with the letter he had received from +the Empress, proceeded to the headquarters of the Emperor of Austria, +carefully avoiding those roads which were occupied by Cossack troops. +He arrived, not without considerable difficulty, at Chanseaux, where +Frances II. was expected. When the Emperor arrived the Duc de Cadore +was announced, and immediately introduced to his Majesty. The Duke +remained some hours with Francis II., without being able to obtain from +him anything but fair protestations. The Emperor always took refuge +behind the promise he had given to his Allies to approve whatever +measures they might adopt. The Duke was not to leave the Emperor's +headquarters that evening, and, in the hope that his Majesty might yet +reflect on the critical situation of his daughter, he asked permission to +take leave next morning. He accordingly presented himself to the +Emperor's levee, when he renewed his efforts in support of the claims of +Maria Louisa. "I have a great affection for my daughter, and also for my +son-in law," said the Emperor. "I bear them both in my heart, and would +shed my blood for them"--"Ah, Sire!" exclaimed M. de Champagny, "such a +sacrifice is not necessary."--"Yes, Duke, I say again I would shed my +blood, I would resign my life for them, but I have given my Allies a +promise not to treat without them, and to approve all that they may do. +Besides," added the Emperor, "my Minister, M. de Metternich, has gone to +their headquarters, and I will ratify whatever he may sign." + +When the Duc de Cadore related to me the particulars of his mission, in +which zeal could not work an impossibility, I remarked that he regarded +as a circumstance fatal to Napoleon the absence of M. de Metternich and +the presence of M. Stadion at the headquarters of the Emperor of Austria. +Though in all probability nothing could have arrested the course of +events, yet it is certain that the personal sentiments of the two +Austrian Ministers towards Napoleon were widely different. I am not +going too far when I affirm that, policy apart, M. de Metternich was much +attached to Napoleon. In support of this assertion I may quote a fact of +which I can guarantee the authenticity: + +When M. de Metternich was complimented on the occasion of Maria Louisa's +marriage he replied, "To have contributed to a measure which has received +the approbation of 80,000,000 men is indeed a just subject of +congratulation." Such a remark openly made by the intelligent Minister +of the Cabinet of Vienna was well calculated to gratify the ears of +Napoleon, from whom, however, M. de Metternich in his personal relations +did not conceal the truth. I recollect a reply which was made by M. de +Metternich at Dresden after a little hesitation. "As to you," said the +Emperor, "you will not go to war with me. It is impossible that you can +declare yourself against me. That can never be."--" Sire, we are not now +quite allies, and some time hence we may become enemies." This hint was +the last which Napoleon received from Metternich, and Napoleon must have +been blind indeed not to have profited by it. As to M. Stadion, he +entertained a profound dislike of the Emperor. That Minister knew and +could not forget that his preceding exclusion from the Cabinet of Vienna +had been due to the all-powerful influence of Napoleon. + +Whether or not the absence of Metternich influenced the resolution of +Francis II., it is certain that that monarch yielded nothing to the +urgent solicitations of a Minister who conscientiously fulfilled the +delicate mission consigned to him. M. de Champagny rejoined the Empress +at Orleans, whither she had repaired on leaving Blois. He found Maria +Louisa almost deserted, all the Grand Dignitaries of the Empire having +successively returned to Paris after sending in their submissions to the +Provisional Government. + +I had scarcely entered upon the exercise of my functions as Postmaster- +General when, on the morning of the 2d of April, I was surprised to see a +Prussian general officer enter my cabinet. I immediately recognised him +as General Blucher. He had commanded the Prussian army in the battle +which took place at the gates of Paris. "Sir," said he, "I consider it +one of my first duties on entering Paris to thank you for the attention I +received from you in Hamburg. I am sorry that I was not sooner aware of +your being in Pains. I assure you that had I been sooner informed of +this circumstance the capitulation should have been made without a blow +being struck. How much blood might then have been spared!"--"General," +said I, "on what do you ground this assurance?"--"If I had known that you +were in Paris I would have given you a letter to the King of Prussia. +That monarch, who knows the resources and intentions of the Allies, +would, I am sure, have authorised you to decide a suspension of arms +before the neighbourhood of Paris became the theatre of the war."-- +"But," resumed I, "in spite of the good intentions of the Allies, it +would have been very difficult to prevent resistance. French pride, +irritated as it was by reverses, would have opposed insurmountable +obstacles to such a measure."--"But, good heavens! you would have seen +that resistance could be of no avail against such immense masses."-- +"You are right, General; but French honour would have been defended to +the last."--"I am fully aware of that; but surely you have earned glory +enough!"--"Yet our French susceptibility would have made us look upon +that glory as tarnished if Paris had been occupied without defence ... +But under present circumstances I am well pleased that you were satisfied +with my conduct in Hamburg, for it induces me to hope that you will +observe the same moderation in Paris that I exercised there. The days +are past when it could be said, Woe to the conquered."--" You are right; +yet," added he, smiling, "you know we are called the northern +barbarians."--" Then, General," returned I, "you have a fair opportunity +of showing that that designation is a libel." + +Some days after Blucher's visit I had the honour of being admitted to a +private audience of the King of Prussia. Clarke and Berthier were also +received in this audience, which took place at the hotel of Prince +Eugene, where the King of Prussia resided in Paris. We waited for some +minutes in the salon, and when Frederick William entered from his cabinet +I remarked on his countenance an air of embarrassment and austerity which +convinced me that he had been studying his part, as great personages are +in the habit of doing on similar occasions. The King on entering the +salon first noticed Berthier, whom he addressed with much kindness, +bestowing praises on the French troops, and complimenting the Marshal on +his conduct during the war in Germany. Berthier returned thanks for +these well-merited praises, for though he was not remarkable for strength +of understanding or energy of mind, yet he was not a bad man, and I have +known many proofs of his good conduct in conquered countries. + +After saluting Berthier the King of Prussia turned towards Clarke, and +his countenance immediately assumed an expression of dissatisfaction. +He had evidently not forgotten Clarke's conduct in Berlin. He reminded +him that he had rendered the Continental system more odious than it was +in itself, and that he had shown no moderation in the execution of his +orders. "In short," said his Majesty, "if I have any advice to give you, +it is that you never again return to Prussia." The King pronounced these +words in so loud and decided a tone that Clarke was perfectly confounded. +He uttered some unintelligible observations, which, however, Frederick +William did not notice, for suddenly turning towards me he said, with an +air of affability, "Ah! M. de Bourrienne, I am glad to see you, and I +take this opportunity of repeating what I wrote to you from Gonigsberg. +You always extended protection to the Germans, and did all you could to +alleviate their condition. I learned with great satisfaction what you +did for the Prussians whom the fate of war drove into Hamburg; and I feel +pleasure in telling you, in the presence of these two gentlemen, that if +all the French agents had acted as you did we should not, probably, be +here." I expressed, by a profound bow, how much I was gratified by this +complimentary address, and the king, after saluting us, retired. + +About the middle of April Bernadotte arrived in Paris. His situation had +become equivocal, since circumstances had banished the hopes he might +have conceived in his interview with the Emperor Alexander at Abo. +Besides, he had been represented in some official pamphlets as a traitor +to France, and among certain worshippers of our injured glory there +prevailed a feeling of irritation, and which was unjustly directed +towards Bernadotte. + +I even remember that Napoleon, before he had fallen from his power, had a +sort of national protest made by the police against the Prince Royal of +Sweden. This Prince had reserved an hotel in the Rue d'Anjou, and the +words, "Down with the traitor! down with the perjurer," were shouted +there; but this had no result, as it was only considered an outrage +caused by a spirit of petty vengeance. + +While Bernadotte was in Paris I saw him every day. He but faintly +disguised from me the hope he had entertained of ruling France; and in +the numerous conversations to which our respective occupations led I +ascertained, though Bernadotte did not formally tell me so, that he once +had strong expectations of succeeding Napoleon. + +Pressed at last into his final intrenchments he broke through all reserve +and confirmed all I knew of the interview of Abo. + +I asked Bernadotte what he thought of the projects which were attributed +to Moreau; whether it was true that he had in him a competitor, and +whether Moreau had aspired to the dangerous honour of governing France: +"Those reports," replied the Prince Royal of Sweden, "are devoid of +foundation: at least I can assure you that in the conversations I have +had with the Emperor Alexander, that sovereign never said anything which +could warrant such a supposition. I know that the Emperor of Russia +wished to avail himself of the military talents of Moreau in the great +struggle that had commenced, and to enable the exiled general to return +to his country, in the hope that, should the war prove fortunate, he +would enjoy the honours and privileges due to his past services." + +Bernadotte expressed to me astonishment at the recall of the Bourbons, +and assured me that he had not expected the French people would so +readily have consented to the Restoration. I confess I was surprised +that Bernadotte, with the intelligence I knew him to possess, should +imagine that the will of subjects has any influence in changes of +government! + +During his stay in Paris Bernadotte evinced for me the same sentiments of +friendship which he had shown me at Hamburg. One day I received from him +a letter, dated Paris, with which he transmitted to me one of the crosses +of the Polar Star, which the King of Sweden had left at his disposal. +Bernadotte was not very well satisfied with his residence in Paris, in +spite of the friendship which the Emperor Alexander constantly manifested +towards him. After a few days he set out for Sweden, having first taken +leave of the Comte d'Artois. I did not see him after his farewell visit +to the Count, so that I know not what was the nature of the conversation +which passed between the two Princes. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Treaties of peace no less disastrous than the wars +Yield to illusion when the truth was not satisfactory + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1814, v12 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 13. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER I. to CHAPTER VI. 1814-1815 + + + +CHAPTER I. + +1814. + + Unalterable determination of the Allies with respect to Napoleon-- + Fontainebleau included in the limits to be occupied by the Allies-- + Alexander's departure from Paris--Napoleon informed of the necessity + of his unconditional abdication--Macdonald and Ney again sent to + Paris--Alleged attempt of Napoleon to poison himself--Farewell + interview between Macdonald and Napoleon--The sabre of Murad Bey-- + Signature of the act of unconditional abdication--Tranquillity of + Paris during the change of Government--Ukase of the Emperor of + Russia relative to the Post-office--Religious ceremony on the Place + Louis XV.--Arrival of the Comte d'Artois--His entrance into Paris-- + Arrival of the Emperor of Austria--Singular assemblage of sovereigns + in France--Visit of the Emperor of Austria to Maria Louisa--Her + interview with the Emperor Alexander--Her departure for Vienna. + +When Marmont left Paris on the receipt of the intelligence from Essonne, +Marshals Macdonald and Ney and the Duke of Vicenza waited upon the +Emperor Alexander to learn his resolution before he could have been +informed of the movement of Marmont's troops. I myself went during the +morning to the hotel of M. de Talleyrand, and it was there I learnt how +what we had hoped for had become fact: the matter was completely decided. +The Emperor Alexander had walked out at six in the morning to the +residence of the King of Prussia in the Rue de Bourbon. The two +sovereigns afterwards proceeded together to M. de Talleyrand's, where +they were when Napoleon's Commissioners arrived. The Commissioners being +introduced to the two sovereigns, the Emperor Alexander, in answer to +their proposition, replied that the Regency was impossible, as +submissions to the Provisional Government were pouring in from all parts, +and that if the army had formed contrary wishes those should have been +sooner made known. "Sire," observed Macdonald, "that--was--impossible, +as none of the Marshals were in Paris, and besides, who could foresee the +turn which affairs have taken? Could we imagine that an unfounded alarm +would have removed from Essonne the corps of the Duke of Ragusa, who has +this moment left us to bring his troops back to order?" These words +produced no change in the determination of the sovereigns, who would hear +of nothing but the unconditional abdication of Napoleon. Before the +Marshals took leave of the Emperor Alexander they solicited an armistice +of forty-eight hours, which time they said was indispensable to negotiate +the act of abdication with Napoleon. This request was granted without +hesitation, and the Emperor Alexander, showing Macdonald a map of the +environs of Paris, courteously presented him with a pencil, saying, +"Here, Marshal, mark yourself the limits to be observed by the two +armies."--"No, Sire," replied Macdonald, "we are the conquered party, and +it is for you to mark the line of demarcation." Alexander determined +that the right bank of the Seine should be occupied by the Allied troops, +and the left bank by the French; but it was observed that this +arrangement would be attended with inconvenience, as it would cut Paris +in two, and it was agreed that the line should turn Paris. I have been +informed that on a map sent to the Austrian staff to acquaint Prince +Schwartzenberg with the limits definitively agreed on, Fontainebleau, the +Emperor's headquarters, was by some artful means included within the +line. The Austrians acted so implicitly on this direction that Marshal +Macdonald was obliged to complain on the subject to Alexander, +who removed all obstacles. + +When, in discussing the question of the abdication conformably with the +instructions he had received, Macdonald observed to the Emperor Alexander +that Napoleon wished for nothing for himself, "Assure him," replied +Alexander, "that a provision shall be made for him worthy of the rank he +has occupied. Tell him that if he wishes to reside in my States he shall +be well received, though he brought desolation there. I shall always +remember the friendship which united us. He shall have the island of +Elba, or something else." After taking leave of the Emperor Alexander, on +the 5th of April, Napoleon's Commissioners returned to Fontainebleau to +render an account of their mission. I saw Alexander that same day, and +it appeared to me that his mind was relieved of a great weight by the +question of the Regency being brought to an end. I was informed that he +intended to quit Paris in a few days, and that he had given full powers +to M. Pozzo-di-Borgo, whom he appointed his Commissioner to the +Provisional Government. + +On the same day, the 5th of April, Napoleon inspected his troops in the +Palace yard of Fontainebleau. He observed some coolness among his +officers, and even among the private soldiers, who had evinced such +enthusiasm when he inspected them on the 2d of April. He was so much +affected by this change of conduct that he remained but a short time on +the parade, and afterwards retired to his apartments. + +About one o'clock on the morning of the 6th of April Ney, Macdonald, and +Caulaincourt arrived at Fontainebleau to acquaint the Emperor with the +issue of their mission, and the sentiments expressed by Alexander when +they took leave of him. Marshal Ney was the first to announce to +Napoleon that the Allies required his complete and unconditional +abdication, unaccompanied by any stipulation, except that of his personal +safety, which should be guaranteed. Marshal Macdonald and the Duke of +Vicenza then spoke to the same effect, but in more gentle terms than +those employed by Ney, who was but little versed in the courtesies of +speech. When Marshal Macdonald had finished speaking Napoleon said with +some emotion, "Marshal, I am sensible of all that you have done for me, +and of the warmth with which you have pleaded the cause of my son. They +wish for my complete and unconditional abdication . . . . Very well. +I again empower you to act on my behalf. You shall go and defend my +interests and those of my family." Then, after a moment's pause, he +added, still addressing Macdonald, "Marshal, where shall I go?" +Macdonald then informed the Emperor what Alexander had mentioned in the +hypothesis of his wishing to reside in Russia. "Sire," added he, "the +Emperor of Russia told me that he destined for you the island of Elba, or +something else."--"Or something else!" repeated Napoleon hastily," and +what is that something else?"--"Sire, I know not."--"Ah! it is doubtless +the island of Corsica, and he refrained from mentioning it to avoid +embarrassment! Marshal, I leave all to you." + +The Marshals returned to Paris as soon as Napoleon furnished them with +new powers; Caulaincourt remained at Fontainebleau. On arriving in Paris +Marshal Ney sent in his adhesion to the Provisional Government, so that +when Macdonald returned to Fontainebleau to convey to Napoleon the +definitive treaty of the Allies, Ney did not accompany him, and the +Emperor expressed surprise and dissatisfaction at his absence. Ney, as +all his friends concur in admitting, expended his whole energy in battle, +and often wanted resolution when out of the field, consequently I was not +surprised to find that he joined us before some other of his comrades. +As to Macdonald, he was one of those generous spirits who may be most +confidently relied on by those who have wronged them. . Napoleon +experienced the truth of this. Macdonald returned alone to +Fontainebleau, and when he entered the Emperor's chamber he found him +seated in a small armchair before the fireplace. He was dressed in a +morning-gown of white dimity, and lie wore his slippers without +stockings. His elbows rested on his knees and his head was supported by +his hands. He was motionless, and seemed absorbed in profound +reflection. Only two persons were in the apartment, the Duke of Bassano; +who was at a little distance from the Emperor, and Caulaincourt, who was +near the fireplace. So profound was Napoleon's reverie that he did not +hear Macdonald enter, and the Duke of Vicenza was obliged to inform him +of the Marshal's presence. "Sire," said Caulaincourt, "the Duke of +Tarantum has brought for your signature the treaty which is to be +ratified to-morrow." The Emperor then, as if roused from a lethargic +slumber, turned to Macdonald, and merely said, "Ah, Marshal! so you are +here!" Napoleon's countenance was so altered that the Marshal, struck +with the change, said, as if it were involuntarily, "Is your Majesty +indisposed?"--"Yes," answered Napoleon, "I have passed a very bad night." + +The Emperor continued seated for a moment, then rising, he took the +treaty, read it without making any observation, signed it, and returned +it to the Marshal, saying; "I am not now rich enough to reward these last +services."--"Sire, interest never guided my conduct."--"I know that, and +I now see how I have been deceived respecting you. I also see the +designs of those who prejudiced me against you."--"Sire, I have already +told you, since 1809 I am devoted to you in life and death."--"I know it. +But since I cannot reward you as I would wish, let a token of +remembrance, inconsiderable though it be, assure you that I shall ever +bear in mind the services you have rendered me." Then turning to +Caulaincourt Napoleon said, "Vicenza, ask for the sabre which was given +me by Murad Bey in Egypt, and which I wore at the battle of Mount +Thabor." Constant having brought the sabre, the Emperor took it from the +hands of Caulaincourt and presented it to the Marshal "Here, my faithful +friend," said he, "is a reward which I believe will gratify you." +Macdonald on receiving the sabre said, "If ever I have a son, Sire, this +will be his most precious inheritance. I will never part with it as long +as I live."--" Give me your hand," said the Emperor, "and embrace me." +At these words Napoleon and Macdonald affectionately rushed into each +other's arms, and parted with tears in their eyes. Such was the last +interview between Macdonald and Napoleon. I had the above particulars +from the Marshal himself in 1814., a few days after he returned to Paris +with the treaty ratified by Napoleon. + +After the clauses of the treaty had been guaranteed Napoleon signed, on +the 11th of April, at Fontainebleau, his act of abdication, which was in +the following terms:-- + + "The Allied powers having proclaimed that the Emperor Napoleon is the + only obstacle to the re-establishment of peace in Europe, the + Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath, declares that he renounces + for himself and his heirs the thrones of France and Italy, and that + there is no personal sacrifice, even that of life, which he is not + ready to make for the interests of France." + +It was not until after Bonaparte had written and signed the above +act that Marshal Macdonald sent to the Provisional Government his +recognition, expressed in the following dignified and simple manner:-- + + "Being released from my allegiance by the abdication of the Emperor + Napoleon, I declare that I conform to the acts of the Senate and the + Provisional Government." + +It is worthy of remark that Napoleon's act of abdication was published in +the 'Moniteur' on the 12th of April, the very day on which the Comte +d'Artois made his entry into Paris with the title of Lieutenant-General +of the Kingdom conferred on him by Louis XVIII. The 12th of April was +also the day on which the Imperial army fought its last battle before +Toulouse, when the French troops, commanded by Soult, made Wellington +purchase so dearly his entrance into the south of France.--[The battle of +Toulouse was fought on the 10th not 12th April D.W.] + +Political revolutions are generally stormy, yet, during the great change +of 1814 Paris was perfectly tranquil, thanks to the excellent discipline +maintained by the commanders of the Allied armies, and thanks also to the +services of the National Guard of Paris, who every night patrolled the +streets. My duties as Director-General of the Post-office had of course +obliged me to resign my captain's epaulette. + +When I first obtained my appointment I had been somewhat alarmed to hear +that all the roads were covered with foreign troops, especially Cossacks, +who even in time of peace are very ready to capture any horses that may +fall in their way. On my application to the Emperor Alexander his +Majesty immediately issued a ukase, severely prohibiting the seizure of +horses or anything belonging to the Post-office department. The ukase +was printed by order of the Czar, and filed up at all the poet-offices, +and it will be seen that after the 20th of March, when I was placed in an +embarrassing situation, one of the postmasters on the Lille road +expressed to me his gratitude for my conduct while I was in the service. + +On the 10th of April a ceremony took place in Paris which has been much +spoken of; and which must have had a very imposing effect on those who +allow themselves to be dazzled by mere spectacle. Early in the morning +some regiments of the Allied troops occupied the north side of the +Boulevard, from the site of the old Bastille to the Place Louis XV., in +the middle of which an altar of square form was erected. Thither the +Allied sovereigns came to witness the celebration of mass according to +the rites of the Greek Church. I went to a window of the hotel of the +Minister of the Marine to see the ceremony. After I had waited from +eight in the morning till near twelve the pageant commenced by the +arrival of half a dozen Greek priests, with long beards, and as richly +dressed as the high priests who figure in the processions of the opera. +About three-quarters of an hour after this first scene the infantry, +followed by the cavalry, entered the place, which, in a few moments was +entirely covered with military. The Allied sovereigns at length +appeared, attended by brilliant staffs. They alighted from their horses +and advanced to the altar. What appeared to me most remarkable was the +profound silence of the vast multitude during the performance of the +mass. The whole spectacle had the effect of a finely-painted panorama. +For my own part, I must confess I was heartily tired of the ceremony, and +was very glad when it was over. I could not admire the foreign uniforms, +which were very inferior to ours. Many of them appeared fanciful, and +even grotesque, and nothing can be more unsoldier-like than to see a man +laced in stays till his figure resembles a wasp. The ceremony which took +place two days after, though less pompous, was much more French. In the +retinue which, on the 12th of April, momentarily increased round the +Comte d'Artos, there were at least recollections for the old, and hopes +for every one. + +When, on the departure of the Commissioners whom Napoleon had sent to +Alexander to treat for the Regency, it was finally determined that the +Allied sovereigns would listen to no proposition from Napoleon and his +family, the Provisional Government thought it time to request that +Monsieur would, by his presence, give a new impulse to the partisans of +the Bourbons. The Abby de Montesquiou wrote to the Prince a letter, +which was carried to him by Viscount Sosthenes de la Rochefoucauld, one +of the individuals who, in these difficult circumstances, most zealously +served the cause of the Bourbons. On the afternoon of the 11th Monsieur +arrived at a country-house belonging to Madame Charles de Dames, where he +passed the night. The news of his arrival spread through Paris with the +rapidity of lightning, and every one wished to solemnise his entrance +into the capital. The National Guard formed a double line from the +barrier of Bondy to Notre Dame, whither the Prince was first to proceed, +in observance of an old custom, which, however, had become very rare in +France during the last twenty years. + +M. de Talleyrand, accompanied by the members of the Provisional +Government, several Marshals and general officers, and the municipal +body, headed by the prefect of the Seine, went in procession beyond the +barrier to receive Monsieur. M. de Talleyrand, in the name of the +Provisional Government, addressed the Prince, who in reply made that +observation which has been so often repeated, "Nothing is changed in +France: there is only one Frenchman more." + + --[These words were never really uttered by the Comte d'Artois, and + we can in this case follow the manufacture of the phrase. The reply + actually made to Talleyrand was, "Sir, and gentlemen, I thank you; I + am too happy. Let us get on; I am too happy." When the day's work + was done, "Let us see," said Talleyrand; "what did Monsieur say? I + did not hear much: be seemed much moved, and desirous of hastening + on, but if what he did say will not suit you (Beugnot), make an + answer for him, . . and I can answer that Monsieur will accept it, + and that so thoroughly that by the end of a couple of days he will + believe he made it, and he will have made it: you will count for + nothing." After repeated attempts, rejected by Talleyraud, Beugnot + at last produced, "No more divisions. Peace and France! At last I + see her once more, and nothing in her is changed, except that here + is one more Frenchman." At last the great critic (Talleyrand) said, + "This time I yield; that is realty Monsieur's speech, and I will + answer for you that he is the man who made it." Monsieur did not + disdain to refer to it in his replies, end the prophecy of M. de + Talleyrand was completely realised (Beugnot, vol. ii, p. 119)]-- + +This remark promised much. The Comte Artois next proceeded on horseback +to the barrier St. Martin. I mingled in the crowd to see the procession +and to observe the sentiments of the spectators. Near me stood an old +knight of St. Louis, who had resumed the insignia of the order, and who +wept for joy at again seeing one of the Bourbons. The procession soon +arrived, preceded by a band playing the air, "Vive Henri Quatre!" I had +never before seen Monsieur, and his appearance had a most pleasing effect +upon me. His open countenance bore the expression of that confidence +which his presence inspired in all who saw him. His staff was very +brilliant, considering it was got together without preparation. The +Prince wore the uniform of the National Guard, with the insignia of the +Order of the Holy Ghost. + +I must candidly state that where I saw Monsieur pass, enthusiasm was +chiefly confined to his own retinue, and to persons who appeared to +belong to a superior class of society. The lower order of people seemed +to be animated by curiosity and astonishment rather than any other +feeling. I must add that it was not without painful surprise I saw a +squadron of Cossacks close the procession; and my surprise was the +greater when I learned from General Sacken that the Emperor Alexander had +wished that on that day the one Frenchman more should be surrounded +only by Frenchmen, and that to prove that the presence of the Bourbons +was the signal of reconciliation his Majesty had ordered 20,000 of the +Allied troops to quit Paris. I know not to what the presence of the +Cossacks is to be attributed, but it was an awkward circumstance at the +time, and one which malevolence did not fail to seize upon. + +Two days only intervened between Monsieur's entrance into Paris and the +arrival of the Emperor of Austria. That monarch was not popular among +the Parisians. The line of conduct he had adopted was almost generally +condemned, for, even among those who lead most ardently wished for the +dethronement of his daughter, through their aversion to the Bonaparte +family, there were many who blamed the Emperor of Austria's behaviour to +Maria Louisa: they would have wished that, for the honour of Francis II., +he had unsuccessfully opposed the downfall of the dynasty, whose alliance +he considered as a safeguard in 1809. This was the opinion which the +mass of the people instinctively formed, for they judged of the Emperor +of Austria in his character of a father and not in his character of a +monarch; and as the rights of misfortune are always sacred in France, +more interest was felt for Maria Louisa when she was known to be forsaken +than when she was in the height of her splendour. Francis II. had not +seen his daughter since the day when she left Vienna to unite her destiny +with that of the master of half of Europe, and I have already stated how +he received the mission with which Maria Louisa entrusted the Duc de +Cadore. + +I was then too intent on what was passing in Paris and at Fontainebleau +to observe with equal interest all the circumstances connected with the +fate of Maria Louisa, but I will present to the reader all the +information I was able to collect respecting that Princess during the +period immediately preceding her departure from France. She constantly +assured the persons about her that she could rely on her father. The +following words, which were faithfully reported to me, were addressed by +her to an officer who was at Blois during the mission of M. de Champagny. +"Even though it should be the intention of the Allied sovereigns to +dethrone the Emperor Napoleon, my father will not suffer it. When he +placed me on the throne of France he repeated to me twenty times his +determination to uphold me on it; and my father is an honest man." I also +know that the Empress, both at Blois and at Orleans, expressed her regret +at not having followed the advice of the members of the Regency, who +wished her to stay in Paris. + +On leaving Orleans Maria Louisa proceeded to Rambouillet; and it was not +one of the least extraordinary circumstances of that eventful period to +see the sovereigns of Europe, the dethroned sovereigns of France, and +those who had come to resume the sceptre, all crowded together within a +circle of fifteen leagues round the capital. There was a Bourbon at the +Tuileries, Bonaparte at Fontainebleau, his wife and son at Rambouillet, +the repudiated Empress at Malmaison three leagues distant, and the +Emperors of Russia and Austria and the King of Prussia in Paris. + +When all her hopes had vanished Maria Louisa left Rambouillet to return +to Austria with her son. She did not obtain permission to see Napoleon +before her departure, though she had frequently expressed a wish to that +effect. Napoleon himself was aware of the embarrassment which might have +attended such a farewell, or otherwise he would no doubt have made a +parting interview with Maria Louisa one of the clauses of the treaty of +Paris and Fontainebleau, and of his definitive act of abdication. I was +informed at the time that the reason which prevented Maria Louisa's wish +from being acceded to was the fear that, by one of those sudden impulses +common to women, she might have determined to unite herself to Napoleon's +fallen fortune, and accompany him to Elba; and the Emperor of Austria +wished to have his daughter back again. + +Things had arrived at this point, and there was no possibility of +retracting from any of the decisions which had been formed when the +Emperor of Austria went to see his daughter at Rambouillet. I recollect +it was thought extraordinary at the time that the Emperor Alexander +should accompany him on this visit; and, indeed, the sight of the +sovereign, who was regarded as the head and arbiter of the coalition, +could not be agreeable to the dethroned Empress. + + --[ Meneval (tome ii. p. 112), then with Maria Louisa as Secretary, + who gives some details of her interview with the Emperor Francis on + the 16th of April, says nothing about the Czar having been there; a + fact he would have been sure to have remarked upon. It was only on + the 19th of April that Alexander visited her, the King of Prussia + coming in his turn on the 22d; but Bourrienne is right in saying + that Maria Louisa complained bitterly of having to receive + Alexander, and considered that she was forced by her father to do + so. The poor little King of Rome, then only three years old, had + also to be seen by the monarchs. He was not taken with his + grandfather, remarking that he was not handsome. Maria Louisa + seems, according to Meneval, to have been at this time really + anxious to join Napoleon (Meneval, tome ii. p. 94). She left + Rambouillet on the 28d of April stopped one day at Grossbois, + receiving there her father and Berthier, and taking farewell of + several persons who came from Paris for that purpose. On the 25th + of April she started for Vienna, and later for Parma, which state + she received under the treaty of 1814 and 1815. She yielded to the + influence brought to bear on her, became estranged from Napoleon, + and eventually married her chamberlain, the Comte de Neipperg, an + Austrian general.]-- + +The two Emperors set off from Paris shortly after each other. The +Emperor of Austria arrived first at Rambouillet, where he was received +with respect and affection by his daughter. Maria Louisa was happy to +see him, but the many tears she shed were not all tears of joy. After +the first effusion of filial affection she complained of the situation to +which she was reduced. Her father sympathised with her, but could offer +her no consolution, since her misfortunes were irreparable. Alexander +was expected to arrive immediately, and the Emperor of Austria therefore +informed his daughter that the Russian monarch wished to see her. At +first Maria Louisa decidedly refused to receive him, and she persisted +for some time in this resolution. She said to her father, "Would he too +make me a prisoner before your eyes? If he enters here by force I will +retire to my chamber. There, I presume, he will not dare to follow me +while you are here." But there was no time to be lost; Francis II. +heard the equipage of the Emperor of Russia rolling through the courtyard +of Rambouillet, and his entreaties to his daughter became more and more +urgent. At length she yielded, and the Emperor of Austria went himself +to meet his ally and conduct him to the salon where Maria Louisa +remained, in deference to her father. She did not, however, carry her +deference so far as to give a favourable reception to him whom she +regarded as the author of all her misfortunes. She listened with +considerable coldness to the offers and protestations of Alexander, and +merely replied that all she wished for was the liberty of returning to +her family. A few days after this painful interview Maria Louisa and her +son set off for Vienna. + + --[A few days after this visit Alexander paid his respects to + Bonaparte's other wife, Josephine. In this great breaking up of + empires and kingdoms the unfortunate Josephine, who had been + suffering agonies on account of the husband who had abandoned her, + was not forgotten. One of the first things the Emperor of Russia + did on arriving at Paris was to despatch a guard for the protection + of her beautiful little palace at Malmaison. The Allied sovereigns + treated her with delicacy and consideration. + + "As soon as the Emperor Alexander knew that the Empress Josephine + had arrived at Malmaison he hastened to pay her a visit. It is not + possible to be more amiable than he was to her. When in the course + of conversation he spoke of the occupation of Paris by the Allies, + and of the position of the Emperor Napoleon, it was always in + perfectly measured language: he never forgot for a single instant + that be was speaking before one who had been the wife of his + vanquished enemy. On her side the ex-Empress did not conceal the + tender sentiments, the lively affection she still entertained for + Napoleon . . . . Alexander had certainly something elevated and + magnanimous in his character, which would not permit him to say a + single word capable of insulting misfortune; the Empress had only + one prayer to make to him, and that was for her children."]-- + +This visit was soon followed by those of the other Allied Princes. + + "The King of Prussia and the Princes, his sons, came rather + frequently to pay their court to Josephine; they even dined with her + several times at Malmaison; but the Emperor Alexander come much more + frequently. The Queen Hortense was always with her mother when she + received the sovereigns, and assisted her in doing the honours of + the house. The illustrious strangers exceedingly admired Malmaison, + which seemed to them a charming residence. They were particularly + struck with the fine gardens and conservatories." + + From this moment, however, Josephine's health rapidly declined, and + she did not live to see Napoleon's return from Elba. She often said + to her attendant, "I do not know what is the matter with me, but at + times I have fits of melancholy enough to kill me." But on the very + brink of the grave she retained all her amiability, all her love of + dress, and the graces and resources of a drawing-room society. The + immediate cause of her death was a bad cold she caught in taking a + drive in the park of Malmaison on a damp cold day. She expired on + the noon of Sunday, the 26th of May, in the fifty-third year of her + age. Her body was embalmed, and on the sixth day after her death + deposited in a vault in the church of Ruel, close to Malmaison. The + funeral ceremonies were magnificent, but a better tribute to the + memory of Josephine was to be found is the tears with which her + children, her servants, the neighbouring poor, and all that knew her + followed her to the grave. In 1826 a beautiful monument was erected + over her remains by Eugene Beauharnais and his sisters with this + simple inscription: + + TO JOSEPHINE. + + EUGENE. HORTENSE. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +1814. + + Italy and Eugene--Siege of Dantzic-Capitulation concluded but not + ratified-Rapp made prisoner and sent to Kiow--Davoust's refusal to + believe the intelligence from Paris--Projected assassination of one + of the French Princes--Departure of Davoust and General Hogendorff + from Hamburg--The affair of Manbreuil--Arrival of the Commissioners + of the Allied powers at Fontainebleau--Preference shown by Napoleon + to Colonel Campbell--Bonaparte's address to General Kohler--His + farewell to his troops--First day of Napoleon's journey--The + Imperial Guard succeeded by the Cossacks--Interview with Augerean-- + The first white cockades--Napoleon hanged in effigy at Orgon--His + escape in the disguise of a courier--Scene in the inn of La Calade-- + Arrival at Aix--The Princess Pauline--Napoleon embarks for Elba--His + life at Elba. + +I must now direct the attention of the reader to Italy, which was the +cradle of Napoleon's glory, and towards which he transported himself in +imagination from the Palace of Fontainebleau. Eugene had succeeded in +keeping up his means of defence until April, but on the 7th of that +month, being positively informed of the overwhelming reverses of France, +he found himself constrained to accede to the propositions of the Marshal +de Bellegarde to treat for the evacuation of Italy; and on the 10th a +convention was concluded, in which it was stipulated that the French +troops, under the command of Eugene, should return within the limits of +old France. The clauses of this convention were executed on the 19th of +April. + + --[Lord William Bentinck and Sir Edward Pellew had taken Genoa on + the 18th Of April. Murat was in the field with the Austrians + against the French.]-- + +Eugene, thinking that the Senate of Milan was favourably disposed towards +him, solicited that body to use its influence in obtaining the consent of +the Allied powers to his continuance at the head of the Government of +Italy; but this proposition was rejected by the Senate. A feeling of +irritation pervaded the public mind in Italy, and the army had not +proceeded three marches beyond Mantua when an insurrection broke out in +Milan. The Finance Minister, Pizna, was assassinated, and his residence +demolished, and nothing would have saved the Viceroy from a similar fate +had he been in his capital. Amidst this popular excitement, and the +eagerness of the Italians to be released from the dominion of the French, +the friends of Eugene thought him fortunate in being able to join his +father-in-law at Munich almost incognito. + + --[Some time after Eugene visited France and had a long audience of + Louis XVIII. He announced himself to that monarch by his father's + title of Marquis de Beauharnais. The King immediately saluted him + by the title of Monsieur le Marechal, and proposed that he should + reside in France with that rank. But this invitation Eugene + declined, because as a French Prince under the fallen Government he + had commanded the Marshals, and he therefore could not submit to be + the last in rank among those illustrious military chiefs. + Bourrienne.]-- + +Thus, at the expiration of nine years, fell the iron crown which Napoleon +had placed on his head saying, "Dieu me l'a donne; gare a qui la touche." + +I will now take a glance at the affairs of Germany. Rapp was not in +France at the period of the fall of the Empire. He had, with +extraordinary courage and skill, defended himself against a year's siege +at Dantzic. At length, being reduced to the last extremity, and +constrained to surrender, he opened the gates of the city, which +presented nothing but heaps of ruins. Rapp had stipulated that the +garrison of Dantzic should return to France, and the Duke of Wurtemberg, +who commanded the siege, had consented to that condition; but the Emperor +of Russia having refused to ratify it, Rapp, having no means of defence, +was made prisoner with his troops; and conducted to Kiow, whence he +afterwards returned to Paris, where I saw him. + +Hamburg still held out, but at the beginning of April intelligence was +received there of the extraordinary events which had delivered Europe +from her oppressor. Davoust refused to believe this news, which at once +annihilated all his hopes of power and greatness. This blindness was +persisted in for some time at Hamburg. Several hawkers, who were marked +out by the police as having been the circulators of Paris news, were +shot. An agent of the Government publicly announced his design of +assassinating one of the French Princes, in whose service he was said to +have been as a page. He said he would go to his Royal Highness and +solicit to be appointed one of his aides de camp, and that, if the +application were refused, as it probably would be, the refusal would only +confirm him in his purpose. + +At length, when the state of things was beyond the possibility of doubt, +Davoust assembled the troops, acquainted them with the dethronement of +the Emperor, hoisted a flag of truce, and sent his adhesion to the +Provisional Government. All then thought of their personal safety, +without losing sight of their honestly-acquired wealth. Diamonds and +other objects of value and small bulk were hastily collected and packed +up. The Governor of Hamburg, Count Hogendorff, who, in spite of some +signal instances of opposition, had too often co-operated in severe and +vexatious measures, was the first to quit the city. He was, indeed, +hurried off by Davoust; because he had mounted the Orange cockade and +wished to take his Dutch troops away with him. After consigning the +command to General Gerard, Davoust quitted Hamburg, and arrived at Paris +on the 18th of June. + +I have left Napoleon at Fontainebleau. The period of his departure for +Elba was near at hand: it was fixed for the 17th of April. + +On that day Maubreuil, a man who has become unfortunately celebrated, +presented himself at the Post-office, and asked to speak with me. He +showed me some written orders, signed by General Saeken, the Commander of +the Russian troops in Palls, and by Baron Brackenhausen, chief of the +staff. These orders set forth that Maubreuil was entrusted with an +important mission, for the execution of which he was authorised to demand +the assistance of the Russian troops; and the commanders of those men +were enjoined to place at his disposal as many troops as he might apply +for. Maubreuil was also the bearer of similar orders from General +Dupont, the War Minister, and from M. Angles, the Provisional Commissary- +General of the Police, who directed all the other commissaries to obey +the orders they might receive from Maubreuil. On seeing these documents, +of the authenticity of which there was no doubt, I immediately ordered +the different postmasters to provide Maubreuil promptly with any number +of horses he might require. + +Some days after I was informed that the object of Maubreuil's mission was +to assassinate Napoleon. It may readily be imagined what was my +astonishment on hearing this, after I had seen the signature of the +Commander of the Russian forces, and knowing as I did the intentions of +the Emperor Alexander. The fact is, I did not, and never can, believe +that such was the intention of Mabreuil. This man has been accused of +having carried off the jewels of the Queen of Westphalia. + +Napoleon having consented to proceed to the island of Elba, conformably +with the treaty he had ratified on the 13th, requested to be accompanied +to the place of embarkation by a Commissioner from each of the Allied +powers. Count Schouwaloff was appointed by Russia, Colonel Neil Campbell +by England, General Kohler by Austria, and Count Waldbourg-Truchess by +Prussia. On the 16th the four Commissioners came for the first time to +Fontainebleau, where the Emperor, who was still attended by Generals +Drouot and Bertrand, gave to each a private audience on the following +day. + +Though Napoleon received with coldness the Commissioners whom he had +himself solicited, yet that coldness was far from being manifested in an +equal degree to all. He who experienced the best reception was Colonel +Campbell, apparently because his person exhibited traces of wounds. +Napoleon asked him in what battles he had received them, and on what +occasions he had been invested with the orders he wore. He next +questioned him as to the place of his birth, and Colonel Campbell having +answered that he was a Scotchman, Napoleon congratulated him on being the +countryman of Ossian, his favourite author, with whose poetry, however, +he was only acquainted through the medium of wretched translations. +On this first audience Napoleon said to the Colonel, "I have cordially +hated the English. I have made war against you by every possible means, +but I esteem your nation. I am convinced that there is more generosity +in your Government than in any other. I should like to be conveyed from +Toulon to Elba by an English frigate." + +The Austrian and Russian Commissioners were received coolly, but without +any marked indications of displeasure. It was not so with the Prussian +Commissioner, to whom he said duly, "Are there any Prussians in my +escort?"--"No, Sire."--"Then why do you take the trouble to accompany +me?"--"Sire, it is not a trouble, but an honour."--"These are mere words; +you have nothing to do here."--"Sire, I could not possibly decline the +honourable mission with which the King my master has entrusted me." At +these words Napoleon turned his back on Count Truchess. + +The Commissioners expected that Napoleon would be ready to set out +without delay; but they were deceived. He asked for a sight of the +itinerary of his route, and wished to make some alterations in it. +The Commissioners were reluctant to oppose his wish, for they had been +instructed to treat him with all the respect and etiquette due to a +sovereign. They therefore suspended the departure, and, as they could +not take upon themselves to acquiesce in the changes wished for by the +Emperor, they applied for fresh orders. On the night of the 18th of +April they received these orders, authorising them to travel by any road +the Emperor might prefer. The departure was then definitively fixed for +the 20th. + +Accordingly, at ten on the morning of the 20th, the carriages were in +readiness, and the Imperial Guard was drawn up in the grand court of the +Palace of Fontainebleau, called the Cour du Cheval Blanc. All the +population of the town and the neighbouring villages thronged round the +Palace. Napoleon sent for General Kohler, the Austrian Commissioner, and +said to him, "I have reflected on what I ought to do, and I am determined +not to depart. The Allies are not faithful to their engagements with me. +I can, therefore, revoke my abdication, which was only conditional. More +than a thousand addresses were delivered to me last night: I am conjured +to resume the reins of government I renounced my rights to the crown only +to avert the horrors of a civil war, having never had any other abject in +view than the glory and happiness of France. But, seeing as I now do, +the dissatisfaction inspired by the measures of the new Government, I can +explain to my Guard the reasons which induced me to revoke my abdication. +It is true that the number of troops on which I can count will scarcely +exceed 30,000 men, but it will be easy for me to increase their numbers +to 130,000. Know, then, that I can also, without injuring my honour, say +to my Guard, that having nothing but the repose and happiness of the +country at heart, I renounce all my rights, and exhort my troops to +follow my example, and yield to the wish of the nation." + +I heard these words reported by General Kohler himself, after his return +from his mission. He did not disguise the embarrassment which this +unexpected address had occasioned; and I recollect having remarked at the +time that had Bonaparte, at the commencement of the campaign of Paris, +renounced his rights and returned to the rank of citizen, the immense +masses of the Allies must have yielded to the efforts of France. General +Kohler also stated that Napoleon complained of Maria Louisa not being +allowed to accompany him; but at length, yielding to the reasons urged by +those about him, he added, "Well, I prefer remaining faithful to my +promise; but if I have any new ground of complaint, I will free myself +from all my engagements." + +At eleven o'clock Comte de Bussy, one of the Emperor's aides de camp, was +sent by the Grand Marshal (General Bertrand) to announce that all was +ready for departure. "Am I;" said Napoleon, "to regulate my actions by +the Grand Marshal's watch? I will go when I please. Perhaps I may not +go at all. Leave me!" + +All the forms of courtly etiquette which Napoleon loved so much were +observed; and when at length he was pleased to leave his cabinet to enter +the salon, where the Commissioners were waiting; the doors were thrown +open as usual, and "The Emperor" was announced; but no sooner was the +word uttered than he turned back again. However, he soon reappeared, +rapidly crossed the gallery, and descended the staircase, and at twelve +o'clock precisely he stood at the head of his Guard, as if at a review in +the court of the Tuileries in the brilliant days of the Consulate and the +Empire. + +Then took place a really moving scene--Napoleon's farewell to his +soldiers. Of this I may abstain from entering into any details, since +they are known everywhere, and by everybody, but I may subjoin the +Emperor's last address to his old companions-in-arms, because it belongs +to history. This address was pronounced in a voice as firm and sonorous +as that in which Bonaparte used to harangue his troops in the days of his +triumphs. It was as follows: + + "Soldiers of my Old Guard, I bid you farewell. For twenty years I + have constantly accompanied yon on the road to honour and glory. In + these latter times, as in the days of our prosperity, you have + invariably been models of courage and fidelity. With men such as + you our cause could not be lost, but the war would have been + interminable; it would have been civil war, and that would have + entailed deeper misfortunes on France. I have sacrificed all my + interests to those of the country. I go; but you, my friends, will + continue to serve France. Her happiness was my only thought.. It + will still be the object of my wishes. Do not regret my fate: if I + have consented to survive, it is to serve your glory. I intend to + write the history of the great achievements we have performed + together. Adieu, my friends. Would I could press you all to my, + heart!" + +During the first day cries of "Vive l'Empereur!" resounded along the +road, and Napoleon, resorting to his usual dissimulation, censured the +disloyalty of the people to their legitimate sovereign, which he did with +ill disguised irony. The Guard accompanied him as far as Briars. At +that place Napoleon invited Colonel Campbell to breakfast with him. He +conversed on the last war in Spain, and spoke in complimentary terms of +the English nation and the military talents of Wellington. Yet by that +time he must have heard of the battle of Toulouse. + +On the night of the 21st Napoleon slept at Nevers, where he was received +by the acclamations of the people, who here, as in several other towns, +mingled their cries in favour of their late sovereign with imprecations +against the Commissioners of the Allies. He left Nevers at six on the +morning of the 22d. Napoleon was now no longer escorted by the Guards, +who were succeeded by a corps of Cossacks: the cries of "Vive +l'Empereur!" accordingly ceased, and he had the mortification to hear in +its stead, "Vivent les Allies!" However, I have been informed that at +Lyons, through which the Emperor passed on the 23d at eleven at night, +the cry of "Vive l'Empereur!" was still echoed among the groups who +assembled before the post-office during the change of horses. + +Augereau, who was still a Republican, though he accepted the title of +Duke of Castiglione from Napoleon, had always been among the +discontented. On the downfall of the Emperor he was one of that +considerable number of persons who turned Royalists not out of love for +the Bourbons but out of hatred to Bonaparte. He held a command in the +south when he heard of the forfeiture of Napoleon pronounced by the +Senate, and he was one of the first to send his recognition to the +Provisional Government. Augereau, who, like all uneducated men, went to +extremes in everything, had published under his name a proclamation +extravagantly violent and even insulting to the Emperor. Whether +Napoleon was aware of this proclamation I cannot pretend to say, but he +affected ignorance of the matter if he was informed of it, for on the +24th, having met Augereau at a little distance from Valence, he stopped +his carriage and immediately alighted. Augereau did the same, and they +cordially embraced in the presence of the Commissioners. It was remarked +that in saluting Napoleon took off his hat and Augereau kept on his. +"Where are you going?", said the Emperor; "to Court?"--"No, I am going to +Lyons."--"You have behaved very badly to me." Augereau, finding that the +Emperor addressed him in the second person singular, adopted the same +familiarity; so they conversed as they were accustomed to do when they +were both generals in Italy. "Of what do you complain?" said he. +"Has not your insatiable ambition brought us to this? Have you not +sacrificed everything to that ambition, even the happiness of France? +I care no more for the Bourbons than for you. All I care for is the +country." Upon this Napoleon turned sharply away from the Marshal, +lifted his hat to him, and then stepped into his carriage. The +Commissioners, and all the persons in Napoleon's suite, were indignant at +seeing Augereau stand in the road still covered, with his hands behind +his back, and instead of bowing, merely making a contemptuous salutation +to Napoleon with his hand. It was at the Tuileries that these haughty +Republicans should have shown their airs. To have done so on the road to +Elba was a mean insult which recoiled upon themselves. + + --[The following letter, taken from Captain Bingham's recently + published selections from the Correspondence of the first Napoleon, + indicates in emphatic language the Emperor's recent dissatisfaction + with Marshal Augereau when in command at Lyons daring the "death + straggle" of 1814: + + To Marshal Augereau. + + NOGENT, 21st February, 1814, + + ....What! six hours after having received the first troops coming + from Spain you were not in the field! Six hours repose was + sufficient. I won the action of Naugis with a brigade of dragoons + coming from Spain which, since it had left Bayonne, had not + unbridled its horses. The six battalions of the division of Nimes + want clothes, equipment, and drilling, say you? What poor reasons + yon give me there, Augereau! I have destroyed 80,000 enemies with + conscripts having nothing but knapsacks! The National Guards, say + you, are pitiable; I have 4000 here in round hats, without + knapsacks, in wooden shoes, but with good muskets, and I get a great + deal out of them. There is no money, you continue; and where do you + hope to draw money from! You want waggons; take them wherever you + can. You have no magazines; this is too ridiculous. I order you + twelve hours after the reception of this letter to take the field. + If you are still Augereau of Castiglione, keep the command, but if + your sixty years weigh upon you hand over the command to your senior + general. The country is in danger; and can be saved by boldness and + alacrity alone.... + (Signed) NAPOLEON]-- + +At Valence Napoleon, for the first time, saw French soldiers with the +white cockade in their caps. They belonged to Augereau's corps. At +Orange the air resounded with tines of "Vive le Roi!" Here the gaiety, +real or feigned, which Napoleon had hitherto evinced, began to forsake +him. + +Had the Emperor arrived at Avignon three hours later than he did there is +no doubt that he would have been massacred.--[The Royalist mob of Avignon +massacred Marshal Brune in 1816.]-- He did not change horses at Avignon, +through which he passed at five in the morning, but at St. Andiol, where +he arrived at six. The Emperor, who was fatigued with sitting in the +carnage, alighted with Colonel Campbell and General Bertrand, and walked +with them up the first hill. His valet de chambre, who was also walking +a little distance in advance, met one of the mail couriers, who said is +him, "Those are the Emperor's carriages coming this way?"--"No, they are +the equipages of the Allies."--"I say they are the Emperor's carriages. +I am an old soldier. I served in the campaign of Egypt, and I will save +the life of my General."--"I tell you again they are not the Emperor's +carriages."--"Do not attempt to deceive me; I have just passed through +Organ, where the Emperor has been hanged in effigy. The wretches erected +a scaffold and hanged a figure dressed in a French uniform covered with +blood. Perhaps I may get myself into a scrape by this confidence, but no +matter. Do you profit by it." The courier then set off at full gallop. +The valet de chambre took General Drouot apart, and told him what he had +heard. Drouot communicated the circumstance to General Bertrand, who +himself related it to the Emperor in the presence of the Commissioners. +The latter, justly indignant, held a sort of council on the highway, and +it was determined that the Emperor should go forward without his retinue. +The valet de chambre was asked whether he had any clothes in the +carriage. He produced a long blue cloak and a round hat. It was +proposed to put a white cockade in the hat, but to this Napoleon would +not consent. He went forward in the style of a courier, with Amaudru, +one of the two outriders who had escorted his carriage, and dashed +through Orgon. When the Allied Commissioners arrived there the assembled +population were uttering exclamations of "Down with the Corsican! Down +with the brigand!" The mayor of Orgon (the, same man whom I had seen +almost on his knees to General Bonaparte on his return from Egypt) +addressed himself to Pelard, the Emperor's valet de chambre, and said, +"Do you follow that rascal?"--"No," replied Pelard, "I am attached to the +Commisairiers of the Allied powers."--Ah! that is well! I should like +to hang the villain with my own hands. + +"Ah! if you knew, sir, how the scoundrel has deceived us! It was I who +received him on his return from Egypt. We wished to take his horses out +and draw his carriage. I should like to avenge myself now for the +honours I rendered him at that time." + +The crowd augmented, and continued to vociferate with a degree of fury +which may be imagined by those who have heard the inhabitants of the +south manifest, by cries, their joy or their hatred. Some more violent +than the rest wished to force Napoleon's coachman to cry "Vive le Roi!" +He courageously refused, though threatened with a stroke of a sabre, +when, fortunately; the carriage being ready to start, he whipped the +horses and set off at full gallop. The Commissioners would not breakfast +at Orgon; they paid for what had been prepared, and took some +refreshments away with them. The carriages did not overtake the Emperor +until they came to La Calade, where he had arrived a quarter of an hour +before with Amaudru. + +They found him standing by the fire in the kitchen of the inn talking +with the landlady. She had asked him whether the tyrant was soon to pass +that way? "Ah! sir," said she, "it is all nonsense to say we have got +rid of him. I always, have said, and always will say, that we shall +never be sure of being done with him until he be laid at the bottom of a +well, covered over with stones. I wish we had him safe in the well in +our yard. You see, sir, the Directory sent him to Egypt to get rid of +him; but he came back again! And he will come back again, you maybe sure +of that, sir; unless--" Here the good woman, having finished skimming her +pot, looked up and perceived that all the party were standing uncovered +except the individual to whom, she had been speaking. She was +confounded, and the embarrassment she experienced at having spoken so ill +of the Emperor to the Emperor himself banished all her anger, and she +lavished every mark of attention, and respect on Napoleon and his +retinue. A messenger was immediately sent to Aix to purchase ribbons for +making white cockades. All the carriages were brought into the courtyard +of the inn, and the gate was closed; the landlady informed Napoleon that +it would not be prudent for him to venture on passing through Aix, where +a population of more than 20,000 were waiting to stone him. + +Meanwhile dinner was served, and Napoleon sat down to table. He +admirably disguised the agitation which he could not fail to experience, +and I have been assured, by some of the individuals who were present on +that remarkable occasion, that he never made himself more agreeable. His +conversation, which was enriched by the resources of his memory and his +imagination, charmed every one, and he remarked, with an air of +indifference which was perhaps affected, "I believe the new French +Government has a design on my life." + +The Commissioners, informed of what was going on at Aix, proposed sending +to the Mayor an order for closing the gates and adopting measures for +securing the public tranquillity. About fifty individuals had assembled +round the inn, and one among them offered to carry a letter to the Mayor +of Aix The Commissioners accepted his services, and in their letter +informed the Mayor that if the gates of the town were not closed within +an hour they would advance with two regiments of uhlans and six pieces of +artillery, and would fire upon all who might oppose them. This threat +had the desired effect; and the Mayor returned for answer that the gates +should be closed, and that he would take upon himself the responsibility +of everything which might happen. + +The danger which threatened the Emperor at Aix was thus averted; but +there was another to be braved. During the seven or eight hours he +passed at La Calade a considerable number of people had gathered round- +the inn, and manifested every disposition to proceed to some excess. +Most of them had in their hands five-franc pieces, in order to recognise +the Emperor by his likeness on the coin. Napoleon, who had passed two +nights without sleep, was in a little room adjoining the kitchen, where +he had fallen into a slumber, reclining an the shoulder of his valet de +chambre. In a moment of dejection he had said, "I now renounce the +political world forever. I shall henceforth feel no interest about +anything that may happen. At Porto-Ferrajo I may be happy--more happy +than I have ever been! No!--if the crown of Europe were now offered to +me I would not accept it. I will devote myself to science. I was right +never to esteem mankind! But France and the French people--what +ingratitude! I am disgusted with ambition, and I wish to rule no +longer!" + +When the moment for departure arrived it was proposed that he should put +on the greatcoat and fur cap of General Kohler, and that he should go +into the carriage of the Austrian Commissioner. The Emperor, thus +disguised, left the inn of La Calade, passing between two lines of +spectators. On turning the walls of Aix Napoleon had again the +mortification to hear the cries of "Down with the tyrant! Down with +Nicolas!" and these vociferations resounded at the distance of a quarter +of a league from the town. + +Bonaparte, dispirited by these manifestations of hatred, said, in a tone +of mingled grief and contempt, "These Provencals are the same furious +brawlers that they used to be. They committed frightful massacres at the +commencement of the Revolution. Eighteen years ago I came to this part +of the country with some thousand men to deliver two Royalists who were +to be hanged. Their crime was having worn the white cockade. I saved +them; but it was not without difficulty that I rescued them from the +hands of their assailants; and now, you see, they resume the same +excesses against those who refuse to wear the white cockade.". At about +a league from Aix the Emperor and his retinue found horses and an escort +of gendarmerie to conduct them to the chateau of Luc. + +The Princess Pauline was at the country residence of M. Charles, member +of the Legislative Body, near the castle of Luc. On hearing of the +misfortunes of her brother she determined to accompany him to the isle of +Elba, and she proceeded to Frejus to embark with him. At Frejus the +Emperor rejoined Colonel Campbell, who had quitted the convoy on the +road, and had brought into the port the English frigate the 'Undaunted' +which was appointed to convey the Emperor to the place of his +destination. In spite of the wish he had expressed to Colonel Campbell +he manifested considerable reluctance to go on board. However, on the +28th of April he sailed for the island of Elba in the English frigate, in +which it could not then be said that Caesar and his fortune were +embarked. + + [It was on the 3d of May 1814 that Bonaparte arrived within sight of + Porto-Ferrajo, the capital of his miniature empire; but he did not + land till the nest morning. At first he paid a short visit + incognito, being accompanied by a sergeant's party of marines from + the Undaunted. He then returned on board to breakfast, and at about + two o'clock made his public entrance, the 'Undaunted' firing a royal + salute.] + +In every particular of his conduct he paid great attention to the +maintenance of his Imperial dignity. On landing he received the keys of +his city of Porto-Ferrajo, and the devoirs of the Governor, prefect, and +other dignitaries, and he proceeded immediately under a canopy of State +to the parish church, which served as a cathedral. There he heard Te +Deum, and it is stated that his countenance was dark and melancholy, and +that he even shed tears. + +One of Bonaparte's first cares was to select a flag for the Elbese +Empire, and after some hesitation he fixed on "Argent, on a bend gules, +or three bees," as the armorial ensign of his new dominion. It is +strange that neither he nor any of those whom he consulted should have +been aware that Elba had an ancient and peculiar ensign, and it is still +more remarkable that this ensign should be one singularly adapted to +Bonaparte's situation; being no more than "a wheel,--the emblem," says +M. Bernaud, "of the vicissitudes of human life, which the Elbese had +borrowed from the Egyptian mysteries." This is as curious a coincidence +as any we ever recollect to have met; as the medals of Elba with the +emblem of the wheel are well known, we cannot but suppose that Bonaparte +was aware of the circumstance; yet he is represented as having in vain +made several anxious inquiries after the ancient arms of the island. + +During the first months of his residence there his life was, in general, +one of characteristic activity and almost garrulous frankness. He gave +dinners, went to balls, rode all day about his island, planned +fortifications, aqueducts, lazarettos, harbours, and palaces; and the +very second day after he landed fitted out an expedition of a dozen +soldiers to take possession of a little uninhabited island called +Pianosa, which lies a few leagues from Elba; on this occasion he said +good-humouredly, "Toute l'Europe dira que j'ai deja fait une conqute" +(All Europe will say I have already made a conquest). The cause of the +island of Pianosa being left uninhabited was the marauding of the +Corsairs from the coast of Barbary, against whom Bonaparte considered +himself fully protected by the 4th Article of the Treaty of +Fontainebleau. + +The greatest wealth of Elba consists in its iron mines, for which the +island was celebrated in the days of Virgil. Soon after his arrival +Napoleon visited the mines in company with Colonel Campbell, and being +informed that they produced annually about 500,000 francs he exclaimed +joyfully, "These, then, are my own !" One of his followers, however, +reminded him that he had long since disposed of that revenue, having +given it to his order of the Legion of Honour, to furnish pensions, etc. +"Where was my head when I made that grant?" said he, "but I have made +many foolish decrees of that sort!" + +Sir Walter Scott, in telling a curious fact, makes a very curious +mistake. "To dignify his capital," he says, "having discovered that the +ancient name of Porto-Ferrajo was Comopoli (the city of Como), he +commanded it to be called Cosmopoli, or the city of all nations." Now +the old name of Porto-Ferrajo was in reality not Comopoli, but Cosmopoli, +and it obtained that name from the Florentine Cosmo de' Medici, to whose +ducal house Elba belonged, as an integral part of Tuscany. The name +equally signified the city of Cosmo, or the city of all nations, and the +vanity of the Medici had probably been flattered by the double meaning of +the appellation. But Bonaparte certainly revived the old name, and did +not add a letter to it to dignify his little capital. + +The household of Napoleon, though reduced to thirty-five persons, still +represented an Imperial Court. The forms and etiquette of the Tuileries +and St, Cloud were retained on a diminished scale, but the furniture and +internal accommodations of the palace are represented as having been +meaner by far than those of an English gentleman of ordinary rank. The +Bodyguard of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Elba consisted of about +700 infantry and 80 cavalry, and to this handful of troops Napoleon +seemed to pay almost as much attention as he had formerly given to his +Grande Armee. The men were constantly exercised, particularly in +throwing shot and shells, and he soon began to look out for good recruits. + +He early announced that he would hold a Court and receive ladies twice a +week; the first was on the 7th of May, and a great concourse assembled. +Bonaparte at first paid great attention to the women, particularly those +who possessed personal attractions, and asked them, in his rapid way, +whether they were married? how many children they had, and who their +husbands were? To the last question he received one universal answer; it +happened that every lady was married to a merchant, but when it came to +be further explained that they were merchant butchers and merchant +bakers, his Imperial Majesty permitted some expression of his +dissatisfaction to escape him and hastily retired. On the 4th of June +there was a ball on board the British frigate, in honour of the King's +birthday; the whole beauty and fashion of Elba were assembled, and +dancing with great glee, when, about midnight, Bonaparte came in his +barge, unexpectedly, and masked, to join the festivity. He was very +affable, and visited every part of the ship, and all the amusements which +had been prepared for the different classes of persons. On his birthday, +the 15th of August, he ordered the mayor to give a ball, and for this +purpose a temporary building, capable of holding 300 persons, was to be +erected, and the whole entertainment, building and all, were to be at the +expense of the inhabitants themselves. These were bad auspices, and +accordingly the ball completely failed. Madame Mtire, Madame Bertrand, +and the two ladies of honour, attended, but not above thirty of the fair +islanders, and as the author of the IEineraire remarks, "Le bal ful +triste quoique Bonaparte n'y parut pas." + +Having in an excursion reached the summit of one of the highest hills on +the island, where the sea was visible all round him, he shook his head +with affected solemnity, and exclaimed in a bantering tone, "Eh! il faut +avouer que mon ile est bien petite." + +On this mountain one of the party saw a little church in an almost +inaccessible situation, and observed that it was a most inconvenient site +for a church, for surely no congregation could attend it. "It is on that +account the more convenient to the parson," replied Bonaparte, "who may +preach what stuff he pleases without fear of contradiction." + +As they descended the hill and met some peasants with their goats who +asked for charity, Bonaparte told a story which the present circumstances +brought to his recollection, that when he was crossing the Great St. +Bernard, previously to the battle of Marengo, he had met a goatherd, and +entered into conversation with him. The goatherd, not knowing to whom he +was speaking, lamented his own hard lot, and envied the riches of some +persons who actually had cows and cornfields. Bonaparte inquired if some +fairy were to offer to gratify all his wishes what he would ask? The +poor peasant expressed, in his own opinion, some very extravagant +desires, such as a dozen of cows and a good farmhouse. Bonaparte +afterwards recollected the incident, and astonished the goatherd by the +fulfilment of all his wishes. + +But all his thoughts and conversations were not as light and pleasant as +these. Sometimes he would involve himself in an account of the last +campaign, of his own views and hopes, of the defection of his marshals, +of the capture of Paris, and finally of his abdication; on these he would +talk by the hour with great earnestness and almost fury, exhibiting in +very rapid succession traits of eloquence, of military genius, of +indignation; of vanity, and of selfishness. With regard to the audience +to whom he addressed these tirades he was not very particular. + +The chief violence of his rage seemed to be directed against Marshal +Marmont whom, as well as Augereau, he sometimes called by names too gross +for repetition, and charged roundly with treachery. Marmont, when he +could no longer defend Paris by arms, saved it by an honourable +capitulation; he preserved his army for the service of his country and +when everything else was lost stipulated for the safety of Bonaparte. +This last stipulation, however, Bonaparte affected to treat with contempt +and indignation.--[Editor of 1836 edition.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +1814. + + Changes produced by time--Correspondence between the Provisional + Government and Hartwell--Louis XVIII's reception in London-- + His arrival at Calais--Berthier's address to the King at Compiegne-- + My presentation to his Majesty at St. Ouen-Louis--XVIII's entry into + Paris--Unexpected dismissal from my post--M. de Talleyrand's + departure for the Congress of Vienna--Signs of a commotion-- + Impossibility of seeing M. de Blacas--The Abby Fleuriel--Unanswered + letters--My letter to M. de Talleyrand at Vienna. + +No power is so great as that resulting from the changes produced by time. +Wise policy consists in directing that power, but to do so it is +requisite to know the wants of the age. For this reason Louis XVIII. +appeared, in the eyes of all sensible persons, a monarch expressly formed +for the circumstances in which we stood after the fall of Napoleon. + +In the winter of 1813-14 some Royalist proclamations had been circulated +in Paris, and as they contained the germs of those hopes which the +Charter, had it been executed, was calculated to realise, the police +opposed their circulation, and I recollect that, in order to multiply the +number of copies, my family and I daily devoted some hours to +transcribing them. After the definitive declaration of Alexander a very +active correspondence ensued between the Provisional Government and +Hartwell, and Louis XVIII. was even preparing to embark for Bordeaux when +he learned the events of the 31st of March. That news induced the King +to alter his determination, and he soon quitted his retirement to proceed +to London. Louis XVIII. and the Prince Regent of England exchanged the +orders of the Holy Ghost and the Garter, and I believe I may affirm that +this was the first occasion on which any but a Catholic Prince was +invested with the order of the Holy Ghost. + +Louis XVIII. embarked at Dover on board the Royal Sovereign, and landed +at Calais on the 24th of April. I need not enter into any description of +the enthusiasm which his presence excited; that is generally known +through the reports of the journals of the time. It is very certain that +all rational persons saw with satisfaction the Princes of the House of +Bourbon reascend the throne of their ancestors, enlightened by experience +and misfortune, which, as some ancient philosopher observes, are the best +counsellors of kings. + +I had received a letter addressed to me from London by the Duc de Duras, +pointing out the route which Louis XVIII. was to pursue from Calais to +Paris: In this he said, "After the zeal, monsieur, you have shown for the +service of the King, I do not doubt your activity to prevent his +suffering in any way at a moment so happy and interesting for every +Frenchman." The King's wishes on this subject were scrupulously +fulfilled, and I recollect with pleasure the zeal with which my +directions were executed by all the persons in the service of the +Postoffice. His Majesty stopped for a short time at Amiens, and then +proceeded to Compiegne, where the Ministers and Marshals had previously +arrived to present to him their homage and the assurance of their +fidelity. Berthier addressed the King in the name of the Marshals, and +said, among other things, "that France, groaning for five and twenty +years under the weight of the misfortunes that oppressed her, had +anxiously looked forward to the happy day which she now saw dawning." +Berthier might justly have said for "ten years"; but at all events, even +had he spoken the truth, it was ill placed in the mouth of a man whom the +Emperor had constantly loaded with favours: The Emperor Alexander also +went to Compiegne to meet Louis XVIII., and the two monarchs dined +together. + +I did not go to Compiegne because the business which I had constantly to +execute did not permit me to leave Paris for so long an interval as that +journey would have required, but I was at St. Ouen when Louis XVIII. +arrived on the 2d of May. There I had to congratulate myself on being +remembered by a man to whom I was fortunate enough to render some service +at Hamburg. As the King entered the salon through which he had to pass +to go to the dining-room M. Hue recognising me said to his Majesty, +"There is M. de Bourrienne." The King then stepping up to me said, "Ah! +M. de Bourrienne, I am very glad to see you. I am aware of the services +you have rendered me in Hamburg and Paris, and I shall feel much pleasure +in testifying my gratitude." + +At St. Ouen Louis XVIII. promulgated the declaration which preceded the +Charter, and which repeated the sentiments expressed by the King twenty +years before, in the Declaration of Colmar. It was also at St, Ouen that +project of a Constitution was presented to him by the Senate in which +that body, to justify 'in extremis' its title of conservative, stipulated +for the preservation of its revenues and endowments. + +On the 3d of May Louis XVIII. made his solemn entrance into Paris, the +Duchess d'Angouleme being in the carriage with the King. His Majesty +proceeded first to Notre Dame. On arriving at the Pont Neuf he saw the +model of the statue of Henri IV. replaced, on the pedestal of which +appeared the following words: 'Ludovico reduce, Henricus redivivus', +which were suggested by M. de Lally-Tollendal, and were greatly +preferable to the long and prolix inscription composed for the bronze +statue. + +The King's entrance into Paris did not excite so much enthusiasm as the +entrance of Monsieur. In the places through which I passed on the 3d of +May astonishment seemed to be the prevailing feeling among the people. +The abatement of public enthusiasm was more perceptible a short time +after, when Louis XVIII. restored "the red corps" which Louis XVI. had +suppressed long before the Revolution. + +It was not a little extraordinary to see the direction of the Government +consigned to a man who neither had nor could have any knowledge of +France. From the commencement M. de Blacas affected ministerial +omnipotence. When I went on the 11th of May to the Tuileries to present, +as usual, my portfolio to the King, in virtue of my privilege of +transacting business with the sovereign, M. de Blacas wished to take the +portfolio from me, which appeared to me the more surprising as, during +the seven days I had the honour of coming in contact with Louis XVIII., +his Majesty had been pleased to bestow many compliments upon me. I at +first refused to give up the portfolio, but M. de Blacas told me the King +had ordered him to receive it; I then, of course, yielded the point. + +However, it, was not long before I had experience of a courtier's +revenge, for two days after this circumstance, that is to say, on the +13th of May, on entering my cabinet at the usual hour, I mechanically +took up the 'Moniteur', which I found lying on my desk. On glancing +hastily over it what was my astonishment to find that the Comte Ferrand +had been appointed Director of the Post-office in my stead. Such was the +strange mode in which M. de Blacas made me feel the promised gratitude of +the sovereign. Certainly, after my proofs of loyalty, which a year +afterwards procured for me the honour of being outlawed in quite a +special way, I had reason to complain, and I might have said 'Sic vos non +vobis' as justly as Virgil when he alluded to the unmerited favours +lavished by Augustus on the Maevii and Bavii of his time. + +The measures of Government soon excited complaints in every quarter. +The usages of the old system were gradually restored, and ridicule being +mingled with more serious considerations, Paris was speedily inundated +with caricatures and pamphlets. However, tranquillity prevailed until +the month of September, when M. de Talleyrand departed for the Congress +of Vienna. Then all was disorder at the Tuileries. Every one feeling +himself free from restraint, wished to play the statesman, and Heaven +knows how many follies were committed in the absence of the schoolmaster. + +Under a feeble Government there is but one step from discontent to +insurrection, under an imbecile Government like that of France in 1814, +after the departure of M. de Talleyrand, conspiracy has free Scope. +During the summer of 1814 were initiated the events which reached their +climax on the 20th of March 1815. I almost fancy I am dreaming when I +look back on the miraculous incapacity of the persons who were then at +the head of our Government. The emigrants, who, as it has been truly +said, had neither learned nor forgotten anything, came back with all the +absurd pretensions of Coblentz. Their silly vanity reminded one of a +character in one of Voltaire's novels who is continually saying, "Un +homme comme moi!" These people were so engrossed with their pretended +merit that they were blind to everything else. They not only disregarded +the wishes and the wants of France; which in overthrowing the Empire +hoped to regain liberty, but they disregarded every warning they had +received. + +I recollect one circumstance which was well calculated to excite +suspicion. Prince Eugene proposed going to the waters of Plombieres to +join his sister Hortense. The horses, the carriages, and one of the +Prince's aides de camp had already arrived at Plombieres, and his +residence was prepared; but he did not go. Eugene had, no doubt, +received intimation of his sister's intrigues with some of the +individuals of the late Court of Napoleon who were then at the waters, +and as he had determined to reside quietly at the Court of his father-in- +law; without meddling with public affairs, he remained at Munich. This +fact, however, passed off unnoticed. + +At the end of 1814 unequivocal indications of a great catastrophe were +observable. About that time a man, whom I much esteem, and with whom I +have always been on terms of friendship, said to me, "You see how things +are going on: they are committing fault upon fault. You must be +convinced that such a state of things cannot last long. Between +ourselves, I am of opinion that all will be over in the month of March; +that month will repair the disgrace of last March. We shall then, once +for all, be delivered from fanaticism and the emigrants. You see the +intolerable spirit of hypocrisy that prevails, and you know that the +influence of the priests is, of all things, the most hateful to the +nation. We have gone back a long way within the last eight months. I +fear you will repent of having taken too active a part in affairs at the +commencement of the present year. You see we have gone a very different +way from what you expected. However, as I have often told you before, +you had good reason to complain; and after all, you acted to the best of +your judgment." + +I did not attach much importance to this prediction of a change in the +month of March. I deplored, as every one did, the inconceivable errors +of "Ferrand and Company," and I hoped that the Government would gradually +return to those principles which were calculated to conciliate the +feelings of the people. A few days after another of my friends called on +me. He had exercised important functions, and his name had appeared on a +proscription list. He had claims upon the Government, which was by no +means favourably disposed towards him. I asked him how things were going +on, and he replied, "Very well; no opposition is made to my demands. I +have no reason bo complain." This reminded me of the man in the 'Lettres +Persanes', who admired the excellent order of the finances under Colbert +because his pension was promptly paid. I congratulated my friend on the +justice which the Government rendered him, as well as on the justice +which he rendered to the Government, and I remarked that if the same +course were adopted towards every one all parties would speedily be +conciliated. "I do not think so," said my friend. "If the Government +persist in its present course it cannot possibly stand, and we shall have +the Emperor back again."--"That," said I, "would be a very great +misfortune; and even if such were the wish of France, it would be opposed +by Europe. You who are so devotedly attached to France cannot be +indifferent to the danger that would threaten her if the presence of +Bonaparte should bring the foreigners back again. Can you endure to +think of the dismemberment of our country?"--"That they would never dare +to attempt. But you and I can never agree on the question of the Emperor +and your Bourbons. We take a totally different view of the matter. You +had cause to complain of Bonaparte, but I had only reason to be satisfied +with him. But tell me, what would you do if he were to return?"-- +"Bonaparte return!"--"Yes."--"Upon my word, the best thing I could do +would be to set off as speedily as I could, and that is certainly what I +should do. I am thoroughly convinced that he would never pardon me for +the part I have taken in the Restoration, and I candidly confess that I +should not hesitate a moment to save my life by leaving France."--"Well, +you are wrong, for I am convinced that if you would range yourself among +the number of his friends you might have whatever you wished--titles, +honours, riches. Of this I could give you assurance."--"All this, I must +tell you, does not tempt me. I love France as dearly, as you do, and I +am convinced that she can never be happy under Bonaparte. If he should +return I will go and live abroad." + +This is only part of a conversation which lasted a considerable time, +and, as is often the case after a long discussion, my friend retained his +opinion, and I mine. However, this second warning, this hypothesis of +the return of Bonaparte, made me reflect, and I soon received another +hint which gave additional weight to the preceding ones. An individual +with whom I was well acquainted, and whom I knew from his principles and +connections to be entirely devoted to the royal cause, communicated to me +some extraordinary circumstances which he said alarmed him. Among other +things he said, "The day before yesterday I met Charles de Labedoyere, +who, you know, is my intimate friend. I remarked that he had an air of +agitation and abstraction. I invited him to come and dine with me, but +he declined, alleging as an excuse that we should not be alone. He then +asked me to go and dine with him yesterday, as he wanted to talk with me. +I accepted his invitation, and we conversed a long time on political +affair's and the situation of France. You know my sentiments are quite +the reverse of his, so we disputed and wrangled, though we are still very +good friends. But what alarms me is, that at parting Charles pressed my +hand, saying, 'Adieu; to-morrow I set off for Grenoble. In a month you +will hear something of Charles de Labedoyere.'" + +These three successive communications appeared to me very extraordinary. +The two first were made to me by persons interested in the event, and the +third by one who dreaded it. They all presented a striking coincidence +with the intrigues at Plombieres a few months before. In the month of +January I determined to mention the business to M. de Blacas, who then +engrossed all credit and all power, and through whose medium alone +anything could reach the sovereign. I need scarcely add that my +intention was merely to mention to him the facts without naming the +individuals from whom I obtained them. After all, however, M. de Blacas +did not receive me, and I only had the honour of speaking to his +secretary, who, if the fact deserve to be recorded, was an abbe named +Fleuriel. This personage, who was an extraordinary specimen of +impertinence and self-conceit, would have been an admirable study for a +comic poet. He had all the dignity belonging to the great secretary of a +great Minister, and, with an air of indifference, he told me that the +Count was not there; but M. de Blacas was there, and I knew it. + +Devoted as I was to the cause of the Bourbons, I thought it my duty to +write that very day to M. de Blacas to request an interview; I received +no answer. Two days after I wrote a second letter, in which I informed +M. de Blacas that I had something of the greatest importance to +communicate to him; this letter remained unnoticed like the first. +Unable to account for this strange treatment I again repaired to the +Pavilion de Flore, and requested the Abbe Fleuriel to explain to me if he +could the cause of his master's silence. "Sir," said he, "I received +your two letters, and laid them before the Count; I cannot tell why he +has not sent you an answer; but Monsieur le Comte is so much engaged . . +. . Monsieur le Comte is so overwhelmed with business that"--"Monsieur +le Comte may, perhaps, repent of it. Good morning, sir!" + +I thus had personal experience of the truth of what I had often heard +respecting M. de Blacas. That favourite, who succeeded Comte d'Avaray, +enjoyed the full confidence of the King, and concentrated the sovereign +power in his own cabinet. The only means of transmitting any +communication to Louis XVIII. was to get it addressed to M. de Blacas by +one of his most intimate friends. + +Convinced as I was of the danger that threatened France, and unable to +break through the blockade which M. de Blacas had formed round the person +of the King, I determined to write to M. de Talleyrand at Vienna,' and +acquaint him with the communications that had been made to me. M. de +Talleyrand corresponded directly with the King, and I doubt not that my +information at length reached the ears of his Majesty. But when Louis +XVIII. was informed of what was to happen it was too late to avert the +danger. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +1814-1815. + + Escape from Elba--His landing near Cannes--March on Paris. + +About the middle of summer Napoleon was visited by his mother and his +sister the Princess Pauline. Both these ladies had very considerable +talents for political intrigue, and then natural faculties in this way +had not lain dormant or been injured by want of practice. In Pauline +this finesse was partially concealed by a languor and indecision of +manner and an occasional assumption of 'niaiserie'; or almost infantine +simplicity; but this only threw people the more off their guard, and made +her finesse the more sure in its operation. Pauline was handsome too, +uncommonly graceful, and had all that power of fascination which has been +attributed to the Bonaparte family. She could gain hearts with ease, and +those whom her charms enslaved were generally ready to devote themselves +absolutely to her brother. She went and came between Naples and Elba, +and kept her brother-in-law, Murat, in mind of the fact that the lion was +not yet dead nor so much as sleeping, but merely retiring the better to +spring forward on his quarry. + +Having taken this resolution and chosen his time, Napoleon kept the +secret of his expedition until the last moment; and means were found to +privately make the requisite preparations. A portion of the soldiers was +embarked in a brig called the 'Inconstant' and the remainder in six small +craft. It was not till they were all on board that the troops first +conceived a suspicion of the Emperor's purpose: 1000 or 1200 men had +sailed to regain possession of an Empire containing a population of +30,000,000! He commenced his voyage on Sunday the 26th of February 1815, +and the next morning at ten o'clock was not out of sight of the island, +to the great annoyance of the few friends he had left behind. At this +time Colonel Sir Neil Campbell was absent on a tour to Leghorn, but being +informed by the French Consul and by Spanocchi, the Tuscan Governor of +the town, that Napoleon was about to sail for the Continent, he hastened +back, and gave chase to the little squadron in the Partridge sloop of +war, which was cruising in the neighbourhood, but, being delayed by +communicating with a French frigate, reached Antibes too late. + +There were between 400 and 500 men on board the brig (the 'Inconstant') +in which Bonaparte embarked. On the passage they met with a French ship +of war, with which they spoke. The Guards were ordered to pull off their +caps and lie down on the deck or go below while the captain exchanged +some words with the commander of the frigate, whom he afterwards proposed +to pursue and capture. Bonaparte rejected the idea as absurd, and asked +why he should introduce this new episode into his plan. + +As they stood over to the coast of France the Emperor was in the highest +spirits. The die was cast, and he seemed to be quite himself again. He +sat upon the deck and amused the officers collected round him with a +narrative of his campaigns, particularly those of Italy and Egypt. When +he had finished he observed the deck to be encumbered with several large +chests belonging to him. He asked the maitre d'hotel what they +contained. Upon being told they were filled with wine he ordered them to +be immediately broken open, saying, "We will divide the booty." The +Emperor superintended the distribution himself, and presented bottle by +bottle to his comrades, till tired of this occupation he called out to +Bertrand, "Grand Marshal, assist me, if you please. Let us help these +gentlemen. They will help us some day." It was with this species of +bonhomie that he captivated when he chose all around him. The following +day he was employed in various arrangements, and among others in +dictating to Colonel Raoul the proclamations to be issued on his landing +In one of these, after observing, "we must forget that we have given law +to the neighbouring nations," Napoleon stopped. "What have I said?" +Colonel Raoul read the passage. "Stop!" said Napoleon. "Omit the word +'neighbouring;' say simply 'to nations.'" It was thus his pride revealed +itself; and his ambition seemed to rekindle at the very recollections of +his former greatness. + +Napoleon landed without any accident on the 1st of March at Cannes, a +small seaport in the Gulf of St. Juan, not far from Frejus, where he had +disembarked on his return from Egypt sixteen years before, and where he +had embarked the preceding year for Elba. A small party of the Guards +who presented themselves before the neighbouring garrison of Antibes were +made prisoners by General Corsin, the Governor of the place. Some one +hinted that it was not right to proceed till they had released their +comrades, but the Emperor observed that this was poorly to estimate the +magnitude of the undertaking; before them were 30,000,000 men uniting to +be set free! He, however, sent the Commissariat Officer to try what be +could do, calling out after him, "Take care you do not get yourself made +prisoner too!" + +At nightfall the troops bivouacked on the beach. Just before a +postillion, in a splendid livery, had been brought to Napoleon. It +turned out that this man had formerly been a domestic of the Empress +Josephine, and was now in the service of the Prince of Monaco, who +himself had been equerry to the Empress. The postillion, after +expressing his great astonishment at finding the Emperor there, stated, +in answer to the questions that were put to him, that he had just come +from Paris; that all along the road, as far as Avignon, he had heard +nothing but regret for the Emperor's absence; that his name was +constantly echoed from mouth to mouth; and that, when once fairly through +Provence, he would find the whole population ready to rally round him. +The man added that his laced livery had frequently rendered him the +object of odium and insult on the road. This was the testimony of one of +the common class of society: it was very gratifying to the Emperor, as it +entirely corresponded with his expectations. The Prince of Monaco +himself, on being presented to the Emperor, was less explicit. Napoleon +refrained from questioning him on political matters. The conversation +therefore assumed a more lively character, and turned altogether on the +ladies of the former Imperial Court, concerning whom the Emperor was very +particular in his inquiries. + +As soon as the moon had risen, which was about one or two in the morning +of the 2d, the bivouacs were broken up, and Napoleon gave orders for +proceeding to Grasse. There he expected to find a road which he had +planned during the Empire, but in this he was disappointed, the Bourbons +having given up all such expensive works through want of money. +Bonaparte was therefore obliged to pass through narrow defiles filled +with snow, and left behind him in the hands of the municipality his +carriage and two pieces of cannon, which had been brought ashore. This +was termed a capture in the bulletins of the day. The municipality of +Grasse was strongly in favour of the Royalist cause, but the sudden +appearance of the Emperor afforded but little time for hesitation, and +they came to tender their submission to him. Having passed through the +town be halted on a little height some way beyond it, where he +breakfasted. He was soon surrounded by the whole population of the +place; and he heard the same sentiments and the same prayers as before he +quitted France. A multitude of petitions had already been drawn up, and +were presented to him, just as though he had come from Paris and was +making a tour through the departments. One complained that his pension +had not been paid, another that his cross of the Legion of Honour had +been taken from him. Some of the more discontented secretly informed +Napoleon that the authorities of the town were very hostile to him, but +that the mass of the people were devoted to him, and only waited till his +back was turned to rid themselves of the miscreants. He replied, "Be not +too hasty. Let them have the mortification of seeing our triumph without +having anything to reproach us with." The Emperor advanced with all the +rapidity in his power. "Victory," he said, "depended on my speed. To me +France was in Grenoble. That place was a hundred miles distant, but I +and my companions reached it in five days; and with what weather and what +roads! I entered the city just as the Comte d'Artois, warned by the +telegraph, was quitting the Tuileries." + +Napoleon himself was so perfectly convinced of the state of affairs that +he knew his success in no way depended on the force he might bring with +him. A 'piquet' of 'gens d'armes', he said, was all that was necessary. +Everything turned out as he foresaw. At first he owned he was not +without some degree of uncertainty and apprehension. As he advanced, +however, the whole population declared themselves enthusiastically in his +favour: but he saw no soldiers. It was not till he arrived between Mure +and Vizille, within five or six leagues from Grenoble, and on the fifth +day after his landing, that he met a battalion. The commanding officer +refused to hold even a parley. The Emperor, without hesitation, advanced +alone, and 100 grenadiers marched at some distance behind him, with their +arms reversed. The sight of Napoleon, his well-known costume, and his +gray military greatcoat, had a magical effect on the soldiers, and they +stood motionless. Napoleon went straight up to them and baring his +breast said, "Let him that has the heart kill his Emperor!" The soldiers +threw down their arms, their eyes moistened with tears, and cries of +"Vive l'Empereur!" resounded on every side. Napoleon ordered the +battalion to wheel round to the right, and all marched on together. + +At a short distance from Grenoble Colonel Labedoyere, who had been sent +at the head of the 7th regiment to oppose his passage, came to join the +Emperor. The impulse thus given in a manner decided the question. +Labedoyere's superior officer in vain interfered to restrain his +enthusiasm and that of his men. The tri-coloured cockades, which had +been concealed in the hollow of a drum, were eagerly distributed by +Labedoyere among them, and they threw away the white cockade as a badge +of their nation's dishonour. The peasantry of Dauphiny, the cradle of +the Revolution, lined the roadside: they were transported and mad with +joy. The first battalion, which has just been alluded to, had shown some +signs of hesitation, but thousands of the country people crowded round +it, and by their shouts of "Vive l'Empereur!" endeavoured to urge the +troops to decision, while others who followed in Napoleon's rear +encouraged his little troop to advance by assuring them that they would +meet with success. Napoleon said he could have taken 2,000,000 of these +peasants with him to Paris, but that then he would have been called "the +King of the Jaequerie." + +Napoleon issued two proclamations on the road. He at first regretted +that he had not had them printed before he left Elba; but this could not +have been done without some risk of betraying his secret designs. He +dictated them on board the vessel, where every man who could write was +employed in copying them. These copies soon became very scarce; many of +them were illegible; and it was of till he arrived at Gap, on the 5th of +March, that he found means to have them printed. They were from that +time circulated and read everywhere with the utmost avidity. + +The address to the army was considered as being still more masterly and +eloquent, and it was certainly well suited to the taste of French +soldiers, who, as Bourrienne remarks, are wonderfully pleased with +grandiloquence, metaphor, and hyperbole, though they do not always +understand what they mean. Even a French author of some distinction +praises this address as something sublime. "The proclamation to the +army," says he, "is full of energy: it could not fail to make all +military imaginations vibrate. That prophetic phrase, 'The eagle, with +the national colours, will fly from church steeple to church steeple, +till it settles on the towers of Notre Dame,' was happy in the extreme." + +These words certainly produced an immense effect on the French soldiery, +who everywhere shouted, "Vive l'Empereur!" "Vive le petit Caporal!" +"We will die for our old comrade!" with the most genuine enthusiasm. + +It was some distance in advance of Grenoble that Labedoyere joined, but +he could not make quite sure of the garrison of that city, which was +commanded by General Marchand, a man resolved to be faithful to his +latest master. The shades of night had fallen when Bonaparte arrived in +front of the fortress of Grenoble, where he stood for some minutes in a +painful state of suspense and indecision. + +It was on the 7th of March, at nightfall, that Bonaparte thus stood +before the walls of Grenoble. He found the gates closed, and the +commanding officer refused to open them. The garrison assembled on the +ramparts shouted "Vive l'Empereur!" and shook hands with Napoleon's +followers through the wickets, but they could not be prevailed on to do +more. It was necessary to force the gates, and this was done under the +mouths of ten pieces of artillery, loaded with grapeshot. In none of his +battles did Napoleon ever imagine himself to be in so much danger as at +the entrance into Grenoble. The soldiers seemed to turn upon him with +furious gestures: for a moment it might be supposed that they were going +to tear him to pieces. But these were the suppressed transports of love +and joy. The Emperor and his horse were both borne along by the +multitude, and he had scarcely time to breathe in the inn where he +alighted when an increased tumult was heard without; the inhabitants of +Grenoble came to offer him the broken gates of the city, since they could +not present him with the keys. + +From Grenoble to Paris Napoleon found no further opposition. During the +four days of his stay at Lyons, where he had arrived on the 10th, there +were continually upwards of 20,000 people assembled before his windows; +whose acclamations were unceasing. It would never have been supposed +that the Emperor had even for a moment been absent from the, country. +He issued orders, signed decrees, reviewed the troops, as if nothing had +happened. The military corps, the public bodies, and all classes of +citizens, eagerly came forward to tender their homage and their services. +The Comte d'Artois, who had hastened to Lyons, as the Duc and Duchesse +d'Augouleme had done to Bourdeaux, like them in vain attempted to make a +stand. The Mounted National Guard (who were known Royalists) deserted +him at this crisis, and in his flight only one of them chose to follow +him. Bonaparte refused their services when offered to him, and with a +chivalrous feeling worthy of being recorded sent the decoration of the +Legion of Honour to the single volunteer who had thus shown his fidelity +by following the Duke. + +As soon as the Emperor quitted Lyons he wrote to Ney, who with his army +was at Lons-le-Saulnier, to come and join him. Ney had set off from the +Court with a promise to bring Napoleon, "like a wild beast in a cage, to +Paris." Scott excuses Ney's heart at the expense of his head, and +fancies that the Marshal was rather carried away by circumstances, by +vanity, and by fickleness, than actuated by premeditated treachery, and +it is quite possible that these protestations were sincerely uttered when +Ney left Paris, but, infected by the ardour of his troops, he was unable +to resist a contagion so much in harmony with all his antecedents, and to +attack not only his leader in many a time of peril, but also the +sovereign who had forwarded his career through every grade of the army. + +The facts of the cane were these:-- + +On the 11th of March Ney, being at Besancon, learned that Napoleon was at +Lyons. To those who doubted whether his troops would fight against their +old comrades he said, "They shall fight! I will take a musket from a +grenadier and begin the action myself! I will run my sword to the hilt +in the body of the first man who hesitates to fire." At the same time he +wrote to the Minister of War at Paris that he hoped to see a fortunate +close to this mad enterprise. + +He then advanced to Lons-le-Saulnier, where, on the night between the +13th and 14th of March, not quite three days after his vehement +protestations of fidelity, he received, without hesitation, a letter from +Bonaparte, inviting him, by his old appellation of the "Bravest of the +Brave," to join his standard. With this invitation Ney complied, and +published an order of the day that declared the cause of the Bourbons, +which he had sworn to defend, lost for ever. + +It is pleaded in extenuation of Ney's defection that both his officers +and men were beyond his control, and determined to join their old Master; +but in that case he might have given up his command, and retired in the +same honourable way that Marshals Macdonald and Marmont and several other +generals did. But even among his own officers Ney had an example set +him, for many of them, after remonstrating in vain, threw up their +commands. One of them broke his sword in two and threw the pieces at +Ney's feet, saying, "It is easier for a man of honour to break iron than +to break his word." + +Napoleon, when at St. Helena, gave a very different reading to these +incidents. On this subject he was heard to say, "If I except Labedoyere, +who flew to me with enthusiasm and affection, and another individual, +who, of his own accord, rendered me important services, nearly all the +other generals whom I met on my route evinced hesitation and uncertainty; +they yielded only to the impulse about them, if indeed they did not +manifest a hostile feeling towards me. This was the case with Ney, with +Massena, St. Cyr, Soult, as well as with Macdonald and the Duke of +Belluno, so that if the Bourbons had reason to complain of the complete +desertion of the soldiers and the people, they had no right to reproach +the chiefs of the army with conspiring against them, who had shown +themselves mere children in politics, and would be looked upon as neither +emigrants nor patriots." + +Between Lyons and Fontainebleau Napoleon often travelled several miles +ahead of his army with no other escort than a few Polish lancers. His +advanced guard now generally consisted of the troops (miscalled Royal) +who happened to be before him on the road whither they had been sent to +oppose him, and to whom couriers were sent forward to give notice of the +Emperor's approach, in order that they might be quite ready to join him +with the due military ceremonies. White flags and cockades everywhere +disappeared; the tri-colour resumed its pride of place. It was spring, +and true to its season the violet had reappeared! The joy of the +soldiers and the lower orders was almost frantic, but even among the +industrious poor there were not wanting many who regretted this +precipitate return to the old order of things--to conscription, war, and +bloodshed, while in the superior classes of society there was a pretty +general consternation. The vain, volatile soldiery, however, thought of +nothing but their Emperor, saw nothing before them but the restoration of +all their laurels, the humiliation of England, and the utter defeat of +the Russians, Prussians, and Austrians. + +On the night between the 19th and 20th of March Napoleon reached +Fontainebleau, and again paused, as had formerly been his custom, with +short, quick steps through the antiquated but splendid galleries of that +old palace. What must have been his feelings on revisiting the chamber +in which, the year before, it is said he had attempted suicide! + +Louis XVIII., left the Palace of the Tuileries at nearly the same hour +that Bonaparte entered that of Fontainebleau. + +The most forlorn hope of the Bourbons was now in a considerable army +posted between Fontainebleau and Paris. Meanwhile the two armies +approached each other at Melun; that of the King was commanded by Marshal +Macdonald. On the 20th his troops were drawn up in three lines to +receive the invaders, who were said to be advancing from Fontainebleau. +There was a long pause of suspense, of a nature which seldom fails to +render men more accessible to strong and sudden emotions. The glades of +the forest, and the acclivity which leads to it, were in full view of the +Royal army, but presented the appearance of a deep solitude. All was +silence, except when the regimental bands of music, at the command of the +officers, who remained generally faithful, played the airs of "Vive Henri +Quatre," "O Richard," "La Belle Gabrielle," and other tunes connected +with the cause and family of the Bourbons. The sounds excited no +corresponding sentiments among the soldiers. + +At length, about noon, a galloping of horse was heard. An open carriage +appeared, surrounded by a few hussars, and drawn by four horses. It came +on at full speed, and Napoleon, jumping from the vehicle, was in the +midst of the ranks which had been formed to oppose him. His escort threw +themselves from their horses, mingled with their ancient comrades, and +the effect of their exhortations was instantaneous on men whose minds +were already half made up to the purpose which they now accomplished. +There was a general shout of "Vive Napoleon!" The last army of the +Bourbons passed from their side, and no further obstruction existed +betwixt Napoleon and the capital, which he was once more--but for a brief +space--to inhabit as a sovereign. + +Louis, accompanied only by a few household troops, had scarcely turned +his back on the capital of his ancestors when Lavalette hastened from a +place of concealment and seized on the Post-office in the name of +Napoleon. By this measure all the King's proclamations' were +intercepted, and the restoration of the Emperor was announced to all the +departments. General Excelmans, who had just renewed his oath to Louis, +pulled down with his own hands the white flag that was floating over the +Tuileries, and hoisted the three-coloured banner. + +It was late in the evening of the 20th that Bonaparte entered Paris in an +open carriage, which was driven straight to the gilded gates of the +Tuileries. He received the acclamations of the military and of the lower +classes of the suburbs, but most of the respectable citizens looked on in +silent wonderment. It was quite evident then that he was recalled by a +party--a party, in truth, numerous and powerful, but not by the unanimous +voice of the nation. The enthusiasm of his immediate adherents, however, +made up for the silence and lukewarmness of others. They filled and +crammed the square of the Carrousel, and the courts and avenues of the +Tuileries; they pressed so closely upon him that he was obliged to cry +out, "My friends, you stifle me!" and his aides de camp were compelled to +carry him in their arms up the grand staircase, and thence into the royal +apartments. It was observed, however, that amongst these ardent friends +were many men who had been the first to desert him in 1814, and that +these individuals were the most enthusiastic in their demonstrations, the +loudest in their shouts! + +And thus was Napoleon again at the Tuileries, where, even more than at +Fontainebleau, his mind was flooded by the deep and painful recollections +of the past! A few nights after his return thither he sent for M. Horan, +one of the physicians who had attended Josephine during her last illness. +"So, Monsieur Horan," said he, "you did not leave the Empress during her +malady?"--"No, Sire." + +What was the cause of that malady?"--"Uneasiness of mind . . .grief."-- +"You believe that?" (and Napoleon laid a strong emphasis on the word +believe, looking steadfastly in the doctor's face). He then asked, "Was +she long ill? Did she suffer much?"--"She was ill a week, Sire; her +Majesty suffered little bodily pain."--"Did she see that she was dying? +Did she show courage?"--"A sign her Majesty made when she could no longer +express herself leaves me no doubt that she felt her end approaching; she +seamed to contemplate it without fear."--" Well! . . well!" and then +Napoleon much affected drew close to M. Horan, and added, "You say that +she was in grief; from what did that arise?"--"From passing events, Sire; +from your Majesty's position last year."--" Ah! she used to speak of me +then?"--"Very often." Here Napoleon drew his hand across his eyes, which +seemed filled with tears. He then went on. "Good woman!--Excellent +Josephine! She loved me truly--she--did she not? . . . Ah! She was a +Frenchwoman!"--"Yes, Sire, she loved you, and she would have proved it +had it not been for dread of displeasing you: she had conceived an idea." +--"How? ... What would she have done?" She one day said that as Empress +of the French she would drive through Paris with eight horses to her +coach, and all her household in gala livery, to go and rejoin you at +Fontainebleau, and never quit you mare."--"She would have done it--she +was capable of doing it!" + +Napoleon again betrayed deep emotion, on recovering from which he asked +the physician the most minute questions about the nature of Josephine's +disease, the friends and attendants who were around her at the hour of +her death, and the conduct of her two children, Eugene and Hortense. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +1815. + + Message from the Tuileries--My interview with the King-- + My appointment to the office of Prefect of the Police--Council at + the Tuileries--Order for arrests--Fouches escape--Davoust + unmolested--Conversation with M. de Blacas--The intercepted letter, + and time lost--Evident understanding between Murat and Napoleon-- + Plans laid at Elba--My departure from Paris--The post-master of + Fins--My arrival at Lille--Louis XVIII. detained an hour at the + gates--His majesty obliged to leave France--My departure for + Hamburg--The Duc de Berri at Brussels. + +Those who opposed the execution of the treaty concluded with Napoleon at +the time of his abdication were guilty of a great error, for they +afforded him a fair pretext for leaving the island of Elba. The details +of that extraordinary enterprise are known to every one, and I shall not +repeat what has been told over and over again. For my own part, as soon +as I saw with what rapidity Bonaparte was marching upon Lyons, and the +enthusiasm with which he was received by the troops and the people, I +prepared to retire to Belgium, there to await the denouement of this new +drama. + +Every preparation for my departure was completed on the evening of the +13th of March, and I was ready to depart, to avoid the persecutions of +which I expected I should be the object, when I received a message from +the Tuileries stating that the King desired to see me. I of course lost +no time in proceeding to the Palace, and went straight to M. Hue to +inquire of him why I had been sent for. He occupied the apartments in +which I passed the three most laborious and anxious years of my life. +M. Hue, perceiving that I felt a certain degree of uneasiness at being +summoned to the Tuileries at that hour of the night, hastened to inform +me that the King wished to appoint me Prefect of the Police. He +conducted me to the King's chamber, where his Majesty thus addressed me +kindly, but in an impressive manner, "M. de Bourrienne, can we rely upon +you? I expect much from your zeal and fidelity."--"Your Majesty," +replied I, "shall have no reason to complain of my betraying your +confidence."--" Well, I re-establish the Prefecture of the Police, and I +appoint you Prefect. Do your best, M. de Bourrienne, in the discharge of +your duties; I count upon you." + +By a singular coincidence, on the very day (the 13th of March) when I +received this appointment Napoleon, who was at Lyons, signed the decree +which excluded from the amnesty he had granted thirteen individuals, +among whose names mine was inscribed. This decree confirmed me in the +presentiments I had conceived as soon as I heard of the landing of +Bonaparte. On returning home from the Tuileries after receiving my +appointment a multitude of ideas crowded on my mind. At the first moment +I had been prompted only by the wish to serve the cause of the King, but +I was alarmed when I came to examine the extent of the responsibility I +had taken upon myself. However, I determined to meet with courage the +difficulties that presented themselves, and I must say that I had every +reason to be satisfied with the manner in which I was seconded by M. +Foudras, the Inspector-General of the Police. + +Even now I am filled with astonishment when I think of the Council that +was held at the Tuileries on the evening of the 13th of March in M. de +Blacas' apartments. The ignorance of the members of that Council +respecting our situation, and their confidence in the useless measures +they had adopted against Napoleon, exceed all conception. + +Will it be believed that those great statesmen, who had the control of +the telegraph, the post-office, the police and its agents, money-in +short, everything which constitutes power--asked me to give them +information respecting the advance of Bonaparte? What could I say to +them? I could only repeat the reports which were circulated on the +Exchange, and those which I had collected here and there during the last +twenty-four hours. I did not conceal that the danger was imminent, and +that all their precautions would be of no avail. The question then arose +as to what course should be adapted by the King. It was impossible that +the monarch could remain at the Capital, and yet, where was he to go? +One proposed that he should go to Bordeaux, another to La Vendee, and a +third to Normandy, and a fourth member of the Council was of opinion that +the King should be conducted to Melun. I conceived that if a battle +should take place anywhere it would probably be in the neighbourhood of +that town, but the councillor who made this last suggestion assured us +that the presence of the King in an open carriage and eight horses would +produce a wonderful effect on the minds of the troops. This project was +merely ridiculous; the others appeared to be dangerous and impracticable. +I declared to the Council that, considering the situation of things, it +was necessary to renounce all idea of resistance by force of arms; that +no soldier would fire a musket, and that it was madness to attempt to +take any other view of things. "Defection," said I, "is inevitable. +The soldiers are drinking in their barracks the money which you have been +giving them for some days past to purchase their fidelity. They say +Louis XVIII., is a very decent sort of man, but 'Vive le petit Caporal!'" + +Immediately on the landing of Napoleon the King sent an extraordinary +courier to Marmont, who was at Chatillon whither he had gone to take a +last leave of his dying mother. I saw him one day after he had had an +interview with the King; I think it was on the 6th or 7th of March. +After some conversation on the landing of Napoleon, and the means of +preventing him from reaching Paris, Marmont said to me, "This is what I +dwelt most strongly upon in the interview I have just had with the King. +'Sire,' said I, 'I doubt not Bonaparte's intention of coming to Paris, +and the best way to prevent him doing so would be for your Majesty to +remain here. It is necessary to secure the Palace of the Tuileries +against a surprise, and to prepare it for resisting a siege, in which it +would be indispensable to use cannon. You must shut yourself up in your +palace, with the individuals of your household and the principal public +functionaries, while the Due d'Angoulome should go to Bordeaux, the Duc +de Berri to La Vendee, and Monsieur to, the Franche-Comte; but they must +set off in open day, and announce that they are going to collect +defenders for your Majesty.--[Monsieur, the brother of the King, the +Comte d'Artois later Charles X.] + +". . This is what I said to the King this morning, and I added that I +would answer for everything if my advice were followed. I am now going +to direct my aide de camp, Colonel Fabvier, to draw up the plan of +defence." I did not concur in Marmont's opinion. It is certainly +probable that had Louis XVIII. remained in his palace the numerous +defections which took place before the 20th of March would have been +checked and some persons would not have found so ready an excuse for +breaking their oaths of allegiance. There can be little doubt, too, but +Bonaparte would have reflected well before he attempted the siege of the +Tuileries. + + --[Marmont (tome vii. p. 87) gives the full details of his scheme + for provisioning and garrisoning the Tuileries which the King was to + hold while his family spread themselves throughout the provinces. + The idea had nothing strange in it, for the same advice was given by + General Mathieu Dumas (Souvenirs, tome iii. p. 564), a man not + likely to suggest any rash schemes. Jaucourt, writing to + Talleyrand, obviously believed in the wisdom of the King's + remaining, as did the Czar; see Talleyrand's Correspondence, vol. + ii. pp. 94, 122, 129. Napoleon would certainly have been placed + in a strange difficulty, but a king capable of adopting such a + resolution would never have been required to consider it.]-- + +Marmont supported his opinion by observing that the admiration and +astonishment excited by the extraordinary enterprise of Napoleon and his +rapid march to Paris would be counterbalanced by the interest inspired by +a venerable monarch defying his bold rival and courageously defending his +throne. While I rendered full justice to the good intentions of the Duke +of Ragusa, yet I did not think that his advice could be adopted. I +opposed it as I opposed all the propositions that were made in the +Council relative to the different places to which the King should retire. +I myself suggested Lille as being the nearest, and as presenting the +greatest degree of safety, especially in the first instance. + +It was after midnight when I left the Council of the Tuileries. The +discussion had terminated, and without coming to any precise resolution +it was agreed that the different opinions which had been expressed should +be submitted to Louis XVIII. in order that his Majesty might adopt that +which should appear to him the best. The King adopted my opinion, but it +was not acted upon until five days after. + +My appointment to the Prefecture of the Police was, as will be seen, a +late thought of measure, almost as late indeed as Napoleon's proposition +to send me as his Minister Plenipotentiary to Switzerland. In now +accepting office I was well convinced of the inutility of any effort that +might be made to arrest the progress of the fast approaching and menacing +events. Being introduced into the King's cabinet his Majesty asked me +what I thought of the situation of affairs. "I think, Sire, that +Bonaparte will be here in five or six days."--"What, sir?"--"Yes, Sire." +--"But proper measures are taken, the necessary orders given, and the +Marshals are faithful to me."--"Sire, I suspect no man's fidelity; but I +can assure your Majesty that, as Bonaparte has landed, he will be here +within a week. I know him, and your Majesty cannot know him as well as I +do; but I can venture too assure your Majesty with the same confidence +that he will not be here six months hence. He will be hurried into acts +of folly which will ruin him."--"De Bourrienne, I hope the best from +events, but if misfortune again compel me to leave France, and your +second prediction be fulfilled, you may rely on me." During this short +conversation the King appeared perfectly tranquil and resigned. + +The next day I again visited the Tuileries, whither I had at those +perilous times frequent occasion to repair. On that day I received a +list of twenty-five persons whom I was ordered to arrest. I took the +liberty to observe that such a proceeding was not only useless but likely +to produce a very injurious effect at that critical moment. The reasons +I urged had not all the effect I expected. However, some relaxation as +to twenty-three of the twenty-five was conceded, but it was insisted that +Fouche and Davoust should be arrested without delay. The King repeatedly +said, "I wish you to arrest Fouche."--" Sire, I beseech your Majesty to +consider the inutility of such a measure."--" I am resolved upon Fouches +arrest. But I am sure you will miss him, for Andre could not catch him." + +My nocturnal installation as Prefect of the Police took place some time +after midnight. I had great repugnance to the arrest of Fouche, but the +order having been given, there was no alternative but to obey it. I +communicated the order to M. Foudras, who very coolly observed, "Since we +are to arrest him you need not be afraid, we shall have him fast +tomorrow." + +The next day my agents repaired to the Duke of Otranto's hotel, in the +Rue d'Artois. On showing their warrant Fouche said, "What does this +mean? Your warrant is of no force; it is mere waste-paper. It purports +to come from the Prefect of the Police, but there is no such Prefect." +In my opinion Fouche was right, for my appointment, which took place +during the night, had not been legally announced. Be that as it may, +on his refusal to surrender, one of my agents applied to the staff of the +National Guard, requesting the support, in case of need, of an armed +force. General Dessolles repaired to the Tuileries to take the King's +orders on the subject. Meanwhile Fouche, who never lost his self- +possession, after talking to the police officers who remained with him, +pretended to step aside for some indispensable purpose, but the door +which he opened led into a dark passage through which he slipped, leaving +my unfortunate agents groping about in the obscurity. As for himself, he +speedily gained the Rue Taitbout, where he stepped into a coach, and +drove off. This is the whole history of the notable arrest of Fouche. + +As for Davoust, I felt my hands tied with respect to him. I do not mean +to affect generosity, for I acknowledge the enmity I bore him; but I did +not wish it to be supposed that I was acting towards him from a spirit of +personal vengeance. I therefore merely ordered him to be watched. The +other twenty-three were to me in this matter as if they had never +existed; and some of them, perhaps, will only learn in reading my Memoirs +what dangerous characters they were thought to be. + +On the 15th of March, after the conversation which, as I have already +related, I had with Louis XVIII, I went to M. de Blacas and repeated to +him what I had stated to the King on the certainty of Bonaparte's speedy +arrival in Paris. I told him that I found it necessary to devote the +short time still in our power to prevent a reaction against the +Royalists, and to preserve public tranquillity until the departure of the +Royal family, and that I would protect the departure of all persons who +had reasons for withdrawing themselves from the scene of the great and +perhaps disastrous events that might ensue. "You may readily believe, +Count," added I, "that considering the great interests with which I am +entrusted, I am not inclined to lose valuable time in arresting the +persons of whose names I have received a list. The execution of such a +measure would be useless; it would lead to nothing, or rather it would +serve to irritate public feeling. My conviction of this fact has +banished from me all idea of keeping under restraint for four or five +days persons whose influence, whether real or supposed, is nil, since +Bonaparte is at Auxerre. Mere supervision appears to me sufficient, and +to that I propose confining myself."--"The King," replied M. de Blacas, +"relies on you. He knows that though only forty-eight hours have elapsed +since you entered upon your functions, you have already rendered greater +services than you are perhaps aware of." I then asked M. de Blacas +whether he had not received any intimation of Bonaparte's intended +departure from the island of Elba by letters or by secret agents. "The +only positive information we received," answered the Minister, "was an +intercepted letter, dated Elba, 6th February. It was addressed to +M. -----, near Grenoble. I will show it you." M. de Blacas opened a +drawer of his writing-table and took out the letter, which he gave to me. +The writer thanked his correspondent for the information he had +transmitted to "the inhabitant of Elba." He was informed that everything +was ready for departure, and that the first favourable opportunity would +be seized, but that it would be desirable first to receive answers to +some questions contained in the letter. These questions related to the +regiments which had been sent into the south, and the places of their +cantonment. It was inquired whether the choice of the commanders was +conformable to what had been agreed on in Paris, and whether Labedoyere +was at his post. The letter was rather long and it impressed me by the +way in which the plan of a landing on the coast of Provence was +discussed. Precise answers were requested on all these points. On +returning the letter to M. de Blacas I remarked that the contents of the +letter called for the adoption of some decided measures, and I asked him +what had been done. He answered, "I immediately sent a copy of the +letter to M. d'Andre, that he might give orders for arresting the +individual to whom it was addressed." + +Having had the opportunity of closely observing the machinery of a +vigilant and active Government, I was, I must confess, not a little +amazed at the insufficiency of the measures adopted to defeat this well- +planned conspiracy. When M. de Blacas informed me of all that had been +done, I could not repress an exclamation of surprise. "Well," said he, +"and what would you have done?"--"In the first place I would not have +lost twenty-four hours, which were an age in such a crisis." I then +explained the plan I would have adopted. A quarter of an hour after the +receipt of the letter I would have sent trustworthy men to Grenoble, and +above all things I would have taken care not to let the matter fall into +the hands of the police. Having obtained all information from the +correspondent at Grenoble, I would have made him write a letter to his +correspondent at Elba to quiet the eagerness of Napoleon, telling him +that the movement of troops he spoke of had not been made, that it would +take eight days to carry it out, and that it was necessary to the success +of the enterprise to delay the embarkation for some days. While +Bonaparte was thus delayed I would have sent to the coast of Provence a +sufficient body of men devoted to the Royal cause, sending off in another +direction the regiments whose chiefs were gained over by Napoleon, as the +correspondence should reveal their names. "You are perhaps right, sir," +said M. de Blacas, "but what could I do? I am new here. I had not the +control of the police, and I trusted to M. d'Andre."--" Well," said I, +"Bonaparte will be here on the 20th of March." With these words I parted +from M. de Blacas. I remarked a great change in him. He had already +lost a vast deal of that hauteur of favouritism which made him so much +disliked. + +When I entered upon my duties in the Prefecture of Police the evil was +already past remedy. The incorrigible emigres required another lesson, +and the temporary resurrection of the Empire was inevitable. But, if +Bonaparte was recalled, it was not owing to any attachment to him +personally; it was not from any fidelity to the recollections of the +Empire. It was resolved at any price to get rid of those imbecile +councillors, who thought they might treat France like a country conquered +by the emigrants. The people determined to free themselves from a +Government which seemed resolved to trample on all that was dear to +France. In this state of things some looked upon Bonaparte as a +liberator, but the greater number regarded him as an instrument. In this +last character he was viewed by the old Republicans, and by a new +generation, who thought they caught a glimpse of liberty in promises, and +Who were blind enough to believe that the idol of France would be +restored by Napoleon. + +In February 1815, while everything was preparing at Elba for the +approaching departure of Napoleon, Murat applied to the Court of Vienna +for leave to march through the Austrian Provinces of Upper Italy an army +directed on France. It was on the 26th of the same month that Bonaparte +escaped from Elba. These two facts were necessarily connected together, +for, in spite of Murat's extravagant ideas, he never could have +entertained the expectation of obliging the King of France, by the mere +force of arms, to acknowledge his continued possession of the throne of +Naples. Since the return of Louis XVIII. the Cabinet of the Tuileries +had never regarded Murat in any other light than as a usurper, and I know +from good authority that the French Plenipotentiaries at the Congress of +Vienna were especially instructed to insist that the restoration of the +throne of Naples in favour of the Bourbons of the Two Sicilies should be +a consequence of the restoration of the throne of France. I also know +that the proposition was firmly opposed on the part of Austria, who had +always viewed with jealousy the occupation of three thrones of Europe by +the single House of Bourbon. + +According to information, for the authenticity of which I can vouch, the +following were the plans which Napoleon conceived at Elba. Almost +immediately after his arrival in France he was to order the Marshals on +whom he could best rely to defend to the utmost the entrances to the +French territory and the approaches to Paris, by pivoting on the triple +line of fortresses which gird the north and east of France. Davoust was +'in petto' singled out for the defence of Paris. He, was to arm the +inhabitants of the suburbs, and to have, besides, 20,000 men of the +National Guard at his disposal. Napoleon, not being aware of the +situation of the Allies, never supposed that they could concentrate their +forces and march against him so speedily as they did. He hoped to take +them by surprise, and defeat their projects, by making Murat march upon +Milan, and by stirring up insurrections in Italy. The Po being once +crossed, and Murat approaching the capital of Lombardy, Napoleon with the +corps of Suchet, Brune, Grouchy, and Massena, augmented by troops sent, +by forced marches, to Lyons, was to cross the Alps and revolutionise +Piedmont. There, having recruited his army and joined the Neapolitans in +Milan, he was to proclaim the independence of Italy, unite the whole +country under a single chief, and then march at the head of 100,000 men +on Vienna, by the Julian Alps, across which victory had conducted him in +1797. This was not all: numerous emissaries scattered through Poland and +Hungary were to foment discord and raise the cry of liberty and +independence, to alarm Russia and Austria. It must be confessed it would +have been an extraordinary spectacle to see Napoleon giving liberty to +Europe in revenge for not having succeeded in enslaving her. + +By means of these bold manoeuvres and vast combinations Napoleon +calculated that he would have the advantage of the initiative in military +operations. Perhaps his genius was never more fully developed than in +this vast conception. According to this plan he was to extend his +operations over a line of 500 leagues, from Ostend to Vienna, by the Alps +and Italy, to provide himself with immense resources of every kind, to +prevent the Emperor of Austria from marching his troops against France, +and probably force him to terminate a war from which the hereditary +provinces would have exclusively suffered. Such was the bright prospect +which presented itself to Napoleon when he stepped on board the vessel +which was to convey him from Elba to France. But the mad precipitation +of Murat put Europe on the alert, and the brilliant illusion vanished +like a dream. + +After being assured that all was tranquil, and that the Royal family was +secure against every danger, I myself set out at four o'clock on the +morning of the 20th of March, taking the road to Lille.--Nothing +extraordinary occurred until I arrived at the post-office of Fins, in +front of which were drawn up a great number of carriages, which had +arrived before mine, and the owners of which, like myself, were +impatiently waiting for horses. I soon observed that some one called the +postmaster aside in a way which did not appear entirely devoid of +mystery, and I acknowledge I felt some degree of alarm. I was in the +room in which the travellers were waiting, and my attention was attracted +by a large bill fixed against the wall. It was printed in French and +Russian, and it proved to be the order of the day which I had been +fortunate enough to obtain from the Emperor Alexander to exempt +posthorses, etc., from the requisitions of the Allied troops. + +I was standing looking at the bill when the postmaster came into the room +and advanced towards me. "Sir," said he, "that is an order of the day +which saved me from ruin."--"Then surely you would not harm the man by +whom it is signed?"--"I know you, sir, I recognised you immediately. +I saw you in Paris when you were Director of the Post-office, and you +granted a just claim which I had upon you. I have now come to tell you +that they are harnessing two horses to your calash, and you may set off +at full speed." The worthy man had assigned to my use the only two +horses at his disposal; his son performed the office of postilion, and I +set off to the no small dissatisfaction of some of the travellers who had +arrived before me, and who, perhaps, had as good reasons as I to avoid +the presence of Napoleon. + +We arrived at Lille at eleven o'clock on the night of the 21st. Here I +encountered another vexation, though not of an alarming kind. The gates +of the town were closed, and I was obliged to content myself with a +miserable night's lodging in the suburb. + +I entered Lille on the 22d, and Louis XVIII. arrived on the 23d. His +Majesty also found the gates closed, and more than an hour elapsed before +an order could be obtained for opening them, for the Duke of Orleans, who +commanded the town, was inspecting the troops when his Majesty arrived. +The King was perfectly well received at Lille. There indeed appeared +some symptoms of defection, but it must be acknowledged that the officers +of the old army had been so singularly sacrificed to the promotion of the +returned emigrants that it was very natural the former should hail the +return of the man who had so often led them to victory. I put up at the +Hotel de Grand, certainly without forming any prognostic respecting the +future residence of the King. When I saw his Majesty's retinue I went +down and stood at the door of the hotel, where as soon as Louis XVIII. +perceived me he distinguished me from among all the persons who were +awaiting his arrival, and holding out his hand for me to kiss he said, +"Follow me, M. de Bourrienne." + +On entering the apartments prepared for him the King expressed to me his +approval of my conduct since the Restoration, and especially during the +short interval in which I had discharged the functions of Prefect of the +Police. He did me the honour to invite me to breakfast with him. The +conversation naturally turned on the events of the day, of which every +one present spoke according to his hopes or fears. Observing that Louis +XVIII. concurred in Berthier's discouraging view of affairs, I ventured +to repeat what I had already said at the Tuileries, that, judging from +the disposition of the sovereigns of Europe and the information which I +had received, it appeared very probable that his Majesty would be again +seated on his throne in three months. Berthier bit his nails as he did +when he wanted to leave the army of Egypt and return to Paris to the +object of his adoration. Berthier was not hopeful; he was always one of +those men who have the least confidence and the most depression. I could +perceive that the King regarded my observation as one of those +compliments which he was accustomed to receive, and that he had no great +confidence in the fulfilment of my prediction. However, wishing to seem +to believe it, he said, what he had more than hinted before, "M. de +Bourrienne, as long as I am King you shall be my Prefect of the Police." + +It was the decided intention of Louis XVIII. to remain in France as long +as he could, but the Napoleonic fever, which spread like an epidemic +among the troops, had infected the garrison of Lille. Marshal Mortier, +who commanded at Lille, and the Duke of Orleans, expressed to me their +well-founded fears, and repeatedly recommended me to urge the King to +quit Lille speedily, in order to avoid any fatal occurrence. During the +two days I passed with his Majesty I entreated him to yield to the +imperious circumstances in which he was placed. At length the King, with +deep regret, consented to go, and I left Lille the day before that fixed +for his Majesty's departure. + +In September 1814 the King had appointed me charge d'affaires from France +to Hamburg, but not having received orders to repair to my post I have +not hitherto mentioned this nomination. However, when Louis XVIII. was +on the point of leaving France he thought that my presence in Hamburg +might be useful for the purpose of making him acquainted with all that +might interest him in the north of Germany. But it was not there that +danger was to be apprehended. There were two points to be watched--the +headquarters of Napoleon and the King's Council at Ghent. I, however, +lost no time in repairing to a city where I was sure of finding a great +many friends. On passing through Brussels I alighted at the Hotel de +Bellevue, where the Duc de Berri arrived shortly after me. His Royal +Highness then invited me to breakfast with him, and conversed with me +very confidentially. I afterwards continued my journey. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +1815. + + Message to Madame de Bourrienne on the 20th of March--Napoleon's + nocturnal entrance into Paris--General Becton sent to my family by + Caulaincourt--Recollection of old persecutions--General Driesen-- + Solution of an enigma--Seals placed on my effects--Useless searches + --Persecution of women--Madame de Stael and Madame de Recamier-- + Paris during the Hundred Days--The federates and patriotic songs-- + Declaration of the Plenipotentiaries at Vienna. + +At Lille, and again at Hamburg, I received letters from my family, which +I had looked for with great impatience. They contained particulars of +what had occurred relative to me since Bonaparte's return to Paris. +Two hours after my departure Madame de Bourrienne also left Paris, +accompanied by her children, and proceeded to an asylum which had been +offered her seven leagues from the capital. She left at my house in +Paris her sister, two of her brothers, and her friend the Comtesse de +Neuilly, who had resided with us since her return from the emigration. + +On the very morning of my wife's departure (namely, the 20th of March) a +person, with whom I had always been on terms of friendship, and who was +entirely devoted to Bonaparte, sent to request that Madame de Bourrienne +would call on him, as he wished to speak to her on most important and +urgent business. My sister-in-law informed the messenger that my wife +had left Paris, but, begging a friend to accompany her, she went herself +to the individual, whose name will be probably guessed, though I do not +mention it. The person who came with the message to my house put many +questions to Madame de Bourrienne's sister respecting my absence, and +advised her, above all things, to conjure me not to follow the King, +observing that the cause of Louis XVIII. was utterly lost, and that I +should do well to retire quietly to Burgundy, as there was no doubt of my +obtaining the Emperor's pardon. + +Nothing could be more gloomy than Bonaparte's entrance into Paris. He +arrived at night in the midst of a thick fog. The streets were almost +deserted, and a vague feeling of terror prevailed almost generally in the +capital. + +At nine o'clock on the same evening, the very hour of Bonaparte's arrival +at the Tuileries, a lady, a friend, of my family, and whose son served in +the Young Guard, called and requested to see Madame de Bourrienne. She +refused to enter the house lest she should be seen, and my sister-in-law +went down to the garden to speak to her without a light. This lady's +brother had been on the preceding night to Fontainebleau to see +Bonaparte, and he had directed his sister to desire me to remain in +Paris, and to retain my post in the Prefecture of the Police, as I was +sure of a full and complete pardon. + +On the morning of the 21st General Becton, who has since been the victim +of his mad enterprises, called at my house and requested to speak with me +and Madame de Bourrienne. He was received by my wife's sister and +brothers, and stated that he came from M. de Caulaincourt to renew the +assurances of safety which had already been given to me. I was, I +confess, very sensible of these proofs of friendship when they came to my +knowledge, but I did not for a single moment repent the course I adopted. +I could not forget the intrigues of which I had been the object since +1811, nor the continual threats of arrest which, during that year, had +not left me a moment's quiet; and since I now revert to that time, I may +take the opportunity of explaining how in 1814 I was made acquainted with +the real causes of the persecution to which I had been a prey. A person, +whose name prudence forbids me mentioning, communicated to me the +following letter, the original copy of which is in my possession: + + MONSIEUR LE DUC DE BASSANO--I send you some very important documents + respecting the Sieur Bourrienne, and beg you will make me a + confidential report on this affair. Keep these documents for + yourself alone. This business demands the utmost secrecy. + Everything induces me to believe that Bourrienne has carried a + series of intrigues with London. Bring me the report on Thursday. + I pray God, etc. + (Signed) NAPOLEON + PARIS, 25th December 1811. + + +I could now clearly perceive what to me had hitherto been enveloped in +obscurity; but I was not, as yet, made acquainted with the documents +mentioned in Napoleon's epistle. Still, however, the cause of his +animosity was an enigma which I was unable to guess, but I obtained its +solution some time afterwards. + +General Driesen, who was the Governor of Mittau while Louis XVIII. +resided in that town, came to Paris in 1814. I had been well acquainted +with him in 1810 at Hamburg, where he lived for a considerable time. +While at Mittau he conceived a chivalrous and enthusiastic friendship for +the King of France. We were at first distrustful of each other, but +afterwards the most intimate confidence arose between us. General +Driesen looked forward with certainty to the return of the Bourbons to +France, and in the course of our frequent conversations on his favourite +theme he gradually threw off all reserve, and at length disclosed to me +that he was maintaining a correspondence with the King. + +He told me that he had sent to Hartwell several drafts of proclamations, +with none of which, he said, the King was satisfied. On allowing me the +copy of the last of these drafts I frankly told him that I was quite of +the King's opinion as to its unfitness. I observed that if the King +should one day return to France and act as the general advised he would +not keep possession of his throne six months. Driesen then requested me +to dictate a draft of a proclamation conformably with my ideas. This I +consented to do on one condition, viz. that he would never mention my +name in connection with the business, either in writing or conversation. +General Driesen promised this, and then I dictated to him a draft which I +would now candidly lay before the reader if I had a copy of it. I may +add that in the different proclamations of Louis XVIII. I remarked +several passages precisely corresponding with the draft I had dictated at +Hamburg. + +During the four years which intervened between my return to Paris and the +downfall of the Empire it several times occurred to me that General +Driesen had betrayed my secret, and on his very first visit to me after +the Restoration, our conversation happening to turn on Hamburg, I asked +him whether he had not disclosed what I wished him to conceal? "Well," +said he, "there is no harm in telling the truth now. After you had left +Hamburg the King wrote to me inquiring the name of the author of the last +draft I had sent him, which was very different from all that had preceded +it. I did not answer this question, but the King having repeated it in a +second letter, and having demanded an answer, I was compelled to break my +promise to you, and I put into the post-office of Gothenberg in Sweden a +letter for the King, in which I mentioned your name." + +The mystery was now revealed to me. I clearly saw what had excited in +Napoleon's mind the suspicion that I was carrying on intrigues with +England. I have no doubt as to the way in which the affair came to his +knowledge. The King must have disclosed my name to one of those persons +whose situations placed them above the suspicion of any betrayal of +confidence, and thus the circumstance must have reached the ear of +Bonaparte. This is not a mere hypothesis, for I well know how promptly +and faithfully Napoleon was informed of all that was said and done at +Hartwell. + +Having shown General Drieaen Napoleon's accusatory letter, he begged that +I would entrust him with it for a day or two, saying he would show it to +the King at a private audience. His object was to serve me, and to +excite Louis XVIII.'s interest in my behalf, by briefly relating to him +the whole affair. The general came to me on leaving tile Tuileries, and +assured me that the King after perusing the letter, had the great +kindness to observe that I might think myself very happy in not having +been shot. I know not whether Napoleon was afterwards informed of the +details of this affair, which certainly had no connection with any +intrigues with England, and which, after all, would have been a mere +peccadillo in comparison, with the conduct I thought it my duty to adopt +at the time of the Restoration. + +Meanwhile Madame de Bourrienne informed me by an express that seals were +to be placed on the effects of all the persons included in the decree of +Lyons, and consequently upon mine. As soon as my wife received +information of this she quitted her retreat and repaired to Paris to face +the storm. On the 29th of March, at nine in the evening, the police +agents presented themselves at my house. Madame de Bourrienne +remonstrated against the measure and the inconvenient hour that was +chosen for its execution; but all was in vain, and there was no +alternative but to submit. + +But the matter did not end with the first formalities performed by +Fouche's alguazils. During the month of May seven persons were appointed +to examine, my papers, and among the inquisitorial septemvirate were two +men well known and filling high situations. One of these executed his +commission, but the other, sensible of the odium attached to it, wrote to +say he was unwell, and never came. The number of my inquisitors, 'in +domo', was thus reduced to six. They behaved with great rudeness, and +executed their mission with a rigour and severity exceedingly painful to +my family. They carried their search so far as to rummage the pockets of +my old clothes, and even to unrip the linings. All this was done in the +hope of finding something that would commit me in the eyes of the new +master of France. But I was not to be caught in that way, and before +leaving home I had taken such precautions as to set my mind perfectly at +ease. + +However, those who had declared themselves strongly against Napoleon were +not the only persons who had reason to be alarmed at his return. Women +even, by a system of inquisition unworthy of the Emperor, but +unfortunately quite in unison with his hatred of all liberty, were +condemned to exile, and had cause to apprehend further severity. It is +for the exclusive admirers of the Chief of the Empire to approve of +everything which proceeded from him, even his rigour against a +defenceless sex; it is for them to laugh at the misery of a woman, and a +writer of genius, condemned without any form of trial to the most severe +punishment short of death. For my part, I saw neither justice nor +pleasantry in the exile of Madame de Chevreuse for having had the courage +(and courage was not common then even among men) to say that she was not +made to be the gaoler of the Queen of Spain. On Napoleon's return from. +the isle of Elba, Madame de Stael was in a state of weakness, which +rendered her unable to bear any sudden and violent emotion. This +debilitated state of health had been produced by her flight from Coppet +to Russia immediately after the birth of the son who was the fruit of her +marriage with M. Rocca. In spite of the danger of a journey in such +circumstances she saw greater danger in staying where she was, and she +set out on her new exile. That exile was not of long duration, but +Madame de Stael never recovered from the effect of the alarm and fatigue +it occasioned her. + +The name of the authoress of Corinne, naturally calls to mind that of the +friend who was most faithful to her in misfortune, and who was not +herself screened from the severity of Napoleon by the just and universal +admiration of which she was the object. In 1815 Madame Recamier did not +leave Paris, to which she had returned in 1814, though her exile was not +revoked. I know positively that Hortense assured her of the pleasure she +would feel in receiving her, and that Madame Recamier, as an excuse for +declining the perilous honour, observed that she had determined never +again to appear in the world as long as her friends should be persecuted. +The memorial de Sainte Helene, referring to the origin of the ill-will of +the Chief of the Empire towards the society of Madame de Stael and Madame +Recamier, etc., seems to reproach Madame Recamier, "accustomed," says the +Memorial, "to ask for everything and to obtain everything," for having +claimed nothing less than the complete reinstatement of her father. +Whatever may have been the pretensions of Madame Recamier, Bonaparte, not +a little addicted to the custom he complains of in her, could not have, +with a good grace, made a crime of her ingratitude if he on his side had +not claimed a very different sentiment from gratitude. I was with the +First Consul at the time M. Bernard, the father of Madame Reamier, was +accused, and I have not forgotten on what conditions the re-establishment +would have been granted. + +The frequent interviews between Madame Recamier and Madame de Stael were +not calculated to bring Napoleon to sentiments and measures of +moderation. He became more and more irritated at this friendship between +two women formed for each other's society; and, on the occasion of one of +Madame Recamier's journeys to Coppet he informed her, through the medium +of Fouche, that she was perfectly at liberty to go to Switzerland, but +not to return to Paris. "Ah, Monseigneur! a great man may be pardoned +for the weakness of loving women, but not for fearing them." This was +the only reply of Madame Recamier to Fouche when she set out for Coppet. +I may here observe that the personal prejudices of the Emperor would not +have been of a persevering and violent character if some of the people +who surrounded him had not sought to foment them. I myself fell a victim +to this. Napoleon's affection for me would perhaps have got the upper +hand if his relenting towards me had not been incessantly combated by my +enemies around him. + +I had no opportunity of observing the aspect of Paris during that +memorable period recorded in history by the name of the Hundred Days, +but the letters which I received at the time, together with all that, +I afterwards heard, concurred in assuring me that the capital never +presented so melancholy s picture as: during those three months. No one +felt any confidence in Napoleon's second reign, and it was said, without +any sort of reserve, that Fouche, while serving the cause of usurpation, +would secretly betray it. The future was viewed with alarm, and the +present with dissatisfaction. The sight of the federates who paraded the +faubourgs and the boulevards, vociferating, "The Republic for ever!" and +"Death to the Royalists!" their sanguinary songs, the revolutionary airs +played in our theatres, all tended to produce a fearful torpor in the +public mind, and the issue of the impending events was anxiously awaited. + +One of the circumstances which, at the commencement of the Hundred Days, +most contributed to open the eyes of those who were yet dazzled by the +past glory of Napoleon, was the assurance with which he declared that the +Empress and his son would be restored to him, though nothing warranted +that announcement. It was evident that he could not count on any ally; +and in spite of the prodigious activity with which a new army was raised +those persons must have been blind indeed who could imagine the +possibility of his triumphing over Europe, again armed to oppose him. +I deplored the inevitable disasters which Bonaparte's bold enterprise +would entail, but I had such certain information respecting the +intentions of the Allied powers, and the spirit which animated the +Plenipotentiaries at Vienna, that I could not for a moment doubt the +issue of the conflict: Thus I was not at all surprised when I received at +Hamburg the minutes of the conferences at Vienna in May 1815. + +When the first intelligence of Bonaparte's landing was received at Vienna +it must be confessed that very little had been done at the Congress, for +measures calculated to reconstruct a solid and durable order of things +could only be framed and adopted deliberately, and upon mature +reflection. Louis XVIII. had instructed his Plenipotentiaries to defend +and support the principles of justice and the law of nations, so as to +secure the rights of all parties and avert the chances of a new war. +The Congress was occupied with these important objects when intelligence +was received of Napoleon's departure from Elba and his landing at the +Gulf of Juan. The Plenipotentiaries then signed the protocol of the +conferences to which I have above alluded. + + +[ANNEX TO THE PRECEDING CHAPTER.] + +The following despatch of Napoleon's to Marshal Davoust (given in Captain +Bingham's Translation, vo1 iii. p. 121), though not strictly bearing +upon the subject of the Duke of Bassano's inquiry (p. 256), may perhaps +find a place here, as indicative of the private feeling of the Emperor +towards Bourrienne. As the reader will remember, it has already been +alluded to earlier in the work: + +To MARSHAL DAVOUST. +COMPIEGNE, 3d September 1811. + +I have received your letter concerning the cheating of Bourrienne at +Hamburg. It will be important to throw light upon what he has done. +Have the Jew, Gumprecht Mares, arrested, seize his papers, and place him +in solitary confinement. Have some of the other principal agents of +Bourrienne arrested, so as to discover his doings at Hamburg, and the +embezzlements he has committed there. + (Signed) NAPOLEON. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Had neither learned nor forgotten anything +Nothing is changed in France: there is only one Frenchman more +Rights of misfortune are always sacred + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1815, V13 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 14. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. 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 + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 15. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER XI. to CHAPTER XII. 1815 + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +1815. + + My departure from Hamburg-The King at St. Denis--Fouche appointed + Minister of the Police--Delay of the King's entrance into Paris-- + Effect of that delay--Fouche's nomination due to the Duke of + Wellington--Impossibility of resuming my post--Fouche's language + with respect to the Bourbons--His famous postscript--Character of + Fouche--Discussion respecting the two cockades--Manifestations of + public joy repressed by Fouche--Composition of the new Ministry-- + Kind attention of Blucher--The English at St. Cloud--Blucher in + Napoleon's cabinet--My prisoner become my protector--Blucher and the + innkeeper's dog--My daughter's marriage contract--Rigid etiquette-- + My appointment to the Presidentship of the Electoral College of the + Yonne--My interview with Fouche--My audience of the King--His + Majesty made acquainted with my conversation with Fouche--The Duke + of Otranto's disgrace--Carnot deceived by Bonaparte--My election as + deputy--My colleague, M. Raudot--My return to Paris--Regret caused + by the sacrifice of Ney--Noble conduct of Macdonald--A drive with + Rapp in the Bois de Boulogne--Rapp's interview with Bonaparte in + 1815--The Due de Berri and Rapp--My nomination to the office of + Minister of State--My name inscribed by the hand of Louis XVIII.-- + Conclusion. + +The fulfilment of my prediction was now at hand, for the result of the +Battle of Waterloo enabled Louis XVIII. to return to his dominions. As +soon as I heard of the King's departure from Ghent I quitted Hamburg, and +travelled with all possible haste in the hope of reaching Paris in time +to witness his Majesty's entrance. I arrived at St. Denis on the 7th of +July, and, notwithstanding the intrigues that were set on foot, I found +an immense number of persons assembled to meet the King. Indeed, the +place was so crowded that it was with the greatest difficulty I could +procure even a little garret for my lodging. + +Having resumed my uniform of a captain of the National Guard, I proceeded +immediately to the King's palace. The salon was filled with ladies and +gentlemen who had come to congratulate the King on his return. At St. +Denis I found my family, who, not being aware that I had left Hamburg, +were much surprised to see me. + +They informed me that the Parisians were all impatient for the return of +the King--a fact of which I could judge by the opposition manifested to +the free expression of public feeling. Paris having been declared in a +state of blockade, the gates were closed, and no one was permitted to +leave the capital, particularly by the Barriere de la Chapelle. It is +true that special permission might be obtained, and with tolerable ease, +by those who wished to leave the city; but the forms to be observed for +obtaining the permission deterred the mass of the people from proceeding +to St. Denis, which, indeed, was the sole object of the regulation. As +it had been resolved to force Fouche and the tri-coloured cockade upon +the King, it was deemed necessary to keep away from his Majesty all who +might persuade him to resist the proposed measures. Madame de Bourrienne +told me that on her arrival at St. Denis she called upon M. Hue and M. +Lefebvre, the King's physician, who both acquainted her with those fatal +resolutions. Those gentlemen, however, assured her that the King would +resolutely hold out against the tri-coloured cockade, but the nomination +of the ill-omened man appeared inevitable. + +Fouche Minister of the Police! If, like Don Juan, I had seen a statue +move, I could not have been more confounded than when I heard this news. +I could not credit it until it was repeated to me by different persons. +How; indeed, could I think that at the moment of a reaction the King +should have entrusted the most important ministerial department to a man +to whose arrest he had a hundred days before attached so much +consequence? to a man, moreover, whom Bonaparte had appointed, at Lyons, +to fill the same office! This was inconceivable! Thus, in less than +twenty-four hours, the same man had been entrusted to execute measures +the most opposite, and to serve interests the most contradictory. He was +one day the minister of usurpation, and the next the minister of +legitimacy! How can I express what I felt when Fouche took the oath of +fidelity to Louis XVIII. when I saw the King clasp in his hands the hands +of Fouche! I was standing near M. de Chateaubriand, whose feelings must +have been similar to mine, to judge from a passage in his admirable work, +'La Monarchie selon la Charte'. "About nine in the evening," he says, "I +was in one of the royal antechambers. All at once the door opened, and I +saw the President of the Council enter leaning on the arm of the new +minister. Oh, Louis-le-Desire! Oh, my unfortunate master! you have +proved that there is no sacrifice which your people may not expect from +your paternal heart!" + +Fouche was resolved to have his restoration as well as M. de Talleyrand, +who had had his the year before; he therefore contrived to retard the +King's entry into Paris for four days. The prudent members of the +Chamber of Peers, who had taken no part in the King's Government in 1814, +were the first to declare that it was for the interest of France to +hasten his Majesty's entrance into Paris, in order to prevent foreigners +from exercising a sort of right of conquest in a city which was a prey to +civil dissension and party influence. Blucher informed me that the way +in which Fouche contrived to delay the King's return greatly contributed +to the pretensions of the foreigners who, he confessed, were very well +pleased to see the population of Paris divided in opinion, and to hear +the alarming cries raised by the confederates of the Faubourgs when the +King was already at St. Denis. + +I know for a fact that Louis XVIII. wished to have nothing to do with +Fouche, and indignantly refused to appoint him when he was first +proposed. But he had so nobly served Bonaparte during the Hundred Days +that it was necessary he should be rewarded. Fouche, besides, had gained +the support of a powerful party among the emigrants of the Faubourg St. +Germain, and he possessed the art of rendering himself indispensable. +I have heard many honest men say very seriously that to him was due the +tranquillity of Paris. Moreover, Wellington was the person by whose +influence in particular Fouche was made one of the counsellors of the +King. After all the benefits which foreigners had conferred upon us +Fouche was indeed an acceptable present to France and to the King. + +I was not ignorant of the Duke of Wellington's influence upon the affairs +of the second Restoration, but for a long time I refused to believe that +his influence should have outweighed all the serious considerations +opposed to such a perfect anomaly as appointing Fouche the Minister of a +Bourbon. But I was deceived. France and the King owed to him Fouche's +introduction into the Council, and I had to thank him for the +impossibility of resuming a situation which I had relinquished for the +purpose of following the King into Belgium. Could I be Prefect of Police +under a Minister whom a short time before I had received orders to +arrest, but who eluded my agents? That was impossible. The King could +not offer me the place of Prefect under Fouche, and if he had I could not +have accepted it. I was therefore right in not relying on the assurances +which had been given me; but I confess that if I had been told to guess +the cause why they could not be realised I never should have thought that +cause would have been the appointment of Fouche as a Minister of the King +of France. At first, therefore, I was of course quite forgotten, as is +the custom of courts when a faithful subject refrains from taking part in +the intrigues of the moment. + +I have already frequently stated my opinion of the pretended talent of +Fouche; but admitting his talent to have been as great as was supposed, +that would have been an additional reason for not entrusting the general +police of the kingdom to him. His principles and conduct were already +sufficiently known. No one could be ignorant of the language he held +respecting the Bourbons, and in which be indulged as freely after he +became the Minister of Louis XVIII. as when he was the Minister of +Bonaparte. It was universally known that in his conversation the +Bourbons were the perpetual butt for his sarcasms, that he never +mentioned them but in terms of disparagement, and that he represented +them as unworthy of governing France. Everybody must have been aware +that Fouche, in his heart, favoured a Republic, where the part of +President might have been assigned to him. Could any one have forgotten +the famous postscript he subjoined to a letter he wrote from Lyons to his +worthy friend Robespierre: "To celebrate the fete of the Republic +suitably, I have ordered 250 persons to be shot?" And to this man, the +most furious enemy of the restoration of the monarchy, was consigned the +task of consolidating it for the second time! But it would require +another Claudian to describe this new Rufinus! + +Fouche never regarded a benefit in any other light than as the means of +injuring his benefactor. The King, deceived, like many other persons, by +the reputation which Fouche's partisans had conjured up for him, was +certainly not aware that Fouche had always discharged the functions of +Minister in his own interest, and never for the interest of the +Government which had the weakness to entrust him with a power always +dangerous in his hands. Fouche had opinions, but he belonged to no +party, and his political success is explained by the readiness with which +he always served the party he knew must triumph, and which he himself +overthrew in its turn. He maintained himself in favour from the days of +blood and terror until the happy time of the second Restoration only by +abandoning and sacrificing those who were attached to him; and it might +be said that his ruling passion was the desire of continual change. No +man was ever characterised by greater levity or inconstancy of mind. In +all things he looked only to himself, and to this egotism he sacrificed +both subjects and Governments. Such were the secret causes of the sway +exercised by Fouche during the Convention, the Directory, the Empire, the +Usurpation, and after the second return of the Bourbons. He helped to +found and to destroy every one of those successive Governments. Fouche's +character is perfectly unique. I know no other man who, loaded with +honours, and almost escaping disgrace, has passed through so many +eventful periods, and taken part in so many convulsions and revolutions. + +On the 7th of July the King was told that Fouche alone could smooth the +way for his entrance into Paris, that he alone could unlock the gates of +the capital, and that he alone had power to control public opinion. The +reception given to the King on the following day afforded an opportunity +of judging of the truth of these assertions. The King's presence was the +signal for a feeling of concord, which was manifested in a very decided +way. I saw upon the boulevards, and often in company with each other, +persons, some of whom had resumed the white cockade, while others still +retained the national colours, and harmony was not in the least disturbed +by these different badges. + +Having returned to private life solely on account of Fouche's presence in +the Ministry, I yielded to that consolation which is always left to the +discontented. I watched the extravagance and inconsistency that were +passing around me, and the new follies which were every day committed; +and it must be confessed that a rich and varied picture presented itself +to my observation. The King did not bring back M. de Blacas. His +Majesty had yielded to prudent advice, and on arriving at Mons sent the +unlucky Minister as his ambassador to Naples. Vengeance was talked of, +and there were some persons inconsiderate enough to wish that advantage +should be taken of the presence of the foreigners in order to make what +they termed "an end of the Revolution," as if there were any other means +of effecting that object than frankly adopting whatever good the +Revolution had produced. The foreigners observed with satisfaction the +disposition of these shallow persons, which they thought might be turned +to their own advantage. The truth is, that on the second Restoration our +pretended allies proved themselves our enemies. + +But for them, but for their bad conduct, their insatiable exactions, but +for the humiliation that was felt at seeing foreign cannon planted in the +streets of Paris, and beneath the very windows of the Palace, the days +which followed the 8th of July might have been considered by the Royal +Family as the season of a festival. Every day people thronged to the +garden of the Tuileries, and expressed their joy by singing and dancing +under the King's windows. + +This ebullition of feeling might perhaps be thought absurd, but it at +least bore evidence of the pleasure caused by the return of the Bourbons. + +This manifestation of joy by numbers of persons of both sexes, most of +them belonging to the better classes of society, displeased Fouche, and +he determined to put a stop to it. Wretches were hired to mingle with +the crowd and sprinkle corrosive liquids on the dresses of the females +some of them were even instructed to commit acts of indecency, so that +all respectable persons were driven from the gardens through the fear of +being injured or insulted: As it was wished to create disturbance under +the very eyes of the King, and to make him doubt the reality of the +sentiments so openly expressed in his favour, the agents of the Police +mingled the cry of "Vive l'Empereur!" with that of "Vive le Roi!" and it +happened oftener than once that the most respectable persons were +arrested and charged by Fouche's infamous agents with having uttered +seditious cries. A friend of mine, whose Royalist opinions were well +known, and whose father had been massacred during the Revolution, told me +that while walking with two ladies he heard some individuals near him +crying out "Vive l'Empereur!" This created a great disturbance. The +sentinel advanced to the spot, and those very individuals themselves had +the audacity to charge my friend with being guilty of uttering the +offensive cry. In vain the bystanders asserted the falsehood of the +accusation; he was seized and dragged to the guard-house, and after being +detained for some hours he was liberated on the application of his +friends. By dint of such wretched manoeuvres Fouche triumphed. He +contrived to make it be believed that he was the only person capable of +preventing the disorders of which he himself was the sole author: He got +the Police of the Tuileries under his control. The singing and dancing +ceased, and the Palace was the abode of dulness. + +While the King was at St. Denis he restored to General Dessoles the +command of the National Guard. The General ordered the barriers to be +immediately thrown open. On the day of his arrival in Paris the King +determined, as a principle, that the throne should be surrounded by a +Privy Council, the members of which were to be the princes and persons +whom his Majesty might appoint at a future period. The King then named +his new Ministry, which was thus composed: + +Prince Talleyrand, peer of France, President of the Council of Ministers, +and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. + +Baron Louis, Minister of Finance. + +The Duke of Otranto, Minister of the Police. + +Baron Pasquier, Minister of Justice, and Keeper of the Seals. + +Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr, War Minister. + +Comte de Jaucourt, peer of France, Minister of the Marine. + +The Duc de Richelieu, peer of France, Minister of the King's Household. + +The portfolio of the Minister of the Interior, which was not immediately +disposed of, was provisionally entrusted to the Minister of Justice. But +what was most gratifying to the public in the composition of this new +ministry was that M. de Blacas, who had made himself so odious to +everybody, was superseded by M. de Richelieu, whose name revived the +memory of a great Minister, and who, by his excellent conduct throughout +the whole course of his career, deserves to be distinguished as a model +of honour and wisdom. + +General satisfaction was expressed on the appointment of Marshal +Macdonald to the post of Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour in lieu +of M. de Pradt. M. de Chabrol resumed the Prefecture of the Seine, +which, during the Hundred Days, had been occupied by M. de Bondi, M. de +Mole was made Director-General of bridges and causeways. I was +superseded in the Prefecture of Police by M. Decazes, and M. Beugnot +followed M. Ferrand as Director-General of the Post-office. + +I think it was on the 10th of July that I went to St. Cloud to pay a +visit of thanks to Blucher. I had been informed that as soon as he +learned I had a house at St. Cloud he sent a guard to protect it. This +spontaneous mark of attention was well deserving of grateful +acknowledgment, especially at a time when there was so much reason to +complain of the plunder practised by the Prussians. My visit to Blucher +presented to observation a striking instance of the instability of human +greatness. I found Blucher residing like a sovereign in the Palace of +St. Cloud, where I had lived so long in the intimacy of Napoleon, at a +period when he dictated laws to the Kings of Europe before he was a +monarch himself. + + --[The English occupied St. Cloud after the Prussians. My large + house, in which the children of the Comte d'Artois were inoculated, + was respected by them, but they occupied a small home forming part + of the estate. The English officer who commanded the troops + stationed a guard at the large house. One morning we were informed + that the door had been broken open and a valuable looking-glass + stolen. We complained to the commanding officer, and on the affair + being inquired into it was discovered that the sentinel himself had + committed the theft. The man was tried by a court-martial, and + condemned to death, a circumstance which, as may naturally be + supposed, was very distressing to us. Madame de Bourrienne applied + to the commanding officer for the man's pardon, but could only + obtain his reprieve. The regiment departed some weeks after, and we + could never learn what was the fate of the criminal.--Bourrienne.]-- + +In that cabinet in which Napoleon and I had passed so many busy hours, +and where so many great plans had their birth, I was received by the man +who had been my prisoner at Hamburg. The Prussian General immediately +reminded me of the circumstance. "Who could have foreseen," said he, +"that after being your prisoner I should become the protector of your +property? You treated me well at Hamburg, and I have now an opportunity +of repaying your kindness. Heaven knows what will be the result of all +this! One thing, however, is certain, and that is, that the Allies will +now make such conditions as will banish all possibility of danger for a +long time to come. The Emperor Alexander does not wish to make the +French people expiate too dearly the misfortunes they have caused us. +He attributes them to Napoleon, but Napoleon cannot pay the expenses of +the war, and they must be paid by some one. It was all very well for +once, but we cannot pay the expense of coming back a second time. +However," added he, "you will lose none of your territory; that is a +point on which I can give you positive assurance. The Emperor Alexander +has several times repeated in my presence to the King my master, +'I honour the French nation, and I am determined that it shall preserve +its old limits.'" + +The above are the very words which Blucher addressed to me. Profiting by +the friendly sentiments he expressed towards me I took the opportunity of +mentioning the complaints that were everywhere made of the bad discipline +of the troops under his command. "What can I do?" said he. "I cannot +be present everywhere; but I assure you that in future and at your +recommendation I will severely punish any misconduct that may come to my +knowledge." + +Such was the result of my visit to Blucher; but, in spite of his +promises, his troops continued to commit the most revolting excesses. +Thus the Prussian troops have left in the neighbourhood of Paris +recollections no less odious than those produced by the conduct of +Davoust's corps in Prussia.--Of this an instance now occurs to my +memory, which I will relate here. In the spring of 1816, as I was going +to Chevreuse, I stopped at the Petit Bicetre to water my horse. I seated +myself for a few minutes near the door of the inn, and a large dog +belonging to the innkeeper began to bark and growl at me. His master, a +respectable-looking old man, exclaimed, "Be quiet, Blucher!"--"How came +you to give your dog that name?" said I.--"Ah, sir! it is the name of a +villain who did a great deal of mischief here last year. There is my +house; they have left scarcely anything but the four walls. They said +they came for our good; but let them come back again . . . . we will +watch them, and spear them like wild boars in the wood." The poor man's +house certainly exhibited traces of the most atrocious violence, and he +shed tears as he related to me his disasters. + +Before the King departed for Ghent he had consented to sign the contract +of marriage between one of my daughters and M. Massieu de Clerval, though +the latter was at that time only a lieutenant in the navy. The day +appointed for the signature of the contract happened to be Sunday, the +19th of March, and it may well be imagined that in the critical +circumstances in which we then stood, a matter of so little importance +could scarcely be thought about. In July I renewed my request to his +Majesty; which gave rise to serious discussions in the Council of +Ceremonies. Lest any deviation from the laws of rigid etiquette should +commit the fate of the monarchy, it was determined that the marriage +contract of a lieutenant in the navy could be signed only at the petty +levee. However, his Majesty, recollecting the promise he had given me, +decided that the signature should be given at the grand levee. Though +all this may appear exceedingly ludicrous, yet I must confess that the +triumph over etiquette was very gratifying to me. + +A short time after the King appointed me a Councillor of State; a title +which I had held under Bonaparte ever since his installation at the +Tuileries, though I had never fulfilled the functions of the office. +In the month of August; the King having resolved to convoke a new Chamber +of Deputies, I was appointed President of the Electoral College of the +department of the Yonne. As soon as I was informed of my nomination I +waited on M. de Talleyrand for my instructions, but he told me that, in +conformity with the King's intentions, I was to receive my orders from +the Minister of Police. I observed to M. de Talleyrand that I must +decline seeing Fouche, on account of the situation in which we stood with +reference to each other. "Go to him, go to him," said M. de Talleyrand, +"and be assured Fouche will say to you nothing on the subject." + +I felt great repugnance to see Fouche, and consequently I went to him +quite against my inclination. I naturally expected a very cold +reception. What had passed between us rendered our interview exceedingly +delicate. I called on Fouche at nine in the morning, and found him +alone, and walking in his garden. He received me as a man might be +expected to receive an intimate friend whom he had not seen for a long +time. On reflection I was not very much surprised at this, for I was +well aware that Fouche could make his hatred yield to calculation. He +said not a word about his arrest, and it may well be supposed that I did +not seek to turn the conversation on that subject. I asked him whether +he had any information to give me respecting the elections of the Yonne. +"None at all," said he; "get yourself nominated if you can, only use your +endeavours to exclude General Desfouinaux. Anything else is a matter of +indifference to me."--"What is your objection to Desfournaux?"--"The +Ministry will not have him." + +I was about to depart when Fouche; called me back saying, "Why are you in +such haste? Cannot you stay a few minutes longer?" He then began to +speak of the first return of the Bourbons, and asked me how I could so +easily bring myself to act in their favour. He then entered into details +respecting the Royal Family which I conceive it to be my duty to pass +over in silence: It may be added, however, that the conversation lasted a +long time, and to say the least of it, was by no means in favour of +"divine right." + +I conceived it to be my duty to make the King acquainted with this +conversation, and as there was now no Comte de Blacas to keep truth and +good advice from his Majesty's ear, I was; on my first solicitation, +immediately admitted to, the Royal cabinet. I cautiously suppressed the +most startling details, for, had I literally reported what Fouche said, +Louis XVIII. could not possibly have given credit to it. The King +thanked me for my communication, and I could perceive he was convinced +that by longer retaining Fouche in office he would become the victim of +the Minister who had been so scandalously forced upon him on the 7th of +July. The disgrace of the Duke of Otranto speedily followed, and I had +the satisfaction of having contributed to repair one of the evils with +which the Duke of Wellington visited France. + +Fouche was so evidently a traitor to the cause he feigned to serve, and +Bonaparte was so convinced of this,--that during the Hundred Days, when +the Ministers of the King at Ghent were enumerated in the presence of +Napoleon, some one said, "But where is the Minister of the Police?" + +"E-h! Parbleu," said Bonaparte, "that is Fouche?" It was not the same +with Carnot, in spite of the indelible stain of his vote: if he had +served the King, his Majesty could have depended on him, but nothing +could shake the firmness of his principles in favour of liberty. I +learned, from a person who had the opportunity of being well informed, +that he would not accept the post of Minister of the Interior which was +offered to him at the commencement of the Hundred Days until he had a +conversation with Bonaparte, to ascertain whether he had changed his +principles. Carnot placed faith in the fair promises of Napoleon, who +deceived him, as he had deceived others. + +Soon after my audience with the King I set off to discharge my duties in +the department of the Yonne, and I obtained the honour of being elected +to represent my countrymen in the Chamber of Deputies. My colleague was +M. Raudot, a man who, in very trying circumstances, had given proofs of +courage by boldly manifesting his attachment to the King's Government. +The following are the facts which I learned in connection with this +episode, and which I circulated as speedily as possible among the +electors of whom I had the honour to be President. Bonaparte, on his way +from Lyons to Paris, after his landing at the gulf of Juan, stopped at +Avalon, and immediately sent for the mayor, M. Raudot. He instantly +obeyed the summons. On coming into Napoleon's presence he said, "What do +you want, General? "This appellation displeased Napoleon, who +nevertheless put several questions to M. Raudot, who was willing to +oblige him as a traveller, but not to serve him as an Emperor. Napoleon +having given him some orders, this worthy servant of the King replied, +"General, I can receive no orders from you, for I acknowledge no +sovereign but the King, to whom I have sworn allegiance." Napoleon then +directed M. Raudot, in a tone of severity, to withdraw, and I need not +add that it was not long before he was dismissed from the mayoralty of +Avalon. + +The elections of the Yonne being over, I returned to Paris, where I took +part in public affairs only as an amateur, while waiting for the opening +of the session. I was deeply grieved to see the Government resort to +measures of severity to punish faults which it would have been better +policy to attribute only to the unfortunate circumstances of the times. +No consideration can ever make me cease to regret the memory of Ney, who +was the victim of the influence of foreigners. Their object, as Blucher +intimated to me at St. Cloud, was to disable France from engaging in war +for a long time to come, and they hoped to effect that object by stirring +up between the Royal Government and the army of the Loire that spirit of +discord which the sacrifice of Ney could not fail to produce. I have no +positive proofs of the fact, but in my opinion Ney's life was a pledge of +gratitude which Fouche thought he must offer to the foreign influence +which had made him Minister. + +About this time I learned a fact which will create no surprise, as it +affords another proof of the chivalrous disinterestedness of Macdonald's +character. When in 1815 several Marshals claimed from the Allied powers +their endowments in foreign countries, Madame Moreau, to whom the King +had given the honorary title of 'Madame la Marechale', and who was the +friend of the Duke of Tarentum, wrote, without Macdonald's knowledge, to +M. de Blacas; our ambassador at Naples, begging him to endeavour to +preserve for the Marshal the endowment which had been given him in the +Kingdom of Naples. As soon as Macdonald was informed of this +circumstance he waited upon Madame Moreau, thanked her for her kind +intentions, but at the same time informed her that he should disavow all +knowledge of her letter, as the request it contained was entirely averse +to his principles. The Marshal did, in fact, write the following letter +to M. de Blacas:--"I hasten to inform you, sir, that it was not with my +consent that Madame Moreau wrote to you, and I beg you will take no step +that might expose me to a refusal. The King of Naples owes me no +recompense for having beaten his army, revolutionised his kingdom, and +forced him to retire to Sicily." Such conduct was well worthy of the man +who was the last to forsake Napoleon in, 1814, and the first to rejoin +him, and that without the desire of accepting any appointment in 1815. +M. de Blacas, who was himself much surprised at Macdonald's letter, +communicated it to the King of Naples, whose answer deserves to be +recorded. It was as follows:--"If I had not imposed a law upon myself to +acknowledge none of the French endowments, the conduct of Marshal +Macdonald would have induced me to make an exception in his favour." It +is gratifying to see princes such scrupulous observers of the laws they +make for themselves! + +About the end of August 1815, as I was walking on the Boulevard des +Capucines, I had the pleasure of meeting Rapp, whom I had not seen for a +long time. He had just come out of the house of Lagrenee, the artist, +who was painting his portrait. I was on foot, and Rapp's carriage was +waiting, so we both stepped into it, and set off to take a drive in the +Bois de Boulogne. We had a great deal to say to each other, for we had +not met since the great events of the two Restorations. The reason of +this was, that in 1814 I passed a part of the year at Sens, and since the +occurrences of March 1815 Rapp himself had been absent from Paris. I +found him perfectly resigned to his change of condition, though indulging +in a few oaths against the foreigners. Rapp was not one of those, +generals who betrayed the King on the 20th of March. He told me that he +remained at the head of the division which he commanded at Ecouen, under +the orders of the Due de Berry, and that he did not resign it to the War +Minister until after the King's departure. "How did Napoleon receive +you?" I inquired. "I waited till he sent for me. You know what sort of +fellow I am: I know nothing about politics; not I. I had sworn fidelity +to the King. I know my duty, and I would have fought against the +Emperor."--"Indeed!"--"Yes, certainly I would, and I told him so +myself."--"How! did you venture so far?"--"To be sure. I told him that +my resolution was definite. 'Pshaw! . . . replied he angrily. +'I knew well that you were opposed to me. If we had come to an action I +should have sought you out on the field of battle. I would have shown +you the Medusa's head. Would you have dared to fire on me?'--'Without +doubt,' I replied. `Ah! parbleu this is too much,' he said. 'But your +troops would not have obeyed you. They had preserved all their affection +for me.'--'What could I do?' resumed I. 'You abdicated, you left France, +you recommended us to serve the King--and then you return! Besides; I +tell you frankly, I do not augur well of what will happen. We shall have +war again. France has had enough of that.' Upon this," continued Rapp, +"he assured me that he had other thoughts; that he had no further desire +for war; that he wished to govern in peace, and devote himself solely to +the happiness of his people. When I hinted opposition on the part of the +Foreign Powers, he said that he had made alliances. He then spoke to me +of the King, and I said I had been much pleased with him; indeed, the +King gave me a very gratifying reception on my return from Kiow, and I +see no reason why I should complain, when I am so well used. During the +conversation the Emperor much extolled the conduct of the Duke of +Orleans. He then gave me some description of his passage from the Isle +of Elba and his journey to Paris. He complained of being accused of +ambition; and observing that I looked astonished and doubtful--`What?' he +continued, 'am I ambitious then?' And patting his belly with both his +hands, 'Can a man,' he asked, 'so fat as I am be ambitious?' I could not +for my soul help saying, 'Ah! Sire, your Majesty is surely joking.' +He pretended, however, to be serious, and after a few moments, noticing +my decorations, he began to banter me about the Cross of St. Louis and +the Cross of the Lily, which I still wore." + +I asked Rapp whether all was true that had been said about the enthusiasm +which was manifested along the whole of Napoleon's route from the Gulf of +Juan to Paris. "Ma foe!" he replied, "I was not there any more than you, +but all those who accompanied him have assured me of the truth of the +details which have been published; but I recollect having heard Bertrand +say that on one occasion he was fearful for the safety of the Emperor, in +case any assassin should have presented himself. At Fossard, where the +Emperor stopped to breakfast on his way to Paris, his escort was so +fatigued as to be unable to follow, so that he was for some time almost +alone on the road, until a squadron which was in garrison at Melun met +him and escorted him to Fontainebleau. As to anything else, from all I +have heard, the Emperor was exposed to no danger." + +We then began to talk of our situation, and the singular chances of our +fortune. Rapp told me how, within a few days only, he had ceased to be +one of the discontented; for the condition of the generals who had +commanded army corps in the campaign of Waterloo was very different in +1815 from what it had been in 1814. "I had determined," he said, "to +live a quiet life, to meddle with nothing, and not even to wear my +uniform. I had, therefore, since the King's return never presented +myself at Court; when, a week ago, while riding on horseback two or three +hundred paces from this spot, I saw a group of horsemen on the other +side of the avenue, one of whom galloped towards me. I immediately +recognised the Duc de Berry, 'How, Monseigneur, is it you?' I exclaimed. +'It is, my dear General; and since you will not come to us, I must come +to you. Will you breakfast with me tomorrow morning?'--'Ma foi!" +continued Rapp, "what could I do? The tone of kindness in which he gave +this invitation quite charmed me. I went, and I was treated so well that +I shall go again. But I will ask for nothing: I only want these +Prussians and English rascals out of the way! "I complimented Rapp on +his conduct, and told him that it was impossible that so loyal and honest +a man as he should not, at some time or other, attract the King's notice. +I had the happiness to see this prediction accomplished. Since that time +I regularly saw Rapp whenever we both happened to be in Paris, which was +pretty often. + +I have already mentioned that in the month of August the King named me +Councillor of State. On the 19th of the following month I was appointed +Minister of State and member of the Privy Council. I may close these +volumes by relating a circumstance very flattering to me, and connected +with the last-mentioned nomination. The King had directed M. de +Talleyrand to present to him, in his official character of President of +the Council of Ministers, a list of the persons who might be deemed +suitable as members of the Privy Council. The King having read the list, +said to his Minister, "But, M. de Talleyrand, I do not see here the names +of two of our best friends, Bourrienne and Alexis de Noailles."--" Sire, +I thought their nomination would seem more flattering in coming directly +from your Majesty." The King then added my name to the list, and +afterwards that of the Comte Alexis de Noailles, so that both our names +are written in Louis XVIII.'s own hand in the original Ordinance. + +I have now brought to a conclusion my narrative of the extraordinary +events in which I have taken part, either as a spectator or an actor, +during the course of a strangely diversified life, of which nothing now +remains but recollections. + + --[I discharged the functions of Councillor of State until 1818, at + which time an Ordinance appeared declaring those functions + Incompatible with the title of Minister of State--Bourrienne.]-- + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE CENT JOURS. + +The extraordinary rapidity of events during the Cent fours, or Hundred +Days of Napoleon's reign in 1815, and the startling changes in the parts +previously filled by the chief personages, make it difficult to consider +it as an historical period; it more resembles a series of sudden +theatrical transformations, only broken by the great pause while the +nation waited for news from the army. + +The first Restoration of the Bourbons had been so unexpected, and was so +rapidly carried out, that the Bonapartists, or indeed all France, had +hardly realized the situation before Napoleon was again in the Tuileries; +and during the Cent Jours both Bonapartists and Royalists were alike +rubbing their eyes, asking whether they were awake, and wondering which +was the reality and which the dream, the Empire or the Restoration. + +It is both difficult and interesting to attempt to follow the history of +the chief characters of the period; and the reader must pardon some +abrupt transitions from person to person, and from group to group, while +the details of some subsequent movements of the Bonaparte family must be +thrown in to give a proper idea of the strange revolution in their +fortunes. We may divide the characters with which we have to deal into +five groups,--the Bonaparte family, the Marshals, the Statesmen of the +Empire, the Bourbons, and the Allied Monarchs. One figure and one name +will be missing, but if we omit all account of poor, bleeding, mutilated +France, it is but leaving her in the oblivion in which she was left at +the time by every one except by Napoleon. + +The disaster of 1814 had rather dispersed than crushed the Bonaparte +family, and they rallied immediately on the return from Elba. The final +fall of the Empire was total ruin to them. The provisions of the Treaty +of Fontainebleau, which had been meant to ensure a maintenance to them, +had not been carried out while Napoleon was still a latent power, and +after 1815 the Bourbons were only too happy to find a reason for not +paying a debt they had determined never to liquidate it was well for any +of the Bourbons in their days of distress to receive the bounty of the +usurper, but there was a peculiar pleasure in refusing to pay the price +promised for his immediate abdication. + +The flight of the Bonapartes in 1815 was rapid. Metternich writes to +Maria Louisa in July 1815: "Madame Mere and Cardinal Fesch left yesterday +for Tuscany. We do not know exactly where. Joseph is. Lucien is in +England under a false name, Jerome in Switzerland, Louis at Rome. Queen +Hortense has set out for Switzerland, whither General de Flahault and his +mother will follow her. Murat seems to be still at Toulon; this, +however, is not certain." Was ever such an account of a dynasty given? +These had all been among the great ones of Europe: in a moment they were +fugitives, several of them having for the rest of their lives a bitter +struggle with poverty. Fortunately for them the Pope, the King of +Holland, and the Grand-Duke of Tuscany, were not under heavy obligations +to Napoleon, and could thus afford to give to his family the protection +denied them by those monarchs who believed themselves bound to redeem +their former servility. + +When Napoleon landed Maria Louisa was in Austria, and she was eager to +assist in taking every precaution to prevent her son, the young King of +Rome, being spirited off to join his father, whose fortunes she had sworn +to share: She herself was fast falling under the influence of the one- +eyed Austrian General, Neipperg, just then left a widower, who was soon +to be admitted to share her bed. By 1823 she seemed to have entirely +forgotten the different members of the Bonaparte family, speaking of her +life in France as "a bad dream." She obtained the Grand-Duchy of Parma, +where she reigned till 1847, marrying a third time, it is said, the Count +Bombellea, and dying, just too soon to be hunted from her Duchy by the +Revolution of 1848. + +There is something very touching in most that we know of the poor young +King of Rome, from his childish but strangely prescient resistance to his +removal from Paris to Blois on the approach of the Allies in 1814, to the +message of remembrance sent in after years to the column of the Place +Vendome, "his only friend in Paris." + +At four years of age Meneval describes him as gentle, but quick in +answering, strong, and with excellent health. "Light curly hair in +ringlets set off a fresh face, while fine blue eyes lit up his regular +features: He was precociously intelligent, and knew more than most +children older than himself." When Meneval--the former secretary of his +father, giving up his post in Austria with Maria Louisa, as he was about +to rejoin Napoleon--took farewell of the Prince in May 1815, the poor +little motherless child drew me towards the window, and, giving me a +touching look, said in a low tone, "Monsieur Meva, tell him (Napoleon) +that I always love him dearly." We say "motherless," because Maria +Louisa seems to have yielded up her child at the dictates of policy to be +closely guarded as easily as she gave up her husband. "If," wrote Madame +de Montesquiou, his governess, "the child had a mother, I would leave him +in her hands, and be happy, but she is nothing like a mother, she is more +indifferent to his fate than the most utter stranger in her service." +His grandfather, the Emperor Francis, to do him justice, seems to have +been really kind to the lad, and while, in 1814, 1816, and in 1830, +taking care to deprive him of all chance of, his glorious inheritance, +still seems to have cared for him personally, and to have been always +kind to him. There is no truth in the story that the Austrians neglected +his education and connived at the ruin of his faculties. Both his tutor, +the Count Maurice Dietrichstein, and Marshal Marmont, who conversed with +him in 1831, agree in speaking highly of him as full of promise: +Marmont's evidence being especially valuable as showing that the +Austrians did not object to the Duke of Reichstadt (as he had been +created by his grandfather in 1818), learning all be could of his +father's life from one of the Marshals. In 1831 Marment describes him: +"I recognised his father's look in him, and in that he most resembled +Napoleon. His eyes, not so large as those of Napoleon, and sunk deeper +in their sockets, had the same expression, the same fire, the same +energy. His forehead was like that of his father, and so was the lower +part of his face and his chin. Then his complexion was that of Napoleon +in his youth, with the same pallor and the same colour of the skin, but +all the rest of his face recalled his mother and the House of Austria. +He was taller than Napoleon by about three inches." ` + +As long as the Duke lived his name was naturally the rallying-point of +the Bonapartes, and was mentioned in some of the many conspiracies +against the Bourbons. In 1830 Joseph Bonaparte tried to get the sanction +of the Austrians to his nephew being put forward as a claimant to the +throne of France, vacant by the flight of Charles X., but they held their +captive firmly. A very interesting passage is given in the 'Memoirs of +Charles Greville', who says that Prince Esterhazy told him a great deal +about the Duke of Reichstadt, who, if he had lived, would have probably +played a great part in the world. He died of a premature decay, brought +on, apparently, by over-exertion and over-excitement; his talents were +very conspicuous, he was 'petri d'ambition', worshipped the memory of his +father, and for that reason never liked his mother; his thoughts were +incessantly turned towards France, and when he heard of the Days of July +(overthrow of Charles X.) he said, "Why was I not there to take my +chance? He evinced great affection and gratitude to his grandfather, +who, while he scrupulously observed all his obligations towards Louis +Philippe, could not help feeling a secret pride in the aspiring genius of +Napoleon's son. He was well educated, and day and night pored over the +history of his father's glorious career. He delighted in military +exercises, and not only shone at the head of his regiment, but had +already acquired the hereditary art of ingratiating himself with the +soldiers." Esterhazy went on to describe how the Duke abandoned +everything at a ball when he met there Marshals Marmont and Maison." +He had no eyes or ears but for them; from nine in the evening to five the +next morning he devoted himself to these Marshals." There was the true +Napoleonic ring in his answer to advice given by Marmont when the Duke +said that he would not allow himself to be put forward by the Sovereigns +of Europe. "The son of Napoleon should be too great to serve as an +instrument; and in events of that nature I wish not to be an advanced +guard, but a reserve,--that is, to come as a succour, recalling great +memories." + +His death in 1832, on the 22d of July, the anniversary of the battle of +Salamanca, solved many questions. Metternich visited the Duke on his +deathbed: "It was a heartrending sight. I never remember to have seen a +more mournful picture of decay." When Francis was told of the death of +his grandson he answered, "I look upon the Duke's death as a blessing for +him. Whether it be detrimental or otherwise to the public good I do not +know. As for myself, I shall ever lament the loss of my grandson." + +Josephine was in her grave at Rueil when Napoleon returned. She had died +on the 29th of May 1814, at Malmaison, while the Allies were exhibiting +themselves in Paris. It seems hard that she should not have lived to +enjoy a triumph, however brief, over her Austrian rival. "She, at +least," said Napoleon truly, "would never have abandoned me." + +Josephine's daughter, Hortense, separated from her husband, Louis +Bonaparte, and created Duchess of St Leu by Louis XVIII., was in Paris, +much suspected by the Bourbons, but really engaged in a lawsuit with her +husband about the custody of her sons. She had to go into hiding when +the news of the landing arrived, but her empty house, left unwatched, +became very useful for receiving the Bonapartists, who wished for a place +of concealment, amongst them, as we shall see, being, of all people, +Fouche! Hortense was met by Napoleon with some reproaches for accepting +a title from the Bourbons, but she did the honours of the Elysee for him, +and it is creditable to both of them that, braving the vile slanders +about their intercourse, she was with him to the end; and that one of the +last persons to embrace him at Malmaison before he started for the coast +was his adopted daughter, the child of his discarded wife. Hortense's +presence in Paris was thought to be too dangerous by the Prussian +Governor; and she was peremptorily ordered to leave. An appeal to the +Emperor Francis received a favourable answer, but Francis always gave way +where any act against his son-in-law was in question, and she had to +start at the shortest notice on a wandering life to Aix, Baden, and +Constance, till the generosity of the small but brave canton of Thurgau +enabled her to get a resting-place at the Chateau of Arenenberg. + +In 1831 she lost her second son, the eldest then surviving, who died from +fever in a revolutionary attempt ill which he and his younger brother, +the future Napoleon. III., were engaged. She was able to visit France +incognita, and even to see Louis Philippe and his Queen; but her presence +in the country was soon thought dangerous, and she was urged to leave. +In 1836 Hortense's last child, Louis Napoleon, made his attempt at an +'emeule' at Strasburg, and was shipped off to America by the Government. +She went to France to plead for him, and then, worn out by grief and +anxiety, returned to Arenenberg, which her son, the future Emperor, only +succeeded in reaching in time to see her die in October 1837. She was +laid with Josephine at Rueil. + +Hortense's brother, Prince Eugene, the Viceroy of Italy, was at Vienna +when Napoleon returned, and fell under the suspicion of the Allies of +having informed the Emperor of the intention of removing him from Elba. +He was detained in Bavaria by his father-in-law the King, to whose Court +he retired, and who in 1817 created him Duke of Leuchtenberg and Prince +of Eichstadt. With the protection of Bavaria he actually succeeded in +wringing from the Bourbons some 700,000 francs of the property of his +mother. A first attack of apoplexy struck him in 1823, and he died from +a second in February 1824 at Munich. His descendants have intermarried +into the Royal Families of Portugal, Sweden, Brazil, Russia, 'and +Wartemberg; his grandson now (1884) holds the title of Leuchtenberg. + +Except Louis, an invalid, all the brothers of the Emperor were around him +in the Cent Jours, the supreme effort of their family. Joseph had left +Spain after Vittoria, and had remained in an uncomfortable and +unrecognised state near Paris until in 1814 he was again employed, and +when, rightly or not, he urged the retreat of the Regency from Paris to +Blois. He then took refuge at his chateau of Prangins in the canton Vaud +in Switzerland, closely watched by the Bourbonists, who dreaded danger +from every side except the real point, and who preferred trying to hunt +the Bonapartists from place to place, instead of making their life +bearable by carrying out the engagements with them. + +In 1816, escaping from the arrest with which he was threatened, after +having written to urge Murat to action with fatal effect, Joseph joined +Napoleon in Paris, and appeared at the Champ de Mai, sitting also in the +Chamber of Peers, but, as before, putting forward ridiculous pretensions +as to his inherent right to the peerage, and claiming a special seat. In +fact, he never could realise how entirely he owed any position to the +brother he wished to treat as an equal. + +He remained in Paris during the brief campaign, and after Waterloo was +concealed in the house of the Swedish Ambassador, where his sister-in- +law, the Crown Princess of Sweden, the wife of Bernadotte, was living. +Muffling, the Prussian Governor of Paris, wished to arrest him, but as +the Governor could not violate the domicile of an Ambassador, he had to +apply to the Czar, who arranged for the escape of the ex-King before the +Governor could seize him Joseph went to the coast, pretty much following +the route of Napoleon. He was arrested once at Saintes, but was allowed +to proceed, and he met his brother on the 4th of July, at Rochefort. + +It is significant as to the possibility of the escape of Napoleon that +Joseph succeeded in getting on the brig Commerce as "M. Bouchard," and, +though the ship was thrice searched by the English, he got to New York on +the 28th of August, where he was mistaken for Carnot. He was well +received, and, taking the title of Comte de Survilliers, he first lived +at Lansdowne, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, where he afterwards always +passed part of the year while he was in America. He also bought the +property of Point Breeze, at Bordentown, on the Delaware, where he built +a house with a fine view of the river. This first house was burnt down, +but he erected another, where he lived in some state and in great +comfort, displaying his jewels and pictures to his admiring neighbours, +and showing kindness to impecunious nephews. + +The news of the Revolution of July in 1830, which drove Charles X. from +the throne, excited Joseph's hopes for the family of which he considered +himself the Regent, and he applied to Metternich to get the Austrian +Government to allow or assist in the placing his nephew, the Duke of +Reichstadt, on the throne of France. Austria would not even answer. + +In July 1832 Joseph crossed to England, where he met Lucien, just arrived +from Italy, bringing the news of the death of his nephew. Disappointed, +he stayed in England for some time, but returned to America in 1836. In +he finally left America, and again came to England, where he had a +paralytic stroke, and in 1843 he went to Florence, where he met his wife +after a long separation. + +Joseph lived long enough to see the two attempts of another nephew, Louis +Napoleon, at Strasburg in 1836, and at Boulogne in 1840, which seem to +have been undertaken without his knowledge, and to have much surprised +him. He died in Florence in 1844; his body was buried first in Santa +Croce, Florence, but was removed to the Invalides in 1864. His wife the +ex-Queen, had retired in 1815 to Frankfort and to Brussels, where she was +well received by the King, William, and where she stayed till 1823, when +she went to Florence, dying there in 1845. Her monument is in the +Cappella Riccardi, Santa Croce, Florence. + +Lucien had retired to Rome in 1804, on the creation of the Empire, and +had continued embroiled with his brother, partly from his so-called +Republican principles, but chiefly from his adhering to his marriage, +his second one, with Madame Jouberthon,--a union which Napoleon steadily +refused to acknowledge, offering Lucien anything, a kingdom or the hand +of a queen (if we take Lucien's account), if he would only consent to the +annulment of the contract. + +In August 1810, affecting uneasiness as Napoleon stretched his power over +Rome, Lucien embarked for America, but he was captured by the English and +taken, first to Malta and then to England, where he passed the years till +1814 in a sort of honourable captivity, first at Ludlow and then at +Thorngrove, not far from that town. + +In 1814 Lucien was released, when he went to Rome, where he was welcomed +by the kindly old Pope, who remembered the benefits conferred by Napoleon +on the Church, while he forgot the injuries personal to himself; and the +stiff-necked Republican, the one-time "Brutus" Bonaparte, accepted the +title of Duke of Musignano and Prince of Canino. + +In 1815 Lucien joined his brother, whom he wished to abdicate at the +Champ de Mai in favour of the King of Rome, placing his sword only at the +disposal of France. This step was seriously debated, but, though it +might have placed the Allies in a more difficult position, it would +certainly have been disregarded by them, at least unless some great +victory had given the dynasty firmer footing. After Waterloo he was in +favour of a dissolution of the Chambers, but Napoleon had become hopeless +and almost apathetic, while Lucien himself, from his former connection +with the 18th and 19th Brumaire, was looked on with great distrust by the +Chambers, as indeed he was by his brother. Advantage was taken of his +Roman title to taunt him with not being a Frenchman; and all his efforts +failed. At the end he fled, and failing to cross to England or to get to +Rochefort, he reached Turin on the 12th of July only to find himself +arrested. He remained there till the 15th of September, when he was +allowed to go to Rome. There he was interned and carefully watched; +indeed in 1817 the Pope had to intervene to prevent his removal to the +north of Germany, so anxious were the Allies as to the safety of the +puppet they had put on the throne of France. + +The death of Napoleon in 1821 released Lucien and the Bonaparte family +from the constant surveillance exercised over them till then. In 1830 he +bought a property, the Croce del Biacco, near Bologna. The flight of the +elder branch of the Bourbons from France in 1830 raised his hopes, and, +as already said, he went to England in 1832 to meet Joseph and to plan +some step for raising Napoleon II. to the throne. The news of the death +of his nephew dashed all the hopes of the family, and after staying in +England for some time he returned to Italy, dying at Viterbo in 1840, and +being buried at Canino, where also his second wife lies. Lucien had a +taste for literature, and was the author of several works, which a kindly +posterity will allow to die. + +Louis Bonaparte had fled from his Kingdom of Holland in 1810, after a +short reign of four years, disgusted with being expected to study the +interests of the brother to whom he owed his throne, and with being +required to treat his wife Hortense with ordinary consideration. He had +taken refuge in Austria, putting that Court in great anxiety how to pay +him the amount of attention to be expected by the brother of the Emperor, +and at the same time the proper coldness Napoleon might wish shown to a +royal deserter. Thanks to the suggestions of Metternich, they seem to +have been successful in this task. Taking the title of Comte de, St. +Len from an estate in France; Louis went first to Toplitz, then to Gratz, +and in 1813 he took refuge in Switzerland. In 1814 he went to Rome; and +then to Florence, where the Grand-Duke Ferdinand received any of the +family who came there with great kindness. + +Louis was the least interesting of the family, and it is difficult to +excuse his absence from France in 1815. After all, the present of a +kingdom is not such an unpardonable offence as to separate brothers for +ever, and Napoleon seems to have felt deeply the way in which he was +treated by a brother to whom he had acted as a father; still ill-health +and the natural selfishness of invalids may account for much. While his +son Louis Napoleon was flying about making his attempts on France, Louis +remained in the Roman Palace of the French Academy, sunk in anxiety about +his religious state. He disclaimed his son's proceedings, but this may +have been due to the Pope, who sheltered him. Anyhow, it is strange to +mark the difference between the father and his two sons who came of age, +and who took to revolution so kindly. + +In 1846 Louis was ill at Leghorn when his son escaped from Ham, where he +had been imprisoned after his Boulogne attempt. Passports were refused +to the son to go from Italy to his father, and Louis died alone on the +25th of July 1846. He was buried at Santa Croce, Florence, but the body +was afterwards removed to the village church of St. Leu Taverny, rebuilt +by his son Napoleon III. + +Jerome, the youngest of the whole family, the "middy," as Napoleon liked +to call him, had been placed in the navy, in which profession he passed +as having distinguished himself, after leaving his admiral in rather a +peculiar manner, by attacking an English convoy, and eventually escaping +the English by running into the port of Concarneau, believed to be +inaccessible. At that time it was an event for a French man-of-war to +reach home. + +Jerome had incurred the anger of Napoleon by marrying a beautiful young +lady of Baltimore, a Mica Paterson, but, more obedient than Lucien, he +submitted to have this marriage annulled by his all-powerful brother, and +in reward he received the brand-new Kingdom of Westphalia, and the hand +of a daughter of the King of Wartemberg, "the cleverest King in Europe," +according to Napoleon. Jerome is said to have ruled rather more as a +Heliogabalus than a Solomon, but the new Kingdom had the advantage of +starting with good administrators, and with the example of "the Code." + +In 1812 Jerome was given the command of the right wing of the Grand Army +in its advance against Russia, but he did not fulfil the expectations of +his brother, and Davoust took the command instead. Every king feels +himself a born general: whatever else they cannot do, war is an art which +comes with the crown, and Jerome, unwilling to serve under a mere +Marshal, withdrew in disgust. In 1813 he had the good feeling and the +good sense to refuse the treacherous offer of the Allies to allow him to +retain his kingdom if he joined them against his brother, a snare his +sister Caroline fell into at Naples. + +On the downfall of Napoleon, Jerome, as the Count of Gratz, went to +Switzerland, and then to Gratz and Trieste. + +His wife, the ex-Queen Catherine, fell into the hands of Maubreuil, the +officer sent on a mysterious mission, believed to be intended for the +murder of Napoleon, but which only resulted in the robbery of the Queen's +jewels and of some 80,000 francs. The jewels were for the most part +recovered, being fished up from the bed of the Seine, but not the cash. + +In 1815 Jerome joined his brother, and appeared at the Champ de Mai. A +true Bonaparte, his vanity was much hurt, however, by having--he, a real +king--to sit on the back seat of the carriage, while his elder brother +Lucien; a mere Roman-prince, occupied a seat of honour by the side of +Napoleon. In the Waterloo campaign he was given the 6th division, +forming part of Reille's corps, General Guilleminot being sent with him +to prevent any of the awkwardnesses of 1812. His division was engaged +with the Prussians on the 15th of June, and at Quatre Bras he was +severely wounded. At Waterloo his division formed the extreme left of +the French infantry, opposite Hougomont, and was engaged in the struggle +for that post. Whatever his failings may have been, he is acknowledged +to have fought gallantly. After the battle he was given the command of +the army by his brother, and was told to cover the retreat to Laon, which +he reached on the 21st of June, with 18,000 infantry, 3000 cavalry and +two batteries which he had rallied. This, be it observed, is a larger +force than Ney told the Chambers even Grouchy (none of whose men are +included) could have, and Jerome's strength had swollen to 25,000 +infantry and 6000 cavalry when he handed over the army to Soult at Laon. +Napoleon had intended to leave Jerome with the command of the army, but +he eventually took him to Paris. + +When Napoleon left the country Jerome was assured by the ambassador of +Wurtemberg that he would find a refuge in the dominions of his father-in- +law; but when he arrived there he was informed that if he did not wish to +be, according to the original intentions of the Allies, handed over to +the Prussians, and separated from his wife, he must sign an engagement to +remain in Wurtemberg under strict surveillance. He was then imprisoned +at Guppingen, and afterwards at Ellwangen, where he was not even allowed +to write or receive letters except through the captain of the chateau. + +Part of Jerome's troubles came from the conduct of his wife Catherine, +who had the idea that, as she had been given in marriage by her father to +Jerome, as she had lived for seven years as his wife, and as she had +borne a child to him, she was really his wife, and bound to remain with +him in his misfortunes! The royal family of Wurtemberg, however, +following the illustrious example of that of Austria, looked on her past +life as a mere state of concubinage, useful to the family, and to be +respected while her husband could retain his kingdom, but which should +end the moment there was nothing more to be gained from Napoleon or his +brother. It was all proper and decorous to retain the title of King of +Wurtemberg, which the former Duke and then Elector had owed to the exile +of St. Helena, but King Frederick, and still less his son William, who +succeeded him in 1816, could not comprehend Catherine's clinging to her +husband when he had lost his kingdom. "I was a Queen; I am still a wife +and mother," wrote the Princess to her disgusted father. Another +complaint against this extraordinary Princess was that she actually saw +Las Cases on his return from St. Helena, and thus obtained news of the +exile. + +After constant ill treatment Jerome and his wife, as the Count and +Countess of Montfort, a rank the King of Wurtemberg afterwards raised to +Prince, were allowed to proceed to Hainburg near Vienna, then to +Florence, and, later to Trieste, where Jerome was when his sister Elisa +died. In 1823 they were permitted to go to Rome, and in 1835 they went +to Lausanne, where his true-hearted wife died the same year. Jerome went +to Florence, and lived to see the revival of the Empire, and to once mare +enjoy the rank of a French Prince. He died in 1860 at the chateau of +Villegenis in France, and was buried in the Invalides. + +The mother of the Emperor, Letitia, in 1814, had retained her title of +Imperatrice Mere, and had retired to Rome. She then went to Elba in +June, and stayed there with her daughter Pauline until Napoleon had +sailed for France. On 2d March 1814 she went from Elba to San Vicenzo +near Leghorn, and then to Rome. Her son sent a frigate for her, the +'Melpomene', which was captured by the English 'Rivoli'; another vessel, +the 'Dryade', brought her to France, and she joined Napoleon in Paris. +We must have a regard for this simple old lady, who was always careful +and saving, only half believing in the stability of the Empire; and, +like a true mother, always most attentive to the most unfortunate of her +children. Her life had been full of startling changes; and it must have +been strange for the woman who had been hunted out of Corsica, flying +from her house just in time to save her life from the adherents of Paoli, +to find herself in grandeur in Paris. She saw her son just before he +left, as she thought, for America, and then retired to the Rinuccini--now +the Bonaparte-Palace at Rome, where she died in 1836. She had been +anxious to join Napoleon at St. Helena, and had refused, as long as +Napoleon was alive, to forgive her daughter Caroline, the wife of Murat, +for her abandonment of her brother. She was buried at Albano. + +Letitia's youngest daughter, the beautiful but frail Pauline, Duchess of +Guastalla, married first to General Leclerc, and then to Prince Camille +Borglle, was at Nice when her brother abdicated in 1814. She retired +with her mother to Rome, and in October 1814 went to Elba, staying there +till Napoleon left, except when she was sent to Naples with a message of +forgiveness for Murat There was a characteristic scene between her and +Colonel Campbell when the English Commissioner arrived to find Napoleon +gone. Pauline professed ignorance till the last of her brother's +intentions, and pressed the Colonel's hand to her heart that lie might +feel how agitated she was. "She did not appear to be so," says the +battered old Colonel, who seems to have been proof against her charms. +She then went to Rome, and later to Pisa. Her health was failing, and, +unable to join her brother in France, she sent him her only means of +assistance, her jewels, which were captured at Waterloo. Her offer to go +to St. Helena, repeated several times, was never accepted by Napoleon. +She died in 1825 at Florence, from consumption, reconciled to her +husband, from whom she had been separated since 1807. She was buried at +Sta Maria Maggiore, Rome. + +Elisa, the eldest sister of Napoleon, the former Grand Duchess of +Tuscany, which Duchy she had ruled well, being a woman of considerable +talent, was the first of all to die. In 1814 she had been forced to fly +from her Government, and, accompanied by her husband, she had attempted +to reach France. Finding herself cut off by the Austrians; she took +shelter with Augereau's army, and then returned to Italy. She took the +title of Comtesse de Campignana, and retired to Trieste, near which town, +at the Chateau of Sant Andrea, under a wearisome surveillance, she +expired in 1820, watched by her husband, Felix Baeciocchi, and her sister +Caroline. Her monument is in the Bacciocchi Chapel in San Petronio, +Bologna. + +Caroline, the wife of Murat, was the only one of the family untrue to +Napoleon. Very ambitious, and forgetting how completely she owed her +Kingdom of Naples to her brother, she had urged Murat in 1814 to separate +from Napoleon, and, still worse, to attack Eugene, who held the north of +Italy against the Austrians. She relied on the formal treaty with +Austria that Murat should retain his Kingdom of Naples, and she may also +have trusted to the good offices of her former admirer Metternich. When +the Congress of Vienna met, the French Minister, Talleyrand, at once +began to press for the removal of Murat. A trifling treaty was not +considered an obstacle to the Heaven-sent deliverers of Europe, and +Murat, believing his fate sealed, hearing of Napoleon's landing, and +urged on by a misleading letter from Joseph Bonaparte, at once marched to +attack the Austrians. He was easily routed by the Austrians under +Neipperg, the future husband of Maria Louisa. Murat fled to France, and +Caroline first took refuge in an English man-of-war, the 'Tremendous', +being, promised a free passage to England. She was, however, handed over +to the Austrians; who kept her in confinement at Hainburg near Vienna. +In October 1815 Murat landed in Calabria in a last wild attempt to +recover his throne. He was arrested and immediately shot. After his +murder Caroline, taking the title of Countess of Lipona (an anagram of +Napoli), was permitted to retire to Trieste with Elisa, Jerome, and his +wife. Caroline was almost without means of existence, the Neapolitan +Bourbons refusing even to give up the property she had brought there. +She married a General Macdonald. When Hortense was buried at Rueil +Caroline obtained permission to attend the sad ceremony. In 1838 she +went to France to try to obtain a pension, and succeeded in getting one +of 100,000 francs. She died from cancer in the stomach in 1839, and was +buried in the Campo Santo, Bologna. + +Cardinal Fesch, the half-uncle of Napoleon, the Archbishop of Lyons, who +had fallen into disgrace with Napoleon for taking the side of the Pope +and refusing to accept the see of Paris, to which he was nominated by +Napoleon, had retired to Rome in 1814, where he remained till the return +of Napoleon, when he went to Paris, and accepted a peerage. After +Waterloo he again sought the protection of the Pope, and he remained at +Rome till his death in 1839, a few days before Caroline Bonaparte's. He +was buried in S. Lorenzo in Lucina, Rome. He had for years been a great +collector of pictures, of which he left a large number (1200) to the town +of Ajaccio. The Cardinal, buying at the right time when few men had +either enough leisure or money to think of pictures, got together a most +valuable collection. This was sold in 1843-44 at Rome. Its contents now +form some of the greatest treasures in the galleries of Dudley House and +of the Marquis of Hertford, now Sir Richard Wallace's. In a large +collection there are generally some daubs, but it is an amusing instance +of party spirit to find the value of his pictures run down by men who are +unwilling to allow any one connected with Napoleon to have even taste in +art. He always refused the demands of the Restoration that he should +resign his see of Lyons, though under Louis Philippe he offered to do so, +and leave his pictures to France, if the Bonaparte family were allowed to +enter France: this was refused. + +It can hardly be denied that the fate of the Bonapartes was a hard one. +Napoleon had been undisputed sovereign of France for fourteen years, +Louis had been King of Holland for four years, Jerome was King of +Westphalia for six years, Caroline was Queen of Naples for seven years. +If Napoleon had forfeited all his rights by leaving Elba after the +conditions of his abdication had been broken by the Allies, still there +was no reason why the terms stipulated for the other members of the +family should not have been carried out, or at least an ordinary income +insured to them. With all Napoleon's faults he was always ready to +shower wealth on the victims of his policy:--The sovereigns of the +Continent had courted and intermarried with the Bonapartes in the tame of +that family's grandeur: there was neither generosity nor wisdom in +treating them as so many criminals the moment fortune had declared +against them. The conduct of the Allies was not influenced simply by the +principle of legitimacy, for the King of Saxony only kept his throne by +the monarchs falling out over the spoil. If sovereigns were to be +respected as of divine appointment, it was not well to make their +existence only depend on the fate of war. + +Nothing in the history of the Cent Jours is more strange than the small +part played in it by the Marshals, the very men who are so identified in +our minds with the Emperor, that we might have expected to find that +brilliant band playing a most prominent part in his last great struggle, +no longer for mere victory, but for very existence. In recording how the +Guard came up the fatal hill at Waterloo for their last combat, it would +seem but natural to have to give a long roll of the old historic names as +leading or at least accompanying them; and the reader is apt to ask, +where were the men whose very titles recalled such glorious battle- +fields, such achievements, and such rewards showered down by the man who, +almost alone at the end of the day, rode forward to invite that death +from which it was such cruel kindness to save him? + +Only three Marshals were in Belgium in 1815, and even of them one did but +count his promotion from that very year, so it is but natural for French +writers to dream of what might have been the course of the battle if +Murat's plume had waved with the cavalry, if Mortier had been with the +Guard, and if Davoust or one of his tried brethren had taken the place of +Grouchy. There is, however, little real ground for surprise at this +absence of the Marshals. Death, time, and hardships had all done their +work amongst that grand array of commanders. Some were old men, veterans +of the Revolutionary wars, when first created Marshals in 1804; others, +such as Massena, were now but the wreck of themselves; and even before +1812 Napoleon had been struck with the failing energy of some of his +original companions: indeed, it might have been better for him if he had +in 1813, as he half resolved, cast away his dislike to new faces, and +fought his last desperate campaigns with younger men who still had +fortunes to win, leaving "Berthier to hunt at Grosbois," and the other +Marshals to enjoy their well-deserved rest in their splendid hotels at +Paris. + +Davoust, Duke of Auerstadt, Prince of Eckmuhl, whose name should be +properly spelt Davout, was one of the principal personages at the end of +the Cent Jours. Strict and severe, having his corps always in good +order, and displaying more character than most of the military men under +Napoleon, one is apt to believe that the conqueror at Auerstadt bade fair +to be the most prominent of all the Marshals. In 1814 he had returned +from defending Hamburg to find himself under a cloud of accusations, and +the Bourbons ungenerously and unwisely left him undefended for acts which +they must have known were part of his duty as governor of a besieged +place. At the time he was attacked as if his first duty was not to hold +the place for France, but to organise a system of outdoor relief for the +neighbouring population, and to surrender as soon as he had exhausted the +money in the Government chest and the provisions in the Government +stores. Sore and discontented, practically proscribed, still Davoust +would not join in the too hasty enterprise of the brothers Lallemand, who +wished him to lead the military rising on the approach of Napoleon; but +he was with the Emperor on the day after his arrival in Paris. + +Davoust might have expected high command in the army, but, to his +annoyance, Napoleon fixed on him as War Minister. For several years the +War Minister had been little more than a clerk, and neither had nor was +expected to have much influence with the army. Napoleon now wanted a man +of tried devotion, and of stern enough character to overawe the capital +and the restless spirits in the army. Much against his will Davoust was +therefore forced to content himself with the organisation of the forces +being hastily raised, but he chafed in his position; and it is +characteristic of him that Napoleon was eventually forced to send him the +most formal orders before the surly Minister would carry out the +Emperor's unlucky intention of giving a command to Bourmont, whom Davoust +strongly and rightly suspected of treachery. When Napoleon left the +capital Davoust became its governor, and held his post unmoved by the +intrigues of the Republicans and the Royalists. When Napoleon returned +from the great disaster Davoust gave his voice for the only wise policy, +--resistance and the prorogation of the factious Chambers. On the +abdication of Napoleon the Provisional Government necessarily gave +Davoust the command of the army which was concentrated round Paris. + +If Davoust had restricted himself less closely to his duty as a soldier, +if he had taken more on himself, with the 100,000 men he soon had under +him, he might have saved France from much of her subsequent humiliation, +or at least he might have preserved the lives of Ney and of the brave men +whom the Bourbons afterwards butchered. Outwitted by Fouche, and +unwilling to face the hostility of the Chambers, Davoust at last +consented to the capitulation of Paris, though he first gave the Prussian +cavalry a sharp lesson. While many of his comrades were engaged in the +great struggle for favour or safety, the stern Marshal gave up his +Ministry, and, doing the last service in his power to France, stopped all +further useless bloodshed by withdrawing the army, no easy task in their +then humour, behind the Loire, where he kept what the Royalists called +the "Brigands of the Loire" in subjection till relieved by Macdonald. +He was the only one of the younger Marshals who had not been tried in +Spain, and so far he was fortunate; but, though he was not popular with +the army, his character and services seem to point him out as the most +fit of all the Marshals for an independent command. Had Napoleon been +successful in 1812, Davoust was to have received the Viceroyalty of +Poland; and he would probably have left a higher name in history than the +other men placed by Napoleon to rule over his outlying kingdoms. In any +case it was fortunate for France and for the Allies that a man of his +character ruled the army after Napoleon abdicated; there would otherwise +have been wild work round Paris, as it was only with the greatest +difficulty and by the force of his authority and example that Davoust +succeeded in getting the army to withdraw from the capital, and to +gradually adopt the white cockade. When superseded by Macdonald he had +done a work no other man could have accomplished. He protested against +the proscription, but it was too late; his power had departed. In 1819 +he was forgiven for his services to France, and was made a peer, but he +died in 1823, only fifty-three years old. + +Among the Marshals who gave an active support to Napoleon Ney takes the +leading part in most eyes; if it were only for his fate, which is too +well known for much to be said here concerning it. In 1815 Ney was +commanding in Franche-Comte, and was called up to Paris and ordered to go +to Besancon to march so as to take Napoleon in flank. He started off, +not improbably using the rough brags afterwards attributed to him as most +grievous sins, such as that "he would bring back Napoleon in an iron +cage." It had been intended to have sent the Due de Berry, the second +son of the Comte d'Artois, with Ney; and it was most unfortunate for the +Marshal that this was not done. There can be no possible doubt that Ney +spoke and acted in good faith when he left Paris. One point alone seems +decisive of this. Ney found under him in command, as General of +Division, Bourmont, an officer of well-known Royalist opinions, who had +at one time served with the Vendean insurgents, and who afterwards +deserted Napoleon just before Waterloo, although he had entreated to be +employed in the campaign. Not only did Ney leave Bourmont in command, +but, requiring another Divisional General, instead of selecting a +Bonapartist, he urged Lecourbe to leave his retirement and join him. +Now, though Lecourbe was a distinguished General, specially famed for +mountain warfare--witness his services in 1799 among the Alps above +Lucerne--he had been long left unemployed by Napoleon on account of his +strong Republican opinions and his sympathy with Moreau. These two +Generals, Bourmont and Lecourbe, the two arms of Ney as commander, +through whom alone he could communicate with the troops, he not only kept +with him, but consulted to the last, before he declared for Napoleon. +This would have been too dangerous a thing for a tricky politician to +have attempted as a blind, but Ney was well known to be only too frank +and impulsive. Had the Due de Berry gone with him, had Ney carried with +him such a gage of the intention of the Bourbons to defend their throne, +it is probable that he would have behaved like Macdonald; and it is +certain that he would have had no better success. The Bonapartists +themselves dreaded what they called the wrong-headedness of Ney. It was, +however, thought better to keep the Due de Berry in safety. + +Ney found himself put forward singly, as it were, to oppose the man whom +all France was joining; he found, as did every officer sent on a similar +mission, that the soldiers were simply waiting to meet Napoleon; and +while the Princes sought security, while the soldiers plotted against +their leaders, came the calls of the Emperor in the old trumpet tone. +The eagle was to fly--nay, it was flying from tower to tower, and victory +was advancing with a rush. Was Ney to be the one man to shoot down his +old leader? could he, as he asked, stop the sea with his hands? On his +trial his subordinate, Bourmont, who had by that time shown his devotion +to the Bourbons by sacrificing his military honour, and deserting to the +Allies, was asked whether Ney could have got the soldiers to act against +the Emperor. He could only suggest that if Ney had taken a musket and +himself charged, the men would have followed his example. "Still," said +Bourmont, "I would not dare to affirm that he (the Marshal) would have +won." And who was Ney to charge? We know how Napoleon approached the +forces sent to oppose him: he showed himself alone in the front of his +own troops. Was Ney to deliberately kill his old commander? was any +general ever expected to undergo such a test? and can it be believed +that the soldiers who carried off the reluctant Oudinot and chased the +flying Macdonald, had such a reverence for the "Rougeot," as they called +him, that they would have stood by while he committed this murder? The +whole idea is absurd: as Ney himself said at his trial, they would have +"pulverized" him. Undoubtedly the honourable course for Ney would have +been to have left his corps when he lost control over them; but to urge, +as was done afterwards, that he had acted on a preconceived scheme, and +that his example had such weight, was only malicious falsehood. The +Emperor himself knew well how little he owed to the free will of his +Marshal, and he soon had to send him from Paris, as Ney, sore at heart, +and discontented with himself and with both sides, uttered his mind with +his usual freedom. Ney was first ordered to inspect the frontier from +Dunkirk to Bale, and was then allowed to go to his home. He kept so +aloof from Napoleon that when he appeared on the Champ de Mai the Emperor +affected surprise, saying that he thought Ney had emigrated. At the last +moment Marshal Mortier fell ill. Ney had already been sent for. He +hurried up, buying Mortier's horses (presumably the ill-fated animals who +died under him at Waterloo), and reached the army just in time to be +given the command of the left wing. + +It has been well remarked that the very qualities which made Ney +invaluable for defence or for the service of a rear-guard weighed against +him in such a combat as Quatre Bras. Splendid as a corps leader, he had +not the commander's eye to embrace the field and surmise the strength of +the enemy at a glance. At Bautzen in 1818 his staff had been unable to +prevent him from leaving the route which would have brought him on the +very rear of the enemy, because seeing the foe, and unable to resist the +desire of returning their fire, he turned off to engage immediately. At +Quatre Bras, not seeing the force he was engaged with, believing he had +the whole English army on his hands from the first, he let himself at the +beginning of the day be imposed upon by a mere screen of troops. + +We cannot here go into Ney's behaviour at Waterloo except to point out +that too little importance is generally given to the fact of the English +cavalry having, in a happy moment, fallen on and destroyed the artillery +which was being brought up to sweep the English squares at close +quarters. At Waterloo, as in so many other combats, the account of Ney's +behaviour more resembles that of a Homeric hero than of a modern general. +To the ideal commander of to-day, watching the fight at a distance, +calmly weighing its course, undisturbed except by distant random shots, +it is strange to compare Ney staggering through the gate of Konigsberg +all covered with blood; smoke and snow, musket in hand, announcing +himself as the rear-guard of France, or appearing, a second Achilles, on +the ramparts of Smolensko to encourage the yielding troops on the glacis, +or amidst the flying troops at Waterloo, with uncovered head and broken +sword, black with powder, on foot, his fifth horse killed under him, +knowing that life, honour, and country were lost, still hoping against +hope and attempting one more last desperate rally. If he had died--ah! +if he had died there--what a glorious tomb might have risen, glorious for +France as well as for him, with the simple inscription, "The Bravest of +the Brave." + +Early on the 19th June a small band of officers retreating from the field +found Ney asleep at Marchiennes, "the first repose he had had for four +days," and they did not disturb him for orders. "And indeed what order +could Marshal Ney have given? "The disaster of the day, the overwhelming +horror of the flight of the beaten army, simply crushed Ney morally as +well as physically. Rising in the Chambers he denounced all attempt at +further resistance. He did not know, he would not believe, that Grouchy +was safe, and that the army was fast rallying. Fresh from the field, +with all its traces on him, the authority of Ney was too great for the +Government. Frightened friends, plotting Royalists, echoed the wild +words of Ney brave only against physical dangers. Instead of dying on +the battle-field, he had lived to ensure the return of the Bourbons, the +fall of Bonaparte, his own death, and the ruin of France. + +Before his exception from the amnesty was known Ney left Paris on the 6th +of July, and went into the country with but little attempt at +concealment, and with formal passports from Fouche. The capitulation of +Paris seemed to cover him, and he was so little aware of the thirst of +the Royalists for his blood that he let his presence be known by leaving +about a splendid sabre presented to him by the Emperor on his marriage, +and recognised by mere report by an old soldier as belonging to Ney or +Murat; and Ney himself let into the house the party sent to arrest him on +the 5th of August, and actually refused the offer of Excelmans, through +whose troops he passed, to set him free. No one at the time, except the +wretched refugees of Ghent, could have suspected, after the capitulation, +that there was any special danger for Ney, and it is very difficult to +see on what principle the Bourbons chose their victims or intended +victims. Drouot, for example, had never served Louis XVIII., he had +never worn the white cockade, he had left France with Napoleon for Elba, +and had served the Emperor there. In 1815 he had fought under his own +sovereign. After Waterloo he had exerted all his great influence, the +greater from his position, to induce the Guard to retire behind the +Loire, and to submit to the Bourbons. It was because Davoust so needed +him that Drouot remained with the army. Stilt Drouot was selected for +death, but the evidence of his position was too strong to enable the +Court to condemn him. Cambronne, another selection, had also gone with +Napoleon to Elba. Savory, another selection, had, as was eventually +acknowledged, only joined Napoleon when he was in full possession of the +reins of Government. Bertrend, who was condemned while at St. Helena, +was in the same position as Drouot. In fact, if any one were to draw up +a list of probable proscriptions and compare it with those of the 24th of +July 1815, there would probably be few names common to both except +Labedoyere, Mouton Duvernet, etc. The truth is that the Bourbons, and, +to do them justice, still more the rancorous band of mediocrities who +surrounded them, thirsted for blood. Even they could feel the full +ignominy of the flight to Ghent. + +While they had been chanting the glories of the Restoration, the devotion +of the people, the valour of the Princes, Napoleon had landed, the +Restoration had vanished like a bad dream, and the Princes were the first +to lead the way to the frontier. To protest that there had been a +conspiracy, and that the conspirators must suffer, was the only possible +cloak for the shame of the Royalists, who could not see that the only +conspiracy was the universal one of the nation against the miserable men +who knew not how to govern a high-spirited people. + +Ney, arrested on the 5th of August, was first brought before a Military +Court on the 9th of November composed of Marshal Jourdan (President), +Marshals Massena, Augereau, and Mortier, Lieutenants-General Gazan, +Claparede, and Vilatte (members). Moncey had refused to sit, and Massena +urged to the Court his own quarrels with Ney in Spain to get rid of the +task, but was forced to remain. Defended by both the Berryers, Ney +unfortunately denied the jurisdiction of the court-martial over him as a +peer. In all probability the Military Court would have acquitted him. +Too glad at the moment to be free from the trial of their old comrade, +not understanding the danger of the proceeding, the Court, by a majority +of five against two, declared themselves non-competent, and on the 21st +of November Ney was sent before the Chamber of Peers, which condemned him +on the 6th of December. + +To beg the life of his brave adversary would have been such an obvious +act of generosity on the part of the Duke of Wellington that we maybe +pardoned for examining his reasons for not interfering. First, the Duke +seems to have laid weight on the fact that if Ney had believed the +capitulation had covered him he would not have hidden. Now, even before +Ney knew of his exception from the amnesty, to appear in Paris would have +been a foolish piece of bravado. Further, the Royalist reaction was in +full vigour, and when the Royalist mobs, with the connivance of the +authorities, were murdering Marshal Brune and attacking any prominent +adherents of Napoleon, it was hardly the time for Ney to travel in full +pomp. It cannot be said that, apart from the capitulation, the Duke had +no responsibility. Generally a Government executing a prisoner, may, +with some force, if rather brutally, urge that the fact of their being +able to try and execute him in itself shows their authority to do so. +The Bourbons could not even use this argument. If the Allies had +evacuated France Louis le Desiree would have ordered his carriage and +have been at the frontier before they had reached it. If Frenchmen +actually fired the shots which killed Ney, the Allies at least shared the +responsibility with the French Government. Lastly, it would seem that +the Duke would have asked for the life of Ney if the King, clever at such +small artifices, had not purposely affected a temporary coldness to him. +Few men would have been so deterred from asking for the life of a dog. +The fact is, the Duke of Wellington was a great general, he was a single- +hearted and patriotic statesman, he had a thousand virtues, but he was +never generous. It cannot be said that he simply shared the feelings of +his army, for there was preparation among some of his officers to enable +Ney to escape, and Ney had to be guarded by men of good position +disguised in the uniform of privates. Ney had written to his wife when +he joined Napoleon, thinking of the little vexations the Royalists loved +to inflict on the men who had conquered the Continent. "You will no +longer weep when you leave the Tuileries." The unfortunate lady wept now +as she vainly sought some mercy for her husband. Arrested on the 5th of +August, sentenced on the 6th of December, Ney was shot on the 7th of +December, and the very manner of his execution shows that, in taking his +life there was much more of revenge than of justice. + +If Ney were to be shot, it is obvious that it should have been as a high +act of justice. If neither the rank nor the services of the criminal +were to save him, his death could not be too formal, too solemn, too +public. Even an ordinary military execution is always carried out with +grave and striking forms: there is a grand parade of the troops, that all +may see with their own eyes the last act of the law. After the execution +the troops defile past the body, that all may see the criminal actually +dead: There was nothing of all this in the execution of Ney. A few +chance passers, in the early morning of the 7th of December 1815, saw a +small body of troops waiting by the wall of the garden of the Luxemburg. +A fiacre drove up, out of which got Marshal Ney in plain clothes, himself +surprised by the everyday aspect of the place. Then, when the officer of +the firing party (for such the spectators now knew it to be) saw whom it +was he was to fire on, he became, it is said, perfectly petrified; and a +peer, one of the judges of Ney, the Duke de la Force, took his place. +Ney fell at the first volley with six balls in his breast, three in the +head and neck, and one in the arm, and in a quarter of an hour the body +was removed; "plain Michel Ney" as he had said to the secretary +enunciating his title in reading his sentence, "plain Michel Ney, soon to +be a little dust." + +The Communists caught red-handed in the streets of Paris in 1870 died +with hardly less formality than was observed at the death-scene of the +Prince of the Moskowa and Duke of Elchingen, and the truth then became +plain. The Bourbons could not, dared not, attempt to carry out the +sentence of the law with the forms of the law. The Government did not +venture to let the troops or the people face the Marshal. The forms of +the law could not be carried out, the demands of revenge could be. And +if this be thought any exaggeration, the proof of the ill effects of this +murder, for its form makes it difficult to call it anything else, is +ready to our hands. It was impossible to get the public to believe that +Ney had really been killed in this manner, and nearly to this day we have +had fresh stories recurring of the real Ney being discovered in America. +The deed, however, had really been done. The Marshals now knew that when +the Princes fled they themselves must remain to die for the Royal cause; +and Louis had at last succeeded in preventing his return to his kingdom +amongst the baggage waggons of the Allies from being considered as a mere +subject for jeers. One detail of the execution of Ney, however, we are +told nothing of: we do not know if his widow, like Madame Labedoyere, had +to pay three francs a head to the soldiers of the firing party which shot +her husband. Whatever were the faults of the Bourbons, they at least +carried out their executions economically. + +The statesmen of France, distinguished as they were, certainly did not +rise to a level with the situation either in 1814 or in 1815. In 1814, +it is true, they were almost stunned by the crash of the Empire, and +little as they foresaw the restoration of the Bourbons, still less could +they have anticipated the extraordinary follies which were to be +perpetrated. In 1815 there was less excuse for their helplessness, and, +overawed as they were by the mass of foes which was pouring on them to +complete the disaster of Waterloo, still it is disappointing to find that +there was no one to seize the helm of power, and, confronting the Allies, +to stipulate proper terms for France, and for the brave men who had +fought for her. The Steady Davoust was there with his 100,000 men to add +weight to their language, and the total helplessness of the older line of +the Bourbons had been too evidently displayed to make their return a +certainty, so that there is no reason to doubt that a firm-hearted +patriot might have saved France from much of the degradation and loss +inflicted on her when once the Allies had again got her at their mercy. +At-the least the Bourbons might have been deprived of the revenge they +sought for in taking some of the best blood of France. Better for Ney +and his comrades to have fallen in a last struggle before Paris than to +be shot by Frenchmen emboldened by the presence of foreign troops. + +Talleyrand, the most prominent figure among the statesmen, was away. His +absence at Vienna during the first Restoration was undoubtedly the cause +of many of the errors then committed. His ability as displayed under +Napoleon has been much exaggerated, for, as the Duke of Wellington said, +it was easy enough to be Foreign Minister to a Government in military +possession of Europe, but at least he was above the petty trivialities +and absurdities of the Bourbon' Court. On the receipt of the news of the +landing of Napoleon he really seems to have believed that the enterprise +would immediately end in disaster, and he pressed on the outlawing of the +man who had overwhelmed him with riches, and who had, at the worst, left +him when in disgrace in quiet possession of all his ill-gotten wealth. +But, as the power of Napoleon became more and more displayed, as perhaps +Talleyrand found that the Austrians were not quite so firm as they wished +to be considered, and as he foresaw the possible chances of the Orleans +family, he became rather lukewarm in his attention to the King, to whom +he had recently been bewailing the hardships of his separation from his +loved monarch. He suddenly found that, after a Congress, the first duty +of a diplomatist was to look after his liver, and Carlsbad offered an +agreeable retreat where he could wait till he might congratulate the +winner in the struggle. + +Louis deeply resented this conduct of his Foreign Minister, and when +Talleyrand at last joined him with all his doubts resolved, the King took +the first opportunity of dismissing him, leaving the calm Talleyrand for +once stuttering with rage. Louis soon, however, found that he was not +the free agent he believed. The Allies did not want to have to again +replace their puppet on the throne, and they looked on Talleyrand and +Fouche as the two necessary men. Talleyrand was reinstated immediately, +and remained for some time at the head of the Ministry. He was, however, +not the man for Parliamentary Government, being too careless in business, +and trying to gain his ends more by clever tricks than straightforward +measures. As for the state into which he let the Government fall, it was +happily characterised by M. Beugnot. "Until now," said he, "we have +only known three sorts of governments--the Monarchical, the Aristocratic, +and the Republican. Now we have invented a new one, which has never been +heard of before,--Paternal Anarchy." + +In September 1815 the elections to the Chamber were bringing in deputies +more Royalist than the King, and Talleyrand sought to gain popularity by +throwing over Fouche. To his horror it appeared that, well contented +with this step, the deputies next asked when the former Bishop was to be +dismissed. Taking advantage of what Talleyrand conceived to be a happy +way of eliciting a strong expression of royal support by threatening to +resign, the King replaced him by the Duc de Richelieu. It was well to +cut jokes at the Duke and say that he was the man in France who knew most +of the Crimea (the Duke had been long in the Russian service, with the +approval of Napoleon), but Talleyrand was overwhelmed. He received the +same office at Court which he had held under Napoleon, Grand Chamberlain, +and afterwards remained a sardonic spectator of events, a not unimposing +figure attending at the Court ceremonials and at the heavy dinners of the +King, and probably lending a helping hand in 1830 to oust Charles X. +from the throne. The Monarchy of July sent him as Ambassador to England, +where he mixed in local politics, for example, plotting against Lord +Palmerston, whose brusque manners he disliked; and in 1838 he ended his +strange life with some dignity, having, as one of his eulogists puts it, +been faithful to every Government he had served as long as it was +possible to save them. + +With the darker side of Talleyrand's character we have nothing to do +here; it is sufficient for our purposes to say that the part the leading +statesman of France took during the Cent Tours was simply nil. In 1814, +he had let the reins slip through his hands; 1815 he could only follow +the King, who even refused to adopt his advice as to the proper way in +which to return to France, and though he once more became Chief Minister, +Talleyrand, like Louis XVIII., owed his restoration in 1815 solely to the +Allies. + +The Comte d'Artois, the brother of the King, and later King himself as +Charles X., was sent to Lyons, to which place the Duc d'Orleans followed +him, and where the two Princes met Marshal Macdonald. The Marshal did +all that man could do to keep the soldiers true to the Bourbons, but he +had to advise the Princes to return to Paris, and he himself had to fly +for his life when he attempted to stop Napoleon in person. The Duc +d'Orleans was then sent to the north to hold Lille, where the King +intended to take refuge, and the Comte d'Artois remained with the Court. + +The Court was very badly off for money, the King, and Clarke, Duke of +Feltre, the War Minister, were the only happy possessors of carriages. +They passed their time, as the Abbe Louis once bitterly remarked, in +saying foolish things till they had a chance of doing them. + +The Comte d'Artois, who, probably wisely, certainly cautiously, had +refused to go with De Vitrolles to stir up the south until he had placed +the King in safety, had ended by going to Ghent too, while the Duc de +Berry was at Alost, close by, with a tiny army composed of the remains of +the Maison du Roi, of which the most was made in reports. The Duc +d'Orleans, always an object of suspicion to the King, had left France +with the Royal party, but had refused to stay in Belgium, as he alleged +that it was an enemy's country. He crossed to England where he remained, +greatly adding to the anxiety of Louis by refusing to join him. + +The end of these Princes is well known. Louis died in 1824, leaving his +throne to his brother; but Charles only held it till 1830, when after the +rising called "the three glorious days of July," he was civilly escorted +from France, and took shelter in England. The Due Angouleme died without +issue. The Duc de Berry was assassinated in 1820, but his widow gave +birth to a posthumous son the Duc de Bordeaux, or, to fervid Royalists, +Henri V., though better known to us as the Comte de Chambord, who died in +1883 without issue, thus ending the then eldest line of Bourbons, and +transmitting his claims to the Orleans family. On the fall of Charles X. +the Duc d'Orleans became King of the French, but he was unseated by the +Revolution of 1848, and died a refugee in England. As the three Princes +of the House of Conde, the Prince de Conde, his son, the Duc de Bourbon, +and his: grandson, the Due d'Enghien, all died without further male +issue, that noble line is extinct. + +When the news of the escape of Napoleon from Elba reached Vienna on the +7th of March 1815, the three heads of the Allies, the Emperors of Austria +and Russia, and the King of Prussia, were still there. Though it was +said that the Congress danced but did not advance, still a great deal of +work had really been done, and the news of Napoleon's landing created a +fresh bond of union between the Allies which stopped all further chances +of disunion, and enabled them to practically complete their work by the +9th of June 1815, though the treaties required cobbling for some years +afterwards. + +France, Austria, and England had snatched the greater part of Saxony from +the jaws of Prussia, and Alexander had been forced to leave the King of +Saxony to reign over half of his former subjects, without, as he wished, +sparing him the pain of such a degradation by taking all from him. +Russia had to be contented with a large increase of her Polish dominions, +getting most of the Grand-Duchy of Westphalia. Austria had, probably +unwisely, withdrawn from her former outlying provinces in Swabia and the +Netherlands, which had before the Revolution made her necessarily the +guardian of Europe against France, preferring to take her gains in Italy, +gains which she has gradually lost in our days; while Prussia, by +accepting the Rhine provinces, completely stepped into the former post of +Austria. Indeed, from the way in which Prussia was, after 1815, as it +were, scattered across Germany, it was evident that her fate must be. +either to be crushed by France, or else, by annexing the states enclosed +in her dominions, to become the predominating power in Germany. It was +impossible for her to remain as she was left. + +The Allies tightly bound France. They had no desire to have again to +march on Paris to restore Louis to the subjects who had such unfortunate +objections to being subjected to that desirable monarch. By the second +Treaty of Paris, on the 20th of November 1815, France was to be occupied +by an Allied force, in military positions on the frontier, not to exceed +150,000 men, to be taken from all the Allied armies, under a commander +who was eventually the Duke of Wellington. Originally the occupation. +was not to exceed five years, but in February 1817 the army was reduced +by 30,000 men, one-fifth of each contingent; and by the Treaty of Aix-la- +Chapelle of 9th October 1818, France was to-be evacuated by the 30th of +November 1818. + +The three monarchs were probably not sorry to get the Congress over on +any terms. Alexander had had his fill of displaying himself in the +salons in his favourite part of an Agamemnon generous towards Troy, and +he had worn out his first popularity. He was stung by finding some of +his favourite plans boldly opposed by Talleyrand and by Metternich, and, +indeed, was anxious to meet the last in open combat. Francis had +required all the firmness of what he called his Bohemian head to resist +the threats, entreaties, and cajoleries employed to get him to acquiesce +in the dethronement of the King of Saxony, and the wiping out of the +Saxon nationality by the very alliance which professed to fight only for +the rights of nations and of their lawful sovereigns. + +All three monarchs had again the satisfaction of entering Paris, but +without enjoying the full glories of 1814. "Our friends, the enemies" +were not so popular then in France, and the spoliation of the Louvre was +not pleasant even to the Royalists. The foreign monarchs soon returned +to their own drained and impoverished States. + +The Emperor Francis had afterwards a quiet reign to his death in 1835, +having only to assist his Minister in snuffing out the occasional flashes +of a love of freedom in Germany. + +The King of Prussia returned in a triumph well won by his sturdy +subjects, and, in the light of his new honours, the Countess Von Voss +tells us he was really handsome. He was now at leisure to resume the +discussions on uniform, and the work of fastening and unfastening the +numerous buttons of his pantaloons, in which he had been so roughly +interrupted by Jena. The first institution of the Zollverein, or +commercial union with several States, gradually extended, was a measure +which did much for the unification of Germany. With his brother +sovereigns he revisited Paris at the end of the military occupation in +1818, remaining there longer than the others, "because," said the +Parisians, "he had discovered an actor at a small theatre who achieved +the feat of making him laugh." He died in 1840. His Queen--heartbroken, +it was said--had died in 1810. + +Alexander was still brimming over with the best and most benevolent +intentions towards every one. The world was to be free, happy, and +religious; but he had rather vague ideas as to how his plans were to be +carried out. Thus it is characteristic that when his successor desired +to have a solemn coronation as King of Poland it was found that Alexander +had not foreseen the difficulties which were met with in trying to +arrange for the coronation of a Sovereign of the Greek Church as King of +a Roman Catholic State. The much-dreaded but very misty Holy Alliance +was one of the few fruits of Alexander's visions. His mind is described +as passing through a regular series of stages with each influence under +which he acted. He ended his life, tired out, disillusioned, "deceived +in everything, weighed down with regret;" obliged to crush the very hopes +of his people he had encouraged, dying in 1825 at Taganrog, leaving his +new Polish Kingdom to be wiped out by-his successors. + +The minor sovereigns require little mention. They retained any titles +they had received from Napoleon, while they exulted, at being free from +his heavy hand and sharp superintendence. Each got a share, small or +great, of the spoil except the poor King of Denmark, who, being assured +by Alexander on his departure that he carried away all hearts, answered, +"Yes, but not any souls." + +The reintroduction of much that was bad in the old system (one country +even going so far as to re-establish torture), the steady attack on +liberty and on all liberal ideas, Wurtemberg being practically the only +State which grumbled at the tightening of the reins so dear to +Metternich,--all formed a fitting commentary on the proclamations by +which the Sovereigns had hounded on their people against the man they +represented as the one obstacle to the freedom and peace of Europe. +In gloom and disenchantment the nations sat down to lick their wounds: +The contempt shown by the monarchs for everything but the right of +conquest, the manner in which they treated the lands won from Napoleon as +a gigantic "pool" which was to be shared amongst them, so many souls to +each; their total failure to fulfil their promises to their subjects of +granting liberty,--all these slowly bore their fruits in after years, and +their effects are not even yet exhausted. The right of a sovereign to +hold his lands was now, by the public law of Europe, to be decided by his +strength, The rights of the people were treated as not existing. Truly, +as our most gifted poetess has sung-- + + "The Kings crept out--the peoples sat at home, + And finding the long invocated peace + (A pall embroidered with worn images + Of rights divine) too scant to cover doom + Such as they suffered, nursed the corn that grew + Rankly to bitter bread, on Waterloo." + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Kings feel they are born general: whatever else they cannot do +That consolation which is always left to the discontented + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon, v15, 1815 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 16. + +By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE + +His Private Secretary + +Edited by R. W. Phipps +Colonel, Late Royal Artillery + +1891 + + + +CONTENTS: +CHAPTER XIII. 1815-1821 +(Chapter XIV. and the Appendix have not been included) + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + --[ This chapter; by the editor of the 1836 edition, is based upon + the 'Memorial', and O'Meara's and Antommarchi's works.]-- + + +1815-1821. + + Voyage to St. Helena--Personal traits of the Emperor--Arrival at + James Town--Napoleon's temporary residence at The Briars--Removal to + Longwood--The daily routine there-The Campaign of Italy--The arrival + of Sir Hudson Lowe--Unpleasant relations between the Emperor and the + new Governor--Visitors at St. Helena--Captain Basil Hall's interview + with Napoleon--Anecdotes of the Emperor--Departure of Las Cases and + O'Meara--Arrivals from Europe--Physical habits of the Emperor--Dr. + Antommarchi--The Emperor's toilet--Creation of a new bishopric-- + The Emperor's energy with the spade--His increasing illness-- + Last days of Napoleon--His Death--Lying in state--Military funeral-- + Marchand's account of the Emperor's last moments--Napoleon's last + bequests--The Watch of Rivoli. + +The closing scenes in the life of the great Emperor only now remain to be +briefly touched upon. In a previous chapter we have narrated the +surrender of Napoleon, his voyage to England, and his transference from +the Bellerophon to the Northumberland. The latter vessel was in great +confusion from the short notice at which she had sailed, and for the two +first days the crew was employed in restoring order. The space abaft the +mizenmast contained a dining-room about ten feet broad, and extending the +whole width of the ship, a saloon, and two cabins. The Emperor occupied +the cabin on the left; in which his camp-bedstead had been put up; that +on the right was appropriated to the Admiral. It was peremptorily +enjoined that the saloon should be in common. The form of the dining- +table resembled that of the dining-room. Napoleon sat with his back to +the saloon; on his left sat Madame Bertrand, and on his right the +Admiral, who, with Madame de Montholon, filled up one side of the table. +Next that lady, but at the end of the table, was Captain Ross, who +commanded the ship, and at the opposite end M. de Montholon; Madame +Bertrand, and the Admiral's secretary. The side of the table facing the +Emperor was occupied by the Grand-Marshal, the Colonel of the field +Regiment, Las Cases, and Gourgaud. The Admiral invited one or two of the +officers to dinner every day, and the band of the 53d, newly-formed, +played during dinner-time. + +On the 10th of August the Northumberland cleared the Channel, and lost +sight of land. The course of the ship was shaped to cross the Bay of +Biscay and double Cape Finisterre. The wind was fair, though light, and +the heat excessive. Napoleon breakfasted in his own cabin at irregular +hours. He sent for one of his attendants every morning to know the +distance run, the state of the wind, and other particulars connected with +their progress. He read a great deal, dressed towards four o'clock, and +then came into the public saloon; here he played at chess with one of the +party; at five o'clock the Admiral announced that dinner was on the +table. It is well known that Napoleon was scarcely ever more than +fifteen minutes at dinner; here the two courses alone took up nearly an +hour and a half. This was a serious annoyance to him, though his +features and manner always evinced perfect equanimity. Neither the new +system of cookery nor the quality of the dishes ever met with his +censure. He was waited on by two valets, who stood behind his chair. +At first the Admiral was in the habit of offering several dishes to the +Emperor, but the acknowledgment of the latter was expressed so coldly +that the practice was given up. The Admiral thenceforth only pointed out +to the servants what was preferable. Napoleon was generally silent, as +if unacquainted with the language, though it was French. If he spoke, it +was to ask some technical or scientific question, or to address a few +words to those whom the Admiral occasionally asked to dinner. + +The Emperor rose immediately after coffee had been handed round, and went +on deck, followed by the Grand-Marshal and Las Cases. This disconcerted +Admiral Cockburn, who expressed his surprise to his officers; but Madame +Bertrand, whose maternal language was English, replied with spirit, "Do +not forget, sir, that your guest is a man who has governed a large +portion of the world, and that kings once contended for the honour of +being admitted to his table."--" Very true," rejoined the Admiral; and +from that time he did his utmost to comply with Napoleon's habits. He +shortened the time of sitting at table, ordering coffee for Napoleon and +those who accompanied him even before the rest of the company had +finished their dinner. The Emperor remained walking on deck till dark. +On returning to the after-cabin he sat down to play vingt et un with some +of his suite, and generally retired in about half an hour. On the +morning of the 15th of August all his suite asked permission to be +admitted to his presence. He was not aware of the cause of this visit; +it was his birthday, which seemed to have altogether escaped his +recollection. + +On the following day they doubled Cape Finisterre, and up to the 21st, +passing off the Straits of Gibraltar, continued their course along the +coast of Africa towards Madeira. Napoleon commonly remained in his cabin +the whole morning, and from the extreme heat he wore a very slight dress. +He could not sleep well, and frequently rose in the night. Reading was +his chief occupation. He often sent for Count Las Cases to translate +whatever related to St. Helena or the countries by which they were +sailing. Napoleon used to start a subject of conversation; or revive +that of some preceding day, and when he had taken eight or nine turns the +whole length of the deck he would seat himself on the second gun from the +gangway on the larboard side. The midshipmen soon observed this habitual +predilection, so that the cannon was thenceforth called the Emperor's +gun. It was here that Napoleon often conversed for hours together. + +On the 22d of August they came within sight of Madeira, and at night +arrived off the port. They stopped for a day or two to take in +provisions. Napoleon was indisposed. A sudden gale arose and the air +was filled with small particles of sand and the suffocating exhalations +from the deserts of Africa. On the evening of the 24th they got under +weigh again, and progressed smoothly and rapidly. The Emperor added to +his amusements a game at piquet. He was but an, indifferent chess- +player, and there was no very good one on board. He asked, jestingly, +"How it was that he frequently beat those who beat better players than +himself?" Vingt et un was given up, as they played too high at it; and +Napoleon had a great aversion to gaming. One night a negro threw himself +overboard to avoid a flogging, which occasioned a great noise and bustle. +A young midshipman meeting Las Cases descending into the cabin, and +thinking he was going to inform Napoleon, caught hold of his coat and in +a tone of great concern exclaimed, "Ah sir, do not alarm the Emperor! +Tell him the noise is owing to an accident!" In general the midshipmen +behaved with marked respect and attention to Bonaparte, and often by +signs or words directed the sailors to avoid incommoding him: He +sometimes noticed this conduct, and remarked that youthful hearts were +always prone to generous instincts. + +On the 1st of September they found themselves in the latitude of the Cape +de Verd Islands. Everything now promised a prosperous passage, but the +time hung heavily. Las Cases had undertaken to teach his son English, +and the Emperor also expressed a wish to learn. He, however, soon grew +tired and laid it aside, nor was it resumed until long afterwards. His +manners and habits were always the same; he invariably appeared +contented, patient, and good-humoured. The Admiral gradually laid aside +his reserve, and took an interest in his great captive. He pointed out +the danger incurred by coming on deck after dinner, owing to the damp of +the evening: the Emperor, would then sometimes take his arm and prolong +the conversation, talking sometimes on naval affairs, on the French +resources in the south, and on the improvements he had contemplated in +the ports and harbours of the Mediterranean, to all which the Admiral +listened with deep attention. + +Meanwhile Napoleon observed that Las Cases was busily employed, and +obtained a sight of his journal, with which he was not displeased. He, +however, noticed that some of the military details and anecdotes gave but +a meagre idea of the subject of war: This first led to the proposal of +his writing his own Memoirs. At length the Emperor came to a +determination, and on Saturday, the 9th of September he called his +secretary into his cabin and dictated to him some particulars of the +siege of Toulon. On approaching the line they fell in with the trade- +winds, that blow here constantly from the east. On the 16th there was a +considerable fall of rain, to the great joy of the sailors, who were in +want of water. The rain began to fall heavily just as the Emperor had +got upon deck to take his afternoon walk. But this did not disappoint +him of his usual exercise; he merely called for his famous gray +greatcoat, which the crew regarded with much interest. + +On the 23d of September they passed the line. This was a day of great +merriment and disorder among the crew: it was the ceremony which the +English sailors call the "christening." No one is spared; and the +officers are generally more roughly handled than any one else. The +Admiral, who had previously amused himself by giving an alarming +description of this ceremony, now very courteously exempted his guests +from the inconvenience and ridicule attending it. Napoleon was +scrupulously respected through the whole of this Saturnalian festivity. +On being informed of the decorum which had been observed with regard to +him he ordered a hundred Napoleons to be presented to the grotesque- +Neptune and his crew; which the Admiral opposed, perhaps from motives of +prudence as well as politeness. + +Owing to the haste with which they had left England the painting of the +ship had been only lately finished, and this circumstance confined +Napoleon, whose sense of smell was very acute, to his room for two days. +They were now, in the beginning of October, driven into the Gulf of +Guinea, where they met a French vessel bound for the Isle of Bourbon. +They spoke with the captain, who expressed his surprise and regret when +he learnt that Napoleon was on board. The wind was unfavourable, and the +ship made little progress. The sailors grumbled at the Admiral, who had +gone out of the usual course. At length they approached the termination +of their voyage. On the 14th of October the Admiral had informed them +that he expected to come within sight of St. Helena that day. They had +scarcely risen from table when their ears were saluted with the cry of +"land!" This was within a quarter of an hour of the time that had been +fixed on. The Emperor went on the forecastle to see the island; but it +was still hardly distinguishable. At daybreak next morning they had a +tolerably clear view of it + +At length, about seventy days after his departure from England, and a +hundred and ten after quitting Paris, Napoleon reached St. Helena. In +the harbour were several vessels of the squadron which had separated from +them, and which they thought they had left behind. Napoleon, contrary to +custom, dressed early and went upon deck: he went forward to the gangway +to view the island. He beheld a kind of village surrounded by numerous +barren hills towering to the clouds. Every platform, every aperture, the +brow of every hill was planted with cannon. The Emperor viewed the +prospect through his glass. His countenance underwent no change. He +soon left the deck; and sending for Las Cases, proceeded to his day's +work. The Admiral, who had gone ashore very early, returned about six +much fatigued. He had been walking over various parts of the island, and +at length thought he had found a habitation that would suit his captives. +The place stood in need of repairs, which might occupy two months. His +orders were not to let the French quit the vessel till a house should be +prepared to receive them. He, however, undertook, on his own +responsibility, to set them on shore the next day. + +On the 16th, after dinner, Napoleon, accompanied by the Admiral and the +Grand-Marshal, Bertrand, got into a boat to go ashore. As he passed, the +officers assembled on the quarter-deck, and the greater part of the crew +on the gangways. The Emperor, before he stepped into the boat, sent for +the captain of the vessel, and took leave of him, desiring him at the +same time to convey his thanks to the officers and crew. These words +appeared to produce the liveliest sensation in all by whom they were +understood, or to whom they were interpreted. The remainder of his suite +landed about eight. They found the Emperor in the apartments which had +been assigned to him, a few minutes after he went upstairs to his +chamber. He was lodged in a sort of inn in James Town, which consists +only, of one short street, or row of houses built in a narrow valley +between two rocky hills. + +The next day the Emperor, the Grand-Marshal, and the Admiral, riding out +to visit Longwood, which had been chosen for the Emperor's residence, on +their return saw a small villa, with a pavilion attached to it, about two +miles from the town, the residence of Mr. Balcombe; a merchant of the +island. This spot pleased Napoleon, and the Admiral was of opinion that +it would be better for him to remain here than to return to the town, +where the sentinels at his door, with the crowds collected round it, in a +manner confined him to his chamber. The pavilion was a sort of summer- +house on a pyramidal eminence, about thirty or forty paces from the +house, where the family were accustomed to resort in fine weather: this +was hired for the temporary abode of the Emperor, and he took possession +of it immediately. There was a carriage-road from the town, and the +valley was in this part less rugged in its aspect. Las Cases was soon +sent for. As be ascended the winding path leading to the pavilion he saw +Napoleon standing at the threshold of the door. His body was slightly +bent, and his hands behind his back: he wore his usual plain and simple +uniform and the well-known hat. The Emperor was alone. He took a fancy +to walk a little; but there was no level ground on any side of the +pavilion, which was surrounded by huge pieces of rock. Taking the arm of +his companion, however, he began to converse in a cheerful strain. When +Napoleon was about to retire to rest the servants found that one of the +windows was open close to the bed: they barricaded it as well as they +could, so as to exclude the air, to the effects of which the Emperor was +very susceptible. Las Cases ascended to an upper room. The valets de +chambres lay stretched in their cloaks across the threshold of the door. +Such was the first night Napoleon passed at the Briars. + +An English officer was lodged with them in the house as their guard, and +two non-commissioned officers were stationed near the house to watch +their movements. Napoleon the next day proceeded with his dictation, +which occupied him for several hours, and then took a walk in the garden, +where he was met by the two Misses Balcombe, lively girls about fourteen +years of age, who presented him with flowers, and overwhelmed him with +whimsical questions. Napoleon was amused by their familiarity, to which +he had been little accustomed. "We have been to a masked ball," said he, +when the young ladies had taken their leave. + +The next day a chicken was brought for breakfast, which the Emperor +undertook to carve himself, and was surprised at his succeeding so well, +it being a long time since he had done so much. The coffee he considered +so bad that on tasting it he thought himself poisoned, and sent it away. + +The mornings were passed in business; in the evening Napoleon sometimes +strolled to the neighbouring villa, where the young ladies made him play +at whist. The Campaign of Italy was nearly finished, and Las Cases +proposed that the other followers of Napoleon who were lodged in the town +should come up every morning to assist in transcribing The Campaign of +Egypt, the History of the Consulate, etc. This suggestion pleased the +ex-Emperor, so that from that time one or two of his suite came regularly +every day to write to his dictation, and stayed to dinner. A tent, sent +by the Colonel of the 53d Regiment, was spread out so as to form a +prolongation of the pavillion. Their cook took up his abode at the +Briars. The table linen was taken from the trunks, the plate was set +forth, and the first dinner after these new arrangements was a sort of +fete. + +One day at dinner Napoleon, casting his eye on one of the dishes of his +own campaign-service, on which the-arms of the King had been engraved, +"How they have spoiled that!" he exclaimed; and he could not refrain from +observing that the King was in great haste to take possession of the +Imperial plate, which certainly did not belong to him. Amongst the +baggage was also a cabinet in which were a number of medallions, given +him by the Pope and other potentates, some letters of Louis XVIII. which +he had left behind him on his writing-table in the suddenness of his +flight from the Tuileries on the 20th of March, and a number of other +letters found in the portfolio of Dia Blacas intended to calumniate +Napoleon. + +The Emperor never dressed until about four o'clock he then walked in the +garden, which was particularly agreeable to him on account of its +solitude--the English soldiers having been removed at Mr. Balcombe's +request. A little arbour was covered with canvas; and a chair and table +placed in it, and here Napoleon dictated a great part of his Memoirs. +In the evening, when he did not go out, he generally contrived to prolong +the conversation till eleven or twelve o'clock. + +Thus time passed with little variety or interruption. The weather in the +winter became delightful. One day, his usual task being done; Napoleon +strolled out towards the town, until he came within sight of the road and +shipping. On his return he met Mrs. Balcombe and a Mrs. Stuart, who was +on her way back from Bombay to England. The Emperor conversed with her on +the manners and customs of India, and on the inconveniences of a long +voyage at sea, particularly to ladies. He alluded to Scotland, Mrs. +Stuart's native country, expatiated on the genius of Ossian, and +congratulated his fair interlocutor on the preservation of her clear +northern complexion. While the parties were thus engaged some heavily +burdened slaves passed near to them. Mrs. Balcombe motioned them to make +a detour; but Napoleon interposed, exclaiming, "Respect the burden, +madam!" As he said this the Scotch lady, who had been very eagerly +scanning the features of Napoleon, whispered to her friend, "Heavens! +what a character, and what an expression of countenance! How different +to the idea I had formed of him!" + +Napoleon shortly after repeated the same walk, and went into the house of +Major Hudson. This visit occasioned considerable alarm to the +constituted authorities. + +The Governor gave a ball, to which the French were invited; and Las Cases +about the same time rode over to Longwood to see what advance had been +made in the preparations for their reception. His report on his return +was not very favourable. They had now been six weeks at the Briars, +during which Napoleon had been nearly as much confined as if on board the +vessel. His health began to be impaired by it. Las Cases gave it as his +opinion that the Emperor did not possess that constitution of iron which +was usually ascribed to him; and that it was the strength of his mind, +not of his body, that carried him through the labours of the field and of +the cabinet. In speaking on this subject Napoleon himself observed that. +nature had endowed him with two peculiarities: one was the power of +sleeping at any hour or in any place; the other, his being incapable of +committing any excess either in eating or drinking: "If," said he, "I go +the least beyond my mark my stomach instantly revolts." He was subject +to nausea from very slight causes, and to colds from any change of air. + +The prisoners removed to Longwood on the 10th of December 1815. Napoleon +invited Mr. Balcombe to breakfast with him that morning, and conversed +with him in a very cheerful manner. About two Admiral Cockburn was +announced; he entered with an air of embarrassment. In consequence of +the restraints imposed upon him at the Briars, and the manner in which +those of his suite residing in the town had been treated, Bonaparte had +discontinued receiving the visits of the Admiral; yet on the present +occasion he behaved towards him as though nothing had happened. At +length they left the Briars and set out for Longwood. Napoleon rode the +horse, a small, sprightly, and tolerably handsome animal, which had been +brought for him from the Cape. He wore his uniform of the Chasseurs of +the Guard, and his graceful manner and handsome countenance were +particularly remarked. The Admiral was very attentive to him. At the +entrance of Longwood they found a guard under arms who rendered the +prescribed honours to their illustrious captive. His horse, unaccustomed +to parades, and frightened by the roll of the dram, refused to pass the +gate till spurred on by Napoleon, while a significant look passed among +the escort. The Admiral took great pains to point out the minutest +details at Longwood. He had himself superintended all the arrangements, +among which was a bath-room. Bonaparte was satisfied with everything, +and the Admiral seemed highly pleased. He had anticipated petulance and +disdain, but Napoleon manifested perfect good-humour. + +The entrance to the house was through a room which had been just built to +answer the double purpose of an ante-chamber and a dining-room. This +apartment led to the drawing-room; beyond this was a third room running +in a cross direction and very dark. This was intended to be the +depository of the Emperor's maps and books, but it was afterwards +converted into the dining-room. The Emperor's chamber opened into this +apartment on the right hand side, and was divided into two equal parts, +forming a cabinet and sleeping-room; a little external gallery served for +a bathing-room: Opposite the Emperor's chamber, at the other extremity of +the building, were the apartments of Madame Montholon, her husband, and +her son, afterward used as the Emperors library. Detached from this part +of the house was a little square room on the ground floor, contiguous to +the kitchen, which was assigned to Las Cases. The windows and beds had no +curtains. The furniture was mean and scanty. Bertrand and his family +resided at a distance of two miles, at a place called Rut's Gate. +General Gourgaud slept under a tent, as well as Mr. O'Meara, and the +officer commanding the guard. The house was surrounded by a garden. In +front, and separated by a tolerably deep ravine, was encamped the 53d +Regiment, different parties of which were stationed on the neighbouring +heights. + +The domestic establishment of the Emperor consisted of eleven persons. +To the Grand-Marshal was confided the general superintendence; to M. de +Montholon the domestic details; Las Cases was to take care of the +furniture and property, and General Gourgaud to have the management of +the stables. These arrangements, however, produced discontent among +Napoleon's attendants. Las Cases admits that they were no longer the +members of one family, each using his best efforts to promote the +advantage of all. They were far from practising that which necessity +dictated. He says also, "The Admiral has more than once, in the midst of +our disputes with him, hastily exclaimed that the Emperor was decidedly +the most good-natured, just, and reasonable of the whole set." + +On his first arrival he went to visit the barracks occupied by some +Chinese living on the island, and a place called Longwood Farm. He +complained to Las Cases that they had been idle of late; but by degrees +their hours and the employment of them became fixed and regular. The +Campaign of Italy being now finished, Napoleon corrected it, and dictated +on other subjects. This was their morning's work. They dined between +eight and nine, Madame Montholon being seated on Napoleon's right; Las +Cases on his left, and Gourgaud, Montholon, and Las Cases' son sitting +opposite. The smell of the paint not being yet gone off, they remained +not more than ten minutes at table, and the dessert was prepared in the +adjoining apartment, where coffee was served up and conversation +commenced. Scenes were read from Moliere, Racine, and Voltaire; and +regret was always expressed at their not having a copy of Corneille. +They then played at 'reversis', which had been Bonaparte's favourite game +in his youth. The recollection was agreeable to him, and he thought he +could amuse himself at it for any length of time, but was soon +undeceived. His aim was always to make the 'reversis', that is, to win +every trick. Character is displayed in the smallest incidents. + +Napoleon read a libel on himself, and contrasted the compliments which +had passed between him and the Queen of Prussia with the brutal- +behaviour ascribed to him in the English newspapers. On the other hand, +two common sailors had at different times, while he was at Longwood and +at the Briars, in spite of orders and at all risks, made their way +through the sentinels to gain a sight of Napoleon. On seeing the +interest they took in him he exclaimed, "This is fanaticism! Yes, +imagination rules the world!" + +The instructions of the English Ministers with regard to the treatment of +Napoleon at St. Helena had been prepared with the view completely to +secure his person. An English officer was to be constantly at his table. +This order, however, was not carried into effect. An officer was also to +accompany Napoleon in all his rides; this order was dispensed with within +certain prescribed limits, because Napoleon had refused to ride at all on +such conditions. Almost everyday brought with it some new cause of +uneasiness and complaint. Sentinels were posted beneath Napoleon's +windows and before his doors. This order was, however, doubtless given +to prevent his being annoyed by impertinent curiosity. The French were +certainly precluded from all free communication with the inhabitants of +the island; but this precaution was of unquestionable necessity for the +security of the Emperor's person. Las Cases complains that the passwords +were perpetually changed, so that they lived in constant perplexity and +apprehension of being subjected to some unforeseen insult. "Napoleon," +he continues, "addressed a complaint to the Admiral, which obtained for +him no redress. In the midst of these complaints the Admiral wished to +introduce some ladies (who had arrived in the Doric) to Napoleon; but he +declined, not approving this alternation of affronts and civilities." +He, however, consented, at the request of their Colonel, to receive the +officers of the 53d Regiment. After this officer took his leave. +Napoleon prolonged his walk in the garden. He stopped awhile to look at +a flower in one of the beds, and asked his companion if it was not a +lily. It was indeed a magnificent one. The thought that he had in his +mind was obvious. He then spoke of the number of times he had been +wounded; and said it had been thought he had never met with these +accidents from his having kept them secret as much as possible.' + +It was near the end of December. One day, after a walk and a tumble in +the mud, Bonaparte returned and found a packet of English newspapers, +which the Grand-Marshal translated to him. This occupied him till late, +and he forgot his dinner in discussing their contents. After dinner had +been served Las Cases wished to continue the translation, but Napoleon +would not suffer him to proceed, from consideration for the weak state of +his eyes. "We must wait till to-morrow," said he. A few days afterwards +the Admiral came in person to visit him, and the interview was an +agreeable one. After some animated discussion it was arranged that +Napoleon should henceforth ride freely about the island; that the officer +should follow him only at a distance; and that visitors should be +admitted to him, not with the permission of the Admiral as the Inspector +of Longwood, but with that of the Grand-Marshal, who was to do the +honours of the establishment. These concessions were, however, soon +recalled. On the 30th of this month Piontkowsky, a Pole; who had been +left behind, but whose entreaties prevailed upon the English Government, +joined Bonaparte. On New-Year's Day all their little party was collected +together, and Napoleon, entering into the feelings of the occasion, +begged that they might breakfast and pass it together. Every day +furnished some new trait of this kind. + +On the 14th of April 1816 Sir Hudson Lowe, the new Governor, arrived at +St. Helena. This epoch is important, as making the beginning of a +continued series of accusations, and counter-accusations, by which the +last five years of Napoleon's life were constantly occupied, to the great +annoyance of himself and all connected with him, and possibly to the +shortening of his own existence. + +It would be tedious to detail the progress of this petty war, but, as a +subject which has formed so great a portion of the life of Napoleon, it +must not be omitted. To avoid anything which may appear like a bias +against Napoleon, the details, unless when otherwise mentioned, will be +derived from Las Cases, his devoted admirer. + +On the first visit of the new Governor; which was the 16th of April, +Napoleon refused to admit him, because he himself was ill, and also +because the Governor had not asked beforehand for an audience. On the +second visit the Governor, was admitted to an audience, and Napoleon +seems to have taken a prejudice at first sight, as he remarked to his +suite that the Governor was "hideous, and had a most ugly countenance," +though he allowed he ought not to judge too hastily. The spirit of the +party was shown by a remark made, that the first two days had been days +of battle. + +The Governor saw Napoleon again on the 30th April, and the interview was +stormy. Napoleon argued with the Governor on the conduct of the Allies +towards him, said they had no right to dispose of him, who was their +equal and sometimes their master. He then declaimed on the eternal +disgrace the English had inflicted on themselves by sending him to St. +Helena; they wished to kill him by a lingering death: their conduct was +worse than that of the Calabrians in shooting Murat. He talked of the +cowardliness of suicide, complained of the small extent and horrid +climate of St. Helena, and said it would be an act of kindness to deprive +him of life at once. Sir H. Lowe said that a house of wood, fitted up +with every possible accommodation, was then on its way from England for +his use. Napoleon refused it at once, and exclaimed that it was not a +house but an executioner and a coffin that he wanted; the house was a +mockery, death would be a favour. A few minutes after Napoleon took up +some reports of the campaigns of 1814, which lay on the table, and asked +Sir H. Lowe if he had written them. Las Cases, after saying that the +Governor replied in the affirmative, finishes his account of the +interview, but according to O'Meara, Napoleon said they were full of +folly and falsehood. The Governor, with a much milder reply than most +men would have given, retired, and Napoleon harangued upon the sinister +expression of his countenance, abused him in the coarsest manner, and +made his servant throw a cup of coffee out of the window because it had +stood a moment on a table near the Governor. + +It was required that all persons who visited at Longwood or at Hut's Gate +should make a report to the Governor, or to Sir Thomas Reade, of the +conversations they had held with the French. Several additional +sentinels were posted around Longwood House and grounds. + +During some extremely wet and foggy weather Napoleon did not go out for +several days. Messengers and letters continually succeeded one another +from Plantation House. The Governor appeared anxious to see Napoleon, +and was evidently distrustful, although the residents at Longwood were +assured of his actual presence by the sound of his voice. He had some +communications with Count Bertrand on the necessity that one of his +officers should see Napoleon daily. He also went to Longwood frequently +himself, and finally, after some difficulty, succeeded in obtaining an +interview with Napoleon in his bedchamber, which lasted about a quarter +of an hour. Some days before he sent for Mr. O'Meara, asked a variety of +questions concerning the captive, walked round the house several times +and before the windows, measuring and laying down the plan of a new +ditch, which he said he would have dug in order to prevent the cattle +from trespassing. + +On the morning of the 5th of May Napoleon sent for his surgeon O'Meara to +come to him. He was introduced into Napoleon's bed-chamber, a +description of which is thus given: "It was about fourteen feet by +twelve, and ten or eleven feet in height. The walls were lined with +brown nankeen, bordered and edged with common green bordering paper, and +destitute of skirting. Two small windows without pulleys, one of which +was thrown up and fastened by a piece of notched wood, looked towards the +camp of the 53d Regiment. There were window-curtains of white long- +cloth, a small fire-place, a shabby grate and fire-irons to match, with a +paltry mantelpiece of wood, painted white, upon which stood a small +marble bust of his son. Above the mantelpiece hung the portrait of Maria +Louisa, and four or five of young Napoleon, one of which was embroidered +by the hands of his mother. A little more to the right hung also the +portrait of the Empress Josephine; and to the left was suspended the +alarm chamber-watch of Frederick the Great, obtained by Napoleon at +Potsdam; while on the right the Consular watch, engraved with the cipher +B, hung, by a chain of the plaited hair of Maria Louisa, from a pin stuck +in the nankeen lining. In the right-hand corner was placed the little +plain iron camp-bedstead, with green silk curtains, on which its master +had reposed on the fields of Marengo and Austerlitz. Between the windows +there was a chest of drawers, and a bookcase with green blinds stood on +the left of the door leading to the next apartment. Four or five cane- +bottomed chairs painted green were standing here and there about the. +room. Before the back door there was a screen covered with nankeen, and +between that and the fireplace an old-fashioned sofa covered with white +long-cloth, on which Napoleon reclined, dressed in his white morning- +gown, white loose trousers and stockings all in one, a chequered red +handkerchief upon his head, and his shirt-collar open without a cravat. +His sir was melancholy and troubled. Before him stood a little round +table, with some books, at the foot of which lay in confusion upon the +carpet a heap of those which he had already perused, and at the opposite +side of the sofa was suspended Isabey's portrait of the Empress Maria +Louisa, holding her son in her arms. In front of the fireplace stood Las +Cases with his arms folded over his breast and some papers in one of his +hands. Of all the former magnificence of the once mighty Emperor of +France nothing remained but a superb wash-hand-stand containing a silver +basin and water-jug of the same metal, in the lefthand corner." The +object of Napoleon in sending for O'Meara on this occasion was to +question him whether in their future intercourse he was to consider him +in the light of a spy and a tool of the Governor or as his physician? +The doctor gave a decided and satisfactory answer on this point. + +"During the short interview that this Governor had with me in my +bedchamber, one of the first things he proposed was to send you away," +said Napoleon to O'Meara, "and that I should take his own surgeon in your +place. This he repeated, and so earnest was he to gain his object that, +though I gave him a flat refusal, when he was going out he turned about +and again proposed it." + +On the 11th a proclamation was issued by the Governor, "forbidding any +persons on the island from sending letters to or receiving them from +General Bonaparte or his suite, on pain of being immediately arrested and +dealt with accordingly." Nothing escaped the vigilance of Sir Hudson +Lowe. "The Governor," said Napoleon, "has just sent an invitation to +Bertrand for General Bonaparte to come to Plantation House to meet Lady +Moira. I told Bertrand to return no answer to it. If he really wanted +me to see her he would have put Plantation House within the limits, but +to send such an invitation, knowing I must go in charge of a guard if I +wished to avail myself of it, was an insult." + +Soon after came the Declaration of the Allies and the Acts of Parliament +authorising the detention of Napoleon Bonaparte as a prisoner of war and +disturber of the peace of Europe. Against the Bill, when brought into +the House of Lords, there were two protests, those of Lord Holland and of +the Duke of Sussex. These official documents did not tend to soothe the +temper or raise the spirits of the French to endure their captivity. + +In addition to the misery of his own captivity, Napoleon had to contend +with the unmanageable humours of his own followers. As often happens +with men in such circumstances, they sometimes disagreed among +themselves, and part of their petulance and ill-temper fell upon their +Chief. He took these little incidents deeply to heart. On one occasion +he said in bitterness, "I know that I am fallen; but to feel this among +you! I am aware that man is frequently unreasonable and susceptible of +offence. Thus, when I am mistrustful of myself I ask, should I have been +treated so at the Tuileries? This is my test." + +A great deal of pains has been taken by Napoleon's adherents and others +to blacken the character of Sir Hudson Lowe, and to make it appear that +his sole object was to harass Napoleon and to make his life miserable. +Now, although it may be questioned whether Sir Hudson Lowe was the proper +person to be placed in the delicate situation of guard over the fallen +Emperor, there is no doubt that quarrels and complaints began long before +that officer reached the island; and the character of those complaints +will show that at best the prisoners were persons very difficult to +satisfy. Their detention at the Briars was one of the first causes of +complaint. It was stated that the Emperor was very ill there, that he +was confined "in a cage" with no attendance, that his suite was kept from +him, and that he was deprived of exercise. A few pages farther in the +journal of Las Cases we find the Emperor in good health, and as soon as +it was announced that Longwood was ready to receive him, then it was +urged that the gaolers wished to compel him to go against his will, that +they desired to push their authority to the utmost, that the smell of the +paint at Longwood was very disagreeable, etc. Napoleon himself was quite +ready to go, and seemed much vexed when Count Bertrand and General +Gourgaud arrived from Longwood with the intelligence that the place was +as yet uninhabitable. His displeasure, however, was much more seriously +excited by the appearance of Count Montholon with the information that +all was ready at Longwood within a few minutes after receiving the +contrary accounts from Bertrand and Gourgaud. He probably perceived that +he was trifled with by his attendants, who endeavoured to make him +believe that which suited their own convenience. We may also remark that +the systematic opposition which was carried to such a great length +against Sir Hudson Lowe had begun during the stay of Admiral Cockburn. +His visits were refused; he was accused of caprice, arrogance, and +impertinence, and he was nicknamed "the Shark" by Napoleon himself; his +own calmness alone probably prevented more violent ebullitions. + +The wooden house arrived at last, and the Governor waited on Napoleon to +consult with him how and where it should be erected. Las Cases, who +heard the dispute in an adjoining room, says that it was long and +clamorous. + +He gives the details in Napoleon's own words, and we have here the +advantage of comparing his statement with the account transmitted by Sir +Hudson Lowe to the British Government, dated 17th May 1816. The two +accounts vary but little. Napoleon admits that he was thrown quite out +of temper, that he received the Governor with his stormy countenance, +looked furiously at him, and made no reply to his information of the +arrival of the house but by a significant look. He told him that he +wanted nothing, nor would receive anything at his hands; that he supposed +he was to be put to death by poison or the sword; the poison would be +difficult to administer, but he had the means of doing it with the sword. +The sanctuary of his abode should not be violated, and the troops should +not enter his house but by trampling on his corpse. He then alluded to +an invitation sent to him by Sir Hudson Lows to meet Lady Loudon at his +house, and said there could not be an act of more refined cruelty than +inviting him to his table by the title of "General," to make him an +object of ridicule or amusement to his guests. What right had he to call +him "General" Bonaparte? He would not be deprived of his dignity by him, +nor by any one in the world. He certainly should have condescended to +visit Lady Loudon had she been within his limits, as he did not stand +upon strict etiquette with a woman, but he should have deemed that he was +conferring an honour upon her. He would not consider himself a prisoner +of war, but was placed in his present position by the most horrible +breach of trust. After a few more words he dismissed the Governor +without once more alluding to the house which was the object of the +visit. The fate of this unfortunate house may be mentioned here. It was +erected after a great many disputes, but was unfortunately surrounded by +a sunk fence and ornamental railing. This was immediately connected in +Napoleon's mind with the idea of a fortification; it was impossible to +remove the impression that the ditch and palisade were intended to secure +his person. As soon as the objection was made known, Sir Hudson Lowe +ordered the ground to be levelled and the rails taken away. But before +this was quite completed Napoleon's health was too much destroyed to +permit his removal, and the house was never occupied. + +Napoleon seems to have felt that he had been too violent in his conduct. +He admitted, when at table with his suite a few days after, that he had +behaved very ill, and that in any other situation he should blush for +what he had done. "I could have wished, for his sake," he said, "to see +him evince a little anger, or pull the door violently after him when he +went away." These few words let us into a good deal of Napoleon's +character: he liked to intimidate, but his vehement language was received +with a calmness and resolute forbearance to which he was quite +unaccustomed, and he consequently grew more angry as his anger was less +regarded. + +The specimens here given of the disputes with Sir Hudson Lowe may +probably suffice: a great many more are furnished by Las Cases, O'Meara, +and other partisans of Napoleon, and even they always make him the +aggressor. Napoleon himself in his cooler moments seemed to admit this; +after the most violent quarrel with the Governor, that of the 18th of +August 1816, which utterly put an end to anything like decent civility +between the parties; he allowed that he had used the Governor very ill, +that he repeatedly and purposely offended him, and that Sir Hudson Lowe +had not in a single instance shown a want of respect, except perhaps that +he retired too abruptly. + +Great complaints were made of the scanty way in which the table of the +exiles was supplied; and it was again and again alleged by them that they +had scarcely anything to eat. The wine, too, was said to be execrable, +so bad that in fact it could not be drunk; and, of such stuff as it was, +only one bottle a day was allowed to each person--an allowance which Las +Cases calls ridiculously small. Thus pressed, but partly for effect, +Napoleon resolved to dispose of his plate in monthly proportions; and as +he knew that some East India captains had offered as much as a hundred +guineas for a single plate, in order to preserve a memorial of him, he +determined that what was sold should be broken up, the arms erased, and +no trace left which could show that they had ever been his. The only +portions left uninjured were the little eagles with which some of the +dish-covers were mounted. These last fragments were objects of +veneration for the attendants of Napoleon they were looked upon as +relics, with a feeling at once melancholy and religious. When the moment +came for breaking up the plate Las Cases bears testimony to the painful +emotions and real grief produced among the servants. They could not, +without the utmost reluctance, bring themselves to apply the hammer to +those objects of their veneration. + +The island of St. Helena was regularly visited by East India ships on the +return voyage, which touched there to take in water, and to leave +gunpowder for the use of the garrison. On such occasions there were +always persons anxious to pay a visit to the renowned captive. The +regulation of those visits was calculated to protect Napoleon from being +annoyed by the idle curiosity of strangers, to which he professed a great +aversion. Such persons as wished to wait upon him were, in the first +place, obliged to apply to the Governor, by whom their names were +forwarded to Count Bertrand. This gentleman, as Grand-Marshal of the +household, communicated the wishes of those persons to Napoleon, and in +case of a favourable reply fixed the hour for an interview. + +Those visitors whom Napoleon admitted were chiefly persons of rank and +distinction, travellers from distant countries, or men who had +distinguished themselves in the scientific world, and who could +communicate interesting information in exchange for the gratification +they received. Some of those persons who were admitted to interviews +with him have published narratives of their conversation, and all agree +in extolling the extreme grace, propriety, and appearance of benevolence +manifested by Bonaparte while holding these levees. His questions were +always put with great tact, and on some subject with which the person +interrogated was well acquainted, so as to induce him to bring forth any +new or curious information of which he might be possessed. + +Captain Basil Hall, in August 1817, when in command of the Lyra, had an +interview with the Emperor, of whom he says: "Bonaparte struck me as +differing considerably from the pictures and busts' I had seen of him. +His face and figure looked much broader and more square--larger, indeed, +in every way than any representation I had met with. His corpulency, at +this time universally reported to be excessive, was by no means +remarkable. His flesh looked, on the contrary, firm and muscular. There +was not the least trace of colour in his cheeks; in fact his skin was +more like marble than ordinary flesh. Not the smallest trace of a +wrinkle was discernible on his brow, nor an approach to a furrow on any +part of his countenance. His health and spirits, judging from +appearances, were excellent, though at this period it was generally +believed in England that he was fast sinking under a complication of +diseases, and that his spirits were entirely gone. His manner of +speaking was rather slow than otherwise, and perfectly distinct; he +waited with great patience and kindness for my answers to his questions, +and a reference to Count Bertrand was necessary only once during the +whole conversation. The brilliant and sometimes dazzling expression of +his eye could not be overlooked. It was not, however, a permanent +lustre, for it was only remarkable when he was excited by some point of +particular interest. It is impossible to imagine an expression of more +entire mildness, I may almost call it of benignity and kindness, than +that which played over his features during the whole interview. If, +therefore he were at this time out of health and in low spirits, his +power of self-command must have been even more extraordinary than is +generally supposed, for his whole deportment, his conversation, and the +expression of his countenance indicated a frame in perfect health and a +mind at ease." + +The manner assumed by Napoleon in the occasional interviews he had with +such visitors was so very opposite to that which he constantly maintained +towards the authorities in whose custody he was placed, that we can +scarcely doubt he was acting a part in one of those situations. It was +suggested by Mr. Ellis that he either wished, by means of his continual +complaints, to keep alive his interest in England, where he flattered +himself there was a party favourable to him, or that his troubled mind +found an occupation in the annoyance which he caused to the Governor. +Every attempt at conciliation on the part of Sir Hudson Lowe furnished +fresh causes for irritation. He sent fowling-pieces to Longwood, and the +thanks returned were a reply from Napoleon that it was an insult to send +fowling-pieces where there was no game. An invitation to a ball was +resented vehemently, and descanted upon by the French party as a great +offence. Sir Hudson Lowe at one time sent a variety of clothes and other +articles received from England which he imagined might be useful at +Longwood. Great offence was taken at this; they were treated, they said, +like paupers; the articles, ought to have been left at the Governor's +house, and a list sent respectfully to the household, stating that such +things were at their command if they wanted them. + +An opinion has already been expressed that much of this annoyance was due +to the offended pride of Napoleon's attendants, who were at first +certainly far more captious than himself. He admitted as much himself on +one occasion in a conversation with O'Meara. He said, "Las Cases +certainly was greatly irritated against Sir Hudson, and contributed +materially towards forming the impressions existing in my mind." He +attributed this to the sensitive mind of Las Cases, which he said was +peculiarly alive to the ill-treatment Napoleon and himself had been +subjected to. Sir Hudson Lowe also felt this, and remarked, like Sir +George Cockburn, on more than one occasion, that he always found Napoleon +himself more reasonable than the persons about him. + +A fertile source of annoyance was the resolution of Napoleon not upon any +terms to acknowledge himself a prisoner, and his refusal to submit to +such regulations as would render his captivity less burdensome. More +than once the attendance of an officer was offered to be discontinued if +he would allow himself to be seen once every day, and promise to take no +means of escaping. "If he were to give me the whole of the island," said +Napoleon, "on condition that I would pledge my word not to attempt an +escape, I would not accept it; because it would be equivalent to +acknowledging myself a prisoner, although at the same time I would not +make the attempt. I am here by force, and not by right. If I had been +taken at Waterloo perhaps I might have had no hesitation in accepting it, +although even in that case it would be contrary to the law of nations, +as now there is no war. If they were to offer me permission to reside in +England on similar conditions I would refuse it." The very idea of +exhibiting himself to an officer every day, though but for a moment, was +repelled with indignation. He even kept loaded pistols to shoot any +person who should attempt an intrusion on his privacy. It is stated in a +note in O'Meara's journal that "the Emperor was so firmly impressed with +the idea that an attempt would be made forcibly to intrude on his +privacy, that from a short time after the departure of Sir George +Cockburn he always kept four or five pairs of loaded pistols and some +swords in his apartment, with which he was determined to despatch the +first who entered against his will." It seems this practice was +continued to his death. + +Napoleon continued to pass the mornings in dictating his Memoirs and the +evenings in reading or conversation. He grew fonder of Racine, but his +favourite was Corneille. He repeated that, had he lived in his time, he +would have made him a prince. He had a distaste to Voltaire, and found +considerable fault with his dramas, perhaps justly, as conveying opinions +rather than sentiments. He criticised his Mahomet, and said he had made +him merely an impostor and a tyrant, without representing him as a great +man. This was owing to Voltaire's religious and political antipathies; +for those who are free from common prejudices acquire others of their own +in their stead, to which they are equally bigoted, and which they bring +forward on all occasions. When the evening passed off in conversation +without having recourse to books he considered it a point gained. + +Some one having asked the Emperor which was the greatest battle that he +had fought, he replied it was difficult to answer that question without +inquiring what was implied by the greatest battle. "Mine," continued he, +"cannot be judged of separately: they formed a portion of extensive +plans. They must therefore be estimated by their consequences. The +battle of Marengo, which was so long undecided, procured for us the +command of all Italy. Ulm annihilated a whole army; Jena laid the whole +Prussian monarchy at our feet; Friedland opened the Russian empire to us; +and Eckmuhl decided the fate of a war. The battle of the Moskwa was that +in which the greatest talent was displayed, and by which we obtained the +fewest advantages. Waterloo, where everything failed, would, had victory +crowned our efforts, have saved France and given peace to Europe." + +Madame Montholon having inquired what troops he considered the best, +"Those which are victorious, madam," replied the Emperor. "But," added +he, soldiers are capricious and inconstant, like you ladies. The best +troops were the Carthaginians under Hannibal, the Romans under the +Scipios, the Macedonians under Alexander, and the Prussians under +Frederick." He thought, however, that the French soldiers were of all +others those which could most easily be rendered the best, and preserved +so. With my complete guard of 40,000 or 50,000 men I would have +undertaken to march through Europe. It is perhaps possible to produce +troops as good as those that composed my army of Italy and Austerlitz, +but certainly none can ever surpass them." + +The anniversary of the battle of Waterloo produced a visible impression +on the Emperor. "Incomprehensible day!" said he, dejectedly; +"concurrence of unheard-of fatalities! Grouchy, Ney, D'Erlon--was there +treachery or was it merely misfortune? Alas! poor France!" Here he +covered his eyes with his hands. "And yet," said he, "all that human +skill could do was accomplished! All was not lost until the moment when +all had succeeded." A short time afterwards, resuming the subject, he +exclaimed, "In that extraordinary campaign, thrice, in less than a week, +I saw the certain triumph of France slip through my fingers. Had it not +been for a traitor I should have annihilated the enemy at the outset of +the campaign. I should have destroyed him at Ligny if my left wing had +only done its duty. I should have destroyed him again at Waterloo if my +right had seconded me. Singular defeat, by which, notwithstanding the +most fatal catastrophe, the glory of the conquered has not suffered." + +We shall here give Napoleon's own opinion of the battle of Waterloo. +"The plan of the battle," said he, "will not in the eyes of the +historian reflect any credit on Lord Wellington as a general. In the +first place, he ought not to have given battle with the armies divided. +They ought to have been united and encamped before the 15th. In the +next, the choice of ground was bad; because if he had been beaten he +could not have retreated, as there was only one road leading through the +forest in his rear. He also committed a fault which might have proved +the destruction of all his army, without its ever having commenced the +campaign, or being drawn out in battle; he allowed himself to be +surprised. On the 15th I was at Charleroi, and had beaten the Prussians +without his knowing anything about it. I had gained forty-eight hours of +manoeuvres upon him, which was a great object; and if some of my generals +had shown that vigour and genius which they had displayed on other +occasions, I should have taken his army in cantonments without ever +fighting a battle. But they were discouraged, and fancied that they saw +an army of 100,000 men everywhere opposed to them. I had not time enough +myself to attend to the minutiae of the army. I counted upon surprising +and cutting Wellington up in detail. I knew of Bulow's arrival at eleven +o'clock, but I did not regard it. I had still eighty chances out of a +hundred in my favour. Notwithstanding the great superiority of force +against me I was convinced that I should obtain the victory, I had about +70,000 men, of whom 15,000 were cavalry. I had also 260 pieces of +cannon; but my troops were so good that I esteemed them sufficient to +beat 120,000. Of all those troops, however, I only reckoned the English +as being able to cope with my own. The others I thought little of. +I believe that of English there were from 35,000 to 40,000. These I +esteemed to be as brave and as good as my own troops; the English army +was well known latterly on the Continent, and besides, your nation +possesses courage and energy. As to the Prussians, Belgians, and others, +half the number of my troops, were sufficient to beat them. I only left +34,000 men to take care of the Prussians. The chief causes of the loss +of that battle were, first of all, Grouchy's great tardiness and neglect +in executing his orders; next, the 'grenadiers a cheval' and the cavalry +under General Guyot, which I had in reserve, and which were never to +leave me, engaged without orders and without my knowledge; so that after +the last charge, when the troops were beaten and the English cavalry +advanced, I had not a single corps of cavalry in reserve to resist them, +instead of one which I esteemed to be equal to double their own number. +In consequence of this the English attacked, succeeded, and all was lost. +There was no means of rallying. The youngest general would not have +committed the fault of leaving an army entirely without reserve, which, +however, occurred here, whether in consequence of treason or not I cannot +say. These were the two principal causes of the loss of the battle of +Waterloo." + +"If Lord Wellington had intrenched himself," continued Napoleon, "I would +not have attacked him. As a general, his plan did not show talent. +He certainly displayed great courage and obstinacy; but a little must +be taken away even from that when you consider that he had no means of +retreat, and that had he made the attempt not a man of his army would +have escaped. First, to the firmness and bravery of his troops, for the +English fought with the greatest courage and obstinacy, he is principally +indebted for the victory, and not to his own conduct as a general; and +next, to the arrival of Blucher, to whom the victory is more to be +attributed than to Wellington, and more credit is due as a general; +because he, although beaten the day before, assembled his troops, and +brought them into action in the evening. I believe, however," continued +Napoleon, "that Wellington is a man of great firmness. The glory of such +a victory is a great thing; but in the eye of the historian his military +reputation will gain nothing by it." + +"I always had a high opinion of your seamen," said Napoleon one day to +O'Meara, in a conversation arising out of the expedition to Algiers. +"When I was returning from Holland along with the Empress Maria Louisa we +stopped to rest at Givet. During the night a violent storm of wind and +rain came on, which swelled the Meuse so much that the bridge of boats +over it was carried away. I was very anxious to depart, and ordered all +the boatmen in the place to be assembled that I might be enabled to cross +the river. They said that the waters were so high that it would be +impossible to pass before two or three days. I questioned some of them, +and soon discovered that they were fresh-water seamen. I then +recollected that there were English prisoners in the barracks, and +ordered that some of the oldest and best seamen among them should be +brought before me to the banks of the river. The waters were very high, +and the current rapid and dangerous. I asked them if they could join a +number of boats together so that I might pass over. They answered that +it was possible, but hazardous. I desired them to set about it +instantly. In the course of a few hours they succeeded in effecting what +the others had pronounced to be impossible, and I crossed before the +evening was over. I ordered those who had worked at it to receive a sum +of money each, a suit of clothes, and their liberty. Marchand was with +me at the time." + +In December 1816 Las Cases was compelled to leave St. Helena. He had +written a letter to Lucien Bonaparte, and entrusted it to a mulatto +servant to be forwarded to Europe. He was detected; and as he was thus +endeavouring to carry on (contrary to the regulations of the island) a +clandestine correspondence with Europe, Las Cases and his son were sent +off, first to the Cape and then to England, where they were only allowed +to land to be sent to Dover and shipped off to Ostend. + +Not long after their arrival at St. Helena, Madame Bertrand gave birth to +a son, and when Napoleon went to visit her she said, "I have the honour +of presenting to your Majesty the first French subject who has entered +Longwood without the permission of Lord Bathurst." + +It has been generally supposed that Napoleon was a believer in the +doctrine of predestination. The following conversation with Las Cases +clearly decides that point. "Pray," said he, "am I not thought to be +given to a belief in predestination?"--"Yes, Sire; at least by many +people."--"Well, well! let them say what they please, one may sometimes +be tempted to set a part, and it may occasionally be useful. But what +are men? How much easier is it to occupy their attention and to strike +their imaginations by absurdities than by rational ideas! But can a man +of sound sense listen for one moment to such a doctrine? Either +predestination admits the existence of free-will, or it rejects it. +If it admits it, what kind of predetermined result can that be which a +simple resolution, a step, a word, may alter or modify ad infinitum? +If predestination, on the contrary, rejects the existence of free-will it +is quite another question; in that case a child need only be thrown into +its cradle as soon as it is born, there is no necessity for bestowing the +least care upon it, for if it be irrevocably decreed that it is to live, +it will grow though no food should be given to it. You see that such a +doctrine cannot be maintained; predestination is but a word without +meaning. The Turks themselves, the professors of predestination, are not +convinced of the doctrine, for in that case medicine would not exist in +Turkey, and a man residing in a third floor would not take the trouble of +going down stairs, but would immediately throw himself out of the window. +You see to what a string of absurdities that will lead?" + +The following traits are characteristic of the man. In the common +intercourse of life, and his familiar conversation, Napoleon mutilated +the names most familiar to him, even French names; yet this would not +have occurred on any public occasion. He has been heard many times +during his walks to repeat the celebrated speech of Augustus in +Corneille's tragedy, and he has never missed saying, "Take a seat, +Sylla," instead of Cinna. He would frequently create names according to +his fancy, and when he had once adopted them they remained fixed in his +mind, although they were pronounced properly a hundred times a day in his +hearing; but he would have been struck if others had used them as he had +altered them. It was the same thing with respect to orthography; in +general he did not attend to it, yet if the copies which were made +contained any faults of spelling he would have complained of it. One day +Napoleon said to Las Cases, "Your orthography is not correct, is it?" +This question gave occasion to a sarcastic smile from a person who stood +near, who thought it was meant to convey a reproach. The Emperor, who +saw this, continued, "At least I suppose it is not, for a man occupied +with important public business, a minister, for instance, cannot and need +not attend to orthography. His ideas must flow faster than his hand can +trace them, he has only time to dwell upon essentials; he must put words +in letters, and phrases in words, and let the scribes make it out +afterwards." Napoleon indeed left a great deal for the copyists to do; +he was their torment; his handwriting actually resembled hieroglyphics-- +he often could not decipher it himself. Las Cases' son was one day +reading to him a chapter of The Campaign of Italy; on a sudden he stopped +short, unable to make out the writing. "The little blockhead," said +Napoleon, "cannot read his own handwriting."--" It is not mine, Sire."-- +"And whose, then?"--"Your Majesty's."--"How so, you little rogue; do you +mean to insult me?" The Emperor took the manuscript, tried a long while +to read it, and at last threw it down, saying, "He is right; I cannot +tell myself what is written." He has often sent the copyists to Las +Cases to read what he had himself been unable to decipher. + +We are now approaching the last melancholy epoch of Napoleon's life, when +he first felt the ravages of that malady which finally put a period to +his existence. Occasional manifestations of its presence had been +exhibited for some years, but his usual health always returned after +every attack, and its fatal nature was not suspected, although Napoleon +himself had several times said that he should die of a scirrhus in the +pylorus, the disease which killed his father, and which the physicians of +Montpelier declared would be hereditary in his family. About the middle +of the year 1818 it was observed that his health grew gradually worse, +and it was thought proper by O'Meara to report to the Governor the state +in which he was. Even on these occasions Napoleon seized the opportunity +for renewing his claim to the title of Emperor. He insisted that the +physician should not send any bulletin whatever unless he named him in it +by his Imperial designation. O'Meara explained that the instructions of +his Government and the orders of Sir Hudson Lowe prohibited him from +using the term; but it was in vain. After some difficulty it was agreed +upon that the word "patient" should be used instead of the title of +General, which caused so much offence, and this substitution got rid of +the difficulty. + +O'Meara afterwards proposed to call in the assistance of Dr. Baxter, the +principal medical officer of the island, but this offer Napoleon refused +at once, alleging that, although "it was true he looked like an honest +man, he was too much attached to that hangman" (Lows), he also persisted +in rejecting the aid of medicine, and determined to take no exercise out- +of-doors as long as he should be subjected to the challenge of sentinels. +To a representation that his determination might convert a curable to a +fatal malady, he replied, "I shall at least have the consolation that my +death will be an eternal dishonour to the English nation who sent me to +this climate to die under the hands of . . ." + +An important incident in Napoleon's monotonous life was the removal of +O'Meara, who had attended him as his physician from the time of his +arrival on the island. The removal of this gentleman, was occasioned by +the suspicion of similar conduct to that which brought about the +dismissal of Las Cases twenty months previously, namely, the carrying on +secret correspondence with persons out of the island. Napoleon +complained bitterly of the loss of his medical attendant, though he had +most assuredly very seldom attended to his advice, and repelled as an +insult the proffered assistance of Dr. Baxter, insinuating that the +Governor wished to have his life in his power. Some time after Dr. +Stokes, a naval surgeon, was called in, but withdrawn and eventually +tried by court-martial for furnishing information to the French at +Longwood. After this Napoleon expressed his determination to admit no +more visits from any English physician whatever, and Cardinal Fesch was +requested by the British Ministry to select some physician of reputation +in Italy who should be sent to St. Helena to attend on Napoleon. The +choice fell on Dr. Antommarchi, a young surgeon, who was accordingly sent +to St. Helena in company with two Catholic priests, the Abbes Buonavita +and Vignale, and two domestics, in compliance with the wish of Napoleon +to that effect. The party reached the island on 10th September 1819. + +On his first visit the Emperor overwhelmed Antommarchi with questions +concerning his mother and family, the Princess Julie (wife of Joseph), +and Las Cases, whom Antommarchi had seen in passing through Frankfort, +expatiated with satisfaction on the retreat which he had at one time +meditated in Corsica, entered into some discussions with the doctor on +his profession, and then directed his attention to the details of his +disorder. While he examined the symptoms the Emperor continued his +remarks. They were sometimes serious, sometimes lively; kindness, +indignation, gaiety, were expressed by turns in his words and in his +countenance. "Well, doctor!" he exclaimed, "what is your opinion? Am I +to trouble much longer the digestion of Kings?"--"You will survive them, +Sire."--" Aye, I believe you; they will not be able to subject to the ban +of Europe the fame of our victories, it will traverse ages, it will. +proclaim the conquerors and the conquered, those who were generous and +those who were not so; posterity will judge, I do not dread its +decision."--"This after-life belongs to you of right. Your name will +never be repeated with admiration without recalling those inglorious +warriors so basely leagued against a single man. But you are not near +your end, you have yet a long career to run."--"No, Doctor! I cannot +hold out long under this frightful climate."--"Your excellent +constitution is proof against its pernicious effects."--"It once did not +yield to the strength of mind with which nature has endowed me, but the +transition from a life of action to a complete seclusion has ruined all. +I have grown fat, my energy is gone, the bow is unstrung." Antommarchi +did not try to combat an opinion but too well-founded, but diverted the +conversation to another subject. "I resign myself," said Napoleon, "to +your direction. Let medicine give the order, I submit to its decisions. +I entrust my health to your care. I owe you the detail of the habits I +have acquired, of the affections to which I am subject. + +"The hours at which I obey the injunctions of nature are in general +extremely irregular. I sleep, I eat according to circumstances or the +situation in which I am placed; my sleep is ordinarily sound and +tranquil. If pain or any accident interrupt it I jump out of bed, call +for a light, walk, set to work, and fix my attention on some subject; +sometimes I remain in the dark, change my apartment, lie down in another +bed, or stretch myself on the sofa. I rise at two, three, or four in the +morning; I call for some one to keep me company, amuse myself with +recollections or business, and wait for the return of day. I go out as +soon as dawn appears, take a stroll, and when the sun shows itself I +reenter and go to bed again, where I remain a longer or shorter time, +according as the day promises to turn out. If it is bad, and I feel +irritation and uneasiness, I have recourse to the method I have just +mentioned. I change my posture, pass from my bed to the sofa, from the +sofa to the bed, seek and find a degree of freshness. I do not describe +to you my morning costume; it has nothing to do with the sufferings I +endure, and besides, I do not wish to deprive you of the pleasure of your +surprise when you see it. These ingenious contrivances carry me on to +nine or ten o'clock, sometimes later. I then order the breakfast to be +brought, which I take from time to time in my bath, but most frequently +in the garden. Either Bertrand or Montholon keep me company, often both +of them. Physicians have the right of regulating the table; it is proper +that I should give you an account of mine. Well, then, a basin of soup, +two plates of meat, one of vegetables, a salad when I can take it, +compose the whole service; half a bottle of claret; which I dilute with a +good deal of water, serves me for drink; I drink a little of it pure +towards the end of the repast. Sometimes, when I feel fatigued, I +substitute champagne for claret, it is a certain means of giving a fillip +to the stomach." + +The doctor having expressed his surprise at Napoleon's temperance, he +replied, "In my marches with the army of Italy I never failed to put into +the bow of my saddle a bottle of wine, some bread, and a cold fowl. This +provision sufficed for the wants of the day,--I may even say that I often +shared it with others. I thus gained time. I eat fast, masticate +little, my meals do not consume my hours. This is not what you will +approve the most, but in my present situation what signifies it? I am +attacked with a liver complaint, a malady which is general in this +horrible climate." + +Antommarchi, having gained his confidence, now became companion as well +as physician to the Emperor, and sometimes read with him. He eagerly +turned over the newspapers when they arrived, and commented freely on +their contents. "It is amusing," he would say, "to see the sage measures +resorted to by the Allies to make people forget my tyranny!" On one +occasion he felt more languid than ordinary, and lighting on the +'Andromache' of Racine; he took up the book, began to read, but soon let +it drop from his hands. He had come to the famous passage where the +mother describes her being allowed to see her son once a day. + +He was moved, covered his face with his hands, and, saying that he was +too much affected, desired to be left alone. He grew calmer, fell +asleep, and when he awoke, desired Antommarchi to be called again. He +was getting ready to shave, and the doctor was curious to witness the +operation. He was in his shirt, his head uncovered, with two valets at +his side, one holding the glass and a towel, the other the rest of the +apparatus. The Emperor spread the soap over one side of his face, put +down the brush, wiped his hands and mouth, took a razor dipped in hot +water and shaved the right side with singular dexterity. "Is it done, +Noverraz?"--"Yes, Sire."--"Well, then, face about. Come, villain, quick, +stand still." The light fell on the left side, which, after applying the +lather, he shaved in the same manner and with the same dexterity. He +drew his hand over his chin. "Raise the glass. Am I quite right?"-- +"Quite so."--"Not a hair has escaped me: what say you?"--"No, Sire," +replied the valet de chambre. "No! I think I perceive one. Lift up the +glass, place it in a better light. How, rascal! Flattery? You deceive +me at St. Helena? On this rock? You, too, are an accomplice." With +this he gave them both a box on the ear, laughed, and joked in the most +pleasant manner possible. + +An almost incredible instance of the determination of the exiles to make +as many enemies as they possibly could was exhibited to Antommarchi on +his arrival at Longwood. He states that before he was permitted to enter +on his functions as surgeon he was required to take an oath that he would +not communicate with the English, and that he would more especially avoid +giving them the least information respecting the progress of Napoleon's +disorder. He was not allowed to see his illustrious patient until the +oath was taken. After exacting such an oath from his physician the +attendants of Bonaparte had little right to complain, as they did, that +the real state of his disorder was purposely concealed from the world by +the English Government. It is more than probable that the constant +attempts observed to throw mystery and secrecy around them must have +tended to create the suspicion of escape, and to increase the consequent +rigour of the regulations maintained by the Governor. + +Soon after the arrival of the priests Napoleon determined, we may suppose +partly in jest, to elevate one of them to the dignity of bishop, and he +chose for a diocese the Jumna. "The last box brought from Europe had +been broken open," says Antommarchi; "it contained the vases and church +ornaments. "Stop," said Napoleon, "this is the property of St. Peter; +have a care who touches it; send for the abbes--but talking of the abbes, +do you know that the Cardinal [Fesch] is a poor creature? He sends me +missionaries and propagandists, as if I were a penitent, and as if a +whole string of their Eminences had not always attended at my chapel. +I will do what he ought to have done; I possess the right of investiture, +and I shall use it." Abbe Buonavita was just entering the room, "'I give +you the episcopal mitre.'--'Sire!'--'I restore it to you; you shall wear +it in spite of the heretics; they will not again take it from you.'-- +'But, Sire!'--'I cannot add to it so rich a benefice as that of Valencia, +which Suchet had given you, but at any rate your see shall be secure from +the chances of battles. I appoint you Bishop of--let me see--of the +Jumna. The vast countries through which that river flows were on the +point of entering into alliance with me--all was in readiness, all were +going to march. We were about to give the finishing blow to England." +The speech concluded with an order to Count Montholon to procure the +necessary dress for the abbe in order to strike with awe all the +heretics. The upshot of the whole was, that the scarlet and violet +coloured clothes necessary to furnish the new bishop with the only +valuable portion of his temporalities, his dress, could not be procured +in the island, and the abbe remained an abbe in spite of the investiture, +and the whole farce was forgotten. + +We occasionally see the Exile in better moods, when he listened to the +voice of reason, and thought less of the annoyances inseparable from the +state to which his ambition, or as he himself always averred, his +destiny, had reduced him. He had for a long time debarred himself from +all exercise, having, as he expressed it, determined not to expose +himself to the insult of being accompanied on his ride by a British +officer; or the possibility of being challenged by a sentinel. One day +when he complained of his inactive life his medical attendant recommended +the exercise of digging the ground; the idea was instantly seized upon by +Napoleon with his characteristic ardour. Noverraz, his chasseur, who had +been formerly accustomed to rural occupations, was honoured with the +title of head gardener, and under his directions Napoleon proceeded to +work with great vigour. He sent for Antommarchi to witness his newly +acquired dexterity in the use of the spade. "Well, Doctor," said he to +him, "are you satisfied with your patient--is he obedient enough? This +is better than your pills, Dottoraccio; you shall not physic me any +more." At first he soon got fatigued, and complained much of the +weakness of his body and delicacy of his hands; but "never mind," said +he, "I have always accustomed my body to bend to my will, and I shall +bring it to do so now, and inure it to the exercise." He soon grew fond +of his new employment, and pressed all the inhabitants of Longwood into +the service. Even the ladies had great difficulty to avoid being set to +work. He laughed at them, urged them, entreated them, and used all his +arts of persuasion, particularly with Madame Bertrand. He assured her +that the exercise of gardening was much better than all the doctor's +prescriptions--that it was in fact one of his prescriptions. But in this +instance his eloquence failed in its effect, and he was obliged, though +with much reluctance, to desist from his attempts to make lady gardeners. + +But in recompense he had willing labourers on the part of the gentlemen. +Antommarchi says, "The Emperor urged us, excited us, and everything +around us soon assumed a different aspect. Here was an excavation, there +a basin or a road. We made alleys, grottoes, cascades; the appearance of +the ground had now some life and diversity. We planted willows, oaks, +peach-trees, to give a little shade round the house. Having completed +the ornamental part of our labours we turned to the useful. We divided +the ground, we manured it, and sowed it with abundance of beans, peas, +and every vegetable that grows in the island." In the course of their +labours they found that a tank would be of great use to hold water, which +might be brought by pipes from a spring at a distance of 3000 feet. + +For this laborious attempt it was absolutely necessary to procure +additional forces, and a party of Chinese, of whom there are many on the +island, was engaged to help them. These people were much amused at +Napoleon's working-dress, which was a jacket and large trousers, with an +enormous straw hat to shield him from the sun, and sandals. He pitied +those poor fellows who suffered from the heat of the sun, and made each +of them a present of a large hat like his own. After much exertion the +basin was finished, the pipes laid, and the water began to flow into it. +Napoleon stocked his pond with gold-fish, which he placed in it with his +own hands. He would remain by the pond for hours together, at a time +when he was so weak that he could hardly support himself. He would amuse +himself by following the motion of the fishes, throwing bread to them, +studying their ways, taking an interest in their loves and their +quarrels, and endeavouring with anxiety to find out points of resemblance +between their motives and those of mankind. He often sent for his +attendants to communicate his remarks to them, and directed their +observations to any peculiarities he had observed. His favourites at +last sickened, they struggled, floated on the water, and died one after +another. He was deeply affected by this, and remarked to Antommarchi, +"You see very well that there is a fatality attached to me. Everything I +love, everything that belongs to me, is immediately struck: heaven and +mankind unite to persecute me." From this time he visited them daily in +spite of sickness or bad weather, nor did his anxiety diminish until it +was discovered that a coppery cement, with which the bottom of the basin +was plastered, had poisoned the water. The fish which were not yet dead +were then taken out and put into a tub. + +Napoleon appears to have taken peculiar interest in observing the +instincts of animals, and comparing their practices and propensities with +those of men. A rainy day, during which the digging of the tank could +not be proceeded with, gave occasion for some observations on the actions +of a number of ants, which had made a way into his bedroom, climbed upon +a table on which some sugar usually stood, and taken possession of the +sugar-basin. He would not allow the industrious little insects to be +disturbed in their plans; but he now and then moved the sugar, followed +their manoeuvres, and admired the activity and industry they displayed +until they found it again; this they had been sometimes even two or three +days in effecting, though they always succeeded at last. He then +surrounded the basin with water, but the ants still reached it; he +finally employed vinegar, and the insects were unable to get through the +new obstacle. + +But the slight activity of mind that now remained to him was soon to be +exchanged for the languor and gloom of sickness, with but few intervals +between positive suffering and the most distressing lowness of spirits. +Towards the end of the year 1820 he walked with difficulty, and required +assistance even to reach a chair in his garden. He became nearly +incapable of the slightest action; his legs swelled; the pains in his +side and back were increased; he was troubled with nausea, profuse +sweats, loss of appetite, and was subject to frequent faintings. "Here +I am, Doctor," said he one day, "at my last cast. No more energy and +strength left: I bend under the load . . . . I am going. I feel that +my hour is come." + +Some days after, as he lay on his couch, he feelingly expressed to +Antommarchi the vast change which had taken place within him. He +recalled for a few moments the vivid recollection of past times, and +compared his former energy with the weakness which he was then sinking +under. + +The news of the death of his sister Elisa also affected him deeply. +After a struggle with his feelings, which had nearly overpowered him, he +rose, supported himself on Antommarchi's arm; and regarding him +steadfastly, said, "Well, Doctor! you see Elisa has just shown me the +way. Death, which seemed to have forgotten my family, has begun to +strike it; my turn cannot be far off. What think you?"--"Your Majesty is +in no danger: you are still reserved for some glorious enterprise."-- +"Ah, Doctor! I have neither strength nor activity nor energy; I am no +longer Napoleon. You strive in vain to give me hopes, to recall life +ready to expire. Your care can do nothing in spite of fate: it is +immovable: there is no appeal from its decisions. The next person of our +family who will follow Elisa to the tomb is that great Napoleon who +hardly exists, who bends under the yoke, and who still, nevertheless +keeps Europe in alarm. Behold, my good friend, how I look on my +situation! As for me, all is over: I repeat it to you, my days will soon +close on this miserable rock."--"We returned," says Antommarchi, "into +his chamber. Napoleon lay down' in bed. 'Close my windows,' he said; +leave me to myself; I will send for you by-and-by. What a delightful +thing rest is! I would not exchange it for all the thrones in the world! +What an alteration! How I am fallen! I, whose activity was boundless, +whose mind never slumbered, am now plunged into a lethargic stupor, so +that it requires an effort even to raise my eyelids. I sometimes +dictated to four or five secretaries, who wrote as fast as words could be +uttered, but then I was NAPOLEON--now I am no longer anything. My +strength--my faculties forsake me. I do not live--I merely exist.'" + +From this period the existence of Napoleon was evidently drawing to a +close his days were counted. Whole hours, and even days, were either +passed in gloomy silence or spent in pain, accompanied by distressing +coughs, and all the melancholy signs of the approach of death. He made a +last effort to ride a few miles round Longwood on the 22d of January +1821, but it exhausted his strength, and from that time his only exercise +was in the calash. Even that slight motion soon became too fatiguing. + +He now kept his room, and no longer stirred out. His disorder and his +weakness increased upon him. He still was able to eat something, but +very little, and with a worse appetite than ever. "Ah! doctor," he +exclaimed, "how I suffer! Why did the cannon-balls spare me only to die +in this deplorable manner? I that was so active, so alert, can now +scarcely raise my eyelids!" + +His last airing was on the 17th of March. The disease increased, and +Antommarchi, who was much alarmed, obtained with some difficulty +permission to see an English physician. He held a consultation, on the +26th of March, with Dr. Arnott of the 20th Regiment; but Napoleon still +refused to take medicine, and often repeated his favourite saying: +"Everything that must happen is written down our hour is marked, and it +is not in our power to take from time a portion which nature refuses us." +He continued to grow worse, and at last consented to see Dr. Arnott, +whose first visit was on the 1st of April He was introduced into the +chamber of the patient, which was darkened, and into which Napoleon did +not suffer any light to be brought, examined his pulse and the other +symptoms, and was requested to repeat his visit the next day. Napoleon +was now within a month of his death, and although he occasionally spoke +with the eloquence and vehemence he had so often exhibited, his mind was +evidently giving way. The reported appearance of a comet was taken as a +token of his death. He was excited, and exclaimed with emotion, +"A comet! that was the precursor of the death of Caesar." + +On the 3d of April the symptoms of the disorder had become so alarming +that Antommarchi informed Bertrand and Montholon he thought Napoleon's +danger imminent, and that Napoleon ought to take steps to put his affairs +in order. He was now attacked by fever and by violent thirst, which +often interrupted his sleep in the night. On the 14th Napoleon found +himself in better spirits, and talked with Dr. Arnott on the merits of +Marlborough, whose Campaigns he desired him to present to the 20th +Regiment, learning that they did not, possess a copy in their library. + +On the 15th of April Napoleon's doors were closed to all but Montholon +and Marchand, and it appeared that he had been making his Will. On the +19th he was better, was free from pain, sat up, and ate a little. He was +in good spirits, and wished them to read to him. As General Montholon +with the others expressed his satisfaction at this improvement he smiled +gently, and said, "You deceive yourselves, my friends: I am, it is true, +somewhat better, but I feel no less that my end draws near. When I am +dead you will have the agreeable consolation of returning to Europe. One +will meet his relations, another his friends; and as for me, I shall +behold my brave companions-in-arms in the Elysian Fields. Yes," he went +on, raising his voice, "Kleber, Desaix, Bessieres, Duroc, Ney, Murat, +Massena, Berthier, all will come to greet me: they will talk to me of +what we have done together. I will recount to them the latest events of +my life. On seeing me they will become once more intoxicated with +enthusiasm and glory. We will discourse of our wars with the Scipios, +Hannibal, Caesar, and Frederick--there will be a satisfaction in that: +unless," he added, laughing bitterly, "they should be alarmed below to +see so many warriors assembled together!" + +He addressed Dr. Arnott, who came in while he was speaking, on the +treatment he had received from England said that she had violated every +sacred right in making him prisoner, that he should have been much better +treated in Russia, Austria, or even Prussia; that he was sent to the +horrible rock of St. Helena on purpose to die; that he had been purposely +placed on the most uninhabitable spot of that inhospitable island, and +kept six years a close prisoner, and that Sir Hudson Lowe was his +executioner. He concluded with these words: "You will end like the proud +republic of Venice; and I, dying upon this dreary rock, away from those I +hold dear, and deprived of everything, bequeath the opprobrium and horror +of my death to the reigning family of England." + +On the 21st Napoleon gave directions to the priest who was in attendance +as to the manner in which he would be placed to lie in state after his +death; and finding his religious attendant had never officiated in such a +solemnity he gave the most minute instructions for the mode of conducting +it. He afterwards declared that he would die, as he was born a Catholic, +and desired that mass should be said by his body, and the customary +ceremonies should be performed every day until his burial. The +expression of his face was earnest and convulsive; he saw Antommarchi +watching the contractions which he underwent, when his eye caught some +indication that displeased him. "You are above these weaknesses; but +what would you have? I am neither philosopher nor physician. I believe +in God; I am of the religion of my fathers; every one cannot be an +atheist who pleases." Then turning to the priest--"I was born in the +Catholic religion. I wish to fulfil the duties which it imposes, and to +receive the succour which it administers. You will say mass every day in +the adjoining chapel, and you will expose the Holy Sacrament for forty +hours. After I am dead you will place your altar at my head in the +funeral chamber; you will continue to celebrate mass, and perform all the +customary ceremonies; you will not cease till I am laid in the ground." +The Abbe (Vignale) withdrew; Napoleon reproved his fellow-countryman for +his supposed incredulity. "Can you carry it to this point? Can you +disbelieve in God? Everything proclaims His existence; and, besides, the +greatest minds have thought so."--"But, Sire, I have never called it in +question. I was attending to the progress of the fever: your Majesty +fancied you saw in my features an expression which they had not."-- +"You are a physician, Doctor," he replied laughingly; "these folks," he +added, half to himself, "are conversant only with matter; they will +believe in nothing beyond." + +In the afternoon of the 25th he was better; but being left alone, a +sudden fancy possessed him to eat. He called for fruits, wine, tried a +biscuit, then swallowed some champagne, seized a bunch of grapes, and +burst into a fit of laughter as soon as he saw Antommarchi return. The +physician ordered away the dessert, and found fault with the maitre +d'hotel; but the mischief was done, the fever returned and became +violent. The Emperor was now on his death-bed, but he testified concern +for every one. He asked Antommarchi if 500 guineas would satisfy the +English physician, and if he himself would like to serve Maria Louisa in +quality of a physician? "She is my wife, the first Princess in Europe, +and after me you should serve no one else." Antommarchi expressed his +acknowledgments. The fever continued unabated, with violent thirst and +cold in the feet. On the 27th he determined to remove from the small +chamber into the salon. They were preparing to carry him. "No," he +said, "not until I am dead; for the present it will be sufficient if you +support me." + +Between the 27th and 28th the Emperor passed a very bad night; the fever +increased, coldness spread over his limbs, his strength was quite gone. +He spoke a few words of encouragement to Antommarchi; then in a tone of +perfect calmness and composure he delivered to him the following +instructions: "After my death, which cannot be far off, I wish you to +open my body: I wish also, nay, I require, that you will not suffer any +English physician to touch me. If, however, you find it indispensable to +have some one to assist you, Dr. Arnott is the only one I am willing you +should employ. I am desirous, further, that you should take out my +heart, that you put it in spirits of wine, and that you carry it to Parma +to my dear Maria Louisa: you will tell her how tenderly I have loved her, +that I have never ceased to love her; and you will report to her all that +you have witnessed, all that relates to my situation and my death. I +recommend you, above all, carefully to examine my stomach, to make an. +exact detailed report of it, which you will convey to my son. The +vomitings which succeed each other without intermission lead me to +suppose that the stomach is the one of my organs which is the most +deranged, and I am inclined to believe that it is affected with the +disease which conducted my father to the grave,--I mean a cancer in the +lower stomach. What think you? "His physician hesitating, he continued +--"I have not doubted this since I found the sickness become frequent and +obstinate. It is nevertheless well worthy of remark that I have always +had a stomach of iron, that I have felt no inconvenience from this organ +till latterly, and that whereas my father was fond of high-seasoned +dishes and spirituous liquors, I have never been able to make use of +them. Be it as it may, I entreat, I charge you to neglect nothing in +such an examination, in order that when you see my son you may +communicate the result of your observations to him, and point out the +most suitable remedies. When I am no more you will repair to Rome; you +will find out my mother and my family. You will give them an account of +all you have observed relative to my situation, my disorder, and my death +on this remote and miserable rock; you will tell them that the great +Napoleon expired in the most deplorable state, wanting everything, +abandoned to himself and his glory." It was ten in the forenoon; after +this the fever abated, and he fell into a sort of doze. + +The Emperor passed a very bad night, and could not sleep. He grew light- +headed and talked incoherently; still the fever had abated in its +violence. Towards morning the hiccough began to torment him, the fever +increased, and he became quite delirious. He spoke of his complaint, and +called upon Baxter (the Governor's physician) to appear, to come and see +the truth of his reports. Then all at once fancying O'Meara present, he +imagined a dialogue between them, throwing a weight of odium on the +English policy. The fever having subsided, his hearing became distinct; +he grew calm, and entered into some further conversation on what was to +be done after his death. He felt thirsty, and drank a large quantity of +cold water. "If fate should determine that I shall recover, I would +raise a monument on the spot where this water gushes out: I would crown +the fountain in memory of the comfort which it has afforded me. If I +die, and they should not proscribe my remains as they have proscribed my +person, I should desire to be buried with my ancestors in the cathedral +of Ajaccio, in Corsica. But if I am not allowed to repose where I was +born, why, then, let them bury me at the spot where this fine and +refreshing water flows." This request was afterwards complied with. + +He remained nearly in the same state for some days. On the 1st of May he +was delirious nearly all day, and suffered dreadful vomitings. He took +two small biscuits and a few drops of red wine. On the 2d he was rather +quieter, and the alarming symptoms diminished a little. At 2 P.M., +however, he had a paroxysm of fever, and became again delirious. He +talked to himself of France, of his dear son, of some of his old +companions-in-arms. At times he was evidently in imagination on the +field of battle. "Stengel!" he cried; "Desaix! Massena! Ah! victory +is declaring itself! run--rush forward--press the charge!--they are +ours!" + +"I was listening," says Dr. Antommarchi, "and following the progress of +that painful agony in the deepest distress, when Napoleon, suddenly +collecting his strength, jumped on the floor, and would absolutely go +down into the garden to take a walk. I ran to receive him in my arms, +but his legs bent under the weight of his body; he fell backwards, and I +had the mortification of being unable to prevent his falling. We raised +him up and entreated him to get into bed again; but he did not recognise +anybody, and began to storm and fall into a violent passion. He was +unconscious, and anxiously desired to walk in the garden. In the course +of the day, however, he became more collected, and again spoke of his +disease, and the precise anatomical examination he wished to be made of +his body after death. He had a fancy that this might be useful to his +son." "The physicians of Montpelier," he said to Antommarchi, "announced +that the scirrhosis in the pylorus would be hereditary in my family; +their report is, I believe, in the hands of my brother Louis; ask for it +and compare it with your own observations on my case, in order that my +son may be saved from this cruel disease. You will see him, Doctor, and +you will point out to him what is best to do, and will save him from the +cruel sufferings I now experience. This is the last service I ask of +you." Later in the day he said, "Doctor, I am very ill--I feel that I am +going to die." + +The last time Napoleon spoke, except to utter a few short unconnected +words, was on the 3d of May. It was in the afternoon, and he had +requested his attendants, in case of his losing consciousness, not to +allow any English physician to approach him except Dr. Arnott. "I am +going to die," said he, "and you to return to Europe; I must give you +some advice as to the line of conduct you are to pursue. You have shared +my exile, you will be faithful to my memory, and will not do anything +that may injure it. I have sanctioned all proper principles, and infused +them into my laws and acts; I have not omitted a single one. +Unfortunately, however, the circumstances in which I was placed were +arduous, and I was obliged to act with severity, and to postpone the +execution of my plans. Our reverses occurred; I could not unbend the +bow; and France has been deprived of the liberal institutions I intended +to give her. She judges me with indulgence; she feels grateful for my +intentions; she cherishes my name and my victories. Imitate her example, +be faithful to the opinions we have defended, and to the glory we have +acquired: any other course can only lead to shame and confusion." + +From this moment it does not appear that Napoleon showed any signs of +understanding what was going forward around him. His weakness increased +every moment, and a harassing hiccough continued until death took place. +The day before that event a fearful tempest threatened to destroy +everything about Longwood. The plantations were torn up by the roots, +and it was particularly remarked that a willow, under which Napoleon +usually sat to enjoy the fresh air, had fallen. "It seemed," says +Antommarchi, "as if none of the things the Emperor valued were to survive +him." On the day of his death Madame Bertrand, who had not left his +bedside, sent for her children to take a last farewell of Napoleon. The +scene which ensued was affecting: the children ran to the bed, kissed the +hands of Napoleon, and covered them with tears. One of the children +fainted, and all had to be carried from the spot. "We all," says +Antommarchi, "mixed our lamentations with theirs: we all felt the same +anguish, the same cruel foreboding of the approach of the fatal instant, +which every minute accelerated." The favourite valet, Noverraz, who had +been for some time very ill, when he heard of the state in which Napoleon +was, caused himself to be carried downstairs, and entered the apartment +in tears. He was with great difficulty prevailed upon to leave the room: +he was in a delirious state, and he fancied his master was threatened +with danger, and was calling upon him for assistance: he said he would +not leave him but would fight and die for him. But Napoleon was now +insensible to the tears of his servants; he had scarcely spoken for two +days; early in the morning he articulated a few broken sentences, among +which the only words distinguishable were, "tete d'armee," the last that +ever left his lips, and which indicated the tenor of his fancies. The +day passed in convulsive movements and low moanings, with occasionally a +loud shriek, and the dismal scene closed just before six in the evening. +A slight froth covered his lips, and he was no more. + +After he had been dead about six hours Antommarchi had the body carefully +washed and laid out on another bed. The executors then proceeded to +examine two codicils which were directed to be opened immediately after +the Emperor's decease. The one related to the gratuities which be +intended out of his private purse for the different individuals of his +household, and to the alms which he wished to be distributed among the +poor of St. Helena; the other contained his last wish that "his ashes +should repose on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of the French +people whom he had loved so well." The executors notified this request +to the Governor, who stated that his orders were that the body was to, +remain on the island. On the next day, after taking a plaster cast of +the face of Napoleon, Antommarchi proceeded to open the body in the +presence of Sir Thomas Reade, some staff officers, and eight medical men. + +The Emperor had intended his hair (which was of a chestnut colour) for +presents to the different members of his family, and it was cut off and +kept for this purpose. + +He had grown considerably thinner in person during the last few months. +After his death his face and body were pale, but without alteration or +anything of a cadaverous appearance. His physiognomy was fine, the eyes +fast closed, and you would have said that the Emperor was not dead, but +in a profound sleep. His mouth retained its expression of sweetness, +though one side was contracted into a bitter smile. Several scars were +seen on his body. On opening it it was found that the liver was not +affected, but that there was that cancer of the stomach which he had +himself suspected, and of which his father and two of his sisters died. +This painful examination having been completed, Antommarchi took out the +heart and placed it in a silver vase filled with spirits of wine; he then +directed the valet de chambre to dress the body as he had been accustomed +in the Emperor's lifetime, with the grand cordon of the Legion of Honour +across the breast, in the green uniform of a colonel of the Chasseurs of +the Guard, decorated with the orders of the Legion of Honour and of the +Iron Crown, long boots with little spurs, finally, his three cornered +hat. Thus habited, Napoleon was removed in the afternoon of the 6th out +of the hall, into which the, crowd rushed immediately. The linen which +had been employed in the dissection of the body, though stained with +blood, was eagerly seized, torn in pieces, and distributed among the +bystanders. + +Napoleon lay in state in his little bedroom which had been converted into +a funeral chamber. It was hung with black cloth brought from the town. +This circumstance first apprised the inhabitants of his death. The +corpse, which had not been embalmed, and which was of an extraordinary +whiteness, was placed on one of the campbeds, surrounded with little +white curtains, which served for a sarcophagus. The blue cloak which +Napoleon had worn at the battle of Marengo covered it. The feet and the +hands were free; the sword on the left side, and a crucifix on the +breast. At some distance was the silver vase containing the heart and +stomach, which were not allowed to be removed. At the back of the head +was an altar, where the priest in his stole and surplice recited the +customary prayers. All the individuals of Napoleon's suite, officers and +domestics, dressed in mourning, remained standing on the left. Dr. +Arnott had been charged to see that no attempt was made to convey away +the body. + +For some-hours the crowd had besieged the doors; they were admitted, and +beheld the inanimate remains of Napoleon in respectful silence. The +officers of the 20th and 66th' Regiments were admitted first, then the +others. The following day (the 7th) the throng was greater. Antommarchi +was not allowed to take the heart of Napoleon to Europe with him; he +deposited that and the stomach in two vases, filled with alcohol and +hermetically sealed, in the corners of the coffin in which the corpse was +laid. This was a shell of zinc lined with white satin, in which was a +mattress furnished with a pillow. There not being room for the hat to +remain on his head, it was placed at his feet, with some eagles, pieces +of French money coined during his reign, a plate engraved with his arms, +etc. The coffin was closed, carefully soldered up, and then fixed in +another case of mahogany, which was enclosed in a third made of lead, +which last was fastened in a fourth of mahogany, which was sealed up and +fastened with screws. The coffin was exhibited in the same place as the +body had been, and was also covered with the cloak that Napoleon had worn +at the battle of Marengo. The funeral was ordered for the morrow, 8th +May, and the troops were to attend in the morning by break of day. + +This took place accordingly: the Governor arrived first, the Rear-Admiral +soon after, and shortly all the authorities, civil and military, were +assembled at Longwood. The day was fine, the people crowded the roads, +music resounded from the heights; never had spectacle so sad and solemn +been witnessed in these remote regions. At half-past twelve the +grenadiers took hold of the coffin, lifted it with difficulty, and +succeeded in removing it into the great walk in the garden, where the +hearse awaited them. It was placed in the carriage, covered with a pall +of violet-coloured velvet, and with the cloak which the hero wore at +Marengo. The Emperor's household were in mourning. The cavalcade was +arranged by order of the Governor in the following manner: The Abbe +Vignale in his sacerdotal robes, with young Henry Bertrand at his side, +bearing an aspersorium; Doctors Arnott and Antommarchi, the persons +entrusted with the superintendence of the hearse, drawn by four horses, +led by grooms, and escorted by twelve grenadiers without arms, on each +side; these last were to carry the coffin on their shoulders as soon as +the ruggedness of the road prevented the hearse from advancing; young +Napoleon Bertrand, and Marchand, both on foot, and by the side of the +hearse; Counts Bertrand and Montholon on horseback close behind the +hearse; a part of the household of the Emperor; Countess Bertrand with +her daughter Hortense, in a calash drawn by two horses led by hand by her +domestics, who walked by the side of the precipice; the Emperor's horse +led by his piqueur Archambaud; the officers of marine on horseback and on +foot; the officers of the staff on horse-back; the members of the council +of the island in like manner; General Coffin and the Marquis Montchenu on +horseback; the Rear-Admiral and the Governor on horseback; the +inhabitants of the island. + +The train set out in this order from Longwood, passed by the barracks, +and was met by the garrison, about 2500 in number, drawn up on the left +of the road as far as Hut's Gate. Military bands placed at different +distances added still more, by the mournful airs which they played, to +the striking solemnity of the occasion. When the train had passed the +troops followed and accompanied it to the burying-place. The dragoons +marched first. Then came the 20th Regiment of infantry, the marines, the +66th, the volunteers of St. Helena, and lastly, the company of Royal +Artillery, with fifteen pieces of cannon. Lady Lowe and her daughter +were at the roadside at Hut's Gate, in an open carriage drawn by two +horses. They were attended by some domestics in mourning, and followed +the procession at a distance. The fifteen pieces of artillery were +ranged along the road, and the gunners were at their posts ready to fire. +Having advanced about a quarter of a mile beyond Hut's Gate the hearse +stopped, the troops halted and drew up in line of battle by the roadside. +The grenadiers then raised the coffin on their shoulders and bore it thus +to the place of interment, by the new route which had been made on +purpose on the declivity of the mountain. All the attendants alighted, +the ladies descended from their carriages, and the procession followed +the corpse without observing any regular order. + +Counts Bertrand and Montholon, Marchand and young Napoleon Bertrand, +carried the four corners of the pall. The coffin was laid down at the +side of the tomb, which was hung with black. Near were seen the cords +and pulleys which were to lower it into the earth. The coffin was then +uncovered, the Abbe Vignale repeated the usual prayers, and the body was +let down into the grave with the feet to the east. The artillery then +fired three salutes in succession of fifteen discharges each. The +Admiral's vessel had fired during the procession twenty-five minute guns +from time to time. A huge stone, which was to have been employed in the +building of the new house of the Emperor, was now used to close his +grave, and was lowered till it rested on a strong stone wall so as not to +touch the coffin. While the grave was closed the crowd seized upon the +willows, which the former presence of Napoleon had already rendered +objects of veneration. Every one was ambitious to possess a branch or +some leaves of these trees which were henceforth to shadow the tomb of +this great man, and to preserve them as a precious relic of so memorable +a scene. The Governor and Admiral endeavoured to prevent this outrage, +but in vain. The Governor, however, surrounded the spot afterwards with +a barricade, where he placed a guard to keep off all intruders. The tomb +of the Emperor was about a league from Longwood. It was of a +quadrangular shape, wider at top than at bottom; the depth about twelve +feet. The coffin was placed on two strong pieces of wood, and was +detached in its whole circumference. + +The companions of Napoleon returned to France, and the island gradually +resumed its former quiet state, while the willows weeping over the grave +guarded the ashes of the man for whom Europe had been all too small. + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: + +Every one cannot be an atheist who pleases +Grew more angry as his anger was less regarded +I do not live--I merely exist +Strike their imaginations by absurdities than by rational ideas +Those who are free from common prejudices acquire others + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon, v16, 1821 +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + + + + + + +ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS FOR THE ENTIRE SET: + +A sect cannot be destroyed by cannon-balls +Ability in making it be supposed that he really possessed talent +Absurdity of interfering with trifles +Admired him more for what he had the fortitude not to do +Always proposing what he knew could not be honourably acceded to +An old man's blessing never yet harmed any one +Animated by an unlucky zeal +Buried for the purpose of being dug up +Calumny such powerful charms +Cause of war between the United States and England +Conquest can only be regarded as the genius of destruction +Demand everything, that you may obtain nothing +Die young, and I shall have some consolatory reflection +Every time we go to war with them we teach them how to beat us +Every one cannot be an atheist who pleases +Go to England. The English like wrangling politicians +God in his mercy has chosen Napoleon to be his representative on earth +Grew more angry as his anger was less regarded +Had neither learned nor forgotten anything +I have made sovereigns, but have not wished to be one myself +I do not live--I merely exist +Ideologues +Immortality is the recollection one leaves +Kings feel they are born general: whatever else they cannot do +Kiss the feet of Popes provided their hands are tied +Let women mind their knitting +Malice delights to blacken the characters of prominent men +Manufacturers of phrases +More glorious to merit a sceptre than to possess one +Most celebrated people lose on a close view +Necessary to let men and things take their course +Nothing is changed in France: there is only one Frenchman more +Put some gold lace on the coats of my virtuous republicans +Religion is useful to the Government +Rights of misfortune are always sacred +Something so seductive in popular enthusiasm +Strike their imaginations by absurdities than by rational ideas +Submit to events, that he might appear to command them +Tendency to sell the skin of the bear before killing him +That consolation which is always left to the discontented +The boudoir was often stronger than the cabinet +The wish and the reality were to him one and the same thing +Those who are free from common prejudices acquire others +To leave behind him no traces of his existence +Treaties of peace no less disastrous than the wars +Treaty, according to custom, was called perpetual +Trifles honoured with too much attention +Were made friends of lest they should become enemies +When a man has so much money he cannot have got it honestly +Would enact the more in proportion as we yield +Yield to illusion when the truth was not satisfactory + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon, Entire +by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne + |