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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3558.txt b/3558.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0d041f --- /dev/null +++ b/3558.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3179 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Memoirs of Napoleon--1805, v8 +#8 in our series by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne +#8 in our Napoleon Bonaparte series + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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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 most 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 + diff --git a/3558.zip b/3558.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8890bb8 --- /dev/null +++ b/3558.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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