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Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte · Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte

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Section one of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume five. This is a LibriVox
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recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or
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to volunteer, please visit Librivoux dot org. Read by Gillian Henry. Memoirs
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of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume five by Louis Antoine Fauvolls de Bourgiennese. Chapter one,
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Part one, eighteen hundred. Bonaparte's confidence in the army, Mabel France,
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the Convent of Bernadine, passage of Mont Saint Bernard, arrival at the
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convent, refreshments distributed to the soldiers. Monte Alboreto artillery dismounted, the Fort
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of Bard, fortunate temerity Bonaparte and Melas the Spy. Bonaparte's opinion of Monsieur
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Nicer, capitulation of Genoa intercepted despatch lan at Montebello Boudet, succeeded by desse
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coolness of the First Council to Monsieur Coulo. Conversation and recollections the Battle of
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Marengo. General Kellermann supper sent from the Convent del Bosco. Particulars respecting the
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death of Dessey the Prince of Liegtenstein returned to Milan, Savai and rap It
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cannot be denied that, if from the eighteenth Brumaire to the epoch when Bonaparte
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began the campaign, innumerable improvements had been made in the internal affairs of France,
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foreign affairs could not be seen with the same satisfaction. Italy had been
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lost, and from the frontiers of Provence the Austrian campfires were seen. Bonaparte
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was not ignorant of the difficulties of his physician, and it was even on
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account of these very difficulties that whatever might be the result of his hardy enterprise,
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he wished to escape from it as quickly as possible. He cherished no
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illusions, and often said all must be staked to gain all. The army
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which the first Consul was preparing to attack was numerous, well disciplined, and
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victorious. His with the exception of a very small number of troops, was
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composed of conscripts. But these conscripts were commanded by officers whose order was unparalleled.
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Bonaparte's fortune was now to depend on the winning or losing of a battle.
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A battle lost would have dispelled all the dreams of his imagination, and
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with them would have vanished all his immense schemes for the future of France.
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He saw the danger, but was not intimidated by it, and, trusting
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to his accustomed good fortune and to the courage and fidelity of his troops,
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he said, I have, it is true, many conscripts in my army,
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but they are Frenchmen. Four years ago, did I not, with
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a feeble army drive before me boards Officer Ardinians and Austrians and scour the face
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of Italy? We shall do so again. The sun which now shines on
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us is the same that shawn at Arcola and Lodi. I rely on Massena.
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I hope he will hold out in Genoa. But should famine oblige him
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to surrender, I will retake Genoa in the plains of the Scruvia. With
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what pleasure? Shall I then return to my dear France, Mabel France.
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At this moment, when a possible, nay a probable chance might forever have
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blasted his ambitious hopes, he for the first time spoke of France as his
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Considering the circumstances in which we then stood, this use of the possessive pronoun
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my describes more forcibly than anything that can be said, the flashes of divination
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which crossed Bonaparte's brain when he was wrapped up in his chimerical ideas of glory
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and fortune. In this favorable disposition of mind, the first consul arrived at
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Martigni on the twentieth of May. Martigni is a convent of Benda, situated
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in a valley where the rays of the sun scarcely ever penetrate. The army
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was in full march to the Great Saint Bernard. In this gloomy solitude did
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Bonaparte wait three days, expecting the Fort of Bird, situated beyond the mountain
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and covering the road to vree, to surrender. The town was carried on
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the twenty first of May, and on the third day he learned that the
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fort still held out and that there were no indications of its surrender. He
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launched into complaints against the commander of the siege and said, I am weary
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of staying in this convent. Those fools will never take Bird. I must
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go myself and see what can be done. They cannot even settle so contemptible
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an affair without me. He immediately gave orders for our departure. A grand
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idea of the invasion of Italy by crossing monts Bernard emanated exclusively from the First
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Council. This miraculous achievement justly excited the admiration of the world. The incredible
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difficulties it presented did not daunt the courage of Bonaparte's troops. His generals,
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accustomed as they had been to brave fatigue and danger, regarded without concern.
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The gigantic enterprise of the modern hannibal A convent or hospice, which had been
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established on the mountain for the purpose of affording assistance to solitary travelers, sufficiently
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bespeaks the dangers of these stormy regions. But the San Bernard was now to
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be crossed, not by solitary travelers, but by an army. Cavalry,
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baggage, limbers, and artillery were now to wend their way along those narrow
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paths where the goat herd cautiously picks his footsteps. On the one hand,
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masses of snow suspended above our heads every moment threatened to break in avalanches and
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sweep us away in their descent. On the other, a false step was
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death. We all passed men and horse one by one along the goat paths.
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The artillery was dismounted and the guns put into excavated trunks of trees were
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drawn by ropes. I have already mentioned that the first Consul had transmitted funds
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to the hospice of the Great San Bernard. The good Fathers had procured from
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the two valleys a considerable supply of cheese, bread and wine. Tables were
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laid out in front of the hospice, and each soldier, as he defiled
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past, took a glass of wine and a piece of bread and cheese,
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and then resigned his place to the next. The fathers served and renewed the
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portions with admirable order and activity. The first Consul ascended the San Bernard with
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that calm self possession and that air of indifference for which he was always remarkable.
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When he felt the necessity of setting an example and exposing himself to danger,
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he asked his guide many questions about the two valleys, inquired what were
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the resources of the enhabitants, and whether accidents were as frequent as they were
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said to me. The guide informed him that the experience of ages enabled the
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inhabitants to foresee good or bad weather, and that they were seldom deceived.
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But a Bert, who wore his gray greatcoat and had his whip in his
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hand, appeared somewhat disappointed at not seeing anyone come from the valley of Orta
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to inform him of the taking of the fort of Bard. I never left
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him for a moment. During the ascent, we encountered no personal danger,
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and escaped with no other inconvenience than excessive fatigue. On his arrival at the
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convent, the first consul visited the chapel and the three little libraries. He
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had time to read a few pages of an old book, of which I
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have forgotten the title. Our breakfast dinner was very frugal. The little garden
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was still covered with snow, and I said to one of the fathers,
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you can have but few vegetables here. We get our vegetables from valleys.
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He replied, but in the month of August, in warm seasons, we
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have a few lettices of our own growing. When we reached the summit of
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the mountain, we seated ourselves on the snow and slid down. Those who
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went first smoothed the way for those who came behind them. This rapid descent
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greatly amused us, and we were only stopped by the mud which succeeded the
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snow. At the distance of five or six hundred twazies down the declivity,
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we crossed, or rather climbed, up mont alboreto to avoid passing under the
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Fort of Bird, which closes the valley of Aorta. As it was impossible
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to get the artillery up this mountain, it was resolved to convey it through
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the town of Bird, which was not fortified. For this operation we made
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choice of night, and the wheels of the cannon and quaysons, and even
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the horse's feet being wrapped in straw. The whole passed quietly through the little
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town. They were indeed under the fire of the fort. However, it
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did not so completely command the street, but that the houses would have protected
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them against any very fatal consequences. A great part of the army had passed
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before the surrender of the fort, which so completely commands the narrow valley leading
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to Orta, that it is difficult to comprehend the negligence of the Austrians in
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not throwing up more efficient works. By very simple precautions, they might have
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rendered the passage of San Bernard unavailing. On the twenty third we came within
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sight of the Fort of Baird, which commands the road bounded by the Doria
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Baltea on the right and mont Alboreto on the left. The Dorria Balthea is
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a small torrent which separates the town of Bird from the fort. Bonaparte,
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whose retinue was not very numerous, crossed the torrent. On arriving within gunshot
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of the fort. He ordered us to quicken our pace to gain a little
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bridal path on the left, leading to the summit of Montalboreto and turning the
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town and Fort of Baird. We ascended this path on foot with some difficulty.
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On reaching the summit of the mountain which commands the fort, Bonaparte leveled
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his telescope on the grass, and stationing himself behind some bushes, which served
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at once to shelter and conceal him, he attentively reconnoitered the fort. After
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addressing several questions to the persons who had come to give him information, he
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mentioned, in a tone of dissatisfaction the faults that had been committed, and
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ordered the erection of a new battery to attack a point which he marked out,
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and from whence he guaranteed the firing of a few shots would oblige the
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fort to surrender. Having given these orders, he descended the mountain and went
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to sleep that night. At Evey. On the third of June, he
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learned that the fort had surrendered the day before. The Passage of Mont Saint
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Bernard must occupy a great place in the annals of successful temerity. The boldness
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of the first Consul seemed, as it were, to have fascinated the enemy,
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and his enterprise was so unexpected that not a single Austrian corps defended the
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approaches of the Fort of bart. The country was entirely exposed, and we
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only encountered here and there a few feeble parties who were incapable of checking our
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march upon Milan. Buonaparte's advance astonished and confounded the enemy, who thought of
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nothing but marching back the way he came and renouncing the invasion of France.
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The bulgenius which actuated Buonaparte did not inspire General Melas, the commander in chief
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of the Austrian forces. If Malas had had the firmness which ought to belong
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to the leader of an army, if he had compared the respective positions of
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the two parties, if he had considered that there was no longer time to
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regain his line of operations and recover his communication with the hereditary, states that
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he was master of all the strong places in Italy, that he had nothing
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to fear from Assenna, that Suchet could not resist him. If then,
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following Bonaparte's example, he had marched upon Lyon what would have become of the
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first Consul, Melas would have found few obstacles and almost everywhere open towns,
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while the French army would have been exhausted without having an enemy to fight.
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This is doubtless what Bonaparte would have done had he been Melas, But fortunately
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for us, Milas was not Bonaparte. We arrived at Milan on the second
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of June, the day on which the first Consul heard that the Fort of
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Bard was taken. But little resistance was opposed to our entrance to the capital
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of Lombardy, and the term engagements can scarcely be applied to a few affairs
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of advanced posts in which success could not be for a moment doubtful. The
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fort of Milan was immediately blockaded. Murras was sent to Piacenza, of which
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he took possession without difficulty, and Lan beat General Ott at Montebello. He
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was far from imagining that by that exploit he conquered for himself a future duchy.
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The first Consul passed six days at Milan. On the day after our
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arrival there a spy who had served us very well in the first campaign in
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Italy was announced. The first Consul recollected him and ordered him to be shown
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into his cabinet. What are you here, he exclaimed, So you are
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not shot yet, General replied the spy. When the war recommenced, I
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determined to serve the Austrians because you are far from Europe. I always follow
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the fortunate, But the truth is I am tired of the trade. I
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wish to have done with it and to get enough to enable me to retire.
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I have been sent to your lines by General Milas, and I can
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surrender you an important service. I will give you an exact account of the
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force and the position of all the enemies corps and the names of their commanders.
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I can tell you the situation in which Alescendi now is you know me,
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I will not deceive you, but I must carry back some report to
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my general. You need not care for giving me some true particulars which I
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can communicate to him. Oh as to that resumed the first consul, the
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enemy is welcome to know my forces and my positions. Provided I know his
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and he be ignorant of my plans, you shall be satisfied. But do
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not deceive me. You ask for one thousand louis, you shall have them
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if you serve me well. I then wrote down from the dictation of the
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spy the names of the court there amount, their positions, names of the
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generals commanding them. The Consul stuck pins in the map to mark his plan
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on places respecting which he received information from the spy. We also learned that
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Alexandria was without provisions, that Melas was far from expecting a siege, that
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many of his troops were sick, and that he wanted medicines. Was ordered
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to draw up for the spy a nearly accurate statement of our positions. The
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information given by this man proved so accurate and useful that, on his return
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from Marengo, Bonaparte ordered me to pay him the one thousand Louis. The
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spy afterwards informed him that melass was delighted with the way in which he had
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served him in this affair, and had awarded him handsomely. He assured us
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that he had bidden farewell to his odious profession. The First Consul regarded this
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little event as one of the favors of fortune. In passing through Geneva,
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the first Consul had an interview with Monsieur Necker. Butnote Madame de Stell briefly
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mentions this interview in her Concidervacion so de revocient Frances Monsieur Necker. She says
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had an interview with Bonaparte when he was on his way to Italy by the
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passage of montsa Bernard, a few days before the Battle of Marengo. During
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this conversation, which lasted to the First Consul made a very favorable impression on
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my father by the confident way he spoke of his future projects Bourienne end Wootnote
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I know not how it happened, but at the time he did not speak
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to me of this interview. However, I was curious to know what he
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thought of a man who had acquired much celebrity. In France. One evening,
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when we were talking of one thing and another, I managed to turn
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the conversation on that subject. Monsieur Necker said, he appears to me very
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far below his reputation. He did not equal the idea I had formed of
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him. I tried all I could to get him to talk, but he
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said nothing remarkable. He is an ideologist. Putnote. This was a constant
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term of reproach with Bonaparte. He set all the metaphysicians of the continent against
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him by exclaiming, duvupois, did you alogue into footnote? He is an
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ideologist a banker. It is impossible that such an can have any but narrow
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views. And besides, most celebrated people lose on a close view. Not
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always general observed I a ah, said he smiling, That is not bad,
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Bourienne. You are improving. I see, I shall make something of
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you. In time. The day was approaching when all was to be lost
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or won. The first Consul made all his arrangements and set off the different
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corps to occupy the points he had marked out. I have already mentioned that
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Mura's task was the occupation of Piacenza. As soon as he was in possession
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of that town. He intercepted a courier of General Milas. The despatch,
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which was addressed to the olig Council of Vienna, was delivered to us on
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the night of the eighth of June. It announced the capitulation of Genoa,
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which took place on the fourth, after the long and memorable defense which reflected
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so much honor on Massena. Milass in his despase, spoke of what he
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called our pretended army of reserve with inconceivable contempt, and alluded to the presence
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of Bonaparte in Italy as a mere fabrication. He declared he was still in
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Paris. It was past three in the morning when Murrat's courier arrived. I
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immediately translated to the despatch, which was in German. About four o'clock I
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entered the chamber of the First Council, whom I was obliged to shake by
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the arm in order to wake him. He had desired me, as I
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have already mentioned, never to respect his repose on the arrival of bad news,
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but on the receipt of good news, to let him sleep. I
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read to him the despatch, and so much was he confounded by this unexpected
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event that his first exclamation was bah, you do not understand German. But
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hardly had he uttered these words when he arose, and by eight o'clock in
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the morning, orders were dispatched for repairing the possible consequences of this disaster and
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countermanding the march of the Truth on the Scruvia. He himself proceeded the same
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day to Sladella. I have seen it mentioned in some accounts that the first
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consul in Persian gained the Battle of Montebello. This is a mistake. He
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did not leave Milan until the ninth of June, and that very day Lane
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was engaged with the enemy. The conflict was so terrible that Lan, a
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few days after, described it in my presence to Monsieur Corleot, using these
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remarkable words, which I well remember. Quote. Bones were cracking in my
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division like a shower of hail falling on a skylight. By a singular chance,
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they say, who was to contribute to the victory and stop the route
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of Marengo arrived from Egypt at Toulon on the very day on which we departed
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from Paris. He was enabled to leave Egypt in consequence of the capitulation of
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el aarrish, which happened on the fourth of January eighteen hundred. He wrote
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me a letter dated sixteenth flood year, eight sixth of May eighteen hundred,
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announcing his arrival. This letter I did not receive until we reached Martigni.
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I showed it to the First Consul, Aha exclaimed he de Say in Paris,
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and he immediately despatched an order for him to repair to the headquarters of
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the Army of Italy, wherever they might be. To Say arrived at Sturrella
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on the morning of the eleventh of June. The First Consul received him with
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the warmest cordiality, as a man for whom he had a high esteem,
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and whose talents and character afforded the fairest promise of what might one day be
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expected of him, when apart was jealous of some generals, the rivalry of
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whose ambition he feared, But on this subject, to Say, gave him
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no uneasiness. Equally remarkable for his unassuming disposition, his talent, and information,
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He proved by his conduct that he loved glory for her own sake,
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and that every wish for the possession of political power was foreign to his mind.
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Buaparte's friendship for him was enthusiastic. At this interview. At Sradella,
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des Say was closeted with the first Consul for upwards of three hours. On
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the day after his arrival, an order of the day communicated to the army
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that des Say was appointed to the command of Boudet's division. Footnote. Boudet
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was on terms of great intimacy with Bonaparte, who no doubt was much affected
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at his death. However, the only remark he made on receiving the intelligence
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was who the devil shall I get to supply Boudet's place? Urienne end footnote.
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The command given to Dessay was a corps especially formed of the two divisions
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of Buddhet and Money Sevaury tom one, page two hundred and sixty two.
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Boudet was not killed at Meringo still less before see Erre tom I, page
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fourteen and footnote. I expressed to Bonaparte my surprise at his long interview with
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des Say, Yes, replied he. He has been a long time with
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me, but you know what a favorite he is. As soon as I
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return to Paris, I will make him war minister. I would make him
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a Prince, if I could, he is quite an antique character. Dessey
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died two days after he had completed his thirty third year, and in less
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than a week after the above observations. End of section one, Section two
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of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume five by Luis Antoine Fauvellis de Bourienne.
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This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Gilian Henry, Chapter
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one, Part two. About this time, Monsieur Clero came to Italy and
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saw Bonaparte at Milan. The latter received him coldly. Though he had not
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yet gained the Battle of Maringo. Monsieur Colo had been on the most intimate
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footing with Buonaparte and had rendered him many valuable services. These circumstances sufficiently accounted
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for Bonaparte's coolness, for he would never acknowledge himself under obligations to anyone,
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and he did not like those who were initiated into certain family secrets, which
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he had resolved to conceal. Footnote. The day after the interview, I
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had a long conversation with Monsieur Colo, while Bonaparte was gone to review some
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corps stationed at Milan. Monsieur Colo perfectly understood because of the unkind treatment he
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had experienced, and of which he gave me the following explanation. Some days
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before the Consulate, that is to say, two or three days after our
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return from Egypt, Bonaparte, during his jealous fit, spoke to Monsieur Colo
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about his wife, her levities and their publicity. Henceforth said Bonaparte, I
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will have nothing to do with her. What would you part from her?
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Does not her conduct justify me in so doing? I do not know.
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But is this the time to think of such a thing. When the eyes
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of all France are fixed upon you. These domestic squabbles will degrade you in
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the eyes of the people, who expect you to be wholly devoted to their
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interests, and you will be laughed at like one of Moliere's husbands. If
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you are displeased with your wife's conduct, you can call her to account when
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you have nothing better to do, begin by raising up the state. After
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that you may find a thousand reasons for your resentment, when now you would
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not find one. You know the French people well enough to see how important
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it is that you should not commence with this absurdity. By these and other
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similar remarks, Monsieur Coleo thought he had produced some impression when Bonaparte suddenly exclaimed,
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no, my determination is fixed. She shall never again enter my house.
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I care not what people say. They will gossip about the affair for
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two days, and on the third it will be forgotten. She shall go
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to Malmison, and I will live here. The public know enough not to
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be mistaken as to the reasons of her removal. Monsieur Crolo vainly endeavored to
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calm his irritation. Buonaparte vented a torrent of reproaches upon Josephine. All this
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violence, observed Monsieur Coleo proves that you still love her. Do but see
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her. She will explain the business to your satisfaction, and you will forgive
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her. I forgive her never Coolo. You know me, If I were
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not sure of my own resolution, I would tear out this heart and cast
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it into the fire. Here anger almost choked his utterance, and he made
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a motion with his hand as if tearing his breast. When this violent paroxysm
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had somewhat subsidied, Monsieur Crollo withdrew, but before he went away Buonaparte invited
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him to breakfast on the following morning at ten o'clock. Monsieur Colo was there,
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and as he was passing through the courtyard, he was informed that Madame
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Bonaparte, who as I have already mentioned, had gone to Lyon without meeting
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the general, had returned during the night. On Monsieur Cole's entrance, Bonaparte
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appeared considerably embarrassed. He led him into a side room, not wishing to
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bring him into the room where I was writing. Well, said Bonaparte to
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Monsieur Colet. She is here. I rejoice to hear it. You have
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done well for yourself as well as for us. But do not imagine I
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have forgiven her. As long as I live, I shall suspect. The
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fact is that on her arrival I desired her to be gone, but that
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fool Joseph was there. What could I do? Kolo? I saw her
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descend the staircase, followed by Eugene and Ortense. They were all weeping,
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and I have not a heart to resist tears. Eugene was with me in
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Egypt. I have been accustomed to look upon him as my adopted son.
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He is a fine, brave lad Ortense is just about to be introduced into
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society, and she is admired by all who know her. I confess,
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Klo, I was deeply moved. I could not endure the distress of the
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two poor children. Should they thought I suffer for their mother's faults. I
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called back Eugene and Orthense, and their mother followed them. What could I
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say? What could I do? I should not be a man without some
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weakness. Be assured, they will reward you for this. They ought colo,
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they ought for it has cost me a hard struggle. After this dialogue,
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Bonaparte and Monsieur Kolo entered the breakfast parlor where I was then sitting.
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Eugene breakfasted with us, But neither Josephine nor Ortense I have already related how
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I acted the part of mediator in this affair. Next day, nothing was
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wanting to complete the reconciliation between the conqueror of Egypt and the charming woman who
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conquered one apart Urienne end of footnot On the thirteenth the first Consuls slept at
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Torrid Galifuo. During the evening, he ordered a staff officer to ascertain whether
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the Austrians had a bridge across the Bormida. A report arrived very late that
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there was none. This information set Bonaparte's mind at rest, and he went
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to bed very well satisfied. But early next morning, when a firing was
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heard and he learned that the Austrians had debouched on the plain where the troops
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were engaged, he flew into a furious passion, called the staff officer a
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coward, and said he had not advanced far enough. He even spoke of
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bringing the matter to an investigation. From motives of delicacy, I refrained from
28:47
mentioning the dame of the officer here alluded to. Bonaparte mounted his horse and
28:52
proceeded immediately to the scene of action. I did not see him again until
28:56
six in the evening. In obedience to him instructions, I repaired to San
29:02
Giuliano, which is not above two leagues from the place where the engagement commenced.
29:07
In the course of the afternoon I saw a great many wounded passing through
29:11
the village, and shortly afterwards a multitude of fugitives. At San Giuliano,
29:17
nothing was talked of but a retreat, which it was said, when apart
29:21
alone firmly opposed, I was then advised to leave San Guliano, where I
29:26
had just received a courier for the general in chief. On the morning of
29:30
the fourteenth, General de Say was sent towards Novi to observe the road to
29:36
Genoa, which city had fallen several days before in spite of the efforts of
29:40
its illustrious defender Massena. I returned with this division to San Giuliano. I
29:47
was struck with the numerical weakness of the corps, which was matching to aid
29:51
an army already much reduced and dispersed. The battle was looked upon as lost,
29:56
and so indeed it was the first consul, having asked to say what
30:00
he thought of it, that brave general bluntly replied, the battle is completely
30:04
lost, but it is only two o'clock. We have time to gain another
30:08
today. I heard this from Bonaparte himself the same evening. Who could have
30:15
imagined that des Say's little corps, together with a few heavy cavalry commanded by
30:19
General Kellerman, would about five o'clock have changed the fortune of the day.
30:25
It cannot be denied that it was the instantaneous inspiration of Kellerman that converted a
30:30
defeat into a victory and decided the Battle of Marengo, That memorable battle,
30:37
of which the results were incalculable, has been described in various ways. Bonaparte
30:42
had an account of it commenced no less than three times, and I must
30:47
confess that none of the narratives are more correct than that contained in the memoirs
30:52
of the Duke of Rovigo. The Emperor Napoleon became dissatisfied with what had been
30:57
said by the first Consul. Apart for my part, not having had the
31:03
honor to bear a sword, I cannot say that I saw any particular movement
31:07
executed this or that way. But I may mention here what I heard on
31:11
the evening of the Battle of Marengo. Respecting the probable chances of that event.
31:17
As to the part which the First Consul took in it, the reader
31:19
perhaps is sufficiently acquainted with his character to account for it. He did not
31:25
choose that a result so decisive should be attributed to any other cause than the
31:30
combinations of his genius. And if I had not known his incessuble thirst for
31:34
glory, I should have been surprised at the sort of half satisfaction evinced at
31:40
the cause of the success amidst the joy manifested for the success itself. It
31:45
must be confessed that in this he was very unlike giorduan Osha, Klabor and
31:52
Moreau, who were ever ready to acknowledge the services of those who had fought
31:56
under their orders. Within two hours of the time when the de Visions commanded
32:00
by des Sail left San Giuliano, I was joyfully surprised by the triumphant return
32:06
of the army, whose fate since the morning had caused me so much anxiety.
32:10
Never did fortune within so short a time show herself under two such various
32:15
faces. At two o'clock, all denoted the desolation of a defeat with all
32:20
its fatal consequences. At five victory was again faithful to the flag of Arcola.
32:27
Italy was reconquered by a single blow, and the crown of France appeared
32:30
in the perspective. At seven in the evening, when I returned with the
32:35
first consul to headquarters, he expressed to me his sincere regret for the loss
32:39
of to say, and then he added, little Kellerman made a lucky charge.
32:45
He did it at just the right moment. We are much indebted to
32:49
him. You see what trifling circumstances decide these affairs. These few words show
32:55
that Bonaparte sufficiently appreciated the services of Kellerman. However, when that officer approached
33:01
the table at which were seated the First Consul and a number of his generals,
33:06
when Aparte merely said, you made a pretty good charge. By way
33:10
of counterbalancing this cool compliment, he turned towards Bessier, who commanded the horse
33:16
peronadiers of the Guard, and said, Bessier, the Guard has covered itself
33:21
with glory. Yet the fact is that the Guard took no part in the
33:25
charge of Killerman, who could assemble only five hundred heavy cavalry, and with
33:30
this handful of brave men he cut in two the Austrian column, which had
33:36
overwhelmed Dessie's division and had made six thousand prisoners. The Guard did not charge
33:42
at Merengo until nightfall next day. It was reported that Kellerman, in his
33:46
first feeling of dissatisfaction at the dry congratulation he had received, said to the
33:52
First Consul, I have just placed the crown on your head. I did
33:58
not hear this, and I cannot vouch for the truth of its having been
34:00
said. I could only have ascertained that fact through Bonaparte, and of course
34:06
I could not with propriety remind him of a thing which must have been very
34:08
offensive to him. However, whether true or not, the observation was circulated
34:15
about verbally and in writing, and Bonaparte knew it. Hence the small degree
34:21
of favor shown to Killerman, who was not made a general of division on
34:24
the field of battle as a reward for his charge at Marengo footnote. If
34:30
Savare's story be correct, and he was then aide de comte to de Say
34:35
and Burian acknologies his account to be the best, the inspiration of the charge
34:39
did not come from the young Killerman. Savare says that to Say sent him
34:44
to tell Napoleon that he could not delay his attack and that he must be
34:47
supported by some cavalry. Savoy was then sent by Napoleon to a spot where
34:53
he was told he would find Killeran to order him to charge in support of
34:58
des Say. To Say and Kellerman were so placed as to be out of
35:01
sight of each other. Savary Tom One, page two hundred and seventy nine.
35:07
Tia Tom One, page four hundred and forty five follows Savary, it
35:13
may here be mentioned that Savay, in his account of the battle, expressly
35:16
states that he carried the order from Bonaparte to Kellerman to make this charge.
35:22
He also makes the following observations on the subject. After the fall of the
35:27
Imperial government, some pretended friends of General Killerman have presumed to claim for him
35:31
the merit of originating the charge of cavalry. That general, whose share of
35:37
glory is sufficiently brilliant to gratify his most sanguine wishes, can have no knowledge
35:42
of so presumptuous a pretension. I the more readily acquit him from the circumstance
35:47
that, as we were conversing one day, respecting that battle, I called
35:52
to his mind my having brought to him the first Consul's orders, and he
35:55
appeared not to have forgotten that fact. I am far from suspecting his friends
36:00
of the design of lessening the glory of either General Bonaparte or General de Say.
36:06
They know as well as myself, that theirs are names so respected that
36:10
they can never be affected by such detractions, and that it would be as
36:15
vain to dispute the praise due to the chief who planned the battle as to
36:20
attempt to depreciate the brilliant share which General Kellerman had in its successful result.
36:24
I will add to the above a few observations from the position which he occupied.
36:30
General de say could not see General Kellerman. He had even desired me
36:35
to request the First Consul to afford him the support of some cavalry. Neither
36:39
could General Kellerman, from the point where he was stationed perceive General de Saye's
36:45
division. It is even probable that he was not aware of the arrival of
36:49
that general, who had only joined the army two days before. Both were
36:52
ignorant of each other's position, which the First Consul was alone acquainted with.
36:58
He alone could produced harmony into their movements. He alone could make their efforts,
37:04
respectively conduce to the same object. The fate of the battle was decided
37:08
by Kellerman's bold charge. Had it, however, been made previously to General
37:14
Duce's attack, in all probability, it would have had a quite different result.
37:19
Kellerman appeared to have been convinced of it, since he allowed the Austrian
37:22
column to cross our field of battle and extend its front beyond that of the
37:27
troops we had still in line, without making the least attempt to impede its
37:30
progress. The reason of Kellerman's not charging it sooner was that it was too
37:36
serious a movement, and the consequences of failure would have been a rotree hale.
37:42
That charge, therefore could only enter into a general combination of plans to
37:45
which he was necessarily a stranger. Memoirs of the Duke of Rovigo, Tom
37:52
One, pages two hundred and eighteen to two hundred and eighteen, end of
37:55
footnote. Monsieur de Reforat, the Postmaster General, sometimes transacted business with the
38:01
first Consul. The nature of this secret business may easily be guessed at footnote.
38:07
When Monsieur de Laforat was replaced soon after this by Lavalette, Napoleon ordered
38:14
the discontinuance of the practice followed until then of allowing letters to be opened by
38:19
subordinate officials. This rite was restricted, as in England, to the minister.
38:24
However bad this practice, it was limited, not extended in his reign.
38:30
See meanwhile Tom Three, pages sixty to sixty two and Lavalette Tom Two,
38:36
page ten, end of footnote. On the occasion of one of their
38:39
interviews, the first Consul saw a letter from Kellermann to LaSalle which contained the
38:45
following passage quote, would you believe, my friend, that Buonaparte has not
38:50
made me a general of division, though I have just placed the crown on
38:52
his head? And quote? The letter was sealed again and sent to its
38:58
address. But Bonaparte never forgot got its contents. Whether Kellerman did or did
39:02
not give the crown of France to the first Consul, it is very certain
39:07
that on the evening of the Battle of Meringo he gave him a supper of
39:10
which his famishing staff and the rest of us partook. This was no inconsiderable
39:15
service in the destitute condition in which we were. We thought ourselves exceeding fortunate
39:22
in profiting by the precaution of Kellerman, who had procured provisions from one of
39:27
those pious retreats which are always well supplied, and which soldiers are very glad
39:31
to fall in with when campaigning. It was the Convent del Bosco, which,
39:37
on this occasion was laid under contribution, and in return for the abundance
39:40
of good provisions and wine with which they supplied the commander of the heavy cavalry,
39:45
the Holy Fathers, were allowed a guard to protect them against pillage and
39:50
the other disastrous concomitants. Of war. After supper was over, the First
39:55
Consul dictated to me the bulletin of the battle. When we were all I
40:00
said to him, General, here is a fine victory. You recollect what
40:05
you said the other day about the pleasure with which you would return to Franz
40:08
after striking a grand blow in Italy. Surely you must be satisfied. Now,
40:14
yes, Bourienne, I am satisfied. But to say, ah,
40:19
what a triumph would this have been? If I could have embraced him to
40:22
night on the field of battle. As he uttered these words, I saw
40:25
that Buonaparte was on the point of shedding tears. So sincere and profound was
40:30
his grief for the death of des Say. He certainly never loved, esteemed,
40:36
or regretted any man so much. The death of Dessay has been variously
40:40
related, and I need not now state that the words attributed to him in
40:45
the bulletin were imaginary. Neither did he die in the arms of his aide,
40:50
de Comte le Brun. As I wrote from the dictation of the First
40:53
Consul, the following facts are more correct, or at all events, more
40:59
probable. The death of des Sail was not perceived at the moment it took
41:02
place. He fell without saying a word, at a little distance from the
41:07
Febre de Noete. A sergeant of Battalion of the ninth Brigade Light Infantry,
41:13
commanded by Barbois, seeing him extended on the ground, asked permission to pick
41:17
up his cloak. It was found to be perforated behind. And this circumstance
41:22
leaves it doubtful whether des Say was killed by some unlucky inadvertency while advancing at
41:28
the head of his troops, or by the enemy when turning towards his men
41:31
to encourage them. However, the event was so instantaneous, the disorder so
41:37
complete, and the change of fortune so sudden, that it is not surprising
41:42
there should be no positive account of the circumstances which attended his death. Early
41:47
next morning, the Prince of Liechtenstein came from General Melas with negotiations to the
41:52
first Consul. The propositions of the General did not suit Bonaparte, and he
41:58
declared to the Prince that the army shut up in Alessandria should evacuate freely and
42:02
with the honors of war, but on those conditions which are well known and
42:07
by which Italy was to be fully restored to the French domination. That day
42:13
we repaired the faults of Cherer, whose inertness and imbecility had paralyzed everything,
42:19
and who had fled and been constantly beaten from the Adriatic to Monsigny. The
42:23
Prince of Wichtenstein begged to return to render an account of his mission to General
42:28
molass. He came back in the evening and made many observations on the hard
42:32
nature of the conditions. Sir, replied the first Consul, in a tone
42:37
of marked impatience. Carry my final determination to your general and return quickly.
42:44
It is irrevocable. Know that I am as well acquainted with your position as
42:47
you are yourselves. I did not begin to learn the art of war yesterday.
42:52
You are blocked up in Alessandria. You have many sick and wounded.
42:57
You are in want of provisions and medicines. I occupy the whole of your
43:01
rear. Your finest troops are among the killed and wounded. I might insist
43:06
on harder conditions, my position would warrant me in so doing, But I
43:10
moderate my demands in consideration of the gray hairs of your general, whom I
43:15
respect this reply was delivered with considerable dignity and energy. I showed the Prince
43:22
out, and he said to me, these conditions are very hard, especially
43:25
that of giving up Genoa, which surrendered to us only a fortnight ago,
43:30
after so long a siege. It is a curious fact that the Emperor of
43:35
Austria received intelligence of the capitulation and restitution of Genoa at the same time.
43:42
When the first Consul returned to Milan, he made Savary and rap his aide
43:45
de comt They had previously served in the same rank. Under to say,
43:50
the first Consul was at first not much disposed to take them, alleging that
43:54
he had aid the Comte enough. But his respect for the choice of desce,
44:00
added to a little solicitation on my part, soon removed every obstacle.
44:05
These two officers served him to the last hour of his political career with unfailing
44:09
zeal and fidelity. I have seen nothing in the memoirs of the Duc de
44:15
Rovigo Savary about my having had anything to do with his admission to the honor.
44:21
I can probably tell the reason why one of the two aid de coon
44:24
has written higher than the other. Rapp had an Alsatian frankness, which always
44:30
injured him. End of section two, Section three of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte
44:40
Voleume five by Luis Antoine Fauvellis de Bourienne. This LibriVox recording is in the
44:46
public domain, read by Gillian Henry. Chapter two, eighteen hundred. Suspension
44:53
of hostilities, Letter to the Consuls, second occupation of Milan, Bonaparte and
45:00
Massena, public acclamations and the voice of Josephine stray recollections, Organization of Piedmont
45:09
Sabers of honor, Rewards to the Army of the Rhine, Pretended Army of
45:15
Reserve, General Zaches, Anniversary of the fourteenth of July, Monument to des
45:22
Say, des Say and Fois Buonaparte's speech in the Temple of Mars, arrival
45:28
of the Concilar Guard, the bones of martial tourines, Lucien's successful speech,
45:34
Letter from Luciennes to Joseph Bonaparte, the first Consul's returned to Paris. Accidents
45:40
on the road, difficulty of gaining lasting fame, assassination of cleber, situation
45:47
of the terrace on which Claber was stabbed, odious rumors, arrival of a
45:52
courier a night scene Bonaparte's distress on perusing the despatches from Egypt. But little
46:00
time and how few events sometimes suffice to change the destiny of nations. We
46:07
left Milan on the thirteenth of June, Marengo on the fourteenth, and on
46:10
the fifteenth Italy was ours. A suspension of hostilities between the French and Austrian
46:15
armies was the immediate result of a single battle, and by virtue of a
46:21
convention concluded between Berthier and Malas, we resumed possession of all the fortified places
46:27
of any importance, with the exception of Mantua. As soon as this convention
46:32
was signed, Bonaparte dictated to me at Dore di Galifalo the following letter to
46:37
his colleagues. The day after the Battle of Marengo, citizens Consuls General Milas
46:45
transmitted a message to our advance posts requesting permission to send General Scale to me.
46:51
During the day, the convention, off which I send you a copy,
46:53
was drawn up, and at night it was signed by Generals Berthier and
46:59
Malas. I hope the French people will be satisfied with the conduct of their
47:02
army, signed Bonaparte. The only thing worthy of remark in this letter would
47:08
be the concluding sentence, in which the First Council still affected to acknowledge the
47:13
sovereignty of the people. Were it not that the words citizens consuls were evidently
47:19
foisted in with a particular design. The battle was gained, and even in
47:23
a trifling matter like this, it was necessary that the two other consuls should
47:29
feel that they were not so much the colleagues as the subordinates of the First
47:32
Council. We returned to Milan, and our second occupation of that city was
47:37
marked by continued acclamations wherever the First Consul showed himself at Milan. The First
47:44
Consul now saw Massena for the first time since our departure for Egypt. When
47:47
Aparte lavished upon him the highest praises, but not higher than he deserved for
47:52
his admirable defense of Genoa, he named him his successor in the command of
47:58
the army of Italy. Moreaux was on the Rhine, and therefore none but
48:01
the conqueror of Zurich could properly have succeeded the First Consul in that command.
48:07
A great blow was struck, but there might still occur an emergency requiring the
48:12
presence of a skillful, experienced general, well acquainted with the country. And
48:16
besides, we could not be perfectly at ease until it was ascertained what conditions
48:22
would be adhered to by the Cabinet of Vienna, which was then entirely under
48:25
the influence of the Cabinet of London. After our return from the battle,
48:30
the popular joy was general and heartfelt, not only among the higher and middle
48:35
ranks of society, but in all classes. And the affection evinced from all
48:39
quarters to the first Consul was unfeigned in What a tone of sincerity did he
48:45
say to me one day, when returning from the parade Maurienne. Do you
48:50
hear the acclamations still resounding? That noise is as sweet to me as the
48:53
sound of Josephine's voice. How happy and proud I am to be loved by
48:58
such a people. During our stay at Milan, Bonaparte had arranged a new
49:04
government for Piedmont. He had ever since cherished the wish to unite that rich
49:08
and fertile country to the French territory, because some Piedmontese provinces had been possessed
49:15
by Louis the fourteenth. That honor was the only king whom the first Consul
49:19
really admired. If, said he one day Louis the fourteenth had not been
49:24
born a king, he would have been a great man. But he did
49:28
not know mankind. He could not know them, for he never knew misfortune.
49:32
He admired the resolution of the old king, who would rather bury himself
49:37
under the ruins of the monarchy than submit to degrading conditions. After having commanded
49:42
the sovereigns of Europe, I recollect that Bonaparte was extremely pleased to see in
49:46
the reports which he ordered to be made, that in Cassal and in the
49:51
valleys of Pigeron Las Tours and lazem there still existed many traces of the period
49:57
when those countries belonged to France. The French language was yet preserved there.
50:01
He already began to identify himself with the past, and abusing the old kings
50:07
of France was not the way to conciliate his favor. The first council appointed
50:12
for the government of Piedmont, a council which, as may naturally be imagined,
50:16
he composed of those Piedmontes who were the declared partisans of France. He
50:22
stated as the grounds of this arrangement, that it was to give the Piedmont
50:25
a new proof of the affection and detachment of the French people. He afterwards
50:30
appointed General DuPont President of the Council with the title of Minister Extraordinary of the
50:37
French Government. I will here mention a secret step taken by Buonaparte towards the
50:42
overthrowing of the Republic. In making the first draft of General DuPont's appointment,
50:47
I had mechanically written Minister Extraordinary of the French Republic. No, no,
50:52
said Bonaparte, Not of the Republic, say of the government. On his
50:59
return to Paris, the First Council gave almost incredible proofs of his activity.
51:04
The day after his arrival, he promulgated a great number of decrees and afterwards
51:08
allotted the rewards to his soldiers. He appointed Kellermann General of Division, which
51:15
on every principle of justice, he ought to have done. On the field
51:17
of battle, he distributed sabers of honor with the following inscription, highly complimentary
51:24
to himself. Battle of Buringo spelt for some time. I do not know
51:30
why, as Maringo Rurienne commanded in person by the First Consul given by the
51:36
Government of the Republic to General Lannu. Similar sabers were presented to Generals Viktar,
51:43
Veterine, Gernan and Murrat, and sabers of less value to other officers,
51:49
and also muskets and drumsticks of honor to the soldiers and drummers who had
51:52
distinguished themselves at Marengo or in the Army of the Rhine. For Buonaparte took
51:58
care that the officers and men who had fought under Morro should be included among
52:01
those to whom the national rewards were presented. He even had a medal struck
52:07
to perpetuate the memory of the entry of the French army into Munich. It
52:12
is worthy of remark that, while official fabrications and exaggerated details of facts were
52:16
published respecting Marengo and the short campaign of Italy, by a feigned modesty,
52:22
the victorious Army of Marengo received the unambitious title of Army of Reserve. By
52:29
this artifice, the honor of the Constitution was saved. The first Consul had
52:32
not violated it if he had marched to the field and stated everything on a
52:37
chance, it was merely accidentally, for he commanded only an army of reserve,
52:44
which nevertheless he had greeted with the title of Grand Army before he entered
52:47
upon the campaign. It is scarcely conceivable that Bonaparte, possessing as he did
52:52
an extraordinary mind, should have descended to such pitiful artifices. Put not Tia
53:00
tom six, page seventy says the title Grand Armais was first given by Napoleon
53:06
to the force prepared in eighteen o five for the campaign against Austria. The
53:09
Constitution for bad the first council to command the armies in person. Hence the
53:15
title Army of reserve given to the force which fought Marengo end put Note even
53:22
foreigners and prisoners were objects of Bonaparte's designing intentions. I recollect one evening his
53:28
saying to me, Bourienne, write to the Minister of War and tell him
53:31
to select a fine brace of pistols of the Versailles manufacture, and send them
53:37
in my name to General Zach. He dined with me to day and highly
53:40
praised our manufacture of arms. I should like to give him a token of
53:45
remembrance. Besides, the matter will be talked off at Vienna, and may
53:50
perhaps do good. As soon as the news of the Battle of Morengo reached
53:53
Paris, Lucien Bonaparte, Minister of the Interior, ordered preparations for the festival
54:00
fixed for the fourteenth of July in commemoration of the First Federation. This festival
54:06
and that of the First Vondemier were the only ones preserved by the consular government.
54:10
Indeed, in those memorable days when the revolution appeared in its fairest point
54:15
of view, France had never known such joy as that to which the Battle
54:19
of Marengo gave rise. Still amidst all this popular transport, there was a
54:23
feeling of regret the fame of to say, his heroic character, his death,
54:30
the words attributed to him and believed to be true, caused mourning to
54:34
be mingled with joy. It was agreed to open a subscription for erecting a
54:38
national monument to his memory. A reflection naturally arises here upon the difference between
54:44
the period referred to and the present time. France has endowed with nearly a
54:49
million the children of one of her greatest orators and most eloquent defenders of public
54:53
liberty. Yet for the monument to the memory of ds say scarcely twenty thousand
54:59
francs were subscribed. Does not this form a singular contrast with the patriotic munificence
55:05
displayed at the death of General Fois. The pitiful monument to de Say on
55:10
the Place Dauphin sufficiently attests the want of spirit on the part of the subscribers.
55:16
Bonaparte, who was much dissatisfied with it, gave the name of Dessea
55:21
to a new quays, the first stone of which was laid with great solemnity
55:24
on the fourteenth of July. On that day, the crowd was immense in
55:29
the Chanle de Mars and in the Temple of Mars, the name of which,
55:32
at that time the Church of the Invalide still preserved. Lucian delivered a
55:37
speech on the encouraging prospects of France, and Lan made an appropriate address on
55:43
presenting to the government the flags taken at Marengo. Two more followed, one
55:47
from an aide de comt of Mossenna and the other from an aide de Coon
55:51
of Le Corbes, And after the distribution of some medals, the first Consul
55:55
then delivered the following address citizens. The flags presented to the government in the
56:02
presence of the people of this immense capital. Attest at once the genius of
56:07
the commanders in chief Moreau, Massena and Berthier, the military talents of the
56:13
generals their lieutenants, and bravery of the French soldiers. On your return to
56:19
the camp, tell your comrades that for the first Montemier, when we shall
56:22
celebrate the anniversary of the Republic, the French people expect either peace or,
56:29
if the enemy obstinately refuse it, other flags, the fruit of fresh victories.
56:35
After this harangue of the first Consul, in which he addressed to the
56:38
military in the name of the people and ascribed to Berthier the Glory of Marengo,
56:44
a hymn was chanted, the words of which were written by Monsieur de
56:46
Fontaine, and the music composed by Meu. But what was most remarkable in
56:52
this fete was neither the poetry, music, nor even the panegyrical eloquence of
56:57
Lucienne. It was the arrival at the chandemas after the ceremony at the Envalide
57:02
of the Consilar guard. Returning from Lorengo, I was at a window of
57:07
the Econmriutire, and I can never forget the commotion almost electrical, which made
57:13
the air resound with cries of enthusiasm at their appearance. These soldiers did not
57:17
defile before the First Consul, in fine uniforms, as at a review.
57:22
Leaving the field of battle. When the firing ceased, they had crossed Lombardy,
57:25
Piedmont, Montsignis, Savoy and France in the space of twenty nine days.
57:32
They appeared worn by the fatigue of a long journey, with faces browned
57:37
by the summer sun of Italy, and with their arms and clothing showing the
57:40
effects of desperate struggles. Do you wish to have an idea of their appearance,
57:45
you will find a perfect type in the first Grenadier put by Gerrards at
57:50
one side of his picture of the Battle of Austerlitz. At the time of
57:54
this fit, that is to say, in the middle of the month of
57:57
July, the First Consul could not have been imagined that the moderate conditions he
58:01
had proposed after the victory would not be accepted by Austria. In the hope
58:06
therefore of a peace which could not but be considered probable, he for the
58:10
first time since the establishment of the Consular government, convoked the deputies of the
58:15
departments and appointed their time of assembling in Paris for the first Mondomier, a
58:21
day which formed the close of one remarkable century and marked the commencement of another.
58:27
The remains of martial tourin to which Louis the fourteenth had awarded the honors
58:31
of annihilation by giving them a place among the royal tombs in the vaults of
58:36
Saan Denis, had been torn from their grave at the time of the sacrilegious
58:40
violation of the tombs. His bones, mingled indiscriminately with others, had long
58:45
lain an obscurity in a garret of the College of Medicine. When Monsieur Lenoire
58:51
collected and restored them to the ancient tomb of Turin in the mouset de di
58:54
Tito Coustin. Bonaparte resolved to enshrine these relics in that sculptured marble with which
59:00
the glory of Turin could so well dispense. This was, however, intended
59:06
as a connecting link between the past days of France and the future to which
59:09
he looked forward. He thought that the sentiments inspired by the solemn honors rendered
59:15
to the memory of Turin would dispose the deputies of the departments to receive with
59:19
greater enthusiasm the Pacific communications he hoped to be able to make. However,
59:24
the negotiations did not take the favorable turn which the first Consul had expected,
59:30
and notwithstanding all the address of Lucienne, the communication was not heard without much
59:35
uneasiness. But Lucien had prepared a speech quite to the taste of the first
59:38
Consul. After dilating for some time on the efforts of the government to obtain
59:44
peace, he deplored the tur diversations of Austria, accused the fatal influence of
59:49
England, and added in a more elevated and solemn tone, that the very
59:54
moment, when the consuls were leaving the palace of the Government, a courier
59:59
arrived bearing to disa dispatches which the First Consul has directed me to communicate to
1:00:02
you. He then read a note declaring that the Austrian government consented to surrender
1:00:08
to France the three fortresses of Ulm, Philippsburg and Ingolstadt. This was considered
1:00:15
as a security for the preliminaries of peace being speedily signed. The news was
1:00:21
received with enthusiasm, and that anxious day closed in a way highly gratifying to
1:00:25
the first Council, whilst victory confirmed in Italy the destinies of the first Consul,
1:00:31
his brothers were more concerned about their own interests than the affairs of France.
1:00:37
They loved money as much as Bonaparte loved glory. A letter from Lucienne
1:00:40
to his brother Joseph, which I shall subjoin, shows how ready they always
1:00:45
were to turn to their own advantage the glory and fortune of him to whom
1:00:50
they were indebted for all their importance. I found this letter among my papers,
1:00:55
but I cannot tell why and how I preserved it. It is an
1:01:00
interesting inasmuch as it shows the opinion that family of future kings entertained of their
1:01:05
own situation and of what their fate would have been at Bonaparte like to say,
1:01:09
fallen on the field of Marengo. It is besides curious to observe the
1:01:15
philosopher Lucian causing Teneum to be chanted with the view of influencing the public funds
1:01:21
at all events. I copied Lucian's letter as he wrote it, giving the
1:01:24
words marked in italics and the numerous notes of exclamation which distinguish the original.
1:01:30
My brother readersnot my brother, marked in italics in reder not I send you
1:01:37
a courier. I particularly wish that the first Consul would give me notice of
1:01:40
his arrival twenty four hours beforehand, and that he would inform me alone.
1:01:46
Readers, not me alone, marked in italics in reders not of the barrier
1:01:52
by which he will enter the city. Wishes to prepare triumphal archies for him,
1:01:55
and it deserves not to be disappointed at my request reader's note, At
1:02:01
my request marked in italics enter reader note at today, and was chanted yesterday,
1:02:07
there were sixty thousand persons present. The intrigues of Otai continue. Putnote.
1:02:14
This intrigue, so called from Talion, one of its heads living in
1:02:19
the suburb of Otai, arose from the wish of many of the most influential
1:02:22
men to be prepared in case of the death of Napoleon in any action in
1:02:27
Italy. It was simply a continuation of the same combinations which had been attempted
1:02:32
or planned in seventeen ninety nine till the arrival of one apart from Egypt made
1:02:37
the party choose him as the instrument for the overthrow of the directors. There
1:02:43
was little secrecy about their plans. See Neo de Melito Tom One, page
1:02:47
two hundred seventy six, where Joseph Bonaparte tells his friends all that was being
1:02:52
proposed in case his brother fell. Carroll seems to have been the most probable
1:02:57
choice as leader and replacer of them apart in the above letter, C blank
1:03:02
stands for Carno, La f Blank for Lafayette. The High Priest is c.
1:03:08
S and the friend of Otai is Tynan cee Young's Lucien Tom one,
1:03:15
page four hundred and eleven. The PostScript seems to refer to a wretched scandal
1:03:20
about Caroline and Lucien ce Jung's Lucienne Tom one, pages four hundred and eleven
1:03:27
and four hundred and thirty two to four hundred and thirty three. The reader
1:03:30
should remark the retention of this and other documents by Bulianne, which forms one
1:03:35
of the charges brought against him. Further on ento it not it has been
1:03:39
found difficult to decide between C Blank and La f Blanc. The latter has
1:03:45
proposed his daughter in marriage to me. Intrigue has been carried to the elast
1:03:50
extreme. I do not know yet whether the High Priest has decided for one
1:03:53
party or the other. I believe that he would cheat them both for an
1:03:58
Arleon and your friend of Altai was at the bottom of all. The news
1:04:02
of the battle of Marengo petrified them. And yet next day the High Priest
1:04:08
certainly spent three hours with your friend of Otai. As to us at the
1:04:12
victory of Morengo closed to the first Consul's career, we should now have been
1:04:15
prescribed. Your letters say nothing of what I expected to hear. I hope
1:04:20
at least to be informed of the answer from Vienna before anyone. I am
1:04:25
sorry you have not paid me back for the battle of Marengo. The festival
1:04:30
of the fourteenth of July will be very gratifying. We expect peace as a
1:04:33
certainty and the triumphant return of the first Consul. The family is all well.
1:04:40
Your wife and all her family are at Morfontaine, nay is at Paris.
1:04:45
Why do you return with the first Consul? Peace and Italy? Think
1:04:49
of our last interview. I embrace you, signed Lucienne. On the margin
1:04:55
is written p. S. Read the letter addressed to the Consul, and
1:04:59
give you to him after you have carefully closed it. After you have carefully
1:05:04
closed it marked in italics andred or not forward the enclosed. Madame Murras never
1:05:11
lodged in my house. Her husband is a fool, whom his wife ought
1:05:15
to punish by not writing to him for a month. Signed Lucien Bonaparte.
1:05:20
Bonaparte, confirmed in his power by the victory of Marengo, remained some days
1:05:25
longer at Milan to settle the affairs of Italy. He directed one to furnish
1:05:30
Madame Gascini with money to pay her expenses to Paris. We departed amidst the
1:05:34
acclamations of the inhabitants and took the road to Turin. The first consul stopped
1:05:40
at Turin for some hours and inspected the citadel, which had been surrendered to
1:05:45
us in pursuance of the capitulation of Alessandria. In passing over Monsignice, we
1:05:50
observed the carriage of Madame Kellermann, who was going to meet her husband.
1:05:55
Bonaparte, on recognizing the lady, stopped his carriage and congratulated her on the
1:06:00
gallant conduct of her husband at the Battle of Marengo. On our arrival at
1:06:04
Lyon, we alighted at the Hotel de Silistin, and the loud acclamations of
1:06:10
a numerous multitude assembled round the hotel obliged Buonaparte to show himself on the balcony.
1:06:15
Next day he proceeded to the square of Bergour, where, amidst the
1:06:19
plaudits of the people, he laid the first stone of some new buildings,
1:06:24
destined to efface one of the disasters of the revolution. We left lyon that
1:06:29
evening and continued our journey by way of Dijon. On our arrival in that
1:06:33
town, the joy of the inhabitants was very great. I never saw a
1:06:38
more graceful and captivating sight than that which was presented by a group of beautiful
1:06:42
young females crowned with flowers, who accompanied Buonaparte's carriage, and which, at
1:06:46
that period, when the revolution had renewed all the republican recollections of Greece and
1:06:51
Rome looked like the chorus of females dancing around the victor at the Olympic Games.
1:06:58
But all our journey was not so agreeable. Some accidents awaited us.
1:07:02
The first Consul's carriage broke down between Villeneufrois and Sance. He sent a courier
1:07:08
to inform my mother that he would stop at her house till his carriage was
1:07:12
repaired. He downed there and we started again at seven in the evening,
1:07:16
but we had other disasters to encounter. One of our off wheels came off,
1:07:20
and as we were driving at a very rapid pace, the carriage was
1:07:24
overturned on the bridge at a short distance from Montau fallon. The first consul,
1:07:30
who sat on my left, fell upon me and sustained no injury.
1:07:33
My head was slightly hurt by striking against some things which were in the pocket
1:07:38
of the carriage, but this accident was not worth stopping for, and we
1:07:41
arrived at Paris on the same night. The second of July Duloc, who
1:07:45
was the third in the carriage, was not hurt. I have already mentioned
1:07:49
that Bonaparte was rather talkative when traveling, and as we were passing through Burgundy
1:07:55
on our return to Paris from Marengo, he said exultingly, well, a
1:08:00
few more events like this campaign, and I may go down to posterity,
1:08:03
I think, replied I that you have already done enough to secure great and
1:08:09
lasting fame. Yes, resumed he I have done enough. It is true.
1:08:14
In less than two years I have won Cairo, Paris and Milan.
1:08:18
But for all that, my dear fellow, were I to die to morrow,
1:08:23
I should not, at the end of ten centuries, occupy half a
1:08:26
page of general history. On the very day when de say fell on the
1:08:30
field of Marengo, Claybor was assassinated by a fanatical mussulman named Solomon Halimi,
1:08:36
who stabbed him with a dagger, and by that blow decided the fate of
1:08:41
Egypt. Put note, this fella was at most eighteen or twenty years of
1:08:45
age. He was a native of Damascus, and declared that he had quitied
1:08:50
his native city by command of the Grand Vizier, who had entrusted him with
1:08:55
the commission of repairing to Egypt and killing the Grand Sultan of the French.
1:09:00
Buonaparte being probably intended that for this purpose alone, he had left his family
1:09:04
and performed the whole journey on foot, and had received from the Grand Vizier
1:09:09
no other money than what was absolutely requisite for the exigencies of the journey.
1:09:15
On arriving at Cairo, he had gone forthwith to perform his devotions in the
1:09:18
Great Mosque, and it was only on the eve of executing his project that
1:09:23
he confided it to one of the shereefs of the mosque. Duc de Rovigo's
1:09:28
Memoirs Tom One, page three hundred and sixty seven ent would not. This
1:09:33
was Franz, on the same day and almost at the same hour, deprived
1:09:36
of two of her most distinguished generals. Minoul As, senior in command,
1:09:42
succeeded klab and the first consul confirmed the appointment. From that moment, the
1:09:46
loss of Egypt was inevitable. I have a few details to give respecting the
1:09:51
tragical death of Claver. The house of Elphi Bay, which Bonaparte occupied at
1:09:57
Cairo, and in which Klaber lived after his departure, had a terrace leading
1:10:01
from a salon to an old, rude cistern, from which down a few
1:10:05
steps there was an entrance into the garden. The terrace commanded a view of
1:10:11
the grand Square of Ebigouille, which was to the right on coming out of
1:10:15
the salon, while the garden was on the left. This terrace was Bonaparte's
1:10:18
favorite promenade, especially in the evenings, when he used to walk up and
1:10:23
down and converse with the persons about him. I often advised him to fill
1:10:27
up the reservoir, and to make it level with the terrace. I even
1:10:30
showed him by concealing myself in it and suddenly coming up behind him, how
1:10:34
easy it would be for any person to attempt his life and then escape,
1:10:39
either by jumping into the square or passing through the garden. He told me
1:10:44
I was a coward and was always in fear of death, and he determined
1:10:47
not to make the alteration I suggested, which, however, he acknowledged to
1:10:51
be advisable. Claybour's assassin availed himself of the facility which I so often apprehended
1:10:58
might be fatal to Buonaparte. I shall not stop to refute all the infamous
1:11:01
rumors which were circulated respecting Claybur's death. When the first Consul received the unexpected
1:11:08
intelligence, he could scarcely believe it. He was deeply affected, and on
1:11:12
reading the particulars of the assassination, he instantly called to mind how often he
1:11:16
had been in the same situation as that in which Klaber was killed, And
1:11:20
all I had said respecting the danger of the reservoir, a danger from which
1:11:26
it is inconceivable he should have escaped, especially after his Syrian expedition had excited
1:11:31
the fury of the natives. Bonaparte's knowledge of Claver's talents, the fact of
1:11:35
his having confided to him the command of the army, and the aid which
1:11:40
he constantly endeavored to transmit to him, repelled at once the horrible suspicion of
1:11:45
his having had the least participation in the crown, and the thought that he
1:11:48
was gratified to hear of it. It is very certain that Bonaparte's dislike of
1:11:54
Klaber was as decided as the friendship he cherished. For. To say,
1:11:59
Claybur's face annoyed him, for he was weak enough to be annoyed at it.
1:12:02
He knew the manner in which Clayver spoke of him, which was certainly
1:12:05
not the most respectful. During the long and sanguinary siege of Saint Jean Deccre,
1:12:12
Claver said to me, quote that little scoundrel Bonipart, who is no
1:12:15
higher than my boot will enslave Franz see what a villainous expedition he has succeeded
1:12:21
in involving as in Clayver often made the same remark to others as well as
1:12:27
to me. I am not certain that it was ever reported to Bonaparte.
1:12:30
But there is reason to believe that those who founded their interest to accuse others
1:12:34
did not spare Claver. Clayver, who was a sincere Republican, saw and
1:12:41
dreaded for his country's sake, the secret views and inordinate ambition of Bonaparte.
1:12:45
He was a grumbler by nature, yet he never evinced discontent in the discharge
1:12:50
of his duties. As a soldier. He swore and stormed, but marched
1:12:55
bravely to the cannon's mouth. He was indeed courage personified. One day,
1:13:00
when he was in the trench at Saint jal Dacre, standing up and by
1:13:03
his tall stature, exposed to every shot, Bonaparte called to him, stoop
1:13:10
down, Weber, stoop down, Why, replied he, Your confounded trench
1:13:15
does not reach to my knees. He never regarded the Egyptian expedition with a
1:13:19
favorable eye. He thought it too expensive and utterly useless to France. He
1:13:25
was convinced that in the situation in which we stood without a navy or a
1:13:29
powerful government, it would have been better to have confined our attention to Europe
1:13:33
than to have wasted French blood and money on the banks of the Nile and
1:13:36
among the ruined cities of Syria. Clayver, who was a cool, reflecting
1:13:42
man, judged Bonaparte without enthusiasm, a thing somewhat rare at that time,
1:13:46
and he was not blind to any of his faults. Bonapart alleged that Claver
1:13:51
said to him, General, you are as great as the world. Such
1:13:57
a remark is in direct opposition to Claver's character. He was too sincere to
1:14:00
say anything against his conviction. Bonaparte, always anxious to keep Egypt, of
1:14:06
which the preservation alone could justify the conquest, allowed clab to speak because he
1:14:13
acted. At the same time. He knew that Clayber's sense of military duty
1:14:16
would always triumph over any opposition he might cherish to his views and plans.
1:14:21
Thus the death of his lieutenant, far from causing Bonaparte any feeling of satisfaction,
1:14:27
afflicted him the more because it almost totally deprived him of the hope of
1:14:31
preserving a conquest which had cost Franz so dear and which was his work.
1:14:36
The news of the death of Claber arrived shortly after our return to Paris.
1:14:42
Bonaparte was anxiously expecting accounts from Egypt. None having been received for a considerable
1:14:46
time, The arrival of the courier who brought the fatal intelligence gave rise to
1:14:53
a scene which I may relate here. It was two o'clock in the morning
1:14:57
when the courier arrived at the tuillery. In his hurry, the First Council
1:15:00
could not wait to rouse any one to call me up. I had informed
1:15:04
him some days before that if he should want me during the night, he
1:15:08
should send for me to the corridor, as I had changed my bed chamber
1:15:12
on account of my wife's a cushemon. He came up himself, and instead
1:15:15
of knocking at my door, knocked at that of my secretary. The latter
1:15:19
immediately rose, and, opening the door, to his surprise, saw the
1:15:24
First Consol with a candle in his hand, a Madras handkerchief on his head,
1:15:28
and having on his gray greatcoat. Bonaparte, not knowing of the little
1:15:32
step down into the room, slipped and nearly fell. Where is Bourienne?
1:15:38
Asked he. The surprise of my secretary at the apparition of the first Consol
1:15:42
can be imagined, What general is it you? Where is Bourienne? Then
1:15:47
my secretary, in his shirt, showed the First Console my door, after
1:15:53
having told him that he was sorry at having called him up. Napoleon came
1:15:57
to me, I dressed in a hurry, and we went down stair to
1:16:00
my usual room. We rang several times before they opened the door for us.
1:16:04
The guards were not asleep, but having heard so much running to and
1:16:08
fro, feared we were thieves. At last they opened the door, and
1:16:12
the first consul threw on the table the immense packet of dispatches which he had
1:16:15
just received. They had been fumigated and steeped in vinegar. When he read
1:16:20
the announcement of the death of Clayver. The expression of his countenance sufficiently denoted
1:16:26
the painful feelings which arose in his mind. I read in his face.
1:16:30
Egypt is lost. End of section three, Section four of Memoirs of Napoleon
1:16:43
Bonaparte Pollium five by Luis Antoine Fauvellis de Bourienne. This LibriVox recording is in
1:16:48
the public domain. Read by Julian Henry. Chapter three, Part one Ureaparte's
1:16:55
wished to negotiate with England and austria An emigrants. Letter domestic details the Belle
1:17:01
conspiracy of Jeraki, Arena Arel and others. Bonaparte's visit to the opera arrests
1:17:10
Arel appointed commandant of Valsines, the Duc Dunguien's foster sister. The third Nivos,
1:17:17
first performance of Haydn's creation, The Infernal Machine, congratulatory addresses, arbitrary
1:17:25
condemnations. Monsieur Tisso erased from the list of the banished. Monsieur touguay Buonaparte's
1:17:31
hatred of the Jacobin explained the real criminals discovered, justification of Fouchet, execution
1:17:40
of Sare Jean and Gerbon, Caesar, Cromwell and Bonaparte. Conversation between Bonaparte
1:17:46
and Fouchet pretended anger Bouchet's dissimulation, Lucienne's resignation his embassy to Spain, war
1:17:56
between Spain and Portugal, Dinner at Fouchet's treachery of Joseph Bonaparte a trick upon
1:18:02
the first consul a three days coolness reconciliation. The happy events of the campaign
1:18:10
of Italy had been crowned by the armistice concluded on the sixth of July.
1:18:15
This armistice was broken on the first of September and renewed after the Battle of
1:18:18
hohen Linden. On his return from Moerengo, Bonaparte was received with more enthusiasm
1:18:24
than ever. The rapidity with which in a campaign of less than two months
1:18:29
he had restored the triumph of the French standard excited universal astonishment. He then
1:18:33
actively endeavored to open negotiations with England and Austria, but difficulties opposed him in
1:18:40
every direction. He frequently visited the theater, where his presence attracted prodigious throngs
1:18:45
of persians, all eager to see and applaud him. The immense number of
1:18:49
letters which were at this time addressed to the First Council is scarcely conceivable.
1:18:55
They contained requests for places, protestations of fidelity, and in short, they
1:19:00
were those petitionary circulars that are addressed to all persons in power. These letters
1:19:04
were often exceedingly curious, and I have preserved many of them. Among the
1:19:10
rest was one from de Roselles beaumnnoir An emigrant who had fled to Jersey.
1:19:15
This letter contains some interesting particulars relative to Buonaparte's family. It is dated Jersey,
1:19:20
twelfth of July eighteen hundred, and the following are the most remarkable passages
1:19:26
It contends, I trust, General, that I may, without indiscretion,
1:19:30
intrude upon your notice to remind you of what I flatter myself. You have
1:19:34
not totally forgotten, after having lived eighteen or nineteen years at Ajaxio, But
1:19:41
you will perhaps be surprised that so trifling an item should be the subject of
1:19:45
the letter which I have the honor to address to you. You cannot have
1:19:47
forgotten, General, that when your late father was obliged to take your brothers
1:19:51
from the College of Autamps from whence he went to see you at Brienne,
1:19:57
he was unprovided with money, and he asked me for twenty five louis,
1:20:00
which I lent him with pleasure. After his return he had no opportunity of
1:20:05
paying me, And when I left Ajaxil, your mother offered to dispose of
1:20:10
some plate in order to pay the debt. To this I objected and told
1:20:14
her that I would wait until she could pay me at her convenience. I
1:20:17
am previous to the breaking out of the revolution. I believe it was not
1:20:21
in her power to fulfill her wish of discharging the debt. I am sorry,
1:20:26
General, to be obliged to trouble you about such a trifle But such
1:20:30
is my unfortunate situation that even this trifle is off some importance to me.
1:20:34
Driven from my country and obliged to take refuge in this island where everything is
1:20:39
exceedingly expensive, the little sum I have mentioned, which was formerly a matter
1:20:44
of indifference, would now be of great service to me. You will understand
1:20:47
General, that at the age of eighty six, after having served my country
1:20:51
well for sixty years without the least interruption, not counting the time of emigration,
1:20:57
chased from every place, I have been obliged to take refuge here to
1:21:00
subsist on the scanty succor given by the English government to the French immigrant.
1:21:05
I say emigrant because I have been forced to be one. I had no
1:21:10
intention of being one. But a horde of brigands who came from Comt to
1:21:13
my house to assassinate me, considered I had committed the great crime in being
1:21:17
the senior general of the Canton and in having the Grand Cross of Saint Louis.
1:21:21
This was too much for them. If it had not been for the
1:21:25
cries of my neighbors, my door would have been broken open and I should
1:21:29
have been assassinated. And I had but time to fly by a door at
1:21:32
the back, only carrying away what I had on me. At first I
1:21:36
retired to Paris, But there they told me that I could do nothing but
1:21:40
go into a foreign country. So great was the hate entertained for me by
1:21:44
my fellow citizens, although I lived in retirement, never having any discussion with
1:21:48
any one. Thus, general, I have abandoned all I possessed, money
1:21:53
and goods, leaving them at the mercy of what they call the nation,
1:21:57
which has profited a good deal by this, as I have nothing left in
1:22:00
the world, not even a spot to put my foot on. If even
1:22:03
a horse had been reserved for me, General, I could ask for what
1:22:08
depends on you, For I have heard it said that some emigrants have been
1:22:11
allowed to return home. I do not even ask this favor, not having
1:22:15
a place to rest my foot. And besides, I have with me here
1:22:18
an exiled brother older than I am, very ill and in perfect second childhood,
1:22:24
whom I could not abandon. I am resigned to my own unhappy fate.
1:22:29
But my soul and great grief is that not only I myself have been
1:22:32
ill treated, but that my fate has, contrary to the law, injured
1:22:38
relations whom I love and respect. I have a mother in law eighty years
1:22:43
old, who has been refused the dower I had given her from my property,
1:22:46
and this will make me die a bankrupt if nothing is changed, which
1:22:49
makes me miserable. I acknowledge General that I know little of the new style,
1:22:55
but according to the old farm, I am your humble servant d rousel
1:23:00
beau Manoir. I read this letter to the first council, who immediately said,
1:23:04
Bourienne, this is sacred. Do not lose a minute. Send the
1:23:09
old man ten times the sum Write to General d'urousel that he shall be immediately
1:23:14
erased from the list of emigrants. What mischief those brigands of the Convention have
1:23:17
done, I can never repair it all. Bonaparte uttered these words with a
1:23:23
degree of emotion which I rarely saw him evince. In the evening he asked
1:23:28
me whether I had executed his orders, which I had done without losing a
1:23:30
moment. The death of Monsieur Fratte had given me a lesson as to the
1:23:35
value of time, availing myself of the privilege I have already frequently taken of
1:23:41
making abrupt transitions from one subject to another. According as the recollection of past
1:23:45
circumstances occurs to my mind. I shall hear note down a few details which
1:23:50
may not improperly be called domestic, and afterwards describe a conspiracy which was protected
1:23:57
by the very man against whom it was hatched. At the tuilis where the
1:24:00
First Consul always resided during the winter and sometimes a part of the summer,
1:24:05
the Grand Salon was situated between his cabinet and the room in which he received
1:24:10
the persons with whom he had appointed audiences. When in this audience chamber,
1:24:15
if he wanted anything or had occasion to speak to anybody, he pulled a
1:24:18
bell, which was answered by a confidential servant named Londois, who was the
1:24:24
messenger of the First Consul's cabinet. When Napoleon's bell rung, it was usually
1:24:29
for the purpose of making some inquiry of me respecting a paper, a name,
1:24:32
a dight, or some matter of that sort, and then Londois had
1:24:36
to pass through the cabinet and salon to answer the bell, and afterwards to
1:24:41
return and to tell me I was wanted. Impatient at the delay occasioned by
1:24:45
this, running about, Buonaparte, without saying anything to me, ordered the
1:24:49
bell to be altered so that it should ring within the cabinet and exactly above
1:24:55
my table. Next morning, when I entered the cabinet, I saw a
1:24:58
man mounted upon a line. What are you doing here? Said I.
1:25:01
I am hanging a bell, Sir. I called Loandois and asked him who
1:25:06
had given the order? The first Consul, He replied. I immediately ordered
1:25:11
the man to come down and remove the ladder, which he accordingly did.
1:25:15
When I went, according to custom, to awaken the first Consul and read
1:25:18
the newspapers to him, I said, General, I found a man this
1:25:23
morning hanging a bell in your cabinet. I was told it was by your
1:25:27
orders, but being convinced there must be some mistake, I sent him away.
1:25:31
Surely the bell was not intended for you, and I cannot imagine it
1:25:34
was intended for me. Who then could it be? For what a stupid
1:25:40
fellow that Londois is, said Bonaparte. Yesterday, when Cambassies was with me,
1:25:45
I wanted you. Londois did not come. When I touched the bell,
1:25:48
I thought it was broken, and ordered him to get it repaired.
1:25:51
I suppose the bell hanger was doing it when you saw him, for you
1:25:56
know the wire passes through the cabinet. I was satisfied with this explanation,
1:26:00
though I was not deceived by it. For the sake of appearance, he
1:26:04
reproved Londois, who, however, had done nothing more than execute the order
1:26:09
he had received. How could he imagine I would submit to such treatment,
1:26:13
considering that we had been friends since our boyhood, and that I was now
1:26:16
living on full terms of confidence and familiarity with him. Before I speak of
1:26:21
the conspiracy of Cheraki, Arena, Toppino, le Brain and others, I
1:26:27
must notice a remark made by Napoleon at Saint Helena. He said, or
1:26:31
is alleged to have said, quote, the two attempts which placed me in
1:26:34
the greatest danger were those of the sculptor Cheraki and of the fanatic of Chaangrun
1:26:41
end quote. I was not at Chambrune at the time, but I am
1:26:45
convinced that Bonaparte was in the most imminent danger. I have been informed on
1:26:49
an unquestionable authority that Shapps set out from Erfurt with the intention of assassinating the
1:26:55
Emperor, but he wanted the necessary courage for executing the design. He was
1:27:00
armed with a large dagger and was twice sufficiently near Napoleon to have struck him.
1:27:05
I heard this from rap who seized STAPs and felt the hilt of the
1:27:10
dagger under his coat. On that occasion, Bonaparte owed his life only to
1:27:15
the irresolution of the young illuminato, who wished to sacrifice him to his fanatical
1:27:19
fury. It is equally certain that on another occasion, respecting which the author
1:27:25
of the Saint Helena narrative observes complete silence, another fanatic more dangerous than steps,
1:27:30
attempted the life of Napoleon. Putnote, at the time of this attempt,
1:27:35
I was not with Napoleon, but he directed me to see the madman
1:27:39
who had formed the design of assassinating him. It will be seen in the
1:27:43
course of these memoirs what were his plans and what was the result of them?
1:27:47
Bourienne and would not The following is a correct statement of the facts relative
1:27:53
to Cherochi's conspiracy. The plot itself was a mere shadow, but it was
1:27:57
deemed advisable to give its substance to exaggerate, at least in appearance, the
1:28:00
danger to which the first consul had been exposed. There was at that time
1:28:05
in Paris an idle fellow called Arene. He had been a Chef de battalion,
1:28:11
but he had been dismissed the service and was consequently dissatisfied. He became
1:28:15
connected with Cherachi, Arenna, Toppino, Lebruns and de Mervine from different motives.
1:28:21
All these individuals were violently hostile to the First Consul, who, on
1:28:26
his part, was no friend to Cheraki and Arena, but scarcely knew the
1:28:30
two others. These four individuals formed in conjunction with Arel, the design of
1:28:35
assassinating the First Consul, and the time fixed for the perpetration of the deed
1:28:40
was one evening when Bonaparte intended to visit the opera on the twentieth of September
1:28:45
eighteen o four. Arel came to me at the tuillery. He revealed to
1:28:49
me the plot in which he was engaged, and promised that his accomplices should
1:28:54
be apprehended in the very act if I would supply him with money to bring
1:28:58
the plot to maturity. I knew not how to act upon this disclosure,
1:29:01
which I, however, could not reject without incurring too great a responsibility.
1:29:06
I immediately communicated the business to the First Consul, who ordered me to supply
1:29:11
Arel with money, but not to mention the affair to Fouchet, to whom
1:29:15
he wished to prove that he knew better how to manage the police than he
1:29:18
did. Arel came nearly every evening at eleven o'clock to inform me of the
1:29:24
progress of the conspiracy, which I immediately communicated to the first Consul, who
1:29:29
was not sorry to find Arena and Chiaki deeply committed. But the time passed
1:29:33
on and nothing was done. The first Consul began to grow impatient. At
1:29:39
length, Arel came to say that they had no money to purchase arms.
1:29:43
Money was given him. He, however, returned next day to say that
1:29:46
the gunsmith refused to sell them arms without authority. It was now found necessary
1:29:51
to communicate the business to Fouchet in order that he might grant the necessary permission
1:29:57
to the gunsmith, which I was not empowered to do. On the tenth
1:30:00
of October, the consuls, after the breaking up of the council, assembled
1:30:05
in the cabinet of their colleague. Bonaparte asked them, in my presence,
1:30:10
whether they thought he ought to go to the opera. They observed that as
1:30:14
every precaution was taken, no danger could be apprehended, and that it was
1:30:17
desirable to show the futility of attempts against the First Consul's life. After dinner,
1:30:23
Bonaparte put on a great coat over his green uniform and got into his
1:30:27
carriage, accompanied by me and du Roque. He seated himself in front of
1:30:31
his box, which at that time was on the left of the theater,
1:30:34
between the two columns which separated the front and side boxes. When we had
1:30:40
been in the theater about half an hour, the First Consul directed me to
1:30:43
go and see what was doing in the corridor. Scarcely had I left the
1:30:46
box than I heard a great uproar, and soon discovered that a number of
1:30:50
persons, whose names I could not learn, had been arrested. I informed
1:30:55
the First Consul of what I had heard, and we immediately returned to the
1:30:59
tuilery. It is certain that the object of the conspiracy was to take the
1:31:02
First Consul's life, and that the conspirators neglected nothing which would further the accomplishment
1:31:08
of their atrocious design. The plot, however, was known through the disclosures
1:31:13
of arrel and it would have been easy to avert instead of conjuring up the
1:31:16
storm. Such was and such still is my opinion. Arrel's name was again
1:31:21
restored to the army list, and he was appointed Commandant of Vancene, this
1:31:27
post he held at the time of the Dupe Dunguiel's assassination. I was afterwards
1:31:31
told that his wife was foster sister to the unfortunate prince, and that she
1:31:35
recognized him when he entered the prison, which in a few short hours was
1:31:40
to prove his grave. Caerboneaux, one of the individuals condemned, candidly confessed
1:31:45
the part he had taken in the plot, which he said was brought to
1:31:48
maturity solely by the agents of the police, who were always eager to prove
1:31:54
their zeal to their employers by some new discovery. Although three months intervened between
1:31:59
the man nations of Cheraki and Arena and the horrible attempt of the third Nuvos,
1:32:04
I shall relate these two events in immediate succession, for if they had
1:32:09
no other points of resemblance, they were at least alike in their object.
1:32:14
The conspirators in the first affair were off the revolutionary faction. They sought Buonaparte's
1:32:18
life, as if with the view of rendering his resemblance to Caesar so complete
1:32:23
that not even a brutus should be wanting the latter. It must, with
1:32:28
regret be confessed. Were off the Royalist party, and in their wish to
1:32:31
destroy the First Consul, they were not deterred by the fear of sacrificing a
1:32:35
great number of citizens. The police knew nothing of the plot of the Third
1:32:40
Nuvos for two reasons, first because they were no parties to it, and
1:32:45
secondly, because two conspirators do not betray and sell each other when they are
1:32:48
resolute in their purpose. In such cases, the giving of information can arise
1:32:54
only from two causes, the one excusable, the other infamous, namely the
1:32:59
dread of punishment and the hope of reward. But neither of these causes influenced
1:33:03
the conspirators of the Third Nuvos, the inventors and constructors of that machine which
1:33:09
has so justly been denominated Inferno. On the Third Nuvos, twenty fourth of
1:33:15
December eighteen hundred, the first performance of Haydn's magnificent Oratorio of the Creation took
1:33:20
place at the opera, and the First Consul had expressed his intention of being
1:33:25
present. I did not dine with him that day. But as he left
1:33:29
me, he said, Burienne, you know I am going to the opera
1:33:31
ton out, and you may go too, but I cannot take you in
1:33:34
the carriage, as lan Bertier and Lauriston are going with me. I was
1:33:41
very glad of this, for I much wished to hear one of the masterpieces
1:33:44
of the German school of composition. I got to the opera before Bonaparte,
1:33:48
who, on his entrance, seated himself according to custom, in front of
1:33:53
the box. The eyes of all present were fixed upon him, and he
1:33:56
appeared to be perfectly calm and self possessed. Roriston, as soon as he
1:34:00
saw me, came to my box and told me that the first Consul,
1:34:03
on his way to the opera, had narrowly escaped being assassinated in the rosean
1:34:08
Niquiz by the explosion of a barrel of gunpowder, the concussion of which had
1:34:13
shattered the windows of his carriage. Within ten seconds after our escape, added
1:34:17
Lorriston, the coachman, having turned the corner of the Rouseain d'anorrey, stopped
1:34:23
to take the first Consul's orders, and he coolly said to the opera potnote
1:34:29
the following particulars respecting the affair of the Infernal Machine are related by rap who
1:34:34
attended Madame Bonaparte to the opera. He differs from Bourigne as to the total
1:34:40
ignorance of the police quote the affair of the Infernal Machine has never been properly
1:34:45
understood by the public. The police had intimated to Napoleon that an attempt would
1:34:50
be made against his life, and cautioned him not to go out. Madame
1:34:55
Bonaparte, Mademoiselle Beauarnay, Madame Mourrains, lan Bessier, the yde de coont
1:35:00
On Duty lived in it Le Brain, now Duke of Piacenza, where all
1:35:04
assembled in the salon while the first consul was writing in his cabinet. Aden's
1:35:10
oratorio was to be performed that evening. The ladies were anxious to hear the
1:35:14
music, and we also expressed a wish to that effect. The escort Biquet
1:35:18
was ordered out, and Lanne requested that Napoleon would join the party. He
1:35:24
consented, His carriage was ready, and he took along with him Bessier and
1:35:28
the Id de coont On Duty. I was directed to attend the ladies.
1:35:32
Josephine had received a magnificent shawl from Constantinople, and she that evening wore it
1:35:38
for the first time. Permit me to observe, said I that your shawl
1:35:43
is not thrown on with your usual elegance. She good humoredly begged that I
1:35:46
would fold it after the fashion of the Egyptian ladies. While I was engaged
1:35:51
in this operation, we heard Napoleon depart. Come, sister, said Madame
1:35:57
Morrain, who was impatient to get to the theater. Bauonaparte is going.
1:36:01
We stepped into the carriage. The first Consol's equipage had already reached the middle
1:36:05
of the Place de carousel. We drove after it, but we had scarcely
1:36:10
entered the place when the machine exploded. Napoleon escaped by a singular chance.
1:36:15
Saint raal Jean or his servant Francois, had stationed himself in the middle of
1:36:20
the rue Nequez. A grenadier of the escort, supposing he was really what
1:36:25
he appeared to be, a water carrier, gave him a few blows with
1:36:29
the flat of his saber and drove him off. The cart was turned round,
1:36:32
and the machine exploded between the carriages of Napoleon and Josephine. The ladies
1:36:38
shrieked on hearing the report. The carriage windows were broken, and Mademoiselle Beauarnay
1:36:43
received a slight hurt on her hand. I alighted and crossed the Rue Niquez,
1:36:47
which was strewed with the bodies of those who had been thrown down and
1:36:50
the fragments of the walls that had been shattered with the explosion. Neither the
1:36:56
console nor any individual of his suite sustained any seas injury. When I entered
1:37:01
the theater, Napoleon was seated in his box, calm and composed, and
1:37:05
looking at the audience through his opera glass. Fouchet was beside him. Josephine
1:37:12
said he as soon as he observed me. She entered at that instant,
1:37:15
and he did not finish his question. The rascals said, he very coolly
1:37:20
wanted to blow me up. Bring me a book of the oratorial memoirs of
1:37:26
General Count rap page nineteen end wouot not. On hearing this, I left
1:37:31
the theater and returned to the palace, under the expectation that I should speedily
1:37:35
be wanted. Bonaparte soon returned home, and as intelligence of the affair had
1:37:41
spread through Paris, the Grand Salon on the ground floor was filled with a
1:37:45
crowd of functionaries, eager to read in the eye of their master what they
1:37:48
were to think and say. On the occasion. He did not keep them
1:37:53
long in suspense. This exclaimed he vehemently, is the work of the Jacobin.
1:37:59
They have attempted my life. There are neither nobles, priests nor chouan
1:38:03
in this affair. I know what I am about, and they need not
1:38:08
think to impose on me. These are the Septemberizers, who have been in
1:38:12
open revolt and conspiracy, and urried against every succeeding government. It is scarce
1:38:16
three months since my life was attempted by Cheraki, Arena, Torpino, Liberal
1:38:21
and Demarvin. They all belong to one gang, the cutthroats of September,
1:38:27
the assassins of Versailles, the brigands of the twenty first of May, the
1:38:30
conspirators of previal are the authors of all the crimes committed against established governments.
1:38:36
If they cannot be checked, they must be crushed. France must be purged
1:38:42
of these ruffians. It is impossible to form any idea of the bitterness with
1:38:46
which Bonaparte pronounced these words in vain did some of the councilors of state,
1:38:50
and Fouchet in particular, endeavor to point out to him that there was no
1:38:55
evidence against anyone, and that before he pronounced people to be guilty, it
1:39:00
would be right to ascertain the fact. Bonaparte repeated, with increased violence what
1:39:04
he had before said of the Jefavin, thus adding not without some growd of
1:39:09
suspicion, one crime, more to the long catalog for which they had already
1:39:14
to answer. Fouchet had many enemies, and I was not therefore surprised to
1:39:17
find some of the ministers endeavoring to take advantage of the difference between his opinion
1:39:23
and that of the first Consul. And it must be owned that the utter
1:39:27
ignorance of the police respecting this event was a circumstance not very favorable to Fouchet.
1:39:32
He, however, was like the read and the fable. He bent
1:39:35
with the wind, but was soon erect again. The most skillful actor could
1:39:40
scarcely imitate the inflexible calmness he maintained during one of part's paroxysm of rage,
1:39:45
and the patience with which he allowed himself to be accused. Fouchet, when
1:39:49
afterwards conversing with me, gave me clearly to understand that he did not think
1:39:54
the Jaccabin guilty. I mentioned this to the first Consul, but nothing could
1:39:59
make him retract his opinion. Fouchet said, he has good reason for his
1:40:03
silence. He is serving his own party. It is very natural that he
1:40:08
should seek to screen a set of men who are polluted with blood and crimes.
1:40:12
He was one of their leaders. Do not I know what he did
1:40:15
at Lyon? And a loire that explains Fouchet's conduct. Now this is the
1:40:20
exact truth. And now let me contradict one of the thousand fictions about this
1:40:25
event. It has been said and printed that quote. The dignitaries and the
1:40:30
ministers were assembled at the tuillery, well, said the first Consul, advancing
1:40:34
angrily towards Fouchet. Will you still say that this is the Royalist party?
1:40:40
Fouchet, better informed than was believed, answered coolly, Yes, certainly I
1:40:45
shall say so, and what is more, I shall prove it. This
1:40:48
speech caused general astonishment, but was afterwards fully borne out end quote. This
1:40:56
is pure invention. The first Consul only said to Fouchet, I do not
1:41:00
trust to your police. I guard myself and I watch till two in the
1:41:03
morning. This, however, was very rarely the case. End of section
1:41:09
four, Section five of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte Pollium five by Louis Antoine Fauvelly
1:41:19
de Bourienne. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Gillian
1:41:25
Henri, Chapter three, Part two. On the day after the explosion of
1:41:30
the Infernal machine, a considerable concourse assembled at the tuillery. There was absolutely
1:41:35
a torrent of congratulations. The Prefect of the sin invoked the twelve mayors of
1:41:41
Paris and came at their head to wait on the first Consul. In this
1:41:45
reply to their address, Bonaparte said, as long as this gang of assassins
1:41:49
confined their attacks to me personally, I left the law to take its course.
1:41:54
But since by an unparalleled crime they have endangered the lives of a portion
1:41:59
of the population of Paris, their punishment must be as prompt as exemplary.
1:42:03
A hundred of these wretches who have libeled liberty by perpetrating crimes in her name
1:42:09
must be effectually prevented from renewing their atrocities. He then conversed with the ministers,
1:42:15
the councilors of state, and so on. On the event of the
1:42:17
preceding day, and as all knew the First Consul's opinion of the authors of
1:42:21
the crime, each was eager to confirm it. The council was several times
1:42:26
assembled when the Senate was consulted, and the Adoit Pouchet, whose conscience yielded
1:42:31
to the delicacy of his situation, addressed to the First Consul a report worthy
1:42:36
of a mazarin. At the same time, the journals were filled with recollections
1:42:41
of the revolution, raked up for the purpose of connecting with past crimes the
1:42:45
individuals on whom it was now wished to cast odium. It was decreed that
1:42:50
a hundred persons should be banished, and the Senate established its character for complaisance
1:42:56
by passing a sinatus consulti conformable to the wishi of the first Consul. A
1:43:01
list was drawn up of the persons styled Jacobin who were condemned to transportation.
1:43:08
I was fortunate enough to obtain the erasure of the names of several whose opinions
1:43:12
had perhaps been violent, but whose education and private character presented claims to recommendation.
1:43:17
Some of my readers may probably recollect them without my naming them, and
1:43:21
I shall only mention Monsieur tisso for the purpose of recording not the service I
1:43:27
rendered him, but an instance of grateful acknowledgment. When in eighteen fifteen Napoleon
1:43:32
was on the point of entering Paris, Monsieur Tiso came to the Prefecture of
1:43:36
Police, where I then was, and offered me his house as a safe
1:43:41
asylum, assuring me I should there run no risk of being discovered. Though
1:43:45
I did not accept the offer, yet I gladly seize on this opportunity of
1:43:49
making it known. It is gratifying to find that difference of political opinion does
1:43:55
not always exclude sentiments of generosity and honor. I shall never forget that the
1:44:00
way in which the author of the essays on Virgil uttered the words domus maya.
1:44:04
But to return to the fatal list. Even while I write this,
1:44:09
I shudder to think of the way in which men utterly innocent were accused of
1:44:13
a revolting crime without even the shadow of a proof. The name of an
1:44:16
individual his opinions perhaps only assumed, were sufficient grounds for his banishment. A
1:44:23
decree of the Consuls dated fourth of January eighteen o one, confirmed by a
1:44:28
Sinatus consultee on the next day banished from the territory of the Republic and placed
1:44:32
under special inspectors one hundred and thirty individuals, nine of whom were merely designated
1:44:39
in the report as septembrisers. The exiles, who, in the reports and
1:44:44
in the public acts were so unjustly accused of being the authors of the infernal
1:44:47
machine, were received at naught with so much indignation that the military were compelled
1:44:53
to interfere to save them from being massacred. In the discussions which preceded the
1:44:59
decree of the consuls, few persons had the courage to express a doubt respecting
1:45:02
the guilt of the accused. Togay was the first to mount the breach.
1:45:08
He observed that without denying the government the extraordinary means for getting rid of its
1:45:12
enemies, he could not but acknowledge that the emigrants threatened the purchasers of national
1:45:17
domains, that the public mind was corrupted by pamphlets, and that here the
1:45:23
first consul, interrupting him, exclaimed, to what pamphlets do you allude to?
1:45:28
Pamphlets which are publicly circulated, name them, you know them as well
1:45:32
as I do. Footnote the parallel between Caesar, Cromwell and Bonaparte, of
1:45:38
which I shall speak a little farther on, is here alluded to Bourienne and
1:45:43
footnote. After a long and angry ebulation, the first Consul abruptly dismissed the
1:45:48
council. He observed that he would not be duped. That the villains were
1:45:53
known, that they were septembrisers, the hatchers of every mischief. He had
1:45:58
said at a sitting three days before. If proof should fail, we must
1:46:01
take advantage of the public excitement. The event is to me merely the opportunity.
1:46:06
They shall be banished for the second of September, for the twenty first
1:46:10
of May, for Babeuf's conspiracy or anything else. On leaving one of the
1:46:15
sittings of the Council at which the question of a special tribunal had been discussed,
1:46:19
he told me that he had been a little ruffled. That he had
1:46:23
said a violent blow must be struck, that blood must be spilt, and
1:46:27
that as many of the guilty should be shocked as there had been victims of
1:46:30
the explosion from fifteen to twenty, that two hundred should be banished and the
1:46:35
Republic purged of these scoundrels. The arbitrariness and illegality of the preceding were so
1:46:43
evident that the Senatus Consulte contained no mention of the transactions of the Third Nuvos,
1:46:48
which was very remarkable. It was, however, declared that the measure
1:46:53
of the previous day had been adopted with a view to the preservation of the
1:46:57
Constitution. This was promising. The first consul manifested the most violent hatred of
1:47:02
the Jacobin. For this he could not have been blamed if, under the
1:47:06
title of Jacobin he had not comprised every devoted advocate of public liberty. Their
1:47:13
opposition annoyed him, and he could never pardon them for having presumed to condemn
1:47:16
his tyrannical acts and to resist the destruction of the freedom which he had himself
1:47:23
sworn to defend, but which he was incessantly laboring to overturn. These were
1:47:28
the true motives of his conduct, and conscious of his own faults, he
1:47:31
regarded with dislike those who saw and disapproved of them. For this reason he
1:47:38
was more afraid of those whom he called Jacobin than of the royalists. I
1:47:43
am here recording the faults of Bonaparte, but I excuse him. Situated as
1:47:47
he was, any other person would have acted in the same way. Truth
1:47:51
now reached him with difficulty, and when it was not agreeable, he had
1:47:56
no disposition to hear it. He was surrounded by flatterers, and the greater
1:48:00
number of those who approached him, far from telling him what they really thought,
1:48:04
only repeated what he had himself been thinking. Hence he admired the wisdom
1:48:10
of his councilors. Thus Fouchet, to maintain himself in favor, was obliged
1:48:15
to deliver up to his master one hundred and thirty names chosen from among his
1:48:19
own most intimate friends, as objects of proscription. Meanwhile, Fouchet, still
1:48:26
believing that he was not deceived as to the real authors of the attempt of
1:48:30
the third Nuvos, set in motion with his usual dexterity all the springs of
1:48:34
the police. His efforts, however, were for some time unsuccessful, but
1:48:39
at length, on Saturday, the thirty first of January eighteen o one,
1:48:43
about two hours after our arrival at Maemeison, Fouchet presented himself and produced authentic
1:48:48
proofs of the accuracy of his conjectures. There was no longer any doubt on
1:48:54
the subject and won Apartue saw clearly that the attempt of the Third Nuvos was
1:48:59
the result of a plot hatched by the partisans of Royalty. But as the
1:49:02
act of proscription against those who were jumbled together under the title of Jacqubin had
1:49:08
been executed, it was not to be revoked. Thus the consequence of the
1:49:13
Third Nuvos was that both the innocent and guilty were punished. With this difference,
1:49:17
however, that the guilty at least had the benefit of a trial.
1:49:23
When the Jacobin, as they were called, were accused with such precipitation,
1:49:27
Pouchet had no positive proofs of their innocence, and therefore their illegal condemnation ought
1:49:32
not to be attributed to him. Sufficient odium is attached to his memory without
1:49:38
his being charged with a crime he never committed. Still, I must say
1:49:42
that had he boldly opposed the opinion of Beauaparte in the first burst of his
1:49:45
fury, he might have averted the blow. Every time he came to the
1:49:50
tuiley, even before he had acquired any traces of the truth, Pouchet always
1:49:56
declared to me his conviction of the innocence of the persons first accused. But
1:50:00
he was afraid to make the same observation to Buonaparte. I often mentioned to
1:50:04
him the opinion of the Minister of Police, but as proof was wanting,
1:50:09
he replied to me with a triumphant air, Pa, Pa, this is
1:50:13
always the way with Fouchet. Besides, it is of little consequence. At
1:50:16
any rate, we shall get rid of them. Should the guilty be discovered
1:50:19
among the royalists, they also shall be punished. The real criminals, being
1:50:26
at less discovered through the researches of Fouchet, Salrejean and Germond expated their crimes
1:50:31
by the forfeit of their heads. Thus the first consul gained his point and
1:50:36
justice gained hers. But note it was Saint LeJean or Saint Region who fired
1:50:44
the infernal machine. The violence of the shock slung him against a post,
1:50:48
and part of his breastbone was driven in. He was obliged to resort to
1:50:53
a surgeon, and it would seem that this man denounced him. Memoir of
1:50:57
Meo de Milito Tom One, page two hundred and sixty four. The discussions
1:51:01
which took place in the Council of State on this affair are remarkable, both
1:51:05
for the violence of Napoleon, and for the resistance made in the Council to
1:51:10
a great extent successfully to his views as to the plot being one of the
1:51:14
Jacobin party and footnote. I have often had occasion to notice the multifarious means
1:51:19
employed by Bonaparte to arrive at the possession of supreme power and to prepare men's
1:51:25
minds for so great change. Those who have observed his life must have so
1:51:30
remarked how entirely he was convinced of the truth that public opinion wastes itself on
1:51:34
the rumor of a project and possesses no energy at the moment of its execution.
1:51:40
In order therefore, to direct public attention to the question of hereditary power,
1:51:45
a pamphlet was circulated about Paris, and the following is the history of
1:51:48
it. In the month of December eighteen hundred, while Fouchet was searching after
1:51:54
the real authors of the attempt of the Third Nuvos, a small pamphlet entitled
1:52:00
Parallel between Caesar, Cromwell and Napoleon was sent to the first Consul. He
1:52:04
was absent when it came. I read it and perceived that it openly advocated
1:52:10
hereditary monarchy. I then knew nothing about the origin of this pamphlet, but
1:52:15
I soon learned that it issued from the office of the Minister of the Interior,
1:52:18
Lucien Bonaparte, and that it had been largely circulated. After reading it,
1:52:24
I laid it on the table. In a few minutes Bonaparte entered,
1:52:28
and, taking up the pamphlet, pretended to look through it. Are you
1:52:30
read this? Said he? Yes, General, Well, what is your
1:52:35
opinion of it? I think it is calculated to produce an unfavorable effect on
1:52:41
the public mind. It is ill timed, for it prematurely reveals your views.
1:52:46
The first Consul took the pamphlet and threw it on the ground, as
1:52:50
he did all the stupid publications of the day, after having slightly glanced over
1:52:55
them. I was not singular in my opinion of the pamphlet. For next
1:52:59
day, the effects in the immediate neighborhood of Paris sent a copy of it
1:53:02
to the First Consul, complaining of its mischievous effect, and I recollect that
1:53:08
in one of their letters it was stated that such a work was calculated to
1:53:12
direct against him the poniards of new assassins. After reading this correspondence, he
1:53:16
said to me Bourienne, send for Fouchet. He must come directly and give
1:53:21
an account of this matter. In half an hour Fouchet was in the First
1:53:27
Consul's cabinet. No sooner had he entered than the following dialogue took place,
1:53:31
in which the impetuous warmth of the one party was strangely contrasted with the phlegmatic
1:53:36
and rather sardonic composure of the other. What pamphlet is this? What is
1:53:43
said about it in Paris? General? There is but one opinion of its
1:53:46
dangerous tendency. Well, then, why did you allow it to appear?
1:53:51
General? I was obliged to show some consideration for the author. Consideration for
1:53:57
the author? What do you mean you should have sent to the temple?
1:54:00
But General, your brother Lucien patronizes as pathlet. It has been printed and
1:54:05
published by his order. In short, that comes from the office of the
1:54:10
Minister of the Interior. No matter for that, your duty, as Minister
1:54:15
of police was to have arrested Lucien and sent him to the temple. The
1:54:18
fool does nothing but contrive how he can commit me With these words, the
1:54:24
First Consul left the cabinet, shutting the door violently behind him, being now
1:54:29
alone with Fouchet, I was eager to get an explanation of the suppressed smile,
1:54:33
which had more than once curled his lips during Napoleon's angry expostulation. I
1:54:39
easily perceived that there was something in reserve. Send the author to the temple,
1:54:44
said Fouchet. That would be no easy matter. Alarmed at the effect
1:54:47
which this parallel between Caesar Cromwell and Bonaparte was likely to produce, I went
1:54:53
to Lucian to point out to him his imprudence. He made me no answer,
1:54:58
but went and got a manuscript, which he showed me, and which
1:55:00
contained corrections and annotations in the First Consul's handwriting. When Lucien heard how Bonaparte
1:55:08
had expressed his displeasure at the pamphlet, he also came to the Twilerwy to
1:55:12
reproach his brother with having thrust him forward and then abandoned him. Tis your
1:55:16
own fault, said the First Consul. You have allowed yourself to be caught
1:55:20
so much the worse for you. Blouchet is too cunning for you. You
1:55:25
are a mere fool compared with him. Lucien tendered his resignation, which was
1:55:30
accepted, and he departed for Spain. This diplomatic mission turned to his advantage.
1:55:35
It was necessary that one should avail the Machiavelian invention of the parallel.
1:55:42
But note the parallel has been attributed to different writers. Some phrases seemed the
1:55:46
work of Lucienne, but says Tierre Tom two, page two hundred and ten,
1:55:51
its rare elegance of language and its classical knowledge of history should attribute it
1:55:57
to its real author, Fontanelles. Joseph Bonaparte error Tom one, page two
1:56:01
hundred and seventy says that Fontanelle wrote it and Lucien Bonaparte corrected it see Meneval
1:56:08
Tom three, page one hundred and five. Whoever wrote it. Napoleon certainly
1:56:13
planned its issue, it was said he to Rodora, a work of which
1:56:17
he himself had given the idea. But the last pages whereby a fool Meiot
1:56:24
Tom one, page three hundred and eighteen. See also Lamfrey Tom two,
1:56:28
page two hundred and eight, and compare the story in Young's Lucien Tom two,
1:56:32
page four hundred and ninety. Meiot, then, in the confidence of
1:56:36
Joseph, says that Lucien's removal from office was the result of an angry quarrel
1:56:42
between him and Fouchet in the presence of Napoleon, when Fouchet attacked Lucian not
1:56:46
only for the pamphlet but also for the disorder of his public and his private
1:56:50
life. But nielt Tom One, page three hundred and nineteen places the date
1:56:56
of this as the third of November, while Bourienne dates the disapproval of the
1:57:00
pamphlet in December. Intouotnote Lucian, among other instructions, was directed to use
1:57:08
all his endeavors to induce Spain to declare against Portugal in order to compel that
1:57:13
power to separate herself from England. The first Consul had always regarded Portugal as
1:57:17
an English colony, and he conceived that to attack it was to assail England.
1:57:24
He wished that Portugal should no longer favor England in her commercial relations,
1:57:28
but that like Spain, she should become dependent on him. Lucian was therefore
1:57:33
sent as ambassador to Madrid to second the ministers of Charles of Fourth in prevailing
1:57:39
on the king to invade Portugal. The king declared war, but it was
1:57:44
not of long duration and terminated almost without a blow, being struck by the
1:57:47
taking of Olivenha. On the sixth of June eighteen o one, Portugal signed
1:57:54
the Treaty of Badajos, by which she promised to see Olivenha, Almeida and
1:57:59
some other protresses to Spain and to close her ports against England. The First
1:58:03
Consul, who was dissatisfied with the treaty, at first refused to ratify it.
1:58:09
He still kept his army in Spain, and this proceeding determined Portugal to
1:58:13
accede to some slight alterations in the first treaty. This business proved very advantageous
1:58:18
to Lucien and Goudois. The cabinet of the Tuiley was not the only place
1:58:24
in which the question of hereditary succession was discussed. It was the constant subject
1:58:29
of conversation in the salons of Paris, where a new dynasty was already spoken
1:58:32
of. This was by no means displeasing to the First Consul, but he
1:58:36
saw clearly that he had committed a mistake in agitating the question prematurely. For
1:58:43
this reason he waged war against the Parallel, as he would not be suspected
1:58:46
of having had any share in a design that had failed. One day he
1:58:51
said to me, I believe I have been a little too precipitate. The
1:58:56
pair is not quite ripe. The Consulate for Life was accordingly postponed till eighteen
1:59:01
o two, and the Hereditary Empire till eighteen o four. After the failure
1:59:06
of the artful publication of the pamphlet, Fouchet invited me to dine with him
1:59:12
as a first consul. Wished me to dine out as seldom as possible.
1:59:15
I informed him of the invitation I had received. He was, however,
1:59:18
aware of it before, and he very readily gave me leave to go.
1:59:23
At dinner, Joseph was placed on the right of Fouchet, and I next
1:59:27
to Joseph, who talked of nothing but his brother, his designs, the
1:59:30
pamphlet, and the bad effect produced by it. In all that fell from
1:59:34
him there was a tone of blame and disapproval. I told him my opinion,
1:59:39
but with greater reserve than I had used towards his brother. He seemed
1:59:43
to approve of what I said. His confidence encouraged me, and I saw
1:59:46
with pleasure that he entertained sentiments entirely similar to my own. His unreserved manner
1:59:53
so imposed upon me that, notwithstanding the experience I had acquired, I was
1:59:57
far from suspecting myself to be in the company of a spy. Next day,
2:00:01
the first Consul said to me very coldly, leave my letters in the
2:00:05
basket. I will open them myself. This unexpected direction surprised me exceedingly,
2:00:12
and I determined to play him a trick in revenge for his unfounded distrust.
2:00:16
For three mornings I laid at the bottom of the basket all the letters which
2:00:19
I knew came from the ministers, and all the reports which were addressed to
2:00:24
me for the first Council. I then covered them over with those which,
2:00:29
judging from their envelopes and sales, appeared to be of that trifling kind with
2:00:32
which the First Consul was daily overwhelmed. These usually consisted of requests that he
2:00:38
would name the number of a lottery ticket so that the writer might have the
2:00:42
benefit of his good luck, solicitations that he would stand godfather to a child,
2:00:46
petitions for places, announcements of marriages and births, absurd eulogies, and
2:00:51
so on. Unaccustomed to open the letters, he became impatient at their number,
2:00:57
and he opened very few, often on the same day, but all
2:01:00
was on the morrow. Came a fresh letter from a minister who asked for
2:01:03
an answer to his former one, and who complained of not having received one.
2:01:08
The first consul unsealed some twenty letters and left the rest. The opening
2:01:13
of all these letters, which he was not at other times in the habit
2:01:15
of looking at, annoyed him extremely. But as I neither wished to carry
2:01:20
the joke too far, nor to remain in the disagreeable position in which Joseph's
2:01:25
treachery had placed me, I determined to bring the matter to a conclusion after
2:01:30
the third day, when the business of the night, which had been interrupted
2:01:33
by little fits of ill humor, was concluded. When Apart retired to bed
2:01:39
half an hour after, I went to his chamber, to which I was
2:01:42
admitted at all hours. I had a candle in my hand, and taking
2:01:45
a chair, I sat down on the right side of the bed and placed
2:01:48
the candle on the table. Both he and Josephine awoke. What is the
2:01:54
matter? He asked, with surprise. General, I have come to tell
2:01:58
you that I can no longer remain here, since I have lost your confidence.
2:02:01
You know how sincerely, I am devoted to you. If you have
2:02:05
then anything to reproach me, with. Let me at least know it,
2:02:09
for my situation during the last three days has been very painful. What has
2:02:14
Burienne done, inquired Josephine earnestly, That does not concern you, he replied,
2:02:19
Then, turning to me, he said, tis true, I have
2:02:23
cause to complain of you. I have been informed that you have spoken of
2:02:26
important affairs in a very indiscreet manner. I can assure you that I spoke
2:02:31
to none but your brother. It was he who led me into the conversation,
2:02:35
and he was too well versed in the business for me to tell him
2:02:39
any secret. He may have reported to you what he pleased, but could
2:02:43
not I do the same by him. I could accuse and betray him as
2:02:46
he has accused and betrayed me when I spoke in confidence to your brother.
2:02:51
Could I regard him as an inquisitor? I must confess, replied Bonaparte that
2:02:57
after what I heard from joseph I thought it right to put my confidence in
2:03:01
quarantine. The quarantine has lasted three days. General, surely that is long
2:03:06
enough. Well, Bourienne, let us say no more about it. Open
2:03:12
my letters as usual, you will find the answers a good deal in Arrear
2:03:15
which has much vexed me. And besides I was always stumbling on some stupid
2:03:19
nonsense or other. I fancy I still see and hear the amiable Josephine sitting
2:03:26
up in bed and saying, in her gentle way, what, Bonaparte,
2:03:30
is it possible you could suspect Bourienne, who is so attached to you,
2:03:33
and who is your only friend? How could you suffer such a snare to
2:03:38
be laid for him? What a dinner got up on purpose? How I
2:03:42
hate these odious police maneuvers. Go to sleep, said Bonaparte. Let women
2:03:47
mind their geegaws and not interfere with politics. It was near two in the
2:03:53
morning before I retired, when, after a few hours sleep, I again
2:03:57
saw the First Consul. He was more kind to me than I and I
2:04:00
perceived that for the present every cloud had dispersed. But note Joseph Bonaparte Erre
2:04:06
tom One, page two hundred and seventy three says what he reported to his
2:04:11
brother was Bourienne's conversation to him in the First Consul's cabinet during Napoleon's absence.
2:04:16
It is curious that at the only time when Napoleon became dissatisfied with Minneval Bourienn's
2:04:21
successor, and ordered him not to open the letters. He used the same
2:04:26
expression when returning to the usual order of business, which in this case was
2:04:30
to a few hours. My dear Minneville, said he there are circumstances in
2:04:35
which I am forced to put my confidence in quarantine minevl. Tom one,
2:04:41
page one hundred and twenty three. For anyone who has had to manage an
2:04:45
office, it is pleasant to find that even Napoleon was much dependent on a
2:04:48
good circuitry. In an illness of his secretary, he said, showing the
2:04:54
encumbrance of his desk with Menneval, I should soon clear off all that minovel
2:05:00
To one, page one hundred and fifty one end whitnot end of section five
2:05:11
Section six of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume five by Louis Antoine Fauvelle de
2:05:15
Bourienne. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Julian Henry,
2:05:23
Chapter four, eighteen hundred to eighteen o one, Austria bribed by England
2:05:29
Monsieur de Saint Julian in Paris du roxx mission rupture of the Armistice surrender of
2:05:35
three garrisons, Monsieur Otto in London, Battle of hen Linden, Madame Moreaux
2:05:43
and Madame Ulou Bonaparte's ill treatment of the latter Congress of Louneuvu, General Clark,
2:05:50
Monsieur Marae, Peace between France and Austria, Joseph Bonaparte's speculations in the
2:05:57
funds, Monsieur de Tailns and Tice, post office regulations, commissaries, importance
2:06:04
of good dinners in the affairs of government steamboats and intriguers. Death of Paul,
2:06:11
the first new thoughts of the re establishment of Poland. Duroc At Saint
2:06:15
Petersburg bribe, rejected death of Abercrombie. The armistice concluded after the Battle of
2:06:23
Marengo, which had been first broken and then resumed, continued to be observed
2:06:28
for some time between the armies of the Rhine and Italy and the Imperial armies.
2:06:33
But Austria, bribed by a subsidy of two million sterling, would not
2:06:38
treat for peace without the participation of England. She did not despair of recommencing
2:06:43
the war successfully. Monsieur de Saint Julian had signed preliminaries at Paris, but
2:06:49
the court of Vienna to surviwed them, and du Roc when Bonaparte, sent
2:06:54
to convey the preliminaries to Vienna for the Imperial ratification, was not permitted to
2:06:58
pass the Austrian advance posts. This unexpected proceeding the result of the all powerful
2:07:03
influence of England, justly incensed the First Consul, who had given decided proofs
2:07:09
of moderation and a wish for peace. I want peace, said he to
2:07:14
me, to enable me to organize the interior. The people also want it.
2:07:18
You see the conditions I offer Austria. Though Beaten obtains all she got
2:07:24
at Campo Formio, what can she want more? I could make further exactions,
2:07:30
but without fearing the reverses of seventeen ninety nine, I must think of
2:07:33
the future. Besides, I want tranquility to enable me to settle the affairs
2:07:39
of the interior and to send aid to Malta and Egypt. But I will
2:07:43
not be trifled with. I will force an immediate decision. In his irritation,
2:07:48
the First Consul dispatched orders to Morlou, directing him to break the armistice
2:07:54
and resume hostilities unless he regained possession of the bridges of the Rhine and the
2:07:59
Danube by the surrender of Philipsburg, hum and Ingolstadt. The Austrians then offered
2:08:05
to treat with France on new bases. England wished to take part in the
2:08:09
Congress, but to this the First Consul would not consent until she should sign
2:08:15
a separate armacice and cease to make common cause with Austria. The First Council
2:08:20
received intelligence of the occupation of the three garrisons on the twenty third of September,
2:08:24
the day he had fixed in his ultimatum to England for the renewal of
2:08:30
hostilities, but for the meanwhile, he was satisfied with the concessions of Austria.
2:08:35
That power, in the expectation of being supported by England, asked her
2:08:39
on what terms she was to treat. During these communications with Austria, Monsieur
2:08:45
Otto was in London negotiating for the exchange of prisoners. England would not hear
2:08:50
of an armacist by sea like that which Franz had concluded with Austria. By
2:08:54
Land. She alleged that in case of a rupture, France would derive from
2:09:00
that armacice greater advantage than Austria would gain by that already concluded. The difficulty
2:09:05
and delay attending the necessary communications rendered these reasons plausible. The First Consul consented
2:09:13
to accept other propositions from England and to allow her to take part in the
2:09:16
discussions of Lunuviu, but on condition that she should sign a treaty with him
2:09:22
without the intervention of Austria. This England refused to do. Weary of this
2:09:28
uncertainty and the tergiversation of Austria, which was still under the influence of England,
2:09:33
and feeling that the prolongation of such a state of things could only turn
2:09:37
to his disadvantage, Whinipart broke the armistice. He had already consented to sacrifices
2:09:43
which his successes in Italy did not justify. The hope of an immediate peace
2:09:48
had alone made him lose sight of the immense advantages which victory had given him.
2:09:54
Far from appearing sensible to the many proofs of moderation which the First Consul
2:09:58
evinced, bind insolence of England and Austria seemed only to increase. Orders were
2:10:05
immediately given for resuming the offensive in Germany and Italy, and hostilities then recommenced.
2:10:11
The chances of fortune were long doubtful. After a reverse, Austria made
2:10:16
promises, and after an advantage, she evaded them. But finally fortune proved
2:10:22
favorable to France. The French armies in Italy and Germany crossed the Mincio and
2:10:26
the Danube, and the celebrated Battle of Hohenlinden brought the French advanced posts within
2:10:33
ten leagues of Vienna. This victory secured peace for profiting by past experience,
2:10:39
the First Consul would not hear of any suspension of arms until Austria should consent
2:10:43
to a separate treaty. Driven into her last entrenchments, Austria was obliged to
2:10:50
yield. She abandoned England, and the English cabinet, in spite of the
2:10:54
subsidy of two million sterling, consented to the separation. Great Britain was for
2:11:00
to come to this arrangement. In consequence of the situation to which the successes
2:11:03
of the Army of Moreaux had reduced Austria, which it was certain would be
2:11:07
ruined by longer resistance, England wished to enter into negotiations at Luneville. To
2:11:13
this, the First Consul acceded but as he saw that England was seeking to
2:11:18
deceive him, he required that she should suspend hostilities with France, as Austria
2:11:24
had done. Bonaparte very reasonably alleged that an indefinite armistice on the continent would
2:11:30
be more to the disadvantage of France than a long armistice by sea would be
2:11:33
unfavorable to England. All this adjourned the Preliminaries to eighteen oh one and the
2:11:39
peace to eighteen o two. The impatience and indignation of the First Consul had
2:11:45
been highly excited by the evasions of Austria and the plots of England, for
2:11:50
he knew all the intrigues that were carrying on for the restoration of the Bourbons.
2:11:54
His joy may be therefore conceived when the Battle of Hoign Londen balanced the
2:11:58
scale of fortune in his favor. On the third of December eighteen hundred,
2:12:03
Moreaul gained that memorable victory, which at length put an end to the hesitations
2:12:07
of the Cabinet of Vienna footnote. On the eve of the Battle of how
2:12:13
in Linden, Moreaul was at supper with his aide de comte and several general
2:12:16
officers when a dispatch was delivered to him, after he had dread it,
2:12:20
he said to his guests, though he was far from being in the habit
2:12:24
of boasting, I am here made acquainted with barn Kray's movements. They are
2:12:30
all I could wish. Tomorrow we will take from him ten thousand prisoners.
2:12:35
Moreaul took forty thousand, besides a great many flags Bourienne and footnot. On
2:12:41
the sixth of December, the First Consul received intelligence of the Battle of hoen
2:12:46
Linden. It was on a Saturday, and he had just returned from the
2:12:50
theater. When I delivered the dispatches to him. He literally danced for joy.
2:12:54
I must say that he did not expect so important a result from the
2:12:58
movements of the Army of the Rhine. The victory gave a new face to
2:13:01
his negotiations for peace and determined the opening of the Congress of Flouneville, which
2:13:07
took place on the first of January. Following on receiving information of the Battle
2:13:13
of Hoynlanden, Madame Morroau entered the Twiliwe to call in the First Consul and
2:13:16
Madame Bonaparte. She did not see them and repeated her call several times,
2:13:22
with no better success. The last time she came she was accompanied by her
2:13:26
mother, Madame Uloh. She waited for a considerable time in Vain, and
2:13:31
when she was going away, her mother, who could no longer restrain her
2:13:35
feelings, said aloud before me and several persons of the household that quote it
2:13:39
ill became the wife of the conqueror of Hounlanden to dance attendants in this way
2:13:46
quote. This remark reached the ears of those to whom it was directed.
2:13:50
Madame Morraau shortly after rejoined her husband in Germany, and some time after her
2:13:54
departure, Madame Uloh came to Mademoiseon to solicit promotion for her this son,
2:14:00
who was in the navy. Josephine received Madame Udo very kindly and requested her
2:14:05
to stay to dinner. She accepting the invitation. The first consul, who
2:14:09
did not see her until the hour of dinner, treated her very coolly.
2:14:13
He said little to her and retired as soon as dinner was over. His
2:14:18
rudeness was so marked and offensive that Josephine, who was always kind and amiable,
2:14:22
thought it necessary to apologize by observing that his mind was disturbed by the
2:14:28
non arrival of a courier whom he expected. Bonipart entertained no dislike of Morreau,
2:14:33
because he did not fear him, and after the Battle of Hognlanden he
2:14:37
spoke of him in the highest terms and frankly acknowledged the services he had rendered
2:14:41
on that important occasion. But he could not endure his wife's family, who
2:14:46
he said were a set of intriguers. Could not Napoleon had good reason for
2:14:52
his opinion. Quot Morreaul had a mother in law and a wife lively and
2:14:56
given to intrigue. Binnipart could not bear intriguing women. Besides, on one
2:15:01
occasion, Madame Morrou's mother, when at Malmaison, had indulged in sharp remarks
2:15:07
on a suspected scandalous intimacy between Bonaparte and his young sister Caroline, then just
2:15:11
married. The council had not forgiven such conversation Mademoiselle to one, page one
2:15:18
hundred and ninety two. See also Maneville Tom three, page fifty seven,
2:15:24
as to the mischief done by Madame Ulot, and would not. Louneville having
2:15:28
been fixed upon for the Congress, the first Consul sent his brother Joseph to
2:15:33
treat with Count Louis to Comoncell. On his way, Joseph met Monsieur de
2:15:37
Cobnzel, who had passed Loloville and was coming to Paris to sound the sentiments
2:15:43
of the French government. Joseph returned to Paris with him. After some conversations
2:15:48
with the First Consul, they set out next day for Louneville, of which
2:15:52
place Bonaparte appointed General Clark governor. This appeared to satisfy Clerk, who was
2:15:58
very anxious to be something and had long been importuning Buonaparte for an appointment.
2:16:03
A day or too after the news of the Battle of Hoge Linden, Monsieur
2:16:07
Marae came to present for Buonaparte's signature some decrees made in council. While affixing
2:16:13
the signatures, and without looking up, the First Consul said to Monsieur Maray,
2:16:16
who was a favorite with him, and who was standing at his right
2:16:20
hand, are you rich, Maray? No general? So much the worse
2:16:26
a man should be independent. General, I will never be dependent on any
2:16:30
one but you. The First Council then raised his eyes to Marie and said,
2:16:35
humph, that is not bad. And when the Secretary General was gone.
2:16:39
He said to me, Marae is not deficient in cleverness. He made
2:16:43
me a very good answer. On the ninth of February eighteen o one,
2:16:48
six weeks after the opening of the Congress of Luneville, peace was signed between
2:16:52
Austria and France. This peace, the fruit of Marengo and hohen Linden,
2:16:58
restored Franz to that honorable position which had been put in jeopardy by the feeble
2:17:01
and incapable government of the Penterket and the reverses of seventeen ninety nine. This
2:17:07
peace, which in the treaty, according to custom, was called perpetual,
2:17:11
lasted four years. Joseph Bonaparte, while treating for France at Luneville, was
2:17:18
speculating on the rise of the funds which he thought the peace would produce.
2:17:22
Bertons more wise, who were like him in the secret, sold out their
2:17:26
stop at the moment when the certainty of the peace became known. But Joseph
2:17:31
purchased to a great extent in the hope of selling to advantage on the signature
2:17:35
of peace. However, the news had been discounted and a fall took place.
2:17:39
Joseph's loss was considerable, and he could not satisfy the engagements in which
2:17:45
his greedy and silly speculations had involved him. He applied to his brother,
2:17:50
who neither wished nor was able to advance him the necessary sum. Bonaparte was,
2:17:54
however, exceedingly sorry to see his elder brother in this embarrassment. Ask
2:18:00
me what was to be done? I told him I did not know,
2:18:03
but I advised him to consult Monsieur de Talliant, from whom he had often
2:18:07
received good advice. He did so, and Monsieur de Talliant replied, with
2:18:11
that air of coolness which is so peculiar to him? What is that all?
2:18:16
Oh, that is nothing. It is easily settled. You have only
2:18:20
to raise the price of the funds. But the money, all the money,
2:18:24
may be easily obtained. Make some deposits in the Monte de Prieste or
2:18:28
the sinking fund, that will give you the necessary money to raise the funds,
2:18:33
and then Joseph may sell out and recover his losses. Monsieur d' tallian's
2:18:39
advice was adopted, and all succeeded as he had foretold. None but those
2:18:43
who have heard Monsieur d'a tallieran converse, can form an accurate idea of his
2:18:48
easy manner of expressing himself, his imperturbable coolness, the fixed, unvarying expression
2:18:52
of his countenance, and his vast fund of wit. But note Talonon had
2:18:58
a large experience in all sorts of speculation. When old, he gave this
2:19:03
council to one of his prodiges, do not speculate. I have always speculated
2:19:07
unassured information, and that has cost me so many millions. And he named
2:19:13
his losses. We may believe that in this reckoning he rather forgot the amount
2:19:16
of his gains. Saint de beauve Telling all ninety three. During the sitting
2:19:22
of the Congress, the first Consul learnt that the government couriers conveyed to favored
2:19:26
individuals in Paris various things, but especially the delicacies of the table, and
2:19:33
he ordered that this practice should be discontinued. On the very evening on which
2:19:37
this order was issued, Combassais entered the salon, where I was alone with
2:19:41
the First Consul, who had already been laughing at the mortification which he knew
2:19:46
this regulation would occasion. To his colleague, Well, Combassais, what brings
2:19:50
you here at this time of night? I count to solicit an exception to
2:19:54
the order which you have just given to the director of the posts. How
2:19:58
do you think a man can make for friends unless he keeps a good table.
2:20:01
You know very well how much good dinners assist the business of government.
2:20:05
The first Council laughed, called him a grimond, and patting him on the
2:20:09
shoulder, said, do not distress yourself, my dear Cambasius. The couriers
2:20:13
shall continue to bring you your dando truff, your strasbourg, pat your mayon's
2:20:20
hands, and your other tidbits. Those who recollect the magnificent dinners given by
2:20:26
a Combassais and others, which were a general topic of conversation at the time,
2:20:30
and who knew the ingenious calculation which was observed in the invitation of the
2:20:33
guests, must be convinced of the vast influence of a good dinner in political
2:20:39
affairs. As to Combassaris, he did not believe that a good government could
2:20:43
exist without good dinners, and his glory, for every man has his own
2:20:46
particular glory, was to know that the luxuries of his table were the subject
2:20:52
of eulogy throughout Paris and even Europe, a banquet which commanded general suffrage was
2:20:58
to him a morengo or a freed land could not. Bourienne does not exaggerate
2:21:03
this excellent quality of the worthy Comvassaris. When Vigno was sent to administer the
2:21:09
Grand Duchy of berg, Convassais said to him, my dear Bigno, the
2:21:13
Emperor arranges crowns as he chooses. Here is the Grand Duke of Berg Murras
2:21:18
going to Naples. He is welcome. I have no objection. But every
2:21:22
year the Grand Duke sent me a couple of dozen hands from his grand Duchy,
2:21:26
and I warn you I do not intend to lose them, so you
2:21:30
must make your preparations. I never once omitted to equip myself of the obligation.
2:21:35
And if there were any delay, the Highness never failed to cause one
2:21:37
of his secretaries to write a good scolding to my house steward. But when
2:21:41
the Hams arrived exactly, his Highness never failed to write to my wife himself
2:21:46
to thank her. This was not all. The Hams were to come carriage
2:21:50
free. This pretty jobbery occasioned discontent, and it would not have cost me
2:21:54
more to pay the carriage. The Prince would not allow it. There was
2:21:58
an agreement between him and Lavellette, the head of the posts, and my
2:22:03
Lord appeared to lay as much stress on the performance of this treaty as on
2:22:07
the procuring of the ham Thegno. Tom One, page two hundred and sixty
2:22:11
two. Commissais never suffered the cares of government to distract his attention from the
2:22:18
great object of life. On one occasion, for example, being detained in
2:22:22
consultation with Napoleon beyond the appointed hour of dinner. It is said that the
2:22:26
fate of the Duke d'ung guiere was a topic under discussion. He was observed,
2:22:31
when the hour became very late, to show great symptoms of impatience and
2:22:35
restlessness. He at last wrote a note, which he called a gentleman usher
2:22:39
in waiting to carry. Napoleon, suspecting the contents, nodded to an aide
2:22:43
de comp to intercept the despatch. As he took it into his hands.
2:22:48
Commissais begged earnestly that he would not read a trifling note upon domestic matters.
2:22:54
Napoleon persisted and found it to be a note to the cook containing only the
2:22:58
following words garde leison, crement, le loti saint perdu. When Napoleon was
2:23:03
in good humor at the result of a diplomatic conference. He was accustomed to
2:23:07
take leave of the plenty potentiaries with go and dine Combassaris. His table was
2:23:13
in fact an important state engine, as appears from the anecdote of the trout
2:23:18
sent to him by the municipality of Geneva, and charged three hundred francs in
2:23:22
their accounts. The Imperial Corde de Comte, having disallowed the item, was
2:23:28
interdicted from meddling with similar municipal affairs in future Heyward's Art of Dining, page
2:23:35
twenty into it. Not At the commencement of eighteen o one, Fulton presented
2:23:41
to Buonaparte his memorial on steamboats. I urged a serious examination of the subject.
2:23:46
Pla said he, those projectors are all either intriguers or visionaries. Don't
2:23:52
trouble me about the business. I observed that the man whom he called an
2:23:56
intriguer was only reviving an invention, already known that it was wrong to reject
2:24:01
the scheme without examination. He would not listen to me, and thus was
2:24:05
adjourned for some time. The practical application of a discovery which has given such
2:24:09
an important impulse to trade and navigation. Paul the First fell by the hands
2:24:16
of assassins on the night of the twenty fourth of March eighteen o one.
2:24:20
The First Consul was much shocked on receiving the intelligence. In the excitement caused
2:24:24
by this unexpected event, which had so important an influence on his policy,
2:24:30
he directed me to send the following note to the Moniteur. Paul the First
2:24:35
died on the night of the twenty fourth of March, and the English squadron
2:24:37
passed the sound on the thirtieth. History will reveal the connection which probably exists
2:24:43
between these two events. Thus were announced the crime of the twenty fourth of
2:24:48
March and the not ill founded suspicions of its authors. Put note, we
2:24:54
do not attempt to rescue the fair name of our country. This is one
2:24:58
among many instances in which Bourleienne was misled. Editor of eighteen eighty six edition
2:25:05
ent Woo not the amicable relations of Paul and Bonaparte had been daily strengthened in
2:25:11
in concert with the CSAR, said Bonaparte, I was sure of striking a
2:25:15
mortal blow at the English power in India. A palace revolution has overthrown all
2:25:20
my projects. This resolution and the admiration of the Autocrat of Russia for the
2:25:26
head of the French Republic may certainly be numbered among the causes of Paul's death.
2:25:31
The individuals generally accused at the time were those who were violently and perseveringly
2:25:35
threatened, and who had the strongest interest in the succession of a new emperor.
2:25:41
I have seen a letter from a northern sovereign which in my mind leaves
2:25:45
no doubt on this subject, and which specified the reward of the crime and
2:25:48
the part to be performed by each actor. But it must also be confessed
2:25:54
that the conduct and character of Paul the First is tyrannical, acts is violent
2:25:58
caprices, and his frequent excesses of despotism had rendered him the object of accumulated
2:26:05
hatred. For patience has its limit. These circumstances did not probably create the
2:26:09
conspiracy, but they considerably facilitated the execution of the plot, which deprived the
2:26:16
Sir of his throne and his life. As soon as Alexander ascended the throne,
2:26:22
the ideas of the First Council respecting the dismemberment of Poland were revived and
2:26:26
almost wholly engrossed his mind. During his first campaign in Italy, and several
2:26:31
times when in Egypt, he told Sulkowski that it was his ardent wish to
2:26:35
re establish Poland, to avenge the iniquity of her dismemberment, and by that
2:26:41
grand repertory act, to restore the former equilibrium of Europe. He often dictated
2:26:46
to me for the moniteur articles, tending to prove by various arguments that Europe
2:26:52
would never enjoy repose until those great spoilations were avenged and repaired. But he
2:26:58
frequently destroyed these articles instead of sending them to press. His system of policy
2:27:03
towards Russia changed. Shortly after the death of Paul. The thought of a
2:27:07
war against that empire unceasingly occupied his mind and gave birth to the idea of
2:27:13
that fatal campaign, which took place eleven years afterwards, and which had other
2:27:18
causes than the re establishment of Poland. That object was merely set forward as
2:27:22
a pretext. Du Roc was sent to Saint Petersburg to congratulate the Emperor Alexander
2:27:28
on his accession to the throne. He arrived in the Russian capital on the
2:27:33
twenty fourth of May. Duroc, who was at this time very young,
2:27:37
was a great favorite of the first Consul. He never importuned Bonaparte by his
2:27:41
solicitations, and was never troublesome in recommending any one or busying himself as an
2:27:46
agent for a favor. Yet he warmly advocated the cause of those whom he
2:27:50
thought injured, and honestly repelled accusations which he knew to be false. These
2:27:56
moral qualities, joined to an agreeable person and ill manners, rendered him a
2:28:01
very superior man. The year eighteen o one was moreover marked by the fatal
2:28:05
creation of special tribunals, which were in no way justified by the urgency of
2:28:11
circumstances. This year also saw the re establishment of the African Company, the
2:28:16
Treaty of Luneville, which augmented the advantages France had obtained by the Treaty of
2:28:20
Campoformio, and the piece concluded between Spain and Portugal by means of Lucien.
2:28:28
On the subject of this piece, I may mention that Portugal, to obtain
2:28:31
the secession of Oliventza, secretly offered Bonaparte through me eight million of franc if
2:28:37
he would contribute his influence towards the acquisition of that town by Portugal. He
2:28:43
rejected this offer, indignantly declaring that he would never sell honor for money.
2:28:48
He has been accused of having listened to a similar proposition at Passeriano, though
2:28:52
in fact no such proposition was ever made to him. Those who bring forward
2:28:58
such accusations little though the inflexibility of his principles on this point. One evening
2:29:03
in April eighteen o one, an English paper, the London Gazette, arrived
2:29:09
at Mademison. It announced the landing in Egypt of the army commanded by Abercrombie,
2:29:15
the battle given by the English, and the death of their general.
2:29:18
I immediately translated the article and presented it to the First Consul, with the
2:29:24
conviction that the news would be very painful to him. He doubted its truth,
2:29:28
or at least pretended to do so. Several officers and aid de comp
2:29:33
who were in the salon coincided in his opinion, especially land, Besier and
2:29:39
du Roc. They thought, by so doing to please the First Council,
2:29:43
who then said to me, in a jeering tone, but you do not
2:29:46
understand English. This is the way with you. You are always inclined to
2:29:50
believe bad news rather than good. These words and the approving smiles of the
2:29:56
gentleman present ruffled me, and I said with some warmth, Now, General,
2:30:01
can you believe that the English government would publish officially so important an event
2:30:05
if it were not true? Do you think that a government that has any
2:30:09
self respect would, in the face of Europe, state a falsehood respecting an
2:30:15
affair the truth of which cannot long remain unknown? Did you ever know an
2:30:18
instance of so important an announcement proving untrue after it had been published in the
2:30:24
London gazette. I believe it to be true, and the smiles of these
2:30:28
gentlemen will not alter my opinion on these observations. The first consul rose and
2:30:33
said, come, Bourienne, I want you in the library. After we
2:30:37
had left the salon, he added, this is always the way with you.
2:30:41
Why are you vexed at such trifles? I assure you I believe the
2:30:46
news, but too confidently, and I feared it before it came. But
2:30:50
they think they please me by thus appearing to doubt it. Never mind them,
2:30:56
I ask your pardon, said I, but I conceive the best way
2:30:58
of pre sving my attachment to you is to tell you what I believe to
2:31:01
be true. You desire me not to delay a moment in announcing bad news
2:31:05
to you, it would be far worse to disguise than to conceal it.
2:31:11
End of section six, Section seven of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Polyme five
2:31:22
by Luis Antoine Fovelly de Bourienne. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
2:31:28
Read by Jillian Henri, Chapter five, eighteen oh one to eighteen oh
2:31:33
two. An experiment of royalty Louis de Bourbon and Maria Louisa of Spain,
2:31:41
creation of the Kingdom of Etruria, the Count of Leghorn in Paris, entertainment's
2:31:46
given him. Bonaparte's opinion of the King of Etruria, his departure for Florence,
2:31:52
and bad reception there, negotiations with the Pope. Bonaparte's opinion on religion
2:31:58
today notredain behavior of the people in the church, a religion of the consular
2:32:05
court, as remark on the Todaeum, first Mass at the Saint Cloux Mass
2:32:11
and Bonaparte's apartments. Talleyrand relieved from his clerical vows my appointment to the Council
2:32:18
of State. Before he placed two crowns on his own head. Bonaparte thought
2:32:22
it would promote the interests of his policy to place one on the head of
2:32:26
a prince, and even a prince of the House of Bourbon. He wished
2:32:31
to accustom the French to the site of a king. It will hereafter be
2:32:35
seenen that he gave scepters like his confidence conditionally, and that he was always
2:32:41
ready to undo his own work when it became an obstacle to his ambitious designs.
2:32:46
In May eighteen o one, the Infanta of Spain, Maria Louisa,
2:32:50
third daughter of Charles of fourth, visited Paris. The Infante Luis de Bourbon,
2:32:56
eldest son of the Duke of Parma, had gone to Madrid in seventeen
2:33:00
ninety eight to contract a marriage with Maria Amelia, the sister of Maria Louisa,
2:33:05
but he fell in love with the latter. Gourdois favored the attachment and
2:33:09
employed all his influence to bring about the marriage. The son, who six
2:33:13
years later was born of this union was named Charles Louis. After the King
2:33:18
of Spain, Franz occupied the Duchy of Parma, which, in fulfillment of
2:33:22
the conventions signed by Lucien Bonaparte, was to belong to her. After the
2:33:26
death of the reigning Duke. On the other hand, France was to sede
2:33:31
the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to the son of the Duke of Parma, and
2:33:35
Spain paid to France, according to stipulation, a considerable sum of money.
2:33:39
Soon after the treaty was communicated to Don Luis and his wife, they left
2:33:43
Madrid and traveled through France. The prince took the title of Count of Leghorn.
2:33:48
All accounts are unanimous as to the attentions which the Prince and princess received
2:33:52
on their journey among the fetes in honor of the illustrious couple. That given
2:33:58
by Monsieur d'tallierlon at NUIs was remarkable for magnificence. When the Count of leke
2:34:03
Horn was coming to pay his first visit to Malmison, Bonaparte went into the
2:34:07
drawing room to see that everything was suitably prepared for his reception. In a
2:34:11
few minutes, he returned to his cabinet and said to me, somewhat out
2:34:15
of humor, Brillienne, only think of their stupidity. They had not taken
2:34:20
down the picture representing me on the summit of the Alps, pointing to Lombardy
2:34:24
and commanding the conquest of it. I have ordered its removal. How mortifying
2:34:28
it would have been if the Prince had seen it. Another picture in the
2:34:33
drawing room at Mamison represented the first Consul sleeping on the snow on the summit
2:34:37
of the Alps before the Battle of Marengo. The Count of Lekehorn's visit to
2:34:41
Paris imparted brilliancy to the first years of the reign of Bonaparte, of whom
2:34:46
it was at that time said he made kings, but would not be one.
2:34:50
At the representation of Oedipus, the following expression of Philactites was received with
2:34:56
transport jiffeed de souverens in nepal voulu lettro monarchs. I have made but one.
2:35:03
I would not be the first consul. On leaving the theater did not
2:35:07
conceal his satisfaction. He judged from the applause with which that verse had been
2:35:11
received that his pamphlet was forgotten. The manner, moreover, in which a
2:35:16
king crowned by his hands had been received by the public was no indifferent matter
2:35:20
to him, as he expected that the people would thus again become familiar with
2:35:24
what had been so long prescribed this king, who, though well received and
2:35:30
well entertained, was in all respects a very ordinary man departed for Italy.
2:35:35
I say very ordinary, not that I had an opportunity of judging of his
2:35:39
character myself. But the first Consul told me that his capabilities were extremely limited,
2:35:45
that he even felt repugnance to take a pen in his hand, that
2:35:48
he never cast a thought on anything but his pleasures, in a word,
2:35:52
that he was a fool. One day, after the first Consul had spent
2:35:56
several hours in company with him and his consort, he said to me,
2:36:00
I am quite tired. He is a mere automaton. I put a number
2:36:05
of questions to him, but he can answer none. He is obliged to
2:36:07
consult his wife, who makes him understand as well as she is able what
2:36:11
he ought to say. The first Consul added, the poor prince will set
2:36:16
off tomorrow without knowing what he is going to do. I observed that it
2:36:22
was a pity to see the happiness of the people of Tuscany entrusted to such
2:36:26
a prince. Bonaparte replied, policy requires it. Besides, the young man
2:36:31
is not worse than the usual run of kings. The prince fully justified in
2:36:35
Tuscany. The opinion which the first Consul formed of him putnote, this unfortunate
2:36:41
prince was very ill calculated to recommend by his personal character the institutions to which
2:36:48
the nobility clung with so much fondness. Nature had endowed him with an excellent
2:36:52
heart, but with very limited talents, and his mind had imbibed the false
2:36:56
impress consequent upon his monastic education. He resided at Mademoiselle nearly the whole time
2:37:03
of his visit to Paris. Madame Monaparte used to lead the Queen to her
2:37:07
own apartments, and as the first Consul, never left his closet except to
2:37:11
sit down to males. The end decon were under the necessity of keeping the
2:37:16
king company and of endeavoring to entertain him. So wholly was he devoid of
2:37:20
intellectual resources, It required, indeed a great share of patience to listen to
2:37:24
the frivolities which engrossed his attention, his turn of mind being thus laid open
2:37:28
to view, care was taken to supply him with the playthings usually placed in
2:37:33
the hands of children. He was therefore never at a loss for occupation.
2:37:39
His non entity was a source of regret to us. We lamented to see
2:37:43
a tall, handsome youth, destined to rule over his fellow men, trembling
2:37:46
at the sight of a horse and wasting his time in the game of hide
2:37:50
and seek, or at leap frog, and whose whole information consisted in knowing
2:37:54
his prayers and in saying grace before and after meals. Such, nevertheless,
2:38:00
was the man to whom the destinies of a nation were about to be committed.
2:38:03
When he left France to repair to his kingdom. Rome need not be
2:38:07
uneasy, said the first Consul to us after the farewell audience. There is
2:38:11
no danger of his crossing the Rubicon Memoirs of the Duke of Rovigo, Volume
2:38:18
one, page three hundred and sixty three in footnote. In order to show
2:38:22
still further attention to the King of Etruria, after his three weeks visit to
2:38:26
Paris, the first Consul directed him to be escorted to Italy by a French
2:38:31
guard, and selected his brother in law Murras for that purpose. The new
2:38:35
king of a new kingdom entered Florence on the twelfth of April eighteen o one,
2:38:41
but the reception given him by the Tuscans was not at all similar to
2:38:45
what he had experienced at Paris. The people received the royal pair as sovereigns
2:38:50
imposed on them by France. The ephemeral kingdom of Etruria lasted scarcely six years.
2:38:56
The king died in eighteen o three in the flower of his age,
2:39:00
and in eighteen o seven the Queen was expelled from her throng by him who
2:39:03
had constructed it for her. At this period, a powerful party urged Bonaparte
2:39:09
to break with the Pope and to establish a Gallican Church, the head of
2:39:13
which should reside in France. They thought to flatter his ambition by indicating to
2:39:18
him a new source of power which might establish a point of comparison between him
2:39:22
and the first Roman emperors. But his ideas did not concide with thirs.
2:39:26
On this subject. I am convinced, said he, that a part of
2:39:31
France would become Protestant, especially if I were to favor that disposition. I
2:39:35
am also certain that the much greater portion would remain Catholic, and would oppose
2:39:41
with the greatest zeal and fervor the schism of a part of their fellow citizens.
2:39:46
I dread the religious quarrels, the family dissensions, and the public distractions
2:39:50
which such a state of things would inevitably occasion in reviving a religion which has
2:39:54
always prevailed in the country, and which still prevails in the hearts of the
2:39:58
people, and in giving the liberty of exercising their worship to the minority.
2:40:03
I shall satisfy every one. The first Consul, taking a superior view of
2:40:09
the state of France, considered that the re establishment of religious worship would prove
2:40:13
a powerful support to his government, and he had been occupied ever since the
2:40:16
commencement of eighteen o one in preparing a concordain with the Pope. It was
2:40:22
signed in the month of July in the same year. It required some time
2:40:26
to enable the parties to come to an understanding on the subject. Cardinal Consalvie
2:40:31
arrived in the month of June eighteen o one at Paris to arrange matters on
2:40:35
the part of the Pope. Cardinal Gaprara and Monsieur de Spina also formed part
2:40:41
of the embassy sent by the Holy Father. There were besides several able theologians,
2:40:46
among whom doctor c Blanc was distinguished, but not the doctor sea Blanc
2:40:52
was Casselti, later Archbishop of Parma. Monnier was given the Bishopric of Ornions,
2:40:58
not Versailles. See Erler Tom One, page two hundred and seventy six.
2:41:05
The details of the surprise attempted at the last moment by putting before Cardinal
2:41:09
Consalini for his signature. An altered copy of the Concorda should be read in
2:41:13
his memoirs Tom one, page three hundred and fifty five, or in law
2:41:18
Free Tom two, page two hundred and sixty seven. As were Napoleon's belief
2:41:22
that part of the nation might become Protestant, Narbonne probably put the matter truly
2:41:28
when he said there was not religion enough in France to stand a division.
2:41:33
It should be noted that the Concordain did not so much restore the Catholic Church
2:41:37
as destroy the old Gallican Church with all its liberties, which might annoy either
2:41:41
Pope or Emperor. But on this point see The Gallican Church and the Revolution
2:41:46
by Jervis London Began Paul Trench and Company, eighteen eighty two. The clergy
2:41:52
may, it is true, have shown wisdom in acceding to any terms of
2:41:54
restoration. In footnote, he was a member of the Pope's chance His knowledge
2:42:01
gave him so much influence over his colleagues that affairs advanced only as much as
2:42:05
he pleased. However, he was gained over by honors conferred on him and
2:42:09
promises of money. Business then went on a little quicker. The Concordat was
2:42:13
signed on the fifteenth of July eighteen o one and made a law off the
2:42:18
state. In the following April. The plenty potentiaries on the part of Buonaparte
2:42:22
were Joseph Bonaparte, Cathai and the Abbe Bernie. Afterwards Bishop of Versailles footnote
2:42:28
or Leon not Versailles d w End footnote. A solemn to dam was chanted
2:42:35
at the cathedral of Notre Dame on Sunday, the eleventh of April. The
2:42:39
crowd was immense, and the greater part of those present stood during the ceremony,
2:42:43
which was splendid in the extreme. But who would presume to say that
2:42:46
the general feeling was in harmony with all this pomp? Was then the time
2:42:50
for this innovation not yet arrived? Was it too abrupt a transition from the
2:42:56
habits of the twelve preceding years. It is unquestionable true that a great number
2:43:01
of the persons present at the ceremony expressed in their countenances and gestures, rather
2:43:05
a feeling of impatience and displeasure than of satisfaction or of reverence for the place
2:43:11
in which they were here and there murmurs arose expressive of discontent. The whispering,
2:43:16
which I might more properly call open conversation, often interrupted the divine service,
2:43:22
and sometimes observations were made which were far from being moderate. Some would
2:43:28
turn their heads aside on purpose to take a bit of chocolate cake, and
2:43:31
biscuits were openly eaten by many who seemed to pay no attention to what was
2:43:35
passing. The Contilar court was in general extremely irreligious, nor could it be
2:43:39
expected to be otherwise, being composed chiefly of those who had assisted in the
2:43:45
annihilation of all religious worship in France, and of men who, having passed
2:43:50
their lives in camps, had oftener entered a church in Italy to carry off
2:43:54
a painting than to hear the mass. Those who, without being imbued with
2:43:58
any religious ideas, possessed that good sense which in Jucy's men to pay respect
2:44:03
to the belief of others, though it be one in which they do not
2:44:05
participate, did not blame the first consul for his conduct and conducted themselves with
2:44:11
some regard to decency. But on the road from the tuillery to Notre Dame,
2:44:16
Lan and Augivro wanted to alight from the carriage as soon as they saw
2:44:20
that they were being driven to mass, and it required an order from the
2:44:22
first consul to prevent their doing. So. They went therefore to Notre Dame,
2:44:28
and the next day Bonaparte asked ou Givo what he thought of the ceremony.
2:44:31
Oh, it was all very fine, replied the general. There was
2:44:35
nothing wanting except the million of men who have perished in the pulling down of
2:44:39
what you are setting up. Bonaparte was much displeased at this remark. Footnote.
2:44:46
This remark has been attributed elsewhere to General del Mains. According to a
2:44:50
gentleman who played a part in this empty pageantry, Lan at one moment did
2:44:54
get out of the carriage, and Augermon kept swearing in no low whisper during
2:44:58
the whole of the ch at mass. Most of the military chiefs who sprang
2:45:03
out of the revolution had no religion at all, but there were some who
2:45:05
were Protestants and who were irritated by the restoration of Catholicism, as the National
2:45:11
Faith editor of eighteen ninety six edition in footnote. During the negotiations with the
2:45:18
Holy Father, Bonaparte one day said to me, in every country religion is
2:45:22
useful to the government, and those who govern ought to avail themselves off it
2:45:26
to influence mankind. I was a Mahometan in Egypt. I am a Catholic
2:45:31
in France. With relation to the police of the religion of a state,
2:45:35
it should be entirely in the hands of the sovereign. Many persons have urged
2:45:39
me to found a Gallican church and make myself its head, but they do
2:45:43
not know France. If they did, they would know that the majority of
2:45:46
the people would not like a rupture with Rome. Before I can resolve on
2:45:50
such a measure, the Pope must push matters to an extremity, but I
2:45:54
believe he will not do so. You are right, General, and you
2:45:58
recall to my memory what Cardinal Consalvie said. The Pope will do all the
2:46:03
first consul desires. That is the best course for him. Let him not
2:46:07
suppose that he has to do with an idiot. What do you think is
2:46:11
the point is negotiations? Put most forward the salvation of my soul but with
2:46:16
me, immortality is the recollection one leaves in the memory of man that idea
2:46:22
prompts to great actions. It would be better for a man never to have
2:46:26
lived than to leave behind him no traces of his existence. Many endeavors were
2:46:31
made to persuade the First Counsul to perform in public the duties imposed by the
2:46:37
Catholic religion. An influential example, it was urged was required. He told
2:46:41
me once that he had put an end to that request by the following declaration.
2:46:46
Enough of this, ask me no more. You will not obtain your
2:46:50
object. You shall never make a hypocrite of me. Let it remain where
2:46:54
we are. I have read in a work remarkable in many accounts, that
2:46:58
it was on the occasion of the Concorda of the fifteenth of July eighteen o
2:47:01
one that the First Consul abolished the Republican calendar and re established the Gregorian This
2:47:09
is an error. He did not make the calendar a religious affair. The
2:47:11
Senatus Consulti, which restored the use of the Gregorian calendar to commence in the
2:47:18
French Republic from the eleventh Nivos year fourteen first of January eighteen o six was
2:47:24
adopted on the twenty second fructidor year, thirteen ninth of September eighteen o five,
2:47:30
more than four years after the Concorda. The re establishment of the ancient
2:47:35
calendar had no other object than to bring us into harmony with the rest of
2:47:39
Europe on a point so closely connected with daily transactions, which were much embarrassed
2:47:43
by the decaduri calendar. Bonapart at length, however, consented to hear mass,
2:47:48
and Saint Claux was a place where this ancient usage was first re established.
2:47:54
He directed the ceremony to commence sooner than they are announced, in order
2:47:58
that those who would only make a scot at it might not arrive until the
2:48:01
service was ended. Whenever the first Consul determined to hear mass publicly on Sundays
2:48:07
in the chapel of the palace, a small altar was prepared in a room
2:48:11
near his cabinet of business. This room had been an of Austria's oratory.
2:48:16
A small portable altar, placed on a platform one step high, restored it
2:48:20
to its original designation. During the rest of the week, this chapel was
2:48:24
used as a bathing room. On Sunday, the door of communication was opened,
2:48:30
and we heard Mass sitting in our cabinet of business. The number of
2:48:33
persons there never exceeded three or four, and the first Consul seldom failed to
2:48:37
transact some business during the ceremony, which never lasted longer than twelve minutes.
2:48:43
Next day all the papers had the news that the first Consul had heard Mass
2:48:46
in his apartments in the same way Louis the eighteenth as often heard it in
2:48:52
his On the nineteenth of July eighteen o one, a papal bull absolved Talimoon
2:48:58
from his vows. He immediately married Madame Gondy, and the affair obtained little
2:49:03
notice at the time. This statement sufficiently proves how report has perverted the fact.
2:49:07
It has been said that Bonaparte, onbecoming emperor, wished to restore that
2:49:13
decorum which the revolution had destroyed, and therefore resolved to put an end to
2:49:16
the improper intimacy which subsisted between Taleron and Madame gonde It is alleged that the
2:49:22
minister at first refused to marry the lady, but that he at last found
2:49:26
it necessary to obey the peremptory order of his master. This pretended resurrection of
2:49:33
morality by Bonaparte is excessively ridiculous. The bill was not registered in the Council
2:49:37
of State until the nineteenth of August eighteen o two. Putnote. The first
2:49:43
Consul had, on several occasions urged Monsieur de Tallilant to return to holy orders.
2:49:48
He pointed out to him that that course would be most becoming his age
2:49:52
and high birth, and promised that he should be made a cardinal, thus
2:49:56
raising him to a par with Richelieu and giving additional luster to his administration members
2:50:01
of the Duke of Rovigo, Volume one, page four hundred and twenty six.
2:50:05
But Monsieur de Tallian vindicated his choice, saying a clever wife often compromises
2:50:11
her husband. A stupid one only compromises herself. Historical characters, page one
2:50:16
hundred and twenty two, Bulwer Lord Dulling end footnote. I will end this
2:50:22
chapter by a story somewhat foreign to the preceding transactions, which personally concerns myself.
2:50:28
On the twentieth of July eighteen o one, the First Consul exproprio motum,
2:50:33
named me a Councilor of State extraordinary. Madame Bonaparte kindly condescended to have
2:50:39
an elegant but somewhat ideal costume made for me. It played the first consul,
2:50:43
however, and he had a similar one made for himself. He wore
2:50:48
it a short time and then left it off. Never had Bonaparte since his
2:50:52
elevation shown himself so amiable as on this occasion. End of section seven,
2:51:03
Section eight of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume five by Luis Antoine Fauvellis de
2:51:09
Bouriennese. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Gillian Henry,
2:51:16
Chapter six, Part one, eighteen o two. Last chapter on Egypt.
2:51:22
Admiral Gungdong way to please Bonaparte, General Minou's flattery and his reward de
2:51:28
vust. Bonapart regrets giving the command to Minoux, who is defeated by abercrombie
2:51:35
Otto's negotiation in London Preliminaries of peace. For the last time in these memoirs,
2:51:41
I shall return to the affairs of Egypt, to that episode which embraces
2:51:46
so short a space of time and holds so high a place in the life
2:51:48
of Bonaparte. Of all his conquests, he set the highest value in Egypt,
2:51:54
because it spread the glory of his name throughout the East. Accordingly,
2:51:58
he left nothing unattempted for the preservation of that colony. In a letter to
2:52:03
General Klaber, he said, you are as able as I am to understand
2:52:07
how important is the possession of Egypt to France. The Turkish Empire, in
2:52:11
which the symptoms of decay are everywhere discernible, is at present falling to pieces.
2:52:18
And the evil of the evacuation of Egypt by France would now be the
2:52:22
greater, as we should soon see that fine province pass into the possession of
2:52:26
some other European power. The selection of Gountal, however, to carry assistance
2:52:31
to Claver, was not judicious. Gunton had brought the first council back from
2:52:37
Egypt, and though the success of the passage could only be attributed to Bonaparte's
2:52:41
own plan, his determined character and superior judgment, Yet he preserved towards gountm
2:52:46
that favorable disposition which is naturally felt for one who has shared a great danger
2:52:52
with us, and upon whom the responsibility may be said to have been imposed.
2:52:56
This confidence in mediocrity, dictated by an honorable feeling, did not obtain
2:53:01
a suitable return Conton, by his indecision and creeping about in the Mediterranean,
2:53:07
had already failed to execute a commission entrusted to him. The first Consul,
2:53:11
upon finding he did not leave Breast after he had been ordered to the Mediterranean,
2:53:16
repeatedly said to me, what the devil is gon Tom about? With
2:53:20
one of the daily reports sent to the first Consul, he received the following
2:53:24
quatraine, which made him laugh heartily. The soul lest did sen list Encill
2:53:31
pach le meyral Gonton is Saint vals de Brest, Alberton, Erevillennes de Berton,
2:53:39
Abrest, with ballast on board, but none in his brain. Away
2:53:43
went our Gallant Gonton on a voyage from Brest to Berton, and then from
2:53:48
Berton to Breast back again, And quote Gonton's hesitation, his frequent tur diversations,
2:53:56
his arrival at Toulon, his tardy departure, and his return to that
2:54:00
port on the nineteenth of February eighteen o one, only ten days prior to
2:54:03
Admiral Keith's appearance with Sir Ralph Abercrombie of Alexandria, completely foiled all the plans
2:54:09
which Bonaparte had conceived of conveying succor and reinforcements to a colony on the brink
2:54:15
of destruction. Bonaparte was then dreaming that many French families would carry back civilization,
2:54:20
science and art to that country, which was their credle. But it
2:54:24
could not be concealed that his departure from Egypt in seventeen ninety nine had prepared
2:54:30
the way for the loss of that country, which was hastened by Klaver's death
2:54:33
and the choice of Minou as his successor. A sure way of paying court
2:54:37
to the first Consul and gaining his favor was to eulogize his views about Egypt
2:54:43
and to appear zealous for maintaining the possession of that country. By these means,
2:54:48
it was that Minot gained his confidence. In the first year of the
2:54:52
occupation of that country, he laid before him his dreams respecting Africa. He
2:54:56
spoke of the negroes of sinegal, was Ambique, Mehedi, Marabau, and
2:55:01
other barbarous countries which were all at once to assume a new aspect and become
2:55:05
civilized in consequence of the French possession of Egypt. To Manou's adulation is to
2:55:11
be attributed the favorable reception given him by the First Consul, even after his
2:55:16
return from Egypt, of which his foolish conduct had allowed the English to get
2:55:20
possession. The First Consul appointed him governor of Piedmont, and at my request
2:55:26
gave my elder brother the situation of Commissary General of Police in that country.
2:55:31
But I am in candor obliged to confess that the First Consul was obliged to
2:55:35
retract the s mark of his favor in consequence of my brother's making an abuse
2:55:39
of it. It was also by flattering the First Consul on the question of
2:55:43
the East, that Devouced, on his return from Egypt in eighteen hundred,
2:55:48
in consequence of the Convention of el Aria, insinuated himself into Bonaparte's good graces.
2:55:54
And if he did not deserve obtained his favor that time, Davoust certainly
2:56:01
had no title whatever to the good fortune which he suddenly experienced. He obtained
2:56:05
without first serving in a subordinate rank the commander in chief of the grenadiers of
2:56:11
that Consular guard, and from that time commenced the deadly hatred which Devust bore
2:56:16
towards me. Astonished at the great length of time that Buonaparte had been one
2:56:20
day conversion with him. I said, as soon as he was gone,
2:56:24
how could you talk so long with a man you have always called a stupid
2:56:28
fellow? Ah, But I did not know him well enough before. He
2:56:33
is a better man, I assure you than he has thought, and you
2:56:35
will come over to my opinion. I hope so. The First Consul,
2:56:41
who was often extremely indiscreet, told Deuvus to my opinion of him, and
2:56:45
his hostility against me ceased. But with his life, the First Consul could
2:56:50
not forget his cherished conquest in the East. It was consequently the object of
2:56:54
his thoughts. He endeavored to send reinforcements to his army from Brest and Toulon,
2:57:00
but without success. He soon had cause to repent, having entrusted to
2:57:03
the hands of Minou, the command in chief to which he became entitled only
2:57:09
by seniority after the assassination of Claver by Sulomon Harriby. But Bonapart's indignation was
2:57:15
excited when he became acquainted with Minou's neglect and mismanagement, when he saw him
2:57:20
giving reins to his passion for reform, altering and destroying everything creating nothing good
2:57:26
in its stead, and dreaming about forming a land communication with the Huttentots and
2:57:31
Congo, instead of studying how to preserve the country. His pitiful plans of
2:57:35
defense, which were useless from their want of combination, appeared to the first
2:57:39
Consul the height of ignorance. Forgetful of all the principles of strategy, of
2:57:45
which Bonaparte's conduct afforded so many examples. He opposed to the landing of Abercrombie
2:57:50
a few isolated corps which were unable to withstand the enemy's attack, while the
2:57:56
English army might have been entirely annihilated had all the disposable troops been sent against
2:58:01
it. The great admiration which Mineaux expressed at the expedition to Egypt, his
2:58:07
excessive fondness for that country, the religion of which he had ridiculously enough embraced
2:58:11
under the name of Abdullah, the efforts he made in his sphere to preserve
2:58:16
the colony, his enthusiasm and blind attachment to Buonaparte. The flattering and encouraging
2:58:22
accounts he gave of the situation of the army at first had the effect of
2:58:26
entirely covering Minu's incapacity notte For a ludicrous description of Mineux, see the Memoirs
2:58:31
of Marmaut quote clever and gay. He was an agreeable talker, but a
2:58:37
great liar. He was not destitute of some education. His character, one
2:58:41
of the oddest in the world, came very near to lunacy. Constantly writing,
2:58:46
always in motion in his room, writing for exercise every day. He
2:58:50
was never able to start on any necessary or useful journey. When later Bonaparte,
2:58:56
then first Consul, gave him by special favor the administration of Piedmont,
2:59:01
he put off his departure from day to day for six months, and then
2:59:03
he only did start because his friend Marae himself put him into his carriage with
2:59:09
post horses already harnessed to it. When he left this post, they found
2:59:13
in his cabinet nine hundred letters which he had not opened. He was an
2:59:18
eccentric lunatic, amusing enough sometimes, but a curse to everything which depended on
2:59:22
him. Memoirs of the Duc de Ragus, tom One, page four hundred
2:59:28
and ten Intootnote this alone can account for the First Consul's preference of him,
2:59:33
But I am far from concurring in what has been asserted by many persons that
2:59:39
Franz lost Egypt at the very moment when it seemed most easy of preservation.
2:59:43
Egypt was conquered by a genius of vast intelligence, great capacity and profound military
2:59:48
science. Fatuity, stupidity and incapacity lost it. What was the result of
2:59:56
that memorable expedition, The destruction of one of our finest arms, the loss
3:00:01
of some of our best generals, the annihilation of our navy, the surrender
3:00:05
of Malta, and the sovereignty of England in the Mediterranean. What is the
3:00:09
result at present? A scientific work? The gossiping stories and mystifications of Herodotus
3:00:16
and the reveries of the good Roma are worth as much, and have not
3:00:20
cost so dear. The first Consul had long been apprehensive that the evacuation of
3:00:24
Egypt was unavoidable. The last news he had received from that country was not
3:00:28
very encouraging, and created a presentiment of the approach of the dreaded catastrophe.
3:00:33
He however, published the contrary. But it was then of great importance that
3:00:39
an account of the evacuation should not reach England until the preliminaries of peace were
3:00:43
signed, for which purpose Monsieur Otto was exerting all his industry and talent.
3:00:50
We made a great merit of abandoning our conquests in Egypt. But the sacrifice
3:00:54
would not have been considered great if the events which took place at the end
3:00:56
of August had been known in London before the signing of the Preliminaries. On
3:01:01
the first of October, the First Consul himself answered Monsieur Otto's last dispatch,
3:01:07
containing a copy of the Preliminaries ready to be adopted by the English ministry.
3:01:11
Neither this dispatch nor the answer was communicated to Monsieur d. Tallienhan, then
3:01:16
Minister for Foreign Affairs. The first Consul, who highly appreciated the great talents
3:01:22
and knowledge of that minister, never closed any diplomatic arrangement without first consulting him,
3:01:28
and he was right in so doing. On this occasion, however,
3:01:31
I told him that, as Monsieur D'tallian was for his health taking the waters
3:01:35
of Bourbon la Chambaud, four days must elapse before his reply could be received,
3:01:41
and that the delay might cause the face of affairs to change. I
3:01:45
reminded him that Egypt was on the point of yielding. He took my advice,
3:01:48
and it was well for him that he did, for the news of
3:01:52
the compulsory evacuation of Egypt arrived in London the day after the signing of the
3:01:56
Preliminaries. Monsieur Otto informed the First Consul by letter that Lord Hawkesbury, ill
3:02:01
communicating to him the news of the evacuation, told him he was very glad
3:02:05
everything was settled, for it would have been impossible for him to have treated
3:02:09
on the same basis after the arrival of such news. In reality, we
3:02:15
consented at Paris to the voluntary evacuation of Egypt, and that was something for
3:02:18
England. While Egypt was at that very time evacuated by a convention made on
3:02:24
the spot. The definitive evacuation of Egypt took place on the thirtieth of August
3:02:28
eighteen oh one, and thus the conquest of that country, which had cost
3:02:33
so dear, was rendered useless, or rather injurious. End of Section eight,
3:02:45
Chapter seven, eighteen o two. The most glorious epoch for France,
3:02:50
the First Consul's desire of peace, Malta ceded and kept Bonaparte and the English
3:02:56
journals. Mister Addington's letter to the First consert. Bonaparte prosecutes Peltier, Leclaire's
3:03:03
expedition to San Domingo, Toussaint l Verture, death of Leclaire, russianble,
3:03:09
his successor abandons San Domingo, first symptoms of Buonaparte's malady, Josephine's intrigues for
3:03:16
the marriage of Ortense falsehood contradicted. The epoch of the Peace of Amion must
3:03:22
be considered as the most glorious in the history of France, not accepting the
3:03:26
splendid period of lous, the fourteenth victories and the more brilliant era of the
3:03:31
Empire, the concilar glory was then pure, and the opening prospect was full
3:03:35
of flattering hope, whereas those who were but little accustomed to look closely into
3:03:41
things could discern mighty disasters lurking under the laurels of the Empire. The proposals
3:03:46
which the First Council made in order to obtain peace sufficiently prove his sincere desire
3:03:52
for it. He felt that if in the commencement of his administration he could
3:03:56
couple his name with so hoped for an act, he should ever experience against
3:04:00
the affection and gratitude of the French. I want no other proof of his
3:04:03
sentiments than the offer he made to give up Egypt to the Grand Seigner,
3:04:09
and to restore all the ports of the Gulf of Venice and of the Mediterranean
3:04:13
to the states to which they had previously belonged, to surrender Malta to the
3:04:16
order of the Knights of Saint John, and even to raise its fortifications.
3:04:20
If England should think such a measure necessary for her interests in the Indies.
3:04:26
Ceylon was to be left to him futnote. Ceylon belonged to Holland, but
3:04:31
was retained by England under the Treaty of Amion in footnote. And he required
3:04:37
the surrender of the Cape of Good Hope and all the places taken by the
3:04:39
English in the West Indies. England had firmly resolved to keep Malta, the
3:04:45
Gibraltar of the Mediterranean, and the Cape of Good Hope the Caravanserai of the
3:04:48
Indies. She was therefore unwilling to close with the proposition respecting Malta, and
3:04:54
she said that an arrangement might be made by which it would be rendered independent
3:04:58
both of eat Britain and France. We clearly saw that this was only our
3:05:03
lure, and that whatever arrangements might be entered into England would keep Malta,
3:05:07
because it was not to be expected that the maritime power would willingly surrender an
3:05:11
island which commands the Mediterranean. I do not notice the discussions respecting the American
3:05:18
islands, for they were, in my opinion, of little consequence to us.
3:05:22
Putnote, it is strange that Bourienne does not allude to one of the
3:05:24
first arbitrary acts of Napoleon, the discussions on which formed part of those conversations
3:05:30
between Napoleon and his brother Lucien, of which Bouleann complained to Josephine he knew
3:05:35
nothing. In seventeen sixty three, France had ceded to England the part of
3:05:39
Louisiana on the east of the Mississippi and the part on the west of that
3:05:43
river with New Orleans to Spain by the treaty negotiated with Spain by Lucian Bonaparte
3:05:50
in eighteen hundred. Her share was given back to France on the thirtieth of
3:05:54
April eighteen o three. Napoleon sold the whole to the United States for eighty
3:06:00
million from three million, two hundred and sixty thousand pounds, to the intense
3:06:05
anger of his brothers, Joseph and Lucien. Lucian was especially proud of having
3:06:09
obtained the secession, for which Napoleon was at that time very anxious, but
3:06:15
both brothers were horrified when Napoleon disclosed how little he cared for constitutional forms by
3:06:20
telling them that if the legislature, as his brothers threatened, would not ratify
3:06:26
the treaty, he would do without the ratification see Yung's letter Tom II,
3:06:31
page one hundred and twenty eight. Napoleon's most obvious motives were want of money
3:06:35
and the certainty of the seizure of the province by England, as the rupture
3:06:39
with her was now certain. But there was perhaps another cause. The States
3:06:43
had already been on the point of seizing the province from Spain, which had
3:06:46
interfered with their trade intents United States page four hundred and thirty five and Tia
3:06:54
Tom four, page three hundred and twenty. Of the sum to be paid,
3:06:58
twenty million were to go to the state to cover the illegal seizures of
3:07:01
American ships by the French navy, a matter which was not settled for many
3:07:05
years later. The remaining eighty million were employed in the preparations for the invasion
3:07:11
of England. C. Tierre Tom For pages three hundred and twenty and three
3:07:15
hundred and twenty six and Lofrey Tom Three, page forty eight. The transaction
3:07:20
is a remarkable one, as forming the final withdrawal of France from North America,
3:07:24
with the exception of some islands on the Newfoundland coast, where she had
3:07:28
once held such a proud position. It also eventually made an addition to the
3:07:33
number of slave states and footnote they cost more than they produce, and they
3:07:39
will escape from US sometime or other, as all colonies ultimately do from their
3:07:43
parent country. Our whole colonial system is absurd. It forces us to pay
3:07:48
for colonial produce at a rate nearly double that for which it may be purchased
3:07:52
from our neighbours. When Lord Hawkesbury consented to evacuate Malta on condition that it
3:07:58
should be independent of France and Great Britain, he must have been aware that
3:08:03
such a condition would never be fulfilled. He cared little for the Order of
3:08:07
Saint John, and he should have put, by way of proscript, at
3:08:09
the bottom of his note, we will keep Malta in spite of you.
3:08:13
I always told the First Council that if he were in the position of the
3:08:16
English, he would act the same part. And it did not require much
3:08:20
sagacity to foretell that Malta would be the principal cause of the rupture of peace.
3:08:26
He was of my opinion, but at that moment he thought everything depended
3:08:31
on concluding the negotiations, and I entirely agreed with him. It happened,
3:08:35
as was foreseen, that Malta caused the renewal of war. The English,
3:08:41
on being called upon to surrender the island, eluded, the demand, shifted
3:08:45
about, and at last ended by demanding that Malta should be placed under the
3:08:48
protection of the King of Naples, that is to say, under the protection
3:08:52
of a power entirely at their command and to which they might dictate what they
3:08:56
pleased. This was really too cool piece of irony. I will here notice
3:09:01
the quarrel between the First Consul and the English newspapers and give a new proof
3:09:07
of his views concerning the freedom of the press. However, liberty of the
3:09:11
press did once contribute to give him infinite gratification, namely, when all the
3:09:15
London journals mentioned the transports of joy manifested in London on the arrival of General
3:09:20
Lorristone, the bearer of the ratification of the Preliminaries of peace. The First
3:09:26
Consul was at all times the declared enemy of the liberty of the press,
3:09:30
and therefore he ruled the journals with the hand of iron. Footnote an incident
3:09:35
illustrative of the great irritation which Bonaparte felt at the plain speaking of the English
3:09:39
press, also shows the important character of Coleridge's writings in the Morning Post.
3:09:45
In the course of a debate in the House of Commons, Fox asserted that
3:09:48
the rupture of the Truce of Amion had its origin in certain essays which had
3:09:52
appeared in the Morning Post, and which were known to have proceeded from the
3:09:56
pen of Coleridge. But Fox an ungenerous and malicious hint that the writer was
3:10:03
at Rome, within the reach of Bonaparte. The information reached the ears for
3:10:07
which it was uttered, and an order was sent from Paris to compass the
3:10:11
arrest of Coleridge. It was in the year eighteen o six, when the
3:10:15
poet was making a tour in Italy. The news reached him at Naples through
3:10:18
a brother of the illustrious Humboldt, as mister Gilman says, or in a
3:10:22
friendly warning from Prince Jerome Bonaparte, as we have it on the authority of
3:10:28
mister Cattle, and the Pope appears to have been reluctant to have a hand
3:10:31
in the business, and in fact to have furnished him with a passport,
3:10:35
if not with a carriage for flight. Coleridge eventually got to Leghorn, where
3:10:39
he got a passage by an American ship bound for England, but his escape
3:10:43
coming to the years of Bonaparte. A lookout was kept for the ship,
3:10:48
and she was chased by a French cruiser, which threw the captain into such
3:10:50
a state of terror that he made Coleridge throw all his journals and papers overboard
3:10:56
Andrew's History of Journalism, Volume two, page twenty eight, and would not
3:11:01
I have often heard him say, where I to slacken the reins? I
3:11:05
should not continue three months in power. He unfortunately held the same opinion,
3:11:11
respecting every other prerogative of public freedom. The silence he had imposed in France
3:11:16
he wished if he could to impose in England. He was irritated by the
3:11:20
calumnies and libels so liberally cast upon him by the English journals, and especially
3:11:24
by one written in French called Lambigus, conducted by Peltier, who had been
3:11:30
the editor of the Acte de Depotre in Paris. The ambigus was constantly teeming
3:11:35
with the most violent attacks on the First Consul and the French nation. Whenaparte
3:11:39
could never, like the English, bring himself to despise newspaper libels, and
3:11:45
he revenged himself by violent articles which he caused to be inserted in the Moniteur,
3:11:50
he directed Monsieur Otto to remonstrate in an official note against the system of
3:11:54
calumny, which he believed to be authorized by the English government. Besides the
3:12:00
official proceeding, he applied personally to mister Addington, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
3:12:05
requesting him to procure the adoption of legislative measures against the licentious writings complained
3:12:11
of, and to take the earliest opportunity of satisfying his hatred against the liberty
3:12:16
of the press. The First Consul seized the moment of signing the Preliminaries to
3:12:20
make this request. Mister Addington wrote a long answer to the First Consul,
3:12:24
which I translated for him. The English minister refuted with great force all the
3:12:30
arguments which Bonaparte had employed against the press. He also informed the First Consul
3:12:35
that, though a foreigner, it was competent in him to institute a complaint
3:12:39
in the court of law, but that in such a case he must be
3:12:43
content to see all the scandalous statements of which he complained republished in the report
3:12:48
of the trial. He advised him to treat the libels with profound contempt,
3:12:52
and do as he and others did who attached not the slightest importance to them.
3:12:56
I congratulate myself on having in some degree prevented a trial taking place at
3:13:01
that time. Things remained in this state for the moment, But after the
3:13:05
Peace of Amion, the First Consul prosecuted Peltier, whose journal was always full
3:13:11
of violence and bitterness against him. Peltier was defended by the celebrated Macintosh,
3:13:16
who, according to the accounts of the time, displayed great eloquence on this
3:13:20
occasion. Yet in spite of the ability of his council, he was convicted.
3:13:24
The verdict, which public opinion considered in the light of a triumph for
3:13:28
the defendant, was not followed up by any judgment in consequence of the rupture
3:13:33
of the peace occurring soon after. It is melancholy to reflect that this nervous
3:13:37
susceptibility to the libels of the English papers contributed certainly as much as, and
3:13:43
perhaps more than the consideration of great political interests, to the renewal of hostilities.
3:13:48
The public would be astonished at a great many things if they could only
3:13:52
look under the cards. I have anticipated the rupture of the Treaty of Amion,
3:13:58
that I might not interrupt what I had to mention, respecting Bonaparte's hatred
3:14:01
of the liberty of the press. I now returned to the end of the
3:14:05
year eighteen o one, the period of the expedition against San Domingo. The
3:14:09
First Council, after dictating to me during nearly the whole of one night instructions
3:14:15
for that expedition, sent for General Leclaire, and said to him, in
3:14:18
my presence, here take your instructions. You have a fine opportunity for filling
3:14:24
your purse. Go and no longer tease me with your eternal requests for money.
3:14:30
The friendship which Bonaparte felt for his sister Pauline had a good deal of
3:14:33
influence in inducing him to take this liberal way of enriching her husband. The
3:14:39
expedition left the ports of France on the fourteenth of December eighteen o one and
3:14:43
arrived off Cape San Domingo on the first of February eighteen o two. The
3:14:48
fatal result of the enterprise is well known, but we are never to be
3:14:50
cured of the folly of such absurd expeditions. In the instructions given to Leclaire,
3:14:56
everything was foreseen, but it was painful to know that the choice of
3:15:00
one of the youngest and least capable of all the generals of the army left
3:15:05
no hope of a successful result. The expedition to San Domingo was one of
3:15:09
Bonaparte's great errors. Almost every person whom he consulted endeavored to dissuade him from
3:15:16
it. He attempted a justification through the medium of his historians of Saint Helena.
3:15:20
But does he succeed when he says that he was obliged to yield to
3:15:24
the advice of his Council of State. He truly was a likely man to
3:15:28
submit a question of war to the discussion of the Council of State, or
3:15:33
to be guided in such an affair by any council. We must believe that
3:15:37
no other motive influenced the First Council but the wish by giving him the means
3:15:41
of enriching himself to get rid of a brother in law who had the gift
3:15:45
of specially annoying him. The first Council, who did not really much like
3:15:48
this expedition, should have perhaps reflected longer on the difficulties of attempting to subdue
3:15:54
the colony by force. He was shaken by this argument, which I often
3:15:58
repeated to him, and he agreed with it. But the inconceivable influence which
3:16:03
the members of his family exercised on him always overcame him. But Apert dictated
3:16:09
to me a letter for Toussaints, full of sounding words and fine promises,
3:16:13
informing him that his two children, who had been educated in Paris were sent
3:16:16
back to him, offering him the title of vice Governor, and stating that
3:16:22
he ought readily to assist in an arrangement which would contribute to reconnect the colony
3:16:26
with the mother country. Toussaint, who had at first shown a disposition to
3:16:31
close with the bargain, yet feeling afraid of being deceived by the French,
3:16:35
and probably induced by ambitious motives resolved on war. He displayed a great deal
3:16:39
of talent, but being attacked before the climate had thinned the French ranks,
3:16:45
he was unable to oppose a fresh army. Numerous and inured to war,
3:16:50
he capitulated and retired to a plantation, which he was not to leave without
3:16:54
Leclaire's permission. A feign conspiracy on the part of the Blacks formed a pretend
3:17:00
for accusing Toussaint, and he was seized and sent to France. Tousson was
3:17:05
brought to Paris in the beginning of August. He was sent, in the
3:17:07
first instance to the Temple, where he was removed to the Chateau du Jou.
3:17:13
His imprisonment was rigorous, few comforts were allowed him this treatment. His
3:17:18
recollection of the past, his separation from the world, and the effects of
3:17:20
a strange climate accelerated his death, which took place a few months after his
3:17:26
arrival in France. The reports which spread concerning his death, the assertion that
3:17:31
it was not a natural one and that it had been caused by poison,
3:17:35
obtained no credit. I should add that Tousson wrote a letter to Bonaparte,
3:17:39
but I never saw in it the expression attributed to him, quote the first
3:17:43
man of the blacks to the first man of the whites, and quote Buonaparte
3:17:48
acknowledged that the black leader possessed energy, courage, and great skill. I
3:17:52
am sure that he would have rejoiced if the result of his relations with Sant
3:17:56
Domingo had been something else than the kidnapping and transportation of Toussaint Leclaire. After
3:18:03
fruitless efforts to conquer the colony, was himself carried off by the yellow fever.
3:18:07
Rouchambeau succeeded him by right of seniority, and was as unsuccessful as Minau
3:18:13
had been in Egypt. The submission of the Blacks, which could only have
3:18:16
been obtained by conciliation, he endeavored to compel by violence. At last,
3:18:22
in December eighteen o three, he surrendered to an English squadron and abandoned the
3:18:26
island to de Sanine. Bonaparte often experienced severe bodily pain, and I have
3:18:33
now little doubt from the nature of his sufferings that they were occasioned by the
3:18:37
commencement of that malady which terminated his life at Saint Elena. These pains,
3:18:41
of which he frequently complained, affected him most acutely on the night when he
3:18:46
dictated to me the instructions for General Leclaire. It was very late when I
3:18:50
conducted him to his apartment. We had just been taking a cup of chocolate,
3:18:54
a beverage off which we always partook when our business lasted longer than one
3:18:58
o'clock in the morning. He never took a light with him when he went
3:19:01
up to his bedroom. I gave him my arm, and we had scarcely
3:19:05
got beyond the little staircase which leads to the corridor, when he was rudely
3:19:09
run against by a man who was endeavoring to escape as quickly as possible by
3:19:13
the staircase. The first Consul did not fall because I supported him. We
3:19:18
soon gained his chamber, where we found Josephine, who, having heard the
3:19:22
noise, awoke greatly alarmed. From the investigations which were immediately made, it
3:19:28
appeared that the uproar was occasioned by a fellow who had been keeping an assignation
3:19:31
and had exceeded the usual hour for his departure. On the seventh of January
3:19:37
eighteen o two, Mademoiselle Ortence was married to Louis Bonaparte. As the custom
3:19:43
was not yet resumed of adding the religious ceremony to the civil contract. The
3:19:46
nuptial benediction was on this occasion privately given by a priest at the house Rue
3:19:52
de la Victoire. Butonaparte also caused the marriage of his sister Caroline fit Nat,
3:19:58
the wife of Murrains and the cleverest of Oneipart's sisters and footnote, which
3:20:03
had taken place two years earlier before a mayor, to be consecrated in the
3:20:07
same manner. But he and his wife did not follow the example, and
3:20:11
he already then an idea of separating from Josephine, and therefore an unwillingness to
3:20:16
render a divorce more difficult by giving his marriage a religious sanction. I am
3:20:20
rather inclined to think, from what he said to me, that his neglecting
3:20:24
to take a part in the religious ceremony arose from indifference. Buinipart said at
3:20:30
Saint Helena, speaking of Louis and Ortonse that quote, they loved each other
3:20:35
when they married, they desired to be united. The marriage was also the
3:20:39
result of Josephine's intrigues, who found her accountenent. I will state the real
3:20:45
facts. Louis and Ortonse did not love one another at all. That is
3:20:50
certain. The first Consul knew it, just as he well knew that Ortonse
3:20:54
had a great inclination for du Rooc, who did not fully return it.
3:20:58
The First Consulate grew to their union, but Josephine was troubled by such a
3:21:01
marriage and did all she could to prevent it. She often spoke to me
3:21:05
about it, but rather late in the day she told me that her brothers
3:21:09
in law were her declared enemies, that I well knew their intrigues, and
3:21:13
that I well knew there was no end to the annoyances they made her undergo.
3:21:18
In fact, I did know all this perfectly. She kept on repeating
3:21:22
to me that with this projected marriage she would not have any support, that
3:21:26
du roc was nothing except by the favor of Bonaparte, that he had neither
3:21:31
fortune, fame, nor reputation, and that he could be no help to
3:21:33
her Against the well known ill will of the brothers of Bonaparte. She wanted
3:21:39
some assurance for the future. She added that her husband was very fond of
3:21:43
Louis, and that if she had the good fortune to unite him to her
3:21:46
daughter, this would be a counterpoise to the calumnies and persecutions of her other
3:21:52
brothers in law. I answered her that she had concealed her intentions too long
3:21:56
from me, and that I had promised my services to the young people,
3:22:00
and the more willingly as I knew the favorable opinion of the First Consul,
3:22:03
who had often said to me, my wife has done well. They suit
3:22:07
one another, they shall marry one another. I like du Roc. He
3:22:11
is of good family. I have rightly given Caroline to Murras and Pauline to
3:22:15
Leucraire, and I can well give Ortense to Duroc, who is a fine
3:22:18
fellow. He is worth more than the others. He is now general of
3:22:22
a division. There is nothing against this marriage. Besides, I have other
3:22:26
plans for Louis. In speaking to Madame Bonaparte, I added that her daughter
3:22:31
burst into tears when spoken to about her marriage with Louis. The First Council
3:22:35
had sent a brevet of general of division to Duroc by a special courier who
3:22:41
went to Holland, through which the newly made general had to pass on his
3:22:45
return from Saint Petersburg. Where As I have already said, he had been
3:22:48
sent to compliment the Emperor Alexander on his accession to the throne. The first
3:22:54
Council probably paid this compliment to du Roc in the belief that the marriage would
3:22:58
take place during Duroc's absence. The correspondence of the lovers passed by their consent
3:23:03
through my hands. Every night I used to make one in a party at
3:23:07
billiards, at which Ortense played very well. When I told her in a
3:23:11
whisper that I had got a letter for her, she would immediately leave off
3:23:16
playing and run to her chamber, where I followed and gave her Duocx's epistle.
3:23:20
When she opened it, her eyes would fill with tears, and it
3:23:24
was some time before she could return to the salon. All was useless for
3:23:28
her. Josephine required a support in the family against the family. Seeing her
3:23:33
firm resolution, I promised to no longer oppose her wishes, which I could
3:23:37
not disapprove. But I told her I could only maintain silence and neutrality in
3:23:41
these little debates, and she seemed satisfied. When we were at Malmaison,
3:23:46
those intrigues continued. At the Tuiliri, the same conduct was pursued, but
3:23:52
then the probability of success was on Duvoc's side. I even congratulated him on
3:23:56
his prospects, but he received my compliments in a very cold manner. In
3:24:01
a few days after Josephine succeeded in changing the whole face of affairs, her
3:24:05
heart was entirely set on the marriage of Louis with her daughter, and prayers,
3:24:11
entreaties, caresses and all those little arts which she so well knew how
3:24:15
to use were employed to win the first Consul to her purpose. On the
3:24:20
fourth of January, the first Consul, after dinner, entered our cabinet where
3:24:24
I was employed. Where is Durooc? He inquired? He has gone to
3:24:28
the opera, I believe. Tell him as soon as he returns that I
3:24:31
have promised ortans to him, and he shall have her. But I wish
3:24:35
the marriage to take place in two days at the latest. I will give
3:24:39
him five hundred thousand four and name him commandant of the eighth Military Division.
3:24:43
But he must set out the day after his marriage with his wife for Toulon.
3:24:48
We must live apart. I want no son in law at home,
3:24:52
as I wish to come to some conclusion. Let me know to night whether
3:24:56
this plan will satisfy him. I think it will not very well. Then
3:25:01
she shall marry Louis. Will she like that, she must like it.
3:25:07
Bonaparte gave me these directions in a very abrupt manner, which made me think
3:25:11
that some little domestic warfare had been raging, and that to put an end
3:25:15
to it, he had come to propose his ultimatum. At half past ten
3:25:18
in the evening, Duboc returned. I reported to him word for word the
3:25:22
proposition of the first Consul. Since it has come to that, my good
3:25:28
friend said, He tell him he may keep his daughter for me. I
3:25:31
am going to see the blank, and with an indifference for which I cannot
3:25:37
account, he took his hat and went off Footnote. Ducoc eventually married a
3:25:41
mademoiselle Eree d'lmenara, the daughter of a Spanish banker who was later minister of
3:25:48
Joseph and was created Marquis of Abruenera. The lady was neither handsome nor amiable,
3:25:54
but she possessed a vast fortune, and Bonaparte himself solicited her hand for
3:25:58
his aid. After the death of Duloc, his widow married a monsieur Faviller,
3:26:05
and Napoleon gave his duchy of Frioul to his daughter. End footnote.
3:26:09
The first Council, before going to bed, was informed of Duroc's reply,
3:26:13
and Josephine received from him the promise that Louis and Ortonce should be married.
3:26:18
The marriage took place a few days after. To the great regret of Ortence,
3:26:22
and probably to the satisfaction of Duloc, Louis submitted to have forced done
3:26:28
him as a wife, a woman who had hitherto avoided him as much as
3:26:31
possible. She always manifested as much indifference for him as he displayed repugnance for
3:26:37
her, and those sentiments have not been effaced. Footnote. The marriage of
3:26:43
Louis Bonpart took place on the seventh of January. The bride and brig room
3:26:46
were exceedingly dull, and Mademoiselle Ortense wept during the whole of the ceremony.
3:26:52
Josephine, knowing that this union, which commenced so inauspiciously was her own work,
3:26:56
anxiously endeavored to establish a more cordial feeling between her daughter and son in
3:27:01
law. But all her efforts were vain, and the marriage proved a very
3:27:05
unhappy one. Memoir de Constant Napoleon. The third was the son of the
3:27:11
Queen of Holland Orton's poor nay. Infootnote, Napoleon said at Saint Helena that
3:27:16
he wished to unite Louis with a niece of Talleyon. I can only say
3:27:20
that I never heard a word of this niece, either from himself, his
3:27:24
wife, or his daughter, and I rather think that at that time the
3:27:28
first Consul was looking after a royal alliance for Louis. He often expressed regrets
3:27:33
at the precipitate marriages of his sisters. It should be recollected that we were
3:27:37
now in the year which saw the consulship for life established, and which consequently
3:27:41
gave presage of the Empire. Napoleon said truly to the companions of his exile
3:27:46
that louis marriage was a result of Josephine's intrigues. But I cannot understand how
3:27:52
he never mentioned the intention he once had of uniting Orton's to du Roc.
3:27:58
It has been erroneously stated that the First Council believed that he had reconciled the
3:28:01
happiness of his daughter with his policy. Ortons did not love Louis and dreadied
3:28:07
this marriage. There was no hope of happiness for her, and the event
3:28:11
has proved this. As for the policy of the first Consul, it is
3:28:15
not easy to see how it was concerned with the marriage of Louis to Ortense,
3:28:18
And in any case, the grand policy, which professed so loudly to
3:28:22
be free from all feminine influences, would have been powerless against the intrigues of
3:28:26
Josephine, for at this time at the Tuillery the boudoir was often stronger than
3:28:31
the cabinet. Here I am happy to have it in my power to contradict
3:28:35
most formerly and most positively certain infamous insinuations which have prevailed respecting Bonaparte and Ortense.
3:28:43
Those who have asserted that Bonaparte ever entertained towards Ortens any other sentiments than
3:28:48
those of a father in law for a daughter in law, have, as
3:28:52
the ancient knights used to say, lied in their throats. We shall see
3:28:56
farther on what he said to me on this subject, But it is never
3:29:00
too soon to destroy such a base calumny. Authors unworthy of belief have stated
3:29:05
without any proof that not only was there this criminal liaison, but they have
3:29:09
gone so far as to say that Buonaparte was the father of the eldest son
3:29:13
of Ortonse. It is a lie, a vile lie, and yet the
3:29:18
rumor has spread through all France and all Europe. Alas as calumny such powerful
3:29:24
charms, that, once they are submitted to, their yoke cannot be broken.
3:29:28
Buttnote Boulienne's account of this marriage and his denial of the vile calumny about
3:29:33
Napoleon is corroborated by Madame Remouse, after saying that Ortonse had refused to marry
3:29:39
the son of Rubel and also the conton Na. She goes on quote.
3:29:43
A short time afterwards, du Roc then aid de compte to the Consul,
3:29:48
and, already noted by him, fell in love with Ortonse. She returned
3:29:52
the feeling and believed she had found that other half of herself which she sought.
3:29:56
Bonaparte looked favorably on their union, but Madame Bonaparte, in her turn,
3:30:01
was inflexible. My daughter said she must marry a gentleman, or a
3:30:05
Bonaparte. Louis was then thought of. He had no fancy for Ortonse,
3:30:09
detested the Bourney family and had a supreme contempt for his sister in law.
3:30:15
But as he was silent, he was believed to be gentle, and as
3:30:18
he was severe by character, he was believed to be upright. Madame Louis
3:30:22
told me afterwards that at the news of this arrangement she experienced violent grief.
3:30:28
Not only was she forbidden to think of the man she loved, but she
3:30:31
was about to be given to another of whom she had a secret distrust.
3:30:37
Remossa to one, page one hundred and fifty six. For the cruel treatment
3:30:41
of Ortons by Louis, see the succeeding pages of Remussa. As for the
3:30:46
vile scandal about Ortonse and Napoleon, there is little doubt that it was spread
3:30:50
by the Bonapartist family for interested motives. Madame Louis became ensant soon after her
3:30:56
marriage. The Bonapartists, and especially Madame Murras Caroline, had disliked this marriage.
3:31:03
Because Joseph having only daughters, it was foreseen that the first son of
3:31:07
Louis and the grandson of Madame Bonaparte would be the object of great interest.
3:31:11
They therefore spread the revolting story that this was the result of a connection of
3:31:15
the first Consul with his daughter in law, encouraged by the mother herself quote
3:31:20
the public willingly believed this suspicion and quote Madame Mourras told Louis and so on
3:31:26
Remoussin Tom One, page one hundred and sixty nine. This last sentence is
3:31:31
corroborated by meat de Melito Tom. Two, page one hundred and seventy,
3:31:37
who, speaking of the later proposal of Napoleon to adopt this child, says
3:31:41
that Louis quote remembered the damaging stories which ill Will had tried to spread among
3:31:46
the public concerning Orton's poorney before he married her, And although a comparison of
3:31:50
the date of his marriage with that of the birth of his son must have
3:31:54
shown him that these tales were unfounded, he felt that they would be revived
3:31:58
by the adoption of this child by the first Consul. Thus, this wretched
3:32:03
story did harm in every way. The conduct of Josephine must be judged with
3:32:07
leniency. Engaged as she was, in a desperate struggle to maintain her own
3:32:11
marriage, a struggle she kept up with great skill see Metternich Tom. Two,
3:32:16
page two hundred and ninety six. Quote. She baffled all the calculations,
3:32:20
all the maneuvers of her adversaries edge quote. But she was foolish enough
3:32:26
to talk in her anger as if she believed some of the disgraceful rumors of
3:32:28
Napoleon quote had he not seduced his sisters one after the other? End quote
3:32:35
Remossa Tom One, page two hundred and four. As to how far this
3:32:39
scandal was really believed by the brothers of Napoleon, see Young's Lucian Tom two,
3:32:45
pages two hundred and sixty eight and two hundred and sixty nine, where
3:32:48
Lucian described Louis as coming three times to him for advice as to his marriage
3:32:52
with Ortonse. Both brothers referring to this rumor. The third time, Louis
3:32:56
announces he is in love with Ortons in love? Why the devil? Then,
3:33:01
do you come to me for advice? If so, forget what has
3:33:03
been rumored and what I have advised you marry and may God bless you.
3:33:09
Tierre Tom Three, page three hundred and eight follows Burienne's account. Josephine,
3:33:15
alluding to Louis Bonaparte, said, quote, his family have maliciously informed him
3:33:18
of the disgraceful stories which have been spread on the conduct of my daughter and
3:33:22
on the birth of her son. Hate assigns this child to Napoleon edg.
3:33:28
Quote Gmassa Tom one, page two hundred and six. The child in question
3:33:33
was Napoleon sharh eighteen o two to eighteen o seven, end of Section nine,
3:33:39
Chapter eight eighteen o two to eighteen o three. Bonaparte President of the
3:33:43
Sicalpine Republic, Meeting of the Deputation at Lyons, Malta and the English My
3:33:50
immortality fit given by Madame Murras erasures from the immigrant List, restitution of property,
3:33:58
General Sebastiani, Lord Whitworth, Napoleon's first symptoms of disease, Gorvisar,
3:34:05
influence of physical suffering on Napoleon's temper, articles for the Moniteur General Andreossi,
3:34:13
Monsieur Tallieron's plan Jerome Buonaparte, extravagance of Bonaparte's brothers Monsieur Collot, and the
3:34:20
Navy contract. Bonaparte was anxious to place the Sisalpan Republic on a fitting of
3:34:24
harmony with the government of France. It was necessary to select a president who
3:34:30
should perfectly agree with Bonaparte's views, and in this respect no one could be
3:34:33
so suitable as Bonaparte himself. The two presidencies united would serve as a transition
3:34:39
to the throne. Not wishing to be long absent from Paris, and anxious
3:34:43
to avoid the trouble of the journey to Milan, he arranged to meet the
3:34:48
deputation half way at Nion. Before our departure, I said to him,
3:34:52
is it possible that you do not wish to revisit Italy, the first scene
3:34:56
of your glory, and the beautiful capital of Lombardy, where you were the
3:35:00
object of so much homage? I certainly should, replied the first Consul,
3:35:05
But the journey to Milan would occupy too much precious time. I prefer that
3:35:09
the meeting should take place in France. My influence over the deputies will be
3:35:13
more prompt and certain at Lyon than at Milan. And then I should be
3:35:18
glad to see the noble wreck of the Army of Egypt, which is collected
3:35:22
at Lyon. On the eighth of January eighteen o two we set out.
3:35:26
Bonaparte, who was now ready to ascend the throne of France, wished to
3:35:31
prepare the Italians for one day crowning him King of Italy in imitation of Charlemagne
3:35:35
of him. In anticipation, he considered himself the successor. He saw that
3:35:41
the title of President of the Sisalpin Republic was a great advance towards the sovereignty
3:35:46
of Lombardy, as he afterwards found that the Consulate for life was a decisive
3:35:50
step towards the throne of France. He obtained the title of President without much
3:35:54
difficulty on the twenty sixth of January eighteen o two. The journey to Leon
3:36:00
and the conferences were only matters of form, but high sounding words and solemn
3:36:03
proceedings were required for the public mind. The attempts which had been made on
3:36:09
the life of the first Consul gave rise to a report that he took extraordinary
3:36:13
precautions for his safety during this journey to Lyon. I never saw those precautions,
3:36:18
and Buonaparte was at all times a verse to adopt any He often repeated
3:36:22
that whoever would risk his own life might take his. It is not true
3:36:26
that guard preceded his carriage and watched the roads. The Consul traveled like a
3:36:31
private person and very rarely had arms in his carriage. Footnote. Buonaparte may
3:36:37
have been careless of his own safety, but that he took great pains in
3:36:41
regard to his brothers may be inferred from the following letter written a few years
3:36:45
later. Quote take care that your value de champre, your cooks, the
3:36:50
guards that sleep in your apartments, and those who come during the night to
3:36:52
awaken you with dispatches are all Frenchmen. No one should enter your room during
3:36:58
the night except your aid de comp who should sleep in the chamber that precedes
3:37:01
your bedroom. Your door should be fastened inside, and you ought not to
3:37:05
open it even to your aid de comt until you have recognized his voice.
3:37:09
He himself should not knock at your door until he has locked that of the
3:37:13
room which he is in. To make sure of being alone and of being
3:37:18
followed by no one. These precautions are important. They give no trouble,
3:37:22
and they inspire confidence. Besides, they may really save your life. You
3:37:26
should establish these habits immediately and permanently. You ought not to be obliged to
3:37:31
have resourced to them on some emergency, which would hurt the feelings of those
3:37:35
around you. Do not trust only to your own experience. The Neapolitan character
3:37:41
has been violent in every age, and you have to do with a woman,
3:37:43
not Queen of Naples, not who is the impersonation of crime. End
3:37:48
quote Napoleon to Joseph May thirty first, eighteen o six Duquesse Tome two,
3:37:54
page two hundred and sixty end footnote. At this time, when the ambition
3:38:00
of Bonaparte every day took a farther flight, General Clark took it into his
3:38:03
head to go into the box of the first Consul at the Francais, and
3:38:07
to place himself in the front seat. By chance, the first Consul came
3:38:11
to the theater, but Clark, hardly rising, did not give up his
3:38:16
place. The first Consul only stayed a short time, and when he came
3:38:20
back, he showed great discontent at this affectation of pride and of vanity.
3:38:26
Wishing to get rid of a man whom he looked on as a blundering,
3:38:28
flatterer and a clumly critic, he sent him away as charge la Fere to
3:38:33
the young extemporized king of Ertruria, where Clerk expiated his folly in a sort
3:38:39
of exile. This is all the great disfavor which has been so much spoken
3:38:43
about. In the end, General Clark returned to favor Berlin knows and regrets
3:38:48
it. On the twenty fifth of March of the same year, England signed
3:38:54
at Amiel a suspension of arms for fourteen months which was called a treaty of
3:38:58
peace. The clauses of this treaty were not calculated to inspire the hope of
3:39:03
a very long piece. It was evident, as I have already said,
3:39:07
that England would not evacuate Malta, and that Island ultimately proved the chief cause
3:39:13
of the rupture of the Treaty of Amiel. But England heretofore so haughty in
3:39:16
her bearing to the First Council, and at length treated with him as the
3:39:20
head of the French government. This, as Bonaparte was aware, bodied well
3:39:24
for the consolidation of his power at that time, when he saw his glory
3:39:30
and power augmenting, he said to me in one of her walks at Malmison,
3:39:33
in a moment of hilarity, and clapping me on the shoulder, Well,
3:39:37
Burienne, you also will be immortal. Why General, are you not
3:39:43
my secretary? Tell me the name of Alexander's said I, but not.
3:39:48
Bonaparte did not know the name of Alexander's secretary, and I forgot at the
3:39:52
moment to tell him. It was Callisthenes. He wrote Alexander's memoirs as I
3:39:58
am writing Bonaparte's. But notwithstanding this, coincidence. I neither expect nor desire
3:40:03
the immortality of my name Bourienne and footnote. Bonaparte then turned to me,
3:40:09
and laughing, said, hum, that is not bad. There was,
3:40:11
to be sure, a little flattery conveyed in my question, but that never
3:40:16
displeased him, and I certainly did not, in that instance deserve the censure
3:40:20
he often bestowed on me for not being enough of a courtier and flatterer.
3:40:24
Madame Mourras gave a grand fit in order of Buonaparte at her residence at Nouills.
3:40:31
At dinner, Bonaparte sat opposite Madame Mouras at the principal table, which
3:40:35
was appropriated to the ladies. He ate fast and talked but little. However,
3:40:39
when the dessert was served, he put a question to each lady.
3:40:43
This question was to inquire their respective ages. When Madame Bourienne's turn came,
3:40:48
he said to her, oh, I know yours. This was a great
3:40:52
deal for his gallantry, and the other ladies were far from being pleased at
3:40:56
it. Next day, while walking with me in his Favre Ali at Malmison,
3:41:01
he received one of those stupid reports of the police which were so frequently
3:41:05
addressed to him. It mentioned the observations which had been made in Paris about
3:41:09
a green livery he had lately adopted. Some said that green had been chosen
3:41:13
because it was the color of the house of Artois. Our reading that a
3:41:18
slight sneer was observable in his countenance, and he said, what are these
3:41:22
idiots dreaming off? They must be joking. Surely am I know better than
3:41:26
Monsieur d'Artois. They shall soon see the difference. Until the middle of the
3:41:31
year eighteen o one, the erasures from the emigrant list had always been proposed
3:41:37
by the Minister of Police. The first Consul, having been informed that intrigue
3:41:41
and even bribery had been employed to obtain them, determined that in future erasures
3:41:46
should be part of the business of his cabinet. But other affairs took up
3:41:50
his attention, and a dozen or fifteen erasures a week were the most that
3:41:54
were made. After to Daeum had been chanted at Malmeison for the concordain and
3:42:00
the peace. I took advantage of that moment of general joy to propose to
3:42:05
Bonaparte the return of the whole body of emigrants. You have said, I
3:42:09
in a half joking way reconciled Frenchmen to God, now reconcile them to each
3:42:15
other. There have never been any real emigrants, only absentees. And the
3:42:20
proof of this is that erasures from the list have always been and will always
3:42:24
be made daily. He immediately seized the idea we shall see, said he.
3:42:31
But I must accept a thousand persons belonging to high families, especially those
3:42:35
who are or have been connected with royalty or the court, I said in
3:42:41
the Chamber of Deputies. And I feel pleasure in repeating here that the plan
3:42:45
of the Sinatus Consulte, which Bonaparte dictated to me, accepted from restitution only
3:42:52
such mansions as were used for public establishments. These he would neither surrender nor
3:42:56
pay rent for. With those exceptions, he was willing to restore almost all
3:43:01
that was possessed by the state and had not been sold. The first Consul,
3:43:07
as soon as he had finished this plan of a decree, convoked a
3:43:09
Grand Council to submit it to their consideration. I was in an adjoining room
3:43:13
to that in which they met, and as the deliberations were carried on with
3:43:18
great warmth, the members talking very loudly, sometimes even vociferating, I heard
3:43:24
all that passed. The Revolutionary Party rejected all propositions of restitution. They were
3:43:30
willing to call back their victims, but they would not part with the spoil.
3:43:33
When the first Consul returned to his cabinet, dissatisfied with the ill success
3:43:37
of his project, I took the liberty of saying to him, you cannot
3:43:41
but perceive, General, that your object has been defeated and your project unsuccessful.
3:43:46
The refusal to restore to the emigrants all that the state possesses takes from
3:43:50
the recall, all its generosity and dignity of character. I wonder how you
3:43:56
could yield to such an unreasonable and selfish opposition. The Revolutionary Party replied,
3:44:01
he had the majority in the council. What could I do? Am I
3:44:05
strong enough to overcome all those obstacles? General, you can revive the question
3:44:11
again and oppose the party you speak of. That would be difficult, he
3:44:15
said, They still have a high hand in these matters. Time is required,
3:44:20
However, nothing is definitively arranged. We shall see what can be done.
3:44:26
The Sanatus CONSULTI published on the sixth Florial Year ten twenty sixth of April
3:44:31
eighteen o two, a fortnight after the above conversation took place. Is well
3:44:35
known Binnaparte was then obliged to yield to the Revolutionary party, or he would
3:44:41
have adhered to his first proposition. Footnote the sanatus CONSULTI retained the woods and
3:44:46
forests of the emigrants and made their recall an amnesty. In the end,
3:44:52
this retention of the forests was used by Napoleon with great dexterity, as a
3:44:56
means of placing them under personal obligation to him for restoring this species of property.
3:45:01
See Thierre Tom three Wage four hundred and fifty eight Livra fourteen end footnote.
3:45:09
Napoleon referred to this matter at Saint Helena. He himself says that he
3:45:13
would have been able. He should have said that he wished to grant everything,
3:45:18
that for a moment he thought of doing so, and that it was
3:45:20
a mistake not to do so. This limitation on my part, he adds,
3:45:26
destroyed all the good effect of the return of the emigrants. The mistake
3:45:30
was the greater since I thought of doing it, but I was alone,
3:45:33
surrounded by oppositions and by spies. All were against your party. You cannot
3:45:37
easily picture the matter to yourself, but important affairs hurried me. Time pressed,
3:45:43
and I was obliged to act differently. Afterwards, he speaks of a
3:45:48
syndicate he wished to form, But I have never heard a word of that.
3:45:52
I have said how things really happened, and what has been just read
3:45:56
confirms this footnote. This was, by no means the old only time that
3:46:00
Napoleon's wishes were opposed successfully in his council estate. On such occasions he used
3:46:05
to describe himself as repulsed with losses. See the interesting work of Saintelert Napoleon
3:46:11
all coincided that infout not the royalists, dissatisfied with the state of political affairs,
3:46:18
were not better pleased with the illiberal conditions of the recall of the emigrants.
3:46:24
The friends of public liberty, on the other hand, were far from
3:46:26
being satisfied with the other acts of the first Consul, or with the conduct
3:46:31
of the different public authorities, who were always ready to make concessions to him.
3:46:35
Thus all parties were dissatisfied. Buonaparte was much pleased with General Sebastiani's conduct
3:46:41
when he was sent to Constantinople after the Peace of Amiel to induce the Grand
3:46:46
Seignor to renew amical relations with France. At the period here alluded to,
3:46:52
namely, before the news of the evacuation of Egypt, that country greatly occupied
3:46:56
Bonaparte's attention. He thought that to send a man like Sebastiani traveling through Northern
3:47:01
Africa, Egypt, and Syria might inspire the sovereigns of those countries with a
3:47:05
more favorable idea of France than he now entertained, and might remove the ill
3:47:11
impressions which England was endeavoring to produce. On this mission, Sebastiani was accordingly
3:47:16
dispatched. He visited all the Barbary states, Egypt, Palestine and the Ionian
3:47:22
Isles. Everywhere he drew a highly colored picture of the power of Bonaparte and
3:47:26
depreciated the glory of England footnote. This general or Count Sebastiani was afterwards ambassador
3:47:35
for Louis Philippe at our court red footnote. He strengthened old connections and contracted
3:47:41
new ones with the chiefs of each country. He declared to the authorities of
3:47:46
the Ionian Isles that he might rely on the powerful protection of France. Buonaparte,
3:47:50
in my opinion, expected too much from the labors of a single individual,
3:47:54
furnished with but vague instructions. Still, Sebastiani did all that could be
3:48:00
done. The interesting details of his proceedings were published in the Moniteur. The
3:48:05
secret information respecting the means of successfully attacking the English establishments in India was very
3:48:11
curious, though not affording the hope of speedy success. The published abstract of
3:48:16
General Sebastiani's report was full of expressions hostile to England. Among other things,
3:48:22
it was stated that Egypt might be conquered with six thousand men, and that
3:48:26
the Ionian isles were disposed to throw off the yoke. There can be little
3:48:31
doubt that this publication hastened the rupture of the Treaty of amioon England suspended all
3:48:37
discussions respecting Malta and declared that she would not resume them till the King of
3:48:41
Great Britain should receive satisfaction for what was called an act of hostility. This
3:48:48
was always put forward as a justification, good or bad, for breaking the
3:48:52
Treaty of Amion, which England had never shown herself very ready to execute.
3:48:56
Bonaparte, waiving the usual forms of etiquette, expressed his wish to have a
3:49:01
private conference with Lord Whitworth, the ambassador from London to Paris, and who
3:49:05
had been the English ambassador at Saint Petersburg previous to the rupture which preceded the
3:49:11
death of Paul the First. Biniparte counted much on the effect he might produce
3:49:15
by that captivating manner which he so well knew how to assume in conversation.
3:49:20
But all was in vain. In signing the Treaty of Amiel, the British
3:49:24
minister was well aware that he would be the first to break it. About
3:49:28
the commencement of the year eighteen o two, Napoleon began to feel acute pains
3:49:33
in his right side. I have often seen him at Malmesell, when sitting
3:49:37
up at night, lean against the right arm of his chair and unbuttoning his
3:49:41
coat and waistcoat, exclaim what pain I feel. I would then accompany him
3:49:46
to his bed chamber, and have often been obliged to support him on the
3:49:50
little staircase which led from his cabinet to the corridor. He frequently used to
3:49:54
say, at this time, I fear that when I am forty, I
3:49:58
shall become a great eater. I have a foreboding that I shall grow very
3:50:01
corpulent. This fear of obesity, though it annoyed him very much, did
3:50:07
not appear to have the least foundation, judging from his habitual temperance and spare
3:50:11
habit of body. He asked me who was my physician? I told him
3:50:16
Monsieur Curvisar, whom his brother Louis had recommended to me A few days after
3:50:20
he called in Courvissar, who three years later was appointed first physician to the
3:50:24
Emperor. He appeared to derive much benefit from the prescriptions of Curvisar, whose
3:50:31
open and good humored countenance at once made a favorable impression on him. The
3:50:35
pain which the first Consul felt at this time increased his irritability. Perhaps many
3:50:41
of the acts of this epoch of his life should be attributed to this illness.
3:50:46
At the time in question, his ideas were not the same in the
3:50:48
evening as they had been in the morning, and often in the morning he
3:50:52
would tear up, even without the least remark notes he had dictated to me
3:50:56
at night, and which he had considered excellent at other times. I took
3:51:01
on myself not to send to the monitor, as he wished me to do
3:51:03
notes which dictated by annoyance and irascibility might have produced a bad effect in Europe.
3:51:09
When the next day he did not see the article, I attributed this
3:51:13
to the note being too late, or to the late arrival of the courier.
3:51:18
But I told him it was no loss, for it would be inserted
3:51:20
the next day. He did not answer it once, but a quarter of
3:51:24
an hour afterwards he said to me, do not send my note to the
3:51:28
monitor without showing it to me. He took it and reread it sometimes.
3:51:33
He was astonished at what he had dictated to me, and amused himself by
3:51:35
saying that I had not understood him properly. That is not much good,
3:51:41
is it? Upon my word? I don't quite know. Oh no,
3:51:45
it is worthless. What say you? Then he bowed his head a little
3:51:48
and tore up the paper. Once, when we were at the tuillery,
3:51:52
he sent me at two o'clock in the morning a small note in his own
3:51:56
writing, in which was to Bourienne write to Marie to make him a raise.
3:52:01
From the note which Flurio has read to the tribunat, the phrase spelt
3:52:05
f R A s E concerning costats and to soften as much as possible.
3:52:11
What concerns the reporter of the tribunat this change, after time for reflection,
3:52:16
arose, as often happened with him, from obligations I had made to him,
3:52:20
and which he had at first angrily repulsed. After the Peace of Amion,
3:52:26
the First Consul, wishing to send an ambassador to England, cast his
3:52:30
eyes for what reason I know not on General Antaiosi. I took the liberty
3:52:35
of making some observation on a choice which did not appear to me to correspond
3:52:39
with the importance of the mission. Bonaparte replied, I have not determined on
3:52:43
it. I will talk to Tellingon on the subject. When we were at
3:52:48
Malaison in the evening, Monsieur de Talinon came to transact business with the First
3:52:52
Consul. The proposed appointment of an ambassador to England was mentioned. After several
3:52:58
persons had been named, the first Council said, I believe I must send
3:53:01
Andreosi. Monsieur de Talleron, who was not much pleased with the choice,
3:53:07
observed in a dry, sarcastic tone, you must send andre oh see,
3:53:13
I pray, who is this Andrea? I did not mention any Andree.
3:53:18
I said Andreosi. You know Andreosi, the general of artillery. Ah,
3:53:24
true, Andreosi, I did not think of him. I was thinking only
3:53:28
of the diplomatic men, and did not recollect any of that name. Yes,
3:53:33
yes, Andreosi is in the artillery. The general was appointed ambassador and
3:53:37
went to London after the Treaty of Amion, but he returned again in a
3:53:41
few months. He had nothing of consequence to do, which was very lucky
3:53:46
for him. In eighteen o two, Jerome was at Brest in the rank
3:53:50
of Monzen de Vessau footnote a rank in the navy equivalent to that of our
3:53:56
lieutenant and footnote. He launched into expenses far beyond what his fortune or his
3:54:01
pay could maintain. He often drew upon me for sums of money, which
3:54:05
the first consul paid with much unwillingness. One of his letters, in particular,
3:54:11
excited Napoleon's anger. The epistle was filled with accounts of the entertainments Jerome
3:54:16
was giving and receiving, and ended by stating that he should draw on me
3:54:20
for seventeen thousand francs. To this, Bonaparte wrote the following reply, I
3:54:24
have read your letter, Monsieur moncend de vessa and I am waiting to hear
3:54:28
that you are studying on board your corvette, a profession which you ought to
3:54:33
consider as your road to glory. Die young, and I shall have some
3:54:37
consolatory reflection. But if you live to sixty without having served your country,
3:54:43
and without leaving behind you any honorable recollections, you had better not have lived
3:54:46
at all. Jerome never fulfilled the wishes of his brother, who always called
3:54:52
him a little profligate from his earliest years. His conduct was often a source
3:54:56
of vexation to his brother and his family. Westphalia will not soon forget that
3:55:01
he was her king, and his subjects did not, without reason surname him
3:55:05
Heliogabalus. In miniature, the first Consul was harassed by the continual demands for
3:55:11
money made on him by his brothers. To get rid of Joseph, who
3:55:15
expended large sums at Martevon ten as Lucien did at Nui, he gave Monsieur
3:55:20
Collot the contract for vittling the navy, on the condition of his paying Joseph
3:55:26
one million, six hundred thousand from a year out of his profits. I
3:55:30
believe this arrangement answered Joseph's purpose very well, but it was anything but advantageous
3:55:35
to Monsieur Collot. I think a whole year elapsed without his pocketing a single
3:55:39
farthing. He obtained an audience of the first Consul, to whom he stated
3:55:43
his grievances. His outlays, he showed where enormous, and he could get
3:55:48
no payment from the Navy office, upon which the consul angrily interrupted him,
3:55:54
saying, do you think I am a mere capuchin. Ducret must have one
3:55:58
hundred thousand crimes du roc, one hundred thousand Bouriennese one hundred thousand. You
3:56:03
must make the payments, and don't come here troubling me with your long stories.
3:56:07
It is the business of my ministers to give me accounts of such matters.
3:56:11
I will hear de Cret and that's enough. Let me be tased no
3:56:16
longer with these complaints. I cannot attend to them. Bonaparte then very unceremoniously
3:56:22
dismissed Monsieur Coleot. I learned afterwards that he did not get a settlement of
3:56:26
the business until after a great deal of trouble. Monsieur Colot once said to
3:56:30
me, if he had asked me for as much money as he would have
3:56:33
built a frigate. He should have had it. All I want now is
3:56:37
to be paid and to get rid of the business. Monsieur Colot had reason
3:56:41
and honor on his side, but there was nothing but shuffling on the other.
3:56:46
End off Section ten, end off Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Volume five
3:56:52
by Louis Antoine Fauvellats de Bouriennese