b'\nPass Dcao A \n\nBook . ^^If \n\n\\S\xe2\x82\xac1 \n\n\n\nALPHA LIBRARY. \n\n\n\nNapoleon and Marie Louise \n\n\n\nA Memoir \n\n\n\nBy \n\nMadame La Generale\' Durand. \n\n\n\n\nChicago and New York: \nRand, McNally & Company, \n\nPublishers. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nBy !l^e"bf-nf?e \n\nMXmy and N.-i.^.v r:ic\xc2\xbbl!5 \n\n\n\nPEEFACE TO THE FIEST EDITION. \n\n\n\nIt is right that I should give to the public certain \ndetails regarding a work in which many persons \nstill living figure unfavourably. It is much against \nmy will that I find myself obliged to give these \nreminiscences prominence which* I did not intend \nfor them. After the departure of the Empress Marie- \nLouise, in whose service I was for four years, I was \ndesirous of collecting the various notes which I had \nmade, under the name of Souvenirs. I retraced all \nthat I had seen, the anecdotes to whose authenticity \nI was a witness, those which had been related to me, \nand which 1 had verified ; I depicted the illustrious \npersons whom I served with the sentiments of grati- \ntude and respect due to them. I was far indeed \nfrom insulting him whose misfortunes have been \nso great \xe2\x80\x94 that is a baseness of which I am incapable. \n\n\n\nIT PREFACE TO THE FIRST KDITION. \n\nI had sketched out their portraits, all prompted by- \ntruth, but without any reflections, and especially \nwithout any evil speaking. \n\nA friend of my family, who has been living for \nsome time in London, wrote to me a year ago, that \nhe had collected a great deal of material, and was \nabout to publish memorials of Napoleon and his \nfamily. He begged me to communicate to him the \nnotes which he knew I possessed. Either from a \npresentiment or from prudence, I at first refused on \nthe score of the many sorrows of my life, and my \nfear of reviving them by such publicity. He re- \nassured me by protesting that he would conceal my \nidentity. Yielding to his renewed importunities, I \nsent him the memoranda for which he had asked. But \nwhat was my astonishment when several persons \nspoke to me of a pamphlet which had arrived from \nLondon, in which the Court of Napoleon was most \nseverely handled. Although the work was forbidden, \nI succeeded in procuring a copy, and found in it \na portion of the notes and portraits that I had sent, \nbut totally disfigured by reflections as ill-placed as \nthey were improper. The author, finding my por- \ntraits insipid, wanted to render them piquant. He \ndid not perceive that he made them odious. To \nthese portraits are added unfounded anecdotes, which \nI owe it to the truth to deny, all the more that \n\n\n\nPREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 1 \n\nthe author, in a preface which he had no right \nwhatever to place at the head of his book, has ahnost \npointed me out as the writer of it. \n\nI submit these Souvenirs to the public, just as \nI wrote them for my own family, and I give my \nname, because, if this work be worthy of blame, \nthat blame should fall only upon myself, and not \nupon estimable persons who have been very unjustly \naccused.* \n\n* This final edition of the "M^moirei snr Napoleon et Marie- \nLouise" had been prepared by Madame la Grenerale Durand, who \ndied without having published them. \n\nThey could not have been placed before the publio at an earliAir \ndate,\xe2\x80\x94 Editor\'s Nota. \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER I. \n\nTHII FAMILY OF NAPOLEON \xe2\x80\x94 JEROME, KING OP WESTPHALIA \xe2\x80\x94 THE \n\nPRINCESS OF WURTEMBURG THE DUC d\'eNGHIEN \xe2\x80\x94 CAUSE OF THE \n\nDIVORCE OP NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE \xe2\x80\x94 MARIE- LOUISE. \n\nIt was the end of 1809. The fresh victories just won \nby the Emperor had rendered his crown secure; his \nglory was complete, but for his ambition and his \nhappiness an heir was needed. He could not hope \nfor issue of his marriage with Josephine, and death \nhad recently removed the eldest son of his brother \nLouis. The child had been generally regarded as his \nuncle\'s successor; some people went so far, indeed, as \nto assert that he was his son, and that the Emperor \nhad given Hortense Beauharnais in marriage to Louis, \nsolely in order to conceal the result of his own rela- \ntions with her. In support of what, after all, could be \nno more than a conjecture, it was said that Louis \nnever could endure his wife, and thus it is that truth \nsometimes serves to propagate falsehood. It is certain \n\nB \n\n\n\n2 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nthat Napoleon never was unduly intimate with Ilor- \ntense, but that he loved her as he loved her brother \nEugene, because the two were the children of his wife. \nIn the various marriages which he decreed, whether \nin his own family or among the personages of his \nCourt, he never consulted inclination ; he listened to \nnothing except convenience. His will was an absolute \ncommand : this was proved in the case of his brother \nJerome, who, having married Miss Patterson in America, \nwithout his consent, was forced to abandon his wife \nand child and to marry the Princess of Wurtemburg. \nIt is said that for a long time the marriage was a \nnominal one, and indeed, that the King had vowed he \nwould never have any relations with a wife who had \nbeen thus forced upon him. For three years he \nlavished his attentions upon almost all the beauties of \nthe Westphalian Court. The Queen, an eye-witness \nof this conduct, bore it with mild and forbearing dig- \nnity; she seemed to see and hear nothing; in short, \nher demeanour was perfect. The King, touched by \nher goodness, weary of his conquests, and repentant of \nhis behaviour, was only anxious for an opportunity of \naltering the state of things. Happily, the propitious \nmoment presented itself The right wing of the \nPalace at Cassel, in which the Queen\'s apartments \nwere situated, took fire ; alarmed by the screams of \nher women, the Queen awoke and sprang out of her \nbed, to be caught in the arms of the King, and carried \nto a place of safety. From that time forth the royal \n\n\n\nFRATERNAL DISCORD. 3 \n\ncouple were united and happy. The Queen was preg- \nnant when she lost the throne, and never was there a \nwoman^Avho behaved more nobly than she did to her \nhusband, who, homeless and proscribed, found rank \nand fortune in the realm of his father-in-law : these \nhe owed to the affection of his wife, who never would \nabandon him. \n\nLouis was also obliged to submit to the absolute \nwill of the Emperor, who insisted on his marrying \nHortense Beauharnais, notwithstanding his attach- \nment to another person. Hence the indifference of \nLouis to his wife. And yet Hortense was handsome, \ngraceful, gifted with many talents, and one who might \nwell have won a husband\'s love. She had three \nchildren by Louis ; the first and second are dead ; the \nonly one remaining of that family is Prince Louis \nNapoleon, who was born in 1808. Hortense made \nmany strenuous efforts to win her husband\'s heart, but \nall in vain. Nor did Louis ever forgive his brother \nfor the violence that had been done to his inclinations. \nDissension reigned between them from that time forth^ \nand when, after the death of the eldest son of Louis \nand Hortense, the Emperor asked him for the second \nin order that he might adopt him, Louis positively \nrefused. The second boy died in Italy; Prince \nLouis is the third son of the King and Queen of \nHolland. \n\nNapoleon, who aspired to the glory of being the \nfounder of a fourth dynasty, wanted, nevertheless, an \n\n\n\n* NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nheir, and an heir whom he might form betimes to \nhis own maxims. From this time forth he caused \nhis divorce to be talked of; he took care to let the \nidea spread without contradiction, and he saw that \nhe might safely take that step whenever it should \nappear good in his eyes, without hurting the feelings \nof his subjects too keenly. Josephine disputed the \nground with him for some time. She was universally \nliked ; she had as much ascendency over him as it \nwas possible for any one to obtain; she was besides \nso graceful and amiable, she was so well versed \nin all the arts of pleasing, that she diverted many \na storm ; and she alone had the gift of soothing a \nnaturally imperious and irascible temper. \n\nWhen Bonaparte, then First Consul, desired to \nmake himself Emperor, he encountered serious resist- \nance in his own family. His mother and his brother \nLucien made great efforts to induce him to renounce \nthe idea, but in vain. The conflict ended, Madame \nLsetitia and Lucien left France for Rome, from whence \nLucien never returned until the Hundred Days. \n\nThe opposition of his family troubled the First \nConsul but little; that which he had to encounter \nfrom the Jacobin and Republican parties was much \nmore serious. The name of king or emperor was \nodious to both. They were still atta ched to that phan- \ntom of Equality to which they had raised altars. They \ndared not, however, say \' openly that they refused \nBonaparte for a sovereign, and, while they hated him, \n\n\n\nTHE ROYALISTS ACCUSED. 6 \n\nthey lavished adulation upon him. They pretended \nto believe that his only design in restoring the throne \nwas to pave the way for the re-establishment of the \nBourbon, and to act in France the part which Monk \nhad played in England, and to this pretext they \nassigned their obstinate resistance. \n\nCambac^res and Fouch6, who were specially charged \nwith the smoothing of the path by which the First \nConsul was to reach the throne, made known to him \nthe fear and suspicion to which his project had given \nrise. They added that the Royalists were conspiring \nin the dark, that the police were aware of this, but \nhad not yet got hold of all the threads of the plot, \nwhich they would need to enable them to act with \nsafety. A few days later, it was known that an \nindividual, who was treated with great observance \nand respect, had had an interview with General \nMoreau. Fouch6 assured the First Consul that the \npersonage was a prince of the house of Bourbon. \nThe First Consul doubted this : he knew that the \nDukes of Berry and Angouleme were in England ; he \nknew also that the Duke of Enghien had gone to the \nplay at Strasburg several times, and returned the \nfollowing day to Etenheim. Nevertheless, he was told \nover and over again that a conspiracy against him \nwas being organized, and that the confederates prided \nthemselves upon having a prince at their head. \n\nThe personage who had held the reported con- \nferences with Moreau had escaped arrest. All the \n\n\n\n6 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\ninformation which Bonaparte received tended to make \nhim resolve upon having the Duke of Enghien seized. \nThe Prince was taken to Versailles, tried, and shot \nin the night. There is a mystery in this matter,* \nfor the First Consul directed State-Councillor Real to \ngo to Vincennes and bring the judgment to him. \nIt was late when M. Real left Saint Cloud ; he went \nfrom thence to his own house, and when he arrived \nat Vincennes in the morning, all was over. \n\nThe death of the Duke of Enghien was an addition- \nally deplorable crime, in that he was innocent, and \nthe trial of George proved that Pichegru had been \ntaken for the Prince. \n\nSo firmly convinced was the Duke of Bourbon \nthat he owed the death of his son to Fouche and \nTalleyrand, that he never would go to the Court of \nthe Restoration while they were there. \n\nOnce seated on the throne, the Emperor sought \n\nfor the means of providing himself with an heir. \n\nThere was no hope of his wife\'s giving him a son, \n\nand thenceforth the idea of divorce was constantly \n\npresent to him. Josephine dreaded, and did all in \n\nher power to avert, her fate ; but fortune had decreed \n\nher fall, and it was hastened by some differences which \n\noccurred between the Emperor and herself. Four \n\nmonths afterwards the divorce took place. \n\n\xe2\x99\xa6 The mystery is dispelled by the " Memoirs of Madame de \nR^musat," and an extraordinary contribution by M. Fauriel to the \nhistory of the period, entitled " The liast Days of the Consulate." \n(Sampson Low and Co.) \xe2\x80\x94 Tran viator\'s note. \n\n\n\nMARRIAGE NEGOTIATIONS. 7 \n\nNo sooner was the deed done, than all Europe \nfixed its eyes on France, and a thousand conjectures \nwere formed as to the princess who should be chosen \nas consort of the sovereign. Savary, Duke of Eo- \nvigo, was despatched to Russia to ask for the hand \nof a sister of the Czar Alexander. The negotiation \nappeared to be on the point of succeeding when the \nEmpress-mother asked for time before she gave her \nconsent. This adjournment was regarded as a refusal, \nand Austria having offered Marie-Louise, she was \naccepted. The public was still seeking among the \nvarious courts of Europe the Princess destined to \nwear the crown-matrimonial of France, when they \nlearned that Napoleon had won one of whom they had \nnever thought, a Princess of the Imperial house of \nAustria, a grandniece of Marie-Antoinette. \n\nWhen the Duke of Vicenza, our ambassador at \nSt. Petersburg, waited upon the Empress-mother to \nannounce to her the marriage of Napoleon, she \nthought he had come to receive her own reply, and \nhastened to tell him that she accorded her daughter \nto his master. The Duke, greatly surprised, was \nobliged to explain to the Empress that her postponement \nhaving been taken for a refusal, the offer of Austria \nhad been accepted, and that his mission was to announce \nthe marriage of Marie-Louise with his sovereign. \n\nBerthier, Prince of Neufchatel, received the nuptial \nbenediction at Vienna, as proxy for the Emperor, and \nthe Strasburg road was speedily thronged with eqin- \n\n\n\n8 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\npages conveying the household of the new Empress to \nBrannau, where she was to dismiss her own suite. \n\nMarie-Louise was then eighteen years and a half \nold; she had a majestic figure, a noble carriage, a great \ndeal of freshness and bloom, fair hair which was not \ninsipid, blue eyes, but they had animation in them, \nhands and feet which might have served as models for \na sculptor. She was, perhaps, a little toa stout \xe2\x80\x94 a \ndefect she soon got rid of in France. Such were the \npersonal advantages which were first remarked in her. \nNothing could be more gracious, more amiable than \nher face, when she was quite at ease, either in her \nprivate life or in the society of those persons with \nwhom she was particularly intimate; but in public, \nand especially on her first arrival in France, her \ntimidity gave her an embarrassed air which many \npeople mistook for haughtiness. \n\nShe had been very carefully educated ; her tastes \nwere simple, her mind was cultivated, she expressed \nherself in French with facility, indeed with as much \nease as in her mother tongue. She was calm, reflec- \ntive, kindly, and feeling-hearted, although not demon- \nstrative ; she had all the feminine accomplishments, \nloved occupation, and did not know the meaning of \nennui. No woman could have suited Napoleon \nbetter. Gentle, peaceable, a stranger to every kind \nof intrigue, she never meddled in public affairs, ajid \nindeed most frequently derived her knowledge of \n\xe2\x80\xa2hem from the newspapers. To crown the happiness \n\n\n\nMAKIE-LOUISK \n\n\n\nof the Emperor, it pleased Providence tnat this young \nPrincess, who might have regarded him only as the \npersecutor of her family, the man who had twice \nobliged them to fly from Vienna, was delighted to be \nable to captivate him in whom fame acclaimed the \nhero of Europe, and soon came to regai\'d him with \nthe most tender afifectiou. \n\n\n\niV NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISk. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER 11. \n\nARRIVAL OF MARIE-LOUTSE AT BRANNAU \xe2\x80\x94 HER HOUSEHOLD \xe2\x80\x94 MAPAMK \nMURAT \xe2\x80\x94 DISMISSAL OF MADASIE LAJENSKI AND HER LITTLE DOG \xe2\x80\x94 \nMEETING OF NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE AT SOISSONS. \n\nAmong the number of persons awaiting the new \nEmpress at Brannau, there were several who had \nknown Marie- Antoinette. All these j)icturecl to them- \nselves what must be the feelings of Marie-Louise on \ncoming to seat herself upon the throne which had \nbrousrht such misfortune to her orrand-aunt. \n\nThe Princess arrived : there was nothing sad in \nher bearing; she was gracious to all, and had the \nfaculty of pleasing almost everybody. She did not \npart with the persons who had accompanied her \nfrom Vienna without emotion, but she bore the sepa- \nration with courage. At the moment when she \nstepped into the carriage that was to take her to \nMunich, the Grand Master of her household, an old \nman of sixty-five, who had come thus far with her, \nraised his clasped hands to Heaven, as if imploring \nProvidence on behalf of his young mistress, and bless- \ning her like a father. His eyes revealed a soul full \n\n\n\nQUEEN Caroline\'s tyranny. 11 \n\nof great thoughts and sad recollections ; his tears \ndrew answering tears from the witnesses of this \ntouching scene. Of all her Austrian suite, her Grand \nMistress, Madame Lajenski, who had been permitted \nto accompany her to Paris, was the only one that \nremained with her. She set out with her new house- \nhold without knowing a single person among those \nwho formed it. \n\nHere I must briefly explain the composition of \nthat household. The Princess Caroline, Madame \nMurat, then Queen of Naples, the Emperor s sister, had \nbeen charged with the arrangement of it, and she had \ncome to Brannau to receive her sister-in-law. The \nDuchess of Montebello, handsome, prudent, the mother \nof five children, and who had lost her husband in ^he \nlast battle, had been appointed Lady-in- Waiting (or, \n" of honour "), a poor compensation offered to her by \nthe Emperor for the loss of her husband. The Coun- \ntess of Lu9ay, a gentle, good woman, with perfect \nmanners, and who was familiar with the great world, \nwas her Lady of the Bedchamber. I shall speak here- \nafter of the Ladies of the Palace, whose functions, \nentirely ruled by etiquette, rarely brought them \ninto personal relations with the Empress, but each of \nwhom had, nevertheless, her pretensions, which were \ninjured by the presence of Madame de Lajenski. The \ncomplaints they made to Queen Caroline induced her \nto commit an act of despotism by which her sister- \nin-law was deeply hurt. \n\n\n\n12 NAPOLEON AND MARIE- LOUISE. \n\nThe object of Madame Murat\'s ambition was to \naquire a great ascendency over Marie-Louise, and if \nshe had acted more adroitly she might have attained \nit. M. de Talleyrand said of her that she had the \nhead of Cromwell on the body of a pretty woman. \nShe had by nature a striking character, fine intelli- \ngence, great ideas, quick and supple wit, grace, and \namiability ; what she lacked was the art of hiding \nher love of domination ; and when she did not attain \nher object, it was because she tried to reach it too \nquickly. From the moment at which she first saw \nthe Princess, she believed herself to have divined her \ncharacter, and she was completely mistaken. She \ntook her timidity for weakness, her embarrassment for \nawkwardness ; she thought she had nothing to do but \ncommand, and she closed against her for ever the heart \nwhich she had aspired to rule. \n\nThe presence of Madame de Lajenski had excited \nthe jealousy and the fears of almost all the ladies of \nthe Empress\'s household. They intrigued, they caballed, \nthey told the Queen of Naples that she would never \nhave either the confidence or the afi\'ection of her \nsister-in-law, so long as she kept a person near her \nwho had all the advantage of years of services \nbestowed and intimacy fostered. The Lady of Honour \ncomplained that her functions would be reduced to \nnothing if the Empress had with her a foreigner who \nwould be all-in-all to her. At last they induced the \nQueen to demand of Marie-Louise that she should dismiss \n\n\n\nA CRUEL DEED. 13 \n\nMadame Lajenski, although a promise had been made \nthat she should remain in France for a year. The \nPrincess, who sincerely desired to gain the affection \nof the persons with whom she would have to live, \nmade no resistance, and Madame de Lajenski returned \nto Vienna, taking with her a little dog belonging to \nMarie-Louise. She was required to deprive herself of \nthis dumb friend also on the pretext that the Emperor \nhad frequently complained of Josephine\'s dogs. The \nPrincess made these sacrifices with fortitude ; the \nodium of them fell upon the Queen of Naples. \n\nBut Madame Murat did even worse than this ; \nafter she had exacted the Empress\'s consent to the \ndeparture of Madame Lajenski, she gave orders to the \nladies in attendance to prevent the former Grande \nMaitresse from entering the presence of Marie-Louise \nif she should come to take leave. This command was \nnot obeyed; the ladies, shocked at such harshness, \nbrought Madame Lajenski in by a back door; she \npassed two hours with her former pupil, and notwith- \nstanding the reprimand which their conduct brought \ndown on them from the Queen, they never repented \nof it. \n\nThe Empress travelled by easy stages, and a fete \nwas prepared at each town through which she passed. \nAt Munich, a letter from the Emperor was handed to \nher, and arrangements had been made that one (brought \nfrom Paris by a page) should greet her each morn- \ning when she rose. She wrote a rejjly before she \n\n\n\n14 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nresumed her journey, and a page started off for the \ncapital with the missive. This epistolary interchange \nlasted during the entire journey, that is to say, fifteen \ndays, and it was remarked that Marie-Louise perused \nthe letters that were brought to her with growing \ninterest. The Emperor\'s handwriting was very diffi- \ncult to read. The Duchess had often seen it in her \nhusband\'s hands ; she helped Marie-Louise to decipher \nNapoleon s billets-doux, and the intimacy and confi- \ndence which arose from this were probably the cause \nof the Empress\'s strong attachment to her Lady-in- \nWaiting. She was always eager for these letters, and \nif the courier happened to be detained by any cause, \nshe would ask over and over again whether he had \nnot yet arrived, and what could have occurred to \ncause the delay. We must conclude that the corre- \nspondence was of a very charming nature, since it \nhad already given birth to a sentiment which soon \nacquired great strength. \n\nNapoleon, on his part, was extremely eager to \nbehold his young bride ; this marriage was more \nflattering to his vanity than the conquest of an empire \nwould have been. He was particularly delighted \nbecause he knew that Marie-Louise had voluntarily \nconsented, and not merely as a princess who sacrifices \nherself to great political interests. Several times he \nwas heard to curse the ceremonial and the fetes that \nretarded the much-desired interview, which was to \ntake place at Soissons, where a camp had been formed \n\n\n\nAN ARDENT BRIDEGROOM. 15 \n\nfor the reception of the Empress. Unable to control \nhis impatience, the Emperor repaired thither twenty- \nfour hours before the arrival of the Princess, and so \nsoon as he learned that she was within ten leagues, he \nset off with the King of Naples to meet her. The two \ncarriages encountered each other at four leagues \ndistance from Soissons; the Emperor got out of his, \nopened the door of the Empress\'s, and rather flung \nhimself into than entered it. The Prince of Neuf- \nchatel had given Marie-Louise a portrait of Napoleon, \nand she had so often looked at it that his features \nwere familiar to her. Murat had also got into the \ncarriage, and the two married couples regarded each \nother for a few moments in silence. This the Empress \nwas the first to break, and she said in a tone very \ncomplimentary to the Emperor, " Sire, your portrait is \nnot flattered." \n\nIt was, however ; but love was already exercising \nits sweet influence, and she looked .at the Emperor \nwith eyes prejudiced in his favour. Napoleon was \ncharmed with her; indeed, such was his enthusiasm \nthat he stopped at Soissons, where they were to have \nremained until the next day, for a few minutes only, \nand then went on at once to Compiegne. It appears \nthat the entreaties of Napoleon and the urgency of \nQueen Caroline prevailed with Marie-Louise, and that \nshe did not insist on denying her too happy bride- \ngroom the privileges of a husband until after the \nreligious marriage. \n\n\n\n16 liAPOL\xc2\xa3ON AND MARl\xc2\xa3-LOUiaKi \n\n\n\nCHAPTER in \n\nNAPOLEON. \n\nl<:nBMOirT OF THE BELIjGHOTJS MARRIAflB \xe2\x80\x94 THB EMPEK0B*8 LIFE\xe2\x80\x94 HIS \nPRIVATE HABITS \xe2\x80\x94 HIS PUBLIC BEHAVIOUR \xe2\x80\x94 HIS CHARACTEB \xe2\x80\x94 TRAITS \nOF KINDNESS AND BENEFICENCE, \n\nEverybody has read the details of the ceremony of \nthe religious marriage of the Emperor and Empress. \nThe great gallery of the Louvre, splendidly decorated, \nand furnished with six rows of benches on each side, \nwas occupied by richly dressed women : at the end \nwas the temporary chapel in which the clergy awaited \nthe bridal pair. The Emperor, on his arrival, took the \nEmpress by the hand. Her train was borne by four \nqueens, those of Naples, Spain, Holland, and Wurtem- \nburg, followed by the kings, and the great officers of \nthe Crown. It was a magnificent spectacle for the \npublic. \n\nWe, who were behind the scenes, had one of a \ndifferent sort. The Emperor was a long time before he \ncould settle himself comfortably into his gorgeous \nSpanish costume of white satin, embroidered in gold, \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON. 17 \n\nwith a mantle of the same covered with golden bees. \nHe found his black velvet cap, adorned with eight \nrows of diamonds, and three white plumes fastened by \na knot, with the regent blazing in the centre of it, \nparticularly troublesome. This splendid headgear was \nput on and taken off several times, and we tried many \ndifferent ways of placing it before we succeeded. In \nspite of ourselves, we were obliged to laugh at the \nawkward attempts of the kings to drape themselves \ngracefully in their mantles. The four queens con- \ndemned to carry the mantle of the Empress were very \nmuch annoyed, and, notwithstanding our advice, did \nit extremely ill.* We were substituted for them so far \nas the entrance to the great gallery, and at that point \nthey replaced us. \n\nIn this place I must draw the portrait of Napoleon. \nHe was then forty-one years old. In his youth he \nwas very thin, and had a greenish-olive complexion, a \nlong face, and dull eyes ; his whole physiognomy was \nanything rather than agreeable. \n\nIn camp, and during his early campaigns. Napoleon \n\nfeared no fatigue, braved the worst weather, slept \n\nunder a wretched tent, and seemed to forget all care \n\nfor his person. In his palace he bathed almost every \n\nday, rubbed his whole body over with eau de Cologne, \n\nand sometimes changed his linen several times in the \n\n* See Madame de Remusat\'s account of the conduct of Napoleon\'s \nsisters at the coronation of the Emperor and Josephine. For the prop(;r \nappreciation of this scene it must be borne in mind that the Qucen of \nHolland was Josephine\'s daughter. \xe2\x80\x94 Translator\'s note \n\n\n\n18 NAPOLEON AND MARIE -LOUISE. . \n\nday. His favourite costume was that of the mounted \nChasseurs de la Garde. When travelling, he did not \ncare what sort of lodging he had, provided that no ray \nof light could get into his bedroom ; he could not bear \neven a night-lamp. His table was supplied with the \ndaintiest dishes; but he never touched them. His \nfavourite fare was grilled breast of mutton, or a roast \nfowl, with lentils or haricot beans. He was very par- \nticular about the quality of bread, and he drank none \nbut the best wine, and very little of it. It has been \nstated that he drank eight or ten cups of coffee daily ; \nbut this is a fable, to be discarded with so many \nothers. He took a small cup of coffee after his break- \nfast, and the same after his dinner. It is true, he was \nso absent and preoccupied, that it has occasionally \nhappened to him to ask for his coffee immediately \nafter he had drank it, and to persist in asserting that \nhe had not taken it. He ate very fast, and rose the \nmoment he had done, without troubling himself as to \nwhether those who were admitted to his table had \nhad time to dine. It has also been asserted that he \ntook the greatest precautions against poison; this, \ntoo, is a pure falsehood. Perhaps he was too careless \nin that respect. Every morning his breakfast was \nbrought up to an aiite-room to which all persons who \nhad obtained an audience-order had access, and \nwhere they had to wait, sometimes, long enough. The \ndishes, which were kept warm, were frequently left \nthere for several hours until orders were given for the \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON. 19 \n\nmeal to be served. Dinner was brought in by servants, \nin covered baskets ; but nothing in the world could \nhave been easier than to slip poison into the food if \nanybody had wanted to do so. \n\nHe spoke in a loud voice, and when he was in a \nmerry mood his peals of laughter could be heard from \nafar. He was fond of singing, although he had a bad \nvoice, and never could sing an air in tune. He took \nparticular pleasure in singing " Ah ! e\'en est fait, je me \nmarie," or " Si le roi m\'avait donne Paris, sa grand \nville." \n\nEvery year he regulated his household " budget/\' \nhaving statements of the expenditure in each depart- \nment laid before him, and discussing the items. When \nhe had arrived at the total, he struck off twenty, \nthirty, or forty thousand francs from the lump sum, \nsaying this was enough, and that the household must \nbe maintained on what he gave. In vain did the \nGrand Marshal, the Master of the Horse, the Grand \nHuntsman, the Grand Chamberlain complain and make \nrepresentations; all was useless, and, as a matter of \nfact, nothing was worse done in consequence. \n\nThe Emperor had the same way of dealing with his \nMinisters ; he retrenched and suppressed in detail, and \nwhen the budget was finally drawn up, he again \nreduced it by one-fourth or one-sixth. They \ngrumbled, and declared that the public service suf- \nfered ; he merely laughed at them, and that was all \nthey gained by their complaints. Being forced to \n\n\n\n20 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\neconomize, each man busied himself with his own \ndepartment, and ended by finding that he could do \nwith the allotted sum. \n\nThose who have lived in close contact with the \nEmperor know that he possessed tact and perception, \nthat he knew how to manage and use men. To this \ntalent he owed his power. It has been said that he \ndespised everybody about him ; I do not know whether \nthat is true or not, but it is of my own knowledge \nthat he was cold and polite to those whom he did not \nLike, and that he said harsh and unpleasant things \nonly to those whom he did like. He did not, how- \never, carry this to the extent of using expressions of \ncontempt. I can confidently assert that the sayings \nwhich certain pamphlets impute to him were never \nuttered by him. He did not say that the Chamberlains \nwere footmen, with only the difference that they wore \nred livery instead of green. It is equally false that \nhe said he liked Savary because he would kill his own \nfather if he (the Emperor) ordered him to do so. No \nsensible person would believe so atrocious an absur- \ndity. Numbers of people nowadays * are eager to run \ndown Napoleon. I am convinced that those who now \ncry out against him most loudly, are the same who \nflattered him most egregiously. There are so many \nwho want to have it forgotten that but for him they \nwould have remained in the lowest classes of society, \nbut they are mistaken ; the noise they make merely \n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 181&. \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON. 21 \n\nevokes recollections anything but favourable to them- \nselves. Napoleon had faults enough without their \nbeing invented for him ; nor can any defame him \nwithout insulting the nation whose head he was for \nten years, and also the sovereigns who allied theiu- \nselves with him. \n\nI have spoken already of his perception and quick- \nness: I will now add that he had a great deal ol \ngeneral information upon all subjects ; he was not a \nstranger to any art ; he loved letters, and appreciated \nlearned men; he had singled out and attached to \nhis person (as Grand Master of Ceremonies) Count de \nS^gur, whose wit, amiability, and songs were talked of \nlong before he was known as the author of those \nworks which have raised him to a high place among \nmen of letters. His family, also, in which talent \nseems to be hereditary, was well placed at Court. The \nCount was an accomplished courtier, without servility ; \nhe was never reckoned among the Emperor\'s flatterers \nbefore his fall or among his slanderers after. Napoleon \nlearned, on becoming First Consul, that Marshal de Segur \nwas living at Versailles, in poor circumstances. He \ndesired Count de Segur to bring his father to the \nTuileries. On his approach, the First Consul went to \nmeet him, and the consular guard forming the line \nbeat to arms. This token of honour, which had long \nbeen suppressed, visibly affected the old General, to \nwhom at the same time Napoleon announced that his \npension of 6000 francs was restored, and that he might \ndraw six months\' pay immediately. \n\n\n\n22 NAPOLEON AND MAlllE-LOUlSE. \n\nIn the early days of his astonishing fortune, \nNapoleon did not imitate the conduct of those up- \nstarts who above all things dread witnesses to their \nfirst estate. He welcomed those who had known him \nin the past, rendered them services, and treated them \nwith his former familiarity. The day he was appointed \nFirst Consul he despatched a courier to Saint Denis, \nbearing a letter to M. Rulhiere, who had been a sub- \nlieutenant in the regiment of La Fere at the same \ntime with himself, announcing that he had chosen him \nto be his secretary. He afterwards nominated him \nSecretary-General to the commission of government \nwhich he had just set up at Piedmont ; and he finally \ngave him the prefecture of Aix-la-Chapelle. Rulhiere \ndid not live to take possession of this post : he had \nbeen attacked at Piedmont with a malady which all \nthe art of medicine there could not define, and he \ndied of it in Paris, whither he had gone for further \nadvice. \n\nAs Napoleon grew older and stouter, his face \nbecame more rounded and his skin clearer, his eyes \nact|^uired lustrt;, and nis <;ountenance nooility, with a \ngreat deal of expression. \n\nFor three months after his marriage, the Emperor \nremained with the Empress night and day ; even the \nmost urgent affairs could not induce him to leave her \nfor more than a few minutes. He, who had a passion \nfor work, who would occupy himself with his Ministers \nfor eight or ten consecutive hours without being \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON. 23 \n\nfatigued, he who tired out secretary after secretary, \nnow summoned councils at which he did not appear \nuntil two hours after they were assembled ; he gave \nvery few private audiences, and it was necessary to \nremind him several times of those which he could \nnot possibly avoid granting. Such an alteration sur- \nprised every one; the Ministers were loud in their \ncomplaints ; the old courtiers merely looked on, and \nsaid that such devotion was too extreme to last. \nThe Empress was the only person who never doubted \nthe permanence of a sentiment which she shared, \nand which made her happy. \n\nNapoleon, it was said, had not always been thus \namiable in private life. He was quick, choleric, irri- \ntable, and subject to a nervous affection (familiarly \nknown as " the fidgets ") which has given rise to \nscores of stories, one more ridiculous than another. \nIt was even said that he was epileptic, subject to \nfrequent attacks of the malady, and was occasionally \nunconscious for three or four hours at a time. \n\nNothing can be more absurd than these reports. \nI spoke of them to one of his personal attendants, who \nassured me that he had never seen anything to justif}^ \nthe popular belief, during six years which he had \npassed in Napoleon\'s service, and I can assert, on my \nown part, and during four years of my close attendance \non the Empress, that I never perceived in the Emperor \nan}^ symptom of such a complaint. \n\nHe was merry and familiar in private life ; fond \n\n\n\n24 NAPOLEON AND M.aJlil!.-LOUi8\xc2\xa3. \n\nof pulling ears and pinching cheeks, as Marshal Duroc, \nBerthier, Savary, and several of his aides-de-camp ha<i \nreason to know. I have seen him, when present at \nthe Empress\'s toilet, tease and plague her, pinching her \nneck and cheek. If he was vexed he took her in his \narms, kissed her, called her grosse hete, and peace was \nmade. Whenever the Emperor wished to play any of \nhis tricks with Madame de Montebello, she repulsed \nhim with ill-humour, and he left off immediately. \n\nHe was amiable and kind to all who were about \nhim. Among a thousand instances of this, I will \nrelate one. Every one knows that he was very fond of \nhunting. Berthier, who was then Grand Huntsman, \nliked the sport very well also, but he preferred pur- \nsuing it upon his own lands at Gros-Bois, to hunting \nwith the Emperor. One day, after the season had \nbegun, Berthier came to the " lever " of the Emperor, \nwho asked him : \n\n" What sort of weather is it ? ** \n- " Bad weather, Sire." \n\n" Will there be good hunting ? \'* \n\n" No, Sire, there will be no scent." \n\n"It must be put off, then." \n\nThe order was given, and at eleven o\'clock the \nEmperor came to breakfast with the Empress. The \nsun was shining brightly; it was in the month of \nFebruary. They agreed to go out walking, and to \ntake Berthier. He was inquired for, and the Emperor \nwas informed that he had gone off to hunt at Gros- \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON. 25 \n\nBois. He laughed heartily at the trick which Berthier \nhad played him, and vowed that he would never again \ntake his word for the weather. \n\nThe Emperor would be master in important affairs, \nbut he bore with contradiction, and even liked it. \nWhen he was in Marie-Louise\'s apartment he would \ntease the " first ladies " about all sorts of things. They \nwould often hold their own against him, and he would \ngo on with the discussion, and laugh heartily when \nour young people, who were very frank and artless, \nsaid things which pleased him by their bold simplicity. \n\nOne day he came into one of the salons, and there \n\nhe found Mademoiselle M sitting with her back to \n\nthe door. He made a sign to the ladies opposite to \nhim to keep silence, and coming gently behind her, he \npopped his hands over her eyes. The only person she \nknew who could venture on such a familiarity with \nher was M. Bourdier, a respectable old gentleman, and \nFirst Physician to the Empress ; so she never doubted \nthat the intruder was he. \n\n"Have done, M. Bourdier," she cried; "do you \nthink I don\'t recognize your big ugly hands ? " (The \nEmperor\'s hands were beautiful.) \n\n" Big ugly hands," repeated the Emperor, restoring \nthe use of her sight to her; "you are hard to please ! " \n\nThe poor girl was so confused that she ran out of \nthe room. \n\nAnother time, he was in the Empress\'s room while \nshe was being dressed, and he inadvertently trod on \n\n\n\n26 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nthe foot of the lady ^no presided at her Majesty\'s \ntoilet. He immediately uttered a loud cry as though \nhe had hurt himself. \n\n" What is the matter with you ? " asked the \nEmpress. \n\n" Nothing " said he, with a burst of laughter ; " I \ntrod on Madame D \'s foot, and I cried out, to pre- \nvent her from doing so ; you see I have succeeded." \n\nIn the autumn which followed the Emperor\'s \nmarriage, the Court passed some time at Fontainebleau. \nIt was cold and damp in that vast palace. There \nwere fires everywhere, except in the Empress\'s apart \nment ; but she, being accustomed to stoves, objected to \nour fires, saying that they incommoded her. One day, \nthe Emperor came to stay awhile with her, and on \nleaving the room he complained of the cold, and told \nthe lady in attendance to have a fire lighted. When \nthe Emperor was gone, the Empress forbid this to be \ndone. The lady in attendance was Mademoiselle \nRabusson, a young person who had just come from \nficouen, and was very frank and natural. The \nEmperor returned two hours aftei\' wards, and asked \nwhy his orders had not been executed. \n\n" Sire," said the lady, " the Empress does not wish \nfor a fire ; she is in her own house {chez elle) and I am \nbound to obey her." \n\nThe Emperor laughed heartily at this answer. \nGoing back to his own room, he found Duroc there, \nand said to him : " Do you know what I have just \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON. 27 \n\nbeen told at the Empress\'s ? {chez VImperatrice) that \nthe place is none of mine, and they won\'t let me have \na fire there." This anecdote amused us all in the \npalace a good deal. \n\nOne day, when Napoleon was at breakfast with \nMarie-Louise, he perceived that he had forgotten his \nhandkerchief. One was immediately brought him ; he \nunfolded it, and observing that it was embroidered, and \ntrimmed with lace, he inquired how much a hand- \nkerchief like that might cost. \n\n" Well, from eighty to a hundred francs,*\' answered \n\nMadame D , to whom the question was addressed. \n\n" If I were first lady," said he, " I would steal one \nevery day." \n\n" It is very lucky. Sire, that we have more honesty \nthan your Majesty." \n\n" That is well said," observed the Empress ; "you \nhave only got what you deserve." \n\nThe Emperor was much amused. He was very \nfond of children, and would often have the little sons \nof his brother Louis and Queen Hortense to breakfast \nwith him and Marie-Louise. He liked to tease them. \nOne day when the two little Princes were at breakfast, \nLouis,* aged three years and a half, was eating a boiled \negg. Napoleon made him turn his head to look at a \ntoy, and took away the egg. When the child missed \nit he took up his knife, and said to the Emperor ; \n" Give me back my egg, or I will kill you." \n\n\xe2\x80\xa2 Afterwards Napoleon III. \xe2\x80\x94 Translator\'s note. \n\n\n\n28 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISK. \n\n" What, you rascal, would you kill your uncle ? ** \n\n" I must have my egg, or I will kill you." \n\nThe Emperor gave it back to him, saying, " You \nwill be a fine fellow." \n\nPrincess Elisa\'s daughter, a very proud child, of \nfive, could not endure the Jokes which the Emperor \noccasionally made at her expense, and said, after one \nof them, to her governess, who was present, " Let us \nreturn to Florence ; I am not understood here." \n\nSeveral instances of kindness and beneficence on \nthe part of Napoleon are too well known for me to \nrepeat them here ; the following, I believe, has never \nbeen quoted. While hunting in the forest of Com- \npiegne, he had dismounted, and was walking, ac- \ncompanied only by the Duke of Vicenza, when he met \ntwo wood cutters who, being fatigued with their toil, \nwere resting for a moment on the trunk of a tree. \nThey had served with the French troops in the \nEgyptian expedition. One of the men recognized \nthe Emperor and rose at once. M. de Caulaincourt \nwished to make the other stand up also. \n\n" No, no," said Napoleon ; " don\'t you see they are \ntired ? \'\' \n\nHe made the man who had risen sit down again, \nseated himself on the same tree trunk, talked to \nthem about the expedition to Egypt, and their own \naffairs, and having learned that one of them had not \nobtained a retiring pension, he granted him one, and \ngave them ten Napoleons each on leaving them. \n\n\n\n( ii\xc2\xbb > \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV. \n\nNAPOLEON ORGANIZES THE HOUSEHOLD OP MARIE-LOUISE \xe2\x80\x94 WOMEN\'s \nRIVALRIES \xe2\x80\x94BIENNAIS THE JEWELLER \xe2\x80\x94 M. PUER. \n\nThe Emperor was not jealous, and yet he had sur- \nrounded his young wife with endless restrictions \nwhich resembled the precautions of jealousy. They \nhad, however, their origin in less ungenerous ideas. \nHe knew well the loose morals of his Court, and he \nwanted to organize a mode of life for the Empress \nwhich should render her inaccessible to the very \nlightest suspicion. The Lady-in- Waiting, the Lady \nof the Bedchamber, and the Lady Ushers, or Dames \nd\'Annonces, exclusively possessed the right of enter- \ning her presence at all times. The Emperor, in organ- \nizing the household of the Empress, had very lofty \nviews, as he had in everything else, but he was hindered \nin the carrying out of them by the petty passions of \nthose around him. \n\nIn the time of the Empress Josephine, there were \nthree Lady Ushers whose sole business was to keep the \ndoor of the private apartments. The Empress ad- \n\n\n\n30 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\niiiitted several persons to intimacy with her ; jealousies \narose between the Ladies of the Palace and the Lady \nlashers, and gave rise to disputes which worried and \nvvearied Napoleon. This state of things induced the \n!\']inperor, who knew the sedentary life led by the ladies \nwho devoted themselves to the education of the \ndaughters of the members of the Legion of Honour in \nthe imperial house of Ecouen, to instruct the Queen of \nNaples to write to Madame Campan, the superin- \ntendent, requesting her to select four to be attached \nto the household of the Empress. He desired that the \npreference should be given to the daughters and \nwidows of generals, and announced that for the future \nthose places were to belong to the pupils of the imperial \nhouse at Ecouen, and would be the reward of their \ngood conduct. He kept his word ; some months after, \nhaving raised the number of ladies to six, two of \nthe pupils, Mesdemoiselles Materol and Rabusson, \ndaughters and sisters of superior officers, were named. \nThese six ladies, who at first bore the title of " Dames \nd\'Annonces," because they had to announce the \npersons who presented themselves, but who were \nafterwards called " Premieres Dames de I\'lmperatrice," \nbecause they were in reality charged with the whole \nof the personal service, had under their orders six \nwaiting-women, but the latter did not come into \nthe presence of the Empress except when they were \nsummoned by a bell, while the former, four of whom \nwere in waiting always, passed the entire day with \n\n\n\nORIENTAL PRECAUTIONS. 31 \n\nher. They entered the Empress\'s room before she \nrose, and they never left her until she was in bed. \nThen all the doors by which access to her room was \ngained were shut, except one which led into an adjoin- \ning room ; in this the ladies who had the principal \n" service " slept. The Emperor himself could enter his \nwife\'s room at night, only by passing through this one. \nNo man, with the exception of the physicians or \n" Officers of Health," as they were called, and Messieurs \nde Maineval and Ballouhai \xe2\x80\x94 the former her " secretary \nof commands," the second her "steward of expendi- \nture," was admitted into the private apartments of \nthe Empress without an order from the Emperor. Even \nladies, the Lady-in- Waiting, and the Lady of the \nBedchamber only excepted, were not received until \nthey had obtained an audience order from Marie-Louise. \nThe Ladies of the Household were charged with the \nenforcement of these regulations, and responsible for \ntheir fulfilment. One of them was present at the \nlessons which the Empress received in music, drawing, \nand embroidery. They wrote to her dictation or by \nher order, and fulfilled the duties of readers. This \nwas indisputably a wearisome life ; but they had been \naccustomed to retirement at Ecouen ; the kindness \nof their imperial mistress mitigated its irksomeness, \nand they served her for love rather than from mere \nduty. \n\nTheir constant presence in the private rooms where \nthe Emperor frequently came because the Empress \n\n\n\n32 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\npassed a portion of her days there, excited the jealousy \nand envy of several Ladies of the Palace. As it was \nimpossible to attack their conduct, which was per- \nfectly correct, an attempt was made to humiliate them. \nIt was at the solicitation of these ladies that Napoleon \nchanged the title of " Dames d\'Annonces " to that of \n" Premieres femmes de chambre," a title which had no \nconnection with the duties of the objects of theii \njealousy. The ladies of Ecouen had nothing to do \nwith the toilet of the Empress. One day, the Emperor, \nbeing at breakfast with the Empress, said to Madame \n\nD y who was in attendance : " You ought to be \n\nglad, for I have given orders that captains of my guard \nare to be chosen as husbands for these young persons \nof yours." \n\n" Sire, the captains of your guard will not marry \nwaiting women " {femmes de chambre). \n\n" And why not ? They will be presented after \ntheir marriage ; besides, was not Madame la Baronne \nde Misery fem^me de chambre to Marie- Antoinette ? " \n\n" Since then, Sire, a revolution in ideas has taken \nplace ; that which used to be held in honour is so held \nno longer. When your Majesty asked for ladies from \nEcouen to form part of the Empress\'s household, we \nhad a right to believe that in quitting an honourable \nand respected position, we were not about to fall \nlower. But, Sire, ought I, the widow of a general,* \n\n* General Durand commanded Fort Vauban in 1793 ; he was \nbombarded and obliged to surrender to the Austriuns, after a most \n\n\n\nA SPIRITED PROTEST. 33 \n\nand having a son, to make him blush for the position of \nhis mother ? If your Majesty persists in the intention \nof giving us this title, notwithstanding my profound \ngrief at leaving the Empress, I shall beg of you to \nsend me back to Ecouen." \n\nThe Emperor laughed at my vehemence, and talked \nof something else. When he was gone, Marie-Louise, \nwho was always kindness itself to me, asked me how \nI had dared to assert myself against the Emperor, \nand said she had been afraid that he might send me \nback to Ecouen." \n\n" Madame," I replied, " the Emperor is jnst, and \nhe must have understood my susceptibility on the \npoint." \n\nA few days afterwards we were all six named \n" Lectrices " (Readers). \n\nWhen the Court travelled, one of the First Ladies \nalways slept in a room adjoining that of the Empress, \nand through which it was necessary to pass in order \nto reach her Majesty\'s. \n\nI will cite two examples of the rigid observance of \nhis rules exacted by the Emperor. \n\nBiennais, the goldsmith, had had a coifer made for \nthe Empress for the purpose of holding papers, with \nseveral secret contrivances in it ; these were to be \nknown to her alone, and it was indispensable that he \n\nhonourable defence. He was taken to Hungary. Being exchanged \nafter the death of Kobespierre, he retired into domestic life, and would \nnot serve again. He died in 1807. \n\n\n\n34 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nshould show and explain them to her. Marie- Louise \nspoke of the matter to her husband, who gave her \npermission to receive Biennais, and the latter was \nsummoned to Saint-Cloud. He arrived, and was \nshown into the music-room, where he remained at one \n\nend with her Majesty, Madame D being in the \n\nsame room, but sufficiently far off not to hear the \nexplanation. Just as it was concluded, the Emperor \ncame in, and, seeing Biennais, he asked : " Who is that \nman ? " The Empress hastened to name him, and to \nexplain why he had come, and that the Emperor him- \nself had given permission for him to be admitted to \nher presence. Napoleon distinctly denied the latter \nassertion, declared that the lady on duty was in the \nwrong, and addressed a severe reprimand to her which \nthe Empress had a great deal of trouble to check, \nalthough she said to him : \n\n"But, mon ami, it is I who gave orders that \nBiennais should be sent for." \n\nThe Emperor laughed, and said it was no affair of \nhers ; that the lady on duty was responsible for those \nwho entered there ; that she only was to blame, and \nhe hoped the thing would not happen again. \n\nThe following is the second example. Marie- \nLouise\'s music-master, M. Paer, had been her mothers\' \nteacher also. One day, while he was giving her a \n\nlesson, the lady on duty \xe2\x80\x94 again it was Madame D \n\n\xe2\x80\x94 ^had an order to transmit ; so she opened a door, and \nstanding, with half her body outside of it, gave the \n\n\n\nFALSE STORIES. 35 \n\norder. At this moment Napoleon entered the room, \nand not seeing her at once, thought she was not there. \nAfter the music-master was gone,Napoleon asked \nwhere she had been when he came in. She told him \nthat she had been in the room, but he would not \nbelieve her, and preached her a long sermon, in \nwhich he said he would not endure that any man, no \nmatter of what rank, could boast of having been two \nseconds alone with the Empress. He added with \nvivacity : \n\n"Madame, I honour and I respect the Empress; \nbut the sovereign of a great Empire must be placed \nout of the reach of a suspicion." \n\nAfter these two examples, it is easy to judge how \nmuch credit ought to be given to the anecdote which \nwas so widely spread about, that Leroy, the Empress\'s \ntailor, had been excluded from the palace for having \nsaid to the Empress, while he was trying a dress \non her, that she had beautiful shoulders. I know \nM. Leroy well enough to be quite sure that if he \nhad been admitted to the Empress\'s private room \nhe would not have said anything of the kind, for he \nhas too much tact, and is too well versed in Court \nmanners to commit such an impropriety ; but, as a \nmatter of fact, he never had the opportunity. \nAlthough the dresses ordered for Marie-Louise were \nmade at his establishment, on a model which had been \ngiven to him, neither he nor anybody in his employ- \nment ever tried them on the Empress ; it was her maids \n\n\n\n36 NAPOLEON AND MAJllE-LOUISE. \n\nwho showed him the alterations which he was to \nmake. The same rule was observed with resrard to \nthe other milliners and dressmakers, male and female, \nthe corset-maker, shoemaker, glover, etc. No purveyor \nof any kind of wares whatever either saw or spoke \nto the Empress in private. \n\n\n\ni 37 \n\n\n\nCHAPTER V. \n\nMADAMB DB LUCAT \xe2\x80\x94 GENERAL LANNES \xe2\x80\x94 A SATING OF JOSBPHINeV \nTHE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF MONTEBBLLO \xe2\x80\x94 C0RVI8ART \xe2\x80\x94 PREFEi \nMERE D\xc2\xa3 QUI. \n\nMadame de Montebello, Lady-in- Waiting, and \nMadame de Lugay, Lady of the Bedchamber, passed \nan hour or two every morning with the Empress. One \nmight be tempted to believe that a fatality attaches \nto those two posts, for at no time in the history of the \nCourt of France have the ladies who occupied them \nbeen able to live together in peace. The Memoirs of \nMesdames de Motteville and Campan prove the trutli \nof this observation ; here is a fresh example. \n\nMadame de Montebello and Madame de LuQay \nnever liked each other from the time they were \nattached to the service of the Empress, and it appears \nthat the former had done very ill turns to the latter. \n\nAn estrangement ensued, which was the more \nremarkable because it originated with Madame de \nMontebello, and the more surprising because Madame \nde Lu9ay is amiable, well bred, perfect in her conduct \n\n\n\n38 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nand demeanour, incapable of harming even an enemy \n(if she could have one), with no courage to defend her- \nself, and only able to summon any when it is a case of \ndefending the absent ; and she possesses all the habits \nand manners of Court life, having lived at Court several \nyears. Her husband had been one of the first to \nattach himself to the fortunes of Napoleon ; he was \nthen owner "of the Chateau de Valen9ay, and was \nappointed Prefect of Indre ; he afterwards became \nPrefect of the Palace, and Madame de Lu9ay was made \nLady of the Palace to Josephine. The Emperor, who \nhad every reason to be pleased with her, placed her in \nthe service of his young wife as Lady of the Bed- \nchamber. \n\nMadame de Montebello belonged to the bourgeois \nclass. Her mother, who was an estimable woman, had \npresided over her education ; but, not having lived in \nhigh society, she could not impart to her daughter \neither the ideas or the sentiments which she would \nhave needed, to enable her adequately to fill so \nimportant a post. \n\nShe appeared at Court as the wife of General \nLannes ; she had a virginal face and an air of great \nsweetness ; she pleased everybody, although in reality \nthere was a great deal of coldness and hardness in hei \nnature. She was not often at Court at first, be- \ncause her husband required her to follow him in his \nexpeditions. General Lannes, who was born in the \nplebeian class, had merited and won the friendship \n\n\n\nTHE DUCHESS DE MONTEBELLO. 39 \n\nand favour of Napoleon by deeds of distinguished \nvalour, and when a new nobility was created the title \nof duke was conferred upon him. But Lannes was not \ncontent with this, and said openly that he deserved \nthe title of prince better than any of those who had \nobtained it. His frankness was extreme, and he was \nalmost the only man who never disguised his real \nthoughts from the Emperor. He supremely detested \nthe old nobility, especially the emigres, and he had \ndone all in his power to dissuade Napoleon from \nrecalling them to France, and above all from attaching \nthem to his person. He had, indeed, had some sharp \nquarrels on this point with the Empress Josephine, who \nwas on their side. He did not attempt to conceal this \naversion: the emigres, who were informed of it, \nheartily reciprocated his sentiments. \n\nOne day there happened to be several of the re- \ncalled nobles in one of the salons of the Tuileries \nthrough which Lannes had to pass, on his way to the \nEmperor\'s cabinet, and they affected to place themselves \nbefore him so as to bar his way. The General instantly \ndrew his sword, and swore he would crop the ears of \nanybody who should hinder him from passing. He \nfound no obstacle ; every one there hastened to get out \nof his way, for he was a man of his word. \n\nOn another occasion, when he had been vainly \nurging Napoleon anew on the subject of the emigres, \nand entreating him to refuse to admit any one of them \nnear him, he at last lost control of himself, and, usin_ \n\n\n\n40 Napoleon and marie- louise. \n\nthe old familiar tutoiement as he had been accustomed \nto use it a few years before, he said : \n\n"Thou wilt never do anything except out of thine \nown head ! but thou wilt repent of this. They are \ntraitors ; thou shalt load them with benefits, and if \nthey get the opportunity they will assassinate thee." \n\nThis outbreak was punished by the General\'s tem- \nporary exile, and as he imputed that also to the \nemigres, it did not diminish his enmity against \nthem. But it was Murat for whom he most openly \nparaded his contempt. Murat, who belonged to the \nlower order of the people, was destined, like Masaniello, \nto exercise the supreme authority at Naples, and also, \nlike him, to end his days in a no less tragic manner, \n:vith, however, this difference, that he retained to the \nlast the strength of mind and courage which had been \ncharacteristic of him all his life. \n\nHe was renowned in the army for his personal \ncourage, although his companions in arms did not \nconsider that he possessed the chief qualities which \nconstitute a great general. \n\nJosephine said of Murat (whom she liked no better \nthan she liked his wife), " He smells of powder half \na league off, and would put his Creator to the \nsword." Murat\'s marriage with the Emperor\'s sister \nwas one of the principal causes of his elevation. Even \nat that period the First Consul would not have allowed \nhis brother-in-law to continue to be merely one among \nthe generals of the Republic. He alwa^\'s placed him \n\n\n\nJOACHIM MUllAT. 41 \n\nat the head of his advanced guard, and Murat\'s dash \ning gallantry had a success that was never equivocal, \n\nMurat loved show and expense, and more than once \nhe had recourse to the generosity of his brother-in-law, \nwho paid his debts for him; not, however, without \nreprimanding him severely for his prodigality, and \nthe luxury in which he indulged even in the field. \nWhen he was made prince, he visited the Department \nof the Lot, where he was born, and his family still \nresided. He assembled all its members, rich and poor, \nat a great dinner, and inquired into the circumstances \nof each. Some of his relations were very poor, but the \nnew prince was not ashamed of any of them. Every \none belonging to him was enabled to live comfortably \nby his beneficent aid. \n\nBut, to return to Marshal Lannes. It is not sur- \nprising that he inspired his wife with feelings similar \nto his own, and she afterwards gave more than one \nproof of them. Her private circle was composed of \nher family, and the only stranger whom she received \nwas Dr. Corvisart, first physician to the Emperor at \nGuichenene. Her father was an intimate friend of the \ndoctor, to whom he was bound by a community of \ntastes and habits, and this society was not what might \nhave been desired for a young woman destined to a \nhigh position near the throne. \n\nAt the period of which I write the Duchess was \njust thirty years old ; in full dress she was one of the \nbest-looking women belonging to the Court. Her \n\n\n\n4.2 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nexpression was calm and gentle ; she had a cold \nmanner which she could render gracious when she \nchose. As she loved only her children and her kins- \nfolk, she had always enjoyed a spotless reputation, and \nto this she owed the place of Lady-in- Waiting (or \nDame d\'honneur), which the Emperor said he had \np-iven her because she was truly ** a lady of honour." \nIf, however, her behaviour made her suitable for the \npost, her disposition did not. Madame de Montebello, \nloving her home and her ease, detesting every kind of \nrestraint, naturally indolent and inactive, disliking the \nduties which took her so completely out of her own \nways, never took any pleasure in her position. She \ndreaded having to make requests, to solicit any- \nthing, and yet she was obliged to do so for many \npersons, whose number increased as she grew in favour, \n^and she made enemies of those whom she forgot or \nneglected. She had not the art of refusing gracefully ; \nher negative answers were abru[)t and harsh, and \nwhether she was obtaining a favour or employed to \nannounce a granted grace, it was done in the same \nway, as a matter in which she took no personal intei-est \nwhatsoever. \n\nThis conduct alienated a number of persons \nwhom she might have attached to her by one \ngracious word. She was reproached with being lofty \nand exacting with her equals, proud and disdainful \nwith her inferiors. She thought it beneath her to \nconceal her opinion of those who were the subject of \n\n\n\nCALUMNY AT COURT. 43 \n\nremark, and she expressed it openly and without \nreserve. This frankness, so novel at Court, won the \nconfidence of the Empress, but it also made enemies \nfor her who sought their revenge in spreading a most \nunfounded calumny concerning her. It was reported \nthat she was with child by Napoleon. Now, Madame \nLannes never even liked the Emperor; I believe, \nindeed, that she had a positive dislike to him. \n\nIt is asserted that the reason of her dislike was to \nbe found in her ambition. She had deeply resented \nher husband\'s not having been made prince, regarding \nthis as an injustice ; perhaps she was right. The death \nof the Marshal increased her bitterness against Napo- \nleon, but her anger reached its culminating point when \nshe had a request made to the Emperor, through the \nEmpress, that the Senatorship of Douay, vacant by the \ndeath of Jacqueminot, might be given to her father, \nand it was refused in the most ungracious way. The \nstory against her was trumped up in the hope of dis- \ncrediting her with the Empress, but its falsehood was \nso evident that only those who would swallow any- \nthing, gave credence to it. The Duchess was apprised \nthat such a rumour was in circulation, and did not \nallow a day to pass without presenting herself at the \nTuileries. It is untrue that she was ever absent ; the \nduties of her post were fulfilled at that period with \nunfailing exactness. \n\nThis occurrence ought to have induced her to take \nsome pains to conciliate certain ladies of the Palace \n\n\n\n44 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nwho detested her, constantly complained of her, and \nsaid that she could never be half an hour in the salon \nde service without saying something unjDieasant to \nthem. She was not much better liked at home ; and \nthis was a remarkable fact, for she was endowed with \nqualities calculated to please and to win regard. \n\nIt is said that, although she was very rich, Corvi- \nsart, who was her friend, had persuaded Marie-Louise \nthat Madame Lannes had only 6000 francs a year, out \nof the immense fortune of her husband, and that she, \non her side, rendered a similar service to the doctor by \nrepresenting to the Empress that he was in embarrassed \ncircumstances. The result of this concerted manoeuvre \nwas that the Duchess and the doctor received handsome \ndonations and presents. \n\nWhen, in 1813, Napoleon granted a pension of \n50,000 francs to Madame de Montesquiou as a recom- \npense for the care she had bestowed upon his son, \nMadame de Montebello was so angry and jealous that \nshe gave the Empress no rest until she had obtained a \nlike favour for her from the Emperor, although she had \ndone nothing to merit it, and ought to have been \nashamed to solicit any such thing. \n\nAfter a few months the Emperor resumed his \nformer habits, worked more steadily, and was less \nassiduous in his attentions to his young wife. \n\nMarie-Louise felt that she needed a friend, and the \nDuchess de Montebello listened with sympathy to the \noutpourings of her royal mistress\'s heart, bemoaned \n\n\n\nMADAME MilRE. 45 \n\nher, pitied her, consoled her, and insinuated herself so \ncleverly into her confidence and good graces that the \nEmpress could not do without her. She loved the \nDuchess like a sister, and sought to prove this to her \nby the kindest attentions both to herself and her \nchildren. She was happy to find a present which \ncould please the Duchess, and to offer it to her in a \nfrank and graceful manner which was very charming ; \nshe liked those whom her friend liked, and disliked all \nwho were displeasing to her. The ascendency of the \nDuchess was observed, and she was speedily accused \nby persons who considered that they had a right to \ncomplain. \n\nOf the number were the Emperor\'s sisters, and \nMadame Mere spoke very sharply on the subject to the \nEmpress, complaining of Madame de Montebello. The \nlatter, being informed of this, and finding herself \nobliged to make a visit to Madame, said in the presence \nof three of the femmes de chaTnhre, and a fi.rst lady, \nthat she despised what Madame said, and that she \nwished she could write upon her card that her visit \nwas for the mother of the Emperor, and not for \n" Madame Mere." \n\nThose words " Madame Mere " remind me of an \namusing anecdote which I shall relate here, although \nit be somewhat out of place, lest I should not find \nanother opportunity ; for it deserves to be preserved. \n\nA certain prefect of a department (one of the most \ndistant from the capital), having been summoned to \n\n\n\n46 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nParis, received an invitation to dine with Cambac^res \nthe day after his arrival. The palace of the minister \nadjoined that of the Emperor\'s mother, and the prefect, \nmistaking the door, entered the abode of Madame, \ninstead of that of the Arch- Chancellor. It happened \nthat it was one of her grand reception days, and the \nprefect, having given his name, was ushered into a \nsalon where a large number of persons were assembled. \nHe looked about everywhere for Cambaceres, and not \nseeing him, took his place in the circle without ad- \ndressing a word to anybody. \n\n" Excuse me for taking a liberty," said a neighbour \non one side of him, " but it seems to me that you have \nnot made your bow to Madame." \n\n" Madame whom ? " said the stranger, who knew \nthat Cambaceres was not married. \n\n" Madame Mere, answered his neighbour. \n" But mother of whom ? " (Mere de qui ?) \n" Mother of his. Majesty the Emperor." \n" Am I not in Cambaceres\' house ? " \n" You are in the Emperor s mother\'s house.** \nThe poor prefect, overwhelmed v/ith confusion, took \nhis departure in all haste, and had not even sufficient \npresence of mind to offer an apology. Ever since he \nis known by the nickname of " M. le Prefect Mere \nde qui" \n\n\n\n( *7 ) \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI. \n\nA SATING OF THE EMPIEROR\'s \xe2\x80\x94 DUBOIS \xe2\x80\x94 MEN OP LETTERS \xe2\x80\x94 THB \nCOUNTESS DE MONTESQUIOU. \n\nAn occasion on which the Duchess de Montebello \nappeared in a very favourable light was the birth \nof the son of Napoleon. It is well known that the \nEmpress suffered very severely in her confinement, and \nfor nine whole days Madame de Montebello remained \nin her room, hardly ever leaving it for a moment. She \npassed the nights upon a sofa; in short, she did \neverything that could have been expected from either \nher sense of duty or her feelings of affection. \n\nIn writing of the Empress\'s confinement, it is fitting \nthat I should give some details relating to the birth of \nthe child concernino: whom the most absurd rumours \nwere then rife. According to some of these the \nEmpress had never been pregnant, and her delivery \nwas a comedy played for the purpose of enabling \nNapoleon to adopt one of his natural children. \nAccording to others, Marie-Louise had been delivered \nof a still-bom daughter, for whom another child had \n\n\n\n48 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUlrfE. \n\nbeen substituted. These reports, as ridiculous as they \nwere improbable, were without the very slightest \nfoundation, and the short narrative which follows may \nbe confidently accepted as certain and authentic. \n\nIt was seven o\'clock in the evenins: when the \nEmpress felt the first pains of childbirth. M. Dubois, \nthe surgeon-accoucheur, was summoned, and he re- \nmained with her thenceforth. The pains went on \nduring the whole night. With the Empress were \nMadame de Montebello, Madame de Lugaj, Madame \nde Montesquiou (who had been appointed governess to \nthe child about to be born), two first ladies, Mesdames \nDurand and Ballant, and Madame Blaise, the nurse. \nThe Emperor, his mother, his sisters, and MM. \nCorvisart and Bourdier, were in an adjoining room. \nThey frequently entered the room to learn how the \nEmpress was, but observed the most profound silence. \nThe pains, which had not been strong during the night, \nsubsided altogether at five o\'clock in the morning. \nM. Dubois, seeing no symptom that indicated a speedy \ndeliverance, informed the Emperor, and he, having sent \neverybody to bed, went to his bathroom. There \nremained in the Empress\'s room only M. Dubois and \nthe ladies whom I have named. The other women \nattached to her service were resting in the adjoining \ndressing-room. \n\nThe Empress, worn out with fatigue, slept for about \nan hour; she was then awakened by violent pains, \nwhich went on increasing in severity without, how- \n\n\n\nnapoleon\'s anxiety. 49 \n\never, producing the natural crisis, and M. Dubois was \nonly too sadly certain that the accouchement would be \ndifficult and protracted. He went to the Emperor, who \nwas then in the bath, and begged him to come to the \nEmpress, to encourage her by his presence to bear her \nsufferinofs with couraoje. M. Dubois did not conceal \nfrom him that he feared it would be impossible to save \nboth mother and child. " Think only of the mother ! " \ncried Napoleon, \'*and do all you can for her." He \nwould hardly let himself be dried ; and went to the \nEmpress\'s room, having given orders that all those \nwho ought to be present should be apprised. He em- \nbraced his wife tenderly, and exhorted her to courage \nand patience. M. Bourdier, physician, and M. Yvan, \nsurgeon, arrived at this moment, and they held Marie- \nLouise. The child was born feet foremost ; M. Dubois \nwas obliged to resort to instruments in order to free \nthe head. The delivery lasted for twenty-six minutes, \nand was very painful. The Emperor could not remain \npresent tor more than five minutes. He relinquished \nthe hand of the Empress, which he had been holding \nbetween his own, and withdrew to the dressing-room. \nHe was as pale as death, and seemed to be beside him- \nself. Almost every minute he sent one of the women \nto bring him news of his wife. At length the child \ncame into the world, and so soon as the Emperor was \ntold, he flew to his wife and folded her in his \narms. \n\nThe infant remained for seven minutes without \n\n\n\n50 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nany sign of life. Napoleon cast his eyes upon it for \nan instant, thought it was dead, did not utter a single \nvvX)rd, but occupied himself solely with the Empress. \nA few drops of brandy were put into the child\'s \nmouth, its whole body was slapped with the flat of \nthe hand, and it was wrapped in hot cloths. At \nlength it uttered a cry, and the Emperor turned to \nembrace the son, whose birth was the crowning point \nof his happiness, and the last gift of that fortune \nwhich was so soon to forsake him. \n\nThis scene took place in the presence of twenty- \ntwo persons, whom it will be well to name, in order \nto establish the authenticity of the details which I \nhave just given. The witnesses were the Emperor, \nCambaceres, who, as Arch-chancellor of the Empire, \nhad to attest the sex and the birth of the infant ; the \nPrince de Neufchatel, who, although he had no official \nbusiness there, attended the Emperor, from zeal and \nattachment; MM. Dubois, Corvisart, Bourdier, and \nYvan ; Mesdames de Montebello, de Lu9ay, and de \nMontesquieu : the six first ladies, Mesdames Ballant, \nDeschamps, Durand, Hureau, Rabusson, and Gerard ; \nfive waiting- women, Mesdemoiselles Honore, Edouard, \nBarbier, Aubert, and Geoftroy ; Madame Blaise (the \nnurse), and two wardrobe-maids. This sufficiently \ndemonstrates the absurdity of the fable of a suppo- \nsititious child. The thing could not have been done \nin the presence of so many witnesses, and it should \nalso be borne in mind that adjoining the bedroom on \n\n\n\nTHE BIRTH OF THE CHILD. 51 \n\none side was the dressing-room, crowded with all the \nsubordinate persons employed in the service of Marie- \nLouise, and on the other were several \xc2\xbbaions occupied \nby a number of persons belonging to the Court, who \nwere all impatiently awaiting news of the important \nevent that was impending. \n\nAll the inhabitants of Paris knew that the Empress \nhad been seized with the pains of labour, and from \nsix o\'clock in the morning the garden of the Tuileries \nwas filled with an immense crowd of people of all \nages and conditions. It had been made known that \ntwenty-one guns would announce the birth of a \nprincess ; but that one hundred and one would be fired \nto celebrate that of an heir to the throne. No sooner \nwas the first gun fired than profound silence fell upon \nthe multitude, just before so restless and noisy. This \nsilence was broken only by those who counted the \nreports of the guns, saying, in a low voice, one, two, \nthree, etc. But, at the twenty-second, the enthusiasm \nof all broke out simultaneously, cries of joy, hats \ntossed in the air, and shouts from the garden of the \nTuileries contributed as much as did the roar of the \nguns to carry the great news to the other quarters \nof Paris. Napoleon, hidden behind the curtain of a \nwindow of the Empress\'s room, enjoyed the spectacle \nof the general gladness, and was deeply affected by it. \nTears rolled down his cheeks without his feeling therr. \nflow, and it was in this state that he came to cjmbrace \nhis son anew. \n\n\n\n52 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nWithout giving a complete list of the poems, \nepistles, odes, strophes, couplets, etc., etc., written in \nall the living languages (English excepted) which \nwere composed on the occasion of the birth of the \nKing of Rome, I will only say that the number of \ncompositions of this kind sent to the Emperor and \nEmpress amounted to over two thousand in less than \na week. The Emperor accepted them all (without \nreading them, it is true), and with them the requests \nfor favours of all kinds which the authors had, with \nwise foresight, added to their effusions. How, indeed, \ncould Napoleon, who was naturally generous, refuse \ntokens of his goodwill to those who expatiated upon \nthe bounty of Providence towards himself? It was \nimpossible, and any other individual in his place would \nhave done as much. I have it on good authority that \na sum of one hundred thousand francs, charged upon \nhis privy purse, was divided by M. Dequevanvilliers, \nAccountant- Secretary of the Chamber, among the \nauthors of the effusions sent to the Tuileries. \n\nA curious fact, to whose authenticity I can pledge \nmyself, is, that when Napoleon, having returned from \nthe island of Elba, left Paris to take the command of \nthe army assembled on the frontiers of Flanders, one of \nthese poets of the moment, assisted by two others, com- \nposed a dramatic piece destined for the Theatre des \nVarieties, which could be made, by a few trifling altera- \ntions, to do equally well for the celebration of the \ntriumph of Napoleon, or the return of Louis XVIII. \n\n\n\nNURSERY REGULATIONS. 63 \n\nImmediately after its birth the imperial infant \nwas confided to a nurse of healthy and robust con- \nstitution, taken from the class of " the people." She \ncould not go out of the palace, or be visited by any \nman ; the most stringent precautions were taken in that \nrespect. For health\'s sake she was regularly taken \nout in a carriage, but she was always accompanied by \nseveral women. \n\nI have already said that the Countess de Monte- \nsquiou, whose husband was Grand Chamberlain, had \nbeen appointed governess to the young Napoleon. It \nwould have been diiiicult to make a better choice. \nThis lady, who came of an illustrious family, had \nreceived an excellent education ; to the " ton " of the \ngreat Avorld she united piety too sincere and en- \nlightened ever to degenerate into bigotry. Her con- \nduct had always been such as calumny itself dared \nnot attack. She was accused of some haughtiness, \nbut this was tempered by politeness, and a gracious \nobligingness. She took the most tender and assiduous \ncare of the young Prince, and nothing could be more \nnoble and generous than the self-devotion which after- \nwards led her to leave her country, her friends, and \nher family, to ally herself with the fate of a child, all \nwhose hopes had just been laid low. And yet the \nonly reward she reaped was bitter grief and unjust \npersecution. \n\n\n\n54 NAPOLli:0^ AHU MAKIE-LOUISK. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER Vn \n\nTHE THREE ARM-CHAIES \xe2\x80\x94 THE EMPRESS\'S MEDICINE \xe2\x80\x94 THE THREE PARTIES \n\xe2\x80\x94 JOURNIY TO FONTAINEBLEAU \xe2\x80\x94 BULL OF EXCuSJMUNICATION SENT \nBY THE POPE \xe2\x80\x94 THE ABHE d\'aSTROS \xe2\x80\x94 THE DUKE OF ROVIGO \xe2\x80\x94 THE \nDIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE LIBRARY \xe2\x80\x94 COUNT BIGOT DB PREAMENEU, \nMINISTER OF PUBLIC WORSHIP \xe2\x80\x94 VISIT TO THE POPE. \n\nFor six weeks after the birth of her child, Marie- \nLouise received only the Lady-in- Waiting, the Lady of \nthe Bedchamber, and the Princesses of the Imperial \nfamily. When Madame Mere or one of the sisters of \nNapoleon came to see her, arm-chairs were placed for \nthem near her bed. On the day appointed for Marie- \nLouise to receive, for the first time, all the persons \npresented at Court, the Emperor remarked that three \narm-chairs, for Madame Mere and the Queens of Spain \nand Holland respectively, had been placed near the \nstate couch prepared for the Empress. He found fault \nwith this arrangement; said that his mother, not being \na queen, ought not to have an arm-chair, and therefore \nno one should have it. He ordered the arm-chairs to be \nremoved, and three very elegant tabourets put in their \nplaces. Madame Mere arrived presently, with the two \n\n\n\nA QUESTION OF ETIQUETTE. 55 \n\nqueens, and when they found that they were not to \nhave arm-chairs they withdrew at once with an \noffended air, and would not remain to take part in \nthe reception of the ladies who were expected. This \nincident increased the coolness which already existed \nin the private relations of the family, and a number of \nsmall annoyances resulted from it, the brunt of which \nthe Empress had to bear, although she was entirely \nblameless in the matter of their origin. \n\nOne day when Marie-Louise was to take medicine, \nshe insisted on its being given to her before her doctor \narrived. After she had swallowed the dose she had a \nsharp attack of cholic, and this gave rise to some \nuneasiness. The Emperor was informed, and came \nhurriedly to her room. She was over the attack, \nbut he lectured the Duchess de Montebello at great \nlength on the imprudence she had committed in allow- \ning the Empress to take a medicine without being \nprepared for its effect, and repeated several times, \n" Etiquette requires that it shall be the doctor who \npresents the medicine." The Duchess made no answer, \nbut when the Emperor was gone she said, "I am glad \nM. r Etiquette has done ; I never liked long sermons." \n\nAt this period Napoleon visited the coasts of \nFrance. The Empress had as yet hardly recovered \nfrom her confinement, and the Emperor wished her to \nremain in Paris, but she urged him so strongly to \nallow her to accompany him that he could not refuse. \nShe became considerably thinner during this journey, \n\n\n\n56 NAPOLEOJSI JlND MAKlii- LOUISE. \n\nno doubt in consequence of the fatigue which she en- \ndured ; and she never recovered her former plumpness. \n\nThe French Court was then divided into three \nparties, the old nobility, the new nobility, and the \nmilitary. Madame de Montesquiou and her husband \nwere at the head of the first. All the influence they \nhad was used to obtain favours, pensions, and places \nfor the nobles, whether emigres or not; they repre- \nsented to the Emperor that by such means they would \nbe more securely attached to his person, and brought \nto regard his government with affection. They said \nthese things because they genuinely and sincerely \nthought them ; and because, believing the destiny of \nFrance to be for ever fixed, they desired to attach to the \nsovereign those persons who ought in their opinion to \nbe the strongest supporters of the Empire. Napoleon \nfully recognized their zeal and devotion ; he was a \nwitness of the indefatigable care bestowed upon his \nson by Madame de Montesquiou, and he seldom \nrefused her anything which she asked. \n\nAfter what I have said of Madame de Montebello, \nit wiU at once be surmised that she was the soul of \nthe second party. It was not numerous at Court, being \ncomposed in great measure of second-rate schemers, \nbut it was sustained by the consideration in which \nMarie-Louise held her favourite. \n\nThe third party was headed by General Duroc, and \nwas composed, to speak generally, of all who were \nconnected with military matters. This party saw no \n\n\n\nTHREE PARTISa 67 \n\nhonour or glory outside the profession of arms, and \nhad a sovereign contempt for every other. While \nthe first and second parties carried on open warfare, \nendeavouring to injure and destroy each other by \nevery possible means, the third played the part of \nobserver, unmasked their schemes, and profited by \ntheir faults and blunders. The Emperor secretly \nfavoured this third party ; but none the less did he \npursue his usual system of neutralizing all opinions by \nendeavouring to balance their forces. Each party \nserved as a spy upon the two others, and by this \nmeans he was informed of all that it was his interest \nto know. \n\nThe Duchess de Montebello and the Countess de \nMontesquiou being at the head of two parties which \nwere not only different but antagonistic, it may readily \nbe supposed that no very intimate relations subsisted \nbetween them. The Countess, always prudent and re- \nserved, did not proclaim her dislike to the Duchess, \nand did not seek to do her any ill. She was satisfied \nwith never speaking of her, and conducting the inevi- \ntable intercourse imposed by their respective posts \nwith extreme coldness. But this was not the case \nwith Madame de Montebello. She went as seldom as \npossible to see the little Prince, in order that she might \nnot be obliged to see his governess at the same time. \nShe endeavoured to persuade the Empress that the \ncare which Madame de Montesquiou took of her son, \nthe affection for him that she displayed, had no motive \n\n\n\n68 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nexcept ambition and self-interest, an accusation amply \ndisproved by later events. Madame de Montesquiou, \nbeing informed of these continual efforts to injure her, \ncomplained of them once or twice to the Empress, and \nendeavoured to open her eyes with respect to her \nfavourite; but the first impression had been made, \nand we all know the strength of a first impression, \nespecially when it is received in youth, and produced \nby a person to whom all one\'s confidence is given. \n\nMarie-Louise did not then do Madame de Monte- \nsquiou the justice that was due to her, as she had \noccasion to recognize in later days. \n\nAt this period the Emperor went to Fontainebleau \nfor ten days. He did not like the prolongation of \nhis differences with the Pope. The long-continued \nquarrel between the Holy Father and Napoleon dated \nfrom 1805. When Pius VII. left France after the \ncoronation, it was with secret annoyance at not \nhaving obtained the rewards that he considered due \nto him. Hardly had he set his foot on Italian soil \nbefore intrigues were organized, and pamphlets \nwritten, profiting by his discontent to overrule his \nmind and direct his intentions. Rome became the \nhotbed of all the political intrigues and plots against \nthe tranquility of France. \n\nHis Holiness had refused to recognize the validity \nof the Emperor\'s divorce from Josephine, and conse- \nquently that of his marriage with Marie-Louise. An \nopen rupture had taken place between them in con- \n\n\n\nTHE POPE. 69 \n\nsequence, and Pius VII., listening to nothing but the \nindiscreet zeal of some of his advisers, had launched \nthe thunderbolts of the Vatican against Napoleon. \nThe sentence of excommunication had been sent from \nRome to Paris, to the Abb6 d\' Astros, Vicar Capitular \nof the Archbishopric (the See was vacant), who had \nit printed, and affixed it to the door of Notre Dame, \nia the presence of some of the Canons on whose dis- \ncretion he could rely. Copies of the Papal Brief were \nvery soon spread all over Paris, and thence throughout \nthe provinces. It was asserted that the Director- \nGeneral of Printing and Publication had been informed \nof this, but had taken no measures to check the pro- \nceeding, nor had he even informed the Emperor. \n\nThe Duke of Rovigo, Minister of Police, was one of \nthe first to be informed of what had occurred, and \nas he had been for a long time on terms of rivalry \nwith the Director, he took advantage of this oppor- \ntunity to present a circumstantial report to Napoleon, \nin which that functionary was not flattered. \n\nOn perusing this document the Emperor fell into \na transport of rage difficult to describe. He was \nexpected that day at the Council of State, and he \ncame in violently agitated. Every one present \nremarked the change in his face, but no one said a \nword, no one moved. Napoleon walked hurriedly \nabout the Council Chamber, uttering incoherent and \nhalf-formed sentences : the only word that could be \nheard distinctly was "bigot," an epithet which he \nprobably applied to the Abbe d* Astros. \n\n\n\n60 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nBigot de Preameneu, a Councillor of State, was \npresent at the sitting. The word "bigot" had \ncaught his ear several times, and he thought the \nEmperor was calling him. \n\n" Sire," said he, rising. \n\n** What do you want ? " said Napoleon. \n\n" Sire, I thought your Majesty spoke to me." \n\n" Not at all \xe2\x80\x94 ^yes, though, yes \xe2\x80\x94 a moment. Bigot, \nI appoint you Minister of Public Worship " (Gultes). \nAfter such a fashion was this new ministry instituted. \n\nThe Director-General of Printing and Publication, \nwho was also a Councillor of State, arrived at this \nmoment, and was about to take his usual place. \n\n"Stay," said the Emperor, "and answer me. Do \nyou know what took place last Sunday at Notre \nDame? Don\'t stammer; no Jesuitical equivocation." \n\n\xc2\xab Sire, I knew that " \n\n" Ah, you knew it ! and you did not inform me of \nit. I was publicly reviled, and you kept silence! \nThey dare to publish a Bull of Excommunication \nagainst me in the middle of my capital, and you let \nit pass like that ! " \n\n"Sire, I thought that in proceeding publicly \nagainst a man who believed he was doing his duty, \nI should only secure the interest that always attaches \nto a martyr for him. I thought oblivion was a duty \nwhich " \n\n" Your duty ! Your duty ! The first of all, sir, \nwas to consult me. I am grieved in all this for the \n\n\n\nTHE BULL OF EXCOMMUNICATION. 61 \n\nmemory of your father \xe2\x80\x94 I don\'t suspect you of evil \nintentions \xe2\x80\x94 but \xe2\x80\x94 There, there, go and sit down." \n\nAnd the matter rested there for the moment. \n\nA few days afterwards, however, the Abb^ d\'Astros \nwas obliged, according to custom, to wait upon the \nEmperor at the head of the Chapter of Notre Dame, in \norder to offer him the compliments of the new year. \nAt the sight of him all that had passed at the Council \nof State recurred to Napoleon\'s mind, and revived his \nwrath ; he strode towards the Abbe with a threaten- \ning gesture, and exclaimed \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" Hah ! It is you, then, who want to light the fire \nof sedition in my realm ! It is you who betray your \nsovereign to execute the orders of a foreign priest ! I \nwiU have neither revolt, nor fanaticism, nor a martyr. \nI am a Christian, and more Christian than you all. I \nshall know how to maintain the right of my- crown \nagainst those who resemble you. God has armed me \nwith the sword \xe2\x80\x94 let not you and your like forget \nthat." \n\nThe Abb^ d\'Astros attempted to reply, but an \nimperative gesture of the Emperor obliged him to \ndesist and retire. The matter rested there. Never- \ntheless, it has been maintained by many people, and \neven recorded in writing, that the Abbe d\'Astros fell \na victim to his apostolic zeal, having been disgraced, \nthrown into prison, and persecuted. This again, is \none of the malicious falsehoods which have been so \nwidely disseminated. \n\n\n\n62 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nIt is a fact which will be more and more clearly \n\ndemonstrated as time goes on, that Napoleon loved \nhis religion, that he desired to make it prosper and to \nhonour it, but at the same time to make use of it as a \nsocial means of repressing anarchy, consolidating his \ndomination over Europe, and increasing the import- \nance of France and the influence of the inhabitants of \nParis; objects on which his thoughts were constantly \nintent. \n\nDuring this period the Pope had been carried away \nfrom his States, taken to Savona, and brought from \nthence to Fontainebleau, where he occupied the apart- \nment which had been assigned to him on the former \noccasion.* A household was formed for him, and his \ntable was magnificently served ; but he did not avail \nhimself of this. He lived in the most retired rooms, \nand in the simplest and most frugal manner. His \nsuite only sat down to the splendid repasts. Napoleon \nhad been forming for a long time a secret design of \nrenewing relations with Pius YII., and in order to \ncarry it out more easily, he gave orders for a hunting- \nparty at Gros-Bois, where he breakfasted. Then, \nquite unexpectedly, he directed the road to Fontaine- \nbleau to be taken. The confusion which this unfore- \nseen journey occasioned was very amusing. Nobody \nhad a man or a maid, a night cap or any dressing \n\n* See Memoirs of Madame de Kemusat for details of the Pope\'s \nvisit to France, the coronation of Napoleon and Josephine, and the \ncelebration of the religious marriage between them. \xe2\x80\x94 Translator\'s note. \n\n\n\nTHE POPE AT FUNTAINEBLEAU. 63 \n\nthings ; it was bitterly cold, water froze close up to \nthe fire. Everybody passed a very bad night, but in \nthe morning our baggage and servants arrived from \nParis. \n\nWe remained nine days at Fontainebleau. The \nEmperor paid a visit to the Pope, and his Holiness \ncame to see the Emperor. There were several con- \nferences, and a reconciliation seemed probable. At the \nmoment of our departure the Pope was ill, and kept \nhis bed. We went to beg that he would bless some \nrings and rosaries for us ; they were taken to him in \nhis bed, and he was so good as to grant our request. \n\n\n\n64 NAPOLEON AND MAlilE-LOUISB. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII. \n\nNAP0LK0N*8 GALLANTRIES\xe2\x80\x94 MADAME WALEWSKA\xe2\x80\x94 THE CHATEAU DE \nCOMPIEGNE\xe2\x80\x94 GRAZINI AND BODE\xe2\x80\x94 FOUCHE, MINISTER OF QBNBBAL \nPOLICE. \n\nI HAVE already said that the Emperor had organized \nhis private police. He did not make any political \nuse of this branch of the service; it furnished him \nwith a source of amusement. He liked to be acquainted \nwith all the current scandals concerning the persons \nof his Court, and he took a special pleasure in teasing \nhusbands about the adventures of their wives. \n\nAt this point I must refer to Napoleon\'s gallantries. \nA great many false statements on the subject have \nbeen circulated and printed, and he has been charged \nwith intriguing with women of whom he never even \nthought. It is well known that he never had a mai- \ntresse en titre ; it must not, however, be concluded from \nthis that he had not passing inclinations and fancies \nwhich it was easy for him, in his position, to gratify. \nBut he was- as careful to conceal his own gallantries \nas he was ready to talk of those of other people, and \n\n\n\nMADAME WALEWSKA. 65 \n\nabove all, he was totally free from the folly of boasting \nof favours which have not been obtained. \n\nIn his youth he had been much attached to Madame \nWalewska, a Polish lady (he made her acquaintance \nduring the campaign of 1806-7), and she was one of the \ntwo women who retained his friendship and regard \nafter the cessation of all other relations with them. \nMadame Walewska never ceased to give him proofs \nof sincere affection. On the occasion of his abdication, \nshe went to Fontainebleau to take leave of him, and \nwhen she learned that Marie-Louise had not accom- \npanied him to the Island of Elba, she went thither, \ntaking her son, whose father Napoleon was, with \nthe intention of remaining merely as a friend whose \nsociety might be agreeable to him. To this, however, \nNapoleon would not consent. He would not inflict \nupon his wife the mortification of knowing that a \nwoman whom he had formerly loved, although before \nhis marriage with her, was with him. Madame \nWalewska stayed at Elba for three days only. \n\nThere was a great deal of scandal, formerly, about \nthe Emperor\'s adventures with two Coiebrated actresses, \nand in the first edition of this work I referred to the \nsubject. I have, however, suppressed the mention of \nthose ladies in the present edition, in consequence of \nthe strictures of several newspapers. No doubt \nNapoleon was a very unfaithful husband to Josephine. \nIt is a fact that in the Chateau de Compi^gne a secret \nsuite of rooms was constructed, opening from the \n\n\n\n66 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\ncorridor on which the ladies\' "lodging," as it was \ncalled, was situated; and access to these rooms, which \ndid not appear to form a portion of the particular \nallotment, was provided by a single small door, look- \ning like that of a mere passage, which might be \ncompletely overlooked. This suite, composed of several \ncharming rooms, faced the park, and commanded an \nextensive and delightful view ; it was furnished with \ntaste; luxury and elegance were combined in its \ndecorations. Lastly, although it was at a !o ig dis- \ntance from the Emperor\'s own apartment, a secret \nstaircase connected the two. I visited the rooms myself \nafter Napoleon\'s second marriage. They were no \nlonger used, and therefore no longer so carefully con- \ncealed. No doubt he did avail himself of them, but not \nto the extent that has been alleged. The gallantries \nof the Emperor have been grossly exaggerated; by \nsome, in order to make him ridiculous ; by others, for \nthe purpose of representing him as an immoral man ; \nwhile there are actually persons so corrupt as to think \nit redounds to his glory and renown to depict him as a \ngreat conqueror of women, most of whom were ready \nto meet him half, and many three-fourths, of the way. \n\nThe following anecdote, which I have on good \nauthority, although the fact that gave rise to it \noccurred in Josephine\'s time, illustrates what I have \njust said. As it is known to a few persons only, I \nthink it well to introduce it in this chapter. \n\nNapoleon, having been struck by the showy beauty \n\n\n\nGRAZINI. 67 \n\nof Grazini, the singer, when he had passed through \nNaples, made overtures to her, and sent her valuable \npresents. He employed Berthier to conclude a treaty \nwith her on a very liberal basis, and to bring her to \nParis; in fact, she made the journey in Berthier\'s \nown carriage. She was allowed twenty thousand \nfrancs a month ; and she made a splendid figure \nat the theatres, and at concerts at the Tuileries. \nBut then, as I have already said, the Chief of the \nState avoided all scandal, and did not wish to give \numbrage to Josephine, who was excessively jealous, so \nthat he paid only brief and furtive visits to the fair \nsinger. La Grazini (as she was called at the chateau) \nwas a proud and passionate woman, in whose imagin- \nation, as well as in her voice, there was something \nmasculine, and she could not brook such desultory and \ncareless attention; she therefore resorted to the in- \nfallible antidote, and fell violently in love with the \ncelebrated violin-player. Rode, who reciprocated her \nfeelings. The lovers were too ardent to be careful, \nand even braved the vigilance of Berthier himself \n\nOne day the Emperor sent for Fouche, then Minister \nof General Police, and told him he was astonished, that \nwith all his well-known skill, he (Fouche) did not \ndo his business better, and that things were going on \nwhich he knew nothing about. \n\n" Yes," replied the vexed minister, " things do go \non which I did know nothing about, but I know all \nabout them now ! For instance, a short man, wearing \n\n\n\n68 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\na blue cloak and a three-cornered hat, comes out of \nthe chateau every second day, between eight and nine \no\'clock in the evening, by the side gate of the Marsan \npavilion, over the kitchens, and gets into a hackney- \ncoach, with a man taller than himself, but dressed in \nthe same way,* and drives straight to Grazini\'s, 28, \nRue Chantereine. The little man is yourself, and \nthe sly cantatrice deceives you in favour of Rode, the \nfiddler, who lives at the Hotel de I\'Empire, Rue du \nMont Blanc." \n\nAt this. Napoleon turned his back on his minister, \nand began to walk up and down with his hands \nbehind his back, whistling an Italian air. Fouche \nwithdrew without another word. \n\nNapoleon was but rarely unfaithful to Marie-Louise, \nand he took the greatest care to prevent the very few \ninfidelities in which he indulged from coming to her \nknowledge ; for he always treated her with the utmost \nconsideration. He did, however, occasionally lament \nthat she would not make herself agreeable to the \nladies of the Court, and exert herself a little more \nto please. He had been accustomed to the unfailino- \ngrace, and the unvarying amiability of Josephine, and \nhe certainly could not fail to remark a difference \nbetween his first wife and his second ; but he forgot \nthat the latter, born in the purple, accustomed from \nher infancy to homage and respect, and of a naturally \nshy and reserved disposition, knew nothing whatever \n* Duroo, Grand MarthaJ. \n\n\n\nMARIE-LOUISES WANT OF TACT. 69 \n\nof the mind of the French nation, and had no one \nabout her who was in a position to advise, guide, and \nmake her understand how essential it was, not only \nfor her own, but for her son\'s sake, that she should \nwin their regard. But, although the Empress had the \ndefect of being cold and impassive in public, the \nblame ought not to be laid to her account. She was \nconstantly told that one ought to be natural, and to \nappear just as one is; an excellent principle in private \nlife, no doubt, but it does not work in the case of \nsovereigns, or indeed in that of the great, who require \nto do many kindnesses, and to be very condescending, \nin order to make the lower classes like them. \n\n\n\n70 NAPOLEOM AUD AlARIE-LOUlSfi. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX. \n\nMARIE-LOUISE AND JOSEPHINE COMPARED \xe2\x80\x94 GENEROSITY OF THE \nTWO EMPKE8SES \xe2\x80\x94 INFANCY OP NAPOLEON\'s SON \xe2\x80\x94 A PETITION \nADDRESSED TO THE KINO OP ROME \xe2\x80\x94 THE BRINGING-UP OF THE \nYOUNG PRINCE. \n\nTo gain the hearts of the French, one need only \nknow how to smile and bow at the ris^ht time. It \npleases them to consider their sovereign as the head, \nor father of that large family, and a little affability \namply repays them for the respect and affection with \nwhich they regard him. Marie-Louise possessed all \nthose qualities and virtues which could endear her \nto those who knew her intimately ; but she lacked \nthat air of familiarity which may be perfectly well \ncombined with dignity, and is sufficient in France \nto captivate the crowd. One evening, when she had \nbeen at the Theatre Fran9ais, Madame D ven- \ntured to tell her that the audience had been greatly \ndisappointed, because, by remaining at the back of \nher box, she had deprived them of the privilege \nof seeing her. \n\n\n\nMARIE-LOUISE IS ILL-ADVISED. 7l \n\n" What matter ? " said Madame de Montebello. \n" Why should her Majesty trouble herself? " \n\nMadame D answered that a great number of \n\npeople had gone to the theatre solely in the hope \nof seeing the Empress, that they had been very much \nannoyed at finding their expectation frustrated, and \nthat her Majesty ought to regard their anxiety to see \nher as arising from a sentiment of affection always \nto be prized by a sovereign. \n\n" When one is a frank and sincere person," said \nMadame de Montebello, " one should appear just \nwhat one is, and do nothing out of human respect." \n\nWith such advice as this always at hand, it is not \nsurprising that the young Empress allowed her face \nand demeanour to betray to the public the weari- \nness and distaste with which the duties imposed \nupon her by etiquette inspired her. Back again in \nher private life she was kindly, gentle, merry, affable, \nand beloved by all who were in habitual relations \nwith her. \n\nThe first Empress had the advantage of possessing \na thorough knowledge of the French character, anc" \nshe availed herself of this to the fullest extent. N \none had ever had so much influence over the min \nof Napoleon, and even after her divorce she sti \nretained a portion of it ; so that Marie-Louise ha \nconceived a sort of jealousy of her, and did not like \nany one to speak of Josephine in her presence. \nJosephine was renowned everywhere for her bene- \n\n\n\n72 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nficence. Marie-Louise, too, was very charitable, but \nshe allowed herself to be misled in the distribution \nof her gifts. In Josephine\'s time, Madame de Roche- \nfoucauld, her Lady-in- Waiting, took charge of the \ndistribution of the Empress\'s alms. She had em- \nployed two honest and respectable men to seek out \nthe deserving poor who would not beg (pauvres \nhonteux), and to collect trustworthy information re- \nspecting those who solicited her aid. A little money \nexpended in this way restored a great number of \nfamilies to life and happiness, and their gratitude \nspread the name of Josephine, with blessings upon it, \nthroughout France. Marie-Louise took ten thousand \nfrancs a month from the sum allotted to her dress, for \nthe poor ; this was double what Josephine had given, \nbut, unfortunately, Madame de Montebello regarded \nit as beneath her to occupy herself personally with \nthe distribution of the money. She left it entirely \nto her secretary, who had formerly been valet-de- \nchambre to the Count d\'Artois, and also secretary \nto Madame de Rochefoucauld. This person, however, \nhad been nothing under the rule of Josephine\'s Lady- \nin- Waiting ; he became all-powerful under that of \nMadame de Montebello. \n\nHe made a list on which the names of several \npoor persons were inscribed; it was then submitted \nto a kind of scrutiny ; that is to say, M. Ballouhai, \nher Majesty\'s \'\'secretary of expenditure," had in- \nquiries made by a " sure " person into the statements \n\n\n\nIHE EMPRESSES ALMS. 73 \n\nput forward by the applicants for relief, and returned \nthe list with notes to Madame de Montebello, who \nhanded it back to her secretary. The latter struck \nout some of the names, inserted those of his favourites, \nand took the revised list to the Duchess, who pro- \ncured the Empress\'s signature to it. Thus altered, \nit reached the hands of M. Ballouhai, who found \nhimself constrained to hand out the money while \nlamenting over an abuse which he was powerless to \nremedy. The names of immoral women figured in \nthe list ; these were, however, mere pretences, and by \nthis means a portion of the Empress\'s alms remained \nin the hands of M. Deluguy. Loud and frequent \ncomplaints were raised against him, and also against \nMadame de Montebello, but the echo of them never \nreached the Empress. The Duchess had personal \nknowledge of these malversations on several occa- \nsions, but her entire indifference to anything that \ndid not affect herself personally, blinded her to the \ndishonesty of a man who was regarded with con- \ntempt by the public, and whom she ought over and \nover again to have dismissed with ignominy. \n\nOne day, Marie-Louise, having visited the Jardin \ndes Plantes, desired Madame de Montebello to have \na present of 500 francs sent to the gardener, and the \nDuchess\'s secretary received orders accordingly. A \nfew days afterwards, when the Duchess was walking \nin the Jardin des Plantes with some other ladies, \nthe gardener approached the party and thanked \n\n\n\n74 NAPOLEON AND MARIE- LOUISE. \n\nher for the 200 francs which she had sent him from \nher Majesty. The secretary had thought proper to \nappropriate the surplus. This theft was forgotten \nlike others, and thus it was that the poor were de- \nprived of the succour which the Empress intended \nthem to receive, and herself of the blessings which \nought to have been its guerdon. \n\nThe almsgiving of Marie-Louise was not limited to \nthe fixed sum of 10,000 francs which she set aside \neach month for the poor. No one ever spoke to \nher of an unfortunate person, without arousing the \ngenerous impulses, which sprang from her heart \nat its first movement. Her second thoughts were \nquite another matter ; it was easy to discern a hidden \ninfluence in their cold distrust and reluctance. From \nother examples which I could give, I will select only \ncertain incidents that occurred under my own eyes. \nOne evening, just as the Empress had risen from \ntable and retired to the salon, a footman naiiicd \nL^Esperance, a very respectable man, came in great \nagitation to announce to a " first lady " that a family, \nconsisting of father, mother, and six children, living \non the seventh floor of a house in the Rue de L\'Echelle, \nhad been entirely destitute of food for two days, \nthat, hearing of their condition, he had gone to investi- \ngate it for himself, and was much grieved at having \nno money wherewith to help in such an extremity. \nThe lady gave him twenty francs, and he took the \nmoney at once to the starving family. When the \n\n\n\nnapoleon\'s generosity. 75 \n\nEmpress returned the lady depicted to her the position \nof these unfortunate people, and asked her for some \nhelp for them. The Empress desired that 400 francs \nshould be taken to them on the spot, and when it was \nrepresented to her that it was now near midnight, and \nsufficient money had been sent to provide for their \nwants until the morrow, she insisted, saying \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" No, no ; some one must go to them. I am happy \nto think that I shall make them pass a good night." \n\nSome one did go, and that poor family was after- \nwards one of the objects of the Empress\'s bounty. \n\nThe following incident does Marie-Louise as much \nhonour as it does the Emperor himself \n\nThe Countess de T , a lady of the palace, one \n\nday asked for audience of Napoleon, and her request \nwas granted without delay. She related to the \nEmperor that her husband was in embarrassed \ncircumstances ; that he was involved in law suits \nwhich required heavy advances ; that she counted on \nhis Majesty\'s kindness, and addressing herself, not to \nthe sovereign, but to the man, she said all sorts of \ntouching and tender things to him, without over- \nstepping the bounds of that charming modestj\'\' which \nso well becomes women, and of which the lady in \nquestion was well known to make profession. Napo- \nleon thanked her for having placed confidence in him, \nassured her of his friendship, and on the spot signed \nan order in her favour on his privy purse for 100,000 \nfrancs, payable at sight. \n\n\n\n76 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nThe Countess de T , authorized hy her husband, \n\ndrew up a promissory note for the sum advanced in \ndue form, and a year elapsed without its being possible \nto think of repaying it. At the end of that period \nthe Countess gave birth to a son, and the Empress \nacted as godmother, selecting Prince Aldobrandini, \nher first equerry, as her fellow sponsor. Every one \nwill have guessed what the christening present was. \nAt the bottom of a magnificent casket {corheille) lay \nthe promissory note for 100,000 francs, receipted. \nBut this was not all ; the casket contained, besides, \ndiamonds to the value of 12,000 francs, a superb \nKashmir shawl, and some lace of the rarest beauty. \nIt was like a fairy-tale ! Let me hasten to add that \n\nthe T family had rendered service to the State, \n\nand that those marks of favour, so gracefully conferred \ncould not have been better bestowed, or have inspired \nmore lively gratitude. A benefit, to be worthy of \npraise, must be bestowed on worthy, honourable persons. \n\nThe coldness of Marie-Louise\'s manner to all \nexcept her intimate friends was so well known that \nshe was accused of extending it even to her son. \nThis arose, however, not from want of afiection, but \nfrom an excess of solicitude. She had never been \nwith, or even seen, children, and she was afraid to \ntake the little boy in her arms or caress him, lest she \nshould do him some harm. Thus it came to pass that \nthe young Napoleon became more attached to his \ngoverness than to his mother, and of this Marie-Louise \n\n\n\nTHE BABY KING OF KOME. 77 \n\npromptly grew jealous. The Emperor, on the contrary, \ntook him in his arms every time he saw him, caressed, \nand teased him, took him to a looking-glass and made \nall sorts of faces at him. At breakfast, he would keep \nthe child in his lap, and, having dipped a finger in the \nsauce, make him suck it, or smear his face with it. \nThe governess scolded, the Emperor laughed, and the \nchild, who was almost always good-humoured, seemed \nto take pleasure in the rough play of his father. It \nmay be observed that those who came at such times \nto the Emperor to solicit favours, were pretty sure \nto be graciously received, and to have their requests \ngranted. The following anecdote supplies a case in \npoint. \n\nM. V , a man of real talent, who was at once \n\nhighly-informed and very poor, bethought him that \nhe could fill a small salaried place quite as well as \nthe dolts, great and small, who were so well paid \nunder the Empire, and who had nothing on their side \nexcept good luck and their own importunity. He \ntherefore asked for an appointment; but, having no \npatron, three or four petitions which he presented \nnever reached the hands of the Emperor. \n\nWorn out, impatient, and daily growing poorer, he \ndevised a stratagem which would have been worthy \nof a courtier of Louis XIV. Necessity frequently \ninspires happy thoughts ; he drew up with great care \na little placet which he addressed to " His Majesty, \nthe King of Rome." He only asked for a place worth \n\n\n\n78 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE, \n\none hundred louis ; this was a very modest request. \n\nFull of the hope of success, he went to M. T> , a \n\nsuperior officer who was aide-de-camp to the Emperor, \nstated his distressful case, showed him the placet^ and \nadded : \n\n" General, you will again do a generous deed and \nentitle yourself to my everlasting gratitude, if you \nwill procure me the means of presenting this request \nto the Emperor." \n\nM. D , whose kindness was equal to his valour, \n\nled the petitioner into the presence of Napoleon. His \nMajesty took the paper, and remarked the superscrip- \ntion with evident pleasure as well as surprise. \n\n" Sire," said the applicant, " that is a petition for \nHis Majesty the King of Rome." \n\n"Very well, then," replied the Emperor, "let it be \ntaken to its address." \n\nThe King\' of Rome was then six months old. A \nChamberlain was ordered to conduct the petitioner \n\ninto the presence of his baby Majesty. M. V , \n\nseeing that fortune smiled upon him, was equal to the \noccasion ; he presented himself before the cradle of \nthe King, and, after he had made a profound and re - \nspectful reverence, he unfolded the paper, and read its \ncontents in a loud and distinct voice. The infant \n\nKing, having uttered some inarticulate sounds, M. V \n\nand the Chamberlain again saluted his Majesty and \nreturned to the Emperor, who asked, with the greatest \nseriousness, what answer they had obtained. \n\n\n\nTHE BABY KING OF ROME. 79 \n\n"Sire," said the Chamberlain, "his Majesty, the \nKing of Rome, made no reply." \n\n" Very well," said Napoleon ; " silence gives con- \nsent." \n\nShortly afterwards M. Y was appointed to \n\na post in a departmental administration with a salary \nof 6000 francs. \n\nBefore he was two years old the young Prince was \nregularly present at the Emperor\'s breakfast, and his \nmother also. Previous to her confinement, Marie- \nLouise had always breakfasted with the Emperor at \na more or less fixed hour ; but at that period Napo- \nleon had resumed his former habit of eating when he \nwas hungry, or when his occupations permitted, and \nhe had insisted upon the Empress\'s continuing to \nbreakfast at her usual hour. \n\nNo sooner could the little Napoleon speak, than \nhe became, like almost all children, yqyj inquisitive. \nThe windows of his rooms looked out upon the garden \nand the courtyard of the Tuileries, and crowds of \npeople assembled every day to see him. He took \nconstant pleasure in watching them ; and having \nremarked that a great many persons came into the \npalace with rolls of paper under their arms, he asked \nhis governess the meaning of this. She told him that \nthe bearers of the rolls were unfortunate persons who \ncame to implore his papa\'s favour. From that time \nforth whenever he saw a petition being carried past \nhe cried, sobbed, and could not be quieted, until it had \n\n\n\n80 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nbeen brought to him ; and every morning at breakfast \nhe presented to his father all those he had collected \nthe day before. As may be easily supposed, when this \nbecame known to the public, the child was not allowed \nto want petitions. \n\nOne day he saw under his window a woman in \nmourning, holding by the hand a little boy of three \nor four vears old, also in mourning. The latter had \ncharge of a petition, which he held up from a distance \nfor the little Prince to see. The child wanted to know \n" why that poor little boy was dressed all in black ? " \nThe governess answered that no doubt it was because \nthe little boy\'s papa was dead. He then urgently \nbegged to be allowed to speak to the child. Madame \nde Montesquiou, who seized upon every opportunity \nof developing his feelings for others, consented, and \ndirected that the little boy and his mother were to be \nadmitted. The mother was a widow, whose husband \nhad been killed in the last campaign, and she, being \ndestitute, had come to solicit a pension. The King of \nRome took the petition, and promised to give it to \nhis papa. On the following day he made up his parcel \nas usual, but he kept the petition in which he took a \nparticular interest separate from the rest, and, having \nhanded over the others in a bundle, according to \ncustom, he said to the Emperor : \n\n" Papa, here is a petition from a very poor little \nboy. You are the cause of his father\'s death, and now \nhe has nothing. Give him a pension, I beg of you." \n\n\n\nTHE BABY KING OF ROME. 81 \n\nNapoleon took his son in his arms, kissed him \ntenderly, granted the pension, which he made retro- \nspective, and had the patent made out that very day. \nThus, to a child of three years old was granted the \ngreat privilege of drying the tears of a family. \n\nIt is an absolute falsehood that the young Prince \nwas ever chastised with a rod. Madame de Montes- \nquiou employed a much more wise and efficacious \nmethod of correcting his faults. He was generally \ndocile, quiet, and amenable to reason, but occasionally \nhe would give way to fits of passion. One day when \nhe was rolling about on the floor, screaming, and would \nnot listen to his governess, she closed the windows \nand the shutters. The child got up immediately, in \ngreat astonishment, and asked her what she did that \nfor? \n\n"For fear you should be heard," she answered. \n"Do you think the French would have a Prince like \nyou, if they knew you got into such passions ? " \n\n" Do you think any one heard me ? " he asked. \n" I should be very sorry. Forgive me, Maman \nQuiou " (this was his name for her) ; " I will not do it \nany more." \xe2\x80\xa2 \n\nThus did a prudent and intelligent woman inspire \nthe young Prince with the fear of blame, the respect \nfor public opinion, so necessary in every rank, and \nendeavour to make the most of the good gifts and \ngraces with which he was endowed by nature. \n\n\n\n8S NAPOLEON AND MAilIE-LOUiS&. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER X. \n\nMISrNDERSTANDTNO WITH RUSSIA \xe2\x80\x94 CX)UNT DB OZERNITSCHOPF \xe2\x80\x94 \xe2\x96\xb2 TRIP \nTO HOLLAND\xe2\x80\x94 THE BUST OF THE EMFEROR ALEXANDER \xe2\x80\x94 SMUG- \nGLING BY THE LADIES OP THE CX)URT \xe2\x80\x94 M. DE BEAUHARNAIS \xe2\x80\x94 PLATS, \nCONCERTS, AND MASKED BALLS \xe2\x80\x94 DEPARTURE FOR DRESDEN. \n\nFor some time past a misunderstanding had existed \nbetween France and Russia. France reproached \nRussia with the violation of the continental system ; \nRussia claimed an indemnity for certain worthless \nduchies that had been taken from the Empire, and \nadvanced some other pretensions. Russian forces \nwere massed, and approaching Warsaw, while a French \narmy was being formed at the same time in the north \nof Germany ; nevertheless, the idea of a war was as \nyet far from being entertained. \n\nThese Cabinet mysteries, the unusual tone of some \nof the confidential notes of 1811, the indication afibrded \nby great preparations secretly ordered, intrigues from \nthe outside, and hidden manoeuvres, aroused the sus- \npicions of Russia. Already the Czar had seen that it \n^as time for him to find out the plans of Napoleon, \n\n\n\nCOMPLICATIONS. 83 \n\nand, as he needed some other guarantee than that of \nKourakin, his ambassador, who was successfully \ncajoled at Saint-Cloud, and an upholder of the conti- \nnental system, he despatched Count Czernitschoff to \nParis, in the month of January, with a diplomatic \nmission. \n\nCount Czernitschoff, who was colonel of one of the \nregiments of the Russian Imperial Guard, had attracted \nattention at Napoleon\'s Court in the first instance \nby his politeness, and his chivalrous language and \nmanners. He appeared at all the receptions and at \nevery fete, and achieved so striking a success in high \nsociety, that he was very soon the fashion with \nthe ladies who were rivals for supremacy in grace \nand beauty. Each of them aspired to the homage of \nthe brilliant and agreeable envoy of Alexander. At \nfirst, he seemed to hesitate, but after a while this \nParis from the banks of the Neva accorded the -apple \n\nto the wife of General R , who had recently \n\nreturned from the army in Spain. \n\nThe Minister of Police suspected that his stay in \nParis might have secret motives, and might conceal \na mystery which it would be well to penetrate ; \naccordingly he had the Count closely watched, and \nlearned that frequent interviews took place between \nhim and an under-secretary of the Ministry of War. \nThe Duke of Rovigo communicated his suspicions to \nthe Duke de Feltre, but was reassured by the latter, \nwho said he knew the intimacy was founded wholly \n\n\n\n84 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUltSE. \n\nand solely upon their common taste for music, and \nneed not give rise to any uneasiness. The vigilance \nof the police had not, however, been abated, when \none day the Minister learned that the Colonel had \nleft Paris quite suddenly on the preceding evening. \nHe gave directions that the apartment which he \nhad occupied should be carefully searched, and on \nthis being done papers torn in very small pieces \nwere found. These were brought to the Duke of \nRovigo, who ordered his most skilful agents to put \nthem together, and endeavour to decipher their \ncontents. The thing was impossible, but the fact was \nascertained that the torn papers had come out of one \nof the offices of the Ministry of War, which was indi- \ncated ; it was the very office to which the suspected \nofficial belonged. The Duke of Rovigo went to the \noffice at once, and in two hours\' time he had ascer- \ntained that all the plans of campaign in Russia, tht \nstate of the forces, and the returns of our wai \nmaterial and means had been handed over to the \nRussian Colonel, who had departed for his own \ncountry, armed with these documents. Orders for \nhis arrest were sent to the frontiers by telegraph, but \nwhen they reached Mayence, Czernitschoff had already \npassed through that city, and was out of reach. Many \npeople believed that the Duke de Feltre was aware \nof the Colonel\'s real mission, and had favoured it \nsecretly. \n\nFrom the moment that Napoleon knew of Czemit- \n\n\n\nSTRAINED KELATIONS. 85 \n\nschoff \'s departure, he considered war declared. For a \nlong time past he had never allowed himself to be \nforestalled ; he could march against Russia at the \nhead of Europe, and his own destiny, as well as that \nof the new European system, would be decided by \nthat conflict. Russia was the last resource of \nEngland ; the peace of the globe was in Russia ; the \nonly thing to do was to go thither and secure it. \nSuccess ouo^ht not to be doubtful. Besides, he had \nalways dreamed of achieving the independence of \nPoland ; the opportunity had now arisen ; he did not \npropose any gain to himself, he reserved for his own \nshare only the glory o\xc2\xa3 well doing, and the blessings \nof the future. \n\nIn the summer of that year the Emperor and \nEmpress set out for Holland. Napoleon preceded \nMarie-Louise by two days, because he wished to visit \nthe coasts of Belgium. They rejoined each other \nshortly afterwards, before making their entry into \nAmsterdam. \n\nIt was during this excursion that the first symptoms \nof the misunderstanding which had arisen between \nNapoleon and the Emperor of Russia began to be \nperceived. In the Empress\'s cabinet at Amsterdam \na piano, constructed to look like a secretaire divided \nin two, with an empty space in the middle, had been \nplaced. A small bust of the Emperor of Russia occu- \npied this space. A few minutes after he arrived, the \nEmperor, who wanted to see what sort of accommo- \n\n7 \n\n\n\n86 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\ndation had been provided for the Empress, entered \nthe room, and perceiving the bust, took it up and put \nit under his arm without saying a word. He went \nthrough all the rooms, still carrying the bust, although \nit was a good weight. When he had concluded his \ntour of inspection, he handed the bust to Madame \n\nD , saying that he desired it should be removed. \n\nThis incident caused great surprise to all who \nwitnessed it; for we were yet far from supposing that \nany misunderstanding between the two Emperors \nexisted. \n\nNapoleon passed two months in visiting the ports \nand principal cities, and came back to Brussels, where \nhis presence excited the greatest enthusiasm. By his \ndesire the Empress purchased one hundred and fifty \nthousand francs\' worth of lace, in order to revive the \nnational industry. The introduction of English mer- \nchandise into France was then strictly forbidden ; all \nthe prohibited wares that were seized were burned \nwithout mercy. The result was that every one was \ntrying to procure some of them. Belgium was still \nfull of English wares, carefully hidden, and all the \nladies in the suite of the Empress made large pur- \nchases. Marie-Louise was not behindhand either. \nSeveral vehicles were laden with these prizes, not \nwithout fear lest the Emperor should be informed of \nthe fact, and should have them all seized on arriving \nin France. The moment of departure came, the Rhine \nwas passed, and Coblenz reached. Fifteen vehicles, \n\n\n\nCONTRABAND BY THE COURT. 87 \n\nbearing the arms of the Emperor, and composing the \nfirst "service," or the advance guard, if I may use \nthat expression, arrived simultaneously at the gate^ \nof the town. The officials were uncertain as to what \nthey ought to do ; some wanted to stop and search \nthe vehicles, others were averse to doing so, alleging \nthat respect was due to everything belonging to the \nEmperor. The latter counsels prevailed ; the vehicles \nentered freely, and having passed the first line of \nthe French customs they brought their cargo of pro- \nhibited merchandise to safe haven at Paris. It is quite \ncertain that if they had been stopped and confiscated, \nNapoleon, far from taking it ill, would have laughed \nheartily, and would probably have rewarded the indi- \nvidual who had been courageous enough to do his duty. \n\nThe Emperor had already definitely settled the \nplan of his Russian expedition. He knew that such* \na campaign would fail to obtain universal approba- \ntion, and it may have been solely with a view to \nallaying the inevitable discontent that he now sought \nto attach all hearts to him by exerting those powers \nof pleasing with which he was richly endowed, but \ndid not always care to use. \n\nHe had never been known to be so affable, so \namiable ; he made everybody welcome, and talked to \neach comer on his own subjects. At Amsterdam he \nwas a banker, at Brussels a merchant, at Antwerp \na contractor and outfitter ; he visited factories, in- \nspected shipbuilding yards, reviewed the troops, \n\n\n\n88 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\naddressed speeches to the sailors, and attended the \nballs given for him in all the towns in which he made \nany stay. He was gracious and polite, he talked to \neverybod}^ and said nothing that was not pleasant. \n\nMarie-Louise employed her brief sojourn at Amster- \ndam usefully. Her first visit was to the famous \nvillage of Bruck, situated about a league and a half \nfrom the city, and which communicates with the \nZuyder Zee by means of a little canal, whose banks \nare enamelled with flowers at all seasons. She after- \nwards visited Saardam, celebrated for its historical \nconnection with the memory of Peter the Great. \nLuncheon was served for the Imperial party in \nthe hut that had been occupied by the autocrat \nof all the Russias, when learning practical ship- \nbuilding. \n\nIt was while the Emperor and Empress were in \nHolland that Napoleon seemed to entertain a passing \npredilection for the Princess Aldobrandini, a young \nlady belonging to the Court, who had accompanied \nMarie-Louise. She was clever and amiable, and she \ntalked remarkably well. One evening, when she had \noutshone her customary self, Napoleon said to the \nEmpress and the Duchess of MontebeRo, that if they \nwished to become perfect they had only to try to copy \nthe Princess. This was the first occasion on which he \ntried the temper of Marie-Louise. She expressed her \nannoyance only by silence, however, and showed no \nresentment towards the Princess. But the Duchess \n\n\n\nM. DE NABBONNE. 89 \n\nmade it plain that she was deeply aggrieved, and from \nthat time forth never ceased to say the hardest things \nof the favoured lady. \n\nThe electoral colleges had been assembled during \nthe Emperor\'s absence, and a day or two after his \nreturn to Paris, Duroc, who had presided over that of \nthe Department of the Meurthe, came to see Napoleon \nwhile he was at breakfast. \n\n" Well," said the Emperor, " what do they think at \nNancy of M. ? " \n\nM. was one of the Emperor\'s chamberlains, \n\nand did not stand high in the favour of his master ; \nbut he had been bom, and his property was situated, \nin the Department. \n\n" Sire," replied the Marshal, \'* he is regarded with \ngeneral esteem." \n\n" That is not possible, Marshal ; he is a fool." \n\n" I beg your pardon, Sire ; he is not a fool, but a \nman who is liked and esteemed because he deserves \nto be." \n\nThe Emperor laughed, and changed the conversa- \ntion. He did not like to be contradicted, but he \nappreciated the courage of a man who, holding an \nopinion opposed to his own, ventured to maintain it \nboldly. \n\nM. de Narbonne had also presided over an electoral \ncollege in a district at a. distance from the capital, \n\n**What do they say of me in the Departments \nthrough which you have passed ? " asked the Emperor. \n\n\n\n90 NAPOLEON AND MAlilE-LOUlSE. \n\n" Sire," replied M. de Narbonne, " some say you are \na god, others say you are a devil ; but all are agreed \nthat you are more than a man." \n\nNapoleon, not being altogether pleased with M. de \nBeauharnais, Gentleman-in- Waiting to Marie-Louise \nhad intended to appoint this same M. de Narbonne, \nwho possessed ability and tact, in his place. The \nDuchess was afraid of M. de Narbonne, she preferred \nM. de Beauharnais, whom she had taken under her \npatronage, so she represented to the Empress that she \nought to keep M. de Beauharnais with her, were it \nonly for policy\'s sake, as, if his place were given to \nanother person it would inevitably be reported every- \nwhere that she had dismissed him on account of his \nname, and his relationship to Josephine. Marie- \nLouise believed her, and pleaded so hard with the \nEmperor that he at last consented to allow M. de \nBeauharnais to retain his place. To compensate M. \nde Narbonne for his disappointment, the Emperor \nmade him his aide-de-camp. \n\nNever was the Court of France more brilliant than \nduring the winter that followed the visit to Holland. \nIt was during fetes and entertainments of every kind \nthat Napoleon planned the conquest of Russia. The \nspoilt child of fortune, intoxicated with adulation, \nnever contemplating the possibility of a reverse, \nseemed to be celebrating his future victories in antici- \npation, and to have called on all the Pleasures to aid \nthe preparations for war. Not a day passed but there \n\n\n\nTHE COURT AT THE PLAT. 91 \n\nwas a play, a concert, or a masked ball at Court. \nNothing could exceed the brilliancy of these enter- \ntainments; the theatre especially was a dazzling \nspectacle. \n\nThe Emperor and Empress occupied a box facing \nthe stage ; on either side of them, and behind them, \nsat the Princesses and Princes of their family ; on the \nright was the Foreign Ambassador\'s box ; on the left \nthat of the French Ministers ; all the rest of the first \ntier of boxes, or rather the great gallery which was \nsubstituted for it, was reserved for the Court ladies, \nwho attended in fuU dress and glittering with \ndiamonds. The pit was filled with men wearing \norders and stars of every kind; the second tier of \nboxes was occupied by persons who had obtained \ncards of admission; about one hundred cards were \ndistributed for each performance. Between the acts, \nservants in the Emperor\'s livery went among the \nwhole audience, handing round ices and other refresh- \nments in profusion. The masked baUs presented a \nno less imposing spectacle in the richness and the \nvariety of costume. This sort of amusement was \nparticularly favoured by Napoleon ; he never failed \nto get information beforehand respecting the disguises \nof the women whom he wanted to puzzle, and as he \nwas acquainted with all the scandalous stories, secret \nintrigues, and general gossip of his Court, he took a \nspiteful pleasure in tormenting the ladies, disturbing \nthe husbands, and alarming the lovers. \n\n\n\n92 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nBefore leaving Holland their Majesties visited \nHaarlem, the Hague, and Rotterdam ; and after having \ncrossed the Rhine, they visited Cologne. This was at \nthe end of October, and the Imperial couple arrived \nat Saint Cloud early in November, 1811. \n\nAt that period, Madame Murat had induced the \nEmperor, by dint of importunity, to allow one of \nLucien\'s daughters to be summoned to France. The \nyoung lady was residing with Madame Mere. Lucien \nhad ha<:l two children by his first marriage, and five \nby the second, which Napoleon always refused to \nrecognize. His refusal was founded upon the fact \nthat his brother\'s second wife, the widow of a bank- \nrupt " Agent de Change," retained and enjoined a \nfortune which was dishonestly withheld from her first \nhusband\'s creditors. \n\nMadame Murat\'s object in sending for Lucien\'s \ndaughter was to make her Queen of Spain. This \nfeat, indeed, appeared perfectly easy of accomplish- \nment. The Princes were at yalen9ay, and Ferdi- \nnand, whose letters to the Emperor were all of the \nmost flattering kind, begged as a favour that he would \nbestow the hand of one of his kinswomen upon him. \nThe resistance of the Spaniards had made Napoleon \ncome to the resolution of replacing Ferdinand on the \nthrone, and giving him his niece in marriage. The \nPrincess was a fine handsome girl ; I often saw her \nwith the Empress. All of a sudden we learned that \nshe had been sent back to her father. It was said \n\n\n\nLUClEiS\'s DAUGHTEK. 93 \n\nthat the cause of this peremptory step was a letter, \nwritten by the Princess to Lucien, in which the \nEmjperor and Empress were not too tenderly handled. \nThe imprudent communication was intercepted and \nplaced before the Emperor, who at once dismissed his \nniece from Court, \n\n\n\nD4l NAPOLEON AND MAiilE-LOUISBi \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI. \n\nNAPOLEON AND HIS COURT AT DRESDEN. \n\nDEPARTUKE FROM SAINT CLOUD \xe2\x80\x94 ARRIVAL AT DRESDEN \xe2\x80\x94 THE EMPEROR \nAND EMPRESS OP AUSTRIA \xe2\x80\x94 NAPOLEON\'s ANCESTRAL NOBILITY \xe2\x80\x94 \nTHE KING OF PRUSSIA AND HIS SON \xe2\x80\x94 PETES AND THEATRICAL \nENTERTAINMENTS \xe2\x80\x94 MADAME TALMA \xe2\x80\x94 THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER \xe2\x80\x94 \nNAPOLEON SETS OUT FOR POLAND \xe2\x80\x94 THE JOURNEY OP MABIE-LOUISE \nTO PRAGUE \xe2\x80\x94 HER RETURN TO SAINT CLOUD. \n\nN\'apoleon left Saint Cloud on the 9th of May, 1812. \nMarie-Louise and her husband occupied the same \ncarriage. A portion of the Court and almost the whole \nof their Majesties\' household accompanied them on \nthis journey. Never did a departure to join an army \nso closely resemble a party of pleasure. We arrived \nat Mayence on the 11th of May ; the Emperor at once \nreviewed the troops and then proceeded to inspect all \nthe neighbouring strongholds. On the 13th we \nstopped at Aschaffenburg, at the residences of the \nPrince Primate and the Grand Duke, the Empress\'s \nuncle, where the King of Wurtemberg and the Grand \nDuke of Baden already were. On the 16th their \nMajesties were met at Fribourg by the King and \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON AND HIS COURT AT DRESDEN. 95 \n\nQueen of Saxony, who were impatient to welcome the \nillustrious travellers; and on the same day, at ten \no\'clock in the evening, Napoleon and Marie-Louise \narrived at Dresden. \n\nThe Emperor and Empress occupied the state apart- \nments of the chateau, and were constantly surrounded \nby a number of their own household. Napoleon\'s \nlevee took place as usual at eight o\'clock. It was \nthen and there that the world might have beheld \nwith wonder the submissiveness of a multitude of kings \nand princes, mixing with a crowd of courtiers of all \nsorts, and awaiting the moment at which they might \npresent themselves before him. On the day after his \narrival the Emperor\'s levee was attended by the \nreigning Princes of Saxe- Weimar, Saxe-Coburg, and \nNassau. The King of Westphalia and the Grand \nDuke of Wurtzberg arrived during the day, and \nimmediately paid their respects to him. \n\nOn the 18th, the Emperor and Empress of Austria \nmade their state entry into Dresden. What a moment \nfor Marie-Louise ! Once more to find herself in the \narms of her father, and to reappear before the dazzled \neyes of her family as the happiest of wives and the \nconsort of the greatest of sovereigns ! Her august \nfather could not conceal his emotion; he tenderly \nembraced his son-in-law, and recognizing the claim to \nhis affection that Napoleon had acquired, he emphati- \ncally assured him that he might count upon him and \nupon Austria for the triumph of the common cause. \n\n\n\n96 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\nAt their first interview, the Emperor of Austria \ninformed Napoleon that the Buonaparte family had \nformerly been sovereign at Treviso; of this fact he \nwas sure, because he had caused the authentic titles to \nbe procured and presented to him. He attached so \nmuch importance to the proof of Napoleon\'s nobility \nthat he left the Emperor abruptly in order to commu- \nnicate the good news to Marie-Louise, who was also \ngreatly delighted to hear it. \n\nOn that day the King of Saxony gave a magnificent \nbanquet to all these illustrious guests. The principal \nministers, the confidants, and the private advisers of \nthe sovereigns and the princes crowded in behind them ; \namong the number were Mettemich and Harden- \nberg. Their attitude in the presence of Napoleon was \nthat of profound admiration for his genius ; their \nlanguage, in conversation with the members of the \nimperial household, was that of devotion to his person.* \n\nThe King of Prussia was not present at this great \nassembly. It had been arranged that if Napoleon \nshould leave Dresden to join the army he was to pass \nthrough Berlin, where, indeed, preparation had already \nbeen made for him, and the King of Prussia remained \nin his capital to receive him. Nevertheless on the 26th \nthe King arrived at Dresden, and hastened to visit \nNapoleon, to whom he said : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n* A significant commentary upon this passage, and indeed upon \nthe famous banquet at Dresden, and the protestations of the Emperor \nof Austria, is supplied by the Talleyrand Correspondence during the \nCongress of Vienna (Bentley). \xe2\x80\x94 Translator\'s note. \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON AND HIS COURT AT DRESDEN. 97 \n\n"Sire, my brother, I repeat to you my assurance \nof inviolable attachment to the system which unites \nus." \n\nHe offered Napoleon the services of his son, the \nCrown Prince of Prussia, in the capacity of aide-de- \ncamp in the campaign upon which he was about to \nenter. His Prussian Majesty even presented the \nPrince to the aides-de-camp of the Emperor of the \nFrench, begging their friendship for this new brother \nin arms. But, no sooner had the first fervour of the \noccasion subsided than comparisons, jealousies, and \nanimosities crept in and established themselves, so \nthat when the Princes and Princesses parted, each to \nreturn home, they were on less friendly terms than they \nhad intended to be, or at least than they had been \nbefore the great meeting. \n\nI shall not attempt to describe the grandeur of \nthat Court, whither so many Courts had come from \nthe farthest parts of Germany, and the luxury in \nwhich each rivalled the other, \xe2\x80\x94 fetes, concerts, balls, \nhunting-parties, assemblies, competing with each other \nfor their respective share in the whirl of pleasure. \nIncessant movement and animation turned the Saxon \ncapital into an abode of dazzling magnificence, whose \ncentre was Napoleon. \n\nIn order to give the inhabitants of Dresden an idea \nof the splendour which surrounded his throne, the \nEmperor of the French had brought with him all that \ncould contribute to its adornment. The theatre harl \n\n\n\n98 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nnot been neglected. Among his suite were the principal \nmembers of the Com^die Fran^aise. Of course, Talma \nhad not been forgotten. He brought his wife with \nhim, in the hope of effecting a reconciliation between \nher and the Emperor, who could not endure her (I do \nnot know why), while he loaded her husband with \ntokens of his favour and generosity. Talma did not \nsucceed. When the object of his unjust dislike ap- \npeared, he plainly showed his displeasure, and ordered \nhis Prefect of the Palais to signify to Madame Talma \nthat she was not again to show herself upon the \nFrench stage. \n\nNapoleon was very busy at Dresden, and Marie- \nLouise, ever anxious to take advantage of the few \nleisure moments which her husband could spare her, \nhardly went out at all lest she might miss any of \nthem. The Emperor Francis, who did nothing, and \nwas excessively bored, could not understand this \ndomestic seclusion, and amused himself, as a last \nresource, in walking about the town all day and \nhaunting the shops. The Empress of Austria tried \nto make Marie-Louise do the same, telling her that \nher assiduity was ridiculous. She would have followed \nthe lead of her step-mother, if she had not been afraid \nof Napoleon. It was his wish that his wife should \ndisplay the utmost magnificence on this occasion. All \nthe Crown Jewels had been taken to Dresden ; Marie- \nLouise was literally covered with them; and the \nEmpress of Austria, who had done her very utmost to \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON AND HIS COURT AT DRESDEN. 99 \n\nmake a splendid appearance, was mortified to find \nherself eclipsed by her step-daughter. She used to \ncome in almost every morning while Marie-Louise was \ndressing, and ferret about everywhere ; rummaging \nthe Empress\'s laces, ribbons, stuffs, shawls, trinkets, \netc., etc., and she never went away empty-handed. \nShe hated Napoleon; in vain did he employ all \nthe resources of French gallantry to overcome her \ndislike. He never could triumph over the inveterate \naversion which she frequently, but unconsciously, \nallowed to appear. \n\nThe meeting at Dresden was the high-water \nmark of Napoleon\'s power. He had to show that he \ndesired to have a little more made of the Emperor of \nAustria, his father-in-law, than was actually done. \nNeither the Emperor, nor the King of Prussia, had a \nhouse allotted to his suite. All ate at Napoleon\'s \ntable, and it was he who settled the hours, the \netiquette, and the ton. When he made the Emperor \nFrancis or the King of Prussia go before him, these \nsovereigns were highly pleased. The luxury and mag- \nnificence of the Court of France caused Napoleon to be \nregarded as an Eastern King might have been. There, \nas at Tilsit, he distributed profuse gifts of money and \ndiamonds. During his stay at Dresden he had not \na single French soldier about his person; his only \nescort was formed of the Saxon body-guard. \n\nThe Emperor Alexander had arrived at Witna at \nthe end of April, accompanied by all his Staff, and \n\n\n\n100 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nfrom thence he had made his entry into the capital of \nPoland. Stress of circamstances, therefore, obliged \nNapoleon to send an ambassador to the Czar without \ndelay. He selected, for this important mission, the \nArchbishop of Malines (Mechlin), who started at once, \naccompanied by M. de Narbonne, then aide-de-camp \nto the Emperor. He saw Alexander, and found him \nfirm in the resolution which he had formed, if the \nindemnities which he had previously demanded \nthrough Kourakin, his ambassador, were not granted. \nIn consequence. Napoleon prepared to leave Dresden. \nOn the 28th he made aU his arrangemqpts with the \nSecretaries of State despatched from Paris to Dresden \nby the various Ministers, and the next day at two \no\'clock a.m., he left the Saxon capital to place him- \nself at the head of the finest army he had yet com- \nmanded. The Prince of Neufchatel occupied a place \nin his carriage, the Grand Marshal and the Grand \nEquerry followed close behind ; the rest of his civil \nand military household had already preceded him. \nThe Duke of Bassano and Count Daru remained at \nDresden in order to forward despatches, while awaiting \nthe Emperor\'s commands to rejoin him. \n\nNo sooner was Napoleon gone than all the Princes \nhastened to return to their own realms. For the first \ntime Marie-Louise beheld the crowd ebb away from \nbefore her. The only one who remained with her was \nher uncle, the Grand Duke of Wurtzberg. On the 5th \nof June, the Empress herself set out for Prague. The \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON A.SD HIS COURT AT DRESDEN. 101 \n\nEmperor and Empress of Austria came to meet hei \nwith all their Court. Her Majesty left her own \ncarriage and seated herself in her father\'s. The entry \nof the brilliant corUge into the city of Prague was \nmade amid the roar of cannon and the ringing of \nbells ; the streets were lined with troops, and all the \nhouses were magnificently draped. \n\nOn arriving at he^ apartments in the Palace, her \nMajesty found all the civil, religious, and military \nauthorities of the city assembled, together with such \npersonages as had not taken part in the cortege, and \na numerous \'\'service of honour" selected by the \nEmperor of Austria from among the most distin- \nguished members of his household. \n\nOn the 18th of June, Marie-Louise returned to \n^aint Cloud from Prague, \n\n\n\n102 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISB. \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII. \n\nDEPARTURE OP NAPOLEON TO JOIN THE ARMY \xe2\x80\x94 THE MARCH UPON MOSCOAN \n\nTHE CONSPIRACY OP MALLET \xe2\x80\x94 THE EMPEROR\'S WORDS \xe2\x80\x94 THE DUKE \n\nOF ROVIGO \xe2\x80\x94 DISASTERS \xe2\x80\x94 NAPOLEON\'S RETURN TO PARIS \xe2\x80\x94 THE PRAYER \nOF THE KING OF ROME \xe2\x80\x94 PREPARATIONS FOR A FRESH CAMPAIGN \xe2\x80\x94 \nTHE DUKE DE FELTRB. \n\nNapoleon had set out for Poland, whither he was \nsummoned by a people who believed that he was \nabout to re-establish the kingdom, and restore its \nformer boundaries. He did nothing of the kind ; his \nviews were of a different nature, and this was an \nerror which cost him dear. He marched at the \nhead of the finest army that France had ever raised, \nreinforced by auxiliary troops from Italy and the con- \nfederation of the Rhine, and provided with formidable \nparks of artillery and immense stores. \n\nAt first victory seemed disposed to remain faithful \nto him who had hitherto been its favourite, and he \nmarched on from success to success, so far as Smolensk. \nHaving reached that town, he was a while disposed to \nadvance no farther; he talked of this project to his \nconfidants, and alluded to the region at which he had \narrived as a barharous country. But one of his \ngenerals pointed out to him, that, as he had often \n\n\n\nMOSCOW. 103 \n\nsigned treaties of peace in capitals, he was bound to go \non to Moscow, in order there to sign the peace with \nRussia. He hearkened to this imprudent counsel, and \nset out on his march towards the ancient capital of \nthe Czars. \n\nWhen the Emperor arrived at Moscow, where he \nexpected to get provisions for his troops, and to be \nable to give them some rest, he found the city burning, \nand no supplies for his army. He wrote to the Emperor \nAlexander, proposing to treat with him for peace. \nSeveral days elapsed before Alexander arrived at any \ndecision; but at length he wrote to the General in \ncommand of his army to the effect that he would con- \nsent to treat for peace with Napoleon. At the moment \nwhen\' the Czar\'s orders reached the Russian head- \nquarters, Moscow was in flames, and the cold had \nalready set in with great intensity. The General took \nit upon himself to defer the execution of his Sovereign\'s \ncommands, being convinced that the French army \nwould be forced to retire, and that the Emperor would \nbe well pleased with his disobedience. He was right ; \nthe misfortunes of the French army were directly \ncaused by that act.* \n\nWhile Napoleon v/as returning from Moscow, an \nextraordinary event was occurring in Paris.f A \n\n* This circumstance was commimicated to the author by a Russian \nnobleman who was perfectly acquainted with the facts. \n\nt It was at Smolensk, and during the disastrous retreat, that \nNapoleon was suddenly informed of the famous exploit of General \nMallet. The following account of the incident is taken from S^gur\'s \n\n\n\n104 NAPOLEON AND MAiUE- LOUISE. \n\nperson who had escaped from prison seized the \nMinister of Police, threw him into a dungeon, made \n\nHistoire de Napoleon el de la Grande Arm^e, pendant Vann\xe2\x82\xace 1812, \nvol. ii. ch. xii. : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" We were on the heights of Mikalewka, on the 6th of November, \nand the sleet-laden clouds had just discharged themselves upon our \nheads, when we saw Count Daru coming up in haste, and a circle of \nvedettes was formed around him and the Emperor. \n\n" An estafette, the first who had been able to reach us for ten days \npast, had just brought the news of that strange conspiracy, formed in \nParis by an obscure general in confinement. His only accomplices \nwere the false news of our destruction, and forged orders to some \ntroops to arrest the Minister, the Prefect of Police, and the Comman- \ndant of Paris. The success of all this was due to the impulse of a \nfiist movemt nt, and the general ignorance and astonisihinent. But m. \nsooner had the first rumour of it been spread than an order suflSccd \nto consign the head of the conspiracy to prison once more, with his \naccomplices or his dupes. \n\n" The Emperor was informed simultaneously of their crime and their \npunishment. Those who tried from a distance to read his thoughts \nin his face saw nothing. He was absolutely reticent ; his first and \nonly words to Daru were : \' Well ! and if we had stayed at Moscow ! \' \nThen he hastily entered a palisaded house which was used as a post \nof correspondence. No sooner was Napoleon alone with his most \nfaithful and trusted officers than all his emotions broke out at once in \nexclamations of astonishment, humiliation, and anger. A few minutes \nlater, he sent for several officers in order to ascertain the effect that \nhad been produced by such strange news. He detected in them all \ndistress, uneasiness, even consternation, and perceived that confidence \nin the stability of his government was shaken. He also came to know \nthat his oflScers accosted each other with lamentation, and were agreed \nthat the great revolution of 1789, which was supposed to be ended, was \nstill active. \n\n"Some persons were rejoiced at the news, hoping that it would \nnaston the Emi)eror\'s return to France, and that he would remain \nthere, not exposing himself to risks from the outside, because he was \nno longer sure of the inside. As for Napoleon, all his thoughts had \npreceded him to Paris, and he continued to advance mechanically \ntowards France ; but he had no sooner arrived than he summoued the \nGrand-Chancellor to Saint Cloud, and. advancing towards him the \nmoment he caught sigkt of him, his eyea blazing with anger, ho \n\n\n\nmallet\'s conshkacy. 106 \n\nhimself master of the military post, and was on the \npoint of overturning the Imperial Government in a \nfew hours. This attempt was badly conducted, but \nthe moment could not have been better chosen. The \nwar with Russia had occasioned almost general dis- \ncontent ; the new levies of men which it had necessi- \ntated turned all classes against it. \n\nIt was actually hoped that Napoleon might not \nobtain too great a success, because the general con- \nviction was, that if he did he would afterwards despatch \ntroops by land to endeavour to destroy the English \npower in India. This appeared to be the real aim \nof his desires and his ambition. His absence, at so \ngreat a distance, made people talk and murmur more \nfreely. The Ministers inspired but little fear. All \nthings therefore seemed to unite to favour a conspiracy. \n\nAt this moment Mallet, a general who was suspected \nby the Emperor, and shut up in an asylum on the pre- \ntext of madness, conceived the project of a revolu- \ntion, and proceeded to put it into execution, without \nany settled plan, and without either accomplices or \nmoney. Having escaped from the house where he \nwas confined, and provided himself with forged decrees \nof the Senate, which announced the death of the \nEmperor, and appointed General Mallet to the Military \nCommand of Paris, he went alone, in the middle of \n\naddressed him in a voice of thunder : \' Ah, so you have come, sir ! Who \ngave you leave to have my oflScers shot? Why have you deprived me \nof the fairest of a sovereign\'s riglits, the right to pardon? Sir, you \nare very culpable I \' " \xe2\x80\x94 Communicated note. \n\n\n\n106 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nthe night, to a barrack, read out the so-called decree \nof which he ^vas the bearer, and ordered a regiment \nto follow him. From thence he repaired to the prison \nof La Force, and in virtue of the dignity with which \nhe had invested himself, he ordered the release of \na general officer, named Lahorie, who had been im- \nprisoned on some police charge, and on whom he \nbelieved he could rely. The latter, with a detach- \nment of the same regiment, proceeded to the hotel \nof the Minister of Police, informed him of the death \nof Napoleon, and, also, that he had the commands \nof the Senate to secure the Minister\'s person. The \nDuke of Rovigo, only half awake, surrounded on \naU sides, and stunned by the double intelligence, \nallowed himself to be arrested and taken to La Force. \nBefore seven o\'clock in the morning, he was under \nlock and key in the same prison from which Lahorie \nhad been released a few hours before, and he was very \nsoon joined by the Prefect of Police, who had also \nallowed himself to be arrested with equal ciedulity. \n\nDuring this time. Mallet had gone to the staff- \nquarters of the Place de Paris, in order to arrest \nGeneral Hulin ; but the latter was not so confiding \nas Savary. He asked to see the decree of the Senate, \nand Mallet, pretending to take it out of his pocket, \ndrew a pistol, fired at the general and broke his jaw. \nAt that moment. Adjutant- General Laborde, an active \nand dauntless man, arrived. \n\nOn being informed of what had occurred, he con- \n\n\n\nmallet\'s conspiracy. 107 \n\nvinced the officers who had followed Mallet that they \nwere the dupes of an impostor, and seized upon him. \nLaborde then proceeded to the Ministry of Police, and \nthere he found Lahorie, who, after having given the \nclerks orders to draw up a circular despatch, was in \nserious consultation with a tailor from whom he was \nordering a coat. Laborde had him arrested, and then \nwent on to La Force to release the Minister of Police. \nLastly, having repaired to the department, he found \nanother emissary sent by Mallet, and the Prefect, who \nwas as credulous as Rovigo, busily engaged in the pre- \nparation of a room in which the provisional Govern- \nment was to meet in the course of the morning. By \neleven o\'clock order had been restored everywhere. \n\nMarie-Louise was at Saint Cloud while all this \nwas taking place in Paris. It must be said, to her \nhonour, that she showed coolness and courage on the \noccasion. She commanded the few troops at the palace \nto place themselves under arms ; but this was barely \ndone when she learned that the conspirators had been \narrested. \n\nThe news of the alleged death of the Emperor, and \nthe authentic intelligence of the arrest of the Minister \nand the Prefect of Police, had spread rapidly through \nParis without producing any effect. There was no mani- \nfestation of joy, nor was there any sign of grief The \nfaubourgs of Saint Antonio and Saint Marceau, which \nhad been, respectively, such centres of agitation in all \nour revolutions, remained perfectly quiet. The only \n\n\n\n108 NAPOLEON AND MARIE- LOUISE. \n\nsentiment by which the Parisians seemed to be \nanimated was that of a spectator watching a game \nof dominoes \xe2\x80\x94 cuiiosity to know how all this would \nend. The next day no more was thought about it, \nexcept as it furnished an opportunity for sarcastic \nobservations upon the Minister of Police, of whom it \nwas said, among other things, that on the present \noccasion he had made a tour de force. \n\nWhile I am on the subject of the Mallet con- \nspiracy, I must relate an anecdote which does honour \nto the unfortunate Lahorie. A year before the time \nof which I am speaking, he had been sentenced to be \nshot. Savary, who had known him formerly, managed \nto save his life. At the moment when the arrest of \nthe Duke was attempted, a sergeant in command oi \na portion of troops accompanying Lahoiie, wanted to \nkill him. Lahorie rushed upon the sergeant, whom \nhe disarmed, and declared that as the Duke had saved \nhis life, nobody should touch him. Savary did what \nhe could, after the event, to prevent the condemnation \nof Lahorie, and, having failed, he took special care of \nhis family. \n\nAs I have alluded to the Duke of Eovigo, I shall \nrelate a few particulars which ought to modify the \nunfavourable impression of his character that has \nbeen produced by certain libellous publications. \n\nHis father, a former lieutenant-colonel of the Royal \nNormandy Regiment of Cavalry, placed his son, then \nsixteen years of age, in that regiment, in 1789. The \n\n\n\nTHE DUKE DE ROVIGO. 109 \n\nyoung man was aide-de-camp to General Ferino for \nlive years and a half; his good looks, and his gal- \nlantry in the war, had procured that post for him. \nHe lost it on the 18th Fructidor, but served \nGeneral Desaix in a similar capacity, accompanying \nhim to Egypt and returning with him. On the death \nof the General, he became aide-de-camp to Napoleon. \n\nHis great activity and exactitude rendered him \na favourite with his superior officers; he was very \nambitious and had a thirst for success ; his manners \nwere rough, his tone was overbearing, but he had \nnatural ability and great self-devotion. He said that \nwhen the Emperor was in question, he knew neither \nwife nor children; this was the very fanaticism of \ngratitude.* \n\nIt is due to him to state that he never slighted \nany of his former friends. \n\nAll the officers of the Royal Normandy Regiment, \nwhether emigres or not, who wanted places, had only \nto apply to him. He got a prefectship for his former \ncolonel. I could quote two hundred persons who have \nowed their means of livelihood to him. \n\nWhen he was Minister of Police he was constantly \nexposed to much that was very unpleasant in con- \nsequence of his patronage of certain persons. The \n\n* No doubt tliis saying of Savary\'s gave rise to the calumny \n{ft-eviously referred toby tlie write]-, and which imputed to N!ii)oleon the \nobservation that he " liked Savary because he would shoot his father if \nhe (thu Emperor) desired him to do so." \xe2\x80\x94 Trandaloi\'s note. \n\n\n\n110 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\ntwo Polignacs, for instance, owe the many and great \nalleviations of their captivity to him. \n\nWhile these events were taking place, Napoleon had \narrived at Moscow, and had seen the city burned by \nthe Russians, so that the French might not profit by \nthe provisions, the munitions, and the wealth of all \nkinds which it contained. Alexander kept his enemy \namused by proposals of peace, because he was reckon- \ning upon a powerful auxiliary, which could not fail \nto come to his aid, and was bound to be much more \nfatal to the French troops than all his own forces \ncombined. Wise men feared and foresaw great mis- \nfortunes, but the Emperor would not listen to any \nadvice. How could he make up his mind to retrace \nhis steps without having struck a decisive blow ? At \nlast, Prince Poniatowski spoke out to him. \n\n"Sire," said he, "your army is incurring the \ngreatest danger. I know the climate; the weather \nis fine to-day, the thermometer stands at 4\xc2\xb0 (Reau- \nmur), but it may fall this very evening to 20\xc2\xb0 and 30\xc2\xb0." \n\nNapoleon yielded, and gave the order for departure \non the next day but one. On the morrow, however, \nthe event predicted by Prince Poniatowski came to \npass. The disasters which followed are well known. \nThe French army was completely destroyed; those \nwhom hunger, cold, or the Russian steel spared, were \nsent as prisoners to the depths of Siberia. \n\nThe Emperor made his retreat, if indeed the name \nof retreat can be given to a precipitate flight; for \n\n\n\nTHE ALLIES OF THE CZAR. Ill \n\nhe did not ])ause once until he hud reached Saxon \nterritory. \n\nThe celebrated bulletin, drawn up by Napoleon \nhimself, which allowed a great part of our vast mis- \nfortune to be discerned, without, however, making \nknown its full extent, was received at Paris. All \nFrance was plunged into consternation ; there was \nhardly a family which had not either to mourn or to \nfear. \n\nNapoleon did not pause in Saxony ; he immediately \nresumed his journey to France. He had written to \nthe Empress several times, but without announcing \nhis return, and he arrived unexpectedly. Marie- \nLouise, who had been for some time very ailing and \n\ndepressed, had just retired to lest; Mademoiselle K , \n\nwho slept in the room adjoining her Majesty\'s, was \npreparing to do likewise, and about to close all the \napproaches, when she heard voices in the salon beyond. \nAt the same moment the door opened, and two men, \nwearing heavy furred cloaks, entered the room. She \nrushed to the door of the Empress\'s room, to bar their \napproach, when, one of the two men having thrown off \nhis cloak, she recognized the Emperor. A cry uttered \nby her had apprised the Empress that something \nextraordinary was occurring in the next room, and she \nwas just getting out of her bed when the Emperor \ncame in and clasped her in his arms. The interview \nwas a tender one. Napoleon\'s companion was M. de \nCaulaincourt, who had come with him to nhe palace in \n\n\n\n112 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\na shabby caleche. So little were they expected, that \nthey had great difficulty in getting the gates opened \nto admit them. \n\nThere was less gaiety at Court that winter than \nduring the last. The entertainments were few, and \npleasure seemed to be banished from them. For some \ntime Napoleon was gloomy and absent-minded ; he was \nreluctant to show himself in public, and seemed to fear \nthat he would be badly received. In this he was mis- \ntaken, and the public proved to him that he had mis- \njudged them. He appeared, indeed, in a new light ; he \nwas no longer the ever-victorious hero : for the first \ntime they beheld him unfortunate and a fugitive. His \nerrors were blamed, the losses we had suffered were \nbitterly deplored ; but interest in him, affection for him, \nwere re-awakened by the sight of him, and loud accla- \nmations greeted him, not of the purchased sort, but- \ncoming from the heart. The French are eminently \ngenerous ; they proved it on this occasion. Even those \nwho loved him not kept silence, and refrained from \ninsulting him in a misfortune which so many brilliant \nmemories entitled them to regard as merely temporary. \n\nThis reception emboldened him; and having already \nresolved to form a new army without delay, he sought \nto make himself popular, because he knew that no \nsacrifice is too costly for the French, when it is made \nfor a prince whom they love. He went out much \nmore in public, visited all the institutions and public \nworks, accompanied only by a single aide-de-camp, \n\n\n\nTHE child-king\'s PRAYER. 113 \n\ntalked familiarly with all whom he met, and dis- \ntributed tokens of his generosity on all sides. He \nsometimes met with people who ventured to ask him \nfor ** peace." To them he would reply that peace was \nthe object of his most ardent desire; that France \nhad won sufficient glory by her arms ; and that he \npurposed to make only one more campaign, in order \nto place the tranquility of the Empire upon a sound \nand solid basis. \n\nMadame de Montesquieu, who was anxious to in- \nspire her charge from his infancy with those principles \nof piety which were so remarkable in herself, had \naccustomed the King of Rome to pray to God night and \nmorning. After the disasters of the Russian campaign, \nshe taught him to add the following words to his \nchildish prayer \xe2\x80\x94 " Inspire, O Lord God, my papa with \nthe desire to make peace, for the welfare of France and \nof us all." One evening. Napoleon was in his son\'s \nroom. The time came for the child to say his prayers ; \nMadame de Montesquiou made no change in them, and \nthe Emperor heard the little King of Rome repeat the \nwords which I have just quoted. He smiled, but said \nnothing. Napoleon was aware of the sentiments of \nMadame de Montesquiou; she had already had the \ncourage to tell him what his flatterers sought to \nconceal from him, \xe2\x80\x94 the gi-eat need and the desire of \nFrance for peace. He listened to her calmly, answered \nthat he wanted to make peace, and then changed the \nconversation. \n\n\n\n114 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\nIn the mean time preparations for this fresh cam- \npaign went on with incredible activity. New arms \nseemed to fall from the sky ; immense magazines of \nprovisions, foiage, and munitions were formed ; and \nmen rose apparently from the earth to fill up the \nroster of the former regiments or to form new ones, \nwhich passed in succession before the Emperor. One \nday, as he was looking at a newly formed regiment of \nChasseurs defiling under the windows of the Tuileries, \ntie cried, " What a fine regiment ! With that one may \nbe sure of conquering every one and everywhere/\' \n\nThe formation of the Guards of Honour excited \nagainst him aU the old nobles and all the rich people, \nwho had paid considerable sums to shield their sons \nfrom the obligation of military service by purchasing \nsubstitutes for them : many persons had been obliged \nto do this twice and even three times over. The \nmeasure was so unjust and so impolitic, that many \npeople suspected the Duke de Feltre, who proposed it, \nof the perfidious intention of turning against the \nEmperor that class which, although it was the least \nnumerous, was the most to be feared, on account of \nits talents, its wealth, and its influence. In short, it \nwas believed that the Minister had been suborned by \nsome foreign power. \n\nThe Duke de Feltre (Clarke) had also behaved in a \nsuspicious way with respect to the conspiracy, or, as it \nought rather to be called, the ill-concerted enterprise \nof General MaUet. He asserted that he had given \n\n\n\nDUBIOU\'S ZEAL. 116 \n\norders to have Mallet arrested, and that he had \nmounted his horse and ridden through the streets of \nParis in order to quiet and undeceive the public mind. \nIt is quite true that he did all this, but not until after \nLaborde had arrested Mallet and taken the Duke of \nRovigo out of La Force. Until then he had remained \nquietly in his house, and he appears to have waited \nuntil the whole thing was over before making any \nmovement. \n\n\n\n116 iiAPOLEON AND MAKlE-LOUiiSa, \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII. \n\nnapoleon\'s doubts op the good faith of AUSTRIA \xe2\x80\x94 THE DUKE OF \n\nBASSANO \xe2\x80\x94 MAKIE-LOUISE REGENT \xe2\x80\x94 OPENING OP THE CAMPAIGN OF \n1813 \xe2\x80\x94 COLIN THE COMPTUOLLER \xe2\x80\x94 DEATH OF GRAND-MARSHAL DUROC \n\xe2\x80\x94 THE emperor\'s UNEXPECTED RETURN TO SAINT CLOUD \xe2\x80\x94 THE \nPARISIAN NATIONAL GUARD \xe2\x80\x94 NAPOI.EON\'S DEPARTURE FOR THE CAM- \nPAIGN OP FRANCE \xe2\x80\x94 HE IS BETRAY KD BY ONE OF HIS GENERALS \xe2\x80\x94 THE \nARRIVAL OF THE ALLIES UNDER THE WALLS OF PARIS. \n\nNapoleon by no means deceived himself Avith regard \nto the crisis with which France was threatened; \nhe clearly discerned the immensity of his peril, when \nhe opened the campaign. Ever since his return from \nMoscow, he had fully recognized the danger of the \nsituation, and applied himself to averting it. Thence- \nforth he had made up his mind to the greatest sacri- \nfices; but the moment at which he should acknow- \nledge this was a difficulty with which his mind was \nespecially occupied. \n\nThe fidelity of the allies of France in Germany did \nnot yet appear to be shaken ; neveitheless, he already \nentei\'tained doubts of the good faith of Austria, and he \nimparted them to the Duke of Bassano, Minister of \nForeign Afl[airs, who, notwithstanding his intelligence \n\n\n\nTHE CAMPAIGN BEGUN. 117 \n\nand finesse, was the last man who ought to have been \nplaced in that important position, as he had been \nmore than once duped by foreign Ca^\'inets. Being \nquestioned by the Emperor upon the dispositions of \nAustria, he assured him in the most positive way \nthat they were entirely pacific and amicable. It \nappears, indeed, that the Minister, either credulous or \ndeceived, was sincerely persuaded of this, and induced \nNapoleon to share his conviction. Marie-Louise, who \ntrembled lest the union which had existed between \nher father and her husband should be broken, was \ngrateful to the Emperor for the way in which he was \nacting, and for his confidence in the fidelity of the \nEmperor of Austria. She had not liked the Duchess of \nBassano, but from that moment she took her into her \ngood graces, and on every occasion lavished tokens of \nregard upon her. The Court was surprised to see the \nDuchess promoted to such favour all of a sudden, and \nattributed the fact to the intimacy which existed \nbetween her and Madame de Montebello. But every \none was mistaken ; the real cause was that which I \nhave just indicated. \n\nIn the middle of spring the Emperor set out for \nthe north of Germany, whither he had already \ndespatched his troops. Before his departure, he \nappointed the Empress Regent of the Empire, and \nhis brother Joseph President of the Council of \nRegency. Marie-Louise accompanied him so far as \nMayence. On seeing the troops it was indeed difficult \n\n9 \n\n\n\n118 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\nto believe that they could have been furnished by a \nnation which had just lost so numerous an army in \nthe preceding campaign. \n\nOn the 2nd of May Napoleon opened the campaign \nof Saxony by the victories of Lutzen and Bautzen. \nBut those victorious days were days of mourning \nfor him : Bessieres, Duke of Istria ; Bruyere, General \nof the Guard ; and Duroc, the Grand Marshal, lost \ntheir lives. The Emperor was sincerely attached to \nall three. He felt the loss of Duroc more keenly than \nthat of the others, owing to their old friendship and \nthe associations common to both. \n\nSome details of Duroc\'s death may be acceptable. \nThose which I am about to relate, were communicated \nto me by an eye-witness of the event in whom I have \nentire confidence, and who remained with Duroc until \nhe had ceased to breathe. \n\nThe Emperor did not arrive at his head-quarters \nuntil the 20th of May, at nine o\'clock in the evening. \n\n" Every day has its troubles," said he to the \nprincipal of&cers of his army who surrounded him; \n" let us give a few moments to rest, and we will begin \nagain to-morrow." \n\nHe then sat down to his modest repast, and \nremarking the presence of his first Comptroller, M. \nColin, he said to him with a smile, " Ha ! ha ! are you \nthere, Monsieur le brave ? " Turning to the Prince of \nNeufchatel, he added, " This devil of a fellow actually \ncame to look for me this morning in the midst of the \n\n\n\nTHE DEATH OF DUROC 119 \n\nbattle to give me a crust of bread and a glass of wine ! \nIt was not a very convenient place, was it, Colin ? \nYou will remember that breakfast." \n\n" Yes, Sire," muttered the faithful servant between \nhis teeth ; " and especially the bombshells that were \ndancing about your Majesty." \n\nThe next day \xe2\x80\x94 a day of battle \xe2\x80\x94 the Emperor kept \nat the heels of the vanguard. The bullets whistled \nlike a hailstorm around him, and he could not conceal \nhis vexation on seeing the enemy\'s army constantly \nescaping him. \n\n" What !" said he, "no result after such butchery ? \nNot a prisoner ! These people will not leave so much \nas a nail behind them ! " \n\nAt that moment one of his escort, a Chasseur of \nthe Guides, was killed by a Russian bullet. Napoleon, \nwho saw him fall almost under his horse\'s feet, said, \naddressing his Grand Marshal, " Duroc, fortune has \na spite against us to-day." \n\nThe day was not ended. \n\nThe Emperor, perceiving a height from whence he \ncould see what was passing, galloped rapidly down \nthe hollow in order to regain a narrow way which \nled to it. He was accompanied by the Duke of \nYicenza, the Duke of Treviso, Marshal Duroc, and \nGeneral Kirgener of the Engineers; all following at \na quick trot and close together. At that moment the \nenemy fired three cannon shots ; one of the balls struck \na tree close to the Emperor, and ricochetted. Napoleon, \n\n\n\n120 NAP0L13.ON AND AlAKiE- LOUISE. \n\nhaving reached the plateau which overlooked the \nravine, turned rountl to ask for his field-glass, and \nsaw nobody but the Duke of Vicenza, who had \nfollowed him. Duke Charles of Placenza came up \nsoon afterwards and whispered something to the \nGrand Equerry. The Emperor asked what it was. \n\n" Sire," said the Duke of Vicenza, " the Grand \nMarshal has been killed." \n\n" Duroc ! " exclaimed the Emperor. " Bah ! that is \nnot possible ; he was beside me just now." \n\nOn this, the page on duty came up with the \nglass; he was as pale as death, and he confirmed \nthe sad news. He had seen the ball ricochet from the \ntree and strike, first General Kirgener, and then the \nDuke of Friula. \n\n" Kirgener was killed on the spot, but the Grand \nMarshal is not yet dead ; and 3^our Majesty\'s glass has \nescaped," added the page, with a forced smile. \n\nDuring this time the doctors, Larrey and Ivan, had \nhurried up, but they could do nothing ; the intestines \nhad been torn by the ball. \n\nAll the army participated in the grief which \nabsorbed Napoleon. The old Grenadiers said, as they \nfixed their eyes upon him, " Poor man ! that one was \nan intime ! " \n\nThe news that his Grand Marshal had ceased to \nsuffer, which was brought to him in the morning, \ndid more to turn his thoughts from his sorrow than \neven the tortuous manoeuvres of the enemy. Some \n\n\n\nTHE B\xc2\xa3Q\xc2\xa3NTS LETTEHS. 121 \n\ntime after this event, the Emperor said to one of his \ngenerals that he had lost at Bautzen, in the most \nstupid way in the world, the three men whom he \nliked best and esteemed still more ; Bruyere, Bessi^res, \nand Duroc. The three were killed on the same day \nby three trifling cannonades. \n\nThe battle of Leipsic was fought a few days after- \nwards, and was followed by the desertion of the \nEmperor by his allies. Napoleon was obliged to \nleave Germany as precipitately as he had fled from \nRussia, and was only enabled to reach Mayence by \nthe noble self-devotion of his Guard, who were cut \nto pieces in covering his retreat. \n\nThe Regent wrote frequently to the Emperor, \nand did not conceal the state of feeling in Paris and \nthe provinces, where all desired peace and loudly \ndemanded it. \n\nWe had just received the news of some slight \nsuccesses, and a glimmering of hope had been re- \nawakened at Court, when two wretched hack carriages \narrived at Saint Cloud, The Emperor was recognized, \nand his unexpected return at once revealed that he \nhad to announce fresh disasters. The Empress was \nwith her son. Some one went to tell her ; she ran \nto meet her husband, who was coming up the steps \nof the palace, and threw herself into his arms in \na flood of tears. Napoleon, deeply moved, clasped \nher to his heart with the utmost tenderness, and their \nlittle son, who was brought down by his governess. \n\n\n\n122 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE, \n\nadded the last touch to a family picture, which was \ndeeply interesting to the small number of spectators \nwho witnessed it. \n\nThe Empress, aware of the conduct of Austria, \ndreaded the return of the Emperor almost as much as \nshe desired it. He was calm, resigned, and did not \nyet despair of his fortunes, but applied himself to \ncalculate the resources which still remained to him. \nAbove all, he did not show the slightest disposition to \nhold his wife responsible for the faithlessness of her \nfather. \n\nThere was no longer any question of carrying the \nwar into distant lands, of making conquests, of \ndestroying ancient monarchies, or of founding new \nones ; the pressing matter was to prevent the foreigner \nfrom penetrating into the heart of France, and to \nmaintain the integrity of her territory, so as to secure \nthe safety of the Imperial crown, which was now in \ndanger of falling from the head of Napoleon. To \ndo this he must create a new army for the second \ntime ; procure arms, munitions, horses, victuals, money, \nand above all, men. The measures which were \nadopted were equivalent to the former convocation \nof the ban, and the arriere-ban. \n\nAt the mention of the fresh forces the general \ndiscontent reached its heig^ht, and althouo:h it did \nnot break out into sedition, it found utterance in \nmurmurs, and the orders of the Government were \nexecuted slowly and only in part. The Chamber of \n\n\n\nTHE TRUTH AT LAST. 123 \n\nrepresentatives was summoned, and the deputies \nappeared there to give voice to the feelings and \nwishes of their constituents, who had everywhere \ndeclared for peace. Napoleon\'s reverses had restored \nsome courage to the friends of liberty. The Senate \npersisted in the system of base flattery which had \ndegraded it in the eyes of all Europe, but the Legis- \nlative Body exhibited more spirit, and ventured to \nmake the truth audible.* Hence the improvised \nreply made by the Emperor to the deputation from \nthe Legislative Body, on the 1st of January, 1814.t \nOn the 23rd of the same month, Sunday, the officers \nof the National Guard of Paris were ordered to assemble \nat the Tuileries in the Salle des Mar^chaux. This \nsalon is square, and very large ; it occupies the first \nfloor of the Pavilion de I\'Horloge. The officers, who \nwere not informed of the purpose for which they \nwere summoned, were about seven or eight hundred \nin number, and were all in uniform. They were \nranged around the vast salon. At noon. Napoleon, \nwho had crossed this apartment as usual on his \nway to the chapel, was saluted by repeated cries of \n" Vive r Empereur f " On his return, he walked all \nround the room several times, and, after he had \nspoken to some of the chief officers, he placed himself \nin the centre. \n\n\n\n* See Pi^e Justificative, No. I., in Appendix, \nt Idem., No. IL \n\n\n\n124 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nTen minutes afterwards, Marie-Louise entered the \nSalle des Mar^chaux, accompanied by Madame de \nMontesquiou, who held the King of Rome in her \narms. When she had taken her place by the \nEmperor\'s side, Napoleon addressed the National \nGuards, by whom he was surrounded, in a loud voice, \nto the following effect : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" Gentlemen, a part of the territory of France is \ninvaded ; I am about to place myself at the head of \nmy army, and, with the help of God and the valour of \nmy troops, I hope to drive the enemy back beyond \nthe frontiers." \n\nThen, taking the Empress and the King of Rome \neach by a hand, he added with emotion \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" If the enemy approaches the capital, I confide \nthe Empress and the King of Rome \xe2\x80\x94 my wife and \nmy son \xe2\x80\x94 to the devotion of the National Guard" \n\nThis simple address produced a great effect. \nSeveral of the officers stepped out of their ranks and \nkissed the Emperor\'s hands ; the greater number shed \ntears. Among the latter were many who were by \nno means partial to the imperial regime, but this \nscene had affected them. \n\nAfter he had embraced his wife and his son for \nthe last time, Napoleon left Paris on the 25th of \nJanuary, 1814, at three o\'clock in the morning, to place \nhimself at the head of the small and hastily formed \narmy, which formed his sole means of opposing the \n\n\n\nTHE CAMPAIGN OF FRANCE. 125 \n\ngreat host of soldiers from all the countries in Europe, \nnow pouring down upon the north of France from \nevery point. Each step that they took augmented their \npretensions ; but the Emperor still had the oppor- \ntunity of making at least an honourable, if not a \nglorious, peace. Once more he held in his hands a \ntreaty to which nothing but his signature was wanting. \nMost unhappily he achieved a partial success at that \ncritical moment, and it stayed his hand. Once more \nhe believed that the star which had guided him so \nlong had reappeared above* the horizon, and he de- \nclared that he would not think of peace until he had \nforced the enemy to re-cross the Rhine. Then it was \nthat Napoleon executed the skilful movement which \nought to have secured his triumph, but which in fact \nwrought his ruin. The enemy were to have found \nthemselves enclosed in a square formed by all our \ndivisions ; the peasants, driven to despair by pillage \nand slaughter, were to have formed as many troops \nof light infantry, who should massacre the loiterers and \nthe fugitives\'; but one of Napoleon\'s generals betrayed \nhim, and gave passage to the Emperor of Russia and \nhis army. The foreign troops were under the walls \nof the capital while Napoleon was confidently waiting \nto cut off their retreat. \n\nI have heard distinguished generals say that his \n" Campaign of France " was his masterpiece of \ncapacity, skill, and activity ; that posterity, more \n\n\n\n126 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\njust than his contemporaries, would place it in the \nfirst rank of the extraordinary things done by a man \nwho had no equal ; and that, if he had been seconded, \nthe enemy would have been destroyed, and Paris saved \nfrom their presence. \n\n\n\n( 127 ; \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV. \n\nTHE UNCERTAINTY OF MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nCLARKE INDUCES THE EMPRESS TO LEAVE PARIS FOR RABIBOUTLLET \xe2\x80\x94 \nTHE CAPITAL ON THE 29TH AND 3UTH OF MARCH, 1814 \xe2\x80\x94 KING \nJOSEPH AT MONTMARTEE \xe2\x80\x94 HEROIC CONDUCT OF THIIEE HUNDRED \nDRAGOONS \xe2\x80\x94 THE POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL \xe2\x80\x94 CAPITULATION OF PARIS \xe2\x80\x94 \nTHE PREFECT OF LOIR ET CHER \xe2\x80\x94 ARRIVAL OF THE EMPRESS AND THE \nKING OF ROME AT BLOIS\xe2\x80\x94 BIGOT DE PRiiAMENEU AND THE xM INISTKRS \n\xe2\x80\x94MARIE-LOUISE LEARNS AT BLOIS THE ABDICATION OF NAPOLEON \nAND HIS DEPARTURE FOB THE ISLE OF ELBA. \n\nMarie-Louise and her son were then at Paris, pro- \ntected by the National Guard, to whom, as I have \nalready said, the Emperor had solemnly confided \nthem when he was going away. This corps showed \nitself worthy of his confidence. The Empress had \nintended to proceed to the Hotel de Yille with the \nKing of Rome, but she was dissuaded from doing so. \nUnfortunately she had about her only cowardly or \nperfidious advisers, who combined together to hasten \nher departure. She resisted for a long time, having \na great example for so doing in her own family \xe2\x80\x94 that \nof Marie-Tht^rese. What did she risk by remaining ? \n\n\n\n128 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nShe was the daughter of one of the monarchs who \nhad formed a confederacy against France ; she w-as \ntherefore certain of being treated with respect by \nthe allied troops if they should enter Paris, and sup- \nposing Napoleon were to lose the crown, was it not \npossible that she might preserve it for his son ? \nBy leaving Paris, on the contrary, where the fate \nof France had always been decided for the last \ntwenty-five years, she bade adieu to every hope, and \nleft the field free to the partisans of the Bourbon \ndynasty, who now manifested their opinions openly. \nThe confidence which the French had reposed in the \ninvincibility of their army was \xe2\x96\xa0 already considerably \nweakened by the dangers which increased at every \nmoment. The public plainly expressed a fear that the \nAllies would reach the gates of Paris, and several \npeople had packed up their most precious goods in \nreadiness to be despatched to the provinces farthest \nfrom the scene of war. At the same time, a great \nnumber of the inhabitants of the villages, farms, \nand country houses in the neighbourhood of the \ncapital, came into Paris, bringing a more or less \nconsiderable portion of their furniture. The result \nwas that the faubourgs, and all the roads leading to \nthem, were encumbered with carts laden with goods, \npeople of both sexes and all ages, and with cattle \nof every kind. The Empress had not a moment to \nlose, in gaining an open road by which to escape &om \nthe capital. \n\n\n\nUNCERTAINTY OF MARIE-LOUISE. 129 \n\nAt last the Duke de Feltre succeeded in inducing \nher to leave Paris, by producing at the council a \nletter from the Emperor, in which he was instructed \nto send away the Empress and her son, if Paris was \nthreatened. Napoleon added, "I would prefer to \nknow that they were both at the bottom of the Seine, \nrather than in the hands of the foreigners." The \nEmpress\'s departure was decided upon during the \ntiight of the 28th of March, and on the 29th, at eleven \no\'clock in the morning, the whole Court set out for \nRambouillet, abandoning the capital to its fate. \' \n\nA proclamation addressed to the Parisians had, \nhowever, been posted up, with a letter of King Joseph\'s \nas a sort of preface, but no measure of any kind for \nprotection had been taken, not even the natural one of \ntransferring the Senate and the Legislative Body to \nanother city. \n\nI cannot refrain from recording here an anecdote, \nwhich some will no doubt consider puerile, but which \nI regard as remarkable. When the moment of depar- \nture came, the little King of Rome, who was accus- \ntomed to make frequent excursions to St. Cloud, \nOompi^gne, Fontainebleau, etc., would not leave his \nroom. He screamed violently, rolled himself upon the \nground, said that he would remain at Paris and that \nhe would not go to Rambouillet. In vain did his \ngoverness promise him new toys ; no sooner did she \ntake him by the hand and try to lead him out, than \nhe again flung himself down and struggled, screaming \n\n\n\n130 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nstill more loudly that he would not leave Paris. It \nwas necessary to take him by force to a carriage. \n\nI had remained in Paris to assist M. Ballouhai \nto collect several articles belonging to the Empress, \nwhich had been left behind in the haste of her \ndeparture. I was therefore at the Tuileries on the \n1st of April (the day before the arrival of the Allies), \nwhen a general officer, the Prince of Wurtemberg, \narrived. He asked us where the Empress was, and on \nlearning that she had left Paris, he seemed greatly \ndisturbed, and added that he had been charged to \nprovide a guard for her, and to take the command \nof it. " What had she to fear ? " said he to us. " The \ndaughter of the Emperor of Austria was quite certain \nof our respect." \n\nThe drums had been beaten during a portion of \nthe night of the 29th ; aU the National Guard was on \nfoot \xe2\x80\x94 I will not say under arms, for a great portion of \nthe men who composed it had only pikes. The chiefs \nhad sent to the Duke de Feltre to ask for arms, and \nwere told that he had none at his disposal ; neverthe- \nless when the Allied troops entered the capital, they \nfound considerable stores of arms in the magazine. \n\nFrom seven o\'clock in the morning the firing of \ncannon was heard on every side. \n\nThe French army, which had quitted its position at \nBondy, the day before, to fall back on Paris, was \nstopped at the heights of Montmartre and Belleville, \nalready occupied by the ai-my of observation under \n\n\n\nKING JOSEPH. 131 \n\ncommand of Marshal de Ragusa. In accordance \nwith the plan made by the general council of the \nAllies, the Prussian General, BlUcher, was to atta.ck \nMontmartre, while the Russian corps, commanded by \nGeneral Barclay de Tolly, was to advance against \nBelleville ; but it was impossible for Bliicher, who was \ninformed too late, to arrive in time to act in concert \nwith them, and on the 30th at seven o\'clock in the \nmorning, such fierce fighting was going on between \nPantin and Romainville, that the position at Mont- \nmartre had not yet been threatened. \n\nWhile the slaughter on the northern and eastern \nheights was proceeding, Joseph Bonaparte was at Mont- \nmartre with his Staff. The sight of the danger seemed \nto have roused a momentary energy in him, which he \nseldom displayed. Fired by the example of the \nbrave soldiers by whom he was surrounded, he mani- \nfested confidence which did singular honour to French \nvalour, for he must indeed have entertained a lofty \nidea of the bravery of the army, to persist in hoping \nthat he could yet defend besieged Paris, at the \nmoment when the enemy\'s troops entered the plain \nof St. Denis. While he was occupied in giving orders \nand making fresh dispositions of his troops. Colonel \nPeyre, whom he had sent to reconnoitre, returned to \ngive an account of his mission. This superior officer \nhad been made prisoner by the Russians, and taken to \nthe Emperor Alexander ; he was then able to estimate \nthe immense distance to which the forces of the enemy \n\n\n\n132 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nextended. Being released by order of the Czar, he \nwent at once to King Joseph, told him in detail all \nthat he had seen, and assured him that resistance \nmust be henceforth useless. Then Joseph, losing \ncourage, exclaimed, "If that is the case, nothing \nremains but to parley." \n\nBut the brave soldiers who surrounded him, and \nwho were enraged at the idea of yielding, cheered up \nhis disconsolate mind, and, almost in spite of himself, \nhe continued to give orders for fighting. Until then \nKing Joseph had remained firm at his post ; but when \nat length he saw that all hope was for ever lost for \nhimself, his brother, and his family, forewarned by \nMarshal de Ragusa that his troops, harassed by \na murderous fire, were about to be crushed by the \noverwhelming number of their assailants, and that it \nwould then be impossible to preserve Paris from \nbeing occupied by main force. Napoleon\'s Lieutenant- \nGeneral felt that the moment of his fall had arrived. \nHe sent Colonel Peyre to Marshal de Kagusa with \nan authorization to demand a suspension of arms, and \neven a capitulation, if he judged it absolutely neces- \nsary. Having made these arrangements, Joseph \nabandoned Montmartre, re-entered Paris, and, two \nhours later, took the road to Blois in the hope of \nrejoining the Empress and the King of Rome, who had \nproceeded thither on the previous day. \n\nOn abandoning Montmartre, King Joseph left be- \nhind him only three hundred dragoons, commanded \n\n\n\nTHE GALLANT TUREE HUNDRED. 133 \n\nby an officer, to defend that important post. Twenty \nthousand meu of the Silesian army, infantry and \ncavalry, then proudly advanced against this handful \nof heroes, who were animated equally by the love ot \ntheir country and the love of glory. Far from trying \nto fly, they obstinately persisted in defending the \npost confided to them. They stood firmly by the \nguns which had protected them, and in the strength \nof their courage alone they charged the enemy with \ntheir accustomed impetuosity, and three times they \nhad the triumph of repulsing that terrible mass of \nassailants. This would be an inconceivable thing had \nthey not been Frenchmen. Three hundred French- \nmen to resist with some advantage twenty thousand \nforeigners ! Nevertheless at every minute the ranks \nof these new Spartans were thinned, and soon, like \nthose of Thermopylae, they would all have perished, \nhad not their commander, perceiving that they were \nabout to be turned from the plain of Neuilly, ordered \nthe retreat to be sounded, leaving the enemy amazed \nat the daring which had been displayed by all ranks \nof our army during the whole of this memorable day. \nThe artillery had been served on the Buttes de \nChaumont by the pupils of the Polytechnic School \xe2\x80\x94 \nyouths from seventeen to twenty years of age, who \nfought like old soldiers. The balls were exhausted, \nwhen a chest arrived. They opened it eagerly, and \nsaw nothing in it but bread. They exclaimed, " We \ndon\'t want bread, but balls." The balls were sent to \n\n10 \n\n\n\n134 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nthem, but, either from treachery or in consequence of \nthe confusion which prevailed, they were unservice- \nable, being too large for the guns. \n\nDuring this time, the capital, abandoned to itself, \nhad organized a Provisional Government, and capitu- \nlated with the Allied troops, who made their entry on \nthe following day. Napoleon was almost a spectator \nof that entry, for he arrived on the same day, with \none of his aides-de-camp, to reconnoitre the situation \nof the enemy. He was only five leagues away when \nhe learned that Paris had capitulated; he then lost \nall hope, and returned to Fontainebleau utterly dis- \ncouraged, as will be seen in the following chapter, \nwhich I have entitled, " Napoleon at Fontainebleau." \nNevertheless he still had thirty thousand men of that \nImperial Guard which was formerly so famous with \nhim there. They loudly demanded that he should lead \nthem to Paris, swearing to conquer or be buried under \nits ruins. The Emperor did not consent ; although he \nhad done everything in his power to deceive the in- \nhabitants of the capital to the last moment, and to \ndisguise from them the real state of things and their \nown situation ; if at least we are to rely upon a bulletin \nwritten long beforehand, and which was to be printed \nin the Moniteur of the 31st. The original of this \ndocument was communicated in manuscript to me, and \nI have thought it sufficiently curious to give a copy of \nit here. For all this, however, Napoleon had done too \nmuch in favour of the city of Paris to be willing to \n\n\n\nJOURNEY OF THE EMPRESS. 135 \n\ndestroy it. His refusal displeased the soldiers and \ncooled their enthusiasm. \n\nThe treachery of one of his generals, the reproaches \nof several others, the truths which the persons around \nhim at length permitted thomselves to speak, must \nhave taught him then that flatterers are not friends. \nLastly they pressed him to abdicate, and he made up \nhis mind to that step. \n\nThe Empress merely passed through Rambouillet on \nher way to Blois, with the Council of Regency and a \nportion of the Guard. \n\nOn the 30th she slept at Chartres, on the 31st at \nChateaudun, and on the 1st of April at Vendome, \nwhere she arrived at three o\'clock in the afternoon. \nThe road from Vendome to Blois was only in process of \nmaking, and the greater number of the vehicles, espe- \ncially the most heavily laden, stuck in the mud. All \nthe horses had to be used to extricate a few of them, \nand when these had been got out, the same operation \nwas performed on the remainder. Thus was effected \nthe flight of that Imperial Court which only a few \ndays ago had been so brilliant ! \n\nAt Blois the Court was in perfect security. The \nAllied troops had not yet advanced on that side, and \nCristiani de Ravazan, Prefect of Loire- and-Eure, who \nhad already been warned of the approach of Marie- \nLouise and her son, had proceeded to the boundary of \nhis Department to " compliment " the Empress, when \nhe received a communication from the Court which \n\n\n\n136 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nobliged him to return to Blois in all haste, and to \nevacuate the Hotel de Ville in order to make it ready \nfor the reception of the Court. \n\nThe principal inhabitants and functionaries, espe- \ncially those residing near the prefecture, were requested \nto prepare lodging for Madame M^re; the Kings Joseph, \nLucien, and Jerome; the High Chancellor, Cambaceres; \nthe Ministers and Chiefs of Administration ; and, \nfinally, for eighteen hundred soldiers. On the 2nd of \nApril, very early in the morning, the first detachment \nof cavalry began to arrive at Blois, and were speedily \nfollowed by immense quantities of baggage, and espe- \ncially fifteen fourgons containing the treasury of the \nImperial Court. The number of vehicles was so con- \nsiderable, that the train of the Empress alone amounted \nto two hundred horses. These equipages, all huddled \ntogether, and covered with the mud they had collected \nduring the journey, presented a singular aj^pearance. \nIt was the rain which cleaned them, for, in the existing \nstate of things, the servants did not think proper to do \nanything of the kind. The superb State carriages, even \nthat which had been used at the Emperor\'s marriage, \nwere no better treated. \n\nCouriers came in hour after hour. In the afternoon \nM. Cristiani de Ravazan set out to meet the Empress, \na league from the city. The National Guard and the \nsmall garrison that remained placed themselves under \narms, and at six o\'clock a carriage in which the \nEmpress and her son were seated appeared. It was \n\n\n\nUNCERTAINTY OF MARIE-LOUISE. 137 \n\nfollowed by a great number of other carriages, contain- \ning her suite and all those persons who had accompanied \nher. Her Imperial Majesty made her entry into Blois \nin the midst of a numerous crowd, who maintained \nunbroken silence. \n\nThose Ministers who had gone so far as Tours, now \nbegan to arrive. Several had remained at Orleans, \nothers had fled to Brittany ; of the latter number was \nCount Bigot de Preameneu, Minister of Public Worship, \nof whom I have already spoken, and Baron de Pome- \nreul, Director-General of Publication. They no doubt \nregarded the exercise of their peaceful functions as \nincompatible with the tumult of arms, and the aid of \ntheir counsels as superfluous. \n\nFor a few days after her arrival, Marie-Louise was \nleft in ignorance of all that had taken place in Paris. \nThe decisions of the Provisional Government and the \ndecrees of the Senate were unknown to her ; all the \nnewspapers were kept from her ; the Bourbons were \nnever mentioned to her. She therefore anticipated no \nother misfortune in addition to that of Napoleon\'s being \nobliged to make peace on any conditions that might \nbe imposed upon him. \n\nShe was also far from imagining that the Emperor \nof Austria, her own father, meant to dethrone his \nson-in-law, and to deprive his grandson of a crown \nwhich he ought one day to wear. It was not until \nthe 7th of April, in the morning, that the truth was \nmade known to her. \n\n\n\n138 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nMadame D , who had remained at Paris, was \n\nnow to rejoin the Empress. On the 4th of April, \ncertain persons came to her, and informed her that \nshe would have to take important documents to Marie- \nLouise, which it was essential the Empress should \n\nreceive without delay. Madame D procured a \n\npassport, obtained from General Sacken an order for \nan escort in case of need, left Paris on the 6th, and \narrived at Blois on the 7th. She handed to her \nMajesty not only the papers which had been confided \nto her, but the decrees of the Provisional Government, \nand all the newspapers. The Empress had been kept \nin such complete ignorance of events, that she hardly \nbelieved what she read. The dispatches which \n\nMadame D had brought were from the small \n\nnumber of persons who remained faithful, and they \nurged and entreated her to return to Paris, before the \narrival of a Prince of the House of Bourbon, assuring \nher of the Regency for herself and the throne for her \nson, if she would take this step. How easily it could \nbe done was proved by the fact that the lady charged \nwith these dispatches had travelled alone, in a post- \nchaise, with a single servant, and had not once had \noccasion to use her passport. \n\nMarie-Louise promised to return to Paris ; she \nseemed resolved to do so, on the very same evening, \nwhen Dr. Corvisart and Madame de Montebello \nopposed themselves to her project. The cowards com- \nposing the Council of Regency came to the support of \n\n\n\nEVIL COUNSELS PREVAIL. 139 \n\nthese evil advisers. The unfortunate Princess was \ndeceived anew, and she lost the opportunity of \nrecovering what her flight had forfeited. A few days \nafterwards she learned simultaneously that Napoleon \nhad abdicated, and that he had departed for the Isle of \nElba. He was still permitted to be sovereign there. \n\n\n\n140 NAPOLEON AND MAUIK-LO UlSK \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV. \n\nNAPOLEON AT FONTAINES LE ATT. \n\nTHE EMFEBOB LEAVES TROTES \xe2\x80\x94 HIS ARRIVAL AT THE ** rONTAINE DE \nJUVIST" \xe2\x80\x94 GENERAL BELLIARD \xe2\x80\x94 THE DUKE OF VICENZA \xe2\x80\x94 ARRIVAL AT \nFONTAINEBLEAU \xe2\x80\x94 MARSHALS NEY AND MACDONALD \xe2\x80\x94 THE ABDICATION \nOP NAPOLEON \xe2\x80\x94 MM. DEJEAN AND DE MONTESQUIOU \xe2\x80\x94 ISABEY\xe2\x80\x94 THE \nALLIED COMMISSARIES \xe2\x80\x94 THE COURTYARD OF " LE CHEVAL BLANC " \xe2\x80\x94 \nnapoleon\'s words \xe2\x80\x94 HIS DEPARTURE FROM FONTAINEBLEAU. \n\nOn the 29th of March, 1814, at ten o\'clock in the \nmorning. Napoleon leftTroyes on horseback. He was \naccompanied by General Bertrand, his Grand Marshal \nthe Duke de Vicenza, his Grand Equerry, M. de \nSaint Aignan, two aides-de-camp, and two orderly \nofficers. On the 80th, at two hours before daybreak, \nthe Emperor set out from Villeneuve for Yannes. \nSince his departure from Troyes he had eaten nothing. \nThe ten first leagues had been travelled with the same \nhorses in less that two hours. He had not yet an- \nnounced whither he was going, when at one o\'clock \nin the afternoon he arrived at Sens. After he had \nrested there for a quarter of an hour, during which \ntime he drank half a cup of cofiee without milk or \nsugar, he left these gentlemen, whom, however, he \n\n\n\nBY THE "FONTAINE DE JUVISY." 141 \n\nordered to follow him, got into a wretched hack \ncarriage, accompanied by Bertrand only, and continued \nhis way towards the capital. Never was there \nimpatience equal to his ! He incessantly repeated, \n" It will be too late, I shall not arrive." He changed \nhorses at Fromenteau, and arrived at half-past twelve \nat the Cour de France, only five leagues from Paris, \nsuch was the speed he had made. \n\nNapoleon had hardly left his carriage, and seated \nhimself beside the Fontaine de Juvisy, while waiting \nfor fresh horses, when a convoy of artillery defiled \nbefore him. It was the head of the first column of \ntroops, evacuating the capital after the affair that \nhad taken place in the morning. Then and there he \nacquired the sad certainty that he had in fact arrived \ntwenty -four hours too late. Paris had just yielded to \nthe enemy, the Allies were to enter the next day (the \n31st), at daybreak. \n\nGeneral Belliard, who accompanied his column, \nannounced the issue of the events of the day to the \nEmperor, and he was soon placed in possession of the \nterrible details of our great calamity. \n\nNapoleon walked about on the road for nearly \ntwenty minutes without addressing a single word to \nthe generals of all arms, who followed one another \nand hastened up to him. Presently he sent M. de \nCaulaincourt to the head-quarters of the Allied Sove- \nreigns ; then, entering the posting-house, he called for \na crlass of water, which he drank without removing it \n\n\n\n142 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nfrom his lips, and also for a map, which he studied \nfor a long time. At four o\'clock in the morning an \nexpress arrived from the Duke of Vicenza, who \nannounced that all was over, that the capitulation had \nbeen signed two hours after midnight, and that Paris \nwas for the moment under the protection of the \nNational Guard. Napoleon got into his carriage, and \nimmediately took the road to Fontainebleau. On his \narrival there he shut himself up in his cabinet, and \nwould not see any one. \n\nOn the 4th of April, the Emperor, having abdicated \nin favour of his son, nominated Marshals Ney, Mac- \ndonald, and Marmont to make known his resolution \nto the Allies. Marmont declined to accompany his \ncolleagues into the presence of the Sovereigns. The \nproposal made in the name of Napoleon was rejected ; \nthe recall of the House of Bourbon had been decided \nupon. Without entering here into the details of the \nnegotiations which took place between Napoleon and \nthe Emperor Alexander, I shall content myself with \nsaying that Marshals Ney and Macdonald, accom- \npanied by the Duke of Vicenza, arrived from Paris on \nthe 6th, between twelve and one o\'clock in the morn- \ning. Marshal Ney told the Emperor that abdication \npure and simple, without any addition beyond the \nguarantee of his personal safety, was exacted from \nhim. Napoleon refused for some time to consent to \nthis ; finally he asked to what place he should be \nexpected to retire. \n\n\n\nTHE FATE OF NAPOLEON. 143 \n\n" Sire, to the I&le of Elba," replied Ney, \'* with a \npension of two millions a year." \n\n" Two millions ! " said Napoleon ; " that is too much \nfor me ; since I am henceforth merely a soldier, one \nlouis a day is quite enough for me." \n\nFinally, the Act of Abdication * was signed at \nFontainebleau, on the 11th of the same month. \n\nDuring his stay at Fontainebleau, and after his \nabdication, the Emperor remained constantly in the \nlibrary, reading or talking with the Duke of Bassano. \nHe appeared several times in public as usual, for the \npurpose of reviewing his Grenadiers. During these \nlast days a greater number of petitions than usual \nwere presented to him, and, instead of giving them to \nan officer of his suite, he would put them in his coat \npocket and read them in his cabinet. He often \nentered the gallery parallel with the library, and \ntalked familiarly with any officers who were there, \non the events of the day and on what the public \npapers said of him. \n\nOne day he came in with a newspaper in his \nhand,t and exclaimed indignantly, \'\' They say that \nI am a coward ! " In general he talked of political \nevents as if he had no personal interest in them. \nHe frequently spoke of Louis XVIII. " The French," \nsaid he, " will love him during the first six months, \n\n* See "Pifece Justificative," No. 3. \n\nt It was the Gazette de France of Monday, the 4th of April, 1814, \nNa94. \n\n\n\n144 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nthey will grow cool about him during the next \nsix months, and the following six, adieu ! I know \nthem ! " \n\nOn reading an account of the harsh treatment that \nhad been inflicted upon the Pope, he said, " That \nis true, the Pope was ill-treated, more ill-treated \nthan I wished." Talking one morning with General \nSebastiani, he observed that it was neither the Rus- \nsians nor the other Powers that had conquered him, \nbut liberal ideas, because he had oppressed them too \nmuch in Germany. Another time the Emperor sent \nfor the Duke of Bassano, and, in the course of a con- \nversation between them, these words were remarked : \n"You are reproached, Monsieur le Due, with having \nconstantly prevented me from making peace. What \ndo you say to that ? " \n\n"Sire," replied the latter, "your Majesty knows \nvery well I was never consulted, and your Majesty has \nalways acted according to your own will, without \ntaking counsel with the persons about you; I have \nnot therefore found myself in a position to give you \nadvice, but only to obey your orders." \n\n" Ah ! I know it well," replied the Emperor ; " and \nwhat I say to you is only to let you know the opinion \nthat is held of you." \n\nNevertheless, Napoleon appeared for some time \nto be occupied by a secret design. His mind was \nplainly dwelling upon the gloomiest passages of \nhistory. In his private conversations he dwelt inces- \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. 145 \n\nsantly upon the voluntary death which the men of \nantiquity did not hesitate to inflict upon themselves \nin such situations as this. His constantly and calmly \ndiscussing this subject created great uneasiness, and \na circumstance occurred which added to the fears justly \nentertained by those around him. \n\nThe Empress had left Blois ; she was anxious to \nrejoin her husband, and she had already arrived at \nOrleans ; she was expected every moment at Fon- \ntainebleau, when all who were there learnt with \nastonishment, and from the mouth of the Emperor \nhimself, that orders had been given to prevent her \nfrom carrying out her design. \n\nDuring the night of the 12th-18th, at about one \no\'clock in the morning, the silence of the long corridors \nat Fontainebleau was suddenly broken by frequent \ncomings and goings. The persons on duty in the \nchateau ascended and descended the stairs ; candles \nwere lighted in the apartments ; everybody was on \nfoot. One ran to knock at the door of Dr. Yvan, \nanother to wake the Grand Marshal, a third to call \nthe Duke of Vicenza, and a fourth to summon the \nDuke of Bassano, who was residing at the Chancellerie. \nAU these personages arrived at the same time, and \nwere taken into the Emperor\'s bedroom. In vain did \nastonishment, suspense, and curiosity lend an alarmed \nand attentive ear. Nothing could be heard but groans, \nand sobs, from the ante-chamber ; the sounds reached \nthe neighbouring gallery. AU of a sudden Dr. Yvan \n\n\n\n146 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\ncame out of the inner apartment, looking greatly agi- \ntated ; he rushed down the grand staircase, wandered \nabout for a minute in the court, found a horse tied to \na railing, flung himself upon it and galloped off The \nprofoundest obscurity has always veiled the mysteries \nof that night.* \n\nIsabey had made a water-colour portrait of the \nEmpress Marie-Louise and her son, which she herself \npresented to the Emperor on the 1st of June, 1814. \nThis portrait was now in the painter\'s possession. \n\n\xe2\x99\xa6 At the period of the retreat from Moscow, Napoleon had secured \nmeans to avoid falling alive into the hands of his enemies in case of \naccident. He had procured, through his surgeon Yvan, a sachet which \nhe wore round his neck during the time tliat the danger lasted. \nSome said this was opium ; others insisted that it was a preparation \ncompounded by the celebrated Cabanis, and the same with which \nCondorcet the Deputy had destroyed himself; \xe2\x80\x94 whatever it was, \nNapoleon had preserved this sachet in one of the secret drawers of a \ntravelling dressing-case which he always took on his campaigns. \nThat night at Fontainebleau, he bethought him that the moment to \nhave recourse to this terrible expedient had arrived. One of the \nvalets, whose bed was placed behind his half-opened door, had heard \nhim rise and seen him stir something into a coffee-cup, drink it, and \nlie down again. In a short time violent pains in the stomach and \nbowels forced from Napoleon the admission that he was dying. Then \nthe man took upon himself to send for those who were most intimate \nwith the Emperor. Yvan was not forgotten, and when he learned \nwhat had happened, and heard Napoleon complain that the action of \nthe poison was not sufficiently rapid, he lost his h(^ad and rushed \naway from Fontainebleau. After a long swoon, followed by a profuse \nperspiration, the pains ceased, and the alarming symptoms disappeared, \neither because the dose had been insufficient, or because the poison \nhad lost its strength through time. It is said that Napoleon, aston- \nished to find himself still alive, reflected for a few moments, and then \nexclaimed, "God does not will it to be," and yielding himself into the \nhands of Providence, who had just saved his life, resigned himself to \nhis new destinies. \xe2\x80\x94 Communicated note. \n\n\n\nISABEY. 147 \n\nHaving learned from M. de Caulaincourt that Napoleon \nhad expressed a desire to have it, Isabey hurriedly \nset out for Fontainebleau, where he arrived on the \n12th, at about noon. When he was ushered into \nthe Emperor s cabinet he found the Grand Marshal and \nthe Duke of Bassano there. On seeing him, Napoleon \ncried, " Ah, it is Isabey ! What news ? " Isabey \nanswered that he had come to thank the Emperor for \nall his kindness, and that, having learnt through the \nDuke of Vicenza that he wished to have the portrait \nof the Empress, he had brought it to him. Napoleon, \non receiving it, pressed his hand several times, without \nsaying one word. As the artist wore the uniform of \na Lieutenant of Grenadiers in the National Guard, the \nEmperor said to him, " Isabey, are you also in the \nNational Guard ? " He replied that although he had a \nson in the army who had fought on the Plain of \nChampagne, and of whose fate he was ignorant,* he \nhimself had never wished to return to Paris. Napoleon \nadded, " That is well, Isabey. Very well. I recognize \nyou there." The painter then retired. \n\nCount D6jean, son of the ex-Minister of War, and \nM. de Montesquiou, son of the Grand Chamberlain, \nboth generals of division, were sent to Paris by \nNapoleon two or three days before his departure for \nthe Island of Elba. Count Dejean was so little able \nto control himself and to conceal the profound grief \n\n* Isabey learned, the next day, that Mb son had been killed ui \nbattle, at Arcis-sur-Aube. \n\n\n\n148 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\n# \n\nwhich the state of things occasioned him, that at \ntahle he would come out of a dream when any one \naddressed him, and he several times struck his fore- \nhead, muttering, " Is it possible ? Who could have \nthought it ? Can it be ? " As for M. de Montesquiou, \nhe always answered with great precision and extreme \namenity. \n\nOn the 16th, the Commissaries who were to \naccompany Napoleon, by his own desire, to the place \nof embarkation, arrived at Fontaineblcau.* Thev \nwere all received separately by the Emperor, who \nsaid to Colonel Campbell, that " he ha^l cordiall}^ \nhated the English lor fifteen years, but lie luas at last \nconvinced that there was more generosity in their \nGovernment than in that of the others." \n\nThe departure of the Emperor was to take place \non the 20th, at eight o\'clock in the morning, and the \ncarriages were ready. The Imperial Guard was in \nline in the great coui\'t of the Cheval Blanc, and an \nimmense crowd, composed of all the ]3opulation of \nFontaineblcau and the neio-hbourino- villai-es, assembled \nround the chateau. At ei^-ht o\'clock in the mornino- \nhowever, the Commissaries ha^dng been introduced to \nhis apartment, found him still undressed and unshaved. \nAt eleven o\'clock. General Berti and having resj^ectfully \nobserved to Napoleon that everything was ready for \nhis departure, the Emperor answered in an angry \ntone, " And since when, i\\Jonsieur le Marechal, lia\\e \n\xe2\x80\xa2 See " Pi^ce Justificative," No. 4. \n\n\n\nnapoleon\'s farewell. 149 \n\nI had to regulate my actions by your watch ? 1 \nshall go away when it pleases me, and perhaps not at \nall." \n\nTowards mid-day, the Emperor was in his cabinet \nwith MM. de Flahaut and Ornano, when Bertrand \nannounced to the Commissaries who were waiting in \nthe ante-chamber, "His Majesty the Emperor." All \nranged themselves on each side and in silence, accord- \ning to the ordinary etiquette, which was observed up \nto the last moment ; a door was opened, Napoleon \nappeared; he crossed the gallery rapidly, and descended \nthe great staircase. So soon as he appeared in the \ncourt the drums beat. With an imposing wave of the \nhand he silenced them, and addressed the troops \nwith so much dignity and warmth that all those who \nwere present were profoundly touched. Then he \nclasped General Petit in his arms, kissed the Imperial \nEagle, and said in a broken voice, \'* Adieu, my children! \nMy best wishes will remain with you always. Preserve \nthe remembrance of me." He gave his hand to be \nkissed by the officers v\\]io surrounded him. Napoleon\'s \neyes were wet ; all present wept. The emotion spread \neven to the Cossacks, although they did not understand \na word of French. Several of his own servants who \nwere to follow him burst into tears. The Emperor \n(rot into the carriagre with General Bertrand ; it was \npreceded by that of General Druot, and followed by \nthe four carriages of the Commissaries. Eight others, \nwith the Imperial arms, came after. They were \n11 \n\n\n\n150 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\noccupied by the officers of the Imperial household. In \na few minutes aU these carriages disappeared, the \nGuard marched out of the chateau, find the crowd \nmelted away in silence. \n\n\n\n( Ifil ) \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI. \n\nOPPOSmON TO THE REUNION OF MARIE- LOUISE WITH FAPOLEON \xe2\x80\x94 \nJOSEPH AND JEROMK ATTEMPT TO CARRY OFF THE EMPRESS \xe2\x80\x94 THE \nHETMAN PLATOFF \xe2\x80\x94 MARIE - LOUTSE AT ORLEANS \xe2\x80\x94 M. DUDON \nGOES TO CLAIM THE CROWN JEWELS \xe2\x80\x94 THE NECKLACE \xe2\x80\x94 THE \nCORONATION CARRIAGE \xe2\x80\x94 INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE EMPEROR OF \nAUSTRIA AND HIS DAUGHTER \xe2\x80\x94 THE INGRATITUDE OF NAPOLEON\'S \nVALETS \xe2\x80\x94 RUSTAM THE MAMELUKE, AND CONSTANT, FIRST VALET- \nDE-CHAMBRE \xe2\x80\x94 THE GREAT DIGNITARIES \xe2\x80\x94 PASSPORTS \xe2\x80\x94 THE DUKE OP \nROVIGO \xe2\x80\x94 MARIE-LOUISE AT VIENNA \xe2\x80\x94 MEANS TAKEN TO INDUCE HER \nTO CONSENT TO A I\'lVORCE \xe2\x80\x94 COUNT DE BAU8SET AND M. DE RIG- \nNOLET \xe2\x80\x94 MADAME MERE \xe2\x80\x94 CARDINAL FESOH. \n\nThe chiefs of the Royalist party at Paris were not \nwithout anxiety respecting the resolution at which \nMarie-Louise might arrive, at Blois. Not only did \nthey fear her return to the capital, but they did not \nwish her to follow her husband to the Island of Elba, \nbecause they dreaded that their reunion might sooner \nor later bring about a reconciliation between him and \nthe Emperor of Austria. Prince Schwartzenburg was \nat their head. He was one of the firmest supporters \nof the party of the Emperor of Austria, and con- \nsequently he detested Napoleon and did not like \nMarie-Louise. Nevertheless, he kept on good terms \n\n\n\n162 NAPOLji^ON and MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\nwith M. de Montesquieu and the few persons who \npossessed the confidence of Napoleon\'s wife. He \ngained over some, deceived others, and succeeded in \nmaking all aid in the execution of his projects. \n\nSo soon as the Empress was known to hesitate about \nwhat she should do, and that she talked of rejoining the \nEmperor at Fontainebleau, M. de Champagny was sent \noff to inform Prince Schwartzenburg, who was then in \nthe neighbourhood of Troyes. The Prince despatched \nthe Hetman of the Cossacks to Blois on the spot, and \nhe arrived at the moment of the Empress\'s departure \nfor Orleans. The troops by whom he was accompanied \nformed the vanguard. They pillaged a fourgon contain- \ning bonnets and caps, they would probably have \npillaged all the carriages, if their chief had not ap- \npeared on the spot and made them restore the spoil. \n\nWhen the Emperor\'s brothers Joseph and Jerome \nwere apprised of the abdication of Napoleon, they \nstrenuously endeavoured to induce Marie-Louise to \nrepair to Tours with them and the army which was \nto cross the Loire. Their entreaties were urgent, \nbut they did not transgress the respect which they \nowed to their sister-in-law. I was in the adjoining \nroom. The Empress, who had made up her mind to \ngo to Orleans, refused to accompany them. They left \nher and departed from Blois. The narrative of M. de \nBausset is a fable. \n\nDuring this time the perfidious advisers of the un- \nfortunate Empress employed all their skill to dissuade \n\n\n\nTREACHEROUS FRIENDa 153 \n\nher from rejoining her husband. It was represented \nto her, on the one side, that the climate of the Island of \nElba would be fatal to her health, and, on the other, \nthat Napoleon, whose fall from his throne was partly \ndue to the arms of his father-in-law, and who was re- \nduced to a petty sovereignty, would no longer regard \nher as he did in the past, and that she would have to \nbear his incessant reproaches. It was added that, in the \ninterest of her son,she ought to rejoin her father, who had \nalways loved her, and would certainly secure a princi- \npality for her preferable to the Island of Elba ; and that \nshe might even induce him to take some step favour- \nable to Napoleon. One only among her ladies ventured \nto tell her that her duty and her honour demanded \nthat she should follow her husband into his exile. \n\n" You are the only one who hold this language to \nme," said the Empress ; " all my friends, and, above \nall, Madame de C , advise me to the contrary.\'\' \n\n"Madame," replied the lady who had given her this \nadvice, " that is because I am the only one who does \nnot deceive your Majesty," \xe2\x80\xa2 \n\nMarie-Louise preferred, however, to follow the \ncounsel of those whom she ought to have mistrusted, \nall the more readily that they began to let out \ntheir true feelings. " Oh, how I wish that all this was \nover and done with ! " said Madame de Montebello, \n\n* After Marie-Louise had seen her father at Rambouillet, she ex- \npressed to Madame D her bitter regret that she had not foUowed \n\nher adrioe. \n\n\n\n154 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nwhile breakfasting with her on the very day when \nthey were to set out for Orleans ; " how I should \nlike to be quiet, with my children, at my little \nhouse in the Rue d\'Enfer ! " " What you say, Madame \nla Duchesse, is very hard," replied the Empress, with \ntears in her eyes, but she reproached her no further. \nThe Lady-in- Waiting had already formally declared, \nthat in no case whatever would she go to the Island of \nElba. It is therefore reasonable to suppose that, if she \nhad really entered into the plot to separate Marie- \nLouise from Napoleon, it was because she wanted to \navoid either the disorace of refusinor to follow the \nEmpress or the sacrifice of her inclination by accom- \npanying her. \n\nShe did, however, attend her so far as Vienna \nOn her arrival at Orleans, the Empress found there \nseveral regiments who were greatly exasperated, and \nraised by day and night, but especially by night, cries of \n\'\'Vive I\'Empereur !" The Commissaries of the Govern- \nment arrived at the municipality, bringing orders from \nthe new rulers, and the white cockade. The inhabi- \ntants, although very Royalist, dared not assume this, so \nmuch afraid were they of exciting the anger of the \nsoldiery. \n\nIt was proposed to the Empress that she should \nprofit by the sentiments of the garrison who surrounded \nher, to rejoin her husband. She pleaded the dangers \nof the road. She was assured that there were no \ndangers\xe2\x80\x94 and that was quite true. But Madame de \n\n\n\nTHE CROWN JEWELa 166 \n\nM and Madame D stood alone in their advice \n\nagainst the persons to whom the Empress was most \nattached. Another method proposed by them was \nequally rejected. In vain did they use the most re- \nspectful solicitations. Marie-Louise was quite willing to \nrejoin Napoleon, but being assailed by so many differ- \nent opinions, and unable to distinguish rightly between \ntheir respective sincerity, she was so unfortunate as to \nfollow the advice of those who desired to replace her \nin her father\'s hands, and to separate her from Napo- \nleon. This they succeeded in doing. During her short \nstay at Orleans, M. Dudon came, in execution of the \nArticles of Abdication by the Emperor, as Commissary \nof the Provisional Government, to demand the crown \njewels, the treasure, the plate, etc. \n\nEach time that a " Journey of Representation " was \nmade by the Court, the crown jewels and all ornaments \nwhich the Empress would require were given in charge \nto one of the ladies of the household. The individual \nreceiving them gave a receipt, which was returned to \nher when she restored the jewels. Just before the \ndeparture of the Empress the usual receipt was given \nto M. de la Bouillerie, who sent M. Dudon to Orleans, \nto take away all the precious objects " belonging to \nthe Crown." \n\nA dispute then arosb between M. Dadon and tho \nlady who had the jewels m charge during the journey. \nThe latter claimed an " eselavage " of pearls which the \nEmnress had on her neck at the tima This neck- \n\n\n\n156 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nlace, composed of a single row of pearls, had cost \n500,000 livres, and had been given by the Emperor \nto the Empress shortly after the birth of her son, \nTt had always made a portion of her private jewellery. \nM. de la Bouillerie had never claimed it, but M. Dudon \nnow did so. A lady of the household went to thu \nEmpress, who was in, her salon, surrounded by a \nnumerous company, and informed her of the dispute. \nAt the first word, Marie-Louise unclasped the neck- \nlace, and putting it into the lady\'s hands said : " Give \nit to him and make no remark." \n\nWhen Bonaparte was made First Consul, there were \nno crown jewels remaining except the \'\' Regent,\' \nwhich was then in pawn at Berlin for four millions. \nHe redeemed it, and acquired or obtained by his \nvictories jewels which now constitute those of \nthe Crown of France, and are of great value. Bv \nthe Emperor\'s orders we delivered them all up to the \nCommissary of the Provisional Government who had \ncome to claim them in the name of M. de la Bouillerie. \nHe also received the magnificent table services, the \nCoronation service in vermeil, which was a master- \npiece of workmanship, and an immense quantity of \nplate. The whole was placed in twenty-one fourgons. \nThe twenty-second contained thirty-two little barrels \neach enclosing a million m gold. This fourgon, which \nwas placed in the Court of the Secretariat, at the \nEpiscopal Palace, was seen by all the National Guards \n\xe2\x80\xa2who lined the first court at the moment when, in the \n\n\n\nCOUNT D\'ARTOIS AND THE TKEASURE. 157 \n\nname of the Emperor, the thirty-two little barrels \nwere handed over to M. Dudon, the Government Com- \nmissiary. These twenty-two fourgons started for \nParis, whither I went the following day. I found them \nat Etampes, where I counted them anew. \n\nWhen the fourgon laden with gold arrived at the \nTuileries, the Count d\'Artois, who was there with his \nsuite, ordered four barrels to be brought to him. He \nhad them opened, and said to all who were present : \n"Help yourselves, gentlemen; we have suffered together, \nwe ought to share the present good fortune." Each \ntook as much as he could carry, and the barrels were \nsoon empty. I have this anecdote from an officer of \nthe National Guard who was on duty in the apart- \nment and witnessed the distribution. I have thought \nit right to dwell upon the handing over of the treasure \nat Orleans, at which myself and several persons were \npresent, in order to refute a lying assertion contained \nin the newspapers of the time, which affirmed that the \nPrinces Joseph and Jerome had pillaged the treasure. \nI have given an account of the facts. It is asserted \nthat none of the gold was ever restored to the \nTreasury; others say that twenty millions were \nrestored. I am entirely ignorant of the truth in this \nrespect. \n\nOn the 3rd of April, Palm Sunday, Mass was said \nat the palace by M. Gallais, Cur^ of the Church of \nSt. Louis, for there was neither almoner, chaplain, nor \nclerk of the Imperial Chapel among the persons in the \n\n\n\n158 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nsuite of the Empress. After Mass, a council was held \nby the Ministers. At five o\'clock, her Majesty received \nthe authorities of the city, without any address on \ntheir part on account of the circumstances. Marie- \nLouise, followed by her son, passed through the ranks \nof these authorities, addressing a few words to each of \nthem, beginning with the clergy \xe2\x80\x94 a remarkable inno- \nvation, which did honour to the piety of the Empress. \nThe most profound sadness was depicted on her \nface. She dined alone, and did not receive any one \nafterwards. \n\nThe next day, at three o\'clock in the afternoon, \nthe Kings Joseph and Jerome, accompanied by the \nMinister of War, left Blois for Orleans. I have heard \nit said that the object of their journey was to ascertain \nwhether it would not be well to establish the Regency \nin that city, in order to render communication with \nthe Emperor more easy ; but on their arrival at Orleans \nat three o\'clock in the morning, the two Kings received \ndespatches from Fontainebleau, in which Napoleon\'s \ndispleasure with the Regency was expressed in terms \nof the most violent anger. Without doubt the \nEmperor attributed the capitulation of Paris to the \nflight of Joseph, whom he had nominated Lieutenant- \nGeneral of the Empire, and to whom he had sent orders \nto remain at his post. \n\nIt was only there that they became aware of \nNapoleon\'s order of the day, dated 4th April, 1814.* \n* See "^Pi^ JuBticative," No. 5. \n\n\n\nA FRUITLESS PUllSUIT. 159 \n\nThe fact is, that the two brothers returned to Blois on \nthe following morning. \n\nOn Wednesday, the 6th, the pupils of the Polytechnic \nSchool, and the schools of St. Gyr and Chalons, with \nthe pages and the greater part of the civil household \nof the Emperor, arrived. The carriages, now become \nuseless, were sent to Tours, the Coronation carriage \nwas despatched to Chambord. The city of Blois was \nfull ; there was not an inhabitant who had not shared \nhis house, his room, or even his bed with the newly \narrived guests. Then did Blois offer a striking \npicture of the instability of human things. During the \nstay of the Empress at Blois and at Orleans, a daily \ncorrespondence had been established between herself \nand Napoleon, who was expecting her arrival. She \nwrote to him that it was her intention to have \nan interview with her father, and to implore his \nsupport for her husband. This plan not having \nobtained his approbation, she had him informed that \nher health required that she should " take the waters," \nand she asked his consent to her making the journey. \nNapoleon, perceiving that the intention was to separate \nhim from his wife, sent off a numerous detachment of \nhis Guard on the moment, and followed it closely ; but \nnotice was given of his departure, and that of the \nEmpress was hurried on. On arriving at Etampes he \nlearnt that Marie- Louise had already passed through \nthat town on her way to Rambouillet, where she \nremained several days, awaiting her father. \n\n\n\n160 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISK \n\nAt Rambouillet she received a visit from the \nEmperor of Russia, who wished to see " the little \nKing " (by this title he asked for him). The King of \nPrussia came afterwards, and he, too, wished to see \n" the little King." Finally the Emperor of Austria \narrived. The interview was affecting; he wept with \nhis daughter and embraced his grandson ; nevertheless, \nboth one and the other were ruthlessly sacrificed. \n\nNapoleon, having arrived too late at Etampes (the \nEmpress having passed through an hour before), could \nnot attempt to follow her, since the whole country \nwas occupied by the Allied troops. He returned to \nFontainebleau, entertaining no doubt of his wife\'s \nfeelings, and convinced that she had been forced to \nwithdraw herself. Knowing nothing of the intrigues \nby which she was surrounded, he found it difficult \nto believe in the ingratitude of most of those whom \nhe had laden with favours, several of whom did not \neven wait for his departure to throw ofi" the mask \nand reveal the reality. His commissaries and his \ngenerals never left oft* reminding him of the advice \nthat they had given him on such and such occasions, \nand declared that, if it had been followed, matters \nwould have turned out differently. In fact, he was \nthe sick lion in the fable, whom all the animals came \nto insult in their turn, neither was the kick of the \nass spared him. \n\nA despicable Mameluke, whom he had brought back \nfrom Egypt and attached to his private service, on \n\n\n\nTHE FAITHFUL FEW. 161 \n\nwhom he had already settled four or five thousand \nlivres annually, insisted upon being paid forty thousand \nfrancs to go with him, and, after having received the \nmoney, he left Paris and returned no more. \xe2\x80\xa2 Constant, \nhis first valet-de-chambre, also exacted a sura of forty \nthousand francs to go with him to the Island of Elba, \nand, after having received it, disappeared from Fon- \ntainebleau the very day before the Emperor\'s departure \n\nOf all the persons attached to the personal service \nof Napoleon, MM. Hubert and Paillard, whom the \nEmperor had not named to accompany him, \xe2\x80\x94 quite \nyoung men, highly educated, and bound to their country \nby domestic ties, \xe2\x80\x94 were the two who replaced the \nfugitives, and in their fidelity there was no merce- \nnary motive. They did not return to France until \nthey had placed M. Marchand, whose fidelity to the \nEmperor is so well known, in a position to act as their \nsubstitute. M. Colin, the Emperor\'s maitre d\'hotel, \ngave his master a similar proof of attachment, and did \nnot quit the Island of Elba until the state of his health \nforced him to return to France. \n\nOn leaving Paris, the bigh functionaries of the \nImperial Court, as well as the great dignitaries of \nthe Crown, had had no time to provide themselves \nwith passports, nor, indeed, had they thought of doing \nso, relying upon their titles for security ; but that \nwhich had been a safeguard when they were leaving \nthe capital, became a danger when they were leaving \nBlois. They were obliged to pass through a long \n\n\n\n162 NAPOLEON AND MARIE- LOUISE, \n\nline of Allied troops, and the rank of a minister or \nfavourite of Napoleon, far from being a title of recom- \nmendation, became on the contrary a motive fof per- \nsecution. This new state of affairs was discussed, and \nit was resolved that passports should be procured from \nthe Mayor of Blois,and M. de Schouvaloff be requested \nto affix his visa to them. \n\nThe first of these requests was attended with no \ndifficulty, except in its execution, which was unpleasant \nbecause a personal description of each " Excellency " \nwas indispensable. But the head clerk of the Mairie, M. \nBru^re, acquitted himself of his task with all the tact \nand consideration demanded by the singular position \nof these great personages. The worthy functionary \nwould have wished to escape this necessity, and it was \nnot without sharing their own feelings, that he set \ndown in wiiting, the features of kings, princes, \nministers, great officers of State, and other individuals, \nwho taxed his zeal without exhausting it, notwith- \nstanding that he had to fill up four hundred pass- \nports.* \n\nThis, however, Avas only the first of two operations ; \nthe second concerned Count Schouvaloff. A few hours \nafter the Austrian General had arrived at the head- \nquarters of the Allied Sovereigns, the chiefs of the \nParis Government presented themselves with their \n\n* These four hundred passports produced a profit of eight hundred \nfrancs \xe2\x80\x94 the only revenue that the city of Blois derived from the \naccidental sojourn of the Imperial Government. \xe2\x80\x94 Communicated nota \n\n\n\nCOUNT SCHOUVALOFF. 163 \n\npassports, to receive his visa. Very soon the room \nin the Hotel de la Galore, where he was lodged, was \nfound too small to contain the number of applicants, \neach of whom wanted his own special business done \nquickly and done first. Those who had procured \nletters of recommendation arrived with their letters, \nand presented them to the General ; who replied, on \nreceiving them, that he had the highest consideration \nfor their writers, but that, so great was the pressure \non his time, he was obliged to beg each applicant \neither to wait or to return. Nevertheless, his treat- \nment of the different functionaries made it evident \nthat he was aware of the conduct of each of them. \nIt was remarked that he lent himself to everything \nthat could be agreeable to the Duke de Feltre, and \nthat he did not sign the passport of the Duke of \nRovigo until after he had written on the margin, " M. \nde Sayary." \n\nWhile Napoleon and most of the members of his \nfamily and of his Government were quitting France \n(that France which the Emperor had rendered so \ngreat and so powerful), Marie-Louise was leaving \nthe country in another direction. On her departure \nfrom Hambouillet * she was obliged to stop at Gros \n\n* When she left Rambouillet she was accompanied by her son and \nby Madame de Montesquiou, governess to the young Prince, and \nattended by Madame SouflSot, the under-governess, and also by Madame \nMarchand, first " berceuse," and mother of M. Marchand, whose devotion \nto the Emperor is so well known. She was rejoined at Gros Bois by \nthe Duchess of Montebello and Madame Corvisart, who accompanied \nher to Yienna. \n\n\n\n164 NAPOLEON AND MAEIE-LOUISE. \n\nBois, where she remained for two days, being indis- \nposed. She returned to Vienna by the southern route, \nand passed through the Tyrol, where she was forced \nto be present at several fetes. For these she had little \nheart ; but such were the orders of Francis II. \n\nAt last she arrived at Vienna, but she had brought \na numerous and brilliant suite, and this displeased her \nstepmother, again exciting her jealousy. She was \nsent away to Schonbrunn, where she was visited \ntolerably frequently by her sisters, but very rarely \nby her father and the Empress.* \n\nIt was at this time that Madame (the Duchesse \nd\'Angouleme) wrote to the Empress of Austria, saying \nthat, if Marie-Louise had left in Paris any persons in \nwhom she took an interest, she, the Duchess, would \nundertake to protect them, and procure them employ- \nment. This generous offer was communicated by the \nEmpress to her step-daughter, who accepted it, and \nsent a list of the names of four individuals \xe2\x80\x94 one \nwoman, and three men. I do not know what her \nRoyal Highness has done in favour of these latter, \n\n\xe2\x99\xa6 Everybody knows that the Dauphiness was the aunt, "k la \nmode de Bretagne," of Marie-Louise. Queen Marie Antoinette was \nthe sister of Caroline Queen of Naples. Madame d\'Orleans, the \nEmpress of Austria (mother of Marie- Louise), and the Prince who \nwas the father of the Duchesse de Berri, were all three children of \nQueen Caroline, and consequently, all three, cousins to Madame d\'An- \ngouleme. The Empress Marie- Louise, the Duke de Berri, and the \nchildren of the Duchess of Orleans are all nephews and nieces of the \nDauphiness, " ^ la mode de Bretagne ; " and the Duke de Bordeaux \n(the late Comit de Chambord), as well as the son of Marie-Louise (the \ndeceased Duke de Beichstadt), were her grand-nephews in the same \nmaimer. \n\n\n\nTHE EX-QUEEN OF NAPLES. 166 \n\nbut I had the good fortune to be the woman recom- \nmended to the kindnoss of the august Princess, and I \nhave obtained a pension for the former services of my \nhusband, and a bourse for my son at the College of \nHenry IV. I shall preserve a grateful memory of \nthese favours all my life. \n\nMarie-Louise, on her return to Vienna, found there \nher grandmother Caroline, ex-Queen of Naples, who \nblamed her severely for having deserted her husband. \nMarie-Louise excused herself on the plea of the ob- \nstacles that had been raised to her reunion with him. \n\'\xe2\x80\xa2\' My daughter," said the ex-Queen, " one can always \njump out of a window. What will the world say \nof you ? It will judge you severely." Marie-Louise, \nwho lacked strength of character, and had no confi- \ndence in herself, could not be reconciled to the unfor- \ntunate circumstances in which she was placed. She \nwas surrounded at Vienna and at Parma by persons \ndevoted to the Empress of Austria and to M. de \nMetternich. The enmity of the Austrian Cabinet to \nNapoleon was not satisfied. He had still to be \nwounded through all he held most dear, and nothing \nwas omitted that could intensify his misfortunes. \n\nIt was represented to Marie-Louise that divorce \nwas necessary, that circumstances absolutely imposed \nit upon her, and those persons in whom she had the \ngreatest confidence were employed to use all their \ninfluence to induce her to consent. Count de Bausset, \nwho was at the head of her household, and Madame \n\n12 \n\n\n\n166 \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\n\n\nde Brignolet, who had been appointed Lady-in- Waiting \nafter the departure of the Duchess of Montebello \n(she had remained only two days at Vienna, and had \nleft that city with Corvisart), employed every means \nof persuasion during several months to bring the \nEmpress to the point of making this sacrifice. The}- \nnever succeeded. Having fallen ill some time after- \nwards, Madame de Brignolet acknowledged on her \ndeathbed the harm which she had done, and implored \nforgiveness from Marie-Louise. This she easily \nobtained. She also made the same request to Madame \nde Montesquiou, to whom she had done all sorts of \nill offices, not only with Marie -Louise, but also with \nthe Empress of Austria. Let me say here, that every \neffort in the direction of divorce proved useless. \nNapoleon\'s wife declared bravely that she chose to \nretain that title, and that she would never give her \nconsent to any proceedings tending to a divorce. \n\nSuch was the state of things in Austria, when \nNapoleon quitted the Island of Elba. On the 12th of \nApril, Madame Mere left Blois with Cardinal Fesch, \nher brother, who bad arrived there only the evening \nbefore, by a long and winding road. After the first \nalarm, which had been given at Lyons on the 12 th of \nJanuary, his Eminence found himself in a difficulty \nbetween his family affections and his love for his \ncountry. The voice of kindred, however, being the \nstronger, prevailed with the Cardinal. He left his \nSee, and followed the civil authorities to Roanne, but \n\n\n\nCARDINAL FESCH. 167 \n\nill pleased by the spirit of the Lyonnese, who, he said, \n"had been so stupid as not to defend themselves," \nhe went from Roanne to Pradines, and took up his \nabode in a religious house which he had founded ; but \nhe was soon obliged to abandon this retreat, where he \nnarrowly escaped being taken by a detachment of \nthe Allies\' cavalry, passing through by chance. He \nhad barely time to mount a horse and escape. His \napartment was visited as an object of curiosity, but \nthere was no violation of the rights of property. His \nstables were also visited, but not equally respected. \nThe troopers found some fine remount horses there, \nand considered themselves free to dispose of them \nin the absence of their owner. From Pradines his \nEminence reached Auvergne, then Lower Languedoc, \nand finally the banks of the Loire, arriving at Blois \njust in time to leave the city. The Cardinal arrived \nat Orleans on Easter Sunday, and set out for Rome \non the following day, taking with him Madame Mere. \nThe Kings Jerome and Joseph were lost in the \ncrowd. Louis had remained at Blois, where some \ninterest in him was shown. He also found a more \nsolid source of consolation in religion, and on Palm \nSunday and Good Friday he attended Mass in the \nparish church of St. Louis, wearing the uniform of \na General of Division. Soon afterwards he went to \nSwitzerland, with the intention of settling on an \nestate which he possessed in the neighbourhood of \nLausanne, and living there as a private gentleman. \n\n\n\n168 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nJerome and Joseph passed eight days in Orleans and \nits neighbourhood, and departed on the 18th, also \ntaking the road to Switzerland. I was told that \nJerome remained several days at La Motte Beuvron, \nwhere he distributed money to the troops passing \nthrough, in order to rally them to the cause of his \nbrother Napoleon. \n\n\n\nt ISO ) \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVn. \n\nTHE PARIS NEWSPAPERS \xe2\x80\x94 NAPOLEON\'s CONVERSATION \xe2\x80\x94 A SHORT HISTORI- \nCAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW \xe2\x80\x94 M. AND MADAME GUIZOT \xe2\x80\x94 THE \nCURE OF SALVAGNY \xe2\x80\x94 ARRIVAL AT LYONS \xe2\x80\x94 AUGEREAU \xe2\x80\x94 AVIGNON \xe2\x80\x94 \nSUPPER AT ST. CANAT \xe2\x80\x94 THE SUB-PREFECT OF ST, MAXIMIM \xe2\x80\x94 PRINCESS \nPAULINE \xe2\x80\x94 ARRIVAL AT FREJUS\xe2\x80\x94 COMPLAINTS OF THE E31PEBOR \xe2\x80\x94 \nCOMPOSITION OF HIS HOUSEHOLD \xe2\x80\x94 EMBARKATION \xe2\x80\x94 GENERALS DRUOT \nAND BERTRAND \xe2\x80\x94 DEPARTURE FOR THE ISLE OF ELBA. \n\nOn leaving Fontainebleau, Napoleon was received \neverywhere with cries of " Vive I\'Empereur ! " and \nthe foreign Commissaries had much to suffer from \nthe insults heaped on them by the people all along \nthe road. On the following day, most of the journals \nof the capital endeavoured, by weak witticisms, to \nlessen the effect produced by the grand scene which \nhad preceded his departure. But all who were not \nentirely devoid of generosity, whether friends or \nenemies, were affected by it. The foreign Commis- \nsaries who were witnesses of that scene, moved by an \ninvoluntary impulse of enthusiasm, had waved their \nhats in the air, and when she heard the account of it, \nMadame de Stael herself was thrilled with emotion.* \n\n\xe2\x99\xa6 For details of this scene the reader may be referred to the en- \ngraving of M. Horace Veruet, " Les Adieux ii Fontainebleau." The \n\n\n\n170 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nIt is an undeniable fact that the soldiers who were \npresent wept profusely while Napoleon was speaking, \nand that some officers broke their swords on re-enter- \ning the city. \n\nThe Emperor said several remarkable things in \nconversation during this sad journey. I shall only \nquote here those which I have received from oral \nwitnesses, because they alone are worthy of attention. \nHe knew that he had been bitterly reproached with \nnot having inflicted death upon himself. " I see \nnothing great," said he, "in ending one\'s life as if one \nhad been dishonoured, or had lost one\'s fortune at \nplay. There is much more courage in surviving a \ngreat and unmerited misfortune. I have never feared \ndeath. This I have proved in more than one fight, \nand very lately at Arcis-sur-Aube."* \n\n" I have nothing with which to reproach myself. \n... I have not been an usurper, as they persisted in \nsaying everywhere. I accepted the crown only by the \nunanimous desire of the nation. ... As for the wars \nthat I have made, that is another thing. I believed it \nmy duty to make them, since France required to be \nextended." He afterwards said to General Koller, \n" Well, General, you heard me speak to my old Guard \n\nfidelity of the portraits and the exactness of the attitudes render this \ncomposition a valuable historical mouumeiit. \n\n* Before leaving Arcis, and after the fight, Napoleon sent two \nthousand francs, by Count de Turenne, from his private purse, to the \nSisters of Charity, iu order that they might have the means of relieving \nthe needs of the wounded and the poor. \n\n\n\nnapoleon\'s ktbmarks. 171 \n\nyesterday; you saw the effect I produced. That \nis the way to speak and act with them, and if Louis \nXVIII. does not follow this example, he will never \nmake anything of the French soldier." \n\nThese words led him to praise the Emperor Alex- \nander, for the amicable and generous manner in which \nhe had treated Louis XVIII. and most of the Princes \nof his family, when he went to ask for an asylum in \nRussia. "That," added he, "is treatment which I \nshould vainly have expected from my father-in-law ; \nnevertheless, I had some rights, it seems to me." \n\nThat day he kept Colonel Campbell to dinner, and \ntalked much to him of the last campaign. " But for \nthat animal L\xe2\x80\x94 \xe2\x80\x94 ," said he, " who made me believe \nthat it was Schwartzenburg who was pressing me \nat St. Dizier, while it was only Wintzingerode, and \n\nbut for that other brute D , who was afterwards \n\nthe cause of my descending upon Troyes, where I \ncounted upon disposing of four thousand Austrians \nand did not find a cat, I should have marched to Paris, \narrived there at the same time as tbe Allies, and not \nbeen to-day where I am." Then, after a long pause, \nhe added, "But I have always been ill surrounded. \n\nAnd then those rogues of prefects ! that M , that \n\nT , who assured me that the levies of troops were \n\ngoing on with the greatest success ; and that traitor \n\nM , who finished the business. But there are also \n\nother marshals equally ill-intentioned, among others \nS , whom indeed I have always known, both him \n\n\n\n172 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nand his wife, to be schemers. She was the constant \ncause of my quarrels with that poor Josephine." \n\nHe talked for a long time of the ill conduct of the \nSenate towards him. M. and Madame Guizot, who \nwere coming back from the south, saw him at Tarare, \nwhile he was changing horses. He fpoke to the \npersons standing around his carriage, as a sovereign, \nand asked them, among other things, whether they \nhad suffered much in the last war. These all \nanswered him by the unanimous cry of " Yive \nI\'Empereur ! " At Salvagny, the last post before \nLyons, he stopped for supper. Having finished, \nNapoleon left his Commissaries and walked alone up \nthe road. He met the Cure, accosted him, and asked \nhim whether the inhabitants of his Commune appeared \nsatisfied with the change of Government. Then, \npointing to the sky where the stars were shining, he \nadded, that he had once known the names of all those \nconstellations, but had since forgotten them, and \nbegged the Cur^ to tell him how one, to which he \npointed with his hand, and which seemed brighter \nthan the others, was named. The good Cure having \nreplied that he knew nothing about it, the Emperor \nbowed to him, smiling, and returned to the inn. \n\nThe Emperor passed Lyons on the 23rd, at eleven \nin the evening. Some groups who assembled round \nhis carriage, raised the cry of " Vive Napoleon ! " of \nwhich he took no notice. The next day, towards \nnoon, he met Marsl^^l Augereau near Valence. \n\n\n\nMARSHAL AUGEREAU. 173 \n\nNapoleon and the Marshal got out of their carriages \nat the same time. The Emperor held out his arms to \nAugereau, and they embraced each other. \n\n" Where are you coming from ? " said Napoleon \nto the Marshal, taking his arm familiarly, and using \nthe familiar " tutoiement." "Are you going to \nCourt?" Augereau replied that he was only going \nto Lyons ; and they walked along the road to Valence \nfor a quarter of an hour. I know from an authentic \nsource the result of this interview. Napoleon affec- \ntionately reproached the Marshal for his conduct \ntowards him, and said in conclusion, *\' Your proclama- \ntion is very stupid. Why do you abuse me ? \xe2\x80\x94 you 1 \nmy old companion ! You should simply have said, \' The \nwill of the nation has been pronounced in favour of \nthe new Sovereign ; the duty of the army is to conform \nto it. ViveleRoi!\'"* \n\nAugereau then began to make some strong remarks \nupon his ambition, and his obstinacy in never listen- \ning to the advice of anybody, declaring that to this \nobstinacy he had sacrificed everything \xe2\x80\x94 his com- \npanions in arms, his fortunes, and even the welfare \nof France. Napoleon, tired of all this, turned away \nrudely ; then, coming back to the Marshal, he pressed \nhis hand, and said, " Adieu, Augereau. I am astonished \nthat it should be you who thus reproach me. Come, \nhowever, embrace me again." Then he flung himself \ninto his carriage. Augereau, with his hands behind \n\xe2\x80\xa2 See " Pi^ce Justificative," No. 7. \n\n\n\n174 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nhis back, stayed for some time in the same place, \nwithout even removing the forage-cap which he wore. \nThe Emperor drove off, and, turning back in the \ncarriage, waved him a last farewell with his hand. \nThe Marshal resumed his seat in his carriage after \nhaving saluted the Commissaries. \n\nAt a short distance from Avicrnon he chano-ed horses, \nand found several people assembled to see him pass \nby. He was received with cries of "Vive le Roi ! Vivent \nles Allies ! A bas Nicolat ! A bas le tyran ! A bas le \ngueux," etc. This multitude, pursuing him with foul \ninvectives, ran after his carriage and clung to it, endea- \nvouring to see him so as to insult him more grossly. \nThe Emperor was to some extent hidden from them by \nBertrand, who stood up at one of the windows. He \ndid not say a word. \n\nHaving reached Saint-Canat, he stopped at a miser- \nable inn called La Calade, situated on the highroad. \nHe sat down to table with Bertrand without utterino- \na word, and, as he was unknown to the hostess, who \nthought they were merely members of the suite \naccompanying him, he entered into conversation with \nher. " Well," said the woman to him, " what about \nBonaparte now ? What does he say ? Is it long since \nyou left him ? " \n\n" No," replied the Emperor. \n\n"I am curious to see whether he will succeed in \nescaping," said she. "I am afraid the people want to \nmassacre him, but we must acknowledge that he \n\n\n\nAT SAINT-CANAT. 175 \n\ndeserves it, the villain. But do tell me, are they \nofoina: to embark him for his island ? " \n\n" I believe so." \n\n" They will drown them, won\'t they ? * \n\n" I hope so." \n\nThe hostess having gone out, Napoleon turned to \nBertrand, and took his arm. "You see, my friend," \nsaid he, " to what dangers I am exposed \xe2\x80\x94 and you ! " \n\nBertrand replied only by tears, which he endea- \nvoured to hide with his two hands. \n\nAt Saint-Maximin, the Emperor breakfasted with \nthe Commissaries wlio accompanied him. Hearing it \nsaid that the Sub-Prefect of Aix was in the place, he \nsent for him, and addressed him in these terms \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" I came into the midst of you with perfect confi- \ndence, and I find here only madmen, who are threaten- \ning my life. It seems to me that these Proven9aux \nare a foul race ; they committed all sorts of horrors \nand crimes in the Revolution, and they seem disposed \nto begin again. But when it is a question of fighting \nbravely, then they are \xe2\x80\x94 cowards ! Never did Provence \nfurnish me with a single regiment upon which I could \ncount. Can you not restrain this populace ? " \n\nThe Sub-Prefect not knowing how to answer, or \nwhether he ought to excuse himself before the foreign \nCommissaries, merely said, " I am quite confused. Sire." \n\nNapoleon then asked him whether the "droits \nr^unis " were already abolished, and whether a " levee \nen masse " would have been difficult to effect. \n\n\n\n176 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\n" A \' lev^e en masse/ Sire ! " replied the Sub-Prefect. \n" I have never been able to get together half of the \ncontingent which ought to be annually furnished for \nthe conscription." \n\nNapoleon again expressed himself strongly respect- \ning the Proven9aux, and then dismissed the Sub- \nPrefect. \n\nHe afterwards related, that, eighteen years before, he \nhad been sent into this province with several thousand \nmen, to deliver some Royalists who were to have been \nhung for having worn the white cockade. " I saved \nthem with a great deal of difficulty from the hands \nof these ruffians," said he, " and now they would per- \npetrate the very same outrages against any man \namong them who should not wear that very same \ncockade ! Ah ! \xe2\x80\x94 they are true Frenchmen ! " \n\nThe following day they were to have arrived at \nFrejus. The escort\'s carriage, preceding that of the \nEmperor, reached the house of M. Charles,a former legis- \nlator, after dinner. His country seat is situated near \nthe lake, and Princess Pauline Borghese, Napoleon\'s \nsister, had been staying there some months on account \nof her delicate health. She shuddered at the narra- \ntive of the dangers which her brother had incurred \nduring his journey, which was given her by the Com- \nmissaries; and from that moment she resolved to \naccompany him to the Island of Elba, and never more \nto leave him. It was with great difficulty that she could \nbe made to believe in the events which had just taken \n\n\n\nnapoleon\'s sister. 177 \n\nplace, and when at last it was impossible for her to \nrefuse the evidence of their authenticity, she exclaimed, \n" If this be so, my brother is dead." They then assured \nher that the Emperor was well, that a handsome \nallowance was secured to him, and that he was on the \nway to his new destination. " How," said she, "has he \nbeen able to bear up under all this ? " She then \nfainted, and when she came to herself was much more \nill than before. The interview which she had on \nthat same day with her brother, still further injured \nher health. She started in the evening for Muy, so \nthat she might have only two leagues to travel on the \nmorrow. \n\nWhen the Emperor arrived at Fr^jus, some of the \nindividuals who at Fontainebleau had seemed willing to \npartake his exile in the Island of Elba, forsook him. It \nwas probably one of these persons who thought proper \nto appropriate the cash-box of his maitre d\'hotel, whose \nbusiness it was to defray the expenses of the journey, \nand who still had nearly sixty thousand francs in his \npossession. This robbery was committed during the \nnight, on the 26th-27th. \n\nColonel Campbell was at Frdjus, having arrived at \nMarseilles with an English frigate, the Undaunted. \nThis vessel was commanded by Captain Asher, and \nwas to escort the Emperor, in order to secure his ship \nfrom every sort of attack. According to the treaty. \nNapoleon was to have been taken to Elba in a corvette, \nand he was very much displeased to find only the brig \n\n\n\n178 NAPOLEON AND MABIE-LOUISE. \n\nUlnconstanty which was to receive its dethroned \nsovereign and remain in his possession. After a \nmoment\'s hesitation he preferred the English irigate, \nnot choosing it to be said that he had been exiled \nunder the French flag. \n\nThat day the Emperor invited to dinner, not only all \nthe Commissaries, but also the Captain of the English \nvessel. During dinner he complained to General \nKoller of the injustice of every sort with which he had \nbeen treated ; that he had been left only a shabby \ntable-service in silver, and six dozens of shirts ; that \nall the rest of his linen and plate had been retained, as \nwell as a quantity of things which he had bought \nwith his own money. He was particularly indignant \nthat his exclusive right to the " Regent," which he had \nredeemed from Berlin at a cost of four millions, had \nnot been recognized. The great diamonds had, in fact, \nbeen placed in pawn by the French Government, for \neight hundred thousand crowns, with the Berlin Jews. \nHe begged the General to carry his complaint to his \nEmperor, and to the Emperor of Russia, hoping that by \nthe aid of those Sovereigns justice would be done to him. \n\nOn the morning of the 28th, Napoleon would have \nwished to embark with his suite, but he was not well, \nand he could not depart until nine o\'clock in the even- \ning. . General Schouvaloff went on board the frigate \nas if the Emperor were there already. He was charged \nfor the last time to present his homage to the Emperoi \nAlexander. \n\n\n\nTHE EMBARKATION. 179 \n\nAustrian Hussars had accompanied him to Port \nSaint- Raphau, where he had landed fourteen years \nbefore on his return from Egypt. He was received \nwith military honours and a salute of twenty-four \nguns. Two hours afterwards the frigate sailed. All \nthe Commissaries accompanied the Emperor to the \nIsland of Elba. \n\nHis suite was composed of Generals Bertrand and \nDruot, the Polish Major Germanofsky, the paymaster, \nM. Peyroche; a doctor, M. Fourrau; two equerries; \nhis maitre d\'hotel, M. de Caulaincourt; one valet-de- \nchambre, M. Hubert; two cooks and six domestics, \ncoachman, footman, and grooms. \n\nThe Emperor was calm. General Bertrand could \nnot conceal his emotion. General Druot maintained \nhis courage and cheerfulness throughout these melan- \ncholy circumstances. I was assured that Napoleon \nwished to give him a hundred thousand francs, but he \ndistinctly refused to accept the present, saying, " Sire, \nif I accepted your money, my sincere affection to \nyour Majesty would be attributed to interested \nmotives. Keep it, however; we never know what \nmay happen." \n\n\n\n180 NAPOLEON AND MAiiiE-LO UL>& \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XYIIL \n\nnapoleon\'s ABBFVAL at the island of ELBA \xe2\x80\x94 DETAILS OP HIS TOTAQB \n\n\xe2\x80\x94 HIS EECEPTION \xe2\x80\x94 HIS DWELLING \xe2\x80\x94 DESCRIPTION OF HIS COURT \xe2\x80\x94 \nTHE emperor\'s DAILY OCCUPATIONS \xe2\x80\x94 THE REAL MOTIVES OF THE \nemperor\'s RETURN TO FRANCE \xe2\x80\x94 HIS SOJOURN IN THE ISLAND OP \nELBA \xe2\x80\x94 HIS HOUSE. \n\nOn the 3rd of May, 1814, at daybreak, the Un- \ndaunted sighted the Island of Elba. General Druot \nand Colonel Klamm were sent ashore, the former in \nhis capacity as the Emperor\'s Commissary, the second \nas charged by the French Government to require \nGeneral Dalesmes, Governor of the island, to resign \nhis command to General Druot, Napoleon\'s Pleni- \npotentiary. \n\nThe two Deputies found the inhabitants of Elba in \na state of complete anarchy. At Porto-Ferrajo the \nwhite flag was flying, at Porto-Longone the tri- colour. \nThe rest of the island wished to proclaim its indepen- \ndence. When the news of the arrival of Napoleon \nwas spread, and especially that of the treasure he was \nbringing with him, all parties united, and went to \nmeet their new Sovereign. General Druot received \n\n\n\nPORTO-FERRAJO. 181 \n\nthe keys of the city from the Governor. AU the \nstores, the munition.^ of war, the fort and its artillery \nwere handed over bo him without any difficulty. \nAfter this the new Imperial flag was hoisted on the \ntower of Porto-Ferrajo, and Colonel Klamm returned \non board to report the issue of his mission to the \nEmperor.* \n\nAt noon Napoleon set foot on shore,t and General \nDruot saluted him with one hundred guns fired from \nthe forts. The Municipality and the State bodies, \ncame to receive and address him. Napoleon replied, \n\'\' The mildness of your climate, the proximity of your \nisland to France, have led me to choose it for my \nabode. I hope you will rightly appreciate this \npreference, and that you will love rae like dutiful \nchildren. You will always find me disposed to extend \nto you the solicitude of a father and of a good \nsovereign." \n\nThe Emperor was conducted to the Hotel de Ville, \nwhere he was to be lodged provisionally. The great \nhall, which served for public meetings and balls, had \nbeen ornamented with some pictures and crystal can- \ndelabra ; a sort of throne had been erected, and deco- \nrated in the same manner as the dais. The municipal \nband accompanied the Emperor to the Hotel de Ville, \nplaying national airs so far from melodious, that \nNapoleon quicklj^ asked to be taken to his own room ; \n\n* See " Pieces Justificatives,\'* Nos. 8, 9, and 10. \nt It is worthy of remark that on the same day, and almost at the \nsame hour. Lonis XVIII. made his solemn entry into the capital \n13 \n\n\n\n182 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nbut, on entering it, he found it so miserably furnished, \nthat he immediately arranged with General Roller to \nhave his sister Eliza\'s furniture sent from Lucca and \nPiombino. The General wrote to the authorities of \nthe Grand-Duke of Tuscany, and they sent what was \nasked for, in a small vessel. \n\nThis fact gave rise to a false report which was \ncirculated at the time, that Napoleon had seized upon \na vessel belonging to his brother-in-law, and confis- \ncated it, with its freight. \n\nDuring the crossing, Captain Asher had been sur- \nprised to discover how much nautical knowledge \nNapoleon possessed. The Emperor greatly admired \nthe severe discipline maintained on board the Un- \ndaunted. " I did all that I could," said the Emperor, \nto Captain Asher, "to introduce a similar discipline \ninto the French navy, but without success. The \nchiefs always would jest with their inferiors, and \nallow the sailors to play at cards and dominoes." \nNapoleon made himself very agreeable to the crew by \nhis frank kindliness and by frequent tokens of his \npecuniary generosity. On one occasion, while the \nsailors were dining, he approached them and tasted \nthe dry peas which they were eating. Finding them \ndetestable, he immediately gave one hundred francs \nto the canteen for wine for the men, and said, \nlaughing, " If they cannot eat to my health, at least \nthey shall drink to it." \n\nImmediately after his arrival at the Island of Elba, \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON AT ELBA. 183 \n\nthe Emperor visited the fortifications, and expressed \nhis satisfaction that, by means of the improvements \nwhich he contemplated making, he should be able to \ndefend himself against every kind of attempt on the \npart of the inhabitants of the continent. \n\nGeneral Roller remained ten days in the island, \nand completely gained the confidence of the Emperor, \nwho consulted him in everything. \n\nOn several occasions, during their journey from \nFrance, he had said, " Your Majesty is wrong." \nNapoleon, who was little accustomed to such frankness, \nanswered him sharply, " You are always telling me \nthat I am wrong. Would you speak like that to your \nown Emperor ? " The General assured him that his \nown Emperor would be very angry if he could \nsuppose that he did not always speak his thoughts \nwith candour. " In that case," replied Napoleon, \n\'\'your master is much better served than I have ever \nbeen." \n\nThe Emperor occupied himself incessantly and \nmost actively. Sometimes he would visit the little \nisles in the vicinity of the Island of Elba. Pia- \nnosa, the chief, and the most remarkable of these, \nboasts of extraordinarily rich vegetation, romantic \nsites, and troops of wild horses. At other times \nhe would ride all over the island from end to end. \nWith the plans which he had formed, if he had had \ntime and strength to execute them, the prosperity of \nthe island would have been doubled. In order to \n\n\n\n184 NAPOLiiUN AND MAlUE-LUUlSt. \n\ngain the affection of the inhabitants, he had given \nsixty thousand f j an cs, shortly after his landing, for the \nmaking of roads, which had been projected for a long \ntime, but never made for want of money. \n\nEarly in June, the Emperor had taken possession of \na house which was intended for the Commandant of \nEngineers. This building Avas then composed of two \npavilions, united by a gallery, and is built upon a \nrock overlooking the town of Porto-Ferrajo. Some \nadditions were made under his personal direction, \nand the modest habitation became the residence of \nhim who had occupied by turns the palaces of all \nthe potentates of Europe, and who had left furniture \nin his own palace to the value of over thirty to \nforty millions. Madame Mere and Princess Pauline \nsoon arrived to inhabit a portion of the Emperor\'s \nhouse. He gave up to them the rooms which he had \nconstructed between the two pavilions. Besides this \nresidence, Napoleon had a kind of villa at Rio. He \nhad also reserved for himself a mere lorlofinof in the \nCitadel of Porto-Longone, but he passed a part of each \nday in a closed kiosk erected upon the top of a rock. \nFrom thence he commanded the best perspective of \nthe seas, and in the hazy distance the coasts of Tus- \ncany and the surrounding countries. Only Napoleon \never entered this pavilion, to which the people gave \nthe name of La Gasa di Socrate. \n\nThe four hundred men who had been allotted to \nthe Emperor for his guard, by the treaty of the 11th \n\n\n\nTHE emperor\'s GUARD. 185 \n\nof April, set out for Pithiviers, two days before his \ndeparture from Fontainebleau. They came through \nLyons, where the officers were invited to a magnificent \ndinner by several young men of that city. The dinner \ntook place at the famous restaurant of the Brotteaux. \n\nThey then crossed Mont Cenis, and, instead of \ngoing to Turin, repaired to Carmagnole and Savone. \nOn their arrival at the latter port, General Cambronne \nsent an aviso to the Island of Elba, who arrived there \nin two days. The soldiery were embarked on four \nEnglish vessels, and there were several days\' delay \nbefore they sailed. Napoleon said that the interval \nwhich elapsed between the arrival of the aviso and \nthat of the troopers was one of the most painful \nexperiences of his life. The transports arrived on the \n26th of May. The carriages and the draught and \ncavalry horses were all disembarked on the 27th \nwithout the slightest accident, by English sailors. \nNapoleon, who was on the spot, was greatly astonished \nat the way in which this was done. " Frenchmen," \nsaid he, " would have taken at least four days to do \nthe same amount of work; all the vehicles would \nhave been broken, and half the horses would have \nbeen lamed," \n\nSome days after, Captain Asher left the Island \nof Elba. The Emperor, when he came to take leave, \npresented him with a gold snuff-box, in which his \nportrait, surrounded by twenty large diamonds, each \nof the value of 4500 francs, was set. I have been \n\n\n\n186 NAPOLEON AND MARIE- LOUISE. \n\nassured that Captain Asher refused 110,000 francs for \n\nthis snuff-box. \n\nThe Emperor led a very active life at Elba. He \nalways rose before daybreak, and devoted the early \nhours of the morning to work. Then came the review \nof his troops. This was not limited, as at the Carrousel, \nto a glance cast cursorily upon numerous corps. It \nwas a minute inspection, and the military soul of \nNapoleon enjoyed it in all its details. Each grena- \ndier was questioned as to his occupations, his \nhabits, his health, and even his sentiments. The \nbrave soldiers of the Isle of Elba sometimes had com- \nplaints to make. The Emperor gave them or promised \nthem what they asked for, if the desired object was \nin his power ; if not, he called them grumblers, pulled \ntheir moustachios, and walked away smiling. \n\nIn the evening. Napoleon went out riding, accom- \npanied by his principal officers. Sometimes he \nreceived visits from foreigners of distinction, who came \nto the island in great numbers, merely to see him. \nOftener stiU, he made fun with his staff of the abuse \nwhich was showered upon him by the French news- \npapers, which had flattered him before his fall, with \nthe most shameless servility. \n\nThus were the days of the Emperor passed. Now \nat Porto-Ferrajo, now at Porto-Longone, or at Rio. \n\nHis Guard, after the fashion of the Roman warriors, \nhelped in the greater part of the public works which \nhe had set going in the island, and was daily \n\n\n\nDEVOTION TO THE EMPEROB. 187 \n\naugmented by soldiers whose devotion to him led \nthem to join him. Napoleon could hardly maintain \nthis faithful battalion, nevertheless it grew and grew. \nSome superior officers came to take service in it like \nmere soldiers. \n\nThe abdication of Napoleon had been the result of \na treaty whose conditions were guaranteed by the \nAllied Powers. Amongst other things, France was to \npay him an annual sum which had been defined. This \nwas never done. He learnt at the Island of Elba that \na project was being formed at Vienna to send him to \na distance from the coasts of France. It is said that \nTalleyrand had represented his residence near the \ncoast as a source of constant disquietude, calculated to \ninspire alarm, and embolden malcontents ; and that he \nought to be placed at such a distance as to deprive \nhim of all hope of return. Add to his fear of this \nbeing done, that he was without money \xe2\x80\x94 the little \nthat he had, proceeded from the sale of his mother s \ndiamonds, \xe2\x80\x94 and that, having claimed the execution of \nthe treaty, no answer was vouchsafed to him. Napoleon \nmade this breach of faith one of the pretexts for his \nreturn. The true motive was necessity, and the \ncertainty of his being able to rally round him, by \nshowing himself, a considerable party belonging to \nthe military, to the purchasers of the national goods, \nwhose apprehensions concerning the security of their \nacquisitions had already been most foolishly excited, \nand all of those whose republican or revolutionary \n\n\n\n188 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nprinciples rendered them inimical to the Bourbons. \nHe did not need either fighting troops or arms for \nthis enterprise. He needed only his person and his \nfortune, which at first seemed to be about once more \nto favour him. \n\nFoUowed by eleven hundred men, whom he was \nonly enabled to pay by the aid of his mother, we all \nknow that he crossed France like a king re-entering \nhis States after an absence ; that he had not to \nburn a fuse ; and that, up to the very moment of his \ndeparture, not a soul but General Druot knew any- \nthing of his project. All the other persons learned it \nat the moment of its execution. Napoleon himself \nhad not thought of it eight days previously ; but the \nprivate intimation which he received from Vienna, \nthat the question of transferring him to St. Helena \nhad been discussed at the Congress of Vienna, deter- \nmined him to attempt this hazardous enterprise. I \nhave it from a man whose veracity cannot be doubted, \nthat, immediately after the departure of Napoleon \nfrom the Island of Elba, some English travellers, who \nhappened to be there, visited the habitation which \nhad served him as a palace. They found his bedroom \nhis cabinet, and his library in the same state in which \nhe had left them. The old woman, of Corsican origin, \nwho was the portress, was in the greatest anxiety, \nnot lor herself, but for the safety and success of the \nenterprise which her master had just undertaken. \nThe sincere attachment to him which she manifested, \n\n\n\nTHE FLIGHT FROM ELBA. 189 \n\nall that she said, all that she related of the kindness \nand gentleness which were habitual to him, afforded \nthe strongest refutation of the monstrous stories of \nhis private conduct, which were some time afterwards \ngiven to the world. These travellers found a bath \nstill full of water, in the room next to Napoleon\'s bed- \nroom, which proved that he had taken a bath as usual, \non the very morning of his departure, or at least the \nnight before. In his library, pieces of manuscript \npaper, torn-up letters, and notes made in pencil, and \nconsequently not to be deciphered, were found lying \nabout in disorder. On the table was a map of France, \ninto which pins with large heads were stuck ; and on \na small table, placed at the head of his bed, lay an \nopen volume of the History of Charles V., which he \nhad probably been reading on the eve of the day of \nhis embarkation. \n\n\n\n190 NAPOLEON AND M ABIE-LOUIS^ \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX. \n\nTHE HUNDRED DAYS. \n\nNAP0LW)lff*8 RETURN TO FRANCE \xe2\x80\x94 HIS ARRIVAL AT PARIS \xe2\x80\x94 POUCHfe \xe2\x80\x94 THl \nCHAMP DE MAI \xe2\x80\x94 OPENING OP THE CAMPAIGN OP 1815 \xe2\x80\x94 THE BATTLF \nOF LIGNY \xe2\x80\x94 WATERLOO \xe2\x80\x94 GENERAL ORNANO \xe2\x80\x94 NAPOLEON AT THE \nELYSEE \xe2\x80\x94 LUCIEN \xe2\x80\x94 THE CHAMBERS \xe2\x80\x94 THE SECOND ABDICATION OP \nTHE EMPEROR \xe2\x80\x94 A PLOT \xe2\x80\x94 THE LAST SOJOURN AT MALMAISON \xe2\x80\x94 \nnapoleon\'s PROJECTS \xe2\x80\x94 HIS DEPARTURE FOR ROCHEFORT \xe2\x80\x94 HIS \nEXILE AT ST. HELENA \xe2\x80\x94 JOSEPH \xe2\x80\x94 PRLNUESS PAULINE \xe2\x80\x94 QUEEN HOR- \nTEXSB. \n\nSo little was Napoleon\'s return to France foreseen, \nthat those who ought to have opposed it, taken \nunawares, had neither courage nor presence of mind. \nThey abandoned the positions which had been \nentrusted to them, and left the field open to the \nNapoleonists and to the malcontents who swelled the \nescort with which the Emperor arrived at Paris. \nSeated for the second time, without any shock or \ncommotion, upon a throne which he regarded as his \nown property, Napoleon committed the unpardonable \nfault of recalling the base flatterers whose vileness he \nought then to have known well ; or, rather, he had not \nthe trouble of recalling them \xe2\x80\x94 they all came round \n\n\n\nTHE HUNDRED DAYS. 191 \n\nhim, and endeavoured by dint of fresh adulation to \ninduce him to forgive their conduct at the time of \nhis first abdication and his departure for the Island of \nElba. \n\nIt was thought that Napoleon would make great \nconcessions to those who were then called the " Inde- \npendents," in order to conciliate them. They boasted \nof this, talked of the change of organization in the \nChamber of Deputies, of the suspension of hereditary \nnobility, etc. Heads were turned by these ideas ; \nliberty was talked of; and it was supposed that all \nthese things were meant by the Champ de Mai. It \ntook place. The Emperor\'s speech and the additional \narticles occasioned a general ferment. From that \nmoment the sincere friends of Napoleon plainly fore- \nsaw that he was lost. Public opinion asserted itself. \nNotwithstanding the police, people talked, complained, \nand openly protested. Royalists and Independents \njoined togethsr against him. \n\nIt is very likely that if Napoleon had known \nthe state of things he would have made sacrifices \nto conciliate the public, but all those who sur- \nrounded him hid the truth from him, and paid spies \nof Fouche played a great part in this intrigue. \nIt is a little-known fact that Savary, having learned \na great deal that was very disquieting concerning \nFouche, desired to impart it to Napoleon ; but the latter \nmade light of his revelations, which he attributed to \nSavary\'s jealousy at seeing Fouch6 in his place. \n\n\n\n192 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\nSavary was then in a kind of disgrace ; the Emperor \nwould not allow him to follow him at Waterloo, and \nshowed him that he trusted him but little. The Duke \nhad made the mistake of not going with his master to \nthe Island of Elba, as he ought to have done ; but \nhe afterwards paid so dearly for his fault, that few \npersons will have the courage to reproach him with it. \nNapoleon greatly desired peace, which he had so \noften refused, but he could not obtain it. All the \nSovereigns feared him, and they united to re-esta- \nblish Louis XVIII. The foreign armies received \norders to march back towards the frontiers of France. \nNapoleon believed that his father-in-law would \nsupport him ; he was ignorant of the intrigues by \nwhich Marie-Louise was surrounded, and hoped for \nher return. Persons who had come from Vienna did \nnot dare to tell him the truth. M. de Menneval, who \nwas so devoted and so faithful, was the only one who \ninformed him that the Austrian Cabinet would oppose \nthe return of the Empress, and even he did not dare \nto tell him to what she had pledged herself. The \nEmpress, restrained by her plighted word, and deplor- \ning the weakness which had prevented her from \nfollowing her husband to Elba, passed days and \nnights in grief. The Emperor, who had expected her, \nwent on nevertheless with his war preparations ; but \nhe perceived, immediately on his arrival at Charleroi, \nthat he no longer inspired nis army or his generals \nwith their former enthusiasm. The generals received \n\n\n\nTHE HUNDRED DAYS. 193 \n\nhim coldly, with discontent, and seemed to march \nwith reluctance ; his Guard only, proved their devotion \nto him up to the last day. They sacrificed themselves \nfor him, and enabled him to gain Paris, whither he \nwent to place himself in the hands of his enemies. \n\nFortune having betrayed him in the field of \nWaterloo, Napoleon betrayed himself by abandoning \nhis army. He might have rallied this army into a force \nall the more formidable that Marshal Gouchy\'s corps \nhad not been touched. Nevertheless, the Parisians \nbroke out into demonstrations of the greatest joy on \nthe reception of the news that the French had gained \na decisive battle at Ligny, under Fleurus, although no \nofficial details were received, and on the 19th of June \na hundred and one guns were fired at the Invalides \nto announce this glorious intelligence. No bulletin \narrived on that day, a circumstance which attracted \nno attention in the midst of the general joy ; but when \nnone appeared on the morrow, every one began to \nwonder and doubt, and there was visible disturbance \nin the places of public assembly. On the morning of \nthe 21st, it was known that no news had arrived \nduring the night, but at eleven o\'clock a despatch \nfrom the Elysde-Bourbon gave rise to a rumour which \nconverted the general alarm into joy. It was said \nthat the Empress Marie-Louise had returned. One \nof my friends told me, on bringing me the news, that \nshe had just made a visit to General Ornano, Napoleon\'s \ncousin, who was confined to bed by a wound which h^ \n\n\n\n194 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nhad received in a duel. She asked him if he knew \n\nthe good news. \n\n" Good news ? ** he replied. \n\n" Yes, they say that the Empress has come back." \n\n" The Empress ! " he said, shaking his head, anl \nshowing her a little note he had just received; "you \nmean the Emperor ? for all is over" \n\nAn hour after my friend left the General, the news \nof the return of the Emperor was spread throughout \nthe whole of the capital.* \n\nNapoleon, on arriving at the capital, went at once \nto his brother Lucien, before entering the Palace of \nthe Elys^e. Lucien was for a moment overwhelmed \nby the narrative of the catastrophe, but, speedily \nregaining his presence of mind, he proposed to con- \ntend with events, disapproved his brother\'s having \nabandoned the army, advised him not to show himself \nin Paris, but to return in all haste and rally the \nremnant of his troops, and said to him with warmth, \n" You throw up the cards before the game is lost." In \nfact, it appeared to him to be still possible to unite the \nremains of the army of the North with that of the \n\n* Authentic news of tlie fatal battle reached Paris about two \nhours before the return of Napoleon, and immediately on his arrival \n\nthere was an assembly at M. de C \'s. The importance of forcing \n\nNapoleon to abdicate was being discussed, wlien, in tlie middle of the \ndeliberations, a person entered the hall, and announced that the \n\nEmperor had returned. In a moment M. de C was left alone \n\nin his salon. The disputants were dispersed like bubbles on the \nsurface of the water, or, rather, like frogs when a stone is thrown \ninto the midst of them. \xe2\x80\x94 Communicated note. \n\n\n\nBOLD COUNSELS. 196 \n\nRhine, which was not yet engaged, and to oppose the \nimminent invasion with a new army, recruited by the \nFederates, and the National Guards of the various \nDepartments of France. \n\nBut Napoleon already seemed incapable of taking \nany strong resolution, and a powerful party was about \nto prevail over that of his adherents on the spot. On \nentering the Elys^e, Napoleon sent for the Minister \nof War, who found him in his bath and eating a \nplate of soup. Napoleon saluted him, and said : " I \nmust have thirty thousand men and money." The \nMarshal\'s response not being satisfactory, the Emperor \nordered the assembly of the Council. He had brought \ninto Belgium twenty-six millions of francs, proceeding \nin part from his private purse, desiring to open the \ncampaign magnificently, and to pay for everything \nthat he required. Everything was seized by the \nPrussians, even to the Imperial carriages, the Corona- \ntion carriage included ; this had been brought up from \nChambord, where it had been stored, I really don\'t \nknow why. \n\nLucien still endeavoured to calm and reassure all \nm the Council of Ministers, which had been imme- \ndiately convoked, and among the most prominent \npersons of the two Chambers. "This," said he, "is \nonly the loss of a battle. Thirty thousand men hors \nde cvrahac wiU not decide the destiny of France." \n\nBut fear had airetudy ta^en possession of the \nhearts of the men of the 20th of March. Yarnly \n\n\n\n196 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\ndid Lucien endeavour to revive their former courage. \nTo some he pointed out the dangers of a cowardly- \ndesertion, to others he recalled what they had pro- \nmised the Emperor eight days before he entered \non the campaign. " Eeverses," he added, " will not \nweaken our courage; they will but redouble our \nattachment to our Sovereign." \n\nThe question of dissolving the two Chambers \nwas mooted in a private Council, but the firm and \nimposing attitude assumed by the Chamber of De- \nputies, secretly directed by Fouch^, rendered all \nchance of success improbable. Recourse was then had \nto negotiations. The Ministers retained at the Palace \nof the Elys^e, having received a second message \nwhich summoned them to repair to the Chamber, \nwere authorized to do so by Napoleon. Lucien \naccompanied them in the character of Imperial Com- \nmissary, and required in his brother\'s name that \nthe sitting should be formed into a private committee \nto receive important communications. The public \nimmediately vacated the tribunes, and, the sitting \nhaving become private, Lucien read a message from \nhis brother, containing a studied recital of the disaster \nwhich had just overwhelmed the army at Waterloo, \nwithout concealing its consequences. The Emperor \nrecommended concert to the representatives, and \nannounced the formation of a Commission composed \nof Carnot, Fouch^, and Caulaincourt^ to treat for peace \nwith the Coalition. \n\n\n\nOPEN REVOLT. \n\n\n\n197 \n\n\n\nThe assembly kept a solemn silence for some \nminutes, but it was broken by the Deputy Henri \nLacoste, who, measuring the depth of the ruin \nwhich Napoleon had brought upon France, said to \nthe Assembly that only peace and energy could \navail to save the country. Lucien, resuming his \nspeech, endeavoured to justify his brother by trying \nto diminish the extent of the disaster, and represented \nthat France was able to repair it. "The Emperor \nhas several armies on foot," added he, "and all is \nnot lost." A general murmur apprised him that the \nAssembly did not share his confidence. Then he \nemployed all the resources of the art of oratory. \nHe invoked the public generosity, and the respect \ndue to men\'s oaths ; he terminated his discourse by \nrepeating the reproach of levity, so often addressed \nto the French nation. At these words, the indigna- \ntion of the Assembly broke out. M. de la Fayette \nrushed into the tribune, and testified his astonishment \nthat any one should dare thus to accuse the nation \nof levity. Addressing himself to Lucien as much \nby his gestures as by his words, he said, after a \nvery animated speech : " Inform your brother that the \nnation will no longer have confidence in him ; that \nwe ourselves will undertake the salvation of the \ncountry, which he has delivered up to the wrath of \nEurope." Other orators indicated the same remedy. \nThe Assembly having decided upon taking measures \nf-ar the public safety on that night, Lucien and the \n\n\n\n14 \n\n\n\n198 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nMinisters retired. In fact, notwithstanding the stead- \nfastness of his friends, and even that of the patriots in \nthe two Chambers, Napoleon was none the less forced \nto abdicate. That sacrifice was far from being volun- \ntary on his part, as it has been said to be. \n\nAfter the notification of his abdication to the \nChambers, on Friday, the 23rd of February, on which \nday it was posted up in the capital, the emissaries of \nthe police discovered an organized plot to seize upon \nthe arsenals, arm the faubourgs, march to the Elysee \nand re-establish the Imperial throne. The vigilance \nof Fouch^ prevented the execution of this plan. All \nthe National Guard of Paris were under arms in the \nevening, and so remained during the whole of the \nnight. No attempt at arrest was made, until a cannon, \nfired close to the Barriere du Trone, had given the \nsignal of the conspiracy, and had revealed the chiefs \nwho advanced first to the place of rendezvous. They \nwere all taken, and nearly two hundred individuals \nalso arrested. \n\nOn the 24th of June, Napoleon retired to Mai- \nmaison, the cradle of his greatness. He had neglected \nthis dwelling, which recalled painful recollections to \nhim, especially since the death of Josephine. Its \nmelancholy salons received him again when he was \ndespoiled of his crown, but he came only to bid them \nan eternal adieu. \n\nThe Emperor was not so much regretted by the \nGovernment and the Chambers as might have been \n\n\n\nnapoleon\'s plans. 199 \n\nsupposed. Not only did they make no provision \nfor him, but they even threatened Count Mollien, \nMinister of the Treasury, to have him brought to \ntrial, for having disbursed certain sums for the \nprivate use of Napoleon. Since then, the Minister \nhas declared that he did not give him a single \nfranc, but he had already candidly acknowledged \nthat he regretted to have been unable to succour the \nfallen Emperor in his great misfortune. \n\nThe first idea of Napoleon after his fall had been \nto retire to England, and this project may be regarded \nas a spontaneous homage rendered to the English \nnation, which he did not love, it is true, perhaps \nbecause he was forced to esteem it, but to which he \nbelieved he ought to do justice. He afterwards \nlent an ear to the proposition made to him that \nhe should go to the United States of America. \nA number of American captains, who were then at \nParis, oflfered him free ships; but Napoleon rejected \neverything which would have lent the appearance \nof flight to his departure. Being forced, however, to \ntake a resolution, he decided in favour of the United \nStates, and declared he was ready to leave France \nwith his family for that destination. The Commission \nof the Provisional Government seemed to lend itself \nto the execution of this resolution. The Minister of \nMarine received orders to have two frigates ready \nto be placed at the disposal of Napoleon as he \nmight require. Fouch6 knew that all this meani \n\n\n\n200 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nnothing. He was aware that a safe-conduct would \nhave to be asked from Lord Wellington, and that \nit would not be granted. The Emperor was already \nthe prisoner of England. \n\nDuring this time the Austrians, the Russians, and \nthe Prussians had, for the second time, arrived under \nthe walls of Paris. The Emperor might be carried \noff from Malmaison. All was alarm around him. \nThe few friends who remained to him in treated him \nto think of his safety. On the 29th of June the \nCommission of the Provisional Government, in its turn, \nhastened Napoleon\'s departure, and on the same day, \nat five o\'clock in the evening, he left Malmaison. His \nsuite was composed of Bertrand, Montholon, Gourgand, \nSavary, Lallemend, Las Cases, Planat, and Resigny. \nThe Countess Bertrand accompanied her husband ; M. \nMontholon also shared the hazardous destiny of hers. \n\nThe Emperor slept at Rochefort, where a courier \nwas sent to him on the 30th, at daybreak. He \nopened the despatches which were handed to him, \nwith emotion, and exclaimed after having read \nthem, " It is all over ; France is done for. Let us go." \nNapoleon paused no more untU he reached Rochefort, \nwhere it was notified to him that he was to be exiled \nto the Rock of St. Helena. The rest is known. \n\nJoseph, better advised, had profited by the offer \nof the American captains to take him to Boston. He \narrived there without any difficulty. \n\nOn the 30th of June, Queen Hortense received an \n\n\n\nMEAN MEASUHES. tOl \n\norder, rudely worded, and signed " Mouffling, Governor \nof Paris," to quit the capital within twenty-four hours \nand to leave the Kingdom of France with the utmost \ndispatch. \n\nLucien, who was convinced that Napoleon would \nnot even escape from the Allies if he did not make up \nhis mind to take refuge beyond the seas, had declared \nhis own intention of retiring to the United States, \nwhither all his family would have followed him. \nThis resolution having been definitely arrived at \nbetween them, at the end of June, as I have said \nabove, Lucien repaired to Neuilly to his sister Pauline\'s \ncountry house, and wrote a letter to apprise her of the \nnew plans which had been formed between him and his \nbrother.* \n\nEach day the danger of the Imperial family became \nmore imminent. Severe measures were taken by the \nProvisional Government against most of its members, \n\nand edicts of banishment, signed by M. de T , \n\nhad been notified to several former associates or \ncolleagues of Napoleon. The moment had arrived \nwhen Lucien had to think of his safety. Under the \nname of Count de Ghatillon, he took the road to \nBordeaux, while the negotiations were going on with \nthe Allied generals. He reached that post and hired \na packet-boat, but, just as he was about to embark, he \nreceived intelligence of the fresh measures wliich had \nbeen taken against his brother, and of Napoleon\'s \n* See "Pieces Justificatives," Nos. 11 and 12. \n\n\n\n20^ NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISK. \n\ndeparture for Rochefort. This news made him \nsuddenly change his resolution ; for he was about to \nrisk passing through England with the intention of \nobtaining the safe-conduct from the British Govern- \nment which would be necessary to enable him to land \nin the United States. It will readily be supposed that \nhe abandoned his intention \n\n\n\n( 203 ) \n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX. \n\nSOME FEATURES OF NAPOLEON\'s CHARACTER; VARIOUS \nANECDOTES OF HIS LIFE, AND PARTICULARS RE- \nLATING TO THE PERSONS WHO FORMED THE \nIMPERIAL COURT. \n\nTHE GAME OF " BARS " \xe2\x80\x94 ^M. DE OAULATNCOURT \xe2\x80\x94 ^THE HOT PASTY \xe2\x80\x94 \nM. DB MENNEVAL \xe2\x80\x94 THE ETIQUETTE OF THE COURT OP THE \nTUILERIES \xe2\x80\x94 M. BARRIER \xe2\x80\x94 THE "MATERNAL SOCIETY"\' \xe2\x80\x94 M. TER- \nNAUX \xe2\x80\x94 THE OLD AND THE NEW NOBTLITY \xe2\x80\x94 THE DUKE OF PLA- \nCENZA AND COUNT CHAPTAL \xe2\x80\x94 THE "GRAND SERVICE" AND THE \n"PETIT service" \xe2\x80\x94 THE PASTIMES OP MARIE -LOUISE \xe2\x80\x94 THE \n\n\xe2\x80\xa2* PETTTES ENTREES " \xe2\x80\x94 MESDAMES DE ROVIGO AND DE BOUILLE \n\nH. DE SAINT-AIGNAN \xe2\x80\x94 THE WHIP-STROKE AND THE SWORD-CUT\xe2\x80\x94 \nTHE BILLIARD-ROOM \xe2\x80\x94 THE EMPRESS\'S ALBUM \xe2\x80\x94 COUNT DB LAOEPEIDE \n\xe2\x80\x94 THE DUCHESS OF WEI3IAR \xe2\x80\x94 MADAME BERTRAND. \n\nI HAVE now only to add a few touches which will \nserve to complete the portrait of Napoleon in his \nprivate life. This was an aspect under which he was \nlittle known, and has never been painted in true \ncolours. The same remark applies to the principal \npersonages of his family, and in general to all those \nindividuals who combined in lending that brilliancy \nand splendour to the Imperial Court of which nothing \nbut the memory now remains. \n\nWhile he was as yet only First Consul. Napoleon \n\n\n\n204 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nfrequently received writers, savants, and artists at \nhis table. In the country he played at various games \nwith them, especially at " Bars," a youthful pastime \nwhich he continued to enjoy, doubtless because it is \nan image of war. After he had been invested with \nthe Imperial dignity, he considered that decorum \nforbade him to- continue to act thus, and he limited \nhimself to riding on horseback, which he liked very \nmuch, althouQfh he had several falls. One of these \noccurred one day at Trianon, when he was amusing \nhimself by pursuing the Empress through the wind- \nings of a shrubbery.\' He j umped up at once, got into \nthe saddle, laughing merrily, and rode off crying, \n" Casse-cou ! " \n\nI have seen him play at Bars after his marriage \nwith Marie-Louise, and although he had already \ngrown very stout, he still ran lightly. One day, when \nthe Court was at Rambouillet, there was a great game \nof Bars, in which the Emperor fell twice, without \nhurtino- himself. He darted forward to seize his \nadversary, the Grand Marshal, who always slipped \naway from him, so that the Emperor was twice over \nsent rolling on the sand. He jumped up without a \nword, and went on with the game more gaily than \nbefore. \n\nHe liked luxury and magnificence on all public \noccasions ; but he desired that strict economy should \nbe maintained in his own house. Once, when on the \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON\'S ECONOMY. 2205 \n\nway to Compiegne the horses were going more slowly \nthan he liked, he let down the glass of the carriage, \nand called to the outrider in attendance, "Faster, \nfaster ! " M. de Gaulaincourt, who, as Grand Equerry, \npreceded him in another carriage, heard this order, \nand, putting his head out of the window, shouted \nto the postillions, with an oath, that he would dis- \ncharge them all if the pace was changed. The horses \ncontinued accordingly to go at a trot. On arriving \nat Compiegne, the Emperor complained of the slowness \nof the journey. \n\n" Sire," answered M. de Gaulaincourt, coolly, " give \nme more money for your stable expenses, and you \nmay kill as many horses as you please." \n\nNapoleon changed the conversation. \n\nOne day, when at breakfast with the Empress, he \nasked one of the first ladies who was in attendance \nwhat might be the cost of a hot pasty which was \non the table. \n\n" Twelve francs to your Majesty," she answered \nsmiling, \'* and six francs to a bourgeois of Paris." \n\n" That is to say that I am robbed ! " exclaimed \nNapoleon. \n\n" No, Sire ; but it is the custom for a king to pay \ndearer than his subjects." \n\n"That is just what I don\'t understand," said he, \n\'\'and I mean to take order about it" \n\nAs a matter of fact, he entered into small details \n\n\n\n206 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nof household economy which are often neglecfced by \nprivate individuals. \n\nThe same orderliness prevailed in the Empress\'s \naffairs. Each month the Countess de Lu9ay presented \nto her a statement of the expenditure of the preceding \nmonth ; she signed it, and it was handed to M. de \nBallouhai, Secretary of Expenses, whose duty it was \nto pay them. He had held the same office in the house- \nhold of the Empress Josephine, and the Emperor, \nafter his marriage with Marie-Louise, retained him in \nthat capacity, as a reward for his perfect probity, \nhis exactitude, and his attachment. M. de Ballouhai \nafterwards accompanied the Empress to Parma, where \nhe received the most touching proofs of confidence \nand regard from her. The state of his health has \nsince obliged him to return to Paris. \n\nNapoleon\'s handwriting was always very bad, and \nlatterly it was quite illegible. Only the secretaries \nwho were accustomed to it could decipher it. In his \nsignature it was impossible to distinguish anything \nbeyond the three first letters, the rest was a random \nscrawl. Nothinoj could be more fatif^uinor than the \npost of First Secretary to Napoleon, which was filled \nby M. de Menneval for ten years. The Emperor then \nmade him Secretary of Commands to Marie-Louise, \nand said to her, in presenting him, that M. de Menneval \nwas the most estimable and the discreetest man he \nhad ever known, but that he had worn him out with \noverwork. As a matter of fact, no night ever passed \n\n\n\nnapoleon\'s habits. 207 \n\nwithout his sending for M. de Menneval to dictate \nsomething to him, and he was frequently called several \ntimes in the same night. \n\nHe subsequently proved that he deserved the high \nesteem with which the Emperor honoured him. He \nwas placed in a difficult position at Blois and at \nOrleans, for he was a witness of the intrigues with \nwhich the Empress was surrounded, and he ventured, \nwithout overstepping the bounds of respect, to lift up \nthe voice of truth. He never shrank from obeying \nthe suggestions of duty and affections. M. Fain, \nwho had been for a long time in the Emperor\'s service \nas a secretary, took the place of M. de Menneval, and \ndisplayed attachment and fidelity to the Emperor \nwhich will do him immortal honour. \n\nThe physical organization of the Emperor was very \nremarkable. He had the faculty of sleeping at will, \nand this it was which enabled him to bear nia^ht-work \nso easily. He generally went to bed at ten, rose \nbetween one and two, worked until five or six, took \nhis bath, was dressed, received several persons, break- \nfasted at ten, then worked again until noon, when he \nwould come to his wife\'s apartment, or go out walking ; \nbut when business was urgent, he would stay at it \nuntil evening. During the day he would come down to \nsee the Empress several times, and they would visit their \nbuii together. If Napoleon had a little time to himself, \nattei ne tiaa kissed his wife and played with his child, \nlio vvoalii seat himself in an arm-chair, and, while still \n\n\n\n208 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\ntalking, go fast asleep, waking only when he was told \nthat some one or something was waiting for him. \n\nHe dined every day between seven and eight \no\'clock, alone with Marie-Louise. On Sundays there \nwas a family dinner. Such was the etiquette of the \nTuileries, from which there was no departure except \nin the case of Madame Lannes or Madame de Lu^ay, \neither of whom occasionally made a third at their \nMajesties\' table. \n\nOn their short journeys, Napoleon every day \ninvited three or four ladies, and as many men, but \nthat honour was confined to certain persons. \n\nWhen a petition was presented to him, he handed \nit to an aide-de-camp, or put it in his pocket. The \nlatter meant that he would have it looked into. \nWhen he put the petition into his left pocket, which \nwas called in the palace his " good " one, it was a sure \nsign that he was disposed to grant what was asked of \nhim, even without the form of examination. \n\nThe Emperor had peculiar ideas and expressions \nof his own. One day, when he was talking with the \nEmpress about some persons of whose conduct he did \nnot approve, he said : " Chastity in a woman is what \ncourage is in a man. I despise a coward and a \nwoman without modesty ! " \n\nTalking of Corvisart, the Emperor said he was an \negoist ; that he had entrails but not " bowels." \n\nThe Empress protested against this, and said every- \nbody was selfish, that sne hersell wa\xc2\xbb selrish. \n\n\n\nUNGROUNDED FEAKS. 209 \n\n"Don\'t say, my Louise," said Napoleon gravely, \n" that you are selfish ; I know no more hideous vice." \n\nAmong the absurd stories circulated about the \nEmperor, those which imputed unbounded and revolt- \ning profligacy to him were most widely believed. I am \nabout to cite two facts which will prove how much \ncredit these inventions deserved. \n\nThe Emperor was very reserved with the ladies of \nthe household, most of whom were of a staid age. \nAmong the younger ladies, there was one who had \nsome personal attractions, and whose head was filled \nwith all the tales to which I have just alluded, so that \nher virtue was in a continual state of alarm. She \nmeditated day and night upon her means of defence, \nprepared her speeches, and was resolutely determined \nto resist every kind of seduction, all sentiment, and \neven violence. With each day she expected the \nadvent of the moment at which she would have to \nsummon up all her resources ; she hardly dared to \nsleep; at length she made up her mind to impart \nher fears to one of her companions. This lady, who \nunderstood the true state of affairs, begged her to calm \nherself, and to wait for the attack before troubling her- \nself about the defence. As a matter of fact, the \nEmperor took no notice either of her or of the others, \nand she soon learned to 1 augh at her own terrors. \n\nNapoleon was always angry when he saw novels \nbeing read. They were hidden when notice of his \ncoming was given, but he frequently took the Empress\'s \n\n\n\n210 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nreaders by surprise. He had ordered his librarian, M. \nBarbier, to make a selection of books, and to send them \nto Marie-Louise. M. Barbier, who was rather a man \nof letters than a strict censor, included in his choice \nthe Satires of Juvenal. The Emperor arrived just as \nwe had received the books ; he saw the Juvenal, and \nscolded vehemently about it, saying that young women \nhad no business with such a book. He then informed \nus that, for the future, every book should pass through \nhis cabinet ; and, sending for his librarian, he lectured \nhim severely. \n\nI have been told by Madame Walewska, who \nhonoured me with the title of her friend, and whom \nNapoleon always highly esteemed, that she breakfasted \nwith him at Malmaison on the day before his departure \nfor Rochefort, and that he was perfectly easy in his \nmind, even cheerful, and played for half an hour with \nher son, the little Alexander, with all his usual \naffection. \n\nThe Emperor was very fond of children. The pages \nlooked upon him as a kind father, rather than an \nabsolute master. He used the "tutoiement" towards \nthem all, and called them by their Christian names. He \nhad pet names for his particular favourites among them. \n\nNo one knew better than Napoleon what it was \nto be restricted in means. During the latter part oi \nhis sojourn at Elba, his Master of the Palace was \nobliged to cut down his table expenditure, by sub- \nstituting the wine of the country for his Chambertin \n\n\n\nnapoleon\'s philosophy. 211 \n\nand his favourite Bordeaux. He consented willingly, \nand even laughingly, to this exercise of economy. \n\nOfficers of every nationality, who had served under \nhim, came to his rocky realm, and were so earnestly \ndesirous of being taken once more into his service, \nthat, when he met them with the objection of the \nsmallness of his means, some of them were content to \nreceive from twenty to thirty-five sous a day, rather \nas a pledge of his esteem than as a recompense for their \nattachment. It is well known that, at St. Helena, \nhe required to put in practice all the philosophy \nwith which a man could be endowed by nature and \nexperience; but even before his departure he had \nalready regained entire tranquility at Malmaison, \nwhile his fate was still in uncertainty. At Elba, he \ninvited Madame Bertrand\'s young family to dine with \nhim almost every Sunday; and he seldom let her \nchildren leave him without making them some present, \neither of money or sweets, which he would put into \nhis pockets for this express purpose. I do not think \nthat such sentiments are incompatible with the out- \nward appearance of indifference, and all the demonstra- \ntions of cold-heartedness, when the situation was such \nthat it not only justified indifference, but even lent it \nan air of heroism. \n\nNapoleon was deeply afiected when he bade adieu to \nhis mother and sister, on leaving the Island of Elba ; so \nmuch so, that he said, " I must go now, or I shall never \ngo." \n\n\n\n212 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nIn addition to what I have already said of Napoleon, \nI must relate a few anecdotes, and also give a denial \nto certain others which are entirely unfounded. \n\nThe following story gained extensive currency. \nIt was said that the Emperor, in talking with Marie- \nLouise, complained of the Empress of Austria, and \nof the Archdukes, and that, after having expressed \nhis displeasure with them, he added, "As for your \nfather, I have nothing to say about him : he is a \nblockhead {ganache)!\' The Empress did not under- \nstand this word, and no sooner had Napoleon with- \ndrawn than she asked the ladies who were with her \nwhat it meant. None of them . ventured to tell \nher its true meaning, but one said that the word \nganache signified a grave person, one of weight. \nThe Empress forgot neither the expression nor the \ndefinition, and applied the word, some time after- \nwards, in a very amusing way, when she was \nacting as Regent of the French Empire. One day, \nwhile an important question was under discussion \nat the Council, she remarked that Cambaceres had \nnot yet spoken. Turning towards him, she said \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" I should like to know your opinion on this \nsubject, because I know that you are a ganache." \n\nCambaceres, on receiving this compliment, could \nonly look at her with astonishment and confusion, \nrepeating in an undertone the word " ganache ! " \n\n** Yes," said she, " a ganache, a cool-headed man, a \nman with sound sense. Is not that what it means ? " \n\n\n\nFALSE ASD FOOLISH STORIEa 213 \n\nNobody enlightened her, and the discussion was \ncontinued. \n\nOf course it will be perceived at once that this \nanecdote is absolutely false. It is neither true nor \nlikely. I have said elsewhere that Marie-Louise \nspoke and wrote French as well as the best-educated \nParisian. I will add now, that I am quite sure \nNapoleon never used so slighting an expression in \nspeaking of his father-in-law, with whom he had \nbeen very friendly for a long time. Besides, when- \never he made any jests upon the house of Austria, \nMarie-Louise defended it with warmth. One day, \nfor instance, when Napoleon was talking to his wife \nabout the plans of the Emperor of Austria, for seizing \nupon certain towns which he wanted, he said : \n\n" You see plainly that your father is a robber, and \nthat he appropriates what does not belong to him." \n\n" That is true," she replied : " but you steal \nkingdoms ; rdy father takes only a few towns." \n\nNapoleon laughed heartily at this answer, and \nasked the persons present whether a woman, who \nought to respect her husband, had any right to call \nhim a robber. \n\nThe Emperor, who was anxious to make Marie- \nLouise popular with the people, instituted the Soci6t^ \nMaternelle, of which he made her president. Madame \nde Segur was nominated vice-president ; other ladies \njoined the Society. The object of the institution \nwas to give aid to mothers of poor families having \n\n15 \n\n\n\n214 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOXJISE. \n\nseveral children. They were attended in their con \nfinements ; provided with soup, wine, and clothes for \ntheir infants; and lastly, when they had several \nchildren, they were paid for nursing the latest born \nlike ordinary nurses. Madame de S^gur filled her post \nin this institution with the kindness of heart, zeal, \nand intelligence which distinguished her, and she was \nthe support and consolation of all the poor women \nwho had recourse to her. Since the departure of \nMarie-Louise, this institution has been improved. \nThe Duchess d\'Angoul^me, who was so charitable \nand munificent, became its president, and augmented \nits resources. \n\nNapoleon wished his Court to be brilliant. A sure \nmethod of pleasing him was to have a well-regulated \nhouse, and elegant equipages, to give fetes and receive \non a large scale. He sometimes said, speaking of \ncertain great personages, who were suspected of par- \nsimony, " They are curmudgeons, who hoard up their \nmoney." He took great notice of the dress of the \nladies. On coming into the salon he looked at each \nin succession, and his look was a regular inspection. \nHe would go and say a gracious word to a lady \nwhom he considered well-dressed, while one whose \nattire displeased him would be distinctly allowed to \nknow it. He detested shawls, and no one could \never keep one on in his presence. The Cashmeres, \nwhich he put up with much against his will, and \noften talked about, displeased him still more. It was \n\n\n\nNAPOLEON\'S TASTES. 215 \n\nin order to put them out of fashion that he ordered \nsome from M. Ternaux, designed by M. Isabey, which \nwere certainly prettier than the Indian ones. Never- \ntheless, the fashion still prevailed, and the latter \ncontinued to enjoy the preference. Since then, they \nhave been perfectly imitated by M. Ternaux, and the \nEmperor paid him a very high price for his first \nattempts. He preferred diamonds for ornaments, \nand nothing could surpass the brilliancy of the \nspectacle at the Tuileries on a gala day. Even those \nwho were accused of avarice endeavoured to surpass \neverybody else in diamonds. But " economizers " \nwere the constant objects of Napoleon\'s jests and \nsarcasms. Sometimes they disregarded what he said, \nbut occasionally they got angry, and the only result \nwas to harden their resolution to save. \n\nIt was quite natural that there should be a great \ndisparity in a Court of such various material. The \nold nobles, happy to find themselves once again at \ntheir ease, freely enjoyed their fortune, sharing it \nwith all those who surrounded them, without for- \ngetting the poor. The newly enriched \xe2\x80\x94 princes, dukes, \ncounts, barons, etc. \xe2\x80\x94 emulated them in luxury, but \nwith less success. There were, however, some who \nrose to the level of their rank, but the number was \nsmall. Among the former were the Duke of Piacenza \nand Count ChaptaL Many persons are unaware that \nthe former founded an establishment in the Depart- \nment of Seine et Oise which gives employment to \n\n\n\n216 NAPOLEON AND MAlUE-LOUlSK. \n\nmore than three hundred families. It is a cotton- \nspinning factory, which he set up at Dourdan, in \na very poor district, totally without resources. \nThere now exists in that place a well-built village, \ncalled by its inhabitants Yille-Brun, from motives \nof gratitude to their benefactor. Th^ Duke has, \nbesides, established a primary school for children. \nEverybody knows what important services have been \nrendered to French industry by Count Chaptal, and \nthe superb establishment which he has created at \nGhambord. \n\nThe Emperor knew every detail of what went \non, and used to amuse himself by relating it all to \nthe Empress. After his second marriage, he had a \ngreat desire to give his Court a better tone ; above \nall, he was anxious to change its moral aspect, and to \nlend at least an appearance of propriety to everything. \nAmong the ladies who had been his favourites, only \ntwo preserved a place in his affections. One was \nMadame Walewska, who has always shown him a \ntender and faithful attachment; the other was a \nlady whose name I shall not disclose : up to the \nlast moment the latter retained a certain influence \nover him. \n\nThe Princes and Princesses had ladies to accom- \npany them. They formed their suite at the pro- \nmenade, adorned the salon in the evening, and con- \ntributed by their conversation to the general amuse- \nment. In the case of the Queens these ladies were \n\n\n\nBARREN HONOUR. 217 \n\ncalled " dames du palais ; " in that of the Princesses, \n" dames pour accompagner." These places were much \nsought for, and almost all given by favour. Those \nwho obtained them were envied, because those who \ndesired them did not understand the disagreeables and \ntribulations attached to them. Every three months \nthe list of " waits " was made out ; but it was a very \ntroublesome business to find the twelve ladies who \nwere required, some being ill, others absent, or in an \ninteresting situation. When, however, the list was \nat length completed and the ladies nominated, they \narranged the order of waiting between themselves, \nfour to each month. Of these four, two only were on \nduty every day ; the two others came in the evening, \nand on Sunday. The two ladies whose waiting was \ncalled the " grand service " appeared at eleven o\'clock \nin the morning, in the salon appropriated to them. \nThey were free either to occupy themselves, or to \ndo nothing, and remained there until one o\'clock. \nThen her Majesty went out, either in a carriage or \non foot. If on foot, they formed her suite. If it \nhappened (but this was very rare) that the Lady-in- \nWaiting and the Lady of the Bedchamber were not \nat the Palace, then the Empress took one of these \nladies in her carriage, generally the oldest or the most \nimportant, and not the one whom she would have \npreferred. But such fortune rarely befell them ; they \nmost usually followed in another carriage, with \nthe Gentleman-in -Waiting and a Chamberlain. The \n\n\n\n218 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISK. \n\nEquerry and the Page on duty were always on horse- \nback, one on the right and the other on the left \nof her Majesty\'s carriage. The drive lasted one or \ntwo hours. On returning to the Palace the Empress \nbowed to these ladies, and went into her private \napartments, followed by her Lady-in- Waiting and her \nLady of the Bedchamber. The two ladies remained \nat the Palace until five o\'clock. They then asked \nleave to retire, obtained it, and returned home, very \ntired, very much bored, very discontented, and very \nhappy when nothing disagreeable had taken place. \nThey had to come back at seven o\'clock, and were not \nfree until Marie-Louise retired to rest. \n\nThe evening was more agreeable than the day. The \nEmperor almost always asked for the suite ; then the \ntwo ladies, the Chamberlain, the Equerry, and the \nPage came in. Nevertheless, I have seen a Duchess \nand a Countess who were on duty exposed to a very \nmortifying incident. All persons who had been pre- \nsented were admitted on the days of grand ceremonial, \nbut a small number formed the private society of the \nCourt. This was composed of the Ministers, the great \ndignitaries, and the favourites, both men and women. \nThey had what is called the " petites entrees ; " that is \nto say, the right of coming every day and at any hour. \nThey all assembled in the same salon. When the \nEmperor had dined, he passed into his own salon, \ntalked for a while alone with the Empress, all the \ndoors standing open ; afterwards he called for the \n\n\n\nA POINT OF ETIQUETTE. 219 \n\n" entries " and the suite. The Chamberlain repeated \nthe order, and each came in according to rank. If \nhe did not ask for the suite, then those who had not \nthe " petites entries " remained in the first salon. These \n" entrees " were given, and taken back, every three \nmonths, so there should not be too many people at \nonce. One day that the Duchess of Rovigo and Madame \nde Bouill^ were " de grand service," the Emperor asked \nonly for the " entrees." The Chamberlain and the \nEquerry only were there ; they came in, and the two \nladies remained entirely alone. Madame de Bouille \ncalled for her carriage, and went away in a rage. The \nDuchess, who was at least as much mortified, more \nprudentlju^emained; and this was well,for the Emperor, \nbeing informed who were the ladies on duty that day, \nhastened to say that they were to come in. The \nDuchess only was to be found. She said that Madame \nde Bouilld had been taken ill ; but she was not believed, \nand the Emperor loudly condemned the conduct of \nthe Countess. That evening he made himself very \nagreeable to the Duchess of Rovigo. \n\nIn addition to the Ladies of the Palace, there were \nseveral Chamberlains, some of whom were nomi- \nnated by the Emperor to the service of the Empress. \nThe same was done with respect to the Equerries and \nthe Pages. There were four, and sometimes six, who \ntook their turn (I don\'t include among them Prince \nAldobrandini, her Majesty\'s First Equerry). Among \nthetsc Chamberlains and Equerries there was the same \n\n\n\n220 NAPOLEON AND MAIUE-LOUISE. \n\nmixture as elsewhere, and it would have been natural \nthat the old nobility, thus socially united with the \nnew, should give the tone and politeness of former \ntimes to the Imperial circle. This, however, was not \nthe case ; and I must here remark, as several persons \nhave done, that the old nobility affected the worst \ntone, and talked in the most indecent and unbecoming \nmanner. These same individuals, on their return to \nthe Faubourg St. Germains, would resume the habits \nand demeanour which they ought never to have laid \naside. There were, however, some to whom this \ncensure does not apply. In the service which he \nrendered to their Majesties, M. de Saint- Aignan united \nprofound respect to all the graces of the mind, ex- \ntensive information and fine manners. M. de M \n\nand M. d\'E ought to have imitated him, but they \n\ndid nothing of the kind. A disagreeable adventure \noccurred to the former. One day, when it was raining, \nhe rode out of the Elys^e Bourbon, by the side of the \nEmpress\'s carriage, and, perceiving an individual who \nhad kept his hat on his head, he struck the hat off \nwith his whip, and flung it into the mud. The owner \nof the hat ascertained his name. A duel followed, and \n\n^ ^Q M received a sword wound, which was \n\nfortunately not dangerous. He was blamed, and \nparticularly by the Emperor, who expressed his \ndispleasure at such conduct, adding, " It is very well \ndone ; he has only got what he deserved." \n\nIt will be surmised from what 1 have just \n\n\n\nPALACE PUitbUlTS. 221 \n\nrelated, that the Ladies of the Palace, who were forced \nby their service to pass five or six hours with these \ngentlemen, did not find their society very pleasant, \nand indeed they often complained of it. They were \nobliged to listen to narratives of scandalous adven- \ntures, which made some of them blush, and embar- \nrassed most of them ; they also had to endure very \nunbecoming jesting upon their own affairs. The \nEmperor was ignorant of all this. Before him every- \nbody was respectful, polite, and reserved; but they \nmade up for that when his back was turned. \n\nI must add, to finish what I have to say about \nthe salon, that a lady and two gentlemen played \ncards with the Empress ; that other card-parties were \nmade up between the ladies, but in another room; \nand that the Emperor generally passed the evening in \ntalking with one or two of his Ministers, whom he \ntook into a little salon, where there was a billiard- \ntable for the Empress. Napoleon played billiards \nvery badly, without any attention, and ran about \nthe whole time : he chose that time to give vent \nto his anger, or to scold, if he had anything to com- \nplain of. His voice only was heard, and he was \nrarely answered. Indeed, except himself, nobody was \nheard to speak in the salon ; although it was filled \nwith courtiers, it was impossible to. distinguish any \nvoice. There was some talking, of course, but it was \ncarried on in very low tones, and according to the \nusage of the old Court. The Emperor sometimes \n\n\n\n222 NAPOLEON AND MAUIE-LOUISB, \n\nplayed at whist, and he delighted in cheating, and \nlaughed with all his heart when this was perceived, \nalthough nobody dared to make any observation to \nhim on the subject. \n\nNapoleon never relinquished friendships which he \nhad formed in his youth. When he became First \nConsul, he continued to receive the friends of his \nhumbler days at St. Cloud, with all his former fami- \nliarity. Of those who composed the Imperial Court, \nno one was more deserving of the esteem and friend- \nship of honourable men than Count de Lac^pede, the \nfriend and worthy successor of the illustrious BoufFon, \nGrand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour from the \nfoundation of that institution, and who lost his post \non the arrival of Louis XYIII. at Paris. Count de \nLacep^de then retired to an estate which he possessed \nin the Department of Loire et Garonne. \n\nWhen he was informed of the return of Napoleon, \nhe did not hasten, like so many others, to grovel at the \nfeet of his former master. He remained in his retreat, \noccupied by literary and scientific labours, until a \ncourier came, bringing him the Emperor\'s order to \nresume his former functions, and also to preside over \nthe Senate. Louis XYIII. had quitted France. The \nauthority of Napoleon was recognized everywhere. \nIt was his duty to render obedience to the summons. \nHe therefore repaired to the post which was assigned \nto him. On the return of the King in the following \nyear, he was a second time deprived of his functions. \n\n\n\nBUFFON. 223 \n\nand was, besides, struck off the list of senators. Never- \ntheless, no place was ever so well filled as that of \nGrand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour, while it \nwas held by M. de Lac^pede. He had the art of send- \ning away even those whom he could not satisfy, well \npleased. The Emperor had nominated him to the \nSeignory of Paris. This, with the Grand-Chancellor- \nship, gave him a right to two separate salaries. For \nseveral years he refused to receive more than one, \nthus setting a good example of disinterestedness to \nthe courtiers. What need had he of a great fortune ? \nHe had simple tastes, he lived without any display, \nand devoted every moment which he could spare from \npublic afiairs, to study. The venal men who sur- \nrounded Napoleon regarded his conduct with dis- \npleasure. They induced the Emperor to take a false \nview of it, and Count de Lacep^de was ordered to \nreceive his two salaries. He availed himself of this \nnecessity to give freer course to his love of doing \ngrood. Amonoc the numerous instances of those which \nI could relate, I shall limit myself to only one. A \nsenior clerk, in the Bureau of the Legion of Honour, \na highly respectable man with a family, had been ill \nfor several months, and all the symptoms of his illness \nindicated that it was caused by mental anxiety. One \nof his intimate friends succeeded in discovering the \nsecret, and learned that a debt of twenty thousand \nfrancs, contracted during the Revolution, for the sub- \nsistence of his family, still remained unpaid, and that \n\n\n\n224 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nhis creditor was threatening him every month with \na prosecution. This friend was acquainted with M. \nde Lac^pede, and, after having gravely reflected upon \nthe position of the sick man, he went to the Chancellor \nand told him all, adding, that a person of his acquaint- \nance, a man of merit and talent, would lend the \ntwenty thousand francs that were necessary, on the \nsole condition that M. de Lac^pede should give him \nthe place, if the senior clerk died before that sum of \nmoney had been repaid. " That is impossible," replied \nthe Count, after a moment\'s thought. "I am very \nsorry, but it would be unjust towards the under-clerk, \nwho has been doing his work since his illness, and \nwho deserves to have the place should so unfortunate \nan event occur." The intercessor returned home ill \nsatisfied with the result of his attempt. Presently \na letter was brought to him from Count de Lacepede. \nI give an exact copy of it. \n\n"Sib, \n\n" Have the goodness to hand to our friend \n\nM. the accompanying trifle, and impress upon \n\nhim that he must not think of reimbursing me until \nhe has entirely recovered his health, and until he \npossesses one hundred thousand livres a year. \n\n" I am, etc., \n"B. G. E. L. V. S. Count de Lac]6pI:de." \n\nThe " trifle " accompanying this letter was twenty \nthousand francs in bank notes. \n\n\n\nTHE DUCIIRSS OF WEIMAR. 225 \n\nEverybody has heard how Napoleon, when a de- \nspairing woman implored him to pardon her hus- \nband, burned in her presence a letter containing \nthe sole existing proof of his treason. The incident \nis too well known to be related in detail. Another \nof the same kind is less familiar. After the battle \nof Jena, the French army commanded by Napoleon \nwas expected at Weimar. The most\' wealthy and \ndistinguished people of that city, especially the \nladies of the reigning family, fled to Brunswick, \nbecause, as the Duke was serving in the Prussian \narmy with his troops, the vengeance of the conqueror \nwas to be dreaded. The Duchess alone resolved not \nto abandon her capital. She retired into a wing of her \npalace with her ladies, and caused apartments to be \nprepared for the Emperor. On his arrival, the Duchess \nleft the little room which she had reserved for herself, \nand took her place at the head of the grand staircase, \nto receive him with all due ceremony. \n\n" Who are you ? " said Napoleon, on seeing her. \n\n" I am the Duchess of Weimar." \n\n" In that case I am sorry for you, as I shall crush \nyour husband." \n\nHe paid her no more attention, but retired into \nthe apartment prepared for him. The following \nmorning the Duchess learned that pillage had been \nbegun in the town. She sent one of her chamberlains \nto the Emperor to inquire after his health, and \nto ask for an audience. This proceeding pleased \n\n\n\n226 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nNapoleon, and he sent word to the Duchess that he \nshould come and ask her to give him breakfast. \nHardly had he arrived before he began, according to \nhis custom, to question her. \n\n"How could your husband, Madame," said he, \n" have been so foolish as to make war upon me ? " \n\n"Your Majesty would have despised him had he \ndone otherwise." \n\n"Why?" \n\n" My husband has passed thirty years in the \nservice of Prussia. It is not at the moment when \nthe King had to contend against so powerful an \nenemy as your Majesty, that the Duke could forsake \nhim with honour." \n\nThis answer, which was as adroit as it was just, \nseemed to soften the Emperor. \n\n"But how came the Duke to attach himself to \nPrussia ? " \n\n"Your Majesty must be aware that the younger \nbranches of the House of Saxony have always followed \nthe example of the Elector. Now, the policy of the \nPrince having led him to ally himself with Prussia \nrather than with Austria, the Duke could not do \notherwise than imitate the head of his house." \n\nThey continued to converse for some time upon \nthe same subject, the Duchess still displaying equal \nintelligence and high spirit. At last Napoleon rose, \nexclaiming \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n"Madame, you are the most estimable woman 1 \n\n\n\nTHE BRIDGE OF LODI. 227 \n\nhave ever known. You have saved your husband. \nI pardon him ; but it is to you alone that he owes it." \n\nAt the same time, he commanded the pillage in \nthe town to be stopped, and order was restored there \nimmediately. Some time afterwards he signed a \ntreaty which secured the existence of the Duchy \nof Weimar, and he ordered the courier who was the \nbearer of it, to present it to the Duchess. \n\nSince it has become the fashion to deny every \nkind of talent and every kind of merit to a man who \nhas certainly conceived and executed extraordinary \nthings, an effort has been made to deprive him of the \nglory of even his most brilliant actions. For instance, \nit has been said that the famous passage of the \nBridge of Lodi was not an act of bravery, but a suc- \ncessful stratagem ; that the flag which he held in his \nhand when he flung himself upon the bridge was \nalmost white, and that the enemy, taking it for a \nflag of truce, had suspended the fire during his \npassage. No more absurd fable could be imagined. \nTo credit it we should have to suppose that the enemy \nwere mad, or blind, if they could take for the bearer \nof a flag of truce an officer advancing towards them \nnot alone, not even attended by a few men, but \nfollowed by a body of troops which occupied the \nwhole breadth of the bridge, and came on at the \ncharge. Among other things with which IN apoleon has \nbeen reproached, is his answer to the Corps Legislatif \nat the beginning of January, 1814. " In three \n\n\n\n228 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nmonths," he had said, " we sh^fll have peace, the enemy \nshall be driven out, or I shall be dead." " Why did \nhe not get himself killed ? " asked certain persons. \nPerhaps he could not. All the officers who were \nwith him in the neighbourhood of Troyes affirm that \nhe exposed himself in such a way as to prove that \nhe sought death.* \n\nThe following is a less known fact. In the various \nconflicts which took place around Brienne, the Emperor, \naware of the resistance which he experienced, placed \nhimself at the head of a squadron of Chasseurs, and \njoined the vanguard. There he led a succession of \ncharges for two hours in the midst of a hail of balls. \nA young man whom I know has assured me that he and \nseveral others saw Napoleon fired at more than twenty \ntimes without being hit. His suite made incredible \nefforts to induce him to leave this dangerous post, but \ntotally in vain ; he seemed to be endeavouring to end \nhis life. It would have been happy for him and for \nFrance if he had perished in the Plain of Champagne. \nWe should not have seen the Hundred Days and the \ndisasters which have followed them, nor he himself \nhave endured captivity and humiliations to which \ndeath would liave been far preferable. \n\nMy last words regarding Napoleon shall refer to \nhis departure for St. Helena. \n\nOn his arrival at Rochfort, he stiU hoped that he \n\n\xe2\x99\xa6 " Perhaps he could not." Instead of these words, it would be \nmore true to say that " \'death woald have none of him.** This is \nwhat he himself said at Fontaineblejiu. \n\n\n\nLOWER DEEPS. 229 \n\ncould freely embark for America. He had been led to \nbelieve this, but he found English vessels posted to \noppose his passage. There was in the port a Danish \nbarque, whose Captain had married a French woman; \nand being touched by the Emperor\'s great misfortunes, \nthis man came to him and proposed to conduct him to \nthe United States if he would intrust himself to him. \nHe told him that there was a perfectly secure hiding- \nplace in his ship, but that it could only contain a \nsingle man and some clothes, and he pledged his word \nof honour that there Napoleon should be safe from \ndiscovery. It is asserted that Napoleon was very \nnear accepting this offer, but the persons who ac- \ncompanied him, fearing that it was only a snare, \ndid everything they could to prevent him. Napoleon \nbelieved in the honour and generosity of the English \nGovernment : the whole world knows how he was \ntreated. \n\nThe captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena; the \ntortures of every kind which were inflicted upon him \nby the Sovereigns, in revenge for his victories, and the \nglory which he had had shed upon the French name ; \nthe mean malice of the English Government, \xe2\x80\x94 all the \nsufferings inflicted on this great man have obscured the \nwrong done by his ambition. Every generous heart \nwas moved in his favour to compassion for the hero \nstruggling against a vile Governor, who was the im- \nplacable agent of the English Minister. Deep pity \nwas felt for the husband, the father, separated not \n\n16 \n\n\n\n280 NAPOLEON AND MARIE- LOUISE. \n\nonly from his wife and from his son, but also from his \nmother and his sisters, by whom he was so dearly \nloved, and who were refused permission to join him. \nHad anything more been needed to revive the love \nof Napoleon and hatred of his oppressors in the \nhearts of the French, his death has augmented \nthese two sentiments. No fact exists in history com- \nparable to the emotion with which his ashes were \nreceived. All France crowded the route over which \nthe coffin passed, following it with enthusiasm, saluting \nit with shouts until the moment of its arrival at the \nInvalides. Thenceforth, for years, there was an inces- \nsant crowd eager to look upon his tomb. Napoleon \nalone has had such a triumph after his death. All \nhonour be to him who claimed those ashes, and like- \nwise to him who brought them back to France I \n\n\n\n{ 231 ) \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. \n\nPIECES JUSTIFICATIVE5S. \n\nNo. 1. \n\nA Report made to the Corps Legislatif, hy the Extra- \nordinary Commission appointed by that Body, on \nthe 2Sth of December, 1813 :\xe2\x80\x94 \n\nGentlemen, \n\nThe Extraordinary Commission which you \nhave appointed, in virtue of the Emperor\'s decree of \nthe 20th of December, 1813, presents the Report which \nyou are expecting under these grave circumstances. \n\nIt is not for the Commission only, it is for the \nCorps Legislatif as a whole, to express the senti- \nments which are inspired by the communication of \nthe original documents in the custody of the Ministry \nof Foreign Affairs, by command of his Majesty. \nThat communication has taken place under the pre- \nsidency of his Serene Highness the Arch-Chancellor \nof the Empire. The documents which have beeri \nplaced betore u\xc2\xa7 are nine in number. \n\n\n\n232 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nAmong these documents are notes, by the French \nMinister and the Austrian Minister, which date back \nto the 18th and 21st of August. \n\nThey also include the speech delivered by the \nRegent to the English Parliament, on the 5th of \nSeptember, The Regent said \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\' " It is not within the intentions of his Majesty, or \nwithin those of the Allied Powers, to demand from \nFrance any sacrifice which may be incompatible with \nher honour and her just rights." \n\nThe present negotiation for peace begins with the \n10th of last November. It was arranged by the \nagency of the French Minister in Germany. Having \nbeen present at an interview between the Ministers \nof Austria and England, he was commissioned to \ncarry back the words of peace to France, and to make \nknown the general and compendious bases upon which \npeace might be negotiated. \n\nThe Minister of Exterior Relations, M. le Due de \nBassano, replied, on the 16th, to this communication \nfrom the Austrian Minister. He stated that a peace \nfounded on the basis of the general independpnce of \nnations upon both land and sea was the object of \nthe desires and the policy of the Emperor ; in con- \nsequence, he proposed that a Congress should be \nassembled at Manheim. \n\nThe Austrian Minister replied, on the 23rd of \nNovember, that their Imperial Majesties and the King \nof Prussia were ready to negotiate, as soon as they \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX 233 \n\nshould have received an assurance that the Emperor \nof the French admitted the general and compendious \nbases previously communicated. \n\nThe Powers hold that the principles contained in \nthe letter of the 16th, although generally shared by \nall the Governments of Europe, could not take the \nplace of bases. \n\nOn the 2nd of December, the Minister of Exterior \nRelations, M. le Due de Bassano, gave the desired \nassurance. \n\nRecapitulating the general principles of the letter \nof the 16th, he announces, with lively satisfaction, \nthat his Majesty the Emperor gave his adherence to \nthe proposed bases, that these would involve great \nsacrifices on the part of France, but that she would \nmake those sacrifices without reluctance, in order to \ngive peace to Europe. \n\nTo this letter the Austrian Minister replied, on the \n10th of December, that their Majesties had learned, \nwith satisfaction, that the Emperor had adopted the \nessential bases of the balance of power and the tran- \nquility of Europe, that they had given orders for the \ncommunication of the document to their AUies, and \ndid not doubt that negotiations might be opened \nimmediately after their answers. \n\nAccording to the communications which have been \nmade to us, the negotiation stops with this latter \ndocument. \n\nWith that document it is permissible to hope it \n\n\n\n234 NAPOLEON AND JtARIE-LOUISB. \n\nwill resume its natural course, when the delay, ren- \ndered necessary by a more distant communication, \nshall be over. It is, then, upon these two documents \nthat our hopes may rest. \n\nWhile this correspondence was taking place be- \ntween the respective Ministers, there was printed, in \nthe Frankfort Gazette, and placed before your Com- \nmission, in virtue of the close letter of his Majesty, a \ndeclaration of the Allied Powers, under date of the 1st \nof December, in which, among other things, the follow- \ning passage is to be remarked : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" The Allied Sovereigns desire that France may be \ngreat, strong, and fortunate, because the greatness of \nthe French power is one of the fundamental bases of the \nsocial edifice. They desire that France may be fortu- \nnate, that French commerce may revive, that the Arts \n\xe2\x80\x94 a gift of peace \xe2\x80\x94 may flourish afresh, because a great \npeople can only remain quiet in proportion to its \nprosperity. The Powers confirm to France an extent \nof territory which she never knew under her kings, \nbecause a brave nation is not a fallen one for havinor, \nin its turn, sustained reverses in a stubborn and \nsanguinary conflict, in which it has fought with its \naccustomed intrepidity." \n\nIt results from these documents that aU the belli- \ngerent Powers have plainly expressed a desire for \npeace. \n\nYou have especially observed therein that the \nEmperor has manifested a resolution to make great \n\n\n\nAi^ENDIX. 235 \n\nsacrifices, that he has acceded to the general and com- \npendious bases proposed by the Allied Powers them \nselves. \n\nThe most patriotic anxiety does not require that \nthose general and compendious bases should as yet \nbe made known. \n\nWithout seeking to penetrate into Cabinet secrets, \nwhen the knowledge of them is not necessary for the \nobject to be attained, is it not sufficient to know that \nthose bases are only the conditions desired for the \nopening of a Congress ? Does it not suffice to remark \nthat those conditions have been proposed by the Allied \nPowers themselves, and to be convinced that his \nMajesty has given his full adherence to the bases \nnecessary to the opening of a Congress in which all \nrights and all interests are to be discussed ? The \nAustrian Minister has, besides, acknowledged that the \nEmperor had adopted bases essential to the restora- \ntion of the balance of power in Europe, and conse- \nquently the adherence given by his Majesty to those \nbases has been a great step towards the pacification \nof the world. \n\nAccording to the Constitutional regulations, it is \nthe province of the Corps L^gislatif to express the \nsentiments to which these communications give rise ; \nfor it is enacted by clause 30, of the Senatus-con- \nsultum of the 18th Frimaire, Year XII., that \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n"The Corps Legislatif, on every occasion when the \nGovernment shaU make a communication to it, on any \n\n\n\n236 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\nother subject than the voting of a law, shall form \nitself into a general committee to deliberate upon its \nanswer." \n\nAs the Corps L^gislatif expects its Commission to \noffer reflections appropriate to the preparation of a \nresponse worthy of the French nation and of the \nEmperor, we take leave to express some of our senti- \nments to you. \n\nThe first is that of gratitude for a communication, \nwhich at this moment summons the Corps Legislatif \nto take cognizance of the political interests of the \n\nState. \n\nWe experience a feeling of hope, in the midst of \nthe disasters of war, on seeing kings and nations \nemulating each other in pronouncing the name of \npeace. \n\nIn fact, gentlemen, the solemn and reiterated \nassurances of the belligerent Powers agree with the \nuniversal desire of France for peace, with that desire \nwhich is generally expressed around each one of us in \nour respective departments, and which finds its natural \norgan of expression in the Corps Legislatif. \n\nAccording to the general bases contained in the \ndeclarations, the desire of all humanity for a firm and \nhonourable peace would seem to be about to be \nrealized speedily. It will be honourable, because, for \nnations as for individuals, honour consists in the \nmaintaining their own rights and respecting the \nrights of others. That peace will also be firm, because \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 237 \n\nthe true guarantee of peace is the interest which each \nof the contracting parties has in remaining faithful \nto it. \n\nWhat, then, can hinder and retard its blessings ? \nThe Allied Powers bear the striking testimony to the \nEmperor that he has adopted the bases essential to \nthe restoration of the balance of power and the tran- \nquility of Europe. \n\nWe have, as the first pledge of his pacific inten- \ntions, Adversity, that true counsellor of kings, the \nplainly expressed need of the people, and even the \ninterest of the Crown. \n\nTo these pledges you will, perhaps, think it useful \nbo entreat his Majesty to add one still more solemn. \n\nIf the declarations of the foreign Powers were \nfallacious, if they desired to enslave us, if they \nmeditated the rending asunder of the sacred soil of \nFrance, it would be necessary, to prevent our country \nfrom becoming the prey of the foreigner, to render the \nwar national ; but, in order the more securely to eff\'ect \nthat righteous operation which saves empires, is it not \nnecessary to unite the nation and its monarch in closer \nbonds ? \n\nIt is a necessity to impose silence upon our enemies \nrespecting their accusations of aggrandizement, of \nconquests, of alarming preponderance. Since the \nAllied Powers have thought it their duty to reassure \nthe nations by publicly proclaimed protestations, is it \nnot worthy of his Majesty to enlighten them by \n\n\n\nT6S NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nsolemn declarations, upon the designs of France and \nthe Emperor? \n\nWhen that Prince to whom history has preserved \nthe name of "Great" wanted to rekindle the spirit of \nhis people, he revealed to them all that he had done \nfor peace, and his high confidences were not without \neffect. \n\nWould there not be real greatness in disabusing \nthe Allied Powers, in order to prevent them from \naccusing France and the Emperor of desiring to hold \ntoo extensive a territory, whose preponderance they \nseem to dread ? \n\nIt is not, indeed, for us to inspire words which \nwould resound throughout the universe ; but in order \nthat the declaration might have a useful intluence \nupon the foreign Powers, and produce the hoped-for \ninfluence in France, would it not be desirable that it \nshould proclaim to Europe and to France a promise \nnot to continue war except for the independence of \nthe French people and the integrity of their territory ? \n\nWould not this declaration have an indisputable \nauthority in all Europe ? \n\nWhen his Majesty should thus have replied, in his \nown name and in that of France, to the declaration of \nthe Allies, there would be seen, on the one side, the \nPowers who protest that they do not want to appro- \npriate to themselves a territory recognized by him as \nbeing necessary to the balance of power in Europe, \nand, on the other, a monarch which would declare \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 239 \n\nhimself to be animated solely by the resolution to \ndefend that territory. \n\nThat, if the French Empire only remained faithful \nto those liberal principles, which, however, the chiefs \nof the nations of Europe have all proclaimed, France \nwould then, being forced by the obstinacy of the enemy \nto a war of the nation and of independence, to a war of \nacknowledged justice and necessity, be capable of dis- \nplaying energy, unity, and perseverance in support of \nher rights, she has already given sufficiently striking \nproofs. Unanimous in her desire to obtain peace, she \nwill be equally unanimous in her efforts to conquer it ; \nand she will again show the world that a great nation \ncan do all it wills, when it wills nothing except that \nwhich its honour and its just rights demand. \n\nThe declaration, for which we venture to hope, \nwould meet the views of the Powers who do homage \nto French valour ; but this is not enough to rally the \nnation itself and to put it into a state of defence. \n\nIt is, according to the laws, for the Government to \npropose such means as it believes to be surest and \nspeediest for repulsing the enemy and securing a firm \nand lasting peace. \n\nThose means will be effectual, if the French are \nconvinced that the Government aspires to the glory \nof Peace only; they will be effectual, if the French are \nconvinced that their blood will be shed solely in \ndefence of their country and of protecting laws ; but \nthose consoling words " country " and " peace " would \n\n\n\n240 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISK. \n\nresound in vain if the institutions which promise the \nbenefits of both one and the other be not guaranteed. \n\nIt appears, therefore, indispensable to your Com- \nmission that, when the Government shall propose the \npromptest measures for the safety of the State, his \nMajesty shall be, at the same time, entreated to main- \ntain the entire and constant execution of the laws \nwhich guarantee to Frenchmen the rights of liberty, \nsecurity, and property, and to the nation the free \nexercise of its political rights. This pledge appears \nto your Commission the most eflfectual means of \nrestoring to the French people the energy which is \nneeded for their own defence. \n\nThese ideas have been suggested to your Com- \nmission by the desire and the necessity for binding the \nthrone closely to the nation, in order to make com- \nbined efforts against arbitrary anarchy and the \nenemies of our country. \n\nYour Commission has limited itself, according to \nits functions, to laying before you reflections which \nhave appeared to it appropriate to the preparation ol \nthe answer which you are called upon to make by \nthe Constitution. \n\nHow will you convey it? The Constitutional \nregulation determines the method : it is by discussing \nyour answer in general committee ; and as the Corps \nL^gislatif is called upon to present an address each \nyear to the Emperor, you will probably think fit to \nadopt that mode of conveying the ansv^er to the com- \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 241 \n\nmunication which has been made to you. If his \nMajesty\'s first thought, in important circumstances, \nhas been to collect the deputies of the nation around \nthe throne, is it not their first duty to make a fitting \nresponse to that convocation by letting the truth, \nand the people\'s desire for peace, be known to the \nmonarch ? * \n\n\n\nNo. 2. \n\n\n\nNapoleon\' 8 Speech to the Deputation froTn the Corps \nL^gislatify January 1, 1814. \n\nGentlemen, \n\nI called you together that you might assist \nme to do good ; you have disappointed my expecta- \ntion. You have allowed yourselves to be led by five \nfactious persons. \n\nM. Lain^ is a mischievous man. I know that he \nmaintains relations with the Regent of England, \nthrough the medium of De Seze, the lawyer. M. \nRaynouard has said that General Massena committed \nvile and base acts in a certain chateau : he has lied. \nThe imputation cast on the General is a calumny. \nHow comes it that a Marshal of the Empire is treated \nin such a fashion ? I know how all numerous assem- \nblies are led : one gets into this corner, another into \n\n* At St. Helena the Emperor declared this document to be incor- \nrect, and that, as it was reported, it was not reasonable. As Napoleon \ndid not indicate the passages which were not correct, I give the report, \nwith his observation. \n\n\n\n242 NAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISK \n\nthat, and presently the whole mass follows the im- \npulse that it has been given. \n\nAmong you, eleven-twelfths are honest people, but \nthere are also schemers and agitators ; I know them. \nIn the Corps L^gislatif there are worshipful magis- \ntrates, procurators-general, judges, notaries, an Envoy \nExtraordinary to the United States ; but intrigue has \ndictated your choice. The same men appear on the \nDiplomatic Commission, on the Finance Commission, \nand on the Commission for drawing up the Address. \n\nThe Report of your Commissions has given me \ngreat pain ; I would rather have lost two battles. \nTo what did it tend ? To augment the claims of the \nenemy ! It proposed that I should yield more than \nthe enemy exacts. If they were to demand Cham- \npagne Brie, I should then have to give up also ? Yes, \na frank declaration of my sentiments was desired ; \nI have made it : we will no longer fight to make or \nto keep conquests, but only to deliver France. \n\nIf abuses have been committed, I ought to have \nbeen told of them, division by division, I should \nhave put my Commissaries in communication with \nmy Ministers ; they would have verified those abuses. \nWe should have washed our dirty linen at home. \nBut is it in presence of the enemy that these remon- \nstrances ought to have been made? The object of \nthem was to humiliate me. It was designed to throw \ndirt in my face. I may be killed, but none shalJ \ndishonour me. \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX, 243 \n\nI was not bom among the kings, and I care not \nfor the throne. What is a throne ? Four bits of \ngilded wood, covered with a length of velvet. A \nthousand woes surround thrones ; but while I sit on \none, I will defend its rights. The nation has more \nneed of me than I of it. \n\nYour Commission has humiliated me more than \nthe enemy did ; it has said that Adversity is the truth- \ntelling counsellor of kings ; and that thought is a true \none, but the application that is made of it is cowardly. \nMy enemies have never reproached me with not being \nabove adversity ; to do so is to add irony to insult. \n\nIn four months, I shall publish the odious Report \nof your Commission. If any one thinks proper to \ncirculate it, I shall have it printed in the Moniteur, \nwith notes from my own hand. \n\nWhat did you want to do ? To carry us back to \nthe Constitution of 1791 ? I wiU not have a consti- \ntution about which I understand nothing. If Louis \nXVI. had not accepted it he would be reigning still. \n\nDid you reckon the faubourgs Saint-Antoine and \nSaint- Marceau ? Did you want to imitate the Legis- \nlative Assembly ? It allowed itself to be governed by \nthe Girondists, by Vergniaux, Guadet, and the rest. \nWhat has become of them ? They are in the grave. \n\nWho are you, to reform the State ? You think \nyou are the representatives of the nation. In Eng- \nland the Commons are representatives, because they \nare nominated by the people : our Constitution is not \n\n\n\n244 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nthe same ; that is not my fault. You are only depu \nties to the Corps L^gislatif. The real representative \nof the nation is I, who have been three times pro- \nclaimed their Sovereign by four millions of citizens. \nThe Senate and the Council of State share the legis- \nlative power with me, and before you ; every autho- \nrity is attached to the throne, all is in the throne. \n\nI repeat, that more than eleven- twelfths of you \nare good ; but you have let yourselves be led by fac- \ntious men. M. Lain^ is a traitor; I shall keep an eye \nupon him and the evildoers, and I will repress them. \n\nReturn to your Departments. I count upon the \ngood spirit which you will take back thither. Tell \nyour fellow-citizens that the resources of France are \nnot so much exhausted as it is supposed. If I again \nmeet with reverses, I will await my adversaries in \nthe plains of Champagne. In three months we shall \nhave peace ; the enemy will be driven out, or I shall \nbe dead. \n\n\n\nNo. 3. \n\nThe Emperor Napoleon\'s Act of Abdication. \n\nThe Allied Powers having proclaimed that the Em- \nperor Napoleon was the sole obstacle to the restora- \ntion of peace in Europe, the Emperor Napoleon, \nfaithful to his oath, declares that he renounces, for \nhimself and his heirs, the throne of France and of \nItaly, and that there is no personal sacrifice, even that \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 245 \n\nof life, which he is not ready to make to the interest \nof France. \n\n(Done at the Palace of Fontainebleau, on the \n11th of April, 1814.) \n\n(Signed) Napoleon. \n\n(Countersigned) Dupont (of Nemours), \nSecretary-General of the Provisional Government.* \n\n\n\nNo. 4. \n\n\n\nThe Speech addressed by Napoleon at the Moment of \nhis Departure, to the Troops of the Old Guard \nwho had remained with him,. \n\nOfficers, subalterns, and soldiers of my Old Guard, \nI bid you farewell. \n\nFor the twenty years that I have commanded you, \nI have been well pleased with you ; I have always \nfound you on the path of glory. \n\nThe Allied Powers have armed the whole of Europe \nagainst me ; one portion of the army has forsaken its \nduty, and France has yielded to private interests. \n\nWith you and the brave men who have remained \n\n* I have been told thnt after Napoleon had executed this deed \nhe displayed the utmost calnmess, the noblest resignation, and that \nhe seemed like one relieved of a lieavy load. He talked, a few \nminutes afterwards, familiarly and like any ordinary citizen, with \nthe general officers of his Court, about the results of the Revolution, \nas though it had nothing to do with him, ^d made a long allocutiou \nto them full of generous sentiments. \n\n17 \n\n\n\n246 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nfaithful to me, I could have carried on civil war for \nthree years ; but France would have been unhappy, \nand that would have been contrary to the aim which \nI have incessantly kept before me. It was, then, my \nduty to sacrifice my personal interests to her hap- \npiness : I have done so. \n\nMy friends, be always faithful to the new Sovereign \nwhom France has just chosen for herself ; do not for- \nsake that dear country, too long unhappy. Do not \nlament my fate ; I shall always be happy in knowing \nthat you are so. I might have died, nothing could \nhave been easier to me ; but no ! I shall always follow \nthe path of honour. I will write what we have \ndone ! \n\nI cannot embrace you all, but I am about to em- \nbrace your chief Come, General ! [He embraced \nGeneral Petit.] Bring me the eagle. [While embracing \nit, he said] Dear eagle, may these kisses resound \nin the hearts of all my brave men. \n\nFarewell, my children ! Adieu, my friends ! Come \nround me once more ! \n\n\n\nNo. 6. \n\nIt was only for the purpose of counteracting the \nefiect of the *\' Address of the Provisional Government \nto the Army," upon the mind of his troops, that \nNapoleon put forward the following " Order of the \nDay," which was dated the 4th of April, 1814 ; \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. S47 \n\nThe Emperor thanks the army for the attachment \nwhich it manifests to him, and principally because it \nrecognizes that France is in him, and not in the people \nof the capital. The soldier follows the fortune and \nthe misfortune of his general, his honour and his \nreligion. The Due de Ragusa did not inspire his \ncompanions in arms with those sentiments. He has \ngone over to the Allies. The Emperor cannot approve \nthe condition under which he has taken this step ; he \ncannot accept either life or liberty from the mercy of \na subject. The Senate has permitted itself to dispose \nof the French Government : it has forgotten that it \nowes the power which it now abuses to the Emperor ; \nthat it is he who saved one part of its members from \nthe storm of the Revolution, and who took the other \npart out of obscurity, and protected it from the enmity \nof the nation. The Senate avails itself of the Articles \nof the Constitution to overturn it; it unblushingly \nreproaches the Emperor, regardless of the fact that, as \nthe first Body of the State, it has taken part in all the \nevents that have occurred. It has gone so far as to \ndare to accuse the Emperor of having changed certain \nActs in publication : the whole world knows that he \nhad no need of such artifices ; a sign was an order for \nthe Senate, which always did more than was desired \nof it. The Emperor has always been accessible to the \nwise remonstrances of his Ministers, and he expected \nfrom them, in that circumstance, a most definite jus- \ntification of the measures which he had taken. If \n\n\n\n248 - NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nenthusiasm was admitt ed into the public speeches and \nadd resses, then the Emperor has been deceived ; but \nthose who spoke in such a fashion ought to attribute \nthe fatal result of their flattery to themselves. The \nSenate does not hesitate to speak of libels published \nagainst foreign Governments ; it forgets that they were \nconcocted within itself. If these men remained faithful \nso long as fortune was constant to their Sovereign, and \nno complaint of the abuse of power was ever heard ; \nif the Emperor did despise men, as he is reproached \nwith despising them, the world will acknowledge now \nthat he had reasons which justified his contempt. He \nheld his dignity from God and from the nation ; they \nalone could deprive him of it. He has always regarded \nit as a burden, and when he accepted it, he did so with \nthe conviction that only he could carry it worthily. \nGood fortune seemed to be his destiny ; now that fate \nhas decided against him, the will of the nation alone \ncould persuade him to remain longer upon the throne \nIf he must regard himself as the only obstacle to \npeace, he readily makes the last sacrifice to France. \nHe has therefore sent the Due de Moskowa to Paris \nto open negotiations. The Army may be certain that \nits honour wiU never be in opposition to the welfare \nof France. \n\n\n\nJLPFENDIX. 249 \n\n\n\nNo. 6. \n\n\n\nTreaty between the Allied Powers and his Majesty \nthe Emperor Napoleon, \n\nA.RTICLE I. \xe2\x80\x94 His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon \nrenounces, on behalf of himself, his successors and \ndescendants, as well as on behalf of aU the members \nof his family, all rights of sovereignty and dominion \nover the French Empire, the Kingdom of Italy, and \nevery other country. \n\nArticle II. \xe2\x80\x94 Their Majesties the Emperor Napoleon \nand Marie-Louise shall retain their titles and rank, \nand enjoy them during their lifetime. The mother, \nbrothers, sisters, nephews, and nieces of the Emperor \nshaU also retain, in whatsoever place they reside, the \ntitles of Princes of his family. \n\nArticle III. \xe2\x80\x94 The Island of Elba, which the Emperor \nNapoleon has chosen as his place of residence, shall \nform, during a life, a separate principality, which he \nshall hold wholly as his property and his sovereignty. \nThere shall also be granted to the Emperor Napoleon \nan annual revenue of two millions of francs, as his \nabsolute property, which shall be charged as an \nannuity upon the Great Book of the Public Debt. \nOf this sum one million of francs shall be reversionary \nto the Empress. \n\nArticle IV. \xe2\x80\x94 The Duchies of Parma, Piacenza, and \nGuastalla shall be given whoUy as property and \n\n\n\n260 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nsovereignty to her Majesty the Empress Marie-Louise ; \nthey shall pass to her son and to his descendants in \nthe direct line. The Prince, her son, shall take in \nfuture the title of Prince of Parma, Piacenza, and \nGuastalla. \n\nArticle V. \xe2\x80\x94 All the Powers undertake to use their \ngood offices with the States of Barbary to secure \nrespect for the flag of Elba, and with that purpose \ntheir relations with those States shall be assimilated \nto those of France. \n\nArticle VI. \xe2\x80\x94 There shall be reserved, in the terri- \ntories which by these presents he has renounced, to \nhis Majesty the Emperor Napoleon, for himself and \nhis family, domains or annuities upon the Great Book \nof the Public Debt, producing a revenue of two \nmillions five hundred thousand francs, free of all \ncharges and deductions. These domains or annuities \nshaU belong entirely to the Princes or Princesses of his \nfamily, who may dispose of them as they shall think \nproper. They shall be so shared among them that \neach shall have following revenues : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nMadame Mere, 300,000 francs; King Joseph and \nhis wife, 500,000 francs; King Louis, 200,000 francs; \nQueen Hortense and her children, 400,000 francs; \nKing Jerome and his wife, 500,000 francs ; the Princess \nElisa (Bacciochi), 300,000 francs ; the Princess Pauline \n(Borghese), 300,000 francs. \n\nThe Princes and Princesses of the house of the \nEmperor Napoleon shall retain, as well, the real and per- \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 251 \n\nsonal property of every kind whatsoever, which they \nshall possess by public and individual right, and the \nannuities which they shall also enjoy (as individuals). \n\nArticle VII. \xe2\x80\x94 The pension of the Empress Jose- \nphine shall be reduced to a million in domains, or in \ninscription upon the Great Book ; she shall continue \nin the sole possession of her property, both real and \npersonal, with power to dispose of it in accordance \nwith the laws of France. \n\nArticle VIII. \xe2\x80\x94 A suitable establishment shall be \nformed out of France for Prince Eugene, Viceroy \nof Italy. \n\nArticle IX. \xe2\x80\x94 The property which the Emperor \nNapoleon possesses in France, whether in extraordinary \ndomains, or in special domains attached to the Crown \nof France ; in funds placed by the Emperor, either on \nthe Great Book of the Public Debt, qt in the Bank \nof France, in Forest share, or in any manner what- \nsoever, and which his Majesty resigns to the Grown, \nshall be reserved as capital, which shaU not exceed \ntwo millions, to be employed in donations to persons \nwhose names shaU be inscribed upon a list signed \nby the Emperor Napoleon, and which shall be trans- \nmitted to the Government. \n\nArticle X. \xe2\x80\x94 All the Grown Jewels shall remain \nin France. \n\nArticle XI.\xe2\x80\x94 His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon \nshall replace in the Public Treasury, and the other \ndepositaries, all the sums which shall have been taken \n\n\n\n252 NAPOLEON AND MAliiE-LOUISE. \n\nfrom them by his command, with the exception of \nthat which has been appropriated to the Civil List. \n\nArticle XII. \xe2\x80\x94 The debts of the household of his \nMajesty the Emperor Napoleon, such as they existed \non the day of the signature of the present treaty, shall \nbe paid out of the arrears due by the Public Treasury \nto the Civil List, according to the estimate which shall \nbe signed by a commission nominated for the purpose. \n\nArticle XIIl. \xe2\x80\x94 The obligation of the Mont-Napoleon \nof Milan (Mont-de-Pi^t^) towards creditors, French \nor foreign, shaU be discharged, unless it should be \notherwise ordained hereafter. \n\nArticle XIV. \xe2\x80\x94 All the necessary passports shall be \ndelivered to allow free passage to his Majesty the \nEmperor Napoleon, the Empress, the Princes, the \nPrincesses, and all the persons of their suite who shall \ndesire to accojiipany them, or to establish themselves \nout of France, as well as for their equipages, horses, \nand effects. Consequently, the Allied Powers shall \nfurnish officers and troops to escort them. \n\nArticle XY. \xe2\x80\x94 The Imperial French Guard shall \nfurnish a detachment of from twelve to fifteen \nhundred men of all arms, to serve as an escort to his \nMajesty the Emperor Napoleon, so far as Saint-Tropez, \nthe place of his embarkation. \n\nArticle XVI. \xe2\x80\x94 A corvette and the necessary vessels \nshall be furnished for the transport of his Majesty the \nEmperor Napoleon and his household ; and the corvette \nshall belong wholly to his Majesty the Emperor. \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 253 \n\nArticle XYII. \xe2\x80\x94 The Emperor Napoleon shall take \nwith him, and retain as his Guard, four hundred men \n\xe2\x80\x94 officers, subalterns, and volunteer soldiers. \n\nArticle XVIII. \xe2\x80\x94 No Frenchman who shall have \naccompanied the Emperor Napoleon, or his family, \nshall be held to have lost his rights as a Frenchman \nby not returning in the course of three years ; at least \nhe will not be comprised in the exceptions the making \nof which the French Government reserves to itself \nafter that term. \n\nArticle XIX. \xe2\x80\x94 The Polish troops of all arms shall \nbe at liberty to return to Poland, and shall keep their \narms and baggage as a testimony to their honourable \nservices. The officers and soldiers shall retain the \ndecorations which they have obtained, and the pen- \nsions that are attached to them. \n\nArticle XX. \xe2\x80\x94 The High Allied Powers guarantee \nthe existence of the present treaty, and pledge them- \nselves to obtain that it be accepted and guaranteed by \nFrance. \n\nArticle XXI. \xe2\x80\x94 The present Act shall be ratified, \nand the ratifications exchanged at Paris in two days. \n\nDone at Paris, the 12th of April, 1814. \n\n(Signed) Metternich, Stadion, Rasou- \n\nMONSKY, NeSSELRODE, CaSTLE- \nREAGH AND HaRDENBERG, NeY \nAND, CaULAINCOURT. \n\n\n\n254 NAPOLEON AND MABIE-LOUISS. \n\nNo. 7. \n\nThe Proclamation of Marshal Auger eau to \nhis Troops. \n\nSoldiers, \n\nThe Senate, the interpreter of the National \nw\'m, weary of the tyrannical yoke of Napoleon Buona- \nparte, pronounced his fall (dechdance), and that of his \nfamily, on the 2nd of April. \n\nA new monarchical constitution, strong and liberal, \nand a descendant of our former kings, replace Buona- \nparte and his despotism. \n\nYour grades, your honours, and your distinctions, \nare secured to you. \n\nThe Corps L^gislatif, the great dignitaries, the \nMarshals, the Generals, and all the Corps of the Great \nArmy have given their adherence to the decrees of \nthe Senate, and Buonaparte has abdicated the thrones \nof France and Italy, on behalf of himself and his heirs, \nby an Act, dated the 11th of April, at Fontainebleau. \n\nSoldiers, you are released from your oaths ; you \nare released by the nation in which sovereignty \nresides ; you are again released, were it necessary, hy \nthe abdication of a man who, after having immolated \nmillions of vidimus to his cruel ambition, has not been \ncapable of dying like a soldier ! \n\nThe nation calls Louis XVIII. to the throne. He is \na Frenchman bom; he will be proud of your glory and \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 255 \n\nwill surround himself with your chiefs : a descendant \nof Henry the Fourth, he will have the heart of his \nancestor, he will love the soldier and the people. \n\nLet us, then, swear fidelity to Louis XVIII. and to \nthe Constitution which presents him to us; let us \nhoist the true colour of France, before which every \nemblem of a revolution which is ended disa[)pears ; \nand you will soon find a just recompense for your \nnoble deeds, in the gratitude and the admiration of \nyour King and country. \n\nMarshal Augereau. \n\nUead-^uarters, Valence, 16 April, 1814. \n\n\n\nNo. 8. \n\n\n\nThe following proclamation was issued, as 1 have \nsaid, by order of General Dalesme ; I have been assured \nthat it was chiefly drawn up by himself: \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nInhabitants of the Island of Elba, \n\nHuman vicissitudes have brought the Em- \nperor Napoleon into your midst ; and his own choice \ngives him to you as your sovereign. Before entering \nwithin your walls, your august and new monarch has \naddressed the following wdrds to me, and I hasten to \nimpart them to you, because they are the pledge of \nyour future welfare : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\n" General ! I have sacrificed my rights to the inte- \nrests of the country, and I have reserved to myself \n\n\n\n256 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nthe sovereignty of the Island of Elba, which has been \nconsented to by all the Powers. Be so good as to \nmake this new state of things known to the inhabi- \ntants, and the choice which I have made of their island \nfor my abode, in consideration of the mildness of their \nmanners and their climate. Tell them that they shall \nbe the constant objects of my warmest interest." \n\nElbese ! these words need no comment ; they fix \nyour destiny. The Emperor has judged you rightly. \nI owe you this justice, and I render it to you. \n\nInhabitants of the Island of Elba, I shall soon be \ngoing away from you ; and that parting will be pain- \nful to me, for I love you sincerely ; but the idea of \nyour welfare alleviates my regret, and, wherever I may \nbe, I shall always be united to this island by the \nmemory of the virtues of its inhabitants, and by my \ngood wishes for them. \n\nDalesme, General of Brigade. \n\nPorto-Ferrajo, 4th May, 1814. \n\n\n\nNo. 9. \n\n\n\nThe new flag of the island, adopted by Napoleon, \nwas immediately hoisted; and the fact was recorded \nin the following statement : \xe2\x80\x94 \n\nOn this present 4th of May, 1814, his Majesty the \nEmperor Napoleon, having taken possession of the \nIsland of Elba, General Drouot, Governor of the Island, \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 257 \n\nin the name of Napoleon caused the flag of the island \n\xe2\x80\x94 a white ground, crossed diagonally by a red band \nwith three golden bees \xe2\x80\x94 to be hoisted on the forts. \nThis flag was saluted by the batteries of the forts on \nthe coast, the English frigate, Undaunted, and the \nFrench vessels of war in the port. In witness whereof, \nwe, Commissaries of the Allied Powers, have signed \nthe above, together with General Drouot, Governor of \nthe Island, and General Dalesme, Superior Comman- \ndant of the Island. \n\nDone at Porto-Ferrajo, the 4th May, 1814. \n\n[Here follow the signatures of the Commissaries.] \n\n\n\nNo. 10. \n\n\n\nTwo days after the date of the above document, \nthe charge of the Vicar-General of the Island of Elba, \nJoseph-Philippe Arrighi, a distant relative of Napo- \nleon, appeared. \n\nJoseph-Philippe Arrighi, Honorary Canon of the \nCathedral of Pisa and the Metropolitan Church of \nFlorence, etc. (under the Bishop of Ajaccio, Vicar- \nGeneral of the Island of Elba and Principality of \nPiombino). \n\nTo our well-beloved in the Lord, our brethren \ncomposing the clergy, and to all the faithful of the \nIsland, health and benediction ! \n\nDivine Providence, which, in its benevolence, irre- \n\n\n\n258 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nsistibly disposes all things, and assigns their destinies \nto the nations, has decreed that, amid the political \nchanges of Europe, we should be the subjects of \nNapoleon the Great. \n\nThe Island of Elba, already celebrated for its pro- \nducts, is about to become illustrious henceforth in \nthe history of nations through the homage which it \nrenders to its new Prince, whose glory is immortal. \nThe Island of Elba takes rank among nations, and its \nnarrow territory is ennobled by the name of its \nSovereign. \n\nElevated to so sublime an honour, it receives into \nits bosom the Lord\'s anointed, and the other distin- \nguished personages who accompany him. \n\nWhen his Imperial and Royal Majesty made choice \nof that island for his retreat, he made known to the \nuniverse in what favour he held it ! \n\nWhat wealth is about to inundate our country ! \nWhat multitudes will flock from all sides to look \nupon a hero ! \n\nThe first day he set foot upon the shore, he pro- \nclaimed our destiny and our happiness. \n\n" I will be a good father," said he ; " be you my \ncherished children." \n\nDear Catholics, what tender words! What ex- \npressions of kindness ! What a pledge of our future \nfelicity! Let those words charm our thoughts, and \nmay they, being fixed in your minds, afford you an \ninexhaustible source of consolation ! \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX, 269 \n\nLet them be repeated by fathers to their children ; \nlet the remembrance of those words, by which the \nglory and the prosperity of the Island of Elba are \nsecured, be perpetuated from generation to generation. \n\nFortunate inhabitants of Porto- Ferrajo, it is with- \nin these walls that the sacred person of his Imperial \nand Royal Majesty will dwell ; among you, renowned \nin all times for the mildness of your character, and \nyour affection for your Princes, Napoleon the Great \nwill reside ; never forget the favourable idea which he \nhas formed of his faithful subjects. \n\nAnd you, the faithful in Jesus Christ, conform \nyourselves to your destiny : " non sint schismata inter \nvos, pacem habeta, et Deus paces et dilectionis erit \nvobiscum." \n\nLet fidelity, gratitude, and submission reign in \nyour hearts ! Be you all united in respectful senti- \nments of love for your Prince, who is rather your \nfather than your Sovereign. Celebrate with pious joy \nthe goodness of the Lord, who, from all eternity, has \nreserved you to this happy event. \n\nWe command, in consequence, that next Sunday, \nin all the Churches, a solemn Te DeuTn shall be sung, \nin thanksgiving to the Almighty, for the favour which \nhe has granted us in the abundance of His mercy. \n\nGiven at the Episcopal Palace of the Island of \nElba, 6th of May, 1814. \n\nArrighi, Vicar-GeneraL \nFrancesck> Aa^GaoLETTi, Secretary. \n\n\n\n260 KAPOLEON AND MAKIE-LOUISE. \n\nNo. 11. \n\nThe two following letters furnish incontrovertible \nproof of Lucien\'s wish to go to the United States \nwith his family, and of the negotiations which were \nset on foot between him and the English Cabinet \nwith that object. \n\nNeuilly, June 26, 1815. \nYou will have learned, my dear Pauline, the fresh \nmisfortune that has befallen the Emperor, who has \nabdicated in favour of his son. He is about to depart \nfor the United States, where we shall all join him. \nHe is full of courage and calm. I shall endeavour to \nrejoin my family in Rome, in order to take them to \nAmerica. If your health permit, we shall meet again \nthere. Adieu, my dear sister. Mamma, Joseph, \nJerome, and I embrace you. \n\nYour affectionate brother, \n\nLuciEN. \nP.S. \xe2\x80\x94 I have retired to your pretty place at \nNeuilly. \n\n\n\nNo. 12. \nA Letter fnym Gardvaal Fesch to Princess Borghese. \n\nParis, June 29, 1815. \n\nLucien set out for London yesterday, in order to \nprocure passports for the rest of his family. \n\n\n\nAPPENDI7. 261 \n\nJoseph will wait for his passports, J6r6me also. \nLucien has left his second daughter, who has just \narrived from England ; she will return thither in a \nfew days. I foresee that the United States will be \nthe goal of these journeys. I think you ought to \nremain in Italy ; but bear in mind that firmness ol \ncharacter is one of the most estimable gifts with \nwhich the Creator has endowed your family. Sum- \nmon your courage, then, to imitate them in this, and \nplace yourself above misfortune; nothing ought to \nhinder you from practising the closest economy. At \npresent, we are all poor, even with what remains to us \nfrom last year. \n\nYour mother and your brothers embrace you, and \nI do so likewise^ with all my heart, with all the \nattachment which you know I feel. \n\nYour affectionate Uncle, \n\nCardinal Fesch. \n\n\n\nA letter from the Bishop of Hortosia to M. de \nTalleyrand, Archbishop of Rheims, dated from Rome, \nthe 15th of March, 1815, and which I give as a side \nlight upon history, will elucidate the opinion which \nwas professed by certain individuals among the \nhigh notabilities whom Napoleon bad created during \nhis reign, at the epoch of his return to France. \nThis letter, which is not known, as it has never been \nprinted, is a document of great value in the history oi \nthe Hundred Days. \n\n18 8 3 \n\n\n\n262 napoleon and marie-louisk. \n\nMy Lord, \n\nThe flight of Buonaparte is now known ai \nParis, and we learn that he was at Digne, in Provence, \non the 24th of this month. \n\nThis flight has given us a more thorough know- \nledge of the men with whom we live. At first we \nperceived that there were many Jacobins at Rome, \nwho were rejoiced at that flight, and spread the most \nabsurd rumours ; then came the English, ironically \npretending to pity us, but afterwards talking of the \ngreat resources of Buonaparte and the number of \nmalcontents in France ; lastly, regarding him as already \nthe master of the country. \n\nOthers said, " Why were not vessels of observation \nalways there ? " \n\nAnd when the reply was made, " But you had \nsome there of your own, and you even had a Com- \nmissary in the island ? " " Yes," they would say ; \n" but it was not our business to stop him." \n\n" What, then, were you there for ? " said I, sharply, \nto the son of the famous Lord North, who passes for \nhaving a great deal of cleverness. "I can conceive \nthat if you had seen Buonaparte, by himself, taking a \nsea-trip, you might have ignored it; but when you \nsee a flotilla of seven vessels with fifteen hundred \narmed men and cavalry, the first duty of the ships \nwhich meet it is certainly to demand, Who are you, \nand whither are you going ? Acknowledge, sir, that \nyou are to blame. Happily the philanthropic days of \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 26S \n\nyour sovereign Allies are past ; it is for us to do justic\xc2\xab3 \nupon him now. Confess that you are jealous of the \nrevival of the prosperity of France ? " \n\nHe answered not a word, and I changed the subject. \n\nOn the other hand, the Court of Rome regarded \nthe Government of France as already changed. In \nhis proclamations, Buonaparte again appeals to the \nliberty of the people. \n\nHis mother, who is still at Porto Ferrajo with \nMadame Bertrand, said to some English people who \nwent to see her, that her son no longer fought to \nconquer ; and, addressing the English, she added, " He \nwill offer England an honourable peace." \n\nThese English are detestable ! Almost all those \nwho have come to Italy have been to see Buonaparte \nat Elba, and they even go there, now that he has left \nthe island, to see his mother. Here, forty-six cases, \nsent by his mother, have been allowed to enter with- \nout inspection. \n\nCardinal Fesch said, yesterday, at the house of the \nMarchesa Massini, sister of the Duchesse d\'Esclignac, \nthat Buonaparte already had an army of fifty thou- \nsand men ; that Massdna was for him, and that thirty \ndepartments had sent deputations to the Island of \nElba, to invite him to France ; he spoke in great \ndelight. On aU occasions this man shows that he is \nagainst the Bourbons ; he is not worthy to be Arch- \nbishop of Lyons, and I am sure your Excellency will \nfind a means of getting rid of him. He is an enemy \n\n\n\n264 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\nof the King; you should hear what his servants say \nof him ! In January, he refused the Ambassador s \ninvitation to attend the Mass at the church of St. \nJohn Lateran, on Santa Lucia\'s day, in memory of \nHenri IV. Although the Ambassador has behaved \ntoo well to him, although he has asked him to dinner \ntwice, he has not deigned to visit him once. As for \nme, I have not visited him, and even at the Am- \nbassadors I have taken no notice of him. \n\nLucien, who, up to this moment, had appeared \nindifierent about his brother, is now urging his cause. \nThe day before yesterday, at the house of the Princess \nof Wales, who had just come from Naples, he talked \nin the most unseemly way ; he laid out Buonaparte\'s \nroute, and told how he would be at Grenoble on the \n6th, at Lyons on the 8th, and at Paris on the 15th, \nadding that he must now have an army of eighty \nthousand men. \n\nThis Princess of Wales is like a mad woman ; she \nis going away to-day without having seen Rome, and \nshe embarks at Ancona. Yesterday and the day \nbefore, she had Cardinal Fesch and Lucien, one on her \nright, the other on her left, all the evening; and she \nreceived only the English and some foreign Ministers, \nnot one French person was there. Besides, the Pope \nhas made it up with Murat ; that is to say, he has \nyielded and made a step backward. A month ago he \nhad the Post at Naples closed, and the letters taken \nby force to the Papal Post. Since then, all communi- \n\n\n\nAPPENDIX. 265 \n\nr \n\ncation was interrupted; but, the day before yesterday, \nwe learned with astonishment that the Naples Post \nhad been reopened. Your Excellency will see that \nFrance only obtains nothing. This is no doubt be- \ncause we do not speak here with the firmness and \ndignity which becomes a great Power. \n\nLucien Buonaparte, Cardinal Fesch, Louis and \nMadame Buonaparte, are the zealous patrons of this \nIsoard, whom that cowardly Court would like to keep \nas judge-advocate of that of France. He is in con- \nstant correspondence with it, and is soliciting to be \nsent to Rome. His valet-de-chambre, who is expecting \nhim, tells every one this. The Envoys Plenipotentiary \nof Austria and Spain obtain all that they demand, \nbecause they deal continually m threats. \n\nWhat made the Pope yield to Murat? It was his \nhaving ordered his Consul to ask for his passports, and \nsaid, in a letter which he wrote to his Holiness, that \nhe demanded passage for some troops. This, however, \nwas refused, another route being indicated. It would \nnot be inexpedient that his Majesty should be in- \nformed of all these matters. \n\nThis letter should have reached you, my Lord, \nearlier; but at the Legation they had not the good- \nness to give me notice that M. de Beaufrecourt was \npassing through, and would be for a week in Rome; \nfor he dined at the Ambassador\'s where I was not. \n\nA thousand affectionate respects to your Excellency. \n\nBishop of Hoetosia. \n\n\n\n^66 NAPOLEON AND MARIE-LOUISE. \n\np,S, \xe2\x80\x94 The Pope has not replied to the letter of the \nBishops, sent by Consalvi, because of your having \nsigned it as the titulary of your See ; otherwise it is \nfavourably regarded. \n\n\n\nLIBRARY OF CONGRESS \n\n\n\n9 624 897 3 \n\n\n\n'