. ... ;..; . '.' " ' ' L '/- > *<" iV "( i"* i '. ::': .. . . BONAPARTE, AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE cHnittt: fiisS Consulate, GuvsTo v vet*. S w ) cl\? r e** ublic\ who were informed, by thefe means, of the procedures of this committee. Its aim to f'pin out this matter to a great length, and to per- plex it, became evident : 24,000 different claims were already lodged with their com- mittee; but it was flill thought proper to in- creafe this number, by bringing in the claims of the poor peafants from the Rhine, who had been driven away by the horrors 01 war; 8000 of whom had already petitioned for their pro- perty, which was left tq the decili on of this com- 44 BONAPARTE mittee, of which the prefects of the depart- ments of the Rhine were certainly much better judges, being acquainted with all the local circumftances. The report made by the refigning member, Lafalle, on this head, contains the following remarkable paffages : " The longer this com- mittee lafls, and the more its members may increafe in number, the lefs power will it have to refill machination and intrigue. Bona- parte may be able to conquer, and reftore peace, but from the prefent decline of all public morality from the fhameful illibe- rally that pervades all ranks, and from our na- tional prejudices, Bonaparte will find it a hard talk to felel thirty men capable of executing this important charge in a dignified manner." He folcmnly afks the difcontinuance of the committee, and the putting a flop to all emi- grant claims. " The tardinefs," he added, " obferved in all thefe procedures, and their very nature mull prove baneful to fociety. Ci- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. ^ lizens, hitherto honeft men, grow accuftomed to atteft fads upon oath, the falfehood of which is well known to them. Public officers get the habit of allowing fuch fcandalous tranfa&ions. According to a late decree of the confuls, no pofieffions or eftates, already become national property, can be rellored to emigrants erafed from the lifts : but that emi- grant who is moft guilty in the eye of the law, for having carried arms againft his own country, rnufl be looked upon as the mofl, dangerous by all politicians, for he will not brook the feizure of his property. lie finks into the clafs of thole who have nothing to lofe, and grows the more dangerous as he is fpurred on by revenge : his relations, his creditors, and all thofe who claim ajointpof- feflion of his eftates, or a fucceffion to them, will naturally form one party with him. It will be feen hereafter that this honefl man was right in his predictions. By the lafl decree of the adminiftration refpecting 46 BON f APARTE thefe claims, it was finally determined that all perfons, who had been leaders of French troops, fighting againft their own country ; who had accepted of any military degree in the armies of the enemy ; who had continued in the private fervices of French princes dur- ing the revolution ; who had been the authors and promoters of civil and foreign war ; who, being reprefentatives of the people, had been found guilty of high trcafon : and, lallly, all archbifhops and bifhops, who would not fub- mit to the terms offered, mould be excluded from the benefits of the general amnefly, and be prohibited the territory of the republic, under pain of death or deportation. The republican inhabitants were furprifed in another way, namely, by fpecial orders, which feemed to announce greater attempts : the refloring the religious obfervance of the Sunday ; though, by a particular law, the officers of government were ftill obliged to keep the decades only ; the permifiion to AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 47 celebrate marriages on any day of the week, and no longer on the day of the decade ex- clusively : the feveral regulations concerning the duties and functions of the prelects of police, with refpe6i to their fuperintendance of gambling houfes, brothels, and other places of infamy, which according to law mould not be fuffered at all : the new regulations about public fchcols, and the printing and publifhing of books, by which the liberty of the prefs was annihilated: all thefe en- croachments on former eflablilhmcnts and principles, raifed fufpicion and mi fl.ru ft among the true republicans ; nor were they much pleafcd when they faw, that the re- mains of the Marfhal Turenne were to be de- pofited with great folemnity in the temple of Mars, at Paris, on the very day when Bona- parte was to lay the firft ftone of a monument to the memory of the late. generals, Deflaix and Kleber. who died on the fame day, and at the fame hour. It was certainly fomc confblation 48 BONAPARTE to thefe republicans to find, that the play of Tartuffe, from Moliere, had been chofen for a free night by the managers of the theatre, in fpite of the priefls ; for they were in hopes that the Firft Conful, who was prefent, would take the hint in future, and become more cir- cumfpeft towards the Roman Catholic clergy. They relied on it with confidence as it was his favorite play : the Cid of Corneille was repre- fented at the fame time. The crowd at the theatre was prodigious ; every corner and en- trance of the houfe were filled, and many were in danger of being flifled by the multi- tude continually preffing on. This caufed many humane and patriotic citizens to erect a temporary building, like the amphitheatres of old, where a lading impreflion might be made on the public mind, by grand national repre- fentations, breathing the fpirit of patriotifm and liberty. The views of Bonaparte, however,were very different; and the reader will foon learn in what manner thefe republican feafts were re- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 4* duced by him to that kind of amufement, which the old court of France formerly ufed to pre- pare for the populace. For the prefent, they all rejoiced in harmlefs fecurity ; and the more fo, as the figning of the preliminaries of peace with Auftria was publicly announ- ced, by order of government, on that very evening, and the articles read to the public by the light of torches. Government itfelf feemed without fear after witnefling the ge- neral fatisfaclion of the people. Soon after, when the difcovery of a plot againfl the life of the Fir It Conful was laid to have been made, only Coriicans, or Italians, were im- plicated. The brother of a man of the name of Arena, who had been fufpected before of intending to murder the Firfl Conful, on the 18th Brumaire (fourth of November.) was taken up with Cerachi, Topino, Dcrmerville, Diana, and others, and all lent to the Temple. Many people doubted indeed the reality of fucha plot, and vrere of opinion that the in- 50 BONAPARTE tended murder of Bonaparte on the 18th of Vendemiaire (tenth of October,) at the Opera- houfe, was nothing but an invention, in order to get rid of fome troublefome and fufpecled foreigners ; but the affair of the infernal ma- chine proved the exiftence of a plot againft the life of Bonaparte. He, with the gene- ral and adjutants in his coach, efcaped death by a kind of miracle. He owed the prefer- vation of his life to the drunken cojrage of his coachman, who drove in full gallop through the narrow ftreet, when it was block- ed up by the cart containing the infernal machine, and when there feemed to be no poffibility of palling : the coach had fcarcely palled by, when the machine blew up. By the explofion, the houfes near the fpot were much damaged; and by the contents of it, chief- ly confiding of lead and iron, many innocent perfons were killed or wounded in the ftreet. The Corficans and Italians imprifoned in the Temple, and their partifans, were again fuf- AND THE TRENCH PEOPLE. 5! pe&ed as the authors of this plot. They were now tried on their firft accufation ; and a court which was declared illegal and inad- miflible by the prifoners and their counfejs, pafFed fentence of death on Arena, Tapino, Lebrund, and Dermerville. The adminiftration took advantage of this opportunity to introduce a law, by which it was fully authorifed to order and eflablifh fpecial tribunals in the departments, when- ever they chofe. Thefe tribunals were to be compofed of judges and military perfons ; but the Firft Confui had the choice and appointment of them. They were to decide on all mifde- meanors and crimes (crimes ct delils) for which any di (honorable bodily chaftifement might be inflicted : they were to try all perfons accufed of theft, burglary, and violence, ii committed with the affiitance of one or more perfons : they were to take cognizance of murder, coining, threats uttered ajjainfl: the 52 BONAPARTE purchal'eis of national property, of excefles and aflfaults committed on them, and of in- cendiaries; and they were to proceed againfl all perfons accuied of fecretly engaging troops, or of bribing and endeavouring to cor- rupt the foldiers and conferipts, or excite them to revolt: they were to inquire into all tu- mults, and to proceed againfl: all perfons taken up in the a6l of rioting ; laftly, they were au- thorifed to try all thofc perfons who were al- ready in prifon on fuch charges. This new law, by which government was empowered to deprive the accufed citizens of that protection which the glorious inftitution of juries affords to the innocent by which it was permitted to fubject them to an abominable court, wholly dependent on the arbitrary will of government, yet fully authorifed to Lake cognizance of al- mofl every crime ; met with lome refift- ance from the tribunate, whofe duty it was to guard againfl all arbitrary proceedings, by which the fafetyof the people might be en- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 53 dangered. Thirteen orators fpoke againft it, forty-one oppofed it by their vote, and it was carried only by a majority of eight. A counfellor of ftate, in the pay of govern- ment and its zealous defender, wrote a pam- phlet againft the oppofing members of the tribunate, who had dared to check govern- ment in its defpotic attempts : he inveighed againft them, in the molt outrageous and in- decent manner he expofed them as known difturbers of public peace and tranquillity, and publifhcd their names ; but thofe very names bore witnefs againft him. Bonaparte exprelled himfelf with acrimony on this firft oppofition to his rafh attempts, and became fufpedted of having a fhare in thefc perfonal indecent attacks. His very exiftencc had been flraken by the terrible explofionof the infernal machine : he became quite another man, in his public life, fince that dreadful day : he feemed now to give way to his true natural difnofition : his miftruft of the 54 BONAPARTE French nation, whofe character is quite the reverfe of his own, which he formerly ufed to conceal with great care; his early imbibed averfion to Frenchmen, which had been ftrengthened during the revolution, was in ma- ny inflances too glaring. In all his public acts, he betrayed nothing but a deep knowledge, and a careful calculation of the folly and de- pravity of this equally unthinking and cruel people. His moderation in the fittings of council, on which the newfpaper writers, in the pay of government, and the fenators of his party, never ceafed to pafs their fervile eulo- gium, now deferted him intirely. Hitherto he had ftudied his men : he began now to an- nounce his will like a mafler, and to enforce obedience. His whole conduct, to thofe about hirn was wholly changed; he ufed formerly to behave, if not in a popular, at leaft in a friend- ly manner, towards military men and artifls ; and all thofe who had, at any time, fignalized themfelves by their learning. Many of the lat- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 55 ler had free accefs to him, and were often in- vited to dinner. Towards foreigners he had been generally civil and hofpitable : there was no great formality required for them to be in- troduced, and they were often invited into his company. The good people took thefe things as proofs of a liberal and enlightened mind, and of a noble inclination to promote know- ledge and morality. The depraved character of thofe who fur- rounded him, though generally known, was not fufficient to deftroy the good opinion enter- tained of him ; on the contrary, when the people faw that he promoted the ablefl and mod honeft men of all ranks and parties, to places of importance and truft, they began to look on him as a great ftatefman, whofe fupc- rior genius led him to avail himfelf of every talent, and fo counterbalance the mod immoral and diffolute with the virtuous, that they were compelled to promote the general good. All men honor] for the reconciliation and union 65 BONAPARTE of parties, in order to fecure a free and happy conftitution for France; but Bonaparte was perhaps endeavouring all along to unhinge them, and to refcind all poflibility of effec- tual refiftance, by thus intermixing the mod incongruous characters in one body. The author of an hiftorical defcription of Paris, made on that occafion fome juft re- marks. After having noticed fome fcanda- lous anecdotes, to the difgrace of many mem- bers of adrniniilration, which the newfpapers and journals paifed over in filence, he adds the following remarkable words concerning Bonaparte : " lie that would blame the Firfl Conful for giving his confidence to fuch men, mud certainly be unacquainted with that pitch of immorality to which the nation is driven ; he mull be ignorant of the impoffibility of finding only a fmall number of men, who unite an unblemifhed moral character with great and fuperior talents. This union is rarely to be found: and it one of the two can AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 57 ever be fpared, it is certainly not the polFeflion of fuperior talents in thofe who are to rule a great empire." Bonaparte made it his particular fludy from the beginning, to gain the good opinion of all men of genius, certain, that by fecuring their voice, he would have the fuffrage of all. Being himfclf one of the mod extraordinary men, the darling of good fortune, at the head of a people, ever prone to excels in adulation, and proud of their rulers, it was no wonder that fulfome praifes and exultations refounded from all quarters. Foreigners, taking the newfpapers and journals as the general in- terpreters of public opinion, were often led to think the enthufiafm for Bonaparte was uni- versal ; but a fliort refidence at Paris, and the vifiting public places of refort, or mixed ibcieties, would foon convince them of their error. Bonaparte is by no means popular. He is cold and referved he knows not how to infpire affection ; a formal, carefully regu- f 58 BONAPARTE lated deference and refpecl: are (hewn him : and he ftands the more firm on that very ac- count. He is not one of thofc idols raifed by the voice of the people, commonly trampled upon with as little and as unexpected ceremo- ny, as when fii ft raifed to unlimited power : he owes his rife to himfelf alone, and appears, for that very reafon, to the multitude, as a fupe- rior being. The exceflive authority of which he is poflTefTed, banifhes all familiarity even from thofe who are next to him in power. He has few enemies, an immenfe number of partizans, and hardly a (ingle friend. There is no caufe at prcfent by which the enthufiafm of the people can poffibly be raifed. None of the parties can be faid to rule; none of them are iupprehed : they are mixed one with another in fuch a manner, that it is difficult to decide which of them enjoys the greateft influence ; he therefore does not confider himfelf de- pendent on their will. The principal leaders of the jacobin party have received a bribe AN T D THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 59 from government, and have delerted their flock : their generals have changed fides General Jourdan, in Piedmont, Fouche, the Miniflcrof Police at Paris, and Dubois, are living proofs of this affertion. The whole party is torn afunder, and will fcarcely ever be able to re-eftablifh itfelf. Many of the royal ids have degraded themfelves by accept- ing offices under the prefent government, though in their heart they defpife the Cor- fican. Without any pretentions to nobility, he lias dared to appropriate to himfclf the honors appertaining to noble defcent only, and now inves himfclf the airs of a monarch on a o throne, which could only be filled in a digni- fied manner by the defcendants of royal an- ceftors. They conceal their inward convic- tion ; and incurable of their vain hopes, they look upon every thing, and every proceeding, as a preparatory itep to realife a grand general plan, drawn up and fecretly purfued by Bona- parte himfelf, in order that he may one day 60 BONAPARTE be able to reftore Fiance to her lawful love- reign, and to reinftate every thing, and parti- cularly the nobility into their former dignities. The fmall party of the republicans have at laft been cured of their illufory hope of infpiring the nation with a true republican fpirit ; they relax more and more in their demands from their government, and judge with in- dulgence, without being much offended at the re-introduction of court etiquette, the cring- ing fubmirlion of the new made courtiers to their mailers, and their infolence to others. The group of thofe who look in general on all conflitutions with indifference, and only judge of events by their refults, comparative- ly find no great matter of complaint, and en- joy a tranquillity unknown to them for a long feries of years. The inflitution of prefects in the departments, was of great benefit at firft; the members of the executive power through- out the republic, fhewed an unanimous zeal to promote the general quiet. The prefects and AND THE TRENCH PEOPLE. 61 under-prefecis of feveral departments vied with each other in the ftrit performance of their duty. The taxes were regularly paid, and fome departments were even able to dii- charge their arrears. It would be folly to de- clare the finances of France to have been in a profperous ftate, but it mud be owned that a temporary flop was put to their fur- ther decline. They were at this period fo flou riming, that the expences of the republic could be defrayed without a loan : they even begun to difcharge the arrears in penfions and pay- ment of the troops. The army, efpecially that of Moreau, was well provided; the pro- fefTion of a loldier was again looked upon as honorable; defections in the interior of France were lefs frequent, and the railing of recruits and conferipts more cafily efTefted. Such was the ftate of France. Bonaparte now felt himfelf fecure ; he had no further need of that air of moderation and gencrofily. which, 62 BONAPARTE contrary to his natural character, he had hi- therto affected. One violent mcafure, finking* the minds of all, and filling them with terror, by which the (late was about to be freed of feveral monflers, the notorious inftruments of all the crimes perpetrated during the revo- lution, whole existence was incompatible with the public peace and fecurity of go- vernment, appeared at this time expedient to be adopted by Bonaparte. In fpite of the oppofition which his propo- fal for a general deportation of all doubtful perfons in France, met with in the Senate, five and twenty votes being again It the mca- fure, it was decreed at once to deport one hundred and thirty French citizens who were thought dangerous. The conservative Senate, where Sieves very zealoufly ftrovc to promote this defpotic resolution, declared it by a Spe- cial vote, to be a confervative meafure of the conflitution, (une mefure confervative de la conflitution.) AND THE TRENCH PEOPLE. 63 A tranquil obferver of the French revolu- tion, made at that period the following re- mark on this arbitrary proceeding : ' ; It is ever (faid he) a great misfortune when a government is compelled to depart from ef- tablifhed forms of adminiflering juflicc, in order to bring fome of the citizens to punim- ment. It may be urged, that they are but forms, which ouoht to be reforted to for the fake of public peace, yet the obfervance of them, Hands in fo clofe a connexion with the poilibility of adminiflering impartial jufiice, that government, whenever it may find it neceflary to depart from them, ought molt fcrupuloufly to limit the new arbitrary mode, and thus flicw refpect for eflablifhed laws." In this view, many very reasonable ob- jections might be made againfl the decree of deportation, particularly agamit the applica- tion of it to individuals, on the ground of notoriety alone. This decree does not fpecify 64 BONAPARTE the crimes of which every one of the pro- fcribed citizens has been guilty. There arc thoufands of Frenchmen,, who have committed many follies in the time of revolutionary mad- nefs ; but as lonntrairc3 a leurs conftitutions refpectives, ou d'y fomenter de.3 troubles; et par line fuite de cc concert, tout fujet de iV.no des deux puiffances, qui, en fejournant dans lcs ctats de 1'autre atten- u-rait a. fa furel , lira de fuite cloigne du Jit pays et tranfportc hors des frontiercs, Tins pouvoir en aucun cs fc rcclsmcr dc !a prctecHon de ion gouverncment." 103 BONAPARTE perfonal intereft and fafety. So did the Danes; and this noble deed has certainly- proved the worth of that nation to its neigh- bours, and to all Europe. Bonaparte had, indeed, great caufe to re- joice at his new connexion with Paul, which was fo foon and fo unexpectedly followed by the very advantageous peace with England ; for though Alexander kept the peace, once concluded, he certainly would not have made it, nor would he ever have done any thing to promote a treaty fo very disadvantageous to Great Britain. A treaty cf peace between Alexander and Bonaparte would not have in- cluded the former article. Whilft Bonaparte ftrives to annihilate all civil and political li- berty in France, Alexander prepares for his extenfive empire that reafonable freedom, by which the happy and contented exiflcnce of a monarch, and the comfort and welfare of the people are equally fecured, and which attaches the latter to their kind ruler, by the bleffed tie of gratitude. o AXD THE FRENCH PEOPLE. ioj Bat Bonaparte is an utter flranger to fenti- ments of humanity. Even the prefent confli- tution, which fprings from his own arbitrary will, began to difpleafe him; lor he thought himfelf flill too much con drained by it. Willi the afliftance of his (ruflv fervants, he now let about framing another, from which he might have full power to do what he plcafed. The law was to place him, for the future, above all contradiction or refiftance. Still, how- ever, previous to any other confideralion, he thought proper to give his new created Ciial- pinc Republic a constitution that fiiould fcrve as an introductory flcp for his new one, in regard to France. He ftrictly adhered to his former policy, of pro^refiivelv difoofin^ the i. J ' 1 O J. o light-headed French to every injurious inno- vation. He would give them an inftructivc example in the new Italian Republic, where no refiftance was probable, and where public liberty is a thing quite unknown. \ national deputation of ^50 inhabitants of 1 10 BONAPARTE the Cifalpine Republic, from the nobility, the clergy, the commons, the military corps, the learned, and the eminent citizens of all claffcs, had been ordered by Bonaparte to proceed to Lyons, in order to fettle with him the new constitution, and had already been there fe- veral weeks waiting for his arrival. The mi- nifter of foreign affairs had alfo left Paris fome weeks before, to proceed to Lyons ; but Bonaparte was retained by fears for his life and the fafety of his family. The molt hete- rogeneous reports, of extenfive and dangerous plots were whifpered into his cars ; the mofl extraordinary meafures were adopted for his fecurity ; a great number were taken up ; the prifons of Paris were filled with fufpeted per- fons ; the mofl renowned generals were fent away from the capital ; and either exiled to their country feats, or to diftant departments ; many of the mofl celebrated ftatefmen, Barras, Rewbel, T allien, and many citizens of lefs note, received the fame compliment : they AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 1 1 1 were alfo fent into the provinces, and placed under the fpecial infpe&ion of the police; many of the returned emigrants, of both fexes, met with the fame fate ; even old La Harpe had the honor of being reckoned among the number of thefe unjuflly perfe- cuted victims of foul fufpicion; and was accordingly banifhed. Foreign powers were requefted to take up all emigrants living in their dominions, and fubjecl them to a ftric~i examination. The family of the Firil Conful were cele- brating in the mean time the marriage of his third brother, Louis Bonaparte, with Made- moifelle Beauharnois, his wife's daughter by a former marriage. A houfe, lately inhabited by the P'irft Conful himfclf, had been mofi luperbly fitted up for the new married couple. A. fmall chapel had been likewife prepared in this houfe, where the Cardinal Caprara was to join this noble pair. General Murat, brother- in-law to the Firft Conful, alfo thought it proper to have the ceremony of his marriage 112 BONAPARTE performed again by this molt holy man ; and thus, perhaps, gave the fignal for endlefs commotions with the priefts. Bonaparte faid to the cardinal, when he privately united his dearly beloved daughter-in-law, That thefe fo- lemn acts in his family mould not always be performed fecretly, but that he hoped foon to be able to make them more fplendid. Bo- naparte was abfolutely inacceffible during that period. Meafures of fafety were deliberated on at night by the council of ftate, and none but the mod trufty members were invited to it. Even the two other Confuls were not al- ' ways prefent. The police received inftructions to execute them with the utmoft fecrecy, and the newspapers were flrictly forbidden to make the leaf! mention of them. Even the minifter of police, Fouche, fell under fufpicion, and was clofely watched. After having taken every precaution, to fecure his perfonal fafety during the journey to Lyons, Bonaparte at laft fet out in the night, accompanied by his wife, fomc generals in his confidence, and his AND THE FRENCH TEOPLE. .113 guards. The whole road, from Paris to Ly- ons, was filled with detachments of troops of the line and genfdarmes, who alternately took charge of the Firft Conful, and delivered him to each other like a prifoner. In Lyons itfelf fimilar meafures were ta- ken ; and they went io far as to order, by a public decree, that the people mould not press upon the Firft Conful, nor affemble in the flreets through which he had to pafs. The guard of honor, chofen from the fons of the moil refpeftable merchants and inhabitants of Lyons, was not admitted cloie to his perfon ; his own body-guard always furrounded him. Many Ligurian deputies, who had travelled to Lyons to be prefented to the Firft Conful, had a few conferences with Talleyrand, and were font back, without having fcen him. They had not been called, nor had they afk- ed leave to go thither. The Firft Conful treated only with a com- mittee of the Cifalpine deputies about their 1U BONAPARTE new conflitution, by which they were to have a prefident and a vice-prefident. He at lafl notified his will in a general afTembly, and told them plainly, that he did not find among the 450 deputies, whom the Moniteur had mentioned as the molt enlightened and de- fending, one fingle man worthy of being made their prefident : and that he, therefore, had taken upon him the charge of this new dig- nity. The Italian afTembly applauded this part of his fpeech, with great eagernefs, as often as he flopped to take breath. This new conltitution does not admit of a free representation of the people, nor does it feparate the legiflative from the executive power. All the numerous expenfive courts which it ordains, are nothing but mere tools in the hands of the prefident. It was, never- thelefs, highly extolled by a fet of fervile French writers and politicians. Rcederer palfcd great eulogies on the 87th article of this con- flitution, by which it was decreed, that a fpe- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 115 cial committee Should be appointed, who were privately to deliberate on the new laws with the council of (late. He recommended a fimilar one to France. Weary of feafts, flatteries, and cringing, he returned, a fortnight after, fole regent of anew republic, in downright contradiction to the provifions of the French conflitutional law : the fame military meafures were adopt- ed for the fafety of his return. The mayov of Lyons received a fcarf of honour as a re- ward of his affiduity and fubmiffion. The orders fent to all publishers of newf- papers, by which they were prohibited to notice any innovation and meafure of fafety, had given birth to a written bulletin, which was distributed at Paris, and frequently fent abroad. The minifter of police, Fouche, discovered at laft the author to be one Fouil- haux ; he had him taken up, and Sentenced him to deportation. The Conful was much vexed at finding, after his return, that this 116 BONAPARTE very fame bulletin was still continued by the Courier de Londres, publifhcd in London. Offended inthehigheft degree at thefe public expofures of his character, and fooliflily ima- gining that he could flifle the public voice abroad, with the fame facility as he had done in France, he ordered De Montlofier, a French emigrant, formerly the publifher of a royalifl journal, " Les A61.es des Apotres," and of late returned from London, to fet up a new Courier de Londres, containing a kind of official bulletin, which frequently made war againfl the Englifh newfpapcrs. The editor of the genuine Courier de Londres be- came more daring after that time, and Bona- parte often demanded his punifhment from the Englifh miniflry. A formal process was at laft inflituted at London againfl Peltier, which ended in his triumph. His journal, together with all Englifh newfpapers, were prohibited at Paris, and the police watches againfl their importation with incredible but fully effectual affiduity. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 117 The official, and demi-official papers, the " Moniteur, "and the " Dcfcnftur dc la Patrie" publi flicd by Bourienne, Bonaparte's private fecretary ; t: the Bulletin de Paris, " under the direction of the counfellor of ftate, Regnaud St. Jean d'Angely ; the '' Journal of Paris," under the direction of Roederer, were all fully employed in contradicting and refuting the reports which had been fpread during the con- cealment and abfence of Bonaparte. The Britifh parliament was not fpared in the leaft, though the negotiations of peace had already commenced at Amiens. The Moniteur thought the Britifh reprefentatives of the peo- ple a Jet of Tartars, and found in their fpecch- es nothing but childifli dilcuflions. Me often taxed them with ftupidity, abfurdity, ridicule, &c. All the underling papers eageily copi- ed thefe judicious remarks from the Moniteur. A certain paper, called La Clef du Cabinet, which had attempted to take the airs of an oppofition paper, began to notice ihele abfurd J 18 BONAPARTE proceedings ; but he was ordered to keep filence. A journal called Decade Philcfo- phique, which ufed to infert an article under the title " Les Affaires de I'lnterieur," was commanded to omit it in future. A mufical entertainment called, " La partie de chafle de Henry IV." that had been got up with great expence, received the Confular Inter- dict, on account of fome verfes in honour of their mod beloved Henry, and his defcend.- ants. M. Texier, taking advantage of this prohibition, announced it for his public read- ings ; but was commanded to leave out the offenfivc verfes. M. Panou went fo far, as to offer fomc general advice in his journal " Mentor a Corinthe," which greatly militat- ed againft Bonaparte's projects. He, the publifhcr, and the printer were all taken up : the printer had his pre lies feized, and formal- ly confifcatcd by the police. The publifhcr loft all the copies of this truly harmlcfs pro- duction, without receiving any equivalent. The author was deported to Cayenne. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 119 A young and merry poet, M. Dupaty, nar- rowly cfcaped a finiilar fate. In a fatyrical play written by him, he had made a little too free with the awkvvardnefs and arrogance of the new ruler, and his truily fervants. He was lent to Bred, in confequence of an exprefs or- der irom the Firft Conful. who was already incenfed agninft him, on account of his being the jovial companion of his brother Lucien, then in difgrace. He was to be tranfported to St. Domingo, on board the firft fhip, to fhew his bravery againft negroes and mulat- to es. I lappily for him the two brothers were reconciled before fuch a veflel failed ; and he was pardoned alter a few months' imprifon- ment. Thus every one was ft ruck with fear and terror, and all Paris refounded with praifes and bleflings on the Firft; Conful. The definitive treaty of peace with Eng land, fo eagerly dcfired, on account of the grand St. Domingo fleet, was at laft conclud- ed, But the news ol it was received at Pari c 120 BONAPARTE with incredible coolnefs. It made no favour- able impreflion on the public funds. The coarfe abufive language of the newfpapers to- wards the Englifh, was changed into malicious fheers. Their mutual animofities did not ceafe. Bonaparte finding himfelf fully con- firmed in his power, now brought his projects to light : the tribunate, which had remained inactive fincc the famous clcanfinof its flails, voted the prolongation of the confulate to ten years, as a mark of national gratitude towards the Firft Conful. Sieves was the only man who declared that the people alone could de- cide on this meafure : it was however adopt- ed, and the refolution laid before the Chief Conful for his approbation. Bonaparte very dexteroufly availed himfelf of this fingle dif- fentient vote of Sieves : he relufed his aifent, pretending that the people alone could vote him fuch a mark of confidence. The two other confuls now iflued a proclamation, by which the preparing oi lifts was ordered, in AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 121 which every Frenchman might give his vote either for or againfl a confulate for life. The prefects of the departments were commanded to open fpecial lifts, and collect the votes ; within the fhort fpace of three weeks, all lifts muft be clofed and lent in ; and every French- man, not voting at all, fliould be looked up- on as having aflented. The tribunate, the le- gislative bod)', and the department of the Seine, inftantly voted the confulate for life. The legiflative body ordered the prefentation of their decree by a grand deputation, and thus clofed their pitiful fittings. The propofal for the creation of a new mi- litary nobility, or legion of honour, met with fomc oppofition. The will of the matter was carried only by a majority of 56 votes againfl; 38. The re-introduction of ftavcrv found \cU refiftance with thefe fagc legislators of a free people. The votes were 211 againfl 65, and the noble aflembly was honoured with the thanks of government for its amiable, difpofi- tion. 122 BONAPARTE Books, for the lovers of flouri/hing, were opened in the mean time. Several military and judicial manoeuvres were ufed to entrap votes. This collecting of the voice of the people by infcriptions on lifts, is, indeed, a genuine invention : every body may fign them, when he pleafes, where he pleafes, as often as he pleafes, and under any name he pleafes. The lifts are clofed, and no one can find out when, where, and how. The only thing which muft aftonifh, is the incredible difpatch with which the true contents of an amazing number of different fpccial lifts are brought to public knowledge. The people were wrought upon in all the newfpapers, whilft thofe lifts continued open. The public officers at Paris ligned them of courfe, but the citizens were rather backward, and even doubtful. The minifter of the police, Fouche, and the commandant of the troops in Paris, iffued circular letters : the latter complains of difaffe&ed perfons, who wanted AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 123 to fow diftruft among the people, and endea- voured to prevent them from giving their af- fent : he calls upon the chiefs of battalions to affift him in the purfuit of thefe disaffected perfons, who wifh to difturb the public peace. The other folemnly allures the departments, that every thing is tranquil at Paris ; that its peace could not be difturbed, and that no plot exifted againft the life of the Firft Conful. A great many lifts, full of names, had already been fent in from the departments, before 1000 votes had been collected at Paris. The priefts ufed all their influence upon the common people in favor of their new protector ; and if any body had felt inclined to give his ne- gative, it would have been of no avail, as all thole, who did not vote at all, were looked upon as having affented. Bonaparte delayed, for fome time, the pub- lication of thefe votes. The minifter of the interior fent it at laft to the fenate, accompa- nied by a letter from the Second Conful, 124 BONAPARTE requefling them to take fuch fteps, as, in their wifdom, they might think beft. Ofthetranf- a&ions in the fenate, nothing was known : but the fovereign will of the Firft Conful was ex- ecuted in the following lingular manner. On the 3d of Auguft, when the foreign ambaffa- dors were all afTembled at the levee of Bona- parte in the Thuilleries, a number of people entered making a great noife in the palace court. It was the whole fenate. Every fe- nator was in a chariot by himfelf, each of them accompanied by two guards of honor, befides a numerous efcort of cavalry, attending the whole. The levee was interrupted ; the cir- cle of the ambaffadors opened ; and in came the fenate, with poor Barthelemy, their prefi- dent, at their head. This good man began an emphatic address, in which the unfpeakable fervices, rendered by Bonaparte to France, were highly praifed. Barthelemy told him that the French nation wiflied for no greater happinefs, than to live under his controul. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 125 during his life ; that they entrufted the firft magiftracy into his hands for ever ; that by this folemn a6l of gratitude, they committed to him this facred charge, in order to render their fittings more durable, to difpel their fears, and to deliver them from all future cala- mity. After having mightily extolled the greatnefs of the hero and the regent, in war and peace, he allured him that the fe/iat conferva- tear fubferibed to ail thefe noble fentiments ; and concluded a pretty long fpeech, with the reading of the Scnatus Confultum, by which Bonaparte was appointed Conful for life, in the name of the people ; proclaimed as fuch by the fenate ; and a monument was ordered to be creeled in commemoration of the peace, Bonaparte, who has by no means the gift of fpcech, whatever his flatterers may have faid on that fubjecf, drew a written paper from his pocket, and read the following anfwer to tins addrefs of the fenate, who, certainly took him by furprife : < ; To the life of a citizen, his *26 BONAPx\RTE country has a jufil claim. The French people demand, that I fliall devote myfelf to their fer- vice ; I obey their will. In giving me now this pledge of their confidence, they impofe upon me the j acred duty to eJlahli/Ji the fyjl em of their laws on principles of wifdom, liberty, equality ; and the welfare of France will befecured againfl all future viciffitudes" Many praifes on the French people, thanks to the fenate, and a compliment to their worthy prefident, con- cluded this memorable fpeech. The fenate took leave, and a volley of congratulations followed at laft. A council of flate was held on the very fame evening, in which the new power of " difpelling fears, and removing evil," was eagerly feized and executed. The fenatus confultum was fent on the following day to the confervative fenate for their infor- mation. It is a monitrous thing ; it entirely fubverts the conftitution, and renders the Firft Conful more abfolute than any of the princes throughout Europe. It could not AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 127 convey any power to Bonaparte, as it had not previoufly patted into a law. All new laws mud be fubmitted to the difcuffion of the tri- bunate ; but this fcnatus confultum was nei- ther laid before the tribunate, nor was it pro- pofed to the legiflative body for affent, as the conflitutional law enacts. It has, therefore, according to the exifting conflitution, no le- gality at all. The acting upon this fenatus confultum is the greateft ufurpation poffible ; it is an open violation of the conflitution, and the whole French nation ought to have re- volted at it ; but they had loft all power of refiflance. The contents of this fcnatus con- fultum are flill more provoking ; by it all true representation of the people is annihilated. The reprefentatives are in future to be chofen by general aflemblies, whofe members are previoufly elected by fpecial ones. In each of thefe a prefident fuperintends, who may avail himfelf of the aid of the military to curb the refractory members. Government may 128 BONAPARTE convoke thefe aflemblies, or fuffer the good people to remain at home, if there be any probability of oppofition. The members of the electing aflembly are alio. generally mem- bers of the legion of honor, or military cha- racters, and have a penfion for life from go- vernment, in order that they may be quite in- dependent, and have no inducement to pleafe the people. The prefidents of both aflem- blies are appointed by government at every election. If they conduct themfelves proper- ly, they may be re-elected. The right of elec- tion is, therefore, taken from the people. The Firlt Conful is alfo fecured by it againft all legal reiiftance or contradiction in future. The adminiflration of juftice, and the crimi- nal jurifdiction are at his difpofal. The 55th article of the fcnatus confultum is a m after- piece in this refpect; it is a final verdict ; it- runs thus : " 1. The fenate has the power to fufpend the functions of juries, in all the dif- ferent departments, for five years, whenever AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 129 it fhall think fuch a meafure neceffary. 2. The fcnatc mav declare whole departments out of the benefit of the constitution, whenever cir- cumflances fhall require it. 3. The fenate is to determine at what time all prifoners fliall be brought to trial, if it cannot take place within the prefcribed ten days after their aire ft. 4. The fenate may annul the judgments of the civil and criminal courts of juftice, if the fafety of the flate is found to be endangered by them ; the fenate fhall difiblve the legifla- tive body and the tribunate, and appoint the confuls." The tribunate and the legiflative body, hitherto propofed, in concurrence with the Firft Conful, the candidate to fill up the va- cancies in the ienatc. This is no more the cafe ; the Firft Conful has now taken this triple charge upon himfelf alone, to prevent any difappointment in future. The former law, which ordained, " that no one mould be choten fenator before his 40th 130 BONAPARTE year, and that no fenator mould accept of any- other public office, has been abolifhed, in order to unfetter the hands of the Firfl Con- ful, who is very well difpofed towards his younger brothers, and his favorites among the counfellors of ftate. The tribunate is reduced to half the num- ber of the former members, that it may be more eafy to overrule them ; but if they fhould happen to be troublefome, the fenate may dif- folve them as well as the legiflative body. The fenate refufed, for fome time, to turn out fome of its members, who had difpleafed the Firfl Conful by their oppofition : and whofe ejection the latter demanded. They had not, by their confultum, fo readily agreed to the propofal of a conful for life ; but only granted ten years. The other two confuls, who never before acled by themfelves, were then inftrucled to come forth with their pro- pofal of a confulate for life, which was not at all fanclioncd by the fenatus confultum. The AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 131 grateful and generous Firfl Conful could not let this fervice pafs unrequited ; he could do nothing lefs than confirm them confuls for life ; and he did fo, without alking any body. The fenate has, in future, no prefident of its own choice; but one of the confuls always prefides there ; nor dare they pais any fenatus confultum, unlefs a propofal have been made by government to that effect. All royal prerogatives, as for inftance, the power of concluding treaties, of declaring war, of granting pardon to criminals, of ap- pointing judges, &c. were alfo granted to the Firfl Conful. A cotemporary writer has powerfull)' urged thefe innovations, and concludes his notes in the following terms : " Thus every thing has returned, after an unfortunate roundabout way, to the very point from which it fet out ; yet with this difference, that in former times an oppofition of the independent ftates and bodies, might be (hewn to the royal pleafure; 132 BONAPARTE ' Tel ejl noire bon ftlaijir,' whereas now every body mufl bow in filence under the confular majefty." The Moniteur announced this arbitrary fubverfion of all rights of the people, and of all former laws, as ableffed ftep towards every good that could be wifhed for. Other news- papers afferted, that the equality of right and fovereignty of the people had been molt won- derfully fecured by thefe new provifions. Fouche, the minifler of police, joined in the chorus, and fweetly chaunted the praifes of this refloration of all the different ancient- privileges of the people. All his compliance with government, all his zeal in fpying out, in arrefting, and in de- porting his iellow-citizens, who had rendered themfelves obnoxious or difagreeable to the Firfl Conful, at the time of the voting for the confulate for lite ; all was not fufficient to maintain him in his place. He had been de- nounced to the Firfl Conful, and had fallen AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 133 under his fufpicion ; the place of miniftcr of police was therefore abolifhed, and its func- tions were confided to the prefect of police, who acl:s under the direction of the prefent grand judge, and minilter of juftice, Reig- nier. No one of all the minifters is fo gene- rally hated and dcfpifed as this Reignier ; and Bonaparte probably thought him, on that ac- count, the very perfon upon whom he might moll effectually rely for his fecurity. Fouche went over into the council of ftate, with feve- ral other perfons, and now fits there, tied up, ciofe under the eye of the defpot. He has gained no other benefit from this tranfplanta- tion, than the fecure enjoyment of his ef- flates, which he purchafed to the amount of feveral millions, in the neighbourhood of Paris, whilfl he was minifter of police. The newspapers and journals in the pay of Bonaparte, who of late had made it their duty to ridicule the ignorance and political per- ci 'cnf.fs of fome antidefpotic critics, and to 134 BONAPARTE infet the public with their venal doctrine about the wifdom of the meafures of govern- ment, found it expedient to ufc the fame arti- fice with regard to the abolilhed miniflry of police. It evidently appears from their para- graphs on this head, that there are three diffe- rent branches of police in France, the joint care of which might be too dangerous if trufted to the hands of one minifler alone. Of thefe three different branches, the one is called police locale, which is confided to the com- mifTaries of the police, who have it in charge to watch over the cleanlinefs, falubrity, and peaceful order of the city. The other is called police judiciaire, which is to be in future under the fole direction of the grand judge or minifler of juflice ; its duty is to trace, watch, and imprifon not only thole fufpe&ed perfons whom the law cannot take hold of, but even thofe who had been fet at liberty for want of fatisfa&ory proof, after having been taken up by government, ami who are ftill looked AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 135 upon as dangerous. This branch was in former times committed to the lieutenant of police, who was the natural prefident of that court " Prefident ne au chatelet." The third branch is called, " haute police, or, police ge- nerale." It extends over all parts of the re- public indifcriminately ; it may feize any one iufpccled of being concerned in a plot; it may lay hold of any troublefome perfon: it has an immenfe number of agents and emiiTaries prowling all over France, who may call on the military for affiftance whenever they chufe; they are unknown to the public, and are al- ways acting incognito ; have a general centre to which they repair; have the exorbitant power of feizing any body, though no com- plaint be alleged againft him ; and of punifli- ing even on bare fufpicion. Such a power might have been too dangerous in the hands of a man like Fouche. The grand judge may be better depended upon. Imprisonments nnd deportations became 136 BONAPARTE more and more frequent, under this new direc- tion of the police ; yet they were carried on with greater fecrecy. The temple was fo full, that it could hold no more : the ftate prifon at Vincennes was accordingly repaired and enlarged. About 60 perfons of all ranks and claffes were deported in the month of Auguft alone. The exiling into diftant departments every one who freely and publicly ventured to give his opinion, had no end. This was moll frequently the fate of emigrant noblemen who had returned to France, and were again driven away by the extremely equivocal and contradictory conduct of Bonaparte and his minifters. It often happened, that fuch emi- grants, after obtaining warrants from govern- ment, by which the reftoration of their former eftates was moft ftrictly and formally com- manded ; and, after proceeding to the fpot to take pofteffion, were fent back, in confor- mity to fecret letters from the minifters, to the prefects in the departments, by which AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 137 they were prohibited from executing thcfe warrants. Thefe unfortunate noblemen, who frequent- ly were not pofleired of fumcient money, or, perhaps, not having cunning enough to effecT: the recal of thefe fecret prohibitions in the fame way in which they generally obtained the former warrants, could not always brook in filence thefe violations of juftice. They grew rather loud ; but there wanted only a little hint to the police, to put in force the provifion of that law, by which all returned emigrants were placed, for the firit ten years, under its immediate infpection. They were exiled to any place which the police afligncd them, and compelled to fubmit without being permitted to appeal. Talleyrand's uncle, the baron d'Archam- beau, and a returned emigrant, fufpected of a fecret correfpondence with England, were in the number of thole fo taken up and exiled. Many of the generals, then living in Par's. T 138 BONAPARTE viz. Maffena, Delmas, Augereau, and feveral others, were exiled from court to their eftates ; and thofe, who were not poflefled of eftates at a diflance from Paris, were fent to the re- motefl parts of France. Even foreigners were treated in the fame manner, if they could not give an account of the letters or packets directed to perfons abroad, that had been flopped at the poft-office and confifcated there. Several perfons of note, who were looked upon as dangerous, either on account of their connexions, their way of thinking, or their talents, received orders to leave the republic. The famous Mad. de Stael, the daughter of M. Necker, a lady of real genius, and poffeffed of confiderable pro- perty, who had attracted the particular notice of Bonaparte, by the freedom which me took in her writings, was fent away from France ; and Benjamin Conflant, a Swifs, of found un- derftanding, and a good writer, fhared the fame fate. Madame de Stael, perhaps, owed AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 139 this treatment to a late work of her father's, publifhed under the title of " Dernieres vues de politique," which defervedly cenfures the mixture of a monarchical and republican go- vernment, introduced by Bonaparte, in order to blind the French, and to cover his defigns. Whilft Bonaparte was thus clearing his way, a journal was fet on foot, to combat all former principles of liberty, equality, &c. It was the vile production of the infamous Bar- rere, who directed its bafe attacks chiefly againft Condorcet and Camille Tourdan. It bore the title of " Journal des defenfeurs de la patrie," and flood under the fpecial fuper- intendance of Fouche, then minifter of police. This execrable Barrere, this cringing fyco- phant, the villainous fpeaking trumpet of all tyrants and raving monfters, who difhonored the French revolution, is flill in the fervice of government, and is the moft active member of an inquifitorial court, inftituted againft men of letters and learning. He ferved all parties 140 BONAPARTE alike ; but, when the decifive moment arrived, he always turned ; and, by this fhameful ver- fatility and grofs infamy, he has efcaped all fentences of deportation palled againft him. Who knows, whether he has not two different fpeeches quite ready in his delk, teeming both with curfes or bleflings on Bonaparte, as was the cafe in the time of Robefpierre ; but I fear the prefent defpot will hardly give him an opportunity; for, whatever Bonaparte may do, and how pliant foever the French may appear, he will never think himfelf fo far fecure, as to relax an inftant in his moll anxious cares for his pcrfonal fafety. This attention of his was too vifible on the 21 ft of Augufl, at the fittings of the fe- nate, where Bonaparte prefided for the firft time. The governor of the palace, the com- manding general of the confular guard, the general infpe&ors of the genfdarmes, of the artillery and engineers, were ready to pre- vent any accident to his perfon. The whole AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. HI of the confular horfe-guards and mamelukcs clofcly furrounded him : the foot-guards, and all the regular troops in and about Paris, were marched up, and formed a double hedge with- in which Bonaparte might fafely pafs. In his flute followed the two other confuls, the miniflers, many of the counfellors or date, the fecretary of (late, and the prefect of the police. Some of the fenators met him at the bottom of the flairs lea. ling to the palace, and condu61:ed him to the aifembly room, which had been filled with guards. His brothers, Lucien and Jofeph, who, by the by, are alfo members of the council of adminiflration and of the legion of honor, though the conftitu- tion does not permit it, took the oath of alle- giance firfl, and the reft of the fenators fol- lowed. This oath did not contain the mock terms of liberty and equality : it was unne- ccflary here, as there was no populace to be impofed upon. Some counfellors of flatc and orators of government now propofed very 142 BONAPARTE weighty matters for the fenatus confultum, which were of courfe inftantly agreed to, and claim particular attention. The fittings of the fenate, and the ceremonies to be obferved, were regulated by the fir ft fenatus confidtam. The election of the members of the legiflative bodies, and their going out of office every year, is fettled by the fecond. The third re- gulates the form of proceedings in cafe Bona- parte mould like to diflblve the tribunate and the legiflative body altogether. The fourth names the twenty-four cities, whofe mayors mull be prefent at the adminiftration of the oath, which that citizen, whom the conful might fix on for his fucceflbr, is obliged to take. The terms equality and liberty are left out in this oath of the fucceflbr likewife. It Hands thus : " I fwear to preferve the con- flitution ; to honor the liberty of confcience ; to refill the introduction of feudal regulations ; never to carry on war except for the defence and honor of the republic ; and to ufe the AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 143 power intruded to me. for the benefit of the people alone, from whom and for whom I have received it." The poor man, who has to take this oath, if he wifhed to be fomething more than the fuc- ccfTor apparent during Bonaparte's life, ought to take an oath, that he would be another Bonaparte to keep up his conftitution, if that could be of any benefit to him. But I fear that alone will not do it : and if Bonaparte will only be guided in the choice of his fucceffor by fear and anxiety for his life and fafety, as it is probable, he will fare like the fon of Cromwell, if not worfe. Many think that Bonaparte intends to name his brother Jofeph his fuccefTor, but that he will only do fo in his lad will, and not name him whilft he is alive. Such a will might probably fhare no better fate than that of Louis XIV. Bonaparte, after having gone through all thele grand ceremonies and proceffions, on which the ignorant gaping rabble greeted him. H4 BONAPARTE as ufual, with loud huzzas, was now met by his wife with greater exultation than ever the late unfortunate queen of France felt in meeting her good Louis. Both could now fully and fecurely fatisfy their proud defire of royal pomp and magnificence : their prodigality knew no bounds. Several millions of livres had already been wafted to fit up their palaces in the Thuilleries, at Malmaifon and St. Cloud: Hill this was not fuflicient : St. Cloud was to be made more fplendid than it ever had been, and unlimited orders were given to that efFeci. The parks adjoining feveral country feats of the late king were enlarged and flocked with deer. Hounds and hunters were bought, and fome even fetched from England, though Bona- parte is not at all fond of the chafe. To the menial fervants of their houiehold, who were already very numerous, a great many more were added. All kinds of officers cftablifhed at any of the European courts, were intro- duced : thole who had held fuch offices be- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 145 fore, were eagerly fought, and intrufled with thefe important charges ; great falaries were appointed them. A play-houfe, in imitation of that which the former royal court had at Verfailles, was built at St. Cloud. A nume- rous band of muficians was provided. Bona- parte appointed four prefects of the police; in imitation of the former gentils homines duroi, who were to attend his perfon alone, and to fuperintend the theatre, the performance, and the performers. This latter duty is rigidly ob- ierved by them ; and they arc not fuffered to turn their backs upon the box of the Firil Conful, not even when it is empty. The poor performers dare not obey their author ; when he orders them to fay any thing afide, they muil look forward. Madame Bonaparte has four ladies of the bed-chamber affigned to her. who are provided with every thing, and have befides 8000 livres for pin money. Bonaparte had already laid hold of the pre- cious crown diamond, which now glitters at the hilt of his flate fword, and is hung up U 146 BONAPARTE with other trophies at his bed-lidc. Madame Bonaparte would not be behind hand : fhe feized upon the golden toilet of the late unfor- tunate queen, which had hitherto efcaped all thofe fhamelefs thieves that fprung up during the revolution. Madame Bonaparte is how- ever daily growing more ugly fince fhe look- ed into the mirror of the late beautiful An- toinette ; it certainly was not the tendernefs of her confidence, which caufed fuch a lad alter- ation. In order to introduce into their new court a princely magnificence, they want- ed that which neither influence nor wealth could procure, viz. a numerous retinue of nobility. Whatever Bonaparte may have achieved, and how far he may flatter him- felf with having fucceeded ; however affi - duous and fubmiflive Madame Bonaparte may have been towards Madame Monteilan, (the foi difant wife of the late infamous Duke of Orleans' father) at whofe houfe the moil ancient noblefle ufed to aflemble, fhe could obtain no other favour for herfelf and AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 147 family than the admiffion to fome of their fmall parties, where fhe has occafionally the honour to be feated between dukes, marquifes, counts, and barons, and to hear thefe fine titles tingling in her ears ; but to draw only 2. Jew members, and even the moil unworthy from this holy circle, in order to place them in her own retinue, was utterly impoflibJe. Segur, theex-minifler, being newly appoint- ed to a high office in adminiftration, indulged his youngefl fon fo far, as to allow him to accept the place of a vice prefect of the pa- lace. The noble league inftantly rofe againft him in a body, as he was reckoned among the high and ancient nobility, on account of one of his anceftors having been a marechal de France. All the citizens with ' : de" before their furnamc, who figured at the new court in the liveries of prefects, vice prefects, &c. were looked upon by the rigorijh as the fer- vile and lefier nobilitv of form* i times. 148 BONAPARTE But fortune will not always fmile; her greatefl: favorites will one time or other meet with fome impediment in their way ; fome obftacle to their defires. He who rode tri- umphant over Mount St. Gothard, and through the fandy deferts of Syria : he who gives law to the greatefl part of Europe ; and difpofes at his will of the fined countries : this mighty chief, at the head of fo populous an empire, feels defires that he cannot fatisfy. Calling his longing eye around, he fixes it by chance upon the faloon of Madame de MontefTan. It happened at that moment to be crowded with perfons of the firfl rank " Thofe nobles mall be my attendants," he cries; and imme- diately difpatches his devoted daemons with invitations, offers, and promifes. But pro- mifes, offers, and invitations are ineffectual ; the meffenger returns difappointed and cha- grined ; he tells him that all his efforts have been fruitlefs ; that their demands were far beyond what he would acceac to. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 149 The angry fearful man is thus compelled to fland alone on the pinnacle of his newly- acquired dignity ; watching night and day thefe rebels to his will. Their words, their actions, their looks, are equally objects of his iufpicion ; not even a gefture is fuffered to efcape him. Alarmed by continual fears, when they aflemble in great numbers, he immedi- ately difperfes them. If they flee back to the coaft, they are driven to the mountains ; if they take refuge among the rocks, they are hunted to the fea. His fiaves obey the hint, purfue them, and, panting for breath, return to catch the defpot's new orders, and find their pale-faced mailer leaning on his Hill more pale-faced dasmon ; both turning their faint and envious looks towards the faloon of Madame de Mon- te flan, the refort of this difobedient and ob- flinate nobleflc. But to return : thefe noble fuffcrers are the nly perfons wfio dare fland in oppofition to 150 BONAPARTE the Firft Conful. They live in their own country as in a flrange land ; they take no notice of the new court, its feftivities, or bril- liant aflTemblies. They only did not adopt the new fafhions introduced by the new comers. Even thofe among them, who have laved great eftates, or ftill poffefs fufficient pro- perty to live in a fumptuous flyle, do not make any public difplay. Their fmall fociai affemblies contain alone, what may be called la bonne compagnie ; and as mod of them are men of refined manners, and many of them well-informed, and of great fame ; feveral of them the mod diilinguilhed literati in royal France, they keep within their own circle. All foreigners of education, naturally difguft- ed with the aukward behaviour, and the tafle- lefs luxury, of theprefent court, endeavour to be admitted into their fociety ; an honor by no means cafily obtained; flilkit mult be owned, that the fine Paris of old, which had lo much attraction for every man of rafle, of educa- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 151 tion, and good breeding, can only be met with in thefe felet focieties. I will not blame Madame Bonaparte, who lived as maid of honour to the late queen, for fighing after the only refpedlable fociety at Paris ; but fhe mufl renounce the happinefs of feeing thefe perfons in her fuite at court. Many in- ducements have certainly been given them; but they all feem to fay ; reilore us the old court, with all its appendages ; that will be well : but we mail never be brought to ac- knowledge thefe upftarts for its rightful owners. The very caufe which renders Mad. Bona-' parte fo defirous to allociate with the old no- blelle, mufl induce the latter to keep at a diftance. There is nothing of that politenefs, eafe, vivacity and grace, which lignalifjd the focieties at the royal court. Every body flares with a flavifh gaze at the Firfl Conful, who treats them indifcriminately in a dry, cold, and harfh manner. He fometimes attempts 152 BONAPARTE to be polite or witty, but his politenefs is a proud condefcenfion, and his wit is fatire. There is always fomething rough or low in his way of expreffing himfelf. He frequently makes ufe of terms, only to be found in the mouth of the upftart foldier, and profcribed by all good company. He is capable of ufing the moft abufive language with the greateft in- difference. The tone of his voice is deep and hoarfe, and what he fays is often accompanied with fuch a difagreeable laugh, that nobody can feel eafy with him, even when he attempts to fay the moft agreeable things. The higheft officers of (late muft fometimes hear themfclves addreffed by epithets, which certainly never efcaped the lips of a fovereign. If he think he has caught one of his minifters or privy counfellors in fomething contradic- tory, he frequently fays, i; vous etes un hommc dc mauvaife foi ;" or " vous me trompcz" (You arc a man not to be truitcd you cheat me.) AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 153 Heufes no restraint in this refpecl: with his own wife. He can publicly addrefs her in the fevereft manner, if, by chance, he do not approve of her drefs and deportment, as being too free, too improper, or unbecoming. The beautiful Mad. Tallien, the intimate friend of Mad. Bonaparte, when once, after afomewhat long abfence of her hufband, fhe appeared in a vifible Mate of pregnancy in her faloon. which was full of company, fhe was afked by him, quite loud and flernly, how fhe could dare to appear in this ftate before his wife ! and he then ordered her inftantly to leave the room. The prefent wife of M. Talleyrand, who is reported not always to have acled the part of a rigid prude, when Madame Grand, was complimented by him, at her firfl introduction into the circle of Mad. Bonaparte, in the fol- lowing manner : '-'' J'efpcrc, que Mad. Tal- leyrand, /era oub'ier Madame Grand." The poor woman is fa id to have anfwered in the 154 BONAPARTE greateft confufion " that fhe would always be proud to follow the example of Mad. Bona- parte." If Mad. Talleyrand had been looked upon as a lady of parts, her anfwer might have been thought a witty one. When the principal fingers at the opera, who had performed Haydn's oratorio of the Creation, on the evening after the explofion of the infernal machine, went to him in a body, to exprefs their joy on his efcape, he faid to them " vous avez chant e comme des co~ chons." At the dilfolution of the national inflitute, when it was again divided into the four old academies, and the latter refufed to receive among them as members thofe muficians and players who had been admitted to theinftitute, Bonaparte faid to one of them " les mathi- maticiens vous jetteront le pot de chambre fur la tite, lis ne veulent plus de vous," Even the foreign ambaHadors, who are re- flected in all civilized courts as the reprefen- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 155 tatives of their fovereign's perfon, can never think themfelves fecure againfl his offenfive and injurious language, neither at the levee, nor at Mad. Bonaparte's galas. The Britifh and Swedifh ambafladors have frequently experienced his rudenefs and ill humor during laft winter ; and, if he even chofe to fay any thing agreeable, it was ge- nerally directed to another, Handing near, to whom he owed a grudge. His air and deportment are indeed more dignified than could be expected from fuch a little meagre body, with an unmeaning yellow face ; yet even there, the fixed character of the inward man, is difcoverable. He fhews by no means that humane difpofition and fen- fibility which, added to a noble deportment, attract and enchant every beholder. This will hardly ever be his happy lot ; and of all the weak and cringing attendants, who appear trembling and terrified before this high and mighty chieftain, few will be found with a 156 BONAPARTE feeling attachment to him. They will, per- haps, appear fatisfied, when they have had the good fortune to come offunoffended, and more fo, if by chance they have caught a friendly nod from him ; but, furely, they muft watch him eagerly, if they wifli for fuch an honor ; for his (tiff neck bends but (lightly either to a prince or at the fhrine of female beauty. At the grand public levees, and on the gala days, which are regularly kept every month, this noble pair have all the affectation and for- mality of the mofl ancient courts of Europe ; the bending of the knee is the only ceremony not yet introduced. Every body is compelled to appear in a courtly drefs. The Firft Conful does not put on a military uniform on thofe days ; but, with the exception of the bag, he is in complete court drefs, yet always of the fame cut and colour. He wears his richly embroi- dered confular robes over it. The two other Confuls are drcffed in the fame manner ; and AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 157 his miniflcrs appear in their flate uniforms. The uniform of the counlellors of flate has been worn by him on a few occafions. His military guard and his retinue are, on every fuch day, very numerous and fplendid. From the Second Conful down to the lowed private of the guards at the gate, every one has his fixed place afligned him, which he dares not leave for a fingle moment, and where he remains immovable, flaring at liis neigh- bour, who is alfo faflened to the ground, without fpeaking a fingle word. Bonaparte alone goes the rounds in the circle formed only by the ambafladors and foreigners of diflinc- tion. The minifler of foreign affairs, now M. Talleyrand, can only enter this circle, when a new ambaflador is to be prefentcd. Bonaparte mould always have this piece of fluff at his fide as a foil. It is impoflible to ice a more lifelcfs, ill-fhapcd machine, hung out with a wide glittering ftate uniform, than this Tallevrand. The arcatcfl relaxation of 158 BONAPARTE the body, with hollow cheeks, and a death- like eye, announce the profligate, broken- down and enervated fenfualifr.. His worn- out carcafe is moved on flowly in fhort, un- certain fleps by a pair of club feet. His tardy, loathfome utterance fhew the fatiated, dis- dainful flate of his mind ; he muff., indeed., be a great phyfiognomift, who could difcover the fine, cunning, ex-bifhop and flatefman, who dupes France and Europe, by this dif- gufting lifelefs cover, by the fmall remains of fire Mill vifible in his eyes, and by the in- fipid fallow hue of his complexion. No Frenchman, fince Mirabeau, was ever fo generally and fo decidedly ftamped with the double character of the utmoit moral de- pravity and the greatefl fuperiority in the fa- culties of the mind. Mirabeau, though he fignalized himfelf during the revolution as a flatefman and orator, though in full pofleffion of popular favor, Mill fhewed great energy and art to eftablifh a conflitutional monarchy. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 15* for he would have nothing elfe ; he deftroyed himfelf by his extravagancies and profligacy, which foon brought him to the grave, and only the fame of his moral turpitude has out- lived him. This fenfual pliant bifhop of Autiin, was from the beginning of the revolution the friend and companion of Mirabeau, in all his de- baucheries. He, Talleyrand Perigord, de- icended from one of the moft ancient families of France, was the firft who reficmed his cle- rical dignity, and polluted his noble defcent to fide with the Tiers tiat, when they de- manded in the national afTembly the equilifa- tion of all orders, under the direction of Sieyes and Mirabeau. He formed the fecret com- mittee with Sieyes and eight other members, who drew up the plan of the firft conflitu- tion. He was in conjunction with Mirabeau and Sieves, the firft founder of the jacobin club, and afterwards of the new club of ja- ohms in 1789. He was the firft who pro- 160 BONAPARTE pofed the general fale of all clerical property. He maintained that the clergy had not the right of fecular proprietors, and that it was in the power of government to apply their re- venues deftincd to defray the expences of public worfhip to other purpofes. He flood up as a champion againft the clergy and no- blemen of France, who demanded the Roman Catholic religion, the fole reigning one in France. He endeavdured to obtain for Mirabeau, Voltaire, and Roufieau, the ho- nor of being depofited in the Pantheon, formerly the church of St. Genevieve. He celebrated mafs on the altar of liberty, in the field ol Mars, at the grand fef- tival of the federation. Fie confecrated the colors of the departments, and called them the facred banners of liberty. But, as foon as the conflitutional party found itfelf em- barrailed, and in a precarious ftate, he was the fir ft to defert it, and had the art to obtain from the minifter a fecret million to England. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 161 When he was fent out of that country, he fought an afylum, with feveral other emigrants in America. When his name was difcovered in thofe private papers of the king, which were taken from a fecret defk, and on which the chief accufations againft the unfortunate good monarch were founded, he was put on the lift of emigrants by the national conven- tion. He availed himfelf of a favourable mo- ment, and induced the very fame convention that had figned his profcription, to erafe his name from the lift, and to reinftate him in all his property. He then returned to France, and was appointed rninifter by the directory, which fuperfeded this convention. Sieycs, who too well knew the episcopal renegado, came into the direftory, and Talleyrand thought proper to retire, loaded with immenfe riches. An unfortunate honeft German was fubftituted by him to weather the ftorm, which arofe during the dreadful epoch of a directorial commiftion. He knew how to Y 162 BONAPARTE fupplant this man, as foon as it was fafe to re-enter the miniftry. In conjunction with Lucien Bonaparte, his confidant and companion in his debaucheries, he had, in the mean time, by fecret intrigues, plotted the return of Napoleon Bonaparte from Egypt ; he, with the latter, prepared the blow which was to be levelled againft Barras, the firfl promoter of Bonaparte's exaltation, and Sieyes, the old rival of this ex-bifhop : they fucceeded. Bonaparte flood at the head as Firfl Conful, and Talleyrand as principal minifter, by his fide ; what he has done for the laft four years, whilft in this important office, is fufliciently notorious ; but it is, perhaps, lefs known, that by his example the mofl infamous bribery has been intro- duced into all public offices in France. Bri- bery was always more frequent there, than in any other country ; but fome forms and de- cency were ftill obferved. It was necefTary at leaft to find out fome pretext, if any body AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 103 wifhed to move the heart of the minifter and his underlings, by the grand and univerfal foftener of feelings. At prefent there is no need of it. The minifter and his commiflary fay exactly like the French general and his quarter-mafter in an enemy's country, ' : // me jaut tant," (I mull have fo much.) If you refufe mc, you fliall have nothing, whatever your right or claim may be. It may alfo not be fo well known abroad as it is at Paris, that it was Talleyrand who chiefly effe&ed the recal of the noblemen and clergy. This man, who formerly ordered the feizure of their property, and thereby pre- pared their profcription ; who violently op- pofed them when they wanted the reftoration of the catholic faith, the only one tolerated in France, now labours to the fame purpofe. He applied even to the pope for a difpenfation to marry a woman with whom he had long coha- bited, and whom he might have married be- fore, like his other brothers iu iniquity. He, 164 BONAPARTE the trumpeting advocate of the rights of man : the moll ardent combatant againft lotteries, and all kind of gambling : he is now the chief inflrument of a government, that tramples upon all rights of men indifcriminately, and draws a very great income from lotteries and licences for public gambling-houfes of all kinds. He. the worfhipper of Mirabeau, Vol- taire, and RoufTeau, is now the handle of a defpot, a fworn enemy to thefe men, who hates freedom of opinion ; who ftrives to an- nihilate all liberal inflruction. He may fay again, as he did in his late defence, " I am miniflcr for foreign affairs, and have nothing to do with the home department :" but every one who has watched him, knows very well what he chiefly aims at. Even by the mofl. cxpenfive and fumptuous ftyle in which he lives, he cannot fpend his income. He looks upon himfelf therefore with the mofl purfe- proud complacency ; and treats every body who has to deal with him in the mofl arm AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 165 gant and contemptuous manner. Foreigners of the highefl rank, nay, even foreign ladies of diftin&ion, mud be prefented to him in the fame manner as to Bonaparte ; and he fcarce- ly condefcends to fpeak to them, difpatching them fometimes with a hum or a nod. His power over the chief conful increafes daily, and muff, increafe, as he is the only one who is thoroughly verfed in a thoufand things, which Bonaparte and his neareft attendants know nothing of. Another pompous ecclefiaitic, clumfy as he may appear, is Cardinal Caprara, who has a greater influence over Bonaparte than per- haps may be fuppofed : the power of thefe two has been the iubjeel; of a very good cari- cature in Paris. It reprefents the miferable figure of Talleyrand with his club feet, feizing both hands of Bonn parte, and making him dance, whilft the fmiling and fimpcring car- dinal is playing the fiddle. This print, which no one will dare perhaps to expofe. originated 166 BONAPARTE with Bonaparte hirr ( elf. He ventured one evening, when only a fmall party affembled at Madame Bonaparte's, to dance with his dear ftep-daughter, Madame Lucien : he per- formed rather awkwardly, as this was his firfl attempt of the kind fo moll likely will it be the lair.. Even on this merry occafion, he found an opportunity of fhewing his defpotic and unfeeling heart. When it came into his head to dance, he took off his fword and offered it to the next bye-ftander, without looking at him. This bye-ftander happened unfortunately to be an officer of rank, who thought it againft the point of honor to ac- cept it, and therefore ftepped back to wait till one of the fervants might come and take it. Bonaparte then looked at this officer flernly, and faid, in a terrible hoarfe kind of voice, " Mais cm ! je me fias bicn trompe." He then made a fign to a general, on whofe rea- dinefs he could depend, and gave him the fword, which he matched with great eager- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 167 nefs. When the too punctilious officer re- turned home, he already found an order, by which he was directed to depart on the next day for St. Domingo. A young officer is reported to have fhared the very fame fate, on account of his being too merry, and im- prudently jumping upon the Firfl Conner's foot. The re-eftablifhment of the Roman Catho- lic religion occafioned another caricature, in which Bonaparte is reprefented as falling from the arms of the goddefs of Victory on his nofe, again ft the holy water pot. It is- a pity that no caricaturift from England was prefent at this time, to obferve the awkwardnefs which the novice fhewed on every occafion. Many public ceremonies might have furnifhed rich matter, as, for inftance, the manner in which the perfonal fafety of Bonaparte was to be fe- cured on Eafter-day, the grand feftival of the re-introducl;ion of the Roman Catholic reli- gion. They had erected in the church of 163 BONAPARTE Notre Dame (which is a matter-piece of Gothic architecture,) a fmall chapel with wooden, painted columns in the choir, clofe before the grand altar. Bonaparte, with his fervants, was fhut up and entirely fepa- rated from the reft of the congregation, in order that he might be fecure againft any at- tempt on his life. But this unlightly build- ing did not only fhut up the paflage to the choir, it entirely prevented the people affembled in this fpacious church from fee- ing the altar, on which high mafs was celebrated. The more than royal pomp obferved on this occahon ; the aiTemblage of all the orders of ftate, civil and military ; the rich liveries of the fervants of the Conful and his minifters ; the foreign ambailadors, who were ordered to appear in their coaches and four; the many cottly trappings which adorned the family, from the crown-diamond at Bonaparte's ivvord down to the laces and robes of mother, wife, AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 169 fillers, and fiiters-in-law ; all this prefented a moft remarkable, republican fight. Our hero was met by the high clergy at the entrance of the church, while the guns were firing a falute in honor of this reformed, chriflian king, who bent the knee at the high mafs, celebrated by the Cardinal Legate, and in return, received the oath from the biihops. All thefe fine things and perfons, in contrail with all thefe grand, political and fpirituai peace-makers, the honefl Mamelukes clofe by their fearful mailer, on the watch for the prefervation of his facred life ; this, indeed, was a curious fpelacle. The Parifian populace was delighted ; they vociferated their applaufcs and loud huzza* around the fhewmen ; but they betrayed not that fpirit which was formerly exhibited at the grand feftival of the federation. The police ordered the houfes of forne flreets to be lighted up. and this illumination conclude cd the day. z 1 TO BONAPARTE It is reported that the letters of indulgence which the Cardinal Legate offered for fale on this, and thirty fucceffive days, did not find many purchafers, though they contained a. full abfolution and fpiritual pardon for every fin committed during the laft ten years, and for every one who would go to confeflion, and devoutly receive the facred hoft. The common people even went fo far as to laugh and pafs their jokes upon it. The official papers, and chiefly the Moniteur, exulted in the pretended harmony of the Roman and Proteftant churches, and the reconciliation of all feels and parties, under the banners of republicanifm, as they were pleafed to call it. They rejoiced at the defeat of fophiflry, and at the grand union of the Gallican church with the Papal chair. Some of the adverfa- ries of the concordat certainly fpoke another language! The conflitutional bifhop of An- gouleme, de Combe, and the fenator ex- bifhop, Gregoire, publifhed lome letters to AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 171 fhew how far a. union of the Gallican church with the Papal chair might be carried ; what degree of refpect was due to the legate, and in what light the concordat ought to be looked upon. They were very impertinent in their all'ertions, and maintained that they had no need of pardon, but that they, on the con- trary, had the right to pardon others. The legate demanded a recantation, which they refufed. The forgivenefs he offered was re- jected with contempt. He is ilill every where expofed to the witticifna of the piulo- fophers, and to the accufations of the mofl contemptible among the conflitutional priefls. With the naturalifls and theophilanthropifls, Mr. Legate will fare ftill worfe, when they learn that he has now obtained from the Conful the fupprcflion of all their public meetings. o The cardinal writes, indeed, in rather too common a flyle for a refined Frenchman. He beiiins his "rand annunciation of indulgence 172 BONAPARTE in thcfe words : " War is at lait ended, and all Frenchmen rejoice at it ; but they rejoice Hill more on account of the re-introduction of the Roman Catholic religion, and the re- covery of their old liberty." After many low and hackneyed expreflions in honour of the Firfl Conful and the Pope, he calls upon the French to free themfelves from the bondage of the devil by the water of penitence, and promifes to every one the ample forgivenefs and remiflion of all their fins, if they will go and confefs to any prieft they chufe. For the common clafs of the nation he has again been too ready in following the econo- mical ideas of the Firfl Conful, and abolish- ing all holy days, only leaving them four, namely, Chriftmas, Afcenfion, the Aflumption of the Bleffed Virgin, and All Saints. They certainly are not kept too much from their labor, nor too frequently reflrained from ToinfT to mafs : but as the Proteflants have no ' now more holy days than the Catholics in AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 172 France, and as the common people are rather inclined that way, their difpofition to turn Proteftants may Hill be increafed by this cir- cumflance. In the Prytaneum and other Pa- rifian fchools, fuch a difpofition has frequently manifeftcd itfelf among the pupils, and their parents have not always refufed their confent ; vet government has prohibited it. This inclination has fhewn itfelf Mill more in the departments, where whole families have turned Proteftants to efcape the hateful ty- ranny of priefls over their confeiences. Among the inhabitants of feveral towns, at Amiens for inftancc, and at Aries, more Proteftants are to be found than one fliould imagine. Go- vernment is very attentive to this ; and it has more than once been reported, that it was in- tended to obtain a brevet from the holy Fa- ther, by which every one fliould be prohibit- ed from changing his religion, unlefs particu- larly licenfed by government. 174 BONAPARTE It mufl revolt every impartial obferver, to hear that all thofe men who are now placed in the higheft offices, make ufe of the appel- lations, Proleilant,Encyclopediafl:, Illuminati, Democrat, Jacobin, Terrorift, Man of Blood, (homme de fang.) as denoting one and tht fame thing. A Mr. Fievee, who lately pub- limed a fmall book againft the philofophers of the eighteenth century and the Englifh, very properly, and with great naivete, define? this philofophy in the following manner : " Pour moi lorjque je dis philofophie du xviii, Steele j'entends tout ce qui ejl Jaux en morale, en Ugiflation et en politique* It is, indeed, as if men were only capable of impartial and found judgment, as long as they fland below, and inftantly miftake every * A< for mc, by the philofophy of the eighteenth century, I un- ierftand whatever is falfe in legiflation, morality, and politi'*. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 175 thing as foon as they have climbed up the hill ; or, is it only, when placed on high, that men can difcovcr the littlenefs of the world below, 2nd the folly or wickednefs of thofe who try to foar above their fellows ? If the latter be the cafe, who will blame the tyrant, if fur- rounded by bafe, felfifh. fhamelefs flatterers, and hungry flaves if greeted by the abjecfc rabble if dreaded and belied by all, as far as his eye can reach ; I fay, who will blame him, if he then defpife mankind, and think them incapable and unworthy of ge- nuine liberty and true wifdom, which muft go hand in hand in the road that leads to happinefs. Who will blame him, if he yield to this painful thought, after having iccn a whole talkative nation, overlooking: his public violence, and the clandeftine manoeu- vres, by which he and his helpmates raifed themfelvcs ; exhaufling itfelf in all the terrm and expreffions of flattery towards him ; if after being publicly extolled like a god by his 176 BONAPARTE execrable and fawning ex-bifhop : after feeing every one worfhipping the new deity, who will blame him, if fatiated, and loathing fulfome endlefs praifes, he defcries a mean orator before him, beginning his fpeech with expreflions of hypocritical forrow to his maf- ter, who endowed with godlike indulgence, is ftill too rigorous in not allowing the high praifes which gratitude is anxious to beftow; who profanely fays, that heaven, un- willing to grant all celeftial gifts to man, had only refufed Bonaparte the courage to hear his well-deferved panegyric publicly pro- nounced. Who then can. blame the tyrant, if he trample upon fuch mean and truly con- temptible beings.* By fuch homages offered to him on all fides, and not interrupted by one fmglc found * The above were the very words by which Duthcii, the tranfla- torof Plutarch's effay on the means to diftinguifh a flatterer from a friend, addrefl'ed the Firft Conful, congratulating him on the res- toration of peace, in the name of the national inftitute. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 177 of reproach or juft remonft ranee, the intoxi- cated conqueror mull forget himfelf, and that he has ftifled the voice of truth ; the moft refolute among; the cunning will now bend their knee to the tyrant, whofe fury infli&s an equal punimment on the man who fpoke freely, and on the bravado who drew his dagger ; but with eager and revengeful looks will he watch the moment, when he can plunge the weapon into his breaft. If the daring, and hitherto fortunate ufurper, be not the moft artful, not the mod watch- ful among the infidious, not the quick- eft to punifhment among the revengeful ; he will not be iecured againft the em- brace of a treacherous Judas, who may give the fignal for his deftruction. Nay, be he ever fo obfervant, ftill he may, in the pre- tended embrace, meet his doom. Dreadful exiftence ! Bonaparte, difgufted at all the flatteries which the Parifians lavifhed upon him. now A A 173 BONAPARTE in expectation of the Englifh ambafTador, who delayed his arrival till the month of November, went to Rouen, Havre, and the weftern coaft, to put every thing in a better flate of defence, and to receive the homage of the provinces. The public offices and mu- nicipalities of thefe towns were not backward in their compliments ; they vied with each other, and poured in vollies of congratulations upon the Firfl Conful and his lady, and thefe were moft gracioufly received by the noble couple. The municipalities, the clergy, the citizens, and their daughters, always directed their fpeeches, accompanied with prefents, to each of them feparately. A clergyman in his fpeech called Bonaparte " L'homme dc la droite du trh haut, qui commande le rrfpcci et I'etonnement d tout I'univers." The inno- cent girls at Beauvais, who under the protec- tion of the fpcech-maker, might have drawn the traits of their hero with all the livelinefs of their imagination, called hinx, " Le hercule AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 179 fran^ois ; to whom they offered their liba- tion and gifts (facrifices et libations.) They mufl have been thunderflruck with the un- expected little, meagre, yellow figure, under which their hero appeared. Bat hired orators are not fo over-nice in thefe matters, for they fpoke even of " graces toicies puijfantes," of " vertus," and of " inipuijable bonk ti- le fie dont vons cf.es la plus feduifante image." When they addrefTed Madame Bonaparte, the popular air beginning with the words, " Oil pad on itrt micux qu'au fein de fa Jamille." which had b~en written in honor of Louis XVI. and his beautiful queen, was publicly fung, and applied to Bonaparte and his wife, at Havre ; but as a proof how far the French had loll all fenfe of propriety, they com- plimented the Englifh ambaffador juil ar- rived at Calais, with the fame air, and al~ mod at the fame time. People abroad could not find out the realon why Madame Bonaparte always accompanied 1S0 BONAPARTE her hufband on thefe excurfions, and why luch a train of fervants and military always followed them at the expence of the public. The conftant proximity of Madame Bonaparte at table, and at night (for the Conful never dines without her, and always fleeps in the fame bed with her.) is nothing elle than a well calculated manoeuvre for his perfonal fafety. A thoufand little things, tending in appearance only to their comfort, which are carefully obferved every night, and in every houfe where they chance to fleep, would ap- pear to Frenchmen, as very defpicable little meafures for his perfonal fafety alone. Ma- dame Bonaparte alfo knows, like the reft of the family, how to infurc fome benefit and profit for herfelf from thele pretty excurfions ; why then mould he rob her of the opportu- nity ? There never was perhaps aprincefs, or a favourite miflrefs of a fovereign, who was fo eager for every thing, that the country and the inhabitants can afford, than this wo- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 131 man. If this be contrafted with the unheard of prodigality, by which Bonaparte enriches all his brothers : it can be explained either by fuppofing all the French and Italian members ot the family, infefted with the meaneft and mod infatiable avarice, or by imagining in them a due lenfc of their precarious Hate, and a defign to be fomewhat prepared for the worft. The roads which Bonaparte had to pafs, were guarded by numerous detachments of troops, who followed him, whilft he was al- ways clolely furrounded by his own guards. He had there an opportunity of perceiving that he was no longer the darling and the fir ft hero of the army. The troops who fhortly before exprciled on feveral occafions their zeal and enthufiafm for Moreau, behaved with great coolnefs, and were quite filent whilft he was near. He was more than once compelled to hear the complaints. of the army, as to their being abfolutely negletted. 182 BONAPARTE Though the price of provifions has rifen to the double and treble of former times, the common French foldicr has flill no more than the old daily pay of five French (bus, and a pound and a half of bread : the infantry and cavalry have the fame fcanty allowance. The grenadiers, who are picked from the battalion, have only fix fous. Of this money, which is paid every fifth day, very little goes into the hand of the loldier. The corporal, with whom ten or twelve are generally compelled to board, receives their pay, and, after indemnifying him- i'elf, divides the remainder. The foldier is flill worfe ofT at prefent, as all common and public labor on the road or in the fields is prohibit- ed. If he be brought up a mechanic, he may praftife his bufinefs at home ; flill he mull have the leave of his commander to do fo. It is not the infufficient pay alone which renders the loidier diicontented; his being in- differently cloathed, and badly mounted, adds AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 183 to it. The army had been promifed new and better uniform fi nee the peace. The infantry were to have been dreffed in white, inftead of their prefent blue coats; and the feveral corps were to be diftinguifhed by facings of a different color. A few regiments have received their new cloaths, but none are yet dreffed in white. Tlie old blue uniforms arc, fmce the laft war, grown very ragged ; and the foldier is more fenfible of this neglect as he daily hears of the increafing magnificence at the court of the conful, his former general, and often fees that many of his commanders now live fumptuoufly on their large eflates in the pro- vinces. The common foldier will always be offended at fuch neglect, as he does not un- derftand how much is required to clothe an army, amounting to half a million of men, and to provide horfes for the cavalry. The paying of the arrears to the army, which had been due to fome regiments even for two years, has been effected with great pains : though all 184 BONAPARTE the army is now paid up, but the navy is Mill in arrears. The foldicr alfo complains of the wretched flate of the military hofpitals, eftablifhed in the greater cities of France : more than one invalid, nay even the dead and the living often lie together in one bed. The lick fol- dier is reported to be kept very indifferently. though two-thirds are deducted from his pay, as long as he flays at the hofpital. Of the other feparate military hofpitals for venereal patients, amounting to about ten or twelve, {fill greater complaint is made, though their pay ceafes as long as they remain there. The purchafe of the horfes wanted for the cavalry has, fince the peace, been left to the care of the commanders of the regiments, who fadly neglect this part of their duty. The fum allotted by government for that purpofe, which has not always been paid in full, is by far too fmall even to purchafe tolerable ones. Many regiments, who dare not accept of the Nor- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 185 man, Limofin, and Auvergne horfes, on account of their being too fmall, muft bring them from Holfatia at a great expence ; and it may be faid with truth, that the half of the French cavalry is not mounted at all, and the other half very ill.* The cavalry is, there- fore, compelled to ferve difmounted, and is not a little offended at it. The confular guard, which is provided with every thing, and of the beft materials, ex- cites the jealoufy and the difcontent of the troops of the line flill more. It conlifts of 8000 men, and is continually increafing : they are well paid, very comfortably cloathed, and well mounted. The privates have 25 fols a day, and the officers have a proportionate * The horfes of the French cavalry arc poorly kept, and have no ftrength. A great deal of hay and ftraw is given them, but very little oatF. The daily allowance amounts to ten pound. of hay, ten of ftraw, and hardly five of oats. During winter when they are little excrcifeu, this allowar.ee is ItiTened, parti- cularly ftraw. 9 B 186 BONAPARTE addition. They are equipped and mounted by government. The confular guard, in the eleventh year of the republic (1803.) con " lifted of two battalions of grenadiers, and two battalions of chafTeurs on foot (4000,) of fix fquadrons of grenadiers, and fix fqua- drons of chafTeurs, mounted (2600.) All thefe men are picked from the troops of the line, and thofe only chofen who bear a good character as to condudl and bravery. The confular horfe guards are quartered in bar- racks clofe by the Thuilleries, Malmaifon, &c. His foot guards have their quarters in the buildings of the military fchool, and in other parts of the town. A company of horfe artillery, provided with eight guns, is attached to them. They are alfo quartered at the military fchool, and have every thing ready to march at a mo- ment's notice. At the grand military parade this company mull be prelent, and it palfes in review before the Firft Conful, always in full AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 1S7 trot; probably to ftrike the Parifian popu- lace with greater awe. The Conful alfo keeps a corps of Mame- lukes, amounting to 400 men, for his private fervice. It is compofed of Greeks, Copts, Turks, and Frenchmen, who have lived fome time at the Levant. They are drefTed, armed, equipped and mounted in the Egyptian flyle, and are commanded by officers, xvho have been in Egypt. The privates of this corps receive fifty fous daily. The Firft Conful has befides a corps of cavalry always at hand, called gendarmerie d'elite," which amounts to 800 men felected from all the brigades of the fjenfdarmes of the interior. A troop of dismounted cavalrv. containing 600 men, is attached to it. The privates of the horfe guards receive a daily pay of five FVench livres ; the privates in the difmounted troops three livres, but they muft provide their horfes, uniforms, and other ne- cellaries at their own expence. They are 188 BONAPARTE quartered in barracks near the arfenal, and are employed to execute the orders of the general police, called haute police. The other corps of genfdarmes are difperfed all over France, and have the fame fervices to perform, which were formerly intrufted to the Marechauflee. They are to aflift the police, to purfue and feize criminal or fufpe&ed per- fons. They are all mounted, and have three livres per day. The troops of the line defpife them as well as the confular guards ; and quarrels generally enfue when they meet. If any revolutionary trouble mould take place, they would certainly fight againft each other. The troops of the line amounted, at the beginning of the 12th year of the republic (1803,) to one hundred half brigades of re- gular infantry [infanterie de bataille,) each confi fling of three battalions, and each of the latter containing icoo men of thirty-two half brigades of light infantry, compofed of the fame number ; of two regiments of carabi- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 189 neers, and twenty of heavy horfe, compofed of four fquadrons, containing 160 horfes each. Of the latter heavy horfe, eight regiments mould wear cuirafles, but only two do fo. Of twenty regiments of dragoons, and twenty- three regiments of hufTars, and chaffeur a. cheval ; each compofed of four fquadrons, containing 200 men. The artillery confifls of eight regiments of infantry, each amount- ing to 1000 rank and file ; of eight regiments of horfe artillery, each amounting to 600 rank and file; of four battalions of fappeurs ; as many miners ; and two of pioneers ; amount- ing in the whole to between five and fix thou- fand men. The total of the French army was, at that period, more than half a million rank and file, befides the corps of invalids, and the feveral corps of veterans, compofed of old ioldiers unable to do duty, and now gar- rifoned in fortrefles, forts, and towns ; re- ceiving the fame pay as the troops of the line. 190 BONAPARTE The army was, by no means, complete at the clofe of the laft war ; and ftrong and fevere meafures became neceilary to recruit it. Thefe often occafioned refiftance and bloodfhed. The levies of conferipts, on a large fcale, be- came neceffary, as many young men, who had been forced into (he army, demanded their difcharge at their return, which had been promifed them at the conclufion of peace. There is an order ' or law, by which it is enacled, that the eighth part of each corps mail annually be difchargedin rotation viz. the eldefl in fervice, firfl. Thefe were to be replaced by conferipts of the ninth and tenth years. They were young men of all dalles, who had attained their twentieth year in thefe two years of the republic (1801, 1802.) Thofe foldiers whofe turn it came to be discharged, might have remained in the regiment, and made a compromife with any other who wifhed to leave it ; yet this has been of late reftrained, nor has the firfl regulation been obferved. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 191 Indeed, no fixed plan for the recruiting of the army is yet eftablifhed in France, and pro- vifionary means only are adopted. A lift is made out of all the young men, and another of the vacancies in the regiments. The latter o have diflri6ls affigned them, where they are to receive their fnft complement. They fent there for this purpoie com- miffioned and non-commiftioned officers. The conferipts mufl afTemble at the chief town of the diftricl. The officers of the cavalry have the refufal ; and the remainder is left for the infantry. As all the conferipts have not been wanted to fill up the vacancies in the army, it has been the cuftom of the young men to draw lots twice : once for the regular, and the iecond time for the army of referve. This latter docs not exift in reality : but the conferipts on whom the lot falls to enter this imaginary army, arc, from that moment, at the difpofal of government, and may be aflemblcd in time of need, They are drilled 192 BONAPARTE occafionally. It has not been fettled how long a foldier ought to have ferved, to be intitled to his difchargc. In the levies of the confcripts many abufes take place. A number of young men gene- rally take to flight, or conceal themfelves : as the recruiting officers mufl have their comple- ment, thefe vacancies are inftantly filled up by others; yet the regiments, after they have their full number, ftill purfue the deferters with the greater!; rigor, and lay hold of them wher- ever they find them ; and thefe poor men are generally taken to the regiment, when they are compelled to ferve, inftcad of thofe fol- diers who can pay fomething for their dif- charge. This trade is moftly carried on by the commander of the regiment alone. The national, which have degenerated into mere town guards, daily dwindle in number, and Bonaparte is not difpleafed at it. He has left that decree unexecuted, by which the confuls in the ninth year of the re- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 193 public, ordered the raising of two regiments of national guards of cavalry, and two of infan- try, to do garrison duty at Paris. He has left this service to the veterans, and some half brigades, and to a regiment of dragoons, who might be better depended upon. The consu- lar guards do .duty only at the palaces of the First Consul, and in their barracks. lie has, by a late decree, entirely abolished the national guards at Paris ; and ordered the establishment of a municipal guard, amounting to 2 150infan- trv, and to ISOcavalrv. It is to consist only of soldiers who have served in the regulars \ and is to be looked upon as a sort of retirement for the troops of the line, as they are reported to be better paid than the army. Xo officer, or private, is to be accepted, unless he have made, at least, live campaigns; and their age is to be between thirty and forty-five. The First Consul appoints all the commissioned and non-commissioned officers of this corps. It is under the command of the generals of the first division, and of the commandant o 194 BONAPARTE at Paris. Every thing which concerns their duty and dress, is minutely prescribed. The stations assigned to the real national guards near the turnpikes and gates at Paris, &c. are now filled up by substitutes, or rem- placants, who do the duty instead of the citi- zens, and consist of a miserable assemblage of vagabonds and beggars, without uniform or discipline. The wretchedness of these sub- stitutes was one day proved, when a mechanic shot his wife and himself in a wooden stall, or shop, which he had shut after him. Of five of these fellows, who had been called first, no one had the courage to open the door ; and as nei- ther of them had any powder or ball with them, they would not enter without, as the report of a gun had been heard inside. This shabby, unsoldier-like, motley group, is a satire on the stately national guards, at the beginning of the revolution ; who, in appear- ance and steadiness, even surpassed ihe present consular guards; who with the greatest bravery and discipline, fought against the best French AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 195 troops of the line, near Nancy, Lyons, and other places ; and who knew how to restore and maintain order, till thev were sent, during the dreadful epochs of the last war, to the fron- tiers, and mostly to La Vendee, where they were sacrificed in the most wanton manner. The national guards of old, who formed a true and well-disciplined militia of the country, are now all disarmed by a new game law, which prohibits the possession of a single gun, even to proprietor* of estates, if they have no special license from the prefect of the de- partment. What would Mirabeau say of this degrada- tion and annihilation of the national guards, whom he described in the following words? "El que sont ces troupes, sinon les troupes de la li- berie f Pourquoi les aeon nous instiluces, s idles nesoutpas eternellcment destinces a con- server ee qiC elles out eonquis"* What arc those troops but the soldiers of liberty I 196 BONAPARTE The same fate which befel the former na- tional guards, this fundamental basis of a free government, has been shared by the ju- ries, who certainly never were what they are in England. They are trampled upon from all quarters. The calling together of a jury is grown an unpopular measure : it is, in fact, not calling upon citizens and householders, as in England and America. The justice of the peace, who is the only officer chosen by the people, makes out the lists. These are given to the prefects and vice-prefects, intirely de- pendent on government, who may alter them at pleasure. The judges in the public courts, also take great care to prevent the juries from aking questions, or inquiring into the nature of the crime a prisoner is accused of. The French citizen has, besides, nothing of that zeal for impartial justice, which is the off- spring of a true public spirit, and rational love "Why were they instituted, if they are not continually destined to preserve what they have conquered ? AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 197 of liberty. They are indifferent about it, and the slavish courtiers and journalists, avail themselves of this supineness, to decry juries as utterly useless, troublesome to the citizens, and detrimental to the administration of jus- tice. Juries, are in fact, approaching their intire abolition. They have already been suspended for the eleventh and twelfth year, in the departments of c'dtes du Nord, Du Morbihan, De Vau- eluse, Dcs louche s du Rhone, du Var, Des Alpcs mar it hues, Du Lamone x Du So, De la Doire, De la Sesia, De la Zura, De Marengo et du Tanaro. All these departments are now subjected to the jurisdiction of the hated spe- cial tribunal. Thus the few really beneficent institutions which the revolution brought forth, are gradually destroyed, and this light-headed careless people, -are insensible of the great change. Even in such departments, where juries still exist, their powers are greatly limited. 198 BONAPARTE That branch of the police, known under the name of police correctionale, and which con- sists of a judge and several justices of peace, or assessors, has taken from the juries a num- ber of trifling cases, as exclusively appertain- ing to their jurisdiction. All cases of forgery, murder, manslaughter, setting houses on fire, &c. are assigned over to the courts of the special tribunals, whose arbitrary proceedings have already been noticed. Thus, by annihilating the militia, by under- mining and abolishing thejuries, by destroying all liberty of the press, Bonaparte has broken down the bulwarks of a free constitution ; and, instead of a well-regulated monarchical government, founded on law, he has jumbled together a set of regulations, the result of his arbitrary will, which may be altered every day at pleasure, which pave the way to the most scandalous bribery throughout all public offices ; and thus deprives every body of the legal means of resisting injustice. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 199 Violent measures alone will stem the tor- rent of these glaring oppressions, which far exceed every thing, that the most depraved monarchical government ever did : yet Bona- parte, thus overwhelming a nation already the unhappy victim of the horrors of revolution and anarchy, is preparing new commotions ; and he certainly has great reason to fear for his safety, and rules with a rod of iron. In spite of all his domestic measures, he will still have a very precarious existence, if he continue, as he has hitherto done, to irritate the people by his boundless partiality for his relations and favorites, which he so impru- dently and inconsiderately manifests. Few will perhaps blame the man in power, when he en- deavours to benefit his family, within the limits of prudence and moderation ; but to grant a numerous family, who are absolute strangers to the country, whatever the most extravagant vanity, and the most greedy ap- petite may crave to give ; not from his own 200 BONAPARTE limited income, but from the public purse, thus forfeiting all claim to personal sacrifice and generosity ; to bestow all the most lucra- tive places in administration on swarms of bro- thers, brothers-in-law, uncles, cousins, &c. &c. without any regard to talents or character, to load them with several offices at the same time ; to dub them presidents in all public assemblies ; to trust them with the manage- ment of every thing, by which a great and immense profit may exclusively be reaped : All this far exceeds every papal, princely, and ministerial stretch of power, hitherto known in the world. Everything will in time be forced to yield to this partiality of the consul, and the old Roman imperial despotism will sink under the arrogance and tyranny of the new ruler. The several members of the familvshew as little restraint and modesty in the public enjoy- ment of all these advantages, as he exhibits in bestowing them. Lucien Bonaparte, who at first was minister AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 201 of the interior, and afterwards sent as ambas- sador to Spain, has acquired a fortune of thirty millions of livres. He exerts his influ- ence over his brother who is so mightily obliged to him, to obtain the most profitable commissions and contracts, and thus to in- crease his riches. He lives at his splendid country seat (Plessis), and at his princely hotel at Paris, in a style never equalled by the most prodigal and extravagant prince, except the late regent in France, and his associates, who were known at that luxurious period by the nickname of rones. There is some similari* ty of character between Lucienand thisfamous regent, who seized the government after the decease of Louis XIV. Lucien aims at mag- nificence : he is fond of shew, and indulges in studied sumptuousness. He gives way to the most voluptuous excesses. Like the regent, he is hospitable, generous, a lover and pro- tector of the arts : like him, gains many friends by this single quality. He, of all his p 202 BONAPARTE family, would indeed be the very man for the French, at least for the Parisians. Joseph Bonaparte, deep and reserved, like a true Italian, keeps to the society of his family, but lives in great splendor at his country seat, at Montfontaine, and at his hotel in Paris. The liberality of his brother, at the expence of the public ; his hatred against all men who had grown rich during the revolution, have been made use of by Joseph at the conclusion of peace, to make a fortune by extorting pre- sents, &c. from strangers. The mission to England, which required great prudence, abi- lity, and application, without promissing much gain, was not co vetted by any of the family; they prudently ceded it to an honest German, a gay, thoughtless youth. Louis Bonaparte, without any anxiety to make a fortune, lives nevertheless in the splendid hotel, in which his brother resided before his removal to the Thuilleries. Many things of value, which cannot be trusted to his AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 203 own hands, are given to his wife, the beloved step-daughter of Bonaparte, and carefully se- cured to her for the future. He may one day, perhaps, owe to her the dukedom of Parma. The sisters of Bonaparte are all, without exception, possessed of great fortunes. The richest of them, is the widow of General Le- clerc, to whom the very important expedition to St. Dominngo was intrusted, though per- haps they could not have chosen in all France a man more unfit for such a command. With- out making himself acquainted with the state of affairs at St. Domingo, and the character and influence of the principal negro leaders without any capacity to avail himself of cir- cumstances, and contradictory views of the black chiefs, his natural brutality caused them to join in their resistance against France ; and he has, perhaps, lost for ever this most valuable colony. He consulted more his own interest fhan the public good. During his short stay in that island, he remitted immense sums to 204 BONAPARTE France, which were laid out in the purchase of very considerable estates. His widow is looked upon as the richest oft he whole family. Since her return she has bought a splendid hotel at Paris, which she has fitted up in a princely style : but she will porbably settle in Italy, where she is to marry a Prince Borg- hesse. General Murat, husband to Bonaparte's se- cond sister has accumulated a fortune in Italy, which he daily increases by the savings of his revenues, andfees asgovernor of Milan. Ma- dame Murat is also possessed of a splendid hotel at Paris, where she occasionally resides. Madam Bacciochi, whose husband, aCorsican, is placed in the general staff of Bonaparte, has also a magnificent hotel of her own, the gift of the First Consul, for which the latter ha^ paid the sum of half a million of livres, and which he ordered to be fitted up in the most superb manner. A similar present has been made to the mother, who eagerly seizes on every occa- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 205 sion to make money, and is fond of presents, which are plentifully bestowed upon her by her son and sons-in-law. General Murat made her lately a present of a set of diamonds, estimated at 50,000 livres \ and a service of china of equal value. She has obtained for her brother Fere (now called Fesch), the dignity of cardinal ; and this cardinal, uncle to Bonaparte, has made such good use of his time in Italy, that he is now become immensely rich. He has also receiv- er! the very profitable appointment of ambas- sador to Rome. Napoleon Bonaparte was reported after his first return from Italy, to be possessed of twenty millions of livres, and on his return from Egypt double that sum. Since the intro- duction of the new financial svstem, which allows him six millions annually, instead of the 500,000 livres, formerly assigned to him as consul : he now disposes of the public purse, 206 BONAPARTE without any control ; yet this was in some degree the case in former times. Bonaparte shews the same prediliction to all persons who have served under him in Italy, and neglects the most deserving men, "who fought the glorious battles in Germany, under Moreau, who is now soshamefully neglected. His partiality towards those, who were with him in Egypt, is still greater. Not satisfied with making Duroc, who is quite a young man, the governor general of all his palaces (the pleasing manners of the one, and the per- sonal attachment of the other, might excuse tliis choice) : he has also made him a minis- ter of the cabinet ; and through his hands every thing concerning the army must pass. His will and opinion are of such weight, that the v\ ar minister never ventures to propose any measure, without having previously con- sulted Duroc, fully persuaded that neither the assent v( the First Consul, nor even an an- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 207 svver could be obtained without this favorite's approbation. The war minister Berthier, excepting his pleasing manners, has nothing that could entitle him to such an office but his having been with Bonaparte in Egypt : He is so little fit for it, that it was found necessary immediately to appoint M. Dejean as an assistant. This vice-minis- ter conducts all the important affairs of the war department, under the title of " directeur ministre de V administration de la guerre" whilst Berthier simply enjoys the honors of the charge, and draws an immense income from it. Even Menou, was appointed general ad- ministrator of Piedmont, when every body believed, that Bonaparte would not only dis- countenance him, b ut even treat him with the greatest severity. Denon, a pleasant writer, and a facetious reporter of all the wondrous deeds in Egypt, 208 BONAPARTE was created by him director general of all the literary institutes and academies of arts in France. The most celebrated literati, the most renowned artists were set aside, all former presidents of the societies of arts, were abolished, and Denon appointed sole dicta- tor over them ; whoever knows the extent and importance of the French museums, of the cabinets of antiquities and medals, of the mint itself, as forming a branch of it, must be equally astonished at the courage of this De- non, who accepted such a place in the face of Visconts and other celebrated men, as he himself must be surprised at the blind partiality and protection of the donor. The grand museum at the Louvre, the museum of the French monuments (musec des monuments Francois J, the museum of the French school at Versailles fie mns'ce de cerate Francaise ct Versailles), all the galleries of pictures in the palaces of government, the mint of medals, the chalcographic institutions of the Mosaic, and AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 209 of the cabinets of engravings, the purchase and the removing of all monuments of art and other things of less importance, are placed under the sole and immediate direction and superintendance of this new governor general. Fran, a young surgeon, was nominated by Bonaparte to the most important dignity in his profession, and made " Chirurgien en chef de I 'hotel des inualides" an appointment which had been promised to the surgeon general of Moreau's army, and on which condition alone he followed the latter in his last campaign. Bonaparte said of this Fran lie may yet learn what is necessary, he is vouiig:. Marcel, who set up a small printing office in Egypt, though he never had before the management of one, of any consequence, was promoted to the place of a director ge- neral of the printing offices of the republic (directeur de /' imprimerie de la rcpubliquc), which yields an income of 60,000 livres. Though all the most renowned printers and o 210 BONAPARTE proprietors of similar institutions had offered themselves, 300 in number; though all the votes of the counsellors of state, and of the two other consuls, were unanimously in fa- vor of Pierre. Bonaparte said when they proposed the latter, " If Marcel had not offer- ed himself, I should have given the place to Pierre," and wrote Marcel's name on the war- rant, to the astonishment of every one present. The partiality and confidence to men, who willingly trusted themselves to a hazardous enterprise, under the guidance of a successful soldier, who, blindly confiding in his lucky star, followed him to distant regions, is very natural to one, who has great reason to lay hold of all means to secure himself in his place ; it is even prudent to attach such men still more : but if this cannot be effected, without greatly offending others, is it also prudent to render them bitter enemies, and thus to create throughout all classes and de- partments a general discontent, which will AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 211 sooner or later break out with the greatest violence, the longer it is forcibly suppressed ? If we reflect on these circumstances, we must cither doubt Bonaparte's prudence and moderation, or conclude that all penetration, all talent, and superiority, will be of little avail to the man who has raised himself above all, and now stands alone, or is surrounded by hungry and malicious slaves. Still, every ruler, who has not that command over himself which he ought to have, is in a much more dangerous situation than mcrelj r standing by himself as he is encircled by the slaves of rapine and malice, ready to instil into his mind sentiments even worse than his own. The man of noble mind disdains to approach a being so infinitely inferior to himself. Hy- pocrisy, and cunning submission, are his principal attendants ; but these with a word may be laid in silence at his thet. He will no longer see or hear, but with their ears and eyes, trusting to all their wickedness may sug- 212 BONAPARTE gcst ; at the same time proudly thinking it the result of his own wisdom and activity : that it is his penetrating eye that has foreseen every thing. He believes himself superior to all those by whom he is surrounded, when he is only a mere machine in the hands of these miscreants. , It has been asserted in private societies, and in public journals, that this is the character of Bonaparte j and the measures which are always taken before he appears in public, render this very probable. If he is to visit an exhibition of any kind, every one who is not absolutely wanted there is previously sent away. The favorites of Bonaparte, and the minister to whose department the object in. question may belong, and who have always seen it before, to give their opinion of it to the consul, who have perhaps instructed the ambitious or interested proprietor what he is to say. in order to attain his end : they al- ways accompany Bonaparte, and prevent any AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 213 thing disagreeable reaching his ear. Besides, if we except military objects, he is no compe- tent judge of any thing. If this has been the case in the capital for the two last years, how much more must it be in the provinces ignorant as he is of local circumstances, of the persons appointed there, and the inhabitants, none of whom are ever admitted into his presence. The greatest precaution for his security is visible on these excursions. He never takes that road which has been previous- ly announced. His guards are always sent in several directions to wait for him, but are never certain which way he is to come. He never stays at a place so long as was at first, expected. He always sets out suddenly and unperceived, and generally arrives unobserved in the night, at St. Cloud, or Alalmaison. A salute from the guns announce on the next morning his return : messengers and cou- riers are riding in all directions, to inform the 214 BONAPARTE foreign Ambassadors and the constituted au- thorities, that the great master is ready to accept at a certain hour their congratulations on his arrival. If Bonaparte think to strike the French with greater awe, by these manifold prepara- tions, and outward shew of greatness and mag- nificence ; and thus, to make up what is de- nied him from the people, in attachment and love , if he hope to make them forget the stranger who was artful enough prudently to avail himself of the weakness and folly of the nation, he greatly errs. He only throws a greater light on his usurpation, increases jea- lousy, exasperates the disaffected, and pro- vokes the national pride to fury and revenge, which will be the more destructive as it is in the character of that nation to bear every thing in humble silence, and carefully to con- ceal their rage and thirst for revenge, till they can seize a favorable opportunity to shake olf the galling yoke. Bold enterprises, splendid AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 215 and uncommon successes, triumphs which give a lustre to that vain and ambitious nation these, while they exalt the proud ruler, are the only means by which the usurped autho- rity can ever be preserved. If we closely examine Bonaparte's conduct towards the English ambassador, Lord Whit- worth, whom he found at Paris, on his return from the sea coast, Ave shall have occasion to remark that the chief object of his absence was nothing else than to fortify the northern and western coasts of France 3 and that all the new regulations were directed to the pre-concerted project of an invasion. It is more than pro- bable, that he thought this would soon open to him a new career of glory ; and thus keep the people. in humour and properly employed. He was certainly not earnest in his desire of a lasting peace. He received and treated the English ambassador, after having delayed his first audience for three weeks, with the most striking coolness. At the public audiencci 216 BONAPARTE and in the circles of Mad. Bonaparte, he often made to him the rudest observations. Per- haps, the substance of his addresses might not have given so much offence as the haughty and commanding tone in which he spoke ; it was however highly improper. His favorite term, " Je le veux" (I will it) which he generally uses with the other consuls, and with his ministers, were one day addressed quite aloud to the ambassador of a power who had formerly spoken in this manner itself. As Bonaparte is supposed not to be abso- lutely ignorant of the English character, or forgetful of himself!, it must be inferred from this conduct that his mind was already bent on great enterprises against that country, even during peace, and that his pride alone made him forget the necessarv caution in concealing his intentions. lie certainly did not wish so soon to come to a rupture with England ; this has been clearly seen by his endeavors, at least for a time, towards an amicable understand- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 217 mg : but the patience of the English was now worn out, and they declared themselves sooner than he expected. He thought England, per- haps, far more distracted by factions, and the danger in Ireland far greater than it now really appears. He may have believed the proud islanders sufficiently humbled by the disadvan- tageous and dishonorable terms of the treaty, which he had compelled them to accede to, and favored as he had been by so many unex- pected circumstances, he imagined that he might shew to their ambassador and to them, his contempt and hatred. He thought that he had reduced them to the necessity of sub- mitting in silence, whilst he shewed the great- est activity to restore the French navy, to for- tify the coasts, and to prepare a flotilla which might supply the want of large ships. He supposed them unable to resist, whilst he, by opening an intercourse with the Netherlands, should secure to himself and to France, a great revenue, and the annihilation of trade to Eng- land. 218 BONAPARTE But these humbled islanders, to whom no- thing perhaps is so sacred, which they would not willingly sacrifice for their country, their national security, for their prosperity and for their honor, resumed their courage, and said, "A war with this haughty Corsican is una- voidable ; we must indemnify ourselves for the disadvantageous peace which we have con- cluded : and for fear of the worst, we had bet- ter decide on it now, than ten years hence, when perhaps the enemy may have accom- plished all his hostile preparations, so openly carried on : better now, than when the nation is betrayed into false security, and dangerous slumber, by deceitful promises, and treacher- ous allurements. We are still possessed of that rock, on which he in future may rest, with his face towards Asia, and Africa, musing on his grand projects against us, and all Europe. Let the proud boaster try, whether treachery and violence, will now meet with their wonted success." AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 219 The antigallican orators in the British par- liament, and the public papers in England, continued to wound the pride and the vanity of the hostile conqueror. He shewed himself by far too much hurt at their philippics. He demanded the prosecution and punishment of such boldness. He thought, perhaps, the English government should prohibit the mem- bers of parliament from uttering such lan- guage against him. The French official papers were filled with the coarsest and most malici- ous attacks on the English nation and its government, though the British ambassador was present. The other French papers and journals re-echoed these invectives, and others made bitter and malicious additions of their own. Never did there exist between two great nations, then at peace, such an unbe- coming rancour. An English newspaper, established by go- vernment, under the title of, " The Argus," published by ajew, who had been driven away 220 BONAPARTE from England, was filled with the greatest scurrillity, and the most infamous aspersions on the English people and government ; it was daily distributed among the English, who came in crowds to visit Paris. All the French papers correctly translated these scandalous ar- ticles, and spread them all over the country. No English newspaper was publicly allowed, but one called the Weekly Messenger ; which was evidently in the pay of the French go- vernment, and always in contradiction with the spirit of other English papers. The French translated from this latter such paragraphs only as contained the intelligence of dreadful murders, robberies, adulteries, bestial fights, boxing matches, and other traits and trans- actions not very honorable to the English character. The Parisian papers, sometimes gave them- selves an air of deep concern and regret in feel- ing it to be their duty to report to their French readers, what those insolent islanders haddared AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 221 to say publicly against their great and magna- nimous consul ; but they curtailed every thing which might be too severely felt by the grand hero : they substituted other and milder ex- pressions ; and if there were any thing inserted which could not be softened down so far as to render it palatable to their kind master, they left it out entirely. If a public official paper degrade itself to such a mean pitiful Jesuitic artifice, it must lose that credit which it no longer deserves. It would even be preferable to continue in these mutual invectives, and, like the Moni- teur, to speak of " Imagination dereglee, dcllre, crime, politique, Infernale, Tunlslens, Algcriens, passions, haineuses et jalouses, per/Ides Instigations:" Or, like the publicise, of liommes atroces, qui out solde toils les crimes, qui sont voues an mepris de I 'Europe, fumes du via de Porto qui les penetre d'un saint entliuslasme pour la liberie: or, like the open hearted rough Englishman, of fraud, rob- 222 BONAPARTE bery, and breach of faith ; for every one knows then at least, that they are in a passion, and judges of them accordingly. The English ambassador, who found little to praise in Paris, saw nothing at St. Cloud or Malmaison, that could give him more favour- able impressions. The attention of the family of Bonaparte was entirely taken up with the new titular promotion ; and it was only de- bated, whether Napoleon Bonaparte should be invested with the imperial or consular dig- nity. When the imperial crown was at last proposed in the senate for discussion, one pert orator rose ; but touching the strings that might rather jingle too much in the ears of the people, he spoke with such boldness and force, that vanity became frightened, and he withdrew, for that time, the proposal of ma- jesty. Several ministerial papers had, how- ever, the meanness to attack the daring ora- tor ; but, in reality, they only betrayed, in a very clumsy manner, their great chagrin on AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 223 the discomfiture of a proposal, which it was thought would meet with less resistance than any former. The ministers of Bonaparte reap- ed, however, some nominal benefit from this manoeuvre ; the title of Excellency, which had previously been added to their names in the court calender, no doubt to save the trou- ble of its being inserted in due time, was given and decreed them in form. An object which filled the family of Bona- ' parte with great concern and anxiety, was the miserable state of affairs at St. Domingo, and the necessity they were in of recalling their stupid and rapacious brother-in-law, and of commiting this important and profitable com- mand to a stranger, one not belonging to the family. The death of General Leclerc in some respect solved the difficulty, and the affairs at St. Domingo began to wear a better aspect, as soon as the helm was taken from such un- skilful hands ; but more favorable accounts now arriving, they were kept very secret, and the 224 BONAPARTE former bad ones suffered to continue in circu- lation, in order to conceal from the public the striking proofs of the inaptitude of the broth- er : and the public were not to know that their most valuable island was on the point of being lost by family protection. The people were to be amused, and their attention diverted, by exhibitions of fine rib- bons, and models of stars, for a new order, which the family chose to substitute for the old noble one of the Holy Ghost. It should be as similar to the latter as possible. The blue ribbon of the same breadth, had only a small red line in the middle, and a small white edge. The few remains of the republican tri- color on this ribbon, veiy emblematically ex- pressed the nature of the present mock com- monwealth. The star was to represent a sun, and the Holy Ghost was to be changed into an eagle soaring within its beams. Yet its introduction was also laid aside, with the proposed imperial majesty, for a time; perhaps AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 225 until the legion of honir, and the senatoriau order could be introduced. This also was the offspring of that period of vanity. It will, perhaps, procure the means to silence all senators, who might be apt to speak, if not well paid for their taciturnity : and it will be, at the same time, a channel from which new honors, and considerable reve- nues, may be drawn for bi'otliers and sisters. A very great part of the unsold and un- claimed national property, which was repeat- edly promised to the arm}', as a reward of their bravery, has been allotted to the senators. Yet this new invention of family fondness must exasperate the army still more, as the late execution of the project for a legion of honor is still delayed ; and as even attempts have been made to extend it also to civil, as well as military persons, contrary to its origi- nal intent, which was, that it should only consist of military men, who had received swords of honor as a reward of their gallantry. s 226 BONAPARTE It was to be divided into troops or cohorts ; and to each of these latter should be assigned an old castle, abbey, or other public building, where every member, not possessed of a house of his own, might have apartments, and a pension allowed him. Yet several persons fill- ing the most important places in administra- tion, have already been appointed as officers and directors of the legion of honor, and now sit in the high councils or committees of the corps. Here again means have been found to favor the family of Bonaparte, and their minions. That there never should have been the least idea to ofTer Moreau, the first and most worthy hero of France, a place in the legion of honor, raises, perhaps, a greater indignation in Germany, where this general, even when an enemy, knew how to command esteem and respect, more than in frivolous France. Whilst attempts were making to introduce these new orders, that bear a great similarity AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE 227 with that of Cincinnatus projected in America, great care was also taken not to mention a work of Mirabeau on this order, in which he explains the dangerous tendency of such in- stitutions towards despotism and oligarchy. Mirabeau particularly inveighs against the incautious introduction of nobility ;jii mea- sure which he deprecates in the following words : " Tout ce qui est sig?ie, tt qui pent tout u coup server de ralliement a un grand nombre d'hommes, qui pent former un esprit particulier dans Vesprit general qui peut scparer certain nombre de ciloyens du corps des citoyens est been plus redoutable par ses effets dans une repuhlique, que dans unc monarch ie, 8Cc. Dans la monarchit tout tend d C elevation ; dans la republique tout doit tendre ci Cegalite. Dans lapremil re il faut desrangs ; dans la se- conde ilfaut des vert us. Les signes exterieurs de distinctions sont nalurliscs dans la monarchic, et par cela vicme leur influence est moins dan- gereuse. Mais tons ces sig?ies, qui distinguctit 228 . BONAPARTE sont etrangers au gouvernement et ci V esprit republicain : et si le corps solitaire, qui oss ainsi se distinguer est un corps, de guerriers alors tout est perdu. La liberie ne r ester a pas long terns, dans des climate, que de pareilles distinctions outr agent T * This work was written four years previous to the French revolution, for the benefit of the Americans, who had then introduced the * " Whatever is a sign and may serve as a rallying post to a great number of men ; whatever may form a particular, in a general spirit ; whatever can separate a certain number of citizens from the whole body, is much more formidable by its effects in a republic than in a monarchy : in the latter, every thing tends to ele- vation ; in the former, every thing ought to produce equality : in the former, distinctions are wanted ; in the latter, virtues The outward signs of these distinctions are naturalised in a monarchy, and by that circum- stance, their influence is less dangerous ; but all distin- guishing characteristics are foreign to the republican spirit, as veil as to its government; and if that solitary body, which thus aspires to pre-eminence, be composed of warriors, all is lost : liberty will not long remain in climes infected by such distinctions." AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 229 order of Cincinnatus, already consisting G f 10,000 members. The effect of this work was the immediate and careful limitation of the order ; and America has preserved her liberty. The French, on whom all good ad- vice, all instructive examples are lost ; who never look farther than to the present moment ; who proudly boast that they also have had a revolution, no doubt wish for a better consti- tution than the Americans ; and they now reckon as many of them as revolutionary years, while they are always committing the same faults without profiting by experience. The miscarried imperial dignity had also caused a project for a new coin, with the head of Bonaparte j but they could not agree about the titles and inscriptions. A day was ap- pointed in March, 1803, when the First Con- sul was to go to the mint ti decide upon it. The minister of finances informed the master only two days before of his intended visit, and insisted that his head must be stamped *30 BONAPARTE upon the coin in his presence, in order to sur- prise him agreeably. The director general of the medals, a great artist, maintained the im- possibility even of producing an indifferent one in so short a space, and insisted on Bo- naparte sitting to him, in order that it might be worthy cf the First Consul and the nation, as to superior excellence, in the execution. When the minister still insisted, a young man in the mint, who had previously executed a head of Bonaparte, and had privately offered to realize the plan of the ministerial flatterer, finished the medal tolerably well, and the like- ness was striking. Bonaparte was very much pleased with the young artist, desired that he might be presented to him ; and, without ask- ing whether he was a director of the medals or not, made a contract with him for the whole coinage of the new crowns that were to bear his impression. It appeared en this occasion how little Bo- naparte thought of opposition in the senate, AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 231 and how well he could depend on their acqui- escence. He asked the young man, how much time it would require to finish the stamp for the new dollars. He answered, fourteen days. Bonaparte then replied : " Yes, in ten days, the law will have passed and have been pro- claimed : that will do." And by these few words this young man was appointed, against which no one of the present minister:-;, nor the general director of the mint, nor any oilier di- rector, dared to make the least objection, though they knew the master of the mint must feel very much hurt ; and this inexperienced youth must be sensible both of the affront and of the loss, which the innocent man must suf- fer, if such a considerable commission were taken from him. Nevertheless, experience too soon proved to the Consul, that such rash decisions may be a reward for an assiduous, submissive flat- terer, but cannot give the talents required. The new crowns were ready at the appointed time, but when they were issued they proved 232 BONAPARTE not only indifferent in workmanship, but also quite inadmissible. The artist had forgotten that they were to be current, and had there- fore made the head and inscriptions too pro- jecting, so that the new crowns would not lie one upon another, and also required too much room in the chests of bankers and merchants : they were therefore called in, and new ones coined. The new stamp is a little better than the former, but the head of Bonaparte had none of those marked traits which peculiarly characterise his countenance- Many ether such blunders and awkward attempts, which betrayed the novices of this mushroom court, very often happened in the Thuilleries, and must have surprised the lady of the English ambassador, who had accom- panied the late Duke of Dorset to France, and had seen the court of the unfortunate queen.* The proud Englishman must also be 'The author has been misinformed : her Grace the AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE 233 offended, as othor ambassadors were, at the several demands and importunities of this new court. There was, for instance, a formal court-mourning ordered, on the death of General le Clcrc; an audience of condolence was announced to the English and other am- bassadors, which they were compelled to ob- serve, and pay visits to the whole 'family. lie was forced at such consular audiences to wait, like other ambassadors, for whole hours, in the confined anti-chambers, till the Consul was pleased to make his appearance. Several circumstances, which could only be ascribed to the greatest inexperience, or inat- tention, if not to a petulant pride, rendered these delays highly disagreeable, if not dan- gerous, litis was particularly the ease on the third of April, the day appointed for the Dutchess of Dorset was not in France with the Dcke when ambassador ; she was married to him after his return from thatembassv. 234 BONAPARTE grand parade, which usually precedes the au- diences of the foreign ambassadors. This pa- rade degenerated into a sort of special review of all the troops garrisoned in Paris. Even the conscripts appeared dressed in their white frocks, and the soldiers with their knapsacks, and every thing necessary to take the field at a minute's notice. The principal gates leading to the Thuilleries were shut, and Bonaparte, who usually passes the ranks on horseback, went this time on foot. He opened several knapsacks, ordered shoes, which he found of had workmanship, to be thrown away. He commanded a soldier to pull off his coat, which he tore in two, as a warning to the con- tractors. He questioned them, and severely reprimanded some of the field-officers present. He asked the conscripts respecting the quali- ty of the soups which they received, nothing else having been provided for them. By these proceedings he hoped, perhaps, to persuade the soldier who thinks himself dis- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 235 regarded, and who is dissatisfied, that he is not unmindful of them ; and probably meant this as a hint to the English ambassador, that he was ready to march, if the auswer from England did not prove satisfactory ; similar hints had been already thrown out in several audiences. This grand parade now lasted five hours, instead of an hour and a half, its usual time. The ambassadors, who had received no notice, arrived at the wonted hour, accompanied by many foreigners, whom they wished to present to the Consul ; but they found the gates of the Thuilleries shut. After waiting at the outside, just before the iron rails, where the review took place, they were at last informed, that they might walk up to a side gate, which should be opened to them. They were com- pelled to submit, and went, in full dress, through a part of the garden to enter the pa- lace ; but they also found the gate leading to it closed, and were again forced to wait, every ^36 BONAPARTE where surrounded by a rabble, who had been suffered to pass through an opposite door. This was, indeed, a disagreeable situa- tion for the English ambassador in particular, as the common people looked upon this special review as a warlike preparation against Eng- land. He was still more exposed to the un- pleasant curiosity of the common people, on account of his grand, stately appearance, his richly embroidered coat, and his star and ribbon, which continually attracted the eyes of the populace. After having walked a con- siderable time, and after much knocking at the door, it was opened, and the ambassadors found at last an asylum in the narrow anti- chamber, where they were still compelled to wait several hours, till it grew almost dark, belbre they were admitted. If the European powers do not especially and strictly command their ambassadors to resist such haughtiness, which surpasses even that of the eld Romans towards the envoys of AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 237 subjected nations, it will increase every year, and these foreign powers will become con- temptible in the eves of the people, in propor- tion as Bonaparte gains respect. Every no- ble-minded subject of such sovereigns, who are represented by their ambassadors at Paris, must be deeply hurt by the pride and arro- gance of the consular court. It is probable that the First Consul does not encourage this insolence ; that he is ignorant of many offen- sive occurrences, or perhaps not sensible of them, bein^ naturallv of an unfeeling and se- vere disposition, which 'was far from being s'ftened or refined by the education he re- ceived. His followers visiblv delight in this humiliating treatment of others, and will cer- tainly continue it, till the attention of the First Consul be roused by repeated and earn- est remonstrances. The English ambassador, who had reason to be disgusted at the Thuilleries, found as little in Paris and in all France, to reconcile him, or 238 BONAPARTE to gain his esteem, for he saw a degraded peo- ple, bearing, in slavish abjection, the tyranny of a despotic ruler. Some consular decrees, respecting the future public instruction and administration, appeared about that time. A stranger to the history of Europe, might have inferred, from the tenor of many new-made regulations, that the present master of the French had it in view, to raise a savage nation from a state of barbarity, to the first degree of civilization. For to the eye of an European observer, his laws, and ordinan- ces, certainly had this tendency, viz. to impress the French with a strong military character. But the short-sighted Frenchmen, were not struck by them : perhaps they never gave them a thought. They were amused with pompous panegyrics, on the grand and pretended hu- mane views of government, to promote know- ledge, and to procure to the people the bles- sings of liberty. They had been deceived and led astray, in former times, by the declamations AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 23 of their constitution makers, on equality ; now they were blinded, and over-awed by loud en- comiums on the greatness of their ruler, and the high fame of the conqueror. French pride aimed at singularity from the beginning of the revolution. They would have no system, of ancient or modern times, as a model. No ! the great and en- lightened nation would go on its own way, and would give itself a constitution, which might serve as a pattern to future ages : not such an one as the English boasted so much of ; it was too imperfect in their eyes, it had too much of the barbarous usages of feudal times. The Americans had only adapted their's to an in- considerable people, just beginning to form itself, and living dispersed over a wide plain ; for them, a federal system might be useful. Perfection in every thing was the hue and cry in France ; yet, this people, so eager to bring every thing to perfection, forgot and overlooked the only means by which it might 240 BONAPARTE be attained, namely, the improvement of public instruction. Daring the first ten years of the revolution, they never cast a look on this great object, they never thought of re- forming the public schools, the great and sole basis of general improvement. The champions, and authors of the French revolution, were certainly ready to grant sup- port and assistance to great, splendid, and striking enterprises, in order to add to the glory of France : but the less shining, though peaceful and necessary instructions to secure the true happiness of citizens, were neglected. All former establishments of ceJebrity were, therefore, enlarged, and rendered still more splendid ; but for the extension of general knowledge, nothing was done. The botanic garden, already greatly renowned, was highly improved. Botanic museums were erected ; lectures on chemistry, on natural history, and on every branch of science, distantly connected with botany, were established. The celebrated AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 241 lour academics were changed into a grand national institution, including all arts and sciences, and by its constitution, the respec- tability, and the laudable efforts of its mem- bers, surpassed every thing of the kind in Europe. The former great royal colleges, for students, were changed into a general aca- demy, called Ecole Pohjtcchnique> where all arts and sciences were publicly taught ; yet, for the common schools in the provinces, and in the country, very little was done; and where any improvement had been made, it was gene- rally owing to the private endeavours of the masters in central academies. Little as this was, it is now absolutely destroyed, by the new regulations for the Lyceums, published by the consuls. These regulations for the Lyceums, substi- tuted lor central schools, can serve as a model for all military and despotic states. The first article evidently shews, that the former contemptible French schools have been i' 242 BONAPARTE taken as a pattern for the new ones : It is worded in the following manner : On enseig- nera essentiellement dans les lycess le latin, ct les mathematiques : and the last article proves, that the bigotry of former schools was to be preserved ; for it says : 77 y aura un aumonier dans chaqae lycee. (Each lyceum shall have a chaplain.) The masters of latin and mathematics, at these lyceums, are also to teach geography, mythology, ancient history, and arithmetic. No mention at all is made of ancient or mo- dern languages, moral philosophy, pcetry, &c. but military exercises are chiefly insisted on. The nineteenth article contains the fol- lowing order : " Un ojficier, inslructeur sera charge, d'apprendre, Vexcrcice aux eleves qui auront plus, dc douze ; il enseignera a ceux, qui auront atteint cct age, le maniement des armes et Vcole du peloton ; il sera oblige de sc trcxer, a toutes les lie ures pour commander AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 243 les marches des eleves dans leur different mouvement de la jouniee."* The whole internal constitution of these ly- ceums is truly military, and the schools, for the sons of French citizens, will be, in future, nothing else but martial establishments. The boys are divided into companies : have their serjeants, serjeant-majors, and corporals, as- signed them, and if they are led out, they must march in a body, and always have a cen- sor, a quartermaster, an officer, and a drilling scrjeant at their head. The twenty-third article of the new regula- tion deserves a place here. It says : Tout ce qui est relatij aux repas, aux recreations, aux promenades, an sommeil, scfera par compag- * A military instructor shall have the charge of teaching the manual exercise to those pupils who shall be more than twelve yeais of age j all such shall be taught the military and platoon exercises : the master shall be obliged to assist, at stated times, in directing them to perform the various evolu- tions. 244 BONAPARTE nic. All the punishments of the boys are just the same as in the French army, namely, la prison et les arrets ; la table de penitence only has been added. Yet, in the schools, or Lyceums, already established at Paris, the boys are dreadfully flogged and beaten ; and the incredible filth of the school-rooms renders it almost impossible, to a friend of cleanliness, to remain there for any length of time. The insides of these schools, resemble the barracks of the worst description, with this exception, that thelatter are generally kept much cleaner. The most curious of all the articles in this new consular regulation, are the eleventh and the twenty-seventh. They are thus worded. XI. II sera nomine deux commissions, I'une pour le latin, V autre pour les niaihcma- tiques. Elles dresscront line instruction, qui determinera d'une maniere precise les parties, quon doit enseigner dans chaque classe, et les coins quon doit suhre. Elles traceronl avec soin Vordre a ctablir entre les cours qui seronf AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 245 suivis simulet taniment et la durce de chaque classe ; elles s'occuperont de la reimpression des auteurs classiques et la disposeront de manicre, quily ait aidant de volumes, qu'il y a de classes, en reunissant dans un seid et meme volume tout cc que doit montrcr le pro- fesseur pour une classe de latin, ainsi que tout ce qui appartient a un? classe de mathema- tiques. Onpourra divisor les volumes, scion les parties d 'enseigncment pour I'usage des eleves. Le professeur ne pourra, sous quclque pretexte qui ce soil, enseigner d'autress oucrages* * Two committees shall be appointed, one for the Latin, and the other for mathematics ; they are to plan a mode of instruction, that shall determine in a precise manner the branches that are to be taught in each class, and the different studies to be pursued ; they are carefully to devise the order that shall be es- tablished, and the duration of each particular pursuit ; they shall superintend the re-printing of the classic authors, which they shall dispose in such a manner, as to make as many volumes as there are forms ; taking care to compress in one volume, what the professor is to teach to the Latin form, and, likewise, to those who learn mathematics. They may divide the vo- lumes according to the several modes of instruc- 246 BONAPARTE XXVII. II y aura dans chaque lycie unc bibliotheque de 1500 tomes ; tonics les bib- liothfques sellout composccs des manes outra- ges j aucun autre outrage ne pourra ij etre place sans Valorisation du ministre de Vinte- rieur. Les outrages seront prctes aux eleves pour qu Us puis sent lire dans leur recreation les jours de fetes, el de vacances* For the French seminaries, and their in- structors, no printing offices will be necessary in future. The treasures of learning, which we possess from ancient times, amounting to many hundred volumes, will be compressed tion, for the use of the pupils ; and it shall not be lawful for the teacher, under any pretence whatever, to make use of any other author. * Each lyceum shall contain a library, consisting of 1500 volumes ; every library shall be composed of the same works, and no other shall be introduced with- out the authority of the minister of the interior ; the pupils shall have free access to those books, for their private reading, in the days of festivals and holidays. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 247 into six for the bovs and for the youth of France, conformably to the will and pleasure of the consular majesty ; for there are only six Latin forms, and every form shall have only one single volume for the whole year. The library, which is to contain 1500 books, and no more, will be filled with the historical and mathematical works of the Jesuits, which, by the bye, are very voluminous : and thus the youth of the nineteenth century will have every possible instruction, and more than suf- ficient means to become as enlightened and accomplished as the First Consul, who cer- tainly did not receive a better education. As t-) the makers and reviewers of the six volumes for the use of these lyceums, as they enter but half way in his plans, we shall have a pretty fair scale, and a curious monument of future French culture in the present age. The hatred of the First Consul to all repub- lican forms extends itself equally to all insti- 248 BONAPARTE tutions of arts and sciences, which one their origin to the revolution. From the grand na- tional institute, renowned and celebrated as it was throughout all Europe, down to the school for trumpeters at Versailles, we meet with nothing new. There was a separate class in the national institute, for natural philoso- phy, ethics, politics and legislation, on ac- count of their being so closely connected. Richelieu, the old despotic minister of France, would not have suffered such a dangerous union in his four ancient academies ; nor will Bonaparte allow it. The national institute is, therefore, dissolved, and branched out again into the four old royal academies, where dan- gerous questions are not to be discussed in fu- ture, nor any thing be said that was allowed even under the government of Louis XIV. XV. and XVI. The degenerated child of the revolution now stands uppermost, and higher perhaps than former monarchs. The light which the latter AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 249 feared, will Ik 1 therefore equally hateful and dangerous to him. In several central schools, which really deserved the name of schools, some thinking men had already begun to give lectures on ethics, history, and statical know- lodge sciences which the French never heard of before. Though everv thing was still im- perfect, the path was at least opened; yet it was thought too dangerous. The conqueror only wanted a warlike nation , any knowledge unnecessary for a soldier, who is implicitly to obey, might be spared in public instruction. The Jesuits formerly taught Latin and mathe- matics ; the same should be adhered to at pre- sent. " Trois ma it res de mathe.mathju.es ct trois de la langue Latine, ca suffit." Thus wrote the First Consul, with his own hand, at the bottom of the plan for public instruction, presented by the learned Cuvier and Fourcrov, after striking it through from the beginning to the end. That these worthy men have no share in the drawing up of the new consular 250 BONAPARTE regulations, is too evident, by their whole ten- or and by the rules : nay, even by the wording of them. How contemptuous and disgraceful an opi- nion must Bonaparte have of the French, by thus driving them back into the state of igno- rance and barbarism of past centuries: and how well does the nation justify his mean opi- nion, by basely submitting in silence to this degradation. A nation who had to boast of a Descartes, a Malebranche, a Bayle, a Pascal, a Montesquieu, a Hopital, a Daynesseau, a Colbert, a Mably, a d'Alembert, a Voltaire, a Rousseau, a Diderot, a Helvetius, a Raynal, a Thomas, a Mirabeau, ce. celle des cantons democratiques, le voeu du peuple entier, nous ontfait un devoir d'in- terposer notre mediation entre les parties, qui le divise?it, 8Cc* He named also, by this act, the canton which was to have the directorial power for the year 1803 ; and fixed upon Freburg, * Helvetia, a prey to dissensions, was menaced with approaching dissolution. It did not possess in itself the means of renovation. The ancient affection of France for that respectable people whom she has late- ly defended with her arms, and caused to be acknow- ledged by her treaties, as an independent state ; the interest of the French and the Italian republics, whose frontiers are limited by Switzerland ; the request of the senate and the democratic cantons, and the voice of the whole nation have imposed on us the duty of mediating between the parties by which it is divided. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 273 where he appointed the Count d'Alliy as Landaman. This is the same man who for- merly served in France, where he had the command of the royal Swiss guards. On the tenth of August, when these brave and loyal men defended their unfortunate master and the royal palace against the fury of the po- pulace, and were mortally massacred, he did not command them. lie went afterwards before the convention, and to save his own life, declared that he did not head the Swiss on that day, though the queen had very much pressed him to do so the day before, to pro- tect the king and the royal family against the furious Parisian populace. The savage mon- sters in the convention were rejoiced at this deposition, as they found some ground on which they might build the accusation of the queen, whose death they had vowed. They pardoned the hoary traitor. He seems to make a very good use of his fortunate escape for the benefit of his pious countrymen, lie a 9 $74 BONAPARTE lately supplicated the Pope in a very devout letter, to extend the blessings of his protection to the Swiss. His Holiness never shuts his ears against the earnest prayers of true be- lievers ; he has therefore bestowed his paternal blessings and protection on the humble Swiss -, and nuns, and monks, and brevets and bulls out of number have been issued to prevent the circulation of dangerous heretical books, and to promote chastity : such have been the precious tokens of papal benignity. To save all further trouble to the Swiss, who certainly were unable to help themselves, the presidents of all the nineteen committees who were to introduce the new constitution into their respective cantons, and provisk nally to govern, were appointed also by the equally benign Bonaparte. Nobody will be surprised that not one single individual, of those Swiss, who had distinguished themselves, in the lat- ter years, as zealous and patriotic defenders of their ancient liberty, was included in the number. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 275 The consular regulation concerning the debts which the Swiss had contracted, begins also with an order by which the restitution of all estates, formerly belonging to convents, is strictly commanded. A solemn promise was made at the same time, that all French troops should evacuate Switzerland, as soon as the new constitution could be introduced and settled. A year has now elapsed since this has been done, and the French troops are still there. It is a question, whether their removal be desirable for most of the cantons. No good has resulted from the new constitution, which many were in hopes would in some measure restore tranquillity. None had reason to be so satisfied, as to think the country much benefited. The discontent and fermentation are greater than ever ; and the poor, honest, though passionate Swiss, who probably do not penetrate the final views of Bonaparte, are every moment exposed to the bad alternative of either inconsiderately flying 276 BONAPARTE to arms, or running the risk of falling into the snare laid for them, even sooner than Bo- naparte himself may expect. Switzerland, thus shackled, degraded, and oppressed, be- comes, for an attentive observer of Bonaparte's usurpation and rigid aggrandizement, an ob- ject of serious reflection ; as those unjustifiable measures may be the forerunners of similar attempts in future. Having finished with the Swiss, he now tried his strength on the English ambassador. Private interviews, amicable jests, airs of fa- miliaritv, confidential insinuations all his arts ml J were employed : but after some private con- ferences with Lord Whitworth, regularly pre- ceded by private consultations between the latter and the R ussian, Prussian, and other am- bassadors with Talleyrand ; after having in vain exhausted all his powers, and at last all his insolence, with the immovable Englishman, the First Consul must have been convinced that England wished for war 3 as she really was AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 277 ashamed of the disadvantageous peace she had concluded. Her object was to put a stop to Bo- naparte's hostile preparations, and thwart his too incautious plans of aggrandizement. Me- diations could certainly be of no avail, and yet he very anxiously wished for the interference of the Russian and Prussian courts. He sent his favorite Duroc to Berlin, with proposals, which had nothing less in view, than the total destruction of England his last and principal opponent in Europe.- If Duroc succeeded in disposing the Prussian court in favor of Bona- parte's designs, as far as he should think it proper to acquaint the Prussian cabinet with them if he could prevail upon the King of Prussia to take an active part in the war against England, he was then to proceed to Petcrsburgh, in order to accomplish his mis- sion : but General Duroc soon returned from Berlin. The Prussian court looked upon the present dispute as a matter which concerned England and France alone ; as the English 278 BONAPARTE ambassador had often justly complained of the little observance of some articles in the treaty on the part of France, and her eagerness for conquest. This, also, was most probably mentioned to the favorite emissary, though he was dismissed with the most obliging assur- ances of friendship towards the First Consul, after having himself experienced the most po- lite treatment and personal respect. Bonaparte now seeing himself involved in a war with England, sooner than lie had first, intended, would willingly have induced all Europe, if possible, to share in the contest ; but the prudent and moderate answers of the two northern courts soon convinced him that he had not with foreign powers that influence he perhaps imagined. He must also perceive that other nations had by no means that contemptible opinion of England and its in- ternal state, which he had too clearly mani- fested, by his contemptuous behaviour since the disadvantageous treaty of peace, which he AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 279 had so easily obtained. He must also find, that their opinion of England and his were widely different : they did not think that she was unab'.e henceforth to meddle with the affairs of the continent, or too far humbled ever to cherish such a presumption. On the contrary, iiiese courts must have become a lit- tle more cautious by his own conduct towards England ; and much more so by his insidious proposals, his unbounded arrogance, and im- moderate ambition 5 however fair and polite his words and promises were, by which he thought rulers might be flattered and ensnared. His overbearing deportment towards England, by which he very imprudently roused her na- tional pride, proved highly offensive to those sovereigns who thought themselves connected and allied with the English court, by different ties from those of the First Consul, splendid as his successes may have been. When Bonaparte now saw that the English were in earnest, he left nothing untried to re- 280 BONAPARTE tain the English ambassador at Paris ; and af- ter having failed in his attempts, he still con- tinued to apply for the mediation of these courts, to avert if possible the renewal of hos- tilities. The Russian Ambassador was at this time suspected of not having sufficiently exerted himself, before the departure of Lord Whit- worth, in executing the instructions of his mast; m the offer of his mediation. Its f: "are drew upon him the rudeness and arro- gance of Bonaparte ; but the Emperor justly resenting such insolence, immediately recalled his ambassador, who on taking leave, with no- ble firmness said to the Chief Consul, That his sole ambition was to obtain the approbation of his emperor, and that he gloried in saying that he had succeeded, lie did not express a v, ish ior his approbation, nor did he manifest the least fear of his displeasure. Many am- bassadors at Paris would not have dared to display such magnanimity. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 281 Whilst Bonaparte was craving the media- tion of Russia, lie obtained the promise from the Prussian court, that it would not interfere in the protection of the Hanoverian dominions ; in return, he guaranteed the security of the Prussian dominions ; this surely could be of little use to a power, that has more than 200,000 excellent troops, ready to march at a moment's notice. lie availed himself of the.^e modest and peaceful sentiments, to the benefit of his army, and the replenishing of liis treasury. He immediately sent about 20,000 men, the half cf whem were scarcely clothed and mounted. The general, at their head, must have been very sure not to meet with any resistance, as most of his troops who fv^t reached the Hanoverian dominions, were en- tirely unprovided with artillery and ammuni- tion. To the astonishment of all Germany, to the no less great surprise of the French soldiers themselves, who, also, knew the bra- p o 282 BONAPARTE \ery of the Hanoverian troops, who, with their own eyes, saw the excellent state of their dis- cipline; the whole Hanoverian army ; all the Hanoverian artillery and ordnance; all their rich stores ; all the royal property was de- livered up, without striking a single blow. Tiie French troops were new clothed, from Hanoverian manufactures, and were mounted by their horses. A number of the best, out of the royal stud, and in the country, were sent to Bonaparte, for his family and consular guards ; and as if the poor Hanoverian inha- bitants, who had nothing to do with the quarrels and disputes between England and Trance, the innocent spectators of all these troubles, as if they were not sufficiently op- pressed by the French, were compelled to catch a number of stags alive, and to carry them in large waggons, with six horses, to Paris, for the park of Madame Bonaparte. The Hanoverian ordnance was forwarded with such rapidity to France, that the guns. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 283 too heavy to be transported, were literally sawed through, and dispatched in pieces, to he re-founded there. Though the public proclamations, and the official Parisian newspapers asserted, that this country and its army had been only taken in trust, in order to withdraw from the enemy a reinforcement of troops, and an addition to his revenue ; though this country had been spontaneously given up by its states, to se- cure it against the treatment usual in such cases, it was, nevertheless, treated with the accustomed rapaciousness, and is now obliged to raise increased pay for the enemy's troops ; yet, the soldier only receives a third part of it, and the officers nothing at all. The sur- plus, as well as all ready money arising from other exactions, goes into the treasury of France, independently of which, officers and soldiers must be found in board, lodging, and every other necessary, by the citizens 284 BONAPARTE and peasants. All movable articles, of any use to the French, were carried oft'. The troops are continually exchanged. Af- ter having been clothed and mounted, they are sent home, and other troops replace them, who are to be clothed, and mounted also. This will certainly last as loii as Hanover can continue to provide them with clothes, leather, horses, &c. As it is, however, unable any longer to raise the money required, by the French, the Hanoverian dominions are already offered in pledge, to contract loans, and the neighbouring imperial towns are in- sulted with proposals to that eilect. The French generals, and commissaries, have taken possession of the royal palaces, and the houses of the fugitive fathers of the coun- try ; they lead there a most luxurious and prodigal life, and all at the experice of the unfortunate inhabitants. They celebrate their republican and despotic anniversaries alter- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 285 natcly, and with the most petulant ostenta- tion ; treating the poor Hanoverians with marked e >ntempt. They sent for their wives, mistresses, children, &c. &c. in order to have them fattened, and enriched on this devoted soil. This happy destiny, for one part of the French troops, has had the effect of tranquil- lising the whole army. The soldiers, in gene- ral, are so sparingly kept, in their garrisons, that they would inevitably starve, if their chiefs did not discover ways and means, by obtaining for them small parcels of land, to cultivate potatoes and turnips. The soldiery view these depredations on the domains of the king cf England, in Germany, as the prelude to that long promised, grand, and famous achievement, viz. the invasion and plunder of Great Britain. This reconciles them to the hard fare which they extort from the Dutch and Low-countrymen, who are already over- whelmed by their burthen, and see their 286 BONAPARTE own countrymen starve on the coast, whilst they are compelled to give up every thing to strangers. Another, equally numerous, divi- sion of the French army, which was intended for the happier elimes of Asia, and Egypt, make shift, for the present, with what the Neapolitans are able to afford; and wait there the grand future events, which may, perhaps, end in the final expulsion of the Turks from Europe and Egypt. The Hanoverians, though they may greatly lose in property, in health, and in long life, find, at least, an opportunity of becoming bet- ter informed of the real French character, and its despotic chief. A Frenchman is an incon- siderate, often times, a wellmeaning and pas- sionate talker, and it will ease him greatly if, after three years silence, he can speak his mind. What the soldiers now loudly, and with- out exception, express on their situation, on the doubts and fears, with which they marched against the respectable, well provided, Hano- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 287 v erian troops ; on the robberies and imposi- tions of their leaders, commissaries, and place- men ; on the despotism of their consul, who is guarded like the grand Sultan ; on the ar- rogance and haughtiness of his ministers, and council ; all this will give the inhabitants a much better idea of this country, of the state of the French army, and its government, than they, perhaps, had, when like other individu- als, who were disgusted at the oppression of their government, they, by no means, locked with displeasure upon the approach of Freneh troops. There is not, perhaps, one Hanoverian to be found at present, who would not look upon the departure of the Trench, and the restora- tion of his government, as the greatest bless- ing ; though before he might not have been so very anxious for the persons who formed the regency. There is hardly any one amongst them who would not expose his life, rather than see his native land gradually perish by 288 BONAPARTE this slow mode of execution. Probably they would have met with timely aid from the neighbouring countries, if they had followed their first impulse, and made a noble stand against the troops who were collecting in the neighbourhood, and undoubtedly for some- thing better than the mere amusement of the regent. The anger of some neighbours on the awkward undignified conduct of the Hano- verian regency, for which an ungenerous re- venge is certainly taken on the innocent peo- ple, would have cooled : their own interest would have induced them to consider what might be the consequences if a neighbouring state, which had to claim the protection of the German empire, meanly yielded, and be- came a sacrifice to the superior power of a cruel and rapacious enemy. These neighbours must now see already to their sorrow, that tiie conduct of the French government does not answer their ill-placed confidence. God for- bid that Bonaparte should give them still AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 289 greater causes of dissatisfaction ; but of all the attempts that ever entered the mind of a despot none appear too great for this consul. He is of a restless disposition and ever inclined to grasp at more. His heroic and encroaching charac- ter will make him pursue what other men be- fore him, only wished to obtain. He will hardly follow the steps of Charlemagne, who always kept up his constitution at home, and would never infringe the rights and government of other countries, though he was always most successful in his enterprises. He will rather imitate Charles V. or Louis XIV ; with the exception of his military qualities, he very much resembles the former. Charles the fifth was no hero. The picture which has been drawn of this monarch, by one of the greatest historians, exactly suit's Bonaparte. " This em- " peror, ever on the watch, was more active than " could be expected from his weak constitu- " tion ; as he possessed more of the statesman " than of the hero, he was always the more eau- c 2 290 BONAPARTE " tious the more doubtful his object ; as he was " himself an adept in dissimulation, he did not " trust others -, his combinations were just as " Jong as he kept himself cool ; he was simple " in his manner of living, and not without " affability in his outward deportment." He made the welfare of the roman catholic church a pretence to pursue his private plans against the protest ants Charles betrayed his character. Contempt of mankind is the true criterion of despots. They abound in words ; pride and arrogance, defiance and scorn are the means by which they endeavour to command esteem. Charles shewed too early his disdain for the states of Germany. Though America was plundered duringhis reign, he often felt the want of money. His armies exacted their pay from foes, extorted it from friends. The suppression ofgenius > and compulsion in all its dreary forms were his continual aim. Craftiness Mas his cliief quality. His countenance never betrayed AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 291 the sentiments of his heart, and soft persuasion ever flowed from his smooth tongue. If this second Charles, this active, cautious, mistrusting, well-combining, simple, popular, despotic, haughty, proud, scornful, and deceit- ful tyrant, who is versed in dissimulation, who deals in fair words, who favours the roman catho- lics, who makes both -friends and foes pay for his troops, though Europe and Africa have been plundered by him, who makes suppression of genius, and compulsion in all forms, his study, whose chief trait is duplicity, in whose coun- tenance nothing speaks, but his tongue softly vibrates on the ear. If this modern Charles, who possesses the lustre of a hero, which the other wanted ; if he should now come forth against German)', with his plan of an universal monarchy will there be found a second Maurice of Saxony to sub- vert it ? The right moment of resistance had been suffered to escape in those ancient times : Yet 292 BONAPARTE the consolatory truth, that superiority of power and cunning will wreck on the rock of flaming patriotism, and the manly energies of a people struggling for their liberty, remains. The Smalkaldian b nd was signed, and its objects \v r ere carried with patriotic zeal. If Bonaparte, like Louis XIV. should have it in view to possess a state of the German em- pire, why should it be thought impossible, asthe king of England has had one for the last centu- ry ? If he project this, and purpose drawing all the smaller states into his interest, to take them under his protection, and thus to weaken the whole body, and to govern in Germany as he docs in Italy will there be another Philip of Mentz,to rise and join all the princes of Ger- many into one general defensive alliance ? AV r ill he be able to unite the jarring interests of such jealous neighbours ? When this noble and patriotic elector planned the grand confede- racy, two ministers of important powers made quite contradictory remonstrances. Many of AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 293 the princes of the empire were already in the habit of looking only for their security to France. Even at that period, not one of the powers in Germany could singly resist Louis, who was master of the finest empire ; who called forth all his energies to render himself the legislator for kings and republics j yet the general alliance was carried. Germany has often been saved by the power- ful union of its princes, against Spain, Austria, and France ; but there never was a time, when the empire wanted a general alliance of its princes more than at the present conjuncture, if France should not weaken itself by its spirit of revenge on England, and its projects of con- quests in Asia and Africa. To prepare this al- liance, it is the duty of all protestant northern states to insist upon the evacuation of the Ha- noverian territory, whose seizure the states of the German empire should never have permit- ted. If the emperor Alexander succeed in his 294 BONAPARTE mediation, then Germany, and particularly the protestant part, will owe lrm greater thanks, than even the king of Great Britain ; and the former may rejoice for the first time iijiiaving obtained the support of Russia. A great weight would be given to a general alliance of all the northern German Sovereigns, by the accession of the noble-minded Alexan- der. Bonoparte has done much to render such an alliance more powerful, by imprudently de- stroying all the ecclesiastical states, and ag- grandizing the Protestant electors. German princes will certainly not be so last to them- selves, and to their country, as to believe that they are bound so to sacrifice their own and their subjects' welfare, as to become the vassals of France, or to neglect the interest of the whole Germanic Empire and their northern allies, to please the arbitrary robber, and by increasing their territory, cause them to be listless spec- tators of the ruin of their neighbours. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 295 If they were, may the example of the great model for all German Princes, may the ef- forts of the great Frederic of Prussia serve them as a guide. His active zeal in creating the last union, which was too soon dissolved, is before their eves. If, before his penetrating looks, it could have ever come to this, he, the great, disinterested, and resolute Prince, would now undoubtedly resign every quiet and per- sonal enjoyment for the sake of public safety. He would call upon all German Princes, with patriotic enthusiasm, to stand forward in their own defence. " Malheureux ! vous 'creusez des gouffres sous \ os pas ; w Vous leur payerez cher leurfuneste assis- tance : " Ccs superbes tyrans mtrus dans vos etats, cc Vous compteut asservir sous leur obeis- sance. 296 BONAPARTE " Que leurs dangereux essaims, " Vous feront verser de larmcs ! " Vos mains aiguisent les armes *' De ces perfides voisins.* The example of this great promoter of gen- uine civil liberty, and of the only possible equality, namely the equality of law ; this friend to moral light, is still looked uponandfol- lowed as a pattern by his nephew, with the best and purest zeal. Shall this great and generous resolution, to support the independence, and the rights of Germany, in which his great ancestor has given so glorious an example, shall it not be imitated by this noble successor? Yes ! he can- not suffer, that the light which beneficially shone on his countrymen, should be taken from them * Unhappy victims ! you are running headlong to destruction. Those proud tyrants, once in your ter- ritories, will make you ^roan under their yoke ; you will rue their fatal assistance. What tears will their barbarous hordes cause you to shed. Your hands are sharpeningthe weapons of those perfidious neighbours. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 297 by their despotic neighbour. He, the great friend of learning, and the careful reformer of public schools in his dominions, will not suffer that the declared enemy of knowledge and truth, who orders only one book throughout bis vast empire, for all the schools, should now spread desolation and barbarity over the German soil, where learning and sciences, deserted from France, have now found an asylum. The assertion of the inferiority of the French to the Germans, in knowledge, learning, and judgment, may perhaps, surprise those, who know the French only from the works of their most celebrated writers; but it will not astonish those, who have lived for some time in France. It cannot have escaped the latter, that the seemingly better informed people there exhibit only a cultivation and refinement in luxury, and are not possessed of that sound and sober judgment, nor that well informed mind, which is the touchstone of genuine knowledge. It d 2 298 BONAPARTE well applies to them, what our countryman Moser said, sixteen years ago, when the rage of French governors and governesses, for the education of children in Germany, had spread far and wide, and the sentimental romances of France were looked upon as the best sources of every accomplishment. " This new method of education," says Mo- ser, " will teach them perhaps to cut out frills and fringes, but it is the most ridiculous fblly to prefer mere vain parade to real use, Where luxury is founded upon affluence, it is proper, and can be of service to the state ; but where it is sought, even when the necessaries of life are wanting, where the mind, being a stranger to the most essential rudiments, will fly upwards, and partake of the nourish- ment fit for superior wisdom only, it is nothing but splendid misery, and the consequences are dreadful. By thus prematurely climbing up into regions adapted only to the highest intel- lectual capacities ; the soul unlearns the good AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 299 and honest virtues of common sense, the boast- ed endowment of our good mothers ; when dressed in their velvet caps, the heart sickens at the common domestic duties ; it is deceived into hopes and desires, which even a romantic writer is unable to realise. After having tickled our palate in this manner by continual luxu- ries, we must at last have recourse to strong liquors and highly-seasoned viands, to excite a relish for common food ; so the soul must take her flight into the wild regions of ecstasies, to drive away the tedious hours, and solace the vacant heart." The more cultivated part of the French have drawn their instructions from the witty and sarcastic writers of the last century alone ; and it being a kind of national disease to hunt after them, every one profited by the agreeable lessons of their agreeable teachers ; valets and chambermaids soon learnt to satirise and sneer as much at the most important and sacred sub- jects, as Voltaire and Rousseau themselves, 300 BONAPARTE though they had not the least conception of the nature of the subject. How false, imper- fect and impracticable were the fundamental principles of these leaders ! How unfit was Rousseau to be a judge of constitutions, as he tries them only by the touchstone of his ima- gination, or metaphysical theories, without re- curring to history, or to circumstances, as a monitor ; yet his political and philosophical speculations were the foundations on which the wise men in France attempted to erect their new buildings of egg shells. The greatest part of the nation, and all who have not lived in the principal towns, or their neighbourhood, are wholly uncultivated, and uninformed of their constitution, their rights, and nobler duties ; they are only fit for me- chanical employments. This want of all moral information frustrated all the endeavours of the most enlightened men in France, who, at the beginning of the revolul ion, only wanted to found a reasonably limited monarchy. It has AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 301 been the cause of all the horrors of anarchy, and the "ild delirium of demagogues. It has made the re-establishment of the most arbitra- ry despotism probable, which is now so well organized, that it has rendered the prevention almost impossible. The first national assembly was undoubtedly composed of the flower of all classes and or- ders, but it wanted firmness, character, and perseverance, to fix the basis of the well- planned edifice ; and to secure it so firmly, that any improvement and ornament might be added without danger. They went on con- structing ; and when doubts and fears after- wards arose, they gave it up to the second as- sembly to complete, after having left it in such a tottering state, that the first storm could blow it down. In their folly, or instigated by their jealousy of each other, they debarred themselves from assisting and directing the new journeymen, by enacting, that no mem- ber of the first, should accept the place of a mi- nister, nor be chosen a member of the second 30* BONAPARTE assembly. Therefore the way into the minis- try and the legislative body stood q.?en only to an ignorant uncultivated multitude. That this multitude seized upon ministry and legislation appeared too clearly, even at its first sittings. The former could be furious, and sometimes uncivil, but it never sunk into senseless vulgarity. It was now, as if another nation had taken possession of the seat of go- vernment. Even the better description of its members, who formed the party of the Gironde, were but indifferent or partial substitutes for the chief persons in the former assembly, such as Mirabeau, Sieyes, La Rochefoucault, Cazales, Rabaut, Lameth, and others. Their exertions were too impotent and fearful, to be able to withstand the fury of the rough and stout children of ignorance ; they were subdu- ed, and the men of the most violent disposi- tions, and of the most uncultivated minds, re- cruited themselves from others of the same stamp, and a genuine representation of the AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 303 dross and rabble of the nation was to be found as law-givers to this populous country. The care of learning, and the arts, the sacred zeal for liberty of conscience, and liberty of the press ; the blessed respect of the rights of pro- perty, and of the laws vanished ; and in their stead arose contempt of letters, persecution, and annihilation of all liberty. Scorn of the established law, and a desolating rapacity began to prevail. The great and profound ig- norance of the multitude was perceived in these times of desolation, by the nation itselfj and still more by their neighbours. In their armies, by which ruin was spread to adjoining countries, and in the public offices of France, insane and boisterous as they might be, there was still some sort of regularity and responsi- bility to be observed. Accounts and lists were found necessary, though there was no de- pendence upon their accuracy. A greater number of men were required, who understood! figures, and wrote a legible hand, than former- a04 BONAPARTE ly, when the whole was trusted into the hands of a few despoilers, or fermiers gi- neraux. But excepting those, who were brought up to mercantile business, there was such a want of men who were acquainted with the first rudiments of learning, that they were compelled to place the most nefarious rogues in the offices of the exchequer, of the arms, and in the financial departments, because they only were possessed of that little know- ledge which the middle and lower classes of the people absolutely wanted. Many foreign- ers, chiefly Germans, from the banks cf the Rhine, soon made their fortunes by their abi- lities ; and if the minds of the better instruct- ed German youth had not been dazzled by the splendor of a military life, they might have found employment by thousands, in the offices and bureaux of the war department and trea- sury. Many have, however, availed them- selves of the opportunity. It is also worthy of remark, that the enligh- tened members of the first assembly were al- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 305 ways the principal objects of persecution to the subsequent national assemblies, whilst the pre- sent government, which is in want of able and wcli-informed men, now carefully lookout for all those, who have escaped assassination, and the guillotine, to intrust them with the most . important places in administration ; Talley- rand, Sieyes, Roederer, Regnault, St. Jean D'Angely, Mounier, Lameth, and several others, are striking instances ; yet this is an ad- ditional proof of the want of ability in France. Very few Frenchmen are able to account to themselves why the revolution began ; and for what object tney have undergone all the trou- bles and horrors of the last fifteen years. This unacquaintance with their own mind, this absolute ignorance of their real wants, this turbulent eagerness for change, render them dissatisfied. Their government must tranquil- lize them either by deceitful promises and trans- actions, or keep them down by arbitrary mea- sures of despotism. The government must de- v. 2 305 BONAPARTE press a nation, which can only be led by art or compulsion. The people always finding them- selves outwitted or overpowered, must natu- rally hate the government. If the ruler be. a haughty despoiler, a conceited man, whose an- ger is roused by any contradiction and resist- ance ; if the nation be passionate, inconsider- ate, vain and diss Jute, then the contempt of the one, and the hatred of the other, will rise to such a pitch of acrimony, that all feelings of gratitude for past services must cease, and all mutual good-will be annihilated for ever. This is, indeed, the state of the public mind in France. Bonaparte despises t.ie French na- tion in the same degree as it hates him. This abhorrence is so universal^ that hardly a person is to b: 1 fjund, who will do justice to the First Consul, even in his military capacity ; and ex- press that high'esteem of his talents asawarrior, which has been hitherto admired through all Europe, perhaps with too great an enthusiasm. Even the army does not feel that regard and at- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 307 tachment to him of which Morcau is so highly possessed. I le certainly gives great cause for it, and provokes a considerable part of the army by his bitterness, jealousy, and ingra- titude towards him, who, conscious of his own moral worth, and its value as a general, dis- dains to take revenge on the injustice which Bc- napartc commits against him. Instigated by fear and envy, Bonaparte even developes his illiberal mind to the brave Moreau ; tlriigh the latter would never enter into any device calculated to ensnare himself, and be the means of his deportation ; the consequence of that greater want of prudence which some generals have evinced. His injustice extends to all who have served their native country under this ex- cellent commander. Many of the officers who were promoted by Moreau in the last glorious campaign, have not vet received their brevets from government. The ministers and public officers enter into these sentiments of the First Consul with the greatest zeal. It is notorious 308 BONAPARTE that it is no recommendation with them for any person to apply for a benefice or promotion, to allege his having served under him ; on the contrary, it militates against him, and fre- quently exposes the applicant to i uae and illi- beral treatment : Whereas the good fortune of having served under Bonaparte, either in Italy or in Egypt, is a sure passport to every distinction and emolument. Yet, bv far the greatest officers and soldiers have served under Moreau, and consider the neglect of their ^e- 3 O O neral, under whom they have fought with so much glory, as a dishonour to themselves, which they ought to resent, and the more, as they share in the same neglect. If Moreau were an ambitious and aspiring man, like Mas- sena for instance, he might soon become a very dangerous enemy to Bmapartc ; but he finds too great happiness in the circle of his family and friends, to disturb and imbitter his repose by hateful passions, by intrigues, or daring enterprises. Bonaparte who has no con- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 309 ccptinn of domestic happiness, does not credit this, but looks upon him as a dangerous rival, who might become a second Monk ; he has him beset by spies wherever he goes, though he assumes a careless air, as if he took no no- tice of him. This behaviour manifests little command of his passions, and no conscious- ness of his own worth : he shews that he is un- able to value military talents ; he lowers him- self, and injures his own consequence, by thus degrading Moreau. Many of the generals of the Chief Consul's party, and favored by him particularly, are too proud of their own glory and military fame, to shew any contempt of this celebrated soldier. Not a word of disres- pect is ever uttered by them ; they, on the con- trary, often speak of him most highly. Of Bo- naparte nothing is heard beyond the circle of his favorites ; they are utterly silent respecting him when they enter mixed society. His arro- gance, his arbitrary disposal of favors,frequent- ly wound even his satellites ; and the groans of S10 BONAPARTE the oppressed will burst forth, after having been for a long time forcibly suppressed. Every one is strictly cautious how he utters his sentiments. Bonaparte, who, when once irritated, sets no bounds to his vengeance, has silenced reproach and criticisms ; and his rigor is therefore less resented by the French in their present oppressed state. That a people, who were formerly and design- edly permitted to speak and to abuse, if they only paid, and were obedient who were chat- terers and reasonersby nature who made wit- ticisms, vaudevilles, and epigrams, on every oc- casion ; that they should now bridle sprightli- ness and wit so far, as not to allow themselvc s, during three years, to write an epigram nor ballad on the consular government and Bo- naparte, though several may be circulated in private, is certainly worthy of remark. It proves that he, who severely punished every pasquinade on the spot, has chosen the proper method to restrain this inclination. It proves AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 311 that the spirit of the nation, which would give vent in former times to their vivacity and hu- mor, in spite of the baslile and the " lettres de cachets," is entirely broken down by fear. 1$, selfishness, and love of pleasure, they have lust all courage, firmness, and resolution. This want of energy has displayed itself throughout the whole revolution : For instance, has there ever been a single man, among all those, who drew a thousand plans, who made a thousand attempts to save and to disengage the royal family, on whose welfare and life the whole ex- istence (if the nobility and of the whole army seemed to depend Has there ever been one, who has had courage and resolution to hazard his life in the defence of the unhappy family ? From Lailn ette and Bouille, down to ihe-lieu- lenant v> ho commanded the dragoons at the inn near the frontiers, where the royal sufferers wave detained ; nay, even down to Santerre, who forced himself upon them as a protector, t lies' all shrunk at tiie decisive moment, instead 312 BONAPARTE of displaying that manly firmness, and ventur- ing their life, to strike the minds of the people with some heroic deed, and animating them with zeal for their monarch by their glorious ex- ample. By far the greatest part of the national assembly was against the death of their Sove- reign. Some threatening manoeuvres of the daring party in the palace, and the populace, which had surrounded it on the outside, shortly before the nominal appeal, effected a majority of five voles for the death of the monarch. A million of inhabitants, who pitied their king, who shed tears at his fate, who were armed for defence and attack, basely and cowardly suf- fered themselves to be confined within their houses by a handful of hired savages ; they tamely suffered their beloved king to be exe- cuted, without any attempt to preserve him. Such proofs of pusillanimity stamp them with ignominy ; yet it is most surprizing, that the very same nation, thus far degraded and cor- rupted, still exhibits the old inborn military ar- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 313 dor, and national love of glory of former times. Many thousands who quietly suffered themselves to be guillotined, for fear of losing an arm or a leg, would have marched undaunt- edly against an enemy, who had irritated them they would, if their leader could have made it a point of honor, have climbed up batteries without hesitation they would have borne the greatest hardships with incredible patience. This trait in their character, shews what energy this nation possesses, what they might be brought to effect, if they had built upon the foundation, which Charles the Great laid for their happiness, lie gave them a constitution most suited to their habits. If in public in- struction they had made it their great object to endear it to the citizens ; and to shew its value, the latter would have made any sacrifice for the public good, and cheerfully fulfilled their so- cial duties. If they iiad followed the exam- ple, which this great monarch set to his people, in the simplicity of his manners, and in the f 2 314 BONAPARTE practice of social virtues, they would not have mistaken the way to domestic happiness, nor would they have lost all relish for it. Secure in their native land, peaceful and happy in the bosom of their families, they might have select- ed, for their rational amusement, a Petrarch, a Tasso, a Raphael, a Buonaretti, but would never have sent into Italy for a Medicis, a Mazarin, or a Bonaparte. There are, however, some men of highly cultivated minds, and of profound erudition in France, who have saved their lives, and their learning, from the wrecks of the revolution. The present government has been compelled to avail itself of their ability. May they ne- ver forget, that they owe their present good fortune, not to Bonaparte, but to the diffusion of knowledge may they never cease to be its advocates and supporters. The indifference with which the people in general look upon every measure of the First Consul to keep them in ignorance, is astonish- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 315 ing. They are extremely indifferent about state affairs, and a foreigner must make parti- cular and earnest inquiries, if he would obtain any information. The opulent part of the na- tion seek, with insatiable eagerness, after sen- sual gratifications, and pleasures of all kinds. The luxury of the table is brought to the high- est pitch, and every thing which concerns the important articles of eating and drinking treat- ed as the most momentous affair. The great- est variety and plenty, the highest refinement prevail at the tables of the wealthy. The same attention is paid to wines. The richest families, the greatest princes, were formerly satisfied with those of the country ; foreign wines were seldom, and but sparingly produced. But now it is quite the reverse ; and whoever wishes to be in the fashion, must provide the greatest variety from Portugal, Spain, Hungary, and Germany. The greatest sobriety was formerly observed, perhaps more so than in any other country. Wine was usually mixed with water. 316 BONAPARTE The present generation are not so abstemious ; they a\ ill indulge themselves, and sometimes drink to an unreasonable excess. The plea- sures of the table now take up the greatest part of the day, and even of the night. The play-houses, and other places of rational a- musement, suffer by such long repasts ; a fash- ion that begins to prevail. Very few prepara- tions were necessary in former times for din- ner parties: People met at an early hour, spent some time in chatting, laughing, and good hu- mour, over a cheerful glass, and afterwards went to the play, or other similar places : But now, the greatest number of people, which a saloon can possibly hold, are assembled toge- ther, for no other purpose, than to be most completely fed and filled for the day ; and the variety of things set out to please and satisfy the coarser senses, are the sole subjects on which the conversation turns. This immense luxury and prodigality of opu- lent individuals is the more disgusting, as the AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. Sir greatest part of them are men without good breeding, or engaging manners, devoid of taste, and of that ease, by which these luxurious feasts can only be rendered any ways accepta- ble. The greatest misery, and the most wretch- ed beggary, astonish and afflict the stranger : And he who is neither rich nor poor, runs in most eager pursuit after gain, and does not al- low himself time for a decent or moderate en- joyment, in order the sooner to join the socie- ty of these sons of prodigality. It is not com- fort they seek ; the greatest luxury and afflu- ence is their chief aim. That happy class of men, who, in humble content, live on a mode- rate income, and pass their life in ease, without craving the superfluities of others, and their empty show, is seldom to be found here. They generally seem anxious and eager to spend the day in the highest luxury, as if the following would not leave them a single moment for enjoyment ; they are driven in a continual round of voluptuous delights : and if they be not soon ruined in a worldly point of view, they 318 BONAPARTE certainly are so in a moral. Yet their finances are often exhausted first ; and the number of great houses which have failed the two last years, greatly exceed those who have sprung up in the mean time. The ambition, to be looked upon as " un homme comme il faut" makes them guilty of all sorts of extravagan- cies - 3 and as they can only acquire this title by enormous expenses, these have no bounds. Thoughtless spendthrifts, merchants whose in- comes are uncertain, contractors who cannot successfully go on without a great capital, al- ways ready to meet a demand ; these, by ex- pending their ready money in luxuries, and in venturesome speculations, involve themselves, in hopes of future gain ; difficulties and bank- ruptcies ensue. Th' v s profusion has enhanced the price of all the necessaries of life : They set a bad example to their inferiors, who will no longer lead their former sober life, when they see their masters continually outrunning the bounds of decency and moderation. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 31* This indescribable prodigality of the men is still exceeded by the exorbitant luxury of the women. The daily change in the fashions of their most costly dresses, and in the furniture of their rooms, is beyond conception. The most expensive Indian and English muslins, in the greatest variety, and tlic most precious stuffs of France, are their daily wear. The continual alterations in the setting of diamonds, which they use in great profusion, render these very unnecessary ornaments still more expen- sive. All sorts of precious stones, cameos, and intaglios, are become indispensible additions - to a lady's attire. 'Their expenses in furniture have so much increased, that the state-bed alone of a lady of fashion, now costs as much as the whole furniture of an elegant apartment would, in former times. The taste and character of these prodigals do not appear to great advantage, if we consi- der the object for which they spend their money. They never thought of availing themselves of 320 BONAPARTE the favorable opportunity of purchasing mas- ter-pieces of art from Italy, and valuable pic- tures from the Low Countries. There is no demand for the best works of their own ar- tists. Portraits of insignificant individuals, and busts, are the only things which are sought after. This certainly proves that the wealth is by no means in proper hands at present. Bonaparte sets the example in this depraved taste. He only employs the artists for his own portrait. David, the painter, had often been ordered to copy that strange picture, a fine carriccio, which represents Bonaparte going full gallop over Mount St. Gothard, on a spotted horse ; whilst his' masterly picture of the Horatii, his Junius Brutus, and the Rape of the Sabines, remain unsold. The best pic- ture of Gerrard, his Belisarius, is sold to a Dutchman ; and this great artist paints scarce- ly any thing but portraits. It is the same with several others. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 321 Bonaparte, and many of his family, together with other very opulent citizens of Paris, are infatuated with the rage of building ; yet, noth- ing lias been brought forth, which may be looked upon as a monument of architecture. They have laid out immense sums for the fit- ting up of the inside of their palaces, and a thousand superfluous additions and alterations, which their fancy and caprice suggested. This false taste has extended itself even to the stage, glittering and motley colors consti- tute the character of almost all the scenes painted of late. True grandeur, founded on the simplicity and coherence of all parts to one great point, is seldom observed. The better taste is still preserved on the great stages, in the costume of ancient dresses, which are be- yond the reach of fashionable vicissitude. Yet their love of glitter and shew manifests itself even here, by the profusion of gold lace on the clothes of the French heroes and he- roines of the buskin. A vulgar taste has ob- G they also perfectly well understand how ii 2 330 BONAPARTE to pay the creditors of the state free of any ex- pense, and contract debts, without any need of white balls from their most humbly devoted legislators. This is the most easy thing for the Direc- teur general du grand livrs et de la liquidation dc la dette publique. Any body who enjoys the protection of the court, and has a demand on the French government, is paid either by an order on foreign or inland debtors, by the assignment of national property, or by enter- ing his name in the great book of pensioners, which no legislative body can ever peep into, as it is always carefully locked up. The court fa- vorite, who is indebted to government, here finds the fairest opportunity to enrich himself, by this mode of payment ; he purchases for a trifle, where he can, all the demands on go- vernment, from such as despair of being paid ; he sets them off against the demands of the state, and becomes a rich man. This transac- tion is not carried on secretly 5 no ! the brokers AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 331 go round the Exchange, and inquire who has any demands on government to sell. The old state creditors, whose debts were formerly an- nulled, are reimbursed in this way, if they are fortunate enough to obtain protection; but woe to those who have no interest at court. It will be impossible for them to satisfy the endless de- mands of securities, accounts, and bonds, to establish his claim in the scrutinising eye of the judges ; and if, after several years' application, he should succeed, he has not yet safely steered his vessel into port. A question on the vali- dity of some bond, testimony, or witness, may be started ; payment is suspended for the pre- sent ; and the poor creditor is threatened by the state inquisition, or by the special tribu- nals, with being indicted for forgery. It may be asked If this be the nefarious conduct of government, where will the man be found willing to contract for the victualling, or clothing of the army, or supplying them with stores ? They are actuated by the same base 332 BONAPARTE principles as promoters of lotteries, and high* way robbers. A thirst of gain, and a confi- dence of being able to out-wit, even the shrewdest amongst the cunning, prevail over the many melancholy examples of those who have been ruined, or have forfeited their lives by such iniquitous enterprises. It is a mournful proof of the wretched state of a nation, when the public offices are looked upon as the chief branch of national industry ; yet this is really the case. Considerable as the salaries, attached to any office or place, may be, the holder of it regards every perquisite, he is legally entitled to, as the smallest part of his in- come. Alois ks Affaires for so they call all matters of protection, which bring good round sums to fill the pockets of every one, from the highest down to the lowest, who has any influ- ence with the chief of the department, either by the means of his valet, or his chere amie these extra fees make a small amends for their trifling salaries ; this is the universal cry. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 333 A remarkable occurence of thiskind deserves notice. A demand on government for several millions., due to .some gentlemen near the Rhine, for provisions and stores delivered to the army, had been made, and applied for through all the customary legal channels without suc- cess. The case was at last brought before Lu- cien Bonaparte. His opinion was asked, whe- ther the payment might be obtained without further delay, as in that case the creditors were willing to submit to some deductions. Lucien, alter a full investigation of the subject, pro- nounced the demand to be a just one, and said to the supplicant, " Je men charge a cinquante pour cent, dans trois mois vons toucherez."* The debt was discharged, and Lucien, who had settled this payment with the First Consul and his ministers-, was a tew millions the richer. The appointments of a senator, and a legisla- tor are certainly not to be compared with such prclly bargains. * You shall be paid in three month, Fifty per cent. (meaning Discount;. 334 BONAPARTE Embezzlements and frauds must be continu- ally committed by the contractors, to repay themselves for the immense sums, which they must lay out, previously to their obtaining the contracts from government, to make good the deductions, they must always submit to, in or- der to get their money : nevertheless, they gain by these contracts, the immense sum of 20, nay SO millions of livres : this was the case with Collot the contractor for the army of Italy, and the navy, (who is supposed to be worth as much) when the present war broke out, this Collot almost forced government, to let him have the contract for the navy stores, by pretending an embarrassment of his affairs shortly before, and threatening a bankruptcy, if not supported and kept up by them. The government is very at- tentive to those who have amassed immense wealth in a short time during the war ; perhaps they granted the contract, to drain him a little. It is also reported, that Joseph Bonaparte has drawn a small sum from this Collot, when the AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 335 former was concluding the peace at Luneville. The day previously to its being signed, when Joseph was sure of its taking place, he dispatch- ed a courier, acquainting him privately with the ratification of the peace, and ordering him at the same time, to purchase 1,800,000 livres in the stocks on his account. Immediately af- ter the final conclusion he sent him another note with this information, and reminded him of the purchase Collot had already executed the order, and Joseph returned to Paris. The state bonds for these 1,800,000 livres were sent by Collot to the noble pacificator, accompanied with a very polite letter, inclu- ding his two former notes, and assuring him that he could by no means think of keeping the notes, of the grand pacificator of the greatest nation in the world, amongst his mer- cantile papers. lie therefore begged master Joseph to send an order for the amount; tothis there was no answer. Eight days after, Collot himself waits upon him. He was invisible. S36 BONAPARTE He now sees plainly how it was meant. The pacificator would also have his share in the profit, which Collot could make by this timely notice. He was silent, and of the 1,800,000 livres nothing afterwards was said. Such little sacrifices must be made up by contracts with government, and Collot must occasionally be indulged with them. Holier, who was the uncontrolled asrent of the finances in Italy, is reported to be still richer than Collot. He is the man for the Chief Consul. Hengerloo,Cerf Bahr. G^>bert,aud Co, (who began with selling cattle for the army) Vurras, Lams, and Bezar, are all possessed of several millions ; but they live in such an expensive style, and with such boundless prodigality, that thev arc ever easier after immoderate train. Hengei;loo indeedmade an arrangement with his creditors,but many believed that it wasonly a trick to escape the contracts ibr tiie army, which were afterwards forced upon Collot. AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 337 Among the generals who commanded in the last war, and who generally agreed with the contractors and commissaires ordonnatcurs, and thus had an opportunity to enrich them- selves, by cheating government, and ruining foreign countries, by levying contributions, Leclerc, Massena, and Murat, are reported to have acquired immense riches : Moreau has not taken such good care of himself. Talleyrand is richer than any other of the ministers. Nothing can be obtained but through their influence. An instance of this occurred in the 10th ycarof the Republic. The great water-works of Marly, on which many millions had been expended, had been so far injured, that all repairs seemed useless. Bona- parte having always been desirous of inhabiting the former royal residence at Versailles, the ne- cessity of this machine became the more pres- sing, as this place can procure no supply of water without it. Government offered to contract for it, and a society of wealthy per- i 2 338 BONAPARTE sons, with M. Montgolfier, the celebrated me- chanist, at their head, offered to build a new one, which should convey more water than the former. They demanded no advances in mo- ney, but offered to submit the work to connois- seurs ; and, if they approved it, they would re- quire nothing more than the materials of the old machine. This very simple proposal they conceived would ensure the job, consequently they had not thought it necessary to purchase protectors, but they were refused. The repair- ing the old machine was resolved on, and the contract given to some friends. The public prints frequently pass high enco- miums on the great care of the French govern- mentin restoring the manufactures to the flour- ishing state of former times, and to incite na- tional industry, but these eulogiums are not merited. Tiie abolition of all private, in favor of one single state-bank, which monopolizes the whole, clogs industry by confining the money to one spot. The further to promote AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 339 this object, new laws have been framed to pre- vent the importation of foreign, and chiefly English merchandise ; and it is enacted, that the French manufactories established near the frontiers, shall be removed into the interior whenever suspected of introducing contraband goods as their own. The wise financiers forgot, that all those that are well established, are calculated upon local circumstances, without which they must come to ruin. The new regulation with respect to the sale of wood, for building, &:c. on national property, must also prove destructive to many manu- facturers. Formerly it was the custom for the owners, when they had occasion for wood from the royal domains, to join with others, and con- tract for a certain quantity, which was to be cut down, as it was wanted, in five, six, or seven years, and paid for on delivery. Thus they were sure to be provided without the necessity of making any advances. The present govern- ment, however, only think of getting the mo- 540 BONAPARTE ney, without considering how far it may em- barrass or distress individuals. All wood from the national domains is now sold to the high- est bidder, must be paid for instantly, and car- ried off without delay. By this regulation it is only in the power of the wealthy manufac- turer to purchase. He speculates besides, in conjunction with other monied men, on what the less opulent may want : He makes large contracts in advance, and sells at his own price. Industrious men, and young beginners, are thus dependent on avaricious and unfeel- ing jobbers, who generally succeed in effect- ing their ruin. The interest of money is also too high to ad- mit of small loans. The great capitalist can, at any time, make 12 and 15 per cent, without much trouble ; and can also gain considerably by contracting with government, by the course of exchange, or by gambling in the funds. He can likewise employ it to great profit in the pur- chase of national property and estates : In fact, AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 341 there are many advantageous means open, with- out endangering his capital, in new manufac- tures, or other uncertain establishments. Both the cultivation of the country, and the country- men have been benefited by the revolution. The freedom ( f inheritance of copyhold, without paying a fee to the lord of the manor, the abo- lition of all feudal services, the liberty of sell- ing their property and land, and the partition of large farms and estates into smaller ones; all these alterations, which the peasants owe to the revolution, have been very beneficial. The fanner is grown richer ; his encreased capital has been employed in the improvement of his land, and in the purchase of cattle ; the coun- try is not only better cultivated, but more land is under tillage than before. With respect to all other branches of industry, very little can be said of their flourishing state. The only thing which may benefit commerce, is, the re- moval of that prejudice which formerly forbade noblemen to engage in commercial specula- 342 BONAPARTE tions. Madame de Turene has articled her son to a great mercantile house, and several of the nobility have followed her example. Some no- blemen have laid out their money in manufac- tures, which yield but little profit ; for the French have by no means that exactness and regularity, nor that experience and solid know- ledge of business, so absolutely necessary for the management of these concerns. They are all enterprising, but very deficient in just cal- culations. They generally enter into a part- nership with other wealthy men. Their na- tional vanity, and love of show, lead them to begin with fine large buildings ; whilst the prudent Englishman, uncertain of success, usually commences with a small wocden house. The spirit of gambling, which per- vades the French, also induces them to spe- culate deeply, to encrease the chance of con- siderable profit. The luxury and extravagance of these proprietors while they dwindle their capital, infect their clerks and servants, and AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 343 prove baneful to their morals. The first who establish a manufacture, generally lessen their property by building and show : The second, who take it up, by want of caution and too great enterprise : The third, by want of regularity and exactness : The fourth, how- ever, generally begin to gain a little. Yet they have still to combat the English as rivals, who are possessed of all the means which continual industry, the perseverance of a whole century, and a public spirit, which supports every thing great, can invent. They have also to struggle with the excise officers, whose depravity of character is commensurate with that of the nation : Very lew of these men have accepted their places lor the sake of the salary attached to them, but solely on account of the oppor- tunity it affords them of acquiring a fortune, by trading in contraband goods, which have " a great sale in Trance. There i.i hardly a person in France, whodoes not wear some produce of English manufac- J44 BONAPARTE ture ; from the wife of the Chief Consul down to the daughter of a common sshoopkeeper, nothing but English muslins are worn. Ma- dame Bonaparte countenances this fashion, and sometimes grants to her favorites the pri- vilege of importing small quantities of prohi- bited goods for themselves. The wretched state of the French manufactures may be easily conceived ; if it be remembered, that they al- most all live near the frontiers, and import foreign articles, which they pass as their own by putting their mark upon them. One of the additional hindrances of industry is the unequal administration of justice. Man- dafs de depot, or warrants of arrest, are granted on the least pretence ; the man, whose seizure the warrant authorises, is taken up, and secured, as they call it, to distinguish it from imprison- ment, lie is, nevertheless, confined in a worse and more wretched place, than the public pri- sons for criminals. Whilst he remains there, witnesses are called before the tribunals, a; id AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 345 the judges examine them privately ; they allow no counsel to the accused, they sometimes threaten to treat them as accomplices, if they will not confess, or say, what the judges wish they should The great art of these worthy- judges in the special tribunal is to find out contradictions in the depositions, and they are very expert in drawing out, what they call, these faux rationals. The more ignorant and fearful the witnesses are, the better they succeed. After having ex- amined them sufficiently, an order to commit them, a mandat d 'arret is issued, and is gene- rally considered by the prisoner as a verdict of guilty. The law, which enacted, that prisoners should not be keptcontinedlongerthan48 hours, with- out being heard, was thus eluded by the judges, who do not consider the securing of a man, in virtue of a mandat de depot as imprisonment or arrest, though he may have been in the de- pot for several months. Now this subterfuge is k2 346 BONAPARTE no longer wanted to infringe the law. The First Consul has arrogated to himself the sole right of deciding as he pleases in all these cases, as it has been observed. The prisoner after having received a mandate of arrestation, is examined by the judges and has a counsellor assigned him ; but the judge may command him to keep silence, whenever he chuses, on the pretext, that by his defence he enters too much into political questions, or interet d'etat. If this counsellor attempt to go on, he is laid under an interdict for two or even six months, by the judge, during which time he is not allowed to appear as counsel in any court of justice. There is also a kind of torture introduced for obstinate prisoners, who will not confess ac- cording to the desire of the judge. It is an in- vention worthy of a Nero. The present prefect of the police, Dubois, who executes the will and orders of Bonaparte with more readiness than Fouche did, has established a new kind of AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 347 goal, so low and small, that the prisoner can neither stand, sit, nor lie down. He is thrown into these holes, and asked every quarter of an hour, whether he will confess. A passionate Frenchman, naturally furious and lightheaded, will certainly confess any thing to inculpate another man, on whom the govern- ment wishes to lay hold. It is no wonder then that this true Neronian invention finds advo- cates among the base hirelings of government ; but that a tribune, a lawyer, and a philosophi- cal writer, should defend it as a necessary re- medy to bring the guilty to a confession, as it lately appeared, is indeed astonishing. Liberal as the special tribunals may be with these arrests they find it sometimes expedient, to be equally liberal with the discharge of pri- soners, in the course of the process against them, if the prisoner should happen to obtain the protection of men in power. A manufacturer of earthen ware, a M. Four- my, living in the Rue de la Pepiniere, at Paris, 348 BONAPARTE was imprisoned and discharged in this manner. He had bought the house which he inhabited j but one of the judges in the special tribunals at Paris, who had lent a sum of money to the vender on the security of the house, wished to purchase it also. The notary who had made the contract, had named several persons who might have a claim upon it, and whose consent was therefore required, or who must first be satisfied, but he had not mentioned them all. The incensed judge looked upon this as a " falsum," or cheat, and ordered the vender to be taken up. Some months af- ter, when the witnesses had been properly ex- amined, the judge flew in a passion, because the purchaser had not been imprisoned, and had him seized likewise. Fortunately for the two prisoners, M. Fourmy knew the minister Chaptal, and Fourcroy the counsellors of state, who esteemed him on account of his knowledge in chemistry. M. Fourmy ap- plied to them, and both vender and pur- AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 349 chaser were set at liberty without farther trouble. A young merchant, a native of Germany, whose name is omitted on account of his fa- mily, connected himself with one of the thou- sand swindling and gambling families, in which Y'd\i< so much abounds : they persuaded him to embark with them into a great enterprise, and he borrowed money from his friends and rela- tives so to do. As soon as these swindlers had obtained all he was worth, and all that he could raise from others, they tempted him to commit a little irregularity, and accused him as guilty of an intent to defraud them. These gentlemen, with the judge, instantly laid hold of all the property which the young man had still left in the house, which was jointly inha- bited by him and the swindlers ; he was sent into prison. After having been a whole year in a most dreadful place, and having suffered beyond description, from the utter want of cloaths, lie was condemned to imprisonment 350 BONAPARTE for life, upon the only ground, as the sentence especially mentioned, that he, being a beggar, was still suspected of a fraud on their family, who lived in affluence. After having passed another year, amidst the most horrid wretches, and in a prison of criminals, it luckily happen- ed, that the infamous family who had ruined him, fell into the snares of more cunning rogues ; they were all transported to the islands, as robbers, thieves, and swindlers. An old compassionate man, among the judges of this unfortunate youth, who remembered how often and how solemnly he had always declared his innocence, now recollected him, and ordered his release without further pro- ceedings. The young man, since his libera- tion, has used all possible means to have a new trial and reparation, but in vain, as he had nothing but words and innocence in his favor. It was not so easy to provide money again, as the swindlers had absolutely ruined his cha- racter, and he was told, that he must make AND THE FRENXH PEOPLE. 351 a deposit of a certain sum, before they could enter into a new trial. These monstrous proceedings are even ex- tended to foreigners, over whom the tribunals have no jurisdiction. The secretary of the Cisalpine minister, a Signor Aecerbi, was ar- reted hist year, and shut up in the depot of the police, on account of his having spoken too freely of the King of Sweden, in one of lii s publications. Nothing is more surprising than the care- lessness of the French about all these horrors ; it is, as if they had lost all feeling of justice and equity. If this really be the case, it is no wonder, that they bend so willingly under the galling yoke of their present tyrant. The history of the French people during their melancholy revolution, may be compared to that of an uninformed inconsiderate young man, who is defeated in spite of his courage, boldness and natural strength, and remains entangled in the snares of the insiduous. The 352 BONAPARTE wilder and the more furious his struggles to extricate himself, the more tame and exhaust- ed will he lie down afterwards, and resign him- self to his fate. In this forlorn and wretched state he will feel some relief, if even one of the accomplices will look with compassionupon him will hasten to the spot to protect him against the more furi- ous attacks of his desperate companions, who would deprive him even of his existence. If this new protector is cunning enough to avail himself of his moral weakness, and treat him with some indulgence, this poor entrapped young man will even feel gratitude, and will be most strongly secured. The fear of falling a victim to his implacable enemies, his expe- rience of former times, which has taught him that all resistance would be fruitless against the cool calculation of these robbers, will enhance the tranquillity and ease which he comparative- ly enjoys. Unwilling to hazard any future ef- forts ; no longer fostering the pleasing, hope of AND THE FRENCH PEOPLE. 35$ release, he will sink down in a perfect consci- ousness of his exhausted state, anxious to cherish the little comfort within his reach. It cannot be denied, that the French peo- ple owe their political existence to Bonaparte alone. Without his resolute character and energy, every thing would have gone to ruin. He animated with new life those who had lost all hopes, and inspired the fugitive with cou- rage. The French republic was so near its entire dissolution, under the last Director v, that Bonaparte would have returned from E- gvpt too late, if an equally resolute mind had characterized any of the European sovereigns. The nation, prone to enthusiasm, when it saw itself saved, could not escape the danger of a boundless gratitude to the man, to whom they owed their preservation. Many trusted too much in his high and noble character, to fear in him a tyrant. The hope that he would also be a wise legislator, and the founder of genuine liberty, as he had been their Sa- l 2 JJ4 BONAPARTE, &c. viour, animated them, and tranquillized their fears. Has not Bonaparte the will to render the French free and happy ? Is he ignorant of the best means to promote their felicity, and to establish a rational liberty ? Does he look upon himself, as the only man worthy to rule this great empire ? Does he consider the French as incapable of any freedom at all ? Is it his persuasion, that they must be governed by force and despotism, and not by reason ? Does this induce him to deny them even the benefit of a liberal education ? His future conduct will throw light upon these questions. We shall follow him with our eyes, and his actions shall be recorded with faithfulness and impar- tiality, APPENDIX. A Quotation from Lacratelle's Pamphlet on the Dictatorship of Bonaparte. Vide page 3 1 . L ACRATELLE in his latest publication, enti- tled, " Sieyes and Bonaparte," said, " All our insti- " tutions are crumbled into dust, but the powers of " the soul rise again. Be always firm, never stray " from that justice, which the present moment de- " mands never abuse the noble and beneficial indul- " gence our laws owe to all, and which we have aright " to expect. Be always firm in honorably respecting 4t the public opinion, which has been awakened by " you, in order that truth may perfect your wisdom, " and teach you to defend your glory." He also says, " You have entered into a conspiracy, for what ? to " alter every thing which existed. Your conspiracy " tended to what ? to an entire revolution. From a 4i senate instituted to maintain the constitution, you u have asked ; what ? the means of overturning this " constitution. You have asked from the state bodies, " who represented the people ; what ? that they should " give in their resignation into whose hands? into S56 APPENDIX. " yours ; At a moment when a foreign war was still " carried on with acrimony ; w r hen a civil war had *' broken out, amidst all sorts of miserv ; during a war vt of all passions, in presence of all factions ; before " all Europe you have established what ? a dicta- *' torship !" He then addresses his Je/lotu citizens. u The dictatorship is the consequence of commotions, " of convulsions in the state body. It is brought forth " by circumstances, it ceases with them. It is either " given, or taken by force. It falls into the hands of " a corporate body, or in those of a single man. It " exists by the laws, or against the laws ; it maintains u them, or it annihilates them. It saves nations ; it " oppresses them. It prolongs its existence ; it ceases, " when it should. It has more or less power as it was " contended it should, all according to the character " and temper of those, in whose hands it is, or ac- " cording to the character of the people by whom it " is established, all according to the parties, the tem- " per, the passions, the inclinations, the opinions " which may prevail there. Let us well ponder the u circumstances, before we establish a dictatorship, " or before we reject it ; let us try the character of " those to whom w r e trust or deny it. Let us grant " every thing, if it incline to the good and deny all, " if its tendency be bad. Let us take care, that it tc may be as little necessaiT as possible, let us watch " when it dispenses favours, lay open its errors, and " if it must be, let us show ourselves terrible against " fatal encroachments ; let us be without fear, and APPENDIX. 3S7 " without enthusiasm ; let us enjoy the ease which *' it prepares, but always, look upon its actions, either " with gratitude or mistrust ; here with admiration " there with reproach." He savs of Bonaparte, w I was inclined to think well of Bonaparte. He must u have the natural magnanimitv of a young heart, " though his head is wonderfully ripened already. If " any thing can make him giddy, it must be the hope " of becoming more than a protector, greater than a " King ; to be the restorer of blessings we thought we u had for ever lost ; to be the founder of a great and " glorious republic. Yet the seduction of power may " determine him, who had only erred because he " thought himself too sure." He says at last, " At " the end of the 18th century nothing happens which " could have happened at the end of the 17th." Lacratelle lastly dwells designedly on the conjunct tion of two men, " Sieyes and Bonaparte," which ap- peared so important to all genuine patriots. He says, " The dictatorship was not exclusively destined for " the warrior, nor the philosopher, it was reserved for l * him, who united wisdom with strength. Would " these men, the last hope of a frantic people, sink- " ing under a load of crimes and sufferings, would " thevnot forfeit all public esteem, exhibit themselves " as cool calculators of their own dangers, and betray " an hateful ambition, who found their interest on u the ruin of the state, if they had not accepted of the " power to perform all possible good, that power, " of which they arc to give an account, which would 358 APFENDIX. " have been granted to them as the gift of despair, " when the evil had reached its highest pitch These " remarks, perhaps, accelerate the resolution of Bo- " naparte, to get rid of this troublesome associate." This bold publication had scarcely made its appear- ance, when Sieves was also put aside. Quotation from Cabanison a genuine Represen- tation, fc. Vide page 3 1 . Cabanis in vain notices in his speech on the 25th Fi imaire, in the legislative commission of the council of five hundred, the chief requisites of a genuine re- presentative system, and the functions of the legisla- tive body, and of the tribunate. Ke exclaims with anxious fear, " The existence of this magistracy of *' the people, connected with the liberty of the press, " which must always be unlimited under a strong go- " vernment, is one of the principal guarantees oipub- " lie liberty : For whatever may be attempted, there " is no real and solid security, if it be not founded " upon public opinion." The same anxious presen- timent of the future, draws the following words from the orator : " Our situation may render it necessary, " that certain members of the executive power place " themselves at the head of the armies, or that nu- " merous military corps in the neighbourhood of the *' grand communitv, where they reside, remain un- 14 der orders. But all this must only be looked upon " as a provisional measure, and we must not delay, *' recurring to the fundamental principles, as soon as *' tranquillity is restored at home and abroad. I appendix. 3J9 " In vain does Chenicr exclaim in his speech at the " sitting at the trihunate, on 23 Germinal, wherein he " wisely demanded, that it should be held twice in a " month, during the future vacancies of the legislative " body, for 8 months, in order to deliberate on every 44 subject which might appear to them expedient for 44 the benefit of the administration, and to communi- " cate it as the wish of the tribunate. In vain, ex- " claims he, like Lacratelle and Cabanis, the rest- " less enemies of reason, the self interested slander- " ers of learning, hoped to break down the building a of the French revolution. They flatter themselves " in vain, to lead us back to fanaticism, to feudal 44 prejudices : their mode of reasoning in favor of its " possibility is so easily refuted, that it is now iook- 44 cd upon as common-place argument. 44 They will be unable to check the career of human 44 understanding ; like the inquisitors, who could not 44 stop the rotation of the earth by throwing Galeleo " into a dungeon ; like the persecutors of Faust and 44 Guttemburgh, who could not check the progress of 41 the art of printing, which threatened destruction " to all tyrants, and changed the face of the whole 44 earth."' Observations, by the Author, on Lord Cren- I'ille's Note. Vide page 31. The answer of Lord Grenville contained nothing but a denial of the most incontrovertible facts, eva- sions, and pretences to continue the war. It appears 3G0 APPENDIX. at the same time, from the speech of this noble Lord, in the house, that he was not inclined to negociate. The reasons alleged by him, and his partisans, to justify this want of good will, are remarkable. They say the French had been the aggressors ; strange enough, that no negotiation is to be entered into on that account ! Then every war must be a war of ex- termination. The worst of it was, that the English had themselves been the aggressors, but the French knew how to retort the charge upon the English. Again they say, " They could not treat with the " French, as France had been continually ruled by u republican principles since the war. Yet had they " not attempted to negociate with Dumourier, even " in the first year of the republic ! shortly after the " sending away of the ambassadors ? Had thev not " sent an agent with proposals to the committee of " public safety, (comite du salut public J in the second " year of the republic ? Had they not offered in the " fourth year, to treat with the directory ? Did they " not repeat the attempts again with this same direc- " tory, both before and after the 18 Fructidor ? " Did they not declare, when the negociations were " broken off, that they were ready to renew them, if " the revolutionary government of the republic shew- " ed itself inclined to peace ? Why would they not " now treat with Bonaparte ? The blunt answer to " this question will, perhaps, explain the whole con- " duct of the English ministry, during the French *' revolution. APPENDIX. 361 " Bonaparte was looked upon as a man, who might " have the high and noble ambition, as well as the " power, to give that free constitution to France, " which it had frequently attempted to establish, by " several means, but always in vain. It was imagined " that he could accomplish the grand work, which " England, or rather the ministry, dreaded since the " revolution ; conscious of their having attempted to " degrade the people, and undermine the English " constitution. " If the French, strangers to all true republican " virtues, could succeed in any way to obtain this " great end ; how much easier would it have been to " the English citizens, for centuries past, who have " been bred up to liberty, who possess the two grand " requisites of free citizens, in a high degree, name- kt ly, a disposition to find out the beneficial law, by " a fair and general discussion, and a sacred respect u towards established customs."' Finally, The ministers said, " That the French u government could not offer any guarantee, and that u time only could decide, what degree of confidence " it deserved. As if it were the custom to make the 41 past, and not the present nor the future, the basis " of negociations ; as if after anv change of govern- ' ment in France, the new one would always make " war, and conjure up a new coalition. " After many confused and contradictory recrimi- * k nations, the minister gives it as his opinion, that " the restoration of the old dinasty, suspended by the M '2 3&2 APPENDIX. " revolution, would be the best security of govern- " ment ; it would ensure to France the undisputed " possession of their former territory, or rather, it " would prevent any impression on the English peo- " pie disadvantageous to the ministry. The speech " of Mr. Pitt in the House of Commons, repeats *' in plain terms, these evasive reprobations." Bonaparte was treated there, and in the upper house, like a faithless robber and assassin. The sword was therefore to decide, and peace must be conquered. Quotation from the speeches of Daunou, Jean de Brie, and Benjamin Constant, after Bonaparte's return from Marengo. Vide page 39- The friends of liberty availed themselves of every opportunity, to remind their victorious chief of his duty, whilst the nation in enthusiastic strains, loudly sang his praises. In the sitting of the tribunate on the 3d Messidor, which took place in consequence of the news respecting the victory at Marengo, and in order to deliberate on the most proper celebration of the same, some patriotic orators did not fail, after many just eulogiums to express their fears and wishes concerning their leader, who was returning crowned with glory. Daunou savs, " The battle of Marengo, ** glorious as it is in itself, is still more glorious on " account of the consequences, which you are entitled " to expect. It consolidates the power of the republic. APPENDIX. 363 ." gives additional lustre to its government, and se- " curity to freedom. It dispels the fears of future " institutions incompatible with the genius of the " republic. It adds to the joy of the people, the u national festival, (the festival day of the republic) " which all are to celebrate, and they can now indulge " the noblest feelings of the human heart, in the bo- u sora of universal harmony, without the bitter pang " of mournful recollections. No ! this liberty, the fruit " of so many sacrifices, the price of so many triumphs, " never can again be taken away from us." jean de Brie endeavours to compare this remarka- ble victory, (which appeared to strengthen anew the pillars of the republic) and the heroic fall of the noble Dessaix, with the conquest and death of Leoni- das and Epaminondas. He adds, " T Vho will prevent " us, from manifesting our feelings, and by every en- " couragement exciting a noble display of generous " sentiments in republicans, by shewing to them, that " the memory of virtuous citizens is engraven on the " hearts of their magistrates." Benjamin Constant, praises in his speech, all the Italian patriots, who were released in consequence of the treat}', after the battle of Marengo. lie looks upon it, as a happy foreboding for those who suffered for the cause of liberty in Ireland. He exclaims, " Honor to all republican proclamations, which sound " the language of liberty, of equality, of sovereignty " of the people ; this language is worthy of heroes ; " some contemptible voices would fain silence, by 364 APPENDIX. " empty declamation. Hail ! and a joyful welcome " to the highly honoured sacrifices in the glorious " cause, and to the brave out-laws, whom the fate of " the republic calls from subterranean dungeons. " May we follow their example !" He extols the peace, which he prophecies as a ne- cessary consequence of the victory of Marengo, and exclaims with the utmost animation, and patriotic feeling, " Peace 'secures the rights of the individual, a the rights of a whole nation, and the representative " system to futurity. Peace will restore to us the " indispensable libertv of the press, will restore to " reason its innate power, and open to the enlightcn- " ed mind, a view to be useful to mankind, and to " promote the noble independence of thought." Riouff then exclaims, with republican enthusiasm, " The soldiers of libertv exhibit themselves, as they " have never ceased to do for the last ten years, as " models of patience, and submission, as the bulwark " and pride of their native land. What are the hopes " left to the enemies of the republicans ? What are " the proofs, their policy can demand ? Superior to " the griping pressure of want, and to the temptations " of affluence, on the barren Alps, and in the fruitful " fields of Campania, in misfortunes and success, they " arc animated but by one desire, that of shedding " the last drop of their blood, for this grand object ; " liberty and equality. Surrounded by raging fac- " tions, dispersed or united, in dungeons or in the APPFHDIX. 365 " curulean seats, their legislators still resound in " their ears, liberty and equality. " The revolutionary tempest rages in vain, it can- " not obliterate the sentiment of liberty, of personal " liberty, so deeply rooted in the hearts of men." The republican writers manifested, like Guinguenet, their fears more openly. " The genuine friends of " liberty," said he, " are not without fears ; they see u how a party, declaring against all parties, endea- u vours to reign alone ; how it attempts to reintro- " duce all ancient institutions, even those that had " been acknowledged deficient during the monarchy. " They are uneasy, as they cannot see where an end " of the retrogression to those abuses will be, which " crept in with the revolution. As the men, who " stand at the head of that partv, whose existence can " no more be denied, are notorious for their hatred " of every form of republican government, for their " ambition and talents. " But the government, which openly declared, that " it would have no party, whose interest it is, not to " throw themselves imprudently into the arms of ** those who cajole them first, to stifle them after- " wards : it will shield the republic against the new " danger with which it is threatened. These dan- " gerous men only desired quiet in former times, only " the permission to live unobserved ; but now all will " seize on the first places, will realise their plans and " systems, will subvert all that was before, to restore " it again. Family of Bonaparte ! the republicans 366 APPENDIX. " place their hopes in you ; You will repel the clan- " destine enemies who flatter you now, but do not " pardon it to have been the supports and even the " founders of our present government." Thus spoke Ginguenet, when the news of the victory of Marengo arrived ; and soon after, when many foreigners, see- ing the universal enthusiasm, feared for the destruc- tion of liberty, he exclaimed, " Ten years of firm- " ness, of energy, and of heroism, should have estab- " lished the opposite opinion. Every interest centres " in the desire of maintaining the revolutions, and " establishments. The majority of Frenchmen have " taken too active a part to recede. Why should " they now alter their opinion as they see an end to " all the evils of revolutions for where disturbances *' take place, vices will manifest themselves, as they " have arrived to a firm, quiet and happy order of " things, as genius and victory protect them." Quotation from Jean oTAngelys, " Bulletin de Paris." -Vide page 10 7. St. Jean d'Angely, offered in his Bulletin of Paris, an essay on usurpers. After having quoted a passage from a publication, entitled the " central lodge of genuine freemasons," to prove that Arminius had not been an usurper, and that the greatest princes had been proud to rank him among their ancestors, though he did not descend from a Cheruskian Monarch, he adds, " It would be improper to attempt to prove that all APPENDIX. 367 '* governments originally bear the stain of usurpation ; *' we must therefore acknowledge the humiliating " truth- that nothing exists in nature, which had not " its origin in a previous dissolution." He also shews, " That most of those, to whom history applies the 4i title of usurpers, were such extraordinary characters " as nature onlv -produces at great intervals, to rescue u civil society from overgrown evils." Yet what are the arguments, of which this shameless counsellor of state, openly avails himself in the face of a republican people ? Hear him ! u Who has ever dared to ques- " tion the fame of a Deioces. The Medes, his coun- " try men, living under a republican government, ** found themselves assailed by the murderous and fu- " rious attacks of democracv. Deioces, who had led " them to victory, subjects them to laws replete with w wisdom. Rousing them from the dangerous illu- M sions of freedom, which they r had never known ; " bold and successful, he allows them to proclaim him " the first King of the Medes. He assembles a splen- " did court around his person, and only shews him- " self to his subjects in royal splendor, whilst he 4t unites strength and magnificence in his government, " and becomes die founder ol the greatest empire in " Asia." The wise King Hicro, at whose feet the Svracusi- ans laid their tumultuous freedom, is also held out: as a glorious example. This counsellor verv distinct- ly explains himself at last. He says, " Never were 4> there so many a^senticnt voices upon one politico' 368 APPENDIX. " question, collected in Paris, as that of the consulate " for life. You desire a lasting political establish- " ment. One party begins to think, that a dynasty is " not always of divine origin, that the family of Hugo '* Capet, ascending the throne of the Carolovingians " by a revolution, had no other right to it, than that " of possession. Rights of this sort must naturally *' cease, when a new order of things is introduced. 41 An opposite system would eternize the confusion " in political affairs. The claims of Stanislaus Xavier " are not to be compared with those which the car- " dinal of York possessed to the throne of England. " The commitment of the British government to a " Dutch general in the year 1688, (how cunning, to " call the Prince William of Orange, only a Dutch " general) is a true rebellion still, if the consequen- " ces from certain principles, exclusively applied to " France were also applied to England (how malici- u ous towards England, after the negociations for " peace had just begun)." The counsellor prophecies lastly the results of this. He says, " The accession of Bonaparte to a consulate " for life, will be a grand event. As the best irsti- " tutions are those, which proceed from circumstan- " ces ; as the most lasting constitution is that, which u has been sanctioned by time ; it is to be hoped, " that the constitution, roughly drawn on the 18th " Brumaire, will attain its final perfection, and present " to France, a guarantee, eagerly wished for, by all *' friends of tranquillity, and domestic happiness." APPENDIX. 369 Criticism, paused by the Author, on M. Necker, Condorcet, and Camillie Jour dan s tast pub- lications. Vide page 139- The work of i\T. Necker is written with modera- tion ; yet had he lived in Paris, he would have neither composed nor published it there : after the example of Voltaire, who would not have written at Paris what he sent into the world from Ferney ; the man of power and the philosopher must not stand too near each other. Nay, the honest author must not keep the daily company of fortune-hunters, nor draw his plea- sures from the same source which is contaminated by effeminate men. Every feeling, every thought is questioned and ridiculed by them : it is thus they en- deavour to elude the shafts of his reproof. Of what ute can he be to the friend of reading, and to posterity. Necker must absolutely have lived by himself to be able to write in this manner ; but to be a politician, he ought to have lived with the world. He is evidentlv unacquainted with the present age, else he would have acknowledged the only good in it, namely, the dispo- sition in man, to compare his own necessities, with the constant wants of mankind. Necker is possessed of sufficient penetration, to point out the present faults, and to propose better institutions. Yet his eye is fixed on the present alone, and in vain would a young read- er abk, why should this love of libertv be the inces- K L 2 370 APPENDIX. sant mover of men ? In vain would the experienced reader inquire, whence may the forms of government proposed by the author, derive solidity ? For that politician, who is unable to quote some fundamental institutions of society, on which the public offices and their mutual relations may securely rest, will only complete a building of paper. This essential point has not been better explained by him, than by all the late bungling constitution- makers of revolutionary states. Where civil liberty existed before, where its enjoyment has produced its perfect knowledge, and an attachment to it, there may the buildin