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NAPOLEON

ORIGINAL DRAWING BY DELAROCHE

ILLUSTRATED

Memoirs of The Empress Josephine

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HISTORICAL AND SECRET MEMOIRS OF THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE

VOL. n

2091610

of ^lustrations;

NAPOLEON

EMPRESS JOSEPHINE . MARIE LOUISE . MURAT ..• KING OF ROME . HORTENSE BEAUHARNAIS

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Frontispiece

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. 252

HISTORICAL AND SECRET

MEMOIRS

OF THE

EMPRESS JOSEPHINE

CHAPTER I

" Of that time do I now behold the half-dubious path of events marked out by the Fates ; for when thy years shall have accomplished eight times seven departures and returns of the sun, and those two numbers, each whereof, but for a different reason, is held to be a full number, shall, by a natural concurrence, fulfil the great destinies re- served to thee by the Fates — then shall the state cast its fortunes wholly upon thee and thy name ; then shall the senate, then shall all good citizens, then shall our allies, and all the people of Latium, turn their eyes to thee. Upon thee alone shall then depend the safety of the state. In short, thou alone, clothed with the power of dictator, shall be the support of the republic, if thou shalt but escape the im- pious hands of thy relations." — SCIPIO'S DREAM.*

A SINGULAR succession of events was now preparing the way for Bonaparte to seize the crown of his exiled mr.sters. Like Archimedes, he only wanted a fulcrum and a powerful lever to raise the globe. He found both, the one in the adulation of the tribunate, the other in the enthusiastic devotion of the army. With such supports

i The following is the original passage : — " Sed ejus temporis anci-

pitem video quasi fatorum viam : nam cum aetas tua septenos octies

Bolis anfractus reditusque converterit, duoque hi numeri, quorum uter-

que plenus, alter altera de causa, habetur, circuitu natural!, summam

VOL. II I

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he had it in his power to shake all the monarchies of Europe, as a skilful mechanic, by means of his ropes and pulleys, raises and lets down the greatest weights. It was easy to see that the docility of the one and the love of glory of the other would enable him to do whatever he pleased. They were, indeed, useful instruments in his hands. They were ready to be put in play whenever he should loosen the springs which moved them. In vain would they have attempted to resist the motion commu- nicated to them ; they had to obey it, and it was useless for them to think of avoiding the onward movement.

That which consolidates a military state is obedience. 'Tis that which makes all the members of the body politic co-operate to preserve a single head ; 'tis that which anni- hilates individual interests and establishes on their ruins one common cause. It closes every eye while it puts every arm in motion. It serves the twofold purpose of a bandage to hide the precipice, and a curb to restrain Reason when she would talk of self-preservation.

Probably Bonaparte did not foresee the enormous power

tibi fatalem confecerint, in te unum. atque in tuum nomen, se tota converterit civitas ; te senatus, te omnes boni, te socii, te Latini in- tuebuntur : tu eris unus in quo nitatur civitatis salus ; ac ne multa, dictator rempublicam constituas oportet, si impias propinquorum manua effugies."- — Opera Omnia Cic., Vol. XII., p. 199.

This curious passage must not, however, be regarded as a prophecy. The Roman orator merely puts it into the mouth of Scipio Africanus, whom he introduces in a dream to Publius Cornelius Scipio, just before the latter destroyed Carthage, and while he was heading the expedition against that injured and ill-fated country. The old Africanus, in the same interview, gives utterance to a sentiment which, though, perhaps, less orthodox than patriotic, seems worthy of being quoted as appli- cable both to Napoleon and the false friends who deserted him in his hour of need : — " Omnibus, qui patriam conservarint, adjuverint, aux- erint, certum esse in ccelo ac dennitum locum, ubi beati aevo sempiterno fruantur," Sec. — TRANSLATOR.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 3

which the title of Emperor would give him. Everything leads me to believe that he was made giddy by the im- mensity of that power. He was about to found an empire, and to give to it his laws. It was not enough, however, for him to be both prince and legislator ; his subjects must be accustomed to submission. Those who had nothing to expect from Court favours soon learned to mourn over that shadow of liberty which they had enjoyed since 1789. They secretly leaned in favour 01 every attempt to restore that liberty, and the republican spirit of many among them kept alive the hope of one day reconquering it. Still, the interior of France was shielded from the scenes of blood which might have been provoked by the audacity of some and the weakness of others, had the reins of government been in different hands. Bonaparte contented himself with sending a few intriguers into exile — a punishment to which even the cabals they belonged to could not reasonably object. He was not actuated by the wanton and cruel motive of fighting battles merely to try the strength of his throne. He could at any moment send his orders through Europe, and cause them to be repeated by millions of mouths, and defended by millions of arms ; and it was not necessary for him to prove to the world his perfect ability to maintain his domination over the ruins of a republic whose conflagration began at the first moment of its exist- ence, which was the murder of the King, and whose ruinous walls, still smoking with the blood of the august victim, were ever ready to tumble down and crush their founders; a just though tardy chastisement from a pro- tecting Providence, who opened men's eyes to make them the witnesses of their own punishment.

Bonaparte received continually the highest marks of confidence and goodwill from the two councils. For the

I 2

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rest, he remembered that, although he had not been pro- claimed First Consul by their unanimous vote (a fact that gave him little concern), he had received that honour from the people, a circumstance that flattered him greatly. He said, correctly, that men of true courage seek for no other recompense than the glory of serving their country. " Men will for ever talk of me," said he ; " posterity will remem- ber me." — " Yes," said I, " you would be immortal if you had less ambition." — " Hear me, Josephine," he replied. " I would willingly place the brother of Louis XVI. on the throne, because that is just, and ought to be ; yet I should always tremble before him, for, whenever he saw me, he would be forced to say to himself, * He who had it in his power to place the crown upon my brow is also able to remove it.' Do you think a sovereign could be very fond of so dangerous a man ? In me the people hate what they would not hate in a legitimate monarch ; in their eyes I am nothing but a soldier. Do you think I could always stem this torrent of hatred, and, from the height of honours, descend into obscurity — be nothing, less than nothing, after having been everything — languish on in the repose of a quiet but unknown existence ? However delightful such a life may be, it could never blot from my memory the bril- liant scenes I have enacted — scenes which would be for ever recurring to my imagination. No, such a life would make me miserable. I have been long reconciled with the republicans, and your husband, madam, will soon be seated upon the most splendid throne in the world."

Carndt was one of those men whose opinions do not change with circumstances. An enthusiastic supporter of the new republic, he used all his efforts in opposition to the Imperial Government. But, like so many others, he was constrained to bow down before the idol he had sought

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 5

t

to overthrow. My husband never pardoned him for giving utterance to sentiments so contrary to his interests.1

Meanwhile the Criminal Court was proceeding with the trial of the conspirators against the life of the First Consul. General Moreau, having been committed to prison in the Conciergerie, and hoping for no favour after so bold a step had been taken against him, now busied himself in preparing his defence. His confinement was not so strict but that he was permitted to see his wife, and to communicate freely with his counsel. Yet, too proud, as he himself said, of the testimony of his own conscience, he walked with head erect, and more resembled a general enjoying a triumph than a prisoner accused of high treason.*

1 While I would render the fullest justice to the profound know- ledge and acquirements of Carn6t, I am constrained to say that I never heard his name announced without a shudder. I had not forgotten the part he acted in the death of my first husband. His memory was ever dear to me, and when I saw one of the men approach me who had confirmed the order for his arrest, my heart felt wounded, my eyes were bathed in tears ; it recalled the memory of those mourn- ful times. And yet, in his presence, I affected a sort of serenity, though I found it impossible to feign goodwill towards him. The terrible words, " Committee of Public Safety," still ring in my ears ; and I used to feel really fatigued at the close of those interviews which were so painful to all who wished to forget that dreary and melan- choly portion of the past — a period painful indeed to a majority of the French people, who had been forced to endure the horrors of the Revolution. — NOTE BY JOSEPHINE.

2 Moreau had certainly performed distinguished military services for the republic. The following battles attested his bravery : —

Battle of Rastadt, July 5th, 1796, against Latour.

Battle of Ettingen, July gth, 1796, against the Archduke Charles.

Battle of Biberach, Oct. 2nd, 1796, against the Archduke Charles.

Battle of Hohenlinden, Dec. 3rd, 1800, against the Archduke John, in which General Richepanse was slain.

But all his military services for France were, surely, no excuse for his counselling with the known royalists and traitors, Pichegm

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Pichegru had also been arrested. It was known that, for some time, this general had been living in Paris, and the hatred of his enemies was not slow in taking satis- faction upon him. The unfortunate man was committed to the Temple. Sustained by a sense of his innocence, he supported this calamity with courage, less affected by his own humiliation than by the danger which menaced his country. He sent me a letter, confidentially, and I took good care not to let Bonaparte see it. I saw no means of saving him, and was afraid lest my own zeal in his behalf might prove fatal to him, in which case I should have had to reproach myself with accelerating his ruin. I thought it my duty to advise him to address himself directly to Fouch6, promising to unite my influence with that of the minister, to obtain leave for him to reside in America. But his evil star, that had led him to bestow his confidence on a man whom he had the misfortune to regard as his friend, induced him to neglect the salutary hints which were conveyed to him by my orders ; and I soon saw that the illustrious Pichegru had but a short time to live (i).

While cowardly courtiers were employing all their arts to effect their criminal objects, Bonaparte, influenced by their advice, urged on with more earnestness than ever the trial which was to destroy the most faithful of Frenchmen. The consul could not pardon Moreau's apparent modesty. " He is," said he, " an ambitious man ; he would, if he could, place himself at the head

and Georges, and much less for his wearing Russian epaulets at the battle of Dresden (where he was mortally wounded), a fact which sufficiently confirms the previous charge of treasonable intentions, for which he was banished by the First Consul. Traitors deserve no mercy. The safety of a state necessarily depends upon the fidelity of its subjects. — TRANSLATOR.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 7

of a party, and put down my authority ; I intend to overthrow hirr.. This I cannot fail to do by extending my conquests still further. I am always afraid of finding in my way a warrior as enterprising as myself."

I tried to correct his opinions as to the intentions of the general, who, by his implacable enemies, had been represented to him as burning with a thirst for power and aspiring to the throne of France. But when I inti- mated to him that Moreau would not be convicted, he became enraged. " The proofs," said he, " are as clear as day. I well know what my duty imposes upon me, as the magistrate charged to watch over the safety of the state." He then, after some moments of reflection, consented that the judges should give him their private opinions as to the punishment to be inflicted upon the general.

France is well acquainted with the letter which the illustrious prisoner sent to Bonaparte before his sentence was pronounced. He preserved his dignity throughout, and gave the new Emperor to understand that it had once depended upon him whether he should obtain the supreme power. Napoleon could not dissemble his rage. "As long as Moreau lives," said he, " he will be my most formidable rival. Two suns cannot shine together upon the same horizon. One of them must be eclipsed, and mine must triumph over his." Fouch6, who was present at this conversation, ventured some observations, to which I joined my own, telling my husband that he ought not to descend so low as to 'attempt to gain the opinion of the judges against Moreau, and give his agents such orders. " Fear," said he, with energy ; " fear, madam, that I may increase their severity ! Keep silence, at least, and do not provoke me ; your audacity has already destroyed every

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disposition on my part to overlook his faults ' M — " I do not ask any indulgence for him — I will not ask any for his judges, if you will only do justice," said I, with a feeling of profound indignation.

This important matter continued to be discussed for some days before the Criminal Court, and the public had full time to form their conclusions before the argument ended. But few persons, and only those who were particu- larly designated, were permitted to enter the Tuileries. Bonaparte was afraid the conspirators would obtain some advantage, either by means of their intrigues, or by furnish- ing hints to the counsel engaged in the defence. Never did accused persons present more grounds to interest others in their favour. The courage of Georges Cadoudal, the grief of the two Polignacs, who, though born on the steps of the throne (as their counsel eloquently said), found themselves, by means of a terrible Revolution, seated in the criminal's box; Moreau, renowned for his victories — Moreau, who, had he not been paralysed by a want of means, might, perhaps, have surpassed the conqueror of Italy. All this, said the people who attended the trial — all this disproves the charge ; the very appearance, the known virtues, the greatness, the honour of the accused, preclude the idea that they can be guilty of the crimes laid to their charge.

Alas! they had not uttered one word in their own defence before the spectators had made up their minds that they were innocent — the public, I mean, who seldom err in their judgment, if unseduced by others. Not one of the accusations was sustained by clear proof. The counsel for the prisoners shed a flood of light upon a part of the case ; but the counsel for the Government, in closing the case to the jury, replied, " You have been listening, gentlemen, to a tissue of gross lies, which I will not take the trouble to

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 9

unravel ; let it suffice to know that nothing is more false than what these conspirators have set up in their own defence, and in defence of their accomplices. I demand that the question be put to the vote."

The vote was taken, and, as was to be expected from the prejudice existing against Moreau, whom to defend was to condemn, a majority of those cowardly creatures sentenced him to death.1 "When ambition engenders crime," said they, "we must not wink at, but punish it." The minority were in favour of imprisonment, some for a longer and some for a shorter time.

But the First Consul did not approve of the sentence of death, and when I heard of this, I felt a sincere satisfaction, not only on account of Moreau, but on account of my husband and his safety. I had heard that the greater part of the spectators of that trial wore arms upon their persons, and that, had any signal been given, they were ready to leap over the feeble barriers which separated them from the general, and form around him a rampart of their bodies.

Who knows but those same arms might be directed against the life of his persecutor, and be instrumental in producing the most terrible catastrophes ! I felt it my duty to warn Bonaparte of the possibility of such an outbreak ; he pretended to believe nothing about it until Murat pre- sented to him a report upon the state of public opinion, by which he was induced to save the life of his great rival in glory. A most touching scene took place in the Criminal

I Moreau's trial made a great noise. Pichegru's death gave rise to a thousand conjectures. Some said, " The satellites of Bonaparte have strangled him." " No," replied others, " he has committed suicide." Whatever may have been the fact, the public settled down in the conviction that this atrocious act was to be attributed to Bona- parte's advisers.

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Court. Scarcely was the terrible sentence pronounced, when the two young Polignacs threw themselves into each other's arms. " Save my brother ! save my brother ! " ex- claimed the younger, in the most heartrending accents ; " he has a wife to support ; as for myself, I have felt nothing but the thorns of life, and I shall meet death without fear and without reproach ! "

The famous Georges Cadoudal, with extraordinary self-possession, dared to assert, in the face of this terrible Areopagus, that, " he who becomes a conspirator, ought to know how to die and hold his tongue" Speaking of the First Consul, he said : " Thou deceivest thyself, Bonaparte, if, in the excess of thy hatred, thou thinkest that, in dooming me to death, thou hast triumphed over me ; on the con- trary, I triumph over thee by dying with firmness. I give up to thy steel a head which life would, to a convicted man, only expose to vulgar insults — a head which, when lifeless, will, upon the scaffold where thy cruelty exposes it, be thine accuser rather than the evidence of thy suc- cessful vengeance. After having lived so long for the glory of my country, it only remains for me to die for her defence."

Charles d'Hozier thus apostrophised his judges : " You condemn me to-day : your turn will, perhaps, come to- morrow. But there is an avenging God, who will know how to punish you." All the accused displayed an im- posing dignity, the badge of innocence.

Bonaparte did not take pride in the judgments which were pronounced. ' " I should," said he, " have pardoned certain of them for form's sake, and scarcely any of them deserved so severe a sentence." He could have wished, also, that Georges Cadoudal had so far humbled himself as to ask for a commutation of the capital sentence pro-

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE II

nounced against him, to that of imprisonment for life ; but the Vendean chief preserved all his hardihood and all his pride. He even tore to pieces a memorial which was addressed and presented to him, in which his friends tried to persuade him that he would obtain pardon, pro- vided he would ask it (2). It was not thus, however, with others oi the condemned. The Duchess of Polignac used all her efiorts to save her unhappy husband. She was presented to me ; she spoke well, and expressed her- self with that warmth Oi feeling which electrifies those to whom it is addressed. It doubtless cost much of her pride to be reduced to this kind of humiliation.

I wept with her and concerted the means of introducing her to Bonaparte, who, during those mournful trials, had remained altogether unapproachable. I presented myself first; he put me ofi, without showing any symptoms of pity. I returned to that afflicted woman. "I hope every- thing from your goodness, madam," said she. — " Alas ! " I replied, with eyes filled with tears, " my feeble influence over the Emperor leaves me scarcely a ray of hope ; never- theless, I will again try to change his mind — follow me." At the moment we were stationing ourselves in such a manner as to meet him as he passed, we heard the people's shouts, proclaiming the sentence 01 death against those unfortunate persons. " In a short time," exclaimed I, without noticing Madame Polignac, whom I had upon my arm, " in a short time the most of them will cease to live ! " My husband was passing out of bis cabinet to give some order. His severe, dark physiognomy, expressed the dis- pleasure he felt at seeing us. Madame de Polignac scarcely breathed. She instantly threw herself at the feet of the new Caesar. While all France was burning incense to Bonaparte, why should she, a woman over-

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whelmed by the deepest distress, a wife and a mother, with every possible reason to deprecate the blow that was about to fall upon her — why should she rebel against the universal enthusiasm which he inspired ? Her soul was full of feeling and confidence ; she was sick, afflicted with physical suffering, mental anguish and deep despair; she was alone, feeble, dying — passing into oblivion. Alas I with a wife so afflicted, how could Polignac be guilty ? " Save him 1 save him ! Sire," she exclaimed in a voice of agony ; " establish your power upon the basis of cle- mency ! " — " Begin," said I, by way of aiding her suit, "begin to be generous. One word from you, Bonaparte, will restore to this weeping wife the being she most loves upon earth ; the most lovely prerogative of a sovereign is the power to pardon. Use it — use that sublime faculty to perpetuate your glory, and let the first days of your reign be distinguished by deeds of charity and kindness." I knew well the effect which these energetic words would have upon him, and was not deceived in my expectation. He promised to save Polignac. " I can pardon your hus- band, madam," said he to the duchess. " He has offended no one but me. A few acts of clemency at the commence- ment of my reign cannot hurt me." He seemed for a moment melted to pity; but fearing we might think he was about to extend the like indulgence to others of the condemned, he quitted us, casting at me a glance which seemed to say, " I hope you, at least, are satisfied ; but spare me henceforth such applications." His air became more tranquil, and he strove to hide the tumultuous thoughts which agitated him.

I could not but testify to Madame Polignac the hap- piness it gave me to have been selected as the advocate of her cause, and assured her that certain powerful per-

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 13

sonages had united their efforts to afford her, in the midst of her ills, all the succour, or, at least, every consolation in their power; and that the preference which she had seen fit to give me in the matter was justified by the zeal and sincerity which I had consecrated to her service.

At that time how many circumstances were there to awaken my surprise and my sensibility! I felt unwilling to leave the other proscribed persons in their present cruel situation. I directed one of my most faithful people to repair in disguise to Moreau, in order to persuade him to solicit permission to go to America. I had conferred on the subject with Fouche,1 and was convinced that this proposition, if made by some other person than myself, would meet with the approbation of my husband. While waiting for my messenger's return, I sent to beg General

B , the commandant of the chateau of Vincennes, to

treat his new prisoners with humanity, and permit them to communicate freely with one another. As to Georges Cadoudal, he was tired of life. When he was about to mount the scaffold, a last proposition was made to him. He replied with the frankness of a hero who feared nothing but the reproaches of his conscience. " Bona- parte," said he, "would do wrong to pardon me; our mutual dislike does not permit us to resort to dissimula- tion. From what I have attempted to do, let him judge of that which I am capable of undertaking ; it will show him that he must regard me as his most constant, but generous enemy, so long as a Bourbon shall exist on the face of the earth. I dare speak to him the severe language of truth. After all, he is but a man favoured by fortune. In the

I Fouch6 did not approve of Napoleon's extreme measures. " We must temporise," said he ; " violence is an approach towards weakness, and an act of clemency will do more to restrain them than the scaffold."

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eyes of legitimate monarchs, Napoleon can only act the part of a Julius Caesar, and I foresee that he will, in his turn, come to a deplorable end."

Bonaparte's advisers did not pride themselves upon a scrupulous fulfilment of their engagements; or, I should rather say, faithlessness formed the basis of their charac- ters. They flattered themselves that their master, while he seemed to consent to Moreau's departure to the United States, would easily find means to render that part of his punishment illusory by covering with ambuscades the road he was to travel. These satellites "took it for granted that Moreau would perish before he reached the place of his destination." But they were mistaken ; never did Napoleon conceive such a thought. The moment it be- came apparent that Moreau's friends would present to him that sort of capitulation, he ordered the commissioners of the marine to make every preparation for the voyage of the illustrious exile. With a sentiment of pleasure which he could not conceal, he hastened to inform me that the ocean would soon place betwixt him and his rival a barrier which he regarded as eternal. He was then far from perceiving the secrets which the dark future concealed from him (3).

This sentence did not, of course, satisfy the different parties, who, unenlightened by it as to their respective destinies, explained it each hi his own way, and with reference to his own intentions. They flattered them- selves that these reflections would open to them the cave of Trophonius.1 Every situation in life has its lesson for

z That famous oracle of Boeotia was upon a mountain, in an enclosure of white stones, on which were erected brazen obelisks. Within this enclosure was a cavern shaped like an oven, hewn out by human hands. The descent was by means of a small ladder, there not

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 15

man, and he is truly worthy of the name of man who receives the favours of fortune, or meets the frowns of adversity, with unruffled brow.

Like all persons, I then supposed that none but Moreau could fall from the Tarpeian rock without abandoning all hope of the future success of his cause. The moment of misfortune is the one when the truly great man displays the highest energy. Do not let me pretend to pity him ; when I saw him struggling with adversity, I could not but admire him.

" Whatever may be the moral force which we receive from natvre and from virtuous habits or education, it is hard, indeed, to forgive either men or one's country for having prevented one's doing the good he aimed at." Such were the well-founded reflections of Moreau, when exiled from France. He for a while hesitated between the desire to vindicate himself in the eyes of the com- panions of his glory, and the necessity of respecting the circumstances which commanded him to be silent. He dared make no explanation in the presence of the guard by whom he was surrounded ; and his sad looks betrayed

being room enough for stairs. At the bottom of the first hole, which was very narrow, there was another cavern still narrower, into which the visitor was compelled to crawl. He was required to carry in each hand a kind of composition of honey ; he passed his feet into the aper- ture, and immediately felt himself drawn downward with considerable force and rapidity. Here the future was made known to him, sometimes by seeing, sometimes by hearing. He then crawled out of the cavern feet first, and was immediately placed upon the stool of Mnemosyne, where he was questioned as to what he had seen or heard. He was then taken, half-crazed, into the temple of the Good Genius, where he was left to recover from his fright, and required to write upon a tablet what he had seen or heard, and which the priests appeared to interpret in their peculiar manner. What increased the horror of the cavern was that the penalty of death awaited those who presumed to interro- gate the god without making all the requisite preparations.

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the deep anguish of his soul. But he should have told them "that the victories of Bonaparte would yet be strangely inflated by his self-love, and that, like other conquerors, he would finally depart from the way of prudence and moderation ; that the greatest misfortune which can befall a sovereign is to lend a complacent ear to the advice of the dangerous men who surround him. One of the greatest faults of a sovereign is ingratitude, which makes him forget the services of the brave men who, by their courage, have contributed to the prosperity of the state. Whenever Napoleon is guilty of injustice, he will alienate the hearts of his new subjects, and lose all right to their respect, their love and their fidelity." And thus he did speak, when, having passed the seas, he landed upon that happy shore where a free, generous and hos- pitable people now reign.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE

CHAPTER II

BONAPARTE, now become Emperor, was far from acting the part of Cromwell. He was altogether a stranger to the crimes of the different factions which succeeded each other with such rapidity since the destruction of the monarchy. On the contrary, he had in some degree restrained them. What pains had he taken, what care had he bestowed, in endeavouring to extirpate the hydra which had for fifteen years been devouring France, and ravaging without pity her most beautiful provinces! My husband, I say, who had in reality never, in the slightest degree, contributed to the misfortunes of the Bourbon family, by no means resembled the famous Protector stained with the blood of his King. But would the modest title of Protector have been sufficient for Bona- parte ? Might he' not rival the most trifling sign of royalty without destroying his work ? His position was utterly unlike that of Cromwell. While he remained the chief magistrate of the new republic, he was con- strained to recognise its principles, and caress its founders. To use an expression of the good Henry IV., "the most of them smelt of the old leaven of the League." But those " incorruptible citizens " were no strangers to the crimes of the Revolution. They had not yet forgotten the famous " committees " of that period, and sometimes, even in my husband's presence, argued that they had rendered eminent services to their country, and done much towards intro- ducing liberal ideas. This was enough to excite the natural jealousy of Napoleon against them ; he was afraid VOL. ii a

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some new Catiline might start up among them, and, consequently, declared war upon those sons of Brutus, and especially those of them who disapproved of his re-establishing public worship in France, and affording a degree of security to the Catholic clergy. The pompous words, "Liberty and Indivisibility," did not awe the head of the French Government. He had arrived at his object, and meant to sustain himself. He ridiculed the authors of the recent law. He caused to disappear those dis gusting images representing what was called the " Goddess of Liberty." Nobody dared any longer use the hideous costume of 1793 ; the famous red caps were removed from the tops of the monuments, as they had for some time past ceased to be worn on everybody's head.

Bonaparte now contented himself with displaying a kind of popular talent, although he was secretly and really engaged in diminishing the immense power of the different popular parties. "I will," said he continually, "establish a solid government; but I stand in need of good workmen. Among those whom I despise, there are some whose talents I admire, but whose principles I detest. I intend to use them as machines, necessary in erecting and sustaining the edifice of my power. So long as I was Bonaparte, they were my equals ; but become Emperor, I must make them subjects. The most of them owe their fortunes to me; the rest, in order to preserve the fruits of their peculations, will, by a sense of their own interests, be compelled to hoist my banner. It will be a curious spectacle," he added, with a smile, " to see such and such ones bedizened with lace and covered with cordons. I shall assign each his part in the play." Then immediately resuming his serious air, he said, " Do you think I will yield them my entire confidence? Never!

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE ig

But unless I affect to give them some useful employ- ment, those political chameleons will become dangerous ; and the moment they shall accept the titles I intend to give them, those proud republicans will become my slaves. It is my purpose, however, to establish a kind of set-off for them, and the chains with which I destine them to be loaded shall glitter with the baubles of favour. The philosopher and scholar will see nothing about them but the evidences of a change in their opinions, and the badge of their ancient servitude." Thus reasoned my husband only a few days after he was proclaimed an Augustus.

The plan was ably conceived, and he certainly did not overrate his power when he foresaw that it would be adopted both by his friends and his foes.

I employed the language of Bacon, and said to him, " Every one, in his own fancy, builds a little world whereof he is the centre, around which revolve all kinds of opinions crossing each other's orbits, eclipsing, avoiding, approaching each other, at the will of the great motive power, self-love. Truth sometimes gleams out in the midst of these confused and tangled motions ; but it appears only for a moment, and passes on — like the sun at noon, we behold it without being able either to stay or follow its course.

" Peace now exists ; and peace is in itself a thing so lovely that nothing ought to be omitted to preserve it, or at least the hope of it. Why sound the alarm? Why sow the seeds of distrust and excite animosities ? Is it a sure method of preserving peace to abdicate the modest title of Consul and immediately assume one more pompous ? Is it, moreover, consistent and prudent, while you are setting forth the causes of war, to labour to show

2 — 2

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that all power is now lodged in the hands of the conqueror of Marengo ? l That he is ready to aggravate his provoca- tions towards Germany, by seeking to demonstrate to her that all the strength will henceforth be on one side, and all the weakness on the other, and that she will probably find herself without resources to sustain the conflict ? Hear me further. You well know that true valour detests butchery as much as it loves glory. Does an enemy yield ? She ceases to strike ; she covets not blood, but honour, and even her enemy becomes dear to her if victory has cost her a great effort."

He replied with ill-humour, for I began to embarrass him. "As against the passions," said he, "what is mere gallantry without courage ? It is their slave ; courage is their master."

This conversation was without any result. I saw quickly that it was against his views, and particularly when I spoke in favour of the French princes. Their return had become the more difficult now that he was in possession of their throne. To excuse himself, in a manner, to those who could not reconcile the idea of his virtues with his enterprising character, he said, with an air of frankness, "What would you have me do? The throne

I After the battle of Marengo was gained (it is known to whom it belonged) the First Consul, leaving his suite by themselves, went into one of those small houses which are built among the vines for the purpose of protecting them. He strode rapidly lengthwise and across the room, which was neither long nor broad, and seemed absorbed in a profound reverie. General Lacue, his aide-de-camp, entered to make him a report. Bonaparte heard him, but with marked inattention, and recited to him, in a loud voice, and with great warmth, the following ines from the " Death of Pompey " : —

"J'ai send, commande, vaincu quarante annees, Du monde entre mes mains j'ai vu les destineesj Et j'ai toujours connu qu'en tout evenement Le destin des etats dependait d'un moment."

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 21

has been vacant since the death of Louis XVI. The Jacobins disdained to sit upon it; I have taken possession of it in order to '-exterminate those sons of Brutus." To others he said, " I have written to the Pretender, but his answer is not at all such as I wished it to be. Besides, the people have sucked the milk of the Revolution, and henceforth a Bourbon will be a stranger among the French." Whenever I was present, I exclaimed against such revolting injustice, and pointed out to him how dangerous to himself might be the consequences. " Who can tell," said I, " where your dynasty will end ? Perhaps it may soon fall to a woman." This remark made him furious. " I shall know well, when the time comes," said he, " how to choose a successor." Long did he cherish the idea that the eldest son of Louis Bonaparte should inherit his sceptre and his power (4).

I was not now unhappy, but I perceived that I was by degrees becoming so. Napoleon dreamed of nothing but invasions. The whole extent of Europe was too circum- scribed for his exploits. " I mean," said he to his courtiers, " soon to be sole sovereign of the world. My house will one day occupy the principal thrones on earth." His hearers sometimes admitted the possibility of such a result, and sometimes smiled with pity at hearing him reason thus. He was not a man to take a single retrograde step when he had once begun an undertaking. Discreet by nature, the conquests which he meditated were never known to others. He possessed the art of looking through the characters of men.1 He despised them, but was, at

i " I despise men," said he to me one day, " because almost all those who surround me are vile and corrupt. Such and such ones" (naming them to me) "are so servile towards me that, should I order it, they would sacrifice the peace ot their families, and their dearest affections. I admit, it is very flattering to me to inspire such a blind

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the same time, master of the wonderful faculty of making them subservient to his purposes.

The nearer my husband approached* the highest step to which inconstant Fortune sometimes elevates men, the dimmer became the last gleam of earthly happiness which shone around me. 'Tis true, I enjoyed a magnificent exist- ence. My Court was composed of persons of great name, of ladies of the first rank, who all solicited the honour of being presented to me. To some of them were assigned honorary situations in my family. The Duchess of Roche- foucauld was appointed dame d'honneur, and Madame Wals de Seran her attendant. I could no longer dispose of my time (5). I was constrained to submit, at all times, to the rigorous usages of etiquette ; and the Emperor directed that it should be as severe as it had anciently been at the chateau of Versailles.1 Of course, I was surrounded with

confidence. Duroc, Berthier and Caulincourt have often used the language of remonstrance, for which they have certainly lost none of their master's esteem. I am sure of the attachment of those three persons. One of them, you know, madam, has given me the most striking proof of it, and that under circumstances of the gravest cha- racter, which I could scarcely wish, for the honour of the age, to forget. The great, when they command an act of injustice, are too faithfully obeyed. We are certainly bound to resist courageously the public authorities when they abuse their powers — powers entrusted to them only to protect the people, and sustain the dignity of the state. Caulincourt has, I repeat, served me too faithfully. He has occasioned, both to himself and me, eternal regrets. You alone, Josephine, were right ; and I will here say to you what Louis XVI. said, in speaking of her whom he regarded as his best friend : ' Madam, your solidity is worth more than that of most of my counsellors.' I am willing to admit the principle, that your sex is sometimes more clear-sighted than ours. But, madam, don't let this flatter your vanity, for your faults are repeated so often." — NOTE BY JOSEPHINE.

i The Emperor held to everyone's doing his duty, and always sternly insisted upon it. He wanted everyone to attend to the service with which he was charged, and in the minutest details. He some- times growled, and especially at the women. If, however, the person

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 23

all the appliances of the old monarchy, a thing which I perfectly understood, and which I was glad to see adopted. I also saw those new men who were infected with the crimes of the Revolution, coming humbly to solicit a look from the new Queen. Oh, how despicable did the human race then seem to me 1 I could not help bestowing some of my thoughts upon my old friends who, like myself, disapproved of Napoleon surrounding himself with such an infernal set. He was infinitely afraid of them, and I could not help telling him that, had he consulted me in selecting the persons for the discharge of the highest functions, I should have exacted from many of them a strong guarantee. He was so struck with the justness of my observations, that it became extremely difficult for him to find proper persons to be appointed to the different places in the imperial ad- ministration. Nevertheless, in a career so new to him, he displayed the vast genius of Cicero, and discovered, in the mere civil administration, new fields of glory. He proved himself as able an administrator of the government as he had been an intrepid warrior, with one hand boldly sustain- ing the dignity of the empire, and with the other repairing the wrongs and errors of a government as pusillanimous as it had been culpable. In the midst of this enormous labour, his mind often became a prey to the most melancholy fore- bodings ; he was afraid of losing, in a moment, the fruits of eight years of victory ; and this fear rendered him, at times, extremely unhappy.

He read but little, though he was fond of perusing good authors. A few days after his elevation to the throne, chance threw in his way an extract from some one of the

complained of had courage enough not to be awed by him, but to show him that he was without fault, he would become good-natured, and say no more about it. — NOTE BY JOSEPHINE.

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Chinese writers on morals. He met with the following passage : —

" The intriguer sometimes meets with great success, but he is subject to great reverses. The man who is straightforward, and without ambition, rarely acquires a great fortune, but he has few disasters to fear."

He threw aside the book with an air of indignation. " I am," said he, " above fear, and I prefer the first part to the second." I recalled to his mind this maxim of Seneca : " The light stucco of the outside imposes upon few ; truth, on whatever side it is viewed, is always the same ; false- hood has no consistence ; a lie is transparent ; a little attention enables one to see through it."

" Seneca," said he, with some warmth, "may have been right, but Seneca would probably have been my dupe ; I have become able to so counterfeit myself as to give the lie direct to the philosopher of Cordova."

Meanwhile, he was receiving from every part of France congratulations upon his advent to the throne ; while I myself sighed in contemplating the immense power he had acquired. The more I saw him loaded with the gifts of fortune the more I feared his fall. I did not dissemble my apprehension that his phantom of a government would always rest upon pillars of clay. I knew that those who expected no favours from the Court, who still mourned over the loss of that shadow of liberty the vague idea of which they had once so fondly caressed, must always lean secretly towards whatever tended to restore it — a temper of mind which had long been strengthened by that boldness of thought which is peculiar to republican principles.

I did not cease to impress upon him the difficulty of managing the thousand interests which agitate an extensive empire. " There are some men," said I, " who are intimi-

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 25

dated by the mere contemplation of events from which others are able to derive great advantages; and such is precisely the history of modern France."

" Of course," he replied, " there will be agitations on all sides ; but my government will be firm and vigorous ; it will impose silence upon every one ; perverse and wicked men will, perhaps, labour in the dark to destroy it ; hatred will lie concealed, in the expectation of being sooner or later enabled to take advantage of some possible relaxation of the military discipline, and to raise rebellions in the provinces. But I shall see that justice reigns. I shall pro- tect the people, because they, in their turn, protect me, and I shall take care not to trust too much to my courtiers, preferring to sound the depths of truth with my own hand."

I certainly encouraged such sentiments ; they aimed at nothing but the welfare of France, and on that point we were always agreed. Whenever he withdrew himself from that herd of flatterers who perpetually besieged him, and did me the honour to yield me his confidence, I found in this same Bonaparte1 the soldier's father, the nation's faithful and generous protector, and the most determined enemy of faction.

In order to give an air of legitimacy to Napoleon's accession to power, he thought it necessary to go through

i The Emperor on parade and the Emperor at home with Jose- phine were two such different persons that they would not have been taken for each other. The former wore a sad, cold, serious and care- worn countenance; the latter, almost an air of gaiety and good- humour, enlivened with a smile. He had, as everybody knows, the finest teeth in the world, and was well-shaped, notwithstanding his short stature. He had a delicate and well-shaped head, and knew it, and took great pains with it. His leg and foot were also elegantly shaped. His stockings were neat and generally a good fit, though he seldom wore them tied. — NOTB BY JOSEPHINE.

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the ceremony of a coronation, and commenced the requi- site preparations for that event. There was not, however, according to his ideas, any bishop in France worthy to place the crown upon the head of the French Caesar. No one but the Sovereign Pontiff was competent to preside at the triumph of the modern Charlemagne. There was, however, a good deal of difficulty in determining the com- mon Father of the Faithful to legalise in any way by his presence this worldly usurpation. But, happily, the plan was managed with so much adroitness that Napoleon was en- abled to congratulate himself upon the blind submission of the sovereign of Rome. It was, certainly, to triumph over a great danger to receive, so peacefully, the patrimony of Henry IV. ; but it was a far more difficult and signal achievement to overawe the Vatican, and to constrain the successor of the pontiffs, who had so often menaced the most absolute Kings with the apostolic thunders, to come and humble himself before one who would fain have been looked upon as the hero chosen by Providence to chastise men, re-establish religion, and rebuild her temples.

Napoleon, now at the height of power, could not but be agreeably surprised at this passive submission of a venerable old man. " I shall, madam," said he, " de- rive a great advantage from it, and the French will not, with indifference, behold me labouring, in conjunction with Pius VII., again to make the Lord's vine flourish. I want him to reside in my palace ; the presence of the Holy Father is necessary to the purification of that place, which, since the Revolution, has become the abode of the powers of hell."

Orders were given to meet the Vicar of Jesus Christ on his way to Paris, and apartments were assigned him. "Nothing can now resist me," said Napoleon, smiling;

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 27

" I shall soon rule the whole world — what did I say ? — I am going to possess the keys of Paradise. What can hinder me from taking a peep in there myself one of these days, and seeing what is going on ? " It was the Em- peror's habit thus pleasantly to while away his leisure moments. But for the rest, he was indefatigable at work; and in actual labour he far surpassed his ablest ministers. The most splendid repast never saw him more than twenty minutes at table (6). He was never in bed more than three hours during the night. At the commencement of the consulate he would often wake me from my sleep to talk about his projects. I found, however, that these long vigils were wearing away my health, and entreated him to dream alone upon the common good of France, and certainly was not sorry when he prolonged his stay in his private study — for then I totally forgot all politics, in which I felt little interest, and gave myself up to the sound sleep whose refreshing influence I stood in need of. Napoleon left Paris for the purpose of meeting the Holy Father. They saluted each other with the kiss of peace.1 I experienced real sorrow on seeing the Roman Pontiff. My heart sank within me, for everything seemed to me to foretell that these two men would become enemies. The one was paying a visit to France to confirm the re-

i Napoleon brought the Pope from Fontainebleau to Paris in his own carriage. They sat tete-a-tete during this passage. What was remarkably singular about it was the regiment of Mamelukes, who marched immediately behind the carriage, accompanied by the whole of the guard. People laughed to see the Mohammedans vying with one another in respect for the Vicar of Jesus Christ. The public foresaw that the followers of the prophet would adorn the triumphal procession to Notre Dame, and their curiosity was not on this occasion disappointed. That which many had supposed impossible was, to the great astonishment of the Romish clergy, now realised ; and on that ever memorable day the Crescent figured by the side of the Cross.

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establishment of religion, while the other was intent upon nothing but the confirmation of his power and authority. Napoleon did not pretend to prop himself up by means of the Pope's authority, although he was persuaded of the necessity of reverting to ancient ideas in the matter of the coronation. He would willingly have sacrificed millions to obtain from the Cathedral of Rheims that marvellous ampulla which religion had there preserved for the consecration of kings (7).

The marked humility of Pius VII. did not awe the new Emperor. " He is an Italian," said he to me ; " we are each seeking to entrap the other. "Pis no matter what posterity may say about Chiaramonti ; I must attend to my own business. My wish is to make the ceremony of my coronation magnificent and imposing. In splen- dour it shall surpass that of any of the Kings of France.1

Deputies were summoned from every department to assist at it. The great dignitaries oi the empire appeared, surrounded with the most imposing splendour; in a word, nothing was omitted that could in any way make this imperial ceremony recall to the minds of men the Roman triumphs. But I looked with unconcern upon the pre- parations for this superb fete. Indeed, I sank into a deep

i The whole of the population of the capital, as well as the most distinguished citizens of the departments, were ranged along the way where the imposing cortege was to pass. The Pope's carriage was preceded by a Roman prelate, bearing the external symbol of our salvation. He was mounted on a black mule, and his attitude seemed singular enough to the Parisians, who burst out into a hearty laugh at seeing Monseigneur sitting plump upright upon his nag, and pre- serving, in the midst of the shouts and jeers of that immense multi- tude, so fond of caricature, the phlegm and the gravity required by his functions, but of which the spectators had not the slightest con- ception. For them it possessed only the merit and attraction of novelty.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 2Q

melancholy, and trembled at the thought of the new re- straints which my husband was about to impose upon me. The luxury and &clat of that memorable day were irksome to me. Sometimes I seemed to behold the spirit of Louis XVI. gazing with pity upon me. Again I seemed to hear the voice of some evil demon, approach- ing with a design to murder me ; and my anguish was increased by the apprehension that all which was then passing around me would one day become matter of reproach. What earthly power then could have con- strained me to enter Notre Dame, had I not made a solemn promise to do so ? 1

After Napoleon had received the holy unction, and after I had been crowned by him, I was compelled to receive and respond to the congratulations of the mem- bers of the Court. The uniformity of the compliments was such that I soon relapsed into the reflections which had given me so much pain and anxiety. While thus wholly absorbed, I -heard a voice which was dear to me — 'twas my husband's. "Whatl" said he, in a low tone, "what ! Josephine in tears ? Is she alone, on this glorious day, a stranger to the happiness of him whom she alone ought to love ? " He emphasised the last word ; his eyes sparkled, and his brows were knitted, giving to his face an expression of sternness. General Duroc came and whispered something in his ear. I heard

i Some days before the coronation, it was noticed with surprise that Josephine was suddenly overcome by melancholy. She herself seemed unable to assign any cause for it. Bonaparte noticed it and spoke of it; she said to him, "For a time, I flaaered myself that my husband would yet surpass himself; that illusion has now vanished." When she received the crown from the hands of Napoleon, she could not restrain her tears — they flowed in abundance.

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him answer, distinctly, " Very well ! very well I " after which his countenance became more serene.

The part I now had to act was very painful to me. Compelled to be continually en representation (8), I re- membered with bitterness of heart the happy moments I had spent at Malmaison ; and thought even of my modest h6tel on Chantereine Street. I could not help comparing what I was when I inhabited it with what I was at this moment ; and I admit with perfect frank- ness that, so heavily did the weight of my present grandeur press upon me, in casting my eyes back upon the past, I deeply regretted that sweet liberty which was now ravished from me for ever. It became almost impossible for me to see my former friends; I was anxious to contribute to their happiness, but Napoleon had de- prived me of the means. The strictest surveillance was established at the chateau; the countersign was as rigor- ously enforced as if his guard had been watching over the defence of a fortified town. Duroc kept a list of all those who were permitted to enter the Emperor's apart- ments, and every evening rendered his master an account of the events that took place. The minutest details were submitted to the Emperor's inspection, and he spent a good deal of his time in the amusement of examining them. He was offended if the grand marshal concealed from him the smallest particular. Whenever he discovered such concealment, his suspicious mind would conjure up a thousand phantoms. His imagination was filled with conspiracies, and he seized with avidity upon the slightest circumstance going to prove their existence. Hence the innumerable countersigns which followed each other in such rapid succession. There were times even when I could not admit Tallien into my presence (9). To be

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 3!

thus shut up rendered me doubly unhappy, for my sensi- tive heart needed to recline upon the bosom of friendship.

We paid frequent visits to the august stranger who had deigned to become our guest. The Holy Father penetrated the secret designs of Napoleon, who, in his turn, made his Holiness the subject of his most careful observation. That paternal frankness which was at first evinced now no longer united the two Sovereigns, nor did that mutual respect which was at first manifested any longer preside at their interviews.

Napoleon was in the habit of visiting the Holy Father without any etiquette, though he preserved the external forms of respect towards him. It was easy to see, however, that Napoleon was becoming tired of the ceremony. He said to me one evening, " Madam, Pius VII. displeases me ; whenever the affairs of the Church are alluded to, he becomes grave and silent, and seems to imagine himself still sitting upon the pontifical throne. He undoubtedly hopes to overawe me ; but Cardinal Chiaramonti knows full well that his dear brother in Jesus Christ has also had his trials and temptations ; two foxes cannot long hunt each other in the same woods. The Pope, for his own repose as well as mine, ought to leave immediately. The popular meetings which are now taking place at the Carrousel are beginning to trouble me ; I am afraid of the ascen- dency of the priests — I shall make use of them, because that is necessary ; but it has gone far enough — their triumph must stop here, and the Father of the Faithful must return forthwith to his estates."1

I The Pope lived in great simplicity at the Tuileries. He took his meals by himself, and said his Mass at eight o'clock. Three of the apartments were generally filled with visitors, and the stairs

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Napoleon did not long delay the preparations for the departure of the Sovereign Pontiff. When the latter took leave of him and gave him the apostolic benedic- tion, the Emperor was really touched ; for myself, I was penetrated with a feeling of the deepest veneration at witnessing the holy conversation, the fervour, the dis- interestedness of that worthy successor of the Apostles ; and I cannot even now without emotion recall the last words he addressed to me on taking his leave : " Madam," said he, raising his eyes to heaven, " the tranquillity of Europe, as well as my own, has induced me to yield to your husband's commands. For this, man may perhaps blame me ; but God alone will be my judge."

When Napoleon saw that illustrious wayfarer depart, he was far, very far, from believing in the success of his projects upon the Roman states. And yet he persuaded himself, a few years afterwards, that it would be a glorious act to undertake their execution.

He thought he should for ever travel on a thornless path ; but, alas 1 the ambitious man possesses no as- surance for the future. At first, he mounts the lowest round of the ladder ; that attained, he ascends still higher ; the greater his elevation, the more dangerous it becomes, and the greater his need of a firm prop to sustain him.

As wife of the First Consul, I was happy indeed, because I was enabled to render him innumerable ser- vices ; but elevated to the rank of Empress, I found all the avenues to the throne so beset by men of every

were encumbered with them. The Holy Father bestowed his blessing and distributed chaplets. So far did he carry his apostolic zeal, that he laid his hands upon the head of the sick, and, in order to work their speedy cure, touched them with the annulta

piscatoris.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 33

condition and of every faction that I ceased to exert the same empire over Napoleon's mind. Having reached the height of human greatness, he thought himself in- vulnerable. Such, however, was my frankness that, at times, I ventured to tell him my whole mind and point out the ways which I thought he ought to pursue. This nettled him ; and, after the coronation, he began to mani- fest a distrust of me. He was offended by the doubts I presumed to express as to the stability of his govern- ment, and became angry whenever I ventured to compare his Court with the old Court of Versailles (10). In short, he told me I had better, henceforth, keep my sinister reflections to myself; and he forbade me, for the future, to censure the acts of his government.

" I shall obey," said I, " but I must reserve to myself the right to inform you of whatever scheme may be con- trived against your personal safety, or against the tran- quillity of France.""

" At present," said he, " my power is unassailable." "Yes," I replied, " while Josephine shall be your best friend" — laying stress upon those words, prophetic of misfortune. This made him seriously angry with me. " You have lost your senses," said he. — I coldly replied, " Bonaparte, I notice that those words make you turn pale — why should that be, if my prophecy is senseless? I see that which might escape the observation of others. I see that your looks betray trouble within (n). What ! does the puissant Emperor of the Gauls tremble at the prospect of his own ruin, in case he shall ever separate from his wife ? I foresee that this terrible thought will often haunt you. Listen to me. Withhold your confidence from these new flatterers, who are vying with one another in their pretended devotion to your interests. 'Tis the thirst of power which devours VOL. ii 3

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them ; they burn to govern in your place. Such a man as you ought, moreover, to understand the reason why his Court is filled with such heartless adulation." He cast at me a searching look, but his silence disarmed me; my courage failed me when I saw that his self-love was wounded by what I had said. I apologised, and promised to conform myself to his will, until, at least, by the excess of my zeal, I should be able to curb it.1

Napoleon had written to the Continental Powers, invit- ing their consent to his elevation to the throne. His letter to the King of Great Britain was laid before Parliament. Bvt he was strangely surprised on being informed that England, unwilling alone to treat with him, declined to take any resolution on the subject, except in concert with the Emperor of Russia and the King of Sweden, who were unwilling to recognise him. This he took as an insult, and swore that, " in spite of these Sovereigns, he would soon wear the crown of the ancient Kings of Lombardy." He often repeated, with a sort of affectation, that, " but for the stubborn refusal of those Powers to place his name upon the list of Sovereigns, he should not have been ambitious to exercise any greater power in Europe than he then possessed."

Some time afterwards, a deputation from the colleges and constituent bodies of the Italian Republic was admitted at the palace of the Tuileries, and made him a proposition to establish a kingdom in Italy, and to become its protector. This double title of Emperor and King was too flattering

I The Emperor was one day about to undertake an important matter, when Josephine besought him to put it off for a time, as it was Friday, an unlucky day. " "Tis so, perhaps, to you, madam," said he ; "but it is the most fortunate hi my life — I never shall forget that it was the day of our marriage." — " That is true," replied the Empress, adding nothing further.

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to his ambition to be refused. On the day after the audience with them, he took his seat in the midst of the senate, in order to state to them the fact of his advent to the throne of Italy. He pretended, in the presence of this branch of the public magistracy, that it was with reluctance that he had finally yielded to the wishes of this new nation. But his minister of foreign relations, who had long foreseen this event, in the speech which he made on the occasion suggested " that his defeat might commence in the moment of victory." Napoleon told him: "You did well, sir, to speak of my conquests; but you might have forborne to present me to the nation as an ambitious chieftain,"

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CHAPTER III

•*. . . . . . II est beau de triompher de soi,

Quand on pent hautement dormer a tous la loi."

CORNEILLB.

•* IF I limit my conquests here, or if I turn my armi in another direction, I shall have, in truth, acquired but a feeble glory, and made no advance toward the accomplish- ment of my original purpose. Of what reaJ use is it to me to have borne tne torch ot war through Europe, if, content with having subverted empires, I neglect to establish upon a solid foundation the one which it was my primary object to found. I have long since learned that it is not birth which gives the right to fame. The man who has courage, the man who serves his country, the man who illustrates his character by great deeds, has no need of ancestors ; he is, of himself, everything."

Thus spoke the new Emperor of the French, in the midst of his Court, on the eve of his departure for Lom- bardy. He prepared to visit his new estates, and wanted to travel a few days in advance of the Pope, who was then returning to his own.

The route the Emperor took presented him with no- thing but a succession of triumphs. He visited the field of battle at Marengo, fully sensible that, without the glorious success of that day, he would not now have been on the eve of placing on his head the crown which once adorned the august brow of Charlemagne. He directed a monument to be erected to the memory of the brave men who sacrificed their lives to achieve that victory (12).

EM: ;OSKPH

CHING AFTER THE PA;

JOSEPHINE ][MPERATM€EDES1FRAFC;AIS • ET REINE, B'lTAJLIE, , fr

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 37

I accompanied him to Milan. The inhabitants of that city were so .enthusiastic in their reception of him that they would not suffer him to enter the town through the customary gate. They opened a new one, in order, as they said, to isolate from the common way the great man whose glory and astonishing genius had elevated him above the condition of humanity.

At length I saw my Eugene again, and how great was my joy at meeting that tender-hearted boy! Alas, how painfully did my time pass away under the purple ! tears were often my sole consolation. My husband's family had for some time past, as it seemed to me, been arming themselves against me (13). I expressed to Madame de la Rochefoucauld my suspicions that many of them were secretly endeavouring to alienate his feelings from me; and so far had they succeeded in embittering his mind against me that I had become the subject of his most biting irony. So far had this gone that he said to me one day, " Madam, 'tis enough for you to have been crowned at Paris ; you cannot be crowned at Milan. The title of King belongs to me alone. I shall place the crown on my head with my own hands ; " and then, with vehe- mence, pronounced those energetic words of Charles XII.: "God has given it to me — let him who would touch it beware I " I did not share this new diadem ; I was but a spectator of my husband's triumph, and, from a tribune in the cathe- dral, beheld with emotion the glory which environed him, but not me (14). And yet a sense of the new position he was about to assign to my son gave me courage to submit to my fate. I stood in need of courage to support the innumerable humiliations with which he loaded me. I was continually obliged to act as a sort of go-between to him and his officers, who found it very difficult to

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accustom themselves to the caprices of his temper and the rudeness of his manner.

Eugene was appointed Viceroy of the new kingdom, and Napoleon hastened to give his Italian subjects a new Constitution. The rights of his adopted son were not overlooked. An order of chivalry was created under the title of the " Iron Crown."

I am still at a loss to what to attribute the extraor- dinary emotions I experienced when Eugene Beauharnais, as Viceroy, took the oath in the presence of the legislative body; my eyes seemed covered as with a funeral veil, my heart beat rapidly, and a voice within seemed to tell me: " This Prince will never be a perjured man ; he will keep his oath religiously; his devotion to his country, his respect for him who protected his childhood, and has opened to him, while so young, the path of glory, will render the Viceroy of Italy a great captain and a great prince."

What other desire could I feel? My husband's un- reserved friendship might, and ought, to have been all- sufficient for me. I saw my children sitting upon the highest steps of Fortune's temple, whose portals they had long since passed. But Napoleon began to neglect me.

i The Emperor visited Josephine regularly at her toilet — laughed and joked with her, and uttered a thousand pleasantries about women, whom, in general, he considered as fickle, coquettish, and without any solidity of character. At this time he frequently found himself in company with four or five women, and only one man (who was the hairdresser) ; and talked of nothing but dress and trinkets, walks and hunting parties. It is hardly to be credited that Napoleon really had such a false idea, as he seemed to have, of the sex which constituted the charm of his life. I presume there were always those at hand who were ready to gather up and report whatever he happened to say. and his apprehension of this rendered his conversation quite trivial. With him discretion was the first, as it was the greatest, of virtues.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 39

More than one Italian beauty momentarily arrested his gaze. Constancy was not the favourite virtue of the modern Charlemagne. He was constantly flitting about, like the butterfly in the fable. But he was terribly afraid of the influence of women, and ever on his guard against allowing them the slightest dominion over him. " You alone," he would often tell me, " continue to inspire me with confidence (15). Between us, madam, it must be admitted that your sex are quite faithless; but I always understand how to bring them to their reason." In case I happened to drop a remark upon the light and hasty manner he was accustomed to judge of women, he would tell me, with that careless air which our intimacy justified, " That will do for you, madam ; you have a right to talk thus, because I place a high price upon your attachment. But what woman shall pretend to make me her slave, or attempt to change my opinion ? Such an attempt would certainly be vain. No, no ; I shall never imitate Antony. The modern Cleopatras and all those who follow in their train shall enjoy no patronage or encouragement under my reign ; the only thing which flatters me is that I have in- spired them with a desire to please me, but never shall I elevate to power or importance a sultana in the shade of a seraglio. Like most other men, I may have some foibles ; but Napoleon on the throne must, by his good conduct and severe principles, entirely eclipse them. Moreover, I am occupied with important business ; a Sovereign who seeks to hold the reins of power with a firm hand must not permit himself to play the part of a gay cavalier. But," added he, seriously, " be easy ; no other woman will ever succeed you in my affections ; as to my diversions during my leisure moments, that's another matter."

Who would suppose that such a mind as Bonaparte's

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was liable to be terrified by the smallest matter?1 The most inconsiderable events would sometimes occupy his mind for days, and keep him incessantly talking about them. This man, extraordinary in everything, was of a furiously jealous disposition ; often and much did I suffer from his suspicions. Naturally irritable, everything vexed him.2 I could not see, I could not receive a visit from, anybody without being subject to the most unfavourable interpretation, and I found it extremely difficult to dissuade him from his unjust course of conduct towards me. I shall always remember those journeys to Italy ; never shall I forget the tears I shed (16).

Our return to France was signalised by public rejoicings. The people at this time thought themselves at the height of felicity, and Napoleon boasted openly of the perfection of the military system which he had introduced into every branch of the administration. " This," said he, with pride, " is the only system which is congenial to my people ; I know no other power than that of armies, and no other rights than those given me by the influence of arms." He said to Caprara (17) one day, " I look upon the Holy Father as a general. You, gentlemen Princes of the Church, you are his aides-de-camp ; the bishops are his colonels, the curates his captains. I love to have every-

1 He detested an open door. Did you wish to announce anyone to him, you had to knock at his door first. If he replied, " What's want- ing ? " the answer had to be given through the door ; if he happened to bid you come in, you had to open the door only just enough to squeeze through, hold it with your hand drawn up close against you, and thus stand until you went out.

2 Napoleon did not like to meet strangers when he went to visit Josephine, and, in case he did, he would scold the servants and not be seen again for several days. Of course she had good reason for keeping strangers away when he came, which was regularly in the morning and evening.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 4!

thing around me military. You see the drum takes the place of the bell in all our colleges, and who knows but in a short time even the pupils in our seminaries will submit to the manual exercise ? I should like to see our youth preparing themselves to reap laurels. A pastor would only be more venerable in my eyes who should wear a cassock adorned with some military decoration won by his valour ; indeed, I think I might take a notion to have him canon- ised, should he live long enough to wear the triple chevrons upon his arm."1

Such were the ideas expressed by Napoleon, in the presence of his courtiers. He had but little faith in our religious mysteries ; and perhaps that was the cause which prevented him from approaching the holy table on the day of his coronation. " I am not a fervent Catholic," said he, to one of the priests, who observed to him that the com- munion was indispensable on so important an occasion ; " but," continued he, " I have at least sufficient sins already upon my conscience without adding to them that of sacrilege " (18).

Europe now saw the political horizon grow dark. Austria began to feel unquiet, and could not look with indifference upon Napoleon's domination in Italy.

On his part, he took good care to cause it to be pro- claimed abroad through the journals that all the Sovereigns of Europe were on a good understanding with France. Russia, meanwhile, was raising troops in Poland ; Austria imitated her example, and England appeared to be awaiting tranquilly the famous descent with which the warlike chieftain had long menaced her. During two years he had been making immense preparations, as well of transport

i Triple Chevrons — Three V's, a mark of fifteen years' service.— TRANSLATOR.

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vessels as of gunboats. He took pride in having the flat- bottom boats built under his own eyes, though he was very far from placing confidence in their future destination. Day by day the troops sighed for the signal of departure, and that signal seemed all the while about to be given.

The Powers of Europe began to be in doubt as to his real intentions. His courtiers seized upon the most trifling indications emanating from the chateau, to divine his pur- poses. But he now became visibly affected. He could on longer misunderstand the intentions of the Sovereigns respecting himself. His projects of invasion were now pro- voking against him a Continental war. He told me he was going to Boulogne to review his troops, and to put every- thing in readiness for his grand enterprise. " I shall," said he, " fix upon the time for the departure of the troops, and set them about the execution of my plan." I then seriously supposed he was about to attack the English ; but, con- trary to my expectation and that of the whole army, he returned hastily to Paris, and alleged to his generals that this pretended descent upon England was but a political ruse, employed by him in order to keep public expectation on tiptoe. " Be assured, madam," said he, " the troops quartered at Boulogne are, at this moment, ready to march to the banks of the Rhine — in squares, and in the same order they have observed at the camp of Boulogne."

Resources were not wanting to Napoleon to undertake the war. A single word from him sufficed to obtain men and money. The senate was at his disposal — he com- manded it as a master. All the orders of the empire were subject to his control. He only had to express his sove- reign will ; and, with Frenchmen, what might not the man of destiny undertake ? To certain gentlemen he said, " I hate the patronage system, because I see clearly that when

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place becomes the gift of favour and not the price of merit, it can only tend to ruin the country. When intrigue and importunity shall suffice to obtain the dignities of the state, all emulation is at an end. Men will cease to exercise their intellects; virtue and talent, no longer rewarded by a just tribute of glory, will lose their vigour and even their existence. Should the nation see no- thing but imbecile and corrupt proteges at the head of the administration and the army, do you imagine she would increase her wealth or achieve victories? Woe to the people who give themselves up to such ministers, or rely upon such defenders ! May France never submit to such a sacrifice. As the supreme head of the empire, I am bound to consecrate my hand, my tongue, and my heart to its preservation from such vicious practices ; and, if necessary, I will stand alone in the midst of my council and combat them. I well know how to hinder men in place from misusing the power I entrust to them. My giving it to them is but a feint; the object is to make them afraid of me and move submissive to my will."

He incessantly talked to his numerous legions about the national glory. A million of arms was thus made ready to sustain the nation's honour, and display its victorious ensigns. "Victorious ensigns," "national glory," "national honour" — what an impression did these words convey whenever a general announced to his army that it was in the name and for the defence of their country that he was leading them to battle !

It was, however, to satisfy the ambition of only one man that the elite of the nation were sacrificing themselves on the field of battle.1 Indeed, had it not been for the courage

i This is an entirely mistaken view of the events of that epoch. Although Emperor of the French, Napoleon had not ceased to be the representative of the Revolution. The liberties created and guaranteed

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of our generals and the valour of our soldiers, perhaps even the territory of France might have been partitioned out among the different foreign Powers. The sad fate of Poland presented itself, in perspective, to our affrighted eyes. Perceiving this danger in the distance, he laboured to infuse new courage into the troops, and seemed to in- spire them with new and increasing energy. Hence the many sublime actions and feats of bravery in repelling an unjust aggression. The Frenchman, always a Frenchman, even in the midst of the most threatening dangers, cannot, under any circumstances, bear the yoke of humiliation ! he will never abase himself by passing through any new Caudine Forks.

A new war was ready to break out. Austria was pre- paring to raise the standard of Bellona; the signal of carnage was given. Napoleon, on entering upon the campaign, sighed at the prospect of the blood that was to flow throughout Europe; but the love of glory soon ex- tinguished that of humanity, and he exclaimed, with enthusiasm, " What, after all, does it matter to me, pro- vided my name shall obtain an increased splendour ? " He harangued his troops ; he made every man of them a hero, knowing perfectly well that the people he governed would soon forget all the perils of war when they should behold victory marching beneath our colours. On the approach of a decisive engagement, the Emperor displayed a wonder- ful power in rousing the courage of his troops by his

by that Revolution were committed to him by the votes of the people ; and it was to preserve them, and the independence and honour of the nation, that both he and they fought and shed their blood — not merely to satisfy his ambition. His " ambition " was to render France power- ful, independent, free and happy. How great, how sacred, how tremendous the motives which inspired it 1 Down-trodden humanity in Europe has hardly yet begun to understand them. — TRANSLATOR.

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addresses. Nor did he neglect any means that could conciliate the goodwill of his generals. To the inferior officers he held out the hope of promotion ; and such was his skill in caressing and flattering the vanity of all, that the whole army swore to die in his defence. " This success," said he, "does not crown my wishes. Not a man in the enemy's ranks must escape. Let their Govern- ment, which has violated all its obligations, learn the catastrophe which has befallen it only by your appearance under the ramparts of Vienna I "

Napoleon entertained a kind of veneration for the hero of Germany, the Archduke Charles, and did justice to his valour. He often said to me, speaking of the Archduke, " Such a rival is worthy of me — he is a favourite of Bellona, and a friend of Minerva; but I am afraid I shall not be able to outdo him in generosity."

On hearing that General Mack commanded the Aus- trian troops in Ulm, he manifested profound satisfaction.1 That city was, in his opinion, an easy conquest ; in this he was not deceived, and the famous general who com-

i This city, one of the most considerable in Swabia, is surrounded by a broad fosse and fortified by high walls, but its ramparts are little protection to it, being overlooked by a bill, from which it may be bombarded at half cannon-shot distance. Resistance would have been mere folly, and Mack was but the victim of the timidity of the Archduke, who refused to make a sortie and dispute the heights with the French army. The garrison contained 80,000 combatants ; but they, unfortunately, had at their head princes who feared more to have stains on their uniform than on their reputation. Mack well knew this, and had received from Napoleon, after the latter had got possession of the heights, the following note : — " If I take the place by assault, I shall be obliged to do what I did at Jaffa — put the garrison to the sword. It is, you know, the stern duty of war. My wish is that the brave Austrian nation may be spared the necessity of such a frightful scene." To men who had not the courage to make a sortie, such reasoning was conclusive. — Gassicourt.

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manded it was forced to capitulate. To console him for the disgrace, the conqueror remarked to him, " I will give my brother, the Emperor of Austria, a piece of advice. Let him hasten to make peace with me. This is the moment for him to remember that all the empires the world has seen have risen to their highest degree of splendour and then fallen into ruins."

We took possession of, and occupied the palace at Munich, where I endeavoured to do the honours in a manner to please him. Fetes succeeded each other un- interruptedly. Nothing was talked of but Court balls and concerts (19). But Love kept watch while Mars slept. The latter had testified an unusual regard for Madame de Mongelas. This intellectual and charming woman gave the ton to society in Munich. Every assembly was graced by her presence, and she often, under the veil of an alle- gory, told the Emperor wholesome and important truths.

He did not, however, wait long in following up his advantage. In this new struggle the Russians were not as successful as the Austrians. The French had already reached Vienna ; Francis II. prudently retired to Brunn, in Moravia, and thence to Olmutz. Proposals of peace arrived, but the conqueror rejected them, although he foresaw that his position was becoming more difficult, especially as the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia arrived for the purpose of checking the torrent which now threatened to sweep away Germany. It is probable, nevertheless, that the Cabinet of Berlin only awaited the issue of the combat to declare itself either for or against the head of the French Government. Napoleon's only resource was victory; 'twas necessary, as he often told me, to obtain it, even at the price of the greatest sacrifices.

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The army, which he commanded in person, ran the most imminent risks. He began to despair of his cause, inseparable at this time from that of France. He recon- noitred the position of the allied army, and judging it unassailable, he thought it necessary to retrace the false step he had taken and take up his encampment on more favourable ground. Here Prince Dolgorouski came to have an interview with him, and was received at the outposts. This aide-de-camp of the Emperor Alexander proposed to him, on behalf of his master, to abandon the crown of Italy, and to give up Belgium. " Go and tell him who sent you," answered the man who was accustomed to domineer over fate, " go and tell him that, should his troops occupy the heights of Mont- martre, I would not sign such a capitulation." He spoke ; and soon were the Russians convinced of their error in attacking him in his new position. On this occasion he thought it his duty again to address his soldiers in person. " I shall," said he " myself direct your battalions. I shall keep out of the fire as long as it carries disorder and con- fusion into the enemy's ranks ; but should victory be for a moment doubtful, you will see me where the blows fall thickest." Napoleon, however, did not find it necessary to distinguish himself by any such new proof of personal courage. All the troops performed their duty perfectly, and thus was gained the memorable battle of Austerlitz, which covered the name of Frenchmen with glory. Pro- digies of valour were performed on both sides, but Napoleon remained master of that awful field of battle.

All his thoughts were now turned towards the aggran- disement of his family. "I shall begin with your son, madam," said he ; " Eugene is single — I must have him marry the daughter of a Sovereign. The King of Bavaria

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is under many obligations to me, and the hand of his daughter, the Princess Augusta Amelia, must cancel the debt of gratitude he owes me " (20). My heart was really touched by this proof of my husband's kindness, not that the distinguished choice imposed upon my ima- gination, for I had long been living in a world of wonders; but when I reflected upon the honour which this illustrious union would confer on my beloved son, I felt the highest satisfaction. I was already acquainted with the noble lady who was promised him as his wife, and I fancied that the match would be a happy one for him. My Eugene, said I to myself, will know how to appreciate merit, and his heart is as sensible and feeling as his mother's.

Napoleon, in adopting his step-son, did not grant him the right to the crown of Italy, except in the event that he himself should be without legitimate children. I had already begun to abandon all hope of giving him suc- cessors to the throne, a hope to which I had long and fondly clung. My vows had not yet been accomplished. The desire of becoming a father engrossed his whole heart, and our family divisions often took their rise in that disappointed hope. He finally reposed upon the flattering idea that he was the benefactor of my children. " I shall," said he, " render them innumerable benefits, but my nephew will be the object of my particular affec- tion. Yes, the little Napoleon is, in my view, born for the accomplishment of great things ; I shall, I trust, be a valuable subject for his study and meditation " (21).

This remark of my husband made me happy indeed ; and I hoped to see the young child one day able to ac- knowledge his favours.

Preparations were made to celebrate at Munich the

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nuptials of Prince Eugene with the daughter of the King of Bavaria. Her father-in-law wrote thus to the French senate : " I contribute to the happiness of the new couple by uniting them myself; this will postpone for a few days my arrival in the midst of my people ; how long will those days seem to my heart ! But after having so con- stantly fulfilled the duties of a soldier, I feel a delicious satisfaction in discharging those of the head of a family."

Napoleon did, indeed, load my son with proofs of the tenderest attachment, which the Viceroy, on his part, responded to by the most faithful devotion. For several months I felt really happy ; I was, so to speak, the queen of the feast ; but the praises lavished upon me necessarily redounded to the honour of the hero to whom I was united. My daughter-in-law showed me every attention, and I received every day from the good Amelia proofs of her tenderness and attachment. Napoleon was especially attentive to her, and even outstripped my desires. Could he have remained calm in the midst of such great events he would have been an admirable man. In his brief moments of quietude he sometimes displayed sentiments which indicated a profoundly philo- sophic mind ; but the tumult of camp and his native ambition soon made him disdain a peaceful mode of life, and give himself up to the brilliant career of arms. Na- poleon found it necessary always to appear extraordinary. Like Janus, he possessed the dangerous art of changing his face when he pleased.

All the Cabinets of Europe took the alarm when he declared to them that Italy, Naples, Holland, Switzer- land and Spain were to remain under the protection of France, not only during his life, but after his death. Some of the foreign ministers dared mention to him some VOL. ii 4

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objections against the duration of so formidable a power. To one of them who appeared the hardest to convince, he replied, "As yet, it is nothing. And what would you say if I should take possession of Westphalia, the Han- seatic Towns and the Roman states ? I shall contrive to add to France the Illyrian provinces, Etruria and Portugal — I don't know where I shall fix the limits of my empire. Perhaps it will yet have no boundaries but the vast extent of the two worlds ; and then, like Americus Vespucius and Columbus, the honour will, doubtless, belong to me of discovering, in my turn, a third world."

Thus did this monarch, who dreamed of nothing but territorial aggrandisement, ruminate upon his schemes of unbounded dominion. But his power, like that of Charles XII., gave umbrage to the other Sovereigns of Europe, and at length aroused them from the slumber in which they had been so long buried. Many of those princes were, to all appearance, sincere admirers of Bona- parte ; but this fatal illusion never deceived me ; I ever regarded their enthusiasm in regard to him either as a chimera or a political trick.1

i M. Baldus, on being asked whether a society of men who should speak the truth could exist, replied that, in Peru, before the arrival of the Spaniards, lying never soiled the lips of the children of the Sun. Pythagoras, he added, tells us that there are two ways in which man can resemble the Deity — namely, speaking the truth at all times, and doing good to men.

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CHAPTER IV

I COME now to that period in my life when I enjoyed the most tranquillity. I had some leisure to devote to my favourite occupations, and spent it at Malmaison (22), which place had been embellished under my direction. I took pleasure in every day contriving some little surprise for Napoleon. This pleased him wonderfully. Here, in this superb retreat, he denied me nothing which I asked with a view to its embellishment. He would, indeed, have been willing to transfer to it the pomp and mag- nificence of the gardens and buildings at Versailles. The groves were enchanting ; they resembled those of Alcinous. The rarest plants united their beauty to adorn this rustic temple, which my husband, in his playful moments, used to compare to that of Armida. He called me the en- chantress of this delicious abode. Able artists had surmounted the greatest obstacles, and the wonders of Nature, mingling with those of art, were here displayed in all their majesty. The great man, happy nowhere but in this asylum, here preserved all his personal habits (23). But the chateau, whose apartments were designed according to modern taste, was not spacious enough to accommodate so brilliant a Court as that of the Tuileries; and Napoleon projected the building of a palace at Mal- maison, the plan of which he sketched with his pencil. I implored him not to alter that modest habitation, and finally made him promise that my little hermitage should

4—2

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undergo none of the metamorphoses of political enthusiasm or of friendship, except such as I myself might suggest.

The evening this conversation took place, we were together in one of those charming gondolas so frequently seen on the streams near Malmaison. The murmurs of the brooks in their serpentine channels, the solitude and silence which reigned around us, inspired me with a desire to express my feelings to my husband. *' Alas ! " said I, " what more could we desire if, afar from courtiers, we could here pass our lives in peace and happiness? Look at this artificial torrent which flows prattling along at our feet; soon it forms a cascade, and its clear wave is broken upon the rocks. Behold the delicate colourings of these flowers, the purple hues of these fruits, and the ever-verdant aspect of these lawns ; can anything in this world be compared to these delightful scenes ? The imperial purple is fatiguing, even for those who were born to wear it. Constantly surrounded by keen ob- servers and severe critics, every moment of their lives is covered with clouds — nay, they must be importuned unceasingly to breathe the incense of flattery. A thousand times more happy he who, born without ambition, is permitted to till the modest inheritance of his fathers ! " — and I was, I confess, surprised at my husband's reply.

" Society," said he, " has become irksome to me ; I could wish to live in an eternal solitude ; the sight of courtiers disgusts me; I detest them. Yes, I maintain that Fabricius was happier while tilling, with his own hands, the soil of his fathers than while commanding the Roman army. There's nothing on earth but intrigue and crime."

««Yes, Bonaparte," replied I, "you who have no

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reason to fear the fate of Belisarius, who by your valour and the chances of war have raised yourself above the first captains of the age — you, upon whom the whole world now turn their eyes, you must admit that if some rays of happiness have shone upon your pathway through life, it has been only at Malmaison that you have been able to perceive them (24). Who can say but that it may be reserved to you, as it was to Sylla, to live here- after like a philosopher ? Ah, should you disdain to follow his example it will be, perhaps, to this place that you will come, one day, to deplore the loss of your fortunes and the unstableness of honours. Here, you will know how to reduce to their true value the praises which men have lavished upon you ; you will curse the ingratitude of most of them, and, in your despair, exclaim, " At least there remains to me one true friend ! Modern Orestes, it will certainly be difficult to meet with a Pylades ! " (25).

The Emperor frankly confessed that his throne was surrounded by quicksands, that the abuse of power was secretly undermining his authority, that revolutions were like torrents which burst their banks and inundate the surface of the ground ; but still he could believe that their effects in France would outlast the present genera- tion. " I shall," said he, " hold all parties in respect, and at the same time prevent them from agitating the country ; I hold a sceptre of brass only to curb the malevolent. I am too well acquainted with the human heart to place any more confidence in the pro- fessions of the old nobility than in the conversion of the Jacobins."

He believed himself an extraordinary man. His views were great, his conceptions great. A word or a thought

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would sometimes seize upon his imagination, and he would withdraw from the company of his courtiers to treasure it up in his memory1 ; he did nothing like other men ; everything in his conduct showed some mysterious design (26). His taste for pleasure was very moderate ; that of the chase seldom diverted him much. I told him he ought to give himself up occasionally to that royal amusement. I was aware that many of his generals were growing tired of their inaction, and therefore took pleasure in contriving some little recreation for them during the intervals which interrupted their brilliant career ; and thus theatrical representations and dinners became frequent both at the Tuileries and at the chateau of St. Cloud (27) ; but as to Malmaison, it was the rendezvous only of such persons whose society I knew would be agreeable to my husband (28).

Of this number was Talleyrand. Few men, in my judgment, were ever endowed with so perfect a knowledge of the human heart ; his wonderful genius only acquired strength and vigour in the presence of difficulties ; and he never gave over until he had overcome them. He often penetrated Napoleon's plans ; for him, diplomacy was but a pleasant recreation. He had played all the games of politics, and coolly calculated the results. Indeed, the late Bishop of Autun was of all men the most capable of holding in his hands the scales of European politics.

Towards me he was often grave, reserved and some-

i He had a prodigious memory. He would recognise a person though he had never seen him but once. Whenever he found a stranger in his wife's company, he would instantly ask, " Who is this gentleman ? " " Who is this lady ? " and, on being answered, salute the stranger gracefully and seem satisfied.

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times silent. He conversed politely, but carefully avoided dropping a word that might awaken my curiosity, and sometimes eluded my questions ; in short, as I told Napoleon, it would have been extremely difficult to have found a minister more ministerial, even in the smallest details (29).

Cambac6r£s was fond of quiet — a profound jurist, a good counsellor, an excellent publicist and, moreover, incapable of doing harm. The master listened to him attentively — provided always he did not intermeddle with his military operations. " If," said he, " I had a law- suit, I should follow, without hesitation, the opinion of the arch-chancellor ; but as to the tactics which belong to the camp, he doesn't understand their first elements. He talks of peace when I propose war ; his system is to remain within the limits of France. Should I listen to him I should reap no more laurels. But it is neces- sary to keep the army full of expectation. Effeminacy and inaction would be equally prejudicial. Who knows but that many of those men will imitate the example of the sons of Mahomet, and seek to overthrow the chief- tain who has so often led them to victory ? If I intend my reign to be glorious and lasting, I must animate their zeal and give employment to their courage — I must seize upon every circumstance that can call for its dis- play ; 'tis only by carrying the torch of war among my neighbours that I can secure myself against the efforts of sedition at home."

Such were Napoleon's ideas. He believed all men faithless. He distrusted his ministers, and had long since adopted the maxim of Louis XI., that, " If you would know how to govern you must know how to divide." He perfectly understood the art of sowing

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distrust amongst all parties; his grand dignitaries could not live together.

The unlucky battle of Trafalgar, which occasioned an irreparable loss to either nation, affected him power- fully. He saw that the annihilation of his fleet would prevent the execution of his grand designs. But, al- though the ocean was not his element, and presented no favourable chance for his glory, he yet resolved to keep the English in suspense, although he was no longer formidable to them. He said that Admiral Villeneuve, who was made a prisoner, " ought to have set fire to the powder magazine of the Sainte-Barbe, and that a naval officer should know how to die." He afterwards received convincing proof that that brave man had nobly defended his flag; and, after a few months, permitted him to return to France. But it was easy to perceive that Napoleon watched for some occasion to humiliate and even to punish him. It is certain that Villeneuve had done all in his power to save the honour of France, and that he was worthy to occupy the post that had been confided to him. It seems to have been from a kind of presentiment of the fate which awaited him that he wrote to the minister of war, "that he was resolved to abandon for ever a perilous post, the functions of which his principles and the violent disposition of Napoleon would not permit him to fulfil." The loss of the battle of Trafalgar is to be attributed neither to a want of valour nor to technical faults ; this is proved irrevocably by the official account given of it. But what particularly incensed my husband against the admiral was the letter which Villeneuve wrote him, and which closed with the following imprecation: —

*' Tremble, tyrant ! You are abhorred ; and the male-

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dictions of the whole world will follow you beyond the grave."1

Some days after this catastrophe Napoleon assembled his council at the Tuileries. He told his ministers that the King of Naples had received into his ports both the English and Russians; and, notwithstanding the Treaty of Pressburg, had used no means whatever to prevent them. " Ferdinand," said he, " must quit the throne, and my brother Joseph must replace him. I appoint him to-day."

He was not slow to fulfil his promise ; and gave, in another quarter, also, a sample of his power. He com- pelled the old republicans of Holland to receive a King from among the members of his family. This second crown was placed upon the head of his brother Louis, and he had the idea that almost all the princes in Europe would soon furnish him some new pretext to hurl them from their thrones. Louis Bonaparte was a simple-minded man, but of a kind disposition. He re- ceived, with reluctance, the crown of Holland,* which he clearly foresaw he should not be able to keep. He employed what he thought the most proper means to conciliate all parties, and succeeded in gaining the esteem of those he governed. They felt confidence in him; and, of all those whom Napoleon clothed with the regal purple,

1 The unfortunate admiral refused to survive the loss of the French marine, and put himself to death.

2 Louis Bonaparte was reluctant to take the crown of Holland. He alleged his bad health, but my husband was not satisfied with that excuse, and called it frivolous. "The climate," said he, seriously, to Louis, " will not be unhealthy to you. You will be a King, and, like me, finally become habituated to wearing a diadem. Even if you die you will have the consolation of reflecting, in your last moments, that you die upon a throne, and leave mighty recol- lections behind you." — NOTE BY JOSEPHINE.

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Louis is, perhaps, the only one who won friends while on the throne, and left regrets among his subjects when he quitted it.

But my beloved daughter was not happy with him. Their dispositions did not harmonise. She had arrived at the sad and certain conviction that his affections were centred upon another woman. Hortense was, by nature, sensible and feeling, and had given her hand to my husband's brother only by a kind of constraint. To her the chains of wedlock seemed not woven of flowers, but of iron ; and their weight pressed heavily upon her. Yet, consulting her own and her mother's happiness, she re- signed herself to her fate with patience. The fatal journey to Holland occasioned an open quarrel between them I and the death of their eldest son soon occurred to aggravate their grief.

Had both received wiser counsels, it is possible Louis might have found the charm of his life in the conjugal relation ; but flatterers, the usual companions of sovereigns, sowed discord and disunion between them. My daughter was a prey to the most violent chagrins. But never did Hortense desire the throne for its own sake. She found some consolation in attending to the education of her children. She desired that her husband should maintain the post to which Napoleon had raised him, not in order to share his power, but to open up a brilliant future to her children, and to afford to the Dutch a secure harbour, after so many shipwrecks.

There are certain facts which I cannot be suspected of exaggerating ; they are indubitable ; yet I may certainly be permitted to vindicate the character of a woman who has been wantonly traduced, and whom calumny has dared to present to me as a rival (30).

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Napoleon hesitated long whether he should permit her to return to Paris, and it was with the utmost difficulty that I finally persuaded him to do so. " She must remain at her post," said he ; " besides, what can be her object in coming to reside at Paris ? " — " Ah," said I, " am I not here? Who else can console her? Who else can give her strength to support her misfortunes ? It is your duty, Bonaparte, to repair, so far as is possible, the wrong which my too blind obedience has wrought. Deign at least to have pity on your wife. You know well that I am con- strained to admit to my daughter that I even went beyond my own sense of justice when I silenced her inclination,1 and gave her a husband not of her choosing."

I kept up a regular correspondence with the Queen of Holland. She was the depository of all my sad thoughts. The day I obtained permission for her to return to me, was one of the happiest of my life. " I shall," thought I, " at least have Hortense by my side, and enjoy the pleasure of seeing her and her children. If she is happy, I shall par- take of her bliss ; if she weeps, my hand shall wipe away her tears, and I shall weep with her ; if calumny attacks her, I shall be here to defend her."

Prince Eugene seemed to be at the pinnacle of his hopes. His wife found the means of making herself perfectly agreeable to him, and on her account he had renounced all former liaisons that could possibly give her umbrage. The princess was fully sensible of the noble con- duct of her husband. Yes, my dear children ! full often did I say to myself, " I shall die happy, indeed, if I can but see you both advancing in the way that leads to public

i It seems well settled that Mademoiselle Hortense would have preferred, at this period, one of Bonaparte's aides-de-camp, who after- wards became grand marshal of the palace. — [D.uroc. TRANSLATOR.]

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honour and esteem." Alas, I am well aware that happi- ness is but a shadow, which all mortals pursue! But, being the wife of a man who makes Europe tremble, who is to fix upon himself the gaze of posterity, I cannot, while speaking to the beings whom I love more than my own life, chain down to the earth that bright and dazzling chimera.

The family of Bonaparte were continually receiving, at his hands, new and striking proofs of his munificence. The most dazzling proofs of the imperial favour were lavished upon them all — even upon Jerome, his youngest brother, who received from him the title of " Imperial Highness," and the right of succession to the empire. Bonaparte, however, made it an express condition of this right, that Jerome should forswear himself in regard to his marriage vows, and abandon his first wife, Miss Patterson. The Emperor had already turned his eyes towards the Princess of Wurtemberg as the lady who was to replace her (31). And it was in thus violating the most sacred obligations, and in assuming others, that this feeble prince, after the example of his elder brothers, obtained a kingdom. He became King of Westphalia.

But the great captain soon awoke from the kind of drowsiness into which he seemed plunged, to give a "master-stroke," as he told Murat. The latter had re- ceived the news of the invasion of the Grand Duchy of Berg, and, anxious for the enlargement of the empire, encouraged Napoleon to finish his work by compelling Germany to make concessions. " Your dynasty," said Murat, "is the youngest in Europe, and it already occu- pies several thrones." As the Emperor loved to be flattered, and easily adopted whatever coincided with his own conceptions, he was not slow in frightening the North

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of Germany and making Prussia tremble. He destroyed the ancient Germanic Constitution, upon which hung a great number of principalities, often divided among them- selves, but always united in their opposition to the encroachments of the stronger Powers.

Upon its ruins Napoleon established the Confederation of the Rhine, declaring himself its protector. " By this means," said he, to the French senate, " I shall be at liberty to cover a great part of Germany with my troops, and be able to throw myself upon the first Sovereign it may please me to attack, and to subsist my army at the expense of the country."

But the King of Prussia now set himself about forming a Confederation of the North, into which he aimed to bring all the German states not comprised in the constitutional plan of his rival. Napoleon expected this, and declared to the King of Prussia, in the most positive terms, that he would never consent that the Hanseatic Towns should enter into this plan of Frederick William; and that none of the German states should be compelled to take part in it. " Such is my will," said my husband ; " I will it absolutely. I have not left the princes of the Confedera- tion of the Rhine free either to consent or refuse. I am an Italian, and I have the honour to command the French. I must declare to you, finally, that I wish my orders to be executed."

His flatterers, however, endeavoured to convince him that Russia probably entertained a desire to bring about an accommodation with France. The magnanimous cha- racter of Alexander gave rise to the presumption, on the part of some, that he would use all the means in his power to put an end to the bloody struggles which were desolating Germany, and to conclude a general treaty with

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a view to the re-establishment of tranquillity throughout Europe. 'Twas thought that this great prince's authority would make the balance incline to the side of peace. Napoleon, however, regarded this prediction as a chimera, and was perfectly convinced that the Cabinet of St. Petersburg would never consent to separate its interests from those of London by means of a private treaty. Negotiations, however, were opened. For several months the celebrated Fox kept up an active correspondence with the minister Talleyrand. Plenipotentiaries were appointed, and came to Paris. The moment after their presentation, I said to my husband, " Bonaparte, Lords Yarmouth and Lauderdale and M. Doubril will not treat with you, unless you sincerely desire it. I venture to predict you will present them some insignificant ultimatum, but they will become acquainted with your principles in your treaty. The negotiation concerns the future repose of Europe, and you want to light up a new conflagration. You will declare, formally, that you have formed no demand, and are far from claiming any of the possessions of England. And why ? You would be glad, even now, to possess not only the Three Kingdoms, but even their immense colonies. I am not let into the secrets of your policy, but you see I look far enough into it to discover that you desire nothing more than the rupture of the conferences, so that you can prepare to enter upon another campaign. Unhappily, the hope of peace will soon vanish, that peace for which the people have looked forward so long and so anxiously."

" You speak truly," said he, " but I must recommend you to use the utmost discretion. A Sovereign never knows how to set bounds to his desires. My own have no limits. Like the conqueror of Darius, I want to rule the whole world. I hope my desires will one day be fulfilled. I am

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certain that my family and myself will yet occupy all the thrones in Europe." l And thus did he caress his brilliant chimeras.

I found myself constrained, by political and private con- siderations, to receive visits from various ladies not the most agreeable to me, and among them were his sisters themselves. I well knew their intentions in respect to me, and perfidious reports had occasioned great enmity between us. I rarely spoke to them at the soir6es at which they were admitted. Mere politeness regulated our intercourse.

Yet never did I aim to do them the slightest wrong ; I was incapable of it, and I felt that such conduct would be an offence against every law of delicacy. Often, often did I prevent the Emperor from holding to them the severe language of truth.

As to Madame Letitia (32), she might recall to my mind bitter recollections, and deliver me up to feelings which beset my soul, were she to set in motion the current of my thoughts ; but respect and high considerations must stop me.

In regard to Lucien* I may say :

" II m'a trop fait de bien pour en dire du mal, II m'a trop fait de mal pour en dire du bien."

For the rest, I wish to render him the justice which he merits. Never did he flatter my husband. He always told him boldly what he thought ; and Bonaparte much

1 Bonaparte had long entertained the belief that, like his father, he should not live beyond the age of forty. After his coronation, he was often heard to say, " I want only ten years to do what I wish."

2 Murat was not appointed King of Naples until after Lucien had declined it. The latter, on being offered the crown, answered his brother, haughtily, " that if he accepted the title of King, he must be the sole master of his kingdom, and govern it, not like a prefect, but an independent prince."

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regretted, on arriving at power, not having his brother Lucien as a witness of his prodigious elevation. " He is an incredulous man," said he to me, with a smile ; " he never would have believed that I could have seated myself upon the throne of France. What a poor fellow ! " — " He is wiser than you," replied I ; " he left France, perhaps, at the right time ; while at a distance he will be a witness of the tempest which is gathering by degrees, and preparing to burst upon your proud head. But I must be just to him ; should he see your power about to be overthrown, he would surely consider it his duty to hasten to your relief, to share your danger or to fall with you."

I had long ago entreated my mother to come and settle in France, and had held out to her the most flattering and brilliant prospect. Napoleon himself had promised to re- ceive her with the greatest distinction. " I shall treat her nobly," said he, " and I am sure she will better sustain the honours of her rank than a certain lady of my household " (alluding to Madame Letitia, who constantly occasioned remarks by her extreme parsimony). But Madame de la Pagerie would never accede to her daughter's wishes, and preferred her quiet abode at Martinique to the dangerous honours that awaited her at her son-in-law's Court. " My Josephine," she exclaimed, " I find myself better off in my own habitation than in the most magnificent palace. Why is it necessary that I should see you seated on a throne ? During your life you have learned to overcome the great obstacles which marred your peace of mind. Alas ! the road you are now pursuing presents those which are still more insurmountable. Ah, my daughter, what shoals and quicksands surround you ! Could I remove them, how willingly would I leave my peaceful abode, and my quiet habits of life, and fly to you. But your husband has

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become too powerful to listen to my advice or your own. While awaiting the pleasure of seeing you again, I confine myself to the preparation of a safe harbour against the tempests which environ you on every side. The incon- stancy of statesmen, or the force of events, may, one day or other, hurl the Emperor of the French from the throne to which his soldiers have so suddenly raised him. For myself, I do not love greatness ; I am afraid of it ; its shadow is so flitting that I cannot believe in the durability of your own good fortune ; but, meanwhile, enjoy the present with moderation. Beware how you trust to the smiles of the future. I have no confidence in courtiers, I hold them in abhorrence. Your husband's ambition will destroy him. Had I wished it — had I felt confidence in his fortunes, I might long since have enjoyed at Martinique a position worthy of you. Oh, my daughter, my tender Josephine ! how cruel it is to feel that you are not per- mitted to come as you used to do, and embellish by your presence my solitude of the Three Islets. Were you here, I should have nothing else to desire in the world — I should once more press you to my heart before my death." (33.)

This letter from my mother made an impression upon me difficult to describe. I read it over and over again. It appeared to me that the hand which traced it was already endeavouring to avert the ills which afterwards fell upon my devoted head.1

I concealed it from my husband ; but he soon learned, by means of the spies of the chateau, that I had received

i When Josephine had signed the acte of divorce which separated her for ever from Napoleon, she said to her friend the Countess of Rochefoucauld, " Happy my father and mother in not being wit- nesses of my disgrace 1 — Happy am I that they have not survived my misfortune ! "

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news which deeply afflicted me. He insisted upon reading the letter. He was, at times, extremely inquisitive, and inclined to jealousy, and this latter passion sometimes engrossed all his thoughts and faculties. He imagined that this correspondence contained some precious secret. When, however, he discovered that it was from my mother, he made a jest of his fears, admitted them to be imaginary, and ridiculed his mistake. " I perceive," said he, " that Madame de la Pagerie, like myself, will permit no parti- cipation. She wants to reign alone. Very well ! I will, some day, establish her as a sovereign in America, and furnish her a code of laws for the new nation. While waiting to mount that grand triumphal chariot, I must proceed and reap an immense harvest of laurels among the Germans.1 I start to-night for Mayence, and shall fix my head-quarters at Bamberg. I will give the Prussians a prelude — I have been long waiting to open the dance among them."

i The Empress, on leaving Paris for Munich, in September, 1806. spent several weeks at Strassburg, where, on the very night of her arrival in the city, a looking-glass, which was insecurely fastened up, in her room, fell down, and was broken into a thousand pieces — a circumstance which those who knew of it regarded a,i a sinister presage. The Countess of Rochefoucauld seeming alarmed at it, the Empress replied, " What, after all, can I fear, surrounded by the French whom I love ? Were I in Germany, 'twould be a good omen." Two days after the divorce, that lady recalled te Josephine's recollection the unlucky prognostic. " You will make me really super- stitious," answered the deeply-afflicted woman; "in troth, I can only imitate the great Frederick, who could never, and especially on the eve of a battle, bear to see, either salt spilled upon the table, or knives and forks lying across each other. Yes, madam, I am firmly per- suaded that she who is to succeed me on the throne of France, will, like me, experience great ills ; for, from the bosom of Germany will yet arise an electric spark, which will find a conductor that will direct it towards the ramparts of Strassburg ; and if, unhappily, it shall pene- trate into the citadel, it will set on fire, or subject to its direction, that ancient possession of proud Germany."

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CHAPTER V

NAPOLEON seemed to enjoy, in advance, the pleasure he was to derive from vanquishing the new coalition of kings. He revolved, in his own mind, the most stupendous pro- jects, and communicated them to his principal officers. Rumour, with her hundred tongues, had already pro- claimed at Paris that he was at the gates of Berlin. The French army advanced in three columns, and after several engagements, finally arrived at Jena, where a battle of the utmost importance to both parties took place. General Debilly died gloriously upon the field of battle. The Duke of Brunswick was mortally wounded. And this brilliant victory opened to the Emperor the gates of Weimar.1

i After the battle of Jena, the Emperor fixed his head-quarters at Brunswick, in the palace of the Duke of Weimar. The duchess had not fled, but, with her ladies, had retired into one of the wings of the chateau. Napoleon arrived intoxicated with victory, impetuous, burn- ing with glory ; his head completely turned. The duchess presented herself in one of the apartments. " Who are you ? " said he. " The Duchess of Weimar," was her reply. " I will crush your husband," said he ; "I will give him not one moment's rest." — " Sire," said she, " his duty, his honour and his rank demanded of him to do as he has done." — " I tell you," replied Napoleon, " he lost his reason when he thought of resisting me. I tell you, madam, the Cabinet of Berlin has long insulted me — curbed me. I will now make them offer me their chroats. The Prussian nobility, barbarous and bullying as they are, shall learn that my ministers are not to be insulted with impunity. I will make them beg their bread."

The duchess, perceiving that the moment was not favourable, re- tired. The next morning a gentleman was sent by her to enquire how the Emperor had passed the night. " Well, very well," was the answer; " tell the duchess that I thank her, and ask her to breakfast."

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Erfurth and Leipsic soon capitulated, and the Emperor advanced like a thunderbolt upon the Prussian capital. He refused to listen to any of the propositions which were made to him. Completely victorious, he turned a deaf ear to all accommodation. Davoust entered Berlin. But Pots- dam was preferred for the temporary residence of the new Caesar, from whom I received despatches dated at that city. " I have," said he, " paid a visit to the tomb of Frederick the Great, and have myself brought off his sword, and also the sash and cordon of the black eagle, which belonged to that great captain, and shall send them to the Invalides at Paris." In another passage, he added, "The good people of Berlin are the victims of the war, while those who have provoked it have fled, and left them to feel all the weight of its strokes. I will render this Court nobility so poor that they will be compelled to resort to other means to retrieve their fortunes. I like Madame Hatzfeldt much. I have forgotten the wrongs her husband did me, and have given up to her the only letter which would have convicted him of a criminal conspiracy against me.1 My offended pride would have constrained me to punish him severely. His wife, however, burnt the letter in my presence. I am satisfied that I have done right. When necessary, I know how to employ clemency. Hence, Berlin proclaims that I am great, and that I know how to forgive injuries " (34).

What passed at table is not known, but on retiring to his room, Bona- parte uttered the highest encomiums on the duchess. " She is a meritorious woman," said he, " possessing high qualities. I shall do much for her ; yes, very much — she will save her country." — M . S.

i Certain letters were brought to Caesar, which his enemies had written to Pompey. He refused to read them, and threw them into the fire, saying that, although he was sure he could control his resent- ment, he thought it better to destroy the cause thereof at once.

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This generous action reconciled me, so to speak, to my husband's principles, for we were always disputing about his vast plans of invasion. Napoleon was now, as he said, dashing forward on his car of victory, and no power could stop him.

Stettin and Kustrin next fell into his bands ; Magde- burg capitulated. " What matters it to me," said the conqueror, " that I have carried this city by means of bullets of gold, as the Prussians think — 'tis not the less true that the city is mine. I have found in it immense magazines of provisions and ammunition — 100 pieces of cannon, and, what seems still more incredible, 22,000 men, who were still in the town to defend it. I can really work miracles during my lifetime, and I humbly trust the holy Propaganda society will see fit, after my death, to place my name on its calendar of saints."1 Napoleon left but few resources to the King of Prussia. The latter was forced to submit to the will of the con- queror. He solicited a suspension of arms, in order to await the result of events, to which the French monarch consented. But, ever anxious for combat, he went in quest of the Russians, who did not show themselves on the field soon enough to please him. He started for Poland, and advanced towards Posen. After several engagements, in which the French were victorious, Murat, at the head of the cavalry, entered Warsaw, whither Napoleon had preceded him. " I cannot," he wrote me, " describe the friendly manner in which the

i Bonaparte had his secret agents in every Court in Europe. Almost every Cabinet was sold to him. He disposed of the treasures of nations ; dictated, at his will, peace or war, and directed the movements of armies, whose plans were in his possession. With such means, and with the tried bravery of the French, why should he not have succeeded ? — NOTE BY JOSEPHINB.

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Poles have received me. They regard me as a liberator, and hope that I shall restore to them their independence — hence they do not fail to load me with the tribute of their adulation. One of them says to me, ' The great Napoleon appeared like a star in France. He came — he saw — he conquered the world.' Another goes still farther with the language of flattery ; but he is excusable ; the love of country electrifies his heart and makes him utter such language as this :

" ' Invincible Caesar ! To see you, glorious hero ! accomplishes my prayers and vows, as well as those of all my countrymen.'

" ' Already do we see our country saved, for in your person do we adore the most just and profound of legis- lators 1 '

" All these eulogies, however, fail to intoxicate me. I have made a great many promises which I am unwilling to fulfil. Besides, an insurrection in Poland will sub- serve my ends. I want to kindle it, and shall use all the means in my power for that purpose; and I shall succeed."

Such were the contents of the letter Napoleon wrote me towards the end of December, 1806.

Soon the French passed the Vistula at different points, and gained several advantages. Satisfied with these first successes, Napoleon allowed his army to rest. But he soon renewed the signal for combat. The battles of Waterdorf, Deppen and Hoff all preceded the famous battle of Preussisch-Eylau, which was fought on the 8th of February, 1807, and the results of which were so glorious to the French arms. After this great battle, the troops re-entered their cantonments. They, however, continued the sieges of Neisse and Dantzic. Though con-

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stantly talking of peace, the Emperor ordered new con- scriptions in France. The Saxons joined our arms, and the Imperial Guard, recomposed of the &UU of the regi- ments of the line, was soon in readiness to appear again on the field of battle.

Europe felt the necessity of a Congress. But Napoleon imperiously demanded that Turkey should send to it her plenipotentiary. To this the ministers of the other Powers consented, and demanded upon what basis the new treaty should be constructed. He answered that there must be an equal and reciprocal power possessed by each of the belligerent masses, and that these two masses must to- gether enter upon a system of compensation. These terms appeared obscure to the Cabinets, who replied that to carry out the plan the question of dividing up the territory of each of the contracting parties must neces- sarily arise.

But the great man, who believed that nothing either could or must resist him, concluded at length to trust again to the chances of war. The French army triumphed at Lomitten, and was checked at Heilsberg, but resolved to carry the town. The enemy made the most gallant efforts to defend the position, but Napoleon's star triumphed, and Friedland was carried at all points (35). The allied army was compelled to fight on the retreat.

The bravest of men now entered Tilsit. Tilsit ! at that glorious name how do my thoughts awake ! Never was France so imposing ; and, had the Emperor so willed it, that brilliant victory would have given enduring strength to the pillars of his power on the Continent. But no! he was to be the sport of Fortune, after being her chosen favourite. She now presented to him circuru-

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stances more favourable than man ever before possessed to make himself happy and to contribute to the general felicity. But, through some inconceivable fatality, Na- poleon pursued a tortuous, impolitic course — a course which drove the Fates to repent them of the long- continued patronage they had accorded him, and finally drew upon him irreparable woes.

•An august meeting took place in the middle of the River Niemen. A magnificent raft was launched upon the bosom of the stream, and received at one and the same time the two most puissant Emperors on the globe. The two sovereigns embraced each other, and swore eternal friendship. The two armies covered the two banks of the Niemen, and their shouts of joy were long and loud as they witnessed this striking proof of peace, concord and mutual goodwill. At length a treaty of peace was concluded. The conqueror gave back to Prussia a small portion of her political being — all, except that portion of the Polish territory called the Duchy of Warsaw, which was given to Saxony. Moreover, the King of Prussia was despoiled of all his possessions be- tween the Elbe and the Rhine, and lost, also, that preponderance so necessary to maintain the equipoise of the different Northern nations.

Never had my husband acted so imposing a part. He was, so to speak, the supreme mediator among the great Powers. But what must have passed in his mind on seeing the unhappy Queen of Prussia sitting at the table of the man who might at any moment have de- throned her husband? He must then have recollected that Charles XII. of Sweden visited in person Augustus of Saxony, from whom he had wrenched the sceptre of Poland in order to give it to Stanislaus — yea, he must

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have been deeply sensible how little of stability the empires he had founded must possess. And it was, perhaps, the brightest day of his life when the wife of Frederick William III. received his first visit. Napoleon, in presenting her an amaranth, which he had taken from a porcelain vase, became suddenly agitated.1 He re- pented, afterwards, having caused it to be inserted in his bulletins that the Queen of Prussia, habited like an Amazon, wore the uniform of her dragoons, and wrote twenty letters a day to extinguish the spreading con- flagration. " I did wrong " (he wrote to me), " I confess it ; I did wrong to offend that Princess. She is an angel descended to earth. I was near throwing myself at her feet. She might have transformed her conqueror into the most docile slave. At sight of her, even at the

I At Tilsit, the Emperor had an interview with the Queen of Prussia. On the eve of it, he said to one of his generals, " I am told she is a handsome woman." — " 'Twill then be," answered the courtier, " a rose beside a bunch of laurels." The commencement of this interview was charming, delicate. " I expected," said Bona- parte to her, "to see a pretty Queen, but, madam, you are the prettiest woman in the world." There were some amaranths and roses in a vase standing near. He took one of them, and presented it to her. " We are but little acquainted with each other," said the Queen, confused and timid; "may I receive this expression of Your Majesty's sentiments ? " * — " Accept, madam, accept," said he ; " 'tis a presage of the friendship which I shall henceforth feel for yourself and your husband." The Queen received the flowers, pale and trembling. One of her ladies became alarmed at her unusual appear- ance. " Be reassured, madam," said the Emperor. " I am wholly yours ; if I can do aught to oblige you, do not deprive me of that pleasure." The Queen remained silent. He renewed the offer several times, and she at length asked him, with a trembling voice, to give her Magdeburg for her son. "Magdeburg!" exclaimed he, suddenly rising, " Magdeburg ! madam, madam, Magdeburg ! but you don't think of that ? Let us say no more about it ; " and they separated. Thus e'nded this overture. — M.S.

* The presentation of these flowers was, according to usage, understood to Imply love and friendship.— TRANSLATOR.

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mere sound of her voice, I became the most timid of men. My hand trembled when I presented her the homage of an amaranth, as the most beautiful and courageous of her sex."

Thus Napoleon, in the midst of his triumphs, did justice to virtue in misfortune. He often assured me that, but for the ascendency which that august Princess had obtained over him, he should not have consented to such easy conditions. " The Queen of Prussia," he added, " has twice saved her husband, not only by means of that sublime valour which covers her name with glory, but by her imposing manner of presenting herself to me. With a face which seemed a picture of sorrow, she said to me, 'Poms would have sunk under the weight of the laurels which shaded the brow of Alexander ; but that king, always a king, was constrained, by the obli- gations of gratitude, to respect his conqueror, and to admire his generous sentiments and noble forbearance. Believe me, the parallel between the heir to the throne of Macedon and Napoleon is entirely to the advantage of Alexander.' The Princess addressed this language to me, with that noble-souled moderation which suits so well with fallen greatness. She also reminded me of the great deeds of Maria Theresa, which rendered her the admiration of Germany — of that illustrious woman who braved all the efforts of combined Europe in the defence of her heritage. ' The noble Hungarians,' she continued, 'answered her appeal with enthusiasm. She fearlessly combated Frederick the Great, and humbled her enemies. From this example, you see that a sublime despair may change the fate of empires. Do not make it necessary for the wife of Frederick William to imitate so great a model.'"

MARIE LOUISE

PHO . NO AFTER THE PAINTING B\

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Such assurance in any other woman would have thrown Napoleon into a rage; but he was so far subdued by her as to tell her that the man who should wear her chains would be but too happy. The Queen darted at him one of those piercing glances which force even the most audacious and hardy man to blush at his own guilty thoughts.

This woman, so wonderful for the energy of her character, had made efforts far above her strength in the reception of Napoleon, who was the humiliation of her country; and a lingering disease soon afterwards con- ducted her to her tomb. She died in the bosom of her family, universally mourned. Her last sigh was for her husband, whom she adored. She loved her children tenderly, and was devoted to her country. " Poor Prussia !" said she, when dying, " thou wilt be devoured as long as Saturn shall live" (36).

All these details were furnished me by secret emis- saries, who hastened to give me an account of the smallest particulars of Napoleon's private conduct. Although far from him, I was acquainted with his most secret thoughts ; the slightest movement of his heart was no stranger to me. Although his soul was closed against the sentiments of love, it was not yet altogether insensible. I have often heard a certain Polish lady mentioned, to whom he addressed some attentions. The report got about that he intended she should come and reside in France (37). I was much alarmed at this. We were, each of us, extraordinary beings; both devoured by jealousy; neither of us could bear the idea of the slightest neglect by the other. Everybody told us that we were only seeking the means of cherishing the source of our grievances. "Alas, poor humanity," we sometimes exclaimed, "how difficult

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is it for it to live at peace with itself! At Court and in the town the war is perpetual. Each party is always ready, and on the point of commencing the onset."

The moment the Treaty of Tilsit was published, Sweden assumed a hostile and formidable attitude. Napoleon could not pardon the English for making a descent upon the island of Rugen. This unexpected attack awakened the hopes of Gustavus Adolphus. But what could that unfortunate monarch do against the torrent of Frenchmen which was precipitating itself upon his kingdom ? Swedish Pomerania was invaded, Stralsund was besieged, and in six weeks surrendered ; and the French army took possession of the isle of Rugen, from which the King was forced to make his escape.

Napoleon followed the course of his triumphs. Gustavus descended from his throne. Charles XIII. took possession of his nephew's inheritance. The honourable reproach which he found himself able to make against the nephew of the great Frederick was of having been one of the most zealous defenders of the Bourbons, and especially of having been the truest and most sincere friend of the unfortunate Duke d'Enghien (38).

The King of Sweden had never flattered the great man, who could form no just idea of his proud and independent character. " If," said he, " Gustavus continues to reign, and the Prince Royal of Wurtemberg ascends the throne, I shall feel much embarrassed."

But the Temple of Janus, which seemed shut at the north, was soon opened at the south. Bonaparte returned to Paris, where he remained for some time. His first care was to convoke the legislative body and the senate. In his speech to them he said, " The people of the Duchy of Warsaw, and the City of Dantzic, have recovered their

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country and their rights. The statements of my ministers will make you acquainted with the prosperous condition of the public treasury. My people will feel themselves relieved of a considerable part of the land tax."

After Jerome's marriage with the Princess Catherine of Wurtemberg,1 Napoleon wished his two other brothers to contract alliances with royal blood. But Lucien had long ago manifested his dislike of the immeasurable ambition of Napoleon. Madame Joseph, that model of virtue, that most amiable and excellent lady, did not deserve to be cast aside merely to nourish the chimeras of a senseless pride ; and she found a determined defender in her husband. It may be said, to the praise of Joseph, that he did not always participate in the sentiments of his brother, whom, indeed, he often opposed with the utmost energy. Napoleon had, however, obtained such an ascendency over the members of his family, who all owed to him their elevation, that they dared not offer the least resistance to his will. They were all united by the sentiments of fear and ambition.8

An ambassador arrived from Persia, bringing the most magnificent presents from his Court. He presented to

1 When the Princess of Wurtemberg came to Paris to espouse Jerome, she was affianced the same evening, and the nuptials were celebrated the next day at eight o'clock in the evening. During the ceremony a terrible storm arose; the lightning twice struck the Tuileries. On returning to her apartments, Josephine remarked that " if the Princess were superstitious, she might suppose that that evening announced to her an unhappy future."

2 When Joseph Bonaparte ascended the throne of Naples, his sister Caroline, then Grand Duchess of Berg, avoided, as much as possible, meeting her modest sister-in-law. But seeing herself compelled to give her the title of " Your Majesty," she dared to complain to Napoleon that he had not yet thought to give her, also, a crown. " Your com- plaint," said he, " astonishes me, madam. To hear you, one might suppose I had deprived you of your right of succession to the throne of your ancestor."

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Napoleon, in the name of his sovereign, the sabres of Tamerlane and Thamas Kouly Khan. The Emperor appeared enchanted with these rich presents of a distant foreign Court. I received several of the most beautiful cashmeres (39). The Persian ambassador was favour- ably received ; but the Emperor soon after, and under some vain pretext, refused him a private audience. His Excellency, Asker Khan, was much embarrassed in acting his part, and seldom appeared at Court. And yet this man was not destitute of a certain degree of merit, although, in the eyes of the courtiers, his quality of am- bassador was but an imaginary title. One of our generals (Gardanne) had been sent into Persia with a considerable suite. He had received, as it appears, secret instructions from the Cabinet of the Tuileries; but nothing was at this time surprising. Even the Emperor of Morocco had his plenipotentiary at Paris, charged to congratulate the great man, the most valiant (as he said), the most renowned of European sovereigns. Napoleon took a real pleasure in receiving, in the midst of his Court, those men who came express from the confines of Asia and Africa, to speak with him for a brief moment. " Have my Mamamouchis come ? " he would ask impatiently ; and when in good humour he would tell his favourites that, while in Egypt, he wore pre- cisely the same costume (excepting the astrakhan bonnet) which was worn by one of the sons of Ali. But, in fact, the Cabinet of the Tuileries attached little or no import- ance to the mission of these illustrious foreigners.1 To

i When, in 1808, an ambassador arrived at Paris from Persia, M.

B M , then president of the Chambre des Comptes, had a curious

mystical adventure with him — not the less laughable for its being the result of mere chance. The ambassador was sick one day, and asked for a physician. Doctor Bourdois was sent for, and while the ambas- sador was every moment expecting the doctor to enter, M. B M

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me, however, they were a source of much amusement (40). All the ladies of the Court strove with each other in their attentions to their " Excellencies," and for some time an immense concourse of persons besieged the porticoes of their hotels. Napoleon pretended, at one time, to think that these distant deputations would disquiet Russia, and caused a report to be put in circulation that a rupture was about to take place between the two Powers. But per- ceiving that few of the foreign ministers at Paris gave the least credit to the rumour, he soon abandoned this political ruse. The presents he was to make in exchange for those he had received from the different Asiatic and African nations were so slow in being prepared, that he had received but a small portion of them when those ambassadors left France.

For months he had been talking of making a journey to Italy. " I must," said he, " have Tuscany ; I shall have little difficulty in obtaining it. I intend it for my

was announced at his door. The Persian did not know a word of French, and his interpreter was absent ; but, as the last syllable only of the name struck his ear, he thought, of course, it must be the physi- cian he had sent for. Consequently, the moment the president had come in he reached out his hand to have him feel his pulse. The president, supposing he meant to shake hands, gave it a hearty shake. The Persian, doubtless presuming that the French physicians had a peculiar mode of feeling the pulse, next opened his mouth and showed

him his tongue. M. B M thought this merely an act of Persian

politeness ; but the surprise which he felt did not in the least disconcert the ambassador, who attributed it to some unfavourable symptom which his supposed physician had discovered. He next clapped his hands, and two slaves instantly entered and placed under the president's nose a silver basin. The latter, on seeing them enter, supposed that, accord- ing to Eastern custom, they were bringing him a silver vase filled with rose-water from Shiraz ; but the perfume which it exhaled undeceived him in a most disagreeable manner. He thought the ambassador meant to insult him, and became livid with rage. Fortunately, the interpreter arrived and soon explained away the affront. — M .

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eldest sister, who is fully capable of governing that duchy. She resembles me — her nature will not brook any sort of domination. If need be, she will accustom herself alike to the smiles of prosperity and the frowns of adversity. In a word, Eliza has the courage of an Amazon." A cloud came over the Emperor's brow as he pronounced these words; he seemed to be tormented by some fear or some sudden thought.1

I did not permit myself to utter reflections ; they would have been utterly useless. My husband had the strongest attachment for Madame Bacciochi (41). " As to Pauline Borghese," said he, "she is good for nothing, except in a saloon. She tells a story well, and her enchanting face lends a grace to all her movements ; but I think her in- capable of governing. She has neither character nor energy. She knows not how to undertake anything ; she can't refuse anything ; and her tender heart is afraid of being obliged to punish anybody (42). As to Madame Murat," continued he, "when she once embraces a senti- ment, nothing can make her change it. She has a kind of firmness of character which will always prevent her being governed. She knows men, and knows how to appreciate them at their just value. Her knowledge of the human heart renders her at times distrustful. She is accused of having ambition, of being fickle in her friend- ships, and inconstant in her love. As I know nothing about her in these respects, it is not for me to accuse or to acquit her. But she has domestic virtues which, when better known to thee, my dear Josephine," said

i Some hours before the death of the Duke d'Enghien, Eliza had the boldness to say to Bonaparte, " Beware, my brother, lest one of the balls which pass through the Prince's body rebound and break the sceptre in your hand."

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he, with a smile, "will make thee judge her with less of prejudice and more of justice."

I turned the conversation upon another subject, in order to avoid an ever fruitless discussion. I discovered the intentions of my husband. I could only make com- plaints against his family. But I neglected my own personal interests, and looked after none but his.

After offering a throne to Murat he had to build another for Joseph, for it was upon Joseph that he rested his highest hopes. Naples did not present a sufficiently broad theatre for his glory, and it was in the Spanish capital, in the midst of that proud and faithful people, that the new monarch was to appear and disappear almost in the same moment of time (like the Kings created by Charles XII., who descended from the throne with as much ease as they had had difficulty in mounting it). Like Louis, Joseph was wholly a stranger to his brother's policy. Each of them sighed for repose ; and, of all the members of his family, the one most resembling him was beyond all contradiction the Grand Duchess Eliza. He regarded Jerome merely as a scholar, and himself as his preceptor. But the King of Westphalia could have said to him, in the language of the poet :

"Je vous imiterai, quand il en sera temps, Quand, pour determiner les esprits inconstans, II me faudra plus qu'un titre qui deguise Et le but et 1'effet de ma haute entreprise A. commander aussi je me sens destined Qui m'en empecherait ? "

Germanicus, Acte I,, scene vi

VOL. II

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CHAPTER VI

BY the Treaty of Tilsit Napoleon had engaged the Emperor Alexander not to interfere with any efforts which France might make against Spain. Fully assured upon this point, and persuaded that no other Power would dare intermeddle, he moved forward fearlessly towards the object he had long aimed at. He was no stranger to the proclamation which Godoy, the Prince of Peace, had issued, in which he called to arms his master's faithful subjects, in order to send away the best troops of Spain. The Emperor, through his secret agents at Madrid, insinuated that they ought to be di- rected towards Denmark. General Romana was directed to place himself at the head; and that famous general was presented to me on his arrival at Paris. Napoleon had long since testified his pleasure in seeing him leave his country, for he was seriously afraid of his bravery. Soon 30,000 Frenchmen, in virtue of the Treaty of Fon- tainebleau, entered Spain under Junot. Charles IV. was reposing upon the good faith of the man who already entertained the design of possessing himself of the wealth of the two worlds, already hoarded up, so to speak, in those different kingdoms. Napoleon did not intend to keep his word to the unhappy monarch; but, on the contrary, felt anxious that the Prince Regent of Portugal might fall into the same snare. The latter, I am sure, would have become his prisoner but for the salutary advice of Sir Sidney Smith, who persuaded him to

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embark for Brazil on the eve of Junot's entrance into Lisbon. Bonaparte, now master of Portugal, thought only of assembling a new army at Bayonne (43), ready at any moment to march upon the capital of Spain. He said to me, " I am going to seize the first occa- sion ; I am so successful in everything that it seems to me King Charles IV. must feel obliged to me for having furnished him the means of consolidating his slavery."

I sincerely pitied the Prince of Asturias. I knew his mortification at seeing Don Emmanuel Godoy exercise so potent an influence over the illustrious family which had adopted him. He resolved on overthrowing that favourite, but, unhappily, believed that Napoleon would consent to aid him in the undertaking. The Emperor of the French conceived the idea of giving him his brother Lucien's eldest daughter in marriage (44). A secret agent received orders to sound the Prince on that subject, and to suggest to him, adroitly, to apply to Napoleon to choose him a wife ; and, in due time, the heir-presumptive to the Spanish throne consulted the Emperor touching the choice he should make. A lively correspondence took place be- tween them. But at length the most unquestionable information reached the father respecting the conduct of the son ; and henceforth the principal instigator of the whole of this political intrigue, Don Godoy, so proud of the title of Prince of Peace, conceived some suspicions respecting the workings of the plot, and shortly afterwards the Prince of Asturias was arrested. Napoleon confessed to me that he was afraid the name of his ambassador, and the marriage project he had had in hand, would figure in the legal proceedings against Ferdinand. " I am," said he, "going to use means to make the old King write me on this subject. The father will complain of the son,

6—2

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and beg me to aid him with my advice. My faithful emissaries will send me from day to day an exact ac- count of the Prince's most trivial actions. But I shall entreat the father to use indulgence towards the son, and shall go so far as to recall to his mind the example of Philip II., if Don Carlos is guilty; he is not — or, at least, his fault is trifling — and a Sovereign ought always to pardon ; such is my policy, madam. The moment the Emperor of the French shall pretend to reconcile them the one with the other, that moment he will order the grand army and the Imperial Guard to advance towards Spain ; and soon your husband and his happy spouse will start for Bayonne." He then left me in a hurry, without answering the different observations which I permitted myself to make upon the subject.

'Twas in the silence of the night that the conqueror of so many nations came to the resolution to subject another one to his sway ; and he thus wrote to Murat : " The Spaniards are born lazy and fanatical ; you will easily conquer them. For this it is only necessary that you should canton your numerous phalanxes in the neigh- bourhood of the road from Bayonne to Madrid. The Prince of Peace is blinded by my promises; he will sur- render his country to me without making any resistance or defence. I know this, for he intends sending his only disposable corps of troops to the frontiers of Portugal."

The moment had now come for the sinister events to break out at Aranjuez. The French army immediately moved towards Madrid, and made its solemn entry into the town. King Charles IV. abdicated in favour of his son, and the Prince of Asturias was recognised as King by Murat under the name of Ferdinand VII.

But my husband had not gone so far merely to leave

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his work unfinished. "Dolus, an virtus, quis in hoste requirat ? " said he, rubbing his hands in token of joy. "I am really an admirer of Virgil — the greatest of the Roman poets has some excellent ideas; they are worth infinitely more than those of our modern philosophers — what say you ? " I replied, " A young Sovereign, loved by his subjects, might easily rally their courage and calm the popular effervescence." Such an idea could, of course, find no place in Napoleon's projects, and he used all his efforts to make Charles IV. protest against his abdication, proposing to him, at the same time, to come immediately to Bayonne to have an understanding with his son. I accompanied my husband on his journey thither. I could not look with indifference upon a young prince, the victim of intrigue and Italian cunning. I foresaw the unhappy issue which perfidious advisers were preparing for the Emperor.

Ferdinand and the Infant, Don Carlos, displayed a force of character which astonished the " self-styled medi- ator ; " and Napoleon, attempting to frighten them, said to the young King, " The past should teach you that it is in vain to resist me, and that it is as easy for me to punish as to threaten." I was present when this was said, and could scarcely control the feelings which agitated me; but my astonishment and admiration were at their height when I heard Ferdinand reply to it, with marked and manly energy :

" I understand you, Napoleon ; you seek to intimidate me, by calling to my mind the fate of a Prince of my family. I ask you, as a favour, that I may perish by a death like that of my cousin, if you are determined to take away my crown ! " — " And I," added Don Carlos, " I demand, as a special favour, to die with my brother and my King, if you

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are so unjust as to deprive the Spaniards of their legitimate Sovereign."

This truly painful scene produced some impression upon him. But he had no design upon the lives of the Princes, but merely intended to hold them in bondage. It must be said, to the honour of a majority of his courtiers, and especially of M. de Talleyrand, that they disavowed his projects against Spain. The latter dared to tell him plainly, that he would reap nothing from it but loss and confusion. " You are deceived," said the ambitious Napoleon ; " my political car is started ; it must pass on ; woe to him who finds himself beneath its wheels ! * Be- sides, gentlemen," said he, " why have the Infants come to visit me at Marac ? They are young men, without experience, coming here without passports ! Think you my policy is in accordance with the feelings of my heart ? Oh, no ! not at all ; but there are sometimes extraordinary cases — and this is one — when I must silence my private feelings, and devote myself to the good of my people, and the glory which must, necessarily, thence be reflected upon my crown."

His conduct towards the royal family of Spain was far from meeting my approbation, and I did not conceal from him how much I disliked it. I did not hide from him the odiousness of this arbitrary act ; and hence he kept me away from all the future conferences. " What matters it to you, madam," said he, with ill-humour, " whether .it be Charles IV., or Ferdinand, who treats with me ? I will no

I M. de Talleyrand was long the right arm of Napoleon, but Josephine never could exercise much influence over that minister. More than once did she dare reproach him for not opposing the project of a divorce. History will long keep silence as to the secret motives which determined him. He was, however, one of the principal causes which successively led to the fall of Bonaparte.

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longer recognise the son, and unless he replaces the crown in his father's hands, within a few hours, I shall declare myself the protector of the one against the other. We shall see whether the Prince will dare resist me ! "

Ferdinand was advised to resign the crown upon the condition that the royal family should return to Madrid, and the nation itself should, through the medium of the Cortes, or another assembly less numerous, take cogni- sance of the affair, and pronounce its decision. Napoleon did not favour such a project. He employed the most active means to prevent it, and sought my intervention. But I solemnly refused to have anything to do with this work of iniquity, and foretold to him, by a sort of secret inspiration, that from the moment he undertook to legiti- mate this criminal usurpation, the phantom of felicity which he had thus far enjoyed would begin to vanish. He paid not the least attention to my menaces. The Prince of Asturias became the object of persecution. He was forced to submit to all the conditions which Napoleon saw fit to impose upon him; especially when he became acquainted with the massacre of the 2nd of May, in the streets of Madrid.

Murat wrote him that the grape-shot and bayonet had cleared the streets of the Spanish capital, giving all the details which led to that fatal insurrection. The presence of the French troops, and the departure of the royal family, had struck all hearts with consternation. It was rumoured that the Princes were treated as prisoners of state. It was known that the Queen of Etruria (45) and the Infanta, Don Antonio and Don Francisco, were about to set out for France ; and immediately numerous women assembled in the palace to prevent their departure. An aide-de-camp of Murat now appeared, who, it was supposed, had come

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to demand the Infanta. He was ill-used ; a tumult ensued, and a struggle took place between the French and Spaniards, in which more than a thousand men perished. The firing was prolonged till late in the night, notwith- standing the armistice which Murat had published in order to restore tranquillity.

Never did I see the Emperor in such a rage as on perusing these despatches. He rushed hastily out of his cabinet, and gave an order that the Prince of Asturias should, on the instant, send him a formal renunciation of the kingdom of Spain. " I must have it," said he, " in a definite shape, and he must make a cession to me of all his present and future claims to the crown. This comedy has reached its denouement, and its end may be tragical if those to whom I send my orders defer their execution."

The prebendary Escoiquiz (46) received an envoy from Napoleon, charged to announce to the Prince the intentions of his master. But his resistance was stubborn, and the message fruitless. "I must," said he, "judge of it for myself." — " In vain " (reported the envoy) " did I en- deavour to calm him, or to make him listen to the voice of reason ; all I could do only served to sour him the more. He finally told me to remain in my room, and not let him see me unless I should be sent for."

In the evening I learnt that my husband had seen Ferdinand, and had dared to say to him, " Prince, you must choose — death, or your renunciation of the crown." But he was far from giving another representation of the Vincennes tragedy. "I only wanted to frighten him," said he to me ; " but I did not expect to find so much energy in him. Should he ever remount his throne, he will, I think, be capable of keeping it. Who knows but

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he may one day attempt to make me play the part of Francis I. at Madrid ? " " Perhaps," said I, " you may not reap as many laurels as that great sovereign. Charles V. was the rival of the French King, instead of having his private injuries to avenge. The immortal Louis XII. pardoned, in the most generous manner, the man who had unjustly held him in chains." — " Ah," re- plied Napoleon, " I shall not place myself in the power of his generosity, and, as a precaution, I shall retain him in order to keep from him the means of attempting any such surprise ; for, I certainly admit, it would be desperate to punish him."

Though the possessor of the crown of Charles IV., he was not of his kingdom. From all quarters the Spaniards rushed to arms ; but Napoleon could not persuade himself that the Castilians would display their ancient bravery. His advisers made him believe that the Spaniards were not capable of making the least effort in favour of their sovereign ; that the name alone of the great Napoleon had already vanquished them, and that the power of his arms would soon finish that important conquest. Thus did his courtiers constantly urge him forward to take rash and inconsiderate steps. I despised the one who first dared give him the perfidious advice to declare war upon Spain, and to despoil of his crown and heritage the only ally who was faithful to him. But thus do the serpents which crawl into Courts infect, by their impure breath, the councils into which they are admitted. Their tongues, like the adder's, are poisoned arrows ; and the enchanting words of their flattery flow from lips steeped in poison. Doubtless, Napoleon cannot escape the reproaches of contemporaries and of posterity ; but, when there shall be liberty to draw aside the veil of imposture, France will

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discover what means her enemies employed to inspire him with this culpable undertaking.

He could not dissemble the joy he felt at the success of this coup d'ttat. " I have," said he, " succeeded in spite of the policy of the prebendary Escoi'quiz. I know how to appreciate the love he bears his masters. He has done his duty, and shall not cease to be sensible of my good- will. As to Talleyrand, he dared oppose me; according to him, the conquest of Spain was high treason. Eh bien! he must participate in it if it be such, and must become the overseer of the Princes at Valancey (47). That's not making him act a very distinguished part in the play, Josephine. And now that, in spite of him, I have succeeded in placing my brother Joseph l on the throne, you may un-

i Notwithstanding all that has been said, and all that has happened, Joseph did not, in accepting the throne of Spain, consent to be simply his brother's lieutenant. Aranza and Offarel had the courage to start that delicate question in his presence. " Never fear, gentlemen," said he ; "I am now a Spaniard, and if my new subjects range themselves under my sceptre, assure them, gentlemen, that I shall reign, and that nothing but their opposition will bring to them decrees signed Napoleon."

This noble assurance did not a little to conciliate the great person- ages of the old Court, which soon became his own.

With such sentiments, Joseph could not live long upon a good understanding with his brother. A dispute broke out between them, and I will add that this dispute was one of the leading causes of Napoleon's disasters in Spain. Two powerful motives operated to estrange Joseph from his brother — the honour of the Spanish throne, which he wished to preserve intact, and the necessities of his finances. The troubles in Spain had reduced all imposts to zero, and it followed that the new monarch found himself often without a sou. It was this state of things that produced the famous interview at Chammartin, where Joseph came upon him like a thunderbolt, and when he least expected it. " What ! " said Bonaparte, " you here, brother? " seeing him at some distance ; " what motive brings you here ? " — " The most powerful in the world," said Joseph, "want ; and to avoid being reviled by my new subjects. I have not a crown in my treasury." — " How ?

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fold to me all your thoughts." — " I am," said I, " still of an opinion different from your own. You think to make the people believe that your grand-chamberlain approves the violent means which you have made use of to catch in your snare the family you are dethroning, and that, not content with having served you with his counsels, he is still anxious to be useful to you by giving you his chateau at Valancey, for the purpose of detaining your august prisoners. Be un- deceived ! sensible men will adopt none of these notions. The snare is not surrounded by flowers. You will, from

Are yon not the King of Spain, and are you interdicted from levying the taxes which are indispensable?" — " Taxes 1 Upon whom? Where? You have dried up the sources." — "Reproaches?" — " Truths 1 Did you not tell me, at Bayonne, that my collections might, at first, be difficult, and that you would cover the deficit? Have you kept that promise ? " — " No ; nor did I intend to do so. Long has the French treasury covered the expenses of this war. You have people — impose taxes." — "Taxes, again! Will a country in a state of insurrection pay my taxes ? Or will a country totally ruined by your armies, although obedient, pay them ? I see the evil plainly. I have seen the victims — I have received petitions — I cannot deny the evidence." — "Joseph, you don't properly measure circumstances. Where should I now have been — /, Emperor of the French and King of Italy — had I suffered myself to be fretted by the detonations of argu- ment and abstract truths ? My greatness takes its birth in my skill in cutting to the quick, in contemning the reproaches of individuals, the complaints of those who are vexed, and the hatred of all. While yet young, I inured myself to this stern indifference, and I shall carry this character, hardy and profitable, to the tomb. I shall die with it." — " Boast as much as you please of what you are, and what you have been ; but, for myself, I wish only to be what I can be without too much self-reproach; and, since all moderation seems at an end, although a king of your manufacture, I shall no longer be your property, nor the Spaniards your serfs." — " I notice what you say. Joseph, did I value my glory less, I could retrograde with honour, but no ; I am too far advanced. I will not furnish a family scene. Let's drop it ; to-morrow I will put you in funds." The next day Joseph received 500,000 francs, and returned to Burgos. Napoleon long remembered this scene ; it affected him, and, perhaps, he has carried it with him to his Rock.

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this day — remark it ! — count one more enemy — a new Richelieu, believe it. You will arm him against you; Talleyrand, whenever he shall will it, will be able to make you descend from the throne. What did I say ? — to hurl you from it ! He is the prince of politicians. He under- stands the mechanism of the whole machine, and directs the motions of the invisible wheels. Talleyrand possesses the key to every Cabinet in Europe — he has the ear of every minister; and this man, if so disposed, can, at his will, make you act the part of Alexander or of Darius." l

We left Bayonne on the 2ist of July, and continued our route through Pau, Tarbes, Toulouse, Montauban, Bordeaux, La Vendee and Nantes. The people thronged to meet us, anxious to gather around us. Alas ! they were dazzled by the great deeds of their Emperor, far from suspecting, however, that he owed to perfidy and treason these apparent evidences of success. In every city we passed through we had to endure the ennui of a public harangue. Napoleon wore an air of affability, and even affected popularity. He informed himself re- specting the misfortunes of the inhabitants, and entered into the smallest details connected with their just claims.9 Here he promised to rebuild a church; there

1 I am persuaded that Prince Talleyrand was no stranger to the many treaties formed at this period. He employed the most skilful means to bring about the hollow reconciliation of the Emperor Alexander with Napoleon, with a view, while he ministered to the ambitious hopes of the latter, to make him afraid of the road to Russia, whither, it seemed likely, his ambition would one day lead him. By tearing in pieces the treaty of Erfurth, he in some sort prepared the fall of the Emperor of the French; and it was easy to foresee the results of that ministerial intrigue. — NOTE BY JOSEPHINE.

2 Whenever a demand was presented to him he listened to it, without showing the slightest ill-humour or impatience. He would take the letter or petition, saying, " Very well, I will look to it."

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he fixed upon . a time to found a seminary ; farther on he announced his intention to build barracks for troops. The public monuments seemed particularly to attract his attention. " I shall change the face of Europe," said he ; "I mean my age shall outshine that of Louis XIV. When I desire it I will send out a Vauban from my institutions. I know of some of Mansard's pupils who will, perhaps, surpass their master in architecture. My creative genius will give birth to wonders which will be completed under my own eyes. In short, my reign must furnish forth things which are surprising — things which are more extraordinary than anything yet done by the greatest men. I mean to efface their repu- tations."— " Your march is so rapid," said I, " that Time, the destroyer of all, may possibly not allow you to terminate what you so complacently denominate your grand work." — " Ah ! " he replied, with a kind of con- fidence in his air, " you know, my friend, I bear upon my person a mysterious hieroglyphic (48), which will not permit me to fall by the strokes of treachery. I am in- vulnerable in war, and my political career will stretch far into the future." Such was his mode of charming away the ennui of travelling.

He constantly took pleasure in these bright, illusive dreams. To contradict him was the surest means of in- curring his displeasure. But I by no means hesitated to speak my mind when the matter in hand concerned his glory or the good of the people, and during our journey we had more than one quarrel respecting King Charles IV., who was to reside at Compiegne with the Queen, the Prince of Peace, and the King and Queen of Etruria. I, however, succeeded in obtaining his pledge that they should be treated with royal mag-

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nificence,1 "for," said I, by way of persuading him not to dishonour himself in the eyes of Europe, " the Spanish King and his family have not lost their sacred character before the tribunal of other sovereigns; and since you yourself form a part of that august con- federation, you ought, although they are subject to you, to treat them as princes in adversity. Perhaps they will yet be more fortunate than was James II. of England ; that monarch, notwithstanding all the efforts of Louis XIV., was never able to reseat himself on the throne. But Ferdinand may yet reascend his own, and, in spite of you, maintain himself there by means of his people's love for him. Any further abuse of your authority may work such a revolution."

This conversation had a good effect upon him, and, without exactly confessing that I was correct in what I said, he sent orders that the illustrious wayfarers should be so treated that they should find nothing to complain of in his proceedings. He had the art to make them believe that their captivity would soon end, and that, perhaps, the same hand which had wrested from them the crown and diadem, would be generous enough to restore them ; but that, for the present, a different course was useful to Europe ; that Spain had renounced her rank as a European Power, that a liberator was necessary to her, and that he was the man who was destined to work out her regeneration.

i The Duchess of Chevreuse was designated by the Emperor as dame d'honneur to the Queen of Spain. She answered distinctly that she would not go to Compiegne — that nothing should tempt her to become the jailer of the Bourbons. She was immediately disgraced, and sent off to one of her chateaux, which had neither doors nor windows. Napoleon never pardoned her for what he called an act of disobedience, committed upon a calculation of the chances of the future. — NOTE BY JOSEPHINE.

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After returning to the capital, he coolly calculated the consequences of this gigantic enterprise, the result of which was a war of extermination. He began to perceive that he had missed his aim, but he was not the man to confess it. His mood was often dreamy and melancholy ; nothing could divert him ; his anxiety betrayed itself in spite of him. His most faithful courtiers dared hardly address their master; and Duroc1 was more than once the object of his anger. I myself experienced the terrible explosions of his wrath, but told him with my characteristic sensibility, that he was in pain, that he was afraid to rely upon anyone. But his severe look imposed silence upon me. He learned that General Dupont, who commanded a division in Spain, had reminded, fruitlessly, the French soldiers of their past victories by calling upon them " to conquer or die." " Seven times," said he, in his report, " did I order a charge with the bayonet, but to no purpose ; while the Spanish general skilfully took advantage of the ground to advance his forces. At length, however, to save the wreck of the French battalions, and after taking the advice of General Marescot, I consented to capitulate." — "A pretty debut this ! " exclaimed Napoleon on reading the despatches. " Ah, ha ! gentlemen, you have suffered yourselves to be beaten ; very well, your liberty shall atone for the impos- sibility which you set up of not gaining a victory."

He soon ascertained that the whole of Spain had taken up arms, and that the French were repulsed at all points. Nothing could equal the courageous resistance of the Spaniards, who were all united against the common enemy. They were, nevertheless, convinced that they ought not to expose the fate of their country to the chances of regular

I Duroc, though he loved Napoleon, stood in great fear of him.

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combat. Their guerillas harassed the march of the French troops, and pillaged their convoys, but never made an attack except with superior numbers. And whenever for- tune was unpropitious to them, they bore their reverses with stoical resignation.

As each courier arrived bringing bad news, Bonaparte was so agitated that I became for a time really alarmed for his health. He would rise from his bed during the night, and walk his room with rapid strides ; and whenever the moonlight fell upon him, he might be seen beating his fore- head with his hand, like a man plunged in the deepest despair. 'Twas in vain that I sought to calm him. " You told me, madam," exclaimed he, with emphasis, " you told me it would be thus ; " referring ironically to my confidence in the predictions of a certain woman whom all Paris was running after. " I will have her arrested, madam ; I will have your Miss Lenormand arrested. I understand her prophesyings, she has filled your head with wild notions. I beg you, madam, I conjure you, never speak of her again " (49).

When the news reached him that his brother Joseph had been forced to leave Madrid, after the battle of Baylen, he began to see that he had made a false calculation. But his doctrine was never to retrace his steps, and a new levy of conscripts now became necessary to enable him to up- hold his brother's rights. " My honour and my duty," said he, to the French senate, " require me to push forward my matters in Spain with the utmost activity. Indeed, the future security of my people, maritime peace, and the prosperity of commerce, are all equally implicated in these important operations."

And yet he could not forget all the unlucky prognostics which signalised the origin and the progress of this un-

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happy enterprise. At one time he thought of putting the crown of Spain upon his own head, and of treating the Spaniards as a conquered people. " I will," said he, "govern all those kingdoms with a brazen sceptre." He spoke, and a senatus consultum placed at his disposal 80,000 men (50). Indeed, he might boldly have reckoned upon twice that number, with officers obedient to his will. With these it was easy for him to fill up the corps of the grand army, which was now arriving from all parts of Germany, and send them on through France, without giving them a moment's rest. Besides, according to his system, the Leopard which soiled the realms of Spain and Portugal must be compelled to fly terror-stricken at the sight of our legions. He wanted to lead their eagles to the Pillars of Hercules. " Soldiers," said the heroic chief to his warriors, " you have effaced the reputation of modern armies ; but have you yet equalled the glory of the Romans, who, in a single campaign, triumphed on the Rhine and on the Euphrates, in Illyria and on the Tagus ? "

With these pompous words, with these brilliant and sonorous phrases, did this general electrify his army; so much so, indeed, that his men willingly and readily threw themselves headlong into the midst of the greatest danger, ready to rush into the storm of grapeshot and have their clothes riddled with balls in order to occupy some post of danger assigned them by Napoleon.

Oh, magical influence of the love of glory! It is all- powerful over the minds of Frenchmen. No people are more sensitive to an affront, and none more generous after victory. The words "Honour" and "Country" are their talismans; they cause them to work miracles.

What must the veterans of our old, victorious fields have suffered on seeing that our triumphs in Spain were VOL. ii 7

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ineffectual ? With such troops Napoleon might have conquered the whole world ; but 'twas the evil genius that now began to preside over his actions that inspired him with the idea of sending them beyond the Pyrenees. He was, however, solicitous that no other war should break out, this being as much as he could well sustain. For this reason he hastened to terminate the differences which existed between France and Prussia, seeking, as he was pleased to boast to his courtiers, to triumph again over Alexander.

With this view he left St. Cloud with me on the 2ist

of September, 1808, and directed his journey towards

Metz, where he arrived on the 24th. He passed through

Mayence without stopping, and entered Erfurt on the ayth.

He rode on horseback constantly, in order to be in advance

of the Emperor Alexander, who had been at Weimar since

the 25th. The Kings of Bavaria and Wurtemberg, the

Prince Primate and Jerome Bonaparte, repaired to Erfurt.

In the midst of the most serious conferences the Emperor

neglected nothing in his efforts to dissemble his real designs ;

on the contrary, the journals of the day imputed to this

important meeting an entirely different object. Festivals

the most brilliant characterised it. French comedians, with

their customary talent, played the masterpieces of Racine

and Voltaire (51). Decorated with the title of Empress, I

received visits from sovereigns. Everything at this time

seemed to favour my husband's insatiable ambition. The

Emperor Alexander, yielding in a manner to the desire

which Napoleon professed of concluding a peace with

Europe, each of them addressed the following letter to

the King of England, with a view to accomplish that

benevolent purpose : —

" MY BROTHER, — The events of war have brought us

. THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 99

together at Erfurt. Our first thought is to yield to the wishes and wants of every people in Europe, and, by means of a prompt pacification with Your Majesty, to apply the most effectual remedy to the numberless evils which weigh heavily upon all nations. This, our sincere desire, we communicate to Your Majesty by this present letter. The long and bloody war which has torn the Continent is ter- minated, without the power of renewal."

But this vain declamation left not the least trace upon the minds of the British Cabinet. They were unwilling to acknowledge the changes wrought in Spain, and Napo- leon's chief object at Erfurt was to ascertain to a certainty that the Emperor of Russia had no idea of attempting to overthrow his plans.

Shortly after this, Napoleon was apprised that the Holy Father refused to number his brother Joseph in the rank of European Sovereigns. "I know how to punish him," said he to me in confidence ; " I shall unite a part of my Church provinces to my kingdom of Italy."

His policy soon devised the means of calling to Paris several deputies from among the inhabitants of Lombardy to express to him their thanks for having united them to the grand family. But he had not entirely renounced his original design upon Spain, and was, on the contrary, of opinion that, in case he placed himself at the head of his victorious troops, he should plant his triumphant eagles upon the ramparts of Lisbon; and that thus his monarchy would become universal. He presumed that the Spaniards, filled with the new ideas which prevailed in France, were even now on the point of raising the revolutionary standard, and imagined that he might with impunity proclaim equality among the citizens, liberty to all, and the suppression of the burdens and of the cor-

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porations to which so many peculiar privileges belonged. " You labour under an illusion," I told him ; " you do not know how to appreciate the character of the Spaniards ; and I am afraid you will reap no other fruit from your culpable enterprise than to restore to that courageous nation its ancient energy and its profound hatred for all foreign domination. You think, by your personal presence among them, to prove that these faithful allies will long preserve the admiration they at first felt for you! Alas! the time has gone by when they beheld in you only the regenerator of the Grand Empire ; you have led them into an error, and they now perceive it. A few months ago, they perhaps thought that you were going to eradicate all abuses from their government ; but you have deceived them, and their native pride has revolted at it. You will witness a general rising in Spain ; you will see in each citizen her zealous defender; — the love of country and of glory triumphs over Nature herself."

As was his wont, Napoleon cast ridicule on my sinister predictions. " I shall, notwithstanding," said he, " leave, and take the command of that invincible army. Will you consent to accompany me in this perilous journey, madam ? Your fatigues will be well requited by the enthusiasm of which we shall be both the witnesses and the objects. I want to place Joseph again upon the throne of Spain ; but should it happen that he should again descend from it, then will it become my duty to mount it, in which case I shall cause myself to be crowned at Madrid."

I confess I did not know how to answer him, for the events which were then in progress seemed to me to partake of the miraculous. All I could get from him was, that he should set out on his journey without con- straining me to accompany him. My mind was so fatigued

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE IOI

and worn out by the scenes which were constantly passing before me, that I was really in need of repose. The Emperor, therefore, started alone. He remained several weeks at Burgos, where, shortly after, the Spaniards were completely defeated in the battle of Sommo-Sierra. He thence proceeded down the mountain slopes, and arrived at Madrid on the 2nd of December.

Everything seemed to oppose an insurmountable barrier to his progress. The population of that city put itself in motion ; they plucked up the pavements, and threw them together in heaps, in order to hurl them at their assailants. The streets were barricaded. To the Spanish ministers who came and begged him to spare the town, Napoleon returned an answer that he gave them only till the next morning, at six o'clock, to open to him the gates of the capital, declaring, furthermore, that unless the inhabitants submitted to that condition, there should not be left one stone upon another in the city. This menace produced its effect, although the envoy represented that the people were in a state of effervescence; so much so, that the magistrates found it extremely difficult to restrain the torrent of popular feeling. The conqueror would not, however, listen to any proposition, and his last words struck terror into all hearts. On the 4th of December, he made his solemn entry into Madrid ; but, owing to secret advice, he thought it not safe to estab- lish his head-quarters in the city, and preferred, for good reasons, to reside at Chammartin, the country-house of the Infantado, a structure justly entitled to be called a master-work of magnificence. He thought to intimidate the Spaniards by threatening to treat them as a con- quered people, in case they did not repose confidence in him. " And, moreover," said he, " I will place my brother

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Joseph on another throne, and use all my means to impose silence upon the malcontents. Behold the strength which God has given me. I know that I have the ability to over- come any obstacles the rebels may attempt to interpose in my path."

He had, at this time, really persuaded himself that every road to fortune was open to him, and that he might, with impunity, undertake any enterprise. He fought battles without gaining an inch of ground. But —

"Nihil est quod credere de se Non possit, cum laudatur, dls aequa potestas."

His army could not pass the line of the Tagus, and it was impossible to allow it the least repose, compelled, as it was, to restrain an enemy, always vanquished, but who seemed, like the Phoenix, to rise again from its own ashes. He used all his efforts to capture General Moore, but per- ceiving that they were fruitless, and that it was impossible to attain that object, he established his head-quarters at Valladolid, where he made a brief halt.

What I had foreseen took place. I was perfectly ac- quainted with my husband's mind ; and thought, correctly, that in case he met with the least obstacle in prosecuting his design, he would, in the end, place the fate of Spain in the hands of one of the generals who afterwards subdued it. A passage in his last letter to me, intimating that I might soon expect to see him again at St. Cloud, confirmed me in the opinion I had formed.1

I Josephine was at all times in the receipt of news from the army, brought her by a courier sent by Bonaparte. No matter at what hour of the day or night, she always received the despatches from the hands of the courier himself, of whom she made enquiries respecting all the persons she knew. She would say some obliging things to him, and make him some rich present, according to the importance of the message.

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE IO3

And, indeed, it was not long before he abandoned the French army in Spain. The two brothers no longer agreed, and a scandalous scene which took place at this time in- duced him to leave Valladolid. " Gentlemen," said he to those who possessed his confidence, "what matters it whether Joseph is a king or a general ? He cannot fulfil the duties of either of those stations. He is wonderfully sparing of the blood of the people whom I have subdued. But, my brother, those generous people are no longer yours, and I am afraid you will not be so fortunate as was the second grandson of Louis XIV. That Prince had, in fact, the rights of legitimacy in his favour ; but that does not always guarantee a triumph over the obstacles one meets. Philip V. showed himself a man, but you have failed to do so. Such," said he, in a violent rage, " such is a mild and moderate man ! I myself have judged that he is not capable of fulfilling the duties of a post of eminence, and if the civil war continues its ravages in that unhappy country, I shall have nothing to do but to send and establish colonies there." Such were Napoleon's reasonings when he returned to Paris. He seemed to experience shame in having failed in the accomplish- ment of his purposes and his hopes.

It was perceived that a marked change had taken place in his manner. He became unquiet, sombre, dreamy (52). The courtiers trembled with affright.1 I did not cease to bestow upon him my tenderest cares, and all the con- solations of a benevolent friendship. I said to him,

I Napoleon talked but little. When out of his own house, if he happened to say a word or two to a person he met, it was regarded as a proof of particular esteem. And if he stopped and talked with any- one for the space of two minutes, the circumstance was the theme of conversation for a whole day ; so rarely did he spend his time in this

manner.

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" Bonaparte, the rays of your glory must grow pale in the eyes of those proud Castilians whom you have steeped in humiliation. All France presumed, from the lying speeches they heard, that Spain was nearly subdued. You have accustomed your people^ to victories, to the conquest of cities and kingdoms. To-day, if you un- deceive them, the veil of illusion may be torn away; it has, then, become necessary to your reputation, and, in order to conceal your defeat, to resort to those mercenary authors whose pens, steeped in the colours of adulation and directed by the hand of flattery, are of no use except to minister to the depraved curiosity of credulous amateurs. Already have I caused the news to be circulated in the capital that my husband was returning victorious from Spain. I even did violence to my own sense of duty in order to conceal the truth, which had begun to appear in broad daylight. But I could not with indifference behold the laurels which adorned your brow tarnished."

But I made up my mind to say no more to him about that unlucky expedition. My duty was not to afflict him, satisfied that I could not shake his resolutions. And thus I gave up all hope of making him share my too well- founded fears, being always reluctant to fatigue him with

my bitter reflections —

"Ingenium res

Adversae nudane solent, celare secundae."

The despatches which arrived daily from Spain an- nounced to him that Joseph found it impossible to pass the limits of the Spanish capital. The generals them- selves murmured at the countless disasters produced by the active resistance of the enemy. The whole of that kingdom presented but an immense heap of ruins. Women and children fought in the name of their God for their

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE 105

King, and often died heroically on the bodies of their fathers and husbands. Even the murmurs of grief and the cries of pain ceased to resound upon those fields of carnage. Love of country was the only principle which animated their souls. The proud Castilians, the noble descendants of Rodrigo, sustained in air with an intrepid hand their cherished standards, whose tattered folds only served to attest their courage. They proudly supported themselves upon the numerous piles of arms, nearly half- broken, which victory had so often placed in their power. They seemed to have recovered their strength and their ancient character, and to cherish the beautiful sentiment of Corneille —

"Mourir poor son pays n'est pas on triste sort: C'est immortaliser par one belle mort."

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CHAPTER VII

NAPOLEON was now forced to leave King Joseph's affairs and attend to his own. He received secret advices that Austria had been concerting measures to attack and conquer him. The Emperor of the French had reduced her to so great a humiliation that she was ready to seize upon the slightest pretext to resume her arms. She re- fused officially to recognise his brother Joseph as King of Spain, or consented to do so only upon a condition. That Power complained that she had not been invited to the conferences at Erfurt, which certainly had in view an object different from a recognition of Joseph. She then protested against the destruction of the Germanic Confederation, which had been overthrown, after having been recognised and solemnly preserved by the Treaty of Pressburg.

My husband was careful to conceal from the French people the fact that a new campaign was about to open; on the contrary, the capital never presented greater mag- nificence. The sovereign assembled all the men who had been clothed with high dignities under the monarchy. This was, so to speak, their first appearance before ar- riving at place under the Imperial Government. The homage due to beauty was not lost sight of in the midst of the fetes of Bellona. Besides the ladies who were attached to my person, and who united in themselves the most dazzling charms, others were constantly presented to me, who, in all the graces of their sex, were not inferior

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE lO'J

to those who formed the ornament of my Court. The Tuileries seemed like an enchanted palace.1

Napoleon's politeness was not very studied ; but he never transcended the limits of decorum. During the course of his reign, he permitted himself some slight and transient inclinations, whereof I unwillingly obtained posi- tive proof. 'Twas difficult for me to believe that another woman could possess the heart of which I claimed to be the sole ruler. His Court, however, although not exactly a school of morality, furnished a picture of that decency, those high-toned manners, and that bon ton which justified its comparison with that of Louis XIV. The rules of etiquette were observed, and those who had contributed to the great measures of my husband's government were made to feel, though in a delicate way, that henceforth there existed an immense interval between the Emperor of the French and General Bonaparte. When relieved from the fatigues of public display, I made ample amends to myself for the fatiguing restraint I was doomed to sub- mit to during the public ceremonies (53).

At the moment when the public mind began to enjoy a degree of calm, and my husband seemed fond of repeating the assurance that he no longer cherished any ambitious thought, the great Powers were becoming incensed against the man whose recent conquests only tended to destroy the

I Josephine displayed great taste in the selection and arrangement of all that composed her toilet, about which she occupied herself a great deal. Her clothes always fitted her well. Her morning dress, always genteel but simple, became her much better than the more costly and burdensome Court dress, which, though she wore it with ease, seemed to mar her natural gracefulness. She herself gave all orders, as well for dresses and hats as for body-linen. Every six months she repaired to her wardrobe, selected out such objects as she had resolved not to wear again, formed them into parcels, and distributed them among her women.

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equilibrium established by treaties, and who was continu ally adding new provinces to his empire. And thus, to prevent other usurpations, Prince Charles was appointed Generalissimo of the Austrian army. He began by de- claring to the French general in Bavaria that he was about to move forward, and that he should treat as enemies all who should resist him. Napoleon received this despatch in the night, and at daybreak was marching forward at the head of his army. Waking me from my sleep, he said, " You have played the part of Empress long enough ; you must now become again the wife of a general. I leave at once ; you will accompany me to Strassburg." I was not at all prepared for the journey ; for, only a few days before, he had refused to permit me to accompany him on the campaign. A most trivial circumstance had caused him to change his resolution (54). At three o'clock in the morning we were travelling speedily on the Alsace road. My husband scarcely gave me time to throw on a night- cloak, and all my women had left the chateau en deshabiltt, with nothing but their night-caps on their heads ; so that, when morning came, the officers who accompanied us could scarcely preserve their gravity at seeing me in such a modest plight. Napoleon was extreme in everything, and it was never until the decisive moment came that he expressed his final resolution. I had been so long ac- customed to his singular character, that I ceased to be astonished at the striking contrasts which it exhibited. Our journey was full of gaiety ; we met sundry original characters on the way, who furnished us abundance of amusement.1 We arrived at Strassburg. My husband had

I One of the finest routes in France is that leading to Strassburg. It is astonishing to see the agricultural wealth of the departments which are traversed by the Marne and Meuse. On leaving Meaux I

THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE IOQ

a secret presentiment that he should return victorious. He said to me, on leaving me, "Josephine watches over all that I love, and my guardian angel will never cease to utter her prayers for the safety and success of her husband."

He knew me well, that mortal whose astonishing destiny had opened to him the road to the most splendid throne on earth. I cherished not a thought, I formed not a wish, which was not directed to his glory. If certain political drones have dared accuse me of levity in my conduct (55), let those unjust censors remember that it was under the mask of sincere friendship that I sought to overawe certain powerful personages. Had I regarded them with an eye of indifference, they might

did not witness a single deserted chimney or neglected field. The pastures are admirable. The enormous quantity of fat cattle furnished by the farmers in this region proves the fertility of the soil, and the plenty which they enjoy. The people of Champagne and Lorraine are healthy, vigorous and well clothed; but their beeves and cows are of a poor sort. The Lorraine horses, however (to use the witty remarks of M. Cadet de Gassicourt), look as if they had descended from the one mentioned in the Apocalypse, or the sorry - looking courser of Don Quixote.

Until you reach St. Dizier, the vineyards of Champagne exhibit only vines of small size, all of which are cut off six inches from the ground. From Champagne to Strassburg, the appearance of the vineyards changes ; the vines are strong, growing up in two branches in the form of a V, or in one only, and growing about two feet high. The last year's shoot is tied in the shape of a curve, so that each foot of vine looks like a noose for catching rabbits.

From Epernay to Strassburg there is not a village, nor a vineyard, nor a field that has not its crucifix, the most of which are carefully carved in stone. The owner of a house in the faubourg of Nancy had taken down the Virgin from over his door, and replaced it with a bust of Napoleon, with this inscription : " To Bonaparte, Saviour of the Republic." "Of the Republic!" said he, with a laugh; "that association of words seems strange to me, indeed ; " which pleased Josephine very much. On leaving the town, she called his attention to a very aged woman who was kneeling on the steps of a chapel. She appeared bathed in tears. On being asked what was the cause

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have surrounded Napoleon with perils from which no human prudence could have rescued him. Often did I, in concert with him, carry on a correspondence. I flattered all parties (56), for I love to do justice to all. When Napoleon supposed he had grounds of complaint against any of his military officers, I warmly pleaded their cause. To contradict or thwart him was to de- prive myself of the means of defending the innocent and unfortunate. He would tell me, " It depends only on me whether I will be rid of that officer. I have only to pronounce his doom." — " You are right," I would reply, " you are right ; but such language does not be- come your generous and noble nature." l — " And who can oppose me in it ? " was his quick reply. — " Yourself, Napoleon. 'Twould arm against your person a multi-

of her grief, she replied, " My kind friends, my poor Joseph has been included in the conscription, and for nine days have I come here regularly to make my nine days' prayer (neuvaine) that he may draw a good lot; and Jhat which he has drawn bears the number 4. Thus I lose not only my grandson, but my prayers also. Nor is this all : my eldest son's daughter was about to marry one of our neighbours, named Michael ; and Michael now refuses to marry her on account of Joseph, her brother, being in the conscription. Should my son conclude to procure a substitute for poor Joseph, why, then adieu to Julie's dowry, for he would give her nothing ; and that dowry is to be she hundred