memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v8-第1章

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Memoirs　of　Napoleon　Bonaparte；　V8

by　Louis　Antoine　Fauvelet　de　Bourrienne

His　Private　Secretary




Edited　by　R。　W。　Phipps
Colonel；　Late　Royal　Artillery

1891




CONTENTS：
CHAPTER　XXVII。　　to　　　CHAPTER　XXXIV。　　　1804…1805




CHAPTER　XXVII。

1804。

　　　　　Clavier　and　HemartSingular　Proposal　of　Corvisart…M。　Desmaisons
　　　　　Project　of　influencing　the　judgesVisit　to　the　TuileriesRapp　in
　　　　　attendanceLong　conversation　with　the　EmperorHis　opinion　on　the
　　　　　trial　of　MoreauEnglish　assassins　and　Mr。　FoxComplaints　against
　　　　　the　English　GovernmentBonaparte　and　LacueeAffectionate
　　　　　behaviourArrest　of　PichegruMethod　employed　by　the　First　Consul
　　　　　to　discover　his　presence　in　ParisCharacter　of　MoreauMeasures　of
　　　　　Bonaparte　regarding　himLauriston　sent　to　the　TempleSilence
　　　　　respecting　the　Duc　d'EnghienNapoleon's　opinion　of　Moreau　and
　　　　　GeorgesAdmiration　of　GeorgesOffers　of　employment　and　dismissal
　　　　　Recital　of　former　vexationsAudience　of　the　EmpressMe1ancboly
　　　　　forebodingsWhat　Bonaparte　said　concerning　himselfMarks　of
　　　　　kindness。

The　judges　composing　the　Tribunal　which　condemned　Moreau　were　not　all
like　Thuriot　and　Hemart。　　History　has　recorded　an　honourable　contrast　to
the　general　meanness　of　the　period　in　the　reply　given　by　M。　Clavier；　when
urged　by　Hemart　to　vote　for　the　condemnation　of　Moreau。　　〃Ah；　Monsieur；
if　we　condemn　him；　how　shall　we　be　able　to　acquit　ourselves？〃　　I　have；
besides；　the　best　reason　for　asserting　that　the　judges　were　tampered
with；　from；　a　circumstance　which　occurred　to　myself。

Bonaparte　knew　that　I　was　intimately　connected　with　M。　Desmaisons；　one　of
the　members　of　the　Tribunal；　and　brother　in…law　to　Corvisart；　he　also
knew　that　Desmaisons　was　inclined　to　believe　in　Moreau's　innocence；　and
favourable　to　his　acquittal。　　During　the　progress　of　the　trial　Corvisart
arrived　at　my　house　one　morning　at　a　very　early　hour；　in　a　state　of　such
evident　embarrassment　that；　before　he　had　time　to　utter　a　word；　I　said　to
him；　〃What　is　the　matter？　　Have　you　heard　any　bad　news？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Corvisart；　〃but　I　came　by　the　Emperor's　order。　　He　wishes
you　to　see　my　brother…in…law。　　'He　is；'　said　he　to　me；　'the　senior　judge；
and　a　man　of　considerable　eminence；　his　opinion　will　carry　with　it　great
weight；　and　I　know　that　he　is　favourable　to　Moreau；　he　is　in　the　wrong。
Visit　Bourrienne；　said　the　Emperor；　and　concert　with　him　respecting　the
best　method　of　convincing　Desmaisons　of　his　error；　for　I　repeat　he　is
wrong；　he　is　deceived。'　　This　is　the　mission　with　which　I　am　entrusted。〃

〃How；〃　said　I；　with　thorough　astonishment；　〃how　came　you　to　be　employed
in　this　affair？　　Could　you　believe　for　one　moment　that　I　would　tamper
with　a　magistrate　in　order　to　induce　him　to　exercise　an　unjust　rigour？〃

〃No；　rest　assured；〃　replied　Corvisart；　〃I　merely　visited　you　this　morning
in　obedience　to　the　order　of　the　Emperor；　but　I　knew　beforehand　in　what
manner　you　would　regard　the　proposition　with　which　I　was　charged。　　I　knew
your　opinions　and　your　character　too　well　to　entertain　the　smallest　doubt
in　this　respect；　and　I　was　convinced　that　I　ran　no　risk　in　becoming　the
bearer　of　a　commission　which　would　be　attended　with　no　effect。　　Besides；
had　I　refused　to　obey　the　Emperor；　it　would　have　proved　prejudicial　to
your　interest；　and　confirmed　him　in　the　opinion　that　you　were　favourable
to　the　acquittal　of　Moreau。　　For　myself；〃　added　Corvisart；　〃it　is
needless　to　affirm　that　I　have　no　intention　of　attempting　to　influence
the　opinion　of　my　brother…in…law；　and　if　I　had；　you　know　him　sufficiently
well　to　be　convinced　in　what　light　he　would　regard　such　a　proceeding。〃

Such　were　the　object　and　result　of　Corvisart's　visit；　and　I　am　thence　led
to　believe　that　similar　attempts　must　have　been　made　to　influence　other
members　of　the　Tribunal。

　　　　　＇The　judges　had　been　pressed　and　acted　on　in　a　thousand　ways　by
　　　　　the　hangerson　of　the　Palace　and　especially　by　Real；　the　natural
　　　　　intermediary　between　justice　and　the　Government。　　Ambition；
　　　　　servility；　fear；　every　motive　capable　of　influencing　them；　had　been
　　　　　used：　even　their　humane　scruples　were　employed〃　（Lanfrey　tome　iii。
　　　　　p。　　193；　who　goes　on　to　say　that　the　judges　were　urged　to　sentence
　　　　　Moreau　to　death　in　order　that　the　Emperor　might　folly　pardon　him）。＇

But　however　this　may　be；　prudence　led　me　to　discontinue　visiting　M。
Desmaisons；　with　whom　I　was　in　habits　of　the　strictest　friendship。

About　this　period　I　paid　a　visit　which　occupies　an　important　place　in　my
recollections。　　On　the　14th　of　June　1804；　four　days　after　the
condemnation　of　Georges　and　his　accomplices；　I　received　a　summons　to
attend　the　Emperor　at　St。　Cloud。　　It　was　Thursday；　and　as　I　thought　on
the　great　events　and　tragic　scenes　about　to　be　acted；　I　was　rather　uneasy
respecting　his　intentions。

But　I　was　fortunate　enough　to　find　my　friend　Rapp　in　waiting；　who　said　to
me　as　I　entered；　〃Be　not　alarmed；　he　is　in　the　best　of　humours　at
present；　and　wishes　to　have　some　conversation。　　with　you。〃

Rapp　then　announced　me　to　the　Emperor；　and　I　was　immediately　admitted　to
his　presence。　　After　pinching　my　ear　and　asking　his　usual　questions；　such
as；　〃What　does　the　world　say？　　How　are　your　children？　　What　are　you
about？　　etc。；〃　he　said　to　me；　〃By　the　by；　have　you　attended　the
proceedings　against　Moreau？〃〃　Yes；　Sire；　I　have　not　been　absent　during
one　of　the　sittings。〃〃　Well；　Bourrienne；　are　you　of　the　opinion　that
Moreau　is　innocent？〃〃Yes；　Sire；　at　least　I　am　certain　that　nothing　has
come　out　in　the　course　of　the　trial　tending　to　criminate　him；　I　am　even
surprised　how　he　came　to　be　implicated　in　this　conspiracy；　since　nothing
has　appeared　against　him　which　has　the　most　remote　connexion　with　the
affair。〃〃　I　know　your　opinion　on　this　subject；　Duroc　related　to　me　the
conversation　you　held　with　him　at　the　Tuileries；　experience　has　shown
that　you　were　correct；　but　how　could　I　act　otherwise？　　You　know　that
Bouvet　de　Lozier　hanged　himself　in　prison；　and　was　only　saved　by
accident。　　Real　hurried　to　the　Temple　in　order　to　interrogate　him；　and　in
his　first　confessions　he　criminated　Moreau；　affirming　that　he　had　held
repeated　conferences　with　Pichegru。　　Real　immediately　reported　to　me　this
fact；　and　proposed　that　Moreau　should　be　arrested；　since　the　rumours
against　him　seemed　to　be　well　founded；　he　had　previously　made　the　same
proposition。　　I　at　first　refused　my　sanction　to　this　measure；　but　after
the　charge　made　against　him　by　Bouvet　de　Lozier；　how　could　I　act
otherwise　than　I　did？　　Could　I　suffer　such　open　conspiracies　against　the
Government？　　Could　I　doubt　the　truth　of　Bouvet　de　Lozier's　declaration；
under　the　circumstances　in　which　it　was　made？　　Could　I　foresee　that　he
would　deny　his　first　declaration　when　brought　before　the　Court？　　There
was　a　chain　of　circumstances　which　human　sagacity　could　not　penetrate；
and　I　consented　to　the　arrest　of　Moreau　when　it　was　proved　that　he　was　in
league　with　Pichegru。　　Has　not　England　sent　assassins？〃〃Sire；〃　said　I；
〃permit　me　to　call　to　your　recollection　the　conversation　you　had　in　my
presence　with　Mr。　Fox；　after　which　you　said　to　me；　'Bourrienne；　I　am　very
happy　at　having　heard　from　the　mouth　of　a　man　of　honour　that　the　British
Government　is　incapable　of　seeking　my　life；　I　always　wish　to　esteem　my
enemies。〃〃Bah！　　you　are　a　fool！　　Parbleu！　　I　did　not　say　that　the
English　Minister　sent　over　an　assassin；　and　that　he　said　to　him；　'Here　is
gold　and　a　poniard；　go　and　kill　the　First　Consul。'　　No；　I　did　not　believe
that；　but　it　cannot　be　denied　that　all　those　foreign　conspirators　against
my　Government　were　serving　England；　and　receiving　pay　from　that　power。
Have　I　agents　in　London　to　disturb　the　Government　of　Great　Britain？
I　have　waged　with　it　honourable　warfare；　I　have　not　attempted　to　awaken　a
remembrance　of　the　Stuarts　amongst　their　old　partisans。　　Is　not　Wright；
who　landed　Georges　and　his　accomplices　at　Dieppe；　a　captain　in　the
British　navy？　　But　rest　assured　that；　with　the　exception　of　a　few
babblers；　whom　I　can　easily　silence；　the　hearts　of　the　French　people　are
with　me；　everywhere　public　opinion　has　been　declared　in　my　favour；　so
that　I　have　nothing　to　apprehend　from　giving　the　greatest　publicity　to
these　plots；　and　bringing　the　accused　to　a　solemn　trial。　　The　greater
number　of　those　gentlemen　wished　me　to　bring　the　prisoners　before　a
military　commission；　that　summary　judgment　might　be　obtained；　but　I
refused　my　consent　to　this　measure。　　It　might　have　been　said　that　I
dreaded　public　opinion；　and　I　fear　it　not。　　People　may　talk　as　much　as
they　please；　well　and　good；　I　am　not　obliged　to　hear　them；　but　I　do　not
like　those　who　are　attached　to　my　person　to　blame　what　I　have　done。〃

As　I　could　not　wholly　conceal　an　involuntary　emotion；　in　which　the
Emperor　saw　something　more　than　mere　surprise；　he　paused；　took　me　by　the
ear；　and；　smiling　in　the　most　affectionate　manner；　said；　〃I　had　no
reference　to　you　in　what　I　said；　but　I　have　to　complain　of　Lacuee。　　Could
you　believe　that　during　the　trial　he　went　about　clamouring　in　behalf　of
Moreau？　　He；　my　aide　de　campa　man　who　owes　everything　to　me！　　As　for
you；　I　have　said　that　you　acted　very　well　in　this　affair。〃〃　I　know　not；
Sire；　what　has　either　been　done　or　said　by　Lacuee；whom　I　have　not　seen
for　a　long　time；　what　I　said　to　Duroc　is　what　history　teaches　in　every
page。〃〃By　the　by；〃　resumed　the　Emperor；　after　a　short　silence；　〃do　you
know　that　it　was　I　myself　who　discovered　that　Pichegru　was　in　Paris。
Everyone　said　to　me；　Pichegru　is　in　Paris；　Fouche；　Real；　harped　on　the
same　string；　but　could　give　me　no　proof　of　their　assertion。　　'What　a　fool
you　are；'　said　I　to　Real；　　when　in　an　instant　you　may　ascertain　the　fact。
Pichegru　has　a　brother；　an　aged　ecclesiastic；　who　resides　in　Paris；　let
his　dwelling　be　searched；　and　should　he　be　absent；　it　will　warrant　a
suspicion　that　Pichegru　is　here；　if；　on　the　contrary；　his　brother　should
be　at　home；　let　him　be　arrested：　he　is　a　simple…minded　man；　and　in　the
first　moments　of　agitation　will　betray　the　truth。　　Everything　happened　as
I　had　foreseen；　for　no　sooner　was　he　arrested　than；　without　waiting　to　be
questioned；　he　inquired　if　it　was　a　crime　to　have　received　his　brother
into　his　house。　　Thus　every　doubt　was　removed；　and　a　miscreant　in　the
house　in　which　Pichegru　lodged　betrayed　him　to　the　police。　　What　horrid
degradation　to　betray　a　friend　for　the　sake　of　gold。〃

Then　reverting　to　Moreau；　the　Emperor　talked　a　great　deal　respecting　that
general。　　〃Moreau；〃　he　said；　〃possesses　many　good　qualities；　his　bravery
is　undoubted；　but　he　has　more　courage　than　energy；　he　is　indolent　and
effeminate。　　When　with　the　army　he　lived　like　a　pasha；　he　smoked；　was
almost　constantly　in　bed；　and　gave　himself　up　to　the　pleasures　of　the
table。　　His　dispositions　are　naturally　good；　but　he　is　too　indolent　for
study；　he　does　not　read；　and　since　he　has　been　tied　to　his　wife's
apronstrings　is　fit　for　nothing。　　He　sees　only　with　the　eyes　of　his　wife
and　her　mother；　who　have　had　a　hand　in　all　these　late　plots；　and　then；
Bourrienne；　is　it　not　very　strange　that　it　was　by　my　advice　that　he
entered　into　this　union？　　I　was　told　that　Mademoiselle　Hulot　was　a
creole；