napoleon bonaparte, v3-第1章

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RECOLLECTIONS　OF　THE　PRIVATE　LIFE　OF　NAPOLEON；　V3

BY　CONSTANT
PREMIER　VALET　DE　CHAMBRE



TRANSLATED　BY　WALTER　CLARK




CONTENTS：
CHAPTER　XIII。　　to　　CHAPTER　XXII。



CHAPTER　XIII。

The　First　Consul　left　Boulogne　to　return　to　Paris；　in　order　to　be　present
at　the　marriage　of　one　of　his　sisters。　　Prince　Camille　Borghese；
descendant　of　the　noblest　family　of　Rome；　had　already　arrived　at　Paris
tomarry　Madame　Pauline　Bonaparte；　widow　of　General　Leclerc；　who　had
died　of　yellow　fever　in　San　Domingo。　　I　recollect　having　seen　this
unfortunate　general　at　the　residence　of　the　First　Consul　some　time　before
his　departure　on　the　ill…starred　expedition　which　cost　him　his　life；　and
France　the　loss　of　many　brave　soldiers　and　much　treasure。　　General
Leclerc；　whose　name　is　now　almost　forgotten；　or　held　in　light　esteem；　was
a　kind　and　good　man。　　He　was　passionately　in　love　with　his　wife；　whose
giddiness；　to　put　it　mildly；　afflicted　him　sorely；　and　threw　him　into　a
deep　and　habitual　melancholy　painful　to　witness。　　Princess　Pauline　（who
was　then　far　from　being　a　princess）　had　married　him　willingly；　and　of　her
own　choice；　but　this　did　not　prevent　her　tormenting　her　husband　by　her
innumerable　caprices；　and　repeating　to　him　a　hundred　times　a　day　that　he
was　indeed　a　fortunate　man　to　marry　the　sister　of　the　First　Consul。　　I　am
sure　that　with　his　simple　tastes　and　quiet　disposition　General　Leclerc
would　have　preferred　less　distinction　and　more　peace。　　The　First　Consul
required　his　sister　to　accompany　her　husband　to　San　Domingo。　　She　was
forced　to　obey；　and　to　leave　Paris；　where　she　swayed　the　scepter　of
fashion；　and　eclipsed　all　other　women　by　her　elegance　and　coquetry；　as
well　as　by　her　incomparable　beauty；　to　brave　a　dangerous　climate；　and　the
ferocious　companions　of　Christophe　and　Dessalines。　　At　the　end　of　the
year　1801　the　admiral's　ship；　The　Ocean；　sailed　from　Brest；　carrying　to
the　Cape　（San　Domingo）　General　Leclerc；　his　wife；　and　their　son。　　After
her　arrival　at　the　Cape；　the　conduct　of　Madame　Leclerc　was　beyond　praise。
On　more　than　one　occasion；　but　especially　that　which　I　shall　now　attempt
to　describe；　she　displayed　a　courage　worthy　of　her　name　and　the　position
of　her　husband。　　I　obtained　these　details　from　an　eye…witness　whom　I　had
known　at　Paris　in　the　service　of　Princess　Pauline。

The　day　of　the　great　insurrection　of　the　blacks　in　September；　1802；　the
bands　of　Christophe　and　Dessalines；　composed　of　more　than　twelve　thousand
negroes；　exasperated　by　their　hatred　against　the　whites；　and　the
certainty　that　if　they　yielded　no　quarter　would　be　given；　made　an　assault
on　the　town　of　the　Cape；　which　was　defended　by　only　one　thousand
soldiers；　for　only　this　small　number　remained　of　the　large　army　which　had
sailed　from　Brest　a　year　before；　in　brilliant　spirits　and　full　of　hope。
This　handful　of　brave　men；　the　most　of　them　weakened　by　fever；　led　by　the
general…in…chief　of　the　expedition；　who　was　even　then　suffering　from　the
malady　which　caused　his　death；　repulsed　by　unheard　of　efforts　and　heroic
valor　the　repeated　attacks　of　the　blacks。

During　this　combat；　in　which　the　determination；　if　not　the　number　and
strength；　was　equal　on　both　sides；　Madame　Leclerc；　with　her　son；　was
under　the　guard　of　a　devoted　friend　who　had　subject　to　his　orders　only　a
weak　company　of　artillery；　which　still　occupied　the　house　where　her
husband　had　fixed　his　residence；　at　the　foot　of　the　low　hills　which
bordered　the　coast。　　The　general…in…chief；　fearing　lest　this　residence
might　be　surprised　by　a　party　of　the　enemy；　and　being　unable　to　foresee
the　issue　of　the　struggle　which　he　was　maintaining　on　the　heights　of　the
Cape；　and　against　which　the　blacks　made　their　most　furious　assaults；　sent
an　order　to　convey　his　wife　and　son　on　board　the　fleet。　　Pauline　would
not　consent　to　this。　　Always　faithful　to　the　pride　with　which　her　name
inspired　her　（but　this　time　there　was　in　her　pride　as　much　greatness　as
nobility）；　she　spoke　to　the　ladies　of　the　city　who　had　taken　refuge　with
her；　and　begged　them　to　go　away；　giving　them　a　frightful　picture　of　the
horrible　treatment　to　which　they　would　be　exposed　should　the　negroes
defeat　the　troops。　　〃You　can　leave。　　You　are　not　the　sisters　of
Bonaparte。〃

However；　as　the　danger　became　more　pressing　every　moment；　General　Leclerc
sent　an　aide…de…camp　to　his　residence；　and　enjoined　on　him；　in　case
Pauline　still　persisted　in　her　refusal；　to　use　force；　and　convey　her　on
board　against　her　will。　　The　officer　was　obliged　to　execute　this　order　to
the　letter。　　Consequently　Madame　Leclerc　was　forcibly　placed　in　an　arm…
chair　which　was　borne　by　four　soldiers；　while　a　grenadier　marched　by　her
side；　carrying　in　his　arms　the　general's　son。　　During　this　scene　of
flight　and　terror　the　child；　already　worthy　of　its　mother；　played　with
the　plume　of　the　soldier　who　was　carrying　him。　　Followed　by
her　cortege　of　trembling；　tearful　women；　whose　only　source　of　strength
during　this　perilous　passage　was　in　her　courage；　she　was　thus　conveyed　to
the　seashore。　　Just　as　they　were　going　to　place　her　in　the　sloop；
however；　another　aide…de…camp　of　her　husband　brought　news　of　the　defeat
of　the　blacks。　　〃You　see　now；〃　said　she；　returning　to　her　residence；　〃I
was　right　in　not　wishing　to　embark。〃　　She　was　not　yet　out　of　danger；
however；　for　a　troop　of　negroes；　forming　part　of　the　army　which　had　just
been　so　miraculously　repulsed；　in　trying　to　make　good　their　retreat　to
the　dikes；　met　the　small　escort　of　Madame　Leclerc。　　As　they　appeared
disposed　to　attack；　it　was　necessary　to　scatter　them　by　shots　at　short
range。　　Throughout　this　skirmish　Pauline　preserved　a　perfect　equanimity。
All　these　circumstances；　which　reflected　so　much　honor　on　Madame　Leclerc；
were　reported　to　the　First　Consul。

His　self…love　was　flattered　by　it；　and　I　believe　that　it　was　to　Prince
Borghese　that　he　said　one　day　at　his　levee；　〃Pauline　is　predestined　to
marry　a　Roman；　for　from　head　to　foot　she　is　every　inch　a　Roman。〃

Unfortunately　this　courage；　which　a　man　might　have　envied；　was　not　united
in　the　Princess　Pauline　with　those　virtues　which　are　less　brilliant　and
more　modest；　and　also　more　suitable　for　a　woman；　and　which　we　naturally
expect　to　find　in　her；　rather　than　boldness　and　contempt　of　danger。

I　do　not　know　if　it　is　true；　as　has　been　written　somewhere；　that　Madame
Leclerc；　when　she　was　obliged　to　set　out　for　San　Domingo；　had　a　fancy　for
an　actor　of　the　Theatre　Francais。　　Nor　am　I　able　to　say　whether　it　is
true　that　Mademoiselle　Duchesnois　had　the　naivete　to　exclaim　before　a
hundred　people　in　reference　to　this　departure；　〃Lafon　will　never　be
consoled；　it　will　kill　him！〃　　but　what　I　myself　know　of　the　frailty　of
this　princess　leads　me　to　believe　that　the　anecdote　is　true。

All　Paris　knew　the　special　favor　with　which　she　honored　M。　Jules　de
Canouville；　a　young　and　brilliant　colonel　who　was　handsome　and　brave；
with　a　perfect　figure；　and　an　assurance　which　was　the　cause　of　his
innumerable　successes　with　certain　women；　although　he　used　little
discretion　in　respect　to　them。　　The　liaison　of　Princess　Pauline　with　this
amiable　officer　was　the　most　lasting　that　she　ever　formed；　and　as；
unfortunately；　neither　of　them　was　discreet；　their　mutual　tenderness
acquired　in　a　short　while　a　scandalous　publicity。　　I　shall　take　occasion
later　to　relate　in　its　proper　place　the　incident　which　caused　the
disgrace；　banishment；　and　perhaps　even　the　death；　of　Colonel　de
Canouville。　　A　death　so　premature；　and　above　all　so　cruel；　since　it　was
not　an　enemy's　bullet　which　struck　him；　was　deplored　by　the　whole　army。

　　　　　＇Monsieur　Bousquet　was　called　to　Neuilly　（residence　of　the
　　　　　Princess　Pauline）　in　order　to　examine　the　beautiful　teeth　of　her
　　　　　Imperial　Highness。　　Presented　to　her；　he　prepared　to　begin　work。
　　　　　〃Monsieur；〃　said　a　charming　young　man　in　a　wrapper；　negligently
　　　　　lying　on　a　sofa；　〃take　care；　I　pray；　what　you　do。　　I　feel　a　great
　　　　　interest　in　the　teeth　of　my　Paulette；　and　I　hold　you　responsible　for
　　　　　any　accident。〃〃　Be　tranquil；　my　Prince；　I　can　assure　your　Imperial
　　　　　Highness　that　there　is　no　danger。〃　　During　all　the　time　that
　　　　　Bousquet　was　engaged　in　working　on　the　pretty　mouth；　these
　　　　　recommendations　continued。　　At　length；　having　finished　what　he　had
　　　　　to　do；　he　passed　into　the　waiting…room；　where　he　found　assembled　the
　　　　　ladies　of　the　palace；　the　chamberlains；　etc。；　who　were　awaiting　to
　　　　　enter　the　apartments　of　the　Princess。

　　　　　They　hastened　to　ask　Bousquet　news　of　the　princess；　〃Her　Imperial
　　　　　Highness　is　very　well；　and　must　be　happy　in　the　tender　attachment
　　　　　her　august　husband　feels　for　her；　which　he　has　shown　in　my　presence
　　　　　in　so　touching　a　manner。　　His　anxiety　was　extreme。　　It　was　only　with
　　　　　difficulty　I　could　reassure　him　as　to　the　result　of　the　simplest
　　　　　thing　in　the　world；　I　shall　tell　everywhere　what　I　have　just
　　　　　witnessed。　　It　is　pleasant　to　be　able　to　cite　such　an　example　of
　　　　　conjugal　tenderness　in　so　high　a　rank。　　I　am　deeply　impressed　with
　　　　　it。〃　　They　did　not　try　to　stop　good　M。　Bousquet　in　these　expressions
　　　　　of　his　enthusiasm。　　The　desire　to　laugh　prevented　a　single　word；　and
　　　　　he　left　convinced　that　nowhere　existed　a　better　household　than　that
　　　　　of　the　Prince　and　Princess　Borghese。　　The　latter　was　in　Italy；　and
　　　　　the　handsome　young　man　was　M。　de　Canouville。

　　　　　I　borrow　this　curious　anecdote　from　the　〃Memoirs　of　Josephine；〃　the
　　　　　author　of　which；　who　saw　and　described　the　Court　of　Navarre　and
　　　　　Malmaison　with　so　much　truth　and　good　judgment；　is　said　to　be　a
　　　　　woman；　and　must　be　in　truth　a　most　intellectual　one；　and　in　a　better
　　　　　position　than　any　other　person　to　know　the　private　affairs　of　her
　　　　　Majesty；　the　Empress。　CONSTANT。

　　　　　He　was　slain　by　a　ball　from　a　French　cannon；　which　was　discharged
　　　　　after　the　close　of　an　action　in　which　he　had　shown　the　most
　　　　　brilliant　courage。CONSTANT。

Moreover；　however　great　may　have　been　the　frailty　of　Princess　Pauline　in
regard　to　her　lovers；　and　although　most　incredible　instances　of　this　can
be　related　without　infringing　on　the　truth；　her　admirable　devotion　to　the
person　of　the　Emperor　in　1814　should　cause　her　faults　to　be　treated　with
indulgence。

On　innumerable　occasions　the　effrontery　of　her　conduct；　and　especially
her　want　of　regard　and　respect　for　the　Empress　Marie　Louise；　irritated
the　Emperor　against　the　Princess　Borghese；　though　he　always　ended　by
pardoning　her；　notwithstanding　which；　at　the　time　of　the　fall　of　her
august　brother　she　was　again　in　disgrace；　and　being　informed　that　the
island　of　Elba　had　been　selected　as　a　prison　for　the　Emperor；　she
hastened　to　shut　herself　up　there　with　him；　abandoning　Rome　and　Italy；
whose　finest　palaces　were　hers。　　Before　the　battle　of　Waterloo；　his
Majesty　at　the　critical　moment　found　the　heart　of　his　sister　Pauline
still　faithful。　　Fearing　lest　he　might　be　in　need　of　money；　she　sent　him
her　handsomest　diamonds；　the　value　of　which　was　enormous；　and　they　were
found　in　the　carriage　of　the　Emperor　when　it　was　captured　at　Waterloo；
and　exhibited　to　the　curiosity　of　the　inhabitants　of　London。　　But　the
diamonds　have　been　lost；　at　least；　to　their　lawf