napoleon bonaparte, v10-第4章

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　　　　　Father。

　　　　　10。　　His　Majesty　pardons　freely　the　cardinals；　bishops；　priests；　and
　　　　　laity　who　have　incurred　his　disgrace　in　consequence　of　certain
　　　　　events。

　　　　　11。　　The　Holy　Father　agrees　to　the　above　resolutions　in
　　　　　consideration　of　the　existing　condition　of　the　church；　and　his
　　　　　confidence　that　his　Majesty　will　grant　his　powerful　assistance　to
　　　　　the　needs　of　the　church；　which　are　so　numerous　in　the　times　in　which
　　　　　we　live。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　NAPOLEON。　　　　　PIUS　VII。

　　　　　Fontainebleau；　25　January；　1813。


It　has　been　attempted　by　every　possible　means　to　throw　odium　on　the
conduct　of　the　Emperor　in　this　affair。　　He　has　been　accused　of　having
insulted　the　Pope；　and　even　of　having　threatened　him；　all　of　which　is
most　signally　false。　　Everything　was　arranged　in　the　most　agreeable
manner。　　M。　Devoisin；　bishop　of　Nantes；　an　ecclesiastic　who　was　highly
esteemed　by　the　Emperor；　and　was　his　favorite　mediator；　in　the　frequent
points　of　difference　which　arose　between　the　Pope　and　his　Majesty；　had
come　to　the　Tuileries　on　the　19th　of　January；　and　after　being　closeted
with　the　Emperor　for　two　hours；　had　left　for　Fontainebleau。　　And　it　was
immediately　after　this　interview　that　the　Emperor　entered　his　carriage
with　the　Empress　in　hunting　costume；　followed　by　the　whole　suite；
similarly　attired。

The　Pope；　forewarned　by　the　Bishop　of　Nantes；　awaited　his　Majesty；　and　as
the　most　important　points　had　been　discussed　and　arranged　in　advance；　and
only　a　few　clauses　accessory　to　the　main　body　of　the　Concordat　remained
to　be　decided；　it　was　impossible　that　the　interview　should　have　been
otherwise　than　amicable；　a　truth　which　is　still　more　evident　when　we
reflect　on　the　kind　feelings　of　the　Holy　Father　towards　the　Emperor；
their　friendship　for　each　other；　and　the　admiration　inspired　in　the　Pope
by　the　great　genius　of　Napoleon。　　I　affirm　then；　and　I　think　with　good
reason；　that　the　affair　was　conducted　in　a　most　honorable　manner；　and
that　the　Concordat　was　signed　freely　and　without　compulsion　by　his
Holiness；　in　presence　of　the　cardinals　assembled　at　Fontainebleau。　　It　is
an　atrocious　calumny　which　some　one　has　dared　to　make　that；　on　the
reiterated　refusal　of　the　Pope；　the　Emperor　placed　in　his　hand　a　pen
dipped　in　ink；　and　seizing　him　by　the　arm　and　hair；　forced　him　to　sign；
saying　that　he　ordered　it；　and　that　his　disobedience　would　be　punished　by
perpetual　imprisonment。　　The　one　who　invented　this　absurd　fabrication
must　have　known　little　of　the　Emperor's　character。　　A　person　who　was
present　at　this　interview；　the　circumstances　of　which　have　been　so
falsified；　related　them　to　me；　and　is　my　authority　on　the　subject。
Immediately　on　his　arrival　at　Fontainebleau；　the　Emperor　paid　a　visit　to
the　Holy　Father；　who　returned　it　next　day；　remaining　two　hours　at　least；
and　during　this　time　his　Majesty's　manner　was　calm　and　firm；　it　is　true；
but　full　of　respect　and　kind　feeling　for　the　person　of　the　venerable
Pope。　　A　few　stipulations　of　the　proposed　treaty　alarmed　the　conscience
of　the　Holy　Father；　which　the　Emperor　perceived；　and　without　waiting　for
any　arguments　declared　that　he　would　renounce　them；　and　every　scruple
remaining　in　the　mind　of　the　Holy　Father　being　thus　satisfied；　a
secretary　was　called；　who　drew　up　the　articles；　which　the　Pope　approved
one　by　one；　with　most　paternal　benignity。

On　the　25th　of　January；　after　the　Concordat　was　definitely　settled；　the
Holy　Father　repaired　to　the　apartments　of　her　Majesty　the　Empress；　and
both　of　the　contracting　parties　appeared　equally　well　satisfied；　which　is
a　sufficient　proof　that　neither　treachery　nor　violence　had　been　used。
The　Concordat　was　signed　by　the　august　parties　in　the　midst　of　a
magnificent　assemblage　of　cardinals；　bishops；　soldiers；　etc。　　Cardinal
Doria　performed　the　duties　of　grand　master　of　ceremonies；　and　it　was　he
who　received　the　signatures。

A　countless　number　of　congratulations　were　given　and　received；　pardons
asked　and　obtained；　and　relics；　decorations；　chaplets；　and　tobacco…boxes
distributed　by　both　parties。　　Cardinal　Doria　received　from　his　Majesty
the　gold　eagle　of　the　Legion　of　Honor。　　The　great　eagle　was　also　given　to
Cardinal　Fabricio　Ruffo；　Cardinal　Maury；　　the　Bishop　of　Nantes；　and　the
Archbishop　of　Tours　received　the　grand　cross　of　the　order　of　the　Reunion；
the　Bishops　of　Evreux　and　Treves；　the　cross　of　officers　of　the　Legion　of
Honor；　and　finally　the　Cardinal　of　Bayonne　and　the　Bishop　of　Evreux　were
made　senators　by　his　Majesty。　　Doctor　Porta；　the　Pope's　physician；　was
presented　with　a　pension　of　twelve　thousand　francs；　and　the
ecclesiastical　secretary　who　entered　the　cabinet　to　copy　the　articles　of
the　Concordat　received　a　present　of　a　magnificent　ring　set　with
brilliants。

His　Holiness　had　hardly　signed　the　Concordat　before　he　repented　of　it。
The　following　was　related　to　Marshal　Kellerman　by　the　Emperor　at　Mayence
the　last　of　April：

〃The　day　after　the　signing　of　the　famous　Concordat　of　Fontainebleau；　the
Pope　dined　in　public　with　me；　but　in　the　night　he　was　ill；　or　pretended
to　be。　　He　was　a　lamblike；　honest；　and　truly　good　man；　whom　I　highly
esteemed　and　loved；　and　who　had　some　regard　for　me　I　am　sure。　　Would　you
believe　it；　he　wrote　me　a　week　after　signing　the　Concordat　that　he　much
regretted　having　done　so；　that　his　conscience　reproached　him　for　it；　and
urged　me　earnestly　to　consider　it　as　of　no　effect。　　This　was　owing　to　the
fact　that　immediately　after　leaving　me　he　had　fallen　into　the　hands　of
his　usual　advisers；　who　made　a　scarecrow　out　of　what　had　just　occurred。
If　we　had　been　together　I　could　easily　have　reassured　him。　　I　replied
that　what　he　demanded　was　contrary　to　the　interests　of　France；　and
moreover；　being　infallible；　he　could　not　have　made　a　mistake；　and　his
conscience　was　too　quick　to　take　the　alarm　for　him　to　have　done　wrong。

〃In　fact；　compare　the　condition　of　Rome　formerly　with　what　it　is　to…day。
Paralyzed　by　the　necessary　consequences　of　the　Revolution；　could　she　have
risen　again　and　maintained　her　position？　　A　vicious　government　as　to
political　matters　has　taken　the　place　of　the　former　Roman　legislation；
which；　without　being　perfect；　nevertheless　contributed　to　form　great　men
of　every　kind。　　Modern　Rome　has　applied　to　its　political　government
principles　better　suited　to　a　religious　order；　and　has　carried　them　out
in　a　manner　fatal　to　the　happiness　of　the　people。

〃Thus　charity　is　the　most　perfect　of　Christian　virtues；　it　is　necessary
to　give　charity　to　all　who　ask　it。　　This　form　of　reasoning　has　rendered
Rome　the　receptacle　of　the　dregs　of　all　nations。　　One　sees　collected
there　（so　I　am　told；　for　I　have　never　visited　it）　all　the　idlers　of　the
earth；　who　come　thither　to　take　refuge；　assured　of　finding　an　abundant
support　with　much　to　spare。　　And　thus　the　papal　territory；　which　nature
has　destined　to　produce　immense　wealth　from　its　situation　under　a
favorable　sky；　from　the　multiplicity　of　streams　with　which　it　is　watered；
and　above　all　from　the　fertility　of　the　soil；　languishes　for　want　of
cultivation。　　Berthier　has　often　told　me　that　large　tracts　of　country　may
be　traversed　without　perceiving　the　impress　of　the　hand　of　man。　　The
women　even；　who　are　regarded　as　the　most　beautiful　of　Italy；　are
indolent；　and　their　minds　evince　no　activity　even　in　the　ordinary　duties
of　life。　　The　inhabitants　have　all　the　languor　of　Asiatic　manners。

〃Modern　Rome　limits　itself　to　preserving　a　certain　pre…eminence　by　virtue
of　the　marvelous　works　of　art　which　it　contains；　but　we　have　greatly
weakened　this　claim。　　Our　museum　is　enriched　by　all　the　masterpieces
which　were　a　source　of　so　much　pride；　and　soon　the　magnificent　edifice　of
the　Bourse　which　is　to　be　erected　at　Paris　will　eclipse　all　those　of
Europe；　either　ancient　or　modern。

〃France　before　all。

〃Viewed　from　a　political　standpoint；　how　would　the　papal　government　in
these　days　appear　compared　with　the　great　kingdoms　of　Europe？　　Formerly
mediocre　men　succeeded　to　the　pontifical　throne　at　an　age　in　which　one
breathes　well　only　after　resting。　　At　this　period　of　life　routine　and
habit　are　everything；　and　nothing　is　considered　but　the　elevated
position；　and　how　to　make　it　redound　to　the　advantage　of　his　family。
A　pope　now　arrives　at　sovereign　power　with　a　mind　sharpened　by　being
accustomed　to　intrigue；　and　with　a　fear　of　making　powerful　enemies　who
may　hereafter　revenge　themselves　on　his　family；　since　his　successor　is
always　unknown。　　In　fine；　he　cares　for　nothing　but　to　live　and　die　in
peace。　　In　the　seat　of　Sixtus　V。

　　　　　＇Sixtus　V。；　originally　Felix　Peretti；　born　at　Montalto；　1525；　and
　　　　　in　1585　succeeded　Gregory　XIII。　as　pope。　　He　was　distinguished　by
　　　　　his　energy　and　munificence。　　He　constructed　the　Vatican　Library；　the
　　　　　great　aqueduct；　and　other　public　works；　and　placed　the　obelisk
　　　　　before　St。　Peter's。　　Died　1589。　＇

how　many　popes　have　there　been　who　have　occupied　themselves　only　with
frivolous　subjects；　as　little　advantageous　to　the　best　interests　of
religion　as　fruitful　in　inspiring　scorn　for　such　a　government！　　But　that
would　lead　us　too　far。〃

From　the　time　of　his　return　from　Moscow；　his　Majesty　occupied　himself
with　unequaled　activity　in　seeking　means　to　arrest　the　invasion　of　the
Russians；　who；　having　united　with　the　Prussians　since　General　Yorck's
defection；　constituted　a　most　formidable　mass。　　New　levies　had　been
ordered。　　For　two　months　he　had　received　and　utilized　the　innumerable
offers　of　horses　and　cavalry　made　by　all　the　towns　of　the　Empire；　by
official　bodies；　and　by　rich　individuals　holding　positions　near　the
court；　etc。　　The　Imperial　Guard　was　reorganized　under　the　brave　Duke　de
Frioul；　who　was　alas！　a　few　months　later　to　be　torn　from　his　numerous
friends。

In　the　midst　of　these　grave　occupations　his　Majesty　did　not　for　a　moment
lose　sight　of　his　cherished　plan　of　making　Paris　the　most　beautiful　city
of　the　world；　and　not　a　week　passed　without　interviews　with　architects
and　engineers；　who　presented　estimates；　made　reports；　etc。

〃It　is　a　shame；〃　said　the　Emperor　one　day；　while　inspecting　the　barracks
of　the　guard；　a　species　of　black　and　smoke…begrimed　shed；　〃it　is　a
shame；〃　said　he　to　M。　Fontaine；　〃to　make　buildings　as　frightful　as　those
of　Moscow。　　I　should　never　have　allowed　such　a　building　to　be　erected。
Are　you　not　my　chief　architect？〃

M。　Fontaine　excused　himself　by　pointing　out　to　his　Majesty　that　he　was
not　responsible　for　the　buildings　of　Paris；　as　although　he　had　the　honor
of　being　chief　architect　of　the　Emperor；　it　was　for　the　Tuileries　and　the
Louvre　alone。

〃That　is　true；〃　replied　his　Majesty；　〃but　could　there　not　be　built　here；〃
pointing　to　the　quay；　〃in　place　of　this　wooden　dockyard；　which　produces
such　a　bad　effect；　a　residence　for　the　Italian　minister？〃

M。　Fontaine　replied　that　the　plan　was　very　feasible；　but　that　it　would
require　three　or　four　millions。

The　Emperor　then　seemed　to　abandon　this　idea；　and　turning　his　attention
to　the　garden　of　the　Tuileries；　perhaps　in　consequence　of　the　conspiracy
of　General　Malet；gave　orders　to　arrange　all　the　entrances　to　the　palace
so　that　the　same　key　might　serve　for　all　the　locks；　〃and　this　key；〃　his
Majesty　added；