napoleon bonaparte, v2-第1章

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RECOLLECTIONS　OF　THE　PRIVATE　LIFE　OF　NAPOLEON；　V2

BY　CONSTANT
PREMIER　VALET　DE　CHAMBRE

TRANSLATED　BY　WALTER　CLARK




CONTENTS：
CHAPTER　VII。　　to　　CHAPTER　XII。



CHAPTER　VII。

In　the　month　of　May；　1801；　there　came　to　Paris；　on　his　way　to　take
possession　of　his　new　kingdom；　the　Prince　of　Tuscany；　Don　Louis　the
First；　whom　the　First　Consul　had　just　made　King　of　Etruria。　　He　traveled
under　the　name　of　the　Count　of　Leghorn；　with　his　wife；　who　was　the
infanta　of　Spain；　Maria　Louisa；　third　daughter　of　Charles　the　Fourth；　but
in　spite　of　the　incognito；　which；　from　the　modest　title　he　had　assumed；
he　seemed　really　anxious　to　preserve；　especially；　perhaps；　on　account　of
the　poor　appearance　of　his　small　court；　he　was；　notwithstanding；　received
and　treated　at　the　Tuileries　as　a　king。　　This　prince　was　in　feeble
health；　and　it　was　said　had　epilepsy。　　They　were　lodged　at　the　residence
of　the　Spanish　Embassy；　formerly　the　Hotel　Montessori；　and　he　requested
Madame　de　Montessori；　who　lived　in　the　next　house；　to　reopen　a　private
communication　between　the　houses　which　had　long　been　closed。　　He；　as　well
as　the　Queen　of　Etruria；　greatly　enjoyed　the　society　of　this　lady；　who
was　the　widow　of　the　Duke　of　Orleans；　and　spent　many　hours　every　day　in
her　house。　　A　Bourbon　himself；　he　doubtless　loved　to　hear　every
particular　relating　to　the　Bourbons　of　France；　which　could　so　well　be
given　by　one　who　had　lived　at　their　court；　and　on　intimate　terms　with　the
royal　family；　with　which　she　was　connected　by　ties　which；　though　not
official；　were　none　the　less　well　known　and　recognized。

Madame　de　Montesson　received　at　her　house　all　who　were　most　distinguished
in　Parisian　society。　　She　had　reunited　the　remnants　of　the　most　select
society　of　former　times；　which　the　Revolution　had　dispersed。　　A　friend　of
Madame　Bonaparte；　she　was　also　loved　and　respected　by　the　First　Consul；
who　was　desirous　that　they　should　speak　and　think　well　of　him　in　the　most
noble　and　elegant　saloon　of　the　capital。　　Besides；　he　relied　upon　the
experience　and　exquisite　refinement　of　this　lady；　to　establish　in　the
palace　and　its　society；　out　of　which　he　already　dreamed　of　making　a
court；　the　usages　and　etiquette　customary　with　sovereigns。

The　King　of　Etruria　was　not　fond　of　work；　and　in　this　respect　did　not
please　the　First　Consul；　who　could　not　endure　idleness。　　I　heard　him　one
day；　in　conversation　with　his　colleague；　Cambaceres；　score　severely　his
royal　protege　（in　his　absence；　of　course）。　　〃Here　is　a　prince；〃　said　he；
〃who　does　not　concern　himself　much　with　his　very　dear　and　well…beloved
subjects；　but　passes　his　time　cackling　with　old　women；　to　whom　he　dilates
in　a　loud　tone　on　my　good　qualities；　while　he　complains　in　a　whisper　of
owing　his　elevation　to　the　chief　of　this　cursed　French　Republic。　　His
only　business　is　walking；　hunting；　balls；　and　theaters。〃〃It　is
asserted；〃　remarked　Cambaceres；　〃that　you　wished　to　disgust　the　French
people　with　kings；　by　showing　them　such　a　specimen；　as　the　Spartans
disgusted　their　children　with　drunkenness　by　exhibiting　to　them　a　drunken
slave。〃

〃Not　so；　not　so；　my　dear　sir；〃　replied　the　First　Consul。　I　have　no　desire
to　disgust　them　with　royalty；　but　the　sojourn　of　the　King　of　Etruria　will
annoy　a　number　of　good　people　who　are　working　incessantly　to　create　a
feeling　favorable　to　the　Bourbons。〃　　Don　Louis；　perhaps；　did　not　merit
such　severity；　although　he　was；　it　must　be　admitted；　endowed　with　little
mind；　and　few　agreeable　traits　of　character。　　When　he　dined　at　the
Tuileries；　he　was　much　embarrassed　in　replying　to　the　simplest　questions
the　First　Consul　addressed　him。　　Beyond　the　rain　and　the　weather；　horses；
dogs；　and　other　like　subjects　of　conversation；　he　could　not　give　an
intelligent　reply　on　any　subject。　　The　Queen；　his　wife；　often　made　signs
to　put　him　on　right　road；　and　even　whispered　to　him；　what　he　should　say
or　do；　but　this　rendered　only　the　more　conspicuous　his　absolute　want　of
presence　of　mind。　　People　made　themselves　merry　at　his　expense；　but　they
took　good　care；　however；　not　to　do　this　in　the　presence　of　the　First
Consul；　who　would　not　have　suffered　any　want　of　respect　to　a　guest　to
whom　he　had　shown　so　much。　　What　gave　rise　to　the　greatest　number　of
pleasantries；　in　regard　to　the　prince；　was　his　excessive　economy；　which
reached　a　point　truly　incredible。　　Innumerable　instances　were　quoted；
which　this　is　perhaps　the　most　striking。　The　First　Consul　sent　him
frequently　during　his　stay；　magnificent　presents；　such　as　Savonnerie
carpets；　Lyons　cloths；　and　Sevres　porcelain；　and　on　such　occasions　his
Majesty　would　give　some　small　gratuity　to　the　bearers　of　these　precious
articles。　　One　day　a　vase　of　very　great　value　（it　cost；　I　believe；　a
hundred　thousand　crowns）　was　brought　him　which　it　required　a　dozen
workmen　to　place　in　the　apartments　of　the　king。　　Their　work　being
finished；　the　workmen　waited　until　his　Majesty　should　give　them　some
token　of　his　satisfaction；　and　flattered　themselves　he　would　display　a
truly　royal　liberality。　　As；　notwithstanding；　time　passed；　and　the
expected　gratuity　did　not　arrive；　they　finally　applied　to　one　of　his
chamberlains；　and　asked　him　to　lay　their　petition　at　the　feet　of　the　King
of　Etruria。　　His　Majesty；　who　was　still　in　ecstasy　over　the　beauty　of　the
present；　and　the　munificence　of　the　First　Consul；　was　astounded　at　such　a
request。　　〃It　was　a　present；〃　said　he；　〃and　hence　it　was　for　him　to
receive；　not　to　give；〃　and　it　was　only　after　much　persistence　that　the
chamberlain　obtained　six　francs　for　each　of　these　workmen；　which　were
refused　by　these　good　people。　　The　persons　of　the　prince's　suite　asserted
that　to　this　extreme　aversion　to　expense　he　added　an　excessive　severity
towards　themselves；　however；　the　first　of　these　traits　probably　disposed
the　servants　of　the　King　of　Etruria　to　exaggerate　the　second。

Masters　who　are　too　economical　never　fail　to　be　deemed　severe　themselves；
and　at　the　same　time　are　severely　criticised　by　their　servants。　　For　this
reason；　perhaps　（I　would　say　in　passing）；　there　is　current　among　some
people　a　calumny　which　represents　the　Emperor　as　often　taking　a　fancy　to
beat　his　servants。　　The　economy　of　the　Emperor　Napoleon　was　only　a　desire
for　the　most　perfect　order　in　the　expenses　of　his　household。　　One　thing　I
can　positively　assert　in　regard　to　his　Majesty；　the　King　of　Etruria；　is
that　he　did　not　sincerely　feel　either　all　the　enthusiasm　or　all　the
gratitude　which　he　expressed　towards　the　First　Consul；　and　the　latter　had
more　than　one　proof　of　this　insincerity。　　As　to　the　king's　talent　for
governing　and　reigning；　the　First　Consul　said　to　Cambaceres　at　his　levee；
in　the　same　conversation　from　which　I　have　already　quoted；　that　the
Spanish　Ambassador　had　complained　of　the　haughtiness　of　this　prince
towards　him；　of　his　extreme　ignorance；　and　of　the　disgust　with　which　all
kind　of　business　inspired　him。　　Such　was　the　king　who　went　to　govern　part
of　Italy；　and　was　installed　in　his　kingdom　by　General　Murat；　who
apparently　had　little　idea　that　a　throne　was　in　store　for　himself　a　few
leagues　distant　from　that　on　which　he　seated　Don　Luis。

The　Queen　of　Etruria　was；　in　the　opinion　of　the　First　Consul；　more
sagacious　and　prudent　than　her　august　husband。　　This　princess　was
remarkable　neither　for　grace　nor　elegance；　she　dressed　herself　in　the
morning　for　the　whole　day；　and　walked　in　the　garden；　her　head　adorned
with　flowers　or　a　diadem；　and　wearing　a　dress；　the　train　of　which　swept
up　the　sand　of　the　walks；　often；　also；　carrying　in　her　arms　one　of　her
children；　still　in　long　dresses；　from　which　it　can　be　readily　understood
that　by　night　the　toilet　of　her　Majesty　was　somewhat　disarranged。　　She
was　far　from　pretty；　and　her　manners　were　not　suited　to　her　rank。　　But；
which　fully　atoned　for　all　this；　she　was　good…tempered；　much　beloved　by
those　in　her　service；　and　fulfilled　scrupulously　all　the　duties　of　wife
and　mother；　and　in　consequence　the　First　Consul；　who　made　a　great　point
of　domestic　virtues；　professed　for　her　the　highest　and　most　sincere
esteem。

During　the　entire　month　which　their　Majesties　spent　in　Paris；　there　was　a
succession　of　fetes；　one　of　which　Talleyrand　gave　in　their　honor　at
Neuilly；　of　great　magnificence　and　splendor；　and　to　which　I；　being　on
duty；　accompanied　the　First　Consul。　　The　chateau　and　park　were
illuminated　with　a　brilliant　profusion　of　colored　lights。　　First　there
was　a　concert；　at　the　close　of　which　the　end　of　the　hall　was　moved　aside；
like　the　curtain　of　a　theater；　and　we　beheld　the　principal　square　in
Florence；　the　ducal　palace；　a　fountain　playing；　and　the　Tuscans　giving
themselves　up　to　the　games　and　dances　of　their　country；　and　singing
couplets　in　honor　of　their　sovereigns。　　Talleyrand　came　forward；　and
requested　their　Majesties　to　mingle　with　their　subjects；　and　hardly　had
they　set　foot　in　the　garden　than　they　found　themselves　in　fairyland；
where　fireworks；　rockets；　and　Bengal　fires　burst　out　in　every　direction
and　in　every　form；　colonnades；　arches　of　triumph；　and　palaces　of　fire
arose；　disappeared；　and　succeeded　each　other　incessantly。　　Numerous
tables　were　arranged　in　the　apartments　and　in　the　garden；　at　which　all
the　spectators　were　in　turn　seated；　and　last　of　all　a　magnificent　ball
closed　this　evening　of　enchantments。　　It　was　opened　by　the　King　of
Etruria　and　Madame　Le　Clerc　（Pauline　Borghese）。

Madame　de　Montesson　also　gave　to　their　Majesties　a　ball；　at　which　the
whole　family　of　the　First　Consul　was　present。　　But　of　all　these
entertainments；　I　retain　the　most　vivid　recollection　of　that　given　by
Chaptal；　Minister　of　the　Interior；　the　day　which　he　chose　being　the
fourteenth　of　June；　the　anniversary　of　the　battle　of　Marengo。　　After　the
concert；　the　theater；　the　ball；　and　another　representation　of　the　city
and　inhabitants　of　Florence；　a　splendid　supper　was　served　in　the　garden；
under　military　tents；　draped　with　flags；　and　ornamented　with　groupings　of
arms　and　trophies；　each　lady　being　accompanied　and　served　at　table　by　an
officer　in　uniform。　　When　the　King　and　Queen　of　Etruria　came　out　of　their
tent；　a　balloon　was　released　which　carried　into　the　heavens　the　name　of
Marengo　in　letters　of　fire。

Their　Majesties　wished　to　visit；　before　their　departure；　the　chief　public
institutions；　so　they　were　taken　to　the　Conservatory　of　Music；　to　a
sitting　of　the　Institute；　of　which　they　did　not　appear　to　comprehend
much；　and　to　the　Mint；　where　a　medal　was　struck　in　their　honor。　　Chaptall
received　the　thanks　of　the　queen　for　the　manner　in　which　he　had
entertained　and　treated　his　royal　guests；　both　as　a　member　of　the
Institute；　as　minister　at　his　hotel；　and　in　the　visits　which　they　had
made　to　the　different　institutions　of　the　capital。　　On　the　eve　of　his
departure　the　king　had　a　long　private　interview　with　the　First　Consul；
and　though　I　do　not　know　what　passed；　I　observed　that　on　coming　out
neither　appeared　to　be　satisfied　with　the　other。　　However；　their
Majesties；　on　the　whole；　should　have　carried　away　a　most　favorable
impression　of　the　manner　in　which　they　had　been　received。




CHAPTER　VIII。

In　all　the　fetes　given　by　the　First　Consul　in　honor　of　their　Majesties；
the　King　and　Queen　of　Etruria；　Mademoiselle　Horten