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Barbe Marbois； who added to their accusations all the weight of his
unblemished character。 The opinion entertained by this rigid public
functionary； and many other circumstances； induced the First Consul
to part with his secretary （tome i。 p。 418）。
Peculation is the crime of those who make a fraudulent use of the public
money。 But as it was not in my power to meddle with the public money； no
part of which passed through my hands； I am at loss to conceive how I can
be charged with peculation！ The Due de Rovigo is not the author； but
merely the echo； of this calumny； but the accusation to which his Memoirs
gave currency afforded M。 de Barbe Marbois an opportunity of adding one
more to the many proofs he has given of his love of justice。
I had seen nothing of the Memoirs of the Due de Rovigo except their
announcement in the journals； when a letter from M。 de Barbe Marbois was
transmitted to me from my family。 It was as follows：
SIRMy attention has been called to the enclosed article in a
recent publication。 The assertion it contains is not true； and I
conceive it to be a duty both to you and myself to declare that I
then was； and still am； ignorant of the causes of the separation in
question： I am； etc。
（Signed） MARBOIS
I need say no more in my justification。 This unsolicited testimony of M。
de Marbois is a sufficient contradiction to the charge of peculation
which has been raised against me in the absence of correct information
respecting the real causes of my rupture with the First Consul。
M。 le Due de Rovigo also observes that my enemies were numerous。 My
concealed adversaries were indeed all those who were interested that the
sovereign should not have about him； as his confidential companion； a man
devoted to his glory and not to his vanity。 In expressing his
dissatisfaction with one of his ministers Bonaparte had said； in the
presence of several individuals； among whom was M。 Maret； 〃If I could
find a second Bourrienne I would get rid of you all。〃 This was
sufficient to raise against me the hatred of all who envied the
confidence of which I was in possession。
The failure of a firm in Paris in which I had invested a considerable sum
of money afforded an opportunity for envy and malignity to irritate the
First Consul against me。 Bonaparte； who had not yet forgiven me for
wishing to leave him； at length determined to sacrifice my services to a
new fit of ill…humour。
A mercantile house； then one of the moat respectable in Patna； had among
its speculations undertaken some army contracts。 With the knowledge of
Berthier； with whom； indeed； the house had treated； I had invested some
money in this business。 Unfortunately the principals were； unknown to
me； engaged in dangerous speculations in the Funds； which in a short time
so involved them as to occasion their failure for a heavy amount。 This
caused a rumour that a slight fall of the Funds； which took place at that
period； was occasioned by the bankruptcy； and the First Consul； who never
could understand the nature of the Funds； gave credit to the report。 He
was made to believe that the business of the Stock Exchange was ruined。
It was insinuated that I was accused of taking advantage of my situation
to produce variations in the Funds； though I was so unfortunate as to
lose not only my investment in the bankrupt house； but also a sum of
money for which I had become bound； by way of surety； to assist the house
in increasing its business。 I incurred the violent displeasure of the
First Consul； who declared to me that he no longer required my services。
I might； perhaps have cooled his irritation by reminding him that he
could not blame me for purchasing an interest in a contract； since he
himself had stipulated for a gratuity of 1；500；000 francs for his brother
Joseph out of the contract for victualling the navy。 But I saw that for
some time past M。 de Meneval had begun to supersede me； and the First
Consul only wanted such an opportunity as this for coming to a rupture
with me。
Such is a true statement of the circumstances which led to my separation
from Bonaparte。 I defy any one to adduce a single fact in support of the
charge of peculation； or any transaction of the kind； I fear no
investigation of my conduct。 When in the service of Bonaparte I caused
many appointments to be made； and many names to be erased from the
emigrant list before the 'Senatus…consulte' of the 6th Floreal； year X。；
but I never counted upon gratitude； experience having taught me that it
was an empty word。
The Duc de Rovigo attributed my disgrace to certain intercepted letters
which injured me in the eyes of the First Consul。 I did not know this at
the time； and though I was pretty well aware of the machinations of
Bonaparte's adulators； almost all of whom were my enemies； yet I did not
contemplate such an act of baseness。 But a spontaneous letter from M。 de
Barbe Marbois at length opened my eyes； and left little doubt on the
subject。 The following is the postscript to that noble peer's letter：
I recollect that one Wednesday the First Consul； while presiding at
a Council of Ministers at St。 Cloud； opened a note； and； without
informing us what it contained； hastily left the Board； apparently
much agitated。 In a few minutes he returned and told us that your
functions had ceased。
Whether the sudden displeasure of the First Consul was excited by a false
representation of my concern in the transaction which proved so
unfortunate to me； or whether Bonaparte merely made that a pretence for
carrying into execution a resolution which I am convinced had been
previously adopted； I shall not stop to determine； but the Due de Rovigo
having mentioned the violation of the secrecy of letters in my case； I
shall take the opportunity of stating some particulars on that subject。
Before I wrote these Memoirs the existence in the Post Office of the
cabinet； which had obtained the epithet of black； had been denounced in
the chamber of deputies； and the answer was； that it no longer existed；
which of course amounted to an admission that it had existed。 I may
therefore； without indiscretion； state what I know respecting it。
The 〃black cabinet〃 was established in the reign of Louis XV。； merely for
the purpose of prying into the scandalous gossip of the Court and the
capital。 The existence of this cabinet soon became generally known to
every one。 The numerous postmasters who succeeded each other； especially
in latter times； the still more numerous Post Office clerks； and that
portion of the public who are ever on the watch for what is held up as
scandalous； soon banished all the secrecy of the affair； and none but
fools were taken in by it。 All who did not wish to be committed by their
correspondence chose better channels of communication than the Post； but
those who wanted to ruin an enemy or benefit a friend long continued to
avail themselves of the black cabinet； which； at first intended merely to
amuse a monarch's idle hours； soon became a medium of intrigue； dangerous
from the abuse that might be made of it。
Every morning； for three years； I used to peruse the portfolio containing
the bulletins of the black cabinet； and I frankly confess that I never
could discover any real cause for the public indignation against it；
except inasmuch as it proved the channel of vile intrigue。 Out of 30；000
letters； which daily left Paris to be distributed through France and all
parts of the world； ten or twelve； at most； were copied； and often only a
few lines of them。
Bonaparte at first proposed to send complete copies of intercepted
letters to the ministers whom their contents might concern； but a few
observations from me induced him to direct that only the important
passages should be extracted and sent。 I made these extracts； and
transmitted them to their destinations； accompanied by the following
words： 〃The First Consul directs me to inform you that he has just
received the following information；〃 etc。 Whence the information came
was left to be guessed at。
The First Consul daily received through this channel about a dozen
pretended letters； the writers of which described their enemies as
opponents of the Government； or their friends as models of obedience and
fidelity to the constituted authorities。 But the secret purpose of this
vile correspondence was soon discovered； and Bonaparte gave orders that
no more of it should be copied。 I； however； suffered from it at the time
of my disgrace； and was well…nigh falling a victim to it at a subsequent
period。
The letter mentioned by M。 de Marbois； and which was the occasion of this
digression on the violation of private correspondence； derived importance
from the circumstance that Wednesday； the 20th of October； when Bonaparte
received it； was the day on which I left the Consular palace。
I retired to a house which Bonaparte had advised me to purchase at St。
Cloud； and for the fitting up and furnishing of which he had promised to
pay。 We shall see how he kept this promise！ I immediately sent to
direct Landoi