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m Napoleon's mind。 He dismissed me with his usual nod of the head； and
seeing him in such good humour I said on departing； 〃well； Sire； you are
going to hear the old bell of Brienne。 I have no doubt it will please
you better than the bells of Ruel。〃 He replied； 〃That's treeyou are
right。 Adieu！〃
Such are my recollections of this conversation； which lasted for more
than an hour and a half。 We walked about all the time； for Bonaparte was
indefatigable in audiences of this sort； and would； I believe； have
walked and talked for a whole day without being aware of it。 I left him；
and； according to his desire； went to see Madame Bonaparte； which indeed
I had intended to do before he requested it。
I found Josephine with Madame de la Rochefoucauld； who had long been in
her suite； and who a short time before had obtained the title of lady of
honour to the Empress。 Madame de la Rochefoucauld was a very amiable
woman； of mild disposition； and was a favourite with Josephine。 When I
told the Empress that I had just left the Emperor； she； thinking that I
would not speak freely before a third person； made a sign to Madame de la
Rochefoucauld to retire。 I had no trouble in introducing the
conversation on the subject concerning which Napoleon had directed me to
speak to Josephine； for； after the interchange of a few indifferent
remarks； she herself told me of a violent scene； which had occurred
between her and the Emperor two days before。 〃When I wrote to you
yesterday；〃 said she； 〃to announce your appointment； and to tell you that
Bonaparte would recall you； I hoped that you would come to see me on
quitting him； but I did not think that he would have sent for you so
soon。 Ah！ how I wish that you were still with him； Bourrienne； you
could make him hear reason。 I know not who takes pleasure in bearing
tales to him； but really I think there are persons busy everywhere in
finding out my debts； and telling him of them。〃
These complaints； so gently uttered by Josephine rendered less difficult
the preparatory mission with which I commenced the exercise of my
diplomatic functions。 I acquainted Madame Bonaparte with all that the
Emperor had said to me。 I reminded her of the affair of the 1；200；000
francs which we had settled with half that sum。 I even dropped some
allusions to the promises she had made。
〃How can I help it？〃 Said she。 〃Is it my fault？〃 Josephine uttered
these words in a tone of sincerity which was at once affecting and
ludicrous。 〃All sorts of beautiful things are brought to me；〃 she
continued； 〃they are praised up； I buy themI am not asked for the
money； and all of a sudden； when I have got none； they come upon me with
demands for payment。 This reaches Napoleon's ears； and he gets angry。
When I have money； Bourrienne you know how I employ it。 I give it
principally to the unfortunate who solicit my assistance； and to poor
emigants。 But I will try to be more economical in future。 Tell him so
if you see him again； But is it not my duty to bestow as much in charity
as I can？〃〃Yes； Madame； but permit me to say that nothing requires
greater discernment than the distribution of chaxity。 If you had always
sat upon a throne you might have always supposed that your bounty always
fall into the hands of the deserving； but you cannot be ignorant that it
oftener falls to the lot of intrigue than to the meritorious needy。
I cannot disguise from you that the Emperor was very earnest when he
spoke on this subject； and he desired me to tell you so。〃〃Did he
reproach me with nothing else？〃〃No Madame。 You know the influence you
have over him with respect to everything but what relates to politics。
Allow a faithful and sincere friend to prevail upon you seriously not to
vex him on this point。〃〃Bourrienne； I give you my word。 Adieu！ my
friend。〃
In communicating to Josephine what the Emperor had said to me I took care
not to touch a chord which would have awakened feelings far more painful
to her than even the Emperor's harsh reproof on account of her
extravagance。 Poor Josephine！ how I should have afflicted her had I
uttered a word of Bonaparte's regret at not having a child。 She always
had a presentiment of the fate that one day awaited her。 Besides；
Josephine told the truth in assuring me that it was not her fault that；
she spent as she did； at least all the time I was with both of them；
order and economy were no more compatible with her than moderation and
patience with Napoleon。 The sight of the least waste put him beside
himself； and that was a sensation his wife hardly ever spared him。 He
saw with irritation the eagerness of his family to gain riches； the more
he gave； the more insatiable they appeared； with the exception of Louis；
whose inclinations were always upright； and his tastes moderate。 As for
the other members of his family； they annoyed him so much by their
importunity that one day he said； 〃Really to listen to them it would be
thought that I had wasted the heritage of our father。〃
CHAPTER XXXI。
1805
Napoleon and VoltaireDemands of the Holy SeeCoolness between the
pope and the EmperorNapoleon's departure for ItalyLast interview
between the Pope and the Emperor at TurinAlessandriaThe field of
MarengoThe last Doge of GenoaBonaparte's arrival at MilanUnion
of Genoa to the French EmpireError in the Memorial of St。 Helen
Bonaparte and Madam GrassiniSymptoms of dissatisfaction on the
part of Austria and RussiaNapoleon's departure from Milan
Monument to commemorate the battle of MarengoNapoleon's arrival in
Paris and departure for BoulogneUnfortunate result of a naval
engagementMy visit to Fouche's country seatSieyes； Barras； the
Bourbons； and BonaparteObservations respecting Josephine。
Voltaire says that it is very well to kiss the feet of Popes provided
their hands are tied。 Notwithstanding the slight estimation in which
Bonaparte held 〃Voltaire； he probably； without being aware of this
irreverent satire； put it into practice。 The Court of Rome gave him the
opportunity of doing so shortly after his Coronation。 The Pope； or
rather the Cardinals； his advisers' conceiving that so great an instance
of complaisance as the journey of His Holiness to Paris ought not to go
for nothing； demanded a compensation； which； had they been better
acquainted with Bonaparte's character and policy； they would never have
dreamed of soliciting。 The Holy see demanded the restitution of Avignon；
Bologna； and some parts of the Italian territory which had formerly been
subject to the Pope's dominion。 It may be imagined how such demands were
received by Napoleon； particularly after he had obtained all he wanted
from the Pope。 It was； it must be confessed； a great mistake of the
Court of Rome； whose policy is usually so artful and adroit； not to make
this demand till after the Coronation。 Had it been made the condition of
the Pope's journey to France perhaps Bonaparte would have consented to
give up； not Avignon； certainly； but the Italian territories； with the
intention of taking them back again。 Be this as it may； these tardy
claims； which were peremptorily rejected； created an extreme coolness
between Napoleon and Pius VII。 The public did not immediately perceive
it； but there is in the public an instinct of reason which the most able
politicians never can impose upon； and all eyes were opened when it was
known that the Pope； after having crowned Napoleon as Emperor of France；
refused to crown him as sovereign of the regenerated kingdom of Italy。
Napoleon left Paris on the 1st of April to take possession of the Iron
Crown at Milan。 The Pope remained some time longer in the French
capital。 The prolonged presence of His Holiness was not without its
influence on the religious feelings of the people； so great was the
respect inspired by the benign countenance and mild manners of the Pope。
When the period of his persecutions arrived it would have been well for
Bonaparte had Pius VII。 never been seen in Paris； for it was impossible
to view in any other light than as a victim the man whose truly evangelic
meekness had been duly appreciated。
Bonaparte did not evince great impatience to seize the Crown of Italy；
which he well knew could not escape him。 He stayed a considerable time
at Turin； where he resided in the Stupinis Palace； which may be called
the St。 Cloud of the Kings of Sardinia。 The Emperor cajoled the
Piedmontese。 General Menou； who was made Governor of Piedmont； remained
there till Napoleon founded the general government of the Transalpine
departments in favour of his brother…in…law； the Prince Borghese； of whom
he would have； found it difficult to make anything else than a Roman
Prince。 Napoleon was still at Turin when the Pope passed through that
city on his return to Rome。 Napoleon had a final interview with His
Holiness to whom he now affected to show the greatest personal deference。
From Turin Bonaparte proceeded to Alessandria； where he commenced those
immense works on which such vast sums were expended。 He had many times
spoken to me of his projects respecting Alessandria； as I have already
observed； all hi