按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
true object of Napoleons last journey to Boulogne。
I had been some time at Hamburg when these events took place； and it was
curious to observe the effect they produced。 But I must not forget one
circumstance in which I am personally concerned； and which brings me back
to the time when I was in Paris。 My new title of Minister
Plenipotentiary obliged me to see a little more of society than during
the period when prudence required me to live as it were in retirement。
I had received sincere congratulations from Duroc； Rape； and Lauriston；
the three friends who had shown the greatest readiness to serve my
interests with the Emperor； and I had frequent occasion to see M。
Talleyrand； as my functions belonged to his department。 The Emperor； on
my farewell audience； having informed me that I was to correspond
directly with the Minister of the General Police； I called on Fouche； who
invited me to spend some days at his estate of Pont…Carre。 I accepted
the invitation because I wanted to confer with him； and I spent Sunday
and Monday； the 28th and 29th of April； at Pont…Carre。
Fouche； like the Emperor； frequently revealed what he intended to
conceal； but he had such a reputation for cunning that this sort of
indiscretion was attended by no inconvenience to him。 He was supposed to
be such a constant dissembler that those who did not know him well looked
upon the truth when he spoke it merely as an artful snare laid to entrap
them。 I； however； knew that celebrated person too well to confound his
cunning with his indiscretion。 The best way to get out of him more than
he was aware of was to let him talk on without interruption。 There were
very few visitors at Pont…Carre； and during the two days I spent there I
had several conversations with Fouche。 He told me a great deal about the
events of 1804； and he congratulated himself on having advised Napoleon
to declare himself Emperor 〃I have no preference；〃 says Fouche； 〃for
one form of government more than another。 Forms signify nothing。 The
first object of the Revolution was not the overthrow of the Bourbons； but
merely the reform of abuses and the destruction of prejudices。 However；
when it was discovered that Louis XVI。 had neither firmness to refuse
what he did not wish to grant； nor good faith to grant what his weakness
had led him to promise； it was evident that the Bourbons could no longer
reign over France and things were carried to such a length that we were
under the necessity of condemning Louis XVI。 and resorting to energetic
measures。 You know all that passed up to the 18th Brumaire； and after。
We all perceived that a Republic could not exist in France； the question；
therefore； was to ensure the perpetual removal of the Bourbons； and I
behaved the only means for so doing was to transfer the inheritance of
their throne to another family。 Some time before the 18th Brumaire I had
a conversation with Sieyes and Barras； in which it was proposed； in case
of the Directory being threatened； to recall the Duke of Orleans； and I
could see very well that Barras favoured that suggestion； although he
alluded to it merely as a report that was circulated about； and
recommended me to pay attention to it。 Sieyes said nothing； and I
settled the question by observing； that if any such thing had been
agitated I must have been informed of it through the reports of my
agents。 I added； that the restoration of the throne to a collateral
branch of the Bourbons would be an impolitic act； and would but
temporarily change the position of those who had brought about the
Revolution。 I rendered an account of this interview with Barras to
General Bonaparte the first time I had an opportunity of conversing with
him after your return from Egypt。 I sounded him； and I was perfectly
convinced that in the state of decrepitude into which the Directory had
fallen he was just the man we wanted。 I therefore adopted such measures
with the police as tended to promote his elevation to the First
Magistracy。 He soon showed himself ungrateful； and instead of giving me
all his confidence he tried to outwit me。 He put into the hands of a
number of persons various matters of police which were worse than
useless。 Most of their agents； who were my creatures； obeyed my
instructions in their reports； and it often happened that the First
Consul thought he had discovered； through the medium of others；
information that came from me； and of the falsehood of which I easily
convinced him。 I confess I was at fault on the 3d Nivoise； but are there
any human means of preventing two men； who have no accomplices； from
bringing a plot to execution？ You saw the First Consul on his return
from the opera； you heard all his declamations。 I felt assured that the
infernal machine was the work of the Royalists。 I told the Emperor this；
and he was； I am sure； convinced of it； but he； nevertheless； proscribes
a number of men on the mere pretence of their old opinions。 Do you
suppose I am ignorant of what he said of me and of my vote at the
National Convention？ Most assuredly it ill becomes him to reproach the
Conventionists。 It was that vote which placed the crown upon his head。
But for the situation in which we were placed by that event； which
circumstances had rendered inevitable； what should we have cared for the
chance of seeing the Bourbons return？ You must have remarked that the
Republicans； who were not Conventionists； were in general more averse
than we to the proceedings of the 18th Brumaire； as； for example；
Bernadotte and Moreau。 I know positively that Moreau was averse to the
Consulate； and that it was only from irresolution that he accepted the
custody of the Directory。 I know also that he excused himself to his
prisoners for the duty which had devolved upon him。 They themselves told
me this。
Fouche entered further into many details respecting his conduct； and the
motives which had urged him to do what he did in favour of the First
Consul。 My memory does not enable me to report all he told me； but I
distinctly recollect that the impression made on my mind by what fell
from him was； that he had acted merely with a view to his own interests。
He did not conceal his satisfaction at having outwitted Regnier； and
obliged Bonaparte to recall him； that he set in motion every spring
calculated to unite the conspirators； or rather to convert the
discontented into conspirators； is evident from the following remarks
which fell from him： 〃With the information I possessed； had I remained in
office it is probable that I might have prevented the conspiracy； but
Bonaparte would still have had to fear the rivalry of Moreau。 He would
not have been Emperor； and we should still have had to dread the return
of the Bourbons； of which； thank God； there is now no fear。〃
During my stay at Pont…Carry I said but little to Fouche about my long
audience with the Emperor。 However； I thought I might inform him that I
was authorised to correspond directly with his Majesty。 I thought it
useless to conceal this fact； since he would soon learn it through his
agents。 I also said a few words about Bonaparte's regret at not having
children。 My object was to learn Fouche's opinion on this subject； and
it was not without a feeling of indignation that I heard him say； 〃It is
to be hoped the Empress will soon die。 Her death will remove many
difficulties。 Sooner or later he must take a wife who will bear him a
child； for as long as he has no direct heir there is every chance that
his death will be the signal for a Revolution。 His brothers are
perfectly incapable of filling his place； and a new party would rise up
in favour of the Bourbons； which must be prevented above all things。 At
present they are not dangerous； though they still have active and devoted
agents。 Altona is full of them； and you will be surrounded by them。
I beg of you to keep a watchful eye upon them； and render me a strict
account of all their movements； and even of their most trivial actions。
As they have recourse to all sorts of disguises； you cannot be too
vigilant； therefore it will be advisable； in the first place； to
establish a good system of espionage； but have a care of the spies who
serve both sides； for they swarm in Germany。〃
This is all I recollect of my； conversations with Fouche at Pont…Carre。
I returned to Paris to make preparations for my journey to Hamburg。
CHAPTER XXXII。
1805。
Capitulation of SublingenPreparations for warUtility of
commercial informationMy instructionsInspection of the emigrants
and the journalsA pamphlet by KotzebueOffers from the Emperor of
Russia to MoreauPortrait of Gustavus Adolphus by one of his
ministersFouche's denunciationsDuels at HamburgM。 de Gimel
The Hamburg CorrespondentLetter from Bernadotte。
I left Paris on the 20th of May 1805。 On the 5th of June following I
delivered my credentials to the Senate of Hamburg； which was represented
by the Syndic Doormann and the Senator Schutte。 M。 Reinhart； my
predecessor； left Hamburg on the 12th of June。
The reigning Dukes of Mecklenburg…Schwerin and Brunswick； to whom I had
announced my arrival as accredited Min