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a god descended on earth；a kind of comparison which the clergy； I
thought； had reserved for their own use。 But； unfortunately； to please
Madame de Stael it would have been necessary that her god had been
Plutua； for behind her eulogies lay a claim for two millions； which M。
Necker considered still due to him on account of his good and worthy
services。 However； Bonaparte said on this occasion that whatever value
he might set on the suffrage of Madame de Stael； he did not think fit to
pay so dear for it with the money of the State。 The conversion of Madame
de Stael's enthusiasm into hatred is well known； as are also the petty
vexations； unworthy of himself； with which the Emperor harassed her in
her retreat at Coppet。
Lauriston had arrived at Paris； where he made but a short stay； some days
before Caffarelli； who was sent on a mission to Rome to sound the Papal
Court； and to induce the Holy Father to come to Paris to consecrate
Bonaparte at his coronation。 I have already described the nature of
Bonaparte's ideas on religion。 His notions on the subject seemed to
amount to a sort of vague feeling rather than to any belief founded on
reflection。 Nevertheless； he had a high opinion of the power of the
Church； but not because he considered it dangerous to Governments；
particularly to his own。 Napoleon never could have conceived how it was
possible that a sovereign wearing a crown and a sword could have the
meanness to kneel to a Pope； or to humble his sceptre before the keys of
St。 Peter。 His spirit was too great to admit of such a thought。 On the
contrary； he regarded the alliance between the Church and his power as a
happy means of influencing the opinions of the people； and as an
additional tie which was to attach them to a Government rendered
legitimate by the solemn sanction of the Papal authority。 Bonaparte was
not deceived。 In this； as well as in many other things； the perspicacity
of his genius enabled him to comprehend all the importance of a
consecration bestowed on him by the Pope； more especially as Louis
XVIII。； without subjects； without territory； and wearing only an illusory
crown； had not received that sacred unction by which the descendants of
Hugh Capet become the eldest sons of the Church。
As soon as the Emperor was informed of the success of Caffarelli's
mission； and that the Pope； in compliance with his desire； was about to
repair to Paris to confirm in his hands the sceptre of Charlemagne；
nothing was thought of but preparations for that great event； which had
been preceded by the recognition of Napoleon as Emperor of the French on
the part of all the States of Europe； with the exception of England。
On the conclusion of the Concordat Bonaparte said to me； 〃I shall let the
Republican generals exclaim as much as they like against the Mass。 I
know what I am about； I am working for posterity。〃 He was now gathering
the fruits of his Concordat。 He ordered that the Pope should be
everywhere treated in his journey through the French territory with the
highest distinction； and he proceeded to Fontainebleau to receive his
Holiness。 This afforded an opportunity for Bonaparte to re…establish the
example of those journeys of the old Court； during which changes of
ministers used formerly to be made。 The Palace of Fontainebleau； now
become Imperial； like all the old royal chateaux； had been newly
furnished with a luxury and taste corresponding to the progress of modern
art。 The Emperor was proceeding on the road to Nemours when courtiers
informed him of the approach of Pius VII。 Bonaparte's object was to
avoid the ceremony which had been previously settled。 He had therefore
made the pretext of going on a hunting…party； and was in the way as it
were by chance when the Pope's carriage was arriving。 He alighted from
horseback； and the Pope came out of his carriage。 Rapp was with the
Emperor； and I think I yet hear him describing； in his original manner
and with his German accent； this grand interview； upon which； however； he
for his part looked with very little respect。 Rapp； in fact； was among
the number of those who； notwithstanding his attachment to the Emperor；
preserved independence of character； and he knew he had no reason to
dissemble with me。 〃Fancy to yourself；〃 said he； 〃the amusing comedy
that was played。〃 After the Emperor and the Pope had well embraced they
went into the same carriage； and； in order that they might be upon a
footing of equality； they were to enter at the same time by opposite
doors。 All that was settled； but at breakfast the Emperor had calculated
how he should manage； without appearing to assume anything； to get on the
righthand side of the Pope； and everything turned out as he wished。 As
to the Pope；〃 said Rapp； 〃I must own that I never saw a man with a finer
countenance or more respectable appearance than Pius VII。〃
After the conference between the Pope and the Emperor at Fontainebleau；
Pius VII。 set off for Paris first。 On the road the same honours were
paid to him as to the Emperor。 Apartments were prepared for him in the
Pavilion de Flore in the Tuileries； and his bedchamber was arranged and
furnished in the same manner as his chamber in the Palace of Monte…
Cavallo； his usual residence in Rome。 The Pope's presence in Paris was
so extraordinary a circumstance that it was scarcely believed； though it
had some time before been talked of。 What； indeed； could be more
singular than to see the Head of the Church in a capital where four years
previously the altars had been overturned； and the few faithful who
remained had been obliged to exercise their worship in secret！
The Pope became the object of public respect and general curiosity。 I
was exceedingly anxious to see him； and my wish was gratified on the day
when he went to visit the Imperial printing office； then situated where
the Bank of France now is。
A pamphlet； dedicated to the Pope； containing the 〃Pater Noster；〃 in one
hundred and fifty different languages； was struck off in the presence of
his Holiness。 During this visit to the printing office an ill…bred young
man kept his hat on in the Pope's presence。 Several persons； indignant
at this indecorum； advanced to take off the young man's hat。 A little
confusion arose； and the Pope； observing the cause of it； stepped up to
the young man and said to him； in a tone of kindness truly patriarchal；
〃Young man； uncover； that I may give thee my blessing。 An old man's
blessing never yet harmed any one。〃 This little incident deeply affected
all who witnessed it。 The countenance and figure of Pope Pius VII。
commanded respect。 David's admirable portrait is a living likeness of
him。
The Pope's arrival at Paris produced a great sensation in London； greater
indeed there than anywhere else； notwithstanding the separation of the
English Church from the Church of Rome。 The English Ministry now spared
no endeavours to influence public opinion by the circulation of libels
against Bonaparte。 The Cabinet of London found a twofold advantage in
encouraging this system； which not merely excited irritation against the
powerful enemy of England； but diverted from the British Government the
clamour which some of its measures were calculated to create。
Bonaparte's indignation against England was roused to the utmost extreme；
and in truth this indignation was in some degree a national feeling in
France。
Napoleon had heard of the success of Caffarelli's negotiations previous
to his return to Paris； after his journey to the Rhine。 On arriving at
St。 Cloud he lost no time in ordering the preparations for his
coronation。 Everything aided the fulfilment of his wishes。 On 28th
November the Pope arrived at Paris； and two days after； viz。 on the 1st
of December； the Senate presented to the Emperor the votes of the people
for the establishment of hereditary succession in his family： for as it
was pretended that the assumption of the title of Emperor was no way
prejudicial to the Republic； the question of hereditary succession only
had been proposed for public sanction。 Sixty thousand registers had been
opened in different parts of France；at the offices of the ministers；
the prefects； the mayors of the communes； notaries； solicitors； etc。
France at that time contained 108 departments； and there were 3；574；898
voters。 Of these only 2569 voted against hereditary succession。
Bonaparte ordered a list of the persons who had voted against the
question to be sent to him； and he often consulted it。 They proved to be
not Royalist； but for the most part staunch Republicans。 To my knowledge
many Royalists abstained from voting at all； not wishing to commit
themselves uselessly； and still less to give their suffrages to the
author of the Duo d'Enghien's death。 For my part； I gave my vote in
favour of hereditary succession in Bonaparte's family； my situation； as
may well be imagined； did not allow me to do otherwise。
Since the month of October the Legislative Body had been convoked to
attend the Emperor's coronation。 Many deputies arrived； and with them a
swarm of those presidents of cantons who occupied a conspicuous place in
the annals of ridicule at the c