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RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON； V7
BY CONSTANT
PREMIER VALET DE CHAMBRE
TRANSLATED BY WALTER CLARK
CONTENTS：
CHAPTER XIII。 to CHAPTER XXI。
CHAPTER XIII。
His Majesty remained only ten days at Saint…Cloud； passed two or three of
these in Paris at the opening of the session of the Corps Legislatif； and
at noon on the 29th set out a second time for Bayonne。
The Empress； who to her great chagrin could not accompany the Emperor；
sent for me on the morning of his departure； and renewed in most touching
accents the same recommendations which she made on all his journeys； for
the character of the Spaniards made her timid and fearful as to his
safety。
Their parting was sad and painful； for the Empress was exceedingly
anxious to accompany him； and the Emperor had the greatest difficulty in
satisfying her； and making her understand that this was impossible。 Just
as he was setting out he returned to his dressing…room a moment； and told
me to unbutton his coat and vest； and I saw the Emperor pass around his
neck between his vest and shirt a black silk ribbon on which was hung a
kind of little bag about the size of a large hazel…nut； covered with
black silk。 Though I did not then know what this bag contained； when he
returned to Paris he gave it to me to keep； and I found that this bag had
a pleasant feeling； as under the silk covering was another of skin。 I
shall hereafter tell for what purpose the Emperor wore this bag。
I set out with a sad heart。 The recommendations of her Majesty the
Empress； and fears which I could not throw off； added to the fatigue of
these repeated journeys； all conspired to produce feelings of intense
sadness； which was reflected on almost all the countenances of the
Imperial household； while the officers said among themselves that the
combats in the North were trifling compared with those which awaited us
in Spain。
We arrived on the 3d of November at the chateau of Marrac； and four days
after were at Vittoria in the midst of the French army； where the Emperor
found his brother and a few grandees of Spain who had not yet deserted
his cause。
The arrival of his Majesty electrified the troops； and a part of the
enthusiasm manifested； a very small part it is true； penetrated into the
heart of the king； and somewhat renewed his courage。 They set out almost
immediately； in order to at once establish themselves temporarily at
Burgos； which had been seized by main force and pillaged in a few hours；
since the inhabitants had abandoned it； and left to the garrison the task
of stopping the French as long as possible。
The Emperor occupied the archiepiscopal palace； a magnificent building
situated in a large square on which the grenadiers of the Imperial Guard
bivouacked。 This bivouac presented a singular scene。 Immense kettles；
which had been found in the convents； hung； full of mutton； poultry；
rabbits； etc。； above a fire which was replenished from time to time with
furniture； guitars； or mandolins； and around which grenadiers； with pipes
in their mouths； were gravely seated in gilded chairs covered with
crimson damask； while they intently watched the kettles as they simmered；
and communicated to each other their conjectures on the campaign which
had just opened。
The Emperor remained ten or twelve days at Burgos； and then gave orders
to march on Madrid； which place could have been reached by way of
Valladolid； and the road was indeed safer and better； but the Emperor
wished to seize the Pass of Somo…Sierra； an imposing position with
natural fortifications which had always been regarded as impregnable。
This pass； between two mountain peaks； defended the capital； and was
guarded by twelve thousand insurgents； and twelve pieces of cannon placed
so advantageously that they could do as much injury as thirty or forty
elsewhere； and were； in fact； a sufficient obstacle to delay even the
most formidable army； but who could then oppose any hindrance to the
march of the Emperor？
On the evening of the 29th of November we arrived within three leagues of
this formidable defile； at a village called Basaguillas； and though the
weather was very cold； the Emperor did not lie down； but passed the night
in his tent； writing； wrapped in the pelisse which the Emperor Alexander
had given him。 About three o'clock in the morning he came to warm
himself by the bivouac fire where I had seated myself； as I could no
longer endure the cold and dampness of a cellar which had been assigned
as my lodging； and where my bed was only a few handfuls of straw； filled
with manure。
At eight o'clock in the morning the position was attacked and carried；
and the next day we arrived before Madrid。
The Emperor established his headquarters at the chateau of Champ…Martin；
a pleasure house situated a quarter of a league from the town； and
belonging to the mother of the Duke of Infantado； and the army camped
around this house。 The day after our arrival； the owner came in tears to
entreat of his Majesty a revocation of the fatal decree which put her son
outside the protection of the law； the Emperor did all he could to
reassure her； but he could promise her nothing； as the order was general。
We had some trouble in capturing this town； in the first place； because
his Majesty recommended the greatest moderation in making the attack； not
wishing； as he said； to present to his brother a burned…up city； in the
second place； because the Grand Duke of Berg during his stay at Madrid
had fortified the palace of Retiro； and the Spanish insurgents had
intrenched themselves there； and defended it most courageously。 The town
had no other defense； and was surrounded only by an old wall； almost
exactly similar to that of Paris； consequently at the end of three days
it was taken； but the Emperor preferred not to enter； and still resided
at Champ…Martin； with the exception of one day when he came incognito and
in disguise； to visit the queen's palace and the principal districts。
One striking peculiarity of the Spaniards is the respect they have always
shown for everything relating to royalty； whether they regard it as
legitimate or not。 When King Joseph left Madrid the palace was closed；
and the government established itself in a passably good building which
had been used as the post…office。 From this time no one entered the
palace except the servants； who had orders to clean it from time to time；
not a piece of furniture even； not a book； was moved。 The portrait of
Napoleon on Mont St。 Bernard； David's masterpiece； remained hanging in
the grand reception hall； and the queen's portrait opposite； exactly as
the king had placed them； and even the cellars were religiously
respected。 The apartments of King Charles had also remained untouched；
and not one of the watches in his immense collection had been removed。
The act of clemency which his Majesty showed toward the Marquis of Saint…
Simon； a grandee of Spain； marked in an especial manner the entrance of
the French troops into Madrid。 The Marquis of Saint…Simon； a French
emigrant； had been in the service of Spain since the emigration； and had
the command of a part of the capital。 The post which he defended was
exactly in front of that which the Emperor commanded at the gates of
Madrid； and he had held out long after all the other leaders had
surrendered。
The Emperor； impatient at being so long withstood at this point； gave
orders to make a still more vigorous charge； and in this the marquis was
taken prisoner。 In his extreme anger the Emperor sent him to be tried
before a military commission； who ordered him to be shot； and this order
was on the point of being executed； when Mademoiselle de Saint…Simon； a
charming young person； threw herself at his Majesty's feet； and her
father's pardon was quickly granted。
The king immediately re…entered his capital； and with him returned the
noble families of Madrid； who had withdrawn from the stirring scenes
enacted at the center of the insurrection； and soon balls； fetes；
festivities； and plays were resumed as of yore。
The Emperor left Champ…Martin on the 22d of December； and directed his
march towards Astorga； with the intention of meeting the English； who had
just landed at Corunna； but dispatches sent to Astorga by a courier from
Paris decided him to return to France； and he consequently gave orders to
set out for Valladolid。
We found the road from Benavente to Astorga covered with corpses； slain
horses； artillery carriages； and broken wagons； and at every step met
detachments of soldiers with torn clothing； without shoes； and； indeed；
in a most deplorable condition。 These unfortunates were all fleeing
towards Astorga； which they regarded as a port of safety； but which soon
could not contain them all。 It was terrible weather； the snow falling so
fast that it was almost blinding； and； added to this； I was ill； and
suffered greatly during this painful journey。
The Emperor while at Tordesillas had established his headquarters in the
buildings outside the convent of Saint…Claire； and the abbess of this
convent was presented to his Majesty。 She was then more than sixty…five