WhenCambaceres（who，withaslightreservation，hadvotedthedeathofLouisXVI.）warmlyopposedintheCounciltheDucd’Enghien’sarrest，theFirstConsulobservedtohim，\"Methinks，Sir，youhavegrownverycharyofBourbonblood！\"
MeanwhiletheDued’EnghienwasatEttenheim，indulginginhoperatherthanplottingconspiracies.ItiswellknownthatanindividualmadeanoffertothePrincedeCondetoassassinatetheFirstConsul，butthePrinceindignantlyrejectedtheproposition，andnoblyrefusedtorecovertherightsoftheBourbonsatthepriceofsuchacrime.Theindividualabove—mentionedwasafterwardsdiscoveredtobeanagentoftheParispolice，whohadbeencommissionedtodrawthePrincesintoaplotwhichwouldhaveruinedthem，forpublicfeelingrevoltsatassassinationunderanycircumstances.
IthasbeenallegedthatLouisXVIII.’srefusaltotreatwithBonaparteledtothefatalcatastropheoftheDued’Enghien’sdeath.ThefirstcorrespondencebetweenLouisXVIII.andtheFirstConsul，whichhasbeengivenintheseMemoirs，clearlyprovesthecontrary.ItiscertainlyprobablethatLouisXVIII.’srefusaltorenouncehisrightsshouldhaveirritatedBonaparte.Butitwasratherlatetotakehisrevengetwoyearsafter，andthattooonaPrincetotallyignorantofthoseovertures.Itisneedlesstocommentonsuchabsurdities.ItisequallyunnecessarytospeakofthemysteriousbeingwhooftenappearedatmeetingsintheFaubourgSt.Germain，andwhowasafterwardsdiscoveredtobePichegru.
AfurtherlightisthrownonthismelancholycatastrophebyaconversationNapoleonhad，afewdaysafterhiselevationtotheimperialthrone，withM.Masaias，theFrenchMinisterattheCourtoftheGrandDukeofBaden.ThisconversationtookplaceatAix—la—Chapelle.AftersomeremarksontheintriguesoftheemigrantsBonaparteobserved，\"YououghtatleasttohavepreventedtheplotswhichtheDued’EnghienwashatchingatEttenheim.\"——\"Sire，Iamtoooldtolearntotellafalsehood.Believeme，onthissubjectyourMajesty’searhasbeenabused.\"——\"Doyounotthink，then，thathadtheconspiracyofGeorgesandPichegruprovedsuccessful，thePrincewouldhavepassedtheRhine，andhavecomeposttoParis？\"
M.Massias，fromwhomIhadtheseparticulars，added，\"AtthislastquestionoftheEmperorIhungdownmyheadandwassilent，forIsawhedidnotwishtohearthetruth.\"
Nowletusconsider，withthatattentionwhichtheimportanceofthesubjectdemands，whathasbeensaidbythehistoriansofSt.Helena.
Napoleonsaidtohiscompanionsinexilethat\"theDued’Enghien’sdeathmustbeattributedeithertoanexcessofzealforhim（Napoleon），toprivateviews，ortomysteriousintrigues.Hehadbeenblindlyurgedon;
hewas，ifhemightsayso，takenbysurprise.Themeasurewasprecipitated，andtheresultpredetermined.\"
Thishemighthavesaid;butifhedidsoexpresshimself，howarewetoreconcilesuchadeclarationwiththestatementofO’Meara？Howgivecredittoassertionssoveryopposite？
NapoleonsaidtoM.deLasCasas：
\"Onedaywhenalone，Irecollectitwell，Iwastakingmycoffee，halfseatedonthetableatwhichIhadjustdined，whensuddenlyinformationwasbroughttomethatanewconspiracyhadbeendiscovered.Iwaswarmlyurgedtoputanendtotheseenormities;
theyrepresentedtomethatitwastimeatlasttogivealessontothosewhohadbeendayafterdayconspiringagainstmylife;thatthisendcouldonlybeattainedbysheddingthebloodofoneofthem;andthattheDued’Enghien，whomightnowbeconvictedofformingpartofthisnewconspiracy，andtakenintheveryact，shouldbethatone.ItwasaddedthathehadbeenseenatStrasburg;thatitwasevenbelievedthathehadbeeninParis;andthattheplanwasthatheshouldenterFrancebytheeastatthemomentoftheexplosion，whilsttheDuedeBerriwasdisembarkinginthewest.Ishouldtellyou，\"observedtheEmperor，\"thatIdidnotevenknowpreciselywhotheDued’Enghienwas（theRevolutionhavingtakenplacewhenIwasyetaveryyoungman，andIhavingneverbeenatCourt），andthatIwasquiteinthedarkastowherehewasatthatmoment.HavingbeeninformedonthosepointsIexclaimedthatifsuchwerethecasetheDukeoughttobearrested，andthatordersshouldbegiventothateffect.Everythinghadbeenforeseenandprepared;thedifferentorderswerealreadydrawnup，nothingremainedtobedonebuttosignthem，andthefateoftheyoungPrincewasthusdecided.\"
NapoleonnextassertsthatintheDuke’sarrestandcondemnationalltheusualformswerestrictlyobserved.ButhehasalsodeclaredthatthedeathofthatunfortunatePrincewillbeaneternalreproachtothosewho，carriedawaybyacriminalzeal，waitednotfortheirSovereign’sorderstoexecutethesentenceofthecourt—martial.Hewould，perhaps，haveallowedthePrincetolive;butyethesaid，\"ItistrueIwishedtomakeanexamplewhichshoulddeter.\"
IthasbeensaidthattheDued’EnghienaddressedalettertoNapoleon，whichwasnotdeliveredtillaftertheexecution.Thisisfalseandabsurd！HowcouldthatPrincewritetoBonapartetoofferhimhisservicesandtosolicitthecommandofanarmy？Hisinterrogatorymakesnomentionofthisletter，andisindirectoppositiontothesentimentswhichthatletterwouldattributetohim.Thetruthis，nosuchlettereverexisted.TheindividualwhowaswiththePrincedeclaredheneverwroteit.ItwillneverbebelievedthatanyonewouldhavepresumedtowithholdfromBonapartealetteronwhichdependedthefateofsoaugustavictim.
InhisdeclarationstohiscompanionsinexileNapoleonendeavouredeithertofreehimselfofthiscrimeortojustifyit.Hisfearorhissusceptibilitywassuch，thatindiscoursingwithstrangershemerelysaid，thathadheknownofthePrince’sletter，whichwasnotdeliveredtohim.——Godknowswhy！——untilafterhehadbreathedhislast，hewouldhavepardonedhim.Butatasubsequentdatehetraced，withhisownhand，hislastthoughts，whichhesupposedwouldbeconsecratedinthemindsofhiscontemporaries，andofposterity.Napoleon，touchingonthesubjectwhichhefeltwouldbeoneofthemostimportantattachedtohismemory，saidthatifthethingweretodoagainhewouldactashethendid.Howdoesthisdeclarationtallywithhisavowal，thatifhehadreceivedthePrince’sletterheshouldhavelived？Thisisirreconcilable.ButifwecompareallthatNapoleonsaidatSt.Helena，andwhichhasbeentransmittedtousbyhisfaithfulfollowers;ifweconsiderhiscontradictionswhenspeakingoftheDued’Enghien’sdeathtostrangers，tohisfriends，tothepublic，ortoposterity，thequestionceasestobedoubtfulBonapartewishedtostrikeablowwhichwouldterrifyhisenemies.FancyingthattheDucdeBerriwasreadytolandinFrance，hedespatchedhisaidedecampSavary，indisguise，attendedbygendarmes，towatchtheDuke’slandingatBiville，nearDieppe.Thisturnedoutafruitlessmission.TheDukewaswarnedintimenottoattempttheuselessanddangerousenterprise，andBonaparte，enragedtoseeonepreyescapehim，pounceduponanother.ItiswellknownthatBonaparteoften，andinthepresenceevenofpersonswhomheconceivedtohavemaintainedrelationswiththepartisansoftheBourbonsatParis，expressedhimselfthus：\"Iwillputanendtotheseconspiracies.Ifanyoftheemigrantsconspiretheyshallbeshot.IhavebeentoldthatCobentzelharbourssomeofthem.Idonotbelievethis;butifitbetrue，Cobentzelshallbearrestedandshotalongwiththem.IwilllettheBourbonsknowIamnottobetrifledwith.\"TheabovestatementoffactsaccountsforthesuppositionsrespectingtheprobableinfluenceoftheJacobinsinthisaffair.Ithasbeensaid，notwithoutsomeappearanceofreason，thattogettheJacobinstohelphimtoascendthethroneBonaparteconsentedtosacrificeavictimofthebloodroyal，astheonlypledgecapableofensuringthemagainstthereturnoftheproscribedfamily.Bethisasitmay，therearenopossiblemeansofrelievingBonapartefromhisshareofguiltinthedeathoftheDued’Enghien.
Totheabovefacts，whichcamewithinmyownknowledge，Imayaddthefollowingcuriousstory，whichwasrelatedtomebyanindividualwhohimselfhearditfromthesecretaryofGeneralDavoust.
DavoustwascommandingadivisioninthecampofBoulogne，andhissecretarywhenproceedingthithertojoinhimmetinthediligenceamanwhoseemedtobeabsorbedinaffliction.Thismanduringthewholejourneyneveroncebrokesilencebutbysomedeepsighs，whichhehadnotpowertorepress.GeneralDavoust’ssecretaryobservedhimwithcuriosityandinterest，butdidnotventuretointrudeuponhisgriefbyanyconversation.TheconcourseoftravellersfromParistothecampwas，however，atthattimeverygreat，andtheinnatwhichthediligencestoppedintheeveningwassocrowdedthatitwasimpossibletoassignachambertoeachtraveller.Two，therefore，wereputintooneroom，anditsohappenedthatthesecretarywaslodgedwithhismysterioustravellingcompanion.
Whentheywerealoneheaddressedhiminatorsoofinterestwhichbanishedallappearanceofintrusion.Heinquiredwhetherthecauseofhisgriefwasofanaturetoadmitofanyalleviation，andofferedtorenderhimanyassistanceinhispower.\"Sir，\"repliedthestranger，\"Iammuchobligedforthesympathyyouexpressforme——Iwantnothing.
Thereisnopossibleconsolationforme.Myafflictioncanendonlywithmylife.Youshalljudgeforyourself，fortheinterestyouseemtotakeinmymisfortunefullyjustifiesmyconfidence.Iwasquartermasterintheselectgendarmerie，andformedpartofadetachmentwhichwasorderedtoVincennes.Ipassedthenightthereunderarms，andatdaybreakwasordereddowntothemoatwithsixmen.Anexecutionwastotakeplace.
Theprisonerwasbroughtout，andIgavethewordtofire.Themanfell，andaftertheexecutionIlearnedthatwehadshottheDued’Enghien.
Judgeofmyhorror！IknewtheprisoneronlybythenameofthebrigandofLaVendee！Icouldnolongerremainintheservice——Iobtainedmydischarge，andamabouttoretiretomyfamily.WouldthatIhaddonesosooner！\"TheabovehasbeenrelatedtomeandotherpersonsbyDavoust’ssecretary，whomIshallnotname.
CHAPTERXXIII.
1804.
GeneralOrdener’smission——ArrestoftheDued’Enghien——Horriblenight—scene———Harrel’saccountofthedeathofthePrince——Orderfordiggingthegrave——Thefoster—sisteroftheDuod’Enghien——Readingthesentence——Thelantern——GeneralSavary——Thefaithfuldogandthepolice——MyvisittoMalmaison——Josephine’sgrief——
TheDucd’Enghien’sportraitandlockofhair——Savary’semotion——
M.deChateaubriand’sresignation——M.deChatenubriand’sconnectionwithBonaparte——MadameBacciocchiandM.deFontanes——CardinalFesch——Dedicationofthesecondeditionofthe’GenieduChristianisme’
——M.deChateaubriand’svisittotheFirstConsulonthemorningoftheDued’Enghien’sdeath——ConsequencesoftheDuod’Enghien’sdeath——Changeofopinionintheprovinces——TheGentryoftheChateaus——EffectoftheDued’Enghien’sdeathonforeignCourts——
RemarkablewordsofMr.Pitt——LouisXVIII.sendsbacktheinsigniaoftheGoldenFleecetotheKingofSpain.
IwillnownarratemorefullythesanguinaryscenewhichtookplaceatVincennes.GeneralOrdener，commandingthemountedgrenadiersoftheGuard，receivedordersfromtheWarMinistertoproceedtotheRhine，togiveinstructionstothechiefsofthegendarmerieofNewBrissac，whichwasplacedathisdisposal.GeneralOrdenersentadetachmentofgendarmerietoEttenheim，wheretheDued’Enghienwasarrestedonthe15thofMarch.HewasimmediatelyconductedtothecitadelofStrasburg，whereheremainedtillthe18th，togivetimeforthearrivalofordersfromParis.Theseordersweregivenrapidly，andexecutedpromptly，forthecarriagewhichconveyedtheunfortunatePrincearrivedatthebarrierateleveno’clockonthemorningofthe20th，whereitremainedforfivehours，andafterwardsproceededbytheexteriorboulevardsontheroadtoVincennes，whereitarrivedatnight.Everysceneofthishorribledramawasactedundertheveilofnight：thesundidnotevenshineuponitstragicalclose.ThesoldiersreceivedorderstoproceedtoVincennesatnight.ItwasatnightthatthefatalgatesofthefortresswerecloseduponthePrince.AtnighttheCouncilassembledandtriedhim，orrathercondemnedhimwithouttrial.Whentheclockstrucksixinthemorningtheordersweregiventofire，andthePrinceceasedtoexist.
Hereareflectionoccurstome.SupposingonewereinclinedtoadmitthattheCouncilheldonthe10thofMarchhadsomeconnectionwiththeDued’Enghien’sarrest，yetasnoCouncilwasheldfromthetimeoftheDuke’sarrivalatthebarriertothemomentofhisexecution，itcouldonlybeBonapartehimselfwhoissuedtheorderswhichweretoopunctuallyobeyed.WhenthedreadfulintelligenceoftheDucd’Enghien’sdeathwasspreadinParisitexcitedafeelingofconsternationwhichrecalledtherecollectionoftheReignofTerror.CouldBonapartehaveseenthegloomwhichpervadedParis，andcompareditwiththejoywhichprevailedonthedaywhenhereturnedvictoriousfromthefieldofMarengo，hewouldhavefeltthathehadtarnishedhisglorybyastainwhichcouldneverbeeffaced.
Abouthalf—pasttwelveonthe22dofMarchIwasinformedthatsomeonewishedtospeakwithme.ItwasHarrel.
——[Harrel，whohadbeenunemployedtilltheplotofArenaandCeracchionthe18thVendemiaireanIX（10thOctober1800）whichhehadfeignedtojoin，andhadthenrevealedtothepolice（seeante），hadbeenmadeGovernorofVincennes.]——
Iwillrelatewordforwordwhathecommunicatedtome.Harrelprobablythoughtthathewasboundingratitudetoacquaintmewiththesedetails;
butheowedmenogratitude，foritwasmuchagainstmywillthathehadencouragedtheconspiracyofCeracchi，andreceivedtherewardofhistreacheryinthatcrime.ThefollowingisHarrel’sstatement：——
\"Ontheeveningofthedaybeforeyesterday，whenthePrincearrived，IwasaskedwhetherIhadaroomtolodgeaprisonerin;Ireplied，No——
thattherewereonlymyapartmentsandtheCouncil—chamber.Iwastoldtoprepareinstantlyaroominwhichaprisonercouldsleepwhowastoarrivethatevening.Iwasalsodesiredtodigapitinthecourtyard.
——[Thisfactmustbenoted.Harrelistoldtodigatrenchbeforethesentence.ThusitwasknownthattheyhadcometokilltheDucd’Enghien.Howcanthisbeanswered？Canitpossiblybesupposedthatanyone，whoeveritwas，wouldhavedaredtogiveeachanorderinanticipationiftheorderhadnotbeenthecarryingoutofaformalcommandofBonaparte？Thatisincredible.——Bourrienne.]——
Irepliedthatthatcouldnotbeeasilydone，asthecourtyardwaspaved.
Themoatwasthenfixedupon，andtherethepitwasdug.ThePrincearrivedatseveno’clockintheevening;hewasperishingwithcoldandhunger.Hedidnotappeardispirited.Hesaidhewantedsomethingtoeat，andtogotobedafterwards.Hisapartmentnotbeingyetsufficientlyaired，Itookhimintomyown，andsentintothevillageforsomerefreshment.ThePrincesatdowntotable，andinvitedmetoeatwithhim.HethenaskedmeanumberofquestionsrespectingVincennes——
whatwasgoingonthere，andotherparticulars.Hetoldmethathehadbeenbroughtupintheneighbourhoodofthecastle，andspoketomewithgreatfreedomandkindness.’Whatdotheywantwithme？’hesaid.Whatdotheymeantodowithme？’Butthesequestionsbetrayednouneasinessoranxiety.Mywife，whowasill，waslyinginthesameroominanalcove，closedbyarailing.Sheheard，withoutbeingperceived，allourconversation，andshewasexceedinglyagitated，forsherecognisedthePrince，whosefoster—sistershewas，andwhosefamilyhadgivenherapensionbeforetheRevolution.
\"ThePrincehastenedtobed，butbeforehecouldhavefallenasleepthejudgessenttorequesthispresenceintheCouncil—chamber.Iwasnotpresentathisexamination;butwhenitwasconcludedhereturnedtohischamber，andwhentheycametoreadhissentencetohimhewasinaprofoundsleep.Inafewmomentsafterhewasledoutforexecution.
Hehadsolittlesuspicionofthefatethatawaitedhimthatondescendingthestaircaseleadingtothemoatheaskedwheretheyweretakinghim.Hereceivednoanswer.IwentbeforethePrincewithalantern.Feelingthecoldairwhichcameupthestaircasehepressedmyarmandsaid，’Aretheygoingtoputmeintoadungeon？’\"
Therestisknown.IcanyetseeHarrelshudderingwhilethinkingofthisactionofthePrince’s.
MuchhasbeensaidaboutalanternwhichitispretendedwasattachedtooneoftheDued’Enghien’sbutton—holes.Thisisapureinvention.
CaptainDautancourt，whosesightwasnotverygood，tookthelanternoutofHarrel’shandtoreadthesentencetothevictim，whohadbeencondemnedwithaslittleregardtojudicialformsastojustice.ThiscircumstanceprobablygaverisetothestoryaboutthelanterntowhichI
havejustalluded.Thefataleventtookplaceatsixo’clockonthemorningofthe21stofMarch，anditwasthendaylight.
GeneralSavarydidnotdaretodelaytheexecutionofthesentence，althoughthePrinceurgentlydemandedtohaveaninterviewwiththeFirstConsul.HadBonaparteseentheprincetherecanbelittledoubtbutthathewouldhavesavedhislife.Savary，however，thoughthimselfboundtosacrificehisownopinionstothepowerfulfactionwhichthencontrolledtheFirstConsul;andwhilsthethoughthewasservinghismaster，hewasinfactonlyservingthefactiontowhich，Imustsay，hedidnotbelong.
Thetruthis，thatGeneralSavarycanonlybereproachedfornothavingtakenuponhimselftosuspendtheexecution，whichveryprobablywouldnothavetakenplacehaditbeensuspended.Hewasmerelyaninstrument，andregretonhispartwould，perhaps，havetoldmoreinhisfavourthanhisvaineffortstojustifyBonaparte.Ihavejustsaidthatiftherehadbeenanysuspensiontherewouldhavebeennoexecution;andIthinkthisisalmostprovedbytheuncertaintywhichmusthaveexistedinthemindoftheFirstConsul.Ifhehadmadeuphismindallthemeasureswouldhavebeentakeninadvance，andiftheyhadbeen，thecarriageoftheDukewouldcertainlynothavebeenkeptforfivehoursatthebarriers.Besides，itiscertainthatthefirstintentionwastotakethePrincetotheprisonoftheTemple.
FromallthatIhavestated，andparticularlyfromthenon—suspensionoftheexecution，itappearstomeasclearasdaythatGeneralSavaryhadreceivedaformalorderfromBonapartefortheDued’Enghien’sdeath，andalsoaformalorderthatitshouldbesomanagedastomakeitimpossibletospeaktoBonaparteagainonthesubjectuntilallshouldbeover.Cantherebeamoreevident，amoredirectproofofthisthanthediggingofthegravebeforehand？IhaverepeatedHarrel’sstoryjustasherelatedittome.Hetolditmewithoutsolicitation，andhecouldnotinventacircumstanceofthisnature.
GeneralSavarywasnotinthemoatduringtheexecution，butonthebank，fromwhencehecouldeasilyseeallthatpassed.AnothercircumstanceconnectedwiththeDued’Enghien’sdeathhasbeenmentioned，whichistrue.ThePrincehadalittledog;thisfaithfulanimalreturnedincessantlytothefatalspotinthemoat.Therearefewwhohavenotseenthatspot.WhohasnotmadeapilgrimagetoVincennesanddroppedatearwherethevictimfell？Thefidelityofthepoordogexcitedsomuchinterestthatthepolicepreventedanyonefromvisitingthefatalspot，andthedogwasnolongerheardtohowloverhismaster’sgrave.
IpromisedtostatethetruthrespectingthedeathoftheDued’Enghien，andIhavedoneso，thoughithascostmesomepain.Harrel’snarrative，andtheshockingcircumstanceofthegravebeingdugbeforehand，leftmenoopportunityofcherishinganydoubtsImighthavewishedtoentertain;
andeverythingwhichfollowedconfirmedtheviewIthentookofthesubject.WhenHarrelleftmeonthe22dIdeterminedtogotoMalmaisontoseeMadameBonaparte，knowing，fromhersentimentstowardstheHouseofBourbon，thatshewouldbeinthegreatestaffliction.Ihadpreviouslysenttoknowwhetheritwouldbeconvenientforhertoseeme，aprecautionIhadneverbeforeobserved，butwhichIconceivedtobeproperuponthatoccasion.OnmyarrivalIwasimmediatelyintroducedtoherboudoir，whereshewasalonewithHortenseandMadamedeRemusat.
Theywerealldeeplyafflicted.\"Bourrienne，\"exclaimedJosephine，assoonassheperceivedme，\"whatadreadfulevent！DidyoubutknowthestateofmindBonaparteisin！Heavoids，hedreadsthepresenceofeveryone！Whocouldhavesuggestedtohimsuchanactasthis？\"
IthenacquaintedJosephinewiththeparticularswhichIhadreceivedfromHarrel.\"Whatbarbarity！\"sheresumed.\"Butnoreproachcanrestuponme，forIdideverythingtodissuadehimfromthisdreadfulproject.
Hedidnotconfidethesecrettome，butIguessedit，andheacknowledgedall.Howharshlyherepelledmyentreaties！Iclungtohim！Ithrewmyselfathisfeet！’Meddlewithwhatconcernsyou！’
heexclaimedangrily.’Thisisnotwomen’sbusiness！Leaveme！’AndherepulsedmewithaviolencewhichbehadneverdisplayedsinceourfirstinterviewafteryourreturnfromEgypt.Heavens！whatwillbecomeofus？\"
IcouldsaynothingtocalmafflictionandalarminwhichIparticipated，fortomygriefforthedeathoftheDued’EnghienwasaddedmyregretthatBonaparteshouldbecapableofsuchacrime.\"What，\"saidJosephine，\"canbethoughtofthisinParis？Hemustbetheobjectofuniversal，imprecation，forevenherehisflatterersappearastoundedwhentheyareoutofhispresence.Howwretchedwehavebeensinceyesterday;andhe！Youknowwhatheiswhenbeisdissatisfiedwithhimself.Noonedarespeaktohim，andallismournfularoundus.WhatacommissionhegavetoSavary！YouknowIdonotlikethegeneral，becauseheisoneofthosewhoseflatterieswillcontributetoruinBonaparte.Well！IpitiedSavarywhenhecameyesterdaytofulfilacommissionwhichtheDued’Enghienhadentrustedtohim.Here，\"addedJosephine，\"ishisportraitandalockofhishair，whichhehasrequestedmetotransmittoonewhowasdeartohim.SavaryalmostshedtearswhenhedescribedtomethelastmomentsoftheDuke;then，endeavouringtoresumehisself—possession，hesaid：’Itisinvaintotrytobeindifferent，Madame！Itisimpossibletowitnessthedeathofsuchamanunmoved！’\"
Josephineafterwardsinformedmeoftheonlyactofcouragewhichoccurredatthisperiod——namely，theresignationwhichM.deChateaubriandhadsenttoBonaparte.Sheadmiredhisconductgreatly，andsaid：\"Whatapityheisnotsurroundedbymenofthisdescription！
Itwouldbethemeansofpreventingalltheerrorsintowhichheisledbytheconstantapprobationofthoseabouthim.\"Josephinethankedmeformyattentionincomingtoseeheratsuchanunhappyjuncture;andI
confessthatitrequiredalltheregardIcherishedforhertoinducemetodoso，foratthatmomentIshouldnothavewishedtoseetheFirstConsul，sincetheevilwasirreparable.Ontheeveningofthatdaynothingwasspokenofbutthetransactionofthe21stofMarch，andthenobleconductofM.deChateaubriand.Asthenameofthatcelebratedmanisforeverwrittenincharactersofhonourinthehistoryofthatperiod，IthinkImaywithproprietyrelateherewhatIknowrespectinghispreviousconnectionwithBonaparte.
IdonotrecollecttheprecisedateofM.deChateaubriand’sreturntoFrance;Ionlyknowthatitwasabouttheyear1800，forwewere，Ithink，stillattheLuxembourg：However，IrecollectperfectlythatBonapartebegantoconceiveprejudicesagainsthim;andwhenIonedayexpressedmysurprisetotheFirstConsulthatM.deChateaubriand’snamedidnotappearonanyofthelistswhichhehadorderedtobepresentedtohimforfillingupvacantplaces，hesaid：\"Hehasbeenmentionedtome，butIrepliedinawaytocheckallhopesofhisobtaininganyappointment.Hehasnotionsoflibertyandindependencewhichwillnotsuitmysystem.Iwouldratherhavehimmyenemythanmyforcedfriend.
Atallevents，hemustwaitawhile;Imay，perhaps，tryhimfirstinasecondaryplace，and，ifhedoeswell，Imayadvancehim.\"
Theaboveis，wordforword，whatBonapartesaidthe：firsttimeI
conversedwithhimaboutM.deChateaubriand.Thepublicationof’Atala’
andthe’GenieduChristianisme’suddenlygaveChateaubriandcelebrity，andattractedtheattentionoftheFirstConsul.Bonapartewhothenmeditatedtherestorationofreligiousworship：inFrance，foundhimselfwonderfullysupportedbythepublicationofabookwhichexcitedthehighestinterest，andwhosesuperiormeritledthepublicmindtotheconsiderationofreligioustopics.IrememberMadameBacciocchicomingonedaytovisitherbrotherwithalittlevolumeinherhand;itwas’Atala’.ShepresentedittotheFirstConsul，andbeggedhewouldreadit.\"What，moreromances！\"exclaimedhe.\"DoyouthinkIhavetimetoreadallyourfooleries？\"He，however，tookthebookfromhissisterandlaiditdownonmydesk.MadameBacciocchithensolicitedtheerasureofM.deChateaubriand’snamefromthelistofemigrants.\"Oh！oh！\"saidBonaparte，\"itisChateaubriand’sbook，isit？Iwillreadit，then.
Bourrienne，writetoFouchetoerasehisnamefromthelist.\"
Bonaparte，atthattimepaidsolittleattentiontowhatwasdoingintheliteraryworldthathewasnotawareofChateaubriandbeingtheauthorof’Atala’.ItwasontherecommendationofM.deFontanelthatMadameBacciocchitriedthisexperiment，whichwasattendedbycompletesuccess.
TheFirstConsulread’Atala’，andwasmuchpleasedwithit.Onthepublicationofthe’GenieduChristianisme’sometimeafter，hisfirstprejudiceswerewhollyremoved.AmongthepersonsabouthimthereweremanywhodreadedtoseeamanofdeChateaubriand’stalentapproachtheFirstConsul，whoknewhowtoappreciatesuperiormeritwhenitdidnotexitehisenvy.
OurrelationswiththeCourtoftheVaticanbeingrenewed，andCardinalFeschappointedAmbassadortotheHolySee，BonaparteconceivedtheideaofmakingM.deChateaubriandfirstsecretarytotheEmbassy，thinkingthattheauthorofthe’GenieduChristianisme’waspeculiarlyfittedtomakeupforhisuncle’sdeficiencyoftalentinthecapitaloftheChristianworld，whichwasdestinedtobecomethesecondcityoftheEmpire.
Itwasnotalittleextraordinarytoletaman，previously，astrangertodiplomaticbusiness;steppingoveralltheintermediatedegrees;andbeingatonceinvestedwiththefunctionsoffirstsecretarytoanimportantEmbassy.IoftenerthanonceheardtheFirstConsulcongratulatehimselfonhavingmadetheappointment.Iknew，thoughBonapartewasnotawareofthecircumstanceatthetime，thatChateaubriandatfirstrefusedthesituation，andthathewasonlyinducedtoacceptitbytheentreatiesoftheheadoftheclergy，particularlyoftheAbbyEmery，amanofgreatinfluence.Theyrepresentedtotheauthorofthe’GenieduChristianismethatitwasnecessaryheshouldaccompanytheuncleoftheFirstConsultoRome;andM.deChateaubriandaccordinglyresolvedtodoso.
However，clouds，gathered;Idonotknowfromwhatcause，betweentheambassadorandhissecretary.AllIknowis，thatonBonapartebeinginformedofthecircumstancehetookthepartoftheCardinal，andthefriendsofM.deChateaubriandexpectedtoseehimsoondeprivedofhisappointment，when，tothegreatastonishmentofeveryone，thesecretarytotheRomanEmbassy，farfrombeingdisgraced，wasraisedbytheFirstConsultotherankofMinisterPlenipotentiarytotheValais，withleavetotravelinSwitzerlandandItaly，togetherwiththepromiseofthefirstvacantEmbassy.
ThisfavourexcitedaconsiderablesensationattheTuileries;butasitwasknowntobethewillandpleasureoftheFirstConsulallexpressionofopiniononthesubjectwasconfinedtoafewquietmurmursthatBonapartehaddoneforthenameofChateaubriandwhat，infact，hehaddoneonlyonaccountofhistalent.Itwasduringthecontinuanceofthisfavourthatthesecondeditionofthe’GenieduChristianisme’wasdedicatedtotheFirstConsul.
M.deChateaubriandreturnedtoFrancepreviouslytoenteringonthefulfilmentofhisnewmission.HeremainedforsomemonthsinParis，andonthedayappointedforhisdeparturehewenttotakeleaveoftheFirstConsul.Byasingularchanceithappenedtobethefatalmorningofthe21stofMarch，andconsequentlyonlyafewhoursaftertheDucd’Enghienhadbeenshot.ItisunnecessarytoobservethatM.deChateaubriandwasignorantofthefatalevent.However，onhisreturnhomehesaidtohisfriendsthathehadremarkedasingularchangeintheappearanceoftheFirstConsul，andthattherewasasortofsinisterexpressioninhiscountenance.Bonapartesawhisnewministeramidstthecrowdwhoattendedtheaudience，andseveraltimesseemedinclinedtostepforwardtospeaktohim，butasoftenturnedaway，anddidnotapproachhimthewholemorning.Afewhoursafter，whenM.deChatenubriandmentionedhisobservationstosomeofhisfriends;hewasmadeacquaintedwiththecauseofthatagitationwhich，inspiteofallhisstrengthofmindandself—command，Bonapartecouldnotdisguise.
M.deChateaubriandinstantlyresignedhisappointmentofMinisterPlenipotentiarytotheValais.Forseveraldayshisfriendsweremuchalarmedforhissafety，andtheycalledeverymorningearlytoascertainwhetherhehadnotbeencarriedoffduringthenight.Theirfearswerenotwithoutfoundation.ImustconfessthatI，whoknewBonapartewell，wassomewhatsurprisedthatnoseriousconsequenceattendedtheangerhemanifestedonreceivingtheresignationofthemanwhohaddedicatedhisworktohim.Infact，therewasgoodreasonforapprehension，anditwasnotwithoutconsiderabledifficultythatElisasucceededinavertingthethreatenedstorm.FromthistimebeganastateofhostilitybetweenBonaparteandChateaubriandwhichonlyterminatedattheRestoration.
Iampersuaded，frommyknowledgeofBonaparte’scharacter，thatthoughheretainedimplacableresentmentagainstareturnedemigrantwhohaddaredtocensurehisconductinsopositiveamanner，yet，hisfirstburstofangerbeingsoothed，thatwhichwasthecauseofhatredwasatthesametimethegroundofesteem.Bonaparte’sanimositywas，Iconfess，verynatural，forhecouldnotdisguisefromhimselftherealmeaningofaresignationmadeundersuchcircumstances.Itsaidplainly，\"Youhavecommittedacrime，andIwillnotserveyourGovernment，whichisstainedwiththebloodofaBourbon！\"IcanthereforeverywellimaginethatBonapartecouldneverpardontheonlymanwhodaredtogivehimsuchalessoninthemidstoftheplenitudeofhispower.But，asI
haveoftenhadoccasiontoremark，therewasnounisonbetweenBonaparte’sfeelingsandhisjudgment.
Ifindafreshproofofthisinthefollowingpassage，whichhedictatedtoM.deMontholonatSt.Helena（Memoires，tomeiv.p248）.\"If，\"saidhe，\"theroyalconfidencehadnotbeenplacedinmenwhosemindswereunstrungbytooimportantcircumstances，orwho，renegadetotheircountry，sawnosafetyorgloryfortheirmaster’sthroneexceptundertheyokeoftheHolyAlliance;iftheDucdeRichelieu，whoseambitionwastodeliverhiscountryfromthepresenceofforeignbayonets;ifChateaubriand，whohadjustrenderedvaluableservicesatGhent;iftheyhadhadthedirectionofaffairs，Francewouldhaveemergedfromthesetwogreatnationalcrisespowerfulandredoubtable.ChateaubriandhadreceivedfromNaturethesacredfire—hisworksshowit！HisstyleisnotthatofRacinebutofaprophet.Onlyhecouldhavesaidwithimpunityinthechamberofpeers，’thattheredingoteandcockedhatofNapoleon，putonastickonthecoastofBrest，wouldmakeallEuroperuntoarms.’\"
TheimmediateconsequencesoftheDucd’Enghien’sdeathwerenotconfinedtothegeneralconsternationwhichthatunjustifiablestrokeofstatepolicyproducedinthecapital.Thenewsspreadrapidlythroughtheprovincesandforeigncountries，andwaseverywhereaccompaniedbyastonishmentandsorrow.Thereisinthedepartmentsaseparateclassofsociety，possessinggreatinfluence，andconstitutedentirelyofpersonsusuallycalledthe\"GentryoftheChateaux，\"whomaybesaidtoformtheprovincialFaubourgSt.Germain，andwhowereoverwhelmedbythenews.
TheopinionoftheGentryoftheChateauxwasnothithertounfavourabletotheFirstConsul，forthelawofhostageswhichherepealedhadbeenfeltveryseverelybythem.Withtheexceptionofsomefamiliesaccustomedtoconsiderthemselves，inrelationtothewholeworld，whattheywereonlywithinthecircleofacoupleofleagues;thatistosay，illustriouspersonages，alltheinhabitantsoftheprovinces，thoughtheymightretainsomeattachmenttotheancientorderofthings，hadviewedwithsatisfactionthesubstitutionoftheConsularfortheDirectorialgovernment，andentertainednopersonaldisliketotheFirstConsul.
AmongtheChateaux，morethananywhereelse，ithadalwaysbeenthecustomtocherishUtopianideasrespectingthemanagementofpublicaffairs，andtocriticisetheactsoftheGovernment.ItiswellknownthatatthistimetherewasnotinallFranceasingleoldmansionsurmountedbyitstwoweathercockswhichhadnotasystemsofpolicypeculiartoitself，andinwhichthequestionwhethertheFirstConsulwouldplaythepartofCromwellorMonkwasnotfrequentlycanvassed.
InthoseinnocentcontroversiesthelittlenewswhichtheParispaperswereallowedtopublishwasfreelydiscussed，andaconfidentialletterfromParissometimesfurnishedfoodfortheconversationofawholeweek.
WhileIwaswithBonaparteheoftentalkedtomeaboutthelifeintheChateaux，whichheconsideredasthehappiestformenwithsufficientincomeandexemptfromambition.Heknewandcouldappreciatethissortoflife，forheoftentoldmetheperiodofhislifewhichheremembered.
withthegreatestpleasurewasthatwhichhehadpassedinaChateauofthefamilyofBoulatduColombiernearValence.BonapartesetgreatvalueontheopinionoftheChateaux，becausewhilelivinginthecountryhehadobservedthemoralinfluencewhichtheirinhabitantsexerciseovertheirneighbourhood.Hehadsucceededtoagreatdegreeinconciliatingthem，butthenewsofthedeathoftheDued’Enghienalienatedfromhimmindswhichwerestillwavering，andeventhosewhichhadalreadydeclaredinhisfavour.Thatactoftyrannydissolvedthecharmwhichhadcreatedhopefromhisgovernmentandawakenedaffectionswhichhadasyetonlyslumbered.Thosetowhomthiseventwasalmostindifferentalsojoinedincondemningit;fortherearecertainaristocraticideaswhicharealwaysfashionableinacertainclassofsociety.Thusfordifferentcausesthisatrocitygavearetrogradedirectiontopublicopinion，whichhadpreviouslybeenfavourablydisposedtoBonapartethroughoutthewholeofFrance.
Theconsequenceswerenotlessimportant，andmighthavebeendisastrouswithrespecttoforeignCourts.Ilearned，throughachannelwhichdoesnotpermitmetoentertainanydoubtofthecorrectnessofmyinformation，thatassoonastheEmperorAlexanderreceivedthenewsitbecameclearthatEnglandmightconceiveawell—foundedhopeofforminganewcoalitionagainstFrance.Alexanderopenlyexpressedhisindignation.IalsolearnedwithequalcertaintythatwhenMr.PittwasinformedofthedeathoftheFrenchPrincehesaid，\"Bonapartehasnowdonehimselfmoremischiefthanwehavedonehimsincethelastdeclarationofwar.\"
——[Theremarkmadeonthismurderbytheastutecold—bloodedFoucheiswellknown.Hesaid，\"Itwasworsethanacrime——itwasablunder！\"——Editorof1836Edition.]——
Pittwasnotthemantofeelmuchconcernforthedeathofanyone;butheunderstoodandseizedalltheadvantagesaffordedtohimbythisgreaterrorofpolicycommittedbythemostformidableenemyofEngland.InalltheTreasuryjournalspublishedinLondonBonapartewasneverspokenofunderanyothernamethanthatofthe\"assassinoftheDucd’Enghien.\"
TheinertpolicyoftheCabinetofViennapreventedthemanifestationofitsdispleasurebyremonstrances，orbyanyoutwardact.AtBerlin，inconsequenceoftheneighbourhoodoftheFrenchtroopsinHanover，thecommiserationforthedeathoftheDued’EnghienwasalsoconfinedtotheKing’scabinet，andmoreparticularlytothesalonsoftheQueenofPrussia;butitiscertainthatthattransactionalmosteverywherechangedthedispositionofsovereignstowardstheFirstConsul，andthatifitdidnotcause，itatleasthastenedthesuccessofthenegotiationswhichEnglandwassecretlycarryingonwithAustriaandPrussia.EveryPrinceofGermanywasoffendedbytheviolationoftheGrandDukeofBaden’sterritory，andthedeathofaPrincecouldnotfaileverywheretoirritatethatkindofsympathyofbloodandofracewhichhadhithertoalwaysinfluencedthecrownedheadsandsovereignfamiliesofEurope;foritwasfeltasaninjurytoallofthem.
WhenLouisXVIII.learnedthedeathoftheDued’EnghienhewrotetotheKingofSpain，returninghimtheinsigniaoftheOrderoftheGoldenFleece（whichhadalsobeenconferredonBonaparte），withtheaccompanyingletter：
SIRE，MONSIEUR，ANDDEARCOUSIN——ItiswithregretthatIsendbacktoyoutheinsigniaoftheOrderoftheGoldenFleecewhichhisMajesty，yourfather，ofgloriousmemoryconferreduponme.Therecanbenothingincommonbetweenmeandthegreatcriminalwhomaudacityandfortunehaveplacedonmythrone，sincehehashadthebarbaritytostainhimselfwiththebloodofaBourbon，theDucd’Enghien.
Religionmightmakemepardonanassassin，butthetyrantofmypeoplemustalwaysbemyenemy.
Inthepresentageitismoreglorioustomeritasceptrethantopossessone.
Providence，forincomprehensiblereasons，maycondemnmetoendmydaysinexile，butneithermycontemporariesnorposterityshalleverhavetosay，thatintheperiodofadversityIshowedmyselfunworthyofoccupyingthethroneofmyancestors.
LOUIS
ThedeathoftheDued’Enghienwasahorribleepisodeintheproceedingsofthegreattrialwhichwasthenpreparing，andwhichwasspeedilyfollowedbytheaccessionofBonapartetotheImperialdignity.ItwasnotoneoftheleastremarkableanomaliesoftheepochtoseethejudgmentbywhichcriminalenterprisesagainsttheRepublicwerecondemnedpronouncedinthenameoftheEmperorwhohadsoevidentlydestroyedthatRepublic.Thisanomalycertainlywasnotremovedbythesubtlety，bytheaidofwhichheatfirstdeclaredhimselfEmperoroftheRepublic，asapreliminarytohisproclaiminghimselfEmperoroftheFrench.Settingasidethemeans，itmustbeacknowledgedthatitisimpossiblenottoadmirethegeniusofBonaparte，histenacityinadvancingtowardshisobject，andthatadroitemploymentofsupplenessandaudacitywhichmadehimsometimesdarefortune，sometimesavoiddifficultieswhichhefoundinsurmountable，toarrive，notmerelyatthethroneofLouisXVI.，butatthereconstructedthroneofCharlemagne.
CHAPTERXXIV.
1804.
Pichegrubetrayed——Hisarrest——Hisconducttohisoldaidedecamp——
AccountofPichegru’sfamily，andhiseducationatBrienne——
PermissiontovisitM.Carbonnet——TheprisonersintheTemple——
Absurdapplicationoftheword\"brigand\"——Moreauandthestateofpublicopinionrespectinghim——Pichegru’sfirmness——Pichegrustrangledinprison——Publicopinionatthetime——ReportonthedeathofPichegru.
IshallnowproceedtorelatewhatIknewatthetimeandwhatIhavesincelearntofthedifferentphasesofthetrialofGeorges，Pichegru，Moreauandtheotherpersonsaccusedofconspiracy，——atrialtoalltheproceedingsofwhichIcloselyattended.FromthoseproceedingsIwasconvincedthatMoreauwasnoconspirator，butatthesametimeImustconfessthatitisveryprobabletheFirstConsulmightbelievethathehadbeenengagedintheplot，andIamalsoofopinionthattherealconspiratorsbelievedMoreautobetheiraccompliceandtheirchief;fortheobjectofthemachinationsofthepoliceagentswastocreateafoundationforsuchabelief，itbeingimportanttothesuccessoftheirscheme.
IthasbeenstatedthatMoreauwasarrestedonthedayaftertheconfessionsmadebyBouvetdeLozier;Pichegruwastakenbymeansofthemostinfamoustreacherythatamancanbeguiltyof.TheofficialpolicehadatlastascertainedthathewasinParis，buttheycouldnotlearntheplaceofhisconcealment.Thepoliceagentshadinvainexertedalltheireffortstodiscoverhim，whenanoldfriend，whohadgivenhimhislastasylum，offeredtodeliverhimupfor100，000crowns.ThisinfamousfellowgaveanenactdescriptionofthechamberwhichPichegruoccupiedintheRuedeChabanais，andinconsequenceofhisinformationComminges，commissaryofpolice，proceededthither，accompaniedbysomedeterminedmen.Precautionswerenecessary，becauseitwasknownthatPichegruwasamanofprodigiousbodilystrength，andthatbesides，ashepossessedthemeansofdefence，hewouldnotallowhimselftobetakenwithoutmakingadesperateresistance.Thepoliceenteredhischamberbyusingfalsekeys，whichthemanwhohadsoldhimhadthebasenesstogetmadeforthem.Alightwasburningonhisnighttable.Thepartyofpolice，directedbyComminges，overturnedthetable，extinguishedthelight，andthrewthemselvesonthegeneral，whostruggledwithallhisstrength，andcriedoutloudly.Theywereobligedtobindhim，andinthisstatetheconquerorofHollandwasremovedtotheTemple，outofwhichhewasdestinednevertocomealive.
ItmustbeownedthatPichegruwasfarfromexcitingthesameinterestasMoreau.Thepublic，andmoreespeciallythearmy，neverpardonedhimforhisnegotiationswiththePrincedeCondepriortothe18thFructidor.
However，IbecameacquaintedwithatraitrespectinghimwhilehewasinPariswhichIthinkdoeshimmuchhonour.AsonofM.Lagrenee，formerlydirectoroftheFrenchAcademyatRome，hadbeenoneofPichegru’saidesdecamp.Thisyoungman，thoughhehadobtainedtherankofcaptain，resignedonthebanishmentofhisgeneral，andresumedthepencil，whichhehadladasideforthesword.Pichegru，whilehewasconcealedinParis;visitedhisformeraidedecamp，whoinsistedupongivinghimanasylum;butPichegrupositivelyrefusedtoacceptM.Lagrenee’soffer，beingdeterminednottocommitamanwhohadalreadygivenhimsostrongaproofoffriendship.Ilearnedthisfactbyasingularcoincidence.
AtthisperiodMadamedeBourriennewishedtohaveaportraitofoneofourchildren;shewasrecommendedtoM.Lagrenee，andherelatedthecircumstancetoher.
Itwasonthenightofthe22dofFebruarythatPichegruwasarrestedinthemannerIhavedescribed.ThedeceitfulfriendwhogavehimupwasnamedLeBlanc，andhewenttosettleatHamburgwiththerewardofhistreachery，IhadentirelylostsightofPichegrusinceweleftBrienne，forPichegruwasalsoapupilofthatestablishment;but，beingolderthaneitherBonaparteorI，hewasalreadyatutorwhenwewereonlyscholars，andIverywellrecollectthatitwashewhoexaminedBonaparteinthefourfirstrulesofarithmetic.
PichegrubelongedtoanagriculturalfamilyofFranche—Comte.Hehadarelation，aminim，’inthatcountry.Theminim，whohadthechargeofeducatingthepupilsoftheMilitarySchoolofBrienne，beingverypoor，andtheirpovertynotenablingthemtoholdoutmuchinducementtootherpersonstoassistthem，theyappliedtotheminimsofFranche—Comte.InconsequenceofthisapplicationPichegru’srelation，andsomeotherminims，repairedtoBrienne.AnauntofPichegru，whowasasisteroftheorderofcharity，accompaniedthem，andthecareoftheinfirmarywasentrustedtoher.ThisgoodwomantookhernephewtoBriennewithher，andhewaseducatedattheschoolgratuitously.Assoonashisagepermitted，Pichegruwasmadeatutor;butall，hisambitionwastobecomeaminim.Hewas，however，dissuadedfromthatpursuitbyhisrelation，andheadoptedthemilitaryprofession.ThereisthisfurtherremarkablecircumstanceintheyouthofPichegru，that，thoughhewasolderbyseveralyearsthanBonaparte，theywerebothmadelieutenantsofartilleryatthesametime.Whatadifferenceintheirdestiny！WhiletheonewaspreparingtoascendathronetheotherwasasolitaryprisonerinthedungeonoftheTemple.
IhadnomotivetoinducemetovisiteithertheTempleorLaForce，butIreceivedatthetimecircumstantialdetailsofwhatwaspassinginthoseprisons，particularlyintheformer;Iwent，however，frequentlytoSt.Pelagie，whereM.Carbonnetwasconfined.AssoonasIknewthathewaslodgedinthatprisonIsetaboutgettinganadmissionfromReal，whosmoothedalldifficulties.M.Carbonnetwasdetainedtwomonthsinsolitaryconfinement.Hewasseveraltimesexamined，buttheinterrogatoriesproducednoresult，and，notwithstandingthedesiretoimplicatehiminconsequenceoftheknownintimacybetweenhimandMoreau，itwasatlastfoundimpossibletoputhimontrialwiththeotherpartiesaccused.
TheTemplehadmoreterrorsthanSt.Pelagie，butnotfortheprisonerswhowerecommittedtoit，fornoneofthoseillustriousvictimsofpolicemachinationdisplayedanyweakness，withtheexceptionofBouvetdeLozier，who，beingsensibleofhisweakness，wishedtopreventitsconsequencesbydeath.Thepublic，however，kepttheirattentionrivetedontheprisoninwhichMoreauwasconfined.IhavealreadymentionedthatPichegruwasconveyedthitheronthenightofthe22dofFebruary;afortnightlaterGeorgeswasarrested，andcommittedtothesameprison.
EitherRealorDesmarets，andsometimesbothtogether，repairedtotheTempletoexaminetheprisoners.InvainthepoliceendeavouredtodirectpublicodiumagainsttheprisonersbyplacardinglistsoftheirnamesthroughthewholeofParis，evenbeforetheywerearrested.Inthoseliststheywerestyled\"brigands，\"andattheheadof\"thebrigands，\"thenameofGeneralMoreaushoneconspicuously.Anabsurditywithoutaparallel.Theeffectproducedwastotallyoppositetothatcalculatedon;for，asnopersoncouldconnecttheideaofabrigandwiththatofageneralwhowastheobjectofpublicesteem，itwasnaturallyconcludedthatthosewhosenameswereplacardedalongwithhiswerenomorebrigandsthanhe.
PublicopinionwasdecidedlyinfavourofMoreau，andeveryonewasindignantatseeinghimdescribedasabrigand.Farfrombelievinghimguilty，hewasregardedasavictimfastenedonbecausehisreputationembarrassedBonaparte;forMoreauhadalwaysbeenlookeduptoascapableofopposingtheaccomplishmentoftheFirstConsul’sambitiousviews.
ThewholecrimeofMoreauwashishavingnumerouspartisansamongthosewhostillclungtothephantomoftheRepublic，andthatcrimewasunpardonableintheeyesoftheFirstConsul，whofortwoyearshadruledthedestiniesofFranceassovereignmaster.WhatmeanswerenotemployedtomisleadtheopinionofthepublicrespectingMoreau？Thepolicepublishedpamphletsofallsorts，andtheComtedeMontgaillardwasbroughtfromLyonstodrawupalibelimplicatinghimwithPichegruandtheexiledPrinces.Butnothingthatwasdoneproducedtheeffectproposed.
TheweakcharacterofMoreauisknown.Infact，heallowedhimselftobecircumventedbyafewintriguers，whoendeavouredtoderiveadvantagefromtheinfluenceofhisname.Buthewassodecidedlyopposedtothereestablishmentoftheancientsystemthatherepliedtooneoftheagentswhoaddressed’him，\"IcannotputmyselfattheheadofanymovementfortheBourbons，andsuchanattemptwouldnotsucceed.IfPichegruactonanotherprinciple——andeveninthatcaseIhavetoldhimthattheConsulsandtheGovernorofParismustdisappear——IbelievethatIhaveapartystrongenoughintheSenatetoobtainpossessionofauthority，andIwillimmediatelymakeuseofittoprotecthisfriends;
publicopinionwillthendictatewhatmaybefittobedone，butIwillpromisenothinginwriting.\"AdmittingthesewordsattributedtoMoreautobetrue，theyprovethathewasdissatisfiedwiththeConsularGovernment，andthathewishedachange;butthereisagreatdifferencebetweenaconditionalwishandaconspiracy.
ThecommanderoftheprincipalguardoftheTemplewasGeneralSavory，andhehadreinforcedthatguardbyhisselectgendarmerie.Theprisonersdidnotdaretocommunicateonewithanotherforfearofmutualinjury，butallevincedacouragewhichcreatednolittlealarmastotheconsequencesofthetrial.Neitheroffersnorthreatsproducedanyconfessionsinthecourseoftheinterrogatories.Pichegru，inparticular，displayedanextraordinaryfirmness，andRealoneday，onleavingthechamberwherehehadbeenexamininghim，saidaloudinthepresenceofseveralpersons，\"WhatamanthatPichegruis！\"
FortydayselapsedafterthearrestofGeneralPichegruwhen，onthemorningofthe6thofApril，hewasfounddeadinthechamberheoccupiedintheTemple.Pichegruhadundergonetenexaminations;buthehadmadenoconfessions，andnopersonwascommittedbyhisreplies.
Allhisdeclarations，however，gavereasontobelievethathewouldspeakout，andthattooinaloftyandenergeticmannerduringtheprogressofthetrial.\"WhenIambeforemyjudges，\"saidhe，\"mylanguageshallbeconformabletotruthandtheinterestsofmycountry.\"Whatwouldthatlanguagehavebeen？Withoutdoubttherewasnowishthatitshouldbeheard.Pichegruwouldhavekepthispromise，forhewasdistinguishedforhisfirmnessofcharacteraboveeverything，evenabovehisqualitiesasasoldier;differinginthisrespectfromMoreau，whoallowedhimselftobeguidedbyhiswifeandmother—in—law，bothofwhomdisplayedridiculouspretensionsintheirvisitstoMadameBonaparte.
ThedayonwhichRealspokebeforeseveralpersonsofPichegruinthewayIhaverelatedwasthedayofhislastexamination.Iafterwardslearned，fromasourceonwhichIcanrely，thatduringhisexaminationPichegru，thoughcarefultosaynothingwhichcouldaffecttheotherprisoners，showednodispositiontobetenderofhimwhohadsoughtandresolvedhisdeath，butevincedafirmresolutiontounveilbeforethepublictheodiousmachineryoftheplotintowhichthepolicehaddrawnhim.HealsodeclaredthatheandhiscompanionshadnolongeranyobjectbuttoconsiderofthemeansofleavingParis，withtheviewofescapingfromthesnareslaidforthemwhentheirarresttookplace.
HedeclaredthattheyhadallofthemgivenuptheideaofoverturningthepowerofBonaparte，aschemeintowhichtheyhadbeenenticedbyshamefulintrigues.IamconvincedthedreadexcitedbyhismanifestationofaresolutiontospeakoutwiththemostrigidcandourhastenedthedeathofPichegru.M.Real，whoisstillliving，knowsbetterthananyoneelsewhatwerePichegru’sdeclarations，asheinterrogatedhim.Iknownotwhetherthatgentlemanwillthinkfit，eitheratthepresentorsomefutureperiod，toraisetheveilofmysterywhichhangsovertheseevents，butofthisIamsure，hewillbeunabletodenyanythingIadvance.ThereisevidencealmostamountingtodemonstrationthatPichegruwasstrangledinprison，andconsequentlyallideaofsuicidemustberejectedasinadmissible.HaveIpositiveandsubstantiveproofofwhatIassert？Ihavenot;buttheconcurrenceoffactsandtheweightofprobabilitiesdonotleavemeinpossessionofthedoubtsIshouldwishtoentertainonthattragicevent.Besides，thereexistsacertainpopularinstinct，whichisrarelyatfault，anditmustbeintherecollectionofmany，notonlythatthegeneralopinionfavouredthenotionofPichegru’sassassination，butthatthepainstakentogivethatopinionanotherdirection，bytheaffectedexhibitionofthebody，onlyservedtostrengthenit.Hewhospontaneouslysays，Ihavenotcommittedsuchorsuchacrime，atleastadmitsthereisroomforsuspectinghisguilt.
Thetruthis，thetideofopinionneversetinwithsuchforceagainstBonaparteasduringthetrialofMoreau;norwasthepopularsentimentinerroronthesubjectofthedeathofPichegru，whowasclearlystrangledintheTemplebysecretagents.Theauthors，theactors，andthewitnessesofthehorribleprisonscenesoftheperiodaretheonlypersonscapableofremovingthedoubtswhichstillhangoverthedeathofPichegru;butImustneverthelesscontendthattheprecedingcircumstances，thegeneralbeliefatthetime，andevenprobability，areincontradictionwithanyideaofsuicideonthepartofPichegru.Hisdeathwasconsiderednecessary，andthisnecessitywasitsrealcause.
CHAPTERXXV.
1804.
ArrestofGeorges——Thefruiterer’sdaughteroftheRuedeLaMontagne——St.Genevieve——LouisBonaparte’svisittotheTemple——
GeneralLauriston——ArrestofVilleneuveandBarco——Villeneuvewounded——Moreauduringhisimprisonment——PreparationsforleavingtheTemple——RemarkablechangeinGeorges——Addressesandcongratulations——SpeechoftheFirstConsulforgotten——SecretnegotiationswiththeSenate——OfficialpropositionofBonaparte’selevationtotheEmpire——SittingoftheCouncilofState——
InterferenceofBonaparte——Individualvotes——Sevenagainsttwenty——
Hissubjectsandhispeople——AppropriatenessofthetitleofEmperor——CommunicationsbetweenBonaparteandtheSenate——BonapartefirstcalledSirebyCambaceres——FirstlettersignedbyNapoleonasEmperor——GrandleveeattheTuileries——Napoleon’saddresstotheImperialGuard——Organic’Senatus—consulte’——Revivalofoldformulasandtitles——TheRepublicanismofLucien——TheSpanishPrincess——
Lucien’sclandestinemarriage——Bonaparte’sinfluenceontheGermanPrinces——IntriguesofEngland——DrakeatMunich——ProjectforoverthrowingBonaparte’sGovernment——CircularfromtheMinisterforForeignAffairstothemembersoftheDiplomaticBody——Answerstothatcircular.
Georgeswasarrestedaboutseveno’clock，ontheeveningofthe9thofMarch，withanotherconspirator，whosename，Ithink，wasLeridan.
GeorgeswasstoppedinacabrioletonthePlacedel’Odeon，whitherhehadnodoubtbeendirectedbythepoliceagent，whowasconstantlyabouthim.Innotseizinghimathislodgings，theobject，probably，wastogivemorepublicitytohisarrest，andtoproduceaneffectuponthemindsofthemultitude.Thiscalculationcostthelifeofoneman，andhadwell—nighsacrificedthelivesoftwo，forGeorges，whoconstantlycarriedarmsabouthim，firstshotdeadthepoliceofficerwhoseizedthehorse’sreins，andwoundedanotherwhoadvancedtoarresthimisthecabriolet.BesideshispistolstherewasfounduponhimaponiardofEnglishmanufacture.
GeorgeslodgedwithawomannamedLemoine，whokeptafruiterer’sshopintheRuedelaMontagneSt.Genevieve，andontheeveningofthe9thofMarchhehadjustlefthislodgingtogo，itwassaid，toaperfumer’snamedCaron.Itisdifficulttosupposethatthecircumstanceofthepolicebeingonthespotwasthemereeffectofchance.Thefruiterer’sdaughterwasputtingintothecabrioletaparcelbelongingtoGeorgesatthemomentofhisarrest.Georges，seeingtheofficersadvancetoseizehim，desiredthegirltogetoutoftheway，fearinglestheshouldshootherwhenhefiredontheofficers.Sheranintoaneighbouringhouse，takingtheparcelalongwithher.Thepolice，itmayreadilybesupposed，weresoonafterher.Themasterofthehouseinwhichshehadtakenrefuge，curioustoknowwhattheparcelcontained，hadopenedit，anddiscovered，amongotherthings，abagcontaining1000Dutchsovereigns，fromwhichheacknowledgedhehadabstractedaconsiderablesum.Heandhiswife，aswellasthefruiterer’sdaughter，wereallarrested;astoGeorges，hewastakenthatsameeveningtotheTemple，whereheremaineduntilhisremovaltotheConciergeriewhenthetrialcommenced.
DuringthewholeofthelegalproceedingsGeorgesandtheotherimportantprisonerswerekeptinsolitaryconfinement.ImmediatelyonPichegru’sdeaththeprisonerswereinformedofthecircumstance.Astheywereallacquaintedwiththegeneral，andnonebelievedthefactofhisreportedsuicide，itmayeasilybeconceivedwhatconsternationandhorrorthetragicaleventexcitedamongthem.Ilearned，andIwassorrytohearofit，thatLouisBonaparte，whowasanexcellentman，and，beyondallcomparison，thebestofthefamily，hadthecruelcuriositytoseeGeorgesinhisprisonafewdaysafterthedeathofPichegru，andwhenthesensationofhorrorexcitedbythateventintheinterioroftheTemplewasatitsheight，Louisrepairedtotheprison，accompaniedbyabrilliantescortofstaff—officers，andGeneralSavaryintroducedhimtotheprisoners.WhenLouisarrived，Georgeswaslyingonhisbedwithhishandsstronglyboundbymanacles.Lauriston，whoaccompaniedLouis，relatedtomesomeoftheparticularsofthisvisit，which，inspiteofhissinceredevotednesstothefirstConsul，heassuredmehadbeenverypainfultohim.
AfterthearrestofGeorgestherewerestillsomeindividualsmarkedoutasaccomplicesintheconspiracywhohadfoundmeanstoeludethesearchofthepolice.Thepersonslastarrestedwere，Ithink，Villeneuve，one—
oftheprincipalconfidantsofGeorges，BurbanMalabre，whowentbythenameofBarco，andCharlesd’Hozier.TheywerenottakentillfivedaysafterthearrestoftheDucd’Enghien.ThefamousCommissionerComminges，accompaniedbyaninspectorandadetachmentofgendarmesd’Elite，foundVilleneuveandBurbanMalabreinthehouseofamannamedDubuisson，intheRueJeanRobert.
ThisDubuissonandhiswifehadshelteredsomeoftheprincipalpersonsproscribedbythepolice.TheMessieursdePolignacandM.deRivierehadlodgedwiththem.WhenthepolicecametoarrestVilleneuveandBurbanMalabrethepeoplewithwhomtheylodgeddeclaredthattheyhadgoneawayinthemorning.Theofficers，however，searchedthehouse，anddiscoveredasecretdoorwithinacloset.Theycalled，andreceivingnoanswer，thegendarmeriehadrecoursetooneofthoseexpedientswhichwere，unfortunately，toofamiliartothem.Theyfiredapistolthroughthedoor.Villeneuve，whowentbythenameofJoyau，waswoundedinthearm，whichobligedhimandhiscompaniontocomefromtheplaceoftheirconcealment，andtheywerethenmadeprisoners.
Moreauwasnottreatedwiththedegreeofrigourobservedtowardstheotherprisoners.Indeed，itwouldnothavebeensafesototreathim，foreveninhisprisonhereceivedthehomageandrespectofallthemilitary，notexceptingeventhosewhowerehisguards.Manyofthesesoldiershadservedunderhim，anditcouldnotbeforgottenhowmuchhewasbelovedbythetroopshehadcommanded.HedidnotpossessthatirresistiblecharmwhichinBonaparteexcitedattachment，buthismildnessoftemperandexcellentcharacterinspiredloveandrespect.
ItwasthegeneralopinioninParisthatasinglewordfromMoreautothesoldiersinwhosecustodyhewasplacedwouldinamomenthaveconvertedthegaoler—guardintoaguardofhonour，readytoexecuteallthatmightberequiredforthesafetyoftheconquerorofHohenlinden.Perhapstherespectwithwhichhewastreatedandtheindulgenceofdailyseeinghiswifeandchildwerebutartfulcalculationsforkeepinghimwithinthelimitsofhisusualcharacter.Besides，Moreauwassoconfidentoftheinjusticeofthechargebroughtagainsthimthathewascalmandresigned，andshowednodispositiontorousetheangerofanenemywhowouldhavebeenhappytohavesomerealaccusationagainsthim.TothesecausescombinedIalwaysattributedtheresignation;andImaysaytheindifference，ofMoreauwhilehewasinprisonandonhistrial.
WhenthelegalpreparationsforthetrialwereendedtheprisonersoftheTemplewerepermittedtocommunicatewitheachother，and，viewingtheirfatewiththatindifferencewhichyouth，misfortune，andcourageinspired，theyamusedthemselveswithsomeofthosegameswhichusuallyserveforboyishrecreation.WhiletheywerethusengagedtheorderarrivedfortheirremovaltotheConciergerie.Thefirmnessofallremainedunshaken，andtheymadetheirpreparationsfordepartureasiftheyweregoingaboutanyordinarybusiness.ThisfortitudewasparticularlyremarkableinGeorges，inwhosemannerachangehadtakenplacewhichwasremarkedbyallhiscompanionsinmisfortune.
ForsometimepasttheagentsofGovernmentthroughoutFrancehadbeeninstructedtosolicittheFirstConsultograntforthepeoplewhatthepeopledidnotwant，butwhatBonapartewishedtotakewhileheappearedtoyieldtothegeneralwill，namely，unlimitedsovereignauthority，freefromanysubterfugeofdenomination.Theopportunityofthegreatconspiracyjustdiscovered，andinwhichBonapartehadnotincurredamoment’sdanger，ashedidatthetimeoftheinfernalmachine，wasnotsufferedtoescape;thatopportunitywas，onthecontrary，，eagerlyseizedbytheauthoritiesofeveryrank，civil，ecclesiastical，andmilitary，andatorrentofaddresses，congratulations，andthanksgivingsinundatedtheTuileries.Mostoftheauthorsoftheseaddresseedidnotconfinethemselvestomerecongratulations;theyentreatedBonapartetoconsolidatehiswork，thetruemeaningofwhichwasthatitwastimeheshouldmakehimselfEmperorandestablishhereditarysuccession.ThosewhoonotheroccasionshadshownanofficiousreadinesstoexecuteBonaparte’scommandsdidnotnowfeartoriskhisdispleasurebyopposingtheopinionhehadexpressedintheCouncilofStateonthediscussionofthequestionoftheConsulateforlife.Bonapartethensaid，\"Hereditarysuccessionisabsurd.Itisirreconcilablewiththeprincipleofthesovereigntyofthepeople，andimpossibleinFrance.\"
InthissceneofthegranddramaBonaparteplayedhispartwithhisaccustomedtalent，keepinghimselfinthebackgroundandleavingtoothersthetaskofpreparingthecatastrophe.TheSenate，whotooktheleadinthewayofinsinuation，didnotfail，whilecongratulatingtheFirstConsulonhisescapefromtheplotsofforeigners，or，astheywereofficiallystyled，thedaggersofEngland，toconjurehimnottodelaythecompletionofhiswork.SixdaysafterthedeathoftheDued’EnghientheSenatefirstexpressedthiswish.EitherbecauseBonapartebegantorepentofauselesscrime，andfelttheilleffectitmustproduceonthepublicmind，orbecausehefoundthelanguageoftheSenatesomewhatvague，helefttheaddressnearlyamonthunanswered，andthenonlyrepliedbytherequestthattheintentionoftheaddressmightbemorecompletelyexpressed.ThesenegotiationsbetweentheSenateandtheHeadoftheGovernmentwerenotimmediatelypublished.Bonapartedidnotlikepublicityexceptforwhathadarrivedataresult;buttoattaintheresultwhichwastheobjectofhisambitionitwasnecessarythattheprojectwhichhewasmaturingshouldbeintroducedintheTribunate，andthetribuneCureehadthehonourtobethefirsttoproposeofficially，onthe30thofApril1804，theconversionoftheConsularRepublicintoanEmpire，andtheelevationofBonapartetothetitleofEmperor;withtherightsofhereditarysuccession.
IfanydoubtscouldexistrespectingthecomplaisantpartwhichCureeactedonthisoccasiononecircumstancewouldsufficetoremovethem;
thatis，thattendaysbeforethedevelopmentofhispropositionBonapartehadcausedthequestionoffoundingtheEmpireandestablishinghereditarysuccessioninhisfamilytobesecretlydiscussedintheCouncilofState.IlearnedfromoneoftheCouncillorsofStateallthatpassedonthatoccasion，andImayremarkthatCambaceresshowedhimselfparticularlyeagerintheCouncilofState，aswellasafterwardsintheSenate，tobecometheexaltedsubjectofhimwhohadbeenhisfirstcolleagueintheConsulate.
AboutthemiddleofApril，theCouncilofStatebeingassembledasforanordinarysitting，theFirstConsul，whowasfrequentlypresentatthesittings，didnotappear.CambaceresarrivedandtookthePresidencyinhisqualityofSecondConsul，anditwasremarkedthathisairwasmoresolemnthanusual，thoughheatalltimesaffectedgravity.
Thepartisansofhereditarysuccessionwerethemajority，andresolvedtopresentanaddresstotheFirstConsul.ThoseoftheCouncillorswhoopposedthisdeterminedontheirparttosendacounter—address;andtoavoidthisclashingofopinionsBonapartesignifiedhiswishthateachmemberoftheCouncilshouldsendhimhisopinionindividually，withhissignatureaffixed.ByasingularaccidentithappenedtobeBerlier’stasktopresenttotheFirstConsultheseparateopinionsoftheCouncil.
Outofthetwenty—sevenCouncillorspresentonlysevenopposedthequestion.Bonapartereceivedthemallmoatgraciously，andtoldthem，amongotherthings，thatbewishedforhereditarypoweronlyforthebenefitofFrance;thatthecitizenswouldneverbehissubjects，andthattheFrenchpeoplewouldneverbehispeople.SuchwerethepreliminariestotheofficialpropositionofCureetotheTribunate，anduponreflectionitwasdecidedthat，asalloppositionwouldbeuselessandperhapsdangeroustotheopposingparty，theminorityshouldjointhemajority.Thiswasaccordinglydone.
TheTribunatehavingadoptedthepropositionofCuree，therewasnolongeranymotiveforconcealingtheoverturesoftheSenate.ItsaddresstotheFirstConsulwasthereforepublishedfortydaysafteritsdate：thepearwasthenripe.ThisperiodissoimportantthatImustnotomitputtingtogetherthemostremarkablefactswhicheithercamewithinmyownobservation，orwhichIhavelearnedsincerespectingthefoundationoftheEmpire.
BonapartehadalongtimebeforespokentomeofthetitleofEmperorasbeingthemostappropriateforthenewsovereigntywhichhewishedtofoundinFrance.This，heobserved，wasnotrestoringtheoldsystementirely，andhedweltmuchonitsbeingthetitlewhichCaesarhadborne.Heoftensaid，\"OnemaybetheEmperorofarepublic，butnottheKingofarepublic，thosetwotermsareincongruous.\"
InitsfirstaddresstheSenatehadtakenasatestthedocumentsithadreceivedfromtheGovernmentinrelationtotheintriguesofDrake，whohadbeensentfromEnglandtoMunich.ThattextaffordedtheopportunityforavagueexpressionofwhattheSenatetermedthenecessitiesofFrance.TogivegreatersolemnitytotheaffairtheSenateproceededinabodytotheTuileries，andonethingwhichgaveapeculiarcharactertothepreconcertedadvancesoftheSenatewasthatCambaceres，theSecondConsul，fulfilledhisfunctionsofPresidentonthisoccasion，anddeliveredtheaddresstotheFirstConsul.
However，theFirstConsulthoughttheaddressoftheSenate，which，I
havebeeninformed，wasdrawnupbyFrancoisdeNeufchateau，wasnotexpressedwithsufficientclearness;hetherefore，aftersufferingalittleintervaltoelapse，sentamessagetotheSenatesignedbyhimself，inwhichhesaid，\"Youraddresshasbeentheobjectofmyearnestconsideration.\"Andthoughtheaddresscontainednomentionofhereditarysuccession，headded，\"YouconsiderthehereditarysuccessionofthesuprememagistracynecessarytodefendtheFrenchpeopleagainsttheplotsofourenemiesandtheagitationarisingfromrivalambition.
Atthesametimeseveralofourinstitutionsappeartoyoutorequireimprovementsoastoensurethetriumphofequalityandpublicliberty，andtooffertothenationandtheGovernmentthedoubleguaranteetheyrequire.\"Fromthesubsequentpassagesofthemessageitwillbesufficienttoextractthefollowing：\"Wehavebeenconstantlyguidedbythisgreattruth：thatthesovereigntydwellswiththeFrenchpeople，andthatitisfortheirinterest，happiness，andglorythattheSupremeMagistracy，theSenate，theCouncilofState，theLegislativeBody，theElectoralColleges，andthedifferentbranchesoftheGovernment，areandmustbeinstituted.\"TheomissionoftheTribunateinthisenumerationissomewhatremarkable.Itannouncedapromisewhichwasspeedilyrealised.