ThenewKingofanewkingdomenteredFlorenceonthe12thofApril1801;
butthereceptiongivenhimbytheTuscanswasnotatallsimilartowhathehadexperiencedatParis.ThepeoplereceivedtheroyalpairassovereignsimposedonthembyFrance.TheephemeralkingdomofEtrurialastedscarcelysixyears.TheKingdiedin1803，intheflowerofhisage，andin1807theQueenwasexpelledfromherthronebyhimwhohadconstructeditforher.
AtthisperiodapowerfulpartyurgedBonapartetobreakwiththePope，andtoestablishaGallicanChurch，theheadofwhichshouldresideinFrance.TheythoughttoflatterhisambitionbyindicatingtohimanewsourceofpowerwhichmightestablishapointofcomparisonbetweenhimandthefirstRomanemperors.Buthisideasdidnotcoincidewiththeirsonthissubject."Iamconvinced，"saidhe，"thatapartofFrancewouldbecomeProtestant，especiallyifIweretofavourthatdisposition.
IamalsocertainthatthemuchgreaterportionwouldremainCatholic，andwouldoppose，withthegreatestzealandfervour，theschismofapartoftheirfellow—citizens.Idreadthereligiousquarrels，thefamilydissensions，andthepublicdistractions，whichsuchastateofthingswouldinevitablyoccasion.In，revivingareligionwhichhasalwaysprevailedinthecountry，andwhichstillprevailsintheheartsofthepeople，andingivingthelibertyofexercisingtheirworshiptotheminority，Ishallsatisfyeveryone."
TheFirstConsul，takingasuperiorviewofthestateofFrance，consideredthatthere—establishmentofreligiousworshipwouldproveapowerfulsupporttohisGovernment：andhehadbeenoccupiedeversincethecommencementof1801inpreparingaConcordatwiththePope.ItwassignedinthemonthofJulyinthesameyear.Itrequiredsometimetoenablethepartiestocometoanunderstandingonthesubject.
CardinalConsalviarrived，inthemonthofJune1801，atParis，toarrangemattersonthepartofthePope.CardinalCapraraandM.deSpinaalsoformedpartoftheembassysentbytheHolyFather.Therewere，besides，severalabletheologians，amongwhomDoctorC————wasdistinguished.
——[The"DoctorC————"wasCaselti，laterArchbishopofParma.BonierwasgreentheBishopricofOrleans，notVersailles;seeErreurs，tomei，p.276.ThedetailsofthesurpriseattemptedatthelastmomentbyputtingbeforeCardinalConsalviforhissignatureanalteredcopyoftheConcordatshouldbereadinhisMemoirs（tomei.
p.355），orinLanfrey（tomeii.p.267）.AsforNapoleon’sbeliefthatpartofthenationmightbecomeProtestant，NarbonneprobablyputthemattertrulywhenhesaidtherewasnotreligionenoughinFrancetostandadivision.ItshouldbenotedthattheConcordatdidnotsomuchrestoretheCatholicChurchasdestroytheoldGallicanChurch，withallitsliberties，whichmightannoyeitherPopeorEmperor.ButonthispointseeTheGallicanChurchandtheRevolution，byJervis：London，BeganPaul，TrenchandCo.，1882.Theclergymay，itistrue，haveshownwisdominaccedingtoanytermsofrestoration.
HewasamemberofthePope’schancery;hisknowledgegavehimsomuchinfluenceoverhiscolleaguesthataffairsadvancedonlyasmuchashepleased.However，hewasgainedoverbyhonoursconferredonhim，andpromisesofmoney.Businessthenwentonalittlequicker.TheConcordatwassignedonthe15thofJuly1801，andmadealawoftheStateinthefollowingApril.TheplenipotentiariesonthepartofBonapartewereJosephBonaparte，Cretet，andtheAbbyBernier，afterwardsBishopofVersailles.——[OrleansnotVersailles.D.W.]
AsolemnTeDeumwaschantedatthecathedralofNotreDameonSunday，the11thofApril.Thecrowdwasimmense，andthegreaterpartofthosepresentstoodduringtheceremony，whichwassplendidintheextreme;
butwhowouldpresumetosaythatthegeneralfeelingwasinharmonywithallthispomp？Was，then，thetimeforthisinnovationnotyetarrived？
Wasittooabruptatransitionfromthehabitsofthetwelveprecedingyears？Itisunquestionablytruethatagreatnumberofthepersonspresentattheceremonyexpressed，intheircountenancesandgestures，ratherafeelingofimpatienceanddispleasurethanofsatisfactionorofreverencefortheplaceinwhichtheywere.Hereandtheremurmursaroseexpressiveofdiscontent.Thewhispering，whichImightmoreproperlycallopenconversation，ofteninterruptedthedivineservice，andsometimesobservationsweremadewhichwerefarfrombeingmoderate.
Somewouldturntheirheadsasideonpurposetotakeabitofchocolate—
cake，andbiscuitswereopenlyeatenbymanywhoseemedtopaynoattentiontowhatwaspassing.
TheConsularCourtwasingeneralextremelyirreligious;norcoulditbeexpectedtobeotherwise，beingcomposedchieflyofthosewhohadassistedintheannihilationofallreligiousworshipinFrance，andofmenwho，havingpassedtheirlivesincamps，hadoftenerenteredachurchinItalytocarryoffapaintingthantoheartheMass.Thosewho，withoutbeingimbuedwithanyreligiousideas，possessedthatgoodsensewhichinducesmentopayrespecttothebeliefofothers，thoughitbeoneinwhichtheydonotparticipate，didnotblametheFirstConsulforhisconduct，andconductedthemselveswithsomeregardtodecency.ButontheroadfromtheTuileriestoNotreDame，LannesandAugereauwantedtoalightfromthecarriageassoonastheysawthattheywarebeingdriventoMass，anditrequiredanorderfromtheFirstConsultopreventtheirdoingso.TheywentthereforetoNotreDame，andthenextdayBonaparteaskedAugereauwhathethoughtoftheceremony."Oh！itwasallveryfine，"repliedtheGeneral;"therewasnothingwanting，exceptthemillionofmenwhohaveperishedinthepullingdownofwhatyouaresettingup."Bonapartewasmuchdispleasedatthisremark.
——[ThisremarkhasbeenattributedelsewheretoGeneralDelmas.
Accordingtoagentlemanwhoplayedapartinthisemptypageantry，Lannesatonemomentdidgetoutofthecarriage，andAugereankeptswearinginnolowwhisperduringthewholeofthechantedMass.
MostofthemilitarychiefswhosprangoutoftheRevolutionhadnoreligionatall，butthereweresomewhowereProtestants，andwhowereirritatedbytherestorationofCatholicismasthenationalfaith.——Editorof1896edition.]——
DuringthenegotiationswiththeHolyFatherBonaparteonedaysaidtome，"IneverycountryreligionisusefultotheGovernment，andthosewhogovernoughttoavailthemselvesofittoinfluencemankind.IwasaMahometaninEgypt;IamaCatholicinFrance.Withrelationtothepoliceofthereligionofastate，itshouldbeentirelyinthehandsofthesovereign.ManypersonshaveurgedmetofoundaGallicanChurch，andmakemyselfitshead;buttheydonotknowFrance.Iftheydid，theywouldknowthatthemajorityofthepeoplewouldnotlikearupturewithRome.BeforeIcanresolveonsuchameasurethePopemustpushmatterstoanextremity;butIbelievehewillnotdoso."——"Youareright，General，andyourecalltomymemorywhatCardinalConsalvisaid：
’ThePopewilldoalltheFirstConsuldesires.’"——"Thatisthebestcourseforhim.Lethimnotsupposethathehastodowithanidiot.
Whatdoyouthinkisthepointhisnegotiationsputmostforward？Thesalvationofmysoul！Butwithmeimmortalityistherecollectiononeleavesinthememoryofman.Thatideapromptstogreatactions.Itwouldbebetterforamannevertohavelivedthantoleavebehindhimnotracesofhisexistence."
ManyendeavoursweremadetopersuadetheFirstConsultoperforminpublicthedutiesimposedbytheCatholicreligion.Aninfluentialexample，itwasurged，wasrequired.Hetoldmeoncethathehadputanendtothatrequestbythefollowingdeclaration："Enoughofthis.
Askmenomore.Youwillnotobtainyourobject.Youshallnevermakeahypocriteofme.Letusremainwhereweare."
IhavereadinaworkremarkableonmanyaccountsthatitwasontheoccasionoftheConcordatofthe15thJuly1801thattheFirstConsulabolishedtherepublicancalendarandreestablishedtheGregorian.Thisisanerror.Hedidnotmakethecalendarareligiousaffair.The’Senatus—consulte’，whichrestoredtheuseoftheGregoriancalendar，tocommenceintheFrenchEmpirefromthe11thNivose，yearXIV.（1stJanuary1806），wasadoptedonthe22dFructidor，yearXIII.（9thSeptember1805），morethanfouryearsaftertheConcordat.There—
establishmentoftheancientcalendarhadnootherobjectthantobringusintoharmonywiththerestofEuropeonapointsocloselyconnectedwithdailytransactions，whichweremuchembarrassedbythedecadarycalendar.
Bonaparteatlength，however，consentedtohearMass，andSt.Cloudwastheplacewherethisancientusagewasfirstre—established.Hedirectedtheceremonytocommencesoonerthanthehourannouncedinorderthatthosewhowouldonlymakeascoffatitmightnotarriveuntiltheservicewasended.
WhenevertheFirstConsuldeterminedtohearMasspubliclyonSundaysinthechapelofthePalaceasmallaltarwaspreparedinaroomnearhiscabinetofbusiness.ThisroomhadbeenAnneofAustria’soratory.
Asmallportablealtar，placedonaplatformonestephigh，restoredittoitsoriginaldestination.Duringtherestoftheweekthischapelwasusedasabathing—room.OnSundaythedoorofcommunicationwasopened，andweheardMasssittinginourcabinetofbusiness.Thenumberofpersonsthereneverexceededthreeorfour，andtheFirstConsulseldomfailedtotransactsomebusinessduringtheceremony，whichneverlastedlongerthantwelveminutes.NextdayallthepapershadthenewsthattheFirstConsulhadheardMassinhisapartments.InthesamewayLouisXVIII.hasoftenhearditinhis！
Onthe19thofJuly1801apapalbullabsolvedTalleyrandfromhisvows.
HeimmediatelymarriedMadameGrandt，andtheaffairobtainedlittlenoticeatthetime.Thisstatementsufficientlyproveshowreporthaspervertedthefact.IthasbeensaidthatBonaparteonbecomingEmperorwishedtorestorethatdecorumwhichtheRevolutionhaddestroyed，andthereforeresolvedtoputanendtotheimproperintimacywhichsubsistedbetweenTalleyrandandMadameGrandt.ItisallegedthattheMinisteratfirstrefusedtomarrythelady，butthatheatlastfounditnecessarytoobeytheperemptoryorderofhismaster.ThispretendedresurrectionofmoralitybyBonaparteisexcessivelyridiculous.ThebullwasnotregisteredintheCouncilofStateuntilthe19thofAugust1802.
——[TheFirstConsulhadonseveraloccasionsurgedM.deTalleyrandtoreturntoholyorders.Hepointedouttohimthatthatcourseworldbemostbecominghisageandhighbirth，andpremisedthatheshouldbemadeacardinal，thusraisinghimtoaparwithRichelieu，andgivingadditionallustretohisadministration（MemoirsoftheDukeofRovigo，vol.i.p.426）.
ButM.deTalleyrandvindicatedhischoice，saying，"Acleverwifeoftencompromisesherhusband;astupidoneonlycompromisesherself"（HistoricalCharacters，p.122，Bulwer，LordDulling）.]——
Iwillendthischapterbyastorysomewhatforeigntotheprecedingtransactions，butwhichpersonallyconcernsmyself.Onthe20thofJuly1801theFirstConsul，’expropriomotu’，namedmeaCouncillorofStateextraordinary.MadameBonapartekindlycondescendedtohaveanelegantbutsomewhatidealcostumemadeforme.ItpleasedtheFirstConsul，however，andhehadasimilaronemadeforhimself.Heworeitashorttimeandthenleftitoff.NeverhadBonapartesincehiselevationshownhimselfsoamiableasonthisoccasion.
CHAPTERVI.
1802.
LastchapteronEgypt——AdmiralGantheaume——WaytopleaseBonaparte——
GeneralMenou’sflatteryandhisreward——Davoust——BonaparteregretsgivingthecommandtoMenou，whoisdefeatedbyAbercromby——Otto’snegotiationinLondon——Preliminariesofpeace.
ForthelasttimeintheseMemoirsIshallreturntotheaffairsofEgypt——tothatepisodewhichembracessoshortaspaceoftimeandholdssohighaplaceinthelifeofBonaparte.OfallhisconquestshesetthehighestvalueonEgypt，becauseitspreadthegloryofhisnamethroughouttheEast.Accordinglyheleftnothingunattemptedforthepreservationofthatcolony.InalettertoGeneralKleberhesaid，"YouareasableasIamtounderstandhowimportantisthepossessionofEgypttoFrance.TheTurkishEmpire，inwhichthesymptomsofdecayareeverywherediscernible，isatpresentfallingtopieces，andtheeviloftheevacuationofEgyptbyFrancewouldnowbethegreater，asweshouldsoonseethatfineprovincepassintothepossessionofsomeotherEuropeanpower."TheselectionofGantheaume，however，tocarryassistancetoKleberwasnotjudicious.GantheaumehadbroughttheFirstConsulbackfromEgypt，andthoughthesuccessofthepassagecouldonlybeattributedtoBonaparte’sownplan，hisdeterminedcharacter，andsuperiorjudgment，yethepreservedtowardsGantheaumethatfavourabledispositionwhichisnaturallyfeltforonewhohassharedagreatdangerwithus，anduponwhomtheresponsibilitymaybesaidtohavebeenimposed.
Thisconfidenceinmediocrity，dictatedbyanhonourablefeeling，didnotobtainasuitablereturn.Gantheaume，byhisindecisionandcreepingaboutintheMediterranean，hadalreadyfailedtoexecuteacommissionentrustedtohim.TheFirstConsul，uponfindinghedidnotleaveBrestafterhehadbeenorderedtotheMediterranean，repeatedlysaidtome，"WhatthedevilisGantheaumeabout？"WithoneofthedailyreportssenttotheFirstConsulhereceivedthefollowingquatrain，whichmadehimlaughheartily：
"Vaisseauxlestes，tetesanslest，Ainsipartl’AmiralGantheaume;
Ils’envadeBrestaBertheaume，EtrevientdeBertheaumeaBrest！"
"Withballastonboard，butnoneinhisbrain，AwaywentourgallantGantheaume，OnavoyagefromBresttoBertheaume，AndthenfromBertheaume——toBrestbackagain！"
Gantheaume’shesitation，hisfrequenttergiversations，hisarrivalatToulon，histardydeparture，andhisreturntothatportonthe19thofFebruary1801，onlytendayspriortoAdmiralKeith’sappearancewithSirRalphAbercrombyoffAlexandria，completelyfoiledalltheplanswhichBonapartehadconceivedofconveyingsuccourandreinforcementstoacolonyonthebrinkofdestruction.
BonapartewasthendreamingthatmanyFrenchfamilieswouldcarrybackcivilisation，science，andarttothatcountrywhichwastheircradle.
ButitcouldnotbeconcealedthathisdeparturefromEgyptin1799hadpreparedthewayforthelossofthatcountry，whichwashastenedbyKleber’sdeathandthechoiceofMenouashissuccessor.
AsurewayofpayingcourttotheFirstConsulandgaininghisfavourwastoeulogisehisviewsaboutEgypt，andtoappearzealousformaintainingthepossessionofthatcountry.BythesemeansitwasthatMenougainedhisconfidence.InthefirstyearoftheoccupationofthatcountryhelaidbeforehimhisdreamsrespectingAfrica.HespokeofthenegroesofSenegal，Mozambique，Mehedie，Marabout，andotherbarbarouscountrieswhichwereallatoncetoassumeanewaspect，andbecomecivilised，inconsequenceoftheFrenchpossessionofEgypt.ToMenou’sadulationistobeattributedthefavourablereceptiongivenhimbytheFirstConsul，evenafterhisreturnfromEgypt，ofwhichhisfoolishconducthadallowedtheEnglishtogetpossession.TheFirstConsulappointedhimGovernorofPiedmont，andatmyrequestgavemyelderbrotherthesituationofCommissary—GeneralofPoliceinthatcountry;butIamincandourobligedtoconfessthattheFirstConsulwasobligedtoretractthismarkofhisfavourinconsequenceofmybrother’smakinganabuseofit.
ItwasalsobyflatteringtheFirstConsulonthequestionoftheEastthatDavoust，onhisreturnfromEgyptin1800inconsequenceoftheConventionofEl—Ariah，insinuatedhimselfintoBonaparte’sgoodgracesand，ifhedidnotdeserve，obtainedhisfavour.AtthattimeDavoustcertainlyhadnotitlewhatevertothegoodfortunewhichhesuddenlyexperienced.Heobtained，withoutfirstservinginasubordinaterank，thecommand—in—chiefofthegrenadiersoftheConsularGuard;andfromthattimecommencedthedeadlyhatredwhichDavoustboretowardsme.
AstonishedatthegreatlengthoftimethatBonapartehadbeenonedayconversingwithhimIsaid，assoonashewasgone，"Howcouldyoutalksolongwithamanwhomyouhavealwayscalledastupidfellow？"——"Ah！
butIdidnotknowhimwellenoughbefore.Heisabetterman，Iassureyou，thanheisthought;andyouwillcomeovertomyopinion."——"Ihopeso."TheFirstConsul，whowasoftenextremelyindiscreet，toldDavoustmyopinionofhim，andhishostilityagainstmeceasedbutwithhislife.
TheFirstConsulcouldnotforgethischerishedconquestintheEast.
Itwasconstantlytheobjectofhisthoughts.HeendeavouredtosendreinforcementstohisarmyfromBrestandToulon，butwithoutsuccess.
HesoonhadcausetorepenthavingentrustedtothehandsofMenouthecommand—in—chief，towhichhebecameentitledonlybyseniority，aftertheassassinationofKleberbySoleimanHeleby.ButBonaparte’sindignationwasexcitedwhenhebecameacquaintedwithMenou’sneglectandmismanagement，whenhesawhimgivingreinstohispassionforreform，alteringanddestroyingeverything，creatingnothinggoodinitsstead，anddreamingaboutformingalandcommunicationwiththeHottentotsandCongoinsteadofstudyinghowtopreservethecountry.
Hispitifulplansofdefence，whichwereuselessfromtheirwantofcombination，appearedtotheFirstConsultheheightofignorance.
Forgetfulofalltheprinciplesofstrategy，ofwhichBonaparte’sconductaffordedsomanyexamples，heopposedtothelandingofAbercrombyafewisolatedcorps，whichwereunabletowithstandtheenemy’sattack，whiletheEnglisharmymighthavebeenentirelyannihilatedhadallthedisposabletroopsbeensentagainstit.
ThegreatadmirationwhichMenouexpressedattheexpeditiontoEgypt;
hisexcessivefondnessforthatcountry，thereligionofwhichhehadridiculouslyenoughembracedunderthenameofAbdallah;theeffortshemade，inhissphere，topreservethecolony;hisenthusiasmandblindattachmenttoBonaparte;theflatteringandencouragingaccountshegaveofthesituationofthearmy，atfirsthadtheeffectofentirelycoveringMenou’sincapacity.
——[ForaludicrousdescriptionofMenouseetheMemoirsofMarmont：—
"Cleverandgay，howasanagreeabletalker，butagreatliar.Hewasnotdestituteofsomeeducation.Hischaracter，oneoftheoddestintheworld，cameveryneartolunacy：Constantlywriting，alwaysinmotioninhisroom，ridingforexerciseeveryday，hewasneverabletostartonanynecessaryofusefuljourney
When，later，Bonaparte，thenFirstConsul，gavehimbyspecialfavourtheadministrationofPiedmont，heputoffhisdeparturefromdaytodayforsixmonths;andthenheonlydidstartbecausehisfriendMarethimselfputhimintohiscarriage，withpost—horsesalreadyharnessedtoitWhenheleftthisposttheyfoundinhiscabinet900letterswhichhehadnotopened.Hewasaneccentriclunatic，amusingenoughsometimes，butacursetoeverythingwhichdependedonhim"（MemoirsoftheDucdeRaguse，tomei.p.410）.]——
ThisalonecanaccountfortheFirstConsul’spreferenceofhim.ButI
amfarfromconcurringinwhathasbeenassertedbymanypersons，thatFrancelostEgyptattheverymomentwhenitseemedmosteasyofpreservation.Egyptwasconqueredbyageniusofvastintelligence，greatcapacity，andprofoundmilitaryscience.Fatuity，stupidity，andincapacitylostit.Whatwastheresultofthatmemorableexpedition？
Thedestructionofoneofourfinestarmies;thelossofsomeofourbestgenerals;theannihilationofournavy;thesurrenderofMalta;andthesovereigntyofEnglandintheMediterranean.Whatistheresultatpresent？Ascientificwork.ThegossipingstoriesandmystificationsofHerodotus，andthereveriesofthegoodRollin，areworthasmuch，andhavenotcostsodear.
TheFirstConsulhadlongbeenapprehensivethattheevacuationofEgyptwasunavoidable.Thelastnewshehadreceivedfromthatcountrywasnotveryencouraging，andcreatedapresentimentoftheapproachofthedreadedcatastrophe.He，however，publishedthecontrary;butitwasthenofgreatimportancethat，anaccountoftheevacuationshouldnotreachEnglanduntilthepreliminariesofpeaceweresigned，forwhichpurposeM.Ottowasexertingallhisindustryandtalent.WemadeagreatmeritofabandoningourconquestsinEgypt;butthesacrificewouldnothavebeenconsideredgreatiftheeventswhichtookplaceattheendofAugusthadbeenknowninLondonbeforethesigningofthepreliminariesonthe1stofOctober.TheFirstConsulhimselfansweredM.Otto’slastdespatch，containingacopyofthepreliminariesreadytobeadoptedbytheEnglishMinistry.NeitherthisdespatchnortheanswerwascommunicatedtoM.deTalleyrand，thenMinisterforForeignAffairs.
TheFirstConsul，whohighlyappreciatedthegreattalentsandknowledgeofthatMinister，neverclosedanydiplomaticarrangementwithoutfirstconsultinghim;andhewasrightinsodoing.Onthisoccasion，however，ItoldhimthatasM.deTalleyrandwas，forhishealth，takingthewatersofBourbon—l’Archambault，fourdaysmustelapsebeforehisreplycouldbereceived，andthatthedelaymightcausethefaceofaffairstochange.IremindedhimthatEgyptwasonthepointofyielding.Hetookmyadvice，anditwaswellforhimthathedid，forthenewsofthecompulsoryevacuationofEgyptarrivedinLondonthedayafterthesigningofthepreliminaries.M.OttoinformedtheFirstConsulbyletterthatLordHawkesbury，illcommunicatingtohimthenewsoftheevacuation，toldhimhewasverygladeverythingwassettled，foritwouldhavebeenimpossibleforhimtohavetreatedonthesamebasisafterthearrivalofsuchnews.InrealityweconsentedatParistothevoluntaryevacuationofEgypt，andthatwassomethingforEngland，whileEgyptwasatthatverytimeevacuatedbyaconventionmadeonthespot.
ThedefinitiveevacuationofEgypttookplaceonthe30thofAugust1801;
andthustheconquestofthatcountry，whichhadcostsodear，wasrendereduseles...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：