OnthesamedayBonapartesaidagreatdealmoreaboutthetreacheryofEngland.ThegrosscalumniestowhichhewasexposedintheLondonnewspaperspowerfullycontributedtoincreasehisnaturalhatredofthelibertyofthepress;andhewasmuchastonishedthatsuchattackscouldbemadeuponhimbyEnglishsubjectswhenhewasatpeacewiththeEnglishGovernment.
IhadonedayasingularproofoftheimportancewhichBonaparteattachedtotheopinionoftheEnglishpeoplerespectinganymisconductthatwasattributedtohim.WhatIamabouttostatewillaffordanotherexampleofBonaparte’sdispositiontoemploypettyandroundaboutmeanstogainhisends.HegaveaballatMalmaisonwhenHortensewasintheseventhmonthofherpregnancy.
——[ThisreferstothefirstsonofLouisandofHortense，NapoleonCharles，theintendedsuccessorofNapoleon，whowasborn1802，died1807，elderbrotherofNapoleonIII.]——
Ihavealreadymentionedthathedislikedtoseewomeninthatsituation，andaboveallcouldnotenduretoseethemdance.Yet，inspiteofthisantipathy，hehimselfaskedHortensetodanceattheballatMalmaison.
Sheatfirstdeclined，butBonapartewasexceedinglyimportunate，andsaidtoherinatoneofgood—humouredpersuasion，"Do，Ibegofyou;
Iparticularlywishtoseeyoudance.Come，standup，toobligeme."
Hortenseatlastconsented.ThemotiveforthisextraordinaryrequestI
willnowexplain.
OnthedayaftertheballoneofthenewspaperscontainedsomeversesonHortense’sdancing.Shewasexceedinglyannoyedatthis，andwhenthepaperarrivedatMalmaisonsheexpressed，displeasureatit.Evenallowingforallthefacilityofournewspaperwits，shewasneverthelessatalosstounderstandhowthelinescouldhavebeenwrittenandprintedrespectingacircumstancewhichonlyoccurredthenightbefore.
Bonapartesmiled，andgavehernodistinctanswer.WhenHortenseknewthatIwasaloneinthecabinetshecameinandaskedmetoexplainthematter;andseeingnoreasontoconcealthetruth，ItoldherthatthelineshadbeenwrittenbyBonaparte’sdirectionbeforetheballtookplace.Iadded，whatindeedwasthefact，thattheballhadbeenpreparedfortheverses，andthatitwasonlyfortheappropriatenessoftheirapplicationthattheFirstConsulhadpressedhertodance.HeadoptedthisstrangecontrivanceforcontradictinganarticlewhichappearedinanEnglishjournalannouncingthatHortensewasdelivered.
Bonapartewashighlyindignantatthatprematureannouncement，whichheclearlysawwasmadeforthesolepurposeofgivingcredittothescandalousrumoursofhisimputedconnectionwithHortense.Suchwerethepettymachinationswhichnotunfrequentlyfoundtheirplaceinamindinwhichthegrandestschemeswererevolving.
EndofTheMemoirsofNapoleon，V6，1803
byLouisAntoineFauveletdeBourrienneMemoirsofNapoleonBonaparte，V7
byLouisAntoineFauveletdeBourrienneHisPrivateSecretaryEditedbyR.W.PhippsColonel，LateRoyalArtillery1891
CONTENTS：
CHAPTERXIX.toCHAPTERXXVI.1803—1804
CHAPTERXIX.
1803.
Mr.Pitt——Motiveofhisgoingoutofoffice——ErroroftheEnglishGovernment——PretendedregardfortheBourbons——ViolationofthetreatyofAmiens——Reciprocalaccusations——Malta——LordWhitworth’sdeparture——RomeandCarthage——SecretsatisfactionofBonaparte——
MessagetotheSenate，theLegislativeBody，andtheTribunate——
TheKingofEngland’srenunciationofthetitleofKingofFrance——
ComplaintsoftheEnglishGovernment——FrenchagentsinBritishports——ViewsofFranceuponTurkey——ObservationmadebyBonapartetotheLegislativeBody——Itsfalseinterpretation——ConquestofHanover——
TheDukeofCambridgecaricatured——TheKingofEnglandandtheElectorofHanover——Firstaddresstotheclergy——Useoftheword"Monsieur"——TheRepublicanweeksandmonths.
OneofthecircumstanceswhichforetoldthebriefdurationofthepeaceofAmienswas，thatMr.Pittwasoutofofficeatthetimeofitsconclusion.ImentionedthistoBonaparte，andIimmediatelyperceivedbyhishasty"Whatdoyousay？"thatmyobservationhadbeenheard——butnotliked.Itdidnot，however，requireanyextraordinaryshrewdnesstoseethetruemotiveofMr.Pitt’sretirement.ThatdistinguishedstatesmanconceivedthatatruceunderthenameofapeacewasindispensableforEngland;but，intendingtoresumethewarwithFrancemorefiercelythanever，heforawhileretiredfromoffice，andlefttoothersthetaskofarrangingthepeace;buthisintentionwastomarkhisreturntotheministrybytherenewaloftheimplacablehatredhehadvowedagainstFrance.Still，Ihavealwaysthoughtthattheconclusionofpeace，howevernecessarytoEngland，wasanerroroftheCabinetofLondon.EnglandalonehadneverbeforeacknowledgedanyofthegovernmentswhichhadrisenupinFrancesincetheRevolution;andasthepastcouldnotbeblottedout，afuturewar，howeversuccessfultoEngland，couldnottakefromBonaparte’sGovernmenttheimmenseweightithadacquiredbyanintervalofpeace.Besides，bythemerefactoftheconclusionofthetreatyEnglandprovedtoallEuropethattherestorationoftheBourbonswasmerelyapretext，andshedefacedthatpageofherhistorywhichmighthaveshownthatshewasactuatedbynoblerandmoregeneroussentimentsthanmerehatredofFrance.ItisverycertainthatthecondescensionofEnglandintreatingwiththeFirstConsulhadtheeffectofrallyingroundhimagreatmanypartisansoftheBourbons，whosehopesentirelydependedonthecontinuanceofwarbetweenGreatBritainandFrance.Thisopenedtheeyesofthegreaternumber，namely，thosewhocouldnotseebelowthesurface，andwerenotpreviouslyawarethatthedemonstrationsoffriendshipsoliberallymadetotheBourbonsbytheEuropeanCabinets，andespeciallybyEngland，weremerelyfalsepretences，assumedforthepurposeofdisguising，beneaththesemblanceofhonourablemotives，theirwishtoinjureFrance，andtoopposeherrapidlyincreasingpower.
Whenthemisunderstandingtookplace，FranceandEnglandmighthavemutuallyreproachedeachother，butjusticewasapparentlyonthesideofFrance.ItwasevidentthatEngland，byrefusingtoevacuateMalta，wasguiltyofapalpableinfractionofthetreatyofAmiens，whileEnglandcouldonlyinstituteagainstFrancewhatintheFrenchlawlanguageiscalledasuitorprocessoftendency.ButitmustbeconfessedthatthistendencyonthepartofFrancetoaugmentherterritorywasveryevident，fortheConsulardecreesmadeconquestsmorepromptlythanthesword.
TheunionofPiedmontwithFrancehadchangedthestateofEurope.Thisunion，itistrue，waseffectedpreviouslytothetreatyofAmiens;butitwasnotsowiththestatesofParmaandPiacenza，BonapartehavingbyhissoleauthorityconstitutedhimselftheheiroftheGrandDuke，recentlydeceased.ItmaythereforebeeasilyimaginedhowgreatwasEngland’suneasinessattheinternalprosperityofFranceandtheinsatiableambitionofherruler;butitisnolesscertainthat，withrespecttoMalta，Englandactedwithdecidedlybadfaith;andthisbadfaithappearedinitsworstlightfromthefollowingcircumstance：——
IthadbeenstipulatedthatEnglandshouldwithdrawhertroopsfromMaltathreemonthsafterthesigningofthetreaty，yetmorethanayearhadelapsed，andthetroopswerestillthere.TheorderofMaltawastoberestoredasitformerlywas;thatistosay，itwastobeasovereignandindependentorder，undertheprotectionoftheHolySee.ThethreeCabinetsofVienna，Berlin，andSt.PetersburgweretoguaranteetheexecutionofthetreatyofAmiens.TheEnglishAmbassador，toexcusetheevasionsofhisGovernment，pretendedthattheRussianCabinetconcurredwithEnglandinthedelayedfulfilmentoftheconditionsofthetreaty;
butattheverymomenthewasmakingthatexcuseacourierarrivedfromtheCabinetofSt.Petersburgbearingdespatchescompletely，atvariancewiththeassertionofLordWhitworth.HislordshipleftParisonthenightofthe12thMay1803，andtheEnglishGovernment，unsolicited，sentpassportstotheFrenchembassyinLondon.ThenewsofthissuddenrupturemadetheEnglishconsolefallfourpercent.，butdidnotimmediatelyproducesucharetrogradeeffectontheFrenchfunds，whichwerethenquotedatfifty—fivefrancs;——averyhighpoint，whenitisrecollectedthattheywereatsevenoreightfrancsontheeveofthe18thBrumaire.
InthisstateofthingsFranceproposedtotheEnglishGovernmenttoadmitofthemediationofRussia;butasEnglandhaddeclaredwarinordertorepairtheerrorshecommittedinconcludingpeace，thepropositionwasofcourserejected.ThusthepublicgavetheFirstConsulcreditforgreatmoderationandasincerewishforpeace.ThusarosebetweenEnglandandFranceacontestresemblingthosefuriouswarswhichmarkedthereignsofKingJohnandCharlesVII.OurbeauxespritsdrewsplendidcomparisonsbetweentheexistingstateofthingsandtheancientrivalryofCarthageandRome，andsapientlyconcludedthat，asCarthagefell，Englandmustdosolikewise.
BonapartewasatSt.CloudwhenLordWhitworthleftParis.Afortnightwasspentinuselessattemptstorenewnegotiations.War，therefore，wastheonlyalternative.BeforehemadehisfinalpreparationstheFirstConsuladdressedamessagetotheSenate，theLegislativeBody，andtheTribunate.InthismessagehementionedtherecalloftheEnglishAmbassador，thebreakingoutofhostilities，theunexpectedmessageoftheKingofEnglandtohisParliament，andthearmamentswhichimmediatelyensuedintheBritishports."Invain，"hesaid，"hadFrancetriedeverymeanstoinduceEnglandtoabidebythetreaty.Shehadrepelledeveryoverture，andincreasedtheinsolenceofherdemands.
France，"headded，"willnotsubmittomenaces，butwillcombatforthefaithoftreaties，andthehonouroftheFrenchname，confidentlytrustingthattheresultofthecontestwillbesuchasshehasarighttoexpectfromthejusticeofhercauseandthecourageofherpeople."
Thismessagewasdignified，andfreefromthatveinofboastinginwhichBonapartesofrequentlyindulged.ThereplyoftheSenatewasaccompaniedbyavoteofashipoftheline，tobepaidforoutoftheSenatorialsalaries.WithhisusualaddressBonaparte，inactingforhimself，spokeinthenameofthepeople，justashedidinthequestionoftheConsulateforlife.ButwhathethendidforhisownintereststurnedtothefutureinterestsoftheBourbons.Theverytreatywhichhadjustbeenbrokenoffgaverisetoacuriousobservation.Bonaparte，thoughnotyetasovereign，peremptorilyrequiredtheKingofEnglandtorenouncetheemptytitleofKingofFrance，whichwaskeptupasiftoimplythatoldpretensionswerenotyetrenounced.Thepropositionwasaccededto，andtothiscircumstancewasowingthedisappearanceofthetitleofKingofFrancefromamongthetitlesoftheKingofEngland，whenthetreatyofPariswasconcludedonthereturnoftheBourbons.
ThefirstgrievancecomplainedofbyEnglandwastheprohibitionofEnglishmerchandise，whichhadbeenmorerigidsincethepeacethanduringthewar.TheavowalofGreatBritainonthispointmightwellhaveenabledhertodispensewithanyothersubjectofcomplaint;forthetruthis，shewasalarmedattheaspectofourinternalprosperity，andattheimpulsegiventoourmanufactures.TheEnglishGovernmenthadhopedtoobtainfromtheFirstConsulsuchacommercialtreatyaswouldhaveprovedadeath—blowtoourrisingtrade;butBonaparteopposedthis，andfromtheverycircumstanceofhisrefusalhemighteasilyhaveforeseentheruptureatwhichheaffectedtobesurprised.WhatIstateIfeltatthetime，whenIreadwithgreatinterestallthedocumentsrelativetothisgreatdisputebetweenthetworivalnations，whichelevenyearsafterwardswasdecidedbeforethewallsofParis.
ItwasevidentlydisappointmentinregardtoacommercialtreatywhichcreatedtheanimosityoftheEnglishGovernment，asthatcircumstancewasalludedto，bywayofreproach，intheKingofEngland’sdeclaration.
InthatdocumentitwascomplainedthatFrancehadsentanumberofpersonaintotheportsofGreatBritainandIrelandinthecharacterofcommercialagents，whichcharacter，andtheprivilegesbelongingtoit，theycouldonlyhaveacquiredbyacommercialtreaty.Suchwas，inmyopinion，therealcauseofthecomplaintsofEngland;butasitwouldhaveseemedtooabsurdtomakeitthegroundofadeclarationofwar，sheenumeratedothergrievances，viz.，theunionofPiedmontandofthestatesofParmaandPiacenzawithFrance，andthecontinuanceoftheFrenchtroopsinHolland.AgreatdealwassaidabouttheviewsandprojectsofFrancewithrespecttoTurkey，andthiscomplaintoriginatedinGeneralSebastiani’smissiontoEgypt.OnthatpointIcantakeuponmetosaythattheEnglishGovernmentwasnotmisinformed.BonapartetoofrequentlyspoketoareofhisideasrespectingtheEast，andhisprojectofattackingtheEnglishpowerinIndia，toleaveanydoubtofhiseverhavingrenouncedthem.TheresultofallthereproacheswhichthetwoGovernmentsaddressedtoeachotherwas，thatneitheractedwithgoodfaith.
TheFirstConsul，inacommunicationtotheLegislativeBodyonthestateofFranceandonherforeignrelations;hadsaid，"England，single—
handed，cannotcopewithFrance."ThissufficedtoirritatethesusceptibilityofEnglishpride，andtheBritishCabinetaffectedtoregarditasathreat.However，itwasnosuchthing.WhenBonapartethreatened，hiswordswereinfinitelymoreenergetic.ThepassageabovecitedwasmerelyauassurancetoFrance;andifweonlylookatthepasteffortsandsacrificesmadebyEnglandtostirupenemiestoFranceontheContinent，wemaybejustifiedinsupposingthatherangeratBonaparte’sdeclarationarosefromaconvictionofitstruth.SinglyopposedtoFrance，Englandcoulddoubtlesshavedonehermuchharm，especiallybyassailingthescatteredremnantsofhernavy;butshecouldhavedonenothingagainstFranceontheContinent.Thetwopowers，unaidedbyallies，mighthavecontinuedlongatwarwithoutanyconsiderableactsofhostility.
ThefirsteffectofthedeclarationofwarbyEnglandwastheinvasionofHanoverbytheFrenchtroopsunderGeneralMortier.ThetelegraphicdespatchbywhichthisnewswascommunicatedtoPariswasaslaconicascorrect，andcontained，inafewwords，thecompletehistoryoftheexpedition.Itranasfollows："TheFrencharemastersoftheElectorateofHanover，andtheenemy’sarmyaremadeprisonersofwar."Adayortwoaftertheshopwindowsoftheprint—sellerswerefilledwithcaricaturesontheEnglish，andparticularlyontheDukeofCambridge.
IrecollectseeingoneinwhichtheDukewasrepresentedreviewinghistroopsmountedonacrab.Imentionthesetriflesbecause，asIwasthenlivingentirelyatleisure，intheRueHauteville，IusedfrequentlytotakeastrollontheBoulevards，whereIwassometimesmuchamusedwiththeseprints;andIcouldnothelpremarking，thatinlargecitiessuchtriffleshavemoreinfluenceonthepublicmindthanisusuallysupposed.
TheFirstConsulthoughtthetakingoftheprisonersinHanoveragoodopportunitytoexchangethemforthosetakenfromusbytheEnglishnavy.
Apropositiontothiseffectwasaccordinglymade;buttheEnglishCabinetwasofopinionthat，thoughtheKingofEnglandwasalsoElectorofHanover，yettherewasnoidentitybetweenthetwoGovernments，ofbothwhichGeorgeIII.wasthehead.Inconsequenceofthissubtledistinctionthepropositionfortheexchangeofprisonersfelltotheground.AtthisperiodnothingcouldexceedtheanimosityofthetwoGovernmentstowardseachother，andBonaparte，onthedeclarationofwar，markedhisindignationbyanactwhichnoconsiderationcanjustify;
IalludetotheorderforthearrestofalltheEnglishinFrance——
atrulybarbariousmeasure;for;cananythingbemorecruelandunjustthantovisitindividualswiththevengeanceduetotheGovernmentwhosesubjectstheymayhappentobe？ButBonaparte，whenundertheinfluenceofauger，wasnevertroubledbyscruples.
ImustherenoticethefulfilmentofaremarkBonaparteoftenmade，useoftomeduringtheConsulate."Youshallsee，Bourrienne，"hewouldsay，"whatuseIwillmakeofthepriests."
Warbeingdeclared，theFirstConsul，inimitationofthemostChristiankingsofoldentimes，recommendedthesuccessofhisarmstotheprayersofthefaithfulthroughthemediumoftheclergy.Tothisendheaddressedacircularletter，writteninroyalstyle，totheCardinals，Archbishops，andBishopsofFrance.
Itwasasfollows：
MONSIEUR——ThemotivesofthepresentwarareknownthroughoutEurope.ThebadfaithoftheKingofEngland，whohasviolatedhistreatiesbyrefusingtorestoreMaltatotheorderofSt.JohnofJerusalem，andattackedourmerchantvesselswithoutapreviousdeclarationofwar，togetherwiththenecessityofajustdefence，forcedustohaverecoursetoarms.Ithereforewishyoutoorderprayerstobeofferedup，inordertoobtainthebenedictionofHeavenonourenterprises.TheproofsIhavereceivedofyourzealforthepublicservicegivemeanassuranceofyourreadinesstoconformwithmywishes.
GivenatSt.Cloud，18Prairial，anXI.（7thJune1803）.
（Signed）BONAPARTE.
Thisletterwasremarkableinmorethanonerespect.Itastonishedmostofhisoldbrothers—in—arms，whoturneditintoridicule;observingthatBonaparteneedednoprayingtoenablehimtoconquerItalytwiceover.
TheFirstConsul，however，letthemlaughon，andsteadilyfollowedthelinehehadtracedout.HisletterwasadmirablycalculatedtopleasetheCourtofRome，whichhewishedshouldconsiderhiminthelightofanothereldersonoftheChurch.Theletterwas，moreover，remarkablefortheuseoftheword"Monsieur，"whichtheFirstConsulnowemployedforthefirsttimeinanactdestinedforpublicity.ThiscircumstancewouldseemtoindicatethatheconsideredRepublicandesignationsincompatiblewiththeformsduetotheclergy：theclergywereespeciallyinterestedintherestorationofmonarchy.Itmay，perhaps，bethoughtthatIdwelltoomuchontrifles;butIlivedlongenoughinBonaparte’sconfidencetoknowtheimportanceheattachedtotrifles.TheFirstConsulrestoredtheoldnamesofthedaysoftheweek，whileheallowedthenamesofthemonths，assetdownintheRepublicancalendar，toremain.HecommencedbyorderingtheMoniteurtobedated"Saturday，"
suchadayof"Messidor.""See，"saidheoneday，"wasthereeversuchaninconsistency？Weshallbelaughedat！ButIwilldoawaywiththeMessidor.IwilleffacealltheinventionsoftheJacobins."
TheclergydidnotdisappointtheexpectationsoftheFirstConsul.Theyowedhimmuchalready，andhopedforstillmorefromhim.ThelettertotheBishops，etc.，wasthesignalforanumberofcircularsfullofeulogiesonBonaparte.
ThesecomplimentswerefarfromdispleasingtotheFirstConsul，whohadnoobjectiontoflatterythoughhedespisedthosewhomeanlymadethemselvesthemediumofconveyingittohim.DuroconcetoldmethattheyhadallgreatdifficultyinpreservingtheirgravitywhenthecureofaparishinAbbevilleaddressedBonaparteonedaywhilehewasonhisjourneytothecoast."Religion，"saidtheworthycure，withpompoussolemnity，"owestoyouallthatitis，weowetoyouallthatweare;
andI，too，owetoyouallthatIam."
——[NotsofulsomeassomeofthetermsusedayearlaterwhenNapoleonwasmadeEmperor."IamwhatIam，"wasplacedoveraseatpreparedfortheEmperor.Onephrase，"GodmadeNapoleonandthenrested，"drewfromNarbonnethesneerthatitwouldhavebeenbetteriftheDeityhadrestedsooner."Bonaparte，"saysJosephdeMaistre，"hashadhimselfdescribedinhispapersasthe’MessengerofGod.’Nothingmoretrue.Bonapartecomesstraightfromheaven，likeathunderbolt.’（Saints—Benve，Caureries，tomeiv.p.203.]
CHAPTERXX.
1803.
PresentationofPrinceBorghesetoBonaparte——DepartureforBelgiumRevivalofaroyalcustom——TheswansofAmiens——ChangeofformulaintheactsofGovernment——CompanyofperformersinBonaparte’ssuite——Revivalofoldcustoms——Divisionoftheinstituteintofourclasses——Scienceandliterature——Bonaparte’shatredofliterarymen——Ducis——BernardindeSaint—Pierre——ChenierandLemercier——
ExplanationofBonaparte’saversiontoliterature——Lalandeandhisdictionary——EducationinthehandsofGovernment——M.deRoquelaure，ArchbishopofMalines.
InthemonthofApril1803PrinceBorghese，whowasdestinedonedaytobecomeBonaparte’sbrother—in—lawbymarryingthewidowofLeclerc，wasintroducedtotheFirstConsulbyCardinalCaprara.
AbouttheendofJuneBonaparteproceeded，withJosephine，onhisjourneytoBelgiumandtheseaboarddepartments.Manycuriouscircumstanceswereconnectedwiththisjourney，ofwhichIwasinformedbyDurocaftertheFirstConsul’sreturn.BonaparteleftParisonthe24thofJune，andalthoughitwasnotforupwardsofayearafterwardsthathisbrowwasencircledwiththeimperial—diadem，everythingconnectedwiththejourneyhadanimperialair.Itwasformerlythecustom，whentheKingsofFranceenteredtheancientcapitalofPicardy，forthetownofAmienstooffertheminhomagesomebeautifulswans.Carewastakentorevivethiscustom，whichpleasedBonapartegreatly，becauseitwastreatinghimlikeaKing.Theswanswereaccepted，andsenttoParistobeplacedinthebasinoftheTuileries，inordertoshowtheParisianstheroyalhomagewhichtheFirstConsulreceivedwhenabsentfromthecapital.
ItwasalsoduringthisjourneythatBonapartebegantodatehisdecreesfromtheplacesthroughwhichhepassed.HehadhithertoleftagreatnumberofsignaturesinParis，inorderthathemightbepresent，asitwere，evenduringhisabsence，bytheactsofhisGovernment.HithertopublicactshadbeensignedinthenameoftheConsulsoftheRepublic.
Insteadofthisformula，hesubstitutedthenameoftheGovernmentoftheRepublic.Bymeansofthisvariation，unimportantasitmightappear，theGovernmentwasalwaysintheplacewheretheFirstConsulhappenedtobe.ThetwootherConsulswerenowmerenullities，eveninappearance.
ThedecreesoftheGovernment，whichCambaceressignedduringthecampaignofMarengo，werenowissuedfromallthetownsofFranceandBelgiumwhichtheFirstConsulvisitedduringhissixweeks’journey.
HavingthuscentredthesoleauthorityoftheRepublicinhi...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：