Onthe19thofDecembertheLegislativeBodywasconvoked.ItwasonaWednesday.M.LainewasVice—PresidentunderM.Regnier.AcommitteewasappointedtoexamineandreportonthecommunicationsoftheEmperor.
Thereportandconclusionsofthecommitteewerenotsatisfactory;itwasallegedthattheybetrayedarevolutionarytendency，ofwhichM.Lainewasabsurdlyaccusedofhavingbeenoneofthepromoters;butallwhoknewhimmusthavebeenconvincedofthefalsehoodofthecharge.TheEmperororderedthereporttobeseized，andthenadjournedtheLegislativeBody.ThosewhoattentivelyobservedtheeventsofthetimewillrecollectthestuporwhichprevailedinParisontheintelligenceofthisseizureandoftheadjournmentoftheLegislativeBody.Athousandconjectureswerestartedastowhatnewoccurrenceshadtakenplaceabroad，butnothingsatisfactorywaslearned.
Iconsideredthisagreatmistake.WhocandoubtthatiftheLegislativeBodyhadtakenthefrankandnoblestepofdeclaringthatFranceacceptedtheconditionsofFrankforttheywouldnothavebeenlistenedtobytheAllies？Butthewords，"Youaredishonouredifyoucedeasinglevillageacquiredbya’Senatus—consulte’，"always，resoundedinNapoleon’sears：
theyflatteredhissecretthoughts，andeverypacificproposalwasrejected.
ThemembersoftheadjournedLegislativeBodywentasusualtotakeleaveoftheEmperor，whoreceivedthemonaSunday，andafterdeliveringtothemthespeech，whichisverywellknown，dismissedtherebelswithgreatill—humour，refusingtohearanyexplanation."Ihavesuppressedyouraddress，"hebeganabruptly："itwasincendiary.Icalledyouroundmetodogood——youhavedoneill.Eleven—twelfthsofyouarewell—
intentioned，theothers，andaboveallM.Laine，arefactiousintriguers，devotedtoEngland，toallmyenemies，andcorrespondingthroughthechanneloftheadvocateDesezewiththeBourbons.ReturntoyourDepartments，andfeelthatmyeyewillfollowyou;youhaveendeavouredtohumbleme，youmaykillme，butyoushallnotdishonourme.Youmakeremonstrances;isthisatime，whenthestrangerinvadesourprovinces，and200，000Cossacksarereadytooverflowourcountry？Theremayhavebeenpettyabuses;Ineverconnivedatthem.You，M.Raynouard，yousaidthat.PrinceMassenarobbedamanatMarseillesofhishouse.Youlie！
TheGeneraltookpossessionofavacanthouse，andmyMinistershallindemnifytheproprietor.IsitthusthatyoudareaffrontaMarshalofFrancewhohasbledforhiscountry，andgrowngrayinvictory？Whydidyounotmakeyourcomplaintsinprivatetome？Iwouldhavedoneyoujustice.Weshouldwashourdirtylinenathome，andnotdragitoutbeforetheworld.You，callyourselvesRepresentativesoftheNation.
Itisnottrue;youareonlyDeputiesoftheDepartments;asmallportionoftheState，inferiortotheSenate，inferioreventotheCouncilofState.TheRepresentativesofthePeople！IamalonetheRepresentativeofthePeople.Twicehave24，000，000ofFrenchcalledmetothethrone：
whichofyoudurstundertakesuchaburden？Ithadalreadyoverwhelmed（ecrase），yourAssemblies，andyourConventions，yourVergniaudsandyourGuadets，yourJacobinsandyourGirondins.Theyarealldead！What，whoareyou？nothing——allauthorityisintheThrone;andwhatistheThrone？thiswoodenframecoveredwithvelvet？——no，IamtheThrone！
Youhaveaddedwrongtoreproaches.Youhavetalkedofconcessions——
concessionsthatevenmyenemiesdarednotask！IsupposeiftheyaskedChampaigneyouwouldhavehadmegivethemLaBriebesides;butinfourmonthsIwillconquerpeace，orIshallbedead！Youadvise！howdareyoudebateofsuchhighmatters（desigravesinterets）！Youhaveputmeinthefrontofthebattleasthecauseofwar——itisinfamous（c’estuneatrocite）.InallyourcommitteesyouhaveexcludedthefriendsofGovernment——extraordinarycommission——committeeoffinance——committeeoftheaddress，all，allmyenemies.M.Laine，Irepeatit，isatraitor;
heisawickedman，theothersaremereintriguers.Idojusticetotheeleven—twelfths;butthefactionsIknow，andwillpursue.Isit，Iaskagain，isitwhiletheenemyisinFrancethatyoushouldhavedonethis？
Butnaturehasgiftedmewithadeterminedcourage——nothingcanovercomeme.Itcostmypridemuchtoo——Imadethatsacrifice;I——butIamaboveyourmiserabledeclamations——Iwasinneedofconsolation，andyouwouldmortifyme——but，no，myvictoriesshallcrushyourclamours！Inthreemonthsweshallhavepeace，andyoushallrepentyourfolly.Iamoneofthosewhotriumphordie.
"GobacktoyourDepartmentsifanyoneofyoudaretoprintyouraddressIshallpublishitintheMoniteurwithnotesofmyown.Go;FrancestandsinmoreneedofmethanIdoofFrance.Ibeartheeleven—
twelfthsofyouinmyheart——IshallnominatetheDeputiestothetwoserieswhicharevacant，andIshallreducetheLegislativeBodytothedischargeofitsproperduties.TheinhabitantsofAlsaceandFrancheComtehavemorespiritthanyou;theyaskmeforarms，Isendthem，andoneofmyaidesdecampwillleadthemagainsttheenemy."
InafterconversationshesaidoftheLegislativeBodythat"itsmembersnevercametoParisbuttoobtainsomefavours.TheyimportunedtheMinistersfrommorningtillnight，andcomplainediftheywerenotimmediatelysatisfied.Wheninvitedtodinnertheyburnwithenvyatthesplendourtheyseebeforethem."IheardthisfromCambaceres，whowaspresentwhentheEmperormadetheseremarks.
CHAPTERXXXI.
1813.
TheflagofthearmyofItalyandtheeaglesof1813——EntranceoftheAlliesintoSwitzerland——SummonstotheMinisterofPolice——
MyrefusaltoacceptamissiontoSwitzerland——InterviewswithM.deTalleyrandandtheDuedePicence——OfferofaDukedomandtheGrandCordonoftheLegionofHonour——Definitiverefusal——TheDucdeVicence’smessagetomein1815——CommencementofthesiegeofHamburg——Abridgetwoleagueslong——ExecutionsatLubeck——ScarcityofprovisionsinHamburg——Banishmentoftheinhabitants——Menbastinadoedandwomenwhipped——HospitalityoftheinhabitantsofAltona.
IamnowarrivedatthemostcriticalperiodinNapoleon’scareer.Whatreflectionsmusthehavemade，ifhehadhadleisuretoreflect，incomparingtherecollectionsofhisrisingglorywiththesadpictureofhisfallingfortune？WhatacontrastpresentsitselfwhenwecomparethefamousflagofthearmyofItaly，whichtheyouthfulconqueror，Bonaparte，carriedtotheDirectory，withthosedroopingeagleswhohadnowtodefendtheaeriewhencetheyhadsooftentakenflighttospreadtheirtriumphantwingsoverEurope！Hereweseethedifferencebetweenlibertyandabsolutepower！Napoleon，thesonofliberty，towhomheowedeverything，haddisownedhismother，andwasnowabouttofall.
ThoseglorioustriumphswerenowoverwhenthepeopleofItalyconsoledthemselvesfordefeatandsubmittedtothemagicalpowerofthatlibertywhichprecededtheRepublicanarmies.Now，onthecontrary，itwastofreethemselvesfromadespoticyokethatthenationsofEuropehadintheirturntakenuparmsandwerepreparingtoinvadeFrance.
WiththeviolationoftheSwissterritorybytheAlliedarmies，aftertheconsentoftheCantons，isconnectedafactofgreatimportanceinmylife，andwhich，ifIhadchosen，mighthavemadeagreatdifferenceinmydestiny.OnTuesday，the28thofDecember，Idinedwithmyoldfriend，M.Pierlot，andonleavinghomeIwasinthehabitofsayingwhereImightbefoundincaseIshouldbewanted.Atnineo’clockatnightanexpressarrivedfromtheMinisterofPolicedesiringmetocomeimmediatelytohisoffice.Iconfess，consideringthecircumstancesofthetimes，andknowingtheEmperor’sprejudicesagainstme，sucharequestcomingatsuchanhourmademefeelsomeuneasiness，andI
expectednothinglessthenajourneytoVincennes.TheDuedeRovigo，bybecomingresponsibleforme，hadasyetwardedofftheblow，andthesupervisiontowhichtheEmperorhadsubjectedme——thankstothegoodofficesofDavoust——consistedingoingthreetimesaweektoshowmyselftoSavory.
Iaccordingly，havingfirstborrowedanight—cap，repairedtothehoteloftheMinisterofPolice.Iwasusheredintoawell—lightedroom，andwhenIenteredIfoundSavarywaitingforme.Hewasinfullcostume，fromwhichIconcludedhehadjustcomefromtheEmperor.Advancingtowardsmewithanairwhichshowedhehadnobadnewstocommunicate，hethusaddressedme：
"Bourrienne，IhavejustcomefromtheEmperor，whoaskedmewhereyouwere？ItoldhimyouwereinParis，andthatIsawyouoften.’Well，’
continuedtheEmperor，’bidhimcometome，Iwanttoemployhim.Itisthreeyearssincehehashadanythingtodo.IwishtosendhimasMinistertoSwitzerland，buthemustsetoffdirectly.HemustgototheAllies.HeunderstandsGermanwell.TheKingofPrussiaexpressedbylettersatisfactionathisconducttowardsthePrussianswhomthewarforcedtoretiretoHamburg.HeknowsPrinceWitgenstein，whoisthefriendoftheKingofPrussia，andprobablyisatLorrach.HewillseealltheGermanswhoarethere.Iconfidentlyrelyonhim，andbelievehisjourneywillhaveagoodresult.Caulaincourtwillgivehimhisinstructions."
NotwithstandingmyextremesurpriseatthiscommunicationIrepliedwithouthesitationthatIcouldnotacceptthemission;thatitwasofferedtoolate."Itperhapsishoped;"saidI，"thatthebridgeofBalewillbedestroyed，andthatSwitzerlandwillpreserveherneutrality.ButIdonotbelieveanysuchthing;nay，more，Iknowpositivelytothecontrary.Icanonlyrepeattheoffercomesmuchtoolate."——"Iamverysorryforthisresolution，"observedSavory，"butCaulaincourtwillperhapspersuadeyou.TheEmperorwishesyoutogotheDuodeVicenceto—morrowatoneo’clock;hewillacquaintyouwithalltheparticulars，andgiveyouyourinstructions."——"Hemayacquaintmewithwhateverbechooses，butIwillnotgotoLohraah."——"YouknowtheEmperorbetterthanIdo，hewishesyoutogo，andhewillnotpardonyourrefusal."Hemaydoashepleases，butnoconsiderationshallinducemetogotoSwitzerland."——"Youarewrong：butyouwillreflectonthematterbetweenthisandtomorrowmorning.Nightwillbringgoodcounsel，Atanyrate，donotfailtogoto—morrowatoneo’clocktoCaulaincourt，heexpectsyou，anddirectionswillbegiventoadmityouimmediately."
NextmorningthefirstthingIdidwastocallonM.deTalleyrand.
Itoldhimwhathadtakenplace，andashewasintimatelyacquaintedwithCaulaincourt，IbeggedhimtospeaktothatMinisterinfavourofmy，resolution.M.deTalleyrandapprovedofmydeterminationnottogotoSwitzerland，andatoneo’clockpreciselyIproceededtoM.deCaulaincourt’s.Hetoldmeallhehadbeeninstructedtosay.FromthemannerinwhichhemadethecommunicationIconcludedthathehimselfconsideredtheproposedmissionadisagreeableone，andunlikelytobeattendedbyanyusefulresult.IobservedthathemusthaveheardfromSavorythatIhadalreadyexpressedmydeterminationtodeclinethemissionwhichtheEmperorhadbeenpleasedtoofferme.TheDucdeVicencethen，inaveryfriendlyway，detailedthereasonswhichoughttoinducemetoaccepttheoffer，anddidnotdisguisefrommethatbypersistinginmydeterminationIrantheriskofraisingNapoleon’sdoubtsastomyopinionsandfutureintentions.Irepliedthat，havinglivedforthreeyearsasaprivateindividual，unconnectedwithpublicaffairs，IshouldhavenoinfluenceattheheadquartersoftheAllies，andthatwhateverlittleabilityImightbesupposedtopossess，thatwouldnotcounterbalancethedifficultiesofmysituation，andtheopinionthatIwasoutoffavour.IaddedthatIshouldappearattheheadquarterswithoutanydecoration，withouteventhatoftheCordonoftheLegionofHonourtowhichtheEmperorattachedsomuchimportance，andthewantofwhichwouldalmosthavetheappearanceofdisgrace;andI
saidthatthesetrifles，howeverslightlyvaluedbyreasonablemen，werenot，ashewellknew，withouttheirinfluenceonthemenwithwhomI
shouldhavetotreat."Ifthatbeall，"replied.Caulaincourt，"theobstaclewillspeedilyberemoved.IamauthorisedbytheEmperortotellyouthathewillcreateyouaDuke，andgiveyoutheGrandCordonoftheLegionofHonour."
AfterthesewordsIthoughtIwasdreaming，andIwasalmostinclinedtobelievethatCaulaincourtwasjestingwithme.However，theofferwasserious，andIwillnotdenythatitwastempting;yetIneverthelesspersistedintherefusalIhadgiven.Atlength，aftersomefurtherconversation，andrenewed，butuseless，entreatiesonthepartofM.deCaulaincourt，hearose，whichwasasignalthatourinterviewwasterminated.IacknowledgeIremainedforamomentindoubthowtoact，forIfeltwehadcometonounderstanding.M.de’Caulaincourtadvancedslowlytowardsthedoorofhiscabinet：IfIwentawaywithoutknowinghisopinionIhaddonenothing;addressinghim，therefore，byhissurname，"Caulaincourt;"saidI，"youhavefrequentlyassuredmethatyouwouldneverforgettheservicesIrenderedtoyouandyourfamilyatatimewhenIpossessedsomeinfluence.Iknowyou，andthereforespeaktoyouwithoutdisguise.IdonotnowaddressmyselftotheEmperor’sMinister，buttoCaulaincourt.Youareamanofhonour，andIcanopenmyhearttoyoufrankly.ConsidertheembarrassingsituationofFrance，whichyouknowbetterthanIdo.Idonotaskyouforyoursecrets，butImyselfknowenough.IwilltellyoucandidlythatIamconvincedtheenemywillpasstheRhineinafewdays.TheEmperorhasbeendeceived：
Ishouldnothavetimetoreachmydestination，andIshouldbelaughedat.MycorrespondentsinGermanyhavemademeacquaintedwitheveryparticular.Now，Caulaincourt，tellmehonestly，ifyouwereinmyplace，andIinyours，andIshouldmakethispropositiontoyou，whatdeterminationwouldyouadopt？"
IobservedfromtheexpressionofCaulaincourt’scountenancethatmyquestionhadmadeanimpressiononhim，andaffectionatelypressingmyhandhesaid，Iwoulddoasyoudo：Enough.IwillarrangethebusinesswiththeEmperor."Thisreplyseemedtoremoveaweightfrommymind，andIleftCaulaincourtwithfeelingsofgratitude.Ifeltfullyassuredthathewouldsettlethebusinesssatisfactorily，andinthisconjectureIwasnotdeceived，forIheardnomoreofthematter.
ImustheregoforwardayeartorelateanotheroccurrenceinwhichtheDuedeVicenceandIwereconcerned.When，inMarch1815，theKingappointedmePrefectofPolice，M.deCaulaincourtsenttomeaconfidentialpersontoinquirewhetherherananyriskinremaininginParis，orwhetherhehadbetterremove.HehadbeentoldthathisnamewasinscribedinalistofindividualswhomIhadreceivedorderstoarrest.Delightedatthisproofofconfidence，IreturnedthefollowinganswerbytheDuedeVicence’smessenger："TellM.deCaulaincourtthatI
donotknowwherehelives.Heneedbeundernoapprehension：Iwillanswerforhim."
Duringthecampaignof1813theAllies，afterdrivingtheFrenchoutofSaxonyandobligingthemtoretreattowardstheRhine，besiegedHamburg，whereDavoustwasshutupwithagarrisonof30，000men，resolutelydeterminedtomakeitasecondSaragossa.FromthemonthofSeptembereverydayaugmentedthenumberoftheAlliedtroops，whowerealreadymakingrapidprogressontheleftbankoftheElbe.DavoustendeavouredtofortifyHamburgansoextendedascalethat，intheopinionofthemostexperiencedmilitarymen，itwouldhaverequiredagarrisonof60，000mentodefenditinaregularandprotractedsiege.AtthecommencementofthesiegeDavoustlostVandamme，whowaskilledinasortieattheheadofanumerouscorpswhichwasinconsideratelysacrificed.
ItisbutjusticetoadmitthatDavoustdisplayedgreatactivityinthedefence，andbeganbylayinginlargesupplies.
——[VandammefoughtunderGrouchyin1815，anddiedseveralyearsafterwards.ThiskillinghimatHamburgisoneofthecuriousmistakesseizedonbytheBonapartiststodenytheauthenticityoftheseMemoirs.]——
GeneralBertrandwasdirectedtoconstructabridgetoformacommunicationbetweenHamburgandHaarburgbyjoiningtheislandsoftheElbetotheContinentalongatotaldistanceofabouttwoleagues.Thisbridgewastobebuiltofwood，andDavoustseizeduponallthetimber—
yardstosupplymaterialsforitsconstruction.Inthespaceofeighty—
threedaysthebridgewasfinished.Itwasaverymagnificentstructure，itslengthbeing2529toises，exclusiveofthelinesofjunction，formedonthetwoislands.
Theinhabitantsweredreadfullyoppressed，butallthecruelmeasuresandprecautionsoftheFrenchwereineffectual，fortheAlliesadvancedingreatforceandoccupiedWestphalia，whichmovementobligedtheGovernorofHamburgtorecalltothetownthedifferentdetachmentsscatteredroundHamburg.
AtLubeckthedepartureoftheFrenchtroopswasmarkedbyblood.Beforetheyevacuatedthetown，anoldman，andabutchernamedPrahl，werecondemnedtobeshot.Thebutcher’scrimeconsistedinhavingsaid，inspeakingoftheFrench，"Derteufelhohlesie"（thedeviltakethem）.
Theoldmanfortunatelyescapedhisthreatenedfate，but，notwithstandingtheentreatiesandtearsoftheinhabitants，thesentenceuponPrahlwascarriedintoexecution.
ThegarrisonofHamburgwascomposedofFrench，Italian，andDutchtroops.Theirnumberatfirstamountedto30，000，butsicknessmadegreat—havocamongthem.Fromsixtytoeightyperisheddailyinthehospitals.WhenthegarrisonevacuatedHamburginMay1814itwasreducedtoabout15，000men.InthemonthofDecemberprovisionsbegantodiminish，andtherewasnopossibilityofrenewingthesupply.Thepoorwerefirstofallmadetoleavethetown，andafterwardsallpersonswhowerenotusefullyemployed.Itisnoexaggerationtoestimateat50，000thenumberofpersonswhowerethusexiled.ThecolonelcommandingthegendarmerieatHamburgnotifiedtotheexiledinhabitantsthatthosewhodidnotleavethetownwithintheprescribedtimewouldreceivefiftyblowswithacaneandafterwardsbedrivenout.Butifpenancemaybecommutedwithpriestssoitmaywithgendarmes.
Delinquentscontrivedtopurchasetheirescapefromthebastinadobyasumofmoney，andFrenchgallantrysubstitutedwithrespecttofemalesthebirchforthecane.Isawanorderdirectingallfemaleservantstobeexaminedastotheirhealthunlesstheycouldproducecertificatesfromtheirmasters.Onthe25thofDecembertheGovernmentgrantedtwenty—fourhourslongertopersonswhowereorderedtoquitthetown;
andtwodaysafterthisindulgenceanordinancewaspublisheddeclaringthatthosewhoshouldreturntothetownafteronceleavingitweretobeconsideredasrebelsandaccomplicesoftheenemy，andassuchcondemnedtodeathbyaprevotalcourt.Butthiswasnotenough.AttheendofDecemberpeople，withoutdistinctionofsexorage，weredraggedfromtheirbedsandconveyedoutofthetownonacoldnight，whenthethermometerwasbetweensixteenoreighteendegrees;anditwasaffirmedthatseveraloldmenperishedinthisremoval.ThosewhosurvivedwereleftontheoutsideoftheAltonagates.AtAltonatheyallfoundrefugeandassistance.OnChristmas—day7000oftheseunfortunatepersonswerereceivedinthehouseofM.Rainville，formerlyaidedecamptoDumouriez，andwholeftFrancetogetherwiththatgeneral.Hishouse，whichwasatHolstein，wasusuallythesceneofbrilliantentertainments，butitwasconvertedintotheabodeofmisery，mourning，anddeath.Allpossibleattentionwasbestowedontheunfortunateoutlaws;butfewprofitedbyit，andwhatisworse，theinhabitantsofAltonasufferedfortheirgenerosity.ManyoftheunfortunatepersonswereaffectedwiththeepidemicdiseasewhichwasraginginHamburg，andwhichinconsequencebrokeoutatAltona.
AllmeansofraisingmoneyinHamburgbeingexhausted，aseizurewasmadeofthefundsoftheBankofthatcity，whichyetcontainedfromseventoeightmillionsofmarks.WerethosewhoorderedthismeasurenotawarethattoseizeonthefundsofsomeofthecitizensofHamburgwasaninjurytoallforeignerswhohadfundsintheBank？Suchisabriefstatementofthevexationsandcrueltieswhichlongoppressedthisunfortunatecity.NapoleonaccusedHamburgofAnglomania，andbyruiningherhethoughttoruinEngland.Hamburg，feebleandbereftofhersources，couldonlycomplain，likeJerusalemwhenbesiegedbyTitus：
"Plorans，plorcatritinnocte."
CHAPTERXXXII.
1813—1814.
PrinceEugeneandtheaffairsofItaly——ThearmyofItalyonthefrontiersofAustria——Eugene’sregretatthedefectionoftheBavarians——Murat’sdissimulationandperfidy——HistreatywithAustria——Hostilitiesfollowedbyadeclarationofwar——MuratabandonedbytheFrenchgenerals——ProclamationfromParis——Murat’ssuccess——GiganticschemeofNapoleon——NapoleonadvisedtojointheJacobins——Hisrefusal——ArmamentoftheNationalGuard——TheEmperor’sfarewelltotheofficers——TheCongressofChatillon——Refusalofanarmistice——Napoleon’scharacterdisplayedinhisnegotiations——
OpeningoftheCongress——Discussions——RuptureoftheConferences.
IwarsnowproceedtonoticetheaffairsofItalyandtheprincipaleventsoftheViceroyaltyofEugene.InordertothrowtogetherallthatIhavetosayabouttheViceroyImustanticipatetheorderoftime.
Afterthecampaignof1812，whenEugenerevisitedItaly，hewaspromptlyinformedofthemorethandoubtfuldispositionsofAustriatowardsFrance.HethenmadepreparationsforraisinganarmycapableofdefendingthecountrywhichtheEmperorhadcommittedtohissafeguard.
NapoleonwasfullyawarehowmuchadvantagehewouldderivefromthepresenceonthenorthernfrontiersofItalyofanarmysufficientlystrongtoharassAustria，incasesheshoulddrawasidethetransparentveilwhichstillcoveredherpolicy.EugenedidallthatdependedonhimtomeettheEmperor’swishes;butinspiteofhiseffortsthearmyofItalywas，afterall;onlyanimaginaryarmytothosewhocouldcomparethenumberofmenactuallyenrolledwiththenumbersstatedinthelists.
When，inJuly1813，theViceroywasinformedoftheturntakenbythenegotiationsattheshadowofaCongressassembledatPrague，hehadnolongeranydoubtoftherenewalofhostilities;andforeseeinganattackonItalyheresolvedasspeedilyaspossibletoapproachthefrontiersofAustria.HehadsucceededinassemblinganarmycomposedofFrenchandItalians，andamountingto45，000infantryand5000cavalry.OntherenewalofhostilitiestheViceroy’sheadquarterswereatUdine.DowntothemonthofApril1814hesucceededinmaintainingaformidableattitude，andindefendin...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：