napoleon bonaparte, v2-第8章
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brilliant even than on the evening before； and I remember especially that
the largest number of transparencies bore the inscription； 18th Brumaire；
year VIII。
Sunday； at seven o'clock in the morning； after having visited the Marine
Arsenal and all the docks； the weather being very fine； the First Consul
embarked in a little barge； and remained in the roadstead for several
hours； escorted by a large number of barges filled with men and elegantly
dressed women； and musicians playing the favorite airs of the First
Consul。 Then a few hours were again passed in the reception of
merchants； the First Consul assuring them that he had taken the greatest
pleasure in conferring with them in regard to the commerce of Havre with
the colonies。 In the evening； there was a fete prepared by the
merchants； at which the First Consul remained for half an hour； and on
Monday； at five o'clock in the morning； he embarked on a lugger for
Honfleur。 At the time of his departure the weather was a little
threatening； and the First Consul was advised not to embark。 Madame
Bonaparte； whose ears this rumor reached； ran after her husband； begging
him not to set out； but he embraced her； laughing； calling her a coward；
and entered the vessel which was awaiting him。 He had hardly embarked
when the wind suddenly lulled； and the weather became very fine。 On his
return to Havre； the First Consul held a review on the Place de la
Citadelle； and visited the artillery barracks； after which he received；
until the evening； a large number of public dignitaries and merchants；
and the next day； at six o'clock in the morning； we set out for Dieppe。
When we arrived at Fecamp； the town presented an extremely singular
spectacle。 All the inhabitants of the town； and of the adjoining towns
and villages； followed the clergy； chanting a Te Deum for the anniversary
of the 18th Brumaire； and these countless voices rising to heaven for him
affected the First Consul profoundly。 He repeated several times during
breakfast that he had felt more emotion on hearing these chants under the
dome of heaven than he had ever felt while listening to the most
brilliant music。
We arrived at Dieppe at six o'clock in the evening。 The First Consul
retired； only after having received all their felicitations； which were
certainly very sincere there； as throughout all France at that time。 The
next day； at eight o'clock； the First Consul repaired to the harbor；
where he remained a long while watching the return of the fishermen； and
afterwards visited the faubourg of Pollet； and the work on the docks；
which was then just beginning。 He admitted to his table the sub…prefect；
the mayor； and three sailors of Dieppe who had been given boarding…axes
of honor for distinguishing themselves in the combat off Boulogne。 He
ordered the construction of a breakwater in the inner port； and the
continuation of a canal for navigation； which was to be extended as far
as Paris； and of which； until this present time； only a few fathoms have
been made。 From Dieppe we went to Gisors and to Beauvais； and finally
the First Consul and his wife returned to Saint…Cloud； after an absence
of two weeks； during which workmen had been busily employed in restoring
the ancient royal residence； which the First Consul had decided to
accept； as I have before stated。
CHAPTER X。
The tour of the First Consul through the wealthiest and most enlightened
departments of France had removed from his mind the apprehension of many
difficulties which he had feared at first in the execution of his plans。
Everywhere he had been treated as a monarch； and not only he personally；
but Madame Bonaparte also； had been received with all the honors usually
reserved for crowned heads。 There was no difference between the homage
offered them at this time； and that which they received later； even
during the Empire； when their Majesties made tours of their states at
different times。 For this reason I shall give some details； and if they
should seem too long； or not very novel； the reader will remember that I
am not writing only for those who lived during the Empire。 The
generation which witnessed such great deeds； and which； under their very
eyes； and from the beginning of his career； saw the greatest man of this
century； has already given place to another generation； which can judge
him only by what others may narrate of him。 What may be familiar to
those who saw with their own eyes is not so to others； who can only take
at second…hand those things which they had no opportunity of seeing for
themselves。 Besides； details omitted as frivolous or commonplace by
history； which makes a profession of more gravity； are perfectly
appropriate in simple memoirs； and often enable one to understand and
judge the epoch more correctly。 For instance； it seems to me that the
enthusiasm displayed by the entire population and all the local
authorities for the First Consul and his wife during their tour in
Normandy showed clearly that the chief of the state would have no great
opposition to fear； certainly none on the part of the nation； whenever it
should please him to change his title； and proclaim himself Emperor。
Soon after our return； by a decree of the consuls four ladies were
assigned to Madame Bonaparte to assist her in doing the honors of the
palace。 They were Mesdames de Remusat； de Tallouet； de Lucay； and de
Lauriston。 Under the Empire they became ladies…in…waiting。 Madame de
Lauriston often raised a smile by little exhibitions of parsimony； but
she was good and obliging。 Madame de Remusat possessed great merit； and
had sound judgment； though she appeared somewhat haughty； which was the
more remarkable as M。 de Remusat was exactly the reverse。 Subsequently
there was another lady of honor； Madame de La Rochefoucault； of whom I
shall have occasion to speak later。
The lady of the robes； Madame de Lucay； was succeeded by Madame La
Vallette； so gloriously known afterwards by her devotion to her husband。
There were twenty…four French ladies…in…waiting； among whom were Mesdames
de Remusat； de Tallouet； de Lauriston； Ney； d'Arberg； Louise d'Arberg
（afterwards the Countess of Lobau）； de Walsh…Serent； de Colbert； Lannes；
Savary； de Turenne； Octave de Segur； de Montalivet； de Marescot； de
Bouille Solar； Lascaris； de Brignole； de Canisy； de Chevreuse； Victor de
Mortemart； de Montmorency； Matignon； and Maret。 There were also twelve
Italian ladies…in…waiting。
These ladies served in turn one month each； there being thus two French
and one Italian lady on duty together。 The Emperor at first did not
admit unmarried ladies among the ladies…in…waiting； but he relaxed this
rule first in favor of Mademoiselle Louise d'Arberg （afterwards Countess
of Lobau）； and then in favor of Mademoiselle de Lucay； who has since
married Count Philip de Segur； author of the excellent history of the
campaign in Russia； and these two young ladies by their prudence and
circumspect conduct proved themselves above criticism even at court。
There were four lady ushers； Mesdames Soustras； Ducrest…Villeneuve；
Felicite Longroy； and Egle Marchery。
Two first ladies' maids； Mesdames Roy and Marco de St。 Hilaire； who had
under their charge the grand wardrobe and the jewel…box。
There were four ladies' maids in ordinary。
A lady reader。
The men on the staff of the Empress's household were the following：
A grand equerry； Senator Harville； who discharged the duties of a
chevalier of honor。
A head chamberlain； the general of division； Nansouty。
A vice…chamberlain； introducer of the ambassadors； de Beaumont。
Four chamberlains in ordinary； de Courtomer； Degrave； Galard de Bearn；
Hector d'Aubusson de la Feuillade。
Four equerries； Corbineau； Berckheim； d'Audenarde； and Fouler。
A superintendent…general of her Majesty's household； Hinguerlot。
A secretary of commands； Deschamps。
Two head valets； Frere and Douville。
Four valets in ordinary。
Four men servants。
Two head footmen； L'Esperance and d'Argens。 Six ordinary footmen。 The
staff of the kitchen and sanitation were the same as in the household of
the Emperor； and besides these； six pages of th
