memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v8-第12章
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the one nor the other kept a carriage； and therefore Bonaparte frequently
accompanied her when she walked out。 One day they went together to the
notary Raguideau； one of the shortest men I think I ever saw in my life；
Madame de Beauharnais placed great confidence； in him； and went there on
purpose to acquaint him of her intention to marry the young general of
artillery；the protege of Barras。 Josephine went alone into； the
notary's cabinet； while Bonaparte waited for her in an adjoining room。
The door of Raguideau's cabinet did not shut close； and Bonaparte plainly
heard him dissuading Madame de Beauharnais from her projected marriage。
〃You are going to take a very wrong step；〃 said he； 〃and you will be
sorry for it； Can you be so mad as to marry a young man who has nothing
but his cloak and his sword？〃 Bonaparte； Josephine told me； had never
mentioned this to her； and she never supposed that he had heard what fell
from Raguideau。 〃Only think； Bourrienne；〃 continued she； 〃what was my
astonishment when； dressed in the Imperial robes on the Coronation day；
he desired that Raguideau might be sent for； saying that he wished to see
him immediately； and when Raguidesu appeared； he said to him； 〃Well； sir！
have I nothing but my cloak and my sword now？'〃
Though Bonaparte had related to me almost all the circumstances of his
life； as they occurred to his memory； he never once mentioned this affair
of Raguideau； which he only seemed to have suddenly recollected on his
Coronation day。
The day after the Coronation all the troops in Paris were assembled in
the Champ de Mars the Imperial eagles might be distributed to each
regiment； in lieu of the national flags。 I has stayed away from the
Coronation in the church of Notre Dame； but I wished to see the military
fete in the Champ de Mars because I took real pleasure in seeing
Bonaparte amongst his soldiers。 A throne was erected in front of the
Military School； which； though now transformed into a barrack； must have
recalled； to Bonaparte's mind some singular recollections of his boyhood。
At a given signal all the columns closed and approached the throne。 Then
Bonaparte； rising； gave orders for the distribution of the eagles； and
delivered the following address to the deputations of the different corps
of the army：
Soldiers； Soldiers！ behold your colours。 These eagles will always
be your rallying…point！ They will always be where your Emperor may
thank them necessary for the defence of his throne and of his
people。 Swear to sacrifice your lives to defend them； and by your
courage to keep them constantly in the path of victory。Swear！〃
It would be impossible to describe the acclamations which followed this
address； there is something so seductive in popular enthusiasm that even
indifferent persons cannot help yielding to its influence。 And yet the
least reflection would have shown how shamefully Napoleon forswore the
declaration he made to the Senate； when the organic 'Senatus…consulte'
for the foundation of the Empire was presented to him at St： Cloud： On
that occasion he said； 〃The French people shall never be MY people！〃
And yet the day after his Coronation his eagles were to； be carried
wherever they might be necessary for the defence of his people。
By a singular coincidence； while on the 2d of December 1804 Bonaparte was
receiving from the head of the Church the Imperial crown of France； Louis
XVIII。； who was then at Colmar； prompted as it were by an inexplicable
presentiment； drew up and signed a declaration to the French people； in
which he declared that he then； swore never to break the sacred bond
which united his destiny to theirs； never to renounce the inheritance of
his ancestors； or to relinquish his rights。
CHAPTER XXX。
1805
My appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary at HamburgMy interview
with Bonaparte at MalmaisonBonaparte's designs respecting Italy
His wish to revisit BrienneInstructions for my residence in
HamburgRegeneration of European societyBonaparte's plan of
making himself the oldest sovereign in EuropeAmedee Jaubert's
missionCommission from the Emperor to the EmpressMy conversation
with Madame Bonaparte。
I must now mention an event which concerns myself personally； namely； my
appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary； to the Dukes of Brunswick and
Mecklenburg…Schwerin； and to the Hanse towns。
This appointment took place on the 22d of March 1806。 Josephine； who had
kindly promised to apprise me of what the Emperor intended to do for me；
as soon as she herself should know his intentions； sent a messenger to
acquaint me with my appointment； and to tell me that the Emperor wished
to see me。 I had not visited Josephine since her departure for Belgium。
The pompa and ceremonies of the Coronation had； I may say； dazzled me；
and deterred me from presenting myself at the Imperial Palace； where I
should have been annoyed by the etiquette which had been observed since
the Coronation。 I cannot describe what a disagreeable impression this
parade always produced on me。 I could not all at once forget the time
when I used without ceremony to go into Bonaparte's chamber and wake him
at the appointed hour。 As to Bonaparte I had not seen him since he sent
for me after the condemnation of Georges； when I saw that my candour
relative to Moreau was not displeasing to him。 Moreau had since quitted
France without Napoleon's subjecting him to the application of the odious
law which has only been repealed since the return of the Bourbons； and by
virtue of which he was condemned to the confiscation of his property。
Moreau sold his estate of Gros Bois to Bertliier； and proceeded to Cadiz；
whence he embarked for America。 I shall not again have occasion to speak
of him until the period of the intrigues into which he was drawn by the
same influence which ruined him in France。
On the evening of the day when I received the kind message from Josephine
I had an official invitation to proceed the next day to Malmaison； where
the Emperor then was。 I was much pleased at the idea of seeing him there
rather than at the Tuileries； or even at St。 Cloud。 Our former intimacy
at Malmaison made me feel more at my ease respecting an interview of
which my knowledge of Bonaparte's character led me to entertain some
apprehension。 Was I to be received by my old comrade of Brienne； or by
His Imperial Majesty？ I was received by my old college companion。
On my arrival at Malmaison I was ushered into the tentroom leading to the
library。 How I was astonished at the good…natured familiarity with which
he received me！ This extraordinary man displayed； if I may employ the
term； a coquetry towards me which surprised me； notwithstanding my past
knowledge of his character。 He came up to me with a smile on his lips；
took my hand （which he had never done since he was Consul）； pressed it
affectionately； and it was impossible that I could look upon him as the
Emperor of France and the future King of Italy。 Yet I was too well aware
of his fits of pride to allow his familiarity to lead me beyond the
bounds of affectionate respect。 〃My dear Bourrienne；〃 said he； 〃can you
suppose that the elevated rank I have attained has altered my feelings
towards you？ No。 I do not attach importance to the glitter of
Imperial pomp； all that is meant for the people； but I must still be
valued according to my deserts。 I have been very well satisfied with
your services； and I have appointed you to a situation where I shall have
occasion for them。 I know that I can rely upon you。〃 He then asked with
great warmth of friendship what I was about； and inquired after my
family； etc。 In short； I never saw him display less reserve or more
familiarity and unaffected simplicity； which he did the more readily；
perhaps； because his greatness was now incontestable。
〃You know；〃 added Napoleon； 〃that I set out in a week for Italy。 I shall
make myself King； but that is only a stepping…stone。 I have greater
designs respecting Italy。
It must be a kingdom comprising all the Transalpine States； from Venice
to the Maritime Alps。 The union of
