napoleon bonaparte, v11-第13章
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was in actual need。 Meanwhile； as one is always pleased to be the bearer
of good tidings； I had lost no time in informing my petitioner of the
Emperor's favorable decision。 When she learned what had taken place； of
which I was still in entire ignorance； she returned to me； and from what
she said I imagined she was the victim of some mistake。 In this belief I
took the liberty of again speaking to his Majesty on the subject； and my
astonishment may be imagined when his Majesty himself condescended to
relate to me the whole affair。 Then he added： 〃My poor child； you have
allowed yourself to be taken for a simpleton。 I promised a pension； and
I gave it to the wife of General Derval； that is to say； to his real
wife； the mother of his daughter。〃 The Emperor was not at all angry with
me。 I know very well that the matter would not have been permitted to
continue thus without my interesting myself further in it； but events
followed each other in rapid succession until the abdication of his
Majesty； and the affair finally remained as thus settled。
CHAPTER XX。
It was not only by force of arms that the enemies of France endeavored at
the end of 1813 to overthrow the power of the Emperor。 In spite of our
defeats the Emperor's name still inspired a salutary terror； and it was
apparent that although so numerous； the foreigners still despaired of
victory as long as there existed a common accord between the Emperor and
the French people。 We have seen in the preceding chapter in what
language he expressed himself to the great united bodies of the state；
and events have proved whether his Majesty concealed the truth from the
representatives of the nation as to the real condition of France。 To
this discourse which history has recorded； I may be allowed to oppose
here another made at the same period。 This is the famous declaration of
Frankfort； copies of which the enemies of the Emperor caused to be
circulated in Paris； and I would not dare to wager that persons of his
court； while performing their duties near him； did not have a copy in
their pockets。 If there still remains any doubt as to which party was
acting in good faith； the reading of what follows is sufficient to dispel
these； for there is no question here of political considerations； but
simply the comparison of solemn promises with the actions which
succeeded。
〃The French government has just ordered a new levy of three hundred
thousand men； the proclamations of the senate contain a challenge to
the allied powers。 They find themselves called on again to
promulgate to the world the views by which they are guided in this
present war； the principles which form the basis of their conduct；
their wishes； and their intentions。 The allied powers are not
making war on France； but on the openly admitted preponderance
which； to the great misfortune of Europe and France； the Emperor
Napoleon has too long maintained outside the limits of his Empire。
Victory has brought the allied armies to the Rhine。 The first use
their imperial and royal Majesties have made of victory has been to
offer peace to his Majesty the Emperor of the French。 A position
reenforced by the accession of all the sovereigns and princes of
Germany has had no influence on the conditions of this peace； for
these conditions are founded on the independence of the other states
of Europe。 The objects of these powers are just in their aims；
generous and liberal in their application； reassuring to all； and
honorable to each。
The allied sovereigns desire that France should be great； strong；
and happy； since its greatness and power is one of the foundations
of the social edifice。 They desire that France should be happy；
that French commerce should revive； that the arts； those blessings
of peace； should flourish； because a great people are tranquil only
when satisfied。 The powers confirm the French Empire in the
possession of an extent of territory which France has never attained
under her kings； since a generous nation should not be punished
because it has experienced reverses in a bloody and well…contested
struggle in which it has fought with its accustomed bravery。
But the powers themselves also wish to be happy and peaceful。 They
desire a condition of peace which； by a wise partition of force； by
a just equilibrium； may hereafter preserve their people from the
innumerable calamities which have for twenty years overwhelmed
Europe。
The allied powers will not lay down their arms until they have
obtained this grand and beneficent result； the worthy object of all
their efforts。 They will not lay down their arms until the
political condition of Europe is again secure； until immutable
principles have regained their ascendency over new pretensions； and
the sanctity of treaties has finally assured a genuine peace to
Europe。〃
It needs only common sense to ascertain whether the allied powers were
sincere in this declaration； the object of which evidently was to
alienate from the Emperor the affections of his people by holding up his
Majesty before them as an obstacle to peace； and separating his cause
from that of France； and on this point I am glad to support my own
opinion by that of M。 de Bourrienne； whom surely no one will accuse of
partiality for his Majesty。
Several passages of his Memoirs； above all those in which he blames the
Emperor； have pained me； I must confess； but on this occasion he does not
hesitate to admit the insincerity of the allies； which opinion is of much
weight according to my poor judgment。
M。 de Bourrienne was then at Paris under the special surveillance of the
Duke of Rovigo。 I frequently heard this minister mention him to the
Emperor； and always favorably； but the enemies of the former secretary of
the First Consul must have been very powerful； or his Majesty's
prejudices very strong； for M。 de Bourrienne never returned to favor。
The Emperor； who； as I have said； sometimes condescended to converse
familiarly with me； never spoke to me of M。 de Bourrienne； whom I had not
seen since the Emperor had ceased to receive him。 I saw him again for
the first time among the officers of the National Guard； the day these
gentlemen were received at the palace； as we shall see later； and I have
never seen him since； but as we were all much attached to him on account
of his kind consideration for us； he was often the subject of
conversation； and； I may add； of our regrets。 Moreover； I was long
ignorant that at the period of which I am now speaking； his Majesty had
offered him the mission to Switzerland； as I learned this circumstance
only from reading his Memoirs。 I would not conceal； however； that I was
painfully affected by reading this； so greatly would I have desired that
Bourrienne should overcome his resentment against his Majesty； who in the
depths of his heart really loved him。
Whatever was done； it is evident now to all that the object of the
declaration of Frankfort was to cause alienation between the Emperor and
the French people； and subsequent events have shown that this was fully
understood by the Emperor； but unfortunately it was soon seen that the
enemy had partly obtained their object。 Not only in private society
persons could be heard expressing themselves freely in condemnation of
the Emperor； but dissensions openly arose even in the body of the Corps
Legislatif。
After the opening session； the Emperor having rendered a decree that a
commission should be named composed of five senators and five members of
the Corps Legislatif； these two bodies consequently assembled。 This
commission； as has been seen from his Majesty's address； had for its
object the consideration of articles submitted relative to pending
negotiations between France and the allied powers。 Count Regnault de
Saint Jean d'Angely bore the decree to the Corps Legislatif； and
supported it with his usual persuasive eloquence； recalling the victories
of France and the glory of the Emperor； bu
