memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v6-第23章
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not the slightest doubt but that Bonaparte intended to make me a present
of the furniture。 However； when I left his service he applied to have it
returned。 As at first I paid no attention to his demand； as far as it
concerned the furniture at Ruel； he directed Duroc to write the following
letter to me：
The First Consul； my dear Bourrienne； has just ordered me to send
him this evening the keys of your residence in Paris； from which the
furniture is not to be removed。
He also directs me to put into a warehouse whatever furniture you
may have at Ruel or elsewhere which you have obtained from
Government。
I beg of you to send me an answer； so as to assist me in the
execution of these orders。 You promised me to have everything
settled before the First Consul's return。 I must excuse myself in
the best way I can。
（Signed） DUROC。
24 Brumaire； an X。
（15th November 1802。）
Believing myself to be master of my own actions； I had formed the design
of visiting England； whither I was called by some private business。
However； I was fully aware of the peculiarity of my situation； and I was
resolved to take no step that should in any way justify a reproach。
On the 11th of January I therefore wrote to Duroc：
My affairs require my presence in England for some time。 I beg of
you； my dear Duroc； to mention my intended journey to the First
Consul； as I do not wish to do anything inconsistent with his views。
I would rather sacrifice my own interest than displease him。 I rely
on your friendship for an early answer to this； for uncertainty
would be fatal to me in many respects。
The answer； which speedily arrived； was as follows：
MY DEAR BOURRIENNEI have presented to the First Consul the letter
I just received from you。 He read it； and said； 〃 No！〃
That is the only answer I can give you。 （Signed） DUROC。
This monosyllable was expressive。 It proved to me that Bonaparte was
conscious how ill he had treated me； and； suspecting that I was actuated
by the desire of vengeance； he was afraid of my going to England； lest I
should there take advantage of that liberty of the press which he had so
effectually put down in France。 He probably imagined that my object was
to publish statements which would more effectually have enlightened the
public respecting his government and designs than all the scandalous
anecdotes； atrocious calumnies； and ridiculous fabrications of Pelletier；
the editor of the 'Ambigu'。 But Bonaparte was much deceived in this
supposition； and if there can remain any doubt on that subject； it will
be removed on referring to the date of these Memoirs； and observing the
time at which I consented to publish them。
I was not deceived as to the reasons of Bonaparte's unceremonious refusal
of my application； and as I well knew his inquisitorial character；
I thought it prudent to conceal my notes。 I acted differently from
Camoens。 He contended with the sea to preserve his manuscripts； I made
the earth the depository of mine。 I carefully enclosed my most valuable
notes and papers in a tin box； which I buried under ground。 A yellow
tinge； the commencement of decay； has in some places almost obliterated
the writing。
It will be seen in the sequel that my precaution was not useless； and
that I was right in anticipating the persecution of Bonaparte； provoked
by the malice of my enemies。 On the 20th of April Duroc sent me the
following note：
I beg； my dear Bourrienne； that you will come to St。 Cloud this
morning。 I have something to tell you on the part of the First
Consul。
（Signed） DUROC。
This note caused me much anxiety。 I could not doubt but that my enemies
had invented some new calumny； but I must say that I did not expect such
baseness as I experienced。
As soon as Duroc had made me acquainted with the business which the First
Consul had directed him to communicate； I wrote on the spot the subjoined
letter to Bonaparte：
At General Duroc's desire I have this moment waited upon him； and he
informs me that you have received notice that a deficit of 100；000
francs has been discovered in the Treasury of the Navy； which you
require me to refund this day at noon。
Citizen First Consul； I know not what this means！ I am utterly
ignorant of the matter。 I solemnly declare to you that this charge
is a most infamous calumny。 It is one more to be added to the
number of those malicious charges which have been invented for the
purpose of destroying any influence I might possess with you。
I am in General Duroc's apartment； where I await your orders。
Duroc carried my note to the First Consul as soon as it was written。 He
speedily returned。 〃All's right！〃 said he。 〃癏e has directed me to say
it was entirely a mistake！that he is now convinced he was deceived！
that he is sorry for the business； and hopes no more will be said about
it。〃
The base flatterers who surrounded Bonaparte wished him to renew his
Egyptian extortions upon me； but they should have recollected that the
fusillade employed in Egypt for the purpose of raising money was no
longer the fashion in France； and that the days were gone by when it was
the custom to 'grease the wheels of the revolutionary car。'
CHAPTER XVII。
1803。
The First Consul's presentiments respecting the duration of peace
England's uneasiness at the prosperity of FranceBonaparte's real
wish for warConcourse of foreigners in ParisBad faith of
EnglandBonaparte and Lord WhitworthRelative position of France
and England…Bonaparte's journey to the seaboard departments
Breakfast at CompiegneFather BertonIrritation excited by the
presence of BouquetFather Berton's derangement and deathRapp
ordered to send for meOrder countermanded。
The First Consul never anticipated a long peace with England。 He wished
for peace merely because； knowing it to be ardently desired by the
people； after ten years of war he thought it would increase his
popularity and afford him the opportunity of laying the foundation of his
government。 Peace was as necessary to enable him to conquer the throne
of France as war was essential to secure it； and to enlarge its base at
the expense of the other thrones of Europe。 This was the secret of the
peace of Amiens； and of the rupture which so suddenly followed； though
that rupture certainly took place sooner than the First Consul wished。
On the great questions of peace and war Bonaparte entertained elevated
ideas； but in discussions on the subject he always declared himself in
favour of war。 When told of the necessities of the people； of the
advantages of peace； its influence on trade； the arts； national industry；
and every branch of public prosperity； he did not attempt to deny the
argument； indeed； he concurred in it； but he remarked； that all those
advantages were only conditional； so long as England was able to throw
the weight of her navy into the scale of the world； and to exercise the
influence of her gold in all the Cabinets of Europe。 Peace must be
broken； since it was evident that England was determined to break it。
Why not anticipate her？ Why allow her to have all the advantages of the
first step？ We must astonish Europe！ We must thwart the policy of the
Continent！ We must strike a great and unexpected blow。 Thus reasoned
the First Consul； and every one may judge whether his actions agreed with
his sentiments。
The conduct of England too well justified the foresight of Bonaparte's
policy； or rather England； by neglecting to execute her treaties； played
into Bonaparte's hand； favoured his love for war； and justified the
prompt declaration of hostilities in the eyes of the French nation； whom
he wished to persuade that if peace were broken it would be against his
wishes。 England was already at work with the powerful machinery of her
subsidies； and the veil beneath which she attempted to conceal her
negotiations was still sufficiently transparent for
