memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v6-第3章
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favourite hope of obtaining more from the people than from the Senate；
he declared with hypocritical humility； 〃That he would submit to this new
sacrifice if the wish of the people demanded what the Senate authorised。〃
Such was the homage he paid to the sovereignty of the people； which was
soon to be trampled under his feet！
An extraordinary convocation of the Council of State took place on
Monday； the 10th of May。 A communication was made to them； not merely of
the Senate's consultation； but also of the First Consul's adroit and
insidious reply。 The Council regarded the first merely as a
notification； and proceeded to consider on what question the people
should be consulted。 Not satisfied with granting to the First Consul ten
years of prerogative； the Council thought it best to strike the iron
while it was hot； and not to stop short in the middle of so pleasing a
work。 In fine； they decided that the following question should be put to
the people： 〃Shall the First Consul be appointed for life； and shall he
have the power of nominating his successor？〃 The reports of the police
had besides much influence on the result of this discussion； for they one
and all declared that the whole of Paris demanded a Consul for life； with
the right of naming a successor。 The decisions on these two questions
were carried as it were by storm。 The appointment for life passed
unanimously； and the right of naming the successor by a majority。 The
First Consul； however； formally declared that he condemned this second
measure； which had not originated with himself。 On receiving the
decision of the Council of State the First Consul； to mask his plan for
attaining absolute power； thought it advisable to appear to reject a part
of what was offered him。 He therefore cancelled that clause which
proposed to give him the power of appointing a successor； and which had
been carried by a small majority。
CHAPTER X。
1802。
General Bernadotte pacifies La vendee and suppresses a mutiny at
ToursBonaparte's injustice towards himA premeditated scene
Advice given to Bernadotte； and Bonaparte disappointedThe First
Consul's residence at St。 CloudHis rehearsals for the Empire
His contempt of mankindMr。 Fox and BonaparteInformation of plans
of assassinationA military dinner given by BonaparteMoreau not
of the partyEffect of the 'Senates…consultes' on the Consulate for
lifeJourney to PlombieresPrevious scene between Lucien and
JosephineTheatrical representations at Neuilly and Malmaison
Loss of a watch； and honesty rewardedCanova at St。 Cloud
Bonaparte's reluctance to stand for a model。
Having arrived at nearly the middle of the career which I have undertaken
to trace； before I advance farther I must go back for a few moments； as I
have already frequently done； in order to introduce some circumstances
which escaped my recollection； or which I purposely reserved； that I
might place them amongst facts analogous to them： Thus； for instance； I
have only referred in passing to a man who； since become a monarch； has
not ceased to honour me with his friendship； as will be seen in the
course of my Memoirs； since the part we have seen him play in the events
of the 18th Brumaire。 This man； whom the inexplicable combination of
events has raised to a throne for the happiness of the people he is
called to govern； is Bernadotte。
It was evident that Bernadotte must necessarily fall into a kind of
disgrace for not having supported Bonaparte's projects at the period of
the overthrow of the Directory。 The First Consul； however； did not dare
to avenge himself openly； but he watched for every opportunity to remove
Bernadotte from his presence； to place him in difficult situations； and
to entrust him with missions for which no precise instructions were
given； in the hope that Bernadotte would commit faults for which the
First Consul might make him wholly responsible。
At the commencement of the Consulate the deplorable war in La Vendee
raged in all its intensity。 The organization of the Chouans was
complete； and this civil war caused Bonaparte much more uneasiness than
that which he was obliged to conduct on the Rhine and in Italy； because；
from the success of the Vendeans might arise a question respecting
internal government； the solution of which was likely to be contrary to
Bonaparte's views。 The slightest success of the Vendeans spread alarm
amongst the holders of national property； and； besides； there was no hope
of reconciliation between France and England； her eternal and implacable
enemy； as long as the flame of insurrection remained unextinguished。
The task of terminating this unhappy struggle was obviously a difficult
one。 Bonaparte therefore resolved to impose it on Bernadotte； but this
general's conciliatory disposition； his chivalrous manners； his tendency
to indulgence； and a happy mixture of prudence and firmness； made him
succeed where others would have failed。 He finally established good
order and submission to the laws。
Some time after the pacification of La Vendee a rebellious disposition
manifested itself at Tours amongst the soldiers of a regiment stationed
there。 The men refused to march until they received their arrears of
pay。 Bernadotte； as commander…in…chief of the army of the west； without
being alarmed at the disturbance； ordered the fifty…second demi…brigade
the one in questionto be drawn up in the square of Tours； where； at the
very head of the corps； the leaders of the mutiny were by his orders
arrested without any resistance being offered。 Carnot who was then
Minister of War； made a report to the First Consul on this affair； which；
but for the firmness of Bernadotte； might have been attended with
disagreeable results。 Carnet's report contained a plain statement of the
facts； and of General Bernadotte's conduct。 Bonaparte was； however；
desirous to find in it some pretext for blaming him； and made me write
these words on the margin of the report： 〃General Bernadotte did not act
discreetly in adopting such severe measures against the fifty…second
demi…brigade； he not having the means； if he head been unsuccessful； of
re…establishing order in a town the garrison of which was not strong
enough to subdue the mutineers。〃
A few days after； the First Consul having learned that the result of this
affair was quite different from that which he affected to dread； and
being convinced that by Bernadotte's firmness alone order had been
restored； he found himself in some measure constrained to write to the
General； and he dictated the following letter to me：
PARIS； 11th Vendemiaire。 Year XI。
CITIZEN…GENERALI have read with interest the account of what you
did to re…establish order in the fifty…second demi…brigade； and
also the report of General Liebert； dated the 5th Vendemiaire。
Tell that officer that the Government is satisfied with his conduct。
His promotion from the rank of Colonel to that of General of brigade
is confirmed。 I wish that brave officer to come to Paris。 He has
afforded an example of firmness and energy which does honour to a
soldier。
（Signed） BONAPARTE。
Thus in the same affair Bonaparte； in a few days； from the spontaneous
expression of blame dictated by hate； was reduced to the necessity of
declaring his approbation； which he did； as may be seen； with studied
coldness； and even taking pains to make his praises apply to Colonel
Liebert； and not to the general…in…chief。
Time only served to augment Bonaparte's dislike of Bernadotte。 It might
be said that the farther he advanced in his rapid march towards absolute
power the more animosity he cherished against the individual who had
refused to aid his first steps in his adventurous career。 At the same
time the persons about Bonaparte who practised the art of flattering
failed not to multiply reports and insinuations against Bernadotte。
I recollect one day； when there was to be a grand public levee； seeing
Bonaparte so much out of temper that I asked him the cause of it。 〃I can
bear
