按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Wishing to break silence in a way that would be agreeable to him； I
alluded to the facility with which he had nullified the last 'Senatus…
consulte'。 He scarcely seemed to hear me； so completely was his mind
absorbed in the subject on which he was meditating。 At length； suddenly
recovering from his abstraction； he said； 〃Bourrienne； do you think that
the pretender to the crown of France would renounce his claims if I were
to offer him a good indemnity； or even a province in Italy？〃 Surprised
at this abrupt question on a subject which I was far from thinking of；
I replied that I did not think the pretender would relinquish his claims；
that it was very unlikely the Bourbons would return to France as long as
he； Bonaparte； should continue at the head of the Government； though they
would look forward to their ultimate return as probable。 〃How so？〃
inquired he。 〃For a very simple reason； General。 Do you not see every
day that your agents conceal the truth from you； and flatter you in your
wishes； for the purpose of ingratiating themselves in your favour？ are
you not angry when at length the truth reaches your ear？〃〃And what
then？〃〃why； General； it must be just the same with the agents of Louis
XVIII。 in France。 It is in the course of things； in the nature of man；
that they should feed the Bourbons with hopes of a possible return； were
it only to induce a belief in their own talent and utility。〃〃That is
very true！ You are quite right； but I am not afraid。 However； something
might perhaps be donewe shall see。〃 Here the subject dropped； and our
conversation turned on the Consulate for life； and Bonaparte spoke in
unusually mild terms of the persons who had opposed the proposition。
I was a little surprised at this； and could not help reminding him of the
different way in which he had spoken of those who opposed his accession
to the Consulate。 〃There is nothing extraordinary in that；〃 said he。
〃Worthy men may be attached to the Republic as I have made it。 It is a
mere question of form。 I have nothing to say against that； but at the
time of my accession to the Consulate it was very different。 Then； none
but Jacobins； terrorists； and rogues resisted my endeavours to rescue
France from the infamy into which the Directory had plunged her。 But now
I cherish no ill…will against those who have opposed me。〃
During the intervals between the acts of the different bodies of the
State； and the collection of the votes； Lucien renewed his intrigues； or
rather prosecuted them with renewed activity； for the purpose of getting
the question of hereditary succession included in the votes。 Many
prefects transmitted to M。 Chaptal anonymous circulars which had been
sent to them： all stated the ill effect produced by these circulars；
which had been addressed to the principal individuals of their
departments。 Lucien was the originator of all this； though I cannot
positively say whether his brother connived with him； as in the case of
the pamphlet to which I have already alluded。 I believe； however； that
Bonaparte was not entirely a stranger to the business； for the circulars
were written by Raederer at the instigation of Lucien； and Raederer was
at that time in favour at the Tuileries。 I recollect Bonaparte speaking
to me one day very angrily about a pamphlet which had just； been
published by Camille Jordan on the subject of the national vote on the
Consulate for life。 Camille Jordan did not withhold his vote； but gave
it in favour of the First Consul； and instead of requiring preliminary
conditions； he contented himself； like the Tribunate； with enumerating
all the guarantees which he expected the honour of the First Consul would
grant。 Among these guarantees were the cessation of arbitrary
imprisonments； the responsibility of the agents of Government； and the
independence of the judges。 But all these demands were mere peccadilloes
in comparison with Camille Jordan's great crime of demanding the liberty
of the press。
The First Consul had looked through the fatal pamphlet； and lavished
invectives upon its author。 〃How！〃 exclaimed he； 〃am I never to have
done with these fire brands？These babblers； who think that politics may
be shown on a printed page like the world on a map？ Truly； I know not
what things will come to if I let this go on。 Camille Jordan； whom I
received so well at Lyons； to think that he shouldask for the liberty
of the press！
Were I to accede to this I might as well pack up at once and go and live
on a farm a hundred leagues from Paris。〃 Bonaparte's first act in favour
of the liberty of the press was to order the seizure of the pamphlet in
which Camille Jordan had extolled the advantages of that measure。
Publicity； either by words or writing； was Bonaparte's horror。 Hence his
aversion to public speakers and writers。
Camille Jordan was not the only person who made unavailing efforts to
arrest Bonaparte in the first steps of his ambition。 There were yet in
France many men who； though they had hailed with enthusiasm the dawn of
the French Revolution； had subsequently been disgusted by its crimes； and
who still dreamed of the possibility of founding a truly Constitutional
Government in France。 Even in the Senate there were some men indignant
at the usual compliance of that body； and who spoke of the necessity of
subjecting the Constitution to a revisal； in order to render it
conformable to the Consulate for life。
The project of revising the Constitution was by no means unsatisfactory
to Bonaparte。 It afforded him an opportunity of holding out fresh
glimmerings of liberty to those who were too shortsighted to see into the
future。 He was pretty certain that there could be no change but to his
advantage。 Had any one talked to him of the wishes of the nation he
would have replied； 〃3；577；259 citizens have voted。 Of these how many
were for me？ 3；368；185。 Compare the difference！ There is but one vote
in forty…five against me。 I must obey the will of the people！〃 To this
he would not have failed to add； 〃Whose are the votes opposed to me？
Those of ideologists； Jacobins； and peculators under the Directory。〃 To
such arguments what could have been answered？ It must not be supposed
that I am putting these words into Bonaparte's mouth。 They fell from him
oftener than once。
As soon as the state of the votes was ascertained the Senate conceived
itself under the necessity of repairing the only fault it had committed
in the eyes of the First Consul； and solemnly presented him with a new
'Senatus…consulte'； and a decree couched in the following terms：
ARTICLE I。 The French people nominate and the Senate proclaim Napoleon
Bonaparte Consul for life。
ARTICLE II。 A statue representing Peace； holding in one hand the laurel
of victory； and in the other the decree of the senate； shall commemorate
to posterity the gratitude of the Nation。
ARTICLE III。 The Senate will convey to the First Consul the expression
of the confidence； the love； and the admiration of the French people。
Bonaparte replied to the deputation from the Senate； in the presence of
the Diplomatic Body； whose audience had been appointed for that day in
order that the ambassadors might be enabled to make known to their
respective Courts that Europe reckoned one King more。 In his reply he
did not fail to introduce the high…sounding words 〃liberty and equality。〃
He commenced thus： 〃A citizen's life belongs to his country。 The French
people wish that mine should be entirely devoted to their service。 I
obey。〃
On the day this ceremony took place； besides the audience of the
Diplomatic Body there was an extraordinary assemblage of general officers
and public functionaries。 The principal apartments of the Tuileries's
presented the appearance of a fete。 This gaiety formed a striking
contrast with the melancholy of Josephine； who felt that every step of
the First Consul towards the throne removed him farther from her。
She had to receive a party that evening； and though greatly depressed in
spirits she did the honours with her usual grace。
Let a Government be what it may； it can never satisfy everyone。 At the
establishment of the Con