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！
is； that no such refusals were ever made。 The following fact； however；
may have contributed to raise these reports and give them credibility。
Bonaparte used frequently to say to persons in his salon and in his
cabinet； 〃You should be a Senatora man like you should be a Senator。〃
But these complimentary words did not amount to a nomination。 To enter
the Senate certain legal forms were to be observed。 It was necessary to
be presented by the Senate； and after that presentation no one ever
refused to become a member of the body； to which Bonaparte gave
additional importance by the creation of 〃Senatoreries。〃＇Districts
presided over by a Senator。＇ This creation took place in the beginning
of 1803。
CHAPTER XV
1802。
The intoxication of great menUnlucky zealMM。 Maret； Champagny；
and SavaryM。 de Talleyrand's real servicesPostponement of the
execution of ordersFouche and the RevolutionThe Royalist
committeeThe charter first planned during the ConsulateMission
to CoblentzInfluence of the Royalists upon JosephineThe statue
and the pedestalMadame de Genlis' romance of Madame de la
ValliereThe Legion of Honour and the carnationsInfluence of the
Faubourg St。 GermainInconsiderate step taken by BonaparteLouis
XVIII's indignationPrudent advice of the Abbe AndreLetter from
Louis XVIII。 to BonaparteCouncil held at NeuillyThe letter
deliveredIndifference of Bonaparte； and satisfaction of the
Royalists。
Perhaps one of the happiest ideas that ever were expressed was that of
the Athenian who said； 〃I appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober。〃
The drunkenness here alluded to is not of that kind which degrades a man
to the level of a brute； but that intoxication which is occasioned by
success； and which produces in the heads of the ambitious a sort of
cerebral congestion。 Ordinary men are not subject to this excitement；
and can scarcely form an idea of it。 But it is nevertheless true that
the fumes of glory and ambition occasionally derange the strongest heads；
and Bonaparte； in all the vigour of his genius； was often subject to
aberrations of judgment； for though his imagination never failed him； his
judgment was frequently at fault。
This fact may serve to explain； and perhaps even to excuse the faults
with which the First Consul has been most seriously reproached。 The
activity of his mind seldom admitted of an interval between the
conception and the execution of a design； but when he reflected coolly on
the first impulses of his imperious will； his judgment discarded what was
erroneous。 Thus the blind obedience； which； like an epidemic disease；
infected almost all who surrounded Bonaparte； was productive of the most
fatal effects。 The best way to serve the First Consul was never to
listen to the suggestions of his first ideas； except on the field of
battle； where his conceptions were as happy as they were rapid。 Thus；
for example； MM。 Maret； de Champagny； and Savary evinced a ready
obedience to Bonaparte's wishes； which often proved very unfortunate；
though doubtless dictated by the best intentions on their part。 To this
fatal zeal may be attributed a great portion of the mischief which
Bonaparte committed。 When the mischief was done； and past remedy；
Bonaparte deeply regretted it。 How often have I heard him say that Maret
was animated by an unlucky zeal！ This was the expression he made use of。
M。 de Talleyrand was almost the only one among the ministers who did not
flatter Bonaparte； and who really served both the First Consul and the
Emperor。 When Bonaparte said to M。 de Talleyrand； 〃Write so and so； and
send it off by a special courier；〃 that minister was never in a hurry to
obey the order； because he knew the character of the First Consul well
enough to distinguish between what his passion dictated and what his
reason would approve： in short； he appealed from Philip drunk to Philip
sober。 When it happened that M。 de Talleyrand suspended the execution of
an order； Bonaparte never evinced the least displeasure。 When； the day
after he had received any hasty and angry order； M。 de Talleyrand
presented himself to the First Consul； the latter would say； 〃Well； did
you send off the courier？〃〃No；〃 the minister would reply； 〃I took care
not to do so before I showed you my letter。〃 Then the First Consul would
usually add； 〃Upon second thoughts I think it would be best not to send
it。〃 This was the way to deal with Bonaparte。 When M。 de Talleyrand
postponed sending off despatches； or when I myself have delayed the
execution of an order which I knew had been dictated by anger； and had
emanated neither from his heart nor his understanding； I have heard him
say a hundred times； 〃It was right； quite right。 You understand me：
Talleyrand understands me also。 This is the way to serve me： the others
do not leave me time for reflection： they are too precipitate。〃 Fouche
also was one of those who did not on all occasions blindly obey
Bonaparte's commands。 His other ministers； on the other hand； when told
to send off a courier the next morning； would have more probably sent him
off the same evening。 This was from zeal； but was not the First Consul
right in saying that such zeal was unfortunate？
Of Talleyrand and Fouche； in their connections with the First Consul； it
might be said that the one represented the Constituent Assembly； with a
slight perfume of the old regime； and the other the Convention in all its
brutality。 Bonaparte regarded Fouche as a complete personification of
the Revolution。 With him； therefore； Fouche's influence was merely the
influence of the Revolution。 That great event was one of those which had
made the most forcible impression on Bonaparte's ardent mind； and he
imagined he still beheld it in a visible form as long as Fouche continued
at the head of his police。 I am now of opinion that Bonaparte was in
some degree misled as to the value of Fouche's services as a minister。
No doubt the circumstance of Fouche being in office conciliated those of
the Revolutionary party who were his friends。 But Fouche cherished an
undue partiality for them； because he knew that it was through them he
held his place。 He was like one of the old Condottieri； who were made
friends of lest they should become enemies； and who owed all their power
to the soldiers enrolled under their banners。
Such was Fouche； and Bonaparte perfectly understood his situation。 He
kept the chief in his service until he could find an opportunity of
disbanding his undisciplined followers。 But there was one circumstance
which confirmed his reliance on Fouche。 He who had voted the death of
the King of France； and had influenced the minds of those who had voted
with him； offered Bonaparte the best guarantee against the attempts of
the Royalists for raising up in favour of the Bourbons the throne which
the First Consul himself had determined to ascend。 Thus； for different
reasons； Bonaparte and Fouche had common interests against the House of
Bourbon； and the master's ambition derived encouragement from the
supposed terror of the servant。
The First Consul was aware of the existence in Paris of a Royalist
committee； formed for the purpose of corresponding with Louis XVIII。
This committee consisted of men who must not be confounded with those
wretched intriguers who were of no service to their employers； and were
not unfrequently in the pay of both Bonaparte and the Bourbons。
The Royalist committee； properly so called； was a very different thing。
It consisted of men professing rational principles of liberty； such as
the Marquis de Clermont Gallerande； the Abbe de Montesqiou； M。 Becquet；
and M。 Royer Collard。 This committee had been of long standing； the
respectable individuals whose names I have just quoted acted upon a
system hostile to the despotism of Bonaparte； and favourable to what they
conceived to be the interests of France。 Knowing the superior wisdom of
Louis XVIII。； and the opinions which he had avowed and maintained in the
Assembly of the Notables； they wished to separate that Prince from the
emigrants； and to point him out to the nation as a suitable head