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！
against him。 Thus it is that； on more than one occasion； the very
channels intended for conveying truth to the knowledge of a
sovereign have been made available to the purpose of communicating
false intelligence to him。 To give an instance。
Under the reign of Louis XV。； and even under the Regency； the Post
Office was organized into a system of minute inspection； which did
not indeed extend to every letter； but was exercised over all such
as afforded grounds for suspicion。 They were opened； and； when it
was not deemed safe to suppress them； copies were taken； and they
were returned to their proper channel without the least delay。 Any
individual denouncing another may； by the help of such an
establishment； give great weight to his denunciation。 It is
sufficient for his purpose that he should throw into the Post Office
any letter so worded as to confirm the impression which it is his
object to convey。 The worthiest man may thus be committed by a
letter which he has never read； or the purport of which is wholly
unintelligible to him。
I am speaking from personal experience。 It once happened that a
letter addressed to myself； relating to an alleged fact which had
never occurred； was opened。 A copy of the letter so opened was also
forwarded to me； as it concerned the duties which I had to perform
at that time； but I was already in possession of the original；
transmitted through the ordinary channel。 Summoned to reply to the
questions to which such productions had given rise； I took that
opportunity of pointing out the danger that would accrue from
placing a blind reliance upon intelligence derived from so hazardous
a source。 Accordingly； little importance was afterwards attached to
this means of information； but the system was in operation at the
period when M。 de Bourrienne was disgraced； his enemies took care to
avail themselves of it； they blackened his character with M。 de
Barbe Marbois； who added to their accusations all the weight of his
unblemished character。 The opinion entertained by this rigid public
functionary； and many other circumstances； induced the First Consul
to part with his secretary （tome i。 p。 418）。
Peculation is the crime of those who make a fraudulent use of the public
money。 But as it was not in my power to meddle with the public money； no
part of which passed through my hands； I am at loss to conceive how I can
be charged with peculation！ The Due de Rovigo is not the author； but
merely the echo； of this calumny； but the accusation to which his Memoirs
gave currency afforded M。 de Barbe Marbois an opportunity of adding one
more to the many proofs he has given of his love of justice。
I had seen nothing of the Memoirs of the Due de Rovigo except their
announcement in the journals； when a letter from M。 de Barbe Marbois was
transmitted to me from my family。 It was as follows：
SIRMy attention has been called to the enclosed article in a
recent publication。 The assertion it contains is not true； and I
conceive it to be a duty both to you and myself to declare that I
then was； and still am； ignorant of the causes of the separation in
question： I am； etc。
（Signed） MARBOIS
I need say no more in my justification。 This unsolicited testimony of M。
de Marbois is a sufficient contradiction to the charge of peculation
which has been raised against me in the absence of correct information
respecting the real causes of my rupture with the First Consul。
M。 le Due de Rovigo also observes that my enemies were numerous。 My
concealed adversaries were indeed all those who were interested that the
sovereign should not have about him； as his confidential companion； a man
devoted to his glory and not to his vanity。 In expressing his
dissatisfaction with one of his ministers Bonaparte had said； in the
presence of several individuals； among whom was M。 Maret； 〃If I could
find a second Bourrienne I would get rid of you all。〃 This was
sufficient to raise against me the hatred of all who envied the
confidence of which I was in possession。
The failure of a firm in Paris in which I had invested a considerable sum
of money afforded an opportunity for envy and malignity to irritate the
First Consul against me。 Bonaparte； who had not yet forgiven me for
wishing to leave him； at length determined to sacrifice my services to a
new fit of ill…humour。
A mercantile house； then one of the moat respectable in Patna； had among
its speculations undertaken some army contracts。 With the knowledge of
Berthier； with whom； indeed； the house had treated； I had invested some
money in this business。 Unfortunately the principals were； unknown to
me； engaged in dangerous speculations in the Funds； which in a short time
so involved them as to occasion their failure for a heavy amount。 This
caused a rumour that a slight fall of the Funds； which took place at that
period； was occasioned by the bankruptcy； and the First Consul； who never
could understand the nature of the Funds； gave credit to the report。 He
was made to believe that the business of the Stock Exchange was ruined。
It was insinuated that I was accused of taking advantage of my situation
to produce variations in the Funds； though I was so unfortunate as to
lose not only my investment in the bankrupt house； but also a sum of
money for which I had become bound； by way of surety； to assist the house
in increasing its business。 I incurred the violent displeasure of the
First Consul； who declared to me that he no longer required my services。
I might； perhaps have cooled his irritation by reminding him that he
could not blame me for purchasing an interest in a contract； since he
himself had stipulated for a gratuity of 1；500；000 francs for his brother
Joseph out of the contract for victualling the navy。 But I saw that for
some time past M。 de Meneval had begun to supersede me； and the First
Consul only wanted such an opportunity as this for coming to a rupture
with me。
Such is a true statement of the circumstances which led to my separation
from Bonaparte。 I defy any one to adduce a single fact in support of the
charge of peculation； or any transaction of the kind； I fear no
investigation of my conduct。 When in the service of Bonaparte I caused
many appointments to be made； and many names to be erased from the
emigrant list before the 'Senatus…consulte' of the 6th Floreal； year X。；
but I never counted upon gratitude； experience having taught me that it
was an empty word。
The Duc de Rovigo attributed my disgrace to certain intercepted letters
which injured me in the eyes of the First Consul。 I did not know this at
the time； and though I was pretty well aware of the machinations of
Bonaparte's adulators； almost all of whom were my enemies； yet I did not
contemplate such an act of baseness。 But a spontaneous letter from M。 de
Barbe Marbois at length opened my eyes； and left little doubt on the
subject。 The following is the postscript to that noble peer's letter：
I recollect that one Wednesday the First Consul； while presiding at
a Council of Ministers at St。 Cloud； opened a note； and； without
informing us what it contained； hastily left the Board； apparently
much agitated。 In a few minutes he returned and told us that your
functions had ceased。
Whether the sudden displeasure of the First Consul was excited by a false
representation of my concern in the transaction which proved so
unfortunate to me； or whether Bonaparte merely made that a pretence for
carrying into execution a resolution which I am convinced had been
previously adopted； I shall not stop to determine； but the Due de Rovigo
having mentioned the violation of the secrecy of letters in my case； I
shall take the opportunity of stating some particulars on that subject。
Before I wrote these Memoirs the existence in the Post Office of the
cabinet； which had obtained the epithet of black； had been denounced in
the chamber of deputies； and