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cabinet； which had obtained the epithet of black； had been denounced in
the chamber of deputies； and the answer was； that it no longer existed；
which of course amounted to an admission that it had existed。 I may
therefore； without indiscretion； state what I know respecting it。
The 〃black cabinet〃 was established in the reign of Louis XV。； merely for
the purpose of prying into the scandalous gossip of the Court and the
capital。 The existence of this cabinet soon became generally known to
every one。 The numerous postmasters who succeeded each other； especially
in latter times； the still more numerous Post Office clerks； and that
portion of the public who are ever on the watch for what is held up as
scandalous； soon banished all the secrecy of the affair； and none but
fools were taken in by it。 All who did not wish to be committed by their
correspondence chose better channels of communication than the Post； but
those who wanted to ruin an enemy or benefit a friend long continued to
avail themselves of the black cabinet； which； at first intended merely to
amuse a monarch's idle hours； soon became a medium of intrigue； dangerous
from the abuse that might be made of it。
Every morning； for three years； I used to peruse the portfolio containing
the bulletins of the black cabinet； and I frankly confess that I never
could discover any real cause for the public indignation against it；
except inasmuch as it proved the channel of vile intrigue。 Out of 30；000
letters； which daily left Paris to be distributed through France and all
parts of the world； ten or twelve； at most； were copied； and often only a
few lines of them。
Bonaparte at first proposed to send complete copies of intercepted
letters to the ministers whom their contents might concern； but a few
observations from me induced him to direct that only the important
passages should be extracted and sent。 I made these extracts； and
transmitted them to their destinations； accompanied by the following
words： 〃The First Consul directs me to inform you that he has just
received the following information；〃 etc。 Whence the information came
was left to be guessed at。
The First Consul daily received through this channel about a dozen
pretended letters； the writers of which described their enemies as
opponents of the Government； or their friends as models of obedience and
fidelity to the constituted authorities。 But the secret purpose of this
vile correspondence was soon discovered； and Bonaparte gave orders that
no more of it should be copied。 I； however； suffered from it at the time
of my disgrace； and was well…nigh falling a victim to it at a subsequent
period。
The letter mentioned by M。 de Marbois； and which was the occasion of this
digression on the violation of private correspondence； derived importance
from the circumstance that Wednesday； the 20th of October； when Bonaparte
received it； was the day on which I left the Consular palace。
I retired to a house which Bonaparte had advised me to purchase at St。
Cloud； and for the fitting up and furnishing of which he had promised to
pay。 We shall see how he kept this promise！ I immediately sent to
direct Landoire； the messenger of Bonaparte's cabinet； to place all
letters sent to me in the First Consul's portfolio； because many intended
for him came under cover for me。 In consequence of this message I
received the following letter from M。 de Meneval：
MY DEAR BOURRIENNEI cannot believe that the First Consul would
wish that your letters should be presented to him。 I presume you
allude only to those which may concern him； and which come addressed
under cover to you。 The First Consul has written to citizens
Lavallette and Mollien directing them to address their packets to
him。 I cannot allow Landoire to obey the order you sent。
The First Consul yesterday evening evinced great regret。 He
repeatedly said； 〃How miserable I am！ I have known that man since
he was seven years old。〃 I cannot but believe that he will
reconsider his unfortunate decision。 I have intimated to him that
the burden of the business is too much for me； and that he must be
extremely at a loss for the services of one to whom he was so much
accustomed； and whose situation； I am confident； nobody else can
satisfactorily fill。 He went to bed very low…spirited。 I am； etc。
（Signed） MENEVAL。
19 Vendemiaire； an X。
（21st October 1802。）
Next day I received another letter from M。 Meneval as follows：
I send you your letters。 The First Consul prefers that you should
break them open； and send here those which are intended for him。 I
enclose some German papers； which he begs you to translate。
Madame Bonaparte is much interested in your behalf； and I can assure
you that no one more heartily desires than the First Consul himself
to see you again at your old post； for which it would be difficult
to find a successor equal to you； either as regards fidelity or
fitness。 I do not relinquish the hope of seeing you here again。
A whole week passed away in conflicts between the First Consul's
friendship and pride。 The least desire he manifested to recall me was
opposed by his flatterers。 On the fifth day of our separation he
directed me to come to him。 He received me with the greatest kindness；
and after having good…humouredly told me that I often expressed myself
with too much freedoma fault I was never solicitous to correcthe
added： 〃I regret your absence much。 You were very useful to me。 You are
neither too noble nor too plebeian； neither too aristocratic nor too
Jacobinical。 You are discreet and laborious。 You understand me better
than any one else； and； between ourselves be it said； we ought to
consider this a sort of Court。 Look at Duroc； Bessieres； Maret。
However； I am very much inclined to take you back； but by so doing I
should confirm the report that I cannot do without you。〃
Madame Bonaparte informed me that she had heard persons to whom Bonaparte
expressed a desire to recall me observe； 〃What would you do？ People will
say you cannot do without him。 You have got rid of him now； therefore
think no more about him： and as for the English newspapers； he gave them
more importance than they really deserved： you will no longer be troubled
with them。〃 This will bring to mind a scenewhich occurred at Malmaison
on the receipt of some intelligence in the 'London Gazette'。
I am convinced that if Bonaparte had been left to himself he would have
recalled me； and this conviction is warranted by the interval which
elapsed between his determination to part with me and the formal
announcement of my dismissal。 Our rupture took place on the 20th of
October； and on the 8th of November following the First Consul sent me
the following letter：
CITIZEN BOURRIENNE； MINISTER OF STATEI am satisfied with the
services which you have rendered me during the time yon have been
with me； but henceforth they are no longer necessary。 I wish you to
relinquish； from this time； the functions and title of my private
secretary。 I shall seize an early opportunity of providing for you
in a way suited to your activity and talents； and conducive to the
public service。
（Signed）BONAPARTE。
If any proof of the First Consul's malignity were wanting it would be
furnished by the following fact： A few days after the receipt of the
letter which announced my dismissal I received a note from Duroc； but；
to afford an idea of the petty revenge of him who caused it to be
written； it will be necessary first to relate a few preceding
circumstances。
When； with the view of preserving a little freedom； I declined the offer
of apartments which Madame Bonaparte had prepared at Malmaison for myself
and my family； I purchased a small house at Ruel： the First Consul had
given orders for the furnishing of this house； as well as one which I
possessed in Paris。 From the manner in which the orders were given I had
not the slightest doubt but that Bonaparte inten