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Bonaparte so much out of temper that I asked him the cause of it。 〃I can
bear it no longer；〃 he replied impetuously。 〃I have resolved to have a
scene with Bernadotte to…day。 He will probably be here。 I will open the
fire； let what will come of it。 He may do what he pleases。 We shall
see！ It is time there should be an end of this。〃
I had never before observed the First Consul so violently irritated。
He was in a terrible passion； and I dreaded the moment when the levee was
to open。 When he left me to go down to the salon I availed myself of the
opportunity to get there before him； which I could easily do； as the
salon was not twenty steps from the cabinet。 By good luck Bernadotte was
the first person I saw。 He was standing in the recess of a window which
looked on the square of the Carrousel。 To cross the salon and reach the
General was the work of a moment。 〃General！〃 said I； 〃trust me and
retire！I have good reasons for advising it！〃 Bernadotte； seeing my
extreme anxiety； and aware of the sincere sentiments of esteem end
friendship which I entertained for him； consented to retire； and I
regarded this as a triumph； for； knowing Bernadotte's frankness of
character and his nice sense of honour； I was quite certain that he would
not submit to the harsh observations which Bonaparte intended to address
to him。 My stratagem had all the success I could desire。 The First
Consul suspected nothing； and remarked only one thing； which was that his
victim was absent。 When the levee was over he said to me； 〃What do you
think of it； Bourrienne？…Bernadotte did not come。〃〃So much the better
for him； General；〃 was my reply。 Nothing further happened。 The First
Consul on returning from Josephine found me in the cabinet； and
consequently could suspect nothing； and my communication with Bernadotte
did not occupy five minutes。 Bernadotte always expressed himself much
gratified with the proof of friendship I gave him at this delicate
conjuncture。 The fact is； that from a disposition of my mind； which I
could not myself account for； the more Bonaparte'a unjust hatred of
Bernadotte increased the more sympathy and admiration I felt for the
noble character of the latter。
The event in question occurred in the spring of 1802。 It was at this
period that Bonaparte first occupied St。 Cloud； which he was much pleased
with； because he found himself more at liberty there than at the
Tuileries； which palace is really only a prison for royalty； as there a
sovereign cannot even take the air at a window without immediately being
the object of the curiosity of the public； who collect in large crowds。
At St。 Cloud； on the contrary； Bonaparte could walk out from his cabinet
and prolong his promenade without being annoyed by petitioners。 One of
his first steps was to repair the cross road leading from St。 Cloud to
Malmaison； between which places Bonaparte rode in a quarter of an hour。
This proximity to the country； which he liked； made staying at St。 Cloud
yet pleasanter to him。 It was at St。 Cloud that the First Consul made；
if I may so express it； his first rehearsals of the grand drama of the
Empire。 It was there he began to introduce； in external forms； the
habits and etiquette which brought to mind the ceremonies of sovereignty。
He soon perceived the influence which pomp of ceremony； brilliancy of
appearance； and richness of costume； exercise over the mass of mankind。
〃Men；〃 he remarked to me a this period； 〃well deserve the contempt I feel
for them。 I have only to put some gold lace on the coats of my virtuous
republicans and they immediately become just what I wish them。〃
I remember one day； after one of his frequent sallies of contempt for
human kind； I observed to him that although baubles might excite vulgar
admiration； there were some distinguished men who did not permit
themselves to be fascinated by their allurements； and I mentioned the
celebrated Fox by way of example； who； previous to the conclusion of the
peace of Amiens； visited Paris； where he was remarked for his extreme
simplicity。 The First Consul said； 〃Ah！ you are right with respect to
him。 Mr。 Fox is a truly great man； and pleases me much。〃
In fact； Bonaparte always received Mr。 Fox's visits with the greatest
satisfaction； and after every conversation they had together he never
failed to express to me the pleasure which he experienced in discoursing
with a man every way worthy of the great celebrity he had attained。
He considered him a very superior man； and wished he might have to treat
with him in his future negotiations with England。 It may be supposed
that Mr。 Fox； on his part； never forgot the terms of intimacy； I may say
of confidence； on which he had been with the First Consul。 In fact； he
on several occasions informed him in time of war of the plots formed
against his life。 Less could not be expected from a man of so noble a
character。 I can likewise affirm； having more than once been in
possession of proofs of the fact； that the English Government constantly
rejected with indignation all such projects。 I do not mean those which
had for their object the overthrow of the Consular or Imperial
Government； but all plans of assassination and secret attacks on the
person of Bonaparte； whether First Consul or Emperor。 I will here
request the indulgence of the reader whilst I relate a circumstance which
occurred a year before Mr。 Fox's journey to Paris； but as it refers to
Moreau； I believe that the transposition will be pardoned more easily
than the omission。
During the summer 1801 the First Consul took a fancy to give a grand
military dinner at a restaurateur's。 The restaurateur he favoured with
his company was Veri； whose establishment was situated on the terrace of
the Feuillans with an entrance into the garden of the Tuileries。
Bonaparte did not send an invitation to Moreau； whom I met by chance that
day in the following manner： The ceremony of the dinner at Veri's
leaving me at liberty to dispose of my time； I availed myself of it to go
and dine at a restaurateur's named Rose； who then enjoyed great celebrity
amongst the distinguished gastronomes。 I dined in company with M。
Carbonnet； a friend of Moreau's family； and two or three other persons。
Whilst we were at table in the rotunda we were informed by the waiter who
attended on us that General Moreau and his wife； with Lacuee and two
other military men； were in an adjoining apartment。 Suchet； who had
dined at Veri's； where he said everything was prodigiously dull； on
rising from the table joined Moreau's party。 These details we learned
from M。 Carbonnet； who left us for a few moments to see the General and
Madame Moreau。
Bonaparte's affectation in not inviting Moreau at the moment when the
latter had returned a conqueror from the army of the Rhine； and at the
same time the affectation of Moreau in going publicly the same day to
dine at another restaurateur's； afforded ground for the supposition that
the coolness which existed between them would soon be converted into
enmity。 The people of Paris naturally thought that the conqueror of
Marengo might； without any degradation； have given the conqueror of
Hohenlinden a seat at his table。
By the commencement of the year 1802 the Republic had ceased to be
anything else than a fiction； or an historical recollection。 All that
remained of it was a deceptive inscription on the gates of the Palace。
Even at the time of his installation at the Tuileries； Bonaparte had
caused the two trees of liberty which were planted in the court to be cut
down； thus removing the outward emblems before he destroyed the reality。
But the moment the Senatorial decisions of the 2d and 4th of August were
published it was evident to the dullest perceptions that the power of the
First Consul wanted nothing but a name。
After these 'Consultes' Bonaparte readily accustomed himself to regard
the principal authorities of the State merely as necessary instruments
for the exercise of his power。 Interested advisers then crowded round
him。 It was seriously proposed that he should restore the ancient
titles； as being more in harmony with the new power which the people had