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myself。 Freed from the cares of government； which we confined as much as
possible to the Tuileries； we were a very happy colony at Malmaison； and；
besides； we were young； and what is there to which youth does not add
charms？ The pieces which the First Consul most liked to see us perform
were； 'Le Barbier de Seville' and 'Defiance et Malice'。 In Le Barbier
Lauriston played the part of Count Almaviva； Hortense； Rosins； Eugene；
Basil； Didelot； Figaro； I； Bartholo； and Isabey； l'Aveille。 Our other
stock pieces were； Projets de Mariage； La Gageltre； the Dapit Anloureux；
in which I played the part of the valet； and L'Impromptu de Campagne； in
which I enacted the Baron； having for my Baroness the young and handsome
Caroline Murat。
Hortense's acting was perfection； Caroline was middling； Eugene played
very well； Lauriston was rather heavy； Didelot passable； and I may
venture to assert； without vanity； that I was not quite the worst of the
company。 If we were not good actors it was not for want of good
instruction and good advice。 Talma and Michot came to direct us； and
made us rehearse before them； sometimes altogether and sometimes
separately。 How many lessons have I received from Michot whilst walking
in the beautiful park of Malmaison！ And may I be excused for saying；
that I now experience pleasure in looking back upon these trifles； which
are matters of importance when one is young； and which contrasted so
singularly with the great theatre on which we did not represent
fictitious characters？ We had； to adopt theatrical language； a good
supply of property。 Bonaparte presented each of us with a collection of
dramas very well bound； and； as the patron of the company； he provided us
with rich and elegant dresses。
＇While Bourrienne； belonging to the Malmaison company； considered
that the acting at Neuilly was indecent； Lucien； who refused to act at
Malmaison； naturally thought the Malmaison troupe was dull。 〃Hortense
and Caroline filled the principal parts。 They were very commonplace。 In
this they followed the unfortunate Marie Antoinette and her companions。
Louis XVI。； not naturally polite； when seeing them act； had said that it
was royally badly acted〃 （see Madame Campan's Life of Marie Antoinette；
tome i。 p。 299）。 〃The First Consul said of his troupe that it was
sovereignly badly acted。 。 。 Murat； Lannes； and even Caroline ranted。
Elisa； who； having been educated at Saint Cyr； spoke purely and without
accent； refused to act。 Janot acted well the drunken parts； and even the
others he undertook。 The rest were decidedly bad。 Worse than bad
ridiculous〃 （Iung's Lucien's； tome ii。 p。 256）。 Rival actors are not
fair critics。 Let us hear Madame Junot （tome ii。 p。 103）。 〃The
cleverest of our company was M。 de Bourrienne。 He played the more
dignified characters in real perfection； and his talent was the more
pleasing as it was not the result of study； but of a perfect
comprehension of his part。〃 And she goes on to say that even the best
professional actors might have learnt from him in some parts。 The
audience was not a pleasant one to face。 It was the First Consul's habit
to invite forty persons to dinner； and a hundred and fifty for the
evening； and consequently to hear； criticise； and banter us without
mercy〃 （Memoirs of Duchesse d'Abrantes； tome ii。 p。 108）。 ＇
Bonaparte took great pleasure in our performances。 He liked to see plays
acted by persons with whom he was familiar。 Sometimes he complimented us
on our exertions。 Although I was as much amused with the thing as
others； I was more than once obliged to remind him that my occupations
left me but little time to learn my parts。 Then he would assume his
coaxing manner and say； 〃Come； do not vex me！ You have such a memory！
You know that it amuses me。 You see that these performances render
Malmaison gay and animated； Josephine takes much pleasure in them。 Rise
earlier in the morning。In fact； I sleep too much； is not that the
caf？Come； Bourrienne； do oblige me。 You make me laugh so heartily！
Do not deprive me of this pleasure。 I have not over much amusement； as
you well know。〃〃All； truly！ I would not deprive you of any pleasure。
I am delighted to be able to contribute to your amusement。〃 After a
conversation of this sort I could not do less than set about studying my
part。
At this period； during summer； I had half the Sunday to myself。 I was；
however； obliged to devote a portion of this precious leisure to pleasing
Bonaparte by studying a new part as a surprise for him。 Occasionally；
however； I passed the time at Ruel。 I recollect that one day； when I had
hurried there from Malmaison； I lost a beautiful watch made by Breguet。
It was four o'clock in the afternoon； and the road was that day thronged
with people。 I made my loss publicly known by means of the crier of
Ruel。 An hour after； as I was sitting down to table； a young lad
belonging to the village brought me my watch。 He had found it on the
high road in a wheel rut。 I was pleased with the probity of this young
man； and rewarded both him and his father； who accompanied him。 I
reiterated the circumstance the same evening to the First Consul； who was
so struck with this instance of honesty that he directed me to procure
information respecting the young man and his family。 I learned that they
were honest peasants。 Bonaparte gave employment to three brothers of
this family； and； what was most difficult to persuade him to； he exempted
the young man who brought me the watch from the conscription。
When a fact of this nature reached Bonaparte's ear it was seldom that he
did not give the principal actor in it some proof of his satisfaction。
Two qualities predominated in his characterkindness and impatience。
Impatience； when he was under its influence； got the better of him； it
was then impossible for him to control himself。 I had a remarkable proof
of it about this very period。
Canova having arrived in Paris came to St。 Cloud to model the figure of
the First Consul； of whom he was about to make a colossal statue。 This
great artist came often； in the hope of getting his model to stand in the
proper attitude； but Bonaparte was so tired； disgusted； and fretted by
the process； that he very seldom put himself in the required attitude；
and then only for a short time。 Bonaparte notwithstanding had the
highest regard for Canova。 Whenever he was announced the First Consul
sent me to keep him company until he was at leisure to give him a
sitting； but he would shrug up his shoulders and say； 〃More modeling！
Good Heavens； how vexatious！〃 Canova expressed great displeasure at not
being able to study his model as he wished to do； and the little anxiety
of Bonaparte on the subject damped the ardour of his imagination。
Everybody agrees in saying that he has not succeeded in the work； and I
have explained the reason。 The Duke of Wellington afterwards possessed
this colossal statue； which was about twice his own height。
CHAPTER XI。
1802。
Bonaparte's principle as to the change of MinistersFoucheHis
influence with the First ConsulFouche's dismissalThe departments
of Police and Justice united under RegnierMadame Bonaparte's
regret for the dismissal of FoucheFamily scenesMadame Louis
Bonaparte's pregnancyFalse and infamous reports to Josephine
Legitimacy and a bastardRaederer reproached by JosephineHer
visit to RuelLong conversation with herAssertion at St。 Helena
respecting a great political fraud。
It is a principle particularly applicable to absolute governments that a
prince should change his ministers as seldom as possible； and never
except upon serious grounds。 Bonaparte acted on this principle when
First Consul； and also when he became Emperor。 He often allowed unjust
causes to influence him； but he never dismissed a Minister without cause；
indeed； he more than once； without any reason； retained Ministers longer
than he ought to have done in the situations in which he had placed them。
Bonaparte's tenacity in this respect； in some instances； produced very
opposite results。 For instance； it afforded M。 Gaudin' time to establish
a