memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v13-第1部分

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Memoirs　of　Napoleon　Bonaparte；　V13

by　Louis　Antoine　Fauvelet　de　Bourrienne

His　Private　Secretary




Edited　by　R。　W。　Phipps
Colonel；　Late　Royal　Artillery

1891



CONTENTS：
CHAPTER　I。　　to　　CHAPTER　　VI。　　1814…1815



CHAPTER　I。

1814。

　　　　　Unalterable　determination　of　the　Allies　with　respect　to　Napoleon
　　　　　Fontainebleau　included　in　the　limits　to　be　occupied　by　the　Allies
　　　　　Alexander's　departure　from　ParisNapoleon　informed　of　the　necessity
　　　　　of　his　unconditional　abdicationMacdonald　and　Ney　again　sent　to
　　　　　ParisAlleged　attempt　of　Napoleon　to　poison　himselfFarewell
　　　　　interview　between　Macdonald　and　NapoleonThe　sabre　of　Murad　Bey
　　　　　Signature　of　the　act　of　unconditional　abdicationTranquillity　of
　　　　　Paris　during　the　change　of　GovernmentUkase　of　the　Emperor　of
　　　　　Russia　relative　to　the　Post…officeReligious　ceremony　on　the　Place
　　　　　Louis　XV。Arrival　of　the　Comte　d'ArtoisHis　entrance　into　Paris
　　　　　Arrival　of　the　Emperor　of　AustriaSingular　assemblage　of　sovereigns
　　　　　in　FranceVisit　of　the　Emperor　of　Austria　to　Maria　LouisaHer
　　　　　interview　with　the　Emperor　AlexanderHer　departure　for　Vienna。

When　Marmont　left　Paris　on　the　receipt　of　the　intelligence　from　Essonne；
Marshals　Macdonald　and　Ney　and　the　Duke　of　Vicenza　waited　upon　the
Emperor　Alexander　to　learn　his　resolution　before　he　could　have　been
informed　of　the　movement　of　Marmont's　troops。　　I　myself　went　during　the
morning　to　the　hotel　of　M。　de　Talleyrand；　and　it　was　there　I　learnt　how
what　we　had　hoped　for　had　become　fact：　the　matter　was　completely　decided。
The　Emperor　Alexander　had　walked　out　at　six　in　the　morning　to　the
residence　of　the　King　of　Prussia　in　the　Rue　de　Bourbon。　　The　two
sovereigns　afterwards　proceeded　together　to　M。　de　Talleyrand's；　where
they　were　when　Napoleon's　Commissioners　arrived。　　The　Commissioners　being
introduced　to　the　two　sovereigns；　the　Emperor　Alexander；　in　answer　to
their　proposition；　replied　that　the　Regency　was　impossible；　as
submissions　to　the　Provisional　Government　were　pouring　in　from　all　parts；
and　that　if　the　army　had　formed　contrary　wishes　those　should　have　been
sooner　made　known。　　〃Sire；〃　observed　Macdonald；　〃thatwasimpossible；
as　none　of　the　Marshals　were　in　Paris；　and　besides；　who　could　foresee　the
turn　which　affairs　have　taken？　　Could　we　imagine　that　an　unfounded　alarm
would　have　removed　from　Essonne　the　corps　of　the　Duke　of　Ragusa；　who　has
this　moment　left　us　to　bring　his　troops　back　to　order？〃　　These　words
produced　no　change　in　the　determination　of　the　sovereigns；　who　would　hear
of　nothing　but　the　unconditional　abdication　of　Napoleon。　　Before　the
Marshals　took　leave　of　the　Emperor　Alexander　they　solicited　an　armistice
of　forty…eight　hours；　which　time　they　said　was　indispensable　to　negotiate
the　act　of　abdication　with　Napoleon。　　This　request　was　granted　without
hesitation；　and　the　Emperor　Alexander；　showing　Macdonald　a　map　of　the
environs　of　Paris；　courteously　presented　him　with　a　pencil；　saying；
〃Here；　Marshal；　mark　yourself　the　limits　to　be　observed　by　the　two
armies。〃〃No；　Sire；〃　replied　Macdonald；　〃we　are　the　conquered　party；　and
it　is　for　you　to　mark　the　line　of　demarcation。〃　　Alexander　determined
that　the　right　bank　of　the　Seine　should　be　occupied　by　the　Allied　troops；
and　the　left　bank　by　the　French；　but　it　was　observed　that　this
arrangement　would　be　attended　with　inconvenience；　as　it　would　cut　Paris
in　two；　and　it　was　agreed　that　the　line　should　turn　Paris。　　I　have　been
informed　that　on　a　map　sent　to　the　Austrian　staff　to　acquaint　Prince
Schwartzenberg　with　the　limits　definitively　agreed　on；　Fontainebleau；　the
Emperor's　headquarters；　was　by　some　artful　means　included　within　the
line。　　The　Austrians　acted　so　implicitly　on　this　direction　that　Marshal
Macdonald　was　obliged　to　complain　on　the　subject　to　Alexander；
who　removed　all　obstacles。

When；　in　discussing　the　question　of　the　abdication　conformably　with　the
instructions　he　had　received；　Macdonald　observed　to　the　Emperor　Alexander
that　Napoleon　wished　for　nothing　for　himself；　〃Assure　him；〃　replied
Alexander；　〃that　a　provision　shall　be　made　for　him　worthy　of　the　rank　he
has　occupied。　　Tell　him　that　if　he　wishes　to　reside　in　my　States　he　shall
be　well　received；　though　he　brought　desolation　there。　　I　shall　always
remember　the　friendship　which　united　us。　　He　shall　have　the　island　of
Elba；　or　something　else。　　After　taking　leave　of　the　Emperor　Alexander；　on
the　5th　of　April；　Napoleon's　Commissioners　returned　to　Fontainebleau　to
render　an　account　of　their　mission。　　I　saw　Alexander　that　same　day；　and
it　appeared　to　me　that　his　mind　was　relieved　of　a　great　weight　by　the
question　of　the　Regency　being　brought　to　an　end。　　I　was　informed　that　he
intended　to　quit　Paris　in　a　few　days；　and　that　he　had　given　full　powers
to　M。　Pozzo…di…Borgo；　whom　he　appointed　his　Commissioner　to　the
Provisional　Government。

On　the　same　day；　the　5th　of　April；　Napoleon　inspected　his　troops　in　the
Palace　yard　of　Fontainebleau。　　He　observed　some　coolness　among　his
officers；　and　even　among　the　private　soldiers；　who　had　evinced　such
enthusiasm　when　he　inspected　them　on　the　2d　of　April。　　He　was　so　much
affected　by　this　change　of　conduct　that　he　remained　but　a　short　time　on
the　parade；　and　afterwards　retired　to　his　apartments。

About　one　o'clock　on　the　morning　of　the　6th　of　April　Ney；　Macdonald；　and
Caulaincourt　arrived　at　Fontainebleau　to　acquaint　the　Emperor　with　the
issue　of　their　mission；　and　the　sentiments　expressed　by　Alexander　when
they　took　leave　of　him。　　Marshal　Ney　was　the　first　to　announce　to
Napoleon　that　the　Allies　required　his　complete　and　unconditional
abdication；　unaccompanied　by　any　stipulation；　except　that　of　his　personal
safety；　which　should　be　guaranteed。　　Marshal　Macdonald　and　the　Duke　of
Vicenza　then　spoke　to　the　same　effect；　but　in　more　gentle　terms　than
those　employed　by　Ney；　who　was　but　little　versed　in　the　courtesies　of
speech。　　When　Marshal　Macdonald　had　finished　speaking　Napoleon　said　with
some　emotion；　〃Marshal；　I　am　sensible　of　all　that　you　have　done　for　me；
and　of　the　warmth　with　which　you　have　pleaded　the　cause　of　my　son。　　They
wish　for　my　complete　and　unconditional　abdication　。　　。　　。　　。　　Very　well。

I　again　empower　you　to　act　on　my　behalf。　　You　shall　go　and　defend　my
interests　and　those　of　my　family。〃　　Then；　after　a　moment's　pause；　he
added；　still　addressing　Macdonald；　〃Marshal；　where　shall　I　go？〃
Macdonald　then　informed　the　Emperor　what　Alexander　had　mentioned　in　the
hypothesis　of　his　wishing　to　reside　in　Russia。　　〃Sire；〃　added　he；　〃the
Emperor　of　Russia　told　me　that　he　destined　for　you　the　island　of　Elba；　or
something　else。〃〃Or　something　else！〃　repeated　Napoleon　hastily；〃　and
what　is　that　something　else？〃〃Sire；　I　know　not。〃〃Ah！　it　is　doubtless
the　island　of　Corsica；　and　he　refrained　from　mentioning　it　to　avoid
embarrassment！　　Marshal；　I　leave　all　to　you。〃

The　Marshals　returned　to　Paris　as　soon　as　Napoleon　furnished　them　with
new　powers；　Caulaincourt　remained　at　Fontainebleau。　　On　arriving　in　Paris
Marshal　Ney　sent　in　his　adhesion　to　the　Provisional　Government；　so　that
when　Macdonald　returned　to　Fontainebleau　to　convey　to　Napoleon　the
definitive　treaty　of　the　Allies；　Ney　did　not　accompany　him；　and　the
Emperor　expressed　surprise　and　dissatisfaction　at　his　absence。　　Ney；　as
all　his　friends　concur　in　admitting；　expended　his　whole　energy　in　battle；
and　often　wanted　resolution　when　out　of　the　field；　consequently　I　was　not
surprised　to　find　that　he　joined　us　before　some　other　of　his　comrades。
As　to　Macdonald；　he　was　one　of　those　generous　spirits　who　may　be　most
confidently　relied　on　by　those　who　have　wronged　them。　　。　　Napoleon
experienced　the　truth　of　this。　　Macdonald　returned　alone　to
Fontainebleau；　and　when　he　entered　the　Emperor's　chamber　he　found　him
seated　in　a　small　armchair　before　the　fireplace。　　He　was　dressed　in　a
morning…gown　of　white　dimity；　and　lie　wore　his　slippers　without
stockings。　　His　elbows　rested　on　his　knees　and　his　head　was　supported　by
his　hands。　　He　was　motionless；　and　seemed　absorbed　in　profound
reflection。　　Only　two　persons　were　in　the　apartment；　the　Duke　of　Bassano；
who　was　at　a　little　distance　from　the　Emperor；　and　Caulaincourt；　who　was
near　the　fireplace。　　So　profound　was　Napoleon's　reverie　that　he　did　not
hear　Macdonald　enter；　and　the　Duke　of　Vicenza　was　obliged　to　inform　him
of　the　Marshal's　presence。　　〃Sire；〃　said　Caulaincourt；　〃the　Duke　of
Tarantum　has　brought　for　your　signature　the　treaty　which　is　to　be
ratified　to…morrow。〃　　The　Emperor　then；　as　if　roused　from　a　lethargic
slumber；　turned　to　Macdonald；　and　merely　said；　〃Ah；　Marshal！　so　you　are
here！〃　　Napoleon's　countenance　was　so　altered　that　the　Marshal；　struck
with　the　change；　said；　as　if　it　were　involuntarily；　〃Is　your　Majesty
indisposed？〃〃Yes；〃　answered　Napoleon；　〃I　have　passed　a　very　bad　night。〃

The　Emperor　continued　seated　for　a　moment；　then　rising；　he　took　the
treaty；　read　it　without　making　any　observation；　signed　it；　and　returned
it　to　the　Marshal；　saying；　〃I　am　not　now　rich　enough　to　reward　these　last
services。〃〃Sire；　interest　never　guided　my　conduct。〃〃I　know　that；　and
I　now　see　how　I　have　been　deceived　respecting　you。　　I　also　see　the
designs　of　those　who　prejudiced　me　against　you。〃〃Sire；　I　have　already
told　you；　since　1809　I　am　devoted　to　you　in　life　and　death。〃〃I　know　it。
But　since　I　cannot　reward　you　as　I　would　wish；　let　a　token　of
remembrance；　inconsiderable　though　it　be；　assure　you　that　I　shall　ever
bear　in　mind　the　services　you　have　rendered　me。〃　　Then　turning　to
Caulaincourt　Napoleon　said；　〃Vicenza；　ask　for　the　sabre　which　was　given
me　by　Murad　Bey　in　Egypt；　and　which　I　wore　at　the　battle　of　Mount
Thabor。〃　　Constant　having　brought　the　sabre；　the　Emperor　took　it　from　the
hands　of　Caulaincourt　and　presented　it　to　the　Marshal　〃Here；　my　faithful
friend；〃　said　he；　〃is　a　reward　which　I　believe　will　gratify　you。〃
Macdonald　on　receiving　the　sabre　said；　〃If　ever　I　have　a　son；　Sire；　this
will　be　his　most　precious　inheritance。　　I　will　never　part　with　it　as　long
as　I　live。〃〃　Give　me　your　hand；〃　said　the　Emperor；　〃and　embrace　me。〃
At　these　words　Napoleon　and　Macdonald　affectionately　rushed　into　each
other's　arms；　and　pa