memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v12-第15部分

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retrograding　to　the　past。　　But　I　think　I　am　perfectly　correct　in　stating
that　M。　Lafitte　said；　〃Gentlemen；　we　shall　have　nothing　to　fear　if　we
have　a　good　constitution　which　will　guarantee　the　rights　of　all。〃　　The
majority　of　the　meeting　concurred　in　this　wise　opinion；　which　was　not
without　its　influence　on　Marshal　Marmont。

During　this　painful　meeting　an　unexpected　incident　occurred。　　One　of　the
Emperor's　aides　de　camp　arrived　at　Marmont's。　　Napoleon；　being　informed
of　the　advance　of　the　Allies　on　Paris；　had　marched　with　the　utmost　speed
from　the　banks　of　the　Marne　on　the　road　of　Fontainebleau。　　In　the　evening
he　was　in　person　at　Froidmanteau；　whence　he　despatched　his　envoy　to
Marshal　Marmont。　　From　the　language　of　the　aide　de　camp　it　was　easy　to
perceive　that　the　state　of　opinion　at　the　Imperial　headquarters　was　very
different　from　that　which　prevailed　among　the　population　of　Paris。　　The
officer　expressed　indignation　at　the　very　idea　of　capitulating；　and　he
announced　with　inconceivable　confidence　the　approaching　arrival　of
Napoleon　in　Paris；　which　he　yet　hoped　to　save　from　the　occupation　of　the
enemy。　　The　officer　informed　us　that　Napoleon　trusted　to　the　people
rising　in　spite　of　the　capitulation；　and　that　they　would　unpave　the
streets　to　stone　the　Allies　on　their　entrance。　　I　ventured　to　dissent
from　this　absurd　idea　of　defence；　and　I　observed　that　it　was　madness　to
suppose　that　Paris　could　resist　the　numerous　troops　who　were　ready　to
enter　on　the　following　day；　that　the　suspension　of　arms　had　been
consented　to　by　the　Allies　only　to　afford　time　for　drawing　up　a　more
regular　capitulation；　and　that　the　armistice　could　not　be　broken　without
trampling　on　all　the　laws　of　honour。　　I　added　that　the　thoughts　of　the
people　were　directed　towards　a　better　future；　that　the　French　were　tired
of　a　despotic　Government　and　of　the　distress　to　which　continual　war　had
reduced　trade　and　industry；　〃for；〃　said　I；　〃when　a　nation　is　sunk　to　such
a　state　of　misery　its　hopes　can　only　be　directed　towards　the　future；　it
is　natural　they　should　be　so　directed；　even　without　reflection。〃　　Most　of
the　individuals　present　concurred　in　my　opinion；　and　the　decision　of　the
meeting　was　unanimous。　　Marshal　Marmont　has　since　said　to　me；　〃I　have
been　blamed；　my　dear　Bourrienne：　but　you　were　with　me　on　the　30th　of
March。　　You　were　a　witness　to　the　wishes　expressed　by　a　portion　of　the
principal　inhabitants　of　Paris。　　I　acted　as　I　was　urged　to　do　only
because　I　considered　the　meeting　to　be　composed　of　men　entirely
disinterested；　and　who　had　nothing　to　expect　from　the　return　of　the
Bourbons。〃

Such　is　a　correct　statement　of　the　facts　which　some　persons　have
perverted　with　the　view　of　enhancing　Napoleon's　glory。　　With　respect　to
those　versions　which　differ　from　mine　I　have　only　one　comment　to　offer；
which　is；　that　I　saw　and　heard　what　I　describe。

The　day　after　the　capitulation　of　ParisMarmont　went　in　the　evening　to
see　the　Emperor　at　Fontainebleau。　　He　supped　with　him。　　Napoleon　praised
his　defence　of　Paris。。　　After　supper　the　Marshal　rejoined　his　corps　at
Essonne；　and　six　hours　after　the　Emperor　arrived　there　to　visit　the
lines。　　On　leaving　Paris　Marmont　had　left　Colonels　Fabvier　and　Dent's　to
direct　the　execution　of　the　capitulation。　　These　officers　joined　the
Emperor　and　the　Marshal　as　they　were　proceeding　up　the　banks　of　the　river
at　Essonne。　　They　did　not　disguise　the　effect　which　the　entrance　of　the
Allies　had　produced　in　Paris。　　At　this　intelligence　the　Emperor　was
deeply　mortified；　and　he　returned　immediately　to　Fontainebleau；　leaving
the　Marshal　at　Essonne。

At　daybreak　on　the　31st　of　March　Paris　presented　a　novel　and　curious
spectacle。　　No　sooner　had　the　French　troops　evacuated　the　capital　than
the　principal　streets　resounded　with　cries　of　〃Down　with　Bonaparte！〃
〃No　conscription！〃〃No　consolidated　duties　（droits　reunis）！〃　　With　these
cries　were　mingled　that　of　〃The　Bourbons　for　ever！〃　but　this　latter　cry
was　not　repeated　so　frequently　as　the　others：　in　general　I　remarked　that
the　people　gaped　and　listened　with　a　sort　of　indifference。　　As　I　had
taken　a　very　active　part　in　all　that　had　happened　during　some　preceding
days　I　was　particularly　curious　to　study　what　might　be　called　the
physiognomy　of　Paris。　　This　was　the　second　opportunity　which　had　offered
itself　for　such　a　study；　and　I　now　saw　the　people　applaud　the　fall　of　the
man　whom　they　had　received　with　enthusiasm　after　the　18th　Brumaire。　　The
reason　was；　that　liberty　was　then　hoped　for；　as　it　was　hoped　for　in　1814。
I　went　out　early　in　the　morning　to　see　the　numerous　groups　of　people　who
had　assembled　in　the　streets。　　I　saw　women　tearing　their　handkerchiefs
and　distributing　the　fragments　as　the　emblems　of　the　revived　lily。　　That
same　morning　I　met　on　the　Boulevards；　and　some　hours　afterwards　on　the
Place　Louis　XV。；　a　party　of　gentlemen　who　paraded　the　streets　of　the
capital　proclaiming　the　restoration　of　the　Bourbons　and　shouting；　〃Vive
le　Roi！〃　and　〃Vive　Louis　XVIII！〃　　At　their　head　I　recognised
MM。　Sosthenes　de　la　Rochefoucauld；　Comte　de　Froissard；　the　Duc　de
Luxembourg；　the　Duc　de　Crussol；　Seymour；　etc。　　The　cavalcade　distributed
white　cockades　in　passing　along；　and　was　speedily　joined　by　a　numerous
crowd；　who　repaired　to　the　Place　Vendome。　　The　scene　that　was　acted　there
is　well　known；　and　the　enthusiasm　of　popular　joy　could　scarcely　excuse
the　fury　that　was　directed　against　the　effigy　of　the　man　whose
misfortunes；　whether　merited　or　not；　should　have　protected　him　from　such
outrages。　　These　excesses　served；　perhaps　more　than　is　generally
supposed；　to　favour　the　plans　of　the　leaders　of　the　Royalist　party；　to
whom　M。　Nesselrode　had　declared　that　before　he　would　pledge　himself　to
further　their　views　he　must　have　proofs　that　they　were　seconded　by　the
population　of　Paris。

I　was　afterwards　informed　by　an　eye…witness　of　what　took　place　on　the
evening　of　the　31st　of　March　in　one　of　the　principal　meetings　of　the
Royalists；　which　was　held　in　the　hotel　of　the　Comte　de　Morfontaine；　who
acted　as　president　on　the　occasion。　　Amidst　a　chaos　of　abortive
propositions　and　contradictory　motions　M。　Sosthenes　de　la　Rochefoucauld
proposed　that　a　deputation　should　be　immediately　sent　to　the　Emperor
Alexander　to　express　to　him　the　wish　of　the　meeting。　　This　motion　was
immediately　approved；　and　the　mover　was　chosen　to　head　the　deputation。
On　leaving　the　hotel　the　deputation　met　M。　de　Chateaubriand；　who　had　that
very　day　been；　as　it　were；　the　precursor　of　the　restoration；　by
publishing　his　admirable　manifesto；　entitled　〃Bonaparte　and　the
Bourbons。〃　　He　was　invited　to　join　the　deputation；　but　nothing　could
overcome　his　diffidence　and　induce　him　to　speak。　　On　arriving　at　the
hote1　in　the　Rue　St。　Florentin　the　deputation　was　introduced　to　Count
Nesselrode；　to　whom　M。　Sosthenes　de　la　Rochefoucauld　briefly　explained
its　object；　he　spoke　of　the　wishes　of　the　meeting　and　of　the　manifest
desire　of　Paris　and　of　France。　　He　represented　the　restoration　of　the
Bourbons　as　the　only　means　of　securing　the　peace　of　Europe；　and　observed；
in　conclusion；　that　as　the　exertions　of　the　day　must　have　been　very
fatiguing　to　the　Emperor；　the　deputation　would　not　solicit　the　favour　of
being　introduced　to　him；　but　would　confidently　rely　on　the　good　faith　of
his　Imperial　Majesty。　　〃I　have　just　left　the　Emperor；〃　replied　M。
Nesselrode；　〃and　can　pledge　myself　for　his　intentions。　　Return　to　the
meeting　and　announce　to　the　French　people　that　in　compliance　with　their
wishes　his　Imperial　Majesty　will　use　all　his　influence　to　restore　the
crown　to　the　legitimate　monarch：　his　Majesty　Louis　XVIII。　shall　reascend
the　throne　of　France。〃　　With　this　gratifying　intelligence　the　deputation
returned　to　the　meeting　in　the　Rue　d'Anjou。

There　is　no　question　that　great　enthusiasm　was　displayed　on　the　entrance
of　the　Allies　into　Paris。　　It　may　be　praised　or　blamed；　but　the　fact
cannot　be　denied。　　I　closely　watched　all　that　was　passing；　and　I　observed
the　expression　of　a　sentiment　which　I　had　long　anticipated　when；　after
his　alliance　with　the　daughter　of　the　Caesars；　the　ambition　of　Bonaparte
increased　in　proportion　as　it　was　gratified：　I　clearly　foresaw　Napoleon's
fall。　　Whoever　watched　the　course　of　events　during　the　last　four　years　of
the　Empire　must　have　observed；　as　I　did；　that　from　the　date　of　Napoleon's
marriage　with　Maria　Louisa　the　form　of　the　French　Government　became　daily
more　and　more　tyrannical　and　oppressive。　　The　intolerable　height　which
this　evil　had　attained　is　evident　from　the　circumstance　that　at　the　end
of　1813　the　Legislative　Body；　throwing　aside　the　mute　character　which　it
had　hitherto　maintained；　presumed　to　give　a　lecture　to　him　who　had　never
before　received　a　lecture　from　any　one。　　On　the　31st　of　March　it　was
recollected　what　had　been　the　conduct　of　Bonaparte　on　the　occasion
alluded　to；　and　those　of　the　deputies　who　remained　in　Paris　related　how
the　gendarmes　had　opposed　their　entrance　into　the　hall　of　the　Assembly。
All　this　contributed　wonderfully　to　irritate　the　public　mind　against
Napoleon。　　He　had　become　master　of　France　by　the　sword；　and　the　sword
being　sheathed；　his　power　was　at　an　end；　for　no　popular　institution
identified　with　the　nation　the　new　dynasty　which　he　hoped　to　found。　　。
The　nation　admired　but　did　not　love　Napoleon；　for　it　is　impossible　to
love　what　is　feared；　and　he　had　done　nothing　to　claim　the　affections　of
France。

I　was　present　at　all　the　meetings　and　conferences　which　were　held　at　M　de
Talleyrand's　hotel；　where　the　Emperor　Alexander　had　taken　up　his
residence。　　Of　all　the　persons　present　at　these　meetings　M。　de　Talleyrand
was　most　disposed　to　retain　Napoleon　at　the　head　of　the　Government；　with
restrictions　on　the　exercise　of　his　power。　　In　the　existing　state　of
things　it　was　only　possible　to　choose　one　of　three　courses：　first；　to
make　peace　with　Napoleon；　with　the　adoption　of　proper　securities　against
him；　second；　to　establish　a　Regency；　and　third；　to　recall　the　Bourbons。

On　the　13th　of　March　I　witnessed　the　entrance　of　the　Allied　sovereigns
into　Paris；　and　after　the　procession　had　passed　the　new　street　of　the
Luxembourg　I　repaired　straight　to　M。　de　Talleyrand's　hotel；　which　I
reached　before