memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v12-第7部分

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family　of　Wellesley；　and　to　excite　in　the　mind　of　Wellington；　the　lustre
of　whose　reputation　was　now　dawning；　ambitious　projects　which　would　have
embarrassed　the　coalition。　　Napoleon；　however；　did　not　adopt　this
proposition；　the　issue　of　which　he　thought　too　uncertain；　and　above　all；
too　remote；　in　the　urgent　circumstances　in　which　it　stood。　　Caulaincourt
was　then　made　Minister　for　Foreign　Affairs；　in　lieu　of　M。　Maret；　who　was
appointed　Secretary　of　State；　an　office　much　better　suited　to　him。

Meanwhile　the　Emperor　was　wholly　intent　on　the　means　of　repelling　the
attack　which　was　preparing　against　him。　　The　critical　circumstances　in
which　he　was　placed　seemed　to　restore　the　energy　which　time　had　in　some
measure　robbed　him　of。　　He　turned　his　eyes　towards　Spain；　and　resolved　to
bring　the　army　from　that　country　to　oppose　the　Allies；　whose　movements
indicated　their　intention　of　entering　France　by　Switzerland。　　An　event
occurred　connected　with　this　subject　calculated　to　have　a　decided
influence　on　the　affairs　of　the　moment；　namely；　the　renunciation　by
Joseph；　King　of　Spain；　of　all　right　to　the　crown；　to　be　followed　by　the
return；　as　had　been　agreed　on；　of　Ferdinand　to　his　dominions。　　Joseph
made　this　sacrifice　at　the　instigation　of　his　brother。　　The　treaty　was
signed；　but　an　inconceivable　delay　occurred　in　its　execution；　while　the
torrent；　which　was　advancing　upon　France；　rushed　forward　so　rapidly　that
the　treaty　could　not　be　carried　into　execution。　　Ferdinand；　it　is　true；
re…ascended　his　throne；　but　from　other　causes。

The　Emperor　was　deeply　interested　in　the　march　of　the　Allies。　　It　was
important　to　destroy　the　bridge　of　Bale；　because　the　Rhine　once　crossed
masses　of　the　enemy　would　be　thrown　into　France。　　At　this　time　I　had
close　relations　with　a　foreign　diplomat　whom　I　am　forbidden　by　discretion
to　name。　　He　told　me　that　the　enemy　was　advancing　towards　the　frontier；
and　that　the　bridge　of　Bale　would　not　be　destroyed；　as　it　had　been　so
agreed　at　Berne；　where　the　Allies　had　gained　the　day。　　This　astonished
me；　because　I　knew；　on　the　other　hand；　from　a　person　who　ought；　to　have
been　equally　well　informed；that　it　was　hoped　the　bridge　would　be　blown
up。　　Being　much　interested　in　knowing　the　truth；　I　sent　on　my　own
account；　an　agent　to　Bale　who　on　his　return　told　me　that　the　bridge　would
remain。

On　the　19th　of　December　the　Legislative　Body　was　convoked。　　It　was　on　a
Wednesday。　　M。　Laine　was　Vice…President　under　M。　Regnier。　　A　committee
was　appointed　to　examine　and　report　on　the　communications　of　the　Emperor。
The　report　and　conclusions　of　the　committee　were　not　satisfactory；　it　was
alleged　that　they　betrayed　a　revolutionary　tendency；　of　which　M。　Laine
was　absurdly　accused　of　having　been　one　of　the　promoters；　but　all　who
knew　him　must　have　been　convinced　of　the　falsehood　of　the　charge。　　The
Emperor　ordered　the　report　to　be　seized；　and　then　adjourned　the
Legislative　Body。　　Those　who　attentively　observed　the　events　of　the　time
will　recollect　the　stupor　which　prevailed　in　Paris　on　the　intelligence　of
this　seizure　and　of　the　adjournment　of　the　Legislative　Body。　　A　thousand
conjectures　were　started　as　to　what　new　occurrences　had　taken　place
abroad；　but　nothing　satisfactory　was　learned。

I　considered　this　a　great　mistake。　　Who　can　doubt　that　if　the　Legislative
Body　had　taken　the　frank　and　noble　step　of　declaring　that　France　accepted
the　conditions　of　Frankfort　they　would　not　have　been　listened　to　by　the
Allies？　　But　the　words；　〃You　are　dishonoured　if　you　cede　a　single　village
acquired　by　a　'Senatus…consulte'；〃　always；　resounded　in　Napoleon's　ears：
they　flattered　his　secret　thoughts；　and　every　pacific　proposal　was
rejected。

The　members　of　the　adjourned　Legislative　Body　went　as　usual　to　take　leave
of　the　Emperor；　who　received　them　on　a　Sunday；　and　after　delivering　to
them　the　speech；　which　is　very　well　known；　dismissed　the　rebels　with
great　ill…humour；　refusing　to　hear　any　explanation。　　〃I　have　suppressed
your　address；〃　he　began　abruptly：　〃it　was　incendiary。　　I　called　you　round
me　to　do　goodyou　have　done　ill。　　Eleven…twelfths　of　you　are　well…
intentioned；　the　others；　and　above　all　M。　Laine；　are　factious　intriguers；
devoted　to　England；　to　all　my　enemies；　and　corresponding　through　the
channel　of　the　advocate　Deseze　with　the　Bourbons。　　Return　to　your
Departments；　and　feel　that　my　eye　will　follow　you；　you　have　endeavoured
to　humble　me；　you　may　kill　me；　but　you　shall　not　dishonour　me。　　You　make
remonstrances；　is　this　a　time；　when　the　stranger　invades　our　provinces；
and　200；000　Cossacks　are　ready　to　overflow　our　country？　　There　may　have
been　petty　abuses；　I　never　connived　at　them。　　You；　M。　Raynouard；　you　said
that。　　Prince　Massena　robbed　a　man　at　Marseilles　of　his　house。　　You　lie！
The　General　took　possession　of　a　vacant　house；　and　my　Minister　shall
indemnify　the　proprietor。　　Is　it　thus　that　you　dare　affront　a　Marshal　of
France　who　has　bled　for　his　country；　and　grown　gray　in　victory？　　Why　did
you　not　make　your　complaints　in　private　to　me？　　I　would　have　done　you
justice。　　We　should　wash　our　dirty　linen　at　home；　and　not　drag　it　out
before　the　world。　　You；　call　yourselves　Representatives　of　the　Nation。
It　is　not　true；　you　are　only　Deputies　of　the　Departments；　a　small　portion
of　the　State；　inferior　to　the　Senate；　inferior　even　to　the　Council　of
State。　　The　Representatives　of　the　People！　　I　am　alone　the　Representative
of　the　People。　　Twice　have　24；000；000　of　French　called　me　to　the　throne：
which　of　you　durst　undertake　such　a　burden？　　It　had　already　overwhelmed
（ecrase）；　your　Assemblies；　and　your　Conventions；　your　Vergniauds　and　your
Guadets；　your　Jacobins　and　your　Girondins。　　They　are　all　dead！　　What；　who
are　you？　　nothingall　authority　is　in　the　Throne；　and　what　is　the
Throne？　this　wooden　frame　covered　with　velvet？no；　I　am　the　Throne！
You　have　added　wrong　to　reproaches。　　You　have　talked　of　concessions
concessions　that　even　my　enemies　dared　not　ask！　　I　suppose　if　they　asked
Champaigne　you　would　have　had　me　give　them　La　Brie　besides；　but　in　four
months　I　will　conquer　peace；　or　I　shall　be　dead！　　You　advise！　　how　dare
you　debate　of　such　high　matters　（de　si　graves　interets）！　　You　have　put　me
in　the　front　of　the　battle　as　the　cause　of　warit　is　infamous　（c'est　une
atrocite）。　　In　all　your　committees　you　have　excluded　the　friends　of
Governmentextraordinary　commissioncommittee　of　financecommittee　of
the　address；　all；　all　my　enemies。　　M。　Laine；　I　repeat　it；　is　a　traitor；
he　is　a　wicked　man；　the　others　are　mere　intriguers。　　I　do　justice　to　the
eleven…twelfths；　but　the　factions　I　know；　and　will　pursue。　　Is　it；　I　ask
again；　is　it　while　the　enemy　is　in　France　that　you　should　have　done　this？
But　nature　has　gifted　me　with　a　determined　couragenothing　can　overcome
me。　　It　cost　my　pride　much　tooI　made　that　sacrifice；　Ibut　I　am　above
your　miserable　declamationsI　was　in　need　of　consolation；　and　you　would
mortify　mebut；　no；　my　victories　shall　crush　your　clamours！　　In　three
months　we　shall　have　peace；　and　you　shall　repent　your　folly。　　I　am　one　of
those　who　triumph　or　die。

〃Go　back　to　your　Departments　if　any　one　of　you　dare　to　print　your　address
I　shall　publish　it　in　the　Moniteur　with　notes　of　my　own。　　Go；　France
stands　in　more　need　of　me　than　I　do　of　France。　　I　bear　the　eleven…
twelfths　of　you　in　my　heartI　shall　nominate　the　Deputies　to　the　two
series　which　are　vacant；　and　I　shall　reduce　the　Legislative　Body　to　the
discharge　of　its　proper　duties。　　The　inhabitants　of　Alsace　and　Franche
Comte　have　more　spirit　than　you；　they　ask　me　for　arms；　I　send　them；　and
one　of　my　aides　de　camp　will　lead　them　against　the　enemy。〃

In　after　conversations　he　said　of　the　Legislative　Body　that　〃its　members
never　came　to　Paris　but　to　obtain　some　favours。　　They　importuned　the
Ministers　from　morning　till　night；　and　complained　if　they　were　not
immediately　satisfied。　　When　invited　to　dinner　they　burn　with　envy　at　the
splendour　they　see　before　them。〃　　I　heard　this　from　Cambaceres；　who　was
present　when　the　Emperor　made　these　remarks。




CHAPTER　XXXI。

1813。

　　　　　The　flag　of　the　army　of　Italy　and　the　eagles　of　1813Entrance　of
　　　　　the　Allies　into　SwitzerlandSummons　to　the　Minister　of　Police
　　　　　My　refusal　to　accept　a　mission　to　SwitzerlandInterviews　with　M。　de
　　　　　Talleyrand　and　the　Due　de　PicenceOffer　of　a　Dukedom　and　the　Grand
　　　　　Cordon　of　the　Legion　of　HonourDefinitive　refusalThe　Duc　de
　　　　　Vicence's　message　to　me　in　1815Commencement　of　the　siege　of
　　　　　HamburgA　bridge　two　leagues　longExecutions　at　LubeckScarcity
　　　　　of　provisions　in　HamburgBanishment　of　the　inhabitantsMen
　　　　　bastinadoed　and　women　whippedHospitality　of　the　inhabitants　of
　　　　　Altona。

I　am　now　arrived　at　the　most　critical　period　in　Napoleon's　career。　　What
reflections　must　he　have　made；　if　he　had　had　leisure　to　reflect；　in
comparing　the　recollections　of　his　rising　glory　with　the　sad　picture　of
his　falling　fortune？　　What　a　contrast　presents　itself　when　we　compare　the
famous　flag　of　the　army　of　Italy；　which　the　youthful　conqueror；
Bonaparte；　carried　to　the　Directory；　with　those　drooping　eagles　who　had
now　to　defend　the　aerie　whence　they　had　so　often　taken　flight　to　spread
their　triumphant　wings　over　Europe！　　Here　we　see　the　difference　between
liberty　and　absolute　power！　　Napoleon；　the　son　of　liberty；　to　whom　he
owed　everything；　had　disowned　his　mother；　and　was　now　about　to　fall。
Those　glorious　triumphs　were　now　over　when　the　people　of　Italy　consoled
themselves　for　defeat　and　submitted　to　the　magical　power　of　that　liberty
which　preceded　the　Republican　armies。　　Now；　on　the　contrary；　it　was　to
free　themselves　from　a　despotic　yoke　that　the　nations　of　Europe　had　in
their　turn　taken　up　arms　and　were　preparing　to　invade　France。

With　the　violation　of　the　Swiss　territory　by　the　Allied　armies；　after　the
consent　of　the　Cantons；　is　connected　a　fact　of　great　importance　in　my
life；　and　which；　if　I　had　chosen；　might　have　made　a　great　difference　in
my　destiny。　　On　Tuesday；　the　28th　of　December；　I　dined　with　my　old
friend；　M。　Pierlot；　and　on　leaving　home　I　was　in　the　habit　of　saying
where　I　might　be　found　in　case　I　should　be　wanted。　　At　nine　o'clock　at
night　an　express　arrived　from　the　Minister　of