memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v8-第12部分

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the　preparatory　mission　with　which　I　commenced　the　exercise　of　my
diplomatic　functions。　　I　acquainted　Madame　Bonaparte　with　all　that　the
Emperor　had　said　to　me。　　I　reminded　her　of　the　affair　of　the　1；200；000
francs　which　we　had　settled　with　half　that　sum。　　I　even　dropped　some
allusions　to　the　promises　she　had　made。

〃How　can　I　help　it？〃　　Said　she。　　〃Is　it　my　fault？〃　　Josephine　uttered
these　words　in　a　tone　of　sincerity　which　was　at　once　affecting　and
ludicrous。　　〃All　sorts　of　beautiful　things　are　brought　to　me；〃　she
continued；　〃they　are　praised　up；　I　buy　themI　am　not　asked　for　the
money；　and　all　of　a　sudden；　when　I　have　got　none；　they　come　upon　me　with
demands　for　payment。　　This　reaches　Napoleon's　ears；　and　he　gets　angry。
When　I　have　money；　Bourrienne　you　know　how　I　employ　it。　　I　give　it
principally　to　the　unfortunate　who　solicit　my　assistance；　and　to　poor
emigants。　　But　I　will　try　to　be　more　economical　in　future。　　Tell　him　so
if　you　see　him　again；　But　is　it　not　my　duty　to　bestow　as　much　in　charity
as　I　can？〃〃Yes；　Madame；　but　permit　me　to　say　that　nothing　requires
greater　discernment　than　the　distribution　of　chaxity。　　If　you　had　always
sat　upon　a　throne　you　might　have　always　supposed　that　your　bounty　always
fall　into　the　hands　of　the　deserving；　but　you　cannot　be　ignorant　that　it
oftener　falls　to　the　lot　of　intrigue　than　to　the　meritorious　needy。
I　cannot　disguise　from　you　that　the　Emperor　was　very　earnest　when　he
spoke　on　this　subject；　and　he　desired　me　to　tell　you　so。〃〃Did　he
reproach　me　with　nothing　else？〃〃No　Madame。　　You　know　the　influence　you
have　over　him　with　respect　to　everything　but　what　relates　to　politics。
Allow　a　faithful　and　sincere　friend　to　prevail　upon　you　seriously　not　to
vex　him　on　this　point。〃〃Bourrienne；　I　give　you　my　word。　　Adieu！　my
friend。〃

In　communicating　to　Josephine　what　the　Emperor　had　said　to　me　I　took　care
not　to　touch　a　chord　which　would　have　awakened　feelings　far　more　painful
to　her　than　even　the　Emperor's　harsh　reproof　on　account　of　her
extravagance。　　Poor　Josephine！　how　I　should　have　afflicted　her　had　I
uttered　a　word　of　Bonaparte's　regret　at　not　having　a　child。　　She　always
had　a　presentiment　of　the　fate　that　one　day　awaited　her。　　Besides；
Josephine　told　the　truth　in　assuring　me　that　it　was　not　her　fault　that；
she　spent　as　she　did；　at　least　all　the　time　I　was　with　both　of　them；
order　and　economy　were　no　more　compatible　with　her　than　moderation　and
patience　with　Napoleon。　　The　sight　of　the　least　waste　put　him　beside
himself；　and　that　was　a　sensation　his　wife　hardly　ever　spared　him。　　He
saw　with　irritation　the　eagerness　of　his　family　to　gain　riches；　the　more
he　gave；　the　more　insatiable　they　appeared；　with　the　exception　of　Louis；
whose　inclinations　were　always　upright；　and　his　tastes　moderate。　　As　for
the　other　members　of　his　family；　they　annoyed　him　so　much　by　their
importunity　that　one　day　he　said；　〃Really　to　listen　to　them　it　would　be
thought　that　I　had　wasted　the　heritage　of　our　father。〃




CHAPTER　XXXI。

1805

　　　　　Napoleon　and　VoltaireDemands　of　the　Holy　SeeCoolness　between　the
　　　　　pope　and　the　EmperorNapoleon's　departure　for　ItalyLast　interview
　　　　　between　the　Pope　and　the　Emperor　at　TurinAlessandriaThe　field　of
　　　　　MarengoThe　last　Doge　of　GenoaBonaparte's　arrival　at　MilanUnion
　　　　　of　Genoa　to　the　French　EmpireError　in　the　Memorial　of　St。　Helen
　　　　　Bonaparte　and　Madam　GrassiniSymptoms　of　dissatisfaction　on　the
　　　　　part　of　Austria　and　RussiaNapoleon's　departure　from　Milan
　　　　　Monument　to　commemorate　the　battle　of　MarengoNapoleon's　arrival　in
　　　　　Paris　and　departure　for　BoulogneUnfortunate　result　of　a　naval
　　　　　engagementMy　visit　to　Fouche's　country　seatSieyes；　Barras；　the
　　　　　Bourbons；　and　BonaparteObservations　respecting　Josephine。

Voltaire　says　that　it　is　very　well　to　kiss　the　feet　of　Popes　provided
their　hands　are　tied。　　Notwithstanding　the　slight　estimation　in　which
Bonaparte　held　〃Voltaire；　he　probably；　without　being　aware　of　this
irreverent　satire；　put　it　into　practice。　　The　Court　of　Rome　gave　him　the
opportunity　of　doing　so　shortly　after　his　Coronation。　　The　Pope；　or
rather　the　Cardinals；　his　advisers'　conceiving　that　so　great　an　instance
of　complaisance　as　the　journey　of　His　Holiness　to　Paris　ought　not　to　go
for　nothing；　demanded　a　compensation；　which；　had　they　been　better
acquainted　　with　Bonaparte's　character　and　policy；　they　would　never　have
dreamed　of　soliciting。　　The　Holy　see　demanded　the　restitution　of　Avignon；
Bologna；　and　some　parts　of　the　Italian　territory　which　had　formerly　been
subject　to　the　Pope's　dominion。　　It　may　be　imagined　how　such　demands　were
received　by　Napoleon；　particularly　after　he　had　obtained　all　he　wanted
from　the　Pope。　　It　was；　it　must　be　confessed；　a　great　mistake　of　the
Court　of　Rome；　whose　policy　is　usually　so　artful　and　adroit；　not　to　make
this　demand　till　after　the　Coronation。　　Had　it　been　made　the　condition　of
the　Pope's　journey　to　France　perhaps　Bonaparte　would　have　consented　to
give　up；　not　Avignon；　certainly；　but　the　Italian　territories；　with　the
intention　of　taking　them　back　again。　　Be　this　as　it　may；　these　tardy
claims；　which　were　peremptorily　rejected；　created　an　extreme　coolness
between　Napoleon　and　Pius　VII。　　The　public　did　not　immediately　perceive
it；　but　there　is　in　the　public　an　instinct　of　reason　which　the　most　able
politicians　never　can　impose　upon；　and　all　eyes　were　opened　when　it　was
known　that　the　Pope；　after　having　crowned　Napoleon　as　Emperor　of　France；
refused　to　crown　him　as　sovereign　of　the　regenerated　kingdom　of　Italy。

Napoleon　left　Paris　on　the　1st　of　April　to　take　possession　of　the　Iron
Crown　at　Milan。　　The　Pope　remained　some　time　longer　in　the　French
capital。　　The　prolonged　presence　of　His　Holiness　was　not　without　its
influence　on　the　religious　feelings　of　the　people；　so　great　was　the
respect　inspired　by　the　benign　countenance　and　mild　manners　of　the　Pope。
When　the　period　of　his　persecutions　arrived　it　would　have　been　well　for
Bonaparte　had　Pius　VII。　never　been　seen　in　Paris；　for　it　was　impossible
to　view　in　any　other　light　than　as　a　victim　the　man　whose　truly　evangelic
meekness　had　been　duly　appreciated。

Bonaparte　did　not　evince　great　impatience　to　seize　the　Crown　of　Italy；
which　he　well　knew　could　not　escape　him。　　He　stayed　a　considerable　time
at　Turin；　where　he　resided　in　the　Stupinis　Palace；　which　may　be　called
the　St。　Cloud　of　the　Kings　of　Sardinia。　　The　Emperor　cajoled　the
Piedmontese。　　General　Menou；　who　was　made　Governor　of　Piedmont；　remained
there　till　Napoleon　founded　the　general　government　of　the　Transalpine
departments　in　favour　of　his　brother…in…law；　the　Prince　Borghese；　of　whom
he　would　have；　found　it　difficult　to　make　anything　else　than　a　Roman
Prince。　　Napoleon　was　still　at　Turin　when　the　Pope　passed　through　that
city　on　his　return　to　Rome。　　Napoleon　had　a　final　interview　with　His
Holiness　to　whom　he　now　affected　to　show　the　greatest　personal　deference。
From　Turin　Bonaparte　proceeded　to　Alessandria；　where　he　commenced　those
immense　works　on　which　such　vast　sums　were　expended。　　He　had　many　times
spoken　to　me　of　his　projects　respecting　Alessandria；　as　I　have　already
observed；　all　his　great　measures　as　Emperor　were　merely　the　execution　of
projects　conceived　at　a　time　when　his　future　elevation　could　have　been
only　a　dream　of　the　imagination。　　He　one　day　said　to　Berthier；　in　my
presence；　during　our　sojurn　at　Milan　after　the　battle　of　Marengo；　〃With
Alessandria　in　my　possession　I　should　always　be　master　of　Italy。　　It
might　be　made　the　strongest　fortress　in　the　world；　it　is　capable　of
containing　a　garrison　of　40；000　men；　with　provisions　for　six　months。
Should　insurrection　take　place；　should　Austria　send　a　formidable　force
here；　the　French　troops　might　retire　to　Alessandria；　and　stand　a　six
months'　siege。　　Six　months　would　be　more　than　sufficient；　wherever　I
might　be；　to　enable　me　to　fall　upon　Italy；　rout　the　Austrians；　and
raise　the　siege　of　Alessandria！〃

As　he　was　so　near　the　field　of　Marengo　the　Emperor　did　not　fail　to　visit
it；　and　to　add　to　this　solemnity　he　reviewed　on　the　field　all　the　corps
of　French　troops　which　were　in　Italy。　　Rapp　told　me　afterwards　that　the
Emperor　had　taken　with　him　from　Paris　the　dress　and　the　hat　which　he　wore
on　the　day　of　that　memorable　battle；　with　the　intention　of　wearing　them
on　the　field　where　it　was　fought。　　He　afterwards　proceeded　by　the　way　of
Casal　to　Milan。

There　the　most　brilliant　reception　he　had　yet　experienced　awaited　him。
His　sojourn　at　Milan　was　not　distinguished　by　outward　demonstrations　of
enthusiasm　alone。　　M。　Durszzo；　the　last　Doge　of　Genoa；　added　another　gem
to　the　Crown　of　Italy　by　supplicating　the　Emperor　in　the　name　of　the
Republic；　of　which　he　was　the　representative；　to　permit　Genoa　to　exchange
her　independence　for　the　honour　of　becoming　a　department　of　France。　　This
offer；　as　may　be　guessed；　was　merely　a　plan　contrived　beforehand。　　It　was
accepted　with　an　air　of　protecting　kindness；　and　at　the　same　moment　that
the　country　of　Andrea　Doria　was　effaced　from　the　list　of　nations　its　last
Doge　was　included　among　the　number　of　French　Senators。　　Genoa；　which
formerly　prided　herself　in　her　surname；　the　Superb；　became　the　chief
station　of　the　twenty…seventh　military　division。　　The　Emperor　went　to
take　possession　of　the　city　in　person；　and　slept　in　the　Doria　Palace；　in
the　bed　where　Charles　V。　had　lain。　　He　left　M。　le　Brun　at　Genoa　as
Governor…General。

At　Milan　the　Emperor　occupied　the　Palace　of　Monza。　　The　old　Iron　Crown　of
the　Kings　of　Lombardy　was　brought　from　the　dust　in　which　it　had　been
buried；　and　the　new　Coronation　took　place　in　the　cathedral　at　Milan；　the
largest　in　Italy；　with　the　exception　of　St。　Peter's　at　Rome。　　Napoleon
received　the　crown　from　the　hands　of　the　Archbishop　of　Milan；　and　placed
it　on　his　head；　exclaiming；　〃Dieu　me　l'a　donnee；　gare　a　qui　la　touche。〃
This　became　the　motto　of　the　Order　of　the　Iron　Crown；　which　the　Emperor
founded　in　commemoration　of　his　being　crowned　King　of　Italy。

Napoleon　was　crowned　in　the　month　of　May　1805：　and　here　I　cannot　avoid
correcting　some　gross　and　inconceivable　errors　into　which　Napoleon　must
have　voluntarily　fallen　at　St。　Helena。　　The　Memorial　states　〃t