memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v8-第6部分

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　　　　　is　brewing。　　Your　Majesty　may　convince　yourself　of　it；　would　you
　　　　　without　need　expose　the　lives　of　so　many　men？〃　　The　heaviness　of　the
　　　　　atmosphere　and　the　sound　of　thunder　in　the　distance　more　than
　　　　　justified　the　fears　of　the　Admiral。　　〃Sir；　said　the　Emperor；　getting
　　　　　more　and　more　irritated；　〃I　have　given　the　orders　once　more；　why
　　　　　have　they　not　been　executed？　　The　consequences　concern　me　alone。
　　　　　Obey！〃　　'Sire；　I　will　not　obey；'　replied　the　Admiral。　　〃You　are
　　　　　insolent！〃　　And　the　Emperor；　who　still　held　his　riding…whip　in　his
　　　　　hand；　advanced　towards　the　admiral　with　a　threatening　gesture。
　　　　　Admiral　Bruix　stepped　back　and　put　his　hand　on　the　sheath　of　his
　　　　　sword　and　said；　growing　very　pale；　〃sire；　take　care！〃　　The　whole
　　　　　suite　stood　paralysed　with　fear。　　The　Emperor　remained　motionless
　　　　　for　some　time；　his　hand　lifted　up；　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　Admiral；
　　　　　who　still　retained　his　menacing　attitude。　　At　last　the　Emperor　threw
　　　　　his　whip　on　the　floor。　　M。　Bruix　took　his　hand　off　his　sword；　and
　　　　　with　uncovered　head　awaited　in　silence　the　result　of　the　painful
　　　　　scene。　　Rear…Admiral　Magon　was　then　ordered　to　see　that　the
　　　　　Emperor's　orders　were　instantly　executed。　　〃As　for　you；　sir；〃　said
　　　　　the　Emperor；　fixing　his　eyes　on　Admiral　Bruix；　you　leave　Boulogne
　　　　　within　twenty…four　hours　and　depart　for　Holland。　　Go！〃　　M。　Magon
　　　　　ordered　the　fatal　movement　of　the　fleet　on　which　the　Emperor　had
　　　　　insisted。　　The　first　arrangements　had　scarcely　been　made　when　the
　　　　　sea　because　very　high。　　The　black　sky　was　pierced　by　lightning；　the
　　　　　thunder　rolled　and　every　moment　the　line　of　vessels　was　broken　by
　　　　　the　wind；　and　shortly　after；　that　which　the　Admiral　had　foreseen
　　　　　came　to　pass；　and　the　most　frightful　storm　dispersed　the　vessels　in
　　　　　each　a　way　that　it　seamed　impossible　to　save　them。　　With　bent　head；
　　　　　arms　crossed；　and　a　sorrowful　　look　in　his　face；　the　Emperor　walked
　　　　　up　and　down　on　the　beach；　when　suddenly　the　most　terrible　cries　were
　　　　　heard。　　More　than　twenty　gunboats　filled　with　soldiers　and　sailors
　　　　　were　being　driven　towards　the　shore；　and　the　unfortunate　men　were
　　　　　vainly　fighting　against　the　furious　waves；　calling　for　help　which
　　　　　nobody　could　give　them。　　Deeply　touched　by　the　spectacle　and　the
　　　　　heart…rending　cries　and　lamentations　of　the　multitude　which　had
　　　　　assembled　on　the　beach；　the　Emperor；　seeing　his　generals　and
　　　　　officers　tremble　with　horror；　attempted　to　set　an　example　of
　　　　　devotion；　and；　in　spite　of　all　efforts　to　keep　him　back；　he　threw
　　　　　himself　into　a　boat；　saying；　〃Let　me　go！　let　me　go！　they　must　be
　　　　　brought　out　of　this。〃　　In　a　moment　the　boat　was　filled　with　water。
　　　　　The　waves　poured　over　it　again　and　again；　and　the　Emperor　was
　　　　　drenched。　　One　wave　larger　than　the　others　almost　threw　him
　　　　　overboard　and　his　hat　was　carried　sway。　　Inspired　by　so　much
　　　　　courage；　officers；　soldiers；　seamen；　and　citizens　tried　to　succour
　　　　　the　drowning；　some　in　boats；　some　swimming。　　But；　alas！　only　a　small
　　　　　number　could　be　saved　of　the　unfortunate　men。　　The　following　day
　　　　　more　than　200　bodies　were　thrown　ashore；　and　with　them　the　hat　of
　　　　　the　conqueror　of　Marengo。　　That　sad　day　was　one　of　desolation　for
　　　　　Boulogne　and　for　the　camp。　　The　Emperor　groaned　under　the　burden　of
　　　　　an　accident　which　he　had　to　attribute　solely　to　his　own　obstinacy。
　　　　　Agents　were　despatched　to　all　parts　of　the　town　to　subdue　with　gold
　　　　　the　murmurs　which　ware　ready　to　break　out　into　a　tumult。＇

ceased　as　if　by　enchantment。　　The　flotilla　entered　the　port　safe　and
sound　and　he　went　back　to　the　camp；　where　the　sports　and　amusements
prepared　for　the　soldiers　commenced；　and　in　the　evening　the　brilliant
fireworks　which　were　let　off　rose　in　a　luminous　column；　which　was
distinctly　seen　from　the　English　coast。　＇It　appears　that　Napoleon　was
so　well　able　to　cover　up　this　fiasco　that　not　even　Bourrienne　ever　heard
the　true　story。　　D。W。＇

When　he　reviewed　the　troops　he　asked　the　officers；　and　often　the
soldiers；　in　what　battles　they　had　been　engaged；　and　to　those　who　had
received　serious　wounds　he　gave　the　cross。　　Here；　I　think；　I　may
appropriately　mention　a　singular　piece　of　charlatanism　to　which　the
Emperor　had　recourse；　and　which　powerfully　contributed　to　augment　the
enthusiasm　of　his　troops。　　He　would　say　to　one　of　his　aides　decamp；
〃Ascertain　from　the　colonel　of　such　a　regiment　whether　he　has　in　his
corps　a　man　who　has　served　in　the　campaigns　of　Italy　or　the　campaigns　of
Egypt。　　Ascertain　his　name；　where　he　was　born；　the　particulars　of　his
family；　and　what　he　has　done。　　Learn　his　number　in　the　ranks；　and　to　what
company　he　belongs；　and　furnish　me　with　the　information。〃

On　the　day　of　the　review　Bonaparte；　at　a　single　glance；　could　perceive
the　man　who　had　been　described　to　him。　　He　would　go　up　to　him　as　if　he
recognised　him；　address　him　by　his　name；　and　say；　〃Oh！　　so　you　are　here！
You　area　brave　fellowI　saw　you　at　Aboukirhow　is　your　old　father？
What！　have　you　not　got　the　Cross？　　Stay；　I　will　give　it　you。〃　　Then　the
delighted　soldiers　would　say　to　each　other；　〃You　see　the　Emperor　knows　us
all；　he　knows　our　families；　he　knows　where　we　have　served。〃　　What　a
stimulus　was　this　to　soldiers；　whom　he　succeeded　in　persuading　that　they
would　all　some　time　or　other　become　Marshals　of　the　Empire！

Lauriston　told　me；　amongst　other　anecdotes　relating　to　Napoleon's　sojourn
at　the　camp　at　Boulogne；　a　remarkable　instance　of　intrepidity　on　the　part
of　two　English　sailors。　　These　men　had　been　prisoners　at　Verdun；　which
was　the　most　considerable　depot　of　English　prisoners　in　France　at　the
rupture　of　the　peace　of　Amiens。　　They　effected　their　escape　from　Verdun；
and　arrived　at　Boulogne　without　having　been　discovered　on　the　road；
notwithstanding　the　vigilance　with　which　all　the　English　were　watched
They　remained　at　Boulogne　for　some　time；　destitute　of　money；　and　without
being　able　to　effect　their　escape。　　They　had　no　hope　of　getting　aboard　a
boat；　on　account　of　the　strict　watch　that　was　kept　upon　vessels　of　every
kind。　　These　two　sailors　made　a　boat　of　little　pieces　of　wood；　which　they
put　together　as　well　as　they　could；　having　no　other　tools　than　their
knives。　　They　covered　it　with　a　piece　of　sail…cloth。　　It　was　only　three
or　four　feet　wide；　and　not　much　longer；　and　was　so　light　that　a　man　could
easily　carry　it　on　his　shoulders；so　powerful　a　passion　is　the　love　of
home　and　liberty！　　Sure　of　being　shot　if　they　were　discovered；　almost
equally　sure　of　being　drowned　if　they　effected　their　escape；　they；
nevertheless；　resolved　to　attempt　crossing　the　Channel　in　their　fragile
skiff。　　Perceiving　an　English　frigate　within　sight　of　the　coast；　they
pushed　off　and　endeavoured　to　reach　her。　　They　had　not　gone　a　hundred
toises　from　the　shore　when　they　were　perceived　by　the　custom…house
officers；　who　set　out　in　pursuit　of　them；　and　brought　them　back　again。
The　news　of　this　adventure　spread　through　the　camp；　where　the
extraordinary　courage　of　the　two　sailors　was　the　subject　of　general
remark。　　The　circumstance　reached　the　Emperor's　ears。　　He　wished　to　see
the　men；　and　they　were　conducted　to　his　presence；　along　with　their　little
boat。　　Napoleon；　whose　imagination　was　struck　by　everything
extraordinary；　could　not　conceal　his　surprise　at　so　bold　a　project；
undertaken　with　such　feeble　means　of　execution。　　〃Is　it　really　true；〃
said　the　Emperor　to　them；　〃that　you　thought　of　crossing　the　sea　in
this？〃〃Sire；〃　said　they；　〃if　you　doubt　it；　give　us　leave　to　go；　and　you
shall　see　us　depart。〃〃I　will。　　You　are　bold　and　enterprising　menI
admire　courage　wherever　I　meet　it。　　But　you　shall　not　hazard　your　lives。
You　are　at　liberty；　and　more　than　that；　I　will　cause　you　to　be　put　on
board　an　English　ship。　　When　you　return　to　London　tell　how　I　esteem　brave
men；　even　when　they　are　my　enemies。〃　　Rapp；　who　with　Lauriaton；　Duroc；
and　many　others　were　present　at　this　scene；　were　not　a　little　astonished
at　the　Emperor's　generosity。　　If　the　men　had　not　been　brought　before　him；
they　would　have　been　shot　as　spies；　instead　of　which　they　obtained　their
liberty；　and　Napoleon　gave　several　pieces　of　gold　to　each。　　This
circumstance　was　one　of　those　which　made　the　strongest　impression　on
Napoleon；　and　he　recollected　it　when　at　St。　Helena；　in　one　of　his
conversations　with　M。　de　Las　Casas。

No　man　was　ever　so　fond　of　contrasts　as　Bonaparte。　　He　liked；　above
everything；　to　direct　the　affairs　of　war　whilst　seated　in　his　easy　chair；
in　the　cabinet　of　St。　Cloud；　and　to　dictate　in　the　camp　his　decrees
relative　to　civil　administration。　　Thus；　at　the　camp　of　Boulogne；　he
founded　the　decennial　premiums；　the　first　distribution　of　which　he
intended　should　take　place　five　years　afterwards；　on　the　anniversary　of
the　18th　Brumaire；　which　was　an　innocent　compliment　to　the　date　of　the
foundation　of　the　Consular　Republic。　　This　measure　also　seemed　to　promise
to　the　Republican　calendar　a　longevity　which　it　did　not　attain。　　All
these　little　circumstances　passed　unobserved；　but　Bonaparte　had　so　often
developed　to　me　his　theory　of　the　art　of　deceiving　mankind　that　I　knew
their　true　value。　　It　was　likewise　at　the　camp　of　Boulogne　that；　by　a
decree　emanating　from　his　individual　will；　he　destroyed　the　noblest
institution　of　the　Republic；　the　Polytechnic　School；　by　converting　it
into　a　purely　military　academy。　　He　knew　that　in　that　sanctuary　of　high
study　a　Republican　spirit　was　fostered；　and　whilst　I　was　with　him　he　had
often　told　me　it　was　necessary　that　all　schools；　colleges；　and
establishments　for　public　instruction　should　be　subject　to　military
discipline。　　I　frequently　endeavoured　to　controvert　this　idea；　but
without　success。

It　was　arranged　that　Josephine　and　the　Emperor　should　meet　in　Belgium。
He　proceeded　thither　from　the　camp　of　Boulogne；　to　the　astonishment　of
those　who　believed　that　the　moment　for　the　invasion　of　England　had　at
length　arrived。　　He　joined　the　Empress　at　the　Palace　of　Lacken；　which　the
Emperor　had　ordered　to　be　repaired　and　newly　furnished　with　great
magnificence。

The　Emperor　continued　his　journey　by　the　towns　bordering　on　the　Rhine。
H