memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v2-第14部分

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eager　to　get　a　sight　of　the　young　hero　whose　career　had　commenced　with　so
much　'eclat'。　　He　lived　very　retiredly；　yet　went　often　to　the　theatre。
He　desired　me；　one　day；　to　go　and　request　the　representation　of　two　of
the　best　pieces　of　the　time；　in　which　Elleviou；　Mesdames　St。　Aubin；
Phillis；　and　other　distinguished　performers　played。　　His　message　was；
that　he　only　wished　these　two　pieces　on　the　same　night；　if　that　were
possible。　　The　manager　told　me　that　nothing　that　the　conqueror　of　Italy
wished　for　was　impossible；　for　he　had　long　ago　erased　that　word　from　the
dictionary。　　Bonaparte　laughed　heartily　at　the　manager's　answer。　　When　we
went　to　the　theatre　he　seated　himself；　as　usual；　in　the　back　of　the　box；
behind　Madame　Bonaparte；　making　me　sit　by　her　side。　　The　pit　and　boxes；
however；　soon　found　out　that　he　was　in　the　house；　and　loudly　called　for
him。　　Several　times　an　earnest　desire　to　see　him　was　manifested；　but　all
in　vain；　for　he　never　showed　himself。

Some　days　after；　being　at　the　Theatre　des　Arts；　at　the　second
representation　of　'Horatius　Cocles'；　although　he　was　sitting　at　the　back
of　a　box　in　the　second　tier；　the　audience　discovered　that　he　was　in　the
house。　　Immediately　acclamations　arose　from　all　quarters；　but　he　kept
himself　concealed　as　much　as　possible；　and　said　to　a　person　in　the　next
box；　〃Had　I　known　that　the　boxes　were　so　exposed；　I　should　not　have
come。〃

During　Bonaparte's　stay　at　Paris　a　woman　sent　a　messenger　to　warn　him
that　his　life　would　be　attempted；　and　that　poison　was　to　be　employed　for
that　purpose。　　Bonaparte　had　the　bearer　of　this　information　arrested；
who：　went；　accompanied　by　the　judge　of　the　peace；　to　the　woman's　house；
where　she　was　found　extended　on　the　floor；　and　bathed　in　her　blood。　　The
men　whose　plot　she　had　overheard；　having　discovered　that　she　had　revealed
their　secret；　murdered　her。　　The　poor　woman　was　dreadfully　mangled：　her
throat　was　cut；　and；　not　satisfied　with　that；　the　assassins　had　also
hacked　her　body　with　sharp　instruments。

On　the　night　of　the　10th　of　Nivose　the　Rue　Chantereine；　in　which
Bonaparte　had　a　small　house　（No。　6）；　received；　in　pursuance　of　a　decree
of　the　department；　the　name　of　Rue　de　la　Victoire。　　The　cries　of　〃Vive
Bonaparte！〃　and　the　incense　prodigally　offered　up　to　him；　did　not　however
seduce　him　from　his　retired　habits。　　Lately　the　conqueror　and　ruler　of
Italy；　and　now　under　men　for　whom　he　had　no　respect；　and　who　saw　in　him　a
formidable　rival；　he　said　to　me　one　day；　〃The　people　of　Paris　do　not
remember　anything。　　Were　I　to　remain　here　long；　doing　nothing；　I　should
be　lost。　　In　this　great　Babylon　one　reputation　displaces　another。　　Let　me
be　seen　but　three　times　at　the　theatre　and　I　shall　no　longer　excite
attention；　so　I　shall　go　there　but　seldom。〃　　When　he　went　he　occupied　a
box　shaded　with　curtains。　　The　manager　of　the　opera　wished　to　get　up　a
special　performance　in　his　honour；　but　he　declined　the　offer。　　When　I
observed　that　it　must　be　agreeable　to　him　to　see　his　fellow…citizens　so
eagerly　running　after　him；　he　replied；　〃Bah！　　the　people　would　crowd　as
fast　to　see　me　if　I　were　going　to　the　scaffold。〃

　　　　　＇A　similar　remark　made　to　William　III。　on　his　lending　at　Brixham
　　　　　elicited　the　comment；　〃Like　the　Jews；　who　cried　one　day　'Hosanna！'
　　　　　and　the　next　〃Crucify　Him！　crucify　Him！〃＇

On　the　28th　of　December　Bonaparte　was　named　a　member　of　the　Institute；　in
the　class　of　the　Sciences　and　arts。

　　　　　＇Napoleon　seems　to　have　really　considered　this　nomination　as　a
　　　　　great　honour。　　He　was　fond　of　using　the　title　in　his　proclamations；
　　　　　and　to　the　last　the　allowance　attached　to　the　appointment　figured　in
　　　　　the　Imperial　accounts。　　He　replaced　Carnot；　the　exiled　Director。＇

He　showed　a　deep　sense　of　this　honour；　and　wrote　the　following　letter　to
Camus；　the　president　of　the　class：

　　　　　CITIZEN　PRESIDENTThe　suffrage　of　the　distinguished　men　who　compose
　　　　　the　institute　confers　a　high　honour　on　me。　　I　feel　well　assured
　　　　　that；　before　I　can　be　their　equal；　I　must　long　be　their　scholar。　　If
　　　　　there　were　any　way　more　expressive　than　another　of　making　known　my
　　　　　esteem　for　you；　I　should　be　glad　to　employ　it。　　True　conqueststhe
　　　　　only　ones　which　leave　no　regret　behind　themare　those　which　are
　　　　　made　over　ignorance。　　The　most　honourable；　as　well　as　the　most
　　　　　useful；　occupation　for　nations　is　the　contributing　to　the　extension
　　　　　of　human　knowledge。　　The　true　power　of　the　French　Republic　should
　　　　　henceforth　be　made　to　consist　in　not　allowing　a　single　new　idea　to
　　　　　exist　without　making　it　part　of　its　property。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BONAPARTE。


The　General　now　renewed；　though　unsuccessfully；　the　attempt　he　had　made
before　the　18th　Fructidor　to　obtain　a　dispensation　of　the　age　necessary
for　becoming　a　Director。　　Perceiving　that　the　time　was　not　yet　favourable
for　such　a　purpose；　he　said　to　me；　on　the　29th　of　January　1798；
〃Bourrienne；　I　do　not　wish　to　remain　here；　there　is　nothing　to　do。　　They
are　unwilling　to　listen　to　anything。　　I　see　that　if　I　linger　here；　I
shall　soon　lose　myself。　　Everything　wears　out　here；　my　glory　has　already
disappeared。　　This　little　Europe　does　not　supply　enough　of　it　for　me。　　I
must　seek　it　in　the　East；　the　fountain　of　glory。　　However；　I　wish　first
to　make　a　tour　along　the　coast；　to　ascertain　by　my　own　observation　what
may　be　attempted。　　I　will　take　you；　Lannes；　and　Sulkowsky；　with　me。　　If
the　success　of　a　descent　on　England　appear　doubtful；　as　I　suspect　it
will；　the　army　of　England　shall　become　the　army　of　the　East；　and　I　will
go　to　Egypt。

This　and　other　conversations　give　a　correct　insight　into　his　character。
He　always　considered　war　and　conquest　as　the　most　noble　and　inexhaustible
source　of　that　glory　which　was　the　constant　object　of　his　desire。　　He
revolted　at　the　idea　of　languishing　in　idleness　at　Paris；　while　fresh
laurels　were　growing　for　him　in　distant　climes。　　His　imagination
inscribed；　in　anticipation；　his　name　on　those　gigantic　monuments　which
alone；　perhaps；　of　all　the　creations　of　man；　have　the　character　of
eternity。　　Already　proclaimed　the　most　illustrious　of　living　generals；
he　sought　to　efface　the　rival　names　of　antiquity　by　his　own。　　If　Caesar
fought　fifty　battles；　he　longed　to　fight　a　hundredif　Alexander　left
Macedon　to　penetrate　to　the　Temple　of　Ammon；　he　wished　to　leave　Paris　to
travel　to　the　Cataracts　of　the　Nile。　　While　he　was　thus　to　run　a　race
with　fame；　events　would；　in　his　opinion；　so　proceed　in　France　as　to
render　his　return　necessary　and　opportune。　　His　place　would　be　ready　for
him；　and　he　should　not　come　to　claim　it　a　forgotten　or　unknown　man。




CHAPTER　XII。

1798。

　　　　　Bonaparte's　departure　from　ParisHis　returnThe　Egyptian
　　　　　expedition　projectedM。　de　TalleyrandGeneral　DesaixExpedition
　　　　　against　MaltaMoney　taken　at　BerneBonaparte's　ideas　respecting
　　　　　the　EastMongeNon…influence　of　the　DirectoryMarriages　of
　　　　　Marmont　and　La　ValetteBonaparte's　plan　of　colonising　EgyptHis
　　　　　camp　libraryOrthographical　blundersStock　of　winesBonaparte's
　　　　　arrival　at　ToulonMadame　Bonaparte's　fall　from　a　balconyExecution
　　　　　of　an　old　manSimon。

Bonaparte　left　Paris　for　the　north　on　the　10th　of　February　1798but　he
received　no　order；　though　I　have　seen　it　everywhere　so　stated；　to　go
there〃for　the　purpose　of　preparing　the　operations　connected　with　the
intended　invasion　of　England。〃　　He　occupied　himself　with　no　such
business；　for　which　a　few　days　certainly　would　not　have　been　sufficient。
His　journey　to　the　coast　was　nothing　but　a　rapid　excursion；　and　its　sole
object　was　to　enable　him　to　form　an　opinion　on　the　main　point　of　the
question。　　Neither　did　he　remain　absent　several　weeks；　for　the　journey
occupied　only　one。　　There　were　four　of　us　in　his　carriagehimself；
Lannes；　Sulkowsky；　and　I。　　Moustache　was　our　courier。　　Bonaparte　was　not
a　little　surprised　on　reading；　in　the　'Moniteur'　of　the　10th　February；　an
article　giving　greater　importance　to　his　little　excursion　than　it
deserved。

　　　　　〃General　Bonaparte；〃　said　the　'Moniteur'；　〃has　departed　for　Dunkirk
　　　　　with　some　naval　and　engineer　officers。　　They　have　gone　to　visit　the
　　　　　coasts　and　prepare　the　preliminary　operations　for　the　descent　＇upon
　　　　　England＇。　　It　may　be　stated　that　he　will　not　return　to　Rastadt；　and
　　　　　that　the　close　of　the　session　of　the　Congress　there　is　approaching。〃

Now　for　the　facts。　　Bonaparte　visited　Etaples；　Ambleteuse；　Boulogne；
Calais；　Dunkirk；　Furnes；　Niewport；　Ostend；　and　the　Isle　of　Walcheren。
He　collected　at　the　different　ports　all　the　necessary　information　with
that　intelligence　and　tact　for　which　he　was　so　eminently　distinguished。
He　questioned　the　sailors；　smugglers；　and　fishermen；　and　listened
attentively　to　the　answers　he　received。

We　returned　to　Paris　by　Antwerp；　Brussels；　Lille；　and　St。　Quentin。　　The
object　of　our　journey　was　accomplished　when　we　reached　the　first　of　these
towns。　　〃Well；　General；〃　said　I；　〃what　think　you　of　our　journey？　　Are　you
satisfied？　　For　my　part；　I　confess　I　entertain　no　great　hopes　from
anything　I　have　seen　and　heard。〃　　Bonaparte　immediately　answered；　〃It　is
too　great　a　chance。　　I　will　not　hazard　it。　　I　would　not　thus　sport　with
the　fate　of　my　beloved　France。〃　　On　hearing　this　I　already　fancied　myself
in　Cairo！

On　his　return　to　Paris　Bonaparte　lost　no　time　in　setting　on　foot　the
military　and　scientific　preparations　for　the　projected　expedition　to　the
banks　of　the　Nile；　respecting　which　such　incorrect　statements　have
appeared。　　It　had　long　occupied　his　thoughts；　as　the　following　facts　will
prove。

In　the　month　of　August　1797　he　wrote　〃that　the　time　was　not　far　distant
when　we　should　see　that；　to　destroy　the　power　of　England　effectually；　it
would　be　necessary　to　attack　Egypt。〃　　In　the　same　month　he　wrote　to
Talleyrand；　who　had　just　succeeded　Charles　de　Lacroix　as　Minister　of
Foreign　Affairs；　〃that　it　would　be　necessary　to　attack　Egypt；　which　did
not　belong　to　the　Grand　Signior。〃　　Talleyrand　replied；　〃that　his　ideas
respecting　Egypt　were　certainly　grand；　and　that　their　utility　could　not
fail　to　be　fully　appreciated。〃　　He　concluded　by　saying　he　would　write　to
him　at　length　on　the　subjec