memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v7-第19部分

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St。　Victor；　who　might　have　taken　his　life；　but　that　only　an　interchange
of　courtesy　took　place　betwixt　the　rival　gallants。

This　ridiculous　story　was　doubtless　intended　to　throw　additional　odium　on
the　First　Consul；　if　Cosier　St。　Victor　should　be　condemned　and　not　obtain
a　pardon；　in　which　case　malignity　would　not　fail　to　attribute　his
execution　to　the　vengeance　of　a　jealous　lover。

I　should　blush　to　relate　such　stories；　equally　destitute　of　probability
and　truth；　had　they　not　obtained　some　credit　at　the　time。　　Whilst　I　was
with　Bonaparte　he　never　went　abroad　during　the　night；　and　it　was　not
surely　at　a　moment　when　the　saying　of　Fouche；　〃The　air　is　full　of
poniards；〃　was　fully　explained　that　he　would　have　risked　such　nocturnal
adventures。

Wright　was　heard　in　the　sixth　sitting；　on　the　2d　of　June；　as　the　hundred
and　thirty…fourth　witness　in　support　of　the　prosecution。　　He；　however；
refused　to　answer　any　interrogatories　put　to　him；　declaring　that；　as　a
prisoner　of　war；　he　considered　himself　only　amenable　to　his　own
Government。

The　Procureur…General　requested　the　President　to　order　the　examinations
of　Captain　Wright　on　the　21st　of　May'　and　at　a　later　period　to　be　read
over　to　him；　which　being　done；　the　witness　replied；　that　it　was　omitted
to　be　stated　that　on　these　occasions　the　questions　had　been　accompanied
with　the　threat　of　transferring　him　to　a　military　tribunal；　in　order　to
be　shot；　if　he　did　not　betray　the　secrets　of　his　country。

In　the　course　of　the　trial　the　most　lively　interest　was　felt　for　MM。　de
Polignac

　　　　　＇The　eldest　of　the　Polignacs；　Armand　（1771…1847）；　condemned　to
　　　　　death；　had　that　penalty　remitted；　but　was　imprisoned　in　Ham　till
　　　　　permitted　to　escape　m　1813。　　He　became　Duc　de　Richelieu　in　1817。
　　　　　His　younger　brother；　Jules　（1780…1847）　　was　also　imprisoned　and
　　　　　escaped。　　In　1814　he　was　one　of　the　first　to　display　the　white　flag
　　　　　in　Paris。　　In　1829　he　became　Minister　of　Charles　X。　　and　was
　　　　　responsible　for　the　ordinances　which　oust　his　master　his　throne　in
　　　　　1830。　　Imprisoned；　nominally　for　life；　he　was　released　in　1836；　and
　　　　　after　passing　some　time　in　England　returned　to　France。　　The
　　　　　remission　of　the　sentence　of　death　on　Prince　Armand　was　obtained　by
　　　　　the　Empress　Josephine。　　Time　after　time；　urged　on　by　Madame　de
　　　　　Remusat；　she　implored　mercy　from　Napoleon；　who　at　last　consented　to
　　　　　see　the　wife　of　the　Prince。　　Unlike　the　Bourbon　Louis　XVIII。；　who
　　　　　could　see　Madame　de　Lavalette　only　to　refuse　the　wretched　woman's
　　　　　prayer　for　her　husband；　for　Napoleon　to　grant　the　interview　was　to
　　　　　concede　the　pardon。　　The　Prince　escaped　death；　and　his　wife　who　had
　　　　　obtained　the　interview　by　applying　to　Madame　de　Remusat；　when　she
　　　　　met　her　benefactress　in　the　times　of　the　Restoration；　　displayed　a
　　　　　really　grand　forgetfulness　of　what　had　passed　（see　Remusat；　tome　ii。
　　　　　chap。　　i。）。＇

Charles　d'Hozier；　and　de　Riviere。　　So　short　a　period　had　elapsed　since
the　proscription　of　the　nobility　that；　independently　of　every　feeling　of
humanity；　it　was　certainly　impolitic　to　exhibit　before　the　public　the
heirs　of　an　illustrious　name；　endowed　with　that　devoted　heroism　which
could　not　fail　to　extort　admiration　even　from　those　who　condemned　their
opinions　and　principles。

The　prisoners　were　all　young；　and　their　situation　create　universal
sympathy。　　The　greatest　number　of　them　disdained　to　have　recourse　to　a
denial；　and　seemed　less　anxious　for　the　preservation　of　their　own　lives
than　for　the　honour　of　the　cause　in　which　they　had　embarked；　not　with　the
view　of　assassination；　as　had　been　demonstrated；　but　for　the　purpose　of
ascertaining　the　true　state　of　the　public　feeling；　which　had　been
represented　by　some　factious　intriguers　as　favourable　to　the　Bourbons。
Even　when　the　sword　of　the　law　was　suspended　over　their　heads　the
faithful　adherents　of　the　Bourbons　displayed　on　every　occasion　their
attachment　and　fidelity　to　the　royal　cause。　　I　recollect　that　the　Court
was　dissolved　in　tears　when　the　President　adduced　as　a　proof　of　the　guilt
of　M。　de　Riviere　his　having　worn　a　medal　of　the　Comte　d'Artois；　which　the
prisoner　requested　to　examine；　and；　on　its　being　handed　to　him　by　an
officer；　M。　de　Riviere　pressed　it　to　his　lips　and　his　heart；　then
returning　it；　he　said　that　he　only　wished　to　render　homage　to　the　Prince
whom　he　loved。

The　Court　was　still　more　deeply　affected　on　witnessing　the　generous
fraternal　struggle　which　took　place　during　the　last　sitting　between　the
two　De　Polignacs。　　The　emotion　was　general　when　the　eldest　of　the
brothers；　after　having　observed　that　his　always　going　out　alone　and
during　the　day　did　not　look　like　a　conspirator　anxious　for　concealment；
added　these　remarkable　words　which　will　remain　indelibly　engraven　on　my
memory：　〃I　have　now　only　one　wish；　which　is　that；　as　the　sword　is
suspended　over　our　heads；　and　threatens　to　cut　short　the　existence　of
several　of　the　accused；　you　would；　in　consideration　of　his　youth　if　not
of　his　innocence；　spare　my　brother；　and　shower　down　upon　me　the　whole
weight　of　your　vengeance。〃　　It　was　during　the　last　sitting　but　one；　on
Friday　the　8th　of　June；　that　M。　Armand　de　Polignac　made　the　above
affecting　appeal　in　favour　of　his　brother。　　The　following　day；　before　the
fatal　sentence　was　pronounced；　M。　Jules　de　Polignac　addressed　the　judges；
saying；　〃I　was　so　deeply　affected　yesterday；　while　my　brother　was
speaking；　as　not　fully　to　have　attended　to　what　I　read　in　my　own　defence：
but　being　now　perfectly　tranquil；　I　entreat；　gentlemen；　that　you　will　not
regard　what　he　urged　in　my　behalf。　　I　repeat；　on　the　contrary；　and　with
most　justice；　if　one　of　us　must　fall　a　sacrifice；　if　there　be　yet　time；
save　him；　restore　him　to　the　tears　of　his　wife；　I　have　no　tie　like　him；　I
can　meet　death　unappalled；too　young　to　have　tasted　the　pleasures　of　the
world；　I　cannot　regret　their　loss。〃〃　No；　no；〃　exclaimed　his　brother；
〃you　are　still　in　the　outset　of　your　career；　it　is　I　who　ought　to　fall。〃

At　eight　in　the　morning　the　members　of　the　Tribunal　withdrew　to　the
council…chamber。　　Since　the　commencement　of　the　proceedings　the　crowd；
far　from　diminishing；　seemed　each　day　to　increase；　this　morning　it　was
immense；　and；　though　the　sentence　was　not　expected　to　be　pronounced　till
a　late　hour；　no　one　quitted　the　Court　for　fear　of　not　being　able　to　find
a　place　when　the　Tribunal　should　resume　its　sitting。

Sentence　of　death　was　passed　upon　Georges　Caudoudal；　Bouvet　de　Lozier；
Rusillon；　Rochelle；　Armand　de　Polignac；　Charles　d'Hozier；　De　Riviere；
Louis　Ducorps；　Picot；　Lajolais；　Roger；　Coster　St。　Victor；　Deville；
Gaillard；　Joyaub；　Burban；　Lemercier；　Jean　Cadudol；　Lelan；　and　Merille；
while　Lies　de　Polignac；　Leridant；　General　Moreau；＇General　Moreau's
sentence　was　remitted；　and　he　was　allowed　to　go　to　America。＇　Rolland；
and　Hisay　were　only　condemned　to　two　years'　imprisonment。

This　decree　was　heard　with　consternation　by　the　assembly；　and　soon　spread
throughout　Paris。　　I　may　well　affirm　it　to　have　been　a　day　of　public
mourning；　even　though　it　was　Sunday　every　place　of　amusement　was　nearly
deserted。　　To　the　horror　inspired　by　a　sentence　of　death　passed　so
wantonly；　and　of　which　the　greater　number　of　the　victims　belonged　to　the
most　distinguished　class　of　society；　was　joined　the　ridicule　inspired　by
the　condemnation　of　Moreau；　of　the　absurdity　of　which　no　one　seemed　more
sensible　than　Bonaparte　himself；　and　respecting　which　he　expressed
himself　in　the　most　pointed　terms。　　I　am　persuaded　that　every　one　who
narrowly　watched　the　proceedings　of　this　celebrated　trial　must　have　been
convinced　that　all　means　were　resorted　to　in　order　that　Moreau；　once
accused；　should　not　appear　entirely　free　from　guilt。

Bonaparte　is　reported　to　have　said；　〃Gentlemen；　I　have　no　control　over
your　proceedings；　it　is　your　duty　strictly　to　examine　the　evidence　before
presenting　a　report　to　me。　　But　when　it　has　once　the　sanction　of　your
signatures；　woe　to　you　if　an　innocent　man　be　condemned。〃　　This　remark　is
in　strict　conformity　with　his　usual　language；　and　bears　a　striking
similarity　to　the　conversation　I　held　with　him　on　the　following　Thursday；
but　though　this　language　might　be　appropriate　from　the　lips　of　a
sovereign　whose　ministers　are　responsible；　it　appears　but　a　lame　excuse
in　the　mouth　of　Bonaparte；　the　possessor　of　absolute　power。

The　condemned　busied　themselves　in　endeavouring　to　procure　a　repeal　of
their　sentence；　the　greatest　number　of　them　yielded　in　this　respect　to
the　entreaties　of　their　friends；　who　lost　no　time　in　taking　the　steps
requisite　to　obtain　the　pardon　of　those　in　whom　they　were　most
interested。　　Moreau　at　first　also　determined　to　appeal；　but　he
relinquished　his　purpose　before　the　Court　of　Cessation　commenced　its
sittings。

As　soon　as　the　decree　of　the　special　Tribunal　was　delivered；　Murat；
Governor　of　Paris；　and　brother…in…law　to　the　Emperor；　sought　his　presence
and　conjured　him　in　the　most　urgent　manner　to　pardon　all　the　criminals；
observing　that　such　an　act　of　clemency　would　redound　greatly　to　his
honour　in　the　opinion　of　France　and　all　Europe；　that　it　would　be　said　the
Emperor　pardoned　the　attempt　against　the　life　of　the　First　Consul；　that
this　act　of　mercy　would　shed　more　glory　over　the　commencement　of　his
reign　than　any　security　which　could　accrue　from　the　execution　of　the
prisoners。　　Such　was　the　conduct　of　Murat；　　but　he　did　not　solicit；　as
has　been　reported；　the　pardon　of　any　one　in　particular。

Those　who　obtained　the　imperial　pardon　were　Bouvet　de　Lozier；　who
expected　it　from　the　disclosures　he　had　made；　Rusillon；　de　Riviere；
Rochelle；　Armand　de　Polignac；　d'Hozier；　Lajolais；　who　had　beforehand
received　a　promise　to　that　effect；　and　Armand　Gaillard。

The　other　ill…fated　victims　of　a　sanguinary　police　underwent　their
sentence　on　the　25th　of　June；　two　days　after　the　promulgation　of　the
pardon　of　their　associates。

Their　courage　and　resignation　never　forsook　them　even　for　a　moment；　and
Georges；　　knowing　that　it　was　rumoured　he　had　obtained　a　pardon；
entreated　that　he　might　die　the　first；　in　order　that　his　companions　in
their　last　moments　might　be　assured　he　had　not　survived　them。







End　of　The　Memoi