Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte — Complete
this?" I then acquainted Josephine with the particulars which I had
received from Harrel. "What barbarity!" she resumed. "But no reproach
can rest upon me, for I did everything to dissuade him from this
dreadful project. He did not confide the secret to me, but I guessed it,
and he acknowledged all. How harshly he repelled my entreaties! I clung
to him! I threw myself at his feet! 'Meddle with what concerns you!'
he exclaimed angrily. 'This is not women's business! Leave me!' And he
repulsed me with a violence which he had never displayed since our first
interview after your return from Egypt. Heavens! what will become of
us?"
I could say nothing to calm affliction and alarm in which I
participated, for to my grief for the death of the Duc d'Enghien was
added my regret that Bonaparte should be capable of such a crime.
"What," said Josephine, "can be thought of this in Paris? He must be the
object of universal, imprecation, for even here his flatterers appear
astounded when they are out of his presence. How wretched we have been
since yesterday; and he!.... You know what he is when he is dissatisfied
with himself. No one dare speak to him, and all is mournful around us.
What a commission he gave to Savary! You know I do not like the general,
because he is one of those whose flatteries will contribute to ruin
Bonaparte. Well! I pitied Savary when he came yesterday to fulfil a
commission which the Duc d'Enghien had entrusted to him. Here," added
Josephine, "is his portrait and a lock of his hair, which he has
requested me to transmit to one who was dear to him. Savary almost
shed tears when he described to me the last moments of the Duke; then,
endeavouring to resume his self-possession, he said: 'It is in vain to
try to be indifferent, Madame! It is impossible to witness the death of
such a man unmoved!'"
Josephine afterwards informed me of the only act of courage which
occurred at this period--namely, the resignation which M. de
Chateaubriand had sent to Bonaparte. She admired his conduct greatly,
and said: "What a pity he is not surrounded by men of this description!
It would be the means of preventing all the errors into which he is led
by the constant approbation of those about him." Josephine thanked me
for my attention in coming to see her at such an unhappy juncture; and I
confess that it required all the regard I cherished for her to induce me
to do so, for at that moment I should not have wished to see the First
Consul, since the evil was irreparable. On the evening of that day
nothing was spoken of but the transaction of the 21st of March, and the
noble conduct of M. de Chateaubriand. As the name of that celebrated
man is for ever written in characters of honour in the history of that
period, I think I may with propriety relate here what I know respecting
his previous connection with Bonaparte.
I do not recollect the precise date of M. de Chateaubriand's return
to France; I only know that it was about the year 1800, for we were,
I think, still at the Luxembourg: However, I recollect perfectly that
Bonaparte began to conceive prejudices against him; and when I one day
expressed my surprise to the First Consul that M. de Chateaubriand's
name did not appear on any of the lists which he had ordered to be
presented to him for filling up vacant places, he said: "He has been
mentioned to me, but I replied in a way to check all hopes of his
obtaining any appointment. He has notions of liberty and independence
which will not suit my system. I would rather have him my enemy than my
forced friend. At all events, he must wait awhile; I may, perhaps, try
him first in a secondary place, and, if he does well, I may advance
him."
The above is, word for word, what Bonaparte said the first time I
conversed with him about M. de Chateaubriand. The publication of 'Atala'
and the 'Genie du Christianisme' suddenly gave Chateaubriand celebrity,
and attracted the attention of the First Consul. Bonaparte who then
meditated the restoration of religious worship: in France, found himself
wonderfully supported by the publication of a book which excited the
highest interest, and whose superior merit led the public mind to the
consideration of religious topics. I remember Madame Bacciocchi coming
one day to visit her brother with a little volume in her hand; it was
'Atala'. She presented it to the First Consul, and begged he would read
it. "What, more romances!" exclaimed he. "Do you think I have time to
read all your fooleries?" He, however, took the book from his sister and
laid it down on my desk. Madame Bacciocchi then solicited the erasure
of M. de Chateaubriand's name from the list of emigrants. "Oh! oh!" said
Bonaparte, "it is Chateaubriand's book, is it? I will read it, then.
Bourrienne, write to Fouché to erase his name from the list."
Bonaparte, at that time paid so little attention to what was doing in
the literary world that he was not aware of Chateaubriand being the
author of 'Atala'. It was on the recommendation of M. de Fontanel that
Madame Bacciocchi tried this experiment, which was attended by complete
success. The First Consul read 'Atala', and was much pleased with it.
On the publication of the 'Genie du Christianisme' some time after, his
first prejudices were wholly removed. Among the persons about him there
were many who dreaded to see a man of de Chateaubriand's talent approach
the First Consul, who knew how to appreciate superior merit when it did
not exite his envy.
Our relations with the Court of the Vatican being renewed, and Cardinal
Fesch appointed Ambassador to the Holy See, Bonaparte conceived the idea
of making M. de Chateaubriand first secretary to the Embassy, thinking
that the author of the 'Genie du Christianisme' was peculiarly fitted
to make up for his uncle's deficiency of talent in the capital of the
Christian world, which was destined to become the second city of the
Empire.
It was not a little extraordinary to let a man, previously, a stranger
to diplomatic business; stepping over all the intermediate degrees;
and being at once invested with the functions of first secretary to
an important Embassy. I oftener than once heard the First Consul
congratulate himself on having made the appointment. I knew, though
Bonaparte was not aware of the circumstance at the time, that
Chateaubriand at first refused the situation, and that he was only
induced to accept it by the entreaties of the head of the clergy,
particularly of the Abby Emery, a man of great influence. They
represented to the author of the 'Genie du Christianisme' that it was
necessary he should accompany the uncle of the First Consul to Rome; and
M. de Chateaubriand accordingly resolved to do so.
However, clouds, gathered; I do not know from what cause, between the
ambassador and his secretary. All I know is, that on Bonaparte being
informed of the circumstance he took the part of the Cardinal, and the
friends of M. de Chateaubriand expected to see him soon deprived of his
appointment, when, to the great astonishment of every one, the secretary
to the Roman Embassy, far from being disgraced, was raised by the First
Consul to the rank of Minister Plenipotentiary to the Valais, with leave
to travel in Switzerland and Italy, together with the promise of the
first vacant Embassy.
This favour excited a considerable sensation at the Tuileries; but as it
was known to be the will and pleasure of the First Consul all expression
of opinion on the subject was confined to a few quiet murmurs that
Bonaparte had done for the name of Chateaubriand what, in fact, he had
done only on account of his talent. It was during the continuance of
this favour that the second edition of the 'Genie du Christianisme' was
dedicated to the First Consul.
M. de Chateaubriand returned to France previously to entering on the
fulfilment of his new mission. He remained for some months in Paris,
and on the day appointed for his departure he went to take leave of the
First Consul. By a singular chance it happened to be the fatal morning
of the 21st of March, and consequently only a few hours after the
Duc d'Enghien had been shot. It is unnecessary to observe that M. de
Chateaubriand was ignorant of the fatal event. However, on his return
home he said to his friends that he had remarked a singular change
in the appearance of the First Consul, and that there was a sort of
sinister expression in his countenance. Bonaparte saw his new minister
amidst the crowd who attended the audience, and several times seemed
inclined to step forward to speak to him, but as often turned away, and
did not approach him the whole morning. A few hours after, when M. de
Chateaubriand mentioned his observations to some of his friends; he was
made acquainted with the cause of that agitation which, in spite of all
his strength of mind and self-command, Bonaparte could not disguise.
M. de Chateaubriand instantly resigned his appointment of Minister
Plenipotentiary to the Valais. For several days his friends were much
alarmed for his safety, and they called every morning early to ascertain
whether he had not been carried off during the night. Their fears were
not without foundation. I must confess that I, who knew Bonaparte well,
was somewhat surprised that no serious consequence attended the anger he
manifested on receiving the resignation of the man who had dedicated his
work to him. In fact, there was good reason for apprehension, and it was
not without considerable difficulty that Elisa succeeded in averting
the threatened storm. From this time began a state of hostility between
Bonaparte and Chateaubriand which only terminated at the Restoration.
I am persuaded, from my knowledge of Bonaparte's character, that though
he retained implacable resentment against a returned emigrant who had
dared to censure his conduct in so positive a manner, yet, his first
burst of anger being soothed, that which was the cause of hatred was
at the same time the ground of esteem. Bonaparte's animosity was, I
confess, very natural, for he could not disguise from himself the real
meaning of a resignation made under such circumstances. It said plainly,
"You have committed a crime, and I will not serve your Government,
which is stained with the blood of a Bourbon!" I can therefore very well
imagine that Bonaparte could never pardon the only man who dared to give
him such a lesson in the midst of the plenitude of his power. But, as
I have often had occasion to remark, there was no unison between
Bonaparte's feelings and his judgment.
I find a fresh proof of this in the following passage, which he dictated
to M. de Montholon at St. Helena (Memoires, tome iv. p 248). "If," said
he, "the royal confidence had not been placed in men whose minds were
unstrung by too important circumstances, or who, renegade to their
country, saw no safety or glory for their master's throne except under
the yoke of the Holy Alliance; if the Duc de Richelieu, whose ambition
was to deliver his country from the presence of foreign bayonets; if
Chateaubriand, who had just rendered valuable services at Ghent; if they
had had the direction of affairs, France would have emerged from these
two great national crises powerful and redoubtable. Chateaubriand had
received from Nature the sacred fire-his works show it! His style is not
that of Racine but of a prophet. Only he could have said with impunity
in the chamber of peers, 'that the redingote and cocked hat of Napoleon,
put on a stick on the coast of Brest, would make all Europe run to
arms.'"
The immediate consequences of the Duc d'Enghien's death were not
confined to the general consternation which that unjustifiable stroke
of state policy produced in the capital. The news spread rapidly through