Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte — Complete
pains had not been taken to build him up a great reputation. That battle
commenced the career of Sir Arthur Wellesley, whose after-success,
however, has been attended by such important consequences.
--[The battle of Talavera took place on the 28th of July, twenty-two
days after the fatal defeat of the Austrians at Wagram.]--
Whilst we experienced this check in Spain the English were attempting an
expedition to Holland, where they had already made themselves masters
of Walcheren. It is true they were obliged to evacuate it shortly after;
but as at that time the French and Austrian armies were in a state
of inaction, in consequence of the armistice concluded at Znaim, in
Moravia, the news unfavourable to Napoleon had the effect of raising the
hopes of the Austrian negotiators, who paused in the expectation that
fresh defeats would afford them better chances.
It was during these negotiations, the termination of which seemed every
day to be farther distant, that Napoleon was exposed to a more real
danger than the wound he had received at Ratisbon. Germany was suffering
under a degree of distress difficult to be described. Illuminism was
making great progress, and had filled some youthful minds with an
enthusiasm not less violent than the religious fanaticism to which
Henry IV. fell a victim. A young man formed the design of assassinating
Napoleon in order to rid Germany of one whom he considered her scourge.
Rapp and Berthier were with the Emperor when the assassin was arrested,
and in relating what I heard from them I feel assured that I am giving
the most faithful account of all the circumstances connected with the
event.
"We were at Schoenbrunn," said Rapp, "when the Emperor had just reviewed
the troops. I observed a young man at the extremity of one of the
columns just as the troops were about to defile. He advanced towards the
Emperor, who was then between Berthier and me. The Prince de Neufchatel,
thinking he wanted to present a petition, went forward to tell him that
I was the person to receive it as I was the aide de camp for the day.
The young man replied that he wished to speak with Napoleon himself, and
Berthier again told him that he must apply to me. He withdrew a little,
still repeating that he wanted to speak with Napoleon. He again advanced
and came very near the Emperor; I desired him to fall back, telling him
in German to wait till after the parade, when, if he had anything to
say, it would be attended to. I surveyed him attentively, for I began to
think his conduct suspicious. I observed that he kept his right hand in
the breast pocket of his coat; out of which a piece of paper appeared.
I know not how it was, but at that moment my eyes met his, and I was
struck with his peculiar look and air of fixed determination. Seeing
an officer of gendarmerie on the spot, I desired him to seize the young
man, but without treating him with any severity, and to convey him to
the castle until the parade was ended.
"All this passed in less time than I have taken to tell it, and as every
one's attention was fixed on the parade the scene passed unnoticed. I
was shortly afterwards told that a large carving-knife had been found on
the young man, whose name was Staps. I immediately went to find Duroc,
and we proceeded together to the apartment to which Staps had been
taken. We found him sitting on a bed, apparently in deep thought, but
betraying no symptoms of fear. He had beside him the portrait of a young
female, his pocket-book, and purse containing only two pieces of gold.
I asked him his name, but he replied that he would tell it to no one but
Napoleon. I then asked him what he intended to do with the knife which
had been found upon him? But he answered again, 'I shall tell only
Napoleon.'--'Did you mean to attempt his life?'--'Yes.'--'Why?'--'I can
tell no one but Napoleon.'
"This appeared to me so strange that I thought right to inform the
Emperor of it. When I told him what had passed he appeared a
little agitated, for you know how he was haunted with the idea of
assassination. He desired that the young man should be taken into his
cabinet; whither he was accordingly conducted by two gens d'armes.
Notwithstanding his criminal intention there was something exceedingly
prepossessing in his countenance. I wished that he would deny the
attempt; but how was it possible to save a man who was determined
to sacrifice himself? The Emperor asked Staps whether he could speak
French, and he answered that he could speak it very imperfectly, and as
you know (continued Rapp) that next to you I am the best German scholar
in Napoleon's Court, I was appointed interpreter on this occasion.
The Emperor put the following questions to Staps, which I translated,
together with the answers:
"'Where do you come from?'--'From Narremburgh.'--'What is
your father?'-- 'A Protestant minister.'--'How old are
you?'--'Eighteen.'--'What did you intend to do with your knife?'--'To
kill you.'--'You are mad, young man; you are one of the illuminati?'--'I
am not mad; I know not what is meant by the illuminati!'--'You are
ill, then?'--'I am not; I am very well.'--'Why did you wish to kill
me?'--'Because you have ruined my country.'--'Have I done you any
harm?'--'Yes, you have harmed me as well as all Germans.'--'By whom were
you sent? Who urged you to this crime?'-- 'No one; I was urged to it by
the sincere conviction that by killing you I should render the greatest
service to my country.'--'Is this the first time you have seen me?'--'I
saw you at Erfurt, at the time of your interview with the Emperor of
Russia.'--'Did you intend to kill me then?'--'No; I thought you
would not again wage war against Germany. I was one of your greatest
admirers.'--'How long have you been in Vienna?'-- 'Ten days.'--'Why
did you wait so long before you attempted the execution of your
project?'--'I came to Schoenbrunn a week ago with the intention of
killing you, but when I arrived the parade was just over; I therefore
deferred the execution of my design till today.'--'I tell you, young
man, you are either mad or in bad health.'
"The Emperor here ordered Corvisart to be sent for. Staps asked who
Corvisart was? I told him that he was a physician. He then said, 'I
have no need of him.' Nothing further was said until the arrival of the
doctor, and during this interval Steps evinced the utmost indifference.
When Corvisart arrived Napoleon directed him to feel the young man's
pulse, which he immediately did; and Staps then very coolly said, 'Am
I not well, sir?' Corvisart told the Emperor that nothing ailed him. 'I
told you so,' said Steps, pronouncing the words with an air of triumph.
"I was really astonished at the coolness and apathy of Staps, and
the Emperor seemed for a moment confounded by the young man's
behaviour.--After a few moments' pause the Emperor resumed the
interrogatory as follows:
"'Your brain is disordered. You will be the ruin of your family. I will
grant you your life if you ask pardon for the crime you meditated, and
for which you ought to be sorry.'--'I want no pardon. I only regret
having failed in my attempt.'--'Indeed! then a crime is nothing to
you?'-- 'To kill you is no crime: it is a duty.'--'Whose portrait is
that which was found on you?'--'It is the portrait of a young lady to
whom I am attached.'--'She will doubtless be much distressed at your
adventure?'-- 'She will only be sorry that I have not succeeded. She
abhors you as much as I do.'--'But if I were to pardon you would you be
grateful for my mercy?'--'I would nevertheless kill you if I could.'
"I never," continued Rapp, "saw Napoleon look so confounded. The replies
of Staps and his immovable resolution perfectly astonished him. He
ordered the prisoner to be removed; and when he was gone Napoleon said,
'This is the result of the secret societies which infest Germany. This
is the effect of fine principles and the light of reason. They make
young men assassins. But what can be done against illuminism? A sect
cannot be destroyed by cannon-balls.'
"This event, though pains were taken to keep it secret, became the
subject of conversation in the castle of Schoenbrunn. In the evening the
Emperor sent for me and said, 'Rapp, the affair of this morning is very
extraordinary. I cannot believe that this young man of himself conceived
the design of assassinating me. There is something under it. I shall
never be persuaded that the intriguers of Berlin and Weimar are
strangers to the affair.'--'Sire, allow me to say that your suspicions
appear unfounded. Staps has had no accomplice; his placid countenance,
and even his fanaticism, are easiest proofs of that.'--'I tell you that
he has been instigated by women: furies thirsting for revenge. If I
could only obtain proof of it I would have them seized in the midst of
their Court.'--'Ah, Sire, it is impossible that either man or woman
in the Courts of Berlin or Weimar could have conceived so atrocious a
design.'-- 'I am not sure of that. Did not those women excite Schill
against us while we were at peace with Prussia; but stay a little; we
shall see.'-- 'Schill's enterprise; Sire, bears no resemblance to this
attempt.' You know how the Emperor likes every one to yield to his
opinion when he has adopted one which he does not choose to give up; so
he said, rather changing his tone of good-humoured familiarity, 'All you
say is in vain, Monsieur le General: I am not liked either at Berlin or
Weimar.' There is no doubt of that, Sire; but because you are not liked
in these two Courts, is it to be inferred that they would assassinate
you?'--'I know the fury of those women; but patience. Write to General
Lauer: direct him to interrogate Staps. Tell him to bring him to a
confession.'
"I wrote conformably with the Emperor's orders, but no confession was
obtained from Staps. In his examination by General Lauer he repeated
nearly what he had said in the presence of Napoleon. His resignation and
firmness never forsook him for a moment; and he persisted in saying that
he was the sole author of the attempt, and that no one else was aware of
it. Staps' enterprise made a deep impression on the Emperor. On the day
when we left Schoenbrunn we happened to be alone, and he said to me, 'I
cannot get this unfortunate Staps out of my mind. The more I think on
the subject the more I am perplexed. I never can believe that a young
man of his age, a German, one who has received a good education, a
Protestant too, could have conceived and attempted such a crime. The
Italians are said to be a nation of assassins, but no Italian ever
attempted my life. This affair is beyond my comprehension. Inquire how
Staps died, and let me know.'
"I obtained from General Lauer the information which the Emperor
desired. I learned that Staps, whose attempt on the Emperor's life was
made on the 23d of October; was executed at seven o'clock in the morning
of the 27th, having refused to take any sustenance since the 24th. When
any food was brought to him he rejected it, saying, 'I shall be strong
enough to walk to the scaffold.' When he was told that peace was
concluded he evinced extreme sorrow, and was seized with trembling. On
reaching the place of execution he exclaimed loudly, 'Liberty for ever!
Germany for ever! Death to the tyrant!'"
Such are the notes which I committed to paper after conversing with
Rapp, as we were walking together in the garden of the former hotel of
Montmorin, in which Rapp resided. I recollect his showing me the knife
taken from Staps, which the Emperor had given him; it was merely a
common carving-knife, such as is used in kitchens. To these details may
be added a very remarkable circumstance, which I received from another
but not less authentic source. I have been assured that the attempt of