Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte — Complete
were better than their heads, and, far from wandering with them in
abstractions, he always said that men were only to be governed by fear
and interest. The free expression of opinion through the press has been
always regarded by those who are not led away by interest or power as
useful to society. But Bonaparte held the liberty of the press in the
greatest horror; and so violent was his passion when anything was urged
in its favour that he seemed to labour under a nervous attack. Great man
as he was, he was sorely afraid of little paragraphs.
--[Joseph Bonaparte fairly enough remarks on this that such writings
had done great harm in those extraordinary times (Erreurs, tome i,
p. 259). Metternich, writing in 1827 with distrust of the
proceedings of Louis XVIII., quotes, with approval, Napoleon's
sentiments on this point. "Napoleon, who could not have been
wanting in the feeling of power, said to me, 'You see me master of
France; well, I would not undertake to govern her for three months
with liberty of the press. Louis XVIII., apparently thinking
himself stronger than Napoleon, is not content with allowing the
press its freedom, but has embodied its liberty in the charter"
(Metternich, tome iv, p. 391.)]--
CHAPTER XXXII.
1800.
Successful management of parties--Precautions--Removal from the
Luxembourg to the Tuileries--Hackney-coaches and the Consul's white
horses--Royal custom and an inscription--The review--Bonaparte's
homage to the standards--Talleyrand in Bonaparte's cabinet--
Bonaparte's aversion to the cap of liberty even in painting--The
state bed--Our cabinet.
Of the three brothers to whom the 18th Brumaire gave birth Bonaparte
speedily declared himself the eldest, and hastened to assume all the
rights of primogeniture. He soon arrogated to himself the whole power.
The project he had formed, when he favoured the revolution of the 18th
Fructidor, was now about to be realized. It was then an indispensable
part of his plan that the Directory should violate the constitution
in order to justify a subsequent subversion of the Directory. The
expressions which escaped him from time to time plainly showed that his
ambition was not yet satisfied, and that the Consulship was only a state
of probation preliminary to the complete establishment of monarchy.
The Luxembourg was then discovered to be too small for the Chief of
the Government, and it was resolved that Bonaparte should inhabit the
Tuileries. Still great prudence was necessary to avoid the quicksands
which surrounded him! He therefore employed great precaution in dealing
with the susceptibilities of the Republicans, taking care to inure
them gradually to the temperature of absolute power. But this mode of
treatment was not sufficient; for such was Bonaparte's situation between
the Jacobins and the Royalists that he could not strike a blow at one
party without strengthening the other. He, however, contrived to
solve this difficult problem, and weakened both parties by alternately
frightening each. "You see, Royalists," he seemed to say, "if you do
not attach yourselves to my government the Jacobins will again rise
and bring back the reign of terror and its scaffold." To the men of the
Revolution he, on the other hand, said, "See, the counter-Revolution
appears, threatening reprisals and vengeance. It is ready to overwhelm
you; my buckler can alone protect you from its attacks." Thus both
parties were induced, from their mutual fear of each other, to attach
themselves to Bonaparte; and while they fancied they were only placing
themselves under the protection of the Chief of the Government, they
were making themselves dependent on an ambitious man, who, gradually
bending them to his will, guided them as he chose in his political
career. He advanced with a firm step; but he never neglected any
artifice to conceal, as long as possible, his designs.
I saw Bonaparte put in motion all his concealed springs; and I could not
help admiring his wonderful address.
But what most astonished me was the control he possessed over himself,
in repressing any premature manifestation of his intentions which
might prejudice his projects. Thus, for instance, he never spoke of the
Tuileries but under the name of "the Palace of the Government," and he
determined not to inhabit, at first, the ancient palace of the kings of
France alone. He contented himself with selecting the royal apartments,
and proposed that the Third Consul should also reside in the Tuileries,
and in consequence he occupied the Pavilion of Flora. This skilful
arrangement was perfectly in accordance with the designation of "Palace
of the Government" given to the Tuileries, and was calculated to
deceive, for a time, the most clear-sighted.
The moment for leaving the Luxembourg having arrived, Bonaparte still
used many deceptive precautions. The day filed for the translation of
the seat of government was the 30th Pluviôse, the previous day having
been selected for publishing the account of the votes taken for
the acceptance of the new Constitution. He had, besides, caused the
insertion in the 'Moniteur' of the eulogy on Washington, pronounced,
by M. de Fontanes, the decadi preceding, to be delayed for ten days. He
thought that the day when he was about to take so large a step towards
monarchy would be well chosen for entertaining the people of Paris with
grand ideas of liberty, and for coupling his own name with that of the
founder of the free government of the United States.
At seven o'clock on the morning of the 30th Pluviôse I entered, as
usual, the chamber of the First Consul. He was in a profound sleep, and
this was one of the days on which I had been desired to allow him to
sleep a little longer than usual. I have often observed that General
Bonaparte appeared much less moved when on the point of executing any
great design than during the time of projecting it, so accustomed was he
to think that what he had resolved on in his mind, was already done.
When I returned to Bonaparte he said to me, with a marked air of
satisfaction, "Well, Bourrienne, to-night, at last, we shall sleep in
the Tuileries. You are better off than I: you are not obliged to make a
spectacle of yourself, but may go your own road there. I must, however,
go in procession: that disgusts me; but it is necessary to speak to
the eyes. That has a good effect on the people. The Directory was too
simple, and therefore never enjoyed any consideration. In the army
simplicity is in its proper place; but in a great city, in a palace, the
Chief of the Government must attract attention in every possible way,
yet still with prudence. Josephine is going to look out from Lebrun's
apartments; go with her, if you like; but go to the cabinet as soon as
you see me alight from my horse."
I did not go to the review, but proceeded to the Tuileries, to arrange
in our new cabinet the papers which it was my duty to take care of, and
to prepare everything for the First Consul's arrival. It was not until
the evening that I learned, from the conversation in the salon, where
there was a numerous party, what had taken place in the course of the
day.
At one o'clock precisely Bonaparte left the Luxembourg. The procession
was, doubtless, far from approaching the magnificent parade of the
Empire: but as much pomp was introduced as the state of things in France
permitted. The only real splendour of that period consisted in fine
troops. Three thousand picked men, among whom was the superb regiment
of the Guides, had been ordered out for the occasion: all marched in the
greatest order; with music at the head of each corps. The generals and
their staffs were on horseback, the Ministers in carriages, which were
somewhat remarkable, as they were almost the only private carriages then
in Paris, for hackney-coaches had been hired to convey the Council of
State, and no trouble had been taken to alter them, except by pasting
over the number a piece of paper of the same colour as the body of the
vehicle. The Consul's carriage was drawn by six white horses. With the
sight of those horses was associated the recollection of days of glory
and of peace, for they had been presented to the General-in-Chief of
the army of Italy by the Emperor of Germany after the treaty of
Campo-Formio. Bonaparte also wore the magnificent sabre given him by the
Emperor Francis. With Cambacérès on his left, and Lebrun in the front of
the carriage, the First Consul traversed a part of Paris, taking the Rue
de Thionville, and the Quai Voltaire to the Pont Royal. Everywhere he
was greeted by acclamations of joy, which at that time were voluntary,
and needed not to be commanded by the police.
From the wicket of the Carrousel to the gate of the Tuileries the
troops of the Consular Guard were formed in two lines, through which the
procession passed--a royal custom, which made a singular contrast
with an inscription in front of which Bonaparte passed on entering the
courtyard. Two guard-houses had been built, one on the right and another
on the left of the centre gate. On the one to the right were written
these words:
"THE TENTH of AUGUST 1792.--ROYALTY IN FRANCE
IS ABOLISHED; AND SHALL NEVER BE RE-ESTABLISHED!"
It was already re-established!
In the meantime the troops had been drawn up in line in the courtyard.
As soon as the Consul's carriage stopped Bonaparte immediately alighted,
and mounted, or, to speak more properly, leaped on his horse, and
reviewed his troops, while the other two Consuls proceeded to the
state apartments of the Tuileries, where the Council of State and the
Ministers awaited them. A great many ladies, elegantly dressed in Greek
costume, which was then the fashion, were seated with Madame Bonaparte
at the windows of the Third Consul's apartments in the Pavilion of
Flora. It is impossible to give an idea of the immense crowds which
flowed in from all quarters. The windows looking to the Carrousel were
let for very large sums; and everywhere arose, as if from one voice,
shouts of "Long live the First Consul!" Who could help being intoxicated
by so much enthusiasm?
Bonaparte prolonged the review for some time, passed down all the
ranks, and addressed the commanders of corps in terms of approbation
and praise. He then took his station at the gate of the Tuileries, with
Murat on his right, and Lannes on his left, and behind him a numerous
staff of young warriors, whose complexions had been browned by the sun
of Egypt and Italy, and who had been engaged in more battles than
they numbered years. When the colours of the 96th, 43d, and 34th
demi-brigades, or rather their flagstaffs surmounted by some shreds,
riddled by balls and blackened by powder, passed before him, he raised
his hat and inclined his head in token of respect. Every homage thus
paid by a great captain to standards which had been mutilated on the
field of battle was saluted by a thousand acclamations. When the troops
had finished defiling before him, the First Consul, with a firm step,
ascended the stairs of the Tuileries.
The General's part being finished for the day, that of the Chief of the
State began; and indeed it might already be said that the First Consul
was the whole Consulate. At the risk of interrupting my narrative of
what occurred on our arrival at the Tuileries, by a digression, which
may be thought out of place, I will relate a fact which had no little
weight in hastening Bonaparte's determination to assume a superiority
over his colleagues. It may be remembered that when Roger Ducos and
Sieyès bore the title of Consuls the three members of the Consular
commission were equal, if not in fact at least in right. But when
Cambacérès and Lebrun took their places, Talleyrand, who had at the