CHAPTER IX.

1797.

Bonaparte's joy at the result of the 18th Fructidor.--His letter to

Augereau--His correspondence with the Directory and proposed

resignation--Explanation of the Directory--Bottot--General Clarke--

Letter from Madame Bacciocchi to Bonaparte--Autograph letter of the

Emperor Francis to Bonaparte--Arrival of Count Cobentzel--Autograph

note of Bonaparte on the conditions of peace.

Bonaparte was delighted when he heard of the happy issue of the 18th

Fructidor. Its result was the dissolution of the Legislative Body and

the fall of the Clichyan party, which for some months had disturbed his

tranquillity. The Clichyans had objected to Joseph Bonaparte's right to

sit as deputy for Liamone in the Council of Five Hundred.

--[He was ambassador to Rome, and not a deputy at this time. When

he became a member of the council, after his return from Rome, he

experienced no opposition (Bourrienne et ses Erreurs, tome i.

p. 240).]--

His brother's victory removed the difficulty; but the General-in-Chief

soon perceived that the ascendant party abused its power, and

again compromised the safety of the Republic, by recommencing the

Revolutionary Government. The Directors were alarmed at his discontent

and offended by his censure. They conceived the singular idea of

opposing to Bonaparte, Augereau, of whose blind zeal they had received

many proofs. The Directory appointed Augereau commander of the army of

Germany. Augereau, whose extreme vanity was notorious, believed himself

in a situation to compete with Bonaparte. What he built his arrogance

on was, that, with a numerous troop, he had arrested some unarmed

representatives, and torn the epaulettes from the shoulders of the

commandant of the guard of the councils. The Directory and he filled the

headquarters at Passeriano with spies and intriguers.

Bonaparte, who was informed of everything that was going on, laughed at

the Directory, and tendered his resignation, in order that he might be

supplicated to continue in command.

The following post-Thermidorian letters will prove that the General's

judgment on this point was correct.

On the 2d Vendemiaire, year VI. (23d September 1797), he wrote to

Augereau, after having announced the arrival of his 'aide de camp' as

follows:

The whole army applauds the wisdom and vigour which you have

displayed upon this important occasion, and participates in the

success of the country with the enthusiasm and energy which

characterise our soldiers. It is only to be hoped, however, that

the Government will not be playing at see saw, and thus throw itself

into the opposite party. Wisdom and moderate views alone can

establish the happiness of the country on a sure foundation. As for

myself, this is the most ardent wish of my heart. I beg that you

will sometimes let me know what you are doing in Paris.

On the 4th Vendemiaire Bonaparte wrote a letter to the Directory in the

following terms:

The day before yesterday an officer arrived at the army from Paris.

He reported that he left Paris on the 25th, when anxiety prevailed

there as to the feelings with which I viewed the events of the 18th

He was the bearer of a sort of circular from General Augereau to all

the generals of division; and he brought a letter of credit from the

Minister of War to the commissary-general, authorising him to draw

as much money as he might require for his journey.

It is evident from these circumstances that the Government is acting

towards me in somewhat the same way in which Pichegru was dealt with

after Vendemiaire (year IV.).

I beg of you to receive my resignation, and appoint another to my

place. No power on earth shall make me continue in the service

after this shocking mark of ingratitude on the part of the

Government, which I was very far from expecting. My health, which

is considerably impaired, imperiously demands repose and

tranquillity.

The state of my mind, likewise, requires me to mingle again in the

mass of citizens. Great power has for a longtime been confided to

my hands. I have employed it on all occasions for the advantage of

my country; so much the worse for those who put no faith in virtue,

and may have suspected mine. My recompense is in my own conscience,

and in the opinion of posterity.

Now that the country is tranquil and free from the dangers which

have menaced it, I can, without inconvenience, quit the post in

which I have been placed.

Be sure that if there were a moment of danger, I would be found in

the foremost rank of the defenders of liberty and of the

constitution of the year III.

The Directory, judging from the account which Bottot gave of his

mission that he had not succeeded in entirely removing the suspicions of

Bonaparte, wrote the following letter on the 30th Vendemiaire:

The Directory has itself been troubled about the impression made on

you by the letter to the paymaster-general, of which an 'aide de

camp' was the bearer. The composition of this letter has very much

astonished the Government, which never appointed nor recognised such

an agent: it is at least an error of office. But it should not

alter the opinion you ought otherwise to entertain of the manner in

which the Directory thinks of and esteems you. It appears that the

18th Fructidor was misrepresented in the letters which were sent to

the army of Italy. You did well to intercept them, and it may be

right to transmit the most remarkable to the Minister of Police.

--(What an ignoble task to propose to the conqueror of Italy.)

In your observations on the too strong tendency of opinion towards

military government, the Directory recognises an equally enlightened

and ardent friend of the Republic.

Nothing is wiser than the maxim, 'cedant arma togae', for the

maintenance of republics. To show so much anxiety on so important a

point is not one of the least glorious features in the life of a

general placed at the head of a triumphant army.

The Directory had sent General Clarke

--[H. J. G. Clarke, afterwards Minister of War under Napoleon,

1807-1814, acid under the Bourbons in 1816, when he was made a

Marshal of France. He was created Duc de Feltre in 1819.]--

to treat for peace, as second plenipotentiary. Bonaparte has often told

me he had no doubt from the time of his arrival that General Clarke

was charged with a secret mission to act as a spy upon him, and even to

arrest him if an opportunity offered for so doing without danger. That

he had a suspicion of this kind is certain; but I must own that I

was never by any means able to discover its grounds; for in all my

intercourse since with Clarke he never put a single question to me, nor

did I ever hear a word drop from his mouth, which savoured of such a

character. If the fact be that he was a spy, he certainly played his

part well. In all the parts of his correspondence which were intercepted

there never was found the least confirmation of this suspicion. Be

this as it may, Bonaparte could not endure him; he did not make him

acquainted with what was going on, and his influence rendered this

mission a mere nullity. The General-in-Chief concentrated all the

business of the negotiation in his own closet; and, as to what was going

on, Clarke continued a mere cipher until the 18th Fructidor, when he was

recalled. Bonaparte made but little count of Clarke's talents. It is but

justice, however, to say that he bore him no grudge for the conduct of

which he suspected he was guilty in Italy. "I pardon him because I alone

have the right to be offended."

He even had the generosity to make interest for an official situation

for him. These amiable traits were not uncommon with Bonaparte.

Bonaparte had to encounter so many disagreeable contrarieties, both

in the negotiators for peace and the events at Paris, that he often

displayed a good deal of irritation and disgust. This state of mind was

increased by the recollection of the vexation his sister's marriage had

caused him, and which was unfortunately revived by a letter he received

from her at this juncture. His excitement was such that he threw it down

with an expression of anger. It has been erroneously reported in several

publications that "Bacciocchi espoused Marie-Anne-Eliza Bonaparte on the

5th of May 1797. The brother of the bride was at the time negotiating

the preliminaries of peace with Austria."

In fact, the preliminaries were signed in the month of April, and it was

for the definitive peace we were negotiating in May. But the reader will

find by the subjoined letter that Christine applied to her brother to

stand godfather to her third child. Three children in three months would

be rather quick work.

AJACCIO, 14th, Thermidor, year V. (1st August 1797).

GENERAL--Suffer me to write to you and call you by the name of

brother. My first child was born at a time when you were much

incensed against us. I trust she may soon caress you, and so make

you forget the pain my marriage has occasioned you. My second child

was still-born. Obliged to quit Paris by your order,

--[Napoleon had written in August 1796 to Carnot, to request that

Lucien might be ordered to quit Paris; see Iung, tome iii.

p. 223.]--

I miscarried in Germany. In a month's time I hope to present you

with a nephew. A favourable time, and other circumstances, incline

me to hope my next will be a boy, and I promise you I will make a

soldier of him; but I wish him to bear your name, and that you

should be his godfather. I trust you will not refuse your sister's

request.

Will you send, for this purpose, your power of attorney to

Baciocchi, or to whomsoever you think fit? I shall expect with

impatience your assent. Because we are poor let not that cause you

to despise us; for, after all, you are our brother, mine are the

only children that call you uncle, and we all love you more than we

do the favours of fortune. Perhaps I may one day succeed in

convincing you of the love I bear you.--Your affectionate sister,

CHRISTINE BONAPARTE.

--[Madame Bacciocchi went by the name of Marianne at St. Cyr, of

Christine while on her travels, and of Eliza under the Consulate.--

Bourrienne.]--

P.S.--Do not fail to remember me to your wife, whom I strongly

desire to be acquainted with. They told me at Paris I was very like

her. If you recollect my features you can judge. C. B.

This letter is in the handwriting of Lucien Bonaparte.'

--[Joseph Bonaparte in his Notes says, "It is false that Madame

Bonaparte ever called herself Christine; it is false that she ever

wrote the letter of which M. de Bourrienne here gives a copy." It

will be observed that Bourrienne says it was written by her brother

Lucien. This is an error. The letter is obviously from Christine

Boyer, the wife of Lucien Bonaparte, whose marriage had given such

displeasure to Napoleon. (See Erreurs, tome i. p. 240, and Iung's

Lucien, tome i p. 161).]--

General Bonaparte had been near a month at Passeriano when he received

the following autograph letter from the Emperor of Austria:

TO MONSIEUR LE GENERAL BONAPARTE, GENERAL-IN-CHIEF

OF THE ARMY OF ITALY.

MONSIEUR LE GENERAL BONAPARTE--When I thought I had given my

plenipotentiaries full powers to terminate the important negotiation

with which they were charged, I learn, with as much pain as

surprise, that in consequence of swerving continually from the

stipulations of the preliminaries, the restoration of tranquillity,

with the tidings of which I desire to gladden the hearts of my

subjects, and which the half of Europe devoutly prays for, becomes

day after day more uncertain.

Faithful to the performance of my engagements, I am ready to execute

what was agreed to at Leoben, and require from you but the

reciprocal performance of so sacred a duty. This is what has

already been declared in my name, and what I do not now hesitate

myself to declare. If, perhaps, the execution of some of the

preliminary articles be now impossible, in consequence of the events

which have since occurred, and in which I had no part, it may be

necessary to substitute others in their stead equally adapted to the

interests and equally conformable to the dignity of the two nations.

To such alone will I put my hand. A frank and sincere explanation,

dictated by the same feelings which govern me, is the only way to

lead to so salutary a result. In order to accelerate this result as

far as in me lies, and to put an end at once to the state of

uncertainty we remain in, and which has already lasted too long, I

have determined to despatch to the place of the present negotiations

Comte de Cobentzel, a man who possesses my most unlimited

confidence, and who is instructed as to my intentions and furnished

with my most ample powers. I have authorised him to receive and

accept every proposition tending to the reconciliation of the two

parties which may be in conformity with the principles of equity and

reciprocal fitness, and to conclude accordingly.

After this fresh assurance of the spirit of conciliation which

animates me, I doubt not you will perceive that peace lies in your

own hands, and that on your determination will depend the happiness

or misery of many thousand men. If I mistake as to the means I

think best adapted to terminate the calamities which for along time

have desolated Europe, I shall at least have the consolation of

reflecting that I have done all that depended on me. With the

consequences which may result I can never be reproached.

I have been particularly determined to the course I now take by the

opinion I entertain of your upright character, and by the personal

esteem I have conceived towards you, of which I am very happy, M. le

General Bonaparte, to give you here an assurance.

(Signed) FRANCIS.

In fact, it was only on the arrival of the Comte de Cobentzel that the

negotiations were seriously set on foot. Bonaparte had all along clearly

perceived that Gallo and Meerweldt were not furnished with adequate

powers. He saw also clearly enough that if the month of September were,

to be trifled away in unsatisfactory negotiations, as the month which

preceded it had been, it would be difficult in October to strike a blow

at the house of Austria on the side of Carinthia. The Austrian Cabinet

perceived with satisfaction the approach of the bad weather, and

insisted more strongly on its ultimatum, which was the Adige, with

Venice.

Before the 18th Fructidor the Emperor of Austria hoped that the

movement which was preparing in Paris would operate badly for France

and favourably to the European cause. The Austrian plenipotentiaries, in

consequence, raised their pretensions, and sent notes and an ultimatum

which gave the proceedings more an air of trifling than of serious

negotiation. Bonaparte's original ideas, which I have under his hand,

were as follows:

1. The Emperor to have Italy as far as the Adda.

2. The King of Sardinia as far as the Adda.

3. The Genoese Republic to have the boundary of Tortona as far as

the Po (Tortona to be demolished), as also the imperial fiefs.

(Coni to be ceded to France, or to be demolished.)

4. The Grand Duke of Tuscany to be restored.

5. The Duke of Parma to be restored.