CHAPTER XXIII

1799.

Moreau and Bernadotte--Bonaparte's opinion of Bernadotte--False

report--The crown of Sweden and the Constitution of the year III.--

Intrigues of Bonaparte's brothers--Angry conversation between

Bonaparte and Bernadotte--Bonaparte's version--Josephine's version--

An unexpected visit--The Manege Club--Salicetti and Joseph Bonaparte

--Bonaparte invites himself to breakfast with Bernadotte--Country

excursion--Bernadotte dines with Bonaparte--The plot and conspiracy

--Conduct of Lucien--Dinner given to Bonaparte by the Council of the

Five Hundred--Bonaparte's wish to be chosen a member of the

Directory--His reconciliation with Sieyès--Offer made by the

Directory to Bonaparte--He is falsely accused by Barras.

To throw a clear light on the course of the great events which will

presently be developed it is necessary to state briefly what intrigues

had been hatched and what ambitious hopes had risen up while we were

in Egypt. When in Egypt Bonaparte was entirely deprived of any means

of knowing what was going on in France; and in our rapid journey from

Fréjus to Paris we had no opportunity of collecting much information.

Yet it was very important that we should know the real state of affairs,

and the sentiments of those whom Bonaparte had counted among his rivals

in glory, and whom he might now meet among his rivals in ambition.

Moreau's military reputation stood very high, and Bernadotte's firmness

appeared inflexible. Generally speaking, Bonaparte might have reckoned

among his devoted partisans the companions of his glory in Italy, and

also those whom he subsequently denominated "his Egyptians." But brave

men had distinguished themselves in the army of the Rhine; and if they

did not withhold their admiration from the conqueror of Italy, they

felt at least more personally interested in the admiration which they

lavished on him who had repaired the disaster of Scherer. Besides, it

must be borne in mind that a republican spirit prevailed, almost

without exception, in the army, and that the Directory appeared to be

a Government invented expressly to afford patronage to intriguers. All

this planted difficulties in our way, and rendered it indispensably

necessary that we should know our ground. We had, it is true, been

greeted by the fullest measure of popular enthusiasm on our arrival; but

this was not enough. We wanted suffrages of a more solid kind.

During the campaign of Egypt, Bernadotte, who was a zealous republican,

had been War Minister,

--[Bernadotte was Minister of War from 2d July 1799 to 14th

September 1799, when, as he himself wrote to the Directory, they

"accepted" the resignation he had not offered.]--

but he had resigned the portfolio to Dubois-Crancé three weeks before

Bonaparte's return to France. Some partisans of the old Minister

were endeavouring to get him recalled, and it was very important to

Bonaparte's interests that he should prevent the success of this design.

I recollect that on the second day of our arrival Bonaparte said to

me, "I have learned many things; but we shall see what will happen.

Bernadotte is a singular man. When he was War Minister Augereau,

Salicetti, and some others informed him that the Constitution was in

danger, and that it was necessary to get rid of Sieyès, Barras, and

Fouché, who were at the head of a plot. What did Bernadotte do? Nothing.

He asked for proofs. None could be produced. He asked for powers. Who

could grant them? Nobody. He should have taken them; but he would not

venture on that. He wavered. He said he could not enter into the schemes

which were proposed to him. He only promised to be silent on condition

that they were renounced. Bernadotte is not a help; he is an obstacle.

I have heard from good authority that a great number of influential

persons wished to invest him with extensive power for the public good;

but he was obstinate, and would listen to nothing."

After a brief interval of silence, during which Bonaparte rubbed his

forehead with his right hand, he then resumed:

"I believe I shall have Bernadotte and Moreau against me. But I do not

fear Moreau. He is devoid of energy. I know he would prefer military to

political power. The promise of the command of an army would gain him

over. But Bernadotte has Moorish blood in his veins. He is bold and

enterprising. He is allied to my brothers.

--[Joseph Bonaparte and Bernadotte had married sisters. Marie-Julie

and Eugénie Bernardine-Desirée Clary. The feeling of Bourrienne for

Bernadotte makes this passage doubtful. It is to be noticed that in

the same conversation he makes Napoleon describe Bernadotte as not

venturing to act without powers and as enterprising. The stern

republican becoming Prince de Monte Carlo and King of Sweden, in a

way compatible with his fidelity to the Constitution of the year

III., is good. Lanfrey attributes Bernadotte's refusal to join more

to rivalry than to principle (Lanfrey, tome i. p. 440). But in any

case Napoleon did not dread Bernadotte, and was soon threatening to

shoot him; see Lucien, tome ii. p. 107.]--

"He does not like me, and I am almost certain that he will oppose me.

If he should become ambitious he will venture anything. And yet, you

recollect in what a lukewarm way he acted on the 18th Fructidor, when

I sent him to second Augereau. This devil of a fellow is not to be

seduced. He is disinterested and clever. But, after all, we have but

just arrived, and know not what may happen."

Bernadotte, it was reported, had advised that Bonaparte should be

brought to a court-martial, on the two-fold charge of having abandoned

his army and violated the quarantine laws. This report came to the ear

of Bonaparte; but he refused to believe it and he was right. Bernadotte

thought himself bound to the Constitution which he had sworn to defend.

Hence the opposition he manifested to the measures of the 18th Brumaire.

But he cherished no personal animosity against Bonaparte as long as he

was ignorant of his ambitious designs. The extraordinary and complicated

nature of subsequent events rendered his possession of the crown of

Sweden in no way incompatible with his fidelity to the Constitution of

the year III.

On our first arrival in Paris, though I was almost constantly with the

General, yet, as our routine of occupation was not yet settled, I

was enabled now and then to snatch an hour or two from business. This

leisure time I spent in the society of my family and a few friends, and

in collecting information as to what had happened during our absence,

for which purpose I consulted old newspapers and pamphlets. I was not

surprised to learn that Bonaparte's brothers--that is to say, Joseph and

Lucien--had been engaged in many intrigues. I was told that Sieyès had

for a moment thought of calling the Duke of Brunswick to the head of the

Government; that Barras would not have been very averse to favouring the

return of the Bourbons; and that Moulins, Roger Ducos, and Gohier alone

believed or affected to believe, in the possibility of preserving the

existing form of government. From what I heard at the time I have

good reasons for believing that Joseph and Lucien made all sorts of

endeavours to inveigle Bernadotte into their brother's party, and in

the hope of accomplishing that object they had assisted in getting him

appointed War Minister. However, I cannot vouch for the truth of this.

I was told that Bernadotte had at first submitted to the influence of

Bonaparte's two brothers; but that their urgent interference in their

client's behalf induced him to shake them off, to proceed freely in the

exercise of his duties, and to open the eyes of the Directory on what

the Republic might have to apprehend from the enterprising character

of Bonaparte. It is certain that what I have to relate respecting the

conduct of Bernadotte to Bonaparte is calculated to give credit to these

assertions.

All the generals who were in Paris, with the exception of Bernadotte,

had visited Bonaparte during the first three days which succeeded his

arrival. Bernadotte's absence was the more remarkable because he had

served under Bonaparte in Italy. It was not until a fortnight had

elapsed, and then only on the reiterated entreaties of Joseph and Madame

Joseph Bonaparte (his sister-in-law), that he determined to go and see

his old General-in-Chief. I was not present at their interview, being at

that moment occupied in the little cabinet of the Rue Chantereine. But

I soon discovered that their conversation had been long and warm; for as

soon as it was ended Bonaparte entered the cabinet exceedingly agitated,

and said to me, "Bourrienne, how do you think Bernadotte has behaved?

You have traversed France with me--you witnessed the enthusiasm which my

return excited--you yourself told me that you saw in that enthusiasm the

desire of the French people to be relieved from the disastrous position

in which our reverses have placed them. Well! would you believe it?

Bernadotte boasts, with ridiculous exaggeration, of the brilliant

and victorious situation of France! He talks about the defeat of the

Russians, the occupation of Genoa, the innumerable armies that are

rising up everywhere. In short, I know not what nonsense he has got

in his head."--"What can all this mean?" said I. "Did he speak about

Egypt?"--"Oh, yes! Now you remind me. He actually reproached me for not

having brought the army back with me! 'But,' observed I, 'have you not

just told me that you are absolutely overrun with troops; that all your

frontiers are secure, that immense levies are going on, and that you

will have 200,000 infantry?--If this be true, what do you want with a

few thousand men who may ensure the preservation of Egypt?' He could

make no answer to this. But he is quite elated by the honour of having

been War Minister, and he told me boldly that he looked upon the army

of Egypt as lost nay, more. He made insinuations. He spoke of enemies

abroad and enemies at home; and as he uttered these last words he looked

significantly at me. I too gave him a glance! But stay a little. The

pear will soon be ripe! You know Josephine's grace and address. She was

present. The scrutinising glance of Bernadotte did not escape her, and

she adroitly turned the conversation. Bernadotte saw from my countenance

that I had had enough of it, and he took his leave. But don't let me

interrupt you farther. I am going back to speak to Josephine."

I must confess that this strange story made me very impatient to find

myself alone with Madame Bonaparte, for I wished to hear her account of

the scene. An opportunity occurred that very evening. I repeated to her

what I had heard from the General, and all that she told me tended

to confirm its accuracy. She added that Bernadotte seemed to take the

utmost pains to exhibit to the General a flattering picture of the

prosperity of France; and she reported to me, as follows, that part

of the conversation which was peculiarly calculated to irritate

Bonaparte:--"'I do not despair of the safety of the Republic, which I am

certain can restrain her enemies both abroad and at home.' As Bernadotte

uttered these last words,'" continued Josephine, "his glance made me

shudder. One word more and Bonaparte could have commanded himself no

longer! It is true," added she, "that it was in some degree his own

fault, for it was he who turned the conversation on politics; and

Bernadotte, in describing the flourishing condition of France, was only

replying to the General, who had drawn a very opposite picture of the

state of things. You know, my dear Bourrienne, that Bonaparte is not

always very prudent. I fear he has said too much to Bernadotte about the

necessity of changes in the Government." Josephine had not yet recovered

from the agitation into which this violent scene had thrown her. After I

took leave of her I made notes of what she had told me.

A few days after, when Bonaparte, Josephine, Hortense, Eugène, and I

were together in the drawing-room, Bernadotte unexpectedly entered. His

appearance, after what had passed, was calculated to surprise us. He

was accompanied by a person whom he requested permission to introduce

to Bonaparte. I have forgotten his name, but he was, I think,

secretary-general while Bernadotte was in office. Bonaparte betrayed no

appearance of astonishment. He received Bernadotte with perfect ease,

and they soon entered into conversation. Bonaparte, who seemed to

acquire confidence from the presence of those who were about him, said

a great deal about the agitation which prevailed among the republicans,

and expressed himself in very decided terms against the 'Manège Club.'

--[The Manège Club, the last resort of the Jacobins, formed in 1799,

and closed seven or eight months afterwards. Joseph Bonaparte

(Erreurs, time i. p. 251) denies that he or Lucien--for whom the

allusion is meant--were members of this club, and he disputes this

conversation ever having taken place. Lucien (tome i. p. 219)

treats this club as opposed to his party.]--

I seconded him by observing that M. Moreau de Worms of my department,

who was a member of that club, had himself complained to me of the

violence that prevailed in it. "But, General," said Bernadotte, "your

brothers were its most active originators. Yet," added he in a tone of

firmness, "you accuse me of having favoured that club, and I repel the

charge. It cannot be otherwise than false. When I came into office I

found everything in the greatest disorder. I had no leisure to think

about any club to which my duties did not call me. You know well that

your friend Salicetti, and that your brother, who is in your confidence,

are both leading men in the Manège Club. To the instructions of I know

not whom is to be attributed the violence of which you complain." At

these words, and especially the tone in which Bernadotte uttered 'I know

not whom,' Bonaparte could no longer restrain himself. "Well, General,"

exclaimed he furiously, "I tell you plainly, I would rather live wild

in the woods than in a state of society which affords no security."

Bernadotte then said, with great dignity of manner, "Good God! General,

what security would you have?" From the warmth evinced by Bonaparte

I saw plainly that the conversation would soon be converted into a

dispute, and in a whisper I requested Madame Bonaparte to change the

conversation, which she immediately did by addressing a question to some

one present. Bernadotte, observing Madame Bonaparte's design, checked

his warmth. The subject of conversation was changed, and it became

general. Bernadotte soon took up his hat and departed.

One morning, when I entered Bonaparte's chamber--it was, I believe,

three or four days after the second visit of Bernadotte--he said:

"Well, Bourrienne, I wager you will not guess with whom I am going to

breakfast this morning?"--"Really, General, I --"--"With Bernadotte; and

the best of the joke is, that I have invited myself. You would have

seen how it was all brought about if you had been with us at the Théâtre

Français, yesterday evening. You know we are going to visit Joseph today

at Mortfontaine. Well, as we were coming out of the theatre last night,

finding myself side by side with Bernadotte and not knowing what to talk

about, I asked him whether he was to be of our party to-day? He

replied in the affirmative; and as we were passing his house in the Rue

Cisalpine.

--[Joseph Bonaparte lays great stress on the fact that Napoleon

would not have passed this house, which was far from the theatre

(Erreurs, tome i, p. 251).]--

"I told him, without any ceremony, that I should be happy to come and

take a cup of coffee with him in the morning. He seemed pleased. What

do you think of that, Bourrienne?"--"Why, General, I hope you may have

reason on your part to be pleased with him."--"Never fear, never fear.

I know what I am about. This will compromise him with Gohier. Remember,

you must always meet your enemies with a bold face, otherwise they think

they are feared, and that gives them confidence."

Bonaparte stepped into the carriage with Josephine, who was always

ready when she had to go out with him, for he did not like to wait.

They proceeded first to Bernadotte's to breakfast, and from thence to

Mortfontaine. On his return Bonaparte told me very little about what had

passed during the day, and I could see that he was not in the best of

humours. I afterwards learned that Bonaparte had conversed a good deal

with Bernadotte, and that he had made every effort to render himself

agreeable, which he very well knew how to do when he chose! but that, in

spite of all his conversational talent; and supported as he was by the

presence of his three brothers, and Regnault de St. Jean d'Angély, he

could not withstand the republican firmness of Bernadotte. However,

the number of his partisans daily augmented; for all had not the

uncompromising spirit of Bernadotte; and it will soon be seen that

Moreau himself undertook charge of the Directors who were made prisoners

on the 18th Brumaire.

Bernadotte's shrewd penetration made him one of the first to see clearly

into Bonaparte's designs. He was well convinced of his determination

to overthrow the constitution and possess himself of power. He saw the

Directory divided into two parties; the one duped by the promises

and assurances of Bonaparte, and the other conniving with him for the

accomplishment of his plans. In these circumstances Bernadotte offered

his services to all persons connected with the Government who,

like himself, were averse to the change which he saw good reason to

apprehend. But Bonaparte was not the man to be outdone in cunning or

activity; and every moment swelled the ranks of his adherents.

On the 16th Brumaire I dined in the Rue de la Victoire. Bernadotte was

present, and I believe General Jourdan also. While the grand conspiracy

was hastening to its accomplishment Madame Bonaparte and I had contrived

a little plot of a more innocent kind. We let no one into our secret,

and our 16th Brumaire was crowned with complete success. We had agreed

to be on the alert to prevent any fresh exchange of angry words. All

succeeded to the utmost of our wishes. The conversation languished

during dinner; but it was not dulness that we were afraid of. It turned

on the subject of war, and in that vast field Bonaparte's superiority

over his interlocutors was undeniable.

When we retired to the drawing-rooms a great number of evening visitors

poured in, and the conversation then became animated, and even gay.

Bonaparte was in high spirits. He said to some one, smiling, and

pointing to Bernadotte, "You are not aware that the General yonder is a

Chouan."--"A Chouan?" repeated Bernadotte, also in a tone of pleasantry.

"Ah! General you contradict yourself. Only the other day you taxed me

with favouring the violence of the friends of the Republic, and now you

accuse me of protecting the Chouans.

--[The "Chouans," so called from their use of the cry of the

screech-owl (chathouan) as a signal, were the revolted peasants of

Brittany and of Maine.]--

"You should at least be consistent." A few moments after, availing

himself of the confusion occasioned by the throng of visitors,

Bernadotte slipped off.

As a mark of respect to Bonaparte the Council of the Five Hundred

appointed Lucien its president. The event proved how important this

nomination was to Napoleon. Up to the 19th Brumaire, and especially on

that day, Lucien evinced a degree of activity, intelligence, courage,

and presence of mind which are rarely found united in one individual. I

have no hesitation in stating that to Lucien's nomination and exertions

must be attributed the success of the 19th Brumaire.

The General had laid down a plan of conduct from which he never deviated

during the twenty-three days which intervened between his arrival in

Paris and the 18th Brumaire. He refused almost all private invitations,

in order to avoid indiscreet questions, unacceptable offers, and answers

which might compromise him.

It was not without some degree of hesitation that he yielded to a

project started by Lucien, who, by all sorts of manoeuvring, had

succeeded in prevailing on a great number of his colleagues to be

present at a grand subscription dinner to be given to Bonaparte by the

Council of the Ancients.

The disorder which unavoidably prevailed in a party amounting to upwards

of 250 persons, animated by a diversity of opinions and sentiments; the

anxiety and distrust arising in the minds of those who were not in the

grand plot, rendered this meeting one of the most disagreeable I ever

witnessed. It was all restraint and dulness. Bonaparte's countenance

sufficiently betrayed his dissatisfaction; besides, the success of

his schemes demanded his presence elsewhere. Almost as soon as he had

finished his dinner he rose, saying to Berthier and me, "I am tired: let

us be gone." He went round to the different tables, addressing to the

company compliments and trifling remarks, and departed, leaving at table

the persons by whom he had been invited.

This short political crisis was marked by nothing more grand, dignified,

or noble than the previous revolutionary commotions. All these plots

were so contemptible, and were accompanied by so much trickery,

falsehood, and treachery, that, for the honour of human nature, it is

desirable to cover them with a veil.

General Bonaparte's thoughts were first occupied with the idea he had

conceived even when in Italy, namely, to be chosen a Director. Nobody

dared yet to accuse him of being a deserter from the army of the East.

The only difficulty was to obtain a dispensation on the score of age.

And was this not to be obtained? No sooner was he installed in his

humble abode in the Rue de la Victoire than he was assured that, on the

retirement of Rewbell, the majority of suffrages would have devolved on

him had he been in France, and had not the fundamental law required the

age of forty; but that not even his warmest partisans were disposed to

violate the yet infant Constitution of the year III.

Bonaparte soon perceived that no efforts would succeed in overcoming

this difficulty, and he easily resolved to possess himself wholly of

an office of which he would nominally have had only a fifth part had he

been a member of the Directory.

As soon as his intentions became manifest he found himself surrounded by

all those who recognised in him the man they had long looked for. These

persons, who were able and influential in their own circles, endeavoured

to convert into friendship the animosity which existed between Sieyès

and Bonaparte. This angry feeling had been increased by a remark made

by Sieyès, and reported to Bonaparte. He had said, after the dinner at

which Bonaparte treated him so disrespectfully, "Do you see how that

little insolent fellow behaves to a member of a Government which would

do well to order him to be SHOT?"

But all was changed when able mediators pointed out to Bonaparte the

advantage of uniting with Sieyès for the purpose of overthrowing a

Constitution which he did not like. He was assured how vain it would be

to think of superseding him, and that it would be better to flatter him

with the hope of helping to subvert the constitution and raising up a

new one. One day some one said to Bonaparte in my hearing, "Seek for

support among the party who call the friends of the Republic Jacobins,

and be assured that Sieyès is at the head of that party."

On the 25th Vendémiaire (17th of October) the Directory summoned General

Bonaparte to a private sitting. "They offered me the choice of any army

I would command," said he to me the next morning. "I would not refuse,

but I asked to be allowed a little time for the recovery of my health;

and, to avoid any other embarrassing offers, I withdrew. I shall go to

no more of their sittings." (He attended only one after this.) "I am

determined to join Sieyès' party. It includes a greater diversity of

opinions than that of the profligate Barras. He proclaims everywhere

that he is the author of my fortune. He will never be content to play an

inferior part, and I will never bend to such a man. He cherishes the mad

ambition of being the support of the Republic. What would he do with me?

Sieyès, on the contrary, has no political ambition."

No sooner did Sieyès begin to grow friendly with Bonaparte than the

latter learned from him that Barras had said, "The 'little corporal' has

made his fortune in Italy and does not want to go back again." Bonaparte

repaired to the Directory for the sole purpose of contradicting this

allegation. He complained to the Directors of its falsehood, boldly

affirmed that the fortune he was supposed to possess had no existence,

and that even if he had made his fortune it was not, at all events, at

the expense of the Republic "You know," said he to me, "that the mines

of Hydria have furnished the greater part of what I possess."--"Is it

possible," said I, "that Barras could have said so, when you know so

well of all the peculations of which he has been guilty since your

return?"

Bonaparte had confided the secret of his plans to very few persons--to

those only whose assistance he wanted. The rest mechanically followed

their leaders and the impulse which was given to them; they passively

awaited the realisation of the promises they had received, and on the

faith of which they had pledged themselves.