CHAPTER XII.

1802.

Citizen Fesch created Cardinal Fesch--Arts and industry--Exhibition

in the Louvre--Aspect of Paris in 1802--The Medicean Venus and the

Velletrian Pallas--Signs of general prosperity--Rise of the funds--

Irresponsible Ministers--The Bourbons--The military Government--

Annoying familiarity of Lannes--Plan laid for his disgrace--

Indignation of Lannes--His embassy to Portugal--The delayed

despatch--Bonaparte's rage--I resign my situation--Duroc--

I breakfast with Bonaparte--Duroc's intercession--Temporary

reconciliation.

Citizen Fesch, who, when we were forced to stop at Ajaccio on our return

from Egypt, discounted at rather a high rate the General-in-Chief's

Egyptian sequins, became again the Abbe Fesch, as soon as Bonaparte by

his Consular authority re-erected the altars which the Revolution had

overthrown. On the 15th of August 1802 he was consecrated Bishop, and

the following year received the Cardinal's hat. Thus Bonaparte took

advantage of one of the members of his family being in orders to elevate

him to the highest dignities of the Church. He afterwards gave Cardinal

Fesch the Archbishopric of Lyons, of which place he was long the

titular.

--[Like Cambacérès the Cardinal was a bit of a gourmet, and on one

occasion had invited a large party of clerical magnates to dinner.

By a coincidence two turbots of singular beauty arrived as presents

to his Eminence on the very morning of the feast. To serve both

would have appeared ridiculous, but the Cardinal was most anxious to

have the credit of both. He imparted his embarrassment to his chef:

"'Be of good faith, your Eminence,' was the reply, 'both shall appear

and enjoy the reception so justly their due.' The dinner was

served: one of the turbots relieved the soup. Delight was on every

face--it was the moment of the 'eprouvette positive'. The 'maitre

a'hotel' advances; two attendants raise the turbot and carry him off

to cut him up; but one of them loses his equilibrium: the attendants

and the turbot roll together on the floor. At this sad sight the

assembled Cardinals became as pale as death, and a solemn silence

reigned in the 'conclave'--it was the moment of the 'eprouvette

negative'; but the 'maitre a'hotel' suddenly turns to one of the

attendants, Bring another turbot,' said he, with the most perfect

coolness. The second appeared, and the eprouvette positive was

gloriously renewed." (Hayward's Art of Dining, P. 65.)]--

The First Consul prided himself a good deal on his triumph, at least in

appearance, over the scruples which the persons who surrounded him had

manifested against the re-establishment of worship. He read with much

self-satisfaction the reports made to him, in which it was stated that

the churches were well frequented: Indeed, throughout the year 1802,

all his attention was directed to the reformation of manners, which had

become more dissolute under the Directory than even during the Reign of

Terror.

In his march of usurpation the First Consul let slip no opportunity of

endeavouring to obtain at the same time the admiration of the multitude

and the approbation of judicious men. He was very fond of the arts, and

was sensible that the promotion of industry ought to be the peculiar

care of the head of the Government. It must, however, at the same time

be owned that he rendered the influence of his protection null and void

by the continual violations he committed on that liberty which is the

animating principle of all improvement.

During the supplementary days of the year X., that is to say, about

the beginning of the autumn of 1802, there was held at the Louvre an

exhibition of the products of industry. The First Consul visited the

exhibition, and as even at that period he had begun to attribute every

good result to himself, he seemed proud of the high degree of perfection

the manufacturing arts had attained in France. He was, above all,

delighted with the admiration this exhibition excited among the numerous

foreigners who resorted to Paris during the peace.

In fact, throughout the year 1802 the capital presented an interesting

and animating-spectacle. The appetite for luxury and pleasure had

insinuated itself into manners--which were no longer republican, and

the vast number of Russians and English who drove about everywhere with

brilliant equipages contributed not a little to this metamorphosis. All

Paris flocked to the Carrousel on review days, and regarded with eyes

of delight the unusual sight of rich foreign liveries and emblazoned

carriages. The parties at the Tuileries were brilliant and numerous, and

nothing was wanting but the name of levees. Count Markoff, who succeeded

M. de Kalitscheff as Russian ambassador; the Marquis de Lucchesini, the

Prussian ambassador; and Lord Whitworth, the Minister from England, made

numerous presentations of their countrymen to the First Consul, who was

well pleased that the Court he was forming should have examples set by

foreign courtiers. Never since the meeting of the States-General had the

theatres been so frequented, or fetes so magnificent; and never since

that period had Paris presented so cheering an aspect. The First Consul,

on his part, spared no exertion to render the capital more and more

worthy the admiration of foreigners. The statue of the Venus de Medicis,

which had been robbed from the gallery of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, now

decorated the gallery of the Louvre, and near it was placed that of

the Velletrian Pallas, a more legitimate acquisition, since it was

the result of the researches of some French engineers at Velletri.

Everywhere an air of prosperity was perceptible, and Bonaparte proudly

put in his claim to be regarded as the author of it all. With what

heartfelt satisfaction did he likewise cast his eye upon what he called

the grand thermometer of opinion, the price of the funds! For if he

saw them doubled in value in consequence of the revolution of the

18th Brumaire, rising as they did at that period from seven to sixteen

francs, this value was even more than tripled after the vote

of Consulship for life and the 'Senates-consulte' of the 4th of

August,--when they rose to fifty-two francs.

While Paris presented so satisfactory an aspect the departments were

in a state of perfect tranquillity; and foreign affairs had every

appearance of security. The Court of the Vatican, which since the

Concordat may be said to have become devoted to the First Consul, gave,

under all circumstances, examples of submission to the wishes of France.

The Vatican was the first Court which recognised the erection of

Tuscany into the Kingdom of Etruria, and the formation of the Helvetic,

Cisalpine, and Batavian Republics. Prussia soon followed the example of

the Pope, which was successively imitated by the other powers of Europe.

The whole of these new states, realms, or republics were under the

immediate influence of France. The Isle of Elba, which Napoleon's first

abdication afterwards rendered so famous, and Piedmont, divided into

six departments, were also united to France, still called it Republic.

Everything now seemed to concur in securing his accession to absolute

power. We were now at peace with all the world, and every circumstance

tended to place in the hands of the First Consul that absolute power

which indeed was the only kind of government he was capable of forming

any conception of. Indeed, one of the characteristic signs of Napoleon's

government, even under the Consular system, left no doubt as to his real

intentions. Had he wished to found a free Government it is evident that

he world have made the Ministers responsible to the country, whereas

he took care that there should be no responsibility but to himself. He

viewed them, in fact, in the light of instruments which he might break

as he pleased. I found this single index sufficient to disclose all his

future designs. In order to make the irresponsibility of his Ministers

to the public perfectly clear, he had all the acts of his Government

signed merely by M. Maret, Secretary of State. Thus the Consulship for

life was nothing but an Empire in disguise, the usufruct of which could

not long satisfy the First Consul's ambition. His brothers influenced

him, and it was resolved to found a new dynasty.

It was not in the interior of France that difficulties were likely first

to arise on Bonaparte's carrying his designs into effect, but there

was some reason to apprehend that foreign powers, after recognising

and treating with the Consular Government, might display a different

feeling, and entertain scruples with regard to a Government which had

resumed its monarchical form. The question regarding the Bourbons was

in some measure kept in the background as long as France remained a

Republic, but the re-establishment of the throne naturally called

to recollection the family which had occupied it for so many ages.

Bonaparte fully felt the delicacy of his position, but he knew how to

face obstacles, and had been accustomed to overcome them: he, however,

always proceeded cautiously, as when obstacles induced him to defer the

period of the Consulship for life.

Bonaparte laboured to establish in France not only an absolute

government, but, what is still worse, a military one. He considered

a decree signed by his hand possessed of a magic virtue capable of

transforming his generals into able diplomatists, and so he sent them

on embassies, as if to show the Sovereigns to whom they were accredited

that he soon meant to take their thrones by assault. The appointment of

Lannes to the Court of Lisbon originated from causes which probably

will be read with some interest, since they serve to place Bonaparte's

character in, its true light, and to point out, at the same time, the

means he disdained not to resort to, if he wished to banish his most

faithful friends when their presence was no longer agreeable to him.

Bonaparte had ceased to address Lannes in the second person singular;

but that general continued the familiarity of thee and thou in speaking

to Napoleon. It is hardly possible to conceive how much this annoyed

the First Consul. Aware of the unceremonious candour of his old comrade,

whose daring spirit he knew would prompt him to go as great lengths

in civil affairs as on the field of battle, Bonaparte, on the great

occasion of the 18th Brumaire, fearing his reproaches, had given him the

command of Paris in order to ensure his absence from St. Cloud.

After that time, notwithstanding the continually growing greatness of

the First Consul, which, as it increased, daily exacted more and more

deference, Lannes still preserved his freedom of speech, and was the

only one who dared to treat Bonaparte as a comrade, and tell him the

truth without ceremony. This was enough to determine Napoleon to rid

himself of the presence of Lannes. But under what pretext was the

absence of the conqueror of Montebello to be procured? It was necessary

to conjure up an excuse; and in the truly diabolical machination

resorted to for that purpose, Bonaparte brought into play that crafty

disposition for which he was so remarkable.

Lannes, who never looked forward to the morrow, was as careless of his

money as of his blood. Poor officers and soldiers partook largely of his

liberality. Thus he had no fortune, but plenty of debts when he wanted

money, and this was not seldom, he used to come, as if it were a mere

matter of course, to ask it of the First Consul, who, I must confess,

never refused him. Bonaparte, though he well knew the general's

circumstances, said to him one day, "My friend, you should attend a

little more to appearances. You must have your establishment suitable

to your rank. There is the Hotel de Noailles--why don't you take it,

and furnish it in proper style?" Lannes, whose own candour prevented him

from suspecting the artful designs of others, followed the advice of the

First Consul. The Hotel de Noailles was taken and superbly fitted up.

Odiot supplied a service of plate valued at 200,000 francs.

General Lannes having thus conformed to the wishes of Bonaparte came to

him and requested 400,000 francs, the amount of the expense incurred,

as it were, by his order. "But," said the First Consul, "I have no

money."--"You have no money! What the devil am I to do, then?"

"But is there none in the Guard's chest? Take what you require, and we

will settle it, hereafter."

Mistrusting nothing, Lannes went to the treasurer of the Guards, who

made some objections at first to the advance required, but who soon

yielded on learning that the demand was made with the consent of the

First Consul.

Within twenty-four hours after Lannes had obtained the 400,000 francs

the treasurer received from the head commissary an order to balance his

accounts. The receipt for the 400,000 francs advanced to Lannes, was not

acknowledged as a voucher. In vain the treasurer alleged the authority

of the First Consul for the transaction. Napoleon's memory had suddenly

failed him; he had entirely forgotten all about it. In a word, it was

incumbent on Lannes to refund the 400,000 francs to the Guards' chest;

and, as I have already said, he had no property on earth, but debts in

abundance. He repaired to General Lefebre, who loved him as his son, and

to him he related all that had passed. "Simpleton," said Lefebvre,

"why did you not come to me? Why did you go and get into debt with that

-----? Well, here are the 400,000 francs; take them to him, and let him

go to the devil!"

Lannes hastened to the First Consul. "What!"--he exclaimed, "is it

possible you can be guilty of such baseness as this? To treat me in such

a manner! To lay such a foul snare for me after all that I have done for

you; after all the blood I have shed to promote your ambition! Is this

the recompense you had in store for me? You forget the 13th Vendemiaire,

to the success of which I contributed more than you! You forget

Millesimo: I was colonel before you! For whom did I fight at Bassano?

You were witness of what I did at Lodi and at Governolo, where I was

wounded; and yet you play me such a trick as this! But for me, Paris

would have revolted on the 18th Brumaire. But for me, you would have

lost the battle of Marengo. I alone, yes, I alone, passed the Po, at

Montebello, with my whole division. You gave the credit of that to

Berthier, who was not there; and this is my reward--humiliation. This

cannot, this shall not be. I will----" Bonaparte, pale with anger,

listened without stirring, and Lannes was on the point of challenging

him when Junot, who heard the uproar, hastily entered. The unexpected

presence of this general somewhat reassured the First Consul, and at

the same time calmed, in some degree, the fury of Lannes. "Well," said

Bonaparte, "go to Lisbon. You will get money there; and when you

return you will not want any one to pay your debts for you." Thus

was Bonaparte's object gained. Lannes set out for Lisbon, and never

afterwards annoyed the First Consul by his familiarities, for on his

return he ceased to address him with thee and thou.

Having described Bonaparte's ill-treatment of Lannes I may here subjoin

a statement of the circumstances which led to a rupture between the

First Consul and me. So many false stories have been circulated on the

subject that I am anxious to relate the facts as they really were.

Nine months had now passed since I had tendered my resignation to the

First Consul. The business of my office had become too great for me, and

my health was so much endangered by over-application that my physician,

M. Corvisart, who had for a long time impressed upon me the necessity of

relaxation, now formally warned me that I should not long hold out

under the fatigue I underwent. Corvisart had no doubt spoken to the same

effect to the First Consul, for the latter said to me one day, in a tone

which betrayed but little feeling, "Why, Corvisart says you have not

a year to live." This was certainly no very welcome compliment in the

mouth of an old college friend, yet I must confess that the doctor

risked little by the prediction.

I had resolved, in fact, to follow the advice of Corvisart; my family

were urgent in their entreaties that I would do so, but I always put

off the decisive step. I was loath to give up a friendship which had

subsisted so long, and which had been only once disturbed: on that

occasion when Joseph thought proper to play the spy upon me at the

table of Fouché. I remembered also the reception I had met with from the

conqueror of Italy; and I experienced, moreover, no slight pain at

the thought of quitting one from whom I had received so many proofs of

confidence, and to whom I had been attached from early boyhood. These

considerations constantly triumphed over the disgust to which I was

subjected by a number of circumstances, and by the increasing vexations

occasioned by the conflict between my private sentiments and the nature

of the duties I had to perform.

I was thus kept in a state of perplexity, from which some unforeseen

circumstance alone could extricate me. Such a circumstance at length

occurred, and the following is the history of my first rupture with

Napoleon:

On the 27th of February 1802, at ten at night, Bonaparte dictated to me

a despatch of considerable importance and urgency, for M. de Talleyrand,

requesting the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the Tuileries

next morning at an appointed hour. According to custom, I put the letter

into the hands of the office messenger that it might be forwarded to its

destination.

This was Saturday. The following day, Sunday, M. de Talleyrand came as

if for an audience about mid-day. The First Consul immediately began to

confer with him on the subject of the letter sent the previous evening,

and was astonished to learn that the Minister had not received it until

the morning. He immediately rang for the messenger, and ordered me to

be sent for. Being in a very bad humour, he pulled the bell with so

much fury that he struck his hand violently against the angle of the

chimney-piece. I hurried to his presence. "Why," he said, addressing me

hastily, "why was not my letter delivered yesterday evening?"--"I do not

know: I put it at once into the hands of the person whose duty it was

to see that it was sent."--"Go and find the cause of the delay, and

come back quickly." Having rapidly made my inquiries, I returned to the

cabinet. "Well?" said the First Consul, whose irritation seemed to

have increased. "Well, General, it is not the fault of anybody, M.

de Talleyrand was not to be found, either at the office or at his own

residence, or at the houses of any of his friends where he was thought

likely to be." Not knowing with whom to be angry, restrained by the

coolness of M. de Talleyrand, yet at the same time ready to burst with

rage, Bonaparte rose from his seat, and proceeding to the hall, called

the messenger and questioned him sharply. The man, disconcerted by the

anger of the First Consul, hesitated in his replies, and gave confused

answers. Bonaparte returned to his cabinet still more irritated than he

had left it.

I had followed him to the hall, and on my way back to the cabinet I

attempted to soothe him, and I begged him not to be thus discomposed by

a circumstance which, after all, was of no great moment. I do not know

whether his anger was increased by the sight of the blood which flowed

from his hand, and which he was every moment looking at; but however

that might be, a transport of furious passion, such as I had never

before witnessed, seized him; and as I was about to enter the cabinet

after him he threw back the door with so much violence that, had I been

two or three inches nearer him, it must infallibly have struck me in the

face. He accompanied this action, which was almost convulsive, with

an appellation, not to be borne; he exclaimed before M. de Talleyrand,

"Leave me alone; you are a fool." At an insult so atrocious I confess

that the anger which had already mastered the First Consul suddenly

seized on me. I thrust the door forward with as much impetuosity as

he had used in throwing it back, and, scarcely knowing what I said,

exclaimed, "You are a hundredfold a greater fool than I am!" I then

banged the door and went upstairs to my apartment, which was situated

over the cabinet.

I was as far from expecting as from wishing such an occasion of

separating from the First Consul. But what was done could not be undone;

and therefore, without taking time for reflection, and still under

the influence of the anger that had got the better of me, I penned the

following positive resignation:

GENERAL--The state of my health no longer permits me to continue in your

service. I therefore beg you to accept my resignation. BOURRIENNE.

Some moments after this note was written I saw Bonaparte's saddle-horses

brought up to the entrance of the Palace. It was Sunday morning, and,

contrary to his usual custom on that day, he was going to ride out.

Duroc accompanied him. He was no sooner done than I, went down into his

cabinet, and placed my letter on his table. On returning at four o'clock

with Duroc Bonaparte read my letter. "Ah! ah!" said he, before opening

it, "a letter from Bourrienne." And he almost immediately added, for the

note was speedily perused, "He is in the sulks.--Accepted." I had left

the Tuileries at the moment he returned, but Duroc sent to me where I

was dining the following billet:

The First Consul desires me, my dear Bourrienne, to inform you that

he accepts your resignation, and to request that you will give me the

necessary information respecting your papers.--Yours, DUROC.

P.S.:--I will call on you presently.

Duroc came to me at eight o'clock the same evening. The First Consul

was in his cabinet when we entered it. I immediately commenced giving

my intended successor the necessary explanations to enable him to enter

upon his new duties. Piqued at finding that I did not speak to him, and

at the coolness with which I instructed Duroc, Bonaparte said to me in a

harsh tone, "Come, I have had enough of this! Leave me." I stepped down

from the ladder on which I had mounted for the purpose of pointing

out to Duroc the places in which the various papers were deposited and

hastily withdrew. I too had quite enough of it!

I remained two more days at the Tuileries until I had suited myself with

lodgings. On Monday I went down into the cabinet of the First Consul to

take my leave of him. We conversed together for a long time, and very

amicably. He told me he was very sorry I was going to leave him, and

that he would do all he could for me. I pointed out several places to

him; at last I mentioned the Tribunate. "That will not do for you," he

said; "the members are a set of babblers and phrasemongers, whom I mean

to get rid of. All the troubles of States proceed from such debatings. I

am tired of them." He continued to talk in a strain which left me in no

doubt as to his uneasiness about the Tribunate, which, in fact, reckoned

among its members many men of great talent and excellent character.

--[In 1802 the First Consul made a reduction of fifty members of the

Tribunate, and subsequently the whole body was suppressed.

--Bourrienne.]--

The following day, Tuesday, the First Consul asked me to breakfast with

him. After breakfast, while he was conversing with some other person,

Madame Bonaparte and Hortense pressed me to make advances towards

obtaining a re-instalment in my office, appealing to me on the score of

the friendship and kindness they had always shown me. They told me that

I had been in the wrong, and that I had forgotten myself. I answered

that I considered the evil beyond remedy; and that, besides, I had

really need of repose. The First Consul then called me to him, and

conversed a considerable time with me, renewing his protestations of

goodwill towards me.

At five o'clock I was going downstairs to quit the Tuileries for good

when I was met by the office messenger, who told me that the First

Consul wished to see me. Duroc; who was in the room leading to the

cabinet, stopped me as I passed, and said, "He wishes you to remain. I

beg of you not to refuse; do me this favour. I have assured him that

I am incapable of filling your office. It does not suit my habits; and

besides, to tell you the truth, the business is too irksome for me."

I proceeded to the cabinet without replying to Duroc. The First Consul

came up to me smiling, and pulling me by the ear, as he did when he was

in the best of humours, said to me, "Are you still in the sulks?" and

leading me to my usual seat he added, "Come, sit down."

Only those who knew Bonaparte can judge of my situation at that moment.

He had at times, and when he chose, a charm in his manners which it was

quite impossible to resist. I could offer no opposition, and I resumed

my usual office and my accustomed labours. Five minutes afterwards it

was announced that dinner was on table. "You will dine with me?" he

said. "I cannot; I am expected at the place where I was going when Duroc

called me back. It is an engagement that I cannot break."--"Well, I have

nothing to say, then. But give me your word that you will be here

at eight o'clock."--"I promise you." Thus I became again the private

secretary of the First Consul, and I believed in the sincerity of our

reconciliation.