memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v7-第4部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


proceeded　to　the　Temple　to　release　the　victims　of　the　〃Loi　des　suspects〃
by　his　sole　and　immediate　authority。　　This　state　prison　was　now　to　be
filled　by　the　orders　of　his　police。　　All　the　intrigues　of　Europe　were　in
motion。　　Emissaries　came　daily　from　England；　who；　if　they　could　not
penetrate　into　the　interior　of　France；　remained　in　the　towns　near　the
frontiers；　where　they　established　correspondence；　and　published
pamphlets；　which　they　sent　to　Paris　by　post；　in　the　form　of　letters。

The　First　Consul；　on　the　other　hand；　gave　way；　without　reserve；　to　the
natural　irritation　which　that　power　had　excited　by　her　declaration　of
war。　　He　knew　that　the　most　effective　war　he　could　carry　on　against
England　would　be　a　war　against　her　trade。

As　a　prelude　to　that　piece　of　madness；　known　by　the　name　of　the
Continental　system；　the　First　Consul　adopted　every　possible　preventive
measure　against　the　introduction　of　English　merchandise。　　Bonaparte's
irritation　against　the　English　was　not　without　a　cause。　　The　intelligence
which　reached　Paris　from　the　north　of　France　was　not　very　consolatory。
The　English　fleets　not　only　blockaded　the　French　ports；　but　were　acting
on　the　offensive；　and　had　bombarded　Granville。　　The　mayor　of　the　town　did
his　duty；　but　his　colleagues；　more　prudent；　acted　differently。　　In　the
height　of　his　displeasure　Bonaparte　issued　a　decree；　by　which　he　bestowed
a　scarf　of　honour　on　Letourneur；　the　mayor；　and　dismissed　his　colleagues
from　office　as　cowards　unworthy　of　trust。　　The　terms　of　this　decree　were
rather　severe；　but　they　were　certainly　justified　by　the　conduct　of　those
who　had　abandoned　their　posts　at　s　critical　moment。

I　come　now　to　the　subject　of　the　invasion　of　England；　and　what　the　First
Consul　said　to　me　respecting　it。　　I　have　stated　that　Bonaparte　never　had
any　idea　of　realising　the　pretended　project　of　a　descent　on　England。　　The
truth　of　this　assertion　will　appear　from　a　conversation　which　I　had　with
him　after　he　returned　from　his　journey　to　the　north。　　In　this
conversation　he　repeated　what　he　had　often　before　mentioned　to　me　in
reference　to　the　projects　and　possible　steps　to　which　fortune　might
compel　him　to　resort。

The　peace　of　Amiens　had　been　broken　about　seven　months　when；　on　the　15th
of　December　1803；　the　First　Consul　sent　for　me　to　the　Tuileries。　　His
incomprehensible　behaviour　to　me　was　fresh　in　my　mind；　and　as　it　was
upwards　of　a　year　since　I　had　seen　him；　I　confess　I　did　not　feel　quite　at
ease　when　I　received　the　summons。　　He　was　perfectly　aware　that　I
possessed　documents　and　data　for　writing　his　history　which　would　describe
facts　correctly；　and　destroy　the　illusions　with　which　his　flatterers
constantly；　entertained　the　public。　　I　have　already　stated　that　at　that
period　I　had　no　intention　of　the　kind；　but　those　who　laboured　constantly
to　incense　him　against　me　might　have　suggested　apprehensions　on　the
subject。　　At　all　events　the　fact　is；　that　when　he　sent　for　me　I　took　the
precaution　of　providing　myself　with　a　night…cap；　conceiving　it　to　be　very
likely　that　I　should　be　sent　to　sleep　at　Vincennes。　　On　the　day　appointed
for　the　interview　Rapp　was　on　duty。　　I　did　not　conceal　from　him　my
opinion　as　to　the　possible　result　of　my　visit。　　〃You　need　not　be　afraid；〃
said　Rapp；　〃the　First　Consul　merely　wishes　to　talk　with　you。〃　　He　then
announced　me。

Bonaparte　came　into　the　grand　salon　where　I　awaited　him；　and　addressing
me　in　the　most　good…humoured　way　said；　〃What　do　the　gossips　say　of　my
preparations　for　the　invasion　of　England？〃〃There　is　a　great　difference
of　opinion　on　the　subject；　General；〃　I　replied。　　〃Everyone　speaks
according　to　his　own　views。　　Suchet；　for　instance；　who　comes　to　see　me
very　often；　has　no　doubt　that　it　will　take　place；　and　hopes　to　give　you
on　the　occasion　fresh　proofs　of　his　gratitude　and　fidelity。〃〃But　Suchet
tells　me　that　you　do　not　believe　it　will　be　attempted。〃〃That　is　true；　I
certainly　do　not。〃〃Why？〃〃Because　you　told　me　at　Antwerp；　five　years
ago；　that　you　would　not　risk　France　on　the　cast　of　a　diethat　the
adventure　was　too　hazardousand　circumstances　have　not　altered　since
that　time。〃〃You　are　right。　　Those　who　look　forward　to　the　invasion　of
England　are　blockheads。　　They　do　not　see　the　affair　in　its　true　light。
I　can；　doubtless；　land　in　England　with　100；000　men。　　A　great　battle　will
be　fought；　which　I　shall　gain；　but　I　must　reckon　upon　30；000　men　killed；
wounded；　and　prisoners。　　If　I　march　on　London；　a　second　battle　must　be
fought。　　I　will　suppose　myself　again　victorious；　but　what　should　I　do　in
London　with　an　army　diminished　three…fourths　and　without　the　hope　of
reinforcements？　　It　would　be　madness。　　Until　our　navy　acquires
superiority　it　is　useless　to　think　of　such　a　project。　　The　great
assemblage　of　troops　in　the　north　has　another　object。　　My　Government　must
be　the　first　in　the　world；　or　it　must　fall。〃　　Bonaparte　then　evidently
wished　it　to　be　supposed　that　he　entertained　the　design　of　invading
England　in　order　to　divert　the　attention　of　Europe　to　that　direction。

From　Dunkirk　the　First　Consul　proceeded　to　Antwerp；　where　also　he　had
assembled　experienced　men　to　ascertain　their　opinions　respecting　the
surest　way　of　attempting　a　landing；　the　project　of　which　was　merely　a
pretence。　　The　employment　of　large　ships　of　was；　after　rang　discussions；
abandoned　in　favour　of　a　flotilla。

　　　　　＇At　this　period　a　caricature　（by　Gillray）　appeared　in　London。
　　　　　which　was　sent　to　Paris；　and　strictly　sought　after　by　the　police。
　　　　　One　of　the　copies　was　shown　to　the　First　Consul；　who　was　highly
　　　　　indignant　at　it。　　The　French　fleet　was　represented　by　a　number　of
　　　　　nut…shells。　　An　English　sailor；　seated　on　a　rock；　was　quietly
　　　　　smoking　his　pipe；　the　whiffs　of　which　were　throwing　the　whole
　　　　　squadron　into　disorder。Bourrienne。　　Gillray's　caricatures　should
　　　　　be　at　the　reader's　side　during　the　perusal　of　this　work；　also
　　　　　English　Caricature　and　Satire　on　Napoleon　I。；　by　J。　Ashton　Chatto：
　　　　　and　Windus；　1884。＇

After　visiting　Belgium；　and　giving　directions　there；　the　First　Consul
returned　from　Brussels　to　Paris　by　way　of　Maestricht；　Liege；　and
Soissons。

Before　my　visit　to　the　Tuileries；　and　even　before　the　rupture　of　the
peace　of　Amiens；　certain　intriguing　speculators；　whose　extravagant　zeal
was　not　less　fatal　to　the　cause　of　the　Bourbons　than　was　the　blind
subserviency　of　his　unprincipled　adherents　to　the　First　Consul；　had　taken
part　in　some　underhand　manoeuvres　which　could　have　no　favourable　result。
Amongst　these　great　contrivers　of　petty　machinations　the　well…known
Fauche　Borel；　the　bookseller　of　Neufchatel；　had　long　been　conspicuous。
Fauche　Borel；　whose　object　was　to　create　a　stir；　and　who　wished　nothing
better　than　to　be　noticed　and　paid；　failed　not　to　come　to　France　as　soon
as　the　peace　of　Amiens　afforded　him　the　opportunity。　　I　was　at　that　time
still　with　Bonaparte；　who　was　aware　of　all　these　little　plots；　but　who
felt　no　personal　anxiety　on　the　subject；　leaving　to　his　police　the　care
of　watching　their　authors。

The　object　of　Fauche　Borel's　mission　was　to　bring　about　a　reconciliation
between　Moreau　and　Pichegru。　　The　latter　general；　who　was　banished　on　the
18th　Fructidor　4th　（September　1797）；　had　not　obtained　the　First　Consul's
permission　to　return　to　France。　　He　lived　in　England；　where　he　awaited　a
favourable　opportunity　for　putting　his　old　projects　into　execution。
Moreau　was　in　Pains；　but　no　longer　appeared　at　the　levees　or　parties　of
the　First　Consul；　and　the　enmity　of　both　generals　against　Bonaparte；
openly　avowed　on　the　part　of　Pichegru；　and　still　disguised　by　Moreau；　was
a　secret　to　nobody。　　But　as　everything　was　prosperous　with　Bonaparte　he
evinced　contempt　rather　than　fear　of　the　two　generals。　　His　apprehensions
were；　indeed；　tolerably　allayed　by　the　absence　of　the　one　and　the
character　of　the　other。　　Moreau's　name　had　greater　weight　with　the　army
than　that　of　Pichegru；　and　those　who　were　plotting　the　overthrow　of　the
Consular　Government　knew　that　that　measure　could　not　be　attempted　with
any　chance　of　success　without　the　assistance　of　Moreau。　　The　moment　was
inopportune；　but；　being　initiated　in　some　secrets　of　the　British　Cabinet；
they　knew　that　the　peace　was　but　a　truce；　and　they　determined　to　profit
by　that　truce　to　effect　a　reconciliation　which　might　afterwards　secure　a
community　of　interests。　　Moreau　and　Pichegru　had　not　been　friends　since
Moreau　sent　to　the　Directory　the　papers　seized　in　M。　de　Klinglin's
carriage；　which　placed　Pichegru's　treason　in　so　clear　a　light。　　Since
that　period　Pichegru's　name　possessed　no　influence　over　the　minds　of　the
soldiers；　amongst　whom　he　had　very　few　partisans；　whilst　the　name　of
Moreau　was　dear　to　all　who　had　conquered　under　his　command。

Fauche　Borel's　design　was　to　compromise　Moreau　without　bringing　him　to
any　decisive　step。　　Moreau's　natural　indolence；　and　perhaps　it　may　be
said　his　good　sense；　induced　him　to　adopt　the　maxim　that　it　was　necessary
to　let　men　and　things　take　their　course；　for　temporizing　policy　is　often
as　useful　in　politics　as　in　war。　　Besides；　Moreau　was　a　sincere
Republican；　and　if　his　habit　of　indecision　had　permitted　him　to　adopt　any
resolution；　it　is　quite　certain　that　he　would　not　then　have　assisted　in
the　reestablishment　of　the　Bourbons；　as　Pichegru　wished。

What　I　have　stated　is　an　indispensable　introduction　to　the　knowledge　of
plots　of　more　importance　which　preceded　the　great　event　that　marked　the
close　of　the　Consulship：　I　allude　to　the　conspiracy　of　Georges；　Cadoudal；
Moreau；　and　Pichegru；　and　that　indelible　stain　on　the　character　of
Napoleon；the　death　of　the　Duc　d'Enghien。　　Different　opinions　have　been
expressed　concerning　Georges'　conspiracy。　　I　shall　not　contradict　any　of
them。　　I　will　relate　what　I　learned　and　what　I　saw；　in　order　to　throw
some　light　on　that　horrible　affair。　　I　am　far　from　believing　what　I　have
read　in　many　works；　that　it　was　planned　by　the　police　in　order　to　pave
the　First　Consul's　way　to　the　throne。　　I　think　that　it　was　contrived　by
those　who　were　really　interested　in　it；　and　encouraged　by　Fouche　in　order
to　prepare　his　return　to　office。

To　corroborate　my　opinion　respecting　Fouche's　conduct　and　his　manoeuvres
I　must　remind　the　reader