memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v12-第21部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



　　　　　The　events　of　the　war　have　placed　the　capital　in　the　power　of
　　　　　foreigners。　　The　Emperor　has　marched　to　defend　it　at　the　head　of　his
　　　　　armies；　so　often　victorious。　　They　are　face　to　face　with　the　enemy
　　　　　before　the　walls　of　Paris。　　From　the　residence　which　I　have　chosen；
　　　　　and　from　the　Ministers　of　the　Emperor；　will　emanate　the　only　orders
　　　　　which　you　can　acknowledge。　　Every　town　in　the　power　of　foreigners
　　　　　ceases　to　be　free；　and　every　order　which　may　proceed　from　them　is
　　　　　the　language　of　the　enemy；　or　that　which　it　suits　his　hostile　views
　　　　　to　propagate。　　You　will　be　faithful　to　your　oaths。　　You　will　listen
　　　　　to　the　voice　of　a　Princess　who　was　consigned　to　your　good　faith；　and
　　　　　whose　highest　pride　consists　in　being　s　Frenchwoman；　and　in　being
　　　　　united　to　the　destiny　of　the　sovereign　whom　you　have　freely　chosen。
　　　　　My　son　was　less　sure　of　your　affections　in　the　time　of　our
　　　　　prosperity；　his　rights　and　his　person　are　under　your　safeguard。

　　　　　（By　order）　MONTALIVET。　　　　　　　　　　　　　（Signed）　MARIA　LOUISA
　　　　　BLOIS；　3d　April　1814。


It　is　to　be　inferred　that　the　Regency　had　within　three　days　adopted　the
resolution　of　not　quitting　Blois；　for　the　above　document　presents　no
blanks；　nor　words　filled　up　in　writing。　　The　Empress'　proclamation；
though　a　powerful　appeal　to　the　feelings　of　the　French　people；　produced
no　effect。　　Maria　Louisa's　proclamation　was　dated　the　4th　of　April；　on
the　evening　of　which　day　Napoleon　signed　the　conditional　abdication；　with
the　fate　of　which　the　reader　has　already　been　made　acquainted。　　M。　de
Montalivet　transmitted　the　Empress'　proclamation；　accompanied　by　another
circular；　to　the　prefects；　of　whom　very　few　received　it。

M。　de　Champagny；　having　left　Blois　with　the　letter　he　had　received　from
the　Empress；　proceeded　to　the　headquarters　of　the　Emperor　of　Austria；
carefully　avoiding　those　roads　which　were　occupied　by　Cossack　troops。
He　arrived；　not　without　considerable　difficulty；　at　Chanseaux；　where
Frances　II。　　was　expected。　　When　the　Emperor　arrived　the　Duc　de　Cadore
was　announced；　and　immediately　introduced　to　his　Majesty。　　The　Duke
remained　some　hours　with　Francis　II。；　without　being　able　to　obtain　from
him　anything　but　fair　protestations。　　The　Emperor　always　took　refuge
behind　the　promise　he　had　given　to　his　Allies　to　approve　whatever
measures　they　might　adopt。　　The　Duke　was　not　to　leave　the　Emperor's
headquarters　that　evening；　and；　in　the　hope　that　his　Majesty　might　yet
reflect　on　the　critical　situation　of　his　daughter；　he　asked　permission　to
take　leave　next　morning。　　He　accordingly　presented　himself　to　the
Emperor's　levee；　when　he　renewed　his　efforts　in　support　of　the　claims　of
Maria　Louisa。　　〃I　have　a　great　affection　for　my　daughter；　and　also　for　my
son…in　law；〃　said　the　Emperor。　　〃I　bear　them　both　in　my　heart；　and　would
shed　my　blood　for　them〃〃Ah；　Sire！〃　exclaimed　M。　de　Champagny；　〃such　a
sacrifice　is　not　necessary。〃〃Yes；　Duke；　I　say　again　I　would　shed　my
blood；　I　would　resign　my　life　for　them；　but　I　have　given　my　Allies　a
promise　not　to　treat　without　them；　and　to　approve　all　that　they　may　do。
Besides；〃　added　the　Emperor；　〃my　Minister；　M。　de　Metternich；　has　gone　to
their　headquarters；　and　I　will　ratify　whatever　he　may　sign。〃

When　the　Duc　de　Cadore　related　to　me　the　particulars　of　his　mission；　in
which　zeal　could　not　work　an　impossibility；　I　remarked　that　he　regarded
as　a　circumstance　fatal　to　Napoleon　the　absence　of　M。　de　Metternich　and
the　presence　of　M。　Stadion　at　the　headquarters　of　the　Emperor　of　Austria。
Though　in　all　probability　nothing　could　have　arrested　the　course　of
events；　yet　it　is　certain　that　the　personal　sentiments　of　the　two
Austrian　Ministers　towards　Napoleon　were　widely　different。　　I　am　not
going　too　far　when　I　affirm　that；　policy　apart；　M。　de　Metternich　was　much
attached　to　Napoleon。　In　support　of　this　assertion　I　may　quote　a　fact　of
which　I　can　guarantee　the　authenticity：

When　M。　de　Metternich　was　complimented　on　the　occasion　of　Maria　Louisa's
marriage　he　replied；　〃To　have　contributed　to　a　measure　which　has　received
the　approbation　of　80；000；000　men　is　indeed　a　just　subject　of
congratulation。〃　　Such　a　remark　openly　made　by　the　intelligent　Minister
of　the　Cabinet　of　Vienna　was　well　calculated　to　gratify　the　ears　of
Napoleon；　from　whom；　however；　M。　de　Metternich　in　his　personal　relations
did　not　conceal　the　truth。　　I　recollect　a　reply　which　was　made　by　M。　de
Metternich　at　Dresden　after　a　little　hesitation。　　〃As　to　you；〃　said　the
Emperor；　〃you　will　not　go　to　war　with　me。　　It　is　impossible　that　you　can
declare　yourself　against　me。　　That　can　never　be。〃〃　Sire；　we　are　not　now
quite　allies；　and　some　time　hence　we　may　become　enemies。〃　　This　hint　was
the　last　which　Napoleon　received　from　Metternich；　and　Napoleon　must　have
been　blind　indeed　not　to　have　profited　by　it。　　As　to　M。　Stadion；　he
entertained　a　profound　dislike　of　the　Emperor。　　That　Minister　knew　and
could　not　forget　that　his　preceding　exclusion　from　the　Cabinet　of　Vienna
had　been　due　to　the　all…powerful　influence　of　Napoleon。

Whether　or　not　the　absence　of　Metternich　influenced　the　resolution　of
Francis　II。；　it　is　certain　that　that　monarch　yielded　nothing　to　the
urgent　solicitations　of　a　Minister　who　conscientiously　fulfilled　the
delicate　mission　consigned　to　him。　　M。　de　Champagny　rejoined　the　Empress
at　Orleans；　whither　she　had　repaired　on　leaving　Blois。　　He　found　Maria
Louisa　almost　deserted；　all　the　Grand　Dignitaries　of　the　Empire　having
successively　returned　to　Paris　after　sending　in　their　submissions　to　the
Provisional　Government。

I　had　scarcely　entered　upon　the　exercise　of　my　functions　as　Postmaster…
General　when；　on　the　morning　of　the　2d　of　April；　I　was　surprised　to　see　a
Prussian　general　officer　enter　my　cabinet。　　I　immediately　recognised　him
as　General　Blucher。　　He　had　commanded　the　Prussian　army　in　the　battle
which　took　place　at　the　gates　of　Paris。　　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃I　consider　it
one　of　my　first　duties　on　entering　Paris　to　thank　you　for　the　attention　I
received　from　you　in　Hamburg。　　I　am　sorry　that　I　was　not　sooner　aware　of
your　being　in　Pains。　　I　assure　you　that　had　I　been　sooner　informed　of
this　circumstance　the　capitulation　should　have　been　made　without　a　blow
being　struck。　　How　much　blood　might　then　have　been　spared！〃〃General；〃
said　I；　〃on　what　do　you　ground　this　assurance？〃〃If　I　had　known　that　you
were　in　Paris　I　would　have　given　you　a　letter　to　the　King　of　Prussia。
That　monarch；　who　knows　the　resources　and　intentions　of　the　Allies；
would；　I　am　sure；　have　authorised　you　to　decide　a　suspension　of　arms
before　the　neighbourhood　of　Paris　became　the　theatre　of　the　war。〃
〃But；〃　resumed　I；　〃in　spite　of　the　good　intentions　of　the　Allies；　it
would　have　been　very　difficult　to　prevent　resistance。　　French　pride；
irritated　as　it　was　by　reverses；　would　have　opposed　insurmountable
obstacles　to　such　a　measure。〃〃But；　good　heavens！　　you　would　have　seen
that　resistance　could　be　of　no　avail　against　such　immense　masses。〃
〃You　are　right；　General；　but　French　honour　would　have　been　defended　to
the　last。〃〃I　am　fully　aware　of　that；　but　surely　you　have　earned　glory
enough！〃〃Yet　our　French　susceptibility　would　have　made　us　look　upon
that　glory　as　tarnished　if　Paris　had　been　occupied　without　defence　。。。
But　under　present　circumstances　I　am　well　pleased　that　you　were　satisfied
with　my　conduct　in　Hamburg；　for　it　induces　me　to　hope　that　you　will
observe　the　same　moderation　in　Paris　that　I　exercised　there。　　The　days
are　past　when　it　could　be　said；　Woe　to　the　conquered。〃〃　You　are　right；
yet；〃　added　he；　smiling；　〃you　know　we　are　called　the　northern
barbarians。〃〃　Then；　General；〃　returned　I；　〃you　have　a　fair　opportunity
of　showing　that　that　designation　is　a　libel。〃

Some　days　after　Blucher's　visit　I　had　the　honour　of　being　admitted　to　a
private　audience　of　the　King　of　Prussia。　　Clarke　and　Berthier　were　also
received　in　this　audience；　which　took　place　at　the　hote1　of　Prince
Eugene；　where　the　King　of　Prussia　resided　in　Paris。　　We　waited　for　some
minutes　in　the　salon；　and　when　Frederick　William　entered　from　his　cabinet
I　remarked　on　his　countenance　an　air　of　embarrassment　and　austerity　which
convinced　me　that　he　had　been　studying　his　part；　as　great　personages　are
in　the　habit　of　doing　on　similar　occasions。　　The　King　on　entering　the
salon　first　noticed　Berthier；　whom　he　addressed　with　much　kindness；
bestowing　praises　on　the　French　troops；　and　complimenting　the　Marshal　on
his　conduct　during　the　war　in　Germany。　　Berthier　returned　thanks　for
these　well…merited　praises；　for　though　he　was　not　remarkable　for　strength
of　understanding　or　energy　of　mind；　yet　he　was　not　a　bad　man；　and　I　have
known　many　proofs　of　his　good　conduct　in　conquered　countries。

After　saluting　Berthier　the　King　of　Prussia　turned　towards　Clarke；　and
his　countenance　immediately　assumed　an　expression　of　dissatisfaction。
He　had　evidently　not　forgotten　Clarke's　conduct　in　Berlin。　　He　reminded
him　that　he　had　rendered　the　Continental　system　more　odious　than　it　was
in　itself；　and　that　he　had　shown　no　moderation　in　the　execution　of　his
orders。　　〃In　short；〃　said　his　Majesty；　〃if　I　have　any　advice　to　give　you；
it　is　that　you　never　again　return　to　Prussia。〃　　The　King　pronounced　these
words　in　so　loud　and　decided　a　tone　that　Clarke　was　perfectly　confounded。
He　uttered　some　unintelligible　observations；　which；　however；　Frederick
William　did　not　notice；　for　suddenly　turning　towards　me　he　said；　with　an
air　of　affability；　〃Ah！　　M。　de　Bourrienne；　I　am　glad　to　see　you；　and　I
take　this　opportunity　of　repeating　what　I　wrote　to　you　from　Gonigsberg。
You　always　extended　protection　to　the　Germans；　and　did　all　you　could　to
alleviate　their　condition。　　I　learned　with　great　satisfaction　what　you
did　for　the　Prussians　whom　the　fate　of　war　drove　into　Hamburg；　and　I　feel
pleasure　in　telling　you；　in　the　presence　of　these　two　gentlemen；　that　if
all　the　French　agents　had　acted　as　you　did　we　should　not；　probably；　be
here。〃　　I　expressed；　by　a　profound　bow；　how　much　I　was　gratified　by　this
complimentary　address；　and　the　king；　after　saluting　us；　retired。

About　the　middle　of　April　Bernadotte　arrived　in　Paris。　　His　situation　had
become　equivo