Napoleon's designsCaesar's TowerDistribution of the crosses of
the Legion of HonourThe military throneBonaparte's charlatanism
Intrepidity of two English sailorsThe decennial prizes and the
Polytechnic SchoolMeeting of the Emperor and EmpressFirst
negotiation with the Holy SeaThe Prefect of Arras and Comte Louis
de NarbonneChange in the French Ministry。
Louis XVIII。； being at Warsaw when he was informed of the elevation of
Napoleon to the Imperial dignity； addressed to the sovereigns of Europe a
protest against that usurpation of his throne。 Fouche； being the first
who heard of this protest； immediately communicated the circumstance to
the Emperor； observing that doubtless the copies would be multiplied and
distributed amongst the enemies of his Government； in the Faubourg St。
Germain； which might produce the worst effects； and that he therefore
deemed it his duty to inform him that orders might be given to Regnier
and Real to keep a strict watch over those engaged in distributing this
document。
〃You may judge of my surprise；〃 added Fouche； 〃you who know so well that
formerly the very mention of the Bourbons rendered Bonaparte furious；
when； after perusing the protest； he returned it to me； saying； 'Ah； ah；
so the Comte de Lille makes his protest！ Well； well； all in good time。
I hold my right by the voice of the French nation； and while I wear a
sword I will maintain it！ The Bourbons ought to know that I do not fear
them； let them； therefore； leave me in tranquillity。 Did you say that
the fools of the Faubourg St。 Germain would multiply the copies of this
protest of Comte de Lille？ well； they shall read it at their ease。 Send
it to the Moniteur； Fouche； and let it be inserted to…morrow morning。'〃
This passed on the 30th of June； and the next day the protest of Louis
XVIII。 did actually appear in that paper。
Fouche was wholly indifferent respecting the circulation of this protest；
he merely wished to show the Emperor that he was better informed of
passing events than Regnier； and to afford Napoleon another proof of the
inexperience and inability of the Grand Judge in police； and Fouche was
not long in receiving the reward which he expected from this step。 In
fact； ten days after the publication of the protest； the Emperor
announced to Regnier the re…establishment of the Ministry of General
Police。
The formula； I Pray God to have you in His holy keeping； with which the
letter to Regnier closed； was another step of Napoleon in the knowledge
of ancient usages； with which he was not sufficiently familiar when he
wrote Cambaceres on the day succeeding his elevation to the Imperial
throne； at the same time it must be confessed that this formula assorted
awkwardly with the month of 〃Messidor；〃 and the 〃twelfth year of the
Republic！〃
The errors which Regnier had committed in the affair of Georges were the
cause which determined Bonaparte to re…establish the Ministry of Police；
and to bestow it on a man who had created a belief in the necessity of
that measure； by a monstrous accumulation of plots and intrigues。 I am
also certain that the Emperor was swayed by the probability of a war
breaking out； which would force him to leave France； and that he
considered Fouche as the most proper person to maintain the public
tranquillity during his absence； and detect any cabala that might be
formed in favour of the Bourbons。
At this period； when Bonaparte had given the finishing blow to the
Republic； which had only been a shadow since the 19th Brumaire； it was
not difficult to foresee that the Bourbons would one day remount the
throne of their ancestors； and this presentiment was not； perhaps；
without its influence in rendering the majority greater in favour of the
foundation of the Empire than for the establishment of a Consulate for
life。 The reestablishment of the throne was a most important step in
favour of the Bourbons； for that was the thing most difficult to be done。
But Bonaparte undertook the task； and； as if by the aid of a magic rod；
the ancient order of things was restored in the twinkling of an eye。 The
distinctions of rankorderstitles； the noblessedecorationsall the
baubles of vanityin short； all the burlesque tattooing which the vulgar
regard as an indispensable attribute of royalty； reappeared in an
instant。 The question no longer regarded the form of government； but the
individual who should be placed at its head。 By restoring the ancient
order of things； the Republicans had themselves decided the question； and
it could no longer be doubted that when an occasion presented itself the
majority of the nation would prefer the ancient royal family； to whom
France owed her civilisation； her greatness； and her power； and who had
exalted her to such a high degree of glory and prosperity。
It was not one of the least singular traits in Napoleon's character that
during the first year of his reign he retained the fete of the 14th of
July。 It was not indeed strictly a Republican fate； but it recalled。the
recollection of two great popular triumphs；the taking of the Bastille
and the first Federation。 This year the 14th of July fell on a Saturday；
and the Emperor ordered its celebration to be delayed till the following
day； because it was Sunday； which was in conformity with the sentiments
he delivered respecting the Concordat。 〃What renders me；〃 he said； 〃most
hostile to the re…establishment of the Catholic worship is the number of
festivals formerly observed。 A saint's day is a day of indolence； and I
wish not for that； the people must labour in order to live。 I consent to
four holidays in the year； but no more； if the gentlemen from Rome are
not satisfied with this； they may take their departure。〃
The loss of time seemed to him so great a calamity that he seldom failed
to order an indispensable solemnity to be held on the succeeding holiday。
Thus he postponed the Corpus Christi to the following Sunday。
On Sunday； the 15th of July 1804； the Emperor appeared for the first time
before the Parisians surrounded by all the pomp of royalty。 The members
of the Legion of Honour； then in Paris； took the oath prescribed by the
new Constitution； and on this occasion the Emperor and Empress appeared
attended for the first time by a separate and numerous retinue。
The carriages in the train of the Empress crossed the garden of the
Tuileries； hitherto exclusively appropriated to the public； then followed
the cavalcade of the Emperor； who appeared on horseback； surrounded by
his principal generals； whom he had created Marshals of the Empire。
M。 de Segur； who held the office of Grand Master of Ceremonies； had the
direction of the ceremonial to be observed on this occasion； and with；
the Governor received the Emperor on the threshold of the Hotel des
Invalides。 They conducted the Empress to a tribune prepared for her
reception； opposite the Imperial throne which Napoleon alone occupied； to
the right of the altar。 I was present at this ceremony； notwithstanding
the repugnance I have to such brilliant exhibitions； but as Duroc had two
days before presented me with tickets； I deemed it prudent to attend on
the occasion； lest the keen eye of Bonaparte should have remarked my
absence if Duroc had acted by his order。
I spent about an hour contemplating the proud and sometimes almost
ludicrous demeanour of the new grandees of the Empire； I marked the
manoeuvring of the clergy； who； with Cardinal Belloy at their head；
proceeded to receive the Emperor on his entrance into the church。 What a
singular train of ideas was called up to my mind when I beheld my former
comrade at the school of Brienne seated upon an elevated throne；
surrounded by his brilliant staff； the great dignitaries of his Empire
his Ministers and Marshals！ I involuntarily recurred to the 19th
Brumaire； and all this splendid scene vanished； when I thought of
Bonaparte stammering to such a degree that I was obliged to pull the
skirt of his coat to induce him to withdraw。
It was neither a feeling of animosity nor of jealousy which called up
such reflections； at no period of our career would I have exchanged my
situation for his； but whoever can reflect； whoever has witnessed the
unexpected elevation of a former equal； may perhaps be able to conceive
the strange thoughts that assailed my mind； for the first time； on this
occasion。
When the religious part of the ceremony terminated； the church assumed；
in some measure； the appearance of a profane temple。 The congregation
displayed more devotion to the Emperor than towards the God of the
Christians；more enthusiasm than fervour。 The mass had been heard with
little attention； but when M。 de Lacepede； Grand Chancellor of the Legion
of Honour； after pronouncing a flattering discourse； finished the call of
the Grand Officers of the Legion； Bonaparte covered； as did the ancient
kings of France when they held a bed of justice。 A profound silence； a
sort of religious awe； then reigned throughout the assembly； and
Napoleon； who did not now stammer as in the Council of the Five Hundred；
said in a firm voice：
〃Commanders； officers； legionaries； citizens； soldiers； swear upon your
honour to devote yourselves to the service of the Empireto the
preservation of the integrity of the French territoryto the defence of
the Emperor； of the laws of the Republic； and of the property which they
have made sacredto combat by all the means which justice； reason； and
the laws authorise every attempt to reestablish the feudal system； in
short； swear to concur with all your might in maintaining liberty and
equality； which are the bases of all our institutions。 Do you swear？〃
Each member of the Legion of Honour exclaimed； 〃I swear；〃 adding； 〃Vive
l'Empereur！〃 with an enthusiam it is impossible to describe； and in which
all present joined。
What； after all； was this new oath？ It only differed from that taken by
the Legion of Honour； under the Consulate； in putting the defence of the
Emperor before that of the laws of the Republic； and this was not merely
a form。 It was； besides； sufficiently laughable and somewhat audacious；
to make them swear to support equality at the