taste； and upon which he complimented the prefect and the mayor on
several different occasions。 After witnessing the opening of the ball；
he made two or three turns in the hall； and retired； escorted by the
staff of the National Guard。
On Tuesday much of the day was spent by the First Consul in visiting the
workshops of the numerous factories of the city； accompanied by the
minister of the interior； the prefect； the mayor； the general commanding
the division； the inspector…general of police； and the staff of the
Consular Guard。 In a factory of the Faubourg Saint…Sever； the minister
of the interior presented to him the dean of the workmen； noted as having
woven the first piece of velvet in France； and the First Consul； after
complimenting this honorable old man； granted him a pension。 Other
rewards and encouragements were likewise distributed to several parties
whose useful inventions commended them to public gratitude。
Wednesday morning early we left for Elbeuf； where we arrived at ten
o'clock； preceded by threescore young men of the most distinguished
families of the city； who； following the example of those of Rouen；
aspired to the honor of forming the guard of the First Consul。
The country around us was covered with an innumerable multitude； gathered
from all the surrounding communes。 The First Consul alighted at Elbeuf；
at the house of the mayor； where he took breakfast； and then visited the
town in detail； obtaining information everywhere； and knowing that one of
the first wishes of the citizens was the construction of a road from
Elbeuf to a small neighboring town called Romilly； he gave orders to the
minister of the interior to begin work upon it immediately。
At Elbeuf； as at Rouen； the First Consul was overwhelmed with homage and
benedictions； and we returned from this last town at four o'clock in the
afternoon。
The merchants of Rouen had prepared a fete in the hall of the Stock
Exchange； which the First Consul and his family attended after dinner。
He remained a long time on the ground floor of this building； where there
were displayed magnificent specimens from the industries of this
Department。 He examined everything； and made Madame Bonaparte do the
same； and she also purchased several pieces of cloth。
The First Consul then ascended to the first floor； where； in the grand
saloon； were gathered about a hundred ladies； married and single； and
almost all pretty； the wives and daughters of the principal merchants of
Rouen； who were waiting to compliment him。 He seated himself in this
charming circle； and remained there perhaps a quarter of an hour； then
passed into another room； where awaited him the representation of a
little proverb； containing couplets expressing； as may be imagined； the
attachment and gratitude of the inhabitants of Rouen。 This play was
followed by a ball。
Thursday evening the First Consul announced that he would leave for Havre
the next morning at daybreak； and exactly at five o'clock I was awakened
by Hebert； who said that at six o'clock we would set out。 I awoke
feeling badly； was sick the whole day； and would have given much to have
slept a few hours longer； but we were compelled to begin our journey。
Before entering his carriage； the First Consul made a present to
Monseigneur； the archbishop； of a snuff…box with his portrait； and also
gave one to the mayor； on which was the inscription； 'Peuple Francais'。
We stopped at Caudebec for breakfast。 The mayor of this town presented
to the First Consul a corporal who had made the campaign of Italy （his
name was； I think； Roussel）； and who had received a sword of honor as a
reward for his brave conduct at Marengo。 He was at Caudebec on a half…
year's furlough； and asked the First Consul's permission to be a sentinel
at the door of the apartment of the august travelers； which was granted；
and after the First Consul and Madame Bonaparte were seated at the table；
Roussel was sent for； and invited to breakfast with his former general。
At Havre and at Dieppe the First Consul invited thus to his table all the
soldiers or sailors who had received guns； sabers； or boarding…axes of
honor。 The First Consul stopped an hour at Bolbec； showing much
attention and interest in examining the products of the industries of the
district； complimenting the guards of honor who passed before him on
their fine appearance； thanking the clergy for the prayers in his behalf
which they addressed to Heaven； and leaving for the poor； either in their
own hands； or in the hands of the mayor； souvenirs of his stay。 On the
arrival of the First Consul at Havre； the city was illuminated； and the
First Consul and his numerous cortege passed between two rows of
illuminations and columns of fire of all kinds。 The vessels in the port
appeared like a forest on fire； being covered with colored lamps to the
very top of their masts。 The First Consul received； the day of his
arrival at Havre； only a part of the authorities of the city； and soon
after retired； saying that he was fatigued； but at six o'clock in the
morning of the next day he was on horseback； and until two o'clock he
rode along the seacoast and low hills of Ingouville for more than a
league； and the banks of the Seine as far as the cliffs of Hoc。 He also
made a tour outside of the citadel。 About three o'clock the First Consul
began to receive the authorities。 He conversed with them in great detail
upon the work that had； been done at this place in order that their port；
which he always called the port of Paris； might reach the highest degree
of prosperity； and did the sub…prefect； the mayor； the two presidents of
the tribunals； the commandant of the place； and the chief of the tenth
demi…brigade of light infantry the honor of inviting them to his table。
In the evening the First Consul went to the theater； where they played a
piece composed for the occasion； about as admirable as such pieces
usually are； but on which the First Consul and Madame Bonaparte
especially complimented the authors。 The illuminations were more
brilliant even than on the evening before； and I remember especially that
the largest number of transparencies bore the inscription； 18th Brumaire；
year VIII。
Sunday； at seven o'clock in the morning； after having visited the Marine
Arsenal and all the docks； the weather being very fine； the First Consul
embarked in a little barge； and remained in the roadstead for several
hours； escorted by a large number of barges filled with men and elegantly
dressed women； and musicians playing the favorite airs of the First
Consul。 Then a few hours were again passed in the reception of
merchants； the First Consul assuring them that he had taken the greatest
pleasure in conferring with them in regard to the commerce of Havre with
the colonies。 In the evening； there was a fete prepared by the
merchants； at which the First Consul remained for half an hour； and on
Monday； at five o'clock in the morning； he embarked on a lugger for
Honfleur。 At the time of his departure the weather was a little
threatening； and the First Consul was advised not to embark。 Madame
Bonaparte； whose ears this rumor reached； ran after her husband； begging
him not to set out； but he embraced her； laughing； calling her a coward；
and entered the vessel which was awaiting him。 He had hardly embarked
when the wind suddenly lulled； and the weather became very fine。 On his
return to Havre； the First Consul held a review on the Place de la
Citadelle； and visited the artillery barracks； after which he received；
until the evening； a large number of public dignitaries and merchants；
and the next day； at six o'clock in the morning； we set out for Dieppe。
When we arrived at Fecamp； the town presented an extremely singular
spectacle。 All the inhabitants of the town； and of the adjoining towns
and villages； followed the clergy； chanting a Te Deum for the anniversary
of the 18th Brumaire； and these countless voices rising to heaven for him
affected the First Consul profoundly。 He repeated several times during
breakfast that he had felt more emotion on hearing these chants under the
dome of heaven than he had ever felt while listening to the most
brilliant music。
We arrived at Dieppe at six o'clock in the evening。 The First Consul
retired； only after having received all their felicitations； which were
certainly very sincere there； as throughout all France at that time。 The
next day； at eight o'clock； the First Consul repaired to the harbor；
where he remained a long while watching the return of the fishermen； and
afterwards visited the faubourg of Pollet； and the work on the docks；
which was then just beginning。 He admitted to his table the sub…prefect；
the mayor； and three sailors of Dieppe who had been given boarding…axes
of honor for distinguishing themselves in the combat off Boulogne。 He
ordered the construction of a breakwater in the inner port； and the
continuation of a canal for navigation； which was to be extended as far
as Paris； and of which； until this present time； only a few fathoms have
been made。 From Dieppe we went to Gisors and to Beauvais； and finally
the First Consul and his wife returned to Saint…Cloud； after an absence
of two weeks； during which workmen had been busily employed in restoring
the ancient royal residence； which the First Consul had decided to
accept； as I have before stated。
CHAPTER X。
The tour of the First Consul through the wealthiest and most enlightened
departments of France had removed from his mind the apprehension of many
difficulties which he had feared at first in the execution of his plans。
Everywhere he had been treated as a monarch； and not only he personally；
but Madame Bonaparte also； had been received with all the honors usually
reserved for crowned heads。 There was no difference between the homage
offered them at this time； and that which they received later； even
during the Empire； when their Majesties made tours of their states at
different times。 For this reason I shall give some details； and if they
should seem too long； or not very novel； the reader will remember that I
am not writing only for those who lived during the Empire