Madame Bonaparte received no injury except the terrible fright； Hortense
was slightly wounded in the face by a piece of glass； and Madame Caroline
Murat； who was then far advanced in pregnancy； was so frightened that it
was necessary to carry her back to the Tuileries。 This catastrophe had
its influence； even on the health of her child； for I have been told that
Prince Achille Muratz is subject； to this day； to frequent attacks of
epilepsy。 As is well known； the First Consul went on to the opera； where
he was received with tumultuous acclamations； the immobility of his
countenance contrasting strongly with the pallor and agitation of Madame
Bonaparte's； who had feared not so much for herself as for him。 The
coachman who had driven the First Consul with such good fortune was named
Germain。 He had followed him in Egypt； and in a skirmish had killed an
Arab； with his own hand； under the eyes of the general…in…chief； who；
struck with his courage； had cried out； 〃Diable！ that's a brave man； he
is a Caesar。〃 The name had clung to him。 It has been said that this
brave man was drunk at the time of this explosion； but this is a mistake；
which his conduct under the circumstances contradicts in the most
positive manner。 When the First Consul； after he became Emperor； went
out； incognito； in Paris； it was Caesar who was his escort； without
livery。 It is said in the Memorial de Sainte Helene that the Emperor；
in speaking of Caesar； stated that he was in a complete state of
intoxication； and took the noise of the explosion for an artillery
salute； nor did he know until the next day what had taken place。 This is
entirely untrue； and the Emperor was incorrectly informed in regard to
his coachman。 Caesar drove the First Consul very rapidly because he had
been ordered to do so； and because he considered his honor interested in
not allowing the obstacle which the infernal machine placed in his way
before the explosion to delay him。 The evening of the event I saw
Caesar； who was perfectly sober； and he himself related to me part of the
details that I have just given。 A few days after； four or five hundred
hackney…coachmen clubbed together to honor him； and gave him a
magnificent dinner at twenty…four francs per head。
While the infernal plot was being executed； and costing the lies of many
innocent citizens； without attaining the object the assassins proposed；
I was； as I have said； at the Theatre Feydeau； where I had prepared
myself to enjoy at my leisure an entire evening of freedom； amid the
pleasures of the stage； for which I had all my life a great liking。
Scarcely had I seated myself comfortably； however； when the box…keeper
entered in the greatest excitement； crying out； 〃Monsieur Constant； it is
said that they have just blown up the First Consul； there has been a
terrible explosion； and it is asserted that he is dead。〃 These terrible
words were like a thunderbolt…to me。 Not knowing what I did； I plunged
down…stairs； and； forgetting my hat； ran like mad to the chateau。 While
crossing Rue Vivienne and the Palais Royal； I saw no extraordinary
disturbance； but in Rue Sainte Honore there was a very great tumult； and
I saw； borne away on litters； many dead and wounded； who had been at
first carried into the neighboring houses of Rue Sainte Nicaise。 Many
groups had formed； and with one voice all were cursing the still unknown
authors of this dastardly attempt。 Some accused the Jacobins of this；
because three months before they had placed the poniard in the hands of
Cerrachi； of Arena； and of Topino Lebrun； whilst others； less numerous
perhaps； thought the aristocrats； the Royalists； could alone be guilty of
this atrocity。 I could give no time to these various accusations； except
as I was detained in forcing my way through an immense and closely packed
crowd； and as rapidly as possible went on； and in two seconds was at the
Carrousel。 I threw myself against the wicket； but the two sentinels
instantly crossed bayonets before my breast。 It was useless to cry out
that I was valet de chambre of the First Consul； for my bare head； my
wild manner； the disorder； both of my dress and ideas； appeared to them
suspicious； and they refused energetically and very obstinately to allow
me to enter。 I then begged them to send for the gatekeeper of the
chateau； and as soon as he came； I was admitted； or rather rushed into
the chateau； where I learned what had just happened。 A short time after
the First Consul arrived； and was immediately surrounded by his officers；
and by all his household； every one present being in the greatest state
of anxiety。 When the First Consul alighted from his carriage he appeared
calm and smiling； he even wore an air of gayety。 On entering the
vestibule he said to his officers； rubbing ；his hands； 〃Well； sirs； we
made a fine escape！ 〃They shuddered with indignation and anger。 He then
entered the grand saloon on the ground floor； where a large number of
counselors of state and…dignitaries had already assembled； but hardly had
they begun to express their congratulations； when he interrupted them；
and in so vehement a manner that he was heard outside the saloon。 We
were told that after this council he had a lively altercation with
Fouche； Minister of Police； whom he reproached with his ignorance of
this plot； openly accusing the Jacobins of being the authors。
That evening； on retiring； the First Consul asked me laughingly if I was
afraid。 〃More than you were； my general；〃 I replied； and I related to
him how I had heard the fatal news at the Feydeau； and had run without my
hat to the very wicket of the Carrousel； where the sentinels tried to
prevent my entering。 He was amused at the oaths and abusive epithets
with which they had accompanied their defense of the gate； and at last
said to me； 〃After all； my dear Constant； you should not be angry with
them； they were only obeying orders。 They are brave men； on whom I can
rely。〃 The truth is； the Consular Guard was at this period no less
devoted than it has been since as the Imperial Guard。 At the first rumor
of the great risk which the First Consul had run； all the soldiers of
that faithful band had gathered spontaneously in the court of the
Tuileries。
After this melancholy catastrophe； which carried distress into all
France； and mourning into so many families； the entire police were
actively engaged in searching for the authors of the plot。 The dwelling
of the First Consul was first put under surveillance； and we were
incessantly watched by spies； without suspecting it。 All our walks； all
our visits； all our goings and comings； were known； and attention was
especially directed to our friends； and even our liaisons。 But such was
the devotion of each and all to the person of the First Consul； such was
the affection that he so well knew how to inspire in those around him；
that not one of the persons attached to his service was for an instant
suspected of having a hand in this infamous attempt。 Neither at this
time； nor in any other affair of this kind； were the members of his
household ever compromised； and never was the name of the lowest of his
servants ever found mixed up in criminal plots against a life so valued
and so glorious。
The minister of police suspected the Royalists of this attempt； but the
First Consul attributed it to the Jacobins； because they were already
guilty； he said； of crimes as odious。 One hundred and thirty of the most
noted men of this party were transported on pure suspicion； and without
any form of trial。 It is now known that the discovery； trial； and
execution of Saint Regent and Carbon； the true criminals； proved that the
conjectures of the minister were more correct than those of the chief of
state。
The 4th Nivose； at noon； the First Consul held a grand review in the
Place Carrousel； where an innumerable crowd of citizens were collected to
behold； and also to testify their affection for his person； and their
indignation against the enemies who dared attack him only by
assassination。 Hardly had he turned his horse towards the first line of
grenadiers of the Consular Guard； when their innumerable acclamations
rose on all sides。 He rode along the ranks； at a walk； very slowly；
showing his appreciation； and replying by a few simple and affectionate
words to this effusion of popular joy； and cries of 〃Vive Bonaparte！
Vive the First Consul！〃 did not cease till after he had re…entered his
apartments。
The conspirators who obstinately persisted； with so much animosity； in
attacking the life of the First Consul； could not have chosen a period in
which circumstances would have been more adverse to their plans than in
1800 and 1801； for then the Consul was beloved not only for his military
deeds； but still more for the hope of peace that he gave to France； which
hope was soon realized。 As soon as the first rumor spread abroad that
peace had been concluded with Austria； the greater part of the
inhabitants of Paris gathered under the windows of the Pavilion of Flora。
Blessings and cries of gratitude and joy were heard on all sides； then
musicians assembled to give a serenade to the chief of state； and
proceeded to form themselves into orchestras； and there was dancing the
whole night through。 I have never seen a sight more striking or more
joyous than the bird's…eye view of this improvised jubilee。
When in the month of October； the； peace of Amiens having been concluded
with England； France found herself delivered from all the wars that she
had maintained through so many years； and at the cost of so many
sacrifices； it would be impossible to form an idea of the joy which burst
forth on all sides。 The decrees which ordered either the disarmament of
vessels of war； or the placing of the forts on a peace footing； were
welcomed as pledges of happiness and security。 The day of the reception
of Lord Cornwallis； Ambassador of England； the First Consul ordered that
the greatest magnificence should be displayed。 〃It is necessary；〃 he had
said the evening before； 〃to show these proud Britons that we are not
reduced to beggary。〃 The fact is； the English； before setting foot on
the French continen