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Cornell University Library 
 DC 198.168 1887 
 
 The black cabinet (Le cabnt noir; 
 
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Cornell University 
 Library 
 
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 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924024337440 
 
THE 
 
 BLACK CABINET 
 
PUINTED BY 
 
 SFOTTISWOODE AXD CO., NEW-STREET SQUARB 
 
 LOXDOX 
 
BLACK CABINET 
 
 
 BT 
 
 M. LE COJjJtE d'HEKISSON , Mu^>.^ ^C.e 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 'THE JOTTRXAL OF A STAP» OPFICEB' 'JOHBHAli OP AS rSTEHPEETER IS CHDfA' 
 
 ETC. 
 
 Cranslattb front t^t ©rigiital gotJinwnfs mtb gtmrnsmpls 
 
 BY 
 
 C. H. F. BLACKITH 
 
 LONDON 
 LONGMANS, GEEEN, AND CO. 
 
 1887 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
l_f X U ^K 2. ) ■ 
 
 «jV\^^ 
 
TEANSLATOE'S PEEFACB. 
 
 The task of a translator is always a thankless 
 one. He has to avoid betraying the text of the 
 original. The result is that foreign constructions 
 and cumbrous sentences have to be retained, so 
 that the reader may thoroughly realise the value 
 of his references. In works of fiction the trans- 
 lator is free to leave the letter of the text, — 
 in order, perhaps, to preserve its spirit. In the 
 present case the documents take rank with State 
 papers, and the first shape in which the revela- 
 tions of the ' Black Cabinet ' saw the light has 
 been advisedly adhered to. 
 
 C. H. F. B. 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 EvEET government has denied the existence of 
 the ' Black Cabinet.' But it is a fact that since 
 letters have been written every government has 
 had a ' Black Cabinet ' of its own. 
 
 Even to-day, in spite of all it pleases in- 
 terested persons to say on the subject, no cor- 
 respondence, however unimportant, escapes the 
 administrative inquisition. The police uses the 
 information so obtained for its own ends. It 
 serves to control the reports made by the police 
 agents, who are taken from all classes of society, 
 and paid according to their rank and the ser- 
 vices they render. 
 
 The ' Black Cabinet ' displays a special 
 activity with regard to pohtics. It is evident 
 that it may often be of capital importance for 
 one nation to know the instructions conveyed to 
 
viii PREFACE 
 
 a particular ambassador or the contents of his 
 despatches. 
 
 Certain governments have recourse to ciphers 
 to ensure the secrecy of their communications. 
 But the officials of the 'Black Cabinet' are so 
 accustomed to all sorts of hieroglyphics that 
 these despatches are deciphered as easily as if 
 they were en clair. This is an expression used in 
 the ' Black Cabinet ' to signify ordinary writing. 
 
 All governments are aware of tliis occult 
 supervision ; yet they all avail themselves of it. 
 It is with a view of obviating the inconveniences 
 of the system that ambassadors are in the habit 
 of sending any despatches of an exceptionally 
 important nature by special agents, who are 
 called diplomatic couriers. 
 
 Although this is a useful precaution, it is 
 not in sufficiently general use to greatly diminish 
 the richness of the ' Black Cabinet ' in precious 
 documents. What unexpected discoveries may 
 be made by anybody permitted to cast a glance 
 at this unknown side of history ! What sudden 
 light may be thrown upon mysteries until now 
 impenetrable ! 
 
PREFACE ix 
 
 A most happy chance has rendered me the 
 possessor of a considerable number of these 
 documents out of the portfolio of a pohce 
 director under the Eestoration, Baron Mounier. 
 
 The reader will, I trust, appreciate my having 
 permitted him to enjoy the startling or strange 
 revelations contained therein. 
 
 Baron Mounier was the son of the Mounier of 
 the ' Constituante,' who became celebrated by 
 the oath of the Jeu de Paume, and flashed like 
 a meteor across the pohtical world of the time. 
 His strict integrity and great talents have left 
 their glorious trace in history. He was for ten, 
 years secretary to Napoleon I., and Director of 
 Crown Domains. Brought up in too good a 
 school to be unworthy of his father, his pohtical 
 career was a model of rectitude and honour. 
 He raUied to the Bourbons at the time of the 
 Fontainebleau abdication, was faithful to them 
 during the ephemeral hundred days' reign, and 
 became under the second Eestoration the Due de 
 Eichelieu's right hand and the General Director 
 of French provincial pohce. 
 
 His papers, which he preserved with the 
 
X PREFACE 
 
 greatest care, have, I repeat, by a happy chance 
 come into my possession. They are souvenirs 
 written by him daily, some thousand of police 
 reports, as many letters intercepted by the 
 ' Black Cabinet,' and a large number of original 
 private letters. From these I have extracted 
 the matter for this volume. My rtle is a very 
 modest one. I have simply chosen the most 
 interesting documents, and connected them in a 
 manner calculated to allow men and things to 
 be seen in their true light. 
 
 Notwithstanding all that has been written 
 about Napoleon I consider myself very fortunate 
 to be able to produce some of the personal 
 appreciations of one of his secretaries which 
 have not yet been pubhshed. They are written 
 with all the impartiality of a man who possessed 
 great justness of mind combined with a remark- 
 able independence of character. 
 
 I have also given some curious letters from 
 St. Helena, which are little known, although 
 published in London for the first time in 1817 ; 
 and I have thought well to quote divers passages 
 from my father's manuscripts. My father never 
 
PREFACE xi 
 
 seryed any government, nor had he ever any 
 particular sympathy for any cause except that 
 of liberty. He was, therefore, even more inde- 
 pendent than Baron Mounier. The reader will 
 be able to judge for himself. 
 
 One word more. These few pages will create 
 some astonishment, and may perhaps rouse some 
 anger. It must, however, be remembered that 
 the author is not responsible for this. 
 
 Eesting upon undeniable material proofs, 
 these revelations, so irreverent for certain idols, 
 are not his own, but proceed from the implacable 
 severity of history. 
 
 COMTE d'HeKISSOK. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHArTER PACE 
 
 I. THE NAtnENDOEFFS 1 
 
 II. THE TEMPLE MYSTERY S2 
 
 m. THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 38 
 
 IV. DEATH OP THE DTJKE OF BERRY . . . . 65 
 
 V. SECRET POLICE 75 
 
 VI. THE INQUIRY 92 
 
 Vn. THE FIRST BUONAPARTES 109 
 
 VIII. PRIVATE CHARACTER 126 
 
 IX. THE ISLAND OF ELBA 144 
 
 X. AT SEA . . . . . . . . . 160 
 
 XI. SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES 176 
 
 XII. WITH OPEN HEART 101 
 
 Xin. ST. HELENA 204 
 
 XIV. LEAVES OF HISTORY 222 
 
 XV. LAND OF EXILE 237 
 
 XVI. AFTER DEATH 2S8 
 
 XVn. UNWORTHY 268 
 
 XVIII. THE CROWN DIAMONDS 288 
 
 XIX. SECRET SOCIETIES 309 
 
 XX. FROM BAD TO WORSE 325 
 
THE 
 
 BLACK CABINET. 
 
 LOUIS XVII. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE NAUENDOEFFS. 
 
 JTules Favre's King — ^Nauendorff — Louis XVII. and Holland — 
 ' Fatidical ' Likenesses — ^The Duchess of Angouleme's Opposi- 
 tion — Letters and Declarations of M. and Madame Marco de 
 Saint-Hilaire — Opinion of the Dauphin's Nurse. 
 
 Jules Favke had just signed the capitulation of 
 Paris in the house inhabited by the ' Iron Chan- 
 cellor,' No. 18 Eue de Provence, at Versailles, 
 the property of Madame Jesse.^ We were both 
 returning, sad and dejected, in the modest car- 
 riage that brought us to the Sevres bridge, where 
 we took the boat in which we had to cross the 
 river. 
 
 We were speaking of the fearful drama. The 
 curtain had just fallen upon its last act and left 
 
 ' See The Journal of a Staff Officer. Ollendorff, Paris, 1883. 
 
 B 
 
2 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 no place for hope in our wounded hearts. We 
 spoke of the incident that had taken place a few 
 hours previously, when, after having signed and 
 sealed the conventions, M. de Bismarck begged 
 Jules Favre to do the same. 
 
 'But I did not bring a seal, your excel- 
 lency,' said Jules Favre. 
 
 ' That makes no difference,' replied the Chan- 
 cellor. ' Put opposite your name your seal, no 
 matter which ; the imprint of the ring you are 
 wearing will amply suffice.' 
 
 Jules Favre took off his ring and placed its 
 imprint beside his signature. 
 
 Speaking of this incident, and of the awk- 
 ward position in which his forgetfulness to bring 
 a seal had placed him, Jules Favre said to me — 
 
 ' The ring I used as a seal has a curious his- 
 tory. You are aware, doubtless, that I assisted 
 Nauendorff with my counsels, and that during 
 many years I exerted myself in endeavouring to 
 elucidate the truth in favour of that honest man 
 so unjustly persecuted. I even pleaded for him 
 in 1852. As I would never accept any fees, and 
 Nauendorff desired nevertheless to testify his 
 gratitude, he gave me this ring, which I have 
 worn ever since.' 
 
 'Then it is the impression of the ring be- 
 longing to the pretended grandson of Louis XVI. 
 which countersigns the capitulation of Paris ? ' 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS 3 
 
 ' Exactly, as you say.' 
 
 I have read since these sad events, in a 
 journal, of which I can easily give the name, a 
 most dramatic history on 'Bismarck and Jules 
 Favre's ring.' The story — which, to be of any 
 value, ought to have been written by one of the 
 actors or one of the witnesses of the scene — states 
 that the ring given to Jules Favre bore the three 
 ' fleurs de lis ' of the escutcheon of France. This 
 is not the case ; and the statement is as fantastic 
 as the details given by the writer of the article. 
 Jules Favre would, with reason, have thought it 
 ridiculous to wear on his finger the arms of the 
 Bourbons. 
 
 The engraving represented simply an alle- 
 goric 'Fame' or 'Victory'; it was an ancient 
 stone simply set in a thin circle of gold. 
 
 ' May I ask you a question ? ' I said to the 
 minister, who seemed evidently desirous of dis- 
 pelling, by no matter what diversion, the gloomy 
 ideas with which he was beset. 'I am aware 
 that a lawyer's duty obliges him often to defend 
 persons about whose culpability he has no doubt, 
 and whose innocence he, nevertheless, must 
 endeavour to prove. But with regard to this 
 Nauendorff, did you really, and do you still 
 really believe that he is the grandson of Louis 
 XVI. ? ' 
 
 ' I am firmly convinced of it ; and I pleaded 
 
4 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 his cause, not from a sense of professional duty, 
 nor, it may easily be understood, from interested 
 motives, but from pure love of truth.' 
 
 'Were not your'Eepublican sentiments af- 
 fected by the task you had undertaken ? ' 
 
 ' Why ? Truth has no political opinion ; and 
 when I believe a thing true, I proclaim it thus 
 against the whole world.' 
 
 I admit that this conversation afforded me 
 much food for reflection, and I was not surprised 
 in 1873 to see Jules Favre again apply to the 
 French tribunals, without however any success, 
 for an examination into the pretensions of the 
 Nauendorffs. Notwithstanding his talent and 
 authority, notwithstanding his confidence in the 
 justice of his client's demand, notwithstanding 
 the services that the Vice-President of the Go- 
 vernment of National Defence had rendered the 
 Eepublic, the inquiry was refused. 
 
 Why ? I ask myself still. An inquiry ought 
 never to be denied, especially in such a case, 
 where the hght brought to bear upon the ques- 
 tion would serve to either confound an impostor 
 or to rehabilitate an honest man. 
 
 I know, of course, that had it been discovered, 
 proved in an undeniable manner, that Nauen- 
 dorff was the grandson of Louis XVI., the fact 
 would have caused an enormous perturbation, 
 not only in France, but in the greater number of 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS 5 
 
 the European courts. I am aware that were it 
 proved that Louis XVII. did not die in the 
 Temple, but that he escaped and Uved, the fact 
 would annoy and inconvenience many persons. 
 But ought justice to preoccupy itself with the 
 consequence of its decisions? Ought upright 
 magistrates, freely exercising their mandate 
 under a Republican Government, and supposed 
 by that fact to be free from all despotic influ- 
 ence, to trouble themselves to know whether 
 the judgments they are called upon to render 
 will interfere with the paltry combinations of 
 his Majesty This or her Majesty So-and-so. 
 
 A high authority, the director of a Loyalist 
 journal, remarked to me not long since : 
 
 ' If the rights of the Nauendorffs could be 
 proved, it would be a calamity ; it is better to 
 deny the evidence. The unhappiness of one man 
 is preferable to the misfortune of a large number.' 
 
 So long as such theories are enunciated it 
 must be admitted that everything is possible. 
 The interest with which Jules Favre had inspired 
 me in his client and his family led me to read 
 most carefully his touching pleadings ; and I 
 must admit that several points of this celebrated 
 case struck me in an especial manner. 
 
 In the first place, how is it that on the death 
 of him who claimed to be the Dauphin of France, 
 the Dutch Government, cold, sceptic, and but 
 
6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 little sensible to the marvellous, authorised the 
 death certificate to acknowledge the quality of 
 the deceased as ' Son of Prance ' ? How is it 
 that he was allowed to be buried in consecrated 
 ground, and under the following epitaph, he 
 whose life had been but one continued series 
 of frightful persecutions, who, always speaking 
 without being able to obtain a hearing, writing 
 eontinually without finding any to read what he 
 had written, was a sort of Iron Mask with the 
 visage uncovered, wandering through his life 
 a victim of the cupidity and bad faith of his 
 nearest relatives. 
 
 HERE LIETH 
 
 LODIS XVII., KING OF FRANCE AND NAVARRE, 
 
 CHARLES LOUIS, DUKE OF NORMANDY. 
 
 BORN AT VERSAILLES THE 27tH OF MARCH, 1785. 
 
 DIED AT DELFT THE IOtH OF AUGUST, 1845.^ 
 
 The following is the certificate of death : — 
 
 Dutch Consulate. 
 
 Commune 
 
 [Translation.] 
 
 of 
 
 Province of Holland, 
 
 Delft. 
 
 Meridional. 
 
 
 Eegistration. 
 
 
 ' ICI KEPOSE 
 
 LOUIS XTII, EOT DE FKANCE BT DB NATAKRE 
 
 CHAELES-LOTJIS, DTTC BE NOEMANDIB 
 
 TSCk A TEKSAILtpS IB 27 MAES 1785 
 
 vkoksA A DELFT LE 10 AOUI 1845. 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS 7 
 
 ^Extract from a Begister of Deaths of the Commune of 
 Delft. 
 
 In the year one thousand eight hundred and forty- 
 five, at six o'clock in the evening of the twelfth day of 
 August, there appeared before us, Daniel van Koetsveld, 
 Sherifi", registrar of the town of Delft ; Charles Edward 
 de Bourhon, aged twenty-four, gentleman, and Modesto 
 Gruau, Count de la Barre, aged fifty, ancient king's 
 prosecutor at the first tribunal of Mayenne in France, 
 both living here — ^the first son, and the second fi-iend of 
 the deceased hereafter named ; which persons declared 
 to us that on the tenth of August of the present year, 
 about three o'clock in the afternoon, in the house 
 situated in the second quarter, number sixty-two of the 
 street called Oude, Delft, there died Charles Louis de 
 Bourbon, Duke of Normandy (Louis the Seventeenth), 
 who was known by the names of Charles William 
 NauendorfiF, bom at the castle of Versailles in France, 
 the twenty-seventh of March, seventeen hundred and 
 eighty-five, and therefore aged over sixty, lately living 
 in this town, son of his late Majesty Louis the Sixteenth, 
 King of France, and of her late Imperial and Royal 
 Highness, Marie-Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria, 
 Queen of France, both deceased in Paris, husband of the 
 Duchess of Normandy, nee Jeanne Einert, living here. 
 
 After reading, the attesting parties signed the 
 present act with us. (Signed) M. Gruau, Count de la 
 Barre ; Charles Edward de Bourbon ; D. van Koetsveld. 
 
 Certified a true copy: Delft, December 10, 1886. 
 (Signed) A. Van der Leeuw, Registrar. 
 
 Certified a true translation of said extract : Paris, 
 December 13, 1886. 
 
 (Signed) Van Liek, Consul of Holland. 
 
8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 If the conviction was strong that Nauendorff 
 was an impostor, why not have granted the 
 famous examination? Why not thus have 
 caused the legend to pass for ever into oblivion ? 
 Was it feared that, in proving the Dutch Govern- 
 ment in error, certain certificates would have 
 been produced that would have established be- 
 yond any doubt the right of Nauendorfi" to the 
 succession of Louis XVI. ? It was doubtless in 
 virtue of these documents that the Dutch had 
 based their convictions, and admitted the mem^ 
 bers of this family amongst the officers of their 
 army under the name of Bourbon. 
 
 In any case it is evident that there was no 
 desire to bring light to bear upon the question. 
 Any impartial person will recognise the justice 
 of my assertions. 
 
 When lately the Nauendorfis came to Paris, 
 I, in common with many others, desired to see 
 them. The son of him whose body reposes at 
 Delft has inherited the paternal resemblance to 
 the ' Martyr King.' It must be quite understood 
 that I have neither the pretension nor the de- 
 sire to plead the NauendorfTs' cause. I simply 
 recount what I have seen and the impressions 
 made upon my mind. And it matters httle to 
 me that what I have seen and been struck 
 by pjeases or displeases one or another political 
 party. 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS g 
 
 My only desire is to tell the truth. To have 
 in one's family some member bearing the Bour- 
 bon family likeness, to have a strong resemblance 
 to Louis XVI., does not prove much. Who does 
 not remember a guardian who for years was on 
 duty near the lake in the Bois de Boulogne, and 
 who resembled Napoleon III. in a surprising 
 manner ? The same sovereign had also a 
 ' double ' amongst the frequenters of the Paris 
 Stock ESchange. Neither of these persons, 
 to my knowledge, pretended for a moment 
 to belong to the Imperial family. The most 
 striking resemblances are often the result of 
 chance. 
 
 Our last Emperor had two natural sons : the 
 Count de la Benne, lately dead, and the Count 
 d'Orx, who is living and in perfect health. Both 
 resembled their father in every feature, and 
 the Count d'Orx not only in features, but in 
 build, movement, and in voice. If the children 
 were ' natural ' the resemblance was legitimate ; 
 and, as chance would have it, the Prince 
 Imperial, to whom the likeness would have 
 been so precious, had nothing about him to 
 remind one of his father.^ 
 
 I thought, therefore, while looking at Nauen- 
 
 ' The Emperor was very fond of the Count d'Orx ; the child 
 went daily to the Tuileries until the birth of the Prince Imperial. 
 From that moment the Empress caused the visits to cease. 
 
lo THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 dorff that his resemblance might also be for- 
 tuitous. But the strangest coincidence of all is 
 that the daughter of him who declared himself 
 the Dauphin — the Princess Amelia, as she is 
 called by those about her---resembles in an 
 extraordinary manner, not Louis XVI., but MaricT 
 Antoinette, her pretended grandmother, of dif- 
 ferent blood entirely. In certain cases hazard 
 loses its name of adventurer and becomes a 
 . providential manifestation. 
 
 Whatever may be her ancestors, the Princess 
 Amelia is a learned and distinguished woman ; 
 she speaks several languages, and her manners 
 are at the same time noble, majestic, and full of 
 grace and benevolence. Her eyes, which in her 
 youth must have been very beautiful, bear 
 traces of much weeping ; she has suffered 
 greatly. 
 
 Jules Pavre had spoken to me of certain 
 curious letters, produced during the course of 
 his pleading, which had been addressed to the 
 Duchess of Angouleme by ancient servitors of 
 the royal family. 
 
 These letters were written with the view of 
 inducing the duchess to receive, if only for a 
 moment, him who called himself her brother. 
 On reading them one cannot but be surprised 
 that she remained unmoved by the prayers 
 addressed to her. In fact the Duchess of 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS il 
 
 Angoul^me — this is historic — did not see her dead 
 brother in the Temple. She might then suppose 
 anything. She learns that a man calls himself 
 her brother ; that, far from fearing to meet her, 
 he solicits as a favour to be admitted to her 
 presence. ' Let my sister only say herself that I 
 am not her brother, and I will retire for ever in 
 the most profound obscurity ; but let her say it 
 to my face.' 
 
 And the duchess, from whom one word would 
 have sufficed to unmask an intriguer, to cover 
 with lasting ignominy an impostor, gets agitated, 
 becomes troubled, and writes to the king ; but, 
 despite the earnest prayers of those who had 
 brought the Dauphin up, and who had recognised 
 him, refuses to receive him. 
 
 Madame Marco de Saint-Hilaire wrote her 
 the letter which I produce farther on, but with- 
 out any result. Madame de Eambaud did not 
 content herself with writing ; notwithstanding 
 her age and infirmities, she gathered from the 
 love of truth which stimulated her conscience 
 sufficient strength to undertake a journey which 
 at the time of which I write was an under- 
 taking beset with many more difficulties and 
 dangers than in our time. 
 
 She desired to throw herself at the feet of 
 the Duchess of Angouleme ; she had but one 
 favour to ask — that the duchess should receive 
 
12 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 the beloved child she had nursed as a baby, 
 whom she had now met in manhood and recog- 
 nised. But the duchess took no notice of her 
 request. Not only would she not receive her 
 so-called brother in question ; but she would not 
 even admit to her presence this poor old woman, 
 who came trembling with emotion, weakness, 
 and fatigue. Nay, more ; she ordered her to be 
 shown the door, and the following day notice 
 was given her by the police to leave Prague 
 within twenty-four hours. 
 
 What more could the Duchess of Angoul^me 
 have done to justify the belief that she really 
 feared to betray herself — to meet, face to face, him 
 who would have dominated her by all the force 
 of truth, and that she might perhaps have been 
 obliged against her will, notwithstanding all the 
 interests at stake, all political propriety, to re- 
 cognise him as her brother, and as the legitimate 
 heir to the throne ? 
 
 The following are the declarations and letters 
 of M. and Madame Marco de Saint-Hilaire, and 
 of Madame de Eambaud : 
 
 Madame Marco de Saint-Hilaire s Declaration. 
 
 At the. time when the report of the death of the son 
 of Louis XVI. was spread in Pa,ris, I was so much the 
 more surprised that I had scarcely heard it said that he 
 was ill. One of my friends, whose' name at this length 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS 13 
 
 of time I iave forgotten, came and told me not to attach 
 the slightest importance to the report of the death of 
 LoTiis XVI.'s son, that she was certain that he had 
 been taken away, that I should see him again one 
 dai/, but that I was to keep the fact a secret. Since 
 that time I therefore cherished the consciousness of his 
 existence. All the falsehoods that were propagated 
 could not have been without an object. According 
 to my idea, it was the certitude of the Dauphin's 
 existence ; but that the intention was to bring about 
 his disappearance, and so distort the truth that it should 
 never be known, by seizing everything the veritable son 
 of Louis XVI. might have in his possession, which 
 after the impostures of certain authorities must neces- 
 sarily render recognition impossible. That is what has 
 now happened. 
 
 I have often heard it said that different false 
 Sauphins were dwelling in Paris, but I never for a 
 moment desired to know them, persuaded as I was that 
 the first thing the son of Louis XVI. would do would be 
 to seek those who had been attached to his father and 
 mother, and who had known him in his infancy. 
 
 When M. Geoffrey, living in Niort, came to see me 
 on August 14, 1833, he informed me that there existed 
 at that moment in Paris an individual who called him- 
 self the son of Louis XVI. ; that he was inquiring of 
 everybody respecting the persons still living who had 
 belonged to his family, and desired ardently to find 
 Pauline de Tourzel, with whom he had been brought 
 up. That lady is now Madame de Beam, and her 
 mother had been governess to the ' Children of France ' 
 at the Court of Louis XVI. This desire seemed to me 
 to merit attention, and in order to succeed in the project 
 
14 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 I had conceived, without, however, compromising myself 
 in a conspiracy or an imposture, I wrote a line to my 
 friend Madame de Eambaud to accompany M. de 
 Geoflfroy and judge for herself of the sincerity of the 
 person. Nobody better than herself was able to judge, 
 for she had not quitted him from the day of his birth 
 until August 10. 
 
 Madame de Eambaud recognised him, spoke to him 
 of us, and brought him to see' me on August 19, 1833, 
 assuring me of his identity. She came in iirst, saying 
 that it was impossible for me not to recognise him. 
 
 Indeed my husband and myself had no difficulty in 
 recognising in this person, notwithstanding a great 
 timidity, a little constraint, and his difficulty in speaking 
 French, that he had the combined features of his father 
 and mother, particularly the expression of countenance 
 of Louis XVI. ; so striking was it that to us it seemed 
 as if we had the king before us. 
 
 Later on, the prince having gained confidence, 
 having found sure devoted friends, his timidity and 
 constraint entirely disappeared. Then all his father's 
 manners displayed themselves more visibly every day. 
 
 It was easy to recognise in his physical structure 
 the same child I had so often seen playing 'on the 
 terrace overlooked by the windows of the apartments 
 of the princess whom I had the honour to serve. I 
 invited my prince to come and see me, to use my house 
 as a retreat until he had found a better ; there it was, that 
 in long and frequent private conversations, ilie 'prince 
 ■reminded me of circumstances hiown to only his family, 
 hut that I Icnew from communications made to me hy my 
 p-incess. 
 
 The prince called to mj mind every article of the 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS 15 
 
 furniture of his motlier's apartmenls, not onlij the furni- 
 tiirb, hut its position ; the construction and the colour of 
 the musical instruments his mother used ; in fact, details 
 which could, not have been Tinown to any person not on 
 m^ost intimate terms vith the royal family, and who had 
 been unable to see them again since October 5 and 6. 
 
 After a most scrupulous examination I acquired an 
 absolute certainty which left no room for doubt of the 
 entire truth. It was then that I thought it my duty 
 to write to Madame la Dauphine to inform her that we 
 had had the good fortune to discover her brother. Our 
 family was too well known to Charles X. to permit of 
 our taking such a step had we not been persuaded, 
 M. de Saint-Hilaire and myself, of the truth of what I 
 advanced ; we would not have risked deceiving the royal 
 family on such an important subject, and they could 
 themselves be quite convinced of our being incapable 
 of joining an intrigue. 
 
 (Signed) F. Maeco de Saint-Hilaiee. 
 
 VeisaiUes, July 10, 1836. 
 
 Declaration of M. Marco de Saint-Hilaire. 
 
 I, the undersigned Marco de Saint-Hilaire, aged 
 seventy-six, formerly chamberlain in ordinary of the 
 king (Louis XVI.), in the service of H.E.H. Madame 
 Victoire of Prance, declare and certify before God and 
 men: 
 
 1st. That the Prince Charles Louis, Duke of Nor- 
 mandy, bom March 27, 1785, son of Louis XVI. and 
 Marie-Antoinette, lives, and that during sixteen months 
 I have seen him continually and been in a position to 
 convince myself of the fact. 
 
i6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 2n(l. That now, on account of tlie time which has 
 elapsed since the death of the unfortunate Louis XVI., 
 it would be difficult to find ancient officers of the king's 
 household who could prove the resemblance of this 
 prince to his august father ; seeing that it would not 
 suffice to have seen Louis XVI., but it must be some 
 one who had seen him dxdly and at liome, that which to 
 me was rendered easy on account of my functions. 
 
 3rd. That Prince Charles Louis has the exact features 
 of his family, the manners, habits, and tastes of his 
 august father, that he possesses equally all the virtues, 
 and that whoever has seen him but once, and has had 
 the good fortune to converse with him, cannot, unless 
 he has lost all remembrance of his august parents, or 
 be not of good faith, have the slightest doubt as to his 
 identity. 
 
 4th. That amongst other recollections of his child- 
 hood, the prince reminded me of several different con- 
 structions which existed in the park of Versailles, and 
 which were destroyed immediately after the king's 
 death, and of which persons now forty years old had 
 never any knowledge. 
 
 5th. That my conviction is so strong that no power 
 on earth can shake it. 
 
 6th. That in making this declaration, I call my soul 
 and conscience to witness that I am not moved by any 
 other sentiment than that of doing homage to truth 
 and justice. 
 
 (Signed) Makco de Saint-Hilaiee. 
 
 Versailles, December 17, 1834. 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS 17 
 
 To II.R.H. ' Madame,^ Duchess of AnjouUme. 
 
 Madame, — Since the year 1795, I have continually 
 heard it reported that the unhappy Dauphin, son of 
 Louis XVI., had escaped from the Temple, and that 
 another child was substituted in his place. This hope, 
 cherished in the heart of every good Frenchman, had 
 become a religious belief. It was cherished by me at 
 the time I was serving Josephine, Bonaparte's wife. I 
 acquired then the certainty that her goodness, her 
 respect and attachment to the Bourbon royal family, 
 had induced her, in connivance with Minister Fouche, 
 to remove the unhappy relic of the blood of our kings 
 from the cruel hands of her husband, who had decided 
 his ruin. 
 
 I think, Madame, that these rumours must have 
 reached your Eoyal Highness. But during fifteen 
 years Providence has permitted several impostors to 
 spring up at the instigation of a too guilty police ; the 
 truth cannot yet have reached your Eoyal Highness, 
 notwithstanding all the information you have sought 
 to obtain. 
 
 If, Madame, I respectfully take the liberty of 
 addressing you this letter, it is because I have the 
 conviction of having found this prince so regretted by 
 the French. Providence has permitted me to come 
 into contact with him ; and for all those who had the 
 honour of knowing the King your august father, and 
 your too unhappy mother the Queen, it is impossible 
 not to recognise Louis XVII. from the striking re- 
 semblance of his features to those of the august authors 
 of his being. 
 
 Your Royal Highness, who up to the present has 
 
 C 
 
1 8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 not been in a position to discover the truth, may be 
 assured that God has permitted us to finally reveal it 
 after so many years of research. 
 
 At your Royal Highness's feet, I pray you, with all 
 tiie respect I owe you, to j^ardon me the liberty of 
 addressing this letter to your Eoyal Highness ; but 
 GocZ, 7w/ conscience, and the salvation of my so!(i impose 
 upon me the necessity of informing your Royal High- 
 ness that your unhappy brother exists, and that he is 
 with us. I dare to assure your Royal Highness that I 
 helieve in the identity of this unhappy prince, as I believe 
 in God and His divine Son the Saviour of the world. 
 
 I am but a person of small importance, Madame, 
 but the sacred fire of my love and gratitude for your 
 august and too unhappy family has never ceased to 
 burn in my heart. Notwithstanding all my personal 
 troubles, T am still disposed to sacrifice the remainder 
 of my sad existence, if it can be of any service to the 
 son of your august father, whom God in His holy 
 mercy seems to have permitted me to find, to com- 
 pensate me, at the end of my life, for all the anguish 
 I have suffered from the cruel loss of my august 
 masters. 
 
 I am, Madame, with the most profound respect, 
 your Royal Highness's most obedient and humble 
 servant, 
 
 (Signed) Marco de Saint-Hilaire 
 {M Besson), 
 
 Formerly in the service of the King's aunt, 
 Madame Victoire of France. 
 
 Versailles, September 9, ] 833> 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS 19 
 
 Statement of Madame de Ramhaud, widow ^ in the service 
 of the Dauphin, JDuke of Normandy, from the day 
 of his hirth until August 10, 1792. 
 
 In case I die before the recognition of the Prince, 
 son of Louis XVI. and Marie-Antoinette, takes place, 
 I think it my duty to affirm under oath before God 
 and men, that on August 17, 1833, I have recognised 
 Monseigneur the Duke of Normandy, in whose service 
 I had the honour to be from the day of his birth until 
 August 10, 1792 ; and as it was my duty to make 
 known this fact to her Eoyal Highness the Duchess of 
 Angouleme, I wrote to her during that same year. I 
 append to this a copy of my letter. 
 
 The special attention I had paid to him, and my 
 Sibsolute knowledge of his person, could not render any 
 doubt possible as to my recognition of him when found. 
 
 In his infancy the prince's neck was short and 
 wrinkled in an extraordinary manner. I always said 
 that if ever I met him again, this, for me, would be an 
 indubitable proof. When later he became stouter, his 
 neck, having become very large, remained just as flexible 
 as before. 
 
 His head was large, his forehead high and oj)en, his 
 eyes blue, his eyebrows arched, his hair of a lightish 
 grey, curling naturally. He had the same mouth as 
 the Queen, with a small dimple on his chin. His chest 
 was high ; I remarked at the time several signs then 
 hut little noticeable, one particularly on the right breast. 
 His waist was at that time well marked, and his bearing 
 striking. 
 
 Finally, he is absolutely the same person, all allow- 
 ance being made for age. 
 
 The Prince was inoculated at the Castle of St. Cloud,^ 
 
 c 2 
 
20 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 at tlie age of two years and four months, in the presence 
 of the Queen, by the Doctor Jouberton, inoculator to 
 the ' Children of Prance,' and of the faculty, and the 
 Doctors Brunier and Loustonneau. The inoculation 
 took place during his sleep, between ten and eleven 
 o'clock in the evening, in order to prevent an irritation 
 which might have caused the child to have convulsions, 
 of which there was always a fear. Myself an eye- 
 witness of this inoculation, I affirm to-day that I have 
 found </ie same marks, which were in the form of a 
 crescent. 
 
 Again, I have preserved, as an object of great value 
 for me, a blue coat that the prince had only worn once, 
 I showed it him, and, to prove his memory, told him he 
 had worn it in Paris. ' No, madame, I only wore it at 
 Versailles at such a time.' 
 
 Together we exchanged souvenirs, which alone would 
 have been for me undoubted proof that the actual prince 
 is verily what he pretends to be — the orphan of the 
 Temple. 
 
 Widow de Eambaud, 
 
 In the service of the Dauphin, Duke of Normandy, 
 from the day of his birth to August 10, 1792. 
 
 Letter from the Widow de Bamband to H. R. H. 
 ' Madame,' Duchess of Angouleme. 
 
 Madame, — She who would have given her life for 
 your illustrious parents, takes to-day, as a conscientious 
 duty, the liberty to write you respectfully to assure you 
 of the existence of your august brother. I have seen 
 him with my own eyes, and recognised him ; hours 
 passed with him have entirely convinced me of the fact. 
 Such a precious preservation emanates from the omni- 
 
THE NAUENDORFFS 21 
 
 potence of God ; on my knees I thank Him, continually 
 repeating to myself that if it has been His will to 
 preserve the child, it is to make him general peacemaker, 
 and a means of universal happiness ; this conviction as 
 well as the hope can only proceed from Him. His long 
 trials, his resignation to the will of Providence, and his 
 goodness are beyond imagination. 
 
 Your Royal Highness's forbearance is not the less 
 necessary to assure me that I have not too far presumed 
 in expressing that which my heart feels so deeply for her 
 sovereigns, so justly beloved by all who have maintained 
 faithful hearts. 
 
 With respect, I am your Royal Highness's very 
 humble and very obedient servant. 
 
 Widow de Rambaud. 
 
 P.S. — Madalne is aware that I had the honour to 
 nurse her august brother from the day of his birth until 
 August 10, 1792. 
 
22 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 THE TEMPLE MYSTERY. 
 
 Sutstitution of Child — Louis XVI.'s Linen Chest — False Dau- 
 phins — Note from the Director of the Police — Martin de Gal- 
 lardon — La Kochejacquelein and Doctor Martin. 
 
 Did the Dauphin escape from the Temple ? 
 Was Nauendorff this Dauphin ? These are 
 two entirely distinct questions. Those who 
 desire to thoroughly examine them, and know 
 whether, sacrificing NauendorfF to family inter- 
 ests, Louis XVIII. and Charles X. would never 
 recognise in him a nephew, or the Duchess of 
 AngouMme a brother, have only to read Jules 
 Favre's pleadings, of which I have spoken above. 
 They abound with documents, and, much better 
 than I could, will enable those who peruse theni 
 to form a judgment for themselves. 
 
 As to the escape of the Dauphin, I think it 
 is an undeniable fact. There was a substitution 
 of children ; the doctor of the ' Petit Capet,' 
 Doctor Desault, perceived it, and could not re- 
 frain from communicating his discovery to his 
 
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY 23 
 
 friend, Choppart, the chemist. They both died 
 suddenly, while in perfect health, of an inexi^ 
 plicable illness. 
 
 The last visit Doctor Desault paid to the 
 Temple was on May 30. Choppart and he 
 died on June 1, eight days after the death or 
 escape of the scrofulous child who replaced the 
 son of Louis XVI. 
 
 Doctor Desault had had a presentiment of 
 Avhat was to happen to him, for, on being unable 
 to hide his astonishment when the guardians of 
 the Temple presented him a child other than the 
 one he had been in the habit of visiting and 
 caring for, he went to his friend Choppart and 
 said, — 
 
 ' I lost all mastery over myself; I have just 
 signed my death-warrant.' 
 
 That which, however, the doctor had not 
 foreseen was, that by his confidence he had also 
 signed the death-warrant of his friend. 
 
 Doctor Abeille, then one of Doctor Desault's 
 pupils, thought it prudent to leave France, and 
 went to America, where he did not hesitate to 
 divulge the cause of these two terrible cases of 
 political apoplexy. 
 
 It has been pretended that the Dauphin 
 escaped in a linen chest that the washerwoman 
 took away regularly ; also it has been stated 
 that he escaped from the Temple in a coffin. 
 
24 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Another version was that the washerwoman 
 carried him away in a large bundle of soiled 
 linen. The last version, although the least 
 poetic, appears to me the most probable. 
 
 The post of laundryman to the King, Queen, 
 and ' Children of France ' was bought in those 
 days as to-day one buys the practice of a 
 solicitor or notary. 
 
 When the Eoyal family was imprisoned in 
 the Temple the laundrymen brought the clean 
 linen in their chests and took away the soiled. 
 Their service was continued with tolerable regu- 
 larity until just before the king's death. One 
 day, on arriving at the Temple gate, the guar- 
 dian thus addressed them, — 
 
 ' Citizens, I am ordered to ask you to retire 
 and not return again.' 
 
 From that day the washing was done by the 
 prison attendants. 
 
 Besides, the chests the laundrymen brought 
 — even admitting that they had continued theii' 
 service — were not of such dimensions as would 
 have allowed a child ten years of age to get 
 inside. Prom the time the laundrymen were 
 prohibited from continuing their service the 
 linen was taken in and out of the Temple in 
 large bundles ; it is therefore quite admissible 
 that the poor child escaped hidden in one of 
 these bundles. 
 
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY 25 
 
 The chest specially used in the king's service, 
 and of which he had himself forged the copper 
 work in his workshop at Versailles, has been 
 carefully preserved. I give here its exact 
 dimensions : — 
 
 Declaration. , 
 
 In the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty- 
 six, on the third of November, at half-past nine o'clock 
 in the morning, 
 
 I, Henry Ernest Potage, sheriff's officer of the civil 
 tribunal of Versailles, there living at number 27 rue 
 Satory, undersigned — 
 
 At the request of the Coant d'Herisson, gentleman. 
 Knight of the Legion of Honour, living in Paris at 
 number 223 Faubourg St.-Honore, and in his presence. 
 
 Went to Versailles, number 5 rue Gambetta, to a 
 property where is installed the library called Municipal 
 Library, and in a room on the third floor to the left, 
 used by the museum called the Municipal Museam, and 
 in the presence of M. Poulain, superintendent of the 
 said museum, I verified the fact that, to the right on 
 entering this room, there is a trunk covered in calf-skin, 
 and of which the metal work is of copper, having the 
 upper part convex, the said trunk being sixty-six centi- 
 metres long, forty-one centimetres wide, and thirty-six 
 centimetres high, and upon it a piece of red leather is 
 glued twenty-six centimetres long and eighteen centi- 
 metres deep, bearing the following inscription :: — 
 
 ' Chest in which Madame Despagne, washerwoman 
 to the king, carried Louis XVI. 's linen to his prison 
 in the Temple, until she was prohibited so doing, 
 
26 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 the king's guardians then undertaking the duty. Given 
 by M. Despagnes Maximilien, doctor at Versailles, her 
 grandson.' 
 
 Of which I have made and prepared this statement 
 to serve and be of the value it may have. 
 Cost, 1] francs 55 centimes. 
 
 POTAGE. 
 
 Despagne, laundryman to the king, was a 
 native of Mesnil-Saint-Denis, not far from Ver- 
 sailles. He had married a daughter of Vigneron, 
 who supplied fine linen and lace to the house of 
 St.-Cyr. He left a grandson, who died some 
 years ago at Versailles, leaving a widow, now 
 very aged, who was good enough to explain to 
 me in detail the manner in which the laundry 
 service was performed in the royal household. 
 
 One of the arguments — one of the arms used 
 by all those who pretended that JSTauendorff was 
 an impostor, is that several false dauphins had 
 sprung up, and that there was no reason to 
 believe Nauendorff's claims better founded than 
 those of the other pretenders. 
 
 For the general public, for the masses, always 
 unthinking, this reasoning was likely to strike 
 the imagination ; but for those who take the 
 trouble to reflect, and who do not form their 
 opinions from hearsay, it is easy to perceive that 
 the arm is double-edged, and as dangerous, for 
 those who use it as for those it strikes. 
 
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY 27 
 
 Those in higli places must in reality have 
 been prodigiously afraid that Louis XVII. would 
 one day come to claim his right to the crown, 
 and treat as they deserved those who had usurped 
 his throne, to have sought to annihilate his pre- 
 tensions beforehand by provoking imitators. 
 
 But the world is growing old — our civilisa- 
 tion, at least — and experience comes with de- 
 crepitude. We know in our days who are the 
 provoking agents, the role they fill, and the 
 benefits the governments know how to derive 
 therefrom. 
 
 The idea was good, the plan well conceived ; 
 impossible to discover a better means of covering 
 the real son of Louis XVI. with ridicule, and even 
 tarnish him with the opprobrium of imposture. 
 His death, at least moral, if not actual, was a 
 necessity ; it was in the good days of ' civil 
 deaths ' ; and how easy it was to reply to his 
 demands when they were formed : 
 
 ' What you say and what you claim, another 
 said and claimed the day before yesterday. He, 
 like you, pretends to be the son of Louis XVI. ; 
 another advanced the same claims last week. 
 Arrange at least amongst yourselves ! Every- 
 body cannot be the king's son.' 
 
 It is curious to see what was said of 
 Louis XVII. by the journal belonging to the 
 Director of the Pohce. 
 
28 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 It was stated on Saturday last at M. Pasquier's 
 house, that while King Charles X. was at Eambouillefc 
 he sent M. de La Eochejacquelein to obtain information 
 from Martin, and that Martin replied that the king had 
 only to abdicate as soon as possible, as God reproved 
 him for having usurped the throne of Louis XVII. ; 
 that this reply hastened the departure ; and that there- 
 upon M. de La Eochejacquelein went to Vienna to seek 
 for the legitimate king, whom he had just found in a 
 convent in Bohemia. Three months ago M. Sosth5ne 
 de La Eochefoucauld said to me — 
 
 ' You would be very astonished if you saw Louis 
 XVII. reappear ! ' 
 
 ' I am still more astonished that you admit such a 
 supposition,' I replied. 
 
 Bastard assured me this morning that he was cer- 
 tain that M. de La Eochejacquelein went to Eam- 
 bouillet to speak to Martin. M. de Pradel, whom I 
 questioned on the subject (he was at Eambouillet with 
 the king), replied that he believed the journey to have 
 really been made, but he ignored whether it was by the 
 king's order ; he rather thought it was a whim of M. 
 de La Eochejacquelein's, who was a person with much 
 imagination and little sense. 
 
 Charles X. therefore attached importance to 
 Martin's advice, and there is but Httle doubt 
 that M. de La Eochejacquelein had acted upon 
 his orders. 
 
 It is also beyond doubt, according to what 
 the Director of Police wrote with his own. hands 
 — a main point — that M. Sosthene de La Eoche- 
 
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY 29 
 
 foucauld, Charles X.'s brilliant minister, and 
 father of the present Duke of Bisaccia, knew 
 perfectly well that Louis XVII. was alive. 
 
 Martin, the peasant of Gallardon, who played 
 so strange a role, this messenger of Providence, 
 unlettered advocate of the rights of the op- 
 pressed, who was to converse with Louis XVIII. , 
 to advise Charles X., and return to his village to 
 follow his plough, to tend his cattle — Martin was 
 an honest man. 
 
 In fact, if this strange prophet had not 
 been sincere, if he also had been an impostor, 
 who better than the king would have been 
 able to unmask and confound him .? Tar 
 from this, he went to the king and addressed 
 the sovereign in his homely country lacguage, 
 and the king avowed that he revealed things 
 that God only could have known. 
 
 The few hnes cited above seemed to me of 
 particular importance. They are the result of 
 a conversation which struck the author's ima,- 
 gination, and I wished to thoroughly discover 
 what sort of man was the peasant thus admitted 
 to the honour of a royal audience. 
 
 Martin's names were Thomas-Ignace. He 
 was, as I have just stated, a native of Gal- 
 lardon, and he had visions in which he was com- 
 manded to go and tell the king he was usurping 
 his nephew's throne. That he did. 
 
30 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Had he been a knave, he would naturally 
 have attempted to derive some profit from his 
 knavery. Did he do this ? Never. 
 
 He did not for a moment seek to take advan- 
 tage of the extraordinary things which he said 
 were passing within . him ; he did not divulge 
 them, nor did he derive any profit therefrom. 
 He refused any presents ofiered him when he 
 suspected they had any relation to the events 
 with which he had been connected. 
 
 He did not attempt to make partisans, but 
 returned to his village as simple and unpreten- 
 tious as before, never speaking of himself or 
 even of what had happened to him ; in a word, 
 he was natural, discreet, and disinterested. 
 
 The ' Journal de France,' dated January 20, 
 1817, said that the physicians acknowledged 
 ' that it would be impossible to be in the enjoy- 
 ment of better health than his was until the end 
 (end of his stay in Paris), nor was it the least 
 impaired. This latter observation, made by 
 the masters of science with reference to the 
 moral and physical state of Martin, leads to the 
 conclusion that there is no reason to suppose 
 that this villager was the object of an illusion 
 of sense or imagination.' 
 
 Besides, the brave man who reproached 
 Louis XVIII. with being a usurper, who dared 
 to teU him that one day while hunting in the 
 
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY 31 
 
 forest of St. Hubert, under certain circumstances, 
 and in a certain spot, he had had the idea of 
 kiUing his brother, Louis XYI., and had only- 
 been hindered by the branch of a tree — a reve- 
 lation which caused the monarch to shed tears — 
 had not arrived direct at the Tuileries, but he 
 had been obliged, before being received by the 
 king, to undergo the examination of many per- 
 sons. Some of them encouraged, while others 
 scoffed at and rebuffed him. 
 
 He first confided the fact of his visions to 
 Laperruque, vicar of Gallardon, a worthy eccle- 
 siastic, sixty years of age. The vicar had him 
 -examined by the mayor, who conducted him to 
 Versailles to Msgr. Charrier de la Eoche, the 
 bishop — an ancient constitutional bishop — who, 
 on account of Ms past fife, thought necessary, 
 before going farther, to closely examine the case 
 himself with most special care. He made the 
 matter one of police, informed Decazes, and sent 
 the poor man to the Count de Breteuil, Prefect 
 of the Department of the Eure and Loir. 
 
 The count was a virtuous, kind man, of a 
 very calm temperament. He in his turn inter- 
 rogated Martin ; then he charged M. Andre, 
 lieutenant of the gendarmery at Chartres, to con- 
 duct Martin to Paris. Decazes, then Minister of 
 Police, received him. Every police and govern- 
 mental intimidation was brought to bear; but 
 
32 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 they were of no effect against the persistence 
 with which Martin declared that his duty was 
 to speak to the king, and to the king alone. 
 
 He was asked what he had to say. He did 
 not know, the words would come to him when 
 in the king's presence. 
 
 The assistant-physician at Charenton made a 
 study of his mental condition. Doctors Pinel 
 and Eoyer-CoUard did the same, but they could 
 only affirm that Martin wag as sound in mind as 
 in body. 
 
 Then the Grand Almoner of France, the vene- 
 rable Cardinal de Perigord, desired to see him. 
 He received him, and was even more struck than 
 all the others who had seen Martin, with the 
 nature of the impression preying upon his mind. 
 He at last caused the door of the cabinet of the 
 King of France in the Tuileries to be opened to 
 him. 
 
 We know the rest ; but it strikes me as 
 interesting to remark that just before the ter- 
 mination of the audience Louis XVHI. asked 
 Martin his advice on the manner in which he 
 ought to reign. 
 
 Imagine this countryman and the king con- 
 versing Uke two comrades. 
 
 Martin was very temperate. He simply 
 iold the king to act according to his previous 
 counsels, to beware of those who surrounded 
 
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY 33 
 
 him, especially of one of his ministers, who, he 
 said, would later be accused of a horrible crime ; 
 and finally, as the king insisted, he said on 
 leaving the royal presence : 
 
 ' Never be crowned ; you would die during 
 the ceremony.' 
 
 Louis XViil., in fact, was never crowned. 
 
 In the course of my researches on the sub- 
 ject of Martin, I made a discovery I was far 
 from expecting. 
 
 I found his son. 
 
 Doctor Martin is a fine old man, seventy 
 years of age, whose head is silvered with years. 
 When quite a child — he was then only fourteen 
 years old — he was present at the interview be- 
 tween his father and M. de La Eochejacquelein 
 when the latter was sent by King Charles X. 
 
 I have thus been enabled to converse with 
 one of the ear- witnesses of the interview referred 
 to above. I took advantage of the good fortune 
 which had brought me in contact with a man 
 whose father had played in our history a rtle so 
 strange and so little known, who is himself a 
 most honourable man, to ask him whether a 
 manuscript in my possession was really written 
 by him. He affirmed that it was, and signed a 
 declaration confirming its authenticity. I give 
 it textually. The reader will appreciate its 
 importance. 
 
 D 
 
34 ^HE BLACK CABINET 
 
 To Count Gruau de la Bwrre. 
 
 As son of Thomas Martin I bring you a testimony 
 of the highest importance in favour of the august family 
 so dear to us all, and to whom you have consecrated 
 your life. I had this precious testimony from General 
 La Eochejacquelein's own mouth in quite an unex- 
 pected manner. It was at Orleans on February 18, 
 1857. The general was staying with his nephew, the 
 Marquis de La Rochejacquelein, Senator. He learnt 
 from his proUge Captain Blon, a relation of Cathe- 
 lineau's, that I was at Orleans on a visit.'' 
 
 The general profited by the occasion to send his 
 servant to fetch me, asking m6 to go as soon as possible 
 to see him. I replied verbally to the messenger : ' Tell 
 the general that, having but a few hours to see my 
 friends, I could not do as he desired.' 
 
 Immediately afterwards the same servant brought 
 me a note from the general begging me to make an 
 appointment with him for the evening, no matter at 
 what hour, because he said he had a most important 
 communication to make to me. I appointed eight 
 o'clock, at M. Breton's, Captain Blon's father-in-law, 
 rue de Bourgogne. 
 
 The general was exact to his appointment. On 
 •entering he complained that I had no consideration 
 either for his age or his legs. That was what I 
 expected ; I had long had a grudge against him, and 
 the opportunity was favourable to tell him my mind. 
 I said dryly : ' I also, General, have to complain of you, 
 and I desire to state the fact here before everybody.' 
 
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY 35 
 
 (We were at table, there were about ten or twelve 
 persons.) ' Yoti have been very unjust towards my 
 father ; you made false statements and made injurious 
 and untrue remarks about him. But, patience ! these 
 untruths wUl be visited on those who have been guilty 
 of them.' ' How ! what do you mean ? I ! never ! ' he 
 said. I replied, ' General, you have stated in society 
 that you frequent in Paris and elsewhere, when you 
 have been questioned about your application to my 
 father at Gallardon, that you had never been to his 
 house, neither on your own account nor sent by 
 Charles X. ; whereas you asked my father (it was on the 
 night of July 31-Angust 1, 1830), on behalf of the 
 King, what his Majesty was to do under the disagree- 
 able circumstances in which he found himself at Eam- 
 bouillet ; and, if my memory serves me faithfully, you 
 were three together.' ' No,' he replied, ' there were 
 "only my aide-de-camp and myself.' ' It seems to me, 
 however,' I said, ' that there were three horses and 
 three men.' ' Ah, yes, there was my servant.' ' And 
 I remember very well that, in speakiug of the King, my 
 father told you that his time had come to an end, that 
 he would be responsible before God for any blood use- 
 lessly shed, if he resisted.' The general replied: ' All 
 that you say is perfectly true ; but there was a certain 
 propriety to be observed.' 
 
 ' Tes, yes,' I said, ' you wished to keep in good 
 odour with M. de Chambord.' I was still under the 
 painful impression of my anger when the general took 
 me aside and asked me : — 
 
 * Have you any news of Louis XVII. ? Do you 
 know where he is ? 
 
 D 2 
 
36 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ' No, I know nothing ; and even if I did I should 
 not tell you. You have rendered yourself unworthy of 
 such a cause, and it is not reserved for you to bring 
 ahout its success. 
 
 ' Come, come,' he said, ' do not get into a passion ; 
 when you know the importance of my communication 
 you will hear me with attention.' The general con- 
 tinued : ' The Dauphiness called me to her death-bed, 
 and in an almost inaudible voice said, " General, I have 
 something serious, very serious, to reveal to you ; it is 
 the legacy of a dying woman. My brother is not dead. 
 It has been my life's nightmare ; promise me to take all 
 possible steps to discover him. See the Holy Father ; 
 see Martin's children ; search by land and sea to dis- 
 cover some old servitors or their descendants, for France 
 will never be happy and , tranquil until my brother 
 shall be upon the throne of his fathers. Swear to me ' 
 (here she wept abundantly) ' that you will do all I ask. 
 I shall at least die more easy in my mind, and it seemg 
 as if the weight I have on my breast is lighter.' The 
 general cried as he related this touching scene ; but it 
 was too late. Nevertheless, I said to him : ' I am happy 
 to learn from you of this supreme revelation ; it again 
 confirms my father's words, for he often said that the 
 Duchess of Angoul^me would be the most stubborn, 
 and the last to recognise him.' 
 
 Please receive. Count, my very humble and respect- 
 ful salutations, 
 
 Antoine Maetin. 
 
 I, the undersigned, certify the preceding document 
 authentic, and that it emanates from me, and I make 
 this declaration with pleasure to the Count d'Herisson 
 
THE TEMPLE MYSTERY 37 
 
 that lie may use it as he thinks fit ; he may publish it 
 if necessary. 
 
 AuTOME Maetej. 
 Paris, November 20, 1886. 
 
 Seen to testify to the genuiueness of Martin's signa- 
 ture, opposed elsewhere. 
 
 The Commissary of Police of the 
 6th Ward of Paris. 
 (Signature illegible.) 
 
 Paris, November 22, 1886. 
 
38 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY. 
 
 Occult Engraving' — ^The Secret of the Bourbons — Louis XVII. 
 Medals — The Pope and the Expiatory Chapel — Louis XVIU. 
 and Mr. Perlet — M. Cathelin's mission. 
 
 Medal engraving is a special art, and requires in 
 the composition of the motive almost as much, 
 care and preparation as is necessitated by the 
 actual material work. 
 
 The artist- must be inspired by the subject he 
 will treat : he must create something new, and at 
 the same time follow accepted traditions. A 
 large number of medals have a double sense ; 
 that which appears to the crowd, and that 
 which is understood but by the initiated few. 
 Some are veritable puzzles ; to be able to de- 
 cipher them one must be a regular conjurer. 
 
 When a study is made, not of one particular 
 medal, but of a series corresponding to different 
 epochs, to a reign, or to a certain person, it is 
 very interesting to observe points of correlation 
 between them, and the clearly defined influence 
 of tradition to which I have just referred. There 
 
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 39 
 
 is nothing more beautiful than to medal the 
 great epochs of our history. 
 
 All that refers to the reign of Louis XTV. is 
 graceful and imposing at the same time. So 
 also is that referring to the reign of Napo- 
 leon I. The work is influenced by the circle in 
 which the artist moves, and, however little he 
 belongs to one of those occult associations which 
 have guided the politics of the last two hundred 
 years, he often finds a means of denying that 
 which he is charged to affirm, and to give the 
 mysterious clue to events he has to immortahse. 
 A sovereign who has a medal struck in his 
 honour does not suspect that it often bears on 
 its surface a slur upon his reign. 
 
 All that have been struck on the subject of 
 Louis XVn. are not only curious, enigmatical, 
 and with a double meaning, .but this duplicity 
 of signification is particularly apparent. The 
 medals which come from abroad are, amongst 
 others, of such clearness that the least far-seeing 
 person can read therein proofs of the escape 
 from the Temple. 
 
 Those which date from the Eestoration, and 
 which had all interest to affirm the death of 
 Louis XVIL, do not the less convey the affirma- 
 tion of his existence, and testify to the usurpa- 
 tion of the throne. 
 
 The medal struck on the occasion of the 
 
40 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 birth of the Duke of Kormandy is charming. 
 The king and queen are happy ; France is sup- 
 posed to be ; and the medal is, if I may so ex- 
 press myself, honest. All the others are quite 
 different ; they suggest mystery, uneasiness, the 
 truth distorted, and divulge, as far as it was pos- 
 sible to do without actually writing the words, 
 ' the Bourbons' secret,' 
 
 The Dauphin was imprisoned in the Temple. 
 News arrives in Berlin that a substitution of 
 children will take place, and Loos hastens to 
 fix the date by consigning to bronze the mys- 
 terious event, which is spoken of more freely 
 abroad than in France. 
 
 Is not the author's idea sufficiently clear? 
 On one side of the medal the two children in 
 prison ; on the other, a large curtain which hides 
 all the mystery. Below 
 
 QUAHD SEEA-T-ELLE LEVfiE ? (When Will it be lifted ?) 
 
 Similar to the Dauphin's death, which was 
 nothing but a comedy, this medal has a most 
 doubtful register. Nobody knows the exact date 
 of its birth. Lenormand, in the ' Tresor de numis- 
 matique et de glyptique,' attributes it to 1793. 
 Henin pretends that, although classed as of 1793 
 in Loos's catalogue, he beheves it to date from 
 the end of 1794. In short, nothing positive is 
 known, and when the wise men have spoken we 
 
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 41 
 
 axe less advanced than before — as it happens 
 very often. 
 
 Then comes another medal by Loos, this one 
 supposed to record the Dauphin's death, but in 
 a manner no less curious or explicit than the 
 former ; it proves, on the contrary, the escape. 
 On one side is engraved — 
 
 Louis, second Fms de Louis XVT. 
 Nfi LE 27 Maes, 1785. 
 
 The reverse side has the same curtain which in 
 the previous medal hid a mystery, but which is 
 now raised ; an angel is writing with a graving- 
 tool: 
 
 Redevenu libee LE 8 Jum, 1795. 
 (Became free again June 8, 1795.) 
 
 The angel is standing ; one foot rests on a Hghted 
 torch, the flame issuing therefrom representing 
 life ; the other rests on a coffin, against which is 
 an open book in which is written : 
 
 Louis (le peemiee DAUPmN). 
 Louis XVI. Ajstodtette. Elizabeth. 
 
 These are the names of the fo^r members of the 
 Eoyal family who are already dead, as testified 
 by the coffin. The date June 8 renders the 
 second Dauphin his liberty, thanks to the death 
 of the substituted child. Independently of the 
 words ' Eedevenu hbre le 8 Juin, 1795,' this 
 
42 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 truth is again represented by the author's care 
 to oppose ' Hfe ' to ' death ' ; to indicate as clearly 
 as it lay in his poweB, without at the same time 
 doing so too openly, that the Dauphin had sur- 
 vived his brother, father, mother, and aunt. And 
 the curtain now lifted shows, four dead and the 
 Dauphin alive. 
 
 Here is a medal struck in England ; it is by 
 William Manwaring. On one side the head of 
 Louis XVn., and around — ^ 
 
 Sit6t QD'iL fCAIT UN Eoi W / 
 Dorr-oN cesser de l'£tee ? / 
 
 Beneath the head, 1793. Can anything more 
 strange and troubling be imagined ? 
 
 It was at the castle of Ham that the brothers 
 of Louis XVI. learnt of his death, to which this 
 medal refers. 
 
 They proclaimed Louis XVH. ; 'Monsieur' 
 took the title of Eegent, and appointed the Count 
 d'Artois, Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom. 
 
 In 1794 the inhabitants of the Vendee wore 
 as a decoration . a medal, on one side of which 
 was graven — 
 
 Vive Louis XVII., Eoi de Feange 9 T"", 1794; 
 
 and on the other, a large ' fleur de lis,' almost 
 similar to that on the arms of the town of Flor- 
 ence, with these words — 
 
 Louis XVII., Eoi des FEANgois. 
 
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 43 
 
 After the pretended death of the Dauphin, a 
 large number of Eoyalists in the south of France 
 wore in 1795 a medal decoration, engraved only 
 on one side ; these, which to-day are almost un- 
 discoverable, represented an eagle thrown on its 
 back, the wings outstretched, the claws in the 
 air, and above: — 
 
 A BAS L'ANAECmE! ViVE LODIS XVII. 
 
 Then came the , official medals of the first 
 Eestoration 1814-15. The double meaning, 
 although better hidden, exists none the less. On 
 one side is a head of Louis XVII., and on the 
 other a broken lily, with the inscription — 
 
 CEcmrr dt Flos, vra Jdtoi, mdcclxxxxv. 
 (He fell like a flower, June 8, 1795.) 
 
 Only the artist took great care to represent a 
 flower which is not dead, but, on the contrary, 
 absolutely hving and endeavouring to raise its 
 head. 
 
 Flowers whiten and dry, but nothing in the 
 Dauphin's apparent death, attributed by the doc- 
 tors to scrofula, justified the violent character 
 of a broken flower. The artist wanted the com- 
 parison to preserve, in that which officially repre- 
 sented death, a symbolic vitality. 
 
 To say that the Dauphin was dead, to be paid 
 to portray his death by Louis XVHC, and to 
 
44 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 engrave a medal proving the contrary, was not 
 an easy task. 
 
 See how the artist acquitted himself with the 
 following medal : 
 
 He represented, of course, the head of the son 
 of Louis XYI. ; and on the reverse side a com- 
 position almost partaking of the character of 
 freemasonry. Three separate inscriptions appear 
 each to have a distinct sense, although a literal 
 translation is impossible. The first on the front, 
 ' Eegni tantum jura ; ' the other two on the 
 reverse side, above and below a ' genius ' flying 
 from the Temple prison with a crown : 1. ' Quam 
 reddat hseredi ; ' 2. ' Ludovicus XVII in vinculis 
 occumbit.' Together these inscriptions read — 
 
 Ludovicus XVII in vinculis occumbit quam reddat 
 
 H^EEDI EEGNI TANTUM JUKA. 
 
 The only possible translation of this legend, 
 from a grammatical point of view, is, ' Louis XVli. 
 dies in prison sooner than that only royal rights 
 should be restored to his heir.' 
 
 It clearly results from this that at the time 
 this medal was struck, 1815, Louis XVII., living 
 and imprisoned, had offered to renounce his 
 rights, provided his son should be 'juraregni,' 
 have the right to reign, an offer which was 
 refused. 
 
 The artist has placed three dead hlies on the 
 
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 45 
 
 funereal monument, representing three royal 
 victims ; he would have put four had he wished 
 to indicate that Louis XVil. was dead also. 
 They are the three victims for whom the ex- 
 piatory chapel was erected, where again there is 
 no question of Louis XVii. Finally, Depaulis, 
 the royal engraver, has resumed aU the strange- 
 ness of the medal he was ordered to make, by 
 placing on the sarcophagus supposed to contain 
 Louis XVii. the arms of France in a reversed 
 position. It is just as if, ordered to represent 
 the Fluctuat nee mergitur of the escutcheon of 
 the arms of Paris, he had put the masts down- 
 wards and the hull in the air. DepauHs took 
 great care to dissimulate his Parthian arrow to 
 the ordinary observer ; it requires a sincere 
 desire to discover the truth to perceive it. 
 
 Several European Courts possess in theif 
 secret archives incontestable proof of the escape 
 of Louis XVn. Pius VII. was quite aware of 
 the truth, and if an authorisation could be 
 obtained it would be of the greatest interest to 
 examine at Eome the curious correspondence 
 which passed on the subject of the expiatory 
 chapel when, on Chateaubriand's proposal, 
 the Chambers decided in 1816 to erect a 
 monument to the memory of the death of 
 Louis XVI., Marie-Antoinette, Madame Ehza- 
 beth, and Louis XVH. Several times when in 
 
46 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 the capital of the Christian world I have asked, 
 without obtaining, permission to cast a glance 
 in the sanctum sanctorum. I wish some one 
 else more success than I had. 
 
 The Pope made some observations to 
 Louis XVm., who, of his own personal autho- 
 rity, modified the decisions of the Chambers by 
 a royal decree. This decree consecrates the 
 expiatory chapel exclusively to the memory 
 of Louis XVI., Marie- Antoinette, and Madame 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 Nothing in this monument, commenced under 
 Louis XVIII. and terminated during 'the reign 
 of Charles X., alludes in any way to Louis XVII. 
 The Pope is supposed to have said that he 
 would not authorise mortuary prayers in favour 
 of a living being. The pohtical compromises 
 might pass, but the Holy Father could not 
 permit a sacrilegious comedy. 
 
 The Court of Berlin possessed, and doubtless 
 stiU possesses, undoubted proofs of the Dauphin's 
 escape. It has a certain casket which was 
 abstracted from Louis XVIII. on his departure 
 from Mittau, in which are all the necessary 
 proofs, as well as those of the existence of the 
 unhappy child, who had at that time become a 
 man. 
 
 It was whilst he was in Mittau that he who 
 was one day to become Louis XVHI. attempted 
 
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 47 
 
 to bribe, to buy, and incite the largest possible 
 number of rrench generals to treachery. The 
 marshals' staffs he generously promised were, 
 in his mind, but the steps of the ladder which 
 would permit him to ascend the throne. The 
 Duke d'Avaray was the principal agent in all 
 these negotiations and machinations. I repro- 
 duce here a few letters, the originals of which 
 are in my possession. These in their laconic 
 way say more than would a volume of personal 
 comment. M. Perlet, the writer, knew himself 
 all about Louis XVII., and his mouth was really 
 closed very cheaply. 
 
 To Ms Eaxellency Count Simeon, Minister of the 
 Interior. 
 
 Monsieur le Comte, — I have the honour of sending 
 you, prepaid, by this courier, a printed pamphlet contain- 
 ing my complete justification. If you take the trouble 
 to read it you will be convinced of my perfect ji^nocence, 
 and you wiU see that I am entirely the victim of my 
 constant devotion to the King and his august family. 
 
 No power on earth can caU. in question the fact that 
 it was I alone who saved the unfortunate daughter of 
 Louis XVI. from certain death ; ' Madame,' the Duchess 
 of Angouleme, owes to me her life. Have tlie goodness. 
 Count, to read the first note, page 30, containing the 
 article that I published in my journal of June 16, 1795. 
 The National Convention, forced by public opinion 
 strongly manifested by that article, rendered, fourteen 
 days later, a decree granting their liberty to that princess 
 
48 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 and the other memters of the family of which the 
 Dowager Duchess of Orleans was a member. The Bang 
 was unaware of this devotion until the month of May, 
 1 806. His Majesty caused the Count d'Avaray to write 
 to me on the subject. In the letter he communicated to 
 me the sacred words of the King ; that he •preserved the 
 remembrance of such a service in his heart until the day 
 of recompense. The King confirmed this royal promise 
 with his own lips at Gorfield, Sussex, adding that in 
 the event of my becoming a victim of my zeal he would 
 take care of my family. By what fatality am I for- 
 gotten, and why cannot my just demands reach his 
 person ? I have never received any recompense, and I 
 should not ask for any were I not in want ; that my 
 conduct has always been loyal and disinterested, I have 
 given enough proof. 
 
 When I devoted myself to saving ' Madame,' I only 
 consulted my zeal ; I have suffered the greatest perse- 
 cutions in regard thereto, and it is a miracle that I 
 have not succumbed. Eoyal recompenses have been 
 awarded to everybody who contributed to the arrest of 
 the execrable assassin of Monseigneur the Duke of 
 Berry, and he who really saved 'Madame ' remains for- 
 gotten ! I am so fully convinced that the King is not 
 aware of this forgetfdlness of which I am victim, that 
 I am ready to sacrifice the remainder of my life for 
 him, and perhaps I shall give him proof of this before 
 long. 
 
 Notwithstanding my extraordinary poverty, and the 
 pressing solicitations made me, I did not wish yet to 
 render public the printed pamphlet which I have the 
 honour to address you ; all the copies are in a safe 
 place, and nothing can hinder their publication if I am 
 
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 49 
 
 forced to it. More than this, I have in my possession 
 the whole of the correspondence of Count d'Avaray and 
 other lords, amongst which are, in their entirety, all the 
 documents emanating from the King relative to the 
 secret negotiations which took place with a view of 
 gaining over Prince Berthier. If my attachment to the 
 King were not carried to excess I should have published 
 all these documents, which will form a large octavo 
 volume, and for which I have been offered a good sum. 
 This cannot astonish you, Count. 
 
 But my fate must at last be decided. 
 
 I offer to surrender all these documents, and all the 
 copies of my printed memoirs, if I am given imme- 
 diately, that is to say in a fortnight, the moderate sum 
 of 6,000 francs ; after which I shall rely entirely upon 
 the justice of the King, who cannot refuse me the means 
 of existence, seeing that by my devotion to his august 
 person I have lost a very large fortune as well as my 
 health ; that I was condemned to death at the time of 
 the 13th Vendemiaire, transported to Cayenne the 18th 
 Fructidor, imprisoned, &c., &c., and that I offer to 
 justify my whole conduct, which has never had any 
 other end in view but the King's service. Let attention 
 be paid. Count ; this is not an ordinary affair, it is of 
 the greatest importance under present circumstances. 
 I should never forgive myself for having been the 
 means of serving the King's enemies. 
 
 I feel honoured. Count, to have shared with you the 
 proscription of the 18th Fructidor ; you were fortunate 
 enough to escape the execution of the decree, while I 
 was conducted to Cayenne, where I remained twenty 
 months. 
 
so THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 I have the honour to be, with profound respect, 
 your Excellency's very humble and devoted servant, 
 
 Peelet. 
 Geneva, March 31, 1820. 
 
 Kiie des Belles Filles, No. 12, at Geneva. 
 
 P.S. — If you honour me with a reply you may 
 address it to care of Messrs. Sestie, Son & Co., 
 printers and publishers, of Geneva, at Femey- Voltaire. 
 
 Letter to Count SimSon, Minister of the Interior. 
 
 Monsieur le Comte, — ^Eight days ago I had the 
 honour of writing you a letter of the greatest import- 
 ance, accompanied by a printed memoir, sent post paid. 
 I know I cannot yet hope for a reply ; but I am tor- 
 mented for two good reasons: the first, my want of 
 money; the second, the fear of doing anything that 
 might injure the King ; for, if I give up the manuscripts 
 in my possession, a pa/rt of which emanated from the 
 King during his stay in Mittau, there is no doubt that 
 a bad use would be made of them, especially in the 
 critical state of affairs existing at present. I resist 
 with all my force, but I find myself in an extraordinary 
 position. The persons who have aided me during the 
 four years that I have, by the greatest injustice, been 
 forced to spend hidden in this town are soliciting the 
 reimbursement of their money or the delivery of my 
 memoirs and manuscripts. The sum I require is very 
 trifling ; it will prevent an unpleasantness which would 
 become irreparable. There are things of the greatest 
 importance which I could communicate to you, hut . . . 
 
 After much difficulty I have obtained a delay of 
 twelve days. 
 
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 51 
 
 I have tlie honour to remain, with profound respect, 
 your Excellency's very humble and devoted servant, 
 
 Peelet. 
 
 Care of Messrs. Sesti6, Son & Co., printers and 
 publishers, of Geneva, at Ferney-Yoltaire. 
 
 Geneva, April 7, 1820. 
 
 Letter to M. Catlielin, staying at No. 7, Balances, 
 Geneva. 
 
 Geneva, April 19, 1820. 
 Sir, — I have to thank yon particularly for the 
 courteous manner in which you presented yourself at 
 my house, and for the kindness with which you listened 
 to my just demands. The Minister could not have 
 xonfided so important a mission to any one more capable 
 . of fulfilling it. As you were sent by his Excellency the 
 Minister, Count Simeon, I expected that you would 
 hand me 6,000 francs. I should not have changed 
 my mind but for the discussion we had together, and 
 my invincible repugnance to do anything which might 
 be displeasing to the King, for whom I would shed the 
 last drop of my blood. I have given you two packets 
 of written matter of the greatest iiivportance, which would 
 have formed the basis of a large volume, to have been 
 published in less than a month. I gave you also all 
 the copies of my memoirs and the notice concerning 
 M. Pasquier. I agreed to accept the 1,500 francs 
 you offered me. In doiag this I have sacrificed the 
 6,000 francs which had been offered me for the papers 
 I have handed you. The absolute destitution of my 
 position would have forced me to accept that sum, not- 
 withstanding my repugnance. It would have been the 
 
 E 2 
 
52 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 first time I bad ever done anytHng against the King's 
 interests, but my necessity and the forgetfulness of 
 which I am victim would have been my excuse. You 
 combated the idea and gained me to the good cause, 
 and I yielded. I received the 1,500 francs, and I 
 signed an engagement which I shall fulfil. But, sir, 
 in what a position do you leave me ? A prey to eager 
 creditors, who know that I could have satisfied them 
 had I given up iny manuscripts ! What shall I say to 
 them ? No position in the world could be more painful 
 than mine. I perfectly believe that you were not able 
 to do better for me ; it would be very painful for me 
 to think otherwise. But in aiding you to accomplish 
 your mission in the manner most advantageous for the 
 King I have not renounced the intention of making 
 my just claims. Ton are going away, you will render 
 an account of your mission to his Excellency, you will 
 hand him the very important documents I have given 
 you, and I hope that he will send me at once the com- 
 plement of the 6,000 francs that you did not feel 
 authorised to give me. In handing you these docu,- 
 ments I have made a fresh sacrifice for the King, for 
 by delivering them to the persons who ofiered me 
 6,000 francs I should have furnished matter to the 
 King's enemies to publish a book. ... I showed you 
 my repugnance to this course ; but if his Excellency 
 does not send me the balance, what will become of 
 me ? . . . You told me that this sacrifice would be 
 appreciated; I hope so. You were good enough to 
 take charge of all the papers concerning myself per- 
 sonally; I venture to hope that his Excellency will 
 confide to some one he may choose all these papers 
 which contain my entire justification, and that, once 
 
THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY 53 
 
 being tuUy convinced, lie will speak to the King, from 
 whom. I ask no favour, but who owes me justice. 
 
 My whole life has been employed in giving proofs 
 of my devotion to the King and his august family; 
 nothing has been able to shake this devotion. It is 
 now undergoing its greatest ordeal. 
 
 You were kind enough to say that my fate would 
 change ; if so, it must be soon. I rely, sir, upon the 
 promises you made me, and ask you to believe that I 
 am very grateful in anticipation. 
 
 I have the honour to be very sincerely, 
 
 Your devoted servant, 
 
 Peklet. 
 
 This letter is annotated in the following 
 manner in M. Cathelin's handwriting : — 
 
 I have promised M. Perlet that (so far as it lies 
 in my power) I would interest the authorities, from 
 whom I received my mission, in his favour, by bringing 
 to their notice the reiterated assurances that he gave 
 me of his devotion to his Majesty's interests. I told 
 him that it appeared to me that the loyalty he had 
 displayed on this occasion would be the best argument 
 in favour of his protection, but I took care not to 
 promise him more than this. 
 
 Cathelin. 
 
 At the same time M. Cathelin handed the 
 Minister the receipt for the first fifteen hundred 
 francs, and shortly afterwards sent M. Perlet 
 the balance of the six thousand. 
 
 I, the undersigned, acknowledge having received the 
 
54 ■ THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 sura of 1,500 francs, and declare upon my honour that 
 
 I have faithfully and truly handed to M. Cathelin all 
 
 the documents I possessed relative to a correspondence 
 
 with M. d'Avary, and I acknowledge that if I had kept 
 
 back one or many, or that if I were to publish anything 
 
 that might have the slightest relation to the aforesaid 
 
 documents, I should have broken my word of honour, 
 
 and rendered myself unworthy of the protection of any 
 
 Government whatever. 
 
 Peelet. 
 Geneva, April 19, 1820. 
 
55 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERKT. 
 
 Why was the Dute of Berry assassinated ? — ^Louvel and the Duke 
 Decazes — ^Documents from the ' Black Cabinet ' — Opinions of 
 Foreign Diplomats — A. usurping King and an unscrupulous 
 Minister — The Duke of Keichstadt Emperor of Buenos Ajiea 
 — ' Les cordons bleus.' 
 
 At the end of 1819 Nauendorff wrote to nearly- 
 all the members of the royal family of France : 
 all his letters remained unanswered. The only 
 one who desired to elucidate the mystery that 
 his correspondent undertook to unravel was 
 the Duke of Berry, and it is affirmed — ^unfor- 
 tunately statements without proofs have but 
 small value in matters of history — that a vio- 
 lent scene took place on this subject between 
 Louis XVlli. and the Duke of Berry. 
 
 I must acknowledge, nevertheless, that the 
 fact appears to me probable enough. The Duke 
 had a large heart, such as is too seldom met 
 with on the steps of a throne, and everything 
 leads to the behef that, had he really found 
 Louis XVn., he would not have hesitated to 
 
56 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 become his most valiant defender, and to have 
 declared himself his first subject. 
 
 The assassination of which he was victim — 
 Louvel's attempt — ^was to cause to disappear in 
 the tomb his generous opposition, and render 
 for ever silent that mouth from which might 
 have proceeded words of reproach and of sub- 
 lime abnegation. 
 
 Louvel was the arm which executed this 
 crime, but all France designated the head — the 
 Duke Decazes ; and, notwithstanding the quiet- 
 ing influence of time, history has never cleared 
 him of the suspicion. 
 
 Did such a state of things cause the 
 favourite to lose royal favour ? Not in the least. 
 Driven from the Ministry, and even from France, 
 by pubhc opinion — which even royalty cannot 
 resist — the duke was momentarily exUed to a 
 position of honour and profit — the Embassy of 
 England. But the King did not think it suffi- 
 cient to merit the favourite's pardon for the 
 removal he had been compelled to impose 
 upon him. He created him duke ; he had him 
 granted, thanks to his royal influence, a consider- 
 able sum that Decazes had demanded in vain ; 
 he sent him the Order of the ' Holy Spirit ' 
 {Saint-Es'prii). 
 
 It is not uninteresting here to consult the 
 ' Black Cabinet,' and to give an account of what 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY 57 
 
 was thought at that time of him who was soon 
 to become more powerful than ever. 
 
 The Duke Decazes, after having raised the 
 indignation of England by a plot hatched with 
 the view of placing the Duke of Eeichstadt on 
 the throne of South America, and thus causing a 
 grave prejudice to English trading, becomes the 
 ally of England. 
 
 Together they combated secretly the so- 
 called legitimate monarchy, and strove to place 
 upon the throne of France the son of the 
 regicide PhOippe-EgaUte, the prince whose 
 assassination of the Duke of Berry was to render 
 more easy his access to the throne. 
 
 Report of the Count Goltz to the King of Prussia, 
 No. 10. 
 
 Paris, Febrnary 19, 1820. 
 
 Sire, — The Ministerial journals and those of the two 
 parties contain all the details known until now of the 
 assassination of H.R.H. the Duke of Berry. I think it 
 unnecessary to repeat them in this report. Besides, 
 what is stated of the first examinations of Louvel is still 
 uncertain, and the trial, which has just commenced in 
 the House of Lords, constituted as a high court of 
 justice, will alone put an end to uncertainties respecting 
 these statements. The moral complicity in the crime, 
 shared by all the revolutionists and ultra-liberals, is but 
 too evident, but the monster has not yet avowed any 
 actual complicity, and as he knows that nothing can 
 
58 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 save him from punishment, lie will perhaps die without 
 having made this avowal. There appea/rs, however, no 
 doubt that he lied in declaring that the crime was planned 
 hy himself alone, several years ago; for the Duke of 
 Berry was in the habit of going to Bagatelle almost 
 daily, early in the morning, and accompanied only by 
 one servant, and devoting himself so often to the 
 pleasure of hunting, the assassin could have found a 
 thousand favourable opportunities for the accomplish- 
 ment of his design. The eye-witnesses of the harrowing 
 scene that took place inside the opera after the unhappy 
 prince had received his mortal blow have confirmed the 
 touching account given of the circumstances by the 
 ' Journal des D6bats.' Not even the fables of Greek 
 tragedy offer anything which can be compared to the 
 frightful reality of the misfortunes which have never 
 ceased to follow this royal family. In the short space 
 of twenty-seven years this is the eighth member of the 
 family who has ended his days by a violent death. 
 
 Last Tuesday I seized the occasion of a meeting 
 with the Baron de Vincent, at the General Pozzo di 
 Borgo's, who is still ill, to induce his two colleagues 
 to deliberate with us. This confidential deliberation 
 having taken place, we thought it our duty to consign 
 to paper the following conclusions : — ' That the death of 
 the Duke of Berry increases the natural and political 
 probabilities of seeing the crown of France leave the 
 branch of the Bourbons, who are essentially anti- 
 revolutionary. 
 
 ' That in this case, the crown passing to the Duke 
 of Orleans, the elevation of this prince to the throne 
 would be considered in France as the complement of 
 the revolution, because he is the son of a regicide, and 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY S9 
 
 that, although, he may be innocent of it, his call to the 
 throne would have been facilitated by a murder. 
 
 ' That the French monarchy under such a chief, and 
 with such, antecedents, will necessarily find itself in 
 antagonism with every throne, as well as with the 
 public peace.' 
 
 The proposition of M. Clausel de Coussergues to 
 take Count Decazes into custody has been placed on the 
 table of the Chamber. It will probably not be taken 
 into consideration, but it is one scandal more. 
 
 Meport oj the Count Goltz to the King of Prussia, 
 ISTo. 11. 
 
 Paris, February 22, 1820. 
 
 Sire, — I hasten to profit of the occasion ofiered me 
 by the departure of a courier to announce to your 
 Majesty that my conjectures as to the impossibility in 
 which Count Decazes appeared to find himself of re- 
 maining in the Ministry have not been long before being 
 realised. 
 
 Tour Majesty will vouchsafe to see by the royal 
 decrees published by the ' Moniteur ' of yesterday that 
 Count Decazes has resigned the posts of President of 
 the Council of Ministers and of Minister Secretary of 
 State for the Home Department, but that his Most 
 Christian Majesty has accepted it in an extremely 
 gracious manner, in elevating him to the dignity of 
 Duke, and naming him his ambassador to the Court of 
 St. James. 
 
 The terms of the two decrees relative to the Duke 
 Decazes, and even that concerning the Duke of 
 Richelieu, indicate that the former is still maintained 
 
6o THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 in the King's favour ; and yet they convey but a faint 
 idea of the almost passionate predilection shown for him 
 by this sovereign at the moment when the united soli- 
 citations of the members of the royal family and the 
 force of circumstances have finally decided him to part 
 with this Minister. 
 
 Tost Scriptum. — I have just returned from St. Cloud, 
 where the members of the diplomatic corps as well as 
 all persons of the high classes go to inquire after the 
 health of the Duchess of Berry. The interior of the 
 castle resembles a tomb from the silence which reigns 
 and the profound mourning of its inmates. I have 
 again seen the two princes and ' Madame ' the Duchess 
 of AngoulSme, as they quitted the unfortunate widow's 
 chamber. 'Monsieur' is almost unrecognisable; his 
 figure is excessively pale ; he pressed my hand aflfec- 
 tionately without being able to say a single word. 
 
 I learnt, on this occasion, from the Duchess of 
 Eeggio that H.K.H. the Duke of Berry always believed 
 that he would one day be assassinated ; that he even 
 expressed his belief some days before his death to M. de 
 Mesnars, one of his aides-de-camp, when informing him 
 that he had been warned by anonymous letters ; but the 
 prince added that he would not take any precautions, 
 which would be probably useless, and lead to the belief 
 that a Bourbon feared death. 
 
 General Walterstorff's Report to M. de Eosenhrantz. 
 
 Paris, February 27, 1820. 
 Sir, — ^Your Excellency will permit me to converse a 
 moment about the Duke Decazes. 
 
 So long as this Minister was in ofiice I seldom spoke 
 of him, not wishing to appear to boast of the friendship 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY 6i 
 
 with wHch he honoured me. Now that he is pursued 
 by calumny, wickedness, and hateful passions I take a 
 pride in rendering him justice, and I desire that the 
 archives of the Legation shall preserve at least a small 
 testimony of the esteem in which I hold him, and the 
 life-long friendship I have vowed him. 
 
 After having taken leave of the King last night, the 
 Duke Decazes set out with his family for one of his 
 properties in the suburbs of Bordeaux. His friend, 
 M. Mirbel, formerly Maitre des requites and Secretary- 
 General of the Ministry of the Interior, who has resigned 
 all his positions, accompanied the duke, and will remain 
 with him some time previous to undertaking his proposed 
 journey to Italy. 
 
 Although I have called three times upon M. 
 Decazes since he quitted the Ministry, I did not find 
 him in. But his Eoyal Highness the Duke of Holstein- 
 Augustenbourg, who saw him last week, and a friend of 
 mine who met him some days ago at M. de Eichelieu's, 
 say they found him very changed ; his health appeared 
 so bad that they feared his lungs are attacked. I share 
 their fear. There is also another danger to the duke's 
 life, which is difficult to shake off, seeing the prejudice 
 some journalists seek to inspire against him. I know 
 that honest tradespeople have asked their friends 
 ' Tell me, sir, is it true that M. Decazes assassinated 
 the Duke of Berry ? ' ' How can you believe such .an 
 absurd story ? ' ' But, sir, how would they dare to print 
 it were it not true ?' Besides, the Duke Decazes has 
 himself received semi-anonymous threatening letters. 
 In one was written, ' Do you know that your life is in 
 our hands ? ' 
 
 The so-called ultra journals affect great moderation 
 
62 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 with regard to the new Cabinet, and yet they write, 
 especially the Drapeau Blanc, the most infamous things 
 about him who was the former colleague of the present 
 Ministers, and who is still their friend. 
 
 I cannot believe that the change in his position has 
 altered the friendship and esteem they professed for 
 him. I know that he was sincerely attached to them, 
 and they were amongst the number of persons whom 
 he was always glad to meet when he did me the honour 
 of dining at my house. 
 
 He always spoke of the Duke of Eichelieu with the 
 greatest respect, and when sometimes I expressed a 
 hope that he was friendly with that Minister, he always 
 replied, ' As far as I am concerned, he is perfection.' 
 
 'Counts Simgqn and Portalis, Baron Mounier, and 
 M; de Rayneval were amongst the persons whom he 
 cbnsillted with the greatest confidence. How is it that 
 a man against whom not one single trait of ill-nature can 
 be cited can be attacked with such tenacity by these 
 miserable pamphleteers ? 
 
 • There are too many examples which seem to excuse 
 the indelicate means sometimes resorted to in politics 
 in order to supplant a Minister. But there is no 
 political or moral code which authorises the calum- 
 niatiag a Miuister after he has given up the direction of 
 affairs, or preaching in favour of his assassination ; for 
 to such it amounts. 
 
 Whatever faults the Duke Decazes may have com- 
 mitted during his term of oflB.ce (and who would not 
 have committed some in his place ?), history will render 
 justice to his talents, his loyalty, and the excellence of 
 his heart. 
 
 I am, &c., 
 
 Walteestokff. 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY 63 
 
 If the Duke of Berry was warned that he 
 would be assassinated there is little doubt but 
 that the secret police had itself cautioned the 
 Minister that the attack would take place soon. 
 Here is a report, dated March 3, which clearly" 
 shows that the Minister had really been informed 
 of the preparation for the crime : — 
 
 Tolice Report of March 3, 1820. 
 
 We have performed our respective duties in giving 
 information wMch may prevent great misfortunes. 
 
 It remains now to be seen whetlier the author of 
 the reports you know of can be convinced. 
 
 We have shown you the impossibility of proving 
 them, for the good reason, that as they were made to 
 persons who had the same ideas as their author, and 
 who are culpable because they did not reveal them, they 
 have consequently the strongest interest to deny every- 
 thing .... Although the facts in question cannot be 
 proved, we have none the less done our duty, and given 
 a proof of our devotion to his Majesty and to his august 
 family. 
 
 JULLIEN. 
 
 Let us return to the documents emanating 
 from the ' Black Cabinet.' 
 
64 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 [Translated from English. Delivered by English 
 courier.] 
 
 Unsigned letter addressed to Mr. J. H. Ward, Member of 
 Parliament, London. 
 
 Paris, March 16, 1820. 
 
 I have little to tell you in the way of news, my dear 
 Ward. The gossip-mongers here are very active, but 
 up to the present time they have not yet exhausted the 
 everlasting subject of Louvel, his plot, and the murder. 
 Many arrests have been made, but none of anybody of 
 celebrity; the murderer persists in denying that he 
 had any accomplices. 
 
 The remains of the unfortunate duke were deposited 
 in the vault of his ancestors, at Saint-Denis, the day 
 before yesterday. The ceremony was most imposing ; 
 you will find an account of it in the papers. The King 
 was present, and appeared the least affected of all the 
 assembled crowd. He is said to have already another 
 favourite in the person of a doctor, whose name I forget. 
 A thousand ridiculous stories are spread about his affec- 
 tion for Decazes, and his despair at losing him. Would 
 not one think that it was Decazes who was dead? 
 Here are four anecdotes which are given as true : — 
 
 In the King's bedroom there was a very fine portrait 
 of Eranpois I. The King much surprised the Duke 
 d'Avary, gentleman of the chamber, by saying to him 
 one morning : — ' Duke, I make you a present of this 
 fine portrait of my grandfather.' 
 
 The portrait was immediately taken to the duke's 
 house, and the same evening that of Decazes was put 
 in its place. 
 
 The King of France gives the password every day. 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY 65 
 
 It is generally composed of the name of a saint, and of 
 a provincial town. The day of M. Decazes' departure 
 the passwords given by the King were 'Elie (the Chris- 
 tian name of M. Decazes) and Chartres, the name of 
 the town in which he was to sleep the same night. 
 
 M. Lally-ToUendal made a touching speech in favour 
 of Decazes in the House of Peers. Some days ago the 
 King complimented him publicly at the Tuileries, say- 
 ing, ' It is worthy of you, M. de Lally, to remain always 
 faithful to an unhappy friend.' 
 
 Lately ' Monsieur ' wished to speak to the King 
 again about M. Decazes' faults. His Majesty replied 
 with vivacity, ' Brother, do not let us speak of this 
 again ; his faults are mine, since I knew all. We are 
 living in very difficult times. Have things improved 
 since M. Decazes' departure ? Perhaps we shall be 
 very happy to find him again one day.' 
 
 According to these different anecdotes it is evident 
 that the King preserves all his affection for Decazes, and 
 that the latter's political r6le is certainly not yet played 
 out. 
 
 The Count Goltz's Report to Ids Majesty the King of 
 Prussia, No. 16. 
 
 Paris, March 18, 1820. 
 
 Sire, — I had the honour to receive the rescript 
 No. 10, that your Majesty's minister addressed me, 
 dated the 11th of this month. 
 
 . . . The Duke of Eichelieu confided to me that he 
 had seen the letter that the present King of England 
 wrote with his own hand to the King of France, to 
 assure him of the pleasure he had experienced in re- 
 ceiving the Duke Decazes as ambassador to his court, 
 
 F 
 
66 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 and that, amongst other things, the letter contained this 
 extraordinary phrase, ' That he received the Duke 
 Decazes not only with willingness, but with cordiality. 
 
 [Translated from English.J 
 
 Extract of an unsigned letter to Count Areourt (under 
 cover to Robert William, Esquire). 
 
 Paris, March 20, 1^20. 
 
 It is in vain that proof has been sought that that 
 diabolical act (the assassination of the Duke of Berry) 
 is the result of a conspiracy. I can only compare it to 
 Mr. Perceval's assassination. It must, however, be 
 admitted that the assassin's poignard was sharpened 
 and his hand strengthened by the constant reading of 
 irreligious and infamous writings. The large circula- 
 tion of these writings is all of which the Duke Decazes 
 can be accused in this horrible tragedy. He assuredly 
 permitted and encouraged them, as if to oppose them 
 to certain powerful royalist works in which his adminis- 
 tration was strongly attacked. This party caused him 
 so much fear, and so excited his hatred, that a principal 
 branch of the police was devoted entirely to watching 
 the royalists and to the protection of his own person. 
 That branch is abolished ; some of the radical members 
 of the last administration have been already replaced. 
 I am referring to persons having the same rank as your 
 Under-Secretaries of State, and who had considerable 
 importance in Decazes' eyes. There will be no other 
 changes until the laws now under discussion have 
 received the royal sanction. 
 
 Considered from a general point of view I cannot 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY 67 
 
 tut think that the Duke of Beny's assassination has 
 fortified royalty's cause. 
 
 Decazes has gone to his property near Bordeaux, 
 and we fear his return to Paris. Far from having fallen 
 in his royal master's favour, he appears to be sincerely 
 regretted by the King. His portrait has lately been 
 placed in his Majesty's cabinet. As he resigijed of his 
 own free will, we fear that his return may be in his own 
 power. 
 
 In vain ■' Monsieur ' and the Duchess of Angouleme 
 beg on their knees, or rather implore, the favourite's 
 removal ; nothing can shake the King's friendship and 
 confidence. 
 
 Secret Police. M. Guyon's Report. 
 
 March 29, 1820. 
 
 . , . ' Madame ' the Duchess of Angouleme has had 
 a sharp explanation with his Majesty with reference to 
 M. Decazes, whose recall she strongly opposes — so 
 strongly that his Majesty became angry, and forbade 
 his guards to allow anybody to approach the duchess 
 without his orders, adding in a severe tone, ' Guards, 
 do you understand me ? ' 
 
 Monseigneur the Count d'Artois informed the King 
 that he would quit France in case M. Decazes were 
 recalled ; this threat produced little effect, and his 
 Majesty did not pay the least attention to it. 
 
 The Duke of Fitz-James, who appears to be the 
 declared enemy of Decazes, threatens to kill him if he 
 returns to Paris, and says that he would force him to 
 fight. 
 
 F 3 
 
68 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 General Walterstorfs Report to M. de Roseiikrantz, 
 No. 67. 
 
 Paris, July 7, 1820. 
 
 The Duke Decazes will certainly leave to-morrow ; 
 the greater part of his things are already packed. 
 Yesterday he had a conference of nearly four hours' 
 duration with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 
 
 Some of his friends, particularly amongst the Peers, 
 wished him to mount the tribune before leaving, and to 
 state that, having the honour to belong to so distin- 
 guished a body, and an accusation as absurd as atrocious 
 having been made against him in the Chamber of 
 Deputies, without his being in a position to force his 
 accuser to follow up his accusation, he thought it his 
 duty to declare publicly that M. Clausel de Coussergues 
 is a slanderer. But it is stated that the King wrote 
 him a letter in which he said ' that as his Icing he 
 ordered him, and as his friend he begged him, not to 
 pursue his intention, and to prevent his friends from 
 carrying it out.' 
 
 Count de Goltz's Report to the King of Prussia, No. 37. 
 
 July 8, 1820. 
 
 Duke Decazes, who has continued to go to the 
 King's palace every evening, is at last to leave for 
 London to-morrow evening or the following morning. 
 It appears regretful to me that his Most Christian 
 Majesty has not felt that he placed himself in a most 
 false position in the eyes of the public, and that he 
 injured his own interests in bestowing upon the ex- 
 President of the Council such distinguished, and perhaps 
 such little merited, marks of particular favour. 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY 69 
 
 Despatch from, Count Munster to Count de Grote at 
 Paris. 
 
 London, July 11, 1820. 
 
 Since his too hasty acceptance of Duke Decazes as 
 French ambassador, our Sovereign has already more 
 than once desired to find a pretext for refusing this 
 suspected Minister. The intrigue lately discovered in 
 view of establishing a kingdom in South America for 
 the Buonapartes was quite a sufiScient reason, seeing 
 that the intention was to destroy the influence of 
 English commerce in that part of the New World. 
 But unhappily this occasion was allowed to slip. 
 
 M. Clausel de Coussergues-4ias stated that he under- 
 takes to prove the truth of his accusation ; that 
 between the sessions of 1820-1821 he will publish the 
 facts upon which he based it ; that the work shall be 
 printed, and a copy distributed to each member of the 
 Chamber ; that he had already the first printed proof- 
 sheets, and had shown them. 
 
 Count de GoUz's Report to the Kinfj of Prussia, No. 38. 
 
 Paris, July 15, 1820. 
 
 (Ciphers.) ...... 
 
 Your Majesty will doubtless have learnt from your 
 London mission what political jobbing has been going 
 on here between the French Ministry, presided over 
 by the Duke Decazes, and some unaccredited deputies 
 from Buenos Ayres, with the view of making the son 
 of the Infante Marie-Louise, Duchess of Lucca, sovereign 
 of Buenos Ayres, on condition of an almost exclusive 
 commercial liberty between France and South America. 
 
70 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Sir Charles Stuart has, to his great surprise, only- 
 obtained knowledge of it through his Cabinet about 
 eight days ago. 
 
 Such conduct on the part of a mediating court, and 
 in the midst of negotiations which should only aim at 
 the interests and reconciliation of Spain and Portugal, 
 is certainly as rare as it is blameable, and it is to be 
 supposed that it will prepare for Duke Decazes a much 
 less agreeable reception in London than that he flattered 
 himself he would receive. 
 
 'From, M. de Joinville to Count Munster, in London. 
 
 Paris, September 1, 1820. 
 
 . . . M. de Coussergues has just divulged his 
 opinion that M. Decazes is one of the most dangerous 
 instruments of the incendiary sect, seeing that he 
 enjoys the confidence of the King of France. 
 
 Nevertheless, for kings, ministers, and ambassadors 
 M. Decazes is but a man like any other. In London, 
 with his spies and his treasures, he is looked upon and 
 regarded as would be an honest man and a faithful 
 subject of his master. The police of France, which is 
 devoted to him because it is that of Buonaparte, is 
 directed during his absence by his tool, Angles. It is 
 linown thai it was the police that made away with the 
 papers found at Louvel's house, under the pretext that 
 they were of no importance ; it is known that they 
 are informed of everything, and that nevertheless the 
 authorities were unable to find a clue to lead to the 
 discovery of the chiefs directing all the political crimes 
 lately committed. 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY 71 
 
 September 21, 1820. 
 
 . . . The suspension ofthe Queen's trial gives you 
 a little breathing time ; but all will recommence stronger 
 than ever. Besides, I believe the Government to be in 
 a better position, since the Queen by her replies to the 
 addresses has allowed her intention of revolutionising to 
 be perceived. Everybody who has twopence to pre- 
 serve should join with the authorities against that vixen. 
 I should not be astonished if her friends the radicals 
 lead her on to such a point as to render themselves 
 capable of rebellion and worthy of the scaffold. 
 
 Three women deputed by the Bordeaux market 
 women brought a cradle for the future child of the 
 Duchess of Berry. They went to see the King ; they 
 embraced him, and in the effusion of their caresses said 
 to him, ' You are surrounded by knaves, you must send 
 them away ' ; but the King only made a grimace at the 
 words. 
 
 Letler from the AbbS Ledanois to the Count George 
 Adam Starhemberg, at Vienna. 
 
 London, September 27, 1820. 
 . . . We have the famous Decazes for ambassador 
 here ; nobody sees him. He has taken a country-house 
 at Harrow-on-the-Hill, whence he comes very rarely to 
 Portland Place. Up to the present nobody except Lord 
 Castlereagh has invited him. 
 
 Letter from M. de la Tour du Pin to Sir Chcurles 
 Flint, at London. 
 
 Paris, October 2, 1820. 
 My dear Sir Charles, — It is not to inform you of the 
 excellent news of the birth of the Duke of Bordeaux 
 that I write you, for you are aware of it ; but I am as 
 
72 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 glad of it as you. We wept together the cruel death 
 of the father you loved; let us sing and celebrate 
 together the happy entry of his son into the world. On 
 '^Friday, St. Michael's day, the Patron Saint of France, 
 at a quarter past three in the- morning, the Duchess of 
 Berry was delivered almost without pain. At five o'clock, 
 on waking, I had the pleasure of counting the twenty- four 
 reports of artillery announcing the birth of a prince. 
 My heart beat during the first twelve ; the interval 
 between the twelfth and following report seemed long 
 to me, and the beating of my heart doubled. Finally, 
 the so much longed-for thirteenth sounded, and I re- 
 gained a perfect calm which, allowed me to count to the 
 last. You will appreciate better than I could express it, 
 my dear friend, the happiness I feel at this great event. 
 You know all the details, and you will have admired, as 
 I did, the princess's great presence of mind in not wish- 
 ing to be entirely delivered except in presence of the 
 Marshals and other high crown officials, and even the 
 National Guards on duty. But, perhaps, your papers 
 have omitted to mention the energetic manner in which 
 a national grenadier expressed himself, after having 
 carefully examined the newly-born babe. ' Oh ! in this 
 one there is nothing wanting.' ' Be quiet,' said his 
 neighbour. ' Ma foi,' he replied, ' the words are out ; 
 besides, what I said is true — look for yourself.' 
 
 My son has just gone out, and begs me to present 
 you his respectful compliments. He has just announced 
 numerous promotions of the ' Cordon bleu.' Four pre- 
 lates and thirty-one knights. 
 
 Amongst others : Duke of Laval Montmorency, 
 Duke of Luxembourg, Duke de la Chatre, Duke 
 d'Aumont, Duke of Maill6, Marshal de Diomfinil, Mar- 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BERRY t^ 
 
 quis de Latour Maubourg, Marshal Macdonald, Count 
 de Blacas, Count Pranpois d'Escar ; and then : M. 
 Laine ! Baron Pasquier ! ! M. de Serre ! ! ! Marshal 
 Suchet ! ! ! ! Finally, the Duke Decazes ! ! ! ! ! 
 
 I leave you with the titbit, which will not I hope 
 prevent you appreciating one of the fattest pheasants 
 that we have shot to-day for the first time this year. 
 
 Farewell, my dear Sir Charles, &c. 
 
 Gourd de GoUz's Report to the King of Prussia, No. 52. 
 
 Paris, October 7, 1820. 
 
 The 'Moniteur' of the 1st of this month published 
 the King's decree for the distribution of thirty-five 
 orders of the ' Holy Ghost.' It would have been prefer- 
 able, in my opinion, if several amongst the recipients had 
 been omitted, and that his Majesty had made certain 
 others wait at least some years before conferring the 
 distinction upon them. Marshal Suchet was somewhat 
 shocked at first that the Duchess of Berry should have 
 called him in preference when she was delivered ; but 
 the ' Cordon bleu,' and the flattering remarks of which 
 he was the object, on account of the admiration he had 
 openly shown for the fine character of this princess, 
 appeared perfectly to satisfy him for the present. 
 
 It may easily be imagined that Monseigneur the 
 Duke of Orleans does not share in the satisfaction of the 
 Court ; but it is worthy of note, although the circum- 
 stance is common enough in this country, that at the 
 prince's reception the day before yesterday there were" 
 only foreigners present, and not a single Frenchman. 
 
 He received at his country-house at Neuilly, where 
 one often meets the most remarkable men of the ' left ' 
 of the two Houses of Parliament. 
 
74 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Letter from Madojme . , . to her brother, Count de 
 Munster, at Vienna. 
 
 Bordeaux, 1820. 
 
 . . . We have in Paris in the two Chambers some 
 very eloquent orators, At last they have crushed the 
 ex-Minister of the Interior. What crimes are imputed to 
 him ! Always cherished and protected by the King, it 
 is feared that he has not quitted the helm of public 
 business for good. 
 
 Would that M. de Chateaubriand might have been 
 J?ight, when he said of him, ' He has slipped in blood and 
 will not rise again.' 
 
 The newly-created duke, after having despotically 
 governed Prance, has retired to his castle ; he boasts of 
 the pleasures of a country life, and affects an extreme 
 simplicity. He reminds me of a Gascon who after 
 falling from his horse exclaimed, 'Well, I wanted to 
 dismount.' 
 
 The duke's castle is quite near here. 
 
75 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SECEET POLICE. 
 
 The Lieutenant of the Rhone Police and M. Antinori — An Agent 
 of Murat's-^The Secret Police — A Police Director's Per- 
 plexities. 
 
 The documents which have been read in the 
 previous chapter prove in a rigorously impartial 
 manner the general feeling in 1820 of both pri- 
 vate men and statesmen ; they will enable the 
 reader to form a matured judgment on this 
 period of our history, so curious and yet so 
 little known. 
 
 I wish to complete this bundle of papers 
 with some documents coming, not from the 
 'Black Cabinet,' but from the archives of the 
 secret police, a fact which does not render them 
 less interesting. It seems to me that it is well 
 to make known everything tending to prove that 
 Louvel's crime was not unforeseen, that it was 
 not the act of an isolated assassin, but that of 
 a powerful party, who put the poignard in his 
 hand. 
 
 Some weeks before the murder of the 
 
76 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Duke of Berry, M. Joseph Antinori warned the 
 Minister of PoUce that it was to take place. 
 The correspondence exchanged between him 
 and the central police department is very in- 
 structive, and indicates that he was aware of the 
 existence of Louis XVII. His first letters were 
 not attended to ; but he persisted, sent reports, 
 and, as he was very well informed on many 
 matters, he who was at first called an adven- 
 turer, a swindler, and a sharper, was afterwards 
 carefully brought to Paris at the State's expense. 
 There he was doubtless largely rewarded for 
 speaking of certain things, and more liberally 
 still to keep silent on certain others. 
 
 The lieutenant of the Lyons police wrote to 
 the Minister of the Interior : — 
 
 Minister of the Interior. 
 5th Division, Private Office, No. 3389. 
 
 Lyons, January 21, 1820. 
 
 Monseigneur, — I have the honour to inform your 
 Excellency that a certain Joseph Antinori, native of 
 Naples, has been signalled to me by the Consul-General 
 of H.M. the King of Sardinia at Lyons, as a suspicious 
 character. 
 
 I have discovered the individual. I am having a 
 watch kept on his conduct and doings with all proper 
 activity and circumspection. In a few days, Monseigneur, 
 I shall send you a detailed report on the subject. 
 
 I am, with profound respect, 
 Your Excellency's very humble and obedient servant, 
 Permon, 
 
 Lieutenant of Police. 
 
SECRET POLICE 77 
 
 Another letter the following clay : — 
 
 To the Consul-General of his Majesty the King of 
 Sardinia, at Lyons. 
 
 Lyons, January 22, 1820. 
 
 Sir, — With the letter you did me the honour of 
 writing me on the 18th of this month I received the 
 enclosed copy of a ministerial notice given by order of 
 his Majesty the King of Bavaria, concerning one 
 Joseph Antinori, bom in Naples. 
 
 That individual arrived in Lyons the 12th of this 
 month from Geneva ; he is stopping at the Hotel du 
 Nord ; he was bearer of a passport delivered at Home 
 August 25, 1819, by his Eminence the Cardiaal Consalvi, 
 with destination declared as Turin. 
 
 I have retained this passport, which I am going to 
 send to his Excellency the Secretary of State for the 
 Home Department. Every foreigner entering France 
 must deposit his passport at the frontier, where he 
 receives in exchange a provisional one. 
 
 Since his arrival in Lyons, Antinori has not taken 
 the title of Duke of Brindisi. He lives in a retired 
 manner ; he is not known to have any private relations. 
 He only frequents his hotel, the ' table d'hote,' two 
 ' cafes,' and a library established in the district he 
 inhabits. His appearance in Lyons has no determined 
 motive; the apparent reason is that he has come to 
 taste the pleasures of the Carnival. This seems to me 
 a specious pretence. 
 
 It will be possible by means of an active and cir- 
 cumspect supervision to find out the reason of such a 
 journey. 
 
 I have the honour, &c., 
 Permon, 
 
 Lieutenant of Police. 
 
78 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Antinori, warned that he was being watched 
 and followed, called upon M. de Permon. That 
 gentleman received him, conversed with him, 
 and asked him for a report, which he sent to 
 Paris., 
 
 Antinori's Report} 
 
 Attached to Murat by my principles, employment, 
 and by Hs favours, whicb retrieved my fortune ruined 
 by the new systems, I made it my duty to return the 
 intimate confidence with which he honoured me by 
 fulfilling energetically, and I may add to his entire 
 satisfaction, the different delicate and political missions 
 with which he charged me, of which the following was 
 one of the most diflScult : — 
 
 Murat, warned by his secret agents that Queen 
 Caroline of Sicily had opened, and almost concluded, 
 (negotiations with Napoleon, through the intermediary 
 of the Archduchess Marie-Louise, his wife, by which 
 he consented to give her back the kingdom of Naples 
 on condition that she drove the English out of Sicily, 
 and received there a French garrison, reserving to him- 
 self the right to_ place Murat upon another throne. Not 
 satisfied with this plan, which did not suit him at all, 
 he warned the English Government, by means of Lord 
 Bentinck, and thus causing the project to fail, and the 
 exile and troubles of Queen Caroline. But he could 
 not rest until he had seized the correspondence between 
 the Queen and Napoleon. I, having succeeded with 
 much difficulty in obtaining possession of the correspon- 
 dence and handing it to him, he delivered it to the 
 
 ' The reader -will not forget that Antinori was Italian, 
 
SECRET POLICE 79 
 
 Vienna Congress at the moment that Queen Caroline 
 was intriguing against it. This was a thunderbolt for 
 -her, and having at the same time, through the well- 
 known indiscretion of Miirat, learnt that it was I to 
 whom it was owing, she inspired her son, Prince 
 Leopold, who was with her, with her thirst for ven- 
 geance. 
 
 After Murat's catastrophe, the loss of my employ- 
 ment, and the services I had rendered Murat, caused, 
 existence in my own country to be far from agreeable, 
 and I decided to leave it and offer my services to some 
 European Power, as my want of fortune did not permit 
 me to live independently. I believed that the extent 
 of my relations and my influence in Italy might be 
 very useful to Austria. I therefore addressed myself to 
 the Prince de Metternich, who received my offer very 
 favourably; but, unhappily for me, the Emperor, his 
 master, asked for information about me, on the occasion 
 of the marriage of Prince Leopold of Naples with his 
 daughter. The information given by the prince in a 
 spirit of vengeance and prejudice was the cause of my 
 being sent away, notwithstanding the goodwill of Prince 
 de Metternich and the protection of the General Eubna, 
 and I was made to suffer unjust persecutions unworthy 
 of the grandeur and glory of so great a Sovereign. 
 
 Repulsed by Austria, I offered my services to Russia 
 through the Count Capo d'Istria, and they were ac- 
 cepted. I have therefore acted according to her views 
 and according to her interests, and I justly flatter 
 ■ myself that she is very satisfied both with myself and 
 my work. 
 
 The firm and decided wish of the Emperor of Russia 
 is, notwithstanding all his enemies say, that Europe may 
 
So THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 enjoy an unalterable peace ; but he is convinced that to 
 attain this end no innovations should be made, that 
 above all the great Powers must not oppress the smaller 
 ones, nor interfere with their organisation or their 
 rights. Starting from this principle, which is incon- 
 testable, the Emperor Alexander cannot regard with 
 indifference the conspiracies of England and Austria, 
 which are perfectly well known to him. And if his 
 moderation hinders him from exclaiming against them, 
 and adopting a tone analogous to his power but contrary 
 to his moderate and pacific principles, ib does not hinder 
 him from taking measures to preserve the peace of 
 Europe as far as possible, and to oppose successfully the 
 ambition of any Power wishing to depart from the 
 adopted principles. 
 
 That is why I prevailed upon the Court of Rome to 
 oppose the project of Italian confederation proposed by 
 Austria, which would have tended to place Italy in 
 Austria's power ; and I succeeded in giving it the 
 courage required to reject even the treaty of navigation 
 on the Po, of which Austria aimed at becoming absolute 
 mistress. That is why I have had the greatest success 
 with the Turin cabinet, in opposing an insurmountable 
 barrier to Austria's projects with regard to Italy in spite 
 of the Queen's influence. 
 
 That is why I wished to penetrate the position and 
 the politics of the Court of Bavaria, whose system is 
 perfectly well known to me, as well as all its most 
 secret means, so that I can make any use desirable of 
 them in case of necessity, without counting the incal- 
 culable extent of my relations with Italy, which not 
 only enabled me to know of the Duke of Saint-Aignan's 
 mission to Milan, and the projects communicated by 
 
SECRET POLICE 8i 
 
 H.R.H. the Duke of Angouleme to the King of 
 Sardinia, and the Duke of Ressex's information, and 
 the motives of Mr. Hamilton's journey to Rome, and 
 Lord Bentinck's intrigues, but even the three parties or 
 sects which divide Italy, the ' Carbonari,' the ' Adelphes,' 
 and the ' Consistorials ' ; their spirit, their end, rela- 
 tions, and means ; added to which all that a most 
 precise and precious knowledge of its position, politics, 
 and everything relating to the interior and exterior. 
 But the importance of my negotiations, and the secret 
 of the stolen letters alarmed Austria, who, knowing my 
 activity and my means, discovered, although but partly, 
 whence proceeded the check she experienced, and the 
 insurmountable obstacles raised to her projects ; and 
 judging from the present what she had to fear for the 
 future, she employed every means of thwarting my 
 proceedings. 
 
 Consequently, having learned that from Munich, 
 where I was, I intended proceeding to St. Petersburg, 
 she did not hesitate to most earnestly beg the Bavarian 
 Government not only to expel me from its States, on 
 the pretence that my passport was irregular, but even 
 to refuse to grant me a passport for the interior of 
 Germany, and especially for Russia, so as to oblige me 
 to retrace my steps and thus lose my time, perhaps 
 very precious for her. I am inclined to believe that, 
 on account of the fear with which I inspire Austria, she 
 will use all her influence to damage me in the mind of 
 the Emperor Alexander, and I cannot foresee what may 
 be the result of her attempts. 
 
 In this state of affairs, when I arrived at Geneva 
 I did not hesitate to write, with my usual frankness, to 
 the Prince de Metternich and the General Rubna, to 
 
 G 
 
82 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ask tliern. in a most forcible manner for an explanation 
 of a conduct which appeared to me strange and im- 
 proper ; and I indicated Lyons, a more agreeable rest- 
 ing-place than Geneva, as the place to which to address 
 the replies I expect at any moment. But a few days 
 after my arrival here one of my friends informed me 
 that I was watched. I did not hesitate to present 
 myself with confidence to one of the highest officials 
 of the Government, M. de Permon, to clear away any 
 doubts, the more disagreeable to me as neither my 
 missions nor my operations have any relation to France, 
 and that I neither know nor see a living soul in Lyons, 
 which I now visit for the first time. 
 
 I therefore thought it proper to make him a con- 
 fidential and exact report of the position in which I 
 find myself, begging him to submit to his Excellency 
 the Prime Minister, Monseigneur the Count Decazes, 
 and to wait his orders, if he will honour me with them ; 
 and X am ready to give any further explanations on 
 that which I have confided to him, and on many other 
 political relations of the gravest import, all of which 
 are to my hand and well known to me on account of 
 my relations in different parts of the globe. 
 
 I hope, and at the same time expect, that entire 
 secrecy shall be observed, and that my confidence and 
 frankness will not be taken advantage of. 
 
 Joseph Antinoki. 
 
 Lyons, January 23, 1820. 
 
 Interviews continued to take place between 
 Antinori and the lieutenant of police, who 
 had received confidential instructions from the 
 capital. 
 
 Antinori went to Lausanne, promising to 
 
SECRET POLICE 83 
 
 Write to M. de Permon, who received the 
 following letter from him dated March 31, 
 1820 :— 
 
 Lausanne, March 31, 1820. 
 
 Monsieur de Permon, — I promised to write you, and 
 I keep my word ; but as I have no desire to incite the 
 enmity of a man who will appear upon the scene more 
 powerful than ever, you will allow me therefore, until 
 I am positively sure of the discretion and secrecy re- 
 quired by these affairs, to speak to you with circum- 
 spection and prudence. 
 
 Believe me, you are on the edge of a precipice 
 which threatens to open and swallow you. The insur- 
 rection in Spain, which will not stop while going on 
 so well, and that which will break out in two months 
 at the latest in another part of Europe, will place you 
 between two fires, which will serve to draw you into 
 thQ conflagration ; at this time, and not sooner, you will 
 be dreadfully tormented, and will see the realisation of 
 my words. Mina has spoken, and if you knew all he 
 said, if I could communicate to you an intercepted 
 correspondence, you would shudder with horror, you 
 would see your ruin inevitable ; but, I repeat, the 
 enmity of a man who will become more powerful, than 
 ever, and who, by I know not what magic, lias fascinaied 
 the ei/es of the most clear-sighted, would not suit me 
 at all, nor would it suit my purpose. I must therefore 
 be sure of a discretion proof against everything before 
 entering into more important details. 
 
 I flatter myself, sir, you will approve a reserve 
 rendered indispensable by my position, and accept the 
 assurance of my highest esteem, &c. 
 
 Amtinori. 
 
 G 2 
 
84 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Antinori wrote a second letter on April 4, 
 which, like the first, remained unanswered, M. 
 de Permon acting in conformity with instruc- 
 tions from the General-Director of Departmental 
 Administration and the police. But he advised 
 his chief of tliem on May 13, and sent him at 
 the same time Antinori's last letter. 
 
 General Direction of Departmental Administration and of Police. 
 Private Office, No. 3945. 
 
 Lyons, May 13, 1820. 
 
 Monsieur le Direeteur-General, — In accordance with 
 the letter you did me the honour to write me on April 15 
 last, in reply to that I had written you the 5th of the 
 same month, I abstained from replying to the communi- 
 cations of M. Antinori. 
 
 I have received another letter from him, of which I 
 hasten to send you a copy enclosed. 
 
 H.R.H. Monseigneur the Duke of Angouleme was 
 no longer in Lyons when this letter reached me. 
 
 According to your instructions I do not reply to M. 
 Antinori. 
 
 Nevertheless, as these hints he gives have some coin- 
 cidence with divers reports which reach me from several 
 points, I am carefully on my guard in order to baffle 
 any attempts at malevolence. 
 
 I am, &e., 
 
 Peemon. 
 
 'Enclosure. 
 
 Lausanne, May 8, 1820. 
 To M. de Permon, — Your silence after my letter of 
 April 4 should excuse me from writing to you again ; 
 but you know my sentiments, and the extreme import- 
 
SECRET POLICE 85 
 
 ance of a thing which may have the most fatal conse- 
 quences for your tranquillity, convince me that the 
 revelations which I could make directly to his Royal 
 Highness Monseigneur the Duke of Angouleme on his pass- 
 ing through Lyons or elsewhere, if he will grant me the 
 honour of a reception, will be not only useful to him, 
 but I dare to say indispensable to the security of his 
 kingdom, and the glory and happiness of his august 
 family. 
 
 I beg you therefore, sir, to inform me whether his 
 Royal Highness accepts my offer, in which case I will 
 proceed immediately to wherever he may order ; and if 
 the contrary, while abstaining from importuning you, I 
 shall content myself by wishing, perhaps in vain, the 
 tranquillity and happiness of France and glory of the 
 reigning dynasty. 
 
 My position and the immense extent of my relations 
 give me the clue to many mysteries, and the confidence 
 to speak to you frankly. 
 
 Believe me, &c., 
 
 Antinori. 
 
 As later did Madame de Eambaud, and 
 Madame Marco de Saint-Hilaire, so Murat's 
 former agent, to whom Joseph Buonaparte had 
 confided a secret on which he said depended 
 the happiness of France and the glory of the 
 Royal Family — a secret which was none other 
 than that of the existence of Louis XVII. — so 
 Antinori wished to speak to the Duchess of 
 Angouleme. To her he wished to reveal 
 the existence of her brother, or, in default of 
 
«6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 her, to the duke himself. But orders were 
 given not to reply to his demands. 
 
 Whatever it might be, this secret, a great 
 desire was exhibited at the Tuileries to learn 
 what Antinori knew, in a manner which would 
 be uncompromising. M. de Permon received 
 orders to put himself again in communication 
 with him. 
 
 No further hesitation was possible. 
 
 The Duke de Berry had been murdered, 
 the police having been warned beforehand. 
 Antinori likewise announced the fresh attempt 
 which was to endanger the life of the child 
 yet unborn, and M. de Permon informed the 
 Director-General of the execution of his orders. 
 
 General Direction of Departmental Administration and of Police. 
 Private. Office, No. 4160. 
 
 Lyons, June 17, 1820. 
 
 To the General Director, — In conformity with the 
 confidential letter you did me the honour to write me 
 on May 29 last, in reply to mine of the 13th of the 
 same month, I wrote on the 5th instant to M. Antinori, 
 and enclose you copy of my letter. 
 
 By this post I have received a reply from that person 
 which I enclose also. 
 
 According to your instructions I confine myself to 
 referring everything to you, and I shall abstain from 
 all further correspondence with this foreigner, but I 
 write you to-day by telegraph (sia). 
 
 I am, &c., 
 
 Permon. 
 
SECRET POLICE 87 
 
 To M. Antinori, Foste Restante at Lausanne. 
 
 Lyons, June 5, 1820. 
 Sir, — I received the two letters you did me tte honour 
 to write me. You are free to send me in writing the 
 information you say you can furnish ; I shall then be 
 able to appreciate its importance. 
 
 But if you refuse to employ this means you will 
 authorise me to conclude that your oflfers are illusive. 
 
 Permon, 
 
 Lieutenant of Police. 
 
 Lausanne, June 12, 1820. 
 
 To M. de Permon, — Admit, sir, in good faith, that 
 but for the recent events in Paris, which I announced to 
 you two months ago, you would not have had the good- 
 ness to reply on the 5th of June to my two previous 
 letters. 
 
 Events which might have been avoided if yen had 
 communicated my last letter to his Royal Highness — 
 events which are but the prelude to your inevitable 
 and near ruin ; but I am too accustomed to aflfairs to 
 accede to your' request to communicate to you that 
 which I could only communicate directly to his Royal 
 Highness, or at least in this moment to one of his 
 Majesty's Ministers. You, have only a moment to save 
 yourselves, and I offer you the means, on which I stake 
 my life. That moment passed, you are irredeemably 
 lost ; but I shall only communicate the danger verbally 
 to his Majesty's Ministers, and on their positive and 
 direct invitation to proceed to Paris for that object. 
 
 It is for you, sir, after the information I have given 
 you, and from the sample I have already given you, to 
 
88 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 judge what is advisable for you to do. As for me, I 
 will serve you if you desire it ; if you decide to the 
 contrary, I can only pity you ; but while sighing ovot* 
 your misfortunes and your ruin, I shall not cease to 
 bear towards you personally the highest esteem and 
 consideration. 
 
 Your very humble servant, &c., 
 
 Antinori. 
 
 P.S. — If you do not have the kindness to reply by 
 return of post, I warn you, sir, that I shall consider 
 myself relieved from all my promises ; the more so, as 
 I do not intend to remain much longer here without 
 some definite object. 
 
 The lieutenant of police of the department 
 of the Ehone at once invited his correspondent 
 to proceed to Paris. We have not his letter, 
 which probably was kept by Antinori, and 
 M. de Permon did not send a copy to the 
 General Director ; but it brought the following 
 reply, dated June 26, 1820 :— 
 
 Lausanne, June 26, 1820. 
 Monsieur de Permon, — If I were particular, or 
 less well-intentioned, I could, sfr, make some observa- 
 tions respecting your manner of inviting me to proceed 
 to Paris, and as to the person to whom you send me ; 
 but I only think of your impending danger, and I seize 
 without hesitation this occasion to guarantee you 
 against it. But you are too reasonable to desire that in 
 acting to render you an essential and inapp'eciaMe ser- 
 vice, I should support the expenses of the journey. I 
 ask for no recompense until my information has been 
 
SECRET POLICE £g 
 
 judged, and my services profited by ; but my finances 
 do not allow me to advance money, and you will not, 
 sir, find it out of place if I wait until you are good 
 enough to send me an order for fifty louis, when I shall 
 immediately start. 
 
 You would be wrong to suppose that your Govern- 
 ment will ever regret this small expense, since it is a 
 question of its salvation, on which I stake my life ; but 
 I beg you to excuse me if I cannot do without it, and 
 you may reckon upon my exactitude and my prompti- 
 tude to convince you of the sincerity of my promises. 
 For this reason I hand you my receipt herewith for you 
 to use as you think fit. 
 
 Your reply will decide the moment of my departure, 
 and I can positively assure you that the nature and 
 importance of my revelations are such as to save your 
 country from the fearful dangers menacing it, and to 
 assure its tranquillity and happiness ; and at the same 
 time I must not hide from you that moments are more 
 precious than you can imagine. 
 
 I have the honour to remain, &c., 
 
 Antinoki. 
 
 The police department did not lose an in- 
 stant. This mar-joy, this bird of ill-omen, was 
 brought to Paris immediately. They naturally 
 paid his travelling expenses, while waiting to 
 buy his silence. 
 
 He gave a first receipt. 
 
 I have received from M. de Permon, Lieutenant- 
 General of Police at Lyons, fifty louis in gold, which I 
 had asked for in order to proceed to Paris, where I 
 
9° THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 promise to arrive the .... of this month of July, in 
 
 order to present myself to his Excellency the General 
 
 Director of Departmental Administration and Police of 
 
 the Kingdom, in accordance with my letters addressed 
 
 to the said M. de Pennon. 
 
 Antinori. 
 Lausanne, July 1820. 
 
 On passing through Lyons, Antinori called 
 to pay his respects to M. de Permon. He did 
 not divulge any of his secrets to that official, 
 but inspired him with a holy fear, the' im- 
 pression of which was echoed over hill and dale 
 by the great arms of the telegraph posts rising 
 in the air and gesticulating with fright. 
 
 Telegraph Despatch from 
 
 dArgone line. Lyons^ transmitted to Paris. 
 
 Lieutenant of Police at Lyons to the Director-General of 
 the Provincial Police Administration. 
 
 July 27, 1820. 
 M. Antinori has arrived in Lyons. He leaves to- 
 day for Paris. He is to present himself to you as soon 
 as he arrives. I beg you to receive him without delay. 
 
 Certified copy. 
 
 Chappe. 
 Lyons, July 29. 
 
 Antinori effectually proceeded to Paris. He 
 was received by the Director-General of the 
 Provincial Police Administration, and by the 
 Minister of Police ; he pointed out the dangers 
 
SECRET POLICE 91 
 
 run by the King, and what must be done to 
 avoid them. Doubtless he offered his aid to 
 put these means into execution, and, liis mission 
 terminated, he retired into some quiet town in 
 Italy, where under an ever blue sky and thanks 
 to an eternal springtime, he became the founder 
 of a family of honest men and good patriots. 
 
92 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTEE VI. 
 
 THE INQUIRY. 
 
 The Empress Josephine an Accomplice to the Dauphin's Escape — 
 A Page from Louis Blanc — ^His Father and the Civil List — 
 Louis XVIII.'s Inquiry — What the Count Angles thought — 
 A Letter from Jules Favre. 
 
 A FEW months age the Empress Eugenie said 
 to one of her former maids-of-honour, that it 
 was a tradition in the Buonaparte family that 
 Josephine had contributed to the escape from 
 the Temple, and that her death, so sudden and 
 so strange, might well be attributed to some 
 imprudent revelations she had made on the 
 subject. 
 
 Was Nauendorff really the son of Louis XVI. ? 
 This is, I repeat, a question which I have no 
 mission to solve. I am simply convinced that 
 the Dauphin did not die in the Temple, but 
 those who denied Nauendorff 's identity ought 
 to have established his veritable condition — it 
 was elementary. Why was not this done? 
 When one peruses the numerous documents col- 
 
THE INQUIRV 93 
 
 lected by Jules Eavre, one must be of bad faith 
 or very limited intelligence not to recognise in 
 Nauendorff a political personage. He was there- 
 fore doubly interesting, and it would have been 
 but child's play for the police to have found his 
 father. Why, again, was not this done ? 
 
 I am anxious to produce a last attestation, 
 which confirms in the most formal and authentic 
 fashion the fact of which the Empress Eugenie 
 spoke : — 
 
 This sixtli of July, 1840, before Mr. John Sise Venn, 
 Public Notary at London, duly admitted and sworn, be 
 being at No. 8 Camberwell Green, near London, and 
 the two undersigned witnesses who attested the identity 
 of the appearing party, was present Madame Catherine 
 Hyde, Marchioness of Broglio-Solari, who, appearing in 
 presence of me, notary, and of the said witnesses, 
 solemnly declared as follows, to wit : — 
 
 I, Catherine Hyde, Marchioness of Broglio-Solari, 
 formerly in the service of her Majesty Marie- Antoinette, 
 and known as ' la petite Anglaise,' declare as follows : — 
 
 1. That being in Brussels with my husband, the 
 Marquis of Broglio-Solari, minister of the Eepublic of 
 Venice, during the winter of 1803, we were invited to 
 dinner at the house of Barras, one of the ex-directors 
 of the French Eepublic. 
 
 Conversation between my husband and Barras 
 having turned on the subject of Buonaparte, Barras, 
 a little excited by wine, exclaimed : ' He will never 
 succeed in his ambitious projects, for the son of Louis 
 XVI. is living.' This took place in 1803. At this 
 
94 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 time Pontecoulant, the Prefect, had received an order 
 to allow none but foreigners to visit Barras. 
 
 2. That my husband and myself were present at the 
 sale by the ex-director of the land of Grosbois, formerly 
 helon'ging to (he Count of Provence, to General Moreau, 
 a fact which I simply state to prove the intimacy exist- 
 ing between Barras and my husband, whom he called 
 upon to sign the contract of sale. 
 
 3. That having passed some time with Rortense, 
 Queen of Holland, at Augsburg, towards 1819-1820, 
 she confirmed in several conversations the Dauphin's 
 escapfe from the Temple, and that amongst other things 
 she told me that when the Emperor Alexander and the 
 King of Prussia went to visit Josephine, they asked her, 
 ' Whom shall we place on (lie throne of France ? ' and 
 Josephine replied, ' Naturally, the son of Louis XVI.' 
 
 4. That having learned that a person living in Cam- 
 berwell called himself the son of Louis XVI., I solicited 
 an interview, and, having obtained it, I acquired the 
 firm and settled conviction from facts which came to my 
 knowledge, and firom the proofs given me by his Koyal 
 Highness, that he, Charles Louis, Duke of Normandy, 
 formerly hnown hy the na/me of Nauendorff, is the verit- 
 able son of Louis XVI. and Marie- Antoinette. 
 
 I hasten to ofier this present declaration to his Royal 
 Highness, aflBrming before God and men that everything 
 therein contained is the exact truth. 
 In faith of which I have signed. 
 
 Catherine Hyde, 
 Marchioness of Broglio-Solari, native of England. 
 
 It is not necessary for me to dwell upon the 
 great importance of this testimony from the 
 
THE INQUIRY 95 
 
 Marchioness of Broglio-Solari, for, coming from 
 the wife of the Minister of the Venetian Eepublic, 
 it was as worthy of belief as that of Madame de 
 iiambaud and Madame Marco de Saint-Hilaire. 
 This testimony is confirmed by that of M. 
 Lambreti de Fontaine, librarian to the Dowager 
 Duchess of Orleans. In ' Eevelations de I'exist- 
 ence de Louis XVII.,' page 25, we read : — 
 
 'In 1814 the Empress Josephine received the 
 visit of the King of Prussia and the Emperor 
 Alexander at the castle of Malmaison ; Josephine 
 interceded with them in favour of Louis XVII. 
 
 ' The King of Prussia did not make any 
 promise. 
 
 ' The Emperor Alexander promised to exert 
 his efforts that everything should remain in a 
 provisional state in Prance until the son of 
 Louis XVI. should have been discovered, and 
 that he would then see justice done him. How- 
 ever secret the conversation was kept, it appears 
 that something of it must have transpired, for 
 but few days afterwards Josephine died almost 
 suddenly, and the whole of Europe named the 
 author of this premature death.' 
 
 Among historians of undoubted authority 
 Louis Blanc may be named in the first rank 
 without fear of contradiction. Not only did he, 
 like every impartial writer, admit the escape 
 from the Temple, but he sought to explain the 
 
96 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 reasons which had contributed to keep it a 
 secret, and that Louis XVII. had never been in 
 a position to obtain acknowledgment of his 
 rights. 
 
 In ' L'Histoire de la Eevolution Frangaise,' 
 .edition of 1869, volume xiii., page 100, he 
 expresses himself as follows : — 
 
 ' The question will doubtless be asked how 
 it is that if it be true that the son of Louis XVI. 
 did not die in the Temple, his existence has 
 ^ever been recognised in a positive manner, or 
 his identity solemnly proved. There is certainly 
 reason for astonishment, yet this astonishment 
 diminishes if it is considered : — 
 
 ' That at the time indicated as that of the 
 escape the Dauphin was only nine years old ; 
 
 ' That he was consequently liable to fall into 
 all sorts of snares ; 
 
 ' That during this period the whole of 
 Europe was in a state of fearful confusion ; 
 
 'That the Eoyahst party was a hotbed of 
 intrigues ; its principal leaders only looked 
 upon the restored monarchy as a prey to be 
 devoured, and amongst the rival pretenders 
 they held themselves ready to support those 
 who offered them the largest number of 
 places ; 
 
 ' That the Count de Provence, called to wear 
 the crown in default of any direct heir, was a 
 
THE INQUIRY 97 
 
 man in whom profound cunning was combined 
 with a most violent desire to reign ; 
 
 ' That he had a powerful interest to allow the 
 destiny of his nephew to remain in the obscurity 
 which events had cast about it.' 
 
 Like all who write without the mental reser- 
 vation of favouring one party to the detriment 
 of others, Louis Blanc was attacked by all. But 
 those who have the least forgiven him for having 
 sought to discover the truth for its own sake 
 are undoubtedly the Eoyalists. Being unable 
 to combat the writer, they attempted to strike 
 the man in attacking his honour — without, 
 however, any success — in spreading reports that 
 Louis Blanc would have done better to have 
 
 ■■tt 
 
 shown more reserve in his judgment of the 
 Bourbons, seeing that his father accepted a 
 pension from their civil list. 
 
 Charles Blanc, senior, was, in fact, on the list 
 of those to whom royal aid was accorded ; but 
 Louis Blanc, wishing to be free of any gratitude, 
 of any moral debt, endeavoured to cause the 
 pension to be discontinued. 
 
 The following letters throw the true light 
 upon the facts of the case. They do not appear 
 to be out of place, for they can but serve to 
 elevate the character of a writer whose impar- 
 tiality we appeal to and respect :- — 
 
 H 
 
t)8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 To Baron Mounier, 
 
 February 8, 1841. 
 
 Sir, — I learn that my father receives from time to 
 time monetary aid from the funds destined for the 
 ancient pensioners of the civil list. 
 
 This does not appear right to me, my convictions 
 imposing upon me the duty of combating the present 
 Government. 
 
 My father is poor. 1 am poor also ; but the half of 
 what I earn by my work has sufficed up till now to 
 assure him an annnal pension of twelve hundred francs. 
 That is enough to keep both of us from extreme 
 poverty. 
 
 I beg you earnestly, sir, to erase from the list of 
 those who receive succour the name of my father, M. 
 Charles Blanc (of Aveyron). 
 
 Nevertheless, as it would not be just that my father 
 suffered from his son's susceptibility, I would beg the 
 permission to hand you for him, at the regular times, 
 the small sum that he is in the habit of receiving. 
 
 It would be well that my father ignore completely 
 what I have done ; in allowing him to remain in ignor- 
 ance of it you will have earned the right to my 
 gratitude. 
 
 Receive, sir, the assurance of my highest considera- 
 tion. Louis Blajvc. 
 
 To M. Louis Blanc. 
 
 Febmaxy 13, 1841. 
 You wrote, to me, sir, to ask me to strike the name 
 of your father, M. Blanc, off the list of those receiving 
 the assistance accorded to pensioners of the ancient 
 civil list. 
 
THE INQUIRY 99 
 
 It is not possible for me to accede to sucli a request, 
 M. Blanc fulfils the requisite conditions ; he has, there- 
 fore, a right to benefit by the measures taken to relieve 
 the position of these ancient pensioners. 
 
 I did not reply to you sooner because you omitted 
 in your letter to give your address. 
 
 I have the honour, &c., 
 
 Baron Modnieb. 
 
 I have already stated that M. Sosthene de La 
 Eochefoucauld, Duke of Doudeauville, knew 
 what to beheve respecting the Dauphin's pre- 
 tended death. He was not the only • person 
 amongst the confidants of Louis XVni. for 
 whom the existence of Louis XVTE. was no 
 mystery, and the King, informed by the police 
 that although not doing so openly, even his 
 confidants discussed the matter, had the idea 
 not to treat this malevolent talk with contempt, 
 but to combat it. The faithful Decazes was 
 charged with the direction of the campaign. 
 Former servant of the Imperial family, he con- 
 fided to the Count Angles, who like himself 
 had gone over bag and baggage to the Bour- 
 bons' service, the duty of making an inquiry 
 of which the avowed aim was said to be to 
 reward those who had given proofs of devotion 
 to the royal child in the Temple. But the 
 inquiry carefully instituted was intended tp 
 furnish the King with the means of confound- 
 
 E 2 
 
100 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ing those who accused him of usurping the 
 throne. 
 
 Here are the terms in which the Count 
 Decazes confided this important mission to the 
 Prefect of Police : — 
 
 ' All those who in those times of fatal memory 
 were able to render service to the young prince 
 have found their reward in their conscience. 
 But this kind of recompense does not satisfy the 
 princes of the House of Bourbon. They have 
 searched with diligence, as soon as they returned 
 to their native soil, any one who during their 
 captivity dared to render the smallest service 
 to the illustrious prisoners in the Temple. It 
 would appear, however, that some, doubtless 
 from most praiseworthy motives, have hidden 
 themselves from the royal gratitude. 
 
 ' His Majesty has appeared to desire that such 
 persons should be carefully sought ; if they are 
 living to inquire as to their residences, their 
 present position, and their conduct, and to find 
 out what would be best to do for their welfare. 
 His Majesty orders that nothing be neglected 
 in order to obtain a prompt enlightenment on 
 this subject. You can address me any informa- 
 tion so soon as obtained, as well as any indi- 
 cations which might further the object of the 
 search I am directed to make.' ^ 
 
 _ " National Archives, F. 7, carton G,808, dossier 1,406, 
 minutes. 
 
THE INQUIRY loi 
 
 Let US see the effect of the investigation. 
 
 The result was strange and quite unexpected ; 
 discovery was made — not of the young prince's 
 body — but of proofs of the most touching devo- 
 tion on the part of those around him, and cer- 
 tificates of kind behaviour were given to his 
 guards, his jailers, and his executioners. 
 
 Even Simon himself — the odious, infamous 
 Simon, he whom history will ever stigmatise as 
 a cowardly criminal, in spite of all the investi- 
 gations that it pleased Louis XVIII. to order — 
 and Simon's wife, are both found to possess 
 virtues hitherto unknown. Madame Simon was 
 a second mother to the Dauphin. The eminent 
 M. Chantelauze, who beheved Louis XVII. to 
 have died in the Temple, said (' Louis XVII, son 
 enfance, sa prison et sa mort au Temple,' at 
 page 7):— 
 
 ' The investigation furnished some very in- 
 teresting particulars on the visits to the Temple 
 made by other physicians, such as Thierry, 
 Naudin, Brunyer, and one Pipelet, a surgical 
 bandage-maker. They will be noticed in due 
 course. 
 
 ' The widow Simon, at that time in the Hospital 
 for Incurables, Kue de Sevres, was the object of 
 a special and more careful inquiry than the 
 others, and the conclusions arrived at were very 
 singular. Without taking any notice of the 
 
I02 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 universal reprobation and the overwhelming 
 testimony against this woman by the Temple 
 servitors, Count Angles' agents, founding their 
 belief upon information the source of which they 
 do not mention, expressed an opinion about her 
 absblutely in contradiction with those of their 
 contemporaries. They inclined to the belief that, 
 far from having ill-treated the little prince con- 
 fided to her charge, she did not cease to bestow 
 upon him almost maternal care.' 
 
 I understand the diflSculty Count Angles' 
 agents would have had to say whence they had 
 obtained their information. 
 
 It may justly be supposed that it was 
 slightly fanciful ; but the end the King had in 
 view was to prove the death of his nephew and 
 the lawfulness of his own reign ; and the inquiry 
 was conducted with this aim. All the witnesses 
 found alive of that sombre and mysterious tragi- 
 comedy of which the Temple was the scene, were 
 rewarded in proportion to their affirmations in 
 favour of the prince's death. Some were made 
 knights of the legion of honour, others received 
 money, others appointments ; but notwithstand- 
 ing all the skill exhibited by Count Angles, 
 history will always consider Simon and his wife 
 two abominable rascals. 
 
 And you, reader, who do me the honour of 
 perusing these lines, did you know of the inquiry 
 
THE INQUIRY 103 
 
 made by Louis. XyiTE., and do you seriously 
 think that the woman Simon behaved like a 
 second mother to the ' little Capet ' ? 
 
 The Count Angles was not only a most 
 valuable Prefect of Police, but he was, what is 
 preferable, a thoroughly honest man. 
 
 What did he think of the rble he was made 
 to play, and of the Government which imposed 
 this rtle upon him ? 
 
 He will answer for himself : — 
 
 To Baron Louis. 
 
 December 3, 1827. 
 
 ... Tbese are the bitternesses and persecutions 
 that I have suffered during seven years, because I 
 would never share the passions 6f a party, and be its 
 instrument. 
 
 I knew too well all their, odious and perfidious 
 manoeuvres, and I foresaw as well as any one — perhaps 
 better on account of my position — the harm they were 
 likely to draw upon France. Therefore I did not 
 hesitate to resign at the same time as the Duke of 
 Richelieu. I was at that time the only public func- 
 tionary occupying an exalted position who had suffi- 
 cient force of character to resign. . . . 
 
 Count Angles. 
 
 M. Chantelauze adds (page 234) : — 
 
 . . . But on the demand made by the General 
 Council of the Commune, January 8, 1794, to the 
 Committee of Public Safety, that it should express ' its 
 wish respecting the nomination of the citizen who 
 should replace Simon, the guardian of the little Capet,' 
 
104 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 the committee, with the most culpable want of fore- 
 sight, and without appreciating the import and the 
 deplorable consequences of its decision, declared tliai it 
 regwrded Simon's mission as useless, and thought that the 
 members of the Council alone should watch over the 
 prisoners in the Temple. This was to a certain extent 
 to renounce any sort of control of the interior rules of 
 the prison ; it was to permit tacitly and in a cowardly 
 manner that the children of Louis XVI., although still 
 considered by the ' Convention ' as State prisoners — 
 since they were kept in a special prison — were to be 
 treated on an equal footing with thieves and assassins ; 
 to partake of the same food, and be like them deprived 
 of any servitor ; it was, in a word, to hand them over 
 without protection to the brutality and ferocity of the 
 bandits of the Commune. We shall soon see in what 
 an atrocious manner they used the unlimited powers 
 confided to them, in order to cover their responsibility. 
 In the mean time, the General Council decided that 
 four of its members should be sent to the Temple every 
 day, as commissaries, there to remain twenty-four 
 hours, and keep in future a direct watch over the 
 prisoners. 
 
 What more efficacious measures could have 
 been taken in view of an escape ? 
 
 A child without special servants, whose dis- 
 cretion must be relied upon, visited each day by- 
 different persons. 
 
 Nothing easier than to effect his escape with- 
 out discovery, by putting another child in his 
 place for a few hours. 
 
THE INQUIRY 105 
 
 A child was chosen who was very ill ; he 
 died. ' Strangers who had never seen the Dau- 
 phin ' came to affirm that they had seen a dead 
 child, ' who was stated to them to be the little 
 jpiapet,' ^ and the trick was done. 
 
 It is, besides, astonishing that the young Dau- 
 phin's body was never found. All the searches 
 ordered by Louis XVIII., with a view of dis- 
 covering his remains in the cemetery of Sainte 
 Marguerite, were without result. A pohce force 
 well enough organised to discover that Simon and 
 his wife were honest, nay more, virtuous people, 
 ought, it would seem, to have been able, in spite 
 of all obstacles, to discover the coffin ; but it 
 would appear that if the police were prodigal 
 with their assertions, they found it more diffi- 
 cult to produce real and material proofs of the 
 death. 
 
 It must be admitted that the King was unfor- 
 tunate ; for if the body of his nephew had been 
 exhumed, the slanderers who pretended that he 
 was still alive would have been silenced. 
 
 M. Chantelauze has, it appears, some very im- 
 portant papers, which are to prove, in one of the 
 next editions of the work already mentioned, 
 that the Dauphin's body was discovered in . . . 
 1846. 
 
 Why did not the good Louis Philippe deco- 
 
 ' Certificate of the death of Louis XVII. 
 
io6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 rate and pension those who, by such a discovery, 
 had removed an odious suspicion from the me- 
 mory of the sovereigns whose throne he, in his 
 turn, had so gallantly usurped? And why have 
 forty years been allowed to elapse before we are 
 promised the revelation of a fact of such capital 
 interest in our history ? 
 
 In getting together the different documents 
 which have been read, I have been brought into 
 contact with numbers of people. Some have 
 said to me, when I told them of the opinion 
 Jules Favre had expressed to me as to the 
 genuineness of Nauendorff's claims : — 
 
 ' ' I do not doubt either the sincerity of your 
 gtatementSj nor the exactness of your memory. 
 But you may be assured that in his heart Jules 
 Favre knew what to, think about the pretensions 
 of his clients.' 
 
 I am anxious to reply to those who spoke to 
 me thus, and think I cannot do so better than 
 by reproducing the last letter which the emi- 
 nent lawyer and faithful - friend addressed to 
 those for whom he was unable to obtain the 
 justice of an investigation. 
 
 .To Madame the Princess AmMie de Bourbon. 
 
 January 2, 1880. 
 • Dear Princess, — I am deeply touched by your faith- 
 ful souvenir, and in exchange for. your wishes I offer 
 
THE INQUIRY lo; 
 
 yOu the sincere expression of those I form for your 
 happiness. Providence has given you a haven after the 
 violent storms which have agitated your heart. You 
 will find therein the supreme treasure of a loyal and 
 pure affection, the ever fresh iiitercourse with a fine 
 intelligence worthy of associating with your own, and 
 to share its noble hopes. May God long preserve you 
 this happiness, and above all may He reserve for you, 
 as a recompense for your pious faith and filial constancy, 
 a brilliant and unexpected manifestation of the truth. . 
 To say truly, I wish it you without hope. I believe, as 
 you do, that despite resistance and human ambitions, 
 perhaps even because of them, and by reason of their 
 efforts, opinion is sufficiently enlightened to serve as a 
 lamp to history. That is your resource, and the elo- 
 quent book you have sent me will powerfully assist yon. 
 
 I thank you for your letter, which has profoundly 
 touched me, for I am still, and shall remain to the end, 
 the advocate of your heroic defeat. I am buried under 
 the ruins of your cause, and more than ever convinced 
 of its justice. 
 
 I beg you to present my compliments to M. de la 
 Prade, and to believe, dear Princess, in the assurance of 
 my respect and devotion. 
 
 Jules Favee. 
 
 During the course of this study I have 
 limited myself to presenting facts and pro- 
 ducing testimonies in all their integrity. I have 
 not had to judge the Nauendorffs, who, I am 
 assured, although Jules Favre's letter would 
 seem to convey a contrary impression, have 
 
io8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 always been profoundly ungrateful to those who 
 have served them. 
 
 This is quite characteristic of the Bourbons. 
 If the Nauendorffs do not really belong to the 
 royal family, they are at least on this account 
 quite worthy of the connection. 
 
NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 
 
 CHAPTEE Vn. 
 
 THE FIRST BUONAPAETES. 
 
 The Cradle of the Corsican Buonapartes — Sarzane — San Miniato — 
 Florence — Tombs and Monuments — The Veneration of An- 
 cestors. 
 
 Several historians have placed Sarzane, the 
 little town where the Buonapartes originated, in 
 Tuscany ; this is an error.-"^ 
 
 Sarzane, whither I made a few years ago 
 an historical pilgrimage, is a coquettish little 
 town in the Genoese territory. Its clean and 
 regular pavement gives it a holiday appearance. 
 Notwithstanding the interest presented by its 
 archives, they have been very little consulted. 
 I wished to find there all I could relating to the 
 Buonapartes, and I was greatly assisted by Msgr. 
 Podesta, to whom I desire to address my best 
 thanks. 
 
 ' Colonel Yung, amongst others, says {Buonaparte et son temps, 
 vol. i. p. SO) : ' The Buonaparte family originated in Sarzane, in 
 Tuscany.' 
 
no THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 I received the following letter on August 19, 
 1885 :— 
 
 Sarzane, August 17, 1885. 
 Sir, — In reply to your favour of the 5tli, I make it 
 my duty to send you the enclosed memoir of the Buona- 
 parte family. 
 
 It was kindly furnished me by Msgr. Louis 
 Podesta, archdeacon of the cathedral, who joins to an 
 exquisite courtesy a profound knowledge of things 
 which interest our country. 
 
 Happy to be again able to render you this small 
 service, 
 
 I have the honour to be, 
 
 Yours very devotedly, 
 
 FlOEI, 
 
 Mayor. 
 
 Notice on the hranch of the Buonaparte family formerly 
 residing in Sarzane, and which has since settled in 
 Corsica. 
 
 Buonaparte de Cianfardo, imperial notary and notary 
 of the sacred palace, having been driven from Florence 
 during the ' faction ' wars, took refuge with his family 
 in Lunigiana towards the middle of the thirteenth 
 century ; shortly afterwards, having come to Sarzane, 
 he fixed his residence there definitely. It is shown 
 from two documents recorded in the Pelavicino manu- 
 script of the capitulary archives for the year 1270, and 
 concerning an action between the said Buonaparte de 
 Cianfardo and the Bishop of Luni, Guillaume, that he 
 had been for some time owner of lands and houses. 
 
 Gerini is of opinion that this Buonaparte came to 
 Sarzane between 1260 and 1264, and quotes as proof 
 
THE FIRST BUONAPARTES iii 
 
 pages 16 and 17, vol i., of the old register of the com- 
 munal records. But a deed registered at page 199, 
 . vol. i., of Pelavicino, would lead to the supposition 
 that, on the contrary, he had then been there since 
 1250. It is the certified copy of a deed of 1180, at 
 the end of which may be read, 'Ego Bonapars, S. 
 Palacii Notarius, autenticum hujus exempli vidi et legi, 
 in quo inveni ut in isto scripsi, nihil addens vel minuens 
 quod mutefc sensum aut variet intellectum, et hoc feci 
 auctoritate et de mandate domini Benetti, Vicarii in 
 Lunigiana pro comuni Pisano, mihi facto Sarzana sob 
 anno currenti MCCL Ind. VIII die Mercurii IX mensis 
 Martii.' ' 
 
 The Abbs Conti, the very learned dean-rector of 
 San Miniato, deceased a few years since, collected many 
 notes and documents referring to the Buonaparte family, 
 in order to complete a work he intended to publish ; 
 bat I do not know whether he had the time. He pro- 
 posed to prove that this illustrious family originated in 
 San Miniato, and that from this common head sprang 
 the branches of the Buonapartes of Florence, Sienna, 
 Tr6vise, and of Sarzane. 
 
 However this may be, it is beyond question that 
 the branch which took root in Ajaccio sprang from the 
 Buonapartes of Sarzane. That is clearly shown, not 
 only by the statements of members of the family, but 
 also by authentic deeds — statements and deeds quoted 
 
 ' I, Buonaparte, notary of the sacred palace, have Been and 
 read the original of this copy, in which I found that which I 
 have myself written, without adding or curtailing anything which 
 might change its sense or spirit, that which I did by authority 
 and warrant of Sgr. Benetti, vicar in Lunigiana, of the parish of 
 Pisa. Bone hy me at Sarzane in the current year 1250. Ind. yiii. 
 Wednesday, 9th March. 
 
112 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 in the historical memoirs on Lunigiana by the above- 
 named author (see page 70 and following). 
 
 The first of the Buonapartes who went to Corsica 
 and settled there with his family was Francesco di 
 Giovanno, sent there to an honourable post by the 
 Republic of Genoa, about the year 1512. 
 
 He had for wife a certain Catherine de Ser Guidi, 
 relation of the Calandrinis, as is testified by the deed 
 of 1512, forming part of the records of Sarzane, as is 
 stated by Gerini, who, however, does not inform ua 
 of the number of the records nor the name of the 
 notary. 
 
 Here is the fragment he reproduces of this deed : — 
 
 ' Cum alias domina Jacominetta olim uxor domini 
 Ambrosini de Calandrinis, disposuerit per instrumentum 
 publicum, quod Caterina q™ Ser Guidi de Castelletto 
 neptis ipsius dominse Jacominettse habere deberet, et sic 
 sibi dedit pro suis dotibus unam possessionem 30 terrae 
 campivse, — Cumque dicta Caterina nupta fuerit Fran- 
 cisco olim Johannis de Bonaparte de Sarzana, et ad 
 matrimonium transducta et ex qua ipse Franciscus 
 habuit et habet filios legitimes et naturales et pro doti- 
 bus suis predictis consecutus fuerit in una parte ducatos 
 quinquagenta auri, exactos per dominum Cesarem et 
 Franciscum fratres et filios dicti olim Johannis de Bona- 
 parte.' ' 
 
 The same writer transcribes two other fragments ot 
 
 ' . . . Amongst other things the Lady Jacominetta, formerly 
 wife of M. Ambroise de Calandrini, ordered by public deed that 
 Catherina, of the late Ser Guidi de Castelletto, niece of the said 
 Dame Jacominetta, should have, and in fact gave to her for her 
 marriage portion, a property of 30 . . .of lands and fields. When 
 the said Catherine espoused Franf ois, of the lato Jean de Buona- 
 parte, of Sarzane, by whom the said Francois had and has legiti- 
 
THE FIRST BUONAPARTES 113 
 
 different deeds, one of 1529, the other of 1567, with 
 the view of proving the departure of Franpois Buona- 
 parte, of Sarzane, for Corsica, and the residence of his 
 descendants in that country. 
 
 He declares that they belong to the notarial records- 
 Here is the first : — 
 
 'Cum sit et fuerit quod alias reverendissimus 
 dominus Cesar Bonaparte Canonicus Lunen-Sarzanen : 
 in proprio nomine et nomine et vice ejus fratris Fran- 
 cisci — absentis a civitate Sarzane et in Insula Corsicas, 
 ut asseritur, stipendiarius^ — dederit in solutum et titulo 
 pro soluto ser Francisco q™ Antonii Montani pro parte 
 dotium et nomine partis dotis domine Antonie filie q™ 
 Francisci Bonapartis neptis dicti domini Cesaris, et' 
 uxoris ser Francisci Montani, &c.' ' 
 
 The second is as follows : — 
 
 ' Cum ser Franciscus Montanus Sarzanensis tanquam 
 debitos Gabriellis q™ Francisci de Bonapartis, habitato- 
 ris Aiacii Insulse Corsicee, de scutis centum quinquaginta 
 auri pro integro pretio domus et iurium alienatorum per 
 dictum Gabriellem dicto ser Francisco Montano, &c.' ^ 
 
 The members of this very honourable Buonaparte 
 
 mate and natural children, he had for her marriage portion, in the 
 first place, fifty gold ducats received by Messieurs O&ar and Fran- 
 fois, brothers and sons of the said late Jean de Buonapaite. 
 
 1 That it be and appears among other things that the Very 
 Reverend M. C^sar Buonaparte, canon of Luni-Sarzane, in his own 
 name and in the name and place of his brother Francois — absent 
 from the town of Sarzane, and public servant in the island of Cor- 
 sica, as it is said — gave discharge and as receipt to M. Franyois, 
 of the late Antoine Montani, for a part of marriage portions, and 
 particularly of marriage portion belonging to the Dame Antoinette, 
 daughter of the said late Franfois Buonaparte, niece of the said 
 O&ar and wife of M. Franf ois Montani, &c. 
 
 * As M. Fraufois Mon*^ani de Sarzane [paid] as a debt of 
 
 I 
 
114 • THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 family of Sarzane, who distinguislied themselves in their 
 adopted country as much by the services they rendered 
 as by the honorific posts they occupied, are, besides 
 Buonaparte de Cianfardo, who was one of the councillors 
 of the Commune — his son Jean, likewise imperial 
 notary and municipal councillor of the Commune, who 
 represented it as ambassador to Lucca in 1296, there to 
 treat for the peace of the ' Sarzanais ' with the in- 
 habitants of Carrare, Moneta, Castelpoggio, Serravalle, 
 Sotignano, and was also charged with other important 
 affairs. 
 
 Jacques, son of the said Jean, was named Mayor of 
 the Commune in 1324, and in 1327 Sarzane sent him 
 with other inotable citizens to take the oath of fidelity 
 to the Emperor Ludovic le Bavarois, who was then in 
 Pisa. The following year, 1328, we see him vicar of 
 Castrn<;cio Castracane in Amelia and Barbazano. 
 
 Nicolas, son of the foregoing, also filled the ofiice 
 of imperial notary, as did many others of his house and 
 name. In 1367 he was named procurator of the Mar- 
 quis Obbizirio Malasplina. 
 
 He was father of Jean and Jacques. The first was 
 raised in 1405 to the dignity of dean-vicar of the 
 cathedral of Sarzane ; the second, having in 1391 
 married Isabella Calandrini, cousin of Cardinal Philippi, 
 was sent by the Commune in 1404 as Ambassador to 
 Gabriel Marie Visconti, in Milan, to whose father, Jean 
 Gal6as, the town of Sarzane had given itself up since 
 1385. His mission was to obtain in favour of the 
 
 Gabriel of the late Franfois de Buonaparte, inhabiting' Ajaccio 
 in the island of Corsica, one hundred and fifty gold crowns for 
 the total price of the house and other properties transferred by 
 the said Gabriel to the said M. Francois Montani, &c. 
 
THE FIRST BUONAPARTES 115 
 
 country he represented more advantageous conditions 
 than those formerly obtained from Gal6as. It was fol- 
 lowing this mission that Visconti named him his vicar or 
 commissioner in the province of Lunigiani. 
 
 C6sar, son of Jean above named, having been 
 elected Prior of the Ancients in the communal council, 
 rendered great services, and notably that of obtaining 
 for Sarzane the title of city, and of endowing it with an 
 episcopal palace for the residence of the bishops, who 
 until then had only remained there temporarily. 
 
 To C6sar and his wife, Appollonia Malaspina, de- 
 scendant of the Marquis of Verrucola and Pivizzano, was 
 born Jean Buonaparte, fourth of the name, at Sarzane, 
 who was father of Cesar, canon of the cathedral, and 
 of Pranpois, who, sent to Ajaccio by the Genoese 
 Republic, as it was stated above, became the founder of 
 the famUy of Buonapartes of Corsica. 
 
 There still exist several documents of 1293, 1296, 
 and 1305, marriage contracts and others, concerning the 
 alliances of the Buonapartes. We see therein the names 
 of Vita Pasqualino of Sarzane, and of Jeanne Sacchetti. 
 
 There are still in the archives other deeds of 1322 
 and 1327 which mention Jean, son of another Jean, 
 and brother of the above-named Jacques ; a deed of 
 1366 in which mention is made of Nicolosio, and of 
 Angelino Buonaparte, son of Jacques ; a deed of 1387, 
 in which are named Jacques and Jean, sons of- the said 
 Nicolosio (Nicholas) ; a renunciation by public act made 
 the 26th of July, 1448, by AppoUonia Malaspina, wife 
 of C6sar Buonaparte, of her rights to a house situated 
 in Sarzane, and which guaranteed a small part of her 
 marriage portion. 
 
 To these different documents may be added the 
 
 I 2 
 
ii6. THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 municipal deliberations of the years 1319, 1324, 1327, 
 1328, 1404, 1465, and 1485, relating to the embassies 
 and other important posts confided by the. Commune to 
 certain members of the Buonaparte family. 
 
 What is very surprising is that there is no sepul- 
 chral monument at Sarzane, nor any inscription relating 
 to the Buonapartes. As it must nevertheless be probable 
 that such did exist, it may be supposed that their 
 tombs were in Saint Dominique, and that they were 
 destroyed with that church. 
 
 The same is not the case at San Miniato, as 
 may be seen from the following letter, addressed 
 to me November 12, 1886, by the Dean of the 
 Chapter of the Cathedral : — 
 
 San Miniato, November 12, 1886. 
 
 Monsieur le Comte, — The Chevalier Joseph Conti, 
 who wrote several genealogies of thetwipermZ Buonaparte 
 family, was unable to publish them, having died the 
 6th of November, 1866. Conti, during his life, sent a 
 co'^ of these manuscript genealogies to the Emperor 
 Napoleon III. ; they must to-day form part of the 
 Empress Eugenie's private archives. 
 
 The Conti family of San Miniato possess the 
 original manuscripts, but they hide them with a jealous 
 care. 
 
 We have in the cathedral a monument erected to 
 thememory of Jacques Buonaparte, the poet, philosopher, 
 and historian, who was born at San Miniato in 1470. 
 He published the Sac de Rome, work relating to the 
 pillage committed by the troops of Charles V., and 
 during which the High Constable de Bourbon died. 
 
THE FIRST BUONAPARTES 117 
 
 This antique tomb lias existed in tlie cathedral four 
 centuries. It bears tlie inscription — 
 
 NoBiLiuM DE Buonaparte Sepdlcrum. 
 
 San Miniato possesses equally, in the large church 
 of Saint Fran9ois, another tomb of the Buonapartes, as 
 well as the testament of Messer Giovanni Buonaparte, 
 dated the 2nd of September, 1441, containing this 
 passage : — 
 
 ' Joannes quondam D. Jacobi D. Mocci Bonaparte 
 de San. Miniato . . . 
 
 ' Item elegit sui corporis sepulturam in Ecclesia 
 San. Francisci de San. Miniato ante aedem San. Miniatis 
 ubi sepulta fuit Costantia ejus filia . . . &c.' 
 
 Conti read this will in the archives of the Franciscan 
 Fathers, before the Italian Government promulgated the 
 law suppressing religious corporations. 
 
 It is recognized and proved that the imperial Buona- 
 parte family originated in San Miniato, for Moccio 
 Buonaparte in 1780 constituted Charles Buonaparte 
 of Corsica, father of the Emperor Napoleon I., his 
 residuary legatee. 
 
 Eeceive, &c., 
 
 Matteo Mattei, 
 
 Dean of the Chapter. 
 
 Plorence, where the Buonapartes played an 
 important role, contains also testimonies of their 
 passage, and the rector of Santa-Croce has in his 
 turn done me the honour of sending me the fol- 
 lowing information relative to the members of 
 the family buried in that admirable monument. 
 
ii8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Florence, Santa-Ctoce, August 10, 1885. 
 
 Monsieur le Comte,— In reply to your favour of the 
 Stli" instant, here is what I can tell you about the 
 Buonaparte chapel, which is in this church of Santa- 
 Oroce. 
 
 The gift of the said chapel, formerly belonging to 
 the Guigni family, was purchased by Joseph Buonaparte 
 towards 1840, and he chose this one in preference to so 
 many others in this church, because in the vaults corre- 
 sponding to the said chapel are found the arms of the 
 Buonaparte family of 1300. 
 
 The Prince Joseph was buried in this same vault ; 
 and the 12th of June, 1863, his body was exhumed by 
 order of the Emperor and transferred to Paris. 
 
 When once the Prince Joseph had acquired the gift 
 of the chapel he founded an annuity of 88 frs. 20 c. for 
 the celebration of twelve masses yeafly, to be said on 
 the 7th of each month, and for the oil in the lamp 
 which was always to be kept lighted. This legacy was 
 mortgaged on a house beloilging to M. Gaetano 
 Shigoli, who paid the arrears regularly until 1878. 
 But after this, having sold the house to a certain Mario 
 Vanucci, and he in his turn having sold it to Madame 
 Tigli, the engagement was no longer kept, and the 
 desire of its founder was no longer fulfilled. 
 
 Here are the inscriptions to be found in the 
 chapel under the altar : — 
 
 GET AUTEL EST CONSACEfi 
 
 i LA VIERGE CONSOLATEICE DES AFFLIGfiS 
 
 PAR JULIE-CLARY BONAPARTE 
 
 EN MfiMOIRE DE SA FILLE CH£EIE 
 
 QUI REPOSE DANS CETTE CHAPELLE 1839. 
 
THE FIRST BUONAPARTES irg 
 
 A small marble on < the wall at the gospel side of 
 the altar bears the following inscription :— 
 
 MARI^l-THfiRfeSE-ALBERTINE 
 
 N£E LE 12 MAES 
 
 DE CHARLES ET ZfiNAIDE BONAPARTE 
 
 PRINCES ROMAINS 
 
 MOURDT LE 1«"" JUIN 1842 
 
 BIENHEUREUX 
 
 QUI REPOSE AU PREMIER PAS 
 
 DE LA VIE 
 
 To the right and left of the entrance to the chapel 
 are placed two monuments. On the first : — 
 
 1 JDLIE CLARY BONAPARTE 
 
 NfiE 1 MARSEILLE LE 26 DfiCEMBEE 1779 
 
 MORTE i FLORENCE LE 7 AOtfT 1845 
 
 On the second : — 
 
 ICI REPOSE 
 
 CHARLOTTE NAPOLfiON BONAPARTE 
 
 DIGNE DE SON NOM 
 
 1839 
 
 NfiE 1 PARIS 31 OCTOBRE 1802 
 
 I hope I have satisfied your desires by replying to 
 the questions you put me in your letter of the 5th. 
 Believe me, &c., 
 
 Brother Antonio Matastoni, 
 
 The ancient arms of the Buonapartes -which 
 the reverend rector mentions are not the only 
 ones existing at Florence. 
 
120 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 In the cloister of the church of San Spirito, 
 amongst the arms and inscriptions fastened to 
 the wall I found this, about ten steps down 
 the small stairway. 
 
 DI BENEDETTO 
 DI PERO DI GIOVA 
 NI BVONAPARTEE 
 SVA DESCENDENTI 
 
 A little further, turning to the left in the 
 gallery, opposite the sixth pillar, are those of the 
 Ubertis, who were. a branch of the family. 
 
 Alle Strinche monument, also called il Bar- 
 gello, from the fact that for a considerable time 
 the chief of the police made it his residence. 
 Here also are found the arms of the Buonapartes. 
 
 This palace, the first inhabited by the princes 
 of Tuscany, was constructed by Arnolfo, father 
 of Arnolfo de Lopo, who was born in 1230. 
 
 The court of entry on arriving from the Eue 
 
THE FIRST BUONAPARTES 121 
 
 Ghibellina is very interesting, and shows archi- 
 tecture in its infancy. Amongst the sculptured 
 cartels which cover the walls, and which bear 
 the arms of the different podestas (magistrates of 
 Florence), I remarked the escutcheon reproduced 
 on the following page. 
 
 Another escutcheon, stiU. of the Buonapartes, 
 is distinguished by a different reading, which is 
 very strange. Instead of the priest surmounting 
 these sorts of goats'-beard tails, there is a sheep 
 holding a ribbon, which from its mouth passes 
 above its back, and bears an undecipherable 
 legend. These were doubtless two branches at 
 
 variance. 
 
 ' At the end of the fifteenth century Jacques Buonaparte — who 
 is believed to belong to the branch of Buonapartes of San Miniato, 
 
122 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 It is difficult to find, with regard to their 
 resting-places, a family more scattered than that 
 of the Buonapattes. 
 
 The great immortal reposes in his porphyry 
 tomb on the banks of the Seine, according to his 
 
 wish. Queen Hortense and Josephine are at 
 EeuU. Charles, the father of Napoleon I., and 
 Louis, his son, father of Napoleon HE., are, to- 
 gether with the latter's two brothers, in the 
 
 still existing in 1803 — lived in Florence. In order to escape perse- 
 cution, lie hid his name and changed his family arms. The descen- 
 dants in Florence followed his example. 
 
 ' Is it not curious to find in the Buonaparte arms the ' fleur-de- 
 lis ' of the Bourbons and the national tricolour of France ? 
 
THE FIRST BUONAPARTES 123 
 
 crypt of Saint Leu. The King of Eome, his 
 aunt Eliza, and his mother Marie-Louise, are 
 in Austria. 'Madame Mere,' Joseph, Lucien, 
 Jerome, Pauline, and Caroline are dispersed in 
 France and Italy. Napoleon m. and the Prince 
 Imperial are in England. And who knows 
 where those who remain inay go ? 
 
 The veneration of our ancestors, that Con- 
 fucius impressed upon his disciples as the most 
 excellent means of morahsation, is not, unhappily, 
 so much honoured in Europe as in China ; and 
 if the Buonapartes cannot be too severely re- 
 proached for sharing the general indifference, 
 they must nevertheless be blamed for not sur- 
 rounding their dead with a httle more venera- 
 tion ; when the members of their family have 
 played their part, they allow them to be too 
 soon forgotten. Those who profit by the glories 
 acquired ought to surround the memory of the 
 defunct who conquered these glories with all the 
 respect imaginable ; and how can they arrive at 
 such a result if they neglect the material duties 
 binding them to their mortal remains ? 
 
 I wiU add that when one belongs to a family 
 which produced such a man as Napoleon, it is 
 due to his partisans, to those who have served 
 him, who have been killed in his cause, to revive 
 as much as possible the souvenirs of the past. 
 The d'Orleans family have at least this quaUty ; 
 
134 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 they honour their dead, and know full well 
 that in so doing they are themselves becoming 
 greater. With the Buonapartes, I repeat, it is not 
 so ; and if, lost in the immense crowd of French- 
 men jealous of their country's glory, I had not 
 in a modest degree assisted the worthy vicar 
 of Saint Leu to keep in repair the chapel of 
 the founder of the dynasty and the father of 
 Napoleon EH., I verily beheve it would have 
 fallen into ruins. 
 
 I have striven several times to bring this sorry 
 state of things to the knowledge of those whose 
 duty it was to attend to it. Unhappily the steps 
 I took did not produce any result, and my good- 
 will has been powerless. As I intend to support 
 everything I advance by documentary proof, I 
 register the following letter : — 
 
 Napoleon Saint Leu, December 25, 1886. 
 
 Monsieur le Comte, — You are really an amiable and 
 generous man. I thank you mucli for the kind offering 
 you have again been good enough to send me. Truly, 
 curious things take place in this world ! You are a 
 stranger to the Imperial famUy, and it is you who 
 come to my aid for the repairing of the chapel and 
 vaults of the Napoleons, which are in a state of dilapi- 
 dation which often makes my heart ache. 
 
 God knows how saving I have been in order to 
 arrive at a good result. Years ago I wrote to M. Bas- 
 sano, chamberlain to the Empress Eugenie, and I did 
 not even receive a line in reply. 
 
THE FIRST BUONAPARTES 125, 
 
 In the fine season there still come a good numher 
 of visitors. 
 
 Eeceive, Monsieur le Comte, the assurance of my 
 distinguished consideration. 
 
 Yours devotedly in our Lord, 
 A. Vero, 
 Titulary Vicar of Naipoleon Saint Leu. 
 
126 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTER Vm. 
 
 PRIVATE CHAEACTEK. 
 
 A Great Man's "Wealmesses — ^Buonaparte's Age — ^How History is 
 written — Pauline's Confidences — Imperial Fancies — The Heroes 
 of the Legion of Honour. 
 
 What has most embarrassed the numerous 
 writers who have undertaken to relate the 
 history of Napoleon is the disappearance of 
 a quantity of documents, without which they 
 could only speak approximately or from hear- 
 say. 
 
 Napoleon was very careful to suppress nume- 
 rous documents relating to Buonaparte. What 
 interest could have induced him to act thus ? 
 Did he desire that posterity, that future ages, 
 not having before their eyes material proofs of 
 his transformations, should make of him a fanci- 
 ful being sprung from the waves, who, after 
 having landed upon a small island in the Medi- 
 terranean, should, before returning to the super- 
 natural, terminate his human career upon another 
 rock lost in the ocean ? 
 
 The fact remains that he destroyed, or caused 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER. 127 
 
 to be destroyed, many documents relating to his 
 family ; not contenting himself with decreeing 
 victory beforehand, he wished to remake the 
 past. 
 
 Notice how this course of action has borne 
 its fruits, and how difficult it is. to elucidate a 
 large number of questions which are neverthe- 
 less very interesting, and this notwithstanding 
 the comparatively small distance of time separa- 
 ting us from the epoch under consideration. 
 
 Amongst other things he has systematically 
 caused the disappearance of everything referring 
 to his mother. ; and her letters — ^without being 
 as scarce as those of Moliere, of wjiieh not one 
 is known to exist — are still considered objects of 
 the greatest rarity. 
 
 Lsetizia Eamolino, as intelUgent as she was 
 beautiful, gifted with an exceptional energy and 
 courage, was married at the age of fifteen. If 
 she was not ' the only man of the famUy ' — to 
 use the expression which later her son applied 
 to the Duchess of Angoul^me — she was none the 
 less its virile soul and protecting genius. It was 
 in this sculpturally formed body that the great 
 universal genius, the monstrous phenomenon to 
 be called Napoleon, had drawn the sources of 
 life. 
 
 The Count of Marbeuf was, as it is known. 
 Governor of Corsica, a strong protector of the 
 
128 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Buonaparte family. Some say — and they are 
 numerous — that he had towards Madame Ltetizia 
 much tenderer feelings than generally exist be- 
 tween a governor and those he governs. After 
 having obtained permission for Eliza to be edu- 
 cated at St. Cyr, he procured for Buonaparte a 
 free scholarship at the school of Brienne. There 
 is to-day no doubt that one of the first falsifi- 
 cations of deeds, of which the Napoleon family 
 was later to furnish so many other examples, 
 dated from that epoch. 
 
 A child must not be more than ten years old 
 to enter the school of Brienne. Now, Buonaparte, 
 being born in 1768, was nearly eleven years old 
 when M. de Marbeuf obtained him the admis- 
 sion. Madame Lsetizia, whose courage was 
 great, and whose idea was doubtless that this 
 world belongs to the sharp ones, did not hesitate 
 to send her son to Brienne with his brother's 
 birth certificate. 
 
 Napoleon had necessarily to be informed of 
 the trickery ; but notwithstanding his tender 
 age he knew how to keep a secret, especially 
 when it was one on which his future depended. 
 Now, as the supposition is that the fact of ex- 
 hibiting a birth certificate was not the only for- 
 mahty on entering Brienne, but that the child 
 would be inscribed upon the books in the name 
 therein contained, it stands to reason that in 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER 129 
 
 changing liis age for his brother's he had also 
 changed his name. 
 
 This seems to me as clear as it is precise ; 
 and it may be understood that, having so pro- 
 fited by his sleight of hand, the Emperor in later 
 years contracted a taste not only to rearrange 
 certificates, but to suppress, under all circum- 
 stances, whatever inconvenienced him. 
 
 We will see what Mounier said about the 
 age of him of whom he was secretary, and 
 whose labours and fatigues he shared during ten 
 years : — 
 
 ' I had always believed that the story of the 
 falsification of the date of Napoleon's birth was 
 only an invention intended as a disparagement. 
 But the other day M. Seguier told me that, 
 having been presented to the First Consul, 
 Napoleon appeared to find him too young, and, 
 believing that the latter had been born in 1768, 
 he rephed to the usual question as to his 
 age, ' I am the same age as your Majesty ; I 
 was born in 1768,' and that the First Consul 
 turned towards Caulaincourt, and asked, with 
 ill- humour : — 
 
 ' How does he know my age ? ' 
 
 M. Seguier himself repeated this anecdote 
 in his memoirs, but slightly altered, and I have 
 every reason to believe that the occurrence 
 
 K 
 
I30 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 took place as Monnier relates. He adds in his 
 journal : — 
 
 ' Some years later M. Seguier took this as a 
 precedent to decide a bet with Hamelin, the 
 husband of the celebrated Madame Hamelin, 
 who stated that Napoleon was born in 1769. 
 M. Seguier won by means of the birth certifi- 
 cate annexed to the marriage certificate de- 
 posited in the public register records.' 
 
 One of the most curious consequences of 
 these inversions, in which the brothers Buona- 
 parte lost themselves, was that, striving to follow 
 the footsteps of the chief of their family, and 
 arrange their certificates as it suited their con- 
 venience, they finished by declaring that three 
 of them were born in 1768, which would have 
 been very difficult, however prohfic Madame 
 Lsetizia might have been. 
 
 Colonel Yung made most serious searches in 
 the records of the Ministry of War. His opinion 
 is, in his remarkable work, ' Buonaparte et son 
 temps,' that Napoleon was born in 1768, and 
 that it was his brother Joseph who was born 
 August 15, 1769. 
 
 Charles Buonaparte had a first son in 1765, 
 who died young ; in 1767 he had a daughter, 
 who also died when a few months old. The 7th 
 of January, 1768, a ■ third child saw the light, 
 and was baptised Nahulione. His godfather and 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER 13-1 
 
 godmother were Thomas Arrighi de Casanova and 
 Maria de Casanova. The birth certificate states 
 that Nabuhone Buonaparte was born at Corte. 
 
 Besides, on referring to the age Napoleon 
 gave himself in two or three letters which exist, 
 it is clearly established that he was born in 
 1768. Consequently the famous imperial f^te of 
 August 15 celebrated anything except his birth. 
 
 I may add, to finish with this question, that 
 there does exist at the Ministry of War a certi- 
 ficate of birth stating that Napoleon Buonaparte 
 was born in 1769 ; but this document bears no 
 weight : it is full of all sorts of irregularities, and 
 drawn up in Italian instead of in Latin, which is 
 absolutely contrary to the usages of the Church. 
 
 Napoleon treated the truth as he did hostile 
 nations — she must bow before him ; and to satisfy 
 him numerous documents were destroyed, forged, 
 or falsified. 
 
 Mounier says with reference to this : — 
 
 The Emperor caused all the documents he had pre- 
 served from the staff offices of the armies of Italy and 
 the East to be copied into magnificent registers, by 
 the topographical cabinet, under the direction of Clarke. 
 He had indicated or marked himself those to be trans- 
 cribed and those which were not to be. 
 
 When I was appointed secretary of the cabinet he 
 instructed me to find out whether the transcriptions 
 were finished. They were complete, and the registers 
 were bound in red morocco. 
 
 K 2 
 
132 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 I presented them to him. He then sent the originals 
 to the Blysee ; and there in my presence he burnt them 
 all in the fireplace, not leaving the room until all were 
 entirely consumed. 
 
 It is evident that there were many things not copied 
 of which he wished to destroy the souvenir. 
 
 In 1815 he asked for these registers, and order was 
 given to send them to him at Rochefort. They were 
 abstracted on the occasion of their transfer, and having 
 passed, I know not how, into Panckoucke's hands, these 
 registers were published as a work, and as Napoleon's 
 correspondence.' 
 
 A very delicate question, on which several 
 historians have endeavoured to throw some light 
 without in any case explaining it categorically, 
 touches the private life of Napoleon. It has 
 been pretended that he always treated women in 
 a despotic manner, that however beautiful, how- 
 ever attractive his mistresses may have been, he 
 had never been the slave of any of them ; and it 
 has been stated also that there existed between 
 this great man and his sisters, between this hero 
 and his stepdaughter, by far too intimate re- 
 lations. 
 
 Some, Madame de Eemusat, for example, 
 wrote in the affirmative sense ; others, like Bouri- 
 enne, in the negative ; and I should not have 
 formed any opinion upon this question had not 
 Mounier furnished me with documents to solve 
 
 ' Manuscript III., p. 132. 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER 133 
 
 it, and had not Pauline Buonaparte herself fur- 
 nished the ' Black Cabinet ' with proofs of her 
 absolute want of the sense of moraUty. 
 
 Mounier did not believe, or, at any rate, 
 never knew anything leading him to suppose, 
 that any culpable attachment existed between 
 Napoleon and his sister Carohne. As for his 
 sister Pauline and his step-daughter Hortense, 
 Mounier is convinced that all the reports were 
 well founded — and, I repeat, Pauhne herself has 
 given proofs of it. 
 
 Buonaparte might have invented M. de Bis- 
 marck's maxim, 'La force prime le droit,' 'Might 
 is better than right ; ' adding thereto, ' The good 
 pleasure of the powerful is above nature's laws 
 and society's conventionahties.' 
 
 Here is what Mounier says : — 
 
 Bourienne thought to prove in his memoirs that 
 there was no * liaison amoureuse ' between Napoleon and 
 his step-daughter ; this to me appears entirely false. 
 
 M. Lesperut often spoke to me of it as of a recog- 
 nised thing. It was so spoken of in the Imperial 
 residence. 
 
 The ' pretended ' son of Louis was generally looked 
 upon as Napoleon's son. He wished to adopt him and 
 designate him as his successor. I recollect having seen 
 Napoleon in the commencement of 1806, holding him 
 by the hand, and crossing the gallery of St. Cloud. 
 Satisfaction and pride were pictured on his countenance. 
 The child was handsome, and evidently resembled him. 
 
134 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 So long as the cliild lived, the projects of divorce were 
 postponed, because he had an heir. 
 
 M. Capelle told me lately that Josephine having 
 passed some months in Geneva since her fall, he had 
 had several long conversations with her ; in one of these 
 she avowed to him that her daughter had had intimate 
 relations with her husband. On this occasion M. 
 Capelle told me also that Josephine had told him at the 
 same time that Napoleon had wished to play a trick on 
 his brother Jerome, by substituting himself to receive 
 Jer6me's JidncSe; that for this purpose-~iiB~had so 
 arranged things that the Princess of Wurtemberg 
 should find herself alone with him ; a false itinerary 
 had been given to Jerome, but he, suspecting the fraud, 
 started in time, and joined his fiancee, whom he did not 
 afterwards quit. The history seems difficult to believe, 
 but it shows the opinion Josephine had, or wished 
 others to have, of Napoleon. 
 
 I remember that the servants of the Imperial resi- 
 dence told me during the Empire that Napoleon wished 
 to adopt the little Louis and proclaim him his heir, but 
 that his brother Louis declared- that if that were done 
 Jie would throw himself into the Seine. 
 
 This anecdote appears to be well founded. . . . 
 
 M. Decazes possesses a medal given him by Pauline 
 Buonaparte. 
 
 On one side her head (d, la grecque) with the legend — 
 
 HAYAINA ZEBAZTOY AAEA«1)H. 
 
 On the other, the three Graces, and the legend — 
 HMnN KAAH BAZIAEYE.' 
 
 ' ' Beautiful Pauline, sister of Augustus, reign over us.' The 
 three sisters of Napoleon, as well as the Queen Hortense, had had 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER 135 
 
 Each of the Graces represented the Princess in a 
 different attitude, or rather seen from a different side, 
 the face, the back, and the profile. The medal was 
 made by Denon from designs by Canova, who drew 
 them from nature. 
 
 From easily compreherisible motives of per- 
 sonal interest, Louis XVIII. caused a most strict 
 ■watch to be kept over the prisoner of the island 
 of Elba, as well as over all those who had 
 played a rtle during his reign. The constant 
 preoccupation which i3uonaparte caused him was 
 coupled with an egotistical curiosity, and every 
 time the pphce disclosed any intrigue which did 
 not do honour to his powerful predecessor, he 
 experienced a real pleasure. 
 
 The police had orders to consider things not 
 only from a political point of view, but from 
 their most paltry sides. 
 
 Eeports were made on all the amorous 
 attachments Napoleon had had, and it was thus 
 that Louis XVIII. had a special work prepared 
 upon the subject of his disorderly family life. 
 
 Whoever arrived at the Tuileries with well- 
 medals struck of the same diameter. Tbey had all four Greek 
 inscriptions. Pauline's was that we have just described ; Caroline's 
 had on one side her effigy, and on the other a Victory crowning a 
 bull with a human head ; Eliza had, on the reverse of hers, a 
 woman reclining, and holding awheel with one hand — underneath, 
 ' 4 Via da Luca a Pisa.' The medal of Queen Hortense had on one 
 side her charming head, and on the oth^r the symbols of the arts 
 she devoted herself to— painting and music. 
 
I3<5 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 established proofs of one of the human faiUngs 
 of the fallen demi-god was sure to find a good 
 "welcome. The King laughed, and when a king 
 has laughed he is very near to bestowing graces 
 and favours. 
 
 All the letters which passed between the 
 island of Elba and the continent were carefully- 
 intercepted, opened, and copied by the care of 
 the ' Black Cabinet.' The most interesting were 
 sent to the Tuileries, wheje Louis XVIII. com- 
 municated them to a few intimates, laughed at 
 and ridiculed them. But his ministers hastened, 
 nevertheless, to take all necessary measures to 
 preserve the interests and assure the safety of 
 the reign of this new desire. 
 
 In 1814 the correspondence from the island 
 of Elba was effected by the intermediary of Evain, 
 then chief clerk at the Ministry of War, and 
 later Minister of the King of the Belgians. He 
 addressed his packets to one of his sisters, 
 directrice of the Angers office, who in her 
 turn transmitted them, simply by the ordinary 
 couriers, to the Director of Posts in Toulon. 
 
 Things went on thus with tolerable regularity 
 in an occult fashion until the day when, by a 
 singular hazard, M. de Sainte-Fere was informed 
 thereof by a chouanne, a servant of the Evain 
 family. This honest girl, although very much 
 attached to her masters, was not less so to the 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER 137 
 
 royal cause ; so that she thought to satisfy her 
 conscience by confiding her secret to M. de 
 Sainte-Fere, whom she knew by a relation of 
 hers in his service, and whom she believed to be 
 in a position to inform the King. 
 
 He informed M. Ferrand, the Director-Gene- 
 ral of Posts, and it was ascertained that Marshal 
 Massena connived at the communications passing 
 between the Director of Toulon and the island 
 of Elba. It is to this circumstance, of which 
 naturally the King was informed the first, that 
 must be attributed the Marshal's disgrace after 
 the ' Hundred Days.' 
 
 All the letters sent to Pauline were carefully 
 copied and sent to the King, and it is thanks 
 to several of these, as has been seen, that the 
 secrets of her incestuous conduct became known. 
 
 Letters of any particular importance, or 
 which were supposed to be destined to cause 
 trouble from a political point of view, were not 
 only opened and copied, but even intercepted. 
 
 The Post is really a fine invention. 
 
 The Emperor was very generous. It is 
 known how his marshals were loaded with his 
 favours, and how, when fortune abandoned him, 
 the greater part of them only thought of retiring 
 and enjoying their fortunes. 
 
 All those who served him or the country 
 were largely recompensed. He thought that 
 
138 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 which, fifty years later, his nephew Napoleon III. 
 was to say — 
 
 ' Only degenerated nations are sparing with 
 their rewards.' 
 
 Of a difficult, violent, and authoritative 
 character, often flying into passions at which he 
 was the first to laugh a few minutes afterwards, 
 he rendered the duties of those around him 
 very painful. But at times, besides his habitual 
 generosity, he had moments of such touching 
 kindness, such delicate attention, that the great 
 devotion he inspired in those around him can 
 easily be understood. 
 
 Very liberal to all those whose duties brought 
 them into his presence, he endowed, ennobled, 
 and covered with honours the servitors of his 
 household.-^ But with regard to rewards, and 
 even to promotion in the army, he did not 
 submit to any rule ; the country's interest or his 
 own, or his simple whim, was all that guided 
 him. 
 
 Here are two anecdotes amongst others told 
 of his manner of bestowing rewards. 
 
 The Emperor after the battle of Eckmiihl 
 asked the colonel before the whole regiment, 
 ' Which is the bravest officer of the corps ? ' 
 
 ' A detail little known — all those who, forming part of the 
 imperial household, were ennobled, bore in the corner of their 
 escutcheon a castle, or rather a house. 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER 139 
 
 and gratified him immediately with the title 
 of baron. Colonel Lozac was present, and the 
 cavalry regiment to which he belonged was 
 attached to a brigade which included the 17th 
 regiment of infantry — Colonel Vasserot. 
 
 The Emperor having demanded the bravest 
 captain, and the colonel having named one, there 
 rushed from the ranks a little Gascon captain who 
 had been a hairdresser in Paris, who cried : — 
 
 ' It is not true ; it is I who am the bravest 
 soldier of the regiment.' 
 
 Nobody dared to contradict him ; the Em- 
 peror questioned the colonel, who stammered 
 out: — 
 
 ' Why, yes ; I had not had the time to com- 
 pare . . . &c.' 
 
 And the Emperor granted to the captain the 
 favour which, but for his Gascon assurance, 
 would have gone to another. 
 
 During this same battle the Emperor per- 
 ceived a sergeant who exhibited really wonderful 
 valour. In the evening he sent for him to give 
 him the ' cross.' But the sergeant was already 
 knight. Impossible to make him a sub-Heutenant, 
 the man being entirely unlettered. Equally im- 
 possible was it to confer upon him the cross of 
 officer ; that would have been to violate the laws 
 of the order, and to establish a dangerous pre- 
 cedent. 
 
MO THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 The Emperor did a thing that he alone could 
 do. He quietly pinned the cross he held in his 
 hand on to the breast of the sergeant, who, all 
 trembhng with emotion, thus had a second cross 
 of knight placed by the side of the first. 
 
 Wishing to give the name of this brave 
 soldier, I applied to the ' Legion of Honour.' 
 
 Nothing in the records, I was informed, tes- 
 tifies to a double nomination of knight in favour 
 of the same person. But that does not prove 
 it did not occur. On several occasions the Em- 
 peror distributed decorations without the Office 
 of the Great Seal having been called upon to 
 enter them in the registers. 
 
 Besides, with a little memory of their infancy, 
 men of my generation will doubtless recollect an 
 old crippled woman, formerly canteen woman of 
 the ' Great Army,' who sold apples and cakes on 
 the Auteuil Marshes, at the time when the Bois 
 de Boulogne was still a wood. 
 
 The brave woman had been wounded on the 
 field of honour and decorated by the Emperor's 
 hand. It was well known at the Great Seal Office 
 that she had no patent ; but she was allowed to 
 wear her decoration, which she was known to 
 have acquired legitimately. 
 
 All the women decorated previous to 1852 
 are in the same position. The first who was 
 regularly inscribed in the golden book, and who 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER 141 
 
 opened a door through which since that time 
 about thirty others have passed, was Madame 
 Abicot de Eagis. 
 
 The reader will pardon another digression 
 from my subject ; but it is well to recall the 
 manner in which a woman gained the first 
 official cross. 
 
 M. Abicot was mayor of Oizon, and lived 
 with his wife above the room where were 
 collected the records of the persons under his 
 administration. I do not know for what reason, 
 but a family had a very great interest in ap- 
 propriating the documents concerning another 
 family. 
 
 The mayor knew this, and watched his 
 archives with great care. 
 
 One night M. Abicot de Eagis had been 
 obliged to absent himself ; his wife heard a noise, 
 footsteps, and a certain disturbance in the room 
 below. She was alone ; the mayoralty house 
 was isolated. To call for help would have been 
 useless ; she took a candlestick, armed herself 
 with a revolver and went downstairs. 
 
 Scarcely had she opened the 'door when a 
 big, strong man, throwing to the ground a 
 parcel of papers he had in his hand, sprang 
 upon her. Without giving him the time to 
 approach her she fired, and the man fell dead 
 at her feet. 
 
142 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 But he was not alone, and his companion, a 
 sort of giant of the fairs, threw himself on the 
 poor woman, who was still trembling at the act 
 she had just committed, and plunged a poignard 
 into her breast ; then, picking up the papers on 
 the ground, he sprang through the window into 
 the garden. 
 
 Madame Abicot de Eagis, although deluged • 
 with blood, had sufficient strength to drag her- 
 self to the window, and before falling to the 
 ground she fired in the direction taken by the 
 other robber. 
 
 When daylight dawned, and the house was 
 entered, Madame Abicot de Eagis, giving some 
 signs of life, was found lying side by side with 
 the man who had been killed immediately. 
 In the garden the second robber was found, 
 also dead ; he had been struck between the 
 shoulders. 
 
 Some time after this, Louis Napoleon, then 
 President of the Eepubhc, but working as pre- 
 tender, was going through France in order to 
 recruit partisans. He heard this courageous 
 woman spoken of; he desired that she should be 
 presented to him, and he gave her the cross of 
 the Legion of Honour. 
 
 Crosses gained in such a manner confer 
 honour, not only on the givers and upon the 
 recipients, but also upon the order itself. 
 
PRIVATE CHARACTER 143 
 
 The last woman upon whom was conferred 
 this exceptional honour, Madame Dieulafoy, re- 
 ceived it but a few weeks ago. M. Dieulafoy 
 had been sent on a scientific mission in Persia. 
 His wife accompanied him dressed as a man, ex- 
 posing herself to the sun's burning heat and to 
 the fatigue and unknoAvn risks of every day. 
 This is another kind of courage. 
 
144 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 THE ISLAND OF ELBA. 
 
 The Fears of the Provisional Government — The Library of an 
 exiled Man— The Island of Elba in 1827— O'MiSara— Lafon- 
 taine's Donkey^Correspondence from St. Helena. 
 
 Whex, after the victories and the glories of the 
 Empire, the disasters happened, and Napoleon 
 became Buonaparte, the Provisional Government 
 and that of Louis XVIII. put pitilessly aside all 
 that might tend to cause him to be remembered. 
 One of the first measures taken by the adminis- 
 trators of domains was to remove in a few hours 
 all the Imperial escutcheons, monograms, and 
 emblems. This appears to be the dominant pre- 
 occupation of every Government which is consti- 
 tuted. However futile this may seem at first 
 sight, it must be admitted nevertheless to have a 
 certain importance, and that a sovereign cannot 
 repose peacefully under canopies studded with 
 his predecessor's monograms, seeing that every 
 Government commits the same littlenesses, not 
 excepting that of the Eepublic, which is never- 
 
THE ISLAND OF ELBA 145 
 
 theless an essentially impersonal regime. Na- 
 poleon himself went so far that, in 1810, Eovigo 
 ordered Goulu, the engraver of Porbus's Henry 
 IV., to destroy the plate. M. Portalis had much 
 difficulty in obtaining the permission to simply 
 have this plate and the proofs placed under seals, 
 where they remained until 1814. 
 
 It was not only the Imperial emblems, but 
 Buonaparte himself whose destruction was de- 
 sired. Vanquished as he was, the fear he in- 
 spired was such that the Provisional Government 
 of 1814 expected every moment that all the 
 monuments would be blown up ; even the Elysee 
 and the Tuileries were expected to share the 
 same fate, together with the Government itself. 
 
 The guardian of the Artillery Museum and 
 the architect of the Louvre were instructed to 
 examine whether really the Tuileries was not 
 undermined. Here is the report they made : 
 
 This 11th of April, 1814; we, Maillard de Lescourt, 
 Major of Artillery; Edme Eegnier, Guardian of the 
 Artillery Museum ; Prosper Hector Chanal, in charge of 
 the direction of Crown furniture, and Pierre Franpois 
 Leonard Fontaine, architect of the palaces of the Louvre 
 and the Tuileries : in pursuance of orders transmitted 
 to us by Baron Mounier, Commissary for the General 
 Crown Administration, we went to the Tuileries Palace, 
 and visited it most minutely, particularly in the cellars, 
 underground rooms, and those on the ground floor. 
 
 We found that none of the pavements or construc- 
 
 L 
 
146 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 tions Lad been disturbed, and that nothing presented 
 the appearance of recent change, or. other extraordinary 
 sign. 
 
 We did not observe anything that would lead to 
 fear for the security of the buildings or the lives of their 
 inmates, and it is in this belief that we have signed this 
 present certificate. 
 
 Maillakd ]>e Lescoxirt. 
 
 E. Eegnier. 
 
 Chanal. 
 
 Fontaine. 
 
 The same day, April 11, the Director of the 
 Civil List received a letter from the Crown libra-^ 
 rian, asking if, to the books being packed up in 
 the Empress Marie-Louise's apartments, should 
 be added those chosen by the Emperor to take 
 away with him. 
 
 The -director had been informed of the choice 
 made by Napoleon by a previous letter of March 
 13. I reproduce both letters, as well as a list of 
 the works that Napoleon had himself taken from 
 the book-cases and thrown on the ground, as he 
 was in the habit of doing with his papers, jour- 
 nals, maps, and books, leaving his secretaries to 
 pick them up. It seems interesting to indicate 
 to what kind of reading Napoleon intended to 
 devote himself in the island of Elba. 
 
 Monseigneur, — In my capacity of librarian of the 
 Fontainebleau Palace, I have the honour to inform your 
 Excellency that the Emperor made a small choice of 
 
THE ISLAND OF ELBA 147 
 
 books from his cabinet and from the large library, that 
 he proposes to take away. If your Excellency has any 
 orders to give me on this subject, I would beg you to 
 transmit them to me as soon as possible, seeing that 
 the departure appears likely to take place very soon. 
 I should have been glad to have a letter of some sort 
 to relieve me of all responsibility, but M. Fain, to whom 
 I applied, told me that it was not worth while, and that 
 in any case he would give evidence in my favour. The 
 books chosen do not, as far as I can say, exceed a value 
 of two or three thousand francs, without taking into 
 account that of any articles which may be taken away 
 by the crowds of people who come into the cabinet 
 ©very dsty ; for the last few days there reigns a disorder 
 of which no one is master. 
 
 I am, &c., 
 
 Ch. Nemard, 
 
 ' Librarian of Fontainebleau Palace. 
 
 . This 13th March, 1814. ' 
 
 Paris, 11th April, 1814. 
 Monsieur le Baron, — At the time when, according 
 to your orders, M. Bathoucy is having packed all the 
 works found in the apartments of her Majesty the 
 Empress Marie-Louise, I have the honour to consult 
 you on the question as to whether I am to add to those 
 books those which I- was instructed to keep, and of 
 which the following is a catalogue : — 
 
 lAst of Works chosen hij the Emperor, before his depar- 
 ture, in the large Library and in the Cabinet of the 
 FontaineUeau Palace. 
 
 Vol. 
 
 1. Trait^s de paix, de Koch et Martens, in-8 ... 7 
 
 2. Systems du Monde, par Laplace, iii-4 .... 6 
 
 1.2 
 
148 
 
 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 List of WorJcs (continued) — y^^j 
 
 3. Astronomie anc, mod. et indienne, par Bailly, in-4 . 5 
 
 4. Polybe et Folard, in-4 6 
 
 5. Operations militaires, par Jomini, in-4 .... 4 
 
 6. Histoire ancienne, de RoUin, in-12 13 
 
 7. Voyage d'Anacharsis, in-4 5 
 
 8. CSsar, de Turpin de CrisaS, in-4 3 
 
 9. Histoire romaine, de Eollin, in-12 16 
 
 10. Decadence de I'empire remain, par Ferguson, in-8 . . 7 
 
 11. Hommes illustres de Plutarque, trad, par Ricard, in-12 . 13 
 
 12. Abr6g6 de rHistoire du baa Empire, par Royon, in-8 . 4 
 
 13. AbrSgS chronologique de MSzeray, in-4 .... 4 
 
 14. Satire M^nippfe, in-8 3 
 
 15. MSmoires de Bassompierre, in-12 7 
 
 16. Histoire de France au XVIIP siecle, par Lacretelle, in-8 6 
 
 17. Essais sur Paris, de Saint-Foix, in-12 . ' . . .7 
 
 18. Anarchie de Pologne, in-8 4 
 
 19. Histoire phUosophique, de Raynal, in-4 .... 5 
 
 20. ceremonies religieuses, in-fol 9 
 
 21. Collection de d^crets, du Bulletin des Lois. 
 
 22. Le Moniteur. 
 
 23. Biographie modeme, in-8 4 
 
 24. Histoire de I'art, par Winkelmann, in-4 .... 3 
 
 25. Plans des ports, par Ayrouard, in-4 .... 1 
 
 26. Voyage autour du Monde, par Fleurieu, in-4 ... 3 
 
 27. Atlas du voyage de la Peyrouse, gr. in-fol. ... 1 
 
 28. Voyage en Suisse, par Coxe, in-8 3 
 
 29. Le LycSe, de La Harpe, in-8 17 
 
 30. L'Arioste, in-12 10 
 
 31. Boileau, de Saint-Marc, in-8 5 
 
 32. Telemaque (Didot J°°), gr. in-8 2 
 
 33. Racine, de Luneau de Boisgermain, in-8 ... 7 
 
 34. Theatre de Dancoui-t, in-12 12 
 
 35. Fables et contes de La Fontaine, in-8 .... 4 
 
 36. Gil-Bias, ia-8 4 
 
 37. Don Quichotte, in-12 6 
 
 38. QEuvres de Saint-Evremond, in-12 12 
 
 39. „ de Voltaire, in-8 70 
 
 40. Lettres de Pline, in-12 3 
 
THE ISLAND OF ELBA 149 
 
 IA%i of Woi-ks (continued) — y^^j 
 
 41. Lettres juives, chinoises, &c., in-12 . . . .21 
 
 42. Gfiograpliie de Mentelli et Malte-Briin, in-8, Atlas . .17 
 
 43. QSographie de Busching, in-8 IG 
 
 44. Annales des voyages, in-8 9 
 
 45. Neptune franjais, in-fol. aU 1 
 
 46. Hydrographie franfaise, id 2 
 
 47. Atlas de Danville, in-fol. 1 
 
 48. lies Britanniques, in-fol 1 
 
 49. Comptes des Finances et du Tr&or, in-4 et in-fol. 
 
 50. Voyage en Egypte, par Denon, in-fol 2 
 
 51 . Description de I'Egy pte 7 
 
 52. Manuel du Libraire, in-8 3 
 
 N.B. — The guardian of the Fontainebleau Library- 
 will send a more detailed list. 
 
 Certified a true copy. I am, &c., 
 
 Baebier, 
 Crown Librarian. 
 
 It would appear that in fact the Imperial 
 palaces were being pillaged. Whoever liked 
 might take whatever pleased him, and the 
 guardian of the Fontainebleau palace com- 
 plained bitterly in his letters that anybody who 
 chose could penetrate even into the Emperor's 
 cabinet, and that the most precious objects dis- 
 appeared before his eyes, without his deigning 
 to take any notice or attempting to stay the 
 pillage. 
 
 Everything was abandoned to this disorder, 
 which was but the precursor of the end. The 
 Emperor was too used to battlefields to be sur- 
 
ISO THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 prised to see the birds of prey appear before the 
 wounded were even dead. 
 
 Napoleon was once again to take possession 
 of all his palaces, but for so short a time that he 
 scarcely left any traces of his presence. When 
 Louis XYIII. returned to the Tuileries he con- 
 gratulated himself that nothing there had been 
 changed. He found his apartment just as he 
 had left it. Upon different tables there still 
 remained objects he remembered to have left 
 there. 
 
 ' That man,' said he later, ' had not touched 
 anything, neither my books nor my papers. 
 My modest writing-table (fef' Hartwel) .was stiU 
 in a corner of my cabinet. I had little trouble 
 to put everything in order. I could have wished 
 it were as easy to remedy the ill caused in the 
 remainder of Prance by his rapid and fatal 
 passage.' 
 
 The following curious police report on the 
 Baron de VitroUes relates how the news of th^ 
 landing at Cannes was brought to the King's 
 knowledge : — 
 
 Police Report on the Baron de VitroUes. 
 
 ... At this point the conversation took an entirely 
 different turn, on the pretended news said to have come 
 from England by telegraph. Baron de VitroUes related 
 a fact and some circumstances referring to March 20, 
 and, in a manner, of historical interest. 
 
THE ISLAND OF ELBA 151 
 
 He said that being at that time entrusted with the 
 duty of receiving and opening all telegraphic despatches, 
 he saw M. Chappe, the director of telegraphs, arrive one 
 morning all out of breath, and lookiag quite upset, who 
 said to him, ' J liaxe been loohing for you for more than 
 an hour, Bwron ; here is news of the greatest inijjortanoe, 
 which must not be he^t from, the King one single minute.' 
 
 ' You appear to know it,' replied M. de Vitrolles. 
 ' Has the translator told you what it is ? ' 
 
 ' No,' replied M. Ciappe, ' hut he gave me to understand 
 that it referred to the safety of the King and his family, 
 and that there was not a minute to lose.' 
 
 Thereupon M. de Vitrolles, ignoring himself the 
 contents,, of the despatch, went at once to the King in 
 his cabinet and handed it to him. His Majesty opened 
 and read it, without his features expressing the slightest 
 change, and throwing it on a table in front of him he 
 simply said calmly : — 
 
 ' Buonaparte has landed in France ; read the news 
 yourself.' 
 
 M. de Vitrolles then exclaimed : — 
 
 ' Sire, the position is one which one thing alone 
 will decide : if at the iirst meeting the soldiers fire upon 
 Buonaparte he is lost ; if not, he will reach Paris.' 
 
 ' See the Minister of War at once,' said the King ; 
 ' let it be decided what steps are to be taken, and let 
 the matter be kept absolutely secret until fresh orders 
 are given.' 
 
 M. de Vitrolles hastened to the Ministry of War, 
 when he met the minister himself (Marshal Soult) on 
 the Pont Royal, going on foot to the Tuileries. He 
 stopped the Marshal, opened the door of his carriage, 
 and handing him the despatch he held in his hand. 
 
153 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 made him read it. The Marshal doubted the news, 
 got into M. de Vitrolles' carriage, and together they 
 returned to the King. The Marshal alone entered the 
 King's cabinet; came out after a few minutes, and 
 handed M. de Vitrolles a despatch that he had written 
 in the saloon adjoining the King's cabinet ; this reply- 
 stated that the truth of the news was doubted, and that 
 confirmation was waited for, but that orders should be 
 given the following day; the despatch was addressed 
 to General Brayer, who commanded the Lyons division. 
 
 M. de Vitrolles then went to Monsieur, not to tell 
 him the news, but to know whether his highness had 
 learned it from the King. 
 
 Monsieur was at vespers at the time. M. de 
 Vitrolles waited for him about half an hour, when 
 Monsieur arrived and asked M. de Vitrolles into his 
 cabinet. The conversation during some time referred 
 to indiiferent subjects ; finally Monsieur, as if remem- 
 bering, said to M. de Vitrolles : 
 
 ' You Jcnow the news ? Buonaparte has landed in 
 France.' 
 
 'Yes, monseigneur,! know it ; ' and thereupon M. de - 
 Vitrolles explained all the danger run by the royal 
 family, what sort of an enemy they had to deal with, 
 how active and dangerous he was, how necessary it was 
 to take steps, that Monsieur must march to ineet him, 
 and make the troops decide. Monsieur had listened 
 some minutes without replying ; finally he said, ' Yes, I 
 conceive that I must prepare to set out.' ' More than 
 that, my lord, you must start the instant you have 
 received the King's orders.' ' Ah ivell, I will go and see 
 the King ; you, M. de Vitrolles, have everything prepared 
 for my departure.' 
 
THE ISLAND OF ELBA 153 
 
 If Napoleon left little material trace of his 
 ' hundred days' ' reign in his palaces, he was not 
 to leave much more of his exile to the island of 
 Elba, and in 1827 my father, visiting this island, 
 stated the fact in the pages that I extract from 
 his numerous manuscripts. 
 
 We were received by M. Mellini, a native of the 
 island ; this superior officer of engineers contributed to 
 the erection of the fortress of Alexandria, of which he 
 was a long time the inspector. He vigorously defended 
 Bastia against the English in 1815, quitted the island 
 of Elba with Napoleon, followed him to Waterloo, and 
 only speaks of his hero, who was always his benefactor, 
 with tears in his eyes. 
 
 We went early to take our coffee at Mr. Bonbillet's, 
 . in the house that Napoleon had had arranged for his 
 races at Torre de Eio. A village superintendent would 
 not have been content with it. 
 
 Colonel Mellini is an old republican, who relates 
 with enthusiasm the prodigies of the French armies 
 during the first Italian campaigns. Then his love of 
 liberty, which was not very solidly founded, changed 
 into admiration for Napoleon, whose favours produced 
 in him a pure and heartfelt devotion. He was with 
 Napoleon in the island of Elba expedition, when after 
 a captivity of thirteen months in this miserable country 
 the Emperor so marvellously conquered France. The 
 old soldier, covered with wounds, but still handsome 
 under his white hair, related with much ardour, expres- 
 sion, and tenderness the first meeting of Napoleon, at 
 Sisteron, with a regiment which opposed his passage 
 for a few minutes. The colonel thereof was unable, 
 
154 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 however, to bear the Emperor's presence without trem- 
 bling and falling fainting to the ground. My travelling 
 companion and I wept like children at his recital. 
 
 M. Mellini showed us a charming portrait of his 
 patron, a ravishing miniature which he received from 
 Madame MSre. The Emperor is represented in the 
 time of the Consulate. The portrait is so perfect that 
 it even resembles him in the later times of his Imperial 
 power more than any other I have ever seen. It was 
 by Augustin. 
 
 Einally we quitted this brave man, who wished us 
 farewell in expressing his vows for liberty or for another 
 Napoleon, and, by an expressive sign referring to his 
 white hair, he regretted not to be amongst those who 
 would enjoy his favours. 
 
 Porto Ferrajo inspired me with a sadness and a 
 weariness impossible to overcome, perhaps because my 
 ideas had proved false. I was hoping to see I know 
 not what, and I did not see anything. The Emperor 
 has scarcely left any trace of his passage, and the town, 
 in which no business is carried on, has in itself an air 
 of sadness which is easily communicated. 
 
 San Martino, a villa three miles from Porto Ferrajo, 
 which Napoleon had built, is a small and very simple 
 house, from which everything that might recall his stay 
 has been removed. There was only in the drawing- 
 room a marble bust of the insignificant merchant 
 Bacciochi, and the counterpart of the Bacciocha, the 
 Emperor's sister. They were upon a most common 
 chimney-piece, of which the upper part was of bad 
 wood badly painted. By a strange contrast the mantel- 
 shelf was in Roman mosaic, very well done, representing 
 birds and foliage gracefully interlaced. 
 
THE ISLAND OF ELBA 155 
 
 The large 6'«We was painted in fresco, some of tlie 
 small figures being excellently executed ; they represent 
 Egyptian subjects. All the engravings which remained 
 in the Imperial Palace of Porto Ferrajo refer also to 
 Egypt. It would seem that Napoleon wished to prepare 
 for his meditated return by remembering his hazard- 
 ous return from Egypt. 
 
 More than once on looking at these paintings he 
 must have smiled at his fortune, and thought that it 
 would not abandon him on so solemn an occasion. 
 Fortune was faithful to him, but to reap all its fruits 
 something was required besides temerity ; to return from 
 the island of Elba republican as he returned from 
 Egypt, and not to deceive in so cowardly a manner 
 a people who received him in 1815, not as emperor 
 and king, but as a sovereign whom a year's reflection 
 in such solitude ought to have enlightened as to the 
 only divinity to which the French will do sacrifice. 
 
 This property, surrounded by vineyards and several 
 hills producing only shrubs and wild plants, was bought 
 and beautified at the Emperor's expense, and belongs 
 to his son. This country house without a garden, 
 which has not a tree — yes, one olive tree on the terrace 
 — and yet over two thousand acres of ground, which 
 replaced Versailles, Saint Cloud, Eambouillet, Oom- 
 piSgne, Saint-Germain, Fontainebleau, Trianon — is let 
 to M. Corse, of Porto Ferrajo, at a rental of 300 crowns 
 of the native money. 
 
 In returning by way of Porto Ferrajo we found the 
 colonel again, who related to us : — 
 
 ' I was by the side of Napoleon, when, after the pass- 
 age of Tagliamento, he might have upset for ever the 
 sovereigns of Austria, but instead of pursuing the van- 
 
IS6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 quished army vigorously, he partly listened to Prince 
 Charles's prayer, and said : — 
 
 ' " I will only order my army to advance slowly." 
 
 ' " Adieu — the republic ! " I could not help crying. 
 That brought me into a sort of disgrace during one year.' 
 
 We heard before leaving an amusing etymologist 
 who wished to explain everything. He pretended that 
 Na/poleon came in a straight line from ApoUon : put a 
 stop after the N, efface the head of the E to leave only 
 a second L, and you have N. Apollon, viz. Nicholas 
 Apollon, of which the ignorant beadles of Ajaccio have 
 made Napoleon. 
 
 He added, if Napoleon be written in Greek charac- 
 ters, but suppressing the first letter, the following words 
 are produced : — 
 
 'NaTToXscav, AiroKemv, HoKsav, OXkav, Ascov, Etaz/, Hv, 
 
 which may be translated by : ' Napoleon, being the 
 lion of the peoples, went destroying the cities.' 
 
 The police, which was still composed of men 
 having served under Buonaparte, were under 
 Louis XVni., as I have already said, most 
 active. Everything that came from the island 
 of Elba, and, afterwards from St. Helena — letters, 
 papers, &c. — ^was intercepted and delivered to 
 the ' Black Cabinet.' If anything was allowed 
 to escape it caused a veritable despair ; and on 
 April 10, 1820, Count Angles expressed his 
 regret at having the previous year missed the 
 couriers of O'Meara, Balcombe, and the Bona- 
 parte family. 
 
THE ISLAND OF ELBA 157 
 
 10th April, 1820. 
 
 My dear Friend, — Here is a note relating to the 
 watch kept on M. de Lafayette. It contains a fact 
 worthy of your best attention. Benard, an officer of 
 the peace, is a man whom Foudras assures me to be 
 veracious and incapable of deceiving the authorities. 
 He had the note from Cointereau, who is evidently one 
 of the corresponding agents of the party. 
 
 It is very probable that he will carry the letters 
 from Benjamin Constant, SauquiSre Souligne, and 
 Lafayette, for the whole party is engrossed with the 
 revolutionary plan at tbe present moment. 
 
 Shall we allow this opportunity to slip of obtaining 
 some positive convicting proofs, as last year we allowed 
 the Englishman Holmer to escape us with O'Meara's, 
 Balcombe's, and the Buonaparte family's correspondence ? 
 
 Foudras thinks — and I share his opinion — that, 
 under some pretext or other, we ought to seize all 
 Cointereau's papers just as he gets into his carriage. 
 Write me as soon as possible ; consult your neighbour, 
 his advice is good, and he has the tact of what may be 
 useful. 
 
 My servant will wait your answer, bnt if you can- 
 not reply immediately, send it me by some very safe 
 person. 
 
 Return me the report. 
 
 Count Angles. 
 
 To have missed O'Meara's correspondence 
 was serious ; they were not accustomed to such 
 failures, and everything emanating from this 
 physician, the Emperor's confidant, was specially 
 coveted. French agents residing in England 
 
rS8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 watched the arrival of ships from St. Helena, 
 and persistently followed the passengers. When 
 O'Meara returned to Europe he was also spied 
 and tracked ; a regular plot was laid with a view 
 of abstracting the precious documents of which 
 he was the bearer. 
 
 Here is what the ' Bibliographic Universelle ' 
 says about his return : — 
 
 'Go,' said Napoleon, 'the crime will be the sooner 
 accomplished ; I have lived too long for them. Your 
 ministry is very daring ; when the Pope was in France, 
 I would rather have cut off my arm than sign an order 
 to remove his surgeon. On your arrival in Europe, go 
 yourself and find my brother Joseph ; tell him I wish 
 him to give you the packet of private and confidential 
 letters, written me by the Emperors Alexander and 
 Pranpois, and the King of Prussia, &c., that I confided 
 to his care at Rochefort. Publish them in order to 
 cover these sovereigns with shame, and show the world 
 the vUe homage these vassals rendered me when I was 
 powerful. Then they courted my protection and the 
 honour of an alliance with me, they licked the dust off 
 my feet. Now they oppress me in a cowardly manner, 
 by separating me from my wife and child. 
 
 ' Do what I request you ; publish their infamy.' 
 
 As soon as he returned to Europe, O'Meara 
 hastened to execute Napoleon's orders, and to 
 inform his brother of them ; but it was too late, 
 the precious correspondence had been confided 
 to unfaithful hands, and was already delivered 
 
THE ISLAND OF ELBA 159 
 
 to the different sovereigns who had so much 
 interest to cause its disappearance. 
 
 The Eussian ambassador in London alone 
 gave a sum of two hundred and fifty thousand 
 francs from his master, and all the rest had paid 
 in the same proportions, so that none of the 
 correspondence remained, which is a great pity 
 as regards history. 
 
 I desire here to copy a series of letters sent 
 from St. Helena, and which, not being signed, 
 were attributed by some, to Dr. O'M^ara, by 
 others to Doctor Keith, but the prevailing 
 opinion was in favour of O'Meara's authorship, 
 as will be seen by the note at page 210, which 
 , I copied textually from one of them. 
 
 These letters, very littje known, were in 
 reality written by Mr. Warden, the doctor of 
 the ' Northumberland,' who accompanied Napo- 
 leon to St. Helena. 
 
 I thought well to reproduce them, collected 
 and arranged in chapters, after having rectified 
 the negligence and the errors of the translation, 
 but respecting the primitive style. They seem 
 to be written with a freedom and simplicity 
 which impose every confidence in their veracity 
 and in their author's good faith. 
 
 The accompanying notes do not figure on the 
 manuscript, they are nearly all in the hand-writing 
 of Baron Mounier, the Emperor's secretary. 
 
i6o THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAiPTEE X.1 
 
 AT SEA. 
 
 On Board the ' Northumljerlaiid ' — Portrait of Napoleon — The Im- 
 pressions of the Count and Countess Bertrand — Companions in 
 Exile — ^Ney at Waterloo — Fouchfi and the Emperor's Abdica- 
 tion. 
 
 .... Between eleven and twelve o'clock 
 everything on board was ready for Napoleon's 
 reception. Lord Keith, out of regard, I think, 
 for the situation and the probable state of his feel- 
 ings, refused the ceremony due to his rank, and 
 would permit no other honours to be rendered 
 to the ex-Emperor but those due to a general, 
 this title being equal with every Government. 
 The guards of the English navy were drawn up 
 on the poop, with orders to present arms and 
 the drums to be thrice beaten — the usual salute 
 for every general officer in the British service. 
 
 My longboat reached the ' Northumberland ' 
 a few minutes after leaving the ' Bellerophon,' 
 
 ' Part of the correspondence contained in this and the five 
 following chapters was published in an incomplete form in 1817. 
 I give it here in its entirety, from the original manuscript trans- 
 lation in the possession of Baron Mounier, Napoleon's private 
 secretary. The notes appended were all added to the originals in 
 the handwriting of Baron Mounier. — Cotrm b'H. 
 
AT SEA i6t 
 
 Our deck was covered with officers, and even a 
 crowd of persons of all classes drawn thither by- 
 curiosity. The longboat contained, besides the 
 object of general attention. Lord Keith and Sir 
 George Cockburn, Marshal Bertrand, who had 
 shared all the chances of his master's fortune, 
 and Generals Montholon and Gourgaud, who had 
 been the Emperor's aides-de-camp and still pre- 
 served the title. 
 
 As the longboat approached, the figure of 
 Napoleon was distinguishable at once ; everybody 
 recognised him from having seen the engravings 
 and portraits, always very lifelike, which were 
 exhibited in every picture-dealer's shop. On 
 the arrival universal silence reigned, both on the 
 poop where were mustered the marines, and on 
 the deck where the officers were assembled. All 
 the spectators had grave but astonished faces, 
 which, in my opinion, as well as in that of many 
 others, added not a httle to the importance of the 
 event. 
 
 Count Bertrand went on board first ;^ he 
 moved a few steps away to make room for him 
 whom he never ceased to regard as his master, 
 and to whom he always rendered the homage 
 and respect due. The whole crew was in 
 breathless expectation. Lord Keith left the long- 
 boat last, and I cannot better convey a just idea 
 of the exclusive attention concentrated upon the 
 
 M 
 
i62 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 face and form of Napoleon than by assuring you 
 that nobody amongst us even cast a glance at 
 Lord Keith, notwithstanding his dignity in the 
 navy, the fact of his being Admiral of the Channel 
 fleet, in full uniform and wearing all his decora- 
 tions. Every eye was riveted on Napoleon. 
 
 Buonaparte went slowly on board, and, as 
 soon as his foot touched the deck, saluted by 
 taking off his hat. The marines presented arms 
 and the drums were beat. The officers of the 
 ' Northumberland ' stood to the front, their heads 
 uncovered ; he approached and saluted them 
 with the greatest politeness. He then addressed 
 himself to Sir George Cockburn, but immediately 
 seeing that he did not speak French, he succes- 
 sively addressed several others, until he came 
 to an artillery officer who answered him in that 
 language. Lord Lowther and Mr. Littleton were 
 presented to him. After a few moments he ex- 
 pressed the desire to be conducted to the cabin 
 destined for his use ; he remained there about an 
 hour. 
 
 He was dressed as a general of French infan- 
 try in active service : a green uniform with white 
 facings, white vest and breeches, white silk 
 stockings, and well-made shoes with oval gold 
 buckles. As decorations he wore a red ' cordon,' 
 a star, and three orders attached to his button- 
 hole ; the iron crown, and the two grades of the 
 
AT SEA 163 
 
 Legion of Honour. He was pale ; one could see 
 that he had not slept well the previous night. 
 His head was well covered with black hair, un- 
 mingled with a single white one. His grey eyes 
 were continually in movement, quickly changing 
 from one object to another. His teeth were beau- 
 tiful and regular, and his shoulders finely propor- 
 tioned, although he was a trifle too corpulent ; 
 his face was really remarkable for its beauty. 
 
 I may be thought too circumstantial in the 
 details concerning this celebrated personage ; 
 but I thought that was what you expected, and 
 that I ought to satisfy the curiosity I know you 
 feel. . . . Imagine that I have played the ' La- 
 vater' on the subject of the former Emperor of 
 France and King of Italy, I will not fatigue you 
 with more of my idle observations. 
 
 Buonaparte, on returning on deck, conversed 
 for an hour before dinner with Lord Lowther, 
 Mr. Littleton, and Sir George Bingham. It is 
 said that he complained of the severity with 
 which he was treated — being condemned to pass 
 his days on the St. Helena rock, at the mercy of 
 the four ■winds, and in the middle of an immense 
 ocean. He failed to comprehend the politics or 
 the fears of England in refusing an asylum to 
 a man whose political career was ended. He 
 spoke very vivaciously in this strain, addressing 
 himself principally to Mr. Littleton ; but all the 
 
 K 2 
 
1 64 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 time with great politeness, as might have been 
 expected from him. 
 
 In a conversation I had on the following 
 day with Count Bertrand, he also. complained 
 strongly of the cruel life in store for them. 
 ' For, after all,' said he, ' the Emperor ' — all 
 his followers always gave him that title — ' the 
 Emperor only submitted to the will of England 
 in the full confidence of finding an asylum on 
 her shores.' He asked me what worse could 
 have befallen his master had he been captured 
 on the American vessel, on board of which he 
 might have tried to efiect his escape. He re- 
 capitulated all the probabilities of success of 
 that enterprise, and added, ' Ought we to be 
 made to repent not having run that risk?' 
 
 He went further. 
 
 ' The Emperor,' he said, ' could he not have 
 put himself at the head of the army of the 
 Loire ? Do you doubt that he would have 
 gloried in serving under the flag ? Is it not 
 possible, even probable, that we should have 
 been joined by numerous friends from the north, 
 south, and east .? ^ It cannot therefore be denied 
 
 ' This showed great confldencp. Napoleon was not only be- 
 trayed by fortune, deceived in his illusions as to the generosity of 
 his enemies, but even betrayed by Murat, his own brother-in-law, 
 and abandoned by those who owed him everything. 
 
 M. Pasquier, on the occasion of the quarrel between Grouchy 
 and Berthyem, relates the following anecdote : — 
 
AT SEA 165 
 
 that it only depended upon him to put himself in 
 a position to dictate other conditions than those 
 imposed upon him. 
 
 ' It was to avoid the shedding of blood that 
 the Emperor threw himself upon your hands ; 
 he believed in the honour of a nation justly 
 celebrated for its generosity and its justice, and 
 it would not have been a dishonour for England 
 to admit Napoleon Buonaparte as a citizen. He 
 asked but to be received into no matter which of 
 your corporations. He only asked your sky for 
 shelter, and your land to repose his head in 
 safety. Was that too much for so great a man? 
 Assuredly not. Such a great man could never 
 have thought that in adversity — if, as seemed 
 
 After Waterloo it was of the greatest importance to get De 
 Groucliy's army to dedare for the King, in order that the foreigners 
 might have been stopped hy telling them that, the King being 
 re-estahlished on his throne, their march on Paris was rendered 
 unnecessary. 
 
 I started with Girardin (Alex) to find Grouchy, whom, we knew 
 was favourably disposed. We expected to find him at Soissons. 
 
 On the way Girardin perceived an army courier from Grouchy 
 going to Paris to headquarters ; he stopped him, and made him 
 hand over his dispatches. 
 
 They announced that Grouchy was no longer in command. 
 
 We were therefore obliged to abandon our project, and in order 
 not to re-enter Paris by daylight we went to Ermenonville, where 
 we passed the remainder of the day so as to enter Paris by night. 
 
 M. Pasquier had already received powers from Grouchy. 
 
 The thing had been quite secret. That must have been June 
 28 or 29. M. Pasquier adds that the morning of his re-entering 
 Paris he found Grouchy at VitroUes' house. Grouchy was present 
 at the sitting of the Chamber on July 1. 
 
i66 THE BLACK CABINEl 
 
 impossible, adversity could have overtaken him 
 -^such a place would have been refused him. 
 Would it not have been a proud reflection for 
 England, that he who had conquered almost the 
 whole of Europe, excepting England, had con- 
 ceived no other desire in his misfortune than to 
 pass the remainder of a life which had formed' 
 the most brilliant epoch of the century, retired 
 in the farthest corner of her territory, had she 
 deigned to accord it to him ? ' 
 
 He admitted that Napoleon had consulted 
 him in order to know whether he could count 
 upon the magnanimity of the English Govern- 
 ment, and that being pressed he had replied : 
 
 ' I refuse to express my opinion to your 
 Majesty — not because I am prejudiced against 
 the English nation ; ^ for the first time in my life 
 I cannot obey you. I have not the audacity to 
 dare to advise under such critical circumstances, 
 
 ' I recall here the terms of the letter written by the Emperor, 
 and it is unnecessary for me to lay stress on the generosity shown 
 by the English in consec[uence of a policy that Lord Chatham 
 cynically expressed in the foUowiug terms : — 
 
 If WR act in good faith and justice towards France, England 
 will not exist for another quarter of a century. 
 
 > Eocbefort, July 18, 1815. 
 ' Royal Highness, — Exposed to the factions which divide my 
 country, and to the enmity of the greatest European Powers, I 
 have finished my political career, and I am coming, like Themis- 
 tocles, to seek repose in the homes of the people of Britain. I 
 place myself under the protection of its laws : that I entreat of 
 
AT SEA 167 
 
 which must have such an influence on your fate 
 and the honour of your name. It is not the 
 idea of -what may happen to me personally that 
 frightens me ; I have not the shadow of a fear 
 in this respect ; but I think that you may com- 
 promise your liberty by the resolution you are 
 about to take. . . . 
 
 ' And in fact it was compromised. 
 
 ' I was so agitated in turn by my fears and 
 hopes, that I simply asked him to hear me swear 
 that I would follow him everywhere ; but it was 
 for him alone to decide where he wished me to 
 follow him. I cannot express to you how I 
 congratulate myself at not having given advice 
 to follow the course the Emperor took himself. 
 For if I had contributed, in however small a 
 measure, to the steps which reduced him to the 
 deplorable state in which I now see him, I 
 should not have one minute of repose in my life.' 
 
 your Koyal Highness, as the powerful, the most constant, and the 
 most generous of my enemies. 
 
 ' Napoleon.' 
 
 It is at least curious to re-establish the following fact reported 
 by M. de Laizer to Baron Mounier: — 
 
 Dumouriez, who, since his banishment from France, was estab- 
 lished in England, and was in receipt of a pension from the British 
 Government — Dumouriez, who was to deliver the plans to the 
 English during the Spanish War, and to the allied armies in 1814, 
 went in the strictest incognito, on the eve of the battle of 
 Austerlitz, to the headquarters of the Russian army. M. de 
 Laizer was at that time aide-de-camp to Bernington. 
 
1 68 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 The expressions he used, and the inflexions 
 of his voice, fully testified to his internal feelings. 
 There was quite a military style in his language 
 which proved that his decision was taken; but 
 I could perceive the profound affliction of his 
 heart. Loyal Englishman as I am, proud, as 
 ought to be every son of our glorious country 
 — although I could not participate in the senti- 
 ments and opinions that in his enthusiasm he 
 expressed, I could not help admiring this faithful 
 and sensitive Frenchman. 
 
 Madame Bertrand's lamentations did not 
 take the same form nor language as those of 
 the Count her husband. Her bearing and her 
 sorrow admitted of intervals of distraction. 
 
 'What do you think,' she said to me one 
 day, ' of my sad position ? Could anybody 
 deserve more pity? Can words express the 
 pain I experience ? What a contrast for a 
 young woman who has held the highest rank 
 in the gayest and most brilUant court of Europe ! 
 I, who saw a thousand admirers waiting for a 
 smile, and who boasted when they had obtained 
 it ! — I, the wife of Count Bertrand, Grand Mar- 
 shal of the palace of the Emperor of Erance, 
 to find myself to-day, with three children, con- 
 demned to accompany my husband in his exile, 
 and that in a desert island, where distractions, 
 all my dreams of pleasure, will be replaced by 
 
AT SEA 169 
 
 prison life, with the inconveniences accompany- 
 ing it, notwithstanding all the attention and 
 kindness we are promised. . . . And all this in 
 the midst of a boundless ocean ! ' 
 
 She was curious to know what the English 
 thought of her husband. I told her that, as far 
 as I could judge, they had a higher opinion of 
 him than of the other marshals ; that his devo- 
 tion to Napoleon had something romantic about 
 it which excited much sympathy in England. 
 
 The result of all this anxiety was to' give 
 Madame Bertrand a slight desire to commit sui- 
 cide. In her despair she threatened to throw her- 
 self into the sea. This, it appears, was on the 
 evening of the day on which Buonaparte learnt 
 that his fate was decided, and at the moment that 
 this distressing decision came to her knowledge. 
 
 The Httle Bertrands are interesting children. 
 The youngest is three or four years old ; the 
 eldest was born at Trieste, during the time his 
 father was Governor of the lUyrian provinces ; 
 the other is a lively little girl, who gives evi- 
 dence of a violent disposition. Military in- 
 stincts are already dominant in these httle 
 urchins' characters. They pass their time from 
 morning till night in drilling, or galloping as if 
 on horseback, and all this under the command 
 of a little French boy, who appears to have been 
 born under some tent. 
 
I/O THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 When I said to Madame Bertrand that it 
 was generally believed that she had intended to 
 remain in England to eduqate her children, she 
 replied in a dry manner, which, from not being 
 habitual with her, inspired me with a certain 
 interest : 
 
 ' Why, sir, should I leave my husband under 
 such painful circumstances ? It would be too 
 great a sacrifice. Perhaps in a year I may de- 
 cide to return.' 
 
 As I informed her she might avail herself 
 of the ' Northumberland's ' return, she did not 
 seem indisposed to accept the proposition. 
 
 Neither the Count nor Countess de Mon- 
 tholon speaks English. He is a good-looking 
 man, though small, and she is a very pretty 
 woman. They have one consolation in common, 
 of which they are very sensible, that is — their 
 charming children. 
 
 When Buonaparte quitted the ' Bellerophon,' 
 he was asked to name three persons whom he 
 wished to accompany him to St. Helena. It 
 was thought that Bertrand would have been 
 excepted by the English Government ; but it 
 seems that Lord Keith took upon himself to ad- 
 mit so faithful a friend amongst the number of 
 those who accompanied the ex-Emperor. The 
 others were. Count de Las Cases, an old navy 
 officer and a literary man ; Generals Montholon 
 
AT SEA 171 
 
 and Gourgaud, the two of Buonaparte's aides- 
 de-camp who voluntarily shared his fortunes. 
 The two latter had followed him to Eussia, 
 and related all the horrors of that winter cam- 
 paign.^ They praised the Eussian cavalry to 
 the skies ; they stated that the Cossacks were 
 easily put to flight., They did not seem to think 
 much of the Prussians, and even less of the 
 Austrians. They did not hide the astonishment 
 they experienced at the English infantry at 
 Waterloo ; ^ but they thought that the cavalry 
 wasted their energies too much ; they ap- 
 parently discovered this to their cost on that 
 glorious day. 
 
 ^ Here is a list of the losses of the 4th regiment : 
 In crossing the Khine there were 2,150 men present ; 850 
 recruits joined at Moscow, Smolensk, and Wilna ; total, 3,000 
 men. Of these 3,000 men, 200 returned on peace heing declared 
 — loss 2,700, or nine tenths: 116 officer's killed; deaths during 
 retreat, or taken prisoners, 40; prisoners of whom many were 
 wounded, 20; wounded, 40; neither wounded nor taken prisoners, 
 10 ; in all 50 returned to France, of whom 40 were wounded. 
 
 ^ The morning of the hattle of Waterloo the Duke of Wel- 
 lington said to the General Pozzo di Borgo^: 'I have thirty 
 thousand Englishmen, five or six thousand Hanoverians, who 
 were in the Spanish war. Good troops. The rest have never 
 heen tried. The Belgians behaved badly the day before yesterday — 
 I must not trust to them ; but you can write to the Emperor 
 Alexander that if the battle is lost, not one of those redcoats ' — 
 pointing to the English — ' will remain alive.' 
 
 1 General Pozzo di Borgo, Napoleon's implacable enemy, «ho was a long 
 time in the service of Eussia, was the son of a Coraican shepherd, who fur- 
 nished the Buonaparte family with eggs and milk. The child was educated 
 at the expense of Madame Mfere. 
 
172 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 In a conversation with Count Bertrand, 
 which turned on this subject during a few 
 minutes, he could not hide his feeHngs. The 
 little he said, he said with pain, frankness, and a 
 marked bitterness. 
 
 ' We fought that day for the Crown of 
 France ; you won the battle, and we lost all.' 
 
 I asked him if he had read Marshal Ney's 
 letter to the Duke d'Otrante, vindicating his 
 conduct on that day. Its publication was 
 apparently unknown, for when I informed him 
 of the manner in which the marshal judged and 
 censured the conduct of his master the Emperor, 
 publicly accusing him to have done nothing but 
 commit mistakes, he said : 
 
 'WeU, well, if I had commanded Marshal 
 Ney's corps, I should perhaps have done worse 
 than he ; however that may be, I blame him 
 strongly — but to compare him to Buonaparte ! ' 
 And raising and drooping his eyes, he cried: 
 ' There is as much difference between them as 
 the distance of heaven from earth.' ' 
 
 ^ Ney was as brave and courageous as he was difficult to 
 discipline. I reproduce one of his unpublished letters addressed 
 to Marshal Mass^na that M. Napoleon Ney was kind enough to 
 show me : — 
 
 ' Ciudad Eodrigo : May 14, 1809. 
 
 ' Monsieur le Mar^chal, — I am Dukeand Marshal of the Empire 
 like you {tie) — as for your title of Prince d'Essling, that has no 
 importance except at the Tuileries. You teU me you are the 
 
AT SEA 173 
 
 By my conversations with them I learnt that 
 the causes and details of Buonaparte's abdication 
 had never been well known in England. I will 
 try to recall them, if what I was told is true, and 
 I do not believe that one would have sought 
 gratuitously to impose upon me. 
 
 It appears that it was a trich of FoucMs 
 invention to deceive the Emperor, and it. suc- 
 ceeded. 
 
 The name of this crafty pohtician and auda- 
 cious revolutionary is, amongst the persons 
 composing our society on board, always ac- 
 companied by the choicest and newest impre- 
 cations. Talleyrand himself does not get so 
 many as this arch-traitor, as he is rightly called. 
 
 general. I know it but too well; and when ycu order Michel 
 Ney to conduct his troops against the enemy you will see how 
 he will ohey you. But when it pleases you to upset the army 
 staff formed hy the Prince of Neufchatel, you will understand that 
 I no more listen to your orders than I fear your threats { 
 
 ' Farewell, Marshal, I esteem you ; and you know it ; . . . you 
 esteem me, and I know it. . . . The devU ! we are not going to 
 get at yariance for 'a caprice. For, after all, how are you going 
 to know if your little man shoots a homh better than my old 
 moustache, who is, I assure you, a solid fellow ? It is said that 
 yours dances well, so much the better for him ! but that is no 
 reason for him to make the enraged Spaniards dance — and that is 
 what we want. 
 
 ' Michel Net.' 
 
 M. Pasquier, while he was Prefect of Police, having had a 
 difficulty with Ney on the subject of sweeping, was obliged to 
 speak of it to the Emperor, who said to him, ■ You do not 
 know what it is to have to govern two men like Soult and Ney.' 
 
174 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 The opinion of all the exiles is that Fouch^ 
 would like to hang Talleyrand, that Talley- 
 rand would like to hang Fouche, and that he 
 who would hang them both on the same gal- 
 lows would set a good example to the pubHc in 
 proving that he had punished the two greatest 
 scoundrels, the two most arrant knaves who ever 
 governed and scandalised social order. I come 
 back to the anecdote of the abdication. 
 
 When Napoleon returned to Paris after his 
 defeat at "Waterloo, he might have been supposed 
 to be very uneasy and very uncertain as to what 
 he should do. 
 
 The Due d'Otrante placed before his eyes a 
 letter which he was supposed to have received 
 quite recently from Prince de Metternich, 
 Minister of Austria. It was dated the month of 
 April previous ; the minister averred that the 
 invariable will of the Emperor of Austria his 
 master was that Napoleon I. should descend 
 from the throne of France ; that he should leave 
 the French nation free to decide in favour of the 
 monarchy under Napoleon II., or of the Eepublic. 
 Austria declared that she had neither the right 
 nor the intention to dictate laws to the French 
 nation ; that the solemn and irrevocable expulsion 
 of the traitor (this was the expression used) was 
 all that Austria asked of France. 
 
 Napoleon took the bait, and abdicated at 
 
AT SEA 175 
 
 once in favour of his son ; but no sooner tad 
 he committed this mistake than he discovered 
 Fouch^'s double knavery. He learned that the 
 letter was fictitious, and that the Emperor of 
 Austria had no more the desire than the right 
 to make his grandson play any role. 
 
 In the commencement of his stay in our 
 midst Buonaparte showed great anxiety to learn 
 the contents of the English papers ; he was very 
 curious to know how his character, his conduct, 
 and the events were judged in our journals ; 
 and the knowledge was carefully kept from 
 him. 
 
 Count de Las Cases promised to teach him 
 
 , enough English in fifteen days to enable him to 
 
 read the papers himself, and he ofiered to prove 
 
 to him how easy it would be ; but he never could 
 
 persuade his master to become his pupil. 
 
 ' I well know,' Buonaparte said to him, ' that 
 you consider me a clever boy; however that may 
 be, I cannot know everything, and one of the 
 things that I shall never learn, is English in 
 fifteen days.' 
 
176 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES. 
 
 Napoleon at Table — His Questions — ^Talleyrand — The Marshal's 
 Fortunes — Count Bertrand and the Return from the Island of 
 Elba — General Gourgaud's Anecdotes. 
 
 I RESUME my task, which I can only perform by 
 fits and starts. 
 
 The day of his arrival our illustrious pas- 
 senger showed signs of a large appetite. I 
 noticed that he much liked to be given Bordeaux 
 with his meals. He passed the evening on deck, 
 where the band of the 53rd was mustered for his 
 amusement. 
 
 He asked them to play ' God save the King ' 
 and ' Eule, Britannia.' In the intervals he con- 
 versed and appeared to be joking with the 
 oflBcers who understood French. I noticed that 
 on all these occasions he affected always the 
 same attitude, either expressly or from habit, 
 that he had in the Tuileries when giving an 
 audience to his marshals or oJBScers. He never 
 took his hands from his vest, except to get his 
 
SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES 177 
 
 snuff-box. A circumstance which shows what 
 a dignified bearing he always had, was that he 
 never offered snuff to the person with whom he 
 was speaking. 
 
 The next day he breakfasted at eleven o'clock, 
 ate meat, drank Bordeaux, and took coffee. At 
 dinner he showed a preference for mutton cut- 
 lets ; I noticed he ate them without using either 
 knife or fork. 
 
 He passed the greater part of the third day 
 on deck, and appeared to me to have paid 
 particular attention to his dress. He only 
 received ' from the ship's officers the ordinary 
 marks of deference that would have been paid 
 to any private person ; and I think he neither 
 expected nor desired any other. He contented 
 himself with the homage rendered him by his 
 suite, who never appeared before him but hat 
 in hand, and at so respectful a distance that one 
 could almost believe that nothing was changed 
 since leaving the palace of St. Cloud. 
 
 In the evening he played at cards — at whist 
 — and lost invariably. 
 
 Amongst his baggage were two camp beds 
 which had constantly followed him in his cam- 
 paigns. The first, the primitive destination of 
 which was probably quite different, was one of 
 the principal objects of his furniture on board ; 
 the other ■ was just long enough to allow a 
 
 If 
 
178 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 general to snatch a few hours' rest in the midst 
 of the tumult of war. It was used by Madame 
 Bertrand, who had become a sea heroine. I 
 happened sometimes to sit upon it, but never 
 without thinking of the bloody battles of Wa- 
 grani, Austerlitz,^ Friedland, &c. 
 
 The wind commenced to blow and the ship 
 to roll considerably. Buonaparte went on deck 
 between three and four o'clock in the morning, 
 and amused himself by questioning the officer 
 on watch. He asked him how .many knots the 
 ship could make per hour ; what sort of figure- 
 head the ' Northumberland ' had ; a thousand 
 questions proving that he wished to know every- 
 thing : but I could not refrain from smiling 
 
 ^ The plan of the tattle of Aiisterlitz was conceived hy Napo- 
 leon at the chateau of Pont-de-Briques, a few kilometres from 
 Boulogne-sur-Mer, where he dwelt on seTeral occasions. The 
 Emperor had chosen the smallest room in the chateau for his hed- 
 room. In one of the cupboards one of hia petits chapeaux had 
 been forgotten : quite lately the Count de Clocheville did homage 
 to it in the Boulogne museum. In the park of this chateau there 
 is a small dark avenue, running near the high road, in which Napo- 
 leon walked every morning. It was on returning from these walks 
 that he dictated the plan of the marvellous campaign which resulted 
 in the victory of Austerlitz. 
 
 In the Boulogne museum is also to be found one of the only 
 two known copies of the medal which was to have been struck in 
 London after the descent on England. On one side it has a head 
 crowned with laurel, and on the other a Hercules smothering an 
 Antee in his arms, with the words ' Descent ok En SLiUB : ' exergue, 
 ' SiKTTCK IN London in 1804.' It is known that this time the 
 traditional enemy was not attacked, and this symbol of victory, 
 having become useless, was destroyed. 
 
SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES 179 
 
 when I saw the same man who recently carried 
 himself so proudly, who in such a superb man- 
 ner trod upon the conquered empires and peoples, 
 staggering at every step on the deck of our vessel, 
 and leaning on the arm of any one near in order not 
 to fall, for he was far from having his sea legs. 
 
 Amongst other things I remember the reply 
 made to him by Mr. Smith, who had the habit 
 of walking the deck arm in arm with his brother, 
 a marine officer, and who appeared much older 
 than the others. Buonaparte asked him how 
 long he had been in the service. 
 
 ' Fine years,' he replied. 
 
 ' Some time ago, doubtless ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, sir,' replied Mr. Smith, ' I lost much 
 time in the French prisons. I was prisoner at 
 Verdun during your campaign in Eussia.' 
 
 Buonaparte shrugged his shoulders with a 
 significant smile, and changed the conversation. 
 
 I must say once for all, if I have not told 
 you already, that he never lost an opportunity 
 of asking a question. One day he asked our 
 chaplain, who is orthodox, if he was not a ' Puri- 
 tan.' I need not tell you that the ecclesiastic 
 replied in the negative. But you may imagine 
 the scandal occasioned by such a question to a 
 man in holy orders, and unshaken in his reli- 
 gious principles. 
 
 He also wished to know what were the 
 
 s 2 
 
i8o THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ' Johnsonians ' in Scotland, a sect -which he be- 
 lieved to be very numerous in that part of Eng- 
 land. His conversation consisted of questions, 
 which were never sufficiently satisfied to hinder 
 him from recommencing on the same subject. 
 It was quite impossible to answer one of his 
 questions by asking another. He was accus- 
 tomed on the throne to the system of interroga- 
 tion which consisted of interruptions. There 
 was no means of guessing his motive for asking 
 about the ' Johnsonians.' I am persuaded that, 
 at the time he projected a descent on different 
 points of our island, he thought that Dr. John- 
 son had perhaps, by reason of his works, founded 
 a sect that might have been favourable to his 
 designs of invasion. 
 
 If I find an opportunity, and if the ex- 
 Emperor becomes sufficiently familiar with me, 
 I shall endeavour to discover his motive for 
 speaking of the ' Johnsonians.' 
 
 The name of Talleyrand was introduced one 
 day into the conversation of our French passen- 
 gers, and there was but one voice as to his great 
 talent.^ I asked at what time Napoleon had 
 
 ^ Buonaparte, when First Consul, wrote to Talleyrand, whom 
 he saw two or three times a day, ' Come and see me ; you know 
 all that I am ignorant of, as I know all that you do not know.' 
 M. de Talleyrand said to him after Marengo, when he commenced 
 to show that he could not stop, ' You prefer to be a comet rather 
 than a planet.' 
 
SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES i8i 
 
 withdrawn his confidence from Talleyrand and 
 had removed him from his council. I was an- 
 swered, 'From the Spanish war.' I observed 
 that it was said in England that the reason was 
 that he had too openly opposed that hazardous 
 enterprise. Everybody contradicted me, and 
 positively assured me that the Prince of Bene- 
 vento had approved the Spanish war, supporting 
 his unchangeable opinion, that he openly pro- 
 claimed in council, that the Emperor's life would 
 never be safe as long as a Boiirhon reigned in 
 Europe. 
 
 I endeavoured to press Madame Bertrand 
 on the subject of Talleyrand, and she positively 
 assured me that Talleyrand was in secret relation 
 with the Emperor during the interregnum, and 
 that he was to have rejoined him in a month. 
 He was to have quitted Vienna on the pretence 
 of going to take the waters at Aix-la-Chapelle. 
 
 ' Could you believe, madame,' I said, ' that if 
 M. de Talleyrand had the intention, he would 
 have had the power to influence the Vienna 
 Court to assist Buonaparte ? ' 
 
 ' He lead the Vienna Cabinet ! ' she cried ; ' oh, 
 yes, yes : he had sufficient spirit to lead all the 
 Cabinets of Europe. If only he had rejoined the 
 Emperor we should be in Paris yet, and France 
 would not have changed masters.' 
 
 On board the ' Northumberland ' I did not 
 
1 82 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 hear anybody praise his virtues, but many his 
 pohtical talents. 
 
 I asked Count Bertrand which of all the 
 Trench generals had amassed the greatest riches. 
 He told me it was Massena. 
 
 ' But all,' he added, ' have made immense for- 
 tunes. Macdonald, the Duke of Tarente, is the 
 one who has gained the least. ■^ 
 
 To my great astonishment, he made a pom- 
 pous eulogy of Davoust, Prince of Eckmilhl. 
 I remarked what we heard said in our country 
 of the unexampled atrocities committed in Ham- 
 burg. He assured me, on the contrary, that 
 Davoust was a general full of devotion and 
 activity and of passive obedience ; that he was 
 not wanting in humanity, but that his instruc- 
 
 ^ It was of Marshal Macdonald that the Count Goltz 
 wrote from Paris to the Prince of Hardenberg the 4th of June, 
 1816 :— 
 
 ' Marshal Macdonald is now very assiduous at court, and makes 
 himself remarked by wearing only the " fleur-de-lis " by the side 
 of the star of the legion of honour. He spoke to me with a sort 
 of enthusiasm of the visit made by the Duchess of Angouleme to 
 the Institution of the Demoiselles de Saint Denis, and of theexcellent 
 spirit reigning there since he is its chief in his position of Chancellor 
 of the Legion of Honour. 
 
 ' Marshal Macdonald as courtier is a veritable curiosity in the 
 history of the time.' 
 
 Count Goltz wrote also on the 1st July: 'Marshal Suchet 
 has been well received by the King ; he renewed to his Majesty 
 his protestations of devotion and fidelity, but good care was 
 taken at Court not to give him for the present any particular 
 tokens.' 
 
SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES 183 
 
 tions were most rigorous, and tliat he had not 
 exceeded them ; that he was incapable of a base 
 action ; that he had not taken a penny ; on the 
 contrary, it was within the knowlenge of Count 
 Bertrand that a considerable sum had been 
 offered to General Davoust to allow some ships 
 to leave Hamburg during the night, but that he 
 had refused with the scorn of a faithful officer 
 and an honest man. 
 
 Count de Las Cases attacked the marshals 
 without pity. He said that Massena had been a 
 fencing-master, but that before the Portuguese 
 campaign he was placed in France on an equality 
 with Buonaparte, and perhaps above as general. 
 He added that since that date he had become 
 absolutely insignificant and very miserly, al- 
 though he had but a daughter and son to inherit 
 his immense fortune. Speaking of Massena, he 
 related the following anecdote. 
 
 At the time of the crossing of the Danube 
 in 1809. the salvation of the army was attributed 
 to Massena's great talent and his imperturbable 
 courage. 
 
 The truth is that a considerable rising of the" 
 river suddenly cut off communication between 
 the left and right banks when half the army 
 was across already. The remainder had no 
 ammunition. Massena held out in the village of 
 Essling, and repulsed the Austrians fifteen times. 
 
1 84 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 He thus aided the retreat of the French, who 
 were threatened with total loss. 
 
 The praise of the whole army amounted to 
 so much blame of Buonaparte's conduct. He 
 endeavoured to obviate it by conferring on 
 Massena the title of Prince d'Essling, and 
 crediting him with the whole success of that 
 glorious campaign. 
 
 Soult, added M. de Las Cases, is an excellent 
 officer — nay, one of the bravest men possible ; 
 but Suchet has more power of discernment and 
 mind than any of the other marshals.-^ Joseph 
 and he married two sisters. 
 
 He spoke to me afterwards of Admiral 
 Gantheaume, and asked me what the Enghsh 
 papers said of that sailor. I replied that they 
 had not a high opinion of him outside the road- 
 stead, that he was considered good for retreats. 
 
 ' Yes,' he said, ' he is believed good for cruising 
 and flying. He was first attached to the King, 
 then to Napoleon, then to the King again. He 
 is at heart what you call the Vicar of B.' 
 
 Helping him to complete his idea, I said, 
 ' You mean the Vicar of Bray.' 
 
 ■■ General Lagrange, teing in Vienna at tlie moment the peace 
 of Presturg was announced, found Savary, Duke de Rovigo, 
 walking to and fro in a furious humour in the salon de service. 
 ' What is it to you ? ' said Lagrange (then Berthier's aide-de-camp) ; 
 ' you will always be marshal.' ' Yes,' was the reply, ' but I shall 
 never be anything else.' 
 
SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES 185 
 
 'That is it— the Vicar of Bray.' 
 
 'He is old,' said the count; 'but he is as 
 indiscreet as a young man.' 
 
 After dinner our distinguished passenger 
 walked about longer than usual. 
 
 He asked a thousand questions in order to 
 find out if we were making progress and would 
 soon reach our destination. He appeared to 
 suffer from the confinement, being accustomed 
 to take plenty of exercise. He was rather thin 
 before being First Consul, otherwise his Egyptian 
 campaigns would have been sufficient to make 
 him thin ; but although his fatigue of body and 
 mind would have sufficed to impair any other 
 constitution than his, he improved in health and 
 became much stouter during the ten following 
 years. 
 
 It is a singular circumstance that Count de 
 Montholon, who I have told you was one of the 
 Emperor's aides-de-camp, is the son of a gene- 
 ral officer whom Buonaparte served as aide-de- 
 camp during the Eevolution. All the family, 
 with the exception of his father and himself, 
 have always been royalists, and are large free- 
 holders. But the general is dead, and his son 
 has sacrificed fortune and family to follow, to- 
 gether with his wife and son, the fate of the only 
 sovereign he ever knew : he throws his glory, 
 honour, and conscience into his conduct. 
 
i86 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 I have already said that care was taken to 
 keep from the knowledge of our passengers all 
 that had been pubhshed since our departure. 
 Count Bertrand took an opportunity to ask me 
 if I had read anything. I replied that amongst 
 other things I had read of a secret journey that 
 he was said to have made to Paris before 
 Buonaparte's departure from the island of Elba. 
 He appeared very shocked, and said : 
 
 ' I knew that the English papers had accused 
 me of going to Paris in disguise some months 
 before the landing at Cannes. I declare that I 
 never set foot in Paris at that time. I might 
 have been in Italy had I wished it ; but I only 
 quitted the island of Elba with the Emperor. 
 It was stated also, and with as little foundation, 
 that I had sworn fidelity to the King of France. 
 That is untrue ; I have never set eyes on a single 
 'prince of the House of Bourbon.' 
 
 1 will relate to you Buonaparte's return to 
 Prance, as it has been described to me here. 
 The Duke de Bassano was the principal agent ; 
 trustworthy persons went from France to the 
 island of Elba, and it was thus that the Emperor 
 learned that the Congress was believed to have 
 decided to send him to St. Helena, whither he 
 is now going ; anxiety was vague, and did not 
 rest upon any positive information. He had no 
 decided plan ; on the departure of his little fleet 
 
SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES 187 
 
 he received a despatch in which he was warned 
 to defer his expedition for a month. The advice 
 arrived too late, and he said : 
 
 ' The die is cast' ^ 
 
 General Gourgaud related numerous details 
 of the Eussian campaign and that of the Penin- 
 sula, at both of which he had been present. 
 
 I give a few striking particulars. He spoke 
 of the excessive cold of the Eussian climate with 
 an astonishment which surprised us. You may 
 imagine what a contrast it was for a Frenchman, 
 accustomed to a fine mild temperature, who from 
 Trance had gone to Spain, to find himself sud- 
 denly transported to a part of the globe Avhere 
 •tears froze on his cheeks, where the frostbitten 
 soldiers, in trying to move to see if they were 
 really alive, fell and died instantly. 
 
 He related the following anecdote of the 
 siege of Saragossa. 
 
 The French had laid a mine beneath a con- 
 
 ^ The day but one after his arrival (March 22) he said to 
 General Haxo, ' Here I am hack again. That was not the most 
 difficult part ; the question is to keep me here. I repeat to every- 
 body that we shall have peace, but it is not true. We must face 
 the foreigners ; but how ? The Bourlons have spoiled the citizens 
 [bourgeoisie'] for me; from Cannes to here a million peasants 
 crowded on my passage. If I would allow them to hang both 
 nobles and priests and divide the spoil, they would allow them- 
 selves to be butchered for me ; but it is not in my nature to be- 
 come the chief of a Jacquerie, I have therefore but my faithful 
 army on which to rely. Try and make the most of it possible. 
 To our maps, General, and let us work,' 
 
i88 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 vent which the Spaniards sought to hold. The 
 besiegers did not wish to destroy the edifice, but 
 to force the besieged to surrender from fear of 
 attack. The explosion was stronger than had 
 been intended, and the greater part of the 
 Spaniards were blown up with the convent. 
 
 Sixteen of them managed to escape in the 
 most extraordinary manner ; they went up into 
 the belfry with arms and ammunition, and, not- 
 withstanding the efforts of the French, defended 
 themselves for three days with an amazing 
 bravery. But that was not all ; to the great as- 
 tonishment of the besieging party they succeeded 
 in escaping. The Catholics attributed the miracle 
 to the intervention of the patron saint of the 
 convent. Their evasion had, however, nothing 
 supernatural : by the aid of strings, which they 
 threw to a neighbouring house, the soldiers 
 procured a rope sufficiently long for them to 
 descend and effect their escape. 
 
 One evening Buonaparte entered into con- 
 versation with Captain Beatty, officer of the 
 marine guards, who spoke French very well ; 
 he questioned him as to the regulations and 
 discipline of his corps. Nobody was better able 
 to satisfy him than that excellent officer. 
 Captain Beatty had served in the East with 
 Sydney Smith, and had been at the siege of Saint- 
 Jean-d'Acre, an event which was not amongst 
 
SOUVENIRS AND ANECDOTES 189 
 
 those Buonaparte could look back to with plea- 
 sure. On learning this circumstance Buonaparte 
 spoke to him very gaily, and said, while pulling 
 his ear : 
 
 'And so you were at Saint-Jean-d'Acre, 
 rascal.' 
 
 He then inquired what had become of Sir 
 Sydney Smith. When he heard that that brave 
 knight was on the Continent occupied in sub- 
 milting to the Vienna Congress his proposition 
 to go and destroy the barbarians, Buonaparte 
 said quickly : 
 
 ' It is a shame to Europe that the Powers 
 should have suffered the existence of those 
 miscreants so long.' 
 
 This confirms what was said of Andreossi's 
 proposal, made to our Government on behalf of 
 Napoleon during the short interval of peace 
 which succeeded the Treaty of Amiens. 
 
 Buonaparte's activity is generally known. 
 This man, who so long kept such a large part of 
 the world awake, allowed himself but few minutes' 
 rest.'^ Nothing surprised me more than to 
 find this same personage become on board the 
 ' Northumberland ' the most inveterate sleeper. 
 
 ' He very often woke during tlie night, called for one of his 
 secretaries, and worked until sleep returned. Day and night in 
 the kitchen of the Tuileries, or even in a campaign, three fowls 
 were always kept in different stages of roasting. One was always 
 to be ready for immediate eating on the Emperor's demand. 
 
igo THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 The greater part of the day he remained re- 
 clining on a sofa. He left the card-table early 
 in the evening, and never rose before eleven 
 o'clock in the morning, often breakfasting in 
 his bed ; but he had not now anything to do, 
 and any trifling story amused him. 
 
191 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 WITH OPEN HEART. 
 
 Napoleon and Suicide — England's Generosity — Anger and Kind- 
 ness — A Vision of St. Helena — Crossing the Line — Vive 'Louis 
 XVIII ! ' 
 
 It had been said by several English papers 
 that Buonaparte, who on the field of battle had 
 seen death in so many shapes stare him in the 
 face, whose courage could never be doubted, 
 would not finish in a cowardly manner ; that he 
 would kill himself rather than allow himself to 
 be ignominiously conducted to St. Helena hke 
 an outlaw and a prisoner. He, being spoken 
 to one day on this subject, rephed with the ut- 
 most composure, — 
 
 ' No, no, I am not sufficiently Roman to kill 
 myself.*' 
 
 He said this with reference to Mr. Whitbread 
 and his unhappy end. Napoleon was aware of 
 the circumstances of his death as well as of his 
 political character. He spoke of him as a good 
 and loyal Englishman, and attributed the event 
 
192 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 to the effect of the dimate of England. He 
 finished by saying : — 
 
 ' According to my idea, suicide is the most 
 revolting of all crimes. I can find no reason to 
 justify it. It belongs to that kind of weakness 
 called " poltroonery." How can a man pretend to 
 be courageous when he has not courage to bear 
 his fate ? Eeal heroism consists in placing one- 
 self above the misfortunes of life ; of whatever 
 nature they may be, we ought to defy and com- 
 bat them.' 
 
 I must relate to you a pointed conversation 
 I had with the Count de Las Cases respecting 
 the reasons which determined Buonaparte to 
 place himself at the discretion, and rely upon 
 the generosity, of the English Government. He 
 preceded his statement by the following pre- 
 amble : — 
 
 ' You will not find in ancient history any 
 event which in all its details was as extra- 
 ordinary as that of our departure from France 
 They will be published one day, and you will be 
 able to compare them with what I am about to 
 tell you, and which is the exact truth. 
 
 ' On quitting Paris the Emperor's idea was 
 to go and live in North America, and to take 
 up his residence on one of its great rivers. A 
 large number of Frenchmen of his party would 
 have joined him there ; and as he wished to ter- 
 
WITH OPEN HEART 193 
 
 minate his career and Ms ambition, he had 
 resolved to retire from the world, and there, 
 under his fig-tree, to judge from afar, as a 
 philosopher, the political tempests which agitated 
 Europe. 
 
 ' I observed that the inhabitants of the 
 United States would perhaps not believe in his 
 pretended philosophical conversion, and would 
 not look without uneasiness on this colony of 
 philosophers. 
 
 ' " Las Cases," he repUed, " the career of 
 ambition is finished for Napoleon ! " 
 
 'On our arrival at Eochefort the difficulty 
 of reaching the promised land seemed greater 
 tha^ we had at first beheved. After many pro- 
 jects and inquiries we were unable to decide on 
 anything practical. Finally, we procured two 
 luggers, boats of one mast, and we thought thus 
 to undertake the voyage across the vast Atlantic 
 Ocean. Sixteen sailors engaged themselves for 
 the voyage, and we thought to be able to escape 
 during the night. We assembled in a room to 
 lay our plans. I will not attempt to describe 
 the anxiety pictured on every countenance of 
 this httle councU. The Emperor alone seemed 
 unmoved, and asked each one's opinion. The 
 majority wished him to return to his army, be- 
 cause in the South it stUl appeared possible for 
 him to defend himself. The Emperor refused 
 
194 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 absolutely, declaring that he would never be 
 the cause of a civil war in Prance ! He said 
 then, and he has often repeated since, that his 
 political career was finished, and that he only- 
 desired repose in an asylum such as America 
 ofiered. He asked me, as a man of the profession, 
 if I thought we could safely undertake such a 
 voyage in such small boats. I rephed : " Yes, 
 and no ; besides, I do not understand that kind of 
 vessel ; it is a long time since I left the navy ; 
 but the young sailors who have ofiered to ac- 
 company us are in a better position than I to 
 answer for our success ; they are risking their 
 lives, and we may rely upon them." Neverthe- 
 less Buonaparte abandoned the project which 
 ofiered such equivocal chances, and we saw no 
 other resource but to fly to England for protec- 
 tion. At midnight, in the midst of the anxieties 
 of the council, Napoleon asked one of us to serve 
 as secretary, and wrote a letter to the Prince 
 Eegent. . . . 
 
 ' None of us doubted but that we should meet 
 with the same reception- as that accorded to 
 Lucien Buonaparte.' 
 
 With respect to the manner of conducting 
 divine service on board Her Britannic Majesty's 
 ships, Buonaparte spoke of religion. He ap- 
 peared to profess great tolerance ; he explained 
 his profession of faith in the Mahometan religion 
 
WITH OPEN HEART 195 
 
 in Egypt, which was but a simple political dcT 
 monstration in order to attain his proposed end ; 
 he impressed this forcibly on us, with a view of 
 removing the odious impression which it had 
 caused of him in England when it was heard 
 that he had become Mussulman ; but that neither 
 excuses nor explains anything.^ 
 
 The members of Buonaparte's retinue never 
 allowed an opportunity to escape of extolling 
 his person and his principles. His violence of 
 character was admitted, but to convey an idea 
 of the amiable manner in which he often, not to 
 say always, calmed after his fits of passion. Las 
 Cases told us the two following anecdotes of 
 which he had been an eye-witness : — 
 
 ' I was at St. Cloud,' he said, ' when Captain 
 H came to pay his respects to the Emperor, 
 
 ' During the negotiations of the Concordat, S^monville passed 
 his evenings at Madame de Brignole's (mother of Madame de 
 Dalberg and Madame Marescalehi). Madame de Brignole was 
 the niece of Cardinal Consalvi. She was on the best terms with 
 S6monville. One evening she told him that her uncle was most 
 happy because the French negotiators had not spoken to him of two 
 points upon which his instructions were to yield if it were necessary. 
 
 S^monville hastened charitably to the -Tuileries and com- 
 municated his discovery to the First Consul. He was walking 
 backwards and forwards, then stopping before S^monviUe he said 
 to him : 
 
 ' Your Consalvi is a fool, nothing but a fool. He would have 
 yielded on the divorce and the marriage of priests. But I do not 
 wish it. "What I require is the Pope and the Catholics. Catholics 
 would not wish a concordat at that price, and the Pope would 
 no longer be the Pope.' 
 
 2 
 
196 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 on his return from England. He had been taken 
 on board the " Didon " by the English frigate 
 "Phoenix," Captain Baker. I introduced hira, 
 and the Emperor said to him aloud and very 
 harshly : 
 
 ' What, sir, you lower your flag before an 
 enemy of inferior force ! What can you reply 
 to justify your conduct ? ' 
 
 ' Sire, I can only tell you one thing ; tha^t is, 
 that my crew would not fight any longer.' 
 
 c* Sir, when an ofiicer can no longer make 
 himself obeyed he does not deserve to command. 
 Get hence.' 
 
 And six months afterwards, inquiry having 
 
 been made as to Captain M 's conduct, the 
 
 Emperor sent him to command a squadron at 
 Venice. 
 
 The Emperor had a private secretary, very 
 talented, but gifted with so much coolness that 
 one would have believed him insensible to every- 
 thing.'^ The contrast offered by his temperament 
 to the impetuosity of his master was very singular. 
 Buonaparte scarcely ever wrote ; his custom was 
 to dictate, and that with rapidity of thought. 
 When an idea occurred to him in the middle 
 of the night he called his secretary. Once it 
 happened that this secretary forgot a word 
 which had been dictated to him, and because of 
 
 ' Baron Meneval. 
 
WITH OPEN HEART 197 
 
 tliat involuntary accident Buonaparte drove him 
 from the room with the most disagreeable 
 remarks. The next day the Emperor sent for 
 him. The secretary entered with a face as calm 
 and unruffled as usual. The Emperor asked him 
 with a sort of interest if he had slept well the 
 previous night. The secretary rephed that he 
 had slept as usual. 'Then you were happier 
 than I,' said the Emperor. ' Take your pen,' and 
 he dictated him the ordinance of a considerable 
 pension which he granted him.^ 
 
 They sought also to disabuse us of the idea 
 that Napoleon was anything but polite towards 
 ladies, a quality without which the French pre- 
 tend there cannot exist anything generous, 
 noble, or really great. Amongst the proofs 
 given of his leaning towards tenderness they 
 boasted of his sincere attachment to Marie- 
 Louise. 
 
 . . . When we neared the island of Madeira, 
 the state of the atmosphere permitted us to see 
 the whole island. We discovered farther another 
 
 ' It -was quite in the logic of Napoleon's violent character to 
 feel repugnance to peace at all times. M. Simeon has related that, 
 at the moment of the signature of the Treaty of Amiens, M. de 
 Talleyrand, entering the First Consul's apartment, found him lying 
 on a map and beside himself ■with irritation. He believed the 
 negotiations must be broken off. 
 
 ' No ! ' said Napoleon, ' our d d peace is signed. But what 
 
 will become of me ? ' 
 
198 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 island of which the rocks were almost perpen- 
 dicular, and which somewhat resembled St. 
 Helena. I remarked this to M. de Las Cases, 
 who imparted my observation to Napoleon. 
 He left dinner sooner than usual, and joined a 
 few of us who were watching from the poop. 
 
 The resemblance of what he saw to what 
 he was destined to see did not cause him to 
 make any remark ; but a smile of vexation was 
 seen on his face, he shrugged his shoulders, and 
 that was all. I presented him Johnson's book 
 on ' The Inj&uence of the Tropics on European 
 Constitutions.' He does not express great praise 
 of St. Helena ; but he admits that he remained 
 there three days, always at anchor ; he could 
 not, therefore, in so little time see or describe 
 anything. 
 
 I have told you that Buonaparte was ac- 
 cessible to love. I will here let Madame Ber- 
 trand speak, to prove to you that he is capable 
 of friendship. 
 
 She related in the most touching manner 
 Buonaparte's last interview with Duroc, Duke 
 de Frioul. That officer, who enjoyed his master's 
 confidence, was struck one night by a cannon-ball 
 while he was occupied reconnoitring the position 
 of an encampment ; his intestines fell, and it was 
 he who picked them up and replaced them. In 
 this desperate state he was carried into a neigh- 
 
WITH OPEN HEART 199 
 
 bouring cottage, where he lived twenty-four 
 hours. Gangrene set in, and his wound gave 
 off a most repulsive odour. He had been some 
 time in this state when Buonaparte came to see 
 and console him. Duroc, with his dying breath, 
 expressed his gratitude, renewed his protestations 
 of devotion and fidelity, and finished by recom- 
 mending his wife and daughter to Buonaparte's 
 care, imploring him to go away, because the 
 odour from . the wound was becoming insup- 
 portable. 
 
 She spoke with enthusiasm of Buonaparte's 
 grief To give us a proof she said that the 
 following night, when he was beheved to be 
 asleep, he went and sat upon the stone that 
 covered his friend's- grave, and remained there 
 all night. . . . 
 
 I shall only mention the ceremony of crossing 
 the line to state that all the Frenchmen sub- 
 mitted with the best grace in the world. The 
 ' Neptune ' and the ' Amphitrite ' of the day had 
 reason to be satisfied. They were in a long 
 boat full of water, their throne was a . . . 
 Neptune had an enormous brush for sceptre. 
 They were surrounded by tritons to the number 
 of forty or sixty, the biggest and strongest 
 sailors of the crew, who were naked from the 
 waist, and smeared with all sorts of colours. 
 Each one carried a bucket of salt water to more 
 
20O THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 or less sprinkle the subjects of the marine deity. 
 It may be judged to what a point licence is 
 carried in such a f^te, since M. Eoss, the 
 captain of the ship, was baptised like the rest, 
 and, to his great satisfaction, Montholon, Gour- 
 gaud, and Las Cases, with all their servants, 
 presented themselves before the sovereign of 
 the day, and received the ablution with all the 
 pleasure it is supposed to produce. The two 
 first were preceded by their children, who pre- 
 sented, each on raising its little arms, a double- 
 napoleon as an offering to the god of the 
 seas. 
 
 A ship's boy sang ' The Tight Little Island,' 
 some of the passages of which are not very 
 flattering to the enemies of Great Britain, but it 
 did not produce any bad effect. The ladies 
 watched the spectacle from a raised place, and 
 appeared to be as amused as astonished at it. 
 Neptune appeared somewhat mortified that- 
 Napoleon did not appear, although he had re- 
 cognised his sovereignty by sending him his 
 tribute. 
 
 I have perhaps told you that on board our 
 amusements were not very varied, and that we 
 therefore diverted ourselves with the most trifling 
 things. As you are, far excellence, the chil- 
 dren's father, I will mention a little joke which 
 will make you smile. We had tried to surprise 
 
WITH OPEN HEART 201 
 
 the artlessness of the little Bertrands, and en- 
 deavoured by all sorts of seductions to make 
 them cry '■Vive leroil' and '■Vive Louis XVIII.!' 
 The two eldest, Loyal and Trin, never failed to 
 reply, ^Vive Vempereur!' The youngest, tempted 
 by the irresistible sight of sweetmeats, was in- 
 duced to say '■Vive Louis XVIII.!' but we could 
 never make him say ^Vive le roi!' His brother 
 and sister reproached him for having yielded, 
 for they both remained immovable. It is said 
 that this pretty little child was very much like 
 young Napoleon. We have named him John 
 Bull, and when asked his name he replies at 
 once, ' John Bull.' 
 
 You have known me a long time, and you 
 have often heard me forming projects for the 
 future ; but what I could never have foreseen — 
 nor you either — is that I should become English 
 master, and EngUsh master to the former Marshal 
 of the Tuileries palace. I shall have reason to 
 be proud of my employment. He is most amiable, 
 frank, and well read. He can make himself well 
 understood in Enghsh, although he preserves his 
 French accent. We have already read most 
 successfully the 'Vicar of Wakefield,' and we 
 are now perusing ' Eoderick Eandom ; or. The 
 Sailor's Manual.' 
 
 You will say that 1 do not forget anything 
 of interest regarding our famous passenger. I 
 
202 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 recollect that Count Bertrand told me, on the 
 occasion of the German campaign of ] 807, that 
 Buonaparte hardly ever employed spies. Speak- 
 ing of Napoleon's superior talents, before which 
 he said he prostrated himself,^ ' The first mark of 
 confidence the Emperor gave me was a private 
 mission, and I did not sin by excess of zeal ; but 
 I did not think the thing practicable, an.d I took 
 the liberty of saying so to him. 
 
 ^ Count Bertrand's sentiments were quite natural. He had a 
 profound affection for the Emperor, and his every act seemed to 
 him a stroke of genius. It was not the same with a large num- 
 ber of his soldiers, who, while loving him and devoting themselves 
 unreservedly to him, judged his adventurous conduct and his love 
 of conquest more severely. Here is a proof: — 
 
 General Koussel was, at the end of 1812, in Suchet's army, 
 major of a regiment of infantry (114th) commanded hy Colonel 
 Arband. The entry of Napoleon into Moscow was announced. 
 •' That man is mad,' said Arhand, ' he will never return.' The next 
 day orders were given to inform the troops of the great news. 
 Arband followed orders, put the regiments in a square, read the 
 news, then cried, ' My children, you hear, your Emperor is mad. 
 He has just plunged himself into Russia's ice, he will never come 
 out; take your crapes, it is a day of mourning, it is the most fatal 
 day for France.' The astonishment was great. The marshal was 
 immediately informed of so strange an incident ; he was as much 
 alarmed as irritated. Arband was placed under forced arrest. 
 Two days later it was a question of fighting before Alicante; 
 iJoussel and the other majors went to the marshal and asked that 
 for the combat he be allowed to take command of his regiment, 
 promising that he would there find an opportunity of effacing his 
 fault, &c. Suchet consented. The march commenced, the regi- 
 ment had to attack; Arband placed himself at the head of a 
 company of grenadiers, and dashed forward like a man seeking 
 death. He fell pierced by seven balls. 
 
 General Koussel was colonel of the first regiment that landed 
 in Africa. 
 
WITH OPEN HEART 203 
 
 ' "It seems so to you, but how do you propose 
 to set about it? " 
 
 ' I explained the means I proposed to employ. 
 
 '"You will not succeed like that; here is 
 my plan : try it, and you will find yourself suc- 
 cessful." 
 
 ' He explained me his ideas ; I adopted them 
 at once, and I succeeded.' 
 
 I have noticed that this extraordinary man 
 likes to play low, and does not get cross when 
 he loses. At chess, an intricate game, and not 
 a game of chance, but which has some resem- 
 blance to war, he does not show so much indif- 
 ference. I suspect that Montholon, whenever 
 he plays with him, arranges to lose. I have 
 read somewhere that a sultan, playing at chess 
 with one of his officers, was so furious at having 
 been checkmated, that he drew his sword and 
 cut ofi" his conqueror's head. I should not be 
 surprised if the aide-de-camp had read that 
 story. 
 
 It was October 14, 1815, at sunset, that we 
 sighted St. Helena. The morrow's sun shone 
 on the day from which would date Napoleon's 
 exile. This second part of his history wiU form 
 the subject of my next letters. 
 
204 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTER Xin. 
 
 SAINT HELENA. 
 
 First Nigtt at St. Helena— 'The Briars'— The Goat-track— A 
 Hessed Comer of the Land of Exile — I dine at Napoleon's • 
 House — ^Master Legg's Farm— A Sylvan Nymph. 
 
 It is easier to imagine than describe the sensa- 
 tion produced at St. Helena by the arrival in 
 the colony of a foreigner of such distinction. 
 Curiosity, astonishment, and interest all com- 
 bined to draw out the inhabitants from their 
 habitual calmness and to throw them into a very 
 natural state of excitement. 
 
 Napoleon did not leave his cabin until an 
 hour after the ship had cast anchor. He ap- 
 peared when there was nobody on deck, went 
 up the poop companion, and examined the bat- 
 teries arming St. James's Fort. James's Town 
 is built at the back of the port it shelters, and 
 is the only town in the island. As long as he 
 remained looking I watched his bearing with 
 the greatest attention ; he did not betray himself 
 by any demonstration, and seemed to examine 
 
ST. HELENA 305 
 
 everything with the simple curiosity of a man 
 who sees a new object for the first time. The 
 ladies showed some concern at the sight of the 
 mountainous cage that was to serve them for a 
 dwelling-place, but in general they showed more 
 tranquillity than might have been expected. 
 
 The admiral's first care was to find a tem- 
 porary lodging for Napoleon and his retinue, 
 until proper premises could be obtained to serve 
 as his habitual and definite dwelhng-place. He 
 was installed in the heutenant-governor's house. 
 The prisoner landed on the 17th only. It was 
 after sunset. All the inhabitants whose curiosity 
 had led them to the seashore had retired to 
 their houses. Buonaparte, who had wished it 
 should be so, landed and entered incognito the 
 house in which he was to pass the first night he 
 slept at St. Helena. 
 
 The next morning General Buonaparte went 
 riding, accompanied by Sir George Gockburn. 
 They chmbed up 'Longwood' mountain, des- 
 tined to be the simple and quiet habitation where 
 was to pass the rest of his life he who had called 
 his own the most sumptuous palaces in the most 
 beautiful towns of Europe ! 
 
 A mile from the town, and half-way up the 
 mountain, is a country house belonging to Mr. 
 Balcombe, a very respectable merchant ; it is 
 called ' The Briars.' 
 
2o6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 The house is situated on a small esplanade, 
 which looks as if created by magic on such a 
 rugged site. It may contain about two acres of 
 ground. There are watercourses which refresh 
 the vegetation of a number of fruit trees, and 
 this httle corner of privileged ground seems 
 suspended between two perpendicular mountains 
 above and the yawning precipices beneath. 
 Napoleon, in descending from Longwood, had 
 the odd fancy of stopping at this house ; the 
 master offered him hospitality in such an amiable 
 and pressing manner that he renounced all idea 
 of returning to the town, and thus hid himself 
 from the observation of the curious who were 
 waiting to see him on his return. 
 
 On an elevation, at fifty rods from the house, 
 is a Gothic building composed of a ground-floor 
 with two rooms above. Napoleon took up his 
 residence there until Longwood was arranged 
 for his reception. There was no choice as to 
 the distribution of apartments in such a small 
 abode. Buonaparte occupied the lower part ; 
 M. de Las Cases, his son, who acted as Buona- 
 parte's page, and one servant, the upper part. 
 
 A few days after his settling at ' The Briars ' 
 I went to pay him a visit. I found him reclining 
 on a sofa, because apparently the heat incom- 
 moded him. He told me he had been walking 
 in the garden, but that at noon he had come to 
 
ST. I/ELENA 207 
 
 profit by the freshness of his small retreat. He 
 appeared to me to be in very good humour, and 
 was very polite, and asked very graciously after 
 all the officers of the ' Northumberland.' After 
 a few minutes' conversation he said : 
 
 ' I find there is much strength in your island. 
 What there is in the country would sufiice 
 to defend it. What could have induced your 
 Government to send the 53rd Eegiment here? 
 There were quite enough people here to keep 
 me. . . . But that is how England spends her 
 money.' 
 
 I did not hesitate to reply : 
 
 ' General, from the moment my Government 
 decided what should be your fate, it was obliged 
 to take all necessary precautions.' 
 
 I did not know whether my reply would 
 please him ; but he appeared satisfied rather 
 with my frankness than if I had embarked in 
 some compliment, of which God knows how I 
 should have acquitted myself, I who am not in 
 the habit of paying compliments. 
 
 Towards the commencement of November 
 I returned to ' The Briars,' by invitation from 
 Mr. Balcombe, to go and dine there. Having 
 arrived early I amused myself by examining 
 how the grounds composing this little estate 
 were cultivated. I took by chance a path 
 which led to the. garden, and to a gate leading 
 
2o8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 to a goat-track, bordered on each side by a 
 hedge of wild pear-trees. At the angle formed 
 by two paths I met Napoleon climbing amongst 
 the rocks, and much encumbered by his regu- 
 lation boots. 
 
 He advanced towards me with an air of 
 content and surprise, and reproached me kindly 
 for the time I had allowed to pass without coming 
 to see him. There was a large broad plank, 
 placed from one stone to another, as if to serve 
 as a seat. After having brushed away the dust 
 with his hand, he sat down, and asked me to sit 
 by his side. M. de Las Cases came up and joined 
 us ; as he walked even worse than his master 
 upon such rugged ground, he had been left be- 
 hind and had only been able to follow from afar. 
 
 On all sides, above our heads, we saw rocks 
 piled up more than a thousand feet in height, 
 and beneath us precipices of an equal depth. 1 
 regarded this picture, which is beautiful in its 
 horror, with astonishment. 
 
 ' Well,' said Napoleon, ' what do you think of 
 the view I enjoy here ? You may thank your 
 countrymen for having treated me in so kind a 
 manner.' ^ 
 
 ' ' Amongst the curious things of the present epoch, a letter of 
 •which the Duo de Richelieu has spoken to me seems worthy of 
 mention. It is one that the /ormer King of Sweden (Gustave IV., 
 predecessor of Charles XIII., to whom succeeded Bernadotte) had 
 just written to the King of France, Louis XVIIL, to beg him to 
 
ST. HELENA 209 
 
 I had nothing to reply to that, and therefore 
 kept silent. 
 
 He then spoke to me of the island, remarking 
 that aU the books that he had read during the 
 voyage in which reference was made to St. 
 Helena had given a rather flattering portrait of 
 it, unless the other parts of the island that he 
 had not yet visited offered more agreeable sites 
 than those to be found at Longwood. 
 
 His conversation was, what it always had 
 been, simple, gay, and familiar, without any re- 
 membrance of his former greatness ; and he never 
 let an opportunity pass of mingling something 
 amiable with his remarks. I spoke to him of the 
 efforts of our admiral to hurry on the work at 
 Longwood, and added that from all appearance 
 the dwelling would be ready to receive him in 
 less than a month. 
 
 ' Oh,' he said, ' I am convinced your admiral 
 knows how long it takes to build a ship ; but I 
 do not believe him to be an architect, and I think 
 that he is wrong in his calculation.' 
 
 I assured him that, on land and sea. Sir 
 George Cockburn was a man of universal know- 
 ledge, and one of those who succeeded in all he 
 undertook. I added that the officers were occu- 
 
 do all in Lis power, in order that Buonaparte should he treated with 
 less rigour in the island of St. Helena.' — Extract of a letter from 
 Count Golti to the Prince of Sardenberg, Paris, May 28, 1817. 
 
 P 
 
210 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 pied in seeing to the transport of the materials 
 by the crew. He asked me for news of each one, 
 and as he remembered their names he said : 
 
 ' If they will come and see me, I will receive 
 them, as I receive you, in an open field ; for my 
 apartment, which serves me for dining-room and 
 bedroom, is not precisely fitted for holding a 
 reception. 
 
 ' The Briars ' will henceforth have a certain 
 celebrity, through having served as a residence 
 for Napoleon quite unexpectedly. This is an- 
 other proof that the most unknown spots may, 
 when chance wills it, become in a day historical 
 places. 
 
 Beyond a certain circle where Buonaparte 
 may go alone, there is a ring of sentinels which 
 he must not pass unless accompanied by an 
 English officer. 
 
 As this constraint is painful to him, he limits 
 his walks to the environs of the house. 
 
 An indisposition of General Gourgaud caused 
 me to make a longer stay at Longwood, the 
 illness having assumed a serious character from 
 the commencement. My friend M. O'Meara, 
 as I think I have told you, was the Emperor's 
 surgeon, and he desired that we should attend 
 the invalids together.^ 
 
 ' This passage leads to the helief that Dr. O'Meara is not the 
 author of this correspondence, but another doctor. Or, did 
 
ST. HELENA 211 
 
 My first visit was marked by some incidents 
 which will not be without interest for you — I 
 know you are fond of details. 
 
 About six o'clock in the evening I arrived at 
 Hutegate, a small house on the road to Long- 
 wood, a mile from the town ; it is there Count 
 Bertrand lodges. He has two apartments up- 
 stairs and two downstairs. Everything breathes 
 of health in this humble dwelhng, amidst the 
 charming children. I could fill a volume with 
 all I could say about the happiness of this home. 
 
 During my stay at Longwood I occupied 
 all iiiy spare moments by reading English with 
 the Marshal ; he often said to me : 
 
 ' You are a bad master ; you always want me 
 to speak, and you never speak at all.' 
 
 During the voyage, when Kapoleon wished 
 to refer to me, he never called me anything but 
 ' Bertrand's friend.' 
 
 Madame Bertrand desired me to leave my 
 horse and continue my journey in her carriage to 
 Longwood, whither her husband had preceded 
 her. The evening was setting in. Arriving near 
 the house we saw her Emperor — as she always 
 called him — conversing with Bertrand on the 
 other side of the road. 
 
 M. O'M^ara wish to guard his incognito as surgeon to the 
 Emperor? I have been assured that this correspondence was 
 that of John Stoke, an English physician. — Note by the Translatm'. 
 
 p 2 
 
212 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ' Let US surprise them,' she said ; ' as we pass 
 before them, show yourself at the window. They 
 will imagine that I have come accompanied by 
 some gallant cavalier, and fancy themselves in 
 Paris.' 
 
 The carriage flew by ; I obeyed my instruc- 
 tions, gave my hand to the Countess to assist her 
 to alight, and she allowed me to go myself and 
 divulge the fact of my being the noble stranger. 
 
 A few minutes later Napoleon sent himself 
 and begged me to remain to dinner. I accepted 
 at once, as you may well imagine, and I was very 
 agreeably surprised, for lately he had only in- 
 vited those who had accompanied him. I could 
 only present myself in riding-boots, having 
 come on horseback, so it was thus I made my 
 entrance. General Montholon, in fuU uniform, 
 received me in the ante-chamber, and conducted 
 me to the adjoining room, where Napoleon was 
 playing at chess with Count Bertrand. 
 
 He received me with the Tisual compliments, 
 and very pohtely ; having placed myself behind 
 his chair to watch the game, he continued playing. 
 
 Shortly before dinner General Montholon 
 came and whispered to me that he had placed 
 me between the Emperor and the Grand Marshal. 
 What an honour, my friend ! Put yourself in 
 my place and imagine the position of your very 
 humble and very obscure servitor. 
 
ST. HELENA 213 
 
 I cannot say I resembled Sancho Panza in 
 the Isle of Barataria, since all the meats were 
 at my disposal. But a shoe of roast beef or a 
 leg of mutton would have suited me just as 
 well as all those ragouts and fricassees, to which 
 I am not accustomed. 
 
 Napoleon on my right, and the Grand Mar- 
 shal on my left. There was an empty chair 
 opposite — apparently from etiquette ; it was 
 supposed to be for Marie-Louise. Each guest 
 had before him a bottle of Bordeaux and a de- 
 canter of water ; but it was not to be drunk 
 during the dinner, for between the courses, if you 
 did not make haste, both bottle and decanter 
 disappeared at the same time. There was the 
 mcst beautiful porcelain service I had ever seen. 
 The dishes and plates were of massive silver 
 with eagles everywhere. The dessert was served 
 in gold and silver gilt. 
 
 The dinner lasted an hour. My host asked 
 me so many questions, and that so rapidly, that 
 I had great difficulty in finding time to eat, 
 drink, and reply. I will give you an idea of the 
 conversation. 
 
 ' Have you been to see General Gourgaud ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, General, I came expressly for that to 
 Longwood.' 
 
 ' How did you find him ? ' 
 
 ' Very iU.' 
 
214 THE BLACK CABINET - 
 
 ' What is he suffering from ? ' 
 
 ' Dysentery.' 
 
 ' Where does he suffer ? ' 
 
 ' In the intestines.' 
 
 ' What is the cause of his illness ? ' 
 
 'The heat of the climate and a bad state 
 of health. Had he been bled immediately, his 
 illness would have been less severe.' 
 
 ' What remedy is to be employed .^ ' 
 
 ' The liver and the stomach do not perform 
 their regular functions ; mercury must be used 
 to re-establish them.' 
 
 ' That is a bad remedy.' 
 
 ' My experience proves the contrary.' 
 
 'Did Hippocrates use mercury? I believe 
 not. I Hke simple remedies. . . . &o to. the dogs 
 with your mercury. . . .' 
 
 Napoleon rose from the table, and everybody 
 went into the other room, where the whist-table 
 was prepared.. He remained that evening half 
 an hour later than usual, continuing all the time 
 to question everybody. 
 
 The Marshal said to me, ' I am afraid it wiU 
 be a penitence for you to come to dinner if 
 he thus harasses you with questions ; but be 
 assured that he was satisfied with your answers, 
 and will not worry you so much again.' 
 
 Some days later a ship arrived from England. 
 That gave me the idea of going on horseback to 
 
ST. HELENA 215 
 
 the town. On my return in the evening; a mes- 
 sage from Napoleon desired me to go to General 
 Gourgaud's as soon as I arrived, and I found 
 him waiting there for me. His first question as 
 I entered was about the General's health, but he 
 immediately changed the conversation. 
 
 'You have been into the town?' he said. 
 ' A ship has arrived from England ; she must 
 have brought letters and papers ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, and I gave a glance at the news.' 
 ' The " Morning Chronicle " was not there .? ' 
 ' I do not know yet ; the others that I 
 glanced over rapidly were the " Times " and a 
 provincial paper.' 
 
 ' Tell me something from memory.' 
 ' I read a few articles referring to you.' 
 ' Is there any news from France ? ' 
 'I only saw them a moment. The most 
 remarkable thing appeared to be the trial and 
 judgment of Marshal Key.' 
 
 Napoleon moved a step nearer to me, but 
 did not change his attitude. 
 
 'What! the Marshal has been condemned 
 to be shot ? ' 
 
 I replied in the affirmative, and that he had 
 addressed a protest to the foreign ministers. 
 
 ' He relied for his defence,' I added, ' on the 
 first article of the Treaty of Paris. He stated 
 in his own justification that he had been deceived 
 
2i6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 by you ; that the proclamation of which he was 
 accused of being the author, and which was one 
 of the crimes with which he was reproached, 
 was from the hand of Major-General Bertrand ; 
 that you deceived him in what you said about 
 Austria and England.' 
 
 Count Bertrand, who was in the room, re- 
 plied immediately ' that the Marshal had the 
 right to defend himself as he could ; that he was 
 not to be blamed even had he invented hes to 
 get himself out of his trouble.' He added : ' As 
 to the proclamation, that was a false and ridi- 
 culous statement ; that Ney was quite capable 
 of making it himself, and had need of nobody's 
 aid.' Napoleon said nothing about what re- 
 ferred to himself.^ 
 
 I said, referring to the Marshal, that, accord- 
 ing to the English papers, a movement was 
 feared in Paris when the sentence was carried 
 out. 
 
 ' A movement ! ' said Buonaparte, with an air 
 of disdain. ' Bah ! put the troops under arms. 
 Has the Duke of Wellington quitted Paris ? ' 
 
 ' I do not know.' 
 
 ' Are the English and foreign armies still in 
 the vicinity of the capital ? ' 
 
 • When the Marshal retired after having addressed to Louis 
 XVIII. the singular words, -which are well known, the King only- 
 said with a serious air, while looking at the ground, ' He wishes to 
 bring him back in a cage ! That would be a strange bii-d. . , .' 
 
ST. HELENA 217 
 
 
 • I believe the English are still there, but it 
 appears that the Eussians and Prussians have 
 retired to the Ehine.' ^ 
 
 ' The Emperor Alexander, obliged by circumstances to join 
 tbe allied armies, never allowed an opportunity to escape of tes- 
 tifying to the sympathy with which the French inspired him. 
 
 Viennet had been taken prisoner on October 10 before Leipzig. 
 On the 19th, at the moment when the Emperor Alexander and 
 the King of Prussia entered the town, they met a column of 
 French officers to which he belonged. The Emperor Alexander 
 told them that they should be well treated, that he called God to 
 ■witness that he would have been the sincere and faithful friend of 
 Napoleon, that Napoleon had wished to destroy Russia, that their 
 ties were broken, and that peace with a man of such ambition was 
 impossible. Seeing Lauriston led up, he went quickly towards 
 him, spurring his horse, and asked with interest after his health. 
 ' You must,' he said, ' be in need of money. I will send you 
 10,000 roubles. Will that be enough ? ' 
 
 The officers, prisoners in the North, were then presented to 
 Bernadotte. He deplored their fate, their position, and Napoleon's 
 ambition. But why did France confide herself to a Corsican ? 
 Were there no generals celebrated by victory born in France, born 
 in the country of Henry IV. ? 
 
 In the column of wounded a large number had wounds in the 
 hand. Two months previously at Dresden the number of those 
 wounded in the right hand, evidently self-wounded, was consider- 
 able. Napoleon called them together and encamped them 
 separately. 
 
 He wished to make an example and decimate them. It was 
 endeavoured to gain time to soften him. He was told that he 
 must distinguish between those voluntarily wounded and those 
 wounded by the enemy, and for that purpose consult men of art. 
 Larrey, questioned, replied that in certain cases it was impossible 
 to distinguish the voluntary mutilations, and that being thus in 
 doubt he could not condemn. Great was Napoleon's anger. He 
 wished to have Larrey prosecuted, or at least degrade him and send 
 him back to France. M. de Caulaincourt interposed, explaining 
 what would be the eifect. The Emperor understood, kept silent, 
 
2i8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ' But,' said he, ' how is it that amongst the 
 papers sent to me I so rarely find the " Morning 
 Chronicle"?' 
 
 To this question I could not reply. I 
 thought well to inform him that it appeared, 
 according to the papers, that a Parisian had 
 been condemned to pay a fine for having made 
 a caricature concerning him. He asked me 
 what it was, and I repeated what was in the 
 paper. On one side was Louis XViil. repre- 
 sented in the midst of his family, with the 
 inscription below^ ' Cest bien.^ On the other side 
 Napoleon amongst all his relations, with the 
 inscription ' Cest mieux.' 
 
 ' Pooh ! ' he said, ' what stupidity ! ' 
 
 "When Buonaparte rides, he goes in pre- 
 ference into a valley crowned with verdure and 
 pasture-land ; the road is narrow and the 
 spot solitary, and in a moment of sentiment 
 and poetry he christened it ' The Valley of 
 Silence.' 
 
 Our solitary rider perceived one day, to his 
 great surprise, a farmer's dwelling. He promised 
 himself to pay it a visit on the first opportunity. 
 His arrival surprised the family, and all the 
 women fled. Parmer Legg, the master of the 
 house, came and received him at the door. 
 
 and later, fearing that Larrey would speak, he flattered him by 
 calling him in his tvill the moat honest man he had known. 
 
ST. HELENA 219 
 
 Buonaparte dismounted, and, followed by Count 
 de Las Cases, entered, sat down familiarly, and 
 commenced to question : 
 
 ' Have you a wife ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, my Emperor.' 
 
 ' Have you any children ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, I have six.' 
 
 ' Have you much land ? ' 
 
 ' A hundred acres.' 
 
 ' All cultivated ? ' 
 
 ' No, only half of it.' 
 
 ' Does it bring you in much ? ' 
 
 ' No, but more than formerly ; since your 
 arrival, Emperor.' 
 
 'How so?' 
 
 ' You know we do not cultivate corn in this 
 island ; we buy it, giving forage in exchange. 
 We are obhged to await the arrival of the fleet, 
 and our provisions are taxed. To-day, General, 
 we have a premium on every article we take into 
 the town.' 
 
 ' Where is your wife ? ' 
 
 ' She is timid, and you frightened her. She 
 has run away with the children.' 
 
 ' Send and fetch them for me to see. Have 
 you any good water here ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, sir, I have good water, and as good 
 wine as you will find at the Cape.' 
 
 The good woman's fears had had time to dis- 
 
220 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 appear ; her husband begged her to show her- 
 self, and she entered with as much respect as 
 astonishment. Napoleon, Las Cases, the farmer, 
 and his wife sat round a table on which was a 
 bottle of wine and four glasses. When the wine 
 was drunk, the party separated. 
 
 The good man and his family had become 
 quite reassured by the simple manners of their 
 guest, so that his visits at last did not embarrass 
 them at all. The little children often asked their 
 mother, 
 
 ' When shall we see Boney again ; when will 
 he return ? ' 
 
 There was another farmer, named Eobinson, 
 who, like his neighbour Legg, cultivated some 
 acres of garden ; his ground was divided into 
 enclosures shut in by earthen walls, bordered 
 with aloes and wild pear-trees. 
 
 In this modest dwelling, as in the other, 
 there was the goodness and primitive simplicity 
 which is characteristic of country life ; but the 
 ornament of this house was a flower of rare 
 beauty, a daughter of seventeen. Whether 
 Buonaparte was attracted by the spectacle of this 
 goodness and patriarchal simplicity, or by the 
 picture of happiness offered by the family, or by 
 the sight of the growing charms of the sylvan 
 nymph, it is certain that his visits were very 
 
ST. HELENA 221 
 
 frequent ; so much so that the town friends of 
 the family thought it their duty to warn them 
 to take care of their daughter, and keep her 
 from the great man's sight when he honoured 
 them with his visits. He soon noticed these 
 precautions, and ceased to visit Eobinson's 
 house. 
 
THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 LEAVES OF HISTOKY. 
 
 The St, Helena Memorial — I converse with the Emperor — 
 Pichegru's Conspiracy — A Crown in the Mire — The Due 
 d'Enghien. 
 
 I HAD not been to Longwood for about six 
 weeks, nor had I seen or heard from its inhabi- 
 tants, when I met M. de Las Cases at a friend's 
 house by chance. After having conversed with 
 me on the subject of the new governor's arrival 
 he said that his master had often regretted not 
 seeing me, and had expressed his surprise at my 
 absence. 
 
 ' We have not set eyes upon him since the 
 resurrection of General Gourgaud. We must 
 have displeased him, or the admiral must have 
 prohibited him from coming,' said the em- 
 peror. 
 
 I replied that such was not the case ; but 
 that I was, hke everybody else, under the 
 admiral's orders, and I had not dared to ask 
 permission to go to Longwood without a motive. 
 
LEAVES OF HISTORY 223 
 
 ' But I much desire,' said he, ' to consult you 
 about my son's health.' 
 
 ' That reason suffices,' I replied ; ' I will go 
 and find the admiral, who is at home at tliis 
 moment, and I have no doubt of obtaining his 
 consent.' M. de Las Cases then, in the name of 
 Napoleon, invited me to breakfast at Longwood 
 at eleven o'clock on the morrow. It was rain- 
 ing heavily, which upset my arrangements some- 
 what, but, seizing an opportunity, I set out to 
 fulfil my promise. 
 
 Breakfast time had passed when I reached 
 Longwood, and the return of fine weather had 
 induced Napoleon to take his usual walk in the 
 garden. I believe he saw me arrive, but the 
 hedges had prevented me from catching a gUmpse 
 of him. As I was two hours after breakfast time, 
 and he was accustomed to remain alone in his 
 room after that meal, I did not expect to see 
 him, and not having anything new to tell him, I 
 felt a sort of satisfaction in thinking that the 
 moment when he would again overwhelm me 
 with his running fire of questions was rather 
 retarded than advanced. 
 
 I soon met Count de Las Cases, who said 
 that, in fact, the great man had retired to his 
 room for the present. He proposed to conduct 
 me to him, and added : 
 
 'When you have seen my son I will show 
 
 fc! 
 
224 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 yoii some leaves of our history wHch will in- 
 terest you, as the entire work would the uni- 
 verse if we had the patience to finish it.' 
 
 I must have told you that the Count de Las 
 Cases has assured me that Buonaparte was 
 seriously at work writing the history of his life. 
 
 He had told me also that the Egyptian ^ and 
 Italian campaigns, as well as the epoch he calls 
 our hundred days' reign^ or nearly that, were 
 quite finished and that the intermediate history 
 was far advanced. 
 
 I looked forward, therefore, to a most lively 
 occupation of my morning, and I congratulated 
 myself on the prospect of the sight of the manu- 
 scripts with which my curiosity was to be grati- 
 fied, when my expectations were deceived by the 
 receipt of a message from Napoleon, begging me 
 to go to his room. As I guessed that the visit 
 would not be an idle one for me, I begged M. de 
 Las Cases to accompany me, in order that the 
 
 ' It appears — this is an unpublished circumstance on the re- 
 turn from Egypt — that the Directory had sent Buonaparte an order 
 to return ; but he crossed the order. On his arrival Joseph in- 
 formed ^lim of it, and he requested to see the original written by 
 Fain. 
 
 He preferred this circumstance to remain unknown with a 
 ■view of making his return appear more extraordinary. 
 
 ' During the ' Hundred days ' Lucien said to Fouch6, ' We 
 are lost. Napoleon must be killed to save France and his family.' 
 ' I think so too ; but it is for you to arrange it,' replied Fouchg, 
 who willingly related the anecdote afterwards. 
 
LEAVES OF HISTORY 225 
 
 presence of a third person and his share in the 
 conversation might help me to find time to pre- 
 pare my replies. 
 
 Upon entering I saw Napoleon Ipng on a 
 sofa, resting on his right arm with his left fall- 
 ing on the back of the sofa. A gauze curtain 
 softened the light ; he had before him a table 
 covered with books. I distinguished some on the 
 Erench Eevolution. The heat had induced him 
 to take oflf his coat and vest. As soon as he per- 
 ceived me he rose, and said quickly and gaUy in 
 Enghsh : 
 
 ' Ah, Werdin, how are you ? ' 
 
 I saluted him ; he held out his arm and said, 
 ' I have had a fever.' 
 
 The state of his pulse and his gaiety left me 
 no doubt that he was joking, and I said that all 
 I hoped was that he would never be in worse 
 health. 
 
 He gave me a slight tap on the cheek and 
 led me to the middle of the room, as if he wished 
 to speak to me privately. I repeated that I 
 complimented him on his health, and the pro- 
 gress he appeared to have made in English. 
 
 'My health,' he said, 'I owe to the abste- 
 mious diet I am accustomed to. My appetite 
 would allow me to eat at all hours of the day, 
 but I am regular with my meals, and I always 
 leave the table still hungry. Then I never drink 
 
 Q 
 
226 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 other than ordinary wine. As for my English, 
 yes, I am progressing, and I can easily read the 
 papers. I must admit they do not amuse me 
 prodigiously. They are often inconsistent, and 
 go too far. Some call me tyrant, others monster, 
 while some call me a coward. I must admit I 
 did not expect that insult ; they cannot in any 
 case accuse me of having avoided danger on the 
 battle-field, of having fled before an enemy, or 
 with having feared to face fortune's reverses. 
 They cannot say that I was wanting in presence 
 of mind in my battles or in the conclusion of an 
 armistice between two contending armies. They 
 find me wanting in bravery, perhaps, because I 
 have not had the madness to poison, myself, 
 throw myself into the sea, or blow my braius 
 out . . .' 
 
 I had resolved to speak to him with the 
 greatest frankness, and you may believe I kept 
 my word. He praised my good faith, and at the 
 end of this discussion he asked me, to my great 
 surprise, if I remembered Captain Wright. 
 
 'Perfectly,' I rephed, ' and the general opinion 
 in England is that you caused his death in the 
 Temple.' 
 
 He responded quickly : 
 
 ' Why should I have done it ? He was 
 perhaps of all men the one I should have de- 
 sired to live. He was the most unexceptionable 
 
LEAVES OF HISTORY 227 
 
 witness of the existence of the conspiracy of 
 which the magistrates were seeking for proof in 
 and out of Paris, siace it was he who had landed 
 the chiefs of the conspiracy on the French coast.' 
 
 My looks betrayed the interest I took in his 
 narration. 
 
 ' Listen,' he continued, ' and you will under- 
 stand me. The English brig commanded by 
 Captain Wright was destined by your Govern- 
 ment to land the traitors and spies on the western 
 coast. There were seventy of them in Paris, but 
 they worked so secretly and kept themselves so 
 well hidden that, although Eeal, who was at the 
 head of the pohce, had given me this information, 
 it was impossible to discover their names or the 
 houses which served to shelter them. I received 
 daily warning that they wished to take my hfe, 
 and, without actually believing it, I was upon 
 my guard. The brig had been captured near 
 Lorient with Captain Wright, who commanded 
 her ; he was taken to Vannes before the prefect 
 of the department of Morbihan. It was General 
 Juhen, who had followed me in Egypt, who recog- 
 nised Captain Wright at first sight. The know- 
 ledge of this detail immediately came to Paris. 
 Orders were given to interrogate each member 
 of the crew separately, and to hand copies of the 
 interrogations to the Minister of PoHce. This 
 examination at first produced no result, but 
 
228 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 finally some light was thrown on the question by 
 one of the crew. He declared that the brig had 
 landed several Frenchmen, amongst whom was 
 one who was a very brave man, called Pichegru. 
 This led to the discovery of the plot, which, had 
 it succeeded, would have plunged France for a 
 second time into all the horrors of a revolution. 
 Captain Wright was brought to Paris and con- 
 fined in the Temple. There he was to remain 
 until all the necessary , documents had been 
 collected for the examination of the conspirators. 
 French law condemned the captain to death, but 
 that was the least important part of it. The 
 great point was to secure the chiefs, and I re- 
 garded the English captain as a living proof 
 which could not fail to confound them. I assure 
 you, and I solemnly affirm, that Captain Wright 
 died in the Temple, that he killed himself as was 
 stated in the ' Moniteur,' and that the date of 
 his death was much earlier than that given to the 
 public I ' 
 
 He assured me that he had acquired positive 
 proofs of.this. He sought them at the time of 
 Lord Carington's ^ visit to him in the island of 
 Elba, and he added ' that that respectable man 
 was quite satisfied with the explanations he 
 furnished him on the afiair.' 
 
 The details into which the ex-Emperor was 
 
 ' It was impossible to decipher this name in the manuscript. 
 
LEAVES OF HISTORY 229 
 
 good enough to enter put me quite at my ease, and 
 I continued to question him. I spoke to him with 
 anxiety of the time Captain Wright had passed 
 in the Temple previous to his death. To satisfy 
 me in this respect Napoleon scanned many pages 
 of Goldsmith's ^ last work that Sir" Hudson Lowe 
 had sent him. I do not recollect its title, but it 
 wiU not have escaped your memory — you who 
 have everything relating to the French Govern- 
 ment fresh in your mind. It was compiled from 
 extracts from the ' Moniteur ' during the Im- 
 perial government. Buonaparte finished by assur- 
 ing me that he had not the least doubt that the 
 information he had respecting Captain Wright 
 was correct. 
 
 In scanning this work, he told me that there 
 were therein many things which were true, side by 
 side with many errors and much carelessness, and 
 I well remember that his remark applied espe- 
 cially in respect of the battle of Marengo. 
 
 But he did not rest there, he wished to con- 
 vince me thoroughly of the intentions he had 
 always had ; it was with this view that, to my 
 great astonishment, he spoke to me of the death 
 of the Due d'Enghien. It is a subject that I 
 should not have advanced. Napoleon became 
 very animated, and rose several times from the 
 sofa on which he was reclining. The warmth 
 
 ^ It was impossible to decipher this name in the manuscript. 
 
230 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ■with which he spoke and the attention with 
 which I hstened make me quite sure of faith- 
 fully relating what he said. 
 
 ' In that memorable circumstance of my hfe,' 
 he said, 'I had appeared as the restorer of good 
 order and peace in a kingdom rent by factions 
 and inundated with blood. The French nation 
 had placed me at its head. I had neither reached 
 that position like your Cromwell nor like your 
 Eichard III. It was not the same thing. I 
 found a crown on the ground, I picked it up 
 out of the mire, and I placed it on my head. 
 My existence was necessary to the maintenance 
 of the tranquillity which I had just re-estabhshed 
 and over which I had watched until that moment, 
 employing the means best suited to the character 
 of the nation.^ At that epoch Eeal (I believe it 
 was he) came to speak to me every day of con- 
 spiracies which were being hatched ; meetings 
 were held in houses which he indicated at the 
 
 ^ The Marquis de Castellentmi haTing teen invited to dinner 
 ty the Emperor Francis of Austria, the latter related the follow- 
 ing anecdote : — 
 
 Some time after the foolish marriage, with which Napoleon 
 expressed the utmost satisfaction, the two Emperors were con- 
 versing on the revolution of '9.3. 
 
 ' It came from far,' said Napoleon ; ' yet it would have been 
 easy to prevent its great catastrophe if my uncle]s_chgjacterhad 
 not been so essentially weak.' 
 
 'I was quite stunned,' added the Emperor Francis; 'and 
 much more abashed when, after a moment of refleGtiQ]j,J^ saw 
 that he was alluding to Louis XVI.' ' 
 
LEAVES OF HISTORY 231 
 
 same time ; it was impossible to get hold of a 
 clue, everything escaped the watchfulness of 
 the police. General Moreau was suspected, and 
 I was strongly advised to have him arrested. 
 But I knew his character, his name was so 
 esteemed, and his reputation so well estabhshed 
 with the pubhc, that I thought he had nothing 
 to gain and everything to lose by conspiring 
 against me. It was therefore impossible to sus- 
 pect him, and I refused to have him arrested, 
 saying to the Minister of Police, " You name me 
 Pichegru, Georges, and Moreau ; give me the 
 proof that Pichegru is in Paris, and I will have 
 Moreau arrested immediately." A hazard as 
 singular as it was incongruous led me to dis- 
 cover the whole plot. 
 
 ' One night, being unable to sleep, I got out 
 of bed and examined the list of names of the 
 men suspected of conspiring. The fortune which 
 governs the world offered me the name of a 
 surgeon recently returned from prison in Eng-' 
 land. The age of this man, his education, and 
 his previous life, all led me to suppose that it 
 was not a fanatical devotion to the Bourbon 
 cause which induced him to conspire against 
 me, but rather the hope of gain. I gave orders 
 to arrest him. A show of examination was 
 made,, he was judged guilty, and condemned to 
 death, and informed that he would be executed 
 
232 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 in six hours. This comedy succeeded as I had 
 expected; fright caused him to avow every- 
 thing. It was then discovered that Pichegru 
 had a brother, a former monk, who hved in 
 Paris. I sent gendarmes to his house, and was 
 prepared to have all kinds of suspicion in case 
 he should not be found in his usual domicile. 
 The old monk was found, but when he saw that 
 there was a question of arresting him his fright 
 gave me aU the information I desired. " I am 
 treated thus," he said, " because I wished to hide 
 my brother." The object of the conspiracy was 
 to dethrone me, and at first my hfe was to be 
 taken. -The plot had been formed in London; 
 the Count d'Artois was the chief of it. He was 
 to have sent the Due de Berry to the west, and 
 to the east the Due d'Enghien. 
 
 'Your ships landed all the conspirators in 
 France ; Moreau appeared to be in the plot.^ 
 
 ' Moreau conspiring would only have been following the ex- 
 ample set by Buonaparte. Besides, conspiracies were the order of 
 the day amongst the generals of the Kepublic, and seemed to oc- 
 cupy the attention of some of them as much as the conduct of 
 their armies. Who will ever explain the mysteries of the deaths of 
 Hoche, Desaix, Kl6ber,"and Pichegru ? Monsieur had it from M. 
 de S^monville that his son-in-law, General Joubert, was neither 
 Republican by taste nor instinct. He possessed courage, spirit, and 
 resolution, and had departed for Novi, where he died combating 
 with Souvaroff the plan of an ' 18th Brumaire ' all arranged. The 
 said plan was this : The Directory driven away, all the members 
 of the Constituent Assembly still living were to be united, and 
 Madame was to be called to the throne, so as to make a dynasty 
 
LEAVES OF HISTORY 233 
 
 The moment was as pressing as the danger ; I 
 felt all its importance, and I resolved to turn 
 the thunderbolt against the Bourbons, and that 
 the noise of the thunder should be heard even 
 in London. 
 
 ' My minister pressed me to have the duke 
 carried away, although he resided on neutral 
 territory. Yet I hesitated ; Prince Benevento 
 presented me the order twice, employing every 
 means to persuade me. 
 
 ' It was only when I was quite convinced of 
 its necessity that I decided to sign it. It was 
 very easy to make the Gj-and Duke of Baden 
 listen to reason. Was I to suffer that, on the 
 borders of my States, plots could be prepared 
 against me that one mile nearer justice would 
 punish with death ? ' And he added : 
 
 ' Do you excuse either the principles of your 
 Government, when it thought to be able to seize 
 the French fleet on the sole suspicion that it 
 might injure Great Britain ? It was continually 
 repeated to me that my dynasty could never be 
 established so long as the Bourbons existed. 
 
 ■without entering upon a counter-revolution by the Count de 
 Provence and the Count d'Artois. 
 
 This plan had heen concerted with Azara, the only foreigner 
 who was in the confidence. Its execution necessitated a victory 
 and an armistice. 
 
 In the opinion of M. de S^monville all would have succeeded 
 but for the death of Joubert. 
 
234 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Talleyrand did not vary as to this opinion ; he 
 was inamovably attached to it. But I would not 
 give in instantly, nor of myself. I examined 
 this question with all the care and attention it 
 merited, and I convinced myself of the necessity 
 of violent measures. The Due d'Enghien was in 
 the conspiracy, and, although he dwelt upon 
 neutral territory, my safety, public tranquilhty, 
 were sufficient to justify this so-called viola- 
 tion of the law of nations. I gave the order to 
 arrest and try him ; found guilty, he was con- 
 demned to be shot. His sentence was executed 
 without delay. I would have made Louis XVIII^ 
 share the same fate had I been able. I declare 
 that I found it necessary to turn the thunder 
 against my enemies. 
 
 ' In your country I am also credited with the 
 death of Pichegru.' 
 
 ' It is certainly the opinion in England that 
 he was strangled in prison by your orders.' 
 
 ' What foohshness ! what stupid absurdity ! ' 
 he replied quickly. ' I ask you why I should 
 cause to die in secret him whom the law was 
 about to condemn publicly ! For Moreau the 
 position was different ; if he had died in prison, 
 there would have been no motive for supposing 
 that he had killed himself; he was much liked 
 by the people, as well as by the army I could 
 never have cleared myself of that odious imputa- 
 
LEAVES OF HISTORY 235 
 
 tion even had I been innocent. It was necessary 
 for that one that ike justice of his death he solemnly 
 consecrated by a judgment and a public execu- 
 tion.' 
 
 He stopped a moment and I went on : 
 
 ' There are perhaps persons in England dis- 
 posed to believe in the necessity of the terrible 
 violent measures that you employed from poh- 
 tical motives ; but you will not find anybody to 
 excuse the precipitation vsdth which the young 
 prince was carried off, judged, condemned, and 
 put to death.' 
 
 He replied immediately : 
 
 ' I justified myself in my own eyes, and I re- 
 peat that I should have thought proper to have 
 done as much for Louis XVIII. I declare at 
 the same time that I did not receive any letter or 
 message from the Due d'Enghien after his con- 
 demnation.' 
 
 It is stated nevertheless that Talleyrand had 
 in his hands a letter from the Prince, addressed 
 to Napoleon, and that people who believe them- 
 selves well-informed affirm that he took upon 
 himself not to hand it to the Emperor until after 
 the execution, when it could not serve any pur- 
 pose for the writer. I have seen a copy of that 
 letter in the hands of Count de Las Cases, who 
 shewed it me as one of the justificative docu- 
 ments which was to be used in the history he 
 
236 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 was undertaking, and that he was writing at the 
 dictation of Napoleon himself. 
 
 In that letter the Prince begged for Hfe ; he 
 declared that the Bourbon dynasty was finished, 
 that that was his opinion, and he offered to prove 
 it; that he regarded France as his country, that 
 he loved France as a private individual, as a 
 Frenchman ; that in the political order of things 
 the crown was far from him, and it was impossible 
 ever to think of it; that he had no thought of it; 
 that he simply asked for life to consecrate it to the 
 happiness of France; that as a Frenchman he 
 was ready to accept any command in the army, 
 and conduct himself as a good and loyal soldier, 
 to submit himself to the laws of the government, in 
 whatever hands it might be, and to take an oath of 
 fidelity ; and that if his life was granted him, he 
 would consecrate it with all his recognised courage 
 and fidelity to the defence of France against her 
 enemies. Such is the letter as it was shown to 
 mie, and it is that which Talleyrand is accused 
 of not having delivered until after the hand that 
 wrote it had been deprived of life.'^ 
 
 ^ It evidently results from documents which have been com- 
 municated to M. Pasquier that Talleyrand was aware of and 
 advised the project relative to the Due d'Enghien. 
 
237 
 
 CHAPTEE XV. 
 
 LAND OF EXILE. 
 
 No useless Crimes — The Plague-stricken of Jaffa — El-harick — 
 Countess Landon's Disappointment — Doctors and Patients — My 
 Parting with Buonaparte. 
 
 Napoleon continued speaking to me of the 
 House of Bourbon. 
 
 ' If I had wished to have a Bourbon, or all 
 the Bourbons, in my power, I had only to say 
 so. Your jungleurs offered to deliver me a 
 Bourbon for a given sum — 40,000 francs — but 
 they would only engage to deliver him dead or 
 alive. I wanted them alive. Circumstances 
 relieved me of aU sort of fear of being shaken 
 on my throne or dispossessed of it. I recovered 
 my tranquillity and left the Bourbons unmo- 
 lested. It has never been my system to commit 
 useless crimes, as it has been believed and said in 
 England ; what would such a propensity have 
 availed me ? When I arrested Sir George Lem- 
 beck and Sir Dreck, who corresponded with the 
 Parisian conspirators, I did not have them put to 
 death ! . . .' 
 
238 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 He ceased speaking, and as I wished to 
 satisfy my curiosity as far as he would allow 
 me, I continued the conversation. I said that 
 of all the great enterprises that had marked his 
 astonishing career, what had caused most sur- 
 prise in England was his expedition to Eussia, 
 executed before the Spanish war was terminated, 
 and whUe the latter appeared to enable him to 
 attain his ends. 
 
 I stopped ; he made no reply. Seeming not 
 even to have heard me, he said something with- 
 out any reference to my question, but in con- 
 nection with what he had said on the subject of 
 his never committing useless crimes. 
 
 'Your people accused me of causing the 
 death of my sick and wounded at Jaffa ; be 
 assured that had I committed so terrible an 
 action, I should have been held in abhorrence 
 in my army, and my soldiers would have ceased 
 to obey me. There is no circumstance of my 
 life that I wish more to make known than this. 
 You have an officer. Sir Eobert Wilson, who has 
 referred to this with a prodigious quantity of 
 details in relating my Egyptian campaign.' 
 
 He laid stress on the last phrase, appearing 
 to mingle gaiety and irony, and he asked me if 
 I had read Sir Eobert's work. I repUed in the 
 affirmative. 
 
 ' It is possible,' he said, ' that he wrote it 
 
LAND OF EXILE 239 
 
 from the testimony of persons as credulous as 
 himself; he does not speak as an eye-witness. 
 Can you tell me whether Sir Sydney Smith, in 
 his official reports to his Government, confirmed 
 Sir Eobert Wilson's testimony ? ' 
 
 ' I do not remember, but I believe not.' My 
 answer appeared to satisfy him, for he continued : 
 
 ' I am sure he did not. Sydney Smith is an 
 honest and impartial man.' 
 
 'Many Enghshmen,' I said, 'believe that 
 your hatred and jealousy of Sydney Smith had 
 much to do with your treatment of that officer.' 
 
 He smiled with astonishment, perhaps at 
 my having treated as equals two persons not 
 equally celebrated. 
 
 ' That is ridiculous,' he said, ' it is not com- 
 mon sense ; ' and he added : 
 
 ' After the raising of the siege of Saint-Jean- 
 d'Acre, the army retired on Jaffa; there was 
 urgent necessity for this; it was impossible to 
 hold out there even a few days against the 
 forces Djezard Pacha could bring against me. 
 I had many sick and wounded, and my first 
 care was to evacuate my ambulance. I took all 
 the carriages there were for this purpose, and 
 sent a part of the sick to Damietta by sea ; the 
 others were placed upon the most commodious 
 carriages, and accompanied the army across the 
 desert. In one hospital I had seven men who. 
 
240 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 according to the chief surgeon, Desgenettes, 
 had the plague. He said the disease had made 
 such progress that they could not live forty- 
 eight hours. 
 
 ' What ! there were only seven down with 
 the plague ? ' I cried. 
 
 ' I know you have been told quite another 
 story.' 
 
 'I assure you, General, that Sir Eobert 
 Wilson affirms that there were fifty-seven or 
 seventy-seven sick or wounded. . . .' 
 
 He continued : 
 
 ' The Turks were very numerous ; their 
 cruelty had become proverbial in the army. 
 Their custom was to mutilate and expose to 
 all sorts of barbarities Christians taken in war, 
 and all my soldiers knew it well. It was a 
 humane motive which decided my conduct and 
 led me to shorten the sufferings of those un- 
 happy men. I assure you there were only seven. 
 Their state rendered their transport impossible ; 
 I could not, as a resource, place them under 
 Enghsh protection. I had a health officer called. 
 I told him of the bad treatment which the Turks 
 would add to all the sufferings which these poor 
 invalids owed to the horrible disease of which 
 they were victims, that I was forced to abandon 
 the town, and I asked his advice. He hesitated 
 some time ; then rephed that the unhappy ob- 
 
LAND OF EXILE 241 
 
 jects of my paternal solicitude could not live 
 more than forty-eight hours. The characteristic 
 of real humanity, I said, is therefore to shorten 
 the iUs of those who suffer ; you must give these 
 seven men opium ; in their position I would ask 
 for it for myself. Contrary to my expectation he 
 opposed my proposition, and it was not put into 
 effect. In consequence I delayed the departure 
 of the army one day. On leaving Jaffa, I left a 
 strong rearguard, which remained until the 
 third day ; at the end of these three days it 
 departed, and I learned that the sick men were 
 dead.' 
 
 ' Then, General, they were not given opium ? ' 
 
 ' No, no,' he replied with assurance. ' The 
 report simply stated that the men were dead at 
 the time of the rearguard leaving Jaffa.' 
 
 I interrupted him here to say that Sir 
 Sydney Smith, on entering Jaffa, had found one 
 or two Frenchmen stiU ahve. 
 
 ' That may be possible,' he said ; and added 
 that he had amongst his papers a letter from Sir 
 Sydney Smith in which he spoke with admiration 
 and praise of the successful accomplishment of 
 the transport of the French sick and wounded 
 from Acre to Jaffa, and thence across the desert. 
 I observed on this occasion that we had in 
 England a professor at Cambridge University, 
 Doctor Clarke, who had spread a general doubt 
 
 E 
 
242 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 on that part of Sir Eobert Wilson's revela- 
 tions. 
 
 ' Doctor Clarke,' I said, ' has been in Turkey 
 and Jerusalem by the route from Aleppo and 
 Damascus ; he has also been to Jaffa, where he 
 remained some time. It is said that this learned 
 man, whose word has great weight, contradicts 
 Sir Eobert in the accusation he brings against 
 you. He really only said that he had never 
 heard any mention of so horrible an event, and 
 that, had it been true, he would certainly have 
 been told of it during his stay.' 
 
 Buonaparte asked me : 
 
 ' Did he speak to you of El-harick .? ' 
 
 ' I do not remember it.' 
 
 ' Well,' he continued, ' I will tell you some 
 particulars about El-harick and the Jaffa garri- 
 son. You have doubtless seen that I had the 
 Turks who were below Jaffa shot ? ' 
 
 ' Yes ; I have heard this massacre spoken of 
 in England.' 
 
 'General Desaix had remained in Upper 
 Egypt, and Kleber near Damietta. I had 
 quitted Cairo, and crossed the desert of Dambu ^ 
 to effect a junction with Kleber at El-harick. 
 
 1 It was during this inarch that a beautiful engraved stone 
 of inestimable beauty, found in the pyramids, was brought to 
 Buonaparte. He sent it to Josephine, who had it mounted in a belt 
 with other ancient stones and pearls. 
 
LAND OF EXILE 243 
 
 The town was attacked and capitulated. 
 Amongst the prisoners there were many of the 
 inhabitants of the Thabor mountains and espe- 
 cially of Nazareth. They were set at liberty 
 and begged to return quietly to their wives and 
 children, and at the same time they were told to 
 let their friends, the inhabitants of Naplouse, 
 know that the Prench would never treat them 
 as enemies if they did not join the Pacha 
 against them. We started to march on Jaffa ; 
 Gaza, which is on the way, was taken. This 
 town appeared at first sight of tolerable strength 
 and its garrison was numerous. It was called 
 upon to surrender, The bearer of a flag of truce, 
 whom I sent to parley, had no sooner passed 
 the moat, than they cut off his head, which, was 
 put on a stake and thus exposed to every insult 
 in sight of the French army. At this spectacle 
 the indignation of the soldiers knew no bounds. 
 In their fury they demanded loudly to be led to 
 the assault. I did not hesitate a moment to give 
 the order ; the attack was terrible ; I never saw 
 a hke carnage ; the place was carried, and all 
 my efforts as well as aU my authority were neces- 
 sary to stop the fury of my soldiers ; night alone 
 put an end to that bloody day. The following 
 morning, I was informed that five hundred men, 
 the greater part of those inhabitants of JSTaplouse 
 who were part of the El-harick garrison, whom 
 
 E 2 
 
244 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 I had told to return quietly to their homes, had 
 thrown themselves into Gaza, and were amongst 
 the prisoners. The fact proved true ; I gave 
 orders to shoot the whole five hundred imme- 
 diately.' 
 
 During the course of the conversation, I saw 
 that he greatly desired me to believe what he 
 was saying, and asked me continually if I fol- 
 lowed him. 
 
 He came back to Wilson, asked me what I 
 knew of him as a soldier, of the object of his 
 work, if it had brought him much money? I 
 said that I had heard him advantageously spoken 
 of by the generals under whom he had served ; 
 that as for his work, it did him honour in 
 England both as a soldier and a writer. 
 
 ' Tell me, I beg you,' said he, ' for what motive 
 did this officer figure in the escape of Lavalette, 
 the declared friend of the man he has so gratid- 
 tously calumniated .? ' 
 
 I replied that I did not doubt but that his 
 motives would have honoured his heart, that 
 he had been able to find something hardy and 
 romantic in playing the part of hberator, and 
 that I did not imagine any calculation had any- 
 thing to do with it. 
 
 By a strange hazard we had on board the 
 ' Northumberland ' a marine officer, sou of Sir 
 Robert Wilson. 
 
LAND OF EXILE 245 
 
 I interrupted the conversation, and ap- 
 proached the mantelpiece to examine a small 
 marble bust which appeared very well executed, 
 
 ' That is my son,' he said. 
 
 The resemblance to his father was so striking 
 that it was recognisable at first sight. On one 
 side was an excellent miniature of the young 
 prince, and a beautiful portrait of his mother. 
 
 Buonaparte complained of a pain in the great 
 toe of his right foot. He explained what he 
 suffered, and asked me if it was not gout. I 
 asked him if gout was common in his family. 
 He replied that none of his relations had had it 
 excepting Cardinal Fesch, his uncle, who had 
 suffered much from it. He recommenced com- 
 plaining that he could not walk unless accom- 
 panied by an officer. 
 
 ' You know the island of St. Helena,' he said, 
 ' and you must feel that a single sentinel posted 
 on one of these mountains could keep me in 
 sight from the time I leave my dwelling until 
 the time I return. If your Government does 
 not find one sentinel sufficient, it can put ten, 
 twenty, an entire company, but at least take 
 away that officer who is always at my heels.' 
 
 The Countess Landon arrived at St. Helena, 
 coming from India with the English fleet. She 
 lodged at Plantation House, the residence of Sir 
 Hudson Lowe, the Governor. The following day 
 
246 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 there was a ceremonious dinner in her honour, 
 and in the most pohte form the Governor sent a 
 note of invitation to General Buonaparte, by the 
 intermediary of G^eral Bertrand. He hoped 
 that Buonaparte would accept. This was the 
 first invitation he had received. I do not know 
 whether the observation was made to him that 
 the politeness was rather to the countess than to 
 himself, but I could see that at Longwood the 
 invitation was regarded in that light. 
 
 ' Sire,' said General Bertrand, ' what reply 
 does it please your Majesty to make ? ' 
 
 ' Say that the Emperor has no answer to 
 make.' 
 
 During the conversation I said that all the 
 foreigners who were in town would be dehghted 
 to see him if he would dine at the Governor's. 
 My little apropos was not well received, and 
 caused me to witness the only movement of 
 anger that the Emperor showed during my 
 interviews with him. There was anger in his • 
 look, in his tone, and his action : 
 
 ' I will go and dine at the Governor's in the 
 midst of a line of soldiers ! apparently for fear 
 that I should escape ! ' 
 
 After a few minutes he came to himself, and 
 said quietly to me : 
 
 ' After all, it was not expected, I think, that 
 I would accept the invitation. It is too late . . . 
 
LAND OF EXILE 247 
 
 and I will not leave the ground that has been 
 marked around me, since I cannot go out of it 
 without being accompanied by an officer.' 
 
 The Countess Landon left St. Helena without 
 having seen Buonaparte, and he knew how vexed 
 she had been at the fact. 
 
 If I may hazard my opinion — but remember 
 it is only my own opinion — I beheve he was as 
 vexed about it as she was. 
 
 He asked me some days later if I had seen 
 the countess. I replied. Yes ; that she had done 
 us the honour of visiting the ' Northumberland,' 
 and that, as was the case with all who visited 
 our vessel, she had requested to be shown the 
 room that he, Buonaparte, had occupied. 
 
 I thought that it would amuse him to know 
 that it was a pleasure for strangers to go and 
 sit in his arm-chair. 
 
 'And the countess also,' he asked, 'paid this 
 honour to my arm-chair ? ' 
 
 I could not, unfortunately, assure him of the 
 fact, not having been in the room while she was 
 there. He was quite gratified at this universal 
 desire to sit in his chair, and continued to ques- 
 tion me. 
 
 ' Would it, in your opinion, have been humi- 
 hating to the EngUsh nation for the Countess 
 Landon to have come to Longwood .? Would 
 there have been any impropriety for that lady, 
 
248 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 accompanied by Madame Bertrand, to have paid 
 me a visit in the garden ? Many English ladies 
 returning to England have been to see me. If 
 the Countess Landon had be6n fatigued by her 
 journey, or the least tired, I should have felt it 
 a pleasure to accompany her back.' 
 
 I simply replied : 
 
 'The Countess Landon is my. countrywoman ; 
 if I have the honour of seeing her, and I find an 
 occasion to speak to her, I shall not fail to 
 inform her of the courtesy you have expressed 
 towards her.' 
 
 Buonaparte once asked me a singular ques- 
 tion, half willingly, half unwillingly ; he said : , 
 
 '■How many patients have you hilled since you 
 have been practising ? ' 
 
 I was at first a little surprised, but rephed : 
 
 ' My conscience does not reproach me with 
 having done what is called killing anybody.' 
 
 He burst out laiighing and added : 
 
 ' Doctors can make mistakes. Sometimes 
 they make too many, sometimes not enough. 
 When you have treated a patient who has be- 
 come worse, do you not sometimes say: "I ought 
 to have bled him," or perhaps, " I ought not to 
 have bled him ; " or perhaps even, " If he had not 
 consulted a doctor he would now be alive " ? ' 
 
 I did not reply, and he continued his ques- 
 tions : 
 
LAND OF EXILE 249 
 
 ' Do yoii give tlie preference to English or 
 French surgeons ? ' 
 
 ' To Enghsh.' 
 
 'Why?' 
 
 ' Because they are better instructed in our 
 schools.' 
 
 ' Who is your most celebrated physician in 
 London ? How much is he paid ? Corvisart 
 attends my wife, the Empress Marie-Louise. 
 When my son was born I gave him 3,000 
 napoleons. I wished the Empress to be treated 
 according to your system, but she objected. She 
 was then in the middle of her pregnancy. . . . Are 
 you as busy on shore as on board ? ' 
 
 ' I attend any sick persons I know.' 
 
 ' Do they pay you well ? ' 
 
 ' I never accept any fees in such cases.' 
 
 ' How much does your King give you ? ' 
 
 ' Two hundred and twenty pounds a year.' 
 
 'You have been all your life at sea, have you 
 not?' 
 
 ' Yes, nearly twenty years.' 
 
 ' Does your King give you a pension after- 
 wards ? ' 
 
 ' At the end of ten years the King gives a 
 shilling a day to those who retire ; if they re- 
 main, the pay only increases after thirty years' 
 service.' 
 
 ' I do not think it is enough.' 
 
2SO THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 'I beg your pardon, General. . . . Besides, I 
 cannot complain ; I knew it beforehand and 
 engaged on those conditions.' 
 
 ' Is living dear at St. Helena ? ' 
 
 ' Very dear ; a stranger cannot live for less 
 than thirty shillings a day.' 
 
 ' How do you manage, then ? ' 
 
 ' First of all I lodge with one of my inti- 
 mate friends, and I have the resource of the 
 ship's provisions. But is it true,' I said, bring- 
 ing the conversation to its original subject, 
 ' that you were very ill on your return from 
 Egypt?' 
 
 ' Yes, I was very thin and subject to a bad 
 cough. I owe my cure to Dr. Corvisart, who 
 bled me twice on the breast.' 
 
 ' I have been told that you were subject to 
 eruptions on the skin at that time ? ' 
 
 ' It is your friend Goldsmith who told you 
 that. I will tell you.' 
 
 I shall never forget the humorous manner in 
 which he related this anecdote. 
 
 ' At the siege of Toulon, I was commanding 
 a small battery of two cannons ; one of your 
 ships ran in shore, and with a broadside killed 
 two gunners at my side. I seized a sponge which 
 had fallen all smoking from the hand of the 
 soldier just killed. These men had the itch, of 
 which I found myself in possession of a virulent 
 
LAND OF EXILE 251 
 
 form that developed itself in a few days. I took 
 some baths, which succeeded. Five days after the 
 same inconvenience appeared, stronger than ever. 
 I presume the itch had penetrated the blood. I 
 was completely cured, and I have never heard it 
 spoken of since.' 
 
 The - Newcastle ' and the ' Oronte ' appeared 
 in sight of St. Helena June 19 ; I cannot express 
 my joy. I directed my steps towards Long- 
 wood, where I arrived at ten o'clock. Napoleon, 
 as soon as he knew I was there, sent to say he 
 would breakfast with me in the garden. 
 
 ' You come to say farewell ? ' 
 
 ' Yes, General.' 
 
 ' You will breakfast with us ? ' 
 
 He showed me a chair which was waiting 
 for me, and the conversation commenced. 
 
 ' Have you received news from your friends ? ' 
 
 ' No ; the vessels will only enter the port this 
 evening.' 
 
 ' Do you know the admiral ? ' 
 
 ' It is Admiral Malcolm.' 
 
 ' Are you pleased to return to England ? ' 
 
 ' Very pleased.' 
 
 'That does not surprise me. You have no 
 news ? ' 
 
 ■'The last ship from England brought some 
 new works — " Paul's Letters " and Boyce's 
 " Buonaparte." ' 
 
252 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 'Do they resemble Helena Herris William's 
 work ? ' 
 
 'It is far superior and much more authentic' 
 
 ' Of what subject does it treat ? ' 
 
 ' The motives which led you to quit the 
 island of Elba, and aU that you have done from 
 your landing at Cannes to your arrival on board 
 the " BeUerophon." You are represented as 
 being subject to violent fits of anger, pacing 
 your room with long steps, and daily giving 
 signs of anxiety and discontent. There is the 
 anecdote of General Salignac coming on behalf 
 of the Chamber of Deputies to ask you to abdi- 
 cate. There are also some curious particulars 
 on the Battle of Waterloo. You will smile to 
 see that nobody has been forgotten, even to 
 Lacoste, one of your guides ; he is represented 
 as dying of fright.' 
 
 ' Dying of fright ! why ? ' 
 
 ' Erom the hail of balls in which he found 
 himself ; it is said that you reassured and con- 
 soled him with much coolness, telUng him that 
 it was more honourable to die with a bullet in 
 the breast than in one's bed. He is made to be 
 dissatisfied at having been so badly recompensed 
 for the dangers of the day, since you only gave 
 him a single napoleon.' 
 
 ' They would have done as well to say that I 
 gave him 500 napoleons.' 
 
LAND OF EXILE 253 
 
 ' Mr. Boyce appeared to have taken great 
 care in collecting information on the two armies.' 
 
 ' How many does he state the French army 
 to have been ? ' 
 
 ' He fixes it, according to an officer's report, 
 at 66,000 men.' 
 
 ' I had 71,000. What strength does he give 
 the English army ? ' 
 
 ' Counting the Germanic legion he says that 
 there were 30,000 Enghsh, and 68,000 in adding 
 the Belgians, Hanoverians, and Brnnswickians.' 
 
 ' How many Prussians does he give Bil- 
 low?' 
 
 ' About 50,000, 1 beheve.' 
 
 ' And how many were they on the evening 
 of Blucher's afiair ? ' 
 
 ' I do not know, but he says that the Duke 
 of Wellington was very pleased to see his old 
 friends arrive, and that there was only BlUcher 
 who was happier than he that evening.^ . . .' 
 
 ' The day of the battle of "Waterloo an officer had been sent 
 by General Grouchy early in the morning to the neighbouring 
 villages to gather viotuals. That officer returned to say that he 
 had found Prussians who had prevented him from advancing. M. 
 de Grouchy concluded that it was Bliicher's troops marching to 
 join Wellington, and it appeared to him so serious a thing that 
 he galloped full speed to join the Emperor. He found him at ten 
 o'clock with Soult, to whom he related the news. Soult advised 
 him to inform the Emperor himself. The Emperor listened, and 
 then said, ' Which is the idiot of an officer who made you such a 
 report ? The Prussians are very far from there.' M. de Grouchy 
 
254 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 I never had an interview with Napoleon 
 without desiring to know what he thought of 
 our celebrated generahssimo. I thought the 
 moment favourable, and told him that the Eng- 
 lish much wished to know his opinion of the 
 military talents of the Duke of Wellington. 
 
 ' They expect from you a praise which can- 
 • not but flatter Wellington.' 
 
 He remained silent. I believed at first that 
 he would explain himself later, but he remained 
 obstinately silent. This was the . second of my 
 questions which he did not answer. 
 
 ' There is also,' I continued, ' another work 
 that has attracted attention from the celebrity 
 of the author's name — the Abbe de Pradt.' 
 
 I was confounded when I heard a laugh and 
 a general exclamation. 
 
 ' Ah ! the Abbe de Pradt ! ' 
 
 It appeared that this person was the hum- 
 blest of Napoleon's very humble servitors ; he 
 was amongst the subaltern diplomates, but he 
 
 returned to Ms brigade, and, informing the officer of the imperial 
 observation, he declared that he must go and make some pri- 
 soners. The officer started with a few yolunteers ; M. de Grouchy- 
 marched to support him. They soon took two foot-soldiers and 
 a hussar ; M. de Grouchy hastened to conduct them to the Major- 
 General. 
 
 The Emperor had them questioned, and it was probably conse- 
 quent upon their declaration that they belonged to Guttien and 
 Schmidt's brigades that the Emperor gave orders to Monton to 
 march to cover his right. It was then about two o'clock. 
 
LAND OF EXILE 255 
 
 possessed qualities which, in the time in which 
 we live, make their mark. 
 
 ' He was clever and sprightly,' said Napoleon. 
 ' I t..)ok him with me to Spain, and as I had to 
 make war against the monks, the abbe was alone 
 worth a whole battalion against the "hooded 
 ones " [capuchons). Las Cases will tell you fifty 
 amusing anecdotes about the abbe. Can you 
 tell me what has become of him ? ' 
 
 ' I do not know at all. -He also gave his 
 little relation of his return from "Warsaw after 
 the Eussian campaign. " The Eeview " in Eng- 
 land did not spare the abbe for having said that 
 the conquest of Eussia was inevitable. " One 
 ought not to believe one man alone on the 
 subject ; and this man, who is he ? " said " The 
 Eeview." No less than the abbe.' 
 
 Buonaparte did not often laugh, but this his- 
 tory, the recollection of the abb^, perhaps both 
 together, made him burst out laughing. 
 
 This was the last time I saw Buonaparte. 
 When I took leave of him he rose from his 
 chair and said : 
 
 'I wish you a pleasant voyage and good 
 health.' 
 
 I was treated with much attention and re- 
 gard by all his little court, as well during my 
 stay as during this farewell visit. 
 
 Napoleon Buonaparte died in St. Helena on 
 
256 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 May 5, 1821,^ at eleven minutes to six in the 
 evening.^ « 
 
 ' The same day — ^May 5 — tie Count de Grote wrote to the 
 King of England, who followed attentively the progress of his 
 prisoner's illness. 
 
 An ecclesiastic, who left St. Helena on March 18, assured an 
 acquaintance of mine that Buonaparte was then quite used up, that 
 his liver was attacked, and that, according to the opinion of his 
 physician, he had not more than two years to live. 
 
 ^ Referring to the singular contrasts in Napoleon's mind, M. de 
 S^monville related at a dinner at M. Pasquier's on Saturday, 
 November 13, 1831, the anecdote of the Count, which I had 
 heard from Montholon's own lips shdrtly after his return from 
 St. Helena. His disposition to superstition was enlarged upon as 
 well as the religious impressions which had remained from his 
 early education and his meridional imagination. 
 
 M. de Stoonville told us the following: — Some days before 
 Napoleon's death, Montholon being in his bath, Bertrand entered 
 and said, 'To what ridicule are you exposing the Emperor? 
 What is this mummery f I have just seen the chapel all prepared, 
 and the priest at the altar for the forty hours' prayers. 
 
 It was not I who ordered it.' 
 
 Marchant was called and questioned. 
 
 Marchant replied in a confused manner ' that he had taken it 
 upon himself,' and added a sign which indicated the real author of 
 the order. 
 
 During this time Montholon had dressed himself. He went to 
 the Emperor's apartment, Bertrand remaining at the door. 
 
 The Emperor was in bed with the curtains drawn. Montholon 
 asked him if he wished the prayers countermanded, informing him 
 of Bertrand's remarks. ' What does that foolish Bertrand want .P 
 Let him leave me alone. If he does not believe, what is it to him 
 that others have faith ? If a mother was praying for her son, 
 would he go and disturb her ? Does he know whether the 
 prayers that we are offering here will not be a consolation for a 
 mother ? And, after all, who knows the ties that unite this earth 
 to the Divinity ? ' Bertrand heard and remained confused. Por- 
 talig remembered the same sentence — ' Who knows the ties that 
 unite earth and heaven' — -during the discussion about the Con- 
 
LAND OF EXILE 257 
 
 cordat. They remem'bered that moment, and there was a division 
 respecting the difficulties of re-establishing religion and the service 
 thus rendered to society. 
 
 Everybody round the First Consul was irreligious, boasting 
 of irreligion. 'A superior mind/ I said at the time, 'knows how 
 to pierce the atmosphere surrounding it.' 
 
 S^monville has related that on returning from Holland the 
 First Consul fully discussed his projects with him. 
 
 ' I have had extracts made,' he said, ' of the secret registers 
 kept by the clergy. I must acknowledge that there were as 
 many benedictions as marriages, and as many baptisms as births i 
 religion is therefore always powerful ' (Mounier, MS. i. p. 37). 
 
 *S 
 
j;S THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTER XVT. 
 
 AFTEE DEATH. 
 
 Napoleon's Death — Talleyrand indifferent — Sic transit gloria 
 mundi — Poison— The Emperor's Remains. 
 
 The news of Napoleon's death was very differ- 
 ently received and appreciated, not only in the 
 different European courts, but even by private 
 individuals. The ' Black Cabinet ' furnishes us 
 with extracts of letters giving the exact moral 
 appreciation of each political centre as well as 
 that of the impression produced thereby. 
 
 Frow, M. Stafford to the Count de Carlisle, London. 
 
 Paris, July 9, 1821. 
 
 I think I may please you by giving you some details 
 as to the impression produced here by the news of 
 Buonaparte's death. 
 
 First of all the telegraphic dispatch announcing the 
 event arrived, and was communicated at a dinner at 
 one of the Minister's — Pasquier I believe. The Due de 
 Richelieu set out immediately to inform the King, who 
 had just arrived at St. Cloud. Here is what I have 
 learned about the affair. 
 
AFTER DEATH 259 
 
 Lady Davy arrived with the news about nine o'clock. 
 Lord Stafford went to communicate the news to Talley- 
 rand, to whom it could nob be indifferent, considering 
 the numerous relations that he had formerly had with 
 that famous personage. Pozzo di Borgo, who was a 
 long time one of Buonaparte's greatest enemies, then 
 came also to see Talleyrand and observe the effect pro- 
 duced upon him. 
 
 Talleyrand appeared more than surprised ; then he 
 affected to speak of Buonaparte as if he were speaking 
 of an entirely indifferent subject. 
 
 Madame de Coigny said without restraint that those 
 to whom the event would cause most pleasure were his 
 old friends, who would no longer have to fear another 
 ' Hundred Days' ' reign. 
 
 To Castel-Cicola it was the most cordial balm. ' Let 
 us suppose,' he observed, ' that the English ministers 
 had changed, and in their place those who had declared 
 against Buonaparte's detention. Imagine Lord Grey 
 and others giving him more liberty ; that he had escaped 
 to America, and that he eventually had returned to set 
 all Europe on fire and deluge it with blood, and tell me 
 if it is not great news ? ' 
 
 Notwithstanding his death, I believe that he is still 
 feared. 
 
 Several of the King's former friends and some old 
 
 emigrants appeared very much affected by an event 
 
 which was nevertheless supposed to assure tranquillity, 
 
 and the more they were spoken to about it the more 
 
 uhey sighed. When I understand this better I will 
 
 /rite you about it. In short, Buonaparte's death, to 
 
 ill the truth, produced a great sensation, which in 
 
 ctual circumstances was curious and very interesting' 
 
 82 
 
26o THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 to notice. If, after all, the news should prove false, that 
 would certainly produce an impression of a new kind, 
 and at least as curious to observe. 
 
 Talleyrand does not believe that Buonaparte has left 
 any memoirs. He says that he could not have written 
 them ; ' nevertheless,' said he, ' he might have dictated 
 something, but it is doubtful.' I wish you could see 
 the expression of the different physiognomies; nothing 
 more amusing. We shall see the effect produced on 
 the public, and later in society, here. To sum up, it is 
 a great event, and I hope it will not be denied, although 
 some people doubt it already. 
 
 M. de Souza to his Son in London. 
 
 Paris, July 9, 1821. 
 Like you, my dear son, I have had no reason to like 
 Buonaparte, since he has been the cause of our present 
 state ; but death should extinguish all resentment, and 
 posterity will judge him doubtless more impartially 
 than we, and will point him out as the greatest man of 
 ancient and modern times ; history will paint him as 
 superior to Cromwell, to Charlemagne, and Frederick. 
 The rapidity of his conquests, his elevation to the head of 
 a great empire, his military genius, his profound know- 
 ledge of men, and his prodigious ability to make use of 
 them to his own advantage, and nevertheless to make 
 them serve the public good, his civil code, and all the 
 institutions that were created during his reign, the in- 
 fluence that he exercised in Europe, his alliance with the 
 Imperial House of Austria— all these things will be for 
 the contemplation of ages to come. All the documents 
 of history will be necessary to recall to our children 
 
AFTER DEATH 261 
 
 that a simple artillery lieutenant became of himself the 
 master of the world ; that he created and overthrew 
 thrones ; that his fall was more rapid even than his eleva- 
 tion, presenting him separated from his family, expiring 
 upon a rock, and only in the arms of two friends. We 
 must cry : Sia transit gloria mundi ! 
 
 Extract of a Letter from Mile. Mga to Mr. Goldsmith, her 
 Father, in London. 
 
 Paris, July 19, 1821. 
 
 . . , What do you think of the death of Buonaparte, 
 the OA-ch despot, as you call him ? It has not caused a 
 great impression in Paris, except at Laffitte & Co.'s, 
 where they had very long faces when mamma was 
 there. 
 
 I send you a piece of poetry on the subject of 
 Buonaparte's death ; it is by the Chevalier Lawrence, 
 who came to see us. 
 
 Believe me, &c. 
 
 M. Fazalcerly to W. Ord, Esq., M.P., London. 
 
 Paris, July 12, 1821. 
 
 Who would have said eight years ago that Talley- 
 rand would have been found at a meeting at Paris with 
 Pozzo di Borgo, and that at the news of the death of 
 Buonaparte he would neither have manifested astonish- 
 ment nor interest ? That Talleyrand would have con- 
 tented himself with saying that his father died at about 
 the same age ? And is it not more extraordinary that the 
 news has been published in the streets, and that scarcely 
 
262 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 anybody ha8 been seen to look from the windows to 
 listen to what was cried ? News of the death of the 
 Emperor of Madagascar would not have been received 
 with more indifference. Here is certainly matter for 
 those who like to give themselves up to meditations. 
 Denon was much ajfected, and I am sorry to see that 
 there exists amongst his friends the Buonapartists 
 spies who endeavour to insinuate that poison had some- 
 thing to do with Buonaparte's death. 
 
 This idea seems corroborated by letters from St. 
 Helena, which say that one or two domestics are ill. 
 Suspicions fall upon some Italians who were sent some 
 time ago from Rome. But it is not surprising that 
 such rumours are spread ; it is to be desired that Ber- 
 trand may arrive to contradict them. 
 
 Talleyrand said the other day that since Charle- 
 magne nobody had exercised more influence upon the 
 fortune and the opinions of the world ; that he was the 
 greatest man he had ever known. Napoleon's great 
 errors, according to his idea, were the wars with Spain 
 and Russia and his quarrel with the Pope. As for the 
 others he committed, they were neither irreparable nor 
 numerous, seeing the circumstances in which he was 
 placed. 
 
 Is it not strange to have lived while that prodigious 
 man ran through his career, to have witnessed events 
 which from their number and importance ought to have 
 occupied several centuries, and not feel very old ? 
 
 But I know I am touching on a delicate question, 
 in respect to which we have not exactly the same 
 opinions ; therefore I abstain from any further reflec- 
 tions. 
 
AFTER DEATH 263 
 
 M. de Noguera to Mr. Collon, London. 
 
 Paris, July 16, 1821. 
 . . . M. de Talleyrand said the day before yesterday 
 at Lady Holland's that the Emperor's memoirs would 
 not be by himself, for he was not in a state to dictate a 
 letter ; and he repeats this fine phrase especially at the 
 Tuileries. When he was gone, M. G., who was present, 
 was asked from what motive M. de Talleyrand spread 
 such a fooHsh report* 'Ah,' replied M. G., ' it is because 
 by his modesty he wishes to destroy beforehand all the 
 praises which he expects to find of himself in these 
 memoirs.' In any case one must be very foolish to say 
 so much ill of so great a man, who had been so unfor- 
 tunate, and whose body is scarcely cold. 
 
 From Madame de Souza to the Countess de Flahavdt. 
 
 Paris, July 19, 1821. 
 ... What do you think of those cunning men who 
 have buried the body of the patriarch poisoned at St. 
 Helena ? 
 
 Uxtract from a Letter addressed to the Count Munster 
 in London by his Sister. 
 
 Bordeaux, July 21, 1821. 
 The news of Buonaparte's death has not caused a 
 great sensation here ; he has been morally dead for a 
 long time. The companions of his misfortune will be 
 very glad to quit St. Helena's sad rocks. Bertrand is 
 accused of not having always acted in a disinterested 
 manner ; but for this his conduct in not abandoning his 
 
264 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 benefactor in Ms misfortune only merited praise.. I am 
 very curious to read Buonaparte's memoirs. Madame 
 de Stael's posthumous work does not treat this extraor- 
 dinary man too well. She had much reason to complain 
 of him. Now the tormentor and his victim repose in the 
 tomb. 
 
 Uxtract of a Letter from Lady Malmesbury to the 
 Marchioness de la Goste, addressed to the care of the 
 Marquis de Verac, peer of France. 
 
 July 28, 1821. 
 
 You aak me, my dear friend, for details respecting 
 Buonaparte ; I see that you have not had them in your 
 papers. He died quietly, and although it is thought he 
 must have suffered much, he did not once complain. 
 
 During the latter stages of his illness he was per- 
 suaded that it was the same as that of which his father 
 died — cancer in the stomach ; and in fact this was 
 proved to be the case on the opening of his body. 
 
 He made a will, but I do not know its contents. If 
 he has not bequeathed large legacies to Bertrand and 
 Montholon he was very ungrateful. I hope the King 
 will recall thera as a recompense for their devotion. 
 Such characters as they can never be dangerous, and 
 he has recalled many of another land. Much care has 
 been taken to bury him in the spot he had desired, and 
 all sorts of precautions used. He was buried fourteen 
 feet below ground, with strong masonry beneath and 
 above him. I cannot understand the necessity of this, 
 for who would go and exhume him at St. Helena, and 
 for what purpose ? 
 
 He was buried with all the honours due to a general- ■ 
 in-chief, and followed by the governor and all the dis- 
 
AFTER DEATH 265 
 
 tinguished persons in the island. All his followers are 
 daily expected. What joy for Madame Bertrand ! 
 
 We ought to be glad to be rid of the enormous 
 expense he caused us, amounting to nearly ten millions 
 of your pounds per annum. But it gave the Ministry 
 an opportunity of distributing numerous positions, and 
 they will regret Mm from that point of view ; but, as a 
 scarecrow, I do not see what use we coald have made of 
 him, for it was quite certain that his enmity towards us 
 must always be his strongest sentiment. 
 
 Extract from an unsigned Letter to the Bug de Gra/m- 
 mont, addressed under cover to the Prince de Leon in 
 London. 
 
 Montgermont, July 24, 1821. 
 
 .... Imagine Lafayette's impudence ! He made a 
 proposition to the Chamber thus formed : ' That Buona- 
 parte having been Emperor of the French, he could not 
 be buried in a manner worthy of his rank anywhere but 
 in France, and that consequently his body should be 
 claimed, honours due to his rank should be paid, and 
 mourning be worn for him.' I do not know what effect 
 this proposition produced, but I wonder Lafayette was 
 not torn to pieces. 
 
 Count de Grote's Report to the King of England. 
 
 Paris, July 26, 1821. 
 
 Sire, — Amongst the petitions presented to the 
 Chamber was one from, General Lafayette, signed by 
 several soldiers and electors, which solicits the inter- 
 vention of the Chamber with our Government in view 
 of obtaining the body of Buonaparte for transportation 
 to France. 
 
366 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 The premature and improper departure of the Depu- 
 ties produced at least this, good, that, for the present at 
 least, no attention can be paid to this scandalous petition, 
 and later on it may probably, he completely ignored. 
 
 Tfrom M. Sehuhwrt, late correspondent of the ' Times,' to 
 Mr. Murray, at the ' Times ' office in London. 
 
 Paris, July 26, 1821. 
 . . . The first news of Buonaparte's death caused a 
 great sensation here and even produced a sort of excite- 
 ment ; but people are beginning to get calmer. Many 
 persons still believe that he has been poisoned, and I 
 think it will be difficult to disabuse them of the idea. 
 A great many pens are now busy writing the memoirs 
 and the life of the celebrated man. 
 
 Police Report of August 14, 1821. 
 
 . . . All the persons arrived from St. Helena have 
 written to their relations that they are waiting for 
 passports from the French Government in order to 
 return to Prance, and that they hope their request will 
 not be refused. 
 
 M. Marchand says at the end of a letter, 'I have 
 read in the English papers that Napoleon had named 
 me Count ; but it is not true, nor has there ever been 
 any question of it.' 
 
 Police jReport of September 29, 1821. 
 
 . . . General Gourgaud is about to start for Munich 
 to ask Prince Eugene for 50,000 francs. He bases 
 his demand upon the assertion that the Prince must 
 
AFTER DEATH 267 
 
 have 4,800,000 francs at Napoleon's disposal. M. de 
 Lavalette secretly confirms the fact of tlie Prince having 
 received that sum for safe keeping. It appears that 
 Eugene only admits of 800,000 francs, which have 
 been entirely used by the successive demands from St. 
 Helena. 
 
 According to all appearance this will cause some 
 noise and scandal amongst the members of Napoleon's 
 family and the principal officers of his household. 
 
 Besides this, it has been learned from a secret 
 channel that M. Laflitte must still have two millions 
 belonging to Buonaparte. 
 
 Doctor Antomarchi has seen Flahaut, Gourgaud, 
 Sebastiani, Lavalette, &c., while here. He was to have 
 dined with General Sebastiani the day before yesterday, 
 but he left for Eome the same day. 
 
 What he said to Sebastiani agrees perfectly with 
 what he said at the Prefecture of Police when he wa 1 
 questioned there. 
 
268 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 MARIE-LOUISE. 
 
 CHAPTEE XVn. 
 
 UNWOKTHY. 
 
 Bad Mother, Bad Wife — Political Marriage — ' Promptes Amours ' 
 — Tlie Oasina dei Boschi — An administered Duchy — The 
 Museum of Souvenirs — Flight from Paris — The Treasury- 
 emptied. 
 
 Few characters in history seem to me so despic- 
 able as that of Marie-Louise. Absolutely void 
 of force, lacking in personal initiative, and heart- 
 less, of a cowardly feebleness, obeying unre- 
 servedly an imperious desire for material plea- 
 sures, she was, as has been said, equally beneath 
 her prosperity and her misfortunes ; she was 
 not able, in fact, to be either empress, mother, 
 wife, or widow. 
 
 She had preserved her Austrian sympathies 
 while on the throne of France ; when every- 
 thing fell around her she obeyed her father by 
 
UNWORTHY 269 
 
 disowning her husband, abandoning her son, 
 and furnishing the Court of Vienna not only 
 with every information for which she was asked, 
 but even numerous documents and precious 
 papers belonging some to the State, some to 
 Napoleon. 
 
 Thus, as we shall see later from an act drawn 
 up by M' Chodron, the Crown notary. When he 
 was ordered to verify the state of the Treasury 
 on April 7, 1814, he found nothing left. Every- 
 thing had disappeared — money, papers, and 
 even the Crown diamonds. Marie-Louise had 
 taken them away with her, and, to regain pos- 
 session of them, she was obliged to be followed 
 and caught. 
 
 She fled from Paris on the approach of the 
 Allies, leaving everything in confusion, careless 
 alike of the glory of France, of that of her hus- 
 band, and of the future of her son. She allowed 
 herself to be separated from them without a 
 protest, and the only pohtical act of importance ' 
 which she found courage to accomplish was her 
 public protest in I8I0 against Napoleon's re- 
 turn. 
 
 What a difference between the two princesses 
 of royal blood who espoused Napoleon and his 
 brother Jerome ! The Princess of Wiirtemberg, 
 after having shared with the latter the splen- 
 dours of the Empire and the throne of West- 
 
270 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 phalia, wished to share equally his exile and 
 his misfortune. In vain the king her father 
 offered her to return and partake of his royal 
 grandeur ; she would never abandon him who 
 had really become the husband of her heart only 
 when he was overwhelmed by the weight of 
 adversity. 
 
 ' ' You bound me to his fate against my will 
 when he was powerful and happy,' she said ; 
 ' now that misfortune has overtaken him I do 
 not intend to abandon him in a cowardly 
 manner.' 
 
 Jerome and his son, the Prince Napoleon, 
 had the rare happiness of being united to women 
 of exceptional virtue. Will Providence, which in 
 this respect favoured the father and grandfather, 
 guide the sons in their choice ? 
 
 It has been pretended that Marie-Louise's 
 marriage was imposed upon the Emperor Francis 
 of Austria as one of the secret clauses of the 
 Vienna Treaty. I do not believe it. It is easy, 
 after the fact, to credit the secret articles of a 
 treaty with anything historians please to imagine 
 and affirm ; they cannot be denied, because 
 proofs are wanting. These statements soon be- 
 come historical truths if those in power have an 
 interest in allowing them to become accredited, 
 either because they increase their power or 
 flatter their ambition. 
 
UNWORTHY 271 
 
 It appears very improbable that Napoleon 
 had conceived the idea of espousing an arch^ 
 duchess when he signed the Austrian treaty of 
 peace. But when, the marriage having been 
 celebrated, it was publicly reported that that 
 was one of the conditions of the treaty, the 
 Emperor allowed the report to pass uncontra- 
 dicted ; he had no interest in weakening the ideas 
 of his omnipotence, which had gone so far as to 
 impose upon a father the union of his daughter 
 to a conqueror already married. 
 
 Mounier relates the following anecdote on 
 the subject : — 
 
 I have read somewhere that M. de Semonville 
 was the first to have the idea, of the marriage 
 with Marie-Louise. I asked him the truth of 
 this, when he replied : 
 
 'The last time there was a supper at the 
 Tuileries, while Josephine reigned, I there met 
 Floret, who said to me, " Is it true that this is 
 the last supper at which the Empress will be 
 present .? " 
 
 ' " Yes." 
 
 ' " It is quite an event ! " 
 
 ' " Immense for all, for us, and for Europe." 
 
 ' " You are going, then, to throw us into the 
 arms of Eussia ? " 
 
 ' " Without doubt, since you will not have 
 us." 
 
272 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ' " Where do you learn that ? I undertake to 
 assure you that you would not be refused," &c.' 
 
 'I went immediately to communicate this 
 conversation to M. Maret ; he informed the 
 Emperor of it the next morning. It was imme- 
 diately decided to follow the indication, and 
 Laborde was charged to go and make overtures 
 at Schwarzenberg.' 
 
 Floret had been secretary of the Austrian 
 mission at the Hague while S^monville was 
 ambassador in Holland. From that sprang the 
 intimate friendship between them. Semonville 
 made him a man of mind. 
 
 The regency of the empire with which Marie- 
 Louise was invested during the years 1812, 1813, 
 and 1814 was but a title ; her absolute nullity 
 would have prevented her from exercising the 
 rights thereof. Therefore, keeping the Austrian 
 Court informed of all that was passing in France, 
 servilely executing its orders, she sought in no 
 way to second her too warlike spouse in his 
 efforts. And so soon as the dark clouds came 
 to hide the star chosen in the firmament as the 
 faithful witness of his victories, the Empress for- 
 got her empire, the wife her husband, the mother 
 her child, and Marie-Louise only thought of 
 pleasing the major-domo that her august father 
 had sent her. The love of the Count de Niepperg 
 became her life's ambition. 
 
UNWORTHY .273 
 
 It is to be supposed that the good Austrian 
 princess was unable to escape from the magnetic 
 attraction exercised upon her by this Count de 
 Niepperg ; and, empress as she was, or rather 
 had been, she did not the less submit to Its 
 vulgar influence. 
 
 When Marie-Louise retired to Parma, the 
 sovereignty of which had been conceded to her 
 as a life possession at the Vienna Congress, as a 
 recompense for services rendered to her country, 
 her keeping in the background, and her docility, 
 she led the life of a rich woman of the upper 
 middle class. She inhabited the Casina dei 
 Boschi, at the foot of the Apennines, and thus 
 spun out in the country, without regret and 
 almost without recollection of the past, the days 
 rendered happy by the hand of love. 
 
 To describe in a few lines the appearance 
 then presented by the Duchy of Parma, I again 
 refer to my father's journal. The descriptions of 
 impartial and independent eye-witnesses have 
 always a special relish and authority. 
 
 M. Niepperg, generalissimo of the troops of the duchy, 
 private counsellor appointed by Austria in the service 
 of the daughter of its sovereign in the interest of 
 Marie-Louise's happiness, fulfils equally well his signal 
 mission and his secret one. He governs Marie and the 
 State to the satisfaction of the one and the indifference 
 of the other. He is affable and very accessible. An 
 
274 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 inhabitant went to beg permission to expatriate timself, 
 Ms ideas leading him to desire to trade, and his country- 
 offering no chance in this respect. The audience was 
 granted as soon as demanded, and during the interview 
 M. Niepperg questioned him to discover if he had no 
 other motive, then said to him : 
 
 ' You are quite right. The country will always be 
 miserable because commerce is not protected. Flight 
 is the best policy when one has any industrial ideas. I 
 wish you a good journey ; in your place I should not 
 act otherwise.' 
 
 That was not bad from the mouth of one who 
 governed.' 
 
 At the Verona Congress, Marie-Louise and' the 
 Grand Duke were enjoined to return to their respec- 
 tive homes. The applause with which they were re- 
 ceived formed a shocking incongruity to the ears of 
 the other sovereigns. The same thing happened to 
 
 1 The general opinion was that the duchies were badly ad- 
 ministered. It was, amongst others, the opinion of Count Goltz, 
 who wrote to the King of Prussia on July 8, 1818: — 
 
 Sire, — The Marquis Alfier de Sostegno spoke to me again on 
 this occasion of the marriage proposed between one of the 
 daughters of H. M. Sarde and the young Infante, son of Marie- 
 Louise, to express the strong desire of his Court that the august allied 
 sovereigns would use their influence with the Austrian Court in 
 order that this young prince, who will soon come of age, should, as 
 soon as possible, take possession of the duchies of Parma, Plais- 
 ance, and GustaUa. He pointed out to me at- the same time that 
 those countries unhappily suffered greatly from the provisional 
 administration of H.M. the Archduchess Marie-Louise, that that 
 princess's interests could be fully satisfied by a pecuniary in- 
 demnity, and that every public consideration seemed to render 
 such an arrangement very desirable. 
 
UNWORTHY 27: 
 
 Marie-Louise when she followed her father in Tuscany, 
 three years ago, in 1824. She was unable to accompany 
 him farther in consequence of the difference in the 
 receptions. 
 
 This ex-Empress spends largely on her travels from 
 habit. For the six horses she uses she pays a ' sequin ' 
 each ; her magnificent father pays for his four at the 
 tariff prices. I have this from a good source. 
 
 She dispenses her empty promises very adroitly. 
 He, on the contrary, is dry and deceptive. All this 
 and many other things produce their effect. 
 
 Of the palace, or rather the house of Marie-Louise, 
 the only part shown is what is called the lumber-room. 
 It is approached in a garret by a disornata soala. It is 
 there one finds all the souvenirs of her glory,. of her 
 past power. Everything else is forgotten by this woman 
 without character, without force or elevation, that 
 woman only woman in the most silly acceptation of the 
 word, who is yet learning to-day to dance ! 
 
 What noble characters are dead, ignored for want of 
 an opportunity of showing themselves ! But what oppor- 
 tunities were ever more favourable than those offered to 
 this sovereign ? 
 
 Living oriflamme, will she feel it to-day? Do 
 remembrances of the past still haunt her, weakening 
 and making her as thin as I saw her this morning ? 
 
 No, an obscure love sufiBces for her. That sole 
 sentiment fills her life, and it is but troubled by the 
 fear of exciting the easy jealousy of her invalid. And 
 finally, so that nothing should be wanting in this 
 baseness, she crowns her work by marrying M. 
 Niepperg ! 
 
 In the lumber-room is the toilet-table of H.M. the 
 
 T 2 
 
276 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Empress of Prance, Queen of Italy, whicli the town of 
 Paris presented her on the birth of her royal child. This 
 toilet-table has a material value of more than five 
 hundred thousand francs ; a cheval glass, an arm-chair, 
 a toilet-table, a wash-hand stand, a perfume casket, and 
 the cradle of the child who, born king, is to-day an 
 Austrian subject. 
 
 All these different objects are of most precious 
 workmanship, in silver-gift, gold, agate, mahogany, 
 velvet and silk. I am afraid that Messieurs Perrier 
 and Fontaine, the imperial designers of these sumptuous 
 knickknacks, had a malignant thought in designing 
 the ornaments which embellish the cradle. Two 
 Genii decorate the foot, that of strength and that of 
 justice. The former turns his back to the royal doll, 
 then the hope of France ; the second, with his scales 
 so little in equilibrium, well represents the justice of 
 sovereigns — all on one side, nothing on the other. 
 
 I try in vain to understand how Marie-Louise, after 
 her ever strange conduct, can derive pleasure from these 
 witnesses of past grandeurs, of a marriage which placed 
 at her knees one of the most brilliant geniuses ever men- 
 tioned in history, and at her feet all the kings of Europe. 
 From that, to become the wife of General Niepperg, the 
 fall is great. 
 
 The complacent Modenese who brought me here 
 assures me — and the guardian confirms it — that when 
 the Emperor of Austria passed through his daughter's 
 small States on his way to Rome he visited, like so 
 many others, the curious lumber-room, and said in 
 amazement : 
 
 ' Louise, you have some heautiful things there. They 
 a/re valuable, they weigh.' 
 
UNWORTHY 277 
 
 This brings forward the mercantile character of her 
 father, whom Marie-Therdse had reduced to the role of 
 a furniture broker. He it was who in the wars of 
 France in Italy against Austria supplied them with 
 grain. 
 
 There is in the museum a Hercules in bronze in a 
 pugilistic attitude, and beside it a small Victory, equally 
 in bronze, raising a shield. A stupid and awkward 
 courtier thought it very ingenious to insert Marie- 
 Louise's portrait in the middle of this shield. "Whoever 
 will explain this enigma will render me a service, unless 
 it refers to the glorious conquest of the formidable 
 General Niepperg. 
 
 Marie-Louise is passionately fond of the theatre ; 
 she goes every evening. The hall used up to the 
 present time is very ugly. If she wrongs her people 
 in this way she indemnifies them in another. She 
 generally travels during three months of the year, and 
 that never costs her less than twelve million pounds 
 Parma money, which is equivalent to three million 
 francs — money drawn from the State never in any way 
 to return. 
 
 The third duchy of which Marie-Louise has the 
 appanage, the first two being Parma and Plaisance, is 
 Guastalla.' 
 
 Guastalla is a miserable little town, containing about 
 three thousand souls ; and, like all the towns of her 
 small States, it is the refuge for beggars from the 
 provinces. 
 
 ' It was Parma that Decius Brutus chose as a hiding-place 
 after Csesar's assassination. 
 
278 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 At San Petronio there is a chapel, bought by that 
 simpleton De Bacciocchi, who had it rebuilt and re- 
 decorated at great expense to serve as a resting-place, 
 for the ashes of his faithful wife. The inscription will 
 be curious. 
 
 The chapels of a church belong to the vestry board, 
 who sell them to the noble families, who have them- 
 decorated, shut with a railing, so that they become 
 veritable private property. Formerly this business was 
 very good, it has fallen off now. Although known to 
 be very rich, Bacciocchi only paid about three thousand 
 francs for his chantry in San Petronio. 
 
 Austria's colours are yellow and black; those of 
 Marie-Louise rose and white. What novelties Niepperg 
 must find to say about this ! 
 
 When Marie-Louise quitted' France almost- 
 all she claimed as belonging to her was granted 
 her -without any difficulty, and a list was made 
 of this same furniture, a part of which was one 
 day to figure in the Parma Museum. Here is 
 the list : 
 
 lAsi of furniture Idonging to the Hw^ress MaHe-Louise, 
 drawn, up ly the guwrdian of Crown fwniture. 
 
 The toilet-table and its appurtenances. 
 
 The cradle with its trimmings, &c. 
 
 An iron bedstead with beds and trimmings, brought 
 from Vienna. 
 
 Another iron bedstead, with a part of its accessories, 
 including lace bed-trimmings, given by the Emperor 
 Napoleon to the Empress Marie-Louise. 
 
UNWORTHY 279 
 
 Pour pieces of cacHemire from presents made by 
 tiie Persian ambassador. 
 
 Since packing these objects, the following articles, 
 having been used by the Empress Marie-Louise, were 
 sent to the store-rooms : 
 
 1. By the Concierge of Gompidgne Palace. 
 
 A small mounted mirror to place upon the knees. 
 An easel. 
 
 A rich embroidery stand. 
 A breakfast service in porcelain. 
 These articles are inscribed on the inventories of 
 furniture for 5,978 francs. 
 
 2. By the Goncierge of FontaineUeau. 
 
 A piano brought from Vienna. 
 
 According to the list drawn up by the guardian of 
 State furniture, the objects in the use of the Empress 
 Marie-Louise at the Tuileries and at St. Cloud, and 
 which were asked for, are : 
 
 At the Tuileries. 
 
 An embroidery stand. 
 A spool holder. 
 A harp. 
 An easel. 
 A hand screen. 
 
 These objects have been furnished from the Crown 
 furniture, and are worth together 8,220 francs. f 
 
28o THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 'From St. Cloud Palace. 
 
 A pianoforte by Erard in form of a harpsichord, a 
 new mechanism belonging to the Crown furniture, 
 valued at 5,000 francs. 
 
 Further, there were articles used by the Empress. 
 
 At the Trianon. 
 Two pianos. 
 A harp. 
 An easel. 
 
 An embroidery stand. 
 A cheval glass. 
 
 At Meudon. 
 A piano. 
 
 When Marie-Louise fled she took with her 
 not only the Crown diamonds, but several vans 
 full of money and Napoleon's papers. 
 
 The following declaration, of which I possess 
 a copy signed by M. Chodron, establishes the 
 fact that at nine o'clock in the morning of 
 April 7 the treasury safes were empty ; that the 
 account-books had disappeared ; and that in the 
 strong boxes where the Crown diamonds were 
 kept there was only a jewel-box, also empty. 
 
 Signed Becla/ration establishing the state of the Croton 
 Treasury. 
 
 April 7, 1814. 
 The year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, 
 on Thursday, the seventh of April, at nine o'clock in 
 the morning : 
 
UNWORTHY 281 
 
 At the request of M. CHaries Henry Eoux, Advo- 
 cate to the State Council, named temporarily Treasurer 
 of Extraordinary Crown Domains, by a decision of the 
 Provisional Government, dated the sixth of April cur- 
 rent, M. Eoux living in Paris at No. 28 Eue Notre 
 Dame des Victoires. 
 
 Claude-Franpois Chodron, notary of Paris, accom- 
 panied by two witnesses hereafter named, went to the 
 Tuileries Palace, and into the offices of the General 
 Treasury of the Crown and of the Extraordinary Do- 
 mains. 
 
 M. Eoux, who had also proceeded to the offices, and 
 who was present, stated that the Government decree 
 naming him provisionally General Treasurer of the Crown 
 and of the Extraordinary Domains, instructed him to 
 take immediately all necessary steps for the preservation 
 of the funds, effects, registers, and papers belonging to 
 those two treasuries, and required the said M. Chodron 
 to proceed to make an inventory of the safes, and a 
 summary examination of the registers, titles, papers, 
 and documents which might be found belonging to the 
 said treasuries, and to receive the statements of 
 the divers persons belonging thereto, with a view of 
 establishing as far as possible the actual state of the 
 said treasuries, and he has signed in the margin opppsite 
 the present minute after hearing it read. 
 
 And the said M. Eoux was immediately taken into 
 the cabinet of the general cashier, by Messieurs Joseph 
 Lamon, book-keeper to the cash department of the said 
 treasuries, living in Paris at No. 60 Faubourg Poisson- 
 niSre ; Jean Jules Gaujac, assistant book-keeper, living 
 in Paris, No, 8 Eue St. Marc; Antoine Hippolyte- 
 Victor Malibran, living in Paris at No. 28 Eue des 
 
282 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Canettes; all four present, after each individually had 
 taken oath in presence of the said witnesses to represent 
 faithfully and exactly everything belonging to the Trea- 
 sury. 
 
 In this cabinet were found four chests in oak, three 
 of which were joined and placed opposite the window ; 
 the first called the Crown chest, the second safe- for the 
 bonds of the two Treasuries ; and the third that of the 
 Extraordinary Domains; the fourth imbedded in the 
 wall beside the fire-place, called the safe for the Crown 
 diamonds. At this moment appeared also Claude 
 Armand Lemoine, door-keeper of the Crown Treasury, 
 living on the premises in which we were, who, after 
 having taken oath before the said M. Chodron in 
 presence of the said witnesses to represent faithfally 
 and exactly all that to his knowledge belongs to the 
 said treasuries, presented the keys of the said four 
 chests, which he declared to have been handed to him 
 by M. Dubuisson, under-cashier to the Crown Trea- 
 sury, on Tuesday, March 29 last, at seven o'clock in the 
 morning. 
 
 On opening the said four chests nothing was found 
 inside except some empty boxes, and in the Crown 
 diamond chest a large case in green morocco marked 
 ' belt enriched with diamonds,' which when opened was 
 found to be empty. 
 
 On each side of the three closets at the back was a 
 stand of eighteen cardboard boxes, which were found 
 empty ; at the bottom of each of these stands is a closet 
 in which nothing was found. 
 
 In this same room is a bureau of mahogany with 
 drawers and cardboard • boxes ; nothing was found 
 therein, excepting, in the left drawer, sundry keys 
 
UNWORTHY 283 
 
 partly labelled; in this same room is a bureau, a la, 
 troncMe, the drawers of which had been opened, and in 
 which also nothing was found. 
 
 In the two following rooms, which are the ofEces of 
 the under-cashiers of the Treasury and the Crown, and 
 the Extraordinary Domains, search being made in the 
 drawers of the bureaus, in the boxes, cupboards, and 
 on the shelves, nothing was found but useless papers 
 and rubbish, but nothing to furnish any information. 
 
 In two small cellars entitled reserve cofiers search 
 was made in the safes, but nothing was found. 
 
 During the proceedings the said Lemoine declared 
 that to his knowledge about a month previously the 
 sums in gold and silver belonging to the said treasuries 
 had been placed during the night upon twelve open 
 waggons, which had been taken into a court of the 
 Carrousel stables, where they remained until Tuesday, 
 March 29 last, whence they were taken away at seven 
 o'clock in the morning. 
 
 That it is also known to him that on Wednesday, 
 March 30, at noon, several sacks full of gold and silver 
 were taken from the safe of the said Treasury ; that he 
 knows not where they were carried ; but that he believes 
 they were placed in a thirteenth waggon which fol- 
 lowed the others ; and he signed in the margin against 
 his declaration after having heard it read from these 
 presents. 
 
 In an oflSce on the ' entresol ' lighted from the Rue 
 de Eivoli, which is that of the book-keeping and the for- 
 mation of the accounts of the Extraordinary Domains, 
 appeared M. Thomas Louis-Marin de Yerbois, chief of 
 the said office, living in Paris at No. 367 Rue St. 
 Honore; after taking oath before M. Chodron, in. 
 
284 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 presence of the said witnesses, to faithfully and exactly 
 represent the titles, deeds, and documents dependent 
 on his office and belonging to the said Treasury, he on 
 the demand of M. Eoux declared that about six weeks 
 previously he had handed to M. Vallee, director of 
 accounts of the said Treasuries, the Imperial decisions 
 and decrees relative to the operations of the Treasury 
 of Extraordinary Domains, as well as sundry registers 
 of receipts and expenditures ; that the documents which 
 remained in his possession were justification of the 
 receipts and disbursements made for the Extraordinary 
 Domains, since its formation until March 31 last (with 
 the exception of those concerning the operations of the 
 sinking fund office for account of the Extraordinary 
 Domains), which documents remained in the hands of 
 the said Marin de Verbois, who acknowledged having 
 them ; and after hearing it read he signed in the margin 
 opposite the present minute. 
 
 In an office on the fourth floor lighted from the 
 courtyard, known as the Office of the Second Section, 
 appeared, on the requisition of M. Eoux, M. Louis 
 Franpois-Marie Legros, entrusted with all operations 
 establishing the receipts of the Crown Treasury, of the 
 private domains, of the formation of the general books, 
 and the private accounts of the debtors to the Crown, 
 and with all the correspondence relating thereto, and 
 with the verification of the expenditure documents ; 
 who, after having taken oath before M. Chodron in 
 presence of the said witnesses to represent faithfully 
 and exactly the registers and papers belonging to his 
 office, declared that he had in his possession all the 
 registers, lists, materials, and documents of expenses to 
 verify as far as regards his department, and that nothing 
 
UNWORTHY 285 
 
 tad been abstracted, the same being still in the posses- 
 sion of the said Legros, as he acknowledged ; and after 
 hearing the present minute read he has signed in the 
 margin opposite thereto. 
 
 In another office, also on the fourth floor, lighted from 
 the Eue de Eivoli, entitled Account Office, appeared M. 
 Jean Joseph Melan, chief of the said office, living in 
 Paris at No. 38 Rue de Richelieu, who, having taken oath 
 before M. Chodron and in presence of the said witnesses 
 to faithfully and exactly represent the registers and 
 papers appertaining to his office, declared that he had 
 in his possession all the documents of verified disburse- 
 ments relating to the accounts of the Crown Treasury 
 and the private domains up to the thirty-first of 
 October, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, 
 which documents continued to remain in the possession 
 of the said M6lan, as he acknowledged, and after hear- 
 ing it read he signed in the margin opposite the present 
 minute. 
 
 In another office, on the same floor, lighted from the 
 courtyard, called the Copying Office, appeared M. George 
 ChrStien Baumann, living in Paris at No. 18 Boulevard 
 des Italiens, chief of the said office, who, after taking 
 oath before M. Chodron in presence of the said wit- 
 nesses to present exactly the deeds and papers apper- 
 taining to his office, declared that he had in his posses- 
 sion the copies of the journals, and the balances of all 
 the Crown Treasury officers, since the commencement 
 of M. de la Bouillerie's management up to the end of 
 last February, which documents still remain in the 
 possession of the said Baumann, who declared that the 
 ledgers, journals, and values books had been taken away 
 from his office in the night of the twenty-eighth to 
 
286 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 tlie twenty-nintli of March last ; and after hearing it 
 read he signed in the margin opposite the present 
 minute. 
 
 In an office on the third floor, lighted from the 
 courtyard, adjoining the apartment of M. de la 
 Bouillerie, appeared M. Emmanuel Wanacker, living in 
 Paris at No. 12 Eue Helvetius, book-keeper to the Ex- 
 traordinary Crown Domains, together with M. Lahure, 
 who, after having taken oath before M. Chodron in 
 presence of the said witnesses to faithfully represent 
 the papers of his office, declared that the books consti- 
 tuting the accounts of the Extraordinary Domains up to 
 the thirtieth of December, one thousand eight hundred 
 and thirteen, were taken from the said office in the night 
 of the twenty-eighth to the twenty-ninth of March last ; 
 that there remain in his hands and those of the said 
 Lahure the first accounts of one thousand eight hundred 
 and thirteen as well as several documents having served 
 for the completing of the accounts, which documents 
 still remain in the possession of the said Wanacker and 
 Lahure, as acknowledged by the said Wanacker ; and 
 after hearing it read he signed in the margin opposite 
 the present minute. 
 
 Also appeared M. Nicolas-Eene Mog6, concierge 
 of the Tuileries Palace, where he lives, who said that 
 the bureaux, tables, and other furniture and effects 
 being in the locality occupied by the Crown and Extra- 
 ordinary Domains Treasuries, form part of the furniture 
 of the said castle, and that he is charged with their 
 guardianship; that nothing has been abstracted, and 
 that he still remains in charge thereof in virtue of his 
 said office ; after taking oath before M. Chodron in 
 presence of the saidt witnesses that his statement was 
 
UNWORTHY 287 
 
 faithful and exact, and after hearing it read he signed 
 in the margin opposite the present minute. 
 
 The whole done in presence of M. Adrien Marie 
 Lemaitre, Inspector of the General Crown Treasury, 
 living in Paris at No. 31 Kue IIelv6tius, and of 
 M. Joseph Nicolas Eenac, book-keeper to the Crown 
 Treasury, under the direction of M. Baumann, living in 
 Paris at No. 24 Marche des Jacobins, both summoned 
 witnesses called in the absence of a second notary. 
 
 The foregoing was attended to in a double vacation 
 from the said hour of nine in the morning until that of 
 five in the evening ; this done, and nothing more being 
 found to say or declare on the present declaration, it 
 was brought to a close at the request of M. Roux, to 
 serve and be worth what is right ; and the said M. Roux 
 signed with the said Lamonj Gaujac, Malibran, Bault, 
 and Lemoine, and with the said witnesses and the said 
 M. Ohodron, notary, after having heard it read. 
 
 Below is written : Registered in Paris the eighth 
 of April, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, folio 
 38, squares 1 and 2 : received one franc and ten cen- 
 times, including the subvention : Signed, Gaune. 
 
 (Signed) Chodron. 
 
388 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 CHAPTEE XVIII. 
 
 THE CROWN DIAMONDS. 
 
 Seeking the Crown Diamonds — ^The Reserve Cellars — Millions 
 travelling — The Empress's Budgets — A two-faced Historian. 
 
 Everything, then, had been carried off during the 
 night, and the Baron Louis, General Commissary 
 of the Finance Department, was informed by 
 Dupont (of Nemours), General Secretary of the 
 Provisional Government, that the treasure and 
 the diamonds were near Blois. 
 
 The Provisional Goveknment of France. 
 
 To his Hxcellency Bwron Louis, General Commissary of 
 the Finance Bepa/rtment. 
 
 April 12, 18U. 
 
 I have the honour to forward your Excellency a 
 letter which Colonel Despinay has just sent to the 
 Prince of B6nevento. This letter, dated to-day, relates 
 to the deposit of the Crown diamonds, which according 
 to M. Despinay are at the house of Madame de Coinde, 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 289 
 
 near Blois. It is Madame de Vene, Rue Chapon, in the 
 Marais, wlio received the letter of advice. 
 
 I have the honour, &c., 
 
 DuPONT (de Nemours), 
 General Secretary of the Provisional 
 Government. 
 
 To Ms Hirjliness the Prince of BenSuento, President of 
 the Provisional Government. 
 
 April 12, 1814. 
 
 My Lord, — On my return from accompanying his 
 Royal Highness, Monsieur, I had the chance to dis- 
 cover that the Archduchess Marie-Louise has left her 
 treasure in the same place as the diamonds, with 
 Madame de Coinde, near Blois. It is Madame de 
 V6ne, Rue Chapon, in the Marais, who has been ad- 
 vised thereof. I hope, my lord, to bring it to you ; 
 and the Count de Ferridre, former ship's captain, who 
 belongs to that country, might be charged as one of the 
 mission deputed to recover the Crown diamonds and the 
 horses. 
 
 There is not one moment to lose for this operation, 
 my lord. It appears from this letter that the Arch- 
 duchess has made a move. If your Highness approves 
 of the project, I would beg you to date it yesterday, in 
 order that it may appear to be an operation commenced 
 before Monsieur's arrival. That could not fail to please 
 him. 
 
 My lord, you instructed me to present you this 
 project, and to give you the details as to the where- 
 abouts of this precious deposit. To-morrow, between 
 
 V 
 
290 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 eight and nine o'clock, I hope to hand you the letter of 
 advice. 
 
 I am, with a high admiration 
 
 of your Highness, &c., 
 
 Despinay. 
 
 Action was necessary : the Baron Louis wrote 
 in his turn to the Commissioner of Buildings, 
 begging him to do all that was necessary in 
 order that the Crown should recover possession 
 of its jewels. 
 
 Paris, April 13, 1814. 
 Be good enough, my dear friend, to listen to the 
 Count de Perrifire, who as Government Commissary went 
 to join the authorities at Chartres, and who offers to go 
 and reclaim a deposit of diamonds made by the Empress 
 with a Dame de Coindg, near Blois. 
 
 Yours devotedly, 
 Louis. 
 
 Everything was done according to the desire 
 expressed by M. Despinay. And, in order to put 
 ' Monsieur ' at ease, the decree of the Provisional 
 Government, ordering the Director of Domains 
 to do all that was necessary to recover possession 
 of aU that belonged to the State, was dated with 
 this view April 13, 1814. Here it is, with M. de 
 VitroUes' letter of advice : — 
 
 Paris, April 13, 1814. 
 The Provisional Government enjoins the Director of 
 Crown Domains to take necessary measures to recover 
 the horses, carriages, wines, books, diamonds, jewels, 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 291 
 
 and all other effects that have been carried away or 
 abstracted from the royal households, and not to allow 
 any that have remained to be removed. 
 
 PEINCE DE BfiNfiVENTO. 
 
 Duke de Dalbeet. 
 General Bouenonville. 
 ABBfi de Montesquiou. 
 
 FRANgOIS DE JaUCOURT. 
 
 For the Provisional Government, 
 
 DupoNT DE Nemours, 
 Secretary-General. 
 A True Copy. 
 
 BaEON DE VlTROLLES, 
 
 Provisional Secretary of State. 
 
 To the Director of Domains and of the Crown. 
 
 Monsieur le Baron, — The Provisional Government, 
 by its decree of the 13th of this month, of which I have 
 the honour to send you a copy, having enjoined you to 
 take the necessary measures to recover the horses, car- 
 riages, wines, books, diamonds, jewels, and all other 
 effects which have been carried away or abstracted from 
 the royal households, and not to allow anything therein 
 remaining to be removed, I believe I am fulfilling the 
 intentions of the Government, and those of his Eoyal 
 Highness Monsieur, the Lieutenant-General of the King- 
 dom, in leaving to your discretion the care of replying 
 what you judge most proper to the request piade to you 
 by the Duke de Vicence, in the name of Napoleon, that 
 the horses, equipages, the libraries of the Tuileries and 
 St. Cloud, as well as his wine-cellar, might be returned 
 
292 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 to Mm, confining yourself, nevertheless, to the tenor of 
 the before-mentioned decree. 
 
 I have the honour to he, &c., 
 
 Baeon de Viteolles. 
 
 This was leaving to the Director of Domains 
 the choice of the terms in which the refusal of 
 Buonaparte's request Avas to be couched. In 
 fact, the man who the day before was the 
 arbiter of Europe was not granted the books 
 and the few bottles of wine he asked for his 
 personal use. 
 
 The libraries in the Emperor's cabinet at the 
 Tuileries and in the palace of St. Cloud were of 
 small importance ; that of the Tuileries about a 
 thousand volumes, that of St. Cloud eight or ten 
 thousand, amongst which, however, were certain 
 works very precious and very scarce. As for 
 the wine, it was part of a small cellar in the 
 Tuileries known as the reserve cellar. It was 
 composed of old wines presented by divers 
 persons, and some other choice growths, among 
 others 1,210 bottles of Tokay presented by the 
 Emperor of Austria to his son-in-law, and a cask 
 of Ehine wine, also a present from Marshal 
 Kellarman. The whole were valued at about 
 60,000 francs. 
 
 Let us see now how Imbert de Saint-Amand, 
 the historian who has gained so high and so 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 293 
 
 justly merited a position, relates the episode of 
 the diamonds/ relying upon Meneval. 
 
 The night of the 8th to the 9th of April was 
 entirely employed by the Empress and the persons 
 surrounding her in making preparations for the depar- 
 ture which was to take place the following day. The 
 9th of April, early in the morning, M. de Meneval 
 proceeded to his sovereign's dwelling. 
 
 He found her anxious as to the manner in which 
 the journey would pass off. She had the Crown dia- 
 monds brought to her, and did not know well what to 
 do with them. Knowing she would have to pass some 
 Cossack posts, she feared the pillage of her carriages ; 
 she thought of wearing the jewellery, not doubting but 
 that her person would be respected. There remained 
 the Imperial sword in which was mounted the famous 
 diamond called the BSgent, but the blade was cumber- 
 some. M. de Meneval wished to separate the blade 
 from the hilt. Not having at his disposal any instru- 
 ment with which to execute his wish, he placed the 
 blade upon one of the andirons of the fireplace in the 
 Empress's apartment, and broke it. He hid the hilt 
 under his coat, and returned to his carriage, not without 
 trembling for the safety of his precious burden. It 
 was ten o'clock in the morning. Marie-Louise, accom- 
 panied by her son, the Kings Joseph and Jerome and 
 their wives, as well as by Madame Mdre, left Blois, and 
 took the route for Orleans, which she found lined with 
 a double row of spectators, who simply looked on, re- 
 maining as if absorbed in a mournful silence. 
 
 ^ Mane-Louise et VInvasion de 1814, pp. 293 and 299. 
 
294 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 There then occurred at Orleans an incident as pain- 
 ful for the Empress as it was shameful for the Provisional 
 Government. Marie-Louise, in leaving Paris, had 
 carried away the remainder of Napoleon's personal 
 treasure, consisting of eighteen millions, and in plate. 
 To this treasure was added the Grown diamonds. Of 
 these eighteen millions, the last remains of the Em- 
 peror's personal savings, some few millions had been 
 sent to Fontainebleau, either for the payment of the 
 army or for the expenses of the head-quarters ; and 
 according to Napoleon's orders Marie-Louise had put 
 about two millions in the vans of the fugitive court. 
 The Provisional Government was in want of money; 
 what did it do ? It contrived to seize this treasure, 
 under pretext that it was the property of the State — a 
 thing absolutely false. 
 
 To preside over the seizure it chose a personal 
 enemy of the Emperor's, M. Dudon, that the sovereign 
 had been compelled to expel from the State Council. 
 
 M. Dudon, bearer of a decree from the Provisional 
 Government, dated April 9, proceeded to Orleans and 
 carried off the treasure. Nothing was respected, 
 neither the plate, which was the personal property of 
 the Emperor, nor the snuff-boxes and rings enriched 
 with diamonds and destined for presents, nor Napo- 
 leon's clothes or linen, nor even his pocket-handkerchiefs 
 marked with an N and a crown. 
 
 The emissary of the Provisional Government did 
 not stop there. He seized what little plate had been 
 brought for the service of the Empress and the King 
 of Rome; he did not leave one single silver fork, and 
 went so far that the Empress was obliged to borrow 
 silver and even crockery from the bishop with whom 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 295 
 
 she was living, for use during the two more days she 
 spent in that town. General Schouvaloff's aide-de-camp, 
 whose interference was asked in vain, did not offer any 
 opposition to the seizure. 
 
 As for the Crown diamonds, they were sold on an 
 inventory with scrupulous exactitude. Nothing was 
 missing, said the Duke de Eovigo, but the Urgent; 
 which was generally kept separate on account of its 
 great price, and the facility with which it could be 
 hidden or stolen. Every one was ignorant of the fact 
 that the Empress carried in a work-bag the hilt of one 
 of the Emperor's swords in which the precious jewel 
 was set. They came to render her an account of what 
 had taken place ; she immediately took out the Urgent 
 and handed it over. The diamonds belonging to her 
 personally were with the others ; she did not even ask 
 if they had also been taken away. 
 
 Two conclusions must be drawn from what 
 M. de Saint- Amand says : 
 
 1. Marie-Louise might believe she had the 
 right to take the treasure, and place during the 
 night eighteen millions in waggons, and take them 
 away with all the Emperor's personal effects, his 
 papers, accounts, plate, &c. ; but she had cer- 
 tainly no right, and in acting thus infringed all 
 rules of prudence, to take away the Crown 
 diamonds pell-mell with her own jewels. 
 
 The Regent had not been bought and paid 
 for by France to travel in a work-bag. 
 
 2. M. Dudon was bearer of a decree of the 
 Provisional Government dated April 9. Now this 
 
296 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Government having only been warned by M. 
 Despinay on the 12th, the decree in question 
 was antedated, and constituted what is vulgarly 
 called a forgery. 
 
 But the Provisional Government was obliged 
 to do something to honour Monsieur, who, ac- 
 cording to M. Despinay's own expression, '•could 
 not hut he pleased that the operation was supposed 
 to have heen terminated before his arrival.' 
 
 Although Marie-Louise was obliged to live 
 and die at Parma like any commoner, she had 
 none the less certain expensive tastes — the only 
 characteristic trait which revealed her Imperial 
 origin, and she did not regard expense when her 
 pleasure was in question. She kept a company of 
 comedians, and while the Emperor was dragging 
 out a miserable existence in solitude beyond the 
 ocean, she had comedies played for her every 
 evening. At certain periods of the year the com- 
 pany became a strolling one, and went starring 
 in the towns of Italy, where it was announced as 
 the troupe in the pay of Marie-Louise. 
 
 Here are some figures from the personal 
 budget of the ex- Empress during her short stay 
 on the French throne. It must be remembered 
 that at that time money had a greater value than 
 in our days. 
 
 M. de VitroUes states in a letter of April 28, 
 1814, that there were then 2,800 persons, re- 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 297 
 
 ceiving together six millions of salary, belonging 
 in France only to the house of Buonaparte. 
 
 BM%e«o/1812. 
 
 Francs 
 Salaries of maids of honour, ladies of the ted-chamber 
 
 and of the drawing-room, and first gentleman usher . 346,000 
 Salaries and office expenses of the principal secretaries, 
 
 privy purse, and maids of honour .... 33,000 
 Wardrobe and Queen's privy purse .... 600,000 
 
 By later decree 80,000 
 
 "Wages of chambermaids, wardrobe-women, bedchamber- 
 women, footmen, hairdresser, men and women of the 
 
 toilet and dressing-room 47,660 
 
 For purchase of diamonds and jewels intended for 
 
 presents 660,390 
 
 For purchase of laces 187,134 
 
 For quadriUe costume fo.r H.M. the Empress (February 
 
 11,1812) 24,756 
 
 The household of the King of Eome, then 
 one year old, was counted in the same year's 
 budget for the following sums : — 
 
 Francs 
 
 Salary of housekeeper 40,000' 
 
 „ two under-housekeepers 24,000 
 
 Principal secretary 6,000 
 
 Office expenses 6,000 
 
 Physician 15,000 
 
 Surgeon 12,000 
 
 Three chamber-women 9,000 
 
 King's wet-nurse 2,400 
 
 Clothing and maintenance of wet-nurse .... 5,000 
 
 "Wet-nurses retained 2,400 
 
 Overseer of ditto 1,500 
 
 Three rockers 7,200 
 
 Two wardrobe ladies 3,000 
 
 Three „ women 3,000 
 
298 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Francs 
 
 Two ushers 7,600 
 
 Four ohamTjermen 13,600 
 
 Clothing for ushers and chamhennen .... 4,200 
 
 Steward 3,000 
 
 Carver 1,800 
 
 Two wardrohemen 2,160 
 
 Clothing „ 800 
 
 Empress's guard 61,000 
 
 Maintenance of wardrohe, clothing, &c. of the royal 
 
 children 20,000 
 
 House retained for wet-nurses 1.3,000 
 
 King's privy purse 33,990 
 
 Unprovided expenses 30,000 
 
 Gratuity to retained wet-nurses and to the keeper of 
 
 their house 15,000 
 
 The pages cost 258,000 francs. 
 
 I do not speak of the accessory expenses, of 
 the considerable purchases of all sorts, which 
 naturally brought the expenses to a right royal 
 and imperial figure. Firing was charged for 1812 
 at 416,000 francs ; and the steward's services, 
 and wines which were under the control of the 
 Grand Marshal, were alone one million of francs. 
 
 Was Marie-Louise alone responsible for her 
 attitude towards the unhappy Emperor ? Was 
 she conscious of her cowardice ? Was she too 
 insignificant, and too unthinking, to take any 
 decision herself, or too weak to resist bad advice ? 
 These points are answered by the letter I give 
 further on, addressed by M. de Bausset, Prefect 
 of the Palace, to the Baron Mounier. I produce 
 it the more wiUingly because, if not altogether 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 299 
 
 to Marie-Louise's credit, it relieves her from a 
 certain portion of responsibility for her actions. 
 
 The letter is besides interesting from several 
 points of view. It gives an appreciation of the 
 sentiments Napoleon inspired in his followers, 
 excepting the few devoted ones who followed 
 him to St. Helena's rock. It proves equally 
 how little reliance can be placed on those who 
 write histories, and how according to them the 
 manner of thinking of the public and private 
 man differs. 
 
 The reader will judge of this for himself on 
 comparing M. de Bausset's letter with an extract 
 of his memoirs relating to the same events : — ■ 
 
 Eambouillet, Thursday morning, 
 April 14, 1814. 
 
 My dear Baron, — I am assured that it is to you that 
 the service of Grand Marshal has been confided, and 
 that it is to you in that position that I can give my 
 adhesion to the actions of the Provisional Grovernment. 
 
 Bom under the Bourbons' reign, attached to then- 
 dynasty by my ancestors' services, I am, like them, a 
 good Frenchman ; you must therefore regard my 
 adhesion as frank and sincere. I deposit it in your 
 hands, with a promise to be faithful thereto, no matter 
 what may be the personal result for myself. 
 
 I have served during the interpolation, which has 
 just disappeared for ever, with a zeal which has not 
 flagged during ten years. My actual position at Ram- 
 
300 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 bouillet is a consequence of my fidelity to unhappiness, 
 and of my respect for all that is endearing and affecting 
 in the simple and modest virtues of the Empress Marie- 
 Louise ; but very shortly all these duties will be fulfilled, 
 and I may be permitted to think a little about myself. 
 
 Do me the honour of writing me whether I have 
 been thought of in the provisional arrangements of the 
 Royal Household, and in what position, and whether 
 many of the officers of the last household will be named. 
 Speak to me freely. 
 
 It is probable that propositions may be made to me 
 from heyond the Rhine ; but I cannot forget myself so 
 much as to renounce the hope of being employed in my 
 own country, where the immense landed property be- 
 longing to my wife, independent of my own feelings, 
 ought to keep me for ever. 
 
 Nevertheless I require an adviser at this moment : 
 my mind has been singularly agitated of late, and it is 
 not to-day only that the fear of humiliation and scorn 
 have caused feeble humanity to commit follies. 
 
 If I were retained in the Royal Household I should 
 regain my rights, and a position to which my birth 
 gives me justly founded claims. 
 
 I expose to you therefore my desires and hopes with 
 all the confidence engendered by my friendship for you, 
 and in that which you have so often shown me. 
 
 Get me named one of the Marshals of the Court (for 
 that ridiculous name of Prefect of the Palace cannot 
 exist any longer) ; I have a certain right to it. Sup- 
 posing M. de Lucay's health caused him to retire, I 
 should become the senior. I do not wish to decline. 
 This will be the means of giving me a strong and ap- 
 propriate position, in the midst of all those Frenchmen 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 301 
 
 who, on returning with Louis XVIII., will not fail to 
 seek to drive us away. 
 
 But, above all, write me promptly. 
 
 We are here expecting the Emperor of Austria ; 
 few of her Majesty's ofHcers accompanied the Empress 
 Marie-Louise. 
 
 This interview will, I hope, give back the Empress 
 Marie-Louise to her family for ever, and place an 
 eternal barrier between the island of Elba and the 
 principalities of Parma and Plaisance. 
 
 For some days past I have been occupied fortifying 
 the hopes of the Empress's heart and combating the 
 return of a foolish sentimentality. A conversation of 
 some hours that I had last Monday at Fontainebleau 
 furnished me powerful arms to untie these knots of a 
 conjugality which I consider expired. 
 
 I have even contributed to the coming here without 
 waiting orders or consent from Fontainebleau. Besides, 
 that conversation I had with the Emperor gave me the 
 strongest proofs of a carelessness hidden under the name 
 of philosophy, and a curious confidence in that fatality 
 which regvZates everything, and from which nobody can 
 escape. Sad decline and little worthy of exordium. 
 That man had for a moment all the good fortune of 
 Mahomet, as well as his audacity and quackery. 
 
 Farewell, my dear Baron ; all that I say to you is 
 therefore to inform you that all that interests me will be 
 regulated by your reply ; that I beg you as a favour to 
 hasten for my private information. I shall be eternally 
 obliged to you whatever may be the result. It will be 
 you who will regulate all my proceedings. 
 
 My first action of adhesion is to again take the 
 ancient title of the elder branch of my family, of which 
 
302 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 I am the chief. I sign then with all the friendship that 
 I have shown to you, 
 
 The Marquis de Badsset, 
 Ancient Prefect of the Palace. 
 
 If this letter from M. de Bausset, who from 
 Baron of the Empire became again suddenly 
 Marquis of the ancient regime, proves what he 
 qualifies as a silly sentimentality in the Empress ; 
 if it produces an interest in favour of the woman 
 — seen to be morally abandoned — it could not 
 excuse the rapidity of her amours, nor explain 
 how, nine days afterwards — ^April 23 — she was 
 in the arms of Niepperg. 
 
 It must not be forgotten either that this 
 letter was written by an ancient Prefect of the 
 Palace to an ancient secretary of the Emperor. 
 The latter's violent character — irritable, head- 
 strong, and sometimes cruel, notwithstanding his 
 undisputed great qualities, which obtained him 
 some exceptional devotion. — explains the little 
 affection he had inspired in the majority of 
 those whose service brought them into personal 
 contact with him. 
 
 The Emperor often forgot himself so far as to 
 allow himself to be carried away to strike people, 
 and it was admitted amongst his attendants that 
 there was but one of his secretaries whom he 
 had not kicked. 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 303 
 
 Here is a copy, word for word, of the pas- 
 sage in M. de Bausset's memoirs relative to tlie 
 conversation he had with the Emperor on Mon- 
 day, April 11, and to which his letter refers. 
 
 In this private letter he taxes Napoleon with 
 charlatanism ; in his ' Memoirs ' he declares that 
 he was impressed by his bearing, and that he had 
 never seen him so great. 
 
 . . . The 11 til of April I started for Fontainebleau 
 at two o'clock in the morning, and was not obliged to 
 show my passport, as nobody asked to see it. On the 
 road I saw numbers of people proceeding in great haste 
 to Paris. The last I met was the General Hullin. It 
 was nine o'clock when I arrived at the Palace. 
 
 I was introduced to the presence of the Emperor 
 without delay ; I presented him the Empress's letter. 
 
 ' Good Louise ! ' he exclaimed after having read it. 
 
 He questioned me much about her health, and that 
 of her son. I begged him to favour me with a reply, 
 expressing my desire to take with me that consolation 
 of which the Empress was in such heartfelt need. 
 
 ' Eemain here to-day ; this evening I will give you 
 my letter.' 
 
 I found Napoleon calm, tranquil, and decided. His 
 soul was strongly steeled — nev&r perhaps had he seemed 
 grander to me. I spoke to him of the island of Elba. 
 He knew beforehand that he was to be given this little 
 sovereignty. He called my attention to a book of 
 geography and statistics lying upon the table, and con- 
 taining all the details and information he desired to 
 learn respecting that residence. 
 
 ' The air there is healthy,' he said, 'and the inhabit- 
 
304 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ants excellent. I shall not be too ba-dly off there, and 
 I hope Marie-Louise will not find herself too badly off 
 either.' 
 
 He did not ignore the obstacles that had just been 
 placed to their reunion at Fontainebleau Palace ; but he 
 flattered himself that, once in possession of the Duchy 
 of Parma, the Empress would be permitted to go with 
 her son and settle with him in the island of Elba. . . . 
 He caressed this idea ! He was never to see again these 
 the objects of his tenderest affection. 
 
 I retired when the Duke of Neufchatel entered the 
 Emperor's cabinet.' 
 
 About two o'clock in the afternoon the Emperor was 
 walking on the terrace running parallel with Franpois 
 I.'s gallery ; he sent for me and asked me fresh ques- 
 tions about the events which I might have witnessed. 
 He was far from approving the decision arrived at of 
 obliging the Empress to quit Paris. I spoke to him of 
 the letter he had written to his brother Joseph. 
 
 ' The circumstances were not the same,' he said ; ' it 
 was necessary to decide according to the fresh circum- 
 stances. The presence alone of Louise in Paris would 
 have been sufficient to prevent the treason and disloyalty 
 of some of my troops. I should still be at the head of 
 a formidable army, with which I should have forced my 
 enemies to quit Paris and to sign an honourable peace.' 
 
 ' Berthier had just sent his adherence to the new Government. 
 He demanded permission to proceed to Paris on personal busi- 
 ness ; he promised to return the following day. ' He will not re- 
 turn,' said Napoleon to the Duke of Bassano. ' What, sire, could 
 that be Berthier's farewell ? ' replied the loyal and faithful minis- 
 ter. ' Yes ; I tell you he will not return ! ' In the night of the 
 19th to 20th Napoleon experienced a last disloyalty. Two persons 
 who had constantly followed him abandoned him for ever. 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 305 
 
 I thought well to say that it was much to be re- 
 gretted that he would not sign that peace at ChatUlon. 
 
 ' I never believed in the good faith of our enemies, / 
 . . . Every day there were new demands and fresh 
 conditions. . . . They did not wish for peace . . . and 1 
 then ... I had said to France that I would not accede : 
 to any condition I considered humiliating, even should j 
 the enemy be on the heights of Montmartre.' 
 
 I ventured to observe that France, limited as she 
 would have been, would not less have been one of the 
 finest kingdoms in the world. 
 
 ' I abdicate and do not yield.' 
 
 Such was the reply he made me with remarkable 
 serenity. During that audience, which lasted more 
 than two hours, he stated his opinion of some of his 
 lieutenants, and expressed himself with energy about 
 one of them; . . . but in speaking of the Duke de 
 Tarente he added these words to the just praise he had 
 bestowed upon him : — 
 
 ' Macdonald is a brave and loyal warrior ... it is 
 only in these latter circumstances that I have been able 
 to appreciate the whole nobleness of his character ; his 
 intimacy with Moreau had prejudiced me against him, 
 . . . but I did him injustice, and I much regret not to 
 have known him better.' 
 
 Passing then to other ideas : — 
 
 ' See,' said he, ' what is destiny ! at the battle of 
 Arcis-sur-Aube, I did all I could to find a glorious 
 death by disputing foot by foot the country's soil. I 
 exposed myself even recklessly. The bullets rained 
 around me, my clothes were riddled with them, and not 
 one could strike me,' he said with a, sigh. ' A death 
 which I should owe to an act of despair would be a 
 
3o6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 cowardice. Suicide neither agrees with my principles, 
 nor suits the rank I have occupied upon the world's 
 stage. J aw, a man condemned to live,' said he, with 
 another sigh. 
 
 We took several turns on the terrace in a sad and 
 profound silence. ' Between ourselves,' said the Emperor, 
 with a smile full of bitterness, ' it is said that a living 
 blackguard is letter than a dead Mmperor.' 
 
 The tone in which he pronounced these few words 
 made me think that the equivalent of this old adage 
 might well be this. There are hut the dead who do not 
 return. 
 
 Finally I spoke to him of different persons I had 
 met on the road from Paris. The last name I pro- 
 nounced was that of General HuUin. 
 
 ' Oh ! as for him he will always a/rnve too late to 
 make his peace with the Bourbons.' 
 
 Saying these words, which I relate faithfully and 
 without comment, he returned to his apartments. I 
 have not seen him again since. 
 
 Who could admit without having the proof 
 before his eyes that the same man, before the 
 same facts, could have two so opposite manners 
 of judging? It must be concluded from this 
 that too much care cannot be exercised in be- 
 lieving the ' memoirs ' of those who, too often, 
 appreciate events according to their momentary 
 interests. 
 
 Napoleon's agony lasted five years. His last 
 thoughts, his last words, were for Marie-Louise 
 
THE CROWN DIAMONDS 307 
 
 and his son. One would have said that after 
 the extraordinary events which were crowded 
 into the relatively short life of this man — an 
 existence phenomenal from all points of view, 
 such a one as the next twenty centuries will 
 doubtless not behold again — one would have 
 said that fatigue, disillusion, and disgust had 
 withered every sentiment in this great fatalist, 
 leaving only living in his heart the images of his 
 ' Good Louise ' and his cherished son. 
 
 When the news of his death reached Parma 
 Marie-Louise evinced neither trouble nor cha- 
 grin : and the Records of Parma show how far 
 meanness and fear were ca,rried when there was 
 a question of a mass for the repose of Napoleon's 
 • soul : an act of propriety which it was almost 
 impossible to avoid with decency. 
 
 Metternich and Mepperg gave orders that 
 the name of Napoleon and his title of Emperor 
 should not even be pronounced ; the service took 
 place for the husband of her Majesty the Duchess 
 of Parma. 
 
 All the faults that Louis XVIII. had com- 
 mitted or allowed to be committed had caused 
 renewed hope in the hearts of a large number 
 of Napoleon's partisans. The police watched 
 their manoeuvres actively, and this force was 
 the better composed from having in its pay 
 several superior officers of the Grande Armee, 
 
 x2 
 
3o8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 who affected with their friends an excess of 
 Buonapartism, and once masters of their secrets 
 and their hopes hastened to betray them. Some 
 amongst them received 2,000 francs a month 
 for this nice work. 
 
 Napoleon captive at St. Helena, and guarded 
 in such a manner that all attempt at escape 
 seemed impossible, the eyes of the faithful natu- 
 rally turned to the Duchess of Parma. 
 
 The secret societies which covered Europe 
 were in their first'vigour, and an occult associa- 
 tion was naturally created in Trance with a view 
 of bringing back Marie-Louise and her son. 
 
 This association had members in Germany, 
 in England, in Italy, &c. I think it interesting 
 to glance over the police reports, which permit 
 us to establish what were at this period the 
 .different aims of the societies whose assistance 
 was sought by the partisans of Marie-Louise. 
 
30S 
 
 CHAPTEE XIX. 
 
 SECRET SOCIETIES. 
 
 Origin of the Secret Societies — Christian Freemasonry — The 
 ' Carhonaria ' — The Unity of Italy — Universal Affiliation — 
 Resurrection of the Roman Empire. 
 
 It is, I believe, impossible to fix the date of the 
 formation of the first secret societies. 
 
 Men, comprehending their weakness when 
 isolated, and the power of union, have been 
 obliged, almost from all ages, to assemble them- 
 selves in groups with a view of ameliorating 
 their common lot. These meetings became 
 secret when their interests were contrary to 
 those of the governments to which they were 
 subject. 
 
 In the most primitive ages we find human 
 agglomerations subjected to more or less occult 
 impulsions ; it is not without some probability 
 that Freemasons trace their origin to the con- 
 struction of Solomon's temple. There were 
 united in the works masons, brothers of sundry 
 trades, companions, and masters. 
 
 When, at the end of last century, the societies 
 
3IO THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 were suppressed — efforts to re-establish which, 
 without their abuses, are being made in our 
 days — the artisan left to himself, without any 
 control, considered himself a free man ; but 
 soon with the feeling of his liberty he had that 
 of his weakness. Then the number of adepts of 
 the already existing societies increased, and a 
 large number of new ones were formed. Their 
 members were recruited amongst the isolated, 
 those weak in mind or body, and the seekers 
 of adventures, and these masses became, in the 
 hands of clever chiefs, powerful means of action. 
 
 The grand-masters were the spirit and soul 
 of these armies, of which the brothers, the com- 
 panions, and all the mob were the soldiers and 
 the body. The first gave an impulsion, the 
 second obeyed without knowing to what end or 
 in what direction they were to move. 
 
 1793 caused as many passions as new interests 
 to spring up, and all those who felt themselves 
 capable of playing a role of some sort worked 
 to their profit the ancient and the new societies. 
 
 There still exist to-day a large number of 
 associations more or less secret ; but in France 
 the form of the repubhcan government giving 
 free access to all ambitions, the real chiefs 
 abandon the direction of their troops to junior 
 officers, whose duty it is to make all efforts tend 
 to the gaining electoral victories. It may be 
 
SECRET SOCIETIES 311 
 
 said to-day, if all the secret societies are included 
 under the same generic expression, that ' Free- 
 masonry ' is nothing but a vast electoral organi- 
 sation. 
 
 The whole importance of its organisation at 
 the commencement of the century, and the use 
 to be made of it, had not escaped Napoleon's 
 genius ; he therefore obliged his aides-de-camp 
 to become grand-masters. Considering also 
 Christians as a vast association, vrhich, although 
 not being secret, did not the less perform its 
 ceremonies in mystery as soon as it was perse- 
 cuted, he thought that he must hold in his large 
 hand that mass of believers which represented 
 the majority of the nation. He seized the Pope, 
 their grand-master, imposed laws upon him, 
 made him his servitor and partner, with whom 
 he exchanged betweentimes the gentle appella- 
 tions of ' comediante, tragediante.' 
 
 The concordats were hastily settled, rehgion 
 came into the bargain, politics paid the costs of 
 the action. 
 
 After Napoleon, Louis XVIII., Charles X., 
 and Louis Phihppe made more or less use of the 
 secret societies ; but it was again a Buonaparte, 
 Napoleon III., who sought to dam up this great 
 living force of the social body for his own pro- 
 jects by imposing upon it chiefs forming part of 
 his councils. 
 
312 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 The first half of this century has, then, 
 witnessed the birth of a large number of poli- 
 tical leagues, and I wish to cast a general glance 
 on some amongst them, especially upon one of 
 the most celebrated, the Carbonaria. 
 
 The Carbonari worked with courage, perse- 
 verance, and abnegation towards a determined 
 end — the unity of Italy. They attained their 
 ends after sixty years of labour, and realised to 
 its fullest extent the programme they had im- 
 posed upon themselves by placing the crown on 
 the head of a prince of the House of Savoy. 
 
 The title of Carbonari was first adopted by 
 the lazzaroni of Naples in 1798, while the 
 French, under the orders of General Champion- 
 nel, were masters of the kingdom. The chiefs 
 of this confederation detested the French, and 
 assembled in caves and lonely places, under the 
 disguise of charcoal-burners, with a view of or- 
 ganising their means of resistance, and there 
 plot secure from molestation by the authorities. 
 
 From 1805 to 1809 the Carbonari were 
 very restless ; they even made at these two 
 dates most favourable overtures to the Austrian 
 Government. But they were betrayed in their 
 negotiations by certain men in the Austrian 
 Cabinet, in the pay of France. An ambas- 
 sador in Paris, M. le Comte de M., showed the 
 French Government the plans and the names of 
 
SECRET SOCIETIES 313 
 
 the most active agents. Xapoleon had some of 
 the leaders arrested. 
 
 In 1812 and 1813 the Italians, wishing to 
 conspire against Xapoleon's power, found the 
 title of charcoal-burners {cliarhonniers) did not 
 accord with the grandeur of their projects, and 
 in order to increase their prestige they took the 
 title of Unionistes of Italy. 
 
 Their aim was to free Italy and to unite it 
 under one government. Eome, Naples, Pied- 
 mont, and all the small States, forming together 
 a population of more than eighteen miUion souls, 
 were included in this project of organisation : 
 whence the name of Unionistes. Since that 
 epoch the Itahan patriotic league has never 
 ceased to exist, and has always preserved a 
 strong vitality. Its plans have several times 
 been communicated to the different European 
 Cabinets, and notably to that of St. James. 
 
 At the commencement of the Eussian cam- 
 paign the ' Unionists,' taking advantage of the 
 absence of the French and Itahan troops, became 
 more active, and made an arrangement Avith 
 certain Philadelphes of Paris — a very vivacious 
 repubhcan association, especially diffused in the 
 army, which proposed to overthrow the Imperial 
 Government. 
 
 It was resolved, as a fundamental principle 
 of this vast association, that France and Italy 
 
314 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 should be independent of each other, and that 
 two consuls, one civil and the other military, 
 should be placed at the head of each govern- 
 ment. These governments were to be repre- 
 sentative. 
 
 It was in pursuance of this plan that the 
 ' Philadelphian ' General Mallet's conspiracy was 
 organised, and not at all, as has been advanced 
 by sundry historians, with the view of restoring 
 the throne of France to its so-called legitimate 
 heirs. 
 
 In case of success the ' allies ' were to be 
 oflfered peace, with the Alps, the Ehine, and the 
 Pyrenees for French frontiers, and a tribute was 
 to be paid to Austria in order to obtain her 
 protection. 
 
 Napoleon's empire was at that time all- 
 powerful, and the Austrian Government would 
 not faU in with these views. Had she then 
 accepted them, Italy would have from that time 
 fatto da se, and shaken off the yoke imposed by 
 Napoleon. The motives advanced by the Vienna 
 Cabinet were that Austria had ' imprescriptible 
 rights ' over Italy, and that she would not be 
 forced to recognise any particular form of 
 government for the Peninsula. 
 
 When Mallet's conspiracy was discovered, 
 the action of the Unionists was momentarily 
 paralysed. But the secret association extended 
 
SECRET SOCIETIES 315 
 
 over the whole surface of Italy ; Piedmont, 
 Valtellina, Venice and Calabria, Eorae and 
 Milan, had their vente, meeting-places of the 
 Carbonari ; and, constant in their aim as in their 
 efforts, the Unionists thundered forth against 
 Austrian domination, the hatred they had for 
 Napoleon and everything proceeding from him. 
 
 This end was always the freeing of Italy, the 
 uniting of the several governments in one, with 
 Eome for its capital. They maintaiued a desperate 
 fight against everything which might hinder the 
 reahsation of their hopes, conquered foot by 
 foot the independence of the holy ground of the 
 country ; and as one of their body, Napoleon III., 
 after having made use of them, did not hurry 
 himself to keep his ' Carbonarist ' engagements 
 towards the common family,' Orsini and Pietri 
 were ordered to go to Paris and kiU him — an 
 event which was almost consummated before the 
 opera at the time of the ' bomb ' incident, when 
 two bullets pierced his hat. 
 
 Napoleon HI., reminded of his engagements, 
 waged war upon Italy, and powerfully contri- 
 buted in 1860 to the realisation of the dream 
 for which so many hearts had beaten. Our mis- 
 fortunes, our disasters of 1870, finally conse- 
 crated Eome capital. 
 
 At the time when the Carbonari formed 
 themselves into a distinct society, Europe was 
 
3i6 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 covered with numerous political sects. In Italy- 
 some were clerical and conservative, others uni- 
 tarian, others of an ' intransigente ' anti-clerical- 
 ism ; but the end unanimously pursued was 
 always the national unity. 
 
 The sect of ' Consistoriaux ' recruited its 
 adepts from among the clerical conservatives. 
 They also desired the unity of the country, but 
 to submit it to the nobles and the priests ; some 
 of the chiefs smiled at the idea of reinstating 
 the Inquisition. The 'Adelphians' were the 
 ' intransigents ' of the period ; little incUned to 
 superstition, they placed at the head of the 
 federation a prince of the house of Savoy, who 
 engaged in return to combat the Pope, to dis- 
 possess him of his States, and to inaugurate a 
 hberal government. 
 
 ' Adelphians ' could be counted in every class 
 of society ; but it is worthy of remark that the 
 people and the nobles were very little repre- 
 sented. The great majority of the ' com- 
 panions ' belonged to the upper middle class 
 [bourgeoisie), to the mezzo-cetto, and, strange as 
 it may seem, to the clergy. When they joined 
 the Carbonari a large number of the officers of 
 Murat's army were initiated into the mysteries 
 of the Carbonaria. 
 
 Murat pursued them vigorously, as well in 
 his army as in his States, until 1814 ; tlien when 
 
SECRET SOCIETIES 317 
 
 in 1815 he wished to arm Italy against Austria, 
 he sought their support, as well as that of the 
 other associations which followed the standard 
 of Italian independence. But it was too late. 
 
 During a number of years the chiefs of the 
 ' Adelphes ' were chosen amongst the ministers 
 of the Court of Sardinia. The Dukes of Modena, 
 being the grand-masters of the Consistoriaux, na- 
 turally combated the Adelphes, and, thanks to 
 Metternich, who served them as a go-between, 
 they kept the Austrian Court informed of their 
 actions. 
 
 As for the Xing of Sardinia, his ministers 
 were more royalist than himself; although 
 destined to wear the crown of Italy, he did not 
 the less protect the Consistoriaux, in an under- 
 hand manner, and unknown to them, but by 
 agreement with the Duke of Modena. This was 
 a matter of taste. 
 
 In Eome there were members of the differ- 
 ent sects acting as high functionaries, princes of 
 the Church, and even in the Pope's antechamber. 
 When the advocate Domassi was arrested by 
 order of the Roman Government — an import- 
 ant capture, for Domassi was one of the chiefs 
 of the anti-clerical party — ^it might have been 
 supposed that no dungeon would have been too 
 obscure for him, nor any chain too heavy. 
 
 On the contrary, in Eome, Monseigneur Pacca, 
 
3i8 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Governor of the Eternal City, gave him his own 
 palace for a prison ; every regard was had for 
 him and every attention shown him, a fact which 
 might appear the more astonishing, as Metterm'ch 
 kept the Eoman Court minutely informed of aU 
 he learnt respecting the Carbonari, and sent to 
 Monseigneur Pacca himself extracts of the re- 
 ports which were addressed to him. 
 
 The Carbonari were then very well organised, 
 and if they were unable from the commencement 
 to put their programme into execution even to 
 its minutest details, if they were obliged to pass 
 by the halting-places of 1860 and 1870, it was 
 because account must be taken of unexpected 
 events that human wisdom was unable to foresee. 
 
 Italy was to have been divided into eleven 
 regions, having for chief towns Eome, Naples, 
 Cosenza, Modena, Florence, Bologna, Genoa, 
 Venice, Milan, Turin, and Ancona. 
 
 The grand-masters, sole depositaries of the 
 secret plan, sought points of support in aU the 
 European Cabinets which they supposed hkely to 
 serve them in their vast and patriotic undertaking. 
 
 It is instructive, and seldom given, to be able 
 to glance at one of those documents of the occult 
 diplomacy of those fantastic societies. They 
 after all had nothing really fantastic but the 
 puerile mode of initiation destined to strike the 
 imagination of common mortals. 
 
SECRET SOCIETIES 319 
 
 Here is a document which was communis 
 cated very secretly to Lord Castlereagh. in 1813; 
 it could doubtless be found in the cabinet of 
 Carlton House. It proves how clearly defined 
 was the end pursued by the Carbonari from that 
 time. 
 
 What they desired in 1813, in 1820, and in 
 1830, they still desired in 1860 and 1870. A 
 strange fact, and one characteristic of the un- 
 foreseen events, is, that organised to free Italy by 
 overthrowing one Kapoleon, it was to another 
 Napoleon, whom they contributed towards plac- 
 ing on the throne of France, that they owed in 
 a great measure the reahsation of their hopes. 
 
 The following ' project of decree,' drawn up 
 in the venta of Bologiia and sent to England, was 
 handed to Lord Castlereagh by the Count Co- 
 melli de Stuckenfeld, a former Austrian officer, 
 who had taken service in the French army at 
 the time of the first invasion of Italy. It was to 
 have been, and in fact was, presented to his 
 Majesty George IV., then Prince Eegent of the 
 United Kingdom. 
 
 Decree. 
 
 We, George III., by the grace of God, King, &c., 
 &c. 
 
 Considering that Austria, who alone formerly by 
 her preponderance could keep within its boundaries a 
 
320 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 people whose amtition is witkout limit, and resist in 
 order to overcome all obstacles, has not up to this day 
 made any movement, although she is herself surrounded 
 by the common enemy : 
 
 Considering that the Court of Vienna has deceived 
 all her allies and neighbours in forming an alliance 
 which dishonours itself and compromises several States 
 which it had provoked to take arms : 
 
 Considering further that France owes the increase 
 of her power to the inaction of the Italians, who are 
 owners of the country most advantageously situated in 
 the whole world for the formation of a formidable 
 empire : 
 
 Considering also that Portugal, Spain, Holland, 
 Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Russia, must 
 be from their topographical situation the allies and 
 friends of an ingenious but unhappy people : 
 
 Considering that if the Italians have assisted in the 
 invasion of their country by the French armies, it was 
 only upon formal promises, and in the hope of uniting 
 under one common standard to shake off the Austrian 
 yoke, and to rid herself of a crowd of little princes who, 
 instead of reigning with kindness and justice, have only 
 committed acts of ill-nature in keeping up in their small 
 States a system of inactivity and interior division : 
 
 Considering that, seeing themselves tyrannised and 
 enchained by the same people that had declared itself 
 their deliverer and the protector of their liberty, the 
 Italians have united amongst themselves in such a way 
 that there only exists in Italy one single party, that of 
 the Union : 
 
 Considering that Austria herself, informed of this 
 general opinion, and reduced, besides, to have some real 
 
SECRET SOCIETIES 331 
 
 apprehension as to her own existence, Las appeared to 
 adhere to the Italians' desire ; that she can no longer 
 command or protect that nation ; that, if in recent pro- 
 clamations she called the Italians to arms, she has never 
 replied to the principal question, evading the point by 
 vague replies and crafty expressions, because she always 
 has the mental reservation of exercising her, sovereignty 
 over all the Peninsula : 
 
 Considering again that the statu quo ante helium with 
 regard to Italy would have no other effect than to place 
 her again under Austria's yoke, and in consequence 
 make her the buffer between France and the Austrian 
 Empire, who in disputing the possession of that beau- 
 tiful country will again drag Europe into bloody and 
 interminable wars : 
 
 Considering, finally, that the prayers which have 
 reached our throne are the frank expression of nine- 
 tenths of the Italian population : they agree with the 
 great interests of our Crown, and alone can restore the 
 political balance in Europe and maintain peace : 
 
 Our Privy Council consulted and heard, we have 
 decreed, and do now decree what follows : — 
 
 Art. 1. Italy shall be free and independent. 
 
 Art. 2. That Empire shall be limited by the three 
 seas and the Alps. 
 
 Art. 3. Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and the seven 
 islands, all those situated on the coasts of the Mediter- 
 ranean, the Ionian, and Adriatic Seas, shall form an 
 integral part of the Roman Empire. 
 
 Art. 4. Rome shall be the capital of that Empire 
 and the residence of the Caesars. 
 
 Art. 5. Their armorial bearings and colours shall be 
 those of the Romans their aricestors : an eagle with out- 
 
 Y 
 
322 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 spread wings, holding in one claw a golden sceptre, and a 
 sword in the other, at the head an imperial crown, and 
 resting on the globe, emblem of the world. 
 
 Art. 6. Immediately after the evacuation of the 
 country by the enemy, the General States shall be 
 convoked, a ad the people, together with the Roman 
 army, will elect an Emperor. This sovereign shall be 
 chosen from the reigning houses of Sardinia, Naples, or 
 England, and they will establish for the rule of Italy a 
 constitution which shall appear the most likely to create 
 the happiness of the people. 
 
 Art. 7. There shall at the same time be named a 
 Provisional Government, composed of a Consul Governor, 
 a General Consul, a General State Secretary, Ministers 
 of War, Finance, and Navy, a Grand-Judge, a Home 
 Minister, a Foreign Minister, and a General Inspector of 
 Police. 
 
 Art. 8. To this end are named : 
 
 Consul-Governor — the Marquis Asconti Visconti. 
 
 Consul-General — General Count de Comelli de 
 Stuckenfeld. 
 
 Secretary of State — Duke of . . . 
 
 Minister of War — Prince Pignatelli Molitemo. 
 
 All the others shall be chosen by his Britannic 
 Majesty, and, if it pleases him, he may choose amongst 
 the ministers and high dignitaries of Sicily. 
 
 Art. 9. The army shall be composed of 50 legions, 
 of which 42 shall be militia and 8 regular. Each legion 
 shall be composed of 5,000 men in time of peace, and 
 7,500 in time of war. Bach legion to be composed of 
 infantry and cavalry according to the ordonnance which 
 shall be presented to us to this end by the General 
 Consul. 
 
SECRET SOCIETIES 323 
 
 Art. 10. Division of secondary powers in the com- 
 munity. 
 
 Art. 11. Division and organisation of the army by 
 the Consul-General. He will likewise direct all military 
 operations. 50,000 men of the regular troops, and 25 
 small war-vessels will be kept at his disposal ; the former 
 to aid and propagate the revolution, and the latter to 
 facilitate the operations. 
 
 Art. 12. There shall also be formed a Committee of 
 150 chiefs of section and 50 members, a President and 
 Vice-President, with a view of preserving and extending 
 a secret correspondence on all points. 
 
 Art. 13. All the islands mentioned in article 3 and 
 actually occupied by British troops form from this day 
 to integral part of the Eoman Empire, and the generals 
 and officers who command there in our name will hoist 
 the red and white flag until the arrival of the Eoman 
 garrisons. 
 
 Art. 14. With the exception of Istria and Friuli, all 
 the Illyrian provinces ceded to France by the Court of 
 Vienna shall form the Kingdom of Illyria, which shall 
 be given to the house reigning in Sicily as an indemnity 
 for that island, if it cannot be otherwise properly in- 
 demnified. This new kingdom must in any case form 
 a barrier between the Eoman Empire and the Austrian 
 monarchy. 
 
 Art. 15. Secret article not set out in the treaty, but 
 with a confidential reference ; the English Government 
 alone has knowledge of it. 
 
 Art. 16. German Tyrol, occupied to-day by Bavaria, 
 shall be ceded to Switzerland in exchange for Italian 
 and Valtellinian bailiwicks, which, forming a third 
 barrier, will complete the separation of the Eoman States 
 from other European States. 
 
324 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 Art. 17. There shall be an offensive and defensive 
 alliance between Rome, Illyria, Portugal, Spain, and 
 England, and those of the other Powers which shall have 
 contributed to the liberation of Italy. 
 
 Art. 18. The present decree shall be published and 
 posted over the whole extent of the United Kingdom, 
 and in every place where the British flag waves. It 
 shall be signified to all allied Courts by the medium of 
 our ambassadors, who will add the Roman colours to 
 our own, ordering the commanders of our forces on land 
 and sea to receive everywhere any troops, vessels, and 
 subjects of the Roman Empire who may present them- 
 selves in our ports, camps, or garrisoned, places, with 
 the object of asking to be transferred to the head-quarters 
 of the Roman army. 
 
 The Prince Eegent was about to sign. When 
 Austria defected to Dresden, the ambassador of 
 the Itahan Union of the Carbonari in London 
 despaired of obtaining a solution favourable to 
 the interests of his country. It was only from 
 this moment that he considered it impossible 
 to obtain the royal signature to this projected 
 decree, which had been so warmly received by 
 the ministers. 
 
325 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 FROM BAD TO WORSE. 
 
 Piedmontese Carbonari — The International — ^A Patriotic Mani- 
 festo — Vaterland — For and against France — Dupe's Devotion 
 — From Bad to "Worse. 
 
 The confederation of the Carbonari was not less 
 powerful in Piedmont than in Naples and Eome. 
 Turin was its headquarters. One of Prince 
 Camille Borghese's first chamberlains was the 
 chief of this venta. The banker Nigra, Sciolla 
 Eevello, the Milanese consul Cometti, del Pozzo, 
 President of the Imperial Court of Genoa, le 
 Sarde Azuni, Judge of the same Court, the at- 
 torney-general Lagrave, the attorney Perrari, 
 Messieurs Buongiovani, Mansuero, Viganego, 
 Bisso, Balbi, and Doctor Vacanezza, were the 
 chiefs of the venta in Genoa, although nearly 
 all in the pay of the French Government. 
 Doctor Amarea presided at Savona, and the 
 justice of the peace Vassallo at Ancona. 
 
 The Carbonari at Piedmont were charged 
 with the French societies which shared their 
 
326 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 principles of advanced liberalism. They sought 
 to estabhsh a double confraternity between the 
 Turin venta and the Trench PMladelphes. 
 
 In the reception to the first grade the Italian 
 adept was asked the following questions : 
 
 Q. CM siete ? (Who are you ?) 
 
 A. Emilio. (Emilio.) 
 
 Q. Dove siete ? (Where are you ?) 
 
 A. Nelle tenebre. (In darkness.) 
 
 Q. Chi vi liberera ? (Who will liberate you ?) 
 
 A. II fuoco. (Fire.) 
 
 Before admitting the candidate to the second 
 degree he was asked : 
 
 Q. Da dove venite ? (Where do you come from ?) 
 A. Dal Monte Ida. (From the Mountain Ida.) 
 Q. Che cercate voi ? (What are you seeking ?) 
 A. ALHON. 
 
 Q. Da chi rinascerete ? (By whom will you be born 
 again ?) 
 
 A. Dall' oro e dal mercurio. (By gold and mercury.) 
 
 One is astonished to remark in the third 
 degree, which is but the first of the higher grades, 
 a striking resemblance between the questions 
 asked and those of the Prussian der Tugendbund ; 
 in the preceding degree there are also to be 
 found some sentences of the Epopte oi lUuminism. 
 From this it must be concluded that all these 
 societies formed but one in the higher degrees, 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE 327 
 
 and that the Carbonari had not perhaps for sole 
 object the liberty and independence of Italy, but 
 that they took part in the attempt at organisa- 
 tion, several times renewed, of international 
 socialism. 
 
 This confederation of all tongues and all 
 nations formed the European fraternal coalition 
 secretly opposed to the Holy Alhance of Kings. 
 In France one of its sub- titles was : ' Society of 
 European Patriots.' 
 
 It was in England, in the island that has 
 been named the classic land of liberty, that the 
 delegates met, and where their machinations had 
 full scope. All the secret societies have con- 
 stantly kept emissaries in London, and Lord 
 Sidmouth with his Alien Bill did nothing to 
 hinder them from meeting. The higher officers 
 of the English police were themselves members 
 of the association, whose effiarts tended without 
 ceasing to the universal affiliation. The Nea- 
 politan priest Minichino represented the Carbonari 
 in London. The Spanish priest Monteyro re- 
 presented the Spanish Guelfes ; Count P. and 
 Baron M. were the ambassadors of the Prussian 
 der Tugendhund ; Colonel Ellen represented the 
 Lithuanians ; and around these different chiefs 
 were grouped the Sicihan Eomeo, the Silesian 
 Waltorf, the Eagusan Beltera, and the Pole 
 Stanilaski. 
 
328 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 These emissaries did not leave London ex- 
 cept when there was some movement to excite, 
 or to organise some revolution in Europe. When 
 those of Naples, Spain, and Portugal broke out, 
 each, of them was at his post. We shall see 
 later that the European Fraternal Society was 
 not unconnected with the unity*of the German 
 territories. As regards Poland, her generous 
 aspirations after independence, with all her 
 efforts, have been unable to free her land from 
 the iron yoke imposed upon her by Eussia. 
 
 International poUtics were discussed in secret 
 conventicles. England was represented by the 
 Freres noirs, the Whigs Ludd, and France by the 
 Philadelphes. Here is a specimen of the lan- 
 guage that the Carbonaria used in addressing its 
 members. This proclamation was pubUshed in 
 Italy, and Count Comelli was charged to hand 
 the proofs to Lord Castlereagh. It would be 
 difficult to find more energetic terms to express 
 the sentiments of hatred which foreign domina- 
 tion inspired in the breasts of the Itahan patriots. 
 
 Address to Italians. 
 
 Since the century of Charlemagne we have always 
 been deceived, sometimes by the Germans, sometimes 
 by the French. Nevertheless these generous peoples 
 pretend that we are traitors, they who since they have 
 ceased to be our tributaries have never, on any single 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE 329 
 
 occasion, respected their treaties, their words, or their 
 engagements ; they who play at acts of perfidy that 
 they commit one towards the other ; they, these 
 Frenchmen and Germans who have gone farther, who 
 in their bad faitli have surpassed the Vandals, the 
 Saracens, the Moors, and the most barbarous nations ; 
 they who since the fall of the Great Empire have done 
 nothing but desolate and ravage Europe. Without 
 going so far back, can we not cite more recent proofs of 
 their bad faith and their baseness ? 
 
 What shall we say ? Why, after having covered 
 Europe with blood and carnage, have they inundated 
 it with divers manifestoes, all proclaiming the inde- 
 pendence of nations ? And when they had succeeded 
 in their underhand conspiracies, in their odious plots, 
 had they not the impudence to reply to us that they 
 did not mean by that to say that we should be free to 
 adopt the constitution which we had chosen ? 
 
 Unprincipled villains ! would it not have been better 
 to say that the white chains we wore should be dyed 
 black ? But even that comparison is too good for us. 
 
 Iniquitous men ! 
 
 Our chains had been until that day too light ; we 
 were nearing the moment when they would fall from 
 decay; we were about to be rid of them. . . . And 
 those that you wish to load upon us to-day are as 
 heavy as your understanding, as hard as the tempering 
 of your arms, as rude as your characters are barbarous 
 and uncouth. 
 
 Infamous men ! Tyrants of the Danube ! 
 
 What difference can you find between yourselves 
 and the man you formerly called tyrant, oppressor, and 
 despot ? 
 
330 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 He wished to invade every country ; lie desired to 
 subjugate everything to his iron sceptre ; he wished to 
 possess everything — but he proclaimed it openly and 
 without reserve. He intimated it a thousand times to 
 Europe armed against him — and if he had known better 
 how to take his precautions, if he had known men 
 well enough to surround himself only with courageously 
 devoted agents, he would infallibly have succeeded in 
 his projects. 
 
 But you, miserable unprincipled villains, in covering 
 yourselves with an iron mask, did you not seek to hide 
 yourselves from us, to veil your black hypocrisy, your 
 detestable avarice ? For you are at the same time as 
 sanguinary as cruel, and still more thirsty for riches 
 than he, whose want of foresight, rather than your arms, 
 precipitated him from the zenith of his grandeur. And 
 if you do not, like him, aspire to the universal empire, 
 it is because you have felt all your inferiority. You 
 would like to extend your fields of carnage as far as 
 he, who more than once has prostrated you humble at 
 his feet, and who, instead of pardoning you as he did, 
 might have exterminated you to a man. 
 
 We ask you now whether an open state of war is 
 not preferable to these secret ambuscades, against which 
 none can be upon their guard, except it be a few 
 wretches of the same stamp as yourselves, because they 
 always suppose in others the same designs as those you 
 cherish in the bottom of your venal souls ? 
 
 Else then, friends and countrymen ; make haste — 
 arm yourselves ! Strike the iron while it is hot, and do 
 not give your limbs the time to stiffen. There can only 
 be one opinion, and the supposition of a division is 
 impossible. 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE 331 
 
 Indapendence &r death ! this is the sole vow of the 
 Italian nation. 
 
 No ! we ask you no longer, Are you for the Germans ? 
 Are you for the French ? Are you for this or that reli- 
 gion ? The eagle has become our god, the red and 
 white flag our colours, and legions our only element. 
 No more paternal tenderness, no more filial affection, 
 no more attachment to our neighbours. Let hatred, 
 rage, and vengeance replace in our hearts all other 
 sentiments of nature ! Floods of blood will extinguish 
 these passions. 
 
 What we have predicted will soon be confirmed if 
 those barbarous despots persist in attempting to subdue 
 us ; if they continue to abuse our rightful laws and our 
 confidence; if by their continual perfidy they persist in 
 chaining us down, and push us to the last extremity. 
 It will be on them and not on us that will fall the 
 avenging thunder and the malediction of future races. 
 
 After having powerfully contributed to the 
 salvation of Germany and of her princes by in- 
 spiring the different Germanic nations with all 
 the energy of which they had need to shake off 
 Napoleon's yoke, the secret societies became, after 
 his fall, the subject of much anxiety to the Go- 
 vernments they had so well served ; they had 
 lost none of their influence, and, cherishing still 
 their projects of reform, they menaced naturally 
 a large part of those existing, or at least the 
 form under which that existence manifested 
 itself. 
 
 They worried most particularly those Govern- 
 
332 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 ments whose promises, made in the time of peril, 
 they had to call to mind, unforeseen obstacles 
 having prevented their reahsation. 
 
 Without going back to Weisshaupt, who with 
 the Baron de Kniorcre founded in Bavaria the first 
 
 DO 
 
 political society that Germany had seen since the 
 middle ages, it may be confidently stated that 
 it is from the ruins of this society — dissolved and 
 judicially pursued by the Elector Charles Theo- 
 dor — that sprung the Schwarzen Briider, the 
 Schwarzbund, the Tugendbund, and finally the 
 Burgenschaft. 
 
 In the south of Germany, Baden, Wurtem- 
 burg, and above all Bavaria, the societies 
 specially sought to destroy the decrepit power 
 of the old Germanic Empire, by attacking the 
 small princes and the members of the equestrian 
 order, and all their surroundings ; they sought 
 to spread the system of unity and to form ' the 
 German country.' They worked without inter- 
 mission to attain their end. They were power- 
 ful auxiliaries in Bismarck's hands, and helped 
 him to found the German Empire. Under their 
 impulsion, the war of 1866 enabled Prussia to 
 recognise her force, and to prepare for the 
 grouping of all the small German nations around 
 her.- The blood so abundantly shed in 1870 
 was to cement their divers interests and assure 
 their unity. 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE 333 
 
 Napoleon I. believed himself to be the univer- 
 sal and unique mover. He was but the uncon- 
 scious instrument of occult patriotic influences. 
 In reducing the number of small principalities 
 from two hundred and eighty-four, to thirty-one, 
 he prepared for his nephew's imperial crown 
 to be lost in the battle-field of Sedan. M. de 
 Bismarck took it up and placed it upon the brow 
 of the new Emperor of Germany. 
 
 In the north, Prussia, Hanover, Brunswick, 
 Hesse, and their dependencies, owed perhaps en- 
 tirely their power to free themselves from French 
 domination to the society of the Burgenschaft. 
 This society was then called Tugendbund (Asso- 
 ciation of Virtue}. 
 
 The Burgenschaft was divided int.o two parts, 
 or principal opinions. Their aim was common, 
 to overthrow the established order of things. 
 The one proceeded by means purely material 
 and human ; the other based its doctrine on re- 
 ligious' principles, and formed a class of fanatics, 
 the more to be feared as all repressive measures 
 taken against it appeared iniquitous and impious. 
 It was equally dangerous to treat this sect with 
 severity or to show it indulgence. 
 
 The life, activity, and strength of these 
 societies sprang from the exaltation of the 
 German youth, so prodigal of its devotion to 
 
334 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 what it believes 'to be the good of the coun- 
 try, and so respectful to the solemnity of an 
 oath. 
 
 Opposing interests were represented by an 
 association of patriots on this side of the Ehine, 
 founded at the beginning of the century, whose 
 task was to excite all sorts of disturbances in 
 Germany, and by that means to become again 
 part of France. 
 
 Although its principles and its language re- 
 sembled those of the societies referred to above, 
 it worked^ in view of favouring the union of the 
 left bank of the river to the monarchical Trance 
 of the Bourbons, with as much energy and 
 earnestness as it had formerly shown in demand- 
 ing its reunion to Eepublican France. 
 
 The reason for such a state of things must be 
 sought in the country's interest, and not in any 
 political system. Surrounded by custom-houses 
 on all sides, nothing could be imported or ex- 
 ported without being eaten up with duty. The 
 consequence was to keep the country in a sort 
 of misery and render all commerce impractic- 
 able. 
 
 But these allies of France were in a small 
 minority. The national sentiments manifested 
 themselves from time to time by pamphlets, in 
 which the sectarians freely intimated their as- 
 pirations, and loudly expressed wishes which 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE 335 
 
 more than half a century later were to be 
 granted by the ' Iron Chancellor.' 
 
 I will only cite one of these pamphlets, pub- 
 lished by Arndt at Leipzig in March 1831 : Die 
 Frage ilber die Niederlande und die Rheinlande. 
 
 It intended to prove that all Germans must 
 unite against France, who wished to extend her 
 dominion as far as the Ehine, under pretext that 
 that was the natural frontier. 
 
 ' Rivers ' (said the author) ' are not frontiers. 
 What distinguishes nations is their language, and 
 tongues are checked by such obstacles as mountains 
 and seas and deserts. Germany's limits are the Jura, 
 the Vosges, and the Ardennes, that they were wrong 
 not to take back again in 1814-15.' 
 
 An Preussen hat es nichtg elegen, dass den Franzosen 
 damals fiir lange Zeit nicht Zaum und G-ebiss angelegt 
 ist ; dass Metz und Strassburg mit Elsass und Lothringen 
 jetzt nicht deutsche Lander sind.' 
 
 This policy, sixty-six years old, is still that 
 for which all German hearts beat in unison, and 
 which might well one day provoke of itself the 
 famous Revanche. 
 
 The author to whom I have just referred 
 forcibly paints the French in the darkest colours. 
 They are ' frivolous, covetous, and proud.' The 
 
 ' It depended only upon Prussia for the French to he re- 
 strained and suhjugated for many years to come ; that Metz and 
 Strashourg with Alsace and Lorraine are not to-day German 
 countries. 
 
336 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 only quality he recognises in tliem is military 
 courage. 
 
 France and the neighbouring countries were, 
 at the time of which we speak, strewn with 
 Buonapartist agents, seeking to establish com- 
 munications between the directing committees 
 of a large number of secret societies and the 
 scattered members of the Imperial family. 
 
 The police archives are crammed with re- 
 ports on this subject, and information furnished 
 by trustworthy persons. Devotion towards the 
 Emperor and his dynasty generally manifested 
 itself in an inverse ratio to the advancement of 
 his former companions. 
 
 All those — or nearly all — who had been 
 loaded with favours by the master accepted the 
 new state of things in a most philosophic manner. 
 In fact, what rest had they? Yesterday they 
 had dangers to face and victories to gain. . . . 
 To-day there was nothing to do but please the 
 King and parade at court. Tor those whose 
 ambition was not thus satisfied, and who were 
 only stirred by heartfelt interest, their recollec- 
 tions, and the tenacious hope of a restoration, 
 moved them to an extreme resistance. 
 
 The small, though weaker, are naturally 
 much more numerous than' the great. Decazes 
 was for a time so preoccupied as to what might 
 happen eventually, that he thought of placing 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE 337 
 
 the Duke of Eeichstadt on the throne of Buenos 
 Ayres, and thus avert the effects by removing 
 their cause. 
 
 This combination, as has been shown by the 
 letters and despatches I have produced respect- 
 ing the Duke Decazes, excited the anger of the 
 Enghsh. It was in fact very convenient for 
 them to be able to influence the transaction of 
 European politics, by the weighty knowledge of 
 their power to release Buonaparte when it suited 
 them. On the other hand this royalty of the 
 Duke of Eeichstadt at Buenos Ayres might 
 strike a serious blow at their commerce, that 
 dear commerce for which they sacrificed every- 
 thing, even to honour and their promises. 
 
 But the Duke of Eeichstadt was not to reign, 
 either in Buenos Ayres or in Paris. The chess- 
 board of European interests was too comphcated 
 to think seriously of taking him out of his ob- 
 scurity : and his death, to which an inteUigent 
 poison was doubtless not foreign, freed the two 
 fearful monarchs from a constant menace. 
 
 The secret societies acted notwithstanding ; 
 their hopes and interests were in ebulHtion. 
 Marie-Louise alone treated things calmly and 
 with indifference ; Neipperg watched with his 
 Cyclopean eye at the gates of her States, and 
 rigorously prohibited the entry of any one sus- 
 pected of Buonapartist sympathies. The few 
 
338 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 persons who approached her did not find her 
 animated by such sentiments as they would have 
 desired. 
 
 The Prince d'Eckmiihl, Caulaincourt, Gene- 
 ral Sebastiani, Braunau, and some others be- 
 longing to the ancient Imperial Guard, such as 
 General Teste and General Janin, were at the 
 head of the conspiracy. Without, however, any 
 positive assurance thereof, they counted upon 
 Russia's aid to sustain the interests of Marie- 
 Louise and her son. They knew that the Emperor 
 Alexander had had several interviews in Paris 
 with French generals and Cardinal Pesch, and 
 that he had stated that, had he entered the 
 capital before the other allies, things would 
 have been differently arranged, since he took 
 the interests of Marie-Louise to heart. 
 
 An apothecary, who had married the daugh- 
 ter of a Corsican woman in the service of 
 Madame Lcetizia, centralised all the private cor- 
 respondence of the partisans of an Imperial 
 restoration in the Eue St. Honore. As a natural 
 consequence, he received that of Marie-Louise. 
 He took charge of all letters sent to him, and 
 Sent them by way of Grisons and Switzerland. 
 
 At Perney, about three miles from Geneva, 
 there was a group of refugees who were work- 
 ing hard for the return of Napoleon II. Amongst 
 these were the Generals Dupas, Beauch&teau, 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE 339 
 
 and Chastelard. As some exterior sign of recog- 
 nition was necessary amongst the members of 
 this group, they nearly all wore in the button- 
 hole of their dark blue clothes a small bunch of 
 herbe Louise. Besides this they had to carry as 
 a rallying sign a piece of parchment upon which 
 was the impress of a seal of the Emperor's arms . 
 
 Other generals, and a large number of nota- 
 bilities not living continually at Ferney, were 
 equally active servants of the cause. Amongst 
 them were d'Arnaud, Count de Lescarene, 
 Baraguey d'HilKers, Michel Braume, Morand, 
 Morlan, Janin, Meunier, and Gros. Finally, 
 another emblem used by those faithful to Marie- 
 Louise was a four-leaved shamrock. 
 
 The poKce was kept informed of their move- 
 ments by a traitor whose name I do not think 
 right to state. Madame Cecilia Monti d'Arnaud, 
 signalled as one of the fanatics of the party, was 
 arrested. The Director of PoUce of the Lombard- 
 Venetian kingdom was instructed to inteiTogate 
 her. She made him the following avowal : 
 
 I commence by stating tkat nothing I have done or 
 said which may have given umbrage to the Austrian 
 Government has been prompted by any idea of disturb- 
 ing the tranquillity of her Imperial Majesty's States, 
 for which I feel all due respect, but simply to contribute 
 to the happiness of that unfortunate France that I look 
 upon as my second country. 
 
340 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 When Marie-Louise reigned in France she gave me 
 so many proofs of her goodness, that! should consider 
 myself wanting in the sacred sentiment of gratitude did 
 I not preserve towards her the respectful attachment 
 with which her many favours had inspired me. I must 
 frankly avow that it is with this purpose in view that 
 I desired to let her know that all good Frenchmen were 
 devoted to her cause. She would only have had to 
 present herself at the frontiers of the kingdom to have 
 been received with open arms ; provided always that 
 her august father had accorded her his sovereign sup- 
 port ; for if Marie-Louise's return to France is desired, 
 all good Frenchmen wish that it may be brought about 
 in a regular way, and in concert with the Imperial 
 Court of Vienna, in order to prevent any disturbance. 
 
 I was induced to take these steps by many powerful 
 persons who are now degraded. Amongst others were 
 Prince d'Eckmiihl, Caulaincourt, Duke de Vicence, 
 General S6bastien, Braunau, General Teste and General 
 Janin. At the time of my departure for Italy they 
 all recommended me to see the Archduchess Marie 
 Louise, if I could accomplish it, and to learn whether 
 she would for once listen to the prayers of so many 
 Frenchmen who had sworn the most profound attach- 
 ment to her, by coming to reign amongst them as 
 regent of her son, who shared with herself the affection 
 of all good Frenchmen. 
 
 I was unable to put this project into execution, on 
 account of the obstacles placed in my way, and the per- 
 secutions I had to suffer from a most dangerous society 
 which now infests Italy and other parts of Europe. 
 I am speaking of the Carbonari. 
 
 I came to Italy in the month of January 1815. 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE 341 
 
 Shortly before leaving I was summoned by General 
 Soult, then Minister of War. -He said that I was in a 
 position to give further proofs of my attachment to the 
 Imperial family, since it was certain that Napoleon 
 would soon have left the island of Elba and have re- 
 turned to France. He added that Joachim, King of 
 Naples, had arrived in the island incognito, with the aid 
 of Lord Bentinck, there to treat with Napoleon. It 
 had been arranged that that prince should place his 
 army on the frontiers of the kingdom of Naples until 
 he received further orders from France. The marshal 
 doubted Joachim's good faith. He ended by saying 
 that I ought to go to Italy to watch his conduct, because 
 he had put himself at the head of the Italian Carbonari. 
 He added that for that purpose he had sent other persons 
 into the Ferrarois, who were to await their orders and 
 instructions from me, &c. &c. 
 
 To sum np, not only did Marie-Ijouise do 
 nothing to encourage the efforts of her parti- 
 sans, but she took care to keep the Vienna Court 
 informed of all their manoeuvres. She even sent 
 to Vienna the confidential letters which it had 
 been thought necessary to address to her. 
 
 She consoled herself at Napoleon's fall — or 
 rather at her own — in the arms of Keipperg. She 
 consoled herself at Neipperg's death in the arms 
 of M. de Bombelles, whom she married secretly 
 shortly after her son's death. She must have 
 been, as I said in commencing, a most despicable 
 character, for any one to have dared to write her 
 
342 THE BLACK CABINET 
 
 such letters as the following. I extract it from 
 the registers of the ' Black Cabinet.' It shows 
 the opinion of her intimate friends on the feel- 
 ings she professed for Napoleon. 
 
 Letter from Lady Burghersh to the Duchess of Parma. 
 
 Madame, — Before leaving Paris I had the satisfaction, 
 of receiving your Majesty's kind letter. It caused me 
 to weep with emotion and gratitude for the affection it 
 deigns to show me. 
 
 I remained in Paris some days longer than I wished 
 on account of a violent bilious attack, which gave me a 
 great deal of pain and left me thinner than ever. 
 
 We arrived safely in London last Friday, and I had 
 the pleasure of finding all my family in perfect health. 
 But the recollection of my poor dear cousin embitters 
 all the joy that we should have to find ourselves to- 
 gether. 
 
 George bore his long voyage quite well, although 
 he was sea-sick. He is wonderfully strengthened and 
 improved lately, and everybody greatly admires him. 
 
 I had written thus far when news was brought me 
 of the event which took place at St. Helena on the 5th 
 of May last. All that can in any way influence your 
 Majesty's fate cannot fail to interest me. Therefore I 
 should much wish at this moment to be able to join you. 
 
 One must not rejoice at an event of this kind ; but 
 as nothing interests me more than your Majesty's tran- 
 quillity and happiness, I hope I may be permitted to 
 foresee for your Majesty a future in which there will be 
 more of one and the other than you have known until 
 now. 
 
FROM BAD TO WORSE .343 
 
 I commence impatiently to desire news of your 
 Majesty, and, notwithstanding all the happiness I feel 
 at being again amongst my family, I think with joy of 
 my return to Italy. I can truly say that it is solely to 
 have the happiness of again seeing your Majesty. 
 
 By the first courier leaving I will send you the 
 paints and the dresses, and I hope your Majesty will 
 honour me with other commissions. 
 
 With a thousand heartfelt wishes for all that can 
 render your Majesty happy, and console you for all the 
 sacrifices you have niade up to the present time, I beg 
 you to receive my respectful homage, &c. 
 
 The event over which one must not rejoice, 
 but at which some joy was undoubtedly felt all 
 the same, was the death of Napoleon. When 
 this news reached Marie-Louise, she was in the 
 seventh month of her pregnancy by Count de 
 Neipperg. She had not waited therefore until 
 God had released her from her earthly bonds, to 
 console herself for all the sacrifices she had made 
 until then, to the great admiration of her maid- 
 of-honour — sole homage that history reserved 
 for her. 
 
 My task is finished. Will the result be 
 commensurate with my efforts ? 
 
 If I have been the means of calling forth a 
 more accurate judgment of certain historical 
 facts and persons, my end wiU have been fully 
 attained. I think it right to state that if the 
 
344 THE BLACK CABINET- 
 
 reverse side of history gives evidence of a brutal 
 realism it d'ees not the less point a high and 
 consoling moral. 
 
 It is not always morbid curiosity that leads 
 the public to seek revelations which, however 
 true they may be, are detrimental to the 
 memory of those yesterday its masters. On the 
 contrary this feehng is both human and justifi- 
 able. The discovery of unworthy weaknesses, 
 and of the backslidings still more revolting 
 amongst the great and powerful, can only en- 
 courage us to raise our heads and to increase 
 the measure of our self-respect. 
 
 If the impartial reader receives these revela- 
 tions favourably they will be followed by others. 
 There are still many documents in my possession 
 which have never been pubHshed, and of which 
 the foregoing are but an instalment.- 
 
 Count d'Hekisson. 
 
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 Leisure Readings. Crown Svo. Gs. 
 The Stars in their Seasons. Imp. Svo. 5*. 
 Myths and Marvels of Astronomy. 
 Chrown Svo. Gs. 
 
 Pleasant Ways in Science. Vr, Svo. Gs. 
 Star Primer. Crown 4to. ^. 'Gd. 
 The BeBSons Pictured. Demy 4to. Ss, 
 Stirength and BCappiness. Cr. Svo, 61. 
 Bough Ways made Smooth. Cx. Svo. Gs, 
 The Expanse of Heaven. Gr. Svo. 5s. 
 Our Place among Infinities. Cr, Svo.B*. 
 
 London: LONGMANS, GEEEN, & CO. 
 
Oeneral Lists of Works. 
 
 CLASSICAL LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE. 
 
 ^fWbyluB, The Eumeiiides of. Text, -with Metrical English TianBlation, by 
 
 J. F. Davlea. 8yo. It. 
 Aristophanes' The Achamians, translated by B. Y. Tyrrell. Crown Sto, Si. M. 
 Aristotle's The Ethics, Text and Notes, by Sir Alex. Grant, Bart. 2 vols. 8to. tit. 
 
 — The Nicomachean Ethics, translated by Williams, crown Svo. 7<. M. 
 
 — The Politics, Books I. IIL IV. (VII.) with Translation, &c. by 
 
 Bolland and Lang. Crown Svo. 7«. 6d. 
 Becker's Ohartcla and Oallut, by Uetcalfe. Post 8to. 7>. M. each. 
 Cicero's Correspondence, Text and Kotes, by B, Y, Tyrrell. Vols. 1 & 2, 8to, 
 
 ZSt. each. 
 Homer's Iliad, EomometricaUy translated by Cayley, Svo. 12i. 6(2, 
 
 — — Greek Text, with Verse Translation, by W. O. Green, Vol. 1, 
 Books I.-XII. Crown 8vo. 6t. ' 
 
 MahafCr's Classical Greek Uterature. Crown Svo. Vol. 1, The Poets, 7a. 6(1, 
 
 Vol, 2, The Prose Writers, It. ii. 
 Plato's Parmenldes, with Notes, &c. by J. Uagnire. 8vo. 7t. 6iZ. 
 Virgil's Works, Latin Text, with Commentary, by Kennedy. Crown Svo. lOj. M. 
 
 — JBmoA, translated into English Verse, by Conington. Crown Svo. 9i. 
 
 — — — ——— byW.J.Thomhill. Cr.8vo.7j.6(i. 
 
 — Poems, — — — Prose, by Conington, Crown Svo, 9». 
 Witt's Myths tit Hellas, translated by Tf. M. Yonnghusband. Crown Svo, 3<. td, 
 
 — The Trojan War, — — Pop. Svo. 2». 
 
 — The Wanderings of inysses, — Crown Svo. 3>, 6(2. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY, BOTANY, & GARDENING. 
 
 Allen's Plowers and their Pedigrees. Crown Svo. Woodcuts, 6). 
 Secaisne and Le Moont's General System of Botany. Imperial Svo, Sl>. id, 
 Dixon's r.nral Bird Life. Crown Svo. Illustrations, St. 
 Hartwig's Aerial World, Svo, 10». 6(2, 
 
 — Polar World, Svo. lOj. id. 
 
 — Sea and ItB Living Wonders. Svo. 10;. 6(2. 
 
 — Subterranean World, Svo, 10«. 6(2. 
 
 — Tropical World, Svo. I0«. 6(2. 
 Lindley's Treasury of Botany. 2 vols, top, Svo. 12i. 
 Loudon's Enc^clopsedia of Gardening. Svo. 21<, 
 
 — — Plante, Svo, 42«. 
 Bivers's Orchard House. Crown Svo. 69. 
 
 — Miniature Fruit Garden. Fop. Svo. it. 
 Stanley's Familiar History of British Birds. Crown Svo. 61, 
 Wood's Bible Animals. With 112 Vignettes. Svo. lOi, 6i2, 
 
 — Common British Insects. Crown Svo. 3«, 6(2, 
 
 — Homes Without Hands, Svo. lOi, 6(2, 
 
 — Insecte Abroad, Svo. VSi. 6(2. 
 
 — Horse and Man. Svo. lit. 
 
 — Insects at Home. With 700 Illustrations, Svo, 10«. 6(2. 
 
 — Out of Doors. Crown Svo. Si, 
 
 — Petland Bevisited, Crown Svo, It. id, 
 
 — Strange Dwellings, Crown Svo. S>. Popular Edition, ito. 6(2, 
 
 London: LONGMANS, GEEEN, & CO, 
 
General Lists of Works. 
 
 THE FINE ARTS AND ILLUSTRATED EDITIONS. 
 
 Eaatlabe's Household Taste in Furniture, &c. Square crown 8to. 14«. 
 Jameson's Sacred and ILegendary Art. 6 vols, square 8vo. 
 Legends of the Sfadonna. 1 -vol. 21s. 
 
 — — — Monastic Oi-ders 1 vol. 21a. 
 
 — — — Saints and Martyrs. 2 toIb. Sis. Bd. 
 
 — — — SaTiour. Completed by Lady Easulafce, 2 vols. 428, 
 Hacaulay's Lays of Ancient Borne, illustrated by Scharf, Fcp. 4to, 10s. 6(2. 
 The same, "with Ivry and the Armada, illustrated by Weguelln. Grown 8to. 3^. Sd, 
 New Testament (The) illustrated with Woodcuts after Paintings by the Barly 
 
 Masters. 4to. 21s. 
 
 CHEMISTRY ENGINEERING, & GENERAL SCIENCE. 
 
 Amott's Elements of Physics or Natural Philosophy. Grown 8vo. 124. 6d, 
 Barrett's English G-lees and Part-Songs : their Historical Development. 
 
 Grown 8vo, 7s. 6(2. 
 Bourne's Gatechism of the Steam Engine. Grown 8vo. 7s, Bd, 
 
 — Examples of Steam, Air, and Gas Engines. 4to. 70«. 
 
 — Handbook of the Steam Engine. Pep. 8vo. 9s. 
 
 ~ Recent Improvements in the Steam Engine. Pep. 8vo. 6«. 
 
 — Treatise on the Steam Engine. 4to. 425. 
 
 Buckton's Our Dwellings, Healthy and Unhealthy, Crown 8vo. Za, 6(2. 
 
 Clerk's The G-as Engine. With Illustrations. Grown 6vo. 78. 6d. 
 
 Crookes*s Select Methods in Chemical Analjrsis. 8vo. 24s. 
 
 Culley's Handbook of Practical Telegraphy. 8vo. 16j. 
 
 Fairbaim's Useful Information for Engineers. 3 vols, crown Svo. 31s. 6(2. 
 
 — Mills and MiUwork. 1 vol. Svo. 25«. 
 Ganot's Elementary Treatise on Physics, by Atkinson. Large crown Svo. IBs. 
 
 ~~ Natural Philosophy, by Atkinson. Crown Svo. 7s. 6(2. 
 Grove's Correlation of Physical Forces. Svo. ISs. 
 Haughton's Six Lectures on Physical Geography. Svo. 15*. 
 Helmholtz on the Sensations of Tone. B^yal Svo. 2Ss. 
 Helmholtz's Lectures on Scientific Subjects. 2 vols, crown Svo. 7s. 6(2. each. 
 Hudson and Gosse's The Hotifera or 'Wheel Animalcnles.' WithSOOolou ed 
 
 Plates. 6 parts. 4to. 10*. 6(2. each. Complete, 2 vols. 4to. £3. 10*. 
 HuUah's Lectures on the History of Modem Music Svo. 8*. 6(2, 
 
 — Transition Period of Musical History. Svo. 10*. 6(2. 
 Jackson's Aid to Engineering Solution. Boyal Svo. 21*. 
 
 Jago's Inorganic Chemistry, Theoretical and Practical. Pop. Svo. 2*. 
 
 Jeans' Eailway Problems. Svo, 12*. 6(2. 
 
 Eolbe's Short Text-Book of Inorganic Chemistry. Grown Svo. 7s. 6(2. 
 
 Lloyd's Treatise on Magnetism. Svo. 10*, 6d. 
 
 Macallster's Zoology and Morphology of Vertebrate Animals. Svo. 10*. 6(2. 
 
 Macfarren's Lectures on Harmony. Svo. 12*. 
 
 Miller's Elements of Chemistry, Theoretical and Practical. 3 vols. Svo, Part I, 
 
 Chemical Physics, 16*. Part II. Inorganic Chemistry, 24*. Part III, Organic 
 
 Chemistry, joice 31*. 6(2. 
 Mitchell's Manual of Practical Assaying. Svo. 31*. 6(2. 
 
 London: LONGMANS, GEEBN, & CO. 
 
General lists of Works. 
 
 Noble's Hours with a TlLree-inch. Telescope, Crown 8to. 4«. Bd. 
 
 Northoott'a Lathes and Turning. 8to. 18s. 
 
 Owen's Comparative Anatomy and Fbysiology of the Vertebrate Animals. 
 
 3 vols. 8to. 73*. 6d. 
 FlMSe's Art of Perfumery. Square crown 8vo, 21j. 
 Beynolds's Experimental Chemistry. Pep. 8vo. Fart 1. 1«. 6d, Fart II. S«. 6d, 
 
 Fart III, 3*. 6(j. 
 Sohellen's Spectrum Analyst. 8vo. 31«. Gd, 
 Bennett's Treatise on the Marine Steam Engine. 8to. 31<. 
 Smith's Air and Bain. 8vo. 24s, 
 
 Stoney's The Theory of the Stresses on Cirders, &c. Boyal 8to. 3Bs. 
 Tilden's Fractical Chemistry. Fcp. 8to. Is. Bd. 
 Tyndall'B Faraday as a Discoverer. Crown 8vo. 34. Gd. 
 
 — Floating Matter of the Air. Crown 8vo. 7s. Gd. 
 
 — Fragments of Science. 2 vols, post 8vo. 16«. 
 
 — Heat a Mode of Motion. Crown 8vo. 12s. 
 
 — Lectures on Light delivered in America. Crown Svo. 5a, 
 
 — Lessons on Electricity, Crown 8vo'. 2s. Gd. 
 
 — Notes on Electrical Fhenomena. Crown 8vo. 1*. sewed. Is. Gd. cloth. 
 
 — Notes of Lectures on Light, Crown 8vo. Is. sewed, 1*. Gd. cloth. 
 
 — Sound, with Frontispiece and 203 Woodcats. Crown 8vo. 10*. Gd. 
 Watts's Dictionary of ChemiBtry. 9 vols, medium 8vo. £15. 2*. 6d. 
 Wilson's Manual of Health-Science. Grown 8vo. 2s. Gd. 
 
 THEOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS WORKS. 
 
 Arnold's (Bev. Dr. Thomas) Sermons. 6 vols, crown 8vo. 5*. each. 
 
 Boultbee's Commentary on the 39 Articles. Crown 8vo. 6s. 
 
 Browne's (Bishop) Exposition of the 39 Articles. 8vo. 168. 
 
 Bullinger's Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and G-reek New 
 
 Testament. Boyal 8vo. 15s, 
 Colenso on the Pentateuch and Book of Joshua. Crown 8vo. Gs. 
 Gender's Handbook of the Bible. Post 8vo. 7s. Gd, 
 Conybeare & Howson's Life and Letters of St. Paul :— 
 
 lAhxaxy Edition, with Maps, Plates, and Woodcuts. 2 vols, square crown 
 8vo. 21s. 
 
 Student's Edition, revised and condemed, with 46 Illustrations and Maps. 
 1 vol. crown 8vo. 78. Gd. 
 Cox's (Homersham) The First Century of Christianity. 8vo. 12f. 
 Davidson's Introduction to the Study of the New Testament. 2 vols. 8vo. 30i, 
 Sdersheim's Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. 2 vols, 8vo, 24«, 
 
 — Prophecy and History in relation to the M^siah. 8vo. I2s. 
 BUicott's (Bishop) Commentary on St. Paul's Epistles. 8vo. Galatians, 8», Gd. 
 
 Ephesians, Bs. Gd. Pastoral Epistles, 10«. Gd. Philippians, Colossians and 
 Philemon, 10s. Gd, Thessalonians, 73. Gd. 
 
 — Lectures on the Life of our Lord. 8vo. 12<. 
 EwBld's Antiquities of Israel, translated by Sotiy. Svo. 12s. 6d. 
 
 — History of Israel, translated by Carpenter & Smith. 8 vols. Svo. Vols. 
 1 & 2, 24a Tola. 8 & 4, Zls. Vol. 5, 18s. Vol. 6, IGs. Vol. 7. 21* 
 Vol. 8, 18*. 
 Hobart's Medical Language of St. Luke. 8vo. 16*. 
 Hopkins's Christ the Consoler. Fcp. 8vo. 2s. Gd. 
 
 London : LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. 
 
General Lists of Works. 
 
 Jukes'B New Man and the Eternal Life. Grown 8to. 6f. 
 
 — Second Death and the BeBtitntion of all Things. Crown 8to. 3s. 6(2. 
 
 — Types of Genesis. Crown 8to. 7s. 6d. 
 
 — The Mystery of the Eingdom. Crown 8vo. Ss. 6d. 
 
 Lenornumt's Kew Translation of the Book of Genesis. Translated into Sitglish. 
 8to. IQs. 6d. 
 
 I^ra Germanica : Hymns translated by Miss Winkworth. Fcp. Svo. 5s. 
 
 MEicdonald'B (G.) TTnspoken Sermoim. Two Series, Crown 8ve. 3f. 6d. each. 
 — The Miracles of our Lord. Crown 8to. $s. Bd. 
 
 Manning's Temporal Mission of the Holy Ghost. Crown Svo. 8s. 6d. 
 
 Martineau*s Endeavotirs after the Christian Life. Crown 8to. 7s. Gd. 
 
 — Hymns of Praise and Prayer. Crown 8vo. 4<. 6(2. 32mo. Is. 6(2, 
 — . Sermons, Hours of Thought on Sacred Things. 2 vols. 7s. Bd. each. 
 
 Monsell's Spiritual Songs for Sundays and Holidays. Fcp. 8to. Sa. 18mo. 2j. 
 
 MtUler'a (Max) Origin and Growth of Religion. Crown Svo. Zf. 6(2. 
 
 — — Science of Beligion. Crown Svo. 7*. 6d. 
 Newman's Apologia pro Yitll Su^. Grown Svo. 6s. 
 
 — The Idea of a University Defined and Dlustrated. Grown Svo. 7s. 
 
 — ^storical Sketches. 3 vols, crown Svo. 6«. each. 
 
 — Discussions and Arguments on Various Subjects. Crown Svo. 6«. 
 
 — An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, Grown Svo. 6«, 
 
 — Certain Diffionltira Felt by Anglicans in Catholic Teaching Con- 
 
 sidered. YoL 1, crown Svo. 7s. Gd. ToL 2, crown Svo.fif. 6(2. 
 
 — The Via Media of the Anglican Church, Illnstrated in Lectures, &c, 
 
 2 vols, ixovm Svo. 65. each 
 -<• Essays, Critical and HistoricaL 2 vols, crown Svo. 12s. 
 
 — Essays on Biblical and on Ecclesiastical Miracles. Crown Svo. 6s. 
 
 — An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent. 7«. 6d. 
 Overton's Life in the English Church (1660-1714). Svo. 145. 
 Supernatural Beligion. Complete Edition. 3 vols. Svo. 36s. 
 Tounghusband's The Story of Our Lord told in Simple Language for Children. 
 
 Illustrated, Crown Svo. 2s. Gd. cloth plain ; 3;. Gd. cloth extra, gilt edges. 
 
 TRAVELS, ADVENTURES, &c. 
 
 Alpine Club (The) Map of Switzerland. In IFour Sheets. 4Ss. 
 Baker^B Eight Yea^ in Ceylon. Crown Svo. Bs. 
 
 — Bifle and Hound in Ceylon. Crown Svo. Ss, 
 Ball's Alpine Guide. 3 vols, post Svo. with Maps and Illustrsbions :~I, Western 
 
 Alps, 6<. 6(2. n. Central Alps, 7s. Gd, HI. Eastern Alps, 10«. Gd. 
 Ball on Alpine Travelling, and on tiie Geology of the Alps, Is. 
 Brassey's Sunshine and Storm in the East. Librae Edition, Svo. 2I5. Cabinet 
 
 Bilitlon, cro^m Svo. 7s. Gd. Popular Edition, 4:to, Gd. 
 
 — Voyage in the Yacht ' Sunbeam.* Library Edition, Svo. 21«. Cabinet 
 
 Edition, crown Svo. 7s. Gd. School Edition, tcp. Svo. 2s. Popular 
 Edition, 4to, 6(2. 
 
 — In the Trades, the Tropics, and the < Boarlng Forties,* Library Edition, 
 
 8vo.21<. Cabinet Edition, crown Svo. 17s. Gd. Popular Edition, 
 4to. 6(2. 
 Froude's Oceana ; or, England and her Colonies. Crown Svo. 2s. boards ; 2s. Gd. 
 
 cloth. 
 Hewitt's VieitB to Bemarkable Places. Crown Svo. .7*. 6(2. 
 Three in Norway. By Two of Them, Crown Svo. lllustarations, 6*. 
 
 London: LONGMj^NR, aEEEI^, & CO. 
 
10 General Lists of Works. 
 
 WORKS OF FICTION. 
 
 Beaconsfield'a (The Earl of) Novels and Tales. Hughenden Edition, with 3 
 Portraits on Steel and 11 Vignettes on ^ood. 11 vols, crown 8vo. £2. 2s. 
 Cheap Edition, 11 vols, crown 8to. Is. each, boards ; Is. Qd. each, doth. 
 
 Contarini Fleming. 
 Alroj, Ixion, &c. 
 The Young Doke, &c. 
 Vivian Grey. 
 Endymion. 
 
 XiOthair. 
 
 Sybil. 
 
 Coningil^. 
 
 Tancred. 
 
 Venetia, 
 
 Henrietta Temple. 
 
 Black Foodie (The) and other Tales. By the Author of * Vice Versft.* Cr. 8vo. 6«. 
 Biaboume's (Lord) Friends and Foes from Fairyland. Grown 8vo. 6s. 
 Caddy's (Urs.) Through the Fields with Idnnseus : a Chapter in Swedish History, 
 
 2 vcfls. crown 8vo. 16s. 
 Haggard's (H. Elder) She: a History of Adventure. Crown Svo. 6«. 
 Harte (Bret) On the Frontier. Three Stories. 16mo. Is. 
 
 — — By Shore and Sedge. Three Stories. 16mo. Is. 
 
 — — In the Carquinez Woods. Crown Svo. 2s. boards ; 2s. Gd. cloth. 
 Melville's (Whyte) Novels. 8 vols. fcp. 8vo. 1j. each, boards ; Is. ed. each, cloth. 
 
 Bigby Grand. Good for Nothing. 
 
 General Bounce. Holmby House. ' 
 
 Kate Coventry. The Interpreter. 
 
 The Gladiators. The Queen's Maries. 
 
 Molesworth's (Mrs.) Marrying and Giving in Marriage. Crown Svo. 73. Gd. 
 Novels by the Author of ' The Atdier du Lys ' : 
 
 The Atelier du Lys ; or, An Art Student in the Beign of Ten;or. Crown 
 8vo. 2s. Gd. 
 
 Mademoiselle Mori : a Tale of Modem Home. Crown 8vo. 2s. Gd, 
 
 In the Olden Time : a Tale of the Feasant War in Grermany . Crown Svo.. 2s, Gd. 
 
 Hester's Venture. Crown Svo. 6*. 
 Oliphaut's (Mrs.) Madam, Crown Svo. Bs. Gd, 
 
 — — In Trust : the Story of a Lady and her Lover. C!rown Svo. 
 
 2s. bomrds ; 2s, Gd. cloth. 
 Fayn's (James) The Luck of theDarrells. Crown Svo. Zs. Gd. 
 
 — — Thicker than Water. Crown 8vo. 2s, boards ; 2*. Gd. cloth. 
 Header's Fairy Frince Follow-my-Lead. Crown Svo. 5s, 
 
 — The Ghost of Brankinshaw ; and other Talcs. Fcp. Svo. 2«. 6^. 
 Hoss's (Fercy) A Comedy without Laughter. Grown Svo. 6*. 
 Sewell's (Miss) Stories and Tales. Grown Svo. Is. each, boards ; Is. Gd. cloth ; 
 28. Gd. cloth extra, gilt edges. 
 Amy Herbert. Cleve Hall, A Glimpse of the World, 
 
 The Earl's Daughter. Katharine Ashton. 
 
 Experience of Xafe. Laneton Parsonage. 
 
 Gertrude, Ivors. Margaret Feroiv^. Ursula. 
 
 Stevenson's (R. L.) The Dynamiter. Fcp. Svo. 1*, sewed ; 1*. Gd. cloth. 
 
 — — Strange C^e of Dr. JekyU and Mr. Hyde. Pep. Svo, 1». 
 
 sewed ; Is. Gd. cloth. 
 Trollope's (Anthony) Novels. Fcp. Svo. Is. eaeh, boards ; 1*. Gd. cloth. 
 The Warden [ Barchester Towers. 
 
 London : L0N(3-MANS, G-EEEN, & CO. 
 
General Lists of Works. 11 
 
 POETRY AND THE DRAMA, 
 
 Armstrong's (Ed. J.) Poetical ^Vorks. Ecp. 8vo. 5^. 
 — (G. F.) Poetical "WorkB :— 
 
 King Saul. Pop. 8vo. 5s. 
 Sing David. Fop. 8to. 6«. 
 King Solomon. Pep. 8to. Qs. 
 Stories of Wioklow, Pep. 8vo, 98. 
 
 Foems, Lyrical and Dramatic. Pep. 
 
 8vo. 6». 
 Ugone : a Tragedy. Pep. 8to. 6s. 
 A G-arland from Greece. Pep. 8to.9«. 
 
 Bowen'B Harrow Song^ and other Verses. Pep. 8to. 2s. Sd. ; or printed on 
 
 hand-madb paper, 5s. 
 Bowdler's Pamily Shakespeare. Medium Svo. 145. 6 vols. fcp. 8to. 21a, 
 Dante's Divine Oomedy, translated by James limes Minchin. Crown 8vo. 15«. 
 Goethe's Paust, translated by Birdsv Lsxge crown Svo. 12s, 6d, 
 
 — — translated by Webb. Svo. 12s, 6(2. 
 
 — — edited by Sdss. Crown Svo. hs. 
 
 Ingelow's Foeuus. Vols. 1 and 2, fcp. Svo. 12«. Vol. 3 fcp. Svo. S<. 
 
 — Xiyrical and other Foems. Pep. Svo, 2«. ^d. cloth, plain ; Zs, doth, 
 
 gilt edges. 
 Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Borne, with Ivry and the Armada. Ulnstrated by 
 
 W^n^elin. Grown Svo. Zs. 6<Z. gilt edges. 
 The same, Popular Edition. Illustrated by Scharf. Fqp. 4to, 6(2, awd., Is. cloth. 
 Nesbit's Lays and Legends. Grown Svq. &s. 
 
 Header's Voices from Plowerland, a Birthday Book, 2s. Bd. cloth, Ss. 6d. roan. 
 Boufdiey's Poetical Works. Medium Svo. 14«. 
 Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses. Pep. Svo. 6s. 
 Virgil's J^aeidt translated by Conington. Crown Svo. 9s. 
 
 — Foems, translated into English Frose. Grown Svo. 9s. 
 
 AGRICULTURE, HORSES, DOGS, AND CATTLE. 
 
 Donster's How to Make the Land Pay. Crown Svo. Ss. 
 
 PitBwygram's Horses and Stables. Svo, 5s, 
 
 Lloyd's The Science of Agriculture. Svo. 12*. 
 
 Loudon's Encyclopsedia of Agriculture. 2ls, 
 
 Miles's Horse's Poot, and How to Keep it Sound. Imperial Svo. 12«. 6d, 
 
 — Plain Treatise on Horse-Shoeii^. Post Svo. 2s, 6d. 
 
 — Bemarks on Horses' Teeth. Post Svo. Is. 6d. 
 
 — • Stables and Stable-Pitthigs. Imperial Svo. ISs, 
 Nevile'B Parms and Panning. Crown Svo. 6«. 
 
 — Horses and Biding. Crown Svo. Gs. 
 Steel's Disei^^ of the Ox, a Manual of Bovine Pathology. Svo, 16s, 
 Stonehenge's Dog in Health and Disease. Square crown Svo. 7s, 6d, 
 
 — Greyhound. Square crown Svo. 16«. 
 
 Taylor's Agricultural Kote Book. Pep. Svo. 2«, 6d. 
 Ville on Artificial Manures, by Crookes. Svo. 21s. 
 Touatt's Work on the Dog, Svo. 6a 
 
 Svo. 7s. Gd. 
 
 London: LONaMAJfS, GKEEN, & CO. 
 
12 General Lists of Works. 
 
 SPORTS AND PASTIMES. 
 
 The Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. Edited by the Duke of Beaufort 
 and A. £. T. Watson. With numerous lUostiatloiis. Gromi ^TO. lOt^td. 
 each. 
 
 Hunting, by the Duke 6f Beaufort, isa. 
 
 Fishing, by H. Oholmondeley-Penndl, ibc. 2 vols. 
 
 Baeing, by the Earl of Suffolk, &c. 
 
 Shooting, by Lord Walsingham, &c. S vols. 
 
 Cycling. By Viscount Bury. 
 
 %* Ot?ier Volumes in preparatUm, 
 Campbell-Walker's Correct Card, or How to Flay at Wblst. Fcp. SvCZ). H, 
 Dead Shot (The) by Marksman. Oro^m 8to. 10<. 6(2. 
 Francis*! Treatise on Pishing in all Its Branches. Fost'Sro. Ifix. 
 Longman's Chess Openings. Fcp. Svo. 2s. Gd, 
 
 Pease's The Cleveland Hounds 'as a Trendher-I^ed Pack. Boyul 870. 18s, 
 Pole's Theory of the Modem Scientific Game of Whist, f Op. 8to. 2i. 6d. 
 Proctor's How to Phiy Whist. Crown 870. Bs. 
 Bonalds's Fly-Fisher's Entomology. 8to. 14s, 
 Vemey's Chess Eccentricities. Crown 8to. 10s, 6(2. 
 Wilcocks's Sea-FiBhemum. PoBt8vo. 6s. 
 
 ENCYCLOP/EDIAS, DICTIONARIES, AND BOOKS OF 
 REFERENCE. 
 
 Acton's Modem Cookery for Private Families. Fcp. Svo. 4f. 6(2. 
 
 Ayre's Treasury of Bible Knowledge. Fcp. Svo. is, 
 
 Brando's Dictionary of Science, Literature, and Art. 3 vols, medium Svo, tZs, 
 
 Cabinet Lawyer (The), a Popular Digest of the Laws of England. Fcp. Svo. 9i. 
 
 Gates's Dictionaiy of General Biography. Medium Svo. 2Bs, 
 
 Doyle's The OBlcial Baronage of England. Yols. L-HI. 3 vols. Ito. £S. 6s, 
 
 Gwilt's BnoyolopsBdla of Architecture. Svo. 62s. ed, 
 
 Keith Johnston's Dictionary of Geography, or General Gazetteer. Svo. i2s. 
 
 M'Cullocih's Dictionary of Commerce and Commercial Navigation. Svo. 63>. 
 
 Maunder'B Biographical Treasury. Fcp. Svo. Ss. 
 
 Historical Treasury. Fcp. Svo. 6». 
 
 Scientific aud Literary Treasury. Fcp. Svo. 6<._ 
 
 Treasury of Bible Ejiowledge, edited by Ayre. F(jp. Svo. 6». 
 
 — Treasury of Botany, edited by Lindley & Moore. Two Farts, ISf. 
 
 — Treasury of Geography. Fcp. Svo. 6<. 
 
 _ Treasury of Knowledge and Library'of Reference. Fop. Svo. Bs. 
 
 — Treasury of Natural History. Fcp. 8vo. Gs, 
 
 Quain's Dictionary of Medicine. Medium Svo. 3ls. 6(2., or ln.2 vols. Us. 
 
 Beeve's Cookery and Housekeeping. Crown Svo. 7j. 6(2. 
 
 Eich's Dictionary of Eoman and Greek Antiquiiaea. Crown Svo. 7s. M. 
 
 Boget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases. Crown Svo. 10«. 6(2. 
 
 Ure's Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines. 4 vols, medium Svo. £7, 7i. 
 
 Wlllioh's Popular Tables, by Marriott. Crown Svo. 10». 6(2. 
 
 London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. 
 
A SELECTION 
 
 OF 
 
 EDUCATIONAL WOEKS. 
 
 TEXT-BOOKS OF SCIENCE 
 
 FCni ILLDSTBiaMn. 
 
 Abney'B Treatise on Photograpliy. Pep. 8vo. 3s. td. 
 Anderson's Strength of Materials. Zs, Sd. 
 Armstrong's Organic Ohemistry. 3i. M. 
 Ball's Elements of Astronomy. 6f. 
 Barry's Railway Appliances. Ss. ed. 
 Banerman's ^stematiG Mineralogy. 6«. 
 — DesoriptlTe Mineralogy. 6f. 
 Blozam and Huntington's Metals. 6<-. 
 G-lazebrook^s Physical Optics. St. 
 Glazebrook and Shaw's Practical Physics, di. 
 Gore's Art of Blectro-Metallnrgy. Ss. 
 
 Griffin's Algebra and Trigonometry. 3«. 6<2. Notes and Solutions, 3«; 6d. 
 Holmes's The Steam Engine. 6j. 
 jenUn's Electricity and Magnetism. 3i. Bd. 
 Maxwell's Theory of Heat. 3s. td. 
 
 Merrifield's Technical Arithmetic and Mensuration. 3«. 6d. Key,, Zs, ed. 
 Miller's Inorganic Chemistry. 3s. 6(Z. 
 Preece and Sivewright's Telegraphy. 8j. 
 Butleys Study of Eooks, a Text-Book of Petrology, is. Sd. 
 Shelley's Workshop Appliances, is. ed. 
 ThomS's Structural and Physiological Botany. 6j. 
 Thorpe's Quantitative Chemical Analysis, is. Gd, 
 Thorpe and Muir's Qualitative AnaJ^fsis. 3s. &d. 
 
 Tilden's Chemical Philosophy. 3s. 6(2. With Answers to Problcixis. is. 6d. 
 TJnwin's Elements of Machine Design. 6s. 
 Watson's Plane and Solid Geometry. 3s. 6d. 
 
 THE GREEK LANGUAGE. 
 
 Bloomfleld's College and School Greek Testament. Fop. 8vo. Si. 
 Bolland & Lang's Politics of Aristotle. Post 8vo. 7s. 6d. 
 Collifi's Chief Tenses of the Greek Irregular Verbs. 8vo. Is. 
 
 — Pontes Graeci, Stepping-Stone to Greek Grammar. ISmo. 3s. 9d. 
 
 — Praxis Gi^ca, Etymology. 12mo. 2s. ed. 
 
 — Greek Terse-Book, Praxis lambica. 12mo. is. 6d. 
 Farrar's Brief Greek Syntax and Accidence. 12mo. is. ed. 
 
 — Greek Grammar Bules tor Harrow School. 12mo, Is. ed. 
 Geare's Kotes on Thucydides. Book I. Pop. 8vo. 2s. 64 
 Hewitt's Greek Examination- Papers. 12mo. Is. M. 
 
 Isbister's Xenophon's Anabasis, Books I. to III. with Kotes. 12mo. 3s. Bd. 
 Jerram's Graeo6 Beddenda. Crown Svo. Is. 6(2. 
 
 London: LONGMANS, GEBEN, & CO. 
 
14 A Selection of Educational Works. 
 
 Kennedy's Grreek G-rammar. 12ixio. i^s. 6^. 
 
 Liddell & Sebtt'a English-Greek Lexicon. 4t6. 36«. ; Square 12mo. 7t. Bd. 
 
 MahafEy's Classical Greek Literature'. Grown 8to. Foeti, 7s. 6(2. Frose Writers, 
 
 7s. 6(2. 
 Morris's Greek Lessons. Square ISmo. Fart I. 2^. 6(2. ; Fart n. Is, 
 Farzy's Elementary Greek Grrammar. 12mo. 3s. 6(2. 
 
 Flato's Republic, Book I. Greek Text, Englisli Notes by Hardy. Crown 8to. 3«. 
 Sheppard and Evans's Notes on Thucydides. Crown 8to. 7s. 6(2. 
 Thucydides, Book IV. with Notes by Barton and Chavasse. Crpwn 8to. 5s, 
 Valpy's Greek Delectus, improved by WMte. 12mo. 2s. 6(2, Key, 2s. 6d, 
 Wbite's Xenopbon'B Expedition of Cyrus, with. English Notes. 12mo. 7s, 6(2. 
 WiUdns's Manual of Greek Prose Compositipn. Crown 8vo. 5s. Eey, 5s. 
 
 — Exerdses in Greek Frose Compcisition. Crown Svo. 4s, Gd, Key, 2s. 6(2. 
 
 — New Greek Delectus. Crown Svo. 3s. Bd. Key, 2s, 6(2, 
 
 — Frogressive Greek Delectus, 12mo. 4«. Key, 2s, 6(2. 
 
 — Frogressive Greek Anthology. 12mo. 5s, 
 
 — Scriptorea Attici, Excerpts with English Notes. Crown Svo. 7f. 6d. 
 
 — Speeches from Thucydides translated, Fost Svo. 6s, 
 Yonge's English-Greek Lexicon. 4to. 2ls. ; Square 12mo. 8s. 6(2. 
 
 THE LATIN LANGUAGE. 
 
 Bradl^'s Latin Frose Exercises. 12mo. Bs, Gd. Key, 5s. 
 
 — Continuous Lessons in Latin Frose. 12mo. 5s. Key, 6s. 6d. 
 
 — Cornelius Nepos, improved by White. 12mo. 3s. 6(2. 
 
 — Eutropiue^ improved by White. 12mo. 2s. 6(2. 
 
 — Ovid'a Metamorphoses, improved by White. 12mo. 4s. 6^2. 
 
 — Select Fables of Fhsedrus, improved by White. 12mo. 2s. 6d. 
 Collis's Chief Tenses of Latin Irregular Verbs. Svo. Is. 
 
 — Fontes Latini, Stepping-Stone to Latin Grammar. 12mo. 3s. 6(2. 
 Hewitt's Latin Examination-Fapers. 12mo. Is. 6(2. 
 Isbister's Caesar, Books I.--YII. 12mo. 4s. ; or with Beading Lessons, 4s. 6(2. 
 
 — Csesar's Commentaries, Books I.-V. 12mo. 3s. 6(2. 
 
 — First Book of Ceeear's Gallic War. 12mo. Is. 6(2. 
 Jerram'a Latini Beddenda. Crown Svo. Is. 6(2. 
 
 Kennedy's Child's Latin Primer, or First Latin Lessons. 12mo. 2s. 
 
 — " Child's Latin Accidence. 12mo. Is. 
 
 — Elementary Latin Grammar. 12mo. 3s. 6(2. 
 
 — Elementary Latin Beading Book, or Tirocinium Latinum. 12m6. 2«, 
 
 — Latin Frose, Palsestra Stili Latini. 12mo. 6s. 
 
 — Latin Vocabulary. 12mo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 — Subsidia Frimaria, Exercise Boo^ to the Public School Latin Primer. 
 
 I. Accidence and Simple Construction, 2s. 6(2. II. Syntax, 3s. 6(2. 
 
 — Key to the Exercises in Subsidia Primaria, Parte I, and;il. price 5s, 
 
 — Subsidia Primaria, III. the Latin Compound Sentence. 12mo, Is. 
 
 — Curriculum Stili Latini. 12mo. 4s. 6d. Key, 7s. 6(2. 
 
 — PaUestra Latina, or Second Latin Beading Book. 12mo. 6s. 
 
 London: LONGMANS. GREEN, & CO. 
 
A Selection of Educational Works. 
 
 IS 
 
 Millington's Latin Piose Composition, Crown 8vo. Ss* Gd. 
 
 — Selections fromXatin Prose, Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 Moody's Eton Latin G-ranunar. 12mo. 2s, 6d, The Accidence separatel7, Is. 
 Morris's Elementa Latina. Fcp. 8to; Is. M. "Esy, 2s. Qd. 
 Parry's Origines BnnansB, from Livy, with English Kotea. Crown 8vo. 4^. 
 The Public School Latin Primer. 12mo. 2s. Gd. 
 
 — — — — Grammar, by Rev. Dr. Kennedy. Post 8vo. 7s. Gd, 
 Prendergaat's Mastery Series. Manual of Latin. 12mo. 2s. Gd. 
 Kapler's Introduction to Compositiou of Latin Yerse. 12mo. Zs. Gd. Eey, 2s. Gd, 
 Sheppard and Tomer's Aids to Classical Study. ISmo. 5s. Key, Gs. 
 Valpy*s Latin Delectus, improved by White. 12mo. 2*. Gd. Key, 3s. Gd. 
 YirgU'a ^neid, translated into English Verse by Conington. Crown 8to. 9s. 
 
 — Wortoi, edited by Kennedy. Crown 8vo, 10*. Gd. 
 
 — — translated into English Prose by Conii^tion. Crown 8to. 9s. 
 Walford's Progressive Exercises in Latin Elegiac Verse, 12mo. 2*. Gd. Key, 5s. 
 White and Biddle's Large Latin-English Dictionary. 1 toL 4to. 21«, 
 
 White's Concise Latin-Eng. Dictionary for TTniversity Students. Koyal 8vo. 12s. 
 
 — Junior Students' Eng.-Lat. & Lat.-Eng. Dictionary. Square 12nio. 5s, 
 
 H«Tinrat*iw i ^^ Latin-English Diclionary, price 3*. 
 Eseparareiy -j rp^^ English-Latin Dictionary, price 3s. 
 
 Yonge's Latin G-radus. Post 8to. 9s. ; or with Appendix, 125. 
 
 WHITE'S GRAMMAR-SCHOOL GREEK TEXTS. 
 
 ^3op (Pables) & FalsBphatus (Myths). 
 
 32mo. Is. 
 Eui-ipides, Hecuba. 2s. 
 Homer, Iliad, Book I. Is. 
 
 — Odyssey, Book L Is. 
 Luoian, Select Dialogues. Is. 
 Xenophon, Anabasis, Books I. III. IV. 
 
 V. & VI. Is. Gd. each ; Book II. Is. ; 
 
 Book YII. 2s. 
 
 Xenophon, Book I. without Vocabu- 
 lary. 3d. 
 
 St. Matthew's and St. Luke's Gkispela. 
 2s. Gd, each. 
 
 St. Mark's and St. John's (Gospels. 
 Is. Gd. each. 
 
 The Acts of the Apostles. 2s. Gd. 
 
 St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. Is.Gd. 
 
 The Four Goajwls in Greek, with Greek-English Lexicon. Edited by John T, 
 White, D.D. Oxon. Square 32mo. price 5s, 
 
 WHITE'S GRAMMAR-SCHOOL LATIN TEXTS. 
 
 CsBsar, Gallic War, Books I. & IL Y. 
 
 & YI. Is. each. Book I. without 
 
 Vocabulary, 3d. 
 CsBsar, Gallic War, Books HI. & lY. 
 
 9d. each, 
 Ceesar, Gallic War, Book YII. U. Gd, 
 Gicao, Gato Major (Old Age). It. Gd. 
 Cicero, Lfelius (Friendship). It. Gd. 
 Butropios, Boman Histozy, Books I. 
 
 & n. If. Books in. & lY. Ij. 
 ;&}race,Odes,BooksI.II.&;IV.l«.each, 
 Horace, Odes, Book III, Is. Gd. 
 Horace, Epodes and Carmen Seculare. 
 
 It. 
 
 Kepos, Miltiadea, Simon, Pausaniai, 
 Aristides. 9d. 
 
 Ovid. Selections from Epistles and 
 Fasti. Is. 
 
 Ovid, Select Myths from Metamor- 
 phoses. 9d. 
 
 Fhsedms, Select Easy Fables, 
 
 PbEBdras, Fables, Books I. & II. It. 
 
 Sallnst, Bellum Catilinarinm. Is. (kl. 
 
 Virgil, Georgics, Book lY. Is. 
 
 Virgil, .Sineid, Etooks I. to VI, Is. each. 
 Book I. without Vocabulary, 3d. 
 
 Virgil, ^neid. Books VII. Yin, X. 
 KI.Xn. It. Gd. each. 
 
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16 A Selection of Educational Works. 
 
 THE FRENCH LANGUAGE. 
 
 AlbiUs's How to Speak FxeDcih, Fcp. Sro. Ss. 6d. 
 
 — Instantaneons Freocli IBxerciBeB. Fcp. 2«. Ee^, 2ii 
 Cassal's Frencli Genders. Crown 8to. 3t. &d. 
 Oassal & Earcher'B aiaduated flench Translatioii Book, Fatt Z. 3». Bd. 
 
 Part II. 5ff. Key to Part I. by Professor Caasal, price 6j. 
 Contanseau's Practical French, and Bng^b. BiotiDnairy, Post 8to. Zs. Sd, 
 
 — Pocket Frencli and EngHsb Dictionary. Square ISmo. It. 6(2. 
 
 — Bremi^es Lectures. 12mo. 2s. €d. 
 
 — First Step in French. 12mo. 2s. Qd. "K/^t 3t. 
 
 — French Accidence. 12mo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 — — Grammar. ISmo. 4«, Key, Ss, 
 Contanseau's Middle-Olafis French Course. Fpp. 8to, : — 
 
 French Translation-Bdok, Bd. 
 Easy French Deleotns, 8d. 
 First French Beader, 8^ 
 Second French Header, 8d. 
 French and English Bi^gnes, 8d. 
 
 Accidence, 8d. 
 Syntax, 8(2. 
 
 French Conversation-Book, 8d. 
 First French Exercise-Book, 8d. 
 Second French Exercise-Book, 8d. 
 Contanseau's Guide to French Translation. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Key Ss. Gd. 
 
 — Prosateurs et Pontes Fran^aia. 12mo. 6«. 
 
 ~ Pr^ia de la Litt^rature Fran^aise. 12mo. 3s. 6(2, 
 
 — Abr6g6 de I'Histoire de France. 12mo. 2s. 6d. 
 
 FSval's Chouans et Bleus, with Notes by C. Sankey, M.A. Fcp. Sro. 2s. 6<2. 
 
 Jerram'a Sentences for Translation into French. Cr. 8vo. Is. Key, 2*. Sd. 
 
 Prendergast's Mastery Series, French. 12mo. 2s. 6(2. 
 
 Souvestre'g Phllosophe sons les Toits, by StiSrenard. Square ISmo. Is. 6(Z. 
 
 Stepping'^tone to French Pronunciation. 18mo. Is. 
 
 Stlfevenard's Lectures Fran^alses from Modem Authors. 12mo. 4s. Bd. 
 
 — Rules and Exercises on the French Language. 12mo. 3f. Bd. 
 
 Tarrer's Eton French Grammar. 12mo. 6^ . Gd, 
 
 THE GERMAN LANGUAGE. 
 Blackley's Practical German and English Dictionary. Post 8to. 3s. Gd. 
 Bnchheim's German Poetry, for Bepetition. 18mo. Is. Gd. 
 GoUis's Card of German Irregular Verbs. Sto. 2s, 
 Fificher-Fiscbart's ELementairy German Grammar. Vcp. Sto. 2s. Gd, 
 Just's German Grammar. . 12mo. Is. Bd. 
 
 — German Beading Book. 12mo. 3^. Gd, 
 Longman's Pocket German and English Dictionary. Square ISmo. 2t, 6d, 
 Naftel's Elementary German Coarse for Public Schools. Fcp. Sto. 
 
 German Accidence. 9d. 
 
 German Syntax. 9(2. 
 
 First German Exerdse-BoOk. 9d. 
 
 Second German Exensise-Dook. 9tf. 
 Prendergast's Mastery Series, German. 12mo. 2s. Bd. 
 Quick's Essentials of German. Crown 8to. Ss. Bd. 
 Selss's School Edition of Goethe's Faust. Crown 8vo. 5s. 
 — Outline of German Literature. Crown 8vo. 4«. Gd, 
 Wirth'B German Chit-Ohat. Crown 8vo. 2«. Bd. 
 
 German Frose Composition Book. 9d, 
 First German Header. 9d, 
 Second German Header. 9d. 
 
 London: LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. 
 ^ottUwoodt (ft Co, PrinterSt I^eto-strset •Sgvortf, Londoti,