memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v6-第20节
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Cloud； and for the fitting up and furnishing of which he had promised to
pay。 We shall see how he kept this promise！ I immediately sent to
direct Landoire； the messenger of Bonaparte's cabinet； to place all
letters sent to me in the First Consul's portfolio； because many intended
for him came under cover for me。 In consequence of this message I
received the following letter from M。 de Meneval：
MY DEAR BOURRIENNEI cannot believe that the First Consul would
wish that your letters should be presented to him。 I presume you
allude only to those which may concern him； and which come addressed
under cover to you。 The First Consul has written to citizens
Lavallette and Mollien directing them to address their packets to
him。 I cannot allow Landoire to obey the order you sent。
The First Consul yesterday evening evinced great regret。 He
repeatedly said； 〃How miserable I am！ I have known that man since
he was seven years old。〃 I cannot but believe that he will
reconsider his unfortunate decision。 I have intimated to him that
the burden of the business is too much for me； and that he must be
extremely at a loss for the services of one to whom he was so much
accustomed； and whose situation； I am confident； nobody else can
satisfactorily fill。 He went to bed very low…spirited。 I am； etc。
（Signed） MENEVAL。
19 Vendemiaire； an X。
（21st October 1802。）
Next day I received another letter from M。 Meneval as follows：
I send you your letters。 The First Consul prefers that you should
break them open； and send here those which are intended for him。 I
enclose some German papers； which he begs you to translate。
Madame Bonaparte is much interested in your behalf； and I can assure
you that no one more heartily desires than the First Consul himself
to see you again at your old post； for which it would be difficult
to find a successor equal to you； either as regards fidelity or
fitness。 I do not relinquish the hope of seeing you here again。
A whole week passed away in conflicts between the First Consul's
friendship and pride。 The least desire he manifested to recall me was
opposed by his flatterers。 On the fifth day of our separation he
directed me to come to him。 He received me with the greatest kindness；
and after having good…humouredly told me that I often expressed myself
with too much freedoma fault I was never solicitous to correcthe
added： 〃I regret your absence much。 You were very useful to me。 You are
neither too noble nor too plebeian； neither too aristocratic nor too
Jacobinical。 You are discreet and laborious。 You understand me better
than any one else； and； between ourselves be it said； we ought to
consider this a sort of Court。 Look at Duroc； Bessieres； Maret。
However； I am very much inclined to take you back； but by so doing I
should confirm the report that I cannot do without you。〃
Madame Bonaparte informed me that she had heard persons to whom Bonaparte
expressed a desire to recall me observe； 〃What would you do？ People will
say you cannot do without him。 You have got rid of him now； therefore
think no more about him： and as for the English newspapers； he gave them
more importance than they really deserved： you will no longer be troubled
with them。〃 This will bring to mind a scenewhich occurred at Malmaison
on the receipt of some intelligence in the 'London Gazette'。
I am convinced that if Bonaparte had been left to himself he would have
recalled me； and this conviction is warranted by the interval which
elapsed between his determination to part with me and the formal
announcement of my dismissal。 Our rupture took place on the 20th of
October； and on the 8th of November following the First Consul sent me
the following letter：
CITIZEN BOURRIENNE； MINISTER OF STATEI am satisfied with the
services which you have rendered me during the time yon have been
with me； but henceforth they are no longer necessary。 I wish you to
relinquish； from this time； the functions and title of my private
secretary。 I shall seize an early opportunity of providing for you
in a way suited to your activity and talents； and conducive to the
public service。
（Signed）BONAPARTE。
If any proof of the First Consul's malignity were wanting it would be
furnished by the following fact： A few days after the receipt of the
letter which announced my dismissal I received a note from Duroc； but；
to afford an idea of the petty revenge of him who caused it to be
written； it will be necessary first to relate a few preceding
circumstances。
When； with the view of preserving a little freedom； I declined the offer
of apartments which Madame Bonaparte had prepared at Malmaison for myself
and my family； I purchased a small house at Ruel： the First Consul had
given orders for the furnishing of this house； as well as one which I
possessed in Paris。 From the manner in which the orders were given I had
not the slightest doubt but that Bonaparte intended to make me a present
of the furniture。 However； when I left his service he applied to have it
returned。 As at first I paid no attention to his demand； as far as it
concerned the furniture at Ruel； he directed Duroc to write the following
letter to me：
The First Consul； my dear Bourrienne； has just ordered me to send
him this evening the keys of your residence in Paris； from which the
furniture is not to be removed。
He also directs me to put into a warehouse whatever furniture you
may have at Ruel or elsewhere which you have obtained from
Government。
I beg of you to send me an answer； so as to assist me in the
execution of these orders。 You promised me to have everything
settled before the First Consul's return。 I must excuse myself in
the best way I can。
（Signed） DUROC。
24 Brumaire； an X。
（15th November 1802。）
Believing myself to be master of my own actions； I had formed the design
of visiting England； whither I was called by some private business。
However； I was fully aware of the peculiarity of my situation； and I was
resolved to take no step that should in any way justify a reproach。
On the 11th of January I therefore wrote to Duroc：
My affairs require my presence in England for some time。 I beg of
you； my dear Duroc； to mention my intended journey to the First
Consul； as I do not wish to do anything inconsistent with his views。
I would rather sacrifice my own interest than displease him。 I rely
on your friendship for an early answer to this； for uncertainty
would be fatal to me in many respects。
The answer； which speedily arrived； was as follows：
MY DEAR BOURRIENNEI have presented to the First Consul the letter
I just received from you。 He read it； and said； 〃 No！〃
That is the only answer I can give you。 （Signed） DUROC。
This monosyllable was expressive。 It proved to me that Bonaparte was
conscious how ill he had treated me； and； suspecting that I was actuated
by the desire of vengeance； he was afraid of my going to England； lest I
should there take advantage of that liberty of the press which he had so
effectually put down in France。 He probably imagined that my object was
to publish statements which would more effectually have enlightened the
public respecting his government and designs than all the scandalous
anecdotes； atrocious calumnies； and ridiculous fabrications of Pelletier；
the editor of the 'Ambigu'。 But Bonaparte was much deceived in this
supposition； and if there can remain any doubt on that subject； it will
be removed on referring to the date of these Memoirs； and observing the
time at which I consented to publish them。
I was not deceived as to the reasons of Bonaparte's unceremonious refusal
of my application； and as I well knew his inquisitorial character；
I thought it prudent to conceal my notes。 I acted differently from
Camoens。 He contended with the sea to preserve his manuscripts； I made
the earth the depository of mine。 I carefully enclosed my most valuable
notes and papers in a tin box； which I buried under ground。 A yellow
tinge； the commencement of decay； has in some places almost obliterated
the writing。
It will be seen in the sequel that my precaution was not useless； and
that I was right in anticipating the persecution of Bonaparte； provoked
by the malice of my enemies。 On the 20th of April Duroc sent me the
following note：
I beg； my dear Bourrienne； that you will come to St。 Cloud this
morning。 I have something to tell you on the part of the First
Consul。
（Signed） DUROC。
This note caused me much anxiety。 I could not doubt but that my enemies
had invented some new calumny； but I must say that I did not expect such
baseness as I experienced。
As soon as Duroc had made me acquainted with the business which the First
Consul had directed him to communicate； I wrote on the spot the subj
