This etext was produced by David Widger
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, at the end of several of thefiles for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before makingan entire meal of them. D.W.]
By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE
His Private Secretary
Edited by R. W. Phipps
Colonel, Late Royal Artillery
1891
CONTENTS:
CHAPTER XXVII. to CHAPTER XXXIV. 1804-1805
1804.
Clavier and Hemart—Singular Proposal of Corvisart-M. Desmaisons— Project of influencing the judges—Visit to the Tuileries—Rapp in attendance—Long conversation with the Emperor—His opinion on the trial of Moreau—English assassins and Mr. Fox—Complaints against the English Government—Bonaparte and Lacuee—Affectionate behaviour—Arrest of Pichegru—Method employed by the First Consul to discover his presence in Paris—Character of Moreau—Measures of Bonaparte regarding him—Lauriston sent to the Temple—Silence respecting the Duc d'Enghien—Napoleon's opinion of Moreau and Georges—Admiration of Georges—Offers of employment and dismissal— Recital of former vexations—Audience of the Empress—Melancholy forebodings—What Bonaparte said concerning himself—Marks of kindness.
The judges composing the Tribunal which condemned Moreau were not alllike Thuriot and Hemart. History has recorded an honourable contrast tothe general meanness of the period in the reply given by M. Clavier, whenurged by Hemart to vote for the condemnation of Moreau. "Ah, Monsieur,if we condemn him, how shall we be able to acquit ourselves?" I have,besides, the best reason for asserting that the judges were tamperedwith, from, a circumstance which occurred to myself.
Bonaparte knew that I was intimately connected with M. Desmaisons, one ofthe members of the Tribunal, and brother in-law to Corvisart; he alsoknew that Desmaisons was inclined to believe in Moreau's innocence, andfavourable to his acquittal. During the progress of the trial Corvisartarrived at my house one morning at a very early hour, in a state of suchevident embarrassment that, before he had time to utter a word, I said tohim, "What is the matter? Have you heard any bad news?"
"No," replied Corvisart, "but I came by the Emperor's order. He wishesyou to see my brother-in-law. 'He is,' said he to me, 'the senior judge,and a man of considerable eminence; his opinion will carry with it greatweight, and I know that he is favourable to Moreau; he is in the wrong.Visit Bourrienne, said the Emperor, and concert with him respecting thebest method of convincing Desmaisons of his error, for I repeat he iswrong, he is deceived.' This is the mission with which I am entrusted."
"How," said I, with thorough astonishment, "how came you to be employedin this affair? Could you believe for one moment that I would tamperwith a magistrate in order to induce him to exercise an unjust rigour?"
"No, rest assured," replied Corvisart, "I merely visited you this morningin obedience to the order of the Emperor; but I knew beforehand in whatmanner you would regard the proposition with which I was charged. I knewyour opinions and your character too well to entertain the smallest doubtin this respect, and I was convinced that I ran no risk in becoming thebearer of a commission which would be attended with no effect. Besides,had I