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to send off a courier the next morning； would have more probably sent him
off the same evening。 This was from zeal； but was not the First Consul
right in saying that such zeal was unfortunate？
Of Talleyrand and Fouche； in their connections with the First Consul； it
might be said that the one represented the Constituent Assembly； with a
slight perfume of the old regime； and the other the Convention in all its
brutality。 Bonaparte regarded Fouche as a complete personification of
the Revolution。 With him； therefore； Fouche's influence was merely the
influence of the Revolution。 That great event was one of those which had
made the most forcible impression on Bonaparte's ardent mind； and he
imagined he still beheld it in a visible form as long as Fouche continued
at the head of his police。 I am now of opinion that Bonaparte was in
some degree misled as to the value of Fouche's services as a minister。
No doubt the circumstance of Fouche being in office conciliated those of
the Revolutionary party who were his friends。 But Fouche cherished an
undue partiality for them； because he knew that it was through them he
held his place。 He was like one of the old Condottieri； who were made
friends of lest they should become enemies； and who owed all their power
to the soldiers enrolled under their banners。
Such was Fouche； and Bonaparte perfectly understood his situation。 He
kept the chief in his service until he could find an opportunity of
disbanding his undisciplined followers。 But there was one circumstance
which confirmed his reliance on Fouche。 He who had voted the death of
the King of France； and had influenced the minds of those who had voted
with him； offered Bonaparte the best guarantee against the attempts of
the Royalists for raising up in favour of the Bourbons the throne which
the First Consul himself had determined to ascend。 Thus； for different
reasons； Bonaparte and Fouche had common interests against the House of
Bourbon； and the master's ambition derived encouragement from the
supposed terror of the servant。
The First Consul was aware of the existence in Paris of a Royalist
committee； formed for the purpose of corresponding with Louis XVIII。
This committee consisted of men who must not be confounded with those
wretched intriguers who were of no service to their employers； and were
not unfrequently in the pay of both Bonaparte and the Bourbons。
The Royalist committee； properly so called； was a very different thing。
It consisted of men professing rational principles of liberty； such as
the Marquis de Clermont Gallerande； the Abbe de Montesqiou； M。 Becquet；
and M。 Royer Collard。 This committee had been of long standing； the
respectable individuals whose names I have just quoted acted upon a
system hostile to the despotism of Bonaparte； and favourable to what they
conceived to be the interests of France。 Knowing the superior wisdom of
Louis XVIII。； and the opinions which he had avowed and maintained in the
Assembly of the Notables； they wished to separate that Prince from the
emigrants； and to point him out to the nation as a suitable head of a
reasonable Constitutional Government。 Bonaparte； whom I have often heard
speak on the subject； dreaded nothing so much as these ideas of liberty；
in conjunction with a monarchy。 He regarded them as reveries； called the
members of the committee idle dreamers； but nevertheless feared the
triumph of their ideas。 He confessed to me that it was to counteract the
possible influence of the Royalist committee that he showed himself so
indulgent to those of the emigrants whose monarchical prejudices he knew
were incompatible with liberal opinions。 By the presence of emigrants
who acknowledged nothing short of absolute power； he thought he might
paralyse the influence of the Royalists of the interior； he therefore
granted all such emigrants permission to return。
About this time I recollect having read a document； which had been
signed； purporting to be a declaration of the principles of Louis XVIII。
It was signed by M。 d'Andre； who bore evidence to its authenticity。
The principles contained in the declaration were in almost all points
conformable to the principles which formed the basis of the charter。
Even so early as 1792； and consequently previous to the fatal 21st of
January； Louis XVI。； who knew the opinions of M。 de Clermont Gallerande；
sent him on a mission to Coblentz to inform the Princes from him； and the
Queen； that they would be ruined by their emigration。 I am accurately
informed； and I state this fact with the utmost confidence。 I can also
add with equal certainty that the circumstance was mentioned by M。 de
Clermont Gallerande in his Memoirs； and that the passage relative to his
mission to Coblentz was cancelled before the manuscript was sent to
press。
During the Consular Government the object of the Royalist committee was
to seduce rather than to conspire。 It was round Madame Bonaparte in
particular that their batteries were raised； and they did not prove
ineffectual。 The female friends of Josephine filled her mind with ideas
of the splendour and distinction she would enjoy if the powerful hand
which had chained the Revolution should raise up the subverted throne。
I must confess that I was myself； unconsciously； an accomplice of the
friends of the throne； for what they wished for the interest of the
Bourbons I then ardently wished for the interest of Bonaparte。
While endeavours were thus made to gain over Madame Bonaparte to the
interest of the royal family； brilliant offers were held out for the
purpose of dazzling the First Consul。 It was wished to retemper for him
the sword of the constable Duguesclin； and it was hoped that a statue
erected to his honour would at once attest to posterity his spotless
glory and the gratitude of the Bourbons。 But when these offers reached
the ears of Bonaparte he treated them with indifference； and placed no
faith in their sincerity。 Conversing on the subject one day with M。 de
La Fayette he said； 〃They offer me a statue； but I must look to the
pedestal。 They may make it my prison。〃 I did not hear Bonaparte utter
these words； but they were reported to me from a source； the authenticity
of which may be relied on。
About this time； when so much was said in the Royalist circles and in the
Faubourg St。 Germain； of which the Hotel de Luynes was the headquarters；
about the possible return of the Bourbons； the publication of a popular
book contributed not a little to direct the attention of the public to
the most brilliant period of the reign of Louis XIV。 The book was the
historical romance of Madame de la Valloire； by Madame de Genlis； who had
recently returned to France。 Bonaparte read it； and I have since
understood that he was very well pleased with it； but he said nothing to
me about it。 It was not until some time after that he complained of the
effect which was produced in Paris by this publication； and especially by
engravings representing scenes in the life of Louis XIV。； and which were
exhibited in the shop…windows。 The police received orders to suppress
these prints； and the order was implicitly obeyed；