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disapproving all the acts of the First Consul； he opposed the
reestablishment of public worship； and criticised as childish and
ridiculous mummery the institution of the Legion of Honor。 These grave
imprudences； and indeed many others； came to the ears of the First
Consul； who refused at first to believe them； but how could he remain
deaf to reports which were repeated each day with more foundation； though
doubtless exaggerated by malice？
In proportion as the imprudent speeches of the general were depriving him
of the esteem of the First Consul； his mother…in…law； by a dangerous
obstinacy； was encouraging him in his opposition； persuaded； she said；
that the future would do justice to the present。 She did not realize
that she spoke so truly； and the general rushed headlong into the abyss
which opened before him。 How greatly his conduct was in opposition to
his character！ He had a pronounced aversion to the English； and he
detested the Chouans； and everything pertaining to the old nobility； and
besides； a man like General Moreau； who had served his country so
gloriously； was not the one to bear arms against her。 But he was
deceived； and he deceived himself； in thinking that he was fitted to play
a great political part； and he was destroyed by the flatteries of a party
which excited all possible hostility against the First Consul by taking
advantage of the jealousy of his former comrades in arms。 I witnessed
more than one proof of affection shown by the First Consul to General
Moreau。 In the course of a visit of the latter to the Tuileries； and
during an interview with the First Consul； General Carnot arrived from
Versailles with a pair of pistols of costly workmanship； which the
manufactory of Versailles had sent as a gift to the First Consul。 He
took these handsome weapons from the hands of General Carnot； admired
them a moment； and immediately offered them to General Moreau； saying to
him； 〃Take them； truly they could not have come at a better time。〃 All
this was done quicker than I can write it； the general was highly
flattered by this proof of friendship； and thanked the First Consul
warmly。
The name and trial of General Moreau recall to me the story of a brave
officer who was compromised in this unfortunate affair； and who after
many years of disgrace was pardoned only on account of the courage with
which he dared expose himself to the anger of the Emperor。 The
authenticity of the details which I shall relate can be attested； if
necessary； by living persons； whom I shall have occasion to name in my
narrative； and whose testimony no reader would dream of impeaching。
The disgrace of General Moreau extended at first to all those who
surrounded him； and as the affection and devotion felt for him by all the
officers and soldiers who had served under him was well known； his aides…
de…camp were arrested； even those who were not then in Paris。 One of
them； Colonel Delelee； had been many months on furlough at Besancon；
resting after his campaigns in the bosom of his family； and with a young
wife whom he had recently married。 Besides； he was at that time
concerning himself very little with political matters； very much with his
pleasures； and not at all with conspiracies。 Comrade and brother in arms
of Colonels Guilleminot； Hugo； Foy；all three of whom became generals
afterwards；he was spending his evenings gayly with them at the
garrison； or in the quiet pleasures of his family circle。 Suddenly
Colonel Delelee was arrested； placed in a postchaise； and it was not
until he was rolling along in a gallop on the road to Paris； that he
learned from the officer of the gendarmes who accompanied him； that
General Moreau had conspired； and that in his quality as aide…de…camp he
was counted among the conspirators。
Arrived at Paris； the colonel was put in close confinement； in La Force
I believe。 His wife； much alarmed； followed his footsteps； but it was
several days before she obtained permission to communicate with the
prisoner； and then could do so only by signs from the courtyard of the
prison while he showed himself； for a few moments； and put his hands
through the bars of the window。 However； the rigor of these orders was
relaxed for the colonel's young child three or four years of age； and his
father obtained the favor of embracing him。 He came each morning in his
mother's arms； and a turnkey carried him in to the prisoner； before which
inconvenient witness the poor little thing played his role with all the
skill of a consummate actor。 He would pretend to be lame； and complain
of having sand in his shoes which hurt him and the colonel； turning his
back on the jailer； and taking the child in his lap to remove the cause
of the trouble； would find in his son's shoe a note from his wife；
informing him in a few words of the state of the trial； and what he had
to hope or fear for himself。 At length； after many months of captivity；
sentence having been pronounced against the conspirators； Colonel
Delelee； against whom no charge had been made； was not absolved as he had
a right to expect； but was struck off the army list； arbitrarily put
under surveillance； and prohibited from coming within forty leagues of
Paris。 He was also forbidden to return to Besancon； and it was more than
a year after leaving prison before he was permitted to do so。
Young and full of courage； the Colonel saw； from the depths of his
retirement； his friends and comrades make their way； and gain upon the
battlefield fame； rank； and glory； while he himself was condemned to
inaction and obscurity； and to pass his days in following on the map the
triumphant march of those armies in which he felt himself worthy to
resume his rank。 Innumerable applications were addressed by him and his
friends to the head of the Empire； that he might be allowed to go even as
a common volunteer； and rejoin his former comrades with his knapsack on
his shoulder； but these petitions were refused； the will of the Emperor
was inflexible； and to each new application he only replied； 〃Let him
wait。〃 The inhabitants of Besancon； who considered Colonel Delelee as
their fellow…citizen； interested themselves warmly in the unmerited
misfortunes of this brave officer； and when an occasion presented itself
of recommending him anew to the clemency； or rather to the justice； of
the Emperor； they availed themselves of it。
It was； I believe； on the return from Prussia and Poland that from all
parts of France there came deputations charged with congratulating the
Emperor upon his several victories。 Colonel Delelee was unanimously
elected member of the deputation of Doubs； of which the mayor and prefect
of Besancon were also members； and of which the respectable Marshal
Moncey was president； and an opportunity was thus at last offered Colonel
Delelee of procuring the removal of the long sentence which had weighed
him down and kept his sword idle。 He could speak to the Emperor； and
complain respectfully； but with dignity； of the disgrace in which he had
been so long kept without reason。 He could render thanks； from the
bottom of his heart； for the generous affection of his fellow…citize