1799.

Moreau and Bernadotte—­Bonaparte’s opinion of Bernadotte—­False report—­The crown of Sweden and the Constitution of the year iii.—­ Intrigues of Bonaparte’s brothers—­Angry conversation between Bonaparte and Bernadotte—­Bonaparte’s version—­Josephine’s version—­ An unexpected visit—­The Manege Club—­Salicetti and Joseph Bonaparte —­Bonaparte invites himself to breakfast with Bernadotte—­Country excursion—­Bernadotte dines with Bonaparte—­The plot and conspiracy —­Conduct of Lucien—­Dinner given to Bonaparte by the Council of the Five Hundred—­Bonaparte’s wish to be chosen a member of the Directory—­His reconciliation with Sieyes—­Offer made by the Directory to Bonaparte—­He is falsely accused by Barras.

To throw a clear light on the course of the great events which will presently be developed it is necessary to state briefly what intrigues had been hatched and what ambitious hopes had risen up while we were in Egypt.  When in Egypt Bonaparte was entirely deprived of any means of knowing what was going on in France; and in our rapid journey from Frejus to Paris we had no opportunity of collecting much information.  Yet it was very important that we should know the real state of affairs, and the sentiments of those whom Bonaparte had counted among his rivals in glory, and whom he might now meet among his rivals in ambition.

Moreau’s military reputation stood very high, and Bernadotte’s firmness appeared inflexible.  Generally speaking, Bonaparte might have reckoned among his devoted partisans the companions of his glory in Italy, and also those whom he subsequently denominated “his Egyptians.”  But brave men had distinguished themselves in the army of the Rhine; and if they did not withhold their admiration from the conqueror of Italy, they felt at least more personally interested in the admiration which they lavished on him who had repaired the disaster of Scherer.  Besides, it must be borne in mind that a republican spirit prevailed, almost without exception, in the army, and that the Directory appeared to be a Government invented expressly to afford patronage to intriguers.  All this planted difficulties in our way, and rendered it indispensably necessary that we should know our ground.  We had, it is true, been greeted by the fullest measure of popular enthusiasm on our arrival; but this was not enough.  We wanted suffrages of a more solid kind.

During the campaign of Egypt, Bernadotte, who was a zealous republican, had been War Minister,

     —­[Bernadotte was Minister of war from 2d July 1799 to 14th
     September 1799, when, as he himself wrote to the Directory, they
     “accepted” the resignation he had not offered.]—­