I found this letter among my papers, but I cannot tell why and how I preserved it.  It is interesting, inasmuch as it shows, the opinion that family of future kings entertained of their own situation, and of what their fate would have been had Bonaparte, like Desaix, fallen on the field of Marengo.  It is, besides, curious to observe the, philosopher Lucien causing Te Deum, to be chanted with the view of influencing the public funds.  At all events I copy Lucien’s letter as he wrote it, giving the words marked in italics [Caps] and the numerous notes of exclamation which distinguish the original.

My brother—­I send you a courier; I particularly wish that the First Consul would give me notice of his arrival twenty-four hours beforehand, and that he would inform me alone of the barrier by which he will enter.  The city wishes to prepare triumphal arches for him, and it deserves not to be disappointed.

At my request a Te Deum was chanted yesterday.  There were 60,000 persons present.

The intrigues of Auteuil continue.

—­[This intrigue, so called from Talleyrand one of its heads, living in the suburb of Auteuil, arose from the wish of many of the most influential men to be prepared in case of the death of Napoleon in any action in Italy:  It was simply a continuation of the same combinations which had been attempted or planned in 1799, till the arrival of Bonaparte from Egypt made the party choose him as the instrument for the overthrow of the Directors.  There was little secrecy about their plans; see Miot de Melito (tome i p. 276), where Joseph Bonaparte tells his friends all that was being proposed in case his brother fell.  Carnot seems to have been the most probable choice as leader and replacer of Bonaparte.  In the above letter “C——­,” stands for Carrot, “La F——­” for La Fayette, the “High Priest” is Sieyes, and the “friend of Auteuil” is Talleyrand; see Iung’s Lucien, tome i. p. 411.  The postscript seems to refer to a wretched scandal about Caroline, and Lucien; see Iung’s Lucien, tome i. pp. 411, 432-433.  The reader should remark the retention of this and other documents by Bourrienne, which forms one of the charges brought against him farther on.]—­

—­It has been found difficult to decide between C——­ and La F——.  The latter has proposed his daughter in marriage to me.  Intrigue has been carried to the last extreme.  I do not know yet whether the High Priest has decided for one party or the other.  I believe that he would cheat them both for an Orleans, and your friend of Auteuil was at the bottom of all.  The news of the battle of Marengo petrified them, and yet next day the High Priest certainly spent three hours with your friend of Auteuil.  As to us, had the victory of Marengo closed the First Consul’s career we should now have been Proscribed.

Your letters say nothing of what I expected to hear.  I hope at least to be informed of the answer from Vienna before any one.  I am sorry you have not paid me back for the battle of Marengo.