—­[There is considerable truth in this statement about the effect on his health.  His successor, Meneval, without the same amount of work, broke down and had to receive assistance (Meneval, tome i. p. 149).]—­

I soon perceived the First Consul’s anxiety to make M. de Meneval acquainted with the routine of business, and accustomed to his manner.  Bonaparte had never pardoned me for having presumed to quit him after he had attained so high a degree of power; he was only waiting for an opportunity to punish me, and he seized upon an unfortunate circumstance as an excuse for that separation which I had previously wished to bring about.

I will explain this circumstance, which ought to have obtained for me the consolation and assistance of the First Consul rather than the forfeiture of his favour.  My rupture with him has been the subject of various misstatements, all of which I shall not take the trouble to correct; I will merely notice what I have read in the Memoirs of the Duc de Rovigo, in which it is stated that I was accused of peculation.  M. de Rovigo thus expresses himself: 

Ever since the First Consul was invested with the supreme power his life had been a continued scene of personal exertion.  He had for his private secretary M. de Bourrienne, a friend and companion of his youth, whom he now made the sharer of all his labours.  He frequently sent for him in the dead of the night, and particularly insisted upon his attending him every morning at seven.  Bourrienne was punctual in his attendance with the public papers, which he had previously glanced over.  The First Consul almost invariably read their contents himself; he then despatched some business, and sat down to table just as the clock struck nine.  His breakfast, which lasted six minutes, was no sooner over than he returned to his cabinet, only left it for dinner, and resumed his close occupation immediately after, until ten at night, which was his usual hour for retiring to rest.

Bourrienne was gifted with a most wonderful memory; he could speak and write many languages, and would make his pen follow as fast as words were uttered.  He possessed many other advantages; he was well acquainted with the administrative departments, was versed in the law of nations, and possessed a zeal and activity which rendered his services quite indispensable to the First Consul.  I have known the several grounds upon which the unlimited confidence placed in him by his chief rested, but am unable to speak with equal assurance of the errors which occasioned his losing that confidence.

Bourrienne had many enemies; some were owing to his personal character, a greater number to the situation which he held.  Others were jealous of the credit he enjoyed with the Head of the Government; others, again, discontented at his not making that credit subservient to their personal advantage.  Some even imputed to him the