CHAPTER XXVII.

1804.

Clavier and Hemart—­Singular Proposal of Corvisart-M.  Desmaisons—­ Project of influencing the judges—­Visit to the Tuileries—­Rapp in attendance—­Long conversation with the Emperor—­His opinion on the trial of Moreau—­English assassins and Mr. Fox—­Complaints against the English Government—­Bonaparte and Lacuee—­Affectionate behaviour—­Arrest of Pichegru—­Method employed by the First Consul to discover his presence in Paris—­Character of Moreau—­Measures of Bonaparte regarding him—­Lauriston sent to the Temple—­Silence respecting the Duc d’Enghien—­Napoleon’s opinion of Moreau and Georges—­Admiration of Georges—­Offers of employment and dismissal—­ Recital of former vexations—­Audience of the Empress—­Melancholy forebodings—­What Bonaparte said concerning himself—­Marks of kindness.

The judges composing the Tribunal which condemned Moreau were not all like Thuriot and Hemart.  History has recorded an honourable contrast to the general meanness of the period in the reply given by M. Clavier, when urged by Hemart to vote for the condemnation of Moreau.  “Ah, Monsieur, if we condemn him, how shall we be able to acquit ourselves?” I have, besides, the best reason for asserting that the judges were tampered with, from, a circumstance which occurred to myself.

Bonaparte knew that I was intimately connected with M. Desmaisons, one of the members of the Tribunal, and brother in-law to Corvisart; he also knew that Desmaisons was inclined to believe in Moreau’s innocence, and favourable to his acquittal.  During the progress of the trial Corvisart arrived at my house one morning at a very early hour, in a state of such evident embarrassment that, before he had time to utter a word, I said to him, “What is the matter?  Have you heard any bad news?”

“No,” replied Corvisart, “but I came by the Emperor’s order.  He wishes you to see my brother-in-law.  ‘He is,’ said he to me, ’the senior judge, and a man of considerable eminence; his opinion will carry with it great weight, and I know that he is favourable to Moreau; he is in the wrong.  Visit Bourrienne, said the Emperor, and concert with him respecting the best method of convincing Desmaisons of his error, for I repeat he is wrong, he is deceived.’  This is the mission with which I am entrusted.”

“How,” said I, with thorough astonishment, “how came you to be employed in this affair?  Could you believe for one moment that I would tamper with a magistrate in order to induce him to exercise an unjust rigour?”