CHAPTER XXXIII.

1800.

The Tuileries—­Royalty in perspective—­Remarkable observation—­ Presentations—­Assumption of the prerogative of mercy—­M.  Defeu—­ M. de Frotte—­Georges Cadondal’s audience of Bonaparte—­Rapp’s precaution and Bonaparte’s confidence—­The dignity of France—­ Napper Tandy and Blackwell delivered up by the Senate of Hamburg—­ Contribution in the Egyptian style—­Valueless bill—­Fifteen thousand francs in the drawer of a secretaire—­Josephine’s debts—­Evening walks with Bonaparte.

The morning after that ardently wished-for day on which we took possession of the Palace of the Kings of France I observed to Bonaparte on entering his chamber, “Well, General, you have got here without much difficulty, and with the applause of the people!  Do you remember what you said to me in the Rue St. Anne nearly two years ago?”—­“Ay, true enough, I recollect.  You see what it is to have the mind set on a thing.  Only two years have gone by!  Don’t you think we have not worked badly since that time?  Upon the whole I am very well content.  Yesterday passed off well.  Do you imagine that all those who came to flatter me were sincere?  No, certainly not:  but the joy of the people was real.  They know what is right.  Besides, consult the grand thermometer of opinion, the price of the funds:  on the 17th Brumaire at 11 francs, on the 20th at 16 and to-day at 21.  In such a state of things I may let the Jacobins prate as they like.  But let them not talk too loudly either!”

As soon as he was dressed we went to look through the Gallery of Diana and examine the statues which had been placed there by his orders.  We ended our morning’s work by taking complete possession of our new residence.  I recollect Bonaparte saying to me, among other things, “To be at the Tuileries, Bourrienne, is not all.  We must stay here.  Who, in Heaven’s name, has not already inhabited this palace?  Ruffians, conventionalists!  But hold! there is your brother’s house!  Was it not from those windows I saw the Tuileries besieged, and the good Louis XVI. carried off?  But be assured they will not come here again!”

The Ambassadors and other foreign Ministers then in Paris were presented to the First Consul at a solemn audience.  On this occasion all the ancient ceremonials belonging to the French Court were raked up, and in place of chamberlains and a grand master of ceremonies a Counsellor of State, M. Benezech, who was once Minister for Foreign Affairs, officiated.

When the Ambassadors had all arrived M. Benezech conducted them into the cabinet, in which were the three Consuls, the Ministers, and the Council of State.  The Ambassadors presented their credentials to the First Consul, who handed them to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.  These presentations were followed by others; for example, the Tribunal of Cassation, over which the old advocate, Target, who refused to defend Louis XVI., then presided.  All this passed in view of the three Consuls; but the circumstance which distinguished the First Consul from his colleagues was, that the official personages, on leaving the audience-chamber, were conducted to Madame Bonaparte’s apartments, in imitation of the old practice of waiting on the Queen after presentation to the King.