Canova having arrived in Paris came to St. Cloud to model the figure of the First Consul, of whom he was about to make a colossal statue.  This great artist came often, in the hope of getting his model to stand in the proper attitude; but Bonaparte was so tired, disgusted, and fretted by the process, that he very seldom put himself in the required attitude, and then only for a short time.  Bonaparte notwithstanding had the highest regard for Canova.  Whenever he was announced the First Consul sent me to keep him company until he was at leisure to give him a sitting; but he would shrug up his shoulders and say, “More modeling!  Good Heavens, how vexatious!” Canova expressed great displeasure at not being able to study his model as he wished to do, and the little anxiety of Bonaparte on the subject damped the ardour of his imagination.  Everybody agrees in saying that he has not succeeded in the work, and I have explained the reason.  The Duke of Wellington afterwards possessed this colossal statue, which was about twice his own height.

CHAPTER XI.

1802.

Bonaparte’s principle as to the change of Ministers—­Fouche—­His influence with the First Consul—­Fouche’s dismissal—­The departments of Police and Justice united under Regnier—­Madame Bonaparte’s regret for the dismissal of Fouche—­Family scenes—­Madame Louis Bonaparte’s pregnancy—­False and infamous reports to Josephine—­ Legitimacy and a bastard—­Raederer reproached by Josephine—­Her visit to Ruel—­Long conversation with her—­Assertion at St. Helena respecting a great political fraud.

It is a principle particularly applicable to absolute governments that a prince should change his ministers as seldom as possible, and never except upon serious grounds.  Bonaparte acted on this principle when First Consul, and also when he became Emperor.  He often allowed unjust causes to influence him, but he never dismissed a Minister without cause; indeed, he more than once, without any reason, retained Ministers longer than he ought to have done in the situations in which he had placed them.  Bonaparte’s tenacity in this respect, in some instances, produced very opposite results.  For instance, it afforded M. Gaudin’ time to establish a degree of order in the administration of Finance which hefore his time had never existed; and on the other hand, it enabled M. Decres to reduce the Ministry of Marine to an unparalleled state of confusion.

Bonaparte saw nothing in men but helps and obstacles.  On the 18th Brumaire Fouche was a help.  The First Consul feared that he would become an obstacle; it was necessary, therefore, to think of dismissing him.  Bonaparte’s most sincere friends had from the beginning been opposed to Fouche’s having any share in the Government.  But their disinterested advice produced no other result than their own disgrace, so influential a person had Fouche become.  How