The intoxication of great men—­Unlucky zeal—­mm.  Maret, Champagny, and Savary—­M. de Talleyrand’s real services—­Postponement of the execution of orders—­Fouche and the Revolution—­The Royalist committee—­The charter first planned during the Consulate—­Mission to Coblentz—­Influence of the Royalists upon Josephine—­The statue and the pedestal—­Madame de Genlis’ romance of Madame de la Valliere—­The Legion of Honour and the carnations—­Influence of the Faubourg St. Germain—­Inconsiderate step taken by Bonaparte—­Louis XVIII’s indignation—­Prudent advice of the Abbe Andre—­Letter from Louis XVIII. to Bonaparte—­Council held at Neuilly—­The letter delivered—­Indifference of Bonaparte, and satisfaction of the Royalists.

Perhaps one of the happiest ideas that ever were expressed was that of the Athenian who said, “I appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober.”  The drunkenness here alluded to is not of that kind which degrades a man to the level of a brute, but that intoxication which is occasioned by success, and which produces in the heads of the ambitious a sort of cerebral congestion.  Ordinary men are not subject to this excitement, and can scarcely form an idea of it.  But it is nevertheless true that the fumes of glory and ambition occasionally derange the strongest heads; and Bonaparte, in all the vigour of his genius, was often subject to aberrations of judgment; for though his imagination never failed him, his judgment was frequently at fault.

This fact may serve to explain, and perhaps even to excuse the faults with which the First Consul has been most seriously reproached.  The activity of his mind seldom admitted of an interval between the conception and the execution of a design; but when he reflected coolly on the first impulses of his imperious will, his judgment discarded what was erroneous.  Thus the blind obedience, which, like an epidemic disease, infected almost all who surrounded Bonaparte, was productive of the most fatal effects.  The best way to serve the First Consul was never to listen to the suggestions of his first ideas, except on the field of battle, where his conceptions were as happy as they were rapid.  Thus, for example, mm.  Maret, de Champagny, and Savary evinced a ready obedience to Bonaparte’s wishes, which often proved very unfortunate, though doubtless dictated by the best intentions on their part.  To this fatal zeal may be attributed a great portion of the mischief which Bonaparte committed.  When the mischief was done, and past remedy, Bonaparte deeply regretted it.  How often have I heard him say that Maret was animated by an unlucky zeal!  This was the expression he made use of.