Memoirs of Napoleon — Complete eBook

Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,767 pages of information about Memoirs of Napoleon — Complete.

Memoirs of Napoleon — Complete eBook

Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,767 pages of information about Memoirs of Napoleon — Complete.

M. de Talleyrand, accompanied by the members of the Provisional Government, several Marshals and general officers, and the municipal body, headed by the prefect of the Seine, went in procession beyond the barrier to receive Monsieur.  M. de Talleyrand, in the name of the Provisional Government, addressed the Prince, who in reply made that observation which has been so often repeated, “Nothing is changed in France:  there is only one Frenchman more.”

—­[These words were never really uttered by the Comte d’Artois, and we can in this case follow the manufacture of the phrase.  The reply actually made to Talleyrand was, “Sir, and gentlemen, I thank you; I am too happy.  Let us get on; I am too happy.”  When the day’s work was done, “Let us see,” said Talleyrand; “what did Monsieur say?  I did not hear much:  he seemed much moved, and desirous of hastening on, but if what he did say will not suit you (Beugnot), make an answer for him . . . and I can answer that Monsieur will accept it, and that so thoroughly that by the end of a couple of days he will believe he made it, and he will have made it:  you will count for nothing.”  After repeated attempts, rejected by Talleyraud, Beugnot at last produced, “No more divisions.  Peace and France!  At last I see her once more, and nothing in her is changed, except that here is one more Frenchman.”  At last the great critic (Talleyrand) said, “This time I yield; that is realty Monsieur’s speech, and I will answer for you that he is the man who made it.”  Monsieur did not disdain to refer to it in his replies, end the prophecy of M. de Talleyrand was completely realised (Beugnot, vol. ii, p. 119)]—­

This remark promised much.  The Comte Artois next proceeded on horseback to the barrier St. Martin.  I mingled in the crowd to see the procession and to observe the sentiments of the spectators.  Near me stood an old knight of St. Louis, who had resumed the insignia of the order, and who wept for joy at again seeing one of the Bourbons.  The procession soon arrived, preceded by a band playing the air, “Vive Henri Quatre!” I had never before seen Monsieur, and his appearance had a most pleasing effect upon me.  His open countenance bore the expression of that confidence which his presence inspired in all who saw him.  His staff was very brilliant, considering it was got together without preparation.  The Prince wore the uniform of the National Guard, with the insignia of the Order of the Holy Ghost.

I must candidly state that where I saw Monsieur pass, enthusiasm was chiefly confined to his own retinue, and to persons who appeared to belong to a superior class of society.  The lower order of people seemed to be animated by curiosity and astonishment rather than any other feeling.  I must add that it was not without painful surprise I saw a squadron of Cossacks close the procession; and my surprise was the greater when I learned from General Sacken that the Emperor Alexander had wished that on that day the one Frenchman more should be surrounded only by Frenchmen, and that to prove that the presence of the Bourbons was the signal of reconciliation his Majesty had ordered 20,000 of the Allied troops to quit Paris.  I know not to what the presence of the Cossacks is to be attributed, but it was an awkward circumstance at the time, and one which malevolence did not fail to seize upon.

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Memoirs of Napoleon — Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.