What were our feelings when we again set foot on the soil of France I will not attempt to describe.  Our escape from the dangers that threatened us seemed almost miraculous.  We had lost twenty days at the beginning of our voyage, and at its close the had been almost taken by an English squadron.  Under these circumstances, how rapturously we inhaled the balmy, air of Provence!  Such was our joy, that we were scarcely sensible of the disheartening news which arrived from all quarters.  At the first moment of our arrival, by a spontaneous impulse, we all repeated, with tears in our eyes, the beautiful lines which Voltaire has put into the mouth of the exile of Sicily.

Bonaparte has been reproached with having violated the sanitary laws; but, after what I have already stated respecting his intentions, I presume there can remain no doubt of the falsehood of this accusation.  All the blame must rest with the inhabitants of Frejus, who on this occasion found the law of necessity more imperious than the sanitary laws.  Yet when it is considered that four or five hundred persons, and a quantity of effects, were landed from Alexandria, where the plague had been raging during the summer, it is almost a miracle that France, and indeed Europe escaped the scourge.

CHAPTER XXII.

1799.

   Effect produced by Bonaparte’s return—­His justification—­
   Melancholy letter to my wife—­Bonaparte’s intended dinner at Sens—­
   Louis Bonaparte and Josephine—­He changes his intended route—­
   Melancholy situation of the provinces—­Necessity of a change—­
   Bonaparte’s ambitious views—­Influence of popular applause—­
   Arrival in Paris—­His reception of Josephine—­Their reconciliation—­
   Bonaparte’s visit to the Directory—­His contemptuous treatment of
   Sieyes.

Tim effect produced in France and throughout Europe by the mere intelligence of Bonaparte’s return is well known.  I shall not yet speak of the vast train of consequences which that event entailed.  I must, however, notice some accusations which were brought against him from the time of our landing to the 9th of November.  He was reproached for having left Egypt, and it was alleged that his departure was the result of long premeditation.  But I, who was constantly with him, am enabled positively to affirm that his return to France was merely the effect of a sudden resolution.  Of this the following fact is in itself sufficient evidence.

While we were at Cairo, a few days before we heard of the landing of the Anglo-Turkish fleet, and at the moment when we were on the point of setting off to encamp at the Pyramids, Bonaparte despatched a courier to France.  I took advantage of this opportunity to write to my wife.  I almost bade her an eternal adieu:  My letter breathed expressions of grief such as I had not before evinced.  I said, among other things, that we. knew not when or how it would be possible for us to return to France.  If Bonaparte had then entertained any thought of a speedy return I must have known it, and in that case I should not certainly have distressed my family by a desponding letter, when I had not had an opportunity of writing for seven months before.