—­[The First Consul had on several occasions urged M. de Talleyrand to return to holy orders.  He pointed out to him that that course world be most becoming his age and high birth, and premised that he should be made a cardinal, thus raising him to a par with Richelieu, and giving additional lustre to his administration (Memoirs of the Duke of Rovigo, vol. i. p. 426).

   But M. de Talleyrand vindicated his choice, saying, “A clever wife
   often compromises her husband; a stupid one only compromises
   herself” (Historical Characters, p.122, Bulwer, Lord Dulling).]—­

I will end this chapter by a story somewhat foreign to the preceding transactions, but which personally concerns myself.  On the 20th of July 1801 the First Consul, ‘ex proprio motu’, named me a Councillor of State extraordinary.  Madame Bonaparte kindly condescended to have an elegant but somewhat ideal costume made for me.  It pleased the First Consul, however, and he had a similar one made for himself.  He wore it a short time and then left it off.  Never had Bonaparte since his elevation shown himself so amiable as on this occasion.

CHAPTER VI.

1802.

Last chapter on Egypt—­Admiral Gantheaume—­Way to please Bonaparte—­ General Menou’s flattery and his reward—­Davoust—­Bonaparte regrets giving the command to Menou, who is defeated by Abercromby—­Otto’s negotiation in London—­Preliminaries of peace.

For the last time in these Memoirs I shall return to the affairs of Egypt—­to that episode which embraces so short a space of time and holds so high a place in the life of Bonaparte.  Of all his conquests he set the highest value on Egypt, because it spread the glory of his name throughout the East.  Accordingly he left nothing unattempted for the preservation of that colony.  In a letter to General Kleber he said, “You are as able as I am to understand how important is the possession of Egypt to France.  The Turkish Empire, in which the symptoms of decay are everywhere discernible, is at present falling to pieces, and the evil of the evacuation of Egypt by France would now be the greater, as we should soon see that fine province pass into the possession of some other European power.”  The selection of Gantheaume, however, to carry assistance to Kleber was not judicious.  Gantheaume had brought the First Consul back from Egypt, and though the success of the passage could only be attributed to Bonaparte’s own plan, his determined character, and superior judgment, yet he preserved towards Gantheaume that favourable disposition which is naturally felt for one who has shared a great danger with us, and upon whom the responsibility may be said to have been imposed.

This confidence in mediocrity, dictated by an honourable feeling, did not obtain a suitable return.  Gantheaume, by his indecision and creeping about in the Mediterranean, had already failed to execute a commission entrusted to him.  The First Consul, upon finding he did not leave Brest after he had been ordered to the Mediterranean, repeatedly said to me, “What the devil is Gantheaume about?” With one of the daily reports sent to the First Consul he received the following quatrain, which made him laugh heartily: