Lauriston had arrived at Paris, where he made but a short stay, some days before Caffarelli, who was sent on a mission to Rome to sound the Papal Court, and to induce the Holy Father to come to Paris to consecrate Bonaparte at his coronation.  I have already described the nature of Bonaparte’s ideas on religion.  His notions on the subject seemed to amount to a sort of vague feeling rather than to any belief founded on reflection.  Nevertheless, he had a high opinion of the power of the Church; but not because he considered it dangerous to Governments, particularly to his own.  Napoleon never could have conceived how it was possible that a sovereign wearing a crown and a sword could have the meanness to kneel to a Pope, or to humble his sceptre before the keys of St. Peter.  His spirit was too great to admit of such a thought.  On the contrary, he regarded the alliance between the Church and his power as a happy means of influencing the opinions of the people, and as an additional tie which was to attach them to a Government rendered legitimate by the solemn sanction of the Papal authority.  Bonaparte was not deceived.  In this, as well as in many other things, the perspicacity of his genius enabled him to comprehend all the importance of a consecration bestowed on him by the Pope; more especially as Louis XVIII., without subjects, without territory, and wearing only an illusory crown, had not received that sacred unction by which the descendants of Hugh Capet become the eldest sons of the Church.

As soon as the Emperor was informed of the success of Caffarelli’s mission, and that the Pope, in compliance with his desire, was about to repair to Paris to confirm in his hands the sceptre of Charlemagne, nothing was thought of but preparations for that great event, which had been preceded by the recognition of Napoleon as Emperor of the French on the part of all the States of Europe, with the exception of England.

On the conclusion of the Concordat Bonaparte said to me, “I shall let the Republican generals exclaim as much as they like against the Mass.  I know what I am about; I am working for posterity.”  He was now gathering the fruits of his Concordat.  He ordered that the Pope should be everywhere treated in his journey through the French territory with the highest distinction, and he proceeded to Fontainebleau to receive his Holiness.  This afforded an opportunity for Bonaparte to re-establish the example of those journeys of the old Court, during which changes of ministers used formerly to be made.  The Palace of Fontainebleau, now become Imperial, like all the old royal chateaux, had been newly furnished with a luxury and taste corresponding to the progress of modern art.  The Emperor was proceeding on the road to Nemours when courtiers informed him of the approach of Pius vii.  Bonaparte’s object was to avoid the ceremony which had been previously settled.  He had therefore made the pretext of going on a hunting-party, and was in the way as it