Fouche never regarded a benefit in any other light than as the means of injuring his benefactor.  The King, deceived, like many other persons, by the reputation which Fouche’s partisans had conjured up for him, was certainly not aware that Fouche had always discharged the functions of Minister in his own interest, and never for the interest of the Government which had the weakness to entrust him with a power always dangerous in his hands.  Fouche had opinions, but he belonged to no party, and his political success is explained by the readiness with which he always served the party he knew must triumph, and which he himself overthrew in its turn.  He maintained himself in favour from the days of blood and terror until the happy time of the second Restoration only by abandoning and sacrificing those who were attached to him; and it might be said that his ruling passion was the desire of continual change.  No man was ever characterised by greater levity or inconstancy of mind.  In all things he looked only to himself, and to this egotism he sacrificed both subjects and Governments.  Such were the secret causes of the sway exercised by Fouche during the Convention, the Directory, the Empire, the Usurpation, and after the second return of the Bourbons.  He helped to found and to destroy every one of those successive Governments.  Fouche’s character is perfectly unique.  I know no other man who, loaded with honours, and almost escaping disgrace, has passed through so many eventful periods, and taken part in so many convulsions and revolutions.

On the 7th of July the King was told that Fouche alone could smooth the way for his entrance into Paris, that he alone could unlock the gates of the capital, and that he alone had power to control public opinion.  The reception given to the King on the following day afforded an opportunity of judging of the truth of these assertions.  The King’s presence was the signal for a feeling of concord, which was manifested in a very decided way.  I saw upon the boulevards, and often in company with each other, persons, some of whom had resumed the white cockade, while others still retained the national colours, and harmony was not in the least disturbed by these different badges.

Having returned to private life solely on account of Fouche’s presence in the Ministry, I yielded to that consolation which is always left to the discontented.  I watched the extravagance and inconsistency that were passing around me, and the new follies which were every day committed; and it must be confessed that a rich and varied picture presented itself to my observation.  The King did not bring back M. de Blacas.  His Majesty had yielded to prudent advice, and on arriving at Mons sent the unlucky Minister as his ambassador to Naples.  Vengeance was talked of, and there were some persons inconsiderate enough to wish that advantage should be taken of the presence of the foreigners in order to make what they termed “an end of the Revolution,” as if there were any other means of effecting that object than frankly adopting whatever good the Revolution had produced.  The foreigners observed with satisfaction the disposition of these shallow persons, which they thought might be turned to their own advantage.  The truth is, that on the second Restoration our pretended allies proved themselves our enemies.