CONTENTS

	PAGE
Introduction	9
List of Illustrations	11
Preface by Paul de RÉmusat	13
Portraits and Anecdotes by the Author	65

BOOK I

CHAPTER I
(1802-1803.)
Family Affairs—My First Evening at Saint Cloud—General Moreau—M. de RÉmusat is made Prefect, and I, Lady of the Palace—Habits of the First Consul and of Mme. Bonaparte—M. de Talleyrand—The Family of the First Consul—Mlles. Georges and Duchesnois—Mme. Bonaparte’s Jealousy	103

CHAPTER II
(1803.)
A Return to the Customs of the Monarchy—M. de Fontanes—Mme. d’Houdetot—Rumors of War—Meeting of the Corps LÉgislatif—Departure of the English Ambassador—M. Maret—Marshal Berthier—Journey of the First Consul to Belgium—A Carriage Accident—The Amiens FÊtes	133

CHAPTER III
(1803.)
Continuation of the Journey to Belgium—Opinions of the First Consul on Gratitude, on Glory, and on the French—Ghent, Malines, and Brussels—The Clergy—M. de Roquelaure—Return to Saint Cloud—Preparations for an Invasion of England—Marriage of Mme. Leclerc—Journey of the First Consul to Boulogne—Illness of M. de RÉmusat—I rejoin him—Conversations with the First Consul	148

CHAPTER IV
(1803-1804.)
Continuation of the First Consul’s Conversations at Boulogne—Reading of the Tragedy of “Philippe Auguste”—My New Impressions—Return to Paris—Mme. Bonaparte’s Jealousy—Winter FÊtes of 1804—M. de Fontanes—M. FouchÉ—Savary—Pichegru—Arrest of General Moreau	171

CHAPTER V
The Arrest of Georges Cadoudal—The Mission of M. de Caulaincourt to Ettenheim—The Arrest of the Due d’Enghien—My Distress and my Urgency with Mme. Bonaparte—An Evening at Malmaison—The Death of the Duc d’Enghien—Remarkable Words of the First Consul	192

CHAPTER VI
(1804.)
The Impression produced in Paris by the Death of the Duc d’Enghien—The First Consul’s Efforts to dispel it—Performance at the OpÉra House—Death of Pichegru—Breach between Bonaparte and his Brother Lucien—Project of adopting the Young Napoleon—Foundation of the Empire	213

CHAPTER VII
Effects and Causes of the Accession of Bonaparte to the Imperial Throne—The Emperor converses—The Grievances of Mme. Murat—The Character of M. de RÉmusat—The New Court	233

CHAPTER VIII
(1804.)
The Trial of General Moreau—Condemnation of MM. de Polignac, De RiviÈre, etc.—Pardon of M. de Polignac—A Letter from Louis XVIII.	256

CHAPTER IX
(1804.)
Plans for the Invasion—An Article in the “Moniteur”—The Great Officers of State—The Ladies-in-Waiting—The Anniversary of July 14th—Beauty of the Empress—Projects of Divorce—Preparations for the Coronation	270

CHAPTER X
The Pope’s Arrival in Paris—The Plebiscitum—The Marriage of the Empress Josephine—The Coronation FÊtes in the Champ de Mars, at the OpÉra, etc.—The Court of the Empress	294

CHAPTER XI
(1807.)
The Emperor in Love—Mme. de X——.—Mme. de Damas—The Empress confides in me—Palace Intrigues—Murat is raised to the Rank of Prince	311

BOOK II

CHAPTER XII
(1805.)
Opening of the Session of the Senate—M. de Talleyrand’s Report—Letter from the Emperor to the King of England—Union of the Crown of Italy to the Empire—Mme. Bacciochi becomes Princess of Piombino—Performance of “Athalie”—The Emperor goes to Italy—His Dissatisfaction—M. de Talleyrand—Prospect of War with Austria	331

CHAPTER XIII
(1805.)
FÊtes at Verona and Genoa—Cardinal Maury—My Retired Life in the Country—Mme. Louis Bonaparte—“Les Templiers”—The Emperor’s Return—His Amusements—The Marriage of M. de Talleyrand—War is declared	350

CHAPTER XIV
(1805.)
M. de Talleyrand and M. FouchÉ—The Emperor’s Speech to the Senate—The Departure of the Emperor—The Bulletins of the Grand Army—Poverty in Paris during the War—The Emperor and the Marshals—The Faubourg St. Germain—Trafalgar—Journey of M. de RÉmusat to Vienna	368

CHAPTER XV
(1805.)
The Battle of Austerlitz—The Emperor Alexander—Negotiations—Prince Charles—M. d’AndrÉ—M. de RÉmusat in Disgrace—Duroc—Savary—The Treaty of Peace	388


VOLUME II

CHAPTER XVI
(1805-1806.)
State of Paris during the War—CambacÉrÈs—Le Brun—Mme. Louis Bonaparte—Marriage of EugÈne de Beauharnais—Bulletins and Proclamations—Admiration of the Emperor for the Queen of Bavaria—Jealousy of the Empress—M. de Nansouty—Mme. de ——.—Conquest of Naples—Position and Character of the Emperor	409

CHAPTER XVII
(1806.)
The Death of Pitt—Parliamentary Debates in England—Public Works—Industrial Exhibition—New Etiquette—Performances at the OpÉra House and at the ComÉdie FranÇaise—Monotony of the Court—Opinions of the Empress—Mme. Louis Bonaparte—Mme. Murat—The Bourbons—New Ladies-in-Waiting—M. MolÉ—Mme. d’Houdetot—Mme. de Barante	428

CHAPTER XVIII
(1806.)
The Emperor’s Civil List—His Household and its Expenses—Dress of the Empress and of Mme. Murat—Louis Bonaparte—Prince Borghese—FÊtes at Court—The Empress’s Family—Marriage of Princess StÉphanie—Jealousy of the Empress—Theatricals at Malmaison	452

CHAPTER XIX
The Emperor’s Court—His Ecclesiastical Household—His Military Household—The Marshals—The Ladies—Delille—Chateaubriand—Mme. de Genlis—Romances—Literature—Arts	474

CHAPTER XX
(1806.)
Senatus Consultum of the 30th of March—Foundation of Monarchies and Duchies—Queen Hortense	506

CHAPTER XXI
(1806.)
I go to Cauterets—The King of Holland—Factitious Tranquillity of France—M. de Metternich—The New Catechism—The Germanic Confederation—Poland—Death of Mr. Fox—War is declared—Departure of the Emperor—M. Pasquier and M. MolÉ—Session of the Senate—The Opening of Hostilities—The Court—Reception of Cardinal Maury	528

CHAPTER XXII
(1806-1807.)
Death of Prince Louis of Prussia—Battle of Jena—The Queen of Prussia and the Emperor Alexander—The Emperor and the Revolution—Court Life at Mayence—Life in Paris—Marshal Brune—Taking of Lubeck—The Princess of Hatzfeld—The Auditors of the State Council—Sufferings of the Army—The King of Saxony—Battle of Eylau	553

CHAPTER XXIII
(1807.)
The Return of the Empress to Paris—The Imperial Family—Junot—FouchÉ—The Queen of Holland—Levy of the Conscripts of 1808—Theatricals at Court—Letter from the Emperor—Siege of Dantzic—Death of the Empress of Austria—Death of Queen Hortense’s Son—M. Decazes—The Emperor’s Want of Feeling	576

CHAPTER XXIV
(1807.)
The Duke of Dantzic—FouchÉ’s Police—Battle of Friedland—M. de Lameth—Treaty of Tilsit—Return of the Emperor—M. de Talleyrand—The Ministers—The Bishops	595

CHAPTER XXV
(1807.)
Vexations at Court—Friendship with M. de Talleyrand—General Rapp—General Clarke—Session of the Legislative Bodies—The Emperor’s Speech—FÊtes of the 15th of August—Marriage of JÉrÔme Bonaparte—Death of Le Brun—The AbbÉ Delille—M. de Chateaubriand—Dissolution of the Tribunate—The Court removes to Fontainebleau	613

CHAPTER XXVI
(1807.)
The Power of the Emperor—Resistance of the English—The Emperor’s Life at Fontainebleau—Plays—Talma—King JÉrÔme—The Princess of Baden—The Grand Duchess of Berg—Princess Borghese—CambacÉrÈs—Foreign Princes—Spanish Affairs—Previsions of M. de Talleyrand—M. de RÉmusat is made Superintendent of Theatres—The Fortunes and the Difficulties of the Marshals	635

CHAPTER XXVII
(1807-1808.)
Projects of Divorce	674

CHAPTER XXVIII

(1807-1808.)
Return from Fontainebleau—The Emperor’s Journey in Italy—The Youth of M. de Talleyrand—FÊtes at the Tuileries—The Emperor and the Artists—The Emperor’s Opinion of the English Government—The Marriage of Mlle. de Tascher—Count Romanzoff—Marriage of Marshal Berthier—The University—Affairs of Spain	693

CHAPTER XXIX
(1808.)
The War with Spain—The Prince of the Peace—The Prince of the Asturias—The Abdication of King Charles IV.—The Departure of the Emperor—His Sojourn at Bayonne—Letter of the Emperor—Arrival of the Princes in France—Birth of the Second Son of the Queen of Holland—Abdication of the Prince of the Asturias	723

Conclusion	742
Postscript	760

INTRODUCTION

The clear and interesting “Preface” of Paul de RÉmusat, grandson of the author of these Memoirs, renders unnecessary a lengthy introduction on the part of the publishers. The reader will find there a sympathetic sketch of the talented lady-in-waiting, and through her eyes a vivid portrait not only of Josephine and Napoleon, but of surrounding Court life.

Madame de RÉmusat, born Claire de Vergennes, was a woman of superior descent and endowments; her grandson may feel a pardonable pride in setting forth her virtues. Her father and grandfather were among the many political victims of the Revolution, perishing in 1794 upon the same scaffold, three days before the fall of Robespierre. Her mother took the young girl and her sister to a retired spot in the valley of Montmorency, whither they were followed by a friend of the family, Augustin de RÉmusat, who won the hand of Claire.

Among the neighbours, during the months of retirement from political storm, was Madame de Beauharnais, who in 1796 became the wife of Bonaparte, and later the famous Empress Josephine. A warm friendship sprang up between the two families, and when Josephine removed to Paris to take her exalted place, Madame de RÉmusat went with her as a lady-in-waiting; while M. de RÉmusat was made Prefect of the Palace, in 1802.

These Memoirs are an exact record of the life of the author, as well as a survey of the first years of the nineteenth century. They show us what changes the establishment of the Empire effected at Court, and how life there constantly shifted to reflect the changing fortunes of its master. The figure of Napoleon stands out boldly, albeit sketched with an unsympathetic pen. The lady-in-waiting’s loyalty was entirely upon the side of her mistress in the latter’s struggle against the Bonaparte family; and when the downfall of Josephine occurred, Madame de RÉmusat followed her into retirement. It was then that she took up her pen to write of historic people and affairs. Her first manuscripts, however, were destroyed, in 1815, the author fearing that they would compromise her family politically by their outspoken criticisms. Napoleon had escaped from Elba, and none could prophesy what a day might bring forth.

In 1818 she began the subject afresh, inspired, as she says, by her “love of truth,” and desiring to refute certain opinions advanced by Madame de StaËl’s newly published “Considerations upon the French Revolution.” The circumstances of the renewed literary labour are set forth interestingly in Paul de RÉmusat’s story. The Memoirs, he says, were to have been divided into five parts, treating of five distinct epochs. Only three were completed, treating of the important interval between the years 1802 and 1809. This manuscript left unfinished at Madame de RÉmusat’s death, in 1821, awaited publication for sixty years, when the people and the events which it described so freely had long since passed away. It was not until 1881, that the grandson of the author gave them to the world. His reasons therefor and the story of the manuscript itself are an appetising foretaste of this work written by a person famed for her sincerity, clear vision, and “talent for being true.”

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

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