This etext was produced by David Widger
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, at the end of several of thefiles for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before makingan entire meal of them. D.W.]
By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE
His Private Secretary
Edited by R. W. Phipps
Colonel, Late Royal Artillery
1891
CONTENTS:
CHAPTER XI. to CHAPTER XII. 1815
1815.
My departure from Hamburg-The King at St. Denis—Fouche appointed Minister of the Police—Delay of the King's entrance into Paris— Effect of that delay—Fouche's nomination due to the Duke of Wellington—Impossibility of resuming my post—Fouche's language with respect to the Bourbons—His famous postscript—Character of Fouche—Discussion respecting the two cockades—Manifestations of public joy repressed by Fouche—Composition of the new Ministry— Kind attention of Blucher—The English at St. Cloud—Blucher in Napoleon's cabinet—My prisoner become my protector—Blucher and the innkeeper's dog—My daughter's marriage contract—Rigid etiquette— My appointment to the Presidentship of the Electoral College of the Yonne—My interview with Fouche—My audience of the King—His Majesty made acquainted with my conversation with Fouche—The Duke of Otranto's disgrace—Carnot deceived by Bonaparte—My election as deputy—My colleague, M. Raudot—My return to Paris—Regret caused by the sacrifice of Ney—Noble conduct of Macdonald—A drive with Rapp in the Bois de Boulogne—Rapp's interview with Bonaparte in 1815—The Due de Berri and Rapp—My nomination to the office of Minister of State—My name inscribed by the hand of Louis XVIII.— Conclusion.
The fulfilment of my prediction was now at hand, for the result of theBattle of Waterloo enabled Louis XVIII. to return to his dominions. Assoon as I heard of the King's departure from Ghent I quitted Hamburg, andtravelled with all possible haste in the hope of reaching Paris in timeto witness his Majesty's entrance. I arrived at St. Denis on the 7th ofJuly, and, notwithstanding the intrigues that were set on foot, I foundan immense number of persons assembled to meet the King. Indeed, theplace was so crowded that it was with the greatest difficulty I couldprocure even a little garret for my lodging.
Having resumed my uniform of a captain of the National Guard, I proceededimmediately to the King's palace. The salon was filled with ladies andgentlemen who had come to congratulate the King on his return. At St.Denis I found my family, who, not being aware that I had left Hamburg,were much surprised to see me.
They informed me that the Parisians were all impatient for the return ofthe King—a fact of which I could judge by the opposition manifested tothe free expression of public feeling. Paris having been declared in astate of blockade, the gates were closed, and no one was permitted toleave the capital, particularly by the Barriere de la Chapelle. It istrue that special permission might be obtained, and with tolerable ease,by those who wished to leave the city; but the forms to be observed forobtaining the permission deterred the mass of the people from proceedingto St. Denis, which, indeed, was the sole object of the regulation. Asit had been resolved to force Fouche and the tri-coloured cockade uponthe King, it was deemed necessary to keep away f