Napoleon bottles out.

Chapter LX.

Projected Escape of Napoleon.

Attack on the bridge of Charenton by the Russians - Fouché’s arrangements for the *defence *of Paris - Bonaparte’s retirement to Malmaison - His Want of moral courage - Comparison between Napoleon and Frederick the Great - Extraordinary resolution of the Ex-Emperor to repair to London - Preparations for his undertaking the journey as secretary to Dr. Marshall - The scheme abandoned from dread of treachery on the road to the coast - Termination of the author’s intercourse with Dr. Marshall and the cause thereof - Remuneration of Colonel Macirone by the arch-traitor Fouché.

It was the received opinion that the allies would form a blockade rather than venture an assault on Paris. The numerical strength and *morale *of the French army at Vilette the reader has already seen. The English army was within view of and occupied St. Denis; the Prussians were on the side of Sevres; and the Russians were expected in the direction of Charenton, along the Marne. That Paris might have been taken, by storm is possible; but if the French army had been augmented by one-half of the National Guard, the effort would surely have been most sanguinary, and the result most doubtful. Had the streets been intersected, mines sunk, the bridges broken down, and the populace armed as well as circumstances would permit, the heights being at the same time duly defended, though I am not a military man, and therefore very liable to error on such a subject, I have little doubt, instead of mere negotiation, it would have cost the allies more than one-half of their forces before they had arrived in the centre of the French metropolis. The defence of Saragossa by Palafox (though but a chieftain of Guerilla) proved the possibility of defending an open town against a valorous enemy.

I was breakfasting in Dr. Marshall’s garden when we heard a heavy firing commence. It proceeded from Charenton, about three miles from Paris, where the Russian advanced guard had attacked the bridge, which had not been broken up, although it was one of the leading avenues to the Castle of Vincennes. Fouché indeed had contrived to weaken this post effectually, so that the defence there could not be long protracted, and he had also ordered 10,000 stand of arms to be taken secretly out of Paris and lodged in the Castle of Vincennes to prevent the Parisians from arming.

The discharges continuing in occasional volleys, like a sort of running fire, I was most anxious to go to some spot which would command that part of the country; but the doctor dissuaded me, saying it *could *not be a severe or lengthened struggle, as Fouché had taken care of that matter. I led him gradually into conversation on the business, and he made known to me, though *equivocally, *much more than I had ever suspected. Every despatch, every negotiation, every step which it was supposed by such among the French as had their country’s honour and character at heart might operate to prevent the Allies from approaching Paris after the second abdication, had been either accompanied by counter-applications, or defeated by secret instructions from Fouché.

While mock negotiations were thus carrying on at a distance, and before the English army had reached St. Denis, Bonaparte was already at Malmaison. It had become quite clear that he was a lost man; and this most celebrated of all soldiers on record proved by his conduct at that crisis the distinction between animal and mental courage: the first is an instinctive quality, enjoyed by us in common with many of the brute creation; the latter is the attribute of man alone. The first Napoleon eminently possessed; in the latter he was certainly defective. Frederick the Great, in mental courage, was altogether superior to Napoleon. He could fight and fly, and rally and fight again. His spirit never gave in; his perseverance never flagged. He seemed, in fact, insusceptible of despondency, and was even greater in defeat than in victory. He never quitted his army whilst a troop could be rallied; and the seven years’ war proved that the King of Prussia was equally illustrious, whether fugitive or conqueror.

Napoleon reversed those qualities. No warrior that history records ever was so great *whilst successful: *his victories were followed up with the rapidity of lightning. In overwhelming an army he in fact often subdued a kingdom, and profited more by each triumph than any general that had preceded him. But he could not stand up under defeat!

The several plans for Napoleon’s escape I heard as they were successively formed: such of them as had an appearance of plausibility Fouché found means to counteract. It would not be amusing to relate the various devices which were suggested for this purpose. Napoleon was meanwhile almost passive and wrapped in apathy. He clung to existence with even a mean tenacity; and it is difficult to imagine but that his intellect must have suffered before he was led to endure a life of ignominious exile.

At Dr. Marshall’s hotel one morning I remarked his travelling carriage as if put in preparation for a journey, having candles in the lamps, &c. A smith had been examining it, and the servants were all in motion. I suspected some movement of consequence, but could not surmise what. The doctor did not appear to think that I had observed these preparations.

On a sudden, whilst walking in the garden, I turned short on him.

“Doctor,” said I at a venture, “you are going on an important journey to-night.”

“How do you know?” said he, thrown off his guard by the abruptness of my remark.

“Well!” continued I smiling, “I wish you well out of it!”

“Out of *what?” *exclaimed he, recovering his self-possession and sounding me in his turn.

“Oh, no matter, no matter,” said I with a significant nod, as if I was already acquainted with his proceedings.

This bait took in some degree; and after a good deal of fencing (knowing that he could fully depend on my secrecy), the doctor led me into his study, where he said he would communicate to me a very interesting and important matter. We then unlocked his desk and produced an especial passport for himself and his *secretary *to Havre de Grace, thence to embark for England; and he shewed me a *very *large and also a smaller bag of gold, which he was about to take with him.

He proceeded to inform me that it was determined Napoleon should go to England; that he had himself agreed to it, and that he was to travel in Dr. Marshall’s carriage as his secretary, under the above-mentioned passport. It was arranged that, at twelve o’clock that night, the emperor with the Queen of Holland were to be at Marshall’s house, and to set off thence immediately; that on arriving in England he was forthwith to repair to London, preceded by a letter to the Prince Regent; stating that he threw himself on the protection and generosity of the British nation, and required permission to reside therein as a private individual.

The thing seemed to me too romantic to be serious; and the doctor could not avoid perceiving my incredulity. He, however, enjoined me to secrecy, which, by the by, was unnecessary: I mentioned the circumstance, and should have mentioned it only to one member of my family, whom I knew to be as cautious as myself. But I determined to ascertain the fact; and before twelve o’clock at night repaired to the Rue Pigale, and stood up underneath a door somewhat farther on the opposite side of the street to Dr. Marshall’s house.

A strong light shone through the curtains of the first floor windows, and lights were also moving about in the upper story The court meantime was quite dark, and the indications altogether bespoke that something extraordinary was going forward in the house. Every moment I expected to see Napoleon come to the gate. He came not; but about half after twelve an elderly officer, buttoned up in a blue surtout, rode up to the *porte-cochére, *which, on his ringing, was instantly opened. He went in, and after remaining about 20 minutes, came out on horseback as before, and went down the street. I thought he might have been a precursor, and still kept my ground until, some time after, the light in the first floor was extinguished; and thence inferring what subsequently proved to be the real state of the case, I returned homewards disappointed.

Next day Dr. Marshall told me that Napoleon had been dissuaded from venturing to Havre de Grace - he believed by the Queen of Holland: some idea had occurred either to him or her that he might not be *fairly dealt with *on the road. I own the same suspicion had struck me when I first heard of the plot, though I was far from implicating the doctor in any proceeding of a decidedly treacherous nature. The incident was, however, in all its bearings an extraordinary one.

My intimacy with Dr. Marshall at length ceased, and in a manner very disagreeable. I liked the man, and I do not wish to hurt his feelings; but certain mysterious imputations thrown out by his lady terminated our connexion.

A person with whom I was extremely intimate happened to be in my drawing-room one day when Mrs. Marshall called. I observed nothing of a particular character except that Mrs. Marshall went suddenly away; and as I handed her into her carriage she said, “You promised to dine with us to-morrow, and I requested you to bring any friend you liked; hut do not let it be *that fellow *I have just seen: I have taken a great dislike to his countenance!” No further observation was made, and the lady departed.

On the next morning I received a note from Mrs. Mar-shall, stating that she had reason to *know; *some malicious person had represented me as being acquainted with certain affairs very material for the Government to understand, and as having papers in my possession which might be required from me by the minister Fouché; advising me therefore to leave town for awhile sooner than be troubled respecting business so disagreeable, and adding that, in the meantime, Colonel Macirone would endeavour to find out the facts and apprise me of them.

I never was more surprised in my life than at the receipt of this letter. I had never meddled at all in French politics save to hear and see all I could and say nothing. I neither held nor had held any political paper whatever, and I therefore immediately went to Sir Charles Stuart, our ambassador, made my complaints, and requested his Excellency’s personal interference. To my surprise, Sir Charles in reply asked me, how I could chance to know such a person as Macirone? I did not feel pleased at this, and answered somewhat tartly, “because both the English and French Governments, and his Excellency to boot, had not only intercourse with, but had employed Macirone both in Italy and Paris, and that I knew him to be at that moment in communication with persons of the highest respectability in both countries.”

Sir Charles then wrote a note to Fouché, informing him who I was, &c. and I finally discovered it was all a scheme of Mrs. Marshall for a purpose of her own. This led me to other investigations, and the result was that further communication with Dr. Marshall on my part became impossible. I certainly regretted the circumstance, for he was a gentlemanly and intelligent man.

Colonel Macirone himself was soon taught by Fouché what it is to be the tool of a traitor. Although the colonel might have owed no allegiance to Napoleon, he owed *respect to himself *and having forfeited this to a certain degree, he had the mortification to find that the only remuneration which the arch-apostate was disposed to concede him was public disgrace and a dungeon.

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