Hortense poured her pure ideas into her sons and it gave them a taste for danger which frightened her.
English translation:
Previous writing of this book is here.
filled with intelligence, fire, and the need to utilize his talents to serve the happiness of others. In spite of the greatness which had surrounded his childhood, what I so much stressed in the education I wanted to give to my sons were the maxims he adopted which I often told him: “before being prince, the elevation of rank is but one more obligation to one’s fellow man. Misfortune gracefully endured enhances all our noble qualities.”
The innumerable calamities of our family had again been the best of lessons. Thus, without prejudice, without guilt about the advantages which he owed to his birth, placing only honor in being useful to mankind, he was a republican by character and he disregarded the prerogatives he had lost. He thought it his duty to help to all who were suffering.
I could not restrain him when he wished to go to Greece, even though his name could harm this interesting cause. He wished to go there alone, he said, to serve without being recognized as a Bonaparte.
But finally he gave up the idea because he would have to abandon his sick father, whose sweetest consolation he was. I tried to calm this exaltation, which, though inclined towards all that was noble and elevated, made me fear for destinies which fate seemed to devote to rest.
My son Louis had absolutely the same feelings and the same character as his brother. The revolution of July found the eldest in the midst of his inventions for industry, which, for lack of better projects, had occupied him since his marriage. The youngest was at the Military School at Thun, where he was attending courses in artillery and engineering.
Both seemed to be reborn at the news of Paris. Although separated, their impressions were the same. They were sorry to not have fought with the Parisians. They had enthusiasm for their heroic conduct, and legitimate hope of serving that France which they cherished so much. They said to me: She is finally free. The exile is over. The homeland is . . .
To be continued.
The memoirs so far are available here.
Hortense’s explanation why she broke the law is here.