Hortense s'étonne de la volonté de simplement livrer Paris à l'ennemi sans résistance.
This is the memoir of Hortense Bonaparte’s friend Louise Cochelet Parquin. She writes of how the infiltrated French government caved and didn’t support their interests and let the foreign troops take control.
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I couldn’t sit still so I went to the Duchess of Bassano, then to the Duchess of Ragusa, thinking that their husbands were perhaps better aware than anyone else in Paris of what was going on in the army.
I saw them successively and found them both in a state of despair about the news which was being circulated, and which was only too true.
This confirmation of my fears returned to me all my courage; I felt that it was time for everyone to act, and I was able, in these sad circumstances, to convince myself that, in great setbacks, the morale of women is less easily discouraged, and that they find in their hearts, in the liveliness of their impressions, all the strength necessary for courageous resolutions.
The Queen, after her dinner, went to the Tuileries; the time she remained there seemed to me of enormous length.
M. de Lavallette came to wait for the Queen at my house. His concern was equal to mine. At this moment perhaps the fate of France was decided in the council; what were we going to do?
M. de Lavallette walked in with agitation, saying: "If we decide to leave, it will take place: as the worst party is setting the tone, it is the one that will ruin us. And yet they know that the Emperor is coming! The energy, the presence of mind will be lacking, I am afraid, I am sure of it.”
At eleven o'clock we went up to the Queen's house, and found there Maréchale Ney who was also waiting for her. We waited until one in the morning.
Then the Queen arrives with two doors thrown open.
The Queen entered with an expression I had never seen before. I felt it was all over. "I am outraged by the weakness I have just witnessesed”, she tells us, “will you believe it? We’re to leave! This is how we lose France and the Emperor with pleasure! Ah! in great circumstances women, alone, have courage!
“I feel it, I am undoubtedly the one who will suffer the least from the loss of all this grandeur; but I am indignant to see so little energy, when it is so necessary. When fate has elevated us, and the destinies of a country depend on our actions, it is a duty to maintain ourselves as high as fortune has placed us.”
The Queen went into some details, telling us that the council had decided that Paris could not defend itself, and that then we did not want the Empress and the King of Rome to fall into the hands of the enemy.
The Queen repeated to us what she had said to the Empress: "My sister, at least you know that by leaving Paris, you neutralize the defense and thus lose your crown. I see that you sacrifice it with great resignation.”
The Empress replied: "You are right, it is not my fault; but the council so decided.”
Cambaceres' fright, his embarrassments, the time he required to be able to set out, since he had to accompany the Empress, the forgetfulness that was made of the Emperor's treasure, all these things were the subject of conversation for a long time. We ended up laughing with anger and pity.
M. de Lavallette asked the Queen what she intended to do. "But," she said, "as we are left in control of ourselves, I don't want to be taken over -
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Celles-ci sont les mémoires de Louise Cochelet Parquin, l'amie d'Hortense Bonaparte. Elle raconte comment le gouvernement français infiltré a cédé et n'a pas soutenu leurs intérêts et laissé les troupes étrangères prendre le contrôle.
