Let’s have another look at Hortense’s Memoirs. If you want to read the book it is available for free at the side bar in English and French. Use the widget on the sidebar to translate the text below into pretty much any language.
Napoleon really wanted peace and to run France with a sense of order AND liberty. Why was that such an immense problem for the ones running the rest of Europe? Why was it so important for them to have a monopoly on ALL European governments? What prevented them from respecting the sovereignty of a nation that WANTED Napoleon as their leader? The answer is, of course, because they were in the process of taking over the world and its resources - via their control of money. These oligarchs had no desire to cooperate and get along with the majority of humanity. Their goal was complete total domination - by any means necessary - and here we are 200 years later. Are you looking forward to what they’ve got planned next?
Hortense’s memoirs continues:
I wished to go into details regarding my lawsuit and explain that I had been obliged to defend my case but he said, "Oh, about that matter, you are a mother! That explains everything."
Admiral Ver Huell was announced. The Emperor advanced to meet him and said with emotion: "Come here, Admiral, let me embrace you. I am delighted to see a hero again. If everyone had behaved as you did all those misfortunes would not have taken place."
The Admiral, deeply moved, could not reply. Both men had tears in their eyes. I was delighted to see such well-deserved praise being given to one of my friends.
Monsieur le Comte de Molé was admitted. He came to thank the Emperor for his kindness but requested he only be appointed head of the Department of Roads and Bridges, not feeling qualified to accept the cabinet post the Emperor had offered him. When alone with me the Emperor inquired, "Has Molé changed toward me?"
“I do not think so. He continued to come and see me although less frequently."
“The reason I wonder about it," continued the Emperor, "is that I wished to make him Minister of Foreign Affairs, and he declined the post."
“Do you mean, Sire, that you were not going to appoint the Duc de Vicence? Everyone is aware how much he has always done to prevent hostilities, and France needs peace so much."
“He is too fond of foreigners."
“But, Sire, you must convince foreigners that you wish for peace. His nomination would be a guarantee of your intentions."
“So that is how it is, you are playing politics nowadays." Saying this, he pinched my ear. He went on to speak of my mother, of her death and of the grief it had caused him.
“I certainly intend to have her brought to Saint Denis, but quietly and not just yet. There have been so many of those mournful ceremonies that the nation must be tired of them. Is your brother in Vienna? I hope he is still devoted to France. I am counting on him absolutely. I wrote him from Lyons. The allied kings would have done nothing for him. He should be in France."
I assured the Emperor of my brother's loyalty. He dismissed me, saying that whenever I wished to see him, he would always receive me after his dinner in the evening.
Having said this, he went down the main stairway in order to review the troops massed in the Carrousel. My children insisted so on seeing the parade that I agreed.
Going through the private apartments I met the Duc de Vicence, who told me the Emperor had proposed to him the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs but he had refused and recommended Monsieur Molé. I pointed out to him all the consequences of this refusal. "People know that you are the only man who has constantly advised the Emperor to make peace. Your advice is now more necessary than it has ever been before. You must intervene and bring all your influence to bear against his plans for new conquests."
“I entirely agree with you, Madame. But what can I do if the Emperor has not changed and if he begins by wanting to reconquer Belgium?"
“My God!" I exclaimed.
“Has he already begun to speak about that?"
“No, but what alarms me is that he should have been received so enthusiastically. A little resistance would have proved more valuable. How can you expect a man not to believe that he can accomplish everything, and even to attempt it after he has met with such a welcome? Then, too, will the foreign powers be willing to discuss terms of peace? That is the great problem."
“Remember," I said, "our conversations with the Emperor of Russia, how anxious he was to put an end to all this bloodshed and never to oppose the wishes of the French people. I have no doubt he will understand just as we do that this return is in accordance with the wishes of the immense majority of the French, and consequently he will not seek to oppose our national aspirations. To do so, would be entirely contrary to his principles and the magnanimous attitude he displayed. Thus it is the patriotic pride of Emperor Napoleon that most alarms me at present. May all those about him do their best to make him realize the necessity of peace."
“That is doubtless true," replied the Duc de Vicence. "But does it depend only on him? Is Emperor Alexander entirely free from passions of his own?"
I have attended many solemn military displays but never one that equaled the spectacle presented by this first review. The great Place du Carrousel, all the neighboring streets, the houses, the roofs, the scaffoldings were covered with an innumerable throng. Their frantic cheers were echoed by the cries of "Long live the Emperor!" which the soldiers of all regiments, officers of all branches of the service uttered, as they waved their helmets and caps at the ends of their muskets and swords.
I remembered having seen the crowds at the height of the Empire, carried away with joy. On this occasion they were simply mad. Only the battalion from Elba remained calm and silent. With a noble pride it seemed to accept its share in the popular rejoicings. The martial faces of these grenadiers, browned by the southern sun, their clothes still covered with dust, distinguished them from all the rest. They had arrived at three o'clock in the morning in the courtyard of the Carrousel and they had bivouacked there with a party of the 7th Regiment commanded by Monsieur de La Bedoyère.
They had marched thirty-five miles in order to catch up with the Emperor, having heard rumors of the disguised Chouans who were to have attacked him.
When I came home at five o’clock, I found General de Girardin there. He told me he had gone to the camp of Melun decided to do his duty in favor of the Bourbons, but that the place had been in the greatest confusion with no one to take command, and all the troops had followed the general movement and gone over to the Emperor.
Colonel de La Bedoyère arrived just as I was going in to dinner. I asked him to stay and dine with me and at the same time relate all the circumstances of his surrender to the Emperor.
He told me that when he rejoined his regiment, he had not the slightest idea that the Emperor was about to land, that he could not explain the return except as being due to the Emperor's desire to free his country from the state of humiliation into which it had fallen.
He himself as soon as he heard the news believed that his country could be saved, and he had left Chambery with the firm intention of helping the Emperor's enterprise as soon as he could do so. On arriving at Grenoble Monsieur de La Bedoyère, in spite of the orders issued by his general to disperse his regiment in different parts of the town, massed it in the central square and having harangued it, being sure his troops would follow him, he led them out to meet the Emperor.
He encountered him about nine miles from Grenoble. The Emperor came toward him, embraced him and handed him the insignia which he had on his own hat. They discussed at length the situation in France.
Monsieur de La Bedoyère took advantage of this opportunity to say, "Sire, your only hope of continuing to govern France is to adopt liberal ideas."
“Do you think I am afraid of such ideas?" replied the Emperor.
“After a revolution such as it has experienced France, with all the political passions still at boiling-point and all class-interests on edge, needs a firm hand to govern her. I, and I alone, can give the people that liberty to which they are justly entitled. Everything that has taken place this last year has shown me what their true wishes and desires are. The hopes they place in me shall not be disappointed."
The original French is available below:
