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.
Hortense is framed for doing exactly what her enemies were doing. The aristocracy is successfully turned against Hortense as the initial deal she was offered keeps getting worse and more degrading.
As Josephine becomes visibly upset and worn out, more and more royal guests keep appearing at her place for some mysterious reason. Were they trying to stress her to death? Because that’s indeed exactly what happened.
Hortense’s memoirs continues:
The Emperor of Russia left at nine o'clock in the evening, and my mother and I returned to Malmaison the following day. I heard that at the newly constituted court this intimacy of ours with the Emperor of Russia was very much and very unfavorably criticized.
Monsieur Sosthenes de la Rochefoucauld came and told me how much everyone had been shocked at the date I had chosen to hold a reception for Emperor Alexander. I replied that neither my means nor my position allowed me to give a reception; the date had been chosen a long time in advance and the entire affair had been a purely informal one and not such as would shock anybody.
He then confessed that my mother's intense popularity had given offense at court and there had been rumors going about that she was having funds distributed among the working classes. I smiled at such stories and related the following incident: "While we were at Blois the Emperor's treasure-chest was in danger of being captured. It was therefore judged advisable to pay over to the persons present the sums due them, especially as the treasury department was behind in its payments. A sum of 600,000 francs was deposited with a local banker on behalf of my mother and myself. This represented only a part of what was due us. A few days later the Duc d’Angoulême while passing through the town seized that deposit, which was our legitimate property, paid his soldiers with it, and we have never seen a penny of it since.
The rest of the Emperor's private funds were turned over to the Provisional Government." By way of conclusion to this story, I said to Monsieur de la Rochefoucauld: "You see how plausible it is that my mother, who is known not to have any money of her own, should distribute money to the discontented elements of the population."
I do not know if what I said convinced him, but I noticed that all the signs of sympathy which the aristocratic class had previously been lavishing on us vanished and instead we were regarded with distinct suspicion.
Jealousy had a great deal to do with this attitude. The Emperor of Russia cut a great figure in the eyes of the old nobility. They thought themselves the only persons worthy of his notice, while he on the contrary, instead of seeking their society, sought that of the very people whom he had come to overthrow.
Consequently, all sorts of stories got about regarding meetings of conspirators at Malmaison, where they made threats against the royal family, and an unfavorable interpretation was placed on the Emperor of Russia's frequent visits.
Even his own ministers became alarmed and spoke to him about the matter, but this did not prevent the visits from continuing as before. One day when my mother was not very well and could not go out, my brother and I took Emperor Alexander to see the famous waterworks at Manly.
On the way there we discussed the general subject of friendship and we referred to that which united Eugene and me. The Emperor also spoke feelingly about the union which existed in his own family, and then turning to my brother he added: "I can hardly believe that I have only known your sister such a short time. She seems to me to be someone I am meeting again and whom I knew in the past. I feel absolutely sure not to be misunderstood when I talk to her."
I thanked him for this tribute and assured him it touched me deeply. Then the conversation changed and we spoke of the recent campaign. He explained to my brother the reason which had caused the delay of the troops marching by way of Troyes for twenty-four hours —that delay of which Emperor Napoleon took advantage to beat the two armies separately at Montmirail.
The Austrians and English had resolved on their arrival at Troyes to declare their intention of refusing negotiations with Emperor Napoleon and to proclaim the return of the Bourbon dynasty. He, on the other hand, had been alone in his determination to push on first to Paris in order to discover there what the French really wanted and give them an opportunity of themselves choosing the monarch they desired.
While this discussion was going on and the Russians were advancing along one route, the Austrians halted for two days; this lack of unity in their movements was fatal to the plans of the Allies, thanks to the skill with which Emperor Napoleon took advantage of their weakness.
Emperor Alexander had asked me questions about the Empress's divorce. I read him a few pages I had written at the time it took place, as well as my letters to Madame de Broc, which had been returned to me after her death.
He seemed deeply touched by what had happened to my mother and declared he could not understand why the Emperor Napoleon had not adopted my brother.
Each time I talked with him our growing intimacy inspired me with an increasing confidence. Acting under an instinct that sprang from the interest I felt in him, I one day took it into my head to remind him of the wish of his subjects, who complained of the manner in which he seemed to neglect the Empress, his wife. I knew that people were anxious to see them reconciled. He repeated several times, "It is altogether impossible."
“But you have no children of your own."
“I have my brothers."
“Do not the wishes of an entire nation count for anything?"
“I cannot go into all these details with you. Please, please do not bring up the subject again. My wife has no better friend than I, but a reunion can never take place."
I said nothing, and the matter was never brought up again. It was with Monsieur de Blacas, one of the King's cabinet ministers, that Monsieur de Nesselrode negotiated the arrangements which concerned us. He asked my reader Mademoiselle Cochelet to notify me that everything had been concluded, and the duchy had been duly created. The paper containing the contract was sent me, but the terms were so unseemly that I immediately decided to refuse. I could not forget who I was, and if the King of France chose to do so I was not prepared to receive any favors from him.
I was quite prepared to exchange my title, but I would only agree to do so as being entitled to a new one by right, not as a disavowal of the rank I had formerly occupied.
My reader took my reply and my refusal to Monsieur de Nesselrode. The advice of the Duc de Vicence was asked. Emperor Alexander declared that he demanded other letters patent, drawn up in terms which I could accept. He rebuked Monsieur de Nesselrode severely for not having shown him the first draft before it was sent me, and presented profuse apologies to me for what had taken place.
This was what was finally stipulated. As the treaty of April 11 conserved all our titles, the letters patent should be drawn up in accordance with that treaty and refer to me as Queen Hortense.
The Duchy of Saint-Leu was bestowed on me. My children were to inherit it after my death, and their father to have no right to it whatsoever. I continued to hesitate, fearing that the hostility which I felt arising against me might disturb my children's life in France.
On the other hand, my love for my native land and my mother's grief at the thought of our being separated out-weighed my scruples. I gave the Duc de Vicence full power of attorney to sign such terms as would conciliate my children's material interest with what I felt I owed to my position and the name I bore.
It distressed me to note that the grief of the Empress was affecting her health. Although the constant demonstrations of affection which she received seemed to dispel her sorrow for a few moments, as soon as she was once more alone with me her eyes would again fill with tears. The picture of the Emperor hurled from his throne and confined to the island of Elba constantly hovered before her and racked her soul.
She turned for solace to all those who had been near him and even sought out that young Polish woman of whom she had been so jealous. She enjoyed seeing her, believing that she must experience the same feelings as her own. Nor was she less tormented as to my brother's future.
Even her own fate was a source of constantly renewed uneasiness. The treaty of April 11 had stipulated that she was to continue to receive one-third of her previous income. Nevertheless, she was obliged to dismiss more than half the members of her household.
Her servants came and wept round her. She did not have the courage to dismiss these faithful attendants and ended by keeping them all. But where could she find means to continue those allowances, amounting to nearly three hundred thousand francs, which she paid out annually? How many people she must make miserable!
Moreover, her too great liberality had caused her to contract a large number of debts that she wished earnestly to pay. Would her diamonds provide enough money to do this? In the midst of all these worries her kindness, her graciousness, the charm of her manner had not altered in the least.
Of all those who owed their lives to her intervention the Marquis de Riviere was the only one who came to see her. Monsieur de Polignac, whose life she had also saved, and to obtain whose pardon she had thrown herself at the Emperor's knees, did not even pay her a courtesy call.
The first symptoms of people's ingratitude are always painful. It is disagreeable to have to complain of the conduct of those for whom one has been glad to do a favor.
Many Frenchmen, having called once, as they doubtless felt they were obliged to do, did not again appear at Malmaison. Other motives led them elsewhere. Only certain foreigners and those Frenchmen whose feelings did not change with changing fortunes continued to come with the same regularity.
The Emperor of Russia was about to hold a review of his troops. He invited my brother to attend it. Eugene asked to be excused, adding that he would have accepted with pleasure anywhere except in France. The Emperor took his hand in a most friendly manner, saying, "I quite understand. Pardon my having invited you."
This is an example of the Emperor's really feminine thoughtfulness. It was this refinement of feeling that made him attractive. He understood everything and seemed even to appreciate the reserve one displayed toward him, since he was conscious of the motives which prompted this reserve.
The reason for my brother's refusal was doubtless the same as that which prevented Monsieur de Flahaut not only from going to call on the Emperor of Russia but from even meeting him at our house. Monsieur de Flahaut admitted all the Emperor of Russia's splendid qualities, recognized the fact that I should be grateful to him for all he had done, but continued to consider him, nevertheless, as an enemy of France, the sight of whom he would prefer to avoid.
On the other hand, the majority of the generals found in Emperor Alexander a defender against the new order that was coming into effect. Delighted with the manners of all these soldiers who were being presented to him the Emperor said to me one day: "How fortunate must be the king who governs a nation which vibrates every time the word 'honor' is pronounced! How much one could do with such material!"
“Those who have remained aloof, and whom you have not had the opportunity of meeting," I replied, "are those who would give you a still more favorable opinion of our army." The Russian Grand Dukes arrived in Paris accompanied by their tutor.
The Emperor Alexander sent them to spend the day at Malmaison. He had said to me before they arrived: "The Empress is extremely alarmed at the idea that my brothers are in Paris. She fears that they may be fascinated by the charms of the French women. I scarcely dare send them to Malmaison."
“Do not worry," I replied. "Although we are surrounded by young and charming girls, I shall play the part of a dragon."
This remark amused him greatly. The young Grand Dukes attracted attention by their fine manners, their courtesy, and the humane sentiments they displayed in regretting the disasters which the war had caused. They had just passed through several of our ruined villages, and tears stood in their eyes as they described what they had seen.
In walking about in the picture gallery at Malmaison both were attracted by the same picture. They examined it closely. It represented a landscape covered with snow. "This reminds us of home," they said, deeply moved.
The Grand Duke Constantin had already been several times at Malmaison. He told us repeatedly that throughout France he had heard only favorable remarks about my mother and myself. He was most anxious to have a collection of ballads I had composed and had had printed for some of my family circle. I gave him a copy.
I also gave the Emperor Alexander the original manuscript, which is now preserved at the palace of the Hermitage.
The King of Prussia and all his family also came to Malmaison, the same day as the Grand Duke Constantin.
My mother, although far from well, made an effort and came downstairs to receive them. She seemed to have only a bad cold, and her generally robust health prevented anyone from feeling in the least alarmed.
The original French is available below:
