of the Legion of Honour； then in Paris； took the oath prescribed by the
new Constitution； and on this occasion the Emperor and Empress appeared
attended for the first time by a separate and numerous retinue。
The carriages in the train of the Empress crossed the garden of the
Tuileries； hitherto exclusively appropriated to the public； then followed
the cavalcade of the Emperor； who appeared on horseback； surrounded by
his principal generals； whom he had created Marshals of the Empire。
M。 de Segur； who held the office of Grand Master of Ceremonies； had the
direction of the ceremonial to be observed on this occasion； and with；
the Governor received the Emperor on the threshold of the Hotel des
Invalides。 They conducted the Empress to a tribune prepared for her
reception； opposite the Imperial throne which Napoleon alone occupied； to
the right of the altar。 I was present at this ceremony； notwithstanding
the repugnance I have to such brilliant exhibitions； but as Duroc had two
days before presented me with tickets； I deemed it prudent to attend on
the occasion； lest the keen eye of Bonaparte should have remarked my
absence if Duroc had acted by his order。
I spent about an hour contemplating the proud and sometimes almost
ludicrous demeanour of the new grandees of the Empire； I marked the
manoeuvring of the clergy； who； with Cardinal Belloy at their head；
proceeded to receive the Emperor on his entrance into the church。 What a
singular train of ideas was called up to my mind when I beheld my former
comrade at the school of Brienne seated upon an elevated throne；
surrounded by his brilliant staff； the great dignitaries of his Empire
his Ministers and Marshals！ I involuntarily recurred to the 19th
Brumaire； and all this splendid scene vanished； when I thought of
Bonaparte stammering to such a degree that I was obliged to pull the
skirt of his coat to induce him to withdraw。
It was neither a feeling of animosity nor of jealousy which called up
such reflections； at no period of our career would I have exchanged my
situation for his； but whoever can reflect； whoever has witnessed the
unexpected elevation of a former equal； may perhaps be able to conceive
the strange thoughts that assailed my mind； for the first time； on this
occasion。
When the religious part of the ceremony terminated； the church assumed；
in some measure； the appearance of a profane temple。 The congregation
displayed more devotion to the Emperor than towards the God of the
Christians；more enthusiasm than fervour。 The mass had been heard with
little attention； but when M。 de Lacepede； Grand Chancellor of the Legion
of Honour； after pronouncing a flattering discourse； finished the call of
the Grand Officers of the Legion； Bonaparte covered； as did the ancient
kings of France when they held a bed of justice。 A profound silence； a
sort of religious awe； then reigned throughout the assembly； and
Napoleon； who did not now stammer as in the Council of the Five Hundred；
said in a firm voice：
〃Commanders； officers； legionaries； citizens； soldiers； swear upon your
honour to devote yourselves to the service of the Empireto the
preservation of the integrity of the French territoryto the defence of
the Emperor； of the laws of the Republic； and of the property which they
have made sacredto combat by all the means which justice； reason； and
the laws authorise every attempt to reestablish the feudal system； in
short； swear to concur with all your might in maintaining liberty and
equality； which are the bases of all our institutions。 Do you swear？〃
Each member of the Legion of Honour exclaimed； 〃I swear；〃 adding； 〃Vive
l'Empereur！〃 with an enthusiam it is impossible to describe； and in which
all present joined。
What； after all； was this new oath？ It only differed from that taken by
the Legion of Honour； under the Consulate； in putting the defence of the
Emperor before that of the laws of the Republic； and this was not merely
a form。 It was； besides； sufficiently laughable and somewhat audacious；
to make them swear to support equality at the moment so many titles and
monarchical distinctions had been re…established。
On the 18th of July； three days after this ceremony； the Emperor left
Paris to visit the camp at Boulogne。 He was not accompanied by the
Empress on this journey； which was merely to examine the progress of the
military operations。 Availing myself of the invitation Josephine had
given me； I presented myself at St。 Cloud a few days after the departure
of Napoleon； as she did not expect my visit； I found her surrounded by
four or five of the ladies in waiting； occupied in examining some of the
elegant productions of the famous Leroi and Madame Despeaux； for amidst
the host of painful feelings experienced by Josephine she was too much of
a woman not to devote some attention to the toilet。
On my introduction they were discussing the serious question of the
costume to be worn by the Empress on her journey to Belgium to meet
Napoleon at the Palace of Lacken； near Brussels。 Notwithstanding those
discussions respecting the form of hats； the colour and shape of dresses；
etc。； Josephine received me in her usual gracious manner。 But not being
able to converse with me； she said； without giving it an appearance of
invitation but in a manner sufficiently evident to be understood； that
she intended to pass the following morning at Malmaison。
I shortened my visit； and at noon next day repaired to that delightful
abode； which always created in my mind deep emotion。 Not an alley； not a
grove but teemed with interesting recollections； all recalled to me the
period when I was the confidant of Bonaparte。 But the time was past when
he minutely calculated how much a residence at Malmaison would cost； and
concluded by saying that an income of 30；000 livrea would be necessary。
When I arrived Madame Bonaparte was in the garden with Madame de Remusat；
who was her favourite from the similarity of disposition which existed
between them。
Madame de Remusat was the daughter of the Minister Vergennes； and sister
to Madame de Nansouty； whom I had sometimes seen with Josephine； but not
so frequently as her elder sister。 I found the ladies in the avenue
which leads to Ruel； and saluted Josephine by inquiring respecting the
health of Her Majesty。 Never can I forget the tone in which she replied：
〃Ah！ Bourrienne； I entreat that you will suffer me； at least here； to
forget that I am an Empress。〃 As she had not a thought concealed from
Madame de Remusat except some domestic vexations； of which probably I was
the only confidant； we conversed with the same freedom as if alone； and
it is easy to define that the subject of our discourse regarded
Bonaparte。
After having spoken of her intended journey to Belgium； Josephine said
tome； 〃What a pity； Bourrienne； that the past cannot be recalled！
He departed in the happiest disposition： he has bestowed some pardons
and I am satisfied that but for those accursed politics he would have
pardoned a far greater number。 I would have said much more； but I
endeavoured to conceal my chagrin because the slightest contradiction
only renders him the more obstinate。 Now； when in the midst of his army；
he will forget everything。 How much have I been afflicted that I was not
able to obtain a favourable answer to all the petitions which were
addressed to me。 That good Madame de Monteason came from Romainville to
St。 Cloud to solicit the pardon of MM。 de Rivi6re and de Polignac； we
succeeded in gaining an audience for Madame de Polignac； 。 。 。 how
beautiful she is！ Bonaparte was greatly affected on beholding her； he
said to her； 'Madame； since it was only my life your husband menaced； I
may pardon him。' You know Napoleon； Bourrienne； you know that he is not
naturally cruel； it is his counsellors and flatterers who have induced
him to commit so many villainous actions。 Rapp has behaved extremely
well； he went to the Emperor； and would not leave him till he had
obtained the pardon of another of the condemned； whose name I do not
recollect。 How much these Polignacs have interested me！ There will be
then at least some families who will owe him gratitude！ Strive； if it be
possible； to throw a veil over the past； I am sufficiently miserable in
my anticipations of the future。 Rest assured； my dear Bourrienne； that I
shall not fail to exert myself during our stay in Belgium in your behalf；
and inform you of the result。 Adieu！〃
During the festival in celebration of the 14th of July； which I have
already alluded to； the Emperor before leaving the Hotel des Invalides
had announced that he would go in person to distribute the decorations of
the Legion of Honour to the army assembled in the camp of Boulogne。 He
was not long before he fulfilled his promise。 He left St。 Cloud on the
18th and travelled with such rapidity that the next morning； whilst every
one was busy with preparations for his reception； he was already at that
port； in the midst of the labourers； examining the works。 He seemed to
multiply himself by his inconceivable activity； and one might say that he
was present everywhere。
At the Emperor's departure i