Part 2 (1/2)
Re it with the unfeeling treatment of her husband, she found herself so much the arded by her as praise due to her ly resented as the undeserved oppression of a capricious despot
Business, or perhaps et to send her any dinner; and when, at eight o'clock, his brothers and sisters ca to invitation, to take tea, he said coldly:
”Apropos, I forgot it My wife has not dined yet; she is busy, I suppose, in her philosophical meditations in her study”
Madahter, flew directly towards the study, and her mother could scarcely, for her tears, inforaoler
”Oh, Sire!” said Mada, ”even this re for my poor mother!”
”She deserves worse,” answered Napoleon, ”but, for your sake, she shall be released; here is the key, let her out”
Madame Napoleon was, however, not in a situation to wish to appear before her envious brothers and sisters-in-law Her eyes were so swollen with crying that she could hardly see; and her tears had stained those I and inconsiderate no doubt believed a certain preservative against sorrow and affliction At nine o'clock, however, another aide-de-caave her the choice either to accompany him back to the study or to join the fa her mother's situation, Madaoverness, Madame Cam---n, of these particulars, which I heard her relate at Madame de M----r's, almost verbatim as I report them to you
Such, and other scenes, nearly of the saular, in the ular Court that ever existed in civilized Europe
LETTER VII
PARIS, August, 1805
MY LORD:--Though Governious liberty of the Press, the authors who libel or ridicule the Christian, particularly the Roion, are excluded from all prospect of advancement, or if in place, are not trusted or liked Cardinal Caprara, the nuncio of the Pope, proposed last year, in a long memorial, the same severe restrictions on the discussions or publications in religiouspolitics But both Bonaparte and his Minister in the affairs of the Church, Portalis, refused the introduction of what they called a tyranny on the conscience Caprara then addressed himself to the ex-Bishop Talleyrand, who, on this occasion, was enerally is
”Bonaparte,” said he, ”rules not only over a fickle, but a gossiping (bavard) people, who concerning government of the State They would soon (accustomed as they are, since the Revolution, to verbal and written debates) be tired of talking about fine weather or about the opera To occupy them and their attention, soion was surrendered to thehtened as the world now is, even athiests or Christian fanatics can do but little harm to society They may spend rivers of ink, but they will be unable to shed a drop of blood”
”True,” answered the Cardinal, ”but only to a certain degree The licentiousness of the Press, with regard to religious matters, does it not also furnish infidelity with new arms to injure the faith? And have not the horrors froer and evil consequences of irreligion, and the necessity of encouraging and protecting Christianity? By the recall of the clergy, and by the religious concordat, Bonaparte has shown himself convinced of this truth”
”So he is,” interrupted Talleyrand; ”but he abhors intoleration and persecution” (not in politics) ”I shall, however, to please Your Eminence, lay the particulars of your conversation before him”
Soreed about some new measure to indirectly chastise impious writers, the Senators Garat, Jaucourt, Roederer, and Demeunier, four of the members of the senatorial commission of the liberty of the Press, were sent for, and remained closeted with Napoleon, his Minister Portalis, and Cardinal Caprara for two hours What was determined on this occasion has not transpired, as even the Cardinal, who is not the ets the better of his political prudence, has rely contented
Two rather insignificant authors, of the name of Varennes and Beaujou, who published some scandalous libels on Christianity, have since been taken up, and after some months' imprisonment in the Temple been condemned to transportation to Cayenne for life,--not as infidels or atheists, but as conspirators against the State, in consequence of souarded expressions which prejudice or ill-will alone would judge connected with politics Nothing is now perion but with the author's na his name, he may abuse the worshi+p and Gospel as much as he pleases Since the example of severity alluded to above, however, this practice is on the decline Even Pigault-Lebrun, a popular but immoral novel writer, narrowly escaped lately a trip to Cayenne for one of his blasphemous publications, and owes to the protection of Madame Murat exclusively that he was not sent to keep Varennes and Beaujou coreat nor so rich as at present, he presented her with a copy of his works, and she had been unfashi+onable enough not only to re him her private secretary; which, however, the veto of Napoleon prevented
Of Napoleon Bonaparte's religious sentiments, opinions are not divided in France The influence over him of the petty, superstitious Cardinal Caprara is, therefore, inexplicable This prelate has forced from him assent to transactions which had been refused both to his mother and his brother Joseph, who now often employ the Cardinal with success, where they either dare not or will not show themselves It is true His Ee unabashed by new repulses; and be obtains by teasing more than by persuasion; but a man by whom Bonaparte suffers, hinificant favourite, particularly when, like this Cardinal, he unites cunning with devotion, craft with superstition; and is as accessible to corruption as tormented by ambition
As h his pure and disinterested hands, Madame Napoleon, Talleyrand, and Portalis, who also wanted soether last spring to rerand aldom of Italy, and the Cardinal set out for Milan He was, however, artful enough to convince his Sovereign of the propriety of having his grand aled to this intrigue of his enedom of Italy, as well as those of the French E the Pope's residence in this capital, His Holiness often otiations with Bonaparte; and whatever advantages were obtained by the Roman Pontiff for the Gallican Church His Eminence almost extorted; for he never desisted, where his interest or pride were concerned, till he had succeeded It is said that one day last January, after having been for hours exceedingly teasing and troubleso to treat His Eminence as he frequently does his relatives, his Ministers, and counsellors,--that is to say, to kick hi himself, he said: ”Cardinal, remain here in my closet until my return, when I shall have more time to listen to what you have to relate” It was at ten o'clock in the rand review In going out he put the key in his pocket, and told the guards in his antechamber to pay no attention if they should hear any noise in his closet
It was dark before the revieas over, and Bonaparte had a large party to dinner When his guests retired, he went into his wife's drawing-room, where one of the Pope's chamberlains waited on him with the information that His Holiness was much alarmed about the safety of Cardinal Caprara, of whom no account could be obtained, even with the assistance of the police, to whom application had been made, since His Eminence had so suddenly disappeared
”Oh! how absent I aot that I left the Cardinal in y for my blunder”
His Eminence, quite exhausted, was found fast asleep; but no sooner was he a little recovered than he interrupted Bonaparte's affected apology with the repetition of the de; and so as Napoleon pleased with hi his personal inconvenience only to occupy hin, that he consented to as asked, and in laying his hand upon the shoulders of the prelate, said: