按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for； in spite of their fulsome verses； not one of the disciples of Apollo
could exceed the extravagance of the Bishops in their pastoral letters。
At a time when so many were striving to force themselves into notice
there still existed a feeling of esteem in the public mind for men of
superior talent who remained independent amidst the general corruption；
such was M。 Lemercier； such was M。 de Chateaubriand。 I was in Paris in
the spring of 1811； at the period of Chenier's death； when the numerous
friends whom Chateaubriand possessed in the second class of the Institute
looked to him as the successor of Chenier。 This was more than a mere
literary question； not only on account of the high literary reputation
M。 de Chateaubriand already possessed； but of the recollection of his
noble conduct at the period of Duc d'Enghien's death； which was yet fresh
in the memory of every one； and； besides； no person could be ignorant of
the immeasurable difference of opinion between Chenier and M。 de
Chateaubriand。
M。 de Chateaubriand obtained a great majority of votes； and was elected a
Member of the Institute。 This opened a wide field for conjecture in
Paris。 Every one was anxious to see how the author of the Genie du
Christianisme； the faithful defender of the Bourbons； would bend his
eloquence to pronounce the eulogium of a regicide。 The time for the
admission of the new Member of the Institute arrived； but in his
discourse； copies of which were circulated in Paris； he had ventured to
allude to the death of Louis XVI。； and to raise his voice against the
regicides。 This did not displease Napoleon； but M。 de Chateaubriand also
made a profession of faith in favour of liberty； which； he said； found
refuge amongst men of letters when banished from the politic body。 This
was great boldness for the time； for though Bonaparte was secretly
gratified at seeing the judges of Louis XVI。 scourged by an heroic pen；
yet those men held the highest situations under the Government。
Cambaceres filled the second place in the Empire； although at a great
distance from the first； Merlin de Douai was also in power； and it is
known how much liberty was stifled and hidden beneath the dazzling
illusion of what is termed glory。 A commission was named to examine the
discourse of Chateaubriand。 MM。 Suard； de Segur； de Fontanes； and two or
three other members of the same class of the Institute whose names I
cannot recollect； were of opinion that the discourse should be read； but
it was opposed by the majority。
When Napoleon was informed of what had passed he demanded a sight of the
address； which was presented to him by M。 Daru。 After having perused it
he exclaimed； 〃Had this discourse been delivered I would have shut the
gates of the Institute； and thrown M。 de Chateaubriand into a dungeon for
life。〃 The storm long raged； at length means of conciliation were tried。
The Emperor required M。 de Chateaubriand to prepare another discourse；
which the latter refused to do； in spite of every menace。 Madame Gay
applied to Madame Regnault de St。 Jean d'Angely； who interested her
husband in favour of the author of the Genie du Christianisme。 M。 de
Montalivet and Savary also acted on this occasion in the most
praiseworthy manner； and succeeded in appeasing the first transports of
the Emperor's rage。 But the name of Chateaubriand constantly called to
mind the circumstances which had occasioned him to give in his
resignation； and； besides； Napoleon had another complaint against him。
He had published in the 'Merceure' an article on a work of M。 Alexandre
de Laborde。 In that article； which was eagerly read in Paris； and which
caused the suppression of the 'Merceure'； occurred the famous phrase
which has been since so often repeated： 〃In vain a Nero triumphs： Tacitus
is already born in his Empire。〃 This quotation leads me to repeat an
observation； which； I believe； I have already made； viz。 that it is a
manifest misconception to compare Bonaparte to Nero。 Napoleon's ambition
might blind his vision to political crimes； but in private life no man
could evince less disposition to cruelty or bloodshed。 A proof that he
bore little resemblance to Nero is that his anger against the author of
the article in question vented itself in mere words。 〃What！〃 exclaimed
he； 〃does Chateaubriand think I am a fool； and that I do not know what he
means？ If he goes on this way I will have him sabred on the steps of the
Tuileries。〃 This language is quite characteristic of Bonaparte； but it
was uttered in the first ebullition of his wrath。 Napoleon merely
threatened； but Nero would have made good his threat； and in such a case
there is surely some difference between words and deeds。
The discourse of M。 de Chateaubriand revived Napoleon's former enmity
against him； he received an order to quit Paris： M。 Daru returned to him
the manuscript of his discourse； which had been read by Bonaparte； who
cancelled some passages with a pencil。 We can be sure that the phrase
about liberty was not one of those spared by the Imperial pencil。
However that may be； written copies were circulated with text altered and
abbreviated； and I have even been told that a printed edition appeared；
but I have never seen any copies； and as I do not find the discourse in
the works of M。 de Chateaubriand I have reason to believe that the author
has not yet wished to publish it。
Such were the principal circumstances attending the nomination of
Chateaubriand to the Institute。 I shall not relate some others which
occurred on a previous occasion； viz。 on the election of an old and
worthy visitor at Malmaison； M。 Lemercier； and which will serve to show
one of those strange inconsistencies so frequent in the character of
Napoleon。
After the foundation of the Empire M。 Lemercier ceased to present himself
at the Tuileries； St。 Cloud； or at Malmaison； though he was often seen in
the salons of Madame Bonaparte while she yet hoped not to become a Queen。
Two places were vacant at once in the second class of the Institute；
which still contained a party favourable to liberty。 This party； finding
it impossible to influence the nomination of both members； contented
itself with naming one； it being the mutual condition； in return for
favouring the Government candidate； that the Government party should not
oppose the choice of the liberals。 The liberal party selected M。
Lemercier； but as they knew his former connection with Bonaparte had been
broken off they wished first to ascertain that he would do nothing to
commit their choice。 Chenier was empowered to inquire whether M。
Lemercier would refuse to accompany them to the Tuileries when they
repaired thither in a body； and whether； on his election； he would comply
with the usual ceremony of being presented to the Emperor。 M。 Lemercier
replied that he would do nothing contrary to the customs and usages of
the body to which he might belong： he was accordingly elected。 The
Government candidate was M。 Esmenard； who was also elected。 The two new
members were presented to the Emperor on the same day。 On this occasion
upwards of 400 persons were present in the salon； from one of w