(1815)
MADAME D'ARBLAY AGAIN IN FRANCE: BONAPARTE'S ESCAPE FROM
ELBA.
(The two following sections contain Fanny's account of her
adventures during the " Hundred Days " which elapsed between the
return of Napoleon from Elba and his final downfall and
abdication. This narrative may be recommended to the reader as an
interesting supplement to the history of that period. The great
events of the time, the triumphal progress of the emperor, the
battles which decided his destiny and the fate of Europe, we hear
of only at a distance, by rumour or chance intelligence ; but our
author brings vividly before us, and with the authenticity of
personal observation, the disturbed state of the country, the
suspense, the alarms, the distress occasioned by the war. To
refresh our readers' memories, we give an epitome, as brief as
possible, of the events to which Madame d'Arblay's narrative
forms, as it were, a background.
When Napoleon abdicated the imperial throne, in April, 1814, the
allied powers consented by treaty to confer upon him the
sovereignty of the island of Elba, with a revenue of two million
francs. To Elba he was accordingly banished, but the revenue was
never paid. This disgraceful infringement of the treaty of
Fontainebleau, joined to the accounts which he received of the
state of public feeling in France, determined him to make the
attempt to regain his lost empire. March 1, 1815, he landed at
Cannes, with a few hundred men. He was everywhere received with
the utmost enthusiasm. The troops sent to oppose him joined his
standard with shouts of "Vive l'empereur!" March 20, he entered
Paris in triumph, Louis XVIII having taken his departure the
preceding evening, "amidst the tears and lamentations of several
courtiers."(248)
The congress of the allied powers at Vienna proclaimed the
emperor an outlaw, not choosing to remember that the treaty which
they accused him of breaking, had been first violated by
themselves. To his offers of negotiation they replied not. The
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English army under the Duke of Wellington, the Prussian under
Prince Blcher occupied Belgium; the Austrians and Russians were
advancing in immense force towards the Rhine. Anxious to strike a
blow before the arrival of the latter Napoleon left Paris for
Belgium, June 12. His army amounted to about one hundred and
twenty thousand men. On the 15th the fighting commenced, h and
the advanced guard of the Prussians was driven back. On the 16th,
Blcher was attacked at Ligny, and defeated with terrible loss;
but Marshal Ney was unsuccessful in an attack upon the combined
English and Belgian army at Quatre Bras. Sunday, June 18, was the
day of the decisive battle of Waterloo. After the destruction of
his army, Napoleon hastened to Paris, but all hope was at an end.
He abdicated the throne for the second time, proceeded to
Rochefort, and voluntarily surrendered himself to Captain
Maitland, of the English seventy-four, Bellerophon. He was
conveyed to England, but was not permitted to land, and passed
the few remaining years of his life a prisoner in the island of
St. Helena.-ED.]
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DUCHESS OF ANGOULEME.
I come now to my audience with Madame, Duchesse d'Angoulme.(249)
As I had missed, through a vexatious mistake, the honour she had
herself intended me, of presentation in England, my own
condescending royal mistress, Queen Charlotte, recommended my
claiming its performance on my return to Paris. M. d'Arblay then
consulted with the Vicomte d'Agoult, his intimate early friend,
how to repair in France my English deprivation. M. d'Agoult was
cuyer to her royal highness, and high in her confidence and
favour. He advised me simply to faire ma cour as the wife of a
superior officer in the garde du corps du roi, at a public
drawing-room; but the great exertion and publicity, joined to the
expense Of such a presentation, made me averse, in all ways, to
this proposal; and when M. d'Arblay protested I had not anything
in view but to pay my respectful devoirs to her royal highness,
M. d'Agoult undertook to make known my wish. It soon proved that
this alone was necessary for its success, for madame la duchesse
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instantly recollected what had passed in England, and said she
would name, with pleasure, the first moment in her power -
expressing an impatience on her own part that an interview should
not be delayed which had been desired by her majesty Queen
Charlotte of England. . . .
I have omitted to mention that on the Sunday preceding, the
Duchess d'Angoulme, at Court, had deigned to tell my best friend
that she was reading, and with great pleasure, Madame d'Arblay's
last work. He expressed his gratification, and added that he
hoped it was in English, as her altesse royale so well knew that
language. No, she answered, it was the translation she read; the
original she had not been able to procure. On this M. d'Arblay
advised me to send a copy. I had none bound, but the set which
had come back to me from my dear father. This, however, M. d'A.
carried to the Vicomte d'Agoult, with a note from me in which,
through the medium of M. d'Agoult, I supplicated leave from her
royal highness to lay at her feet this only English set I
possessed. In the most gracious manner possible, as the Vicomte
told M. d'Arblay, her royal highness accepted the work, and
deigned also to keep the billet. She had already, unfortunately,
finished the translation, but she declared her intention to read
the original.
Previously to my presentation, M. d'Arblay took me to the salon
of the exhibition of pictures, to view a portrait of Madame
d'Angoulme, that I might make some acquaintance with her face
before the audience. This portrait was deeply interesting, but
deeply melancholy.
ARRIVAL AT THE TUILERIES.
All these precautions taken, I went, at the appointed hour and
morning, about the end of February, 1815, to the palace of the
Tuileries, escorted by the most indulgent of husbands we repaired
instantly to the apartment of the Duchesse de Serrent, who
received us with the utmost politeness; she gave us our lesson
how to proceed, and then delivered us over to some page of her
royal highness.
We were next shown into a very large apartment. I communicated to
the page a request that he would endeavour to make known to M. de
Montmorency that I was arrived, and how much I wished to see him.
In a minute or two came forth a tall, sturdy dame, who
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immediately addressed me by my name, and spoke with an air, that
demanded my returning her compliment. I could not, however,
recollect her till she said she had formerly met me at the
Princess d'Henin's. I then recognised the dowager Duchesse de
Duras, whom, in fact, I had seen last at the Princesse de
Chimay's, in the year 1812, just before my first return to
England; and had received from her a commission to acquaint the
royal family of France that her son, the duke, had kept aloof
from all service under Bonaparte, though he had been named in the
gazettes as having accepted the place of chamberlain to the then
emperor. Yet such was the subjection, at that time, of all the
old nobility to the despotic power of that mighty ruler, that M.
de Duras had not dared to contradict the paragraph.
She then said that her altesse royale was expecting me; and made
a motion that I should pursue my way into the next room, M.
d'Arblay no longer accompanying me. But before I disappeared she
assured me that I should meet with a most gracious reception, for
her altesse royale had declared she would see me with marked
favour, if she saw no other English whatsoever; because Madame
d'Arblay, she said, was the only English person who had been
peculiarly recommended to her notice by the Queen of England.
In the next, which was another very large apartment, I was
received by a lady much younger and more agreeable than Madame de
Duras, gaily and becomingly dressed, and wearing a smiling air
with a sensible face. I afterwards heard it was Madame de
Choisy, who, a few years later, married the Vicomte d'Agoult.
Madame de Choisy instantly began some compliments, but finding
she only disconcerted me, she soon said she must not keep me
back, and curtsied me on to another room, into which she shut me.
A MISAPPREHENSION.
I here imagined I was to find M. de Montmorency, but I saw only a
lady, who stood at the upper end of the apartment, and slightly
curtsied, but without moving or speaking. Concluding this to be
another dame de la cour, from my internal persuasion that
ultimately I was to be presented by M. de Montmorency, I
approached her composedly, with a mere common inclination of the
head, and looked wistfully forward to the further door. She
inquired politely after my
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health, expressing good-natured concern to hear it had been
deranged, and adding that she was bien aise de me voir.](250) I
thanked her, with some expression of obligation to her civility,
but almost without looking at her, from perturbation lest some
mistake had intervened to prevent my introduction, as I still saw
nothing of M. de Montmorency.
She then asked me if I would not sit down, taking a seat at the
same time herself. I readily complied; but was too much occupied
with the ceremony I was awaiting to discourse, though she
immediately began what was meant for a conversation. I hardly
heard, or answered, so exclusively was my attention engaged in
watching the door through which I was expecting a summons; till,
at length, the following words rather surprised me (I must write
them in English, for my greater ease, though they were spoken in
French)--"I am quite sorry to have read your last charming work
in French."
My eyes now changed their direction from the door to her face, to
which I hastily turned my head, as she added,--"Puis-je le garder
le livre que vous m'avez envoy?"(251)
A DISCOVERY AND A RECTIFICATION.
Startled, as if awakened from a dream, I fixed her and perceived
the same figure that I had seen at the salon. I now felt sure I
was already in the royal presence of the Duchesse d'Angoulme,
with whom I had seated myself almost cheek by jowl, without the
smallest suspicion of my situation.
I really seemed thunderstruck. I had approached her with so
little formality, I had received all her graciousness with so
little apparent sense of her condescension, I had taken my seat,
nearly unasked, so completely at my ease, and I had pronounced so
unceremoniously the plain "vous," without softening it off with
one single "altesse royale," that I had given her reason to think
me either the most forward person in my nature, or the worst bred
]In my education, existing.
I was in a consternation and a confusion that robbed me of
breath; and my first impulse was to abruptly arise, confess my
error, and offer every respectful apology I could devise; but as
my silence and strangeness produced silence, a pause ensued that
gave me a moment for reflection, which represented
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to me that son altesse royale might be seriously hurt, that
nothing in her demeanour had announced her, rank; and such a
discovery might lead to increased distance and reserve in her
future conduct upon other extra audiences, that could not but be
prejudicial to her popularity, which already was injured by an
opinion extremely unjust, but very generally spread, of her
haughtiness. It was better, therefore, to be quiet, and to let
her suppose that embarrassment, and English awkwardness and
mauvaise honte, had occasioned my unaccountable manners. I
preserved, therefore, my taciturnity, till, tired of her own, she
gently repeated, "Puis-je le garder, cette copie que vous m'avez
envoy?" civilly adding that she should be happy to read it again
when she had a little forgotten it, and had a little more time.
I seized this fortunate moment to express my grateful
acknowledgments for her goodness, with the most unaffected
sincerity, yet scrupulously accompanied with all the due forms of
profound respect.
What she thought of so sudden a change of dialect I have no means
of knowing ; hut I could not, for a long time afterwards, think
of it myself with a grave countenance. From that time, however, I
failed not to address her with appropriate reverence, though, as
it was too late now to assume the distant homage pertaining, of
course, to her very high rank, I insensibly suffered one
irregularity to lead to, nay to excuse another; for I passed over
all the etiquette d'usage, of never speaking but en rponse; and
animated myself to attempt to catch her attention, by conversing
with fullness and spirit upon every subject she began, or led to
; and even by starting subjects myself, when she was silent. This
gave me an opportunity of mentioning many things that had
happened in Paris during my long ten years' uninterrupted
residence, which were evidently very interesting to her. Had she
become grave, or inattentive, I should have drawn back _; but, on
the contrary, she grew more and more veille, and her
countenance was lighted up with the most encouraging approval.
CONVERSATION ON MADAME D'ARBLAY's ESCAPE
AND M. D'ARBLAY'S LOYALTY.
She was curious, she said, to know how I got over to England in
the year 1812, having been told that I had effected my escape by
an extraordinary disguise. I assured her that
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I had not escaped at all; as so to have done must have endangered
the generous husband and father, who permitted mine and his son's
departure. I had procured a passport for us both, which was
registered in the ordinary manner, chez le ministre de police for
foreign affairs; ches- one, I added, whose name I could not
pronounce in her royal highness's hearing; but to whom I had not
myself applied. She well knew I meant Savary, Duc de Rovigo,
whose history with respect to the murdered Due d'Enghien has,
since that period, been so variously related. I was then
embarrassed, for I had owed my passport to the request of Madame
d'A., who was distantly connected with Savary, and who had
obtained it to oblige a mutual friend ; I found, however, to my
great relief, that the duchess possessed the same noble delicacy
that renders all private intercourse with my own exemplary
princesses as safe for others as it is honourable to myself; for
she suffered me to pass by the names of my assistants, when I
said they were friends who exerted themselves for me in
consideration of my heavy grief, in an absence of ten years from
a father whom I had left at the advanced age of seventy-five;
joined to my terror lest my son should remain till he attained
the period of the conscription, and be necessarily drawn into the
military service of Bonaparte. And, indeed, these two points
could alone, with all my eagerness to revisit my native land,
have induced me to make the journey by a separation from my best
friend.
This led me to assume courage to recount some of the prominent
parts of the conduct of M. d'Arblay during our ten years'
confinement, rather than residence, in France ; I thought this
necessary, lest our sojourn during the usurpation should be
misunderstood. I told her, in particular, of three high military
appointments which he had declined. The first was to be head of
l'tat major of a regiment under a general whose name I cannot
spell--in the army of Poland, a post of which the offer was
procured for him by M. de Narbonne, then aide-de-camp to
Bonaparte. The second was an offer, through General Gassendi, of
being Commander of Palma Nuova, whither M. d'A. might carry his
wife and son, as he was to have the castle for his residence, and
there was no war with Italy at that time. The third offer was a
very high one: it was no less than the command of Cherbourg, as
successor to M. le Comte de la Tour Maubourg, who was sent
elsewhere, by still higher promotion. Steady, however,
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invariably steady was M. d'Arblay never to serve against his
liege sovereign, General Gassendi, one of the most zealous of his
friends, contrived to cover up this dangerous rejection and M.
d'Arblay continued In his humbler but far more' meritorious
Office Of sous Chef to one of the bureaux de l,intrieur.
I had now the pleasure to hear the princess say, "Il a aqi bien
noblement."(252) "For though he would take no part," I added,
la guerre, nor yet in the diplomatie, he could have no objection
to making plans, arrangements, buildings, and so forth, of
monuments, hospitals, and palaces; for at that period, palaces,
like princes, were levs tous les jours."(253)
She could not forbear smiling; and her smile, which is rare, is
so peculiarly becoming, that it brightens her countenance into a
look of youth and beauty.
"But why," I cried, recollecting myself, "should I speak French,
when your royal highness knows English so well?"
"O, no!" cried she, shaking her head, "very bad!"
>From that time, however, I spoke in my own tongue, and saw myself
perfectly understood, though those two little words were the only
English ones she uttered herself, replying always in French.
"Le roi," she said, "se rapelle tr
s bien de vous avoir vu
Londres."(254)
"O, je n'en doute nullement,"(255) I replied, rather navely,
"for there passed a scene that cannot be forgotten, and that
surprised me into courage to come forward, after I had spent the
whole morning in endeavouring to shrink backward. And I could not
be sorry--for I felt that his majesty could not he offended at a
vivacity which his own courtesy to England excited."
The princess smiled, with a graciousness that assured me I had
not mistaken the king's benevolence, of which she evidently
partook.
THE PRINCE REGENT THE DUCHEss's FAVOURITE.
The conversation then turned upon the royal family of England,
and it was inexpressibly gratifying to me to hear her just
appreciation of the virtues, the intellectual endowments, the '
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sweetness of manner, and the striking grace of every one,
according to their different character, that was mentioned. The
prince regent, however, was evidently her favourite. The noble
style in which he had treated her and all her family at his
Carlton House fte, in the midst of their misfortunes, and while
so much doubt hung against every chance of those misfortunes
being ever reversed, did so much honour to his heart and proved
so solacing to their woes and humiliation, that she could never
revert to that public testimony of his esteem and goodwill
without the most glowing gratitude.
"O!" she cried, "il a t parfait!"(256)
The Princesse Elise,(257) with whom she was in correspondence,
seemed to stand next. "C'est elle," she said, "qui fait les
honneurs de la famille royale,(258) and with a charm the most
enlivening and delightful."
The conference was only broken up by a summons to the king's
dinner. My audience, however, instead of a few minutes, for which
the Duchesse de Duras had prepared me, was extended to
three-quarters of an hour, by the watch of my kind husband, who
waited, with some of his old friends whom he had joined in the
palace, to take me home.
The princess, as she left me to go down a long corridor to the
dining apartment, took leave of me in a manner the most gracious,
honouring me with a message to her majesty the queen of England,
of her most respectful homage, and with her kind and affectionate
remembrance to all the princesses, with warm assurances of her
eternal attachment. She then moved on, but again stopped when
going, to utter some sentences most grateful to my ears, of her
high devotion to the queen and deep sense of all her virtues. I
little thought that this, my first, would prove also my last,
meeting with this exemplary princess, whose worth, courage,
fortitude, and piety are universally acknowledged, but whose
powers of pleasing seem little known. After an opening such as
this, how little could I foresee that this interview was to be a
final one! . . . Alas! in a day or two after it had taken place,
son altesse royale set out for Bordeaux. . . . And then followed
the return of Bonaparte from Elba, and then the Hundred Days.
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NARRATIVE OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S FLIGHT FROM PARIS TO
BRUSSELS
[The following Narrative was written some time after the events
described took place. It is judged better to print it in a
connected form : a few of the letters written on the spot being
subsequently given.]
PREVAILING INERTIA ON BONAPARTE'S RETURN FROM ELBA.
I have no remembrance how I first heard of the return of
Bonaparte from Elba. Wonder at his temerity was the impression
made by the news, but wonder unmixed with apprehension. This
inactivity of foresight was universal. A torpor indescribable, a
species of stupor utterly indefinable, seemed to have enveloped
the capital with a mist that was impervious. Everybody went about
their affairs, made or received visits, met, and parted, without
speaking, or, I suppose , thinking of this event as of a matter
of any importance. My own participation in this improvident
blindness is to myself incomprehensible. Ten years I had lived
under the dominion of Bonaparte; I had been in habits of intimacy
with many friends of those who most closely surrounded him; I was
generously trusted, as one with whom information, while
interesting and precious, would be inviolably safe-as one, in
fact, whose honour was the honour of her spotless husband, and
therefore invulnerable : well, therefore, by narrations the most
authentic, and by documents the most indisputable, I knew the
character of Bonaparte ; and marvellous beyond the reach of my
comprehension is my participation in this inertia. . . .
Thus familiar to his practices, thus initiated in his resources,
thus aware of his gigantic ideas of his own destiny, how could I
for a moment suppose he would re-visit France without a
consciousness of success, founded upon some secret conviction
that it was infallible, through measures previously arranged ? I
can only conclude that my understanding, such as it is, was
utterly tired out by a long harass of perpetual alarm and
sleepless apprehension. Unmoved, therefore, I remained in the
general apparent repose which, if it were as real in those with
whom I mixed as in myself, I now deem a species of infatuation.
Whether or not M. d'Arblay was involved in the general failure of
foresight I have mentioned, I never now can ascertain. To spare
me any evil tidings, and save me from
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even the shadow of any unnecessary alarm, was the first and
constant solicitude of his indulgent goodness.
At this period he returned to Paris to settle various matters for
our Senlis residence. We both now knew the event that so soon was
to monopolize all thought and all interest throughout Europe: but
we knew it without any change in our way of life; on the
contrary, we even resumed our delightful airings in the Bois de
Boulogne, whither the general drove me every morning in a light
calche, of which he had possessed himself upon his entrance into
the king's body-guard the preceding year.
Brief, however, was this illusion, and fearful was the light by
which its darkness was dispersed. In a few days we hear that
Bonaparte, whom we had concluded to be, of course, either stopped
at landing and taken prisoner, or forced to save himself by
flight, was, on the contrary, pursuing unimpeded his route to
Lyons.
>From this moment disguise, if any there had been, was over with
the most open and frank of human beings, who never even
transitorily practised it but to keep off evil, or its
apprehension, from others. He communicated to me now his strong
view of danger ; not alone that measures might be taken to secure
my safety, but to spare me any sudden agitation. Alas! none was
spared to himself! More clearly than any one he anticipated the
impending tempest, and foreboded its devastating effects. He
spoke aloud and strenuously, with prophetic energy, to all with
whom he was then officially associated but the greater part
either despaired of resisting the torrent, or disbelieved its
approach. What deeply interesting scenes crowd upon my
remembrance, of his noble, his daring, but successless exertions!
The king's body-guard immediately de service,(259) at that time,
was the compagnie of the Prince de Poix, a man of the most
heartfelt loyalty, but who had never served, and who was
incapable of so great a command at so critical a juncture, from
utter inexperience.
BONAPARTE'S ADVANCE: CONTEMPLATED MIGRATION FROM PARIS.
At this opening of the famous Hundred Days it seemed to occur to
no one that Bonaparte would make any attempt upon Paris. It was
calmly taken for granted he would
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speedily escape back to Elba, or remain in the south a prisoner -
and it was only amongst deep or restless politicians that any
inquietude was manifested with respect to either of these
results. Madame la Princesse d'Henin, indeed, whom I was in the
habit of frequently meeting, had an air and Manner that announced
perturbation ; but her impetuous spirit in politics kept her mind
always in a state of energy upon public affairs.
But when Bonaparte actually arrived at Lyons the face of affairs
changed. Expectation was then awakened--consternation began to
spread; and report went rapidly to her usual work, of now
exciting nameless terror, and now allaying even reasonable
apprehension.
To me, every moment became more anxious. I saw General d'Arblay
imposing upon himself a severity of service for which he had no
longer health or strength, and imposing it only the more rigidly
from the fear that his then beginning weakness and infirmities
should seem to plead for indulgence. it was thus that he insisted
upon going through the double duty of artillery officer at the
barracks, and of officier suprieur in the king's body-guards at
the Tuileries, The smallest representation to M. le Duc de
Luxembourg, who had a true value for him, would have procured a
substitute: but he would not hear me upon such a proposition; he
would sooner, far, have died at his post, He now almost lived
either at the Tuileries or at the barracks. I only saw him when
business or military arrangements brought him home; but he kindly
sent me billets to appease my suspense every two or three hours.
The project upon Paris became at length obvious, yet its success
was little feared, though the horrors of a civil war seemed
inevitable. M. d'Arblay began to wish me away; he made various
propositions for ensuring my safety; he even pressed me to depart
for England to rejoin Alexander and my family: but I knew them to
be in security, whilst my first earthly tie was exposed to every
species of danger, and I besought him not to force me away. He
was greatly distressed, but could not oppose my urgency. He
procured me, however, a passport from M. le Comte de Jaucourt,
his long attached friend, who was minister aux affaires
trangres(260) ad interim, while Talleyrand Perigord was with
the Congress at Vienna.
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I received it most unwillingly: I could not endure to absent
myself from the seat of government,-for I little divined how soon
that government was to change its master. Nevertheless, the
prudence of this preparatory measure soon became conspicuous, for
the very following day I heard of nothing but purposed
emigrations from Paris-retirement, concealment, embarrassments,
and difficulties. My sole personal joy was that my younger
Alexander was far away, and safely lodged in the only country of
safety.
But, on the 17th, hope again revived. I received these words from
my best friend, written on a scrap of paper torn from a parcel,
and brought to me by his groom from the palace of the Tuileries,
where their writer had passed the night mounting guard:--
"Nous avons de meilleures nouvelles. Je ne puis entrer dans aucun
dtail; mais sois tranquille, et aime bien qui t'aime
uniquement.(261) God bless you."
This news hung upon the departure of Marshal Ney to meet
Bonaparte and stop his progress, with the memorable words uttered
publicly to the king, that he would bring him to Paris in an iron
cage. The king at this time positively announced and protested
that he would never abandon his throne nor quit his capital,
Paris.
Various of my friends called upon me this day, all believing the
storm was blowing over. Madame Chastel and her two daughters were
calm, but, nevertheless, resolved to visit a small terre(262)
which they possessed, till the metropolis was free from all
contradictory rumours. Madame de Cadignan preserved her
imperturbable gaiety and carelessness, and said she should stay,
happen what might ; for what mischief could befall a poor widow ?
Her sportive smiles and laughing eyes displayed her security in
the power of her charms. Madame de Maisonneuve was filled with
apprehensions for her brothers, who were all in highly
responsible situations, and determined to remain in Paris to be
in the midst of them. The Princesse d'Henin came to me daily to
communicate all the intelligence she gathered from the numerous
friends and connections through whom she was furnished with
supplies. Her own plans were incessantly changing, but her
friendship knew no
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alteration; and in every various modification of her intentions
she always offered to include me in their execution, should my
affairs reduce me, finally, to flight.
Flight, however, was intolerable to my thoughts. I weighed it not
as saving me from Bonaparte - I could consider it only as
separating me from all to which my heart most dearly clung.
Madame d'Henin was undecided whether to go to the north or to the
south-to Bordeaux or to Brussels ; I could not, therefore, even
give a direction to M. d'Arblay where I could receive any
intelligence, and the body-guard of the king was held in utter
suspense as to its destination. This, also, was unavoidable,
since the king himself could only be guided by events.
The next day, the 18th of March, all hope disappeared. From
north, from south, from east, from west, alarm took the field,
danger flashed its lightnings, and contention growled its
thunders: yet in Paris there was no rising, no disturbance, no
confusion--all was taciturn suspense, dark dismay, or sullen
passiveness. The dread necessity which had reduced the king,
Louis XVIII., to be placed on his throne by foreigners, would
have annihilated all enthusiasm of loyalty, if any had been left
by the long underminings of revolutionary principles.
What a day was *this of gloomy solitude! Not a soul approached
me, save, for a few moments, my active Madame d'Henin, who came
to tell me she was preparing to depart, unless a successful
battle should secure the capital from the conqueror. I now
promised that if I should ultimately be compelled to fly my home,
I would thankfully be of her party; and she grasped at this
engagement with an eagerness that gave proof of her sincere and
animated friendship. This intimation was balm to the heart of my
dearest partner, and he wished the measure to be executed and
expedited; but I besought him, as he valued my existence, not to
force me away till every other resource was hopeless.
GENERAL D'ARBLAY'S MILITARY PREPARATIONS.
He passed the day almost wholly at the barracks. When he entered
his dwelling, in the Rue de Miromenil, it was only upon military
business, and from that he could spare me scarcely a second. He
was shut up in his library with continual comers and goers; and
though I durst not follow
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him, I could not avoid gathering, from various circumstances,
that he was now preparing to take the field, in full expectation
of being sent out with his comrades of the guard, to check the
rapid progress of the invader. I knew this to be his earnest
wish, as the only chance of saving the king and the throne; but
he well knew it was my greatest dread, though I was always silent
upon the subject, well aware that while his honour was dearer to
him than his life, my own sense of duty was dearer to me also
than mine. While he sought, therefore, to spare me the view of
his arms and warlike equipage and habiliments, I felt his wisdom
as well as his kindness, and tried to appear as if I had no
suspicion of his proceedings, remaining almost wholly in my own
room, to avoid any accidental surprise, and to avoid paining him
with the sight of my anguish. I masked it as well as I could for
the little instant he had from time to time to spare me; but
before dinner he left me entirely, having to pass the night
cheval at the barracks, as he had done the preceding night at the
Tuileries.
The length of this afternoon, evening, and night was scarcely
supportable : his broken health, his altered looks, his frequent
sufferings, and diminished strength, all haunted me with terror,
in the now advancing prospect of his taking the field. And where?
And how? No one knew! Yet he was uncertain whether he could even
see me once more the next day! . . .
I come now to the detail of one of the most dreadful days of my
existence, the 19th of March, 1815, the last which preceded the
triumphant return of Bonaparte to the capital of France. Little,
on its opening, did I imagine that return so near, or believe it
would be brought about without even any attempted resistance.
General d'Arblay, more in the way of immediate intelligence, and
more able to judge of its result, was deeply affected by the most
gloomy prognostics. He came home at about six in the morning,
harassed, worn, almost wasted with fatigue, and yet more with a
baleful view of all around him, and with a sense of wounded
military honour in the inertia which seemed to paralyze all
effort to save the king and his cause. He had spent two nights
following armed on guard, one at the Tuileries, in his duty of
garde du corps to the king; the other on duty as artillery
captain at the barracks. He went to bed for a few hours ; and
then, after a wretched breakfast in which he
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briefly narrated the state of things he had witnessed and his
apprehensions, be conjured me, in the most solemn and earnest
manner, to yield to the necessity of the times, and consent to
quit Paris with Madame d'Henin, should she ultimately decide to
depart. I could not, when I saw his sufferings, endure to augment
them by any further opposition; but never was acquiescence so
painful! To lose even the knowledge whither he went, or the
means of acquainting him whither I might go myself--to be
deprived of the power to join him, should he be made prisoner--or
to attend him, should he be wounded. . . . I could not pronounce
my consent; but he accepted it so decidedly in my silence, that
he treated it as arranged, and hastened its confirmation by
assuring me I had relieved his mind from a weight of care and
distress nearly intolerable. As the wife of an officer in the
king's body-guard, in actual service, I might be seized, he
thought, as a kind of hostage, and might probably fare all the
worse for being also an Englishwoman.
He then wrote a most touching note to the Princesse d'Henin,
supplicating her generous friendship to take the charge not only
of my safety, but of supporting and consoling me.
After this, he hurried back to the Tuileries for orders,
apparently more composed; and that alone enabled me to sustain my
so nearly compulsory and so repugnant agreement. His return was
speedy: he came, as he had departed, tolerably composed, for he
had secured me a refuge, and he had received orders to prepare to
march--to Melun, he concluded, to encounter Bonaparte, and to
battle; for certain news had arrived of the invader's rapid
approach. . . . at half-past two; at noon it was expected that
the body-guard would be put in motion. Having told me this
history, he could not spare me another moment till that which
preceded his leaving home to join the Due de Luxembourg's
company. He then came to me, with an air of assumed serenity, and
again, in the most kindly, soothing terms, called upon me to give
him an example of courage. I obeyed his injunction with my best
ability-yet how dreadful was our parting! We knelt together in
short but fervent prayer to heaven for each other's preservation,
and then separated. At the door he turned back, and with a smile
which, though forced, had inexpressible sweetness, he half gaily
exclaimed, "Vive le roi!" I instantly caught his wise
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wish that we should part with apparent cheerfulness, and reechoed
his words-and then he darted from my sight.
This had passed in an ante-room ; but I then retired to my
bedchamber, where, all effort over, I remained for some minutes
abandoned to an affliction nearly allied to despair, though
rescued from it by fervent devotion.
But an idea then started into my mind that yet again I might
behold him. I ran to a window which looked upon the inward
court-yard. There, indeed, behold him I did, but oh, with what
anguish ! just mounting his war-horse, a noble animal, of which
he was singularly fond, but which at this moment I viewed with
acutest terror, for it seemed loaded with pistols, and equipped
completely for immediate service on the field of battle; while
Deprez, the groom, prepared to mount another, and our cabriolet
was filled with baggage and implements of war.
I could not be surprised, since I knew the destination of the
general ; but so carefully had he spared me the progress of his
preparations, which he thought would be killing me by inches,
that I had not the most distant idea he was thus armed and
encircled with instruments of death-bayonets, lances, pistols,
guns, sabres, daggers !-what horror assailed me at the sight! I
had only so much sense and self-control left as to crawl softly
and silently away, that I might not inflict upon him the
suffering of beholding my distress - but when he had passed the
windows, I opened them to look after him. The street was empty -
the gay constant gala of a Parisian Sunday was changed into
fearful solitude : no sound was heard, but that of here and there
some hurried footstep, on one hand hastening for a passport to
secure safety by flight ; on the other, rushing abruptly from or
to some concealment, to devise means of accelerating and hailing
the entrance of the conqueror. Well in tune with this air of an
impending crisis, was my miserable mind, which from grief little
short of torture sunk, at its view, into a state of morbid quiet,
that seemed the produce of feelings totally exhausted.
PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHT: LEAVE-TAKINGS.
Thus I continued, inert, helpless, motionless, till the Princesse
d'Henin came into my apartment. Her first news was, that
Bonaparte had already reached Compigne, and that to-morrow, the
20th of March, he might arrive in Paris, if the
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army of the king stopped not his progress. It was now necessary
to make a prompt decision; my word was given, and I agreed to
accompany her whithersoever she fixed to go. She was STILL
hesitating; but it was settled I should join her in the evening,
bag and baggage, and partake of her destination. . . .
I was now sufficiently roused for action, and my first return to
conscious understanding was a desire to call in and pay every
bill that might be owing, as well as the rent of our apartments
up to the present moment, that no pretence might be assumed from
our absence for disposing of our goods, books, or property of any
description. As we never had any avoidable debts, this was soon
settled ; but the proprietor of the house was thunderstruck by
the measure, saying, the king had reiterated his proclamation
that he would not desert his capital. I could only reply that
the general was at his majesty's orders, and that my absence
Would be short. I then began collecting our small portion of
plate, etc.; but while thus occupied, I received a message from
Madame d'Henin, to tell me I must bring nothing but a small
change of linen, and one band-box, as by the news she had just
heard, she was convinced we should be back again in two or three
days, and she charged me to be with her in an hour from that
time. I did what she directed, and put what I most valued, that
was not too large, into a hand-basket, made by some French
prisoners in England, that had been given me by my beloved friend
Mrs. Locke. I then swallowed, standing, my neglected dinner, and,
with Madame Deprez, and my small allowance of baggage, I got into
a fiacre, and drove to General Victor de la Tour Maubourg, to bid
adieu to my dearest Madame de Maisonneuve, and her family.
It was about nine o'clock at night, and very dark. I sent on
Madame Deprez to the princess, and charged her not to return to
summon me till the last moment. The distance was small.
I found the -house of the Marquis Victor de la Tour Maubourg in a
state of the most gloomy dismay. No portier was in the way, but
the door of the porte CocHre was ajar, and I entered on foot, no
fiacre being ever admitted into les cours des hTels. Officers
and strangers were passing to and fro, some to receive, others to
resign commissions, but all with quick steps, though in dead
silence. Not a servant was in the way, and hardly any light; all
seemed in disorder.
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groped along till I came to the drawing-room, in which were
several people, waiting for orders, or for an audience ; but in
no communication with each other, for here, also, a dismal
taciturnity prevailed, From my own disturbance, joined to my
short-sightedness, I was some time ere I distinguished Madame
Victor de la Tour Maubourg, and when at last I saw her, I
ventured not to address or to approach her. She was at a table,
endeavouring to make some arrangement, or package, or
examination, with papers and boxes before her, but deluged in
tears, which flowed so fast that she appeared to have
relinquished all effort to restrain them, And this was the more
affecting to witness, as she is eminently equal and cheerful in
her disposition. I kept aloof, and am not certain that she even
perceived me. The general was in his own apartment, transacting
military business of moment. But no sooner was I espied by my
dearest Madame de Maisonneuve, than I was in her kind arms. She
took me apart to reveal to me that the advance of the late
emperor was still more rapid than its report. All were quitting
Paris, or resigning themselves to passive submission. For
herself, she meant to abide by whatever should be the destination
of her darling brother Victor, who was now finishing a commission
that no longer could be continued, of raising volunteers-for
there was no longer any royal army for them to join ! Whether the
king would make a stand at the Tuileries, as he had unhappily
promised, or whether he would fly, was yet unknown ; but General
Victor de Maubourg was now going to equip himself in full
uniform, that he might wait upon his majesty in person, decidedly
fixed to take his orders, be they what they might.
With danger thus before him, in his mutilated state, having
undergone an amputation of the leg and thigh on the field of
battle, who can wonder at the desolation of Madame Victor when he
resolved to sustain the risk of such an offer? Presently, what
was my emotion at the sudden and abrupt entrance into the room of
an officer of the king's garde du corps! in the self-same uniform
as that from which I had parted with such anguish in the morning!
A transitory hope glanced like lightning upon my brain, with an
idea that the body-guard was all at hand; but as evanescent as
bright was the flash! The concentrated and mournful look of the
officer assured me nothing genial was awaiting me - and when the
next minute we recognized each other, I saw it was the Count
Charles de la Tour Maubourg, the youngest brother of Madame de
Page 311
Maisonneuve; and he then told me he had a note for me from M.
d'Arblay.
Did I breathe then? i think not! I grasped the paper in my hand,
but a mist was before my eyes, and I could not read a word.
Madame de Maisonneuve held a hurried conference with her brother,
and then informed me that the body-guard was all. called out) the
whole four companies, with their servants, equipage, arms and
horses, to accompany and protect the king in his flight from
Paris! But whither he would go, or with what intent, whether of
battle or of escape, had not been announced. The Count Charles
had obtained leave of absence for one hour to see his wife
(Mademoiselle de Lafayette) and his children; but M. d'Arblay,
who belonged to the artillery company, could not be spared even a
moment. He had therefore seized a cover of a letter of M. de
Bethizy, the commandant, to write me a few words.
I now read them, and found--
"Ma chre amie--Tout est perdu! je ne puis entrer dans aucun
dtail--de grce, partez! le plutt sera le mieux. A la vie et
la mort, A. D'A."(263)
Scarcely had I read these lines, when I was told that Madame
d'Henin had sent me a summons. I now could but embrace my Madame
de Maisonneuve in silence, and depart. . . .
ARISTOCRATIC IRRITABILITY.
Arrived at Madame la Princesse d'Henin's, all was in a
perturbation yet greater than what I had left, though not equally
afflicting. Madame d'Henin was so little herself, that every
moment presented a new view of things, and urged her impatiently,
nay imperiously, to differ from whatever was offered.
Now she saw instantly impending danger, and was for precipitate
flight; now she saw fearless security, and determined not to move
a step ; the next moment all was alarm again, and she wanted
wings for speed - and the next, the smallest apprehension
awakened derision and contempt. I, who had never yet seen her but
all that was elegant, rational, and kind, was thunderstruck by
this effect of threatening
Page 312
evil upon her high and susceptible spirit. From manners of
dignified serenity, she so lost all self-possession as to answer
nearly with fury whatever was not acquiescent concurrence in her
opinion: from sentiments of the most elevated nobleness she was
urged, by every report that opposed her expectations, to the
utterance of wishes and of assertions that owed their impulse to
passion, and their foundation to prejudice ; and from having
sought, with the most flattering partiality, to attach me to her
party, she gave me the severe shock of intimating that my joining
her confused all er measures.
To change my plan now was impossible ; my husband and my best
friends knew me to be with her, and could seek me, or bestow
information upon me, in no other direction; I had given up my own
home, and to return thither, or to stay any where in Paris, was
to constitute myself a prisoner: nevertheless, it was equally a
sorrow and a violence to my feelings to remain with her another
moment after so astonishing a reproach. Displeasure at it,
however, subsided, when I found that it proceeded neither from
weakened regard, nor a wanton abuse of power, but from a mind
absolutely disorganized.
M. le Comte de Lally Tolendal, the Cicero of France, and most
eloquent man of his day, and one of the most honourable, as well
as most highly gifted, was, I now found, to be of our fugitive
party. He was her admiring and truly devoted friend, and by many
believed to be privately married to her. I am myself of that
opinion, and that the union, on account of prior and unhappy
circumstances, was forborne to be avowed. Certainly their mutual
conduct warranted this conclusion. Nevertheless, his whole
demeanour towards her announced the most profound respect as well
as attachment ; and hers to him the deepest consideration, with a
delight in his talents amounting to an adoration that met his for
her noble mind and winning qualities. She wanted, however,
despotically to sway him ; and little as he might like the
submission she required, he commonly yielded, to avoid, as I
conceive, the dangerous conjectures to which dissension might
make them liable.
But at this moment, revolutionary terrors and conflicting
sensations robbed each of them of that self-command which till
now had regulated their public intercourse. She, off all guard,
let loose alike the anxious sensibility and the arbitrary
impetuosity of her nature: he, occupied with too mighty a trouble
to have time or care for his wonted watchful
Page 313
attentions, heard alike her admonitions or lamentations with an
air of angry, but silent displeasure ; or, when urged too
pointedly for maintaining his taciturnity, retorted her
reproaches or remarks with a vehemence that seemed the echo of
her own. Yet in the midst of this unguarded contention, which had
its secret incitement, I doubt not, from some cruelly opposing
difference of feelings--of ideas upon the present momentous
crisis, nothing could be more clear than that their attachment to
each other, though it could not subdue their violent tempers,
was, nevertheless, the predominant passion of their souls.
THE COUNTESS D'AUCH'S COMPOSURE.
The turbulence of these two animated characters upon this trying
occasion was strongly contrasted by the placid suffering and
feminine endurance of Madame la Comtesse d'Auch, the daughter and
sole heiress and descendant of M. de Lally. Her husband, like
mine, was in the body-guard of Louis XVIII., and going, or gone,
no one knew whither, nor with what intent; her estate and
property were all near Bordeaux, and her little children were
with her at Paris. The difficult task, in the great uncertainty
of events, was now hers to decide, whether to seek the same
refuge that her father and Madame Henin should resolve upon
seeking, or whether to run every personal risk in trying to save
her lands and fortune from confiscation, by traversing, with only
her babies and servants, two or three hundred miles, to reach her
chateau at Auch ere it might be seized by the conquering party.
Quietly, and in total silence, she communed with herself, not
mixing in the discourse, nor seeming to heed the disturbance
around her; but, when at length applied to, her resolution, from
her Own concentrated meditations, was fixedly taken, to preserve,
if possible, by her exertions and courage, the property of her
absent and beloved husband, for his hoped return and for her
children. This steadiness and composure called not forth any
imitation. M. de Lally breathed hard with absolute agony of
internal debate; and Madame d'Henin now declared she was sure all
would blow over in a false alarm, and that she would not hesitate
any longer between Brussels and Bordeaux, but remain quietly in
Paris, and merely sit up all night to be on the watch.
Page 314
RUMOURS OF BONAPARTE'S NEAR APPROACH.
M. de Lally determined to go now in person to the Tuileries, to
procure such information as might decide his shattered and
irresolute friend. When he was gone, a total silence ensued.
Madame d'Auch was absorbed in her fearful enterprise, and Madame
d'Henin, finding no one opposed her (for my thoughts were with no
one present), walked up and down the room, with hasty movement,
as if performing some task. Various persons came and went,
messengers, friends, or people upon business. She seized upon
them all, impatiently demanding their news, and their opinions,
but so volubly, at the same time, uttering her own, as to give
them no time to reply, though as they left her, too much hurried
themselves to wait her leisure for listening, she indignantly
exclaimed against their stupidity and insensibility.
But what a new and terrible commotion was raised in her mind, in
that of Madame d'Auch, and in mine, upon receiving a pencil
billet from M. de Lally, brought by a confidential servant, to
announce that Bonaparte was within a few hours' march of Paris!
He begged her to hasten off, and said he would follow in his
cabriolet when he had made certain arrangements, and could gain
some information as to the motions of the king.
She now instantly ordered horses to her berlin,(264) which had
long been loaded, and calling up all her people and dependants,
was giving her orders with the utmost vivacity, when intelligence
was brought her that no horses could now be had, the government
having put them all in requisition. I was struck with horror. To
be detained in Paris, the seat of impending conquest, and the
destined capital of the conqueror--detained a helpless prisoner,
where all would be darkly unknown to me, where Truth could find
no entrance, Falsehood no detection--where no news could reach
me, except news that was fatal--oh! what dire feelings were mine
at this period!
Madame d'Auch, who had taken her precautions, instantly though
sadly, went away, to secure her own carriage, and preserve her
little babies.
DEPARTURE FROM PARIS AT NIGHT TIME.
Madame d'Henin was now almost distracted, but this dreadful
prospect of indefinite detention, with all the horrors
Page 315
of captivity, lasted not long: Le Roy, her faithful domestic from
his childhood, prevailed upon some stable friend to grant the use
of his horses for one stage from Paris, and the berlin and four
was at the porte cochre in another moment, The servants and
dependants of Madame d'Henin accompanied her to the carriage in
tears ; and all her fine qualities were now unmixed, as she took
an affectionate leave of them, with a sweetness the most
engaging, suffering the women to kiss her cheek, and smiling
kindly on the men, who kissed her robe. Vivacity like hers
creates alarm, but, in France, breeds no resentment ; and where,
like hers, the character is eminently noble and generous, it is
but considered as a mark of conscious rank, and augments rather
than diminishes personal devotion.
We now rushed into the carriage, averse, yet eager, between ten
and eleven o'clock at night, 19th March, 1815. As Madame d'Henin
had a passport for herself, et sa famille, we resolved to keep
mine in reserve, in case of accidents or separation, and only to
produce hers, while I should be included in its privileges. The
decision for our route was for Brussels ; the femme de chambre of
Madame d'Henin-within, and the valet, Le Roy, outside the
carriage, alone accompanied us, with two postilions for the four
horses. Madame d'Henin, greatly agitated, spoke from time to
time, though rather in ejaculations upon our flight, its
uncertainties and alarms, than with any view to conversation; but
if she had any answer, it was of simple acquiescence from her
good and gentle femme de chambre; as to me . . . I could not
utter a word--my husband on his war-horse--his shattered state of
health--his long disuse to military service, yet high-wrought
sense of military honour--all these were before me. I saw,
heard, and was conscious of nothing else, till we arrived at Le
Bourget,(265) a long, straggling, small town. And here, Madame
d'Henin meant to stop, or at least change horses.
A HALT AT LE BOURGET.
But all was still, and dark, and shut up. It was the dead of
night, and no sort of alarm seemed to disturb the inhabitants
Page 316
of the place. We knocked at the first inn: but after waiting a
quarter of an hour, some stable-man came Out to say there was not
a room vacant. The same reply was with the same delay given us at
two other inns; but, finally, we were more successful, though
even then we could obtain only a single apartment, with three
beds. These we appropriated for Madame d'Henin, myself, and her
maid; and the men-servants were obliged to content themselves
with mattresses in the kitchen. The town, probably, was filled
with fugitives from Paris.
A supper was directly provided, but Madame d'Henin, who now again
repented having hurried off, resolved upon sending her faithful
Le Roy back to the metropolis, to discover whether it were
positively true that the king had quitted it, He hired a horse,
and we then endeavoured to repose . . . but oh, how far from me
was all possibility of obtaining it!
About three in the morning M. de Lally overtook us. His
information was immediately conveyed to the Princesse d'Henin.
It was gloomily affrighting. The approach of Bonaparte was
wholly unresisted; all bowed before, that did not spring forward
to meet him.
Le Roy returned about six in the morning. The king, and his
guards, and his family, had all suddenly left Paris, but whither
had not transpired. He was preceded, encircled, and followed by
his four companies of body-guards.
Horror and distress at such a flight and such uncertainty were
not mine only, though circumstances rendered mine the most
poignant; but M. de Lally had a thousand fears for the excellent
and loved husband of his daughter, M. le Comte d'Auch; and Madame
d'Henin trembled, for herself and all her family, at the danger
of the young Hombert La Tour du Pin.
THE JOURNEY RESUMED.
No longer easy to be so near Paris, we hastily prepared to get on
for Brussels, our destined harbour. M. de Lally now accompanied
us, followed by his valet in a cabriolet. Our journey commenced
in almost total silence on all parts: the greatness of the change
of government thus marvellously effecting, the impenetrable
uncertainty of coming events, and our dreadful ignorance of the
fate of those most precious to us, who were involved in the deeds
and the consequences
Page 317
of immediate action, filled every mind too awfully for speech and
our sole apparent attention was to the passengers we overtook, or
by whom we were overtaken.
These were so few, that I think we could not count half a dozen
on our way to Senlis, and those seemed absorbed in deadly thought
and silence, neither looking at us, nor caring to encounter our
looks. The road, the fields, the hamlets, all appeared deserted.
Desolate and lone was the universal air. I have since concluded
that the people of these parts had separated into two divisions;
one of which had hastily escaped, to save their lives and
loyalty, while the other had hurried to the capital to greet the
conqueror - for this was Sunday,(266) the 20th of March.
Oh, what were my sensations on passing through Senlis Senlis, so
lately fixed for my three months' abode with my general, during
his being de service. When we stopped at a nearly empty inn,
during the change of horses, I inquired after Madame Le Quint,
and some other ladies who had been prepared to kindly receive
me--but they were all gone! hastily they had quitted the town,
which, like its environs, had an air of being generally
abandoned.
The desire of obtaining intelligence made Madame d'Henin most
unwilling to continue a straightforward journey, that must
separate her more and more from the scene of action. M. de Lally
wished to see his friend the young Duc d'Orlans,(267) who was at
Peronne, with his sister and part of his family; and he was
preparing to gratify this desire, when a discussion relative to
the danger of some political misconstruction, the duke being at
that time upon ill terms with Monsieur, Comte d'Artois,(268) made
him relinquish his purpose. We wandered about, however, I hardly
know where, save that we stopped from time to time at small
hovels in which resided tenants of the Prince or of the Princess
de Poix, who received Madame d'Henin with as much devotion of
attachment as they could have done in the fullest splendour of
her power to reward their kindness ; though with an entire
familiarity of discourse that, had I been new to French Customs,
would have seemed to me marks of total loss of respect. But after
a ten years' unbroken residence in France,
Page 318
I was too well initiated in the ways of the dependants Upon the
great belonging to their own tenantry, to make a mistake so
unjust to their characters. We touched, as I think, at Noailles,
at St. just, at Mouchy, and at Poix--but I am only sure we
finished the day by arriving at Roy, where still the news of that
day was unknown. What made it travel so slowly I cannot tell; but
from utter dearth of all the intelligence by which we meant to be
guided, we remained, languidly and helplessly, at Roy till the
middle of the following Monday,(269) the 21st March.
About that time some military entered the town and our inn. We
durst not ask a single question, in our uncertainty to which side
they belonged ; but the four horses were hastily ordered, since
to decamp seemed what was most necessary. But Brussels was no
longer the indisputable spot, as the servants Overheard some
words that implied a belief that Louis XVIII. was quitting France
to return to his old asylum, England. It was determined,
therefore, though not till after a tumultuous debate between the
princess and M. de Lally, to go straight to Amiens, where the
prefect, M. Lameth, was a former friend, if not connection, of
the princess.
We had now to travel by a cross-road, and a very bad one, and it
was not till night that we arrived at the suburbs. It was here
first we met with those difficulties that announced, by vigilance
with disturbance, a kind of suspended government; for the
officers of the police who demanded our passports were evidently
at a loss whether to regard them as valid or not. Their
interrogatories, meanwhile, were endless; and, finally, they
desired us, as it was so late and dark, to find ourselves a
lodging in the suburbs, and not enter the city of Amiens till the
next morning.
Clouded as were alike our perceptions and our information, we
could not but be aware of the danger of to-morrow, when our
entrance might be of a sort to make our exit prohibited. Again
followed a tumultuous debate, which ended in the hazardous
resolve of appealing to the prefect and casting ourselves upon
his protection. This appeal ended all inquisition : we were
treated with deference, and accommodated in a decent room, while
the passports of Madame d'Henin and of M. de Lally were forwarded
to the prefecture. We remained here some time in the utmost
stillness, no one pronouncing a word. We knew not who might
listen, nor
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with what ears ! But far from still was all within, because far
from confident how the prefect might judge necessary to arrest,
or to suffer our proceeding further. The answer was, at length,
an order to the police officers to let us enter the city and be
conducted to an hotel named by M. Lameth.
A SUPPER AT AmIENS WITH THE PREFECT.
We had an immensely long drive through the city of Amiens ere we
came to the indicated hotel. But here Madame d'Henin found a
note that was delivered to her by the secretary of the
prefecture, announcing the intention of the prefect to have the
honour of waiting upon her; and when M. Lameth was announced, M.
de Lally and I retired to our several chambers.
Her tte-
-tte with him was very long, and ended in a summons to
M. de Lally to make it a trio. This interview was longer still,
and my anxiety for the news with which it might terminate
relative to the king, the body-guard, and our detention or
progression, was acute. At length I also was summoned.
Madame d'Henin came out to me upon the landing-place, hastily and
confusedly, to say that the prefect did not judge proper to
receive her at the prefecture, but that he would stay and sup
with her, and that I was to pass for her premire femme de
chambre, as it would not be prudent to give in my name, though it
had been made known to M. Lameth; but the wife of an officer so
immediately in the service of the king must not be specified as
the host of a prefect, if that prefect meant , to yield to the
tide of a new government. Tide? Nay, torrent it was at this
moment ; and any resistance that had not been previously
organized, and with military force, must have been vain. I made,
however, no inquiry. I was simply acquiescent; and, distantly
following Madame d'Henin, remained at the end of the room while
the servants and the waiters adjusted matters for supper.
In a situation of such embarrassment I never before was placed. I
knew not which way to look, nor what to do. Discovery at such a
crisis might have been fatal, as far as might hang upon
detention; and detention, which would rob me of all means of
hearing of M. d'Arblay, should I gather what was his route, and
be able to write to him, was death to my peace. I regretted I had
not demanded to stay in
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another room; but, in such heart-piercing moments, to be in the
way of intelligence is the involuntary first movement.
When all was arranged, and Madame d'Henin was seated M. de Lally
set a chair for me, slightly bowing to me to take it. I complied,
and supper began. I was helped, of course the last, and not once
spoken to by any body. The repast' was not very gay, yet by no
means dejected. The conversation was upon general topics, and M.
de Lameth was entirely master of himself, seeming wholly without
emotion.
I was afterwards informed that news had just reached him, but not
officially, that Bonaparte had returned to Paris. Having heard,
therefore, nothing from the new government he was able to act as
if there were none such, and he kindly obliged Madame d'Henin by
giving her new passports, which should the conquest be confirmed,
would be safer than passports from the ministers of Louis XVIII.
at Paris. . . .
M. Lameth could not, however, answer for retaining his powers,
nor for what might be their modification even from hour to hour:
he advised us, therefore, by no means to risk his being either
replaced or restrained, but to get on as fast as possible with
his passports while certain they were efficient. He thought it
safer, also, to make a circuit than to go back again to the
high-road we had quitted. Our design of following the king, whom
we imagined gaining the sea-coast to embark for England, was
rendered abortive from the number of contradictory accounts which
had reached M. Lameth as to the route he had taken. Brussels,
therefore, became again our point of desire; but M. Lameth
counselled us to proceed for the moment to Arras, where M. --- (I
forget his name) would aid us either to proceed, or to change,
according to circumstances, our destination. Not an instant,
however, was to be lost, lest M. Lameth should be forced himself
to detain us. Horses, therefore, he ordered for us, and a guide
across the country for Arras.
I learnt nothing of this till we re-entered our carriage. The
servants and waiters never quitted the room, and the prefect had
as much his own safety to guard
from ill construction or report as ours. Madame d'Henin, though
rouged the whole time with confusion, never ventured to address a
word to me. It was, indeed, more easy to be silent than to speak
to me either with a tone of condescension or of command, and any
other must have been suspicious. M. de
Page 321
Lally was equally dumb, but active in holding out every plat to
me, though always looking another way. M. Lameth eyed me with
curiosity, but had no resource against surmise save that adopted
by Madame d'Henin. However, he had the skill and the politeness
to name, in the course of the repast, M. d'Arblay, as if
accidentally, yet with an expression of respect and distinction,
carefully, as he spoke, turning his eyes from mine, though it was
the only time that, voluntarily, he would have met them.
The horses being ready, M. Lameth took leave.
RECEPTION AT THE PREFECTURE AT ARRAS.
It was now about eleven at night. The road was of the roughest
sort, and we were jerked up and down the ruts so as with
difficulty to keep our seats : it was also very dark, and the
drivers could not help frequently going out of their way, though
the guide, groping on upon such occasions on foot, soon set them
right. It was every way a frightful night. Misery, both public
and private, oppressed us all, and the fear of pursuit and
captivity had the gloomy effect of causing general taciturnity ;
so that no kind voice, nor social suggestion, diverted the sense
of danger, or excited one of hope.
At what hour we arrived at Arras on Wednesday, the 22nd March, I
cannot tell; but we drove straight to the prefecture, a very
considerable mansion, surrounded with spacious grounds and
gardens, which to me, nevertheless, had a bleak, flat, and
desolate air, though the sun was brightly shining. We stopped at
the furthest of many gates on the high road, while madame sent in
to M. -- (I forget his name) the note with which we had been
favoured by M. Lameth. The answer was a most courteous
invitation of entrance, and the moment the carriage stopped at
the great door of the portico, the prefect, M. -, hastened out to
give Madame d'Henin le bras. He was an old soldier and in full
uniform, and he came to us from a battalion drawn out in array on
one side the park. Tall, and with still a goodly port, though
with a face worn and weather-beaten, he had the air of a
gentleman as well as of a general officer - and the open and
hospitable smile with which he received the princess, while
bareheaded and baldheaded he led her into his palace, diffused a
welcome around that gave an involuntary cheeriness even to poor
dejected me. How indescribably gifted is the human face Y
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divine," in those who are invested with power, to transmit Or to
blight comfort even by a glance!
As Madame d'Henin demanded a private audience, I know not what
passed; but I have reason to believe we were the first who
brought news to Arras that approached to the truth of the actual
position of Paris. M. Lameth, for Political reasons, had as
studiously avoided naming M. de Lally as myself in his note .-
but M. de Lally was treated by the mistress of the house with the
distinction due to a gentleman travelling with the princess ; and
as to me, some of the younger branches of the family took me
under their protection, and very kind they were, showing me the
garden, library, and views of the surrounding country.
A CHEERFUL DEJEUNER SOMEWHAT RUFFLED.
Meanwhile, an elegant breakfast was prepared for a large company,
a review having been ordered for that morning, and several
general officers being invited by the prefect. This repast had a
cheerfulness that to me, an Englishwoman, was unaccountable and
is indefinable. The king had been compelled to fly his capital ,
no one knew where he was seeking shelter; no one knew whether he
meant to resign his crown in hopeless inaction, or whether to
contest it in sanguinary civil war. Every family, therefore,
with its every connection in the whole empire of the French, was
involved in scenes upon which hung prosperity or adversity,
reputation or disgrace, honour or captivity ; yet at such a
crisis the large assembled family met with cheerfulness, the many
guests were attended to with politeness, and the goodly fare of
that medley of refreshments called a djeuner in France was met
with appetites as goodly as its incitements.
This could not be from insensibility; the French are anything
rather than insensible : it could not be from attachment to
Bonaparte, the prefect loudly declaring his devotion to Louis
XVIII. I can only, therefore, attribute it to the long
revolutionary state of the French mind, as well as nation, which
had made it so familiar to insurrection, change, and incertitude,
that they met it as a man meets some unpleasant business which he
must unavoidably transact, and which, since he has no choice to
get rid of, he resolves to get through to the best of his
ability.
We were still, however, smelling sweet flowers and regaled
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with fine fruits, when this serenity was somewhat ruffled by the
arrival of the commander of the forces which had been reviewed,
or destined for review, I know not which. He took the prefect
aside, and they were some time together. He then, only bowing to
the ladies of the house, hastened off. The prefect told us the
news that imperfectly arrived was very bad, but he hoped a stand
would be made against any obstinate revolt ; and he resolved to
assemble every officer and soldier belonging to his government,
and to call upon each separately to take again, and solemnly, his
oath of allegiance. . While preparing for this ceremony the
commander again returned, and told him he had positive
information that the. defection was spreading, and that whole
troops and' companies were either sturdily waiting in inaction,
or boldly marching on to meet the conqueror.
A LOYAL PREFECT.
Our table was now broken up, and we were wishing to depart ere
official intimation from the capital might arrest our further
progress - but our horses were still too tired, and no others
were to be procured. We became again very uneasy, and uneasiness
began to steal upon all around us. The prefect was engaged in
perpetual little groups of consultation, chiefly with general
officers, who came and went with incessant bustle, and
occasionally and anxiously were joined by persons of consequence
of the vicinity. The greater the danger appeared, the more
intrepidly the brave old prefect declared his loyalty ; yet he
was advised by all parties to give up his scheme till he knew
whether the king himself 'made a stand in his own cause. $
He yielded reluctantly; and when Madame d'Henin found his steady
adhesion to his king, she came up to him and said, that, finding
the firmness of his devotion to Louis XVIII., she was sure it
would give him pleasure to know he had at that moment under his
roof the wife of a general officer in the actual escort of his
majesty. He instantly came to me with a benevolent smile, and we
had a conversation of deep Interest upon the present state of
things. I had the heartfelt satisfaction to find that my
honoured husband was known to him, not alone by reputation, but
personally; and to find that, and to hear his praise, has always
been one and the same thing. Alas! those sounds on these sad ears
vibrate no
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more!.....At length, however, about noon, we set off, accompanied
by the prefect and all his family to our carriage.
EMBLEMS OF LOYALTY AT DOUAY.
At Douay, we had the satisfaction to see still stronger outward
marks of attachment to the king and his cause, for in every
street through which we passed, the windows were decked with
emblems of faithfulness to the Bourbon dynasty, white flags, or
ribands, or, handkerchiefs. All, however, without commotion, all
was a simple manifestation of respect, No insurrection was
checked, for none had been excited - no mob was dispersed, for
scarcely any one seemed to venture from his house.
Our intention was to quit the French territory that night, and
sleep in more security at Tournay ; but the roads became so bad,
and our horses grew so tired, that it was already dark before we
reached Orchies. M. de Lally went on from Douay in his cabriolet,
to lighten our weight, as Madame d'Henin had a good deal of
baggage. We were less at our ease, while thus perforce travelling
slower, to find the roads, as we proceeded from Douay, become
more peopled. Hitherto they had seemed nearly a blank. We now
began, also, to be met, or to be overtaken, by small parties of
troops. We naturally looked out with earnestness on each side, to
discover to whom or to what they belonged : but the compliment of
a similar curiosity on their part was all we gained. Sometimes
they called out a "Vive--" but without finishing their wish; and
we repeated--that is, we bowed to--the same hailing exclamation,
without knowing or daring to inquire its purport.
STATE OF UNCERTAINTY AT ORCHIES.
At Orchies, where we arrived rather late in the evening, we first
found decided marks of a revolutionary state of things. No orders
were sent by either party. The king and his government were too
imminently in personal danger to assert their rights, or retain
their authority for directing the provinces; Bonaparte and his
followers and supporters were too much engrossed by taking
possession of the capital, and too uncertain of their success, to
try a power which had as yet no basis, or risk a disobedience
which they had no means to resent. The people, as far as we could
see or learn
Page 325
seemed passively waiting the event ; and the constituted
authorities appeared to be self-suspended from their functions
till the droit des plus fort(270) should ascertain who were their
masters. Nevertheless, while we waited at Orchies for horses,
news arrived by straggling parties which, though only whispered,
created evidently some disturbance - a sort of wondering
expectation soon stared from face to face, asking by the eye what
no one durst pronounce by the voice; what does all this portend?
and for what ought we to prepare?
A MISHAP ON THE ROAD.
it was past eleven o'clock, and the night was dark and damp, ere
we could get again into our carriages - but the increasing bustle
warned us off, and a nocturnal journey had nothing to appal us
equally with the danger of remaining. We eagerly, therefore, set
off, but we were still in the suburbs of Orchies, when a call for
help struck our ears, and the berlin stopped. It was so dark, we
could not at first discern what was the matter, but we soon found
that the carriage of M. de Lally had broken down. Madame d'Henin
darted out of the berlin with the activity of fifteen. Her maid
accompanied her, and I eagerly followed.
Neither M. de Lally nor his man had received any injury, but the
cabriolet could no longer proceed without being repaired. The
groom was sent to discover the nearest blacksmith, who came soon
to examine the mischief, and declared that it could not be
remedied before daylight. We were forced to submit the vehicle
to his decree - but our distress what to do with ourselves was
now very serious. We knew there was no accommodation for us at
the inn we had 'just quitted, but that of passing the night by
the kitchen fire, exposed to all the hazards of suspicious
observation upon our evident flight. To remain upon the high road
stationary in our berlin might, at such a period, encompass us
with dangers yet more serious.
A KINDLY OFFER OF SHELTER.
We were yet unresolved, when a light from the windows of a small
house attracted our attention, and a door was opened, at which a
gentlewoman somewhat more than elderly stood, with a candle in
her hand, that lighted up a face full of
Page 326
benevolence, in which was painted strong compassion on the view
of our palpable distress. Her countenance encouraged us to
approach her, and the smile with which she saw us come forward
soon accelerated our advance; and when We reached her threshold,
she waited neither for solicitation nor representation, but let
us into her small dwelling without a single question, silently,
as if fearful herself we might be observed, shutting the street
door before she spoke. She then lamented, as we must needs, she
said, be cold and comfortless, that she had no fire, but added
that she and her little maid were in bed and asleep, when the
disturbance on the road had awakened her, and made her hasten up,
to inquire if any one were hurt. We told as much of our Story as
belonged to our immediate situation, and she then instantly,
assured us we should be welcome to stay in her house till the
cabriolet was repaired.
Without waiting for our thanks, she then gave to each a chair,
and fetched great plenty of fuel, with which she made an ample
and most reviving fire, in a large stove that was placed in the
middle of the room. She had bedding, she said, for two, and
begged that, when we were warmed and comforted, we would decide
which of us most wanted rest. We durst not, however, risk, at
such a moment, either being separated or surprised; we entreated
her, therefore, to let us remain together, and to retire herself
to the repose her humanity had thus broken. But she would not
leave us. She brought forth bread, butter, and cheese, with wine
and some other beverage, and then made us each a large bowl of
tea. And when we could no longer partake of her hospitable fare,
she fetched us each a pillow, and a double chair, to rest our
heads and our feet.
ALARMED BY POLISH LANCERS.
Thus cheered and refreshed, we blessed our kind hostess, and fell
into something like a slumber, when we were suddenly roused by
the sound of trumpets, and warlike instruments, and the trampling
of many horses, coming from afar, but approaching with rapidity.
We all started up alarmed, and presently the group, perceiving, I
imagine, through the ill-closed shutters, some light, stopped
before the house, and battered the door and the window, demanding
admission. We hesitated whether to remain or endeavour to conceal
ourselves
Page 327
but our admirable hostess bid us be still, while, calm herself,
she opened the street door, where she parleyed with the party,
cheerfully and without any appearance of fear, and told them she
had no room for their accommodation, because she had given up
even her own bed to some relations who were travelling, she
gained from them an applauding huzza and their departure. She
then informed us they were Polish lancers, and that she believed
they were advancing to scour the country in favour of Bonaparte.
She expressed herself an open 'and ardent loyalist for the
Bourbons, but said she had no safety except in submitting, like
all around her, to the stronger powers.
Again, by her persuasion, we sought to compose ourselves; but a
second party soon startled us from our purpose, and from that
time we made no similar attempt. I felt horrified at every blast
of the trumpet, and the fear of being made prisoner, or pillaged,
assailed me unremittingly.
At about five o'clock in the morning our carriages were at the
door. We blessed our benevolent hostess, took her name and
address, that we might seek some means of manifesting our
gratitude, and then quitted Orchies. For the rest of our journey
till we reached the frontiers, we were annoyed with incessant
small military groups or horsemen; but though suspiciously
regarded, we were not stopped. The fact is, the new government
was not yet, in those parts, sufficiently organised to have been
able to keep if they had been strong enough to detain us. But we
had much difficulty to have our passports honoured for passing
the frontiers ; and if they had not been so recently renewed at
Amiens, I think it most probable our progress would have been
impeded till new orders and officers were entitled to make us
halt.
ARRIVAL AT TOURNAY.
Great, therefore, was our satisfaction when, through all these
difficulties, we entered Tournay-where, being no longer in the
lately restored kingdom of France, we considered ourselves to be
escaped from the dominion of Bonaparte, and where we determined
therefore to remain till we could guide our further proceedings
by tidings of the plan and the position of Louis XVIII. We went
to the most considerable inn, and all retired to rest which,
after so much fatigue, mental and bodily, we required, and
happily obtained.
Page 328
The next day we had the melancholy satisfaction of hearing that
Louis XVIII. also had safely passed the frontiers of his lost
kingdom. As we were less fearful, now, of making inquiries, M.
de Lally soon learnt that his majesty had halted at Lille, where
he was then waiting permission and directions for a place of
retreat from the King of Holland, or the Netherlands. But no
intelligence whatsoever could we gain relative to the
body-guards, and my disturbance increased, every moment.
There was far more commotion at Tournay than at any other town
through which we passed; for as the people here were not under
the French government, either old or new, they were not awed into
waiting to know to which they should belong, in fearful
passiveness : yet they had all the perplexity upon their minds of
disquieting ignorance whether they were to be treated as friends
or foes, since if Bonaparte prevailed they could not but expect
to be joined again to his dominions. All the commotion,
therefore, of divided interests and jarring opinions was awake,
and in full operation upon the faculties and feelings of every
Belgian at this critical moment.
FUTILE EFFORTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH M. D'ARBLAY.
The horror of my suspense relative to the safety and the fate of
Monsieur d'Arblay reduced my mind to a sort of chaos, that makes
it impossible to recollect what was our abode at Tournay. I can
but relate my distress and my researches.
My first thought was to send a letter to my general at Lille,
which if he was there would inform him of my vicinity, and if
not, might perhaps find its way to his destination. At all
events, I resolved only to write what would be harmless should it
fall even into the hands of the enemy. I directed those few
lines to M. le Chevalier d'Arblay, officier suprieur du garde du
corps de sa majest Louis XVIII.
But when I would have sent them to the post, I was informed there
was no post then to Lille.
I then sought for a messenger, but was told that Lille was
inaccessible. The few letters that were permitted to enter it
were placed in a basket, the handle of which was tied to a long
cord, that was hooked up to the top of the walls, and thence
descended to appointed magistrates.
Vainly I made every effort in my power to avail myself Of this
method, no one of my party, nor at the inn,,knew or
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could indicate any means that promised success,
or even a trial. Worn at length by an anxiety I found
insupportable, I took a resolution to go forth myself, stranger
as I was to the place, and try to get my letter conveyed to the
basket, however difficult or costly might be its carriage.
Quite alone, therefore, I sallied forth, purposing to find, if
possible, some sturdy boy who would be glad of such remuneration
as I could offer, to pass over to Lille.
Again, however, vain was every attempt.
I entered all decent poor houses; sauntered to the suburbs, and
entered sundry cottages; but no inquiry could procure either a
man or a boy that would execute my commission. French was so
generally known that I commonly made myself understood, though I
only received a shake of the head, or a silent walking off, in
return to my propositions. But in the end, a lad told me he
thought he had heard that Madame la Duchesse de St. Agnes had had
some intercourse with Lille. Delighted, I desired him to show me
the house she inhabited. We walked to it together, and I then
said I would saunter near the spot while he entered, with my
earnest petition to know whether madame could give me any tidings
of the king's body-guard. He returned with an answer that madame
would reply to a written note, but to nothing verbal. I bid the
boy hie with me to the inn; but as I had no writing tackle, I
sent him forward to procure me proper implements at the
stationer's.
How it happened I know not, but I missed the boy, whom I could
never regain and I soon after lost my way myself.
In much perplexity I was seeking information which way to steer,
when a distant sound of a party of horse caught my attention. I
stopped. The sound approached nearer; the boys and idle people
in the street ran forward to meet it, and presently were joined
or followed by the more decent inhabitants. I had not the
temerity to make one among them, yet my anxiety for news of any
sort was too acute to permit me to retire. I stood therefore
still, waiting for what might arrive, till I perceived some
outriders galloping forward in the royal livery of France.
Immediately after, a chariot and four with the arms of France
followed, encircled by horsemen, and nearly enveloped by a
continually increasing crowd, whence, from time to time, issued a
feeble cry of "Vive le roi!" while two or three other carriages
brought up the rear. With difficulty now could I forbear
plunging into the midst of them, for my big expectations painted
to me Louis XVIII. arrived
Page 330
at Tournay, and my bigger hopes pictured with him his loyal
guard. They had soon however passed by, but their straggling
followers showed me their route, which I pursued till I lost both
sight and sound belonging to them.
I then loitered for my errand boy, till I found myself, by some
indications that helped my remembrance, near the spot whence I
had started. . Glad, for safety's sake, to be so near my then
home, though mourning my fruitless wandering, I hastened my
footsteps; but what was my emotion on arriving within a few yards
of the inn, to observe the royal carriage which had galloped past
me, the horsemen, the royal livery and all the appearance that
had awakened my dearest hopes' The crowd was dispersed, but the
porter's lodge, or perhaps bookkeeper's, was filled with
gentlemen, or officers in full uniform. I hurried on, and
hastily inquired who it was that had just arrived. My answer was,
the Prince de Cond.
A thousand projects now occurred to me for gaining intelligence
from such high authority, but in the large courtyard I espied
Madame d'Henin sauntering up and down, while holding by the arm
of a gentleman I had never before seen. Anxious to avoid delay,
and almost equally desirous to escape remonstrances on my
enterprise, since I could listen only to my restless anxiety, I
would have glided by unnoticed; but she called after me aloud,
and I was compelled to approach her. She was all astonishment at
my courage in thus issuing forth alone, I knew not where nor
whither, and declared that I was mconnoissable; but I only
answered by entreating her to inquire the names of some of the
gentlemen just arrived, that I might judge whether any among them
could give me the information for which I sighed.
No sooner did I hear that M. le Comte de Viomenil was of the
number, than, recollecting his recent appointment at Paris, in
conjunction with Victor de Maubourg, to raise volunteers for the
king, I decided upon seeking him. Madame d'Henin would have given
me some counsel, but I could not hear her; as I hurried off,
however, the gentleman whose arm she held offered me his
assistance in a tone and with a look of so much benevolence, that
I frankly accepted it, and we sallied in search of a person known
to me only by name. My stranger friend now saved me every
exertion, by making every inquiry and led me from corridor to
corridor, above, below, and to almost every apartment, asking
incessantly if M. le Comte de Viomenil was not in the inn.
Page 331
At length we learned that M. de Viomenil was dining quite alone
in an upper chamber.
My kind-hearted conductor led me to the door of the room
assigned, and then tapped at it; and on an answer of "entrez!" he
let go my arm, and with a bow silently left me. I found M. de
Viomenil at table : he said he could give no possible account of
his majesty, save that he was at Gand, but that of the body-guard
he knew positively nothing.
INTERVIEWS WITH M. DE CHATEAUBRIAND.
I afterwards learnt that my benevolent strange chevalier was no
other than the celebrated M. de Chteaubriand.(271) I saw
nothing more of him, save for a moment, when, in passing by a
small staircase that led to my chamber, a door was suddenly
opened, whence Madame d'Henin put out her head to invite me to
enter, when she presented me to him and to Madame de
Chteaubriand, a very elegant woman, but of a cold, reserved
demeanour.
I expressed eagerly the pleasure I had experienced in seeing the
author of " The Itinerary to Jerusalem," a work I had read in
Paris with extraordinary interest and satisfaction ; but I
believe the "Gnie du Christianisme," and perhaps the "Atala,"
were works so much more prized by that author as to make my
compliment misplaced. However, I so much more enjoy the natural,
pleasing, instructive, and simple, though ingenious style and
matter of the " Itinerary " than I do the overpowering sort of
heroic eloquence of those more popular performances, that the
zest of dear hallowed truth would have been wanting had I not
expressed my choice. The "Itinerary" is, indeed, one of the most
agreeable books I know.
M. de Chteaubriand hung back, whether pleased or not,
Page 332
with an air of gentlemanly serenity. I had opportunity for
further effort : we left Tournay to proceed to Brussels, and
heavy was my heart and my will to quit, thus in ignorance, the
vicinity of Lille.
At the town at which we stopped to dine which, I think, was Atot,
we again met M. et Madame de Chteaubriand. This was a mutual
satisfaction, and we agreed to have our meal in common. I now had
more leisure, not of time alone, but of faculty, for doing
justice to M. de Chateaubriand, whom I found amiable, unassuming,
and, though somewhat spoilt by the egregious flattery to which he
had been accustomed, wholly free from airs or impertinent
selfconceit. Excessive praise seemed only to cause him excessive
pleasure in himself, without leading to contempt or scorn of
others. He is by no means tall, and is rather thickset - but his
features are good, his countenance is very fine, and his eyes are
beautiful, alike from colour, shape, and expression ; while there
is a striking benevolence in his look, tone of voice, and manner.
Madame de Chteaubriand also gained ground by farther
acquaintance. She was faded, but not passe, and was still
handsome, and of a most graceful carriage, though distant and
uninviting. Her loftiness had in it something so pensive mixed
with its haughtiness, that though it could not inspire
confidence, it did not create displeasure. She possessed also a
claim to sympathy and respect in being the niece of M. de
Malesherbes, that wise, tender, generous, noble defender of Louis
XVI.
The conversation during and after dinner was highly interesting.
M. de Chteaubriand opened upon his situation with a trusting
unreserve that impressed me with an opinion of the nobleness of
his mind. Bonaparte had conceived against him, he said, a
peculiar antipathy, for which various motives might be assigned:
he enumerated them not, however, probably from the presence of
his wife ; as his marriage with a niece of that martyr to the
service of the murdered king, Louis XVI., I conclude to be at
their head. The astonishing and almost boundless success of his
works, since he was dissatisfied with his principles, and more
than suspicious of his disaffection to the imperial government,
must have augmented aversion by mixing with it some species of
apprehension. I know not what were the first publications of M.
de Chteaubriand, but they were in such high estimation
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when first I heard him mentioned, that no author was more
celebrated in France; when his "Martyres" came out, no other book
was mentioned; and the famous critic Geoffroyq who guided the
taste of Paris, kept it alive by criticisms of alternate praise
and censure without end. "Atala," the pastoral heroic romance,
bewitched all the reading ladies into a sort of idolatry of its
writer, and scarcely a page of it remained unadorned by some
representation in painting. The enthusiasm, indeed, of the
draughtsmen and of the fair sex seemed equally emulous to place
the author and the work at the head of celebrity and the fashion.
Of all this, of course, he spoke not - but he related the story
of his persecution by Napoleon concerning his being elected a
member of the French Institute. I was in too much disturbance to
be able to clearly listen to the narrative, but I perfectly
recollect that the censor, to soften Napoleon, had sent back the
manuscript to M. de Chteaubriand, with an intimation that no
public discourse could be delivered that did not contain an loge
of the Emperor. M. de Chteaubriand complied with the ordinance;
but whether the forced praise was too feeble, or whether the
aversion was too insuperable, I know not : all that is certain
is, that Napoleon, after repeated efforts from the Institute of
reelection, positively refused to ratify that of M. de
Chteaubriand.(272)
Another time a cousin of this gentleman was reputed to be engaged
In a conspiracy against the emperor. M. de Chteaubriand solemnly
declared he disbelieved the charge; and, as his weight in public
opinion was so great, he ventured to address a supplique to
Napoleon in favour of his kinsman; but the answer which reached
him the following day was an account of his execution !
(248) Horne's"History of Napoleon."
(249) This portion of the Diary is not dated, but the meeting
with the Duchess of Angoulme must have taken place in January or
February, 1815. Madame d'Arblay had joined her husband in France,
her son remaining at Cambridge.-ED.
(250) "Very glad to see me."
(251) "May I keep the book you sent me?"
(252) "He has acted very nobly."
(253) Raised every day."
(254) "The king recollects very well having seen you in London."
(255) "O, I don't doubt it at all."
(256) "He was perfect!"
(257) Princess Elizabeth.
(258) "'Tis she who does the honours of the royal family."
(259) On duty.
(260) Minister for foreign affairs.
(261) "We have better news. I can enter into no detail; but be
calm, and love him who loves you alone.
(262) Country estate.
(263) "My dearest--All is lost! I cannot enter into
details--pray, set out the sooner the better. Yours in life and
death, A. d'A."
(264) A large travelling-coach.-ED.
(265) Le Bourget was the scene of some desperate fighting during
the siege of Paris in 1870. It was surprised and captured from
the Prussians before daybreak of October 28, by a French force
commanded by General de Bellemare, but, after a gallant defence
of two days, it was retaken by the Prussians. December 21, an
attempt was made by the French to recapture Le Bourget, but
without success.-ED.
(266) Monday, the 20th, it should be-ED.
(267) The son of Philippe Egalit, afterwards King Louis
Philippe.-ED.
(268) Brother of Louis XVIII., whom he succeeded under the title
of Charles X.-ED.
(269) Should be Tuesday-ED.
(270) "Right of the strongest."
(271) Franois Ren de Chteaubriand was born at Saint Malo in
1768 He visited the United States in 1789, and found, in the
pathless forests of the new world, the scenery which he
describes, with poetic fervour, in the pages of "Atala." The
news of the king's flight to Varennes brought him back to Europe.
He married (1792) 'Mlle. de la Vigne-Buisson, joined the emigrant
army which marched with Brunswick to conquer France, got wounded
at Thionville, and retired to England. After the appointment of
Bonaparte to the office of first Consul, Chteaubriand returned
to France, and published his heroic- sentimental romance of
"Atala." Its success with the public was great, and it was
followed by "The Genius of Christianity," and other works. Under
the restored Bourbons, Chteaubriand filled high diplomatic
posts. This most sentimental of men of genius died in July,
1848.-ED.
(272) This occurred in the year 1811.-ED.
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