"I send you an account of the very memorable scene which occurred at
Madame Bonaparte's drawing-room on the 13th of March, 1803. I believe I
am the only living witness, as those who were near the person of Lord
Whitworth were members of the corps diplomatique, Cobenzel, Marcoff,
Lucchesini, all dead. Many years after I became intimately acquainted
with the Marchese Lucchesini at Florence, when I had an opportunity of
referring to that remarkable conversation.
"It was announced that Madame Bonaparte was to receive on the following
Sunday, and it was reported that she was to have maids of honour for the
first time; a little curiosity was excited on this score. The apartment
of Madame B. was on the opposite side of the Tuilleries in which
Bonaparte held his levees. I was acquainted with Lord Whitworth, who
told me to place myself near to him, in order to afford facility for
presentation, as Madame B. would occupy an arm-chair to which he
pointed, and on each side of which were two tabourets. As all foreigners
had been presented to General B. at his levee, his presence was not
expected. The rooms, two in number, were not very large; the ladies were
seated round the rooms in arm-chairs: a passage was left, I suppose, for
Madame B. to pass without obstacle. When the door of the adjoining room
was opened, instead of Madame B. the First Consul entered; and as Lord
Whitworth was the first ambassador he encountered, he addressed him by
enquiring about the Duchess of Dorset's health, she being absent from a
cold. He then observed that we had had fifteen years' war; Lord W.
smiled very courteously, and said it was fifteen years too much. We
shall probably, replied General B., have fifteen years more: and if so,
England will have to answer for it to all Europe, and to God and man. He
then enquired where the armaments in Holland were going on, for he knew
of none. Then for a moment he quitted Lord W. and passed all the
ladies' addressing Mrs. Greathead only, though the Duchess of Gordon and
her daughter, Lady Georgina, were present. After speaking to several
officers in the centre of the room, which was crowded, he returned to
Lord W. and asked why Malta was not given up. Lord W. then looked more
serious, and said he had no doubt that Malta would be given up when the
other articles of the treaty were complied with. General B. then left
the room, and Madame B. immediately entered. As soon as the drawing-room
was over, I observed to Lord W. that it was the first cabinet council I
had ever witnessed; he laughingly answered, by far the most numerously
attended. Lord W. then addressed the American Minister, who was very
deaf, and repeated what had passed, and I perceived that he was very
much offended at what had occurred. In justice to the First Consul, I
must say that the impropriety consisted in the unfitness of the place
for such a subject; the tone of his voice was not raised, as was said at
the time. He spoke in the same tone as when he enquired for the Duchess
of Dorset."