Ten Years Exile | Page 3

always
exempt from bitterness. This difference may be easily explained: one of
these works was written after the fall of the despot, with the calm and

impartiality of the historian; the other was inspired by a courageous
feeling of resistance to tyranny; and at the period of its composition,
the imperial power was at its height.
I have not selected one moment in preference to another for the
publication of Ten Years' Exile; the chronological order has been
followed in this edition, and the posthumous works are naturally placed
at the end of the collection. In other respects, I am not afraid of the
charge of exhibiting a want of generosity, in publishing, after the fall of
Napoleon, attacks directed against his power. She, whose talents were
always devoted to the defence of the noblest of causes, she, whose
house was successively the asylum of the oppressed of all parties,
would have been too far above such a reproach. It could only be
addressed, at all events, to the editor of the Ten Years' Exile; but I
confess it would but very little affect me. It would certainly be
assigning too fine a part to despotism, if, after having imposed the
silence of terror during its triumph, it could call upon history to spare it
after its destruction.
The recollections of the last government have no doubt afforded a
pretence for a great deal of persecution; no doubt men of integrity have
revolted at the cowardly invectives which are still permitted against
those, who having enjoyed the favors of that government, have had
sufficient dignity not to disavow their past conduct;
Finally, there is no doubt but fallen grandeur captivates the imagination.
But it is not merely the personal character of Napoleon that is here in
question; it is not he who can now be an object of animadversion to
generous minds; no more can it be those who, under his reign, have
usefully served their country in the different branches of the public
administration; but that which we can never brand with too severe a
stigma, is the system of selfishness and oppression of which Bonaparte
is the author. But is not this deplorable system still in full sway in
Europe? and have not the powerful of the earth carefully gathered up
the shameful inheritance of him whom they have overthrown? And if
we turn our eyes towards our own country, how many of these
instruments of Napoleon do we not see, who, after having fatigued him

with their servile complaisance, have come to offer to a new power the
tribute of their petty machiavelism? Now, as then, is it not upon the
basis of vanity and corruption that the whole edifice of their paltry
science rests, and is it not from the traditions of the imperial
government that the counsels of their wisdom are extracted?
In painting in stronger colours, therefore, this fatal government, we are
not insulting over a fallen enemy, but attacking a still powerful
adversary; and if, as I hope, the Ten Years' Exile are destined to
increase the horror of arbitrary governments, I may venture to indulge
the pleasing idea, that by their publication I shall be rendering a service
to the sacred cause to which my mother never ceased to be faithful.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface, by the Editor
Part The First

Chapter 1.
Causes of Bonaparte's animosity against me

Chapter 2.
Commencement of opposition in the Tribunate.--My first Persecution
on that account.--Fouche

Chapter 3.
System of Fusion adopted by Bonaparte.--Publication of my Work on

Literature

Chapter 4.
Conversation of my Father with Bonaparte.--Campaign of Marengo

Chapter 5.
The Infernal Machine.--Peace of Luneville

Chapter 6.
Corps diplomatique during the Consulate.--Death of the Emperor Paul

Chapter 7.
Paris in 1801

Chapter 8.
Journey to Coppet.--Preliminaries of Peace with England

Chapter 9.
Paris in 1802.--Bonaparte President of the Italian Republic.--My return
to Coppet

Chapter 10.
New symptoms of Bonaparte's ill will to my Father and
Myself.--Affairs of Switzerland

Chapter 11.
Rupture with England.--Commencement of my Exile

Chapter 12.
Departure for Germany.--Arrival at Weimar

Chapter 13.
Berlin.--Prince Louis-Ferdinand

Chapter 14.
Conspiracy of Moreau and Pichegru

Chapter 15.
Assassination of the Duke d'Enghien

Chapter 16.
Illness and Death of M. Necker

Chapter 17.
Trial of Moreau

Chapter 18.
Commencement of the Empire
Part the Second

Chapter 1.
Suppression of my Work on Germany.--Banishment from France

Chapter 2.
Return to Coppet--Different Persecutions.

Chapter 3.
Journey in Switzerland with M. de Montmorency

Chapter 4.
Exile of M. de Montmorency and Madame Recamier.--New
Persecutions

Chapter 5.
Departure from Coppet

Chapter 6.
Passage through Austria;--1812

Chapter 7.
Residence at Vienna

Chapter 8.
Departure from Vienna

Chapter 9.
Passage through Poland

Chapter