Ten Years Exile | Page 3

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 10.
Arrival in Russia

Chapter 11.
Kiow

Chapter 12.
Road from Kiow to Moscow

Chapter 13.
Appearance of the Country--Character of the Russians

Chapter 14.
Moscow

Chapter 15.
Road from Moscow to Petersburg

Chapter 16.
St. Petersburg

Chapter 17.
The Imperial Family

Chapter 18.
Manners of the great Russian Nobility

Chapter 19.
Establishments for Public Education.--Institute of St. Catherine

Chapter 20.
Departure for Sweden.--Passage through Finland

TEN YEARS' EXILE
Part The First


CHAPTER 1.
Causes of Bonaparte's animosity against me.
It is not with the view of occupying the public attention with what relates to myself, that I have determined to relate the circumstances of my ten years' exile; the miseries which I have endured, however bitterly I may have felt them, are so trifling in the midst of the public calamities of which we are witnesses,