Memoirs of Napoleon, vol 9 | Page 4

sample the author's ideas before
making an entire meal of them. D.W.]

MEMOIRS OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, VOLUME 9.
By LOUIS ANTOINE FAUVELET DE BOURRIENNE

His Private Secretary
Edited by R. W. Phipps Colonel, Late Royal Artillery
1891

CONTENTS:

CHAPTER I.
to
CHAPTER X.
1805-1807

CHAPTER I.
1805.
Abolition of the Republican calendar--Warlike preparations in
Austria--Plan for re-organizing the National Guard--Napoleon in
Strasburg--General Mack--Proclamation--Captain Bernard's
reconnoitering mission--The Emperor's pretended anger and real
satisfaction--Information respecting Ragusa communicated by Bernard
--Rapid and deserved promotion--General Bernard's retirement to the
United States of America.
I had been three months at Hamburg when I learned that the Emperor
had at last resolved to abolish the only remaining memorial of the
Republic, namely, the revolutionary calendar. That calendar was indeed
an absurd innovation, for the new denominations of the months were
not applicable in all places, even in France; the corn of Provence did
not wait to be opened by the sun of the month of Messidor. On the 9th
of September a 'Senates-consulte' decreed that on the 1st of January
following the months and days should resume their own names. I read
with much interest Laplace's report to the Senate, and must confess I
was very glad to see the Gregorian calendar again acknowledged by
law, as it had already been acknowledged in fact. Frenchmen in foreign
countries experienced particular inconvenience from the adoption of a
system different from all the rest of the world.
A few days after the revival of the old calendar the Emperor departed

for the army. When at Hamburg it may well be supposed that I was
anxious to obtain news, and I received plenty from the interior of
Germany and from some friends in Paris. This correspondence enables
me to present to my readers a comprehensive and accurate picture of
the state of public affairs up to the time when Napoleon took the field. I
have already mentioned how artfully he always made it appear that he
was anxious for peace, and that he was always the party attacked; his,
conduct previous to the first conquest of Vienna affords a striking
example of this artifice. It was pretty evident that the transformation of
the Cisalpine Republic into the kingdom of Italy, and the union of
Genoa to France were infractions of treaties; yet the Emperor,
nevertheless, pretended that all the infractions were committed by
Austria. The truth is, that Austria was raising levies as secretly as
possible, and collecting her troops on the frontiers of Bavaria. An
Austrian corps even penetrated into some provinces of the Electorate;
all this afforded Napoleon a pretest for going to the aid of his allies.
In the memorable sitting preceding his departure the Emperor presented
a project of a 'Senatus-consulte' relative to the re-organisation of the
National Guard. The Minister for Foreign Affairs read an explanation
of the reciprocal conduct of France and Austria since the peace of
Luneville, in which the offences of France were concealed with
wonderful skill. Before the sitting broke up the Emperor addressed the
members, stating that he was about to leave the capital to place himself
at the head of the army to afford prompt succour to his allies, and
defend the dearest interests of his people. He boasted of his wish to
preserve peace, which Austria and Russia, as he alleged, had, through
the influence of England, been induced to disturb.
This address produced a very powerful impression in Hamburg. For my
part, I recognised in it Napoleon's usual boasting strain; but on this
occasion events seemed bent on justifying it. The Emperor may
certainly have performed more scientific campaigns than that of
Austerlitz, but never any more glorious in results. Everything seemed
to partake of the marvellous, and I have often thought of the secret joy
which Bonaparte must have felt on seeing himself at last an the point of
commencing a great war in Germany, for which he had so often

expressed an ardent desire. He proceeded first to Strasburg, whither
Josephine accompanied him.
All the reports that I received agreed with the statements of my private
correspondence in describing the incredible enthusiasm which
prevailed in the army on learning that it was to march into Germany.
For the first time Napoleon had recourse to an expeditious mode of
transport, and 20,000 carriages conveyed his army, as if by
enchantment, from the shores of the Channel to the banks of the Rhine.
The idea of an active campaign fired the ambition of the junior part of
the army. All dreamed of glory, and of speedy promotion, and all
hoped to distinguish themselves before the eyes of a chief who was
idolised by his troops. Thus during his short stay at Strasburg the
Emperor might with reason prophesy the success which crowned his
efforts under the