The Sun.
London, England, 1840-07-28 00:00:00

ance, as Napoleon had forbidden his doing so ; but
he cast his eyes round the room to look for a le-lbrope
Napoleon, however, as if aware of what he was attempt-
ing to do, grasped him by the arm, held him fast, i
and repeated the following words in a broken voice :
Be quiet, be quiet : if you are my friend, you ought
not to interpose any obstacle to the way in which I put
an end to my existence. I do not wish any others to
be witnesses of my last moments." Caulincourt leant
over the bed of the Emperor, and not daring to dis-
obey him burst into tears, and exclaimed—" My God !
my God ! will no one come to my assistance." At
length a more abundant vomiting appeared- to give
relief to the Emperor, who, after a violent spasm, ex-
claimed—" It is of no use, death will not come to me ;"
then fell fainting upon his pillow.
The Duke took advantage of this situation to go for
Constant. The latter, on approaching the bed of the
Emperor, saw the remains of a little silk bag which his
master usually wore round his neck, scattered on the
ground. At this sight he uttered a cry, for he also
had guessed the fearful truth. He rushed from the
chamber for aid. During his absence, Napoleon said
to Caulincourt—" Caulincourt, if I die, I recommend to
your care my wife and my child ; be faithful to them
as you have been to me." Constant baying returned
with Yoan the physician—" Sire," said Caulincourt, in
a suppliant voice, " in the name of the Empress,
of your son, and of France, let me entreat you to take
something." Napoleon, overcome by his entreaties,
consented to take a little tea. A new crisis came on.
As soon as it had subsided a little, the Emperor said
to Yoan, who was feeling his pulse, " Doctor, do you
think the dose was strong enough ?" These words
were an enigma to the doctor, who was ignorant of
what had taken place, and he replied, " Pardon, Sire,
I do not know what your Majesty alludes to." " The
Emperor has poisoned himself," whispered Caulincourt.
At this fearful secret, Yoan grew pale, and fearing
that he should be accused of having administered the
poison, rushed out of the room, mounted a horse, and
rode like a madman to Paris. He had hardly departed
when Caulincourt and Constant were fortunate enough to
prevail upon the Emperor to take a second and then a
third cup of tea. The spasms ceased entirely, and by de-
grees Napoleon became more calm and fell into a doze.
Caulincourt then withdrew, having recommended the
greatest secresy to Constant. A great mystery long hung
over khe events of the night, but the veil has been
raised. It appears that before Napoleon set out for the
campaign in Russia, he said to his first physician,
Corvisant, I have no desire to fall alive into the hands
of the Cossacks. I wish to brave fate, and always to be
master of my person." He obtained from Corvisant
some prussic acid, which was put into a hollow ring
and enclosed in a silk bag, which he wore round his
neck. The activity of this poison had been destroyed
by the length of time during which it had been kept,
and had thus failed to accomplish the deadly purpose
for which it was intended. After a sleep of some hours
Napoleon awoke ; his face was frightfully pale, his eyes
were sunk, and be was almost incapable of movement.
He insisted, however, on quitting his bed, that he might
receive the persons who usually visited him at his
levee. At mid-day Macdonald arrived, and being in-
troduced into the Emperor's chamber, the Marshal
found him seated, half dressed, dejectedly before the
fire, with the Dukes of Vicence and Bassano seated
near. " Sire," said Caulincourt, " the Duke of Tarente
is come for the ratification of the treaty." The Em-
peror then lifted his head, and turning to the Marshal,
said, " Ah, is that you, Macdonald ?" He now resumed
his former position, and Macdonald, struck with his ap-
pearance, observed to him that he must have been
seriously ill since he quitted him. Napoleon again
raised his head, and fixing his eyes on Macdonald,
said, " Yes, yes ! I have passed a dreadful night,
but I am better now." The Emperor remained
seated some moments longer, but making an effort he
took the treaty, and proceeding towards the fire-place
read it without making any remark ; then pointing with
his finger to a table on which was an inkstand, said to
Caulincourt, " I beg your pardon, Caulincourt, but have
the goodness to draw that table hither, for I am not
strong enough." The Dukes of Vicence and Bassano did
so, and Napoleon, addressing Macdonald, said, "My
dear Macdonald, I am no longer rich enough to reward
your last services." " Sire," said Macdonald, as if hurt
by these words, " your Majesty must know that I
never served you for interest." " It is true," replied
the Emperor, " you have recently proved to me how
much you have been belied—l shall never forget what
you have done for see ; however, I would--" At
this moment the Emperor's emotion did not permit
him to finish the sentence. He stretched out his
arms, after a silence of a few moments, and lolking
sadly and affectionately at the Marshal, said, " Mac-
donald, I would embrace you." Macdonald threw
himself in tears into the arms of the Empe-
ror, whilst Vicence and Bassano, also in tears,
clasped their hands in silence. " Gentlemen,"
at length said Napoleon, " after having done
every thing, during twenty years, for the glory
and honour of France, I return into the hands of the
nation the crown which I received from it." Then ad-
dressing Macdonald, he said, " My dear Marshal, I
hope if you ever visit Italy you will come to see me in
Elba. Remember well that my abdication and rati-
fication of this treaty can only be binding so long as
the conditions are observed towards the army." He
now passed his hand over his brow, and in a stifled
voice added, as if to himself, " Il faut en finir," then
took up the pen, signed the treaty, and gave it to Mac-
donald, turning his head aside to conceal his tears.