The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03

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! ments md deepest affections went for nothing
against political combinations Caroline tool,
hand In bringing about the downfall OF her
brother. to whom she owed all her grandeur.
| The author OF these memoirs Is inclined TO
think that she dealt him the final blow.
Nv.
Chancellor Pasduier who. rs Project OF Police
and Councillor OF State was qualified to form
trustworthy opinion. says that Of the Minis
tiers employed by Napoleon during the consu-
late and during the early years Of the empire,
those who obtained the largest share of his
confidence, and who exercised most influence.
were Fouche and Talleyrand. He allots. conse-
quently. good deal OF space TO review of
their characters and conduct. Fouch6. who
had been one Of the Conventionnels who had
voted for the Kings death. and one OF the m os {
rabid proconsuls in the days OF the Reign OF
Terror. was. for long time. the veritable
representative Of the revolution in Bonaparte'a
environment lie IL was who spoke on its
behalf and ho was naturally prompted to do
So for there was hardly any OF its crimes In
which he had not participated. lie had become
its accomplish. coldy, dispnssionately. and
without any liked object in view. living from
hand to mouth in the midst OF all its abomina-
tons, anu never losing the presence OF mind
reoulste Tor seeing everything. studying
everything. and remembering everything. The
Dreceur Barras with whom his relations had
been OF a very intimate kind. took Fouch6 ont
otthe ranks OF the Jacobins. and. after having
intrusted him with several diplomatic mis-,
sions. apparently to give him time wherein to
get rid OF his bad habits. finally made him
Minister Of Police. The eighteenth Brumaire
found him at this post. and. although the worl,
OF that day had been accomplished without his
having part in It, and. to a considerable OK.
tent without his knowledge Of IL, he. being nj
ways ready to go on the winning side had not
hesitated to offer his services to the lucky
General Bonnparte showed Just as little hesi-
tation in accepting them. and In retaining
Nj. Fouch6 as Minister OF Police he at one and
the same time sought to give to the deposed
party the guarantee promised TO It, and to OBJ
tain immunity from the attempts OF the Roy
nlist party. Nevertheless, Napoleon's natural
mistrust led him never to repose entire conf
dence In such a man. and taught him that 1t
would be necessary to set n watch upon Fouch6.
who was about to be intrusted with the duty
OF watching others It was from that day that
Napoleon began to employ several police sys-
TENS exercising check upon each other. and
always trying to surpass each other In zeal.
but at the same time filling his mind with
prediudices. one against the other.
The part which NJ Fouche had to play wa.
difficult one. but In our authors Judgment IL
was the only one for which he was capable.
Devoid OF any solid education. and incapable
OF conccivinR consecutive ideas or OF dill
gently applying himself to any task. he never
could have filled any other Ministry than that
OF police. which is carried on more by con-
versation than by the work Of the closet. It
was sufficient to be acquainted with the in-
triRues OF the day and their qualifications At
that conJuncture 1t was especially necessary to
DO familiar with the names Of individuals, and
with those OF men whose life in the
past gave cause to foresee what they might
be capable Of In the future. For this purpose
M. Pouches antecedents gave him all kinds
OF advantages He had seen everything and
known everything and he cared seriously for
nothing. without affection for anybody. OF
unedualled duplicity and perfdy. capable OF
sacrificing for the smallest interest tho man
who might have considered hims self his best
friend: possessing in the highest degree tho
impudence. IL not the ability. needed by a liar;
gifted with light. superficial mind. often
happy In repartee, and maintaining always
The outward appearance OF imperturbAble
coolness. 1t cost him nothing to betray all
those who had dealings with him. ending with
himself. though he had served him
In the first period Of his elevation with a fidel-
ty that had all the appearance Of devotion.
As the best way OF retaining the good gracss
of a master so suspicious and SO difficult to
please as Bonaparte was to make ones self
necessary. or to act so as to create such be-
lief. 1t Is easy to form an idea Of the lying re-
ports and peradious hints which NJ. Fouch6
must for long period. and especially at first, |
have thrust upon Napoleon. How many fatal |
resolutions may consequently be imputed to |
Foucb6 and how many excellent measures |
nay have been postponed through him. II not |
altogether stihed! Ry the author. who know |
lim we'll. We are assured that Fouch6 had |
lot his equal In the art OF making dupes. and |
he never practised this art more assiduously |
'r cynically than in the case OF the RoyalIsts |
md OF the dm,0rss. We are told that for |
ears these parties were led to believe |
hat tho severe treatment to which they
we're subjected was the work OF tho |
hIef OF the State: that Fouch6 wa,
heir solo defender: yet. when. In after years,
'asIuier was able to take cognizance Of the
eports smanating from his closet. and OF the
'rders he had given. facts were discovered
his professions: In other words,
touches reports were always couched so as
o enVenom the simplest matter. and the orders
extreme severity were found to have been
igned by himself
At the beginning OF tho Consulate. NJ Fou-
h6 had met in the person of NJ de TaIley-
and most formidable antagonist. and this
circumstance produced a marked influence on
rs behavior. Fouch6 showed hims self all the
acre attached to the revolutionary party be-
ause his rival seemed to act independently OF
i'm. or course, In the case Of two men OF such
alibre. there was 10 question between them OF
rinciples or even OF opinions. Both OF them
ad long before made up their minds
entertain no principles or opinions
ave those appropriate to circumsta noes.
he bone OF contention between them was the
of influence in public affairs and
18th the chief Of the government; what each
anted was the opportunity aud means of
overning Napoleon. OF enmeshing him. and
getting all they could out OF him for their
wn advantage. They had not yet had time 10
nd out TO what degree their scheme was
eset with difficulty. not TO say entirely i'm
racticaUle. OF the two. NJ. Fouch6 took the
INCEST time to undeceivs himself as TO their
'mmon mistake, and in this showed COM
AratiVe stupidity. With strange vanity. he
nagined that the First Consul would never
. anything but 9 more firmly established
Tec'sur. He was under the impression that
le Consular Government would never be any