The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-30
MAKsHAL MACpoNALp,s MEMOIRS.


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MARsHAL MACDONALD's MEMOIRS.
Thomas Carlyle once said something to
the effect that there was not much In
the history Of the world worth considering
except the French Revolution. 1t is GER
tainly true that everything pertaining to
that astounding social CONFUSION is Of
absorbing interest to all minds partial TO
study. and the reading world welcomes
every new contribution to its literature
with unfailing zest One Of the latest Of
these is the long-expected memoirs OF
Marshal Macdonald, Duke OF Tarentum,
which have been published in France
within the past two years. and are now
| translated No one can fail to read the
work without the keenest delight.
Macdonald was not a brilliant man
Marriott, in his fascinating memoirs In
telling OF the Emperor Napoleon. making
him a marshal after Wagram. even say
ing that while he could make him
| marshal he could not, unfortunately, put
brains into his head-but he was a man
Of the frmest integrity and the highest
sense Of duty and honor In the early
wars Of the Revolution he acquired de-
cided reputation as a stubborn and brave
| fighter, but he was not one Of Napoleons
| pets when that autocrat came 20 RUE
Frances destinies, and he was wholly
ignored by him although Napoleon was
| perfectly cognlzant Of his real value)
until 1909. In that year he came up from
| Italy in command of corps of the Vice
rows army 10 Vienna in time to take part
| in the great battle Of Wagram. His corps
| assaulted the centre of the Austrian po-
! sition, carried II and caused their army
| TO retire from the field. For this the
| Emperor made him a marshal on the field
! Aiacdonalds account OF the making up
between himself and the Emperor on the
field Of battle is very graphic and interest
ing.
The Marshal has written his 'recollec-
lions" as ne calls them, in a very jerky
and rather crude style, but he played
great part in some Of the greatest per
formances of the period and the contri-
buttons OF facts that he has made are
invaluable. For instance, his testimony
concerning facts that came directly under
his personal observation has finally end
ed all questions concerning Marmonts
treachery in the events Immediately pre-
ceding Napoeons first abdication. On
his death-bed. Napoleon, inditng his will,
seconded these remarkable words:
1.-THE two important results Of the inva-
| sions Of France, when she had still so
many resources, are TO be attributed 10
the treason of Marmont, Augereau, Tai
leyrand and Lafayette. ] forgive them
may the posterity OF France forgive them
as l do
There has been more or less question
made as to whether Marmont was really
inspired by reasonable purpose in the
events that Immediately preceded the
abdication, but Macdonald's evidence puts
ali such questions at rest. Macdonald saw
and was party TO all that took place
and he has told II all with perfect In
genuousness and frankness. Marmont
was a traitor and a deserter-neither more
nor less He could not stand the long and
harassing strain Of the last days. He
| broke down, and sought TO make his peace
| with the enemy at the expense of his al
| legiance and his duty TO his comrades.
In after years, when interceding with
Louis the Eighteenth for Lavallette, he
well said: "Sire. have given you more
than life" He had sold him his honor,
| and he, the most petted recipient OF Ma
poleon's bounty, had been the first 10
turn and bite the hand that had lavished
favors upon him.
In our judgment the most important
Of all the memoirs OF the Revolutionary
| period are those Of Bcurrienne. Yet. in
| spite of the internal remarks Of genuine
ness with which they abound, their au-
thenticity have been persistently disputed.
| The Bonapartist attacks upon them were
summed up In a work which appeared in
| $780, entitled, "Bourrienne ct SEES erreurs
! volontaires ct involuntaires," containing
contributions from King Joseph, Gour-
gand. Stein, etc Baron Mineval, who sue
ceeded Bourrienne as Napoleon's Secre-
tary in 1902, and retained the position
until invalided after the Russian cam
paign, speaks OF them as Memoirs pub
lished under the name Of man who has
not composed them"
The work, however has taken place
in history which makes all such attacks
upon It simply futile. but 1t is interesting
TO note the important testimony to their
| authenticity which Macdonaids memoirs
bear Macdonald, Ney and Caulaincourt
were the three commissioners sent by
the Emperor from Fontainebleau 10 Paris
TO treat with the allied sovereigns for
the terms OF his abdication. In his ac-
count OF the events that took place in
Paris when these commissioners We're
treating with these allied sovereigns,
Bourrienne bases all that he tells us on
what he says Marshal Macdonald aft ar
wards told him. Macdonalds memoirs
have been a sealed volume since they
were composed in 1895. and II is abso-
lutely certain that Bourrienne never saw
them. Yet, when we compare Bourri-
| enne's account Of the different scenes in
! the last act Of the tragedy with Mac
| donalds account of them, we find them
written in almost the same language.
II Is absolutely certain that Bourrienne
got what he has told us from Macdonald.
! This new contribution to the literature OF
! that absorbinely interesting period will