New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-24
NAPOLEON.
MEMOIRS or HIS PRIVATE SECRETARY.

MEMOIRS ILLUSTRATING THE HISTORY OF
NAPOLEON l. From 1892 to 1915 by Baron
Claude Francois de Mtneyal Private Secretary
10 Napoleon First Consul and Emperor. Maltre
des Requftes at the Council Of state under the
Emps occr s OF h So L crown nqn0 in 'p Par
in l77s died in the same cty In lSSg). Eait ca
MenovaI With Portraits and Autograph let
ters. Vol. l. PIP. XXI. i2l D. Appleton CO.
It is not easy to reduce to equal terms the
many estimates Of Napoleon II he was 80
rnany-s!ded that each biographer saw only one
facet of his character. then the task Of harmonic
ing the varied experiences ~ different men would
be simply process Of setting them Side by SIDE.
But they often contradict each other fatty. ana
then IT Is difficult II deal with them In any way.
There are those who seem 10 have been scandal
lied by Napoleon's fits Of rage. by his brutal
manners. by his haste AZ his dinner MI these
alleged faults In him wear a new aspect when
seen through the perspective prepared by MS
rrivate secretary. one would say after reading
the first volume of this work edited by the
present Baron de Meneval. and translated by
Robert H. shcrard, that Napoleon never displayed
anger save when he thought II necessary. and
was brutal only upon a deliberate plan. At
guch times he betrayed great excitement. AMI his
face wore look that terrified those who APP
proached him. Nevertheless he seemed to be
under perfect sclf-contro. and his words. whether
mild or harsh. were evidently chosen for the oc-
.ason Meneval had 10 endure this ordeal but
once 1t was some time after he had taken his
place as Napoleon's attache before this occurred.
but in the mean while he had observed the effect
OF Napolcon's manner upon others In fact he
received the official title by which he was first
called "Attachc to the First Consul" as the re-
suit OF Napoleon's resentment His predecessor
in the private secretaryshp was Louis Antoine
Fauvelct de Bourrenne subsequently Minister
PlenlpOtentIary to Hamburg, Project Of Police In
Paris and under Louis XVIII Cabinet Minister
Bourrenne was one OF those men who pronted
by Napoeons desire 10 aid the friends Of his
youth. He had been the First Consuls comrade
at the Military School. The two men began life
together. and the humber Of the two accom-
panied his friend, now his commander, on the
campaigns In Italy and Egypt. His careful con-
duct, and possibly degree Of subservlency. made
him useful confidential secretary. But he
was anxious to be rich. Under the names Of
other men he took certain army contracts. The
business fell through. and the bankruptcy Of the
ostensble contractors brought 10 light Bour-
rennes share in the affair. Napoleon never
gruiged wealth to his dependents II they got
Il through his own benehccnce; but his antipa;hy
10 official trading was unconquerabie In such
matters ne had the stubborn. almost instructive.
honesty OF a rustic. Misfortunes rarely come
singly. never perhaps to a man who has been
beaten down: and the broken contract was only
the beginning OF the scandals which came To the
ears Of the First Consul Doubtless he had
known OF these things before. Otherwise he
would not have brought Meneval into the Office
over his head. But he passed In silence the ex-
travagance Of Bourrienne's manner Of life,