wonders of the Empire； what is left to…day？ If the strength of our
manhood was passed amid the bustle of years so short； yet so fully
occupied； our careers were sufficiently long and fruitful； and it is time
to give ourselves up to repose。 We can withdraw from the world； and
close our eyes。 Can it be possible to see anything equal to what we have
seen？ Such scenes do not come twice in the lifetime of any man； and
having seen them； they suffice to occupy his memory through all his
remaining years； and in retirement he can find nothing better to occupy
his leisure moments than the recollections of what he has witnessed。
Thus it has been with me。 The reader will readily believe that I have
had no greater pleasure than that of recalling the memories of the years
passed in the service of the Emperor。 As far as possible； I have kept
myself informed as to everything that has been written of my former
master； his family； and his court； and while listening to these
narrations read by my wife and sister at our fireside； the long evenings
have passed like an instant！ When I found in these books； some of which
are truly only miserable rhapsodies； statements which were incorrect；
false； or slanderous； I； took pleasure in correcting such statements； or
in showing their absurdity。 My wife； who lived； as I did； in the midst
of these events； also made her corrections； and； without other object
than our own satisfaction； made notes of our joint observations。
All who came to see us in our retreat； and took pleasure in having me
narrate what I had seen； were astonished and often indignant at the
falsehoods with which ignorance or malevolence had calumniated the
Emperor and the Empire； and expressing their gratitude for the correct
information I was able to give them； advised me also to furnish it to the
public。 But I attached no importance to the suggestion； and was far from
dreaming that some day I should be the author of a book； until M。
Ladvocat came to our hermitage； and urged me earnestly to publish my
memoirs； offering himself to become the publisher。
At the very time my wife and I received this unexpected visit； we were
reading together the Memoirs of Bourrienne； which the Ladvocat
publishing…house had just issued； and we had remarked more than once how
exempt these Memoirs were from both that spirit of disparagement and of
adulation which we had noticed with disgust in other books on the same
subject。 M。 Ladvocat advised me to complete the sketch of the Emperor；
which； owing to his elevated position and habitual occupations；
Bourrienne had been able to make only from a political point of view； and
in accordance with his advice； I shall relate in simple words； and in a
manner suited to my relations with the Emperor； those things which
Bourrienne has necessarily omitted； and which no one could know so well
as I。
I candidly admit that my objections to M。 Ladvocat's advice were entirely
overcome when he called my attention to this passage in the introduction
to Bourrienne's memoirs： 〃If every one who had any relations with
Napoleon； whatever the time and place； will accurately and without
prejudice record what he saw and heard； the future historian of his life
will be rich in materials。 I hope that whoever undertakes that difficult
task will find in my notes some information which may be useful in
perfecting his work。〃
Having re…read these lines attentively； I said to myself that I could
furnish memoranda and information which would refute errors； brand
falsehoods； and bring to light what I knew to be the truth。 In a word； I
felt that I could give in my testimony； and that it was my duty to do so；
in the long trial which has been held ever since the overthrow of the
Emperor； for I had been an eye…witness； had seen everything； and could
say； 〃I was there。〃 Others also have been close to the Emperor and his
court； and I may often repeat what they have said； for the feats which
they describe I had the same opportunity of witnessing； but； on the other
hand； whatever I know of private matters； and whatever I may reveal which
was secret and unknown； no one till this time could possibly have known；
or consequently have related。
From the departure of the First Consul for the campaign of Marengo；
whither I went with him； until the departure from Fontainebleau； when I
was compelled to leave him； I was absent only twice； once for three days
and once for seven or eight days。 Excepting these short leaves of
absence； the latter of which was on account of my health； I quitted the
Emperor no more than his shadow。
It has been said that no one is a hero to his valet de chambre。 I beg
leave to dissent from this。 The Emperor； as near as I was to him； was
always a hero； and it was a great advantage also to see the man as he
was。 At a distance you were sensible only of the prestige of his glory
and his power； but on getting closer to him you enjoyed； besides； the
surprising charm of his conversation； the entire simplicity of his family
life； and I do not hesitate to say； the habitual kindliness of his
character。
The reader； if curious to learn beforehand in what spirit these Memoirs
are written； will perhaps read with interest this passage of a letter
that I wrote to my publisher：
〃Bourrienne had； perhaps； reason for treating Napoleon； as a public
man； with severity。 But we view him from different standpoints； and
I speak only of the hero in undress。 He was then almost always
kind； patient； and rarely unjust。 He was much attached to those
about him； and received with kindness and good nature the services
of those whom he liked。 He was a man of habit。 It is as a devoted
servant that I wish to speak of the Emperor； and in no wise as a
critic。 It is not； however； an apotheosis in several volumes that I
wish to write： for I am on this point somewhat like fathers who
recognize the faults of their children； and reprove them earnestly；
while at the same time they are ready to make excuses for their
errors。〃
I trust that I shall be pardoned the familiarity； or； if you will； the
inappropriateness of this comparison； for the sake of the feeling which
dictates it。 Besides； I do not propose either to praise or blame； but
simply to relate that which fell within my knowledge； without trying to
prejudice the opinion of any one。
I cannot close this introduction without a few words as to myself； in
reply to the calumnies which have not spared； even in his retirement； a
man who should have no enemies； if； to be protected from malice； it were
sufficient to have done a little good； and no harm to any one。 I am
reproached with having abandoned my master after his fall； and not having
shared his exile。 I will show that； if I did not follow the Emperor； it
was because I lacked not the will but the power to do so。 God knows that
I do not wish to undervalue the devotion of the faithful servants who
followed the fortunes of the Emperor to the end。 However； it is not
improper to say that； however terrible the fall of the Emperor was for
him； the situation （I speak here only of the personal advantages）； in the
island of Elba； of those who remained in his service； and who were not
detained in France by an inexorable necessity； was still not without its
advantages； and it was not； therefore； my personal interests which caused
me to leave him。 I shall explain hereafter my reasons for quitting his
service。
I shall also give the truth as to the alleged abuse of confidence； of
which； according to others； I was guilty in respect to the Emperor。
A simple statement of the mistake which gave rise to this falsehood；
I trust； will clear me of every suspicion of indelicacy； but if it is
necessary to add other proofs； I could obtain them from those who lived
nearest to the Emperor； and who were in a condition to both know and
understand what passed between us； and lastly； I invoke fifty years of a
blameless life； and I can say： 〃When I was in a situation to render great
services； I did so； but I never sold them。 I could have derived
advantages from the petitions that I made for people； who； in consequence
of my solicitations； have acquired immense fortunes； but I refused even
the proper acknowledgment which in； their gratitude （very deep at that
time） they felt compelled to offer me； by proposing an interest in their
enterprises。 I did not seek to take advantage； for my own benefit； of
the generosity with which the Emperor so long deigned to honor me； in
order to enrich or secure places for my relatives； and I retired poor
after fifteen years passed in the personal service of the richest and
most powerful monarch of Europe。〃
Having made these statements； I shall await with confidence the judgment
of my readers。
RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON
CHAPTER I。
I shall refer to myself very little in these memoirs； for I am aware the
public will examine them only for details concerning the great man to
whom fortune attached me for sixteen years； and whom I scarcely quitted
during the whole of that time。 Notwithstanding； I ask permission to say