Memoirs to Illustrate the History of My Time, Volume 1

CHAPTER I.. France Before the Restoration.

FRANCE BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

1807-1814.

Page

My Reasons for publishing these Memoirs during my Life.--My Introduction into Society.--My First Acquaintance with M. de Châteaubriand, M. de Suard, Madame de Staël, M. de Fontanes, M. Royer-Collard.--Proposal to appoint me Auditor in the Imperial State Council.--Why the Appointment did not take place.--I enter the University and begin my Course of Lectures on Modern History.--Liberal and Royalist Parties.--Characters of the different Oppositions towards the Close of the Empire.--Attempted resistance of the Legislative Body.--MM. Lainé, Gallois, Maine-Biran, Raynouard, and Flaugergues.--I leave Paris for Nismes.--State of Paris and France in March, 1814.--The Restoration takes place.--I return to Paris, and am appointed Secretary-General to the Ministry of the Interior. 1

CHAPTER II.. The Restoration.

THE RESTORATION.

1814-1815.

Sentiments with which I commenced Public Life.--True Cause and Character of the Restoration.--Capital Error of the Imperial Senate.--The Charter suffers from it.--Various Objections to the the Charter.--Why they were Futile.--Cabinet of King Louis XVIII.--Unfitness of the Principal Ministers for Constitutional Government.--M. de Talleyrand.--The Abbé de Montesquieu.--M. de Blacas.--Louis XVIII.--Principal Affairs in which I was concerned at that Epoch.--Account of the State of the Kingdom laid before the Chambers.--Bill respecting the Press.--Decree for the Reform of Public Instruction.--State of the Government and the Country.--Their Common Inexperience.--Effects of the Liberal System.--Estimate of Public Discontent and Conspiracies.--Saying of Napoleon on the Facility of his Return. 27

CHAPTER III.. The Hundred Days.

THE HUNDRED DAYS.

1815.

I immediately leave the Ministry of the Interior, to resume my Lectures.--Unsettled Feeling of the Middle Classes on the Return of Napoleon.--Its Real Causes.--Sentiments of Foreign Nations and Governments towards Napoleon.--Apparent Reconciliation, but Real Struggle, between Napoleon and the Liberals.--The Federates.--Carnot and Fouché.--Demonstration of Liberty during the Hundred Days, even in the Imperial Palace.--Louis XVIII. and his Council at Ghent.--The Congress and M. de Talleyrand at Vienna.--I go to Ghent on the part of the Constitutional Royalist Committee at Paris.--My Notions and Opinions during this Journey.--State of Parties at Ghent.--My Conversation with Louis XVIII.--M. de Blacas.--M. de Châteaubriand.--M. de Talleyrand returns from Vienna.--Louis XVIII. re-enters France.--Intrigue planned at Mons and defeated at Cambray.--Blindness and Imbecility of the Chamber of Representatives.--My Opinion respecting the Admission of Fouché into the King's Cabinet. 58

CHAPTER IV.. The Chamber of 1815.

THE CHAMBER OF 1815.

1815-1816.

Fall of M. de Talleyrand and Fouché.--Formation of the Duke de Richelieu's Cabinet.--My Connection as Secretary-General of the Administration of Justice with M. de Marbois, Keeper of the Great Seal.--Meeting and Aspect of the Chamber of Deputies.--Intentions and Attitude of the Old Royalist Faction.--Formation, and Composition of a New Royalist Party.--Struggle of Classes under the cloak of Parties.--Provisional Laws.--Bill of Amnesty.--The Centre becomes the Government Party, and the Right, the Opposition.--Questions upon the connection between the State and the Church.--State of the Government beyond the Chambers.--Insufficiency of its Resistance to the spirit of Re-action.--The Duke of Feltri and General Bernard.--Trial of Marshal Ney.--Controversy between M. de Vitrolles and Me.--Closing of the Session.--Modifications in the Cabinet.--M. Lainé Minister of the Interior.--I leave the Ministry of Justice and enter the State Council as Master of Requests.--The Cabinet enters into Contests with the Right-hand Party.--M. Decazes.--Position of MM. Royer-Collard and De Serre.--Opposition of M. de Châteaubriand.--The Country declares against the Chamber of Deputies.--Efforts of M. Decazes to bring about a Dissolution.--The King determines on it.--Decree of the 5th of September, 1816. 97

CHAPTER V.. Government of the Centre.

GOVERNMENT OF THE CENTRE.

1816-1821.

Composition of the New Chamber of Deputies.--The Cabinet in a Majority.--Elements of that Majority, the Centre properly so called, and the Doctrinarians.--True character of the Centre.--True character of the Doctrinarians, and real cause of their Influence.--M. de la Bourdonnaye and M. Royer-Collard at the Opening of the Session.--Attitude of the Doctrinarians in the Debate on the Exceptional Laws.--Electoral Law of February 5th, 1817.--The part I took on that occasion.--Of the Actual and Political Position of the Middle Classes.--Marshal Gouvion St. Cyr, and his Bill for recruiting the Army, of the 10th of March, 1818.--Bill respecting the Press, of 1819, and M. de Serre.--Preparatory Discussion of these Bills in the State Council.--General Administration of the Country.--Modification of the Cabinet from 1816 to 1820.--Imperfections of the Constitutional System.--Errors of Individuals.--Dissensions between the Cabinet and the Doctrinarians.--The Duke de Richelieu negotiates, at Aix-la-Chapelle, the entire Retreat of Foreign Troops from France.--His Situation and Character.--He attacks the Bill on Elections.--His Fall.--Cabinet of M. Decazes.--His Political Weakness, notwithstanding his Parliamentary Success.--Elections of 1819.--Election and Non-admission of M. Grégoire.--Assassination of the Duke de Berry.--Fall of M. Decazes.--The Duke de Richelieu resumes Office.--His Alliance with the Right-hand Party.--Change in the Law of Elections.--Disorganization of the Centre, and Progress of the Right-hand Party.--Second Fall of the Duke de Richelieu.--M. de Villèle and the Right-hand Party obtain Power. 150

CHAPTER VI.. Government of the Right-Hand Party.

GOVERNMENT OF THE RIGHT-HAND PARTY.

1822-1827.

Position of M. de Villèle on assuming Power.--He finds himself engaged with the Left and the Conspiracies.--Character of the Conspiracies.--Estimate of their Motives.--Their connection with some of the Leaders of the Parliamentary Opposition.--M. de La Fayette.--M. Manuel.--M. D'Argenson.--Their Attitude in the Chamber of Deputies.--Failure of the Conspiracies, and Causes thereof.--M. de Villèle engaged with his Rivals within within and by the side of the Cabinet.--The Duke de Montmorency.--M. de Châteaubriand Ambassador at London.--Congress of Verona.--M. de Châteaubriand becomes Minister of Foreign Affairs.--Spanish War.--Examination of its Causes and Results.--Rupture between M. de Villèle and M. de Châteaubriand.--Fall of M. de Châteaubriand.--M. de Villèle engaged with an Opposition springing from the Right-hand Party.--The 'Journal des Débats' and the Messrs. Bertin.--M. de Villèle falls under the Yoke of the Parliamentary Majority.--Attitude and Influence of the Ultra-Catholic Party.--Estimate of their conduct.--Attacks to which they are exposed.--M. de Montlosier.--M. Béranger.--Acuteness of M. de Villèle.--His decline.--His Enemies at the Court.--Review and Disbanding of the National Guard of Paris.--Anxiety of Charles X.--Dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies.--The Elections are Hostile to M. de Villèle.--He retires.--Speech of the Dauphinists to Charles X. 223

CHAPTER VII.. My Opposition.

MY OPPOSITION.

1820-1829.

My Retirement at the Maisonnette.--I publish four incidental Essays on Political Affairs: 1. Of the Government of France since the Restoration, and of the Ministry in Office (1820); 2. Of Conspiracies and Political Justice (1821); 3. Of the Resources of the Government and the Opposition in the actual State of France (1821); 4. Of Capital Punishment for Political Offences (1822).--Character and Effects of these Publications.--Limits of my Opposition.--The Carbonari.--Visit of M. Manuel.--I commence my Course of Lectures on the History of the Origin of Representative Government.--Its double Object.--The Abbé Frayssinous orders its Suspension.--My Historical Labours--on the History of England; on the History of France; on the Relations and Mutual Influence of France and England; on the Philosophic and Literary Tendencies of that Epoch.--The French Review.--The Globe.--The Elections of 1827.--My Connection with the Society, 'Help thyself and Heaven will help thee.'--My Relations with the Administration of M. de Martignac; he authorizes the Re-opening of my Course of Lectures, and restores my Title as a State-Councillor.--My Lectures (1828-1830) on the History of Civilization in Europe and in France.--Their Effect.--I am elected Deputy for Lisieux (December, 1829). 278

CHAPTER VIII.. Address of the Two Hundred and Twenty-One.

ADDRESS OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-ONE.

1830.

Menacing, and at the same time inactive attitude of the Ministry.--Lawful Excitement throughout the Country.--Association for the ultimate Refusal of the non-voted Taxes.--Character and Views of M. de Polignac.--Manifestations of the Ministerial Party.--New Aspect of the Opposition.--Opening of the Session.--Speech of the King.--Address of the Chamber of Peers.--Preparation of the Address of the Chamber of Deputies.--Perplexity of the Moderate Party, and of M. Royer-Collard.--Debate on the Address.--The part taken in it by M. Berryer and myself.--Presentation of the Address to the King.--Prorogation of the Session.--Retirement of MM. de Chabrol and Courvoisier.--Dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies.--My Journey to Nismes for the Elections.--True Character of the Elections.--Intentions of Charles X. 330

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HISTORIC DOCUMENTS 359

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*** This Work has been translated by J. W. Cole, Esq., who also translated the 'Celebrated Characters' of M. de Lamartine.

MEMOIRS

TO ILLUSTRATE

THE HISTORY OF MY TIME.

CHAPTER I.. France Before the Restoration.

FRANCE BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

1807-1814.

MY REASONS FOR PUBLISHING THESE MEMOIRS DURING MY LIFE.--MY INTRODUCTION INTO SOCIETY.--MY FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH M. DE CHÂTEAUBRIAND, M. SUARD, MADAME DE STAEL, M. DE FONTANES, M. ROYER-COLLARD.--PROPOSAL TO APPOINT ME AUDITOR IN THE IMPERIAL STATE COUNCIL.--WHY THE APPOINTMENT DID NOT TAKE PLACE.--I ENTER THE UNIVERSITY, AND BEGIN MY COURSE OF LECTURES ON MODERN HISTORY.--LIBERAL AND ROYALIST PARTIES.--CHARACTERS OF THE DIFFERENT OPPOSITIONS TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF THE EMPIRE.--ATTEMPTED RESISTANCE OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.--MM. LAINÉ, GALLOIS, MAINE-BIRAN, RAYNOUARD, AND FLAUGERGUES.--I LEAVE PARIS FOR NISMES.--STATE OF PARIS AND FRANCE IN MARCH, 1814.--THE RESTORATION TAKES PLACE.--I RETURN TO PARIS, AND AM APPOINTED SECRETARY-GENERAL TO THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR.

I adopt a course different from that recently pursued by several of my contemporaries; I publish my memoirs while I am still here to answer for what I write. I am not prompted to this by the weariness of inaction, or by any desire to re-open a limited field for old contentions, in place of the grand arena at present closed. I have struggled much and ardently during my life; age and retirement, as far as my own feelings are concerned, have expanded their peaceful influence over the past. From a sky profoundly serene, I look back towards an horizon pregnant with many storms. I have deeply probed my own heart, and I cannot find there any feeling which envenoms my recollections. The absence of gall permits extreme candour. Personality alters or deteriorates truth. Being desirous to speak of my own life, and of the times in which I have lived, I prefer doing so on the brink, rather than from the depths of the tomb. This appears to me more dignified as regards myself, while, with reference to others, it will lead me to be more scrupulous in my words and opinions. If objections arise, which I can scarcely hope to escape, at least it shall not be said that I was unwilling to hear them, and that I have removed myself from the responsibility of what I have done.

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