STATE OF FRENCH MANUFACTURES.—ON PHYSIOGNOMY.
27th.—The Emperor went out about 2 o’clock; the weather was very fine. The season is sensibly different from that which we had on our arrival; the air is infinitely more pure. The Emperor was, however, very ill, and very low-spirited. He walked to the extremity of the wood, while we were waiting for the calash. We took our usual drive.
The conversation turned on the state of manufactures in France. The Emperor said he had raised them to a degree of prosperity hitherto unknown; and which was scarcely credited in Europe, or even in France. This was a subject of wonder to foreigners on their arrival. The Abbé de Montesquiou, he said, was constantly expressing his astonishment at this circumstance, the proofs of which he had in his own hands, when he became Minister of the Interior.
The Emperor was the first individual in France who said: Agriculture, first; industry, that is to say, manufactures, next; and, finally, trade, which must arise out of the superabundance of the two first. He also defined and put into practice, in a clear and connected way, the systems most conducive to the interests of our manufacturers and merchants. To him we were indebted for the cultivation of sugar, indigo, and cotton. He offered a reward of a million francs to the person who should discover a method of spinning flax like cotton; and he doubted not that this discovery would have been made. The fatality of circumstances alone prevented this grand idea from being carried into execution.
“The old aristocracy, those enemies to our prosperity,” said the Emperor, “exhausted all their wit in stupid jokes and frivolous caricatures on these subjects. But the English had no cause to laugh; they felt the blow, and have not yet recovered from it.”
A short time before dinner, the Emperor sent for me to attend him in his chamber. He was very unwell; he tried to converse, but he had not strength. He attributed his indisposition to his having drunk some bad wine, which had newly arrived. He said that Corvisart, Bertholet, and other physicians and chemists, had frequently said that if he experienced the least unpleasant flavour, on first tasting his wine, he must by no means swallow it.
The turn of the conversation led him to express his surprise at the contrast between the character of the mind and the expression of the countenance, which was observable in some individuals. “This proves,” said he, "that we must not judge of a man by his face; we can know him only by his conduct. What countenances have I had to judge of in the course of my life! What odd samples of physiognomy have come under my observation! And what rash opinions have I heard on this subject! Thus I invariably made it a rule never to be influenced either by features or by words. Still, however, it must be confessed that we sometimes find curious resemblances between the countenance and the character. For instance, on looking at the face of our Monseigneur (meaning the Governor), who would not recognise the features of a tiger-cat! I will mention another instance. There was a man in my service, who was employed about my person. I liked him very much; but I was obliged to dismiss him because I several times caught him with his hands in my pockets. He committed his thefts too impudently: let any one look at this man, and they must admit that he has a magpie’s eye."
While we were conversing on the subject of physiognomy, some one remarked, that Mirabeau, speaking of Pastoret’s face, said: “it is a compound of the tiger and the calf; but the calf predominates.” At this the Emperor laughed heartily, and said it was strictly true.
The Emperor wished to dine alone in his chamber. He sent for me about ten o’clock. He was then better; and he looked over several of the books which lay scattered upon his couch. He began to read Racine’s Alexander, of which he expressed his dislike; and he afterwards took up Andromache, which is one of his favourite pieces.
MARKS OF RESPECT SHEWN TO THE EMPEROR BY THE
ENGLISH SOLDIERS.
28th.—The Emperor went out about two o’clock. The weather was exceedingly pleasant. We took nearly an hour’s drive in the calash. It had been at first proposed that the Emperor should ride on horseback; for his health was suffering from the want of that exercise. But he would not consent to go out on horseback; he said that to ride backward and forward within the limits marked out for him was like being confined in a riding-school, and he could not endure it. However, on our return home, we succeeded in changing his determination. We all attended him, and we reached the summit of that part of Goat Hill which separates the horizon of the town from that of Longwood. On our way back, we passed in front of the English camp; this was the first time we had passed it since our residence at Longwood. The soldiers immediately quitted their various occupations, and eagerly formed themselves in a line as we passed along. “What European soldier,” said the Emperor, “would not be inspired with respect at my approach!” He knew this, and therefore carefully avoided passing the English camp, lest he should be accused of wishing to excite this sentiment. We all very much enjoyed the ride, and returned home about five o’clock. The Emperor was a little fatigued.
For some time past, he has relinquished his regular dictations. He saw some skittles which had been made by the servants for their own amusement. He ordered them to be brought to us, and we played several games with them. The Emperor won a napoleon and a half from me. He made me pay the debt, and then threw the money to the servant who had attended us for the purpose of running after the ball.