Footnote 68: Napoleon had already given similar orders to General Cambronne. The following is his letter, which I reproach myself with not having quoted. "General Cambronne, to you I entrust my noblest campaign: all the French expect me with impatience: every where you will find none but friends: do not fire a single musket; I will not have my crown cost the French a drop of blood."[(Back to main text)]
Footnote 69: Napoleon was a fatalist, and superstitious; and made no secret of it. He believed in lucky and unlucky days. We might be astonished at this weakness, if we did not know, that it was common to the greatest men both of ancient and modern times.[(Back to main text)]
Footnote 70: This was Napoleon's favourite compliment. The fonder he was of a person, the more he gave him, and the harder he struck.[(Back to main text)]
Footnote 71: The Duke of Vicenza, convinced of the inutility of the efforts Napoleon might make, to establish any diplomatic connexion with foreign powers, refused to accept the post. The Emperor offered it to M. Môlé. M. Môlé objected, that he was an entire stranger to diplomacy, and requested Napoleon, to make another choice. Napoleon and his other ministers were then so pressing with the Duke of Vicenza, that he considered it his duty to yield. He would have preferred the Emperor's giving him a command in the army, where he would at least have found an opportunity of usefully serving his country and the Emperor.
The ministry of the interior, intended at first for M. Costaz, was also offered to M. Môlé, and ultimately given to M. Carnot, at the recommendation of the Duke of Bassano.
The Emperor was not pleased with the obstinate refusals of M. Môlé: he was fond of his name, and valued his talents. He had intended to appoint him governor of the Imperial Prince; and it was to this intention that M. Môlé was chiefly indebted for the high rank, to which he had been so rapidly raised.
Nevertheless M. Môlé solicited and obtained the general superintendance of highways and bridges, a post which he occupied in 1813, before he was appointed minister of justice.[(Back to main text)]
"Make him, nor think his genius check'd,
A herald, or an architect."—Gay.[(Back to main text)]
Footnote 73: General Le Tort's address to the King.[(Back to main text)]