[15]. I received from the mouth of the Prince Primate some curious details concerning Josephine’s marriage and divorce. Madame de Beauharnais was married to General Buonaparte, by a non-juring priest, who, by mere accident, had neglected to procure the requisite authority from the curate of the parish. This, or some other informality in the marriage, afterwards occupied the attention of Cardinal Fesch; and, whether from his own scruples or otherwise, he succeeded at the time of the coronation in persuading the Emperor and Empress to be married over again by him, privately; or at least to go over as much of the ceremony as he thought necessary. At the divorce, the civil separation was pronounced by the Senate. With regard to the religious separation, the Emperor would not apply to the Pope, and there was no necessity for so doing. Cardinal Fesch having re-married the parties without witnesses, the Officiality of Paris declared that no marriage had taken place. On this judgment being delivered, the Empress Josephine summoned Cardinal Fesch to Malmaison, and asked him whether he could bear witness and sign a declaration that she had been married and lawfully married. “Doubtless,” replied the Cardinal, “I can bear testimony to the fact, and will sign the declaration,” which he accordingly did.
“But,” said I to the Prince Primate, “what judgment was pronounced by the Officiality of Paris?”—"The only proper one," replied the Prince.—"What then became of the declaration of Cardinal Fesch? was it false?"—"Not in his opinion," said the Prince. “He had acted upon the Italian doctrine, by which Cardinals assume the right of marrying without witnesses, which however is not recognised in France, where a marriage is thereby rendered null.”
It appears, however, that Josephine required this declaration only for her own satisfaction, and that she never made any other use of it.
[16]. How justly did the Emperor paint his mother’s character! On my return to Europe I was delighted to witness the literal confirmation of all that he had said respecting her.
As soon as I disclosed to Madame Mère the Emperor’s real situation, and declared my resolution to exert all my efforts to alleviate his misery, the answer returned to me by the courier was, that her whole fortune was at her son’s disposal, and that she would earn her livelihood if necessary by going to service. She at the same time, authorised me, though I was not personally known to her, to draw immediately in her name for any sum that I might think necessary for the Emperor’s use. Cardinal Fesch also tendered his services in the most affectionate way; and I must take this opportunity of mentioning that all the different members of the Emperor’s family evinced equal love, zeal, and devotedness. So long as my health permitted me to keep up a correspondence with them, I received a multitude of letters, which form altogether a most interesting collection. They reflect honour on the hearts of the writers, and they would have proved a source of consolation to the Emperor, had the restrictions of the English government permitted me to submit them to his perusal.
[17]. The Emperor had been informed that two or three of the widows of his most distinguished generals had lately re-married. This, however, is untrue.
[18]. Essai sur les Revolutions Anciennes et Modérnes.
[19]. Professor of Natural History.
[20]. I have been since told that part of these jokes had nothing to do with Le Tourneur, but related to a man of the name of Letourneux, who was a Minister about that time.
[21]. The oriflamme was a flag which was carried before the kings of France.