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nation while claiming for it a sovereignty which it was incapable of
exercising？ Who has destroyed the sanctity and respect for the
laws； in making them depend； not on the sacred principles of
justice； or the nature of things and on civil justice； but simply on
the will of an assembly of men strangers to the knowledge of civil；
criminal； administrative； political； and military law？ When one is
called on to regenerate a state； there are directly opposite
principles by which one must necessarily be guided。〃NOTE BY THE
EDITOR of FRENCH EDITION。
Claude Francois de Malet； born at Dole； 1754。 In 1806 was a general
officer； and was dismissed the service。 Plotting against the
Emperor； he was imprisoned from 1808 to 1812。 On October 24 he
issued a proclamation that the Emperor had died in Russia； and that
he （Malet） had been appointed Governor of Paris by the senate。 He
made Savary prisoner； and shot General Hullin。 He was made prisoner
in turn by General Laborde； and summarily shot。…TRANS。 ＇See 〃The
Memoirs〃 by Bourrienne for the detail of this plot。 D。W。＇
As for myself I cannot deny the painful feelings I experienced the first
time I went out in Paris； and passed through the public promenades during
my hours of leisure； for I was struck with the large number of persons in
mourning whom I met；the wives and sisters of our brave soldiers mowed
down on the fields of Russia； but I kept these disagreeable impressions
to myself。
A few days after my return to Paris their Majesties were present at the
opera where 'Jerusalem Delivered' was presented。 I occupied a box which
Count de Remusat had the kindness to lend me for that evening （he was
first chamberlain of the Emperor； and superintendent of theaters）； and
witnessed the reception given the Emperor and Empress。 Never have I seen
more enthusiasm displayed； and I must avow that the transition seemed to
me most sudden from the recent passage of the Beresina to those truly
magical scenes。 It was on Sunday； and I left the theater a little before
the close in order to reach the palace before the Emperor's return。 I
was there in time to undress him； and I well remember that his Majesty
spoke to me that evening of the quarrel between Talma and Geoffroy which
had occurred a few days before his arrival。 The Emperor； although he had
a high opinion of Talma； thought him completely in the wrong； and
repeated several times； 〃A man of his age！ A man of his age！ that is
inexcusable。 Zounds ！〃 added he； smiling； 〃do not people speak evil of
me also？ Have I not also critics who do not spare me？ He should not be
more sensitive than I〃 This affair； however； had no disagreeable result
for Talma； for the Emperor was much attached to him； and overwhelmed him
with pensions and presents。
Talma in this respect was among the very privileged few； for giving
presents was not in his Majesty's role； especially to those in his
private service。 It was then near the 1st of January； but we built no
air castles at this period； for the Emperor never made gifts。 We knew
that we could not expect any emoluments； though I； especially； could
exercise no economy； for the Emperor required that my toilet should
always be extremely elegant。 It was something really extraordinary to
see the master of half of Europe not disdaining to occupy himself with
the toilet of his valet de chambre； even going so far that when he saw me
in a new coat which pleased him he never failed to compliment me on it；
adding； 〃You are very handsome； Monsieur Constant。〃
Even on the occasion of the marriage of the Emperor and Marie Louise； and
that of the birth of the King of Rome； those composing the private
service of his Majesty received no present； and the Emperor thought the
expenses of these ceremonies too great。 On one occasion； however； but
not in consequence of any unusual circumstance； the Emperor said to me
one morning as I finished dressing him； 〃Constant； go to M。 Meneval； I
have given him orders to allow you eighteen hundred livres of income。〃
Now； it happened that the funds had gone up in the interval between the
order and its execution； and instead of receiving eighteen hundred livres
of rent； I received only seventeen； which I sold a short time after； and
with the product of this sale bought a modest piece of property in the
forest of Fontainebleau。
Sometimes the Emperor made presents to the princes and princesses of his
family； of which I was nearly always the bearer； and I can assert that
with two or three rare exceptions this duty was perfectly gratuitous； a
circumstance which I recall here simply as a recollection。 Queen
Hortense and Prince Eugene were never included； according to my
recollection； in the distribution of Imperial gifts； and the Princess
Pauline was most often favored。
In spite of the numerous occupations of the Emperor； who after his return
from the army spent much time during the day； and most of the nights；
working in his cabinet； he showed himself more frequently in public than
heretofore； going out almost without escort。 On the 2d of January； 1813；
for instance； I remember he went； accompanied only by Marshal Duroc； to
visit the basilica of Notre Dame； the works of the archbishopric； those
of the central depot of wines； and then； crossing the bridge of
Austerlitz； the granaries； the fountain of the elephant； and finally the
palace of the Bourse； which his Majesty often said was the handsomest
building then existing in Europe。 Next to his passion for war； that for
monuments was strongest in the Emperor's heart。 The cold was quite
severe while his Majesty was taking these solitary excursions； but in
fact the cold weather in Paris seemed a very mild temperature to all who
had just returned from Russia。
I remarked at this time； that is to say at the end of 1812 and the
beginning of 1813； that the Emperor had never hunted so frequently。 Two
or three times a week I assisted him to don his hunting…costume； which
he； like all persons of his suite； wore in accordance with the recently
revived usage of the ancient monarchy。
The Empress often accompanied him in a coach； although the cold was
intense； but when he gave an order there was nothing to be said。 Knowing
how distasteful the pleasures of the chase ordinarily were to his
Majesty； I was surprised at this recent fondness he manifested； but soon
learned that he was acting purely from political motives。 One day
Marshal Duroc was in his room； while he was putting on his green coat
with gold lace； and I heard the Emperor say to the marshal； 〃It is very
necessary that I should be in motion； and have the journals speak of it；
for the imbeciles who write for the English journals repeat every day
that I am sick； that I cannot move； and am no longer good for anything。
Have patience！ I will soon show them that I have as much strength of
body as of mind。〃 Besides all this； I think that the exercise of hunting
in moderation was very good for the Emperor's health； for I never saw him
in better condition than during the very time the English journals took
plea