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this kind of correspondence。 At the period of this first rupture and
reconciliation the question of the Consulate for life was yet unsettled。
It was not decided until the 2d of August； and the circumstances to which
I am about to refer happened at the end of February。
I was now restored to my former footing of intimacy with the First
Consul； at least for a time； but I soon perceived that； after the scene
which M。 de Talleyrand had witnessed； my duties in the Tuileries were
merely provisional； and might be shortened or prolonged according to
circumstances。 I saw at the very first moment that Bonaparte had
sacrificed his wounded pride to the necessity （for such I may； without
any vanity； call it） of employing my services。 The forced preference he
granted to me arose from the fact of his being unable to find any one
able to supply my place； for Duroc； as I have already said； showed a
disinclination to the business。 I did not remain long in the dark
respecting the new situation in which I stood。 I was evidently still
under quarantine； but the period of my quitting the port was
undetermined。
A short time after our reconciliation the First Consul said to me； in a
cajoling tone of which I was not the dupe； 〃My dear Bourrienne； you
cannot do everything。 Business increases； and will continue to increase。
You know what Corvisart says。 You have a family； therefore it is right
you should take care of your health。 You must not kill yourself with
work； therefore some one must be got to assist you。 Joseph tells me that
he can recommend a secretary； one of whom he speaks very highly。 He
shall be under your direction； he can make out your copies； and do all
that can consistently be required of him。 This； I think； will be a great
relief to you。〃〃I ask for nothing better；〃 replied I； 〃than to have the
assistance of some one who； after becoming acquainted with the business；
may； some time or other； succeed me。〃 Joseph sent M。 de Meneval； a young
man who； to a good education； added the recommendations of industry and
prudence。 I had every reason to be satisfied with him。
It was now that Napoleon employed all those devices and caresses which
always succeeded so well with him； and which yet again gained the day； to
put an end to the inconvenience caused to him by my retirement； and to
retain me。 Here I call every one who knew me as witnesses that nothing
could equal my grief and despair to find myself obliged to again begin my
troublesome work。 My health had suffered much from it。 Corvisart was a
clever counsellor； but it was only during the night that I could carry
out his advice。 To resume my duties was to renounce all hope of rest；
and even of health。
＇There is considerable truth in this statement about the effect on
his health。 His successor； Meneval； without the same amount of
work； broke down and had to receive assistance （Meneval； tome i。 p。
149）。＇
I soon perceived the First Consul's anxiety to make M。 de Meneval
acquainted with the routine of business； and accustomed to his manner。
Bonaparte had never pardoned me for having presumed to quit him after he
had attained so high a degree of power； he was only waiting for an
opportunity to punish me； and he seized upon an unfortunate circumstance
as an excuse for that separation which I had previously wished to bring
about。
I will explain this circumstance； which ought to have obtained for me the
consolation and assistance of the First Consul rather than the forfeiture
of his favour。 My rupture with him has been the subject of various
misstatements； all of which I shall not take the trouble to correct；
I will merely notice what I have read in the Memoirs of the Duc de
Rovigo； in which it is stated that I was accused of peculation。 M。 de
Rovigo thus expresses himself：
Ever since the First Consul was invested with the supreme power his
life had been a continued scene of personal exertion。 He had for
his private secretary M。 de Bourrienne； a friend and companion of
his youth； whom he now made the sharer of all his labours。 He
frequently sent for him in the dead of the night； and particularly
insisted upon his attending him every morning at seven。 Bourrienne
was punctual in his attendance with the public papers； which he had
previously glanced over。 The First Consul almost invariably read
their contents himself； he then despatched some business； and sat
down to table just as the clock struck nine。 His breakfast； which
lasted six minutes； was no sooner over than he returned to his
cabinet； only left it for dinner； and resumed his close occupation
immediately after； until ten at night； which was his usual hour for
retiring to rest。
Bourrienne was gifted with a most wonderful memory； he could speak
and write many languages； and would make his pen follow as fast as
words were uttered。 He possessed many other advantages； he was well
acquainted with the administrative departments； was versed in the
law of nations； and possessed a zeal and activity which rendered his
services quite indispensable to the First Consul。 I have known the
several grounds upon which the unlimited confidence placed in him by
his chief rested； but am unable to speak with equal assurance of the
errors which occasioned his losing that confidence。
Bourrienne had many enemies； some were owing to his personal
character； a greater number to the situation which he held。
Others were jealous of the credit he enjoyed with the Head of the
Government； others； again； discontented at his not making that
credit subservient to their personal advantage。 Some even imputed
to him the want of success that had attended their claims。 It was
impossible to bring any charge against him on the score of
deficiency of talent or of indiscreet conduct； his personal habits
were watchedit was ascertained that he engaged in financial
speculations。 An imputation could easily be founded on this
circumstance。 Peculation was accordingly laid to his charge。
This was touching the most tender ground； for the First Consul held
nothing in greater abhorrence than unlawful gains。 A solitary
voice； however； would have failed in an attempt to defame the
character of a man for whom he had so long felt esteem and
affection； other voices； therefore； were brought to bear against
him。 Whether the accusations were well founded or otherwise； it is
beyond a doubt that all means were resorted to for bringing them to
the knowledge of the First Consul。
The most effectual course that suggested itself was the opening a
correspondence either with the accused party direct； or with those
with whom it was felt indispensable to bring him into contact； this
correspondence was carried on in a mysterious manner； and related to
the financial operations that had formed the grounds of a charge
against him。 Thus it is that； on more than one occasion； the very
channels intended for conveying truth to the knowledge of a
sovereign have been made available to the purpose of communicating
false intelligence to him。 To give an instance。
Under the reign of Louis XV。； and even under the Regency； the Post
Office was organized into a system of minute inspection； which did
not indeed extend to every letter； but was exercised over all such
as afforded grounds for suspicion。 They were opened； and； when it
was not deemed safe to suppress them； copies were taken； and they
were returned to their proper channel without the least delay。 Any
individual denouncing another may； by the help of such an
establishment； give great weight to his denunciation。 It is
sufficient for his purpose that he should throw into the Post Office
any letter so worded as to confirm the impression which it is his
object to convey。 The worthiest man may thus be committed by a
letter which he has never read； or the purport of which is wholly
unintelligible to him。
I am speaking from personal experience。 It once happened that a
letter addressed to myself； relating to an alleged fact which had
never occurred； was opened。 A copy of the letter so opened was also
forwarded to me； as it concerned the duties which I had to perform
at that time； but I was already in possession of the original；
transmitted through the ordinary channel。 Summoned to reply to the
questions to which such productions had given rise； I took that
opportunity of pointing out the danger that would accrue from
placing a blind reliance upon intelligence derived from so hazardous
a source。 Accordingly； little importance was afterwards attached to
this means of information； but the system was in operation at the
period when M。 de Bourrienne was disgraced； his enemies took care to
avail themselves of it； they blackened his character with M。 de
Barbe Marbois； who added to their accusations all the