new influences in the air, or
else a letter now in the war office at Paris, and purporting to have
been written on August seventh to Tilly, the French agent at Genoa, is
an antedated fabrication written later for Salicetti's use.[41]
Speaking, in this paper, of Robespierre the younger, he said: "I was a
little touched by the catastrophe, for I loved him and thought him
spotless. But were it my own father, I would stab him to the heart if
he aspired to become a tyrant." If the letter be genuine, as is
probable, the writer was very far-sighted. He knew that its contents
would speedily reach Paris in the despatches of Tilly, so that it was
virtually a public renunciation of Jacobinism at the earliest possible
date, an anchor to windward in the approaching tempest. But
momentarily the trick was of no avail; he was first superseded in his
command, then arrested on August tenth, and, fortunately for himself,
imprisoned two days later in Fort Carre, near Antibes, instead of
being sent direct to Paris as some of his friends were. This temporary
shelter from the devastating blast he owed to Salicetti, who would, no
doubt, without hesitation have destroyed a friend for his own safety,
but was willing enough to spare him if not driven to extremity.

[Footnote 41: Jung: Bonaparte et son temps, II, 455.]

As the true state of things in Corsica began to be known in France,
there was a general disposition to blame and punish the influential
men who had brought things to such a desperate pass and made the loss
of the island probable, if not certain. Salicetti, Multedo, and the
rest quickly unloaded the whole blame on Buonaparte's shoulders, so
that he had many enemies in Paris. Thus by apparent harshness to one
whom he still considered a subordinate, the real culprit escaped
suspicion. Assured of immunity from punishment himself, Salicetti was
content with his rival's humiliation, and felt no real rancor toward
the family. This is clear from his treatment of Louis Buonaparte, who
had fallen from place and favor along with his brother, but was by
Salicetti's influence soon afterward made an officer of the home guard
at Nice. Joseph had rendered himself conspicuous in the very height of
the storm by a brilliant marriage; but neither he nor Fesch was
arrested, and both managed to pull through with whole skins. The noisy
Lucien was also married, but to a girl who, though respectable, was
poor; and in consequence he was thoro