are of the incessant
clamouring raised against me by the whole family, at which I confess I
was very much displeased; coming from those whom I had treated so well!
Had he attached himself to me, I would doubtless have conferred on him
the title of First Marshal of the Empire; but what could I do? He
constantly depreciated my campaigns and my government. From discontent
to revolt there is frequently only one step, especially when a man of a
weak character becomes the tool of popular clubs; and therefore when I
was first informed that Moreau was implicated in the conspiracy of
Georges I believed him to be guilty, but hesitated to issue an order for
his arrest till I had taken the opinion of my Council. The members
having assembled, I ordered the different documents to be laid before
them, with an injunction to examine them with the utmost care, since
they related to an affair of importance, and I urged them candidly to
inform me whether, in their opinion, any of the charges against Moreau
were sufficiently strong to endanger his life. The fools! their reply
was in the affirmative; I believe they were even unanimous! Then I had
no alternative but to suffer the proceedings to take their course. It is
unnecessary to affirm to you, Bourrienne, that Moreau never should have
perished on a scaffold! Most assuredly I would have pardoned him; but
with the sentence of death hanging over his head he could no longer have
proved dangerous; and his name would have ceased to be a rallying-point
for disaffected Republicans or imbecile Royalists. Had the Council
expressed any doubts respecting his guilt I would have intimated to him
that the suspicions against him were so strong as to render any further
connection between us impossible; and that the best course he could
pursue would be to leave France for three years, under the pretext of
visiting some of the places rendered celebrated during the late wars;
but that if he preferred a diplomatic mission I would make a suitable
provision for his expenses; and the great innovator, Time, might effect
great changes during the period of his absence. But my foolish Council
affirmed to me that his guilt, as a principal, being evident, it was
absolutely necessary to bring him to trial; and now his sentence is only
that of a pickpocket. What think you I ought to do? Detain him? He might
still prove a rallying-point. No. Let him sell his property and quit?
Can I confine him in the Temple? It is full e