FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1757   1758   1759   1760   1761   1762   1763   1764   1765   1766   1767   1768   1769   1770   1771   1772   1773   1774   1775   1776   1777   1778   1779   1780   1781  
1782   1783   1784   1785   1786   1787   1788   1789   1790   1791   1792   1793   1794   1795   1796   1797   1798   1799   1800   1801   1802   1803   1804   1805   1806   >>   >|  
ity of the nineteen Swiss cantons. Senators; Councillors of State; Deputies of the Departments in the Corps Legislatif: You are the natural organs of the throne. It is your province to display an energy which will hold our country up to the admiration of all future generations. Let it not be said of us: 'They sacrificed the first interests of their country; they submitted to the control which England has sought in vain for four centuries to impose on France.' "My people need not fear that the policy of their Emperor will ever betray the glory of the nation; and on my part I have the conviction that the French people will ever prove worthy of themselves and of me." This address was received with unanimous shouts of "Vive l'Empereur;" and, when his Majesty returned to the. Tuileries, he had an air of intense satisfaction, although he had a slight headache, which disappeared after half an hour's repose. In the evening it was entirely gone, and the Emperor questioned me on what I had heard people say. I told, him truthfully that the persons of my acquaintance unanimously agreed that the desire for peace was universal. "Peace, peace!" said the Emperor, "who can desire it more than I? Go, my son, go." I withdrew, and his Majesty went to the Empress. It was about this time, I do not remember the exact day, that the Emperor gave a decision on a matter in which I had interested myself with him; and I affirm that it will be seen from this decision what a profound respect his Majesty had for the rights of a legitimate marriage, and his excessive antipathy to divorced persons. But, in order to support this assertion, I will give an anecdote which recurs to my memory at this moment. During the Russian campaign General Dupont-Derval was slain on the battlefield, fighting valiantly. His widow, after his Majesty's return to Paris, had often, but always in vain, endeavored to present a petition to his Majesty describing her unfortunate condition. At length some one advised her to secure my services; and, touched by her unhappiness, I presented her demand to the Emperor. His Majesty but rarely refused my solicitations of this kind, as I conducted them with the utmost discretion; and consequently I was fortunate enough to obtain for Madame Dupont-Derval a very considerable pension. I do not remember how the Emperor discovered that General Dupont-Derval had been divorced, and had left
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1757   1758   1759   1760   1761   1762   1763   1764   1765   1766   1767   1768   1769   1770   1771   1772   1773   1774   1775   1776   1777   1778   1779   1780   1781  
1782   1783   1784   1785   1786   1787   1788   1789   1790   1791   1792   1793   1794   1795   1796   1797   1798   1799   1800   1801   1802   1803   1804   1805   1806   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Majesty

 

Emperor

 
Derval
 

people

 

Dupont

 

divorced

 

persons

 

General

 

desire

 

decision


country

 
remember
 
assertion
 

anecdote

 
withdrew
 
memory
 

recurs

 

interested

 

matter

 

profound


excessive

 

marriage

 

legitimate

 

respect

 

rights

 

Empress

 

affirm

 

antipathy

 

support

 
valiantly

conducted

 

utmost

 
solicitations
 

refused

 

unhappiness

 
presented
 

demand

 
rarely
 

discretion

 
pension

discovered

 

considerable

 

fortunate

 
obtain
 

Madame

 

touched

 
services
 

return

 

fighting

 
battlefield