Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte — Complete

Voyage to St. Helena--Personal traits of the Emperor--Arrival at James Town--Napoleon's temporary residence at The Briars--Removal to Longwood--The daily routine there-The Campa...

The extraordinary rapidity of events during the Cent fours, or Hundred Days of Napoleon's reign in 1815, and the startling changes in the parts previously filled by the chief pe...

Arrest of Georges--The fruiterer's daughter of the Rue de La Montagne--St. Genevieve--Louis Bonaparte's visit to the Temple-- General Lauriston--Arrest of Villeneuve and Barco--...

The men of the Revolution and the men of the Empire--The Council of Regency--Departure of the Empress from Paris--Marmont and Mortier-- Joseph's flight--Meeting at Marmont's hot...

In introducing the present edition of M. de Bourrienne's Memoirs to the public we are bound, as Editors, to say a few Words on the subject. Agreeing, however, with Horace Walpol...

Disturbed state of Spain--Godoy, Prince of the Peace--Reciprocal accusations between the King of Spain and his son--False promise of Napoleon--Dissatisfaction occasioned by the...

Bonaparte's confidence in the army--'Ma belle' France--The convent of Bernadins--Passage of Mont St. Bernard--Arrival at the convent-- Refreshments distributed to the soldiers--...

Proposal to send Bonaparte to La Vendée--He is struck off the list of general officers--Salicetti--Joseph's marriage with Mademoiselle Clary--Bonaparte's wish to go to Turkey--N...

One of the first public men to see Napoleon after his return from Waterloo was Lavallette. "I flew," says he, "to the Elysee to see the Emperor: he summoned me into his closet,...

read the newspapers to him I said, "General, I found a man this morning hanging a bell in your cabinet. I was told it was by your orders; but being convinced there must be some...

My departure from Hamburg-The King at St. Denis--Fouché appointed Minister of the Police--Delay of the King's entrance into Paris-- Effect of that delay--Fouché's nomination due...

Italy and Eugène--Siege of Dantzic-Capitulation concluded but not ratified-Rapp made prisoner and sent to Kiew--Davoust's refusal to believe the intelligence from Paris--Project...

Bonaparte enters the Military College of Paris--He urges me to embrace the military profession--His report on the state of the Military School of Paris--He obtains a commission-...

Curious disclosures of Fouché--Remarkable words of Bonaparte respecting the protest of Louis XVIII--Secret document inserted in the Moniteur--Announcement from Bonaparte to Regn...

Napoleon at Paris--Political manoeuvres--The meeting of the Champ-de-Mai--Napoleon, the Liberals, and the moderate Constitutionalists--His love of arbitrary power as strong as e...

M. Czernischeff--Dissimulation of Napoleon--Napoleon and Alexander-- Josephine's foresight respecting the affairs of Spain--My visits to Malmaison--Grief of Josephine--Tears and...

Unexpected receipts in the Post-office Department--Arrival of Napoleon's Commissioners at M. de Talleyrand's--Conference of the Marshals with Alexander--Alarming news from Esson...

The Tuileries--Royalty in perspective--Remarkable observation-- Presentations--Assumption of the prerogative of mercy--M. Defeu-- M. de Frotte--Georges Cadoudal's audience of Bo...

Great and common men--Portrait of Bonaparte--The varied expression of his countenance--His convulsive shrug--Presentiment of his corpulency--Partiality for bathing--His temperan...

The Republic of Batavia--The crown of Holland offered to Louis-- Offer and refusal of the crown of Spain--Napoleon's attempt to get possession of Brabant--Napoleon before and af...

My return to Hamburg--Government Committee established there-- Anecdote of the Comte de Chaban--Napoleon's misunderstanding with the Pope--Cardinal Fesch--Convention of a Counci...

The most glorious epoch for France--The First Consul's desire of peace--Malta ceded and kept--Bonaparte and the English journals-- Mr. Addington's letter to the First Consul--Bo...

The Spanish troops in Hamburg--Romana's siesta--His departure for Funen--Celebration of Napoleon's birthday--Romana's defection-- English agents and the Dutch troops--Facility o...

General Ordener's mission--Arrest of the Duc d'Enghien--Horrible night-scene---Harrel's account of the death of the Prince--Order for digging the grave--The foster-sister of the...

Prince Eugène and the affairs of Italy--The army of Italy on the frontiers of Austria--Eugène's regret at the defection of the Bavarians--Murat's dissimulation and perfidy--His...

Suspension of hostilities--Letter to the Consuls--Second Occupation of Milan--Bonaparte and Massena--Public acclamations and the voice of Josephine--Stray recollections--Organiz...

Clavier and Hemart--Singular Proposal of Corvisart-M. Desmaisons-- Project of influencing the judges--Visit to the Tuileries--Rapp in attendance--Long conversation with the Empe...

The day after my disgrace--Renewal of my duties--Bonaparte's affected regard for me--Offer of an assistant--M. de Meneval--My second rupture with Bonaparte--The Duc de Rovigo's...

The Egyptian Institute--Festival of the birth of Mahomet--Bonaparte's prudent respect for the Mahometan religion--His Turkish dress-- Djezzar, the Pasha of Acre--Thoughts of a c...

New system of war--Winter quarters--The Emperor's Proclamation-- Necessity of marching to meet the Russians--Distress in the Hanse Towns--Order for 50,000 cloaks--Seizure of Rus...

Unalterable determination of the Allies with respect to Napoleon-- Fontainebleau included in the limits to be occupied by the Allies-- Alexander's departure from Paris--Napoleon...

Message from the Tuileries--My interview with the King-- My appointment to the office of Prefect of the Police--Council at the Tuileries--Order for arrests--Fouches escape--Davo...

Bonaparte's laws--Suppression of the festival of the 21st of January--Officials visits--The Temple--Louis XVI. and Sir Sidney Smith--Peculation during the Directory--Loan raised...

General Bernadotte pacifies La vendee and suppresses a mutiny at Tours--Bonaparte's injustice towards him--A premeditated scene-- Advice given to Bernadotte, and Bonaparte disap...

The Temple--The intrigues of Europe--Prelude to the Continental system--Bombardment of Granville--My conversation with the First Consul on the projected invasion of England--Fau...

The Princess Royal of Denmark--Destruction of the German Empire-- Napoleons visit to the Courts of Bavaria and Wurtemberg--His return to France--First mention of the divorce--In...

Effect of the 18th Fructidor on the peace--The standard of the army of Italy--Honours rendered to the memory of General Hoche and of Virgil at Mantua--Remarkable letter--In pass...

England deceived by Napoleon--Admirals Missiessy and Villeneuve-- Command given to Lauriston--Napoleon's opinion of Madame de Stael-- Her letters to Napoleon--Her enthusiasm con...

The siege of Acre raised--Attention to names in bulletins--Gigantic project--The Druses--Mount Carmel--The wounded and infected-- Order to march on foot--Loss of our cannon--A N...

On my return to Paris I meet Bonaparte--His interview with Josephine --Bonaparte's marriage, and departure from Paris ten days after-- Portrait and character of Josephine--Bonap...

Bonaparte's departure for Suez--Crossing the desert--Passage of the Red Sea--The fountain of Moses--The Cenobites of Mount Sinai--Danger in recrossing the Red Sea--Napoleon's re...

Bonaparte and Paul I.--Lord Whitworth--Baron Sprengporten's arrival at Paris--Paul's admiration of Bonaparte--Their close connection and correspondence--The royal challenge--Gen...

Citizen Fesch created Cardinal Fesch--Arts and industry--Exhibition in the Louvre--Aspect of Paris in 1802--The Medicean Venus and the Velletrian Pallas--Signs of general prospe...

Departure of the squadron--Arrival at Malta--Dolomieu--General Barguay d'Hilliers--Attack on the western part of the island-- Caffarelli's remark--Deliverance of the Turkish pri...

Riots in Hamburg and Lübeck--Attempted suicide of M. Konning-- Evacuation of Hamburg--Dissatisfaction at the conduct of General St. Cyr--The Cabinets of Vienna and the Tuileries...

War and monuments--Influence of the recollections of Egypt-- First improvements in Paris--Malmaison too little--St. Cloud taken --The Pont des Arts--Business prescribed for me b...

About the middle of summer Napoleon was visited by his mother and his sister the Princess Pauline. Both these ladies had very considerable talents for political intrigue, and th...

Unfounded reports--Carnot--Capitulation of Mantua--General Clarke-- The Directory yields to Bonaparte--Berthier--Arrival of Eugène Beauharnais at Milan--Comte Delannay d'Entraig...

Moreau and Bernadotte--Bonaparte's opinion of Bernadotte--False report--The crown of Sweden and the Constitution of the year III.-- Intrigues of Bonaparte's brothers--Angry conv...

Arrival at Jaffa--The siege--Beauharnais and Croisier--Four thousand prisoners--Scarcity of provisions--Councils of war--Dreadful necessity--The massacre--The plague--Lannes and...

Changeableness of Bonaparte's plans and opinions--Articles for the 'Moniteur' dictated by the First Consul--The Protocol of the Congress of Chatillon--Conversations with Davoust...

Austria bribed by England--M. de St. Julien in Paris--Duroc's mission--Rupture of the armistice--Surrender of three garrisons-- M. Otto in London--Battle of Hohenlinden--Madame...

Declaration of Louis XVIII.--Dumouriez watched--News of a spy-- Remarkable trait of courage and presence of mind--Necessity of vigilance at Hamburg--The King of Sweden--His bull...

Bernadotte's departure from Hamburg--The Duke of Holstein- Augustenburg--Arrival of the Crown Prince in Sweden-- Misunderstandings between him and Napoleon--Letter from Bernadot...

The two Councils--Barras' letter--Bonaparte at the Council of the Five Hundred--False reports--Tumultuous sitting--Lucien's speech-- He resigns the Presidency of the Council of...

Rapidity of Napoleon's victories--Murat at Wertingen--Conquest of Ney's duchy--The French army before Ulm--The Prince of Liechtenstein at the Imperial headquarters--His intervie...

Authentic date of Bonaparte's birth--His family ruined by the Jesuits--His taste for military amusements--Sham siege at the College of Brienne--The porter's wife and Napoleon--M...

General approbation of the 18th Brumaire--Distress of the treasury-- M. Collot's generosity--Bonaparte's ingratitude--Gohier set at Liberty--Constitution of the year VIII.--The...

Bonaparte President of the Cisalpine Republic--Meeting of the deputation at Lyons--Malta and the English--My immortality--Fete given by Madame Murat--Erasures from the emigrant...

The intoxication of great men--Unlucky zeal--MM. Maret, Champagny, and Savary--M. de Talleyrand's real services--Postponement of the execution of orders--Fouché and the Revoluti...

My appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary at Hamburg--My interview with Bonaparte at Malmaison--Bonaparte's designs respecting Italy-- His wish to revisit Brienne--Instructions...

The Memorial of St. Helena--Louis XVIII.'s first letter to Bonaparte --Josephine, Hortense, and the Faubourg St. Germain-- Madame Bonaparte and the fortune-teller--Louis XVIII's...

Depreciation of the Bank paper--Ouvrard--His great discretion-- Bonaparte's opinion of the rich--Ouvrard's imprisonment--His partnership with the King of Spain--His connection w...

Amount of the Allied forces against Napoleon--Their advance towards the Rhine--Levy of 280,000 men--Dreadful situation of the French at Mayence--Declaration of the Allies at Fra...

Napoleon and Voltaire--Demands of the Holy See--Coolness between the pope and the Emperor--Napoleon's departure for Italy--Last interview between the Pope and the Emperor at Tur...

Bonaparte's departure from Paris--His return--The Egyptian expedition projected--M. de Talleyrand--General Desaix--Expedition against Malta--Money taken at Berne--Bonaparte's id...

Cambacérès and Lebrun--Gohier deceived--My nocturnal visit to Barras --The command of the army given to Bonaparte--The morning of the 18th Brumaire--Meeting of the generals at B...

Bonaparte's principle as to the change of Ministers--Fouché--His influence with the First Consul--Fouché's dismissal--The departments of Police and Justice united under Regnier-...

Murat and Moarad Bey at the Natron Lakes--Bonaparte's departure for the Pyramids--Sudden appearance of an Arab messenger--News of the landing of the Turks at Aboukir--Bonaparte...

Menaces of Prussia--Offer for restoring Hanover to England--Insolent ultimatum--Commencement of hostilities between France and Prussia-- Battle of Auerstadt--Death of the Duke o...

Demands for contingents from some of the small States of Germany-- M. Metternich--Position of Russia with respect to France--Union of Austria and Russia--Return of the English t...

The royalists of the interior--Bonaparte's intention of marching on Paris with 25,000 men--His animosity against the emigrants and the Clichy Club--His choice between the two pa...

Our departure from Egypt--Nocturnal embarkation--M. Parseval Grandmaison--On course--Adverse winds--Fear of the English-- Favourable weather--Vingt-et-un--Chess--We land at Ajac...

Napoleon's second visit to Dresden--Battle of Bantzen--The Congress at Prague--Napoleon ill advised--Battle of Vittoria--General Moreau Rupture of the conferences at Prague--Def...

Effect produced at Altona by the Treaty of Tilsit--The Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin's departure from Hamburg--English squadron in the Sound--Bombardment of Copenhagen--Perfidy o...

Abuse of military power--Defence of diplomatic rights--Marshal Brune --Army supplies--English cloth and leather--Arrest on a charge of libel--Dispatch from M. Talleyrand--A page...

An experiment of royalty--Louis de Bourbon and Maria Louisa, of Spain--Creation of the kingdom of Etruria--The Count of Leghorn in Paris--Entertainments given him--Bonaparte's o...

Treaty of alliance between England and Russia--Certainty of an approaching war--M. Forshmann, the Russian Minister--Duroc's mission to Berlin--New project of the King of Sweden-...

Visit to the field of Wagram.--Marshal Macdonald--Union of the Papal States with the Empire--The battle of Talavera--Sir Arthur Wellesley--English expedition to Holland--Attempt...

Changes produced by time--Correspondence between the Provisional Government and Hartwell--Louis XVIII's reception in London-- His arrival at Calais--Berthier's address to the Ki...

Departure for Malmaison--Unexpected question relative to the Bourbons--Distinction between two opposition parties--New intrigues of Lucien--Camille Jordan's pamphlet seized--Vit...

Successful management of parties--Precautions--Removal from the Luxembourg to the Tuileries--Hackney-coaches and the Consul's white horses--Royal custom and an inscription--The...

Message to Madame de Bourrienne on the 20th of March--Napoleon's nocturnal entrance into Paris--General Becton sent to my family by Caulaincourt--Recollection of old persecution...

Proverbial falsehood of bulletins--M. Doublet--Creation of the Legion of Honour--Opposition to it in the Council and other authorities of the State--The partisans of an heredita...

Mr. Pitt--Motive of his going out of office--Error of the English Government--Pretended regard for the Bourbons--Violation of the treaty of Amiens--Reciprocal accusations--Malta...

Ukase of the Emperor of Russia--Duroc's mission to Weimar-- Napoleon's views defeated--Triumphs of the French armies--Letters from Murat--False report respecting Murat--Resembla...

The Concordat and the Legion of Honour--The Council of State and the Tribunate--Discussion on the word 'subjects'--Chenier--Chabot de l'Allier's proposition to the Tribunate--Th...

Effect produced by Bonaparte's return--His justification-- Melancholy letter to my wife--Bonaparte's intended dinner at Sens-- Louis Bonaparte and Josephine--He changes his inte...

My functions at Hamburg--The King of Sweden at Stralsund-- My bulletin describing the situation of the Russian armies--Duroc's recall from Berlin--General Dumouriez--Recruiting...

The events of 1804--Death of the Duc d'Enghien--Napoleon's arguments at St. Helena--Comparison of dates--Possibility of my having saved the Duc d'Enghien's life--Advice given to...

Napoleon's correspondence--Release of French prisoners at Olmutz-- Negotiations with Austria--Bonaparte's dissatisfaction--Letter of complaint from Bonaparte to the Executive Di...

The flag of the army of Italy and the eagles of 1813--Entrance of the Allies into Switzerland--Summons to the Minister of Police-- My refusal to accept a mission to Switzerland-...

Bonaparte's joy at the result of the 18th Fructidor.--His letter to Augereau--His correspondence with the Directory and proposed resignation--Explanation of the Directory--Botto...

Curious conversation between General Reynier and the Emperor Alexander--Napoleon repulses the Prussians--The Russians at Fontainebleau--Battle of Brienne--Sketch of the campaign...

The mirage--Skirmishes with the Arabs--Mistake of General Desaix's division--Wretchedness of a rich sheik--Combat beneath the General's window--The flotilla on the Nile--Its dis...

Pichegru betrayed--His arrest--His conduct to his old aide de camp-- Account of Pichegru's family, and his education at Brienne-- Permission to visit M. Carbonnet--The prisoners...

Promulgation of the Code of Commerce--Conquests by Status-consulte-- Three events in one day--Recollections--Application of a line of Voltaire--Creation of the Imperial nobility...

Before taking up his quarters in the Tuileries the First Consul organised his secret police, which was intended, at the same time, to be the rival or check upon Fouché's police....

Abolition of the Republican calendar--Warlike preparations in Austria--Plan for re-organizing the National Guard--Napoleon in Strasburg--General Mack--Proclamation--Captain Bern...

The castle of Diernstein--Richard Coeur de Lion and Marshal Lannes, --The Emperor at the gates of Vienna--The Archduchess Maria Louisa-- Facility of correspondence with England-...

The Continental system--General indignation excited by it--Sale of licences by the French Government--Custom-house system at Hamburg-- My letter to the Emperor--Cause of the rup...

Capitulation of Sublingen--Preparations for war--Utility of commercial information--My instructions--Inspection of the emigrants and the journals--A pamphlet by Kotzebue--Offers...

Difficulties of a new Government--State of Europe--Bonaparte's wish for peace--M. de Talleyrand Minister for Foreign Affairs-- Negotiations with England and Austria--Their failu...

Establishment of a divan in each Egyptian province--Desaix in Upper Egypt--Ibrahim Bey beaten by Bonaparte at Salehye'h--Sulkowsky wounded--Disaster at Aboukir--Dissatisfaction...

Presentation of Prince Borghese to Bonaparte--Departure for Belgium Revival of a royal custom--The swans of Amiens--Change of formula in the acts of Government--Company of perfo...

Last chapter on Egypt--Admiral Gantheaume--Way to please Bonaparte-- General Menou's flattery and his reward--Davoust--Bonaparte regrets giving the command to Menou, who is defe...

Vast works undertaken--The French and the Roman soldiers--Itinerary of Bonaparte's journeys to the coast--Twelve hours on horseback-- Discussions in Council--Opposition of Trugu...

Signature of the preliminaries of peace--Fall of Venice--My arrival and reception at Leoben--Bonaparte wishes to pursue his success-- The Directory opposes him--He wishes to adv...

The First Consul's presentiments respecting the duration of peace-- England's uneasiness at the prosperity of France--Bonaparte's real wish for war--Concourse of foreigners in P...

Influence of the 18th Fructidor on the negotiations--Bonaparte's suspicion of Bottot--His complaints respecting the non-erasure of Bourrienne--Bourrienne's conversation with the...

Alarm of the city of Hamburg--The French at Bergdorf--Favourable orders issued by Bernadotte--Extortions in Prussia--False endorsements--Exactions of the Dutch--Napoleon's conce...

which he had in his own hands, would render him far more popular than the renewal of hostilities undertaken with all the chances of success and reverse. The signing of the peace...

Bonaparte's wish to negotiate with England and Austria-- An emigrant's letter--Domestic details--The bell--Conspiracy of Ceracchi, Arena, Harrel, and others--Bonaparte's visit t...

have been misinformed. However, I was certain that M. Bouvier would not have sent me the information on slight grounds, and I therefore supposed that the project had only been d...

Arrest of La Sahla--My visit to him--His confinement at Vincennes-- Subsequent history of La Sahla--His second journey to France-- Detonating powder--Plot hatched against me by...

THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. One of the most important struggles of modern times was now about to commence--a struggle which for many years was to decide the fate of Europe. Napoleon...

1815. THE BATTLES OF LIGNY AND QUATRE BRAS. The moment for striking a decisive blow had now come, and accordingly, early on the morning of the 15th, the whole of the French army...

had received the Prince's letter he should have lived? This is irreconcilable. But if we compare all that Napoleon said at St. Helena, and which has been transmitted to us by hi...

The brief detail I have given in the two or three preceding chapters of the events which occurred previously to and during the campaign of Austerlitz, with the letters of Duroc...