The centralization of France in Napoleon’s hands was not to be allowed to go on without interference. Jacobinism, republicanism, royalism, were deeply-rooted sentiments, and it was not long before they began to struggle for expression.
Early in the Consulate2, plots of many descriptions were unearthed3. The most serious before 1803 was that known as the “Opera Plot,” or “Plot of the 3d Niv?se” (December 24, 1800), when a bomb was placed in the street, to be exploded as the First Consul1’s carriage passed. By an accident he was saved, and, in spite of the shock, went on to the opera.
Madame Junot, who was there, gives a graphic4 description of the way the news was received by the house:
“The first thirty measures of the oratorio5 were scarcely played, when a strong explosion like a cannon6 was heard.
“‘What does that mean?’ exclaimed Junot with emotion. He opened the door of the loge and looked into the corridor.... ‘It is strange; how can they be firing cannon at this hour?’ And then ‘I should have known it. Give me my hat; I am going to find out what it is....’
“At this moment the loge of the First Consul opened, and he himself appeared with Generals Lannes, Lauriston, Berthier, and Duroc. Smiling, he saluted8 the immense crowd, which mingled9 cries like those of love with its applause. Madame Bonaparte followed him in a few seconds....
“Junot was going to enter the loge to see for himself the serene10 air 134of the First Consul that I had just remarked, when Duroc came up to us with troubled face.
“‘The First Consul has just escaped death,’ he said quickly to Junot. ‘Go down and see him; he wants to talk to you.’ ... But a dull sound commenced to spread from parterre to orchestra, from orchestra to amphitheatre, and thence to the loges.
“‘The First Consul has just been attacked in the Rue11 Saint Nicaise,’ it was whispered. Soon the truth was circulated in the salle; at the same instant, and as by an electric shock, one and the same acclamation arose, one and the same look enveloped12 Napoleon, as if in a protecting love.
“What agitation13 preceded the explosion of national anger which was represented in that first quarter of an hour, by that crowd whose fury for so black an attack could not be expressed by words! Women sobbed14 aloud, men shivered with indignation. Whatever the banner they followed, they were united heart and arm in this case to show that differences of opinion did not bring with them differences in understanding honor.”
It was such attempts, and suspicion of like ones, that led to the extension of the police service. One of the ablest and craftiest15 men of the Revolution became Napoleon’s head of police in the Consulate, Fouché. A consummate16 actor and skilful17 flatterer, hampered18 by no conscience other than the duty of keeping in place, he acted a curious and entertaining part. Detective work was for him a game which he played with intense relish19. He was a veritable amateur of plots, and never gayer than when tracing them.
Napoleon admired Fouché, but he did not trust him, and, to offset20 him, formed a private police to spy on his work. He never succeeded in finding anyone sufficiently21 fine to match the chief, who several times was malicious22 enough to contrive23 plots himself, to excite and mislead the private agents.
The system of espionage24 went so far that letters were regularly opened. It was commonly said that those who did not want their letters read, did not send them by post; and though it was hardly necessary, as in the Revolution, to send them in pies, in coat-linings, or hat-crowns, yet care 135and prudence25 had to be exercised in handling all political letters.
It was difficult to get officials for the post-office who could be relied on to intercept26 the proper letters; and in 1802, the Postmaster-General, Monsieur Bernard, the father of the beautiful Madame Récamier, was found to be concealing27 an active royalist correspondence, and to be permitting the circulation of a quantity of seditious pamphlets. His arrest and imprisonment28 made a great commotion29 in his daughter’s circle, which was one of social and intellectual importance. Through the intercessions of Bernadotte, Monsieur Bernard was pardoned by Napoleon. The cabinet noir, as the department of the post-office which did this work was called, was in existence when Napoleon came to the Consulate, and he rather restricted than increased its operations. It has never been entirely30 given up, as many an inoffensive foreigner in France can testify.
The theatre and press were also subjected to a strict censorship. In 1800 the number of newspapers in Paris was reduced to twelve; and in three years there were but eight left, with a total subscription31 list of eighteen thousand six hundred and thirty. Napoleon’s contempt for journalists and editors equalled that he had for lawyers, whom he called a “heap of babblers and revolutionists.” Neither class could, in his judgment32, be allowed to go free.
136
“THE GENERAL OF THE GRAND ARMY.”
This pencil portrait by David is nothing but a rapid sketch33, but its iconographic interest is undeniable. David doubtless executed this design towards the end of 1797, after Bonaparte’s return from Italy. It belongs to Monsieur Cheramy, a Paris lawyer.—A. D.
137The salons35 were watched, and it is certain that those whose habitués criticised Napoleon freely were reported. One serious rupture36 resulted from the supervision37 of the salons, that with Madame de Sta?l. She had been an ardent38 admirer of Napoleon in the beginning of the Consulate, and Bourrienne tells several amusing stories of the disgust Napoleon showed at the letters of admiration39 and sentiment which she wrote him even so far back as the Italian campaign. If the secretary is to be believed, Madame de Sta?l told Napoleon, in one of these letters, that they were certainly created for each other, that it was an error in human institutions that the mild and tranquil40 Josephine was united to his fate, that nature evidently had intended for a hero such as he, her own soul of fire. Napoleon tore the letter to pieces, and he took pains thereafter to announce with great bluntness to Madame de Sta?l, whenever he met her, his own notions of women, which certainly were anything but “modern.”
As the centralization of the government increased, Madame de Sta?l and her friends criticized Napoleon more freely and sharply than they would have done, no doubt, had she not been incensed41 by his personal attitude towards her. This hostility42 increased until, in 1803, the First Consul ordered her out of France. “The arrival of this woman, like that of a bird of omen7, has always been the signal for some trouble,” he said in giving the order. “It is not my intention to allow her to remain in France.”
In 1807 this order was repeated, and many of Madame de Sta?l’s friends were included in the proscription43:
“I have written to the Minister of Police to send Madame de Sta?l to Geneva. This woman continues her trade of intriguer44. She went near Paris in spite of my orders. She is a veritable plague. Speak seriously to the Minister, for I shall be obliged to have her seized by the gendarmerie. Keep an eye upon Benjamin Constant; if he meddles45 with anything I shall send him to his wife at Brunswick. I will not tolerate this clique46.”
But when one compares the policy of restriction47 during the Consulate with what it had been under the old régime and during the Revolution, it certainly was far in advance in liberty, discretion48, and humanity. The republican government to-day, in its repression49 of anarchy50, and socialism has acted with less wisdom and less respect for freedom of thought than Napoleon did at this period of his career; and that, too, in circumstances less complicated and critical. 138If there were still dull rumors51 of discontent, a cabinet noir, a restricted press, a censorship over the theatre, proscriptions, even imprisonments and executions, on the whole France was happy.
“Not only did the interior wheels of the machine commence to run smoothly,” says the Duchesse d’Abrantès, “but the arts themselves, that most peaceful part of the interior administration, gave striking proofs of the returning prosperity of France. The exposition at the Salon34 that year (1800) was remarkably52 fine. Guérin, David, Gérard, Girodet, a crowd of great talents, spurred on by the emulation53 which always awakes the fire of genius, produced works which must some time place our school at a high rank.”
The art treasures of Europe were pouring into France. Under the direction of Denon, that indefatigable54 dilettante55 and student, who had collected in the expedition in Egypt more entertaining material than the whole Institute, and had written a report of it which will always be preferred to the “Great Work,” the galleries of Paris were reorganized and opened two days of the week to the people. Napoleon inaugurated this practice himself. Not only was Paris supplied with galleries; those department museums which to-day surprise and delight the tourist in France were then created at Angers, Antwerp, Autun, Bordeaux, Brussels, Caen, Dijon, Geneva, Grenoble, Le Mans, Lille, Lyons, Mayence, Marseilles, Montpellier, Nancy, Nantes, Rennes, Rouen, Strasburg, Toulouse, and Tours. The prix de Rome, for which there had been no money in the treasury56 for some time, was re?stablished.
Every effort was made to stimulate57 scientific research. The case of Volta is one to the point. In 1801 Bonaparte called the eminent58 physicist59 to Paris to repeat his experiments before the Institute. He proposed that a medal should be given him, with a sum of money, and in his honor he established 139a prize of sixty thousand francs, to be awarded to any one who should make a discovery similar in value to Volta’s.[1] An American—Robert Fulton—was about the same time encouraged by the First Consul. Fulton was experimenting with his submarine torpedo60 and diving boat, and for four years had been living in Paris and besieging61 the Directory to grant him attention and funds. Napoleon took the matter up as soon as Fulton brought it to him, ordered a commission appointed to look into the invention, and a grant of ten thousand francs for the necessary experiments.
The Institute was reorganized, and to encourage science and the arts he founded, in 1804, twenty-two prizes, nine of which were of ten thousand francs each, and thirteen of five thousand francs each. They were to be awarded every ten years by the emperor himself, on the 18th Brumaire. The first distribution of these prizes was to have taken place in 1809, but the judges could not agree on the laureates; and before a conclusion was reached, the empire had fallen.
140
BONAPARTE AS GENERAL, CONSUL, MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE.
These busts62 are in Sèvres biscuit. The first, which is much superior to the other two, is attributed to Boizot. The manufactory of Sèvres produced many such busts, especially in the consular63 period, and Bonaparte, anxious to see his face everywhere, encouraged the production and diffusion64 of them. I have before me an official document which shows that from the commencement of the year VI. to the end of the year IX. the factory produced more than four hundred busts and thirteen hundred medallions of Bonaparte.—A. D.
141In literature and in music, as in art and science, there was a renewal65 of activity. A circle of poets and writers gathered about the First Consul. Paisiello was summoned to Paris to direct the opera and conservatory66 of music. There was a revival67 of dignity and taste in strong contrast to the license68 and carelessness of the Revolution. The incroyable passed away. The Greek costume disappeared from the street. Men and women began again to dress, to act, to talk, according to conventional forms. Society recovered its systematic69 ways of doing things, and soon few signs of the general dissolution which had prevailed for ten years were to be seen.
Once more the traveller crossed France in peace; peasant and laborer70 went undisturbed about their work, and slept without fear. Again the people danced in the fields and “sang their songs as they had in the days before the Revolution.” “France has nothing to ask from Heaven,” said Regnault de Saint Jean d’Angély, “but that the sun may continue to shine, the rain to fall on our fields, and the earth to render the seed fruitful.”
142
NAPOLEON IN 1803.
1. The Volta prize has been awarded only three or four times. An award of particular interest to Americans was that made in 1880 to Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. The amount of the prize was a little less than ten thousand dollars. Dr. Bell, being already in affluent72 circumstances, upon receiving this prize, set it apart to be used for the benefit of the deaf, in whose welfare he had for many years taken a great interest. He invested it in another invention of his, which proved to be very profitable, so that the fund came to amount to one hundred thousand dollars. This he termed the Volta Fund. Some of this fund has been applied73 by Dr. Bell to the organization of the Volta Bureau, which collects all valuable information that can be obtained with reference to not only deaf-mutes as a class, but to deaf-mutes individually. Twenty-five thousand dollars has been given to the Association for the Promotion74 of Teaching Speech to the Deaf. Napoleon is thus indirectly75 the founder76 of one of the most interesting and valuable present undertakings77 of the country.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
consul
|
|
| n.领事；执政官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
consulate
|
|
| n.领事馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
unearthed
|
|
| 出土的（考古） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
graphic
|
|
| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
oratorio
|
|
| n.神剧，宗教剧，清唱剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
omen
|
|
| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
saluted
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
serene
|
|
| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
rue
|
|
| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
enveloped
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
sobbed
|
|
| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
craftiest
|
|
| 狡猾的，狡诈的( crafty的最高级 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
consummate
|
|
| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
skilful
|
|
| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
hampered
|
|
| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
relish
|
|
| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
offset
|
|
| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
malicious
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
contrive
|
|
| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
espionage
|
|
| n.间谍行为，谍报活动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
intercept
|
|
| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
concealing
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
imprisonment
|
|
| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
subscription
|
|
| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sketch
|
|
| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
salon
|
|
| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
salons
|
|
| n.（营业性质的）店( salon的名词复数 )；厅；沙龙（旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所）；（大宅中的）客厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
rupture
|
|
| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
supervision
|
|
| n.监督，管理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
tranquil
|
|
| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
incensed
|
|
| 盛怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
hostility
|
|
| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
proscription
|
|
| n.禁止，剥夺权利 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
intriguer
|
|
| 密谋者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
45
meddles
|
|
| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
clique
|
|
| n.朋党派系，小集团 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
restriction
|
|
| n.限制，约束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
discretion
|
|
| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
repression
|
|
| n.镇压，抑制，抑压 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
anarchy
|
|
| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
rumors
|
|
| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
emulation
|
|
| n.竞争；仿效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
indefatigable
|
|
| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
dilettante
|
|
| n.半瓶醋，业余爱好者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
treasury
|
|
| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
stimulate
|
|
| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
eminent
|
|
| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
physicist
|
|
| n.物理学家，研究物理学的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
torpedo
|
|
| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
besieging
|
|
| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
busts
|
|
| 半身雕塑像( bust的名词复数 )； 妇女的胸部； 胸围； 突击搜捕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
consular
|
|
| a.领事的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
diffusion
|
|
| n.流布；普及；散漫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
renewal
|
|
| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
conservatory
|
|
| n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
revival
|
|
| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
license
|
|
| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
systematic
|
|
| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
laborer
|
|
| n.劳动者，劳工 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
engraved
|
|
| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
affluent
|
|
| adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
promotion
|
|
| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
indirectly
|
|
| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
Founder
|
|
| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
undertakings
|
|
| 企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |