The Memoirs Of Joseph Fouche - Duke Of Otranto - Volume I

THE MEMOIRS OF JOSEPH FOUCHE DUKE OF OTRANTO MINISTER OF THE GENERAL POLICE OF FRANCE TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH IN TWO H. S. Nir. FlOI-S .3-SOHO SQUARE AN 6a PJCCADILLy W, MDCCCXOVI Printed and Published by H S NICHOLS AT 3 SOHO SQUARE, LONDON W W 0 P V X fe, M - StfUi ft V W r PUBLISHERS NOTE THESE Memoirs of Fouch6 form the sixth issue of my Historic Memoir Series. The original edition was published in Paris in 1824, and was compiled by A. de Beauchamp, The translation appeared in 1825, and this issue is a reprint of the same without any alteration. The Biographical Sketches at the end of Vol. II., of personages contemporary with Fouch6, and who played a part in the French Revolution, are an addition, and it is hoped will increase the interest of the book. The Biographical Sketch of Fouch6 is an abridged translation from the Biographic Universelle Michaud, Paris, 1856. The next issue of this series will be the Life of Henry IV. of France and Navarre, with an Introduc tion describing the state of France in the previous reign, and also Biographical Sketches of all persons mentioned in the book. LONDON, May 8th, 1896. AUTHORS PREFACE THESE Memoirs have neither been produced by party spirit, hatred, nor a desire for vengeance, and still less that they might afford food for scandal and malignity. I respect all that is deserving of honour in the opinions of men. Let me be read, and my intentions, my views, my sentiments, and the political motives by which I was guided in the exercise of the highest duties, will then be appre ciated let me be read, and it will then be seen if, in the councils of the Republic and of Napoleon, I have not been the constant opponent of the extrava gant measuresof the government let me be read, and it will be apparent whether or not I have displayed some courage in my warnings and remon strances in short, by perusing me, the conviction will follow, that I owed it as a duty to myself to write what I have written. The only means of rendering these Memoirs x AUTHORS PREFACE advantageous to my own character, and useful to the history of those eventful times, was to rest them solely upon the pure and simple basis of truth to this I have been induced, both by disposition and conviction my situation also made it an imperative law to me, for was it not natural that I should thus charm away the ennm attendant upon fallen power Under whatever form, the Revolution had accus tomed me to an extreme activity of mind and memory irritated by solitude, this activity required some outlet. It has been, therefore, with a species of pleasure and delight that I have written this first part of my recollections. 1 I have, it is true, re touched them, but no material change has been made, not even during the anguish of my last mis fortune, for what greater misfortune can there be than to wander in banishment, an exile from ones country France, thou that wast so dear to me, never shall I see thee more Alas at what a cost have I pur chased power and grandeur Those who were once 1 This preface was prefixed to the first part, which was published at Paris separately. AUTHORS PREFACE xi my friends will no longer offer me their hancL It is clear they wish to condemn me even to the silence of the future. Vain hope I shall find means to disappoint the expectations of those who are alread anticipating the spoils of my reminiscences and revela tions, of those who are preparingto lay snares for my children. If my children are too young to be on their guard against the artifices of the designing, I will ensure their preservation by seeking, far from the crowd of selfish and ungrateful men, a discreet and faithful friend. But what do I say This other self I have already found, and it is to his discretion and fidelity that I confide these Memoirs. I constitute him the sole judge after my decease of the propriety of their publication...