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Updated: June 7, 2025
When the news spread in Paris, on March 21st, it was received with stupor; people wept, even at Malmaison. Caulaincourt, previously entrusted with the explanatory letter for the Elector of Baden, complained bitterly of the stain upon his honor.
I have already spoken of Josephine's troubles, and of the bad conduct of Joseph, but more particularly of Lucien, towards her; I will therefore describe here, as connected with the disgrace of Fouche, whom Madame Bonaparte regretted as a support, some scenes which occurred about this period at Malmaison.
I was much pleased at the idea of seeing him there rather than at the Tuileries, or even at St. Cloud. Our former intimacy at Malmaison made me feel more at my ease respecting an interview of which my knowledge of Bonaparte's character led me to entertain some apprehension. Was I to be received by my old comrade of Brienne, or by His Imperial Majesty? I was received by my old college companion.
There was a Bourbon at the Tuileries, Bonaparte at Fontainebleau, his wife and son at Rambouillet, the repudiated Empress at Malmaison three leagues distant, and the Emperors of Russia and Austria and the King of Prussia in Paris. When all her hopes had vanished Maria Louisa left Rambouillet to return to Austria with her son.
Under such circumstances, Fouché, who had, throughout, corresponded with and plotted against all parties, now employed every art to persuade the fallen chief that the only course, whether of safety or of dignity, that remained for him, was to fly immediately to the United States of America; and, that nothing may be wanting to show how the great and the little were perpetually intermingled in the fortunes of Buonaparte, one of the means adopted by this intriguer, and not the least effectual, was that of stimulating the personal creditors of the dethroned Emperor and his family to repair incessantly to Malmaison and torment him with demands of payment.
On all these occasions the First Consul wore the same costume that he had worn at Malmaison, and which I have described elsewhere.
After the transaction of the bill on the insolvent Cisalpine Republic he said to me, at the beginning of the winter of 1800, "Bourrienne, the weather, is becoming very bad; I will go but seldom to Malmaison. Whilst I am at council get my papers and little articles from Malmaison; here is the key of my secretaire, take out everything that is there."
In fact, one of the greatest diversions of the inhabitants of Malmaison was to play "prisoners' base."
Here at Malmaison Josephine even surrounded herself with the most intimate souvenirs of Napoleon: a lounging chair that he was wont to occupy stood in its accustomed place; his bed was always made; his sword hung upon the wall; his pen was in his inkwell; a book was open on his desk and his geographical globe his famous mappemond was in its accustomed place.
Departure for Malmaison Unexpected question relative to the Bourbons Distinction between two opposition parties New intrigues of Lucien Camille Jordan's pamphlet seized Vituperation against the liberty of the press Revisal of the Constitution New 'Senatus-consulte Deputation from the Senate Audience of the Diplomatic Body Josephine's melancholy The discontented Secret meetings Fouche and the police agents The Code Napoleon Bonaparte's regular attendance at the Council of State His knowledge of mankind, and the science of government Napoleon's first sovereign act His visit to the Senate The Consular procession Polite etiquette The Senate and the Council of State Complaints against Lucien The deaf and dumb assembly Creation of senatorships.
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