It will be observed that it is always truth which is the abiding motive, it matters not whether it is letters or memoirs.  She avows it is “truth” she writes.  “The love of truth,” says the editor in his preface, “gave her courage to persevere in her task for more than two years.”  That is, it took her more than two years to write the “truths” contained in the memoirs disavowing the “truths” so vehemently given in the letters; the former book pregnant with the bitterness of a writer without heart and principle, and with political and personal motives running through its pages like a canker, while the latter, radiant in luxuriant adulation, gapes at her memory with retributive justice.

The renegade son served the renegade and ungrateful mother ill when he advised her to write what is a barefaced recantation of her former statements.  Napoleon has said that “People are rarely drawn to you by favours conferred upon them.”  He had many examples of this truth, but none more striking than the above.  Madame de Remusat and her husband were raised from poverty to affluence by Napoleon, and the memory of all the favours that were showered upon them by the man she declares she loved should have kept them from hate and disloyalty, and forbidden the writing of such unworthy vituperations against him.

FOOTNOTES: 

[23] Madame de Remusat burnt her original memoirs during the Hundred Days, doubtless because she had in her mind the probability that Napoleon might firmly establish himself on the throne, and the discovery of anti-Napoleon MSS. might have acted seriously against herself and family being appointed to important positions.  Moreover, the greater danger of getting herself into trouble was constantly in her mind.

[24] “Letters of Madame de Remusat,” vol. i. p. 195.

[25] “Letters of Madame de Remusat,” vol. i. p, 196.

[26] Ibid., vol. i. p. 160.

[27] Ibid., vol. ii. p. 2.

[28] “Letters of Madame de Remusat,” vol. i. p. 190.

[29] Ibid., vol. i. p. 393.

[30] “Letters of Madame de Remusat,” vol. ii. p. 45.

CHAPTER VI

JOSEPHINE

One of the phenomena of human affairs is the part destined for Josephine, daughter of M. Joseph Gaspard Tascher de la Pagerie, sugar-planter at Martinique, and friend of the Marquis de Beauharnais, whose son Alexandre was fated to marry her when she was but sixteen years of age.  The marriage took place on December 13, 1779, at Noisy-le-Grand.  The pompous young bridegroom speaks of his young bride in appreciative terms in a letter to his father, and in order that his parent may not be disappointed as to her beauty, he explains that in this respect she may not be up to his expectations.  He regards the pleasure of being with her as very sweet, and forms the resolution of putting her through a course of education, as this had been grievously neglected.