Memoirs of Napoleon — Volume 02 by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne
page 41 of 117 (35%)
page 41 of 117 (35%)
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Paris is tranquil, and every one is astounded at an event which promised to be awful, but which has passed over like a fete. The stout patriots of the faubourgs proclaim the safety of the Republic, and the black collars are put down. It now remains for the wise energy of the Directory and the patriots of the two councils to do the rest. The place of sitting is changed, and the first operations promise well. This event is a great step towards peace; which it is your task finally to secure to us. On the 24th Fructidor (10th September 1797) Augereau writes: My 'aide de camp', de Verine, will acquaint you with the events of the 18th. He is also to deliver to you some despatches from the Directory, where much uneasiness is felt at not hearing from you. No less uneasiness is experienced on seeing in Paris one of your 'aides de camp',--(La Vallette)--whose conduct excites the dissatisfaction and distrust of the patriots, towards whom he has behaved very ill. The news of General Clarke's recall will have reached you by this time, and I suspect has surprised you. Amongst the thousand and one motives which have determined the Government to take this step may be reckoned his correspondence with Carnot, which has been communicated to me, and in which he treated the generals of the army of Italy as brigands. Moreau has sent the Directory a letter which throws a new light on Pichegru's treason. Such baseness is hardly to be conceived. |
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