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PLANS FOR NAPOLEON'S DEPARTURE FROM FRANCE
HOUSE OF PEERS
Paris, June 30.
Count Lavalette requested that the minister of Marine would give
the details of the arrangements that had been made for the
departure of Napoleon, as it could not be supposed that he had
any objection to going away.
The President -- I invite the duke Decres to give the relation
which the chamber requests.
The Duke Decres -- I did not expect to engage the attention of
the house this evening on this subject. I supposed that I had
given last evening in the secret committee, all the particulars
that could be wished. The fact is, I was instructed by the
provisional government to make known to Napoleon that the
government had acceded to his request of a certain number of
armed vessels, with this condition, that he should repair
immediately to his destination, but not wishing to expose his
person, his embarkation was to be delayed until the receipt of
the passports which had been demanded for him.
I do not recollect the day on which I made this overture to him.
Indeed it was not an overture since the demand had been made by
him, and I had no knowledge of it but by the order which I
received to execute it. I repaired to the residence of him who
was lately our Emperor. I disclosed to him what was the state of
the case. He said to me, "I do not wish to determine on this
destination, until the moment on which I am to set out." I
communicated to the government the result of this conference; on
the next day, I received instructions relative to the 5th article
of the orders that I had received, which required that the
emperor should not set out until the arrival of the passports.
These instructions imported that this 5th article was regarded as
not binding. I imparted them to Napoleon, who said that he should
then set out. I returned to Paris, when I received from the
government a letter, which announced to me that new despatches
had arrived, which rendered necessary the execution of the 5th
article, and I was ordered to insist on its execution; I was near
the Tuilleries. I had made a sort of engagement with the emperor,
to procure his departure. I repaired to the Tuilleries, and the
government declared that they could not recede from this last
instruction from political considerations, and even from an
interest for the person of Napoleon. Such was the state of things,
when yesterday evening, I received a new order apprising me that
the passports had not arrived, that more imperious circumstances
rendered necessary the departure of Napoleon, that the government
was taking measures for his safety, who had been placed under the
safeguard and confided to the loyalty of the French people; that
it was of the greatest consequence that he should be away from
Paris, and that the 5th article was no longer obligatory.
I was directed to announce to him that he might depart when he
pleased, and to put the ships at his disposal. The Minister of
State, M. Boulay, was united with me to make this communication.
I repaired to the Emperor at half past three, and disclosed to
him the state of things. After a long conversation, at 4 o'clock
in the morning, he told me he would set out the next day. I learn
that the emperor has gone; I have nothing more to say.
M. Decres added; I am told that I have confounded days and dates.
It is three days and three nights that I have not slept. Days and
nights are confounded in my imagination; but these things took
place in the course of 96 hours.
Count Thilbeaudeau -- It appears to me that the House ought to
take into consideration the message relative to the safety of
Napoleon and his family. I recommend that there be appointed a
special committee to report on the subject. This proposition
was adopted. The Duke of Bassano, Count of Beaumont, M. Valette,
Duke of Gaete, and Duke of Placentia, were appointed.
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