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THE WEEKLY MESSENGER
Boston, Friday, July 1, 1814
BONAPARTE’S TREATMENT OF THE POPE
A narrative of what passed at Fontainebleau on the 22nd and 23rd of January, 1814, when his holiness the Pope was sent off from thence, has been transmitted to us from Paris. The account is truly interesting.
M. de Beaumont, Bishop of Plaisance, whom Napoleon had named Archbishop of Bourges, was sent several times to the Holy Father, to persuade him to agree to some arrangements. All his efforts were in vain. The Archbishop of Tours, the Bishop of Evreaux, and the Cardinal Maury, were also sent. Pius VII refused to see the Cardinal. He admitted the other prelates, and in answer to their pressing solicitations to make some sacrifices, by which he might avert the consequences of a refusal, he said, "leave me to die worthy of the sufferings I have endured." M. de Beaumont afterwards presented to him in writing the declaration of the emperor, that he would consent to restore to the head of the church a part of his estates, provided that Pius VII would agree to cede the other. To this the Holy Father replied, "the domains of St. Peter are not my property; they belong to the church; and I cannot consent to the least cession; as to the rest, tell your emperor, that if, for my transgressions, I may never more return to Rome, my successor shall enter in triumph, in spite of all the efforts of the French government.
M. de Beaumont showed an inclination to justify the emperor, who said he had the best intentions. "I depend much more on the allied princes than on him," said the Sovereign Pontiff. The prelate, astonished, desired some explanation of these words. "It does not suit me to give an explanation, nor you to hear it," replied the head of the church. M. de Beaumont then said it was the emperor’s intention that his holiness should return to Rome. "It must be then with all my cardinals," said the Sovereign Pontiff. The Bishop said that that could not be at present — that the emperor had the best intentions; but that the circumstances would not allow him to permit the departure of the cardinals for Rome at the same time. "Then," said Pius VII. "if your emperor chooses to treat me as a mere member of the church (un simple Religieux.) I do not forget who I am myself. I want only a voiture to carry me. All that I demand is to be at Rome, to fulfill the functions of my pastoral charge," The Bishop replied, that the emperor felt what was due to his dignity, and wished to give him an honourable escort; — a colonel would accompany His Holiness. "At least," replied the Pope, with dignity, "the Colonel shall not be in my carriage." M. de Beaumont departed, and a Colonel entered the apartment, and said he was commanded to accompany him to Rome. This was Saturday afternoon. The Pope said he would not depart till the next day, after he had performed his Mass. He made this declaration with so much firmness, that no answer was made; but the Colonel never quitted the apartment, nor was is Holiness suffered to speak to any person apart. His Holiness, however, convoked all the Cardinals then at Fontainebleau, to the number of 17, and in the presence of the Colonel, prescribed to them three things: —
- Not to wear the decoration which they had received from the emperor.
- Not to accept of any emolument or of any pension, from the French government.
- Not to go to any repast to which they might be invited by the persons attached to the government.
On Sunday the 23rd January at 11 o’clock, the Holy Father was carried away from Fontainebleau, and slept that night at Orleans. They made him travel under the name of Bishop of Imola. Afterwards the Cardinals were carried away, each by himself, and each conducted by a gens d’arme; and they were not to be told the place of their destination till after they had set out.
On the 2nd of April, it was not generally known at Paris where they were gone, when the Provisional Government published the decree, "that all obstacles to the return of his Holiness to Rome should instantly cease, and that all due honors should be paid to him."
London, May 12 — The following particulars respecting the fate of the empress on the approach of the allied troops to Paris, have been made known upon authority that may be depended on.
"The eyes of most people were turned upon the empress. Many proposals were made to this princess to leave Paris, and to throw herself on the protection of the allies, but she rejected them all, and declared at last, that she desired to be spared all persuasion to this and similar steps, as she was firmly resolved to share the fate of her husband, whatever it might be. She abided by this resolution, and because Napoleon wished that she should not leave the city, except in case of the utmost necessity, she remained there as long as possible, and it is, therefore, not true that she left the city by Napoleon’s order. As the Allies approached nearer, every hour the disorder and confusion increased. The real adherents of Napoleon showed more and more that they knew not what to do. Their councils and orders, partly contradictory, partly impracticable, only increased the confusion. As the coming of the allies was wished or feared, various reports for or against the probability of it were spread. A crowd of people assembled in the place Vendome, and were preparing to pull down Napoleon’s statue, when they were deterred by another swarm, who asserted that they had heard that the emperor would enter the city in the evening as conqueror. On the 28th of March a disinterested spectator might foresee what would happen. Already white cockades were distributed, and the adherents of Napoleon diminished more and more. Those, however, who either out of inclination or interest still adhered to him, ardently wished that the empress might not leave Paris, as they hoped to obtain, by her means, a reconciliation with the emperor of Austria, and through him with all the rest of the allies; but the majority, who were already gained for Louis XVIII endeavored to obviate this resource. To this end they mixed among a crowd of people whom they strove to convince that any mediation in which the empress might succeed, would prolong Napoleon’s sway, and with that the misery of France. The people flocked to the palace of the empress and uttered threats if she did not withdraw.
"This princess had not no choice, and she left Paris (not on the 28th of March as was said by some but) on the 30th, not 24 hours before the allies entered it."
Louis XVIII is to be consecrated at Rheims, after the manner of his ancestors
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