This etext was produced by David Widger
By CONSTANT
1895
In September, 1811, the Emperor decided to make a journey into Flandersin company with the Empress, that he might personally ascertain if hisorders had been carried out in all matters concerning both the civil andreligious administration. Their Majesties left Compiegne on the 19th,and arrived at Montreuil-sur-Mer at nine o'clock in the evening.I accompanied the Emperor on this journey. I have read in O'Meara'sMemorial that M. Marchand was at that time in the service of Napoleon.This is incorrect; for M. Marchand did not enter the Emperor's privateservice until 1814, at Fontainebleau. His Majesty at that time orderedme to select from the domestics of the service an intelligent young manto assist me in my duties near his person, since none of the ordinary'valets de chambre' were to remain on the island of Elba. I mentionedthe name of M. Marchand, son of a nurse of the King of Rome, as asuitable person for the place. He was accepted by his Majesty, and fromthat time M. Marchand formed a part of the private service of theEmperor. He may have been on this journey to Holland; but Napoleon wasnot aware of it, as his duties did not bring him near his Majesty'sperson.
I will now relate some of the circumstances which occurred on thisjourney, and are not generally known to the public, and at the same timetake advantage of the opportunity to refute other assertions similar tothose I have just mentioned, and which I have read with surprise,sometimes mixed with indignation, in the Contemporary Memoirs. I deemit important that the public should have correct information as toeverything pertaining to this journey, in order that light may thus bethrown on certain incidents, by means of which calumny has attacked thehonor of Napoleon, and even my own. A devoted though humble servant ofthe Emperor, it is natural that I should be deeply interested inexplaining all that seems doubtful, in refuting all falsehoods, and ingiving minute corrections of many incorrect statements which mightinfluence the judgment of the public concerning my master and myself.I shall fulfil this duty with perfect frankness, as I have sufficientlyproved in the foregoing volumes of these Memoirs.
A little incident occurred at Montreuil, which I take pleasure innarrating, since it proves how carefully Napoleon examined both thefortifications and improvements being made in the towns, either by hispersonal orders, or from the impulse given by him to these importantdepartments of public service. After investigating the work done in thepast year on the fortifications of Montreuil, and having made a tour ofall the ramparts, the Emperor returned to the citadel, whence he againemerged to visit the exterior works. An arm of the river Canche, whichlies at the foot of the wall on one side of the city, intercepted hisroute. The whole suite set to work to construct a temporary bridge ofplanks and logs; but the Emperor, impatient at the delay, walked throughthe stream in water up to his knees. The owner of a mill on the oppositeshore took his Majesty by the arm to assist him in mounting the bank, andprofited by this opportunity to explain to the Emperor that his mill,being in the line of the projected fortifications, would necessarily betorn down; whereupon the Emperor turned to the engineers and said, "Thisbrave man must be indemnified for any loss he may sustain." He thencontinued his rounds, and did not re-enter his carriage until he ha