The Life, Exile and Conversations with Napoleon. Emmanuel-Auguste-Dieudonné Las Cases

       THE EMPEROR AIMED AT BY A SOLDIER.—OUR EVENING AMUSEMENTS.—NOVELS.—POLITICAL REMARKS.

       ON THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE CABINET OF BONAPARTE, BY GOLDSMITH.—DETAILS, &C.

       THE EMPEROR RESOLVES TO LEARN ENGLISH, &C.

       FIRST ENGLISH LESSON, &c.

       OUR DAILY HABITS.—CONVERSATION WITH GOVERNOR WILKS.—ARMIES.—CHEMISTRY.—POLITICS.—REMARKS ON INDIA.—DELPHINE, BY MAD. DE STAËL.—NECKER, CALONNE.

       MY NEW LODGING DESCRIBED.—MORNING VISIT, &C.

       THE EMPEROR’S READINGS.—MADAME DE SEVIGNÉ.—CHARLES XII.—PAUL AND VIRGINIA.—VERTOT.—ROLLIN.—VELLY.—GARNIER.

       A DIFFICULTY OVERCOME.—THE EMPEROR’S PERSONAL DANGER AT EYLAU, JENA, &C.—RUSSIAN, AUSTRIAN, AND PRUSSIAN TROOPS.—YOUNG GUIBERT.—CORBINEAU.—MARSHAL LANNES.—BESSIERES.—DUROC.

       STUDY OF ENGLISH.—REFLECTIONS.—RIDE.—MIRED HORSE.

       THE EMPEROR SPEAKS IN PRAISE OF ST. HELENA.—SCANTY RESOURCES OF THE ISLAND.

       MY SON’S INDISPOSITION.—THE EMPEROR GIVES ME A HORSE.

       THE EMPEROR’S PROGRESS IN LEARNING ENGLISH.

       THE EMPEROR LEARNS THE DEATH OF MURAT.

       PORLIER—FERDINAND.

       ON EGYPT.—PLAN FOR ALTERING THE COURSE OF THE NILE.

       UNIFORMITY.—ENNUI.—THE EMPEROR’S SOLITUDE.—CARICATURES.

       THE EMPEROR’S LONG WALK.

       BAD TEMPERATURE OF ST. HELENA.—OBSERVATION ON THE SPIRIT OF THIS JOURNAL.

       PICTURE OF DOMESTIC HAPPINESS DRAWN BY THE EMPEROR.—TWO YOUNG LADIES OF THE ISLAND.

       THE EMPEROR’S WORKS IN THE ISLAND OF ELBA.—PREDILECTION OF THE ALGERINES FOR THE EMPEROR.

       PIONTKOWSKI.—CARICATURE.

       THE EMPEROR’S RETURN FROM ELBA.

       CAMPAIGNS OF ITALY AND EGYPT.—THE EMPEROR’S OPINION OF THE GREAT FRENCH POETS.—TRAGEDIES BY LATE WRITERS.—HECTOR.—THE ETATS DE BLOIS.—TALMA.

       CONTRACTORS, &C. DURING THE REVOLUTION.—THE EMPEROR’S CREDIT ON HIS RETURN FROM ELBA.—HIS REPUTATION IN THE PUBLIC OFFICES AS A RIGID INVESTIGATOR.—MINISTERS OF FINANCE AND THE TREASURY.—CADASTRE.

       THE INVASION OF ENGLAND.

       THE CHINESE FLEET.

       ETIQUETTE OF THE EMPEROR’S COURT.—CIRCUMSTANCE THAT TOOK PLACE AT TARARE.—OFFICERS OF STATE.—CHAMBERLAINS.—UNEQUALLED SPLENDOUR OF THE COURT OF THE TUILERIES.—ADMIRABLE REGULATION OF THE PALACE.—THE EMPEROR’S LEVEES.—DINING IN STATE.—THE COURT AND THE CITY.

       SET OF CHESSMEN FROM CHINA.—PRESENTATION OF THE CAPTAINS OF THE CHINA FLEET.

       A TRICK.

       AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EMPEROR TO MAKE USE OF HIS ENGLISH.—ON MEDICINE.—CORVISART.—DEFINITION.—ON THE PLAGUE.—MEDICAL PRACTICE IN BABYLON.

       TRIAL OF NEY.—THE EMPEROR’S CARRIAGE TAKEN AT WATERLOO.—THE INTERVIEW AT DRESDEN.—ON THE CAPRICE OF WOMEN.

      NAPOLEON.

      PREFACE.

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      Circumstances the most extraordinary have long kept me near the most extraordinary man that ever existed. Admiration made me follow him, without knowing him, and when I did know him, love alone would have fixed me for ever near his person. The world is full of his glory, his deeds, and his monuments; but no one knows the true shades of his character, his private qualities, or the natural disposition of his soul. This great void I undertake to fill up, and for such a task I possess advantages unexampled in history.

      I collected and recorded, day by day, all that I saw of Napoleon, all that I heard him say, during the period of eighteen months in which I was constantly about his person. In these conversations, which were full of confidence, and which seemed to pass, as it were, in another world, he could not fail to be portrayed by himself as if in a mirror, in every point of view, and under every aspect. Henceforth the world may freely study him: there can be no error in the materials.

      Count Las Cases.

      INTRODUCTION.

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      It is my intention to record daily all that the Emperor Napoleon did or said while I was about his person; but, before I begin my diary, I hope to be excused for offering a few preliminary remarks, which may not be altogether useless.

      I never commenced the perusal of any historical work without first wishing to know the character of the author, his situation in society, and his political and domestic relations; in fact, all the important circumstances of his life; conceiving that nothing but a knowledge of these matters could furnish a key to his writings, or a safe ground of confidence