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This 15th
April, 1821, at Longwood, Island of St. Helena. This is my Testament,
or act of my last will.
1. I DIE in
the Apostolical Roman religion, in the bosom of which I was born
more than fifty years since.
2. It is my
wish that my ashes may repose on the banks of the Seine, in the
midst of the French people, whom I have loved so well.
3. I have always
had reason to be pleased with my dearest wife, Maria Louisa. I retain
for her, to my last moment, the most tender sentimentsI beseech
her to watch, in order to preserve, my son from the snares which
yet environ his infancy.
4. I recommend
to my son never to forget that he was born a French prince, and
never to allow himself to become an instrument in the hands of the
triumvirs who oppress the nations of Europe: he ought never to fight
against France, or to injure her in any manner; he ought to adopt
my motto: "Everything for the French people."
5. I die prematurely,
assassinated by the English oligarchy and its tool. The English
nation will not be slow in avenging me.
6. The two unfortunate
results of the invasions of France, when she had still so many resources,
are to be attributed to the treason of Marmont, Augereau, Talleyrand,
and La Fayette. I forgive them--May the posterity of France forgive
them as I do.
7. I thank my
good and most excellent mother, the Cardinal, my brothers, Joseph,
Lucien, Jerome, Pauline, Caroline, Julie, Hortense, Catarine, Eugene,
for the interest they have continued to feel for me. I pardon Louis
for the libel he published in 1820: it is replete with false assertions
and falsified documents.
8. I disavow
the "Manuscript of St. Helena," and other works, under
the title of Maxims, Sayings, &c., which persons have been pleased
to publish for the last six years. Such are not the rules which
have guided my life. I caused the Duc d'Enghien to be arrested and
tried, because that step was essential to the safety, interest,
and honour of the French people, when the Count d'Artois was maintaining,
by his own confession, sixty assassins at Paris. Under similar circumstances,
I should act in the same way.
II.
1. I bequeath
to my son the boxes, orders, and other articles; such as my plate,
field-bed, saddles, spurs, chapel-plate, books, linen which I have
been accustomed to wear and use, according to the list annexed (A).
It is my wish that this slight bequest may he dear to him, as coming
from a father of whom the whole world will remind him.
2. I bequeath
to Lady Holland the antique Cameo which Pope Pius VI. gave me at
Tolentino.
3. I bequeath
to Count Montholon, two millions of francs, as a proof of my satisfaction
for the filial attentions be has paid me during six years, and as
an indemnity for the loses his residence at St. Helena has occasioned
him.
4. I bequeath
to Count Bertrand, five hundred thousand francs.
5. I bequeath
to Marchand, my first valet-de-chambre; four hundred thousand francs.
The services he has rendered me are those of a friend; it is my
wish that he should marry the widow sister, or daughter, of an officer
of my old Guard.
6. Item. To
St. Denis, one hundred thousand francs.
7. Item. To
Novarre (Noverraz,) one hundred thousand francs.
8. Item. To
Pielon, one hundred thousand francs.
9. Item. To
Archambaud, fifty thousand francs.
10. Item. To
Cursot, twenty-five thousand francs.
11. Item. To
Chandellier, twenty-five thousand francs.
12. To the Abbé
Vignali, one hundred thousand francs. It is my wish that he should
build his house near the Ponte Novo di Rostino.
13. Item. To
Count Las Cases, one hundred thousand francs.
14. Item. To
Count Lavalette, one hundred thousand francs.
15. Item. To
Larrey, surgeon-in-chief, one hundred thousand francs.--He is the
most virtuous man I have known.
16. Item. To
General Brayher, one hundred thousand francs.
17. Item. To
General Le Fevre Desnouettes one hundred thousand francs.
18. Item. To
General Drouot, one hundred thousand francs.
19. Item. To
General Cambrone, one hundred thousand francs.
20. Item. To
the children of General Mouton Duvernet, one hundred thousand francs.
21. Item. To
the children of the brave Labedoyère, one hundred thousand francs.
22. Item. To
the children of General Girard, killed at Ligny, one hundred thousand
francs.
23. Item. To
the children of General Chartrand one hundred thousand francs.
24. Item. To
the children of the virtuous General Travot, one hundred thousand
francs.
25. Item. To
General Lallemand the elder, one hundred thousand francs.
26. Item. To
Count Real, one hundred thousand francs.
27. Item. To
Costa de Bastelica, in Corsica, one hundred thousand francs.
28. Item. To
General Clausel, one hundred thousand francs.
29. Item. To
Baron de Mennevalle, one hundred thousand francs.
30. Item. To
Arnault, the author of Marius, one hundred thousand francs.
31. Item. To
Colonel Marbot, one hundred thousand francs.--I recommend him to
continue to write in defence of the glory of the French armies,
and to confound their calumniators and apostates.
32. Item. To
Baron Bignon, one hundred thousand francs.--I recommend him to write
the history of French diplomacy from 1792 to 1815.
33. Item. To
Poggi di Talavo, one hundred thousand francs.
34. Item. To
surgeon Emmery, one hundred thousand francs.
35. These sums
will be raised from the six millions which I deposited on leaving
Paris in 1815; and from the interest at the rate of 5 per cent.
since July 1815. The account thereof will be settled with the banker
by Counts Montholon and Bertrand, and Marchand.
36. Whatever
that deposit may produce beyond the sum of five million six hundred
thousand francs, which have been above disposed of, shall he distributed
as a gratuity amongst the wounded at the battle of Waterloo, and
amongst the officers and soldiers of the battalion of the Isle of
Elba, according to a scale to be determined upon by Montholon, Bertrand,
Drouot, Cambrone, and the surgeon Larrey.
37. These legacies,
in case of death, shall be paid to the widows and children, and
in default of such, shall revert to the bulk of my property.
III.
1. My private
domain being my property, of which I am not aware that any French
law has deprived me, an account of it will be required from the
Baron de la Rouillerie, the treasurer thereof: it ought to amount
to more than two hundred millions of francs; namely, 1. The portfolio
containing the savings which I made during fourteen years out of
my civil list, which savings amounted to more than twelve millions
per annum, if my memory be good. 2. The produce of this portfolio.
3. The furniture of my palaces, such as it was in 1814, including
the palaces of Rome, Florence, and Turin. All this furniture was
purchased with moneys accruing from the civil list. 4. The proceeds
of my houses in the kingdom of Italy, such as money, plate, jewels,
furniture, equipages; the accounts of which will be rendered by
Prince Eugene and the steward of the Crown, Campagnoni.
NAPOLEON.(Second
Sheet.)
2. I bequeath
my private domain, one half to the surviving officers and soldiers
of the French army who have fought since 1792 to 1815, for the glory
and the independence of the nation, the distribution to be made
in proportion to their appointments upon active service; and one
half to the towns and districts of Alsace, Lorraine, Franche-Comté,
Burgundy, the Isle of France, Champagne Forest, Dauphiné, which
may have suffered by either of the invasions. There shall be previously
set apart from this sum, one million for the town of Brienne, and
one million for that of Méri. I appoint Counts Montholon and Bertrand,
and Marchand, the executors of my will. This present will, wholly
written with my own hand, is signed and sealed with my own arms.
NAPOLEON.(L.
S.)
List
(A).
Annexed to my Will.
Longwood,
Island of St. Helena, this, 15th April, 1821.
I.
1. The consecrated
vessels which have been in use at my Chapel at Longwood.
2. I direct
Abbé Vignali to preserve them, and to deliver them to my son when
he shall reach the age of sixteen years.
II.
1. My arms;
that is to say, my sword, that which I wore at Austerlitz, the sabre
of Sobiesky, my dagger, my broad sword, my hanger, my two pair of
Versailles pistols.
2. My gold dressing-case,
that which I made use of on the morning of Ulm and of Austerlitz,
of Jena, of Eylau, of Friedland, of the Island of Lobau, of the
Moskwa, of Montmirail. In this point of view it is my wish that
it may be precious in the eyes of my son. (It has been deposited
with Count Bertrand since 1814.)
3. I charge
Count Bertrand with the care of preserving these objects, and of
conveying them to my son when he shall attain the age of sixteen
years.
III
.
1. Three small
mahogany boxes, containing, the first, thirty-three sluff-boxes
or comfit-boxes; the second, twelve boxes with the Imperial arms,
two small eye-glasses, and four boxes found on the table of Louis
XVIII. in the Tuileries, on the 20th of March, 1815; the third,
three snuff-boxes ornamented with silver medals habitually used
by the Emperor, and sundry articles for the use of the toilet, according
to the lists numbered I. II. III.
2. My field-beds,
which I used in all my campaigns.
3. My field-telescope.
4. My dressing-case,
one of each of my uniforms, a dozen of shirts, and a complete set
of each of my dresses, and generally of every thing used in my toilet.
5. My wash-hand
stand.
6. A small clock
which is in my bed-chamber at Longwood.
7. My two watches,
and the chain of the Empress's hair.
8. I entrust
the care of these articles to Marchand, my principal valet-de-chambre,
and direct him to convey them to my son when he shall attain the
age of sixteen years.
IV.
1. My cabinet
of medals.
2. My plate,
and my Sevres china, which I used at St. Helena. (List B. and C.)
3. I request
Count Montholon to take care of these articles and to convey them
to my son when he shall attain the age of sixteen years.
V.
1. My three
saddles and bridles, my spurs which I used at St. Helena.
2. My fowling-pieces,
to the number of five.
3. I charge
my chasseur, Noverraz, with the care of these articles, and
direct him to convey them to my son when he shall attain the age
of sixteen years.
VI.
1. Four hundred
volumes, selected from those in my library of which I have been
accustomed to use the most.
2. I direct
St. Denis to take care of them, and to convey them to my son when
he shall attain the age of sixteen years.
NAPOLEON.
List (A).
1. None of the
articles which have been used by me shall be sold; the residue shall
be divided amongst the executors of my will and my brothers.
2. Marchand
shall preserve my hair, and cause a bracelet to be made of it, with
a little gold clasp, to be sent to the Empress Maria Louisa, to
my mother, and to each of my brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces,
the Cardinal; and one of larger size for my son.
3. Marchand
will send one pair of my gold shoe-buckles to Prince Joseph.
4. A small pair
of gold knee-buckles to Prince Lucien.
5. A gold collar-clasp
to Prince Jerome.
List (A)
Inventory
of my effects, which Marchand will take care of, convey to my son.
1. My silver
dressing-case, that which is on my table, furnished with all its
utensils, razors, &c.
2. My alarum-clock:
it is the alarum-clock of Frederic II. which I took at Potsdam (in
box No. III.).
3. My two watches,
with the chain of the Empress's hair and a chain of my own hair
for the other watch: Marchand will get it made at Paris.
4. My two seals
(one the seal of France, contained in box No. III.).
5. The small
gold clock which is now in my bed-chamber.
6. My wash-hand-stand
and its water-jug.
7. My night-tables,
those used in France, and my silver-gilt bidet.
8. My two iron
bedsteads, my mattresses, and my coverlets, if they can be preserved.
9. My three
silver decanters, which held my eau-de-vie., and which my chasseurs carried in the field.
10. My French
telescope.
11. My spurs,
two pair.
12. Three mahogany
boxes, Nos. I. II. III., containing my snuff-boxes and other articles.
13. A silver-gilt
perfuming pan.
Here follow
lists of Body Linen and Clothes, too minute to claim insertion in
this place.
List
(B).
Inventory
of the Effects which I left in the possession of Monsieur the Count
de Turenne.
One Sabre of
Sobiesky. (It
is, by mistake, inserted in List (A.) that being the sabre which
the Emperor wore at Aboukir, and which is in the hands of Count
Bertrand.)
One Grand Collar of the Legion of Honour.
One sword of silver-gilt.
One Consular sword.
One sword of steel.
One velvet belt.
One Collar of the Golden Fleece.
One small dressing-case of steel.
One night-lamp of silver.
One handle of an antique sabre.
One hat à la Henry IV. and a toque. (A
velvet hat, with a flat crown, and brims turned up.)
The lace of the Emperor.
One small cabinet of medals.
Two Turkey carpets.
Two mantles of crimson velvet, embroidered, with vests, and small-clothes.
I give to
my Son the sabre of Sobiesky.
I give to my Son the collar of the Legion of Honour.
I give to my Son the sword silver gilt.
I give to my Son the Consular Sword.
I give to my Son the steel sword.
I give to my Son the collar of the Golden Fleece.
I give to my Son the hat à la Henry IV. and the toque.
I give to my Son the golden dressing-case for the teeth, which
is in the hands of the dentist.
To the Empress
Maria Louisa, my lace.
To Madame, the silver night-lamp.
To the Cardinal, the small steel dressing-case.
To Prince Eugene, the wax-candle-stick, silver gilt.
To the Princess Pauline, the small cabinet of medals.
To the Queen of Naples, a small Turkey carpet.
To the Queen Hortense, a small Turkey carpet.
To Prince Jerome, the handle of the antique sabre.
To Prince Joseph, an embroidered mantle, vest, and small-clothes.
To Prince Lucien, an embroidered mantle, vest, and small-clothes.
NAPOLEON |