Hortense is really hurt for how quickly people forsook the cause of the Bonapartes.

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The previous text is available at the link here.


interests of the revolution out of fear of a foreign war. It was evident that the 1815 treaties were now the basis of government policy. But those whom these treaties at that time had most angered, resigned themselves to good grace by suffering them. The king attracted to him, it is true, all those whom they had struck the most, and they were happy to find someone extending their hand to them, a reparation for their long misfortunes.

So the old friends of the Emperor completely forgot that there was a son of their protector, and that they had sworn to support him.

To excuse this abandonment, this illustrious prisoner seemed to be regarded as a foreign prince. At the moment when it was the foreigner who represented rights acquired by force of arms in 1815, and conceded by weakness in 1830.

But these considerations were lost in views of daily interest. The enemies of France alone were right, and preferred everything to the return of the Imperial Throne.


To make the child of victory, who, though he was brought up among them, carried with him the popular principle, was in their eyes the signal of the emancipation of the people. I have since learned that all the answers given to some faithful friends were that they would not bring him back.

Would we believe it? I received letters from those whom I ought to have supposed my best friends, and who simply told me that I might perhaps return to Paris now, but without my children. That with them this was no longer possible, and that the election of a brave and trustworthy king was the most fatal blow to the imperial family.

I have never envied or regretted a crown. So it was not the loss of grandeur that afflicted me. I had more than I could wear, and viewed my life as over. But what hurt me was the indifference with which they apprehended that all ties were broken between France, the old friends, and the great man's family.

To be continued.

Hortense’s explanation why she broke the law is here.

The memoirs so far are available here.