Hortense knew the revolution in France was fake because they reinstated the banishment of the Bonapartes. Hortense also calls herself Cassandra.
Here is the English translation. Previous entries from this book are at a link at the bottom of this post.
One regret would have satisfied me but politics stifles all the feelings of the heart. It did not occur to me for a moment to separate myself from my children, although the King had made me say gracious words about him through the Grand Duchess of Baden.
I had only one desire, that of being closer to my eldest son. I left as usual in the month of October for Rome. I was worried about what would happen in Italy. I could not believe that the revolution did not resound in all the oppressed countries, and my only thought was to counteract the dangerous impulses of my sons for the sake of their tranquility. It was natural to foresee things and to feel dread.
For this purpose I avoided passing through Milan. I took the road to Tyrol and Venice. At Bologna, where I stopped one day, I saw my brother-in-law, Prince Bacchiochi, an officer formerly attached to my brother.
“What a beautiful revolution, madame, they’ve had in Paris! You won’t come back through here, I hope. Haven’t you heard talk about ours?”
This remark realized all my fears. “Who would be mad enough," I exclaimed, eagerly, "to try to lift Italy, when you see the type that the French government are following? If this revolution fulfills its mission, it can, without breaking with Austria, require of her that she grant italy institutions or its independence. If these two powers are blurred together, one can still hope for the support of France.
But if Italy stirs before a war is declared, it is undoubtedly lost. I added many other reasons along these lines, but all without producing the slightest effect.
I knew it well. The illusion was complete. Everywhere the revolution and Louis Philippe were carried to the skies. They were not separated, and I looked like a Cassandra when I predicted that France would not support Italy if she rose up.
I admit that I did not think I was going to be as accurate as I turned out to be because I thought France would be forced to do so in an extreme case. My fear was to see everyone -
To be continued.
The memoirs so far are available here.
Hortense’s explanation why she broke the law is here.