528 
Historical Memoranda, by Napoleon. [Jail. J, 
that of future generations, in order to 
sanction this truth, what will then be¬ 
come of the vulgar accusation of exces¬ 
sive ambition ? It will share the same 
fate with all the false judgments of the 
ignorant; the world will despise it, in 
order to render homage to truth. 
Charles the Fourth, it is true, con¬ 
ducted himself greatly to my advan¬ 
tage. Would his son have imitated 
him? I know not; hut even should 
I have been certain of it, that would 
not have done away with the necessity 
of expelling him from the throne. I 
wished to build for ages, and the very 
existence of my edifice was menaced by 
the existence of a Bourbon king. 
If I had no reason to complain of 
Charles the Fourth personally, it was 
not the same with his government. Far 
from seeing that the Continental block¬ 
ade was severely maintained in terms 
of our conditions, it protected the Eng¬ 
lish smugglers with all its power. This 
was calculated to afflict me in the ten- 
derest part. However this was, I 
should have checked my disappoint¬ 
ment for some time longer, had not the 
troubles which suddenly sprung up in 
that kingdom, imperiously marked the 
favourable moment for the execution 
of my projects. 
I was at peace with the North. The 
Emperor of Russia and myself had se¬ 
cret conferences together, but I was not 
yet sufficiently acquainted, to confide 
in him. However, I urged him gently, 
and in a manner calculated to inspire 
confidence. It was not without success; 
for he frankly fold me, that, had the 
affairs of Europe permitted him, lie 
wished, once for all, to-put it out of the 
power of the Turks to alarm his domi¬ 
nions. Now, it appeared to me, this 
was* the favourable opportunity for 
confiding to him my designs on Spain. 
I communicated to him the motives 
which determined me: they appeared 
to him conclusive; and he told me, 
(these are his own words) : 44 1 should 
act towards them in the same way, 
(J'en ferais de mdme)N We then 
took a mutual oath—he, that he would 
injure me in nothing respecting my 
war with Spain; and I, that I would 
do nothing against him in the war 
which he projected against the Turks. 
I f it happened otherwise, it is not the 
less true, that we both kept our good 
faith. 
The ridiculous ambition of Godoy, 
Prince of Peace, had put every thing 
topsy-turvy in the royal family; the 
Queen, who was the soul of the councils, 
saw matters only superficially. Charles 
IV. being old and infirm, subscribed to 
every thing. The political iguorance 
of Godoy, and his ridiculous ambition, 
had alienated all hearts from him. 
His intrigues and connexions had 
placed the royal family at drawn dag¬ 
gers with its chief. The opportunity 
was excellent, and I seized upon it; 
never!lieless, l had no intention of 
acting so suddenly against the Spanish 
Bourbons, who had put themselves in 
my power; but two memoirs which 
Savary brought to me from Madrid, on 
the moral, political, and financial situa¬ 
tion of Spain, decided me in placing 
the royal family in private confine¬ 
ment. My armies then, entered Spain ; 
among the generals who commanded 
them there were great captains, but 
the eye of the master was required 
there more 'than any where else. 1 
never forgave myself for not conduct¬ 
ing this war myself: it is a great blot 
in the history of my enterprizes ; for by 
confining myself exclusively to that 
great work, by directing it myself, I 
should have conducted it successfully, 
and Spain would not have been the 
theatre of so many horrors. The 
means which, at this epoch, were in 
my power, are a guarantee for this as¬ 
sertion. 
Napoleon next alludes to his Bro¬ 
thers. 
Among the causes of the reverses 
and disappointments which I had ex¬ 
perienced, either in Spain or else¬ 
where, I ought to include the almost 
entire nullity ol my brothers, except 
Lucien, who might‘have rendered me 
great services, had I not, from his ill- 
will towards me, been constrained to 
remove him. The other three had 
neither capacity nor strength to go¬ 
vern the kingdom of Yvetot. Ihe 
necessary consequence was, that all 
the labour devolved upon me; this has 
given rise to the report, that in bestow - 
ing sceptres upon them, 1 only intended 
to make use of them as my lieutenants. 
This assertion, whatever may have 
been the facts to support it, is entirely 
false. It is true, I transmitted instruc¬ 
tions to my brothers, and even gave 
them orders, hut (and the proofs are 
not wanting,) their incapacity; and, 
at times, their ill-will, forced me to 
act thus towards them. A monarch, 
it will be said, ought only to govern 
