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France； and the government tolerates them。＇24＇ Finally； eighteen
months later； after the peace of Amiens and the Concord at；＇25＇ a
sénatus…consulte ends the great operation； an amnesty relieves all who
are not yet struck off； except the declared leaders of the militant
emigration； its notables； and who are not to exceed one thousand； the
rest may come back and enjoy their civic rights； only； they must
promise 〃loyalty to the government established under the constitution
and not maintain directly or indirectly any connection or
correspondence with the enemies of the State。〃 On this condition the
doors of France are thrown open to them and they return in crowds。
But their bodily presence is not of itself sufficient； it is moreover
essential that they should not be absent in feeling； as strangers and
merely domiciliated in the new society。 Were these mutilated fragments
of old France； these human shreds put back in their old places； simply
attached or placed in juxtaposition to modern France； they would prove
useless； troublesome and even mischievous。 Let us strive； then； to
have them grafted on afresh through adherence or complete fusion； and
first； to effect this； they must not be allowed to die of inanition；
they must take root physically and be able to live。 In private life；
how can former proprietors； the noblesse； the parliamentarians； the
upper bourgeoisie； support themselves； especially those without a
profession or pursuit； and who； before 1789； maintained themselves；
not by their labor； but by their income？ Once at home； they can no
longer earn their living as they did abroad； they can no longer give
lessons in French； in dancing； or in fencing。 … There is no doubt but
that the sénatus…consulte which amnesties them restores to them a part
of their unsold possessions；＇26＇ but most of these are sold and； on
the other hand； the First Consul； who is not disposed to re…establish
large fortunes for royalists；＇27＇ retains and maintains the largest
portion of what they have been despoiled of in the national domain：
all woods and forests of 300 arpents＇28＇ and over； their stock and
property rights in the great canals； and their personal property
already devoted to the public service。 The effective restitution is
therefore only moderate； the émigrés who return recover but little
more than one…twentieth of their patrimony； one hundred millions＇29＇
out of more than two milliards。 Observe； besides； that by virtue even
of the law and as admitted by the First Consul；＇30＇ this alms is badly
distributed； the most needy and the greatest number remain empty…
handed； consisting of the lesser and medium class of rural
proprietors； especially of country gentlemen whose domain； worth less
than 50；000 francs； brings in only 2000 or 3000 francs income；＇31＇ a
domain of this size came within reach of a great many purses； and
hence found purchasers more readily and with greater facility than a
large holding； the State was almost always the seller； and thenceforth
the old proprietor could make no further claim or pretension。 … Thus；
for many of the émigrés； 〃the sénatus…consulte of the year X is simply
a permit to starve to death in France 〃and；＇32＇ four years later；＇33＇
Napoleon himself estimates that 〃40；000 are without the means of
subsistence。〃 They manage to keep life and soul together and nothing
more；＇34＇ many； taken in and cared for by their friends or relations；
are supported as guests or parasites； somewhat through compassion and
again on humanitarian grounds。 One recovers his silver plate； buried
in a cellar； another finds notes payable to bearer； forgotten in an
old chest。 Sometimes； the purchaser of a piece of property； an honest
man； gives it back at the price he paid for it； or even gratis； if；
during the time he had held it； he had derived sufficient profit from
it。 Occasionally； when the adjudication happens to have been
fraudulent； or the sale too irregular； and subject to legal
proceedings； the dishonest purchaser does not refuse a compromise。 But
these cases are rare； and the evicted owner； if he desires to dine
regularly； will wisely seek a small remunerative position and serve as
clerk； book…keeper or accountant。 M。 des Echerolles； formerly a
brigadier…general； keeps the office of the new line of diligences at
Lyons； and earns 1200 francs a year。 M。 de Puymaigre； who； in 1789；
was worth two millions； becomes a contr？leur des droits réunis at
Briey with a salary of 2400 francs。 … In every branch of the new
administration a royalist is welcome to apply for a post；＇35＇ however
slightly recommended； he obtains the place。 Sometimes he even receives
one without having asked for it； M。 de Vitrolles＇36＇ thus becomes； in
spite of himself； inspector of the imperial sheepfolds； this fixes his
position and makes it appear as if he had given in his adhesion to the
government。 … Naturally； the great political recruiter singles out the
tallest and most imposing subjects； that is to say； belonging to the
first families of the ancient monarchy； and； like one who knows his
business； he brings to bear every means； constraint and seduction；
threats and cajoleries； supplies in ready money； promises of promotion
with the influence of a uniform and gold…lace embroidery。＇37＇ It
matters little whether the enlistment is voluntary or extorted； the
moment a man becomes a functionary and is enrolled in the hierarchy；
he loses the best portion of his independence； once a dignitary and
placed at the top of the hierarchy； he gives his entire individuality
up； for henceforth he lives under the eye of the master； feels the
daily and direct pressure of the terrible hand which grasps him； and
he forcibly becomes a mere tool。＇38＇ These historic names； moreover；
contribute to the embellishment of the reign。 Napoleon hauls in a good
many of them； and the most illustrious among the old noblesse； of the
court of the robe and of the sword。 He can enumerate among his
magistrates； M。 Pasquier； M。 Séguier； M。 Molé； among his prelates； M。
de Boisgelin； M。 du Barral； M。 du Belley； M。 de Roquelaure； M。 de
Broglie； among his military officers； M。 de Fézensac； M。 de Ségur； M。
de Mortemart； M。 de Narbonne；＇39＇ among the dignitaries of his palace；
chaplains； chamberlains and ladies of honor … the Rohan； Croy；
Chevreuse； Montmorency； Chabot； Montesquiou； Noailles； Brancas；
Gontaut； Grammont； Beauvau； Saint…Aignan； Montalembert； Haussonville；
Choiseul…Praslin； Mercy d'Argenteau； Aubusson de la Feuillade； and
many others； recorded in the imperial almanac as formerly in the royal
almanac。
But they are only with him nominally and in the almanac。 Except
certain individuals； M。 de las Cases and M。 Philippe de Ségur； who
gave themselves up body and soul； even to following him to Saint
Helena； to glorifying； admiring and loving him beyond the grave； the
others are submissive conscripts and who remain more or less
refractory spirits。 He does nothing to win them over。