FOUCHÉ Joseph (1759-1820) homme politique français, ministre de la Police sous le Directoire, le Consulat, l'Empire et la Seconde Restauration.

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FOUCHÉ Joseph (1759-1820) homme politique français, ministre de la Police sous le Directoire, le Consulat, l'Empire et la Seconde Restauration.
Autograph manuscript (Paris, s.d. Circa [1799-1804]). 9 ½ pp. in-4. Very interesting memoir written on the state of France and on Bonaparte most probably for the Count of Provence and the Count of Artois in exile in London. This memoir was written by an envoy of a French prince residing in London [Count d'Artois?] to know the situation in France more precisely during the Consulate. He begins with a rather quick point on what he thought he knew and which turns out to be false, he continues on different points like: the high cost of bread, the figure of Bonaparte, the politician and the general, that of his generals, the situation of the opposition etc. He begins with this observation page 1 "My presentiments on the results of my trip to Paris did not deceive me Monseigneur. My zeal alone for the service of the Princes [Count of Artois and Provence?] was able to determine me to undertake it; [...] You know with what mistrust, with what reserve I have always welcomed the information which usually arrives from the agents of our princes, on the situation of our unhappy fatherland. [...]" page 2 "[...] what I have observed since my arrival in Paris is in conformity with the picture of Paris and of France that we had formed in London! If we are to believe only the usual correspondence of my agents, France was in a state of imminent crisis from which it could only emerge by a movement which was rarely to be carried with the monarchy all that of the old order of things could be transported into this one. Bonaparte, victorious and peacemaker, seemed to us compromised by the very excess of his prosperity. Supported during the war by prestige and fortune [...] The finances of the Republic always seemed to us the deepest and most incurable wound for it. [...]" page 3 the high cost of bread, "generals greedy for gold, power and glory [...]". The author continues page 4 "Such were our glimpses on the current situation of the things in France, Monseigneur. Such were our hopes. Why am I obliged to destroy the sweet illusion which we had made ourselves, the illusion which promised us the very soon of an unheard-of usurpation, & the restoration of the ancient monarchy. [...]" The following pages detail the reality of the facts according to his observations. He concludes by explaining having "[...] renewed several of the agents charged with this service in the interior of France. [...] especially in Paris, only men capable of seeing well ..." and of waiting for opportunities to best serve "the cause".
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