With respect to May 27, 1814, Colonel Campbell writes in his memoirs at some length about Napoleon’s restlessness. “I have never seen a man in any situation of life,” he writes “with so much personal activity and restless perseverance. He appears to take so much pleasure in perpetual movement, and in seeing those who accompany him sink under fatigue … [yesterday] he rode on horseback for three hours, as he told me afterwards, ‘pour se defatiguer!'” Campbell also notes ominously: “His thoughts seem to dwell perpetually upon the operations of war”.
Campbell writes:
Napoleon sometimes, in conversation with me, while remarking on public affairs, throws off all restraint, and expresses himself so openly as to leave no doubt of his expecting that circumstances may yet call him to the throne of France. He says that France is humiliated even beyond what, in his opinion, the interest of the Allies should have prescribed; that more might have been left to her with equal security towards her neighbours, and without the risk of exasperating the people ; that the family of the Bourbons will be driven out in six months, on account of the disadvantageous treaty with Great Britain. In addition, the minds of the people are very unsettled. If a portion were for the Bourbons, it was only the emigrants, and persons of ancient titles and property; while the greater number of the population and the whole of the army are for himself. The Guards had received un- equivocal proofs of this on the march, particularly at Lyons, where 2,000 of the inhabitants came out to welcome them. Napoleon certainly regrets that he gave up the contest, and has almost declared to me that, had he known the spirit and power of Augereau’s army, and that its exertions were only paralysed by the defection of that Marshal, he would have joined it, and carried the war into Italy.
However, his ties of esteem towards all his marshals appear to have diminished. A few days ago he described to me their respective good and bad qualities. St. Cyr and Massena ranked highest in his list. He regretted that he had not left his marshals unemployed (for they were tired of war), and sought for younger chiefs among his other generals and colonels: this, he said, was his ruin.
I have never seen a man in any situation of life with so much personal activity and restless perseverance. He appears to take so much pleasure in perpetual movement, and in seeing those who accompany him sink under fatigue, as has been the case on several occasions when I have accompanied him. I do not think it possible for him to sit down to study, on any pursuits of retirement, as proclaimed by him to be his intention, so long as his state of health permits corporeal exercise. After being yesterday on foot in the heat of the sun, from 5 A.M. to 3 P.M., visiting the frigates and transports, and even going down to the hold among the horses, he rode on horseback for three hours, as he told me afterwards, pour se defatiguer!’ These details show, that if opportunities for warfare upon a great scale and for important objects do not present themselves, he is likely to avail himself of any others, in order to indulge this passion from mere recklessness. His thoughts seem to dwell perpetually upon the operations of war.
Napoleon appears very anxious to know the extent of the British forces reported to be lately sent against America. When informed by an officer of the Navy, that 25,000 men were sent from Spain, he said that this must be intended against Louisiana or Florida; that he had no doubt of a civil war in Spain, that her provinces in South America would separate from her, and that these would form a sort of barrier for Great Britain to prevent the encroachments of the United States.
Upon landing here, Napoleon’s plan was to prepare a very large house in the town for his residence. He afterwards changed to a very small one, requiring much less labour, which he already inhabits. He has not made any such arrangements as evince any expectation of his being joined by Marie-Louise, nor has he mentioned her name in any way.
The small island, called Pia Nosa, which Napoleon has taken possession of, is about fifteen English miles south of Elba, and has generally been considered a dependency of it. There are no inhabitants at present, but Napoleon means to place some upon it for the cultivation of grain, with a small garrison to protect them against pirates.
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