FOUCHÉ (JOSEPH). "THE STORM OF WHICH I AM VICTIM TODAY..." - Lot 205

Lot n° 205
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Result : 2 730EUR
FOUCHÉ (JOSEPH). "THE STORM OF WHICH I AM VICTIM TODAY..." - Lot 205
FOUCHÉ (JOSEPH). "THE STORM OF WHICH I AM VICTIM TODAY..." Autograph letter signed "the Duke of Otranto" [to Pierre-François Réal]. [Château de Ferrières, in the present-day département of Seine-et-Marne, June 30, 1810]. One p. 3/4 in-8 square; small tear restored but not missing. JOSEPH FOUCHE IN DISGRACE. The author of numerous intrigues, he nevertheless exceeded the limits accepted by Napoleon I when, in charge of negotiations with England, he took personal initiatives inspired by Ouvrard and committing France. Dismissed on June 3, 1810, he was replaced at the Ministry of the General Police by General Anne-Jean-Marie-René Savary, Duc de Rovigo, but the Emperor mitigated his dismissal by appointing Joseph Fouché Governor of Rome. Fouché asked General Savary for time to put his papers in order at the Ministry, but in fact proceeded to destroy his compromising documents, and finally withdrew on June 7. Suspicious, Napoleon I demanded all the papers on June 18, and when he was told that what was missing had been burnt, he pronounced a complete disgrace and ordered Joseph Fouché to go to his senatorial palace in Aix-en-Provence. The deposed minister, fearing for his safety, went into exile in Italy until September, before returning to Aix. "I THANK YOU FOR THE NEWS YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ON BEHALF OF THE DUKE OF ROVIGO. It pleases me to hear that he has behaved well in these circumstances. It would have been painful for me to think otherwise; for MY ENEMIES ARE THE EMPEROR'S OWN. TODAY, IT'S ME THEY WANT TO IMMOLATE TOMORROW IT'LL BE HIS TURN. FOR A YEAR I'VE BEEN ANTICIPATING THE STORM I'M NOW THE VICTIM OF. MY ENEMIES WANTED TO COMPROMISE ME, BOTH WITH THEIR PRAISE AND THEIR SLANDER. I THOUGHT THE EMPEROR WOULD BE MORE ON GUARD AGAINST THIS DOUBLE INTRIGUE, BUT I WAS MISTAKEN. I am ready to leave for Rome if the Emperor so desires, but I would like to get out once and for all of this equivocal situation in which I am thrown by the prejudices that my enemies have planted in the Emperor's mind. It is impossible for me to do any good in the difficult mission I have received if I do not leave with the certainty that I will win His Majesty's confidence, and that she will no longer believe that I am refusing her notes of the letters she has asked me for; IT MAY BE SAID THAT I WAS IMPRUDENT, INSENSIVE TO BURN THE LETTERS SHE Wrote ME, but this wrong can only harm me, that's why I committed it, I have never sought any other guarantee or support against my enemies than in the heart of the Emperor and in my conscience. The deeper you dig into my conduct, the more reasons you will have to esteem me, because you will find nothing small or personal in it. I appreciate the Duc de Rovigo's expression of attachment. I thank him most sincerely for it; tell him that I am leaving my campaign in the first days of next week. I have instructed Mr Dumont to collect the funds from the cutting of my woods, to pay the 50,000 francs I borrowed from Mr [Jean-Conrad] Hottinguer, banker, on leaving the Ministry, and to send me the rest for my journey, as the Emperor only allows me to collect anything in Rome. MY WIFE is grateful for the consolation you have given her; she WILL ACCOMPANY ME, DESPITE THE HEAT AND INSALUBRITY of Rome's climate at this time of year. I WISH THE EMPEROR HAD MANY FAMILIES LIKE MINE TO SERVE HIM. Adieu, mille amitiés... " One of the key players in the police system since the Directoire period, Conseiller d'État Pierre-François Réal proved to be a formidable force, but as he was close to Joseph Fouché, he never won the Ministry of the General Police during the latter's successive disgraces.
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