Stanislas de GIRARDIN (1762-1827). 18 L.A. (several incomplete), 1800-1801, to Joseph Bonaparte 58 pages in-8. Very interesting correspondence from the deputy, politician and administrator, to his friend and neighbour Joseph Bonaparte (Girardin had his property in Ermenonville, Joseph Bonaparte in Mortefontaine). It began on 8 brumaire IX (30 October 1800) and continued until 21 frimaire X (12 December 1801). Although it deals with a few personal subjects, Girardin taking on commissions for Joseph (finding a house in Paris, work on the orangery at Mortefontaine, sale of wood), sending his wife (Mme Julie) Mme de Genlis's novel Les Mères rivales ("it is the only work of its kind worth reading"), It relates above all the political intrigues of the time (Girardin was a member of the Tribunate) and important events, such as the negotiations for the various peace treaties and the attack in the rue Saint-Nicaise and its aftermath. It is a good reflection of the climate of anxiety that prevailed during these months when Napoleon was consolidating his power. We can only give a few extracts. Joseph led the negotiations with the Count of Cobentzel, the Austrian representative, which culminated in Austria and France signing the Treaty of Lunéville on 9 February 1801. Girardin reflects the state of opinion during these discussions, and mentions the positions of the other parties involved, England and Russia. He often saw the First Consul and reported their exchanges to his brother: Bonaparte did not seem to want to admit the English minister to the Congress "not because he would succeed in preventing the conclusion of peace with Austria, but his hostilities would start again. If you do not receive him, M. de Cob[entzel] will leave [...] Tal.[Talleyrand] also spoke to me about the young people attached to the Legation [ ] they are the authors of all the nonsense printed in the various newspapers [...] The articles of Lunéville must be written in a way to merit and to fix the public attention, it is necessary that they can serve either to make known the situation of Europe or to increase your consideration"... (4 frimaire IX/25 novembre 1800). - I think that James Pitt's cabinet is no longer so distant from wanting to treat and that the desire to make peace can be seen in several of Lord Grenville's notes" (16 frimaire/2 décembre). - Girardin reports the assassination of the abbé Audrein, bishop of Finistère (November 19) which "alarms the constitutional clergy, the conventionels and those who voted the death"... - 4 nivôse / December 25: he learns of the attack [street Saint-Nicaise] of the day before "plotted against the days of your brother. [...] The consul has just miraculously escaped for the second time [...] may he at last open his eyes, know his enemies, not alienate his true friends"... - Your brother told me that he was certain that the Chouans paid by England were the authors of this dreadful plot"; in the same letter, Girardin warned the Consul against Fouché, who "on 18 Brum[aire] was Barras' man and had been placed in the Ministry by that party"... In January 1801, Ceracchi and his accomplices, including Aréna, were convicted, but the real culprits had not yet been arrested. "The event of 3 Nivose served to prove to your brother that he was the love, hope and glory of the French and also served as a pretext for carrying out a measure that had been planned for a long time [...] If he combines this social operation with a purge of the constituted authorities, then the good he wants to do will no longer encounter any obstacles"... The "real authors of the infernal machine" were finally arrested: The good news comes from Italy, where Brune, after his successes in Verona and Venice, will be able to sign an armistice with Austria, in Treviso on 15 January. - 15 Pluviôse X/4 February 1801. Domestic unrest: the debates on the law relating to the special criminal courts were agitated, with "violent diatribes against the government" by Daunou and Chénier. "The audacity of these naturally cowardly men, known in the course of the revolution for their excessive timidity, has caused much surprise and given rise to serious reflection. Their conduct, the secret motive for which is not yet known, has, as you may think, displeased your brother"... External unrest, with the raising of troops by the English. - 21 frimaire X/12 December 1801, The situation calms down, in spite of the dearness of bread and one awaits in an imminent way peace with England. General Lannes, who has put the consular guard fund into deficit, sees his appointment as minister plenipotentiary to Portugal as a disgrace and threatens to resign... Etc. Attached are 2 minutes of dictated letters from Joseph: - to Girardin (Point Breeze, 12 May 1826), submitting to him a notice intended for Mélito to rectify the falsehoods printed about him; - to Girardin's widow (Point Breeze 15 December 1828), about Girardin's Souvenirs, the volumes of which he has not yet received, but of which he has not heard much, and asking her to "refute remarks injurious to my honour and hers"...