Nicolas Toussaint CHARLET. 1792-1845. Napoleon... Lot 71

Nicolas Toussaint CHARLET. 1792-1845. Napoleon questioning and reprimanding a councillor in charge of worship during the council Drawing for the Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène, Las Cases, Tome 1, p. 157 Pencil on paper Signed lower right Charlet, Diameter: 10.5 cm Extract from Mémorial de Sainte-Hélène, Las Cases, p.157 A religious party was stirring up civil discord, secretly peddling and circulating papal bulls and letters. They were shown to a State Councillor in charge of worship, who, if he did not propagate them himself, at least did not stop or denounce their circulation. This came to light, and the Emperor suddenly challenged him in full council. What could have been your motive," he said, "Sir? Could it be your religious principles? Then why are you here? I'm not violating anyone's conscience. Did I take you by the collar to make you my State Councillor? You've asked me to do you a great favor. You're the youngest and perhaps the only one here without personal titles; I saw in you only the heir to your father's services. You made a personal oath to me; how can your religious feelings be reconciled with the manifest violation you have just made of it? However, speak up: you're here with your family, your comrades will judge you. Your fault is great, Sir! A material conspiracy is stopped as soon as you seize the arm that holds the dagger; but a moral conspiracy has no end, it's a trail of powder. By now, whole towns could be slaughtered because of you. The accused, confused, answered nothing; from the very first interpellation he had agreed to the fact. Almost the entire Council, for whom this event was unexpected, remained astonished and silent. Why," continued the Emperor, "in the obligation of your oath, have you not come to discover to me the culprit and his plot? Am I not affordable to each and every one of you? - Sire," ventured the respondent, "it was my cousin. - Your fault is all the greater, Monsieur," replied the Emperor sharply. Your relative could only have been placed at your request; from that moment on, you took all the responsibility. When I consider that someone is completely mine, as you are here, those who belong to them and those for whom they are responsible are, from that moment on, beyond the reach of any police force. These are my maxims. And as the culprit continued to say nothing: "The duties of a State Councillor towards me are immense," concluded the Emperor, "you have violated them, Sir, you are no longer a State Councillor. Get out, don't show your face here again! On his way out, as he passed by the Emperor's person, the Emperor said to him, casting his eyes on him: "I am sorry, Monsieur; for I have present the memory and services of your father."