d
of all Europe, that the Royalists were the agents in this conspiracy.
Napoleon had been their benefactor, and while he knew it to be
impossible to replace the Bourbons upon the throne of France, he did
every thing in his power to mitigate the misfortunes which Jacobin
violence had inflicted upon their friends. The first consul made no
disguise of his utter detestation of the Jacobins, and of their reign of
merciless tyranny. He consequently supposed that they were the authors
of the atrocious crime. The real authors of the conspiracy were however,
soon discovered. Fouche, whom Bonaparte disliked exceedingly for his
inhuman deeds during the Revolution, was the Minister of Police. Upon
him mainly devolved the trial and the punishment of the accused.
Josephine immediately wrote a letter to Fouche, most strikingly
indicative of the benevolence of her noble heart, and of that strength
of mind which could understand that the claims of justice must not pass
unheeded.

"CITIZEN-MINISTER,--While I yet tremble at the frightful
event which has just occurred, I am disquieted and
distressed through fear of the punishment necessarily to be
inflicted on the guilty, who belong, it is said, to families
with whom I once lived in habits of intercourse. I shall be
solicited by mothers, sisters, and disconsolate wives; and
my heart will be broken through my inability to obtain all
the mercy for which I would plead.

"I know that the clemency of the first consul is great, his
attachment to me extreme; but the crime is too dreadful that
terrible examples should not be necessary. The chief of
the government has not been alone exposed; and it is that
which will render him severe--inflexible. I conjure you,
therefore, to do all in your power to prevent inquiries
being pushed too far. Do not detect all those persons who
may have been accomplices in these odious transactions. Let
not France, so long overwhelmed in consternation by public
executions, groan anew beneath such inflictions. It is even
better to endeavor to soothe the public mind than to
exasperate men by fresh terrors. In short, when the
ring-leaders of this nefarious attempt shall have been
secured, let severity give place to pity for inferior
agents, seduced as they may have been by dangerous
falsehoods or exaggerated opinions.

"When just invested with