Page:Memoirs of Baron Hyde de Neuville; outlaw, exile, ambassador; (IA memoirsofbaronhy01hyde).pdf/155

Rh The 18th Brumaire made little change in the Vendée, where Buonaparte was not so well known as in other parts of France. . . He had, however, set his heart on bringing peace to the Vendée; and commissioned General Hédouville, who was in command at Nantes, to open negotiations with the Vendéan leaders. It was a wise choice. Hédouville was clever, patient and conciliating, and an armistice propased by him was signed by Bourmont, de Chatillon, and d’Autichamp; it was but a preliminary to the Conferences to be opened at Pouancé. Bourmont, who conducted the negotiations, obtained so many concessions that the armistice became a moral victory for La Vendée.

At this time, a bold enterprise had brought the Chouans almost to the gates of Paris. Hingaut-de-Saint-Maur, after forcibly releasing Le Chandelier from prison at Caen, had marched towards Paris and seized Pacy-sur-Eure; while Le Chandelier, after having invested Ferté-Vidame and Montfort-l’Amaury, reached the very gates of Versailles, This bold stroke strengthened the hands of Bourmont. The mere fact of a government offering to treat with it, shows the greatness of an insurrection; the other half of the leaders, recognising the importance which the First Consul attached to them, werc the less inclined for peace; Cadoudal and Frotté would not hear of it. . ..

The 18th Brumaire had necessitated a new study of the ground, My correspondence with London became more active; for now, it was more than ever important to ensure unity of action between London, La Vendée, and Paris. We had organised a regular transmission of secret despatches, by way of Amiens, Boulogne, and the Marcouf Isles. We—M. de Coigny and I—corresponded most regularly with M. Duthiel, but often with the Count d'Artois himself; we wrote under feigned �