togetherwithvariousothercircumstances，thetruthofwhichthereappearednoreasontodoubt.Iimmediatelysentfortheindividualinquestion，whotoldmethatheknewMoreau，thathehadmethim，thattheGeneralhadinquiredofhimthewaytotheJungfersteige（apromenadeatHamburg），thathehadpointeditouttohim，andthensaid，\"HaveInotthehonourtospeaktoGeneralMoreau？\"uponwhichtheGeneralanswered，\"Yes，butsaynothingabouthavingseenme;Iamhereincognito.\"Allthisappearedtomesoabsurdthat，pretendingnottoknowMoreau，I
askedthepersontodescribehimtome.HedescribedapersonbearinglittleresemblancetoMoreau，andaddedthatheworeabraidedFrenchcoatandthenationalcockadeinhishat.Iinstantlyperceivedthewholewasamereschemeforgettingalittlemoney.Isentthefellowabouthisbusiness.InaquarterofanhourafterIhadgotridofhimM.laChevardierecalledonme，andintroducedM.Billaud，theFrenchConsulatStettin.Thisgentlemanworeabraidedcoatandthenationalcockadeinhishat.HewastheheroofthestoryIhadheardfromtheinformer.AslightpersonalresemblancebetweentheConsulandtheGeneralhadcausedseveralpersonstomistakethemforeachother.
DuringthePrussiancampaignnothingwastalkedofthroughoutGermanybutNapoleon’sgenerousconductwithrespecttoPrinceHatzfeld.IwasfortunateenoughtoobtainacopyofaletterwhichtheEmperorwrotetoJosephineonthesubject，andwhichIshallpresentlylaybeforethereader.InconformitywiththeinquisitorialsystemwhichtoofrequentlycharacterisedtheEmperor’sgovernment，andwhichheextendedtoeverycountryofwhichhehadmilitarypossession，thefirstthingdoneonenteringatownwastotakepossessionofthepost—office，andthen，Heavenknowshowlittlerespectwasshowntotheprivacyofcorrespondence.AmongthelettersthusseizedatBerlinanddeliveredtoNapoleonwasoneaddressedtotheKingofPrussiabyPrinceHatzfeld，whohadimprudentlyremainedinthePrussiancapital.InthisletterthePrincegavehisSovereignanaccountofallthathadoccurredinBerlinsincehehadbeencompelledtoquitat;andatthesametimeheinformedhimoftheforceandsituationofthecorpsoftheFrencharmy.TheEmperor，afterreadingthisletter，orderedthatthePrinceshouldbearrested，andtriedbyacourt—martialonthechargeofbeingaspy.
TheCourtwassummoned，andlittledoubtcouldbeentertainedastoitsdecisionwhenMadameHatzfeldrepairedtoDuroc，whoonsuchoccasionswasalwayshappywhenhecouldfacilitatecommunicationwiththeEmperor.
OnthatdayNapoleonhadbeenatareview.DurocknewMadameHatzfeld，whomhehadseveraltimesseenonhisvisitstoBerlin.WhenNapoleonreturnedfromthereviewhewasastonishedtoseeDurocatthepalaceatthathour，andinquiredwhetherhehadbroughtanynews.Durocansweredintheaffirmative，andfollowedtheEmperorintohisCabinet，wherehesoonintroducedMadameHatzfeld.TheremainderofthesceneisdescribedinNapoleon’sletter.ItmayeasilybeperceivedthatthisletterisananswertoonefromJosephinereproachinghimforthemannerinwhichhespokeofwomen，andveryprobablyofthebeautifulandunfortunateQueenofPrussia，respectingwhomhehadexpressedhimselfwithtoolittlerespectinoneofhisbulletins.ThefollowingisNapoleon’sletter：——
Ihavereceivedyourletter，inwhichyouseemtoreproachmeforspeakingillofwomen.ItistruethatIdislikefemaleintriguersaboveallthings.Iamusedtokind，gentle，andconciliatorywomen.Ilovethem，andiftheyhavespoiledmeitisnotmyfault，butyours.However，youwillseethatIhavedoneanactofkindnesstoonedeservingwoman.IalludetoMadamedeHatzfeld.
WhenIshowedherherhusband’slettershestoodweeping，andinatoneofmingledgriefandingenuousnesssaid，\"Itisindeedhiswriting！\"Thiswenttomyheart，andIsaid，\"Well，madame，throwtheletterintothefire，andthenIshallhavenoproofagainstyourhusband.\"Sheburnedtheletter，andwasrestoredtohappiness.Herhusbandnowissafe：twohourslater，andhewouldhavebeenlost.Yousee，therefore，thatIlikewomenwhoaresimple，gentle，andamiable;becausetheyaloneresembleyou.
November6，1806，9o’clockP.M.
WhenMarshalBernadottehaddrivenBlucherintoLubeckandmadehimprisoner，hesenttoinformmeofthecircumstance;butIwasfarfrom，expectingthattheprisonerwouldbeconfidedtomycharge.Such，however，wasthecase.AfterhiscapitulationhewassenttoHamburg，wherehehadthewholecityforhisprison.
Iwascurioustobecomeacquaintedwiththiscelebratedman，andIsawhimveryfrequently.IfoundthathewasanenthusiasticPrussianpatriot——abraveman，enterprisingeventorashness，oflimitededucation，andalmosttoanincredibledegreedevotedtopleasure，ofwhichhetookanamplesharewhileheremainedinHamburg.Hesatanenormoustimeattable，and，notwithstandinghisexclusivepatriotism，herenderedfulljusticetothewinesofFrance.Hispassionforwomenwasunbounded，andoneofhismostfavouritesourcesofamusementwasthegaming—table，atwhichhespentaconsiderableportionofhistime.
Blucherwasofanextremelygaydisposition;andconsideredmerelyasacompanionhewasveryagreeable.Theoriginalstyleofhisconversationpleasedmemuch.HisconfidenceinthedeliveranceofGermanyremainedunshakeninspiteofthedisastersofthePrussianarmy.Heoftensaidtome，\"IplacegreatrelianceonthepublicspiritofGermany——ontheenthusiasmwhichprevailsinouruniversities.Theeventsofwararedailychanging，andevendefeatscontributetonourishinapeoplesentimentsofhonourandnationalglory.Youmaydependuponitthatwhenawholenationisdeterminedtoshakeoffahumiliatingyokeitwillsucceed.ThereisnodoubtbutweshallendbyhavingalandwehrverydifferentfromanymilitiatowhichthesubduedspiritoftheFrenchpeoplecouldgivebirth.Englandwillalwayslendusthesupportofhernavyandhersubsidies，andwewillrenewallianceswithRussiaandAustria.IcanpledgemyselftothetruthofafactofwhichIhavecertainknowledge，andyoumayrelyuponit;namely，thatnoneofthealliedpowersengagedinthepresentwarentertainviewsofterritorialaggrandisement.AlltheyunanimouslydesireistoputanendtothesystemofaggrandisementwhichyourEmperorhasestablishedandactsuponwithsuchalarmingrapidity.InourfirstwaragainstFrance，atthecommencementofyourRevolution，wefoughtforquestionsrespectingtherightsofsovereigns，forwhich，Iassureyou，Icareverylittle;butnowthecaseisaltered，thewholepopulationofPrussiamakescommoncausewithitsGovernment.Thepeoplefightindefenceoftheirhomes，andreversesdestroyourarmieswithoutchangingthespiritofthenation.IrelyconfidentlyonthefuturebecauseIforeseethatfortunewillnotalwaysfavouryourEmperor.Itisimpossible;butthetimewillcomewhenallEurope，humbledbyhisexactions，andimpatientofhisdepredations，willriseupagainsthim.Themoreheenslavesnations，themoreterriblewillbethereactionwhentheybreaktheirchains.
Itcannotbedeniedthatheistormentedwithaninsatiabledesireofacquiringnewterritories.Tothewarof1805againstAustriaandRussiathepresentwarhasalmostimmediatelysucceeded.Wehavefallen.
Prussiaisoccupied;butRussiastillremainsundefeated.Icannotforeseewhatwillbetheterminationofthewar;but，admittingthattheissueshouldbefavourabletoyou，itwillendonlytobreakoutagainspeedily.Ifwecontinuefirm，France，exhaustedbyherconquests，mustintheendfall.Youmaybecertainofit.Youwishforpeace.
Recommendit！BysodoingYouwillgivestrongproofsofloveforyourcountry.\"
InthisstrainBlucherconstantlyspoketome;andasIneverthoughtitrighttoplaythepartofthepublicfunctionaryinthedrawing—roomI
repliedtohimwiththereservenecessaryinmysituation.Icouldnottellhimhowmuchmyanticipationsfrequentlycoincidedwithhis;butI
neverhesitatedtoexpresstohimhowmuchIwishedtoseeareasonablepeaceconcluded.
Blucher’sarrivalatHamburgwasprecededbythatofPrincePaulofWutrtemberg，thesecondsonofoneofthetwokingscreatedbyNapoleon，whosecrownswerenotyetayearold.ThisyoungPrince，whowasimbuedwiththeideasoflibertyandindependencewhichthenprevailedinGermany，hadtakenaheadlongstep.HehadquittedStuttgarttoserveinthePrussiancampaignwithouthavingaskedhisfather’spermission，whichinconsiderateproceedingmighthavedrawnNapoleon’sangerupontheKingofWurtemberg.TheKingofPrussiaadvancedPrincePaultotherankofgeneral，buthewastakenprisonerattheverycommencementofhostilities.PrincePaulwasnot，ashasbeenerroneouslystated，conductedtoStuttgartbyacaptainofgendarmerie.HecametoHamburg，whereIreceivedmanyvisitsfromhim.Hedidnotyetpossessverydefiniteideasastowhathewished;forafterhewasmadeprisonerheexpressedtomehisstrongdesiretoentertheFrenchservice，andoftenaskedmetosolicitforhimaninterviewwiththeEmperor.Heobtainedthisinterview，andremainedforalongtimeinParis，whereIknowhehasfrequentlyresidedsincetheRestoration.
TheindividualswhomIhadtoobserveinHamburggavememuchlesstroublethanourneighboursatAltona.Thenumberofthelatterhadconsiderablyaugmented，sincetheeventsofthewarhadcompelledagreatnumberofemigrantswhohadtakenrefugeatMunstertoleavethattown.
TheyallproceededtoAltona.Conqueredcountriesbecameasdangeroustothemasthelandwhichtheyhadforsaken.ThemostdistinguishedamongsttheindividualsassembledatAltonawereVicomtedeSesmaisons，theBaillyd’Hautefeuille，theDuchessofLuxembourg，theMarquisdeBonnard，theDued’Aumont（thenDuedeVillequier），thewifeofMarshaldeBrogueandherdaughter，CardinaldeMontmorency，MadamedeCosse，hertwodaughtersandherson（andapriest），andtheBishopofBoulogne.
BonapartestayedlongenoughatBerlintopermitofthearrivalofadeputationfromtheFrenchSenatetocongratulatehimonhisfirsttriumphs.IlearnedthatinthisinstancetheSenatorialdeputation，departingfromitsaccustomedcomplaisance，venturednottoconfineitselftocomplimentsandfelicitations，butwentsofarastointerferewiththeEmperor’splanofthecampaign，tospeakofthedangerthatmightbeincurredandfinallytoexpressadesiretoinpassingtheOder，seepeaceconcluded.Napoleonreceivedthiscommunicationwithaverybadgrace.HethoughttheSenatorsveryboldtomeddlewithhisaffairs，treatedtheconscriptfathersofFranceasiftheyhadbeeninconsiderateyouths，protested，accordingtocustom，hissincereloveofpeace，andtoldthedeputationthatitwasPrussia，backedbyRussia，andnothe，whowishedforwar！
AlltheGermanPrinceswhohadtakenpartagainstNapoleonfledtoAltonaafterthebattleofJenawithasmuchprecipitationastheemigrantsthemselves.TheHereditaryPrinceofWeimar，theDuchessofHolstein，PrinceBelmonte—Pignatelli，andamultitudeofotherpersonsdistinguishedforrankandfortune，arrivedtherealmostsimultaneously.
AmongthepersonswhotookrefugeinAltonaweresomeintriguers，ofwhomFauche—Borelwasone.IrememberreceivingareportrespectingaviolentaltercationwhichFauchehadtheaudacitytoenterintowithComtedeGimelbecausehecouldnotextortmoneyfromtheCountinpaymentofhisintrigues.ComtedeGimelhadonlyfundsforthepaymentofpensions，and，besides，hehadtoomuchsensetosupposetherewasanyutilityinthestupidpamphletsofFauche—Borel，andthereforehedismissedhimwitharefusal.Fauchewasinsolent，whichcompelledComtedeGimeltosendhimabouthisbusinessashedeserved.Thiscircumstance，whichwasfirstcommunicatedtomeinareport，hassincebeenconfirmedbyapersonwhowitnessedthescene.Fauche—BorelmerelypassedthroughHamburg，andembarkedforLondononboardthesameshipwhichtookLordMorpethbacktoEngland.
——[LouisFauche—Borel（1762—1829），aSwisswhodevotedhimselftothecauseoftheRoyalists.AsLouissteppedontheshoreofFrancein1814，Fauche—Borelwasreadytoassisthimfromtheboat，andwasmetwiththegraciousremarkthathewasalwaysathandwhenaservicewasrequired.Hisserviceswerehoweverleftunrewarded]——
CHAPTERVIII.
1806.
AlarmofthecityofHamburg——TheFrenchatBergdorf——FavourableordersissuedbyBernadotte——ExtortionsinPrussia——Falseendorsements——ExactionsoftheDutch——Napoleon’sconcernforhiswoundedtroops——Duroc’smissiontotheKingofPrussia——RejectionoftheEmperor’sdemands——MynegotiationsatHamburg——DispleasureoftheKingofSweden——M.NetzelandM.Wetteratedt.
AtthiscriticalmomentHamburgwasmenacedonallsides;theFrenchevenoccupiedaportionofitsterritory.TheFrenchtroops，fortunatelyforthecountry，wereattachedtothecorpscommandedbythePrincedePonte—
Corvo.ThismilitaryoccupationalarmedthetownofHamburg，towhich，indeed，itprovedveryinjurious.IwrotetoMarshalBernadotteonthesubject.ThegroundsonwhichtheSenateappealedfortheevacuationoftheirterritoryweresuchthatBernadottecouldnotbutacknowledgetheirjustice.TheprolongedstayoftheFrenchtroopsinthebailiwickofBergdorf，whichhadalltheappearanceofanoccupation，mighthaveledtotheconfiscationofallHamburgpropertyinEngland，tothelayinganembargoonthevesselsoftheRepublic，andconsequentlytotheruinofagreatpartofthetradeofFranceandHolland，whichwascarriedonundertheflagofHamburg.TherewasnolongeranymotiveforoccupyingthebailiwickofBergdorfwhentherewerenoPrussiansinthatquarter.Itwouldhavebeenanabsurdmisfortunethateightymenstationedinthatbailiwickshould，forthesakeofafewlouisandafewellsofEnglishcloth，haveoccasionedtheconfiscationofHamburg，French，andDutchpropertytotheamountof80，000，000francs.
MarshalBernadotterepliedtomeonthe16thofNovember，andsaid，\"IhastentoinformyouthatIhavegivenordersfortheevacuationofthebailiwickofBergdorfandalltheHamburgterritory.IfyoucouldobtainfromtheSenateofHamburg，bythe19thofthismonth，twoorthreethousandpairsofshoes，youwouldobligemegreatly.Theyshallbepaidforingoodsorinmoney.\"
IobtainedwhatBernadotterequiredfromtheSenate，whoknewhisintegrity，whiletheywereawarethatthatqualitywasnotthecharacteristicofallwhocommandedtheFrencharmies！WhatextortionstookplaceduringtheoccupationofPrussia！Iwillmentiononeofthemeanswhich，amongstothers，wasemployedatBerlintoprocuremoney.
Billsofexchangeweredrawn，onwhichendorsementswereforged，andthesebillswerepresentedtothebankersonwhomtheywerepurportedtobedrawn.OnedaysomeoftheseforgedbillstoalargeamountwerepresentedtoMessrs.MathiesenandSilleineofHamburg，who，knowingtheendorsementtobeforged，refusedtocashthem.Thepersonswhopresentedthebillscarriedtheirimpudencesofarastosendforthegendarmes，butthebankerspersistedintheirrefusal.Iwasinformedofthisalmostincrediblescene，whichhaddrawntogetheragreatnumberofpeople.Indignantatsuchaudaciousrobbery，Iinstantlyproceededtothespotandsentawaythegendarmes，tellingthemitwasnottheirdutytoprotectrobbers，andthatitwasmybusinesstolistentoanyjustclaimswhichmightbeadvanced.UnderClarke’sgovernmentatBerlintheinhabitantsweresubjectedtoallkindsofoppressionandexaction.
Amidsttheseexactionsandinfamousproceedings，whicharenottheindispensableconsequencesofwar，theDutchgeneralsdistinguishedthemselvesbyadegreeofrapacitywhichbroughttomindtheperiodoftheFrenchRepublicanpeculationsinItaly.ItcertainlywasnottheirnewKingwhosettheexampleofthisconduct.Hismoderationwaswellknown，anditwasasmuchtheresultofhisdispositionasofhishonestprinciples.LouisBonaparte，whowasaKinginspiteofhimself，affordedanexampleofallthatagoodmancouldsufferuponausurpedthrone.
WhentheKingofPrussiafoundhimselfdefeatedateverypointhebitterlyrepentedhavingundertakenawarwhichhaddeliveredhisStatesintoNapoleon’spowerinlesstimethanthatinwhichAustriahadfallentheprecedingyear.HewrotetotheEmperor，solicitingasuspensionofhostilities.RappwaspresentwhenNapoleonreceivedtheKingofPrussia’sletter.\"Itistoolate，\"saidhe;\"but，nomatter，Iwishtostoptheeffusionofblood;Iamreadytoagreetoanythingwhichisnotprejudicialtothehonourorinterestsofthenation.\"ThencallingDuroc，hegavehimorderstovisitthewounded，andseethattheywantedfornothing.Headded，\"Visiteverymanonmybehalf;givethemalltheconsolationofwhichtheystandinneed;afterwardsfindtheKingofPrussia，andifheoffersreasonableproposalsletmeknowthem.\"
Negotiationswerecommenced，butNapoleon’sconditionswereofanaturewhichwasconsideredinadmissible.PrussiastillhopedforassistancefromtheRussianforces.Besides，theEmperor’sdemandsextendedtoEngland，whoatthatmomenthadnoreasontoaccedetothepretensionsofFrance.TheEmperorwishedEnglandtorestoretoFrancethecolonieswhichshebadcapturedsincethecommencementofthewar，thatRussiashouldrestoreto（o）thePorteMoldaviaandWallachia，whichshethenoccupied;inshort，heactedupontheadvicewhichsometragedy—kinggivestohisambassador：\"Demandeverything，thatyoumayobtainnothing.\"TheEmperor’sdemandswere，infact，soextravagantthatitwasscarcelypossiblehehimselfcouldentertainthehopeoftheirbeingaccepted.Negotiations，alternatelyresumedandabandoned，werecarriedonwithcoldnessonbothsidesuntilthemomentwhenEnglandprevailedonRussiatojoinPrussiaagainstFrance;theythenaltogetherceased：anditwasforthesakeofappearingtowishfortheirrenewal，onbasesstillmorefavourabletoFrance，thatNapoleonsentDuroctotheKingofPrussia.DurocfoundtheKingatOsterode，ontheothersideoftheVistula.TheonlyanswerhereceivedfromHisMajestywas，\"Thetimeispassed;\"whichwasverymuchlikeNapoleon’sobservation;\"Itistoolate.\"
WhilstDurocwasonhismissiontotheKingofPrussiaIwasmyselfnegotiatingatHamburg.BonapartewasveryanxioustodetachSwedenfromthecoalition，andtoterminatethewarwithherbyaseparatetreaty.
Sweden，indeed，waslikelytobeveryusefultohimifPrussia，Russia，andEnglandshouldcollectaconsiderablemassoftroopsinthenorth.
Denmarkwasalreadywithus，andbygainingoverSwedenalsotheunionofthosetwopowersmightcreateadiversion，andgiveseriousalarmtothecoalition，whichwouldbeobligedtoconcentrateitsprincipalforcetoopposetheattackofthegrandarmyinPoland.TheopinionsofM.
Peyron，theSwedishMinisteratHamburg，weredecidedlyopposedtothewarinwhichhissovereignwasengagedwithFrance.IwassorrythatthisgentlemanleftHamburguponleaveofabsenceforayearjustatthemomentIreceivedmyinstructionsfromtheEmperoruponthissubject.
M.PeyronwassucceededbyM.Netzel，andIsoonhadthepleasureofperceivingthathisopinionscorrespondedineveryrespectwiththoseofhispredecessor.
AssoonashearrivedM.NetzelsoughtaninterviewtospeaktomeonthesubjectoftheSwedes，whohadbeentakenprisonersontheDrave.HeentreatedmetoallowtheofficerstoreturntoSwedenontheirparole.
IwasanxioustogetNetzel’sdemandaccededto，andavailedmyselfofthatopportunitytoleadhimgraduallytothesubjectofmyinstructions.
Ihadgoodreasontobesatisfiedwiththemannerinwhichhereceivedmyfirstovertures.Isaidnothingtohimofthejusticeofwhichhewasnotpreviouslyconvinced.IsawheunderstoodthathissovereignwouldhaveeverythingtogainbyareconciliationwithFrance，andhetoldmethatallSwedendemandedpeace.Thusencouraged，ItoldhimfranklythatIwasinstructedtotreatwithhim.M.NetzelassuredmethatM.deWetterstedt，theKingofSweden’sprivatesecretary，withwhomhewasintimate，andfromwhomheshowedmeseveralletters，wasofthesameopiniononthesubjectashimself.Headded，thathehadpermissiontocorrespondwiththeKing，andthathewould;writethesameeveningtohissovereignandMdeWetterstedttoacquaintthemwithourconversation.
Itwillbeperceived，fromwhatIhavestated，thatnonegotiationwasevercommencedundermorefavourableauspices;butwhocouldforeseewhatturntheKingofSwedenwouldtake？ThatunluckyPrincetookM.Netzel’sletterinveryillpart，andM.deWetterstedthimselfreceivedperemptoryorderstoacquaintM.Netzelwithhissovereign’sdispleasureathishavingpresumedtovisitaFrenchMinster，and，aboveall，toenterintoapoliticalconversationwithhim，althoughitwasnothingmorethanconversation.TheKingdidnotconfinehimselftoreproaches;
M.NetzelcameingreatdistresstoinformmehehadreceivedorderstoquitHamburgimmediately，withoutevenawaitingthearrivalofhissuccessor.Heregardedhisdisgraceascomplete.IhadthepleasureofseeingM.Netzelagainin1809atHamburg，wherehewasonamissionfromKingCharlesXIII.
CHAPTERIX.
1806
TheContinentalsystem——Generalindignationexcitedbyit——SaleoflicencesbytheFrenchGovernment——Custom—housesystematHamburg——
MylettertotheEmperor——CauseoftherupturewithRussia——
Bernadotte’svisittome——Trialbycourt—martialforthepurchaseofasugar—loaf——Davoustandthecaptain\"rapporteur\"——InfluenceoftheContinentalsystemonNapoleon’sfall.
IhaveafewremarkstomakeonthefamousContinentalsystem，whichwasasubjectofsuchengrossinginterest.Ihad，perhaps，betteropportunitiesthananyotherpersonofobservingthefraudandestimatingthefatalconsequencesofthissystem.Ittookitsriseduringthewarin1806，andwasbroughtintoexistencebyadecree;datedfromBerlin.
Theprojectwasconceivedbyweakcounsellors，who;perceivingtheEmperor’sjustindignationattheduplicityofEngland，herrepugnancetoenter，intonegotiationswithhim，andherconstantendeavourstoraiseenemiesagainstFrance，prevaileduponhimtoissuethedecree，whichI
couldonlyregardasanactofmadnessandtyranny.Itwasnotadecree，butfleets，thatwerewanting.WithoutanavyitwasridiculoustodeclaretheBritishIslesinastateofblockade，whilsttheEnglishfleetswereinfactblockadingalltheFrenchports.Thisdeclarationwas，however，madeintheBerlinDecree.ThisiswhatwascalledtheContinentalsystem！which，inplainterms，wasnothingbutasystemoffraudandpillage.
OnecannowscarcelyconceivehowEuropecouldforasingledayendurethatfiscaltyrannywhichextortedexorbitantpricesforarticleswhichthehabitsofthreecenturieshadrenderedindispensabletothepooraswellastotherich.SolittleoftruthisthereinthepretencethatthissystemhadforitssoleandexclusiveobjecttopreventthesaleofEnglishgoods，thatlicencesfortheirdisposalwereprocuredatahighpricebywhoeverwasrichenoughtopayforthem.ThenumberandqualityofthearticlesexportedfromFrancewereextravagantlyexaggerated.Itwas，indeed，necessarytotakeoutsomeofthearticlesiscompliancewiththeEmperor’swishes，buttheywereonlythrownintothesea.AndyetnoonehadthehonestytotelltheEmperorthatEnglandsoldonthecontinentbutboughtscarcelyanything.Thespeculationinlicenceswascarriedtoascandalousextentonlytoenrichafew，andtosatisfytheshort—sightedviewsofthecontriversofthesystem.
Thissystemproveswhatiswrittenintheannalsofthehumanheartandmind，thatthecupidityoftheoneisinsatiable，andtheerrorsoftheotherincorrigible.OfthisIwillciteanexample，thoughitreferstoaperiodposteriortotheoriginoftheContinentalsystem.InHamburg，in1811，underDavoust’sgovernment，apoormanhadwell—nighbeenshotforhavingintroducedintothedepartmentoftheElbeasmallloafofsugarfortheuseofhisfamily，whileatthesamemomentNapoleonwasperhapssigningalicencefortheimportationofamillionofsugar—
loaves.
——[Inthissameyear（1811）Murat，asKingofNaples，notonlywinkedattheinfringementoftheContinentalsystem，butalmostopenlybrokethelawhimself.HistroopsinCalabriaandallroundhisimmenselineseacoast，carriedonanactivetradewithSicilianandEnglishsmugglers.ThiswassomuchthecasethatanofficerneversetoutfromNaplestojoin，without，being，requestedbyhiswife，hisrelationsorfriends，tobringthemsomeEnglishmuslins，somesugarandcoffee，togetherwithafewneedles，pen—knives，andrazors.SomeoftheNeapolitanofficersembarkedinreallylargecommercialoperations，goingshareswiththecustomhousepeoplewhoweretheretoenforcethelaw，andmakingtheirsoldiersloadandunloadthecontrabandvessels.TheComtede—————，aFrenchofficeronMurat’sstaff，wasverynoble，butverypoor，andexcessivelyextravagant.Aftermakingseveralvaineffortstosethimupintheworld，theKingtoldhimonedayhewouldgivehimthecommandofthetroopsroundtheGulfofSalerno;addingthatthedevilwasinitifhecouldnotmakeafortuneinsuchacapitalsmugglingdistrict，inacoupleofyears.——TheCounttookthehint，anddidmakeafortune.——Editor1836edition.
Smugglingonasmallscalewaspunishedwithdeath，whilsttheGovernmentthemselvescarrieditonextensively.ThesamecausefilledtheTreasurywithmoney，andtheprisonswithvictims：
Thecustom—houselawsofthisperiod，whichwagedopenwaragainstrhubarb，andarmedthecoastsoftheContinentagainsttheintroductionofsenna，didnotsavetheContinentalsystemfromdestruction.Ridiculeattendedtheinstallationoftheodiousprevotalcourts.ThepresidentofthePrevotalCourtatHamburg，whowasaFrenchman，deliveredanaddress，inwhichheendeavouredtoprovethatinthetimeofthePtolemiestherehadexistedextraordinaryfiscaltribunals，andthatitwastothoseEgyptowedherprosperity.Terrorwasthusintroducedbythemostabsurdfolly.Theordinarycustomhouseofficers，formerlysomuchabhorredinHamburg，declaredwithreasonthattheywouldsoonberegretted，andthanthedifferencebetweenthemandtheprevotalcourtswouldsoonbefelt.Bonaparte’scounsellorsledhimtocommitthefollyofrequiringthatashipwhichhadobtainedalicenceshouldexportmerchandiseequivalenttothatofthecolonialproducetobeimportedundertheauthorityofthelicence.Whatwastheconsequence？Thespeculatorsboughtatalowpriceoldstoresofsilk—whichchangeoffashionhadmadecompletelyunsaleable，andasthosearticleswereprohibitedinEnglandtheywerethrownintotheseawithouttheirlossbeingfelt.Theprofitsofthespeculationmadeampleamendsforthesacrifice.TheContinentalsystemwasworthyonlyoftheagesofignoranceandbarbarism，andhaditbeenadmissibleintheory，wasimpracticableinapplication.
——[SydneySmithwasstruckwiththe，ridiculoussideofthewaroftariffs：\"WearetoldthattheContinentistobereconqueredbythewantofrhubarbandplums.\"（EssaysofSydneySmith，p.533，editionof1861）.]——
Itcannotbesufficientlystigmatised.TheywerenotthefriendsoftheEmperorwhorecommendedasystemcalculatedtorousetheindignationofEurope，andwhichcouldnotfailtocreatereaction.Totyrannizeoverthehumanspecies，andtoexactuniformadmirationandsubmission，istorequireanimpossibility.Itwouldseemthatfate，whichhadstillsomesplendidtriumphsinstoreforBonaparte，intendedtopreparebeforehandthecauseswhichweretodeprivehimofallhistriumphsatonce，andplungehimintoreversesevengreaterthanthegoodfortunewhichhadfavouredhiselevation.
Theprohibitionoftrade，thehabitualseverityintheexecutionofthisodioussystem，madeitoperatelikeaContinentalimpost.Iwillgiveaproofofthis，andIstatenothingbutwhatcameundermyownobservation.ThefiscalregulationswereveryrigidlyenforcedatHamburg，andalongthetwolinesofCuxhavenandTravemunde.M.Eudel，thedirectorofthatdepartment，performedhisdutywithzealanddisinterestedness.Ifeelgratifiedinrenderinghimthistribute.
EnormousquantitiesofEnglishmerchandiseandcolonialproducewereaccumulatedatHolstein，wheretheyalmostallarrivedbywayofKielandHudsum，andweresmuggledoverthelineattheexpenseofapremiumof33
and40percent.Convincedofthisfactbyathousandproofs，andwearyofthevexationsofthepreventivesystem，ItookuponmyselftolaymyopinionsonthesubjectbeforetheEmperor.Hehadgivenmepermissiontowritetohimpersonally，withoutanyintermediateagency，uponeverythingthatImightconsideressentialtohisservice.IsentanextraordinarycouriertoFontainebleau，wherehethenwas，andinmydespatchIinformedhimthat，notwithstandinghispreventiveguard，everyprohibitedarticlewassmuggledinbecausetheprofitsonthesaleinGermany，Poland，Italy，andevenFrance，intowhichthecontrabrandgoodsfoundtheirway，weretooconsiderablenottoinducepersonstoincurallriskstoobtainthem.Iadvisedhim，attheverytimehewasabouttounitetheHanseTownstotheFrenchEmpire，topermitmerchandisetobeimportedsubjecttoadutyof33percent.，whichwasaboutequaltotheamountofthepremiumforinsurance.TheEmperoradoptedmyadvicewithouthesitation，andin1811theregulationproducedarevenueofupwardsof60，000，000francsinHamburgalone.
Thissystem，however，embroileduswithSwedenandRussia，whocouldnotendurethatNapoleonshouldenactastrictblockadefromthem，whilsthewashimselfdistributinglicencesinabundance.Bernadotte，onhiswaytoSweden，passedthroughHamburginOctober1810.Hestayedwithmethreedays，duringwhichtimehescarcelysawanypersonbutmyself.HeaskedmyopinionastowhatheshoulddoinregardtotheContinentalsystem.Ididnothesitatetodeclaretohim，notasaFrenchMinister，butasaprivateindividualtohisfriend，thatinhisplace，attheheadofapoornation，whichcouldonlysubsistbytheexchangeofitsterritorialproductionswithEngland，Iwouldopenmyports，andgivetheSwedesgratuitouslythatgenerallicencewhichBonapartesoldindetailtointrigueandcupidity.
TheBerlindecreecouldnotfailtocauseareactionagainsttheEmperor’sfortunebyraisingupwholenationsagainsthim.Thehurlingoftwentykingsfromtheirthroneswouldhaveexcitedlesshatredthanthiscontemptforthewantsofnations.Thisprofoundignoranceofthemaximsofpoliticaleconomycausedgeneralprivationandmisery，whichintheirturnoccasionedgeneralhostility.ThesystemcouldonlysucceedintheimpossibleeventofallthepowersofEuropehonestlyendeavouringtocarryitintoeffect.Asinglefreeportwouldhavedestroyedit.
Inordertoensureitscompletesuccessitwasnecessarytoconquerandoccupyallcountries，andnevertoevacuatethem.AsameansofruiningEnglanditwascontemptible.ItwasnecessarythatallEuropeshouldbecompelledbyforceofarmstojointhisabsurdcoalition，andthatthesameforceshouldbeconstantlyemployedtomaintainit.Wasthispossible？Thecaptain\"rapporteur\"ofacourt—martialallowedapoorpeasanttoescapethepunishmentduetotheoffenceofhavingboughtaloafofsugarbeyondthecustom—housebarrier.ThisofficerwassometimeafterwardsatadinnergivenbyMarshalDavoust;thelattersaidtohim，\"Youhaveaveryscrupulousconscience，sir;gotoheadquartersandyouwillfindanorderthereforyou.\"ThisordersenthimeightyleaguesfromHamburg.Itisnecessarytohavewitnessed，asIhave，thenumberlessvexationsandmiseriesoccasionedbytheunfortunateContinentalsystemtounderstandthemischiefitsauthorsdidinEurope，andhowmuchthatmischiefcontributedtoNapoleon’sfall.
——[Theso—calledContinentalsystemwasframedbyNapoleoninrevengefortheEnglishvery—extendedsystemofblockades，afterTrafalgarhadputitoutofhispowertoattempttokeeptheseas.
BythesedecreesallportsoccupiedbytheFrenchwereclosedtotheEnglish，andallEnglishgoodsweretobedestroyedwhereverfoundinanycountryoccupiedbytheFrench.AllStatesunderFrenchinfluencehadtoadoptthissystem.ItmustberememberedthatNapoleoneventuallyheldorenforcedhissystemonallthecoastlinesofEurope，exceptthatofSpainandTurkey;butasBourrienneshowstheplanofgivinglicencestobreakhisownsystemwastoolucrativetoberesistedbyhim，or，stillmore，byhisofficers.Fortheworkingofthesystemintheoccupiedlands，LaffitethebankertoldSavaryitwasagrandidea，butimpracticable（Savary，tomev.p.110）.TheEmperorAlexanderisreportedtohavesaid，aftervisitingEnglandin1814，thathebelievedthesystemwouldhavereducedEnglandifithadlastedanotheryear.TheEnglish，whoclaimedtherightofblockadinganycoastwithbutlittleregardtotheeffectivenessoftheblockade，retaliatedbyordersinCouncil，thechiefofwhicharedated7thJanuary1807，and11thNovember1807，bywhichnoshipsofanypowerwereallowedtotradebetweenanyFrenchports，ortheportsofanycountryclosedtoEngland.Whatevertherealmeritsofthesystem，andalthoughitwasthecauseofwarbetweentheUnitedStatesandEngland，itsexecutiondidmosttodamageFranceandNapoleon，andtobandallEuropeagainstit.Itiscuriousthatevenin1831atreatyhadtobemadetosettletheclaimsoftheUnitedStatesonFranceforunjustseizuresunderthesedecrees.
CHAPTERX.
1806—1807.
Newsystemofwar——Winterquarters——TheEmperor’sProclamation——
NecessityofmarchingtomeettheRussians——DistressintheHanseTowns——Orderfor50，000cloaks——SeizureofRussiancornandtimber——
Murat’sentranceintoWarsaw——Re—establishmentofPoland——Duroc’saccident—M.deTalleyrand’scarriagestoppedbythemud——Napoleon’spowerofrousingthespiritofhistroops——Hismodeofdictating——
TheDukeofMecklenburg—Schwerin——HisvisitstoHamburg——TheDukeofWeimar——Hisletterandpresent——JourneyoftheHereditaryPrinceofDenmarktoParis——Batter，theEnglishspy——Travelingclerks——LouisBonaparteandtheBerlindecree——CreationoftheKingdomofSaxony——
VenerationofGermanyfortheKingofSaxony——TheEmperor’suncertaintyrespectingPoland——FetesandreviewsatWarsaw——TheFrenchGovernmentattheEmperor’sheadquarters——MinisterialportfoliossenttoWarsaw.——MilitarypreparationsduringthemonthofJanuary——DifferenceofoursituationdaringthecampaignsofViennaandPrussia——Newsreceivedandsent——ConductoftheCabinetofAustriasimilartothatoftheCabinetofBerlin——BattleofEylau——UnjustaccusationagainstBernadotte——DeathofGenerald’Hautpoult——TeDeumchantedbytheRussians——Gardanne’smissiontoPersiaBonapartewasnotonlybeyondallcomparisonthegreatestcaptainofmoderntimes，buthemaybesaidtohavewroughtacompletechangeintheartofwar.Beforehistimethemostablegeneralsregulatedthefightingseasonbythealmanac.ItwascustomaryinEuropetobravethecannon’smouthonlyfromthefirstfinedaysofspringtothelastfinedaysofautumn;andthemonthsofrain，snow，andfrostwerepassedinwhatwerecalledwinterquarters.Pichegru，inHolland，hadsettheexampleofindifferencetotemperature.AtAusterlitz，too，Bonapartehadbravedtheseverityofwinter;thisansweredhispurposewell，andheadoptedthesamecoursein1806.Hismilitarygeniusandactivityseemedtoincrease，and，proudofhistroops，hedeterminedtocommenceawintercampaigninaclimatemorerigorousthananyinwhichhehadyetfought.
Themen，chainedtohisdestiny，werenowrequiredtobravethenorthernblast，astheyhadformerlybravedtheverticalsunofEgypt.Napoleon，who，aboveallgenerals，wasremarkableforthechoiceofhisfieldsofbattle，didnotwishtowaittranquillyuntiltheRussianarmy，whichwasadvancingtowardsGermany，shouldcometomeasureitsstrengthwithhimintheplainsofconqueredPrussia;heresolvedtomarchtomeetit，andtoreachitbeforeitshouldarosetheVistula;butbeforeheleftBerlintoexploreandconqueror，PolandandtheconfinesofRussia;headdressedaproclamationtohistroops，inwhichhestatedallthathadhithertobeenachievedbytheFrencharmy，andatthesametimeannouncedhisfutureintentions.Itwasespeciallyadvisablethatheshouldmarchforward，for，hadhewaiteduntiltheRussianshadpassedtheVistula，therecouldprobablyhavebeennowintercampaign，andhewouldhavebeenobligedeithertotakeupmiserablewinterquartersbetweentheVistulaandtheOder，ortorecrosstheOdertocombattheenemyinPrussia.
Napoleon’smilitarygeniusandindefatigableactivityservedhimadmirablyonthisoccasion，andtheproclamationjustalludedto，whichwasdatedfromBerlinbeforehisdeparturefromCharlottenburg;provesthathedidnotactfortuitously，ashefrequentlydid，butthathiscalculationswerewell—made.
——[BeforeleavingthecapitalofPrussiaBonapartestolefromthemonument，ofFredericktheGreathisswordandmilitaryorders.HealsoplunderedthegalleriesofBerlinandPotsdamoftheirbestpicturesandstatues，thuscontinuingthesystemhehadbeganisItaly.AllthosethingshesenttoParisastrophiesofvictoryandglory.——Editorofas1836edition.]
Arapidandimmenseimpulsegiventogreatmassesofmenbythe，willofasingleindividualmayproducetransientlustreanddazzletheeyesofthemultitude;butwhen，atadistancefromthetheatreofglory，wefleeonlythemelancholyresultswhichhavebeenproduced.Thegeniusofconquestcanonlyberegardedasthegeniusofdestruction.Whatasadpicturewasoftenpresentedtomyeyes！Iwascontinuallydoomedtohearcomplaintsofthegeneraldistress，andtoexecuteorderswhichaugmentedtheimmensesacrificesalreadymadebythecityofHamburg.Thus，forexample，theEmperordesiredmetofurnishhimwith50，000cloakswhichI
immediatelydid.Ifelttheimportanceofsuchanorderwiththeapproachofwinter，andinaclimate——therigourofwhichourtroopshadnotyetencountered.IalsoreceivedorderstoseizeatLubeck（Whichtown，asIhavealreadystated，hadbeenalternatelytakenandretakentryBlucherandBernadotte）400，000lastsofcorn，——[Alastweighs2000
kilogrammes]——andtosendthemtoMagdeburg.ThiscornbelongedtoRussia.MarshalMortier，too，hadseizedsometimberforbuilding，whichalsobelongedtoRussia;andwhichwasestimatedat1，400，000francs.
MeanwhileourtroopscontinuedtoadvancewithsuchrapiditythatbeforetheendofNovemberMuratarrivedatWarsaw，attheheadoftheadvancedguardoftheGrandArmy，ofwhich，hehadthecommand.TheEmperor’sheadquarters，werethenatPosen，and，hereceiveddeputationsfromallpartssolicitingthere—establishmentandindependenceoftheKingdomofPoland.
RappinformedmethatafterreceivingthedeputationfromWarsawtheEmperorsaidtohim，\"IlovethePoles;theirenthusiasticcharacterpleasesme;Ishouldliketomakethemindependent，butthatisadifficultmatter.Austria，Russia，andPrussiahaveallhadasliceofthecake;whenthematchisoncekindledwhoknowswhere，theconflagrationmaystop？Myfirstduty，istowardsFrance，whichImustnotsacrificetoPoland;wemustreferthismattertothesovereignofallthings——Time，hewillpresentlyshowuswhatwemustdo.\"HadSulkowskylivedNapoleonmighthaverecollectedwhathehadsaidtohiminEgypt，and，inallprobabilityhewouldhaveraisedupapower，thedismembermentofwhich;towardsthecloseofthelastcentury，begantooverturnthepoliticalequilibriumwhichhadsubsistedinEuropesincethepeaceofWestphaliain1648.
ItwasattheheadquartersatPosenthatDurocrejoinedtheEmperorafterhismissiontotheKingofPrussia.Hiscarriageoverturnedontheway，andhehadthemisfortunetobreakhiscollar—bone.AllthelettersI
receivedwerenothingbutasuccessionofcomplaintsonthebadstateoftheroads.Ourtroopswereabsolutelyfightinginmud，anditwaswithextremedifficultythattheartilleryandcaissonsofthearmycouldbemovedalong.M.deTalleyrandhadbeensummonedtoheadquartersbytheEmperor，intheexpectationoftreatingforpeace，andIwasinformedthathiscarriagestuckinthemudandhewasdetainedonhisjourneyfortwelvehours.AsoldierhavingaskedoneofthepersonsinM.deTalleyrand’ssuitewhothetravellerwas，wasinformedthathewastheMinisterforForeignAffairs.\"Ah！bah！\"saidthesoldier，\"whydoeshecomewithhisdiplomacytosuchadevilofacountryasthis？\"
TheEmperorenteredWarsawonthe1stofJanuary1807.Mostofthereportswhichhehadreceivedprevioustohisentrancehadconcurredindescribingthedissatisfactionofthetroops，whoforsometimehadhadtocontendwithbadroads，badweather，andallaortaofprivations.’
Bonapartesaidtothegeneralswhoinformedhimthattheenthusiasmofhistroopshadbeensucceededbydejectionanddiscontent，\"Doestheirspiritfailthemwhentheycomeinsightoftheenemy？\"——\"No，Sire.\"——
\"Iknewit;mytroopsarealwaysthesame.\"ThenturningtoRapphesaid，\"Imustrousethem;\"andhedictatedthefollowingproclamation：
SOLDIERS——ItisayearthisveryhoursinceyouwereonthefieldofAusterlitz，wheretheRussianbattalionsfledindisorder，orsurrendereduptheirarmstotheirconquerors.Nextdayproposals，ofpeaceweretalkedof;buttheyweredeceptive.NosoonerhadtheRussiansescaped，byperhaps，blamablegenerosityfromthedisastersofthethirdcoalitionthantheycontrivedafourth.Buttheallyonwhosetacticstheyfoundedtheirprincipalhopewasnomore.Hiscapital，hisfortresses;hismagazines;hisarsenals，280flags，and700field—pieceshavefallenintoourpower.TheOder，theWartha，thedesertsofPoland，andtheinclemencyoftheseasonhavenotforamomentretardedyourprogress.Youhavebravedall;surmountedall;everyobstaclehasfledatyourapproach.TheRussianshaveinvainendeavouredtodefendthecapitalofancientandillustriousPoland.TheFrencheaglehoversovertheVistula.ThebraveandunfortunatePoles，onbeholdingyou，fanciedtheysawthelegionsofSobieski，returningfromtheirmemorableexpedition.
Soldiers，wewillnotlaydownourarmsuntilageneralpeacehassecuredthepowerofouralliesandrestoredtousourcoloniesandourfreedomoftrade.WehavegainedontheElbeandtheOder，Pondicherry，ourIndianestablishments，theCapeofGoodHope，andtheSpanishcolonies.WhyshouldtheRussianshavetherightofopposingdestinyandthwartingourjustdesigns？TheyandwearestillthesoldierswhofoughtatAusterlitz.
RappthusdescribestheentranceoftheFrenchintoWarsaw，andaddsafewanecdotesconnectedwiththatevent：
\"AtlengthweenteredthePolishcapital.TheKingofNapleshadprecededus，andhaddriventheRussiansfromthecity.Napoleonwasreceivedwithenthusiasm.ThePolesthoughtthatthemomentoftheirregenerationhadarrived，andthattheirwisheswerefulfilled.Itwouldbedifficulttodescribethejoythusevinced，andtherespectwithwhichtheytreatedus.TheFrenchtroops，however，werenotquitesowellpleased;theymanifestedthegreatestrepugnancetocrossingtheVistula.TheideaofwantandbadweatherhadinspiredthemwiththegreatestaversiontoPoland，andtheywereinexhaustible，intheirjokesonthecountry.
WhenBonapartedictatedhisproclamations——andhowmanyhaveInotwrittenfromhisdictation！——hewasforthemomentinspired，andheevincedalltheexcitementwhichdistinguishestheItalianimprovisatori.
Tofollowhimitwasnecessarytowritewithinconceivablerapidity.WhenIhavereadovertohimwhathehasdictatedIhaveoftenknownhimtosmiletriumphantlyattheeffectwhichheexpectedanyparticularphrasewouldproduce.Ingeneralhisproclamationsturnedonthreedistinctpoints——（1）Praisinghissoldiersforwhattheyhaddone;（2）pointingouttothemwhattheyhadyettodo;and（3）abusinghisenemies.TheproclamationtowhichIhavejustnowalludedwascirculatedprofuselythroughGermany，anditisimpossibletoconceivetheeffectitproduced.
onthewholearmy.Thecorpsstationedintherearburnedtoopass，byforcedmarches，thespacewhichstillseparatedthemfromheadquarters;
andthosewhowerenearertheEmperorforgottheirfatiguesandprivationsandwereonlyanxioustoencountertheenemy.TheyfrequentlycouldnotunderstandwhatNapoleonsaidintheseproclamations;butnomatterforthat，theywouldhavefollowedhimcheerfullybarefootedandwithoutprovisions.Suchwastheenthusiasm，orratherthefanaticism，whichNapoleoncouldinspireamonghistroopswhenhethoughtpropertorousethem，ashetermedit.
When，onaformeroccasion，IspokeoftheDukeof，Mecklenburg—Schwerinandhisfamily，Iforgotacircumstancerespectingmyintercoursewithhimwhichnowoccurstomymemory.When，onhisexpulsionfromhisStates，afterthebattleofJena，hetookrefugeinAltona，herequested，throughthemediumofhisMinisteratHamburg，CountvonPlessen，thatI
wouldgivehimpermissionoccasionallytovisitthatcity.ThispermissionIgrantedwithouthesitation;buttheDukeobservednoprecautioninhisvisits，andImadesomefriendlyobservationstohimonthesubject.Iknewtheobjectofhisvisits.ItwasasecretconnectioninHamburg;butinconsequenceofmyobservationsheremovedtheladytoAltona，andassuredmethatheadoptedthatdeterminationtoavoidcommittingme.HeafterwardscameveryseldomtoHamburg;butaswewereonthebestunderstandingwithDenmarkIfrequentlysawhisdaughter，andson—in—law，whousedtovisitmeatahouseIhadinHolstein，nearAltona.
ThereIlikewisesaw，almosteveryday，theDukeofWeimar，anexcellentoldman.Ihadtheadvantageofbeingonsuchtermsofintimacywithhimthatmyhousewasinsomemeasurehis.HealsohadlosthisStates.I
wassohappyastocontributetotheirrestitution，formysituationenabledmetoexercisesomeinfluenceonthepoliticalindulgencesorseveritiesoftheGovernment.IentertainedasincereregardfortheDukeofWeimar，andIgreatlyregrettedhisdeparture.NosoonerhadhearrivedinBerlinthanhewrotemealetterof，thanks，towhichheaddedthepresentofadiamond，intokenofhisgratefulremembranceofme.
TheDukeofMecklenburgwasnotsofortunateastheDukeofWeimar，inspiteofhisalliancewiththereigningfamilyofDenmark.HewasobligedtoremainatAltonauntiltheJulyfollowing，forhisStateswererestoredonlybytheTreatyofTilsit.AssoonasitwasknownthattheEmperorhadreturnstoParistheDuke’sson，theHereditaryPrince，visitedmeinHamburg，andaskedmewhetherIthoughthecouldpresenthimselftotheEmperor，forthepurposeofexpressinghisownandhisfather’sgratitude.Hewasaverywell—educatedyoungman.Hesetout，accompaniedbyM.OertzenandBaronvonBrandstaten.SometimeafterwardsIsawhisnameintheMoniteur，inoneofthelistsofpresentationstoNapoleon，thecollectionofwhich，duringtheEmpire，mightberegardedasageneralregisterofthenobilityofEurope.
Itiscommonlysaidthatwemayaccustomourselvestoanything，buttomethisremarkissubjecttoanexception;for，inspiteofthenecessitytowhichIwasreducedofemployingspies，InevercouldsurmountthedisgustIfeltatthem，especiallywhenIsawmendestinedtofillarespectablerankinsocietydegradethemselvestothatinfamousprofession.Itisimpossibletoconceivetheartificestowhichthesemenresorttogaintheconfidenceofthosewhomtheywishtobetray.Ofthisthefollowingexamplejustnowoccurstomymind.
Oneofthosewretcheswhoareemployedincertaincircumstances，andbyallparties，cametoofferhisservicestome.HisnamewasButler，andhehadbeensentfromEnglandtotheContinentasaspyupontheFrenchGovernment.Heimmediatelycametome，complainingofpretendedenemiesandunjusttreatment.HetoldmehehadthegreatestwishtoservetheEmperor，andthathewouldmakeanysacrificetoprovehisfidelity.
Therealmotiveofhischangeofpartywas，asitiswithallsuchmen，merelythehopeofahigherreward.Mostextraordinaryweretheschemesheadoptedtopreventhisoldemployersfromsuspectingthathewasservingnewones.TomehecontinuallyrepeatedhowhappyhewastoberevengedonhisenemiesinLondon.HeaskedmetoallowhimtogotoParistobeexaminedbytheMinisterofPolice.ThebettertokeepupthedeceptionherequestedthatonhisarrivalinParishemightbeconfinedintheTemple，andthattheremightbeinsertedintheFrenchjournalsanannouncementinthefollowingterms：
\"JohnButler，commonlycalledCountButler，hasjustbeenarrestedandsenttoParisunderagoodescortbytheFrenchMinisteratHamburg.\"
AttheexpirationofafewweeksButler，havingreceivedhisinstruction’s，setoutforLondon，butbywayofprecautionhesaiditwouldbewelltopublishinthejournalsanotherannouncement;whichwasasfollows：
\"JohnButler，whohasbeenarrestedinHamburgasanEnglishagent，andconveyedtoParis，isorderedtoquitFranceandtheterritoriesoccupiedbytheFrencharmiesandtheirallies，andnottoappearthereagainuntilthegeneralpeace.
InEnglandButlerenjoyedthehonoursofFrenchprosecution.HewasregardedasavictimwhodeservedalltheconfidenceoftheenemiesofFrance.HefurnishedFouchewithaconsiderableamountofinformation，andhewasfortunateenoughtoescapebeinghanged.
Notwithstandingthepretendednecessityofemployingsecretagents，Bonapartewasunwillingthat，evenunderthatpretext，toomanycommunicationsshouldbeestablishedbetweenFranceandEngland：Fouche，nevertheless，activelydirectedtheevolutionsofhissecretarmy.EverreadytoseizeonanythingthatcouldgiveimportancetothepoliceandencouragethesuspicionsoftheEmperor，Fouchewrotetomethatthegovernmenthadreceivedcertain——informationthatmanyFrenchmentravelingforcommercialhousesinFrancewereatManchesterpurchasingarticlesofEnglishmanufacture.Thiswastrue;buthowwasittobeprevented？ThesetravelingclerkspassedthroughHolland，wheretheyeasilyprocuredapassagetoEngland.
LouisBonaparte，conceivingthattheKingofHollandoughttosacrificetheinterestsofhisnewsubjectstothewishesofhisbrother，wasatfirstverylenientastothedisastrousContinentalsystem.ButatthisNapoleonsoonmanifestedhisdispleasure，andabouttheendoftheyear1806Louiswasreducedtothenecessityoforderingthestrictobservanceoftheblockade.ThefacilitywithwhichthetravelersofFrenchcommercialhousespassedfromHollandtoEnglandgaverisetootheralarmsonthepartoftheFrenchGovernment.ItwassaidthatsinceFrenchmencouldsoeasilypassfromtheContinenttoGreatBritain，theagentsoftheEnglishCabinetmight，bythesamemeans，findtheirwaytotheContinent.Accordinglytheconsulsweredirectedtokeepawatchfuleye，notonlyuponindividualswhoevidentlycamefromEngland，butuponthosewhomightbyanypossibilitycomefromthatcountry.Thisplanwasallverywell，buthowwasittobeputintoexecution？TheContinentwas，nevertheless，inundatedwitharticlesofEnglishmanufacture，forthissimplereason，that，howeverpowerfulmaybethewillofasovereign，itisstilllesspowerfulandlesslastingthanthewantsofapeople.TheContinentalsystemremindedmeofthelawcreatedbyanancientlegislator，who，foracrimewhichheconceivedcouldnotpossiblybecommitted，condemnedthepersonwhoshouldbeguiltyofittothrowabulloverMountTaurus.
ItisnotmypresentdesigntotraceapictureofthestateofEuropeatthecloseof1806.Iwillmerelythrowtogetherafewfactswhichcametomyknowledgeatthetime，andwhichIfindinmycorrespondence.IhavealreadymentionedthattheEmperorarrivedatWarsawonthe1stofJanuary.DuringhisstayatPosenhehad，byvirtueofatreatyconcludedwiththeElectorofSaxony，foundedanewkingdom，andconsequentlyextendedhispowerinGermany，bytheannexationofthenewKingdomofSaxonytotheConfederationoftheRhine.BythetermsofthistreatySaxony，sojustlyfamedforhercavalry，wastofurnishtheEmperorwithacontingentof20，000menandhorses.
ItwasquiteanewspectacletothePrincesofGermany，allaccustomedtooldhabitsofetiquette，toseeanupstartsovereigntreatthemassubjects，andevenobligethemtoconsiderthemselvesassuch.ThosefamousSaxons，whohadmadeCharlemagnetremble，threwthemselvesontheprotectionoftheEmperor;andtheallianceoftheheadoftheHouseofSaxonywasnotamatterofindifferencetoNapoleon，forthenewKingwas，onaccountofhisage，histastes，andhischaracter，morereveredthananyotherGermanPrince.
FromthemomentofNapoleon’sarrivalatWarsawuntilthecommencementofhostilitiesagainsttheRussianshewascontinuallysolicitedtoreestablishthethroneofPoland，andtorestoreitschivalrousindependencetotheancientempireoftheJagellons.ApersonwhowasatthattimeinWarsawtoldmethattheEmperorwasinthegreatestuncertaintyastowhatheshoulddorespectingPoland.Hewasentreatedtoreestablishthatancientandheroickingdom;buthecametonodecision，preferring，accordingtocustom，tosubmittoevents，thathemightappeartocommandthem.AtWarsaw，indeed，theEmperorpassedagreatpartofhistimeinfetesandreviews，which，however，didnotpreventhimfromwatching，withhiseagleeye，everydepartmentofthepublicservice，bothinteriorandexterior.HehimselfwasinthecapitalofPoland，buthisvastinfluencewaspresenteverywhere.IheardDurocsay，whenwewereconversingtogetheraboutthecampaignofTilsit，thatNapoleon’sactivityandintelligencewerenevermoreconspicuouslydeveloped.
Oneveryremarkablefeatureoftheimperialwarswas，that，withtheexceptionoftheinteriorpolice，ofwhichFouchewasthesoul，thewholegovernmentofFrancewasattheheadquartersoftheEmperor.AtWarsawNapoleon’sattentionwasnotonlyoccupiedwiththeaffairsofhisarmy，buthedirectedthewholemachineryoftheFrenchGovernmentjustthesameasifhehadbeeninParis.Dailyestafettes，andfrequentlytheuselessauditorsoftheCouncilofState，broughthimreportsmoreorlesscorrect，andcuriousdisclosureswhichwerefrequentlytheinventionofthepolice.TheportfoliosoftheMinistersarrivedeveryweek，withtheexceptionofthoseoftheMinisterforForeignAffairsandtheMinisteroftheWarDepartment;theformerhadfirststoppedatMayencewiththeEmpress，buthadbeencalledontoWarsaw;andthelatter，Clarke，was，forthemisfortuneofBerlin，governorofthatcity.ThisstateofthingslastedduringthetenmonthsoftheEmperor’sabsencefromParis.LouisXIV.said，\"IammyselftheState.\"Napoleondidnotsaythis;but，infact，underhisreigntheGovernmentofFrancewasalwaysathisheadquarters.Thiscircumstancehadwell—nighprovedfataltohim，ontheoccasionoftheextraordinaryconspiracyofMalet，withsomepointsofwhichIalone，perhaps，amthoroughlyacquainted.TheEmperoremployedthemonthofJanuaryinmilitarypreparationsfortheapproachingattackoftheRussians，butatthesametimehedidnotneglectthebusinessofthecabinet：withhimnothingwassufferedtolingerinarrear.
WhileNapoleonwasatWarsawabattlewasnottheonlythingtobethoughtabout;affairsweremuchmorecomplicatedthanduringthecampaignofVienna.Itwasnecessary，ontheonehand，toobservePrussia，whichwasoccupied;andontheothertoanticipatetheRussians，whosemovementsindicatedthattheywereinclinedtostrikethefirstblow.IntheprecedingcampaignAustria，beforethetakingofVienna，wasengagedalone.Thecasewasdifferentnow：Austriahadhadonlysoldiers;andPrussia，asBlucherdeclaredtome，wasbeginningtohavecitizens.TherewasnodifficultyinreturningfromVienna，butagreatdealinreturningfromWarsaw，incaseoffailure，notwithstandingthecreationoftheKingdomofSaxony，andtheprovisionalgovernmentgiventoPrussia，andtotheotherStatesofGermanywhichwehadconquered.
NoneoftheseconsiderationsescapedthepenetrationofNapoleon：nothingwasomittedinthenotes，letters，andofficialcorrespondencewhichcametomefromallquarters.Receiving，asIdid，accurateinformationfrommyowncorrespondentsofallthatwaspassinginGermany，itoftenhappenedthatItransmittedtotheGovernmentthesamenewswhichittransmittedtome，notsupposingthatIpreviouslyknewit.Thus，forexample，IthoughtIwasapprisingtheGovernmentofthearmingofAustria，ofwhichIreceivedinformationfromheadquartersafewdaysafter.
DuringthePrussiancampaignAustriaplayedpreciselythesamewaitinggamewhichPrussiahadplayedclueingthecampaignofAustria.AsPrussiahad，beforethebattleofAusterlitz，awaitedthesuccessordefeatoftheFrenchtodecidewhethersheshouldremainneutralordeclareherselfagainstFrance，soAustria，doubtlesssupposingthatRussiawouldbemorefortunateastheallyofPrussiathanshehadbeenasherally，assembledacorpsof40，000meninBohemia.Thatcorpswascalledanarmyofobservation;butthenatureofthesearmiesofobservationiswellknown;theybelongtotheclassofarmedneutralities，liketheingeniousinventionofsanitarycordons.Thefactis，thatthe40，000menassembledinBohemiaweredestinedtoaidandassisttheRussiansincasetheyshouldbesuccessful（andwhocanblametheAustrianGovernmentforwishingtowashawaytheshameoftheTreatyofPresburg？）.Napoleonhadnotamomenttolose，butthisactivityrequirednospur;hehadhastenedthebattleofAusterlitztoanticipatePrussia，andhenowfounditnecessarytoanticipateRussiainordertokeepAustriainastateofindecision.
TheEmperor，therefore，leftWarsawabouttheendofJanuary，andimmediatelygaveordersforengagingtheRussianarmyinthebeginningofFebruary;but，inspiteofhisdesireofcommencingtheattack，hewasanticipated.Onthe8thofFebruary，atseveninthemorning，hewasattackedbytheRussians，whoadvancedduringaterriblestormofsnow，whichfellinlargeflakes.TheyapproachedPreussich—Eylau，wheretheEmperorwas，andtheImperialGuardstoppedtheRussiancolumn.NearlythewholeFrencharmywasengagedinthatbattle—oneofthemostsanguinaryeverfoughtinEurope.ThecorpscommandedbyBernadottewasnotengaged，inthecontest;ithadbeenstationedontheleftatMohrungen，whenceitmenacedDantzic.Theissueofthebattlewouldhavebeenverydifferenthadthefour，divisionsofinfantryandthetwoofcavalrycomposingBernadotte’scorpsarrivedintime;butunfortunatelytheofficerinstructedtoconveyorderstoBernadottetomarchwithoutdelayonPreussich—EylauwastakenbyabodyofCossacks;Bernadotte，therefore，didnotarrive.Bonaparte，whoalwayslikedtothrowblameonsomeoneifthingsdidnotturnoutexactlyashewished，attributedthedoubtfulsuccessofthedaytotheabsenceofBernadotte;inthishewasright;buttomakehisabsenceareproachtothatMarshalwasagrossinjustice.BernadottewasaccusedofnothavingbeenwillingtomarchonPreussich—Eylau，though，asitwasalleged，Generald’Hautpoulthadinformedhimofthenecessityofhispresence.Buthowcanthatfactbeascertained，sinceGenerald’Hautpoultwaskilledonthatsameday？WhocanassureusthatthatGeneralhadbeenabletocommunicatewiththeMarshal？
ThosewhoknewBonaparte，hiscunning，andtheartfuladvantagehewouldsometimestakeofwordswhichheattributedtothedead，willeasilysolvetheenigma.ThebattleofEylauwasterrible.Nightcameon—
Bernadotte’scorpswasinstantly，butinvain，expected;andafteragreatlosstheFrencharmyhadthemelancholyhonourofpassingthenightonthefieldofbattle.Bernadotteatlengtharrived，buttoolate.Hemettheenemy，whowereretreatingwithoutthefearofbeingmolestedtowardsKonigsberg，theonlycapitalremainingtoPrussia.TheKingofPrussiawasthenatMemel，asmallportontheBaltic，thirtyleaguesfromKonigsberg.
AfterthebattleofEylaubothsidesremainedstationary，andseveraldayselapsedwithoutanythingremarkabletakingplace.TheoffersofpeacemadebytheEmperor，withverylittleearnestnessitistrue，weredisdainfullyrejected，asifavictorydisputedwithNapoleonwastoberegardedasatriumph.ThebattleofEylauseemedtoturntheheadsoftheRussians，whochantedTeDeumontheoccasion.ButwhiletheEmperorwasmakingpreparationstoadvance，hisdiplomacywastakingeffectinadistantquarter，andraisingupagainstRussiaanoldandformidableenemy.Turkeydeclaredwaragainsther.Thiswasapowerfuldiversion，andobligedRussiatostripherwesternfrontierstosecurealineofdefenceonthesouth.
SometimeafterGeneralGardannesetoutonthefamousembassytoPersia;
forwhichthewayhadbeenpavedbythesuccessofthemissionofmyfriend，AmedeeJaubert.ThisembassywasnotmerelyoneofthosepompouslegationssuchasCharlemagne，LouisXIV.，andLouisXVI.receivedfromtheEmpressIrene，theKingofSiam，andTippooSaib.ItwasconnectedwithideaswhichBonapartehadconceivedattheverydawnofhispower.
Itwas，indeed，thelightfromtheEastwhichfastenabledhimtoseehisgreatnessinperspective;andthatlightneverceasedtofixhisattentionanddazzlehisimagination.IknowwellthatGardanne’sembassywasatfirstconceivedonamuchgranderscalethanthatonwhichitwasexecuted.NapoleonhadresolvedtosendtotheShahofPersia4000infantry，commandedbychosenandexperiencedofficers，10，000
muskets，and50pieces，ofcannon;andIalsoknowthatordersweregivenfortheexecutionofthisdesign.TheavowedobjectoftheEmperorwastoenabletheShahofPersiatomakeanimportantdiversion，with80，000
men，in，theeasternprovincesofRussia.Buttherewaslikewiseanother，anoldandconstantobject，whichwasalways，uppermostinNapoleon’smind，namelythewishtostrikeatEnglandintheveryheartofherAsiaticpossessions.SuchvastheprincipalmotiveofGardanne’smission，butcircumstancesdidnotpermittheEmperor，to，give，it，alltheimportancehedesired.Hecontentedhimselfwithsendingafewofficersofengineersandartillery，toPersia，who，ontheirarrival，wereastonishedatthenumberofEnglishtheyfoundthere.
EndoftheMemoirsofNapoleon，V9，1807
MemoirsofNapoleonBonaparte，V10
byLouisAntoineFauveletdeBourrienneHisPrivateSecretaryEditedbyR.W.PhippsColonel，LateRoyalArtillery1891
CONTENTS：
CHAPTERXI.toCHAPTERXVIII.1807—1809
CHAPTERXI.
1807
Abuseofmilitarypower——Defenceofdiplomaticrights——MarshalBrune——Armysupplies——Englishclothandleather——Arrestonachargeoflibel——DispatchfromM.Talleyrand——ApageofNapoleon’sglory——
InterviewbetweenthetwoEmperorsatTilsit，——SilesiarestoredtotheQueenofPrussia——UnfortunatesituationinPrussia——
ImpossibilityofreestablishingPolandin1807——FoundationoftheKingdomofWestphalia——TheDuchyofWarsawandtheKingofSaxony.
Meanwhiletheinternalaffairsofthetownsoverwhichmydiplomaticjurisdictionextendedsoongavememoreemploymentthanever.ThegreatestmisfortuneoftheEmpirewas，perhaps，theabuseoftherightarrogatedbythewearersofepaulettes.Mysituationgavemeanopportunityofobservingalltheodiouscharacterofamilitarygovernment.AnotherinmyplacecouldnothavedoneallthatIdid.I
saythisconfidently，formy，situationwasadistinctandindependentone，asBonapartehadtoldme：BeingauthorisedtocorresponddirectlywiththeEmperor;themilitarychiefsfeared，iftheydidnotyieldtomyjustrepresentations，thatIwouldmadeprivatereports;thisapprehensionwaswonderfullyusefulinenablingmetomaintaintherightsofthetowns，whichhadadoptedmeastheirfirstcitizen.
AcircumstanceoccurredinwhichIhadtodefendtherightsofthediplomaticandcommercialagentsagainstthepretensionsofmilitarypower.MarshalBruneduringhisgovernmentatHamburg，wenttoBremman.
towatchthestrictexecutionoftheillusiveblockadeagainstEngland.
TheMarshalactingnodoubt，inconformitywiththeinstructionsofClarke，thenMinisterofWarandGovernorofBerlin，wishedtoarrogatetherightofdecidingonthecapturesmadebyourcruisers.
HeattemptedtopreventtheConsulLagaufromsellingtheconfiscatedshipsinordertosellthemhimself.OfthisM.Lagaucomplainedtome.
ThemoreIobservedadispositiontoencroachonthepartofthemilitaryauthorities，themoreIconceiveditnecessarytomaintaintherightsoftheconsuls，andtofavourtheirinfluence，withoutwhichtheywouldhavelosttheirconsideration.TothecomplaintsofM.LagauIreplied，\"Thattohimalonebelongedtherightofdeciding，inthefirstinstance，onthefateoftheships;thathecouldnotbedeprivedofthatrightwithoutchangingthelaw;thathewasfreetoselltheconfiscatedPrussianships;thatMarshallBrunewasatBremenonlyfortheexecutionofthedecreerespectingtheblockadeofEngland，andthatheoughtnottointerfereinbusinessunconnectedwiththatdecree.\"LagaushowedthislettertoBrune，whothenallowedhimtodoashewished;butitwasanaffairofprofit，andtheMarshalforalongtimeowedmeagrudge.
Bernadottewasexceedinglydisinterested，buthelovedtobetalkedabout.ThemoretheEmperorendeavouredtothrowaccusationsuponhim，themorehewasanxioustogivepublicitytoallhisactions.HesenttomeanaccountofthebrilliantaffairofBraunsburg，inwhichadivisionofthefirstcorpshadbeenparticularlydistinguished.Alongwiththisnarrativehesentmeanoteinthefollowingterms：——\"Isendyou，mydear.Minister，anaccountoftheaffairofBraunsburg.Youwill，perhaps，thinkpropertopublishit.InthatcaseIshallbeobligedbyyourgettingitinsertedintheHamburgjournals，\"Ididso.TheinjusticeoftheEmperor，andthebadwayinwhichhespokeofBernadotte，obligedthelatter，——forthesakeofhisowncredit，tomakethetruthknowntotheworld.
IhavealreadymentionedthatIreceivedanorderfromtheEmperortosupply50，000cloaksforthearmy.Withthisorder，whichwasnottheonlyoneIreceivedofthesamekind，somecircumstanceswereconnectedwhichImaytakethepresentopportunityofexplaining.
TheEmperorgavemesomanyordersforarmyclothingthatallthatcouldbesuppliedbythecitiesofHamburg，Bremen，andLubeckwouldhavebeeninsufficientforexecutingthecommissions.IenteredintoatreatywithahouseinHamburg，whichIauthorised，inspiteoftheBerlindecree，tobringclothandleatherfromEngland.ThusIprocuredthesearticlesinasureandcheapway.OurtroopsmighthaveperishedofcoldhadtheContinentalsystemandtheabsurdmassofinexecutabledecreesrelativetoEnglishmerchandisebeenobserved.
TheDirectoroftheCustomsatHamburggotangry，butIheldfirm：myclothsandmyleatherarrived;cloaks，coats;boots，allwerepromptlymade，andoursoldiersthuswereshelteredfromtheseverityoftheseason.TopreservepeacewiththeImperialCustom—houseIwrotetoM.
Collie，thenDirector—General，thatM.Eudelhavingwishedtoputinexecutionthelawofthe10thBrumaireanV，complaintshadbeenmadeoneveryside.MarshalBruneaskedformyopiniononthismatter，andI
gaveittohim.IdeclaredtoM.Colliethatthefullexecutionofthedecreeof31stOctober1796wasimpracticable，injurioustoFrance，andtotheHanseaticTowns，withoutdoingharmtoEngland.Indeed，whatsaidarticle5ofthislaw？\"Allgoodsimportedfromforeigncountries，whatevermaybetheirorigin，aretobeconsideredascomingfromEnglishmanufacturers.\"AccordingtothisarticleFrancewasaforeigncountryfortheHanseaticTowns，andnoneoftheobjectsenumeratedinthisarticleoughttoenterHamburg！ButthetownreceivedfromEnglandalargequantityoffinecloths，buttons;ironmongery，toys，china;andfromFranceonlyclocks，bronzes，jewellery，ribbons，bonnets，gauzesandgloves.\"Let，\"saidItoM.Eudel，\"theParisDuanebeaskedwhatthattownaloneexportsinmattersofthissortanditwillbeseenhowimportantitisnottostopatradeallthemoreprofitabletoFrance，astheworkmanshipformsthegreatestpartofthepriceofthegoodswhichmakeupthistrade.WhatwouldhappeniftheimportationofthesegoodswereabsolutelyprohibitedinHamburg？Theconsignmentswouldcease，andoneofthemostproductivesourcesoftradeforFrance，andespeciallyforPariswouldbecutoff.