ItwasBaronPlessen，theDukeofMecklenburg’sMinisterofState，whofavouredmewithasightoftheKingofDenmark’sletters.M.Plessentoldme，likewise，atthetimethattheDukehadformedtheirrevocabledeterminationofnotreceivinghisdaughter.AfewdaysafterherarrivalthePrincessvisitedMadamedeBourrienne.Sheinvitedustoherparties，whichwereverybrilliant，andseveraltimesdidusthehonourofbeingpresentatours.But;unfortunately，theextravaganceofherconduct，whichwasveryunsuitabletohersituation，soonbecamethesubjectofgeneralanimadversion.
ImentionedatthecloseofthelastchapterhowthepromptitudeofM.deChampagnybroughtabouttheconclusionofthetreatyknownbythenameoftheTreatyofSchoenbrunn.UnderthistheancientedificeoftheGermanEmpirewasoverthrown，andFrancisII.ofGermanybecameFrancisI.，EmperorofAustria.He，however，couldnotsay，likehisnamesakeofFrance，’Toutestperduforsl’honneur’;forhonourwassomewhatcommitted，evenhadnothingelsebeenlost.ButthesacrificesAustriawascompelled，tomakeweregreat.TheterritoriescededtoFrancewereimmediatelyunitedintoanewgeneralgovernment，underthecollectivedenominationoftheIllyrianProvinces.NapoleonthusbecamemasterofbothsidesoftheAdriatic，byvirtueofhistwofoldtitleofEmperorofFranceandKingofItaly.Austria，whoseexternalcommercethusreceivedacheck，hadnolongeranydirectcommunicationwiththesea.ThelossofFiume，Trieste，andthesea—coastappearedsovastasacrificethatitwasimpossibletolookforwardtothedurationofapeacesodearlypurchased.
TheaffairofStaps，perhaps，madeNapoleonanxioustohurryawayfromSchoenbrunn，forhesetoffbeforehehadratifiedthepreliminariesofthepeace，announcingthathewouldratifythematMunich.HeproceededingreathastetoNymphenburg，wherehewasexpectedonavisittotheCourtofBavaria.HenextvisitedtheKingofWurtemberg，whomhepronouncedtobethecleverestsovereigninEurope，andattheendofOctoberhearrivedatFontainebleau.FromthenceheproceededonhorsebacktoParis，andherodesorapidlythatonlyasinglechasseurofhisescortcouldkeepupwithhim，and，attendedbythisoneguard，heenteredthecourtoftheTuileries.WhileNapoleonwasatFontainebleau，beforehisreturntoParis，Josephineforthefirsttimeheardthedivorcementioned;theideahadoccurredtotheEmperor’smindwhilehewasatSchoenbrunn.ItwasalsowhileatFontainebleauthatNapoleonappointedM.deMontalivettobeMinisteroftheInterior.TheletterswhichwereceivedfromParisatthisperiodbroughtintelligenceofthebrilliantstateofthecapitalduringthewinterof1809，andespeciallyofthesplendouroftheImperialCourt，wheretheEmperor’sleveeswereattendedbytheKingsofSaxony，Bavaria，andWurtemberg，alleagertoevincetheirgratitudetotheherowhohadraisedthemtothesovereignrank.
IwasthefirstpersoninHamburgwhoreceivedintelligenceofNapoleon’sprojectedmarriagewiththeArchduchessMariaLouisa.ThenewswasbroughttomefromViennabytwoestafettes.ItisimpossibletodescribetheeffectproducedbytheanticipationofthiseventthroughoutthenorthofGermany.
——["NapoleonoftenreflectedonthebestmodeofmakingthiscommunicationtotheEmpress;stillhewasreluctanttospeaktoher.Hewasapprehensiveoftheconsequencesofhersusceptibilityoffeeling;hisheartwasneverproofagainstthesheddingoftears.
Hothought，however，thatafavourableopportunityofferedforbreakingthesubjectpreviouslytohisquittingFontainebleau.HehintedatitinafewwordswhichbehadaddressedtotheEmpress，buthedidnotexplainhimselfuntilthearrivaloftheviceroy，whomhehadorderedtojoinhim.Hewasthefirstpersonwhospokeopenlytohismotherandobtainedherconsentforthatbittersacrifice.Heactedontheoccasionlikeakindsonandamangratefultohisbenefactoranddevotedtohisservice，bysparinghimthenecessityofunpleasantexplanationstowardsapartnerwhoseremovalwasasacrificeaspainfultohimasitwasaffecting：TheEmperor，havingarrangedwhateverrelatedtothefutureconditionoftheEmpress，uponwhomhemadealiberalsettlement，urgedthemomentofthedissolutionofthemarriage，nodoubtbecausehefeltgrievedattheconditionoftheEmpressherself，whodinedeverydayandpassedhereveningsinthepresenceofpersonswhowerewitnessingherdescentfromthethrone.ThereexistedbetweenhimandtheEmpressJosephinenootherbondthanacivilact，accordingtothecustomwhichprevailedatthetimeofthismarriage.Nowthelawhadforeseenthedissolutionofsuchmarriageoontracts.A
particulardayhavingthereforebeenfixedupon，theEmperorbroughttogetherintohisapartmentsthosepersonswhoseministrywasrequiredinthiscase;amongstothers，theArch—ChancellorandM.
RegnaultdeSt.Jeand’Angely.TheEmperorthendeclaredinaloudvoicehisintentionofannullingthemarriagehehadcontractedwithJosephine，whowaspresent;theEmpressalsomadethesamedeclaration，whichwasinterruptedbyherrepeatedsobs.ThePrinceArch—Chancellorhavingcausedthearticleofthelawtoberead，heappliedittothecambeforehim，anddeclaredthemarriagetobedissolved"（MemoirsofadDuedeRovigo）.]——
FromallpartsthemerchantsreceivedorderstobuyAustrianstock，inwhichanextraordinaryriseimmediatelytookplace.Napoleon’smarriagewithMariaLouisawashailedwithenthusiasticandgeneraljoy.Theeventwasregardedastheguaranteeofalongpeace，anditwashopedtherewouldbealastingcessationofthedisasterscreatedbytherivalryofFranceandAustria.ThecorrespondenceIreceivedshowedthatthesesentimentsweregeneralintheinteriorofFrance，andindifferentcountriesofEurope;and，inspiteofthepresentimentsIhadalwayshadofthereturnoftheBourbonstoFrance，Inowbegantothinkthateventproblematic，oratleastveryremote.
Aboutthebeginningoftheyear1810commencedthedifferencesbetweenNapoleonandhisbrotherLouis，which，asIhavealreadystated，endedinacompleterupture.Napoleon’sobjectwastomakehimselfmasterofthenavigationoftheScheldtwhichLouiswishedshouldremainfree，andhenceensuedtheunionofHollandwiththeFrenchEmpire.HollandwasthefirstprovinceoftheGrandEmpirewhichNapoleontookthenewEmpresstovisit.Thisvisittookplacealmostimmediatelyafterthemarriage.NapoleonfirstproceededtoCompiegne，whereheremainedaweek.HenextsetoutforSt.Quentin，andinspectedthecanal.TheEmpressMariaLouisathenjoinedhim，andtheybothproceededtoBelgium.
AtAntwerptheEmperorinspectedalltheworkswhichhehadordered，andtotheexecutionofwhichheattachedgreatimportance.HereturnedbywayofOstend，Lille，andNormandytoSt.Cloud，wherehearrivedonthe1stofJune1810.HetherelearnedfrommycorrespondencethattheHanseTowns—refusedtoadvancemoneyforthepayoftheFrenchtroops.Themenwereabsolutelydestitute.Ideclaredthatitwasurgenttoputanendtothisstateofthings.TheHansetownshadbeenreducedfromopulencetomiserybytaxationandexactions，andwerenolongerabletoprovidethefunds.
DuringthisyearNapoleon，inafitofmadness，issuedadecreewhichI
cannotcharacterisebyanyotherepithetthaninfernal.IalludetothedecreeforburningalltheEnglishmerchandiseinFrance，Holland，theGrandDuchyofBerg，theHanseTowns;inshort，inallplacessubjecttothedisastrousdominionofNapoleon.IntheinteriorofFrancenoideacouldpossiblybeformedofthedesolationcausedbythismeasureincountrieswhichexistedbycommerce;andwhataspectaclewasitto，the，destituteinhabitantsofthosecountriestowitnessthedestructionofpropertywhich，haditbeendistributed，wouldhaveassuagedtheirmisery！
AmongtheemigrantswhomIwasorderedtowatchwasM.deVergennes，whohadalwaysremainedatornearHamburgSinceApril1808.IinformedtheMinisterthatM.deVergenneshadpresentedhimselftomeatthistime.
IevenrememberthatM.deVergennesgavemealetterfromM.deRemusat，theFirstChamberlainoftheEmperor.M.deRemusatstronglyrecommendedtomehisconnection，whowascalledbymattersofimportancetoHamburg.
Residenceinthistownwas，however，tooexpensive，andhedecidedtoliveatNeumuhl，alittlevillageontheElbe，rathertothewestofAltona.TherehelivedquietlyinretirementwithanoperadancernamedMademoiselleLedoux，withwhomhehadbecomeacquaintedinParis，andwhomhehadbroughtwithhim.Heseemedmuchtakenwithher.Hismanneroflivingdidnotdenotelargemeans.
OnedutywithwhichIwasentrusted，andtowhichgreatimportancewasattached，wastheapplicationandexecutionofthedisastrousContinentalsysteminthenorth.InmycorrespondenceIdidnotconcealthedissatisfactionwhichthisruinousmeasureexcited，andtheEmperor’seyeswereatlengthopenedonthesubjectbythefollowingcircumstance.
InspiteofthesinceritywithwhichtheDanishGovernmentprofessedtoenforcetheContinentalsystem，Holsteincontainedagreatquantityofcolonialproduce;and，notwithstandingthemeasuresofseverity，itwasnecessarythatthatmerchandiseshouldfindamarketsomewhere.ThesmugglersoftensucceededinintroducingitintoGermany，andthewholewouldprobablysoonhavepassedthecustom—houselimits.Allthingsconsidered，Ithoughtitadvisabletomakethebestofanevilthatcouldnotbeavoided.IthereforeproposedthatthecolonialproducetheninHolstein，andwhichhadbeenimportedbeforethedateoftheKing’sedictforitsprohibition，shouldbeallowedtoenterHamburgonthepaymentof30，andonsomearticles40，percent.Thisdutywastobecollectedatthecustom—house，andwastobeconfinedentirelytoarticlesconsumedinGermany.ThecolonialproduceinAltona，Glnckstadt，Husum，andothertownsofHolstein，leadbeenestimated，atabout30，000，000francs，andthedutywouldamountto10，000，000or12，000，000.TheadoptionoftheplanIproposedwouldnaturallyputastoptosmuggling;foritcouldnotbedoubtedthatthemerchantswouldgive30or33percentfortherightofcarryingonalawfultraderatherthangive40percent.tothesmugglers，withthechanceofseizure.
TheEmperorimmediatelyadoptedmyidea，forItransmittedmysuggestionstotheMinisterforForeignAffairsonthe18thofSeptember，andonthe4thofOctoberadecreewasissuedconformabletotheplanIproposed.
Withinsixweeksafterthedecreecameintooperationthecustom—houseDirectorreceived1300declarationsfrompersonsholdingcolonialproduceinHolstein.Itnowappearedthatthedutieswouldamountto40，000，000
francs，thatistosay，28，000，000or30，000，000morethanmyestimate.
BernadottehadjustbeennominatedPrinceRoyalofSweden.Thisnomination，withallthecircumstancesconnectedwithit，aswellasBernadotte’sresidenceinHamburg，beforeheproceededtoStockholm，willbeparticularlynoticedinthenextchapter.Imerelymentionthecircumstanceheretoexplainsomeeventswhichtookplaceinthenorth，andwhichwere，moreorless，directlyconnectedwithit.Forexample，inthemonthofSeptemberthecourseofexchangeonSt.Petersburgsuddenlyfell.AlltheletterswhicharrivedinHamburgfromthecapitalofRussiaandfromRiga，attributedthefalltotheelectionofthePrinceofPonte—CorvoasPrinceRoyalofSweden.OfthirtyletterswhichIreceivedtherewasnotonebutdescribedtheconsternationwhichtheeventhadcreatedinSt.Petersburg.Thisconsternation，however，mighthavebeenexcitedlessbythechoiceofSwedenthanbythefearthatthatchoicewasinfluencedbytheFrenchGovernment.
CHAPXXII.
1809—1810.
BernadotteelectedPrinceRoyalofSweden——CountWrede’soverturestoBernadotte——Bernadottes’sthreedays’visittoHamburg——
ParticularsrespectingthebattleofWagram——SecretOrderoftheday——LastintercourseofthePrinceRoyalofSwedenwithNapoleon——
MyadvicetoBernadotterespectingtheContinentalsystem.
InowcometooneoftheperiodsofmylifetowhichIlookbackwithmoatsatisfaction，thetimewhenBernadottewaswithmeinHamburg.I
willbrieflyrelatetheseriesofeventswhichledtheopposerofthe18thBrumairetothethroneofSweden.
Onthe13thofmarch1809GustavusAdolphuswasarrested，andhisuncle，theDukeofSudermania，provisionallytookthereinsofGovernment.A
fewdaysafterwardsGustavuspublishedhisactofabdication，whichinthestateofSwedenitwasimpossibleforhimtorefuse.InMayfollowing，theSwedishDiethavingbeenconvokedatStockholm，theDukeofSudermaniawaselectedKing.ChristianAugustus，theonlysonofthatmonarch，ofcoursebecamePrinceRoyalontheaccessionofhisfathertothethrone.He，however，diedsuddenlyattheendofMay1810，andCountFersen（thesamewhoattheCourtofMarieAntoinettewasdistinguishedbytheappellationof’lebeauFersen’），wasmassacredbythepopulace，whosuspected，perhapsunjustly，thathehadbeenaccessorytothePrince’sdeath.
——[CountFereen，allegedtohavebeenoneofthefavouredloversofMarieAntoinette，andwhowascertainlydeepinherconfidence，hadarrangedmostofthedetailsoftheattemptedflighttoVarennesin1791，andhehimselfdrovetheRoyalfamilytheirfirststagetothegatesofParis.]——
Onthe21stofAugustfollowingBernadottewaselectedPrinceRoyalofSweden.
AfterthedeathofthePrinceRoyaltheDukeofSudermania’sson，CountWrede，aSwede，madethefirstoverturestoBernadotte，andannouncedtohimtheintentionentertainedatStockholmofofferinghimthethroneofSweden.BernadottewasatthattimeinParis，andimmediatelyafterhisfirstinterviewwithCountWredehewaitedontheEmperoratSt.Cloud;
Napoleoncoollyrepliedthathecouldbeofnoservicetohim;thateventsmusttaketheircourse;thathemightacceptorrefusetheofferashechose;thathe（Bonaparte）wouldplacenoobstaclesinhisway，butthathecouldgivehimnoadvice.ItwasveryevidentthatthechoiceofSwedenwasnotveryagreeabletoBonaparte，andthoughheafterwardsdisavowedanyoppositiontoit，hemadeoverturestoStockholm，proposingthatthecrownofSwedenshouldbeaddedtothatofDenmark.
BernadottethenwenttothewatersofPlombieres，andonhisreturntoParishesentmealetterannouncinghiselevationtotherankofPrinceRoyalofSweden.
Onthe11thofOctoberhearrivedinHamburg，wherehestayedonlythreedays.Hepassednearlythewholeofthattimewithme，andhecommunicatedtomemanycuriousfactsconnectedwiththesecrethistoryofthetimes，andamongotherthingssomeparticularsrespectingthebattleofWagram.IwasthefirsttomentiontothenewPrinceRoyalofSwedenthereportsofthedoubtfulmannerinwhichthetroopsunderhiscommandbehaved.IremindedhimofBonaparte’sdissatisfactionatthesetroops;fortherewasnodoubtoftheEmperorbeingtheauthorofthecomplaintscontainedinthebulletins，especiallyashehadwithdrawnthetroopsfromBernadotte’scommand.BernadotteassuredmethatNapoleon’scensurewasunjust;duringthebattlehehadcomplainedofthelittlespiritmanifestedbythesoldiers."Herefusedtoseeme，"addedBernadotte，"andIwastold，asareasonforhisrefusal，thathewasastonishedanddispleasedtofindthat，notwithstandinghiscomplaints，ofwhichImusthaveheard，Ihadboastedofhavinggainedthebattle，andhadpubliclycomplimentedtheSaxonswhomIcommanded."
BernadottethenshowedmethebulletinhedrewupafterthebattleofWagram.IremarkedthatIhadneverheardofabulletinbeingmadebyanyotherthantheGeneralwhowasCommander—in—Chiefduringabattle，andaskedhowtheaffairended.HethenhandedtomeacopyoftheOrderoftheday，whichNapoleonsaidhehadsentonlytotheMarshalscommandingthedifferentcorps.
Bernadotte’sbulletinwasprintedalongwithBonaparte’sOrderoftheDay，athingquiteunparalleled.
ThoughIwasmuchinterestedinthisaccountofBonaparte’sconductafterthebattleofWagram;yetIwasmorecurioustoheartheparticularsofBernadotte’slastcommunicationwiththeEmperor.ThePrinceinformedmethatonhisreturnfromPlombieresheattendedthelevee，whentheEmperoraskedhim，beforeeveryonepresent，whetherhehadreceivedanyrecentnewsfromSweden.
Herepliedintheaffirmative."Whatisit？"inquiredNapoleon."Sire，IaminformedthatyourMajesty’scharged’afairesatStockholmopposesmyelection.ItisalsoreportedtothosewhochoosetobelieveitthatyourMajestygivesthepreferencetotheKingofDenmark."——"Atthesewords，"continuedBernadotte，"theEmperoraffectedsurprise，whichyouknowhecandoveryartfully.Heassuredmeitwasimpossible，andthenturnedtheconversationtoanothersubject.
"Iknownotwhattothinkofhisconductinthisaffair.Iamawarehedoesnotlikeme;——buttheinterestsofhispolicymayrenderhimfavourabletoSweden.ConsideringthepresentgreatnessandpowerofFrance，Iconceivedittobemydutytomakeeverypersonalsacrifice.
ButIsweartoHeaventhatIwillnevercommitthehonourofSweden.He，however，expressedhimselfinthebestpossibletermsinspeakingofCharlesXIII.andme.HeatfirststartednoobstacletomyacceptanceofthesuccessiontothethroneofSweden，andheorderedtheofficialannouncementofmyelectiontobeimmediatelyinsertedintheMoniteur’.
TendayselapsedwithouttheEmperor’ssayingawordtomeaboutmydeparture.AsIwasanxioustobeoff，andallmypreparationsweremade，Ideterminedtogoandaskhimfortheletterspatenttorelievemefrommyoathoffidelity，whichIhadcertainlykeptfaithfullyinspiteofallhisill—treatmentofme.Heatfirstappearedsomewhatsurprisedatmyrequest，and，afteralittlehesitation，hesaid，’Thereisapreliminaryconditiontobefulfilled;aquestionhasbeenraisedbyoneofthemembersofthePrivyCouncil.’——’Whatcondition，Sire？’——’Youmustpledgeyourselfnottobeararmsagainstme.’——’DoesyourMajestysupposethatIcanbindmyselfbysuchanengagement？MyelectionbytheDietofSweden，whichhasmetwithyourMajesty’sassent，hasmademeaSwedishsubject，andthatcharacterisincompatiblewiththepledgeproposedbyamemberoftheCouncil.IamsureitcouldneverhaveemanatedfromyourMajesty，andmustproceedfromtheArch—ChancellorortheGrandJudge，whocertainlycouldnothavebeenawareoftheheighttowhichthepropositionwouldraiseme.’——’Whatdoyoumean？’——’If，Sire，youpreventmeacceptingacrownunlessIpledgemyselfnottobeararmsagainstyou，doyounotreallyplacemeonalevelwithyouasaGeneral？’
"WhenIdeclaredpositivelythatmyelectionmustmakemeconsidermyselfaSwedishsubjecthefrowned，andseemedembarrassed.WhenIhaddonespeakinghesaid，inalowandfalteringvoice，’Well，go.Ourdestinieswillsoonbeaccomplished！’ThesewordswereutteredsoindistinctlythatIwasobligedtobegpardonfornothavingheardwhat.hesaid，andherepented，’Go！ourdestinieswillsoonbeaccomplished！’InthesubsequentconversationswhichIhadwiththeEmperorItriedallpossiblemeanstoremovetheunfavourablesentimentshecherishedtowardsme.Irevivedmyrecollectionsofhistory.Ispoketohimofthegreatmenwhohadexcitedtheadmirationoftheworld，ofthedifficultiesandobstacleswhichtheyhadtosurmount;and，aboveall，Idweltuponthatsolidglorywhichisfoundedontheestablishmentandmaintenanceofpublictranquillityandhappiness.TheEmperorlistenedtomeattentively，andfrequentlyconcurredinmyopinionastotheprinciplesoftheprosperityandstabilityofStates.Onedayhetookmyhandandpresseditaffectionately，asiftoassuremeofhisfriendshipandprotection.ThoughIknewhimtobeanadeptintheartofdissimulation，yethisaffectedkindnessappearedsonaturalthatI
thoughtallhisunfavourablefeelingtowardsmewasatanend.Ispoketopersonsbywhomourtwofamilieswereallied，requestingthattheywouldassuretheEmperorofthereciprocityofmysentiments，andtellhimthatIwasreadytoassisthisgreatplansinanywaynothostiletotheinterestsofSweden.
"Wouldyoubelieve，mydearfriend，thatthepersonstowhomImadethesecandidprotestationslaughedatmycredulity？TheytoldmethataftertheconversationinwhichtheEmperorhadsocordiallypressedmyhand.
IhadscarcelytakenleaveofhimwhenhewasheardtosaythatIhadmadeagreatdisplayofmylearningtohim，andthathehadhumouredmelikeachild.Hewishedtoinspiremewithfullconfidencesoastoputmeoffmyguard;andIknowforacertaintythathehadthedesignofarrestingme.
"But，"pursuedBernadotte，"inspiteofthefeelingofanimositywhichI
knowtheEmperorhascherishedagainstmesincethe18thBrumaire，Idonotthink，whenonceIshallbeinSweden，thathewillwishtohaveanydifferenceswiththeSwedishGovernment.Imusttellyou，alsobehasgivenme2，000，000francsinexchangeformyprincipalityofPonte—Corvo.
Halfthesumhasbeenalreadypaid，whichwillbeveryusefultomeindefrayingtheexpensesofmyjourneyandinstallation.WhenIwasabouttostepintomycarriagetosetoff，anindividual，whomyoumustexcusemenaming，cametobidmefarewell，andrelatedtomealittleconversationwhichhadjusttakenplaceattheTuileries.Napoleonsaidtotheindividualinquestion，’Well，doesnotthePrinceregretleavingFrance？’——’Certainly，Sire.’——’Astome，Ishouldhavebeenverygladifhehadnotacceptedhiselection.Butthereisnohelpforit
Hedoesnotlikeme.’——’Sire，ImusttakethelibertyofsayingthatyourMajestylaboursunderamistake.IknowthedifferenceswhichhaveexistedbetweenyouandGeneralBernadotteforthelastsixyears.I
knowhowheopposedtheoverthrowoftheDirectory;butIalsoknowthatthePrincehaslongbeensincerelyattachedtoyou.’——’Well，Idaresayyouareright.Butwehavenotunderstoodeachother.Itisnowtoolate.Hehashisinterestsandhispolicy，andIhavemine.’"
"Such，"addedthePrince，"weretheEmperor’slastobservationsrespectingmetwohoursbeforemydeparture.TheindividualtowhomI
havejustalluded，spoketruly，mydearBourrienne.IamindeedsorrytoleaveFrance;andInevershouldhaveleftitbutfortheinjusticeofBonaparte.IfeverIascendthethroneofSwedenIshallowemycrowntohisill—treatmentofme;forhadhenotpersecutedmebyhisanimositymyconditionwouldhavesufficedforasoldieroffortune：butwemustfollowourfate."
DuringthethreedaysthePrincespentwithmeIhadmanyotherconversationswithhim.HewishedmetogivehimmyadviceastothecourseheshouldpursuewithregardtotheContinentalsystem."Iadviseyou，"saidI，"torejectthesystemwithouthesitation.Itmaybeveryfineintheory，butitisutterlyimpossibletocarryitintopractice，anditwill，intheend，givethetradeoftheworldtoEngland.Itexcitesthedissatisfactionofourallies，who，inspiteofthemselves，willagainbecomeourenemies.Butnoothercountry，exceptRussia，isinthesituationofSweden.Youwantanumberofobjectsofthefirstnecessity，whichnaturehaswithheldfromyou.Youcanonlyobtainthembyperfectfreedomofnavigation;andyoucanonlypayforthemwiththosepeculiarproductionsinwhichSwedenabounds.Itwouldbeoutofallreasontocloseyourportsagainstanationwhorulestheseas.Itisyournavythatwouldbeblockaded，nothers.WhatcanFrancedoagainstyou？Shemayinvadeyoubyland.ButEnglandandRussiawillexertalltheireffortstoopposeher.Byseaitisstillmoreimpossiblethatsheshoulddoanything.ThenyouhavenothingtofearbutRussiaandEngland，anditwillbeeasyforyoutokeepupfriendlyrelationswiththesetwopowers.Takemyadvice;sellyouriron，timber，leather，andpitch;takeinreturnsalt，wines，brandy，andcolonialproduce.ThisisthewaytomakeyourselfpopularinSweden.If，onthecontrary，youfollowtheContinentalsystem，youwillbeobligedtoadoptlawsagainstsmuggling，whichwilldrawuponyouthedetestationofthepeople."
SuchwastheadvicewhichIgavetoBernadottewhenhewasabouttocommencehisnewandbrilliantcareer.InspiteofmysituationasaFrenchMinisterIcouldnothavereconciledittomyconsciencetogivehimanyothercounsel，forifdiplomacyhasdutiessoalsohasfriendship.Bernadotteadoptedmyadvice，andtheKingofSwedenhadnoreasontoregrethavingdoneso.
CHAPTERXXIII.
1810
Bernadotte’sdeparturefromHamburg——TheDukeofHolstein—
Augustenburg——ArrivaloftheCrownPrinceinSweden——
MisunderstandingsbetweenhimandNapoleon——LetterfromBernadottetotheEmperor——PlotforkidnappingthePrinceRoyalofSweden——
InvasionofSwedishPomerania——ForcedallianceofSwedenwithEnglandandRussia——Napoleon’soverturestoSweden——Bernadotte’slettersofexplanationtotheEmperor——ThePrincessRoyalofSweden——MyrecalltoParis——UnionoftheHanseTownswithFrance——
DissatisfactionofRussia——ExtraordinarydemandmadeuponmebyBonaparte——Fidelityofmyoldfriends——DurocandRapp——VisittoMalmaison，andconversationwithJosephine.
WhileBernadottewaspreparingtofillthehighstationtowhichhehadbeencalledbythewishesofthepeopleofSweden，NapoleonwasinvolvedinhismisunderstandingwiththePope，——[Itwasaboutthistimethat，irritatedatwhathecalledthecaptivePope’sunreasonableobstinacy，Bonaparteconceived，andsomewhatopenlyexpressed，hisnotionofmakingFrancesProtestantcountry，andchangingthereligionof30，000，000ofpeoplebyanImperialdecree.Oneortwoofthegoodsayingsofthewitty，accomplished，andchivalrousComteLouisdeNarbonnehavealreadybeengiveninthecourseofthesevolumes.Thefollowingisanotherofthem：
"ItellyonwhatIwilldo，Narbonne——ItellyouhowIwillventmyspiteonthisoldfoolofaPope，andthedotardswhomaysucceedhimsaidNapoleononedayattheTuileries."IwillmakeaschismasgreatasthatofLuther——IwillmakeFranceaProtestantcountry！"
"OSire，"repliedtheCount，"Iseedifficultiesinthewayofthisproject.Inthesouth，intheVendee，innearlyallthewest，theFrencharebigotedCatholicsandevenwhatlittlereligionremainsamongusinourcitiesandgreattownsisoftheRomanChurch."
"Nevermind，Narbonne——nevermind！——IshallatleastcarryalargeportionoftheFrenchpeoplewithme——Iwillmakeadivision！"Sire，repliedNarbonne，"IamafraidthatthereisnotenoughreligioninallFrancetostanddivision！"—Editorof1836edition.]——
andintheaffairsofPortugal，whichwerefarfromproceedingaccordingtohiswishes.BernadottehadscarcelyquittedHamburgforSwedenwhentheDukeofHolstein—Augustenburgarrived.TheDukewasthebrotherofthelastPrinceRoyalofSweden，whomBernadottewascalledtosucceed，andhecametoescorthissisterfromAltonatoDenmark.HisjourneyhadbeenretardedforsomedaysonaccountofthepresenceofthePrinceofPonte—GorvoinHamburg：thepreferencegrantedtoBernadottehadmortifiedhisambition，andhewasunwillingtocomeincontactwithhisfortunaterival.TheDukewasfavoured，bytheEmperorofRussia.
AssoonashearrivedinSwedenBernadottedirectedhisaidedecamp，GeneralLentildeSt.Alphonse，toinformmeofhissafepassage.
ShortlyafterIreceivedaletterfromBernadottehimself，recommendingoneofhisaidesdecamp，M.Villatte，whowasthebearerofit.ThislettercontainedthesamesentimentsoffriendshipasthoseIusedtoreceivefromGeneralBernadotte，andformedacontrastwiththecorrespondenceofKingJerome，whowhenhewrotetomeassumedtheregalcharacter，andprayedthatGodwouldhavemeinhisholykeeping.
However，thefollowingisthePrinceRoyal’sletter：
MYDEARBOURRIENNE——IhavedirectedM.VillattetoseeyouonhiswaythroughHamburg，andtobearmyfriendlyremembrancestoyou.
Lentilhasaddressedhislettertoyou，whichIsupposeyouhavealreadyreceived.Adieu，careformealways，andbelieveintheinalterableattachmentofyours，（Signed）CHARLESJOHN.
P.S.——Ibegyonwillpresentmycomplimentstomadameandallyourfamily.Embracemylittlecousinforme.
Thelittlecousin，socalledbyBernadotte，wasoneofmydaughters，thenachild，whomBernadotteusedtobeveryfondofwhilehewasatHamburg.
Departingfromtheorderofdate，Iwillanticipatethefuture，andrelateallIknowrespectingtherealcausesofthemisunderstandingwhicharosebetweenBernadotteandNapoleon.BonaparteviewedthechoiceoftheSwedeswithgreatdispleasure，becausehewaswellawarethatBernadottehadtoomuchintegrityandhonourtoservehiminthenorthasapoliticalpuppetsetinmotionbymeansofspringswhichhemightpullatParisorathisheadquarters.Hisdissatisfactionuponthispointoccasionedaninterestingcorrespondence，partofwhich，consistingoflettersfromBernadottetotheEmperor，isinmypossession.TheEmperorhadallowedBernadottetoretaininhisservice，forayearatleast，theFrenchofficerswhowerehisaidesdecamp——butthatpermissionwassoonrevoked，endthePrinceRoyalofSwedenwrotetoNapoleonaletterofremonstrance.
Napoleon’sdissatisfactionwiththePrinceRoyalnowchangedtodecidedresentment.HerepentedhavingaccededtohisdeparturefromFrance，andhemadenosecretofhissentiments，forhesaidbeforehiscourtiers，"ThathewouldliketosendBernadottetoVincennestofinishhisstudyoftheSwedishlanguage."Bernadottewasinformedofthis，buthecouldnotbelievethattheEmperorhadeverentertainedsuchadesign.
However，aconspiracywasformedinSwedenagainstBernadotte，whomapartyofforeignbrigandswerehiredtokidnapintheneighbourhoodofRaga;buttheplotwasdiscovered，andtheconspiratorswerecompelledtoembarkwithouttheirprey.TheEmperorhavingatthesametimeseizeduponSwedishPomerania，thePrinceRoyalwrotehimasecondletterintheseterms：
FromthepaperswhichhavejustarrivedIlearnthatadivisionofthearmy，underthecommandofthePrinceofEckmuhl，invadedSwedishPomeraniaonthenightofthe26thofJanuary;thatthedivisioncontinuedtoadvance，enteredthecapitaloftheDuchy，andtookpossessionoftheislandofRugen.TheKingexpectsthatyourMajestywillexplainthereasonswhichhaveinducedyoutoactinamannersocontrarytothefaithofexistingtreaties.MyoldconnectionwithyourMajestywarrantsmeinrequestingyoutodeclareyourmotiveswithoutdelay，inorderthatImaygivemyadvicetotheKingastotheconductwhichSwedenoughthereaftertoadopt.ThisgratuitousoutrageagainstSwedenisfeltdeeplybythenation，andstillmore，Sire，byme，towhomisentrustedthehonourofdefendingit.ThoughIhavecontributedtothetriumphsofFrance，thoughIhavealwaysdesiredtoseeherrespectedandhappy;
yetIcanneverthinkofsacrificingtheinterests，honour，andindependenceofthecountrywhichhasadoptedme.YourMajesty，whohassoreadyaperceptionofwhatisjust，mustadmittheproprietyofmyresolution.ThoughIamnotjealousofthegloryandpowerwhichsurroundsyou，Icannotsubmittothedishonourofbeingregardedasavassal.YourMajestygovernsthegreatestpartofEurope，butyourdominiondoesnotextendtothenationwhichIhavebeencalledtogovern;myambitionislimitedtothedefenceofSweden.TheeffectproduceduponthepeoplebytheinvasionofwhichIcomplainmayleadtoconsequenceswhichitisimpossibletoforesee;andalthoughIamnotaCoriolanus，anddonotcommandtheVolsci，IhaveasufficientlygoodopinionoftheSwedestoassureyouthattheydareundertakeanythingtoavengeinsultswhichtheyhavenotprovoked，andtopreserverightstowhichtheyareasmuchattachedastotheirlives.
IwasinPariswhentheEmperorreceivedBernadotte’sletterontheoccupationofSwedishPomerania.WhenBonapartereaditIwasinformedthatheflewintoaviolentrage，andevenexclaimed，"Youshallsubmittoyourdegradation，ordieswordinhand！"Buthisragewasimpotent.
TheunexpectedoccupationofSwedishPomeraniaobligedtheKingofSwedentocometoadecidedrupturewithFrance，andtoseekotherallies，forSwedenwasnotstrongenoughinherselftomaintainneutralityinthemidstofthegeneralconflagrationofEuropeafterthedisastrouscampaignofMoscow.ThePrinceRoyal，therefore，declaredtoRussiaandEnglandthatinconsequenceoftheunjustinvasionofPomeraniaSwedenwasatwarwithFrance，andhedespatchedComtedeLowenhjelm，theKing’saidedecamp，withaletterexplanatoryofhisviews.NapoleonsentmanynotestoStockholm，whereM.Alquier，hisAmbassador，accordingtohisinstructions，hadmaintainedahaughtyandeveninsultingtonetowardsSweden.Napoleon’sovertures，afterthemanifestationsofhisanger，andaftertheattempttocarryoffthePrinceRoyal，whichcouldbeattributedonlytohim，wereconsideredbythePrinceRoyalmerelyasasnare.ButinthehopeofreconcilingthedutiesheowedtobothhisoldandhisnewcountryheaddressedtotheEmperoramoderateletter：
ThisletterthrowsgreatlightontheconductoftheEmperorwithrespecttoBernadotte;forNapoleonwasnotthemanwhomanyonewhateverwouldhaveventuredtoremindoffacts，theaccuracyofwhichwasintheleastdegreequestionable.SuchthenweretherelationsbetweenNapoleonandthePrinceRoyalofSweden.WhenIshallbringtolightsomecurioussecrets，whichhavehithertobeenveiledbeneaththemysteriesoftheRestoration，itwillbeseenbywhatmeansNapoleon，beforehisfall，againsoughttowreakhisvengeanceuponBernadotte.
Ohthe4thofDecemberIhadthehonourtoseethePrincessRoyalofSweden，——[MadameBernadotte，afterwardsQueenofSweden，wasaMademoiselleClary，andyoungersistertothewifeofJosephBonaparte]——
whoarrivedthatdayatHamburg.ShemerelypassedthroughthecityonherwaytoStockholmtojoinherhusband，butsheremainedbutashorttimeinSweden，——twomonths，Ibelieve，atmost，notbeingabletoreconcileherselftotheancientScandinavia.AstothePrinceRoyal，hesoonbecameinuredtotheclimate，havingbeenformanyyearsemployedinthenorth.
AfterthismystayatHamburgwasnotoflongduration.Bonaparte’spassionforterritorialaggrandisementknewnobounds;andtheturnoftheHanseTownsnowarrived.Bytakingpossessionofthesetownsandterritorieshemerelyaccomplishedadesignformedlongpreviously.
I，however，wasrecalledwithmanycompliments，andunderthespeciouspretextthattheEmperorwishedtohearmyopinionsrespectingthecountryinwhich.Ihadbeenresiding.AtthebeginningofDecemberI
receivedaletterfromM.deChampagnystatingthattheEmperorwishedtoseemeinordertoconsultwithmeupondifferentthingsrelatingtoHamburg.InthisnoteIwastold"thattheinformationIhadobtainedrespectingHamburgandthenorthofGermanymightbeusefultothepublicinterest，whichmustbethemostgratifyingrewardofmylabours."Thereceptionwhichawaitedmewillpresentlybeseen.TheconclusionoftheletterspokeinveryflatteringtermsofthemannerinwhichIhaddischargedmyduties.Ireceiveditonthe8thofDecember，andnextdayIsetoutforParis.WhenIarrivedatMayenceIwasenabledtoformacorrectideaofthefinecomplimentswhichhadbeenpaidme，andoftheEmperor’sanxietytohavemyopinionrespectingtheHanseTowns.InMayenceImetthecourierwhowasproceedingtoannouncetheunionoftheHanseTownswiththeFrenchEmpire.Iconfessthat，notwithstandingtheexperienceIhadacquiredofBonaparte’sduplicity，orrather，oftheinfinitemultiplicityofhisartifices，hecompletelytookmebysurpriseonthatoccasion.
OnmyarrivalinParisIdidnotseetheEmperor，butthefirst’Moniteur’Ireadcontainedtheformulaofa’Senatus—consulte，’whichunitedtheHanseTowns，Lauenburg，etc.，totheFrenchEmpirebytherightofthestrongest.ThisnewandimportantaugmentationofterritorycouldnotfailtogiveuneasinesstoRussia.AlexandermanifestedhisdissatisfactionbyprohibitingtheimportationofouragriculturalproduceandmanufacturesintoRussia.Finally，astheContinentalsystemhaddestroyedalltradebytheportsoftheBaltic，RussiashowedherselfmorefavourabletotheEnglish，andgraduallyreciprocalcomplaintsofbadfaithledtothatwarwhoseunfortunateissuewasstyledbyM.
Talleyrand"thebeginningoftheend."
IhavenowtomakethereaderacquaintedwithanextraordinarydemandmadeuponmebytheEmperorthroughthemediumofM.deChampagny.InoneofmyfirstinterviewswiththatMinisteraftermyreturntoParishethusaddressedme："TheEmperorhasentrustedmewithacommissiontoyouwhichIamobligedtoexecute：’WhenyouseeBourrienne，’saidtheEmperor，’tellhimIwishhimtopay6，000，000intoyourchesttodefraytheexpenseofbuildingthenewOfficeforForeignAffairs.’"IwassoastonishedatthisunfeelingandinconsideratedemandthatIwasutterlyunabletomakeairyreply.ThisthenwasmyrecompenseforhavingobtainedmoneyandsuppliesduringmyresidenceatHamburgtotheextentofnearly100，000，000，bywhichhistreasuryandarmyhadprofitedinmomentsofdifficulty！M.deChampagnyaddedthattheEmperordidnotwishtoreceiveme.HeaskedwhatanswerheshouldbeartohisMajesty.
Istillremainedsilent，andtheMinisteragainurgedmetogiveananswer."Well，then，"saidI，"tellhimhemaygotothedevil."TheMinisternaturallywishedtoobtainsomevariationfromthislaconicanswer，butIwouldgivenoother;andIafterwardslearnedfromDurocthatM.deChampagnywascompelledtocommunicateittoNapoleon.
"Well，"askedthelatter，"haveyouseenBourrienne？"——"Yes，Sire."——"DidyoutellhimIwishedhimtopay6，000，000intoyourchest？"——"Yes，Sire."——"Andwhatdidhesay？"——"Sire，IdarenotinformyourMajesty."——"Whatdidhesay？Iinsistuponknowing."——"Sinceyouinsistonmytellingyou，Sire，M.deBourriennesaidyourMajestymightgoto—
thedevil."——"Ah！ah！didhereallysayso？"TheEmperorthenretiredtotherecessofawindow，whereheremainedaloneforsevenoreightminutes，bitinghisnails;inthefashionofBerthier，anddoubtlessgivingfreescopetohisprojectsofvengeance.HethenturnedtotheMinisterandspoketohimofquiteanothersubject：Bonapartehadsonursedhimselfintheideaofmakingmepaythe6，000，000thateverytimehepassedtheOfficeforForeignAffairshesaidtothosewhoaccompaniedhint;"Bourriennemustpayforthatafterall."
——[ThisdemandofmoneyfromBourrienneisexplainedinErreurs（tomeii，p.228）bythesonofDavoust.BourriennehadbeensuspectedbyNapoleonofmakinglargesumsatHamburgbyallowingbreachesoftheContinentalsystem.InonelettertoDavoustNapoleonspeaksofan"immensefortune，"andinanother，thatBourrienneisreportedtohavegainedsevenoreightmillionsatHamburgingivinglicencesormakingarbitraryseizures.]——
ThoughIwasnotadmittedtothehonourofsharingthesplendouroftheImperialCourt;yetIhadthesatisfactionoffindingthat;inspiteofmydisgrace，thoseofmyoldfriendswhowereworthanythingevincedthesameregardformeasheretofore.IoftensawDuroc;whosnatchedsomemomentsfromhismoreseriousoccupationstocomeandchatwithmerespectingallthathadoccurredsincemysecessionfromBonaparte’scabinet.IshallnotattempttogiveaverbatimaccountofmyconversationswithDuroc，asIhaveonlymymemorytoguideme;butI
believeIshallnotdepartfromthetruthindescribingthemasfollows：
OnhisreturnfromthelastAustriancampaignNapoleon;asIhavealreadystated，proceededtoFontainebleau，wherehewasjoinedbyJosephine.
Then，forthefirsttime，thecommunicationwhichhadalwaysexistedbetweentheapartmentsofthehusbandandwifewasclosed.Josephinewasfullyalivetothefatalprognosticswhichweretobededucedfromthisconjugalseparation.Durocinformedmethatshesentforhim，andonenteringherchamber，hefoundherbathedintears."Iamlost！"sheexclaimedinatoneofvoicetheremembranceofwhichseemedsensiblytoaffectDurocevenwhilerelatingthecircumstancetome："Iamutterlylost！allisovernow！You，Duroc，Iknow，havealwaysbeenmyfriend，andsohasRapp.Itisnotyouwhohavepersuadedhimtopartfromme.
ThisistheworkofmyenemiesSavaryandJunot！Buttheyaremorehisenemiesthanmine.AndmypoorEugeneIhowwillhebedistressedwhenhelearnsIamrepudiatedbyanungratefulman！YesDuroc，Imaytrulycallhimungrateful，MyGod！myGod！whatwillbecomeofus？"
JosephinesobbedbitterlywhileshethusaddressedDuroc.
BeforeIwasacquaintedwiththesingulardemandwhichM.deChampagnywasinstructedtomaketomeIrequestedDuroctoinquireoftheEmperorhisreasonfornotwishingtoseeme.TheGrandMarshalfaithfullyexecutedmycommission，buthereceivedonlythefollowinganswer：
"DoyouthinkIhavenothingbettertodothantogiveBourrienneanaudience？thatwouldindeedfurnishgossipforParisandHamburg.Hehasalwayssidedwiththeemigrants;hewouldbetalkingtomeofpasttimes;hewasforJosephine！Mywife，Duroc，isnearherconfinement;
Ishallhaveason，Iamsure！Bourrienneisnotamanoftheday;
IhavemadegiantstridessinceheleftFrance;inshort，Idonotwanttoseehim.Heisagrumblerbynature;andyouknow，mydearDuroc，I
donotlikemenofthatsort."
IhadnotbeenaboveaweekinPariswhenDurocrelatedthisspeechtome.RappwasnotinFranceatthetime，tomygreatregret.MuchagainsthisinclinationhehadbeenappointedtosomedutiesconnectedwiththeImperialmarriageceremonies，butshortlyafter，havinggivenoffencetoNapoleonbysomeobservationrelatingtotheFaubourgSt.
Germain，hehadreceivedorderstorepairtoDantzic，ofwhichplacehehadalreadybeenGovernor.
TheEmperor’srefusaltoseememademysituationinParisextremelydelicate;andIwasatfirstindoubtwhetherImightseekaninterviewwithJosephine.Duroc，however，havingassuredmethatNapoleonwouldhavenoobjectiontoit，Iwroterequestingpermissiontowaituponher.
Ireceivedananswerthesameday，andonthemorrowIrepairedtoMalmaison.Iwasusheredintothetentdrawing—room，whereIfoundJosephineandHortense.WhenIenteredJosephinestretchedoutherhandtome，saying，"Ah！myfriend！"Thesewordsshepronouncedwithdeepemotion，andtearspreventedherfromcontinuing.Shethrewherselfontheottomanontheleftofthefireplace，andbeckonedmetositdownbesideher.Hortensestoodbythefireplace，endeavouringtoconcealhertears.Josephinetookmyhand，whichshepressedinbothherown;and，afterastruggletoovercomeherfeelings，shesaid，"MydearBourrienne，Ihavedrainedmycupofmisery.Hehascastmeoff！
forsakenme！HeconferreduponmethevaintitleofEmpressonlytorendermyfallthemoremarked.Ah！wejudgedhimrightly！Iknewthedestinythatawaitedme;forwhatwouldhenotsacrificetohisambition！"AsshefinishedthesewordsoneofQueenHortense’sladiesenteredwithamessagetoher;Hortensestayedafewmoments，apparentlytorecoverfromtheemotionunderwhichshewaslabouring，andthenwithdrew，sothatIwasleftalonewithJosephine.Sheseemedtowishforthereliefofdisclosinghersorrows，whichIwascurioustohearfromherownlips;womenhavesuchastrikingwayoftellingtheirdistresses.JosephineconfirmedwhatDurochadtoldmerespectingthetwoapartmentsatFontainebleau;then，comingtotheperiodwhenBonapartehaddeclaredtoherthenecessityofaseparation，shesaid，鞍
MydearBourrienne;duringalltheyearsyouwerewithusyouknowImadeyoutheconfidantofmythoughts，andkeptyouacquaintedwithmysadforebodings.Theyarenowcruellyfulfilled.Iactedthepartofagoodwifetotheverylast.Ihavesufferedall，andIamresigned！
Whatfortitudediditrequirelatterlytoenduremysituation，when，thoughnolongerhiswife，Iwasobligedtoseemsointheeyesoftheworld！Withwhateyesdocourtierslookuponarepudiatedwife！IwasinastateofvagueuncertaintyworsethandeathuntilthefataldaywhenheatlengthavowedtomewhatIhadlongbeforereadinhislooks！Onthe30thofNovember1809wewerediningtogetherasusual，Ihadnotutteredawordduringthatsaddinner，andhehadbrokensilenceonlytoaskoneoftheservantswhato’clockitwas.AssoonasBonapartehadtakenhiscoffeehedismissedalltheattendants，andIremainedalonewithhim.Isawintheexpressionofhiscountenancewhatwaspassinginhismind，andIknewthatmyhourwascome.Hesteppeduptome——hewastrembling，andIshuddered;hetookmyhand，pressedittohisheart，andaftergazingatmeforafewmomentsinsilenceheutteredthesefatalwords：’Josephine！mydearJosephine！YouknowhowIhavelovedyou！
Toyou，toyoualone，IowetheonlymomentsofhappinessIhavetastedinthisworld.But，Josephine，mydestinyisnottobecontrolledbymywill.MydearestaffectionsmustyieldtotheinterestsofFrance.’——’Saynomore，’Iexclaimed，’Iunderstandyou;Iexpectedthis，buttheblowisnotthelessmortal.’Icouldnotsayanotherword，"
continuedJosephine;"IknownotwhathappenedafterIseemedtolosemyreason;Ibecameinsensible，andwhenIrecoveredIfoundmyselfinmychamber.YourfriendCorvisartandmypoordaughterwerewithme.
Bonapartecametoseemeintheevening;andoh！Bourrienne，howcanI
describetoyouwhatIfeltatthesightofhim;eventheinterestheevincedformeseemedanadditionalcruelty.Alas！IhadgoodreasontofeareverbecominganEmpress！"
Iknewnotwhatconsolationtooffer：toJosephine;andknowingasIdidthenaturallightnessofhercharacter，Ishouldhavebeensurprisedtofindhergriefsoacute，afterthelapseofayear，hadInotbeenawarethattherearecertainchordswhich，whenstruck，donotspeedilyceasetovibrateintheheartofawoman.IsincerelypitiedJosephine，andamongallthethingsIsaidtoassuagehersorrow，theconsolationtowhichsheappearedmostsensiblewasthereprobationwhichpublicopinionhadpronouncedonBonaparte’sdivorce，andonthissubjectIsaidnothingbutthetruth，forJosephinewasgenerallybeloved.IremindedherofapredictionIhadmadeunderhappiercircumstances，viz.onthedaythatshecametovisitusinourlittlehouseatRuel."Mydearfriend，"saidshe，"Ihavenotforgottenit，andIhaveoftenthoughtofallyouthensaid.Formypart，IknewhewaslostfromthedayhemadehimselfEmperor.Adieu！Bourrienne，comeandseemesoonagain;comeoften，forwehaveagreatdealtotalkabout;youknowhowhappyIalwaysamtoseeyou."Suchwas，tothebestofmyrecollection，whatpassedatmyfirstinterviewwithJosephineaftermyreturnfromHamburg.
CHAPTERXXIV
1811
ArrestofLaSahla——Myvisittohim——HisconfinementatVincennes——
SubsequenthistoryofLaSahla——HissecondjourneytoFrance——
Detonatingpowder——PlothatchedagainstmebythePrinceofEckmuhl——FriendlyofficesoftheDuedeRovigo——Bugbearsofthepolice——
Savary，MinisterofPolice.
IhadbeeninParisabouttwomonthswhenayoungmanofthenameofLaSahlawasarrestedonthesuspicionofhavingcomefromSaxonytoattemptthelifeoftheEmperor.LaSahlainformedtheDuodeRovigo，thenMinisterofthePolice，thathewishedtoseeme，assigningasareasonforthisthereputationIhadleftbehindmeinGermany.TheEmperor，I
presume，hadnoobjectiontotheinterview，forIreceivedaninvitationtovisittheprisoner.IaccordinglyrepairedtothebranchofficeoftheMinisterofthePolice，intheRuedesSt.Peres，whereIwasintroducedtoayoungmanbetweenseventeenandeighteenyearsofage.
Myconversationwiththeyoungman，whoseunclewas，Ibelieve，MinistertotheKingofSaxony，interestedmegreatlyinhisbehalf;Idetermined，ifpossible，tosaveLaSahla，andIsucceeded.IproceededimmediatelytotheDuodeRovigo，andIconvincedhimthatunderthecircumstancesofthecaseitwasimportanttomakeitbebelievedthattheyoungmanwasinsane.Iobservedthatifhewerebroughtbeforeacourthewouldrepeatallthathehadstatedtome，andprobablyenterintodisclosureswhichmightinstigatefreshattemptsatassassination.PerhapsanavengerofLaSahlamightriseupamongstthestudentsofLeipzig，atwhichuniversityhehadspenthisyouth.Thesereasons，togetherwithothers，hadthesuccessIhopedfor.TheEmperorafterwardsacknowledgedtheprudentcoursewhichhadbeenadoptedrespectingLaSahla;whenspeakingatSt.Helenaoftheconspiraciesagainsthislifehesaid，"IcarefullyconcealedallthatIcould."
InconformitywithmyadviceLaSahlawassenttoVincennes，whereheremaineduntiltheendofMarch1814，HewasthenremovedtothecastleofSaumur，fromwhichhewasliberatedatthebeginningofApril.Ihadheardnothingofhimforthreeyears，whenoneday，shortlyaftertheRestoration，whilstsittingatbreakfastwithmyfamilyatmyhouseintheRueHauteville，Iheardanextraordinarynoiseintheantechamber，andbeforeIhadtimetoascertainitscauseIfoundmyselfinthearms.
ofayoungman，whoembracedmewithextraordinaryardour.ItwasLaSahla.Hewasinatransportofgratitudeandjoyathisliberation，andattheaccomplishmentoftheeventswhichhehadwishedtoacceleratebyassassination.LaSahlareturnedtoSaxonyandIsawnomoreofhim，butwhileIwasinHamburgin1815，whitherIwasseatbyLouisXVIII.，I
learnedthatonthe5thofJuneaviolentexplosionwasheardintheChamberofRepresentativesatParis，whichwasatfirstsupposedtobeaclapofthunder，butwassoonascertainedtohavebeenoccasionedbyayoungSamsonhavingfallenwithapacketofdetonatingpowderinhispocket.
OnreceivingthisintelligenceIimagined，Iknownotwhy，thatthisyoungSaxonwasLaSahla，andthathehadprobablyintendedtoblowupNapoleonandeventheLegislativeBody;butIhavesinceascertainedthatIwasunderamistakeastohisintentions.MyknowledgeofLaSahla’scandourinducesmetobelievethetruthofhisdeclarationstothepolice;andiftherebeanyinaccuraciesinthereportofthesedeclarationsIdonothesitatetoattributethemtothepoliceitself，ofwhichFouchewastheheadattheperiodinquestion.
Itisthelatterpartofthereportwhichinducedmetoobserveabove，thatiftherewereanyinaccuraciesinthestatementtheyweremorelikelytoproceedfromFouche’spolicethanthefalserepresentationsofyoungLaSahla.Itisdifficulttogivecreditwithoutprooftosuchaccusations.However，Idecidenothing;butIconsideritmydutytoexpressdoubtsofthetruthofthesechargesbroughtagainstthetwoPrussianministers，ofwhomthePrinceofWittgenstein，amanofundoubtedhonour，hasalwaysspokentomeinthebestofterms.
ThereisnothingtoprovethatLaSahlareturnedtoFrancethesecondtimewiththesameintentionsasbefore.Thisproject，however，isamysterytome，andhisdetonatingpowdergivesrisetomanyconjectures.
IhadscarcelyleftHamburgwhenthePrinceofEckmuhl（MarshalDavoust）
wasappointedGovernor—GeneralofthatplaceontheunionoftheHanseTownswiththeEmpire.FromthatperiodIwasconstantlyoccupiedincontendingagainstthepersecutionsanddenunciationswhichherackedhisimaginationtoinvent.IcannothelpattributingtothosepersecutionstheEmperor’scoolnesstowardsmeonmyarrivalinParis.ButasDavoust’scalumniesweredevoidofproof，heresortedtoaschemebywhichacertainappearanceofprobabilitymightsupplytheplaceoftruth.WhenIarrivedinParis，atthecommencementof1811，IwasinformedbyanexcellentfriendIhadleftatHamburg，M.Bouvier，anemigrant，andoneofthehostagesofLouisXVI.，thatinafewdaysI
wouldreceivealetterwhichwouldcommitme，andlikewiseM.deTalleyrandandGeneralRapp.Ihadneverhadanyconnectiononmattersofbusiness，witheitheroftheseindividuals，forwhomIentertainedthemostsincereattachment.They，likemyself，werenotinthegoodgracesofMarshalDavoust，whocouldnotpardontheoneforhisincontestablesuperiorityoftalent，andtheotherforhisblunthonesty.OnthereceiptofM.Bouvier’sletterIcarriedittotheDuedeRovigo，whosesituationmadehimperfectlyawareoftheintrigueswhichhadbeencarriedonagainstmesinceIhadleftHamburgbyonewhoseambitionaspiredtotheViceroyaltyofPoland.Onthat，asonmanyothersimilaroccasions，theDucdeRovigoadvocatedmycausewithNapoleon.WeagreedthatitwouldbebesttoawaitthearrivaloftheletterwhichM.Bouvierhadannounced.Threeweekselapsed，andtheletterdidnotappear.TheDucdeRovigo，therefore，toldmethatImusthavebeenmisinformed.
However，IwascertainthatM.Bouvierwouldnothavesentmetheinformationonslightgrounds，andIthereforesupposedthattheprojecthadonlybeendelayed.Iwasnotwronginmyconjecture，foratlengththeletterarrived.Towhatadepthofinfamymencandescend！The.
letterwasfromamanwhomIhadknownatHamburg，whomIhadobliged，whomIhademployedasaspy.Hisepistlewasamiracleofimpudence.
Afterrelatingsomeextraordinarytransactionswhichhesaidhadtakenplacebetweenus，andwhichallborethestampoffalsehood，herequestedmetosendhimbyreturnofpostthesumof60，000francsonaccountofwhatIhadpromisedhimforsomebusinessheexecutedinEnglandbythedirectionofM.deTalleyrand，GeneralRapp，andmyself.Suchmiserablewretchesareoftencaughtinthesnarestheyspreadforothers.Thiswasthecaseinthepresentinstance，forthefellowhadcommitted，theblunderoffixingupontheyear1802astheperiodofthispretendedbusinessinEngland，thatistosay，twoyearsbeforemyappointmentasMinister—PlenipotentiarytotheHanseTowns.ThisanachronismwasnottheonlyoneIdiscoveredintheletter.
Itookacopyoftheletter，andimmediatelycarriedtheoriginaltotheDucdeRovigo，ashadbeenagreedbetweenus.WhenIwaitedontheMinisterhewasjustpreparingtogototheEmperor.HetookwithhimtheletterwhichIbrought，andalsotheletterwhichannounceditsarrival.AstheDucdeRovigoenteredtheaudience—chamberNapoleonadvancedtomeethim，andapostrophisedhimthus："Well，IhavelearnedfinethingsofyourBourrienne，whomyouarealwaysdefending."Thefactwas，theEmperorhadalreadyreceivedacopyoftheletter，whichhadbeenopenedattheHamburgpost—office.TheDuedeRovigotoldtheEmperorthathehadlongknownwhathisMajestyhadcommunicatedtohim.
Hethenenteredintoafullexplanationoftheintrigue，ofwhichitwaswishedtorendermethevictim，andprovedtohimthemoreeasilythefalsehoodofmyaccusersbyremindinghimthatin1802IwasnotinHamburg，butwasstillinhisserviceathome.
ItmaybesupposedthatIwastoomuchinterestedinknowingwhathadpassedattheTuileriesnottoreturntotheDucdeRovigothesameday.
IlearnedfromhimtheparticularswhichIhavealreadyrelated.HeaddedthathehadobservedtotheEmperorthattherewasnoconnectionbetweenRappandM.Talleyrandwhichcouldwarrantthesuspicionoftheirbeingconcernedintheaffairinquestion."WhenNapoleonsawthematterinitstruelight，"saidSavary，"whenIprovedtohimthepalpableexistenceoftheodiousmachination，hecouldnotfindtermstoexpresshisindignation.’Whatbaseness，whathorriblevillainy！’heexclaimed;
andgavemeorderstoarrestandbringtoParistheinfamouswriteroftheletter;andyoumayrelyuponithisordersshallbepromptlyobeyed."
Savary，ashehadsaid，instantlydespatchedordersforthearrestofthewriter，whomhedirectedtobesenttoFrance.Onhisarrivalhewasinterrogatedrespectingtheletter.HedeclaredthathehadwrittenitattheinstigationandunderthedictationofMarshalDavoust，fordoingwhichhereceivedasmallsumofmoneyasareward.HealsoconfessedthatwhentheletterwasputintothepostthePrinceofEckmuhlorderedtheDirectorofthePosttoopenit，takeacopy，thensealitagain，andsendittoitsaddress——thatistosay，tome——andthecopytotheEmperor.ThewriteroftheletterwasbanishedtoMarseilles，ortotheIslandofHyeres，buttheindividualwhodictateditcontinuedaMarshal，aPrince，andaGovernor—General，andstilllookedforwardtotheViceroyaltyofPoland！SuchwasthediscriminatingjusticeoftheEmpire;andDavoustcontinuedhisendeavourstorevengehimselfbyothercalumniesformynothavingconsideredhimamanoftalent.ImustdotheDucdeRovigothejusticetosaythat，thoughhisfidelitytoNapoleonwasasitalwayshadbeen，boundless，yetwhilstheexecutedtheEmperor’sordersheendeavouredtomakehimacquaintedwiththetruth，aswasprovedbyhisconductinthecaseIhavejustmentioned.Hewasmuchdistressedbythesortofterrorwhichhisappointmenthadexcitedinthepublic，andheacknowledgedtomethatheintendedtorestoreconfidencebyamoremildsystemthanthatofhispredecessor.IhadobservedformerlythatSavarydidnotcoincideintheopinionIhadalwaysentertainedofFouche，butwhenoncetheDuedeRovigoendeavouredtopenetratethelabyrinthofpolice，counter—police，inspectionsandhierarchiesofespionage，hefoundtheywereallbugbearswhichFouchehadcreatedtoalarmtheEmperor，asgardenersputupscarecrowsamongthefruit—treestofrightenawaythesparrows.Thus，thankstotheartificesofFouche，theeaglewasfrightenedaseasilyasthesparrows，untiltheperiodwhentheEmperor，convincedthatFouchewasmaintainingacorrespondencewithEnglandthroughtheagencyofOuvrard，dismissedhim.
IsawwithpleasurethatSavary，theMinisterofPolice，wishedtosimplifytheworkingofhisadministration，andtograduallydiminishwhateverwasannoyinginit，but，whatevermightbehisintentions，hewasnotalwaysfreetoact.IacknowledgethatwhenIreadhisMemoirsI
sawwithgreatimpatiencethatinmanymattershehadvoluntarilyassumedresponsibilitiesforactswhichawordfromhimmighthaveattributedtotheirrealauthor.Howeverthismaybe，whatmuchpleasedmeinSavarywasthewishheshowedtolearntherealtruthinordertotellittoNapoleon.HereceivedfromtheEmperormorethanonesevererebuff.
ThiscamefromthefactthatsincetheimmenseaggrandisementoftheEmpiretheostensibleMinisters，insteadofrisingincredit，hadseentheirfunctionsdiminishbydegrees.ThusproposalsforappointmentstothehighergradesofthearmycamefromthecabinetofBerthier，andnotfromthatoftheMinister—of—War.EverythingwhichconcernedanypartofthegovernmentoftheInteriororoftheExterior，exceptfortheadministrationofWarandperhapsforthatofFinance，haditscentreinthecabinetofM.Maret，certainlyanhonestman，butwhosefacilityinsaying"Allisright，"somuchhelpedtomakeallwrong.
Thehometrade，manufactures，andparticularlyseveraloftheParisianfirmswereinastateofdistressthemorehurtfulasitcontrastedsosingularlywiththesplendouroftheImperialCourtsincethemarriageofNapoleonwithMariaLouisa.InthisstateofaffairsachorusofcomplaintsreachedtheearsoftheDucdeRovigoeveryday.ImustsaythatSavarywasneverkindertomethansincemydisgrace;henourishedmyhopeofgettingNapoleontoovercometheprejudicesagainstmewithwhichthespiritofvengeancehadinspiredhim，andIknowforcertainthatSavaryreturnedtothechargemorethanoncetomanagethis.TheEmperorlistenedwithoutanger，didnotblamehimfortheclosenessofourintimacy，andevensaidtohimsomeobligingbutinsignificantwordsaboutme.Thisgavetimefornewmachinationsagainstme，andtofillhimwithfreshdoubtswhenhehadalmostovercomehisformer，ideas.
CHAPTERXXV.
M.Czernischeff——DissimulationofNapoleon——NapoleonandAlexander——
Josephine’sforesightrespectingtheaffairsofSpain——MyvisitstoMalmaison——GriefofJosephine——Tearsandthetoilet——VastextentoftheEmpire——ListofpersonscondemnedtodeathandbanishmentinPiedmont——ObservationofAlfierirespectingtheSpaniards——SuccessinSpain——CheckofMassenainPortugal——MoneylavishedbytheEnglish——BertrandsenttoIllyria，andMarmonttoPortugal——
SituationoftheFrencharmy——AssemblingoftheCortes——EuropesacrificedtotheContinentalsystem——ConversationwithMuratintheChampsElysees——Newtitlesandoldnames——Napoleon’sdislikeofliterarymen——Odes，etc.，onthemarriageofNapoleon——ChateaubriandandLemereier——DeathofChenier——Chateaubriandelectedhissuccessor——HisdiscoursereadbyNapoleon——BonapartecomparedtoNero—
Suppressionofthe’Merceure’——M.deChateaubriandorderedtoleaveParis——MM.LemercierandEsmenardpresentedtotheEmperor——BirthoftheKingofRome——Francein1811.
SincemyreturntoFranceIhadheardmuchoftheintriguesofM.
Czernischeff，anaidedecampoftheEmperorofRussia，who，underthepretestofbeingfrequentlysenttocomplimentNapoleononthepartoftheEmperorAlexander，performed，infact，theofficeofaspy.TheconductofNapoleonwithregardtoM.Czernischeffatthatperiodstruckmeassingular，especiallyaftertheintelligencewhichbeforemydeparturefromHamburgIhadtransmittedtohimrespectingthedissatisfactionofRussiaandherhostileinclinations.ItisthereforecleartomethatBonapartewaswellawareoftherealobjectofM.
Czernischeffsmission，andthatifheappearedtogivecredittotheincreasingprofessionsofhisfriendshipitwasonlybecausehestillwished，asheformerlydid;thatRussiamightsofarcommitherselfastoaffordhimafairpretextforthecommencement，ofhostilitiesinthenorth.
M.CzernischefffirstarrivedinParisshortlyaftertheinterviewatErfurt，andafterthatperiodwasalmostconstantlyontheroadbetweenParisandSt.Petersburg;ithasbeencomputedthatinthespaceoflessthanfouryearshetravelledmorethan10，000leagues.Foralongtimehisfrequentjourneyingsexcitednosurmises，butwhileIwasinParisSavarybegantoentertainsuspicions，thecorrectnessofwhichitwasnotdifficulttoascertain，soformidablewasstillthesystemofespionage，notwithstandingtheprecautiontakenbyFouchetoconcealfromhissuccessorthenamesofhismostefficientspies.ItwasknownthatM.
Czernischeffwaslookingoutforaprofessorofmathematics，——doubtlesstodisguisetherealmotivesforhisstayinParisbyveilingthemunderthedesireofstudyingthesciences.TheconfidantofAlexanderhadappliedtoaprofessorconnectedwithapublicoffice;andfromthattimeallthestepsofM.Czermseheffwereknowntothepolice.Itwasdiscoveredthathewaslessanxioustoquestionhisinstructorrespectingtheequationsofadegree，orthevalueofunknownquantities，thantogainalltheinformationhecouldaboutthedifferentbranchesoftheadministration，andparticularlythedepartmentofwar.Ithappenedthattheprofessorknewsomeindividualsemployedinthepublicoffices，whofurnishedhimwithintelligence，whichheinturncommunicatedtoM.
Czernischeff，butnotwithoutmakingareportofittothepolice;
accordingtocustom，insteadofputtinganendtothisintrigueatonceitwassufferedfullytodevelopitself.Napoleonwasinformedofwhatwasgoingon，andinthisinstancegaveanewproofofhisbeinganadeptintheartofdissimulation，for，insteadoftestifyinganydispleasureagainstM.Czernischeff，hecontinuedtoreceivehimwiththesamemarksoffavourwhichhehadshowntohimduringhisformermissionstoParis.
Being，nevertheless，desiroustogetridofhim，withoutevincingasuspicionthathisclandestineproceedingshadbeendiscovered，heentrustedhimwithafriendlylettertohisbrotherofRussia，butAlexanderwasinsuchhastetoreplytotheflatteringmissiveofhisbrotherofFrancethatM.CzernischeffwashurriedbacktoParis，havingscarcelybeensufferedtoenterthegatesofSt.Petersburg.IbelieveI
amcorrectintheideathatNapoleonwasnotreallydispleasedattheintriguesofM.Czernischeff，fromthesuppositionthattheyaffordedanindicationofthehostileintentionsofRussiatowardsFrance;for，whateverhemightsayonthissubjecttohisconfidants，whatreliancecanweplaceonthemanwhoformedthecampofBoulognewithoutthemostdistantintentionofattemptingadescentuponEngland，andwhohaddeceivedthewholeworldrespectingthatimportantaffairwithouttakinganyoneintohisownconfidence？
DuringtheperiodofmystayinParisthewarwithSpainandPortugaloccupiedmuchofthepublicattention;anditprovedintheendanenterpriseuponwhichtheintuitionofJosephinehadnotdeceivedher.
Ingeneralsheintermeddledlittlewithpoliticalaffairs;inthefirstplace，becauseherdoingsowouldhavegivenoffencetoNapoleon;andnext，becausehernaturalfrivolityledhertogiveapreferencetolighterpursuits.ButImaysafelyaffirmthatshewasendowedwithaninstinctsoperfectasseldomtobedeceivedrespectingthegoodoreviltendencyofanymeasurewhichNapoleonengagedin;andIremembershetoldmethatwheninformedoftheintentionoftheEmperortobestowthethroneofSpainonJoseph，shewasseizedwithafeelingofindescribablealarm.Itwouldbedifficulttodefinethatinstinctivefeelingwhichleadsustoforeseethefuture;butitisafactthatJosephinewasendowedwiththisfacultyinamoreperfectdecreethananyotherpersonIhaveeverknown，andtoheritwasafatalgift，forshesufferedatthesametimeundertheweightofpresentandoffuturemisfortunes.
IoftenvisitedheratMalmaison，asDurocassuredmethattheEmperorhadnoobjectiontomydoingso;yethemusthavebeenfullyawarethatwhenJosephineandIwereinconfidentialconversationhewouldnotalwaysbementionedintermsofunqualifiedeulogy;andintruth，hisfirstfriendandhisfirstwifemightwellbeexcusedforsometimescomminglingtheircomplaints.
ThoughmorethanatwelvemonthhadelapsedsincethedivorcegriefstillpreyedontheheartofJosephine."Youcannotconceive，myfriend，"sheoftensaidtome，"allthetormentsthatIhavesufferedsincethatfatalday！IcannotimaginehowIsurvivedit.YoucannotfiguretoyourselfthepainIendureonseeingdescriptionsofhisfeteseverywhere.Andthefirsttimehecametovisitmeafterhismarriage，whatameetingwasthat！HowmanytearsIshed！Thedaysonwhichhecomesaretomedaysofmisery，forhesparesmenot.Howcrueltospeakofhisexpectedheir.Bourrienne，youcannotconceivehowheart—rendingallthisistome！Better，farbettertobeexiledathousandleaguesfromhence！
However，"addedJosephine，"afewfriendsstillremainfaithfulinmychangedfortune，andthatisnowtheonlythingwhichaffordsmeeventemporaryconsolation."Thetruthisthatshewasextremelyunhappy，andthemostacceptableconsolationherfriendscouldofferherwastoweepwithher.YetsuchwasstillJosephine’spassionfordress，thatafter.
havingweptforaquarterofanhourshewoulddryhertearstogiveaudiencetomillinersandjewellers.ThesightofanewhatwouldcallforthallJosephine’sfeminineloveoffinery.OnedayIrememberthat，takingadvantageofthemomentaryserenityoccasionedbyanampledisplayofsparklinggewgaws，Icongratulatedheruponthehappyinfluencetheyexercisedoverherspirits，whenshesaid，"Mydearfriend，Iought，indeed，tobeindifferenttoallthis;butitisahabit."Josephinemighthaveaddedthatitwasalsoanoccupation，foritwouldbenoexaggerationtosaythatifthetimeshewastedintearsandathertoilethadbeensubtractedfromherlifeitsdurationwouldhavebeenconsiderablyshortened.
ThevastextentoftheFrenchEmpirenowpresentedaspectaclewhichresembledratherthedominionoftheRomansandtheconquestsofCharlemagnethantheusualformandpoliticalchangesofmodernEurope.