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.
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