YouhavefollowedacoursediametricallyoppositetowhatI
expected.IhavebeenforcedtoprohibityoufromcomingtoFrance，andtotakepossessionofapartofyourterritory.InprovingyourselfabadFrenchmanyouarelesstotheDutchthanaPrinceofOrange，towhosefamilytheyowetheirrankasanation，andalongsuccessionofprosperityandglory.ByyourbanishmentfromFrancetheDutchareconvincedthattheyhavelostwhattheywouldnothavelostunderaSchimmelpenninekoraPrinceofOrange.ProveyourselfaFrenchman，andthebrotheroftheEmperor，andbeassuredthattherebyyouwillservetheinterestsofHolland.Butyouseemtobeincorrigible，foryouwoulddriveawaythefewFrenchmenwhoremainwithyou.Youmustbedealtwith，notbyaffectionateadvice，butbythreatsandcompulsion.Whatmeantheprayersandmysteriousfastsyouhaveordered？Louis，youwillnotreignlong.Youractionsdisclosebetterthanyourconfidentiallettersthesentimentsofyourmind.Returntotherightcourse.BeaFrenchmaninheart，oryourpeoplewillbanishyou，andyouwillleaveHollandanobjectofridicule.
——[Itwas，onthecontrary，becameLouismadehimselfaDutchmanthathispeopledidnotbanishhim，andthatbecarriedawaywithhimtheregretofallthatportionofhissubjectswhocouldappreciatehisexcellentqualitiesandpossessedgoodsenseenoughtoperceivethathewasnottoblamefortheevilsthatweigheduponHolland.——Bourrienne.
TheconductofBonapartetoMuratwasalmostacounterparttothis.WhenMuratattemptedtoconsulttheinterestsofNapleshewascalledatraitortoFrance.——Editorof1836edition.]——
Statesmustbegovernedbyreasonandpolicy，andnotbytheweaknessproducedbyacridandvitiatedhumours.
（Signed）NAPOLEON.
AfewdaysafterthisletterwasdespatchedtoLouis，NapoleonheardofapaltryaffraywhichhadtakenplaceatAmsterdam，andtowhichComtedelaRochefoucauldgaveatemporarydiplomaticimportance，beingawarethathecouldnotbetterpleasehismasterthanbyaffordinghimanexcuseforbeingangry.ItappearedthatthehonouroftheCount’scoachmanhadbeenputinjeopardybytheinsultofacitizenofAmsterdam，andaquarrelhadensued，which，butfortheinterferenceoftheguardofthepalace，mighthaveterminatedseriouslysinceitassumedthecharacterofapartyaffairbetweentheFrenchandtheDutch.M.delaRochefoucauldimmediatelydespatchedtotheEmperor，whowasthenatLille，afullreportofhiscoachman’squarrel，inwhichheexpressedhimselfwithasmuchearnestnessastheillustriousauthorofthe"Maxims"evincedwhenhewagedwaragainstkings.TheconsequencewasthatNapoleoninstantlyfulminatedthefollowingletteragainsthisbrotherLouis：
BROTHER——AttheverymomentwhenyouweremakingthefairestprotestationsIlearnthattheservantsofmyAmbassadorhavebeenill—treatedatAmsterdam.Iinsistthatthosewhowereguiltyofthisoutragebedelivereduptome，inorderthattheirpunishmentmayserveasanexampletoothers.TheSieurSerrurierhasinformedmehowyouconductedyourselfatthediplomaticaudiences.Ihave，consequently，determinedthattheDutchAmbassadorshallnotremaininParis;andAdmiralYerhuellhasreceivedorderstodepartwithintwenty—fourhours.Iwantnomorephrasesandprotestations.ItistimeIshouldknowwhetheryouintendtoruinHollandbyyourfollies.IdonotchoosethatyoushouldagainsendaMinistertoAustria，orthatyoushoulddismisstheFrenchwhoareinyourservice.IhaverecalledmyAmbassadorasIintendonlytohaveacharged’affairesinHolland.TheSieurSerrurier，whoremainsthereinthatcapacity，willcommunicatemyintentions.MyAmbassadorshallnolongerbeexposedtoyourinsults.Writetomenomoreofthosesetphraseswhichyouhavebeenrepeatingforthelastthreeyears，andthefalsehoodofwhichisprovedeveryday.
ThisisthelastletterIwilleverwritetoyouaslongasIlive.
（Signed）NAPOLEON.
ThusreducedtothecruelalternativeofcrushingHollandwithhisownhands，orleavingthattasktotheEmperor，Louisdidnothesitatetolaydownhissceptre.Havingformedthisresolution，headdressedamessagetotheLegislativeBodyoftheKingdomofHollandexplainingthemotivesofhisabdication.TheFrenchtroopsenteredHollandunderthecommandoftheDukeofReggio，andthatmarshal，whowasmoreakingthantheKinghimself，threatenedtooccupyAmsterdam.Louisthendescendedfromhisthrone，andfouryearsafterNapoleonwashurledfromhis.
InhisactofabdicationLouisdeclaredthathehadbeendriventothatstepbytheunhappystateofhisKingdom，whichheattributedtohisbrother’sunfavourablefeelingstowardshim.Headdedthathehadmadeeveryeffortandsacrificetoputanendtothatpainfulstateofthings，andthat，finally，heregardedhimselfasthecauseofthecontinualmisunderstandingbetweentheFrenchEmpireandHolland.ItiscuriousthatLouisthoughthecouldabdicatethecrownofHollandinfavourofhisson，asNapoleononlyfouryearsafterwishedtoabdicatehiscrowninfavouroftheKingofRome.
LouisbadefarewelltothepeopleofHollandinaproclamation，afterthepublicationofwhichherepairedtothewatersatToeplitz.TherehewaslivingintranquilretirementwhenhelearnedthathisbrotherhadunitedHollandtotheEmpire.Hethenpublishedaprotest，ofwhichIobtainedacopy，thoughitscirculationwasstrictlyprohibitedbythepolice.InthisprotestLouissaid：
TheconstitutionofthestateguaranteedbytheEmperor，mybrother，gavemetherightofabdicatinginfavourofmychildren.Thatabdicationwasmadeintheformandtermsprescribedbytheconstitution.TheEmperorhadnorighttodeclarewaragainstHolland，andhehasnotdoneso.
Thereisnoact，nodissent，nodemandoftheDutchnationthatcanauthorisethepretendedunion.
Myabdicationdoesnotleavethethronevacant.Ihaveabdicatedonlyinfavourofmychildren.
AsthatabdicationleftHollandfortwelveyearsunderaregency，thatistosay，underthedirectinfluenceoftheEmperor，accordingtothetermsoftheconstitution，therewasnoneedofthatunionforexecutingeverymeasurehemighthaveinviewagainsttradeandagainstEngland，sincehiswillwassupremeinHolland.
ButIascendedthethronewithoutanyotherconditionsexceptthoseimposeduponmebymyconscience，myduty，andtheinterestandwelfareofmysubjects.IthereforedeclarebeforeGodandtheindependentsovereignstowhomIaddressmyself——
First，Thatthetreatyofthe16thofMarch1810，whichoccasionedtheseparationoftheprovinceofZealandandBrabantfromHolland，wasacceptedbycompulsion，andratifiedconditionallybymeinParis，whereIwasdetainedagainstmywill;andthat，moreover，thetreatywasneverexecutedbytheEmperormybrother.Insteadof6000FrenchtroopswhichIwastomaintain，accordingtothetermsofthetreaty，thatnumberhasbeenmorethandoubled;insteadofoccupyingonlythemouthsoftheriversandthecoasts，theFrenchcustom—horseshaveencroachedintotheinteriorofthecountry;
insteadoftheinterferenceofFrancebeingconfinedtothemeasuresconnectedwiththeblockadeofEngland，DutchmagazineshavebeenseizedandDutchsubjectsarbitrarilyimprisoned;finally，noneoftheverbalpromiseshavebeenkeptwhichweremadeintheEmperor’snamebytheDuedeCadoretograntindemnitiesforthecountriescededbythesaidtreatyandtomitigateitsexecution，iftheKingwouldreferentirelytotheEmperor，etc.Ideclare，inmyname，inthenameofthenationandmyson，thetreatyofthe16thofMarch1810tobenullandvoid.
Second，IdeclarethatmyabdicationwasforcedbytheEmperor，mybrother，thatitwasmadeonlyasthelastextremity，andonthisonecondition——thatIshouldmaintaintherightsofHollandandmychildren.Myabdicationcouldonlybemadeintheirfavour.
Third，Inmyname，inthenameoftheKingmyson，whoisasyetaminor，andinthenameoftheDutchnation，IdeclarethepretendedunionofHollandtoFrance，mentionedinthedecreeoftheEmperor，mybrother，datedthe9thofJulylast，tobenull，void，illegal，unjust，andarbitraryintheeyesofGodandman，andthatthenationandtheminorKingwillasserttheirjustrightswhencircumstancespermitthem.
（Signed）LOUIS.
August1，1810.
Thusthereseemedtobeanendofallintercoursebetweenthesetwobrothers，whoweresooppositeincharacteranddisposition.ButNapoleon，whowasenragedthatLouisshouldhavepresumedtoprotest，andthatinenergeticterms，againsttheunionofhisKingdomwiththeEmpire，orderedhimtoreturntoFrance，whitherhewassummonedinhischaracterofConstableandFrenchPrince.Louis，however，didnotthinkpropertoobeythissummons，andNapoleon，mindfulofhispromiseofneverwritingtohimagain，orderedthefollowinglettertobeaddressedtohimbyM.Otto，whohadbeenAmbassadorfromFrancetoViennasincethethenrecentmarriageoftheEmperorwithMariaLouisa——
SIRE：——TheEmperordirectsmetowritetoyourMajestyasfollows：——
ItisthedutyofeveryFrenchPrince，andeverymemberoftheImperialfamily，toresideinFrance，whencetheycannotabsentthemselveswithoutthepermissionoftheEmperor.BeforetheunionofHollandtotheEmpiretheEmperorpermittedtheKingtoresideatToeplitz，isBohemia.Hishealthappearedtorequiretheuseofthewaters，butnowtheEmperorrequiresthatPrinceLouisshallreturn，atthelatestbythe1stofDecembernext，underpainofbeingconsideredasdisobeyingtheconstitutionoftheEmpireandtheheadofhisfamily，andbeingtreatedaccordingly."
Ifulfil，Sire，wordforwordthemissionwithwhichIhavebeenentrusted，andIsendthechiefsecretaryoftheembassytobeassuredthatthisletterisrightlydelivered.IbegyourMajestytoacceptthehomageofmyrespect，etc.
（Signed）OTTO.
——[TheeldestsonofLouis，oneofthefruitsofhisunhappymarriagewithHortenseBeauharnais，thedaughterofJosephine，thewifeofhisbrotherNapoleon，waslittlemorethansixyearsofagewhenhisfatherabdicatedthecrownofHollandinhisfavour.In1830—31thisimprudentyoungmanjoinedtheill—combinedmadinsurrectionintheStatesofthePope.Hewaspresentinoneortwopettyskirmishes，andwas，webelieve，wounded;butitwasamalariafevercaughtintheunhealthyCampagnaofRomethatcarriedhimtothegraveinthetwenty—seventhyearofhisage.——Editorof1836edition.——
ThefirstchildofLouisandofHortensehaddiedin1807.
Thesecondson，NapoleonLouis（1804—1831）inwhosefavourheabdicatedhadbeencreatedGrandDuedeBergetdeClevesbyNapoleonin1809.Hemarriedto1826Charlotte，thedaughterofJosephBonaparte，anddiedin1831，whileengagedinarevolutionarymovementinItaly.OnhisdeathhisyoungerbrotherCharlesLouisNapoleon，thefutureNapoleonIII.，firstcameforwardasanaspirant.]——
Whataletterwasthistobeaddressedbyasubjecttoaprinceandasovereign.WhenIafterwardssawM.OttoinParis，andconversedwithhimonthesubject，heassuredmehowmuchhehadbeendistressedatthenecessityofwritingsuchalettertothebrotheroftheEmperor.HehademployedtheexpressionsdictatedbyNapoleoninthatirritationwhichhecouldnevercommandwhenhiswillwasopposed.
——[WithregardtoLouisandhisconductinHollandNapoleonthusspokeatSt.Helena：
"Louisisnotdevoidofintelligence，andhasagoodheart，butevenwiththesequalificationsamanmaycommitmanyerrors，anddoagreatdealofmischief.Louisisnaturallyinclinedtobecapriciousandfantastical，andtheworksofJeanJacquesRousseauhavecontributedtoincreasethisdisposition.Seekingtoobtainareputationforsensibilityandbeneficence，incapablebyhimselfofenlargedviews，and，atmost，competenttolocaldetails，LouisactedlikeaprefectratherthanaKing.
"NosoonerhadhearrivedinHollandthan，fancyingthatnothingcouldbefinerthantohaveitsaidthatbewasthenceforthatrueDutchman，heattachedhimselfentirelytothepartyfavourabletotheEnglish，promotedsmuggling，andthanconnivedwithourenemies.
Itbecamenecessaryfromthatmomentwatchoverhim，andeventhreatentowagewaragainsthim.Louisthenseekingarefugeagainsttheweaknessofhisdispositioninthemoststubbornobstinacy，andmistakingapublicscandalforanactofglory，fledfromhisthrone，declaimingagainstmeandagainstmyinsatiableambition，myintolerabletyranny，etc.Whatthenremainedformetodo？WasItoabandonHollandtoourenemies？OughtItohavegivenitanotherKing？ButisthatcasecouldIhaveexpectedmorefromhimthanfrommyownbrother？DidnotalltheKingsthatIcreatedactnearlyinthesamemanner？IthereforeunitedHollandtotheEmpire，andthisactproducedamostunfavourableimpressioninEurope，andcontributednotalittletolaythefoundationofourmisfortunes"（MemorialdeSainteHelene）]——
CHAPTERXVIII.
1809.
DemandsforcontingentsfromsomeofthesmallStatesofGermany——
M.Metternich——PositionofRussiawithrespecttoFrance——UnionofAustriaandRussia——ReturnoftheEnglishtoSpain——SoultKingofPortugal，andMuratsuccessortotheEmperor——FirstlevyofthelandwehrinAustria——AgentsoftheHamburg’Correspondent’——
DeclarationofPrinceCharles——Napoleon’smarchtoGermany——Hisproclamation——Bernadotte’sdepartureforthearmy——Napoleon’sdislikeofBernadotte——PrinceCharles’planofcampaign——TheEnglishatCuxhaven——FruitlessnessoftheplotsofEngland——Napoleonwounded——Napoleon’spredictionrealised——MajorSchill——Hamburgthreatenedandsaved——SchillinLubeck——Hisdeath，anddestructionofhisband——SchillimitatedbytheDukeofBrunswick—OEls——
DepartureoftheEnglishfromCuxhaven.
Bonaparte，thefoundationsofwhoseEmpirewerehisswordandhis.
victories，andwhowasanxiouslylookingforwardtothetimewhenthesovereignsofContinentalEuropeshouldbehisjuniors，appliedforcontingentsoftroopsfromtheStatestowhichIwasaccredited.TheDuchyofMecklenburg—Schwerinwastofurnisharegimentof1800men，andtheotherlittleStates，suchasOldenburgandMecklenburg—Strelitz，weretofurnishregimentsoflessamount.AllEuropewasrequiredtoriseinarmstosecondthegiganticprojectsofthenewsovereign.Thisdemandforcontingents，andthepositivewayinwhichtheEmperorinsisteduponthem，gaverisetoanimmensecorrespondence，which，however，wasunattendedbyanyresult.Thenotesandordersremainedintheportfolios，andthecontingentsstayedathome.
M.Metternich，whosetalenthassincebeensoconspicuouslydisplayed，hadbeenforupwardsofayearAmbassadorfromAustriatoParis.Eventhenheexcelledintheartofguidingmen’sminds，andofturningtotheadvantageofhispolicyhisexternalgracesandthefavourheacquiredinthedrawing—room.Hisfather，acleverman，broughtupintheolddiplomaticschoolofThugutandKaunitz，hadearlyaccustomedhimtothetaskofmakingotherGovernmentsbelieve，bymeansofagents，whatmightleadthemintoerrorandtendtotheadvantageofhisownGovernment.
HismanoeuvrestendedtomakeAustriaassumeadiscontentedandhaughtytone;andwishing，asshesaid，tosecureherindependence，shepubliclydeclaredherintentionofprotectingherselfagainstanyenterprisesimilartothoseofwhichshehadsooftenbeenthevictim.Thislanguage，encouragedbythecompleteevacuationofGermany，andthewarinSpain，theunfortunateissueofwhichwasgenerallyforeseen，wasused——intimeofpeacebetweenthetwoempires，andwhenFrancewasnotthreateningwartoAustria.
——[MetternicharrivedinParisasAmbassadoron4thAugust1806，afterAustriahadbeenvanquishedatAusterlitz.Itdoesnotseemprobable，eitherfromhisviewsorhiscorrespondence，thatheadvisedtherashattemptofAustriatoattackNapoleonbyherself;
compareMetternichtome1.p.69，onthemistakeofPrussiain1805
and1806;seealsotomeii.p.221，"ToprovokeawarwithFrancewouldbemadness"（1stJuly1808）.Ontheotherhand，thetoneofhiscorrespondencein1808seamscalculatedtomakeAustriabelievethatwarwasinevitable，andthatherforces，"soinferiortothoseofFrancebeforetheinsurrectioninSpain，willatleastbeequaltothemimmediatelyafterthatevent"（tomeii.p.808）.WhatiscuriousisthatMetternich’sconducttowardsNapoleonwhileAmbassadorhadledevensuchmenasDukeDalbergtobelievethathewasreallysowelldisposedtowardsNapoleonastoservehiscausemorethanthatofAustria.
M.Metternich，whohadinstructionsfromhisCourt，gavenosatisfactoryexplanationofthosecircumstancestoNapoleon，whoimmediatelyraisedaconscription，andbroughtsoldiersfromSpainintoGermany.
Itwasnecessary，also，tocometoanunderstandingwithRussia，who，beingengagedwithherwarinFinlandandTurkey，appeareddesirousneithertoenterintoalliancewithAustrianortoaffordhersupport.
What，infact，wastheEmperorAlexander’ssituationwithrespecttoFrance？HehadsignedatreatyofpeaceatTilsitwhichhefelthadbeenforceduponhim，andheknewthattimealonewouldrenderitpossibleforhimtotakepartinacontestwhichitwasevidentwouldagainberenewedeitherwithPrussiaorAustria.
EverypersonofcommonsensemusthaveperceivedthatAustria，intakinguparms，reckoned，ifnotontheassistance，atleastontheneutralityofRussia.Russiawasthenengagedwithtwoenemies，theSwedesandtheTurks，overwhomshehopedtotriumph.ShethereforerejoicedtoseeFranceagainengageinastrugglewithAustria，andtherewasnodoubtthatshewouldtakeadvantageofanychancesfavourabletothelatterpowertojoinherinopposingtheencroachmentsofFrance.Inevercouldconceivehow，underthosecircumstances，NapoleoncouldbesoblindastoexpectassistancefromRussiainhisquarrelwithAustria.Hemust，indeed，havebeengreatlydeceivedastothefootingonwhichthetwoCourtsstoodwithreferencetoeachother——theirfriendlyfootingandtheirmutualagreementtoopposetheovergrowingambitionoftheircommonenemy.
TheEnglish，whohadbeencompelledtoquitSpain，nowreturnedthere.
TheylandedinPortugal，whichmightbealmostregardedastheirowncolony，andmarchedagainstMarshalSoult，wholeftSpaintomeetthem.
AnyothermanthanSoultwouldperhapshavebeenembarrassedbytheobstacleswhichhehadtosurmount.AgreatdealhasbeensaidabouthiswishtomakehimselfKingofPortugal.Bernadottetoldme，whenhepassedthroughHamburg，thatthematterhadbeenthesubjectofmuchconversationatheadquartersafterthebattleofWagram.Bernadotteplacednofaithinthereport，andIamprettysurethatNapoleonalsodisbelievedit.However，thismatterisstillinvolvedintheobscurityfromwhichitwillonlybedrawnwhensomepersonacquaintedwiththeintrigueshallgiveafullexplanationofit.
SinceIhave，withreferencetoSoult，toucheduponthesubjectofhissupposedambition，IwillmentionherewhatIknowofMurat’sexpectationofsucceedingtheEmperor.WhenRomanzowreturnedfromhisuselessmissionofmediationtoLondontheEmperorproceededtoBayonne.
Bernadotte，whohadanagentinPariswhomhepaidhighly，toldmeonedaythathehadreceivedadespatchinforminghimthatMuratentertainedtheideaofonedaysucceedingtheEmperor.Sycophants，expectingtoderiveadvantagefromit，encouragedMuratinthischimericalhope.
IknownotwhetherNapoleonwasacquaintedwiththiscircumstance，norwhathesaidofit，butBernadottespokeofittomeasacertainfact.
Itwould，however，havebeenverywrongtoattachgreatimportancetoanexpressionwhich，perhaps，escapedMuratinamomentofardour，forhisnaturaltemperamentsometimesbetrayedhimintoactsofimprudence，theresultofwhich，withamanlikeNapoleon，wasalwaystobedreaded.
ItwasinthemidstoftheoperationsoftheSpanishwar，whichNapoleondirectedinperson，thathelearnedAustriahadforthefirsttimeraisedthelandwehr.IobtainedsomeverycuriousdocumentsrespectingthearmamentsofAustriafromtheEditoroftheHamburg’Correspondent’.
Thispaper，thecirculationofwhichamountedtonotlessthan60，000，paidconsiderablesumstopersonsindifferentpartsofEuropewhowereableandwillingtofurnishthecurrentnews.TheCorrespondentpaid6000francsayeartoaclerkinthewardepartmentatVienna，anditwasthisclerkwhosuppliedtheintelligencethatAustriawaspreparingforwar，andthatordershadbeenissuedinalldirectionstocollectandputinmotionalltheresourcesofthatpowerfulmonarchy.IcommunicatedtheseparticularstotheFrenchGovernment，andsuggestedthenecessityofincreasedvigilanceandmeasuresofdefence.Precedingaggressions，especiallythatof1805，werenottobeforgotten.SimilarinformationprobablyreachedtheFrenchGovernmentfrommanyquarters.Bethatasitmay，theEmperorconsignedthemilitaryoperationsinSpaintohisgenerals，anddepartedforParis，wherehearrivedattheendofJanuary1809.HehadbeeninSpainonlysincethebeginningofNovember1808，’
andhispresencetherehadagainrenderedourbannersvictorious.ButthoughtheinsurgenttroopswerebeatentheinhabitantsshowedthemselvesmoreandmoreunfavourabletoJoseph’scause;anditdidnotappearveryprobablethathecouldeverseathimselftranquillyonthethroneofMadrid.
——[ThesuccessesobtainedbyNapoleonduri...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：