memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v10-第10部分

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as　all　present　must　have　done；　the　eagerness　with　which　the　audience
applied　to　Napoleon　and　the　King　of　Etruria　the　line　in　which　Philoctetes
says

　　　　　　　　　　〃J'ai　fait　des　souverains　et　n'ai　pas　voulu　l'etre。〃

　　　　　＇I　have　made　sovereigns；　but　have　not　wished　to　be　one　myself。〃＇

The　application　was　so　marked　that　it　could　not　fail　to　become　the
subject　of　conversation　between　the　First　Consul　and　me。　　〃You　remarked
it；　Bourrienne？〃　。　　。　　。　　〃Yes；　General。〃　　。　　。　　〃The　fools！　　。　　。　　。
They　shall　see！　　They　shall　see！　　〃We　did　indeed　see。　　Not　content　with
making　kings；　Bonaparte；　when　his　brow　was　encircled　by　a　double　crown；
after　creating　princes　at　length　realised　the　object　he　had　long
contemplated；　namely；　to　found　a　new　nobility　endowed　with　hereditary
rights。　　It　was　at　the　commencement　of　March　1808　that　he　accomplished
this　project；　and　I　saw　in　the　'Moniteur'　a　long　list　of　princes；　dukes；
counts；　barons；　and　knights　of　the　Empire；　there　were　wanting　only
viscounts　and　marquises。

At　the　same　time　that　Bonaparte　was　founding　a　new　nobility　he　determined
to　raise　up　the　old　edifice　of　the　university；　but　on　a　new　foundation。
The　education　of　youth　had　always　been　one　of　his　ruling　ideas；　and　I　had
an　opportunity　of　observing　how　he　was　changed　by　the　exercise　of
sovereign　power　when　I　received　at　Hamburg　the　statutes　of　the　new　elder
daughter　of　the　Emperor　of　the　French；　and　compared　them　with　the　ideas
which　Bonaparte；　when　General　and　First　Consul；　had　often　expressed　to　me
respecting　the　education　which　ought　to　be　given　youth。　　Though　the　sworn
enemy　of　everything　like　liberty；　Bonaparte　had　at　first　conceived　a　vast
system　of　education；　comprising　above　all　the　study　of　history；　and　those
positive　sciences；　such　as　geology　and　astronomy；　which　give　the　utmost
degree　of　development　to　the　human　mind。　　The　Sovereign；　however；　shrunk
from　the　first　ideas　of　the　man　of　genius；　and　his　university；　confided
to　the　elegant　suppleness　of　M。　de　Fontaines；　was　merely　a　school　capable
of　producing　educated　subjects　but　not　enlightened　men。

Before　taking　complete　possession　of　Rome；　and　making　it　the　second　city
of　the　Empire；　the　vaunted　moderation　of　Bonaparte　was　confined　to
dismembering　from　it　the　legations　of　Ancona；　Urbino；　Macerata；　and
Camerino；　which　were　divided　into　three　departments；　and　added　to　the
Kingdom　of　Italy。　　The　patience　of　the　Holy　See　could　no　longer　hold　out
against　this　act　of　violence；　and　Cardinal　Caprara；　who　had　remained　in
Paris　since　the　coronation；　at　last　left　that　capital。　　Shortly
afterwards　the　Grand　Duchies　of　Parma　and　Piacenza　were　united　to　the
French　Empire；　and　annexed　to　the　government　of　the　departments　beyond
the　Alps。　　These　transactions　were　coincident　with　the　events　in　Spain
and　Bayonne　before　mentioned。

After　the　snare　laid　at　Bayonne　the　Emperor　entered　Paris　on　the　14th　of
August；　the　eve　of　his　birthday。　　Scarcely　had　he　arrived　in　the　capital
when　he　experienced　fresh　anxiety　in　consequence　of　the　conduct　of
Russia；　which；　as　I　have　stated；　had　declared　open　war　with　Sweden；　and
did　not　conceal　the　intention　of　seizing　Finland。　　But　Bonaparte；
desirous　of　actively　carrying　on　the　war　in　Spain；　felt　the　necessity　of
removing　his　troops　from　Prussia　to　the　Pyrenees。　　He　then　hastened　the
interview　at　Erfurt；　where　the　two　Emperors　of　France　and　Russia　had
agreed　to　meet。　　He　hoped　that　this　interview　would　insure　the
tranquillity　of　the　Continent；　while　he　should　complete　the　subjection　of
Spain　to　the　sceptre　of　Joseph。　　That　Prince　had　been　proclaimed　on　the
8th　of　June；　and　on　the　21st　of　the　same　month　he　made　his　entry　into
Madrid；　but　having　received；　ten　days　after；　information　of　the　disaster
at　Baylen；　he　was　obliged　to　leave　the　Spanish　capital。

　　　　　＇The　important　battle　of　Daylen；　where　the　French；　under　General
　　　　　Dupont；　were　beaten　by　the　Spaniards；　was　fought　on　the　19th　of　July
　　　　　1808。＇

Bonaparte's　wishes　must　at　this　time　have　been　limited　to　the
tranquillity　of　the　Continent；　for　the　struggle　between　him　and　England
was　more　desperate　than　ever。　　England　had　just　sent　troops　to　Portugal
under　the　command　of　Sir　Arthur　Wellesley。　　There　was　no　longer　any　hope
of　a　reconciliation　with　Great　Britain：　The　interview　at　Erfurt　having
been　determined　on；　the　Emperor；　who　had　returned　from　Bayonne　to　Paris；
again　left　the　capital　about　the　end　of　September；　and　arrived　at　Metz
without　stopping；　except　for　the　purpose　of　reviewing　the　regiments　which
were　echeloned　on　his　route；　and　which　were　on　their　march　from　the　Grand
Army　to　Spain。

I　had　heard　some　time　previously　of　the　interview　which　was　about　to　take
place；　and　which　was　so　memorable　in　the　life　of　Napoleon。　　It　excited　so
much　interest　in　Germany　that　the　roads　were　covered　with　the　equipages
of　the　Princes　who　were　going　to　Erfurt　to　witness　the　meeting。　　The
French　Emperor　arrived　there　before　Alexander；　and　went　forward　three
leagues　to　meet　him。　　Napoleon　was　on　horseback；　Alexander　in　a　carriage。
They　embraced；　it　is　said；　in　a　manner　expressive　of　the　most　cordial
friendship。　　This　interview　was　witnessed　by　most　of　the　sovereign
Princes　of　Germany。　　However；　neither　the　King　of　Prussia　nor　the　Emperor
of　Austria　was　present。　　The　latter　sovereign　sent　a　letter　to　Napoleon；
of　which　I　obtained　a　copy。　　It　was　as　follows：

　　　　　SIRE；　MY　BROTHER；My　Ambassador　in　Paris　informs　me　that　your
　　　　　Majesty　is　about　to　proceed　to　Erfurt　to　meet　the　Emperor　Alexander。
　　　　　I　eagerly　seize　the　opportunity　of　your　approach　to　my　frontier　to
　　　　　renew　those　testimonials　of　friendship　and　esteem　which　I　have
　　　　　pledged　to　you；　and　I　send　my　Lieutenant…General；　Baron　Vincent；　to
　　　　　convey　to　you　the　assurance　of　my　unalterable　sentiments。　　If　the
　　　　　false　accounts　that　have　been　circulated　respecting　the　internal
　　　　　institutions　which　I　have　established　in　my　monarchy　should　for　a
　　　　　moment　have　excited　your　Majesty's　doubts　as　to　my　intentions；　I
　　　　　fatter　myself　that　the　explanations　given　on　that　subject　by　Count
　　　　　Metternich　to　your　Minister　will　have　entirely　removed　them。　　Baron
　　　　　Vincent　is　enabled　to　confirm　to　your　Majesty　all　that　has　been　said
　　　　　by　Count　Metternich　on　the　subject；　and　to　add　any　further
　　　　　explanations；　you　may　wish　for。　　I　beg　that　your　Majesty　will　grant
　　　　　him　the　same　gracious　reception　he　experienced　at　Paris　and　at
　　　　　Warsaw。　　The　renewed　marks　of　favour　you　may　bestow　on　him　will　be
　　　　　an　unequivocal　pledge　of　the　reciprocity　of　your　sentiments；　and
　　　　　will　seal　that　confidence　which　will　render　our　satisfaction　mutual。

　　　　　Deign　to　accept　the　assurance　of　the　unalterable　affection　and
　　　　　respect　with　which　I　am；　Sire；　my　Brother；　Your　imperial　and　royal
　　　　　Majesty's　faithful　brother　and　friend；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（Signed）　FRANCIS。
　　　　　PRESBURG；　8th　September　1808。

This　letter　appears　to　be　a　model　of　ambiguity；　by　which　it　is　impossible
Napoleon　could　have　been　imposed　upon。　　However；　as　yet　he　had　no
suspicion　of　the　hostility　of　Austria；　which　speedily　became　manifest；
his　grand　object　then　was　the　Spanish　business；　and；　as　I　have　before
observed；　one　of　the　secrets　of　Napoleon's　genius　was；　that　he　did　not
apply　himself　to　more　than　one　thing　at　a　time。

At　Erfurt　Bonaparte　attained　the　principal　object　he　had　promised　himself
by　the　meeting。　　Alexander　recognized　Joseph　in　his　new　character　of　King
of　Spain　and　the　Indies。　　It　has　been　said　that　as　the　price　of　this
recognition　Napoleon　consented　that　Alexander　should　have　Swedish
Finland；　but　for　the　truth　of　this　I　cannot　vouch。　　However；　I　remember
that　when；　after　the　interview　at　Erfurt；　Alexander　had　given…orders　to
his　ambassador　to　Charles　IV。　to　continue　his　functions　under　King
Joseph；　the　Swedish　charge　d'affaires　at　Hamburg　told　me　that
confidential　letters　received　by　him　from　Erfurt　led　him　to　fear　that　the
Emperor　Alexander　had　communicated　to　Napoleon　his　designs　on　Finland；
and　that　Napoleon　had　given　his　consent　to　the　occupation。　　Be　this　as　it
may；　as　soon　as　the　interview　was　over　Napoleon　returned　to　Paris；　where
he　presided　with　much　splendour　at　the　opening　of　the　Legislative　Body；
and　set　out　in　the　month　of　November　for　Spain。




CHAPTER　XVI。

1808。

　　　　　The　Spanish　troops　in　HamburgRomana's　siestaHis　departure　for
　　　　　FunenCelebration　of　Napoleon's　birthdayRomana's　defection
　　　　　English　agents　and　the　Dutch　troopsFacility　of　communication
　　　　　between　England　and　the　ContinentDelay　of　couriers　from　Russia
　　　　　Alarm　and　complaintsThe　people　of　HamburgMontesquieu　and　the
　　　　　Minister　of　the　Grand　Duke　of　TuscanyInvitations　at　six　months
　　　　　Napoleon's　journey　to　ItalyAdoption　of　EugeneLucien's　daughter
　　　　　and　the　Prince　of　the　AsturiasM。　Auguste　de　Stael's　interview　with
　　　　　Napoleon。

Previous　to　the　interview　at　Erfurt　an　event　took　place　which　created　a
strong　interest　in　Hamburg　and　throughout　Europe；　an　event　which　was
planned　and　executed　with　inconceivable　secrecy。　　I　allude　to　the
defection　of　the　Marquis　de　la　Romans；　which　I　have　not　hitherto　noticed；
in　order　that　I　might　not　separate　the　different　facts　which　came　to　my
knowledge　respecting　that　defection　and　the　circumstances　which
accompanied　it。

The　Marquis　de　la　Romans　had　come　to　the　Hanse　Towns　at　the　head　of　an
army　corps　of　18；000　men；　which　the　Emperor　in　the　preceding　campaign
claimed　in　virtue　of　treaties　previously　concluded　with　the　Spanish
Government。　　The　Spanish　troops　at　first　met　with　a　good　reception　in　the
Hanse　Towns。　　The　difference　of　language；　indeed；　occasionally　caused
discord；　but　when　better　acquainted　the　inhabitants　and　their　visitors
became　good　friends。　　The　Marquis　de　la　Romans　was　a　little　swarthy　man；
of　unprepossessing　and　rather　common　appearance；　but　he　had　a
considerable　share　of　talent　and　information。　　He　had　travelled　in　almost
every　part　of　Europe；　and　as　he　had　been　a　close　observer　of　all　he　saw
his　conversation　was　exceedingly　agreeable　and　instructive。

During　his　stay　at　Hamburg　General　Romans　spent　almost　every　evening　at
my　house；　and　inv