memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v11-第19部分

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acknowledge　that　they　were　the　consequence　of　his　system　of　government；
and　that　he　evinced　inconceivable　activity　in　repairing　his　losses　so　as
to　place　himself　in　a　situation　to　resist　his　enemies；　and　restore　the
triumph　of　the　French　standard。

But　in　spite　of　all　Napoleon's　endeavours　the　disasters　of　the　campaign
of　Russia　were　daily　more　and　more　sensibly　felt。　　The　King　of　Prussia
had　played　a　part　which　was　an　acknowledgment　of　his　weakness　in　joining
France；　instead　of　openly　declaring　himself　for　the　cause　of　Russia；
which　was　also　his。　　Then　took　place　the　defection　of　General　York；　who
commanded　the　Prussian　contingent　to　Napoleon's　army。　　The　King　of
Prussia；　though　no　doubt　secretly　satisfied　with　the　conduct　of　General
York；　had　him　tried　and　condemned；　but　shortly　after　that　sovereign
commanded　in　person　the　troops　which　had　turned　against　ours。　　The
defection　of　the　Prussians　produced　a　very　ill　effect；　and　it　was　easy　to
perceive　that　other　defections　would　follow。　　Napoleon；　foreseeing　the
fatal　chances　which　this　event　was　likely　to　draw　upon　him；　assembled　a
privy　council；　composed　of　the　Ministers　and　some　of　the　great　officers
of　his　household。　　MM。　de　Talleyrand　and　Cambaceres；　and　the　President　of
the　senate　were　present。　　Napoleon　asked　whether；　in　the　complicated
difficulties　of　our　situation；　it　would　be　more　advisable　to　negotiate
for　peace　or　to　prepare　for　a　new　war。　　Cambaceres　and　Talleyrand　gave
their　opinion　in　favour　of　peace；　which　however；　Napoleon　would　not　hear
of　after　a　defeat；　but　the　Due　de　Feltre；　＇Clarke＇　knowing　how　to
touch　the　susceptible　chord　in　the　mind　of　Bonaparte；　said　that　he　would
consider　the　Emperor　dishonoured　if　he　consented　to　the　abandonment　of
the　smallest　village　which　had　been　united　to　the　Empire　by　a　'Senatus…
consulte'。　　This　opinion　was　adopted；　and　the　war　continued。

On　Napoleon's　return　to　Paris　the　Pope；　who　was　still　at　Fontainebleau；
determined　to　accede　to　an　arrangement；　and　to　sign　an　act　which　the
Emperor　conceived　would　terminate　the　differences　between　them。　　But
being　influenced　by　some　of　the　cardinals　who　had　previously　incurred　the
Emperor's　displeasure　Pius　VII。　disavowed　the　new　Concordat　which　he　had
been　weak　enough　to　grant；　and　the　Emperor；　who　then　had　more　important
affairs　on　his　hands；　dismissed　the　Holy　Father；　and　published　the　act　to
which　he　had　assented。　　Bonaparte　had　no　leisure　to　pay　attention　to　the
new　difficulties　started　by　Pius　VII。；　his　thoughts　were　wholly　directed
to　the　other　side　of　the　Rhine。　　He　was　unfortunate；　and　the　powers　with
whom　he　was　most　intimately　allied　separated　from　him；　as　he　might　have
expected；　and　Austria　was　not　the　last　to　imitate　the　example　set　by
Prussia。　　In　these　difficult　circumstances　the　Emperor；　who　for　some　time
past　had　observed　the　talent　and　address　of　the　Comte　Louis　de　Narbonne；
sent　him　to　Vienna；　to　supersede　M。　Otto；　but　the　pacific　propositions　of
M。　de　Narbonne　were　not　listened　to。　　Austria　would　not　let　slip　the　fair
opportunity　of　taking　revenge　without　endangering　herself。

Napoleon　now　saw　clearly　that　since　Austria　had　abandoned　him　and　refused
her　contingent　he　should　soon　have　all　Europe　arrayed　against　him。　　But
this　did　not　intimidate　him。

Some　of　the　Princes　of　the　Confederation　of　the　Rhine　still　remained
faithful　to　him；　and　his　preparations　being　completed；　he　proposed　to
resume　in　person　the　command　of　the　army　which　had　been　so　miraculously
reproduced。　　But　before　his　departure　Napoleon；　alarmed　at　the
recollection　of　Mallet's　attempt；　and　anxious　to　guard　against　any
similar　occurrence　during　his　absence；　did　not；　as　on　former　occasions；
consign　the　reins　of　the　National　Government　to　a　Council　of　Ministers；
presided　over　by　the　Arch…Chancellor。　　Napoleon　placed　my　successor　with
him；　M。　Meneval；　near　the　Empress　Regent　as　Secretaire　des　Commandemens
（Principal　Secretary）；　and　certainly　he　could　not　have　made　a　better
choice。　　He　made　the　Empress　Maria　Louisa　Regent；　and　appointed　a　Council
of　Regency　to　assist　her。

　　　　　＇Meneval；　who　had　held　the　post　of　Secretary　to　Napoleon　from　the
　　　　　time　of　Bourrienne's　disgrace　in　1802；　had　been　nearly　killed　by　the
　　　　　hardships　of　the　Russian　campaign；　and　now　received　an　honourable
　　　　　and　responsible　but　less　onerous　post。　　He　remained　with　the　Empress
　　　　　till　7th　May　1815；　when；　finding　that　she　would　not　return　to　her
　　　　　husband；　he　left　her　to　rejoin　his　master。＇







End　of　the　Memoirs　of　Napoleon；　V11；　1812