memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v9-第10部分

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the　Elbe；　the　complete　independence　it　enjoyed；　its　municipal　regulations
and　paternal　government；　were　a　few　amongst　the　many　causes　which　had
raised　Hamburg　to　its　enviable　height　of　prosperity。　　What；　in　fact；　was
the　population　of　these　remnants　of　the　grand　Hanseatic　League　of　the
Middle　Ages？　　The　population　of　Hamburg　when　I　was　there　amounted　to
90；000；　and　that　of　its　small　surrounding　territory　to　25；000。　　Bremen
had　36；000　inhabitants；　and　9000　in　its　territory；　the　city　of　Lubeck；
which　is　smaller　and　its　territory　a　little　more　extensive　than　that　of
Bremen；　contained　a　population　of　24；000　souls　within　and　16；000　without
the　walls。　　Thus　the　total　population　of　the　Hanse　Towns　amounted　to　only
200；000　individuals；　and　yet　this　handful　of　men　carried　on　an　extensive
commerce；　and　their　ships　ploughed　every　sea；　from　the　shores　of　India　to
the　frozen　regions　of　Greenland。

The　Emperor　arrived　at　Paris　towards　the　end　of　January　1806。　　Having
created　kings　in　Germany　he　deemed　the　moment　favourable　for　surrounding
his　throne　with　new　princes。　　It　was　at　this　period　that　he　created
Murat；　Grand　Duke　of　Cleves　and　Berg；　Bernadotte；　Prince　of　Ponte…Corvo；
M。　de　Talleyrand；　Duke　of　Benevento；　and　his　two　former　colleagues；
Cambaceres　and　Lebrun；　Dukes　of　Parma　and　Piacenza。　　He　also　gave　to　his
sister　Pauline；　a　short　time　after　her　second　marriage　with　the　Prince
Borghese；　the　title　of　Duchess　of　Guastalla。　　Strange　events！　　who　could
then　have　foreseen　that　the　duchy　of　Cambaceres　would　become　the　refuge
of　a　Princess　of　Austria；　the　widowed　wife　of　Napoleon　Bonaparte？〃
In　the　midst　of　the　prosperity　of　the　Imperial　family；　when　the　eldest　of
the　Emperor's　brothers　had　ascended　the　throne　of　Naples；　when　Holland
was　on　the　eve　of　being　offered　to　Louis；　and　Jerome　had　exchanged　his
legitimate　wife　for　the　illegitimate　throne　of　Westphalia；　the　Imperial
pillow　was　still　far　from　being　free　from　anxiety。　　Hostilities　did　not
actually　exist　with　the　Continental　powers；　but　this　momentary　state　of
repose　lacked　the　tranquillity　of　peace。　　France　was　at　war　with　Russia
and　England；　and　the　aspect　of　the　Continent　presented　great　uncertainty；
while　the　treaty　of　Vienna　had　only　been　executed　in　part。　　In　the
meantime　Napoleon　turned　his　eyes　towards　the　East。　　General　Sebastiani
was　sent　to　Constantinople。　　The　measures　be　pursued　and　his　judicious
conduct　justified　the　choice　of　the　Emperor。　　He　was　adroit　and
conciliating；　and　peace　with　Turkey　was　the　result　of　his　mission。　The
negotiations　with　England　did　not　terminate　so　happily；　although；　after
the　first　overtures　made　to　Lord　Yarmouth；　the　Earl　of　Lauderdale　had
been　sent　to　Paris　by　Mr。　Fox。　　In　fact；　these　negotiations　wholly
failed。　The　Emperor　had　drawn　enormous　sums　from　Austria；　without
counting　the　vases；　statues；　and　pictures。　　With　which　he　decorated　the
Louvre；　and　the　bronze　with　which　he　clothed　the　column　of　the　Place
Vendome；in　my　opinion　the　finest　monument　of　his　reign　and　the　most
beautiful　one　in　Paris。　　As　Austria　was　exhausted　all　the　contributions
imposed　on　her　could　not　be　paid　in　cash；　and　they　gave　the　Emperor　bills
in　payment。　　I　received　one　for　about　7；000；000　on　Hamburg　on　account　of
the　stipulations　of　the　treaty　of　Presburg。

The　affairs　of　the　Bourbon　Princes　became　more　and　more　unfavourable；　and
their　finances；　as　well　as　their　chances　of　success；　were　so　much
diminished　that　about　this　period　it　was　notified　to　the　emigrants　in
Brunswick　that　the　pretender　（Louis　XVIII。）　had　no　longer　the　means　of
continuing　their　pensions。　　This　produced　great　consternation　amongst
those　emigrants；　many　of　whom　had　no　other　means　of　existence；　and
notwithstanding　their　devotion　to　the　cause　of　royalty　they　found　a
pension　very　useful　in　strengthening　their　zeal。

　　　　　＇When　Louis　XVIII。　returned　to　France；　and　Fouche　was　his　Minister
　　　　　of　Police；　the　King　asked　Fouche　whether　during　his　（the　King's）
　　　　　exile；　had　not　set　spies　over　him；　and　who　they　were。　　Fouche
　　　　　hesitated　to　reply；　but　the　King　insisting　he　said：　〃If　your　Majesty
　　　　　presses　for　an　answer；　it　was　the　Due　de　Blacas　to　whom　this　matter
　　　　　was　confided。〃〃And　how　much　did　you　pay　him？〃　said　the　King。
　　　　　〃Deux　cents　mille　livres　de　rents；　Sire。〃　〃Ah；　so！〃　said　the　King；
　　　　　〃then　he　has　played　fair；　we　went　halves。〃Henry　Greville's　Diary；
　　　　　p。　430。＇

Amongst　those　emigrants　was　one　whose　name　will　occupy　a　certain　place　in
history；　I　mean　Dumouriez；　of　whom　I　have　already　spoken；　and　who　had　for
some　time　employed　himself　in　distributing　pamphlets。　　He　was　then　at
Stralsund；　and　it　was　believed　that　the　King　of　Sweden　would　give　him　a
command。　　The　vagrant　life　of　this　general；　who　ran　everywhere　begging
employment　from　the　enemies　of　his　country　without　being　able　to　obtain
it；　subjected　him　to　general　ridicule；　in　fact；　he　was　everywhere
despised。

To　determine　the　difficulties　which　had　arisen　with　regard　to　Holland；
which　Dumouriez　dreamed　of　conquering　with　an　imaginary　army；　and　being
discontented　besides　with　the　Dutch　for　not　rigorously　excluding　English
vessels　from　their　ports；　the　Emperor　constituted　the　Batavian　territory
a　kingdom　under　his　brother　Louis。　　When　I　notified　to　the　States　of　the
circle　of　Lower　Saxony　the　accession　of　Louis　Bonaparte　to　the　throne　of
Holland；　and　the　nomination　of　Cardinal　Fesch　as　coadjutor　and　successor
of　the　Arch…chancellor　of　the　Germanic　Empire；　along　with　their　official
communications；　the　Duke　of　Mecklenburg…Schwerin　was　the　only　member　of
the　circle　who　forebore　to　reply；　and　I　understood　be　had　applied　to　the
Court　of　Russia　to　know　〃whether〃　and　〃how〃　he　should　reply。　　At　the　same
time　he　made　known　to　the　Emperor　the　marriage　of　his　daughter；　the
Princess　Charlotte　Frederica；　with　Prince　Christian　Frederick　of　Denmark。

At　this　period　it　would　have　been　difficult　to　foresee　the　way　in　which
this　union　would　terminate。　　The　Prince　was　young　and　handsome；　and　of　an
amiable　disposition；　which　seemed　to　indicate　that　he　would　prove　a　good
husband。　　As　for　the　Princess；　she　was　as　beautiful　as　love；　but　she　was
heedless　and　giddy；　in　fact；　she　was　a　spoiled　child。　　She　adored　her
husband；　and　during　several　years　their　union　proved　happy。　　I　had　the
honour　of　knowing　them　at　the　period　when　the　Duke　of　Mecklenburg；　with
his　family；　sought　refuge　at　Altona。　　Before　leaving　that　town　the
Duchess　of　Mecklenburg；　a　Princess　of　Saxony；　paid　a　visit　to　Madame　de
Bourrienne　and　loaded　her　with　civilities。　　This　Princess　was　perfectly
amiable；　and　was　therefore　generally　regretted　when；　two　years
afterwards；　death　snatched　her　from　her　family。　　Before　leaving　Altona
the　Duke　of　Mecklenburg　gave　some　parties　by　way　of　bidding　adieu　to
Holstein；　where　he　had　been　so　kindly　received；　and　I　can　never　forget
the　distinguished　reception　and　many　kindnesses　Madame　de　Bourrienne　and
myself　received　from　that　illustrious　family。

It　consisted　of　the　hereditary　Prince；　so　distinguished　by　his　talents
and　acquirements　（he　was　at　that　time　the　widower　of　a　Grand　Duchess　of
Russia；　a　sister　of　the　Emperor　Alexander）；　of　Prince　Gustavus；　so
amiable　and　graceful；　and　of　Princess　Charlotte　and　her　husband；　the
Prince　Royal　of　Denmark。

This　happy　couple　were　far　from　foreseeing　that　in　two　years　they　would
be　separated　for　ever。　　The　Princess　was　at　this　period　in　all　the
splendour　of　her　beauty；　several　fetes　were　given　on　her　account　on　the
banks　of　the　Elbe；　at　which　the　Prince　always　opened　the　ball　with　Madame
de　Bourrienne。　　Notwithstanding　her　amiability　the　Princess　Charlotte　was
no　favourite　at　the　Danish　Court。　　Intrigues　were　formed　against　her。　　I
know　not　whether　any　foundation　existed　for　the　calumnies　spread　to　her
disadvantage；　but　the　Court　dames　accused　her　of　great　levity　of　conduct；
which；　true　or　false；　obliged　her　husband　to　separate　from　her；　and　at
the　commencement　of　1809　he　sent　her　to　Altona；　attended　by　a　chamberlain
and　a　maid　of　honour。　　On　her　arrival　she　was　in　despair；　hers　was　not　a
silent　grief；　for　she　related　her　story　to　every　one。　　This　unfortunate
woman　really　attracted　pity；　as　she　shed　tears　for　her　son；　three　years
of　age；　whom　she　was　doomed　never　again　to　behold。　　But　her　natural
levity　returned；　she　did　not　always　maintain　the　reserve　suitable　to　her
rank；　and　some　months　afterwards　was　sent　into　Jutland；　where　I　believe
she　still　lives。

The　enemies　of　the　French　Government　did　not　confine　themselves　to
writing　and　publishing　invectives　against　it。　　More　than　one　wretch　was
ready　to　employ　daggers　against　the　Emperor。　　Among　this　number　was　a　man
named　Louis　Loizeau；　recently　arrived　from　London。　　He　repaired　to
Altona；　there　to　enjoy　the　singular　privilege　which　that　city　afforded　of
sheltering　all　the　ruffians；　thieves；　and　bankrupts　who　fled　from　the
justice　of　their　own　Governments。　　On　the　17th　of　July　Loizeau　presented
himself　to　Comte　de　Gimel；　who　resided　at　Altona；　as　the　agent　of　the
Comte　de　Lille。　　He　offered　to　repair　to　Paris　and　assassinate　the
Emperor。　　Comte　de　Gimel　rejected　the　proposal　with　indignation；　and
replied；　that　if　he　had　no　other　means　of　serving　the　Bourbons　than
cowardly　assassination　he　might　go　elsewhere　and　find　confederates。　　This
fact；　which　was　communicated　to　me　by　a　friend　of　M。　de　Gimel；　determined
me　to　arrest　Loizeau。　　Not　being　warranted；　however；　to　take　this　step　at
Altona；　I　employed　a　trusty　agent　to　keep　watch；　and　draw　him　into　a
quarrel　the　moment　he　should　appear　on　the　Hamburg　side　of　a　public　walk
which　divides　that　city　from　Altona；　and　deliver　him　up　to　the　nearest
Hamburg　guard…house。　　Loizeau　fell　into　the　snare；　but　finding　that　he
was　about　to　be　conducted　from　the　guardhouse　to　the　prison　of　Hamburg；
and　that　it　was　at　my　request　he　had　been　arrested；　he　hastily　unloosed
his　cravat；　and　tore　with　his　teeth　the　papers　it　contained；　part　of
which　he　swallowed。　　He　also　endeavoured　to　tear　some　other　papers　which
were　concealed　under　his　arm；　but　was　prevented　by　the　guard。　　Furious　at
this　disappointment；　he　violently　resisted　the　five　soldiers　who　had　him
in　custody；　and　was　not　secured　until　he　h