memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v9-第15部分

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would　have　been　an　absurd　misfortune　that　eighty　men　stationed　in　that
bailiwick　should；　for　the　sake　of　a　few　louis　and　a　few　ells　of　English
cloth；　have　occasioned　the　confiscation　of　Hamburg；　French；　and　Dutch
property　to　the　amount　of　80；000；000　francs。

Marshal　Bernadotte　replied　to　me　on　the　16th　of　November；　and　said；
〃I　hasten　to　inform　you　that　I　have　given　orders　for　the　evacuation　of
the　bailiwick　of　Bergdorf　and　all　the　Hamburg　territory。　　If　you　could
obtain　from　the　Senate　of　Hamburg；　by　the　19th　of　this　month；　two　or
three　thousand　pairs　of　shoes；　you　would　oblige　me　greatly。　　They　shall
be　paid　for　in　goods　or　in　money。〃

I　obtained　what　Bernadotte　required　from　the　Senate；　who　knew　his
integrity；　while　they　were　aware　that　that　quality　was　not　the
characteristic　of　all　who　commanded　the　French　armies！　　What　extortions
took　place　during　the　occupation　of　Prussia！　　I　will　mention　one　of　the
means　which；　amongst　others；　was　employed　at　Berlin　to　procure　money。
Bills　of　exchange　were　drawn；　on　which　endorsements　were　forged；　and
these　bills　were　presented　to　the　bankers　on　whom　they　were　purported　to
be　drawn。　　One　day　some　of　these　forged　bills　to　a　large　amount　were
presented　to　Messrs。　Mathiesen　and　Silleine　of　Hamburg；　who；　knowing　the
endorsement　to　be　forged；　refused　to　cash　them。　　The　persons　who
presented　the　bills　carried　their　impudence　so　far　as　to　send　for　the
gendarmes；　but　the　bankers　persisted　in　their　refusal。　　I　was　informed　of
this　almost　incredible　scene；　which　had　drawn　together　a　great　number　of
people。　　Indignant　at　such　audacious　robbery；　I　instantly　proceeded　to
the　spot　and　sent　away　the　gendarmes；　telling　them　it　was　not　their　duty
to　protect　robbers；　and　that　it　was　my　business　to　listen　to　any　just
claims　which　might　be　advanced。　　Under　Clarke's　government　at　Berlin　the
inhabitants　were　subjected　to　all　kinds　of　oppression　and　exaction。
Amidst　these　exactions　and　infamous　proceedings；　which　are　not　the
indispensable　consequences　of　war；　the　Dutch　generals　distinguished
themselves　by　a　degree　of　rapacity　which　brought　to　mind　the　period　of
the　French　Republican　peculations　in　Italy。　　It　certainly　was　not　their
new　King　who　set　the　example　of　this　conduct。　　His　moderation　was　well
known；　and　it　was　as　much　the　result　of　his　disposition　as　of　his　honest
principles。　　Louis　Bonaparte；　who　was　a　King　in　spite　of　himself；
afforded　an　example　of　all　that　a　good　man　could　suffer　upon　a　usurped
throne。

When　the　King　of　Prussia　found　himself　defeated　at　every　point　he
bitterly　repented　having　undertaken　a　war　which　had　delivered　his　States
into　Napoleon's　power　in　less　time　than　that　in　which　Austria　had　fallen
the　preceding　year。　　He　wrote　to　the　Emperor；　soliciting　a　suspension　of
hostilities。　　Rapp　was　present　when　Napoleon　received　the　King　of
Prussia's　letter。　　〃It　is　too　late；〃　said　he；　〃but；　no　matter；　I　wish　to
stop　the　effusion　of　blood；　I　am　ready　to　agree　to　anything　which　is　not
prejudicial　to　the　honour　or　interests　of　the　nation。〃　　Then　calling
Duroc；　he　gave　him　orders　to　visit　the　wounded；　and　see　that　they　wanted
for　nothing。　　He　added；　〃Visit　every　man　on　my　behalf；　give　them　all　the
consolation　of　which　they　stand　in　need；　afterwards　find　the　King　of
Prussia；　and　if　he　offers　reasonable　proposals　let　me　know　them。〃

Negotiations　were　commenced；　but　Napoleon's　conditions　were　of　a　nature
which　was　considered　inadmissible。　　Prussia　still　hoped　for　assistance
from　the　Russian　forces。　　Besides；　the　Emperor's　demands　extended　to
England；　who　at　that　moment　had　no　reason　to　accede　to　the　pretensions　of
France。　　The　Emperor　wished　England　to　restore　to　France　the　colonies
which　she　bad　captured　since　the　commencement　of　the　war；　that　Russia
should　restore　to（o）　the　Porte　Moldavia　and　Wallachia；　which　she　then
occupied；　in　short；　he　acted　upon　the　advice　which　some　tragedy…king
gives　to　his　ambassador：　〃Demand　everything；　that　you　may　obtain
nothing。〃　　The　Emperor's　demands　were；　in　fact；　so　extravagant　that　it
was　scarcely　possible　he　himself　could　entertain　the　hope　of　their　being
accepted。　　Negotiations；　alternately　resumed　and　abandoned；　were　carried
on　with　coldness　on　both　sides　until　the　moment　when　England　prevailed　on
Russia　to　join　Prussia　against　France；　they　then　altogether　ceased：　and
it　was　for　the　sake　of　appearing　to　wish　for　their　renewal；　on　bases
still　more　favourable　to　France；　that　Napoleon　sent　Duroc　to　the　King　of
Prussia。　　Duroc　found　the　King　at　Osterode；　on　the　other　side　of　the
Vistula。　　The　only　answer　he　received　from　His　Majesty　was；　〃The　time　is
passed；〃　which　was　very　much　like　Napoleon's　observation；　〃It　is　too
late。〃

Whilst　Duroc　was　on　his　mission　to　the　King　of　Prussia　I　was　myself
negotiating　at　Hamburg。　　Bonaparte　was　very　anxious　to　detach　Sweden　from
the　coalition；　and　to　terminate　the　war　with　her　by　a　separate　treaty。
Sweden；　indeed；　was　likely　to　be　very　useful　to　him　if　Prussia；　Russia；
and　England　should　collect　a　considerable　mass　of　troops　in　the　north。
Denmark　was　already　with　us；　and　by　gaining　over　Sweden　also　the　union　of
those　two　powers　might　create　a　diversion；　and　give　serious　alarm　to　the
coalition；　which　would　be　obliged　to　concentrate　its　principal　force　to
oppose　the　attack　of　the　grand　army　in　Poland。　　The　opinions　of　M。
Peyron；　the　Swedish　Minister　at　Hamburg；　were　decidedly　opposed　to　the
war　in　which　his　sovereign　was　engaged　with　France。　　I　was　sorry　that
this　gentleman　left　Hamburg　upon　leave　of　absence　for　a　year　just　at　the
moment　I　received　my　instructions　from　the　Emperor　upon　this　subject。
M。　Peyron　was　succeeded　by　M。　Netzel；　and　I　soon　had　the　pleasure　of
perceiving　that　his　opinions　corresponded　in　every　respect　with　those
of　his　predecessor。

As　soon　as　he　arrived　M。　Netzel　sought　an　interview　to　speak　to　me　on　the
subject　of　the　Swedes；　who　had　been　taken　prisoners　on　the　Drave。　　He
entreated　me　to　allow　the　officers　to　return　to　Sweden　on　their　parole。
I　was　anxious　to　get　Netzel's　demand　acceded　to；　and　availed　myself　of
that　opportunity　to　lead　him　gradually　to　the　subject　of　my　instructions。
I　had　good　reason　to　be　satisfied　with　the　manner　in　which　he　received　my
first　overtures。　　I　said　nothing　to　him　of　the　justice　of　which　he　was
not　previously　convinced。　　I　saw　he　understood　that　his　sovereign　would
have　everything　to　gain　by　a　reconciliation　with　France；　and　he　told　me
that　all　Sweden　demanded　peace。　　Thus　encouraged；　I　told　him　frankly　that
I　was　instructed　to　treat　with　him。　　M。　Netzel　assured　me　that　M。　de
Wetterstedt；　the　King　of　Sweden's　private　secretary；　with　whom　he　was
intimate；　and　from　whom　he　showed　me　several　letters；　was　of　the　same
opinion　on　the　subject　as　himself。　　He　added；　that　he　had　permission　to
correspond　with　the　King；　and　that　he　would；　write　the　same　evening　to
his　sovereign　and　M。。　de　Wetterstedt　to　acquaint　them　with　our
conversation。

It　will　be　perceived；　from　what　I　have　stated；　that　no　negotiation　was
ever　commenced　under　more　favourable　auspices；　but　who　could　foresee　what
turn　the　King　of　Sweden　would　take？　　That　unlucky　Prince　took　M。　Netzel's
letter　in　very　ill　part；　and　M。　de　Wetterstedt　himself　received
peremptory　orders　to　acquaint　M。　Netzel　with　his　sovereign's　displeasure
at　his　having　presumed　to　visit　a　French　Minster；　and；　above　all；　to
enter　into　a　political　conversation　with　him；　although　it　was　nothing
more　than　conversation。　　The　King　did　not　confine　himself　to　reproaches；
M。　Netzel　came　in　great　distress　to　inform　me　he　had　received　orders　to
quit　Hamburg　immediately；　without　even　awaiting　the　arrival　of　his
successor。　　He　regarded　his　disgrace　as　complete。　　I　had　the　pleasure　of
seeing　M。　Netzel　again　in　1809　at　Hamburg；　where　he　was　on　a　mission　from
King　Charles　XIII。




CHAPTER　IX。

1806

　　　　　The　Continental　systemGeneral　indignation　excited　by　itSale　of
　　　　　licences　by　the　French　GovernmentCustom…house　system　at　Hamburg
　　　　　My　letter　to　the　EmperorCause　of　the　rupture　with　Russia
　　　　　Bernadotte's　visit　to　meTrial　by　court…martial　for　the　purchase　of
　　　　　a　sugar…loafDavoust　and　the　captain　〃rapporteur〃Influence　of　the
　　　　　Continental　system　on　Napoleon's　fall。

I　have　a　few　remarks　to　make　on　the　famous　Continental　system；　which　was
a　subject　of　such　engrossing　interest。　　I　had；　perhaps；　better
opportunities　than　any　other　person　of　observing　the　fraud　and　estimating
the　fatal　consequences　of　this　system。　　It　took　its　rise　during　the　war
in　1806；　and　was　brought　into　existence　by　a　decree；　dated　from　Berlin。
The　project　was　conceived　by　weak　counsellors；　who；　perceiving　the
Emperor's　just　indignation　at　the　duplicity　of　England；　her　repugnance　to
enter；　into　negotiations　with　him；　and　her　constant　endeavours　to　raise
enemies　against　France；　prevailed　upon　him　to　issue　the　decree；　which　I
could　only　regard　as　an　act　of　madness　and　tyranny。　　It　was　not　a　decree；
but　fleets；　that　were　wanting。　　Without　a　navy　it　was　ridiculous　to
declare　the　British　Isles　in　a　state　of　blockade；　whilst　the　English
fleets　were　in　fact　blockading　all　the　French　ports。　　This　declaration
was；　however；　made　in　the　Berlin　Decree。　　This　is　what　was　called　the
Continental　system！　which；　in　plain　terms；　was　nothing　but　a　system　of
fraud　and　pillage。

One　can　now　scarcely　conceive　how　Europe　could　for　a　single　day　endure
that　fiscal　tyranny　which　extorted　exorbitant　prices　for　articles　which
the　habits　of　three　centuries　had　rendered　indispensable　to　the　poor　as
well　as　to　the　rich。　　So　little　of　truth　is　there　in　the　pretence　that
this　system　had　for　its　sole　and　exclusive　object　to　prevent　the　sale　of
English　goods；　that　licences　for　their　disposal　were　procured　at　a　high
price　by　whoever　was　rich　enough　to　pay　for　them。　　The　number　and　quality
of　the　articles　exported　from　France　were　extravagantly　exaggerated。　　It
was；　indeed；　necessary　to　take　out　some　of　the　articles　is　compliance
with　the　Emperor's　wishes；　but　they　were　only　thrown　into　the　sea。　　And
yet　no　one　had　the　honesty　to　tell　the　Emperor　that　England　sold　on　the
continent　but　bought　scarcely　anything。　　The　speculation　in　licences　was
carried　to　a　scandalous　e